AT THE GATE

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX:76*

*AT THE GATES*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Har sai da Zayd ya bace daga ganinsu sannan Inno ta sauke numfashi cike da zafin rai, ta kalli Mommy Hauwa tana ƙankance idanuwanta, “Toh, lafiya a wannan uban dare kika ɗauko ta kuka zo? Akwai wani abu ne?” Sai Mommy Hauwa ta ɗan yi dariyar yaƙe, tana son ta shawo kan lamarin. Ta gyara zamanta, sannan ta ɗan ɗaga hannunta kamar wacce take son ta nuna cewa wani babban abu ya faru.

“Wallahi Seeyama ce tace ba zata iya zama a can ita kaɗai ba, wai tana tsoro. Nayi-nayi ta zauna tace ita wallahi ba za ta zauna ba, saidai tazo nan su zauna duka. Kuma da nayi tunani sai naga da gaskiyarta, kinga ba saba zama tayi ita kaɗai ba, kuma yau kana amarya ace zaka zauna kai kaɗai ba ango ba abokin zama? Shi ya sa da ta dage nace toh bari mu zo mu rakota,” ta ƙare maganar kamar bata yi wani laifi ba. Ta ɗan yi murmushi a ƙarshen maganar, amma murmushin bai kai idonta ba.

Ummie tayi shiru tana kallon Mommy Hauwa, a zuciyarta kuwa, babu abinda take sakawa banda tunanin yadda Zayd zai yi da wannan yarinyar da ko uwarta data haifeta sarai ita da kanta uwar ta sani ta kasa kula da ita ko ta hanata abinda ta ga ba dai dai ba. Amma batace komai ba, ta zuba musu ido tana jiran jin hukuncin da Inno za ta yanke.

Ai kuwa, as she expected, sai Inno ta nuna Mommy Hauwa da yatsa cike da tsananin ɓacin rai, “Ke, Hauwa! Kalle ni nan! Ni ba shashasha ba ce da za ki juyani kamar yadda wannan ta nuna Seeyama take juya ki! Wallahi kinyi kaɗan! Kin sanni ai, bana buƙatar nayi wani dogon bayani. Saboda haka, yanzu-yanzu ki kamata, idan ma da rarrafe zaku fita a gidan nan ku fice, amma Seeyama ba zata kwana a gidan nan ba ko a mafarki!” Muryar Inno ta ƙara ɗaukar zafi a ƙarshen maganar, hannunta har yanzu a ɗage cikin iska, fuskarta ta nuna cewa wannan karon ba ta cikin mood ɗin yin gardama mai tsawo.

Ummie ta ɗan motsa, tana kallon Inno cikin nutsuwa da lallashi, “Dan Allah kiyi haƙuri ta kwana, tunda ta riga tazo kuma kinga dare ya yi. Idan yaso da safe sai a maida ita gida.” Inno tayi saurin dagawa Ummie hannu tana dakatar da ita da wani zafaffen kallo, “Wallahi Hajja Fatee ba zata kwana a nan ba! Kin ji na rantse, sai ta bar gidan nan da nake ciki! Aikawa na yi a daukota a kawota nan amma ta nunawa ‘yan aiken ni yar banza ce, ta nuna cewa ban isa ba, kuma uwarta ta daure mata kugu! Ai Hauwa, idan mai hankali ce, ba sai nace a kawota nan gidan ba zata sakata a gaba ta kawo ta har nan! Amma dake ta riga ta nunawa ‘yaranta cewa ni ban isa komai ba… wai ma wa kika gani yana min biyayya idan banda Imran, shima ba kullum ba, yanzu dubi yarinyar nan Raihana, iyayenta manyan mutane ne, sun san darajar da kimar mu, kuma ubanta da kanshi ya dauko ta ya kawo mana ita nan kuma fa sun san gidanta tunda har jere sun mata amma bai kai ta ba kuma da suka zo baice ta shigo ta gaisa da mu a fito da ita a kaita gidan ta ba, tafiya sukayi su ka barta ba tare da sun damu da ya ya zamuyi da ita ba! Dan haka, yanzu ba sai anjima ba, ku tashi ku fice! Seeyama ba zata kwana anan ba!”

