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#IKnowAGuy: The Real ***kboys of Nairobi
Episode 1B
.
Steve leaves on Tuesday morning. Shiro tries to call him, the phone rings the first time. The second time it’s off. She texts, ‘I’ll go to Garden Estate with Nimmo. Ivy will come and stay with us as we wait for mum.’

#TRFNrb
WARNING:

This story may trigger traumatic memories for some. Disclaimer: The names here and locations are purely coincidental, and no ill is intended whatsoever.

If you have not yet caught Episode 1A, here it is.

Dakika chache, Steve calls. ‘Heh, Shiro, niko kwa kanoma. Nimeshikwa. Ati overspeeding. Na ata sikuwa mbio.

Shiro: Ala? Aje?
Steve: Ati nilikuwa 120. Ni uwongo.
Shiro: Steve. Mbio ilikuwa ya nini?
Steve: Wanataka 25 thao ama nilale ndani, na gari ivurutwe.

Shiro akaisha nguvu.
They wanted 40K but ati ameongea na mdosi wao akasema atachukua 25k. They talk, fight, and then Shiro sends him 20K. Hiyo tu ndio doo niko nayo tu.

He says, ‘Thanks, wacha nitafute ya juu.’ He send a picture, akiwa kando ya barabara, a lot of cars are parked off that road.
Same evening.

Garden Estate, after dinner. Nimmo, and nanny wamelala. Shiro na Ivy wanatafuta Steve, at least update. Pauline, her mum’s cousin & caretaker of the home comes to Shiro politely.

‘Gari ya mum itarudishwa leo?
Shiro: Steve amesafiri nayo.
Pauline: Gai, Shiro?
She restrains herself and then she goes to the kitchen, then comes back. ‘Shiro unaweza kuja kidogo nataka kukuambia kitu?

Shiro follows downstairs to the kitchen. She knows it’s about the car, and she doesn't want to hear about it.
Amejipanga na majibu. ‘Auntie, kuna shida ?’
Pauline: Hii kitu umefanya leo, si poa mum. Haungepatia Steve gari ya mum na mko na gari yenu. Hii gari ata Baba yako sijaona akiendesha. Ni ile heshima amepatia mum. Itatuletea shida sisi sote. And I don’t know what we will do. If anything happens to that car.

She continues...
Ata afadhali umwite umpatie gari moja ya dad? Daddy ndio usaidiana na gari yake inatumiwa kwa harusi na masafari. Lakini sijawahi ona ya mum. Afadhali umwite umpatien moja ya daddy. Me I don’t trust those boys, vile walikuja hapa….

Shiro shuts down, and then erupts in fury.
‘How dare you? STEVE IS MY HUSBAND. STEVE IS MY HUSBAND. What the hell do you mean you don’t trust him. Ulimjulia wapi? This is my house, these things are ours. Uko hapa juu we are a generous family. What nonsense is this Auntie? Surely, why would you even say that to my face?’
Kidogo Ivy comes downstairs because the shouting is loud. The nanny has opened her door, too.

Ivy: Ala? What’s going on?
Shiro: Can you imagine what Tata Pauline has said to me? to my face? Ati she doesn’t trust Steve. And she doesn’t like that I gave him mathe’s car to use?
Pauline: I did not say….

Shiro: That’s what you said. That is exactly what you said.
Ivy: Ok. Everyone calm down.

Pauline: I have taken care of you in this home since you were a very small baby. And I have never once gotten into trouble. This car will bring us both trouble.
Shiro: But you are being paid? Right? It’s a job? It's not for free. And nobody has forced you to be here.

Auntie Pauline is crushed by the weight of those words.

Ivy akawatuliza by kuwabembeleza. Nare ikatulia, and then Shiro storms out of the kitchen.
Pauline: [To Ivy]. Wanjiru, aki huyu cousin yako. Nasikia vibaya sana kwa roho. Mimi sipendagi kusema. Juu mdomo yangu ni mbaya. Lakini huyu Steve. Wacha vile amezeesha Shiro hivi. Kama Baba Shiro mwenyewe hawezi guza gari ya mum juu ya heshima…

Ivy: Please Tata, wacha iishe.
Shiro goes to the wall unit, removes a bottle of whisky, and a pack of cigarettes her dad usually keeps for guests as gifts. Akaenda kwa balcony staring competition na giza.

First time she’s drinking and smoking since she learnt she was pregnant with Nimmo.

Ivy akamkujia.
Ivy: Ai… Shiro, you’ve started drinking? (Silence). Uko poa?’

She blows a smoke. Ivy akapima mood, and then she speaks. Besides, she’s the only one who could easily tame Shiro. There’s always that cousin mnaheshimiana. Ata kuwe kumewaka aje.

