Contribution in cash

My phone rang at 10 am. I looked to see who was calling me. I knew it could not have been for work because I am a freelancer and people I work with only contact me via email (that is always my preferred way of communication, I hate phone calls). I saw the name flashing as "Sanjay". I immediately had a face palm moment. Sanjay was my classmate from school. As the reunion is being planned he keeps calling to seek help.

I thought I should keep it ringing and ignore it. Then I felt it was rude to ignore so hard. So reluctantly I answered the phone. The tone of my voice gave away my irritation, "Hi Sanjay", I said.

"Good morning. How are you?" Sanjay asked me, there was a lot of background noise - people chatting, horns blowing, announcement on the loud speaker. It was my guess that he was at a train station.

"I am okay. I was not expecting your call," I tried to sound polite. I really wanted to ask him why did you call me, do you not understand the standard working hours, why do you call me during the working hours. But instead I told him that the call was unexpected.

"I had been planning to speak with you about the reunion," the audacity of this guy was unbelievable. I started to think either he did not catch the irritation in my voice or he just plainly decided to ignore it and express his thoughts. He was either not sharp enough to understand the sarcasm or stubborn enough to keep pushing his agenda.

"What about it?" I no longer wanted to stay polite. I wanted to express that I was not happy with yhe phone call.

"We the managing committee had met yesterday to decide the schedule for the reunion. We have decided that the program will be for the entire day. We will arrange lunch, coffee, and dinner. Looking at the current plan the expenses will be around rs 3500 per person" he was not done yet but I decided to interrupt.

"That is a lot," I said thinking that it would be my easy escape from taking forward this discussion. But it was anything but that.

"I am glad you brought that up. We all agreed that not all people have the financial capacity to pay that amount and attend the reunion. We decided to look for sponsors. If a few well settled students pitch in and sponsor other classmates it will make the life easier for everyone," he was explaining it to me. I thought to myself who in their sane minds would put themselves with such an additional financial load.

"That is why I am calling you. Will you be able to sponsor two more classmates. It will be rs 7000 in addition to your own contribution of rs 3500. It would really help some underprivileged classmate have a great time with their other classmates. I knew I could count on you so I called you first," Sanjay's audacity was escalating each passing minute. Plus he was trying to guilt trip me into paying for 2 classmates. But I knew all the tactics well and my irritation was giving me an edge.

I took a deep breath and replied, "Sanjay it was noble of the managing committee to come up with such a plan. For me it is a no. I do not agree to sponsor two grown adults so that they can have fun at my expense. If they are unable to afford to attend the reunion it is not my problem. If they want to enjoy they should figure out themselves how they can pay for it and not make it a charity case," I was angry but tried to maintain my tone.

"You are well settled that is why asked," Sanjay becane defensive.

"Sanjay I work hard to earn each penny, it is not for someone to enjoy the benefits of it for free. I am sure people will be charitable but not me," I was direct with my thoughts.

"People will call you stingy," that was the last blow and I lost it.

"Which people Sanjay? Those who cannot afford to pay for their own or those who are expecting others to sponsor the underprivileged? Besides I do not mind being called stingy," I responded like I was in front of Arnab Goswami.

Sanjay could not say anything. After a brief 5 second silence he spoke, "no problem. I will check with other potential sponsors. But please do come for the reunion".

"I will see," I said and hung up. Gone were the days when people though of taking advantage of me. I kniw very well now how to stand for myself.