These are the stories extracted from the article " The Kindness of Strangers " published in Reader's Digest.
1) RAISED RIGHT
Children were playing at the recreation area of an IKEA store when my five-year-old granddaughter motioned for a small boy to stop. She knelt down before him and retied his flopping shoelaces - She had only just learnt to tie her own. No words were spoken, but after she finished, both smiled shyly, then turned to race off in different directions.
- SHEELA MAYES, Olla, Louisinia.
2) BIG - HEARTED VENDOR
In 2014, I was a second - year bachelor's student of surgery at Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore. I was almost broke, having spent all my money buying instruments for the course. After buying a train ticket to visit my parents in Kannur, Kerala, I was left with only Rs. 12 in my wallet.
I went to vendor on the platform and eyed everything hungrily. I asked for the price of each item, but everything was Rs. 15. Dejected, I turned to leave, when the shopkeeper said, " Take what you want. Don't worry about the money ". I was a little hesitant at first, but unable to fight my hunger, I grabbed a packet of biscuits and some tea. He just smiled when I thanked him.
On my return, I tried to pay him, but he refused to accept the money. Even today, I visit his stall every time I travel by train. His warm smile is a reminder that there are still a few people who value kindness over money.
- SIYANA AZEEZ, Kannur, Kerala.
3) COLOUR ME AMAZED
I forgot about the rules on liquids in carry-on luggage, so when I reached security at the airport, I had to give up all my painting supplies. When I returned a week later, an attendant was at the baggage area with my paints. Not only had he kept them for me, but he'd looked up my return date and time in order to meet me.
- MARILYN KINSELA, Canmore, Canada.
4) THE GIFT OF LIFE
When the Babri Masjid issue shook the country, I was a teacher at a private school in Bhopal, far away from home. On that fateful day, I left for work early, without reading the newspaper and unaware of the latest developments, with my son in tow.
As we reached school, news started pouring in that the city was in turmoil. Anxious parents came rushing to pick up their children and school authorities directed teachers to stay back until all of them had been picked up. It was noon by the time I was ready to leave.
A man had come to pick up a few army officer's children in a jeep. After dropping them home, he was to pick up his own child from a school in Govindpura. Since we were from the same area, he offered us a ride. Thanking him, my son and I hopped in.
We felt the full impact of the riot just as we entered Subhash Nagar: lay by the road and a mob of about 150 people had gathered with fire torches, kerosene and swords in their hands. Some of them surrounded our vehicle and were about to torch it when suddenly something changed. A group of armed policemen, about 15-20 of them, arrived on the scene in their truck, and the rioters started rtunning helter-skelter.
Acting quickly, the man sped away, saving us with his split-second decision. As soon as we reached Govindpura, we rushed to the safety of our home.
Sometimes I wonder what happenned to the man who saved our lives,. Was he able to find his child and get home safely? He gave us the GIFT OF LIFE, and we will be grateful to him forever.
- NAFISA KACHWALA, Gurgaon.
5) HE KEPT AN EYE ON ME
Driving home in a blizzard, I noticed a vehicle trailing close behind me. Suddenly, my tyre blew ! I pulled off the road, and so did the other car. A man jumped our from behind the wheel and without hesitation changed the flat.
" I was going to get off about three kilometres back ", he said. " But I didn't think that tyre looked good ".
- MARILYN ATTERBERY, Spokane Valley, Washingon.
6) TWICE AS NICE
Two firefighters were waiting in line at a fast-food restaurnent when the siren sounded on their fire truck parked outside. As they turned to leave, a couple who had just received their order handed their food to the firefighters. The couple then got back in line to re-order. Doubling down on their selfless act, the Manager refused to take their money.
- JOANN SANDERSON, Brandon, Florida.
7) A DISTANCE FOR ME
Leaving a store, I returned to my car only to find that I'd locked my keys and cell phone inside. A teenager riding his bike saw me kick a tyre and say a few choice words.
" What's wrong? " he asked.
I explained my situation, " But even if I could call my wife, " I said, " She can't bring me her car key, since this is our only car ".
He handed me his cell phone " Call your wife and tell her I'm coming to get her key ".
" That's more than 10 kilometres round trip ".
" Don't worry about it ".
An hour later, he returned with the key. I offered him some money, but he refused.
" Let's just say I needed the exercise," he said.
Then, like a cowboy in the movies, he rode off into the sunset.
- CLARENCE W. STEPHENS, Nicholascville, Kentucky.
8) AT THE RIGHT MOMENT
The train from the Mumbai suburb to Dadar had come to a complete stand-still. We were stranded 25 minutes away from the station and I was getting anxious. I had just a few hours to reach my examination centre, to take my third-year bachelor of architecture exams.
