A Bus Journey from bad to :)

This is my first short story...its about everyone who feel their trouble and their problems are greater than others...this story is a window to show how we can be happy even when life says otherwise:)

                                                                A Bus Journey from bad to :)

It’s the time I was bag packing to go to my native place Kerala. I started early from work and in a hurry caught the bus it started raining and my clothes got a little wet and the AC in the bus just made the matter worst, that day I even got an escalation from a client and after several hours of work I found out the mistake was from their end. In totality I was not having a great day. Feeling irritated about everything happening that day I just tried to sleep so that I could just sleep off the night and get home by morning. 

Somewhere in the middle of the night the bus stopped to pick up an elderly couple I woke up by that time, due to a passing vehicle's headlight shown directly into my eyes. The couple took hours to board the bus. I was curiously watching them the elderly uncle helped his wife to board the bus and after that he took forever to get on the bus. Somehow they managed to come up and get on the seat. There seat was above my seat seeing them getting on the bus I figured I should move on the upper seat. I carried all my stuff and went up, while they waited patiently. Once I was up I looked down and I saw aunt y making the seat proper for uncle. She could hardly stand still because of the moving bus, I offered to help but she politely denied with a smile on her wrinkly face. She somehow managed to make it right and both of them slowly settled down on their seat. After that I didn't hear anything from them again.

I slept may be for an hour and the bus stopped at a hotel for dinner. It  was around 1 AM at that time I got down and randomly just saw the elderly couple, auntie’s head was on uncles chest and he held her softly near him and she had a smile on her face. Honestly seeing an elderly couple in so much love after so many year of togetherness was really a site to see. Then the uncle woke up and caught me staring at them I felt embarrassed and went down for the hotel. I had some refreshment and while eating that my mind was still wondering about that beautiful couple. I didn't see them getting out so I went to them in the bus and asked if they need anything. Uncle said “dear, could you get me a bottle of water if you could” and gave me the money. I went down and got the bottle for him. He woke her wife, took medicine for her and gave her the bottle to take her medicine. She got up and started coughing without halt. I helped her, with uncle massaged her back and then I sat there for some time talking to them. Uncle was in army and aunt y was a school teacher they were on the way to Trivandrum and from there going to KanyaKumari I asked if they have kids aunt y happily said they have a son and a daughter both are settled abroad and they live in Chennai at their ancestral place. I was really surprised about their fluency in English language. They told me they have been travelling to places together from past 2 years. I noticed that since they were on the bus they have not eaten anything I offered to bring something to eat but they said they had food before boarding the bus.

 I went back to my seat and again tried to sleep as my clothes were still wet and I still just wanted this bus journey to get over soon. Suddenly I heard soft sob coming from down I peeked to have a look and found aunt y crying softly apologizing to uncle for something and uncle held her hand and said its ok dear with a smile I couldn't understand what was happening and that’s when I noticed the seat was wet. Aunt y due to her age made the bed wet in her sleep but uncle despite getting wet never lift his hand off her and kept her close. Until she realized what happened. Uncle pulled the curtain after that and when they moved the curtain aunt y and uncle where in new dry clothes and also they changed the sheet of the seat which they have put before sleeping on it. Everything about the couple was so divine so pure that I just couldn't believe how someone could be so patient in their relationship. Their counter ship was so strong that slowly I felt my troubles are so insignificant. 

I again went down and asked if I could be of any help he said its fine. The opposite seat to the couple got empty by then and I sat there talking to them they told me that when uncle was at the border he was caught by the enemies when he was just 35 and as a prisoner of the war they were kept in high security prison. Aunt y den 27 was a brave lady she kept on urging the government to rescue him via mail via letter and even going their again and again. But after two years of waiting when things where finally going to settle down between the two countries they informed that all the prisoners of the war died due to pneumonia. Aunt y after all the struggle got heartbroken but didn't loose her courage and demanded for her husband’s body to prove his death. They insisted that they have disposed all the body but she never believed them she never let the hope of his return let go of her heart and never considered herself a widow she was criticized for the behavior and some said she have lost her mind but she kept her faith and courage in him. She worked and brought up their kids all on her own and her kids also excelled in their fields and got good jobs abroad they insisted her to come along to which she replied “when your father come back  home I want be present here to receive him”.  

Her prayers and her faith were answered but several year latter government was informed from some human right socialist that the prisoners of war where still alive and the workers here and there after putting lot of pressure on the government where bound to release the prisoners. She was so happy that day that she could not contain her happiness in herself but just as she stepped out of the house to go to receive him she fainted neighbors rushed her to the hospital. Where she found out that she is suffering from a condition wherein she could lose her balance and could faint anytime and also gradually her bladder control would reduce, any other day this would have made her sad but not today she urged the doctors to let her go and her neighbor took her to the government office where the brave soldiers arrived to be honored and received by their family. Among the crowd of the elderly her eyes were fixed on one peculiar face which was not the same as she remembered but her heart still skip a beat for that old wrinkly face in front of her she slowly walked towards him her eyes caught his eyes and they instantly knew their long wait was over while walking she didn't realized she wet her sari even he didn't notice that at first but when he did he removed his coat and covered her. And hugged her tight like they would never part. After that it was not easy for him to come back to normal life as so much have changed around him , so many of his near and dear one where no more. He couldn't even recognize his own kids but all along the way she stood strong and helped her husband to deal with the situation. Once everything got to normal they decided to spend the remaining days of their life going around places together and enjoy their togetherness. 

After hearing their beautiful story I couldn't help getting my eyes wet. It was now 3 AM and they said they were tired so I left the lovely couple to get some rest and went to my seat I just couldn't sleep thinking of their story and just was feeling so so happy for them I just forgot about how bad my previous day was and how I just wanted to sleep it off. Here was a couple who have seen so much in life and are so happy just to have each other. I hope they see many many new places together and stay happy. As my stop arrived I bid farewell to the happy couple and left for home with a smile on my face :)

 

 

Author's Note

This is my first story...i travel frequently via sleeper bus and saw so many different kind of people young old...and i see a story in every face...this story is inspired by one such face...hope everyone would be able to connect yourself with the story...thanks

Reviews

[Prashant Pandey]

Beautiful story. This story remind me the scenario of bus travel from bhopal because i m also from Indore. And i used to travel form bhopal via bus. Usually I don't like to read love stories but this time due to shortage of time( bcz m also a s/w engi.) i completed it in 2 days. And yes after a long time i found a tremendous love story. great write. Keep it up.

[Neetu Mathew]

Thanks Prashan for taking the time to read my story :)...and your review have certainly gave a boost to my confidence as this is my first story...thanks again:)

[Solar]

Wow! What an uplifting story of the power of love.
Inspite of the densely packed text, some minor grammar/spelling issues [which you can always edit], the story was engaging in its human detail as well as the bigger picture of the inhumane way that the enemy deals with prisoners. You bring the story to life in the description of place.
If this is your first story, please keep writing more!

[Neetu Mathew]

Thank you so much for a very constructive review...well appreciated...:)

[Solar]

You are most welcome - I look forward to following your writings.