As I was waiting at the intersection for the traffic light to turn green, a girl about 10 years of age approached my car with a pile of colouring books in her hands and started pleading with me to buy one. Having no purpose for the book but wanting to help her, I rolled down my window and handed her two 1-Rupee coins making it very clear that I was not interested in purchasing a book from her. She accepted the coins and began pleading once again. This time she was sobbing. By now, the traffic had started moving. As I too had to get moving, I rolled my window up and slowly started inching away. The girl did the most unexpected of things. She gingerly placed the coins I had given her in a niche in the window and walked away seeming more miserable than ever.
The coins remained where they were, vibrating as the car gained speed. Soon they rolled off one after the other.
Though it has been several weeks, this incident comes to haunt me once in a while. In my careless hurry to find a quick solution to a huge issue, I think I’m guilty of having wounded a tender heart. She wasn’t begging, she was desperately seeking a helping hand and that too with dignity…