Smile on his face, light in his eyes


We all ran to catch the train on dadar station, got in the ladies 1st class, just trying to settle in the little place that we got, and there he came smiling; with a thick plastic bag in his one hand and packets of ‘shingh’ (groundnuts) in his other hand. He came to us and gave us 3 packets of ‘shingh’, 2 Rs each.


This boy had become our routine on our way back home. Always with a smile on his face and light in his eyes. His name was Dinesh.


Once I asked him, "School jate ho?" He replied shyly, "Ha jata hu. 8 vi (8th std) mein padhta hun." He went to school in morning and in afternoon helped his father who was selling ‘bhel’ on the platform. I felt so small in front of him for yelling at my mom when she gave me a little work in kitchen!! If he saw us passing on the platform or standing in the door of the leaving train, he would call us and smile. When he was not on the platform I have missed him and searched for him. His smile was contagious, bringing smile on my face even when I was sad.


It’s been almost 4 years I have finished my graduation. He was in 10th std then.

Recently when I had been to dadar station on the same platform, I wished I could see that smile again.


Somtimes some strangers leave their impressions....