On the way back to the metro station, a guy stopped me. He was in his late 30s 40s maybe. He approached me, scared and shy. He was inebriated. I don’t know his name or anything about him but he seemed really lost and desperate. Initially I was confused, I couldn’t understand what he was trying to say. I thought he wanted directions to the metro or the bus. But he started hesitating and I could see he was reluctant to ask but he wanted some money. He said that he doesn’t have any money and he’s drunk and he needs 80 rupees, teary eyed. I felt really bad for him. I don’t know if it was legitimate or not but I really wanted to help him more than I did. As of the moment however, all he wanted was 80 rupees to get home I think. I pulled out my wallet and handed him a 100 rupee note. In his sad, remorseful, raspy voice he told me how he wanted to pay me back and how he felt really bad for asking and I couldn’t muster up the right word. Words I really wanted to say at the time. I wanted to tell him that it’ll be okay. I wanted to tell him it’s more important to look forward and to look at what we can do instead of worrying about what we have done. I wanted to tell him that when a car comes at a hill, you don’t just stop the car and hope the hill goes away. You press the accelerator harder, make the car work harder, give more effort and even if it fails and comes back down, you find a way through. Maybe not the same path, but a different one. But it’s important to keep trying. I wanted to tell him that he was strong for asking help. So many people would just give up or just be too scared. I wanted to tell him that he will get there. I wanted to give him more money so there’s no issue of money for him anymore. I wanted to make sure he reaches home, maybe to his family who’s worried sick, just make sure he reaches wherever, safely. He asked me for my number and I didn’t give it to him, which in hindsight feels like a wrong move.
I hope he’s okay. I hope he found his way.
I can’t stop thinking about him tonight. I’m curious to see if he made it home. I wonder if the 100 bucks was really enough. Maybe he needed more but was just too scared to ask. I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll ever know.
I want to have done more for him. It’s probably just the late night thoughts I guess but, I can’t help but feel responsible, even partly so, for his safety.
Whoever you are, if you’re reading this, just let me know you’re okay and smiling. Alcoholism is a dark, twisted tale, same goes for any form of drug but there’s always a way out. I hope, good sir, that you are safe and sound and I wish you the best in prosperity and happiness. Please take care of yourself.

– Ted

PS: This type of personal narration is not something I’ve ever done. But I hope this helps someone. You can never know in these situations if the people are being genuine or fake, but when someone is in so much distress I feel like even the tiniest contribution from you could help the person greatly. What do you think? How would you have reacted? Let’s have a healthy discussion below!