THE MAN FROM HER PAST

ZAYD ARMAAN

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE: 59

THE MAN FROM HER PAST

JIDDAAH BARKUM 

————

Sakamakon gyaran jikin da aka yi wa Raihana, ta fito fesss sosai, ciki da waje. Duk da cewa ba irin na alfarma ko mai tsadar gaske ba ne, natural organic ingredients kawai aka yi amfani da su, amma saboda daman can fatar jikinta tana da kyau da sulɓi, ko kaɗan aka yi mata wani abu da sunan gyara sai ya zauna ya mata kyauu. Kamar yanzu, fatar jikinta ta zama radiant, tana ɗauke da wani irin natural glow mai kyau da ke ƙara bayyana laushin fatarta.

Wajen ƙarfe ɗaya da rabi na rana (1:30 PM), suka yi sallama da Maman Ihsan. Maman Ihsan ta sake jaddada mata, tana nuna mata muhimmancin maganar da yatsanta ɗaya: “Gobe Laraba ki daure ki zo da wuri, domin tun da ranar Alhamis za a kai amarya, gobe ne kaɗai muke da dama mu ƙarasa sauran gyaran.”

Raihana ta ɗaga mata kai kawai, ba tare da wani dogon bayani ba: “Toh.”

Maman Ihsan ta ɗan kalle ta na ƴan seconds, kamar tana son ta tabbatar ta fahimci abin da ta ce, sannan ta yi murmushi. Daga nan suka fito ita da Maryam.

Tafiya suke a ƙafa, Maryam na gefenta tana ta faman murmushi duk lokacin da ta kalli Raihana. Idanunta na yawo a jikinta lokaci-lokaci, kamar har yanzu tana mamakin irin canjin da gyaran ranar ya yi mata. Raihana kuwa ta gimtse fuska, ta yi mata banza kamar ba ta san tana yi ba.

Maryam ta ƙara kallonta, murmushinta ya ƙara faɗaɗa. Daga ƙarshe dai ta kasa daurewa, ta ɗan matsa kusa da ita, ta kalle ta cike da tsokana: “Ray, wallahi ba ki ga yadda kike kyalli ba!” Ta ɗan riƙe hannunta tana jujjuya ta kaɗan kamar tana son ta sake kallon fuskarta. “Pores ɗinki duk sun buɗe, fatar nan taki ta zama smooth sai glowing kike kamar kwalba!”

Ta fashe da dariya ƙasa-ƙasa. “Wai sunan ma wannan na rana ɗaya kawai aka yi miki har kika fito haka? Wannan ai da a ce na sati biyu aka yi miki, da angon naki ba shi kaɗai ba, har mu ma sai mun saki baki muna kallonki!”

Raihana ta zabga mata wata muguwar harara. Ta yi ƙoƙarin danne murmushin da ke son ɓullowa daga gefen leɓenta, amma sai da ta sake dariya.

A haka har suka karyo kwanar hanyar da suka bi dazu. A wannan lokacin, babu wanda ya lura da mutumin da ke can gaba—saurayin Bintu ne. Yana zaune a saman bonnet ɗin motarsa, hannayensa a haɗe a ƙirjinsa, idanunsa suna ta bincika hanyar kafin daga ƙarshe ganinsa ya sauka kan su. Nan take fuskarsa ta haskaka da murmushi, ya miƙe da sauri daga kan bonnet ɗin. Kamar wanda ya daɗe yana jiran wannan lokacin, ya nufi wajensu da sauri.

Amma kafin ya ƙaraso, wayar Raihana ta fara ringing. Sautin wayar ya sa ta tsaya cak. Ta ɗan yi jim, sannan ta ciro wayar daga jakanta. Unknown number ce ke kiranta. Ta kalli screen ɗin na ƴan seconds, fuskarta cike da ɗan shakku. “Waye kuma?” ta furta a hankali, daga ƙarshe ta danna receive.

A daidai lokacin da ta ɗaga wayar ta sa a kunne, sai saurayin ya ƙaraso gabansu. Fuskarsa ɗauke da murmushi, amma ya tsaya da ɗan nesa da su cikin girmamawa.

