THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK

BALARABE MANSION, ABUJA

Karfe 8 da rabi na safe, Maryam ta buɗe idanunta a hankali. Ta juya ta kalli Zaid wanda yake kwance kusa da ita, har yanzu bai farka ba.

Ta yi murmushi yayin da ta tuna da abin da ya faru daren jiya. Fahad ya zo gidan kamar ba shi da wata damuwa a duniya, yanata dariya, yana tambayar yadda tafiyarsu ta kasance, yana wasa da ita kamar yadda ya saba, toh wai ko sharri ake mishi, anya Fahd ze iya haka?

Amma Maryam ba ta manta da saƙon da suka samu daga unknown number ba.

Mutumin ya san cewa sun je ƙofar garden. Ya san cewa sun kasa buɗe ta. Kuma yache ze basu makulli, wannan ba ƙaramin abu ba ne.

Ta juya ta kalli Zaid.

“Rouhi…” ta fadi tana shafa fuskar shi

Ya motsa kaɗan.

“Hmmm? Haya”

“Baccee kake haryanzu?”

“Not anymore, gashi kin tada ni”

Maryam ta yi dariya a hankali.

“Sorry.”

Ya buɗe ido ɗaya yana kallonta.

“What is it, Haya?”

Ta ɗan yi shiru kafin ta ce, “Na kasa daina tunanin saƙon jiya.”

Zaid ya buɗe idanunsa sosai, ya tashi zaune.

“Me ya sa?”

“Saboda mutumin yache ze ajiye muna mabuɗin. Idan har yanada makullin, wataƙila ya san abin da ke cikin ɗakin ma.”

Zaid ya yi shiru yana tunani.

“Maybe. Amma kar muyi assuming komai.”

Maryam ta gyada kai.

“Amma za mu iya amincewa da shi kuwa?”

“No. Not yet.”

Ya kama hannunta.

“Za mu iya amfani da bayanin da ya ba mu, amma za mu yi taka tsantsan, kuma bazamu ɗauki duk abin da ya faɗa a matsayin gaskiya ba sai mun tabbatar.”

Maryam ta numfasa.

“Okay, Rouhi.”

Ya sumbaci goshinta.

Bayan sun gama shiri, suka sauko ƙasa. Mammi da Hajiya Raliya sun riga sun shigo part dinsu, suka tarar dasu a parlour, yayin da cooks suke kawo musu breakfast suna jera musu a nan 

“Mammi ina kwana?”

Mammi ta kalli Maryam.

“Kin tashi lafiya?”

“Alhamdulillah, Mammi.”

Ta gaida hajiya raliya kafin ta zauna kusa da ita. Zaid ya gaisa da su, sannan ya zauna a kujerar da ke gefen Maryam.

Hajiya Raliya ta kalli Zaid.

“Na kira wani me yin makulli tun jiya, yace zai iya zuwa da rana”

Zaid ya ɗan kalli Maryam kafin ya amsa.

“Mun samu wani saƙo jiya da daddare.”

Mammi ta ɗaga kai.

“Wani saƙo kuma?”

Maryam ta fitar da wayarta ta nuna musu saƙon.

Hajiya Raliya ta karanta shi a hankali. Da ta kai ƙarshen saƙon, sai ta ɗago kai.

“Ya ce mu tona ƙasa kusa da kujerun garden,” Zaid ya Kalli Mammi yayin da yake magana “Amma ba mu san ko wannan tarko ne ko kuma yana son ya taimaka mana ba.”

Mammi ta ɗan yi shiru.

“Tarko a cikin gida? Kodayake dai komai ze iya faruwa”

“Allah zai tsare mu, Amma idan akwai wanda yake son ya taimaka mana, me ya sa ba zai bayyana kansa ba?”

Maryam ta kalli Mammi.

“Wataƙila yana tsoron wani ne.”

Hajiya Raliya ta yi shiru na ɗan lokaci, sannan ta ce, “Ko kuma yana son ya tabbatar da cewa mun gano gaskiya kafin ya bayyana kansa.”

Zaid ya gyara zamansa.

“Ko menene dalilinsa, dole ne mu yi taka tsantsan, Za mu je muyi komai a natse”

Mammi ta sauke numfashi.

“Zaid, wannan al’amari ya fara damuna sosai. Ina son a gano gaskiya, amma bana son wani abu ya faru da daya daga cikin ku, Allah yasa Fahad beda hannu ciki”

Zaid ya kama hannunta.

“Nothing will happen to us, Mammi, In shaa Allah”

Bayan sun gama breakfast, suka yanke shawarar  zuwa garden ɗin su duba key din su gani 

Iska mai sanyi tana kadawa yayin da suka isa wurin kujerun da ke bayan garden din

Maryam ta kalli kujerar ta biyu kamar yadda saƙon ya bayyana.

