Dharma is above duty

My nephew’s Upanayan was finalized.

- Nivedita Raghunath Bhide

My parents and all other brothers and sisters were to come for it. Being a Kendra Karyakarta it is not possible to attend all the family functions. I had missed attending the marriages of both the brothers as those dates were not convenient for me from the work point of view. But this time I had time. Actually, I had gone up to Mumbai for Yoga Shiksha Shibir, so attending the Upanayan at Nashik was easier. I decided to take the night bus from Mumbai. I informed my sister at Nashik, she was overjoyed that I would be attending the Upanayan. She told me to give a call after I reach the bus stand and Bhausaheb – my brother in law would come to pick me up. The karyakartas at Mumbai told me that the state transport bus would reach around 5.00 AM. I got the seat (No reservations) in the front behind the driver which is in opposite direction thus we can not see the busstand or read the boards. Some six of us were sitting on that long seat.

I asked a woman sitting near me, whether she would be able to tell me when the Nashik bus-stand comes. She said, yes; she was going beyond Nashik. Around 2.45 she told me Nashik has come. ‘That early?’ I asked rubbing my eyes. The bus was slowing down, I hurriedly took my bag and rushed to the door which was at the rear and got down. It was pitchdark outside. Few sparse street lights were seen at the distance but they only accentuated the darkness where I was standing. I was wondering as to how this could be the bus stand of Nashik, as there was only one shed with two benches. One man who also got down before me, by now had disappeared in darkness.