A Glimmer of Hope at the Roadside: The Touching Tale of an Old Man, His Pedicab, and an Act of Kindness

Medan City—(02/02/25) The sky over Medan felt particularly heavy that afternoon when Jesica Thamrin spotted an elderly man standing beside his worn-out pedicab. At 71 years old, Grandpa Sihar Purba appeared so small amidst the bustling city, his one functioning eye revealing the depth of his suffering through its lingering scar. With faltering steps, he waited for passengers who never came, his frail body bearing the weight of decades spent in solitude.

"Grandpa, I've been blessed by God today. Would you like to join me to buy some groceries?" Jestham's voice suddenly made the old man's world stand still. His veiny hands trembled as he accepted the offer. Inside a nearby minimarket, Jestham carefully selected rice, cooking oil, and laundry soap—simple items that meant everything to the old man. "Just the essentials are enough," Grandpa whispered, his voice hoarse with age and loneliness.

Among the store shelves, Grandpa Purba shared the story behind his blind eye. "I used to work in a rubber factory... got splashed with coagulating acid," he said, touching the scar on his wrinkled face. He had sought treatment at USU Hospital for two weeks, but fate had other plans. Jestham listened with a heavy heart as the old man revealed he'd lost his ID card back in 1979—a small document whose absence had excluded him from the system for decades.

After that incident thirty-odd years ago, he had withdrawn into solitude. Without a life partner, loneliness and profound sorrow became his constant companions. Tears welled in his eyes as he confessed to feeling like a failure—a burden he'd carried for 41 years. His decrepit pedicab stood as a silent witness to his daily struggle, pedaling each day uncertain whether he'd earn enough for dinner. When illness struck, he could only endure or visit the local clinic with whatever meager savings he had.

Before parting ways, as Jestham offered additional financial help, the old man's hands shook violently. Tears he'd long held back finally overflowed. "This is from God, Grandpa," Jestham murmured softly. "He longs to hear your prayers. Don't let bitterness ruin your life—seek God so His peace may guard your heart, okay?"

For the first time in years, a glimmer of hope flickered in his single seeing eye. This story transcends mere material aid. It's a testament to how a brief encounter can erode walls of isolation built over decades. A reminder that small acts of kindness can restore faith in life's enduring compassion.