BEFORE THE DISTANCE
*ZAYD ARMAAN*
*CHAPTER-THIRTY FIVE:35*
*BEFORE THE DISTANCE*
*JIDDAAH BARKUM*
————-
Zayd ya fito daga falon Baffa cikin nutsuwa.
Babu gaggawa a tafiyarsa.
Ya bi hanya, har ya ƙarasa wajen motar.
Sameer, wanda yake zaune a kujerar gaba, ya gan shi yana tahowa sai ya fito ya buɗe masa ƙofar baya.
Zayd ya shiga, ya zauna a hankali, sannan ya jingina bayansa da kujerar.
Driver ya kunna engine.
Amma kafin motar ta motsa, Sameer ya ɗan waiga zuwa bayansa, idanunsa suka sauka kan wasu shopping bags da suke a gefen Zayd.
Ya yi ɗan shiru, sai ya tambaya cikin ladabi,
“Boss...”
Zayd ya ɗan buɗe idanunsa,
“Hmm?”
Sameer ya kalli bags ɗin,
“The things... should I take them inside?”
Zayd ya ɗan kalli bags ɗin na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ya ɗaga idanunsa zuwa Sameer,
“Yes.”
Kawai.
Babu wani ƙarin bayani.
Sameer ya jinjina kai,
“Yes, Boss.”
Zayd ya maida kansa kan kujerar, ya lumshe idanunsa.
Sameer ya zaga ya ɗauki kayan ya shiga, da Maryam yayi karo ya miƙa mata sannan ya koma.
Driver ya fara reverse a hankali, motar ta fara barin layin.
———-
Raihana ta saki baki tana kallon ƙofar da Zayd ya bi.
Har ya ɓace daga ganinta… sai ta ɗan juya ido, sannan ta sauke numfashi a hankali.
A hankali ta fara taka ƙafarta zuwa wajen falon, sai ta yi wata ƙaramar kwafa,
“Lalle ma...”
Ta ɗan girgiza kai,
“Wai na gama bazawa a duniya?”
Ta maimaita kalaman Zayd cikin jin haushi,
“Ni wa na faɗa wa ne da yake cewa na baza a duniya?”
Ta ɗan tabe baki,
“Hmmm.”
Ta fara tafiya tana ɗauke kanta gefe, kamar tana ƙoƙarin kawar da maganar daga zuciyarta, amma duk yadda ta so… muryar Zayd ta ci gaba da maimaituwa a cikin kunnenta,
“Kin gama bazawa a duniya cewa ba ki da lafiya?”
Ta sake kwafa,
“Dan rainin hankali kawai.”
Da ta fito daga falon… sai suka yi kacibus da Maryam.
Maryam kuwa tun daga nesa take kallonta da wani irin murmushi a fuskarta.
Da ta iso kusa da ita, sai ta janyo hannun Raihana,
“Ke Rayy...”
Raihana ta kalleta,
“Hmm?”
Maryam ta yi mata wani irin kallon da ya sa Raihana ta fara zargin akwai wani abu,
“Kin ga uban kayan da ya kawo miki?”
Raihana ta ɗan daure fuska,
“Kaya?”
“Eh.”
Maryam ta ɗaga gira,
“Uban kaya kuwa.”
Raihana ta kalleta cikin rashin fahimta,
“Ban gane ba, wa ya kawo?”
Maryam ta kasa riƙe dariyarta, ta yi wata ƙaramar dariya,
“Zayd mana!”
Raihana ta ɗan tsaya,
“Zayd?”
“Eh.”
Maryam ta ƙara matsowa kusa da ita,
“Wancan da suka zo tare da shi ɗin ne ya shigo da kayan.”
Raihana ta ɗan buɗe baki,
“Me?”
Maryam ta girgiza kai tana dariya,
“Na ce kayan da Zayd ya kawo miki.”
Raihana ta kalli Maryam da wani irin mamaki.
Maryam ta ɗaga kafaɗa, sai ta ɗan yi murmushi,
“Umma ma ta sikani naje na mayar, nace musu ai Baffa zai yi faɗa, amma har sun tafi.”
Raihana ta ƙara yin shiru.
Zayd ya kawo mata kaya? Me ya sa?
Bayan ya gama yi mata baƙar magana yanzu kuma ya aiko mata da kaya?
Maryam ba ta ba ta damar zurfafa tunani ba, ta sake finciko hannunta,
“Zo muje.”
Raihana ta bi ta a hankali, amma zuciyarta tuni ta fara bugawa da bala’in karfi.
