Chapter 5 When the mother goat breaks into the yam store her kid watches her

Like in Gidan-kowa and other villages and towns where businesses set to rest at weekends, the situation in Gidan-lafia was different, even at night businesses still moved on. Mallam Balarabe left for Gidan-kowa. Before then, he took Al-warith to Zahra's house to stay until he returned from his journey which was five hours far.

The atmosphere in the compound of the mai-angwa was at bliss. They prepared well, and received mallam Balarabe with all smiles. Mallam Balarabe arrived at the time the dancers were performing, as they danced dramatically and pulled Mallam Balarabe to the dance floor. The people of the community sang to the beat and chanted the name of Mallam Balarabe "sai Balarabe, sai mai-kudi." Everyone was extremely excited as there were excess of food and drinks. Mallam Balarabe was pleased with the people as he praised them and joined them to rejoice. While he was dancing, he noticed strange things moving swiftly round the crowd, it was more like a spirit rolling like the wind, Mallam Balarabe was traumatized and as he was about to get the attention of the mai-angwa, he heard his phone vibrate from his pocket. He brought out his phone but couldn't pick the call due to the noisy environment. Mallam Balarabe left the dance floor in style and moved to a quiet place where he could pick his call peacefully. On getting to one corner near the mai-angwa's building, he heard soft voices coming through the window.

"What happened?" the first voice asked.

"He's here", said the second voice.

"This is an opportunity for us to kill him, have you organized those guys?" asked the first voice.

"Yes, they are on their way", the Second voice responded.

"You know if we kill him first, it will be easier for us to eliminate our main target", said the first voice.

"Hakane, you are right", said the second voice.

Mallam Balarabe was stunned and uncomfortable after the spirit scene and the conversations he heard. He was confused and didn't know what to do.

"These voices are so familiar...ooh this can't be...people have similar voices...I have to leave here now, it's like I'm the one they are referring to." Mallam Balarabe rushed to carry his bag and took a French leave.

Mai-angwa was worried and devastated because they couldn't found the one they were celebrating.

"I hope mallam Balarabe is not been followed by the evil ones." Mai-angwa stood up, looking every angle and ordered his guards and some youth to search for Mallam Balarabe.

"Hmmm! When the rain is going to fall, it is the wind that comes first. I have strong feelings that those voices were referring to my son and I and that spirit wanted to harm me. Ya Allah, guide and protect us from the evil eyes." Mallam Balarabe prayed while driving home.

He arrived home late at 11:30pm so tired and worried. He instantly contacted Al-warith to inform him he's back home, but told him to spend the night in Zahra's house. Al-warith was so happy that his grand-father returned home safely and that Zahra's father would finally meet his grandpa.

By 7am in the morning, everywhere was already busy, even with the heavy rainfall. Al-warith took Zahra's father to meet mallam Balarabe, and they arrived safely. Al-warith informed his grandpa of their arrival. Few minutes later, Zahra's father saw an old man stepping down majestically; he focused his eyes to see him first at the same time curious. When Mallam Balarabe got to the sitting room, Zahra's father stood up and greeted him warmly.

"Oooh, I think we've met before? Mallam Balarabe asked.

"Yes baba, I'm Lawal Audu, the manager of stream bank at Gidan-kowa", Zahra's father answered.

"Haba I thought as much, you are welcome my son."

"Nagode baba."

Al-warith and Zahra were amazed; they were so pleased that they knew each other.

"So, you always travel to Gidan-kowa for work?" mallam Balarabe asked.

"No baba, I was transferred to this town."

"Oooh that's good, so how's work?"

"Alhamdullilahi baba." Zahra's father responded.

While they were interacting, Al-warith and Zahra were busy looking at some pictures cheerfully.

"Sir, look at my dad, and his friend." Al-warith proclaimed.

Zahra's father collected the picture, looked deeply at the men in it.

"It's like I know this man." Zahra's father said.

"You mean my dad?" Al-warith calmly asked.

"Not your dad, your dad's friend... I've seen him somewhere... I saw him on my way to the office. I actually dropped to urinate near the bush... yes I saw him with three hefty guys, they were planning to kill someone...they discussed about killing a wealthy business man... yes I saw him but from a distance, I heard one of the guys mentioned a name 'Yahaya'.

Mallam Balarabe and Al-warith were shocked after Zahra's father mentioned 'Yahaya'.

"Ya Allah na, so it was his voice I heard, that means he was talking with that man planning to kill me and my child. Hmm, so Yahaya is behind the murder of my daughter and her husband." Mallam Balarabe uttered.

"This man is very wicked, after killing my parents he's still after us, he won't succeed. I will show him what I'm made of." Al-warith spoke with anger and boasted for vengeance.

"Hmmm! Gidan-kowa, the land of deceit, I thought Yahaya is a good man. Our people do say "A man who is trampled to death by an elephant is a man who is blind and deaf." hmm! We'll never be a dead meat of Yahaya because when the head is too big, it cannot dodge blows", Mallam Balarabe boasted.