“Bhaiya please mujhe kisi ass pass hospital ka address bataiye (Bhaiya please tell me the nearest hospital’s address)”, I said to an auto driver after falling from a scooty.
This was my first day in Jodhpur. I had taken a ride with another traveller who was in my dorm. We coincidently were going to the same fort, so we went together.
This incident happened on my way back to the hostel. I knew we would fall because of the way he was driving. After we fell, my knees and elbow were bruised.
For reasons not known to me, this stranger acted very strangely. I asked him if he would accompany me to the hospital, but there was no reaction to that.
I was bleeding, folks on the street also suggested I see a doctor. I decided to go to the hospital.
I was injured, not too much though. Whatever it was, I needed treatment and a tetanus injection. And I was in pain :(.
I was fortunate to find Abdulji, who reminded me of human compassion and kindness.
He gave me a ride to a government hospital.
I thought he would drop me at the destination and leave. How would I expect a stranger to accompany me to the hospital?
To my surprise, he came along with me. He came inside with me. I was weeping the whole time. I was missing my family and feeling very alone and angry. When I am hurt, I always miss my mumma and papa.
I wanted to call them, but the adult me knew they would get worried, so I did not. I have loving friends; however, at that moment, I could not think of any friend to call.
That day, I met a loving, father-like person — Abdulji. He calmed me throughout. He made me sit in the hospital. He then went to the reception, provided details, explained that I had come for treatment of a bruise, completed the necessary registration, and got a doctor’s appointment.
Then, he came along with me for the physical examination, held my bag and took me to the emergency room.
He then looked for the doctor.
The doctor was understandably apathetic. He had treated such big injuries that my whining about the little injury did not make sense to him.
While there was this, Abdulji did not judge me and expressed empathy towards me.
I was feeling really shy and uncomfortable because, in a common ward, I was to get injected into my butts.
He looked away at that moment, and I quickly got injected. He then helped me tie my shoelaces.
While I was feeling hurt all this time, I was also surprised by how a strange person was making me feel safe and calm.
He asked me if I had water and insisted I take the medicines immediately.
After the treatment, he dropped me off at the hostel where I was staying.
I asked him how much I needed to pay. He was not willing to take money at all.
It is true what he offered was priceless. I mean, what price can one put on someone’s act of kindness and compassion.
However, I wanted to pay for his commute services. I did feel guilty for taking his time, too, and a part of me was maybe just trying to figure out a way to give back.
I was amazed again and wondered if we were still in a world where such kindness exists.
He said, “Arrey iske liye kaise paise thodi lenge, humne wahi kiya jo karna chaiye tha, kuch bada nahi kiya (for this cannot take money, I did what I had to, this is nothing big)”.
At that moment, I was almost in tears again; I started missing my family even more because he reminded me of my father.
I said, “Aapne jo kiya hain, uske samne thank you ya paise dono hi kuch nahi hai, aaj ke time me ye kaha hota hain, jo apne kiya hain, wo mere liye bahut badi chiz hai, apnse mujhe papa ki yaad diladi (what you did, money or thank you cannot compensate, it is rare to see such kindness these days and what you did was big for me and it matters to me, you reminded me of my father)”.
And that was Abdulji, someone who will always remind me of the kindness and compassion that still exist in the world.
Here is a picture of me looking joyful in the blue city :)
And a snap of me chilling in the hostel.