Daga can wayar ta yi shiru, Raihana ma ta yi shiru tana jiran a yi magana. Seconds ɗin kiran na ta tafiya gaba ɗaya, amma babu muryar kowa a ɗayan ɓangaren. Sai a lokaci guda, idanunta suka sauka kan mutumin da ke tsaye gabansu. Ya yi mata murmushi: “Assalamu Alaikum,” ya faɗa.

Raihana ta ɗan zaro idanunta cikin mamaki, ta sauke wayar daga kunnenta kaɗan. Ta kalle shi daga sama har ƙasa, tana ƙoƙarin gane dalilin tsayar da su.

“Tundazu nake nemanku kuka ɓace min.” Ya ɗan yi dariya, ya ɗaga kafaɗarsa. “Shi ne na zauna a nan na ce wallahi sai kun dawo zan tafi.”

Maryam ta kalle shi daga gefe, gira ɗaya a ɗage: “Lafiya dai ko?”

Ya juyo daga kallon Raihana ya kalli Maryam, murmushin fuskarsa ya ɗan lafa: “Ehh, lafiya lau… Amma magana nake so na yi da ƴar uwarki.”

Raihana ta sake kallon screen ɗin wayar da ke hannunta. Kiran har yanzu yana nan, babu muryar kowa. Ta ɗan daure fuska, sai ta kashe wayar gaba ɗaya. Daga nan ta ɗago kai ta kalli mutumin a tsanake: “Lafiya dai, malam?”

Maryam ta yi saurin juyowa gare ta, idanunta suka buɗe kaɗan: “Au, kulashi za ki yi?” Ta ɗan matso kusa da Raihana. “Ko kin manta ke matar aure ce yanzu? You are someone’s wife already!” Ta kama hannun Raihana tamau, kamar tana son ta ja ta daga wajen. Sannan ta kalli saurayin cikin gargaɗi: “Bawan Allah, matar aure ce. So please, ka yi haƙuri da duk abin da za ka faɗa mata.”

Mutumin ya yi shiru, murmushin da ke fuskarsa ya gushe gaba ɗaya. Fuskarsa ta sauya zuwa yanayi na gaskiya da muhimmanci. Ya ɗan sunkuyar da kansa, kamar yana neman kalmomin da suka dace. “Yi haƙuri, ƴar uwa.” Ya ɗaga hannunsa kaɗan cikin kwantar da hankali. “Ni ba wata magana ta rashin da’a ko nema zan faɗa mata ba.” Ya kalli Raihana. “Kawai ni abokin Haris ne, kuma na san ta ne a wajensa.”

A take, Raihana ta daskare. Sunan Haris ya sauka a kunnenta tamkar wani abu da ya taso daga wani wuri da ta yi ƙoƙarin binne shi. Idanunta suka sauka kan mutumin sosai. “Haris…?” ta furta cikin raɗa-raɗa.

Maryam ma ta kalle ta, fuskarta ta sauya.

Mutumin ya ɗan sauke ajiyar zuciya kafin ya ci gaba: “Haris yana can kusan sati uku a kwance ba lafiya. Ya kasa kiranta ko nemanta saboda bai san da wane ido zai kalle ta ba bayan duk abin da ya faru.”

Raihana ta ɗan ja baya, hannunta da ke riƙe da jakarta ya matse ta sosai. “Me ya faru da shi?” ta tambaya cikin sauri, muryarta ta fara rawa.

Maryam ta kalle ta da wani irin mamaki. Kafin Raihana ta ƙara tambaya, Maryam ta finciko hannunta: “Toh, Allah ya ba shi lafiya!” Muryarta ta fito da kaushi. “Amma Ray ta riga ta yi aure, she has no business with him anymore!” Ta fara jan Raihana za su wuce.

Amma a take Raihana ta tsaya, ta fizge hannunta daga na Maryam da ƙarfi. Ta dawo gaban mutumin da sauri, fuskarta yanzu ta cika da ruɗani, tsoro, da wani irin rashin fahimta. “Ɗan Allah…” Ta haɗiye yawu. “Ka san abin da ya raba mu? Ya faɗa maka wani abu ne?”

Mutumin ya tsaya cak. Idanunsa suka sauka a kan Raihana cikin mamaki. A fili ya nuna cewa bai yi tsammanin tambayar ba, don shi a zatonsa tuni ta san gaskiyar al’amari a gidansu. Ya ɗan buɗe baki, ya sake rufe shi, sai ya sauke numfashi a hankali: “Ba ki sani ba kenan?”

