Gratitude

It’s a true incident, occurred with me ~6 weeks back and all the characters are real !!

To make it more relatable and easy to read; I have taken the liberty of calling the concerned as Mr. A, B, C & D.

I board an auto rickshaw (private transport). Let’s call the driver as Mr. A.

It was a week-end and a the destination was to a nearby railway station - the road leading to the station was crowded - with week-end shoppers and early evening traffic.?

I de-boarded at my destination and within 2-3 minutes realised that I have left my phone ?? in the auto rickshaw ?? . ???

For a split second I panicked ??, regained composure ??.

Re-played the events and was largely sure that the phone was indeed on the seat and, more so was on a silent mode - meaning, it would only vibrate ??/ buzz !!

I recalled, on our way - Mr. A’s vehicle had slightly touched another vehicle (driven by Mr. B) and, I briefly saw his face ..

I ran to the place where I de-boarded and was frantically on the search for Mr. A’s vehicle.?

I might have checked nearly 25 odd vehicle (as they were all moving in a slow pace - being traffic in the area).?

What did I notice ?? instead of Mr. A, I saw Mr. B !!

By default, I asked him if he knows Mr. A, he said No.. I left at it and began my search for Mr. A.?

After a while (out of sheer goodness ?? and kind nature), Mr. B spotted me at a cross-road !

Calls me and, asks what’s the concern.. when I explained him - he offered his phone ?? and asked me to call on my own number..?

I told him, its on a silent mode.. he said, “you can still try and call.. someone would pick it up.”

And lo !! Someone did.. ????

It was Mr. A.??

Could be like 1 in a million chance.. isn’t it ?

Pause.. the climax isn’t over as yet…

Mr. A said, he is at a certain junction and, he would wait for me till I reach. He also shared his vehicle number, so that I can trace it faster. A sigh of relief..?

Like me, Mr. B too wasn’t much aware of the area and, asked me to proceed further on the road.. I was now looking for the vehicle number plate.. and might have covered another 1 km in 5-6 mins.. ?? ?? ??

There enters Mr. C (I asked him about the area where Mr. A asked me to reach), to which he responds.. that it diagonally opposite to where I was !!????

Mr. C again asked me to call my own number - assessed the location and, ensured I reach the location and finally get my phone ??..????

Wondering who is Mr. D.. He is the unknown passenger in Mr. A’s vehicle - who sensed the buzzing phone and gave it Mr. A - which I had called at the advise of Mr. B in the first place..?

I offered a small token, my gratitude ?? and respects???? to Mr. A, thanked Mr. B on the call and Mr. C for his impromptu help… and to the Almighty for the courage and good luck.

While I was on my way home, I was connecting the dots.. and was amazed at the synchronicity or serendipity !

My chain of thoughts..?

> In a typical scenarios, I would have easily been down by a few thousands rupees (~200 $) had Mr. D or Mr. A would have opted to switch off the phone and trade it for some quick bucks.. gladly, they chose otherwise..?that's a mysterious mixture of moral values & ethics - something which an individual imbibes while growing up.

> Why did Mr. B volunteer to call me out (despite already having passengers in his vehicle) and, me meeting Mr. C !

Life has its own mysterious ways !!