Om Shanti, Not My Problem — Or Why I Didn’t Stop For That Accident

So today I learned something new: infidelity is a disease — but only if it happens in my family.If it happens in someone else’s, it’s called “life.”

Nice.

Welcome to India — where double standards come free with chai.

But let’s get real for a moment.

A few days ago, I was running late — like every sane Indian who believes they have 20 minutes to spare before life collapses.

Then I saw a minor accident.

Minor accident. Major human. On the ground.

My moral compass did what it’s been trained to do:Pray.Not help.Not stop.Not even slow down.

Just prayed.

“Hope someone helps her.”“Hope she’s okay.”

Because praying is much easier than actually helping someone.

Here’s the brutal truth:

India has a serious road safety crisis — not because accidents are random — but because bystanders don’t act during the golden hour:The first 60 minutes after a crash when help actually matters.

👉 Only 20% of victims reach medical care within that golden hour.👉 Over 50% of road traffic deaths in India could be prevented with basic first aid.

That’s not a stat. That’s a punch in the gut.

Imagine this:Half of those tragic deaths?Could’ve been avoided with just a stranger’s willingness to act.

Instead?

We:

• Whisper

• Say “Om Shanti”

• Scroll past

• Walk by

• Send thoughts and emojis

Why?Because helping means:

• Stopping your car

• Touching a stranger

• Talking to cops

• Getting your hands dirty

• Being late

• Being inconvenienced (gasp!)

So what do we do?

We pray instead.

Because prayers are:✅ Quiet✅ Convenient✅ Guilt-light✅ Zero-effort empathy

But here’s the real cosmic joke:

India has a Good Samaritan Law.You won’t be harassed for helping an accident victim. You’re legally protected.

Yet we behave like kindness will lead to an FIR and an interrogation under bright lights.

Here’s how we live:

✨ Wish good things✨ Hope someone else helps✨ Spiritual outsourcing✨ Judging everyone who doesn’t “care enough”

But real goodness?It’s not praying for life.It’s acting for it.

That woman on the road?She didn’t need my blessings.She needed my help. My voice. My action.

So here’s my savage, uncomfortable vow:Next time I see something wrong —I won’t start with a prayer.I’ll start by stopping.

Because better late than prayerfully late. 💀