I didn't actually have much on me then, and that which I had was for another, and since she promised to return the loan the following Monday, I decided to take the risk. Well, I have had a similar experience with the same person in the past where I had to struggle to get my money from her. She believed my status as a clinician and doctor should make me forgo loans she took. I was compelled to reveal my paycheck to her so as to erase the wrong notion that I was doing perfectly and pointed out then that our take-home paychecks were not too distant from each other. I really didn't have to share my paycheck details with her, but her constant wrong perception was getting out of hand, probably because she encountered others in my category with a maximalist lifestyle.
Fast forward to Monday when the lady was due to return the loan. She actually reached out to me around 10 a.m. and asked for my account details. The but, however, was that she claimed someone had just sent her the exact amount she was to return to me and requested if she could return part of it (₦4,000) and return the balance of ₦1,000 later. I told her to hold on till she had the money complete because I did not want the money in bits. She, however, insisted on returning the loan since she promised and stated that she would have nothing left in her account if she sent me the whole amount. I told her the call was hers to make, and I was willing to wait till whenever she had the money completed.
IMAGE CREDIT IS MINE
The lady sent my money within a few minutes, and immediately I received it; I sent it out of my account for the purpose it was originally meant for. Barely thirty minutes later, the lady I had borrowed the money from called me back and asked if I could send ₦1,000 from the money she sent me with the excuse that she was stranded and needed to step out. I told her I had transferred the money out, but she remained adamant and asked if I could get it from any other source. I told her I could not, and I was not willing to take a loan to loan or give another. A neighbor close to me was surprised how I could easily say no, but I had to make my neighbor understand that I could not lose my sanity or peace because I want to meet the financial needs of another.
Since that episode, I have received yet another call from the index lady with the excuse of needing money for house rent after she was given an emergency quit notice. Yet again, I made her realize I didn't have. Truly, I didn't have it, but I try to live within the ambient of reasonable comfortability and caution not to fall into emergencies just like the urgent cash need for house rent. More often than not, the lady's beep or call is likely for financial needs, and I had to constantly decline with as much sympathy as I could muster, especially not to inconvenience myself while pleasing another.
Personally, I felt the lady was trying to play smart with me despite exposing myself to her about my limitations in resources. My givings are often for food, health or in similar regards and when people want to hold on to resources as a form of entitlement, I say a big no from the onset.
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.