HER WET PILLOW

OH MY ALLAH!!!!

CHAPTER 13
OH MY ALLAH!!

I was standing by the side of the road, waiting anxiously for a tricycle or motorbike that would take me to school. "I can't afford to be late." I said to myself. I then raised my left wrist to check what the time was. I was wearing a silver watch which Anty Khadija (mom's younger sister) bought for me a year before as a birthday present. It was 7:10am and I needed to be in school by 7:45, I had only thirty minutes to go. I stretched my arm to stop the motorbikes passing by but they feigned ignorance as they left one after the other neglecting the poor me on the road. To reach my destination, it would take me twenty minutes. I wasn't bothered much by the aggressive attitudes of the riders but I wished one of them would stay. I really wanted to be in school early for no other reason than my anxiety syndrome.
After a while, I was still standing on the street waiting for a motorcycle or a tricycle. I then tilted my head to look at my wrist watch only to find out it was 7:18am. "I really don't want to be late on such an amazing outing: the outing of my dreams." I whispered to myself. I then felt an arm on my shoulder; I startled and found Anty Zee. Anty Zee was a very good costumer to mom. She buys a lot from her and often visits when she was free.
"Sorry my dear, I didn't mean to scare you." She apologized.
"Good morning ma." I said forcing a smile out my clustered lips.
"Good morning mamu." She said teasing me and popping out her tongue out. She called me mamu eversince her four years old called me mamu when he was two.
"Ya mamanku? **meaning how is your mother" she asked with a beam. She was a very beautiful journalist who lost her husband years back and refused to agree to other men whenever they approached her. Her priority was her children.
"Tananam kalau** Meaning she is fine." I replied.
"Ki gaishe ta** meaning send her my greetings." She said handing me a two hundred Naira note with a beautiful eyes glowing in the sun.
"Insha Allah**Meaning if Allah wills. Thank you ma." I said with a smile as I stretched my hand to accept the money. She slipped the money into my hand as she evinced her pleasure and left.
"I am still lucky after all." I whispered to myself and sneered. I then remembered I was supposed to be on my way. "Whatt?" I clamoured as I steered at my watch. It was 7:23. I couldn't bear it any longer as I then strolled down the road to the other junction to get a ride. It was still the same outcome as the former. "Oh My God! What am I going to do now? I am running late already. When am I going to get there then?" I exclaimed with a shrill. "Today of all days." I added with a sad face. "Ya Allah! Please guide a motorcycle towards me. I really don't want to be late on such an important day." I gnawed.
I was flustered, swirling around the same area while waiting for a ride. Luckily I stopped a motorcyclist who was wearing his helmet and approaching me with his hand on the clutch, trying to stop. As she was approaching, I whispered: "Alhamdulillah**meaning thanks be to Allah."
"Duala Barracks, Bright Brain." I uttered.
"Toooh." He replied.
"Nawa zan biya? **meaning how much will I pay?" I asked.
"Kiba da two hundred*** meaning give out two hundred naira." After hearing that, I sighed in relieve as I tried to climb the motorcycle. I then placed my hand on his leather jacket in fear of falling down and placed my foot on the rear foot rest saying :"Bismillah** meaning in the name of Allah."
After sitting, I informed him and he started the engine abruptly and ravished into the thin air. His speed was what I needed. I was getting late so I didn't even bother to ask him to slow down. The ride was fun and scary at the same time, I felt the blessing of the fresh air that spread through my veins and slapped my veil. It was so cool and freshening, I could hear the swooshing and whistling from the wind. I then lifted my arm to fell the slaps from the wind. I beamed in joy and happiness. I even forgot I was running late. I startled as the remembrance of my lack of punctuality rumpled my joy but a thought cuffed my mind: "You are a negative human being, just have faith and everything will be fine." I smiled to the regeneration of my resurrected confidence. I closed my eyes, let out a grin and enjoyed the cool morning breeze which softened my heart and everything changed in a second.
"Whosh!" "Gba...gha!"
