THEADS OF DESTINY

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER-THIRTY ONE:31*

*THREADS OF DESTINY.*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

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Wayar Zayd ce ta fara vibrating a hankali.

Hardly kaji wayarshi na ringing, saidai vibration, yanzun ma vibration ɗin ne ya sa ya ɗan sauke idanunsa kan wayar da ke gefen cinyarsa.

Ya ɗaga wayar ya kalli screen ɗin.

Ganin wanda ke kiransa yasa ya ɗan tsaya na ƴan daƙiƙu.

Sai ya miƙe a hankali.

Ya kalli Ummie wadda take zaune tana kallonsa, cikin sanyin murya ya ce,

“Ummie, bari na shiga ciki.”

Ummie ta ɗan ɗaga kai,

“Okay, habibi, ka huta sosai.”

Zayd ya ɗan jinjina kai,

“Okay.”

Ya juya zai tafi.

Sai Suhaila ta yi murmushi, ta ɗan daga murya,

“Akhiii...”

Zayd ya tsaya, ya ɗan waigo ya kalleta,

“Ka gaisheta, ka ce mata ina mata sannu.”

Zayd bai sake kallon ta ba, kawai ya maida idanunsa gaba, sai ya nufi stairs ɗin.

Suhaila ta bi shi da ido tana murmushi.

Ummie kuwa… ita ma ta yi murmushi kawai, ba ta ce komai ba, kawai idanunta suka bi bayansa a hankali har ya fara hawa stairs ɗin.

Mataki ɗaya…

Na biyu…

Na uku…

Har ya kai sama ya ɓace daga ganinsu.

Ummie ta ɗan sauke ajiyar zuciya.

Suhaila kuwa ta kalli Ummie, murmushi har yanzu a fuskarta, kamar wacce ta fahimci wani abu da Ummie ma ta riga ta fahimta.

A nutse ya ƙarasa gaban ƙofar ɗakinsa, ya ɗora hannunsa a kan sensor ɗin ƙofar, nan take ta yi scanning, sannan ƙofar ta buɗe a hankali.

Zayd ya shiga, sai ya ƙarasa ya zauna a kan sofa ɗin dake gefe, ya ɗan jingina bayansa.

Sai ya sake ɗaukar wayarsa, ya duba call history ɗinsa, sannan ya sake dialing ɗin number ɗin da aka kira shi tun ɗazu.

Bai daɗe ba… aka ɗaga.

Zayd bai yi magana nan take ba, sai ya ɗan kalli gabansa, yana sauraron abin da ake faɗa masa.

Bayan ƴan daƙiƙu… wani ɗan murmushi kaɗan ya bayyana a gefen bakinsa.

Cikin sanyin murya ya ce,

“Don’t mind with whoever is going to her, just do your job.”

Sai ya ɗan yi shiru yana sauraron amsar da ke ɗayan ɓangaren,

“Good.”

Ya faɗa a takaice, sai ya kashe wayar.

Zayd ya ɗan sauke wayar a hannunsa, ya jingina bayansa sosai a jikin sofa ɗin, ya miƙa ƙafafunsa gaba kaɗan.

Idanunsa suka lumshe.

A wannan lokacin… fuskarsa ta sake komawa cikin wannan nutsuwar da ba kasafai ake iya karanta abin da ke zuciyarsa ba.

Amma wani ɗan ƙaramin murmushi… har yanzu yana nan a gefen bakinsa.

——————

Raihana na zaune a wajen… mamaki ya kashe ta, har yanzu idanunta suna kan ƙofar da Zayd ya bi, kamar wacce har yanzu take trying to process abin da ya faru.

Maryam ta turo ƙofar a hankali ta shigo, da ta shiga, sai ta ɗan tsaya, idanunta suka fara bin falon, sai ta kalli Raihana.

Ta ƙaraso da sauri,

“Rayyy...”

Ta ɗan sunkuya kusa da ita,

“Wai har ya tafi banganshi ba?”

