Saleem was coming out of the school Senate Building when he received a call from Dr. Hussain, one of the lecturers in his department.
Dr. Hussain told Saleem that he needed to see him urgently and since the department was a few distance away from the Senate Building, he turned back and found his way to Dr. Hussain's office.
He knocked on the door and a voice asked him to come in. They exchanged pleasantries and Saleem sat down patiently as he arranged the files on his desk and parked them into his drawer before he looked up at Saleem with a smile.
"Long time, Saleem."
"Yes, sir. I've been struggling to look for one thing or the other to do with my life", Saleem replied.
"I see! What are you currently into?" The lecturer inquired.
"Sir, I am still unemployed but I've been trying to set up a business in Kano, all to no avail. All the businesses I have in mind are capital intensive."
"May I ask why you are still in Nigeria?"
Saleem smiled. He knew the point he was driving at. "About my Masters Degree scholarship to Florida, right?"
"You know that's what I mean Saleem. I did not hear from you all these while so I thought you've traveled out already. Yinka told me he saw you yesterday on the school premises, that's why I decided to invite you over. I tried calling yesterday too but it was unreachable."
"Yes, sir."
"So I'm all ears. Why are you still here?"
"It's a thing of the heart sir", Saleem smiled at him.
"What do you mean by that? Dr. Hussain questioned with a furrowed brow.
Saleem was short of words. He didn't know how best to answer Dr. Hussain's question. Dr. Hussain liked him so much and he didn't want him to be disappointed.
How then was he going to tell him that he forfeited the opportunities of a scholarship abroad for a woman? A woman who is oblivion to the sacrifices he has been making. A woman who wasn't ready to settle down with him. A woman who was having and giving him doubts if they were truly meant to be or not.
"Saleem", Dr. Hussain jerked him out of his thoughts.
" Yes, sir", he sat upright.
"I need a genuine reason, Saleem. That scholarship was awarded to you due to my influence. No one was willing to help and that is because they never wanted any of the students to graduate with a First Class Degree. These people are intimidated that you will come back and take over their position. You broke the record Saleem and I used that to our advantage, because I want you back here. I know the length I went through to make sure you got the scholarship. Why then have you failed me?"
"I am very sorry sir. I didn't mean for this to happen but I guess I was not destined to go overseas for my Masters", he replied with guilt.
"What stopped you from going then?"
"I don't know how to explain this sir...", he stuttered, scratching his head nervously.
Here he was chatting with a man he had always admired secretly and taken for a role model. He knew that Dr. Hussain took a liking to him since his first year in the University. But he never knew he was behind the scholarship, even though he called Saleem to inform him of the good news. Now, he was going to be disappointed.
"I did it for Salamat", he finally blurted out.
"A woman?" He demanded. Saleem nodded and Dr. Hussain smiled.
"Are you married now or what?"
"No sir, but I am working towards that. She was in a trying time and she needed me by her side, that's why I forfeited the scholarship."
"You are deeply in love with her?"
"Yes, sir."
"I understand. You know why I like you? It's because we have a lot in common. The same thing happened to me a long time ago. My friend, Ma'aruf who was in U.S was persuading me to come overseas a year after I graduated from the University. He already got me a job and even wanted me to marry his cousin's sister who was residing in the U.S. I was wooing Maryama when he proposed that to me but she was playing hard to get. After much persistence, I gave up because she was not giving a positive reply."
"Then, I made a decision to go and join Maaruf abroad but I got a message that I have been waiting for. Maryama finally accepted my proposal and I was overjoyed. I told my friend about it and he was infuriated. I didn't have a reason for refusing to go overseas. I just didn't want to go because I felt I now have something to hold on to."
He smiled at Saleem and continued, "But the reality is that love is not enough. You need something to maintain that love. Love is like a flower that needs to be watered with trust, patience, and understanding, and then finally money. You need to be employed to make money, Saleem because money sustains a relationship."
Saleem sighed. "That's true sir, that's why I've been doing all I can to get something doing. And I don't want to regret the fact that I did not go because she is worth it, sir."
"You don't need to regret anything. I am willing to help you for the second time but your commitment matters."
Saleem's face light up in excitement. "Really, sir? Thank you so much."
"I will help you source for help from our fellow lecturers to fund your first year in Master's but I can't promise you the second year. You deserve it so they have no choice than to help. If the school can not do something for you, the department ought to."
"Thank you, sir. God bless you abundantly. May you never lack sir. I'm grateful."
"The pleasure is all mine. You truly deserve it."
"I still want to thank you, sir. You are one in a million."
"Let's thank God", he chuckled. "I think the form is already out. You can come back tomorrow for it."
"Alright, I will", he, said.
"See you tomorrow then, Saleem" Dr. Hussain stretched his hand for a handshake.
Saleem took it with a wide grin as he stood up. "Thank you once again sir."
He found his way out of the department with a broad smile on his face. Then his phone rang. It was a strange number.
"Hello", Saleem said into the phone, still smiling.
The good news had put him in a good mood, replacing the unpleasant way he has been feeling since the day before.
"Hi, am I speaking with Saleem?" The strange voice demanded.
"Yes", Saleem responded.
"Good. Bimpe wants to talk to you."
"Bimpe?" He was baffled. "What for?" He asked himself.
"Hello Saleem", she cried into the phone.
"Bimpe", he called hearing her teary voice. "What is the matter?"
"Ayoade... Ayoade", she whimpered while stammering.
Saleem was troubled. "What happened?"
"Salamat killed my brother", she blurted.
"What?" He questioned in fear. Then he asked. "Where are you?"
"I'm at the University Teaching Hospital", she answered as Saleem got to the main gate. He disconnected the call with a frown and halted a bike.