A MAN OF HONOR

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER NINE: 9*

*A MAN OF HONOR*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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*KADUNA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY*

Da misalin ƙarfe tara na safe, Faculty of Medicine ta kasance cikin cunkoso kamar yadda aka saba. Ɗalibai na shiga da fita tsakanin lecture theatres, wasu na ɗauke da stethoscopes a wuyansu, wasu kuma suna sauri zuwa practical laboratories kafin lokacin lecture ya cika.

A hawa na biyu na Administrative Block kuwa, office ɗin Dean of Faculty of Medicine ya kasance cikin nutsuwa.

Professor Ibrahim Sani na zaune a kujerarsa yana duba wasu takardu, lokacin da aka buga ƙofar, “Come in.”

Ƙofar ta buɗe, secretary ɗinsa ce ta shigo riƙe da wata brown envelope,

“Good morning, sir.”

“Morning.”

Ta miƙa masa envelope ɗin, “An kawo wannan ne daga Armaan Group of Companies.”

Dean ya karɓa, ya dubi tambarin da ke saman envelope ɗin, *ARMAAN GROUP OF COMPANIES.*

Ya buɗe a hankali, idanunsa suka fara bin rubutun da ke cikin takardar.

Da ya kai ƙarshen wasiƙar, sai murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarsa.

Ya ɗauki intercom, “Please ask the Head of Department, Community Medicine da shugaban Student Affairs su zo office ɗina yanzu.”

“Yes, sir.”

Bai daɗe ba, aka sake buga ƙofar, “Come in.”

HOD Community Medicine da shugaban Student Affairs suka shigo tare, suka gaisa.

Dean ya miƙa musu wasiƙar, HOD ya fara karantawa a hankali.

Bayan ya gama, ya ɗago yana murmushi, “Finally...”

Student Affairs Officer ya ce, “Babban dama ce ga Faculty.”

Dean ya gyada kai, “Armaan Group za su gudanar da Medical Innovation and Community Health Outreach tare da haɗin gwiwarmu. Za a yi free medical screening, research presentations, scholarship announcements, sannan za a ƙaddamar da sabon Medical Simulation Laboratory.”

Ya ɗan yi shiru, “Sai dai...” duk suka zuba masa ido.

“Sun buƙaci Faculty ta zaɓi outstanding final-year medical student guda ɗaya, wanda zai wakilci ɗalibai gaba ɗaya, shi ko ita ce za ta gabatar da keynote student speech.”

Office ɗin ya yi shiru na wasu daƙiƙu.

HOD ya ɗan gyara zamansa, “I think we already have someone in mind.”

Dean ya yi murmushi, “Let’s not rush. Mu fara haɗa meeting da sauran lecturers, then... we’ll decide based on merit.”

Duk suka gyada kai cikin amincewa.

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*ARMAAN GROUP OF COMPANIES – HEAD OFFICE, KADUNA*

Da misalin ƙarfe goma na safe, saman bene na ƙarshe na ginin Armaan Group of Companies ya kasance cikin nutsuwa.

Babban office ɗin Chief Executive Officer na kamfanin ya cika da ƙamshin turare mai sanyi da kuma kamshin sabbin takardu.

A bayan babban desk ɗin da aka ƙera da mahogany wood, Zayd Armaan ne zaune cikin natsuwa.

Sanye yake da ash-coloured suit mai sauƙin kyau, farin shirt da black tie, agogon hannunsa mai launin silver ne kaɗai ya ƙara fito da nutsuwar kamanninsa.

A gabansa kuwa laptop ne a buɗe, a gefensa kuma akwai files daga sassa daban-daban na kamfanin: Construction Division, Healthcare Division, Logistics, International Investments.

Kowanne daga cikinsu yana jiran sa hannunsa kafin ƙarshen ranar.

Idanunsa suna ta kai-komo tsakanin laptop da takardun da ke gabansa, lokaci zuwa lokaci yana ɗaukar biro ya yi correcting wasu bayanai kafin ya sa hannu.

Ba ya son yanke hukunci cikin gaggawa, a wurinsa kowane sa hannu nauyi ne, saboda ya san kuskure guda na iya shafar dubban ma’aikata da kuma makomar kamfanin.

A hankali aka buga ƙofar, “Come in,” ya faɗa ba tare da ya ɗaga kai ba.

Ƙofar ta buɗe, Sameer ne ya shigo, Personal Assistant ɗinsa, mutumin da ya shafe kusan shekaru biyar yana aiki tare da shi.

