The day my father's apprentice returned the money he stole, with interest

It was 2019, harmattan season. My father, Alhaji Musa Kano, had a grain shop in Dawanau market. One boy, Sani, he been dey work with am for like 6 years. Small small boy wey my father train from nothing.

One morning, the money for one big order, ₦2.4 million, just vanished from the drawer. Sani was the only one with key that day. My father call am, ask am. Sani swear with Quran say he no touch am. But the money no dey.

My father no call police. He just tell Sani to pack him things and go. No shouting. No fight. Just 'go'. I was angry. I ask my father why he no let police handle am. He look me and say, 'Amina, if you chase a thief with fire, you go burn your own house. Leave am to Allah.'

Two years later, Sani came back. He knelt down outside the shop with a bag. Inside, ₦3 million. He said he used the money to start small trading, and he been dey save small small to pay back. He said he no sleep well for two years. My father just nodded, collect the money, and told him to come back to work the next day.

Wallahi, I learned that day. Revenge is noise. Patience is power. And sometimes, the person wey hurt you is the one wey go bring the healing.