Memorable Instances: The Day That Saved My Life

The announcement for the Churchgate local was echoing through the Andheri Station. The July rains had drenched the city, leaving behind thick humidity, and the weight of my heavy HP laptop felt unbearable on my shoulder. A mild fever had given me a splitting headache since morning. Yet, I was determined not to let anything dim my spirit that day. I kept reminding myself, “Only when you are happy and think positive, you attract positive vibes around you.”

I wished I could fly to Churchgate that day. After weeks of consistent effort, one of the top corporate clients had finally agreed, almost, to do business with the company I worked for. If my presentation went well, I’d recover the entire backlog of my quarterly target in one go.

I called my manager, hoping he’d soon join me for this important meeting. His seniority and presence would lend the support I needed to seal the deal. But to my surprise, the call went unanswered.

As luck would have it, while my call rang in office, my manager was stuck in a tense conversation with his boss and super-boss. The topic: the poor performance of his team — which, of course, included me. My timing couldn’t have been worse.

As I descended the stairs towards the platform, my phone finally rang. It was my boss. I answered, excited — only to be met with a storm of anger and frustration. Before I could speak, a combination of hurricane and tsunami crashed. He lashed out at me, told me he couldn’t join, and that I better close the deal — or else.

Being the over-sensitive me, I was shaken. My mood sank. As I stepped off the last stair onto the platform, still reeling from the call, I twisted my left ankle and tripped. I fell hard, my knees hitting the muddy, wet platform. The weight of the laptop made it impossible to get up on my own.

A few kind ladies helped me up and sat me on a bench.

I sat there, dazed. Just minutes ago, I was full of hope and determination. Now, I was in pain, soaked, muddied, with a worsening fever and a sprained ankle. Tears rolled down uncontrollably as I whispered to God, “Why today?”

And then, my phone rang again. It was my mother.

She wasn’t pleased I had left for work with a fever. And just with my “hello,” she knew I was crying. I poured everything out. She listened quietly and then said, “Inform your boss and come back home right now. You can always reschedule the meeting. You’ll perform your best only when you're well — and today is not that day.”

Her words grounded me.

I called the client, explained the situation, and thankfully, got the meeting postponed. I couldn’t bring myself to speak to my boss again, so I sent an SMS explaining I was unwell and heading home. Limping and exhausted, I somehow made it back.

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Today, after nearly twelve years, I still get goosebumps recalling that day. I have silently thanked my ex-boss countless times — for losing his temper on me. And I have been grateful to my lucky charm, my mom, for calling me at just the right moment.

Because looking back, the chain of events that unraveled that day — my boss yelling, my twisted ankle, my mother’s timely call — forced me to return home early.

And that, perhaps, saved my life.

Had I gone for the meeting, closed the deal, I would have returned in my usual Churchgate local — the same first-class center compartment, at the same hour.

And maybe, just maybe… I would have never returned home that evening..

#mumbaitrainblasts2006

- Sharon Lasrado.