“I feel fortunate”

Says Mumbai Mirror reader and Thane-resident Daraksha Ansari who talks about her experience where she finally felt she is fortunate to help others who are less fortunate

“Here you are”. I said handing a five rupee coin to the auto-driver in haste as I was late for college. As I turn, much to my embarrassment, an old lady with ragged clothes and stretched palms came in my way asking for alms. I looked at her with stern eyes and said “how fortunate I am” in my heart and walked away. This was not the first time.

Everyday, passing through different streets and by-lanes, I meet these people and instead of responding to them I walked away feeling blessed. But every time I uttered those words in praise of my fortune, I got depressed. I never got the answer.
“Are you ok?” one of my friends asked noticing my lost behaviour. I had no answer. Yesterday, I saw a dead body of a beggar on the street and a weeping woman begging surely for its proper burial. This scene didn’t end here. Much to my ailing mind, I saw a day-old baby lying naked in the rain and a girl in her teens, probably her mother, looking at every passer-by with expectant eyes.

On that day, I couldn’t whisper those words. I couldn’t forget this incident and narrated it to my mom. “Beta, do drop some coins and see the difference,” my mom said in a calm voice. I decided to act upon it. The very next day I didn’t leave a single beggar expectant and I saw the difference. My heart was no more gloomy or sad but it bloomed with joy – the joy of helping someone. I got the real taste of happiness achieved by donating happiness.

On that day, I’m not sure why I couldn’t utter those words. Maybe God wanted to make me realise my rude behaviour. But today, I freely, whole heartedly whisper those words “yeah I am really a fortunate one”. God made me fortunate enough to help those who are not so fortunate!

Daraksha Ansari
Posted On Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at 06:43:47 PM