“Wannan ce?”

Zaid ya duba wurin, daga qasanta akwai dan dutse a wurin ba wani me girma ba

“Looks like it.”

Ya durƙusa ya duba ƙasan kujerar, Ya ɗaga shi, kamar an taɓa tonawa aka sake rufewa.

Zaid ya ɗauko ƙaramin icce daga gefen ya fara tono ƙasar a hankali. Bayan ɗan lokaci, sai yaji ta taɓa wani abu mai ƙarfi, ya sake tonawa

Akwai ƙaramar leda mai kauri, an naɗe ta sosai, an kuma saka shi cikin wata kwalba domin kada danshi ya lalata abin da ke ciki.

Zaid ya ɗauke kwalbar ya buɗe a hankali.

A ciki akwai wani mabuɗi

Maryam ta kalli mabuɗin.

“Wannan shi ne?”

Zaid ya juya shi a hannunsa.

“Ina ganin.”

Mammi ta matso, idanunta cike da mamaki.

“Mu gwada muga ko zeyi”

Zaid ya kalli mabuɗin da ke hannun shi

“Muna buƙatar mu gwada ko ze buɗe ƙofar.”

A take suka nufi kofar mammi ta kasa magana a ranta se addua takeyi Allah yasa Fahad beda hannu a abubuwan nan, Maryam ta dago ta kalli ƙofar garden ɗin.

Tsawon shekaru tana tunanin cewa gaskiyar mutuwar mahaifinta ta ɓace har abada. Yanzu kuma, a hannun mijinta, akwai mabuɗin da zai iya buɗe hanyar zuwa ga amsoshin da take nema.

NORTHERN CREST HOLDINGS

Fahad yana tsaye a gaban babban windown office dinshi, yana kallon zirga zirgar motocin da ke ƙasa. Tun bayan kiran da ya samu a daren jiya, hankalinsa bai kwanta ba.

Wayarsa che ta yi ƙara.

Ya kalli sunan mai kiran.

Ali.

Ya ɗaga wayar.

“Talk”

“Sir, sun koma garden ɗin da safiyar nan.”

Fahad ya juya da sauri.

“Kamar sun tsaya a wurin kujerun garden din”

“Ka lura da komai har sanda zasu bar wurin, kuma kada ka kuskura ka bari a ankara da kai”

“Yes, sir.”

Ya katse wayar.

Ya san Ali tsawon shekaru, tun lokacin da ya nemi aikin security a northern crest, yaga alamar yanada wayo kuma da qarfi kuma ze iya kowane irin aiki shiyasa yake sashi a al’amurran da yakeyi, Ali ya kasance kusa da shi tun lokacin da yake ƙoƙarin gyara matsalolin kamfanin bayan rasuwar rahman da Bashir. Ya taimaka masa wajen abubuwa da dama, kuma ya kasance ɗaya daga cikin mutanen da Fahad ya fi amincewa da su, idan yasa Ali ya gano wani abu, toh yawanci yana gano shi

Amma yanzu Fahad yana jin cewa komai yana neman zame masa daga hannu.

Ya zauna a kujerarsa, ya buɗe drawer ya fito da tsohon takardar da ya duba a daren jiya.

Ya sake kallon ta.

“FILE 17…”

Ya yi magana kamar yana magana da kansa.

“Where are you located?”

Bayan ɗan lokaci, ya kira wani ma’aikacin kamfanin.

“Ina son duk tsofaffin bayanan da suka shafi margayi Rahman da margayi Bashir, Duk wani abu da ya rage, ina so a kawo mini.”

Ma’aikacin ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci.

“Sir, wasu daga cikin tsofaffin takardun suna cikin archive.”

“To, ku bincika. Kuma kada wani ya san dalilin binciken.”

“Okay, sir.”

Fahad ya katse wayar.

A cikin zuciyarsa, ya san cewa idan FILE 17 ya bayyana toh komai ya qare, zai zama abu me wuya ya ci gaba da ɓoye abin da ya faru.

Aisha che zaune a bakin gado, Tun bayan da aka taimaka mata ta tsere daga hannun waɗanda suka sace ta, ba ta sake samun cikakken kwanciyar hankali ba.

Akwai kwanakin da take jin tsoron kada azo a sameta har gidan da take boye. Akwai darare da take farkawa saboda mafarkin ranar da aka kama ta, tana tsananin kewar mama da maryam sosai, amma ba yadda zaayi ta koma gida kada tasa su cikin hadari, sedai duk da tsoron da take ji, ba ta daina tunanin Maryam ba.

Ta san cewa ƙanwarta tana son sanin abin da ya faru da ita, Ta san kuma cewa idan Maryam tasan tana raye toh duk abnda ze faru sedai ya faru amma maryam bazata bari ta chigaba da boyewa ba, kuma hakan zesa su cikin haɗari.

