They say love is a beautiful thing. And we all wish and hope that against all odds we can find the one. This is a story of how I fell in love with a woman I now call my wife. And it wasn’t love at first sight—more like love at first talk.
It was on a chilly, rainy Monday. I was angry at everyone and everything—I think it has something to do with the fact that I hate the rain. As I made my way to the bus stop, my umbrella in one hand, the rain slowly drizzled, and everyone was in a hurry to get a vehicle before the heavens opened again. From a distance, I could see a crowd of people waiting on matatus, and I got worried.
When it rains, it almost seems like people lose their senses. It’s always chaotic in Nairobi, especially. You have to hop, skip, and jump over puddles of water, then brave traffic jams, and everyone seems to be always in a rush.
As I waited patiently for a matatu, I looked from the corner of my eye, and I could see what looked like the most beautiful person I'd ever seen in my life, but as quickly as I saw her, my mind moved on. Just like the many women we see walking in town, never to be seen again.
Then here came the moment I dreaded. Scrambling for a seat in the 14-seater matatu. I know you’re wondering why there’s a scramble. In my estate, people don’t queue, and they mostly hate it.
As the vehicle got closer, I quickly closed my umbrella, ready to find a seat. But luckily, I did not need to fight. I managed to secure one of the seats up front. And as if the universe was trying to tell me something, I ended up sitting next to her. The woman I saw out of the corner of my eye.
Let me tell you about her. She was simply gorgeous. She looked graceful, her light skin glowing under the gloomy day. Her delicate jawline seamlessly aligned with high cheekbones, framing a face that radiated both strength and gentleness. For a moment, I thought she was a figment of my imagination. She was dressed in a dark striped suit that brought out her body and inner self. And there I sat, unbothered.
The matatu was not playing music, as is normally the case. Instead, the driver had tuned into one of the popular morning radio shows. I don’t make a habit of listening to them, but they are entertaining. And with this gloomy morning, I needed a laugh.
Against my better judgment, I did not wear my headphones. And as the driver increased the volume, the presenter said, “Yesterday I got a call from this man. He said he has not been able to date a woman because every time money comes up, ana wachwa kwa mataa.”
I was hooked. The popular presenter then asked, “Is it possible for a man to satisfy a woman without money?” Then I could hear the driver murmuring, “Hii Nairobi bila pesa, mapenzi utapata ni ya mzazi poker.” The lady seated between us shook her head. She went on to ask, “Are you dating?”
The driver responded, “I am married, but I have been fleeced dry.” At this point, I jumped in. “Would you date a broke guy?” I asked her. She looked at me and then took a minute to think. I was worried she would be rude.
But then she started responding. “I don’t think it’s as easy as that,” she said. “I look at the person, is there any prospect, or is there a chance he could make it in life?” she said. I got intrigued by her response and wanted to find out more.
I looked at her, somewhat baffled by her answer, and said, “I am James. And you are?” She said, “Maurine.” We shook hands, and before I could say a word, the conductor tapped on my shoulder and asked for the fare.
I took my phone out and realised I had forgotten to withdraw money from my bank account to my Mpesa. I had just Ksh25 in my Mpesa, which was not enough to get me out of Roysambu, let alone to town.
As I rushed to my mobile banking app, Maurine laughed at me. “Why do you need all those apps?” she asked. “Don’t you know you can do everything simultaneously with LOOP?”
I was surprised. This stranger is now advising me about my finances. “With LOOP, you can send money, pay via QR codes, and borrow—all on the same app,” she said.
I was curious now. “Is it LOOP for youths?” I asked.
“No. Anyone can open a LOOP account,” Maurine explained. LOOP is a digital banking platform from NCBA, designed to provide essential banking services without the need to visit a physical branch.
I wanted to learn more, but even before I could ask another question, a caller over the radio said, “All men are the same. They will all hurt you.” And that broke my attention for a minute. But even as I thought of a response, she said, “You can’t take all men and place them in the same basket. That’s where we go wrong.”
For me, I now had fallen for this woman. She was not only beautiful but smart as well. I thought to myself, why shouldn’t I try my luck? It’s been good so far. So I turned and looked at her in the eyes, and stealing one of my favourite lines from The Lord of The Rings, I said, “I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.”
She looked back at me, giggled, and said, “Give me your phone.” And they say the rest is history.
To access NCBA LOOP, you need to download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and complete the registration process.
It’s an easy way to manage your finances, track your spending, and even gift someone you love without the stress—whether it’s for a special day like Valentine’s or just to show appreciation any day of the year.