Prologue

Zaune suke acikin mota, rike da hannun juna, sanyin AirCon yana kadasu. Sunyi shuru kowa da abin da yake tunani a ransa. Dukda sabuwar shaukin soyayya da kowannensu ke ciki na sabon aure, Alhaji Muazzam couldn't help but feel nervous sabida wannan ne haduwarshi na farko da step-daughter dinsa. Yanada kyakkyawar mu'amala da yara, tunda yanada guda biyu, namiji babba sai kanwarsa namace wacce da kadan ta d'are Imaani, yarinyar sabuwar matarshi. Yayi fatan kaucewa kowane abu, koda shakka ne da zai ratsa tsakaninshi da Imaanin Ammi a haduwar nan tasu ta farko. He wants to be as good as a father can be to his child towards Imaani, kuma bayason taji kaman yana kokarin replacing late father dinta ne, Allah Ya jikanshi da rahama. 

Hajiya Hauwa, wadda itace mahaifiyar Imaani ta juyo da manyan idanunta daga kallon hanya ta window, ta saukesu akan sabon mijinta Alhaji Muazzam. Yayi shuru looking a little nervous and deep in thoughts amma yana shafa hannunta in a gentle manner. Tace, “Barrister, ina ka tafi ka barni?” 

Alhaji Muazzam ya dan juya ya kalleta yana sauke ajiyan zuciya, while giving her hands a gentle squeeze. “Ina nan tare da ke Amaryata. I'm just imagining my first encounter with Imaanin Ammi. I don't know how she'll take this new phase tunda bata san Amminta tazama Amaryata ba.” Ya amsa yana girgiza kanshi cikin fargaba. 

Ammi ta matso ta daura kanta a kafadarshi, “Imaani is a very simple young lady, you can easily win her heart tunda gashi ka tafi fa zuciyar Amminta.” Ta ware mishi idanunta masu tafiya da ruhinshi, ta cigaba da cewa, “Although she may seem like nothing can impress her easily, I am sure you can win her over, just be yourself. Everything would be alright. Kuma she is not a clueless child, ta san akwai probability din zanyi aure at any moment in time. Amma bazataji dadi ganin cewa bata nan akayi aurenba.” Ta sake mishi murmushi tana tuna yadda Imaani ke jaddada mata cewa kar tayi aure koh biki idan tana school sai idan tadawo gida hutu, amma decision dinda ba a hannunta yake ba, a hannun manyanta yake babu yadda zatayi dashi. 

Alhaji Muazzam yace, “Nidai ki tayani campaign a wurinta, nima zan 'ko'karta on my own part Jiddah. I already feel this connection towards Imaani before I even meet her. I cannot help but love any being that is a product of yours.” Yayi kissing forehead dinta.

Ammi taji wani dadi yana ratsata saboda duk wanda zai sota to dole sai yaso Imaani kafin su samu jituwa tsakaninsu. Babu yadda za'ayi kaso ta da aure kuma kaki ‘yarta koma wanene kai. Wannan reason dinne yasa banda hari da maza marasa mutunci sukayita jifanta dashi da kuma 'yan uwa da suke ta hadata da mutane daban daban, tayita gudun kara aure bayan rasuwar mahaifin Imaani for 10 good years until Barrister Mu’azzam Dadan-Garba ya shigo rayuwarta. Tunda dai a al'ada ansan idan uwa zatai aure barin ‘yayanta take a wurin mahaifinsu idan yanada rai, ko a wurin danginshi idan bayida rai, ko a wurin danginta. Alhalin idan namiji ne zaiyi aure, whether he is a widower or a divorcee, it is expected of you da ki rike mishi ‘yaya without considering your convenience koh halinda zaki bar ‘yayanki a ciki. 

“Ko ban tayaka campaign ba, bakada matsala da Imaani. Indai har zaka dauketa yadda kake daukan Rafeeq da Asma’u toh bakada matsala.” Tayi tapping arm dinshi reassuringly. 

“Of course Jiddah, dukda bani na haifeta ba bazan banbanta ta da ‘yayana ba tunda kema nasan bazaki nuna musu banbanci ba.” 

Driver yayi musu magana ta hanyar interconnecting speaker din cikin motar, ya sanar dasu sun iso gates din exclusive boarding school dinda Imaani ke karatu.

***

A wajen garin Kaduna, wuraren hanyar Zaria, anan Crescent Heights Girls' College yake, wanda yayi earning reputation dinshi na daya daga cikin prestigious girls' boarding schools a arewacin Nigeria. A cikin makarantan a junior section din Girls’ Hostel, wata yarinya ce zaune akan gadonta that is neatly arranged, sanye da farin gown da ake kira Whites, wanda shine uniform na Visiting Days, tana tsane gashinta da clean micro-fibre towel. 

