“Oh, God! It is scorching hot,” said Leela.
“Ya, I wish it rains tonight,” said Komal.
“Why hasn't the bus come yet? If the bus doesn't arrive within five minutes, we may have to go in an
auto,”
“Yes, we will do that,” said Komal.
There were many people now at the bus stop and the shelter was crowded, so Komal and Leela stood
on the edge of the road.
“Have you prepared for tomorrow's assessment? I am yet to revise my project summary, description
and some probable questions which may be out of context.”
“You are better, you have studied once and are left with revising, I am yet to complete the study.” said
an anxious Komal.
She pleaded a middle-aged man to give her seat saying her knee pain gets worse when she stands.
Seeing how she staggered into the place, the man took pity on her and gave her the seat. Everybody
was busy with their smartphones, some were talking, while many were watching and fiddling fingers
on their screen.
Leela and Komal were talking animatedly and moved behind into the shelter as a bus stopped near
them.
Please, God! Let the next bus be ours, I am very late already prayed Leela silently. Half the crowd had
boarded the bus and the bus shelter was empty now. Both Leela and Komal moved into the shelter and
sat near the old lady. She smiled weakly at them. They smiled in acknowledgement.
They got involved in a discussion and did not observe that lady fainting. She fell on Komal who
panicked and got up. The lady was about to fall head on to the ground. Leela sprang into action and
stopped her from falling. Both made the lady lie on the seat in the bus shelter. Komal opened her water
bottle and sprinkled some water into the old lady's face. She seemed to be breathing normally and
moved slowly. The old lady opened her eyes but it seemed as if she was sleeping with her eyes open. Leela was asking
the lady if she wanted to drink some water, but she continued staring blankly. At this point, the bus arrived and Komal was livid with anger. “Let's leave her there on the bench and go, if we miss this bus, we will be delayed forever.”
“You carry on dear, I am not coming today, this lady needs some help and until I find some help for her
I am not going anywhere,” said Leela firmly. “Ok, I will also assist you then,” said Komal dejected.
With great difficulty, they made the old lady drink some water. Komal rushed to nearby stores and
bought some Glucose powder. They mixed a generous content to the water in the bottle and made her
drink it slowly. After about five minutes, the lady seemed to have regained complete consciousness.
She apologised for her behaviour and smiled a weaker smile.
“Haven't you had breakfast Aunty?” asked Leela.
“No dear, I am going to meet my grandson today, I could not find time to have any this morning,” said
the old lady. “Where do you have to go? Maybe we can drop you or arrange an auto for you before we go,” said
Leela kindly. “Thank you very much beta, but I had told my grandson that I will wait here. You see he will pick me
from this place.”
Leela bought bananas from the roadside vendor and forced the lady to have some.
“I am ok now, there was no need to buy bananas for me,” said the woman smiling at Leela.
“That's ok aunty, fruits are always healthy you can eat them any time. Have some until your grandson
comes to meet you.”
“Ok, you can carry on beta. You are a student, are you? You might be getting late for your class,”
“I am going to stay here until your grandson comes to meet you. Do you happen to have a mobile
phone with you? Shall I call your grandson?”
“Yes, wait a second I will give you the phone, please do call and inform him I am already here. Now
that you said, I remembered he asked me to call and inform when I get down here at the stop.”
So saying she opened her bag and took out a not so old smartphone. Luckily it had a contact direct-dial
which made it easy for her to call.
After she finished talking with her grandson. She turned around to Leela and said,
“Thank you beta. I had completely forgotten to call. If you had not reminded me I would have waited
here all day.”
“That's all ok aunty. So, is he coming in few minutes or will it take longer?”
“He said he will be here in 5 minutes.”
“Ok, I will wait until I meet your grandson then,” said Leela firmly. After about ten minutes, a youth stopped his motorbike at the bus stop and was perusing everyone.
Leela pointed him to aunty and asked if he was her grandson.
“How do I know beta, unless he removes the helmet I can't possibly know who he is.”
At this point, the youth removed the helmet. Leela and Komal recognised their classmate Tushar at
once.
“Tushar, what brings you here, Leela said loudly and went to greet him.”
“Oh, thank god you have come,” said the old lady. “Oh Daadi, what took you so long?” said Tushar to his grandmother. “Oh waaw, so she is your grandmother. You should have come beforehand and waited here and not
make her wait for you. Do you know she fainted here.” she scolded him, her eyes were full of anger. “Oh, sorry Daadi, I didn't expect such a thing to happen. How are you feeling now? Shall we go to a
doctor?”
“She needs to eat something Dumbo, not a doctor,” cut in Leela,
“You see she hasn't had her breakfast. I have made her eat some bananas. Take her home and give her
something to eat.” she said still angry at making the old lady wait.
“Ok, I gotta go now, I am already getting late for the class. Let's hurry now Komal.” so saying she went
in search of auto and waved a bye at Tushar's grandmother. Tushar's grandmother turned to him and said,
“Such a sweet girl, where do you find such people nowadays. Everybody is quite busy in their own
world. Who has time to help a person in need?”
“Hmm yes, she is sweet and also very proud. Thinks she can boss over anybody just like that. Didn't
you notice the way she bossed over me.” said Tushar. She sighed and replied, “So sad, times are so bad, honest and kind people are always misunderstood.
Let's get going, we are already late.”
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