Page 40

Sai azahar Zahra ta farka daga baccin da ta yi sakamakon kiran sallah da ta ji daga masallacin unguwar. A hankali ta buɗe idanunta, ta hangi Zainab a gefenta tana kwance, tana bacci mai nauyi.

“Kai, wannan baccin lafiya kuwa?” Zahra ta furta a hankali, tana taɓa ta.

“Anty Zee, tashi, ana kiran sallah,” ta ce a hankali.

Zainab ta buɗe idanunta, da suka yi ja saboda bacci, ta ɗan yi miƙa, tana murza su.

“Har azahar ake yi?” ta tambaya.

“Eh,” Zahra ta ce tana murmushi. “Lafiya kike ta bacci haka?”

“Lafiya ƙalau,” Zainab ta ɗan yi tsaki. “Kawai dai gajiya ce sosai.”

Zahra ta saki dariya mai kyau. “Anya kuwa? Kar ki manta ni likita ce.”

“Ke! Ƙalau nace miki, ko?”

“To, shikenan tunda kika ce haka,” Zahra ta ce tana dariya. “Time shall tell.”

Zahra ta mike ta shiga banɗaki don yin alwala. Bayan ta idar da sallah, ta sauko ƙasa don neman abin ci. Tunda ta tashi, cikinta wayam, har kanta yana sara mata saboda yunwa. Falon babu kowa, alamar duk sun tafi sallah.

A dining ta samu Mama Ladi tana hanzarin jera abinci saboda itama zata fita ta yi sallah.

“Mama Ladi…” Zahra ta kira a hankali.

Mama Ladi, wacce bata san dawowar Zahra ba saboda lokacin zuwanta ta je kasuwa, ta juyo da mamakin jin muryarta. Idanunta suka sauka akan Zahra, da take tsaye cikin sanyin jikinta, fuskar ta rame, amma murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta.

“Hajiya ƙarama?” Mama Ladi ta kira cikin mamaki.

Zahra ta ɗan kaɗa mata kai, ta ƙaraso kusa da ita ta rungumeta da kauna.

“Baki yi kewata ba?” ta tambaya cikin shagwaba.

Mama Ladi ta saki dariya mai cike da soyayya. “Ni ko Na yi kewarki sosai yarinyata. Babu mai zuwa tayi kwaɓe-kwaɓen fulawa, tana tayani hira a kitchen idan ina aiki.”

Zahra ta yi murmushi mai rauni. “To gashi na dawo.”

Mama Ladi ta dube ta a hankali. “Amma ciwo kika yi ne?”

“Na dan yi hatsari ne,” Zahra ta ce tana nuna ciwon goshinta da aka naɗe da bandeji. “Amma yanzu na wartsake. Wannan kawai ya rage ya warke.”

Mama Ladi ta dafa kafadarta tana tausaya mata. “Sannu, Allah ya sauwake. Me zan zuba miki?”

Zahra ta matsa kusa da dining, ta duba kayan abinci. “Bari na zuba da kaina,” ta ce cikin ladabi. Ta zuba jollof rice da salad, ta ɗauki naman kaza guda biyu, sannan ta ɗauki bottle water.

Da abincin a hannu, ta koma ɗakinta. Zainab na kwance tana waya da Musharraf.

“Kai Zahra, kin kore ni daga ɗakinki fa,” Zainab ta faɗa tana miƙewa.

Zahra ta kalleta da yanayin ban gane ba, tana girgiza kai.

Zainab ta miƙe tana toshe hanci, “Wallahi ban yafe miki!”

Zahra ta yi murmushi kawai ta zauna bakin gadon, tana cin abincinta a hankali. Yunwar ta kai ta ko’ina, rabon da ta ci cikakken abinci haka tun kafin ta bar gidan nan ta manta.

Bayan ta gama cin abinci, ta rasa abin yi. Bata jin bacci, falon shiru, alamar duk sun fita masallaci. Don shakatawa, ta bude wardrobe dinta, ta ɗauki dukkan kayan ciki, ta fara sake folding da re-arranging.

wata doguwar riga ta ɗauko, rigar abaya mai cike da ƙamshi. Ta tsaya cak tana kallonta, sai ta rungume ta ta cusa kanta a cikin rigar tana shakan ƙamshin da ke tashi daga cikinta. A hankali ta cire rigar ta share hawayen da suka gangaro mata.