Raihana ta girgiza kai a hankali: “Ban sani ba… Me ya faru?”

Mutumin ya ɗan kalli Maryam, sannan ya dawo da idanunsa kan Raihana: “Ki yi haƙuri da abin da zan ce… Wani ne ya ba shi aikin bibiyarki har ta kai ya furta miki yana sonki.”

Raihana ta yi shiru, idanunta suka buɗe.

“Tabbas a farko, he was just playing games with you, gudanar da aikin aka saka shi kawai yake yi.” Ya ɗan sauke kansa. “Amma magana ta gaskiya…” Ya ɗaga idanunsa ya kalle ta. “…daga baya ya faɗa cikin soyayyar ki mai girma…”

Raihana ta riƙe numfashinta.

“…wadda ina mai tabbatar miki yanzu haka ita ce ta kwantar da shi a asibiti.”

Fuskarta ta sauya gaba ɗaya. Ta yi shiru, kawai idanunta ne suka ci gaba da kallonsa, kamar tana ƙoƙarin tabbatar wa kanta cewa lallai abin da kunnenta ya ji shi ne gaskiya.

Ya ɗan girgiza kansa cike da tausayawa: “Ya sanar da mahaifinki dukkan gaskiyar abin da ya faru sanda ya je neman afuwa… Amma mahaifinki ya ce ba zai amince masa a karo na biyu ba, sai dai kawai ya yi haƙuri.”

Raihana ta ɗauke numfashinta da ƙyar, bakinta ya buɗe kaɗan, idanunta suka cika da wani irin firgici kamar kanta ya fara juyawa. “Shi… shi ya je wajen Baffa?” ta tambaya cikin rawar murya.

Mutumin ya gyada kai: “Ehh.”

Raihana ta sauke idanunta ƙasa. A hankali ta fara girgiza kanta, kamar tana ƙoƙarin haɗa abubuwan da suka faru a baya da wannan sabuwar gaskiyar. Kalaman mutumin suka ci gaba da maimaituwa a cikin kanta: “Daga baya ya faɗa cikin soyayyar ki mai girma…” Ta runtse idanunta na ƴan seconds, wani irin nauyi ya sauka a ƙirjinta.

Ganin yadda ta shiga ruɗani, saurayin ya sake cewa: “Amma tunda kin yi aure, zan koma na sanar masa gaskiyar da ke akwai.” Ya ɗan kalli Maryam, sannan ya dawo kan Raihana. “Allah ya ba ki zaman lafiya a gidanki.”

Daga nan ya juya. Raihana ta ɗago kanta da sauri, kamar tana son ta ƙara tambayarsa wani abu: “Amma…” Kalmar ta tsaya a bakinta, mutumin ya riga ya juya ya nufi motarsa.

Maryam ta tsaya kusa da Raihana, ita ma ta kasa magana. Su biyun suka bi shi da kallo; Raihana bakinta a buɗe, idanunta cike da tsantsar shock, Maryam kuwa ta ɗan haɗe gira, tana kallon mutumin da ya ƙara nisa, sannan ta dawo da kallonta kan Raihana. Babu ɗayarsu da ta ce komai, kawai suka tsaya a wurin cikin wani irin shiru mai nauyi, a daidai lokacin da Raihana ta ɗaga hannunta zuwa ƙirjinta, kamar tana ƙoƙarin daidaita bugun zuciyarta. Sabuwar gaskiyar da ta fito fili a lokacin da ba ta shirya karɓarta ba, ta girgiza duk abin da ta yi imani da shi game da Haris.

Maryam ta kalle ta na ƴan seconds, har yanzu shock ɗin maganar da suka ji bai gama sauka mata ba. Sai ta sauke numfashi a hankali, ta matso kusa da Raihana, ta kama hannunta sosai: “Ki zo mu tafi,” ta faɗa cikin ƙaramin murya, tana jan ta.

Raihana kuwa kamar wacce hankalinta ya yi nisa, ta bi ta ba tare da ta ce komai ba.

“Kin tsaya kina tunanin me kuma?” Maryam ta tambaya, tana kallonta da gefen ido. “Ki nga koma uwar me ne shi ya sani, ke dai kin yi aure.”

