shima ya shigo. Ya Walid yayi mana addu'a muka shafa. Daddy yayi gyaran murya yace "kamar yadda na gaya muku wancan zaman cewa zan neme ku bayan sati daya, rashin lafiyar moon ce ta saka har muka yi delaying zaman. Yanzu ina son in gaya miki wani abu moon, ba fa matsa miki nayi nace sai kinyi aure ba, ra'ayinki nake so inji. Kuma gashi naga har yau shi wanda nayi miki magana akansa bai zo ba, kuma ko a asibiti ban ganshi ba. Ina so inji kunyi magana dashi ne? Nayi shiru can na dago kaina nace a nutse "daddy munyi magana dashi amma na fahinci cewa he is not serious akan maganar, dan haka nima na yanke shawarar zan fara karatu na first kafin inyi aure" murmushi ne ya bayyana a fuskar mommy tace "Alhamdulillah, kafin ki gama karatu kuma insha Allah kin samu wani" ni dai na sauke kaina kasa bance komai ba. Daddy yace "to Alhamdulillah, hakan ma yayi, Allah yasa haka shi yafi alkhairi. That been said, ni da mommyn ku mun yanke shawara, tunda Walid da Habibi suna karatu a England, ga Hafsat da Moon suma sunce karatu zasuyi, to zamu tattara gabaki daya zamu koma England da zama. Dama tunda nazo nake ta chuku2n yadda za'ayi min transfer daga kasar da nake yanzu zuwa England kuma Alhamdulillah jiya aka tabbatar min da samuwar transfer di ta, mommyn ku kuwa ta rubuta leave of absence a office dinta har sai ranar da Allah ya sa muka dawo Nigeria. Faruk shi kuma tunda saura shekara daya ya kammala sec school zamu barshi anan shi da daada har sai ya kammala tukun sai ya bi mu can" tunda ya fara maganar komawa England gaba daya palon ya hargitse, kowa murna. Ni ina zaune kawai ina kallonsu suna ta tsalle suna rungume juna, at the same time ina assessing maganar daddy. Tsam na zame jikina na bar palon na hau saman mu, kofar balcony na bude na fita waje na kama railers ina kallon exact gurin da naga Ibrahim last. Dear Ibrahim, when are you coming back? Dole na san sai na bar Nigeria. Tunani na anan shine, what if Ibrahim ya dawo ya tarar bana kasar? Ta yaya zaiyi contacting dina? Na zauna na danyi tunani kadan sai na dauko takarda da biro na fara rubutu kamar haka:

Dearest Ibrahim
I may not be around when you come back. Please give the man who gave you this letter your new phone number and I will call you.
I miss you
Maimunatu.

Na ninke takardar na saka a envelope nayi sealing. Sai da naga babu mutane a compound din gidan sannan na fita na tafi gurin baba Habu mai gadi. Tun da daddy ya gina gidannan ya saka baba Habu gadi kuma har yau shine yake bude gate da rufewa. Ina zuwa na ganshi a zaune a kan benci shi kadai. Na zauna a gefensa na gaishe shi, ya amsa min da fara'arsa. Nace "baba yanzu kuwa zaka iya gane wanda ya kawo maka sako rannan yace ka bani?" Da saurinsa yace "sosai ma kuwa. Ai ina da mantuwa amma kuma ina da gane mutane" na dauko takardar hannuna na mika masa nace "baba dan Allah gashi, duk sanda yazo in bana nan ka bashi kace injini, zai baka sako ka bani. Baba dan Allah kar ka manta" ya kalleni da alamar tambaya a fuskarsa amma ya daure ya ce "in sha Allah mai sunan daada, kar kiji komai" nayi masa godiya na koma cikin gida.

Shirye shirye akeyi sosai na komawar mu England, daddy yace yana so mu je 'yalleman muyi musu sati daya kafin mu tafi, duk da dai zamu ke zuwa Nigeria in mun sami hutu.