Kawarta kuma aminiyarta Khadija Mamu, wacce ta gama wanke mata gashinta ba da dadewa ba tana arranging combs, detanglers, hair oil, hair butter da duk wani abu da zasu bukata na gyaran gashi, tana mitan gwara ta sallama kawai a gyara gashin kafin Amminta tazo. 

“Kinfa san idan dare yayi we'll be too tired kuma bazan iya miki gyaran gashi ba. Gashi gobe Sunday, we have to revise for Monday's exams so bamuda wani lokaci kuma. Har yaushe Ammin zatazo ta wani yimiki mitso gashi it's already after 2:00 pm. Kawai zakiyi stressing Mata, tazo miki visiting ta kare da miki kitso sai kace babu Saloon a makaranta.” Khadija ta fada tana galla ma Imaani harara.

Dauke kai Imaani tayi, “Da dai ace rokonki nayi shine zakimun wulakanci, idan ma bata samu yimun kitsonba ba sai abar gashin sai munkoma gida ba, meye aciki tunda it's less than 3 weeks to vacation.”

“Dole kice haka ai tunda na damu dake ‘yar rainin hankali.” Khadija taja karamin tsaki, “Dadin abun dai ba kaina bane.”

Ta gefen idonta Imaani ke kallon Khadija, “What's there? I'll just cut the hair, ni kaina ya isheni kawai sabida Ammi bazata bari na yanke bane.” 

Khadija tayi sauri ta kalleta shooting daggers with her eyes at Imaani, “Kan-”

Da karfi Imaani taji an kwala kiran sunanta, “Imaani Babangida, anzo miki!” 

Da sauri Imaani ta mike tsaye, ta dora farin Pashmina veil dinta mai laushi akan towel dinda ta daure gashinta dashi dan ya tsane, ko damuwa da yadda zatai kama batayi ba. Ta ja hannun Khadija, “Sai ki tashi mutafi uwar mita, da rabon zansamu kitsona yau. I have less than 4 hours to 6:00 pm kafin a kulle gates.” 

Imaani tace ga classmate dinda tazo kiranta. “Thank you Jemimah, tsarabarki nayau daban yake.” 

Tsaki Khadija ta kara yi ta tashi tabi Imaani, suka wuce corridors na hostel din zuwa gate da ya raba Girl's Hostel daga school premises. Already anzo ma Khadija har suntafi bayan Zuhr kafin a wanke gashin Imaani. Suka iso school compounds inda aka jere motoci in an orderly manner, an shinfida tabarmi da carpets a tsakankanin motocin . Iyaye, yan uwa da daliban JSS3 da SS3 na zaune wasu na kaiwa da komowa wasu na kukan rabuwa kaman yau aka fara visiting dinsu a boarding school. 

Dakatawa Imaani tayi da tazara kadan daga wasu ba'kaken motoci SUVs guda hudu jere a gaba. Wani mutum ne kaman basamude ya sauko daga gefen passenger na motan, ya bude kofar baya in a respective way. 

Wata mata ce ta sauko daga cikin motan, sanye da light pink tsadadden French lace, dinkin doguwar riga da aka yayyafa ma beadwork da Swarovski stones, sai kyalli suke suna daukan ido. Baka ce irin warm brown color dinnan ba mai duhu sosai ba, bahaushiya, kuma kyakkyawa, ba mai tsayi sosai ba. Tayi kyau a mutunce kuma ba kadan ba, ta yafa babban gyale tana baza kamshin signature turarenta Chanel No. 5, which is a little overshadowed da smoky, musky flavor din turaren wuta. Awarwaro da zobunan hannayenta na gold sai walkiya sukeyi duk wani motsi. Faffadan murmushin jindadi na ganin d'iyarta Imaani tayi, gesturing her to come forward tana bude hannayenta inviting her for a hug. 

Da sauri Imaani ta karasa ta shige jikin mamanta tana sauke ajiyan zuciya. “Ammi, kunyi rana. I thought you weren't coming anymore.” 

