VULNERABLE

EXAM, ABAYA AND ARMAAN

ABIDAT

Two months later, and I saw less and less of Armaan each month. He had resumed school three weeks after I visited him, and he was better.

I could understand his scarcity—it was due to their exams. They had to go to an external examination office for registration, verification, and whatnot. Speaking of external exams, I had managed to convince Mama and Baba to let me write my own. It was easier than I thought almost like they expected it, though I didn't complain. I felt a thrill of anticipation mixed with the usual anxiety of what was ahead.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and focused on the work  at hand.

EXAMS.

which was around the corner LITERALLY.

I stopped out side my exam hall—2D was written boldly on the door—as I tried to catch my breath.

The school hadn’t done me any favors by placing me in a class full of SS1s and SS3s. I barely knew anyone here, except for Aliyu, who sat at the front. I recognized a few of my classmates scattered around, but I wasn’t particularly fond of them. Focus, Abidat, I told myself. I couldn’t afford to get distracted now.

Aliyu turned and waved at me, and I smiled back at him before settling into my seat and pulling out my book for a last-minute review. Even though the exam period was nearly over, I still found it hard to get used to this hall. It felt foreign, almost hostile.

The teacher walked in, and I threw my book to the side, ready to face my fear—the dreaded paper he was holding. Physics, I thought with a sinking feeling in my stomach.

2 more days

2. MORE. DAYS

---

I stood up as the bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. I was finally done with exams, and I couldn’t be happier. But you know who’s even happier? Laila.

She was already outside of her hall, 2E, and when she saw me, she squealed and ran toward me, arms wide open. I barely had time to brace myself before she crashed into me, hugging me tightly.

Finally last day of exams

“We’re free! Finally free!” she exclaimed, twirling me around. I laughed, her enthusiasm infectious, and spun her around once more. As I set her down, something—or rather, someone—caught my eye.

Those curls. I could recognize them even with my eyes closed.

Armaan.

He was standing a short distance away, watching us with a smile on his face. My heart skipped a beat. It had been weeks since we last had a proper conversation. I smiled back at him, letting go of Laila, who turned to see what had caught my attention.

She spotted Armaan and grinned, giving him a small wave. “Hey, Armaan! How’s it going?”

“Not bad, Laila,” he replied, making his way over to us. He looked good, his usual calm demeanor firmly in place. “How were your exams?”

“Brutal, but it’s over now,” Laila said dramatically before winking at me. “I’ll leave you two to chat. I need to find someone anyway.” With that, she gave me a quick hug and darted off, leaving Armaan and me alone.

He turned his attention to me, his smile softening. “As-salamu alaykum, Abidat.”

“Wa alaykum as-salam, Armaan,” I replied, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in my chest, as we walked to the bleachers and sat “How did your exams go?”

“Pretty well, alhamdulillah. Though I’m glad they’re finally over. How about you? How did you find them?”

I shrugged, leaning slightly against the wall of the building. “They were okay. Not as bad as I expected. I’m just glad it’s done.”