Think of anything, a product or a service. In this instance, we will take books. By virtue that you are reading this, I will undertake that you are one prone to consume literary works. So for instance, you are in need of a book and you already have a title in mind . You could either: Go to a bookstore, get a soft copy online, thrift a second hand copy or borrow from a friend who owns a copy. One in 5 people would go to a book store,two among five people would not mind a soft copy. I am sure we can do the math for the remaining scenarios as obviously one in five would thrift and at least one in 5 would borrow from a friend. These choices made by the different people are inspired by several factors. Each considers the cost, the convenience,the forgone alternative and the urgency.
If I really need to get my hands on a book, the book store would be my first option. Unfortunately, it might be that time of the month my finances do not allow or generally I have other accumulated needs that rank higher in priority. Then, I would consider thrifting but as this heavily relies on luck, I may have to settle on a soft copy. The possibility of finding a friend with the book I want who is willing to lend and we actually meet for the exchange to take place is as rare as public holidays falling on a Monday or Friday.
Last month, experience had the privilege of teaching me how cheap is indeed expensive. I was so hungry at about midday after running errands in town. I had two options; either rush home and fix a quick meal that would go all the way to supper or find an affordable meal that will drown the pangs of hunger. Imagine if I faint on my way to the bus stop to get a matatu! Nitaambia nini watu? With this thought, I convinced myself to find a place to eat before the little energy I had in me lapsed.
I was drawn to this 200 shillings deal that had me served a packet of fries, one piece of chicken and 300ml soda. One bite… maybe it’s my taste buds second bite…. eeeww third bite I should have thought twice with such good a deal. The difference between 200 shillings and the 350 shillings for a proper serving of fries and two pieces of chicken is huge!!! That 150 shillings in between caters for the doubt in each bite as to what exactly you are tasting.
Traveling over the ‘long weekend’ is normally a hustle at Mololine. You are met with a queue and issuing tickets with no vehicles at sight. As usual, the fare has gone up by a hundred shillings or two. This is how I found myself at a random stage in town that had a matatu with a board on it written Nakuru Direct for 200 shillings less than what Mololine was charging. I took my seat and paid some guy who was issuing receipts at the door. Within no time the matatu was filled and off we went.
You know that smirk you have when you’ve got yourself a deal. I felt that I had not only saved time but money as well. I patted myself on the back. Little did I know the trouble that was in store for me. Of course the music was an ear sore but this was not dire as it could be remedied by plugging in earphones. However, I do not understand why people are never willing to open windows even slightly for air circulation. Yes… it was, raining and cold outside but with all windows tightly closed tsk tsk .
The weather was quite a mess. Foggy… which did not stop the driver from speeding and zigzaging on a rather straight road. The matatu I boarded had about 2 babies carried in each row of four seats. Beside me, a woman was sweating, quietly staring at the closed window. From the terrible driving to the suffocation, either could easily kill one before destination. I am normally car sick and these conditions were mercilessly constricting life out of my body. Fortunately for everyone in that matatu, I had pre-medicated for my nausea. I had actually taken the original drug and not the generic ones I usually pick for 10 shillings less because those ones would for sure not have been effective in this environment.
Being a long holiday, everyone was on the road and slow traffic was inevitable. We had approximately 1 hr of a standstill until our driver maneuvered his way out. Relieved that he knew of an alternative route, we remained calm. We later realized no other vehicle was using our route; I mean how novel could this route be? Upon inquiry, the driver declared that he had no intention of being stuck in traffic for a day and therefore had decided to take us back to Nairobi.
What madness is this!!! I literally laughed amidst the angry passengers howlings . At this rate nothing about this matatu could shock me anymore. As much as I really needed to get to my destination, I resigned to fate because all this was my doing in the name of saving 200 shillings! There and then the Mololine matatu that I should have boarded passed us and I thought, that could have been me but now I have a psycho on the wheels and beautiful pine breeze within the matatus tightly shut windows.
The passengers threatened, pleaded,and cajoled the driver till he decided to turn the vehicle around and head to the intended destination. In between, he had 3 more moments of indecision where he kept turning back. Never again!!!! I got to my destination 6 hrs later a route that takes me 2 and a half hours but with the traffic it might have taken me 3 and a half or four hours but 6 hrs just to save 200ksh!!!
Currently, I am seated on a Mololine matatu with plenty circulation of air, good music playing on the radio and I repeat no baby on board!! Even though I forgot to take my motion sickness medication, I am pretty comfortable breathing in sweet fresh air while enjoying the scenic views I missed on my way earlier and now I can take a break writing.
Dimples Migraines and Aahs 