Raihana ta ɗago idanunta ta kalle ta, bakinta ya motsa kamar za ta yi magana, amma babu kalma da ta fito.

Maryam ta ɗan matse hannunta, tana ƙoƙarin dawo da hankalinta: “Ray, please. Kar ki sake shiga wannan tunanin. Komai ya faru tsakaninki da Haris ya wuce. Yanzu ke matar aure ce, kuma rayuwarki ta canza.”

Raihana ta sunkuyar da kanta. Maganar Maryam ta shiga kunnenta, amma zuciyarta kuwa ta ƙi karɓa gaba ɗaya. Maryam ba ta sake ba ta damar tsayawa ba, ta ci gaba da jan ta a hankali har suka fara komawa kan layinsu.

Sun yi tafiya cikin shiru na ƴan mintuna. Raihana kuwa tana tafiya ne kawai, amma tunaninta yana can—ga maganar mutumin nan, ga sunan Haris, ga abin da ya faɗa game da rashin lafiyarsa, sannan ga gaskiyar da ta ji a yau.

Maryam ta lura da yadda Raihana ta yi shiru, sai ta ƙara matsawa kusa da ita: “Mu ƙarasa gida,” ta faɗa softly. “Kar ki tsaya kina ɗaukar abin nan a ranki.”

Raihana ta yi mata ƙaramar nod, amma fuskarta har yanzu cike take da ruɗani har suka iso kan layinsu. Maryam ta ci gaba da jan Raihana har suka kusanci gate ɗin, kafin su shige gida tare.

Zayd ya sauke wayar daga kunnensa a hankali. Ya ɗan yi shiru na seconds biyu, kamar ruwa ya cinye shi, his jaw clenched tighter than usual. Fuskarsa ta yi tsit, amma idanunsa sun sauya wani irin sanyi da ba a iya karanta abin da ke bayan sa. Ya ja numfashin a hankali ta hancinsa. Daga ƙarshe, kawai ya miƙe tsaye. Ya ɗauki wayarsa da mukullin motarsa a hannu, ya sake ɗan tsayawa na seconds kaɗan kamar yana ƙoƙarin daidaita tunaninsa, sannan ya fito.

Lokacin da ya sauko downstairs, Ummie tana zaune a parlour tare da Inno, sai Suhaila dake ta faman lissafi da calculations ɗin kayayyakin da za a siya. Ummie ta ɗaga kai ta kalle shi cike da mamaki, idanunta suka bi shi daga sama har ƙasa: “Ina zuwa kuma? Kai da ka ce ba za ka fita ba yau?”

Zayd ya ɗan kalle ta, fuskarsa babu wani expression mai yawa, sai dai yanayin mutumin da tuni ya yanke shawarar abin da zai yi. A hankali cikin sanyin muryarsa ya ce: “Zan ɗan fita ne, Ummie. But I won’t stay long.”

Inno ta kalli Ummie tana girgiza kai, sannan ta ɗan yi dariya: “Kema Hajja Fati, wannan sangamemen ƙaton ɗan naki dan zai fita za ki ɗinga wani damuwa da inda zai je kamar wani yaron goye mai shan nono?”

Zayd ko inda Inno take bai kalla ba. With an unreadable emotion on his face, ya nufi ƙofa. Takunsa steady ne, babu sauri, babu hesitation, kafin ya buɗe ƙofar ya fice. Ummie kawai ta yi murmushi, ta maida hankalinta kan abin da take yi kamar ta san halin ɗanta sarai.

Ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba, ya shiga mota ya kunna engine. Dama guards ɗinsa suna ganin ya shiga mota shi kaɗai suka fahimci he needed his privacy and didn’t want any convoy, suka ja baya cike da girmamawa ba tare da sun tambaye shi komai ba. Gateman ya buɗe masa gate, motar ta fice daga gidan da sauri.

A few minutes later, ya ƙaraso unguwar Malali. Ya yi parking a ƙofar gidan Baffa. A lokacin wajen ƙarfe biyu na rana da ƴan mintuna (2:00 PM), babu kowa akan layin. The whole street was quiet and peaceful. Iskar rana tana kaɗawa a hankali, komai ya yi tsit kamar unguwar gaba ɗaya tana cikin hutun rana.

