“What was that noise?” she asked sounding distressed. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing” he said. She was right to be worried. They were returning from Hampi to Goa in India on a Royal Enfield motorbike. In the middle of Anshi National Park they had run out of petrol. Earlier in the day the couple had set off on the 340km journey to Goa. They rode stretches of farmland, separated by towns, where locals smiled and waved at them as they passed through. Numerous petrol stations flashed by. However, these went unnoticed by the travelling couple. “Which way now?” he asked at a crossroad. “Follow that sign into the nature reserve” she instructed. Farmland and towns became forgotten, as the dry woodland ahead grew denser. They cruised along, veering around sunbathing monkeys and passing the occasional freight truck. The couple relished the peace and tranquility after earlier navigating the hectic towns. Suddenly the bike started to choke, like it was starved of all its energy. The couple jumped off the bike to change over to the reserve tank. It too was empty. All kinds of different scenarios start running through their heads. What if we get bitten by snakes? What time does it get dark? Our phones don’t work! The map shows an unfenced tiger reserve within the park! Once their initial panic has passed, they glanced at each other, searching for clues on their state of mind and perhaps a way out of this. Then in unison, they each cracked a big cheeky grin. Followed by synchronized up and down waggling of the eyebrows to suggest, “are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Luckily they had summited the largest hills in the nature reserve, so it looked like the road was mostly downhill back to the coast. Without hesitation they both jumped back onto the bike, clunked it into neutral, and made a running start. They silently glided down the hills. With speed building, so did their confidence. Soon they were passing trucks, cars and even other bikes. The gravity fuelled party was suddenly hushed when a long and steep incline appeared in the distance. Immediately the pair hunkered down low together. Dry eyes squinted into the oncoming wind, necks retracted into tense shoulders, and legs tightly hugged around the bike. They resisted gut instincts to brake. The bike bounced violently as they swept through the bottom of the hill at speed, and immediately began rocketing up the opposing incline. The gentle rhythm of the turning bike tyres became slow and laboured, and the whistling wind became softer. Then all fell silent as they breezed to a stop. With defeat settling in, they started to push the bike up hill. The unrelenting heat surrounding them. They trudged on, hoping for any little slice of civilization where they might get petrol or at least water. After an hour of little gains, what seemed like an angel appeared on a bike heading toward them. He pulled over close to the exhausted couple and dismounted his bike. Without a word or a passing judgement, he darted off into the roadside forest. “What’s going on?” She whispered to him. “I’m not sure” he mumbled back. The angel appeared from the woods holding a plastic bottle, walked to his bike and got out a worn orange hose. He unscrewed his petrol cap, inserted the hose and started siphoning petrol into the bottle. While the angel worked the couple got a better look at their rescuer. A scrawny man in his thirties. Dressed in oversized shorts finishing at the shins, a holey shirt and dusty flip flops. After a few minutes he offered up a full bottle of petrol with a huge smile. The couple turned to rummage in their bag to retrieve some rupees. With their backs turned the angel ignited his bike. “Heeeeey, wait… please!!” the couple yelled. Urgently pacing toward the angel, leading with an outstretched arm and a fistful of cash. The angel raised a down turned hand, dismissively waving it from side to side. With one last smile he accelerated off, quickly fading into the distance. The angel would never realise the impact his kindness would have on these travellers.