By Savitri Narayanan
Sulaiman stood on the platform, hands in his pockets and eyes turned north. The Konkan Kanya Express had crossed Madgaon. It was catching up on lost speed and expected to be on time in Udipi. A year of service here in Goa had increased his knowledge in different ways. Having grown up in Uttar Pradesh and with limited travel outside the state, Goa opened up new worlds. He had also picked up a sprinkling of Konkani. Having joined duty as a Points Man a year ago, he was still undergoing training. He had learnt a lot about matters like signalling, track changing. He had also picked up quite a few technical words to communicate with his colleagues.
“Another six months here with me, then six months in Karmali and then you can get trained in Madgaon station,” the station master had said last week.
Sulaiman still remembered the day he had joined duty. In his new blue and maroon uniform, with the appointment letter in the shoulder bag, he had stood in the stationmaster’s office waiting for instructions.
“Anwelkar, Sulaiman is our new trainee Points Man. I trust you to train him well,” the station master told the other person and then turned to him. “You’ll report to him, he’s your boss! Nobody’s here to teach you, it’s up to you to learn! How much and how fast, is up to you!”
With those words he laughed aloud and signalled them out.
‘Relax friend!’ You tag along, observe what I do, make your notes, ask questions – gradually you’ll learn everything,’ Anwelkar had said reassuringly. He too was a Points Man. His job was to monitor the signals on the tracks. Here, on the Konkan Railway, the trains from Mumbai and further north went south towards Ernakulam and the other way round too. Anwelkar was clear and specific in his instructions and quite encouraging too. As the days passed, Sulaiman grew happier and more confident.
The crowd on the platform increased in no time. A tea-vendor and a man with packets of snacks too appeared.
“Maji, I want one,” said Golu, looking up at his mother who was holding his hand.
“You’re always hungry,” said Sunaina.
“He’s only five, still growing up,” Meenakshi said with a fond smile, extending the notes, “Golu, have one on my behalf.”
Then she turned to Sunaina, “You too have your share, Sonu.”
Meenakshi was her elder sister. She stayed at Bambolim with Maji and Papaji, whereas Sunaina had moved to her in-laws’ place in North Goa. Since Golu had a week’s term-break in school, Sunaina had come down.
“Didi please hold on to Golu,” said Sunaina, “There’s a tap there, let me refill the water bottle.”
Meenakshi extended her hand and held Golu’s palm firmly.
“Golu betey, stay put, ok?” she said, “No moving around.”
Not that he needed a reminder. Ever since he remembered, Taiji couldn’t see. It seems due to some illness, Meenakshi had lost her sight when she was a toddler. Even Sunaina didn’t have any memory of her sister with eyesight.
Sulaiman was touched, especially as it reminded him of his late grandfather who was sightless too.
‘There’s a lot of affection and caring in their words,’ was the thought that rose in his heart as he overheard the threesome.
From far away came the sound of an approaching train.
The platform somehow came alive as if they expected the train would stop and passengers would get in and out. Some moved closer to the edge of the platform to get a better view of the train.
Then things happened instantly, one after the other!
A passenger who was rushing past bumped into Meenakshi who swayed, which in turn made Golu lose his grip on the large rubber ball in his hand. As the ball fell down and rolled away, Golu pulled away and ran after the ball.
People watched in shock when following his ball, the little boy, too, rolled on to the tracks.
“Golu, my Golu,” called out Meenakshi.
The train sounded louder and chugged closer. Meenakshi’s wails got lost in the sound.
‘No, stop here. It’ll use track no. 4,’ Sulaiman could hear the Points Man’s voice somewhere at the back of his brain. Usually only those trains which had a scheduled stop would use the track along the platform whereas the other trains would use any other tracks to whizz past.
But, at the moment, there was a child on the tracks and the train approaching!
Without another thought Sulaiman bent down, crouched and got down on the tracks, picked up Golu who held the ball close to his chest and placed him safely on the platform. The fast train rushed past even before Sulaiman got back on to the platform!
“Thank you, Uncleji!” said Golu.
“God bless you for saving my son,” there were tears in Sunaina’s voice.
“Really brave of you to get in the path of a train to save a child!”
“You risked your life to save our Golu!”
It was then that Sulaiman noticed quite a few people standing around. Anwelkar too stood there in his uniform, and so did the stationmaster.
“There’s nothing great about this,” Sulaiman was quite embarrassed to speak but also felt he was expected to say something. “If he was my own child, isn’t this is what would I do? True, the train wasn’t given this track but when it comes to a child, one can’t take a chance!”
The stationmaster stepped forward with a smile, put his arms over both the Points Men and said, “True, our job is to run trains on time and keep them clean but it’s people who use the trains. Our passengers are our priority and to ensure their safety, at times my staff takes this kind of risks too!”
(Savitri Narayanan is a retired educationist at present in Goa. A mother and grandmother, loves reading, writing and travelling.)
