The Anonymous Helper

     I had just got my driving license, and was now driving my car at top speed on a deserted road of my village. The trees zoomed by in a blur. Every now and then an exotic bird would fly alongside the speeding vehicle for a few seconds, and then I would be alone again. I felt happy, independent. Like a bird just out of cage after weeks.

     Suddenly, the car's speed started slacking. It took me a few moments to realise that. When I found it out, my eyes raced to the speedometer. I saw my face become pale in the mirror; the fuel tank was empty. Slowly, steadily, the car came to a halt.

     I got out. I was in the middle of a forest. Lush green trees surrounded me on two sides. The nature, which seemed welcoming not many moments ago, now looked intimidating, almost threatening. I lost all hope. I was all alone in the middle of a forest that looked as if out of a horror movie.

     Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the leaves. I turned back. There was a really old man standing there. I almost shat myself; I thought he was a tribal, and that he would kill me immediately. But before I could muster up the energy for either fight or flight, he asked in Malvani, "Do you have a problem with your car?"

"Yes. The fuel… it is low," I answered, still mesmerised. "The nearest petrol pump is three kilometres away," he said back. "I'll help you." Saying so, he started pushing my car. He was definitely a farmer; for a man that looked so old, he was pushing my car pretty strongly.

     The two of us pushed for an hour or so, and reached the petrol pump in time. I thanked him and offered a ride back. We talked all the way back, about politics, weather and all the other stuff old men of the village are interested in. This man, who looked all scary and creepy an hour ago, gave me so much of positivity, that I still remember him.