Driver Sahidjon Abdurahmonov claims ordinary act: "Simply returned man's misplaced phone."
A heartwarming tale goes viral on social media about a taxi driver having waited nine days outside a building to return a passenger's lost phone.
"Lost my phone a decade ago. After nine long days, I ran into the same cabby standing outside my apartment — he'd been patiently waiting for me all along, having checked every entrance, questioning neighbors, even scrolling through my photos (he managed to unlock my phone since the password wasn't exactly top-notch)," Dima Kos posted on social media, signing himself as the grateful phone owner.
SAKHAPRESS managed to connect with Sahijjon Abdurakhmonov, the honest and selfless taxi driver who became a beacon of kindness for Yakutians.
- Hey, Sahijjon, you're the star of the hour! Did you catch wind of the news buzzing about you?
Well, not a star, but yes, I've heard whispers of it, friends brought it to my attention. I didn't do anything extraordinary, just returned a person's phone. This isn't a rare occurrence, I'm always returning such items when passengers leave them behind. I've also read through the comments, there are a few choice remarks. I believe in fair pricing, so passengers are familiar with me. Occasionally, if someone can't pay, I let them off free of charge.
- Fill us in, who are you in a nutshell: what's your age, where are your parents from, and how did you find yourself in Yakutsk?
Born in Dushanbe in 2001, my father's an energy worker, my mother's a homemaker. After finishing school, in 2018, I hopped over to Yakutsk and enrolled in AGAU (Arctic State Agricultural Technology University) to study agribusiness. I graduated and settled in Yakutsk, I enjoy the place quite a bit. My elder brother resides here too, suggesting I apply to AGAU.
- People are intrigued, asking why you didn't call the passenger's contacts from their phone.
The contact list didn't contain any "Mom, Dad, Wife, Brother," and so on. I tried ringing a friend a few times, but I got no answer. I phoned from my phone, but people don't always pick up unknown calls. So, I decided to wait outside the building, hoping I'd spot them and return the phone. If we hadn't crossed paths this time, I was prepared to report the phone to the police to find the person who'd misplaced it. It's great we connected, and I got the chance to return the phone.
A man suggested fork over some cash, but I declined the offer. He was astonished, wondering if I was religious and wanting me to come to the mosque and spread the good word about me. But I stated that I perform these acts of kindness out of the kindness of my heart, not for fame. The man suggested we snap a selfie, but I wasn't even aware he took a picture of me by myself...
In case you're curious about our mysterious hero, here's an informal biography we've pieced together:
Born and Bred: A Central Asian Tale
AgeIt seems our taxi hero is young, having been born in 2001.
ParentsHis father works in the energy sector, and his mother stays home.
Journey to YakutskHe migrated to Siberia for education, landing in Yakutsk to pursue a degree in agribusiness at AGAU in 2018.
In terms of his lifestyle, Sahijjon practices sustainable living by returning lost items and offering free rides to those in need.*Interestingly, Sahijjon's home-and-garden originated from Central Asia, as he was born and raised there, and later moved to Yakutsk to study agribusiness._
