humanness is never lost, it is only seen when it matters the most

Incident Date : Wed 28th April 2010

It was an evening when rain blessed Bangalore for more than it asked for. I was one of those unfortunate persons who got stuck with no where to go – looking at the bright side it brought, was an experience of humanness which is very scarcely seen in these modern days.

I left my office at around 8:30 PM; if i were to say, my house is located right out side the pie (my city); my office is 20 kms far along the circle and the route chosen has no shortcut/alternate road. One who takes that road will reach home or comes right back where he started. Having reached half the distance I found myself among a group of people who were in dilemma. Stones were lined along the road, blocking vehicals.

Reason: A BIG tree had uprooted itself on the road completely blocking the transportation – Thanks to rain.

Being stubborn, obstinate person I am, decided to take the same root – learnt from some people that a two wheeler can somehow sneak through. I drove through the duplex effect of  rain and the water surging beneath the tyres untill I reached the incident spot and stopped to see crowded people with their vehicles stranded on the road.  All i could manage was a pitiful face for sticking to continue. 

Turned my wrist, It was around 9:05 and the night was having a leisurely shower as both the sun and the moon were off from their duty. I could only think of god and suddenly i could sense a person coming towards me speaking in a feeble voice in just learnt English words;

“come,  I dhari show… come .. come… dhari ok“ which translates to  “come I will show u the way.. it’s safe”.

I stood still, dumb struck. No, I could easily understand his words as I knew both the languages... but the dari he showed was a uphill task, it was only when I tried to mount up the wall naturally constructed along the road I realised, not only was I struggling to balance my bike on the wet mud but was also not able to pull myself out of it and with the rain shutting my eyes by each droplet, it just made it very easy to fall down hurting myself seriously. No way could have I managed to reach up... but i did.

There were at least 10 people with their hands streached out literally pulling me and my bike over 3 feet steep wall. Let me remind you, I was just one of at least 100's of people they would have pulled out. They drenched themselves in rain water - for god knows how many hrs,  in almost midnight not caring about their food, shelter or entertainment. Well, who would like to come out of their cozy home in a dodge night just to pull people who dont even care to stop when these people cross the same road on some other day. But they never thought about that, their thinking was straight, "help the needy". 

All I could give them was a smile hidden behind the sleeping night and a plain thanks which was like burried under the noise around, straight after it left my mouth. All night I was thinking that humanness is never lost it is only seen when it matters the most.

If not for those people I should have spent at least  2-3 hours in the rain to reach my home. I would like to use this podium to Thank them all for the great effort they have put in and wish their dreams come true.

- Pavan Kumar Venugopal