The Woman on Platform 8

The women on platform 8 by Ruskin Bond is a story about love and affection that transcends all barriers if kindship. It is narrated in the first person by a school going boy Arun. All the events are seen from his point of view.

The story resolves around Arun's encounter with a stranger - a mysterious women. The womes in white sari treats him like a son. She offers him tea and snacks. She helps him feel comfortable. Her dignity and humanity come in sharp contrast with the vanity and arrogance of Satish's mother. Arun's calling her 'mother' at the time of parting is a sweet gesture of recognisation of a loving relationship.

Summary

Arun is a 12 year old boy. He studies in a boarding school. His parents are confident that he can travel alone. After meeting his parents, he travels by bus and arrives Ambala at about twelve. He sits on the platform no.8 at Ambala station. His train is to leave hours later at midnight. So he continues to watch the changing scene around. Soon he loses interest in his surroundings. He feels lonely and bored.

Suddenly, Arun hears a soft voice from behind. It is a woman in white sari. She looks pale and has dark kind eyes. She wears no jewels. After a brief introduction, she invites Arun for some refreshment at the station dining room. She takes his hand and leads him away. Arun, though shy and suspicious, does not refuse the invitation as he feels it would be too impolite to reject it. The woman orders tea, samosas and jalebies for the boy. The boy eats as much as he can in a polite manner. The woman seems to take a pleasure in watching him eat.

Along with the lady, Arun comes back to platform No.8. Now he opens up and tells her about his school, his friends, his likes and dislikes. He forgets that he is talking to a stranger. The woman speaks very little and listens to him intently. Arun's school fellow Satish, along with his mother, appears on the platform.

Satish's mother asks Arun if the lady is his mother. Before Arun utters a word by way of explanation, the woman comes to his rescue and says that she is his mother. Satish's mother, being very rich, is proud and haughty in behaviour. She says that there are many suspicious characters hanging around. She behaves that one should be very careful of strangers. The woman does not feel embarrassed. She only remarks that Arun can travel alone. Satish's mother looks sternly at Arun and advises him to be careful in absence of his mother, and never talk to strangers. Arun irritates her by contradicting her,"I like strangers."

Satish seems to agree with Arun as he grins at him. After some time, the train steams in. Satish and Arun board it. Satish 's mother and the stranger stand on the platform talking to the boys. Of course, it is Satish's mother who does most of the talking.

starts, Satish says, "Good-bye, mother". They wave to each other. Not to be left behind, Arun also utters the farewell words, "Good-bye, mother". He continues to gaze at the woman until she disappears in the crowd.