Chapter 3 However long the night, the day will break."

There was a huge crowd at stream Bank in Gidan-kowa, it was as if they were in the market square. Stream bank was a two-year-old bank built at the centre of the community. The fussy atmosphere of the Bank made the customers yelped.

"I'm tired of this bank ooh", One of the customers exclaimed.

"Ooh my sister, I thought I'm the only one ooh. They need to close this bank, take their time, solve their problems, and re-open", a young woman on a well styled kampala dress uttered.

"I think the problem is from the board authority, can't you see that the staffs are few, their internet facilities and systems are old?"

"Yes my sister, my eyes are clear enough, they need to change their facilities and recruit more staffs because these ones here are too lazy", the ladies laughed out loud beating their laps dramatically.

It wasn't too long that they heard a loud voice from behind nagging noticeably and struggling to move closer to the centre.

"What the hell is going on here? I think I need to see the manager. Imagine, I've spent 2 hours on this queue, oh my God! It's not even moving, I need to see the manager, I really need to see him", a short, fat man with a husky voice exclaimed, pointing a finger at one of the staff; and attracted the attention of the customers and the staffs.

"It is true the manager should come out, we demand some explanation, come out", the customers clamoured. As they were demanding the attention of the manager, a tall, dark, slim, and handsome man in a shinning black suit appeared.

"I'm so sorry for the inconveniences, it is due to the poor internet service network but our engineers are fixing it", the manager proclaimed.

"Fixing what? For over 2hours they are still fixing?" One of the customers exclaimed.

"Why is it that this bank usually have internet wahala ehn?", a lady mentioned.

"I'm sorry for all these inconveniences; I'm assuring you that it will be fixed soonest." The soft tone of the manager's statement was enough to calm the nerves of the customers.

"Ya Allah na (ooh my God) and my daughter wan use the money hurry ooh, abeg help me do am for your computer ooh", an old woman pleaded with the manager.

"This is pathetic; please help mama, as you can see she is old", a young man on a three-quarter jeans affirmed.

"Let me see what I can do. I will process it when I leave here, she should receive her money in the next 20minutes." The manager stated as he also assisted mallam balarabe to withdraw some money. The customers murmured and clamoured until they heard from one of the staff that the fault had been fixed. Everyone quickly assembled themselves and the queue moved in a jiffy.

"Da'na nagode( thank you my son)." Mallam Balarabe thanked the manager as he collected his money.

"What is your name my son?" mallam Balarabe asked.

"I'm Lawal Audu, Baba", the manager responded with a broad smile.

"Allah ye shimaka Albarka da'na( May Almighty God bless you my son)."

"Ameen Baba." The manager responded and returned to his duty.

Mallam Balarabe arrived home tired and weak. Al-warith gave him a cup of water to drink, gazing at his old man.

"Grandpa, are you okay, you look so weak and tired, or should I take you to the hospital?" Al-warith stated.

"Don't worry son, it's nothing, I'll be fine."

It took mallam Balarabe about 5minutes to regain his lost strength while Al-warith was beside him.

"ooh Da'na (son), are you still here?"

"Yes grandpa, I'm glad you are fine now."

"Hmm! Glory be to Allah. Before I forget son, we'll be travelling tomorrow immediately after the Morning Prayer so as to meet the first bus because I can't drive the car to a long distance."

"Travel! Where are we going?" Al-warith curiously asked.

"You will know when we get there." Mallam Balarabe responded.

With the expression on Al-warith's face, it was obvious that he didn't want to leave Gidan-kowa.

"Ya Allah na( ooh my God) if what I'm about to do is wrong, please lead me to the right path. All I'm trying to do is to protect my grandson from harming and to be harmed. I could see vengeance in his eyes. I also have this strong feeling that the killers of his parents are after him. Ya Allah na, you are the all knower, the protector. Guide and protect me and my grandson", Mallam Balarabe prayed and eventually retired to bed.

According to mallam Balarabe's plan, they left home immediately after the Morning Prayer. Everywhere was a bit dark, the breeze blew aggressively. The only people they saw were those coming from the mosque and travellers like them.

'This old man, only God knows where he's taking me to, well, my eyes are clear, I shall see."Al-warith said. On getting to the motor park, they saw people rushing towards a green-yellow bus with their bags. "I think that's the first bus, let's hurry son." Mallam Balarabe said. When they got to the bus, the seats were already occupied except one single seat closer to the door. According to the rule of the motor park, no one is allowed to lap.

"Grandpa, let's wait for the second bus, the driver won't allow lapping; besides, you are too feeble to lap me", Al-warith dramatically said.

"Ooh my lap is weak now ko? You forgot that it's this weak lap that brings food for you to eat."

"Haba Baba, I was only joking."

"kai, kabani mamaki ( you amaze me) daga yau, se ka ne mo abinci da ka'nka ( from today, you'll look for food yourself).

"Haba Baba, yi hakuri( I'm sorry) Al-warith apologized.

"Okay, I've heard you, wa'sa nakayi (I'm only joking)." Mallam Balarabe uttered as he smiled and tickled his grandson.

Due to no passenger, the driver allowed mallam Balarabe to lap his grandson. Everyone was set for the journey, and they drove off.

The weather was a cool one and some of the passengers were already asleep. It was barely 30 minutes after the bus took off that problems started emanating. One of the passengers pushed mallam Balarabe because he mistakenly steps on his toes.

"Haba waye wana ne (who is this?), you step on my toes and you can't even say sorry", the passenger exclaimed.

"Yi hakuri da'na( I'm sorry my son)." Mallam Balarabe apologized.

"What did you just did grandpa? You can't say sorry to this insolent man."

"You are very stupid for saying that", the passenger exclaimed.

"Stupid! If I can remember very well, the stupid ones are those who don't have regards for their elders, so who is stupid here?" Al-warith replied.

"Haba da'na, keep quite." Mallam Balarabe cautioned Al-warith.

"Haba grandpa, just leave me alone, this man is rude, you are old enough to be his father, maybe even grandfather", Al-warith stated.

After a while, other passengers in the bus began to raise insult on the man for been insolent to an old and respected person in their community.

"Hmm! God did give us the emotional capacity of anger, but is not responsible for our anger outburst. I know you are angry because we are leaving Gidan-kowa. Da'na (my child), you'll understand everything when the time comes. Hmm! In the moment of crises, the wise build bridges and foolish build dams." Mallam Balarabe expressed. At last there was silence in the bus and they drove off safely.