I got off and started walking to the station, hoping to find an autorickshaw or a taxi. I met a friend in a similiar situation along the way, and we started looking for public transport desperately. But it was an impossible task. We finally managed to hall an autorickshaw, who also refused to go. We were beside ourselves with worry. We tried to convince him animatedly, unaware that we were holding up traffic.
That's when I heard a car honking behind us. A woman, who later introduced herself as DR. ANUPAMA RAO, an obstetrician and gynaecologist with Fortis Hospital, offered us a ride to the examination centre. She informed the staff at another hospital she was headed to, rescheduled all her appointments and drove for two hours in heavy traffic so we could take our exam. She even came with us to speak to the centre-in-charge, to ensure that we were allowed entry.
- MANGESH KADU, Mumbai.
9) THE NIGHT TRAIN
About 20 years ago, I was travelling with my daughter Srividhya from Bengaluru to Madurai, by the night train. We were going for her second delivery, along with my four-year-old grandson Bharath. Two hours after we left the station, Srividhya started complaining of labour pain. The two male passengers in our compartment immediately called the ticket collector, who arranged for us to be picked up at Salem, the nearest station.
We arrived at the station 2.00 AM, and one of our fellow passengers handed his luggage to his friend to his friend and got off with us. Perhaps he felt two women with a child could do with some help. A wheelchair, taxi and porters were waiting on the platform, and we rushed to a hospital. The kind man took care of my grandson and our belongings, while I attended to the paperwork. My daughter was wheeled to the emergency room, where she delivered a baby boy, prematurely, within minutes.
The tall man in his 30s, I later found out, was also a State Bank employee like me. He called my son in Madurai to inform him, waited for him to arrive, and left handing over our luggage and introducing himself as KUMARASEN.
- CHOODAMANI VASUDEVAN, Chennai.
10) WHITE SHOULDERS
A woman at our yard sale wore a perfume that smelt heavenly and familiar.
" What are you wearing ? " I asked.
" White Shoulders ", She said.
Suddenly, I was bowled over by a flood of memories. White Shoulders was the one gift I could count on at Christmas from my late mother. We chatted awhile, and she bought some things and left. A few hours later, she returned holding a new bottle of White Shoulders. I don't recall which one of us started crying first.
- MEDIA STOOKSBURY, Powell, Tennesse.
1) RAISED RIGHT
Children were playing at the recreation area of an IKEA store when my five-year-old granddaughter motioned for a small boy to stop. She knelt down before him and retied his flopping shoelaces - She had only just learnt to tie her own. No words were spoken, but after she finished, both smiled shyly, then turned to race off in different directions.
- SHEELA MAYES, Olla, Louisinia.
2) BIG - HEARTED VENDOR
In 2014, I was a second - year bachelor's student of surgery at Yenepoya Dental College, Mangalore. I was almost broke, having spent all my money buying instruments for the course. After buying a train ticket to visit my parents in Kannur, Kerala, I was left with only Rs. 12 in my wallet.
I went to vendor on the platform and eyed everything hungrily. I asked for the price of each item, but everything was Rs. 15. Dejected, I turned to leave, when the shopkeeper said, " Take what you want. Don't worry about the money ". I was a little hesitant at first, but unable to fight my hunger, I grabbed a packet of biscuits and some tea. He just smiled when I thanked him.
On my return, I tried to pay him, but he refused to accept the money. Even today, I visit his stall every time I travel by train. His warm smile is a reminder that there are still a few people who value kindness over money.
- SIYANA AZEEZ, Kannur, Kerala.
3) COLOUR ME AMAZED
I forgot about the rules on liquids in carry-on luggage, so when I reached security at the airport, I had to give up all my painting supplies. When I returned a week later, an attendant was at the baggage area with my paints. Not only had he kept them for me, but he'd looked up my return date and time in order to meet me.
- MARILYN KINSELA, Canmore, Canada.
4) THE GIFT OF LIFE
When the Babri Masjid issue shook the country, I was a teacher at a private school in Bhopal, far away from home. On that fateful day, I left for work early, without reading the newspaper and unaware of the latest developments, with my son in tow.
As we reached school, news started pouring in that the city was in turmoil. Anxious parents came rushing to pick up their children and school authorities directed teachers to stay back until all of them had been picked up. It was noon by the time I was ready to leave.
A man had come to pick up a few army officer's children in a jeep. After dropping them home, he was to pick up his own child from a school in Govindpura. Since we were from the same area, he offered us a ride. Thanking him, my son and I hopped in.