A kan veranda… wasu shopping bags ne da aka ajiye a gefe.
Mama Sabuwa kuwa tana can gefe.
Tun lokacin da ta ji sallamar Sameer a baya, hankalinta ya kasa zama wuri ɗaya.
Yanzu kuma da ta ga Maryam ta shigo da waɗannan kaya… sai ta samu wani uzuri na musamman na zama a veranda.
Ta zauna, amma idanunta… suna kan bags ɗin, tana leƙo kai lokaci-lokaci.
Ta ɗan tabe baki,
“Me kuma aka kawo? Wa aka kawo wa? Ko dai...?”
Sai Umma ta fito daga ɗakin.
Da ta hango Maryam tana zuwa da Raihana, sai ta kalli bags ɗin.
Maryam kuwa tuni ta nufi wajen, ta durƙusa, ta fara ɗaukar bags ɗin ɗaya bayan ɗaya,
“Wallahi...”
Murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta,
“Yau kam...”
Ta ɗaga ɗaya daga cikin bags,
“Muna cikin alkhairi.”
Raihana kuwa… ta tsaya kawai, ba ta ce komai ba, ba ta zauna ba, kawai idanunta suka sauka kan kayan.
Umma ta kalli Maryam,
“Maryam...”
“Hmm, Umma?”
“Ki kwashe kayan nan ki kai ɗakin Baffanku.”
Ta nuna musu da hannu,
“Ki ajiye su ciki, idan ya dawo, sai ya gani.”
Maryam ta jinjina kai,
“Toh, Umma.”
Sai ta fara buɗe bags ɗin.
Da farko… sai ta fito da wani cream, ta ɗaga shi sama,
“Ahh!”
Ta kalli Umma,
“Wannan ai na hannunta ne.”
Raihana idanunta suka sauka kan cream ɗin, ta yi shiru.
Maryam ta ɗauko wani,
“Skincare...”
Sai wani,
“Wannan fa?”
Ta karanta label ɗin a hankali,
“Body care.”
Ta sake buɗe wani bag, a ciki akwai wasu ƙananan skincare products da aka zaɓa cikin tsari.
Cleanser, moisturizer, body lotion, sai wasu abubuwa na kulawa da fata.
Maryam ta kasa ɓoye murmushinta,
“Wow...”
Sai ta sake ɗaga wani bag, a ciki akwai chocolate iri-iri,
“Chocolate kuma?”
Ta kalli Raihana,
“Rayy...”
Raihana ba ta amsa ba, kawai tana kallon kayan.
Maryam ta ɗauko ɗaya daga cikin chocolates ɗin,
“Wannan kam...”
Ta ɗan yi murmushi,
“Wai kina ganin wannan mutumin ya zo duban hannu ne kawai? Ahhh he’s madly in love with youuuuu.”
Raihana ta ɗan kalleta, amma ba ta ce komai ba, ta sake maida idanunta kan kayan.
Cream ɗin hannunta, skincare, chocolate, kowane abu yana nan cikin tsari.
Ba kayane da aka ɗauko kawai don cika bag ba, a’ah komai in a classy way.
A hankali Raihana ta sauke idanunta, wani abu ya motsa a cikin zuciyarta.
Ba ta san me za ta kira shi ba, ba farin ciki kai tsaye ba ne, ba mamaki kaɗai ba.
Ta ɗan lumshe idanunta, a ranta kawai ta ce—
“Shi ya siya waɗannan?”
Ta sake kallon cream ɗin.
Maganar shi ta faɗo ranta,
“Gobe ma kije, sai a karya dayan hannun.”
Mama Sabuwa ta ɗan matsa gaba a kujerarta, idanunta suka sake bin kayan ɗaya bayan ɗaya.
Ta ɗan tabe baki, sai ta kalli Raihana, ta sake kallon bags ɗin, fuskarta ta nuna wani irin tunani da ba a iya karantawa.
Umma kuwa ta kalli Maryam,
“Ki kwashe su ki kai ciki.”
Maryam ta jinjina kai,
“Okay, Umma.”
Ta fara tattara kayan.
Raihana kuwa har yanzu tana tsaye, kallon kayan kawai take yi.
Sai Maryam ta ɗan kalleta,
“Rayy...”
Raihana ta ɗago kai,
“Hmm?”
Maryam ta yi murmushi,
“Ki taimaka min.”
