A CCIE’s Rescue Story by Eman

Often I hear about CCIEs who are trying to make a difference. It’s true that most CCIEs are in a higher income bracket after earning their certification, so some immerse themselves in what appears to be pure self indulgence. Some reach out to their peers mentoring the next generation of Network engineers, some get active sharing their experience on-line in various forums spending literally hours a day matching wits with their virtual peers. Then others get involved in their community but this just covers options the CCIEs have looked for. What about the opportunities to help others that seek you out?

Has turning away from people in obvious need become a part of our daily lives?

I really find the lyrics of this Pink Floyd song say this better than I can; (yeah I used it before)

On the turning away
from the pale and downtrodden
and the words they say
which we won't understand
"don't accept that what's happening
is just a case of others' suffering
or you'll find that you're joining in
the turning away"

I was recently privileged to have this story shared with me by a CCIE that I know was personally struggling professionally during the time he gave of himself to help another. I will admit I find it hard to turn away from someone in need. Our family was poor when I was a child and growing up through my teenage years I felt the sting of going without a lot of things. So when I see young people working to improve their situations and their futures I try to lend a kind word or advice and give up time on the phone as needed. In this case two young people in India my CCIE friend and his girl friend rose to the occasion.

They live next door to a family that owns a palatial home where they live with several daughters and a few other family members. The family was never friendly with them so they had no interactions with them except to say hello if they crossed paths in the street or shopping. The family had raised several successful children who have grown and moved to other cities. There was a servant girl who they would see occasionally when she was sent on errands or when she was in the yard. They had seen her often enough to recognize her and would say hello whenever they did see her. They did try to speak with her just to make casual conversation a few times and she reacted as if she was afraid and mumbled responses as she would walk away. One day this girl came running to them as they were sitting on their balcony having tea. She was clutching a newspaper in her hand and crying. The family who she worked for had gone on a trip so she was left alone in the home. They invited her to have tea and she told them her story. She was the daughter of a military officer in India she had two sisters and their family was happy until her mother died of TB. Her father remarried and when he went back to his military obligations the step mother and step sisters were left in the home. Her older sisters had been married off leaving her to be treated like a servant to her step mother and sisters. Her life was very bad and included physically abusive treatment, her schooling was canceled and her outlook was very bleak. She was very depressed and decided to run away. She ended up at the house she worked in and her life became much worse than it had been before. Basically she had lept from the pan into the fire. For seven and a half years she was subjected to slavery, working without pay and her few possessions were taken from her. She was living a nightmare and was kept in such a strict life she could not communicate with the outside world or her family. She was threatened with police arrest if she did not cooperate and because she was so young she really believed she was living outside the law. What had finally pushed her over the edge was the article in th newspaper she had with her. In it she learned that her village had flooded and many people had died as a result. The family had teased her about her concern and told her that her family had been wiped out. She was so desperate to get away from the family keeping her as a slave she reached out to the couple for help.

Thus started the story of their rescue.

They were worried about getting involved in what was sure to become a drama and in the end decided helping the girl was the right thing to do. So they had to work secretly and began planning the rescue plotting the escape. They exchanged notes with her when she was on shopping trips and were on track to help her. Then one day the brutality in the home was more than she could take any longer. They asked her to pack a few things and to come hide in their apartment. They began calling around until they were able to locate her real sisters. After a few days of keeping her hidden the neighbors began making a lot of noise about looking for their slave. They were not concerned for her wellbeing only that her work was not being done anymore.

After several days in hiding our heroes generously provided their runaway with a cell phone and a train ticket to one of her sisters’ homes. They were happily surprised by a call from her telling them how happy she was to be with her family again. She was received with open arms and love from the father she had lost and the sisters she had missed for so long.

Soon after this episode our heroes were living in a nightmare of despair and bad luck. Their family had suddenly ended up under a dark cloud. Arguments, health and life had become very troubling. They were so sure they were under a curse they called for an expert to help them. This visitor detected the presence of a curse and removed the curse returning the family back into better times. They were told the family who had lost their slave was responsible and to watchout for them.

They still know they did the right thing in helping the runaway with getting her life back together. They remain horrified that such a thing could happen in their own neighborhood. They are certain that as long as people are willing to help each other there is a chance.

So don’t turn your back on people in need sometimes you can make a difference. Don’t be part of the turning away!

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