200+ CONTACTS...
" We apologise to inform our travellers, that the, 17:50, Manchester Picaadily, bound Virgin rail will be delayed by a couple of hours, due to heavy snow on tracks" the tannoy blared across the platforms.
There was an instantaneous communal groan from the 200 odd mix of students, pensioners, sad, happy, worried, influential, selfish and selfless folks.
The platform was already overflowing from previous cancellations. Each and every seat, bench and wall was been leaned against or sat upon.
Many were shifting their weight from one leg to the other.
Unashamedly, I sat right in the middle of the platform, doubling up my bag as a cushion.
After a few curious glances, many followed suit, and very soon there were a dozen or so fellow travellers circled and sat around me.
After a few polite conversations, the lifeline of all, the cell phone came out and was seen in each and every hand.
I was no exception.
I had already read all the chats on various groups. Most of my friends across 7 seas would be asleep or getting ready to.
There had been the usual messages that day, some devotional, many philosophical, a few humorous, some random chats. Somehow, I didn't feel inclined to participate.
" Saala, bhav khaata hai.
Shaana samajtaa hai apne aapko.
Not even a single like or appreciation on my comment", may have gone through a few minds.
My eyes went down the contact list.
I had a proud feeling when my daughter complemented me on my 200 + contacts.
Neela aunty..
I tapped against her name.
last message sent 20 July 2015....
Had it been that long when I chatted with her.!!
" Hi Neela aunty, how are you" I typed and waited.
After 15 minutes, I got a message,
" Arre Sachin, my ashirvaad to you, " She always called me by this name, as she had fondly christened me.
All her previous messages had started with her blessing me....
and then the conversations would follow the usual track of family and job inquiries.
I looked at our previous chats.
To all my questions about her, she had given brief replies.
" How come you are texting so late, ?"
I felt ashamed, how could I tell her that I wished to pass the next few hours waiting for my train.
"Just waiting for my train", that was not the full truth, but it wasn't a lie either.
"I used to wait too, at Bandra, to come to your house" she texted back
"You were only 8 months. Your Aai had joined work as she couldn't get any more leave."
" So, did you look after me?" I hesitantly asked.
" You were the apple of my eye. We played together, you used to pull my hair, eat from my hands, and crawl around me all over whever i went."
" And for how long Neela aunty?" I was surprised. Aai had never mentioned this.
"Only a couple of years".
.
She told me, how I had locked myself in the store room, how she had frantically searched for me, and climbed over a window when she heard my cries from the store room.
And the 16 Mondays she had fasted after I was found....
45 years ago,
She had selflessly given 2 whole years of her life travelling to our home and being my Aai for 10 hours everyday
And today,
She had given 2 hours of her time to look after me.
Greatness doesn't come with power or knowledge.
If she was on that platform, I would have bent down to touch her feet.
The greatness of little people
makes one realise ones smallness.
The lenghth of that contact list seemed immaterial now..