Chapter Seven

Da ta nemi Shukrah taga tana can wurin Baaba Salame wacce ta maida kamar wata kakarta.

Imaani taje ta gaida matar, da fara’a take ta amsa ta, “Lafiya lau ƴata Iman, an girma Masha Allah sai sanbarka. Hajiya Hauwa kice nan ba da dadewa ba zamu zo biki kenan.”

Kan Imaani na kasa Ammi tayi dariya, “Ai biki naku ne Maman Hafsa.”

“Gaskiya kam ai abunne saidai muce Alhamdulillah. Yara duk sun girma.” Maman Hafsa ta fada tana bin Imaani da kallo.

Imaani tace, “Ammi Abbu fa? Yadawo ne?”

Ammi tace, “Yadawo yana ganawa da baƙi ne nan cikin parlournshi.”

Kafin Imaani tayi magana Maman Hafsa tace, “Ta shiga su gaisa mana, ai andade ba’a hadu ba mai yiwuwa an manta da juna.”

Ammi tace, “Hakane kam, Baby shiga ku gaisa da Alhaji Mukhtar ɗin.”

Maman Hafsa sai fara'a takeyi tace, “Ai gwara a sada zumunci, ya ƙarfafa har ƴaƴa ba lallai sai iyaye kaɗai ba tunda mundawo garin kenan.”

Alhaji Mukhtar wani abokin kasuwancin Abbu ne da Ammi ta sani tun tana amarya domin harda shi wurin convincing dinta da ta amince ma Abbu. Zata iya cewa bayan Abba to Alhaji Mukhtar shine babban amininshi da tasani.

Tashi Imaani tayi ta nufi palourn baƙin dake ƙasa. Tana sanye da baƙar Simple Maxi gown na silk kaman yanda ta saba, kanta ɗaure yake da ɗankwalinshi shima baƙi mai santsi. Warwareshi tayi ta yana a kafaɗunta ta shiga falourn da sallama.

Babba ne shima though bai kai girman wanda su Ammi suke ciki ba. Brown and grey sune dominant colours na interior ɗin parlourn sai ratsin fari a inda baza’a rasa ba jikin royal settees da curtains. Turkish carpet ɗin daya malale ƙasan chocolate da fari ne sai center and side tables na glass colorn baƙi da gold.

Ƙamshin turaren wutan gabgab na Gidan Kamshi by Suttie ya gama ratsa parlourn ta ko ina tunda akai akai ake sawa kuma ba’a cika amfani da parlourn ba.

Amsa mata sukayi duk suka juyo suna kallonta, bata kallesu ba ta zauna akan carpet kusada inda Abbu yake, ta gaishesu gaba daya. Alhaji Mukhtar da fara’a yake amsa ma Imaani yana mamakin girmanta kasancewan ya daɗe rabon da ya ganta tun kafin ta fara University gap da barinshi kasar kenan.

“Iman ce haka ta girma, lallai a kwana a tashi ba wuya wurin Allah.”

Abbu yace, “Sai wurin ɗan Adam kam, ai ta gama University yanzu Master’s takeyi.”

Alhaji Mukhtar yace, “Abun ba wuya, kina shiga ana aiki dake dai ko ƴata.”

Imaani tace, “Eh inayi Baba.” 

Abbu yaɗora da, “Ai yanzu ita take jan ragamar restaurant ɗinsu na nan Kaduna dana Abuja kafin daga baya komai ya dawo hannunta.”

Alhaji Mukhtar yace, “Gwara da ta fara sanin me ake ciki tun yanzu kada idan tayi aure miji yayi mata wayau.”

Abbu yace, “Baima isa ba indai ba neman fitina zaiyi ba. Major kaɗai ai ya isheshi.”

Suka sa dariya, Imaani naso ta tashi kenan Rafeeq ya shigo tare da wani saurayi mai haske kaman shi harma yaso yafi Rafeeq ɗin haske. Matsakaicin tsawo yakeda, yana sanye da baƙin trousers da collared T-shirt akan murɗaɗɗen jikinshi, mai dogon hanci da sanyin kyau irinna Fulani. Gashin kanshi dake cike yaɗan ƙarama fuskarshi rama, sajenshi kuma a zagaye yake, ya kwanta a fatar fuskarshi. 

