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柴和爱

R·塞卡尔极不情愿穿上衬衫拍照。我指着他背心上的洞说:“那是我。”他直截了当地说。

我注意到他眉头紧锁。他不喜欢谈论自己、家人或工作。他极其沉默寡言,每天早上4点半准时在SS Colony的Ponmeni Narayanan街开门营业,为大约24名在附近值夜班的保安奉上当天第一杯热气腾腾的奶茶。他一直营业到晚上11点,除了饼干、蛋糕、拉杜、穆鲁库和其他咸味小吃外,还能卖出300多杯茶、咖啡和牛奶。他与顾客的交流仅限于生意往来。

然而,他和两个兄弟在SSColony经营的米纳克希咖啡馆却很受欢迎。这并非因为店里出售的小玩意儿,甚至也不是因为店里闻名遐迩的数百杯茶和咖啡,而是因为塞卡尔和他善良的心。

每天清晨,患有麻风病的埃萨基都会骑着三轮车来到茶馆。塞卡尔会用一次性杯子给他倒茶,再给他一些饼干。两人从不说话。事实上,他们从未交流过一句话,除了有一次塞卡尔问了他的名字和年龄。

塞卡尔说,八年前他第一次来的时候,我感觉他想喝茶,但没钱。“从那天起,这个约会就一直没间断过。”他说。

如果塞卡尔遇到经济困难的人,他都会尽力伸出援手。例如,他被八岁女孩西瓦塔里尼的困境深深触动。西瓦塔里尼被诊断出患有血癌,她贫困的父母无力按照医生的建议为她准备营养餐。三年来,自从塞卡尔经当地一位朋友介绍认识了这个小女孩后,每当她住院治疗或在家休养时,他都会给她送去牛奶和水果。

“这让我想起了我艰难的童年,那时我的父母甚至连一家人一天一顿饭都吃不饱。我知道挨饿是什么滋味,也知道基本需求都无法满足时生活有多么艰难,”他说。

每个星期五,他都风雨无阻地向三家不同的特殊儿童和孤儿院各送去五升牛奶,以及面包和其他点心。这家茶馆已有35年历史,当地居民都耳熟能详。但塞卡尔默默奉献的善举却鲜为人知。

“我只是个普通人,想做点慈善,因为这能让我快乐,”他坚持说。塞卡尔说,他从一无所有到如今有能力慷慨解囊,哪怕只是微薄之力。“很多人很有钱,却要么没时间,要么没心思帮助别人。上帝自有安排,我们也要找到帮助他人的方法,”他说。

傍晚时分,经常有一群形形色色的学生聚集在他的店里。孩子们通常来买文具、笔记本和书籍。“我会记下他们的需求,然后帮他们买。”塞卡尔从不直接给现金,而是根据顾客需要购买商品。

每年暑假新学年开始时,许多贫困家庭的家长都会来找他寻求帮助。性格温和的塞卡尔从不拒绝他们,总是帮助他们购买书包、校服、饭盒、水壶以及其他学习用品。

商店的收入由三兄弟平分。塞卡尔没有记录自己花了多少钱帮助别人。

“我对现在拥有的一切感到满足,即使拥有更少也能过得很好。我不需要更多。那我还能做什么呢?”他问道。他用自己的行动表明,只要有一颗善良的心,就能帮助他人。

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8 PAST RESPONSES

User avatar
Aleodor Costescu May 21, 2014

hipster article. I love that.

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Ray Feb 20, 2014

wonderful...may many more be inspired by your work.

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viswag59 Feb 17, 2014

How does one contact Sekar to add to his gifts?

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GT-cfire Feb 16, 2014

'I know what it means to starve.' Some of us combat this memory bu making sure we have enough money to never feel hunger. Others - all too few - try and make sure that the hungry are fed.

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Kristin Pedemonti Feb 15, 2014

Wonderful If each one of us simply did One small kind act a day what a difference it makes. And the Good news? So many are! One of the Smallest things you can give is to Listen. Or to Smile. Combine the two? Beautiful. (I also like to offer Free Hugs, a small gesture with a bigger impact than we realize) HUGS to you! Thank you for making my day brighter, EVERY Day!

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Sis Asha Feb 15, 2014

Kindness is one of the most positive energy I have experienced. Reading such stories keeps me inspired and motivated on my path. Thank You for bringing these stories to me daily morning. God Bless Daily Good!

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Sanaya Feb 15, 2014

Big hearts can be found in the most unlikely places. This is so wonderful. Brightens my day to read of such kindness (:

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hariharan Feb 15, 2014

We all have to learn from him on Service with what ever one has....a great man.
How can i help through him pls advice.