THE SHADOW OF ABUJA

*KADDARAR ZUCIYA*

*CHAPTER NINE: 9*

*THE SHADOWS OF ABUJA*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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(CIGABAN LABARI) 

zaman gidan Yaya Umar ya zo da sababbin dokoki da Inteesar ba ta saba da su ba a Katsina, Umar mutum ne mai tsananin tsauri, wanda ba ya wasa da al’amuran yara, tun ranar farko da ta tare a gidan, ya zaunar da ita a falo, fuskarsa babu alamun wasa, “Inteesar,” Umar ya kira sunanta cikin muryarsa mai tauri, “Na san cewa a Katsina kina da ’yancin yin abin da kike so, amma a gidana doka daban ce, ke yarinya ce har yanzu, kuma babban abin da nake buƙata daga gare ki shi ne ki nutsu, ki mayar da hankali kan karatunki, ban yarda da maganar kawo wani saurayi ko samari gidan nan ba, gaba ɗaya, karatunki shi ne gaba da komai, musamman da yanzu colleagues ɗinki sun wuce da semester biyu, ina matuƙar buƙatar ki nutsu ki mayar da hankalinki kan karatunki,” Yaya Umar yana cikin brothers ɗinta da take bala’in shakkarsu, shi ko da wasa ba zaka ga murmushi a fuskarshi ba, sai dai ka ganshi bisa kuskure ba ya da wasa he’s a complete no nonsense person, ganin fuskarsa a buɗe haka abu ne mai matuƙar wahala, Inteesar ta sunkuyar da kanta ƙasa, zuciyarta cike da tsoro da fargaba, ta san halinsa sosai, don haka ba ta da niyyar yin gardama da shi, “To, Yaya, zan kiyaye,” ta amsa a hankali, Umar ya ɗan gyara zamansa, yana kallonta kamar yana son tabbatar da cewa ta fahimci duk abin da ya faɗa, “Good, I don’t want to repeat myself,” ta ɗaga kai kaɗan ta kalle shi, sannan ta sake sunkuyar da kanta, “Okay, Yaya,” da haka ya sallame ta, ita kuma ta tashi ta koma ɗakinta, A MONTH LATER… wata ɗaya bayan zuwanta Abuja, Inteesar ta fara ɗan sabawa da sabon yanayin rayuwarta, da farko, komai ya kasance sabo a gare ta—sabbin mutane, sabon muhalli, da sababbin dokokin gidan Yaya Umar, amma a hankali ta fara sakewa, ta fara sabawa da lectures ɗinta, tana samun damar zama da wasu daga cikin course mates ɗinta, musamman Amira, wadda suke yawan kasancewa tare a makaranta, ko da yake har yanzu tana tsoron ɓata wa Yaya Umar rai, aƙalla ta fara samun ɗan kwanciyar hankali a rayuwarta ta yau da kullum, wata rana da yamma, bayan ta dawo daga lectures, Inteesar tana zaune ita kaɗai a cikin ɗakinta, ta jingina da jikin gadonta, tana ɗan hutawa bayan gajiyar makaranta, wayarta da ke ajiye a gefen gado ta haska, tare da sautin shigowar saƙon WhatsApp, ta miƙa hannu ta janyo wayar, ta buɗe ta shiga WhatsApp kai tsaye domin ganin wanda ya turo mata saƙon, lambar baƙuwa ce, babu suna, babu profile picture, ta ɗan daure fuska, tana kallon lambar na wasu seconds kafin ta buɗe saƙon, Unknown Number: “Hi beautiful, how are you doing?” Inteesar ta yi shiru tana kallon saƙon, ta ɗan ɗaga gira, tana tunanin ko ɗaya daga cikin ɗaliban jami’ar Nile ne ya sami lambarta, “Who could this be?” ta faɗa a hankali, ta ɗan girgiza kai, ta fito daga WhatsApp ɗin gaba ɗaya ba tare da ta ba da amsa ba, ta ajiye wayar a gefe, ta koma wata sabgar, ba tare da ta sake tunanin saƙon ba, a ganinta, wataƙila saƙon kuskure ne kawai, amma ba ta san cewa wannan saƙon shi ne farkon wani abu da zai fara tayar mata da hankali ba, WITH AMIRA, mako guda ya wuce, a cikin wannan satin, babu ranar da ba a tura wa Inteesar saƙo daga wannan lambar ba, safe, rana, dare—kullum akwai sabon saƙo, sai dai har yanzu ba ta taɓa ba da amsa ba, abin da take yi kawai shi ne ta buɗe saƙon, ta karanta, sannan ta ajiye wayarta, abin da ya fara ba ta mamaki shi ne yadda saƙonnin suke zuwa daidai lokacin da take yin wani abu, kamar wanda yake lura da duk motsinta, ranar Monday da safe, Inteesar na zaune tare da Amira a ƙarƙashin inuwar wata bishiya da ke kusa da lecture halls, ɗalibai suna ta zirga-zirga a kusa da su, wasu na zuwa lectures, wasu kuma suna tsaye suna hira, amma hankalin Inteesar ba ya jikinta, akai-akai take