Ammi ta kare shigarda ‘yarta, sanyin idaniyanta jikinta, sighing in a pleasurable way that can only be achieved through a mother-daughter embrace. “Baby, kin rame daga yadda kika bar gida zuwa yanzu. It has been too long, haba! Wannan JSSCE dindai Allah Yasa kugamashi lafiya.” Ta shafa kan Imaani, then she placed a kiss on both of her cheeks, and her forehead. Tayi rolling eyes dinta jin complain din Imaani, “Kema dai ya za'ayi kiyi tunanin bazan zo visiting dinki ba after not seeing you for almost 4 months? Ba karamin abu ne zai rikeni na kasa zuwa inganki ba Imaani.” Ammi ta sauke muryarta cikin kunnen Imaani tace, “I have a surprise for you, I hope you will be welcoming towards him.”

Imaani ta dan ja baya daga jikin Ammi ta ware manyan idanunta masu kama da nata, surprised and a little shocked jin Ammi tace mata him. 

Ammi tayi mata murmushi reassuringly, sai ta mikama Khadija hannunta, gesturing her to also come forward. A kunyace Khadija ta karasa tayi hugging Ammi tana gaidata. Khadija has always thought of Ammi as a sight to behold sabida nutsuwa da kamala, ga timeless beauty dinta. Ammi tafi Imaani kyau nesa ba kusa ba. 

“Su Hajiya Zainab har sunwuce kenan? Dama nasan dakyar in zamu hadu yau tunda munyi rana ba kaman da ba.” 

Khadija da daga kanta daga jikin Ammi, “Eh suntafi tun dazu, zasu wuce gaisuwa daga nan ne.” 

“Allah Ya jikan musulmi, zan kirata anjima Insha Allah.” Ammi ta fada, tayi leading dinsu zuwa persian carpet dinda Karama, daya daga cikin masu aikinta ta shimfida, wacce ke jera food warmers da casserole dishes akai. “Come my Baby, come and tell me how you have been. Ya exams dinku, I hope babu takura dukda daga ku sai SS3 dinne a school.”

Imaani da ta kasa cewa komai kaman an dauke mata ikon yin magana. Bata san ya take ji gameda sabon sha'aninnan ba. Dukda kananun shekarunta wanda basu wuce 14 na, tasan aure kuma tasan mai ya kunsa sabida Ammi bata boye mata komai. She treats her like a best friend, a sister and a daughter whenever the situation calls for it kuma daidai gwargwadon daukan 'kwakwalwarta.

Tasan ba karamin sa'a koma wanene wannan him din yaci ba da har Amminta zata kawo matashi nan makaranta a matsayin albishir. She just hope ba'ayi aurenba sabida taci buri akan bikin Amminta ba kadanba. Amma kuma Ammi bazata taba zama acikin mota da wanda ba Muharraminta bane har na tsawon lokacinda tafiya zuwa makarantarsu mai nisa zai dauka, koda kuwa wanda zai aureta ne. 

Ta karasa ta zauna kusada Amminta, ta gaisa da Karama bayan ta gama jera kayan abinci, fruits, snacks etc. Karama ta koma daya daga cikin motocinda sukazo dashi.

“Everything's fine Ammi, exams dinma mun kusa gamawa ai, kuma babu takura daga seniors, kowa harkar gabanshi kawai yakeyi.”

“Toh Masha Allah, haka akeso. A cigaba da dagewa a 'kara da addu’a. Allah Yasa ku gama lafiya kuma a cikin sa'a.” Suka amsa da ameen. “Mock results dinku ya fito ne? Naga kunzo mun hannu rabbada kuna jiran ince ku kwasa abinci.” Ta nuna Imaani, “Ke kuma kinzomun da gammo a kai.”

Dariya suka saki Imaani na tura baki, “Toh ai kitso zakimun kafin ma inci abinci. Gashina ya bushe tunda kince baza'a yanke ba.” 

Ammi tace, “A'a yau banzo da shirin yin kitso ba Imaani, naga dai akwai Saloon a makarantan bawai babu ba.”

Khadija da ta kosa da halin Imaani na raki akan kitso tace, “Ammi nima dai nace mata inyi mata kitson a yau ba sai gobe ba tunda akwai exams ranan Monday sai kuma kuka zo.”

Ammi tace, “It's better dai, hakanan ki sa na bata kwalliyata. Besides I didn't come with any hairdressing equipment.” Imaani ta bata rai, Ammi ta dauke kanta. “Khadija why don't you get your results from the hostel. Sai kizo da kayan gashin nasan yadda zanyi da kawarki badan halinta ba.”

Murmushi Imaani tayi tana kallon Amminta da ta dauke kai itama tana kallon wani gefen amma tana iya ganin karamin murmushinta. Har ta kusa mantawa da wannan him din, saida Ammi ta kalleta with a serious expression after Khadija excused herself.

