Scene 1
Freaking out in city surrounded by glamorous shopping malls, multiplexes and pizza huts. A beggar comes to you, wrapped in rags, a wounded kid in hands and asking for 1 or 2 bucks. Your expression changes immediately as if feeling sick in stomach or like she is responsible for all problems in this world, or at least in your life. Ruthlessly ignoring her existence you will move ahead to light a 5 bucks cigarette and then probably toss the half burnt butt in the air.
Some of the perverts will go one step ahead and scan her from top to bottom while throwing in a filthy remark. And then probably enjoy her dirty curses with a smirk on face.
Errr… sounds familiar? You bet it does… Most of us have a pretty smart excuse (the most generic one I have ever heard in life) that its no use of giving money to these tramps, they will spend it on booze and drugs, or they should work hard and try to earn a living. Okay, agreed. But don’t you think that at least 1 out of those 10 could really be in need and the 5 bucks spent on a cigarette could give him/her some food for a day.
Scene 2
Your friend, relative or neighbor asks for a loan, say 5 grand, coz he/she is really in need. The immediate excuse will be are yaar, abi to thoda tangi chal rahi hai, dekhta hu kuch ho saka to (Sorry man, its quite difficult at this time, will see, if I could do some thing).
On the very same evening, you will go shopping with your wifey and present her with a 25 Grand necklace. What kind of difficult times are these? Agreed, you have your own priorities and your wife needed that necklace desperately (coz the heaps of other jewelry in her cupboard needed a new friend for company) but don’t you think that neighbor might have needed that money for more important reasons like some medicines or for the fee of the school going kids, which can not wait…
And before giving up, another incident which happened few days back…
One of my known is settled abroad with another generic excuse of earning good money and save that for future. She came here few days back and at that time her mother in law ended up in letting her son spend some good money on house hold. I heard her (my known) grumbling for several days that what kind of squanders are her in laws and how they don’t understand what pain they are taking to earn this money. Again, agreed… but ever thought, who else the parents will ask to. May be they are spending the money heartlessly but probably they did it in last 25 years as well while growing the children up and fulfilling their stupid demands. And no offences but if you can buy a luxury car in the name of need then you can very well spend some money on your parents’ not so urgent needs… isn’t it?
Cheers !
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Money matters are always so delicate. I am very frugal. I don't spend much on myself. I hate borrowing money. And I feel uncomfortable loaning money too. As for beggars, I prefer giving them items rather than money.
Sol – I think its not just about you, me and likes, its about the general tendency in general situations on how we (re)act. I am not in favor of bagging or loaning or whatever, and its not about the habitual loan seekers, its just that, there might be situations when some one is genuinely in need and probably left with no other option apart from asking for loan or some thing. And above all its about the humanity which is lost somewhere deep. We as human beings are supposed to “act” and not “react”, but alas.. we do “react” most of the times...
Scatt- we (re)act not just act ;) coz we are human beings and we cant be perfect all the time! 'It is not about money', that is what we say, but actualy it is not like that. As Sol said, 'money matters are delicate'. luks like you also (re)acted!! (no offences)