People Whose Good Deeds Can Make a Small Difference in the World
One day, I came across a man in a wheelchair struggling to get downstairs. With no ramp available, his only option was to be lifted down along with his wheelchair. He had just one person assisting him, and it was clear the task was difficult. Without a second thought, I stepped in to help.
After we safely got him to the bottom, I was about to continue on my way when he stopped me. He looked at me with a mix of gratitude and curiosity and asked for my name and where I was from. Since I was in a foreign country at the time, I simply replied, “I’m wildcard5, from Pakistan.”
What happened next took me by surprise. He smiled and invited me to have lunch with him at a restaurant just across the street. At first, I hesitated—it’s not every day a stranger offers you a meal. But something about his gesture felt sincere, so I decided to accept.
As we sat down and placed our order, he revealed something unexpected: “This is my restaurant,” he said with quiet pride. “You can come here anytime and eat for free.”
I was taken aback by his generosity. I had helped him without expecting anything in return, yet here he was, offering me something far more meaningful—a gesture of appreciation and kindness.
However, instead of accepting his offer for free meals, I made a counteroffer. “I’ll agree on one condition,” I said.
Curious, he asked, “What’s that?”
“Whenever you think of what I did for you today, instead of giving me a meal, invite a random beggar off the street and offer them food.”
He paused, considering my words, and then a warm smile spread across his face. “That’s a deal,” he said.
We spent the rest of the meal talking about life, travel, and the small, unexpected ways the world connects people. Though we never met again, I like to believe that, every so often, someone in need walks into his restaurant and receives a warm meal—because of a brief moment of kindness shared between two strangers.
Sometimes, the smallest actions set off ripples that reach further than we ever imagined.