Ivy: You do know Auntie is right.
Machozi ziko kwa horizon ya macho ya Shiro zinapiga press-ups.

Shiro: I’ve tried so hard. So so hard. Ama nimerogwa. Nothing I do ever works, nothing works for me. Ama ningetoa hiyo mimba? What sin have I not repented for? Nani nilikosea niombe msamaha. Why me, Ivy? Why me?
And then she breaks down. Wakasaidia wakalia vizuri kwa balcony alafu Shiro akaenda akamalizia part II kwa bedroom vizuri.

Next day. Wednesday. Silence all day. Phone just either rings or it’s off. Her mind starts calibrating. She's more relaxed, her body not as stiff anymore.
Her thoughts are getting clearer.

Day three. Aiii. Shiro is worried, but not as anxious now. Akajiambia, Si ni leo. Let me give it till 7:00pm.

About 6:00pm Steve texts. He says he is on the way home, ako View Point karibu Uplands, but he isn’t sure ngata itamfikisha. Asaidiwe.
Ati Shiro amuokolee na pesa ya mafuta taa ya gari.

Shiro says the car was full tank. It is always full tank.

Mans insists the car was not full tank, but besides, wamezurura mikutano na investors na kuongea na farmers.

She says hana pesa, but begs to Ivy, who sends him 2K.
7:30 ikielekea 8, Steve drives into the house at Garden Estate.

Everything is fine except, he is dirty, stinking and he is wearing an old T-Shirt he had. She knows this T-Shirt. She is also sure that when he moved in with her, she never once saw it.

Hii tisho imetoka wapi?
Shiro, Ivy and Aunt Pauline stare at Steve playing with Nimmo. She is furious and really wants to deal, but Steve avoids one on one. Amenyenyekea proper.

When Steve is leaving, she tells him to wait for dinner. He says he is full. He bought nyama at Kikopey.

She's boiling.
Aka ‘whoosa!’ Akasema she needs some things from the apartment, if Steve can come get her in the morning, ampeleke ndio arudi. He’s game. He reminds her his mom has confirmed attendance with Aunt Klatis. Her real name is Gladys. Aka wacha Mercedes iko kwa E, akachukua gari 'yao.'
The fuccboi is fuccboing!

Friday morning, he comes for her. Shiro has taken the car to be washed because that car was heh. The car is even sanitized. She comes back, and they go to their house. The house is clean, nini nini. Steve’s stuff already unpacked, which never happens.
She fake picks things in the house, Steve is just watching TV. She notices, in the kitchen, Steve had made some mayai, sausage, cereal, yoghurt. She also notices the dishes were done. In the dustbin, someone clearly had had takeout for dinner. Si he said he'd had dinner already.
Bedroom, everything is normal, as if nobody slept there. Bed made, nothing on the floor.

Kwa laundry basket, t-shirt is there as part of the dirty clothes. She puts the clothes to her nose and smells them. She almost dies. The clothes smell like they were triple distilled.
But this T-Shirt… and that scent, it was almost fresh. She is trying to remember it.

Shiro: Surely, you can’t put your clothes properly in the basket?
Steve: Ai. Si I did?
Silence.
Shiro: Si you wacha I carry these clothes, they will be washed and dried, you will come for them.
Steve: Thanks babe.
Shiro: Babe?
Babe: Yes babe?
Female Babe: You bought new clothes? A new T-Shirt.
Steve: Ai… which one?
Shiro: The maroon one.
Steve: [Thinks] I saw it kwa exhibition nikabuy.
Shiro: Exhibition in Narok?
Steve: No. Ni shops zinafanana na exhibitions za tao.
She loses her calmness.

Shiro: STEPHEN SIMIYU!
Steve: Ala?
Shiro: Why the hell would you lie to me? Where were you? And where is this T-Shirt from? This is an old T-Shirt you had?

She rushias him. 'Smell that T-Shirt. What smell is that? Does a new t-shirt smell like that?
Steve: What is wrong with you? This is a new T-Shirt.
Shiro: It's not new.
Steve: It's new.
Shiro: You are lying. Why are you lying?
Steve: It looks like an old T-Shirt. But it is new. And besides, maroon is my favorite color.
Shiro: The actual… your favorite color is blue.
Steve akasema alibadilisha favorite color. Wakarushiana maneno kapsaa.

Steve is explaining that he's tired. That’s why he kept silent, he needed a break. Shiro is like, 'you cant be a liar and foolish at the same time. Pick a real struggle, juu hizi games siwezi anymore Steve.'
Shiro: Ulisema uko Uplands, but you ate dinner at Kikopey. Ulinunua dinner aje na hukuwa na ata pesa za ngata? Umewahi kosa chakula? How hungry were you?

