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Nandita Gautam

Children Stories Drama Inspirational

4.5  

Nandita Gautam

Children Stories Drama Inspirational

Act of Kindness

Act of Kindness

5 mins
587


I was walking by the road like a normal day of return from work. As I came to the final crossing, I took a glance at my watch and proceeded ahead. Then it all happened so suddenly. I saw a Maruti speeding towards me from the right, the woman was not looking straight. In the same second, I realised that a boy on my left was also crossing the road with me. The car paced with the same momentum and in the next instant, it hit me hard.


Through my unconsciousness, I could hear people gather around me. Blood oozed from my ears and my clothes were drenched in blood as they transported me in an ambulance.

I opened my eyes to the yellow lights that strained my vision. There was numbness in my body and my right arm felt heavy. After a while, a doctor came to me and spoke, “How are you feeling Mr. Das?”

“Fine”, I responded as a boy came and stood beside the doctor.


“Its 4th November 2019 today. It's been three days since you have been admitted. This boy saved your life. He pulled you back just when the car could have crushed you over. He brought you here and has been looking after you as if you were his own father”, the doctor told me.


My heart was filled with gratitude and before I could say anything, the boy started saying “Uncle, you might not be knowing me but I know you very well, rather now I know you very well. I am Amandeep Raj. I came to Amritsar, to my grandparent’s place. Around ten years ago, you had helped my father at Delhi airport. He came to see you yesterday and could surely confirm that it was you only who had once helped him out from being robbed of his life’s assets. I am fortunate that I got to return the act of kindness you had gestured back then.”


Ten years ago….

I was waiting at the Indira Gandhi International airport. Our flight had been announced. I was traveling to Mumbai with my colleagues for our company’s Annual meet to continue for the next three days.

My friends were enjoying their time as it was more of a period of leisure and recreation for them. As they were roaming around the space, I remained static at our original position as we had luggage to look after.


After a while, a man came and sat beside me. He was a Sikh as it appeared from the big turban he had tied on his head. He had long white beard and a very stout appearance. Two young kids, two women, and another man followed him. Six of them now sat beside me in a row in the waiting lounge area.

I shifted my luggage more towards my side so as to allow them to accommodate the suitcases and the bags that they carried.


The kids were springing all around the space and munching on the different snacks that were being given to them by their mothers from time to time. They prepared to leave as soon as their flight was announced. As the big Punjabi family left, there was no further resonation. I was back to waiting for my friends, as my gaze momentarily shifted towards my left where the middle-aged man sat before.


I was in shell shock as my vision caught a pocket-sized brown wallet that appeared to be stuffed with cash. I picked up the wallet immediately and was astounded to see what was inside. The wallet was stuffed with currency notes in pounds and more than at least ten credit cards stacked neatly on the cover fold I held. I had to wait for another five minutes before my friends arrived at the place where our luggage was kept. Without explaining anything to them, I simply ran towards the direction I had seen the family going.


I could not trace them. Soon I recollected that they were talking about grabbing dinner before boarding the flight. I started searching for them in all the food outlets and restaurants at the airport. After fifteen minutes of the goose chase, finally, I could track them at a South Indian restaurant on the first floor. Completely oblivious to his loss, the man was savouring uttapam while the rest of them were relishing the taste of dosas and sambar, an outpouring from their plates. My stomach growled. I had been running almost from the last fifteen minutes and will have to run back as my friends were waiting. The anxiety of it all made me hungrier.


The other man was ordering idli when I interrupted their amusement and stood beside the table where they were eating. Not recognising me, the man looked at me inquisitively.


“Hello Sir, did you forget something?” I spoke without wasting any more time. Both the men looked for their belongings while I waited. Suddenly that man whose wallet I supposedly carried, got up from his chair. His face had turned completely pale. The distress of his loss was totally evident on his face.

I produced the wallet and gave it in his hands.


 “O baadshaho….rabb twada bhala karey (oh dear…may god bless you) !!!!!!!!” He was overjoyed and delighted as he pulled me in his arms into a tight embrace. He instantly brought out a thick bunch of cash, all in pounds, and kept it in my palms right away. “No please. You would have done the same”, I spoke in clear denial.


The man spoke,” You do not know what you are returning to me. My flight would have left in some time. By the time, I would have realised it after reaching London, you could have done unlimited transactions with the credit cards that are here. You had access to my life’s entire earnings and revenue. Thank you so much. We visit India once in every year, to our ancestral home at Amritsar. Take my contact card and should you need any assistance in any matter whatsoever you should not think twice.”

I took the card and bid him goodbye. I forgot the incident soon after and could not preserve the card over the years…


“Uncle..?“ Amandeep spoke interrupting my reverie.

‘No act of kindness ever gets wasted.’ I responded as I peacefully smiled at him.


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