Infinite Love 129

Infinite Love 129

Nevertheless, she ignored him and focused on the lecture. But for some reason, she couldn’t focus. There was some kind of attention from him that was constant. She felt as if he was watching her even when he wasn’t.

She was constantly aware of him, of his presence being there. Zarah had never been intimidated by anyone, particularly by any man but there was something about him that made her uneasy, was it…a yearning or a familiarity? She couldn’t say. Still, she willed herself to focus on her lecture.

Engr. Yamah was one of her best lecturers, smart, assertive, and to the point. He was one of the few lecturers that she respected and even admired. He knew his stuff. Not like the rest of those incompetent clowns who got the prestigious position of a lecturer teaching a master’s with barely the IQ of a secondary school teacher. She hated those. The pretentious fools who would refuse to answer her questions and rebuke her for even daring to ask in the first place, feigning offense as a way to cover up their incompetence in teaching. She’d gotten many of them suspended and a few were either fired or transferred when they tried to bully her or harass her.

Quite often while female Nigerian students are on the receiving end of harassment and sexual exploitation from lecturers, Zarah destroyed them. She was confident of herself and her scholastic ability to pass any exam and in her familial connections to gain admission into any school she wanted so why would she be terrified of any foolish lecturer. A case once came upon between her and one who gave her a score short of her expectations, he gave her a B instead of a B+ and what did she do? She got him suspended! After a lengthy petition, she was able to convince the board on grounds of incompetence.

“If he couldn’t even give proper marks on his own subjects then why should such a lecture be entrusted with teaching the same subject in the first place?”

Who could ever argue with that kind of scathing and brazen logic? Her reason was false, however, true the lecturer was incompetent but most of them are, Nigerian universities are full of them but she had him suspended particularly because her friend Asiah had informed her of the lecturer’s incessant badgering to date her. So, she dealt with him in her own private manner.

But Engr. Yamah, was just different. He knew his right from his left. She never had to rely on her own studies and research to truly learn the course as she often did with the rest of the sheepish lectures and he was never confused by any of her questions no matter how hard she tried to trick him. That’s why she was always punctual, the first in class and always ready to engage in an educational tete-a-tete with him nothing flirty of course but just enough to make him realize that she was present. Right there. In class. Just saying. Not crushing. But she always did fantasize about marrying someone close to his IQ level.

But in the last few days. This Isah guy had slowly but deliberately become a thorn in her side. He was always there, making her feel under surveillance, uncomfortable, and always the first in class. Also, he was slowly and gradually becoming more engaging in class than even…she was! She never challenged him on that. No, of course not. It wasn’t her class, it was just that…ever since she could remember, she was always the one most active in class. It was her thing. She was the first to raise up her hands to answer a question. The one who topped the class and definitely the one most popular with the teachers. Well, with the ones that mattered anyway. Not that the class belonged to her. But that there was an unspoken agreement within their class that she was the class queen bee but Isah wasn’t seeming to be getting the notice.

He was active and engaging to a fault. Always eager to answer any question and to make matters worse, the teachers also seemed to like him. They would smile and giggle and even high-five him whenever he answered a question. They did none of that whenever she answered a question. Sure, he was charming in the way he engaged with them but where was their loyalty? Those lousy traitors! Including Engr. Yamah who was her crush, sorry... her favourite teacher.

She slowly became full of spite that she became withdrawn and slowly became irritable with him; rolling her eyes whenever he raised up his hand and making little snide remarks underneath her breath when he got them right.

Things began to change however when it came to their projects.

Zara finally met her match in class. Thanks for the update.

Infinite Love 130

It started out as such a beautiful day. She was just finishing a wonderful breakfast with her and was headed out when trouble by no other than Zainab walked in.


“Asalam aleikum
warahmotullahi wabarakatuhu, Mama naa.”

“Waleikum aleikum
salam warahmotullhi wabarakatuhu, Zainab. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, thank
you Mama. And how are you today, Zarah?”

“I’m good too,
alhamdulillah. You didn’t bring our prince today?”

“No, he has just
started schooling so I will go and pick him in the afternoon from there.”

“Oh, wow. That
is wonderful to hear. Please give him all our love and support, Zainab.”

“Thank you,
Mama. I will do that.”

“Alright, then.
I am off to my school. Goodbye.”

“And where are
you going to?”

“I just said
that I am going to school, Zainab.”

“On a Friday?”

“Oh, let her go,
Zainab. She doesn’t even have classes she is only going in to get her project
title and she will be back in a short while.”

“I know that
Mama but on this beautiful yaomul jummah, every responsible woman should be at
home with her family and not going to school.”

Her emphasis on
the word responsible greatly irked Zarah. She knew her sister was definitely
hinting at marriage again and so she lost her cool.

“Thank you very
much for your unwanted opinion, Zainab. But maybe the responsible women should
also learn to stay in their husband’s house and not going to other people’s
home to lecture them and eat up all of their food.” She spat right back.

“Ah ah, Mama.
What have I said again that she’s attacking me like this?”

“Auzu billahi
minnash shaytaani rojeen!” their mother sighed deeply “The two of you will be
the end of me one day I’m sure of it, wallahi!”

“Zainab, please.
I don’t have time for your trouble this morning please!”

“And what have I
said to cause trouble for you?” she asked innocently “Go! Go to your class. If
you don’t care for marriage and building a responsible family like all
respected women in society should.”

“And you that
you’re married now? What is benefit to us for Allah’s sake? You are always here
instead of caring for your family. We are the ones who have been raising your
children for you while you only come here to eat and sleep. I wonder what
excuse you will be giving us now that you can’t use Hamza anymore.”

“Mama, I will
not stand for her talking to me like!” she stomped.

“…and yet you
come here almost everyday to start the same wahala, wallahi.” Mama said
shrugging.

“Just don’t
finish all the soup in the kitchen this time because I don’t have the energy to
go to the market today anymore.”

“Mtchew! “No
time for market but there is always time for school. You sound like a broken
record.” Zainab hissed and sat to watch television.

But that final
quip infuriated Zarah beyond measure but she managed to control herself.

“Mama, one day
one day you will finally tell us the truth. Either she is the one adopted or me
because there is no way that the both of us are related!” The two other women’s
jaw dropped in shock but with that she stomped out.

Oh, that Zainab
was indeed the worst sister she had. They differed widely on everything. Even
to their last desires and wants everything is totally different. The only place
they seemed to have common ground is stubbornness.

But today as the
alighted from the taxi and headed up to the staff quarters to Engr. Yamah’s
office. Her anger dissipated and her attitude improved. She was finally getting
her project topic to get started today. This was going to be her final chance
to be the new know-it-all Isa in her class. They had tied marks in class and
this was going to be the opportunity to show him who was boss around here. She
was also going to be spending more time with her favourite teacher which is
always a plus.

She found him in
his office looking respectable and wise as always.

“Asalam aleikum,
sir!”

“Waleikum salam,
ya Zarah!” he looked up from his reading and took off his reading glasses. “How
are you?”

“I’m fine, thank
you sir.”

“Good good and
how is your mother?”

“Oh, she’s fine
too. Thank you very much sir.”

“Oh, wonderful!
That’s good to hear. So, you are hear about your project work, abi?”

