THE FIRST MOVE

ZAYD ARMAAN

CHAPTER NINETY SIX : 96

THE FIRST MOVE

JIDDAAH BARKUM 

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Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga gira, idanunsa a kanta.

“Azumi?” ya maimaita a hankali, kamar yana tabbatar da ko kunnensa ba su yi masa ƙarya ba.

Raihana ta janye idanunta da sauri, ta sunkuyar da kai.

“Eh… nafila,” ta amsa cikin ƙaramar murya, tana jin wani bala’in haushinsa. “Nafila ce, a ƙa’ida ba sai na faɗa maka ba.” Ta yi saurin ƙarasa bayaninta, before ya samu damar ƙara cewa wani abu.

Zayd ya ɗan kalli agogon hannunsa, sannan ya sake zuba mata mayun idanunsa, yana kallon bakinta da ya furta wai tana azumiii.

Raihana na jin kallonsa a jikinta. Ji take kamar ta fashe da ihu. Ita kaɗai ta san halin da yanayin yake sa ta a ciki, duk da yadda kullum take ƙoƙarin denying it.

“So, ba ki san cewa ya wajaba a gare ki ki nemi izinina before fasting ba?” ya tambaya, muryarsa tana fitowa a hankali amma da wani irin nauyi, like a husband who expects to be obeyed.

Raihana ta fara jin ba ta da wani space ko wuri na ƙwacewa. Yadda yake daf da ita, yana shakar numfashinta yayin da nasa ke gauraye da nata, ya sa ta fara jin wani irin uncomfortable warmth yana ratsa jikinta. Numfashinta ya fara fita da sauri-sauri, idanunta na guje wa faɗawa nasa, saboda ta rasa inda za ta sanya kanta.

“Ka… ka cika ni, please,” ta faɗa da muryar da ke rawa, tana ƙoƙarin ture saƙon da idanunsa ke aika wa jikinta. “Idan zan sake, zan tambaye ka… but right now, don Allah ka sake ni!”

Zayd bai ce uffan ba. Ya ci gaba da tsayawa cak yana kallonta, kamar wanda zai cinye ta danya a take, idanunsa na bin kowane sashe na fuskarta da ke nuna tsantsar rikicewa da rashin nutsuwa.

A daidai lokacin ne, cikinta ya kunyata ta a wurin.

“Gurrrrrrr……”

Wata ƙara ce mai tsawo, mai ƙarfi, wadda ta fito daga cikinta ta cika ɗakin nan da ke cike da shiru da tsananin tension.

Idanun Raihana suka zarooo sosai. Ta ji kamar ƙasa ta tsage ta shige ta ɓace gaba ɗaya daga gaban idanunsa. Ta lumshe idanunta da sauri, fuskarta ta cika da tsananin kunya da takaici.

“Ya Allah…” ta faɗa a ranta. “Ka ɗauki raina yanzun nan!”

Zayd kuwa ya tsaya cak. Fuskarsa a yadda take, calm, unreadable, amma sai da wani ɗan murmushi ya subuce masa a gefen baki. Ya ɗage gira yana sake kallon fuskarta, wadda ke kallon ƙasa, tana jin dama kawai a cire ranta a wurin saboda uwar kunyar da ta kama ta.

“And now, what would you call this?” ya faɗa a hankali, har yanzu murmushin bai bar fuskar shi ba. Muryarsa cike da wani irin zolaya da ba a kasafai ake ganin sa a tare da shi ba. Yayin da yake maganar, a hankali ya sauke tafin hannunsa ɗaya a kan cikinta, ya fara yawo da shi a kai, cikin da yake a shafe lum, kamar ba shi ne yunwa ke ƙwakulewa ba, ko kuma ƙarar da ke tashi daga cikinsa.

Raihana ta ji kamar an sa mata electric shock. A zabure ta ja baya da nufin ta ƙwace jikinta, amma Zayd, wanda ya riga ya lura da motsinta, ya sa ɗayan hannunsa da ke riƙe da nata ya tallafo ƙugunta sosai, ya sake manna ta da jikinsa. Numfashinta ya gauraye da nasa. Ta zaro idanunta waje, ba ta san sanda ta ɗago kai tana kallon sa ba, kuma a lokacin duk wani ƙarfi da take zaton tana da shi ya fara ƙare mata a jiki.

“Kin yi sahur kuwa?” ya faɗa a hankali, muryarsa na sauka a cikin ɗakin da wani irin yanayi mai cike da tsokana. Idanunsa suka zame a hankali daga kan idanunta, suka sauka kai tsaye a kan leɓunanta da ke ta faman rawa saboda tsoro.

