A Bengaluru father feared he had lost more than just a handbag after accidentally leaving it on a BMTC bus. Inside was a book he had bought as a gift for his daughter, and with it went the small surprise he had been looking forward to.
But thanks to the alertness and honesty of a BMTC conductor, the bag was safely returned, along with the book and the father's plan to surprise his daughter.
According to a report by TOI, Venkatesh Harthi arrived at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at around 1.30am on Thursday and took a Vayu Vajra BMTC bus towards Hebbal.
It was only after reaching home that he realised his handbag was missing.
Bengaluru father realises he left gift on Vayu Vajra bus
The handbag contained several belongings, including a book that Venkatesh had purchased for his daughter, Mahathi.
For him, the book was not simply another item in the bag. He had been carrying the excitement of giving his daughter the gift once he reached home.
“All through the journey, I had carried that little happiness with me: the thought of reaching home and handing over the gift to her. But because of my mistake, that small moment of joy looked like it would never happen. As a father, I felt disappointed that I could not give my daughter the gift I had bought for her,” Venkatesh said in a social media post.
With no clear idea of where the bag could have been left, he contacted the BMTC helpline.
BMTC helpline connects him with honest conductor
The helpline helped Venkatesh get in touch with conductor Mohammed Rafi Biradar.
By then, Biradar had already spotted the unattended handbag on the bus. Rather than leaving it behind or handing it over without checking, he secured the bag and tried to find a way to return it to its owner.
“When I spoke to him, he told me the bag was safe. He assured me that he would return it on his next trip. Those words gave me immense relief,” Venkatesh said.
What could have turned into a frustrating search for a lost bag suddenly had a reassuring ending.
Conductor returns handbag to Bengaluru man
Biradar kept his word and returned the handbag to Venkatesh at around noon on Thursday.
The return meant that Venkatesh not only got his belongings back but also recovered the book he had bought for Mahathi.
For the father, the incident became a reminder that the value of an object is not always about its price.
“The value of the things inside the bag can perhaps be measured in money. But the emotion behind that little book, the joy of a father wanting to surprise his daughter, is something beyond any value,” he said.
Inputs from TOI
