To be or not to be

** Editor's note: this is a guest post by Saroj Javeri, who I'm trying to convince to write her own blog! This is a post she wrote for mine. **

We often think of being better human beings but seldom put that thought into practice. I was climbing up a footbridge at a crowded station & was trying to dodge a blind man stumbling up the steps with a stick. A lady coming down the steps took his hand & led him up. My conscience struck me right then. She left him at the bridge, because she had to catch a train. Thinking I’d redeem myself, I decided to help the man.

He gladly took my outstretched hand & asked me to drop him to the west side at the exit. Then he started talking conversationally about how he made a living by making cane furniture, how he was heading home & was out of ration to feed his family. I immediately made up my mind to buy him food. To my surprise, he asked me if I could help him financially. 

I told him I’d buy him food; to that he said he couldn’t carry it home because he was blind. Instinct told me he may not have been blind at all. Nevertheless, I give him 50; he asked how much it was & asked for 100 more. I got disgusted, took a rick, only to see him hobbling towards a seedy bar & restaurant at the corner of the street.

Here’s why I ask, to be or not to be compassionate toward complete strangers in such a messed up world?

To answer the question, I would help a stranger but never in cash, no matter what & only if my instinct supports me that I won't get into trouble doing so!