During my struggling days as youth when I was in search of a job, I used to go for walk in the evening hours from my house to the main bus station situated about 6 to 7 kms away and comeback home by bus. I love walking now also and that is time I use it for my resourceful thinking. The bus station was one of the busiest areas of the city and I cultivated the habit of observing people when I used to wait for the bus. Many times I used to hear the conversations also. One such day when I was waiting for the bus, I saw two small children perhaps between the ages of 3 to 4 years begging. There were two men standing nearby and discussing about buying a present for their boss on his birthday perhaps to please him. The boys came to them seeking help. Those two men sent them away scolding in some filthy language. They came to another person who seemed to be a chain smoker was smoking away to his glory unmindful of its impact on his health. He also send the kids away with abuses. I felt very bad and was thinking about the kids’ plight.
By that time they had approached me. I looked at them in their rags attire. I was emotionally stirred.
I asked them why they are begging. They said they and their mother did not have any food for last two days. Their father was no more and the mother used to do some odd jobs for their livelihood. She did not get any job for the previous two days. The kids did not go to school as they did not have the resources to go to school. I was moved. Considering my own struggle for existence, I was not in any position to help them also.
Those were the days when our country was having Re., Anna and pai-se. I had only 8 Annas with me to return by bus. At the same time I had the apprehension whether these kids were lying and utilise the money for smoking. I was in a dilemma as to help them or not. The predicament was that if the kids misuse the help, my assistance would be of no use and they continue their lying. If I do not help, I would have developed a guilt feeling which would linger for ever. I had to make a decision. I decided to take my chance and I gave them the only amount of 8 Annas I had and to observe what they do.
It is still lingering in my eyes the shine of the kids’ happiness in their faces and the glow of their joyful expressions on getting the money. They ran to the nearby petty shop and I could see them purchasing 6 bananas (a variety of big plantain sufficient to quench the hunger) and each kid ate one plantain each and then looked at me and what I could see in their face, the brightness, the look of gratitude and the smile of happiness and I don’t know how to express what I felt at that amazing moment that neither could be expressed nor could be suppressed. I visu-alised that one banana each for that day and another for the next day and the remaining two for their dear mother.
The feelings I underwent at that moment cannot be expressed in words but only can be experienced within. The ecstatic happiness and the delighted feelings find no bounds. I did not even felt that I was walking back to home. From experiences I find that many people who have the means to give, don’t give but many others who don’t have, are ready to give. That is an irony of human beings. That was long ago. I prayed God to give such moments again and again. God granted that payer many times to me.
THE GRETEST HAPPINESS AND FULFILMENT IS DERIVED OUT OF GIVING AND MORE THAN FROM TAKING.
What I did, is it right? TELL ME please.
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