Silsilay : The road less travelled

As an a chief auditor, my job required me travel across many parts of India.As an unmarried youth in the early thirties, I was enjoying my profession thoroughly with the perks that came along way. It was just the perfect bachelor life, that one could always dream of. It was much before the babudom decided to move forward, still maintaining a highly socialitarian approach towards the development of the nation. Those were the days of the Amabassador and Fiats, when Bajaj Chetak, was still a luxury. The country was still reeling under the loss to England in the semi finals of the Reliance World Cup Cup 1987. Yea, Sachin was still to make his debut after 2 years to the fearsome duo of Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. I was appaled by the conservative economy we were stagnating in, took least bit interested in matters pertaining to socio-cultural impact. Despite the fact that my family was actively involved social work, both my parents still working for the cause of education for the underprivileged, I was sure the blacksheep of the family, keeping myself at quite a distance from their activities. Somehow I could never really associate the idea of progress at the grass root level,perhaps I just didn't want to be acquainted by the truth. My parents scorned at my high handedness and my ability to remain aloof amidst it all. It was around the spring of 1988, me had landed up in Kolkatta, you sure guessed it right, the end of the fiscal year! After finishing some routine work we decided to transcend down to Park Street for some scrumptous Chinese cuisine. After finishing lunch, as we were leaving the restaurant did I notice some beggars suddenly being surrounded. I guessed there would have been some foreigners, being crowded for some easy alms. Just as I was about to board my car, did a hand touch me, with great tender and care, politely asked me to help her lift the beggar(who happened to be a leper) into the van. As I turned around, did I feel eternity for a while, before coming back to senses, as I was helping her without any disdain whatsoever, I had been touched by an angel...no, it was God. Once they were put onto the van, Mother Teresa turned around and said, "Thank you child, you made a difference to someone's life today". I was left speechless, numbed by my own ignorance at the fact that a parisian lady from a foreign land had to teach me one of the first lessons of my life, compassion within my own land.......