Campus hustle
Episode 8
Nike remained on the bed, ashamed at what just happened. She stared at her clothings that were scattered on the floor; her panties, her bra, her trousers and her blouse.She picked up her blouse it was okay but for the four buttons that dropped down,
" I am sorry, this shouldn't have happened"she managed to say putting on her clothes.
"What do you mean"Ayo asked wiping off the sweat on his brow
"All this, it aint real!"She screamed back ignoring his calls as she ran out.
She took a straight bike back to the hostel, tears refused to come, she couldn't believe she just let her guards down despite the promises she had made to herself.
She hurried inside she determined to sleep, maybe she would feel better when she wakes up.
"Thank God you are here,see Rukayat has been vomiting since you left"Amaka said immediately she entered.Nike quickly forgot all that she was feeling and moved close to Rukayat who was sleeping on Amaka's lap.
"Rukky, how are you feeling" Nike asked holding her hands
Rukayat managed to open her eyes, she winced in pain " I am feeling hot, like needles are all over my body"she said slowly, she could feel life slip through her fingers, everything she had ever tried to run away from grabbing her like a dozen unseen hands. Ever since she arrived from her last trip, it has been one sickness or the other, she had become a shadow of herself, atfirst, they thought it was malaria and they had taken her to the hospital but when it developed to her coughing and vomiting blood, they advised them to take her home but they believed her condition will become better, they decided to go the following week if there were no changes.
"I can't keep her in this state"Amaka chewed her nails in fear.
"Why is this happening"Nike buried her head in her hands for a moment "this shouldn't be happening to Rukayat"
"What can we do now"
"Her parents stay very close right?"Nike asked starring at the ugly figure of Rukayat
"Yes, let's take her home before it gets dark"Amaka said packing some of Rukayat's clothe into the traveliing bag.
The drive to Rukayat's house was less than an hour. Rukayat continued to groan in pain as the car moved, the car had to stop severally so that she could vomit.
"Allahu akbar!"Rukayats mom screamed when they carried her inside. Her mom dropped the morsel of Amala that she was eating. She hurried to her daughter's side, tears dripping down her face
" Kafayat, kilo shele, bami soro na" he mom shook her body vigourously.Rukayat mumbled some inchorent words as spit dribbled from the corner of her mouth.
"Yee te mi bami!" She shouted attracting the neighbours "where do you want me to start from now" she asked no one in particular. She removed her head gear and tied it on her waist, as tears continued to drop
"What is happening here" her father demanded emerging from the bedroom.
Amaka and Nike quicky knelt down " we are Rukayats roommates, we brought her home , she had not been feeling well for over a month now" Amaka explained
"Hen!"Rukayats mother exclaimed "and you are just bringing her now!"
" Shut up, let them talk"Rukayat's father commanded
"We were thinking she would get better with time since we had taken her to the hospital"Nike answered tears already forming in her eyes.
"Oh God, my only child, God you want to take away my only child" she shouted looking towards heaven
"Mama kafayat? Mind yourself don't provoke God"her husband warned.
"I have always expected this day, didn't I warn you ehn, I told you this girl will soon perish" Her father said, pointing accusing fingers at his wife
" Were you not the one that drove her to it, telling her that she must not come home with a poor man"Rukayat's mom shouted back."We are both at fault, you dare not blame me" she added
Nike watched what was going on with fascination, she thought this only happened in movies, she never knew it was really happened.
"I have called the alfa, he should be here any time" he said, sitting down beside his wife, shaking his head sorrowfully.
Rukayat kept coughing and vomiting blood, her eyes were already bulging, her bones sticking out of her body, she looked around the room, pain travelling through her body as she moved, she wished she could explain to her parents but words could not form in her mouth, she stared sorrowfully as her parents and friends wept bitterly
"You are all birds of a feather" her mom said suddenly.
Nike couldn't talk, she kept her head down
Suddenly, Rukayat let out a loud scream. Everyone rushed to her side,
" Rukayat, rukayat" her mom called out, slapping her cheeks lightly. Rukayat rolled her eyes , her breath becoming laboured,blood spilled from her mouth as she gave up the ghost.
"Yee mogbe" Her mom screamed, dragging Rukayat up by her sleeves" ruka, ruka, stand up o, stand up now now" she screamed further.somebody carried Rukayat's lifeless body away from her laps.
Nike screamed, she jumped up and ran after Rukayat's body, shouting and crying.
Amaka stood at a corner watching as they carried the dead body of the only person that ever loved her like a sister. She had never imagined this happening, they had plans for the future. She broke down in fresh tears.
Rukayat father kept starring into space as sympatizers consoled him, tears rolled down his face as he watched them dig his daughter's grave.
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