CHAPTER - 03

پہلا تاثر ، پہلا تعارف

- Pehla Taas'sur, Pehla Tar'ruf -

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𝑴𝒐𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊. 𝑴𝒐𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒉𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊. 𝒀𝒆𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊, 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒌𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒃𝒂𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊. 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊. 𝒀𝒆𝒉 𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔𝒉 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊, 𝒌𝒉𝒖𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊. 𝑱𝒂𝒍𝒅 𝒈𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊, 𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒚𝒐 𝒌𝒂 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒃 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒕𝒊. 𝑩𝒂𝒅𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒌𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒉 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊, 𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒂𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊. 𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒂𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊, 𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒃𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊. 𝑯𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊, 𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒒𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒎 𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊. 𝑴𝒐𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒂𝒎 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒊. 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒋𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊, 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒎 𝒉𝒐 𝒋𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒊. 𝑱𝒐 𝒛𝒖𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝑾𝒐𝒉 𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒉 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊 𝒋𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒊. 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒋𝒐 𝒊𝒍𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒊... 𝑾𝒐𝒉 𝒅𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒅 𝒋𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒈𝒂...

(Injeel)

∘❀∘

Marhoom Zulfiqar Yousuf ke chhote baagiche wale ghar mein us raat kisi tehwar ki tarah ronaq bikhri thi. Gol maiz ke gird Saadi ko waalida aur behan bhai ke ilawa wade ke mutabiq phupho aur dada bhi the, aur woh bohot khush nazar aa rahe the.

Bare Abba Nudrat ko khandan mein kisi qissa sunate hue is baat ko apne maazi ki kisi yaad se jodte peeche chale gaye the aur ab koi lahi ki misaal de rahe the. Bare Abba asal mein imtihani parcho mein di gayi us hidaayat par amal karte hain jo kehti hai.

"Mundarja bala tasveer ko misaalo se wajeha kare..."

Wo sath sath unki har bat par tafsira bhi kar raha tha. Bade Abba to koi tawajjo na di. Zumar albatta muskurahat dabaaye khana khati rahi. Haneen qadr-e-latalluq bethi sirf zumar se khar kha rahi thi.

"Huh! jab pata chala ke bhai ne gurda diya hai to aa gayi. Ab bhai acha ho gaya." aur sam apne bhai ke khane aur bolne ke andaaz ki bharpoor naqal ki koshish mein parjosh sa lag raha tha.

"Phupho mein is dafa second aaya tha exam me." mehmaan ke samne to wo awaaz ko itna masoom aur sharmila bana leta tha ke maine tajjub se ghura. Magar woh kahe ja raha tha.

"Aur jo ladka third aaya, woh mujhse aage baitha tha aur parchi bana kar mujhse pichhle wale ko naqal karwa raha tha. Aur maine usay.."

"Sam Yousuf" Haneen ne iztirab se pehlu badalte toka.

"Agar aap hame apni baato se kuch der mustafeed na kare to kitna accha ho. Raaz purane hone ke saath wazni hote." Uske kandho pe dhara bojh aur bhi badh gaya.

Sam ne udasi se munh latka liya. Phir Zumar ko dekha. Woh khana khatam kar chuki thi aur ba-waqar andaz mein peeche ho kar meethi muskurahat ke saath usse dekh rahi thi. Sam ki aankhon mein umeed jhalaki.

"Phupho, main bolta rahu?"

"Haan, tum bolte raho." Zumar ne muskara kar sir ko khum diya. Woh zyada purjosh ho kar wahi qissa dohrane laga.

Haneen sar jhatak kar paani peene lagi. Uska andaz khicha khicha sa tha. Yeh Zumar pehle hi mehsoos kiya tha aur ab to sab ne hi kiya magar Saadi ne nazar andaz kar diya. Aur Zumar to waise bhi mitahhmil mizaj aur mature thi. Usne yun zahir kiya jaise mehsoos hi na kiya ho. Aur Sam ke maatha ke baal narmi se sawarti muskara kar usko sunne lagi.

Sam ko ab pichhli baat bhool gayi thi. Use nayi fikr ne aa ghera tha.

"Phupho, bhai jab chhota tha to kaisa tha?"