Shigowarsu yasa Imaani dake son tafiya ta tashi da nufin fita, Abbu yace a kawo musu abinci suci anan bayan sun gabatar da sallar Isha da aka kira. To dama abunda su Rafeeq suka shigo faɗa ma iyayen nasu kenan ganin za'a tada kabbara basu fito ba, Imaani ta amsa da toh bayan sun haɗa ido da baƙon ta fice daga palourn.

Bayan sundawo Ammi tasa aka jerama su Abbu dinner acan guest parlourn, na Maman Hafsa kuma an ajiye mata anan kan dining dan Ammi ba kowa take kaiwa sama ba dukda mazajensu aminai na amma ita she's a private person.

Tasa Imaani da Ƙarama sukai nasu Rafeeq can Chalet ɗinshi a wani madaidaicin basket, Asma’u bata dawo gidan ba tun rananda aka amsa lefen Muhibba. Duk tarin masu aikinsu Ammi bata sangartar da Imaani ba a fannin kula da gida, indai tana nan toh zata sa hannu ayi hidimar gida tare da ita.

Chalet ɗin Rafeeq babba ne mai ɗauke da ɗakuna uku masu girma, an ƙawata palourn da kayan alatu da interior ɗinshi in cool colors of gray, white and black. Sun same mazan zaune akan kujera suna magana a gaban TV dake kunne ansa tashar ƙwallo wato ibadar maza.

Bayan Ƙarama ta gaishe dasu, Rafeeq ya amsa yace, “Sannunku da ƙoƙari Boɗɗo.”

Murmushi taɗanyi tace, “Bakomai Hamma.”

Bata kalli direction ɗin baƙon ba ta ajiye basket ɗin hannunta akan wani madaidaicin dining dake gefen palourn. Muryar Ƙarama taji tana cewa, “La na manta na ɗauko kofin shan ruwa.”

Rafeeq da ya tashi zai amsa wayarshi dake ringing yace, “Boɗɗo shiga Kitchenette nan ki ɗauko kawai. Sameer let me take this call ina zuwa.”

Akwai wani ƙaramin kitchen dake Chalet ɗin nan taje ta ɗauko glasswares daga cabinet guda biyu ta ɗaurayesu da ruwa. Data fito bataga Ƙarama ba Rafeeq kuma bai dawo daga wayar da yakeyi ba. 

Ajiyewa tayi ta juya zata nufa hanyar fita taji ance da wani quiet voice, “Zubamin abinci.”

Tsayawa tayi cak, tabdijam! Rafeeq ne kaɗai sai Abbu zata iya yima wannan hidiman.

Waigawa tayi dan ta tabbatar ko taji dakyau, taga wanda Rafeeq yakira da Sameer a hakimce yanna danna waya kaman ba shi yayi magana ba.

Da taga alamun kaman kunnenta kuskure sukayi tasa kai zata fice yace, “Dake nake.” 

Juyowa tayi taga ya ɗaga kai yana kallonta cikin isa, sai ta kalli inda take iya jin muryar Hammanta daga balcony dan bataso tayi wani katoɓara a gabanshi. 

Taga kaman har yanzu bai fito ba sai ta kalli Sameer ta kalle dining ɗin, tadawo da idonta kanshi taga ya wani naɗe hannu yana kallonta ai bata san sanda ta banka mishi harara ba ta wuce da sauri ta fita tana ƙananan tsaki. 

Ciki ciki tace, “Idan bazai sa hannu ya ɗiba ba ya barshi.”

Sai kuma ta fara jin ba daɗi tunda ance baƙonka annabinka, but tarigada ta fito. Komawa tayi cikin gidan taga Shukrah a wurin Ammi da Maman Hafsa zaune a gaban Ammi akan carpet tana game da baby Tab ɗinta. 

Ammi ta miƙama Imaani wayarta data bari wurinta kafin taje takai abincin tace, “Ana ta kiranki a waya fa.”

Dubawa tayi taga wanda ya kirata, bata ce komai ba ta nufi sama Ammi kuma ta cigaba da sauraron Maman Hafsa dake mata bayanin bikin ƴarta Hafsan da za’ayi kwanannan, amma tana hankalce da Imaani wanda bata nuna wani baƙon yanayi ba. 

