The experience of being used or manipulated is always painful. But it does gives a bitter lesson in life that may avoid the chances of being manipulated again. I agree that today generation is more advanced and wanted to make use of others. But when such thing were done by an elder who has fatherly figure to me gives a and that too around 74 years old, triggers a painful mix of betrayal, anger, and worthlessness. The person is an uncle, and I have a high regards for him. He used to be a teacher by profession, he is very clever and shrewd since beginning. But now at this age seeing him doing manipulative things and that too to me is quite emotionally draining leaving me feeling depleted, disrespected, and now questioning my own judgment. Is it ok to give respect to such people.
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Realizing people are taking advantage of me and my innocence, I feel disheartened and disoriented, especially, when I considered the person a genuine elder at home. The person in subject is a close relative who always consider their own children to be supreme and all other as waste. I never seen him putting their adult kid in any physical workload. And today the incident reminded of his earlier similar reaction. Todays he approached me to take him to the market to buy some medicine and visiting the Bank ATM. The weather outside is quite humid, instead of that holding a high respect and regards for him I could not denied his request. His son was around the village but instead of approaching him, he asked me for the favor. I could not say "No". Saying no at that moment of time means I am disrespectful and did not care about his age. He wanted to buy medicine so avoiding such things means putting his life at risk. And that may put me as bad person in everyone eye. Without hesitating much I said yes and took him to the market which is 15 km away on my two wheeler. As soon as he reached the market, he took me to the grocery stores and he gave a long list of items to the shopkeeper and then moved towards the ATM. When we returned the grocery store, I found a big sack of grocery items packed to be loaded on my scooty this surprised me, as this was not in plan. When I asked about the medicine, he said that he has medicine for fee weak. The little conversation was enough that I was being used by the old man. It is strange to find me middle of nowhere at that moment. He asked me favor for something else but completely different things.
One lie is enough to question all truths.
At that moment of time I was not in a situation to deny him, so I simply loaded the grocery sack on my scooty and returned home with him. Feeling being cheated by him, I felt ashamed of myself. I think I am too innocent for anyone to manipulate me easily. In this case, I left broken, but on my way back. I did indirectly warned him that a person could outsmart other on certain occasion but such thing cant be repeated over and again. He might understood my intention but could not said anything. The incident does leave me broken and now I learned even if he asked more such favor, I wont be available for him. He could have asked me directly that he wanted to buy grocery for home but instead he pretended that he wanted to buy medicine. Today all the respect that I hold for him lost somewhere. Having our good nature taken advantage of often breeds self blame and intense shame. I did blame my innocence but at the end I realized he was too clever to outsmart me. But only for an occasion not never again. I learned the lesson, some individuals have narcissistic traits, believing the rules don't apply to them and acting on their desires with little regard for the impact on others. he might succeed in fulfilling his ain't purpose by telling me lie, but can he repeat such thing again? I doubt that I ever going to help him without disrespecting.
I believe that reflecting on such life incident again and again does help us remind that people are getting more selfish and mean, and age is just a number.
In good faith - Peace!!