Kafin tafiyar mu sai ga sako daga former school din mu ana gayyatar mu taron speech and prize giving day da graduation party da school ta shiryawa 'yan set din mu. Hafsat tana ta murna ni kuma nace bazanje ba. Mommy tayi tayi dani inje saboda da akwai awards da za'a bani kuma ko ba komai ai zanga friends dina za muyi sallama tunda ba lallai mu kuma haduwa da wadansu ba, ga pics da video da za'ayi na tarihi. Hafsat kamar zatayi kuka tana roko na akan inje amma naki nace har yanzu bana jin dadin jikina. Su basu san abinda yasa naki zuwa ba. I don't want to bring back the memories, which is exactly what will happen idan naje. Ina kallo Hafsat taci kalliya kamar ba gobe ta tafi, na bata sakon ta gaishe min da kowa kuma ta karbo min gift dina. Suna tafiya na koma balcony na zauna ina kallon hanyar da Ibrahim yabi. We made so many plans for our graduation party. Ibrahim cewa yayi zai yi mana anko ni da shi mu saka ranar. Nayi murmushin takaici ina tausayin Hafsat akan irin tambayoyin da zata sha a gurin 'yan ajin mu in sunga babu ni babu shi. Haka staff ma, dan kusan kowa yasan abinda yake tsakanina dashi. Na sake yin wani murmushin dana tuno yau shine exactly two years da haduwa ta dashi. Yanzu gashi mun rabu kuma ko hotonsa bani da shi, amma ina da permanent picture dinsa a zuciya ta. A hankali na furta a fili "Happy Anniversary Ibrahim



Episode Twenty Six: A Step Further Away

Basu dawo ba sai daf da Magrib. Suka dawo da kaya niki niki. Hafsat ta zauna tana bani labari kamar zata ari baki "gaskiya Moon kin yi missing, kowa yazo kuma kowa sai ya tambaye ki" nayi murmushi kawai, a raina ina cewa Hafsat ba za ki gane ba. A lokacin ne mommy take cemin an bawa Amira scholarship award dina, na tambayi Hafsat nace "ya Amira tayi kuwa da aka bata?" Hafsat ta tabe baki tace "kema kinsan ya tayi ai, she first said it is a mistake, sai da pc ta kira su ita da maman ta tayi musu bayani cewa it is a gift from you, baki ga maman ba har da hawaye tana yi wa mommy godiya. Ni fa banji dadi ba Moon, you are too soft wallahi, wai duk abinda yarinyar nan tayi miki amma shine zaki wani bar mata scholarship award dinki" mommy ta dan bata rai tace "me Amiran tayi wa Moon?" Hafsat tayi sauri tace "it is nothing mommy, wani small girl issue ne kuma munyi solving tun a school" daga gani kasan mommy ba ta yarda da bayanin Hafsat ba, kawai dai tayi shiru ne. Nan suka dauko min gifts dina suka nuna min. Duk a ciki guda biyu sunfi birgeni, na farko medal din da school ta bani, na glass ne me kauri, a ciki anyi rubutu da golden colour kamar haka:
Award of Excellency
To
Maimoon Muhammad Dikko

For being the most talented student this school has ever had.

Na biyu kuma students ne suka bani, shi kuma da wood suka hada shi, a tsakiya sun yi zanen moon, a kasa kuma suka rubuta:
Thank you Moon for brightening our lives. We will forever miss u.
Kawai sai naji hawaye a ido na. Hafsat ta dauko wayarta ta nuna min video da 'yan set din mu suka yi suka ce a nuna min. Duk sunyi kwalliya kuma they are all laughing and talking at the same time. "Moon ashe baki da lafiya? We miss you today, kinga gifts dinki?...... " ina dariya kuma ina hawaye at the same time, can wata a videon tace "Moon shine kika rike mana uncle kika hana shi zuwa ko? Hafsat tace yana can yana jinyar ki, ki gaishe ki kice we miss him also" na kalli Hafsat ita kuma ta daga kafada. Wato karya tayi musu tace muna tare da Ibrahim shi yasa basu ganshi ba. Class monitor din mu Hamidda ta hada min take away na duk abinda aka ci a gurin party da handwritten note na get well soon.

A ranar da daddare sai ga Amira da mamanta sunzo yimin godiya har gida, mommy ta kaisu gurin daddy shi ma suka yi masa godiya. Daga nan muka tafi dakinmu muna hira, anan muka ba ta labarin tafiyar mu England, yanda tayi da fuskarta kamar zatayi kuka. Nace mata "Amira ni ina ganin ki cike Oxford kawai sai mu tafi tare, kinga sai ki zauna a gidan mu muke zuwa makaranta tare" ta girgiza kanta idonta fal kwalla tace "I can't. Mama bata da kowa a garin nan sai ni. Bazan iya barin Nigeria in barta ita kadai ba. University of Abuja zan saka saboda in zauna a gida. I wish you guys best of luck in England, in kun je please ku kira ni saboda in samu number dinku ta can" nace mata "insha Allah, you will be among the first ones da zan kira" Haka muka yi ta hira har sai da suka zo tafiya. Casually ta tambayeni "ya labarin uncle din mu kuwa? Naga shima baije partyn mu ba" na kalleta sai ta sunkuyar da kai. Hafsat ce ta gaya mata yayi directly "yayi resigning daga aikin sa ya koma Ibadan" ina kallon fuskarta ta chanza kala lokaci daya "but you are in contact right?" Hafsat tayi sauri tace "What is it to you, in suna fa contact?" Na dakatar da Hafsat da naga ta fara daukan zafi, nan na bawa Amira labarin duk abinda ya faru, na kara da cewa "I believe He will come back like he promised" Hafsat ta ja tsaki tace "wahala da rai" tun daga nan Amira bata kara cewa komai ba har suka tafi"

