THE GIRL WHO DARED

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER-TWO: 2*

*THE GIRL WHO DARED*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

⸻

*ARMAAN MANSION.*

*Ƙarfe biyu da rabi na rana.*

Babbar ƙofar ƙarfen Armaan Mansion ta buɗe a hankali, lead vehicle ta fara shiga, sai Mercedes-Maybach ɗin Zayd a bayanta, sauran motocin suka biyo cikin tsari.

Harabar gidan ta yi shiru, sai ƙar fountain da ke tsakiyarta, da kuma iska mai kaɗa ganyayen palm trees da aka jera a gefuna.

Da motar ta tsaya a gaban entrance, direba ya fito da sauri ya buɗe ƙofar baya.

Zayd ya fito cikin nutsuwa.

Ya gyara cuff ɗin rigarsa kaɗan, sannan ya nufi ƙofar shiga.

Butler ɗin gidan, Ibrahim, ya karɓi briefcase ɗinsa cikin girmamawa.

“Welcome home, Sir.”

Zayd ya gyada kai kaɗan.

“Ummie tana ina?”

“A family lounge, Sir.”

Bai ƙara cewa komai ba, ya nufi hanyar family lounge.

*⸻*

A cikin lounge ɗin kuwa, Ummie zaune take kan babban sofa mai launin cream. Qur’aninta yana gefenta, tea cup kuma a kan ƙaramin table. Gefen cinyarta kuwa, Suhaila ce kwance cikin walwala tana danna wayarta, wani lokacin tana murmushi ita kaɗai.

Da Ummie ta ɗaga kai, sai idanunta suka sauka kan Zayd. Fuskarta ta wadatu da murmushi.

“Alhamdulillah,” ta furta a hankali, “Zaydunaaa.”

Da jin muryarta, Suhaila ta ɗago daga wayarta. Ta kalle shi, “finally,” ta faɗa tana murmushi.

Amma Zayd ko kallonta bai yi ba, kai tsaye ya ƙarasa gaban Ummie.

Ya durƙusa a gabanta. Ya kamo hannunta biyu cikin natsuwa. A hankali ya kai hannunta zuwa bakinsa, ya sumbace shi cikin girmamawa.

“Assalamu Alaikum, Ummie.”

Ta shafa gefen fuskarsa cikin tsananin ƙauna.

“Wa Alaikumus Salam, ɗana. Ya jikinki?”

Ta yi murmushi, “Alhamdulillah. Sai da na gan ka na ƙara samun sauƙi.”

Ya ɗan sunkuyar da kansa, “I’m sorry, na makara.”

“Ba komai, tunda ka zo lafiya,” ta ci gaba da shafa kansa, “Allah Ya ci gaba da tsare min kai.”

“Ameen.”

Har yanzu yana durƙushe a gabanta, sai Suhaila ta turo baki.

“Wow, ni kuma kamar ba a ganina.”

Zayd ya juyo ya kalle ta, “au wai har yanzu kina nan?”

Ta zauna da sauri, “excuse me? Tun ɗazu nake tare da Ummie.”

Ya miƙe ya zauna kusa da Ummie, sannan ya ɗan ja gefen rigar Suhaila cikin wasa, “matsa.”

Ta riƙe rigar, “wayyo! Ummie, kin ganshi ko?”

Ummie ta yi dariya, “ku daina rigima.”

Suhaila ta matsa kusa da shi, ta zuba masa ido, “ka dawo hannunka babu komai?”

Ya ɗaga gira, “wane abu kike jira na zo da shi?”

“Gift mana. Ka fita jiya, kuma ka san ba ka dawowa babu abin da za kawo mini.”

Ya ci gaba da kallonta na wasu daƙiƙu, sai ya ce cikin sanyin murya, “na manta.”

Suhaila ta buɗe baki, “what? Da gaske?” Ta juya wajen Ummie, “kin ji shi? Ya manta da ni.”

Ummie ta girgiza kai tana murmushi, “ka daina tsokanarta.”

