I was on board the circle line MRT last night heading home and as soon as I disembarked, I realised my wallet wasn't with me! I panicked and headed straight to the station's control post to report it. The controllers stopped the train at the next station and did a quick check but alas it was nowhere to be found. My heart sank as I was carrying over 1k in cash as I was intending to pay bills the very same night! After cancelling my cards, I headed to a coffee shop with a friend to 'bitch' about my luck and we decided to head to the nearest police post to make a report.
On the way there, I received a call from a stranger who spoke broken English saying he has my wallet. I told him to wait where he was and I'll meet him there but what took me by surprise is that he said "Sir, take your time. I can even wait for one hour". I reached and I found myself meeting an Indian foreign worker and his friend who passed me my wallet with everything intact!! Every dollar, $1210 to be exact. I was humbled by this guy's honesty as this was easily more than a months pay for him. I wanted to reward him but he refused profusely until I had to put in his pocket saying "Pls take this or I won't feel good" after which he did.
He thanked me and went about his way after. In height of all the negative sentiments on foreign workers, I want to highlight that there are quite a few good samaritans out there amongst them. There is no reason to be a xenophobe without a cause. Ask yourself, if you had found a wallet filled with a bulk of cash, would you return it? Well, this foreign worker this and I believe this act of honesty comes highly commendable given his background!
Thank you young man whoever you are.
Prashanth Shankar