Currently one of our clients is at our development center for training. They are a group of 8-10 guys from Thailand and they are given a service apartment near to office. Couple of day’s back I was enquiring about what they feel about India after their visit. Do they like the place, the people, the stay, the hospitality etc? It was first time I was trying to get feedback of my country from outsiders.
They were OK, but one incident they told, I felt really ashamed of calling myself Indian. There was a theft in their service apartment, One lady's diamond ring got stolen, even their food items, chocolates are also stolen. They think one of the room service boys did it. They contacted the Hotel manager regarding the incident, but he rudely took out his hands out of it. One guy from the group said to me "Why there is a crazy breed of money sick people wherever you go across India? Well switch on to any of your news channels. There are only scams."
I pondered upon his statement and said to myself how true he is. Where ever you go we have these kinds of people. Taxi driver asking more money than actual meter reading, bus conductor deliberately skipping to give the change, government officials, politicians...the list is endless. I was rather feeling depressed about the image of India they are going to carry to their country and the image they will portray in front of their countrymen.
Thinking about the incident I was coming back from office. It was a bit late and I didn't have a bus which will drop me near my home at that time. So I have to take a rickshaw. Usually we don’t get a rick easily that late. Even if some rickshaw wala is ready, he will do all the nakhras like "20 Rs. more than meter", "Half return lagega waha se khali aana padta hai" and all that. So I was assuming the same will happen. I stopped one rick and told him where I want to go. To my surprise he agreed instantly without any (bribe of) extra money. I asked "Do you stay nearby my place, because usually rickshaw walas ask more money if they need to return empty." He Said "Nahi mai waha nahi rahta, par saab be-imani ka paisa leke kya karna. Baki jyada lete hai to le par mai nahi lunga."
I got down of the rickshaw. I usually take a 5 minutes’ walk to my home. It was drizzling a bit. I started my walk; an uncle riding on a scooter suddenly stopped besides me and asked "Son, it’s raining. Do you need a lift till the corner?” I didn't know him and neither had he known me. But still, like an angel he stopped and in the chilling rains he gave me the warmth because of his willingness to help an unknown person. I said "Thank you sir! My home is very near and I will manage. But if you find someone needy on the way please offer him for your kind help". He smiled and went away.
The whole day's depression went off in seconds. In a place, where there is so much greed for money, people are on their toes to take you for a ride; there I got a rickshaw wala who was really honest and a person who is happy in helping even unknowns for free. These incidents gave me a lesson that there are and will be evils in the society and they will denounce the entire society. But in actual there will be more honest and sinless people. The only difference is what kind of people you come across. Next day I narrated these incidents to my client. He smiled and said "Will you help me to plan a family holiday in India next summer?"
