THE CALL FROM NEWYORK
*ZAYD ARMAAN*
*CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN:37*
*THE CALL FROM NEW YORK*
*JIDDAAH BARKUM*
⸻
*NEW YORK — TRIBECA*
Bayan kusan mintuna talatin da suka bar filin jirgin sama, motar da ta dauko Zayd da Felicia ta fara shiga wata unguwa mai nutsuwa a cikin New York.
Tribeca.
Daya daga cikin unguwannin New York da ake ganin kuɗi da class a kowane lungu.
Manyan old brick buildings ne suke jere a gefen titi, wasu windows ɗinsu manya ne masu kyau, street ɗin kuwa yana da tsabta kuma cike yake da wasu ƴan ƙananan cafés da boutiques masu tsada.
Motar ta ci gaba da tafiya a hankali har suka shiga wani ɗan street mai natsuwa.
Daga ƙarshe ta tsaya a gaban wani gida.
Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga idanunsa daga wayarsa,
“Here?”
Driver ya gyada kai,
“Yes, sir.”
Zayd bai sake cewa komai ba, ya buɗe ƙofar motar ya fito.
Felicia ma ta fito daga ɗayan gefen, ta gyara handbag ɗinta a kafadarta sannan ta kalli gidan, ta ɗan ɗaga gira,
“Finally yau na dawo gidan nan bayan dogon lokaci.”
Zayd bai amsa ba.
Ya ɗauki wayarsa, ya tsaya gefe kaɗan sannan ya kira wani number.
Aka ɗauki wayar kusan nan take,
“Hello, sir.”
Zayd ya kalli ƙofar gidan,
“I’m here.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll be there shortly.”
“Okay.”
Ya katse wayar.
Felicia ta matso kusa da shi,
“Wow.”
Zayd ya kalleta,
“Wow what?”
Ta yi murmushi,
“Kawai ina tuna da kace da zaka zauna kai kadai a nan ne.”
Zayd ya maida idanunsa kan wayarsa,
“Hmm.”
Felicia ta yi dariya,
“Of course dama na san abinda zakace kenan.”
Bata gama maganar ba sai wani mutum ya bayyana daga ƙarshen street ɗin.
Mutumin yana sanye da simple dark trousers da shirt, cikin nutsuwa yake tafiya zuwa gare su.
Da ya ƙaraso, sai ya tsaya gab da Zayd, ya ɗan risina kansa cikin girmamawa,
“Welcome back, sir.”
Zayd ya gyada kai,
“Thank you.”
Mutumin ya ɗan kalli Felicia, sannan ya dawo da idanunsa kan Zayd,
“Everything is ready, sir, na tabbatar an shirya gidan kamar yadda kuka umarta.”
“Good.”
Ya juya zuwa ƙofar gidan,
“Please.”
Mutumin ya ɗauki key ɗin ya buɗe gate ɗin.
Zayd ya fara tafiya, Felicia kuwa tana bayansa.
Da suka shiga ciki, mutumin ya sake buɗe babban ƙofar gidan..
Gidan ba wani katon mansion bane, amma ya haɗu sosai.
Modern ne, clean, elegant, kuma komai yana da tsari.
Large windows suka ba gidan haske, kayan furniture ɗin kuwa simple ne amma masu tsada. A tsakiyar living room akwai babban cream sofa, glass centre table da wasu ƙananan decorative pieces.
Babu wani abu da ya yi yawa, amma komai yana ihu da class.
Kitchen ɗin da ke gefe kuwa open-plan ne, sleek cabinets da marble countertop suka ƙara masa kyau.
Felicia ta shiga a hankali tana kallon komai,
“Zayd...”
Zayd ya kalleta,
“Hmm?”
Ta nuna gidan da hannu,
“Komai tsaff kamar dama can da mutane a ciki.”
Zayd ya ɗaga gira, ya cire jacket ɗinsa ya ɗora a kan sofa.
Mutumin da ya buɗe gidan ya tsaya gefe,
“Sir, I had everything cleaned and stocked, groceries are in the kitchen, your bedroom is ready, and I also made sure the guest room is prepared.”
