Amidst heavy rain during and following a funeral prayer of the mother of my friend, the scene outside the mosque was a flurry of people hastily exiting to catch their rides. While others rushed, I opted to wait until the rain subsided. Spotting what seemed to be an available taxi, I hailed it and explained to the driver that I needed to retrieve my keys across the road before heading home. He kindly agreed.

Starting my journey from Hulhumale’, I knew the ride would take some time, so I initiated a conversation with the driver about the inclement weather. Eventually, I inquired about a money transfer, to which he amiably consented. Recounting my plight of being caught in the unrelenting rain from evening until dawn, the darkness lingered due to the heavy clouds and rainfall.

 As we traversed onto the China-Maldives Friendship bridge, I reached for my phone to arrange the payment. The driver handed me a laminated sheet with the account details and a mobile number for the bank receipt. Upon entering the account number, I noticed it was under a woman's name and asked if this was the correct recipient. The driver reassured me it was his wife's account and that sending the receipt wasn't necessary, trusting that I would deposit the fare honestly.

 Curious about the fare, I queried the driver, who stated it was 85/-, the government-regulated rate, explicitly mentioning that he never demanded more. I explained that other drivers usually asked for 100/-, so that exceeds the government rate. He emphasized his contentment with his earnings, dispelling the misconception that driving yields meager income.

 Six years ago, he ventured into driving to support his child's medical education in the Philippines pursuing an MBBS. With an initial investment of MVR140,000 in the car I was currently a passenger in, he tirelessly worked to finance his child's studies, as the sum given directly wouldn't have sufficed for tuition fees. His commitment amounted to an annual tuition fee of MVR185,000 and a monthly stipend of MVR12336, requiring him to earn approximately MVR950 daily to cover these expenses.

 In an astonishing revelation, he mentioned contributing an additional 300,000 towards another child's down payment for an apartment over the past six years. His unwavering dedication and sacrifice for his children left me deeply admiring this unsung hero, a story I've since shared with friends.

 These individuals, everyday heroes in our society, continue to achieve remarkable feats without succumbing to despair, taking pride in their work while respecting rules and regulations set by authorities.