THE WRONG TIME

*ZAYD ARMAAN*

*CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:33*

*THE WRONG TIME*

*JIDDAAH BARKUM*

—————

Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga kansa daga file ɗin da yake dubawa.

Idanunsa suka sauka kan agogon hannunsa.

4:07 PM.

Ya lumshe idanunsa na ɗan lokaci, sannan ya sauke ajiyar zuciya.

Ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba ya ɗauki wayarsa, ya danna lambar da ya saba kira.

“Yes, Boss.”

Muryar Sameer ta amsa daga ɗaya ɓangaren.

“Come to my office.”

“Right away.”

Kiran ya katse.

Bai wuce minti ɗaya ba… aka yi knocking.

“Come in.”

Sameer ya shigo cikin nutsuwa, ya tsaya gabansa,

“Boss.”

Zayd ya rufe file ɗin da ke gabansa, sannan ya miƙe tsaye,

“Za mu fita.”

“Okay, Boss.”

Ya ɗauki wayarsa, sannan ya nufi ƙofa, Sameer ya bi bayansa.

Da suka fito daga office ɗin… daya daga cikin security guards ya yi saurin matsowa,

“Sir.”

Zayd ya tsaya,

“Mu shirya convoy?”

Ya girgiza kai a taƙaice,

“No.”

Guard ɗin ya ɗan yi mamaki,

“Sir?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, Sir.”

Ba tare da ya ƙara cewa komai ba ya ci gaba da tafiya.

A parking lot… driver ya riga ya buɗe masa ƙofar baya, Sameer ya shiga gaba.

Kafin motar ta motsa… wasu motocin convoy suka fara kunna engines ɗinsu domin binsu.

Zayd ya ɗaga hannu kaɗan,

“No.”

Dukkansu suka tsaya.

Sai ya ce cikin sanyin murya,

“Nobody follows.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Motar ta fara barin compound ɗin kamfanin, cikin wani shiru, sai karar AC da kuma laushin tafiyar motar.

Zayd ya jingina bayansa da kujera, idanunsa a lumshe, kamar yana ƙoƙarin hutar da kansa bayan doguwar ranar aiki.

Sun ɗan yi tafiya kaɗan… sai wata magana ta faɗo masa,

“…ka siya mata abubuwa, kar ka manta da cream ɗin da zatayi amfani sabida hannunta.”

Muryar Ummie.

Nan take ya buɗe idanunsa, ya ɗan gyara zamansa,

“Sameer.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Idan mun kusa Next Mall...”

Ya ɗan yi shiru na daƙiƙa guda,

“…mu tsaya.”

Sameer ya juya kaɗan,

“Is there anything you need, Boss?”

Zayd ya kalli window ɗin motar kafin ya amsa,

“Zan sayi wasu abubuwa.”

“Okay, Boss.”

Sameer bai ƙara tambaya ba, ya san idan Zayd yana son bayani, shi da kansa zai yi.

Motar kuwa… ta ci gaba da yanke titunan Kaduna cikin nutsuwa, yayin da Zayd ya koma kallon abin da ke wucewa ta bayan glass ɗin motar, zuciyarsa na wani wuri dabam.

Ba su yi doguwar tafiya ba kafin motar ta rage gudu.

Daga ƙarshe driver ɗin ya juya zuwa harabar wani babban mall, motar ta tsaya a parking area.

Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga idanunsa yana kallon babban ginin mall ɗin ta window, ya yi shiru na ƴan daƙiƙu.

Sai ya ɗan juya kansa zuwa wajen Sameer, kamar zai ce masa ya fita ya siyo kayan kawai… amma kafin ya yi magana, sai ya tuna da wani abu.

Ya zaro wayarsa daga aljihunsa, bayan ɗan lokaci kaɗan, ya buɗe chat ɗin Suhaila, she’s online.

Yatsunsa suka rubuta:

What should I buy for her?

Ya aika, ya ajiye wayar a tafin hannunsa yana kallon screen ɗin.

Bai wuce kusan mintuna biyu ba… wayar ta yi vibrate.

