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THE ENCOUNTER

by Jiddaah Barkum · ZAYD ARMAAN


*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER-TWENTY EIGHT:28*

*THE ENCOUNTER*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Washegari da yamma…
Ranar ta wuce cikin wani irin yanayi na nutsuwa, amma a bayan wannan nutsuwar, akwai abubuwa da dama da suke tafiya a hankali.

A Malali kuwa, Baffa Musa yana zaune a farfajiyar gidan, yana kallon yadda rana take fara karkata zuwa yamma.
Tun safe yake tunanin maganar da suka yi da Umma daren jiya.

Ba ya son ya bari komai ya tafi da gaggawa, a ganinsa, idan har akwai mutane biyu da suke son neman ’yarsa, to abin da ya fi dacewa shi ne a yi komai cikin adalci da gaskiya.
Musamman Haris…
Shi ne ya fara zuwa, shi ne wanda Baffa ya riga ya bincika sosai.
Kuma kafin ya ba shi damar zuwa wajen Raihana, ya tabbatar da ya san irin mutumin da yake.

Saboda haka, kafin wani abu ya fara faruwa tsakanin Zayd da Raihana, Baffa ya san akwai magana ɗaya da dole ya fara yi, Haris ya kamata ya sani.
Dan haka ya riga ya sanar da Haris cewa yana son ganinshi, a yanzu haka ma zuwanshi yake jira.

Baffa ya ɗan jingina bayansa da kujerar, ya sauke ajiyar zuciya.
Ba ya son Haris ya ji labarin Zayd daga bakin wani, ba ya son a samu rashin fahimta.
Idan za a yi wannan magana, to ya kamata ya yi ta da kansa, ba kuma a waya ba, zaifi kyau ya kasance sunyi ga one on one.

—————————

Bayan kusan mintuna talatin…
Motar Haris ta tsaya a gaban gidan, ya fito cikin natsuwa, ya rufe ƙofar motar, sannan ya shiga cikin gidan bayan anyi masa iso zuwa kofar falon, baffa ya bayan garejin gidan, ba kasafai yake zama a ciki ba sai idan yana da baki irin hakaa.

Da ya shiga falon, ya tadda Baffa Musa yana zaune.
Haris ya ƙarasa kusa da shi cikin ladabi,
“Assalamu alaikum, Baffa.”
Baffa ya ɗago kai ya kalle shi,
“Wa alaikumussalam, Haris, ya kake?”
“Alhamdulillah, lafiya lau.”
“Zauna.”

Haris ya zauna a kan kafet amma baffa ya nuna masa kujerar dake gefensa, ya so ya turje amma baffa ya dage, ya zauna cikin ladabi ya karasa kujerar da ke gefen Baffa.
Na ƴan daƙiƙu… babu wanda ya yi magana.
Haris ya kalli Baffa, ya fahimci cewa wannan ba irin kiran da ake yi saboda gaisuwa kawai ba ne, amma dai yayi hakuri yana jiran yaji me baffa zai ce.

Haris ya gyara zamansa.
Baffa ya ɗan yi shiru kafin ya fara magana,
“Haris, kafin mu yi nisa da wannan maganar da muka fara yi game da Raihana, akwai wani abu da nake ganin ya kamata ka sani.”
Haris ya saurara sosai.

Baffa ya ci gaba,
“Na san kai ne ka fara zuwa wajenmu da wannan maganar, kuma kafin na ba ka damar zuwa wajen Raihana, ban yi hakan ne kawai saboda ka zo da magana ba.”
Ya ɗan dakata,
“Na bincike ka.”
Haris ya yi shiru,
“Na binciki kasuwancinka, iyayenka, danginka, tarbiyyarka, yadda kake mu’amala da mutane… har na tabbatar da cewa mutumin da nake ba wa damar zuwa wajen ’yata mutum ne wanda zan iya amincewa da shi.”

Haris ya sauke idanunsa cikin ladabi,
“Na gode, Baffa.”
Baffa ya ɗaga hannu kaɗan,
“Ba sai ka gode min ba, wannan hakki na ne a matsayina na mahaifinta.”
Ya ɗan yi shiru,
“Amma...”
Wannan kalmar ta sa Haris ya sake ɗago idanunsa.

