THE INVITATION

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER-THREE: 3*

*THE INVITATION*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Da yamma misalin ƙarfe biyar, Baffa Musa ya dawo daga kasuwa. Bayan ya yi wanka ya ci abinci, ya fito ya zauna a tsakar gida kan tabarmarsa nan ƙarƙashin bishiyar mangwaro.

A gefensa ƙaramin rediyo ne, sautinta a hankali tana yaɗa labaran yamma. Yana zaune cikin natsuwa yana sauraro, sai ya ga Raihana da Maryam suna tahowa a tare.

Da suka ƙaraso suka zauna gabansa cikin ladabi.

“Assalamu Alaikum, Baffa.”

“Wa Alaikumus Salam,” ya amsa yana kallonsu.

Suka yi masa gaisuwa ɗaya bayan ɗaya, ya amsa yana kallonsu, sai shiru ya biyo baya.

Baffa Musa ya ɗan yi murmushi. Tun kafin su yi magana, ya riga ya fahimci akwai abin da ya kawo su. A hankali ya miƙa hannu ya rage ƙarar rediyon, sannan ya mayar da hankalinsa kansu.

“Ina sauraronku.”

Raihana ta kalli Maryam na ɗan lokaci kafin ta fara magana cikin nutsuwa.

“Baffa, dama bikin Aseeya ne za a fara yau. Yau za su yi kasuwar kauye ne, gobe kuma Dinner, jibi kuma daurin aure da yini.”

Ta ɗan yi shiru kafin ta ce, “don Allah muna son zuwa.”

Baffa Musa bai yi saurin amsawa ba. Ya kalle su ɗaya bayan ɗaya, ya san yadda irin waɗannan bukukuwa suke, musamman idan ’yan mata suka taru.

Bayan wasu daƙiƙu ya ce, “to, amma ba zan yarda ku riƙa fita kullum ba. Ku zaɓi kwana biyu kacal cikin kwanakin nan.”

Maryam ta yi saurin kallon Raihana. Kafin Raihana ta yi magana, Maryam ta riga ta ce,

“to Baffa, yau mun haƙura. Za mu je gobe Dinner, sannan jibi ranar daurin aure.”

Raihana ta yi saurin gyada kai, “eh Baffa.”

Baffa Musa ya ɗan yi murmushi, “to. Allah Ya kai mu.”

Sai ya ɗaga yatsa ya ƙara da cewa, “amma wannan dinner ɗin, da zarar karfe Tara tayi kafin a fara tarwatsewa, ina so ku dawo gida. Kar a ce an yi dare kuna can.”

Suka amsa tare, “to Baffa. In Sha Allah.”

Ya gyada kai cikin gamsuwa, “Allah Ya tsare.”

“Ameen.”

Daga nan ya ƙara ƙar rediyon nasa ya ci gaba da sauraron labarai.

Su kuwa Raihana da Maryam suka kalli juna cikin farin ciki, murmushi ya bayyana a fuskokinsu. Da sauri suka miƙe suka nufi cikin gida, dan basuyi tunanin zai barsu har kwana biyu ba.

*————*

A wani ɓangaren gidan kuwa, Mama Indo ce da Mama Sabuwa zaune a gefen gadon Mama Indo.

Mama Sabuwa ta dubeta tana ƙanƙance ido.

“Kina ganin har ya sauko ya kyale yarinyar nan ta koma makaranta? Shegiyar matar nan, na faɗa miki, ba haka ta bar Malam ba. Mu muna tura masa namu makaman yaƙi, ita ma fa tana tura masa nata.”

Ta ɗan matsa kusa da Mama Indo, sannan ta rage murya.

“kin san matan Nijar yadda suke da shegen asirai. Bar ganin ba ta zuwa garinsu, ba za ta rasa masu yi mata nata daga can ba.”

Ta sake girgiza kai cikin takaici.

“In ba haka ba, me Mai Tsidau ya ce mana? Ai ya tabbatar mana cewa zai hanata zuwa makarantar gaba ɗaya. Ke, ƙofar gida ma ta daina takawa sai da babban dalili, amma yanzu cikin abin da bai gaza awa ashirin da huɗu ba, har ya yi bala’in ya sauko ya barta ta koma.”

“To wallahi sai mun sake shiri.”

Mama Indo taɓe baki, “Sabuwa, ni fa na faɗa miki, ba zan dinga ba wani kato kuɗina da sunan asiri ba. Yauwa, na fi yarda da kissa yanzu. Ta fi aiki, sha yanzu magani yanzu.”

“Amma na je na ba wani gardin banza kuɗina, ga zunubi, ga biyan buƙata ma bai fi na wasu lokuta ba. Komai zai rushe. Ni dai ba zan iya ba, wallahi.”

Mama Sabuwa ta miƙe tsaye tana hura hanci, “to shikenan, tunda haka kika ce, kowa ya yi ta kansa.”

