WHEN SILENCE ANSWERED

ZAYD ARMAAN

CHAPTER FORTY ONE: 41

WHEN SILENCE ANSWERED

JIDDAAH BARKUM

—————

Wayar ba ta daɗe tana ringing ba, Haris ya ɗaga wayar. Raihana ta sauke ajiyar zuciya da ta riƙe ba tare da ta sani ba.

“Assalamu alaikum.”

Muryarsa ta fito cikin nutsuwa.

“Wa alaikumus salam…”

Raihana ta amsa a hankali, kafin ta gaishe shi. Haris ya amsa, sannan ya tambaya, “Ya jikinki?”

Raihana ta lumshe idanunta. Mixed feelings ne suka fara yawo a jikinta—farin ciki, kunya, da wani irin tashin hankali da ita kanta ba ta san daga ina suke ba.

“Da sauƙi.” Ta amsa a hankali.

Haris ya ɗan jinjina kai kamar tana gabansa.

“Alhamdulillah. Sannu. Ina ta so na sake kiranki na ji ya kike, amma ban so na takura miki ba, musamman da na ga jiya da wuri kika yi bacci.”

Raihana ta ɗan yi murmushi, tana jin daɗin yadda Haris yake lura da ƙananan abubuwa game da ita.

Shiru ya ratsa tsakaninsu. Ba wani irin shiru mai nauyi ba ne; shiru ne na mutane biyu da kowannensu yake jiran ɗayan ya fara magana.

Raihana ta sauke idanunta kan pillow ɗin da ke gabanta, kafin a hankali ta buɗe baki.

“Baffa yace ka aiko a zo.”

Sai ta yi shiru. Haris ma ya yi shiru, kamar yana ƙoƙarin tabbatar da cewa abin da kunnensa ya ji shi ne ainihin abin da ta faɗa. Seconds suka wuce. Raihana ta ɗan cire wayar daga kunnenta ta kalli screen ɗin (00:47), sannan ta maida wayar kunnenta.

Sai daga can ta ji Haris ya yi wata irin ajiyar zuciya.

“Da gaske, Rayhaan?” Muryarsa ta canja, akwai tsantsar excitement a cikinta. “Da gaske Baffa ya amince zai bani amanarki?”

Raihana ta kasa cewa komai. Haris kuwa kamar wanda ya kasa riƙe farin cikin da ke cikinsa, sai ya yi wata ƙaramar dariya.

“Alhamdulillah… Wallahi shock ne ya hanani magana, abun ya zo min ba zato ba tsammani.” Ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci. “Alhamdulillah…”

Raihana ta yi murmushi kawai.

“Rayhaan…”

“Hmm?”

“Kin san tsawon lokacin da nake jiran wannan ranar?”

Murmushin Raihana ya ƙara faɗaɗa, amma har yanzu ba ta ce komai ba.

Sai Haris ya gyara muryarsa. “Ya faɗa lokacin da yake so su zo?”

Raihana ta ɗan yi tunani. “A’a, bai faɗa ba.”

Haris ya ɗan yi shiru, sai wata dariya mai sauti ta fito daga bakinsa.

“Toh shikenan, gobe za su zo. Allah dai ya sa ban yi azarbabi ba.”

Raihana ta zaro ido. “Gobe fa?”

“Eh, gobe.”

Ta ɗan tashi zaune, ya yi dariya.

“Me? Bai kusa ba?”

“Gobe fa.”

Ya sake yin dariya yana girgiza kai. “Amma kar ki manta, abin da nake ta so kenan. Yanzu da na samu dama, me zai sa na tsaya wasa?”

Raihana ta kasa hana kanta murmushi.

Haris ya yi dariya. “Rayhaan, da ace kin san yadda nake ji yanzu, da ba za ki ce haka ba.”

Ta yi shiru tana murmushi.

“Gobe za su zo,” ya ci gaba. “Don Allah, da safe, ko da asuba, ki sanar da Baffa, kin ji?”

Raihana ta gyada kai ba tare da ta sani ba. “Zan faɗa masa.”

“Yauwa.” Muryarsa ta yi sanyi. “Yanzu ki kwanta, kin ga ba kya jin daɗi sosai. Za mu yi magana da safe.”

“Toh.”

“Allah ya kaimu.”

“Amin.”

Haris ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, sai muryarsa ta sauka ƙasa kamar rada. “I love you so much, Rayhaan.”

Raihana ta rufe fuskarta da tafin hannunta.

Haris ya ƙara da murmushi, “Life is much sweeter with you by my side.”

