The Good Samaritan

Every night she and Amit would walk back home together from the train station together, laughing, holding hands, teasing each other. Every night, he would try to heckle the sleepy, disheveled turbaned security guard at the station exit. "Oye Pappey”, "Oye Paaji" "It is 12 O'clock” he would shout out loud to the guard, to rouse him. They would laugh and feel the impetuous giddiness of youth wash over them. The old one never responded. Ignored them, remained stoic and silent.

Today, Asha was alone. The software product released by her company had major bugs and the entire testing team had been called to retest and work overtime on a Sunday. The locals were almost vacant today. She had been lucky to get the last train from CST to Ghatkopar. The usually milling station was eerily silent. As she got down from the Ladies' first class, she noticed the boys. They had been busy looking at each other's cell phones in the overlooking Gents' first class compartment on the ride home. Now as they all alighted, they were walking behind her and laughing among themselves. They didn't seem old enough to cause any real harm; she assessed, but still drew her dupatta closer.

As she climbed the over-bridge rather hurriedly, one of them rushed past her, only to touch her bosom while doing so. Enraged, she stood still on the steps and shouted at the miscreant, which egged his friends to run ahead, touching her bosom and hips on the way.

Now, scared and furious, she ran ahead to berate them and find help. She found all of them lying in wait for her at the foot of the over-bridge, the earlier recklessness in their eyes replaced by something more sinister. She steeled herself and walked down the stairs, still undecided on her next course of action. But as she walked down, the youngsters gathered around her, teasing her and touching her. Fear overcame rage and self-reservation kicked in. She slapped one of them and pushed past, running to the exit, towards the auto stand, shouting for help. The youngsters chased, leering gleefully. And then she heard a loud whack and a cry of pain, shouting and then the whistles of the old sentry at the exit. She paused, conjuring up her courage, she looked back.

A lone rail policeman and the old turbaned sentry had caught hold of three of the hoodlums. One of them was bleeding near the mouth where the old guard had hit him with his heavy steel bangle or kada.

She looked gratefully at the old guard but he was busy with the eve teasers. She thanked her stars for his intervention and boarded the nearest auto for home. Guilt and remorse accompanied her on the way and stayed up with her night.

The next day she told Amit about the incident and at night they quietly walked out of the exit. As they did, she turned back and folded her hands at the old guard. No recognition visible on his face, he smiled and folded his hands in return.