CROSSING PATHS

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER FIVE: 5*

*CROSSING PATHS*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Bolt ɗin ya tsaya a hankali daidai bakin babban entrance na hall ɗin.

A lokacin, gari ya riga ya fara duhu.

Sai hasken fitilun da aka kawata wajen da fairy lights masu launuka daban-daban ke ba wajen wani irin kyau.

Ana ta shigowa da fita. Motoci suna fake a ko’ina cikin harabar wajen.

A cikin event ɗin kuwa, an fara jin sautin kide-kide cikin nutsuwa.

MC na gwada microphone. Masu ɗaukar hoto suna ta walƙiya da cameras.

Guests kuwa, kowa cikin shiga ta alfarma yake ƙarasowa.

Khausar ta sauko daga Bolt ɗin tana gyara mayafinta.

Maryam da Bintu ma suka biyo bayanta.

Raihana ce ta sauko a ƙarshe.

Ta ɗan kalli wajen. Ta sauke numfashi a hankali, “subhanallah.”

Ta furta a ranta. Ba ƙaramin kyau wajen ya yi mata ba.

Kai tsaye suka nufi babban entrance ɗin.

A bakin ƙofar, giant security guards huɗu ne sanye cikin uniform baƙaƙe masu tsabta.

Communication earpiece na manne a kunnuwansu.

A gabansu kuma, an kafa wani dogon checking stand.

Guest ɗaya bayan ɗaya ake tsayarwa, a duba invitation ko gate pass, sai a bari ya shiga.

Babu gardama, babu sanin kowa.

Da suka iso, guard ɗaya ya ɗaga hannu cikin ladabi, “good evening.”

Khausar ta yi murmushi, “good evening.”

Ta zaro gate pass ɗinta daga handbag ta miƙa masa. Ya duba, ya yi scanning, sai ya matsa gefe, “you’re welcome.”

Maryam ma ta miƙa nata. Bintu ta yi haka. Dukkansu aka bari suka wuce.

Sai Raihana.

A hankali ta buɗe handbag ɗinta. Ta fara lalube. Ta sake dubawa.

Ta sake buɗe ƙaramin zip. Ta duba cikin purse. Ta sake lalubawa.

Fuskarta ta sauya.

Ta ɗago ta kalli Khausar, “Khausar, ina gate pass ɗina?”

Da sauri ta sake lalube. Amma, shiru. Babu shi.

Gabanta ya faɗi. Ta lumshe ido, “ina ya shiga?” ta furta a hankali.

Security guard ɗin ya dube ta, “your gate pass, ma’am.”

Raihana ta haɗiye yawu, “wallahi, yana nan. Amma yanzu na duba babu. Ina ganin na mantaa shi a gida.”

Guard ɗin ya girgiza kai cikin mutunci, “i’m sorry, ma’am. No gate pass, no entry.”

Khausar ta yi saurin matsowa, “officer, don Allah. Ta zo tare da mu ne. Itama guest ce.”

Mutumin ya girgiza kai, “i understand. But those are the instructions. No pass, no entry.”

Maryam ta matsa ita ma, “don Allah ka taimaka mana. Wallahi mantawa ta yi. Ba da gangan ba.”

Guard ɗin ya sauke numfashi, “ba laifinmu ba ne. Masu bikin ne suka ba mu umarni. Without gate pass, nobody goes in. Ba za mu karya dokar da aka ba mu ba.”

Shiru ya biyo baya. Bintu dai na gefe ita bata ce komai ba.

Raihana ta sauke idonta ƙasa. Wani irin kunya ta lullube ta.

Ta ji kamar duk mutanen da ke shigowa suna kallonta.

A hankali ta ce, “ku shiga kawai. Ni zan koma gida.”

Da sauri Khausar ta juya, “gaskiya ba za ki koma ba.”

Ta zaro wayarta daga handbag, “bari na kira Aseeya. Wataƙila tana da extra gate pass a wajenta.”

Ta fara lalubo number ɗinta.

Yayin da Raihana ke tsaye a bakin entrance cike da kunya, Khausar ta ci gaba da kiran number Aseeya.

Wayar tana ringing, amma ba a ɗagawa.

Ta sauke wayar daga kunnenta a hankali. Fuskarta cike da damuwa.

