CHAPTER 01

HASKEN CIKIN DUHU💋

My dearest fans,To everyone who held on to light… even when darkness whispered louder. This is for u,  Duhu na iya zuwa, amma haske ya san hanya✨🥺💃

To the woman who guides me, Na'ima Sulaiman Nimcyluv.

Your words teach me,
your actions shape me.
Kamar haske ne a cikin duhu,
ba kawai kina gaba na ba, kina cikin zuciyata.

Na gode. For your wisdom,
for your strength,
and for never letting me lose my way, thank u marh🥺❤️.

HASKEN CIKIN DUHU

Nanameera, YOTA/23.

Tubman Boulevard, (First Liberian civil war.)
*December 1990, Monrovia*

Sansanin ECOMOG,
2:34am.

Daren yaƙi ne, ba dare na hutu ba. Wutar da ta tashi tana cilla ƙyallin haske a cikin duhun da ya ƙi tausayawa. Sama ta cika da ƙura da ƙarnin jini, gurnanin masu rai da kukan marasa ƙarfi yana gauraye da karar bindiga da fashewar bama-bamai. Gajimare ya rufe wata, kamar shi ma yana nadamar kallon wannan azaba.
Gwanaye da marasa ƙarfi, duka suna fadowa ƙasa ɗaya. Abin da ya rage daga dare shi ne sanyi, tsoro da ɓarna,  alamar cewa duniya bata da tausayi ga mai rauni. General Khal B. Musa ya ɗaga idanunsa yana kallon sararin samaniya wadda tayi wani irin baƙi, sauke idanunsa ƙasa ya yi yana jin ƙarar harbin bindiga wanda ke tashi daga hannun damansa. Dafe saitin zuciyarsa ya yi yayinda ya zuciyarsa ta tuno da wani abu, wani abu wanda yake a muhimmanci a gare shi fiye da komai, wani abu wanda ya kasance rauninsa. Abokinsa Colonel Bashir dake gefensa ya dafa shi cikin sanyin murya ya ce"tana cikin aminci in sha Allah" ɗago idanunsa wanda suke kamar garwashi saboda tsabar jan da suka yi ya yi ya zuba masa, kafin a hankali ya shiga buɗe laɓɓansa, sai dai kafin ya kai ga furta wata kalma suka ji wata mummunar ƙara, ƙara she ta fashewar nakiya, wadda ta tashi tare da ƙarar ɗaruruwan mutanen da suka sake rasa rayukansu.

"Kar kaje, bamu da issheshen harsashi, wait!"

Khal B. Musa bai ko juyo ba ballantana ya saurari abin da abokin nasa ke faɗa masa, sai da ya yi ɗan nisa dashi yana tafiya toward direction ɗin da nakiyar ta fashe ya juyo gabaɗayansa yana kallonsa ya ce cikin wata murya mai amo

“Ban zama soja domin tsira da kaina ba, Na zama soja domin kare waɗanda basu da ƙarfi.”

Daga haka ya juya ya cigaba da tafiya yana taka duwarwatsun dake cikin sansanin. Duk yanda harbe harben bindiga ke tashi hakan bai hana Khal B danna kansa cikin gidan ba, duk da kuwa ya san ba lallai bane ya fito da ransa, kasancewar babu wadatattun kayan aiki a wajensa. Harbi ya sakarwa wani daga cikin yan ƙungiyar NLEP, nan take ya faɗi ya mutu, ya ƙarasa inda wata ma'aikaciyar jinya ke kwance cikin jini, gefenta wani ƙaramin yaro ne, wanda daga gani tana ƙoƙarin ceton rayuwarsa ne, a fusace Khal B ya ɗago da niyyar sake wani harbin sai dai kafin ya yi wani yunƙuri harsashi ya zo ya fasa ƙirjinsa daidai saitin zuciyarsa. Durƙushewa ya yi a wajen yana dafe inda aka harbenshin, duk da haka bai sare ba, ya sake yunƙurawa a karo na biyu, sai dai shima ɗan ta'addan bai yi ƙasa a gwiwa ba wajen sake sakar wani harbin, wanda kuma kai tsaye ya dira a cikinsa, baya ya yi cikin wani fim yanayi, azaba na shigarsa ta ko'ina, ya lumshe idanunsa hawaye ya gangaro gefen fuskarsa, hotonta yake gani a cikin idanunsa. Tunanin halin da take ciki yake yi.