Washegari muka tafi "yalleman, satin mu guda acan kamar yadda daddy yace. Amina cousin din mu da muke kusan sa'anni sati daya na bata, ta dage lallai sai ta bimu England da kyar daddy ya lallabata yace ta bari in ta gama sec sch za'a mayar da ita can. Mun shaku da Amina sosai dan bayan Hafsat, ita ce kamar second sister dina, bayan kasancewar mu sa'anni, muna kama da ita, dan idan naje 'yalleman cemin ake yi Hassanar Amina.

Muna dawowa Abuja muka fara shirin tafiya England. Muka yi sallama ta duk makota, muka hada hada personal kayayyakin mu, duk da dai daddy yace kar mu dauki kayan sawa tunda zamu ke zuwa Nigeria, in mun je can ma sayi wadansu. Duk da cewa na zama busy a kwanakin nan amma komai nakeyi sai inji irin feeling dinnan da mutun yake ji idan ya manta baiyi wani abu mai muhimmanci ba. Ibrahim is always there tugging at my mind. Ranar da zamu tafi muka su Faruk da daada suka raka mu airport, faruk har da kukansa muna ta tsokanarsa. Muka shiga jirgi, mommy tana kusa da daddy, ya Walid da Hafsat, ni da Ya Habeeb. Jirgin mu yana tashi na kalli window, ina kallon Nigeria a hankali gajimare yana rufe ta tana bacewa. "Goodbye Ibrahim". Na fada a hankali knowing now I am a step further away from him. Na saka earpiece, na lumshe ido na na jingina kaina a jikin headrest din seat dina yayin da jirgin mu ya cigaba da lulukawa sararin samaniya. This journey is like a transition in my life


Episode Twenty Eight : University of Oxford

Karfe dayan dare jirgin mu ya sauka a birnin London. Tuni motoci masu dauke da tutar Nigeria masu fenti kalar kayan sojojin Nigeria suna jiran mu. Muna sauka suka dauke mu sai embassy. A cikin embassy din anan gidan da zamu zauna yake. Gate daya ne zaka shiga, sai ka wuce offices din su daddy sannan sai gidan, sai kuma gidajen sauran manyan staff na embassy din. Gidan katon gaske ne, dan kusan girman su daya da gidan mu na Abuja with exception of part din su inna da na daada. Amma wannan gidan yafi wancan haduwa, it makes me wonder dama Nigeria muna da irin wannan arzikin? Ko dan kawai muyi show up ne a duniya a dauka babu talauci a Nigeria? Wato rayuwa a Nigeria kamar kashin dankali ce, manya su suke danne kanana. Komai a gidan computerized ne, ko wacce kofa sai tayi detecting finger print sannan zata bude, dan haka dole a daren akayi uploading finger prints din mu. Part din mu ni da Hafsat kowa da dakinsa, falo daya, kitchen daya amma mommy tace sam sai dai mu rufe daki daya mu zauna tare, kitchen din ma tace a rufe, mu ringa zuwa main dining room muna cin abinci tare dasu. Mommy da daddy part din su daya, ya Walid da ya Habeeb ma haka. Sai kuma main palo wanda yayi connecting duk parts din.

Washegari da yamma muka fita shopping muka siyo kayan amfanin mu kaf, tun daga kan sutura, toiletries, cosmetics da sauran tarkace. Daddy tun yana biyan cash har ya dawo using credit card, daga baya yace "kai yaran nan so kuke kuga gudun ruwa na ko? To ya isa haka" mommy tana yi masa dariya tace "kai fa kace kar su taho da komai zaka saya musu anan, duk wanda ya sayi rariya kuwa ai yasan zata zubar da ruwa" ni da Hafsat dogayen riguna mommy ta sa muka dauka saboda zuwa makaranta, tace bata son shigar english wear, kar muga muna England muce muma mun zama turawa, mun dauki english wears din dai amma saboda sakawa a gida. Mun sayo sababbin sim cards muka saka a wayoyin mu muka cire na Nigeria muka ajiye. Nan muka fara kiran 'yan'uwa da abokan arziki muna basu numbers din mu. Kamar yadda nayi alkawari, Amira tana daga cikin na farkon dana kira.

