The Women On Platform 8 by Ruskin Bond, reviewed by Anamika

The Women On Platform 8 by Ruskin Bond

Reviewed by
Name: Anamika
School: Gyan Mandir Public School

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 woman 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 pasting is a sweet gesture of recognition of a loving relationship.

Review

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 pants, he travels by bus and arrives Ambala at about twelve. He sits on the Platform N o. 8 at Ambala Station. His trains 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 women 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 women orders tea, samosas and jalebies for the boy. The boy eats as much as he an in a polite manner. The women seems to take a pleasure in watching him eat. Along wit 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 into a stranger. The women 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 women comes to his rescue and says that she is his mother. Satish’s mother, being very rich, is proud and naught in behaviour. She says that there are many suspicious characters hanging around. She behaves that one should be very careful of stranges. The women does not feel embarrassed. She only remarks that Arun can travel alone. Satish’s mother looks sternly at Arjun 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 not 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 aze at the women until she disappears in the crowd.

My opinion:
I like this book very much because the feeling of mother and son. I suggest all to read this book and enjoy.