Raihana ta kalli kayan, sai ta ɗan yi shiru, ta miƙa hannu a hankali… amma kafin taɓa ɗaya daga cikin bags ɗin— sai idanunta suka sake sauka kan cream ɗin hannunta.
Ta yi shiru, kawai sai ta ɗauki leda daga tayi gaba.
⸻
*ARMAAN MANSION*
Motar Zayd ta shigo harabar Armaan Mansion a nutse.
Lokacin magariba ta kusa.
Fitilun harabar gidan sun fara haskawa ɗaya bayan ɗaya, yayin da sararin samaniya yake ɗaukar launin maraice a hankali.
Driver ya yi parking ɗin motar a inda aka saba.
Zayd bai tsaya ba, da ya fito daga motar, ya ɗauki wayarshi dake gefensa sannan ya nufi cikin gidan.
A yau… ya gaji.
Ba irin gajiyar da take sa mutum ya kasa tafiya ba, sai wacce take zaune a jikinka, tana sa duk wani motsi ya zama kamar yana bukatar ƙarin ƙarfi.
Ya shiga lounge ɗin, babu kowa a ciki.
Ya ɗan kalli wajen kamar yana neman wani, babu kowa, sai ya ci gaba.
Kai tsaye ya nufi stairs, ya ɗora ƙafarsa kan matakin farko, sai na biyu, na uku…
Amma kafin ya kai nesa— sai wata murya ta fito daga bayansa,
“Habibii...”
Ya tsaya, a hankali ya juya.
Ummie ce, tana tsaye a corridor ɗin da ke kusa da kitchen, fuskarta ɗauke da murmushi.
Da idanunsu suka haɗu, Zayd ya ɗan sauke numfashi, sai ya fara saukowa daga stairs ɗin.
Amma Ummie ta ɗaga hannunta,
“No, no, stay there.”
Ta tako a hankali har ta ƙarasa inda yake.
Da ta tsaya gabansa, ta ɗan kalleshi na ƴan daƙiƙu, fuskarsa ta riga ta faɗi komai, gajiyawa, da kuma irin wannan shirun nan nasa da ba ya cika bayyana abin da ke cikin zuciyarsa.
Ummie ta ɗaga hannu, a hankali ta shafa gefen fuskarsa,
“You look exhausted, habibi.”
Zayd ya ɗan langwabe kansa,
“Ummie...”
Muryarsa ta fito a hankali amma cikin shagwaba,
“Na gaji.”
Ummie ta yi ɗan murmushi,
“I know.”
Ta ɗan kalleshi,
“Your face said it before you did.”
Zayd ya yi ɗan murmushi kaɗan.
Ummie ta ɗan gyara masa collar ɗin rigarsa kamar yadda uwa take yi wa ɗanta tun yana ƙarami,
“Now go and take a shower.”
Ta ɗan nuna masa stairs,
“Then come downstairs.”
Zayd ya ɗan gyada kai,
“Okay.”
Ummie ta ƙara da murmushi,
“I’ve already prepared something for you to break your fast with.”
Zayd ya ɗan ɗago gira,
“Already?”
“Of course.”
Ta yi masa kallon uwa mai ɗan tsokana,
“Ka san zan bar ka ka dawo ka same ni ban shirya maka komai ba?”
Zayd ya yi ƙaramin murmushi,
“No.”
“Exactly.”
Ta ɗan taɓa hannunsa,
“Go.”
Zayd ya sake gyada kai,
“Okay, Ummie.”
Ya juya, a nutse ya fara hawa stairs ɗin.
Ummie ta tsaya a corridor tana kallonsa, har ya kai sama… sai ta girgiza kai a hankali tana murmushi, sai ta juya ta koma kitchen.
A can sama kuwa… Zayd ya shiga ɗakinsa, ya rufe ƙofar a bayansa, sai ya tsaya na ƴan daƙiƙu.
Shiru.
A ƙarshe… ya sauke ajiyar zuciya mai tsawo, kamar yanzu ne kawai ya samu damar barin duk abin da ya faru tun rana ya dawo masa a zuciya.
Ya cire agogon hannunsa ya ajiye shi a gefe, daga nan ya nufi bathroom.
Bai ɗauki lokaci mai tsawo ba… Zayd ya fito daga bathroom bayan ya yi wanka.
Ruwan da ya rage a gashin kansa ya ɗan sa wasu ƙananan ɗigon ruwa sauka a gefen goshinsa, ya ɗauki towel ya goge kansa a hankali, sannan ya shirya cikin kayan gida masu sauƙi, plain black T-shirt mai sauƙi da dark-grey joggers, tare da soft black house slippers, sai perfume dinshi da ya fesa.
