Everyone deserves some "Change"

Image Courtsy

Today, I sold my guilt and 5 bucks for some perspective in return. Truth is, it happens everyday of my life; it's just that today is "Sunday" and it's a day of realizations.

I was sick of drab and lull air that engulfed my "living room". And though usually I overcome my athletic inclinations of any kind very quickly with inherent laziness; for a change I decided to go along with it today. I'm not a man of plan who believes in contemplations and contrived actions; so it wasn't a surprise when I started off in my car without any clue about my destination.

Idea was to feel some fresh air and lighten up my spirit with serene view. Unfortunate as it is; such a sight is an uncommon experience in a city I live in; so I just chose to move along with traffic.

I usually drive with windows down; as nothing feels better than a gush of cool breeze on face ruffling your hair and mellow music in background strumming on the strings from the past in your head. But in certain areas of city; pollution and smoke level is unbearable; owing to stagnant traffic and obstinate morons who refuse to kill the revving engines on red lights. So when I reached one such junction; I wondered how does a Traffic Cop survives intense pollution throughout the day. How does he ensures that while he is trying to do a public service (irrespective of how slandered his profession and ethics are); he himself doesnt fall prey to terminal illness which is never far from continuous exposure of black soot.

And while I was still reckoning the professional hazards of a simple man and trying to decide whether I should draw my window up to block the smoke; I noticed in rear view a feeble figure limping towards my still open window.

It doesn't take special skills to identify a beggar on a street. He was an old man in his 80s; limping with one stick; overgrown shabby hair tied into a crude pony. Scantily clad; his frowned forehead was no less than a highway billboard which screamed of bitter reality and a miserable life. It doesn't take a genius to read that; but it takes a frigid heart to overlook.

Although he hobbled by a small step at a time, he was noticeably close to my window. Music was blaring; overtly loud; and it almost seemed rude to be exhibiting opulence there, on the other hand, toning down the volume at that moment felt awkward. I didn't know what to do! I wanted to pull up the windows and look onto the other side. But I sat spellbound trying to decipher story of his life. Eventually he reached the spot and moment which I dreaded for those few seconds. He asked me for some change. I fumbled around and I found a 5 bucks coin lying in my wallet. It wasn't a value I'd usually contribute but I had no choice, that was the only coin I had; I was suddenly neck deep in guilt. I don't know why I felt guilty. I did not contribute to his condition and in a very non-moral way his life and condition is not a concern or a liability to me. And yet I sat there ashamed of being more privileged and happy in life.

With my contribution 2-5 times greater than usual helping; he was ecstatic with the sudden luck that life had bestowed upon him. He murmured several verses of blessings and strode off with his renewed confidence in humanity.

Once he left and I tried to recapitulate in my head; what really happened in those few minutes. Above of all, I tried to understand that why did I resist inside to give that coin to him. Throughout the evening I spent 500 bucks but not for a moment did I mull over the amount as much as I did for that coin. Probably because; while everyone gave me something for my money; that beggar had nothing to offer. Or at least I thought so. I shook away my guilt when I handed over that insignificant coin. As if; I have justified my existence by that peanut contribution.

It was only later when my meandering chain of thought made me realize that; that old man sold to me something that people won't get even if they spent fortune of lifetime. He sold me some "real perspective" for just as less as "5 bucks".

While he is the one who asked for "change"; it's me who was really on the receiving end. It's me who ended up getting the "change" he deserves. On a dull Sunday evening of my soporific life; I learned something that I'll probably remember.

For a person who trots on a highway junction; where world comes to a momentary standstill, pollution is not a concern. To find his daily bread, he yearningly stares back into loathsome eyes of people who are too fretted with petty musings of life. And frail and feeble that he is; biggest irony of his life is that if he doesn't make it to that single piece of bread today; he will not have strength left to find one for the next day. And that is "perspective".

While we ride away on our plush lifestyles when light turns green; we must remember that he is a part of society we live in and brag about. So if we can't give him the change that he deserves, we should at least give him the change he asks for.