My mum's back in Bangalore and I have the house all to myself again. Just like old times. A few days back, on her last day in Hyderabad, she decided to cook up a storm. Not for me. She packed warm food in packets and walked out on to the road, looking for beggars. Uh huh. My first thought was, "Errr... that's daft, mum. Why don't you just give it to the watchman, instead of walking around with 15 packets of food in the midday sun, looking for random beggars?"
That wouldn't satisfy her. She asked if I wanted to help.
"I'm heading down Banjara Hills, doubt I'll come across any street beggars."
I took a few packets anyway and within seconds of pulling on to the main road, spotted several old men, with their hands held out, who were delighted to relieve me of my lunch load. Funny how that works. Each time I stopped on the road and gave a packet to one of these men, I put myself in their shoes. Ignored by most people passing by, to receive a surprise lunch pack must really do something good to them.
Just another one of those 'Christmas spirit moments' and added respect for a woman who won't stop thinking about the needs of others. Even random strangers.
