Sometimes... When you are leaving in a hurry either for work, or to meet your friend, you always jump back to your room search your cupboard and desk, the bed, closet and what not! Just to make sure you don't forget to take the things which are necessary to be taken. Today was one such day for me.. Or rather a little different. I was all decked up in chudidar as I was going to visit the temple here in London. I wrap myself in my nice long sweater and again my duppata and just as I was about to leave, I had no clue why but, I walked back inside, opened my suitcase, stared for a moment not knowing why I even came there and took my favourite Pashmina shawl which I had purchased in Kashmir last year.
While I was sitting in the tube and opened my bag for something, I looked up at the shawl again and was wondering "Why did I even carry this along with me?" The weather was actually quiet pleasant that I didn't need my sweater too ! I though ok, I might need it for the night maybe since it gets colder then. It was fun and tiring day and as I was getting back home, I got down in my stop and as I was walking, I saw this really old man who looked like he has not had bath or shaved in weeks. He was standing right at the entrance of the station. I walked past him, crossed the road but I could not help noticing that he was throwing up blood and was shivering. People just looked at him disgusted and walked far off. That really ticked me off even more. I crossed the road and went back to him, gave him some water and I don't know how or why, I immediately just took my shawl from the bag and wrapped him in that. He was dehydrated, and starving. He just managed to smile weakly and said "No one has ever been so kind to me in a long time. Thank you miss. God bless you !" I just smiled back and believe it or not, I had my headphones on me still with the music playing and like how in movies, you get a BGM according to your situations, I had "Vellai Pookal" song playing all of a sudden. I just gave him whatever money I had in my pocket smiled again and walked back home with the song still playing. I felt so good and light suddenly. I never felt bad that I gave off the shawl that I loved the most. I realized, being good is commendable but only when it is combined with doing good, it is useful. What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
While I was sitting in the tube and opened my bag for something, I looked up at the shawl again and was wondering "Why did I even carry this along with me?" The weather was actually quiet pleasant that I didn't need my sweater too ! I though ok, I might need it for the night maybe since it gets colder then. It was fun and tiring day and as I was getting back home, I got down in my stop and as I was walking, I saw this really old man who looked like he has not had bath or shaved in weeks. He was standing right at the entrance of the station. I walked past him, crossed the road but I could not help noticing that he was throwing up blood and was shivering. People just looked at him disgusted and walked far off. That really ticked me off even more. I crossed the road and went back to him, gave him some water and I don't know how or why, I immediately just took my shawl from the bag and wrapped him in that. He was dehydrated, and starving. He just managed to smile weakly and said "No one has ever been so kind to me in a long time. Thank you miss. God bless you !" I just smiled back and believe it or not, I had my headphones on me still with the music playing and like how in movies, you get a BGM according to your situations, I had "Vellai Pookal" song playing all of a sudden. I just gave him whatever money I had in my pocket smiled again and walked back home with the song still playing. I felt so good and light suddenly. I never felt bad that I gave off the shawl that I loved the most. I realized, being good is commendable but only when it is combined with doing good, it is useful. What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