Zayd ya duba, reply ɗin Suhaila ne, ta aiko masa da list ɗin abubuwan da ya kamata ya saya mata.

Zayd ya karanta shi a hankali, sau ɗaya, sai ya sake kallonsa.

Ba tare da ya ce komai ba, sai ya buɗe murfin motar ya fito.

Sameer, da yake zaune a gaba, ya fito nan take ya bi bayansa.

Zayd ya gyara hannun rigarsa, suka nufi entrance ɗin mall ɗin.

Da suka shiga… cold air daga AC ya bugi fuskarsu.

Mall ɗin ya kasance cike da mutane, amma saboda girman wajen, hayaniyar ba ta yi yawa ba.

Zayd yana tace cikin nutsuwa, Sameer yana bin bayansa kaɗan.

Suka fara da wani pharmacy.

Zayd ya zaro wayarsa ya sake duba list ɗin, ya nuna pharmacist ɗin abin da yake so,

“These.”

“Sure, Sir.”

Ma’aikacin ya fara tattara kayan ɗaya bayan ɗaya, Zayd yana tsaye yana dubawa.

Da aka kawo cream ɗin da Suhaila ta ambata, sai ya ɗauke shi ya kalli label ɗin na ƴan daƙiƙu,

“Is this the right one?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Okay.”

Ya mayar masa.

Daga pharmacy suka wuce wani babban supermarket dake cikin mall ɗin.

Zayd ya fara ɗaukar wasu abubuwa daga cikin list ɗin, Sameer yana ɗauke da basket ɗin yana bin bayansa.

A wani lokaci Sameer ya ɗan kalli basket ɗin,

“Boss, anything else?”

Zayd ya sake duba wayarsa,

“That’s all.”

Suka nufi counter.

Cashier ta fara scan ɗin kayan ɗaya bayan ɗaya, jim kaɗan…

“Your total is...”

Zayd ya zaro card ɗinsa ya miƙa mata, ta karɓa.

Bayan an gama payment, ta miƙa masa card ɗin tare da receipt,

“Thank you, Sir.”

Zayd ya ɗauka,

“Thank you.”

Sameer ya karɓi shopping bags ɗin, suka juya suka nufi exit.

Da suka fito daga mall ɗin… Zayd ya ɗan tsaya a parking lot, ya kalli bags ɗin da Sameer yake riƙe da su.

Sameer ya buɗe boot ɗin ya saka kayan, Zayd ya shiga motar.

Kafin ya rufe ƙofar, sai ya sake duba wayarsa, list ɗin Suhaila yana nan a screen.

Ya karanta shi a karo na ƙarshe, sai ya kulle wayar,

“Let’s go.”

Driver ya kunna engine, motar ta fara motsawa.

Zayd ya jingina kansa da kujerar, ya lumshe idanunsa.

—————-

*MALALI*

Raihana na kwance a kan gadonta, bacci har yanzu bai gama sakin jikinta ba.

A hankali ta buɗe idanunta, abu na farko da ta kalla shi ne ceiling ɗin ɗakinta.

Ta yi ƴan daƙiƙu tana kallonsa kafin ta juya kai zuwa gefen gadon, inda wayarta take ajiye.

Ta miƙa hannu ta ɗauko ta.

4:15 PM.

Ta ɗan lumshe idanunta,

“Subhanallah...”

Sai ta tuna da lokacin.

Ta yi shiru na ƴan daƙiƙu, fashin sallah take, don haka babu abin da ya dame ta da lokacin, amma jikinta har yanzu yana jin nauyin baccin da ta yi, kamar tana son ta ƙara kwanciya na ƴan mintuna ta dawo hayyacinta sosai.

Ta mayar da wayar ƙasa, ta sake lumshe idanunta.

Amma kafin ta samu damar komawa bacci… wayar ta ɗan yi vibration a ƙasa.

Raihana ta buɗe idanunta, ta ɗan miƙa hannu ta ɗauko wayar.

Da ta kalli screen ɗin… sai murmushi kaɗan ya bayyana a fuskarta.

*HARIS.*

Ta ɗan yi shiru tana kallon sunan, sai ta saka wayar a kunnenta.

