<p>My wife often wonders how I manage to strike up conversations with strangers and form personal bonds with them.</p>.<p>We were in Hubballi for a wedding, and my wife was engaged in conversation with a young man, Sunny, who was updating her on our local transportation arrangements. Dressed in a black uniform, Sunny efficiently handled all our transportation needs throughout our visit. Like a junior reporting to his boss, he provided a running commentary about the pickup from the station and the drop-off at the hotel. He was waiting for us in the hotel lobby, dressed in a black uniform that I assumed belonged to the wedding planning team.</p>.<p>On the day of our departure, a vehicle was waiting for us, but there was no sign of Sunny. He appeared halfway through, explaining that he wanted to help us with our luggage and then catch a train to Gadag to visit his grandmother.</p>.<p>As we chatted, I learned that Sunny comes from a Protestant family. His father works as a KSRTC bus conductor and runs a small establishment in Hubballi. Sunny’s passion for music led him to learn several instruments, with the guitar being his favourite. He dreamed of forming a band, but his father had other plans-- education and a stable job. So Sunny completed a diploma in mechanical engineering, but his heart remained in music.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After finishing his diploma, he lost his way, running away from home and struggling with his life choices. Fortunately, his elder brother, a pastor, encouraged him to study for his religious orders in a seminary. Sunny is now just a year away from completing his course and will soon be posted to a church where he can conduct services in Kannada, English, and Hindi.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During his time at the seminary, Sunny also found love and plans to marry his girlfriend after graduating. He now uses his musical talents solely for his religious calling. His brother helped him secure a temporary job with the wedding planner to earn some money.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At the station, Sunny carried our bags to the platform. My wife suggested we tip him for all his help. As he bid us goodbye and hurried off to catch his train, I gave him Rs 500 and asked him to donate it to his church. My wife and I were strolling around the platform when Sunny returned, panting from running. With our permission, he wanted to say a short prayer of thanksgiving. Closing his eyes and holding his palms together, he intoned words of gratitude in a soft voice for about a minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">I shared with him that the only prayer I knew completely was the “Our Father”, and Sunny joined in with me and then hurried back to his platform.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the brief 40 minutes I spent with Sunny, it felt as if I had known him for a lifetime. Sunny is just 27 years old.</p>
<p>My wife often wonders how I manage to strike up conversations with strangers and form personal bonds with them.</p>.<p>We were in Hubballi for a wedding, and my wife was engaged in conversation with a young man, Sunny, who was updating her on our local transportation arrangements. Dressed in a black uniform, Sunny efficiently handled all our transportation needs throughout our visit. Like a junior reporting to his boss, he provided a running commentary about the pickup from the station and the drop-off at the hotel. He was waiting for us in the hotel lobby, dressed in a black uniform that I assumed belonged to the wedding planning team.</p>.<p>On the day of our departure, a vehicle was waiting for us, but there was no sign of Sunny. He appeared halfway through, explaining that he wanted to help us with our luggage and then catch a train to Gadag to visit his grandmother.</p>.<p>As we chatted, I learned that Sunny comes from a Protestant family. His father works as a KSRTC bus conductor and runs a small establishment in Hubballi. Sunny’s passion for music led him to learn several instruments, with the guitar being his favourite. He dreamed of forming a band, but his father had other plans-- education and a stable job. So Sunny completed a diploma in mechanical engineering, but his heart remained in music.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After finishing his diploma, he lost his way, running away from home and struggling with his life choices. Fortunately, his elder brother, a pastor, encouraged him to study for his religious orders in a seminary. Sunny is now just a year away from completing his course and will soon be posted to a church where he can conduct services in Kannada, English, and Hindi.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During his time at the seminary, Sunny also found love and plans to marry his girlfriend after graduating. He now uses his musical talents solely for his religious calling. His brother helped him secure a temporary job with the wedding planner to earn some money.</p>.<p class="bodytext">At the station, Sunny carried our bags to the platform. My wife suggested we tip him for all his help. As he bid us goodbye and hurried off to catch his train, I gave him Rs 500 and asked him to donate it to his church. My wife and I were strolling around the platform when Sunny returned, panting from running. With our permission, he wanted to say a short prayer of thanksgiving. Closing his eyes and holding his palms together, he intoned words of gratitude in a soft voice for about a minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">I shared with him that the only prayer I knew completely was the “Our Father”, and Sunny joined in with me and then hurried back to his platform.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the brief 40 minutes I spent with Sunny, it felt as if I had known him for a lifetime. Sunny is just 27 years old.</p>
