The Philanthropist

It's a really nice ad... the one for the new Volkswagen Passat... There's this bicycle rider going down a ghat road, and his headlamp goes bust... then comes the Passat from behind him... He signals for the car to overtake him, but as he sees that the car is staying put, stuck by his butt, he ups his pace and in new confidence, owed to him by the right to sight, he quickly gets through the treacherous ghats while the well meaning car, with its turn actuated headlights follow his fateful path. At the end of the ad, the rider nods his thanks to the driver at a traffic signal, conveying his thanks, while the voice in the background reminds you that the turn-following headlights are one of the not so standard features in the new Passat.

So when was it when that you performed a philanthropic duty? My question is not meant for you Darshana, but it _is_ meant for almost everyone else... when was the last time you got over your fear of robbers to help a hitch-hiker needing to reach his/her destination, on a city road. Or was it that stranded car that drew your pity but you had somewhere more urgent to reach. Or maybe that fellow by the side of the road really did need a trip to his exams, rather than to his friend's place, as you thought...

I want to get my conscience clear... I usually don't refuse lifts on the bike... in my car I've never refused a lift that I've been asked for either, because I've had only one, from 2 students. Simple reason... At some time in my past, I've given (to me) miraculous lifts... Two occasions stand out in my mind:

1. I was going towards Deccan from Aundh rd., a relatively busy stretch, by anyone's imagination, in the day... I was about to join the new concrete Aundh road from Bhau Patil Rd. Basically, for the uninitiated, I was going to get on to a better road from a country road... on my bike... when I saw this van stranded by the roadside. I was riding my bike wih Tum, when I'd almost passed them... The husband was sitting by steering expecting the van to move in some miraculous fashion, while the wife and he 11 year old kid were trying to push it into life...

They weren't even moving it... Out comes the superhero, the saviour of the meek, I basically...:) I stopped my bike behind their van, and against the better judgment proffered by my scared wife, I offered my services. One silent shove is all it took. The van came alive and I got bestowed a thousand blessings and the hope that someone else would do the same for me (they'd already done it, I was merely passing on the favour).

2. A drunk gets highlighted in my headlight and I stopped. This was much before I had even bought my bullet. I was on my scooter, and I kinda stopped. Then I really stopped. Because the poor soul was meandering across the road, leaving his battered M80 by the roadside, in search of something, I have no idea what, on the other side of the road, calling out for her.... or it.... I stopped. I got off, I walked up to him and told him he had to go home and sleep (he seemed to agree with me). Then I escorted him behind his battered vehicle to Katraj (some 20 kms off my way) so that he'd be safe.

I'm glad I'm done with my beating-of-the-drums... blowing-my-own-trumpet... etc... I was doing a favour onto someone in the latter, whereas merely passing it on in the former. I cannot really forget the help from the truckdriver the day I'd broken my leg in the Khambatki Ghat...

That aside, when was the last time when _you_ helped a fellow road-farer. Don't take my words without the caution with which I impart them... Don't give lifts if you are uncomfortable giving them. Don't risk your lives... But do help out. I'd like to believe that help begets help... so the chain will continue...