After more than a week of having a car, I started longing for public transport and all its comforts. All right, I can hear you murmur: Hey! You don’t know what you want in life.
Yes, I want the convenience of driving my own car but I still prefer using public transport during rush hours. It’s better as one does not need to worry about parking the vehicle and it is also good to protect environment.
Anyway, it was on fine day when I took my children and went on our usual way toward the tram stop. We made sure to leave our home on time so as to avoid running to catch the tram. We boarded the tram and took our seats. Even before the tram started moving, the conductor came to us asking for the journey’s fare. I confidently slid my hand into the bag to pay him five pounds I had set aside for the journey. I was 100 percent sure I had kept the money in my bag. I, myself, had taken it from my son’s wallet and was afraid he might notice before I managed to return the amount. Surprisingly though, the five pounds vanished into thin air. I was rummaging through my bag in utter astonishment. I told the conductor about my destination and she got busy printing tickets. Despite all my efforts, I did not succeed in finding the money. Feeling embarrassed, I told the conductor in front of all the passengers: “Sorry! I lost cash and I will get off the tram now.”
She muttered a few words, which I could not hear but she must have got upset and thought that I was just one of those who wanted a free ride.
I was sure no one had a reason not to believe that I was just trying to get a free ride or whatever. My Ph.D. prestige was ruined once again, I got off the tram thinking about my parked car up there and feeling that everyone in the tram was looking at me and thinking: Huh, look at her, not able to provide five pounds for a tram ride.
I wanted to scream and shout: No! Don’t think like that, I am a respectful someone, I write articles for a newspaper and I study at a university.
It was so embarrassing. And then I started reflecting, how many people have I misjudged? How many times have I looked down upon people who cross the roads without looking thinking that they lack manners, while they could be running trying to catch sick loved ones at homes. How many times have I looked down on women shouting at their children and judging them as being bad moms, while they may be raising their kids alone without any help. People have their limitations. How many times have I looked down on employees putting up with moody bosses thinking that they are weak, while they may have children who may starve if he/she quit the job. Judging others is a trap and sometimes we feel it’s unavoidable, but seriously this time the lesson was so harsh, my prestige was all over the place and I even had to explain to my children why we got off the tram without mentioning the five pounds I had stolen from my son’s wallet and that was even harder than tram riders’ glances. I will not ride the tram for at least a month until I am forgotten.
@ HatoonKadi
