NO TURNING BACK
by @maryam730
Wanka Atti tayi, tana fitowa sai ga Fatima ta zo,lokacin har Ummu ta ƙarasa haɗa mata kayanta, ta bar ɗakin ma.
Gaishe da Ummu Fatima tayi, Ummu ta amsa with love and care, tana tambayarta yasu Moma, kafin ta ce za ta shiga ɗakinta,
Attin tana wanka yanzu, za ta fito.
Atti na fitowa, Ummu take cewa, "Atti, Fatima ta zo, tana ta jiranki."
Tana shiga kuwa, aka fara hira kamar sun daɗe ba su haɗu ba. Kuma abin mamakin, duka a cikinsu babu wanda ya taso da zancen abinda ya faru jiya.
Fitowa suka yi, suka fara gyaran gidan tare, Ummu na ɗinkinta, suna hira jefi-jefi da ita. Azahar aka kira, inda a lokacin har sun gama aikinsu gaba ɗaya. Sallah suka yi, kafin Atti ta ɗora musu ɗan wake, dan Fatima mayyar ɗanwake ce.
Bayan sun gama, haka suka zubo, suka zauna, suka ci. Nan fa Fatima ta kuma tubure, wa sai Atti ta mata dying. Haka dai suka haɗa abincin makarantar su Ammar, su tafi musu da shi su yi musu dropping, sai su biya su sai kayan da za su yi amfani da su. Mayafi Atti ta ɗakko, ta ɗora akan palazo da oversized shirt ɗin dake jikinta, ta yafa.
Ummu suka shiga, suka yi mata sallama, suka fice. Makarantar su Ammar suka fara tsayawa, suka miƙa abincin, kafin su yi gaba, suka nufi SARAKEE Grand Mall, tunda daga nesa zaka hango mall ɗin saboda kasancewar sa 5-storey building — shine the most largest and tallest mall in the whole Nigeria.
From the moment ka shiga garage ɗin mall zaka san nan da bana ƙananan masu abun duniya bane, saboda irin tsarin gurin da motocin dake fake a gurin,gaba ɗaya motocin gurin babu ta 2024, gaba ɗaya 2025 & 2026 latest rare luxury cars ne a parke a gurin.
Sauka suka yi, suka nufi ƙofar da zata kaisu gurin hair accessories, saboda mall ɗin ya yi girma da bazaka iya shiga ka yi ta neman abu ba, so duk wani part yana da ƙofarsa, kuma an rubuta abinda ake siyarwa a gurin, amma duk a cikin guri guda ɗaya suke.
Kayan da ya kai su suka fara siya, amma ina, gurin nan ba zaka iya siyan abinda kazo dan shi ba kawai saboda irin abubuwan da ke ciki. Basu gama ba sai ƙarfe 4, haka suka fito da kaya niƙi-niƙi a hannunsu, motar suka je suka zuba kayan, kafin suka nufi wani bangare daban a mall ɗin.
Wani tafkeken masallaci ne, me mugun kyau tsari da nutsuwa a wajen, kuma ga manyan toilets har guda biyar a gefe. Shiga suka yi, suka yi alwala, kafin suka shiga cikin mosque ɗin —wani ƙanshin luxury oud da bakhoor sun haɗu da sanyin AC ne ya bugo musu, sun bada wani peace me shiga zuciya da kwantar da hankali.
Haka dai suka yi sallah, amma basu fito ba sai da suka ƙara 30 minutes kafin su fito, shima badan ransu ya so ba sai dan yamma da ta yi.
Ganin har ƙarfe 5 ya yi ne yasa suka tsaya, suka ɗauko su Ammar da Husna suka dawo gida tare. Suna komawa sharp-sharp, Atti tayi dying ɗin, dan ance by 8 kowa ya hallara. Ana kiran sallar magariba ta gama mata, ta fara wanka. Kaya masu sauƙi ta nema, ta saka.
Bayan ta gama shirinta, ta ɗauko mayafinta da jakarta, ta fito. Tana fitowa, Husna da Ammar suka taho gurinta, suna cewa, "Adda, ta fiya, za ki yi ?" Kai ta yi, ɗaga tana cewa, "Amma bazan daɗe ba, gobe zan dawo."
Fatima, dake kwance kan cinyar Ummu suna hira, ta ce, "All set?" Atti ta ce, "Yes, babe." Tashi Fatima ta yi, tana kallon Ummu, tace, "Toh, Ummu, zan tafi, zan ajje ta sai in wuce." Ummu ce ta yi ƙarfin halin cewa, "Toh." Ta na tashi, ta shiga ɗakinta, ta ɗauko mata kwalabar turarrukan wuta da humra ta bata, da kuma wanda za ta kaiwa Moma. Godiya Fatima ta yi mata, tana ɗaukar jakar Atti, tace mata, "Mu haɗu a waje, ni na fice."
