Should I have or shouldn't I have...

Macau, 2006

After spending a brilliant few days in ex-Portuguese colony Macau (now a Special Administrative Region of China), I was on my way back to Hong Kong (airport), where I was due to catch a flight in the evening. After purchasing my fast-ferry ticket direct to the Hong Kong Airport for HK$ 200, all I had left in my pockets was HK$ 20, my passport, some chewing gum, digi-cam and my pack of Marlboro Lights. And well, I also had around US$ 100 in unexchanged reserves but tucked away safely. There were a few hours left for boarding so I ventured out to click some last shots of beautiful Macau.

Almost immedietely, a well dressed man who I assumed to be from the Indian subcontinent approaches me. First question, "Are you from India?". I nod. "You see, I'm in a mess. I came to Macau yesterday from Hong Kong on business and was due to return today. However, I've lost my wallet along with all my cash and cards and I've no option but to ask someone money for my return fare. I run a business in Hong Kong and can return the money when we get there. I was looking around for Indians to ask for help as the locals dont understand English and arent very eager to help".

I hear him out before responding, "Firstly, this is the last day of my trip, and I have just enough to last myself till the evening before my flight (well, I didnt feel like even mentioning my reserve US$ to him). Also, I'm not going to HK Central, I'm going to the HK airport directly. I'm sorry, but I guess you should find someone else!" He repeatedly asked me if I was sure I didnt have any money on me? If I was sure I couldn't lend him any? He even told me if I was flying that night, then he could transfer the money to me in a few days. I politely repeated myself, showing him my HK$ 20 left in my pockets, and added that perhaps he should ask someone he knew in Hong Kong to tranfer the money to him rightaway, so he could make his journey back. He said he had already done this, but the problem was that it was a Saturday and the only Western Union money transfer outlet was closed till Monday! He didn't even have any money to stay that night in Macau and was helpless. I had to shrug my shoulders, apologize once more, wish him all the best and walk away.

But my mind was thinking.

Now, regardless of not being able to pay or wanting to pay him personally, I wondered about the truth of his story. In India, I have personally come across numerous such incidents, where smart alecs convince you of their plight and make you part with some money, even change..and make a jackass out of you in the end. I've never got fooled as I generally dont believe any story of this kind. But this incident, when it happened in another country far far away from India, in a place like Macau where you dont normally see Indians, felt a little different.

For once, I felt that perhaps his story..this particular story could have been true.. and if it was, then did I do the wrong thing by walking away? Should I have given him a little of my US$ reserve and helped his genuine case perhaps? What if I (or for that matter, you) were in his shoes tomorrow somewhere and no one believed our story thinking we were crooks? Also, if I had parted with my reserve, and I suddenly needed it later for some reason urgently, what would I do? (Actually, the interesting fact is that very day, just before my flight, a lot of things went wrong for me and only my US$ reserves saved me!)

I wish I knew the answers to these questions.