A day in the life of an everyday hero

It was Maha Shivaratri, the sacred night that commemorates the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. A day celebrated enthusiastically throughout the country when devotees, early in the morning, bathe and visit Shiva temples to serve Shiva’s favorites and obtain his blessings.

It was a quite sunny and cheerful Sunday morning on 15th February 2026. The same essence of festivity had enveloped our campus. Enthusiastic devotees, all bathed and loaded with offerings for Shiva, were seen traversing the roads. The temples, too, were significantly livelier and much more surrounded than usual. A Sunday morning like this would otherwise have felt unbelievable.

We too had gone to a nearby temple and offered our routine prayers. After which we returned home to briefly start preparing for another sacred sojourn. This was to an ancient temple, located inside a prohibited area, where entry of visitors is allowed only once a year on this venerated festival.

Much like the previous year, we were drawn to revisit the sacred place again. This time, however, we intended to bring our grandmother along. So, she too could get a chance to immerse herself in the mystical atmosphere of the place… just the kind of awareness she loves to seek. The one exception was that she was recovering from a month-long sickness, and she was weak because at her delicate age, the recovery was slow. Taking her along required each moment of carefulness and readiness to make sure of her safety and comfort.    

To reach the temple, one had to take any of the frequently running buses starting from a specified departing venue to the temple. This was a ride facility provided by the authorities themselves for the general public on this particular occasion — to meet the collective convenience of both parties. We too reached the assembling spot, where a beautiful swarm of devotees was already waiting for another bus that would take them to the temple.

After a brief twelve to fifteen minutes of waiting, the bus eventually arrived. My sister and I climbed a bit early to secure seats for my grandmother and mother first — and we successfully managed to do so just that. Then we waited for the ladies to embus safely and get seated. The four of us managed to fit into three seats, accommodating each other as best as we could.

Soon after we adjusted, I noticed that the ‘boarding the bus’ scene looked much more chaotic and confusing at that moment than was foreseen.

A quiet curiosity lingered among everyone — whether all those who had been waiting will manage to board on this particular trip or whether some might have to remain behind — waiting for the following bus. Now, being excluded from this boarding would require further waiting for forty to forty-five minutes or perhaps even longer; nothing was certain. And therefore, there was an unspoken hope that all could make it on board together.

Amidst the whole confusing commotion emerged the “man of the hour.”

As though the moment had been waiting for him. This hero silently assumed charge to manage the crowd. And his very immediate response was to stop the further boarding of any more passengers… until the ‘inside the bus’ picture was organized. "Ruk jayiye, ruk jayiye” (please stop, please stop), he said deliberately. And everyone immediately followed. They too knew they now needed a navigator.

Everything inside paused. And he assertively gave his next command — asking all the men and older boys to let go of their occupied seats and make way for the women and kids to get seated first. This command took a couple of minutes to take effect with his much-needed attention and direction. He took a walk around guiding and confirming himself of the progress so far.

Soon after, another hero boarded the bus, who immediately sprung into the role to become a self-appointed 'wingman' to the self-initiated ‘action officer.'

He surpassed the first hero, taking a stand ahead, near the rear of the bus, thereby assisting him with the seats and space still left to be utilized at the back.

Let me give you a broad overview here — the action officer was standing near the entry gate and the wingman positioned himself at the rear of the bus, taking perfect cover of the whole picture. And for them, this was a mission half accomplished.

Next to this, a synchronized resolution was taking place; the action officer started to take in one passenger at a time, and the wingman started to settle them in quite optimally, acting as a right hand to the first hero.

All the people present there were witnessing an unplanned, well-structured, spontaneously targeted response to a confused public rush; which rather seemed like a well-orchestrated, much more consciously practiced and coordinated action.

The 2nd hero would timely acknowledge the 1st hero, “XYZ Sir, aur bhejo” (Sir, send more people here), and parallelly they went on. Here for the sake of your convenience, and to maintain the action officer’s anonymity we’ll refer to his last name as “XYZ” through the length of the remaining article.

Josh wasn’t high just inside the bus; the passengers still waiting in line outside the bus evidently had more faith in these heroes — as they stood assuredly and with much more patience than the ones already inside. Enthusiastically cheering on “XYZ Sir, aur ladke lelo” (Sir, let's get some more passengers in) … as if they very well were aware that nothing was impossible with the action officer in command. Because this hero was one, carved with discipline, since childhood. Whose knowledge, experience and leadership had the flexibility to handle any issue whether or not it fell under his sphere of familiarity.

And just so I believed too, being a fangirl who never stopped admiring the unfathomable potential he carried so effortlessly within himself. A girl raised by the action officer himself, his proud daughter.

“Sir, bhejo sir, aur jagah hai, aane do, aajayenge." (Sir, send more men, there is much space, let them come, they can come) the wingman kept prompting and reassuring the action officer — of enough space to manage more passengers that could board in efficiently. A couple more minutes of settling in, and the josh was now a few degrees higher than before. All of this had taken fifteen minutes in whole to resolve.

And at that moment, every woman traveling was seated, and all the males stood tall, like the valiant protectors they had been trained to be. This here was a perfect example for one to witness the true responsiveness and readiness of a soldier. How would we have known if the journey hadn't been so difficult?

By the time of leaving, every single devotee standing there at the venue had boarded… no one was left behind, and this so happened in complete unity and coordination; credit to the common goal each devotee carried that day. "Bolo Shankar Bhagwan ki," loudly exclaimed the second hero from the rear, as every passenger on board repeated in completion, "Jai!" "Bolo Shankar Bhagwan ki," … "Jai!" "Bolo Shankar Bhagwan ki," … "Jai!" It went on till it became the loudest.

The wingman was an astute observer and a versatile man of action, carrying with him a charmingly respectful demeanour. The one who always knew the right moment to step forward with the right set of abilities. His moves were precisely calculated, aimed at supporting the action officer in a manner far more efficient than any lone effort could have managed.

Talking about my father, he did what he would have done, he did what he so faithfully proclaimed everyone to do… ‘to take initiative, to take action.’ It does not require one to be in authority to bring a change. Improvement begins the moment you realise things need to be different, things need to be better, and you choose not to wait for someone to take action – you choose to do something yourself.

There they stood

Shining in the crowd

For the action they took

When they knew they could.

A soldier may be trained for combat, discipline, and survival. What he is not trained for, he builds. A speck of humor in the most unexpected moments — not just to ease the effect of challenging operations but also to remind that happiness can always find you in the moments you choose to laugh.

The journey had begun; the vision was achieved. Now, it was the moment to celebrate the teamwork, the patience, and the unspoken understanding of our heroes.

So, the action officer chose to conclude, 'A fauji's win in a fauji’s style.’

He spoke in a loud, engaging spirit to his wingman: “Sir, piche ke ticket aap kaat lo” (Sir, please book the rear tickets). To which the wingman obediently, much enthusiastically replied, “Ji Sir, bilkul” (Yes Sir, absolutely). And the whole crowd erupted with shared victorious laughter.

This was a one-day tale from the lives of heroes who continue doing their part irrespective of their roles, and regardless of the place they are meant to effect change. Hope you someday find one on a busy street — making your day happier; much better.

                                                          — VAISHALI