“The story in itself deals with the world of decisions, the world of values and the world of greed”
Kolkata, it is a city beyond city, it is a city of dreams, it is the city of joy, it is the city of festivals, of monuments, of culture, of history, of heritage.
In this city there are three railway stations: Kolkata, Howrah and the Sealdah railway station, with all of them being one of the busiest railway stations in the country.
The story now shifts to a place called Mankiran, a place in the South-24-Parganas district of West Bengal, here lives a man called Ashraful Gazi, who is the main character of the story. Ashraful hails from a poor family, his father was the Imam of the local mosque who died when Ashraful was three, his mother single-handedly raised Ashraful and his brothers by working in a biscuit factory.
Growing up, Ashraful had seen a lot of struggling days, they had a shortage of everything, food, clothes, money etc. Ashraful’s mother had enrolled him in a local madrasa, but he had to discontinue his studies because of his family’s weak economic background.
Ashraful also lived in a place where sustaining oneself is a challenge in itself. He hailed from a village in the Sundarbans, where the geographic conditions made it tough for everyone to grow crops and do farming. Everybody had to leave their village to sustain their lives and Ashraful was one of them.
When Ashraf was 15, he started working in a textile factory. His day started at 4 in the morning and then he used to cycle almost 20 kilometers to the nearest railway station, he was too poor to buy a rail ticket even, so he always used to board the vendor bogie of the Train, by hailing the vendor bogie saved him from the hassle of buying tickets. He then changes 2 more trains to reach his destination at 7AM. There it was almost 10 hours of nonstop – labor which made him tired and at the same time sick, this extreme schedule soon became his part of life
Ashraf when he was 20 decided that he would join his younger brother Shafiq to work as a laborer in Kerala. He and Shafiq worked hard day and night and earned almost 6000/ month, a money they sent home.
After working relentlessly for 3 years, Ashraf returned home, this time to become a taxi driver.
Three Years Later
It was a cold December day, Ashraf was driving his taxi, his taxi, a yellow Ambassador of 2010 model with a number WB 04 C 4577 was standing outside Howrah Station, which is notorious for its line of pre-paid taxis. Suddenly a man came and boarded his taxi.
It was about four in the morning, the sun light had just started to appear in the sky, the sky was slowly becoming blue, the station was as usual busy with hordes of yellow taxi dotting the red complex of the station.
“Good morning sir, so sir where shall we go?
“Take me to Ballygunge via Newtown,” said the passenger
“Via Newtown?” asked Ashraf.
“Yes” promptly replied the passenger.
Ashraf then said to his passenger “Ok Sir, it will cost around 700 rupees”.
His Passenger then said. “I will give you 650”
Ashraf nodded his head reluctantly, he knew it was not the usual business time, so he gave in to his passenger’s demands.
The taxi then started its journey towards New Town, it was to be a “comfortable” journey, because of the various flyovers of the city, the journey was to be completed in almost a hour and a half.
Everything seemed normal for Ashraf and his taxi, until his passenger said: “Stop at the next signal, my accomplice will board from the next signal”
To which Ashraf replied: “Okay Sir”
At the next stoppage, the Salt Lake Stadium stoppage, the accomplice boarded and the taxi continued…
Unknown to Ashraf, the two passengers in his taxi were: Mostaqh and Rabi, two notorious criminals who hailed from the Malda district of West Bengal.
The taxi took a right from the BB Gate and was headed to the HIDCO office, a top government office when suddenly Rabi pulled out his knife and placed it on Ashraf’s neck
Ashraf was startled. Surprised and shocked at the same Ashraf said: “Wait. What are you doing??”
Rabi said: “Do whatever we say, otherwise we are gonna get you killed”
Mostaqh then said: “listen, dear Taxi bhai, whatever we are telling you, do it, you will be safe, otherwise you will lose your life”.
Ashraf then trembling with fear said: “Okay, what do you want me to do”.
Rabi then explained his plan and asked him to drive to the Central Hotel in Ballygunge, almost 20 kilometers from the spot where this incident took place.
Ashraf agreed but Rabi and Mostaqh laid a big condition: “Don’t play smart, if you call the police, you will be killed”.
Ashraf then proceeded, by now, it was completely bright, people were getting ready to do their daily chores, morning walkers were out, children were going to school.
The city was known for its one good thing which feared almost all criminals, the traffic police had installed cameras everywhere to keep a check on the criminals, this fact was known to Ashraf and he tried to go towards the Bypass as maximum cameras were installed there. But somehow, Rabi and Mostaqh knew this thing and then
Mostaqh warned: “Take the City route, not the bypass, I warn you, not
Ashraf then steered his car towards the route mentioned by Mostaqh and Rabi, but unknown to both Mostaqh and Rabi, Ashraf had already alerted the police.
While driving the taxi and coming from Howrah towards Bag bazar, Ashraf had heard Mostaqh saying: “Rabi, I hope the plan is set, the cash stolen from the bank in English Bazar is with me, today we will steal from a big hotel in Ballygunge posing as Income Tax officials, so be ready at the Salt Lake Stadium Bus Stand, I am coming in a taxi numbered 4577.
Ashraf had a tonsil problem which required him wear ear mask to prevent the chilly air in the mornings reach his ears, as it could damage his ears and affect tonsils. Mostaqh thought he was wearing a headphone and freely revealed his plan to Rabi, unknowing of the fact that Ashraf had heard him.
So just before the taxi reached The Stadium Bus Stand, the place from where Rabi boarded the taxi, Ashraf had asked Mostaqh whether he can go for a loo.
Mostaqh said: “Yes, you can but make sure you come back early”
Using the loo as an opportunity, Ashraf dialed 100 and alerted the police.
“Hello I am Ashraful Gazi, I am a taxi driver, I have called you to say that two dreaded criminals who robbed a bank in Malda are in my taxi.”
The Police then said: “Wonderful, give us details about your location and whatever the information you have”
Ashraf then told the personnel whatever he heard and then said: “Sir please follow my car 300 meters from behind, I want you to catch them red handed”
The Policeman said: “Okay dear, we will do what you said, but please keep the recorder of your phone on”
It will help us know exactly what they are planning and then we can arrest them red handed”
Shifting back to the present, Ashraf was driving towards the hotel when suddenly Rabi prompted: “Take right from the next signal”
Ashraf said: “Your destination is on the left Sir”
Rabi: “Don’t try to argue with me, do what I say”
Ashraf did what he was told , he stopped at the location and then suddenly
POLICE!
“You are under arrest Mostaqh and Rabi”
They then tried to flee and then police caught them
Later they thanked Ashraf and said: “Thank you for helping us out”
Ashraf was later rewarded for his daring act and this act improved his life as he was recruited by the city police as a Sub Inspector.
: The values, the hardships, the struggle we face help us to become a better person. It is up to us to decide what type of values we want to follow,
There is a different feeling and a life when you are a honest and a righteous person. You look the world in a different perspective and then everything that happens around you teaches you something new. This is the story of Ashraf as well, the hardships and the poverty he faced , helped him shape his life , it helped him grow as a person, he could have been dishonest, he could have done the robbery with the two of them but he did not, these life values are important and his morale did not allow him do such things, this is the importance of being righteous, things become good and the world becomes a better place to live.
Let this Story of Ashraf inspire you to do good deeds in your life, all the best.