“Ka dawo da wuri, nafison na haihu a gabanka, ka dawo Yallaɓai!”

Yaji sautin muryarta cikin kunnuwansa, tamkar yanzu take faɗa masa maganar. Bakinsa na wani irin rawa numfashinsa na kakkatsewa ya ce

“Jidderh!... Jidderh!”

Cak! Numfashinsa ya tsaya, idanunsa suka rufe, wanda ke alamta cewa tabbas rai ya yi halinsa, he died!.

Nigeria, Asokoro district hospital,
3:45am.

A firgice ta farka daga baccin da take, ta tashi zaune tana kalle kalle, matar dake gadon kusa da ita ta kalleta murya a sanyaye ta ce“Lafiya dai?” girgiza kai tayi, ta shafa cikinta tana jin wata irin faɗuwar gaba, can kusa sai ta sake juyawa ta kalli matar wadda ke faman cije baki, da alama ciwon naƙudar ya fara tsananta mata.

“Sannu”

Tafaɗa fuskarta cike da tausayi, jinjina mata kai matar tayi tana murmushin ƙarfin hali ta ce“Allah ya bamu haihuwar nan da sauƙi” numfasawa ta yi ta ce“Ameen” tafaɗa idanunta akan cikin matar wanda har yafi nata girma. Kamar wasa ciwon naƙudar ya fara tsananta, duk ta fice hayyacinta, azabar wahala take sha ba kaɗan ba. Ita kuwa ɗayar sai kallonta take tana tausaya mata, tana cikin wannan halin aka buɗe ƙofar ward ɗin da suke ciki, wata farar dattijuwar mata ta shigo. Ƙarasawa kusa da ita ta yi ta zauna ba tare da ta ce komai ba, duk da azabar da matar ke sha hakan bai hanata yunƙurawa zata tashi ba, matar tayi saurin mayar da ita tana girgiza mata kai.

“Ina yake?”

Tafaɗa a raunace. Girgiza mata kai kawai tsohuwar tayi, aikuwa ta saki wani razanannen ihu mai haɗe da kuka, azaba, da kuma naƙuda lokaci guda. Nan da nan likitoci suka yo kanta, ita kuwa ɗayar komawa ta yi ta kwanta tana lumshe idanunta.

“Wait for me, karki haihu sai nazo”

Hawaye ya gangaro gefen idanunta tunawa da maganarsa, “I'll not, ba zan haihu ba sai ka zo, zan jiraka” tafaɗa tana shafa cikin nata. Tana kwance har taji ƙarar jariri wanda ya sanya ta juya da sauri tana kallon inda matar take, da gaske ta haihu?, ta tambayi kanta, sai dai ɗago santalelen yaron da aka yi ya sanya ta saki ajiyar zuciya kai kace ita ce ta haihun. Daidai nan kuma mararta tayi wata irin murɗawa ta saki ƙara dan azabar tafi ƙarfinta, hakan ya jawo hankalin likitocin da suka karɓi waccen haihuwar suka yo kanta. Cikin mintunan da basu shige ashirin ba ɗakin ya cika da kuka, ta lumshe idanunta lokacin da rayuwarta da ta kawo duniya ta samu fitowa, hawaye ya shiga kwaranya daga idanunta.

“Me ki ka haifa?”

Ɗaya daga cikin ma'aikatan lafiyar tafaɗa lokacin data ɗago abin da ta haifa ɗin, sai dai idanunta sun gagara nuna mata ko mene, dishi-dishi take gani, tana jin wani irin abu na tasowa tun daga yatsarta, a hankali kuma idanun nata suka rufe hawaye ya zubo gefen kuncinta. Duk yanda likitocin suka yi ƙokari ganin sun saya ta buɗe idanun gagara abun ya yi, da gaske rai ya halinsa, ta mutu ba tare da zato ba. Cikin wannan halin ɗayar matar tafara jijjiga wanda ya tayar da hankalin duk wanda ke cikin ɗakin, cikin yan mintuna kaɗan ita ma rai ya yi halinsa. Daidai lokacin aka buɗe ƙofar ward ɗin, wasu mutane ne suka shigo sanye da uniform na sojoji kai tsaye suka ƙarasa inda jariran suke suka kwashe su basu tsaya kallon kowa ba kuma suka fice daga ward ɗin, suka bar gawar iyayensu.

