THE RISING SUN

CHAPTER TEN

Abdul was very shocked when he was invited to complete his application for Sociology at the University Abiath.

"How did it happen, Zainab?"

They were really happy, so they hugged each other very tight.

"I thought I would end up as a bicycle repairer."

"And now your thoughts should be expunged. Start dreaming big now."

"Oh yes! You're right."

One week later, Zainab and Abdul began preparing to leave Ashurla for Abiath. So, on the eve of their travelling date, she quickly went to visit Mr Peter so that she could bid him bye. The next morning, Zainab and her brother began to arrange their luggage. After the morning prayer, they folded their various praying mats and dug them into the bag.

Upon receiving their parents blessing, they began their journey. Prior to that time, there were already rumours of bandits camping in one of the neighbouring villages. But that was never a threat to anyone from Ashurla, because bandits would never be accommodated by the people of Ashurla. So they felt that the military would never suspect anyone travelling from Ashurla.

Of course, if the villagers had noticed any suspicious movement in the neighbourhood, they would have run to the Government and informed them. So, criminals always find it difficult to hide in Ashurla.

On their way to the city, they met a military checkpoint. As soon as they got to the checkpoint, everyone was ordered to get off the bus. Meanwhile, before they got to the checkpoint, other buses were also offloaded. After sometime, everything started happening like a dream.

Zainab could not hold herself as she saw the soldiers driving off the military lorry with his brother and other young men on it. She kept shouting, together with other people who had also lost their loved ones to the soldiers.

As they were shouting, another group of soldiers that were standing by, ordered everyone to move onto their various buses and drive away.

She got to the lodging which was arranged for them by an agent, but she was very exhausted and heartbroken. The agent showed her around, and left. But she was not actually interested in that, she only dissembled her deep pains.

In the morning when she was preparing to go back to the village to inform her parents, she slightly heard the news presenter talking about the arrested youths. So, she closely paid attention to the radio. There she discovered that it was not actually an arrest, but the Government wanted to empower the youths in order to avert or minimise crime. She fell on the bed with tears rolling down.

"Why is the future too hidden from humans? So if I had died now, it would have been in vain."

The Government decided to apply force because they discovered that parents were not putting effort in training their children, and most children were not also interested in furthering their education after the primary or secondary school education, which was one the reasons for crimes.

So, she quickly went to the secretariat to see her brother. As she got there, she discovered that her brother had fallen into a distinct group of scholars.

Those without GCSE certificates were grouped into the distinct group of artisans. A few hours later, they began to release them to the the various apartments arranged for them by the Government.

Zainab was very much happy that her brother was a beneficiary of the Government scholarship scheme. But a strange feeling came in.

"But, why would only men be considered? Are women not part of this country? Anyway, I thank God that he has helped me to plan for my future before now", she said to herself.

Five years later, Zainab and Abdul graduated from Medicine and Surgery, and Mechanical Engineering respectively.

Abdul later applied for another course through the Government scholarship scheme though.

So, Zainab decided to stay for her internship for one year. After her internship, she was retained to work as a permanent staff, while his brother was also retained by the state automobile company where he did his industrial training. So they chose a date to visit home. Meanwhile, Mr Peter had been intermittently visiting her when she was still schooling.

As they got to the village, the celebration was very great, and the rumour spread throughout Ashurla.

On the following day, Zainab invited Mr Peter, and introduced him to her family as her fiancé, and husband in waiting. After the introduction, her parents took her into their room for a private discussion.

"What do you think you're doing? He is a Christian, while you're a Muslim", Ahmed yelled at her in the room.

She then smiled and answered: First, I am talking about marriage not religion. Second, I am not going to marry a religion, but a man. And third, I can only marry based on love, not based on religion.

The couple looked at each other and looked away. They saw the courage in her, and decided to give up.

"Ok! If that's what you want, then we'll give you our blessing", Ahmed said.

Then Aysha nodded in agreement.

So, Zainab smiled broadly and hugged her parents.

The couple came out and blessed both of them.

"Whenever you're ready for the wedding, both of you can let us know", Ahmed said.

"Thank you, sir!" Mr Peter replied.

Both of them went outside to have their private moment and to also discuss how to make the wedding a reality.

Zainab recollected how she started, and how she almost gave up in life. So she felt fulfilled and was filled with joy.

"In truth, success appears like the rising sun, so gradually moving away from darkness, and then it shines all over."

She was actually grateful to God for everything.