Zayd ya gyada kai,
“Good.”
“Ko akwai wani abu da kuke buqata?”
Zayd ya ɗan yi tunani,
“A’ah zaka iya tafiya.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mutumin ya ɗan risina kansa sannan ya juya.
Felicia kuwa ta riga ta fara zagayawa cikin gidan tana kallon komai, sai ta juya ta kalli Zayd,
“So...”
Zayd ya ɗaga idanunsa.
Ta yi murmushi,
“A Ina zan kwana kar ma ka fara cewa ni kadai zan kwana?”
Zayd ya kalleta na ƴan seconds,
“Guest room.”
Felicia ta buɗe baki,
“Dakin baki?”
“Yes.”
Ta ɗora hannunta a ƙirji,
“After I came all the way from the airport with you?”
Zayd ya ɗaga gira,
“Ai ke ce kika ce zaki zo.”
“Yes.”
“Then guest room.”
Felicia ta yi shiru na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta,
“Fine.”
Ta ɗauki handbag ɗinta,
“But don’t get too comfortable, babe.”
Zayd ya kalleta.
Felicia ta yi murmushi,
“I’m still planning how to make you take me to my graduation in style.”
Zayd ya girgiza kai a hankali,
“Felicia...”
Ta yi dariya,
“What?”
Zayd ya ɗauki suitcase ɗinsa,
“Jeee ki huta.”
Felicia ta bi bayansa tana dariya,
“Yes, boss.”
Kusan mintuna arba’in kenan da suka shigo gidan, gidan ya sake yin shiru.
Zayd ya fito daga bedroom ɗinsa bayan ya ɗan watsa ruwa ya sauya kayan da ya shigo dasu a jikinsa.
A yanzu yana sanye da simple black house T-shirt da loose dark joggers, babu wani abu mai yawa a jikinsa.
Ya fito zuwa living room, ya zauna a kan sofa, sannan ya ɗauki wayarsa.
Ya duba screen ɗin na ƴan seconds.
Ummie.
Ya danna sunanta, amma kafin call ɗin ya gama ringing… sai aka ɗaga,
“Assalamu alaikum, Habibi.”
Muryar Ummie ta fito cikin fara’a.
Zayd ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Wa alaikumussalam, Ummie.”
A wannan lokacin… ƙofar guest room ta buɗe.
Felicia ta fito.
Ta canza kaya, yanzu tana sanye da wani oversized T-shirt na Zayd, ko bra babu a jikinta, tana wani shegen cat walking kamar me shirin seducing dinsa, ta bar gashinta a sauƙaƙe a baya, rigar iya duwawunta ta sauko ta rufe amma caramel cinyoyinta a bude suke, sai sheki fatar ta take.
Da ta ga Zayd a kan sofa yana waya, sai ta yi murmushi.
Ba tare da ta bata lokaci ba, ta ƙarasa wajensa.
Zayd ya ci gaba da magana da Ummie,
“I just got home.”
Felicia ta zauna kusa da shi, sai ta ɗan matsa jikinta kusa da shi, ta jingina kanta a kirjinsa tana wani kankame shi.
Zayd ya dakata na ɗan second, ya ɗan sauke idanunsa zuwa gare ta.
Felicia ta rufe idanunta, tana murmushi a hankali, kamar wacce ta samu inda take son zama.
Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga gira, amma kafin ya ce komai… sai muryar Ummie ta sake fitowa daga wayar,
“Habibi? Kana ji na?”
Zayd ya ɗaga wayar kusa da kunnensa,
“Yes, Ummie, I’m listening.”
“Ka isa lafiya?”
“Alhamdulillah.”
“Toh sannu da tafiya, Allah ya huta gajiya, ka ci abinci kuwa?”
Zayd ya ɗan kalli Felicia wadda har yanzu kanta yake a kirjinsa,
“A’aah banci ba.”
Ummie ta yi ajiyar zuciya,
“Zayd...”
Zayd ya yi ƙaramar dariya,
“Zanci kafin na kwanta Ummie.”