Ammi ta rike hannunta tana cewa, “Imaani, nasan bakiyi zaton zanzo miki da wannan maganan ba but I know you were expecting it anytime in our lives, ko kuma ma anan kusa. Lokaci yayi da zamu gina sabon rayuwa. Ban manta da Babanki ba kuma bazan taba mantawa dashi ba, ya bani abunda babu kamarsa a rayuwata, which is you. Na zauna lafiya dashi cikin aminci da soyayya har lokacinda ajali ya rabani dashi, kuma na rabu dashi lafiya, da kauna a tsakaninmu. Dan uwana ne shi, ya mutuntani kuma yaso ni tsakani da Allah. Babu abunda zai ragu daga rayuwarmu sabida nayi aure, infact saidai ya karu because it's no more just you and me.” 

Imaani ta sauke kanta kasa, tunani daban daban na yawo a kanta. A kananun shekarunta tana iya gane abunda Ammi ke cewa sabida Ammin tayi mata bayanin ne ta yadda zata iya ganewa. Ammi ta shafa kyakkyawar fuskar ‘yarta dake dauke da fararen launuka da suka yima fuskarta ado. Imaani miracle child dinta ne ta kowane fanni. Ba'a cika samun kamarta ba especially in regards to her physical features (duba da yanayin kamanninta). Idonta ya tsaya akan fararen launukan da suka bazu a fuskarta kamar an yayyafa hasken wata akan bakar zannuwa. Sun kara fito da kyawun manyan idanunta masu ruwan kasa fiye da yadda ake zato. Her Baby has gone through much stigma at her young age, amma bata taba barinta tayi kukan maraici ba.

Cikin soyayya Ammi ta cikaba da cewa, “We will now have a complete family, in the real sense of the word. Inaso ki bude zuciyarki gameda Abban Rafeeq. Nasan zaki soshi because he is such a simple man. Yanada yara biyu, Rafeeq who is older than you because yanzu ne ma zai fara University sai Asmau who is a little bit younger than you, she's in JSS1 yanzu. So you can find a sister in her I am sure. Akwai challenges dinda zamu iya facing, which is expected because life is always accompanied with challenges, amma kamar yanda nake fada miki, keep an open mind. Everything else becomes easy and understandable.”

Imaani ta kwanta a jikin Amminta. “Ammi nasan bazaki taba zaban wani abu da zai samun damuwa ba, I trust your decision no matter what. I already feel at ease with koma wanene shi because I know you and I trust that duk wanda kika zaba as your husband, toh ya cancanta ya zama haka kuma zai rikemu tsakani da Allah.” 

Ammi tayi smiling tana 'kara godema Allah daya bata Imaani as a daughter, mai hankali, natsuwa da nagarta. Tasan she'll never be disappointed in her come what may. “Can I ask him to come over now? Nasan ya dade da jikewa da nerves dukda sanyin AirCon.”

Dariya Imaani ta saki tana tashi daga jikinta, “Of course Ammi.”

Ammi tayi signalling ma daya daga cikin security personnel dake tsaye kaman gunki a gefen motan, wasu kuma na tsaye wurin sauran motocin. Security din yayi knocking window dinda Alhaji Muazzam ke zaune.

Wani mutumi Imaani tagani yana sauka daga SUV din cikin natsuwa. Fari ne, dogo with a lean and strong build (mai kakkarfan jiki). Haskenshi irin na fulani ne, ga dogon hanci da kwantaccen saje mai laushi daya zagaye fuskarshi wanda ke dauke da murmushi. Sanye yake da light brown (ruwan kasa) babban riga, which sat perfectly on his broad frame. Hular zanna bukar ya kawata fuskarsa da bakin gashinsa. Agogonshi na azurfa da zobe suna kyallin hasken rana a hannunshi. Yana tafiya in quiet confidence, sassanyan kamshinshi na tashi na oud, sandalwood da wani turare na musamman Tom Ford Oud Wood da ya zama alamar Barrister Mu'azzam Dadan-Garba. A shekaru masu zuwa, Imaani zata koyi gane zuwanshi tun kafin ta ganshi saboda wannan kamshin da ya kasance tamkar wani bangare nashi. Nothing about him is loud, yet everything about him speaks of quiet success. 

First time dinda Alhaji Mu’azzam ya hada ido da Imaani saida yadanyi pausing, sai yayi sauri ya gyara yanayinshi kafin ya karaso kan carpet din. 

Duk wani motsinshi na kan idon Ammi sabida bata fadamishi wasu abubuwa gameda Imaani ba, ko a hoto bata nuna mishi ita ba dukda tasan it was such a big risk to trust his reaction towards seeing Imaani for the first time, amma tayi trusting instincts dinta and her instincts never lie to her. 

