Page 44 - Y Mind
P. 44
The only reason why Yash’s bus was not
attacked was its saffron color and the
Hindutva slogans on it. XYZ
After driving for 10 Kilometers, he fi-
nally reached the Sultan Muhalla. It was
a basti of 10-12 houses, far away from
the city. It was surrounded by dry fields and will go back home before morning.
and wild grass. It wasn’t yet attackd. Yash Feroz’s father asked how many people
knew the Saffron bus would scare the he could save. Yash replied that he could
people even more, so he parked it on the rescue only his family. At once they re-
road going down. As he went walking fused saying, “How can it be? How could
towards Feroz’s house, there was deafen- we leave our own people, our Muhalla
ing silence, no one to be seen. The dwell- for dying and we be saved? If we are go-
ers had locked themselves in their houses ing to Muzaffarpura, whole Muhalla will
with fear and helplessness. Yash reached go together otherwise none.” Yash con-
Feroz’s house. He knocked and shouted, fused and irritated said, “But how can
“I am Yash, Feroz please open the door.” it be? We have to hurry, they’ll be com-
Feroz came running and opened the ing at any time, and I don’t think there’ll
door. The house was poor, small room, be place in the bus for so many people.”
in one corner, there was a bed, and some Feroz’s mother interrupted, “They have
carpets lying on the ground, in the oth- grown with us, and they have favors
er corner, there was a small stove, plates upon us. We will not leave them. Either
and few tea-cups. The walls had become we go together or we die together.” The
black due to the cooking soot. Feroz’s room was silent and Yash was compelled
parents and siblings were surprised at to rescue the whole Muhalla. It was now
Yash’s daring to come there amidst this 12 O’clock in the night. Feroz and his
chaos. Yash could grasp the fear in their family went out and informed every-
minds. He explained to them his dad, body. People couldn’t believe at first,
Shankar’s, plan. They were terrified, but Feroz’s mother pleaded and they be-
tears came down their cheeks and they lieved. Under the moonlight Yash and
looked towards heaven and prayed. Yash Feroz hurried them in the bus. Whole
was amazed and flustered at this serene Muhalla was congested in the bus. There
gesture. He continued telling them his were children, elderly and middle aged
rescue plan. Feroz would carry them people. Finally Feroz climbed into the
in the bus to Muzzafarpura, a relatively driver’s seat. Yash told Feroz, “Stop no-
safer place, with Muslim majority pop- where. Once you have reached, contact
ulation. Once the bus leaves from there, me on the telephone, tomorrow morn-
Yash would take Feroz’s RX 100 bike
ing” The people thanked him and cried
Y
oung Minds 2020
43
43 Young Minds 2020
