PAY IT FORWARD
North India is famous for it’s cycle rickshaws, the Poor man’s ride. On my husband’s voluntary retirement from his job, we shifted to Noida and these three wheelers fascinated me. Since I am steering wheel challanged, These Rickshaws were a godsend for me. All of a sudden I was mobile. Whether it was a trip to Atta Market or to Indira Market, cycle rick was the way to go.P.T.A at my son’s Delhi Public School or a trip to my dentist. I was on the move and boy did I feel independent and free.
My dear husband is more farsighted and wiser than me. He used to caution me against these ricks. I used to make fun of him and call him a snob. Once I persuaded him to go to The Great India Place Mall with me by cyclerickshaw. He was apprehensive and on the edge all the way and with good reason too. I learnt this lesson the hard way. He hired a driver for me. Life became easier and fun but as they say all good things come to an end. One fine day our driver had to go to his village as his mom was unwell. She had been diagnosed with cancer.
Now that I knew about the proximity of all the Malls and markets to my place, I
Wanted to visit them, driver or no driver. This is where the cycle rickshaws came into the picture. On one such ride to my dentist, a mere ten-minute ride from my house, my husband’s prediction came true. While negotiating a curve, the cycle rickshaw puller lost control of the vehicle and it toppled over to the side.
One minute I was enjoying the cool evening breeze of November and the next minute I was struggling to hold on to the side bar of the rickshaw to prevent myself from falling onto the road. Alas I was unable to anything to save myself. The right wheels went up in the air as if in slow motion. I tried to save my head and managed to land on my left elbow. Boy was it painful. The landing was soft but the entire iron frame of the rickshaw landed on my left ankle joint and almost crushed it. I remember screaming like a mad woman,” Lift the rickshaw, my foot is hurting, lift it up.”
I had always hated coming to settle down in Noida as I am a true bombayite, Born and brought up in Bombay. I had lived the first 28 years of my wonderful life in this majestic city and no other place was good enough for dear old me or so I used to think until now. Within moments of my fall, I was surrounded by a number of good Samaritans. Since this was my first accident, I was in a state of utter confusion and shock. Some good men lifted the rickshaw from on top of my foot and a lady helped me pull my foot out from under it. After that I was lost. I kept on saying”Oh God’Oh no, Oh God”.
Someone picked up my handbag and gave it to me. One lady asked me where I lived, I was at a loss for words, and the pain was killing me. I remembered that my brother in law is a doctor. I informed the people around me and this kind lady took my phone and dialled the number for me. Meanwhile a car was passing by and the two young men in it stopped to help. One of them came and offered to take me to the nearest hospital. I saw a lot of water near my foot and asked one lady, where has all this water come from?” She replied that it was the blood seeping out of my wounded foot. When I looked at my foot, felt lightheaded.the sight of blood does this to me and to think that my Dad had wanted me to become a doctor.
Anyway, all the wonderful, helpful people who had gathered there helped me into the car. I am a clean freak, according to my kids, true to my nature, I told the young man, whose car I was getting into,” your car will get dirty”. He said, never mind. How sweet is that! God bless him and his family. He picked up my bloody sandal and put it in the car. I am so embarrassed by my behaviour, on the way to the hospital. I couldn’t stop crying, partly due to the pain and partly due to the shock. I remember them telling me not to cry and that we were almost there. I spoke to my sister in law, who is also a doctor. She called up her husband and we all reached the hospital at the same time.
She told me not to panic and surprisingly enough I didn’t. A wheel chair was brought and I was wheeled efficiently into the minor O.T.The young man again picked my sandal and gave it to me. I didn’t want to leave without knowing their names so I asked them to give me their phone number. Their names are Arjun and Shourya.When they said goodbye to me I said God bless you, and I meant it from the bottom of my heart. Those two and all the others, who helped me on that fateful day, restored my faith in humanity and redeemed Noida in my eyes. I made a promise to myself that I will also try and be of help and service to my fellow beings, like all these people had helped me. My father had a beautiful quote framed and put on the wall in our house, it read like this,” I shall pass through this way but once, So if I can be of any help or service to my fellow beings, let me not neglect it, for I shall not pass through this way again”. Amen.
Luckily there was no fracture, only cuts and bruises. I was administered a painkiller injection and tetanus injection, bandaged and sent home. Since my husband was out of station and I didn’t want to worry him, I instructed my in laws not to tell him anything. My father is not keeping the best of health so I did not inform him too. But I wanted to talk to someone who loved me and cared about what happened to me, so I called up my firebrand daughter, Shloka.I call her “Shola”. She is studying in Bangalore. After telling her the whole story. I told her to keep it to herself. Maybe I was selfish to burden her with this secret but I knew she would come through. She is my tough softie, my pride and joy and my strength.
P.S. I have still not called up my saviours as I am embarrassed by my behaviour that day. I kept on crying and calling out to my mum,”Mummy”.”I don’t want to go to the hospital”, In Fact I remember saying something to the effect,” If I pass out on the way to the hospital, Please tell the doctor that my blood group is B rh _ive”. How can I ring them up and behave like a forty four year old, when that day I behaved like a baby.
