Gas imeisha: Why does cooking gas run out mid-month?

It always gets you off guard: Gas never warns you that it is about to get finished   Photo:Courtesy

“Mama Tasha, gas imeisha.” That is one text message I am so used to, but every time my house help sends it to me, I feel terrified. Why?

The last time I got such a text was January 19. Pay day was two weeks away and I was broke. I knew that whatever was on the gas cooker when the gas ran out, would have to stay half cooked.