Journey in Crisis

Indeed, journeys are lessons of life; it teaches you many things that books do not teach. Here is another jotting…Read

Rebati Mohan Sinha

Dear Sonika, your encounter with odds, while traveling from Delhi to Silchar then to Vijaywada and back, is really a hair-raising one. You could overcome all these due to the support rendered by your brave parents, accompanying you. No ordinary parents could do that. Your heart-beating adventure reminded me of a similar type of incident happened to your Bordi, my elder daughter, living in Australia.

It was her 17th birth day, 13th June1987; she was to travel from Bombay to Silchar via Calcutta by an Indian Airline to appear before the final Selection Board at Silchar Medical College. Her HSC result was also declared on that day and she went to college for admission with the mark sheet issued on the same day. On hearing the news of her passing out with four letters, the neighbors started pouring in at our tiny room to congratulate and wish her; unfortunately she was not at home to receive them .We were worried because the time was running out for her to get ready for airport.

Anyway at the nick of time she reached home; but there was no time for her to change dress and grab food. I took her to airport and bade goodbye and came back home thinking that my friend would receive her at the Calcutta airport and take her home for the night. The next day, she caught the Silchar flight and landed safely at the airport; but no taxis could be seen waiting outside, on enquiry, she came to know that due to heavy flood, no vehicles are plying between airport and the city. Along with other passengers she went up to Udarband; but there was no transport. She could see some boats plying and oarsmen were crying Silchar…..Silchar….but she could not gather courage to board on any boats as she knew nobody there.

She was in panic because next day she was to appear in the board. The sun was setting, the area was becoming dark, but still she was having faith in God and hoping for some help and exactly at that moment a middle aged man tapped on her shoulder, and told her to accompany him as he was moving with family, immediately she agreed. Fortunately, that gentleman was happened to be a Colonel in Army, he took her to guest house from where she was dropped to her aunt`s house at Tarapur at around midnight.

The next day, she appeared before the board at Silchar Medical College, but it was her bad luck; she had to argue on PRC (Permanent Resident Ceritficate) with the secretary to the Board, one Dr.Atul Bora. He had told them that although she was born and brought up in Bombay; but their permanent house was at Bekirpar, Silchar, Assam. When she was asked whether her father had any land property, on which she replied negative, saying that as her grandfather was still alive; the property had not been divided among her father and uncles. On hearing this Dr.Atul Bora passed a remark ‘Don`t be smart enough’. In the same night I was telephonically informed about the episode.

(To be concluded)