It was a Saturday evening. The clock struck four when suddenly I remembered that I had to buy some graph sheets for presentation. The next day was downright awaited day of every jiggered person and being one of them, I did not want to waste it on going out in the burning atmosphere where the scorching Sun held high, threatening and torturing the travel seekers. Thus, I took the brave decision of going out to the stationary center nearby. I took up some money and went out to purchase the common things through a common path, where something uncommon was going to happen.
After covering the piping hot distance ardently, I confronted a small crowd near the railway track. I went in that insipid soggy ambience to thrust myself in a fiery tumult with no end to return. One could only get to the market by passing the railway track which laid in the middle of the main road. Whenever a train passed, the black and yellow bars were lowered by a designated person sitting in a semi- dilapidated single-room building located at the opposite corner. On reaching the core of the engird, I discovered from the fellow crowd mates that a train was going to pass from the tracks and the signal for the same was given. The bars, which are put to halt any movement through the tracks at the close approach of a train, weren’t working at that time. So the railway workers had to control the commotion themselves. They did so, with least agility and concern. The crowd only included the public on foot, except a striking red car, visible from a far end. Its owner was constantly blowing horn, troubling the people standing beside the car.
“The man in the car is in great hurry!! ” His behaviour was agitating the people. “He is just irking us! Doesn’t he know that we all are sailing in the same boat? “, cried a lady in that outrageous throng. Their conversation was clearly audible to me, and in my mind, I had the same thoughts. We all were standing there with same waiting hurry.
The crowd gradually grew into an enormous perfervid mob. People yelled impatiently for the perpetual patience they had been showing so far. The rabble was tumefying from both sides of the tracks, and the responsible members’ endeavors were attenuating. The roadside vendors were jubilant, though. The belt sellers, small local perfume vendors and the ones who sold plants and seeds were unceasingly trying to sell their goods to the perplexed and ‘heated’ horde. The main attractions were the ice-cream seller’s cycle with banners of luring variegated ice-creams and a cylindrical container for them, and a cucumber seller’s cart with glossy green cucumbers piled up, all as fresh as the drops of icy cold water being sprinkled upon them. That scorching atmosphere was conducive for their profitable sale. Some could not control their appeal of usual addiction and they were visible engrossed completely in their electronic associates. Many sat on the raised circular platform round the poster covered pillar which supported the upper flyover; all trying to cool their magnanimous body temperatures by feeble coolness of cloth they whirled around their faces by their sweating hands and fists, which held the newly bought and melting ice-creams or cucumbers, trying to consume them tastefully, in tranquility. However, the chaos of the place did not provide any calmness for even a moment. It was valid as well. We had been waiting there for more than half an hour and no train was visible so far. I was cursing my decision as neither could I move forward nor could I get any space to retreat. I was legitimately ‘stuck’ in the multitude. The fact that I was at a visible distance from the tracks provided me some relief.
There were two men sitting inside the car. One of them came out and in hisimmitigable rage, started pushing the people and railway workers out of their way. The workers were too hazed to respond to his actions. No one uttered a single word and the way for car was made. A Man, who had wonderfully retained his cool composure in that affray, asked the restless one not to do anything that might harm him or others. Silence is severely broken only when one voice is heard. Soon his support grew and the agitated man had to retreat into the car; but I could understand his disconcertment. The cause of his impatience was common and valid. Finally, after some more seconds of bearing impatience, we heard the train’s whistle, and soon it passed from the track, blowing a cool breeze of relief and reward of our patience. Desperation was taken over by joy and sullenness of eyes by gleam of glee. Preparations for rush were being made from both the sides. All the people stood poised, as if going to participate in a race. I could comprehend their excitement, though. We all could understand it as we were in the same sail of eagerness. What a cumulative cheerfulness we all had! But it did not last long. The train had passed through the tracks but still the railway workers were positioned to prevent any movement through the tracks. This heated up the gathered public. One more train was on its way through the railway tracks.