Ammar ma ya bi bayanta, yana cewa, "Ummu, ni ba zan wuce gun sana'a." Ummu da Atti ne suka haɗa baki wajen cewa, "Allah ya ba da sa'a." Tsakar gidan ya yi shiru, Husna har ta yi bacci.
Ummu ce ta buɗe hannunta, alamar Atti ta zo — ita kuwa ta zo, ta rungume ta, suka kanƙame juna har na minti ɗaya, kafin Ummu ta sake ta, tana riƙe fuskarta a tafin hannayenta guda biyu, tace, "Ki kula da kanki, my LEEKAH, kinji." Wani yawu Atti ta haɗiye da sauri, jin sunan da Ummu ta kira ta da shi. Buɗe baki ta yi, za ta yi magana, Ummu ta yi saurin ɗora yatsanta akan bakinta, tana cewa, "Shhhhhh."
Hannunta ta ɗora akan Atti,tana fara cewa
"Ya Allah…"
Muryarta ta fara rawa.
"Ya Allah, na ba Ka amanar ɗiyata."
Atti ta sunkuyar da kanta.
"Ka fi ni sanin inda za ta je,Ka fi ni sanin abin da ke gabanta, Ka fi ni sanin abin da zuciyarta take ɗauke da shi."
Hannun Ummu ya ɗan matsa akan kanta.
"Ya Allah, duk inda ƙafarta ta taka, Ka riga ta da rahamarKa. Duk ƙofar da za ta buɗe, Ka buɗe mata wadda take da alheri. Duk wadda take da sharri, Ka rufe mata ita."
Hawaye suka fara saukowa a fuskar Ummu.
"Ya Allah, idan akwai wanda yake shirin cutar da ita, Ka raba ta da shi ba tare da ta sani ba. Idan akwai hanyar da take kaiwa ga haɗari, Ka juya ta daga wannan hanyar."
Muryarta ta ƙara karyewa.
"Ya Allah, kada Ka bari ƙarfin mutane ya fi ƙarfin kariyarKa."
Atti ta rufe idanunta.
"Ka ba ta basira idan ta rasa hanya,Ka ba ta ƙarfin gwiwa idan tsoro ya zo mata,Ka ba ta nutsuwa idan zuciyarta ta rikice."
Ummu ta share hawaye.
"Ya Allah, ita ce ɗiyata. Na yi shekaru ina roƙon Ka a kanta. Ka san irin daren da na yi ina tsoron rayuwarta. Ka san irin lokacin da na riƙe ta ina tunanin ko zan iya kare ta daga duk abin da duniya za ta kawo mata."
Muryarta ta karye gaba ɗaya.
"Amma yau… ba zan iya tafiya da ita ba."
Atti ta buɗe idanunta.
Ta ɗaga hannunta.
"Ka kasance tare da ita idan ban nan. Ka kare ta idan ban iya kare ta ba. Ka yi mata jagora idan ban san inda take ba. Ka sa ta gane abin da idonta bai gani ba."
Ta sauke numfashi mai nauyi.
"Kuma Ya Allah…"
Ta kalli Atti.
"Ka dawo min da ita."
Hawaye suka zubo,
"Ka dawo min da ita lafiya",
"Ka dawo min da ita da wannan murmushin da take da shi. Ka dawo min da ita da wannan muryarta. Ka dawo min da ita kamar yadda ta fita."
Ummu ta ɗaga hannayenta.
"Ya Allah, kada in rasa ɗiyata saboda abin da ba zan iya fahimta ba."
Ta rufe addu'ar da muryar da ta kusan zama raɗaɗi.
"Hasbiyallahu wa ni'mal wakeel."
Atti ta kama hannun Ummu.
"Ameen."
"Ameen," Ummu ta maimaita.
Sai suka rungume juna. Na dogon lokaci. Babu ɗayansu da ya yi magana, domin a wannan lokacin, kalmomi sun yi kaɗan.
Haka Atti ta sake, ba dan tana so ba, ta durƙusa, ta yi kissing forehead ɗin Husna, dake kwance tana bacci, hankali kwance. Fita ta yi da gudu, tana cewa, "Ummu, na tafi."
Fatima ta samu zaune a motar, ba ta ɓata lokaci ba, ta tayar, suka dau hanyar Victoria Island.
Sun yi nisa, amma an rasa wanda zai yi magana a cikinsu, har suka zo inda iya ban ake bari a shiga. Kafin Fatima ta juya, ta kalleta, ta riƙo hannunta, tace, "Ban san irin hatsarin da za ki shiga ba, amma dan Allah ki dawo mana da rai — ko dan Ummu, ko dan Husna, ko dan Ammar, ko dan ni." Ta ƙarasa, tana fashewa da kuka. Da ƙyar Atti ta rarrasheta, ta yi shiru. Bayan nan suka yi sallama, Atti ta fice.