Saadi fridge ke darwaze ko khole khada paani ki bottle nikal raha tha. Us sawal pe foran palta.

"Saadi jaisa koi nahi hai, phupho ke liye!" Usne waazeha chidaya.

"Haan, magar Sam ki apni jagah hai." Zumar ne sam ka haath tham kar kaha.

"Bhai jaisa koi nahi hai?"

"Isliye sam ki jab saadi tum jitna tha to main Haneen jitni thi aur ham Behtreen dost hai, hamara school bhi ek tha aur school jaane se pahle apne apne ghar se ham ek hi cartoon dekh kar nikla karte the hamare zamane mein subah 7' baje ptv per cartoon laga karte the"

Saadi bottle hath mein liye wapis kursi par a ke baith gaya. Haneen khamoshi se nudrat ke sath bartan uthwane lagi use ab mazeed Zumar ke kareeb nahi baithna tha.

"Aur hame games bhi ek hi tarah ki pasand the Zumar" Saadi Yaad Karke muskurate Hue batane laga.

"Ham Barf Pani, unch neech, pakram pakrai tello expression khela karte the, Aur haan king of dark room Aur haan kona kona bhi."

"Or haan wo Video game Yad Hai Saadi Duck hunk ham pistol se tv par fire karte Karte aur urti Hui batakh gir jaati "

Haneen ne ek dam sar uthaya Maiz saaf Karte Hath ruke.

"Wo pistol abhi bhi padi hai hamare paas!" Be-ikhtiyar wo keh uthi. Is par Zumar ne muskura kar use dekha to wo ek dum jaldi jaldi apna kaam khatam karne lagi.

"Aur us mein Super Mario bhi thi aur tens wali ek game bhi."

"Aur Phupho, yaad hai hum ghanto baith kar Monopoly khela karte the? Magar main Monopoly mein hamesha diwaliya ho jata tha. Kyunki Phupho itni acchi planner thi, saari behtareen zameenein kharid leti thi, aur main thehra jazbati aur na kaam planner, meri got jail mein hi phansi rehti."

"Aur Saadi, woh Ek card game bhi to hum khelte the, rang birange cards jin pe number likhe hote the!" Zumar ne yaad karne ki koshish ki. Hasnain, jo wapas aa baithi thi, phir se khud pe qabo na rakh saki. Bina soche samjhe boli,

"Wo onu (UNO) thi! Hamare paas abhi bhi padi hai."

"Acha? Waqai? Tumhein wo bohot pasand thi, Haneen, mujhe yaad hai. Aur tumhein Yesu Panjwh aur akkad bakkad type ki games bhi bohot pasand thi," Zumar ab rukh ab bilkul Haneen ki taraf mod kar boli, to Haneen ke labo par ek bhooli-bisri muskurahat aa thehri.

"Aur aapko Ainak Wala Jinn bohot pasand tha!"

"Khair, mujhe to Nastoor pasand tha. Aur Nastoor ke baare mein main apni feelings chhupane ki bilkul qail nahi hoon." Haneen ki muskurahat aur bhi badh gayi. "Aur aapko Dhua drama bhi bohot pasand tha. Hamare paas cassettes thi uski. Aur aap har dafa Dawood ke marne ke scene par uth kar chali jaya karti thi."

"Oh Haneen, Main to yeh samajhne se qasir hoon ke drama nigar isi kirdar ko kyun maar deta hai jisko ham bohot pasand hota hai?"

"Uh-hun!" Chanin ne nafi mein sir hilaya.

"Unhein jis kirdar ko maarna hota hai, wo aapko pehle pasand karne pe majboor kar dete hain."

"Phupho! Mujhe bhi UNO khelni aati hai! Kya hum khele?" Sam se zyada dair nazar andaaz hona bardasht nahi hua. Haneen chonki. Phir muskurahat dheemi hui, jara peeche ho kar baithi. Wo kis khushi mein itna bole ja rahi thi bhala? Khud ko daanta.

"Haan, UNO khelte hain," Saadi ne use baghor dekhte beech ka rasta nikala.

