So, off I went to the Indian consulate yesterday to get my five-year-old's passport renewed. With two kids in tow, a buggy (which pretty much works as a station wagon!), folders of important documents, passports, diapers, extra clothes, umbrellas for the rainy day that it was, and packs of snacks to keep them chomping busy.
At the reception, I'm gently reminded if I am carrying enough cash as that is the only mode of payment. Yes Yes, I earnestly nod.
The appointment is on the dot. Swift, brisk, even polite, as the lady tries all her might to sweetly smile at my loud, agitated 14-month-old.
"So including the self-addressed envelope, that will be £64," she says.
I hand out my carefully calculated cash, which is £55. I rummage in bag and take out another 7 quid. "Errrr....I am short of £2, let me just whiz out to the ATM," I tell the lady. Mentally, I am screaming at myself.
"Ma'am we close in 15 mns. You'll have to hurry up and the nearest machine is a 7 mnt walk," she offers, almost apologetically.
"That's fine, I'll manage," I say.
There is a gentleman nearby, another customer. "It's only £2, let me pay that for you if you don't mind?" he says. I am embarrassed, suddenly conscious, but also feeling very very grateful.
I accept his change, finish my passport work and tell him to please wait at the entrance after he is done so I could get back from the ATM and pay him back. "It's alright," he smiles.
I lug the kids and everything else back outside and ask the two embassy officials who are standing outside if there is any other teller machine closer still. "Why, ma'am, haven't you been able to pay?," they ask.
I tell them I just have to return a couple of pounds to a kind gentleman inside.
"And you want to go all the way just to do that! Here, take this, if you have to pay him back," they say, offering me a couple of coins.
There is some kind of peaceful protest happening outside the embassy, with close to a hundred people from the Sikh group. Plenty of cops around. Rain. Heavy winds, biting cold, cranky kids...
I am thinking, "no i can't borrow again" and start walking in the direction of the ATM. Suddenly the gentlemen loudly and almost demandingly call me back, and then kindly advise me not take the trouble. "Please ma'am. It's only £2, paisa toh aata-jaata rahega. Here take these coins, pay the other guy. You don't worry about returning it back to us now!"
I am so touched by now. If I refuse this, I have refused an act of kindness. I take the change, go back inside and pay the other gentleman, come back outside, thank the two officials and finally take leave.
I keep walking and reach the Waterloo Bridge. The baby has finally fallen asleep in the pram, my five-year-old is excitedly watching the Thames and the city skyline. I turn back and I see the silhouette of India House and this beautiful city.
I am filled with pride, happiness and a lot of gratitude. Unknown people reaching out with kindness - they asked me not to bother paying them back, but I do know I have to pay it forward.
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