Bhopal: Salman Khan, a vegetable vendor here, was taken aback when a Madhya Pradesh police vehicle approached him, and a familiar voice called his name. The caller was DSP Santosh Patel, who had been searching for Salman – a man who had once helped him during his challenging student days 14 years ago.
After years of searching, DSP Patel finally found Salman. Despite the passage of time and noticeable changes, such as weight loss, Patel immediately recognised him by a distinctive scar on his lips. As Salman saluted him, Patel smiled and asked, “Do you remember me?”
Without hesitation, Salman replied, “Yes, sir. I remember you well; you used to come to buy vegetables.” The two embraced, rekindling a bond formed years earlier when Salman’s kind gesture provided support to Patel during his financial struggles as an engineering student in Bhopal.
Patel, now posted in Behat division of Gwalior, shared his story with The Indian Express. He said, “I am the first among my 120 relatives in Panna to graduate, and the first in my family to become a police officer. I faced many hardships while pursuing my engineering degree in Bhopal and preparing for the MP Public Service Commission. There were days when I couldn’t even afford food. During those tough times, Salman generously gave me vegetables without expecting anything in return. He truly has a heart of gold.”
