The Forbidden

Part 9

We left the restaurant and Munir asked the driver to drop us at our cousin's place. He is dropped back at the office while we gave the address to the driver. We never saw Munir again as it was a short stay. But we return home happy and excited! I never told my sister about the restaurant incident.

I immediately send out my college applications in the hope of getting accepted as soon as possible but I don't any that was willing to take me halfway through the semester. I inform Munir that I had been advised to wait until the following year.

"Why don't you apply outside Mombasa? Nairobi perhaps" he encourages.

"But that is too far. Besides, I don't have any relatives that I can stay with in Nairobi"

"Don't worry about that, you can stay in a hostel. Is there someone that can go with you to inquire? Of course I will pay for the trip"

"Really!'

"Yes".

So I told my friend Belinda about it and she was more than willing to take me. She knew people in Nairobi who would help us move around. It was a girl's trip and we were excited! We packed our bags and soon were happily boarding a bus to Nairobi, the city of hustlers.

The trip with Belinda was amazing. We were like children on a school trip. We chatted, took selfies and laughed at our own stories. We arrive in Nairobi and Alex, Belinda's friend was there to pick us up. He was friendly and a gentleman and carried our bags all the way to his house in Kasarani. He was free the following day and would take us to the several campuses he knew. We cooked and ate dinner at his place. He insisted we sleep in the bedroom while he was going to crash on his couch.

We were soon introduced to the roommate. A guy who was coming back from work. I looked at Belinda with worried eyes. It was now too late to go looking for a hotel. I said my silent prayer and Belinda and I head off to the bedroom and leave the two men alone.

I locked the door behind me.

"Why are you locking the door?" Belinda inquired.

"Ummmm so we don't get raped by two men in the sitting room...."

"They can't do that"

"Really? And how well do you know this Alex guy?"

"He used to date my cousin Joan but this is the first time am meeting him"

"Well then, the door stays locked!" I insisted then grab a lighter that was nearby.

"What's the lighter for?"

"In case they try to break the door at night to rape us. Then we can burn down the house!"

We look at each other and roar with laughter.

The two men were true gentlemen and never did anything to us. Alex took us to several campuses where I delivered my applications. KCA agreed to enroll me mid-semester. We were all ecstatic and head to town for a quick sightseeing before going back to Mombasa that night.

Belinda called another one of her friends who studied at UON, Ben. He did not have classes that day so he showed up. Belinda said hello and hugged him. I followed suit and did the same. We ended up in a restaurant for a quick snack and drinks. I later learnt that Ben did IT at the university and lived in Buruburu with his family.

"I can show you around the city when you come. Just give me a call", Ben said to me and we soon exchange numbers. I was grateful that I knew at least two people already who were more than willing to show me around the city. We hang out a little bit more before Belinda announced that she wanted to leave.

"Ok, we need to go back to Kasarani and get ready to leave anyway", I said.

"I will come with you", Ben volunteered.

On our way back, Belinda sat with Alex while Ben sat with me. They were all quiet while we were talking and laughing out loudly. We got to Alex's place where we packed out bags and got ready to leave for Mombasa. We said goodbye to Alex at the door and I personally thank him for hosting us by slipping in hand one thousand shilling note without anyone noticing. Ben took us to the bus station.

I noticed that all this time Belinda was quiet and spoke only when spoken to. She was not her usual chatty self.

"Are you ok?" I asked her

"Yeah, am fine" she replied.

"Is it Ben? Are you annoyed that he has taken a liking to me? Do you like him?" I asked Belinda.

"No, you can marry him for all I care".

I keep quiet and pretend I didn't hear the last comment. We say our goodbye to Ben and board the bus to Mombasa. In the bus, Belinda removed her shawl, tilted her seat, covered herself and slept straight away. She woke up when we arrive in Mombasa eight hours later.

"I am waiting for someone to pick me, you go right ahead" she informed me as we were collecting our bags. She then heads the opposite direction. I look at her walking away and realize that I had just lost my best friend. I took my bag and went home alone.