That caring for others is what builds a sense of community and fellowship is well known, but not practiced. In fact, I believe that’s one of the ills of our own city. A lack of caring is clearly reflected by the way we drive, for example, with scant thought for others on the road, leave alone following any rules! I am sure if you look at it, you could come up with myriad experiences from every day life that is due to the lack of caring between us as citizens. So it was wonderful to be the recipient of a caring act which was thoughtful, kind and meaningful yesterday evening.

We attended the ‘Musical Express’ performance at 6.30 PM at the Music Academy yesterday, but arrived there only at 6.15 PM, just in time for the show, but not early enough to get parking space! As cars were not being allowed into the gates, I dropped my family off to walk inside, drove further up the road, past Kalpaka restaurant, and turned right on to a road that goes parallel to Lloyds Road. Many others had already done the same thing, and there were a line of cars parked along the sides, carefully leaving space for the gates of the residents on either side. So I drove right down to near the end where the road narrows, and found one last space left and parked there and walked back.

I made it on time for the show as it started only at 6.45 PM to allow many poor souls like myself to get there on time! It was an enjoyable evening, although a little long, ending close to ten PM. For most of the time we were in there, it rained heavily, but stopped before the show was over. I set off to pick up the car and rive back for the family, cell phone in hand to co-ordinate. A young couple, who had also seen the show, were ahead of me for most of the way. They stopped and got into a Santro a little before where I had parked my car, and drove past me to turn the car up ahead. In the meantime, I stopped for the road was flooded all the way to my car, which was standing with the driver’s side over dry ground as it was a slope!

My wife called in the meantime, and I informed her of my predicament, and reassured her that I would figure out a way to get to the car and come get them. As I stood there studying the walls on either side to see if there was a dry verge I could sidle along, I realized with sinking heart that I couldn’t. In the meantime, the Santro had turned around close to where my car was parked, and came surging through the water and onto dry road close to where I stood. The driver’s side window slid down, and the young man looked up at me and said, “Need to get to your car?” I looked at him in astonishment and said, “Yeah!” He says, “Get in and I’ll take you there!” I gratefully climbed into the back seat, and he did a ‘U’ turn again, and headed into the water.

He drove through the water, close to my car so I could climb out on the slope and walk along it to the driver’s side without stepping into it. When he stopped, I thanked them again and gratefully climbed out, thanking God for people like them. I thanked them once again before closing the door. They then turned their car around once again and headed off as I got into mine. What a wonderful, thoughtful act of kindness and consideration! It hadn’t occurred to me to stop them and ask for such a favour, but it occurred to them that it would be a nice thing to do! If all of us could start being thoughtful and considerate, like this young couple, for other people, what a wonderful city this would be! I, for one, will start thinking like this so that I can be of help to those in need. I wanted to share this experience with you, so you could consider doing the same.