Ta dubi Maryam da Bintu, “bata ɗaga ba. Nasani tana busy. Wataƙila ma wayar ba ta wajenta.”

Raihana ta yi murmushi mai sanyi, “ba komai. Ku shiga kawai. Ni zan koma gida.”

Maryam ta girgiza kai da sauri, “a’a, ba za ki koma ba.”

Har yanzu Khausar na ƙoƙarin lallashinsu, a daidai wannan lokacin, wata black Rolls-Royce Spectre ta shigo cikin harabar wajen.

Motar ta shigo cikin nutsuwa. Hasken fitilunta ya ratsa harabar.

Kusan duk wanda ke bakin entrance ya juya ya kalle ta. Ba don motar kaɗai ba, har da wanda ya fito daga cikinta.

Sai dai, Raihana ba ta ma lura ba. Har yanzu tana magana da Khausar.

Motar ta tsaya. Driver’s door ta buɗe.

Wani dogon mutum ne ya fito cikin nutsuwa.

Sanye yake da black shirt, black trousers, black face cap.

Sai agogo kaɗai ne a hannunsa. Babu wani ƙarin ado. Amma duk da haka, kwarjininsa ya isa ya sa mutum ya sake kallonsa.

Bayan ’yan daƙiƙu, passenger door ma ta buɗe.

Wata kyakkyawar yarinya ta fito.

Da kallon farko, za ka ɗauka ma’aurata ne. Amma idan suka matsa kusa, tsananin kamannin da ke tsakaninsu ya isa ya nuna jini ɗaya ne.

Suhaila ta gyara veil ɗinta. Ta kalli yayanta, “akhii, ka raka ni mana har ciki. Ka bar ni wajen security sannan ka tafi.”

Ta yi maganar tana nuna bakin entrance ɗin da yatsa.

Zayd ya bi inda ta nuna da kallo. Ya sake kallon tarin mutanen da ke bakin ƙofar.

Sannan ya dawo da kallonsa kanta, “with all these people around, baki shirya shiga mutane bane amma kika zo?”

Suhaila ta ɗan langwaɓe kai, “please, akhii.”

Ya sauke numfashi, “okay.” Kalma ɗaya kacal ya faɗa. Ya fara tafiya.

Suhaila ta bi bayansa.

Da suka ƙaraso bakin entrance, nan take duk security ɗin suka miƙe tsaye lokaci guda.

Lead security officer ya ɗan sunkuyar da kansa cikin girmamawa, “good evening, Mr. Armaan.”

Sauran suka amsa a tare, “good evening, sir. Welcome, sir.”

Zayd ya gyada musu kai kaɗan, “evening.”

Bai tsaya wata hira ba.

A lokacin ne, Raihana ta ji ana ta “sir, boss, Mr. Armaan.”

Cikin rashin sani ta ɗaga kanta. Idanunta suka sauka kansa.

Shi kuma, a daidai lokacin ya ɗan juya saboda muryar Khausar, “…please sir, ka taimaka mana.”

Khausar ta sake roƙon security, “wallahi an gayyaceta. Ta manta gate pass ɗin ne. Ko ka riƙe wayata, idan mun fito sai na karba.”

Ta ƙarasa tana miƙa masa wayar.

Security officer ya girgiza kai cikin ladabi, “i’m sorry, ma’am. Ba zai yiwu ba. These are the instructions. No gate pass, no entry. Sai dai ta yi haƙuri.”

Suhaila ta tsaya. Ta kalli Khausar, “lafiya kuwa?”

Khausar ta yi saurin amsawa, “wallahi sister, ta manta gate pass ɗinta ne. Shi ya sa suka hana ta shiga.”

A lokacin ne, Raihana ta sake ɗaga kanta.

Karaf, idanunta suka sauka kan fuskar Zayd.

Shi ma, ya ɗan kalleta na daƙiƙa guda.

Sai ya mayar da hankalinsa kan Suhaila.

“I’m going.”

Suhaila ta gyada kai, “okay, akhii. Thank you. And take care.”

Bai amsa ba. Ya juya ya fara tafiya.

Bintu ta matsa kusa da Maryam ta raɗa mata, “kin ga gayen nan? Wayyo Allah, kamar daga wani planet daban ya fito.”

Maryam ta zuba mata harara, “kiyi shiru.”

