The Choosy Beggar

  •   Fri, Jun 03 2022
  •   By Anthony D’Souza

June 3, 2022

Beggars can’t be choosers! But my experience with them has proved this notion wrong.

The other day while I was relaxing with my child at the entrance of the apartment, two men appeared there and one of them said ‘my car ran out of engine oil, can I borrow some cash from you? I will return it by evening.’

‘But I don’t know you. What’s the guarantee that you will return?’ I quipped.

“I will deposit my CPR or phone.” He replied with an innocent look on his face.

On hearing this, my heart melted. I went upstairs to my apartment and got 10 BD and handed over it to the man. When I asked for the guarantee, he gave me his old Samsung basic set phone that had died out of battery. When I asked for the phone number he said his phone is switched off. Then when I asked for the CPR, he gave me his laminated copy of vaccination certificate. By now I got a slight suspicion about their act.

When I reached home I tried to verify the identity of the person in the LMRA website but to my shock no such work permit existed! It then dawned upon me that I was duped in day light.

On another occasion, a laborer approached me asking for some help in buying grocery as he pleaded with me that he had not eaten for over three days. I felt pity for him. I took him to Nesto and bought him some oil and some grains. When I had picked up ‘Mango’ brand of rice bag, he said he won’t eat that brand of rice and instead took me to another section of the mall and selected another brand of rice. He was so choosy that I started wondering if he is same person who had not eaten for days!

After these two episodes, I have stopped entertaining beggars!

 

 

 
By Anthony D’Souza
Anthony D’Souza is a lecturer in English at BTI Ministry of Education, Bahrain.
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Comment on this article

  • Rita, Germany

    Sat, Jun 04 2022

    Yes beggers as you say are the one who choose ,and we are the one who eat whatever rest in house and SAVE.Saving later to loose to one of the lucky millionaers who save without working ,but beg ,cheat others ,.May be beggers feel that you are a saviour ,give others always and easy to cheat.Take care yourself.By the way do have some money to lend to me also ?Good luck.


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