A Girl on Railway Station
Money can lighten up just a few moments of your life but hope can light up the whole future.
I saw failure in my life more than success. Success makes me happy while failure gives me always new hope. I found new opportunities in each failure. Well, it's not all true. A bit of stress always came along no matter how much you inspired or motivated?
7 Years Ago
Sitting at the railway station, and thinking about the exam which was really bad. I knew that I’ll not pass this one. I was lost in thought of upcoming exams and what to do next? Waiting for the train and more half an hour to go. Bored and looking at the peoples. Tired old peoples and downcast faces of students who appear in the exam with me.
Some guys don’t seem affected by their performance in the exam yet they are more interested in girls at the station. Staring at girls like they never saw a girl in their whole life. They were looking at girls and old peoples and women cursing those guys for being so cheap. Some old age women use bad words in a low voice and as they were attracted everyone towards them by being so loud with their slut jokes.
I was not in the mood and shift my focus on the other end of the station. Peoples are waiting for the train and talking about politics and the corrupt systems in the country. Some peoples are cursing the government and some are curing people of the country for choosing them. I was busy watching all this stuff, a soft voice disturbed me and forced me to change my focus.
A little girl, standing with a bowl in her hand carrying a few cents. She wore dirty clothes and hardly anyone can tell the actual color of clothes. Tangled hairs look like she didn’t comb her hair for weeks. without a blink of an eye, I was looking at her. She was hardly twelve years old. Her voice breaks my thoughts again.
Brother, give me cents, she said with a little hesitation.
Like she doesn’t want to do this but something forced her. My mind again drowns in the thoughts.
This time, she shook bowl holding in her hand and cents in a bowl make noise helped in coming out from my thoughts.
I open my bag and check if I had any cents left. But nothing found inside and I remembered that I already spent buying tickets for the train. I look upon the girl who has a bright shine on her face. Maybe she was expected money to come out of the bag. But empty hand come out.
She got upset. wait, why you need money? I asked her when she turned around to go.
I am hungry. I’ll buy food. she said with a drawn face.
What if I buy you food. will you happy then? I said pointing at a food stall nearby.
A bright smile came up at her face. We both reached the food stall and I ordered two plates of food. I don’t want to eat but she seems hungry. We sat on an empty bench. She was really hungry. I realized this when she said, Thank you, brother, with tears in her eyes.
I don’t want you to cry. Stop crying, said while offering her water.
No one even gives a rupee but you buy me food. thank you. I wish that you pass on your today exam.
Exam! How you know I appear for the exam? asked her.
She starts telling, this crowd you see here just because of the exam. Otherwise, this station is almost empty this time. Even, your bag. Every student who appears for the exam mostly brings a bag with them. So, I just got an idea that you must appear for the exam.
I was stunned by her smartness and observation. I can’t control myself to ask her, Do you go to school?
Yes, a government school. She said while licking her fingers which were dipped in chutney.
Good. Then why are you asking for money on the station? I meant what your parents do?
Her face is depressed again. She already finished eating and said while cleaning her hands with tissue paper, My father drink alcohol a lot. Don’t go to work and come home late at night. My mother does works as a maid in houses nearby and earns enough money for my education and food. My mother wants me to see it as a police officer. my mother doesn’t know that I came to the station for money. If I stay home, she will give me food which was for her and she remains hungry. She was again burst out in tears.
I opened my bag and bring out a pen.
What is this? brother. she asked questions on her face.
It is my lucky pen which I got on my 7th birthday. Today, I’m giving it to you for your smartness. I hope that you will return this back to me when you became a police officer.
A new shine now was reflected on her face. She was happy having that pen. It was just a pen but it seems for her it is a trophy.
The train has arrived on the platform. I leave the bench and wave my hand and wished her good luck for the future. I boarded on the train and look back. She was still staring at pen like she never saw a pen. But maybe the first time, she gets a present for her smartness.
Past March Month
Just before the lockdown, I was driving my car back home after finishing a business meeting. Everything goes well and suddenly, the car stopped running. I was about 20 KM far from the city and no help nearby. I checked every possible point that I know. Exhausted. I signaled to other cars to halt. But everything goes vain. No one ready to stop and help.
I saw a car coming and waved my hand to signal to stop. The car stopped after passing a few yards from me. I quickly reach out to the car. A couple was sitting in the car was talking about something when I looked into closed transparent windows. Windows slowly goes down and the young girl offered me a water bottle and said, calm down. We will help you.
This is so relaxing. I was tired of waving my hand to stop cars for help. I drink that water. Even water was like ambrosia after that. The young guy asked me if I have any rope or anything else to toe car. Yes, I have one in the car trunk.
We toed my car to his car and roll down the wheels slowly. It takes us 45 minutes to reach the city and found a mechanic. It will take 1–2 hours to fix up.
I moved to that couple and thanks to them. They were still discussing something and I disturbed them, I guess.
No problem, brother. It’s okay. the girl said with a smile on her face.
I was shocked. It was easily visible on my face. The young guy was smiling and that girl has tears in her eyes.
Oh my god, she was that station girl. I still remember her smile.
She recognized me on road after this long seven years. now, I know that they were talking about me.
She burst out in tears and so I am. we both had tears in our eyes. We all get into the nearby restaurant until the car fixed.
She finally selected for the Police Sub Inspector. She was coming back home after training. Later, I came to know that a young guy is her boyfriend. They loved each other. They met during their training period and fall in love. We finished the coffee and she stopped me to pay the bill. Yet, she paid my bill as well.
This is not right, raise my voice.
She replied with, “this is nothing I am doing for you. I can’t pay you back. Your pen is really lucky and motivates me every time to become a police officer.”
Her mother finally gets rest now. But her father died because of consuming a lot of alcohol. She continued by saying that she is not much affected by her father's death but happier that now, her mother didn’t need to work in houses.
The car finally fixed while we were in conversation. We sat down in our car and wave hands to each other to say bye. Wheels started rolling again and my mind again flooded with thoughts. At least, I did something good in my life.
A pen motives her to achieve her goals and proud her mother. She is a smart girl and today, she proved it. A smile on my face now, driving in my lane, music in low volume, and feel like, I achieved something big in life.
She is a real inspiration. #WomanEmpowerment