Ammi tace, “In Sha Allah zan samu zuwa. Daga dawowanku sai hidiman biki Maman Hafsa bazaku huta ba?”

Maman Hafsa tace, “Babansu nefa, kinsan aikin maza sai suce zamu ɓata musu lokaci ne idan zasu jiramu. Sati biyu kawai ya bamu amma bashi zai hanamu bikinmu ba.”

Dariya Ammi tayi tace, “Bashi zai hana ba kam bikin ƴar fari.” 

Imaani da tayi sama ɗakinta ta shiga wanda ke ƙamshin turaren wutar Halut data saka kafin ta sauka ɗazu, ta canza kayanta zuwa na barci cotton up and down masu laushi, ta shiga bayi tayi alwalwala ta wanko fustarta. 

Zaunawa tayi gaban dressing mirror tayi shafe shafenta na skincare ta feshe kanta da turarukanta na bacci.

Kunna bedside lamp tayi bayan ta kashe wutan ɗakin ta kwanta kan lallausar gadonta ta naɗe kanta da soft blanket.

Kira ne ya ƙara shigowa wayarta ta ɗauka ta sanya a kunnenta, da dakakkiyar muryarshi yayi sallama sai ta amsa mishi da muryarta mai sanyi.

Yace, “Kin koma gida lafiya?”

Imaani tace, “Alhamdulillah kaifa? Ya yara?”

“Lafiya ƙalau, yara kuma tukunna sai kin haifarmin su.”

Dan dariya tayi tace, “Ba ruwana idan matarka ta jika.”

Zunnurain yace, “Ko kinyimin aure ni bansani ba?” Ya tambaya yana dariya shima. Shuru tayi bata ce komai ba, dama amsan da take bukata kenan. Yace, “Dazu na kira baki amsa ba ko laifi nayi?”

Imaani tace, “Ina abu ne, munyi baƙi sai yanzu na samu na ɗauka wayar.”

Yace, “Okay, so how’re you?”

Tace, “I’m good alhamdulillah. You?”

“Never better, naci na ƙoshi harda guzurin dessert, thank you by the way.”

Imaani tace, “Bakomai, you were my guest ai, although unexpected.”

Yayi dariya yace, “I knew I was the last person you expected to meet today, amma kana naka Allah Yana nashi.”

“Hakane kam.” Ta faɗa tana ƙara duƙunƙunewa cikin bargo, muryarshi na burgeta saboda a dake yake har cikin kanta take jinshi. Amma a zahiri muryarshi tafi daɗin sauraro.

Zunnurain yace, “I hope good things come out of this Imaani, inason mu’amalar mu ta ƙarfafa har tafi haka and I hope I am welcomed by you.”

Shuru tayi tana jin wani yanayi da bata taɓa ji ba, zata iya cewa bata taɓa ba ma wani attention haka ba seriously saboda tana tsoron getting close to people kar ayi taking advantage dinta.

Ammi tayi drilling warning ɗinnan akanta tun lokacin da ta fara sanin ciwon kanta shiyasa ta tattara duka mazan ta ajiye a gefe ta maida hankali kan gina rayuwarta yadda iyayenta suka tsara mata. Maza kam akwaisu bawai babu ba amma bata basu lokaci balle wani abu ya ratsa tsakaninsu.

Shurun da tayi yasa ma Zunnurain doubt a ranshi yace, “Naji kinyi shuru, am I being too forward? Naga yafi na fito miki da abunda ke raina ɓata lokaci ai bashida amfani.”

Imaani tace, “I quite appreciate that, sanin intention ɗin wani tun a farko ai yafi sauki. I too do hope akwai alkhairi a tsakaninmu.”

Cikin jindadi yace, “Insha Allah, I’m very pleased to hear that. Now let me say a little about myself yeah? Inaso insan ke wacece, I’m very curious to know more about you.”

Murmushi tayi tace, “Go ahead ina jinka.”

“As I told you before, ni ɗan Bauchi ne garin Tilden Bauchi amma a Kaduna iyayena suke zama. Ina da yayyi bakwai amma mu uku ne wurin mamana, I am the last born banida kannai. Currently ina aiki da Islamic Development Bank as a consultant Finance Manager so I travel alot but I am also involved in my family business wanda shine jikin card ɗina dana baki. Wannan shine brief explanation ɗina and as time goes on zaki kara sanin fiye da wannan.”

