Hope in Every Pedal: The Story of a Rickshaw Driver Who Never Gives Up
Hope in Every Pedal: The Story of a Rickshaw Driver Who Never Gives Up
Medan Marelan, Medan City—(02/12/25) Beneath Medan’s relentless urban clamor lie countless untold stories. In one quiet corner, an elderly man slept soundly on the weathered seat of his timeworn rickshaw. The wrinkles on his face mapped the thousands of kilometers he’d pedaled—through scorching sun and unrelenting rain, each mile a testament to his endurance.
It was then that Jestham paused her journey and approached him with gentle intent. Politely, she woke the man and requested a ride to a nearby minimarket. The 68-year-old rickshaw driver, named Mahyudin, nodded slowly, wiping traces of exhaustion from his face before mustering his remaining strength to pedal toward their destination.
When asked about the fare, the old man surrendered to kindness. "Pay whatever you wish, sir," he said sincerely. Touched, Jestham offered to compensate him by purchasing household essentials at the minimarket—a proposal that lit up his face with joyful disbelief.
Inside the store, Jestham softly instructed, "Sir, you have four minutes to take anything your family needs." The old man’s eyes shimmered; his hands trembled as he clutched a shopping basket. Methodically, he navigated the aisles, selecting rice, cooking oil, sugar, eggs, and other staples. His expression softened when he spotted his favorite coffee on a shelf, a cracked smile spreading across his lips.
Jestham watched quietly from a distance, allowing him to gather necessities undisturbed. The usually bustling minimarket seemed to hold its breath, wrapped in rare reverence.
Over a casual conversation afterward, the elderly rickshaw driver shared his life’s struggles. He pedaled his rickshaw daily without rest, though earnings were erratic—some days barely enough, others nothing at all. Yet he persevered. "If I don’t work, sir, how will my family eat?" he whispered, his voice quivering.
His wife, too, labored selflessly as a bilal (a ritual washer of the deceased), often unpaid but unwavering in her sincerity. Despite their poverty, they faithfully observed their five daily prayers, trusting God’s provision. "I surrender everything to Allah," the old man said, his resilience radiating.
Deeply moved, Jestham offered additional assistance as tribute to his dignity. "What we do with sincerity, God will repay. Just do your best, sir—leave the rest to Him," she reminded him.
Their parting left an indelible lesson: that life’s value lies not in possessions but in accepting one’s fate with grace; that true joy often dwells in simplicity; and that sustenance arrives—always—for those who wait with gratitude.
Keep moving forward, sir. For after every hardship comes ease, and at the end of an honest struggle awaits the sweetest victory.