“Yes, sir.
That’s it.”

“Good. Well then
let’s get started, shall we?” and he brought out her file “Ah, here it is. Effluent
tide formation, a case study of river Kaduna.”

“Yes, that’s the
one. I’m very excited about getting started on this one. I just know that there
will be exciting discoveries during the course of the project work.”

Yes, discoveries
that she would love to shove down that itk Isah’s throat. He thinks he can out
perform her in class. Well, has got something else coming his way this project
semester, she planned.

“Me too!” he
said “Erm…Zarah?”

“Yes, sir?”

“I know how passionate
you get about your projects. You work very hard indeed and you almost always
have issues when slackers, that is…other project partners don’t pull their own
weight, which is why you have requested to for a solo project. In fact, you
have sent in several formal letters of appeal to the department asking for a
solo project as well as…asking for me as your project officer personally. But I
think that…erm in this particular scenario. A partner in project might very
well work in your favor.”

Oh, she didn’t
like where this was going. She hated project partners. Having classes with
slacking students and their benignantly banal questions was bad enough but now,
he was suggesting that she work with one outside of class. It was out of the
question.

“And I can
assure you, this particular student is a top performer. He has excellent grades
and I know that he can match you in dedication and enthusiasm for the project
work.

Okay, now she
was definitely annoyed again. She hated being called a match for anyone but her
curiosity got the better of her.

“Which student
are you talking about, sir?”

“Knock knock”

There was a
knock at the door.

“Oh, I’m sure
that is him now. COME IN!”

And almost
instantaneously before the student even got near enough to smell his familiar
Arabian oil perfume or hear is his trademark.

“Salama aleikum,
ya sheikh.” She knew it was him but nonetheless turned around in shock.

“ISAH?” she
asked looking into the ever-smiling face of her number one school nemesis.

“Hello, Zarah.”
He said perfectly zen as always. It was so annoying.

‘Doesn’t he
ever get tired of smiling like that all the time?’

“HIM!?” she
asked turning back in disbelief to face her lecturer.

“Hmm, of
course.” He nodded in affirmation.

“NO NO NO! I
REFUSE!” she said defiantly.

“Well, that’s
too bad, but that is how we are going to do this anyway. Your project topic is
focusing on natural effluent characteristics while his effluent potential in
power generation.”

“But those are
two totally different topics!” she argued.

“With each using
River Kaduna as a case study.”

“Oh!”

“Yes…so you see?
I’m not going to have two project students work on the same location and not
combine their project topics. My civil servant salary doesn’t afford me such
luxuries of infinite time.”

“Sir…but…please
not him. Anyone but him…I beg of you.”

“I’m sorry,
Zarah but yes him.”

“NO WAY! I’ll
write a…”

“A PETITION?
Already ahead of you. I have informed your departmental head and student
affairs head and fortunately they are both in agreement with me. So, good luck
with that.”

“Oh no!” she
whined.

“Don’t worry, my
dear intelligent Zarah. It’ll be fine!”

“Flattery will
get you nowhere, sir.”

He laughed “Come
on. Where’s your sense of adventure? Your combative spirit? Just because you’re
having the same combined topic, doesn’t mean you’re getting the same grades.”

“Oh, I’m
listening.”

“I will score
you individually based on effort, understanding and overall performance during
presentation.”

Zarah felt
manipulated but she couldn’t help but be steered along. Her teacher, Engr.
Yamah knew her nature too well, how she hated backing out of a challenge and he
already had the rest of the faculty on his side so, appealing to others was
going to be pointless.

“I have to say I
never expected this kind of treatment from you sir.” She said finally.

“Oh, Zarah. Have
I ever steered you wrong?” he said sweetly putting his glasses back on
innocently.

“There’s always
a first time, sir.”

“Ouch!” he held
his chest dramatically in mock injury and smiled.

She threw her
hands in the air. “I can’t believe this, me and him? Unbelievable.”

“Don’t worry,
Zarah. I won’t get in your way in anyway. In fact, I will carry all the
equipment for you to make things easier.” Isah said helpfully.

“See? Just use
him as your personal chaperone and work horse and I believe this will
definitely be an interesting project defense to watch.”

“Why not? It’s
already entrapment mixed with cruel and unusual punishment?”

The lecturer laughed.

Zara can't wriggle her way out of this project defense. Thanks for the update and I think isah has feelings for her too.

adeabdul2 you are doing well. It's getting more interesting everyday. But we don forget Angela o. OP point torch for her side nah. Respect.

#£DDI$ILV€R

The population of this thread is too low. Let me call some people to read. Oya if you hear your name fall out

Mekonglobal Jullyrosy teddybliss Xavier5 DSC7 plus1ne froze6 marenx Jalynn Kdavid Dybala11 Honsky001 dawno2008 MrCork YoungBruzzy Slimsophiediva Carterj007 tomic1 Zeedrou8 Vlip42 dappydonatt silverlinen Mjay12355 PrinceMon101 Guyxander Salahdin Bam17 Minemrys TheKingIsHere BlackManta abduleez1 Pu7pl3 BankyGee Ann2012 therock5555 lekinz Ruthia flow1759 dodoatirice Tgold1 make Una con read tori wey dey sweet wella

Eddysilver:
The population of this thread is too low. Let me call some people to read. Oya if you hear your name fall out

Mekonglobal Jullyrosy teddybliss Xavier5 DSC7 plus1ne froze6 marenx Jalynn Kdavid Dybala11 Honsky001 dawno2008 MrCork YoungBruzzy Slimsophiediva Carterj007 tomic1 Zeedrou8 Vlip42 dappydonatt silverlinen Mjay12355 PrinceMon101 Guyxander Salahdin Bam17 Minemrys TheKingIsHere BlackManta abduleez1 Pu7pl3 BankyGee Ann2012 therock5555 lekinz Ruthia flow1759 dodoatirice Tgold1 make Una con read tori wey dey sweet wella

I don chop Belle full

Thanks for the mention oooo

I have been reading since and I must say,I need more

This story is too good to be left unfinished

Teddybliss I'm glad that you're enjoying it. We are still waitin for OP to update. Don't forget to call your friends.

Eddysilver:
The population of this thread is too low. Let me call some people to read. Oya if you hear your name fall out

Mekonglobal Jullyrosy teddybliss Xavier5 DSC7 plus1ne froze6 marenx Jalynn Kdavid Dybala11 Honsky001 dawno2008 MrCork YoungBruzzy Slimsophiediva Carterj007 tomic1 Zeedrou8 Vlip42 dappydonatt silverlinen Mjay12355 PrinceMon101 Guyxander Salahdin Bam17 Minemrys TheKingIsHere BlackManta abduleez1 Pu7pl3 BankyGee Ann2012 therock5555 lekinz Ruthia flow1759 dodoatirice Tgold1 make Una con read tori wey dey sweet wella

Present sir..

We die here....

