By Dipti Sonawala / Mid-Day

Mumbai, Apr 18: Six-year-old Arvind Nadar can justifiably be proud of himself. The boy showed unusual presence of mind, held on to a two-year-old friend Rivaldo Fernandes, who was falling off a balcony and thereby saved his life.

But he brushes off the praise being showered on him by relatives and neighbours with a matter-of-fact, “Rivaldo is my best friend. How could I let him fall?”

Cartoonist Satish Acharya's impression of what happened

On April 13, Arvind, a Class I student of Carmel Convent School, was playing with Rivaldo at his Kolshet apartment, Thane.

Recalls Arvind, “We were playing in the balcony on the 1st floor. After some time, Rivaldo went to sit on the parapet, but he lost his balance and was about to fall off the ledge. I rushed towards him and managed to grab his wrist.”

The brave boy then tried to pull Rivaldo, but when he found he didn’t have enough strength, he cried out for help. However, there was no one at home to help him. Suddenly Vinod Jingare, a worker at the nearby Mohit Printing Press, heard his cries and rushed to the spot.

Arvind Nadar (right) and Rivaldo Fernandes

Unbelievable sight

Said Jingare, “I could not believe what I saw. Rivaldo was dangling in the air and Arvind was holding on to his wrist tightly.” Jingare ran up to the balcony and pulled Rivaldo over.

Cradling Arvind close, his mother Maheshwari said, “I am so proud of my son. What he did was unbelievable!” Rivaldo’s father Carlos added, “In such instances, even adults don’t know what to do. Arvind has shown great courage and presence of mind. I am really grateful to him.”
 
Who? Six-year-old Arvind Nadar
What? Saved two-year-old neighbour Rivaldo Fernandes
Where? Kolshet village, Thane
How? Held on to Rivaldo’s wrist, when the boy fell off balcony