More Than a Delivery: A Zomato Rider’s Journey of Resilience and Redemption

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Reported by Nisha Shinde
Pune, 26th May 2025: In a world where customer complaints and app ratings often dominate the conversation around food delivery, one rider’s story has emerged as a powerful reminder of dignity, gratitude, and the human spirit.

Business coach Shripal Gandhi recently shared an emotional post on LinkedIn that has gone viral, highlighting an unforgettable encounter with a Zomato delivery rider. What began as a simple lunch order—a paneer tikka sandwich, Bingo chips, and oat raisin cookies—turned into a lesson in humility and resilience.
When Gandhi received his order from Subway, he immediately noticed that only the sandwich had arrived. He informed the delivery rider that the chips and cookies were missing. The rider, visibly nervous yet humble, responded, “Sir, please call the restaurant or Zomato.”

Gandhi reached out to Subway, which confirmed the error and offered ₹20 for the rider to return and collect the remaining items. But technically, riders are not obligated to go back unless directed by Zomato, as they are employed by the platform, not the restaurant.

But what happened next stunned Gandhi.
“Sir, it’s my responsibility. I want the customer to be happy,” the rider said, volunteering to return without any assurance of payment.
He came back smiling, carrying the missing items, and refused the ₹20 compensation. “God has given me so much. Why should I take this money for a mistake someone else made?”

Moved by the rider’s integrity, Gandhi asked about his story—and what unfolded was a tale of quiet courage.
Once a construction supervisor rising through the ranks at Shapoorji Pallonji, the rider earned ₹1.25 lakh per month. But a car accident left the left side of his body paralyzed, forcing him out of his job and into a long period of uncertainty.

“Zomato changed that,” he said. “They gave me a job. A chance. A purpose.”
Despite his disability, he delivers food with a smile, motivated not just by income but by his daughter’s dreams—she is studying dentistry. “Zomato kept my family alive,” he said. “I may be handicapped, but I’ve been given an opportunity.”

The man’s faith in Swami Samarth and his positive outlook left Gandhi with goosebumps. “He didn’t blame life. He didn’t complain. He didn’t give excuses,” he wrote. “Instead, he smiled and said, ‘God is with me. Why should I worry?’”

Gandhi’s post ended with a message to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal and his team: “You might not realize it, but your decision to hire persons with disabilities is changing lives in the most profound way.”

In a world increasingly driven by metrics and margins, this story is a heartfelt reminder: sometimes, it’s not the food but the faith, not the order but the ordeal, that truly nourishes us.