[img_assist|nid=460|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=200|height=152] A cleaner who found a lost wallet containing dhs55,000 in cash and returned it to its relieved owner has been praised for his heart-warming display of honesty.
Indian father-of-two Srinu Sarella, who earns dhs750 a month at Ajman City Centre mall, says it never even crossed his mind to keep the money, which equates to more than five times his annual salary, when he came across the wallet in the food court.
“Since I was a child, my parents taught me to be honest - that’s how I was brought up and that’s how I have always been,” he said.
In return for his good deed, the 29-year-old was given dhs500 by the wallet’s grateful Bahraini owner and dhs300 in vouchers by Ajman City Centre shopping mall.
Sarella, who is from the Andhra Pradesh region of India, left school at 12 to follow in his parents’ footsteps and become a farm labourer.
Before coming to Dubai and taking a job with cleaning firm CleanCo, he was tending paddy fields back home for the equivalent of dhs10 a day.
“I come from a poor background but even though I am poor and not really educated, my values are still strong,” he said. “I am not a greedy person and I am very grateful for my reward. I work ten hours a day here and I work hard - I only know how to work.”
Ajman City Centre general manager Jassim Al Khaja, applauded his employee and said he was already well known for his honesty.
“We are incredibly proud of our staff here at the mall,” he said.
“This isn’t the first occasion Srinu has found something in the mall’s food court. In the past he has returned items such as mobile phones and dropped wallets.”
The wallet’s owner, who was visiting Dubai from Bahrain, said he was “deeply touched” by Sarella’s integrity, although the pair never had the chance to meet.
Vidhi Khubchandani helps to run Dubai organisation YOU, which focuses on human kindness and encourages people to pass on good deeds.
She said: “What this man has done is just what we need more of in the world. By doing this, he has effectively tagged the owner of the wallet meaning that he should pass on the good deed and now do something for someone else.” Sarella, who has not been home to see his loved ones for two years plans to send his reward money back to his family.
Source: http://www.7days.ae/storydetails.php?id=77031&title=A%20cleaner%20conscience
poor man... he will always be poor