A lot of rubbish can and does go viral on the net. Then again, every so often something touching and heartwarming catches the imagination of the netizens – an unknown somebody doing something kind for someone else; a good deed that is carried forward by yet another person that reminds us that simple human kindness is alive and well. The story of Akhilesh Kumar is one such.
How feeding the hungry cost him nothing
This man was visiting his hometown in Kerala, on holiday from his job in Dubai. Waiting for the meal he’d ordered at a restaurant called Hotel Sabrina, he noticed a couple of kids who appeared to be rag-pickers watching him. He ushered them in and asked them to join him, ordering their desired food for them. The kids ate appreciatively and left; when Akhilesh asked for the bill he was moved to find that the restaurant had billed him Rs 0; something that apparently moved him to tears.
Akhilesh Kumar shared this heartwarming story via a Facebook post in early January where he also attached the picture of the bill which bore this message: “We don’t have a machine that can bill humanity. May good happen to you.” The story was then shared by a group called Right Thinkers and then went on to become viral. Kumar’s Facebook wall is now flooded with appreciative and encouraging messages expressing their admiration for his gesture.
Twist in the tale?
As the story went viral, some publications decided to verify the veracity of the story. When one publication called up Sabrina hotel and no one at the restaurant recalled any such incident, it was assumed that the concerned employee at the hotel was keeping his own good gesture under wraps for fear that he may lose his job.
More inquiries revealed that the bill produced by Kumar was a fake. However the story was not! The incident of feeding hungry kids and not being charged by the restaurant was genuine; it really did happen a couple of years ago. Kumar simply procured a blank bill and wrote the message to illustrate a real incident.
So really, who cares whether the bill was a prop or the real thing? One good deed begot another; social media was enlivened by a touching story there just for a while; something that may have inspired many to go out and do a good deed. So when all is said and done; need we say anything but Well Done!
Images sourced from Akhilesh Kumar’s Facebook Page
Author: Reena Daruwalla
