Vamoose

Every once in a while you run across something that really hits you.

I was returning back to my room from my office. It was 6:16 pm already and cold, as it was raining all day. When I was about 15 min distance from my room, there on an empty street I saw three figures sitting at the corner, on going near I found it was a woman and her two children. They were eating something from a packet. Their clothes were shaggy, old, unshorn. 

"You know who they were?"

We all must, have faced these scenarios where small kids are roaming around the streets begging for some money, and how many times do we observe such feelings inside us, when we really feel bad for them.

I can't describe what it felt like.

It was excruciating and yet, I felt numb. My heart screamed in pain and yet, there was complete silence. I died and yet, I live.

I can't quite put it into words but I know, I felt pity. 

I looked for some change in my pocket and drew a 10 rupees note from my pocket and extended it towards her. She paused for a second, looking surprised and said, "I don't need this."

I was stunned.  So many times before, I have shooed many of them away, saying, "I don't have a change."

It was first time, when I was offering it from my side and she shooed me away. I felt like an idiot, who can't figure out what to do next, then suddenly I got an insight. 

My voice came to me like the voice of a dying man, that contradicts my belief, that challenges me to admit that I may be wrong.

The look in her eyes said, "We don't need your money, empathy will be enough."

I hesitated a little, hurled the 10 rupees note to the ground and...

...I ran.

Image source: internet