On a recent trip to New York.....
Namit Saksena and I are somewhere on 55th Street rushing down a subway staircase, as usual in a hurry not to miss a train, which we dont even know is there. As we start climbing down, we both slow down. A group of old ladies (must be between 60 to 80 in age) are moving down as well, albiet as slowly as their age allows them.
We "brake", continue our animated conversation in Hindi, and not the least irritated with this slowdown. One of the ladies realizes she and her group are being a bottleneck. She mumbles something to her mates and all of them move aside and halt. The lady looks at us and says with a smile "You guys are much faster, dont want old ladies blocking your way.".
If I were alone, I would have smiled sweetly back, uttered a "Thank You" and rushed ahead. Not Namit, before even I could react, he paused, did a wave with his hand, said "After You", and added with a large beam "We will also eventually get there".
I don't know if the honesty registered on the ladies, but I was impressed. In that one moment, I felt smaller, and tinier.
The incident remained etched in my head, and will do so, reminding me that humanity (and humility) are eternally graceful.
Take a bow, Namit ( Saksena ).