It’s hard to carry out responsibilities.
Life is more of a mystery than an irony. In my journey till today I never had many terrifying experiences, many bitter ones though. One such incident happened to me on 20-12-2008.we were going to participate in Mood-Indigo at IIT Bombay. Four of us had reservations for “Deccan Queen” which departs at 7.30 am from pune station.
We boarded the train on time .We planned to get down on dadar station. After that we were going to reach Ghatkopar by local and then to Kanjurmarg by another one. But to our surprise the train started slowing down near Ghatkopar station. Then it suddenly stopped a few paces after the station. And what in the world were we thinking at that inauspicious moment. We thought of getting off the train as it would save us 20 odd minutes. So, like the brave (and intelligent) Spartans we got down, crossed the four tracks and started walking towards the platform. I was in the front and the platform was not very far. I turned back and saw a yellow engine coming slowly. It was some 200 mts. away .I quickly jumped on the platform and warned the three boys to watch for the engine and walk fast. So, as soon as I jumped on to the platform a man came towards me waving his hands as if to stop me and he went past me like that. Seeing his weird reaction I turned back and to my ill fate I saw my friend being hit by the damn engine straight in the back of his neck. He fell down; his spectacles flew in the air, his cap on the opposite side. The bag was thrown away. It was the most horrifying scene of my life. At that moment all that came in my mind was hospital and police? I ran to him and shouted him to keep his head down as the engine was still to pass completely. He was shouting and crying in pain. Then we helped him stand up and took his belongings with us. I don’t know from where I got the wits to ask him to take handkerchief and press it on the head. I asked him whether he felt dizzy or headaches, vomiting or blurred vision. The answers to my questions were negative. We started to go out of the station. He said he knew an uncle who would help us and called his father to inform him. On the platform the lady constables (RPF) stopped us and started enquiring how this happened. It took quite a lot of talking to persuade them that we were not doing any mischief near the trains. One of the ladies took him to do 1st aid and I followed. In the mean time the other lady noted down our names and contact numbers. The doctor at the station didn’t even bother to look at him. He just gave an antiseptic tube and I applied it with my bare hands on his wound. There wasn’t even a cotton piece there, forget about the first aid.
So, we hurried to uncles home in a rickshaw. He immediately took out his car & we went to the doctor.3 stitches, an injection and everything was under control. We had breakfast at uncles home and in the meantime I called his mummy and told her that there is nothing to worry. Uncle had a very beautiful daughter, I wanted to talk to her but we needed to move at the earliest. We reached IITcampus and had good dressing done there. None of our friends at the campus believed what we went through. All hell broke upon me as the responsibility was on my shoulders. That incident had its impact on me and I fell ill the next day.
Even today, that journey sends shivers all over my body. But, life goes on, isn’t it?
