6 15 am, I was just 5 minutes away from Majestic Bus Stand. I looked outside the window and a cool breeze touched my face. Yes, every morning will retain their freshness no matter what yesterday was.
Mean while our bus came to a halt. I hurried myself towards railway station.
It took me another 10 minutes to get the Mysore Ticket. The police guard did not even bothered to look at me, while I passed through the security door; but the device promptly beeped once.
It was like a little market. All were busy with their luggage, and a lot of movements happening there, I took a little time to confirm my platform. Once I was sure, I rushed myself there. The TV announced my train will reach there in 5 minutes. I looked around for a cup of coffee and found one.
While relishing it I recalled the fresh breeze that sailed over my face. But expecting the same there, inside the railway station, was foolishness. It was not only like a mini market, but also like a set of toilets. I left the remaining coffee with cup and put it into the dust bin.
Exactly after 5 minutes the express train arrived and I was happy to get inside and find me on an empty seat. I checked my ticket again. That appeared okay. I looked outside the window, no hint of any fresh breeze.
Slowly the platforms and other trains started to move backwards. 20 minutes passed as the train gained its speed. Someone just touched my shoulder gently from the other side; when I was looking the moving trees outside.
That was a Hizda. With her hand stretched, she stared at me. 100 ants ran through my mind. I was confused, perhaps embarrassed. ‘I have no change’, I said. ‘No problem, how much do you want?’ she asked, and touched my shoulder again. Unwillingly I gave her a 5 Rupee coin. I cursed the whole system. It was like a day- robbery (hagalu darode). She grinned and left.
It took me few minutes to relax. After that, I posed a series of questions to myself. ‘Why I felt so abnormal?’ – ‘Most hizdas live at the margins of society with very low status, and the very word ‘Hizda’ is used in a derogatory manner. Many get their income from begging, performing at ceremonies or sex work’.
But I was not satisfied with these answer.
Train finally came to a halt. That was the city where I got my post graduation degree, the city which gave me long-lasting memories.
I finished my work earlier than expected and got back into the train by 2 30. As it was a week day, I got a seat rather easily. Track moved slowly under the train wheels. I was looking outside again, the ruins of SriRangaPatna and the waves of Cauvery took me to another world, but the train moved slowly, uninterrupted on its never-ending tracks.
‘Oh!’ I uttered almost loudly; and that was when I saw someone in my next compartment. No doubt, it was the same person, but this time relaxing on a seat. She (hizda) looked tired. Sitting opposite to her were an elder couple, and they looked like rich merchants. The 2 golden rings and a big chain like jewelry was an indication to my assumption.
10 minutes faded, no hint of Hizda getting back to her duty.
Earlier, I felt Railway Station as a market, later realized not only the station, but also the train itself is a market. The Coffee vendors, Vada sellers moved to and fro. Meanwhile, I saw polio hit boy, around 9 years, crawling, cleaning the way with a cloth, and at the same time, begging around.
He came to the compartment where the Hizda was resting. He was totally ignored by the rich couple there. Contrary to that, the Hizda opened her handbag and gave him a 5 Rupee coin.
That was an eye-opener. That moment changed my opinions on Hizdas. I got the answers to all my previous questions, and the one which was alive since the morning. I realized that they too are humans first and then hizdas. I realized the joy of giving. I realized the quality of being human.
I was thankful that this person had managed to remind me that my time/money is not all that precious. It starts with taking just a moment to see one another, and it goes from there...
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profundity. Kindness in giving creates love."
Mean while our bus came to a halt. I hurried myself towards railway station.
It took me another 10 minutes to get the Mysore Ticket. The police guard did not even bothered to look at me, while I passed through the security door; but the device promptly beeped once.
It was like a little market. All were busy with their luggage, and a lot of movements happening there, I took a little time to confirm my platform. Once I was sure, I rushed myself there. The TV announced my train will reach there in 5 minutes. I looked around for a cup of coffee and found one.
While relishing it I recalled the fresh breeze that sailed over my face. But expecting the same there, inside the railway station, was foolishness. It was not only like a mini market, but also like a set of toilets. I left the remaining coffee with cup and put it into the dust bin.
Exactly after 5 minutes the express train arrived and I was happy to get inside and find me on an empty seat. I checked my ticket again. That appeared okay. I looked outside the window, no hint of any fresh breeze.
Slowly the platforms and other trains started to move backwards. 20 minutes passed as the train gained its speed. Someone just touched my shoulder gently from the other side; when I was looking the moving trees outside.
That was a Hizda. With her hand stretched, she stared at me. 100 ants ran through my mind. I was confused, perhaps embarrassed. ‘I have no change’, I said. ‘No problem, how much do you want?’ she asked, and touched my shoulder again. Unwillingly I gave her a 5 Rupee coin. I cursed the whole system. It was like a day- robbery (hagalu darode). She grinned and left.
It took me few minutes to relax. After that, I posed a series of questions to myself. ‘Why I felt so abnormal?’ – ‘Most hizdas live at the margins of society with very low status, and the very word ‘Hizda’ is used in a derogatory manner. Many get their income from begging, performing at ceremonies or sex work’.
But I was not satisfied with these answer.
Train finally came to a halt. That was the city where I got my post graduation degree, the city which gave me long-lasting memories.
I finished my work earlier than expected and got back into the train by 2 30. As it was a week day, I got a seat rather easily. Track moved slowly under the train wheels. I was looking outside again, the ruins of SriRangaPatna and the waves of Cauvery took me to another world, but the train moved slowly, uninterrupted on its never-ending tracks.
‘Oh!’ I uttered almost loudly; and that was when I saw someone in my next compartment. No doubt, it was the same person, but this time relaxing on a seat. She (hizda) looked tired. Sitting opposite to her were an elder couple, and they looked like rich merchants. The 2 golden rings and a big chain like jewelry was an indication to my assumption.
10 minutes faded, no hint of Hizda getting back to her duty.
Earlier, I felt Railway Station as a market, later realized not only the station, but also the train itself is a market. The Coffee vendors, Vada sellers moved to and fro. Meanwhile, I saw polio hit boy, around 9 years, crawling, cleaning the way with a cloth, and at the same time, begging around.
He came to the compartment where the Hizda was resting. He was totally ignored by the rich couple there. Contrary to that, the Hizda opened her handbag and gave him a 5 Rupee coin.
That was an eye-opener. That moment changed my opinions on Hizdas. I got the answers to all my previous questions, and the one which was alive since the morning. I realized that they too are humans first and then hizdas. I realized the joy of giving. I realized the quality of being human.
I was thankful that this person had managed to remind me that my time/money is not all that precious. It starts with taking just a moment to see one another, and it goes from there...
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profundity. Kindness in giving creates love."
2 comments:
Truly good article and a very good incident that you have faced in bang-mysore train...
Your way of writing is simply superb...plz dont stop your fantastic work dude..
I will wait for verity 4. Post it soon.. :)
Good one abhi...
But, She for hizda was bit confusing :) coz most of us don know whether to prefix he or she to hizda..
ok.jokes apart...good writing and above that A good title...
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