Zayd ya kashe engine. Ya ɗan yi jim a cikin motar, hannunsa har yanzu akan steering, idanunsa suna kallon gidan Baffa kai tsaye. Sai ya ɗan sauke numfashi, sannan ya buɗe ƙofar motar ya fito. Ya tsaya kusa da motar yana ɗan kallon layin kamar mai nazarin unguwa.

Ba a jima ba, sai ga Yusuf ya fito daga gidan sanye da uniform ɗinsa, zai tafi Islamiyya. Zayd ya ɗan yafito shi da hannu. Yusuf ya tsaya da sauri da ya gane shi, sannan ya ƙaraso cikin sauri ya gaishe shi cike da ladabi: “Assalamu Alaikum.”

“Wa Alaikumus Salam.” Zayd ya shafa kansa tare da sakin sanyayyen murmushi. Wani irin murmushi ne da ya fi zama a idanuwansa fiye da bakinsa. Ba sai an faɗa ba—at a single glance, kowa ya san ƙanin Raihana ne saboda tsantsar kamanninsu; ido, shape ɗin fuska, har ma da yadda yake kallon mutum.

“Makaranta za ka tafi?”

Yusuf ya gyara hular uniform ɗinsa kaɗan: “Ehh, Islamiyya.”

Zayd ya ɗan jinjina kai: “Toh je ka, ka ce wa Antynka ina kiranta a waje, ka ji?”

Yusuf ya kalle shi da sauri, kamar bai tabbatar da abin da kunnensa ya ji ba: “Anty Rayy??”

Zayd ya sake murmushi, wannan karon kaɗan ne: “Ehh, ita.”

“Toh,” Yusuf ya amsa, yana komawa cikin gidan da sauri.

A lokacin, Umma tana zaune tare da Raihana a ɗakinta. Umma tana gyara da ninke kayansu Aminu da Yusuf, ita kuma Raihana tana kwance rub da ciki a kan gadon Umma, idanunta a lumshe. But her mind was in total chaos. Babu abin da ke yawo a ranta sai maganganun da abokin Haris ya faɗa mata.

Haris ya yi mata ƙarya ne da farko… an biya shi ne ya bibiye ta… amma daga baya ya kamu da son ta da gaske… Ta haɗiye yawu, fuskarta ta ɗan nuna nauyin tunanin da zuciyarta ke ciki. Me na yi wa wani da har za a biya aikin bibiyata irin haka? Who could be behind all this? Tunanin ya ƙara rikita ta.

Sai suka ji sallamar Yusuf: “Anty Rayy, kin yi baƙo yana waje, ya ce ki zo.”

Raihana ba ta motsa ba. Umma ta ɗaga kai ta kalle shi: “Waye? Ka san shi?”

“Ehh Umma, shi ne wanda suke zuwa a motar nan har suke shigowa falon Baffa.”

Umma ta ɗan kalli Raihana. Ta lura da yadda take kwance kamar mai barci, amma daga yadda ƙafarta ta ɗan motsa, ta san komai da ake faɗa yana shiga kunnenta. Umma ta maida dubanta kan Yusuf: “Je ka shigo da shi falon Baffanku, ka ce gata nan zuwa.”

“Toh,” ya amsa sannan ya fita.

Da ƙofar ta rufe, Umma ta kalli Raihana kai tsaye: “I know you are wide awake. Tashi ki ɗan kintsa ki je yana jiranki.”

Raihana ta ɗan buɗe ido a hankali, ta kalli Umma. A cikin kallon nata akwai wani irin please, not again expression. Amma ta san idan Umma ta yi magana ba ta ja. Ta sauke numfashi a hankali, ta miƙe daga kan gadon sannan ta shiga ɗakinta. A ranta ta fara gunguni da mita: “Wallahi ba wani shiryawa da zan yi, a haka zan je!”

Ta ɗan yi jim a ɗakin domin Umma ta ɗauka ko tana shiryawa ne. After about five minutes, ta fito tana ɗan sanda, ta fice daga ɗakin sanye da kayan da ta dawo da su daga gidan Maman Ihsan—strictly plain and unprepared. Fuskarta nan a haɗe tana tafiya kamar wacce aka tilasta mata fita.

