Restlessness consumed Salima once again as she contemplated the day ahead—the beginning of her journey at the prestigious Airforce Institute of Technology in Kaduna. Unlike other days, she awoke early, her mind already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. With a weary sigh, she turned to her one true confidant, Herself, and whispered about the storm brewing in her head. "It will be okay, Salima," she reassured herself. Collecting her phone from the side table, she opened WhatsApp, the clock displaying 5:00 AM—30 minutes before the Subh prayer. Messages flooded in from her secondary school group, buzzing with excitement over a former classmate's upcoming wedding. The ladies discussed the intricacies of acquiring the "anko" while the guys chimed in occasionally. Amidst the flurry of notifications, a message from Imran appeared. Initially, Salima reveled in her silent victory over their Cold War, vowing never to speak to him again after he toyed with her feeli
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