HASKEN CIKIN DUHU

35yrs Later

Play imperial lounge, Adetokunbo Ademola Cres, Wuse 2, Abuja.

2:35am.

Tamkar rana haka wajen yake, gabaɗaya wajen kiɗa ke tashi, mata da maza masu ji da kansu sai harkarsu suke, daga can gefen wata kujera yake tsaye idanunsa a lumshe hannunsa riƙe da class cup mai ɗauke White house wine a ciki, yana sipping a hankali, Sanye yake cikin wasu Versace light blue, wajen sai tashin ƙamshin turaren Clive Christian No.1 yake, rollex ɗin hannunsa ya kalla sai kuma ya yi ɗan tsaki ya ajiye glass cup ɗin, car key ɗinsa ya ɗauka ya nufi hanyar fita daga club ɗin.

“ina zaka je bayan ba'a tashi ba?"

Wani matashin saurayi ya yi maganar hannunsa riƙe da glass cup na giya, ɗaya hannun kuma riƙe da wata budurwa yar siririya tana sanye da wata yar ƙaramar riga wadda ta kama mata jiki sosai. Ganin bai bashi amsa ba ya sanya ya kai hannu zai taɓa shi, janye jikinsa ya yi yana yi masa wani irin kallo, ɗan tsaki abokin ya yi ya ce"calm down, muje a ƙara maka one cup mana"

“Gida zan je”

Ya yi maganar yana juyawa, da idanu kawai Faisal ya bishi sai kuma ya taɓe baki.

Dare ne sosai, Babu abin da yake tashi, sai sautin karnuka da kuma kide-kide wanda ke tashi daga nightclub ɗin, wata Lamborghini Aventador black colour ya buɗe ya shiga, ya ɗauki two minutes cikin motar kafin ya yi bismillah ya cilla motar kan babban titi, yayyafi ake yi, kasancewar lokacin weathern damuna ne, time to time yake furzar da iska daga bakinsa a haka har ya ƙarasa titin Kwame Nkrumah cikin Asokoro. A bakin wani mansion ya yi parking, ya yi jim kaɗan kafin ya danna horn, a hankali kuma gate ɗin ya fara zugewa da kansa, sai da ya buɗe duka sannan ya zura hancin motar kai tsaye. Ya Salam! Gidan ya tsaya cikin natsuwa da izza, an zagaye shi da katanga mai tsawo, mai haɗa aesthetics da security wuri guda. Babbar ƙofa ce take jagorantar shiga, inda armed security guards ke tsaye prepared 24/7.

Inside the compound, akwai wata lush and serene garden da ke kara wa wurin kyau da kwanciyar hankali. Fitilu na zamani suna haskaka hanya, yayin da bishiyoyi da furanni ke busar da iska mai daɗi, kamar wani Presidential retreat.

The main building rises elegantly,  windows made of reflective glass, baranda mai faɗi da fentin bango mai sulɓi. A bakin entrance ɗin gidan ya yi parking, ya buɗe motar ya fito, bai ko kalli securities ɗin dake gaisar dashi ba ya shige cikin gidan.

Kai tsaye main parlon na gidan ya shiga, waje ne wanda yake spacious and tastefully furnished, da Italian leather sofas, manyan tagogi masu gilashi da ke barin haske ya ratsa ciki. Akwai chandelier mai sheƙi da ke walƙiya daga saman cealing, Zanen bangon wallpaper ne na zamani. Big flat-screen TV yana manne a bango, da sound system masu ƙarfi, kamar a cinema. Komai yana nuna luxury, class, and quiet power. Tsaye ya sameta tana kai kawo cikin parlon ko ba'a faɗa maka ba kasan akwai abin da ke damunta, tana jin shigowarsa ta juya da sauri tana kallon direction ɗin da yake, wata babbar Mace ce, wadda ba zata shige shekaru 47 ba, fara ce tass kuma mai kyau, da idanu kawai ya kalleta sai kuma ya juya zai bar wajen

“Zayyad!”

