THE ARMAAN FAMILY

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT*

*THE ARMAN FAMILY*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Iyalan Arman ba irin iyalan da aka gina cikin dare ɗaya ba ne, tarihinsu ya samo asali ne tun daga wani mutum mai suna Alhaji Ahmad, shahararren ɗan kasuwa ne kuma Bafillatani ɗan Adamawa, wanda ya shahara wajen kasuwanci da hulɗa da manyan ‘yan kasuwa a Arewa. Alhaji Ahmad ya kasance mutum mai kusanci sosai da mahaifin Inno, mahaifin Inno ne ubangidansa a harkar kasuwanci, shi ya taimaka masa wajen samun hanyoyin kasuwanci da kuma damar da suka taimaka masa wajen gina dukiyar da daga baya ta zama babbar kafa ga zuriyar Arman.

Kullum bayan an tashi daga kasuwa, bayan sallar Magariba, Alhaji Ahmad kan je gidan mahaifin Inno domin su zauna su yi lissafin kuɗi da duba harkokin kasuwancinsu, a irin wannan zaman ne Allah Ya haɗa shi da Inno, wata mata mai tsauri, hankali da ƙarfi, wadda duk wanda ya santa ya san ba mace ce da ake wasa da ita ba, kuma dake ubangiji ya riga ya rubuta musu aure a lokacin, kuma a hankali, yadda Allah Ya riga Ya tsara, soyayya ta shiga tsakanin su, daga ƙarshe suka yi aure.

Bayan shekara ɗaya da aurensu, Allah Ya ba su ɗa na fari—Alhaji Abdurrahman, wanda daga baya zai zama mahaifin Zayd, shekara ɗaya da rabi kacal da haihuwar Abdurrahman, Inno ta haifi Alhaji Minzali. Abdurrahman yana da kusan shekara tara da wani abu lokacin da Inno take ɗauke da cikin Mommy Hauwa, a lokacin ne wani mummunan lamari ya faru wanda ya sauya tarihin gidan gaba ɗaya.

Alhaji Ahmad ya yi tafiya zuwa Lagos, zuwa bakin border, domin duba kayan da ake shirin clearing a wajen Customs, amma a kan hanyar tafiyarsa, motarsu ta yi mummunan hatsari, hatsarin ya yi muni ƙwarai dan ko mutum daya bai sha a cikin motar ba, sabida haka shima ba a samu ko farcen jikinsa ba.

Wannan labari ya zo wa Inno a lokacin da take cikin halin tsohon ciki, hankalinta ya dugunzuma, kuma a cikin tashin hankalin da ta shiga, nakuda ta kama ta, a ranar da ta rasa mijinta, ta kuma haifi ɗiyarta, Hajiya Hauwa. Tun daga wannan rana, Inno ta ɗauki nauyin yaranta gaba ɗaya.

Akwai maza da dama da suka zo mata da maganar aure bayan rasuwar mijinta, wasu attajirai ne, wasu kuma mutanen kirki ne, amma Inno ta ƙi, ba don ba ta samu wanda zai aure ta ba, a’a, ta ƙi ne saboda tana tunanin abu guda, “Idan na sake aure, wa zai kula min da yarana? Idan na tafi da su wani gidan fa? Wa zai tabbatar ba za a tsangwame su ba?” Wannan tunanin ya sa ta yanke shawarar zama da yaranta, ta raine su da kanta, ta yi kunnen uwar shegu ga duk wata maganar aure da aka kawo mata, ta yi burus da mazan da suka dage, ta zauna, ta kula da yaranta, ta kuma tarbiyyantar da su da irin tsaurin da ya sa kowa a gidan ke girmama ta.

Inno ba mace ce mai yawan magana ba, amma idan ta yi magana, babu wanda yake son ya saɓa mata, Abdurrahman, Minzali da Hauwa sun girma cikin tsari, tsoro da tarbiyya, ta koya musu su dogara da kansu, su girmama mutane, su san darajar iyali, kuma su ɗauki responsibility na dayansu ya zama na daya, hakan ya sa suka tashi da kaunar juna da fahimta sosai a tsakaninsu, a hankali, kowa cikinsu ya zama mutum mai sanin ciwon kansa.