Op give us more updated Abegggggg

Eddysilver:
The population of this thread is too low. Let me call some people to read. Oya if you hear your name fall out

Mekonglobal Jullyrosy teddybliss Xavier5 DSC7 plus1ne froze6 marenx Jalynn Kdavid Dybala11 Honsky001 dawno2008 MrCork YoungBruzzy Slimsophiediva Carterj007 tomic1 Zeedrou8 Vlip42 dappydonatt silverlinen Mjay12355 PrinceMon101 Guyxander Salahdin Bam17 Minemrys TheKingIsHere BlackManta abduleez1 Pu7pl3 BankyGee Ann2012 therock5555 lekinz Ruthia flow1759 dodoatirice Tgold1 make Una con read tori wey dey sweet wella

Thanks bro, reading is my soulmate. Let me go and start from the startis.

Eddysilver:
The population of this thread is too low. Let me call some people to read. Oya if you hear your name fall out

Mekonglobal Jullyrosy teddybliss Xavier5 DSC7 plus1ne froze6 marenx Jalynn Kdavid Dybala11 Honsky001 dawno2008 MrCork YoungBruzzy Slimsophiediva Carterj007 tomic1 Zeedrou8 Vlip42 dappydonatt silverlinen Mjay12355 PrinceMon101 Guyxander Salahdin Bam17 Minemrys TheKingIsHere BlackManta abduleez1 Pu7pl3 BankyGee Ann2012 therock5555 lekinz Ruthia flow1759 dodoatirice Tgold1 make Una con read tori wey dey sweet wella

If i no come, wetin cause am?
I don show and i don claim my spot

Bro, update on ur blog now,

Eddysilver:
The population of this thread is too low. Let me call some people to read. Oya if you hear your name fall out

Mekonglobal Jullyrosy teddybliss Xavier5 DSC7 plus1ne froze6 marenx Jalynn Kdavid Dybala11 Honsky001 dawno2008 MrCork YoungBruzzy Slimsophiediva Carterj007 tomic1 Zeedrou8 Vlip42 dappydonatt silverlinen Mjay12355 PrinceMon101 Guyxander Salahdin Bam17 Minemrys TheKingIsHere BlackManta abduleez1 Pu7pl3 BankyGee Ann2012 therock5555 lekinz Ruthia flow1759 dodoatirice Tgold1 make Una con read tori wey dey sweet wella

I don park for here O

Well, finally!

I have ended it.

Infinite Love 131

“Rua Kaduna is a good way away from the university, I would suggest we plan our way there now before we go…maybe tomorrow or next? Whenever you want…no pressure.” Isah said as she had been standing there all along, just staring straight ahead, not for once looking athim, for what felt like hours, even though it had only been a few minutes.



It was obvious that she wasn’t used to not having her way. She looked both furious and confounded, like a hawk, a bird of prey that was steadily flying swiftly
only to be abruptly nabbed and find itself in a cage suddenly. She gazed at him finally, looking slightly puzzled as if she’d forgotten that he was there next to her.
“We’ll go tomorrow in the morning around
10am. Just after traffic on the bridge has eased up and the river will be less
crowded. But we have to book for the instruments we will need right now at the
faculty so that we’ll be able to make our readings and whatever else we will
need to do there.” She said taking charge as usual.
“Good, very good.” He said agreeing
earnestly in order to avoid her pecking him as she looked so much like an angry
bird in that moment. “But how do we get there?”
“We’ll take a taxi.” She said with brows
more furrowed than usual. It was obvious that she was annoyed with the question.
“Or how what exactly do you mean?”
“Well, I wanted to suggest that since we
might have delicate instruments. It might be better…again I’m only suggesting…”
he added quickly “…if we drove. Particularly, me. I could drive us to Rua
Kaduna just to make things a lot easier on ourselves.’
She stared at him again for a heartbeat.
“Do you have a car?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Okay, then we meet up here tomorrow to
pick up the instruments and then you’ll drive us there. Understood?”
“Okay.” He said obediently.
“Good. I know that you’re a good student
but I know this school better than you. So, if you want the results as quickly
as possible then simply follow my lead and everything will go smoothly.”
“Okay.”
But what happened the next day was not
smooth in anyway.
…
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE INSTRUMENTS AREN’T
AVAILABLE? WE BOOKED THEM YESTERDAY!” she screamed at the lab assistant.
“I’m saying that they are not available
despite your booking them. Because we had to release them to some of the
undergraduate students that have their project defense today.”
“But why would you release it for them when
you know very well that we would be using them?”
“What do you mean by that? It is based on priority
and project defense takes priority over projects just starting.” He said
adamantly.
“What? That is unacceptable…”
“Wait. Wait. Wait, Zarah. Calm down this is
obviously getting us nowhere.” Isah said “So, let me try.”
She threw up her hands “Please do. Please
talk to him because obviously this school is now allowing just anybody to work
in their labs.”
“You have a right to your opinions o,
madam!” the lab assistant spat right back not ready to take nonsense for the
meagre salary the school is giving him.
“What did you say?”
“It’s okay, Zarah. Please allow me.”
“Fine!” she said and left to wait for him
outside. When he finally came out to join her, he said.
“Well, the instruments are being used in
defense right now so there’s nothing we can do. But he did promise to keep
checking with the particular student using them and he hopes that we might be
able to get them by 12 noon.”
“TWELVE NOON!? HALF THE DAY IS GONE
ALREADY!”
“I know but listen. We can always
reschedule till tomorrow…”
“NO! No, that’s even worse and waste and
entire day? No, we will just have to wait.”
“Okay, let me go ask him to please keep an
eye on the student for us.”
And so, they waited…
And waited…
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No.”
“What about a snack?”
“No.” he’d offered for the umpteenth time
and she’d refused for the umpteenth time.
By the time they got their meters and
calibrators. It was already past two in the afternoon. She was in a terrible
mood.
“Thank God, Alhamdulillah Isiaka was able
to get them for us this quickly. Did you know someone else wanted to grab them
but he refused vehemently on our behalf?” while he was feeling grateful that
the lab assistant was able to be of help to them. He was expecting her to share
in his enthusiasm but she hardly ever did whatever was expected of her. She
only did whatever she wanted.
“If you say so. Shall we go?”
“Of course. My car is just under the lemon
tree.” And as she proceeded to grab some of the equipment he got there first
and scooped them up.
“I can carry too, you know.”
“Oh, I know. It’s just that we’re in public
and I’m sure people would frown at me if I let you do the carrying while I
stand watch.”
“People’s opinion matter’s little to me. In
the eyes of Allah men and women are equal.” She said proceeding to take some
from him but he wouldn’t saying…
“Yes, but Allah, the most high gave men
more physical strength than women. So, therefore it behooves a man to be the
burden bearer when the opportunity calls for it.”
She tried to argue but was too tired for it
and instead said “Fine.” And upon reaching his car she got in the driver seat
but after dropping their instruments in the booth he hesitated before getting
in the car.
“Erm…would you be so kind as to sit in the
back seat? I don’t want people to get the wrong impression about us?”
So, she did as he directed not because he
told her but simply because he was in the right. On the highway traffic was
terrible and they got to the river even later than before and the afternoon
tide had come in. So, the water levels were higher than normal and so all the
access ways to a good observation point were mostly flooded.
“Well, it would be very difficult to get
good readings from this dry side. It’s best we come back tomorrow when the
water is not so high.”
“NO! After all we’ve been through to get
here. Then we will just leave? NO!” she refused and insisted going farther in “So,
what if our feet get wet? It’s just water after all.”
And on they went putting up wooden planks where
they could and dipping their feet into the water where they couldn’t with Isah
doing most of the feet dipping. He insisted on going in first whenever they
came to a suspicious looking puddle, to test the depth in order not to let fall
in any deep pit. Soon enough, his native attire was soaking wet up until his
waist. While his leather palm sandals were too muddy to be of any real use. She
almost felt bad for him, but chalked it all up to his sacrifices for academic
success. Despite her clothes being mostly dry except for the wet soles of her
slippers.
It did however come to a point where they
came before a large pool of water with no bridges or planks to improvise a
make-shift bridge in site. They had come so far and now that they were so close
to their chosen point there was no possible way forward. She became dejected.
Defeated.
“Well…this is where we turn back, I guess.
Let’s go.” She said matter-of-factly and began making her way back but soon
noticed that he wasn’t following her.
“Didn’t you hear me? Let’s go.” But he just
stood there pondering for a bit until he finally said.
“No, we can still take a few readings.”
“But there’s no bridge. How would we be
able to get readings if the university’s equipment get wet? Do you even know
how much those things cost? Better do as I say and let it till tomorrow.”
But he still held his ground.
“No wait, hold on. There’s still a tributary
over there.” He pointed out and she did see that there was a narrow meeting at
the middle of the river but still it was still about four feet wide and God
only knows how deep.
“If you hold on tight on to the instruments
as you cross, we can get you and them safely to vista point for measurements.
Just make sure you hold on to them firmly as I suspect the university would do
more than scold us if any one of them fall inside the river. And I was hoping
to round up my masters this year without fail.” He said smiling.
She still didn’t understand how they were
going to do that obviously he had a plan and she just stood back and watched as
he got near the narrow tributary and he did something that totally blew her
mind.

