HIS PRESENCE

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER SIXTY NINE:69*

*HIS PRESENCE*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Daga nan Suhaila ta juya ta fice zuwa ƙasa don haɗo mata abincin da za ta ci. A ƙasa kuwa, Suhaila ta sauko da sauri, tana sauke matakan stairs ɗin ɗaya bayan ɗaya, fuskarta har yanzu ɗauke da murmushin farin ciki.

Da ta shiga kitchen, ta tarar da Kubura tana shirya wasu abubuwa. "Anty Kubura!" Kubura ta juyo, "Na'am Anty Suhaila?" "Don Allah ki taimaka min mu haɗa wa Anty Raihana abinci, tana upstairs tana wanka." Kubura ta yi murmushi, "To, me za a haɗa mata?"

Suhaila ta tsaya tana tunani na ƴan seconds, "Something light, she just came kuma ta yi kuka sosai, kada a yi mata heavy food." Kubura ta gyada kai, "To." Suhaila ta ɗan kalli abincin da ke kan counter, sannan ta nuna wani tray, "Ki sa mata rice kaɗan, chicken, fruits, sannan ruwa, kuma ki sa mata juice ma." Kubura ta fara shirya komai cikin tsari.

Suhaila kuwa ta tsaya kusa da ita tana kallon yadda ake haɗa tray ɗin, har ta ga an ƙara masa wasu kayan zaki. "Enough, enough," ta faɗa tana dariya, "Kada ki cika mata komai, she might not even eat." Kubura ta yi dariya, "To shikenan." Suhaila ta ɗauki jug din fresh juice da kanta ta ajiye a tray ɗin, sai Kubura ta zo zata dauka, Suhaila ta dakatar da ita, "Ni zan kai mata." "Madalla," Kubura ta amsa. A hankali Suhaila ta ɗauki tray ɗin da hannuwanta biyu, ta nufi stairs ɗin.

A saman bene kuwa, Raihana ta fito daga bathroom bayan ta gama wanka. Jikinta ya ɗan yi sanyi saboda ruwan, ta ɗauki towel ɗin ta nannade jikinta sosai kafin ta tsaya gaban mirror din toilet din na ɗan lokaci. Fuskarta ta yi sauƙi yanzu, babu hawayen da suka cika idanunta a baya, sai dai akwai alamun gajiya. Idanunta har yanzu sun ɗan yi ja, amma numfashinta ya fara dawowa cikin nutsuwa.

Ta shafa fuskarta a hankali, "Ya Allah..." Ta furta kalmar cikin ƙaramar murya, ba ta san abin da take nema daga addu’ar ba. Perhaps peace, perhaps courage, perhaps kawai ƙarfin da zai taimaka mata ta shiga wannan sabon rayuwar da ba ta san komai game da ita ba. A hankali ta murda handle din kofar, ta fito, ta karaso wajen gadon, ta tsaya tana kallon kayan da Suhaila ta ajiye mata harda turaruka kusan guda biyar, a hankali ta sa hannu.

Ta ɗauki kayan baccin da Suhaila ta ajiye mata, ta saka su a hankali, ta feda turare daya kawai. Kayan sun yi mata, nightwear ɗin ya kasance simple and comfortable, ba tare da wani abu mai yawa ba. Ta naɗe gashinta daya kwanta a bayanta a hankali, sannan ta ɗauki ƙaramin cap ta sa a kanta. Bayan ta gama, sai ta tsaya gefen gadon, tana kallon lafayyar da ta cire tun farko. Ta ɗan riƙe ta a hannunta na ƴan seconds. Wannan lafayyar ce ta rufe fuskarta tun daga gidansu, a cikinta ta yi kuka, a cikinta ta bar gidansu, a cikinta ta zo wannan gidan.

