THE SUBWAY MAN

They held each other’s hands and walked towards Marshlane. Their hand’s weren’t strong enough to hold the other if one of them tripped or fell, still it was the strength of mutual trust they had. The temperature outside continued to drop as the day entered dusk. It was becoming pretty dark at 5.00 in the evening. The last few days of winter it was. His sensitivity towards Anne never changed. He was 67 and she was 63 but her touch was still magical and mesmerizing.

Thirty two years of marriage and they had four kids. Anne and Rizvi left uncared by their children had now learnt to support each other atleast morally if physical strength defeated them.

Rizvi  was so used to Anne’s presence beside him. She had been always there by his side. During his high profile life of a businessman, as his lady love, as a wonderful mother to himself apart from his children, as an iron pillar during his struggling days of financial loss, and even now she was there right beside him as soft as rose petals that knew only to soothe him.  

Twas an evening Rizvi thought he would dedicate to Anne. He took her for a walk to places nearby where they had met first in his mid twenties, the house they moved into as newlywed and the park she used to take her children to play.

It was getting colder and the old couple struggled their way forward now. As they neared Marshlane they found a SUBWAY outlet. Rizvi’s hands could feel only the tearing leather of his wallet and not a single metal piece struck his hand, he had no money but a small bit of paper. Both shivered in the cold. The touch again soothed him and she asked if they could go in and give a try.

The till was dropped out, bains switched off and the oven cleaned. Anne and Rizvi entered SUBWAY. It was Anne who took the initiative. She asked the man at the till if by any chance they could redeem the breakfast coupon which expired the previous month.  The man wasn’t the owner of the shop and couldn’t help but deny any kind of redeeming.  They still smiled and said “It’s okay, son”.

Prateek couldn’t  himself from stop admiring these couples standing at the till. He felt ashamed of his inability to let them redeem their outdated coupon. He saw a “in search of grief” moment in  their eyes when they exchanged glances. They held their hands again and turned to leave. Prateek stopped them before they could reach the threshold. With his charming smile he said ”how about a tea ? I need good company for my own cup of tea”. They smiled and all the three joined in for tea. Anne told Prateek in her wise and mellow tone that they were regulars to subway but unfortunately had no money that day.

Prateek bid them goodbye once they were done. He felt happy for helping them to warm themselves and for spending worthwhile time knowing worthwhile people.

The subway routine was on again. Morning times were busy. As he moved about the tables he found small cover addressed to “THE SUBWAY MAN”, a thank you note from Anne and Rizvi. He found something extra, a pound safely kept in the cover and a note that said “Thank you so much generous young man. Here we leave a pound to have one of those bottled drink on us from your store’s fridge.”

It touched his heart and kept he note carefully in his bag and punched out for a break from the store to take his drink.