Gratitude: Whatever you do, whether good or bad, comes back to you.

As kids it was quite difficult to believe in the existence of karma because of the things we see happening around us. We were made to believe that karma only comes into the picture when you do bad things and then they catch up with you, but then we look around us and see people doing very bad things and getting away with it. If nothing happens to people who do bad things, so how does karma work if people can comfortably do wrong things and get away with it? That really made it difficult to completely believe in the existence of karma.

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Now as adults we see things differently and have been made to understand that karma does not only have to do with doing the wrong things and then your wrong deeds catching up with you; karma does not only revolve around getting punished for wrong deeds; getting rewarded for the good we do or did is also karma at work. As adults, we have been made to understand that it is not only the bad things you did that come back to you; even the good things you did in the past always find a way to come back to you. Sometimes the good you did comes back to you when you need it the most.

I just graduated high school and needed to write JAMB (Joint Admission Matriculation Board) exams. In my country, it is an exam you must write to determine if you qualify to get into college. It is a major criterion one must pass to get into college, and they have a tradition of posting applicants to different towns where their centers are located to write the exams. Many unlucky people are posted to towns where they do not know a single person, while some are lucky enough to be posted to the town where they live. I checked online, and I happened to be among the unlucky ones, posted to a town where they know no one there.

I got home with a sad face. "What is the problem? Why the long face?" My dad asked

"My exam venue is Ugep." I responded.

"Jesus Christ, Ugeppppp, oh my God." My mom screamed as she jumped out of the kitchen.

"We don't know anybody in Ugep, and Ugep is not a town you just send a child to without proper guidance. What do we do?" My dad asked as he buried his head in his palm.

Ugep is a town known to have communal clashes from time to time and land disputes that always lead to violence, and they don't really entertain strangers, so my exam venue being Ugep was really a cause to worry.

"When are your exams scheduled to be held?" My dad asked

"Saturday, sir," I responded, "and today is Thursday, which means I don't have much time." I added as I put my hand on my head.

Though my dad was worried, he did not panic and was calm as he continued making phone calls and trying to see if any of his friends or colleagues knew someone from Ugep or that lives in Ugep that would be my guide for the short time that I would be there.

"Thank you very much. I have seen the text you sent. I will call him right away." My dad said as he hung up the phone.

A friend gave him the contact of Mr. Chucks, a guy my dad once helped years ago, but after that help he offered, they parted ways and lost each others contact, and they both never heard from each other again, but the friend over the phone told him he moved to Ugep and that my dad should reach out to him to confirm if he still lives in Ugep.

"Hello, Chucks, it is me, Offia. I got your number from a friend. I am in desperate need. Do you still live in Ugep?" My dad asked over the phone.

"Yes, sir, I still live in Ugep." How can I be of help?" Mr. Chucks asked over the phone.

"My son's exam venue is in Ugep, and his exam is scheduled to be held on Saturday. Please, I don't know if you can let him stay at your place when he gets to Ugep." My dad pleaded.

"You know I will forever be in your debt; you and your family are welcome to stay in my place anytime." Mr. Chucks responded, and that put a smile on all our faces.

The next day I packed my bag up and traveled to Ugep since my exams were to be held on Saturday by 7am, and waiting until Saturday before I traveled was not a good idea as I might not meet up. I was given his contact and the instructions to wait for him at the bus station where I would alight the bus. I got to Ugep, and Mr. Chucks was already at the bus station waiting for me. I did not even have to call or wait for him.

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"Are you kachi?" Mr. Chucks asked the moment he saw me step down from the bus.

"Yes, sir." I responded with a smile on my face and so much excitement since I was already thinking about how long I would have to wait.

"Come with me to where I parked my car." Mr. Chucks said as he pointed at his car.

We got to the car, he bought some fruits, and we headed to his house, and on the way to his house, he told me everything about how my dad was his saving grace, a story my dad never shared with us for reasons best known to him.

"Your father is a good man." Mr. Chucks said, with all of his attention on the road, "Years ago, before he got married, he was just a bachelor, and he did something that helped me become who I am today. Can you guess what he did?" Mr. Chucks asked me

"I am really not good at guessing, sir." I said since I was shy and didn't know how to actually engage in a conversation with adults, I felt like that response would bring the conversation to an end.

"I almost dropped out of college twice, but your father came through both times. He paid my tuition fee twice when my parents could not. At some point things got bad for my parents; their business was slow, and no one was willing to lend them money, but your father did it and did not ask them to pay back." He said with a smile on his face.

"He has never shared this story with us; I have never even heard of you until yesterday." I responded.

"You don't need to go around telling people you are good; let those who you have impacted speak for you." Mr. Chucks said as he rubbed my head. "I am who I am today because your father came through for me. I cannot pay him back, but I will do my best to make sure I show up for him and his household whenever I can." Mr. Chucks added

We got to his house, and I was given a warm welcome by his entire family. Throughout my stay in his house, I was treated like a prince; I was not allowed to do any house chores no matter how many times I tried to help. I stayed two days, and I left on the third day, and to date, the time spent there is one to remember.

"Indeed, karma exists; whatever you do, whether good or bad, comes back to you." I said to myself as I packed my bag.