The moment my parents heard I was doing well, I got a call from my mom. She begged for money, saying, “Dad’s sick! Please help.” I was startled, but then I calmed myself and said no.
It was like they were pulling me back into the same financial hole I had just climbed out of. If I give in once, they’d never stop asking me for money.
A few days later, my sister called me. I froze when I found that the truth was something else entirely. My dad wasn’t sick at all. He was being harassed by loan sharks.
Apparently, two decades ago, he took out a home loan to buy our small flat, pay for basic needs, schooling, etc. Over the years, he kept borrowing more to cover bills, repair costs, and who knows what else. He’d never finished paying it off, and the debt had spiraled. Now collectors were showing up at their door, demanding payment.
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