Infinite Love 132

Even at such a young age Zarah always prided herself as an expert in the selfish ways of men.



She had a father like Abu Zainab, the most egotistical of them all so, with the except of her maternal uncle, men were all the same, selfish. And there was nothing any of them could ever do shock her. Until this guy came along. And as she watched him expertly meander the puddles until he got to the aforementioned
edge. One higher than the other but definitely the closest points in the tributary though still too wide for anyone to cross without getting wet up until their ankles more likely, she was absolutely shocked.
When he got to the edge, he went in to fully, in order to gauge the depth of the crossing.
“What are you doing?” she asked in awe as he ended up sinking up till his waist, from one
point to the other.
“Oh, please don’t be alarmed. I’m quite safe, I’m only trying to judge the depth of this
area.” And he came over to her side with his entire clothing wet sticking to
his body from the waist down and dropped his phone and car keys with her.
“Now, please
hold these. And when I tell you, please climb on me and walk across as
carefully as you can with one instrument at a time. There’s no need to rush.
You can go back and forth as many times as necessary.”
“What…do you
mean? What are you trying to say?” she asked angrily. Another typical, male
having the audacity to think that she would jump into his arms at the sight of
water.
“Ridiculous!”
she muttered “Mtchew!” she hissed.
But then he went
back to the lower edge and with his feet planted there, he simply dropped down.
With his back straight and his two stretched all the way across to the other
edge and his face just inches away from the flowing water.
“Miss Zarah.
Now, would you please take one of our instruments and bring it across? You can
walk across my back but don’t worry I won’t fall into the water.”
She was dead
shocked and it took her a whole minute to register what he said.
“Hey! What…what
are you doing?” she said recovering.
“Making a bridge
for you. I’m the only one expendable on this team. We need the instruments on
the other side and even you alone can operate the instruments so please walk
carefully because you must not get wet.”
She clapped her
hands in total disbelief. Not sure about the correctness of walking across a
man’s back.
“But if you’re
afraid then we can always go back.”
And with that
she stiffened her back, squared her shoulders and took off her slippers. She
took one of the instruments and took one of her first ginger steps across the
only man she had ever walked across. Carely not to put pressure on sensitive
areas like his bottom or his head. When she got to the other side she was
exhilarated. Relieved that she had done it. How dare he insinuate that she was
scared, she was scared of anything or anyone but Allah.
“Okay, can you
now please go back for the rest?” he said again with his face blowing on the
water with every word.
“Oh, yes sorry,
mallam.”
And so, she went
back, walking across his back to get the rest of the equipment to and fro,
across his back until they had everything safely on the right side of the river
and he got up. Washing his muddy hands in the river and asking.
“I hope you
managed to get everything we needed?”
“Yes, I did.”
She said in total disbelief at what just happened. “I hope I didn’t injure you
in anyway?” she asked genuinely concerned. She had never seen such dedication
to any academic task before now.
“Oh, no. I’m
fine. As a young boy I was in the boy scout so this is nothing at all. Don’t
worry about me please.” She smiled not sure what being that meant but she
appreciated the humor.
“Shall we set up
the instruments?” he asked.
“Yes, please.”
“I’m that you
may be the one to operate them for now as my hands are too wet.”
“That’s alright.”
She giggled “You have done enough for one day already.” He smiled after she
smiled and after she set up the equipment to monitor and recording their
observations. They discussed their project work and their proposed benefit. She
was fascinated with him. There projects were similar but their goals were
different. While she had chosen to focus on the most challenging project, she
could find mostly for the sake of proving to a panel how smart and dedicated
she was. He chose his project purely for the humanitarian aspect. Not for what
the project could do but exactly what it was going to do, which was make life
better for the people in that environment.
He told her the
motivated behind his project.
“Rua Kaduna was
a tributary of the Niger River the largest river in the country. It started off
in Jos, goes through Kaduna and ends up in the Niger state. But long ago before
the demarcations in states, the river, especially the beginning part of it was
surrounded by the Gwari people’s land. When the first British came to the area,
he met a Gwari man playing the Dunguru, a local version of a flute who saved
them from starvation and disease. Only to have his land taken to make military
barracks in return. The Gwari people were later promised that their land would
see huge developments but after Lord Luggard moved the headquarters of the
north to Kaduna, the Gwari people’s land was abandoned in history. If we can
help determine that Rua Kaduna has the requisite characteristics for hydro
electric power then focus would shift back to the river and all the people who
live near it, including the Gwari people. We can help give them the development
that they were promised long ago.”
They had known
each other for over a year but all she ever did was tune out his voice on class
because she considered him an annoyance. But now she listened to him for the
first time that day. She realized the true reason why her lecturers and in fact
everyone else in her class were fond of him. He was a good person. Simple as
that. With true kindness and unbelievable humility and none of the haughtiness
and over exaggerated self-importance that she was so often confronted with on a
daily basis. She actually thought he usually got people to listen to him on
account of his good looks and his effortless charm.
But as they sat
there together by the river, with only the slow sounds of the river flowing,
the silent timely beeping of their instruments and him telling her stories
after stories of his experiences with people. She felt, transcended into an
ethereal concert where his voice was orchestrating the soft breeze, the flowing
river and even the distant cars passing by into a delightful symphony so
soothing and beautiful that she never even realized how late it got until he
himself said so.
As per the first
time, he had to make himself a bridge for her. For some reason, though this
time, she was more reluctant to walk over him than she was in the first place.
She did it however, because they had no choice. They took their instruments
back to the school and met the laboratory assistant who got if for them in the
first place.
“Wallahi, I’m so
sorry for bringing this late but we didn’t start early and the measurements too
time.” He apologized to the man who asked them not to worry about it and even
offered to keep it for them the next day. Promising not to release it for
anyone else.
She watched him
chat with assistant and notice the ease and respectful manner he talked to the
man. In an institution where most including her was dismissive of assistants
and contract workers, he was respectful. She was in awe in of him. She went
over and apologized for her rude behaviour and hoped the man would forgive her
and he was only too happy to accept her apology. Just less than eight hours
with him and he was already unconsciously molding her with better manners.
Her! Who did or
said whatever it was that she wanted to say?
After dropping
off the equipment and saying bye to the lab assistant he met her by the car.
“Well, Hamza
promised to truly reserve the instruments for us till tomorrow. So, in sha
Allah, we will be able to start over measurements earlier than today.” He said
cheerfully.
“Yes.” She said
simply averting her eyes because she was melting under his smiling gaze. Her
heart was beating like crazy, so rapidly in her chest that she felt afraid he
might hear it.
“But even
though, I think we made some very interesting findings, don’t you agree?” he
asked still smiling with though incredible eyes twinkling and his long lashes
and eyebrows glistening giving her a lump in her throat so that she couldn’t
speak clearly.
“Er…” *cough
cough* “Yes.” Was all she could say. She was feeling so bashful all of a sudden
before her. She was suddenly very aware of herself.
‘Was she
standing awkwardly? Is her hijab matching her dress properly? Hope she didn’t
get too much mud on her clothes from the river?’
Then she
realized that he wasn’t saying anything anymore. They were both standing there
awkwardly in silence for a minute until he offered...
“I think it is
getting late, can I drive you home?”
She at first
could not hear because her pulse was running high, but when she did, she
refused.
“No, no…erm my
house is not far. I will get there in five minutes.”
“Are you sure?”
he asked somewhat sounding disappointed. “It is no trouble on me to drop you
off, even if it is close by.” He pressed.
“No. No. I’m
okay.” She refused but didn’t move immediately and so they both remained
standing there for a minute. Neither of them wanting to leave. To be away from
the other. They had had a soul binding moment out there by the river and now
distance seemed such a great inconvenience.
“Well, I
will…see you tomorrow then.” He said finally.
“Yes, see you
tomorrow.” She said and walked away from his car finally and kept on walking
never daring to look back for fear of being rooted in place like a statue which
now seems to be happening whenever she met his gave.
She slowed down
her pace on thinking about his face again. The eyes surrounded by the curliest
lashes and brows she had ever seen. It made her heart race again and she put
her hand to her chest.
“What is
going on with you today, Zarah? Are you losing your senses?” she asked
herself as she exit the campus gate.



