I was walking on the road when suddenly I noticed someone crying. He was an old man, with grey hair, and dark eyes. I asked him instantly, why are you crying sir?

Is there anything that I can do for you?

 

The man wiped his tears and looked at me strangely, and then he paused for a moment and then replied-

 

I am crying for you and all these people around. It makes me sad that you will be no different. As I sit here, I can assure you that nobody is looking out for me, nobody is worried about my well being, and all I did in my entire life was to sacrifice my personal desires to help others.

 

When I look around, I see myself in many faces, and I get worried. They all are going to end up as I did. And the worst part is that I can do nothing to change the situation.

 

When I give advice, then I get maligned. But I don’t feel upset, because I have been on the other hand when I was young. I thrashed many people who gave me good advice.

 

You are very polite, you asked me for help. But why do you want to help me? Is it because out of fear? Or may be you think that helping an old man will make your next life beautiful, do you believe in that karma crap?

 

After hearing to the old man, I was stunned. I told him that sir, I was just offering you help as a good gesture, I never did it to improve my karma. And you have all the right to have your own opinion, but you have no right to predict my thoughts.

 

And after that I walked away from him, thinking that, was I really helping him to change my karma?

 

The answer was clear. No I was not. But I was surely hoping for something in return. I didn’t agreed with him completely, but he surely stirred my thoughts. And changed my life in a very important direction.

 

I looked back at him, he was still crying. And when he saw me he asked-

 

Is there anything that I can do for you?

 

I replied- You already did.

hello, i like to read and write and to take a step back to look at things from different perspectives..I think that different art forms are a way to connect with the wonderful nature around..and writing for me is something like that..It brings me closer to life and the universe..In my write ups you will find a connection with life and nature...Please respond and express your views..thank you

28 thoughts on “Is there anything I can do for you ?”

  8. An amazing encounter.
    Being humanly human we all expect something in return when we do something for someone else. It’s a rare case when we don’t. and that old man definitely gave you and all of us something to contemplate about.

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  10. You r welcome. But I feel we all are driven by something to get in return n that v act can’t b always termed as being selfish. We are all looking for being replenished by everything we do. The protagonist of your story could have just wanted the old man to smile in return, will that b a selfish need? Or may be he was looking out to feel useful himself by able to help the old man, even that’s not selfish.
    Lets look at the old man, he cud have continued crying but he took a moment to convey his thoughts to the protagonist, the old man wanted him to take home the lesson he feels he wants to give, he also ultimately wanted something in return- he wanted you to acknowledge his thought and accept n imbibe it.. now that’s not selfish either.
    So I feel we are all driven by this need to getting acknowledged and replenished and I think it’s a good thing after all 🙂 provided we use it rightly.

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  11. Exactly….you just said it correctly…when the old man asked, that what do you want by helping me? It stirred d man’s thoughts. He thought that for somethings in life we dont want a return gift. Because he never thought of getting anything. But he also realized that, it is not always necessary to expect something. We can just be happy by giving. And hence when the old man asked, what can i do for you. He said you already did…
    Thank u fr you valuable comments..

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