Yesterday,while talking to my aunt over the phone,I came across a very touching story which I wish to share will all MSians. Hope you also find it interesting.
It's long time back,when my aunt used to travel by local trains to her office. People who has been to Shealdah, Kolkata, can easily imagine the rush of office hours. As soon the trains reach Sealdah Station,people start pouring out of the trains like a steady stream,and even before the people get down,the train becomes jam-packed again with the commuters for return journey. It can be compared with the Mumbai local trains. One day,my aunt was travelling in such a train,and after one hour of horrible journey,the train reached Sealdah. She was pregnant at that time,and somebody offered her a seat,so it was somehow better for her. She started disembarking the train,and before somebody knocks her down, found a suitable place at a corner of the station to wait for one of her friend who missed her train,and was coming by the next one. Then she saw something. A Veggie vendor, a lady around 40 got down from the train to an adjacent platform. She had a big sack of vegetables with her which rested on the floor of the train. May be the train was going to car shed,nobody was around her. She started asking each and every people on the platform to help her to lift the sack. Nobody was interested,all were in hurry. Who has the time for such nonsense during office time? She looked in despair,and tried to pull it many times. But it was dead weight.My aunt wanted to help her,but in that condition,she was unable to do so. She watched helplessly.
A man on crutches was coming from the opposite side. He looked weak,and was facing difficulty to drag his body in this huge crowd. Few people pushed him roughly,few uttered "Dhat! In office time from where this cripples obstruct in our ways!" He seemed hurt,but kept on moving. slowly he came across this vendor lady. She pleaded to him, "Dada,will u help me to lift the sack"? The person stood there,and leaned his crutches against the train wall. He leaned himself against the wall too, to get support and started dragging the sack towards him. Once it came at the edge of the train boggy,he lifted it with his all strength,and placed it on that lady's head. The lady started walking with that heavy load as fast as she could. The man heaved a sigh,and started moving slowly after collecting his crutches.
This story made me think. There were so many able-bodied people.Wasn't a single one kind enough to help the lady? Did it take too much time? No.........This is our mindset,which enables us to be selfish,to turn a deaf ear to somebody's pleading. Shame on those people,who didn't even look at that lady.But the man with only one leg had the courage to help,despite his own physical disabilities. It doesn't need anything, but a small amount of courage to help people. But shame on those people who lack that also.