Bayan ƴan seconds… muryar Haris ta shigo daga ɗayan ɓangaren,

“Assalamu alaikum.”

Raihana ta amsa cikin muryar da har yanzu take ɗauke da alamun bacci,

“Wa alaikumus salam.”

Sai ta ɗan gyara kwanciyanta,

“Ina yini?”

“Lafiya lau.”

Muryarsa ta kasance cikin nutsuwa,

“Ya na ji muryarki haka?”

Raihana ta ɗan lumshe idanunta,

“Hmm?”

“Ko bacci kikeyi ne?”

Ta yi murmushi kaɗan,

“Na tashi yanzu.”

Haris ya yi ɗan dariya,

“Ohh... na tashe ki kenan?”

“A’a.”

“Okay, sannu.”

Sai suka yi shiru, ba shiru mai nauyi ba ne… sai irin shiru ɗin da mutum yake yi lokacin da yake tunanin abin da zai faɗa gaba.

Bayan ɗan lokaci, muryar Haris ta sake fitowa,

“Raihana...”

“Hmm?”

“Na kasa haƙuri ne.”

Ta ɗan buɗe idanunta,

“Me ya faru?”

“Na zo ne.”

Raihana ta ɗan zauna da kyau.

Ya ci gaba,

“Na zo na duba hannunki.”

Muryarsa ta yi sanyi,

“Ganinki nake so nayi.”

Raihana ta yi shiru.

Haris ya ci gaba,

“Daga kasuwa nake, ban ma koma gida ba.”

Ta ɗan yi murmushi ba tare da ta shirya ba,

“daga kasuwa faaaa?”

“Eh.”

“Ko gida baka je ba?”

“Ehh, banje ba.”

Sai ya ɗan yi shiru kafin ya ƙara,

“Nace sai na zo na gan ki tukunna.”

Raihana ta sauke idanunta, wani irin daɗi ne kalaman suka bar mata a zuciya, amma ta yi ƙoƙarin kada ya bayyana a muryarta,

“Toh...”

Ta yi ɗan shiru,

“Bari na fito.”

“Okay.”

“Ka jira ni.”

“Zan jira.”

Ta kashe wayar.

Na ƴan seconds ta zauna a gefen gadon tana kallon screen ɗin wayarta, sai ta girgiza kai a hankali tana murmushi, sai ta miƙe.

Ta fito daga ɗakinta kai tsaye ta nufi bedroom ɗin Umma, sabida ɗakinta babu toilet, sai dakin Umma.

Da sauri ta shiga, ta ɗan watsa ruwa ta gyara kanta, sannan ta dawo ɗakinta.

Ta buɗe wardrobe, ba wani shiri na musamman take yi ba, ta ɗauko doguwar riga mai sauƙi ta zaman gida, ta saka ta, sannan ta ɗauko wani fresh, neatly ironed hijab ta ɗora a kanta.

Ta tsaya gaban mirror, ta ɗan gyara gefen hijab ɗin, sai ta ɗauki turarenta ta fesa kaɗan, ba yawa, sai dai ɗan ƙamshin da zai kasance kusa da ita.

Ta sake kallon kanta a mirror, sai ta fita.

Kai tsaye kitchen ta nufa.

Umma tana zaune tana kada miya a tukunya.

Da Raihana ta leƙa… Umma ta ɗago kai,

“Ina zuwa?”

Raihana ta ɗan tsaya a bakin ƙofar, ta sauke idanunta kafin ta amsa,

“Ya zo.”

Umma ta ɗan kalleta,

“Waye ya zo?”

Raihana ta ɗan gyara hijab ɗinta, sannan ta ɗago idanunta,

“Haris.”

Umma ta yi ɗan shiru, sai ta sake kallonta daga sama har ƙasa kamar tana son ganin ko shigar ta dace,

“Yana ina?”

“Yana waje.”

Umma ta jinjina kai a hankali,

“Toh.”

Sai ta koma kan miyar,

“Ki je.”

Raihana ta yi murmushi kaɗan,

“Toh, Umma.”

Ta juya.

