A Break In The Clouds: July 2008

This happened a couple of days ago.

I left office early (on time) because I had given some photographs to develop. These snaps were taken of my nani when she had come to visit us last year. My parents were going the next day to Nagpur to visit her and I know that she would be very happy to see them. The shop closed at 9 and I had to get them that day itself.

As I was waiting at the bus stop and was approached by an old lady in her late 60s. She had lost her way. She had come from Kalyan and wanted to go to Rambaug nagar near powai lake. The lady looked poor but was definitely not a beggar. Her saree was clean. She was wearing a maharashtrain type saree and looked almost in tears. I did not know where Rambaug was. She had come by bus and had got off at the wrong stop. I asked her if she had the exact address. She did not. The only thing she knew that the house was opposite the lake and had some tall buildings close to it. She did not have anyone's phone no. I asked a couple of people at the bus stop but nobody knew exactly where she wanted to go.

We crossed the road and asked a shop owner. He told us that there was such a colony near the lake but in the opposite direction. I thought that I shall get an auto for her and tell the driver the directions and ask her to go alone. But we waited for nearly 15 minutes without an empty auto in sight. Then she asked me if any buses go to Vijaynagari. Her daughter stayed there in a police colony and if we were not sure about Rambaugh, she would go to Vijaynagari. I did not know which Vijaynagari she was referring to. I knew 2 of them. I asked her if she had anybodys contact no at all. She dug into her small purse and gave me her son's telephone no. I tried calling it, but no one was answered. She was very worried and in tears. It was getting dark and I did not want to leave her alone. I thought of my nani and how I would have expected strangers to help her if unfortunately she was ever in such a situation. I was very angry at her family for allowing her to travel such a long distance alone and without even the proper address.

With no auto in sight, we went to a traffic police booth. I thought I shall tell them to drop her at her location.Luckily there were 3 policemen inside. I told them the story. They confirmed that there is a rambaugh at Powai lake. One of them came out and found an auto for us. I expected them to help her. But he did not seem to be going alongwith her. I sat with the old lady and drove to rambaug. By this time I was slightly irritated. And to make matters worse, I had only 70 bucks with me because the ATM was not working in the morning. I desperately wanted to get the photos.

When we were on the way to Rambaug, she seemed to recognise the place and said that she had failed to recognise the place earlier because of a flyover being constructed there. We asked people around and they confirm that it was rambaug area. We got off. I paid the autowalla. It was only Rs12 but I also needed money to go back home. Bus was out of the question now since it was late and I would've had to go by auto.I asked her if this was the right place. She did not seem so sure again. She then said to me 'I think I should go to Vijaynagari' . hearing this I was angry and said that I cant take her to Vijaynagari since I had to go to Goregaon. She immediately walked away towards the houses and asked a couple of people on the way for the person whom she wanted to meet. I had this urge to run behind her and help her locate the house. But for some reason I did not (maybe because it was getting late and I thought that she was in the proximity, she shall be able to find the house on her own).

I sat in the same auto an drove to Goregaon. But I could not get her thoughts out of my mind. All the time I was wondering whether she found the place and I regretted that I had not stayed back to help her. What if she was robbed/met with an accident? I mean, she needed help while crossing the road in daylight. And I had left her to fend for herself in the dark. I was feeling very sorry. As soon as I reached home, I called on her son's cell no which she had given. Thankfully her daughter-in-law picked up this time. I told her the story and asked her to find out whether she had reached the place. She too sounded worried and said that she shall call me back. I called her again a couple of times, the last call was after 11 pm and she still had not reached the right place.

By now I was worried and was feeling extremely bad about leaving her alone. What if I had waited with her for a few more minutes... I would've located the place. If not, I could have dropped her at Vijaynagari. At least she sounded confident about that place. All the time for some reason I put my nani in her place. I somehow managed to sleep through the night. I called the number a couple of times in the morning but without any response. I went to office and called around 9. This time her son answered and said that she had reached safely. She could not locate the place in Powai and had gone to her daughters house in Vijaynagari. I breathed a sigh of relief....

Well, I guess alls well that ends well I guess.....I hope no body ever lets their old parents travel alone. It can get quite scary for them.... Later I put myself in her situation...what if I was in a foreign country and lost my papers/baggage and did not have any idea where to go and what I was supposed to go...

BTW, while crossing the road yesterday night, I almost got knocked down by Vikram Bhatt's car...