THE MAN IN THE COROLLA

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER-SIX: 6*

*THE MAN IN THE COROLLA*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Suna tsaye a bakin titi, motoci na ta wucewa.

Suka tare Napep ɗaya, “mallam, unguwar Malali?”

Driver ya girgiza kai, “a’a, ba hanyata ba ce,” ya wuce.

Maryam ta sauke numfashi, “Mun shiga uku.”

Raihana ta kalli wayarta, har yanzu Umma na ta kira, ba ta da ƙarfin ɗagawa.

Khausar ce kaɗai ke ƙoƙarin kwantar musu da hankali, “za mu samu, in sha Allah.”

Amma kafin ta ƙarasa, wayar Raihana ta sake yin ringing.

*Baffa ❤️*

Gabanta ya faɗi, “wayyo!”

Maryam ta kalleta cikin tsoro, “Ray, kar ki ɗaga. Gwara idan mun isa gida, duk abin da zai yi ya yi mana zaifi, mana sauki akan abinda za mu ji idan kika ɗaga.”

Raihana ta girgiza kai, “a’a, gwamma na ɗaga.”

Da hannun da yake rawa ta danna receive.

Dakkiyar muryar Baffa ta fito, “kun ji daɗi kun raina ni kenan?”

Raihana ta haɗiye yawu, “Baffa ni…”

Bai bari ta ƙarasa ba, “na san ba za ku dawo lokacin da na ba ku ba.”

Ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya ce cikin murya mai cike da fushi,

“wallahi billahi, idan ƙarfe goma sha ɗaya ya yi, ba ku dawo gidan nan ba, ku kwana a can!!”

Kafin Raihana ta yi magana, ya kashe wayar.

Shiru.

Raihana ta sauke wayar a hankali, idanunta suka cika da damuwa, “mun shiga uku.”

Maryam ta dafe kai, “na ce miki kar ki ɗaga.”

Suka sake tare wani napep. Shi ma ya ce, “a’a hajiya, ba zan je can ba,” ya wuce.

Maryam ta kalli sauran, “kunga, tsayuwar nan ba mafita ba ce. Mu fara tafiya da ƙafa, ko mun rage hanya, wataƙila a gaba mu samu abin hawa.”

Ba su ga wata mafita ba, suka fara tafiya.

Duhun dare ya fara ƙaruwa, mutane ma sun ragu sosai a hanya.

Ba su yi nisa ba, sai wata Toyota Corolla ash colour ta rage gudu a bayansu.

*Peeem!*

Ta yi musu horn, duk suka juya a firgice.

Motar ta tsaya kusa da su. Glass ɗin driver ya sauka a hankali.

Wani mutum mai kimanin shekaru talatin ne, ya zuba musu ido ɗaya bayan ɗaya, musamman Raihana.

“Yammata, ina zuwa haka cikin dare? Har da tafiya a ƙafa a waje irin nan?”

Raihana ta ja hannun Khausar, “mu tafi, kada mu tsaya.”

Khausar ta kwace hannunta, ta matso kusa da ita, ta yi magana cikin ƙasa da murya, “dallah, ki tsaya. Wataƙila Allah ne ya aiko mana da taimako.”

Mutumin ya ɗan karkata kansa, “lafiya dai?”

Khausar ta yi murmushi cikin ladabi, “wallahi daga biki muke. Mun rasa abin hawa, gashi daga gida ana ta kiranmu.”

Mutumin ya gyada kai cikin tausayawa, “haka ne? To, idan babu damuwa, ku shigo. Zan kai ku, bai dace ku tsaya a hanya a wannan lokacin ba.”

Yana magana, amma idanunsa ba su daina komawa kan Raihana ba.

Raihana ta ji gabanta ya ƙara faɗuwa. Wani irin kallon yake mata, wanda ya sa gaba ɗaya ta ji ba ta yarda da shi ba.

Ta ja numfashi a hankali, “a’a, nagode. Za mu samu abin hawa.”

Raihana ta sake riƙe hannun khausar tana ƙoƙarin jan ta gaba.

A daidai lokacin, mutumin ya sake dakatar da su,

“ku dubi hanyar nan,” ya nuna musu titi da hannunsa, “karfe goma da rabi ya kusa wucewa. Shadaya fa saura. Da gaske kuna ganin za ku samu abin hawa a wannan lokacin?”

Sukayi shiru, babu wanda ya amsa.

Ya ɗan yi murmushi cikin tausayi, “na fahimce ku. Kuna ji tsoron hawa saboda ba ku san ni ba, kuma gaskiya ne, haka ya kamata.”

