DEBTORS'RETURNS

 

Grateful, attentive to the scene.

ME: (yawns) Omo!!! Why everywhere come dry today? E just be like say, no be market I come oo. Since morning, person never sell market and sleep don dey catch me sef. (Rubs eyes, yawns again) (stands and stretches the body, comes out, looks around) hmmm! Na like dis I go dey today? I never chop sef (goes in, brings out mat to spread).

(Two women approach, one holding the other)

SHE: (screams) give me my money!

HER: I no get money today, no vex, tomorrow I go bring am for your shop.

SHE: Bring wetin! (Drags her bag) the money wet you dey owe me since last year! Because of this same money, you no dey follow my shop pass again, you just dey hide make I no see you bah? Na God bring me come here today. You must give me my money.

PASSERBY: Hmm! Na dis woman? Madam hold am tight oo. She sabi owe person, na so she go owe you, run.

SHE: No worry! Na me and her today.

HER: Abeg nah! See as you just dey embarrass me for public.

SHE: You still dey talk about embarrassment, I go beat you here , if you no give me that money now.

HER: Because of money, you wan beat me for pub...

SHE: (drags her neck) (fight starts)

ME: 😁😁 see afternoon entertainment oo, make this fight no stop abeg.

(People rush to the scene and separate fight)

ME:😡😡

MAN: Wetin happen? Why una dey fight?

SHE: (Explains while panting)

MAN: Okay, how much be your money?

SHE: My money nah #200

ME: Yeeee!🙆🙆 😂😂😂 So this whole scene was concerted for just #200. People are maaahd in this country.

Living a debt free life is advantageous as there won't be any one to hide a face for. However, owing isn't a bad thing. There are times when we may need the help of others and the option could be to incur a debt. The issue is "not paying back and total avoidance from the creditor."

It is true that a debtor is prone to be embarrassed when they couldn't fulfill their promise of paying up at the agreed time, which explains why they'll totally avoid the creditor. However, the creditor might not understand it that way. They'll consider it more appropriate for the debtor to meet the creditor and explain why they were unable to meet, at most, assure them that they're still concerned and have the intention of paying. Staying away from the creditor leaves them with the presumption that the debtor has no intention of paying back the debt even if they have the said payment, and that presumption hurts.

At first, I laughed upon watching the scene and felt the creditor was too petty (I still find her petty anyway 😏) She embarrassed someone and even ensued a fight in the market because of #200 as if she had never owed in her life. The money she can misplace and not even brink over it. However, thinking about the incident drove my blame to the debtor too. #200 might be such a little debt, but owing the same little amount since last year and avoiding the creditor simply implied that she never had the intention of returning the money, which was obviously the reason for the reason for the creditor's backlash.

The exact amount aside, it is something that I found common among people. Paying a debt is seemingly more difficult than the actual situation that incurred the debt.

Some debtors tend to overpower their creditors. This is common between the landlords and tenants. How can I plead that you pay me, and you'll tell me to pray for you to get the money? Some will be rude enough to threaten not to pay if they receive further disturbance from the creditor. Courtesy demand that a debtor has to comply with the payment even before the agreed time, irrespective of the amount. By so doing, you earn yourself trust and respect.

Why do people owe and avoid paying back, even when they have the money? How would you make a promise with politeness and sincerity written on your face and next, you don't feel like fulfilling it anymore? Does it not bother you that you couldn't reach the end of your own bargain?