Short Story
The mid-day bright light was fast waning as the sun was hastening to the west to celebrate its setting which fills people indignation as the bright light abandons them. The day was getting darker and barker gradually surrendering to the fast-approaching evening which was soon to be followed by the threatening nightfall.
The distant mountains, hued with hazy blackness would soon force them drawn in the sea of total darkness denying them their right of exhibiting their gigantic and mighty presence to the surrounding areas. Their illusionary disappearance could definitely cause accident or crash landing to flying planes. At the same time, people from all places were rushing to their respective homes before it would get too late to avoid being attack by robbers. It was just for the assurance of self-preservation they behave like that daily. Naturally, nobody would like to lose his life or property due to his recklessness.
It was at this time that dorm mates at Addis Ababa University were engaged in hot discussion which at times sounded like a quarrel to an outsider. They were oblivious of the surrounding and the time. At times, the situation appeared as if it would break into a fist fight. Yet, it was puzzlingly as normal as exchanging of ideas would be. There was not even a single incidence of abusive word hurdling at one another. It was the heavy tone of voices that made it sound cantankerous.
Belachew as one of the discussant raised his voice and said, “Whether you like it or not, the event is going to be reliable and trustworthy as Ragassa has just said.”
“Bravo! Bravo! Don’t simply waste your time and energy speculating the unachievable. We should have listened to Belachew’s wise suggestions,” said Kebede.
Gidey, who comes from Tigray was sitting in one corner of the small dormitory was simply listening to what they were saying. After a brief hesitation, he cleared his throat and made his remark, ’’Brothers, you’re all right. The situation in northern Ethiopia concerns us all. As you see all of us come different parts of the country. By a sheer chance we have become brothers with the same ambition of participating in and contributing to the development of our country after we graduate.”
“Indeed that is what is expected of us all. If all of us are imbued with such heroic national feelings, we need to find means to assist our citizens to gird up their loins and stand fast in preserving the sovereignty of the country,” interjected Zeberga.”
“Tell me, please. How do we go about with what Zeberga has said?” enquired Ujulu.
“Well, it is easy. We don’t need to scrap the sky to implement Zeberga’s suggestions and nobody expects us to do that either. We must do what is within our reach. As educated young people of the country, we simply have to teach the people. We should pave the way and the people know what to do next. We should thoroughly impart our expertise in the way it is easy for them to grasp,” replied Belachew.
Gidey said, “I’m glad we all are in the same boat heading to the same destination. Such great opinions are reliable to be abundantly fruitful.”
“These days what we hear about our country is rather disheartening. The country has just us to depend on, nobody else. If we stick together, no force can set us asunder,” added Ragassa with eagerness.
“Ragassa is right. Let alone other things, business is possible only if the peace and the security of our country is maintained. No external assistance comes for our recue. We only have one another. This is the only way out of the current trouble the country is faced with,” stressed Belachew.
“The world is not the type we think it is. It is never fair and trustworthy either. It appears that humans have returned to the state of nature where the strong attack the weak and the weak must suffer whatever happens to them,” said Ujulu angrily.
“Ujulu my brother, you are exactly right. Some powerful nations, disregard the policies of the United Nations which they are supposed to uphold to ensure the peaceful coexistence of the nations of the world,” said Kebede heavily breathing due to the anger welling up inside him.
“For that matter, I am the living witness to what is happening in the northern part of the country where I come from. The international agencies active in the war zone overlook the objective reality of the situation. They seem to have abandoned their commitment to fair and just humanitarian assistance. They are often seen violating the international laws unjustly taking side with the junta terrorists. I am one of the survivors of the war. I have seen everything with my naked eyes,” said Gidey stressing the unreliability of some of the agencies out there in the war zone.
“Their unreliability would not have mattered much. The serious problem lies in their efforts to misguide the international community by disseminating fake news through their mass media,” stressed Ujulu emphatically.
To these young people, the fast fleeting time does matter much to them as they were greatly overwhelmed by the current crucial national issues. They even forgot to go to the cafeteria. They did not look hungry at all either. At the moment, there is something else that they feed on, the pressing love of their country.
“I wonder why many western countries and the United States are diametrically in opposition to what the Federal Government of Ethiopia tries to help the international community get the clear and honest idea of what is being done by the terrorist junta in Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions,” said Ragassa looking at each one of them as if expecting an answer to his question.
In the middle of such a hot exchange of ideas, Amtataw rose up and scowled at all of them and said, “Why are you fretting over something that is worth nothing? There are a lot of other issues to worry about.”
“Do you mean that what we have been discussing so far do not ring in your mind? You had better think twice before blurting like you have just done. Your thoughtlessness leads you nowhere except to destruction,” replied Belachew with hatred visible in his eyes. All the others too looked at Amtataw with fury almost to gang up on him.
“Don’t ever say anything hereafter. Listen quietly or you can leave if you don’t like being part of the group,” warned Ujulu.
“He interrupted us only to show us his mindlessness. I did not expect him to be such a silly guy,” added Kebede.
“Who sent you here? Do not be foolish; you cannot dissuade us from doing what we are determined to do,” they all said unanimously.
After a long pause, as each was individually thinking to himself, Ragassa said, “The case of the international community goes without saying. Yet, no matter how they try to undermine Ethiopia, she does not flinch a bit from her position of carrying out the operation to maintain the law as it is her sovereign right. No power dare try it!”
“To me,” said Gidey, “a slight negligence pertaining to the operation, will cost the country an ultimate destruction which anyone of us does not allow it to happen.” At this point, all of them seemed to have agreed on this issue.
After a thorough consideration, Kebede said, “My friends, this has been bothering me for a long time since the breakout of the war in Tigray.”
“How on earth the sovereign right of one country is trodden upon like it is happening to Ethiopia? Where is the charter of the United Nations that they brag about when such criminal act prevails in Ethiopia and presumably in Africa at large?” asked Ujulu.
“Go ask them. Who do you think cares? It is all your bloody business,” shouted Amtataw from the back.
At this point, all the rest, without giving him a second chance, charged at him beating him up to near death until he cried for mercy.
Thank God they did not kill him. Belachew begged them to stop. “Whatever comes, we won’t flinch from doing whatever it takes to protect our country. This time will not remain as dark as it is now. We will soon see the sun brightly shining on our land. Then we will walk with chin up and chest out,” proudly he said. In conclusion, they sang the national anthem and retired as it was late at night.
BY JOSEPH SOBOKA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD OCTOBER 19/2021
