IT WAS A SUNNY MORNING IN MAY last year when I was running and getting late for my office. To make matters more ominous, the driver of the auto rickshaw who regularly carries me to the bus stop had called me to say that he is not available that day.
When I left my apartment holding two bags, a handbag, and a lunch bag, I boarded an auto rickshaw passing nearby. As I walked to the bus stop, I recognized that I had only my lunch bag – I had left my handbag in the auto, containing two ATM cards, a new smartphone, and a handsome amount of cash, in the auto rickshaw!
It took me a few seconds to calm down. Here I was without so much as a single cent to pay for my bus fare, no mobile to call for help, and not a Public Call Office in sight. My work phone number was stored in my mobile, so I couldn’t even ring to tell them about my predicament.
To add to my woes, I did not have the key to my apartment either. I felt as though I was blindfolded in the middle of a forest. My mind was racing, but I slowly began to regain my composure.
I decided I would go home and borrow my neighbour’s phone to call my mobile. As I approached the nearest auto rickshaw, the driver, sensing my panic, offered his phone.
Appreciative of his generosity, I called my mobile and it rang and rang. Nobody answered. We tried a few more times without any luck. Then I remembered my brother’s number and called him.
My brother suggested I go to his office and get some money, and report the incident to the police so my mobile could be traced. On the way to my brother’s office, the driver got a call from my number.
A lady informed me that the auto rickshaw driver who had left me at the bus stop had my bag and wanted to return it to me. She told me exactly where he was waiting, and it was not far away. To my relief, I got my bag back with all its contents intact.
The driver apologised, saying that he had to call on the help of this lady to use my mobile to return the call. Moved by the honesty of this man, I offered him some cash as a token of appreciation, but he waved his hand and with a smile said, “No, Madam. Travel safely, that is enough for me.”
The other driver took me back to the bus stop and refused my offer of more than the actual fare.
This all happened within the short span of an hour, and I became quite emotional. I had just been helped by two strangers who showed compassion. It also dawned on me that I did not even know their names. I returned to normalcy with the hope of meeting them again someday.
