Chapter 1
Aisha
The midday Abuja sun beat down on Aisha as she shuffled towards the imposing glass doors of Zenith Bank. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, a constant companion these days. She raised her usual plea, “Spare change for a hungry woman, please?”
A young man, crisp in a suit, approached the ATM next to her. As he punched in his pin, the screen tilted ever so slightly, revealing a glimpse of the account balance. Aisha’s breath hitched. It was a number she couldn’t fathom, a fortune that could change her life.
Shame burned in her gut. Here she was, begging for scraps, while this stranger held a king’s ransom just a fingertip away. A dangerous thought flickered – what if? Just a quick switch of cards, a few taps on the screen…
Aisha recoiled from the thought. Stealing was never the answer. But the image of her empty stomach, her leaky hovel, was a constant ache.
The man completed his transaction, oblivious. Aisha saw her opportunity. “Excuse me, sir,” she croaked, extending a bony hand with a crumpled note. “Could you spare some change to buy some food?”
The man glanced down, his eyes widening in surprise. “Isn’t that a…” he stammered, his voice trailing off.
Aisha’s heart pounded. Had he seen the account balance? Panic clawed at her throat.
The man knelt before her, his gaze no longer on the note. “I saw a bit on the screen,” he admitted. “Look, I know this might sound crazy, but…” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash, far more than Aisha had ever dared to ask for. “Here. Take this. But promise me you’ll use some of it to get yourself off the streets.”
Tears welled in Aisha’s eyes. It wasn’t just the money; it was the unexpected kindness, the belief in her. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
That day, Aisha didn’t just buy food. She rented a tiny room, a haven from the elements. With the rest, she bought supplies and started a small business selling snacks from a cart.
Weeks turned into months. Aisha’s cart became a familiar sight, her smile a beacon. One sunny afternoon, a familiar figure approached. The young man from the bank beamed. “You look amazing, Aisha!”
Aisha chuckled. “Thanks to you. Your kindness gave me a chance I never thought I’d have.”
The man grinned. “Well, maybe you gave me a chance to see the world a little differently. By the way,” he winked, “keep an eye on that ATM screen. You never know what you might see.”
Aisha laughed, a genuine sound that warmed the Abuja air. The encounter at the bank had shown her the depths of human compassion, a reminder that sometimes, the greatest treasures aren’t found in bank accounts, but in the kindness of strangers.
Chapter 2
Samuel
Aisha walked briskly down the bustling streets of the city, her thoughts preoccupied with the meeting she had just left. She was an investigative journalist, always chasing the next big story, and today had been no different. But now, she was headed to her favorite coffee shop for a well-deserved break.
As she turned the corner, Aisha noticed an elderly man sitting on the pavement, his tattered clothes and weary eyes telling a story of hardship. She had seen him before, always in the same spot, always with the same hopeful look as he held out a small, worn cup for spare change. She had often wondered about his life, but today, something urged her to approach him.
“Hello,” she said softly, crouching down beside him. “Would you like a coffee & Donut or Both ?”
The man looked up, surprised by her kindness. “Thank you, miss. That would be nice.”
Aisha ordered two coffees and handed one to the man. They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their drinks. She introduced herself, and he told her his name was Samuel. As they talked, Aisha learned that Samuel had once been a successful businessman, but a series of unfortunate events had left him homeless and destitute.
“I lost everything,” he said, his voice tinged with sadness. “My wife, my home, my job. All gone.”
Aisha felt a pang of sympathy. She wanted to help him, but she didn’t know how. As they continued to talk, an idea began to form in her mind. She needed to know more about Samuel’s past, to understand how he had ended up on the streets.
“Samuel, do you have a bank account?” she asked cautiously.
He nodded. “I haven’t checked it in years. There’s nothing left in it.”
“Would you mind if I took a look? Maybe there’s something we can do.”
Samuel hesitated but then handed her his old, worn-out bank card. Aisha promised she would be discreet and that she would only use the information to help him.
Later that evening, Aisha sat in front of her laptop, ready to log into Samuel’s account. She had convinced him to give her the necessary details, assuring him that she only wanted to help. As she typed in the information and pressed enter, she felt a surge of anticipation.
The screen loaded, and Aisha’s eyes widened in shock. The account balance was not what she had expected. Instead of being empty, it showed a balance of $1,000,000. She stared at the screen, trying to process what she was seeing. How could this be possible?
She quickly called Samuel. “Samuel, you need to come over. There’s something you need to see.”
When Samuel arrived, Aisha showed him the account balance. His eyes widened in disbelief. “How… how is this possible?” he stammered.
Aisha began to dig deeper, using her investigative skills to trace the origins of the money. She discovered that the funds had been transferred to Samuel’s account from an anonymous source, a few years back. Further investigation revealed that the money had come from a charity fund set up by Samuel’s late wife. She had made arrangements for Samuel to be taken care of, knowing that he would never accept help directly.
Tears welled up in Samuel’s eyes as he realized what his wife had done. “She always knew how to take care of me,” he whispered.
Aisha smiled, feeling a sense of fulfillment. She had uncovered a story of love, resilience, and hope. Samuel could now start a new chapter in his life, thanks to the foresight of his beloved wife.
With Aisha’s help, Samuel used the money to find a place to live and start a small business. He also set up a foundation to help other homeless people get back on their feet, inspired by the kindness he had received.
As for Aisha, she wrote Samuel’s story, sharing it with the world. It was a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary stories are hidden in the most unexpected places. And it all started with a simple act of kindness and a question: “What if you see the beggar’s bank account?”
