One night in Cab - Mysteries behind it

16^th November, 2011, it was a cold dark and misty night.

Working late night hours at office, it was time we now logout for today. Quarter to four in the midnight, almost as early for the Joggers in the Joggers Park. Everyone rushing towards the Cab area to either meet their friends for some more chat or just to say a "Good-Bye" and to see if they have not missed their cabs. To me it seems, as if; a late night market is on; when one see a huge crowd during a logout. Tired and restless carrying their belongings, fighting for the seats, in haste, shouting at each other, raising their voice, here was I all alone at a corner, standing beside my Cab. Just then, suddenly and unknown voice raised towards me;

"Hello Madam, May I know which route are you taking?"

“I looked up at his face with a surprise as I was the only one in my cab for the same logout, and then, I answered,

“Secunderabad"

The stranger then got into my cab which startled me. And; when the drive was back in his seat, so, I took mine. Shut the doors locked and settled. It was almost 4’o clock in the morning, one would definitely be sleepy and want to be on bed as you reach home the earliest, but; the Music that played in my cab was so loud enough and almost annoying. I was too tired and restless and in need for some rest desperately. During the 30 KMS of drive towards my home when in no mood to sit and chat, and to avoid the loud music I then decided to tug my own headphones into my ears for some good and soft music which I always carried it in my Smartphone, soothing my body and mind. Music is something loved by most of the people and almost everyone. But what makes one go with the music is only Love; love which is pure and significant.

As and then we move further away from office, I could see the city lights shining so bright, silent and peace, beginning of a new day a new life. That cold night, showering with cold breeze, I raise the glass window higher, safeguarding myself from the wind dust. Folding my arms, and watching the beauty of the city, just then the stranger asked;

"Where would you be getting dropped?" and I replied,

Paradise"

“Hmm, replied the stranger and said, Oh it’s a very Beautiful Place. Where in Paradise?” and his questions never stopped...

“Do you live here since birth?”

Yes, I replied”, taking a deep breath.

He again asked me if I were fluent with the city’s local language as I could just puzzle up ending with some few words with the driver. My mother tongue was not Telugu, but even after living in the same city since birth, I could not even get close to it, and, as I never felt it was necessary for me to learn. Hyderabad is one such city with mixed culture and different languages that one could easily communicate with another in any alternative common languages known by two, let’s say “Hindi” which almost everyone could talk and understand it pretty well.

I did not feel like answering him such personal questions and kept quite…
Why would a stranger want to know if with whom and how I live? What I do or what language I talk?

I was nice to him until then, when I really wanted to ask him, what he would take to shut his mouth.

After a long silence he gasped and replied,, “As you wish… Ma’am”

Pretending me to give him some company on my way to home…

He was dressed in brown pants with half tugged white shirt, messy hair, and dusky sandals. A long chain hanging around his neck, tattooed body and frisky attitude was a sign of living a fearless life with no one to take care of him. He was a very talkative person tough sensible but very respectful in words he choose.  I was least interested to even hear him at first. He introduced himself to me as a layman who just earns for a living and is so happy in life with all what he has got and earned. He never looked worried about anything. Just like a free bird is what he was able to carry himself so well.

Passing by the hills, I can relate his life to be just like the one from where I can see the whole city beneath my eyes. The view of it was amazing, and you can see a tilted line on top of all from the heights of Jubliee Hills. That one lane had filthy rich families with many beautifully constructed independent bungalows each with its own garden and separate parking for cars inside, besides, this beautiful scenery that glows the colony.

The cab move on, and all this way, I then remembered, I never asked the strangers name. For me he was an unknown person, but what made him come along with me all the way to drop me till home?

When I asked him what was his name, he politely replied, “Aadesh”

We then were introduced to one another formally, and so on and on end up having a long chat together.

Soon then, we reached the heart of the city – The Hussian Sagar, which is commonly known as Tank Bund, connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The beauty of the lake lies in the 18-meter high monolithic statue of Lord Buddha which was erected in the middle of the lake on 12 April 1992.

I loved watching the beautiful gigantic scenery of Tank Bund every morning when we pass by from there. This day, it was even more beautiful and wished to capture its beauty on my phone. But, as the cab was too quick enough, I almost failed to capture one.  I was lucky to get a glimpse of the view over the Tank Bund.

What a view I yawned, as the cold breeze hitting me hard on my face, eyes were watering, the seat belts making weird sounds disturbing my sleep.  And just, in no time I then passed by a street, where I see some beggar’s sleepover footpath, having no shelter, no blanket to cover them from cold, a Mother sheltering her baby under her arms just to keep her baby safe by her side from the cold breeze.  What a life, when I gazed at the little one which made me thought, wish I could atleast lend them a blanket at that moment.

Atlast, I reached home safe, the driver then turned to give me the log sheet, I signed on the sheet and got down from cab.  

Aadesh, then whispered smiling, “Good Night” when it was almost morning.

In reply to him I said “Good-bye”.

The moment I opened the main gate of my apartment, and turned towards him, they disappeared in a swift of time.

Moral:

One night in cab is a journey of life within, which brings you the true meaning of life. I then long realized that these 40 minutes of journey has changed my life completely. What makes one happy in life? Is it to be filthy rich, owning a Bungalow with a garden within or does the happiness lies under the arms of a Mother at a cold night on a street; that does not have a blanket for her but can still lend her arms for her child to protect from the cold breeze. It is the Love of a Mother; which is pure and significant. This left me tears in my eyes, and when I looked at myself, I realized what I am without them? I was then happy for what I have owned in my life, the most precious gift from God.

Aadesh was just an illusion, created by God to make me understand what I wanted the most. Aadesh means Message, and the message to me from God was; “To Live Life to the Fullest in what you have, rather than thinking about what you do not have”. God didn’t promise that life would be easy but he did promise to be with you on every step of the way. So, keep going and have a beautiful life.