Raihana ta maida idanunta ta rufe na seconds kaɗan, tana jin yadda bugun zuciyarta ke barazanar fasa ƙirjinta.

“Ni ba wani azumi da nake yi… kawai ba zan ci abincinta ba, wallahi!” ta amsa da ƙyar, muryarta na rawa sosai, tana ƙoƙarin kau da kanta gefe don ta guji haɗa idanu da shi. “Ka… ka sake ni, don Allah. Please, just let me go!”

Zayd ya tsaya yana kallon yadda take ta faman karkatar da kanta tana gudu daga gare shi. Maimakon ya sake ta, sai ya ɗan karkata kansa kaɗan, fuskarsa da ta natsu tsaf tana bin jikinta da wani ɗan iskan kallo ta ko’ina, kuma har lokacin hannunsa da ke kan cikinta bai janye daga yawon da yake ba.

Sai kawai cikin zafin nama kafin ta Ankara ya juya ta, bayanta ya manne da faffaɗan ƙirjinsa, ya sake balancing tafin hannunsa a kan cikinta.

Raihana ta zaro idanu, tana jin kamar ranta zai fita saboda bala’in tsoratar da ta yi. A hankali ya rankwafa, ya ɗora habarsa a kan kafaɗarta, ya zuro fuskarsa ta gefen kunneta, ya fara sakar mata numfashi a kunne. Da sauri ta runtse idanunta. Jikinta ya fara karkarwa, ƙafafunta suka fara sanyi kamar suna shirin watsar da ita a wurin.

“Saboda abincin nata ne ba za ki ci ba? Ni da na ci na rage miki, na mutu ne?” ya tambaya, muryarsa a cikin wata irin raɗa da ta ratsa kunnenta sannan ta bi ko’ina a jikinta.

Raihana ta ji kamar jini ya daina gudana a jikinta. Raɗar da ya sakar mata a kunne ta bi ta wuya, ta sauka a kafaɗa, har ta sa tafin kafarta ɗaukar wani uban sanyii. For a few seconds, ta kasa ko motsi. Her whole body had gone tense, and she could hear nothing except the violent beating of her own heart.

Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa, yana jin yadda ƙamshin jikinta yake ta faman zautar da lissafinsa. For a moment, kamar hankalinsa ya tsaya cak, yana ƙoƙarin control ɗin kansa. A hankali, wani ɗan guntun nishi ya yi escaping daga bakinsa, kusan ba tare da ya ankara ba.

“Uhn… now answer me da na ci na mutu?”

Raihana ta ja numfashi, tana sake jin haushinsa na dawowa mata a hankali. Cikin wata murya, ko ita kanta she’s not sure ko tana jin kanta, ta ce, “Toh me ruwana? Don ka ci shine kuma aka ce ni ma zan ci.”

Zayd ya yi ɗan sama da hannunsa daga kan cikinta, kamar zai yi landing ɗinsu a chest ɗinta. Zuciyar Raihana ta harba da sauri. Ta rike hannunsa dake ƙoƙarin sauka a kirjinta, cikin rawar murya ta ce, “Dan Allah muje… zanci,” muryarta ta sauka a rarrabe.

A daidai lokacin aka yi knocking a ƙofar ɗakin Raihana. Raihana ta sake rikicewa. Idanunta suka yi saurin komawa kan ƙofar, zuciyarta na bugawa da wani irin sauri. Cikin muryar raɗa, tana jin tsoron ko ma waye a wajen kar ya ji maganar, ko kuma ya shigo ya same su a haka, ta fara magana cikin gaggawa,

“Kaga an zo… don girman Allah, let go of me.”

Zayd ya kalleta na wasu seconds, fuskarsa calm kamar babu abin da ya faru. Sai ya karkata kansa kusa da kunnenta, ya rada mata, da wata murya da ta sa Raihana feel like she was about to lose control right there.

“Allow her.”

Raihana ta zaro idanu. “Ta shigo ta ga abinda zai makantar da ita. Dan Allah a’ah ka rufamin asiri.”

Kawai sai jin saukar hannun nashi tayi akan kirjinta yana yawo a hankali bakinshi a kan kunnenta yana hura mata wata iska da Raihana taji kamar daga fridge tsaban sanyinta cikinta ya fara karkarwa taji kaman fitsari na bin ƙafata. “Dan… Allah! Wayyo dan Allah ka daina..”

A daidai lokacin sai aka sake knocking a ƙofar. Muryar Suhaila ta fito daga waje. “Akhie, Mommy tazo. She’s downstairs.”

