I was sitting on the garden benches in campus one afternoon with a friend having a lazy chat, the assignment rebellion type. I needed airtime to make a call but as it were I was feeling lazy.
“I need airtime, but I cannot go to the shop.”
“Credit ya how much?”
“Twenty bob.”
After a few seconds, my phone vibrated. You have received Kshs 20.00 from….
“Leta mbao.”
I handed it over to him. Often, when I shared credit with my friends, I did exactly that but I would not ask for the coin. Sometimes I would share up to five times a day with the lady classmates.
“This guy loves money.” That did not come out loud. Then we went on to talk about a few other things. I mentioned that I needed to buy a new phone. That jacked him again. His nickname was GB-for Gadget Boy. He used to come with a new one everyday. I actually saw the first China phone with everything(Read touch screen, TV, bluetooth, FM, Wi-Fi) on him.
“What kind of phone?”
“I want a 6300.”
“It goes for Shs 13,000. Get me 11, 500 and I will get it for you.” I had looked around and it was going for Kshs 13,000. I counted myself lucky to be connected with GB. He got me the phone a week later for Kshs 11,000 and it served me for three years. I’d still have it had it not been snatched out of a matatu window near Muthurwa.
So we went on chatting that afternoon, about the girls and how school was boring and how coding (we were IT students) was not everyone’s cup of tea. Exams were around the corner and then we would go on holiday. An idea of a class weekend out after exams sprung up, and again, it made GB brighter.
“You know, I can get you a NOAH at Kshs 5,000 and then you fuel it yourselves.”
“Well, that would be cool. We’ll talk about it.” We did and we got the van thanks to GB for two days at the said price.
We sat there chatting on and on. The English premier league, Movies, Series and everything else boys would talk about when they felt lazy.
“My laptop adapter is dead. It is frustrating me and I have to finish the project over the weekend.” That was me.
“Your Vaio is what series?” He knew everybody’s gadget in class.
“I don’t know. I will check.”
“But Vaios use the same adapter?” He did not wait for my answer. Instead he took out his phone and called a guy, talked for less than a minute and the turned to me.
“Five thousand. But you can give me four-five.” We sealed that deal and he got me a working laptop charger.
I sat one day and was thinking about that afternoon I had with GB. In a span of 2 hours GB had made three business deals out of our conversation, without him asking for them. I actually proposed the deals to him. Lately I am seeing more and more students venture into such deals as selling make up, accessories for the ladies, clothes and even student groups getting their businesses incubated and get a footing to great businesses like it is happening at Strathmore University‘s @iLabAfrica Incubation center.
Do not just sit around in the cafeterias and talk. Look at your friend in terms of ‘how can they help you make money’.
I asked GB why he asked me for the twenty shillings.
“That 20 bob just helped me maintain my airtime balance so that I could help someone else when they needed it and still make sure I do not make a loss.”