Baffa ya kalle shi kai tsaye,
“Akwai wani mutum kuma da yake neman Raihana.”
Haris ya yi shiru, ba don bai ji abin da Baffa ya faɗa ba… sai dai saboda kalmar ta sauka masa a zuciya fiye da yadda yake tsammani.

Baffa ya ci gaba da magana cikin natsuwa,
“Jiya na yi magana da mahaifiyarta game da wannan, mahaifiyar wannan yaron ta zo da kanta wajenmu, ƙanin mahaifinsa ma ya zo neman izinin ya zo wajen Raihana.”
Haris bai katse shi ba.

Baffa ya ce,
“Sun zo da maganar neman aure, kuma tunda kai ne ka fara zuwa, ban ga ya dace in ɓoye maka wannan ba.”
Shiru ya dan ratsaa.
Haris ya ɗan sauke numfashi, ya sake sauke kansa kasa.

Baffa yana kallonsa, yana jiran amsarsa, sai Haris ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Baffa...”
“Naam.”
“Gaskiya na gode da ka gaya min da kanka.”
Baffa ya kalleshi sosai.

Haris ya ci gaba,
“Ni ban zo wajenku da tunanin cewa tunda na fara zuwa, to an riga an ba ni Raihana ba.”
Baffa ya yi shiru,
“Na san akwai sauran matakai, kuma na san a ƙarshe, ita ce za ta rayu da wanda za a zaɓa, don haka abin da nake so shi ne a yi abin da ya dace.”

Baffa ya ɗan gyara zamansa,
“Ba ka yi fushi ba?”
Haris ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Me zan yi fushi a kai, Baffa?”
Ya sauke idanunsa na ƴan daƙiƙu kafin ya ɗago su,
“Idan Allah Ya ƙaddara Raihana ta zama tawa, ba wani abu da zai hana, idan kuma ba tawa ba ce… ko na kasance mutum na farko ko na ƙarshe da ya zo, ba zai canza abin da Allah Ya riga Ya rubuta ba.”

Baffa ya yi shiru, wannan amsar ta ƙara tabbatar masa da irin mutumin da yake gani a gabansa.
Baffa ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Kuma zan yi maka magana ta gaskiya.”
Haris ya dan jinjina kai alamun yana sauraro.

“Ni ba zan tilasta wa Raihana wani mutum ba.”
Haris ya yi shiru yana sauraro,
“Ko kai ne, ko wannan ɗin, ko wani mutum na uku da zai zo nan gaba… a ƙarshe, dole ne mu san wanda zai fi dacewa da ita.”
Ya ɗan dakata,
“Raihana ba abu ba ce da za a ɗauka a ba wani saboda ya fi kowa ƙarfi ko arziki.”
Muryarsa ta yi ƙasa,
“’Yata ce.”

Haris ya jinjina kai,
“Na fahimta sosai, Baffa.”
Baffa ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Saboda haka, idan ka ga wannan mutumin ya zo, kada ka ɗauka cewa yana nufin an riga an yanke maka hukunci.”
Haris ya yi murmushi,
“Ba zan ɗauka haka ba.”
“Good.”
Baffa ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya ce,
“Zan so ka ci gaba da kasancewa da mutunci kamar yadda ka fara, kada ka yi gaggawar yin wani abu saboda ka ji akwai wani mai neman ta.”

Haris ya sauke idanunsa,
“Baffa, ni dai abin da nake so shi ne na san Raihana, ta san ni, idan har akwai alkhairi a tsakaninmu, Allah Ya sauƙaƙa.”
Baffa ya jinjina kai,
“Allah Ya zaɓa mana mafi alkhairi.”
“Amin.”

Na ɗan lokaci suka yi shiru, sai Baffa da yake dan kallon Haris kafin yace dama wannan ce kadai maganar, zaka iya tafiya, Allah Yayi albarka.

Haris ya miƙe a hankali.. sai ya dan risina cikin girmamawa,
“Na gode sosai baffa, Allah ya ƙara lafiya.”
“Amin, amin, ni ma kuma na gode da ka fahimta.”

