My Dad’s getting stalked?

Ok, here’s what happened. I had to visit the hospital for some reason today and at the end of the trip me and my dad proceed to have lunch in our local KFC.

Queuing up, we took different queues to maximize our efficiency. While waiting to see who gets served first it, there was this guy who suddenly came up to my dad. Tapped his shoulder, my dad turned around, he smiled at my dad and said hi.

Not giving it much thought, I thought it was one of my dad’s acquitances. When it was our turn to place our order, my dad ordered 2 snack plate sets while I ordered one Zinger set. I thought he wanted to have one set take away, that was not the case. It turned out he was buying lunch for that guy earlier on.

We sat someplace far away from the guy. During the course of the meal my dad told me that the guy was crazy or something and that he somehow always met the guy out of plain dumbluck. Then he told me he would also meet some weird monk that would ask him for donation whenever he is around Kajang. I corrected him and said in temple, he insisted Kajang. Dumbstruck I asked, where? how? when? My dad just smiled and told me to wait and see.

Not long after that some fat chinese guy came to my dad trying to sell “lottery number predictions”. I assume he just randomly picked some numbers and wrote them on pieces of cardboard paper based on his appearance and getup. Failing to sell his merchandise, he asked RM 1 from my dad for a “drink”. My immediate response was I shoved my drink to his direction (barely sipped from it). I am not surprized that he rejected it, all he wants is MONEY. While all these was happening this chinese monk was suddenly standing beside me on my left. The fat chinese guy was on my right. I was like WTF. He had an alms bowl out and my dad gave him RM1. Then my dad got fed up of the persistant fat chinese guy and gave him RM1 to make him go away.

When they left the first guy apparently finished his meal by that time, “thanked” my dad and left too.

I was amazed that the entire event actually happened.

Then I debated against my dad about his generosity. He said something like as long as you have the heart to donate it doesn’t matter if you donate to a fake monk or who ever. My arguement was it’s a matter of principal, one should only donate to those who really need it. Another arguement was that the fat chinese guy probably would spend his money buying booze. Alcohol. I weighed my arguement with the evidence that I offered him my 98% full cup of coke when he asked money to get a “drink” and he declined yet persisted for money. Some how I think I may have done a bad thing. My dad’s good intention was tainted with my reasoning which made him somewhat doubt his actions.

It probably must have tainted the whole idea of sincerely donating since I know my dad would not want his money to be used for bad purposes which probably cancels of the sincerity.

All in all I would debate again if it happens again.

Am I heartless? Or have I grown cold thanks to the countless people who act as beggars/monks/people in need?