A GLITTER THAT TAKES THE HOPE

Chapter One

Khaleel was wrapped up in thoughts, totally oblivious to the deafening noise coming from their neighbourhood when it dawned on him that his holiday was coming to an end in a week's time.
He looked at the clock that was loosely hung on the wall of his cosy little room and was shocked to notice that 12:00a.m. had already chimed. How time flies, Khaleel thought in bewilderment.
He was still sprawling on his bed which was neatly made the previous night by his mother when his alarm buzzed. He moved his hands toward the direction of the phone and angrily switched it off. The alarm was of no use since he wasn't asleep. Khaleel sprang to his feet and made his way to his bathroom, which was feet away from the bedroom, to have some shower and take an ablution. It was like Khaleel to wake up in the middle of the night and observe some voluntary night prayers and lay hands on the pages of some books, mostly novels, before he could surrender to sleep.
This day wasn't an exception. After saying his prayers, Khaleel's soft fingers were on the drawer where he kept his books. He took out a novel and promised to read half of it before he slept.
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While at the dining table taking their breakfast, Dr. Muhammad, Khaleel's father, a happy-looking gentleman in his late forties with a neatly combed beard, broke the silence that had engulfed them. The trio - Khaleel, Dr. Muhammad and Malama Fatima, Khaleel's mother, sat happily, enjoying their breakfast as they discussed issues relating Khaleel's educational pursuit.
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Aisha, five years younger than Muhammad, was all the beautiful adjectives of the world. Khaleel was their only son. During the first three years of their marriage, the couple - Muhammad and Aisha - had given up hope of having a baby. It wasn't until in the fifth year that Aisha conceived.
Muhammad was a successful medical doctor, the most sought after doctor and the only doctor with speciality in Psychiatry in Gombe state. Aisha, a primary school teacher with less stressful working hours a day, was, before she became inured to her husband's not staying at home when she needed him, disturbed and would be mad at Muhammad every night she heard a door open when she was in the middle of her sleep. "Dr, I can't take this anymore. I didn't marry you to have you spend every hour of your night in the hospital", Aisha snapped, but she knew there was no stopping her husband from attending to his schedules in the hospital, and so all her anger had died when every attempt she had made in changing Muhammad failed.
Khaleel's parents, anxious to have their only son educated, didn't hesitate enrolling him into one of the best schools in the town when he was five. It was a private school, a heavy-teaching school with qualitative teachers that were all dedicated to their duties.
Khaleel, because of the extra lesson his mother would give him everyday, had gotten double promotion when he was in primary school. While in JSS class, Khaleel had grown fond of the English language and would spend his 30-minute-breakfast in library everyday riffling the pages of different books that appealed to him so that when he was in SS1 he had represented his school in more than two essay competitions.
Khaleel's parents, not appreciating the talent their son had, wanted him, desperately, to study Medicine and Surgery and they so couldn't wait to remind their son of their interest now that he was a prospective SS2 student.
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"Son, it's about time you consider taking MBBS as a course of study in the University. I'll make arrangement for your SSCE and JAMB if you'll nod your approval." Dr. Muhammad said, turning to to signal to his wife to take over. Aisha, despite decoding her husband's message, didn't utter a word. Instead, she took a loaf of bread and sipped her tea.
"Father I hate to bring it to your notice that I have strong aversion to any medical courses, including Medicine and Surgery." Khaleel explained bitterly as he carefully chose his words. He cleared his throat, dropped his cup of tea, looked the father in the eye squarely and continued: "As you two all know, English language is the passion with me. My guidance councillor had, not only once, suggested that I go for either Journalism or English Literature, going by my excellent performance in th English language."
"I don't w...." his mouth was full of unspoken words when his mother interrupted, looking angrily at him as though he was a strange person. Muhammad who stood quietly found it difficult to control his rising temper.
"I know what MBBS is, I know how doctors are. Why am I mad at Khaleel simply because he had opined his mind? At least he deserves my support. Khaleel must be allowed to pursue a course of his interest, not his father's, not even mine." Aisha was still entertaining myriad of thoughts when Khaleel continued. She had no idea what he was saying. She was deep in thoughts, too engrossed in them that she found herself completely in another world. It was a gentle push by Muhammad that had brought back her senses. "What's it? I see you change!" Muhammad inquired, but allowing her no room to give her explanation. Smacking Khaleel in the shoulder gently, his father said, pulling a wry face, " Khaleel, you are our only son. No one can make us proud in this world but you. I want you to make us all proud. And don't you have any idea how simple this could be? Just nod your approval to my demand and watch your life change." Khaleel wasn't in the least interested in what his father was saying.
"Honey, why don't we leave him take what he has interest in! I don't need to tell you that Khaleel has been remarkably doing well with his write ups. I must confess, he's a flair for writing and I have already seen a wonderful writer in him." Aisha concluded.