A hankali Ummie ta sauke idanunta, tana sauraron Inno har ta gama, ba ta sake katsalandan ba. Seeyama, wadda tun ɗazu ta ƙule, sai zabgawa Inno wata shegiyar harara take, tana jin kamar ta rufeta da duka don ta huce takaicin da take kunsa mata. Hannunta ta matse a kan handbag ɗinta, yatsunta suka tsuke, yayin da take cije ƙasan leɓenta da ƙarfi don kawai ta danne abin da ke neman fitowa daga bakinta.

Mommy Hauwa ta buɗe baki a hankali tana zare idanu, “Wallahi bansan kince a kawo ta ba, da na…” Inno ta sake daga mata murya ta katse ta tana miƙewa tsaye, “Na ce ku fice! Wallahi tallahi ko na saka Zayd yanzu-yanzu yazo ya datse wannan gantalallen auren a take a nan, ba sai gobe ba!” Da jin sunan Zayd, Seeyama ta ɗan yi still, kamar an sauke mata wani abu a zuciya, sai kuma fuskarta ta sake sauyawa, domin wannan ba ƙaramin warning ba ne.

Ganin zafin da Inno ta ɗauka ya sa Mommy Hauwa ta miƙe da sauri, ta kama hannun Seeyama tana tura ta, “Tashi mu je, Seeyama!” Seeyama ta buɗe baki tana wani gunguni da tsiwa, “Ni ba haifata kikayi ba ba zaki dinga min balai ba gaskiya, idan masifar ki ce, ta tsaya kan wacce kika haifa, ba ni ba!” Mommy Hauwa ta rufe mata baki da sauri kafin wata fitinar ta tashi sannan cikin ɗan masifa tace, “Are you out of your mind?! Kinsan da wa kike magana kuwa?!” Sai Seeyama ta turo baki gaba tana wani fisge handbag ɗinta, “Whatever!” Tayi waje fuuuu! Nan da nan Mommy da Safina suka take mata baya cike da kunya. Inno ta bi su da wani harara tana jan wani numfashi mai zafi tana sauke haki, ƙirjinta yana ɗan motsi sama da ƙasa saboda zafin da ya mamaye ta, amma a hankali ta fara rage fushin nata.

A hankali Ummie ta kama Inno, tana shafa bayanta, “Ki yi haƙuri, Hajiya, ki daina dagawa kanki hankali dan Allah saboda shekarunki. Muje na kai ki ɗaki ki huta.” Inno ta yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, kamar har yanzu zuciyarta tana tafasa, amma ta kyale Ummie ta kama hannunta. A haka Ummie ta kama Inno har suka shiga ɗakinta, ta kwantar da ita, ta gyara mata duvet, sannan ta kashe fitilar ɗakin ta janyo mata ƙofa a hankali.

Har zata wuce nata ɗakin kenan, sai kawai ta sauya direction ta nufi ɓangaren Zayd. Ta tsaya a gaban ƙofar na ɗan lokaci, ta ɗan ɗaga hannunta, sannan ta fara knocking a hankali a ƙofar ɗakin nasa. A lokacin har ya gama shiri, ɗakin ya yi wani irin shiru mai daɗi, yana kwance a kan babban gadonsa a rigingine, ya yi pillow da hannayensa biyu a ƙarƙashin kansa, idanunsa a ɗan lumshe. Fitilun ɗakin duk a kashe suke, banda wata ‘yar ƙaramar bedside lamp da ke fitar da haske mai laushi. Duk ɗakin na fitar da wani irin musulmin kamshi mai daɗi wanda ya gauraye da tsantsar kyan yanayin ɗakin wanda kuma karyane kace ga ainihin turaren da aka saka a dakin.

A hankali ya buɗe idanunsa, ya kalli kofar, babu wani expression na surprise a fuskarsa, just a quiet, knowing look. Yasan cewa ba kowa ne zai zo buga masa ɗaki a irin wannan lokacin ba sai Ummie, saboda haka, a nutse ya miƙe tsaye, ya sauko daga kan gadon ba tare da wata gaggawa ba, ya nufi ƙofar da wannan irin calm, measured movement ɗinsa, ya buɗe ta. Yana ganinta, ya matsa gefe cike da girmamawa ya bata wuri ta shiga, idanunsa suka sauka a kanta na ɗan second, babu tambaya, babu mamaki, kawai ya ɗan karkatar da kansa a hankali, yana kallonta da wannan expression ɗinsa mai wuyar karantawa, “Ummie?” Muryarsa ta fito a hankali, low and composed, sannan ya ƙara matsawa gefe, yana barin ta shigo.