A hankali, gefen bakin Zayd ya ɗan motsa. Ba cikakken murmushi ba, sai ƙaramin murmushin da ba kasafai yake yi ba. Ya saka hannu cikin aljihun suit ɗinsa, ya zaro ƙaramin velvet box, ya ajiye a gaban Suhaila.

“Buɗe.”

Idanunta suka haskaka, “na san ba za ka manta da ni ba.” Ta buɗe box ɗin da sauri. Wata gold bracelet mai matuƙar kyau ce a ciki.

“Ya Allah!” ta miƙe da sauri, ta rungume ɗan uwanta, “thank you! You are the best.”

Ya girgiza kai kawai, “drama queen.”

Ta ɗan bugi kafaɗarsa, “kai ne.”

Ummie ta bi su da kallo, zuciyarta ta cika da farin ciki. Irin waɗannan lokutan su ne suka fi faranta mata rai.

Ta ɗaga hannu, “yanzu ku zo, kada abinci ya huce.”

Suhaila ta yi saurin kama hannun Zayd, “mu je, yau ba zan bari ka tsere ba.”

Ta ja shi zuwa dining area.

Zayd ya kalli Ummie. Ta yi masa alamar ya bi ta, shi ma ya miƙe cikin nutsuwa, ya bi su.

A karo na farko cikin ranar, ya ji wani irin natsuwa da ba ya samu a ko’ina sai cikin gidansu.

Ummie da kanta ta karaso ta fara serving Zayd. Ta gama zuba masa white rice da vegetable soup a gefe, ta sake dauko wani bowl ta zuba masa kayan cikin saniya, ta tura masa gabansa.

“Ci wannan.”

Ya ɗaga ido ya kalle ta, “Ummie, ya isa.”

Ta ɗan harare shi, “ya isa kuma? Tun safe ka fita, yanzu ka dawo kana cewa ya isa?”

Ya yi murmushi kaɗan, “na ci a office.”

Suhaila ta saki dariya, “wallahi Ummie, office ɗinsa ya fi abinci muhimmanci.”

Zayd ya ɗaga gira yana kallonta, “kin gama?”

Ta ɗaga spoon ɗinta, “a’a.”

Duk suka yi dariya.

Ummie ta girgiza kai, “ku daina rigima ku ci abincinku.”

Suka ci gaba da cin abincin cikin walwala.

Suhaila ce ta fara ba da labarin yadda wata lecturer ta kusa fitar da su gaba ɗaya daga class saboda surutu. Har ita kanta ta kasa riƙe dariyarta tana ba da labarin.

Ummie ma ta yi dariya, “kullum sai wani labarin abinda ya faru a school daga wajenki. Ni fa ban yi komai ba.”

“Kina tare da waɗanda suka yi.”

Zayd ya girgiza kai, “to ai laifi ne.”

“Very serious.”

Ta turo baki, “haba Akhii.”

Daga nan Ummie ta ce, “ni kuma yau na je Foundation.”

Zayd ya ɗago kai, “ya aka yi?”

“Alhamdulillah. Sun kai kayan abinci unguwar Rigasa. Amma akwai wasu yara marayu da suke buƙatar sponsorship na makaranta.”

Ta yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, “ina tunanin idan muka ƙara budget ɗin wannan shekarar…”

Ba ta ƙarasa ba.

Zayd ya ajiye spoon ɗinsa, “ayi komai Ummie.”

Ta kalle shi, “budget ɗin zai yi yawa.”

“Ba damuwa. Bana son a samu wani yaro da zai rasa makaranta saboda kuɗi.”

Ummie ta yi murmushi, “Allah Ya saka maka da alheri.”

“Ameen.”

Suhaila ta yi dariya, “ni dai na sani. Duk lokacin da Ummie ta fara magana game da Foundation, Akhii baya jira sai maganar a ƙara kuɗi.”

Zayd ya kalleta, “problem?”

Ta yi saurin girgiza kai, “no sir.”