Wani a cikin securities ɗin ne ya ɗaukar ma ta kayan ta, haka suka nufi ciki. Tun daga waje, yau za ka gane komai daban, komai ya bambanta, hatta da tsaro an ninka shi ya fi sau biyar. An yi checking ɗinta ya fi sau ba adadi kafin a barta ta shiga.
Direct, office ɗin Hajiya Jamila ta nufa, bayan ta karɓi kayanta daga hannun security. Ƙoƙarin buɗe ƙofar office ɗin Hajiya Jamila Atti take yi, sai ga Hajiya Jamila ita ma ta fito.
Matsawa baya Atti ta yi, tana gyara veil ɗinta.
"Yawwah Atti! Ke muke jira dama. Yanzu zan kira ki dams"
Atti ta ɗan sauke numfashi.
"Wallahi, hold up ne ya riƙe mu."
Hajiya Jamila ta gyada kai.
"Toh, mu je ciki."
Wani ƙaton meeting room suka shiga. Mutane kusan ashirin ne a ciki. Wasu daga cikinsu Atti ba ta taɓa ganin fuskokinsu ba.
The atmosphere inside the room was completely different from the usual Grand Crest environment. Nobody was talking loudly. Wasu suna kallon juna, wasu kuma suna zaune suna jiran abin da za a faɗa.
Hajiya Jamila ta nuna wa Atti ɗaya daga cikin kujerun. Ta zauna,ita ma Atti ta zauna kusa da ita.
Bayan 'yan mintuna, sai ga Mr. Samuel ya shigo. Ya shigowa, the room went completely silent. Yana riƙe da wani folder a hannunsa Black da rubuta baƙi sai Tambarin kan zaki a jiki.
Ya tsaya a gaban ɗakin, yana kallon kowa ɗaya bayan ɗaya, kafin ya buɗe folder ɗin.
"Before anything else begins, there are rules."
Muryarsa ba ta da ƙarfi, amma somehow kowa ya ji nauyinta.
"Rule number one. Whatever order a guest gives you, you obey." Ya ɗan dakata, yana kallon fuskokinsu. "No argument,no questions,no negotiation just obey." Idanun Atti suka ɗan sauya. "Idan guest ya baka order, you follow it. Ba zaka tambayi why ba ,Ba za ka yi musu gardama. Ba ka ƙoƙarin canza abin da suka ce. Your job tonight is to obey."
Ya juya wani shafi.
"Rule number two. You don't ask who they are. You don't ask what they do. You don't ask why they are here, and you don't ask where they're going." Ya ɗan kalli kowa. "Idan guest ya gabatar da kansa, ka karɓa. Idan bai gabatar da kansa ba, you don't ask."
"Rule number three. You don't touch anything that doesn't belong to you. Money, documents, phones, bags, briefcases — anything left on a table stays exactly where you found it." Ya ɗan ɗaga idonsa. "Even if it's right in front of you. You leave it."
Ya ci gaba.
"No pictures,No video,No calls. No messages. Your phones will remain here until the event is over,No body records anything,Nobody sends anything outside."
Atti ta kalli wayarta a hannunta. Sai ta ɗaga kai.
"Rule number four." Mr. Samuel ya juya wani shafi. "You do not open a closed door." Muryarsa ta ɗan yi sanyi. "Idan ƙofa a rufe take, leave it closed. Ko da ka ji someone calling from inside. Ko da ka yi tunanin akwai wani abu da yake faruwa. You call security. You don't enter. Ba aikinka ba ne ka san what is happening behind every door."
Ya juya wani shafi.
"Rule number five. You stay where you're assigned. You don't wander around. You don't follow guests. You don't enter restricted areas. Kuma you don't leave your section unless you're instructed to."
Ya yi shiru na 'yan seconds.
"Rule number six." Room ɗin ya yi shiru. "What you hear tonight stays tonight. What you see stays here." Idonsa ya zagaya cikin ɗakin. "Idan ka ga wani abu da ba a so ka gani, you pretend you didn't see it. If you witness something, you keep walking. Ba ka zama witness. Ba ka zama hero. Ba ka zama judge." Ya sauke muryarsa. "Idan wani yana cikin matsala kuma kana da hanyar taimaka masa…" Ya yi tsayawa. "…you do nothing. You don't interfere. You don't ask questions. You don't try to save anyone. You leave it where you found it."
Shiru mai nauyi ya sake mamaye ɗakin.