Ummie ta shiga, shi kuma ya rufe ƙofar a hankali bayanta. Ummie ta zauna a kan sofa dake ɗakin, fuskarta ɗauke da wani irin alamar bacin rai da ta kasa ɓoyewa, tana kallon Zayd wanda ya dan karaso yana kallon ƙasa, domin shi kansa ya san ba ƙaramin laifi ya yi ba, kuma ya san cewa tabbas Ummie ba za ta bar maganar ta wuce haka ba. A wannan karon ma, babu yadda ya yi da zai fake da wannan natsuwar tasa, ya san Ummie, kuma ya san idan ta kira shi cikin irin wannan yanayin, akwai magana.

A hankali ya ja kafa ya zauna a gefenta, bai ce komai ba, yana jiran ta sauke fushinta, hannayensa ya ɗora su a kan cinyarsa, kansa kaɗan a sunkuye, he wasn’t trying to defend himself, he knew he was wrong. Bayan ta sauke wata nauyayyar ajiyar zuciya mai cike da damuwa, Ummie ta ɗago ta kalle shi, “Waton kai ka fi son ka dinga ja min magana, a na zagina, a na cewa ni ke goya maka baya kana abinda kake so, ko? Idan banda haka, me ye zai sa tun a wajen ɗaurin aure ka tafi wani wajen, bayan kana sane cewa yau za a ɗauki amarya, kuma baka tashi dawowa ba sai tsakiyar dare? Duk da na san baka son auren nan, amma tunda an riga an ɗaura, ba shikenan ba? Sai ka yi haƙuri; dama ai mutum ba wai duk abin da yake so a rayuwa yake samu ba. I’m not happy with what you did, Zayd!” A yayin da take magana, muryarta ta kasance mai cike da damuwa fiye da fushi, ta ɗan karkatar da kanta, idanunta suna kallonsa kai tsaye kamar tana son ya fahimci cewa abin ya taɓa ta.

Zayd bai ɗaga ido nan take ba, ya bar ta ta gama. Bayan ta yi shiru, sai ya ɗago idanunsa a hankali, da wata murya mai cike da girmamawa da neman afuwa, ya ce, “I’m sorry, Ummie. It won’t happen again, in sha Allah.” Muryarsa ba ta da wata gardama a ciki, no excuses, no explanation, just a simple apology. Sai ta sauke nunfashi snn ta dan yi wani lallausan murmushi wanda ya dan rage zafin zuciyar ta, ta ɗan girgiza kai, sannan ta miƙa hannu ta shafi gefen fuskarsa da wannan irin kulawar uwa da ba ta taɓa ɓacewa a tsakaninsu ba, “Dole ka daure kayi adalci a tsakaninsu, Habibie. A yanzu Seeyama da Raihana duka matanka ne, they have equal rights a kanka. Dan Allah idan ka tashi yin wani abu, dole ne sai kayi adalci.”

Zayd ya dan jinjina kai a nutse, alamar ya fahimta, idanunsa sun tsaya kan Ummie na ƴan seconds, yana karɓar maganar tata ba tare da ƙoƙarin yin gardama ba. Ganin yanda ya amsa ba wani dogon sharhi, Ummie ta saki wani dan murmushi na kauna, ta miƙe tsaye, “Now, ka tashi ka maida ita gidan. Sabida Inno ta rantse ba zata kwana a nan ba.” Zayd ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, ba don yana jin daɗin wannan shawarar ba, ba don yana da wata sha’awar ganin Seeyama a irin wannan lokacin ba, amma Ummie ce, and when it came to Ummie, Zayd didn’t argue saboda girman Ummie, sai ya miƙe ya ɗauki car keys ɗinsa.