Dear @op in as much I would like to commend you for your writing skills, this story has lost direction. It used to be about mike and his crush and how he navigated through life but it is now about zarah. The last few chapters should have been an entirely different story.
Well its just my observation. Thanks

I understand why you feel that way. But, it really is still about Michael and Angela.

I have finished the story by the way. I will keep updating this thread though.

Hoping to start a whole new story this week.

Infinite Love 133

And so they went back the next day and the day after that and the day after that, carrying along waterboots, planks and other suppiies in case they needed to make makeshift bridges again, making observations and recording findings and talking about their eventual project defense and all the developmental possibilities that it would bring.



And they both enjoyed every single moment of it.
Spending time together had become so wonderful that they had almost forgotten that they were merely doing school work because the more time they spent together the more it felt like a hangout. They had even developed a routine.

Gradually, but surely and until eventually. Going out to the river wasn’t so much about carrying out their project anymore. It was about spending the day with her for him and spending the day with him for her. Their ritual was to go out to the river set up their equipment to take measurements and while the collected their readings and data, a hot water bottle would emerge from her for a cup of tea for them to share and a food flask with sandwiches would manifest itself from his car booth along with a mat for them to have a small snack. But it wasn’t a picnic. No, not at all. They were merely snacking on the job.
And they would talk about any and everything that came up in their minds, from arguing about who would possibly make the best masa ‘corn pancakes’ to their hobbies in general. She found him incredibly easy to talk to as he was open about everything concerning himself with intense honesty that she found his honesty disarming and told him everything about herself. Everything, except of course her father, which was always a sour topic for her and he didn’t press her on it.
And by the time it was nearly evening they would drive back to school, spending some more time talking by his car parked under the lemon and he would offer to walk her home but her fear of being embarrassed by any of her sisters catching her with a man, never allowed her to accept any of that offer. So, she would refuse, noticing a hint of disappointment in his beautiful eye stand firmly upon her decision. Considering, Umm Hamza would no doubt humiliate her upon sighting any man within five meters of her.
By the time their river readings were complete and there was no other reason to go to the river, they were both miserable. They were both not allowed to date so what would be their excuse then for going there to other people?

Or to theirselves? And so they stayed away in misery for the next semester to start.

She couldn't wait until she would get to see him in class again. And hoping, maybe they would get to talk under the lemon tree again as became the norm for them.

It was on one of those days in before the end of the holidays that Abu Zanaid came over to their house with her sister, Zainab in tow. When she saw them two together, she knew something was wrong or it was going to be wrong very soon. And she wasn't wrong.

"Asalam waleikum wabarakatuhu wabarakatuhu mama." Her sister said on reaching the living room where Zarah and her mom were seated.

"Waleikum salam warahmotullah wabarakatuhu, umm Hamza and Abu" her mother replied.

"Hope there is no problem at all?"

"No, no froblem at all, Khadija. I have only decided to discus a very important matter concerning Zarah with you."

When she saw her father and her sister exchange looks. She knew she was in trouble.

"I have decided that it is time for Zarah to get married and I have chosen a suitable husband for her."

"Oh, I see." Her mom said.

Her feet became butter underneath her as she sat on the chair and felt dizzy with a headache.

"Subhanallah! No, this can not be happening." She thought miserably.



Infinite Love 134

They had been arguing for hours without end.

"Subhanallah! For Allah's sake please let's discuss this amicably without shoutin..."

"Then tell her to obey me! I am still her father! And she must listen to me!" Abu
Zainab said with much exasperation and perspiration on his head. Even his
native babariga attire the body lenght full robe was nearly soaken wet from the
effort of talking to Zarah. The sleepless night, worry and anxiety this girl
alone gave him alone was more than the stress from raising all of his eight
other children combined.




"Yes, Mama.
Baba is absolutely right! Zarah needs to get married and she must get
married." Ummu Hamza added.




"You stay
out of this, Zainab. Stay out of my life, do you hear me?"




"I will not.
I am your eldest sister and that means I am like a mother to you.!"

"I don't
need a mother like you who resembles a mortal enemy."

"What!
Auzubillahi minna shaytaani rojeem! Me!? Zarah?!"




"Hey, Ummu
Hamza. That is enough. Zarah, why are you being stubborn about this? Is it not
the natural next step of a woman to get married once she becomes of age? Don't
you want the happiness and security of a marriage? Who will take care of you
when your mother and I are gone? Be reasonable, please." Abu Zainab
reiterated.




"I can't get
married now, sir. I have my education to complete." she said with her jaw
clenched in defiance.




