Almost once every week that I see
someone on the road asking for lift. Not sure if everyone comes across this or
I travel in such roads where people do not hesitate taking lifts. Oh by the way
these are all men, of course women won’t or can’t ask lift from a stranger when
even regular cabs aren't safe for them.. how will they trust strangers..!
So coming back to me seeing some
strangers asking for lift.. my heart tells me to stop my vehicle and drop that
person in need. But my mind says NO, you might get into trouble. I have heard
many stories around people getting hurt or looted when they give lift to
strangers. I being a paranoid person can’t stop thinking of those scenarios
happening to me.
So every time I see someone
looking for a drop, I look at him and almost wanting to stop but just flee
away. And the whole way all I could think is did I do wrong by not helping
someone in need, what if that person was in urgent need of drop. Then my brain
takes over asking what if that person had a weapon and had bad intentions
behind asking lift.
I felt guilty every time I did not stop and help someone who
wanted lift, then came a fine day when this small boy on a flyover was looking
for lift.. Without listening to my brain I just stopped blindly. Spoke to him
about his school and exams while on the way and dropped him. I felt GOOD! I
mean if we live in a society where we are scared to help others in need what
kind of living is that.
I felt being optimistic is the only key to stay and be happy. You
have a hope for the future if you can keep up your optimism. When I got the
smile back from the kid after dropping there was hope that not everyone is bad.
I should continue to be helping positively.
One other example I would like to recall here is, there was this
girl whom I just knew from social media. She needed a place to crash at night
as her train was reaching Bangalore late at night. I offered her to stay over
at my place and she obliged. No big deal right? When my friend called me that
night and I mentioned about this situation to her, she yelled at me saying if I
am out of my mind calling a stranger to stay at home. It’s not that she is a
bad person but she is SCARED. But this incident gave me a friend who I
like to talk with. And makes me be optimistic about making new friends. After
all friends are a strangers at the beginning.
Thanks to https://housing.com/lookup that
made be recall and share these incidents with you all.
With this all I am saying is let’s try to do good deeds on every
day basis and reinstate trust in each other.
--Spread a smile today!
Its indeed a sticky situation on whether to offer a lift of not. Being a woman in today's time and situation its not an easy choice to make.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky last time I got a lift when I need it as no auto / cab was willing to traverse the short distance.
And respect about the stay over bit, I know all the details and think your a hero for that :)
You are right. Girls usually don't give lift to strangers. You never know how they'd turn out to be. I've never seen / heard any girl stopping to give lift to a stranger. Its better to be careful than sorry. Don't feel guilty. It's okay to ignore lift requests. Cheers !!
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed so much that trusting a person has become almost impossible. Especially strangers. I come across situations like this too but I'm worried that my concern will be taken advantage of. Being women, we can't be all that trusting nowadays... given the amount of crimes taking place. Its better to be safe than sorry. The guilt is hard to get rid of but sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do - be safe. :*
ReplyDeleteI agree our heart is always very kind but in such situations we should listen to our mind!! Being a girl I too never prefer to give lift to anyone. We are good but we can not tell about other and its all about women safety!!
ReplyDeleteloved your post and btw I have always given lifts to strangers whenever its possible and funniest part, hardly got any whenever I needed it but that doesn't stop me from giving it and asking it. :) thanks for sharing this post. loved reading it.
ReplyDelete