Raihana ta ɗan yi ƙaramar dariya, zuciyarta tana bugawa da sauri. Haris ma ya yi dariya daga can.

“Me kike wa dariya?”

“Nothing…”

“Hmm.”

Ta sake murmushi. “Goodnight.”

Haris ya amsa cikin wata irin murya mai daɗi, “Goodnight, my queen.”

Sai kiran ya katse.

Raihana ta ɗauke wayar daga kunnenta ta kalli screen ɗin na ƴan seconds. Call ended. Ta ɗora wayar a ƙirjinta, ta lumshe idanunta. Ajiyar zuciya mai zurfi ta kuɓuce mata. Zuciyarta tana bugawa da sauri-sauri, amma a wannan karon ba don tsoro ba—wani irin farin ciki ne da har yanzu ta kasa yarda da shi.

Ta ɗan yi murmushi ita kaɗai. “Gobe…” ta furta a hankali, sai ta sake rufe idanunta tana rungume da wayar a ƙirjinta.

————

NEW YORK

Bayan an gama party ɗin, wasu sun riga sun fara tafiya sai ɗan saura da suka rage, Zayd ya ɗan zame daga cikin hall ɗin. Ya kalli inda Felicia take tana ta magana da wasu daga cikin ƙawayenta, sannan ya juya ya fita.

Da ya isa wajen parking area, ya jingina da gefen motarsa, ya ƙara wayarsa a kunnensa. Ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci yana sauraro, sai wani ƙaramin murmushi ya suɓuce masa daga gefen lips ɗinsa. Ya ɗaga gira ɗaya, yana kallon gefe kamar wanda yake nazarin abin da ake faɗa masa. Sai ya lumshe idanunsa a hankali.

“Then let them go. Su je kawai.”

Ya yi shiru, ya ci gaba da sauraro na ƴan seconds.

“Okay, I’ll send you the names of those who should go.”

Ya ɗan gyara tsayuwarsa, sannan ya sake sauraro.

“Yes.”

Muryarsa ta kasance cikin nutsuwa, amma akwai wani abu a cikinta da ya nuna cewa abin da suke magana a kai ba ƙaramin abu ba ne.

A lokacin ne Felicia, wadda har yanzu take cikin hall tana sallama da ƙawayenta, ta waigo. Da farko ba ta ga Zayd ba, ta ɗan kalli wajen da yake tsaye, sai ta fara nemansa da idanu.

“Zayd?”

Ta kalli Paul dake kusa da ita.

“What about Zayd?”

Paul ya ɗaga hannu yana nuna ƙofar.

“He just went out.”

Felicia ta ɗan ɗaure fuska.

“Outside?”

Paul ya gyaɗa kai. Felicia ba ta ƙara cewa komai ba, kai tsaye ta nufi ƙofar.

Da ta fito, idanunta suka sauka kan Zayd. Yana jingine da motarsa, hannunsa ɗaya a aljihunsa, ɗayan kuma yana riƙe da wayar. Da sauri ta ƙarasa wajensa.

Zayd ya ɗago kai ya kalle ta na ɗan lokaci, amma bai katse maganar da yake yi ba. Ya ɗan shafa sajensa, sai ya ci gaba, “Just keep me updated.”

Ya sake yin shiru yana sauraro.

“Okay.”

Sai ya sauke wayar daga kunnensa ya kashe call ɗin.

Felicia ta tsaya gabansa.

“Babe…”

Zayd ya ɗan ɗaga gira.

“Hmm?”

Ta kalli fuskarsa.

“Why are you outside?”

Zayd ya karkata kansa kaɗan.

“Zan tafi ne.”

Felicia ta ɗan ɓata fuska.

“Going? Babe, bari mu gama sallamar ɓaki mana, sai mu tafi.”

Zayd ya kalle ta na ƴan seconds, sai ya sauke numfashi.

“I’m taking an early flight tomorrow morning.”

Felicia ta ɗan tsaya.

“Gobe da safe kuma?”

Ya gyaɗa kai.

“So I need to start preparing tonight.”

Felicia ta matso kusa, ta kama hannunsa.

“But babe… ka ce fa zaka kai sati ɗaya a nan.”

Zayd ya ɗan lumshe idanunsa, a bayyane yake ba ya son ya fara dogon bayani.

“Something came up.” Ya ɗan dakata. “I have to attend to it.”

Felicia ta kalle shi, hannunta har yanzu a cikin nasa.

“Is it serious?”

Zayd ya ɗan kalle ta.

“Enough for me to leave tomorrow.”

Ta yi shiru, fuskarta ta ɗan sauya.