Ta sauke numfashi, sannan ta ajiye lafayyar a gefe. Just like that... ta ji wani sabon shafi na rayuwarta ya fara. Sai kuma ya sake ɗaukar lafayyar, ta fara naɗa ta a hankali a jikinta. A dai-dai lokacin ne ta ji ana ƙwanƙwasa ƙofar.

"Anty Raihana?" Muryar Suhaila ce. Raihana ta ɗago kai, sannan ta nufi ƙofar ta buɗe. Suhaila ta shigo tana ɗauke da tray ɗin abinci a hannunta, amma da idanunta suka sauka kan Raihana, sai ta ɗan tsaya tana kallonta da mamaki.

"Anty Ray..." Ta kalli lafayyar da ke jikin Raihana, sannan ta ɗaga gira, "ya naga kina maida lafayyar? Ko kayan basu yi miki ba?" Ta ɗan matsa kusa da ita, "Bari na ɗauko miki wasu idan basu yi miki ba." Raihana ta ɗan yi murmushi, ta girgiza kai a hankali, "A'a... Sallah zanyi." "Ohhh..." Suhaila ta furta hakan cikin fahimta, sannan murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta, "Okay, I understand."

Ta shiga ciki ta ajiye tray ɗin abincin a kan table, "Bari na baki hijab, zaki fi jin daɗin sallah da shi." Raihana ta ɗan yi murmushi, "To." Suhaila ta juya da sauri zuwa closet ɗinta, ta buɗe shi, ta fara neman hijab ɗin da ya dace da Raihana. Bayan ɗan lokaci, sai ta fito da wani hijab mai kyau da tsabta a hannunta, "Gashi." Ta miƙa mata. Raihana ta karɓa, "Thank you." "Welcome, Anty Rayy in ji anty maryam naga Haka take fada miki," ta fada tana murmushi, itama Raihana murmushin tayi, sannan Suhaila ta ɗauki prayer mat daga cikin drawer ɗinta. Ta shimfiɗa mata shi a wani wuri mai kyau a cikin ɗakin, ta tabbatar da cewa komai ya yi daidai.

Daga nan ta kalli Raihana, "Ki yi sallar ki lafiya, zan zauna nan." Raihana ta ɗan yi murmushi, "Okay." Ta saka hijab ɗin a hankali, ta gyara shi sosai har ya rufe jikin ta yadda ya kamata. Suhaila kuwa ta koma ta zauna a gefen gadon, ta jingina da pillow, idanunta suka koma kan Raihana. A wannan karon ba ta yi mata surutu ba, ta bar ta cikin nutsuwa.

Raihana ta tsaya kan prayer mat ɗin, ta ɗaga hannayenta domin fara sallah. Duk da cewa zuciyarta cike take da abubuwan da ba ta iya fassara su, da ta fara sallar, sai wani irin natsuwa ya fara sauka a kanta. Ta fara cikin nutsuwa. Suhaila kuwa tana zaune shiru tana kallonta, fuskarta ta sauya daga excitement zuwa wani irin calm expression. Ta fahimci akwai wani irin nauyi a zuciyar Raihana, wata rayuwa ce aka cire ta daga cikinta aka shigar da ita cikin wata sabuwar rayuwa.

Suhaila ta sauke numfashi a hankali, ta ci gaba da kallonta har Raihana ta kammala sallarta. Bayan ta yi sallama, Raihana ta zauna a kan prayer mat ɗin na ƴan seconds. Ta ɗaga hannayenta sama, muryarta ba ta fito da ƙarfi ba, amma kalamanta sun kasance cike da tawakkali. Ta yi addu’a na ɗan lokaci, tana roƙon Allah ya sauƙaƙa mata wannan sabon matakin rayuwa, ya ba ta zaman lafiya, ya kare ta daga duk wani abu da ba alkhairi ba, ya kuma sanya albarka a cikin aurenta.

