Life is unfair:
We met this man on a wheel chair
outside Pizza By the Bay, Marine Drive, Mumbai once. I don’t know what
stuck and my husband talked to him. He would be in his 40s, and my husband talked
to him about what happened to him.
He used to work in railways and
pointed towards the Church gate Station saying, "I used to work there." One day while coming back, I fell from the train, and lost my feet." We asked
him, “What are you doing in Mumbai, why don’t you go back to your hometown.
Your wife and kids will take care of you.” He said, “I don’t want to increase
their burden, if I am there they will all look after me and forget that they
have a life. I roam on this vehicle, I try and beg and make some money. I don't like begging, my family also doesn't know that I do this here. I feel ashamed too that I had a good job and here I am on this wheel chair”
My husband had tears in his eyes
and gave him Rs 500. We suggested how he could load a few packets of
wafers, water bottles, beverages etc in the storage of his vehicle and instead
of begging, start selling them to the people who sit for long hours at Marine
Drive. My Husband also gave him his phone no. saying he should call him
whenever needed. He hugged him and we left. You won’t believe a few weeks later
that guy rang my husband and thanked him for spending time with him.
There are so many people like
this man, who beg as they go through a phase which makes them give
up on life and feel life has been unfair to them. All they need is a little
push and motivation.
It was a lovely and cool Sunday
evening, a few months back and time for us to visit our relatives in Bandra.
My husband and I got ready for
the evening. There were plans ahead; we had planned for a nice family dinner
and a few games of UNO with my niece.
We were in an auto and were about
to reach the place as we took a left turn from the Turner road signal. I
happened to spot an old beggar; he was really dirty, covered in some odd stuff
and carried a big jhola full of some
trash. It was for a few seconds that I saw that old man, he would easily be 75+,
had a bent back, sunken cheeks and a lean body.
Those few seconds left me thinking, I had tears in my eyes. That was the moment of realisation! How blessed we
are and how we crib and complain about every small thing in life. It’s not that
I hadn't seen a beggar before this, but this was someone my grandfather’s age.
At an age when we ensure our parents and grandparents get the best in life and
are away from sorrows and troubles, this man was living on trash.
I also know feeling sad will not
change his fortune immediately and I was in an auto and in a few seconds the
man was gone. The impression that had on me, however, will last for life.
A little request to everyone who
reads this- giving money to these beggars will probably solve their problem temporarily;
they may buy one meal and then end up begging for the second meal. Most of
these will not even keep anything with them and may pass that to someone
running this racket, but somehow, we should help the needy. I don’t say that all beggars
are needy, some may be fooling around. But trust your heart to tell you, who needs
your help.
We end up spending a 1000 bucks
on a movie evening easily. Sparing 50 bucks for the needy will not make you poor;
it may light up someone’s house. Don’t give money, hug someone someday and I am
sure that person will only thank you his entire life. Buy food for the hungry, teach
the children you find on the signal. Talk to them and don’t shoo them the
moment they come near you. When you are catching up with your friends or celebrating
your birthday, buy the kids a Mc Donalds’ burger and a coke. Trust me; they
will thank you with that million dollar brightness in their eyes. Look at the
irony, we feel, Oh not again! Mc Donalds, and these kids feel, Oh My God! Am I
really having this burger I have always only seen on the window.
This is our country, let’s make
it beautiful. Let’s contribute. Let’s touch atleast one life.
