Mara's Classics

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy. "Questions, questions, swirling in my head. "What's the answer, what's the truth instead? "Is there meaning in the world around me? "Is there purpose, will I ever see?" These lines greeted my eyes one dreadful Monday morning as I checked my class's group chat messages. "Does life have purpose, or is it just chance? "Or is it something more than circumstance? "Are we alone, or is there something more? "Is there someone, or an open door? "Does it matter, what we do each day? "Do our choices make a difference, or just fade away?" "Wow," I muttered and gave the poet a heart reaction. It was so lovely. It reminded me of the poems my aunt would read us back in Thailand. It suddenly dawned on me that I had actually hearted the message. That was like the first thing I had done on that group chat. I usually just read and left; I had never done anything to let anyone know I exi...

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy. "Stupid water queues," I grumbled one morning as I carried my bucket from Isakaita hostel to mine. "Marahadum, wait for me," I heard Chy shout behind me. I didn't reply. I just gripped the pinchy iron handle of the bucket tighter and got ready to climb the stairs. I dropped the bucket at the base of the steps and caught my breath, bending a little. As I did, I saw a pair of long legs in pretty pyjamas walk down the stairs and past me. They stopped a few steps from me and turned back. I looked up instinctively. "Oh my God! You're here too?" the owner of the legs said and gave me a hug before I could think. She smelled nice, something like perfume and stuffed animals. I looked at her. She was tall, fair, slender and had a pretty face. I knew she was a classmate but I couldn't clearly recall where I had seen her. "Hello," I said. "Hey. It's Marhadum, right?" "Marahadum," I cor...

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy. "Another Friday," I sighed as I towelled my face and listened to Unstoppable by Sia. That was Eniola's favourite song; she played it every morning. I didn't enjoy the tradition initially. I put up with it as one of the sacrifices one has to make while accommodating roommates. That Friday, I was so happy I hummed the song as I got ready for class. "I don't need batteries to play," I mutteered my favourite lyric while Eniola echoed. Mma was on her bed pressing her phone. Chy was still sleeping. "Even when I fall your hands," Eniola sang to her other favourite song. Chy stirred and opened her eyes. She wasn't a morning person and always told us so. I waited for her usual grumblings but she was rather quiet as she did what she was best at; fixed her big eyes on every object in the room. "Hadum, how many lectures do you have today?" Eniola asked as I put my shoes on. "One," I replied with...

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy. "If you add the prices to the posts, will you die?" That was the message that started a fight in my class group chat. The sender, Kosi, had tagged a certain Zanny who had posted samples of some jewelries she was selling. "What's that supposed to mean?" was Zanny's reply. I think Kosi should have been much more gentle in her response. Even if she had a point, she could have made it clear in a nicer way. Instead, she fired back, "Don't ask stupid questions. All I was asking is why you can't add the prices to your samples." "That wasn't what you said. You asked if I would die if I didn't. What rubbish is that?" If I were Kosi, I would have been showering apologies already. Guess what Kosi did. She told Zanny to shut the f'ck up. That was surprising coming from Kosi. I had underestimated her small stature and cute Babyface. Well, they did say to never judge a book by its cover. Zanny e...

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy. "The Saharan trade was a movement of traders from the North of Africa to the East. These traders were called Berbers and moved through the desert in a group called caravan. The..." I didn't hear the lecturer's voice again. I thought it was just a pause. When I looked up, he was staring down at me. He looked older when near. "Stand up," he ordered. I obeyed and all eyes went to the back of the class where I was seated. The curiosity in their eyes irked me. "Let me have it," he said and gestured at my phone. My eyes widened in surprised terror. No. Anything but my baby! "Sir..." "Next time, you will pay attention in my class," he said as he turned his back to me and faced the rest of the class. "Sir, I was paying attention," I said boldly. He looked at me sternly. I continued quickly, "I was typing the note in my phone." "Let me see it." I gave him my phone reluct...

First day of school. I'm so happy I don't have to write stupid compositions about certain events in my life anymore. If not, I don't know what I would have written about January 10th. Let me try and recount it for you though. I got ready pretty early in the morning but had to wait for Chy to get dressed so she could help me get to my department. She was very kind. She led me all the way to FASA building A... B? Whatever. I soon found my classroom and boy was I glad to find some backseats vacant. I had three classes that day, I think. One was by an albino man who I heard was a tutor. I didn't learn much; he didn't teach much either. He just kept telling us to buy his textbook. I had to check if CRS was part of my courses because I didn't understand the second class. A lady just came in and began to preach about God and hand out invites to her church. Somehow , she reminded me of my Thai aunt who was a deeply religious Buddhist. I wondered what my course mates wou...

Inspired by a lovely girl named Holy The night before my journey to the den, I was so restless I couldn't sleep. I was still tossing and turning after midnight when Wanida came and laid beside me. I was so grateful. I fell asleep dreaming of my childhood in Thailand. A few hours later, I was at a Lagos park telling my father and sister goodbye. "Remember whose child you are and make me proud, Marahadum," my father said and drew me to his arms. I guess I should have thanked him for finding time from his busy schedule to see me off but I didn't feel grateful. Just sad. I teared up when Wanida stroke my yellow scarf. I quickly hid my face in her bosom and blinked rapidly. I didn't want to be so pathetic especially before the people I was going to travel with. I made several efforts to release Wanida but the tears laid waste to all of them. I was still struggling when Wanida whispered into my ear, "Come home soon, Chanok. Let's run away to Thailand together....