*The Edge of Rivalry*
I groaned in frustration as my phone refused to stop ringing. I hated it when I got interrupted from sleep. I must have forgotten to put the phone on silent.
"What is it!" I barked into the phone as I picked up, not caring to know who was on the other side.
"Musa! Wake up!" Garba's sharp voice pierce into my ear. I jolted up sensing the urgency from it.
"This better be good to o." I warned. "My sleep..."
"Bala has been arrested!" He said.
"It serves him right." I hissed. "It is something the police should have done a long time ago".
"He killed Abdul!" He told me. I kept quiet trying to register the information but not understanding anything.
"Which Abdul?" I asked.
"Your Abdul of course!"
I blinked and turned to the empty bed beside my own. Abdul was just lying beside me last night. "Where are you?" I asked.
"In front of Kabuga Police station. Angry youth have gathered and protesting for the police to hand him over. They want him dead."
"I am coming". I said and jumped down from the bed. I quickly pulled on my jeans trousers and shirt before rushing out of the room, my heart beating loudly in my chest.
Abdul and I have been friends since childhood. We attended the same primary and secondary school in Jos and we were lucky to have gotten admission together to the same university in Bauchi. Just into our 300level, Abdul met Fatima, a 200level student and they fell in love but then Bala came in between them.
Bala was a dropout student and from what I could gather, he was obsessed with Fatima since before her admission. They were both native of Bauchi and Bala could just appear in the school anytime to see her without notice. He was a tall and fearsome guy and evidence of a drug user and a cult leader was written all around him. Fatima was with him because she had no choice and was so scared of him but since Abdul came into the picture, she thought he could protect her from Bala.
I have warned Abdul severally to stay away from Fatima to avoid Bala's wrath but he never listens. Bala had confronted him many times but he was too stubborn to back off. I looked at the scar on my arm which I had gotten when I was trying to defend Abdul sometime ago and Bala had used a knife to slash me.
I rushed to the police station desperately praying that Garba was wrong but I knew he wasn't. He was the eye and ears of ATBU and all news comes from him. He was referred to as the eagle.
I found my way amidst angry bodies and checked my phone to call Garba, that was when I saw tons of missed calls from other students who must have called to inform me of what was happening but my love for sleep had caused me my friend.
"Musa!" Garba shouted my name and rushed to meet me. "The inspectors are looking for a family member."
We forced our way into the station and were stopped by a police officer. "Are you related to Abdul Sulaiman....".
"Is he dead?" I asked.
"No, but he is in a critical condition. He needs your prayer." The police officer as he led me into the police station. I breathed a sigh of relief and prayed. I didn't know what would have happened if I had called to inform our parents that Abdul was no more.
My eyes scanned the station and it landed on Bala's face who was seated on the floor behind the bar. His face was not remorseful and I felt a murderous rage took hold of me. I wanted to kill him if I had to but one of the police noticed me and tried to calm me down.
"We have some questions to ask you and once you are done, we will drive you to the hospital your brother is in to sign a form. He is undergoing surgery as we speak." I nodded and told them everything I knew.
As I drove with the police to the hospital, I prayed for Abdul's health and well-being. Bala has stabbed him multiple times after an argument. I also vowed never to sleep in the morning again for had it been I didn't, I would have stopped Abdul from going out to confront Bala after Fatima called him to save her from his assault.