An Honest man
The following is a short piece I wrote for a local paper six years ago during one such Vigilance week.
As my scooter stops at the red signal at RTC Cross Roads,( I am one of those rare, foolish Hyderabadis, who stop on seeing red traffic signals), a young man approaches me and asks me to buy a copy of a Telugu evening daily. I am not interested. “Please Sir”, he implores. Something attracts me to the young fellow and I tell him, “I don't want the paper, but how much would you get by selling it? Fifty Paise ?, I will give you fifty paise”. “I AM NOT A BEGGAR SIR”, is the emphatic reply. I am more impressed and curse myself for my stupid arrogance in thinking that somebody would just like that accept my paltry fifty paise which would have given me an immense amount of happiness and I would have asked Chitragupta to make a note of my great sacrifice and charity. I feel ashamed. So I offer to buy the paper. It is Three Rupees. I pay him three Rupees and ask him to keep the paper with him, as reading a Telugu eveninger was the last thing on my mind and my stupid arrogance continued. Immediately he returned my three rupees and said, “Thank You Sir”.
My humiliation was complete and the green light had come. I proceeded on my way profusely thanking that unknown honest innocent face, for he had taught me a few lessons.
I hope I would have the same commitment to my job and at least half that honesty.