Small Story 75 A Chance Encounter.

Small Story 75 A Chance Encounter Rakesh was visiting Dubai for the first time, impressed by the glitzy malls and high-end stores. He had just arrived from Singapore for a three-month deputation at his company’s Dubai office. Rakesh worked as a finance manager for a leading global audit firm, and everything about the city fascinated him. As he wandered through the mall, a woman approached him, speaking in Arabic. Rakesh smiled apologetically and said, "I’m sorry, I don’t speak Arabic. Can you please speak in English?" The woman looked a bit surprised but quickly responded, "Oh, my apologies! I’m from Cairo, and I’m visiting Dubai for the first time. I was just wondering where the food court is. I’m craving some authentic Arabic food." Rakesh pointed towards a corner of the mall. "The food court is over there, on the right." "Thank you!" she said, smiling warmly. "I’m Khaja. I work for a leading Arab bank in Cairo." "Nice to meet you, Khaja," Rakesh replied. "I’m Rakesh, here on a work deputation." Khaja hesitated for a moment before saying, "Why don’t you join me for lunch? You might like some Arabic dishes." Rakesh smiled, but politely refused. "Thank you, but I just had a snack." Khaja nodded and walked toward the food court. Rakesh, being in a new place, often felt hesitant about interacting with strangers, but something about Khaja seemed genuine. About ten minutes later, Khaja returned, looking upset and flustered. "Rakesh, I’m in trouble. My wallet was stolen!" she exclaimed. "I went into the food court, and when I reached for my wallet, it was gone!" Rakesh was taken aback. "You should report it to the mall authorities." Khaja shook her head. "I don’t know where to begin. This is my first visit here, and I don’t know anyone. I’m also worried because my credit and debit cards were inside. I have the details saved on my phone, but..." Rakesh thought for a moment. "If you need money for the food court, I can help." Khaja quickly declined. "No, I’m not worried about food. I just need my wallet back." At that moment, her phone rang. "Hello, is this Khaja?" a voice on the other end asked. "I found your wallet! Where are you? I’ll transfer the money t Khaja’s face lit up with relief, and she turned to Rakesh. "It’s Salim,my husband. I must have left in my house." Rakesh smiled. "No problem, Khaja. You can give him my number and let him know it’s okay to transfer the money." Half an hour later, Rakesh received a message confirming the transfer, and he handed the money to Khaja. Her eyes filled with grateful tears. "Thank you, Rakesh. People these days often cheat, asking for money or personal details online. But you’re different. I studied your face, and I found you honest. You didn’t ask for anything in return, and that made me trust you." Rakesh smiled. "It’s just the right thing to do." Khaja then handed Rakesh her business card. "If you ever visit Cairo, please let me know. I’ll show you around." Rakesh nodded. "And if you’re ever in Singapore, I’ll do the same for you." They both laughed, and Khaja shared some good news. "By the way, my husband works as an archaeologist for the government’s Pyramids department. Maybe next time you visit, you could see the pyramids!" Rakesh was intrigued and excited at the thought. They made their way to the food court, where Rakesh insisted on treating Khaja to lunch, despite her efforts to pay. Their unexpected meeting had turned into a pleasant friendship. They both left the mall that day with a smile, knowing that they had made a genuine connection. Little did they know, their friendship would continue to grow over the years. Both had come to Dubai for different reasons, but fate had brought them together. K.Ragavan 12-11-24