Moment of Guilt!

It was a bright Sunday morning and we all in the family decided to make a one-day trip to in and around Mysore (Karnataka, India). I am telling you about a real lifetime story, which took place way back in late 2001.

The day started with lots of excitement in each one of us and as usual I tend to rock whenever I get a chance for long drives. We were all together 10 members in 2 cars.

We had covered Mysore palace, Chamundi Hills, Mysore Zoo and hit Water Park by afternoon. Spend whole of afternoon and departed towards Bangalore by 6pm.

We had just crossed Ramanagara and approximately 35-40 kms more to reach Bangalore. It was around 7pm as my memory goes right. We were driving at a speed of 60-70 kmph and our second car (Zen) was behind us at a distance.

At one of the junction and at a distance I could see a person waiving his hand in the middle of the road trying to stop ongoing vehicle. Every vehicle is zooming and I could literally see couple of vehicles that avoided him and passed by. I realized my turn would come in seconds! While we came more close to him we noticed that his face was filled with blood and he waived both his hands looking for someone to stop. I slowed down my vehicle but family members in the car were not convinced with this act. They alerted me that this could be a trap and hence not to stop the car. This entire incidence happened in a fraction of seconds (in less than 60 seconds). Like any other vehicle, I also avoided him and passed by. Personally I was not convinced. I guess, I had seen him more closely from the drivers seat than anyone else and I felt he is actually hurt. Family members also convinced that even he is really hurt, where to we have place in our car to take him to a hospital!! I believe I didn't rule by my heart and mind that day. But, this incidence could not be wiped off from my mind till next day morning.

I used to run Taxi service during this period and one of my taxi had met with an accident near Ramanagara couple of days back before above incidence took place. Next day (Monday) I was supposed to visit Ramanagara Police station for some court transaction. This had become a daily routine for me since the day accident happened and had built good rapport with every constable in that station.

I was pretty curious to question one of the constables on any unforeseen instance, which had taken place the previous evening on the highway. I was taken aback to hear this story from them. Couples of friends (college students) were on the way back from Coorg on their bike. One of the guys lost his balance at that junction and was thrown into the bushes but none of the other friends had noticed it. He had a head injury and bruises all over his body and was trying to take help from ongoing vehicles. He has been waiving for a stop for almost ½ hour. Fortunately, highway patrol happened to notice him and shifted him to St. John's hospital the same night. By then he had lost his consciousness.

At this moment, I didn't know how to blame myself for not having helped a person in need. I took his contact number from police station and returned to Bangalore by afternoon. I wanted to speak to this guy (I have forgotten his name by now) as I didn't have the courage to go and meet him personally.

I called on the mobile number provided the same evening. With all guilt within, I expressed my inability for not having helped him the previous evening while he was in need. There was a deep silence all together. I guess he didn't know how to react to this call of mine. I pleaded him with sorry. I wished him speedy recovery and expressed my guilt to the possible extent. He replied with a very low voice, which was filled with pain, "I don't know who you are. But I am happy to receive this call from you. I cursed each and every person who didn't stop when I wanted to. But, I guess there are still people in this world who care for others. Thank you for this call". I hanged up the phone with a sense of fading away with my guilt.