Suhaila ba ta motsa ba, ta bar mata complete privacy. Bayan Raihana ta gama addu’ar, ta sauke hannayenta a hankali, ta ɗan share fuskarta, sannan ta zauna tana sauke numfashi. Suhaila ta yi murmushi, "Allah ya karɓa." Raihana ta kalleta, ta yi ƙaramin murmushi, "Amin." Suhaila ta miƙe, "Okay..." Ta nuna tray ɗin abincin, "Now, finally, you can eat." Raihana ta yi ɗan murmushi.

Suhaila ta ƙarasa kusa da ita, ta kama hannunta a hankali, "Come on, Anty Ray, ki ci wani abu kafin ki sake cewa ba kya jin yunwa." Raihana ta yi wata ƙaramar dariya, Suhaila ma ta yi dariya, "Come." Ta ja ta a hankali zuwa gefen gadon, inda tray ɗin abincin yake. Raihana ta zauna, Suhaila ta zauna kusa da ita, "Na ce musu su yi miki light food saboda kin yi kuka sosai, so please, at least try."

Raihana ta kalli abincin, Suhaila ta jawo tray ɗin kusa da ita. Raihana ta yi wata ƙaramar dariya, karon farko dariyar da ta fito daga zuciyarta tun bayan da ta bar gida. Suhaila ta zaro ido, "Yes! Wannan shine smile ɗin da nake so." Raihana ta sake sunkuyar da kanta. Suhaila ta zauna kusa da ita, "Anty rayyy..." Raihana ta kalleta, "Hmm?"

Suhaila ta yi shiru na ƴan seconds, sai muryarta ta yi sanyi, "Kar ki ji kamar ke ba ki da kowa a nan." Raihana ta tsaya tana kallonta. Suhaila ta ci gaba, "Na san komai sabo ne a gare ki, sabon gida, sabbin mutane, komai, kuma maybe kina jin tsoro." Ta ɗan matse hannunta, "But you have me." Raihana ta lumshe idanunta na ɗan lokaci, wani karamin murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta, "Thank you..." Suhaila ta girgiza kai, "No thank you, ni ce ma ya kamata na ce thank you because finally kin zama matar Akhie." Raihana ta yi murmushi. Suhaila ta ɗauki cokali ta miƙa mata, "Now eat."

Raihana ta karɓa, ta ɗan ɗauki abincin kaɗan ta kai bakinta. Suhaila kuwa ta zauna tana kallonta kamar mai kula da ƙaramin yaro, ta ɗan jingina da pillow, tana kallonta cikin farin ciki. A hankali Raihana ta ci gaba da cin abincin, ba ta iya cin da yawa ba, amma ta yi ƙoƙari. Suhaila ba ta matsa mata ba, ta dai zauna kusa da ita, tana yi mata ƙananan maganganu lokaci-lokaci, har dakin ya fara samun wani irin warmth.

A karo na farko tun bayan da ta bar gidansu... Raihana ba ta ji kamar tana cikin wani wuri da ba ta sani ba, ta fara jin kamar... perhaps, tana da wanda za ta iya jingina da shi a wannan gidan. Bayan ta gama cin abincin, Suhaila ta karɓi tray ɗin, "Kin ƙoshi?" Raihana ta gyada kai, "Ehh." "Okay." Suhaila ta miƙe ta ɗauki tray ɗin, "Ki huta yanzu, idan kina son wani abu, ki kira ni, ko da ruwa ne." Raihana ta kalleta, "Okay." Suhaila ta yi murmushi, ta yi ƴan steps zuwa ƙofar, har ta fita ta rufo kofar.

Bayan Suhaila ta fita daga ɗakin, Raihana ta dan jingina da headboard tana sauke numfashi. Bayan ɗan lokaci, sai ƙofar ɗakin ta sake buɗewa a hankali, Ummie ce ta shigo. Da ta shigo, sai idanunta suka sauka kan Raihana wadda take zaune a kan gadon. Raihana ta ɗan ɗago kanta, amma da ta ga Ummie, sai ta sake sunkuyar da kanta cikin kunya.

