Hi,
First of all thank you for sharing such a nice presentation.
As it has been mentioned that our response to every situation determines the after effects....This deserves a real life incident.
Here is How my response was responsible for a life lesson.....
If you will meet me ever...usually you will find me calm and ever smiling but that was not a usual day.
I was newly fired from the job.As I stepped out to catch a metro..It started raining cats and dogs.....My only laptop was open to those little monsters drops.So I had to take shed under a tree( I hate to miss rain)..In the hurry to be under the tree..I lost my wallet(and 219Rs. 50 Paisa).. Uff that silly day.
I was looking at the road for bus like a hungry dog searches for a bone. Most of the people around me were common people..nothing was common among them( Even one was so weird.. that he was still donning helmet under the tree) But I noticed a old fashionably dressed lady standing far(little) away from me, She was negotiating something(I suppose)with a shabbily dressed middle aged woman.
I am curious creature by nature..so I gave all ears to what they were talking.
Old lady: See, Seema; last time also you didn`t sell me these earrings .This time I want these.
Seema: No aunty ji..., I can`t sell these. They are close to my heart.
Old lady: Its OK... Beta if you don`t want then leave it but I can offer you good money for these....
Seema: No...but......
Old lady : Oh!!Seema, Don`t you need money right now.. think about your daughter....think again..
(Till this time I made a good picture of old lady as a greedy old bitch in my mind)
Young one: But... How can I sell these..these are for my daughter.
Old one: Don`t worry. My daughter Richa is just like your daughter..I will gift her these earrings.
(I wanted to say some adult sermon to the old lady for her shrewdness, but i am too sophisticated to do that)
Old lady: I suppose they are of 10000 bucks.. As they are old and second hand..I can offer you 6000.
Seema: But... my daughter..
Then the old lady put her hand in her purse and took out 6 thousand rupee notes. She handed over the money to Seema. The young lady seemed in pain while parting away from those earrings.The old lady on the other hand.. had shine in her eyes. little drops later the rain stopped. The young lady vanished in crowed running for metro.
As I was angry on what the old lady did. I commented sarcastically " you did help her.. by snatching her prized possession "
The old lady smiled " Oh! No Son you are taking me wrong.......
I just helped her.......Really"
This was enough to trigger my anger how dare she? I am the expert....she was telling a white lie.
I went a step ahead and said "If you wanted to help her.. you could have given her the money but instead you took advantage of her situation"
Old lady smiled again " Son..she wouldn`t have accepted money and you know the earring I just bought-are of no more then 1000rs"
"What?" I screamed. "Have a good look " she offered me those earrings.. I am not a jeweler but In have to admit; she was right.
"Then why you gave her..6000 bucks" This old lady under the tree, became mystery to me.
"I already told you son.. I wanted to help.." she continued 'She was our driver`s wife ..he died of heart attack Last year"
From so long i wanted to help her on many occasions by giving money but she simply refused every time..."
So i thought why not help her in this way......
I was touched...my emotional balance was shaken.......
Although I don`t know how much my response helped me in learning a lesson but I thought of sharing with you.......
Ashish Paliwal
For more of these types of stories visit:
Wisdom from an idiot : Ashish Paliwal