CHAPTER 3: THE WEB OF DECEIT
930 Words
Wali walked through the school gates, her prefect badge gleaming on her lapel. As Assistant Labour Prefect, she took pride in her role, ensuring that assemblies began on time and classrooms were kept orderly. Her teachers admired her dedication, and her peers respected her leadership. But today, her heart beat a little faster than usual. The principal had made an announcement during the morning assembly that shook the school to its core.
"There will be a scholarship opportunity for two students to study abroad. Forms will be available in the administrative office this afternoon," the principal had declared, her voice ringing with excitement.
Wali’s mind buzzed with the possibility. Studying abroad? It sounded like a distant dream, but now it felt tangible, almost within reach. After all the hardship, the relentless chores, the bruises hidden beneath her uniform, and the nights spent crying in silence, could this be the break she had been waiting for?
When the final bell rang, she made her way to the administrative office. A small group of students had already gathered, their eyes wide with hope. Wali stood at the back, waiting patiently. She spotted her cousin, Hajjo, among the crowd. Hajjo was tall, poised, and wore a smile that never quite reached her eyes.
Wali’s heart softened at the sight of her. She remembered Hajiya Hassanna’s kindness in the early days, before the bitterness seeped into their interactions. Perhaps helping Hajjo apply for the scholarship would be a way to show gratitude—a gesture of goodwill.
“I’ll collect a form for Hajjo as well,” Wali told the clerk, her voice steady.
She filled in both forms meticulously that evening, cross-checking every detail. She placed them into envelopes and handed them in the next day.
She had no idea that this simple act would upset a balance that had long been precarious.
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Hajiya Hassanna was a master at presenting a picture of virtue to the outside world. She attended mosque prayers diligently, spoke of compassion and family values, and was always ready with a smile. But behind closed doors, her manipulative nature revealed itself in whispers, in silences that demanded obedience, and in a gaze sharp enough to cut through glass.
Her daughter, Hajjo, was very much her reflection—only bolder. Where Hajiya Hassanna concealed her true feelings, Hajjo broadcast hers with venomous clarity. She liked being the center of attention. And most of all, she hated being outshone.
When Wali handed her the completed scholarship form, Hajjo had raised her eyebrows. “You filled this for me?”
“Yes,” Wali said simply. “I thought you’d want to apply.”
Hajjo had smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “Of course. Thank you.”
That night, Hajjo sat across from her mother, legs tucked under her as she recounted the day. “She filled it out for me like she’s some saint. You should have seen her face.”
Hajiya Hassanna’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes narrowed slightly. “She wants to look better than you. Better than us.”
“Then why help me?”
“Because she wants to control how people see her. She wants the teachers to praise her for her selflessness. Don’t let her fool you, Hajjo. This is a game—and she intends to win.”
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As the weeks rolled on and the scholarship committee deliberated, whispers began to circulate through the school.
“Did you hear? Wali begged the principal to consider her cousin for the scholarship.”
“I heard she only applied for herself and pretended to help Hajjo.”
“Wali’s trying to manipulate the system, just like she manipulates people at home.”
Wali heard the whispers. She tried to ignore them. But they stung. The stares in the hallways, the sudden silences when she walked into a room, the mocking smiles—they all chipped away at her confidence.
She confronted Hajjo one afternoon. “Have you been spreading rumors about me?”
“Me?” Hajjo said, feigning surprise. “Wali, don’t be paranoid. People just talk. Maybe you should ask yourself why.”
Wali stepped back, stunned by the coolness in her cousin’s voice.
“I thought we were family,” she said softly.
Hajjo shrugged. “Families compete too.”
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Hajiya Hussyina had grown more unpredictable in recent weeks. She had caught wind of the scholarship chaos and was livid that Wali dared to think she was worthy of something more. At dinner, she scolded Wali for imaginary offenses. When visitors came, she paraded Hajjo as the perfect daughter and ignored Wali completely.
The tension between the twin sisters—Hajiya Hussyina and Hajiya Hassanna—had shifted. They now found a common enemy in Wali.
One evening, they met in a quiet corner of the compound under the pretense of sharing household tips. But their conversation was much darker.
“She’s getting too confident,” Hajiya Hussyina hissed.
“She thinks she’s better than our daughters,” added Hajiya Hassanna. “I say we remind her where she belongs.”
A plan began to form. One that involved turning the rest of the family against Wali, of manipulating the school’s perception of her, and—if possible—ensuring her disqualification from the scholarship.
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The scholarship results were finally posted on the school’s bulletin board. A crowd had gathered by the time Wali arrived.
Her eyes scanned the list.
Her name wasn’t there.
She looked again. Still nothing.
Her breath caught in her throat.
- Writer
