It was late at night and she had boarded the last local. She got in the ladies compartment even though it was unoccupied as she saw a policeman in the compartment. Good, or so she thought.
The policeman came and sat a little away from her. She took the window seat and he took the aisle seat. She looked scared as she unknowingly covered her mouth and nose with her hand. She was thinking a lot. She looked scared. It seemed she couldn't breathe.
The policeman glanced at her a few times. She tried to look outside while staying alert at the same time.
There was a long disturbing silence. Finally, after two stations, he policeman spoke.
"Any problem madam?"
She looked worried and nodded her head in disagreement. She shifted slowly more towards the window. He asked again and got the same response. She then got up and went to the door. The train stopped at the next station. She did not get off. Another station, she stayed.
The policeman came to her.
"Any problem madam? Are you standing here because I sat next to you?"
She looked at him speechless.
He looked angry or rather insulted.
"Oh so you women do all that drama about security in trains and when we are around you treat us as if we are Gundas! I am here to protect you not to scare you. Why are you moving away? It's not good to treat us like this."
He went inside and occupied a seat.
She then sat in front of him and spoke politely.
"See, you are getting me wrong. I respect you for being away from your home protecting us here. I was moving away for another reason. But if I tell you, you will feel bad, so I can't tell."
He insisted that he wanted to know.
She spoke hesitantly.
"You have to promise you won't feel bad."
He promised.
She continued, avoiding any eye contact.
"You are smelling really bad. I am sorry."
"Am I? That's why you were moving away?"
"Yes. Sorry."
He thought for a few minutes. There was no conversation. Then he spoke smiling a bit.
"Oh that's why. Now I understand. Don't say sorry. I should thank you. Now I know why my colleagues stay away from me. They generally don't wait for me for lunch. Oh so Patil sahib does not have cold all the time. He keeps his hand on his nose to avoid my smell..."
He appeared embarrassed and thankful at the same time.
"What to do, I am on duty at weird hours, and the schedules are always tight. So I don't get time to take bath properly before leaving for work. I just finish up quickly with cold water. What to do?"
She understood his situation. She suggested using Racold water heaters. She explained how a hot water bath really helps in removing the sweaty smell and one feels so refreshed. And then, Racold is a very instant solution and can save him quite some time and electricity too.
He was glad. The train halted. She realised it was her station and got off in a jiffy. She looked back inside and they exchanged smiles.
Three weeks later, she ended up boarding the same train. He was seated inside. There were other ladies too that day. She went and sat next to him. And they chatted a lot.
She felt safe. He felt respected.
This post is my entry to the "Close Encounters of the Smelly Kind"contest by Racold on Indiblogger.The policeman glanced at her a few times. She tried to look outside while staying alert at the same time.
There was a long disturbing silence. Finally, after two stations, he policeman spoke.
"Any problem madam?"
She looked worried and nodded her head in disagreement. She shifted slowly more towards the window. He asked again and got the same response. She then got up and went to the door. The train stopped at the next station. She did not get off. Another station, she stayed.
The policeman came to her.
"Any problem madam? Are you standing here because I sat next to you?"
She looked at him speechless.
He looked angry or rather insulted.
"Oh so you women do all that drama about security in trains and when we are around you treat us as if we are Gundas! I am here to protect you not to scare you. Why are you moving away? It's not good to treat us like this."
He went inside and occupied a seat.
She then sat in front of him and spoke politely.
"See, you are getting me wrong. I respect you for being away from your home protecting us here. I was moving away for another reason. But if I tell you, you will feel bad, so I can't tell."
He insisted that he wanted to know.
She spoke hesitantly.
"You have to promise you won't feel bad."
He promised.
She continued, avoiding any eye contact.
"You are smelling really bad. I am sorry."
"Am I? That's why you were moving away?"
"Yes. Sorry."
He thought for a few minutes. There was no conversation. Then he spoke smiling a bit.
"Oh that's why. Now I understand. Don't say sorry. I should thank you. Now I know why my colleagues stay away from me. They generally don't wait for me for lunch. Oh so Patil sahib does not have cold all the time. He keeps his hand on his nose to avoid my smell..."
He appeared embarrassed and thankful at the same time.
"What to do, I am on duty at weird hours, and the schedules are always tight. So I don't get time to take bath properly before leaving for work. I just finish up quickly with cold water. What to do?"
She understood his situation. She suggested using Racold water heaters. She explained how a hot water bath really helps in removing the sweaty smell and one feels so refreshed. And then, Racold is a very instant solution and can save him quite some time and electricity too.
He was glad. The train halted. She realised it was her station and got off in a jiffy. She looked back inside and they exchanged smiles.
Three weeks later, she ended up boarding the same train. He was seated inside. There were other ladies too that day. She went and sat next to him. And they chatted a lot.
She felt safe. He felt respected.
Check out this cool video about a smelly boss. #What'sThatSmellBoss?
You may also like my other story Did he say Yes?
Nice take on the subject. If you get time do check mine. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Gaurab, heading to your blog right away.
DeleteNice ending :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Pankti
DeleteThe title mage me remember the Hindi movie- Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local :)
ReplyDeleteNice story with the message.
Best wishes for the contest!
Typo: Pl read "made" instead of mage above :)
DeleteGood thing the last local willing to ride the train told him.
ReplyDeleteHope it's a gr8 A to Z week
Dragon Tails
Superb twist!
ReplyDeleteReached here via A-Z and enjoyed your PJ posts as well!!
My A-Z theme, ‘26 Positive Takes on Life’ generally focuses on positive, truly heart-warming, real-life incidents involving ordinary persons whom we can all emulate.
Thanks dear. I read your wonderful party on reaching out but not sure if my comment is getting posted. Not getting a moderation message. Just wanted to say:It's often a tough situation to speak to someone who has lost someone close. I have realised that calling or messaging helps. Just showing that we are with them in the grief gives some strength to deal with it.
Delete