The Other Side of the Story

Life's peculiarity. How I managed to save myself.

Peculiar are the ways that life works. Life is complex yet sometimes simple. The incident here will probably explain everything. It is based on the incident that happened in Sri Shorodindu Bannerjee’s life, which I have adopted slightly changing the scenery. I must stress here that the story was written by Sri Shorodindu Bannerjee and it certainly isn’t mine. I feel that the brilliant writer that he was should be popularized.

I was asked by the Sugar and Food Corporation to travel to M/S Carew & Co at Darshana, in the south east of Bangladesh to assess their requirement of Flavour and Essences. Seeing that the following day was a Friday, Government holiday, I decided to go to Darshana the same day. There are various ways one can travel to Darshana. I chose the bus. I went down to the Gabtoli bus stand where the inter-district buses ply. I got up on a very crowded bus. I was standing holding the handlebar in a precarious condition. The bus started and I saw a scruffy looking individual was running to jump on the bus. I shouted, “Hey! Don’t!” But he jumped and slipped. One of his hands did contact the handle, but his legs were going right under the wheels of the speeding bus. His entire body was also going under the wheels. Now at this time, by sheer luck, by instinct, I grabbed hold of his hands and shoulder and somehow managed to pull him up. I did not do it consciously nor did I do it out of compassion. It was automatic. But people started praising me and patting me in the back, saying what a noble thing I did. It was embarrassing. But the individual didn’t look at me. Anyway, the bus reached the Aricha Ghat from where I took the ferry and crossed to Daulatdia. Then I took a bus for Darshana.

                I reached Darshana at about 10 in the night and had my meal and slept. The next day I took stock of their requirements and the following night I wanted to return home to Dhaka. I wanted to take a night coach and started for the bus stand.

The bus stand was deserted. I could not locate the ticket booth. So I thought that I would have to take the next day’s bus, when I saw a shadow. There was a man there covered with a blanket. I could not see his face. He was stalking me. I started moving, only to be followed by him. Soon I ran out of places. The faint light from the street showed that he had a large knife. I thought that was it. Why did I have to come to Darshana, why? Now I will die here and no one will no about it. I was cornered and tripped. I fell on the ground and he was about to stab me when he shouted, “Sir, it’s you!” and then he ran. It was the individual I had saved the previous day.

Later on, I was thanking God that I had saved him and that is why he spared my life! But a new thought started to hit me. Suppose I had not saved him, then?