It was 5:30 am and i was at the airport waiting for the dawn to break so that i could hail a cab and go home when i suddenly heard angry sobs of a woman across the aisle at the currency exchange counter. From what i gathered,she had lost all her cash,credit cards,and was alone with no roof over her head in mumbai. before i could summon the courage to go up to her, she had moved on. my heart sank.i had lost the golden opportunity to help someone. but somewhere inside me, hope still prevailed. under the pretext  of getting some water to drink, i got up to check if she had really left. and lo behold!she had just moved to another counter.i quickly went back to my seat,gathered all my stuff and fighting back my tears, walked up to her.

"i want to help you",i quietly told the 30 -something British woman,"how much money do you have?".i wanted to cry at the amount she muttered.instead i opened my bag and handed her some tissues.i shuddered at the thought of what a cruel world could do to a lonely,hopeless and penniless person,especially a woman.brushing such thoughts aside,i realized that she would be hungry and dug out some chocolates and cookies for her.when i took out some cash,she said,"oh keep something for yourself" and she got busy trying to call up some people for accommodation. Had i opened my mouth to speak,i would have burst out crying there and then.that would have done little to help her.so i quietly put some amount on the counter,took my strolley and started walking away.  "Thank you so much",i heard the faint ray of hope in the accented voice behind me in the distance. i turned back for a second and smiled- a smile that said whoever you are,i love you and pray that everything turns out fine for you.

i walked out of the airport and looked up.the dawn had indeed broken.