A Sprint to Remember

It was during my engineering days, I had the opportunity to visit Ramakrishna Math along with one of my engineering friend Naga Karthik. It was not at all a new place to me as I had been there earlier. This Math aims to transform the society by all-round development of a individual’s character, which it has clearly put into action by organizing various programs .It was for my friend I had to visit Math to purchase some good books for motivation as well as revisiting this place brings peace to any restless mind.

We did shopping for some good books in the books section. By the time we finished our activity and came out of Math, it was already night. The bus stop was about one kilometer and we stroll down the lane talking about Math and its activities. To reach the bus stop we had to cross the road. My friend did it quickly as he has realized that our destination bus has just arrived at the bus stop.

He yelled at me “Come on, its our direct bus”, after crossing the road.

Hyderabad is known for its 400 year old Charminar, for its communal harmony, for its biryani and last but not the least for its heavy traffic on the roads too. Crossing the road is the most daring activity in a daily routine life of Hyderabadi. Perhaps it is easier to do skydiving rather than crossing a road!

I collected the left out courage in me to cross the road. I made few attempts, but in vain. I can clearly see my friend already boarding the bus and yelling at me as it started to accelerate. I said to myself now or never and plunged into the traffic. I narrowly managed to cross the road and checked whether I was in one total piece. I did it. My heart rejoiced as though I have cracked IIT entrance examination without any preparation!

By the time, I crossed the road, the bus was about furlong distance from me and fast accelerating to its top speed. I still had a chance if I could cover a furlong in less thirty seconds. I was confident enough as I was good at running right from school days. So I thought to give it a shot. Meanwhile my friend yelling at me caught the attention of crowd standing at the bus stop as well in the bus too.

Now having the full attention of the crowd on me, it was like a National Athletics Championship where the crowd is cheering the local boy. I sprinted with all my strength towards the bus like a desperate cheetah towards its prey. By the time I reached my top speed, the bus has reached its top speed too. In a last attempt, I tried to push hard myself, but failed miserably to catch the bus. The sight of bus disappearing made me to realize that I was a loser.

You let down yourself .All your efforts have gone in vain. When I heard a scooter horn, then I realized that I was still on the road. A scooterist came by my side and simply said “Come” as I was still trying to catch my breath. I still don’t know why I took the back seat of his scooter without asking any question. He could be anyone trying to kidnap me for money!

As we drove together, I could not make out anything of him except that he looks like a old man probably in his fifty’s. I could see my missing bus trying to make a way ahead. I said “There goes my bus”, pointing my index finger towards the bus as though a child pointing towards his favorite chocolates in a candy shop. He said nothing.

He accelerated his scooter and overtook the bus. He stopped it in front of the bus so that the bus is forced to halt. He said “Go on”. At once, I jumped from the back seat of the scooter and boarded the bus. I realized that I forgot to thank the old man for his help, I came out through the window to say thanks to him. But he vanished.

I was moved by this act by the old man. I must admit he did not help me to win one crore in KBC or donated blood to save my life. But his small act of helping changed my perceptions of the world around. People who are completely strange can also care for you. I really felt strange as to why would someone help a stranger? Then I realized that Hyderabad is not only known for its heavy traffic but also known for its people with a helping heart..

As Swami Vivekananda correctly puts it in single statement the whole summary of entire preaching of different religions in the world.

“To be good and To do good. That is the whole of religions” …