A Conversation with a Stranger
Hyderabad’s Monsoons are unpredictable. On some days, the sun’s heat can almost be felt on your skin and on other days, it rains day and night. Today was such a day. While leaving for work it was raining heavily and the roads seemed half sunken. I walked out of my office and started looking for Rickshaws and almost every driver quoted triple the price. After waiting for a while, there came a Rickshaw, he took me by surprise when he said “ Jitna paise dene hai, do” which translates to give the amount you think is appropriate. Taken aback by the kindness, I doubted whether taking that Rickshaw because it was getting late and kindness in the times of need, was a rarity. I took my chance seeing no other Rickshaw in sight.
After a while, he explained that he worked as (A distributor and cab driver) and why he had to resort to driving a Rickshaw. I wasn't in the mood for conversation but replied nevertheless. Ali (he later introduced himself)then explained how people give so much importance to money and how all this materialistic things are miniscule because, when you die, he said and I quote
“Bas Aakhir mein mohabbat rehti hai”
which translates to After you leave this Place, Only love remains.
I pondered over that thought long after that conversation had ended. I have never had a conversation so soulful, even with the people I interact with on a daily basis. This one conversation left me questioning my life and how little we believe in genuine kindness. He then spoke of rains, of where he had been- Bombay, Nagpur and others. He even turned the LED lights when he saw me take a video of the rains .Ali then got a call and told the person on the other end that he would be home soon, and upon asking if he was getting late he told “ I will only go home after I drop you safely” and he kept his promise. He dropped me right inside my Apartment making sure I was not getting drenched in the rain.
I was so taken aback by his genuine kindness, he had asked me to sit a little towards the right because the rainwater would make me fall sick. Ali gave me his number and told me I could call him anytime I needed to commute somewhere.
This Rickshaw ride remind me of a scene in Tamasha where Ranbir Kapoor( Ved) Takes a ride and the driver says “ Hum andar se kuch aur hi hote hai, aur bahar se Majboor” meaning We are someone else inside, and someone else on the outside which is almost forced due to our circumstances in our lives.
I was skeptical earlier only because he was a Rickshaw Driver. But After that, I saw him as a Kind, Generous Person.
Ali has changed my perspective on Kindness, and how it can be found in the people you expect from the least and in the least expected times.
I hope you find your Ali, who changes your Perspective.