Haris ya juya ya fara tafiya, Baffa ya bi shi da kallo har ya ɓace daga idanunsa, ya sauke ajiyar zuciya a hankali.
Domin yanzu… Haris ya sani, kuma daga wannan lokacin, komai ya fara sauyawa.

⸻

*ARMAAN MANSION…*

Agogon bango ya nuna 6:00 PM.
A cikin ɗakin Zayd kuwa, komai ya yi tsit.

Zayd yana tsaye a gaban babban mirror, idanunsa a kan reflection ɗinsa, yana ƙoƙarin saka links ɗin rigarsa.
Sanye yake da wata sky-blue shadda tazarce, mai kyau kuma mai tsari, wadda ta zauna a jikinsa cikin nutsuwa, a kansa kuwa ya saka Zanna Bukar Tangaran da ta yi masa kyau sosai.

Gaskiya… ba kasafai yake saka irin waɗannan manyan kaya ba, ba don baya son su ba… sai dai ya fi yawan kasancewa cikin simple outfits.
Saboda haka, ganin kansa cikin shaddar ya sa ya ɗan tsaya yana kallon reflection ɗinsa na ƴan daƙiƙu.

Sai aka yi knocking a ƙofar…
Zayd bai juyo ba,
“Come in.”
Ƙofar ta buɗe a hankali, Ummie ta shigo.

Da idanunta suka sauka kansa, sai murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta,
“Subhanallah...”
Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga idanunsa daga mirror ya kalleta.
Ummie ta ƙarasa ciki tana kallonsa,
“Habibii...”
Ya ɗan ɗaga gira.

Ta yi murmushi,
“Shaddar nan tayi maka kyau.”
Sai ɗan murmushi ya bayyana a gefen bakinsa, amma bai ce komai ba.

Ummie ta ƙarasa kusa da shi, ta lura har yanzu yana riƙe da cufflink ɗin a hannunsa, yana ƙoƙarin saka shi amma bai gama ba, ta miƙa hannu,
“Bani.”
Zayd ya miƙa mata hannunsa ba tare da ya yi magana ba.

Ummie ta karɓi cufflink ɗin, ta fara saka masa a hankali.
Zayd kuwa ya tsaya shiru yana kallonta ta mirror.

Bayan ta gama ɗaya, ta ɗauki ɗayan hannun nasa,
“Har yanzu kana sa ni yi maka komai, shiyasa nake so kaima kayi aure ka samu mai yi maka duk waannan abubuwan.”
Zayd ya ɗan kalleta ta mirror, sai murmushi kaɗan ya sake bayyana a fuskarsa.

Ummie ta girgiza kai tana murmushi,
“Yau kam ka yi kyau sosai.”
Zayd ya sauke idanunsa na ɗan lokaci, bai ce komai ba.

Da ta gama, ta gyara masa cuff ɗin rigar, sannan ta juya ta nufi ƙaramin table ɗin da ke gefen mirror, ta ɗauki kwalbar turarensa,
“Tsaya.”
Zayd ya kalleta.
Ummie ta matsa kusa da shi, ta fesa masa turaren a gefen wuyansa, sannan ta sake ɗan fesawa a kafadunsa, kamshin turaren ya cika ɗakin a hankali.

Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa na ƴan daƙiƙu.
Ummie ta kalle shi ta hanyar mirror,
“Yanzu haka za ka tafi?”
Ya ɗan jinjina kai,
“Hmm.”
“Imraan ne zai raka ka?”
“Ehh.”
Ummie ta gyara gefen hularsa kaɗan,
“Allah Ya tsare ka.”
Zayd ya kalleta kai tsaye ta mirror,
“Amin.”

Ummie ta yi murmushi, sai ta ɗan tsaya tana kallonsa.
A fili yake… Zayd bai damu sosai da kayan da ke jikinsa ba, amma Ummie… ita ce ta ji daɗin ganin ɗanta cikin wannan shaddar fiye da yadda ya nuna.

Ta ɗan shafi kafadarsa,
“Ka kula da kanka, habibi.”
Zayd ya juyo ya kalleta, sai ya yi mata ɗan murmushi kawai,
“Okay, Ummie.”
Ta gyada kai,
“Allah Ya sa komai ya tafi lafiya.”
Bai amsa ba, sai kawai ya ɗauki wayarsa da ke kan table, ya kalli lokaci, sannan ya sake kallon Ummie.