Felicia ta buɗe ido kaɗan tana sauraron maganar.
Ummie ta ci gaba,
“Yaya tafiyar? Ka gaji?”
“Kadan.”
“Ka huta sosai kafin ka fara wani abu.”
“I will.”
Felicia ta ɗan motsa kanta a chest ɗinsa, ta sami comfortable position.
Zayd ya sake kallonta, a wannan karon muryarshi ta danyi sanyi ya yi magana a hankali,
“Ummie...”
“Hm?”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too habibi, gidan duk ba dadi baka nan.”
Zayd ya ɗan yi shiru.
Sai Ummie ta tambaya,
“Kai kadai ne?”
Zayd ya ɗan kalli Felicia.
Felicia kuwa tana kallonsa yanzu, murmushi kaɗan a fuskarta.
Nan take Zayd ya runtse idanunsa, saboda a wannan lokacin… hannun Felicia ya riga ya sauka a kan kirjinsa, cikin wani irin iskanci ta fara shafa gashin kirjinsa tana dan jan kan nononsa cikin wani shegen salon bariki.
Zayd ya sauke wani uban nishi, ya buɗe idanunsa ya kalli Felicia.
Ita kuwa ko gezawa ba ta yi ba, kawai ta ɗan ɗaga kai ta kalle shi, tana kashe masa ido daya sannan ta yi masa ƙaramin murmushi.
Zayd ya sake runtse idanunsa,
“Ummie...”
“Hm?”
“I will call you back.”
Kafin Ummie ta samu damar cewa komai,
Call ended.
Zayd ya sauke wayar a hankali, ya kalli Felicia.
Felicia ta ɗaga gira,
“What?”
Zayd ya kalleta na ƴan seconds,
“Your hand.”
Felicia ta kalli hannunta da yake kan kirjinsa, sai ta yi murmushi,
“Oh...”
Ba ta cire shi ba, sai ta ƙara cewa cikin shagwaɓa,
“I was just getting comfortable, babe.”
Zayd ya ɗan girgiza kai,
“Felicia.”
“Yes, my man?”
Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa,
“Move.”
Felicia ta wani langwabe kai, sai kuma cikin wata muryar shagwaba tace,
“But I miss you babe.”
Zayd ya kalleta na ƴa seconds, sannan ya ɗaga hannunsa a hankali yana ƙoƙarin cire hannun ta daga kirjinsa,
“Give me some space.”
Felicia ta yi ƙaramin murmushi, amma ta cire hannunta.
Sai Zayd ya ce cikin sanyin murya,
“Ki sama min wani abu na ci.”
Felicia ta ɗan ɗaga gira,
“Food?”
Ya gyada kai,
“Nothing heavy, just something light, ko tea is okay.”
Nan take Felicia ta miƙe,
“Right away, babe.”
Ta juya tana murmushi, ta nufi kitchen ɗin da yake a gefe.
Zayd kuwa ya sake maida hankalinsa kan wayarsa, ya juya screen ɗin hannunsa kamar yana neman wani abu.
Sai idonsa ya tsaya.
Sameer.
Message ɗin da ya turo masa,
Boss, this is her number.
Zayd ya ɗan tsaya, idanunsa suka sake komawa kan number ɗin.
Ya buɗe message ɗin,
+234 XXX XXXX
Ya kalli number ɗin na ɗan lokaci, sai maganar Ummie ta dawo masa a hankali,
“Please... do this for me. Tell her you’re leaving. Just one call, Habibi.”
Zayd ya ɗan runtse idanunsa, ya sauke ajiyar zuciya.
Daga ƙarshe sai babban yatsansa ya danna number ɗin.
Call.
Wayar ta fara ringing.
⸻
*MALALI*
Raihana ta fito daga wanka kenan.
Wani irin ciwon mara ne ya turnike ta tun ɗazu.
Duk wanda yake gidan ya san ciwon mararta idan lokacin menstrual ɗinta ya yi.
Ciwon kan zo mata da ƙarfi, har wani lokaci tafiya kaɗai ta kan zama aiki ne a wajenta.