Ummie ta yi murmushi, ta ƙaraso kusa da ita, ta zauna a gefen gadon sannan ta ɗan shafa kanta a hankali, "Kin ci?" Raihana ta ɗan kalli tray ɗin da ke gabanta, abincin bata ci da yawa ba ko kaɗan, amma har yanzu hannunta yana wasa da fingers ɗinta cikin kunya, sai ta gyadawa Ummie kai kafin cikin sanyin murya tace, "Ehh, naci."

Ummie ta lura, ta yi murmushi, "Ko wani abu kike so na kawo miki? Ko na aika shi ya siyo miki?" Raihana ta girgiza kai a hankali, "A’a, Ummie... na koshi, naci." Ummie ta yi murmushi mai taushi, "To shikenan." Ta ɗan kalli tray ɗin, sannan ta koma kallon Raihana, "Zaki kwanta a nan ɗin ko na kai ki ɗakinki daban?"

Raihana ta yi ƙaramin murmushi, sannan ta amsa cikin sanyin murya, "Ummie, zan zauna da Suhaila." Ummie ta gyada kai, "To shikenan, is okay." Ta shafa kanta a hankali, "Ki kwanta ki huta, kin gaji sosai." Raihana ta yi nodding. Ummie ta ƙara da murmushi, "And make sure you don’t cry, okay?" Raihana ta ɗan yi murmushi cikin kunya, "Nan ma gidanki ne, karki damu, zan kaiki gidanki da kaina, akwai abin da nake jira kafin hakan, kin ji?"

Raihana ta ɗago idanunta na ɗan lokaci, amma ba ta iya magana ba, sai kawai ta sake sunkuyar da kanta, fingers ɗinta suna ci gaba da wasa a hankali. Ummie ta kalleta na ƴan seconds, sannan ta fahimci cewa kunyar ce kawai ta hana ta magana, ta yi murmushi, "To shikenan." Ta miƙe tsaye, "Ki kwanta, toh." Raihana ta gyada kai, "Tohm, sai da safe." "Ok my dear, good night and sleep tight."

Raihana ta fara gyara kwanciyarta a hankali, ta mike kafafunta tana relaxing a kan gadon sosai. Ummie ta ja duvet ta rufe mata jikinta sosai, ta gyara gefensa kamar uwa mai kula da ɗiyarta. Daga nan ta kashe babban hasken ɗakin, ta bar ƙaramin lamp ɗin kawai yana haskawa a hankali, ta rage mata gudun AC ɗin kaɗan, sannan ta juya. Ta fara tafiya zuwa ƙofar, amma da ta kai bakin ƙofar, sai ta sake juyowa, ta kalli Raihana. Raihana kuwa tuni ta lumshe idanunta. Ummie ta yi ƙaramin murmushi, ta tsaya na ƴan seconds tana kallonta, sannan ta buɗe ƙofar a hankali, ta fita, ƙofar ta rufe.

Ummie ta bar ɗakin Raihana a hankali, ta rufe ƙofar ba tare da ta yi hayaniya ba, amma maimakon ta nufi nata ɗakin... sai ta juya kai tsaye zuwa ɓangaren da ɗakin Zayd yake. Tafiyarta ta kasance cikin nutsuwa, babu gaggawa, amma a fuskarta akwai wata irin magana da ke nuna cewa tana da abin da take son tattaunawa da ɗanta. Da ta isa bakin ƙofar ɗakin Zayd, sai ta ɗaga hannu tayi knocking.

A cikin ɗakin, Zayd wanda yake zaune a gefen sofa yana kallon wasu messages a wayarsa, ya ɗago kai, ya kalli ƙofar. Sai aka sake ƙwanƙwasawa, ya ajiye wayar a gefensa, sannan ya miƙe, ya kalli ƙofar na ɗa seconds, sannan ya nufi ƙofar, ya buɗe, "Ummie?"

