“What? You gave that new coat to a beggar!” she yelled loudly. I tried to calm her down, “Dear, please try to understand. He wasn’t a beggar. He was a poor, needy man about to be killed by cold. It was a matter of his life and death.” But I couldn’t stop her sobs. It was only the last week that she had gifted me a very expensive and elegant coat on my birthday. “Noooooo, no explanations.” she shrieked. “You will soon be a beggar yourself if you don't check your vain magnanimity. I can't forgive you." And it took three days for our life to come to normalcy.
A few months later, that evening, as I was exiting my office, I got the news of my wife’s accident. I rushed to the hospital. She was in the ER. The doctor said, “No worries. No risk to her life. But you should immediately see the man who brought her here." He is waiting for you in the lounge.” I hurried. What? The man in my coat! A good deed does not go unrewarded, I realised. But before I could express my gratitude, he demanded 100 pounds. Oh! Did he save my wife’s life for money? I regretted having thought of him as a model of compassion. He repeated his demand. I promptly handed him 100 pounds. He left. I saw him go across the main exit with the money still in hand. Outside, he gave the money to the cab driver and walked away.
A few months later, that evening, as I was exiting my office, I got the news of my wife’s accident. I rushed to the hospital. She was in the ER. The doctor said, “No worries. No risk to her life. But you should immediately see the man who brought her here." He is waiting for you in the lounge.” I hurried. What? The man in my coat! A good deed does not go unrewarded, I realised. But before I could express my gratitude, he demanded 100 pounds. Oh! Did he save my wife’s life for money? I regretted having thought of him as a model of compassion. He repeated his demand. I promptly handed him 100 pounds. He left. I saw him go across the main exit with the money still in hand. Outside, he gave the money to the cab driver and walked away.