Kafin Raihana ta samu damar magana… idanun Maryam suka sauka kan abin da ke gabanta.

Kudi.

Ta tsaya cak,

“Wait...”

Sai ta ƙara matsowa, idanunta suka ƙara buɗewa,

“Wannan fa?”

Da sauri ta ɗauki kuɗin, ta dube su, ta juya ɗaya daga cikin notes ɗin a hannunta, sai ta kalli Raihana.

Bakinta ya furta cikin mamaki,

“Waw***

Ta sake kallon kuɗin,

“Crispy dollars!”

Ta ɗaga ɗaya daga cikinsu sama,

“Wai shine ya ajiye wannan uban makudan kuɗaden?”

Ta sake kallon Raihana, a yanzu murmushi ya fara bayyana a fuskarta, ta ɗaga gira,

“Ray...”

Sai ta ɗan matsa kusa da ita,

“Me ya faru a nan?”

Raihana ta ɗan haɗiye yawu, tana kifta ido, sai ta kalli Maryam, ta jinjina kai a hankali,

“Ehh... shine ya ajiye.”

Maryam ta fashe da dariya,

“Toh kuɗin ne ya saka kika wani sandare a nan?”

Ta ɗan ƙara kallon ta,

“Tashi mu je ciki.”

Raihana ta ɗan sauke ajiyar zuciya, sannan ta miƙe a hankali.

Maryam kuwa ta kwaso kuɗin gaba ɗaya a hannunta, tana kallon su kamar wacce har yanzu take trying to believe abin da take gani.

Suka nufi cikin gidan, kai tsaye ɗakin Umma suka nufa.

Umma har yanzu tana zaune a wajen da suka bar ta, suka yi sallama,

“Assalamu alaikum.”

“Wa alaikumussalam.”

Umma ta ɗago kanta.

Maryam kuwa ta ƙaraso da sauri, murmushi ya cika fuskarta,

“Umma, kinga kuɗin da ya bata?”

Ta ɗaga kuɗin kaɗan,

“Ba ma na Nigeria bane...”

Ta ɗan yi dramatic pause,

“US dollars ne!”

Ta faɗa tana murmushi, sannan ta ajiye kuɗin a gaban Umma.

Umma ta kalli kuɗin, sai ta ɗaga idanunta zuwa Raihana.

Raihana kuwa… ta sauke kanta ƙasa, kamar wacce take avoiding eye contact.

A hankali ta ƙarasa ta zauna a kan kujerar da ke gefen Umma.

Maryam ta kalli Umma, sai ta kalli Raihana, murmushin nan nata ya sake bayyana,

“Umma...”

Ta ɗan ja kuɗin kusa da ita,

“Wannan fa ba ƙaramin abu bane.”

“Umma, so nake Bintu su gani, dan Allah kawo, na je na nuna musu.”

Maryam ta miƙa hannu tana son ɗaukar kuɗin.

Umma ta girgiza kai nan take,

“A’a, Maryam, ku ajiye su, idan Baffanku ya shigo, a kai masa.”

Maryam ta ɗan jinjina kai, ba don ta so ba, amma ta san Umma ta riga ta gama magana.

Ta juya ta kalli Raihana,

“Bari na je na ƙarasa abinda zan yi yau, a wajenki zan kwana.”

Raihana ta jinjina kai kawai,

“Toh.”

Maryam ta miƙe, ta gyara hijabinta, sannan ta fita daga ɗakin.

Da ƙofar ta rufe… Umma ta dawo da dubanta kan Raihana, ta ɗan yi shiru kafin ta tambaya,

“Zayd ɗin ne ya zo?”

Raihana ta ɗan jinjina kai,

“Ehh.”

“Sai kuma ya ba ki kudi, ki saka hannu ki karba koh?”

Raihana ta dago ta girgiza kai kafin tace,

“Wallahi umma, ba karba nayi ba, kawai ajiyewa yayi, kuma kafin ma nayi wata magana ya fice.”