Suka fito tare da Ummie, inda ta wuce ɗakinta, shi kuma ya nufi compound. Lokacin da ya fito, su Seeyama na tsaye a waje suna jira an tafi taso driver da zai maida su, Seeyama kuwa ta kasance cikin wani irin rashin haƙuri, ta ci gaba da kallon gate lokaci-lokaci, tana jiran wanda zai zo ya kai su.

Kwatsam sai ga Zayd ya fito da wannan classic aura tasa, shiru, mai cike da izza da tsantsar kwarjini, presence ɗinsa kawai ya isa ya sauya yanayin wajen. Da sauri Seeyama ta miƙe, fuskarta ta sauya zuwa wata irin ta shagwaɓa, ta fara takawa da sauri tana nufin inda yake tare da yin wani irin pouting da fari da idanu, kamar wacce ta manta da duk abin da ya faru a falon few minutes ago. Amma ko kaɗan Zayd bai bi ta kan ta ba; he didn’t even spare her a single glance, bai rage gudunsa ba, bai ƙara sauri ba, bai kuma tsaya ba, ya cigaba da tafiyarsa da wannan natsattsen takun nasa har ya ƙarasa inda motarsa take, ya buɗe ya shiga.

Seeyama ta tsaya na ɗan second, kamar ba ta yarda da abin da idonta ya gani ba, then her face changed. Ta juya da sauri ta kalli Mommy da Safina da ke tsaye kusa da varanda, “Mommy, you and Safina can go with the driver! He will take you home. Ni gashi nan hubby ya fito, zamu tafi gidan, we will talk later! Bye, Safina, sai mun yi waya!” Muryarta cike take da excitement da gaggawar kar ta rasa wannan damar. Bata tsaya jiran jin amsar kowa daga cikinsu ba, ta juya da gudu har tana haɗawa da ‘yar tangarɗa saboda tsoron kar ya fasa ya koma, “Seeyama!” Mommy Hauwa ta kira ta a baya, amma ko juyowa ba ta yi ba.

Tun kafin ta karaso, Zayd ya riga ya kunna motarsa, ya sa reverse a hankali, Seeyama kuwa ta ƙara gudu, da sauri ta fada ciki kafin ya sa gear ya fice daga compound ɗin. A cikin motar, ta zauna tana sauke numfashi, sannan ta gyara handbag ɗinta a gefe kamar wacce ta samu exactly abin da take so. Zayd kuwa bai ce komai ba, hannunsa yana kan steering wheel, idanunsa a kan hanya, fuskarsa a nutsattsiyar halittarsa, no unnecessary words, no reaction, just that same unperturbed, impassive, self-possessed presence ɗinsa da ya sa Seeyama ta kasa gane me ke yawo a zuciyarsa. Ba dadewa da fitar su Seeyama, driver ya fito shima ya ɗauki Mommy da Safina, suma suka fice daga compound ɗin.

Zayd yana ta tuƙinsa a hankali, he was just driving silently. Amma ita Seeyama, ta kasa zama waje ɗaya; sai mutsu-mutsu take tana satar kallonshi, shi ko kaɗan bai ma san tanayi ba, idanunsa suna kan hanya, hannunsa ɗaya a kan steering wheel, fuskarsa babu wani expression da zai nuna ko yana jin daɗin tafiyar ko kuwa a’a.

Sai da suka fito babban titi sosai sannan ta kalleshi, tana fitar da wata murya mai cike da shagwaɓa da kuma wani salo na kissa, “Hubby, ain’t we buying anything before we get home?” Zayd ya mata banza, kamar bai ji me tace ba, ya cigaba da tukinsa fuskar nan a haɗe. Seeyama ta ɗan zuba masa ido, kamar wacce take jiran ya amsa, amma shiru, sai ta sake matsowa kusa dashi, ta dire palm ɗinta a kan dantsen hannunsa muscles, “Babe, ba zamu ci ko kazar amarcin nan ba wai?”

