BEYOND BORDERS, WITHIN WALLS. (CHAPTER 4)

 

Salima's arrival at the Airforce base in Kaduna was a mix of excitement and apprehension. As she approached the base gate, a stern soldier demanded her identity card. She explained she was a new student and handed over her admission letter, gaining entry. The base buzzed with activity, typical of a Monday morning. A fleet of navy-blue tricycles adorned with dashes of white stretched before her, and she hailed one. Her fellow passengers, it appeared, were seasoned students, discussing the challenges of balancing work and study. Salima couldn't help but overhear their conversations.

Salima arrived at the Airforce Institute of Technology, her heart pounding with anticipation. Making her way towards the bursary to submit her documents, she was greeted by a sight of confusion—several queues stretched before her, leaving her unsure which one to join. Hesitating, she mustered the courage to approach a fellow student for assistance. "Excuse me, which queue should I join?" Salima asked, her voice meek. The boy pointed to a queue labeled "Social and Management Science." Salima quickly located the sign and joined the line, arranging her documents in the prescribed order. Five students stood before her, but her mind wandered to her perpetual thoughts.

As she observed the unfamiliar faces around her, self-doubt crept in. "All the girls in our faculty are so gorgeous and beautiful. I am no match for them," she confided in Herself. A reassuring response echoed within, "Quit saying that. You are very unique." A gentle smile formed on Salima's lips as she patted herself on the shoulder, momentarily boosted by her inner support. Eagerly and anxiously, she awaited her turn. The girl standing in front of her suddenly turned and asked, "Could you please hold these papers for me?" Salima nodded, accepting the papers. As the girl knelt to arrange her documents, Salima patiently waited, and when she finished, Salima handed the papers back with a soft smile. "Thank you," the girl said, accompanied by a faint smile. "By the way, what department are you in?" she asked Salima.

"I'm in the International Relations department," Salima replied.

"Wow, I'm in the Economics department. My name is Rabi'atu," the girl introduced herself.

"I'm Salima," they exchanged pleasantries before proceeding to have their documents scanned. The peculiar-looking woman at the bursary commented with amusement, "You girls look like twins. Why are you looking at her like that? She does look like you." Salima turned to glance at Rabi'atu, her face contorted with disgust. Offended, Salima wondered if the woman implied that she was too unattractive to resemble Rabi'atu. Seeking reassurance from Herself, she received a comforting response, "Don't worry about it. You are much better looking than her. She's no match for you." Salima dismissed the scenario, allowing a smile to grace her face as she submitted her documents for stamping. Fortunately, everything was in order, and her documents received the necessary stamps. "Alhamdulillah, first stage passed," she muttered to Herself. The woman instructed her to make three copies of each document at the photocopying center. Salima thought of asking Rabi'atu for directions but realized she had disappeared. "Why would someone like her want to help me?" Salima pondered, feeling disheartened. Determined, she set out to find her way.

Walking away from the bursary, Salima searched for someone with a calm and approachable demeanor to ask for directions. Eventually, she approached two girls and greeted them politely, studying their expressions intently. Sensing their normalcy, she proceeded to inquire, "Please, I'm looking for the cyber cafe. Could you show me the way?" One of the girls pointed in the right direction, instructing her to go straight ahead and then take a left. Grateful, Salima thanked them and headed towards her destination. Upon arriving at the cyber cafe, she was met with a bustling crowd. Dejectedly, she sighed, wondering how long it would take to complete her registration. Crowds made her uncomfortable, and she timidly edged her way towards a spot to stand. Observing everyone at the cafe, she realized many newly admitted students struggled to organize their papers before proceeding to their respective faculties. Herself's voice echoed in her mind, urging her to be smart and proactive, reminding her of the long and tiring day ahead.

Summoning her courage, Salima navigated through the swarm of students, her slender frame making it slightly easier to find her way. Inadvertently, she stepped on someone's toe and quickly apologized. "Good morning," she greeted the girl working at the cafe. "Good morning. What do you need?" the girl responded. Salima explained her need for photocopies, and the girl asked her to wait while attending to others who arrived before her. As she waited, Salima overheard a conversation between three girls, two of whom were identical twins dressed in matching pearl and coffee striped bodycon dresses. They discussed making additional copies of their documents as a precautionary measure. Salima tapped one of the twins on the shoulder and inquired, "Excuse me, do we all need to make additional copies, apart from the three we submit to the department?"

"Yes, because you might be asked for the extra copies as evidence of payment," the twin explained, and Salima thanked her. Finally, it was her turn to have her documents photocopied. Carefully, she handed them over to the girl at the cafe, who efficiently completed the task. "Each photocopy costs twenty naira," the girl informed her, and Salima paid for the service. Retrieving her documents, she set about organizing them once again

. With her task complete, she pondered how to find her way to the faculty. "How do I navigate to the faculty?" she wondered aloud, heaving a tired sigh. As she considered her options, she spotted Rabi'atu. Relief washed over her, despite their initial unpleasant encounter. Rabi'atu could guide her to the faculty. Salima hastened towards her. "Hi, Rabi'atu. Are you heading to the faculty? I'm not sure where it is," Salima asked, hoping for assistance. Rabi'atu shook her head, barely sparing Salima a glance. "I'm going to get my medical report," she finally uttered. "Oh, okay. See you later," Salima said, feeling dejected. She turned and continued walking, uncertain of her destination but hoping she wouldn't struggle to find the faculty.