“Good morning, Boss.”

Zayd ya ɗaga kai kaɗan, “Morning, Sameer.”

Sameer ya ƙaraso ya ajiye wani blue file a gabansa, “Sir... this is the proposal for this year’s Corporate Social Responsibility project.”

A wannan karon Zayd ya rufe laptop ɗinsa a hankali, ya jingina bayansa da kujerarsa,

“Let’s hear it.”

Sameer ya buɗe file ɗin, “Healthcare Division ta ba da shawarar mu yi partnering da Kaduna Medical University.”

Ya ci gaba da bayani, “Project ɗin zai kasance Medical Innovation and Community Health Outreach. Za a gudanar da free medical screening, health awareness campaigns, research presentation, scholarship announcement, sannan za mu ƙaddamar da sabuwar Medical Simulation Laboratory da Armaan Group ta ɗauki nauyin ginawa.”

Zayd ya karɓi file ɗin yana dubawa cikin nutsuwa,

“Budget?”

“Approved.”

“Risk assessment?”

“Completed.”

“Security arrangements?”

“Already coordinated with the relevant agencies.”

Ya ɗan gyada kai,

“Media?”

“Ready.”

“Protocol?”

“Done.”

“Guest list?”

“Ninety percent completed.”

Office ɗin ya yi shiru na wasu daƙiƙu.

Sameer ya ci gaba, “Abu ɗaya ne kawai ya rage.”

Zayd ya ɗaga idanunsa, “What is it?”

“The date. Everyone is waiting for your approval. Da zarar ka zaɓi rana, official invitations za su fita, press release ma za a fitar.”

Zayd ya lumshe ido na ɗan lokaci, yana nazari, ba ya yanke hukunci cikin gaggawa, komai sai ya fara auna ribarsa da illarsa.

Bayan wasu daƙiƙu ya buɗe idanunsa,

“Next Saturday.”

Sameer ya rubuta cikin notebook ɗinsa, “Next Saturday?”

“Yes, that gives everyone enough time to prepare.”

“Perfect, Boss.”

Sameer ya rufe file ɗin, “There is one more thing.”

Zayd ya ɗago yana kallonsa,

“The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine requested permission to nominate one outstanding final-year medical student, wanda aka zaba a cikin daliban zai wakilci sauran daliban and deliver the keynote speech during the event.”

Zayd bai yi wata-wata ba,

“That’s fine,” ya ci gaba cikin nutsuwa,

“No recommendations, no influence. If the student deserves it... let the student earn it. Merit first.”

Sameer ya yi murmushi, “That’s exactly what I told them, Boss.”

Zayd ya sake buɗe laptop ɗinsa, “Anything else?”

“No, Boss.”

“You may go.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Sameer ya juya, ya fita daga office ɗin cikin nutsuwa. Ƙofar ta rufe a hankali.

Office ɗin ya sake yin shiru, Zayd ya maida hankalinsa kan reports da ke gabansa.

Gareshi, project ɗin nan ɗaya ne daga cikin ɗaruruwan ayyukan da kamfaninsa ke gudanarwa duk shekara, bai ba shi wata ma’ana ta musamman ba.

Bai kuma san cewa wani sa hannu guda da ya yi cikin mintuna kaɗan ba, zai fara ɗaure wata igiya da ƙaddara ta jima tana saƙawa a ɓoye, igiya tsakanin rayuwarsa da ta wata yarinya, wadda har yanzu bai san tana wanzuwa ba.

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Magariba ta riga ta shuɗe.

Bayan an idar da sallah, iska mai daɗi ta fara ratsawa cikin unguwar, tana ɗauke da ƙamshin ƙasar da aka yayyafa wa ruwa da yamma a Gidan.

A tsakar gidan Baffa kuwa, an shimfiɗa babbar tabarma a ƙarƙashin bishiyar mangwaro.

Baffa na zaune a gefen tabarmar, rosary ɗinsa na yawo tsakanin yatsunsa cikin nutsuwa.

A gefensa kuwa, Umma, Mama Indo da Mama Sabuwa suna zaune cikin natsuwa.

Aminu da Yusuf kuwa suna zaune ƙasa, kowannensu na dannawa Baffa ƙafarsa.

“Kada ku matsa sosai,” Baffa ya faɗa yana murmushi.

Yusuf ya yi dariya, “Baffa ai Aminu ne yake dannawa da ƙarfi.”

Aminu ya turo baki, “Ni? Kai ne fa.”

