One day I met a person selling incense sticks near a pastry shop I went. We gave some money and had a small chat with him to see what his background is. As he told, he's got a daughter of age 16 and he sells insense sticks for a living, while his wife makes paper bags at home. He also showd the inhaler he's using as a medication, which he's unable to buy as they hardly earn something for a day's living. So it was another sad story of a man who was fighting day and night for him family.
Later I was able to go and visit his place using the address I noted down. Though I was able to find his place, a women inside the house said there is no such person. So I was puzzled, and talked with group of people nearby(three-wheel driver, auto shop workers etc). They also confirmed what he said he's doing for a living, but there was another story which they were reluctant to tell. First I was curious why the person denied he's living there. When I heard that he's addicted to drugs, I realized why the people at his place feared to tell details about him. So it was clear that someone has lied to me at some point(either the person or the people nearby). And more than anything, I was frustrated. May be the person has used the money we gave for drugs or may be the people nearby didnt want outsiders to help him. I was kind of lost, but I was relieved a bit after they gave me details of another guy who's lost a leg and doing the same job for about 10 years after he lost his job at a factory. May be that's a genuine case. I repeat "May be".
Going back home, I thought I have to think twice or validate somehow the details before blindly helping someone, even though we try to help with a good heart, it could even make the situation worse.
I think these kind of experiences should not make us stop helping people, as it is not our fault by giving a helping hand. But we only need to be more careful and focus on cases with less risks.
I end this post with a simple message:
~:> Try to help others in every way you can, even if you dont know them... Just think how nice it would be if you get help from everyone else... Start it yourself ~:>
