A typical Monday morning in Mumbai, I should say. I suffered all my life to get to this point. Born to a middle class family, my dad took all the efforts to make me to get in to an Engineering college in Chennai and I managed to come out with loads of obstacles. Worked in all useless positions in various companies, finally managed to get in to this prestigious software company in Mumbai. I can’t take my desires out being an average fun loving youth. Miles to go before I could take over completely. I am still working hard to get settled. Its been 4-5 months since I shifted to Mumbai and joined this company. Working hard, harder and to the hardest to get a name and strike a career.
So far, so good. ‘Hey, got ready ? I will leave the key in doors. You get ready and come as you wish’, my friend with no patience. ‘Hey hey… wait… am ready you vennai…. Mannn I can’t take the keys. I will be late tonight. Loads to finish up in the office bro’, all the office tasks came in to my mind.
I joined this company as a contractor and it’s a deal. I made up my mind to deliver the best and be a permanent employee in 6 months time. I took up all those extra responsibilities in the office. Wasted most of the nights in the office working ‘reckless’. Yes, I need to some how get permanent, some how get a good package, some how get a decent flat in Chennai, some how get a onsite chance, some how make my morning dream come true, some how….. uhhhhhh… getting late… ahhh….
I finished my half bath. ‘Quick, drink the tea. Lets eat once we reach the office.’ my friend on a caring tone. He is one good chap who cared me well when I was in need for the most in all the times. I quickly sipped the tea to finish it in the record time of 23 secs. ‘Okiee dude, lets go’, I was rejoiced with the half milk, 30% water, 20% old tea extract that I had just now. The room iam staying is like slightly bigger than a crow’s nest. Its Mumbai, you cant afford much. I am yet to be permanent and get in to a flat.
‘Shall we get an auto? Its late already.’ I asked my friend. ‘Do you think you are a PM or some one, now shut the **** up and walk fast’, he yelled again with angry tone. The humidity killing me ah, I should first get a bike once I become permanent. Can’t run in this scroaching sun every morning. ‘Hey lets cross the railway track, no need over bridge man. I can’t sweat more’, I pleaded and my mate agreed with me too. We got through the bushy area to meet the railway tracks. Mumbai is known for its busy metro rail network. But people normally don’t bother to take bridge to cross the tracks as TIME doesn’t wait for any one to cross on their own slowness.
There were around 5 set of tracks as my place is a junction. So, more distance yo. I need to cross all the tracks to the other end and get in to the road and then gotto catch a bus to have 15 mins. travel to reach my office.
This is was never easy as the walk from my room to bus stop normally takes 20 long mins. Probably 12-15 mins if I do a brisk walk by avoiding the overhead railway bridge. I quickly jumped in to the tracks and jumped across one by one. ‘Hey watch out da, train approaching’, my friend warned me. I managed to cross it quickly but something striked on my back when I did so called safe landing after the last track jump. I don’t know but I cant think what happened. I need to catch the bus now.
My friend was running ahead of me. I was following him worried about my office work. ‘Machi, wait da I feel weird’… He dint bothered. He kept running like a stranger. ‘Dei… I am calling you idiot… Stop’.. He still didn’t bothered to turn back. I am not sure about what is happening, why the hell he is ignoring me. I thought I can go slowly. He got the keys anyway. Let me walk slowly.
I suddenly saw some one running towards me. May be he wanna cross all the tracks to the other end. But he is coming straight in front of me. I was like scared as he gonna hit me any time. But he came too close before I react. And suddenly, I never thought that will happen. He ran towards me he got in to my body and kept running crossing my body. How the hell this happened? What the F**K is happening around me ? ‘Nooooooooooooooo’ I shouted at top of my voice. No one around bothered to look at me. Every one was going towards the track with an obnoxious look.
I turned back and saw a crowd. I just went near. I saw it and shocked. It was ME, lying down dead. I was shouting at the crowd ‘Hey look am here. Am here. I don’t believe this’, no one bothered. I felt some thing at my back head. I touched. Blood !!!
Did I, .…………………… 'LOST' my life ?
Foot note:
The above is a true incident happened to one of my very good friend a year ago. I still can not forget the day we cremated him. He was the only son for his parents. The family was relying on him. The scene was 100% devastating. It was sheer carelessness that ended up with a full stop in the chap’s dreams and his family’s expectations on him. I guess I don’t need to write down on the value of ‘LIFE’.
