AK Afridi : Le Fin

Alright! I can now conclude the Afridi story. Its been three months since the $40 to charity that went off in the direction of a sense of trust I had in the Pashtun/Pathan tribes, and I havent heard from dear old Abdullah Khan Afridi. What started off as a request for $20 went as far as $35 and finally I gave away $40 to help the guy with the subway instead of walking in the December cold. Some saw naivete while others altruism. I for myself reasoned out that there was enough reason to trust that man to call me back if not for the money then for the sake of honour. He did seem honourable and probably is.

Three months on, those who laughed at my 'stupidity' feel vindicated while some others have pointed to the infinite possibilities of what might have happened. Everything from the guy never reaching a good financial position to return the money to my subsequent departure to India a week later. It does seem plausible that during the month that I was gone to India Afridi may have tried to get in touch with me several times and after 35 days of incommunicado gave up. It is also likely that he was just another conman who made off with my sympathy and money, though it does seem unfair to malign the man without knowing his true intentions.

It is amply clear that I am less willing to believe the second possibility. I argued in favour of taking a chance and that I may have fooled myself into being conned. I have decided to retain my faith in people despite it all.

There is some goodness left in this world.

PS

I meant to write a lot about the trip to India and all that transpired there but now its been too long and probably the details are getting fuzzy to make any good reporting. But there is a point of note though. 

On my way to India, as reported, I had some encounters with the CBSA here in Toronto. While on the last leg on the way back here, there was this jerk of a guy who I could easily figure had a great time being an asshole. He stashed away with this briefcase his jacket into the overhead cabin above his seat. An air hostess who was trying to accomodate another passenger's baggage moved his coat to the next cabin. I could see by then that the jerk was already hyperventilating since his coat was 2 feet farther away than he could live with. As soon as the flight was airborne he rang for an attendant and requested that his coat be moved back to his overhead cabin and the displeasure and "inconvenience" the other lady had caused him thus setting the submissive attendant into a tirade of apology. Tch tch.

Well after we landed in Pearson, at the mouth of the aerobridge were again the dearest CBSA. Funny this time though, they checked my papers and wished me a great day as i walked off while the jerk was held back. Just as side, he was white. You know when you get taken aside at airports like that, the passers-by have an annoying look they toss you. That was what probably ticked him off. He started giving the agents some attitude with the usual I am a citizen and i have rights crap. They didnt buy it and as I vanished on the escalator I could help the smirk that was starting. What you do comes back to you.