Spare a thought...

An “ashtaavadhaani” has an amazing skill- he can juggle with 8 different tasks at the same time. He can simultaneously converse with multiple people on varied topics, solve complex mathematical puzzles and even track inane details like the number of times a bell is tolled. His multi-tasking ability is awe inspiring. However, we forget that in our own midst, there are caregivers whose daily job demands similar skills and a lot more. We take them for granted- one such person is the railway ticket collector, the TC!

The TC’s entire life is spent on the move- hopping from bogie to bogie, from train to train, often at odd hours of the day and night. Checking tickets is only a fraction of his daily job. He is the single point of contact for any problem on the train. And the problems are plenty.

The start of the journey itself is mired with issues. The compartment is locked, the passengers cannot get in, and the train’s departure is imminent. The passengers panic and accost the TC. Before he can solve the problem, he is hemmed in with a different issue- a bogie has no lights and it is pitch-dark. Soon, he is beset with a third complaint- the latest reservation-chart is not on display and the confirmation of seats is in question.

Now, the train chugs out of the station. The TC squeezes his way through the tiny compartment aisle. Over-sized luggage blocks the aisle, forcing him to go around and at times, over the baggage. As the train picks up speed, the lateral movement is pronounced. With the balance of an acrobat, he pirouettes at each coupe and checks tickets. While some are ready with their tickets, others in deep slumber have to be prodded, some gently and some with lot more force!

At each coupe, there are multiple requests. An elderly man has got the top berth and wants the lower one. A family is split with members spread over different bogies who need to be united. Two passengers are at each other’s throat, both claiming the same reserved seat. The TC examines their tickets and finds the root cause- one of them has boarded the train one day too early! The water in the toilet has run out and needs action. The glass window is jammed and the rain water is seeping in. A passenger’s water-jug has accidentally fallen on its side and the entire compartment is a water puddle! Midway through the journey, there are more frantic appeals. Someone stepped out of the train to fetch water at the last station and is now missing. The family is in complete distress. The TC has to calm the nerves and plan for the course of action at the next station.

Any direction he looks, the TC meets more eyes that hound him, with a fresh set of requests that he must immediately handle. It is as if he is pulled from every limb. This is the TC’s life- to wake up each day on a moving train and to end it in one. Think about doing this job for one day. Now, imagine, doing this for an entire lifetime! Spare a thought for these silent workers, who rise above the call of duty. The next time you meet a TC on the train, acknowledge his tireless effort- greet him with a smile and a few words of heart-felt appreciation.