Thursday, I was waiting for the local train at Byculla station. The rush just kept on increasing as the trains were late because of heavy rain. The clock strikes 8 pm and still there was no sign of a single train coming. Finally after waiting for almost 20 minutes, there was an announcement of Karjat train coming on platform no. 3. All the working class people were set to run their race to get into the train as soon as the train horn near platform indicating it’s coming to halt.
I was the luckiest one to enter into the train first as the door’s handle just came into my hands on the right time. I usually get inside, when the train is still moving, before its halt at the station. I ran inside straight finding comfortable place where I can stand easily and talk to my friends on chat. The train departed from Byculla station for its next stop which was Dadar, another crowded station, as especially at the peek hours.
I was engaged in my chat, when I heard people shouting on the top of their voice to get inside the train, when it halted at Dadar. There was one particular voice that caught my attention. A short skinny man, who was drunk heavily, shouting to get inside the train, ‘Aare Chadne Do, Baaju Hatho… Beep beep beep’. His words were not so pleasant to hear as it had all the bad words which we Mumbaikar, generally used on our daily life.
Somehow he managed to get inside the train, but was stuck at the door itself as most of the crowd had already made their way inside. He wanted to get down in Kurla, which was supposed to come on the opposite side of the door of which he just entered. He tried his luck hard to reach that side, but the train was so pack that, by the time he reached near the door, the train made his move from Kurla station. All people started shouting and pushing him in front so that he can get down, whereas the others were trying to block him from getting down. I was standing at nearby bench which was just next to the door. Looking to his act, I along with some others who were standing, passed some comments that made other co-passengers laugh.
Again for the second time he tried to get down in Ghatkopar station, which was next stop from Kurla. Before he could reach at the door, the crowd pushed him inside. A few, who were standing near him, started abusing him while some others laugh at him even harder this time.
He was frustrated with the crowd, unable to control hangover, he fell down between the two doors and slept. People started shouting and abusing him even louder this time. For he was sleeping in the middle of the door. Thane was above to come, and he was still down, there was no sign of him getting up or rather he was not in his conscious to get up.
Train became slowed down its speed as it approaches Thane station. A set of people where ready to get down while other at station were ready to get inside the train. I heard the same people shouting in Hindi ‘Arre Isko Koi Side Me Dalo’ (Meaning somebody move him in the side), Before anyone can react or move him in the side the train has already reached Thane station.
Crowd got down and crowd got in, people stamped him unnoticing his presence there at the foot steps. There was no sound of that drunken man shouting for help. I was curious to know what had happened to him. Just few minutes back he was the laugh of all of us, and suddenly now he has turned into our concern. I heard few people talking Saala Maar Gaya Lagta Hai?.
A few minutes later, train reached Dombivali station, heavy crowd got down. My eyes were searching for him at the footsteps, wanting to see him whether he is alive or dead. I peeped outside the train and under the benches, but he was not there. I heard someone’s shout from the other door, Bacch Gaya?. I was still at the window, when I saw him sitting on a bench with blood flowing from his face and other body parts.
The incident was simple but it left me and a few others speechless, for we laughed at him when he was in need and when he was flooded in blood we felt pity for him… that day I really learned that we should think practically before reacting to certain situation. People today have lost humanity and treat others cruelly, when actually we need humanity within us….