“But you just came…”

Zayd ya matse hannunta a hankali.

“I know.” Ya ɗan sauke murya. “I’m sorry.”

Felicia ta kalle shi na ƴan seconds, kafin ta sauke ajiyar zuciya.

“Okay…” Sai ta ɗan matso kusa da shi. “Now come, let’s say goodbye to everyone.”

“A'a, zan tafi.” Kawai ya faɗa cikin wannan nutsuwar tasa.

“Toh… sai dai na bika mu koma gida yanzu.”

Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa na ɗan lokaci, kafin ya buɗe su ya sauke kallonsa kan fuskarta.

“Your guests?”

Felicia ta ɗan turo baki.

“Na sallamesu ai.”

Zayd ya kalle ta na ƴan seconds, kamar yana son tabbatar da cewa da gaske ta gama sallamar kowa. Sai kawai ya ɗan gyaɗa kai.

“Okay.”

Ya juya ya buɗe ƙofar motar. Felicia ta zagaya zuwa ɗayan ɓangaren, ta buɗe nata ƙofar ta shiga.

Zayd ya shiga bayan steering, ya kunna motar, ya ɗan kalli mirrors ɗin, sannan ya saka reverse. Motar ta fara motsawa a hankali daga parking ɗin.

Felicia ta ɗan jingina da kujerarta tana kallonsa. Zayd kuwa idanunsa suna kan hanya, hannunsa a kan steering, fuskarsa cikin nutsuwa. A hankali motar ta bar harabar venue ɗin, suka nufi gida.

————

ARMAAN MANSION

Suhaila da Seeyama suna kwance a kan gado. Suhaila, uwar ƴan waya, ta lulluɓe kanta cikin duvet, tana ta magana. Wani lokaci ta kashe murya tana dariya ƙasa-ƙasa, wani lokaci kuma ta buɗe ido tana murmushi.

Seeyama kuwa… tun da Suhaila ta tabbatar mata cewa Zayd yana New York, walwalarta ta ɗan gushe. Ta jingina da headboard ɗin gadon, sanye take da sleeping dress—riga da wando na silk masu launin fari. Gashinta a buɗe yake, domin ita ba gwanar ɗaura ɗankwali ba ce. Chewing gum take tauna a hankali, tana danna wayarta.

Sai kwatsam ta tsaya, ta kalli screen ɗin na ƴan seconds. Fuskarta ta ɗan yamutse, ta sake dannawa, amma kamar abin da ta gani bai yi mata daɗi ba. A hankali, ta miƙe sosai ta zauna.

“Kutumar ubancan!” Muryarta ta fito da haushi.

Suhaila ta ɗago kai nan take, ta kalli Seeyama.

“Hey!” Ta kashe wayarta, ta matsa kusa da ita. “What happened, Seema?”

Seeyama ba ta amsa nan take ba, idanunta sun fara cika da hawaye. Ta share ɗaya daga cikin hawayen da ya gangaro a kumatunta, sannan ta sauke murya.

“Ai dama na sani…” Ta haɗiye yawu. “Ni ce ba ya so.”

Suhaila ta ɗan ɗaure fuska.

“Me kika gani?”

Seeyama ta kalli wayarta.

“Ni ba na burge shi, amma waɗanda yake so fa…” Ta ɗan yi dariya mai ɗauke da takaici. “Yana can yana yawo da su, ƙasa-ƙasa suna jin daɗi…” Ta ɗan ɗaga wayar. “Mu kuwa sai mu ga hotunansu a duniya suna yawo.”

Suhaila ta kalle ta na ƴan seconds, sannan ta karɓi wayar daga hannunta. Da ta buɗe hotunan, sai idanunta suka sauka kan hotunan Zayd da Felicia a wajen graduation party.

A ɗaya daga cikin hotunan, Felicia ta rungume Zayd tana dariya, shi kuma yana murmushi. A wani, ta kamo ƙugunsa yayin da take manna masa peck a kumatu. Sai wani hoton kuma lokacin da take ba shi cake, shi yana ƙoƙarin ƙin karɓa.

Suhaila ta yi shiru, ta sake kallon hoton.

Seeyama kuwa ta sunkuyar da kai, kamar tunaninta ya riga ya tafi wani wuri.

“Ko wannan ma za a ce sharri ne aka yi masa?” Ta ɗan ɗaga idanunta. “Ko haɗawa aka yi?” Muryarta ta yi rauni.

Suhaila ba ta ce komai ba, kawai ta ci gaba da kallon hotunan, tana nazarin abin da take gani.

