Last loan

The Meaning of “One Last Loan”

Tears rolled down his eyes as he said softly, “Alright, brother, as you wish. We will stay hungry for the third day as well.”

There was so much pain in his voice that it deeply affected Rahimo Kaka’s heart. He immediately spoke up, “Alright, wait. I’ll do something, but this will be the last time.”

In gratitude, the man folded his hands in thanks.

Rahimo Kaka watched him as he walked away with the groceries.

Abdul Rahim, known by everyone as Rahimo Kaka, owned a small grocery shop in the city. Most of his customers bought items on credit and settled their accounts at the beginning of each month. Many, however, failed to pay for months. That man was one of them.

The river was flowing at full force. He felt completely hopeless. With no hope left in life, he came to the bridge over the river. The bridge was deserted, except for someone standing a little distance away. After a moment’s thought, he walked toward him.

It was a young man, sitting on the bridge railing with one leg hanging toward the river. He rushed forward and grabbed him tightly. The young man shouted, “Don’t stop me! What is the point of such a life?”

Holding him firmly, he replied, “No, brother, don’t do this. You are young. Life is very precious.”

The young man angrily asked, “If life is so precious, what are you doing here at this hour?”

He murmured, “Please don’t ask.”

“Why shouldn’t I ask?” the young man said harshly. “You shouldn’t have stopped me.”

Pulling him away from the railing, he said, “Come here. I’ll tell you everything.”

The young man followed him to his car parked nearby. Sitting inside, the man explained, “I am educated, but no one valued my education. I survived on small jobs to feed my children. For the past three months, I have been unemployed. Today, I took one last loan from Rahimo Kaka, with great difficulty.”

The young man asked in surprise, “One last loan? What does that mean?”

He smiled faintly and said, “I’ll explain later.”

The young man, whose name was Kashif, took him to his home. Kashif shared his own story: “I have no one in this world. My father passed away recently, and my mother died earlier. Being alone and inexperienced, my relatives harassed me so much that life felt meaningless. My father left me wealth and a factory, but my relatives wanted to take everything. That’s why I went to the river. I wanted to escape the world—but you saved me.”

Then the man revealed the truth: “That loan was the last because I thought if I wasn’t alive, I wouldn’t need to borrow anymore. I handed groceries to my wife and children and came to jump into the river. I now realize how wrong I was.”

Kashif invited him to work with him. Because he was educated and sincere, within three months he managed Kashif’s business so well that he became the general manager of the factory. Kashif trusted him completely.

Both men helped each other escape despair and hopelessness.

Three months later, Rahimo Kaka saw him again and mocked, “So, have you come to take your ‘last loan’ again?”

He replied calmly, “No, Rahimo Kaka. ‘Last’ truly means last. I’ve come to repay everything.”

Rahimo Kaka asked sharply, “You’re here to clear the full debt?”

“Yes,” he replied peacefully.

After settling the entire amount, he walked away with dignity, leaving Rahimo Kaka standing there in astonishment—thinking deeply about the true meaning of that last loan.