Call from stranger (fiction story)

Tagline: Stranger knocked me

I was attending the grand traditional family ceremony. All the family members, guests and working staff were enjoying the party. They were dancing, some members were busy drinking. Among all, I was sitting alone and watching closely the rituals of function. My husband came to me and asked to participate in the function but I was not interested as I wanted to remain away from the crowd.

I was scrolling through messages and videos on my mobile to pass the time. I was thrilled to see the projects I have completed recently and planning to grab challenging professional tasks in my area of command. While engaging in mobile, my relatives called to perform some rituals along with them. I had to go to participate in traditional activities. After the rituals were over, we all gathered in the dining hall for traditional dinner. I was waiting for the crowd to settle. Again, I started checking my mobile and I saw several messages related to my profession. I thought that I would reply later. Now people were dispersed and I was approaching to have dinner.

Suddenly, I received a call from an unknown member showing a location near the hospital. I wanted to take up the call but it was stranger so I ignored it. At that moment, I felt restless. With a pale mood, I was having my dinner. After dinner, I saw several missed calls from the same number. I thought it may be a serious matter so I called back. It was the voice of a young boy. He was very polite and requested me for financial help because his grandfather was critical and hospital staff were not admitting due to being unable to deposit money for treatment. I immediately asked how did you get my number. He replied that when you visited a bank and counseled a needy person, I was impressed to know the noble feelings of yours about others. I was there to withdraw money for the exam fee. You also shared a mobile number to the person and I registered that number for future career support. He further requested that he was in trouble and your support may save the life of his grandfather.  Please mam, I will return the money but this time your help will revive me from a critical situation. I can understand that I am a stranger and no one can rely on an unknown person. He told me that I can send the details about the examination he appeared in. I was in a puzzling situation because he was asking for a large amount of money for treatment and none of the family members would allow me to give money to strangers.

I had some money in my savings account and finally I decided to support the stranger financially. I told him that I will deposit the required amount as an emergency fund in the hospital bank account for treatment. He was very happy and thanked me with a hoarse voice. I felt that a stranger was really in trouble and my support will save the life of a dying person. Meanwhile, I sent the email to the hospital administration and local government office to offer all possible help. This initiative was not admired by others and I was told that such frauds happen frequently in the surrounding area. Then I was quite upset.

After a month, I received a message in my WhatsApp no.  from the same hospital. They informed me that the person whom I helped in critical condition survived. I was very happy. Few days passed; I was on the way to the shopping mall, and suddenly a grand vehicle stopped near me and a young and dashing person came out with aarti thali. He instantly touched my feet and gave me aarti of one of the famous temples. I couldn’t understand what was happening with me. He elaborated the whole story that you supported me financially with my grandfather’s critical health condition. I was helpless at that time. Because of your financial and moral support, He survived and strengthened my mind to focus on my career that was in a sensitive phase. I succeeded in the administrative examination and with your blessings, now I am holding one of the top government positions. How can I forget you? You believed me as a stranger and your kindness really shaped my persona. He returned my money as well as extended several services that I struggle with in daily life. Now I have a son and have a strong emotional bonding.

It is hard to believe in strangers but sometimes we have to think logically to extend our support to strangers through verifying with government tools and helping them in a safe manner.  There are fraudsters in our surroundings but we should comprehend the people who really need support at some stages of their life. 

Important note:  Above story is a fiction and original creation of the writer. Readers must not consider it as true to support others. Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.