Ya zauna akan carpet kusa da Ammi while keeping a respective distance between them out of courtesy for Imaani. Ya kalle Imaani da itama shi take kallo tana observing reaction dinshi. Sai ya saki faffadan murmushi wanda ya fitoda asalin kyawunshi na Fulanin Adamawa. 

In his slightly accented voice yace, “Finally I have met Imaanin Ammi amma da gammo a kai.”

Kunya ta debi Imaani ta rufe fuskarta da gyalenta tana dariya, “Ina yini..” sai ta rasa ma mai zata kirashi dashi.

Yayi dariyan yace, “A'a ai ke zan gaida tunda nazo kamun kafa. Mundai yimiki laifi anyi biki ba'a jiraki ba.”

Imaani ta sauke hannunta daga fuskarta tace, “A'a bakomai, ai nasan su Uncle Nasir bazasu jira ba tunda Ammi ta amince da wani finally.” 

Alhaji Muazzam yace, “Eh toh da wannan amma dai basu kyauta ba, naso ace kina nan akayi komai, kinga da dake zan kara kafa gwamnatina awurin Amminki, sai Amminki ta tayani campaign a wurinki.” 

Cikin nishadi suka karasa gaisawa, Alhaji Muazzam kept teasing her endlessly. He was very down to earth. Ammi nata sakin murmushin jindadi ganin yadda Imaani ta sake da Alhaji Mu’azzam. 

Ana haka Khadija ta dawo da results dinsu da kayan gyaran gashi a hannu, Ammi ta duba results dinsu daya fito dakyau. Dama tasan ‘yarta da kawarta akwai hazaka da nacin karatu, shiyasa tayi approving kawancensu tun zuwansu makarantan. Tayi congratulating dinsu, Alhaji Mu’azzam yayi musu alkawarin albishir babba inhar sunyi acing JSSCE dinsu. Cikeda jin dadi Khadija tayi mashi godiya tace zata koma ta karasa gyara kayanta da aka dawo na visitation. 

Ammi ta kira Karama tayi serving dinsu, Imaani ta saka hannu to make it faster sabida ta kosa a gyara mata gashinta.

Alhaji Muazzam yaji dadin first encounter dinshi da Imaani. Baiyi tunanin zatayi saurin sakewa dashi ba duba da yadda nashi ‘yayan basu wani sake da Ammi ba sosai. Amma yasan lokaci ne zai basu da zasu warware su sake da ita tunda yanzu sun baro kakanninsu sun dawo hannunshi, kuma yana fatan dangin mahaifin Imaani zasu yarda ya riqeta, bazasu rabata da Amminta ba tunda basu taba rabuwa ba. He knows he can afford her basic necessities koda arzikinsu ya wuce nashi ba kadan ba amma bai rasa komai ba. Kuma zai iya basu rayuwar luxuryn da suka saba da daidai gwargwadon ikonshi. 

Ya sauke idonshi akan Imaani daketa baza raki da shagwaba Amminta na mata kitso. Yayi tunanin yimata tunda yasan yanda akeyi because he has a daughter and he's very much involved in her life. Amma bayason yazama too forward daga haduwarsu na farko. Yasan gradually zata sake dashi sosai tunda shi din mai son yara ne. 

A lokacinda ya fara ganin Imaani, tana kallonshi with a guarded expression, yayi kokarin danne shock dinshi sabida yayi tunanin ta saba da ganin irin wannan reaction din daga baki. He hadn't known what to expect, kuma Ammi bata sanar dashi komai ba, amma duk wani reservation dake tare dashi tun a hanyar makarantan sun 'bace the moment he laid eyes on Imaani. She is such a special creature, he could tell that physically. And she is well mannered in the way she carries herself dukda tabaranta. 

Yayi kokarin sakewa da ita a limited time dinda sukayi spending tare har visitation hours din suka kare. He admired the way the school staff suke treating Hajiya Hauwa with respect kuma itama tana mu'amala dasu in a courteous manner.

As they exited the gates of the school, Alhaji Mu’azzam ya kalli gefen rear view mirror yana kallon Imaani dake daga musu hannu da kawarta. He found himself thinking about Imaani fiyeda yadda yake zato. Baiyi tunanin how deeply intertwined their lives would become ba, only that somewhere between the drive to the school and the drive back home, Imaanin Ammi had ceased to feel like a stranger to him.

***

Wow! More than 3000 words for a start! Bansan haka nake surutu a mind dina ba😂