As they were walking, a beggar came up, holding his hand out and crying, Baksheesh! Baksheesh!Mike kept on going but Mitchell stopped. Digging into his pocket, he pulled out twenty paise and placed it in the beggar's dirty hand.Mike said, I used to give to beggars when I first came here. But then I realized, it's hopeless. It never stops.Jesus said you should give to whoever asks you, Mitchell said.Yeah, well, Mike said, obviously Jesus was never in Calcutta.
As they walked through Calcutta, a beggar approached them, pleading for money. While Mike continued without giving, Mitchell paused to contribute a small amount. This interaction highlights the differing perspectives on charity between the two characters. Mike reflects on his initial generosity, which faded as he recognized the futility of such acts, suggesting a sense of disillusionment with the situation of poverty.
Mitchell, on the other hand, maintains his conviction to...