A lokacin ne taji ƙwanƙwasa a ƙofar gidan.

Aisha ta firgita saboda kullun dama cikin tsoro take, Ta tashi a hankali ta matso kusa da ƙofar, ta tambaya cikin murya mai rauni.

“Wane ne?”

Muryar namiji ta amsa daga waje.

“Ni ne”

Aisha ta gane muryar.

Ta buɗe ƙofar kaɗan, ta duba waje dakyau kafin ta buɗe sosai.

Ali ne.

Ta kalle shi cikin mamaki.

“Me ya kawo ka nan? Ka ce ba za ka zo ba sai na kira ka.”

Ali ya shigo, ya rufe ƙofar a hankali.

“Na san abin da na ce. Amma abubuwa sun canza.”

Aisha ta ji tsoro na sake dawo mata.

“Me ya faru?”

Ali ya kalleta.

“Maryam da Zaid sun fara kusantar FILE 17.”

Aisha ta zauna a hankali.

“Sun samu mabuɗin?”

“Eh na samo makullin da ze bude wurin na ajiye musu, kuma nayi musu text inda zasu gani.”

Aisha ta rufe idanunta na ɗan lokaci.

“Ya Allah…”

Ali ya zauna a kujerar da ke gabanta.

“Aisha, ki saurare ni. Lokaci ya yi da za ki fara shirya kanki. Ba za ki iya ɓoyuwa har abada ba.”

Ta kalle shi da hawaye a idanunta.

“Na san haka. Amma idan Fahad ya gano cewa ina raye, ba ni kaɗai ba ce zan shiga haɗari, Maryam da mama ma zasu shiga cikin haɗari.”

Ali ya gyada kai alamar yadda

“Shi ya sa nake ƙoƙarin taimaka musu ba tare da na fallasa kaina ba.”

Aisha ta kalle shi sosai.

“Ali, har yanzu Fahad yana amincewa da kai?”

“Eh, ni yasa in rinqa kula da abunda ke faruwa a Balarabe mansion ynzu haka, ynzu haka yana tunanin ina taimaka masa wajen gano abin da Maryam da Zaid suke yi.”

Aisha ta girgiza kai a hankali.

“Idan ya gano gaskiya, zai iya cutar da kai.”

Ali ya yi murmushi mai rauni.

“Na san haɗarin da nake ciki, amma babana yasa Nayi mishi alqawari kafin ya rasu, don haka dole inyi duk abnda ya kamata”

Aisha ta sauke gwauron numfashi 

“Me ya sa kake yin duk wannan?”

“Saboda in gyara laifin mahaifina, yache yana da hannu cikin duk Abunda ya faru, shi ya Taimaka ma fahad aka chanja Abubuwa da dama har aka zargi Bashir da laifin da bai aikata ba, yasan komai, har yadda Fahd yasa aka ɓoye gaskiya, amma daga baya abun yayita damun shi har ya ajiye aiki a northern crest, kuma kafin ya rasu ya gayamin komai, yache bashir yanada yara biyu kuma yaji labarin anche babbar ta fara aiki a northern crest, don haka in mishi alqawari zan kare ki da iyakar iyawata kada a chutar dake, kuma da muka sace ki, na san cewa idan ban yi wani abu ba, za su iya kashe ki.”

Hawaye suka gangaro a fuskar Aisha.

“Ka cece ni a lokacin da na yi tunanin babu wanda zai taimake ni.”

Ali ya sunkuyar da kai.

“Na yi abin da ya kamata in yi tun da farko.”

Aisha ta share hawayenta.

“Amma har yanzu ban san abin da ke cikin FILE 17 da kache babanka ya gaya maka ba”

Ali ya gyada kai

“Ni ma ban san duk abin da ke ciki ba. Abin da na sani shi ne Babana yache min idan har muka samu file 17 Toh zamu bayyanar da komai, saboda lokacin da lauyan kampani ya rasu, an tattaro dukkan bayanan kampani da ke hannun shi aka dawo dasu, kuma lokacin yache shi akaba ya kaima Alh Rahman a office, kuma bayanan komai suna cikin wannan file din”

Aisha ta gyada kai

“Shi ya sa ka aika ma su maryam text kache su bincika file 17?”

“Eh, nasan chewa ita da take cikin gidan zatafi saukin ganowa fiye da ke da baki ciki”

Aisha ta kalli Ali

“Maryam tana buƙatar sanin cewa ba ita kaɗai ba ce a cikin wannan yaƙin, ya kamata tasan ina raye”

“Za ta sani. Amma ba yanzu ba. Dole ne mu tabbatar cewa za mu iya kare ta kafin mu bayyana komai.”

Ali ya miƙe tsaye.