Seeyama ta yi shiru na ƴan seconds, sai kawai ta fizge wayarta daga hannun Suhaila. Ta sauko daga kan gadon, ta share fuskarta da tafin hannunta, sannan ta juya ba tare da ta sake cewa komai ba, ta nufi ƙofar ɗakin.

Suhaila ta bi ta da kallo.

“Seema…”

Amma Seeyama ba ta tsaya ba, ta buɗe ƙofar ta fita. Suhaila ta zauna ɓangal a kan gadon, tana kallon ƙofar da Seeyama ta rufe, sai ta sauke ajiyar zuciya a hankali.

Kai tsaye ɗakin Ummie ta nufa, tana tafiya kamar wadda ba ta ganin gabanta. Ba ta yi knocking ba, ba ta yi sallama ba, bare ta tsaya neman izini; kawai ta tura ƙofar ta shiga.

Ummie dake zaune a kan sofa, tana gyara wasu kayan ado a cikin jewelry box ɗinta, ta ɗago kai da sauri jin an turo mata ƙofa haka. Idanunta suka sauka kan Seeyama tana gurzar kuka, fuskarta ta sauya gaba ɗaya. Nan take zuciyar Ummie ta buga. Ta ajiye abin da ke hannunta ta miƙe.

“Seeyama?” Ta ƙarasa wajenta ta kama hannunta. “Meye ya faru? Wani ne ya mutu?” Ta kalli fuskarta da damuwa. “Ina Suhaila?”

Seeyama ta buɗe baki da ƙyar, muryarta tana rawa.

“Ummie…” Sai hawaye ya sake gangarowa. “Wallahi… Yaya Zayd ba ya so na.”

Ummie ta ɗan tsaya.

Seeyama ta share hawayenta da bayan hannunta.

“Dama tun da aka ce ya tafi New York, na ji zuciyata ba ta kwanta ba.” Ta ɗago wayarta da sauri. “Ki gani…” Ta miƙa mata. “Ko wannan ma za a ce sharri aka yi masa?”

Ummie ta kalli wayar, sai ta karɓa a hankali. Ta koma ta zauna, Seeyama kuma ta zauna gabanta, zuciyarta tana bugawa da ƙarfi.

Ummie ta buɗe wayar. Kafin ma ta san abin da za ta gani, zuciyarta sai uban bugu take yi. Sai hotunan suka fara bayyana ɗaya bayan ɗaya.

Zayd da Felicia. Felicia tana rungume da shi, wani hoton tana tsaye kusa da shi tana dariya, wani kuma hannunta a ƙugunsa, sai wani lokacin da suke yanka cake.

Ummie ta sauke ajiyar zuciya. A fili ya nuna cewa abin da ta gani ya bambanta da abin da zuciyarta ta shirya gani. Ta ɗan ƙanƙance idanunta, sai ta fara scrolling.

Hoto na farko ta kalla, ta wuce na biyu, ta tsaya, ta sake kallon na uku. Kowanne ta duba a hankali, ba tare da ta furta ko kalma ɗaya ba.

Seeyama kuwa tana kallonta, idanunta cike da fata.

“Ummie…”

Ummie ba ta amsa ba, ta ci gaba da kallon hotunan. Daga ƙarshe ta kashe screen ɗin, ta ɗago kai ta kalli Seeyama. Sai ta miƙa mata wayar, cikin sanyin murya ta ce, “Ki je.”

Seeyama ta ɗan kalle ta.

Ummie ta ƙara da cewa, “Zan yi magana da shi.”

Seeyama ta ɗan buɗe baki, ba haka take so ba. A zuciyarta, ta so Ummie ta fara cin mutuncin Zayd, ko ta zagi Felicia, ko ta kira shi a gabanta ta zage shi tas! Amma ta san Ummie; ba kamar Mommy Hauwa ba ce, ba za ta yi mata wargi ba, kuma ba za ta yi mata wani rashin albarka ba. Saboda haka ta karɓi wayarta kawai, ta miƙe.

“Okay…” Ta juya ta nufi ƙofa.

Ummie ta bi ta da kallo har ta fita. Sai ta sauke ajiyar zuciya, ta koma kan sofa. Idanunta suka koma kan jewelry box ɗin da ke gabanta, amma wannan karon hankalinta ya riga ya tashi daga kayan adon. Ta yi shiru na ƴan seconds, sai ta furta a hankali, “Zayd… dama bai rabu da yarinyar nan ba?”

