By Mesha Oh
The train stopped at a busy railway junction. It was a hot summer afternoon, and many passengers filed out, to buy lunch, get something cool to drink or simply to stretch a bit.
“I’ll step out and be back in just a moment,” his mother said. “I need to fill our water-bottles.”
“No, Mumma, don’t go!” he said. “What if the train leaves and you are left behind?”
“Don’t be silly,” she replied. “The water cooler is just a couple of steps away. In any case, the train isn’t scheduled to depart for the next fifteen minutes.”
“But Mumma, don’t go!” he insisted. “Please! We don’t need water right now.”
Oblivious to his pleas, his mother gathered their empty water- bottles and made her way out of the compartment.
“Mummy’s gone!” he said to an elderly passenger sitting on the berth opposite his. “What if she doesn’t come back?”
“No, child, don’t worry, your mother will soon return,” he responded.
Just then, the train began to shake. He was alarmed. And then, a few seconds later, the train crawled ahead.
“Mumma! The train has started! Where are you Mumma? Don’t do this to me, Mumma!” his cries rent the air. He imagined the worst—that he had been torn apart from his mother and would never meet her again.
He burst into tears, repeating himself over and over again, “Mumma, don’t do this to me! Mumma, don’t leave me! Mumma, please come back!” He felt sick with fear and was about to faint.
Five minutes later, he heard his mother call as she entered the compartment, “Hey, look, I’m back! Cheer up!”
He wanted to shout for joy!
“Why are you crying?” she asked him as she arranged the water-bottles on the seat and sat down.
“The train began to move, and so I thought you would be left behind,” he explained as he wiped his tears.
“Oh, that was just the train shunting a bit,” his mother replied. “It hardly moved a few feet.”
“Silly boy! Everyone must have heard you shouting! You are a big boy now. You shouldn’t behave like a child. And you must know I will never do this to you—I will never leave you.”
*
It had been quite some time since she had passed away. He wondered where she must be now. If there was indeed life after death, perhaps she was in some other realm. Or, maybe she had taken birth in some other family, in some distant country.
His mind travelled back to that train journey, some 60 years before. He pictured himself in the very same seat—oh how clearly he could remember it all!—wailing and feeling sick as his mother made her way out to fill their water-bottles. “Please don’t go, Mumma! Mumma, please don’t do this to me! Mumma, please don’t leave me!” he could hear himself cry.
Then, she had come back, much to his delight and relief. But now, she had really gone away—and perhaps they would never again meet.
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