It was holiday. The school was closed on account of Rama Navami. I had decided to pay a visit to my friend. He lived in lodhi colony in a government flat. I took my breakfast and reached the bus-stand. The very first bus was going to defence colony via lodhi colony. I was delighted. Moreover, it was not crowded. I boarded the bus. I did not buy a ticket because I had a student’s all route bus pass. I could travel anywhere I liked without buying a ticket.
I occupied a seat near window. It was reserved for ladies only. But then I did not notice it. Gradually there were more and more passengers. Soon it was overcrowded. I had to vacate the seat to give it to a lady with a baby. I got up and stood holding a bar above me. The bus driver often applied brakes roughly. There were jerks and jolts. I was feeling very uncomfortable. Once, I was about to fall down but I did not because of the crowd which pressed me from all sides. Somehow, I kept my cool and balance.
As soon as the bus reached lodhi colony I got down. I had to squeeze out. I felt great relief and moved with light steps. But soon I found that my pocket had been picked. Someone had stolen my purse which contained about 30 rupees, some change, bus pass and my identity card. It was in my inside coat pocket. It shocked me and I did not know what to do. Somehow, I recollected myself and moved towards my friend Arvind’s house. But I was anxious and worried.
I had to make much effort to ascend a long flight of stairs. My friend lived on the second floor. My steps became iron-heavy and the heart beat loudly. There were drops of sweat on my face. I was feeling thirsty and giddy. When I reached there, I rang the door bell twice, thrice and more but there was no response. Then I saw the door was locked from outside. There was nobody inside the house. I almost slumped down and squatted on the landing place before the door.
I had no money to pay for the fare to return home. Moreover, I wanted to have some drink immediately. These were sad moments. They looked like months in their heaviness and troublesomeness. I almost cursed my luck. There were tears in my eyes. Then suddenly I heard footsteps. Somebody was coming upstairs. I tried to recollect and calm down myself.
To my great relief and pleasant surprise it was my friend Arvind. He helped jme and took inside. I lay down on a sofa for a few minutes. My friend offered me a glass of water mixed with glucose. He comforted me and advised to forget the incident. He did everything possible to revive my spirits.
Soon I was my usual cheerful self. We enjoyed together talking and eating. In the meanwhile his mother returned. She felt sorry when the incident was narrated to her. But she told me comforting words and prepared a nice lunch for us. In the evening I returned home. Arvind came to the bus-stop to see me off. He gave me ten rupees which I returned him after a week. In my return journey I was very careful. This was really a sad day that I would like to forget.
To my great surprise, one day after ten days of the incident, I received and envelope by post. It was personally addressed to me. I opened it and found it contained my bus pass and the identity card. I thanked god, the pick pocket had some sense of decency to return these. However, it was a bitter experience which I would like to forget.