A hankali take taka ƙafarta, ta fito daga ɗakin Umma ta nufi nata ɗakin.
Da ta shiga, ta rufe ƙofar a hankali.
Ta ƙarasa gaban mirror, ta ɗauki pad ɗinta ta gyara kanta, sannan ta koma ta zauna a gefen gadon.
Ta jingina bayanta da headboard, ta rufe idanunta na ɗan lokaci tana maida numfashi,
“Ya Allah...”
Ta faɗa a hankali, ta sake sauke kanta.
Dare ya yi sosai.
Sai… vrrrrr... vrrrrr...
Wayarta da ke gefen pillow ta fara vibrating.
Raihana ta buɗe idanunta, ta kalleta.
Wayar ta sake vibrating.
Ba dadewa da ta gama magana da Haris a waya ɗazu, ba ta yi tsammanin wani zai sake kiranta ba.
Ta miƙa hannu a hankali ta ɗauke ta, da ta kalli screen ɗin… sai ta ɗan daure fuska,
+1 212 XXX XXXX
Idanunta suka buɗe kaɗan,
“US?”
Ta furta a hankali, ta sake kallon number ɗin.
Waye zai kira ta daga United States da wannan lokacin?
Wayar ta kusa tsinkewa.
Raihana ta ɗan yi jinkiri, kamar ba za ta ɗauka ba, sai kuma… ta danna answer, ta kai wayar kunnenta.
Tayi shiru.
Ba ta ce komai ba.
A ɗayan ɓangaren… Zayd yana riƙe da wayar a kunnensa, ya yi shiru.
Raihana ta ƙara haɗiye yawu,
“Hello...?”
Muryarta ta fito a hankali, cike da gajiya.
Zayd ya buɗe idanunsa, sai zuciyarsa ta yi wani irin bugawa da bai shirya ba.
Raihana ta murguda baki, duk da cewa har yanzu ba ta san waye a ɗayan layin ba, amma yadda shiru ya yi yawa, tana iya jin hucin numfashinsa a hankali.
Ta ɗan dafe goshinta, ta yi tsaki,
“Tunda wanda ya kira ba zai yi magana ba...”
Ta ɗan ɗaga wayar daga kunnenta,
“…toh ni ina da abin yi, idan an shirya magana, a sake kira.”
Ta cire wayar daga kunnenta, ta kalli screen ɗin na ƴa seconds, har yanzu yana counting seconds tana shirin kashe wayar.
A ɗayan ɓangaren kuwa, Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, kamar wanda aka tilasta masa yin abin da bai saba yi ba, ya sauke numfashi a hankali.
Sai ya buɗe idanunsa,
“Karki kashe min waya.”
Muryarsa ta fito ƙasa, amma a sarari.
Raihana ta buɗe ido sosai, hannunta ya tsaya cak a kan screen ɗin.
Wannan muryar... rassss ta gane me ita.
Ta sake riƙe wayar da kyau a kunnenta, kafin ta samu damar tunanin komai, muryarsa ta sake fitowa, wannan karon da ɗan yanayin iko a cikinta,
“Me ruwanki da ba a yi magana ba... ko ke ce kika saka min cards?”
Raihana ta yi shiru, ta daure fuska.
Zayd ma bai ƙara magana ba, shiru ya sake mamaye wayar.
Raihana ta sauke idanunta, zuciyarta tana bugawa da sauri fiye da yadda take so ta yarda, sai ta furta a hankali, ta na sake murguda baki,
“Toh ni nasan waye ya kirani?”
Ta ɗan yi kwafaa, sannan ta ci gaba cikin rashin haƙuri,
“Amma a wannan daren za a kama a wani kira mutum to ni na ma sani... ko masu yankan kai ne.”
Zayd ya yi shiru, bai san lokacin da wani ɗan murmushi ya subuce masa ba, sai kuma nan take ya haɗe fuska, kamar bai yi murmushin ba sam.
Raihana ta ci gaba,
“Toh ni gaskiya ban gane waye ba, tunda mutum ba zai bayyana kansa ba...”