I opened my eyes to find myself lying on the ground; I never saw that coming! It happened abruptly. I then tried to raise myself off the ground. Luckily, it wasn't a muddy area; my chance would have been in its grave and I will be left with no other choice but to weep and sob as always. I wrenched my leg out of the bent motorcycle and the next thing I heard was "Bhaaa..!" the door of a car in front of us was shut. I craned my neck only to see a furious man in his forties coming out of his black Mercedes Benz in a blue suit and red necktie nodded around his neck. To be sooth, I had never seen such an angry man before in my life. His fury was even greater than the look on my drunken fathers face after losing control as the result of drinking to stupor. I was bewildered at that moment; I couldn't do anything but to grit my teeth. I turned to my right to see the motorcyclist also filled with sanguinity, his legs were shaking and it was like he almost peed on his body. Subhanallah! That was very terrible event. I was filled with confusion of what to do and how to do it. I even forgot that I had fallen from a motorcycle to the ground. The only thing my mind read was the furious man in front of me. That dystopian situation was a threatening one. What if the accident was serious? What if I got excessively injured? What if I lost one of my body parts as the result of the accident? "God Forbid!" I snapped out of my terrorizing mindset. If telekinesis was real, it would have done a lot of evil. My mind was too dangerous that it could turn a beautiful rain forest into an arid desert. "Auxubillahi minash shaytanir rajeem**meaning I seek refuge from Allah against the stoned devil" I whispered to myself.
What was more important was the man in front of me. I then lifted my head to the left to see the front of his car scratched. "Oh oh! This is a terrible disaster." I shrieked. The man on hearing was I said turned his eyes to what I was looking at and his fury grew even higher. "Common Amina, you are only adding firewood to the unquenched fire." I scolded myself. The next thing I saw was the man's fierce face directed to the motorcyclist who was wet with his sweat as he trembled in one position. I could see smoke coming out of his nose and ears. The man then moved closer and closer. He then clutched the motorcyclist shirt looking at him with a stern face. "I did see that coming." I whispered to myself. I was still on the ground, the man's fierce look made me maintain my position; my heart lurched. The man held the motorcyclist firmly and the crowd stood watching the scene. That was one of the things I hated most in my life. People rather watch the damage done than to prevent it from happening. I then tilted my head to look at my watch when I found out that it was 7:39am. "Oh! My! God! I surely won't make it." I didn't know when heroism in me woke up and I felt valour engrossing me. I stood up and unfortunately everything faded away. I lost everything after looking at the man's face. "But there should be something I can do."I whispered to myself biting my right index finger. The man's grip only grew stronger and stronger. The thought of losing my chance swept my mind and grief enveloped me. I didn't know when hot burning tears cascaded down my eyes, tears stained my cheek. I then turned to the man to appeal to him.
"I am very sorry sir. I really need to get to school sir." I stopped to sniffle air as he turned to look at me.
"This is one of the greatest opportunities I have been granted in my life. This is part of what I 've always wished for. I can't sit down here and look at my aspirations crumbling sir. I really need to go now. I am late already but I still need to get there to know I didn't just give up easily." I cawed. It was like I was talking to a statue. He wasn't convinced nor was his grip relinquished but I decided to continue my speech.
"Sir. Just put yourself in my shoes. How would it feel to lose the chance to get to one thing you have always wanted sir? How would it feel to sit a watch your dream crashing in front of you because you can't do anything in your power to stop it? Dreams are aspirations, aspirations are dreams. I don't want to be a failure. I don't want to give up. I want to keep moving no matter how rough the road is, no matter how much I get hurt, no matter how long it takes, just one thing can stop me; me. Only me and me alone. No one else can. Not even you. By the lord who created you and me, If it's my fate, it will remain mine. I trust my lord." I finally said and wanted to walk out when I saw him releasing the motorcyclist. He looked numb and all he could do was to get into his car and vanish into the air. That was one of the weirdest thing I had ever seen.
The motorcyclist grabbed his motorcycle and asked me to hop on. He beamed at me and asked me to hold onto him tightly. We left that scene in full speed; even worse than before. Only Allah knew why he did that. Could he not have learnt his lessons or he wanted to risk his motorcycle and himself to get me to my final destination. Anyways, I was happy about that. I was to be in school in a jiffy which was all I wanted.