Rigar kenan gift na ƙarshe daga hannun Jameel. Da ta daga rigar, sai tunanin Kassim ya fado mata, yadda ya tauye mata rayuwa. Amma abin mamaki, babu wani motsin zuciya ko raɗaɗi daga ɗan tunanin Jameel da tayi, kamar zuciyarta ta bushe a kansa. Ita ma ta kasa gane hakan. Ta sake folding rigar ta saka ta a ƙasa-kasan wardrobe ɗin.

A hankali ta ci gaba da aikin gyara har zuwa lokacin la’asar. Bayan ta yi sallar la’asar, bata fito ba. Kwanciya kawai tayi tana tsinto tunani daban-daban; daga first love ɗinta, zuwa Jameel, har zuwa ƙaddarar auren Kassim. Ta tuna ranar da ta fita daga gidansa cikin tsoro da kuka. Sai tunanin Laure ya faɗo mata; ko wane hali ta shiga bayan Kassim ya gane ta buɗe mata ƙofa ta gudu?

Ta juya gefe, sai tunanin Imam ya mamaye kanta; yadda yake kallon mutum da wani irin ƙarfi, yadda baya yin dogon magana, sai umarni kawai. Zahra ta saki wani karamin tsaki. “Koma ya tafi ko oho,” ta faɗa a hankali tana taɓe baki.

---

Bayan isha’i, Zainab ta shigo dakinta ta tarar da ita kwance a kan darduma.

“Bacci kike?”

“A’a,” Zahra ta amsa tana mikewa.

“To ki fito, Daddy na neman ki.”

Sanye da dogon hijabin sallarta suka fito tare zuwa babban falon Daddy. A falo Zahra ta zauna a kasa kusa da kafafun Musharraf, Zainab kuma ta zauna kusa da Mommy. Falon ya dan cika da iyalai; Farida, Laurat, Khaleel, Iya, Inna, Mommy, Daddy, Musharraf, Zainab da Abdul da matarsa.

Su Farida sun yi mamakin ganin Zahra; basu san lokacin da ta dawo ba. Khalil ya miƙe da gudu, ya zauna kusa da ita, ya kwantar da kansa a cinyarta.

“My Leel, ya kake?” Zahra ta ce tana shafa kansa.

“I’m fine,” ya ce cikin shagwaɓa, yana gyara kwanciyarsa.

Daddy yana zaune yana ɗan taɓa wayarsa bai ce komai ba. Zahra ta dan ɗago kai cikin raɗa ta ce wa Musharraf; “Wai ina Mama?”

Musharraf ya matsa kusa, shima cikin raɗan ya ce; “Daddy ya ce ta bar mishi gida, sai ya nemeta akan wannan maganar da kika sani.”

Daddy ya yi gyaran murya. Zahra ta sauke kanta kasa, tamkar wata saliha.

Bayan addu’a, Daddy ya fara magana cikin nutsuwa;

“Dukkanku kun san dalilin wannan taro. Babu wanda zai ce bai san irin alhini da muka shiga kwana biyun nan ba. Duk da wasu daga cikinku kun nuna kamar baku sani ba…” Ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya ci gaba, “Alhamdulillah, yau ga Zahra nan ta dawo gida lafiya. Yanzu ya kamata mu saurari inda ta shiga duk wannan lokacin, da irin yadda rayuwa ta yi mata.”

Ya kalli Zahra da kulawa; “Mamana, muna sauraronki.”

Zahra ta gyara zama. Ta fara magana a hankali, zuciyarta cike da raɗaɗi;

“A ranar da Iya da Anty Salima suka juya suka bar Lagos, ko minti goma basu yi da tafiya ba, sai ga Kassim ya shigo. Yace na shirya, zamu yi tafiya. Nace masa, ‘Wane irin tafiya? Bai gani bani da lafiya?’ Na ce masa ba zan iya tafiya ba. Shi kuma ya juya kawai ya bar ni anan, amma sai ya dawo, yana nacewa cewa lallai sai mun tafi tare saboda idan ya tafi ba zai dawo ba…”

Ta ɗan tsaya tana jan numfashi, hawaye ya cika mata ido.