Abdurrahman kuwa ya kasance mutum ne mai sanyin rai, mai natsuwa, ba mai hayaniya ba, ya kasance yana matuƙar ƙaunar mahaifiyarsa, da kula da sauran yan uwansa kuma bayan sun girma, ya ci gaba da juya dukiyar da mahaifinsu ya bari, daga baya aka raba gado, kowa ya ci gaba da tafiyar da nasa, Abdurrahman kuwa ya kafa Arman Group of Companies, kamfanin ya fara ne a hankali, amma saboda hankalinsa, ƙoƙarinsa da yadda yake tafiyar da harkokinsa, sunan Arman ya fara fitowa sosai.

Bayan rasuwar mahaifin Inno, ita ma mahaifiyarta ta rasu, sai Inno da yaranta suka bar Yola suka dawo Kaduna, amma duk da komawarsu Kaduna, ba su taɓa yanke alaƙa da danginsu na Yola ba, har yanzu suna da muhimmiyar rawa a wajen sauran danginsu, shekaru suka ja, yaran Inno suka girma, suka yi aure, suka kafa nasu gidajen, amma Inno? Ta cigaba da zama a Arman Mansion, tare da ɗanta Abdurrahman da iyalinsa.

*HAJIYA HAUWA*

Hajiya Hauwa kuwa, bayan ta girma, ta samu wani attajiri mai suna Alhaji Bashari wanda ya nemi aurenta, sai dai kafin auren, an sha gumurzu, an fara rade-radin cewa ba a san asalinsa sosai ba, wasu suka ce babu danginsa, wasu suka ce tsintar shi aka yi a inda aka riƙe shi. Inno kuwa, da zarar ta ji irin wannan magana, ba za ta taɓa yarda da ita kawai ba, ta yi nata binciken, ta kuma sa aka yi mata wani binciken, ta bincika mutumin, ta binciki iyalinsa, ta binciki asalinsa, yan uwan Hajiya Hauwa ma, Alhaji Abdurrahman Arman da Alhaji Minzali, kowa yayi nashi binciken akan Alhaji Bashari, daga ƙarshe, ba ta ga wata babbar matsala da za ta sa ta hana auren ba, iyalin Alhaji Bashari ma sun kasance mutane nagari, Hajiya Hauwa kuma ta dage cewa tana son shi, a ƙarshe, aka yi auren.

Daga baya Allah Ya albarkaci aurensu da ‘ya’ya—Imran, Seeyama, sannan ƙaramin ɗansu Aimaan, wanda yake can Turkey yana karatu. Hajiya Hauwa kuwa ba irin Inno ba ce, inda Inno take tsauri, Hauwa tana da sassauci, ba ta yarda da takura yara sosai ba, a ganinta, kowa ya kamata ya rayu da rayuwarsa yadda yake so, everyone should live his life according to his own rules, shi ya sa Seeyama ta taso cikin irin rayuwar da babu wanda ya saba mata, idan tana son abu, ana bata, idan ta ƙi abu, ana barinta, ba a saba mata da “No” sosai ba, musamman da ya kasance Alhaji Bashari ba mazauni bane, sai ya sakarwa Hajiya Hauwa komai na tarbiyyar yaransa.

Imran kuwa ya fi samun ɗan sassauci akan Seeyama, shi ma ya kasance mai son nishaɗi, yana fita, yana shan giya lokaci-lokaci, yana neman matansa, sannan ya dawo kamar babu abin da ya faru, Hauwa kuwa? Ko a jikinta. Alhaji Minzali ya kasance mutum mai nutsuwa da son zaman lafiya, amma duk da haka, bai taɓa samun haihuwa ba.

*ALHAJI ABDURRAHMAN ARMAAN*

Bayan Abdurrahman da matarsa Ummie sun yi aure, shekaru suka wuce kafin Allah Ya ba su ɗansu na farko, Zayd, dan tsakanin Zayd da Imraan, Imraan ya bashi kusan good 2 years, shekaru goma bayan haihuwar Zayd ne aka haifi Suhaila, Zayd ya taso a cikin Arman Mansion, ƙarƙashin kulawar Ummie da kuma tsaurin Inno, tun yana ƙarami, ya bambanta da sauran yaran gidan, ba ya yawan hayaniya, ba ya neman attention, ba ya son a riƙa ɗaga murya a kansa, yaro ne mai nutsuwa, mai kallon mutane kafin ya yi magana, kuma tun daga ƙuruciyarsa yake da irin wannan expression ɗin da ke sa mutum ya kasa gane abin da yake tunani.