We felt the full impact of the riot just as we entered Subhash Nagar: lay by the road and a mob of about 150 people had gathered with fire torches, kerosene and swords in their hands. Some of them surrounded our vehicle and were about to torch it when suddenly something changed. A group of armed policemen, about 15-20 of them, arrived on the scene in their truck, and the rioters started rtunning helter-skelter.
Acting quickly, the man sped away, saving us with his split-second decision. As soon as we reached Govindpura, we rushed to the safety of our home.
Sometimes I wonder what happenned to the man who saved our lives,. Was he able to find his child and get home safely? He gave us the GIFT OF LIFE, and we will be grateful to him forever.
- NAFISA KACHWALA, Gurgaon.
5) HE KEPT AN EYE ON ME
Driving home in a blizzard, I noticed a vehicle trailing close behind me. Suddenly, my tyre blew ! I pulled off the road, and so did the other car. A man jumped our from behind the wheel and without hesitation changed the flat.
" I was going to get off about three kilometres back ", he said. " But I didn't think that tyre looked good ".
- MARILYN ATTERBERY, Spokane Valley, Washingon.
6) TWICE AS NICE
Two firefighters were waiting in line at a fast-food restaurnent when the siren sounded on their fire truck parked outside. As they turned to leave, a couple who had just received their order handed their food to the firefighters. The couple then got back in line to re-order. Doubling down on their selfless act, the Manager refused to take their money.
- JOANN SANDERSON, Brandon, Florida.
7) A DISTANCE FOR ME
Leaving a store, I returned to my car only to find that I'd locked my keys and cell phone inside. A teenager riding his bike saw me kick a tyre and say a few choice words.
" What's wrong? " he asked.
I explained my situation, " But even if I could call my wife, " I said, " She can't bring me her car key, since this is our only car ".
He handed me his cell phone " Call your wife and tell her I'm coming to get her key ".
" That's more than 10 kilometres round trip ".
" Don't worry about it ".
An hour later, he returned with the key. I offered him some money, but he refused.
" Let's just say I needed the exercise," he said.
Then, like a cowboy in the movies, he rode off into the sunset.
- CLARENCE W. STEPHENS, Nicholascville, Kentucky.
8) AT THE RIGHT MOMENT
The train from the Mumbai suburb to Dadar had come to a complete stand-still. We were stranded 25 minutes away from the station and I was getting anxious. I had just a few hours to reach my examination centre, to take my third-year bachelor of architecture exams.
I got off and started walking to the station, hoping to find an autorickshaw or a taxi. I met a friend in a similiar situation along the way, and we started looking for public transport desperately. But it was an impossible task. We finally managed to hall an autorickshaw, who also refused to go. We were beside ourselves with worry. We tried to convince him animatedly, unaware that we were holding up traffic.
That's when I heard a car honking behind us. A woman, who later introduced herself as DR. ANUPAMA RAO, an obstetrician and gynaecologist with Fortis Hospital, offered us a ride to the examination centre. She informed the staff at another hospital she was headed to, rescheduled all her appointments and drove for two hours in heavy traffic so we could take our exam. She even came with us to speak to the centre-in-charge, to ensure that we were allowed entry.
- MANGESH KADU, Mumbai.
9) THE NIGHT TRAIN
About 20 years ago, I was travelling with my daughter Srividhya from Bengaluru to Madurai, by the night train. We were going for her second delivery, along with my four-year-old grandson Bharath. Two hours after we left the station, Srividhya started complaining of labour pain. The two male passengers in our compartment immediately called the ticket collector, who arranged for us to be picked up at Salem, the nearest station.
We arrived at the station 2.00 AM, and one of our fellow passengers handed his luggage to his friend to his friend and got off with us. Perhaps he felt two women with a child could do with some help. A wheelchair, taxi and porters were waiting on the platform, and we rushed to a hospital. The kind man took care of my grandson and our belongings, while I attended to the paperwork. My daughter was wheeled to the emergency room, where she delivered a baby boy, prematurely, within minutes.
The tall man in his 30s, I later found out, was also a State Bank employee like me. He called my son in Madurai to inform him, waited for him to arrive, and left handing over our luggage and introducing himself as KUMARASEN.
- CHOODAMANI VASUDEVAN, Chennai.
10) WHITE SHOULDERS
A woman at our yard sale wore a perfume that smelt heavenly and familiar.
" What are you wearing ? " I asked.
" White Shoulders ", She said.
Suddenly, I was bowled over by a flood of memories. White Shoulders was the one gift I could count on at Christmas from my late mother. We chatted awhile, and she bought some things and left. A few hours later, she returned holding a new bottle of White Shoulders. I don't recall which one of us started crying first.
- MEDIA STOOKSBURY, Powell, Tennesse.
