I can’t say exactly how many times I have come across strangers who have helped me. But there was this one time when I flew back to India from Canada and I was stranded at the airport and I needed to get through to my Dad so he could pick me up but my phone had no network and none of the officials were willing to help me make a phone call. I asked a gentleman if I could use his phone to call my Dad and he readily agreed.

As we were heading out the airport I saw he was having issues with an official because he didn’t speak the local language and I made sure to help him by talking to the officer and that he went through the exit and could go home without having to be quarantined. He had his papers and tests done there was no need for him to be quarantined.

While it was a mutually beneficial encounter he helped me in a desperate moment without the expectation of anything in return and it was a time when nobody could be trusted. That moment made me grateful and restored my faith in humanity.