Ummie ta ɗan yi murmushi,
“Mu tafi.”
Zayd ya buɗe mata ƙofa, suka fita daga ɗakin tare.
Ummie ta ƙarasa gare shi, ta kama hannunsa cikin nata, sannan suka fara tafiya a hankali tare a cikin corridor ɗin.

“Please, son...” ta fara da wata irin murya mai cike da kulawar uwa, “don’t go there with this your silence.”
Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga gira.
Ummie ta yi murmushi kaɗan,
“Ka san halinka, za ka je, ka zauna, ka kalli mutum haka kawai… sai ka dawo.”
Zayd ya ɗan yi murmushi,
“Hmm.”
Ummie ta matse hannunsa kaɗan,
“Ka buɗe baki ku yi magana, ka saurare ta, ita ma ta saurare ka, ku fahimci juna.”
Ta ɗan yi shiru kafin ta ƙara,
“Ka san mace tana son wanda zai yi mata magana, ya saurare ta, ya nuna mata kulawa, ba wai ka je ka zauna kana kallonta kamar kana interrogation ba.”

Zayd ya kasa riƙe murmushinsa.
Ummie ta kalle shi da ƙaramar dariya,
“Me kakewa dariya?”
Ya girgiza kai,
“Nothing.”
“Hmm,” ta ɗan ɗaga gira, “shi kenan.”

Suka ci gaba da tafiya,
“Dan Allah ka saki ranka, Zayd, ba sai ka yi wani abu na musamman ba, just be yourself... amma wannan karon, ka yi ƙoƙarin ka bari mutum ya san abin da ke cikin ranka.”
Zayd ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, sai ya juya ya kalli Ummie, ya yi mata ɗan nodding,
“Yes, Ummie, in Shaa Allah.”

Murmushin Ummie ya faɗaɗa,
“Toh, shi nake so.”
Ta tsaya, sannan ta ɗaga hannunta ta shafa gefen fuskarsa a hankali,
“Allah Ya zaba muku abin da ya fi alkhairi.”
“Amin.”
Ta sake kallonsa daga sama har ƙasa, musamman yadda shaddar sky-blue ɗin ta zauna masa da kyau,
“Allah ya kiyaye hanya, ka gaishemin da yarinyata, ka ce ina gaisheta.”
“Tohm in Shaa Allah.”

Zayd ya ɗan yi murmushi, sannan ya juya ya nufi downstairs.
Ummie ta tsaya a wurin tana binsa da kallo har ya ɓace daga idanunta.
A zuciyarta kuwa, addu’a ɗaya ce kawai take yi—
Ya Allah, idan wannan haɗuwar alheri ce… ka sauƙaƙa ta.

——————-

A ƙasan falon kuwa, Imraan ne zaune a kan sofa, wayarsa a hannunsa, yana jiran Zayd.
Idanunsa suna kan screen ɗin wayarsa, har sai da ya ji ƙar takun sawu daga stairs.

Ya ɗago kai, murmushi ya fara bayyana a fuskarsa tun kafin Zayd ya ƙaraso.
Da Zayd ya bayyana gabansa, Imraan ya kalli kayan da ke jikinsa daga sama har ƙasa, sannan ya miƙe da sauri yana dariya,
“Rascal... Mr. Serious... AKA Mr. Perfect!”
Ya sake fashewa da dariya,
“Wallahi ka yi kyau!”

Zayd bai ce komai ba.
Imraan ya ƙarasa kusa da shi yana kallonsa,
“Wai dama kana iya saka traditional outfit haka?”
Ya sake kallonsa daga sama har ƙasa,
“Ka yi wani mahaukacin kyau wallahi, gaskiya yarinyar nan za ta suma idan ta gan ka.”

Zayd bai ko kalle shi ba, ya wuce kai tsaye zuwa ƙaramin stool ɗin da ke kusa da ƙofar falon, ya ɗauki bottle water ya dan sha ya mayar dashi, sannan ya juya ya kalli Imraan na ɗan lokaci,
“If you’re done with the talking, we can leave.”

