'Teenagers pushed my car to safety for Rs 200'
As I was driving from Sion towards Lalbaug to reach office, I saw endless traffic on the Matunga Flyover. After realising that it wasn't budging even an inch, I opted for an alternative and like many other motorists decided to drive from under the bridge.

It was an ill-thought-out move. In seconds, I was stuck in flood, with no space to take a U-turn. For the next 10 minutes, my car was immersed in knee-deep water. After struggling in traffic for half an hour, I reached the King’s Circle junction, where I spotted a group of 20 boys, mostly teenagers, offering to push vehicles out of the waterlogged area.

I was touched by their gesture, but before I could praise the city for its spirit, the youngsters quoted their price. With no other option, I had to take their help. After they pushed my car to a safe spot, I was poorer by Rs 200, having handed over damp Rs 50 notes to each of the four boys in exchange for their ‘help’. - Bhupen Patel Editor, Investigations