Ya ɗan girgiza kai, “wannan ma ya nuna kun fito daga gidan mutunci.”

Kalmar tasa ta sa Maryam da Khausar suka ɗan kalli juna.

Sai ya ci gaba cikin nutsuwa, “amma wallahi billahi, i promise, ba zan taɓa cutar da ku ba.”

Ya ɗora hannunsa a kirjinsa, “ni ma ina da ƙanne mata irin ku. Me zan amfana idan na cutar da wasu ’yan uwana?”

Ya sauke numfashi, “idan har na yi niyyar cutar da ku, ku bar ni da Ubangiji. Ku bar ni da ubangiji annabi Musa da annabi Haruna.”

Muryarsa ta cika da gaskiya, “amma wallahi, ba zan iya tafiya in barku a wannan lokacin ba. Na ga kuna cikin damuwa, ga kuma ku mata ne. Ba zan ji daɗi ba idan na bar ku kuna ta yawo a hanya.”

Ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, sannan ya ce cikin sanyin murya, “dan Allah, ku shiga. Kar ku ce a’a.”

Maryam ta kalli Khausar, Khausar kuma ta kalli Raihana.

Ta san Raihana ce za ta ƙi.

Kafin Raihana ta buɗe baki, Khausar ta damƙe hannunta, “wallahi Ray, shiga za mu yi. Idan ba za ki shiga ba, to ki taho a ƙafa ke kaɗai.”

Raihana ta harare ta, “ke fa—”

Khausar ta katse ta, “dan Allah. Baffa dai kinji me yace, kar ki bari mun samu dama amma mu sake ƙara ɓata lokaci.”

Sai ta juyo ta kalli mutumin. Mutumin ya gyada musu kai cikin ladabi, “ku shiga. Please.”

Ba tare da ya tsaya jiran amsa ba, ya sauko.

Ya buɗe ƙofar baya da kansa, ya matsa gefe, “after you.”

Babu yadda suka iya. Khausar ce ta fara shiga, Maryam ta biyo bayanta.

Raihana ta tsaya na daƙiƙa guda tana kallon motar, wani irin fargaba na yawo a zuciyarta. Sai dai, babu wani zaɓi.

A hankali ita ma ta shiga.

Da ta zauna, mutumin ya rufe musu ƙofar cikin mutunci.

Ya zagaya ya koma driver’s seat, ya kunna motar. Engine ɗin ya yi ƙaramar ƙara.

A hankali motar ta fara motsi.

A cikin motar kuwa, shiru ya mamaye wajen.

Kowacce daga cikinsu tana karanta addu’o’i a zuciyarta.

Maryam na ta maimaita, “hasbunallahu wa ni’imal wakeel...”

Khausar kuma tana ƙananan istigfari.

Raihana kuwa, ta matse handbag ɗinta a ƙirji, zuciyarta na bugawa da ƙarfi.

Bayan sun yi tafiya na ɗan lokaci, mutumin ya ɗan kalli mirror ɗin gaba.

Cikin ladabi ya tambaya, “wace unguwa zan nufa?”

Maryam ce ta amsa, “malali.”

“Okay,” ya faɗa a taƙaice. Bai sake cewa komai ba, ya maida hankalinsa gaba, yana ci gaba da tuki cikin nutsuwa.

Har suka isa unguwar Malali. A hankali ya rage gudun motar.

Ya ɗan juyo yana kallonsu ta mirror, “to, daga nan ina zan shiga?”

Khausar ce ta fara ba shi kwatance, “ka ɗauki wannan turning ɗin, daga nan sai ka miƙe gaba kaɗan, za ka ga wani ƙaramin mosque. Daga nan sai ka juya hagu.”

Ya gyada kai kawai. Ba tare da ya sake tambaya ba, ya ci gaba da tuƙi cikin nutsuwa.

Bayan wasu mintuna, suka iso bakin layinsu.

Tun kafin ya ƙarasa ƙofar gidan, Raihana ta yi saurin cewa, “nan nan ya isa. Kada ka ƙarasa ciki.”

Nan take ya taka birki. Motar ta tsaya a bakin layin.

Agogon dashboard ya nuna, *10:57 PM*.

Da sauri suka buɗe ƙofar motar suka sauka.

Khausar ta matso kusa da window ɗin driver, ta yi murmushi cikin girmamawa, “mun gode sosai, dan uwa. Allah Ya saka maka da alkhairi. Allah Ya raba ka da iyayenka lafiya.”