Zayd ya dan lumshe idanunsa, yana kokarin calming himself down kar ya zabga mata maruka a motar, ya yi wani ɗan ƙaramin numfashi ta hancinsa, seconds kaɗan suka wuce, sai ya buɗe idanunsa ya cigaba da driving. Ganinsa shiru, sai ta cigaba da wani shegen salo mai kama da seduction, tana ta matse muscle ɗinsa tana shafawa tana dan kallonshi ta ƙasan ido, kamar ba ta ga irin shirun da ya yi ba, kamar ma tana ƙara gwada patience ɗinsa ne. A sanyaye, Zayd ya buɗe baki amma da wata murya mai cike da umarni, “Take your hands off me, Seeyama.” Seeyama ta turo baki gaba tana wani shagwabe fuska, “Amma ni ma matarka ce fa…” Zayd ya sake mata banza, ya ture hannunta da ƙarfi daga jikinsa, fuskarsa har yanzu babu wani expression, sai dai wannan karon, idanunsa sun ƙara yin nauyi.

A haka ya karaso wajen wani mai siyar da nama a gefen titi (suya spot), baice da ita komai ba, kawai ya kashe motar ya fita. Yayin da ita kuma Seeyama ta fara washe baki, tana ganin cewa at least yaji abinda tace din kenan, ta wani cije lips tana murmushi, idanunta na kan bayansa yayin da yake tafiya, ta fara fada kasa kasa, “a hankali dai zaka shiga hannuna, and wallahi a lokacin kowa sai ya ji a jikinsa!”

Zayd bai daɗe ba ya dawo ɗauke da uban ledoji kamar irin wanda mutum goma za su ci din nan! Seeyama ta ɗago kai tana kallon ledojin, murmushinta ya ƙara faɗaɗa. Ya buɗe passenger side ɗinta ya jibga mata su a kan cinyarta, sannan ya koma ya shiga ya zauna ya ja motar, ita kuwa Seeyama babu abinda take yi sai murmushi tana kallonshi, a nata zuciyar, ta ɗauki wannan a matsayin wata alama, shi kuwa Zayd? Nothing, fuskarsa har yanzu a nutse, babu murmushi, babu magana, babu wani explanation.

Har suka isa ƙofar gidan, da zuwansu, Zayd yayi horn, maigadi ya leko da ya ganshi sai ya nufi ƙofar zai buɗe gate ɗin kenan. Amma kafin ya kai ga buɗewa, Zayd ya danna maɓallin window, ya ɗauke glass ɗin motar a nutse, sannan ya kalli maigadin da cewa, “Karka buɗe. I’m not coming inside.” Maigadin ya tsaya cak, “Yes, boss!” Maigadin ya amsa da sauri yana ja da baya. Seeyama ta wani kalle shi baki buɗe, cike da matsananciyar mamaki, “What?! Hubby, why are you not going inside? Or is there something da ka manta baka siyo mana ba ne?” Ta yi magana da sauri, kamar har yanzu ba ta fahimci abin da yake nufi ba.

Ba tare da ya kalle ta ba ko kaɗan, calmly yace da ita, “Pack your things and go inside.” Ta sake zaro idanu waje a firgice, “I should pack my things and go inside? What about you?! Kai kuma fa?” Zayd ya dan lumshe idanunsa, wallahi har kanshi ya fara ciwo da surutunta, ya yi shiru na ɗan second, sannan ya buɗe idanunsa tsaf a fuskarta, “Ke karki ɓata min lokaci, kwashe kayan nan ki fita!” Muryarsa ba ta da ƙarfi, amma command ɗin da ke cikinta ya isa.

Ganin yadda fuskarshi tayi ba alamar wasa, bata sake musu ba, cike da bacin rai ta fara ƙwashe ledajin nama, ta buɗe motar ta fito, ta tsaya a gefe tana kallonsa, tana jiran taga me zai yi. Amma Zayd bai tafi nan take ba, ya jira maigadin ya karaso kusa da shi, sai ya kalle shi da wannan expression ɗinsa na serious composure, sannan in a commanding tone, yace da shi, “Idan ta shiga, lock the gate. Don’t allow anyone to come out or get in.” “Yes, sir!” Maigadin ya amsa cikin girmamawa. Daga nan, Zayd ya ja reverse, ya saki gear, ya fice da motarsa, ba tare da ya waiwaya ba, ya bar Seeyama tsaye a waje baki buɗe, tana kallon hanyar da ya bi cike da takaici da zafin rai.