Debt

Debt is a very heavy word. Before you jump the gun and begin to think that I'm talking about money, let me clarify that I'm not. No matter how strong you are mentally, physically or financially, sometimes, circumstances so arise that you end up taking a debt from someone, in some form or the other. Let me narrate a small incident. 

In 2009, I had no full-time job and my wife was pregnant. I used to struggle going around the city from one center to another taking classes for CAT/MBA aspirants at a leading training company. I had a class at 9.00 am at Ameerpet, which is about 16 kms from my place. At 8.15, I discovered my bike had conked. It didn't start even after trying very hard, leaving me all sweaty and tired. I decided to go by auto. By that time, it was 8.30. As i wiped my sweat, breathed heavy and walked out of the gate, I knew I was going to be late and a class of 40 students would be waiting. I was sure I'd be late. And late to class had some serious consequences. Just as I turned back to say 'Bye' to my wife, a black colored Palio came and slowed down beside me. I quickly realized it was my neighbor, a gentleman who lived in the house opposite to our apartment. We had facing balconies. Sometimes, I used to say 'Hi' to him. And that's it. 

He lowered the window and said, 'Bike problem hai kya? Mai dekh raha tha. Chalo i'll drop you...which side are you going?'

I said, 'Yeah, some problem. Thank you very much,' and got into the car.

'I have to go to Ameerpet, You can drop me at Paradise,' I said. 

'Oh, i can drop you till Begumpet,' he said and then, a sense of calm prevailed in me. 

On the way, we spoke a lot. I told him how I had ended up teaching in time of the recession and all. He also told me about his work, etc. When we were 1 km away from Begumpet, I asked him, 'Where is your office?' He said, 'Basheerbagh'. His answer shocked me. I was dumbstruck for a while. Basheerbagh was not even close to that route. He had taken a complete detour of the city in peak traffic just to help me. He didn't even know I was getting late for the class.  I thanked him profusely and got down feeling very happy that there are people who go out of the way to help others. 

I was just 5 minutes late to the class. I don't know what I taught the students that day for I was totally engulfed in a rare satisfaction of having met a fine gentleman. I decided to keep in touch with him. Every time he walked his dog, or appeared in the balcony or while washing his car, I ensured I said 'hello' to him and smiled. 

Months passed. I got a good job and life got busy. In 2010, on a Sunday, I saw an ambulance standing in front of his house. The ambulance looked old. Suddenly a flash of all different kinds of thoughts appeared on my mind. I saw no one. I immediately wore a shirt and walked downstairs. I thought it was their dog. But when I walked inside his house, I saw his mother sitting in one corner still like a statue with despair in her eyes. I saw him speaking on phone. At the center of the hall, I saw his father's dead body on the floor on a mat. There was an ice-box which they connected to the power and it started working.

The ambulance driver said, 'uthao,' and pointed to the body. There was no one else in the room. Without a second thought, I volunteered and helped them lift the body from one side and placed the departed man in the ice-box. I stayed there for 30 more minutes until their relatives and friends started coming. I hugged him, condoled him and said, 'Let me know in case you need anything' and walked out. 

Being present at the right time at the right place in such a time when no one else was around is no coincidence. It takes more than just rational thought. In my most distressed hour, he had come to my rescue. I was under his debt. God made me repay it. We have vacated that apartment. Now we live four buildings away. I don't see him as much as I used to. And you know what is the most ironic thing about this incident? I never asked for his name and neither did he ask for mine. I still don't know his name. Whenever I see him, I just say 'Hello' to him and smile.  

- Deepak Karamungikar