WHEN EYES SPEAK

June 2002 I went along with my brother to Mumbai for a week’s holiday. It was wonderful to spend a few good days and specially Navi Mumbai which is being designed systematically and purposely clean I just could not count those moments which passed miraculously soon and before I could think of anything else, it was time for me to bid adieu.

I travelled alone by Gyaneshwari express which left Mumbai early evening and was due to reach Kolkata early morning. A pleasant journey and after having my dinner hardly had my eyes just gone to rest I realized it was time for the train to be in Howrah. The train entered the platform before time and when the coolie took the luggage down it was barely 4 am. It was considerably dark and the main seasonal influence upon the climate of the city is the monsoon. The platform was wet and it was a misty morning.

Meanwhile my husband had enquired at the station the arrival of Gyaneshwari and came to know the car was driving in. He quickly took the car keys out, gave me a call and was on his way for Howrah.

“Didi, the coolie broke the silence, are you alone”? “Yes” I nodded. In that case the coolie added “Please wait here and do not go out before dawn, days are not good, and you should not go alone taking a cab” His deep and intense eyes gave me the message, that whatever he said was truth.

I told the coolie, “It is okay someone will come to pick me up”

Later I told him to leave me alone, but he did not, after 15 minutes he added “Are you sure someone will come to pick you up” Well “yes” I told him.

Slowly one by one all the passengers had left the platform. It was still dark and silently the coolie stood with me. A moderately well built tall man; maybe he had crossed his mid fifties.

Finally my husband arrived at about 5.30 am and we left for our house. We were then staying in Jodhpur Park.

So many years have passed, good and bad, some significantly important, other joyous moments, a few moments of pain, which we have braved out. Life is not always smooth, we have to go through many storms, unavoidable circumstances come in the name of troubles but when we share them together, we come out successfully.

Amidst all doings in life, sometimes spending time with “OWN’ in work and play, when I go to bed for rest before closing my eyes, the faint picture becomes clear and I keep on wondering, and silently saying to myself, “ God thou Art always there” How can I forget the misty dark monsoon morning? It’s belief, faith, God is always there, only we forget to acknowledge.

Minakshi Chakraborty