TST, 2020
Life at Tanzania School of Talents changed unexpectedly. Baraka sat at the backbench. The one Leo preferred to sit. Professor Lucy was in class but Baraka’s concentration was somewhere else. At least he thought it was the same for other class members. He had four problems. The school had four problems.
The first problem happened yesterday, early in the morning. A bunch of police officers stopped in the school. Detective Hudson and Greyson after an unfathomable investigation found out the real person who poisoned Isla. It was Daliah. She admitted it and all the evidence were found. The police came for her. Her mother was there when the police took her. Baraka eavesdropped on the conversation between Daliah and her mother.
“Why did you do that, Daliah?” her mother said. She’s a woman in her late fifties. Her black hair slowly started turning snow white.
“I loved him, mom.”
“Daughter, why love things you were destined to lose? Why let yourself feel things if the feelings were doomed to die?”
“Mom, I’ve never loved like this.”
“Your father departed this life when you were young. You know how hard I worked to raise you. Why mess up your future because of love?”
Daliah’s eyes were full of tears. Her mother hugged her snugly. “I’m sorry—”
A short, powerfully built police officer took Daliah from her mother. Baraka watched Dailah’s hand sliding off her mother’s hand. The whole school saw that. It was an appalling feeling. Unexplainable.
You can’t censure a girl who loved too much. Baraka thought. When you love too hard, you can lose the will to live without them. Everywhere you look is a great big sucking absence of what you once had and will never have again. And life gets weirdly flat and too sharp and painful at the same time, and nothing feels right, and everything cuts. And maybe Daliah was just the beginning, many more were about to come.
He didn’t know what would happen to Daliah. Neither the police nor the Dean said anything. But everyone knew whatever was going to happen to Daliah, was nothing good. The only thing Dean said for sure was that she was never coming back to TST.
The second problem occurred yesterday too, during the afternoon. Students were still in groups, thrashing out about Daliah. That’s when Macy’s mother appeared. She came to take her daughter out of school. She was in a pink One-Button Blazer, a black Printed Top, and pink Straight-Leg Pants. She looked to be in her mid-fifties.
Baraka overhead the conversation between Macy and her mother, some students did too.
“Mom, I don’t want to leave.” Macy said.
“You were framed for poisoning someone.” Her mother said
“They found the real wrongdoer.”
“Today, they framed you. Tomorrow, they may poison you too.”
“Mom, it won’t happen again. I promise.”
“Love is blind, daughter. It will take over your mind. What you think is love, is truly not. You need to elevate your mind.”
“Mom, please let me fulfill my dream.”
“I lost your father, I’m not losing you.”
“Mom…”
“We’ll find another school, Macy.”
Macy couldn’t say no. For God said, Honor your father and mother, and anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.
She forlornly put her luggage in her mother’s Manhattan Grey Metallic, BMW X6 M. Every student saw that scene. No matter how prepared you think you are for the death of a loved one, it still comes as a shock, and it still hurts very deeply. This wasn’t death but it touched the heart of Baraka and maybe, the hearts of all students at TST. Karma propels us into all kinds of unexpected situations. This is another reason we should behave with love and compassion toward all living beings. We never know in what circumstances we will meet up with them again. Sometimes even in this same lifetime.
The third problem was Isla. She’s still in a coma. No hope of waking. Doctors did their best and now, it was only God to handle the rest. Baraka thought she didn’t deserve to die young. She’d a lot of things to fulfill in life. Find a husband, have kids, and enjoy her mother role. That’s always what Isla told Baraka. That’s what Isla liked to do after she finished school. Her dreams were about to perish. A lesson Baraka learnt was to begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake.
The fourth problem occurred a long time ago. But it was difficult to forget. How can someone forget Leo? He was stubborn, a troublemaker, and everything bad. But his presence always left happiness behind. He was terminated from school. Baraka missed him. He hoped it was the same for all other students.
Daliah, Macy, and Leo left without saying goodbye. They never had a chance to say goodbye. Isla was in a bed. If anything happened to her and Baraka prayed nothing to happen to her, then she too will leave without saying goodbye. But maybe sometimes not saying goodbye is good because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.
If we do meet again, we shall smile. If not, this parting was well made. Baraka stared at the roof.
“Are you guys okay? You don’t seem to be in class, what’s bothering you?” Professor Lucy said.
That’s how life in TST continued for 30 days.