Blessed

Yesterday I gave a passenger a ten dollar discount, a cup of coffee and my phone number. In return I received a blessing from the Lord Shiva so tomorrow I’m buying a Lotto ticket!

He was waiting at a westerns suburbs hospital rank, laden with plastic bags and anxiously smoking. After checking if I’d go to the Eastern Suburbs he slowly loaded the bags into the back seat then squeezed in with them, all the while imploring me not move until belted and settled.

It didn’t take long to learn his story, though his strong accent means I can’t reproduce it here verbatim so instead I’ll paraphrase the tale. Let’s call him Sanjay.

Aged around forty Sanjay was from southern India and on his second stint in Australia. The first residency ended disastrously when his Indian wife and young son left him and moved to Canada.

The poor bloke was driving cabs at the time yet only lasted a short period before his life changed overnight. Given what he’d endured I imagined he would rather be mugged on the job than dumped by his wife and lose his son. Not to mention the feeling of returning home, alone.

After a period he came back to Australia but it wasn’t long before acute loneliness and depression kicked in, resulting in a psychotic episode requiring hospitalisation.

After one month of intensive care involving psychotropic drugs and counselling – “I didn’t receive one visitor”, he said, a number of times - he was finally discharged.

We chatted about his treatment, driving cabs and the Family Court. Whilst he had a factory job waiting and a share apartment with some Malaysian students, there is no family or friends her to support him through the crucial recovery phase, only medication.

In heavy peak hour traffic in Glebe I pulled into a side street, stopped the meter and brought two coffees. Sanjay was in no rush and clearly appreciative of the interaction. Standing on the street smoking and drinking coffee I noted he was quite tall and good looking.

Back in the cab I encouraged him to join a social club with a view to female companionship. Whilst it won’t compensate for the loss of his son it will at least provide a distraction from the pain.

Another suggestion was to watch thirty minutes of comedy each day for the restorative powers of a good belly laugh. I recommended The Simpsons. And the virtues of physical exercise as there is evidence that elevated endorphin levels counteract depression. With this he showed me a Beyond Blue carry bag of brochures issued by the hospital.

Nearing the destination Sanjay started quietly singing in English. It was a traditional Hindu psalm of thanks and imparted a blessing. How the Lord had come down from the mountains and of all the millions before him had seen fit to lay hands on me. Or something like that.

Sure, it was touching to be the subject of such praise, but I couldn't help thinking of the utter forlornness from receiving no visitors whilst committed to a mental institution.

No wonder he alighted from the cab backwards with hands held high in the prayer position and bowed. I would, too.

Comments

[Christian]

Poor bloke! In regard to the (lack) of hospital visitors, I've heard similar stories before with people from overseas...

Nice story!

[brad k]

thats just sad! good on you for being kind and caring cheers

[Andrew]

You're a good man Adrian.

[Matthew Ray Scott]

Mr. Neylan,

I sure respect you and enjoy your blog posts everyday.

Thanks for being a great story teller in a sea of boring people. I really appreciate and seek to learn from you amazing talent.

Be Well,

Matthew

[Rainer the Cabbie]

Ta mate. Not just a good fellow, but a great humanitarian. And how can you not be one, considering the stuff we see. On that note, what on earth happened to most of our workmates? They don't get it or something?
Thank you for a nice story. Bless our Indian friend, may he find peace and happiness.

[Rainer the Cabbie]

P.S.
Can I go you halves in the Lotto ticket?

[Art]

Good on you mate!

[adrian]

Thanks folks. Sanjay was emerging from a debilitating condition I've encountered recently through others, so it pretty easy to relate to his situation.

Rainer, I just checked the Lotto results. Sure, I'll go you halves...we lost!

[Ian]

"Sure, I'll go you halves...we lost!"

Nah, ya didn't mate... ya won... goodonyer!

I'm sure Shiva will see ya right somewhere down the line.

Cheers,

[LaLa]

That's a lovely story. Sad, but lovely.

[Josh]

There is little so lonely as a big city