“Shi ke nan na yi shiru. Na ce masa, ‘Ba a nan kake aiki ba?’ Sai ya ce a’a. Wannan aikin da ya nuna muku a Lagos na bogi ne kawai don kar ku tada hankali idan kun san ainihin wajen da zai zauna. Na nuna masa rashin dacewar hakan, amma haka na daure, na ɗan haɗa kayana na bi shi. Ina tunanin tafiyar ba mai nisa bace…”

Ta lumshe ido, muryarta ta dan karye;

“sai na gan mun shiga motar Ibadan. Ban tayar da hankali ba, saboda ban san Nisan garin ba. Mu da isa cikin Ibadan sai tsakar dare, muka ƙara ɗaukar wata mota zuwa wani ƙauye, sannan muka shiga taxi zuwa gidansa…”

Zuciyar duk wanda ke falon ta fara nauyi. Zahra ta cigaba cikin sanyin murya;

“Gida ne ɗan karami na jan laka, mai cike da datti da wari. Ba mu kai minti biyar a gidan ba, shi da matarsa Laure suka fara fada. Wata fada ce ta ban tsoro, babu zagin da basu yiwa juna ba. Ina zaune a falo, cikin rashin nutsuwa, ina jin komai…”

Iya ta kasa hakuri, hawaye na tsiyayi; “Ai dama Mallam Hamisu yace tana Ibadan! Duk kuka mayar da ni ƴar iska…”

Uffan, babu wanda ya tanka wa Iya. Zahra ta ja majina a hankali, ta ci gaba da basu labarin yadda ta yi rayuwa a gidan Kassim a Ibadan, yadda ta sha wahala har ta gudu, sannan ta haɗu da Imam. Ta kammala maganarta cikin shessheƙar kuka da cewa;

“Rayuwata a gidan Kassim… living hell ce kawai. Ban taɓa tunanin zan tsinci kaina a irin wannan hali ba.”

Iya ta cabke ta ce cikin bacin rai;

“Ashe dai tsinanne ne shi yaron nan! Na sani tun farko, saboda wani irin yanayi ne kawai naji bai min ba. Amma ai ku kuka ce bansan abinda nake yi ba lokacin da nake yi muku gargaɗi. Ku ka ce wai zuciyata ce kawai ke raina shi. Ashe kuwa gaskiya ta tabbata!

Bashir, ya za ka ɗauki yarinya ka aurawa wani mutum kawai saboda ka ganshi a mallaci? Ba tare da bincike ba? Ashe ko sunanta bai cancanta ba! Yanzu ku gani fa ita ta sha wahala, mahaifiyar ta ta sha kuka har ta ƙoshi, ta yi ciwo har na ji tsoro, na matuƙar tsorata kar Amina ta mutu uwarta ta kullaceni, kullum ta rika kallona da idanuwanta tana fadin ƴaƴana biyu suka mutu a gidan ɗan ki.’

Daga yau, idan nayi magana, ku daina raina ni. Ku ɗauki maganata da muhimmanci!”

Iya ta karye goronta tana taunawa cikin fushi, tana hararar Musharraf da sauran ’yan gida.

Inna ta gyara zama, ta daidaita gilashin idonta sannan ta fara magana cikin hikima;

“Alhamdulillah, yau Allah ya dawo mana da Zahra cikin gida lafiya. Wannan abu ne na godiya. Duk abinda ya faru ƙaddara ce, amma kuma akwai kuskurenmu a ciki.

A maganar aure ba a yin gaggawa haka. Bashir, ka ɗauka kana yi wa ’yar ka alheri, amma kuskure ne kai tsaye. Wannan darasi ne, kar mu sake yin aure ba tare da cikakken bincike ba. Allah ya kiyaye gaba.

Ke kuma Zahra, Allah ya baki lafiya, ya sauwaƙe miki duk wata damuwa. Ni kuma zan tafi gida jibi In Sha Allahu. Amma tafi da Zahra wajen kakanta, saboda na sanar masa an samo ta, ya kuma buƙaci ganinta.”

“To aiko hakan yayi! Taje ta huta can, har Allah ya kawo mata miji nagari, ba irin wannan tsinannen ba.” Iya ta amsa.

Daddy ya yi gyaran murya cikin sanyin jiki.

“Na gane kuskurena. Na ɗauka zan sa Zahra cikin farin ciki ne, amma sai ya zama akasin haka. Ina jin kamar na kasa a matsayin uba, na bar ’yata ta sha wahala, ta tsinci kanta a cikin rayuwar da bata cancanta ba…”

“Daddy, don Allah ka daina magana haka,” Zahra ta katse shi da hawaye a idonta. “Na san ka yi mini wannan aure ne saboda son kwanciyar hankali na.Da ka san abin da zai faru, kai da kanka da baka yarda ba. Amma tsautsayi ya rigaya ya faru. Daddy, wallahi baka min laifi ba, kuma a kullum ina alfahari da kai. Ko da an bani damar canza uba, kai zan sake zaɓa.”

