I felt so guilty for saying no to a lady who ringed my bell just ten minutes back.
She asked me if I needed some pads, when I said no she asked if I needed some lipsticks. My voice raised a bit and I said no I do not want it. Please go.
And then my heart just sank. I saw the lady returning , she had a slight limp, the way arthritis makes older people walk. The lady was about fifty five I noticed. My immediate thought was why is she doing it? She could have done something better. In a better way probably. She is carrying a large bag on the shoulder one side and a hand held jhola in the other hand, probably lipsticks. Henna dyed hair and empty large eyes.
Voice was very polite. Beta pads chahiye?
A no and then a stronger no from this door...please aap jayiye...
I felt the sinking some more. A thought came she might be hired from someone to market these products. Or she might be buying these from some wholesale market and selling to meet ends. I was thinking why some people keep struggling this way while some others make money almost instantly. Why there seems to be no rhyme in such comparisons.
May be this is her time to learn more about the world.
Or there is a realisation she still is deprived of.
Or a reality she has been in denial of.
I just prayed for her to find a new way to reach where she wants to.
She asked me if I needed some pads, when I said no she asked if I needed some lipsticks. My voice raised a bit and I said no I do not want it. Please go.
And then my heart just sank. I saw the lady returning , she had a slight limp, the way arthritis makes older people walk. The lady was about fifty five I noticed. My immediate thought was why is she doing it? She could have done something better. In a better way probably. She is carrying a large bag on the shoulder one side and a hand held jhola in the other hand, probably lipsticks. Henna dyed hair and empty large eyes.
Voice was very polite. Beta pads chahiye?
A no and then a stronger no from this door...please aap jayiye...
I felt the sinking some more. A thought came she might be hired from someone to market these products. Or she might be buying these from some wholesale market and selling to meet ends. I was thinking why some people keep struggling this way while some others make money almost instantly. Why there seems to be no rhyme in such comparisons.
May be this is her time to learn more about the world.
Or there is a realisation she still is deprived of.
Or a reality she has been in denial of.
I just prayed for her to find a new way to reach where she wants to.
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Came here probably after a long time Sangeeta..and this post touched me..the lady in this post is brave enough to meet challenges in her life and in her own way..I would say it's far better to help them in any way rather than spending on holy rituals or those sho/sha things we call luxury..but then again question will be to how many? hugs and smiles
ReplyDeleteYes Jaya...I consoled myself with this thought only. How many of them can be helped? They need to work for it and get out of it. All of them. We all work for our small happy moments too. One or the other way.
DeleteAlms do not change destiny, determination does, realisations do.
this why does not have any answer I guess. but I wish life had been a little easier for all elderly persons. hate seeing people spending millions on pujas and some show offs. I even hate to donate to such occassions.
ReplyDeleteOh yes..Even I hate when people spend lakhs on pujas and all. I have someone in the extended family.
Delete:|
ReplyDeleteLife is funny as they say .. some have the whole world and some nothing at all.. I guess gods way of keeping balance
ReplyDeletecant answer your questions ..
Those who have money to burn they od all these stupid things
Bikram's
Isn't it quite easy empathise with others if one could just pause a while, notice them and give them a moment of thought. But you know that as well as I do that if you had bought stuff from this lady out of sympathy would not have solved her problems at all. It might have given her a temporary respite, but that definitely was not the solution. But I believe we can and must always be kind to others, for everyone we meet is fighting a hard battle with life.
ReplyDeleteYes Amrita...being kind to such people is the only thing we can do. And being kind doesn't mean giving them alms. May be supporting them whenever they are ready for a positive change...
DeleteIt is indeed very touching, when we see the world around us, at times we feel so helpless.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed touched my soul, when we see the world around us, at times we feel so helpless......
ReplyDelete"May be this is her time to learn more about the world.
ReplyDeleteOr there is a realisation she still is deprived of.
Or a reality she has been in denial of.
I just prayed for her to find a new way to reach where she wants to."
Realisation............. teaches us a lot. Which doesnt come easily. I feel if we can accept the reality then it will be easier to realise. Are you u sure she wants to really reach somewhere in life????
Well am not talking abt this lady in particular , its generic.