"Know Thyself"

It was the 3rd year of their degree, Ammar and Alhassan (Not real names) were at the door of the hostel admin’s office. There was the usual pushing and yelling due to the large crowd gathered at the office. Every student was scampering for the few hostel spaces at the university. Finally, it came to their turn, and the officer handed them three hostel forms for a single room. This room was originally meant for one person, but three people are forced into it due to the few hostel spaces available. Now, they are in a dilemma because they need a third person to make the room complete. They couldn’t pick any random student since they thought they may not be compatible with him. Like a calling of fate, a classmate just appeared. ManYu (not real name) was also a Kaduna resident like them and was looking for a hostel space. Ammar and Alhassan have found a perfect match. They were not as happy as ManYu. Since the duo were some of the best engineering students, he had thought this was a perfect opportunity for him. First, he would get close to the smartest of the class, and they would assist him with his assignments (he has found his +VCCs). Secondly, he had thought

“What an excellent opportunity to learn the trade tricks of these Kwaris. "

Their room was at the Saadu Zungur hostel block. As they began to live together, ManYu kept observing his intelligent roommates. Ammar and Alhassan were football fanatics and could go on for hours arguing on whether Chelsea or Real Madrid was the better club. Moreover, they never missed the Premier League matches shown in the common room. On other days, they would share rumors of the Romeo and Juliet of the class. ManYu was confused, these mates of his must be very talented. How are they able to make excellent grades with such a lifestyle?

“Since they are gifted, to get grades like theirs, I must outstudy them.”

On the rare occasions when he found them reading in the room, he would head for the library to study even harder. He had discovered that the library was more serene for study than their hostel room. He would come back only late in the evening to catch some sleep before dawn. Then, there was a drama, anytime he came back and still met them reading, he found a reason to go back to the library or class to study.

“If they are still studying, I have to go back…” he told himself.

This wasn’t initially apparent to his roommates. However, being very smart guys, they eventually noticed his strange behavior. Once they opened their books, ManYu rushed for the library. They noticed that an excellent way of sending ManYu out of the room, so they could have private discussions was just for them to pick up books. They tried this many times and it worked.

After he had left, they would then drop the books and laugh their asses off. With time, they also noticed the reverse. Anytime ManYu came back and occasionally found them reading, he created a reason to go back to the library. He would say

“I just came to pick up this book.”

“Let me go back.”

“If they are still studying, I must go back.” he often says to himself.

Ammar and Alhassan decided to be mischievous and give ManYu a run for his money. On a fateful evening, they picked up their books and ManYu was up to the library. They laughed and dropped the books. As the night was coming to an end, they heard ManYu’s footsteps. Struggling from their sleep, they mustered some energy and picked their books again. And as they had predicted, ManYu found a flimsy excuse to head back to study. They did this experiment for three days and had the fun of their lives.

Ladies and gentlemen, that was how ManYu spent three days without sleep. The engine of his head almost got knocked… The lesson here is, know thyself.

This story and the names used are merely fictional.