I will call them up because I am sure they must be wondering about what happened to the crazy , hysterical lady with the negative blood group.
SULEKHA
Wow what an experience Mitr – your unfortunate experience, however, has become a great entertainer for me…. I believe there are fantastic people around us all the time. Its these experiences that bring them to the forefront….
Yes, Mitr I was so touched by the way complete strangers came to my rescue. We just have to keep an open mind in this world and see beauty and positivity all around. God bless all.
Sulekha you have a gifted power to transform ordinary to extra ordinary.not just patting your back, I mean it. continue these good works.
i believe that god uses people as angels to help us in a time of need those that hear him and do receive his grace and you his blessing. sorry it hurt. great story i like it
@Nirupam, Appreciate your compliments.
@Roy, It did hurt at that time but I learnt about angels in human form, thanks for the comment.
You outlier, your experience reminds me of my rickshaw accident in Delhi where I nearly broke my back. There are good and bad people everywhere and the good ones are always around to help you in times of need. Enjoyed reading it.
An unfortunate incident but you found out the kindness of strangers. God uses everyday events to teach life lessons, maybe this was one. Glad you weren't serious injured!!
Enjoyed your story! And thank you for the quote, "I shall pass through this way but once, So if I can be of any help or service to my fellow beings, let me not neglect it, for I shall not pass through this way again” it is beautiful. ~ Sherry
Enjoyed your story! And thank you for the quote, "I shall pass through this way but once, So if I can be of any help or service to my fellow beings, let me not neglect it, for I shall not pass through this way again” it is beautiful. ~ Sherry
Enjoyed your story! And thank you for the quote, "I shall pass through this way but once, So if I can be of any help or service to my fellow beings, let me not neglect it, for I shall not pass through this way again” it is beautiful. ~ Sherry
Enjoyed your story! And thank you for the quote, "I shall pass through this way but once, So if I can be of any help or service to my fellow beings, let me not neglect it, for I shall not pass through this way again” it is beautiful. ~ Sherry
Thank god you thought to protect your head… We do not realize how many truly good people there are in the world.. I am glad you met some of them..Call them people like them do not judge!!
So happy your ok
That was a fascinating story – a window into your life and how you live it. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for your lovely compliments, @Rimly, we were lucky.
@David, yes we do learn from everyday events.
@Grace &, you are welcome. And thanks for visiting my blog.
@JIm, thanks and I will.
@Anna L Walls, welcome to my blog and thanks.
Oh my god!! But so happy to see people helping. Those guys are really kind hearted. Glad you found immediate help. As for crying I think it’s ok. Thats normal reaction when you are in shock.
I love reading your post… Your narration is so lively.
Rajlakshmi, thanks a ton. There are such good people in this world! I loved your comment.
Sulekha, this post, oh HOW much I love it.
First, for the absolutely heartwarming narration. No frills, just from the heart.
Second, for the child like reaction to the accident. Shows us how much we are natural responders in these situations.
Third, for that story of the good samaritans. I teared up reading about them. May their ilk grow!
And aww, finally, for the entire ‘calling up your daughter’. I confess I would do the same. Now it’s my mom. Years later it will be my daughter I would call.
Hugs and hugs!
Shailaja, thank you for your affectionate and kind comment 🙂 This was my first post on my blog way back in 2010 and I just wrote my heart out 🙂 I think of the two angels who helped me when I needed help most and pray for their well being daily.
Loved this post Sulekha. It is heartwarming to know that there are good Samaritans around who come to one’s help when in need – that when Delhi isn’t supposed to be the warmest place and when people constantly complain about the heartlessness of people in big cities. Your story reaffirms my faith in humanity. Did you finally call them up?
Tulika, It was a relief to see so many people gather around me to help me. I too had a distorted view of people in Delhi/NCR but it is all false.There are good people everywhere.I am embarrassed to say that I still haven’t called them up though I say a prayer for them every time I see a lady on a rickshaw 🙂
Really the world goes around only by these kind hearten people. You have expressed the story in a simple yet powerful way. Love dreading it. Stay blessed as always.
Vasantha, thank you for your kind words.
The world needs more such people. I really hope that the fall back then did not do much harm to you because Mom once fell from the cyclerickshaw and her knees have been troubling her ever since. People are mostly good. That’s what I believe. It’s just that most people don’t share the good stories but only the bad ones. So so happy that you chose to share yours. God Bless the guardian angels in your life.
Rekha, you are so right. I bless them everyday, so what if I haven’t called them up 🙂 Hope your mom is better now, my regards to her.
Awww.. poor you. Such a simple account of that day and so good that there are good people who help. On crying and being in pain, we are all allowed that. So Don’t be embarrassed. We all have such moments. Call those folks. Hugs!
Parul, I learnt an important lesson about riding on the cycle rickshaws that day. Always sit in the middle if you traveling alone 🙂 I was so embarrassed t.hat I didn’t call them 🙂 Thanks