Raihana ta sake rikicewa. Tana cigaba da ƙoƙarin ƙwacewa daga hannunsa, ta sake rada cikin gaggawa, amma da wata murya mai cike da shagwaba wacce bata san ma ta ya ta iya ba:

“Kaga Suhaila ce tazo faaa! Don Allah, ka barni. Zan ci, wallahi. Zan ci!”

Zayd ya kalleta na wasu seconds, idanunsa cike da wani irin calmness da ya ƙara dagula mata lissafi.

“Hmm yanzu zaki daina jin yunwa I’m sure…” Muryarsa ta fito can ƙasa yana sake yawo da hannunshi a duka faɗin kirjinta.

Raihana ta sake ƙoƙarin janye jikinta. “Please dan Allah ka daina Wlh na daina jii…”

Daga ƙarshe ba tare da ya sake cewa komai ba kawai sai ya cika ta, amma da sauri ya juya mata baya kafin ma ta ankara. Kai tsaye ya faɗa toilet.

Raihana ta tsaya cak. Ta kalle ƙofar da ya rufe, sannan ta lumshe idanunta tana jan wani uban numfashi, kamar wacce aka gama ceto daga wani irin bala’i.

“Ya Allah…” Sai ta kai hannu a kirjinta tana jin zuciyarta na bugawa da ƙarfi. “This man will finish me one day,” ta faɗa a ranta.

Da sauri ta gyara veil ɗinta, ta nufi ƙofar ta buɗe, tana kau da kai daga kallon Suhaila. Suhaila ta kalleta tana murmushi. “Wai dama kina ciki?”

Raihana ta ɗan sosa kai. “Uhmm… bacci nake.”

“Ashe?” Suhaila ta yi yar dariya tana washe baki. “Na zo fa. Ai na fi ƙarfin one hour ina jiran Akhie, da yace ya tafi kiranki. Har bacci ya fara ɗauka na. Sai ga Mommy, ita ma tazo. Shine tace na muku magana.”

Raihana ta ji kamar ta fashe da kuka. Yanzu dama ya san Suhaila na gidan nan? Ya yi mata haka? “Wayyo Allah…”

Amma a zahiri sai ta dake, ta daidaita fuskarta, cikin sanyin murya ta ce, “Bai faɗa min ba ma. Ban san kin zo ba. Ki yi haƙuri.”

Suhaila ta kamo hannunta, tana jin ƙamshin Zayd a jikin Raihana kamar har yana tsaye a wajen. “Kaii, meye na ba da haƙuri? Dama fa abinci ne. Ummie tace na kawo miki. Mu je ƙasa, Mommy tana jira.”

Raihana ta haɗiye yawu. “Okay…”

Daga nan suka fara takowa. Amma Raihana, jikinta gabaɗaya ya yi sanyi. Kowace step da take ɗauka, sai ta ji kamar akwai wani abu a jikinta da yake fallasa abin da ya faru. Tana kallon Suhaila ta gefen ido, tana jin kamar kowa zai gane Zayd na tare da ita ne a ɗakin. Wayyo Allah…

Ta ɗan sunkuyar da kai, ta na ƙoƙarin suppressing the panic ɗin da ke neman bayyana a fuskarta, sannan ta ci gaba da bin Suhaila a hankali har suka karaso falon.

Hajiya Hauwa kuwa tana zaune a hakimce cikin falon cikin wani irin nutsuwa, kamar irin duk wani buri na duniya ya gama cika. Lace ɗin da ta sanya kaɗai abun kallo ne, mai tsadar gaske, kamar ma lokacin ne sawarta na farko, mai kyau ne sosai, an yi masa ɗinki cikin salo na manyan mata, yayin da veil ɗin da ke kanta ya ƙara mata wani irin kima. Gwalagwalan da ke jikinta suna ta zuba kyalli a hankali duk lokacin da ta motsa, daga wuyanta zuwa hannayenta, komai na jikinta yana nuna tsari da tsada sannan da nuna ita wace ce.

Amma abin da ya fi komai jan hankali shi ne kamshin turaren da ke tattare da ita, mai daɗi, mai nauyi, wanda ya cika kusan ko'ina a gidan, irin kamshin da har mutum ya bar wajen amma kamshinsa na nn daram kamar yana zaune.

Da ta hango Raihana tana karasowa falon, sai fuskarta ta haskaka da murmushi. Ba tare da ta jira Raihana ta karaso gabanta ba, Hajiya Hauwa ta mike tsaye da sauri, tana kallonta cike da farin ciki. “Raihana…” Sai ta nufi wajenta.

Kafin Raihana ta kai ga cewa komai, Hajiya Hauwa ta riga ta rungumeta sosai, rungumar da babu wani abu a cikinta face wata irin kulawa da duk wanda yake wajen tabbas zai ga hakan. Raihana kuwa ta tsaya cak na wasu dakikoki, jikinta ya ɗan yi sanyi saboda mamaki, kafin ta saki jikinta cikin rungumar.

