Ameer’s Thrift

If there is one thing I am certain about in life, it’s hustling. I don't really know why, but when we get to this world, we start hustling.

Even an infant will have to cry out loud so they can be fed, after which they will then start development in different parts of their body. They will strive to crawl and then make more efforts to start walking, start going to school, and then try as much to become something meaningful in life.

That's just the way I see life, even the elders still have to hustle and struggle their way to live a better life. One of the hardest stages of life to overcome is the youthful age. This is the stage where you get to determine how your life will look. And the stage when you are not only determined about your own life again but the life of the generations to come under you.

After my service year, I remembered how tough it was back then to even live on. We were paid some stipend as allowance for the National Service program for a year. I tried saving up so I could establish myself when the program was over. But I failed in the end because I got scammed of my hard-earned savings.

Okay. Abdulqudus! I am planning on establishing a savings platform among us. He said.

Ameer! I don't think I would be interested in it. I politely ignored it.

Ameer was my roommate when I served in the barracks. We were together in a room and parlor self-contained under a block of about 10 apartments in a row.

He is just my type, but way chubbier and has full beards compared to myself who's slim and has scanty beards. So with his beard, he looked more mature than I am, and I appeared way younger. But we are the same age.

One day after the community development meeting we were together in the room with our khaki uniform on. Then she called my name again. I answered from the inner room.

Abdulqudus!

Yeah, All in here. I responded.

Have you thought about the thrift savings I discussed with you? He asked with a persuasive impression on his face.

It was like he wanted me to join. I could feel the energy from his smile.

Okay okay. Let me know more about it, I responded to him with a curious look. You would know I wasn’t interested, but left with no choice.

Ameer! I have my reason for not wanting to join this thrift. I added.

He tried to stretch his tablet towards me to have a glance at the group he created on WhatsApp.

Ooh!! He felt shocked by my response and then requested to know my reasons for not wanting to join.

Okay. Good. My reaction was like someone who got a chance to speak up.

You will be passing out in two months and then I am passing out in the next seven months.

What if anything goes wrong? Who will be responsible? I questioned him out of curiosity.

And secondly, I am already into a savings platform where 1/3 of my allowance goes to. If I should join this then it might be difficult for me to keep up and I don't want to be the one disappointing others. I tried to convince him.

All I said wasn’t enough to convince him. I was forced to pay attention to what he had to say. While he tried to reassure me that there wouldn't be any issues with it, everyone he added to the group was someone he trusted.

Okay. I will join, but I might have to partner with someone.

He responded happily. No problem! No problem, I will pair you with someone.

Days and weeks went by, and everything went on smoothly. Two months after his passing out, everyone in the group made their payment and collected their money at the right time.

I registered late so my name was on the 9th of 10 in the list. It was a first come first serve. So I will be collecting my money just a month after my passing out parade from my service year. I was so happy that the money would come in handy to support me whenever our allowance ends.

Things began to appear tricky when some of the group members started giving excuses for not being able to meet up with their payment after they already received theirs.

I knew they would turn it upside down. I called Ameer and informed him about it. Since we weren’t together anymore he just told me that the truth was that those two people who have been acting suspicious are siblings and he doesn’t know them in person. They were recommended to join.

I felt disappointed in him for lying to me. I already made up my mind that my money was gone and it ended up that way. I was unable to get my money when it was my turn. They turned the group upside down. Everyone left the group.

Ameer had to apologize to me and said he would be the one to bear the loss. I made it clear to him that I never wanted to join in the first place but I appeared like a bad person. Now assume I participated in full then what will I account for after my year of service?

Ever since then, I have been so careful of joining any thrift collection. I was even advised to join a cooperative association but I am still reconsidering it. My experience from Ameer’s thrift taught me a lot of lessons.