Happy to Help :)

Traditional India is known for it's courtesy to guests. Today, I got a chance to add a little to it, and here's a little description...

I had to go to Sadar Bazaar from New Delhi railway station, and I was looking for a Rikshaw. I noticed that a foreign tourist was trying to negotiate with Rikshaw pullers and she was unable to explain them where she wanted to go, as they didn't understand English. She asked me for help, and I did it normally, took my Rikshaw and started off.

Just about 10 metres, I had a thought, and I asked the rikshaw puller to stop in the middle. I went back to that girl, and offered her to help her visit the couple of places (Jama Masjid etc) so that she doesn't have the language problem once again. At first she was reluctant, since I was a stranger, and also out of her humbleness, but then she agreed. I told her I need to buy a couple of things from Sadar and then we can go to places she wants to visit, and we then got back in Rikshaw.

As the rikshaw moved in the "extremely hot sun", we hit a conversation and got to know each other. She was from Japan, and was here for last one week to visit some friends & see a couple of places. I was surprised that a decent looking girl was walking all alone in such heat, without caring for getting tanned, but she said it's all right to her.

Anyways, we went and bought my stuff, and then we set towards Jama Masjid in another rikshaw through narrow and traffic packed streets of chawri bazaar. It was a prettly long "rikshaw drive", and we talked about our jobs, families, further plans to study and other things. Within minutes we were talking comfortably, and she mentioned that some people are really kind of foreigners, which was really satisfying. She was travelling in rikshaw for the first time, and she was a little nervous, and this made her jump here n there on the bumpy road.

We reached Jama Masjid and went through "no security checks", on which she laughed sarcastically. We reached the entrance and she was amazed by the expanse of the monument. She clicked a few pictures and we moved forward. And then came the funniest part. We were asked to take off our shoes before going further, and the momemt we took the shoes off, we both screamed. The floor was burning! It was 46 degrees out today at 1 in the noon, and we had to walk bare-footed!!! As we somehow managed to take a breether by coming in shade, a person from admin came as asked her to purchase tourist ticket for 200 bucks. Both of us were surprised, and she wasn't asked for this earlier in India. I was allowed free, but she had to pay.

Anyways, we moved forward and ran across the carpeted track, which was also very hot, though better than bare floor. We managed to reach the prayer area which was comfortable. It was amazing to stand in front of the huge verandah and enjoy the breeze. Yes, even though it was mercilessly hot, the breeze in the mosque was comfortable if not cool. Despite the fact that I've stayed in NCR for over 10 years now, I was visiting for the first time in my proper senses. I told her a little about Mughal Emperors and whatever little history I knew, and then we started moving out. We relaxed for 10 odd minutes and put our shoes back.

She looked tired now. I asked her if we shall go for lunch, but it she said she doesn't take lunch, and just keeps a meal a day at night. I was shocked. She said it's just her that way and normal Japanese people have regular 3 meals. Good for her, anyways.

Somehow, she was silent now. I asked her if she wants to see some more places, but she said she just want to walk around on her own. I got her point. She once again thanked me for helping her. We exchanged our contact details and she said she'd like to see more of Delhi when she comes next time. Finally, we said goodbye and I got an auto back to station parking, picked my car and came back home.

It was really amazing that we mixed up well and spend a nice time. I'm glad she was happy that I helped her. I hope this experience would have assuaged the negative impressions she'd have had during her rest of the stay in India, and would speak positive about our nation when she returns to Japan. Moreover, I hope to make friends with her and maybe get to know more about their culture and society.

Thanks to our ancestors for infusing such nice teachings into our society. It's very important to respect and help people visiting our country, as this not only brings wealth, but it also helps us get to know where we can improve. That's probably how we have such a rick culture...

I'm not able to end this post in any special ways, except that I'd say in the end, a modern version of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' as 'Happy to Help' :)