Imraan ya tsaya yana kallonsa na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ya fashe da dariya,
“Wallahi kai...”
Ya girgiza kai yana murmushi, sannan ya fara bin bayan Zayd,
“Wai yanzu Mr. Serious ne zaije wajen mace zance.”

Zayd bai amsa ba.
Imraan ya ci gaba da bin sa zuwa ƙofar fita,
“Ni dai har yanzu kai ne mutumin da ya fi kowa wahalar karantawa, yau kuma wai za ka je hira wajen budurwa...”

Zayd ya buɗe ƙofar.
Imraan ya ɗan yi dariya,
“Allah Ya taimake ka.”
Zayd ya kalle shi kawai, sai suka fita daga falon.

Da suka fito cikin compound, guards ɗin da suke bakin ƙofar suka gan su, nan take suka taso cikin ladabi,
“Sir...”
Ɗayansu ya kalli Zayd,
“Which car, sir?”
Zayd ya girgiza kai,
“No, I’m going alone.”
Ya faɗa cikin nutsuwarsa, sai ya ɗaga key ɗin motar ya jefa wa Imraan.

Imraan ya kama shi cikin sauri.
Zayd ya riga ya buɗe ƙofar motar,
“Drive.”
Imraan ya ɗan kalli key ɗin da ke hannunsa, sannan ya kalli Zayd, sai murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarsa,
“Ahh...”
Ya girgiza kai.

Zayd ya shiga motar ya zauna a passenger seat.
Imraan ya zagaya zuwa driver’s side yana dariya a ƙarƙashin numfashinsa, ya buɗe ƙofar ya shiga.
Amma kafin ya kunna motar, ya sake kallon Zayd,
“Last chance...”
Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga gira,
“To say what?”
Imraan ya yi dariya,
“Nothing.”
Ya kunna motar.

A hankali suka fice daga compound.
Zayd kuwa ya jingina bayansa da kujerar, idanunsa a kan hanya ta gilashin motar, a fuskarshi babu wata alama da mutum zai iya fassarawa.

Motar ta ratsa titunan cikin nutsuwa.
Imraan kuwa kamar wanda aka ba sabon abin wasa, ya ɗan kalli Zayd daga gefe, sai murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarsa,
“Rascal...”
Zayd bai kalle shi ba.

Imraan ya ci gaba,
“Gaskiya ni abin da ya fi bani mamaki shi ne wannan yarinyar da zamuje wajen ta.”
Zayd ya ɗan motsa idanunsa zuwa gare shi na ɗan lokaci, amma bai ce komai ba.

Imraan ya sake kallon hanya,
“Kaɗai ban taɓa jin ka ce ga wacce kake so ba, masu sonka dai... akwai su, kuma ba kaɗan ba.”
Ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya kalli Zayd da gefen ido,
“Amma kai... wallahi ban san wacce kake so ba, amma ita wannan yarinyar hadaku da ita akayi koh???”

Zayd ya juyo ya kalle shi a wannan karon, fuskarsa babu wani expression mai yawa, sai ya ce a sanyaye,
“Wai Imraan, ba ka gajiya da magana ne?”
Imraan ya fashe da dariya,
“Wallahi ba zan gaji ba!”
Zayd ya sake maida idanunsa kan hanya.

Imraan ya girgiza kai yana dariya,
“Allah dai Ya raba yar mutane da baƙin halinka.”
Ya ɗan yi shiru, sannan ya ƙara da dariya,
“Har na fara tausaya mata tun yanzu.”

Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, ya girgiza kai kawai.
Imraan ya kalle shi,
“Me?”
Zayd bai amsa ba,
“Hmm?”
Still silence.
Imraan ya sake dariya,
“Okay, Mr. Serious, zan yi shiru.”
Ya yi shiru na kusan seconds biyar, sai ya kalli Zayd,
“Amma gaskiya—”
Zayd ya ɗan juya masa kai,
“Imraan.”
Imraan ya fashe da dariya,
“Okay! Okay! Na yi shiru.”

Motar ta ci gaba da tafiya, yayin da Zayd ya koma ya jingina kansa da kujerar.

