Drowning

Final year.

Well, I believe the seminars, sessions and tests carried on my mum were yielding positive results as she was recuperating daily. The doctor in-charge had earlier informed us that my mum was getting better, but she would still have to be operated on. Since it wasn’t a matter of urgency my brother and I didn’t take the doctor’s word seriously, as we were carried away by the news of my mum getting better. In order to help my mum recover quickly I took charge of her store where she sold fashion wears ranging from designer shoes to clothes, as I was quite acquainted with most of the prices. It was a really stressful period for me as I coupled my efforts at the store with my house-chores, as getting along with my mum’s customers was an easy one.

On my way home Daniel called asking if we could meet during the weekend to which I agreed as he had concluded his program with the NYSC. As usual my mum approved my going out but cautioned me not to return late. We settled for a meeting place, as he had his driver come pick me at my house. We sat over a bottle of Spanish of wine and also pizzas while chatting. It was midnight and a bit foggy outside as our date comprised mainly of eating and talking, and tonight has been no exception. Daniel drove me home in his Ford SUV as the date for that evening was over. At my gate, we faced each other, he gave me a warm hug. This was an improvement; for the first date he only shook my hand. I thought he was going to kiss me as we had our body pressed against each other.

He separates himself from the embrace.

“Good night Sharon,” he says.

I was left alone in my room as I yet again had a lonely night of long sleep. I felt lonely and then offered a prayer of thanks to the most high just before going to bed.

I was brimming with excitement when I got to know that in a week time I would be resuming for my final year at the university, as I was eagerly determined to increase my chances of coming out top in my class. The holiday was worthwhile, as I enjoyed every bit of it. Daniel was now occupying the CEO’s office at his father’s company after his father Mr. Adeniji stepped down for his son to take charge of the company’s affairs. I was so happy on hearing this that I called immediately to congratulate him on his latest appointment. We resumed school after about a month and two weeks at home. As usual we were all sharing holiday experiences with one another before we began academic proper on the following Monday. A week gone into the new academic year, and the “QUEENS OF THE SOUTH” a cult group on campus started tormenting the entire school, as their members were mainly final year students who risked being rusticated. Ranking as their leader was Monica who happened to be a friend of Thelma. The relationship with the gang leader caused Thelma to have some sort of connection with the group. Her(Monica’s) squad was mainly for stooges who I believed would have been brainwashed into joining her gang. They activities comprised mainly of bullying, hurling abusive words at lecturers and students alike. I still don’t understand why a group of adults would decide to lay low for years, only to come out in their final as thugs. They seemed inexorable, but then news had reached the vice-chancellor about their barbaric acts as they were soon called to caution. The warnings of the principal yielded positivity which only lasted for a while as o ember of their gang got rusticated after the ministry of education had approved strict sanctions on them. Her crime was worth it, as she chopped off the ear of her boyfriend whom allegedly jilted her. I wondered what would have happened to Thelma if her relationship with the group persisted.

As final year students, we got less of assignments and more of projects coming our way as the serious ones among us burnt the midnight candle to get things done. Based on my experience from overnight reading while still in second year I didn’t participate. Rather, I made sure I read well enough during the day, as that meant my boycotting extra-curricular activities. I was keen on graduating with a first class honors in journalism which was my field of study as my CGPA (cumulative grade per average) was on 4.2. despite having this excellent result, I still wasn’t topping my class, so I guess that was what made topping my class the first on my to-do list for the academic year. Flickering candle lights were a common sight when one passes our hostel at night especially in the advent of a blackout, as the standby generator was sometimes faulty. For the unserious ones amongst us, “A stitch in time saves nine” was an anthem for them on a daily basis. Despite coming from a wealthy home, Thelma seemed to have been getting her priorities right, unlike how she was in the first two years. I was equally happy for her as I tried in every way I could to help her finish well, as our VC had told us that if she could double her efforts she might end up finishing with a second class upper. The date for our convocation was announced, as the results of our final exams, and group projects came through.

I was pleased a bit with my result as I finished with an excellent point of 4.6 thereby earning a first class degree in journalism, but I wasn’t the bet graduating student that year, as a guy from the department of chemical engineering won the prize I also bagged prizes for being best in English and history. That day was enthralling, as I also got to know who the parents of Daniel and Thelma were. We also took pictures together. My mum came with my brother for mine, as my uncle (my father’s younger brother) who resided in the US also accompanied them. He had such a striking resemblance with my dad that I was forced to shed tears knowing that my dad wasn’t alive to see me become the wonderful lady I now was. However, my mum sensing the reason for my tears consoled me. Daniel and I had a chat where he congratulated me on my new feat, and also introduced me to his parents. The activities of the day were over as we soon retired to our various homes after a wonderful outing.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning as my family and I prepared to go to church. We were protestants and lived in an area predominantly had Christians. We arrived just before the presiding pastor started preaching. When it was time for thanksgiving, I stepped onto the podium, made a brief speech, and a prayer of thanks was made on my behalf. The service of the day was over and we headed back home. My application for the compulsory NYSC program had been responded to and I was posted to serve in the northern part of Nigeria, Benue state to be precise. I was quite afraid due to the rate of killings going on in the north at that time but somehow summoned courage to take the bull by its horn. I prepared quickly for my journey to the north as I was a resident at the western part of the country. I had exactly one week to prepare for the journey, and began deliberating on the means of transport to be used. Hours before leaving for the airport, I called Daniel informing him of my planned trip to the north for my NYSC program. He encouraged me after I told him my biggest fear was the rate of crime in the geo-political zone I was to serve.