It was 2 PM on a bright Holi afternoon, and I found myself waiting for an auto-rickshaw from Kothrud to E-Square. As I stood there, the vibrant atmosphere around me felt strangely distant; there were no autos in sight. After about 15 minutes of waiting, I decided to start walking along the pathway, hoping to find one on the way.
Suddenly, an auto-rickshaw pulled up beside me. The driver, an old man dressed in a simple white kurta and pajama, greeted me with a warm “Happy Holi!” He asked where I needed to go, and without hesitation, I hopped into his rickshaw. As we drove, I noticed a hint of tension in his demeanor. He seemed to be searching for something, glancing around anxiously. Concerned, I asked him, “Dada, what happened?” He sighed and explained that the customers before me had taken his tiffin box by mistake. He had been searching for it for the last hour.
“It’s alright,” I reassured him. “You can eat somewhere else.” But he continued, revealing that he lived 50 kilometres away from Pune and rented a place in the city. He shared that he relied on a single tiffin for both meals each day, and today was particularly special—it was his 69th birthday. His wife had cooked something delicious for him, but now he couldn’t enjoy it.
I felt a pang of empathy as I asked him why he couldn’t eat out instead. He explained that he hadn’t made enough money from his previous fares; my ride wouldn’t cover the cost of a proper meal.
When we arrived at E-Square, an idea sparked in my mind. “How about joining me for lunch?” I suggested. His eyes lit up with surprise and gratitude. When I asked what he wanted to eat, he humbly replied, “Wada sambhar.” I insisted he could choose anything from the menu, but he insisted that wada sambhar was enough; it would fill him up until nightfall.
We settled at a small hotel beside E-Square. As we waited for our food, I asked him why he hadn’t played Holi with anyone. His response struck me deeply: “I don’t know anyone in this city. People are too busy making money to celebrate.”
In that moment, I realised how lonely life can be for some amidst the bustling crowds. To brighten his day further, I ordered some sweets to celebrate his birthday and even joined him in throwing some colour at each other—my own way of sharing the spirit of Holi.
After our meal, I paid for his food and auto fare and packed some extra food for him to take home. As we parted ways, he blessed me with heartfelt words: “Happy Holi ma’am! Now I have somebody in this city to play Holi with.”His simple gratitude resonated within me long after we said goodbye. This encounter taught me a profound lesson about trust and connection with strangers. It reminded me that sometimes our small efforts can bring immense joy to those who may feel invisible on such festive days.
As I walked away, my heart was full. In a world that often feels disconnected, this experience reaffirmed my belief in humanity and the power of kindness.
Submitted By – Shreya
If you, too, have an inspiring story to tell the world, send us your story at mystory@5w1h.media
