NEW BEGININGS

Back to the Greatest ‘Gba Gba’: Heartbreaks as Resumption Bursts Forth

 

Resumption dawns as the curtains of May fall and June opens a fresh window. With the exams ending just a week earlier and students having not as long as they want to spend for holiday, getting back to school on the 3rd of June is received with mixed feelings. While some people are eager to return to school, some wish for holidays as long as River Nile. However, it is a common knowledge that the second semester does not only come with a tight academic schedule, it comes with ‘gbas’ on the right and ‘gbos’ on the left: elections, LASUSU week, faculty weeks, departmental weeks, sports tournaments, symposiums, block parties, fairs, and finally, the exams.

For the set of people who are eager to dive into this phase, first, we have a set of students have no ‘happy home'. These students obviously did not enjoy a second out of the time they spent at home. They have missed waking up by 12pm on a Saturday and staying up late till 3am to watch series. Therefore, they are in a hurry to break away from chores and garb themselves in hues of freedom only the university can give them.

Second, we have the ‘scholarly minds' who strongly believe that only the early bird catches the worm. They are eager to resume school, attend classes, pore over materials in the library, gather notes, and prepare for the exams, at least, a month before. They form the “what-are-you-guys-reading” brethren on the exam day.

Third, there are the relationship people who have missed their partners: their boyfriends, girlfriends, besties, soulmates, playmates, and the ‘we-are-just-friends’. These people are tired of voice calls as well as video calls. Their anticipation for real-life 3D has gone beyond the roof. Surely, you shall see them screaming, hugging, and blowing kisses at the pavilion.

Fourth, we have the ‘forced’ good boys and girls who resume early because their parents or friends want them to do so. They are left with not much options but to be in school and parade as a serious student. There is a seat always reserved for them in the front row like it is a heirloom. Don't drag it with them; their friends win every argument.

Last, there are the ‘career men & women' who return to school to end their relaxation and chase the bag ruthlessly. These include our favourite Arike Collections, Lagbaja's Scents, Glammed by Cyn, Shades from Ola, Cruise TV, Clickston Gfx, Talented Pen and the lots. They are actively ready to spam cruise group chats as well as official ones with their broadcasts.

On the other hand, we have the ‘Odogwus’ and the ‘Machalas’. An Odogwu hopes to come to school as sporadically as the spirit leads. The spirit here is the sure plug in his department—most probably the HoC—who tells him/her of upcoming tests and assignments. In the lecture hall, you can recognise a Odogwu as he will always ask questions not related to the topic at hand. And at the pavilion, you will recognise him for striking up conversations that make other students look like dullards.

Meanwhile, a ‘Machala’ resumes school at the climax of the semester: a week before the exam. With bloodshot eyes, he combs through the maze of tutorials and night classes, equipping himself with the armor of AoC and the sword of OER. When you try to involve him in a discussion, his unmistakable reply is the “when did they teach us that one?” question.

Finally, in any category you fall into—or perhaps you fall outside the box—may the end of the semester be as cheerful as the ‘welcome back' and ‘long time' pleasantries that we shall exchange this week. And may our results be a perfect illustration of ‘small work, huge results'. NASELS-LASU welcomes you back to the greatest ‘gba gba' and we wish you a semester as fruit-full as the grocer's store.

                                                                                         By Muheez Olawale

                                                                                200 Level

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NASELSITES

Happy birthday to our beautiful celebrants! On your special day and always, we celebrate each and every one of you. May this year bring you joy, success, and unforgettable moments. We're honored to share this journey with you and grateful for

the incredible contributions you make. Here's to another year of growth, laughter, and adventures together! Cheers to our birthday squad!"

SHORT STORY

Nwanyi Aga

With one last look at what had been her home for the past six years, Sarah settled in her car. She could see the faint outline of Chidi looking at her from their bedroom window. All at once, she felt a staggering level of revulsion for him. How was it possible to love a man so much yet hate him just as much? The Chidi she'd fallen in love with wouldn't have stood back and watched her leave their marriage. He wouldn't have given her so many reasons to doubt the love that they shared. He wouldn't have been quiet through the constant bullying that she had endured from his mother these past few years. Fueling her courage with anger, Sarah backed out of the building and drove off. She was almost an hour away from their fancy house in the quiet suburbs of G.R.A Ikeja when she let the first tear escape. Before long, her quiet tears grew into heart wrenching sobs and she was forced to park at a side of the road. Lowering her head to the steering wheel, Sarah let out all the pain that she had bottled up over the last few years.