Steve swings his hand for a slap. She pulls back. He misses. She goes & locks herself in the bedroom. Mans leaves the house.
She waits for him to come back, but he doesn’t. He’s not picking calls. She’s beating herself up. He’s never tried to beat her. This is the first time. She must have caused it. She takes the car and goes, back to Garden Estate. She tells the caretaker Steve akirudi, amwambie.
Jioni caretaker akamshow boys amerudi. She calls him, mjamaa picks. They both apologize but he insists Shiro is wrong. Always wrong. ‘Ata ukitaka uliza Deno na Marto.’ She says, it’s ok. She says wajaribu ku-maintain peace this week. It’s a truce.

Kukatulia Sato.
Sunday, Shiro’s mum comes. Shiro goes to pick her. She uses one of her dad’s cars coz she has a sticker on it can allow them into VIP. On the way home, she remains calm, but hints lightly that life with this Steve is crazy.

Steve visits to say hi to Shiro’s mum.
Shiro’s mum reminds them Nimmo is grown now, maybe on Sunday after the event, the lovebirds can have tea with the mums wasikie ni aje. Juu Shiro’s dad is wondering why there is little movement towards nuptials. ‘Let’s make these games official.’
Wednesday, 3 days to Nimmo’s event, Steve goes to Garden Estate. ‘Niaje Shiro, ebu kam nje tubonge.’ Shiro akajileta.

‘Imagine I was expecting some cash but haijaingia. I wanted to send my mum cash to come to Nairobi for the event.’

Shiro is breathing heavy. She says hana pesa.
Because he'd specifically said he could handle it. She goes to her mum. Her mum calls dad, he zushas what kind of disorganization. She calls Steve’s mum. Faster they send a trusted driver with one of the cars to Bungoma, same day. Thursday, evening they arrive in Garden Estate.
Casual conversations.

Steve comes ati to pick her, akalale kwa Steve, but Shiro’s mum insists atalala Garden Estate.

Friday, Steve is a no-show but he is on phone. Early Saturday, phone is off. The air is thick. Late jioni, when the baby is being thrown around, Steve toklezeas.
He says hi to the women, they praise him for a good abd beautiful girl. They even bless him.

Before he leaves, his mum tells him, she only has tomorrow, anataka waonge. Because Tuesday she has to be back at work pale kwa Kaundi Kafmend, and her bus is already booked for Monday.
Sunday he doesn’t show up. At all. Shiro, meets the mothers, covers for him.

Jioni she goes to the house. Akapata Steve amejikunja analia kulia. He goes on about how he has been a terrible guy, he doesn’t deserve Shiro, he just wants to leave earth so that she gets some peace.
Shiro akamuonea woishe, akamsamehea.

Morning, akaenda ngware Garden Estate na gari ya Shiro, wakapeleka mama yake pale Easy Coach. He talks to his mum in Luhyanese all through.

On the way back to Garden Estate Shiro tells Steve.

‘Steve, I nikuambie kitu?'
Steve: Yes. Sema Shi.
Shiro: I am pregnant? I confirmed this morning.
Story ikaishia hapo. He drives her all the way to Garden Estate and then he plays a bit with Nimmo then he starts to leave.
Shiro follows him. ‘Boss, uliskia vile nilikushow? I am pregnant. Hauna kitu ya kusema?

Man anajipa shugli.
Steve: Sidhani nitawezana na mtoi mwingine saa hii.

Shiro: Wow… just wow.

As he drives off, Shiro tells him she needs her car, she has some errands to do. He says atamletea. She says, no need. Ataendea mwenyewe. She goes and takes the car, they don’t speak until Saturday.
Next Sunday, Shiro takes her mum for coffee pale Ridgeways. She wants to tell her hii mambo ya ndoa hatatoboa. But she has also decided she is not keeping the pregnancy.

While her mum is picking out some things in the super, she sits in the car anapanga vile ata-bring up story.
Kidogo kidogo, some extremely thin chic is going round and staring at the car. She gathers courage and comes and asks, ‘Hi, where is Robert?’

Shiro is like which Robert?
Chic: Robert, the owner of this car.
Shiro: Ai… sijui Robert, but this is my mum’s car.

Thin chic curses.
Chic: Zii. Who are you and what are you doing, driving my boyfriends car?
Shiro: Excuse you?
Chic: We bought this car with Robert last week for our 3rd anniversary, in Nanyuki. And he took it to put a tracker.