Ummie ta kalleshi na ƴan seconds. Zayd yana sanye da black Kelvin trousers da wata simple fitted shirt ta gida, kayan da suka ƙara fito da tsarinsa sosai. Gashin kansa da kasumbarshi duk sun sha gyara, suna da kyau kuma suna ɗan kyalli a ƙarƙashin hasken ɗakin, fuskarsa fresh take, babu wata alamar gajiya sosai a tare da shi.

Ummie ta shiga ciki ba tare da ta ce komai ba, Zayd ya rufe ƙofar, sannan ya bi bayanta da kallo.  Ummie ta tsaya a tsakiyar ɗakin, ta kalli ɗanta na ƴan seconds, Zayd kuwa ya lura da kallon sai ya dan shafa kanshi yana kallonta still.

Ummie ta ƙarasa ta zauna a kan sofa, Zayd ya koma inda yake zaune, wayarsa har yanzu tana hannunsa. Sai bayan Ummie ta zauna sosai, Zayd ya ajiye wayarsa a gefe, ya gyara zaman sa, sannan ya ba ta complete attention. Ummie ta ɗan kalleshi daga sama har ƙasa, "Har yanzu baka kwanta ba?" Zayd ya ɗan girgiza kai, "Not yet." Ummie ta kalleshi, fuskarta a ɗan haɗe, "Kanaji aka kawo ta, amma ka kasa fitowa ka gaishe da mutane?"

Zayd ya ɗan langwabe kai kaɗan, fuskarsa a natse, "Ummie, bacci nayi, ban daɗe da tashi ba." Ummie ta kalleshi kawai, "Uhmm..." Ta yi ɗan shiru, "Toh sai jake ka dubata ai." Ta ɗan matsa bayanta kan sofa, "Ai tunda ta zo gidan yakamata kaje kaji ya take, ko akwai wani abu da take so wanda mu ba zata iya fada mana ba, idan kuma ni zaka bari da aikin kula maka da ita... tunda dama ni ce nake son auren ba kai ba."

Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, ya kalli Ummie na ƴan seconds, ba tare da ya ce komai ba. Ummie fa itama akwai rigima watarana idan tana son yayi abu... ta riga ta san exact words ɗin da take faɗa idan ta riga ta ta kudurin aniyar sa shi abu. Kuma idan ta fara faɗar magana irin haka... babu gardama dole sai yayi abun nan.

Ya ɗan sauke numfashi a hankali. Ummie ta mike tsaye ba tare da ta sake cewa komai ba, ta gyara doguwar rigarta, sannan kamar wadda ta tuna wani abu, ta sake juyowa gare shi, "Kuma kana sane da cewa gobe ne daurin aurenka." Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa zuwa gare ta, "Tun da ta riga ta zo, ai you can go and comfort her daga zuwanta gidan yau, gobe ace an mata kishiya, sai kaje ka dan mata magana mai dadi ta sake samun nutsuwa, ba wai ka zauna ka zuba mata ido ba."

Zayd ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, daga nan cikin sanyin murya ya ce, "Zanje." Ummie ta ɗan tsaya, "Tana ɗakin Suhaila." Zayd ya gyada kai a hankali, "Okay." Ummie ba ta sake cewa komai ba, ta juya ta fice daga ɗakin, ƙofar ta rufe a bayanta.

Zayd ya zauna shiru na ƴan seconds, sai ya ɗan ɗaga hannunshi na dama ya shafa goshinsa a hankali, ya lumshe idanunsa, ya sauke numfashi mai zurfi. Daga nan ya ɗauki wayarsa ya duba time, 8:45 PM. Ya kalli screen ɗin na ɗan lokaci, sannan ya kashe wayar. A hankali ya miƙe tsaye, wayarsa tana hannunsa, ya saka soft home slippers ɗinsa, ya gyara shirt ɗinsa kaɗan, sannan ya fito daga ɗakin. Kowanne step ɗinsa yana da nutsuwa.

