Friday, January 10, 2014

Generosity

I was at ‘Sea view’ Karachi as usual on a weekend. Normally I visit the ‘Sea view’ early morning before sunrise and enjoy the cool breeze of the early morning along with the cold water of the sea and the lovely sound of the waves coming and going and striking the sea bank. I wait for the Sun to rise and enjoy the view and then leave. It is very soothing and relaxing activity.
The other day when I was about to leave that I saw the few pheasants, comprising of the laborers and some homeless people were gathering at a particular place. Out of curiosity, I stopped and kept watching as to what is going to happen. I saw lot of hope and inquisitiveness in the eyes of the people waiting there. As if they were awaiting some event.
After a short while I saw an old man coming on a bicycle. He had two large Thermoses placed in a basket/bag which was tied to the back career of his bicycle. There was another basket which had two containers in it and in them there were Muffins and cake Rusk and empty tea cups. The old man came and parked his bicycle near the people gathered there and I than realized that they were all waiting for him. He took out tea cups from his basket and the people gathered there came in a queue and started getting tea from the old man. Each person was given a cup of tea and two pieces of Cake Rusk or one Muffin.
Sea View Karachi

Sea View Karachi
When the old man got free than I approached near and asked him as to what he was doing. He told me that he, since long, comes to the seaside and give free breakfast to the labourers and the people who can’t afford a breakfast/food. And, know what, he does not charge a penny. 
He offered me a cup of tea and Wow! What a delicious cup of tea that was. I tried to pay him but he refused by saying the he is doing this for ALLAH’s sake and not for any reward. 
        One must have seen that the people with abundance of resources have very little and small hearts whereas, persons with very few resources have a very generous heart and they are ready even to share those with others. Here today I have shared the story of an old man who has very meager resources but has a very big and generous heart.
This man’s name is Mr. Abbas and he is almost 78 years old. He is alone and has no family. He earns his livelihood by predicting the people’s future through a parrot. He earns very little but still, ensures that whatever he earns, he keeps little for himself and the rest he spends on preparing/arranging the breakfast for the needy/poor. I was really inspired by him.
I narrated the story to my kids and the next day I took my kids along as they were all exited and eager to meet Mr. Abbas.

Posted by Zaffar Iqbal Durrani

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