Archive · 27 Jan 2026
Flight Kindness Leads to Second Family
Raj Dabre, a scientist from Google, was on a flight from Japan to India in 2019.
He was feeling sick and had a bad cough.
He sat next to an elderly Japanese couple who were having trouble with the flight's entertainment system.
Raj, who speaks Japanese, helped them.
They started talking and found out they lived near each other in Japan.
The couple invited Raj to their home, and they became very close.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple supported Raj.
In 2023, the Japanese 'father' even traveled to India to be a witness at Raj's wedding.
Raj shared this heartwarming story on social media, showing how a small act of kindness can lead to a lifelong bond.
Raj Dabre helped an elderly Japanese couple on a flight from Japan to India in 2019.
The couple lived near Dabre's home in Japan, leading to frequent visits and a deep bond.
The couple supported Dabre during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping him through isolation.
In 2023, the Japanese 'father' traveled to India to be a witness at Dabre's wedding.
Dabre shared the story on social media, highlighting the impact of a small act of kindness.
- Who
- Raj Dabre, a Senior Research Scientist at Google Research Australia, and an elderly Japanese couple
- What
- A lifelong bond formed after Dabre helped the couple on a flight, leading to a second family
- When
- The initial interaction occurred in 2019, with the relationship continuing until at least 2023
- Where
- The flight was from Japan to India, and the couple lived near Dabre's home in Japan
- Why
- Dabre's act of kindness and fluency in Japanese led to a deep connection with the couple
- Raj Dabre
- Senior Research Scientist at Google Research Australia
- Year of the Flight
- 2019
- Couple's Location
- 20-minute bike ride from Dabre's home in Japan
- Pandemic Support
- Couple supported Dabre during COVID-19 isolation
- Wedding Witness
- Japanese 'father' attended Dabre's wedding in 2023
- Social Media Post
- Dabre shared the story on X in 2026
