TREASURES AND THORNS

Chapter three

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
                                          Jalaluddin Rumi

                      
 
                             RUKKAYYA
                            
                         (Two weeks later)

Words could not express how overjoyed I was when I stepped out of the exam hall. My last paper! In shaa Allah I was done with university!

We had all abided by the tradition of wearing a white shirt on the day of the final exams. All the shirts had been decorated with different colours of pens and markers. It was pure bliss. I don't know about the others but I was especially ecstatic to finally be done with that hell of an institution.

We had celebrated, screamed and taken dozens of pictures by the end of the day.
I had been so exhausted that when I got home all my heart desired was a hot bathe and a much needed nap. When I passed the living room into my mothers room, I heard Nana's voice. It didn't come as a suprise because I had seen an extra pair of shoe outside. I didn't bother checking up on Daddy because I knew he would be in the farm besides his car wasn't in the driveway.

"Salamu Alaikum!"

"Wa alaikumu salam," they crooned.
I could almost swear they had exchanged weird glances - guilty maybe - but it was for a split second and I was way too tired and excited.

"If it isn't the latest graduate!" Nana exclaimed and enveloped me in a hug. Nana's protruding  belly had become more pronounced.

"Thank you!"

I left them to continue whatever they were discussing.

For once I really didn't want to participate in the conversation. I could finally practice photography in full. Where my friends and age mates had boyfriends, I had photography and a blog to showcase my work to the world. It was one art that swayed my heart and refused to let me be.

I had troubled all my family members two years earlier to get me a camera but they ignored me claiming that it was only momentary. It however didn't pass and I did not relent in asking. So last year on my eighteenth birthday they decided to bless me with a canon DSLR camera. It was the best birthday gift I could ask for! I was overjoyed.

I often took pictures of landscape while other times I used my friends as my muse - Zuwaira - especially. I covered a bridal shower about seven months earlier, for one of my course mates because a female photographer was all but lacking in Minna.  It was challenging but I enjoyed every moment.

I had thought the conclusion of my final exams would give way to that and more. Little did I know that the challenge I was going to be faced with after university had nothing to do with my passion for photography.