Maya Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

 

Maya

Author: Dr. K. S. Kang

Maya got dowm from the bus after four hours of tiring journey, her limbs were aching as she was not used to long journeys, especially by road. She had come to appear for a competitive exam in this strange town, though she had an acquaintance in the town who will allow her to spend night at her house. As this town was far off from her home town, so she could not have reached the place the same day and secondly they were required to report forty five minutes before the commencement of the exam at the centre, so it was necessary to reach the centre in the morning, and no conveyance form her home town could have brought it to this town in time. That is why she came here one day before the exam. From the bus stop she took an auto rickshaw that took her to the colony in which her acquaintance lived. But even after ascending the four floors of the multi-storied building in which her acquaintance livee, Maya to her despair and disappointment found a golden padlock on the door of her acquaintance’s house with a note on paper apologising for the inconvenience but they had to leave for some other place in emergency. So Maya, already wearied by the journey, was getting exhausted by this time. As soon as she read the note, it seemed to her earth was slipping under her feet. Now she was worried where to turn to in this strange town for the night. It even occurred to her to return back, but by this time even the last bus to her town had left and she had no option but to find some shelter for the night, as she did not want to miss this chance of appearing in the exam because she had worked hard and prepared for it from a couple of years. Meanwhile evening had descended, and light drizzle had started and dark clouds started gathering in the sky with lightening and thundering making the situation more dire for her. Soon evening lights started twinkiling in the town.

She started praying to the Almighty Lord to save her from this ordeal. As she opened her eyes she saw a light coming from the Police Station across the road. It occured to her that God has replied her fervent prayer. Timidly she entered Police Station and asked a person who was sitting in the chair whether she can stay here for night. The Police Officer looked at her from head to toe whether this girl was insane or not. Before he could ask anything she apprised him of her plight and need to get a shelter for the night so that she can appear in the exam next day for which she had prepared meticulously from the last couple of years. At first Police Officer considered her appeal as futile and flatly that he cannot give shelter to her as this place is meant for hardened criminals and he cannot take risk of allowing her to stay here lest some harm may come to her. As Maya was moving towards the exit of the Police Station, she turned around and made another fervent appeal to him to help her otherwise something harm may come to her in the town as she really has no place to go. As Maya again turned to move, suddenly there was thundering and lightning in the sky, followed by the loud voice of Police Officer to stop and follow her. He took her to a vacant barrack and asked her to lock the door from inside and sleep on the stony berth. He also cautioned her not to open the door at any cost. Maya came into the barrack and put her bag on the stony berth. Though she could not sleep well but she was grateful to the kind officer who gave her shelter for the night. In morning while Maya was coming out of the station she wanted to thank the kind officer but by that time he had already gone, perhaps his duty time was over. Still it appeared to her that Police Officer was angel incarnate for her, sent by Almighty to help her. With deep gratitude in her eyes Maya moved towards her examination centre.