The Activist - Season 2 - Episode 6

Episode 5 years ago

The Activist - Season 2 - Episode 6

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Shittu scratched his head continuously, trying to force something off his head. Nothing came out of it, apart from specks of dust and bits of hair. All around him students were writing. In fact, one of them was calling for extra sheet.

Oloshi! Shittu cursed in his mind as he knew Uthman, the ‘i-too-know’ student of the department.

“Five minutes left.” The woman called out, to the anguish of other students who had backlog of work to do. Two of them were already protesting silently, attracting the attention of the woman.

Suddenly Shittu had a brain wave and before you could say Jack, he had answered two of the questions. He was on the third when he heard…..

“Drop your pens and stand up!”
Shittu m0aned desperately, like a small child who had not eaten for days. He was not the only one, as almost half of the class m0aned with him and the same protesting students now complaining loudly at the woman.

Excuses like “the time was not enough”, “those cultists disturbed us” etc rained the air, with other students lining up behind the two ‘troublemakers’. The woman was not bulging and soon enough, she left with their scripts.

Shittu was nowhere near them though, for he left the place quickly, hurt by his inability to do everything on time. He entered his room and dived on his bed, tears streaming down his face.

He was an extra year student at this point and he did not need another year!

He could not imagine what his parents, mere artisans will say if he was asked to withdraw from the university. He had used all his campus life to study, avoiding business and any other extracurricular activities. Now it seems like it will all come to waste.

Tade was distributing leaflets about an upcoming symposium when he came across Shade.

“Tade, what’s up? How you dey?” Shade greeted with enthusiasm, with Tade replying in the same manner. Instead of engaging in the usual friendly banter, Shade dragged him to a corner.

“What is this I hear about you, Tade? What is this?” She seized the leaflets and spared a microsecond with them. “So its true? All the noise I have heard are true. Tade, are you mad? Do you realize what you are getting yourself into?” She whispered with great strain. “Maybe you think its cool, but am not cool with it.”

She went on about it for about five minutes, enlightening him about all the dangers in his choice. Tade was already annoyed and even though he expected her reaction, he was beginning to lose his cool.

“Shade, please stop.” He told her firmly, brushing her hands off him. “I understand your concerns but I will be fine. I don’t need the attention.” He walked towards his department, ignoring any further warnings from her.

As he was about to move back to the hostel, he heard someone call him.

“Tade, come to my office now!” Mr Kunle said with authority.

Oh Lord! He exclaimed in his mind as he moved towards his office.

Tade walked in solemnly, expecting a sermon on what he was doing.

“I see you have joined DSM. Mr Kunle started. I have many things to ask from you, but I will first ask this; why join DSM? What pushed you into following them?” Tade said nothing. Mr Kunle was about asking again when he noticed something and walked towards the door, opened it slightly and then closed it immediately. He then returned to Tade.

“Why did you join?” Tade refused to budge, rather he stiffened up.

“So you don’t want to tell me. Well, I can’t hold it against you. But I hope you know what you are up against. You are up against some of the strongest groups on campus. A lot of cult groups here have strong patronage from lecturers and other persons in administration. Your organization have a lot to do and they are behind.”

He then walked closer to Tade. “I see you as a brother, ever since I realized that you were Andrew’s younger brother. I promised that I will watch over and act as an elder brother to you. Tade cringed at this information. I have acted accordingly all this while.”

“But if you continue this, I can’t protect you any longer. You can leave.”

Tade stood up and walked away, unshaken by all Mr Kunle said
Wande looked from across the department, waiting for Tade to be done with Mr Kunle before she could pounce on him. As she waited, Doyin, her classmate and pal came around.

“Wandy baby!” She greeted, shaking her head gleefully.

“Doyin cubes!” Wande shot back with glee, connecting her palm with that of Doyin.
“Ore mi, how far?”
“I dey oh, how that your guy?”
“Deji, the I.diot just dey there jare.”
“Iyawo maga.” Wande teased her.

As they gisted, Wande forgot about Tade temporarily and therefore did not see him step out of the office and back to the hostel. They had talked for about thirty minutes before Wande finally remembered Tade.

“Ah! Where did this guy go to?” She spoke as she quickly pushed Doyin aside and hurried towards Mr Kunle’s office.

“Good afternoon sir.” She quickly scanned for traces of Tade before zooming off. She was however stopped by Mr Kunle.

“Wande, please come in, I wanted to see you..”


****************

Tade arrived his room to see a disturbed Made and a seemingly beaten Shittu.

“What happened?” He quickly asked Made.
“He said that cultists attacked his exam venue and because of that he did woefully in the course.”

Tade dropped his books and moved to Shittu.
“Guy, how far?” Tade asked soothingly, touching Shittu’s back. Shittu, who was lying face down, refused to answer, just continued to cry, though not as torrential as before.

“See, its possible that you will still pass the course. Don’t allow what happened now to affect your plans for the next paper.” Tade advised.

“That’s what I have been telling him. Made said. I just not get why he is still crying like a baby.”

Shittu raised his head, looking at Tade and Made, before wiping his tears off his face.
“What do you know?” He asked Made.