Cak ya tsaya ba tare da ya juyo ba, a hankali ta taka har inda yake tana masa wani irin kallo ta ce “daga ina ka ke?” bai bata amsa ba, hasalima ɗauke kansa ya yi yana kallon gefe, ganin da gaske ba amsa mata zai yi ba ya sanya ta sake cewa

“rayuwar daka zaɓama kan ka kenan?, haka kake son ka rayu?, ka zaɓi aikata ɓarna akan abin da yake daidai, haba Zayyad!, meyasa?, why?”

Wannan karan a raunace take maganar, idanunta sun cika da hawaye, ajiyar zuciya ya sauke yana jin idanunsa na wani irin lumshewa sakamakon giyar da yasha,

“Zayyad!”

Ta sake kiran sunansa. Juyowa ya yi ya zuba mata idanu, kafin a hankali ya buɗi bakinsa ya ce “Mommah nayi wani abun ne kuma?, meyasa kodayaushe ki ke son ki dinga shiga rayuwarta?, just leave me abeg” ya faɗa yana haɗe hannayensa waje guda. Bai kuma sauraren abin da zata ce ba ya nufi stairs yana tafiya da sauri da sauri. Da idanu kawai ta bi shi har ya ɓacewa ganinta, hawayen da suka samu damar zubowa kan kuncinta ta sanya hannu ta share sannan ta nufi stairs ɗin itama.

Kiran sallar asuba na farko ta tashi ta shige toilet ta ɗauro alwala, sallah ta zauna tayi tana kuma roƙon Allah ya yewa Zayyad abin da ke damunsa, kiran sallahr da taji an fara yi ya sanya ta tashi ta fice daga ɗakin kai tsaye kuma apartment ɗinsa ta nufa. Knocking tafara yi duk da tasan ba lallai bane ya jiyota, dan haka kawai ta tura ƙofar ta shiga bakinta ɗauke da sallama, ko'ina tsaf yake, sai tashin ƙamshi parlon ke yi, system ta hanga kan table a buɗe sai kuma can ɗin coke ajiye a gefe, da alama bai daɗe da barin wajen ba. Bedroom ɗin ta tura ta shiga bakinta ɗauke da sallama. Tsaye ta sameshi yana shafa turaren Clive Christian No. 1, sanye yake da wata coffee ɗin jallabiya kansa sanye da hula wadda bata hana gashin kansa bayyana ba. Ajiyar zuciya ta sauke a ɓoye kafin ta ce

“Ashe ka tashi?”

Gyaɗa mata kai ya yi ba tare da ya juyo ba, bata sake ce masa komai ba ta ja ta tsaya a wajen, sai da ya kammala abin da yake sannan ya juyo yana kallonta, murmushi ta sakar masa ya kwaɓe fuska kamar zai yi kuka ya ce“Mommah” fuskarta a sake ta ce “Zayyad” wayarsa ya ɗauka gefen drawer yana kallonta ya ce “masallaci” jinjina kanta tayi ta ce"Tom a dawo lafiya" tare suka fito daga ɗakin, ya tsaya a parlon ya ɗauki wani mukullin mota ya zura a aljihu, da idanu kawai ta bisa bata ce masa komai ba. Koda suka fito corridor babu kowa tayi hanyar daƙinta shi kuma ya yi hanyar ƙasa.

Masallacin gidan ya shiga ya gabatar da sallar asuba sannan ya fito, wayarsa ce ta fara ringing ya kalli screen ɗin sai kuma ya yi ƙaramin tsaki, parking lot ɗin gidan ya nufa, yana zuwa ya buɗe wata Lexus jeep black colour ya shiga, ya yi warming motar kafin ya fara tafiya kan kwalta ɗin dake shinfiɗe a gidan. Sauke curtains ɗin daƙin tayi ta koma gefen gado ta zauna,

“Ina zai je da asuba?”

Ta tambayi kanta, sai dai babu wanda zai bata amsar tambayar tata, koda kuwa ace Zayyad ɗin ne.

Transcorp Hilton, Maitama, Abuja

A compound ɗin luxury hotel ɗin ya yi parking ya fito, cikin hanzari ya shige ciki, zaune ya hangeshi akan ɗaya daga kujerun dake restaurant ɗin wajen, ƙarasawa ya yi ya zauna yana kallonsa amma bai ce komai ba.

