It was raining heavily on Saturday; there were problems with the train schedule, i.e the trains were running slow as usual. I thought it is wise to take slow rather then waste time waiting for a fast train. I got the second seat, which normally women fight for during rains, as rainwater comes in from the window seat, all were settled down, when suddenly someone touched my feet, I was scared I thought it was a mouse or a cockroach, but it was an old lady begging for food and money, I felt pity for her, I was about to give her a buck, when I heard lady’s voice “Please don’t encourage her to beg by giving her money.” I looked at her, she was sitting across facing me, I was actually angry with her tone, but before I could say anything she yelled at the beggar and told her “Stop begging, get down at the next station or I’ll call the cops.” The beggar left.

The lady looked at me and said “Sorry, I din mean to hurt you, of course’ you were trying to help, but these people don’t deserve that ….She shook hands with me, introducing herself as Nazma Ahmad , -I’m a social worker.