As a child, we would come across different storybooks. That is what we love most. Reading storybooks and telling our friends about it is always fun. I've read a couple of books from my childhood. In fact, I couldn't remember the title of some of the books, but the ones on my list of favorites remain in my head
Books like
- Without a silver spoon
- My daughter is an egg
- Chike and the river
- Adventure four
- The gods are not to blame
- Things fall apart
- The lion and the jewel
- The bottled leopard and so on.
But One must be outstanding. To me, there's a book I read when I was in primary 2. I see it as the best book I read when I was a kid. At that tender age, it would be unbelievable that I would take such a book to heart because it is like an action movie
The passport of Mallam Ilya
A young man entered a train going through the Northern part of Nigeria with a lot of passengers. When everyone is settled, the train took off. The young man sat quietly close to the cockpit of the train facing down. Many things were rushing through his mind. When he looked up to see what was happening around him, he sighted a man sitting close to the window before the train cockpit on the opposite side. His attention to the man grew harder
The old man's name is MALLAM ILIA
During his youthful age, Mallam Ilia was very hardworking, brave, intelligent, and adventurous. Because of his bravery, industrious nature, and his good attitude, he was respected and he lived well. After his parents discovered he was ripe for marriage, they brought many ladies to him but he refused to pick one
He wanted something more competitive and challenging because he believed he's a strong man and he should not just take a wife he didn't pay a gallant price for. He remained single. The more his parents send him cute and beautiful girls to marry, the more he finds them unattractive
One day, Mallam Ilia was outside the neighborhood talking about politics with his friends, when they heard that a beautiful lady (The daughter of prince Turaegs) would be given to anyone that wins the game of shanchi
The girls' name is Zara. Her beauty cannot be compared to that of a peacock
Her white teeth with her dimples, coupled with her cheerful smile are enough to drive any man crazy. Mallam Ilia has been parading himself as a brave man that wants a woman worth fighting for and the game of Shanchi, meaning (fight to death) is on ground. So what else
While many could not risk their life for Zara, more than a dozen came out to fight for her beauty. Mallam Ilia was part of them. The referee of the shanchi continued
Many of you will die today. Only one person will win. It's a game of fight to death. Let the game begin!
They fought one another until the last two were standing. Mallam Ilia fought bravely as a man. But unfortunately for him, he was left standing with a tall, huge, and scary man. His name is Mallam Usman (A very powerful and influential man)
Mallam Usman bragged to skin Mallam Ilia alive, and the battle begins. They fought bravely until Mallam Ilia's knife was on his contender's throat. Mallam Ilia has defeated Mallam Usman. He would have killed him with just a stroke on his throat, but he left him alive, and that was the greatest mistake he did
After Zara was betrothed to Mallam Ilia and they became husband and wife, Mallam Usman with his influence sent Mallam Ilia to prison and killed Zara. After the death of Zara, Mallam Usman fled out of sight
Mallam Ilia didn't give up. He's ready to take revenge. He vowed to avenge the death of Zara. He traveled to many countries in search of Mallam Usman. He got his passport via a Malam close to the French troop, so he was able to go anywhere
On his quest to take revenge, he was captured by Mallam Usman and imprisoned in Mecca. He was later rescued by a lady called Dije. He got married to her but left home when Dije was pregnant all in the name of revenge. Before leaving, he gave his wife a talisman to put around the baby's neck when she give birth
The young man on the train listened as the old man speaks while looking at his, rough passport
I Mallam Ilia took my revenge. I killed Mallam Usman and I think I've fulfilled my mission
While they were talking, he saw the talisman around the boy's neck. The boy has been thinking of finding his father and that was the reason his head was down on the train. The old man recognized his son and they were both happy
But the happiness didn't last. Mallam Ilia was brutally wounded by Mallam Usman while they were fighting before he was killed. It was a happy moment for Mallam Ilia. He had taken poison before he entered the train because he believed his mission was complete
His eyes started turning. He was fading away. He died at the hand of his son.
The passport of Mallam Ilia is all about revenge
Our class teacher taught us not to be jealous of another person's property like Mallam Usman
She said we shouldn't oppress others with our wealth, power, and influence like Mallam Usman
Not to seek vengeance like Mallam Ilia that used all his life to seek revenge, and later died.
Learn to forgive
Conclusion
Many of us wished Mallam Usman was alive. We hate the end of the story, but it interests us that he killed Mallam Usman and his son found him before his death. The story is tragic, I read it several times without getting tired, and I love it because it was the first literature book that taught me proverbs
It's a very short story in a small pamphlet with a hardcover but very interesting.
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Thanks for reading
This is ckole the laughing gas
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