YOUR SHAURI

IS SHE YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Years had gone by so fast. Both Apiyo and her sister Aya were becoming beautiful young women. Apiyo was already done with her high school and was waiting to join the university of her choice. There was a period of four months after the release of the national examinations results before joining the university to which one was called to join. During this period, Apiyo made new friends who,like her,were also done with highschool. She had this new friend she would spend most of the time with.Her name was Salma. Apiyo came to love her because she stuck around most of the time to help her in her small business of selling fast foods in her small cafe. Apiyo figured it was a great idea to keep herself busy after falling out with her boyfriend Sakwa who left her for her primary school classmate.

Salma was always there whenever Apiyo needed someone to vent to on matters love and betrayal,she was there whenever Apiyo needed someone to vent to on a rough business day and on days she just needed her best friend to laugh and make fun with. 'By the way, why did Sakwa ditch you for that girl?You are beautiful,smart and hardworking.' Said Salma who,just like her best friend, couldn't understand why Apiyo was ditched for her classmate who was the direct opposite of Apiyo.She had zero sense of fashion,she was not as famous as Apiyo was and always ate her fingernails. 'I know why that good for nothing ex of mine left me for her.'Said Apiyo,her face clearly showing jealousy and bitterness. 'Her parents are rich and Sakwa does not like working hard for his own..For heaven's sake he is now twenty,why can't he find a job like any other normal person? No wonder he no longer fits to be called my boyfriend.'Said Apiyo. Apiyo's case could only be compared to that of the famous rabbit who started calling grapes tasteless just because it could not reach the height of grapes.Poor Apiyo.

'Everybody,I am home and I am left with only two semesters until I finish my high school!'That was Aya's voice..Her sister Apiyo was so happy since she now had someone to add to her list of unpaid employees to help in running her cafe.'Now the three of us will be running this tinny food cafe from morning  to ten PM.' Said Apiyo as she kissed her sister on the cheeks and attempting to lift her in excitement  while forgetting that her sisters weight would make her fall down.'Hallo, hallooo!' came a voice as soon as Apiyo stopped kissing her little sister.On turning,it was Gweth.Of course Apiyo was happy to see her.'You two look like you're older than Salma and I,what do you people eat in school!'Apiyo said as she gave Gweth a warm  welcome hug.Both Gweth and Aya pretended not to have heard that annoying question.

.Apiyo's tiny cafe had become a meeting point for teenagers from around the neighbourhood. She always had Salma come by from morning to late ten in the evening. Her sister Aya and her friend Gweth had religiously joined the list of unpaid employees.'Hey,you do realise you are not chipping the potatoes the right way?' Salma asked Gweth. 'What's the big deal,the taste still remains the same.' Gweth responded with an I don't care in her voice. 'Actually there is a big deal,first,you are making my fries have a bad shape,secondly ,packing them nicely into the bags will become difficult and thirdly, if you can't stand to be corrected how about you put down my tools and sit over there.'Said Apiyo as she pointed to the bench where most of her customers always sat after being served but still felt like sticking around just to be idle. 'Apiyo you know you don't pay me yet you always speak to me like you are my real boss.'Gweth responded rather angry. 'Baby girl,if you feel like I am a freeloader of labour,feel free to quit.With me,there is no special treatment,this is how I talk to everyone,you have an issue,please quit.'Apiyo has never just minded how she talked to her friends.What made them love her was the fact that she was very funny,had an amazing sense of style and always had great business ideas which she never minded bringing her friends into.After all they were all idle and were looking for every slight chance to earn an extra coin.

With people laughing at Apiyo's response,Gweth decided to leave.'You see,lots of clean air now coming our way.Dont hit your leg on a stone while leaving.'Apiyo said as the rest of her friends continued laughing.' I'd be honest if i said she seems a bit odd lately.I also feel like she doesn't like me for whatever reason..I mean,not that I care but for sure,our little friend has become a diva of late' Salma said. 'Wait,you forgot a very important part in that short story...Nobody cares about Baby girls tantrums.' Apiyo said as she and Salma laughed out so loud. 'By the way,just so you know,you are very wicked.'Said Salma to her friend as they both continued to laugh.

Apiyo was about to go to bed after a long day when she received a long text from Gweth.

 'Hey,its Baby girl,incase your proud head decided to lose my number.

APIYO; I know this pathetic handwriting is yours.now,straight to the point please,I dont have all night.

