‘Bombay To Bangalore’ A short story by Sudha Murthy

Once a TTE (Train Ticket Examiner) who was doing the duty in a Bangalore bound train from Mumbai caught a girl who was hiding under a seat. She was around 13 or 14 years old. TTE asked the girl to show the ticket to which she replied that she is traveling without a proper ticket. Then the TTE told the girl to get down from the train. At that same time, he heard a voice from behind. “I will pay for her”. That was Mrs. Usha Bhattacharya, who was a college lecturer by profession. Mrs. Bhattacharya paid for the girl’s ticket and requested her to sit nearby. Then she asked,
“what’s your name?”
“Chitra”, the girl replied.
“Where you are going?”
“I have nowhere to go.” the girl replied. “Then come with me.” Mrs. Bhattacharya told. After reaching Bangalore, Mrs. Bhattacharya handed over the girl to an NGO. Later Mrs. Bhattacharya shifted to Delhi and the contact between the two came almost into a halt. After around 20years Mrs. Bhattacharya went to San Francisco (USA) to deliver a lecture in a college there. While she was in a restaurant, after having the meal, she was about to pay the bills. Then the receptionist informed her that her bills are already paid. When she turned back, she saw a woman with her husband smiling at her. Mrs. Bhattacharya asked the couple, “why did you pay my bills? ”
The young woman replied, “Ma’m, the bills I paid are very less when comparing to the ticket fare you had paid for me for the Bombay – Bangalore train journey!” Tears were rolling out from both eyes of the woman. “Oh, Chitra… you..!!!” Mrs.Bhattacharya responded astonished. Chitra hugged and touched Mrs. Bhattacharya’s feet.

Don’t be astonished. Yes, the little help you extend to others can change their whole lives! Bible says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it.”

Sudha Murty is the chairperson of Infosys Foundation. She is also an author and pens down interesting stories from the lives of ordinary people.  The above is an extracted version from ‘Bombay to Bangalore’, one of her most heartwarming stories.