Ya yi murmushi, “ameen. Allah Ya kai ku gida lafiya.”

Maryam ma ta ɗan sunkuyar da kanta, “mun gode ƙwarai.”

“Babu komai,” ya amsa cikin taushin murya.

Amma, tun kafin ya gama magana, Raihana tuni ta juya. Ba ta ma sake waiwayowa ba.

Da sauri ta fara takawa zuwa cikin layinsu.

Maryam ta yi masa sallama da hannu, sannan ta ruga ta bi bayanta.

Khausar kuwa ta tsaya na ɗan lokaci, “Allah Ya ƙara arziki,” ta sake faɗa.

Ya ɗan daga hannu, “in sha Allah.”

Da ta juya ta shiga layinsu, sai ya biyo su da kallo. Har sai da suka ɓace cikin duhun layin.

Sai sannan ya sauke numfashi a hankali, ya kunna signal.

A hankali motarsa ta juya, ta fice daga unguwar.

⸻

A can kuwa, Raihana da Maryam ko kallon baya ba su yi ba.

Da sauri suka cire takalmansu a bakin ƙofar gida. Kowacce ta kama nata a hannu.

Suna tafiya da ƙafunsu babu takalmi, ko karar takun nasu ba a ji. Ko numfashinsu ba su son a ji.

Allah Ya taimake su, har suka ƙetara ƙofar. Shadaya ba ta yi ba.

Suka taka tsakiyar gidan, suna tunanin watakila sun tsallake.

Sai kuma, wata dakakkiyar murya mai cike da iko ta daki kunnuwansu daga cikin duhun tsakar gidan,

*“ku tsaya a nan!”*

Ƙafafunsu suka manne a ƙasa, numfashinsu ya tsaya.

A hankali, suka juya.

Baffa ne. Zaune yake cikin duhun tsakar gidan, kamar tun ɗazu yana jiransu.

Baffa ya zuba musu ido, idanunsa babu ko alamar wasa.

Da sauri suka durƙusa ƙasa.

Kafin ma ya buɗe baki, Raihana ta fara magana cikin rawar murya,

“wallahi Baffa, ba mu shiga da wuri ba. Da farko an hana mu shiga, sai daga baya aka bar mu.”

Maryam ta yi saurin ƙarasawa, “kuma wallahi muna shiga ba mu daɗe ba muka ce za mu dawo. Don Allah ka yi haƙuri. Ba za mu sake ba.”

Shiru. Baffa bai ce komai ba. Sai kallonsu yake yi ɗaya bayan ɗaya.

Kafin daga ƙarshe ya tambaya cikin sanyin murya, “ina Bintu?”

Dukansu suka haɗiye yawu lokaci guda.

Maryam ta kalli Raihana. Raihana ta sunkuyar da kanta,

“Baffa, mun ce ta taso mu tafi. Ta ce ita ba yanzu za ta dawo ba. Ta ce mu tafi, ita za ta taho daga baya.”

Wani shiru ya sake sauka.

Sai Baffa ya ɗago kai, “yanzu tana can kenan?”

“Eh Baffa,” suka amsa tare.

Ya gyada kai a hankali, “yayi kyau.”

Sai ya miƙe tsaye. Muryarsa ta canza,

“daga yau, babu wacce daga cikinku da za ta sake taka ƙafarta wani biki. Na haramta. Daga makaranta, sai gida. Babu yawon banza, babu dinner, babu walima, babu komai. Kuna jina?”

“Eh Baffa,” suka amsa cikin tsoro.

“ku tashi, ku bani waje.”

Da gudu suka miƙe. Kowa na riƙe da takalminta, handbag ɗinta da mayafinta.

Ba wanda ya sake waiwayowa. Kai tsaye, kowacce ta nufi ɗakin uwarta.

Bayan sun ɓace daga wajen, Baffa ya tsaya shi kaɗai.

Ya kalli agogon wayarsa, *11:05PM*.

Ya sauke numfashi. Sai ya danna wani number.

Da aka ɗaga, ya ce cikin murya mai cike da fushi,

“ka tafi ka nemo min Bintu. Yanzu.”

Bari mu leqaa wajen boss kafin a sanqamowa baffa bintuuuu 🌚💃🤌😂

⸻

*ARMAAN*

Kai tsaye Zayd ya tura ƙofar ɗakin Imraan. Bai ko buga ba.

Ƙarar ƙofar ce ta sa Imraan ɗago kai a hankali.

Kwance yake rigingine saman faffadan king-size bed ɗinsa. Babu riga a jikinsa.