Kawai sai Ummie ta miƙe. Ta isa wajen bedside table ɗinta, ta ɗauko wayarta, sannan ta koma ta zauna a gefen gadonta. Ta danna sunan Zayd.

A daidai lokacin kuwa, a New York, Tribeca… Zayd na kwance a kan gadonsa. Felicia ta haye kanshi, tana ta ƙoƙarin jan ra'ayinsa.

“Please, stop all this. Na faɗa miki ba na so, ki daina.”

Amma kafin ya sake cewa wani abu, sai kawai ta haɗe bakinsu ta fara ba shi wani mahaukacin kisses tana zuƙo tongue ɗinsa, ta fara rikita masa ƙwanya. Ya yi shiru yana sauraron yanda take sarrafa harshensa a bakinta, a hankali ya kamo lower lips ɗinta ya lumshe idanunsa yana sauke ajiyar zuciya, hannunsa ya fara yawo a bayanta. Jin ya fara responding, ai sai Felicia ta canja salo ta fara ƙoƙarin ganin ta kai shi wajen da ta daɗe tana fata.

Sai dai kafin komai ya wuce inda bai kamata ba—sai wayarsa ta fara ringing. Kuma ba kowace irin ringtone ba ne, face wanda ya saka specifically saboda Ummie kaɗai.

A hankali Zayd ya buɗe idanunsa, launin idanunsa ya sauya ya cire bakinsa daga nata. Sai ya ɗan matsa gefe, ya miƙa hannu ya ɗauki wayar ba tare da ɓata lokaci ba,  ya sa a kunnensa.

Felicia dake gefe ta turo baki, ba haka take so ba. A ranta kuwa, "Amma ko waye wannan, bai kyauta min ba."

Zayd ya amsa cikin nutsuwa, “Wa alaikumussalam, Ummie. Barka da dare.”

Ummie ta yi shiru daga can, tana sauraron muryarsa. Wani abu a muryar Zayd ɗin ya sa ta ƙara tsuke fuska, sai ta tambaya kai tsaye, “Kana ina?”

Zayd ya buɗe idanunsa sosai, gabansa ya faɗi. Ya san idan Ummie ba ta amsa gaisuwarsa ba, tabbas akwai matsala. Ya kalli Felicia dake kwance kusa da shi, tana wasa da hannunta a kunnensa, sai ya ɗan sauke numfashi.

“Ina gida.”

Ummie ta yi shiru. Akwai wani abu ɗaya da Ummie ta sani sosai game da Zayd—Zayd ba ya iya ƙarya. Saboda haka, da ya ce yana gida, ba ta sake tambayar ko yana gidan ba. Sai kawai ta ce, “Kai da waye?”

Gabansa ya sake faɗuwa. Ya san ko giyar wake ya sha, ba zai fara cewa yana tare da Felicia ba. Ba don yana son ya ɓoye ba kawai, amma saboda bai taɓa iya yin ƙarya ga Ummie ba. Saboda haka ya yi shiru.

Ummie ma ta yi shiru tana jiran amsa. Amma tunda Zayd ya yi shiru, ta riga ta samu amsar da take nema. Sai ta sauke muryarta.

“Ka kyauta, Zayd.”

Zayd ya lumshe idanunsa.

“Ummie…”

Amma Ummie ta katse shi.

“Ashe ba za ka rabu da yarinyar nan ba? Na gode da ka amince aka baza hotunanka da nata a duniya.”

Kafin Zayd ya samu damar cewa komai, Ummie ta kashe wayar.

Zayd ya zauna ɓangal, ya kalli screen ɗin wayarsa, fuskarsa ta yi tsit.

Felicia kuwa ganin ya gama wayar, sai ta matso kusa da shi kamar za ta ci gaba da abin da suka tsaya. Amma wannan karon Zayd ya ture ta gefe, ta sauka gefen gadon. Felicia ta kalle shi cikin mamaki.

Zayd ya ɗago idanunsa, fushinsa ya bayyana sosai.

“Who gave you the right to post my pictures?” Muryarsa ta fito da tsawa.

Felicia ta ɗan miƙe, ta fara shafa wuyanta.

“Babe…” Ta ɗan tsaya. “It was my graduation. What’s wrong with that?”

Zayd ya kalle ta na ƴan seconds, fuskarsa babu murmushi ko kaɗan.

“Graduation?” Ya sake maimaita kalmar.

Felicia ta gyaɗa kai.

“Yeah, meye laifi idan na yi posting?”

Zayd ya zuba mata wata uwar harara da idanunsa da suka cika da fushi da tsantsar ɓacin rai.

“To fuck with the graduation!”

Not edited…