Kafin ta ƙara cewa wani abu, Suhaila ta buɗe handbag ɗinta.

Ta zaro wani gate pass. Ta miƙa wa Raihana tana murmushi, “ga shi, sis. Ki ba su. Mu shiga tare.”

Raihana ta tsaya na wasu daƙiƙu tana kallon gate pass ɗin.

Sannan ta ɗago idanunta ta kalli Suhaila.

Suhaila ta yi murmushi, “karɓa mana. Friend ɗina ta fasa zuwa. Shi ne nake da extra ɗaya.”

Ta sake miƙa mata, “ki yi amfani da shi.”

Raihana ta yi shiru.

Khausar ta yi saurin amsar gate pass ɗin daga hannun Suhaila, “wayyo! Allah Ya saka da alkhairi. Kin taimake mu sosai.”

Suhaila ta yi murmushi kawai, “it’s okay. Enjoy the party.”

Lead security officer ya karɓi gate pass ɗin. Ya duba sunan. Ya yi scanning.

Green light ta bayyana. Ya ɗaga kansa, “you’re good to go.”

Ya matsa gefe cikin ladabi, “enjoy your evening.”

Khausar ta yi dariya, “thank you.”

Ta kama hannun Raihana, “mu je.”

Raihana ta tsaya na ɗan lokaci. Ta sake kallon Suhaila, “na gode sosai. Allah Ya saka miki da alkhairi.”

Suhaila ta yi murmushi mai sanyi, “ameen. It’s nothing.”

Raihana ta juya tana bin Khausar. Maryam da Bintu ma suka biyo bayansu.

Har suka shiga cikin hall, Raihana bata saki ranta ba.

Gabaki ɗaya jikinta ya yi mata wani iri.

Ta ji kamar an wulaƙanta ta. Kamar kowa da ke wajen ya san cewa da ƙyar ta samu damar shiga.

A ranta take ta maimaitawa, “da ace na koma gida tun farko.”

Maryam ta lura da yanayinta. Ta kamo hannunta a hankali, “Ray, ki saki ranki mana. Kinga ai komai ya wuce.”

Khausar ma ta shiga lallashinta, “wallahi babu wanda ya san abin da ya faru a waje. Kowa harkarsa yake yi. Ki daina wannan tunanin.”

Raihana ta sauke numfashi. Ta yi ƙoƙarin murmushi, “to.”

Sai dai duk da haka, har yanzu zuciyarta ba ta gama daidaituwa ba.

A hankali suka fara shiga cikin taron.

Hall ɗin ya cika da haske. Waƙoƙi masu daɗin sauraro suna tashi a hankali.

Ƙamshin turarukan mutane ya gauraye da na flowers da aka yi decoration da su.

Kowa cikin shiga ta alfarma. Kowa cikin walwala.

Bayan ɗan lokaci, Raihana ta fara warwarewa. Ta manta da abin da ya faru.

Har ta fara dariya tare da yan uwanta.

A gefe guda kuma, Bintu tuni ta bazama. Kai tsaye ta makale wa Suhaila.

Duk inda Suhaila ta juya, sai ta bita. Kamar irin dama can ta santa.

Suhaila kuwa, saboda halinta na sakewa, ba ta nuna mata wani bambanci ba.

Duk lokacin da ta tsaya da wasu, sai Bintu ma ta tsaya kusa da ita.

A gefe guda kuma, Khausar, Maryam da Raihana suka nufi wajen amarya.

Aseeya tana zaune inda amarya ke zaune.

Da ta hango su, fuskarta ta washe da fara’a, “wayyoo! Kun zo a ƙarshe!”

Ta faɗa tana miƙewa daga kujerarta. Ta rungumi Khausar.

Sannan ta rungumi Maryam. Daga ƙarshe ta rungumi Raihana, “na yi kewarku wallahi.”

Sai ta ɗan kwaɓe fuska, “amma kun ɓata min rai. Na yi ta jiran ku tun da wuri.”

Khausar ta yi dariya, “wallahi mun zo da wuri. Saura kaɗan ma a hana Raihana shiga.”

Aseeya ta ɗaga gira, “me ya faru?”

Khausar ta ce, “ta manta gate pass ɗinta a gida. Har na kira ki ko akwai extra a wajanki, amma baki ɗaga ba.”

