Rumours

They weren't your typical expo, as one might assume. I demonstrated how I solved those issues. Each question, its number, and its solution were copied down. Those details would not be found in a typical expo. If the lecturer carefully examines the external material he discovered inside a student's answer sheet, he will notice that it was not a typical expo, but rather one that contained leaked questions.

Odili was pacing around the lecture hall with the professor. He was on the verge of crying. He pleaded and knelt on the ground, but the lecturer was adamant in his refusal. "Leave now before I give you a malpractice form to fill out." Odili would be suspended for two years if he filled out a malpractice form.

I was hoping he'd at least leave the hall and let this case lead to him having to repeat the course the following year. The lecturer had not yet finished reading the paper in his hands. Odili continued to beg, and other lecturers approached to see what was going on. Please, Lord, don't let them see what's on those sheets of paper! God must be furious with me because it appears that my prayers were diverting his attention away from the ludo game, as bad things began to happen. The lecturer brought out the two sheets for the first time in an attempt to explain the gravity of the offense the guy had committed and handed them to the second lecturer, who went through it with astonishment on his face.

He gestured for the first lecturer to approach, and they both stepped aside, much closer to my exam table, and began conversing in hushed tones. The first lecturer was informed by the second lecturer that the paper had leaked. From the sheet of paper he had, he showed him valid proofs. With a satisfied look on their faces, one reminded the other that it was the HOD's course. There's a hint of a smile there. The lecturers requested that Odili be apprehended by a security agent. They ushered him into one of their offices. The hall began to become noisy.

 I was devastated when rumors started flying around, originating from those seated beside him. Odili was going to bring up my name in his attempt to untangle himself from this mess. Of course, I'll have to turn him down. So I reasoned, it's his word against mine. However, the events that followed were designed to prove me wrong...

With an alarmed expression on his face, the second lecturer returned to the lecture hall. I was rushing to finish, submit, and get out of the hall before things got more worse. I was almost finished. The lecturer looked around and walked up and down the hall, as if looking for a misplaced wallet.

He arrived at my location and continued walking. The hall was deserted at the time. I stood up, handed my paper to the only remaining lecturer in the hall, and walked away as he returned to his office. I stayed in the department to keep an eye on what was going on. Almost immediately, the HOD arrived and proceeded to the general office, where the other lecturers were gathered. As they returned to the hall to finish the exam, he must have dispersed them. Odili was still inside, with the first lecturer who caught him, so I stayed close and kept an eye on him. I tried to close my eyes and pray again, but I couldn't. There was no need; the first two had gone unanswered, and neither would this one, that was what my mind could think at that moment.

My most recent paper had a one-week gap, which was the longest I'd ever had. Odili and the leaked exam were the subject of numerous rumors. I listened closely to the ground for any indication of my involvement, but there was none. I continued to go to school every day just to keep up with what was going on in the department. I was agitated. I tried calling Jane twice, but she didn't answer. That's when I began to suspect something wasn't quite right. I completed the last paper without any mishap, with the exception of a young lecturer (lab attendant) approaching me and claiming to be searching my scripts for expo, when I noticed him trying to memorize my matric number.

He left after reciting it to himself. That was it. I later saw him at the general office, where he was speaking with Madam Nana. My problems were about to get worse.

I noticed a change in HOD during the project defense period. Jane's father was no longer the head; the lecturer who had caught Odili was the new acting head. I called Jane to find out what was up. She didn't make a decision. I texted her, pleading with her to pick up and call me. She replied simply, "Go to hell." I completed my project defense without any challenge..

A few months later, the department posted a compiled list of students who should proceed with their clearance: my name was missing. Only those who completed all of their courses have their names on that list. Because the second semester results had not been published, the only option was to write to the HOD and request your list of outstanding students. This I did and filed with the secretary, madam Nana. She read through the letter as she always did before entering it into her book. Then she raised her head and shook her head. I took advantage of the opportunity to ask her what was wrong.

"Of course you have an exception; what else could be wrong?" Or do you believe God is attempting to punish you?" I didn't hesitate to respond. I left after she filed the letter. I returned a few days later to request a response to the letter. Madam Nana was not present, but the HOD's secretary, the second secretary, was. She looked for my response and gave it to me. The exams officer's response was clearly and boldly written inside the same paper I used for my letter - outstanding in MEC 522 and MEC 543 - those were the two courses Jane's father handled: Control Process and Robotics. I nearly passed out, tears bubbling up in my eyes. I drooped on the seat just next to the secretary.