Umma ta kalleta na ƴan daƙiƙu, kamar wacce take nazarinta, sai idanunta suka sauka kan hannun Raihana da take riƙe da ɗayan hannunta,

“Ya hannun fa?”

Raihana ma ta kalli hannun nata.

A wannan lokacin ne ta sake jin wani irin sensation a cikin jikinta, kamar har yanzu yatsun Zayd suna nan a kan wuyan hannunta.

Yadda ya riƙe shi… a hankali, yadda ya tambaye ta,

“Does it hurt?”

Da yadda ta kasa kallonsa sosai.

Ta ɗan lumshe idanunta na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ta ɗago ta kalli Umma, cikin sanyin murya ta ce,

“Ya duba min hannun.”

Umma ta ɗan karkatar da kanta,

“Ya ce me?”

Raihana ta sauke idanunta kan hannun nata,

“Ba karaya ba ce.”

Ta ɗan yi shiru, sai ta ƙara da ƙaramar murya,

“Buguwa ce kawai.”

Sai Umma ta ɗan jinjina kai,

“Toh, shikenan, Allah Ya sawwaƙe.”

Ta ɗan kalli hannun Raihana,

“Ki shiga ki yi sallar Isha’i, sannan ki ɗauko man zafi ki shafa kaɗan a hannun.”

Raihana ta jinjina kai,

“Toh, Umma.”

Ta miƙe a hankali, ta gyara hijabinta, sannan ta nufi ɗakinta.

Amma kafin ta kai bakin ƙofar… ta sake kallon hannunta na ƴan daƙiƙu, wani irin tunani ya sake ratsawa cikin zuciyarta, sai ta ɗan girgiza kai kamar tana trying to push the thought away, ta shiga ɗakinta.

————

Mommy Hauwa ta kalli Seeyama dake zaune a dining area, tana juya spoon ɗin cikin tea ɗinta, completely lost in thought.

Ta ɗan kalleta na ƴan mintuna, sai a hankali ta ƙarasa, ta janyo kujerar da ke facing ɗinta, ta zauna.

Seeyama ta ɗago kanta ta kalleta na ɗan lokaci, sannan ta sake mayar da hankalinta kan tea ɗin gabanta.

Mommy Hauwa ta miƙa hannu,

“Give me the mug.”

Ba tare da musu ba, Seeyama ta miƙa mata.

Mommy Hauwa ta karɓa, ta tashi, sannan ta dawo ta zauna a kujerar gefen Seeyama, ta janyo kujerar tana facing ɗinta, ta miƙa mata mug ɗin,

“Drink it.”

Seeyama ta ɗan juya idanunta, amma sai kawai ta karɓa, ta sha tea ɗin a hankali har ta gama.

Gaskiya ta gaji, ta gaji da maganganun Mommy, ta gaji da waɗannan promises ɗin da ba ta ma san ranar cikar su ba.

Mommy Hauwa ta kalleta, ta na shirin miƙewa…

“Seemaa...”

Muryar Mommy ta dakatar da ita, cikin sanyin murya.

Seeyama ta juya ta kalleta,

“Hmm?”

Mommy Hauwa ta sake matsowa kusa da ita, ta kama hannayenta duka biyu, ta sake maida ita zaune, haryanzu tana rike da hannunta,

“Look at me, my love.”

Seeyama ta ɗago idanunta.

Mommy Hauwa ta kalleta sosai,

“Kin yi fushi da ni ne... saboda Zayd?”

Seeyama ba ta ce komai ba, kawai ta ɗan sauke idanunta.

Mommy Hauwa ta sake matse hannayenta,

“Listen to me.”

Ta ɗan dakata,

“Idan na dawo daga wannan tafiyar da zan yi Abuja, Inno za ta zo.”

Seeyama ta ɗago idanunta kaɗan.

Mommy Hauwa ta ci gaba,

“Kuma babu abin da zai kawo ta face maganar aurenki da Zayd.”

Ta ɗan yi shiru,

“Maybe idan ta zo... ba za ta tafi ba sai an yi aure.”

