Runaway Hindu girl finds 'sadbhavna' of Muslim auto driver

Following the righteous path is far more difficult than merely preaching sadbhavna. However, some kind-hearted Muslims of the city did more than just preach, when they helped a lonely Hindu girl on Monday night.

Mohammad Anwar Abdul Shaikh, 53, an auto-rickshaw driver saw a girl being followed by some eve-teasers at Kalupur railway station on Monday night. Shaikh noticed that a few auto drivers were also apparently thinking of taking advantage of the girl, who was walking aimlessly outside the station. Shaikh sensed danger looming and approached the girl. After seeing Shaikh talking to the girl, the wannabe ‘Romeos’ and auto drivers exited from the scene.

Shaikh asked the girl what she was doing at the railway station at such a late hour. Another point of concern was that she was wearing gold ornaments worth some Rs4 lakh. The girl narrated her story to Shaikh, who took her to the nearby Sukh Sagar restaurant, as she had not eaten food after she left her home in Junagadh, 400 km away from the city.

The 18-year-old Jalpa Jhinabhai Makwana, a resident of Kesariya village of Una taluka in Junagadh district, had got married 8 months ago to one Bharat Chilotar, from the same taluka. The couple had their differences and quarreled frequently, so she left her home on Sunday and came to Ahmedabad in a train.

However, with no relatives or any idea about the city, she wandered outside the station and caught the attention of eve-teasers and auto drivers.

After relating her story, Jalpa asked Shaikh to drop her at a guest house near the station. Since Jalpa didn’t have any ID proof, the guest house would not give her a room.

Then Shaikh requested her to accompany him to his house and stay with his family for the night. Jalpa was skeptical about Shaikh’s offer as by now she was in a state of fear after being followed by the ‘Romeos’. Shaikh gave her full assurance about her safety and took her to VS hospital, where his daughter is admitted.

To help ease Jalpa’s anxiety, Shaikh picked up his wife from the hospital, where she was tending to their daughter and the couple took Jalpa to their house in Sutharwada, a minority community area in Gomtipur.

The Shaikhs also informed local Muslim and Dalit leaders, who stayed up the night with Jalpa and Shaikh’s family. Late in the night they informed Jalpa’s parents and the latter came to the city and took custody of Jalpa, in the presence of Gomtipur police.

It was morning when Jalpa set off for her home town, after thanking Shaikh, his wife and everyone else who stayed up all night to ensure her safety.