“Zan ci gaba da sa ido kan Fahad, da aikin da ya bani a Balarabe mansion, Idan akwai wani sabon abu, zan sanar da ke.”

Aisha ta gyada kai.

“Kaima ka kula da kanka.”

Ali ya buɗe ƙofar dan Qaramin gidan, amma kafin ya fita, Aisha ta kira shi.

“Ali…”

Ya juyo

“Na gode.”

Ya kalleta na ɗan lokaci, sannan ya fita ba tare da ya ƙara magana ba.

Aisha ta koma ta zauna, tana shiga sabon tunani 

Yanzu ta san cewa Maryam da Zaid sun fara kusantar gaskiya.

Amma har yanzu akwai wani babban sirri da za a tono 

Ali yana aiki a ƙarƙashin Fahad, amma zuciyarsa tana tare da waɗanda Fahad yake son ya halaka.

BALARABE MANSION

Mammi, Hajiya Raliya, Zaid da maryam ne tsaye a qofar garden, Zaid Ya gwada mabuɗin da suka tono.

Ya shiga.

Ya juya shi a hankali.

Click.

Makullin ya buɗe.

Maryam ta riƙe hannun Zaid da ƙarfi.

“Rouhi…”

Zaid ya kalleta.

“Muje”

Ta gyada kai, duk da cewa zuciyarta tana bugawa da sauri.

Ya buɗe ƙofar a hankali.

Hajiya Raliya ta rufe bakinta da hannunta gudun kada ta shaqi qura, yayin da Mammi ta tsaya a bayan su tana kallon cikin ɗakin.

Akwai tsofaffin akwatuna na storage, shelves cike da files, da wasu takardu da aka jera a kan teburin katako.

Zaid ya kunna fitilar wayarsa yana neman switch din wuta

Maryam ta tsaya tana kallon ko’ina.

A cikin ɗakin, komai yana nuna cewa an daɗe ba a yi amfani da shi ba, Amma a ƙasa, akwai alamun takalma.

Zaid ya durƙusa ya duba.

“Someone has been here recently.”

Mammi ta kalle shi da firgici.

“Fahad?”

“Ba mu sani ba tukuna, Mammi.”

Maryam ta kalli shelves ɗin, tana neman wani abu da zai iya zama alama.

Kowanensu ya shiga baza idanu suga me zasu samu daga dakin, sun bincika, sun duba files, sun  duba ko’ina amma ba komai, zaid Yayi qoqarin fitar da maryam daga dakin saboda qura amma taqi yadda, haka dai suka yita bincike tsawon lokaci har suka gaji gabadaya, sun tsaida shawarar su fita saboda qura tayi yawa, maryam da Haj Raliya se tari suke, inyaso gobe su dawo su sake dubawa 

Haka suka juya zasu fice daga dakin yayin da idon hajiya raliya ya kai kan wani Qaramin akwati, kafarta tasa ta juyo da akwatin ta gaba

Sai ta lura da wani ƙaramin rubutu a gefen akwatin 

R-Ω-XVII

Ta tsaya cak.

“Zaid…”

Ya juya gare ta.

Ta nuna masa akwatin.

Ya matso kusa, ya duba rubutun, a take ya gane abnda aka rubuta, (R yana nufin Rahman, wannan omega sign din kuma yana nuna end, waton qarshen abnda za’a nema, se kuma 17 da aka rubuta da Roman figures ba wai da numbers kai tsaye yadda zaa gane ba) kuma yana kyautata zaton abnda suke nema yana cikin wannan akwatin, da sauri ya dago akwatin ze bude amma akwatin yana da makulli.

Zaid ya yi shiru na ɗan lokaci.

A lokacin ne wayar shi ta yi ƙara.

Saƙo ne daga unknown number.

“Kun samu abin da kuke nema. Amma ku sani, Mutumin da ya fi kusa da Fahad shi ne wanda ya fi sanin yadda zai taimaka muku.”

Zaid ya kalli Maryam.

Maryam ta kalli saƙon, sannan ta juya ta kalli ƙofar ɗakin.

Wani irin tsoro ya shiga zuciyarta.

“Rouhi… me wannan yake nufi? Ni ban gane ba? Mu yake taimako ko Fahd?”

Zaid ya rufe wayar a hankali.

“Ban sani ba haya, amma I know Someone is trying to tell us something.”

Ya sake kallon akwatin

“Zamu fita da wannan akwatin, bazamu iya budeshi ba ynzu yanada mukulli, amma bazamu bashshi a nan ba tunda ansan mun shigo, Tomorrow, we’ll find out what’s inside.”

Wani lokaci, babban maƙiyi ba shi ne wanda yake fito na fito dakai ba

Wani lokaci, shi ne wanda yake murmushi yana nuna yana tare da kai.

Join our WhatsApp group:

***