subject: Metro Of Life [print this page] Metro Of Life Metro Of Life
During my last visit to London in the United Kingdom, I had, or, in fact, I preferred to rely on London Underground system, and use the tube for most of my transportation needs. I found it a practical and efficient way for people to move around from place to another, and reach their destinations easily and smoothly.
One evening in the spring of year 2000, I was standing in peace inside the tube station and at the platform waiting to board into the coming train after I bought my trip ticket and used it to pass through the automatic ticket gate.
The day was a hectic one. I was very tired, feeling sleepy, and standing among huge number of people, who were also waiting, to take the train to the next destination in my journey back to home.
It was a rush hour and everybody seemed to be waiting with unique kind of mood and look. But I was too exhausted to check people looks at that moment, and felt too sleepy. After few minutes of standing, I was able to manage to sit down on one of the seats available on the platform.
While I was looking around with tired mind, I noticed an old man looking at me from a distance and having his sandwich. I felt uneasy, and thought to approach the guy and have a small chat with him instead standing here on the platform half sleepy.
Slowly, and with determination I walked toward him, where he was just finishing his sandwich, and appeared to be in his late 50s with quite face, white bear, and cold eyes.
I immediately greeted him, when I became very close, and asked him "what do you do for living?" He smiled and replied, "I am the destiny driver." I opened my eyes widely with amazement on his answer and said, "a destiny driver? what the hell does that mean?" So, he replied by asking me, "what do you think you were doing here?" I said with confidence, "I was waiting for the train to stop by in order for me to get in and go to the next station where I was heading."
He said, with a gentle smile, "in fact, you were waiting for your destiny without realization which destiny to pick. So, I am your destiny driver, and I will take you through a tour to have an idea about what you did not understand."
At that moment, I forgot going back to home, and got back all my strength to join him in the exciting journey that started after few minutes. Accordingly, I had my seat next to him in the driving room of the train, when he took full command over the train, and asked me to have a close and careful look at people standing at the coming tube station.
After driving for few minutes, we stopped by the next tube station for some time to allow people get into and from the train, and, then, continued our drive to the second station without him saying any word. So, I asked him what I was supposed to do next, he told me to keep quite and do the same thing at the second station.
I did the same thing. I watched the people, and he kept silent. At that point in time, I did not have the guts to ask him and had my mouth shut.
On our way to the third stop, he asked me to look through the window on my right side to see people busy in assembling a train. So, I got upset and told him that I would be getting off the train on the next stop, if he did not speak. But he did not say anything.
On that stop and while I was getting off the train, he asked, "how do you describe the people that were standing at the platform of the tube stations?" I said with carelessness, "some were sleeping or looking sleepy, others looked to be searching or confused, and the rest appeared to be calm but with maps in their hands." He said, "the first group are the people who choose their destinies by coincidence as they never had the chance to use their brains, the second group are the individuals who always get confused on making decisions as they lost their self-confidence long back although having reputable level of education, and the third group are the ones who try to be couscous and, always, plan ahead.
With confusion in my eyes, I asked him "what about the people who were busy assembling the train?" He turned to me and said "they are the ones who create their own and others destiny." He continued by saying "so, please have adequate sleep at night, keep on reading books of good quality, and try use your time efficiently even while waiting for the train to come. Maybe one day you will find yourself out of the tube station making your own way!"
I smiled to his lovely and interesting comment and remembered how I was yawning while I was sitting and doing nothing useful. Once the train stopped, I stepped out of the train and looked at him with admiration to find him saying in load voice, "don't forget the second time to check what carriage you are riding."
So, I froze and looked at the following carriages to see that they were carrying monkeys inside the cage to be transported to the National Zoo. I got stunned and said "OMG!", when the cleaning boy was waking me up in the tube station and it was midnight.