————————
Seeyamaa da Raliya suna zaune a kan gadon Raliya, ɗakin ya yi shiru sai ƙaramar sautin fan ɗin da ke juyawa a sama.

Seeyamaa tana zaune ne cikin tunani, hannayenta a haɗe a gabanta, fuskarta cike da damuwa.
Raliya ta kalle ta na ɗan lokaci, sannan ta miƙa hannu ta ɗauko wani ƙaramin roba da ke kan bedside table, ta miƙa wa Seeyamaa,
“Ki buɗe.”
Seeyamaa ta kalleta, sannan ta karɓa, ta juya robar a hannunta tana kallonta da mamaki.

Raliya ta yi murmushi,
“Ki sha, I assure you, duk wani tunanin duniya da ya yi miki yawa... sai kin nema kin rasa.”
Seeyamaa ta ɗago kai ta kalle ta, sai ta tabe baki,
“Na faɗa miki bana shan ƙwaya.”
Raliya ta yi ƙaramar dariya,
“Seeyamaa...”
Amma sai Seeyamaa ta katseta,
“Duk irin haukana, ba zan sha ƙwaya ba.”
Ta miƙa mata robar,
“Ki kyale ni kawai.”

Raliya ta fashe da dariya, ta karɓi robar daga hannunta,
“Toh shikenan.”
Ta ɗan ɗaga kafada,
“We shall see.”
Seeyamaa ta kalleta da gefen ido.

Raliya ta sake dariya,
“Amma nasan dole wata rana sai kin sha... inde har kina shiga wannan halin.”
Seeyamaa ta ɗan daure fuska,
“Wanne hali?”
Raliya ta ɗan matsa kusa da ita,
“Wannan na ki na yawan tunani har kina mantawa da kanki.”
Ta ɗan yi shiru, sannan ta ƙara cikin wasa,
“Amma ki ji... wannan” ta daga robar, “itace maganin komai, ki daina wahalar da kanki, idan kin canja shawara ki yi magana.”

Seeyamaa ta yi shiru.
Raliya ta ɗan taɓa kafadarta.
Seeyamaa ta sauke idanunta.
Raliya ta kalleta, sai wani shegen murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta.

——————-

*MALALI*

A cikin gidan Baffa Musa kuwa…
Bintu ce ta fito da sauri daga ɗakin Mama Sabuwa, ta ji muryar Umma daga kitchen, don haka ta tabbatar bata dakin Raihana kuma ta san ba ta nan a gidan, ta shiga gidansu Khausar, kawarta.

Wannan damar ce da ta daɗe tana jira.
Ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba, Bintu ta nufi ɗakin Umma, ta faɗa ɗakin Raihana.

Idanunta suka fara yawo cikin ɗakin, a hankali ta nufi wardrobe ɗin Raihana, ta buɗe shi.
Nan take ta fara ciro kayan da ke ciki ɗaya bayan ɗaya, yawancinsu abaya ne masu kyau, wasu sabbi, wasu ma ba ta taɓa ganin Raihana ta saka ba,
“Hmm...”
Bintu ta ɗauki wata ta kalla, sai ta ɗauki wata.

A gefe kuma ta hango wasu lace guda uku da aka ninke da kyau, ta janyo su gaba ɗaya, ta rungume kayan a hannunta.
Ta kusa rufe wardrobe ɗin kenan… sai idonta ya tsaya, wata sabuwar atamfa ce a can gefe, a nade take, ko dinkawa ba a yi ba.

Bintu ta tsaya cak, idanunta suka dan bude, ai kam…
Ta miƙa hannu da sauri, ta janyo atamfar, ta buɗe ɗan gefenta ta kalleta, sai murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta, ta rungume kayan duka a jikinta,
“Wannan ma...”
Ba ta ƙara ɓata lokaci ba, ta rufe wardrobe ɗin a hankali, ta fito daga ɗakin da sauri, tana riƙe da kayan gaba ɗaya.

Da ta kai bakin ƙofar dakin Umma, sai ta tsaya, ta ɗan leka tsakar gida, babu kowa, sai iska da ke kaɗa labulen cikin ɗakunan.
Ta sake kallon kitchen, Umma tana nan, Bintu ta ɗan riƙe kayan sosai, sai ta fita da sauri.

