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One Saturday morning, I joined my mum to the local market for our weekly produce shopping. Mum was still looking around when I volunteered to take the groceries back to the vehicle, which was stuffed into a little red trolley. It resembled a magical bag – rather compact, but it was surprising how much you could fit inside. Or so we thought.

With the cart heaving under the load of an already full load of groceries, my mum rested a box of sweet melons on top. She warned me to be cautious getting it back to the car.

All was proceeding smoothly as I made my way through the crowds of shoppers and out of the market. But as I was crossing the chaotically busy main intersection into the market, the trolley got stuck on the road divider in the middle of the road, and the crate of melons fell to the ground. They went flying, dramatically tumbling out towards passersby and waiting cars.

As the little walking man changed from green to stop, I was stunned, speechless, trying to process how I was going to collect the melons shooting in six different directions.

Suddenly, a band of several older women sprang to my assistance. Silver-haired, head scarves and one with a cane – they looked like they had stepped out of the same nesting doll. They didn't hesitate by the cars inching their way towards us. Utterly fearless, they just raised their hands to stop the vehicles, in each direction. They gathered all the melons for me, not missing a solitary melon, as I fixed the box to hold them.

I thanked them and they remained silent, just grinned and waved me farewell. I didn’t eat the melons – I was not particularly fond of honeydew melon – but I tell this story frequently because I adore it so much.

Can you recall the Nicest Thing a Stranger Has Ever Done for You?

From making your day to transforming your life, we want to hear about random meetings that have stuck with you.

Feel free to tell your story if you are 18 or over, without revealing your identity if you prefer.