Chidi and Sarah had met almost eight years ago. She'd been fresh out of the university and had graduated as the best student of her department, being the third ever student in her school to bag a first class degree in English language. From the minute they met, Sarah and Chidi knew that they belonged together. They found that they had so much in common and could talk for hours on end. He was an auditor at an accounting firm while she'd just got a job in a publishing firm. When Chidi asked her to marry him two years after, she said an emphatic yes.

The problem started a year into their marriage when they started trying for kids and weren't immediately successful. At first, Chidi's mother had been supportive, urging her to try different means, including traditional. Chidi, however could only offer distracted forehead kisses telling her everything would be fine or pat her back quietly while she ranted. By the third year of their marriage, his mum stopped visiting frequently and whenever she visited, she was always angry. By the fourth year, Chidi's sister, Amaka had started throwing random sly comments at her. The seriousness of the situation dawned on her one day when she served Chidi's mother and the woman angrily threw the plate at her calling her "nwanyi àgà"(barren woman). The shock that rippled through Sarah almost caused her knees to buckle underneath her. The worst part was, Chidi had been there, but he hadn't defended her. That day, Sarah had locked herself in one of the guest rooms and stared into space for hours.

With time, his mother's abuse became more frequent. Amaka moved in with them and soon joined her mother in calling Sarah "àgà". The one time Sarah had complained to Chidi, he had simply held her in his arms and said "It's not their faults, Sarah. They're just eager for me to start having kids. I love you, and I understand you but surely you must also understand". With that, she had wiggled out of his embrace and gone to sleep in a guest room. The last straw however, was when Sarah had come home early from work one day and overheard Chidi and his mother. "Mama, you know I love her." He had said. "You can't love her Chidi! What you need is another wife! That one you have is a man! Nwoke mara mma! (A beautiful man) You have married a man and that's why she can't bear any child". The venom in the statement, alongside Chidi's silence made Sarah furious. She stomped into the room, "How can you even say something so horrible, mama? I have kept quiet all this time. I have endured insults from you and Amaka, but not anymore. I demand that you apologize to me!" She looked to her husband for support and the look on his face broke what little spirit she had. He looked disappointed, ashamed of her outburst and without a word, he walked out of the room. Like a deflated balloon, Sarah walked out too, leaving a smug Mama Chidi hurling insults at her.

The days that followed were torturous for Sarah. She was doing badly at work. Chidi wasn't talking to her. Amaka had left their house with his mother and he blamed her for it but what had she done? The more she wondered, the angrier she became. She soon realized that misery and anger didn't go well together. When she told Chidi two weeks later that she wanted a divorce, he looked at her like she'd grown a second head. "You're being silly, Sarah, just apologize to mama and end all this". She was enraged. "Apologize? Chidi, you want me to apologize? Will she apologise to me? Don't I have feelings too? You know what? Damn you! Damn your mother and your stupid sister. I'm leaving! You are not the man I married, Chidi. You are not the man I fell in love with".

She had left with some of her luggage and one hour later, she was still crying in her car. She didn't want the life that she had been living these past few years. She hadn't been happy. What was love if it didn't make you happy? It wasn't her fault that she hadn't been able to conceive. The doctor said she was okay. She wasn't God. She would go to her lawyer the next day, she decided. Yes, it broke her heart to leave Chidi and give up their love, but her heart would heal. She would love again, or maybe she wouldn't. For now, she needed air. Picking up her phone, Sarah dialed the one person who was a constant in her life. The call was answered on the third ring, "Mummy, I'm coming home".

                                                                                          OSONOIKI, ADEWUNMI

                                                                                          300 LEVEL

POETRY

New beginnings emerge with certain metamorphosis that one can't even utter.

Subjected to pressure of dismay just like metamorphics that alter.

Exploiting its stance with unsaid feelings that makes one wither.

In different chapters, it descends hot hurts that don't filter.

The "happiness is free" slides into the sharp blades of self discovery.

That must just be paid even when extracting and creating a recovery. 

The seer that predicts hope will get menaced by the miseries of lone journey;

Resilient desire will be the only saviour on the dark path that is thorny.

Even when hope captures the pictures of fleeting moments that are yet to come. 

And faces the world like a hunter that kills lions for norm.

The past mistakes still boots up like fire and flames.

Haunting the innocence of a man's dear personal growth and claims.

Curiosity that doesn't kill a cat will end up creating a friendly moment for refresh.

So, when the experience becomes successfully defined, the mellows come out afresh.

Everyone is indeed indebted to the sharp blades of new beginning.

If today is yours, keep hope for your blossoming becoming is about to begin in.

                                                                                Ajala, Taiwo Habeebullahi

                                                                                Department of English, 200 level

                                                                                08161850433

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