Shirk in Disguise

Chapter 31

Slowly but steadily, Azeema got absorbed into the Femi-9 Fraternity. The members were an astounding variety but they were nonetheless united in the sense that they were overly ambitious bitter and vengeful ladies who had been manipulated, cheated or abused by various men, from abusive relatives to cheating boyfriends or violent husbands. They thus saw them as enemies and only used them as tools to achieve their set goals. In their twisted mentality, they thought lashing back at both the guilty and the innocent would relieve them.

'The Queen Bee', 'Candie-Bell' and Azeema, now 'Azy Babe', became an inseparable trio. They were held in awe and known to get back at anyone who dared cross their path, be it student, lecturer or non-academic staff on the campus. Few knew how they did it and many steered clear from them. Sumayya's efforts to stop Azeema from treading this new path were futile, and when she died by drowning towards the end of the academic year, all Azeema felt was a passing feeling of loss. She thought that the lady hadn't 'enjoyed' her life at its prime, not figuring out that Sumayya had actually lived and died well, and not all what some people consider to be 'enjoyments' in this world are really worth it. Hence, sacrificing them paves ways for greater enjoyments.

Attending lectures became a rarity for them and so it was a great puzzle that they never failed their exams. They didn't pass with flying colours but at least they passed. Behind the scenes, unknown to others, they simply pulled some strings and voila...the deed would be done.

Their remaining years on campus passed in this manner with lots of partying and cult meetings. There were whispers here and there, but the cult members were yet to be caught red-handed; they covered their tracks carefully.

For Azy, Faysal soon became history and despite her good looks and attractiveness, she refused to succumb to another relationship which she believed would certainly become another huge failure. Her male schoolmates and even older men were attracted to her like bees to a beehive but not many had the guts to ask her out; the few who dared were disgraced woefully. A formidable aura surrounded her, one which seemed impenetrable.

As for the other two, they had their usual flings and proceeded to enjoy life to the fullest. However, they never pursued a venture that seemed unprofitable. Their targets were always high-profile men and business moguls. Not surprisingly, they grew rich quickly through their dealings.

The years flew by and the friends were ready to graduate. On the day of the convocation ceremony, the university was agog with activity. Many parents and guardians as well as distinguished invited guests were among the throng of well-wishers. It was a truly memorable day for the graduands, except Azeema Yusuf.

To her, it seemed that the crowd was mocking her. She was sure that every graduating student had some well-wishers to boast of; except her of course. The wounds she'd managed to keep hidden for years reopened that day and the pain was almost unbearable. Every smile and every clap that was performed by the well-wisher of another of the graduands peppered her sores and made them feel raw. She felt really bitter.

Her name was among the last to be called out. She moved shakily to the podium and received her degree certificate. Yusuf, Azeema – B.Sc Business Management. For the first time in years, she couldn't stop the flow of tears. They weren't tears of joy.

With her rolled up certificate in hand, her ambitious soul was reawakened. She would become successful. She had to be! With each step, her determination heightened. She'd do anything to achieve her goals.

Later in the evening, at the Marzuqs' mansion, a grand dinner was prepared to which lots of family members and friends were invited. The couple was happy for their daughter and her friend, who was now more or less a part of their family.

The two ladies, the Twenty-one-year old Azeema and the Twenty-two-year old Bilqees, received lots of gifts that day. It was as if they'd finished top of their class even though they both merely managed a second-class (lower division) degree.

Even though she kept a smile plastered on her face throughout, Azeema felt that she was out of place among them and was only tolerated out of politeness. She promised to get herself such wealth by all means possible. Her ambitions had grown with the years and her mind was set.

At the end of the memorable but exhausting day, Alhaji Marzuq and his wife got up to make an announcement. They had deliberately saved their gift to be the last. As the room fell silent and all eyes turned on them, Bilqees's mother looked at her husband and smiled. She then proceeded to give each of the two celebrants a sealed envelope. Her husband chipped in that the envelopes contained a cheque each and they were supposed to open the gifts in the privacy of their rooms.

Loud cheers and claps greeted the announcement as both ladies hugged the couple in joy. For Azeema, it was a dream come true and a stepping stone towards the achievement of her goals. She couldn't wait to reach out and grab the luxury she so much craved.

A/N

Overambitious Azeema is now a graduate and she's ready to do anything it takes to get rich and famous. I'm sure there're many people out there with the same mindset...do you think it's a wise philosophy?

Are wealth and fame all that necessary??

Share your opinions. Also dont forget to vote and share!👍