An Angel

The happy couple brought the baby home.
Shekar and Akshara were returning by train from Shirdi to Chennai.
Since it was a last moment booking, they could get tickets only in general
compartment. They thought that they can check with the TTE for up gradation.
When Shekar requested the TTE, he was disappointed to know that the train
was full. After regular visits to the TTE, he came to know that up gradation
was not possible at all. He told Akshara the same. By the time, Akshara was
prepared mentally and was ready to adjust for just 1 night.
She was actually relieved since people traveling with them were decent.
There were an old couple and a young couple with a baby girl. The old couple
was also traveling to Chennai and had got an upper berth and they wanted
someone to adjust with them. The baby’s dad said that were to get down
somewhere in between as their station would come at around 2 or 3 am. Shekar
accepted to climb up and the old man was supposed to sleep in his middle
berth. His wife had got a lower berth and the baby’s mom got the other.
Akshara had the other middle berth and the baby’s dad went up to sleep. The
young couple spoke in some north Indian language, Hindi or Marathi, Akshara
wasn’t sure.
The baby was cute. She was around 6 months and was very friendly.
She didn’t cry much and went to everyone in the nearby seats. When asked
her name, her mom said, they would name only after the end of 6 months and
is yet to be named as she’s just 5 months old. With much difficulty, Akshara
understood this.
Soon after dinner, everyone started to climb up to their berths. The old
man wanted to sleep and so without much choice, everyone was compelled to
lie down. Soon, all the lights in the compartment were turned off one by one
and only the ones in the passage were still glowing. As it was stuffy, akshara
couldn’t sleep well. She saw the old lady sleeping in the opposite berth and
the baby and her mom were sleeping beneath her. Finally it was around 11,
when she started to sleep. The train stopped at all stations, saying bye to some
and welcoming aboard some passengers. Finally, it was 3.30 am when Akshara
could not sleep anymore. She wanted some breeze and thought of getting down
from her berth. She got down, found her slippers and went to the wash basin,
washed her face and came back to her seat.
She saw that the young couple had got down and so 1 berth was empty!
She thanked God that she could now lie down in this berth. She realized there
was a bundle in the lower berth. When she bent down to check what it is, the
baby gave a squeal! Akshara’s heart skipped a beat! The young couple had left
their baby!
Akshara didn’t know what to do as it was wee hours in the morning. She
adjusted herself next to the baby and put her to sleep. She couldn’t close her
eyes for a second. She was waiting for the first ray of the sun so that she could
wake up Shekar. Finally at 5 am, she woke up Shekar. By that time, the baby
was fast asleep and the old man got down to use the toilet. Slowly, he woke up
his wife and now everyone was awake.

Nobody noticed the baby. When Akshara held the baby in her hands for
the berths to be re-arranged, only then the old couple and Shekar realized that
the baby was left in the train. Then Akshara narrated what had happened and
how she found the baby. The first words the old woman told her was that the
baby was given to her by God and she can take her with them! The old man
shouted at his wife and told Shekar that they report to the police immediately.
Shekar and Akshara were in a fix. The people in the next seats came to look
at the baby and gave free advice that they handover the baby to the Chennai
police, some said railway police in the next station, some said that the baby
would be handed over to the TTE, etc..
Due to all this noise, the baby woke up and started to cry. Akshara tried
to console her and the baby held her salwar tightly in fear. Shekar then tried to
send the people away and finally sat down next to his wife. With great effort,
Akshara and the old woman consoled the baby. They got some milk in the next
station and Akshara managed to feed her with a spoon. Once the stomach was
full, the baby was back to her form! She was smiling at everyone unknown of
her future!
Shekar went in search of the TTE and informed him the same. TTE too
suggested that he would inform the police immediately and that the baby be
handed over to them. Shekar came and told the same to everyone. The baby
gave a big toothless smile looking at Shekar and at that moment, he wanted to
take her home. When he stretched his hands, the baby jumped towards him!
He and Akshara secretly prayed that no police should come over to take the
baby away from them.
After an hour or so, the TTE came up to them saying that he was unable
to find the police and that they can hand her over to the police in Chennai
station as they would anyways reach Chennai in 2 hours time. Time just flew
off with the baby in the midst.
They were nearing Chennai Central station. Once the train halted, the
old couple took their leave and got down. Now, it was Shekar, Akshara and the
baby. The TTE came over and took them to the railway police and explained
everything. The inspector called the constable to take the baby from Akshara.
Something stopped Askhara from giving away the baby and the baby too started
to cry when the constable tried to take her away.
Akshara looked at Shekar and he asked the inspector if they can take
the baby, home. The inspector looked questioningly at him and said the baby
would be sent to Government’s orphanage and an ad will be given in the
media. Akshara couldn’t stop her tears now. She requested the inspector that
they would immediately handover the baby once her parents or someone comes
in search of her and till such time, they should be allowed to keep the baby.
The inspector was a gentleman and he understood her feelings. He stopped
the constable from writing down a case and said that they can take the baby
with them. He took their address, mobile numbers, email id and said that they
would let them know about the proceedings. He further said that he’s doing it
at his own risk just because the baby would have a caring and loving family till
her own people come in search of her!

Shekar and Akshara profusely thanked him for the kindness and took the
little angel, home.
The baby got a home and loving parents and these parents, got her as
their wedding anniversary gift!

My Note:
I came across some news today in Face book that someone had found a baby
girl in Udhampur-Hyderabad train and they need help from people in finding her
parents. This was the starting point for this story and the rest is my imagination.