duba wayarta, tana buɗewa tana kashewa kamar wadda take jiran wani abu, Amira ta lura da hakan, ta ɗan karkatar da kanta, tana kallon ƙawarta da mamaki, “Intee, lafiyarki kuwa? Tun ɗazu nake lura da ke, ba ki cikin natsuwarki, ko har yanzu kina damuwa da maganar gida ne?” Inteesar ta sauke numfashi a hankali, ta duba hagu da dama don tabbatar da babu wanda yake kusa da su, sannan ta matsa kusa da Amira, “Amira, akwai wani abu da yake faruwa da ni tun mako guda da ya wuce, kuma gaskiya abin ya fara ba ni tsoro,” Amira ta gyara zamanta, ta mayar da hankalinta gaba ɗaya gare ta, “Tsoro kuma? Me ya faru?” Inteesar ta buɗe wayarta, ta shiga WhatsApp, sannan ta miƙa wa Amira, “Kalli waɗannan messages ɗin, lambar ba ta da suna, not even a profile picture, amma kullum tana turo mini saƙo, abin da ya fi ba ni tsoro shi ne, saƙonnin suna zuwa daidai lokacin da nake yin abubuwa daban-daban, wani lokaci har kalar kayan da na saka yake faɗa, ya san lokacin da na dawo gida, kuma kamar yana sane da duk abin da nake yi,” ta ɗan dakata, tana kallon fuskar Amira kafin ta ƙara da cewa, “Jiya da daddare ma sai da ya turo mini saƙo cewa, ‘Tomorrow is Monday, sleep like a baby, dear, don’t stress yourself,’” Amira ta karɓi wayar, ta shiga karanta saƙonnin ɗaya bayan ɗaya, ta ɗan ɗaga gira a wasu wuraren, amma maimakon ta nuna tsoro kamar Inteesar, sai ta saki murmushi, “Haba, Intee! Wannan ai ba abin tsoro ba ne,” ta faɗa tana miƙa mata wayar, “Wani saurayi ne kawai a makarantar nan da yake mutuwar sonki, amma yana tsoron fuskantarki, maybe saboda kwarjinin ki ne, ko kuma ya fahimci tsaurin gidanku,” ta yi murmushi, sannan ta ƙara da cewa, “My advice? Ki biye masa ki ba shi amsa, mu gani ko waye shi da kuma what he really wants,” Inteesar ta girgiza kai a hankali, har yanzu babu alamun gamsuwa a fuskarta, “Amira, ke ba ki gane ba, ta yaya zai san daidai lokacin da nake shiga gida? Gidan Yaya Umar akwai tsaro da doka, ba kowa ne yake iya shiga ko fita ba tare da an sani ba,” Amira ta ɗan yi shiru, tana nazarin maganarta, “To, maybe yana zaune a kusa da gidan ne, ko kuma wani ne da yake ganin ki a makaranta, Intee, don’t overthink it, ki ba shi amsa kawai, ki tambaye shi ko waye shi,” Inteesar ta sauke idanunta kan wayarta, tana taɓa gefen case ɗin da yatsunta, “Ban san me zan ce masa ba,” “Just ask him who he is, that’s all,” Amira ta faɗa cikin sauƙi, kamar ba wani babban abu ba ne, amma Inteesar ba ta iya kawar da wannan mummunan yanayin da ta fara ji a zuciyarta ba, shawarar Amira ta tsaya wa Inteesar a rai, bayan ta dawo gida da yamma, ta yi wanka, ta sauya kaya, sannan ta zauna a gefen gadonta, ta yi ƙoƙarin mayar da hankalinta kan littattafanta, amma duk lokacin da ta buɗe wani shafi, sai tunaninta ya koma kan saƙonnin da baƙuwar lambar take turo mata, ta ɗauki wayarta, ta buɗe WhatsApp, sannan ta shiga chat ɗin lambar, ta ɗan yi shiru tana kallon saƙonnin da suka cika wajen, tana jin wani irin rashin daɗi a ƙirjinta, a ƙarshe, ta fara rubutawa, Inteesar: “Wasalam, and who are you, please? Where did you get my number?” Ta sake karanta saƙon kafin ta tura shi, da ta gama, ta ajiye wayar a kan cinyarta, tana jiran amsa ba tare da ta sani ba, ba ta daɗe ba sai ta ji sautin shigowar saƙo, ta yi saurin ɗaukar wayar ta buɗe, Unknown Number: “Kada ki damu da yadda na sami lambarki, beautiful, babban abin alfaharina shi ne ganinki cikin ƙoshin lafiya kullum, I am always watching over you,” Inteesar ta zaro ido kaɗan, ta sake karanta saƙon, a wannan karon a hankali, kamar tana son tabbatar da cewa ba ta yi kuskuren fahimtar kalmomin ba, I am always watching over you, ta runtse idanunta na ɗan lokaci, jikinta ya ɗan yi sanyi, “Watching over me?” ta maimaita a hankali, ta tashi daga kan gadon, ta nufi window ɗin ɗakinta, ta ɗaga labulen kaɗan, ta leƙa harabar gidan Yaya Umar, harabar gidan tana cikin natsuwa, babu wani abu da ya ɗauki hankalinta sai