A Story of Retrieval

Have you ever lost something only to rediscover it later, in an unexpected place? I just did—but not in the way you’d think.

It was Thursday afternoon, and after the students finished their assessments, I began the task of grading. Unfortunately, some interruptions kept me from finishing, so I decided to take the work home. As I left the teacher’s lounge, I had my paraphernalias: test papers and materials in hand. I exchanged a few quick words with colleagues, sharing a lighthearted moment as we wrapped up the day. I hopped into my Rickshaw “tuktuk” GRAB ride and headed straight for a discount store. I was unaware that what I’d be searching for would soon find me in the most unexpected of places.

As I stepped into the store, a huge sign boasting “70% OFF” greeted me, sparking an immediate sense of excitement. I wandered through the aisles, and slowly paced myself. I walked lightly. I carefully examined each shoe design. I scrutinized every sole, every shade, and every detail of dri-fit shirts and shorts. After some time, I had selected five pairs that I was eager to try on. Once I slipped into the fitting room and found my perfect picks, I was ready to check out. But just as I reached for my wallet, a sudden realization hit me. I no longer had the green sleeve containing the assessment papers. Panic set in.

I quickly made my way to the counter. I bought only one of the five items I’d tried on. Then, I rushed to catch a ride home. Once I was safely in my seat, I checked my ride details. I reported the lost item through the GRAB Help Center. To my dismay, their reply came within minutes: the item could not be located.

I sat down and retraced my steps, trying to remember where I’d been before hopping into the ride. Slowly, it hit me. I had spent a few minutes sitting on a bench outside. I was chatting with a colleague before leaving the school. Relief washed over me. “Great! It’s still at school,” I thought. With that reassurance, I allowed myself to relax and, quite literally, slept on it.

The next morning, I took immediate action. I reached out to the information office first. Then, I contacted the teacher assistant for help. As I began my class, I couldn’t shake the anxiety, constantly wondering when—or if—the green sleeve would be found. An hour later, I received the dreaded notification: it wasn’t in the lost and found. I was then advised to check the CCTV footage in the afternoon, but the thought only made my stomach churn. I was anxious, irritated, and deeply frustrated with myself. I struggled to focus on teaching, my mind racing, until lunch break finally came.

I rushed to the information center, sifted through the lost-and-found items, but my green sleeve was nowhere to be found. Now, my emotions were spiraling out of control—frustration building, tension mounting. I felt completely helpless. What would I tell my students? How could I possibly grade their assessments now? What would my colleagues think of me? The weight of it all was almost unbearable.

With the noise in my head growing louder, I decided to reach out to the team leader for assistance. Upon hearing my concern, he immediately contacted all the relevant departments who might have come across the green sleeve. After class, I was directed to the CCTV station to review the footage. The footage confirmed what I had feared. It showed that I had the sleeve with me all the way until I left the school. It hadn’t been misplaced on campus.

I felt humbled by the way everyone rallied together. Despite the frustrating outcome, they searched tirelessly for such a small, yet important item. It was clear that they understood the significance of those assessment papers. I couldn’t help but feel impressed by the teamwork and coordination that followed, a quiet but powerful display of camaraderie.

The green sleeve was obviously not at school. So, I headed straight to the discount store where I had been the day before. They told me they hadn’t seen it, and I immediately felt the need to visit the GRAB office. When I arrived, I was given a number and directed to a cubicle where a representative was waiting. I started by saying, “I reported a lost item yesterday, and you told me it wasn’t found. But after reviewing the CCTV footage, I’m certain I left it in the tuktuk.”

The representative checked the ride details and glanced through some files before telling me there was nothing. He suggested I file a police report, at which point I couldn’t help but smirk. He seemed surprised, so I repeated, “I saw the CCTV. I definitely left it in the tuktuk.”

He paused and said, “We, at GRAB, can’t locate it. If you believe you left it in the tuktuk, filing a police report is the next step. Then we’ll work together.”

I took a deep breath and said firmly, “Okay, thank you.” Without saying anything more, I left the building and caught a ride home.

Sitting in the ride home, I couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration building inside me. As calming music played in the background, I tried to hold it together, but my patience was wearing thin. I was on the verge of losing my cool, my thoughts clouded by the mounting stress. I had already informed the people close to me about the unfortunate situation. I pitied myself for being forgetful. I wished I had been more alert. I was hungry and tired. I felt overwhelmed. I found myself lost in a monologue in my mind: “I guess this is how this week ends. How can I face my students after all this?”

Just as I wallowed in my thoughts, my phone rang. It was the GRAB Office. To my surprise, the driver had found the item. They gave me his phone number, and just like that, a new chapter to the story began to unfold.

It was truly frustrating to learn that the driver had lied. It seemed like he might have realized I was preparing to file a police report, and suddenly, their story changed. Several people helped me communicate in the local language. Through a series of phone calls, I was finally able to track down the green sleeve.

I arranged for a delivery to pick it up, even though it was 5 km away from my house. Of course, I had to pay extra for the driver to return it—oh, the nerve of it!

Eventually, I got my green sleeve back, and I no longer had to worry about others thinking I was careless. All said and done, I spent a total of $20 on the rides, tips, and delivery fee. While it may seem cheap in the context of Asian prices, retrieving a lost item usually costs less than $10.

In the end, I was deeply humbled by all the help and support I received from those around me. People had invested their time and effort. They even spent money on phone bills. Many made multiple calls to persuade the driver to return the item. When I finally got the green sleeve back, I felt a sense of victory.

Though it was just a small, simple item, the journey to retrieve it felt extraordinary. I realized that when you persist in your search, determination can uncover lost things. It doesn’t matter how deeply something is hidden or how faint the clues may seem. These are like treasures waiting to be discovered after lying dormant for so long.