What would you do when a colleague borrows money and stops making any effort to return it? We asked six working women to share exactly how they dealt with this uncomfortable situation. Their answers were honest, varied, and offer practical lessons for anyone facing a similar dilemma.
The Professional Approach
Ritika (32, HR Executive) lent a colleague Rs 12,000 after a payday promise. Three days later, she was still waiting. Every time she brought it up, there was a new reason. She felt guilty for even asking. Eventually, she stopped being casual and sent one clean, specific message: "Hi, we've spoken about this a few times now. Can you confirm when you'll be transferring the Rs 12,000?" Something shifted the moment she stopped being vague. The colleague transferred the full amount within the week. Ritika says clarity is key, even when being polite.
Breaking It Down
Neha (38, Marketing Manager) lent Rs 25,000 to a coworker during a family crisis. Months passed, and the topic kept getting sidestepped. She believed the colleague wanted to pay back but didn't have the full amount at once. So Neha suggested returning Rs 5,000 every month. The colleague agreed with relief. It took five months, but Neha got every rupee back. Breaking the amount into installments removed the shame from the conversation, and once shame was gone, avoidance went with it.
The Power of a Face-to-Face Talk
After six unanswered messages, Sonal (29, Software Engineer) realized it is easier to ignore a notification than a human being standing in front of you. One afternoon during a coffee break, she walked over and said: "I've messaged you many times about the money. Is there something going on we should talk about?" Her colleague was embarrassed and didn't know what to say. He paid half that same week, and the rest came the following month.
Putting It in Writing
Pooja (41, Finance Professional) noticed her colleague starting to get hazy on details, once claiming she had already sent money when she hadn't. So Pooja sent a short message: "Just so we're on the same page, the full amount of Rs 18,000 is still pending." The colleague replied with an okay. That okay was all Pooja needed. Now it was in writing. She couldn't walk it back. Money and memory are a bad combination.
A Public Mention
Ankita (35, Project Coordinator) had tried polite texts, gentle reminders, and direct conversations, but nothing moved. Then one afternoon at a team lunch, while everyone was casually talking, she said plainly: "You still owe me that money by the way. It's been months." She wasn't angry. She just said it like it was normal. Her colleague laughed it off but called that evening and paid back within two days. After months of being ignored, sometimes you just need the thing to exist outside of private conversations.
Letting It Go
Megha (34, Content Strategist) tried for nearly a year. Reminders, follow-ups, one final honest message: "If you can't return it, just tell me. I'd rather know." Nothing came back. She realized she was thinking about Rs 8,000 every single day, taking up way more space in her head than it deserved. So she let it go. She decided she would never lend money to a coworker again unless she was completely fine with it never coming back. That's her rule now.
So, what would you do? Ask directly with a specific number? Break it into smaller amounts they can actually manage? Put down the phone and just go talk to them? Or decide the peace of mind is worth more than the money? These six women figured out in their own ways that lending money to a colleague was never really a financial decision. It was always a trust decision. And when someone breaks that trust, getting the money back might actually be the simpler part. Rebuilding the relationship? Not quite.
