I have always been a sufferer of what is popularly known as
the “lazy-do-gooder” syndrome. The scenario wherein you have many ideas on
doing a good deed. But the ideas and plan are never brought to action because
of sheer laziness and the very popular chalta
hai attitude.
When I was at home my mother was regularly suggesting me to
give my old clothes to our domestic help. I always ended up shouting and giving
an excuse on how busy I was and did not have any time to go through my
stuff and search for clothes to give out.
A few clothes out from my overflowing wardrobe were not going to make me
deficient in any way but they would help our helper loads. I knew it. But I
refused to act on it simply because a search through my wardrobe seemed like a
Herculean task to me. Hence I kept procrastinating by saying a simple Ok. Again
and again. My mother still did not leave hope on me and tried to pursue me into doing this good deed some
way or the other try. But I would not budge. Moreover she also told our helper
that Didi is going to give her a lot
of clothes, hearing which she would look into my direction and shyly smile.
When I think back, it makes my heart melt. I don’t know
under what workload I was back then that I couldn’t even spare a few moments
for this minuscule task. If my memory serves me right I was a big prude back
then. Not caring much about other and their needs.
I was brought to shame by no one but my helper. She had gone
to her native place for a few days. When she was back, she came shyly in to my
room holding a little something in her hand. She handed over the pack to me
saying “Didi, yeh main aapke liye laye
apne gaon se, pta nahi aapko pasand ayega ya nhi” ( I have got this for you
from you village, but I am not sure whether you will like it or not). I was
speechless, so much so that I could not even mutter a Thank You.
I opened the packet to find very pretty glass bangles. What
I felt at that time was a mixture of gratitude and guilt. I have never been
able to forget the look on her face when she was handing me package. Full of
apprehension, a slight unease and shyness. Over the next few days I couldn’t
even face her properly and felt overtly ashamed of myself. She had thought of
me when she saw those bangles (she must have been aware {by noticing} the fact
that I loved wearing bangles back then). I had never been considerate of her
and she was silently analyzing my likes and dislikes all this time.
She taught me a very important lesson that day. No good deed
does ever go unnoticed. It affects someone/something one way or the other. What
else can I say apart from the fact that my heart is filled with warmth of appreciation
whenever I see those bangles. So go out and bring a smile on whosoever’s face
you can. Talking about myself, I am a changed woman! No. I kid. I am still
overcome by those terrible bouts of laziness. But yes now that i am way from
home, I make sure to carry my old clothes for my helper and also buy her little
something’s from here.
P.S The helper’s name is Neelam and she is getting married
soon.
PP.S The title of this post has been ripped off from the Sunday
edition of TOI (Times life) which used to be a regularly featured column on
Sunday’s and focused on the close to heart life changing experiences of
readers. This post was originally written for the newspaper but sadly never got
published.
Love:
Sepo