Duk suka sake dariya.

Bayan sun gama cin abinci, Zayd ya tashi daga kujerarsa cikin nutsuwa. Ya ɗauki glass ɗin ruwan da ke gabansa ya sha kaɗan, sannan ya mayar a hankali.

Ya kalli Ummie, “kin ci sosai?”

Ta yi murmushi, “na ci, Alhamdulillah.”

Ya ɗan gyara zaman kujerarta, “magani fa kin sha?”

Ta yi dariya, “kullum sai ka faɗa.”

“Saboda ba ki tunawa.”

Suhaila ta saki karamar dariya.

Ummie ta girgiza kai tana kallon ɗanta da wata irin ƙauna, “Allah Ya yi maka albarka.”

“Ameen.”

A hankali ya miƙe tsaye. Ya miƙa mata hannu, “taso na kai ki daki ki huta kafin Asr.”

Ta ɗora hannunta cikin nasa. Ba don ba za ta iya tafiya ba, sai don ya saba yi. Tun bayan rasuwar mahaifinsa, Zayd ne ya maye gurbin komai a gare ta.

A hankali suka fito daga dining hall. Dogon corridor mai yalwar haske suka bi. A gefen bangon corridor ɗin akwai manyan hotunan iyalin Armaan, tare da wasu awards da certificates da kamfanin ya samu tsawon shekaru.

Suhaila kuwa tana binsu a baya tana danna wayarta.

Da suka isa ƙofar ɗakin Ummie, ta tsaya tana kallonsa. Shi kuwa ya ɗan sunkuya, ya sumbaci goshinta cikin girmamawa.

Ummie ta ɗora hannunta kan kansa,

“Allah Ya tsare ka.” “Ameen.”

“Allah Ya buɗe maka kofofin alheri.” “Ameen.”

“Allah Ya sa ka zama abin alfaharin duniya da lahira.” “Ameen.”

Zayd ya buɗe mata ƙofar. Ta tsaya kafin ta shiga. Ta ɗaga hannu ta shafa gefen fuskarsa, “ka huta sosai, don’t stress yourself too much.”

Ya yi murmushi kaɗan, “In Sha Allah.”

“Kada ka daɗe kana aiki yau.”

“Zan yi ƙoƙari.”

Ta san kalmar “ƙoƙari” a wurinsa tana nufin zai sake kwana cikin aiki. Sai dai ba ta ce komai ba. Ta shiga ɗakin.

Zayd ya jira har ta shige sosai sannan ya rufe mata ƙofa cikin nutsuwa.

Daga nan ya juya. Suhaila har yanzu tana tsaye. Da ta gan shi sai ta yi saurin ɓoye wayarta a baya.

Ya ɗaga gira, “waye kuma?”

Ta yi kamar ba ta gane ba, “waye?”

“Wanda kike chatting.”

Ta yi murmushi, “secret.”

Ya girgiza kai, “kar ki wahalar da kanki dai.”

Ta turo baki, “ni fa ba kamar wasu nake ba.”

“Wasu kuma?” ya tambaya.

“Waɗanda rayuwarsu office, meeting, office, meeting.”

Ya yi ɗan murmushi, “kina da surutu.”

“I know.”

Ya shafa kanta a hankali, “go and rest.”

“Alright, Mr. Busy.”

Ta juya tana dariya ta nufi sashenta.

Ta shiga ɗakinta cikin murmushi.

Sai ya juya cikin nutsuwa ya nufi sashensa. Dogon corridor ɗin gidan ya sake yin shiru, sai ƙaramar ƙarar takalmansa masu tsada da ke bugun tiles ɗin ƙasa.

Da ya isa ƙofar private suite ɗinsa, fingerprint sensor ya haska, beep. Ƙofar ta buɗe kai tsaye.

Ya shiga. A hankali ya cire suit jacket ɗinsa, ya rataya shi a kan wooden stand da ke gefen ƙofar. Ya sassauta tie ɗinsa. Sannan ya buɗe cufflinks ɗin hannayensa ya ajiye su a kan ƙaramin crystal tray.

