I have always been mesmerised by a split second (even Ben Johnson would have to admit) taken by some of the auto drivers to charge a fee which makes us feel that we are the descendants of , let us say -- Vijay Mallya. They would be charging an amount which would not have dared to appear even in the deepest of our thoughts-in-pipeline list...still they somehow have this inherent power to persist....
I would like to narrate this incident, wherein I was the audience to appreciate the act. As usual, I was on my way to office and comfortably boarded an auto...somewhere in the middle of our traverse, we saw a young guy asking for a lift from the by-passers...and yes, of course,no one was paying heed to him...his face and body gave enough evidence for us to believe that he was in a hurry and he had to get to some place pretty fast....
My driver slowed his pace and asked him, after confirming me, as to where he had to go and that does he want a lift....he was surprised....as he was not expecting a loaded auto to be his savior...nevertheless he was very pleased....and readily accepted driver's reception of sharing his seat.
After reaching his destination, which was on my way, he thanked the driverand was about to open his purse.....But the driver said, "I didn't stop for you because I needed more money. I stopped because I felt that you were in a hurry and you should be helped." and then he smiled.The guy smiled back and said thank you. He was still staring in disbelief to the driver.
And I had one more reason to believe that we are not short of people who care for helping even strangers......who dont think twice to help others in distress....and who are the real saviors of our souls
