I looked down at my left hand which now seems darker than the right one, I have used my left hand to block the scorching sun from beating down hard on my face, I do not want sunburn on my face.
We have been standing roasting in the blazing sun for a while now if you asked why this punishment? my answer will be our terrible offence is needing a hostel room.
Now let me make myself clear, I just got admitted into one of the most prestigious universities in my country.
I cannot quantify the joy I feel when I looked at the list of admitted students and saw my name as the fourth name on the merit list.
I am still clothing myself in the euphoria of that moment.
I am very happy I am qualified to read banking and finance, that is one course I have always wanted to read since I discovered as a child I will love to work in the banking industry.
As I child I have discovered I have a thing for numbers and the ability to see odd numbers and arrange them as well as literary solutions to families and friends' financial problems.
Back here on this queue, so here we are in the sun our sole aim is to get a room to live in, in school this. We all know, this will make learning in this part of the world endurable.
As a new student, we are entitled to accommodation in the school hostel, which is a bed space, and if I am lucky, I will get a Waldrop space to myself too.
This is how it works, the first four students who get allocated to the room, get the four Waldrop and can pick where they will like as their corner,
They are known to dominate the room, to get a chance at this you have to go through a process and that is what I am doing right now.
I felt a strong push to my back and an uncontrollable wave to the front, landing my chest on someone's back.
I must say this, there is almost no space between me and the person in front or behind me. we rock together like an uncontrollable sea
Whosoever control this land body wave must be a sadist because this boat swayed at a time no one expects and if we are not on foot we will be out of this boat in no time.
Someone tapped on my shoulder and I turned back, nothing prepared me for what happened next, not unpleasant in any way I must warn you; just that I am faced with a mouth-dropping beauty
She is a little younger than me but I must say this, she has this look of being delicate.
She is beautiful her skin is flawless and spotless, she is fair and a bit taller than me and I felt jealous of her immediately.
Why can I just look this beautiful? she looks so delicate those types you know if you shake too much will break.
"Please can I stay in front of you," she asks I wanted to say yes, but my heart rebelled against it, she must get her way a lot so I said no.
What she did next surprised me, she walked closer, her sweet perfume hit me like a pleasant blow, I almost wanted to drag her into my arms but stop myself in time, in case I forgot I do not do girls.
She snaked her hands around my neck and whispered in my ears,
"Please I need your help, I am not feeling too fine." just as it started it ended with her moving back leaving my personal space, but her saint does linger.
unable to process more, I found myself nodding yes.
She stood by my side and when the body wave picked up again I made sure I pushed back with more strength making space for one more person in front of me
She stepped in front of me then and as expected generated a lot of disapproval from the people on the line.
I found myself lying, "We came together," I said to the students behind me as some had already left their space on the queue and already come to fight her off the queue
I found myself having to ward them off with my hand and back repeating 'we came together like a rhyme.
Finally, they all went back to the space on the line, she turned her body slightly to look at me and whisper her thank you, I nodded.
I do not know why but suddenly the line became less tight, its like lots of students left the line, but when I looked back the line looked longer.
My guess is they got tired of the pushing and space out as normal people should.
She turned around fully after some minute and place her hands on my shoulders, she looked very tied bearly able to stand
She looked as if she was going to faint on me after a while I had to hold her upright. I looked around for a place she can rest as the queue is not moving at all.
I want no one fainting on me,
I wonder when the officers will begin the allocation of rooms to students its unfair to keep us all out in the sun. this stress is enough to run one system down.
I notice a big tree not too far from where we are, few students are nesting there,
"Please what is your name?" I asked her
"Safarat" she answered "yours?" she asked looking straight into my eyes with her sleepy eyes
"Caroline" I replied "Safarat right?" I question and she replied with a nod
"Can I take you to that tree over there to rest?" she was about to shake her head when I quickly added, "I promise to call you the instance these lines begin to move."
She nodded in surrender then asked, "how will you call me when you do not have my number?"
I smiled I made plans to come to get you but a phone call will be better so no one takes our space." I gave her my phone and she input her number
I noticed her hands shook slightly but didn't comment it must be the stress. she dials her number on my phone after saving her phone on my phone then saving mine on hers.
She slowly walked to the tree and sat down, my eyes following every one of her movements.
"What is wrong with your friend?" a girl standing behind me asked cutting my viewing shortly. I turned to look at her.
She is way shorter than me, very dark and has a very rough face, pimples had made their home on her face, I usually do not instantly notice these flaws in people I Safarat had rub insecurity into me.
I quickly bring myself to smile and explain "she is not feeling well" she returned my smile, understanding lighting up her face.
A message tone on my phone brought my attention to my phone, I scroll to message and view the message that just dropped in my phone.
It was mum, she wants to know when I will be home, but I do not have answers to that yet as I have not even seen the porters nor gotten a room yet.
There is no hope they will start allocation anytime soon.
Ignoring the message I opened my WhatsApp app and update my friends at home on what I am facing.
Moments later I felt someone tap my shoulder looking up, the girl in front of me draw my attention towards the tree.
I looked and saw Safarat waving me over to her, she made signs saying I should come quickly.
I left the line and walked over as quickly as I can.
I saw she is standing with a man, standing not correct she was practically lining on the man and he was supporting her with his arm with is snaked around her waist
As I got to her she introduced the man to me as one of the lecturers in school.
"Luke meet Caroline my friend" the man stretched his hands and I took it
"Caroline meet Luke one of the lecturers in the Theatre Arts department"
"Luke?" I questioned her with my sees, she laughed and Luke said, I prefer she calls me Luke you can call me that too, professor Luke makes me feel too old.
"But that is what you are," I said in my head. did I mention that this man looks like he is in his late forties?
His build is huge and rough like he can take down four men at the same time.
"Luke promise to get us accommodation now," Safarat said cutting into my thought
"No, I promise to get you a bed space because you are not feeling too good, but since you said you are not leaving without your friend, I guess I have to get for both of you." He said his eyes not leaving Safarat
"If you ladies will follow me now please, we can get this done as quickly as we can" he moved forward and we fall in step behind him.
I dragged Safarat to me hugging her quickly and releasing her. "you did that for me? I am grateful.
"you fought for me," she said simply