Ɗakin nasa kamar kullum, tsaf, shiru, cike da ƙamshin sandalwood da oud mai laushi.

A wani gefen ɗakin akwai private lounge. A wani gefen kuma akwai floor-to-ceiling glass window da ke nuna dukkan hasken birnin Kaduna cikin dare.

Ya taka har bakin glass ɗin. Ya saka hannu cikin aljihunsa. Ya tsaya yana kallon city lights. Motoci na kai-komo, rayuwa na tafiya. Amma shi, duk wannan hayaniyar garin ba ta taɓa shiga cikin duniyarsa ba.

A gare shi, rayuwa ta kasu gida uku ne kawai, family, work, and responsibility. Komai nasa yana zagaye da waɗannan ukun. Babu lokacin banza, babu fita domin nishaɗi, babu abokai masu yawon shakatawa, babu soyayya. Ko tunaninta ma, bai taɓa ba kansa damar yi ba.

Wayarsa ta yi ƙaramar vibration. Ya ɗauka. Notification ce daga Head of Security. Ya duba kawai. Ya kashe screen ɗin. Ya ajiye wayar.

Daga nan ya shiga walk-in closet. Ya ɗauki towel. Ya nufi bathroom.

Ƙaramin lokaci kaɗan, ya fito bayan ya gama wanka. Ruwan da ke jikinsa ya ƙara masa wani irin nutsuwa. Ya sake kallon agogon bango.

Sai ya nufi closet ɗinsa. Bayan mintuna kaɗan ya fito cikin simple black joggers da farin T-shirt.

Sai ya karasa ya kwanta a kan faffadan gadonsa cikin nutsuwa. Bai daɗe da lumshe idanunsa ba, gajiyar ranar ta rinjaye shi, bacci mai nauyi ya ɗauke shi.

*——-*

*GIDAN MALAM MUSA*

*2:00 PM*

Daidai lokacin da agogon parlour ya buga ƙarfe biyu na rana, Raihana ta turo ƙaramar ƙofar gidan ta shigo cikin matuƙar gajiya. Zafin ranar ya bayyana a fuskarta, duk da haka ta yi ƙoƙarin yin murmushi.

A tsakiyar gidan kuwa, kowa na cikin aikinsa.

Mama Sabuwa tana zaune kan kujera ƙarƙashin inuwa tana gyaran wake cikin babban tray.

Mama Indo kuwa ta shimfiɗa igiya tana shanya kayan da ta wanke, lokaci zuwa lokaci tana yarfe zanin kafin ta shanya shi.

A gefe guda kuma, Bintu da Maryam ƴan uwan Raihana suna zaune kan tabarma ɗaya suna cin shinkafa daga kwano guda, suna ta hira suna dariya.

Da shigowarta, ta yi sallama cikin ladabi, “assalamu alaikum.”

Mama Indo ta ɗago kai, “wa’alaikumus salam.”

Maryam ma ta amsa cikin fara’a, “wa’alaikumus salam.”

Amma Mama Sabuwa ko ɗagowa ba ta yi ba, ta ci gaba da gyaran waken nata kamar ba ta ji komai ba. Bintu ma ta ɗaga ido ta kalli Raihana kawai, ta taɓe baki kaɗan, sannan ta ci gaba da cin abincinta.

Raihana ta saba. Ba sabon abu ba ne. Tun tana ƙarama ta san ba kowa ne a gidan nan yake sonta ba. Sai dai ba ta taɓa bari hakan ya canja mata halinta ba.

Ta yi murmushi a hankali, “sannunku da gida.”

Ba wanda ya amsa. Sai Mama Indo kaɗai ta ce, “yauwa sannu da zuwa.”

Raihana ta gyada kai cikin girmamawa, “nagode Mama.”

Ba tare da ta tsaya ba ta nufi entrance ɗin ɓangaren Ummanta cikin sauri.