Mama Indo ta karkace dankwalinta gefe tana sace haƙori, “to yadda dai kika ce. Ni dai wani boka ne ba zan ba kuɗina ba, gaskiya.”

*————*

A hankali Raihana ta ƙarasa kusa da Ummanta. Ta kwanta a kan doguwar kujerar, sannan ta ɗora kanta a cinyarta.

Umma ta sauke idanunta a kanta tana shafa gashinta a hankali.

“Ya hanaku zuwa ko?”

Raihana ta yi ƙaramin dariya, “bai hana ba. Ya ce dai mu zaɓi rana biyu kawai a cikin kwanakin bikin mu je. Shi ya sa muka zaɓi gobe da jibi, In Sha Allah.”

Umma ta ci gaba da shafa kanta cikin kauna, “toh, Allah Ya sa mu gani lafiya.”

“Ameen, Umma.”

A daidai wannan lokacin ne ƙofar parlour ta buɗe. Aminu da Yusuf suka shigo daga Islamiyya, kowannensu riƙe da allo da ƙaramar jaka.

Da Yusuf ya hangi Raihana kwance a cinyar Ummansu, sai ya fashe da dariya.

“Anty Ray! Kullum kina cinyar Umma. Kin girma fa, don Allah ki bar cinyar Umma ta huta mana.”

Raihana ta ɗago kai a hankali tana harararsa, “wai kai, yaushe na fara wasa da kai ne?”

Yusuf ya ƙara fashewa da dariya, “Allah Ya ba ki haƙuri Big Sis. Girman ki ne wallahi.”

Ta sake zuba masa harara, sannan ta juya wajen Aminu da yake tsaye yana kallonsu cikin murmushi ba tare da ya ce komai ba.

“Amintacce,” ta kira sunansa, “je ka ɗauko min jakata ta makaranta, zan ba ka abin daɗi.”

“Da gaske?”

“Eh.”

Ko jira bai yi ba, ya juya da gudu ya nufi ɗakinta.

Yusuf kuwa ya ƙaraso da sauri ya zauna kusa da su,

“Haba Yayata ta ƙaina, my very own Anty Rayyy!” ya faɗa yana wani shagwaɓa.

“Kin san dai ba mai jin kanmu ko? Ki yi kwanciyarki a cinyar Umma mana. Ai dama ke kika fara hawa cinyarta, mu duk daga baya muka zo.”

Umma ta girgiza kai tana dariya, “Yusufa, idan yana son abu ai ya iya daɗin baki.”

Raihana ta yi dariya kaɗan, sannan ta girgiza kai, “Umma, ki bar shi. Ko me zai ce yau ba zan ba shi abin nan ba.”

Yusuf ya dafe ƙirji kamar wanda aka yi wa babban laifi, “haba Anty Ray! Wallahi ba haka ake yi ba. Ni fa tun ɗazu nake yabonki.”

Ta haɗe hannu a ƙirji tana murmushi, “toh ka ci gaba da yabon, amma abin daɗin nan sai na ga dama.”

Yusuf ya saki ajiyar zuciya da ƙarfi, “wayyo Allah, Aminu ya yi sa’a. Ni kuma surutu na ya jazaa min.”

Dariya ta cika parlour ɗin, har Umma ta kasa riƙe nata dariyar. A irin waɗannan lokutan ne gidan Malam Musa yake cika da annashuwa, duk da ƙalubalen da ke kewaye da rayuwarsu.

*————*

*11:00 AM*

*ARMAAN GROUP OF COMPANIES*

Shiru ne ya mamaye babban private office ɗin shugaban kamfanin. Ta cikin floor-to-ceiling glass windows, hasken rana na ƙarshen safe yana ratsawa cikin office din, yana sauka kan manyan kayan alatu da aka tsara cikin tsari.

A tsakiyar office din kuwa, Zayd Armaan na zaune a kan kujerarsa ta executive leather.

Sanye yake da custom-tailored charcoal grey three-piece designer suit daga Tom Ford, amma bai sanya necktie ba. Ya buɗe maballan rigarsa guda uku na sama, abin da ya ƙara fito da ƙarfinsa da kwarjininsa ba tare da rage masa martaba ba.

A hannunsa na hagu kuwa, wata Patek Philippe Nautilus Rose Gold watch ce ke kyalli, tana ɗaukar hasken rana cikin nutsuwa. Gashin kansa baƙi ƙirin, an gyara shi cikin tsari, yana ɗaukar haske har yana kyalli, ya sha hair cream mai tsada.

Fuskarsa kamar kullum, ba ta nuna wata alama ta gajiya ko walwala ba. Files guda uku ne shimfiɗe a gabansa, yana juyawa shafi bayan shafi cikin nutsuwa, yana sanya hannu a wasu wurare lokaci zuwa lokaci.

A daidai wannan lokacin, ne aka yi Knocking.

Ba tare da ya ɗago ba, cikin sanyin murya ya ce, “come in.”

