Matatus blocking Thika road in the AM Image: Facebook
By the way, that aside, Nairobi weather is weird! One minute we(my girlfriends and I) are laughing our way to the terminals, the skies seemingly clear- ok maybe we didn't look up- but you know the way Nairobians start running everywhere as soon as someone hints that its gonna fall? Well there was none of that! We said our goodbyes and went our ways. No sooner had I sat down, than the conductor said "He! Na kunakaa kudrizzle aje?" I was busy wallowing in the miasma of the conductor knowing the word 'drizzle'- come on, don't make that face, some of them don't look like they might know- that I didn't quite get that it was really gonna rain. A few minutes later it was pouring like nonsense!
I kept hoping that by the time we got to our stage, posta, the rain would have relaxed kidogo so I could run the 500metres to our flats. Nothing! Infact its as if the skies were waiting for me to get off so that it pours in earnest! You should have seen the Eastleigh bound passengers looking at me as if they'll never get off! Oh, I forgot to say I was freezing and shinning…well, si sana! but I had on a grey mini skirt, a black peplum top and black doll shoes. oh, and that emergency scarf every lady has in their gunny bags-handbags-fornication bags-choose one. No umbrella.
Sigh! My nicely done afro! I had forgotten about it! It didn't look like it was going to stop soon, so I pulled my pink scarf over my head and started running, hopping and skipping over and into puddles of water that smelt as bad as they looked. Then it happened. I heard footsteps! Yes, they were louder than the rain! I had stopped running and had maintained a relatively quick step. I looked back, clutched my handbag tighter and started walking-running. No use. The guy caught up with me and said "hi." Really? you are greeting people in the rain?psycho! I ignored him. "You look really nice, you know that?" He continued! At least his English was good. But no. Criminal minds and people are more educated that ever! "Where are you going?" he quipped. In my mind, "where do you think?" In reality, "Si naenda kwangu?" I replied getting real irritated.
Surely, this guy saw me running in the rain, without an umbrella, and all he could think of was throwing darts? Afadhali hata angekuwa na mwavuli! I would have listened. There were more important things that had to be taken care off now. He continued "Can I give you a push?" Lol! Who still says that? I smiled discreetly.
"Ati?"
"It was just a humble request, can I escort you?"
Escort tena? that just sounds wrong. "No, I am okay. Nishafika hata"
"But you are still moving?"
Lord give me patience! How does one not know that the only time you hit on a lady-or man :D while its raining, actually the two times, is when;
1) You have an umbrella. Gives you an excuse to 'give her/him a push'.
2) You are both sheltering from the rain on one of those busy Nairobi streets where willingly or unwillingly, people share warmth in those cold times. Sometimes we will also share our phones, money and other valuables too.
"Okay, thanks so much for offering but am fine. Much appreciated."
He finally got the point and said goodnight. I didn't look back to see where he disappeared to. If we lived in a crime free world, I imagine that maybe he would have been bold and swept me off my feet, literally, and asked me "Which direction? A beautiful damsel like you shouldn't be rained on" Then he would run with my 80kgs self in his arms and gently put me down once we get to the gate. Like the perfect gentleman, I think, he would not insist on coming in for a drink and would disappear into the night leaving me with all the awwwws and aaaaahs.
*SLAP*
Back to reality. Ladies, how would you have reacted? Men? Do share below!
Meanwhile, my seat mate had this :) Nadhani alikuwa anatoka western ….
Enjoy your weekend!
