A rainy story!!

Rebecca looked around terrified at the prospect of being lost in this strange city. Bombay as she prefers calling Mumbai was a new place to her but she felt that this city had absorbed her in its unique fashion. She was here with a purpose, her sole aim was to do well in her studies. And little did she know that she will have to face unexpected showers, derailment of her usual local trains and further troubles as she awaited the bus that will take her to her destination.

Her only relative in this city, her uncle asked her to come to his office. "Just take a bus and come to lower parel" he had said 10 mins ago when she called him. Her dear friend and companion, Avantika had not come to class today so she was left feeling further confused and helpless. Around her, people were briskly walking, some running to get into whatever bus they could since the trains had stopped working. Nobody paid any attention to her as she looked around to ask someone the bus she could get into. "When alone, in an unknown place never trust strangers", her mother's warning, rang loud and clear in her head. "But, if I don’t do that, I will never reach this place". Her uncle, a distant relative seemed oblivious to her predicament as he rushed off for an important meeting at his work. She did ask a lady and got into a bus, silently thanking Jesus as she found place to sit in the over crowded bus.

As, it passed the by lanes of Mumbai, Rebecca looked around with wonder. It was still pouring, she did not have an umbrella and the place seemed so strange. "Isn’t it the kind of place, a girl could get raped?" she thought and quickly admonished herself for her unintelligent thoughts. The roads were deserted which added to her nervousness.

Suddenly, she realised that the bus was slow. The driver and few other people got down and there was a huge discussion. Though she could follow Hindi, Marathi was still an alien language to her. A little probing revealed that the driver had taken another route as the usual road was clogged with water and now the bus has stopped. “Engine failure beta, we will have to get down here”, a kind woman (and the only one in the bus) told her. Her watch showed 10pm – not late by Bombay standards but definitely a reason to worry if you don’t know where you are and how to reach your destination!

Still praying and thinking of her mother she got down with the crowd. Rebecca stood there for a few minutes wondering which part of the earth was she in at the moment. The lady who spoke to her was now walking ahead with a little girl and an old man. They seem like Muslims, she thought seeing their attire. “Trust your gut instinct, go ask them for help” her heart told her and she obliged. Running towards them, she explained her story to the family and asked them for directions. The man has kind eyes, she noticed. He reminded her of her grandfather. “You should not be out so late in this city beta, come with us. We will take a cab. Do you have the address of the place you want to go?” he asked Rebecca. As she replied in the affirmative, he hailed a cab and all of them got in. “Bombay can be a dangerous city, we will get down here but you don’t worry child. I will note down this taxi no. Give me your cell no too –just in case I want to make sure that you reached safely. And don’t pay the driver, I have taken care of that”. After giving instructions to the driver ,the family who were Rebecca’s angels, got down wishing her a safe journey. She did reach her uncle’s office safely but was surprised when the “kind man” called her to ask her if she has reached. And as she profusely thanked him for his help, he replied “You reminded me of my elder daughter beta, apna khayal rakhna. Khudha aafis!” She never heard from him since that day.

As she wiped the tears from her eyes, this single incident re confirmed her belief in all faiths, in humanity and mankind. Bombay she told herself, is a city with a kind heart...............