We often meet strangers who eventually become well-known to us. We forge deep connections with them throughout different phases of our lives, and we frequently receive help from these individuals. They offer their assistance out of kindness, just like our family and friends do. Sometimes, we encounter people in critical situations who, without knowing us, still choose to help. These kind gestures leave a lasting impression on our minds, ensuring that they remain in our memories. This is the story of one such encounter that I experienced in my life. Although I don’t know where these people are now or how they are doing, their kindness will always be with me, reminding me of the importance of helping others.
I used to ride my bicycle to school. Most of the time, I would go with my friends, but sometimes I preferred to ride alone to enjoy the scenery along the way. There were two main routes to school: one went through a busy bazaar, while the other followed the riverside. I preferred the riverside path because it was safe and offered beautiful views of peacocks, wild geese, and sometimes even rabbits. Along the way, I would see a variety of rare plants and flowers, with dragonflies flitting about. I especially loved taking this route on Friday evenings, as the anticipation of the Saturday and Sunday holidays made those rides even more enjoyable.
One Thursday evening during the rainy season, while returning from school, I found both paths impassable due to mud. The riverside was particularly muddy, and the other path had also been affected by tractors. Not knowing how my friends managed to get home, I chose to take an alternative route through a nearby village that would eventually lead me to the end of riverside path.
As I made my way along this lesser-used route, I encountered a problem. My bicycle began making an unusual sound, and I was unable to pedal. I got off to inspect the issue and suspected that the chain had come loose. However, I was unable to open the chain guard to check. Since it was a new bicycle, the guard was tough to open. Fortunately, an elderly couple, around my grandparents’ age, approached me on their way back from a nearby farm.
“What happened?” the grandfather asked.
“I think the chain slipped out of place, but I can’t open the chain guard,” I replied.
The couple had tools for farming and tried to help open the chain guard, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. Time was running out, and I began to feel anxious. I couldn’t call my mother or anyone else for help, as we weren’t allowed to have phones at school, and the couple didn’t have one either.
Seeing my distress, the grandmother decided to rush home to retrieve other tools that might help. Meanwhile, the grandfather stayed with me, and we kept trying with various equipment, but nothing worked.
Then, something unexpected happened. Two cyclists rode by and stopped when they saw us. I explained my situation, and to my surprise, they were bike mechanics! I certainly didn’t expect to find mechanics on this path. Fortunately, they had the tools necessary to fix my bicycle.
They opened the chain guard without any difficulty but then informed me that the problem was not what I had expected. The chain had actually broken in the middle, and we needed connectors to repair it.
Fortunately, they had temporary connectors on hand. While they worked on fixing the chain, I was able to borrow one of their mobile phones to call my mother and let her know what had happened. She was understandably worried because I hadn’t returned by 6 o’clock.
In the meantime, the grandmother had returned with different tools just as the mechanics finished their work. Seeing the two men had helped me, the couple thanked them on my behalf and decided to head home.
Within about 15 to 20 minutes, the mechanics had everything fixed. I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to them as they left. It was already around 6:30 PM, and I was late getting home for the first time. As I rode the rest of the way, I couldn’t stop thinking about the people who had helped me. Even today, whenever I pass that place, I remember those moments and express my gratitude. They taught me the importance of extending help to others, and I strive to carry that lesson with me in my life.