Once again, a sleepless night… I was walking down Session Road on a cold
December evening. I came from a coffee with a long-time friend in a well-known café
in the City. I must be dreaming and oblivious of the people around me.
Suddenly, I felt pain on my right shoulder and a high-pitched voice saying “Tanga
kitam ti dalan mo” I was jolted back to reality and realized I bumped into a
lady dressed like she was going to a party. I said “Sorry” and she said “sorry,
sorry nu dika met gaga”. I said “sorry”
again and turned my back ready to ignore the incident and continue down the
road while she stood there mumbling.
Then I noticed that she was on
the wrong lane. When walking regardless where, always take the right side. I turned to face her again and said “Magandang
Ginang you were on the wrong side you should have been on the right side going
up but you were on the left”. Now “sino
ang tanga at gaga sa atin?” and left. I will never forget that face… it was
contorted with anger and bitterness.
One day, I was at my office engrossed
on editing a document that needed to be submitted that day when I heard a voice
say “Good morning ma’am”. I looked up and I saw the very face I had the
misfortune of meeting a year earlier. She too was stunned as color suffused her
face and she stood rooted just at the entry to my office.
I stood up and waited for her to
collect her wits without saying anything. I felt more than saw how much she
wanted to be in any other place but my office. I knew she wanted to run away from me but her
helplessness prevented her from leaving.
I said “anything I can do for
you?” She came forward slowly and told me her name. I stared at her as she
apologized for what happened that day. She told me she was having a heavy
problem then and started to tell me about it but I cut her and said. She
did not have to tell me. I told her I forgot all about the incident until I saw
her again.
She kept apologizing and I told
her to forget it. It has been a long time and I know that several times over the
past year she must have thought of that incident and that is
enough chastisement. She thanked me and
started to tell me the reason she came to see me.
To make the story short, I
extended assistance and went a mile more. I thought this may humble her and
hopefully teach her lessons. Mine is –
DO NOT WALK DOWN SESSION ROAD TAKE A CAB.. hehehe.
Lesson? KARMA
