Once I was in Chennai and wanted to visit a particular temple. I was unable to find the address because map location was wrong. Somehow my cab stopped near a school boy of around 11 years age. It was around 7 pm and boy was still wearing his school uniform but he was not carrying a bag. He was playing with other children and had ran to this distant corner in his play. I asked him whether he knows this temple and explained him how was searching since 1 hour. He could understand English and speak well for his age. The boy said yes and by some divine intervention offered to accompany me and climbed in the cab. (If you are a child reading this, never go with a stranger). 

We reached the temple and I sat there for an hour. Boy waited for me patiently and was siting there. It was around 8:30 pm by the time I dropped him at his place. During our ride back to his place, I interacted with him and asked about his studies and dreams. He was good in studies, fluent in English, articulate but did not know what to do in life.  When we reach near his home, a huge crowd had gathered and a middle aged woman was panicking and asking something in Tamil language to many people. Others were talking something, multiple people were frantically calling someone as if enquiring with lot of stress. I could see the tension, but did not yet realise the situation. Then boy got down from cab and waived bye and suddenly shifted his glance to his mother and called her. Her mother had tears, crying inconsolably and she pulled him closer and said something in local language. I was still clueless. I got down to greet her mother and appreciate the help provided by the boy. Some men, ladies and children surrounded me. I was naive to think that they are excited. Then boy translated and explained things to his mother. The boy then said ‘Everyone thought I was kidnapped and so they were searching for me.’ 

Now I realised the significance of panicking, crying woman, huge crown surrounding me. I shouted “English, English! English. A young man came forth and said ‘we thought someone had kidnapped this boy’. I explained him who I am and what happened in last 2 hours. Then he said something in Tamil and everyone laughed. Mother was happy that boy came back unharmed. Then I explained the boy that he should not go out with strangers and that he should listen to his mother and father. Boy did not have father. My eyes turned wet. 

With tears rolling, I pulled mother, boy and translator away from crowd. Mother had smile on her face now.  And I committed to mother that I will support education of the boy. Mother could not understand the language but could sense the loving gesture by her son’s new foster father. Translator explained to the mother and boy expressed excitement to mother and repeated my statement in Tamil. Mother had tears in her eyes and accepted the offer with greatness in heart. 

Presently the boy is in an engineering college in Chennai and is expected to get a good job. Whenever I visit Chennai for workshop, boy’s mother brings a home made local dish for me to eat. 

This was the start of me being able to help a student fund his education. That time I had budget constraints and was living a modest life, but I continued helping. Over time God has connected more people and bestowed me with the ability to help hundreds including school children and professionals pursing higher education.