Our Protective Coat.....

It was a long and a dreary day, the only motivating factor being that I got to meet my sister who recently shifted to Bombay. Mom, dad and I were in a rickshaw on our way back home from sis’s place. Dad tired from office and mom from helping sis with setting up the house. Mom and Dad were engrossed in a conversation regarding plumbers and electricians for the house and I as usual was lost in my own thoughts. The roadway to our place is not in the best of conditions due to the monorail work going on (I could write a separate page on the road conditions!!!) All of a sudden we heard a screech and a thud; a motorist had fallen down while trying to overtake our rickshaw. Our driver pretending to be oblivious to what had happened calmly rode ahead. The three of us broke from our thoughts for a few seconds when it happened and resumed back to where we had left. A few lanes had passed when; just like they show in bollywood films, the motorist came vroom and stopped right in front of our rickshaw. I FROZE….He pulled out our driver and started abusing, even beating him. Our driver was no less in this game and was giving it back to the motorist. A crowd had gathered there by then and there were vehicles honking impatiently signaling their distress in having the already narrow road blocked at this hour. It turned to a full blown fight and I realized I had started my usual prayers in mind. Dad finally stepped out and tried pacifying the two. The motorist mellowed down a bit after seeing dad. He took down the rickshaws number, threatened that he was going to complain to the police and left. Mumbling some abuses, our rickshaw guy resumed driving and we reached home safely.
In all of this I ponder …..I FROZE…I SAID MY PRAYERS…On second thoughts why did I? I was neither the accused nor the victim. Was I scared I might or somebody might get hurt? Or was I worried about reaching home? Was I plain anxious at what was happening? I guess the only thing that I can come up with is that the scene of two fully grown adults literally fighting with each other seemed so unusual in real life..almost scary that I realized what a protective environment I have been living in. It dawned upon me, that somewhere deep inside a small voice had said, “Dad mom there, nothing will happen.” If I had been in the rickshaw alone, I would have no doubt gone through the same feelings and managed it as well but for one change, “dad mom also not there, what will happen?” Its not about being or not being able to handle a situation, its just that feeling, “no place is as safe as the one where your family is” it doesn’t mean that our family consists of superhumans , it’s the superpower of faith and trust that gives you the real strength on most occasions.
Why is it that even in a group of 20, sometimes you know from within that you are on your own and sometimes even in a group of 3 you feel more safe? The reason again will be the same…
We say we grow big, we move out into the open, sure we do, but this one comfort and safe zone remains constant not by means of physical place/home but by our feeling of being cared for and protected when we are with our loved ones…we are always under their protective coat....