Good Samaritan!

Knock knock.
“Come in!”
My husband and myself with our three-year-old kid just then settled down in a room, at a hotel in Bangalore.
“Sir, welcome to the city of Bangalore. Can I be of any help?” It was the waiter.
This grey-haired man wearing a white-and-white was just like any other waiter in hotels.
“Nothing, as of now.”
He bent down a little with courtesy, nodded his head, smiled at my son and closed the door behind him.
Hardly ten minutes passed and there was a knock again.
“Now what/” My husband asked him.
He had a plate of dosa in his hand.
“But we haven’t ordered yet!” My husband exclaimed.
“Cool down, sir, I got this for your kid. I am sure he would be famished by now. I made it, sir. It is hygienic, don’t worry!”
Not wanting to displease him, I took the plate from him and he left.
It took just two days for him to get so close to the kid and us. Till I met him, I have never come across such a caring person, so caring enough even to volunteer to look after the kid when we were eating or engrossed in any other work. He took the kid for a round, made him play with the other staff as well. My son became popular among the hotel staff because of this person!
Would a staff of a hotel behave in such a friendly manner? Caring and kind, he was, more than just a staff. It was quite unusual because though they are courteous enough, who would go out of the way, to give this unique care for the customers? He had taken to my son. It was mutual. My kid was also comfortable with him.. Later, during a casual conversation with him, he told us about himself. He had three sons. After his wife died, they allowed him inside their homes only if he had some money to give them. They frankly told him that they couldn’t afford to feed one more person with their meager earnings.
He was a frustrated man but a cheerful person that he was, he took it all in his stride and he found peace and solace in making the customers happy and enjoying with the children who came and stayed there.
The following day, we left on tour from Bangalore to Mysore.
Both my husband and me had this flair for travelling by tourist buses whenever we visited a new place. It was the most convenient mode of transport and it was a chance to interact with other people.
It was a first trip to Bangalore and Mysore and we had no idea of the place. Those were the days when there was no opportunity to google for information and we depended on whatever information the locals would give about the place.
With our three-year-old kid, touring was not as easy. The priority was to pack all necessary eatables for the kid and then think of what we needed for the day. My routine during travel was to take packets of potato chips and biscuits just enough for the day and eatables and juices for the kids.
We started off in a happy and relaxed mood, because we had packed up what all we needed for the day. We were given an assurance that we would be dropped at the hotel by 10 P.M the same night.
The day went off so well and we boarded the bus to get back to Bangalore.
Feeling exhausted, the tourists who had alighted at every place with enthusiasm were now in deep silence and most of them started sleeping.
It was almost halfway when there was some problem and the driver got down with the tools to do his best so that the bus could move on.
Impatient enough to sit inside, we got down and were looking at the driver who was trying to detect the problem. When we all realized that it would take some time for the bus to start, my husband got perturbed, more so because we had nothing to eat. He can’t bear hunger.
“We should have packed some food for this trip. Now what do we do?” asked my husband.
“But how do you expect me to forecast what was going to happen? I never even imagined that the bus would get back so late!”
It was past midnight and both of us were tired and hungry
As time passed by, hunger bells started ringing in our stomachs. Assuming we would reach on time, we had eaten upto the last biscuit and cleared the potato chips packets.
“We could have done some shopping and stayed put in the hotel today. It was because of you!” My husband started mumbling. The worst part was his anger and hunger was directly proportional. More hungrier, the more angrier he would become.
“Now what do we do for food? By the time we reach, all hotels will be closed!”
“I’ve left a packet of bread in the room. Stay cool. We can manage.”
He seemed to be a bit relieved. At least he would have something to eat.
I looked at my son sleeping happily on the seat.
How quickly he had managed to capture the attention of the hotel staff. Within a short time, the staff was doting on him. More so, the sixty year old man, the waiter, who attended on us and who has become so close to our son.
The bus finally reached the destination and it was past midnight.
We took an auto and looked for a good restaurant around, but the city had become silent by then.
We reached the hotel famished but with a slight hope that the loaf of bread I had left will be intact and sufficient for us both.
He was there watching us approach the room.
“How was the trip?” he asked. How could he remain so fresh even at this time of the night? His smiling face forced me to reciprocate and I said, “Yeah, it was enjoyable!” My husband was bent on opening the door. All he could think of now was food.
“I missed you, my baby!” He ran towards my son and lifted him and planted a kiss on his cheek.
My husband took the key and unlocked the door. We went in and I approached the table to place my bag.
But there was a pleasant surprise awaiting me.
There were two plates with full meals neatly covered with plantain leaves!
We could immediately guess it was him.
What a smile on his face when he saw us so excited
“I know these buses come late, sir. I took a chance and kept the food for you both. Otherwise you cant get food anywhere at this time of night!” He was so thrilled because his decision has been right.
Isn’t it rare to see such human beings around?