“Wai ya ake ciki ne?, jiya kace zaka dawo amma muka ji shiru, yarinyar nan fa yar manya ce itama, amma sai wulaƙantata ka ke”

Taɓe baki Zayyad ya yi ya ce“ina ruwa da ko yar gidan wace?, kawai naji ban shirya bane, that's the reason why na tafi, beside ma ana dole ne?, ni nace a kawomin ita, kuma naji nafasa, menene abun damuwa anan?” yana gama fadin haka ya mike tsaye yana shirin barin wajen. Tashi shima Faisal ya yi yana kallonsa ya ce

“Yanzu me ka ke nufi?”

“Nafasa”

Ya ce a takaice. Sai kuma ya juya ya bar wajen, yana tafiya cike da izza da taƙama. Ɗan siririn tsaki Faisal yaja kafin ya ce“ka yiwa kanka” daga haka shima ya bar wajen. Kai tsaye mota ya koma ya nufi hanyar Asokoro, dan daman abin da ya fito dashi kenan.

Around 6am ya dawo gida, kai tsaye ɗakinsa ya shige, yana zuwa ya faɗa gado dan bacci ne sosai a idanunsa. Ƙarfe 10:34am ta shiga knocking kofar ɗakin nasa, kasancewar bashi da nauyin bacci ya sanya ya tashi zaune yana yatsune fuska, ko kallon inda ƙofar take bai yi ba, duk da yaji irin bugun da ake yi ya tashi ya shige toilet yana tafiya a sanyaye. Gajiya tayi da tsaiwa ta bar jikin ƙofar tana tura baki, daman tasan hali shiyasa ko kaɗan batason Mommah ta aikota tashin sa. Tana tsaye jikin bango ya buɗe ɗakin ya fito, sanye yake da wata polo t-shirt sai cargon 3-quater wanda ya tsaya dai-dai gwuiwarsa, parlon ya ɗauki ƙamshin mayataccen turaren Clive Christian No. 1, ɗan lumshe idanu tayi sannan ta buɗe, budurwa ce wadda ba zata shige 18-19yrs ba, tana da haske amma ba can ba, jikinta sanye da wata simple gown mai duwatsu, cikin nutsuwa ta ce"Big bro Mommah na kiranka" kamar ba zai magana sai kuma ya yi mata alama da tazo da hannunsa.

Murɗe mata kunne ya yi a nutse ya ce

“Duk ranar da ki ka sake zuwa kina yimin irin wannan bugun mahaukatan sai na ɓalla miki hannu” rau rau tayi da idanu kamar zata yi kuka ta ce“to idan an yi maka magana ai baka ji, kuma nasan ka tashi fa” taɓe baki Zayyad ya yi wanda ya kasance ɗabi'arsa ya sake kunnenta sannan ya yi hanyar waje, da gudu ta ƙaraso gabansa ta zura hannunta jikin nasa ta riƙe shi, ta gefen ido ya kalleta amma bai ce mata komai ba.

Zaune ya hangeshi kan sofar idanunsa maƙale da glasses yana duba wata jarida dake hannunsa, sakin hannunsa Nayla tayi ya ƙarasa kusa da shi, zama ya yi gefensa ya ɗora kansa akan cinyarsa. Ajiye jaridar hannunsa ya yi ya shafa kansa yana murmushi ya ce

“Zakina ya aka yi?”

Fuska a kwaɓe ya ce“babu komai Dad, kawai bana jin daɗi ne” ɗago fuskarsa ya yi yana taɓa jikinsa ya ce a ɗan kiɗime

“faɗamin wani abu na damunka?, ko akwai abin da ka ke so?, idan akwai kawai ka faɗamin, ko bakason aikin asibitin?, idan baka so sai ka barshi ba damuwa bane, ni banason naga ɓacin ranka ko damuwarka ka sani”

Mommah dake ƙarasowarta parlon kenan ta kalli Dad sai kuma ta girgiza kanta. Zama tayi kujerar dake facing nasu murya a sanyaye ta ce

“Yanzu Yallaɓai wannan abun shine daidai?, Zayyad ka ke tambaya idan baya son abin da zai taimaki rayuwarsa?, idan bai yi aiki da ilimin da ya yi ba mai zai yi?,  shashanci kake son ya cigaba da yi?”