Ƙofar ta buɗe a hankali. Sameer ya shigo cikin ladabi. Ya tsaya kaɗan kafin ya ce,

“Barka da aiki, Boss.”

“Thank you.”

Har yanzu idanun Zayd suna kan file ɗin da yake dubawa. Sameer ya ɗan gyara tsayuwarsa.

“Boss, na samu information ɗin a kanta.”

A wannan karon ne Zayd ya dakata daga rubutun da yake yi, amma dai bai ɗago ba.

Ya ajiye fountain pen ɗinsa a hankali. Ya jingina da kujerarsa kaɗan.

“Go on.”

Sameer ya gyara murya.

“Sunanta Raihana Musa. Student ce a Government Medical University. Tana karantar Medical Laboratory Science. Shekarunta ashirin da biyu.”

“Excellent student ce, a department ɗinsu a santa da ƙoƙari sosai. Ba ta da wani criminal record, ba ta da wata matsala da gwamnati ko police.”

“Address ɗinsu…”

Ya faɗi cikakken unguwar.

“Gidan Malam Musa. Malam Musa retired civil servant ne. Suna rayuwa cikin sauƙi. Mahaifiyarta mace ce mai addini sosai. Akwai ƙannenta maza biyu da kuma wasu ’yan uwanta mata.”

Ya ɗan yi shiru, “sannan Boss, duk Wanda na tambaya abu ɗaya nake samu.”

Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa a karo na farko, “which is?”

Sameer ya ce cikin girmamawa,

“mutane suna cewa, Raihana ba ta tsoron faɗin gaskiya. Ko waye mutum, idan ta ga gaskiya za ta faɗa.”

Shiru ya sake mamaye office ɗin, na wasu daƙiƙu babu wanda ya yi magana, sai ƙaramin sautin agogon bango.

Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa na ɗan lokaci. Sannan ya buɗe su. Gefen bakinsa ya ɗan motsa da wani siririn murmushi da ba kasafai yake bayyana ba.

Ya sake ɗaukar pen ɗinsa. Ya ci gaba da sanya hannu a file ɗin da ke gabansa kamar babu abin da ya faru.

Bayan wasu daƙiƙu ya ce ba tare da ya kalli Sameer ba,

“keep watching her.”

Sameer ya gyada kai, “yes, Boss.”

“Discreetly. I don’t want her to know.”

“I understand, Boss.”

“Good.”

Sameer ya juya cikin nutsuwa ya fita daga office ɗin. Da ƙofar ta rufe, Zayd ya tsaya yana kallon sunan da ya rubuta a gefen wani blank paper.

*RAIHANA MUSA.*

Ya ɗan kalli sunan na wasu daƙiƙu. Sannan ya murɗe takardar. Ya jefa ta cikin waste bin. Ya ci gaba da aikinsa.

A daidai wannan lokacin, wayarsa ta fara ringing. Ba wayar da yake amfani da ita wajen business ba ce, wayar family ce.

A hankali ya ɗauko ta. Idanunsa suka sauka kan screen,

*Little Sis ❤️*

Ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba ya swipe ya ɗaga. Bai ce komai ba, kamar yadda ya saba.

Sai muryar Suhaila ta cika wayar cikin farin ciki,

“Akhiiii!” ta kira da ƙarfi, “umm, let me go straight to the point.”

Ya yi shiru yana sauraronta.

“Akhiiiii, don’t forget fa. Anjima zan je bikin Asysyyyy.”

Ta ɗan yi shiru na daƙiƙa guda kafin ta ci gaba,

“please, don’t forget. Ka yi mini alƙawari za ka kai ni. Ni dai kawai ina so na ga nima yayana ne ya kawo ni. Kowa da sibling ɗinsa za ka gani. Ni kuma ba ni da yaya mace, ba ni da ƙanwa. Kai kaɗai nake da shi. Please, Akhii.”

Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa. Kafin ya yi magana sai ya sauke ajiyar zuciya a hankali.

“What time are you leaving?”

Da sauri ta amsa, “eight o’clock, In Sha Allah.”

Ya gyara zamansa, “okay. Be ready by seven. And don’t waste my time.”

Na ɗayan ɓangaren wayar kuwa, sai ta saki wata ƙaramar ƙara,

“Ihhhhhh!” ta yi ihu cikin murna. Har ya runtse idanunsa, kamar a cikin office ɗin nasa ta yi ihun.

Ta yi dariya sosai kafin ta ce, “I love you, Akhiiii! See you this evening!”

Kafin ma ya amsa, ta kashe wayar cikin farin ciki.

Shi kuma ya sauke wayar daga kunnensa. Na wasu daƙiƙu, ya tsaya yana kallon black screen ɗin. Sai wani siririn murmushi ya bayyana a gefen bakinsa.

Ya girgiza kansa a hankali, “drama queen,” ya furta cikin ƙasa-ƙasa.

Sannan ya mayar da wayar cikin drawer ɗin da take. Ya sake komawa kan files ɗinsa, kamar ba wani abu da ya katse aikinsa.

****✍️*

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