Hari

It was late evening I come out of office to go home. It was raining and there were only few people on the street. Outside main gate I saw Hari waiting for rickshaw for Andheri. As I was moving out of the gate I realized that he is visually impaired. He was carrying a laptop bag, duffle bag, lunch box and a folding stick. He was simple and soft-speaking.

I offered to accompany him to next square about 100 meters away where usually rickshaws are available. He answered a call of his dad and we started moving. I couldn’t understand the south Indian language he spoke to his dad, but I guess he said “I am starting from office”. 

Holding his hand and sharing an umbrella we reached the square but rickshaws on this side were for Kurla, an opposite direction to which he wanted to go. Therefore we crossed the road and come to other side for west side rickshaws. 

On that day for some mysterious reason western side of city was highly crowded therefore no rickshaw-wala were ready to go Andheri, however few of them proposed a drop to Bandra station. I asked Hari to come with me in train (Andheri is located in between  Bandra – Borivali route). Insisted to wait, he said he is very tired and does not have stamina to go in train with three bags.  Our one side sleeve of shirt was wet. About 15-20 minutes later our fruitless effort of stopping a rickshaw made him to come with me to Bandra station. I asked him to give me one bag to which he denied softly. It is not easy for him to trust any stranger.

In a short while I could see him as my good friend and I am sure he was also comfortable in my company. We begin our introductory chatting. He seems to be well educated and was working for a mnc (don’t want to name the company). I was happy for his self reliance, but was eager to know what kind of work he could do, what avenues are available to him. He was doing some liaison activity for marketing division. Meanwhile he received a call from his dad. I guess he said he got a rickshaw and he is coming by train. He informed me that very seldom he gets late and that day he was in gym for some extra time. 

In 20 minutes we reached Bandra station. I again requested to give me one bag to carry. This time he couldn’t deny  and gave me lunch box. We crossed the rail bridge for our platform to Borivali trains. He was not having ticket so I went to buy a ticket leaving him in one corner.

When I come back he asked “where the indicator is”. First I could not understand, but all of sudden something zoomed my mind. Since about a year I was listening some beep-beep noise on stations. It was a very irritating noise and I thought it was some railway security signal.   Now with his question I realized that the noise is meant for such people to locate their coach on platform (every train has couple of couch-sections reserved for physically challenged people).  The irksome noise suddenly became soft and very useful, otherwise how a Hari could board the coach. On that day indicators were not working. 

Soon train arrived. I made him comfortable by informing that the train is not crowded. People in train were co-operative in allowing Hari a way to move easily. Fortunately we got a seat (yes it is fortune to get a seat in train during office hours). We again started our talk. I praised him that he made a correct decision to take train instead of rickshaw. He said he usually go by car and occasionally by rickshaw. He again received a call from his dad probably inquiring where he reached. I could feel a concerned dad for his son till he sees him at home. 

Andheri station was about to come. I handed him his lunch box and asked if he wants me to drop him to the rickshaw for his home. He said usually someone is there to help him. Thanking me and greeting goodbye he got down from train. 

I come back to my seat. From window I was observing an employed, gym fit, confident and clam Hari. He is no where less than anyone.