Last week, I was just sitting quietly as usual in this cab, browsing facebook, when a woman and her daughter entered. Now, the normal fare for their journey should be 30 naira for each of them but the mother bargained it to 50 naira for both. The driver, knowing he wouldnt find any more passengers, decided to forget the 10 naira and carry them both for 50. On entering, the woman was greeted by the guy sitting beside the driver and she responded, asking about his 96-year old grandmother who, I was able to understnad, was either dead or is dying. So saying, we had almost reached the last bus stop when the guy sitting by the driver paid for both the mother, her daughter and himself. He has paid for you, the driver told the woman. I feigned indifference in the cab but was expecting a Thank you from the mother. But no; she told the driver to return the money to the philantropist guy. She then paid for the three of them. The guy also refused and told the driver to return the money to her. I am your child ma..., he tried to laugh it off. No, collect your money. The woman insisted; this time hardly. Well, the give-and-take went round for anohter two to three times and left the taxi driver holding two 100 naira notes with him. The guy eventually collected his own money, albeit with concealed shaking-of-head. I then began to wonder. A woman who was bargaining the innegotiable taxi fare, now refusing help with empty gallantry from a younger man who, out of respect, decided to lend a helping hand. Then it got me thinking, it is getting harder and harder to help people. Even when your heart is pure and contrite, the fear of being misinterpreted contends with your goodwill. Then you begin to ask yourself, Wont he think it is mockery? Wont she think I want something in return? Maybe I shouldnt bother anymore. Giving and helping has now become tough to practise. I am not even talking about crossing the gender line yet; that is a topic on its own. In any case, in the battle of the mind, when we are tempted to hold back from doing good. When Fear tries to withstand Goodwill, we must strife to help, try to give still. For even if the recipient refuses, our gesture is appreciated by heaven and earth. -#VJW
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:01:33 +0000
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