Personal Narrative: Cinematic Memoir - Essay Example

Personal Narrative: Cinematic Memoir The same birds that remained in search of food whole day were now moving back to their nests. Their needs and desires do not last longer than a day. Once they are through with the need of the passing day, they feel no greed to store for the next day. “We are so greedy”, I thought and headed back to the car park for my second job. I shook my head “this is what our life is about, work, work and work!” All annoyed as I started driving, I found out that my wallet was missing. Nothing could be more annoying than heading back to the office for my wallet. I rushed back and nearly hit a car. I am still thankful to the lady whose brand new ‘Dodge Dart’ from the 60s was safe and she spared me openheartedly. “This is what life is about, ‘mercy’ as the lady had on me!” I ran hands through my hair and smiled sarcastically. I rushed into the office and took my wallet from the desk, the sticky notes reminded me of 7 different tasks that I had ready for the next day. A bookshop, a fashion brand, a car showroom, a bank – I kept driving empty headed looking at the shops on both sides of the street. Suddenly I saw a fast food restaurant with catchy images of food grabbed all my attention. “I better eat something before fainting” I spoke to myself and parked the car nearby. As I entered, I felt mesmerized with the aroma of food and well served meals on the tables. I ordered a large meal keeping my hunger in view and sat down to wait for my turn. I looked outside the glass wall; the people were all in a hurry, as if the day was shorter than 24 hours today. I smiled and kept looking outside. I noticed an old man with clean clothes pleading for something from one person to the other. I tried figuring out what he would be asking for? Some money, a house, a job, or some free medicines that he would sell off later on? I rejected all my thoughts as I was served with the gigantic and deliciously made burger. After finishing and paying off the bill to the neatly dressed young boy of no more than 20 years, I grinned with the thought that he is losing on his studies. I could not think any better than continuing with the social evils and moving on paying no heed to what others’ needs were. I reached my car and opened the door but I felt I was approached by someone. I looked back but could not see anyone. “Oh well! Now I am hallucinating”, I thought. Before I properly turned back, I bumped into someone. I got scared of the thin bearded old man with reddish eyes and pale skin. He did not look that horrible from distance. I suddenly stepped back and stammered a bit while asking him the issue. I tried keeping my voice strong and look fearless but I doubt I did. The old man kept looking at me without blinking and it seemed that he could not find words to speak. “Ahh, so here is another professional street beggar or supposedly homeless person trying to impress me with this surface acting of being helpless, duh!” I thought and gave a cold look to the old man. I turned toward my car and before I could ignore and drive away he asked me to stop. I was already getting late and was not in favor of such people who want to earn their living effortlessly. “Can I talk to you for a minute my child?” he asked in a low and shabby tone. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “I am not a beggar, I just have some dire need” he said “Every beggar claims to be a hard working champ once, what’s new about you huh?” I just thought but could not say it as he went into tears without hearing it even. He continued with the story, “I am a father of 2 sons who have left us at the mercy of no one. My wife is hospitalized and is diagnosed with cancer. I don’t ask you to pay me any money; I want you to visit her at the hospital and ask the doctor yourself and do whatever you can to help her. I have no one but my wife to live for. I have sold my car, my house and everything I possibly could.” His offer was realistically impressive to get someone trapped in the story but I felt I was sharp enough to escape it. I looked at him with a plastered-on smile and told him I was in a hurry. I sat in the car and told him I could not help him, although if I tried I could. I could tell him about the NGOs he probably could not contact due to his mental state. If the story was true, he was too upset to think of the alternatives. I drove away, with a pleasure to have escaped an alleged fraud. While driving I saw many beggars, homeless people and the like near the street in shabby, worn out and dirty clothes. I stopped for a while and observed a few from distance. They smiled, laughed and looked cheerful as soon as they get money from the passerby. The old man was different. When I compared I realized that the old man had no such intention to have money and spend the day without problems. I felt confused and a bit horrified by the thought of what he said being true. “What if he really wanted aid for the said reason?” I went into internal chaos. “What if someone close to me was near death and I pleaded to as many people as he did today?” my inner conscience was awakened as I empathized in the scenario. “What if I was as old, feeble and helpless as he was today?” it took me deep into the imagination of such a distressing life. I felt gross, selfish and mean having my bank account enough money to have helped someone with the cause. I felt deeply inhumane and unfortunate to lose the chance of helping someone really needy due to the entire vicious cycle of anti-social and ‘anti-humanity’ that prevails in the society. I could not even think of going back, I felt deeply ashamed with the fear of losing my job on being late or absent again. So, the greed that we cannot forego triumphed over the conscience and humanity. I parked my car and moved toward my office. On my way back, I saw the same street, the same beggars and the same habits they possessed. I moved toward the fast food restaurant to find that old man and know about the situation. I drove with many questions in my mind and my heart willing to see him again. As I parked, I looked around and saw the same person heading away. I rushed toward him and as soon as he turned around, I realized not every person is a beggar and not every helpless is habitual. It wasn’t him! He was not around and probably had accepted the misery to lose his wife or I wished someone with some humanity left had helped the poor person. “We are in a worse state” I thought. “The birds don’t have a bank account so they probably live it today and eat it together – we really are worse!” I drove back with a heavy heart and tried escaping the look of those teary reddish eyes. Read More