Few minutes later, I was at school. I jumped down as my anxiety to go in filled me. I then handed a two-hundred naira note to the motorcyclist but he refused to accept it. I was a bit shock by his rejection but I hurriedly thanked him and ran into the school. I passed through the school gate only to look for the bus. Where was it? It was not there or should I say it was gone. I then broke down completely, disappointment flushed my brain. My heart was palpitating, I was sweating terrible, I was smothering and it had arrived; panic attack. I then bent down as rue engulfed me and everything around me was glum and somber. I then managed to whisper out: "Hasbiya llahu wa ni'mal wakeel**meaning sufficient for me is Allah and He is the best Disposer of affairs."I kept repeating and repeating the same statement over and over again. I leaned my back against the wall and rose my head to look at the sky still repeating the words. I feel relieve but the pain was still there. After a minor battle between my heart and my brain, I started walking to the class while dusting my uniform. I then heard a voice from another angle. The voice was so familiar which made me turn to the right, diverting my erect focus on where I was really going. I then saw Farida waving at me. "No way, I must be dreaming." I turned back to go to the class when I heard another voice; it was August's. "Could it be that the love for going has hypnotized me to the extent I could still imagine I was hearing their voices. This is 7:59, they must have been gone. Why would they allow my absence stop them from going. That is not even possible." I was in a very deep thought. I tried to take another step when I found the Principal in front of me. "What in Jahanaam is going on?" I shrilled in shock.
"Why not say Jannah instead?" She spilled out.
"So I am not hallucinating after all. That means... I will attend the competition." I screamed and jumped up forgetting the fact that the principal was right in front of me.
"Hmm..Hmm.." she cleared her throat and I regained balance.
"Why are you late Miss Muhammad?"she questioned arching her eyebrow and creasing her fore head.
"Amm.. amm.. I.... I.. it is a long story maam." I awkwardly stated after a lot of stammering.
"Then spill it out." She let out her sharp voice.
"At first, I didn't get a means of transportation early; it was very difficult. And after I got one, we had an accident..."
"Subhanallah**meaning glory be to Allah, are you ok?" she squealed and held my arm checking if I was hurt. For the first time, I saw ardent affection and concern in her eyes.
"I am fine Maam." I said with a smile until I felt a sharp pain "Ouch!" I screamed. She touched my injured elbow. I didn't even noticed that I had an injury.
"Sorry." She said sympathetically.
"Come, let's go to the clinic." She held me and we walked to the school clinic. After the school health personnel dressed my wound, we stepped out approaching the other student with the bus by their side.
"Are you sure you are ok? If you are not, you can stay and rest." She uttered,
"I am ok ma." She beamed and left my side as I approached Farida, Simon and August. We all entered the bus and sat closer to each other. I knew all of them wanted to ask questions because of the strange way they looked at me. "Ask." I uttered.
"Why are you late?" Farida bombarded.
"I didn't get a bike early and the bike I finally boarded, hit a car.."
"Are you ok?" August cut in. he looked concerned but only Allah knew why.
"Yes I am. Thank you." I responded with a smile.
"Hope you aren't deeply injured? We were worried. We thought you won't come." Farida spat out with concern.
"Hey I am fine." I said and beamed. But there was a question unanswered in my head. "Did they wait for me? Why would they?" I needed an answer to my question so I decided to ask.
"How comes you are still in school? What happened?"
"We waited so long for you but when we saw no sign of your arrival, we decided to leave but the bus decided to reject our decision. It was taken to the mechanic earlier." Farida stated.
I beamed at Farida's explanation and whispered: "Thank you so much, Allah. The Master of all planners" I said happily. We then sat in the bus and peeped through the window looking at the road as we were finally going to where I was dying to go.
"I heard that a TVC News correspondent will be there this year." I heard a senior said.
I was like "Oh !My! Allah! A TVC News correspondent! How amazing can this day be!" I uttered in amazement and giggled. Farida looks at me weirdly saying "I Know right?" which notified me that I wasn't the only one excited, and we both bursted into laughter. Farida then clutched my hands and kept on swinging it with a beautiful smile on her face. The boys took a glimpse of our childish behaviour and bursted into laughter.
"What?" I asked in an authoritative manner.
"Nothing." Simon replied as he chackled.
After what felt like ages, we were finally there. The gate was opened and our bus entered. I craned my neck only to see students from different schools in different uniforms; all dressed beautifully. The driver then took a turn that led us to where we dropped. I and my classmates were in from as juniors, so we were to come out of the car first. I dropped first, feeling my black cover shoe hit the gravels on the ground. I stared like a girl who just entered paradise.
