I came down from our building, unlocked the car, was about to get inside when a man came and started speaking. He had some kidney problem and he needed money. Treatment was expensive here and he planned to accumulate enough money and go to his country for treatment where it was affordable and also his family would look after him.
He looked needy and I opened my purse. At that time my husband arrived. Yes in our home, women (me) dress up fast, men (he) take their time.
‘What Happened?’, he asked the man.
The same story was repeated. Show me, hubby said. He showed. So where did you get the bandage from? Kidney wounds will not be here and there is no scar, …..needless to say, the man ran away.
I moved my face the other way, I knew what was to follow.
‘When will you learn?’, was his query. I kept mum, there was no use arguing. I have been duped by everyone-the maid, shopkeepers, kids everyone and yes I haven’t learned my lesson.
I met a young woman with a toddler. We became friends. we connected more because we spoke the same language. There is a special joy in talking in your own mother tongue. So we met in the park and shared recipes and the best way to change nappies etc.
My evening walks began walk the talk and playing with the eleven month girl. But she always wore rompers. Now I like pretty frocks on little girls. Now you can call me a sexist or hypocrite but I do like chubby girls in white/ ink frocks.
‘why don’t you ever dress her up in frocks’, I asked my friend one day.
She was silent and then after sometime with tears in her eyes told me how her husband had not got his salary for so many months, how she could not go to work because the baby was small, about the responsibilities back home.
From that day on, whatever we got for our son was bought in twos. The other one bought for the little girl. My son’s toys which had been kept for nostalgia sake was cleaned again and given to her. If I was cooking something special, it was cooked extra and given to them. Well you get the gist.
It was annual vacation. And that year my parents wanted to go to our ancestral village. My father’s cousin still lived there. It was a pleasure to be there. The village was now a town and yet it had retained its old world charm. My mother was in her element. She ran here and there, absorbing the changes. ‘Akka, the new house nearby, whose is it?’
‘Oh, that. Do you remember the corner kirana store.’
My mom nodded.
‘Well the man died. His wife runs the shop now. Hs son went somewhere in the Gulf, makes lot of money and he made that house’.
My mom went to meet the lady and on her return got the news that the lady has invited us for lunch the next day.
We went. The living room had a big picture on the wall of her son and his wife and guess what… it was my friend and her husband.
‘Huh….is it your son?,’ I asked.
‘Oh yes’, she said with pride. ‘A very hard-working man. He built this house within a period of two years. He is a big man now, you should see when he arrives, his clothes, his style’, she said with dreamy eyes.
My mom glared at me. I always come as if I have arrived with the weight of the entire universe on my shoulders.
But she did not know what a big fool her daughter was.
* this story is a work of fiction
good one – there are tons of people taking advantage of the innocence and good nature of those around them……..this was a good story
Its an age where we do not take the others with us and move forward but an age where we fool others, step over them and advance
Me & my mother will say the same to my father when he get duped [happened many time]. Was it really a fiction..;).Well it had most parts from reality. )
Fiction is ‘inspired’ by facts Praveen but it need not be necessarily my own. Ienerally when I write a story in personal terms, I specify that the story is fictional.
It is but sad that people take advantage of our goodness. I have taken for ride too by such people. As long people are willing to be fooled, people will do so. Good One
True Krupa, we get fooled of we are willing to be fooled 😦
Oh my you won’t find a bigger fool than me I tell you.
But I am becoming clever now.. learning the ropes..
These people who cheat us forget that their may be someone genuine who needs help and we might not believe them..
In today’s world I think everyone tries to make the most..
Yes, sometimes the deserving, the needy don’t get the help they need. Sad situation actually
Sounds real! The first type happened with me too! My husband never believes anybody that easily and I am just opposite!
The next ‘story’ is too much! But people are there like them, I think.
Very well narrated, Bhagya!
Yes people like that do exist and you can see many like these in the Gulf 😀
Everything sounds so real…and trust me it happens many times..I used to believe stories, but these days I wonder if I can trust anyone any more..but the people I have met are a bit other way…they boast a lot about being rich, buying posh stuff etc etc..but in reality, they don’t even lend anything to the poor kind..
Oh yes. Everything for us so do not ask anything please, isn’t it?
I have been taken for a ride a few times personally especially by maids. Don’t know what to trust or not trust any more :(.
Trust is a rarity now Rachna. I have seen amma being taken for a ride many a times, me I have never kept any 🙂
Bhagyashree,
Good one. It is fiction from your side but this also happens in reality. I learnt my lessons early and have become cautious but still burnt my fingers at times while helping out someone who gave a nice sob story which seemed true. One needs to dig a little more before extending any help to unknown persons, at times to known ones also.
Take care
PS : Caught up with 4 pending posts and left comments on previous 3 also.
Yes caution helps.
I saw all ur comemnts and quite happy that you bothered to comment. Thank you
Excellent,Bhagya
Thank you
Sheesh. The number of times people take fellow beings for a ride and the sheer ingenuity of the act…it is VERY unnerving.
It is unnerving. Makes one wary of helping anyone