The morning sun, usually a harbinger of a vibrant day, dawned on a Saturday destined for disarray. My first task – renewing my car insurance, expiring that very day – was a reminder of my procrastination woes. My leisurely 10 a.m. departure, coupled with the looming closure of offices for the weekend, only heightened the urgency.

The dwindling gas gauge added another stress. A few kilometres from my house near CMC Michael, a gas station emerged as a potential solution. However, this hope was dashed as a crucial flaw became apparent: my preferred mobile banking app malfunctioned. Repeated attempts yielded only frustration. The news detailed a severe system malfunction that had plagued the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) the previous day. This glitch caused a temporary freeze of digital financial services industry-wide, impacting essential services like ATM withdrawals and mobile transfers, leaving many, scrambling for alternative ways to pay.

Hoping to avoid running on fumes, I pressed on towards the insurance office in the Sar Bet area, estimating a one-hour drive. However, Addis Abeba's notorious traffic had different plans. Gridlock near Megenagna forced a detour to Gerji, which proved equally frustrating, necessitating a maze of shortcuts. Finally, after a circuitous route past the Bulgarian Embassy and the African Union (AU) headquarters, I reached the insurance office with a mere five minutes to spare.

Relief washed over me when one of the young men, after a cursory system check, confirmed functionality. But it was momentary. I reached for my debit card, only to be met with news of a malfunctioning POS machine. Cash, my only remaining option, was absent. With persuasive pleas, I convinced them to hold on while I raced to the nearest ATM – a futile exercise at Gidey G/Hiwot, King's Hotel, and the AU.

When I reached Pushkin Square, a relentless string of misfortunes began to plague me. The ongoing construction activity from the AU to Sar Bet had crippled the entire area's network and power supply. The situation worsened at Mexico Square, where drilling choked one side of the road, creating a monstrous traffic jam. With the dream of a peaceful weekend now a distant memory, the question loomed – can this ongoing construction be done less haphazardly?

It reminded me of a friend, visiting from abroad and eager to see the AU facilities, who witnessed this chaos firsthand. Our attempt to reach the newly built Adwa Museum from Arat Kilo proved equally baffling – bulldozers and round-the-clock construction obstructed access. Witnessing this simultaneous, seemingly overambitious construction spree, I questioned the lack of measures to mitigate disruption to infrastructure like power and networks. Safety for motorists and pedestrians also seemed a secondary concern.

Finally, a glimmer of hope! A private bank that still served customers the traditional way – at the counter! Despite a daunting queue of bank books, the insurance office waiting for me after closing time compelled me to plead for leniency. Thankfully, the young manager and the queue patrons allowed me to be served first.

The teller, however, struggled to complete the transaction via phone just as the building plunged into darkness. Unable to bear another misfortune, I implored them to hand me the cash and finalise the transaction later. The teller hesitated, but the manager authorised the exchange with a reassuring smile. Relief flooded me as I clutched the much-needed cash.