Nan take Mama Indo ta yi dariya, “Ku bar tsohon nan ya huta mana.”

Raihana da Maryam kuwa suna zaune kaɗan daga gefe, faranti guda ne a tsakaninsu.

Suna cin tuwon shinkafa da miyar kubewa cikin nutsuwa, lokaci zuwa lokaci suna dan magana a junansu.

Sai dai... Bintu ba ta wajen.

Tun da ta ci abinci ta shige ɗaki, tun daga lokacin kuwa tana kwance kan gadonta, wayarta a hannu.

Yatsunta na ta faman shawagi a keyboard, lokaci zuwa lokaci murmushi kan bayyana a fuskarta, wani lokacin kuma sai ta rufe bakinta tana dariya ita kaɗai.

Ko sau ɗaya ba ta fito ta zauna tare da iyalin gidan ba.

A daidai lokacin akayi sallama daga bakin ƙofar gida,

“Assalamu Alaikum.”

Muryar ta kasance ta Hamza, “Wa Alaikumus Salam,” kowa ya amsa.

Hamza ya shigo cikin tsakar gidan, kai tsaye ya nufi wajen Baffa.

Da ya iso gabansa sai ya durƙusa cikin girmamawa,

“Baffa.”

“Na’am Hamza.”

“Kanada bako a waje.”

Baffa ya ɗago kai, “Bako?”

“Eh,” Hamza ya ci gaba,

“Yace yana son ganinka ne.”

Baffa ya gyara zamansa, “Ka san shi?”

Hamza ya girgiza kai, “A’a, “Ban san shi ba Baffa. Amma daga yanayin maganarsa, kamar yana da muhimmiyar magana.”

Baffa ya miƙe a hankali, “To mu je.”

Ya kalli matan gidan, “Zan dawo.”

Suka gyada kai.

Hamza ya bi bayansa.

Har suka fito bakin ƙofar gidan, a gefen wata baƙar mota mai tsabta wani matashi ne tsaye.

Sanye yake da farin yadi mai sauƙin kyau, a hannunsa agogon azurfa ne, yayin da takalminsa baƙi yake kyalli.

Da ya hango Baffa, nan take ya ƙaraso cikin ladabi.

Kafin ya yi wata magana sai ya sunkuyar da kansa,

“Assalamu Alaikum, Baba.”

Baffa ya amsa cikin nutsuwa,

“Wa Alaikumus Salam wa rahmatullah.”

Matashin ya ƙara matsowa, ya durkusa gaban Baffa cikin ladabi,

“Barka da yamma, Baba.”

“Barka ka dai, Allah Ya ƙara lafiya.”

“Ameen.”

Sai ya ja baya kaɗan, ya haɗa hannayensa a gabansa cikin girmamawa.

“Da farko ina neman afuwa da na zo ba tare da sanarwa ba.”

Baffa ya ce, “Ba damuwa, ina sauraronka.”

Ya ɗan yi shiru, kamar yana tattara kalamansa, ba ya son ya yi kuskuren magana.

Daga ƙarshe ya ce cikin nutsuwa,

“Sunana Haris. Na zo ne domin neman izininka.”

Baffa ya zuba masa ido,

“Izini?”

“Eh Baba.”

Baffa ya gyara tsayuwarsa,

“Na san bai dace mutum ya fara magana da yarinya ba kafin ya nemi amincewar iyayenta. Shi ya sa ban taɓa tuntuɓarta ba, ban kira ta ba, ban nemi number ɗinta ba, kuma ban sanar da ita cewa zan zo ba.”

Baffa ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, Hamza ma ya tsaya yana kallon saurayin.

Haris ya ci gaba cikin nutsuwa,

“Na haɗu da ita ne kwatsam kwanakin baya. Na ga tarbiyyarta, na ga kamun kanta. Wannan ne ya sa na ga idan Allah Ya yarda... ina so a ba ni damar zuwa gida domin a san juna ta hanyar da ta dace.”

Ya ɗan sunkuyar da kansa,

“Idan kuma ba ku ga dacewar hakan ba... zan karɓi hukuncinku cikin mutuntawa.”

Baffa ya yi shiru, ya ci gaba da kallon Haris daga sama har ƙasa.

Ba don kayan da ya sa ba, ba don motar da ya zo da ita ba, sai don yadda yake magana cikin ladabi.

Bayan wasu daƙiƙu sai Baffa ya tambaya a hankali,

“Wa kake nufi cikin ‘ya’yana?”

