Trust

Our beautiful planet Earth, when created by the Almighty, was free from any dividing lines that segregated one place from another. There were, for sure, different landscapes which were perhaps meant to beautify, to add variety to the scenery. There weren’t any boundaries or borders to divide one nation from another. All creatures ruled the planet. But the best creation of God, i.e. we the humans, with the exclusive power of rationalizing, made divisions, created boundaries, built fortresses, and set chasms of differences.

In spite of that, the flow of masses from one region to another, one state to another, one country or continent to another, continued for multiple reasons—sometimes for safety, better health facilities, and sometimes for better prospects. This trend especially encouraged the youth of developing nations to leap towards the developed ones.

This migration, be it from a village to a town or city, inter-state, or from one country to another, isn’t easy. It’s akin to uprooting a plant from one pot and transporting it to another. The plant tends to wither away if there’s no sympathetic hand of a gardener. For some time it needs care and someone to foster it. That’s what precisely happens when humans step out of their comfort zones. At times one needs a helping hand; at another, one has to be a helping hand. Faith, sympathy, empathy, care, concern, and trust are a few attributes which transform a human from being mere human to humane.

I was a language teacher for almost two decades in a prestigious school before I chose to take up voluntary retirement. During those years I became one of the favourite teachers of many students from different sessions. Some of those students have become an essential part of my identity. It’s a unique bond of respect and trust. When both of my children flew abroad for their studies, I received very wise counsel from my students who were already settled abroad. From country selection to university selection, future possibilities to essentials to be carried in luggage, accommodation to getting formalities done at the airport, finding jobs, etc.—everything was discussed in detail. I feel so grateful to all of them who, though living in different time zones and occupied with their own struggles, never failed to answer my calls. They were always available to pacify my queries. If they hadn’t been there, I wonder how I would have emotionally handled myself. They were always optimistic and reassuring, and things did work well for my children, though they did face a few setbacks.

Mostly, on occasions, my dearest students would send a message or reply to mine. Sometimes they would drop a message about the latest milestone they had achieved, except for a few who stayed in constant touch with me.

I knew I was the trusted one. They would share their struggles and stories of the hard work they did. I was all ears to the different incidents of their lives when they had shed tears due to the cold indifference of people overseas.

One evening, I was sitting idle when a WhatsApp message from one of my all-time favourite students in Australia caught my attention. My sixth sense told me something was troubling the child. He was two or three years older than my son, almost 24 years old. I remembered him smiling on the backbenches with a group of three or four more boys, all of whom are abroad at present.

I exchanged pleasantries through text and asked him if he was alright. The child asked me about my children and how they were doing. I told him that they were in Canada, braving their share of struggles heroically every day. Sensing his hesitation, I asked him if something was troubling him. He politely asked if it was the right time to call me, and once I assured him that any time he wanted to approach me was right, he called. He told me about a province of Australia and asked if I knew someone over there. I told him I knew him and a few other students who lived in that country but wasn’t really sure if any of them lived in that province. On my insistence about the issue, he told me that he was flying the following day to that place for some technical reason. He sounded dismal, telling me he knew no one there and didn’t know where to head once he reached. My curiosity mingled with care and concern, being myself a mother. When asked if he hadn’t thought of this earlier, he told me that one of his friends from our school and city was supposed to receive him. That morning, however, the friend had bluntly told him it wouldn’t be possible, as his uncle’s family with whom he stayed wouldn’t allow it. When my adorable student beseeched him just for a day’s help, the selfish, insensitive boy disconnected the call. I was shocked to hear that. My student told me that, relying on him, he hadn’t made any other arrangements and hotel expenses would be backbreaking since he was yet to find a job in his field. I assured him that on my part, I would try my best. He said when he had lost all hope, tried everything, he had thought of me. He said just sharing his problem with me had comforted him. I had tears in my eyes and I knew I needed to act fast.

I was wondering at the callousness of the other boy, settled well there, who had let down his so-called friend. I was reminded of one of my students who is settled in the USA. When a boy from my acquaintances was flying there and the parents, being from a rural family, had no one to trust, a family member who knew I was a proud teacher of many selfless gems asked me for help. I traced one of my another all-time favourites from my Facebook list, though I hadn’t any contact number, and left a message on Messenger without much hope. To my amazement, within 24 hours, he responded and shared his WhatsApp number. I was ecstatic to get in touch with him after years. I narrated the whole purpose. He called me and laughed, saying it was a very small thing, and by chance, that boy was flying to his city only. He said even if it had been elsewhere, for my sake he would have made arrangements. But since it was his city, he would not only receive him but also keep him in his home with his family until arrangements were made. I was a bit apprehensive about his family’s reaction, but he assured me they were very helpful and knew that if it was his teacher’s request, he would definitely help. As promised, he kept his word. I feel so blessed and grateful because of students like him.

Even all the arrangements for my son were done by one of my students in Canada. He had not only received him but had also got his shopping done and settled him in a home with the best boys, free from all vices that ail the young generation today. My mind was racing, contemplating hard who should be contacted. I genuinely wished to help my student. The first person who came to my mind was the aunt of one of my daughter’s best friends who is also one of my dearest students. It was because of my daughter’s this friend’s family’s selfless, unflinching support that my daughter’s wings had taken flight. Till date, my daughter is staying in Canada with that friend and her aunt’s family, and it won’t be an exaggeration to say that because of them, I sleep here comfortably.

I knew I was calling the right person because this girl knew nothing but to help. She would not only take care of her ageing parents but also everyone in her neighbourhood or whosoever asked her for help. She said someone very close to her was residing in the same city and asked me to tell my student to wait for half an hour. I did as told. Within half an hour she called and gave me a contact number, saying her acquaintance would not only receive him but also accommodate him for a fortnight and help with his settlement. I passed the contact, and my student sounded relaxed after talking to him. The following day we got to know that he was welcomed with open arms at the airport. He stayed with him for a couple of weeks and settled well. The gratitude in his voice whenever he calls fills my heart with immense pleasure. His trust in me as his teacher, and my trust in the goodness of my daughter’s friend’s aunt and her in her contact, taught me that humanity is built and based on soft human attributes. Another lesson we all learnt is that it’s the testing times which tell the true worth of a friend, since a friend in need is a friend indeed and that all that glitters isn't always gold.