I lost my pouch. It had my bank debit card, two credit cards, my PAN card, driver’s license, my car registration card, and my library card. I do not remember how or where exactly I lost it. Perhaps at a Chennai restaurant where I used my credit card last. I had breakfast and spent some time with my college mate – we’ve been friends for almost 35 years. Or perhaps it fell off somewhere else on my way back – I just can’t remember.
I realised I lost it when I looked for it just before catching a train, a good 12 hours later. Within a few minutes the entire family searched for it and it dawned on me that I had clearly lost it and not misplaced. I had to postpone my trip. The restaurant guys were helpful but then they had not found the pouch.
The usual routine followed. I called the bank, the credit card providers and blocked all cards. I was dreading debit notice notifications – none arrived. I somehow had an inkling that the cards did not find its way to the wrong hands. India is now a digital country and your date of birth, address and card numbers are all you need to hijack any person’s identity and finances.
I waited for a fortnight to allow things to cool down. And then started the process to get new/duplicate cards. Just as I returned from applying for a fresh PAN card, I got a call. The guy identified himself as Chetan and after having confirmed my identity, told me that he had the cards.
And, apologised for the delay in calling me (one day).
With all the details that I had lost, the one thing that was not available was my phone number and he called me with that! Though my search ended with the loss of the cards – the cards took on their own journey.
He got the pouch as a courier from Chennai to his office address in Bangalore. I have no clue who exactly found my pouch nor why he chose to send it to an unknown person in Bangalore. Chetan had no clue either. It had come with no information and no notes. He enquired with his boss who knew nothing. He then wrote to a common group id from where the package had arrived to get a response that they knew nothing about it. I think we will let that remain an enigma.
Chetan did not send it directly to the address as he wasn’t sure if the address was still the valid one. Later, he visited the library and found it closed. And when he called their main office, they refused to give my phone number citing privacy. He had to give the card number and explain to them that he wanted to return the card to me. The library saw the point and obliged with my number. And then Chetan called me. After a couple of days, he came home and delivered the card. All intact. Hope, very soon, he will get to see a miracle as well.
That made me recollect my own experience. While on a journey by train a few years ago, I found a purse in the toilet. It had money and all the cards. Fortunately, I could find a visiting card with his number. I called him and later couriered the purse to his house.
Maybe one good deed deserves another. There are things you lose but honesty is not one of them.