Lokacin da ya tafi New York domin karatu, Zayd ya samu friends da dama, amma duk da haka, halinsa bai canza ba, wasu lokutan abokansa kan ja shi zuwa club ko party, Zayd ya kan je, amma ba don ya yi abin da suke yi ba, yakan zauna ne kawai, yana kallon su, yana jin abin da suke magana a kai, wani lokacin ma yana kallon agogonsa yana jiran lokacin da zai tafi. A makarantar kuwa akwai wata yarinya mai suna Felicia wadda soyayyarta ga Zayd ta kai matakin da kusan kowa ya san da ita, babu wanda bai san yadda take haukan son Zayd ba, amma Zayd? Kallo ma ba ta ishe shi ba, Felicia ta kan yi abubuwa da yawa domin ta samu attention ɗinsa, amma Zayd yana nan da irin halinsa na unbothered.

Wata rana, wasu daga cikin friends ɗinsa suka ja shi wani club, da ya shiga, sai ya tarar da hayaniya, an samu fada, kuma a tsakiyar wannan hayaniyar, ya ga Felicia, an yi mata mugun duka na fitar hayyaci an yaga mata kaya, kuma wasu daga cikin samarin da ke wajen sun ci gaba da muzanta mata, nan take hankalin Zayd ya tashi, duk da cewa Felicia tana da halin shishigi da rawar kai, a idanun Zayd, hakan bai ba namiji damar cin zarafin mace ba, ya ƙarasa wajen, ya fisge ɗaya daga cikin samarin, sai rikicin ya koma tsakaninsa da shi, guy ɗin ya dawo kan Zayd da hauka, amma Zayd ya mayar masa da martani mai tsanani har sai da ya fitar masa da haƙori, nan take fada ya ƙara dagulewa, wasu daga cikin yaran suka fara magana cikin fushi, suna cewa dole su ma Zayd da Felicia rashin mutuncin, har suka fara maganganun da suka sa Zayd ya fahimci cewa lamarin zai iya wuce gona da iri, harda me ikirarin wlh sai sunyi mata fyade cikin dare kuma su kasheta su watsar.

A lokacin ne zuciyarsa ta yi nauyi, ba wai don yana sonta ba, amma saboda ba zai iya tsayawa ya ga mace an yi mata irin wannan zaluncin ba, bayan komai ya lafa, Felicia ta ƙi komawa apartment ɗinta ita kaɗai, ta makale wa Zayd, ta ce ba za ta iya komawa ba, ita kaɗai ce, a ƙarshe, sai ta bi shi zuwa gidansa.

Daga wannan ranar, ta fara yawan zama a wajen Zayd, suna zuwa school tare, suna dawowa tare, kuma saboda yadda Felicia ta kasance kullum a kusa da shi, mutane suka fara magana, wasu suka fara zargin cewa Zayd da Felicia suna soyayya, abin da su ka sani kenan, amma abin da babu wanda ya sani shi ne, Zayd bai taɓa kallon Felicia da idanun da take kallonsa da su ba.

Da farko, kasancewar Felicia a gidan Zayd bai wuce taimakon da yake mata ba, amma a hankali, zaman waje ɗaya ya fara sauya komai, Felicia ta fara shigar da Zayd cikin rayuwarta fiye da yadda ya taɓa zato, da farko dai, Felicia ba ta gajiya da nuna Zayd a waya, duk lokacin da ta kira family ɗinta, ko tana video call da Mom ɗinta, ko kuma tana magana da ‘yan uwanta, sai ta juya camera ta nuna musu Zayd, “Mommy, look, he’s here.” Zayd kuwa wani lokaci yana zaune a gefe yana kallonta da wannan calm expression ɗinsa, bai ma damu da abin da take yi ba, “Say hi to my mom,” sai ya ɗan ɗaga kansa, “Hi, ma,” “See?” Felicia ta faɗa cikin farin ciki, “I told you he’s nice.”