A hankali ta bi hanyar zuwa wajen gidan, a zuciyarta kuwa… tana jin wani irin yanayi da ta kasa fassarawa.

Ba wai don Haris ya zo ba ne kawai, sai don yadda ya ce…

“Na kasa haƙuri, nace sai na zo na gan ki tukunna.”

Ta ɗan sauke numfashi, sai ta ɗaga hannunta ta gyara hijab ɗinta kafin ta ƙarasa wajen da yake jira.

Haris yana jingine da jikin motarsa a kofar gidan, hannayensa duka biyu a cikin aljihun waddinsa.

Sanye yake da simple blue jeans da farar polo shirt wadda ta zauna masa a jiki cikin sauƙi, gashin kansa ya ɗan kwanta, ba shi da yawa sosai, amma kuma ba irin wanda za a ce babu gashi ba, fuskarshi kuwa a sake take, ɗan murmushi a gefen leɓensa.

Da ya hango Raihana tana fitowa… sai idanunsa suka sauka kanta.

Ta karaso a hankali, tana tafiya cikin natsuwa, hannunta ɗaya yana riƙe da gefen hijab ɗinta, idanunta kuma a ƙasa.

Haris bai motsa ba, sai dai idanunsa suka ci gaba da bin ta, kamar yau ne ranar farko da ya fara ganinta.

Raihana ta ƙarasa kusa da shi, ta tsaya, sai ta ɗan ɗago idanunta.

A dai-dai lokacin ne suka haɗa idanunsu.

Haris ya zuba mata ido, Raihana kuwa… sai ta sake sauke kanta, wani ɗan murmushi ya bayyana a fuskarta saboda kunya,

“Mu shiga ciki.”

Ta faɗa a hankali.

Haris bai amsa ba.

Raihana ta jira, shiru, ɗan lokaci ya ja, har ta fara jin kamar me yake kallonta haka?

A hankali ta ɗago kanta, idanunsu suka sake haɗuwa, sai ta sake sauke kanta da sauri, wannan karon tana ɗan turo baki.

Haris ya yi murmushi, wani ɗan ƙaramin sauti ya fito daga bakinsa,

“Kinyi kyau...”

Raihana ta yi shiru, ta kama gefen hijab ɗinta da ƙarfi kaɗan, ba ta ce komai ba.

Haris ya sake kallonta, sai idanunsa suka sauka kan hannunta,

“ya hannun fa?”

Raihana ta ɗan kalli hannun,

“Na ji sauƙi.”

Haris ya ɗan gyara tsayuwarsa, ya kalli fuskarta, sai ya sake kallon saitin hannun nata, duk da yana ta cikin hijab,

“Sannu.”

Muryarsa ta yi sanyi,

“Ki daina komai sai hannun ya warke sosai, kin ji?”

Raihana ta jinjina kai,

“Hmm.”

Haris ya ɗan tsaya yana kallonta,

“Kin ji?”

Ta sake jinjina kai,

“Na ji.”

“Good.”

Sai ya juya zuwa motarsa, ya buɗe murfin motar, ya sunkuya ya ɗauko wata leda mai ɗan girma daga ciki, ya rufe murfin motar, sai ya dawo gabanta, ya miƙa mata ledar,

“Gashi.”

Raihana ta ɗan kalli ledar, sai ta ɗago idanunta,

“This is for you.”

Ta girgiza kai nan take,

“A’a... nagode.”

Haris ya ɗan haɗe fuska,

“Rayhaan...”

Ta kalleshi,

“Hmm?”

“kina gani a waje muke, so kike a yi min dariya ne?”

Raihana ta ɗan zaro ido.

Haris ya canja murya, wannan karon yana pretending kamar ya ji haushi,

“Ban taɓa baki abu ba kin karɓa, yanzu kuma kin fara cewa ‘a’a, nagode’.”

Raihana ta girgiza kai da sauri,

“A’a, ba haka bane...”

Ya dan langwabe kai,

“Toh yaya ne?”

“Ko dai ba kya so na?”

“Ba haka bane.”

“Toh ki karɓa.”