"Oh! My! Allah!" I and Farida squealed. The next thing I felt was a sharp pain on my foot. "Ouch!" I yelled and hopped. Farida had step on my left foot after being infatuated by the beauty of the place. She wasn't even aware of what she had done; she just kept looking at the environment. That year, the design was ecstatic. Every year, The Olympiad Competition Center takes a different look, different design and decoration. Although that was the first time I was seeing it with my two naked eyes. My eye ball winked profusely. The Principal and our Activities instructor led the way. We were asked to sit in a hut roofed with hay, strongly tied around each other and the walls were built with Terracotta; it was also beautiful with red brick flooring. Every school took a hut and sat waiting for the amazing hour to come.
"Maam. Can we have a tour please?"A brave dignified voice uttered; it was the head boy's.
"Sure. But be careful." The principal responded.
"Thank you ma." We all uttered simultaneously leaving the hut. The Head boy and the Head girl walked ahead of us and the other seniors walked by our side. It was more like they were guarding us. I kept starring at the surrounding which was beautifully decorated by Amaltas, kachnar, Jarul and flamboyant trees. I also saw the Bohemian waxwing and heard the series of chirping by other birds. The Head boy then took out his phone and asked us to spread out for a sefie. We arranged each other and had series of shots in that soaring space. Soon, everyone separated to take pictures. Farida, Simon and August also had their phones. I didn't even have a phone not to talk of bringing it along.
Farida dragged me and we took series of selfies together with her iphone, we also snapped personal pictures. Simon and August also participated and I can rarely count how many shots we had; it was crazily much. We kept touring around until we met the students of Esteem Academy. They were our natural opponents, everywhere we went. They hated us too much because we were always ahead of them. They passed as two tall girls shot us a deadly glared and hissed. It was something natural, everyone knew of the enmity between the two schools. After the tour, we returned to our hut and grabbed some drinks which the school provided.
The moment was on. Schools went in one after the other and we were to follow. When it was our turn, we matched on the gravels down to the main entrance. There was a guard there who beamed as he saw us, we then smiled and greeted him. As we were passing through the threshold, we were welcomed by the sparkling chandelier, the beautiful Terrazzo flooring, the ash lime plastered walls, the fiberglass ceiling and the series arrangement of resin wicker chairs. The décor was amazing as the entry way set a tone, the decorators made sure the swept their guests off their feet. We were asked to sit on the resin wicker chairs and waited for the activities tutor as he finished our registration process at the reception. "If the reception looks like this, what is in there?" Simon cawed out in amazement. He as actually right, what was in there?
After the registration was completed, we stood on our feet and followed the tutor in. The hallway was amazing. It had a cathedral ceiling; white plastered walls decorated with various artworks and framed pictures. From there, I understood everything to be either ash or white. The stunning appearance of the hall way left my jaw dragging on the floor. As we moved further we saw various pictures of greatest participants in history, their names and their school. I continued making further steps starring at the pictures on the wall and then, I halted and my eye widened. "Is that?" I was perplexed at the sight of a familiar face.
"Yes." The head boy responded. I then turned to look at him, giving him a 'tell me' look.
"That is Principal Asiya, she was a formal students of Bright Brain and she participated in the Olympiad competition all her years in the school, always coming first in the impromptu speech. She is the best impromptu Speaker in her decade." He explained.
"Wow!!" everyone murmured expect for few who knew already. I then turned to look for the principal but she was nowhere to be found. No one knew how and when she appears or disappears. I continued dragging my feet behind others and finally, we were in the hall. I couldn't take it anymore. "Is this in Plateau state or should I say Nigeria?" I whispered but no one heard me as the beauty of the cozy foyer elevated the overall ambiance. The exposed beam hallway ceiling, the beautifully decorated walls, the sitting arrangements, the podium, the warm wooden floors and things I can't describe. Our tutor gave us our tags and we walked to our seats.
"What the hell? No way we are sitting near them." I heard a senior murmured.
"Yes way, my dear." The head girl said with a beautiful smile. The students of Bright Brain were to sit near the students of Esteem Academy. "What a clash!" I thought. I was the first to seat followed by Farida and others, our seating position synchronized with how we were positioned in the car.
After some minutes, the program started. A man dressed elegantly in Blue suit and red necktie appeared with a beam on his light skin. It felt like I had seen the face before but I shrugged it off.
"Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen." He uttered out sagaciously with a headset microphone on.
"Good Morning sir." The crowd roared.
"You are all welcome to 2023 Olympiad competition. It's nice having you all here. I can see smiling and beautiful faces. This handsome gentleman before you all is the Anchor of this year's event." He said pointing his left index finger to himself as everyone laughed at his pride.
The show went on and the participants of the essay competition were called to write as the debate went on. It was really interesting although a strange girl from Esteem Academy kept starring at me.
After a while, others were bored and they wanted to go and grab some snacks and they asked me to go along with them. I refused claiming I was doing great but the fact was; I knew I couldn't afford anything out there. I sat down and continued to listen to the debate while taking a sip of the drink we were given. The strange girl approached me, she was smiling at me.
"Hi!" she said.
"Hello! How may I help you?" I asked harshly.
"I mean no harm. I saw you earlier and I don't know why but I want us to be friends." She spat out feigning my harshness.
"Friends! Why will I believe you and not think it's a trap?" I asked her arching my eye brow.
"Trust me and I know you know I won't do such a thing." She said with a low tone tilting her head. I didn't know why but I believed her and hated how I talked to her rudely.
"Hey! Common it's fine. It's ok."
"I am Saliha. What's your name?"she asked and gloomed.
"My name is..." I was interrupted by an announcement: "All impromptu participants should get ready" . my heart wrenched. "This is not happening. They aren't back yet. What am going to do." I said and started freaking out as my heart palpitated. "Not another panic attack. Please not now." I whispered to myself. I was in a dilemma. I didn't know if I should stay to make the presence of our school known or to go out and call them. And iy was stated in the rules that any violation of the instruction given will cause disqualification.
"No one is here. What am I supposed to do?" I shrieked.
"Hey what's wrong?" Saliha asked after watching my confusion.
"They left..... and..and.. the participant for impromptu is being waited for." I stammered.
"Oh My God! Don't worry your school would be called forth to talk, so they may be back before then." She said pathetically trying to calm me down.
"What am I going to do?" I whispered.
"Hey! How far?" I heard August voice.
"Thank God I almost freaked out" I sighed in relieved but my joy rumpled when I saw he was alone. "Where are others?"
"They went to Mr Biggs to get ice cream and other snacks. I didn't go with them. I just went to meet my friend. What's wrong?" he asked.
"Oh My God! The impromptu competition has started and senior Fatima is not here. We are the forth and the first is on the stage currently." I yelped.
"Shit!" he cursed. "That won't help." I yelled. We both sat sadly waiting for others to arrive.
"Hello students. What's going on?" the monotonic voice of the principal broke my heart. I turned to see her with my blunt vision. I could feel the lump rising in my throat, my heart wrenched, I caressed my temple and I couldn't say a word. August stood up in shock. "It's impromptu we are talking about. I should have been expecting this; her presence." I whispered silently.
August explained everything to the Principal who was terribly disappointed.
"Do they know the implication of this. It's entirely going to destroy the school image and under my regim. Innalillahi wa inna ilahir rajiun** meaning: to Allah we belong and to him we shall return." She spat out.
The next thing we heard was: "Bright Brain Academy , come forward." My heart skipped a beat. I and the principal faced each other. She then stared at me. "What does that even mean? No! No! No! It can't be me." I thought.
"You are the only hope I have, my dear." She said with a low tune. I had never seen her so disturbed. Of course she would be disturbed, the school reputation was on the line and her reputation was on the line.
"Maam I don't think I can do it." I replied sincerely.
"I trust you. I know you can." She said confidently. I then turned to look at August.
He smiled and said: "I do to." "We all do." Saliha added.
I then stood up to walk to the stage. "The school image depends on me, the principal's image depends on me, what am I going to do? I really need to do something useful, I can't be a disgrace. The principal has full believe in me. I should believe in my self." I said to myself walking to the stage while hundress of eyes were set on me.
"Oh My Allah!"

Assalamu Alaikum!
I took my time to write this chapter for a reason. No matter how rough the road is, we shouldn't loose hope. We might have faced or still be facing challenges but Allah doesn't test a soul with what it can not bare. Success is confirmed for those who continue to strive.
Dedicated to DSF.
So let's see what's going to happen next.
Stay tuned.
Jazakumullahu Khairan.😍😘