The moment there is suspicion about someone, everything they do becomes tainted, Mahatma Gandhi, the guru says.
Before I pulled away for a drive to relax my mind and meet my best friend Mel for a drink, Joe and I had differed on how addicted he was to his phone.
This need to use his cell phone all the time, persistent failed efforts to stop using his cell phone and his preoccupation with the smartphone. Addiction. The truth is we are addicted to our thoughts and we cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking
I wondered what he was up to, especially with us being married for nearly three months only. He argued that I exaggerated the issue and took it out of proportion.
“Jossie. Truth is I'll never know all there is about you as you may want to know all about me,” Joe stated in the morning before I pulled away for a drive and a meet-up with Mel.
“But my essential dilemma is between my understanding of what you are up to and the reality itself,” I argued back before storming away.
I knew I was exaggerating the issue, but if I don’t do so, how else should I get him to talk. It’s been a week since the habit began. Checking on his phone while eating, long phone calls with his brother, on his phone when we are streaming movies…
Don’t even ask. Yes, I checked his phone. We do not hide passwords nor pick calls suspiciously. I don’t know what he is up to because he is as clean as he is. I did not want to confront his brother.
I felt it was too early for that.
Mel and I sat by the poolside, with the fascinating, open-air swimming pool matching our blue towels. It was a beautiful view. I sipped my gin and tonic while feeling the touch of the slight breeze on my face.
The day was not that hot, but I was perspiring lightly, with all the dark thoughts running through my mind.
“Should I hook Joe to a lie detector?” I asked Mel, who only smiled.
“No Jossie, come on. You guys have been married for what now... Three months only, right?” she asked, staring at the blue tiles in the pool. A youngster dived in the pool, with her eyes closed, arms outstretched feeling her heart before feeling the depth of water.
She sank and later resurfaced to gulp some air. She then swam towards the further end of the pool into the loving arms of his … I don’t know… let me say ‘boyfriend’.
There's nothing more contagious than the laughter of young lovers; it doesn't even have to matter what they're laughing about.
That was me, Jossie, with my husband, Joe, several months ago. The passion, the drive, the zeal, the energy, the love. It was surreal. I still feel those goosebumps when I see him walk home.
“Yes, it’s been three months. I love him… you know,” I responded, clutching on my towel. It was getting cold.
“Then talk to him. I know Joe. He is a loving husband, and sometimes I wish I had what the two of you have,” Jossie added.
“You may have your own thoughts which you may find a little harsh. I hope I am not sounding disparaging but I don’t believe he is up to something fishy,” she advised.
I drove back home and planned to catch him off guard.
You never know a plan. You never know what’s going to happen. All you have to do is believe. Just believe.
Let me tell you one thing. I am a blessed cook. Haaa.. my mother can attest to that. Finger-licking, jaw-dropping, delicious… name them all. What way to get into a man’s head other than some good food - Ask Esau, Jacob did him well.
The sight and aroma of my food, I am sure it would be a gentle message to his soul. The vivid colour of the pilau, beef with veggies spoke with boldness and freshness. I spiced it up with some soft drink and a touch of wine in the glasses.
I sat pensively and waited for Joe to come back home.
The doorbell rang.
“The house smells nice... Oooh!” Joe stated as he gave me a warm hug.
“I am sorry for being a little naive in the morning,” he added.
I stared at him and went back to my seat in silence, crossed my legs and waited for the earth to turn topsy-turvy.
He put away his phone and prayed for the meal.
“Are you taking a shower first?” I asked.
“No. Just cleaning my hands, putting my phone away and eating this delicious meal. I don’t want to make my love angry again,” he responded.
“You are putting your phone away. Why so?” I asked. He had triggered my inquisitive nature. I felt like some James Bond. No hush! Our very own Kenyan Eddie Gathegi pulling some investigative moves in a Hollywood blockbuster.
Joe smiled, paused for a while and swallowed the mouthful of food, scratched his beard and took a huge sip of wine.
“You laid a trap huh. Wanted to see if I am still addicted to my phone,” he stated and broke into wild laughter.
As much as I wanted to show that I was angry, I twitched a smile and held my laughter inside. But trust me, I was nearly bursting up too.
He caught me off guard. Joe is witty, with a surefire combination of sharp thinking and comprehension. He paused and opened up on what was troubling him most.
A few weeks ago, Joe and his brother Tony, opened an online store, dealing with various merchandise. The two had been struggling to set it on feet. Trouble - setting an online card payment.
“Jeez Joe, you would have just asked,” I laughed right into his face. “The solution has always been staring at you. Co-op bank!” I laughed at him.
“What about Co-op bank?” he wondered.
“You can get more customers by accepting online card payments via Co-opBank eCommerce solution! This is applicable to all sellers who promote their goods and services on the online space. From a website, social media platforms, Whatsapp, Instagram and others.
“The best part is that you can still receive online card payments without owning a website. No Cost to You! No integration needed!
I added that with Co-op Bank eCommerce the merchant receives a unique link (Pay-By-Link) which they will use to invoice their customers.
“Once the merchant and the customer agree on the pricing, the merchant sends the payment link to the customer’s email address. The customer will receive an invoice with the link on their email.
The link will open up a portal where the customer will insert their card details and the amount they are to pay. Once the payment goes through, the merchant will receive a payment confirmation via email and SMS. The customer will also receive a notification via SMS in the event they have subscribed to an SMS alert with their card provider,” I added.
With the Co-opBank eCommerce solution, the merchant does not incur any cost to get the Pay-By-Link solution. It is free to get onboarded, the solution is secure, because it is 3D secure, with two-factor authentication for all card payments and in the event, a customer makes a wrong payment, the merchant can reverse the payment without calling the bank for a reversal.
Merchants who have built web checkout & mobile applications (APPs) and would like to enrich their applications with online card payment acceptance can now be able to do so with Co-opBank eCommerce solution.
Two days later, Joe is sorted and we are sorted. No more phone addictions. Business is booming too.
“When we make judgements we're inevitably acting on limited knowledge. We ought to always ask and seek to understand,” my friend Mel told me when we met again at our favourite joint, by the poolside.
“You were right Mel,” I responded, “All I had to do was listen to you and talk to him.”
I felt the warmth of water beckoning me to dive. I felt like I could swim forever, dive forever, be in the underwater world forever. But before I jumped, two young lovers once again divided.
I didn’t feel jealous this time round.