The Healer, by Samira Bhattacharya, Project Associate

By Samira Battacharya, Kolkata

Pondering over what story I should jot down, I got on the Uber Bike on a sunny Kolkata afternoon in  April 2021, when the coronavirus was headed towards its peak. I quickly sanitized the seat cover and sprayed the man’s hands, too. According to my Uber information, he was “known for great conversation.” 

We had a long way to go, and we ended up talking about politics, business, and the virus. I told him how upset I was at the entire situation, and how my first-ever trek to Sandakphu had been cancelled by the organizing committee itself.  We just want to trek with a positive mindset without risking our family members’ health; hence the small sacrifice of staying home, for now. 

My driver grasped the entire thing and said no words. He just took a different turn on the road, which scared me, as I didn’t know the route. He told me he was taking me through a new place, where I would definitely feel good. 

Away from the hustle bustle and tension of the city on a Sunday afternoon, he took me through ponds resembling backwaters in Kerala, areas where palm trees were planted, quiet countryside roads. I was amazed at the sights. It was the closest I could achieve to a get-away, and I was grateful to him. 

Later on, he told me that amidst the pandemic, he has been doing this. He has had passengers who were upset for various reasons, and he takes them through new routes for refreshments and delight to the eyes. Maybe, in some way, their hearts might absorb new air and get mended? He had come up with this free service, as he wanted to make some difference in the minds of people, amidst the ghastly pandemic situation of fractured relationships and peaks of depression. He did his best to make his passengers feel good, to get over a bad day, to thrive in country roads and new atmospheres– even for just a short period of time. 

For me, this man was a healer. He was doing his small part for society, full of hope and faith in humanity, so that amidst the helplessness, people could breathe for a time. That afternoon, I could see myself drowning in the little happiness of new roads and new homes. For twelve minutes that day, he made a difference in my life. Sometimes, the smallest gestures can be engraved on our hearts. 

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Samira was a member of our amazing team of Project Associates based in Kolkata, who assisted with all aspects of the online storytelling workshops, from recruitment to facilitation.