Nan take Aseeya ta dafe goshinta, “subhanallah! Wallahi wayar tana wajen Ilhaam. Ban ma san an kira ni ba.”

Ta kalli Raihana da tausayi, “sorry Ray. Da ace na sani, da tuni na fito.”

Raihana ta ɗan harare ta cikin wasa, “yanzu dai na shigo ko?”

Duk suka yi dariya.

Aseeya ta kama hannunta, “yau fa sai kun more. Babu wanda zai gudu.”

Haka suka ci gaba da biki cikin annashuwa.

A hankali, shagalin ya ƙara armashi. Kiɗa ya ƙara tashi.

Mutane suka fara fitowa filin rawa. Hall ɗin ya cika da dariya da walwala.

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Biki ya ci gaba da gudana cikin armashi. Lokaci na tafiya, amma babu wanda ya kula.

Sai wajen ƙarfe goma na dare, Raihana ta ji wayarta tana vibrating a cikin handbag ɗinta.

A hankali ta buɗe jakar. Ta ciro wayar.

Da idanunta suka sauka kan screen, sai ta zaro ido. Ta buɗe baki kaɗan.

*5 Missed Calls*

*Umma ❤️*

“Wayyo Allah,” ta furta a hankali.

Da sauri ta ɗaga kanta tana kallon agogon da ke jikin hall ɗin, 10:07 PM.

Gabanta ya faɗi, “wlh mun shiga uku.”

Ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba, ta yi saurin kutsawa cikin filin rawar.

Ta damƙo hannun Khausar. Ta kuma kamo Maryam. Ta ja su gefe, “kuzo. Muje gida.”

Maryam ta kalleta cikin mamaki, “lafiya?”

Raihana ta nuna musu wayarta, “karfe goma ta wuce. Mun fa ce wa Baffa tara za mu dawo. Gashi Umma ta yi min missed calls guda biyar. Na san yanzu ma da ƙyar Baffa zai sake barinmu fitowa gobe.”

Khausar ta dafe kai, “innalillahi.”

Ta juya tana kallon cikin taron, “ina Bintu? Ya kamata ta zo mu tafi.”

Suka fara bin wajen da ido.

Can gefe, suka hangota. Tana tsaye cikin wasu ƴan mata yan gayu.

Sai dariya suke yi. Suna hira ta saki jikinta kamar irin ta san su da dadewa.

Ta ma shagala gaba ɗaya.

Maryam ta yi saurin nufarta. Da ta isa gabanta ta ce, “Bintu. Taso mu tafi. Karfe goma ta wuce.”

Bintu ta ɗago tana kallonta. Sai ta ce cikin ko-in-kula, “ku je kawai. Zan taho daga baya.”

Maryam ta buɗe baki tana kallonta, “za ki taho daga baya?”

“Eh,” Bintu ta amsa ba tare da ta damu ba, “kinga ai yanzu ban gama ba. Ku je kawai.”

Ta sake maida hankalinta kan ƙawayen da take tare da su. Kamar ma Maryam ta yi mata magana ba.

Maryam ta tsaya tana kallonta na wasu daƙiƙu. Sai kawai ta girgiza kai.

Ba ta sake cewa komai ba. Ta juya ta koma wajen Raihana da Khausar.

“Ku zo mu tafi kawai. Ba za ta tafi yanzu ba.”

Duk suka juya suka kalli Bintu. Amma, ta kau da kanta. Kamar ma ba ta gansu ba.

Raihana ta sauke numfashi, “toh, sai mu tafi. Tunda ita ba za ta tafi ba.”

Khausar ta ce, “ko mu sake gaya mata?”

Raihana ta girgiza kai, “a’a. Ta ji. Kawai kuzo mu tafi ai da hankalinta.”

Daga nan suka nufi wajen Aseeya. Suka yi mata sallama.

Aseeya ta riƙe hannun Raihana, “haba. Da wuri haka?”

Raihana ta yi murmushi, “Baffa ne. Mun yi masa alƙawarin tara za mu dawo. Mun riga mun makara.”

Aseeya ta girgiza kai, “toh Allah Ya tsare. Nagode da kuka zo.”

Raihana ta rungume ta, “Allah Ya sanya alkhairi.”

“Ameen.”