Seeyama ta ɗan buɗe ido, amma har yanzu ba ta ce komai ba.

Mommy Hauwa ta jinjina mata kai, kamar tana tabbatar mata da abin da take faɗa, sai ta rage murya,

“Kuma idan Inno ba ta yi nasara ba...”

Ta ɗan runtse idanunta,

“…then I’m going for the final stage.”

Ta yi ɗan shiru,

“Wanda gaskiya banason zuwa.”

Ta kalli Seeyama sosai,

“But for your happiness... I’m willing to go to any length.”

Seeyama ta ɗan sauke numfashi, kamar kalaman sun yi mata nauyi, ta kauda kanta gefe.

Mommy Hauwa ta sake rage murya,

“I assure you, darling...”

Ta ɗan shafa bayan hannunta,

“Ki kwantar da hankalinki, kin ji?”

Seeyama ta ɗan jinjina kai.

Mommy Hauwa ta yi murmushi,

“Okay...”

Ta ɗan matsa kusa,

“Smile for me, my princess.”

Seeyama ta yi wani ɗan murmushi, ƙarami ne… amma ya isa.

Mommy Hauwa ta sake murmushi, sai ta janyo Seeyama jikinta, ta rungumeta sosai, ta ɗan lumshe idanunta tana sauke ajiyar zuciya, kamar a wannan rungumar… take son tabbatar mata cewa komai zai daidaita.

————-

A ɗaya ɓangaren kuwa… Mama Sabuwa ta isa ƙofar ɗakin Baffa, ta yi sallama a hankali,

“Assalamu alaikum.”

Daga ciki aka amsa mata,

“Wa alaikumussalam.”

Ta turo ƙofar a hankali, ta shiga.

Baffa yana zaune a gefe, Qur’ani a hannunsa, idanunsa a kan ayoyin da yake karantawa.

Mama Sabuwa ta tsaya a bakin ƙofar na ɗan lokaci, sai ta nemi waje ta zauna, ba ta ce komai ba, ta zauna tana jiran sa.

Baffa kuwa bai ɗago kai ba, ya ci gaba da karatunsa cikin nutsuwa, shiru ya cika ɗakin.

Sai bayan ƴan mintuna… ya kai ƙarshen ayar da yake karantawa, ya ɗan tsaya, ya rufe Qur’anin a hankali, ya ajiye shi kusa da shi, sannan ya juya ya kalli Mama Sabuwa.

Babu gaisuwa, babu tambaya, kawai ta fara zubaaaaa,

“Dama Sadiya ce za a yi bikin kanwar mijinta a can Yobe...”

Ta ɗan gyara zamanta,

“Shine tace tana so Bintu ta rakata.”

Baffa bai ce komai ba.

Mama Sabuwa ta ci gaba,

“Toh kar ka ga baka ganin Bintu, ka tambaya, shi ya sa naga bari kawai na sanar da kai.”

Baffa ya ɗan kalleta na ƴan daƙiƙu, kallon da yake yi mata cike yake da mamaki.

A zuciyarsa kuwa…

“Wannan matar...”

“Kwata-kwata ba ta da lissafi.”

“Ba ta kan gado.”

Ya ɗan girgiza kai a hankali, sai ya sauke idanunsa ƙasa na ɗan lokaci kafin ya ɗago su gare ta,

“Sabuwa...”

Muryarsa ta kasance cikin nutsuwa, amma akwai wani irin nauyi a cikinta,

“Yanzu idan Sadiya na son Bintu ta raka ta...”

Ya ɗan dakata,

“Ke ya kamata ace ta kira.”

Ya ɗan kalli gefen Qur’anin,

“Ko kuma ni ne mahaifinta, ni ya kamata ta kira ta nemi izinin.”

Mama Sabuwa ta ɗan juya fuskarta gefe, kamar maganar ba ta yi mata daɗi ba.

Baffa ya ci gaba,

“Ba wai ki zo ki sanar da ni cewa za ta tafi ba.”

