The Forbidden

Part 1

I had just finished college and was back in my home town. I was a Muslim lady from Mombasa town and was studying in Nairobi at KCA University undertaking Bachelor of Commerce for three years. I decided to move back home because I got a job offer at a local firm. Although the pay was not good, it was a stepping stone that I gladly took.

I stayed with my parents while waiting for my first salary to move out. This was not permitted in my culture but I was determined to do it. "A Muslim lady cannot stay on her own before getting married!" my mother yelled. "How can you stay on your own? You can't leave your father's house if you are not married" she persisted. But staying on my own in college for the last three years made me realize that I needed my freedom in order to pursue my dreams. That I cannot let the hands of time predict my destiny and my life, so I convinced my dad that this was the best decision for me. Lucky for me, he agreed.

I invited my nephew to go celebrate my victory with me. We were born the same year so we were age mates. We decided to go to the Nyali beach which was private. Since he had a date for the day, he invited his friend so I won't be bored. He arrived few minutes later. "Hi, my name is Yusra and you are late", I introduced myself. "I am so sorry", he stammered and introduced himself as Kevin.

After introductions, we headed to the changing rooms so we can go swimming. My nephew was with his date while I was with Kevin. I came out of the changing room wearing a two piece bikini and I could see Kevin's jaws dropping. "Yap that serves him right!' I said to myself sheepishly and dived into the waves.

The feeling of the water hitting my body was so refreshing and soon we were splashing each other in the water and laughing loudly. We would come out of the water, take selfies and go back to swim and it was an afternoon well spent. I had a good time with Kevin despite the fact that we came from two different worlds. He was a Christian from a Luo community while I was a Muslim from the conservative coastal island of Pemba. As we were heading home, I asked Kevin "Hey, will you come to my graduation party next week in Nairobi?" He looked deep into my eyes and answered "I would not miss it for the world". Right there and then, I knew this was only the beginning of something I could not deny myself.