Page 31 - Seniorstoday June 2022 Issue

getting rolled on his path. But luckily nothing Getting in the cab was optional but getting
happened. Soon we all were on the top,
standing on the road surface.
This image is a representation
We needed to stop a road vehicle going
towards Lonavala and ask for a lift. To our
bad luck nothing was easy today. It was easy
enough to halt a train but not a truck. The
supervisor took his torch in his hand and
started signalling to the truck drivers to stop.
The problem then in Punjab was recently
brought under control by the wonderful
police officer Mr Gill. With the face smeared
with grease and clothes looking like a garage
mechanic and no turban and dishevelled
hair, the supervisor gave a fearsome look. No
stains, no glory and no story but our need was
a lorry. The trucks approaching us increased
the speed at the sight of the supervisor. The
truck driver’s profession is born out of hard
work and fear. The fear prevailed and the
drivers preferred to steer away. After his
few attempts, I took the torch, and waved the
trucks for lift. Luckily one truck stopped after
a few attempts. The driver’s cabin looked
pretty high from the ground. Higher the cabin,
nearer can be God but this God with us, who
was expected to lift our career, needed to be
lifted to the cab. In a loco driver’s cab, the boss
would occupy the assistant driver’s seat, but
here he was cringing behind the cleaner’s seat.
We reached Lonavala. I and the supervisor
jumped down from the cabin of the truck.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #36 | JUNE 2022
out was mandatory. Anything mandatory
is not easy so was getting the boss down.
The cleaner held him firm, I caught his legs
and the supervisor caught the main body to
bring him down. Probably due to this, the
boss looked defeated. The series of events so
far had reduced his self-esteem to a lowest
possible level. He started talking in a tone as if
now his life was in our hands.
Image courtesy: Wikipedia
After reaching Lonavala there were two
options, either to go by a first train to Mumbai
or to stay in the rest house till morning. The
first train was expected after two hours and
therefore we decided to stay in the rest house
for the remaining part of the night.
The rest house was fully vacant and I got
two rooms allotted, one exclusively for the
boss. He was cowering on a sofa in the hall
while we made the arrangement. I took him to
one of the rooms allotted to us. Then I realised
that he could not sleep alone in the room.
Fear had gripped him. The person who does
not like anyone to even enter his room, was
suggesting I share the room with him. My
snoring was no issue for him.
The bravery that comes with power is
deceptive.
Concluded
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