"What
education? I said what education is that again, Zarah?"




"My Masters
in Mechanical Engineering."




"Oh yes. I
know all about that. You are currently about to begin your final semester,
isn't that right? And after your project defense goes well, which it will
according to your record you will have completed your master's degree." he
said and she looked surprised.




"Don't be shocked my dear. I know everything about you and your education. Do you think I never noticed how hard you have tried to remain in school constantly? Taking all those short courses. And isn't this your second masters? I know you better than you think, which is why I know that your education will not be a problem. So now you can go ahead with the marriage plans that we have in place for you. Listen to me, Zarah. This boyis a very good boy. I know him very well..." he began but she stood up
again in defiance.

is a very good boy. I know him very well..." he began but she stood up
again in defiance.




"I don't
want to marry anyone right now. I have my PhD to begin soon after my masters
degree is completed."




"OH HO! What
did I tell you, Baba? That this girl will not listen. There is no point trying
to reason with her. I know her. She wants to keep reading books and studying
them until she is old, childless and alone till her death."




"Being alone
is not the end of the world, Zainab."

"ZARAH!"
her father lost his temper and rose up to her "DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT
AGAIN! DO YOU HEAR ME? How can a woman live alone with no man, no children and
no one else around her but books? Is that a life? No listen to me. You will get
married to this young man that I have chosen for you. I am your father and my
order must be carried out!"




"But what
kind of a father, leaves his own daughter at infancy only to come and order her
around in her later years?" she spat venomously.




"Zarah!!"
her mother shrieked.




"ZARAH!"
her sister too.




"WHAT!?"
and in split second Abu Zainab struck her a lightning hot slap so furious that
she lost her balance and fell to the floor in tears.




"LAA ILAHA
ILLALLAHU!" her mother shrieked coming between her and her father
"DON'T YOU EVER LAY HANDS ON MY DAUGHTER AGAIN?"




"Oh but
Mama, she is his daughter too?"




"If I sand
you with the sole of my leather sandal, Zainab. Will you keep quiet!" she
said raising her slippers and Ummu Hamza became humbled in silence.




"Mariama,
how dare you come between me and my daughter?"




"Eh hen.
Don't you lay your hands on her again! I alone know all I had to go through
when I had her. So, please not another finger. Do you hear me?" and she
raised Zarah up from the floor wiped her tears and hugged her.




"Mama,
I..."




"Shh. It's
alright, my daughter. I know but just be quiet for once please." and she
hugged her tightly.




"Mariama,
will you stop me from getting her a life partner when you have had yours and
your own children? ANSWER ME!!!"




"I never
said that we will not get her married. I only said that you shouldn't..."




Zarah sprang
upright "Mama, even...you too!"




"Ay, my
daughter. Please take it easy. Marriage is not as bad as you are taking it.
Listen to me, when you start having your own children and holding them to your
breast, all the problems in the world will just disappear. Trust me. I am your
mother. I know."




But Zarah, was no
longer listening to her. Her tears started again and she began going to her
room with the rest calling after her.




"Zarah?
Zarah, come back here! This conversation is not over. Get back here!"




"Subhanallah!
Will you just leave her be?!"




"Is this how
you've raised her? To be disrespectful to me? Wallahi none of children ever
dared to speak to me so poorly."




"JUST LEAVE
HER BE! PLEASE!"




She could hear
her mother trying to get them out of the house but the damage was already done.
If her own mother who knew her better than anyone could be against her then she
was alone. And the tears ran freely as she sat in her bedroom floor crying.

It may be hard sometimes to love new characters when the old ones are still there. But me? I love Zarah. She may not be Angela but just give her a chance. You may come to like her too!

Anyways, like I said I already ended the story so you can read the rest on my blog. But still I will update it here too!

Infinite Love 135

It had been so long since she had been fighting against her father’s influence in her life. Even after almost abandoning her,

Mama and her sisters all because they were of the same gender, she couldn’t believe he

still had the gumptioon to march into their lives and make demands.

So many times she tried to challenge this institutional acceptance
of any kind of misbehaviour by the patriachy but her society had little attention
for women challenging the ways of men. Her place was still to be obedient and
conform to acceptable social norm well to blazes with that. She didn’t come all
this far on her own only to be kept under another man’s control. She got her
independence when her father threw them out and she was going to keep it no
matter what.

She had been avoiding marriage so many times by way of education. She was
always in one college or the other studying and now that it seems that no
longer works. She was going to have to take the only available option. But
first she needed the support of the only real father figure in her life to pull
it off.

“Zarah? This is iinsane! I can’t get you into flight school,
easily and in secret for that matter. Whenever it comes to the issue of
education I have resources yes and your impeccable grades also help speed things
along but...this is just crazy. I can...i can’t do it, wallahi!” Her maternal
uncle who had always been her pillar of support said.

“Mallam Idris. Can’t or won’t?”

“Anyone you chose o, my dear. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry? Don’t you realise what is at stake here? It
is my life we are talking about?”

“Yes but Haba! Zarah, running away from home to flight
school because of marriage? You are smarter than this now. Doesn’t it sound
crazy to you yourself? What will I tell your mother my sister when she comes
around, ehn? Do you have any idea if she will ever forgive me for doing such a
thing to her? Her daughter wants to run away and I allowed it. What kind of
irresponsibility will that be? And do you even know what goes on in flight
school? I hear their training is quite rigorous, physically and not just all
that comfortable reading that you do at home in your bed. You will be there all
through doing flight drills and sometimes i hear they do extensive physical
trainings in your moutains in the old days. Thank God they no longer do that anymore. But Zarah still it
is not a good idea.”

“Then what is, abu sumayya? What other do i have? Do you
also want me to sit down and be quiet while abu Zainab marries me off to some man
that I barely even know or want to marry?”

“Zarah...have you even met the guy? What if you meet him and
you like him?”

“I don’t like men!” she said matter-of-factly and he laughed
before she remembered Isah and retractd "Well, maybe not...all”

“Hmmm? What dd you say?”

“Nothinig.” She dismissed the thought. There was no point in
that anymore. She liked him and maybe someday in the distant future she could
consider a life with him in it. But she didn’t know if he even liked her too.
And now that her father already had someone else in minid for hier, that
thought was no longer possible.

“If my father chose this man by himself then I promise you,
I will not like him. So, you have to help me.”

“But what did your mother say to all this?”

“Nothing different. She says having children makes it all
worth it. But I don’t want to be married to some stranger who will put my
future on hold and expect to only be quiet, cook and clean.”

“Zarah...”

“You have to help me, uncle.”

“Zarah, I...”

You just have to.”

“Zarah...I can’t help you. Not this time. I’m sorry.”

She burst into tears. Her worst nightmare was coming true
and she was fast becoming unable to stop it. All her life, she feared ending up
like her mother. Completely dependent on her husband until he dismissed her for
a stupid archaic reasoon. She wanted her life to be under her conrol. To use
her own wits and skills to better herself continuously. To have a future with
more possibilities than only a wife and a mother. But now it was gone. She had
worked so hard for so lonog but now it was all gone.

“You have abandoned me too!” she cried aa she got up to
leave.”Just like mama.”

“Zarah, don’t say that please. I could never do that.”

“You were the onoe person who had always been there. No
matter what.”