“Kai Raihana!” muryar Maryam ta dakatar da ita. Ta juya.

Maryam ta miƙe daga kan tabarmar tana siddar hannunta, “Khausar fa ta zo.”

Raihana ta ɗaga gira, “da gaske?”

Maryam ta gyada kai, “eh mana. Ba ta daɗe da tafiya ba. Ta ce maganar bikin Aseeya da za a fara yau ce. Dama ta kawo mana gate pass ɗinmu.”

Ta shiga ɗaki da sauri ta fito da wasu ƙananan katuna masu launin gold guda uku. Ta miƙa ɗaya ga Raihana, “ga naki.”

Raihana ta karɓa tana dubawa. An rubuta da manyan haruffa:

*ASEEYA’S WEDDING GRAND DINNER*

Ta ɗan yi murmushi, “ai na manta ma yau za a fara.”

Maryam ta yi dariya, “ke dai karatunki ya kusa sa ki manta da komai.”

Raihana ta girgiza kai tana dariya, “wallahi haka ne.”

Ta saka gate pass ɗin cikin littafinta, “nagode sosai. Ko akwai abinda ta ce?”

Maryam ta yi dariya, “ta ce idan kin dawo ki kira ta. Ta ce ta san kina zuwa practical ne, shi yasa ba ta jira ki ba.”

Nan take murmushi ya bayyana a fuskar Raihana, “Allah Ya bar min Khausar. Bari zan kira ta ince mata na dawo.”

Maryam ta gyada kai, “ta ce ki tabbatar kin shirya da wuri. Yau ba za ta yarda ki ba ta excuse ba.”

Raihana ta yi dariya, “to In Sha Allah.”

Daga nan ta sake juyawa, ta nufi ɗakin Ummanta. Da ta shiga parlour, ba ta tarar da Ummanta ba. Ta ɗan tsaya na wasu daƙiƙu, ta san idan ba ta falon, to tana ɗaki ne.

A hankali ta tura ƙofar bedroom ɗin. Ta tarar da Ummanta zaune a kan sallayarta. Da alama yanzu ta idar da Sallar Azahar kenan. Tasbaha ce a hannunta, bakinta na motsi a hankali tana addu’o’inta bayan sallah. Hasken rana da ke ratsowa ta labulen taga ya sauka kan fuskarta, yana ƙara fito da natsuwa da annurin da ke cikinta.

Raihana ta tsaya bakin ƙofar ba tare da ta katse ta ba. Ta jira cikin ladabi har ta kammala zikrin nata. Daga nan ta shafa fuskarta da tafukan hannayenta. Ta ɗaga kai, idanunta suka sauka kan Raihana. Nan take murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta.

“Raihanata…”

Raihana ta ƙarasa da sauri, ta durƙusa kusa da ita, “Umma.”

Ummanta ta shafa kanta, “kin dawo kenan?”

“Eh Umma.”

“Sannu da zuwa.”

“Yauwa Umma.”

Ta ɗan kalleta sosai, “gajiya ta bayyana a fuskarki.”

Raihana ta yi murmushi, “practical ne ya ɗan wahalar, kuma yunwa nake ji.”

Umma ta kamo hannunta, “Allah Ya sa albarka, Ya kuma ba ki ikon kammalawa.”

“Ameen, Umma.”

Sai Raihana ta jingina kanta a kafadar mahaifiyarta kamar ƙaramar yarinya. Ta lumshe idanunta. Ta ji wani irin natsuwa ya ratsa zuciyarta. A duk lokacin da take cikin damuwa, babu inda take samun kwanciyar hankali kamar kusa da Ummanta.

Umma ta ci gaba da shafa kanta a hankali, “kin dawo da wuri yau.”

Raihana ta ɗan yi murmushi, “Alhamdulillah, ban makara ba. Na kuma tuna alkawarin da na yi masa.”

Umma ta sauke ajiyar zuciya, “Alhamdulillah.”

