THE DAY I DECIDED TO GIVE

illustration was taken from huffingtonpost.com

It was almost 12, and it feels unusual to see how empty the city was. After a quiet morning full of workout at the gym, I rushed to see a taxi so I can go to my father's office in the heart of the used-to-be crowded city. Luckily there was one standing by in front of the building, and much to my relief it was a 'low-cost' taxi (I've been trying to save more money to purchase this pair of Nike shoes I adore so much). The friendly and polite taxi driver agreed to take me to the office even if it's not so far from where I was. 

We were on our way when someone called the driver. "Wassalamualaikum," he said. Soon I heard the person from the other side replied in a fainted voice. I heard the conversation in silence from the back seat, guessing that the person calling this driver was his sister (since he kept calling her "mbak"). 

"I sold the television for only 250.000 rupiah. It was the best deal I got. I asked the company (of the taxi) to lend me 350.000, but they won't give me."

"Where can I get that much of money..." he started to sound sad and desperate. I could see him trying to hold back the tears from his reflection. "We need 600.000 rupiah quickly to get mother to the hospital. Her condition is getting worse..." 

I felt like my heart stops beating for a few second. I heard reports about vicious taxi drivers trying to 'trick' people into paying them more, but I'm an empath and I trust my heart more than anything. My guts told me that it wasn't a scenario, that it is happening and the taxi driver is facing probably the biggest crisis in his life. 

"Please don't cry, take a good care of our mother and I'll do my best to collect the money." He ended the call just before we arrived. 

I grabbed the money I've been carrying in my pocket. I have 40.000 rupiah in hand that I planned to save for this pair of Nike shoes... but I realized that this man needs that money more than I do and the shoes can wait, though I wish I could give him more. If I were a wealthy person I would give him 350.000 straight, but I'm just an ordinary college student. I only have enough to feed myself, and it was the best I could give that day. 

The trip only costs me 14.000, but I handed out all I have to the taxi driver, convincing him that I want him to keep the rest even though he was being honest about the cost and he didn't ask for extra charge or anything. He began to burst in tears while showing the most sincere gratitude I've ever seen, and I will not forget the look on his face. I only give him 36.000 if I exclude the cost for taxi, and with that amount of money I could spend it all within a day, but that look of gratitude on his face... I will never forget.

It's the month of Ramadan, the sacred event for my fellow muslim brothers and sisters, and I want him to be blessed. I want him to remember that the world is not always cold. I just hope he could get his mother to the hospital as soon as possible. 

This event also hits me right in the face for spending too much lately, not giving time to appreciate what I have. When I disrespect 10.000 rupiah, the money means something to someone else out there. And to earn 10.000 one needs effort, and with all the excuses I made I hardly even take effort these days. I already have an income though not as much to fulfill my financial needs, but I still depend on my parents, while people out there will do anything, any job even the dirtiest, to survive and take care of their loved ones. 

We never know what a person has been going through, so please be kind to everyone whether it's Ramadan/Christmas or not. When you give, you receive.