An act of kindness

 

I was traveling by metro train with my two-and-a half year old son. We were sitting down, watching over the window, playing our favorite game "Name the Vehicles."

When the train stopped at the next station, an elderly woman got in, and I told my son to sit on my lap so we could offer the seat to the old lady. She came by and sat beside us.

As the train neared the next station, an announcement was made about the name of the station and that the door would open on the left. 

The old lady who sat beside me asked me in a panicked voice, "what's the name of the station that was announced?"

When I answered her, she completely panicked. "I boarded the wrong train; I had to board the train on the opposite lane."

I told her, "It's alright, just get down at the next stop and switch trains."

She said, "But I don't know how."

I told her, "Just ask for help form the station officers; they will help her."

She said, "But I don't have my ticket; my daughter and I got separated at the previous station, and the ticket is with her."

I told her, "It's ok, just buy a new ticket."

Again, she reasoned with me that she didn't have any money on her as she was traveling with her daughter, and they got separated.

At that point, I was having thoughts like, Is she an scamster? Is she even telling the truth, or is she trying to make easy money.

By then, other two passengers near by came around to ask what the issue was, and the old lady again explained to them how she had boarded the wrong train, how she was separated from her daughter, how she had no money and even the her ticket is was with her daughter.

While I was internally having this battle over whether the lady was telling the truth, should I give her money? What if she is a scammer and trying to fool me? The train stopped at the next station, and the fellow passenger who was also trying to talk to her asked her to get down and take help from the station officers. As I am sitting and contemplating what to do,

Before the door could close, my fellow passenger took a 100 rupee note, called out to the old woman, and gave it to her before the door shut, and I felt relieved.

You see, we are all so focused on the wrong happenings in the world around us that we fail to see that one of them might truly need help.

I am not sure if that old woman was genuinely in need of help or was a scamster.

But by giving her some money, I wouldn't have put a dent in my fortune.

After I witnessed the act of kindness of that gentleman, I felt so happy and relieved at the same time.

If that woman was truly in need, then she would be forever grateful for this man, and if that woman was a scammer, I would still forever be grateful for this man for freeing me from guilt and teaching me this beautiful lesson on kindness.

So let's not judge or overthink when it comes to showing kindness or when we get an opportunity to help. Either way, its a win. You would have touched the life of someone and you will be blessed in return.

My heartfelt gratitude to that man for his act of kindness.