Friendship

Many months ago I recieved a phone call from a friend who used to be my housemate during my student days. She called a week before I'm about to go for umrah.

Salam Shidah.
Salam H, how are you. Lama tak dengar cerita?
I need your help Shidah. I'm in trouble.
What kind of trouble?
I need to borrow some money.
How much?
RM****
Rasanya boleh, are you in KL?
No. Nanti I SMS my a/c no kat bank ***, you deposit boleh?
Ok. Tapi not now, by tomorrow ye, sebab I tak berapa sure location bank ni.
I need the money urgently.
I'll try my best. Out of curiosity, may I know why?
Can't tell you now. Maybe later?
Oh. OK.

Due to the trip I planned, I kept a sum of cash in hand. I don't want to be stingy. I'm off for a good trip, and I don't want god to be stingy to me in the time of need. People say what goes round comes around. I believe that. I've seen good deeds been paid almost instantly, esp what you do to your parents. Bad deeds too. Though, it is not always.

I don't have a problem to lend her the amount she requested, moreover she used to be one of my close friends. Housemate la katakan. I know it's money. People can be a friend or a foe when it comes to money. She is my friend, thus I'm proud that she turns to me for help.

That night I asked AT to deposit the money to her account.

Kenapa dia nak pinjam?
Tak tahu.
Bila dia nak bayar?
Tak tahu.
This thing can turn into a bad debt, are you willing to take the risk?
Kenapa cakap macam tu? Dia kan kawan saya.
Kawan tak kawan. Possibilities that you have to consider.
Kalau jadi bad debt pun, jadilah. As long as she's honest.
OK. Duit awak.

Ring.Ring.

Shidah, I got the money. I need some more, RM***
H, what kind of trouble are you in? Are you ok?
I will not asked if I don't need it ok?
Oklah. Nanti I deposit.

This time I hesitated. Not a word of thak you for the earlier sum, she even used strong words now. (Memang le aku ni kuat kecik ati, orang cakap macam tu dah kira strong words) Nak jadi cerita aku masukkan duit tu the second time. She never call after that.

Off for the trip. Alhamdulillah, everthing went smoothly. A month later, I called her handphone number. I swear, I called not to ask for the money. More of a concern to what happen. Ringing but no answer. Later I tried several time. The same - no answer. I tried calling from my office, she answered.

Hello. (I can confirmed it is her voice)
H, salam. Shidah ni.
Paused.
H, are you there?
This is kakak H. H is not here.
(Fishy) This is H handphone right? Where is she?
Yes. This is H handphone. She left it here, she went to K****.
Oh, let her know, her friend Shidah called tanya khabar. Ask her to call me back.

She never did.

Anyway, I've spoken to her sister before. They have different voices. Me, voice detector machine. When I handle the bank's customers before, frequent callers will be impressed with my ability to greet customers with their names even before they introduce themselves.

Not too much to say, she lied. I'm upset. Not because of the money. Because she's throwing our friendship down the drain. I could have halalkan the money if she were to come clean and tell me she can't pay me back. For her to avoid me, it is so wrong. Simply wrong.

There goes our friendship. But we are not foe. Definitely NOT.