Ta isa ƙofar falon Baffa. Dama ko sallama sama-sama ta yi masa, ta samu gefe ɗaya ta tsaya, ta haɗe hannayenta a ƙirji tare da ɗauke kanta gefe.

Zayd ya ɗago ya kalle ta a hankali, tun daga ƙasa har sama. Idanunsa suka tsaya a kanta na ƴan seconds. She was wearing a simple black abaya and a normal everyday hijab wanda bai kai ko gwiwarta ba. Amma duk da simplicity ɗin kayan, akwai wani abu daban a appearance ɗinta. Fatar fuskarta ta yi wani irin haske na natural glow daga grooming ɗin da aka yi mata, sai dai expression ɗin da ke fuskarta ya kashe duk wani soft beauty da ke tattare da ita—fuskarta a haɗe tightly, as if she received tragic news.

Zayd ya tsaya yana kallonta na ɗan lokaci, ba tare da ya ce komai ba. Sai slowly ya miƙe tsaye. Ya maida wayarsa cikin aljihu, sannan ya fara takowa zuwa wajenta with a slow, commanding stance. Takunsa ba da sauri yake ba, amma kowanne step ɗinsa yana ƙara rage distance ɗin da ke tsakaninsu.

Raihana ta kalle shi ta ƙasan ido, a ranta ta fara tunanin ko fita zai yi daga ɗakin. Maybe zai wuce ya bar ni in koma ciki. Amma ga mamakinta, sai ta ga ya rufe ƙofar falon Baffa, ta ji ƙarar lock ɗin, ya cire key ɗin ya saka a aljihun wandonsa.

Raihana ta ɗan zaro ido, bakinta ya buɗe kaɗan saboda shock: “Wai…?” Amma kalmar ta tsaya a bakinta.

Zayd ya juya ya dawo wajenta, ya ƙaraso daf da ita cikin takunsa na ƙasaita, leaving less than a step between them. Raihana ta ɗan ja da baya instinctively, har bayanta ya kusan taɓa bango. Zayd ya ɗan karkatar da kansa yana kallon fuskarta directly kamar zai cinye ta, idanunsa sun yi mata nauyi.

Raihana kuwa zuciyarta ta buga wa da wani mahaukacin ƙarfi kamar za ta fito ta bakinta, amma ta dake. Ta kama gefen hijabinta da yatsunta, ta ɗago kai, ta zabga masa wata uwar harara tana ƙoƙarin ɓoye tashin hankalin da ya riga ya mamaye ta: “Malam meye haka? Why would you lock the door? Salon a zaci wani iskancin muke yi a nan?!”

Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa kaɗan, amma akwai wani irin controlled intensity a fuskarsa, idanunsa na nan a kanta. Raihana ta ji kamar ya kamata ta matsa ta wuce shi saboda haka ta bi ta gefensa da sauri za ta buɗe ƙofar, amma kafin ta ƙarasa, Zayd ya miƙa hannunsa guda ɗaya ya janyo ta cikin sauri.

“Ah—!” Ta kasa kammala maganar, ya matse ta a bango!

Raihana ta zaro idanu waje cikin tsantsar mamaki, jikinta ya yi freeze na ƴan seconds. Ta yi ƙoƙarin ture shi da ƙarfinta, hannayenta suka matsa a ƙirjinsa tana neman space, amma ta kasa. Gaba ɗaya ƙwarjininsa ya gama murƙushe ta, numfashinta ya rikice. Ta buɗe baki za ta yi magana, amma babu kalma da ta fito, bakinta ya zama kamar an sa glue.

Zayd ya ɗan sunkuyo da kansa daf da fuskarta, still yana mata wannan kallon da take ji kamar fitsari ya fara zubo mata. Raihana ta ji numfashinta ya tsaya na ɗan lokaci. Sai muryarsa ta fito cikin sanyinsa na yau da kullum, amma wannan karon akwai wani irin ƙarsashi a cikinta:

“Ina ki ka je ba tare da izini na ba?”

Raihana ta yi shiru, idanunta suka ƙara buɗewa tana kallonsa direct a cikin idanunsa.

Zayd bai cire idanunsa daga nata ba: “Kuma wane ne wannan mutumin da ya tare ki a hanya, wanda ki ka tsaya kuna magana har ki ka kashe min waya saboda shi?”

Not edited