A week after zuwan mu England aka fara maganar school din mu, ni dama daddy yasan me nake so, neurology, Hafsat aka tambayeta tace itama medicine din take so bangaren gynecology. Har daddy yace mu tafi sai nace "daddy, ina so kuma in dau some courses on psychology" yayi shiru kafin yace "anya Moon abin ba zai yi miki yawa ba? Medicine is not easy on it's own sannan kice zaki kara da wani abun kuma?" Nayi shiru bance komai ba, yace "OK, I will see what I can do, normally ba'a barin students su dau courses out of their field, amma tunda psychology is some how related to medicine zan nema miki" nayi godiya muka tashi muka tafi. Muna zuwa falon mu Hafsat ta fara tambayata "ke kuwa me yasa kike son yin psychology?" Nace "I want to know exactly what people are thinking, I want to be able to tell if someone is lying or not" tayi shiru sannan tace "is this about Ibrahim?" Nace "partly, yes"

Tunda muka koma England,duk sati sai na kira baba Habu maigadin mu na Abuja na tambayeshi ko Ibrahim yazo? Kuma duk sati amsar daya ce "bai zo ba tukun" rannan ina kiran sa kafin inyi magana yace "mai sunan daada" gaba na ya fadi nace "na'am baba" yace "indai har da gaske yana sonki zaizo, ni kuma in yazo zan bashi sakonki kuma zan kira ki in gaya miki yazo har in baki shi ma ku gaisa, idan kin ga bai zo ba, to ba son gaskiya yake miki ba ko kuma Allah bai kaddara alakar da take tsakanin ku mai dorewa ce ba, ki kwantar da hankalin ki, ki manta da batun sa, kiyi karatun ki" jikina naji duk yayi sanyi, kirjina yayi nauyi, nasan gaskiya baba Habu ya gaya min amma anya kuwa zan iya? Murya a sanyaye nace "nagode baba" daga nan ya kashe wayar.

Mun kama karatu sosai. Ita kanta makarantar abar kallo ce, dan zan iya cewa gari guda ce, with its ancient buildings, kowanne faculty kamar unguwa guda ne, dan saida daddy ya bamu maps yace muke tafiya dashi saboda kar mu bata. School of medicine duka muke ni da Hafsat, kuma first year komai tare za'ayi mana tunda kamar introductory courses ne, daga third semester kuma zuwa sixth kowa zai dauki individual courses din field dinsa, shekara ta hudu da ta biyar kuma zamuyi clinicals, kamar practical kenan inda zamu tafi asibitoci muna koyon aiki a gurin kwararrun likitoci, shekara ta shida kuma project. Tsarin makarantar tsari ne me kyau, lecturers dinsu sunsan me sukeyi, ga kayan aiki nan kamar banza, a raina nace dole a kira ta da second best university in the world.

Tunda muka fara lectures kawai sai naji nayi loosing interest a karatun, sam bana gane me akeyi. Ina shiga lecture hall zan tafi seat din baya in zauna in yi ta sake sake a raina ina tuno rayuwar sec sch din mu, sai inji gaba daya hankali na ya koma Nigeria. Sometimes sai inke ganin kamar a class din mu muke, Ibrahim zai iya shigowa anytime. Wani lokacin kuma sai inji kamar kamshin turarensa sai inyi ta waige waige. Duk sanda wani yazo yana son yayi min magana sai inji kamar Ibrahim yana kallona da lumsassun idanuwansa. It is like he is watching me. Sau da yawa in mun shiga lectures sai in kwanta inyi ta bacci har sai an gama sannan Hafsat ta tashe ni. Hafsat tayi fadan, tayi nasihar amma ina, sai da tace zata gayawa mommy bacci nake a class sannan na daina baccin amma still attention dina baya gurina. It is a million miles away. Only time da nake zama inji lecture sai a psychology courses dina. In homework aka bayar sai dai Hafsat tayi mana, kullum tayi ta min gori tana yimin bala'i amma bazan yi ba. It is as if spirit dina na karatu is gone.

A haka muka gama first semester, lokacin exams ma da kyar Hafsat ta tirsasa ni na danyi karatu tana koyamin wasu abubuwan. Hutun da aka bamu babu yawa dan haka daddy yace ba zamu je Nigeria ba, ranar har zazzabi nayi, mommy ta ga ciwona yana kokarin tashi ta kwashe mu muka tafi yawo banda daddy sai security daya hada mu dasu. Mune gari gari, duk garin da muka je sai mu samu hotel mu kwana, mune zuwa kallon London bridge, mune har Scotland da Wales. Na saki raina sosai nayi enjoying