An amazing beggar

LAST Friday evening as I was coming back by bus from Uttara, a beggar got into our bus from Khilkhet. Conveying salam to the passengers at first, he started to narrate his story. The beggar was visually impaired. He moved on from one passenger to another asking for help with religious songs on his lips. His voice was melodious. I gave him a ten taka note. It looked like the beggar recognized every note he received. He used his fingers to identify the denomination of the notes. A gentleman sitting next to me gave the beggar a fifty taka note and asked him to return thirty taka and keep the rest as alms.

I was amazed when I saw that the beggar returning thirty taka by counting three ten taka notes held in his hands. Many passengers like me were also surprised how a blind man could recognise the notes like any body with normal eye sight. The bus conductor expressed his doubts about his blindness. But I am sure the beggar was undoubtedly blind as he was being helped by a child to get on board the bus and get down from it. I am sure if this man were not blind, he would not be begging.

Probir Chandra Das

Credit Risk Management-V

National Bank Ltd., Head Office, Dilkusha, Dhaka-1000.

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