“Zarah, please...sit down and hear me out.” But she was
beyond pacifyiing and went to the door.

“If you were always going to abandon me like this. Then you
should have jjust let me die in the hospital when I was a baby.”

“ZARAH!”

“Trust me. It will have been a lot less painful than this.”
And she used the door but he ran after her.

“ZARAH. WAIT!” he grabbed her and they both embraced tightly.

“Alright! Alright, my very stubbon, Zarah. I could never
refuse you even one time. Dont cry. Don’t cry.”

“Thank you.” She sobbed.

“Shh. It’s okay. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.”

...

She spent the next few weeks brooding over her plan. And with
every move that brought her closer to it, the more she worried. She had never been
away from her mom. Never. So, this was going to be a big change. But despite her
reservations she kept to it and to herself. When school resumed she shut herself
out from everyone and merely focused on her studies. Much to Isah's dismay.

Try as he might to engage with her, she would only shut him down.
Until he confronted her about it. He caught
up to her one day after class.

“Zarah. Salam alekum.” He said skipping to her side as she was
walking quite fast.

“Oh, waleikum salam Isah.”

“So...” He ran after her again because she didn't stop “...erm
are ...are excited about the project defense?”

“No. Not really. “

“But you worked so hard on it, aren't you even a little excited?”

“No, I'm not. It's just another thing to do that's all.”

“Oh I see. Maybe you're a little nervous then?”

“No...look, Isah. I really have to get home. I'm sorry.”

She said stopping him in his tracks. But he skipped ahead to
join her one last time.

“Erm...Zarah. Did I do something wrong? If I did something to
offend you...please just say so and I will apologise. In fact I will apologise right now. Zarah, I'm
sorry if I was in anyway disrespectful towards you.”

“Look!” she stopped finally “You have not done anything
wrong. In fact you have been a very admirable and helpful as a project partner which
I thought I would never say it's just ...” she paused.

“What it is, Zaran?”

“Look things are complicated in my life right now.”

“Well...maybe I can help you if you tell me what it is.”

She saw the honesty
in his eyes, the compassion and really did want to tell him. But she didn't want to seem weak
and lose face in front of him most especially and simply said...

“Look, don't worry about it okay? Forget I ever said anything.”
And she walked off again leaving him standing there.

“But..hey Zarah!”

adeabdul2:
It may be hard sometimes to love new characters when the old ones are still there. But me? I love Zarah. She may not be Angela but just give her a chance. You may come to like her too!

Anyways, like I said I already ended the story so you can read the rest on my blog. But still I will update it here too!

What if these new characters were introduced at the very beginning of the story going along side by side with Angela and Michael. It would have been better than just having them now when a lot of chapters have gone very far. Besides we don't even know what is going on in the life of our dear Michael or Angela.
P.S it is just my observation and thanks for the update.

adeabdul2:
It may be hard sometimes to love new characters when the old ones are still there. But me? I love Zarah. She may not be Angela but just give her a chance. You may come to like her too!

Anyways, like I said I already ended the story so you can read the rest on my blog. But still I will update it here too!

What if these new characters were introduced at the very beginning of the story going along side by side with Angela and Michael. It would have been better than just having them now when a lot of chapters have gone very far. Besides we don't even know what is going on in the life of our dear Michael or Angela.
P.S it is just my observation and thanks for the update

Good things come to those who wait boss

hotswagg12:
What if these new characters were introduced at the very beginning of the story going along side by side with Angela and Michael. It would have been better than just having them now when a lot of chapters have gone very far. Besides we don't even know what is going on in the life of our dear Michael or Angela.
P.S it is just my observation and thanks for the update

adeabdul2:
Good things come to those who wait boss

Yeah and like I said earlier its just a suggestion.

Yes of course

Infinite Love 136

When going through barrels and tunnels filled with mosquitoes and maggots,



Zarah wasn’t sure of her decision anymore. She’d ran away from home using a flight course as a means of both a distraction and
independence. She’d chosen fight school because it was chalenging enough to make her forget about missing her mother and sisters and it was lucrative enough to help her become independent in the shortest possble time.
But the reality was much different.
She missed her mom
every single moment, even her bothersome sister too and the rest of her family.
The only people closest to family she had here were Michael who reminded her of
her uncle Idris in his own way and the bumbling Fubby who is more like an overgrown
toddler just like her nephew Hamza. They were the only ones she felt at home
with in the mountain.
The course had proven
to be more challenging than expected and those two were one of the reasons that
she hadn’t quit. Even she knew there was no going back now. Still, she missed
her mom terribly. If their commanders hadn’t taken away their cell phones on
arrival she might have been tempting to call her more than once. But, marrying
a man chosen for her by her arrogant controlling father was still out of the
question.
Her fate was now
tied by her own hand to the training and there was no going back. So, she suck
in her homesicknes and began her third drill on the obstacle course. She came
up to Fubby who was the slowest in her square the stallions, in fact the
slowest in all of the cadets in the program. He was hanging by the swing rope
over the mud pit. The same place she left him two drills ago.

"Are you
still here?" she asked perplexed.

"No, i'll be
done in a bit i'm just getting my bearings and angle of swing." he said
and shoke her head took another rope tied to the top beside his and swung
across the mud pit landing on her two feet almost perfectly in a graceful
Tarzan style. Two weeks ago she hadn't been able to do half of the activities
on the mountain. But after Michael one of the few cadets to catch on the
activites had coached her, coupled with days of mild hunger, short sleeps,
repetitive drills and major weight loss, she and most of the cadets were
catching on well.

'Ah, I wish. Mama
could see me now.' she thought sadly.

Indeed, all of
them had improved. All except for Fubby.

"BEEP!"
their sergeant's whistle went off startling them all as she blew it "HEY,
YOU! What are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm
trying to swing across, sir!"

"When by
next week?"



"No, sir.
I...think in a few seconds." he said as he shook his body to try to give
himself velocity so that the rope could swing but after numerous shaking, the
rope barely moved.

"Just get
down from there."

"No, sir.
I'm almost..." he began shaking again "...done."

"BEEP!"
she blew the whistle again "GET DOWN FROM THERE, RIGHT NOW! YOU'RE HOLDING
UP THE LINE!"

So, after one
final unsuccessful trial he dropped down into the mud pit five feet below.

"SLURP!"
he landed with no grace and his entire left side nearly fully covered in mud.
The others laughed at him mostly the ones from the other squad, the eagles
squad with whom they were competing against.

"Fatty
bombom fell again!"

He tried to keep
his head up and got up but the slippery mud only made him slip and fall right
back in to more laughter from the other squad.

"He looks
like pig." they jeered while the rest of his squad the stallion mostly
shook their heads. They had ran out of patience with him. Most cadets could
confidently run a full obstacle course without falling down by now but he could
hardly complete a full drill without falling in mud.


All looked away
and continued on while Michael, came over to help him out of the pit. He gave
him a hand and pulled him out of it.

"Thanks,
boss."

"No problem.
Are you alright?"

"I'm
good."

"Okay. Let's
go."

And he went on
with his drill but Fubby had to carry on from the start of the course again as
was the rule. He hated being the weakest, he knew he wasn't the weakest but for
some reason he couldn't do the drills that even Zarah had mastered.

