When Silence Isn't Golden.

It’s been a year since that incident at the bank, and each time I remember it, I feel a kinda regret for acting indifferently. However, there was a reason for that.

Read to find out.

I’d gone to carry out a transaction on a hot afternoon. The air at the banking hall was stuffy and didn’t smell great – it was the kind of environment where you’d expect people to be uncomfortable. And I was. In fact, I was hot. To make matters worse because, I wasn’t feeling my best. So I picked up a bank teller and began fanning myself with it.

Few minutes later, the operations manager stepped into the banking hall, saw me and remarked, “Why would someone be fanning herself in the banking hall? Isn’t the AC on?” he asked, loud enough for everyone to hear. He turned to the security officer. “Check the AC.” The officer checked and found it was off, so he turned it on.

He then instructed the security officer to ensure the AC remained on, and ended, "Someone can’t be fanning herself here nah, not like she even has flesh on her body.”

He said it kinda tongue-in-cheek, with a smile and facial expression that made it seem like a joke, but it was clear he made a dig - he body shamed me. I was the only one fanning herself then, so it he couldn't have been making a general statement.

Looking at the scenario, some other persons would have put up a reaction or even caused a scene, in a bid to make him take responsibility for his action, but I did no such thing. I just gave him a silent treatment. Reason: I wasn't feeling well, so needed to save my energy for better things. Moreover, the environment was stifling, even with the AC on, so all I just wanted was to finish my transaction and get out, in one piece. Lol.

I knew he wanted a reaction because I caught him still looking at me with a smirk on his face, but I didn't give him the reaction. Rather, what he got was a cold stare, a wry smile and then silence. My silence was a clap back – kinda made him feel like a fool, a jerk that he is.

I expected him to act better. Like of all the things to say to me, it's that I've got no flesh on me, when I'm very much aware of that, and equally proud of it. He actually complimented me without knowing it. Hehehe.

Well, I finished my transaction and gracefully walked out of the banking hall. And boy, I felt eyes trailing me as I exited. 😅

However, when I got back home in the evening and processed the whole incident, I had a mood swing - regret, anger for not standing up to the jerk. Maybe, if I had called him out then, or returned the serve, like asking when he would be due for delivery, it'd would have been much different. I wouldn't have felt angry.

Unfortunately, the feeling have stuck with me. Even now, when I visit the bank, I still remember the incident. The feeling of 'why didn't I react' still comes up. In fact, one day, I was waiting at the security door to enter, while he was was waiting to exit. I gave him a look – the kind that said plenty. He was surprised, wondering why I was looking at him that way.

Well, I hope that one day our paths cross again, and by then, I'd be ready....