CHANDIGARH EXPERIENCE

This incidence took place some 30 years ago but is still fresh in my mind. That day I was travelling from Delhi to Chandigarh by luxury bus. There were hardly 10-12 passengers in the bus.  I was carrying my office electronic material costing over two lakhs. During journey, I got off the bus at Panipat to have some cool drink. After finishing my drink I returned to the place where I had got off only to find that the bus had left without me. I was shocked. I approached the Bus depot Manager. But since those days communication was in primitive stage, he suggested to go to Chandigarh by following bus and handle the situation there itself. I was very much tense. First of all my office job was at stake for an act which could be termed as gross negligence and secondly the cost of the lost items was too high for me to pay off.  That was the first time I was praying God with utmost earnestness. After an hour’s gap, the next bus arrived. The manager put me on to bus with instruction to conductor not to charge me the fare.  I was told that Chandiharh was at an hours  journey from Panipat. I was so restless that the whole journey I stood near the door.

After an hour when the bus entered the Chandigarh bus depot, my heart sank. The depot was too large and nearly 50-60 buses were parked there.  Not knowing the bus number it was impossible to trace my bus which had arrived an hour ago.  I had lost all hopes of getting my baggage.  But a miracle happened. No sooner the bus stopped and I got out of the bus, one Sardarji approched me.  “ Sab aap Delhi se luxury bus me the na? Aaapka saman bus me pada hua hai.”( Sir, you were from Delhi in luxury bus? Your baggage is there in the bus) I was surprised and overjoyed over the fact that my baggage was traced.

“ ha. Ha. Kaha hai bus?”(yes.Yes. Where is the bus?)  “ Chaliye mere saath. Maine driver aur conductor dono ko pakadke rakha hai. Main unako bol raha tha ek chasme wale bhai pichhe reh chuke hai. Jab tak wo nahi aate aap nahi ja sakate.” ( Come along with me. I have told Conductor & driver not to leave till that bespectacled man comes who was left behind.) So my spectacles gave me an identity.  I rushed with him to the bus. I jumped in and found that my baggage was all ok. I really did not know how to thank that Sardarji. Appreciation in terms of money would be an insult to the co-passenger.  I offered him dinner at a hotel. But sardarji politely refused as he was to take another bus to go to his village.

That was an act of kindness from stranger without any expectation.  That reinforced my idea of social values.