Mama Sabuwa ta ɗan ɗaga gira, sai ta miƙe daga inda take zaune,

“Ni fa malam...”

Ta ɗan gyara bakin zaninta,

“Ba wai izini nazo nema ba.”

Ta kalleshi,

“Fada maka kawai nayi ne.”

Baffa bai ce komai ba.

Mama Sabuwa ta juya, ta nufi ƙofar ɗakin,

“Sabida kar ma ka tambayi Bintu idan ka ga ba ta nan,” ta faɗa kamar tana ƙoƙarin rufe maganar,

“shiyasa fa na fada maka, ba wani abu ba.”

“Ahto...”

Sannan ta saka kai ta fice daga ɗakin.

Baffa ya bi bayanta da kallo, har ƙofar ta rufe, ya yi shiru na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ya sauke ajiyar zuciya a hankali, ya kalli Qur’anin da ke gefensa, sai ya girgiza kai,

“Allah Ya kyauta...”

Ya furta a hankali, domin shi kansa… ya fara ganin cewa wasu abubuwa a cikin wannan gidan suna ƙara yin nauyi fiye da yadda yake tsammani.

Washegari kuwa da safe, Bintu ta fito tsaf cikin shiri, ta sha abayarta mai kyau.

A lokacin, mutanen gidan duk suna zaune a tsakar gida, Mama Sabuwa ta sake gyara mata mayafinta tana murmushi,

“Toh shikenan, Bintoto na, Allah ya tsare, ya kai ku lafiya.”

Bintu ta yi murmushi,

“Amin, Mama.”

Sai ta ƙara da cewa,

“Na bar miki ATM ɗina, idan kina buƙatar wani abu, ki cire kuɗi, PIN ɗin ma na rubuta miki a takarda.”

“Toh shikenan, yar albarka, nagode, maza ki je, kar a yi ta jiran ki.”

Cikin wani shegen taku ta fara tafiya kamar kar ta taka ƙasa, tana kallon mutanen gidan a watse kamar ma bata san Allah yayi ruwansu a wajen ba.

Har bakin ƙofa Mama Sabuwa ta rakata, inda motar da Hajiyar Foundation ta aiko ta ɗauketa ke jiranta.

Bintu ta shige, tana ɗagawa Mama Sabuwa hannu.

Mama Sabuwa kuwa ta wage baki tana murna, har motar ta ɓace daga ganinta, sannan ta juyo gida, tana kallon mutanen gidan kamar ta ga wasu halittu.

—————-

A Armaan Mansion kuwa… Zayd ya fito tsaf cikin shirin tafiya office.

Ya sanya charcoal-grey suit ɗin da ya yi masa kyau sosai, farar shirt a ciki, tare da dark burgundy tie, a hannunsa kuwa akwai classic silver wristwatch, yayin da takalman baƙaken leather suka ƙara masa wannan clean, corporate look ɗinsa.

Ya ƙarasa falon dining inda ya tarar da Ummie da Suhaila suna breakfast.

Ummie kuwa tana shirin fita gidan marayu, domin yau ne ranar da take zuwa yin inspection ɗin da take gudanarwa duk wata, Suhaila kuma ita ma tana shirin tafiya school.

Da Zayd ya ƙaraso, Ummie ta ja masa kujera,

“Zo habibi, zauna.”

Zayd ya ɗan zauna.

Ummie ta miƙe, ta haɗa masa tea sannan ta ajiye masa a gabansa, ta ajiye masa plate mai scramble eggs da slide bread a gefe.

Zayd ya yi murmushi,

“Thank you, Ummie naa.”

Ummie ta ɗan jinjina masa kai tana mayar masa da murmushin.

Zayd ya miƙa hannu zai fara shan tea ɗin… sai Ummie ta yi saurin cewa,

“Habibi, how’s Raihana and her hand? Hope you called her, ka ji ya take ko?”

Zayd ya ɗan dage gira.

