“I have been to this part of the town almost every day but have never seen this man sitting there, was he here before?” wondered Karthik by looking at the man with disabled legs, sitting opposite to the supermarket.
“Sir, it’s 2643 rupees, cash or card?”, the girl at the counter interrupted his train of thought.
He came out of the store and was crossing the road towards his car. Suddenly he saw the man was showing his hand towards him and talking about something.
“Why are people using their disability to beg for money? should I give him something or not”. He checked his pocket for any change while walking towards the man.
When he reached near him he saw the man was smiling at him.
The man said “No Sir, I didn’t ask for money. There is a 500 rupee note poking out of your shirt pocket, it could slip out”, while pointing towards my pocket. I put it inside properly and thanked him. While we were talking another man came with a broken slipper. The disabled man took out his tools from a big bag behind him and started repairing it.
I thought while driving back home, “why did I mistook him as a beggar when he never begged for anything? Was it his disability or his shabby look? No, it was purely due to my prejudiced mind, yes. There is no point in feeling guilty or self punishing, but I must practice awareness and not allow my mind to jump into conclusions based on what I see, listen or hear”.