I have started feeling selfish off late. I don't know why.. maybe i have been made to think that way, or maybe someone just did a reality check for me.. :) I wonder what motivates people to be good.. why in general, mankind has managed to maintain very high standards of goodness across board. In grand scheme of things, why is it that goodness is rewarded, and bad things abhorred? To some, it is conscience, to some it is religion, to yet others, it is impression.. when i was discussing this with a very close friend of mine, who also happens to be my husband, his reply was simple.. 'I just can't be bad.. i would lose my sleep'.
We do come across people,who seem forced to go that way. We hear people saying, 'I felt like ignoring her call for help, if only my manager was not sitting next to me'!! Or 'I would not do it if my religion permitted'.
Yesterday, there was this seemingly decent lady in her mid 40's, apparently from a good background, was travelling in the same bus as I. The bus conductor explained to her where to get off and how to travel further from the stop. We got down at the same stop, and both of us started walking. The place is a highly overcrowded merger of about 7 roads. The pot-holes (or 'craters' as some call it), filled with muddy rainwater rendered the road even more difficult to walk on. It being Rakshabandhan, we would not get auto-rickshaws too easily. After waiting for an auto for a while, I started walking along the road, this lady about a 100 feet ahead of me, when it started raining. As i stopped to take my umbrella out, I got lucky to get the first vacant auto. I quickly occupied it and headed home. In Mumbai, getting your mode of commute is as heavenly as finding your God! I passed-by this lady who was now under a fly-over, stranded, walking back and forth, figuring a way to reach home, with a full chance of her creme 'khadi' dress being splashed with the mud water by one of those humongous trucks passing by.
Someone inside me called out to the auto-wala. I heard myself asking him to stop. As I looked behind, I could sense the helplessness of this lady, who was now walking on the opposite side of the traffic flow, to see if she could take that bus. As she turned, I waved at her, signalling her to come on board. She stopped for a fraction of second, and then walked briskly toward me. I told her, 'Hop on'. We discussed where she wanted to go and that I could help her.
On our way together, we had a brief discussion as to how she got stranded. She was, although not new to Mumbai, she was new to local transport system, as she had left the car behind for her father that day. She seemed to be working for some good company at a good post. I was very tempted to ask for some personal favours.. forget that I didn't even ask her name!! It would have just defeated the purpose of pure help, I thought. I had a good glow on my face for the rest of the evening. Not that this was the first time I helped some random by-passer, but when was the last time I did it?
I guess, and I may be wrong, or may evolve, the best way to help others is to listen to your calling. Do not 'think' when you get a chance to do good. I don't know if it adds to your confidence levels, or enhances your resume or makes you look good against others.. but it does feel good :)
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