He had seen her first in a lecturer’s office, in his second year of school. He was between lectures, and his favourite place for killing time was Dr Kareem’s office. He could spend hours there discussing his poetry with the old lecturer, and at that period in his life there was nothing Lomba preferred than to have his poems discussed and argued; it gave him some kind of vague hope, a sense of place in the larger scheme of things. But he had found Dr Kareem busy with new students. Two girls in the two seats far against the wall, facing the grey-headed lecturer. Lomba had caught him at the homily moment. Good, that meant the registration was over and the girls would soon be gone.

‘I’ll be back,’ Lomba said, by the door.

‘No. Come in. I was just telling these latecomers about you. Girls, if I were you, having resumed late, I’d stick close to this young man here. He is the best in your class. Beg him for his notes and take any advice he gives you. Lomba, they are direct-entry students. I leave them in your hands. Show them where they’ll pay the departmental fees. I’ve spoken,’ Dr Kareem ended in his characteristic manner.

Lomba turned to the two girls. One was in jeans, her legs crossed. The other was in a skirt; she was seated at the edge of her seat, a quiet, attentive look on her face. A car key dangled from the fingers of one hand, the other hand clutched a bag in her lap.

‘Well,’ Lomba said and stepped out into the corridor. They had to run to keep up with him as he went down the stairs.

‘Don’t go so fast,’ Jeans whined.

‘OK,’ Lomba said and stopped abruptly. They bumped into him.

‘Oops!’

‘Sorry. But you don’t need me any more. You can see the building from here.’ He pointed. ‘Just go through that door and ask for the cash clerk.’

‘But the lecturer said you have to take us there…’ Jeans began.

How young and fresh and foolish she looks, Lomba thought. She had on the same wig all the other girls on campus were wearing, the same tight top, the same faded jeans. One year in school and he already felt jaded and superannuated.

‘I heard what the lecturer said, but I have a lecture to catch. Bye.’

‘Bust the lecture.’