CHAPTER 9: The Ruse

Khalid's distress was evident as he made his way to themosque, where senior students typically congregated in the evenings. His fellow students, oblivious to Khalid's predicament, welcomed him warmly, but Khalid's somber expression betrayed his anxiety. When questioned about his apparent distress, Khalid recounted his encounter with the staff members. His friends were taken aback, recognizing the gravity of the situation. If Khalid were to report to the common room the following day, he would likely face severe punishment, possibly even suspension. Khalid devised a plan to extricate himself from this predicament. He proposed writing his name on a sheet of paper with a red pen and entrusting it to someone outside the school. This individual would then be instructed to visit the school, claiming that the driver who had brought Khalid to school had been involved in an accident and was seeking Khalid's presence at the hospital. Abubakar, Khalid's friend, was initially hesitant but eventually acknowledged the pragmatism of Khalid's plan. They identified a suitable candidate to execute their plan – a man who sold recharge cards outside the school. After some negotiation, they agreed on a remuneration for his services. As they awaited the outcome of their plan, Abubakar gathered some of their colleagues to observe prayers and supplicate for Khalid's success in the mosque. An hour later, a messenger arrived at the mosque premises, seeking Khalid Sayyad. Khalid promptly stood up and approached the messenger, who requested that he follow him. Upon their arrival at the admin block, Khalid observed the vice principal, senior boarding house master, examination officer, and two other staff members gathered in a somber mood. He also noticed the man he had conspired with standing aside. The vice principal addressed Khalid, "Are you Khalid Sayyad?" Khalid affirmed his identity, and the vice principal introduced him to the man, who purportedly had a message for him. After a brief discussion, the man requested that Khalid feign tears, which he did, attracting the attention of the staff members. They converged on Khalid, attempting to comfort him. The vice principal inquired about Khalid's relationship with the alleged victim, and Khalid explained that he was his father's driver. The vice principal offered to provide transportation to the hospital, but Khalid declined, opting to depart immediately. The vice principal acquiesced, wishing the driver a speedy recovery. As Khalid and the man departed, Khalid suddenly stopped, claiming that his properties, including his national and student identity cards, had been confiscated the previous evening. The vice principal inquired about the whereabouts of these properties, and the senior boarding house master revealed that they had confiscated them. The vice principal ordered the staff member to retrieve Khalid's properties, which were subsequently returned to him. Khalid and the man exited the school premises, and Khalid promptly remunerated the man for his services. Khalid then proceeded to the residence of a friend who lived in B-Y town. His friend was delighted to see him and persuaded Khalid to stay for a week, allowing them to resume school together. Khalid recounted the events leading to his departure from school, and his friend was astonished by the ingenuity of their plan. The following day, Khalid and his friend visited a local tower in B-Y. However, their outing was cut short when they encountered one of their teachers at the park, who was booking a ticket to travel. They hastily concealed themselves until the teacher departed. The next morning, Khalid and his friend were engaged in conversation outside the house when the examination officer arrived, recognizing Khalid. The officer reversed his car and confronted Khalid, accusing him of deception. Khalid maintained that he had returned to school the previous night, but the officer remained skeptical. Undeterred, Khalid decided to return to school that same day, determined to confront the consequences of his actions. Upon his arrival, a junior staff member was dispatched to the hostel to verify Khalid's presence. The staff member found Khalid in his room, arranging his locker, and requested that he report to the common room. At the common room, Khalid faced a barrage of questions but adhered to his original statement, denying any wrongdoing. Some staff members were inclined to believe Khalid, citing his impeccable record, while others suggested that a team be sent to verify the driver's hospitalization. The staff members ultimately agreed to write an application to the principal, requesting permission to investigate further. Khalid was instructed to prepare himself for the following day's proceedings. The next morning, Khalid arrived at the common room, where he was privately approached by a staff member and urged to reveal the truth before they departed. Khalid remained resolute in his denial, maintaining his original story. The staff member assigned to accompany Khalid requested that he wait while he conferred with the principal before their departure. Khalid had already begun to regret his actions, but he remained hopeful that Allah would provide a way out for him. He had acted out of necessity, desperate to prevent his properties, including his expensive phone, from being confiscated and destroyed. Khalid's regret was palpable, but he knew that confessing the truth at this stage would only lead to punishment or even expulsion from the school. He devised a contingency plan, intending to direct the staff member to a locked house in G town, from where he would make his escape. Meanwhile, the staff members were aware that the person assigned to accompany Khalid had no intention of actually proceeding with the investigation, as it was a mere formality. One of the staff members summoned Khalid to the common room, where he entered with confidence and stood aside. The staff members issued a final warning, urging Khalid to confess if he was lying, but he maintained his innocence. To Khalid's surprise, the staff members instructed him to collect his bag and return to the hostel. Overwhelmed with relief, Khalid acknowledged the divine intervention, recognizing that only Allah could have extricated him from this predicament. Upon his return to the hostel, Khalid's friends were astonished to see him back, and they eagerly gathered around to hear his account. Khalid attributed his deliverance to Allah's mercy, saying, "Allah has made it ​easy; the matter is over." His friends were both surprised and delighted, having feared that they might never see Khalid again.