The Honour of Being Needed: A Lesson in Karma

"The sun isn't smiling at all," I muttered, squeezing my face as I unlocked my door and went inside. I flung my bag into a corner and threw myself on the bed.

I'd just returned from the community development service and was very tired. I'd walked for more than 45 minutes from the CDS because I thought I needed it. I had my bike money but I felt walking is good and it would help me burn calories. The heat was harsh, but I told myself it was a sacrifice for a healthy body. It was 12:30pm when I got home.

Thanks to the cooked corn I bought on my way home. I managed to crawl to where my bag was and brought it out. After a few minutes of rushing the corn, I drank some water and lay on the bed just to relax before I got up to prepare the main meal.

I'd just remembered what happened the previous day and I just couldn't stop appreciating the fact that it pays to be good. Like there's a way it comes back to you whether your good or bad deed. That's karma.

I remember two days before, I was in my room that morning, and I was busy making my post before jumping onto the next task. There had not been electricity for some days, and I was surviving on my power banks, which I'd gone to pay money to charge across the street.

That has been saving me from going crazy with the whole light issue. Like how do you bring electricity after weeks of staying in darkness and it only stays for less than 2 hours? It's annoying!

Thanks to my Reverend and his family, as they have been lifesavers, making my youth service bearable; otherwise, I don't know how I would have survived, especially where my work is online and needed to stay online as a content creator. They would always put on the generator every night for a few hours and most days, I leave my power banks there for 2, 3 days till I go to take them.

Though, I used to rotate them. When one is charging for a few days, I would stay on the second one and when it's down, I pick the fully charged one and leave the other. And that has been working until they couldn't put the generator on for that night.

I became worried, and at the same time, I hoped to charge my gadgets the next day at the charging centre. That hope was my backup plan, but honestly, I wasn't sure it would work. But this morning, I heard my name called from downstairs, and when I checked through the balcony, it was Brother Tofunmi, as I fondly call him.

Tofunmi is like a son to the Reverend and his family, and we've been so close since I moved to the town for my National Youth Service Corps programme. He has been a good and kind person.

"Daddy said you should please borrow him your power bank to charge," he said.

I noticed their generator had a fault the previous night, so they couldn't put it on to charge, and as the light didn't come up, I guess their phones were down and needed a boost to perform some things before they would fix the generator.

I was shocked - not because they requested my power bank, but because I felt deeply honoured to be asked for a favour by someone who had always supported me. It wasn't just a request; it was a gesture that showed trust and love.

"Okay, let me get it for you," I replied, as I turned back into the room. I was so excited to help, and the other power bank that was going down didn't bother me since I knew I would find a way to charge.

I stretched the power bank from the balcony down to the stairs where he was and with a smile, he took it from me.

Tofunmi returned it later, saying they had charge enough and it would help them till later in the day. Daddy and Mummy were happy to charge their phones with my power bank.

A few days later, I was in my room, busy with my phone. "I don't need to charge my phone and power banks tonight," I said, knowing they would put on the generator. But a few minutes later, my phone rang, and when I saw the name that popped on my screen, it was Mummy (Reverend's wife).

I was curious and started thinking of many reasons why she would call me, but as they say that curiosity killed the cat, I picked.

"Good evening, Mummy," I excitedly said.

"Hello, Sister Busayo. How are you? We want to put on the generator now and we don't want to open the front door for anyone. So, we thought you'd like to charge, so you can come through the backyard," she said.

I became speechless, like I didn't know what to say. My heart swelled with gratitude. But I managed to find my voice, "Haa thank you very much, ma. My phone and power banks are fully charged already and won't be coming tonight. I appreciate the call, Mummy," I gratefully said, and after saying goodnight, I hung up.

For some seconds, I couldn't find the right words to describe that moment. I felt seen. I felt valued. I felt like my little act of kindness hadn’t gone unnoticed. That mummy could call me personally to inform me of their decision that night meant so much.

I guess they didn't want many people coming around that night due to the generator's status and did not want to overload it too much, but that call made me believe more that it pays to be good. What goes around will surely come around.

For the whole night, I was just thinking about the event as it meant a lot to me.

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