Humans have a tendency of making assumptions. If they are told something, they make assumptions, and if they aren’t told something, they still make the assumptions to fulfil their quest to know.
Thus, I was not surprised when one day as I headed home, two neighbours at the estate gate stopped me to ask what they considered quite a sensitive question.
In their mind, they were waiting for an explosion, a tantrum from me. But hey, I was out to make new friends after moving in to South B.
“Yes, go on,” I stated as I parked my car by the roadside. My house was one minute drive away.
I had spotted the two quite often with the security guard and one lived adjacent to my place.
“You recently moved in right?” one asked.
“Yes, I have, and I am still getting accustomed to the estate and the guidelines etc,” I answered. Most new people are always suspicious of let's say ‘nosy neighbours’.
Remember that Jamaican riddim, saying nosy neighbour, nosy neighbour, why do you poke your nose in people’s business, leave people business alone.
In fact, a majority of Nairobians love privacy. This is the reason why most prefer gated communities and semi-detached houses.
But as a communication expert, I loved small talk and getting to know people.
“I heard you arguing about football a few days ago on the phone about Arsenal and I wondered if you’d want to watch a match someday?” The other asked.
I laughed, “Why not? I would love to have you all around some time,” I responded as we warmed to each other.
I still felt the sensitive question coming, so I waited.
“My friend and I were arguing that you are newly wedded…” the first one asked and the two looked at each other.
“Was there some sort of a bet?” I asked, as we laughed and eased the ka-tension.
“No, it's only that you have heard lots of visitors since you moved in. Had a church session at your place. The gifts have still been coming in and you still have the ring on you,” the other responded.
“Yes, newly wedded. Are you a NIS spy?” I joked.
“No, I remembered my wedding 2 years ago and just laughed at seeing you settle down,” the first guy asked.
“Actually I am heading home, why don’t you two join me for coffee in like 30 minutes,” I welcomed them and drove straight home. ‘
“House 6B, ground floor aye,” I added and went to inform my wife Patience of the new visitors, Mose and Kibe.
After an hour, the doorbell rang and the two popped up. Mose was the married one and Kibe, I learnt, was single.
“Just a minute, let me finish cooking dinner, you guys were late for coffee and I saw it better to cook,” I explained.
“You cooking?” Mose asked with a surprised look. I guess he was asking indirectly where my wife was at.
“Yes, I am. My wife is preparing to defend her Masters' thesis tomorrow. She is in our library studying.
“Before we got married, we dated for five years and it is always our tradition to switch chores. Helping around when one’s busy. I also clean dishes and clean the house. We make each other's life easy,” I added.
For some of us, we grew up doing the chores at home and learnt a lot in boarding high schools and on campus. I understand others grew up with house helps and all that, but my folks always insisted on learning chores and helping around with duties.
It's something I picked and I strive to exercise all through my lifetime.
Patience joined us for a meal and we got to know each other better. Mose was a doctor at a Level 5 hospital while Kibe was a businessman dealing in online merchandise.
In fact, he was struggling with some business payments but life always has a solution.
“So I am looking for an easy way to get cash from my customers and I have been looking for alternatives,” Kibe stated.
My wife, Patience, a teller in the CBD came in handy.
“At Co-op bank, we have the Co-op Banks Chapa Pay, where you pay for goods and services online.
“For you as a trader, you can get more customers by accepting online card payments via Chapa Pay, which is Co-op Bank’s eCommerce solution! With Co-op Bank eCommerce you receive a unique link (Pay-By-Link) that you use to invoice your customers.
“If a customer makes a wrong payment, you can reverse the payment without you calling the bank for a reversal,” Damian stated.
What impressed him more was that business people do not incur any cost to get the Pay-By-Link solution as it is free to get on board.
“In fact, I am doing my thesis on the same, on how the Chapa Pay has eased business transactions in the city and the effect on the economy, in relation to digital transactions,” Patience added, I felt proud of her.
Kibe agreed to visit the Co-op bank to open an account or register online. A few days, later, he was back at our place, excited about the new journey.
“I just realized that it's good to know your neighbours. Thanks for aiding me to expand my venture. I am of the suggestion that we hold a get together in the community, have people talk and advertise their businesses, and see if they can land new clients.
“In the Whatsapp groups, most of us are dormant,” he added.
We all agreed.
“And by the way, I will also embrace your tradition. I see it as a way of spending more time with my family. Family matters,” he added.
“I am happy for you my bro,” I told him.