It was around 7 in the evening. I was travelling with my daughters in the car, and my driver was at the wheel. Just as we stopped at a red light, a loud bang startled us. A middle-aged woman on a two-wheeler had lost her balance and hit the rear end of our car.

My driver quickly got down and began yelling at her, demanding she pay for the dent. The argument escalated. Sitting inside, I felt his reaction was disproportionate. I paused and imagined myself in her place, 7 p.m., heavy traffic, probably just finished a long workday, rushing home to be with her children, cook dinner, help with homework, and juggle all the responsibilities waiting for her. I saw the fear and stress on her face, it was clear she didn’t mean to hit our car.

I stepped out and approached her. My driver pointed out that I was the car’s owner. She had already called her husband and was visibly shaken. But when I asked her, “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” her tone shifted immediately. She replied, “No, I’m fine. I saw the children in the car. Are they alright?”

That’s when I felt a deep sense of connection. I was just glad she was safe and could go home to her kids. Yes, there was a dent on the car. But it’s just money—we can earn it back. What truly matters is this moment of human concern, the instinct to care for each other, which we’re slowly losing in our fast-paced, materialistic world.

Minor accidents have become so common. But the word accident itself means it wasn’t intentional. When neither person deliberately caused harm, why do we react with so much anger, screaming, abusing, and degrading ourselves in public?

Let’s be real. If the other person is truly responsible and conscious, they’ll pay for the damage, with or without a shouting match. And if not, no amount of yelling or obscene gestures will force it. All we end up doing is spoiling our own mood, increasing stress for ourselves and others stuck in traffic, and draining everyone’s energy.

Why leave with both a dented vehicle and a dented heart? Take a moment. Breathe. Respond. Think before you react. 

What small changes can you make in your daily life to respond more patiently and thoughtfully when things go wrong?