Chapter 45

Esau's moment of joy came again when the A-level examination results came out almost three months later.

It was then his mind went back to Sauda. He tried to call her to find out about the results.

He spoke over the phone when he heard her voice, "Hallo, Sauda. I'm soon coming back. My dad has recovered."

He was silent for a few seconds as he listened to the breathing over the other end, then asked cautiously: "Have you checked the results? I hear they are out. How did we perform in the examination?"

"How uncouth you are! And you dare call me when you deceived me? We want nothing to do with you," Sauda ranted at the other end.

Then she added angrily, "You are a kaffir as my dad said. He has found someone else to marry me; in fact, I will be marrying my own cousin soon. So don't bother calling me again. You're a dirty pig!"

She hung up immediately.

Esau began to wonder. What a family! They had called him a kaffir and insulted him. Sauda had twice called him a pig.

Yet they really tried to stress and pressurise him to marry her. After seeing that he outsmarted them, they went on to look for a fellow Muslim for her to marry.

And for his refusal to marry her, insults were their only weapon and defence. Were such ones not living in the antiquity?

Next, he placed a call to the school secretary: "This is Esau Karahani. May I know what I have scored in the examination of last year, please, for I understand that they are out?"

"Hold on," the voice at the other end replied.

Three minutes later, she was on line as she spoke: "Congratulations, Esau! You scored principal passes in all four subjects."

"Please read me the grades," said Esau as his hand reached out for a piece of paper.

At the otter end, the secretary said: "You scored a straight A in both History and Swahili, C in English Literature and B in Economics."

Esau burst out laughing happily as he wrote the results on paper. Then he said, "Thanks for informing me. May I know what Sauda Ruth Ahmed got?"

"That's very confidential, Esau. I can't do that. All I can tell you is that she has scored principal passes in all her subjects," the voice from Dar said

"Thanks all the same," Esau said and replaced the receiver.

When Alfredo arrived later in the evening and Esau broke the news of his A-level results, he was very joyous to hear news of his son's remarkable performance.

He said, "You've really done us proud. I'll ask the principal to send me your results slip by courier so that you may apply for degree courses in any of our universities. Or would you rather go and pick your results slip in Dar and place an application for admission in any of the Tanzanian universities?" He asked.

"No, dad. I've had enough of Tanzania and the people over there. I want to study here," Esau replied.

"You always don't cease to amaze me, my son. Very well, when I get your results slip, you shall apply for your admission at the University of Nairobi," the old man said and paused for a few seconds.

Then Alfredo added, "Although you already qualify owing to your excellent O-level results, still it is better to let the university authorities in charge of admission, the Registrar, know you are an A-level candidate and let them decide how to deal with your case."

And so it was that Esau never went back to Dar-es-salaam for his university education. Instead, he applied for admission into the University of Nairobi.

His choices for degree courses were mainly in the fields of arts, commerce, and education. He was confident he would not miss any one of those.

Alfredo was the one who broke the news two months later when the universities admission was announced. He came home one evening with a newspaper in his hand and a broad smile on his lips.

"Congratulations, my son! You've made it; shake my hand."

"What's the good news, dad?"

"You've been admitted at the University of Nairobi. You have made us proud again."

Esau shook his father's hand, and both laughed as they hugged each other. Then his father gave him the Daily Nation newspaper, saying, "Look here!"

Esau took the paper and looked at the headline: University entrants announced. He did not bother to read the opening paragraphs.

Instead, he opened the inner pages where the names of the successful candidates or entrants and courses were listed.

Then he saw it. Under the list of Bachelor of Arts Courses, his name had been underlined in blue ink.

"See? You've done it again!" Alfredo's eyes lit with joy. "I never made it to the university, but there you are."

At that moment, Esau became aware that his father was probably happier than him. If only he knew the dream of most parents was to have at least a child attain university education, then he would have the joy his father now felt in his body and soul.

"I'll fit you the most expensive clothes that will dazzle your fellow students. It's going to be velvet and woollen suits. You'll be stunning, almost like a shining star at that place," said the old man who said smiling.

Then Alfredo went on, "It's a place I never had the chance to reach, but thank God you have. I always held the belief that even if I never went there, then one of my children would. And my dream has come quite true!"

"It's so nice to see you happy dad because of me," Esau spoke happily. "It's a great achievement which has only been made possible by your support. You're the bedrock or backbone of my success, and I will always remember and be grateful for that."

"Thanks, my son. That's quite true. But you also worked very hard, like a true Karahani. Karahanis are not lazy people but great achievers."

He knew his father was always proud of their family and would fulfil his promise. He had done so on numerous occasions when he excelled in examinations.

He waited.

* * *

In the outskirts of Dar-es-salaam, a Muslim marriage ceremony was being held at the Ahmed mansion at Mbezi. The bride was Sauda, while the bridegroom was her cousin, Mustafa.

The Imam of Jamia mosque in Dar-es-salaam was invited into the Ahmed home to preside over the ceremony.

The lounge was filled with relatives and friends who had come to witness the occasion. They all sat on the Persian carpeted floor in accordance with Muslim tradition as the bride and bridegroom took their marriage vows.

Later, when the Islamic rituals were over, food was served to the guests, and everyone, including the neighbours who had come to witness the occasion, were served with food, which they ate to their capacity.

And so Sauda was married to her cousin in Muslim tradition out of fear of her becoming involved again with another kaffir.

* * *

Esau arrived at the University of Nairobi on a hot September morning, full of zeal and anxiety about his new life. His father had kept his promise and fitted him several woollen and velvet suits in different colours.

Anyone looking keenly at him as he came out of the taxi at the university compound and carrying his suitcase on that September morning would definitely have agreed that he was one among the smartest first year university students.

But everyone was very busy with their own affairs and failed to take note of this tall and smartly dressed young man as he came out of the taxi.

Esau, like the rest of the new students, had to undergo all the nitty gritties of admission before being given the keys to his room in the men's hall of residence.

A dance was held the following day at the university hall to welcome the new students or first years as they were known. A popular Congolese band, Hi Five Orchestra, based in the city, took the stage to entertain them.

The hall was well arranged with chairs placed along the walls where students sat as they watched the Orchestra entertain them with Lingala, English, and some French songs.

The floor was open for anyone to dance. Esau sat among the students watching the musicians who were setting their equipment during the interval. More students, first years, and several other students started streaming in through the large steel and glass-framed doors.

And then he saw her. Everyone's head and eyes in the hall turned to stare in her direction.

Walking and swaying her large hips, she came towards him. She was quite tall and averagely built with long black hair on her small head.

She wore tight-fitting jeans and a white blouse, which only reached her navel, and the outline of the panty she wore was clearly visible.

She came and sat on an empty chair next to him. It was then she looked at him, and their eyes met. He saw her eyes were quite lovely and seemed to be shining under her eyeshadows.

A smile visited her lips as she looked at him. As he kept staring at those lovely eyes, Esau was sure he was looking at one of the most stunning women in the entire campus.

It was then he realised that if there was any woman he longed for and wanted for the rest of his life, he was prepared to sacrifice his life, time, and effort to get, it was definitely this young lady who had just walked in and attracted his attention and everyone else's.