Babu wani irin shiri na musamman, kawai yana son ya samu nutsuwa ne.
Ya ɗauki agogon hannunsa ya saka, sannan ya fita daga ɗakin, ya fara saukowa downstairs.
Da ya isa lounge ɗin… sai ya tarar da Suhaila kwance a kan sofa, wayarta a hannunta.
Ta na magana kamar ba magana ba, dan baa jin komai sai zuba uban murmushi take.
Zayd yana saukowa, ya tsaya na ɗan lokaci yana kallonta, ya girgiza kansa kawai, sai ya wuce.
Kai tsaye ya nufi dining area.
A dai-dai lokacin ne Ummie ta fito daga kitchen.
A hannunta akwai wani ƙaramin flask mai kyau, kamshin kunun gyada ya riga ya fara yawo a wajen.
Ta ɗan yi murmushi da ta gan shi,
“Habibi.”
Zayd ya kalleta,
“Hmm?”
Ummie ta ɗaga flask ɗin,
“Na shirya maka kunun gyada.”
Zayd ya kalli flask ɗin,
“Thank you, Ummie.”
Amma maimakon ya zauna… sai ya nufi plate ɗin dabino da ke kan dining table, ya ɗauki guda ɗaya, ya ci, sai ya sake ɗaukar wani.
Ummie ta kalleshi da ɗan murmushi,
“Habibi...”
Ya ɗan kalleta yana tauna dabinon,
“Hmm?”
“Za ka zauna ka sha ruwan kafin kaje mosque.”
Zayd ya ɗan girgiza kai,
“Bari na fara yin sallah.”
Ummie ta ɗan kalleshi,
“Okay.”
Zayd ya ɗauki wani dabinon,
“Bayan na idar da Maghrib zan dawo.”
Ummie ta gyada kai,
“Toh.”
Zayd ya juya zai tafi, amma kafin ya kai ƙofar… Ummie ta sake kiransa,
“Zayd.”
Ya waigo,
“Hmm?”
Ta ɗan nuna flask ɗin,
“Ka tabbatar ka dawo ka sha, na san kai ne za ka ce ‘bari in zauna’, sai ka zauna har sai a yin Isha.”
Zayd ya yi murmushi kaɗan.
Sai Ummie, tace…
“Remember, the Prophet ﷺ taught us to...”
Sai Zayd yayi saurin ƙarasawa yana murmushi,
“hasten to break the fast, kuma mu jinkirta sahur.”
Ummie ta yi ƙaramin murmushi,
“Exactly.”
Sai ta ɗan ɗaga gira,
“So now go and pray.”
Zayd ya gyada kai,
“Okay, Ummie.”
Ya juya ya nufi hanyar fita.
Ummie ta bishi da kallo tana murmushi.
Suhaila da take zaune a lounge ta ɗan ɗago kai daga wayarta, ta kalli Ummie,
“Ummie, kin ce wani abu?”
Ummie ta kalleta,
“Nothing.”
Ta ɗauki flask ɗin kunun gyadar,
“Just go back to your phone.”
Suhaila ta yi murmushi,
“Okay.”
Ummie ta koma kitchen.
Amma Zayd kuwa… da ya fita daga gidan, fuskarsa ta sake komawa cikin nutsuwarsa.
Ya ɗan kalli sama, magariba ta kusa, sai ya nufi wajen yin masallachi.
Bayan Zayd ya dawo daga sallar Magariba… kai tsaye ya nufi dining area.
Ummie da ta riga ta zauna a gefe ta ɗan gyara flask ɗin kunun gyadar da ta shirya masa tun kafin ya dawo.
Da Zayd ya ƙarasa, ta zuba masa a cup, sai ta kawo masa plate ɗin kosai da aka shirya masa, yana ta kamshi.
Wannan shine abinda yake son buɗa baki da shi duk sanda yayi azumi.
Zayd ya zauna, ya kalli abincin na ɗan lokaci, sai ya ɗauki guda ɗaya daga cikin kosai, ya fara ci a hankali.
Ummie kuwa tana zaune a opposite ɗinsa, idanunta a kansa.
Ba wai tana kallon yadda yake cin abinci kawai ba… a’a, a zuciyarta… addu’a take,
“Ya Allah... Ka nuna min ranar da wannan yaron zai yi aure.”
Ta yi murmushi kaɗan, tunani ya fara kai ta nesa.
