By Rebati Mohan Sinha, Mumbai
It was year 1972, I and my family, wife and year-old daughter traveling from 
Vishakhapatnam to Silchar via Calcutta. In those days, Air line passengers were to report to city office first, then to Dum Dum Airport by airline’s own bus. On that fateful day, I reached Howrah Railway Station and took a taxi to air office at Rasbehari Avenue. As the taxi driver about to park the vehicle near the air office, a porter came running and started helping us to take out the luggage from the taxi and at the mean time I was paying the fare to the driver. And on reaching the counter, saw a black attaché was missing, I immediately turn around and saw the taxi was taking a U turn. I started running after the taxi and some how reached nearer and tapping on, to stop but it didn’t. It was dusk and streets were becoming dark and the streets light were started burning. I kept on running after it; but how long a human being ran against a machine? I had to give up and headed towards the taxi union office to hand over my particulars as well as taxi`s and went back to brief my wife at air office, where I could see, my daughter was crying non-stop for the want of milk and my wife was trying her best to console. It was night 9 o clock, I saw a restaurant nearby and went straightway there and pleaded for a glass of milk for my daughter. On hearing my unfortunate tale, the shop-owner oblized to me. After having some snacks I went straight to Lalbazar Police Station (HQ) to lodge a complaint. The officer on duty heard me patiently on looking at my identity card and instructed his subordinate to do the needful. The immediate action taken was to instruct wireless control room to send messages to traffic police to detain the taxi. It was my bad luck; there was no sign of taxi even after my two hours of waiting at the Police Head Quarters. At around 2 o clock in the morning, I went back to air office.
The next day, my second ordeal started on the issue of duplicate air tickets on the basis of police report; but the Station manager expressed his inability to issue the same, saying that there was no such clause existing. The loss of ticket is loss of money, he said. Then I asked him to issue tickets on payment; but he refused saying, no seats available. I asked, my tickets were ok ones, why couldn’t he issue? He said, waiting listed passengers would be given the first preference. The co-passengers were requesting him to accommodate us on humanitarian ground; but he did’nt, saying that I could avail of Gauhati flight where seats were in plenty, I had no other option; but to by tickets and some how board the plane. We reached safely at Gauhati. The train for Silchar was to depart at the evening; I had contacted a coolie to arrange two seats on premium, in an unreserved compartment, which he agreed. Then we went for buying some clothes as our dresses were in that lost attaché case. The next day we reached Silchar, stayed at home for a month and enjoyed a lot with nearest and dearest and went back to Vishakhapatnam.I have no regret now, what so ever happened is happened.
Vishakhapatnam to Silchar via Calcutta. In those days, Air line passengers were to report to city office first, then to Dum Dum Airport by airline’s own bus. On that fateful day, I reached Howrah Railway Station and took a taxi to air office at Rasbehari Avenue. As the taxi driver about to park the vehicle near the air office, a porter came running and started helping us to take out the luggage from the taxi and at the mean time I was paying the fare to the driver. And on reaching the counter, saw a black attaché was missing, I immediately turn around and saw the taxi was taking a U turn. I started running after the taxi and some how reached nearer and tapping on, to stop but it didn’t. It was dusk and streets were becoming dark and the streets light were started burning. I kept on running after it; but how long a human being ran against a machine? I had to give up and headed towards the taxi union office to hand over my particulars as well as taxi`s and went back to brief my wife at air office, where I could see, my daughter was crying non-stop for the want of milk and my wife was trying her best to console. It was night 9 o clock, I saw a restaurant nearby and went straightway there and pleaded for a glass of milk for my daughter. On hearing my unfortunate tale, the shop-owner oblized to me. After having some snacks I went straight to Lalbazar Police Station (HQ) to lodge a complaint. The officer on duty heard me patiently on looking at my identity card and instructed his subordinate to do the needful. The immediate action taken was to instruct wireless control room to send messages to traffic police to detain the taxi. It was my bad luck; there was no sign of taxi even after my two hours of waiting at the Police Head Quarters. At around 2 o clock in the morning, I went back to air office.The next day, my second ordeal started on the issue of duplicate air tickets on the basis of police report; but the Station manager expressed his inability to issue the same, saying that there was no such clause existing. The loss of ticket is loss of money, he said. Then I asked him to issue tickets on payment; but he refused saying, no seats available. I asked, my tickets were ok ones, why couldn’t he issue? He said, waiting listed passengers would be given the first preference. The co-passengers were requesting him to accommodate us on humanitarian ground; but he did’nt, saying that I could avail of Gauhati flight where seats were in plenty, I had no other option; but to by tickets and some how board the plane. We reached safely at Gauhati. The train for Silchar was to depart at the evening; I had contacted a coolie to arrange two seats on premium, in an unreserved compartment, which he agreed. Then we went for buying some clothes as our dresses were in that lost attaché case. The next day we reached Silchar, stayed at home for a month and enjoyed a lot with nearest and dearest and went back to Vishakhapatnam.I have no regret now, what so ever happened is happened.
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No matter wherever you stay, the homecoming is always exciting and pleasant. sir, whenever i go home i go for walk in muddy rice field, if get a chance fishing also.
ReplyDeleteThe incident narrated is so exhausting. Reading it I felt as if it happened with me. But I am not at all patient. All that crucial moment you kept your cool is really appreciating. Yet as Surajit said homecoming is always exciting and pleasant and at any cost. Really liked the post.
ReplyDeleteRegards.
Your presence of mind to tackle the situation with whatever possible step is really appreciable. Moreover, I think u are such a gentleman who enjoys both sorrow and joy in life.
ReplyDeleteThanks