Shiru ya ɗan ratsa tsakaninsu. Sai Raihana ta tuna da gate pass ɗin da Maryam ta ba ta. Ta ɗago daga cinyar Ummanta.

“Umma, Khausar ta zo ɗazu. Ta kawo mana gate pass.”

Ta ciro katin daga cikin littafinta ta miƙa mata.

Umma ta karɓi gate pass ɗin tana dubawa a hankali. Ta yi murmushi, “bikin Aseeya kenan.”

“Eh Umma.”

Ta mayar mata da katin, “to, ki jira Baffanki ya dawo. Ki sake gaya masa yau ne za a fara bikin.”

Raihana ta ɗan yi dariya, “Umma, ai dama tun satin da ya wuce nake faɗa masa akwai bikin. Bintu da Maryam ma duk za su je.”

Umma ta yi murmushi, “na sani. Amma duk da haka ki sake faɗa masa. Ba na son a sake samun wata damuwa.”

Raihana ta gyada kai cikin biyayya, “to Umma, zan sake faɗa masa.”

“Yanzu je kitchen. Abincinki yana can. Ki ci. Ki ɗan huta. Daga baya sai ki kira Khausar.”

Raihana ta yi murmushi, “In Sha Allah Umma.”

Ta miƙe tsaye. Sannan ta fita daga ɗakin cikin nutsuwa tana nufar kitchen, yunwar yanzu ta fara bayyana sosai.

*——-*

*ARMAAN MANSION 9:00PM*

Bayan dinner, yayi sallama da Ummie. Kai tsaye ya nufi wani ƙaramin corridor da ke cikin private suite ɗinsa.

A ƙarshensa, akwai wata ƙofa guda ɗaya, baƙar ƙofa mai sauƙin gani. Ya tura ta. A hankali ta buɗe.

*ZAYD’S STUDY ROOM*

Wannan shi ne wajen da kusan kowa a gidan ya san ba ya son hayaniya.

Study room ɗin ba shi da kayan ado masu yawa, sai manyan shelves cike da littattafai, business, law, finance, leadership, history, da kuma wasu files masu yawa da aka tsara cikin tsari.

A tsakiyar ɗakin akwai babban wooden desk. A kansa akwai laptop, iPad, da wasu files guda uku da ke jiran shi.

Ya zauna a kujerarsa. Ya buɗe laptop. Ya fara aiki.

Shiru ya sake mamaye ɗakin, sai ƙar keyboard, da kuma tik… tik… na agogon bango.

Ya lumshe idanunsa na ɗan lokaci. Sannan ya buɗe drawer ya ɗauki wayarsa. Ya danna number guda. Ba ta daɗe ba aka ɗaga.

“Yes, Boss.”

“Come to my study.”

“Right away, Sir.”

Ya kashe wayar.

Bayan kusan minti biyu, aka yi knocking,

“Come in.”

Sameer ya shigo cikin nutsuwa, “sannu da dare, Boss.”

Ya gyada kai, “sit.”

Sameer ya zauna. Ya lura Boss ɗinsa ba ya magana, hakan ya sa shi ma ya yi shiru. Bayan wasu daƙiƙu, Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa.

“Sameer.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“…who was that girl?”

Sameer ya ɗan yi mamaki, “wace…?”

“The lady that stopped the convoy.”

“Oh,” ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, “I don’t know, Boss.”

Zayd ya haɗe hannayensa a kan tebur, “find her.”

Sameer ya gyara zamansa, “Boss, na saka a dauko maka ita ne?”

A karon farko, ƙaramin murmushi ya bayyana a gefen bakin Zayd. Murmushi mai sanyi, wanda yake fitowa da wuya.

“No.”

Ya ɗan kalli gilashin study room ɗin, inda hasken birnin Kaduna yake kyalli. Sannan ya ce cikin sanyin murya,

“I just want to know… who dared to stand in front of my convoy.”

Sameer ya gyada kai, “I’ll find her, Boss.”

Zayd bai sake cewa komai ba. Ya ɗauki file ɗinsa ya sake buɗewa.

****✍️*