Hajiya Hauwa ta rike ta da kyau, tana bubbuga bayanta a hankali. “Yarinya ta…” Muryarta cike take da wani irin farin ciki na gaske. Ta sake janye ta kaɗan daga jikinta, hannayenta har yanzu suna kan kafadun Raihana, sannan ta fara kallonta. Ta daɗe tana kallonta ba ko kiftawa, kamar tana son ta haddace kowanne bangare na fuskarta.

Raihana kuwa ta kasa dago kanta. Kunyar ta mamaye ta. Ta sunkuyar da kanta ƙasa, hannayenta a hade a gabanta, zuciyarta kuwa cike take da tambayoyi. Amma duk abin da Raihana ta gani a gabanta ya yi sabani da abin da zuciyarta ta shirya gani. Domin matar da ke gabanta ba ta nuna mata komai ba sai ƙauna, sai kulawa, sai irin wannan warmth din da mutum yake ji daga mai kaunarsa tun kafin ma a furta kalma.

Hajiya Hauwa ta dan daga mata habarta a hankali, tana kokarin ganin fuskarta. “Ki dago ki kalleni mana.”

Raihana ta dan daga idanunta kadan, amma nan take ta sake sunkuyar da su. Hajiya Hauwa ta yi wata karamar dariya. “Subhanallah… har kunyarki ya kai haka? I’m also your mum fa.”

Raihana ta kasa cewa komai sai murmushi mai cike da kunya. A gefe kuwa, Suhaila tana tsaye tana kallon su. Ta kasa boye mamakinta. Ta kalli Hajiya Hauwa, sannan ta kalli Raihana. A ranta kuwa sai ta ce: Ikon Allah. Domin ba wannan hoton da ta yi tsammani bane. Ta san Mum. Ta san yadda take bala’in son Seeyama da gudun bacin ranta, bata zaci haka zatayi welcoming kishiyar Seeyama ba. Amma yau itace take kallon Raihana kamar wacce ta dade tana jiran zuwanta.

Suhaila ta dan girgiza kai a hankali, tana murmushi zuciyarta na raya abu daya: maybe mommy has changed.

Hajiya Hauwa ta kama hannun Raihana a hankali, ba tare da ta bata mata lokaci ba, ta ja ta tare da ita zuwa wajen sofa. Ta zauna, sannan ta zaunar da Raihana kusa da ita sosai. Nan take ta gyara mata mayafin kanta da ya dan zame, ta ja gefensa da kyau har ya zauna yadda ya kamata a kanta. Sai ta kalleta na ƴan daƙiƙu, murmushi mai cike da kauna bai gushe daga fuskarta ba.

A hankali ta ɗaga hannunta ta shafi fuskar Raihana. “Welcome to your home, daughter.”

Raihana ta yi wani ɗan murmushi mai kama da yaƙe, zuciyarta kuwa wani irin abu ne ya tokare mata makogwaro wanda taƙamaimai ba zatace ga shi ba. Ta kasa ɗaga ido sosai. “Ina kwana,” ta faɗa cikin sanyin murya.

Hajiya Hauwa ta amsa mata, idanunta har yanzu a kanta. “Lafiya kalau, daughter.” Ta ɗan yi shiru tana kare mata kallo, kamar tana son ta fahimci yarinyar da take gabanta sosai. “Ya kwanan baƙunta?”

Raihana ta sake yin murmushi kawai. “Lafiya…” Sai ta fara wasa da yatsun hannunta saboda kunya, tana haɗa su tana sake rarrabewa. Hajiya Hauwa ta kalli hannun nata sannan ta dawo da kallonta kan fuskar Raihana, murmushinta ya ƙara faɗaɗa.

A wannan lokacin Suhaila kuwa tana nan gefe tana kallon su, zuciyarta cike da wani irin mamaki. Hajiya Hauwa ta ɗago kai ta kalli Suhaila. “Je ki kiramun Seeyama.”

Suhaila ta amsa nan take. “Toh.” Ta mike daga inda take, ta nufi ƙofar falon. Kafin ta fita, ta sake kallon Raihana na ɗan lokaci, sannan ta juya ta fice daga ɗakin domin ta je ta kira Seeyama.

Raihana kuwa ta ci gaba da zama kusa da Hajiya Hauwa, kanta a sunkuye, zuciyarta cike da abubuwan da ba ta san yadda za ta fassara su ba. Da gaske wannan ita ce Mum ɗin Seeyama? Me ya sa take karɓata haka…???