Bus Journey and Life Journey Ramanathan was making a bus trip to his workplace in the city after a few days stay in his native place , a suburban town in Tamilnadu.
He got into the bus carrying with him a small suitcase and an
English newspaper , ''The Hindu ''. As his bus journey usually takes
about 3 to4 hours including scheduled stops, he took the newspaper ,
which he had tucked in his armpits, for reading.By his side was an
elderly person and to his right a young man with a colored blue
shirt with stripes and wearing cooling glass and non chalantly
sporting a cigarette. The bus was as usual going in a steady speed
sometimes ,making noises when the driver horns or another one passing
this.Unmindful of these distractions, Ramanthan
was immersed in reading his paper. After some time ,say about half an
hour or so, ,the person seated to his left, an elderly person enquired
whether he could give the Matrimonial classified advertisement sheet
for him to read. First Ramanathan pretended as if he did not hear but his new friend (?) just touched him and asked ,May I have the Matrimonial column please?. Ramanthan
thought for a while and said , ''I am sorry I may get down soon '' and
continued reading. Shortly thereafter the next bus stop arrived and an
unusually big crowd got into the bus pushing and pulling passengers in
the melee. Somebody who had got into the bus in that stop exclaimed
''Oh I lost my purse '' and the irritated passenger loudly asked the
conductor to stop the bus.,Quick came the reply from the conductor ''
that it is not possible to stop the bus just for a complaint of
pickpocket,as many passengers would get annoyed by the consequent
delay''. The bus continued its journey despite protest by the passenger
and few others taking sides with him . . By this time the bus had
reached the next stop and a few passengers got out.,. probably the
pickpocket also ,( if he had entered the bus).Now coming back to Ramanathan,
who was still reading his newspaper, the young man to his right asked
him to give the paper for a look ,to see the sports column
particularly cricket,.But Ramanathan
was in no mood to oblige, and in an apologetic manner said ''I may get
down in the next stop which is not too long and I do not know whether
your destination is also the same. '' .Probably being felt snubbed ,
the young man told him sternly,''Look man, if you do not want to give
the paper just say so, and do not give us a lecture.'' By that time the
next stop came and he got down and Ramanathan continued the journey ..
We come across many such incidents in our life ,not necessarily
confined to bus travel or train travel alone , but on very many other
occasions like when we assemble to watch a movie in a cinema
house, reading a book in library or doling some financial
transaction in a bank.etc . In all these activities we come into
actual contact with people in general and witness how most of them
try to protect their property( even if it is worth only 3 or 4 Rs. like
a newspaper) . The rigor is more and more so ,if it is some
valuables like jewellery, or high priced gadget like digital camera
cum cellphone etc etc. But what is mysterious is while they take all
these precautions about their belongings, most of them do not bothertake care of their entire journey of a life time, fruitful.Probably
many are under the impression, that there is still a long way to go
in their journey through life, but may not know that their journey may
abruptly end any time shorter. .Moreover, most people may have
notions that we need not bother about what happens to us after we go
from this world , but let us live live for today only taking care of
their life,pleasures, family, property only..While this attitude
cannot be entirely be treated as wrong, what is relevant is , that in
every body''s life there will be occasions when he has to face very
difficult and tragic situations involving sometimes pain., suffering
,separation or loss of face etc either singly or together.. Definitely
at least on some such occasions of deep anguish, he involuntarily
prays to God , to help to tide over the difficulties. This is not to
suggest that all adversities could be solved by prayer alone,,but one
has to do his job for the situation first and also seek solace by
praying . In short, beyond looking after his self.,family ,,relatives
etc if one also cares a little for others who are less fortunate and
do his normal duties, which he feels do not cause harm to others
mentally or physically or to their property and along with these
find time at least occasionally to remember and pray to the Almighty
God of his choice( whether he is a Hindu, Muslim ,Christian or not
belonging any religion) it will give him an enormous amount of mental
peace and satisfaction of ensuring a peaceful exit from this world
after doing ones duty. It is certain that God will certainly hear the
prayers and will bless him.konthai