Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Big Act of Kindness On Our First Day In India


--by Yasmin, posted Jun 18, 2011

On my first visit to India with my partner, Barry, we met a really nice woman on the plane who was flying from Canada to India to move back with her family in Chennai. Talking with Uma, a dentist, who had been trained in England, made the long flight from the US go by much faster.

When we arrived in Chennai, we learned that our bags had somehow not made the trip with our plane. As we filled out the missing luggage forms, we couldn't help noticing the mountain of unclaimed baggage in a corner of the terminal. Would we ever see our belongings again? This was not an auspicious beginning to our 6-week trip.

It was now 4 a.m. Saturday morning. The officials had told us there was no point in checking to see if our bags had arrived until Monday. What should we do next? As we stood there wondering, Uma came over. Learning of our predicament, she said, "Our driver will soon be here to pick me up. Come home with me."

We exited the terminal and entered the steamy early morning scene outside. A throng of people awaited their loved ones, calling their names and gathering them into warm embraces as they reconnected. Within minutes, Uma said, "There's our car!" We piled into the small sedan, already crowded with family members who had come to welcome Uma home. 

At the house, we showered and rested and Uma's family took us in as though we had known one another forever. They fed us delicious Indian meals, took us on tours of their city, brought us to their favorite temples and a chapel high on a hill overlooking the city, dedicated to St. Thomas. On Monday morning, their driver brought us to the airport, where we were happy to find our bags, safe and sound.

The next year, we returned to India and our first stop was to visit Uma and her family, who have become lifelong friends. What a gift her kindness was. In my very first moments on Indian soil, I learned an incredible lesson about the soul of the Indian people.

Uma's friendship to two strangers with different-colored skin began a trip of a lifetime. Everywhere we went, we encountered the warm, generous spirit of the Indian people. Uma had begun a chain reaction that we did our best to pass on wherever we went.

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Readers Comments

madeusmile wrote: Wow! Uma really went above and beyond to help. What a great lesson.
Yasmin wrote: YES! She is an Earth Angel and we are forever grateful!
heartofflesh wrote: I live in Chennai. Nice to know you found a wonderful friend in my city.Great to know that you are doing your very best to pay it forward the help you received.
Wonderful story and thanks for sharing!!!
Yasmin wrote: We love your city! I miss India often and hope we can return. The Saravana Bhavan vegetarian restaurants are awesome!
Spoonerism wrote: Just at the moment you needed a hand, there it was open and generous! :-) Thank goodness for Uma and for her generosity or you might have started your wonderful vacation on the wrong foot! How often it is that strangers lend a hand when you are traveling like this! And now you are friends... :-)
Yasmin wrote: Thanks for your comment and smiles!!
aurelia wrote: Uma and her family certainly extended a warm welcome!!!! I am happy to read this and know that there are many good people in the world just waiting for the opportunity to give of themselves. You and Barry must be really nice people too, other wise Uma might not have thought to care about you like that. Isn't our World a WOnderful place...we are One! :)
:0) SMILE!!! AUrelia
Yasmin wrote: Thanks, Aurelia! Uma later told us that her family had never before invited strangers into their home. They were doctors and university professors and had a beautiful home with marble floors and three levels. We felt so honored they would open their wonderful home to us! Before retiring, Uma's mother taught Tamil at university and said if I gave her two weeks, she'd have me speaking Tamil. I'd love to take her up on that offer someday...
unknown wrote: Yasmin, I like to think this way ... Dark moments are those where we find a friend made over lives reach us ... They reach us out like we are friends known for a long long time ... You had been lucky to be spotted by a kind soul and her family ... Welcome to India, Uma's home is yours too ... I can feel it ... You may just vanakkam ... nalla irukeengala maami ... which means, welcome, are you good auntie ? We address all folks like our relatives ... Enjoy Yasmin :)
Yasmin wrote: Vanakkam, Deeper, and thank you for your warm comments! India is definitely a home on the planet for us. We love your country!
TheHuman, thank you for the Karma Bucks! What goes around, comes around. May you be blessed in all ways, always!

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