During my college time I lived in Jodhpur city (Rajasthan). It was my second year and admissions were going on.
I used to get 5k from home for my monthly expenses, which was enough to live and study there. I will get more for fees and other expenses.
My annual fee was minimal, but I had to plan for that 3500 as well. I had set aside a day or two to deposit the fees.
One evening after having dinner, I went for a walk.
A random person woke me up if I could tell him the way to the railway station. He was with his family, a woman and a 3-4 year old child and his brother.
When I asked him to take a city bus, which would cost him only Rs.5-10 to the railway station, he and his wife got teary-eyed.
The woman said with folded hands, "Brother, this child has nothing special, you can give something... (Brother, my child did not get food, can you help).
I was shocked because they didn't look like beggars. But seeing that woman and girl, I felt that I should help them.
I asked them to stay where I was in my room which was nearby.
My college professor gave me ₹100 for my birthday which I kept in my dairy. I took it and went back.
I bought some biscuits and fruits and gave them.
Now they started crying and the lady asked me to return all this and pay the money so that they can go home.
His story was about his luggage being blown up in the train. They were parts of Maharashtra and had come to Rajasthan for pilgrimage. He showed me his identity card and requested to buy the ticket.
I was confused what to do. I had 500 extra for my college fees except 3500 which had to be paid in a few days.
But I asked them to stay for a while and called up a friend who had stopped near the railway station and told him about the situation. When he arrived, he asked me to take him to the railway station.
So now I had to buy a ticket for 4 persons from Jodhpur to Akola Junction. It cost around 1500-2000 and we also bought some food for them.
The woman folded her hands and the man gave me her number and took mine, with the promise that they would send the money back to my account.
My friend dropped me in the room and the next day the fees started collecting.
I couldn't ask home. So Rahul, who came to the railway station, helped me for a while.
I called them once to make sure they reached their place, then I never got a call back and neither did I try.
But this is not the end of the story.
In the same month in which I had to manage the rest days, I got a scholarship from unexpected sources. One from our community and one from MHRD which was not expected even at that time.
It was over 10k.
I was not afraid to help them, I always considered that event to increase my faith in humanity and good karma.
I still remember the woman when I gave her the ticket and the child when I had the packet of biscuits.
I cannot say that life is fair to all of us, but it is always lovely and rewarding if we have the courage to help.