Shiro steps out to explain to her that there’s a mistake.
Miss Thin is extremely hysterical and she’s making a scene. She attempts to grab the car keys and Shiro is forced to get physical. By the time her mum is out of the Super, Shiro amemng’oa piece kama nne-tano hivi. Security comes and they are taken to the mall office.
They are being held for the fight.

Shiro’s mum calls some gava pal who sends a cop. The cops move them to Kiambu. They say there maybe a clone of the plates. Huyu msichana aite Robert wamalize.

Miss Thin tries to call Robert, but can’t reach him. Alafu she unleashes photos.
It is the same car. On a highway, next to other cars, symmetrically arranged.

It’s a car sales’ yard.

Cops ask her to see the photos and numbers of Robert, because now they need to get to the bottom of this. Ni bibi ya Mkubwa.

The photo of Robert.

It is Steven Robert Simiyu.
She even says, wait for it…

They are even expecting a baby. She shows mobile money transactions, conversations… Same day she sent him cash, is the same day Miss Thin sent him lots of cash… her half for the car.

Shiro's mum is extremely livid. Her pressure is going up up.
Shiro’s mum starts scolding Shiro adharani. 'Wanjiru, you guys not only took my car, but also went ahead and sold it? What games are these you have involved yourself in? ‘Shiro wewe mama mzima na mtoto bado hauja-grow up? Hujachoka na kesi za police station? Umerudia zile tabia?’
While er mum is shouting, it then hits Shiro. This chic is the one in that huge ass portrait in the serviced apartment where she spent her first night with Steve.

And that maroon T-Shirt, she remembers the scent.

From the same house.

Mum is ranting but her she is mazematiking.
The cops come interrogate this chic, and she has a wealth of information. She gives details of the relationship. She sends photos. Some photos include the other cars at the house in Garden Estate, sent to her by the car seller.

Who apparently is not Steve. Some random guy.
Meantime,e Mama Shiro calls and tells Bwana Ambasada what is going on.

He is so pissed he says he is coming home. He will be in in a week. He calls help from HQ and some detectives are assigned the case. They are able to track the two guys who came to the house, and arrest them.
Auntie Pauline identifies them as the peeps she was scared about.

She goes to Shiro and tell her, ‘Me I have lived this life. Your mother took me from Langata Womens, juu ya mess kama hii. Because I got involved with such a guy. Trust me, Steve is not a good guy. Not for you.’
One of the cops tells Shiro to call Steve, she’s just wants to talk. He says sawa. Wakutane home.

She goes to Kileleshwa with Nimmo, and the Nanny and Ivy, just for back up. They chat, she’s trying her best to keep calm. He drinks happily. Hajui tu. He sleeps really well.
Asubuhi, kama 7:00am hivi. Heavy knocking on the door. Steve is startled. He doesn’t know the time. Ala, kwani kunaenda aje? He turns to the side of the bed. Shiro is not there.

Her side of the bed is cold. That room, and the house, has been cold for a while.
His head feels how 750ml of cheap whisky should make heads feel. He jumps up. It's a robbery. The knocking is now accompanied by shouting. He can tell the watchie, but who the other men with him?

Akatoka bed mbio. He's still drunk. Can't even walk straight.
He is looking for Shiro and Nimmo. Runs out the door, meets Shiro extremely calm, coming from Nimmo's room. Full dressed. He misses the packed bags, and he feels something is wrong with this house. But survival first.

Steve: [Amepaniki] Nimmo ako? Kunavunjwa?
Shiro sneers then goes to the door. Her calmness starts to bother him. He rushes to stop her. Steve: Wewe... unafungulia nani? Shiro: [Shouting, and punching] Kama wewe ni mwanaume, niguze tena aki Steve. Niguze. Niguze tena mbwa hii.

Steve: Shiro unafungulia nani?
The shouting from the outside is louder now, and the men are now trying to open the door. They are now threatening him. ‘Amekuguza madam?’ It dawns on him and he sobers up. So he gently steps aside for Shiro. He's doing simple arithmetic of 1+1.
As soon as the last latch is released, some six men jump in like attack dogs on the ready and land on him. They punch him hard, and long, he even stops trying to cover himself. All the time he can hear Nimmo screaming, calling 'Daddy.' But Shiro, she was standing there, unmoved.
As in only the watchie and his counterpart who responded to his cries were trying to save him. 8 O’clock he's at the area police station. His right eye completely swollen and couldn’t see and he could barely see through his left. His body yet to feel the weight of the encounter.
On Tuesday, June 3, 2015, he is charged at the law courts with motor vehicle robbery. 3 months, he'd be a guest at the remand prison. Because good times led to bad decisions with the wrong woman.

Ok, girl.
.
Next Week.
#IKnowAGuy Season 4. Ep 2.
The Developer's Daughter.
#TRFNrb
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