MERITED DISFAVOUR

It came as a blessing but it turned out to be a showdown. One that I found hard to recover from. It all began from an opportunity I had to make a journey out of town to purchase some books. Since I had the liberty of time I decided to breeze into a bank and obtain my bank verification number (BVN).

I have always been affected by the laxity of doing it back at home and since I was out of town, I felt it would be a lot easier here. I was right but not until after the show down. I happen to have an account with GTBank so I decided to visit their branch. I went in and as I approached a couple of staff to make enquiries, someone shouted my name and almost hugged me. I was not in the mood but I was also startled that someone would recognize me this far from home. In few minutes my brain had done a simple query and there it was. He was my student about four (4) years back. He was a graduate now and working at the bank. He was so happy to see me. I was glad too.

He said he would help me out and asked me to wait. I waited as directed and he returned asking that I fill the form and hand it over to him. That I did and he left. Moments later he approached me and told me that he would take me “right inside”. Well, well, well, call this favour or what you will. It certainly was bliss because I had a deadline and I had to leave the town the same day. I briefly asked if there were people waiting for the same purpose and he said “not much, about fifteen (15)”. I flinched a bit.

I went up to my wife and told her the good news and she smiled. I went off with the staff and he led me pass a queue of people and into the cubicle and behind the table sat a young man. He motioned me to take my seat and I felt privileged. Just then I heard a murmur outside as someone on the queue queried my express passage. I silently prayed that this would turn out well in the end. It was a wish not a prayer actually.

I sat as I watched the current customer finish his own biometric capture. Then the door opened behind me and another customer asked the staff in the office if I came for the same biometric capture. The staff promptly told him, he was busy and that angered the customer as he closed the door but not his mouth. I heard him telling the others that he asked a simple question and he was walked out of the office. A number of customers outside turned it to a joke and he said he had the right to ask and he would report to a superior because it would be unfair if I came for the same purpose.

I told the staff that I didn’t want any trouble and I would gladly leave and he said I should remain seated and not mind them. I remained seated but I had to really mind them. I sat a bit petrified because I know I wouldn’t like this to be done to me but I had taken the baton already by letting my ex-student pave way for me and now the staff insisted I say put. I obeyed but I knew deep down I was wrong yet I did nothing about it.

When the other customer inside was about rounding up, the staff asked me to sit and the moment he took my snapshot with the web camera, the door opened and a customer charged in and shouted “Why are you snapping him?”. He was furious. He kept shouting that he would not leave until I leave. The next few moments were close to unbearable for me as a number of staff tried to calm him down and he turned to me and ordered me to walk out. I remained seated.

A superior now entered and asked what the matter was, he also wasn’t patient enough to listen but wanted the peace to reign and he politely asked me to leave. I asked the staff to return my form and he said I should let it be but I insisted politely and he gave it to me. I turned to the superior and told him that next time he should enquire from all parties available before passing judgement but deep down I knew I had nothing to say in my defense. I was wrong. I broke the code of decent conduct. I went against my moral dictate. I messed up and I was greatly embarrassed.

The customers made faces at me as I left full of pity for myself and disgrace. It wasn’t obvious but I felt as if every customer in the bank saw me as a crook. I made straight for the door, telling my wife to meet me outside. I didn’t go back to thank the ex-student that “helped” me. I didn’t have the guts to pedal my embarrassment more than it already was.

As I drove back I lacked words to forgive or console myself. I almost vowed not to try such again and to remain stuck to my principles no matter how rigid people thought me to be. I will do my best even in little things. I am glad I was disgraced and embarrassed. I am happy I didn’t succeed in that bank. It thought me a lesson… no one is too big for the law of orderliness and if the society would be better then all men should be treated equally.

I drove less than five (5) minutes to a sister bank, no one welcomed me there and I filled the BVN form quickly. In about ten (10) minutes, I was through with the procedure and was on my way out of town, back towards home. I reminisced all the way home. It was not a lesson I would forget in many years.

It was merited and it wasn’t favour even in disguise.

Matt 5:20

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (WEB)