Helping with petrol

Mr Chetan has a very unique way of helping people. Many people gives their wealth or time in many ways for charity or aid. May it be then Warren Buffet who gave $2.8 Billion to Bill Gates foundation or May it be Sudha Murthy who gives her time to a very abandoned section of society. These are very famous and well known act of philanthropies which gets media hype and attention. I am not criticizing these noble deeds these can bring some significant changes in the world.

However, there are some acts of sweet gestures which rather go unnoticed by many. Some small and unexpected help from the situation when there are no hopes. Only people who had the privilege on the beneficiary side acknowledges the help, no media no loudness of show. The people who benefits from these small things exemplify the emotion of surprise first, once they are fully sure that this for real the happiness or obligations expressions follows.

Mr Chetan keeps half a liter of Petrol in an unused mineral water bottle. The bottle always quietly sleeps below the seat of his activa two wheeler moped. Whenever he observe any person dragging his two wheeler, Mr Chetan stops and ask a simple question “What happened”. If the answer is “petrol khatam ho gaya” i.e. the bike ran dry out of petrol, you can guess what might be happening next. He gives the petrol and direction for nearest petrol, both for free. Yes Free!

This brings surprise to many people, countless would offer money. But this for free. I thought first, frankly what a waste of money. The person who cannot manage to know the status of his or her petrol in bike should learn some lesson, only then he /she will fill the petrol next time. My thoughts were judgmental. But Mr Chetan had no such condemnatory calculation of thoughts. He simply helps others in need.

 I was in same flood of thoughts when I was riding my bike, suddenly it started jerking and in no time it stopped. You guess why any bike would go stop after jerk. Petrol! Wow!. Uphill with uproar traffic behind you is definitely not a place of petrol crises, yet it happened. Shit happens! and it happened to the judgmental me. For sometime I wanted to park my bike on side and laugh. Laugh out loud for I had forgotten my wallet today as well. Not only shit happened but it had happened at worst possible time!  

After 11 hours of working day, when the bike is pushed uphill in a wetty muddy road, one would not only recall herculean but Charlie Chaplin too, since this is not just herculean task but Charlie task. My mistake ! lesson learned !

My thoughts were broken by a question “Tel kahatm ho gaya kya” asking me if the petrol is over. I looked up, it was not Mr Chetan. Two guys in a bike, both having same beard style, I have. How they will give petrol they have a bike? Is the question came to me before why they should give me petrol !

While explaining my trouble to them I was smirking at me. They asked if I have some bottle so that they can give some petrol. I started searching nearby grass while still contemplating, is this for real! I found empty whiskey bottle! I mildly thanked the drinker and government for not banning alcohol in our city.

They gave me half a bottle petrol, enough for me to reach my home. I was overwhelmed by this gestures by the two and thanked them. What they said to me was extra overwhelming.  “Someone helped us when we were misfortune” said the first guy and left me with the question who might have helped them. And I dint not asked, for I know it must be Chetan, if not the Mr Chetan I know but some other. I didn’t asked because I wanted to enjoy the thought the Mr Chetan might have helped them. Thank you Mr. Chetan.