My husband and I met by chance, sharing a room as university students in the halls of residence. In those days, our friendship blossomed gradually into something deeper, and eventually, we became inseparable. Though we thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and spirit of student living, we sensed that the time had come to move on and begin our own family.
As our earnings steadily increased, we decided it was wise to invest in a flat. That meant selling our two rooms in the halls, which had served us well. We kept our plans under wraps, hoping to refurbish the flat and surprise our relatives with a cheerful housewarming.
However, my husbands brother got wind of our intentions to sell and approached us with a suggestion. Why not sell me the rooms for a little less? he asked, appealing to our sense of family. He insisted he could pay in instalments, citing his two children as justification. He even argued that the rooms werent worth much, so paying for them seemed pointless. Little did he realise, we had already sold those rooms ages before, and with the proceeds, purchased our own flat.
He managed to reveal our secret by mentioning the new flat to others. Instead of sharing in our happiness, my brother lost his temper and left without saying a word. It was obvious he hoped to take advantage of the situation, but our shrewdness was a step ahead of his cunning. Such moments stay with you, reminding you that sometimes cleverness is the best defence.
