We constantly view the world in pairs; we speak about ‘Good’ and ‘Bad,’ ‘Right’ and ‘Wrong,’ even ‘He’ and ‘She’ or ‘God’ and ‘Evil’; and it is interesting to observe that, duality is a function of our human nature.
This story is from my college days when I roamed at a mall and caught a kid trying to pickpocket me. I was furious after catching him red-handed and started yelling out loud. Other people gathered around me and started cursing that kid. I was out of control with anger and attempted to slap him out of outrage, and he strained to protect himself. Suddenly, I noticed his wounded hand covered with a bandage. On the spur of the moment, I felt something different and stopped. I asked him what happened, and he said his father had beaten him. His mother needs medical care, he didn’t have money for her medicines, and he thought to steal. His story stupefied me, but my friend and others around said that “they always tell these emotional stories to get away and let’s call the cops.” The kid started crying, and even people commented that “these children getaway showing crocodile tears and kids are in the stealing business as people show them mercy.” The mall security guy called for me to lodge a written charge to put the child behind bars, even my friend insisting me to do so. As I started writing the complaint, with each word I wrote, I felt more stifled.
One side of me was saying, “I have to punish that kid, report to the cops, and push him behind bars.” The other side of me said, “He is just a kid. Once he is behind bars, he could make that place familiar in coming times.” What shall I do now? After thinking for a few seconds, I ran up to the kid and asked, “What choices you had before you decided to steal?”. That crying kid replied, “None.” I again asked him, “What would you do now if I let you go?”. The poor kid replied, “I will beg money for my mother’s medicine.” I said, “That won’t be required.” and gave him some money and let him leave that place. People around me started yelling at me and asked why I let that kid go. I didn’t respond and just left that place.
But the story doesn’t end here. After 11 years, I visited my hometown and happened to be at the same mall. I watched a group of college students from the slum nearby cleaning the road, picking the food waste, and asking people to preserve the city. I only hope that the small fry is also part of that group playing for the social cause, and perhaps he is.
Every day, whether at the workplace or in personal life, we deal with difficult situations or people; we are always presented with two choices – Punish or Forgive, Hate or Love, No or Yes, Leave or Stay, etc… Who are we? I think “Two” are we… Two choices to choose from… We are what we have chosen so far. So what are you going to choose today?