Lokaci ɗaya annurin fuskar Dad ya ɗauke, ya zare glasses ɗin idanunsa yana kallonta ya ce “Khadijah me ki ke nufi?, na barshi ya wahala?, ko baki ji yana cewa baya jin daɗi ba?, dole dan ya yi karatu sai ya yi aiki?, akwai abin da ya nema ya rasa ne?”

“Faɗa mata dai Yallaɓai, ban san menene abin da take nufi da yaron nan ba, har nawa Zayyad yake da za'a dinga takurawa rayuwarsa?, akan me?”

Wata ƙatuwar mata tayi maganar tana sakkowa daga stairs ɗin benan, sanye take cikin wani ubansu lace maroon colour ɗinkin boubou,  ko ba'a faɗa maka ba kasan kuɗi ya yi biyayya a jikinta. Kallonta Mommah tayi sai kuma ta ce“duk da haka Ummi Zayyad ya girma, ya kamata ace ya daina irin wannan abubuwan da yake, kina gani fa baya kwana cikin gidan nan, idan ma ya yi niyyar kwanan baya shigowa sai tsakiyar dare sannan zai dawo, kuma a buge, mutum nefa shi!" Mommah tayi maganar fuskarta na nuna zallar damuwar da take ciki.

Zama Ummi tayi kan sofa tana murmushi ta ce “Yaran zamani kuma, sannan Zayyad ai ba yaro bane, koma ina yaje ya kwana na tabbata ba zai cutu ba, dan Allah ki dinga ɗauke idanunki akan wasu abubuwan” murmushin takaice Mommah ta yi, bata sake cewa komai ba. Tashi Zayyad ya yi ya ɗauki car key gefen mahaifinsa ya yi hanyar waje.

“Ka gani ko, fita zai yi ba tare da an san inda ya tafi ba”

“Khadijah!”

Dad ya ce a ɗan tsawace, kallonsa Momma tayi bata ce komai ba ta miƙe tsaye. Kusan karo suka kusa ci dashi yana ƙoƙarin fita shi kuma yana shigowa, ko kallonsa Zayyad bai yi ba ya yi hanyar compound ɗin gidan, da idanu Khalil ya bishi sai kuma ya shigo parlon bakinsa ɗauke da sallama. Durƙusawa ya yi ya gaida Dad nasu sannan ya yi hanyar upstairs, wani shegen kallo Ummi ta watsa masa kafin ta ce“Kai kuma daga ina kake?" Ɗan shafe ƙeyarsa ya yi yana murmushi ya ce“Ummi naje gidansu Mahmood nefa nan baya”

“Shi gidansu Mahmood ɗin ne idan zaka fita ba zaka iya sanar da mutane ba?" Dad ya yi maganar idanunsa zube akansa, sunkuyar da kansa ya yi murya a sanyaye ya ce“I'm sorry Dad, ban sakewa”  taɓe baki Dad ya yi ya ce“Ka san abin da kake yi, maza je ka shirya ina jiranka” toh kawai Khalil ya ce sannan ya juya ya bar wajen. Kallon hanyar da Khalil ya bi tayi sai da taga ya shige sannan ta juyo tana kallon Dad ta ce“irin wannan ya kamata ka dinga yiwa Zayyad, ka daina nuna masa soyyaya irin wannan, ka daina fifitashi cikin ya'yanka” tashi tsaye shima Dad ya yi a fusace ya ce

“Na daina nuna inason Zayyad ki ka ce?, kenan na nuna na tsaneshi?, kina son duniya ta zageni, kinason a dinga buga labarina a gidan jaridu!, kar na nuna na damu da Zayyad. To bari kiji muddin ina numfashi duk wani abu wanda Zayyad yake so sai nayi masa shi, kuma babu wanda ya isa ya takurawa rayuwarsa muddin ina raye, u better know what u're doing!”.

A cikin wannan duhu, wani haske yana ƙoƙarin bayyana... Amma shin zai samu damar haskaka zuciyar da ta riga ta ƙone?

HASKEN CIKIN DUHU#
Nanameera
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