The next morning, Salim didn't tell Nuru that he had agreed to meet Bwana Tunu again.
He gave himself a reason that sounded good in his head: he still hadn't agreed to pay for anything.
Listening wasn't buying.
Before he left home, Nuru reminded him, “Put that reserve money back today.”
“I will.”
“Today.”
“Yes.”
Alya was searching under the sofa for her second sock. “Mama, when Baba says yes twice, it means he heard you.”
Nuru laughed. “I hope so.”
Salim smiled, picked up his bag, and left.
At the arcade, the day started badly. The supplier of the defective screens refused an immediate refund and said the whole shipment had to be returned for inspection first. That meant Salim would remain without stock he had already paid for, while still not knowing how much money he would get back.
Another customer came to ask about his phone.
“The part still hasn't arrived?”
“Tomorrow.”
“You said today.”
“The supplier moved the delivery.”
“Then return my deposit.”
Salim opened the drawer.
The deposit amount was there, but taking it out would leave the shop with almost no cash.
He refunded it.
The customer left without insulting him, which somehow made Salim feel worse.
At ten, Kassim came in carrying two cups of tea.
“Are you going?”
Salim looked at him.
“You told him?”
“Tunu?”
“How did you know he messaged me?”
Kassim sat on the stool.
“I didn't. I assumed after the first time you might go again.”
Salim took the tea.
“He contacted me himself.”
Kassim was quiet for a second.
“What did he say?”
“That there's a step that isn't finished.”
“Ah.”
Salim put down the cup.
“What kind of ‘ah’ was that?”
“Nothing.”
“Kassim.”
“There was another step for me too.”
Salim stared at him.
“You told me you went once.”
“I said the first time helped me.”
“That's not an answer.”
Kassim drank his tea.
“I went more than once.”
“How many times?”
“Don't turn this into an interview.”
“How many?”
Kassim frowned. “Three.”
Salim laughed, but there was no amusement in it.
“And you still told me, ‘Pay once and see for yourself.’”
“Because when I went the first time, I didn't know there would be another.”
“And when you found out?”
“I saw things changing.”
“What things?”
“I got the printing contract for the tuition centre.”
“Did you apply for that tender before or after Tunu?”
Kassim went silent.
“Before,” he said at last.
“So?”
“Salim, I never said Tunu went and signed the contract for me. I said I was stuck at the time, I went to him, and things started moving.”
The argument irritated Salim because it was almost identical to what he had begun telling himself about Juma.
He checked the time.
“I'm not paying him again.”
Kassim nodded. “Then don't.”
But at twelve-thirty, Salim closed the kiosk for a while and went.
Bwana Tunu had the same sheet of paper from their first session on the table.
“You shouldn't have come if you felt forced,” he said.
“Your message said if I stopped, I could end up back where I was.”
“And you could. I didn't say you had to come back to me.”
“Then what's this step?”
Tunu moved the paper closer.
“There's a difference between getting an opening and keeping it open.”
Salim frowned. “That's a sentence that could mean anything.”
“Which is why I asked you to come instead of sending you an invoice by phone.”
Tunu asked about Juma. Salim didn't want to tell him, but Kassim already knew, and part of Salim wanted to see what Tunu would do with the information.
“He paid.”
“How long afterward?”
“About a day.”
“And the supplier?”
“I paid part of what I owed.”
“And the customer waiting for the screen?”
“I finished the job.”
Tunu nodded.
“So there is movement.”
“Movement with ordinary explanations.”
“It's good that you have ordinary explanations.”
Salim had expected Tunu to argue. The fact that he didn't unsettled him more.
“Then why should I pay again?”
“Because the second step isn't about Juma. It's about whatever brings the pressure back after the first relief.”
“And how do you know it's there?”
“Because you got money, and you're still sitting here.”
Salim said nothing.
Tunu named the fee.
It was more than twice the first one.
Salim laughed aloud.
“No.”
“All right.”
“That's your answer?”
“You said no.”
“You want me to pay this after telling me at first that I pay once.”
“I explained the fee for the first session. If you understood that to mean nothing else would ever be recommended, then we misunderstood each other.”
Salim stood.
“Then we misunderstood each other.”
Tunu didn't stop him.
Salim reached the door.
“Salim.”
He turned.
“Don't pay if that money already has a job you cannot break.”
Salim tightened his jaw.
“What do you mean?”
“You've talked a lot about the business, but every time you mention home, your voice changes. If this fee will make you lie at home, don't do it.”
Salim felt as if he'd been shoved.
“Don't tell me about my home.”
“Then don't give me that authority.”
Salim left.
He walked almost halfway back to the arcade convinced it was over.
Then the supplier called.
“We've received your claim. But we can't give an immediate replacement. We can issue credit after inspection.”
“When is the inspection?”
“Next week.”
“I have repairs now.”
“Buy other stock for the moment.”
“With what money?”
The supplier paused. “I can't help you with that.”
When the call ended, Salim found himself standing in front of a mobile-money kiosk.
The woman inside was serving another customer. A sheet of transaction charges was taped above the window.
Salim opened his balance.
The shop's money wasn't enough to buy new stock, pay the old supplier, and restore the reserve all at once.
He opened Tunu's message.
The second fee was there.
He closed it.
Walked ten steps.
Then came back.
“Welcome,” the agent said. “Withdrawal or deposit?”
Salim named the amount.
“To this number?”
“Yes.”
The agent showed him the recipient's name on the screen before confirming.
Salim saw the name.
“Wait.”
He took out his own phone.
In the account he and Nuru used as their reserve sat money meant for emergencies, Alya's school trip, and help for Mama Rahma if her rent became difficult.
Salim calculated in his head.
*Only temporarily.*
If business improved, he would replace it.
If another Juma paid, he would replace it.
If the supplier issued the credit, he would replace it.
If this step was the last one, he would replace it.
“Go ahead,” he said.
When the transaction was complete, the reserve balance had fallen to a level Salim would never have accepted if Nuru had been standing beside him.
A few minutes later, Bwana Tunu sent a short message.
**Received. We'll talk this evening.**
Salim didn't reply.
He went back to the shop and bought only a small amount of essential stock. He completed two repairs. Collected one deposit.
He tried to pretend the day was ordinary.
That evening, when he got home, Nuru was standing in the kitchen with her phone in her hand.
She didn't greet him with a smile.
“Salim.”
“Mm?”
“Did you restore the reserve?”
Salim took off his shoes slowly.
“I'll put it back tomorrow after collections.”
Nuru looked at him.
“Why has the balance gone down again?”
---