This life especially in Nigeria is a stress on its own. For everything one does, at the end of the day, it results in stress due to the hullabaloo of living and surviving. This life is "survival of the fittest" and if you are not careful, you might not always get things done when you needed them most. An example of this is our Nigerian banks. I stopped visiting the bank to withdraw for a long time as I hate standing in the queue for long hours, thereby having pains in all my body, in the end, you would be told to come back the next day and when you calmly go away in the hope that the next day would favour you, there is always another story being told. Sometimes, you have to take the kingdom by force when you are suffering already.
Image source by RDNE Stock project from pexels, edited on Canva
Some banks are just frustrating, ranging with problems from the ATM because little money is stored in there. Let's say you have queued for long hours and reaching your turn, the machine pops out a message for you while inserting your card to withdraw, "not able to dispense cash", your frustration level will automatically increase by 1001% thereby getting angry at the staff even the bank itself. Another major problem is the issue of the machine eating up your card and all you have to do is go inside to make complaints which you have been avoiding. If you are lucky, you will get it done that day and if not, sorry is your case as you would come back the next day unless you have decided to dash them the card. ATMs are always hungry and it is why they love eating cards especially those not from their bank.
I had an experience of such some years back. I was doing my Nce programme then in the year 2013. That day was the worst for me because I was met with hunger plus no money. I begged people to borrow money but kept taking different excuses that were not useful to me. I picked up my phone and called Mom which was on a Friday, after explaining my ordeal to her, she agreed to send money to my account immediately. There was an ATM in the school campus which I could just walk down to within 5 mins, withdraw my money and eat. The hunger in me couldn't allow me to walk as my legs were shaking. I kept dragging myself with the hope that when I withdraw, I can use a little amount to buy snacks and hold my body. Hunger isn't a good thing!
I got there and discovered it wasn't dispensing. I had no other way than to take a bike to the town as my bank was located there. It would cost me 1 HBD to and fro. I called a friend to meet me at a junction to borrow the money after explaining what had happened and how I would pay her back when I returned. I got to the bank in the afternoon. On Fridays, banks close early then and I was quick to get there and do what I needed to do. I met a long queue, something I hate. Well, do I have a choice? I took my space and kept waiting even under the sun. I was excited because I would be having lots of food in my house which would last me and that gave me the motivation to wait more, not minding the hot sun dealing with me.
I remember standing for over an hour before it got to my turn. While I inserted my card and followed instructions, I waited for a while to hear the sound of money counting but nothing happened. People behind me were starting to feel upset and I told them to be patient because I was too, with those ahead of me. Later, someone told me my card must have been swallowed by the machine. At that point, I was feeling uneasy in me. I looked at the time, it was past 3 pm and looking at the queue where people are going inside, there was no way I would make it inside too. I was devastated and the only thing coming to my mind was "How do I pay my friend back? How will I eat for the weekend?"
I stood there waiting for a miracle maybe the machine would pity my condition and say, "Hey lady, I know how frustrated you are right now because I ate your card. Okay, sorry, take your stuff and have some money too" but nothing like that happened. Knowing I would have to come back next Monday infuriated me more and I went back home feeling hopeless.
Fortunately for me, a friend came around to return the money she borrowed from which helped me return the one I took from my friend and was able to buy little food to last me till the next week. It was then I realize how good it is to lend people money 😄😄 Don't lend to those who wouldn't return oo.