Humanity - 1 vs Inhumanity - 0

There are two type of things which separate people - the one which makes them human and the other one which makes not. We are now in a world where we spend more time in facing mobile screens and laptops than facing/helping people, next to us. We are interacting more in the virtual world than the real world. This is irony, coming from me who is an introvert. But one such incident happened in my life which made me to believe in humanity and still there are people out there who will help you no matter what, even when not asked!!

It was during the month of December 2016, winter vacation started. Almost everyone in our campus left to visit home. I stayed there to attend the Mood - I festival (Mood Indigo), one of the largest cultural festival in Asia. It is a 4 day festival consists of competitions, pro-shows, concerts and many more.

My friend visited India during that time, so I booked a flight ticket to visit from Mumbai to Chennai and it will be the first time, am travelling by flight. So on that day reached domestic flight airport through an auto-rickshaw at 9:00 am, one and half hour before the scheduled flight time. While entering, I showed my e-ticket to the security personnel. What they told, surprised me. Normally I thought domestic flights would be operated from domestic airport terminal, so neither did I check properly before reaching nor did I receive any information regarding the same from Jet airways.

The security personnel told that Jet Airways operates their domestic flight in the international airport terminal. The distance between domestic airport and Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport is nearly five kilometres. So took an auto from there to reach the International airport terminal. And since it was during demonetization, I had only few hundreds most of which were spent already while reaching the domestic airport and now emptied my wallet to reach the international terminal. Before entering the terminal, saw an ATM and withdrawn a single 2000 rupee note and reached for check-in by 9:35 am exactly. When my turn came, I showed the ticket they told to get the boarding pass from a kiosk. When I entered my booking number, it didn’t show any. So returned to the Jet airways officials to inquire and they told that the check-in time got over by 9:30 am itself. And they were following international flight check-in time for domestic flight, since operating in that terminal. This further shocked me since I knew one of my friend who boarded his domestic flight by reaching just before 20 minutes to the actual flight time in Mumbai.

I told them I were late by 5 minutes and didn’t get any information regarding the same like check-in time, where the airport is. And it was new for me but a repeated old story for them, seems. By the time started arguing, another passenger came with the same complaint who missed her flight too. So I asked for refund, for which they replied they will give only tax money, which were 1/10th of the ticket price, and I booked the ticket one day before. And also inquired when will be the next flight with decent fare. For which they replied, one will be available next morning by 7:00 am and the fare is Rs 2200/- after deduction. I told them to book the same and gave my debit card. Upon receiving the card and seeing it, they informed that they will accept only MasterCard or Visa card and mine was SBI-Maestro card. And I was like WHAT?! Why can’t you accept any other card? For which they replied company policy, sir! I had one 2000 rs note and was short of 200 rs.

Since, ATM's were there inside the airport, went to withdraw cash. I swiped at SBI ATM first and then at two other ATMs, returned only with declined transactions. First I thought that there might be no cash in the ATM, since I had money in my account. Later only realized that, thanks to Government of India’s demonetization policy and her successive reduction of withdrawal limit from 4000 rs to 2000 rs, I maxed my withdrawal limit. That’s the reason why I had very few hundred rupees note and hence able to withdraw only one 2000 rs note.

So I called one of my friend, who was there at that time in campus and explained everything. Then he told that he also had only eCash, not any hard cash. Then he suggested to ask money to nearby person in the counter and transfer the same instantly. And also there might be chance of increase in the ticket price by the time he reaches the airport.

Well, that idea sounded good and easy. First asked an employee in the airways ticket counter who was nearly my age and thought he will help me for sure. Explained the situation and asked could you lend me the remaining amount and I will transfer the money within five minutes through IMPS. But you know what he replied, ‘it isn’t company policy, sir!’ Again I clearly asked him that he could personally lend me, for that too he replied the same. With a much utter disbelief, asked the other employee in the next counter who was in his late 30s, he said he didn’t have any money in-hand due to demonetization.

Then finally thought, one last try but this time, one of the passengers. If that don’t go well, then leave to campus and book other flight ticket afterwards. Saw a man nearly in his late 60s standing in the line, went and explained the situation. He told, ‘so, you are short of 200rs only’. He opened his wallet gave the two hundred rupees note, he had. After getting the money, asked his account number, for that which he told it’s not possible for the time being, since he is leaving to Riyadh. But he said this,

"Pass it on and help the people in need"

People like him we meet in our day to day lives, helping others no matter what, are the real heroes. And maybe, not all heroes wear capes!! After hearing his word and his act, made me to believe, still in people, who are good out there. And I can’t able to see him clearly, because of the tears which flooded my eyes, then smiled and thanked him. And booked the flight ticket in another counter.

I was little frustrated, since what had happened from the morning. Reaching the domestic airway, to know only that Jet airways alone operating in the international terminal, then missing the flight, followed by not accepting the maestro card, cant able to withdraw your money due to demonetization and ultimately some people who aren’t even helping. But his act made me to forget all these hustles and made me to believe in humanity, in people.

From the childhood, we grownup hearing that you should help people no matter how small it is, do whenever and wherever possible!! And that’s why most of us have the difficulty in the art of saying no. Maybe am naive about believing that people will do the same to everyone. In our busy life, sometimes we forgot to help each other and that decreases as we grow up, might be after facing the harsh reality. But,

Helping others in need, indeed is what makes us Human!!

Finally,

When do you think a person dies? When a bullet from a pistol pierces his heart? No…When he’s attacked by an incurable disease? No…When he eats a deadly poisonous mushroom soup?....No! A man dies when people forget him…

- Eiichiro Oda, One Piece

So let us be a hero, be remembered for good and make the world a better place, for everyone and for our future generation!!