A Malali kuwa, tun a cikin mota ake ta jaddada kirkin ahalin Arman. Baffa ya ji wata nutsuwa ta sake shigar shi, hankalinsa ya sake kwanciya da ya ga yadda aka karɓi ɗiyar tasu hannu biyu-biyu har aka shiga gida, aka zube a ɗakin Umma ana ta maimaita zancen yadda aka nuna musu karramawa ta musamman.

Nan Inna ta dubi Umma, wadda ke bin kowa da idanu, kamar har yanzu hankalinta yana can wajen diyarta, "Hajara, ki gode wa Allah! Ɗiyar ki ta samu gidan mutunci, ba ki ga yadda suke nan-nan da ita ba?" Ta ɗan matsa kusa da Umma, muryarta cike da gamsuwa, "Wallahi, ina kallon uwar mijin, hankalinta tass yake a kan Raihana, kuma dai yarinya ta samu gidan arziki!" Ta ɗan yi murmushi, tana gyara zamanta, "Ai yanda na gani, ba Raihana kaɗai ce za ta ci gajiyar gidan nan ba, har mu ma wallahi zamu ɗandalii arzikin, Allah dai ya basu zaman lafiya." Tana gama faɗar haka, ta miƙe ta fice daga ɗakin.

Maman Ihsan ma ta zauna, ta bawa Umma labarin komai tsab, tana ƙara mata bayani ɗaya bayan ɗaya, ta na ta sake kwantar mata da hankali sosai, "Umman Aminu, trust me, Raihana tana a safe place, In Shaa Allah." Umma ta sauke wata nauyayyar ajiyar zuciya, "Ai dama tun a can da gani nasan iyayenshi mutanen kirki ne." Ta yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, idanunta suka sauka ƙasa kafin ta ɗago su a hankali, "Amma dama na faɗa miki, zuwan mahaifiyarshi biyu nan, kawai dai matar da aka nuna min wancan zuwan akace itace mahaifiyar kishiyar Raihana, to jikina ya yi sanyi." Fuskarta ta ɗan sauya, "Kuma kinga ‘yar uwarshi ce zama a gida ɗaya, shine nake ta tunanin yadda zata yi ta zauna da ita, duk da dai gidan kishiyoyi ta taso, amma abun ya kasa barin zuciya ta ta huta sosai." Ta sauke wani numfashi, kamar wannan tunanin ya daɗe yana mata nauyi.

Maman Ihsan ta lallaɓa ta, ta ɗora hannu a kafadarta cike da tausayawa, "Ki kwantar da hankalinki, Umma." Ta ɗan matsa mata, muryarta ta kasance calm and reassuring, "Kowacce mace Allah ya bata nata talent da baiwarta ta musamman wajen kula da miji da zama da mutane." Ta yi ɗan murmushi, "At the end of the day, ba a kishiya ake gane halin mace ba, a hakuri da biyayya ne." Ta ɗan yi pause, tana kallon Umma kai tsaye, "Trust me, zata iya komai kuma zaki sha mamaki." Umma ta kalleta cikin nutsuwa, tana sauraron kowace kalma. Maman Ihsan ta cigaba da bayani cikin sanyin murya, "Kar ki damu saboda kawai kishiyarta tana ‘yar uwarshi ne, ba wai saboda haka ne dole ta kwace mata shi ba, ai ke ma kin san misalin Baffa da Sabuwa." Ta ɗan yi murmushi, "Baffa ba ya fasa komai saboda Sabuwa, kuma Sabuwa ba ta isa komai ba dan tana yar uwarshi ba, gashi auren ya kare a gantale, ba ku da kuke bare kuna nan tare da igiyoyin aurenku a kai, a hankali komai yake zuwa, hakuri, fahimta da yadda mace take mu’amala da mijinta... su ne suke nuna komai." Ta ɗan shafa kafadar Umma, "Don haka kar ki fara tsoratar da kanki da abin da bai faru ba tukuna, let Raihana breathe, let her settle in first."