Ya sake matsowa kusa da ita kaɗan,

“Idan ba haka ba, ba zan ji daɗi ba.”

Raihana ta yi shiru, ta ɗan kalli ledar, sai ta sake kallonsa.

Haris ya ɗaga gira,

“Karɓa.”

Ta yi ɗan pause, kamar tana tunanin abin da za ta ce, sai ta sauke idanunta,

“Baffa zai yi faɗa.”

Haris ya yi shiru,

“Umma ma haka.”

Haris ya zuba mata ido na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ya sauke ajiyar zuciya a hankali,

“Okay.”

Ya ɗan karkatar da kansa,

“Ki karɓa.”

Raihana ta ɗago idanunta.

Haris ya ci gaba cikin cikakkiyar nutsuwa,

“Zan faɗa masa da kaina.”

Raihana ta ɗan kalle shi kamar ba ta yarda da abin da ta ji ba, ya jinjina mata kai,

“Da kaina.”

Ta yi shiru.

Sai ya ɗan yi murmushi,

“Take.”

Ya sake miƙa ledar gare ta.

Raihana ta yi wani ɗan numfashi, a hankali ta miƙa hannunta, yatsunta suka kusan taɓa ledar…

A dai-dai lokacin— wata mota ta shigo layin.

Raihana ba ta lura da ita ba.

Haris ma hankalinshi gabaɗaya na kan Raihana, kallon ta kawai yake.

Amma motar ta zo ta tsaya a dan nesa dasu kaɗan.

A cikin motar… Zayd yana zaune a kujerar baya, idanunsa suna kallon gaba ne kawai.

Sai motar ta yi parking, driver ya kashe engine.

A hankali Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa, kuma abin da ya fara gani… Raihana ce.

Tana tsaye kusa da wani mutum, hannunta a miƙe… mutumin ya juya baya yana riƙe da wata leda yana miƙa mata.

Zayd ya tsaya cak, idanunsa suka tsaya a kansu.

A gefe guda… Raihana ta karɓi ledar daga hannun Haris,

“Thank you.”

Ta faɗa a hankali.

Haris ya yi murmushi,

“That’s better.”

Sai ya kalle ta na ƴan daƙiƙu ya ɗan yi murmushi,

“Na gode da kika karɓa.”

Raihana ta ɗan jinjina kai kawai, sai ta kalli ledar da ke hannunta kafin ta ce a hankali,

“Ni ma na gode.”

Haris ya kalleta na ƴan daƙiƙu, sai ya ɗan sauke ajiyar zuciya,

“Toh... zan tafi.”

Raihana ta ɗago idanunta,

“Zan je gida ne, in yi wanka sannan in huta.”

Ta jinjina kai,

“Toh.”

Sai ta ɗan yi shiru kafin ta ƙara,

“Na gode, Allah ya tsare.”

“Amin.”

Haris ya kalleta sosai, sai muryarsa ta sauka,

“I love you so much.”

Zuciyar Raihana ta ɗan buga, ta ɗan ɗago kanta, idanunsu suka haɗu, sai ta sake sauke kanta cikin kunya.

Haris bai ƙara cewa komai ba, sai dai murmushin da ke kwance a fuskarsa bai gushe ba.

Ya juya ya shiga motarsa, Raihana ta ɗan ja baya kaɗan domin ya samu damar fita.

Haris ya kunna motar, ya yi reverse, Raihana ta ɗaga hannunta a hankali taa masa waving.

Haris ya ɗaga nasa daga cikin motar, sai motar ta fara tafiya, ta bar layin a hankali.

Raihana ta tsaya tana kallonta har sai da ta ɓace daga ganinta, sai ta juya, a hankali ta nufi cikin gidan.

A gefe guda kuwa… Sameer yana zaune a kujerar gaba, komai a kan idanunsa.

Ya ɗan juyo kansa, idanunsa suka sauka kan Zayd da ke zaune a kujerar baya.

Zayd yana kallon gaba, fuskarsa babu wani expression, sai ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, kamar bai ga komai ba, ya jingina bayansa da kujerar a hankali.

Sameer ya sake kallonsa na ɗan lokaci, bai ce komai ba.

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