A zuciyarta kuwa, niyyarta ɗaya ce— ta karasa gidansu Na’ima, kawarta ta ajiye kayan, idan ta samu damar ta yi sallama da mutanen gidan, daga nan sai ta je ta kwashe kayan ta wucewarta Abuja.

Ta fara sauri tana kallon baya lokaci zuwa lokaci.
Daidai lokacin da ta iso kusa da ƙofar gidan… sai aka yi karo,
“Ahh!”
Bintu ta ja da baya, kayan da ke hannunta suka sulale, suka tarwatse a ƙasa, wasu suka faɗa cikin kwatar da ke bakin ƙofar gidan, wasu kuma suka bazu a kan ƙasa.

Bintu ta tsaya cak, zuciyarta ta buga, sai ta ɗago kai a hankali.
Raihana ce, tana tsaye gabanta, da alama ita ma tana shirin shiga gidan.

Kafin Raihana ta ce komai, idanunta sun riga sun sauka kan abubuwan da suka bazu a ƙasa, ta tsaya, ta kalli abayar da ke kwance, sai lace ɗin, sai wata sabuwar atamfa da har yanzu take cikin nadin da aka yi mata.

Akwai sauran hasken rana a sararin samaniya, magariba ba ta riga ta yi ba, saboda haka babu wata inuwa da za ta iya ɓoye abin da idanun Raihana suka gani.
A hankali… ta ɗaga idanunta daga kayan, ta kalli Bintu.

Bintu kuwa… kamar an zuba mata ruwa ne, fuskarta ta sauya, zuciyarta na dukan uku-uku, ta buɗe baki kamar za ta yi magana… amma babu kalma da ta fito.

Raihana ta sake kallon kayan da ke ƙasa, sai ta dawo da kallonta kan Bintu, shiru, wani irin shiru mai nauyi ya ratsa tsakanin su.

Bintu ta haɗiye yawu,
“Raihana...”
Muryarta ta fito ƙasa-ƙasa.
Raihana ba ta amsa ba, ta ɗan sunkuya, idonta ya tsaya kan sabuwar atamfar da ta san sarai cewa ba taɓa fitar da ita daga wardrobe ba, sai ta ɗago kai a hankali.

A wannan karon… kallon da ta yi wa Bintu ya sauya, ba kallon mamaki kawai ba ne, tambaya ce, kuma Bintu ta san… an kama ta.

Da sauri Bintu ta sunkuyar da kanta tana ƙoƙarin tattara kayan da suka watse,
“Uhmm... dama zuwa zan yi can gidansu Khausar ne,” ta faɗa cikin sauri, tana ɗaga ɗaya daga cikin kayan, “zan tambayeki ko zan iya aron waɗannan kayan.”

Raihana ta tsaya cak, idanunta suka sake sauka kan kayan da ke ƙasa, daga nan ta ɗago su a hankali zuwa fuskar Bintu,
“Dama tafiya zan yi gobe,” Bintu ta ci gaba, tana sosa gefen kanta cikin wata irin kunya, “kuma kayana duka suna wajen wanki ne, shine nace bari na aro naki...”
Ta kasa ƙarasa maganar.

Domin a wannan lokacin… Maryam ta fito daga gidan.
Da farko bata fahimci abin da ke faruwa ba, sai ta tsaya, idanunta suka bi kayan da suke warwatse a ƙasa, daga nan ta kalli Raihana, ta kalli Bintu, sai ta ɗan daƙile gira,
“Lafiya?”
Ta tambaya tana ƙarasowa.

Bintu ta kalleta da wani irin kallo,
“Ba sani ba uwar munafurci, ki wuce inda aka aikeki.”
Maryam ta tsaya,
“Excuse me?”
Bintu ta ɗaga kai,
“Ai ba ke nake magana da ke ba.”
Ta nuna Raihana da kai,
“Wacce na tambaya sai ki barta ta amsa min koh”
Ta maida kanta wajen Raihana,
“Rayy, what happened?”

Raihana ta kalleta kawai, sannan ta dan kalli Bintu,
“Kayana ta ɗauko.”
“Mukayi karo a nan suka zube, wai tafiya za ta yi gidansu Khausar ta tambayeni za ta aro...”