Umma ta yi shiru, kalamanta sun shiga zuciyarta a hankali, ta sake sauke wani numfashi mai daɗi, sannan ta gyada kai, "Haka ne tabbas..." Ta ɗan yi murmushi, wannan karon akwai ƙaramin sauƙi a fuskarta, "To, Allah ya ƙãde fitina tsakaninsu, ya ba su zaman lafiya mai ɗorewa." "Amin," Maman Ihsan ta amsa tana murmushi.

A hankali Zayd ke tafiya a corridor din sama, hannunshi daya a cikin aljihun wandonshi, dayan hannun kuma rike da wayarshi, har ya kai inda dakin Suhaila yake. Ya ɗan yi pause, kamar zai juya, amma dai sai ya daure. Ya sa hannu zai yi knocking, sai kofar ma ta bude kawai. Idanunshi suka fara yawo a dakin, shi kam ba zai iya tuna when last ya shigo dakin Suhaila ba, kawai dai ya san an dade.

Suhaila da ke zaune a sofa a gefe daya tana kallon wani Korean drama a laptop, ganin Zayd ya shigo sai ta mike da sauri, tana saka hannunta daya ta dan rufe bakinta dan kar dariya ta kwace mata. Zayd ya hade rai, ya wani kalleta, sannan ya dauke kai, as if he was already regretting coming inside.

Ta karaso gefenshi, ta yi kasa da murya tana nuna mishi gadon da Raihana ke kwance, "Akhie, what? Bacci fa take, ta gaji." Zayd ko kallonta bai ba, strictly kawai yace, "Go out." Suhaila ta zaro ido, sai kuma ta turo baki, "Ina zanje toh, bayan dakina ne kuma Ummie de tace ai na zauna da ita kar ta tashi ta ga ba kowa."

Zayd ya juyo ya zuba mata wadancan idanun nashi, that look alone was enough to shut her up, amma bai ce komai ba. Suhaila ta turo baki kawai, ta juya ta fita, ta ja kofar a hankali.

Zayd ya maida kallonshi kan gadon da Raihana ke kai, ta shige cikin bargo, tayi lufff amma banda kanta. Ta dade da fara bacci, although ba wai yayi nisa bane, sai ya fara takawa a hankali yana nufar inda take, footsteps dinsa almost silent a cikin dakin. Har ya karasa, ya tsaya.

Ya watsa mata, idanunshi masu kama da ya fara bacci ne aka taso shi, ya fara kallonta kamar abinda aka aiko shi yi kenan. Duk da dakin babu wadataccen haske, sai iya na bedside lamp, amma hakan bai hanashi ganin yadda fuskarta tayi fiyau ba. Lips dinta sun yi ja sosai, sai saman eye bowl dinta shima ya nuna kumburi, hular dake kanta ta dan zame, gashinta na gaba ya bude sosai—very silky, dark and beautiful.

Zayd ya tsaya yana kallonta for a few seconds, fuskarsa babu expression, amma idanunsa suna following every little detail of her face. Raihana dake bacci, something in her tells her someone is standing in front of her. A hankali ta dan bude idanunta, karaff suka fada a cikin na Zayd, wanda ke tsaye kyam kamar an dasa shi. Ya zuba mata idanu, yana kare mata kallo, silent and unreadable.

Zuciyarta tayi wani mahaukacin tsalle, for a split second, bacci ya kau daga idanunta gaba daya. Da sauri ta rufe idanunta tana hadiye yawu, jikinta ya dan yi spark kamar wutar lantarki ta ratsa shi. Ta kasa motsi, ta kasa bude idanunta kuma, kawai ta kwanta still, tana pretending kamar tana bacci, alhalin zuciyarta tana beating so fast, trying to figure out mafarki take ko a zahiri ne…