Bayan sun yi sallama, su uku suka fito daga hall ɗin.

————

*ZAYD*

Bayan ya sauke Suhaila, kai tsaye gidan small mum ɗinsa ya nufa.

Wato, gidan Mommy Hauwa. Ƙanwar mahaifinsa ce.

Ba wani nisa ba ne daga inda ya ajiye Suhaila.

Da motarsa ta ƙaraso bakin gate, mai gadin gidan ya yi saurin buɗewa tun kafin motar ta tsaya.

Ya tsaya cikin girmamawa, “good evening, sir.”

Zayd ya ɗan gyada masa kai kaɗai. Motar ta shiga cikin compound mai cike da flowers da aka tsara cikin tsari.

A hankali ya yi parking. Ya fito. Ya gyara cuff ɗin rigarsa.

Sannan ya nufi entrance ɗin gidan.

A cikin falon kuwa, Mommy Hauwa ce zaune kan babban sofa.

Sanye take cikin atamfa mai launin sky blue ta sha gwalagwalai, kamar ba dare ba sai zuba kamshi take.

Fuskarta nan a dinke tsaf. Tana magana da maid dinta.

A gefenta kuma, Seeyama ce kwance a kan sofa.

Half vest fari ce a jikinta. Da black skinny trousers.

Ba ta ɗaura dankwali ba. Ta haɗe dogon gashinta a tsakiyar kai cikin ponytail.

White airpods na manne a kunnuwanta. Wayarta kuma tana hannunta.

Kyakkyawar yarinya ce. Fara sol. Kamar ka tabata jini ya tsirtuwa.

Sai dai, ba ta da wani jiki. Yar siririya ce, kamar Suhaila.

Duk wanda ya san Zayd, kuma ya san Seeyama, ya san irin mugun son da take yi wa Zayd Armaan.

Ba taɓa ɓoye hakan ba. Ko kaɗan. Ko a gaban kowa.

Mai aikinsu ce durƙushe. Mommy na magana da ita. Seeyama kuma sai zuba mata harara take kamar idanunta za su faɗi.

A daidai lokacin, aka ji sallamarsa, “assalamu alaikum.”

Nan take, Seeyama ta miƙe zaune. Kamar wadda aka zabura.

Murmushi ya cika fuskarta, “yaya, sannu da zuwa.”

Sai dai, kafin ya kai gare su, ta lura da maid ɗin dake durƙushe itama ta dago da taji sallamar.

Nan take ta haɗe fuska, “dallah,” ta faɗa cikin tsawa, “tashi a wajen nan. Shashasha. Me kika tsaya kina zubawa mutane ido? Wuce ki je ki yi abin da aka sa ki.”

Da sauri maid ɗin ta miƙe, “t-to anty.”

Ta faɗa tana saurin barin falon.

Zayd bai ce komai ba. Kamar ma bai ji abin da ta faɗa ba.

Kai tsaye ya ƙarasa wajen Mommy Hauwa.

Ta yi murmushi, “son, zauna mana. Me zai sa ka tsaya?”

A hankali ya zauna kan single seater da ke kusa da ita, “good evening, mommy.”

“Evening, son,” ta amsa tana kallonsa cikin kulawa, “how are you?”

“Fine, mommy.”

Ta ɗan jingina da kujera, “daga ina haka? Na san dai, ba haka kawai za ka zo gidan nan ba.”

Ɗan murmushi ya bayyana a gefen bakinsa. Ya ɗan sosa keya, “na kai Suhaila wani dinner. Shi ne na ce bari na biyo na gaishe ki.”

Mommy Hauwa ta yi dariya, “ka kyauta son, na ji daɗi.”

Sai ya yi murmushi, “imraan fa?”

Mommy tace, “yana ciki. Ka ƙarasa mana. Kar ya ce ka zo na tareka da surutu.”

Zayd ya gyada kai, “okay, mommy.”

Ya miƙe tsaye.

Har lokacin, bai ko kalli Seeyama ba. Ballantana ya amsa mata sallamar da ta yi masa tun shigowarsa.

Ita kuwa, tun daga lokacin da ya shigo, idanunta suna kansa. Tana binsa da kallo.

Har ya juya zai fita. Ta bi bayansa da idanunta, kamar zata cinyeshi.

*****

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