A hankali, babu wanda bai san Zayd ba a family ɗin Felicia, wasu ba su taɓa ganinsa face a waya ba, wasu kuma sun san fuskarsa sosai saboda yawan nuna musu shi da Felicia take yi, “Who is that?” “My friend, Zayd,” “Your friend again?” Felicia ta yi dariya, “Yes, my friend,” amma a zahiri, ba ta tsaya a nan ba, ta fara gaya musu komai game da shi, “Zayd helped me today,” “Zayd went with me to school,” “Zayd bought this for me,” “Zayd took care of everything,” a hankali, sunan Zayd ya zama kamar wani familiar name a cikin family ɗin, har wasu daga cikinsu suka fara cewa, “Felicia, this your Zayd…” Sai ta yi dariya tana cewa, “He’s just my friend,” amma yadda take faɗin just my friend ɗin ma ya sa mutum ya san cewa a zuciyarta, ba just bane.

Zayd kuwa bai damu sosai ba, da farko idan Felicia tana waya da family ɗinta, yakan bar ta ta yi hirarta shi kuma ya ci gaba da abin da yake yi, amma saboda yawan kasancewarsu tare, a hankali ya fara sabawa da muryoyin mutanen, daga nan Zayd ya fara sakewa da su little by little, ba wai saboda yana son a gan shi a matsayin wani na family ɗinsu ba, a’a, saboda simply, sun saba da juna ne, yawan zaman waje ɗaya da Felicia, yawan kiran da take yi, da kuma yadda take saka shi cikin conversations ɗinta, suka sa komai ya zama ordinary a wajensa, a hankali, har ya fara yin jokes da wasu daga cikin siblings ɗinta a waya.

Wani lokaci Felicia tana yin video call, sai ta ɗora wayar a gefe, ita da Zayd suna cin abinci, “Zayd, say hi,” “Hi,” “Show them what you’re eating,” ya kalli camera, “Food,” Felicia ta fashe da dariya, “Seriously?” “What do you want me to say?” Su ma daga ɗaya ɓangaren suka fara dariya, wani lokaci kuma su yi magana da su har suna teasing Felicia, “Felicia, you and this Zayd are always together,” ta yi tsaki, “Can you guys stop?” Zayd kuwa sai ya yi shiru yana cin abincinsa.

Haka dai a hankali, Zayd ya fara sakewa, wani lokaci sukan ci abinci tare, wani lokaci su yi wasa, wani lokaci su fita outing, shopping ma ya zama wani abu da Felicia take yawan ja shi ciki, “Zayd, I need your opinion,” “On what?” “Everything,” sai ya sauke ajiyar zuciya, “You said that last time,” “And I still need you,” ya kalleta kawai, sannan ya bi ta, suna shiga stores, suna duba kayan gida, da sauran abubuwa, Felicia za ta ɗauki abu ta nuna masa, “What do you think?” “Looks fine,” “Only fine?” “It’s good,” “Zayd!” Sai ya ɗan girgiza kai, “Then buy it,” ta yi dariya.

A hankali, mutanen da suke ganin su tare suka fara ɗaukar wani abu dabam, idan aka gan su suna cin abinci tare, “Ahh, these two,” idan aka gan su shopping, “Love birds,” idan Felicia ta yi video call ta nuna Zayd, “Your man is there again?” Sai ta yi ƙorafi tana cewa, “He’s not my man!” Amma sai ta yi murmushi bayan ta faɗi hakan, mutane suka ci gaba da cewa soyayya suke, friends ɗinsu suka ci gaba da teasing, family ɗinta ma suka fara ganin kamar wannan kusancin zai iya zama wani abu, amma Zayd? Ko a jikinsa, a wajensa, Felicia mutum ce da ya saba da ita, friend, someone he had helped, someone he had protected, someone whose family he had gradually become familiar with, shi ya sa idan aka yi masa teasing ɗin soyayya, ba ya ganin wani babban abu a ciki, yakan wuce abin ne kawai, amma abin da Zayd bai lura da shi ba shi ne, yadda Felicia take ƙara ɗaukar wannan kusancin a matsayin wani abu da ya fi friendship, yadda duk lokacin da yake kusa da ita, zuciyarta ke ƙara samun tabbacin cewa wata rana Zayd zai zama nata, kuma ita kaɗai ce take ganin labarin a haka, Zayd kuwa? Har yanzu bai rubuta wannan labarin a zuciyarsa ba.