mai gadi da ke zaune a kusa da ƙofa, ta sake kallon wajen na wasu seconds, sannan ta sauke labulen, “Who the hell is this person?” ta tambaya kanta a hankali, ta dawo ta zauna a gefen gadonta, ta buɗe chat ɗin, sannan ta fara rubuta wani saƙo cikin sauri, Inteesar: “If you don’t tell me who you are right now, I will block you! This is getting out of hand,” ta tura saƙon, ta haɗiye miyau, tana jiran amsar, ba a ɗauki minti biyu ba, sai alamar typing… ta bayyana, zuciyarta ta fara bugawa da sauri, Unknown Number: “Block me or not, it doesn’t change anything, I am near you…” “Na shiga uku!” ta faɗa, tana dafe goshinta, ta ɗan matsa baya, idanunta a kan wayar, wani irin sanyi ya ratsa jikinta, ta ji kamar wani abu ya sauka mata a ƙirji, numfashinta ya fara fita da shigowa cikin sauri, I am near you, kalmar ta ci gaba da yawo a cikin kanta, a daidai lokacin da take ƙoƙarin fahimtar abin da ta karanta, sai ta jiyo takun tafiyar mutum a corridor ɗin da ke kusa da ƙofar ɗakinta, ta ɗago kai da sauri, takun tafiyar ya ci gaba da zuwa har sai da ya tsaya daidai saitin ƙofarta, Inteesar ta daskare a inda take, numfashinta ya tsaya cif a maƙogwaro, zuciyarta tana bugawa da ƙarfi har tana jin kamar wanda yake kusa da ita zai iya jin bugun, sai aka yi knocking a hankali, Knock… knock…, ta buɗe baki kamar za ta yi magana, amma babu sautin da ya fito, bayan wasu seconds, aka sake knocking, a wannan karon ta matse wayar da ke hannunta, idanunta a kan ƙofar, sai dai kafin ta sami damar magana, ƙofar ta buɗe a hankali, gabanta ya faɗi ƙasa warwas! Ta ja baya da sauri, tana dafe ƙirjinta, Yaya Umar ne ya shigo cikin ɗakin, sanye da fararen kayan gida, fuskarsa babu alamun wasa kamar kullum, yana riƙe da takardun handout ɗinta a hannunsa, “Inteesar,” ya kira sunanta cikin muryarsa mai tauri, ta yi ƙoƙarin daidaita numfashinta, amma har yanzu tsoro bai gama barin fuskarta ba, “Mene ne kike yi a jikin ƙofa haka? And why do you look so frightened?” Inteesar ta haɗiye miyau da ƙyar, ta yi saurin ɓoye wayarta a bayan rigarta, tana ƙoƙarin kada ya lura da yadda hannunta yake rawa, “Babu… babu komai, Yaya, I was just about to come out,” Umar ya ɗan tsare ta da ido, kamar bai gamsu da amsarta ba, ya matso zuwa tsakiyar ɗakin, ya ajiye takardun a kan tebur, “Handout ɗinki ne kika manta a cikin motata, na kawo miki ne don ki yi karatu,” ya ɗan dakata, sannan ya mayar da kallonsa gare ta, “But remember what I told you, I want total focus from you, bana son shagala kwata-kwata,” Inteesar ta gyada kai da sauri, “Yes, Yaya, na ji,” Umar ya juya zai fita, amma kafin ya kai ga ƙofa, sai ya tsaya, ya juya ya kalleta da wani kallo mai zurfi, “Make sure you lock your door properly at night, Abuja is not like Katsina,” Inteesar ta ɗan buɗe baki, amma ta kasa tambayar dalilin da ya sa ya faɗi hakan, sai kawai ta sake gyada kai, “Okay, Yaya,” Umar ya fita, ya ja ƙofar a hankali, ya bar ta a cikin ɗakin, da zarar ta tabbatar ya tafi, Inteesar ta yi saurin tura mukullin ƙofar ta rufe, ta jingina da ita na ɗan lokaci kafin ta sulale a hankali har ta zauna a ƙasa, ta ɗora hannu a ƙirjinta, tana ƙoƙarin maido da numfashinta yadda ya kamata, “Ya Allah, what is happening to me?” ta furta a hankali, ta zauna na wasu seconds, sannan ta ɗauki wayarta da ke hannunta, da ta buɗe WhatsApp, sai ta ga sabon saƙo ya sake shigowa daga wannan lambar, ta ji zuciyarta ta sake bugu da ƙarfi, a hankali ta buɗe saƙon, Unknown Number: “I told you… I am always near you, sleep tight…” Inteesar ta zaro ido, bakinta a buɗe, ta ɗaga kai ta kalli ƙofar ɗakinta da ta kulle, sannan ta mayar da idanunta kan wayar, wani irin tsoro ya mamaye zuciyarta, a karon farko tun bayan zuwanta Abuja, Inteesar ta fara jin cewa watakila matsalar ba wai wani saurayi ne kawai yake son ta ba, someone was watching her, kuma mafi muni shi ne, ba ta san ko waye ba.

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