Lessons from a London Street

Divya Dutta

London welcomed me with all its glory and an amazing snowfall. I am here for the premiere screening of my film Gulmakai, based on Malala Yousafzai, which will be attended by Malala and her family and United Nations delegates.

My organizer’s wife had come to pick me up with her teenage son. A lovely young woman in her hijab, she hails from Pakistan. I found it very endearing the way she Googled her way to the hotel with the help of her son. It seemed it wasn’t everyday she ventured out on the roads but was calmly finding her way.

Ahead of us, a road was closed so to take a reverse, she got into a very narrow lane. As she struggled, along came a stranger, who started guiding her. But when he saw it was getting tough for her, he offered to drive it and get it out. Unfortunately, he banged the headlight. Lo and behold! I thought there’s going to be a fight now, which we are so used to seeing back home, blame game and anger and expletives and the crowd around just watching!

But nothing happened. The guy got off and apologized and gave his number to her to let him know the damages. The lady thanked him and said her husband would speak to him. I couldn’t digest it. Wow! It actually is that simple. To own up to your mistakes, to offer help and to not lose your temper. Back home, the entire drama would have taken a lot of time, and with no solution.

Would we have ourselves given our number had we banged a car and offered to pay for the damages? If not, why not? Why has it become more important to outsmart others than to accept a mistake and offer help? Where did the power play and ego get into us, we, who are known for our warmth? I was imagining how shocking it would be if a matter had resolved that easily in India. Even if you agreed that you banged the car, would you willingly offer to pay unless asked by the other party? I doubt. That lovely gesture left me with a smile.

It filled me with positivity and a belief in the inherent goodness of people. I don’t know about others but I surely will offer this help if ever I am wrong. There’s a strength in accepting that you went wrong! In fact, how random people teach you some amazing lessons unknowingly.

As the lady got me to my hotel and her young son helped me with the luggage, she shyly said it’s his birthday today. I wished him and asked why he wasn’t partying? “Oh, ma needed me so I came along from school.”

I felt at home. That warmth covered me inspite of the biting cold. All I could muster up was, ‘shukriya’. Not only for dropping me to my destination, but a lot more.

(Dutta is a Bollywood actress)