There’s no better to place to be than Dubai when the weather gets better and to take full advantage of falling temperatures, I’ve taken to walking rather than using the car as much as possible. The other day I decided to pick up some groceries from a nearby store, which is a couple of blocks away. As always, I bought more than what was on the list — a gallon of milk, some fruit and a big bottle of disinfectant, plus some baking supplies.

The person at the till looked at me and asked hesitantly if I would like to have the groceries home delivered. This is why I love Dubai, people spoil you! I lifted the bags to see how heavy they were and thought of all the extra calories I would burn if I carried the stuff home and replied with a shrug, “Oh, it’s not that much. I should be fine, but thanks for asking.” So saying, laden with the stuff I began my (much too long) walk home.

The first couple of feet were enough of a warning that there was no way I was going to make it home and a smarter person would have just returned to the store and said, “Delivery, please”. Yours truly, however, ploughed on. As I determinedly got to the edge of the road from where I was meant to turn, I put the bags down and began massaging my arms. Ah, that felt better! After walking for a foot or so I would put the bags down again and stretch my arms (I promise they got longer by being pulled to the ground!). By now, the reserves of my determination and resistance had been totally depleted and a part of me just wanted to leave those bags on the pavement and walk freely in the lovely weather. Just as I was wondering whether to wait for a cab or to call my husband, a grocery delivery guy (from another store) rode by on his bike.

I had to stop him. “Err, excuse me!” He didn’t hear me. He was almost out of earshot when I practically ran after him and said, “Hey there, please stop!” Surprised, the young man looked back and I asked if he could please deliver my groceries home as there was no way I could carry them. “Of course Madam,” the gentleman graciously put my groceries in his basket and asked me the way. Relief washed over me as I guided him home.

Looking very happy

A few minutes later, he placed the bags outside my door and I handed him a tip, which to my surprise, he refused. When I insisted, he said he had done something to help someone and if I paid him, that would spoil it. After that, I didn’t say anything more and thanked the man who left looking very happy. Chivalry is certainly not dead, I thought.

As luck would have it, a few days later, I went back to the store where this delivery man worked. I had obviously walked in at the wrong time — the store manager was giving everyone a piece of his mind. Such stuff is generally saved for when there are no customers around and to be fair I had walked in very early (you guessed it, an early-morning walk). Upon closer observation, it looked like my delivery friend was the only one who was being yelled at and of course, I pretended not to notice and went about my business. The manager calmed down when he saw me and the store was quiet again. But then I saw something and felt terrible.

That delivery guy had tears in his eyes as he rearranged the rice bags. He looked down resolutely, but I could see quite clearly that he was crushed. I couldn’t help it. I got to the rice area and asked if he was okay. That probably embarrassed him even more, but then tact has never been my strongest point. He mumbled something like he was okay to which I replied, “My brother, life is a test for each one of us. Pain is essential and it comes in different forms for different people. You’re going to be fine, trust me.” Through his tears the man smiled and disappeared (predictably) into the storage area.

Fast forward a few weeks and it seems that the store manager has been transferred (or has he been fired? I do not know). It’s worth a thought — how those in charge can sometimes behave unfairly with those under them. Every soul is just as precious and important as any other and life can be a great leveller — for what goes around comes around. The importance of kindness (or the utter lack of it) must never be under-estimated.

Mehmudah Rehman is a Dubai-based freelance writer.