Signs of Poverty

If your phone has an FM Radio on it, you just know it’s not a smart phone, like its owner. If you’re part of team “send me my photos” causing stress to people at every function. When others were buying a phone, you bought a torch. If you buy daily data bundles, how do you even convince someone that you have future plans?

If you can’t walk behind the sofa in your living room because it’s placed side by side with the wall. When you’re staying in a place that when someone offers to drop you off, there’s a spot they leave you so you can continue home on foot. Because the geography is against them fulfilling their act of kindness.

If you go to a restaurant and the price determines what you will eat as opposed to what you’re craving. If you catch yourself sleeping again, just laugh at yourself. If you cook from the veranda because there’s no space for a kitchen in your apartment. If you wait to eat the piece of meat last at the end of the meal, it just shows you’re not used to it.

If you lock your car and pull the handle to check if it’s really locked. First of all, you have trust issues. You don’t trust the car, you don’t trust the key and worst still, you don’t trust your insurance cover. If you turn off your engine while the car is at the top of the hill. If you wind down the windows and turn off the air conditioning of your car. Choosing heat involuntarily.

If you’re paranoid. Every time you think someone is trying to come rob you. You’re not conscious, you just have little. If you wake up before your alarm. What kind of poverty wouldn’t let you sleep? If you can’t get off your bed from both sides. If your bedroom light has no bedside switch. You switch off the light and then run blindly to your bed.

On Valentine’s eve, while others are shopping for presents, you’re at home composing a poem. You’re not romantic, you’re just managing scarcity. If you think you’re eating his money. You’re not, he feels sorry for you. You’re his poverty alleviation scheme. If you work between the Christmas and new year holiday. Working hard wouldn’t help you. Further your studies.

Can you see the signs?