Thank You Bhairav!

It was a pleasant evening in the early part of the May month of 2013, the place was Howrah Station. I and my sister along with several other students and teachers from Hyderabad were there to attend an International convention on music and culture at the prestigious IIM Kolkata. As we alighted from the train, a group of well guided boys came towards us, confirmed our participation and very promptly helped us with our luggage and route to the bus station where we were to be picked up to reach the destination. We assumed that they were IIM Students, but much later we got to know that they were volunteers from various schools, colleges and even working professionals who chose to work for an organization to help its effective functioning.

One of the volunteers amongst them became my friend for life. He is called Bhairav Shah. A guy who helped people without thinking twice; he ran from pillar to post to get any work done with or without his involvement…all he knew was that the work had to be done and within the time stipulated. I happened to observe him and he was omnipresent during the convention, for once I thought he was possessed. His tireless efforts along with his friends made the program a great success. The extravaganza ended after a week.

Typically a friendship in which we meet each other in person very rarely and stay several thousand kilometers away mellows down and dries up as a “good-to-know-you-are-around” friendship. But what elated my senses was that my friendship with Bhairav was not following the trend.

It was during this summer that my mother was returning to Hyderabad via Howrah after visiting her brother, when she got stranded at the Howrah Junction due to an unconfirmed ticket problem, my cousin accompanied her, but that didn't quiet help. We couldn't help her either, because of the distance. In a situation such as this, all that occurred to me was Bhairav, having known him for just a year…I was too hesitant to ask him to offer help, but with my mother at the needy end…I had to. I called him up and he agreed to help, like he was just there to help me, without any second thoughts, without any sighs, no drama-plain humanity. He worked out things neatly for my mother and she reached home without any worries. Receiving mom at the station and having hugged her and felt her, sent a quick flush of relief throughout me and surprisingly as I reached home Bhairav calls to check if Mom reached.

I have seen friends come and go in my life, but this gesture left a deep impression on my mind. So much kindness, so much selflessness, I am indebted to you Bhairav. I can never thank enough for wht you have done. I still want to thank you!