The Push

Adyar Road. 21.25 Hrs.

It has been a nice evening. I am returning home after spending around 4 hours at the Besant Nagar Beach. Pavan is driving the bike and I ride pillion. Traffic moves at a snail's pace. We are in front of "Dollars & Pounds" showroom and I see a Maruti Swift stranded on the road. The whole traffic is overtaking the car and moving ahead.

An old man and a middle aged lady are struggling and are trying hard to push the car from behind. The car lunges a few feet, splutters and comes to a halt. Traffic continues to overtake them. I ask Pavan if I should help them out and before he could answer I find myself jumping off the bike and running towards the car.

With an extra pairs of hands behind it the car makes a valiant effort to move ahead but after a few more lurches and stutters it comes to a halt. I take a breath and continue to push with all my efforts. Suddenly I am hell bent to make this car start. I don't know why. I just grit my teeth and push it and slowly realize that my steps are slowly breaking into a small jog. The car is moving ahead better and suddenly without any warning it comes alive and zooms ahead.

I almost fall face first on the thar road. The lady shouts at me to watch out. I lurch ahead in a manner similar to the car a few minutes ago but nevertheless manage to balance and regain my posture. The old man and the middle aged lady had somehow managed to stand where they were when the car came alive while I had not been able to control the momentum. May be I was the one who has been pushing it real hard.

The old man shakes my hand and offers his heart felt thanks. The lady's face breaks into a thousand watt smile and she offers her gratitude. I smile ear to ear and shake my head without knowing what to say. I look around and find Pavan moving slowly a few meters ahead and run behind his bike. I am about to seat myself when he shouts at me to wait. He pulls up near the corner of the road and then I get seated and we head homeward.

It was just a random act of kindness. But I felt really happy that I was able to offer it. I do not know if I would have done the same had I seen two men pushing the car. I doubt it. I might have assumed that they would be able to manage on their own. So may be it was the sight of a lady struggling to push the car that made me to act.

Now to a difficult question. Would I have offered help and assistance had I found a car crushed by a lorry and the inmates on the verge of death? Wouldn't I have overtaken it just like the rest of the traffic with only a feeling of pity for them? Would not I have been scared of all the blood? Was it only because it was a relatively simple help that I offered to volunteer? Will I realize I am a coward or would I come to know that I am made of sterner stuff?

Ah! Now, that is thinking too much! Let me be happy with what I did and leave it at that. What say?

P.S: And this is post no. 150

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