Ta ɗan sauke wayar daga kunnenta, tana shirin kashewa,
“…sai anjima.”
Amma kafin ta danna komai— daga can cikin wayar sai wata murya ta fito,
“Babeeeeee! A saka sugar sosai!”
Zayd ya ɗan dago kai, idanunsa suka nufi kitchen ɗin.
Felicia ce tsaye can, tana riƙe da wani abu a hannunta, tana kallonsa da murmushi.
Zayd ya ɗan yi shiru, sai a hankali ya ce,
“No, Zuma kadai it’s okay.”
Felicia ta yi murmushi daga can,
“Yess, babe!”
Raihana kuwa… ta tsaya cak, wayar har yanzu a kunnenta, idanunta suka zaro kaɗan, ta ɗan buɗe baki, amma babu kalma da ta fito.
Zayd ya sake kallon screen ɗin wayar, har yanzu seconds na ta tafiya.
Sai a hankali ya furta, kusan kamar da kansa ma yake magana,
“Idan masu yankan kai ne fa... me za mu yi da naki?”
Ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, murmushi kaɗan ya subuce masa,
“Kan naki mai tauri ne, ba zai ciwu ta daɗi ba.”
A ɗayan ɓangaren, Raihana wadda ta riga ta miƙe ta zauna sosai a gefen gadon, ta ɗan ɗaga gira,
“Wai?”
Ta ɗan gyara zamanta, cike da ƙarfin hali da tsiwa,
“Wallahi kaina ya fi ƙarfi ku, ehee!”
Ta ɗan murguda baki,
“Namana ɗaci gareshi, bari ka ji, ba zai ciwu a wajenku ba.”
Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa, wani murmushi ya sake bayyana a fuskarsa,
“Wannan yarinyar... magana a bakinta kamar goyon kaka.”
Ya girgiza kai a hankali.
Amma kafin ya sake magana— sai ya ji motsin a kusa da shi.
Ya buɗe idanunsa, Felicia ce ta zauna kusa da shi, ta ɗan daga gira, murmushi yana kwance a fuskarta,
“Hmm?”
Zayd ya kalleta.
Felicia ta ɗan matsa kusa, ta nuna wayar da hannunta,
“Me kake wa murmushi haka?”
Ta ɗan karkatar da kanta.
Zayd bai amsa nan take ba, kawai sai ya kalleta.
Felicia ta ƙara murmushi,
“Babe... baka ma kula nazo ba faaaa.”
A ɗayan ɓangaren, Raihana ta yi shiru, ta ji muryar Felicia sosai, sai ta ɗan matse lips ɗinta, tana kallon screen ɗin wayar da ke hannunta.
Zayd kuwa ya kalli Felicia, sannan ya sake kallon wayar,
“Ke ya ma sunanki??...”
Raihana tayi shiru, tana jinjina girman rainin hankalinsa.
Sai muryarta ta dawo, wannan karon a cike da tsiwa,
“Shafa ka jii?”
Ta faɗa cikin jin haushi.
Ya danyi murmushi har hakoransa suna bayyana.
Felicia dai ta zuba masa ido tana kallon ikon God,
“Ki kwanta.”
Raihana ta murguda baki,
“Sai kazo ka kwantar dani ai.”
Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga gira.
Felicia ta kalle shi tana ƙoƙarin karanta expression ɗinsa.
Raihana ta ƙara,
“Good night, Mr. New York.”
Ta kashe wayar.
Zayd ya kalli screen ɗin, sai ya sauke numfashi a hankali.
Felicia ta ɗan matso kusa,
“Wace ceee?”
Zayd ya ɗaga idanunsa zuwa gare ta,
“Wata ce.”
Felicia ta yi murmushi,
“Someone?”
Zayd ya gyada kai,
“Yes.”
Felicia ta ɗan kankance idanunta,
“Hmm... interesting.”
Zayd bai ce komai ba, kawai ya ajiye wayarsa a gefensa.
Amma wannan karon… murmushin da yake ƙoƙarin ɓoyewa ya sake bayyana a fuskarsa Kawai sai ya jingina da sofa ya lumshe idanunsa
Not edited