Garin Mazugal

Chapter 11

The resultant reactions from the delegates even astounded Barau himself. It was a moment of realization, a realization that they've been played, a realization that they were just pawns into hr game of politics. A realization that was open to discerning minds but but closed by monies in the minds of the not so discerning. Some of them were reduced to shedding baby like tears after realising their folly or after coming to the realization that their self worth will never be the same.  How close eyed they've been or how,after months of being together, they couldn't see the 3 of them for what they really were. Barau quietly signalled to his boys and they left in trickles. A few moments after,delegates started footdragging themselves outside. It was the most incredible "it just dawned on me" sight the world has or will ever see. They dusted their clothes, looked at each other's face, each wanting to say something but not being able to. After starring at each other, they steered themselves back home, seeking to find comfort in the hands of his beloved wife. Mazugal was then thrown into uncertainty, a basket of fantastic gossips, sensational inanities and loud mouthed cries of violence that most often than ends up with only 6 lizards, poor lizards, dead.

"Wallahi I know of this. Da ma Barau Munafiki ne( Barau has always been a hypocrite)" Abuh said. His reputation has been shaky of late. The once all knowing Abuh who commanded obedience from his peers has had to deal with lies ....thrown around town to dirty or soil up his image. He expended energies trying to wriggle himself out of this hole but the more he dug,the deeper he went in. Like quick sand. He was becoming restless as these lies included things like him stealing 2 eggs from Atiku Mai Shayi's amongst many others. Abuh was particularly pained by this case of theft. I mean,even if he had to steal something, aren't there better things to steal than eggs? He cried himself to sleep at times, wandering in his thoughts and wondering who really "hated him so much to want to see his downfall". He masked his pains with a healthy dose of sarcasm however. He was to quick to undermine the unimportance of these allegations when prided but wept like a new born inside. Abuh was hurting. The news of happenings in the political atmosphere of Mazugal spread Like wildfire. Everyone had his own version of what happened. Doom prophets had already started prophesying on the annihilation of human lives. Abuh on the hand,saw this as an opportunity to repair his damaged reputations. He wanted doing this,with extended lies that'd be had to catch, lies that are in between the truth and falsehood, that can easily be dragged into the fields of altruism and easily, also,be dragged into the precincts of pristine falsehood.

" You know, my people, that Barau has always been like this. People just didn't realise that. The true test of man is how he goes about getting what he wants. Some are calm,hard working but still not at the level they want but are contented. Some are just lazy. Others will do whatever it takes, not minding the legality of their actions, to get what they want...Barau belongs here"

No. Abuh? It can't be. This isn't the bombastic Abuh,the all knowing Abuh whose knowledge, knowledge of everything astounded every one. This wasn't the bullyish Abuh,who trumped on everyone, pooh poohing their importance with his litany of half baked lies and clearly woven nonsenses. This Abuh was too soft..

"Yaya..tell us what happened! We know you know!"

Abuh was placed in a dark and dangerous spot. The spot of not wanting to further soil his reputation with more easily detectable lies,the spot of his lies being left naked,the spot of being subject to ridicule and humiliation on one hand and the spot of still revving up his prestige by pretending to know what really happened and not disappointing his people. Abuh was pressed. So much.

"Actually,I know what happened but you know the town is hot now. You cannot trust anyone. I  don't want to be misquoted"

"But Yaya..don't you trust us?" Aren't we brothers? Why would we betray you?"

"Listen" Abuh said a little bit irritated. " I didn't mean that. It's true that we're.... "

" Yaya" someone interrupted. "Don't be scared! We'll protect you with all our might. No harm will come to you. Just tell us what really happened. The reason we're insistent is we want to know where we stand. We want to be ready in case anything happens. How will we be ready when we don't even know what happened in the first place?"

" Gaskiya...Kwarai kuwa..." filled the air. Abuh was confused and understandably agitated. His cover was about to ripped apart!

"Listen... Calm down everyone. I know that you expect much from me but...."

" Shege matsoraci! (Scared G!) ! Da ma shi ya sa ka je ka sacci kwai( Explains why you went to steal eggs.)"

The crowd erupted in laughter. The lyre of Abuh's downfall was being written before his very eyes! And this time,his lies couldn't save him!

"In ba wawanci ba,mutum ya rasa abin sata sai kwai! (Foolishness is the only definition for someone who stole eggs..."

"Iskancin ma shi ne" He continued "Guda biyu kawai ne fa. He stole only 2 eggs. I'm sure he wanted stealing one but he wanted respect as a petty thief so he increased the number. Even at that,he stole only two..only two!"

The crowd bursted into another bouts of laughter. Clearly, they were enjoying Abuh's slaughter. Their past memories matters not to them. They weren't duty bound to follow him everywhere and moreover,who'll want to follow an egg thief?!

"Shamo!" He called out. He was clearly enjoying himself.

"Yes Yaya!"

How loyalty changes!

"Gaya mai..tell him..Da muka je sata,what we stole. Tell him"

"4 rams and two bowls of nono(milk)"

"Barayin kirki ke nan (Worthy thieves)..We don't steal eggs. We steal their mothers"

Another rounds of laughter.

"Yaya" Someone said from behind "Ni kam,da ma kana sata ne? (Have you always been a thief)"

He smiled.

" Muna dan tabawa (Intermittently, we steal!)"

Another bouts of laughter. Abuh gently took off leaving his once beloved "brothers". He cried on his way back home. What further incensed him was that Habu,his adversary led the charge. He cracked all the jokes. He is even called Yaya!

" I should have dealt with him when I had the chance! I should have!"