Haris ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya ɗaga kansa cikin girmamawa,

“Raihana... Raihana nake neman izinin fara zuwa wajenta.”

Nan take Hamza ya ɗan ɗaga gira cikin mamaki.

Shi kuwa Baffa, yatsunsa suka tsaya cak kan carbin da yake juyawa.

A karon farko, sunan da ya ji daga bakin saurayin ba shi ne wanda yake tsammani ba.

Haris ya gama maganarsa, sannan ya sake sunkuyar da kansa cikin girmamawa,

“Shi ya sa na ga bai dace in fara zuwa ba tare da na fara neman izininka ba. Idan ka ce a’a... zan karɓa hannu bibbiyu. Idan kuma ka ce in jira... zan jira.”

Wajen ya yi tsit, sai sautin crickets daga gefen shingen gidan kaɗai ake ji.

Baffa ya ɗan shafi gemunsa, idanunsa kuwa suna kan Haris.

Ya daɗe bai ce komai ba, Haris ma bai motsa ba, kai a sunkuye yake, hannayensa a haɗe kan cinyarsa.

Daga ƙarshe Baffa ya sauke numfashi,

“Na ji abin da ka faɗa.”

Haris ya ɗaga kai kaɗan.

Baffa ya ci gaba cikin muryarsa mai cike da nutsuwa,

“Amma aure ba abu ne da ake yanke hukunci cikin mintuna ba. Ba na daga cikin iyayen da idan saurayi ya zo yau... gobe ya fara zuwa. Ni ina bincike, ina tambaya, ina neman sanin asalinka, ina son sanin mutanen da ka fito daga cikinsu, ina son sanin halayenka, domin ba ni zan aura ba... ’yata za ka aura.”

Haris ya gyada kai cikin girmamawa,

“Haka ya kamata, Baba.”

Baffa ya ɗaga hannu kaɗan,

“Saboda haka... ka ba ni lokaci. Zan yi abin da ya dace. Idan Allah Ya nufa... za ka ji daga gare ni. Idan kuma ba haka ba... zan gaya maka gaskiya ba tare da na ɓoye maka komai ba.”

Haris ya yi murmushi mai sauƙi,

“Na gode sosai. Wallahi wannan kaɗai ya ishe ni. Allah Ya saka maka da alkhairi.”

“Ameen,” Baffa ya amsa.

Haris ya miƙe tsaye cikin nutsuwa, ya juya wajen Hamza,

“Na gode da ka yi min iso.”

Hamza ya girgiza kai, “Ba komai.”

Haris ya sake kallon Baffa,

“Assalamu alaikum.”

“Wa alaikumus salam wa rahmatullah,” Baffa ya amsa.

Haris ya juya ya fita a hankali, Hamza ya raka shi har bakin mota.

Hamza ya dawo daga bakin motar, ya tarar da Baffa har yanzu tsaye a wurin. Idanunsa na kallon hanyar da motar ta bi har ta ɓace.

“Baffa…”

Baffa ya juyo a hankali.

“Na’am.”

Hamza ya ɗan yi shiru kafin ya ce,

“Ka yi shiru sosai.”

Baffa ya ɗan yi murmushi kaɗan, murmushin da bai kai idanunsa ba.

“Ba kowane shiru ne yake nufin rashin magana ba, Hamza.”

Ya sauke numfashi.

“Yaron ya zo da mutunci. Maganarsa ma ta nuna tarbiyya. Amma tarbiyya ta baki kaɗai ba ta isa a aura wa mutum ’ya ba.”

Ya ɗan tsaya.

“Aure amanar rayuwa ne.”

Hamza ya gyada kai cikin fahimta.

Sai Baffa ya ce cikin nutsuwa,

“Ka fara bincike daga bangarenka.”

“Ina son ka san waye shi, ina yake aiki, mutanen da yake hulɗa da su, da irin mutuncin da ake sheda masa.”

“Ni ma zan yi nawa binciken.”

“Ba zan yanke hukunci da kaya ko mota ba. Halin mutum nake nema.”

“In sha Allah, Baffa.”

Baffa ya gyada kai.

“Kuma…”

Ya ɗan tsaya yana kallon Hamza.

“Har sai na gama bincike, bana son ko Raihana ta ji cewa wani ya zo nemanta.”

Hamza ya amsa da sauri,

“Za a kiyaye.”

“Madalla.”

Daga nan Baffa ya juya cikin nutsuwa ya nufi cikin gida, Hamza kuma ya biyo bayansa.

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