"And finally…" Mr. Samuel ya rufe folder ɗin a hankali. "Once you enter, you follow the rules of the house." Ya kalli kowa ɗaya bayan ɗaya. "This is a world where everything illegal becomes legal. A world without good or bad deeds. A world where power decides what happens next." Ya ɗan dakata. "Here, intelligence mattersz Influence matters,Power matters. And only the smartest and the most powerful know how to survive."
Nobody spoke,wasu daga cikin mutanen suka fara kallon juna. Wasu kuma suka fara dan sanin signing ɗin da suka yi. Amma kash… aikin ya riga ya fara,babu hanyar komawa baya.
Mr. Samuel ya ɗaga folder ɗin, ya miƙa wa wani daga cikin security. "That's all." Sai ya juya, ya fita, leaving the room behind him with a heavy silence.
Daga nan aka fara raba musu wasu black custom-tailored clothes. Amma Atti da wasu biyu daga cikin ma'aikatan, aka basu soft maroon fabric suits da trousers, tare da black silky long-sleeve shirts, maroon shoes da black socks. Matan da ke cikin group ɗin kuma aka basu pillbox hats, irin ƙananan hats ɗin da ake gani a wasu formal hostess uniforms.
Kowa ya karɓi kayan nasa ba tare da wata magana ba.
Bayan an raba kayan, aka kai kowa zuwa separate luxury rooms, kowanne da private toilet da bathroom. An ba su damar su huta, su yi settling emotionally, su shirya kansu, saboda a nan ne za su kwana. Nobody was allowed to leave the building until the event was over.
Atti ta zauna a cikin ɗakinta, tana kallon kayan da aka bata, waɗanda aka ajiye neatly a gefe. She stared at them for a while. Kamar tana jiran su yi mata magana. Ko su gaya mata what exactly she had agreed to.
Ganin cewa jikinta na neman huta, ta cire veil ɗinta, ta ajiye a gefe, sannan ta kwanta a kan king-size bed ɗin. Abin mamaki, ba ta daɗe ba, bacci ya yi gaba da ita.
Ƙwanƙwasa ƙofar ne ya tashe ta. Da ƙyar ta sauko daga kan bed ɗin. Ta saka ƙafafunta a kan cold floor, sannan ta nufi ƙofar, sai mummurza idonta take.
Tana buɗeww, sai ga wata waiter tsaye da wani babban luxury platter a hannunta.
"Ma'am."
Atti ta karɓa, tana kallon platter ɗin. It was loaded with different kinds of food — main dishes, side dishes, snacks, drinks, seafood da steak, har ma da abubuwa masu yawa.
Ta ɗan kalli yawan abincin,ta san ba lallai ta iya cin komai ba. Amma ta karɓa, ta yi mata godiya, sannan ta tura ƙofar, ta rufe.
Nan take ta ɗauki wayarta domin ta duba lokaci. Tana du ba agogon,nan da nan baccin idonta ya gudu.
"11?" Ta faɗa a hankali.
Ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba, ta nufi bathroom ɗin dake cikin ɗakin. Bayan ta gama wanka, ta fito sanye da brand-new bathrobe. Ta zauna a gaban mirror, ta ɗauko skincare products ɗinta, ta fara amfani da su ɗaya bayan ɗaya. Daga nan ta ware gashinta — almost twenty inches ne, yana sheƙi, ɗan ragowar maroon dye har yanzu yana bayyana a wasu wuraren which gave a unique beautiful color.
Ta faravcombing ɗinsa a hankali, ta shafa masa different natural oils, sannan ta yi masa styling ɗin da zai sa cap ɗin ta zauna comfortably a kanta.
Ta ɗauko kayan taron, ta fara sakawa. Tana gamawa, ta tsaya gaban mirror.
"Ya Ilahi, Ya Rabb…" Ta faɗa a hankali.
Kayan sun zauna a jikinta perfectly. Kamar an yi su ne domin ita. She looked beautiful without even trying too hard.
Ta gama dressing ɗinta, amma ba ta saka ko kwalli ɗaya ba, saboda sharadin taron. Ta sake kallon kanta a mirror. Sai ta tuna da maganar Ummu.
"You were simply my daughter."
Ta sauke numfashi,sai ta ɗan murmusa.
"Zan dawo."
Ta ɗauko cap ɗin,ta ɗora shi a kanta, sannan ta ɗauki pin, ta maƙale shi carefully domin kada ya faɗi.
Just as she finished —
Aka fara ƙwanƙwaso kofae
Atti ta kalli agogo. 12:00.
"Yess."
Wata murya ta amsa daga wajen ƙofar.
"Ma'am, Hajiya tace ki fito. It's time…"
Atti ta tsaya na ɗan lokaci. Ta sauke ƙaramin numfashi,ta kalli kanta a mirror na ƙarshe.
Then she whispered —
"Bismillah."...end of chapter 12... written by Muraimaa Naabba ✍️✍️