Naima Chindian

Naima Chindian picked her nail-cutter from the sink and began trimming her nails. She had just taken ugali [maize porridge] and cabbage for breakfast. A cloud of flies landed beside the sink, unaware of the social distancing rule humans were forced to obey in order to minimize the spread of the Corona Virus.

Most of the things in the bedsitter looked disorganized. She stared at the extension socket that laid under the sink. Naima Chindian noticed three words displayed on it: Ensave Surge Protection. It's really weird to acknowledge the things you pay attention to when you are extremely broke and lonely. The young lady picked it up and removed the Lenovo smartphone charger that had penetrated the white extension socket. She gave it the kind of look akin to a detective examining a piece of evidence at a crime scene. If the extension socket had the ability to write a letter of recommendation to Interpol, then there's no doubt that they would have hired her instantly.

Who's hiring during these unprecedented times? Never mind!

The electric current status indicator kept lighting in orange. This triggered her memory --- I guess colors can be used as a memory jogger --- and she remembered the Fanta Orange advert that used to run on TV sometimes back. Naima Chindian used to laugh whenever one of the participants from that advert chanted the word, "Bamboocha!" She wondered why she used to find that part of the advert extremely amusing while others didn't. Some people are just subconsciously determined to overlook the beauty of hidden humor.

The extension socket had four pots. Our wonder woman [Naima] observed that each pot depicts an emoji of an individual with no voice. The orange indicator gave an impression of a mouth that was permanently shut by circumstances --- heartbreaking!

Modern entrepreneurs proclaim that knowledge is the new money. Since both fools and learners agree that money talks, can it be used as the voice for the voiceless? The phrase 'money talks' is such a cliché. Word has it that everyone will start to look at this cliché from a different angle. The news is spreading faster than a bat out of hell; the public is conversing about the entrepreneurs professing that knowledge is the new money.

Naima Chindian needed money more than her body desired oxygen. Rent was 71 days overdue, and she hated the fact that fancy meals were distancing themselves from her. She couldn't remember the last time she ate chicken biryani. The young lady was among the staff that was retrenched by a prestigious five-star hotel in Kenya. International flights were banned by the government. The hotel had no positive cash-flow because of the absence of international tourists. Most of the employees had to be washed away from the payroll just as the Corona Virus is washed away by using soap and clean water. A surge of 'washing' had become the new normal.

The uncooked maize flour and cabbage were enough to feed her for the next four days, but her fuel was depleted. She placed the white extension socket in a large sack and rushed to the pawn-shop. Naima was convinced that the loan she'll get from the pawnbroker was enough to purchase charcoal. Is it really possible to transform an extension socket into a pawn?

If you are going through tough times, it is important to attest that it's your turn. Truth be told, there has never been a 'tough time' that didn't end. Yours too shall pass. Just don't let your heart be troubled.