Joy of Restlessness
To give or donate some thing, you might need, is not easy. For giving, capacity and intention both are required. In this selfish world finding one, having the intention, even without the capacity, is rare and worth mentioning. What to say about one who invents the excess with the intention to give? Yes such creatures are still available and not extinct. But there are some great examples scattered, some quite normal people, who might never make it to any history text but hats off to them for their tireless pursuit of invention of the art of giving.Narsima is a beautician in her 40’s, divorced long back. Has an only son living with her mother and knows her as his sister. Mother is the other blood relation for her under the sun. She visits her mother every Sunday quite religiously. Narsima is not attached with any beauty parlor or saloon, but because of her good nature and use of natural ingredients she has enough clients to keep her busy whole day, six days a week. The seventh day is reserved for her Mother. I know her for last 7 to 8 years. Since then her living standard has been constant. Fortunately the only plus is, she is able to cope up with inflation. It’s not that she has not earned enough to improve her living standard but the major culprit of her status is the art of giving, which she has surely mastered. There is always someone at her door looking for money on loan for some reason or the other – education, health care, marriage etc. And she has always obliged. Every time she takes the oath not to oblige next time just only to break it again. Keep on lending even the same person, twice or even thrice. For sure these are all in banking terms a non-performing assets and hence the rate of return a big zero. But still she insist to give –“it’s not cheating? They are in need. If I can afford, I should. If not I, someone else will help them. Why should I leave such opportunity?” is her standard remark.
A few weeks back. She was performing Namaz late at night around 10 P.M. just before going to bed. She felt like giving one saree, received a few days back to give to one particular lady. It was too late. First she thought” it’s too late”. This could be the first thing she will do next morning. But she felt restless “What if mind changes by morning?” She jumped off her bed went to the lady’s place, woke her up and return past mid night. It’s only then she gets a sound sleep.
It was a winter evening and quite chilly outside. Narsima had just finished her job. The client had handed over her, her usual fees and also a nice woolen shawl. She stepped out of the building with that shawl in her bag. She had a glance at her own shawl. She was using it for last five years and will go for another at least five years. Then the thought crossed her mind “what will I do with this new shawl?” It had to be given to someone who needs it. And it had to be given before she reached the next client. But it was a posh locality. It was difficult to find one. But she started feeling the uneasiness and its slowly increased and soon become unbearable for her. She did not have any choice. It had to be given away right there. She saw a young man coming from the opposite direction. Narsima gathered her courage, took out the shawl showed it to him and said, “I have this shawl and I want to give to some needy person. Can you help?”
The man stared at her. He assessed her. Her profile does not suggest her to be donor of that shawl.
“Are you sure, you want to donate this shawl?”
“Oh yes! Right now”, Narsima replied confidently.
“Ok! Wait for a few minutes,” and the man disappeared.
After sometime he reappeared with an old lady in rags. The old lady started crying, showing her badly torn shawl and the bag she was carrying. Narsima stopped her, “no, neither I am asking for any explanation nor I want to see your bag”.
Narsima put her latest possession in her hand and walked away briskly before the old lady or the young man can utter a single word.
Have you ever felt the pain of accumulating more than what you need? Have you ever enjoyed such restlessness? With donation, pride is attached.
Narsima does not donate, she gives.
