No. 2: At the airport!
You were a God sent person to me! Thank you...
Today is the Maundy Thursday, a very special day for
every Christian. I was obviously sad that I would miss all the liturgical
ceremonies of this sacred time. I received many greetings of happy feast (it is
also observed as priest day). While browsing through all the messages, I saw a
message from Sajol. It reads, “Brother, you were a God sent person to me. Thank
you ...”
I met Sajol at the airport, while travelling to
Srilanka. While waiting to get boarding pass, a boy in his early twenties showed
his passport and asked me, “Dada (brother) is my paper okay?” I had a quick
look at the passport and told him, “everything is fine. You are going to have
good time in abroad.” He gave a very innocent look. It was quite obvious that
he was travelling for the first time. He informed me that he was going to Saudi
Arabia along with nine more young men. Finally, I told him, “don’t worry Sajol.
Come back to me if you need any help.” He gave a surprised look and asked me, “how
do you know my name?” I smiled and said, “it is very simple. I saw your name in
the passport.”
I got the boarding pass and was waiting for the
check-in. Again Sajol came to me and asked for some information. I felt pity
for him and took little interest to know about him. He spent a huge amount of
money to get the visa to a broker. He was badly need of a job to sustain his
family. I encouraged him and positively spoke of the possible bright future of
his life. He also asked some questions about me and asked me to help him at the
transit airport.
Our transit airport was in Doha. After coming out of
the aeroplane, I gave him some instruction and I went to a less crowded place
for a little rest. While I was trying to catch up with my friends over the
phone, Sajol came to me and asked, if he could get lunch with his boarding
pass. It seems the travel agent mentioned that he would get lunch as he had
transit of more than twelve hours. I took him to a ‘help desk’ and spoke to the
concern person on behalf of him. The kind lady of the ‘help desk’ informed me
that he can take lunch at the specific restaurant. He was so happy when I told
him about the lunch. I took him to the specific restaurant and helped him to
order for food. He insisted that I should share meal with him. I politely declined
and left him. Before I left, Sajol asked for my Facebook account name.
People like Sajol give meaning to my priestly life.