GWETH;Alright I know I acted irrationally earlier today,I am sorry.

APIYO;Yeah,you should be,again,straight to the point was about to sleep.

GWETH;I don't think I really like your friend Salma...

APIYO;Tell her that not me,also just so you know,your opinion on friendship should remain with Aya,I think you both get along so well considering you are agemates and also in the same class.You have also changed a lot lately.What's with you though?

GWETH;I am not having any opinion on friendship. Also,you are right Aya and I are great friends,we've been for many years now.

APIYO; Good for you,now understand its not your duty to like my best friend.

GWETH;Is she really your best friend?

APIYO; Good night Baby girl,your opinion on friendship is not needed .Salma and I have been great friends ever since we both completed highschool.See you tomorrow if you decide to bust your bubble.

GWETH;Good night too dearest .Something to think about,why have you been losing money at the cafe lately though?That's right I know you hadn't realised since your best friend helps with the money counting at the end of business days.....

APIYO;What? that cannot be true.

GWETH;See you at your cafe dear boss.Seems like I decided to burst my bubble after all.

Apiyo had a long night.She just could not believe that her best friend had been stealing from her.How could she be so busy and blind that she never noticed?Apiyo had been working hard to buy herself her first ever laptop.She always wanted to own one.She believed every  single coin counted.She felt betrayed that her best friend whom she trusted would do this to her.Actually she had started paying Salma since she was always at her cafe early mornings and would leave with her late at ten in the evening.

'You are already here?'Apiyo asked her best friend Salma whom she found already waiting to start work.'The early bird catches the worm sweet bestie'Salma responded .'Aaaahh baby,this is Kenya,here,it doesn't matter how early you rise,in Kenya it is the known bird that will always get the worm,so,if you wanna rise as early as four am,just rise,known birds like me will have the worm even if we rise as late as four in the evening'Apiyo said as they both burst out laughing.Apiyo was very careful on this day.Her eyes and ears were modified to listen and see better.She would not be lied to today.

Work had just began when Aya and Gweth walked in.'There goes Miss Bubbles' Salma said as she put away the fries tray on the counter.'Miss Bubbles,thats funny...Anyway free labour is here to serve your highness' Gweth said looking at Apiyo who just gave a silly grin and kept working.Aya joined in the work as  she kept turning up the volume from the portable subwoofer.The loud music always attracted more young clientele as they would love listening to the music as they sat on  the bench  outside the cafe.

What was that you just put in your purse?'Apiyo sked Salma as soon as she was done counting the cash.Nothing,its todays payment you just gave me.

'You're lying I haven't paid you yet.'

'Ooohhh,yeah you haven't,its aaahhh...its a note I came in with in the morning.'

'You haven't been carrying any note in your hand since you started working.Also,will you please lift the tray  from the counter?saw you put something under it too,let me guess,another note you came in with in the morning? I just don't understand why you  would do this to me.We are supposed to be best friends.

'I did not do anything.Do you think working here from morning to late in the evening is easy?Also,no one can put up with this work plus an arrogant boss.Count yourself lucky'

It was an evening of bitter exchange between Apiyo and her best friend with whom they fell apart on that day.Gweth was obviously happy.She saw a chance to upgrade from being Aya's best friend to Apiyo's.

'See the new Miss Bubbles in town' Gweth said laughing out so loudly at Salma.It was clear that would be her last day at Apiyo's little cafe and hopefully for her,last day of their friendship.

Though she was a pain to her friends most of the time, anyone would feel sorry for Apiyo whenever she cried.Her anger had turned to tears and this gave Gweth a perfect chance to console Apiyo whom she didn't love just like a friend.She rushed to Apiyo competing with Aya on who would get to her first.'You are an amazing person,I don't know why she would do that to you.Just so you know,I will be helping around with most of the work.You don't have to cry over fake friends.She does not deserve it,trust me.'Gweth said.'Aya is leaving for school after tomorrow that means you are also leaving after tomorrow.Unlike you,Salma would still be around to help. My tiny cafe cannot afford to pay for an attendant at the correct rates,so shut up about you staying around and helping.'Apiyo said. Her sister Aya burst out laughing at Gweth who thought her words were consoling to Apiyo.In Kiswahili,there is a saying that goes' Never see a lion who has been rained on and mistake it for a cat.'Seems Gweth needed to be reminded of these great words of wisdom.