I stood there on the deserted sidewalk of a bus stand which was a bus stand in name only. It was only a spot under a large tree where the buses used to stop. I had been posted as a teacher in a secondary school at the village of NAILA (INDIA).today the school had held its annual ceremony. I could not leave to catch an 8’oclock bus on time. The bus-stand was on the outskirts of the village. There was no point in returning to the village. I didn’t want to miss any other bus that might pass by. There was a small thatched shop of beetle nut preparation and tea run by a local. I had never made acquaintances with the locals. I always avoided them. In this moment of helplessness I walked up to the man. He was winding up.
“Ma’am, you are late. There’ll be no other bus until 8 tomorrow morning.”
“Isn’t here any other means of transport?”
“No. you should call your family.”
My phone never received a signal around here. Desperately I climbed up a mound. As always I had little hope of receiving it. So I stepped down and asked him if there was any phone booth around.
“No. it’s in the next village about 20kms away and so is the bus stop.”
The man had probably found out that I was helpless. I couldn’t wait here all night!
I moved away and went back to the place under the tree. I had a knife and a pepper spray bottle. I closed my eyes and prayed to God to bring me back home safe.
I heard footsteps and quickly tensed up.
“Are you waiting for a bus?”A tall, middle-aged man came up to me and asked.
“yes.” I replied cold and distant.
I saw there was a small boy walking up to me behind the man. I was relieved
“I don’t think there’ll be any bus until morning?” he asked me
“No. Not until 8 tomorrow.” I said.
“Dev wait here with ma’am sahib till I return.” The little boy nodded and stood by my side.
The boy didn’t seem scared at all.
“How old are you Dev?”
“I am 5!”
“Do you live in this village?”
“No I came to visit my uncle.”
“Where do you live?”
“Jaipur”
“I hope we’d get a bus back to the city!”
The boy’s father came back with three cups of tea. He handed me one and I thanked him. I was not sure whether we’d get back home but the man specially the child’s presence relieved me. I told him how I missed the bus.
“Why don’t you go to your relative’s house back at the village? “I asked him.
“No ma’am we have to get back to Jaipur! There is a bus stop a kilometer away.”
“No there is not any within 20kms.”
“I frequently visit the village ma’am! So I do know about the place.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes definitely.”
We walked briskly through the dark stretches of the rough terrain. I wondered how terrified my parents must be. I wanted to tell them I was going to come back home soon.
There was a crashing sound in the bushes and I could here the cicada’s shriek from everywhere. The darkness became denser. I took out my cell phone and turned on the torch. I stumbled twice.
The man was right. We soon reached a bus stand. I bade my gratitude to god. The little boy smiled at me. It seemed as though he too frequented the village and had used the path many times. Unlike me he didn’t seem scared and walked with no trouble. I smiled back.
There was a board displaying the bus schedule hanging from the street light post. The bus to Jaipur would be here by 10 and it was 9:50 now. It was such a relief! I wondered how I was in time just to catch the bus since I had been badly out of luck today! Anyway I was going to go back! And that was satisfying to know. I stood against the light post.
“thank you,SIR. “I said.
The man only smiled. I looked at his face. He had an abnormal gleam in his eyes and an uncanny conformity over his face. The little boy patiently seated by the lamp post which was quiet unnatural for a five year old. He seemed like a well brought-up boy. I knelt down beside him and started talking with him.
Soon the bus arrived. We boarded it. The bus stopped at million places but we hadn’t reach Jaipur yet. It was 12. I fervently prayed for finding a phone booth. The man stepped down at a stop and beckoned me outside. He had found a phone booth. I talked to my parents ad told them that I was safe and had missed the bus. I told them I would soon be home.
Many people had boarded the bus by now. I became very impatient. We were still an hour away from Jaipur. I tried to keep my eyelids from closing through great effort. I badly needed sleep. I had a tiring day at school and the long walk drained me off the remaining vestige of energy. I leaned against the window and dozed off to sleep.
“Mira? Wake up.”
I stirred from my dreamless sleep and quickly sat straight.
“We have to step down. We have reached Jaipur.”
I gathered myself and got up. Dev followed his father looking as fresh as the morning dew. I felt ashamed at my own dullness. The bus left us at the city’s main bus-stand. There were many cabs lined at the pavement. The man roused a cab-driver from his sleep and successfully persuaded him to drive me home at half past 1 in the morning.
“Ma’am I’ll come along.”
“No you must go back at your home.dev must be sleepy and hungry by now. I must not take any more favors of you.”
“No. you are just like my little sister and I will see to it that you reach home safe.”
I could not dissuade the good man. We hopped in the cab and drove away. Very soon I was home.
Dev and his father too got out of the cab. I thought perhaps they lived around my house.
“ you’ve helped me through the difficult hour today. Had you not come to the bus stand I’d have never returned home. Please stay in my house for the night and take rest.”
“No sister. I must return home to my family.”
“You can go back home in the morning tomorrow.”I obstinately pleaded him.
“No we must leave!”
“Come in and meet my parents,bhaisahab. They would want to thank you.”
He finally agreed. I pressed the bell and my mother opened the door. My parents were wrathful yet relieved.
“I could reach Jaipur through his help and we should be thankful to him.” I told my parents as I turned. But neither dev nor his father could be seen. I rushed to the main gate and could see them nowhere. I was surprised. A cold breeze blew through the leaves on the trees of sidewalk. I shivered. Soon realization dawned on me. I walked back into my house alone surprising my parents too.I explained to them what had just occurred!
“Perhaps they have made you a firm believer now? My mother pointed out.
Yes. I thought. They were undoubtedly my saviors. I wish I could have been able to thank them adequately.
perhaps they are always around. Looking after me?
That night I lay in my bed sleepless. My soul was somewhere above my body which was numb with fatigue. All those oft-told stories of miracles happening became crystal clear in my heart. Hazy shadows and mists of my saviors lurked around me. I smiled and bade my gratitude for the wordless strength they bestowed on me and soon sleep overtook me.