He tried and
tried but he just kept failing because it all seemed to tough and difficult for
him. Even small chores like washing his clothes or cleaning his shoes he could barely
do. Michael was the one picking up most of his slack with many basic things.
The dude was a God-sent. As a bunk mate he helps him in their room and as a
fellow cadet he teaches him some of the drills over and over again. And he's
still not getting it despite Michael showing the rest cadets only once or
twice. He had a way of explaining things in a non scary or threatening manner
that most of them had come to understand and appreciate.






But Fubby was
giving it his best and he still wasn't getting it right. And he was tired of
flopping because Michael was trying his hardest to help and he was still only
flopping. And most of all, he hated losing face in front of Sergeant Seyi their
commanding officer. She was hardworking and tried her possible best to keep
them all in shape. Most of them had come to respect her leadership, even though
she drilled them far more than her male counterpart the commander of the eagles
squad did. But they all never complained.






And particularly
because, she was a babe! She was exactly his type, medium height like him and
dark skinned like his favorite dessert, chocolate. Most of all, she looked so
freaking hot in that camouflage uniform. If he wasn't her cadet, he would had
hit on her by about fifteen times by now. He's never had a girl turn him down
never. His unique swag and easygoing nature had always been a winner with the
ladies but in Naija and Canada. But here on this damned mountain, all his
efforts at performing even the most basic things were weak at best. He was a
loser and he couldn't muster the courage to even look her in the face because
he wasn't at his best and he didn't understand why.






'Mad o!' he
thought sadly.

Dejectedly, he
went to the start of the course and he found a group of the eagles guys there.
The mean ones, Rilwanu and his crew who took special jabs at his performance on
the course.

"Hey, you.
Piggy! Next time make sure you fall on your face. It is more funny that
way." they jeered.

"Everytime,
everytime. Mud mud mud. Hey, were born and raised in a mud house?"

He was used to it
by now. The jeering and laughing at him. He didn't much care about these guys,
what pained him was disappointing the people he did care about like Michael and
Sergeant Seyi and not these jackasses.They were all mostly on their third or
forth drill while he was yet to complete one. And so they were pretty smug
about themselves but he still didn't care.
He simply went to the starting log and joined them quietly. They all took
off except for the last one amongst them who mocked him with;






"Oink oink
oink!" deep into his face so that he could even smell his breath.

Fubby froze. The
guy's breath smelled of... meat!
Particularly,
goat meat. But that was impossible! They were all served what he called
'Prisoner's food' that was mostly custard, pap, unsweetened oats with a few
pieces of bread and very rarely even smaller pieces of bland meat or fish.
Never anything even remotely close to goat meat.


Was he dreaming?
Was his hunger finally driving him crazy? Has his stomack now taken over his
brain and turned an obvious mouth odour into a delicious roasted goat meat
smell? He wasn't sure. Why would his mind make that up and why goat meat
particularly instead of his favourite spicy barbeque turkey?


He had to investigate
and get another breath sample. And so with uncharacteristic speed on the
obstacle course he sprinted swiftly and caught up to the three guys on the
climbing wall.
"Ah, piggy!
You ran?" Rilwanu their gang leader said and Fubby quickly got in front of
him before he went up the climbing wall to smell his breath. After an awkward
moment, he realised their was no such aroma in Rilwanu's breath.

Maybe the next
guy then? Aliyu or what's his name and stuck his face near the guy's nose
awkwardly, freaking him out.

"What are
you doing? Get away from me, jor." Aliyu pushed him aside and went up the
wall. But after smellin his breath too. He suspected that he somehow must have
been dreaming up the goat meat smell. Nevertheless, he waited for the third guy
to finish tieing up his tennis shoe laces and as he stood up he again mocked;


"Oink Oink
Oink!" as soon as he opened his mouth Fubby immediately put his nose in
the line of his breath and this time, the unmistaken smell of roasted goat meat
came out wafting all over his face.

That guy had
definitely eaten goat meat recently!

'But...where?
How?' he thought desperately 'The rest of us had been eaten paper tasting food
while this guy had been munching on huge juicy slabs of goat meat?'

That's when Fubby
lost his mind.

"HEY, YOU!
WHERE THE MEAT?" he shouted up to the last guy on the climbing wall. The
guy looked down at him with a shocked expression and Fubby realised that he
must've been right. So, he shouted again.


"WHERE IS
IT! GIVE ME SOME. I'M HUNGRY!" but the guy merely went up the rope on the
ten foot wall faster trying to get away from him. But Fubby wasn't going to let
him escape. It wasn't fair. The guy had been dining like a prince while he had
been starving like a pauper.


So, for the first
time he went up the rope wall all by himself. Usually, he would wait for
Michael or someone else to give him a boost but not this time. He was in a
hurry to catch that goatmeat-smelling guy and so there was no time. He grips
the rope in his hands firmly and pulled himself upwards, then pushing himself
upwards again with his feet against the wall, he was slowly but surely going up
the wall.






Michael nearly
fell on top of his sergeant who was in his way when he saw Fubby going up the
wall.

"Sorry,
Serge." he saluted.

"No worries.
Is that..? she asked.

"FUBBY!?"
Zarah, shrieked as she joined them and they all saw him reach the top of the
wall all by himself without a boost from anyone else.

He grabbed the
guy's foot as he reached the top and held on to it.

"Leave me
alone." the guy shouted.

"I
want...that meat." he panted.

"Leave me
alone, you pig. You're crazy!" and the guy yanked his foot away from him
as he went over the side of the wall and ziplined straight down.

"Please
just...give me a little. I won't tell anyone." he said as he crossed over
and ziplined straight down the other side of the wall to chasing after the guy
rapidly.

"GO GO
GO!" Michael and the rest of the Stallion squad were now on the side of
the course. Too stunned to continue their own drills and instead were cheering
him on.

"GO,
FUBBY!"

"YOU CAN DO
IT!" Zarah and Sergeant Seyi were screaming their encouragement at the top
of their lungs as they watched in amazement Fubby running, climbing and jumping
all the obstacles that had been hitherto impossible for him to do without
assistance or falling into mud.


The guy went
under a log, he followed him. He crawled under tunnel or between insect
infected tire rings he followed.

"HEY, IF YOU
DON'T GIVE ME SOME. I WILL REPORT YOU!" he threatened but the guy simply
ignore him and finally getting to the mud pit took a rope. And instead of Fubby
grabbing the next available rope beside the guy, he grabbed the guy's leg
instead.


"Leave
me!" he screamed.

"GIVE ME THE
MEAT!" he commanded not letting go.

"LEAVE ME
ALONE NOW!"

The guys shouted
and the rest of them watched in bewilderness as Fubby grabbed onto the guy
forcing the both of them to fall into the mud pit together.

"SPLURB!" head first and full body next.

Have I been banned from the literature section or something?? I wrote two messages but nothing is reflecting, eiii God!

So now the message sends? God abeggg

Anyway, op you're doing a really great job and I'm too tired to start writing another long accolade but just know that I've been on this story since morning

Muchas gracias senora

Blossompowerpuf:
So now the message sends? God abeggg

Anyway, op you're doing a really great job and I'm too tired to start writing another long accolade but just know that I've been on this story since morning