Imaani ta ɗanyi assimilating he’s from a polygamous home kuma yana neman na kanshi daidai gwargado dukda business ɗin gidansu wanda babu mamaki yayyinshi ne ke jan ragamar. 

Kuma bafulatani ne tunda yace daga Tilden Bauchi yake, sai kawai tace, “Bakayi kama da Bafulatani ba.”

Dariya yayi muryarshi na ƙara zurfi yace, “That’s all you have to say? Hakane kam, nafi yanayi da dangin Mamana daga Sokoto.”

Tace, “It was an honest observation.”

Zunnurain yace, “Well observed, and I hope abunda kika gani yayi miki? Saboda nidai naji dadin abunda nagani ba kadan ba.” Meaning looks ɗinshi.

Murmushi kawai tayi, that was a first for her gaskiya saboda ba kowa yake appreciating appearance ɗinta ba openly kaman yadda familynta sukeyi. 

Bude kofar ɗakinta akayi Abbu yashigo kamar yadda ya saba duba ƴaƴannashi duk dare idan zaiyi zagayen gidan, yakan shafesu da addu’a ya gyara musu kwanciya indai yana nan. Yaga bedside lamp ɗinta a kunne sai ya shigo dan ya kashe thinking bacci ne ya ɗauketa.

Imaani ta fito daga cikin bargon bata yarda ta bada kanta ba kar Abbu ya gane wani abu tace, “Abbu I’m still awake.”

“Oh okay tohm kar ki manta da addu’a fa kafin kiyi bacci.”

Ta amsa da, “Okay Abbu.” Shi kuma ya fita ya janyo mata kofan.

Maida wayar tayi kunnenta bayan ta gyara kwanciyarta, “Sorry, Abbu ne ya shigo zai kashemin lamp yasha ina bacci.”

Zunnurain yace, “Sannu yar gidan babanta, ko kema autar ce?”

Ta ɗanyi dariya tace, “A’a inada ƙannai biyu Asma’u da Shukrah sai Hammana Rafeeq. Mu ƴan Katsina ne dani da Ammi, my father is late tun kafin a haifeni so Ammi remarried ta haifi Shukrah tare da Abbu.”

Zunnurain yace, “Allah Yayi mishi rahama."

Tace, "Ameen."

"Inasha kuma bafulatanai ne ai.”

Tace, “A'a Abbu ne kawai. Baka ganshi ba, ƙanwata Shukrah ma haka take kamanshi ni da Ammi ne muka bambanta.”

Sai yace, “Ai ba duka Fulani keda light skin ba, nima kinga baƙi ne irinku. Although akwai misconception ɗinnan na kowani fari bafulatani ne.”

Tayi dariya tace, “Ai mutane dayawa da haka suke amfani which is not true at all. Besides akwai baƙaƙe dayawa cikin fulani kamar kai ɗindai.”

Yace, “Exactly.”

Shuru ya biyo bayan lightness ɗinnan lokacin har sha biyu ta kusa. Zunnurain yace, “Gobe zaki fita aiki ko? Ko dayake managers only work during weekdays ai amma naga yau Saturday kinje aiki.”

Imaani tace, “Private organisation nefa ba government ba. Za’a iya kiranmu whenever.”

Zunnurain yace, “You’re right, ina manta yanayin aiki a ƙasar nan.”

Tace, “Baka zama ai shiyasa.”

Yace, “Amma babu aiki gobe ko? Akwai exceptions on Sundays ai.”

“We’re open har gobe ma, ka taɓa ganin inda restaurant yake kulle even for a day? Saidai if they’re out of business.”

Zunnurain yayi dariya yace, “You do feed the population, I see your reason now.”

Hamma Imaani tayi unexpectedly don bata kai irin time ɗinnan batayi bacci ba, yace, “Ya kamata ki kwanta yanzu koh?”

Tace, “Eh ina bacci da wuri.”

Yace, “Sleep well then, Allah Ya tashemu lafiya.”

Imaani tace, “Ameen have a good night.”

Ajiyar zuciya ya sauke kamar baisan su dena magana yace, “Imaani..”

  

Bata bashi amsa ba ta kashe kiran ta ajiye wayar a bedside drawer, juyawa tayi kan lallausan gadonta tana murmushi, with different feelings rushing through her.