Maryam tayi murmushi sai tace,
“Kai!”
Ta girgiza kai,
“Wannan dai akwai wani rainin wayo a ciki.”
Ta kasa ƙarasa maganar saboda dariyar da ta kusan kufce mata.

Bintu ta harare ta,
“Kingan Rayy!”
Maryam ta juya wajen Raihana,
“Mu ƙwashi kayanmu mu tafi.”
Bintu ta miƙe tsaye..
“Ke Maryam, bana son wannan katurun munafurci naki.”
Ta nuna ta da yatsa,
“Ba ruwanki da maganar nan.”

Maryam ta ɗan matso,
“Me ruwanki?”
Bintu ta ci gaba,
“Idan ba tsegumi ba, banza kawai, mai shegen neman suna.”

Nan take fuskar Maryam ta canza, ta juyo da sauri,
“Karki sake zagina!”
Bintu ta yi mata wani irin kallo, kafin ta haye mata,
“An zageki din banza kucaka! Yar wahala! Yar bur—”
Paaah!

Kafin ta ƙarasa maganar, Maryam ta sauke mata mari a fuska.
Bintu ta tsaya cak, hannunta ya tashi ya rufe kumatunta, idanunta suka bude saboda mamaki,
“Kika mare ni?”
“Eh, na mare ki!”

Nan take Bintu ta taso da nufin ta rama, Raihana ta shiga tsakaninsu da sauri,
“Ku daina mana!”
Amma kafin ta samu damar riƙe Bintu sosai, sai Bintu ta ture Maryam, Maryam kuwa ta kamo hannunta, hayaniyar ta ƙara tashi.

Raihana tana shiga tsakaninsu, tana ƙoƙarin kama hannun ɗaya, ta riƙe ɗayar,
“Don Allah ku tsaya! Ku daina!”
Amma fushin ya riga ya mamaye su, Bintu ta kama mayafin Maryam, Maryam ta kamo rigar Bintu, suka fara kokawa a gaban ƙofar gidan.

“Ku rabu mana!”
Raihana ta yi ƙoƙarin raba su, amma kowacce ta ƙi sakin ɗayar, a hankali hayaniyar ta fara jawo hankalin mutanen unguwar.

Wata mata ta fito daga gidanta, wani dattijo ya tsaya daga can yana kallonsu, yara suka fara taruwa,
“Me ya faru?”
“Su Maryam ne fa!”
“Bintu ce da Maryam!”
Mutane suka ƙara taruwa a wajen.

Amma Raihana… ba ta ma san adadin mutanen da suka taru ba, hankalinta gaba ɗaya yana kan raba su ne, ta kama hannun Maryam tana ƙoƙarin cireta daga jikin Bintu..

“Maryam, ki daina mana!”
Maryam ta ƙara matsawa,
“Raihana ki barni! Wannan yarinyar sai ta san ni ta zaga.”
“Ku dainaaa!”
Raihana ta ɗaga murya, ta sake shiga tsakiyar su, wannan karon ta kama Bintu da hannu ɗaya, Maryam kuma da ɗayan, amma duk da haka… rikicin bai ƙare ba.

A daidai wannan lokacin… wata baƙar mota ta yanko kan layin a hankali, motar tana matsowa cikin nutsuwa, sai ta rage gudu.
Mutanen da ke tsaye a gefe suka fara juya kai suna kallonta, motar ta ƙara matsowa, a hankali… ta karaso, sai ta tsaya a ɗan nesa kaɗan da inda ake kokawar.
Mutane suka fara yin shiru, wasu suka juya suna kallon motar, wasu kuma suka koma gefe don ba motar hanya.

Mama Sabuwa ma hayaniya ta sakata fitowa daga cikin gidan, ganin Maryam ta shake Bintu ga Raihana a gefe tana kokarin janye ta, amma kuma duk da haka Maryam na rike gammm da Bintu, sai tayi wani kukan kura, ta lafta wata ashariya,
“Bura’uba! Kashe min yar zakuyi!”
Ta dira tsakiyarsu, ta janye Raihana tayi jefa da ita, sannan ta rufe Maryam da duka.







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