Dogon black lounge trouser ne kawai a jikinsa, belt ɗin ma a kwance yake.

Ɗakin gaba ɗaya ya cika da ƙamshin turare mai haɗe da ƙamshin giya.

A ƙasa kuwa, empty bottles na Hennessy Paradis, Louis XIII Rémy Martin, da Macallan No. 6 ne a warwatse.

A gefe kuma akwai ice bucket da crystal glasses.

Idanunsa a ɗan lumshe suke. Da farko za ka ɗauka ma bacci yake, amma yana ganin komai.

Da ya ga Zayd, sai ya saki wata shegiyar dariya,

“rascaaal!” ya faɗa yana miƙewa ya zauna, “welcome, dude.”

Zayd ya ƙarasa cikin nutsuwa. Ya zauna kan single sofa da ke gefen gadon.

Sai idanunsa suka bi kwalaben giyar da ke warwatse a ƙasa. Ya girgiza kai,

“yau ma ka gama shaye-shayenka kenan?”

Imraan ya ɗaga kwalbar da ke hannunsa, ya kalleta.

Sai ya sake kallon Zayd, “wannan kenan matsalar masu tsoron rayuwa.”

Ya yi dariya, “kullum sai preaching. Kamar kaima idan duniya ta haɗa maka naka zafi baka dan korawa.”

Zayd ya ɗan murmusa, “baka ji abin da ka ce ba?”

Imraan ya miƙe. Bai ce masa komai ba.

Ya taka zuwa gaban refrigerator ɗinsa, ya buɗe.

Ya zaro wata doguwar kwalba mai launin gold. *Dalmore 45 Years Single Malt Whisky.*

Sunan dake jikinta kenan.

Ya dawo gaban Zayd, ya ɗora kwalbar a kan cinyarsa,

“bro, ka gwada wannan. Wallahi idan ka sha, za ka ji kamar yau aka haife ka.”

Ya kashe masa ido, “zata ɗauke ka zuwa duniyar da ba ka taɓa zuwa ba.”

Ya ƙarasa yana dariya.

Zayd ya sauke idanunsa kan kwalbar. Ya ɗauke ta, ya duba label ɗin.

Sai ya ɗaga kai, “baka ji abin da ka faɗa ba kenan?”

Imraan ya ɗaga gira, “wanne?”

Sai zayd ya dan kalleshi , kafin ya maimaita abinda İmraan yace dazu.

“Kamar kaima idan duniya ta haɗa maka naka zafin baka dan korawa.”

Ya ɗora kwalbar kan table, “which means, not that much.”

Imraan ya fashe da wata ƙaramar dariya, “hmmm, so mr. perfect actually drinks?”

Zayd ya jingina bayansa da kujera, “in very rare situations.”

Imraan ya yi wata irin dariya, “to ai hakan nake nufi. Mutane suna kallonka kamar wani waliyyi, alhali kana da ɗan naka sheɗancin da ka ɓoye.”

Zayd bai amsa ba. Sai ya zaro wayarsa, ya danna wani number.

Imraan ya ɗan haɗe gira, “har a cikin dare ba ka hutawa da aiki?”

Ba tare da ya ɗaga kai ba, Zayd ya ce, “always.”

Wayar ta shiga ringing. Bayan daƙiƙu kaɗan, a ka ɗaga,

“Yes, boss.”

Zayd ya ce cikin nutsuwa, “done?”

Da ga can muryar tace, “everything went smoothly, sir?”

Sai ya ɗan sauke ajiyar zuciya kafin ya ce,

“then leave. Understood?”

“Yes, boss.”

Call ɗin ya katse.

Imraan ya zuba masa ido, sai ya yi murmushi, “waye kuma wannan?”

Zayd ya ɗauki glass ɗin ruwa ya sha kaɗan, “security matter.”

Imraan ya ɗan karkatar da kai, “security...”

Ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya yi murmushi,

“ko dai... yarinyar nan ce?”

Zayd ya ɗaga ido ya kalle shi, fuskarsa babu wata alama,

“wacce yarinya?”

Imraan ya yi dariya,

“ka daina pretending, na san ka. Da zarar ka fara cewa ‘wacce yarinya’, to akwai yarinya.”

Zayd ya ɗauki remote ya kunna TV, “you’re overthinking.”

Imraan ya jingina da headboard,

“maybe... or maybe... i know you too well.”

Sai ya ɗauki kwalbar Dalmore ya sake zuba wa kansa,

“cheers to whatever game you’re playing, rascal!”

Zayd bai ce komai ba, ya mayar da hankalinsa kan TV.

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