Iya ta gyara zama, tana fadin;

“To ka ji fa! Kowa ya san ba wacce Zahra ta fi so sama da kai a duniya, hatta wannan Musharraf ɗin da yake wani yin iyayi.”

Musharraf ya yi murmushi, ya lumshe ido, yana mamakin wai har yanzu fushi Iya ke yi dashi don ya aibata Mallam Hamisu.

Zahra ta juya ta ce cikin nutsuwa;

“Daddy…”

“Na’am, uwata.”

“Alfarma nake nema wajen ka da kuma Iya.”

“Faɗi komai, takwarata,” Iya ta ce. “Ai ko don irin baƙar azabar da kika sha, mu dai za mu yi miki ko menene.”

Zahra ta dubi Iya sosai.

“Iya, kin tabbata ba za ki canza magana ba? Don ba halinki bane.”

“Asha! ke dai faɗi ko menene kawai.”

Zahra ta gyara murya, ta ce cikin natsuwa;

“Alfarma nake nema, Mama ta dawo gidan nan. Na ga yadda Khalil ke kewarta sosai. Wallahi, ina jin tausayin sa." Zahra ta faɗa hakan ne kawai, amma ainahin wanda take tausayasa shine su Farida, itafa rabon da ta ji muryarta mahaifiyar ta bai kai wata huɗu ba, amma wallahi ji tsyi wani ɓangare na rayuwarta ya ɓace. To ya ya suke ji? Su ma fa ’ya’ya ne. Kuma ba wai suna sakewa da Mommy bane; Mama ta riga ta shayar da su kiyayyar Mommy tun suna jarirai.

Farida ta ɗago daga kujerarta da mamaki. Da ace wani ya gaya mata cewa Zahra ce za ta roƙi dawowar Mama, ba za ta yarda ba. Idan aka tuna irin wahalar da Mama ta sha bata a gidan nan, wannan magana da Zahra ta yi ta girgiza ta sosai.

“A’a, Zahra, ki canza magana. Wannan abu ba zai yiwu ba,” Iya ta ce tana ɗaga hannuwa.

“Iya, yau zan saka wannan cikin halayenki—halin canza magana. Na san baki da wannan hali, amma yau ga shi da ido na nake gani.”

“Kar ki fara yi min magana irin ta kananan yara!” Iya ta ce tana hararar Zahra. “Abinda kika nema ba mai yiwuwa bane.”

“Iya, rashin yiwuwar me? Kuskure ta yi, ta riga ta baki haƙuri, amma kin ƙi. Mu duk masu laifi ne. Idan ba mu yafe wa juna ba, ai matsala za ta ci gaba. Ko ba a yafiya na yafe miki fasa min turarena mai tsada da Anty Rauda ta bani da kika yi? Ko duk sauran abubuwan da kika yi min? Amma na yafe, saboda mu dangi ne…”

Iya ta katse ta;

“Tsaya! Kada ki yi min terere a bainar jama’a. Bashir, ka dawo da matar ka dakinta. Amma daga yau, ni ba ruwana da komai da za ta yi wa Zahra. Tunda ita ce ta nema!”

“Na gode, Iya ta,” Zahra ta ce cikin murmushi mai daɗi.

“Ki nemi wata Iyar ba ni ba,” Iya ta ce tana tashi daga kujerarta, ta fice daga falon tana huci.

Dariya falon ya cika da shi. Inna ma ta yi musu sallama ta nufi ɗakinta. Daddy da Mommy suka tafi ɗakin su.

Falon ya rage yara ne kawai. Farida ta miƙe ta tafi nata ɗakin. Abdul Hakim da matarsa suka jajanta wa Zahra abinda ya faru, suka yi mata fatan Allah ya ƙara mata lafiya. Abdul ya yi mata godiya akan alfarmar da ta nema wa Mama. Laurat ta matso kusa da ita, ta rungumeta.

“I miss you, sis,” Laurat ta ce cikin shauƙi.

Zahra ta shafa kanta ta murmusa;

“Same here, my dear.”

Suka cigaba da hira a falon suna dariya har sai da Daddy ya dawo ya ce su Musharraf su wuce gidansu. Musharraf ya fara tashin Zainab wadda ta kwanta a kasa tana bacci.

“Yaya, gobe za mu yi wata magana game da wannan baccin nata,” Zahra ta ce tana murmushi.

Zainab ta banka mata harara. Zahra ta fashe da dariya, ta haura sama tana jin daɗin yanayin gidan.