Examining the tumultuous conditions, I, with the aid of a stranger’s mobile phone, told my mother about the quod I was captivated in. I felt much relieved as now there was no one at home worrying for me. The bar of bide had gone beyond its limitations. Thus, people who couldn’t afford more wastage of time began crossing the tracks beneath the raised and clenched arms of the few staff members. This hastening further added to the frustration of the car drivers. Without further delay, one of them came out and resumed the process of clearing space. This time, no one could control him, neither did anyone try to do so. After successful accomplishment of his task, he went in the car and began conversing with the driver. I could hear him yelling, “WHAT! DO I HAVE TO PUSH THE CAR?” Poor luck! Sheer misfortune! “Now, their car had to stop working at this juncture! “, thought I. I could not contemplate what was going to happen, and I did not make much eager efforts either. My strained eyes were just waiting for the train’s arrival.
Hundred of bulging hopeful eyes were fixed on the tracks, as if they were of owl. Each moment, our patience was dying and hopes diminishing. It was high time now. After some uncontrollable delay, the man with the red shirt came out of the car again. The repulsive voice of the red monster pierced through our ears most terribly. Though I had already apprenticed my mother with my condition, the time of my father’s arrival was approaching and I was panicking. Therefore, I decided to call my mother again. No sooner did I turn to my nearest partner to ask for phone than the red shirt man started pushing the car against all minute protests and warnings. The driver thought that he would be able to take the car safely through the horde. The car worked momentarily but at the crucial moment, the man’s feet stuck between the two rails of the track. He was unable to move his feet even a bit. It was very painful, one could make it out from his face.
The moment, for which we had been vehemently waiting for, had finally arrived but the sight was horrifying rather being rejoicing. The train was visible coming from the left side of the car. There was terror and tumult all around for the reason contrary to the previous one. Many helping hands rushed to save the man and push the car, while others made space around the tracks. The car had reached a safer spot, but the man was unable to budge. We had been complaining about the poor conditions of tracks but our voices had been ignored every time. That ignorance and ineffectiveness of the superiors became a problem for all of us that day.
Some people on the train saw our waving hands, indicating to stop but they were unable to compass anything. We could do nothing in that nickof time. The ones who had initiated for help moved aside for their safety. Alas! The cries to call the men safely on the other side silenced. After the momentous yet terrifying tranquility, the screams and squalls began to louden. The young man was brutally crushed by the rushing wheels of an unknown train. The nearby shops and houses became vacant. The sight was horrendous. His partner was shocked to immobility. Few newspapers, who were not anyway reflecting the problems local residents dealt with, sensed their responsibility to cover the news before any other did so. Children were weeping, ladies were sitting crestfallen. All the eyes were tearful, mouths open wide in disbelief. The men were busy helping the car driver, who had been unconscious since the time he visualized the grim accident. Interviewers went on. Spots of blood on crevices were strikingly visible in the flashes of their cameras. The disheveled substance and scattered pieces of mass were being reassembled by ink to suffer the mutilation again. The officers who had portrayed attempts of saving him, had a stark sense of relief on their faces, that they saved themselves at the crucial second by retreating at the eleventh hour.
I stood their, flabbergasted, unable to conceive what my eyes had just perceived. My mind wasn’t able to process the indigestible sight. Life never offers, it gives. The man diced with death and death diced with his life to its dead-end.
Soon the miserable spot was joined by policemen and ambulances; and all the devastated spectators were asked to leave the spot. The jam dispersed. We all left the road red and remorseful; filled with ponds of blood and some lumps of flesh, which still looked as fresh as of an alive. I wanted to have a sleep that night, so I left the spot in hurry. The car was still shining boldly, red and number plate was luminous white with some red spots which were more apparent and evident than the whole red car. They were first and probably the last spots on it. I could not hold my plan further and returned home empty handed to accept, to learn and to get lost.
The successive days went calm and quiet, nix to rejoice, zilch to notice, except the increase in number of vultures and eagles near the market.