*TRIBECA, NEW YORK*

One faithful Saturday a Tribeca, New York, Zayd da Felicia suna zaune a gidan kamar yadda suka saba, duk da cewa ba gidanta ba ne, amma ta riga ta saba da wajen fiye da shi ma, akwai wani dining area da suka fi son zama a lokacin da suke cin abinci, Felicia ta zauna a gefe guda, Zayd kuma yana zaune opposite ɗinta, yana cin abincinsa cikin nutsuwa, Felicia kuwa, kamar yadda ta saba, ba ta iya barin shi kawai ba, “Zayd, try this,” “No,” “Just taste it,” “I said no,” ta ɗan harare shi, “You’re so difficult,” Zayd bai amsa ba, ya cigaba da cin abincinsa, bayan ɗan lokaci, Felicia ta kawo custard, “Have some,” Zayd ya kalleta, “I don’t eat custard,” “Why?” “I just don’t,” “Zayd…” “Just one spoon,” “Felicia,” “I’m serious, just one,” ya girgiza kai, “I said I don’t eat it,” Felicia ta ɗauki spoon ɗin, ta ɗebi custard ɗin, “Open your mouth,” Zayd ya kalleta kamar yana kallon mahaukaciya, “Are you okay?” “Open,” sai ta miƙe ta zagaya zuwa inda yake zaune, Zayd ya ɗan ja baya, “Felicia, don’t,” amma ita ta haye kansa da ƙoƙarin kai spoon ɗin bakin nasa, “Just take it!” “I said no!”

Suna cikin wannan rigimar ne, ƙofar gidan ta buɗe, “Zayd?” Muryar da ya sani sosai ce, nan take komai ya tsaya, Felicia ta daskare, Zayd ma ya tsaya cak, a ƙofar kuwa, Abie, mahaifinsa, ya tsaya, a gefensa akwai Ummie, sannan Suhaila tana bayansu, sun zo ne domin su yi masa surprise visit, ba wanda ya shirya musu wannan abin da suka gani, Abie ya zuba musu ido, ga Felicia nan dare dare a kan cinyar Zayd, Ummie ma ta tsaya kamar an dasa ta, Suhaila kuwa bakinta ya buɗe kamar anyi pausing dinta, kallon farko ya koma daga Zayd zuwa Felicia, Felicia tana kan Zayd, spoon ɗin custard a hannunta, yayin da Zayd yake zaune yana kallonta da fuskar da ta nuna cewa patience ɗinsa ya kusa ƙarewa.

Wani irin shiru ne ya ratsa gidan, Zayd ya kalli ƙofar ya daure da rawar murya, “Abie?” Abie bai amsa ba, Ummie ma ba ta ce komai ba, Suhaila ta ɗan matso gaba, tana kallon su da idanun da suka cika da mamaki, Zayd ya ture Felicia ya miƙe a hankali, “Ummie…” Ummie ta ɗaga hannunta kawai, tana watsa masa wani mugun kallo, Zayd ya tsaya, Abie ya kalli ɗansa na wasu seconds, sannan ya sake kallon Felicia, kallon ya koma kan spoon ɗin da ke hannunta, sai ya koma kan Zayd, a fuskar Abie akwai shock irin wanda bai taɓa tsammanin zai ji ba, domin idan wani ya zo masa ya ce, “Zayd yana zama da wata yarinya,” da farko, da zai yi wuya ya yarda, idan aka ce masa, “Zayd yana cin abinci da wata yarinya kullum,” har yanzu zai iya cewa ƙila akwai explanation, amma abin da yake gani a gabansa yanzu? Ba labari ba ne, ya gani da idanunsa, Ummie ta kalli Felicia daga sama har ƙasa, sannan ta kalli Zayd, “Zayd…” “Yes, Ummie,” “Who is she?” Felicia ta yi saurin ajiye spoon ɗin, “Ma’am, I’m Felicia,” duk suka zuba mata idanu dan ita kamar ko a jikinta ne, Abie ya ɗan sauke ajiyar zuciya, amma har yanzu idanunsa suna kan ɗansa, “Zayd,” Zayd ya kasa amsawa kawai ya zuba masa idanu, Abie kuwa ya cigaba da magana, “Is this why you’ve been so comfortable here?”