Kafin ya samu damar cewa komai… Suhaila ta yi karaf ta shiga maganar,

“Ummie, ba sai idan yana da number ɗinta ba.”

Ta ɗan kalli Zayd,

“Wallahi nasan bai karɓa ba.”

Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa ya kalleta.

Ummie ta ɗan kalleshi,

“Ba ka karɓa ba?”

Zayd ya maida dubansa kanta,

“Haba, habibi,” ta ci gaba cikin nutsuwa, “you’re supposed to, ko don kawai ka ji halin da take ciki mana.”

Ta ɗan dakata, sannan ta ƙara,

“Toh, ko dai idan ka tashi a office ka koma ka duba ta, ko kuma ka tura aje a siya mata abubuwa, a kai mata, ka haɗa har da cream ɗin da za ta yi amfani da shi a ciwon.”

Zayd ya ɗan kalli Ummie, ya langwabe kansa kaɗan, kamar zai fara magana, amma Ummie ta katse shi nan take,

“Don’t say anything, kawai ka yi abinda nace.”

Zayd ya ɗan yi murmushi,

“Okay, maa.”

Suhaila da ke gefe ta fashe da dariya,

“Wacce irin soyayya ce wannan ba waya, dan Allah?”

Ta kalli Zayd tana girgiza kai,

“Akhi, for the first time, try and be romantic pleaseeeeee!”

Zayd ya wani zuba mata harara kafin ya ɗauki tea dinshi ya fara sipping a hankali.

Bayan convoy ɗin ya bar harabar Armaan Mansion… motocin suka bi babban titin a jere, cikin nutsuwa.

A cikin motar Zayd kuwa, komai ya yi shiru, Sameer yana zaune a front seat, yana duba wasu files da ke hannunsa, yayin da Zayd yake zaune a baya, kansa a jingine da kujerar, idanunsa a dan lumshe.

Bayan ɗan lokaci, Sameer ya juya kaɗan,

“Boss...”

“Hmm?”

“The meeting with the board is fixed for eleven, they’ve also sent the revised proposal for the Abuja project, sai dai akwai wasu figures da suka yi mismatch da report ɗin jiya.”

Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa daga window,

“Which figures?”

“Operational cost and the projected revenue.”

Sameer ya ɗaga file ɗin,

“Na ce su sake cross-checking ɗin, amma kafin su turo final copy ɗin nake son ka duba.”

“Send it to my office.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Sameer ya sake duba wani file,

“Then akwai meeting ɗin management team da misalin two, kuma HR ta aiko da list ɗin sabbin staff da za su fara next week.”

Zayd ya ɗan gyara zamansa,

“Keep the management meeting, cancel the unnecessary appointments.”

“Okay, Boss.”

Sai Zayd ya ɗan yi shiru, kamar wani abu ya faɗo masa a rai,

“Sameer.”

“Yes?”

“Ka duba store keeper.”

Sameer ya ɗago kai, sai ya ɗan gyara zamansa,

“yes Boss.”

Zayd ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, sai ya ce,

“Ka canja masa aikin.”

Sameer ya ɗan ɗaga gira,

“Canja masa aikin?”

“Hmm.”

Zayd ya maida idanunsa kan window,

“Give him another position, something better.”

Sameer ya ɗan yi shiru,

“Any particular reason, Boss?”

Zayd bai amsa nan take ba, sai ya ɗan juya kansa ya kalli Sameer,

“Just do it.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Ya ɗan dakata,

“From today.”

Sameer ya jinjina kai,

“Okay.”

Zayd ya sake jingina bayansa da kujerar, babu wanda ya ƙara magana.

Sameer kuwa ya koma kan files ɗinsa, bai sake tambaya ba.

Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa, sai kawai muryarsa ta sake fitowa a hankali,

“Ka tabbatar position ɗin ya dace da shi.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Good.”

Motar ta ci gaba da tafiya, a hankali convoy ɗin ya nufi hanyar office…

Jamaa nace kunga tsayin chapter din nan kuwa!🥺

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