Yau da kullum idan ta kalli Zayd… tana ganin ɗanta, amma a yanzu tana son ta ga wani abu daban, miji, namiji da yake da gida nasa, da matar da zai dawo ya same ta, da ƙananan yara suna yawo a falon.
Ta sauke ajiyar zuciya a hankali, sai ta kalli Zayd.
Shi kuwa bai lura da komai ba, ya na cin kosan sa a hankali lokaci lokaci, sai ya ɗan sha kunun gyadar, ya ci gaba har ya kusa ƙarewa.
Bayan ɗan lokaci… sai ya ajiye abin da yake hannunsa.
Bai cinye kosan duka ba, amma kunun… ya shanye shi tas!
Ummie ta kalle shi,
“Na ƙara maka kunun?”
Zayd ya girgiza kai a hankali, ya ɗora hannu kan cikinsa,
“I’m full.”
Ummie ta yi murmushi,
“Toh, Alhamdulillah.”
Sai ta ɗan yi shiru, kamar tana jiran lokacin da ya dace.
Daga nan ta tambaya cikin sauƙi,
“Ya hannun Raihana? Ya warke ko?”
Zayd ya ɗan tsaya, kamar tambayar ta zo masa ba zato,
“Da sauƙi.”
Ummie ta gyada kai,
“Alhamdulillah.”
Zayd bai ce komai ba, amma a cikin idanunsa… wani hoto ya bayyana.
Raihana, tana tsaye a bakin ƙofar gidansu, hannunta a miƙe… tana karɓar ledar da a ke miƙa mata.
Ya lumshe idanunsa na ɗan lokaci, kamar yana son ya kori hoton daga zuciyarsa, sai ya sake buɗe su, idanunsa suka sauka kan fuskar Ummie dake murmushi.
Zayd ya ɗan gyara zamansa, ya ɗauki glass ɗin da ke gabansa, ya ajiye shi a hankali,
“I’ll be leaving for New York tomorrow night.”
Ummie ta zaro ido,
“Gobe?”
“Habibi...”
Ta kalleshi da mamaki,
“Tomorrow?”
Zayd ya gyada kai,
“Yes, Ummie.”
Ummie ta yi shiru na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ta ɗan matsa kusa da dining table,
“Wannan tafiyar dole ce?”
Zayd ya kalleta,
“Yes.”
Ummie ta sauke ajiyar zuciya,
“Zayd...”
Muryarta ta ɗan yi laushi,
“Ina so ka ƙara fahimtar juna da Raihana sosai kafin ka tafi.”
Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa.
Ummie ta ci gaba,
“Kar ka tafi ku yi nisa da juna, wani lokaci distance yana sa abubuwa su canza.”
Zayd bai amsa ba, ya kalli table ɗin gabansa.
A zuciyarsa kuwa…
“Wannan marar kunyar yarinyar...”
Ya ɗan cije gefen leɓensa,
“Bakinta kamar reza.”
Ya tuna yadda ta yi masa magana a falon Baffa,
“Ni ban ce ka zo ba.”
Da yadda ta dube shi da uwar harara.
murmushi ya kusan bayyana a fuskarsa, amma ya ɓoye shi nan take.
A zahiri sai ya ɗago kansa ya kalli Ummie,
“I have to go, Ummie.”
Muryarsa ta kasance cikin nutsuwa,
“Ba zan daɗe a can ba.”
Ummie ta kalleshi na ƴan daƙiƙu,
“Kwana nawa?”
Zayd ya ɗan yi tunani,
“Maybe 1 week.”
“One week?”
“Hmm.”
Ummie ta sauke ajiyar zuciya,
“Allah Ya dawo da kai lafiya.”
“Amin.”
Ta ɗan yi shiru, sai ta sake kallonsa,
“Amma kafin ka tafi...”
Zayd ya ɗaga gira,
“Hmm?”
Ummie ta yi ɗan murmushi,
“Ka daina nuna mata wannan fuskar taka.”
Zayd ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Wace fuska?”
Ummie ta yi dariya,
“Wannan.”
Ta nuna fuskarsa,
“Wadda take sa mutum ya kasa gane ko kana jin daɗinsa ko kana shirin korarsa.”
Zayd ya yi shiru, sai ya ɗan ɗaga cup ɗin kunun da babu komai a ciki,
“I’m not doing anything.”
Ya ƙarasa yana ƙaramar dariya.
Ummie ta girgiza kai tana murmushi.
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