It was the last day of my level 3 examination in the University and I stepped out of the examination hall only to see some students celebrating.
"What could be going on?" I thought as I folded my examination clearance and squeezed it into my crossbag.
"They must have done the exam pretty well but does that require all this noise?" I stare and was looking so confused.
I was lost in thought for a few seconds thinking about what was making those students happy and I figured out that they were signing out.
"Yes, that's true. How did I forget that students wearing white on their final paper are final-year students?" I muttered as if I was replying to someone.
I wanted to reach for my phone but couldn't find it. I became worried immediately and rushed back to the hall but couldn't enter since some students weren't done with the exam.
I kept staring at the spot where I kept my crossbag hoping I could prevent anyone from picking it up.
"Omolara, what are you still doing here? I thought you left earlier," My roommate, Ashabi who was also in the hall asked immediately she stepped out.
"My phone, I think it fell from my crossbag. I can't find it?" I replied.
"Really? So you eventually brought the phone after we agreed not to do that, what if it's missing?" She asked and at that moment, I remembered that I didn't bring my phone to school.
"Oh, I left my phone at home. I am not feeling good," I replied.
"Don't tell me that you fasted again today?" Ashabi asked.
"I did even though I didn't have the intention to do so, I don't have much and must return home by the weekend. I just have to patch myself up," I replied.
"And you couldn't tell me, I still have flakes and I wouldn't say no if you requested for some this morning," Ashabi replied and we left the department immediately.
On our way out, some of the signing-out students persuaded me to sign on their dresses. It's a tradition here and it's always fun participating.
"Alhaja, join us," A guy in white polo and pants insisted.
I tried to smile but it wasn't coming so I collected the marker from him and gently signed.
"There is a party later, do you guys mind coming?"
"Nah, we don't party. We will pass on that," Ashabi replied.
We turned to go when this guy told us to try the spin game, one of the signing-out games they organized.
"Maybe next time," I replied.
"What are the prizes?" Ashabi cuts in before the guy can respond to me.
"Little things though but there is a grand prize of 10,000 naira and no one has won it yet," He replied.
"10,000 naira," I stuttered knowing very well that the money was enough to take me and Ashabi through to the weekend.
Ashabi winked at me and we told the guy that we would try the spin game just for fun but in our minds, it was more than that.
We joined the other signing out students and their friends. Immediately we joined them, many of them started teasing me because of my hijab and I am used to that a lot, especially in school.
We were offered drinks and I first used that to end the compulsory fast I gave myself. We waited for our turn to spin since other students were playing before we arrived there.
Immediately it was our turn, Ashabi spun first and won onions. Everyone laughed really hard and I couldn't hold back laughter as well.
"We can eat this too," I teased her as she returned to me with the onions.
"Alhaja, it's your turn. Let's do it," One of the guys who acted like the MC called me.
I stepped out and started praying in my heart. Immediately I got to the spin, I did the needful and my heart raced while waiting for the spin to stop.
As the speed reduced, I closed my eyes waiting for them to tell me what I won.
"Alhaja, it's just a game." I heard some teasing and smiled because I was short of words.
I heard a noise after and open my eyes, everyone was screaming so I turned to see was I won and it was 10,000 naira.
I became emotional immediately and Ashabi was dancing so hard even without music. I didn't believe and thank God for the blessing because it was unexpected.
We stayed longer with students and ate their Jollof rice as well. On our way home, we got soup ingredients and prepared meals for all the students in the flat.
They were broke too, it happens like that at the end of the semester. Many of us ran out of stuff already and I didn't have to observe a compulsory fast till I travelled back home.