"Jao na, UNO le aao. Magar cards main shuffle karunga! Yaad hai Phupho Hannah apne ghutne ke neeche Draw Four ke chaaron cards pehle hi chhupa leti thi? Isliye main kabhi bhi nahi jeet paata tha. Mujhe aaj ehsaas ho raha hai ke main yeh saari teams hamesha haar jata hoon. Isliye, Hannah, tum apni cheating karne ki salahiyat se baaz rehna!" Masnoi narazgi se usne Haneen ko dekhte hue kaha,

magar Haneen Zulfiqar Yousuf Khan! Bilkul saakit reh gayi. Saadi ko be-yaqeeni se dekhti uski nigah pathra gayi. Rangat safed pad gayi, jaise wo koi barf ka mujasma ho.

"Main cheating nahi karti, bhai." Usne itni be-yaqeeni se use dekha ke Saadi ki muskurahat ghaib ho gayi. Haneen ek dum khadi ho gayi. Zumar ne bhi sar utha kar usey dekha.

"Main cards lati hoon," wo mud gayi. Saadi foran uske peeche lapka.

"I’m sorry! Mera yeh matlab nahi tha!"

Wo Saadi ke kamre mein study table ke samne khadi thi jab wo uske samne aaya. Haneen sar jhuka kar daraaz kholne lagi.

"Mujhe pata hai tum kabhi cheating nahi kar sakti. Main sirf mazak kar raha tha."

"I know..." Usne cards nikale aur daraaz band karke seedhi hui. Wo usi tarah fikrmandi se apni behan ko dekh raha tha, jiski rangat hanooz safaid thi.

"Haneen! Hamara maseeha sirf ek shakhs hota hai, aur wo ham shaksh, hum khud hote hain."

"Mujhe pata hai, bhai!" Usne sir hila kar pheeka sa muskurane ki koshish ki. Phir mudi to ek dum qadam zanjeer ho gaye.

Saadi ka laptop khula pada tha. Zumar ke aane se pehle wo jo kaam kar raha tha, wo yunhi raha tha. Screen par numbers chal rahe the, upar neeche. Haneen ki aankho ki putliya sukdi. Usne chehra jara aage kiya.

Ek haath ne dhap se laptop screen ko keyboard par gira diya. Usne chonk kar bhai ko dekha.

"UNO ko dair nahi karate, gunaah milta hai!" Magar wo yunhi Saadi ko dekhti rahi. Uski aankhon mein uljhan, shak bahut sab kuch tha.

"Bhai! Aap kya kar rahe hain?"

Magar Zumar udhar hi aa rahi thi.

"Saadi... Hashim!" Kehte hi usne phone pakraya. Saadi ne ghabra kar phone thama. Chehre se wo khushgawar asraat ghaib ho gaye aur unki jagah sanjeedgi ne le li.

"Ji, okay." Usne phone band kiya to Hasnain tezi se boli,

"Kya keh rahe the? Matlab us din ke liye maazrat kar rahe the?"

Saadi lamhe bhar ko ruka. Hashim ne kaha tha ke uski secretary subah call karke usse mulaqat ka waqt de degi, magar kyunki uska filhaal Hashim se milne ka koi irada nahi tha, isliye usne haan keh kar baat khatam kar di.

"Aap game shuru kare, main aati hoon."

Wo wahan se nikal aayi. Apne peeche usne Saadi aur Zumar ko baatein karte, raahdari mein aage jaate mehsoos kiya, magar wo apne aur Sam ke mushtarik kamre mein aayi (jahan aaj Phupho aur use rehna tha), darwaza band kiya, almari kholi. Kapdo ka Mount Everest aaj nahi gira kyunki subah Ammi ne almari jamayi thi.

Wo jooto ke khaane pe jhuki. Chand dubbe baahar gire. Phir haath daal kar kone mein rakha ek nanha makhmalin dabba nikala.

Sunehri makhmal ka wo dabba kholne se pehle usne bohot dair socha, itni dair ke haath shal ho gaye. Aur phir usne khol hi diya.

Andar sambr se mukammal par ek sunehri chain wala locket rakha tha. Magar kisi sone-chandi ki jagah, us zanjeer mein siyah heere ki shakal ka stone piroya gaya tha, jiske upar sunehri huroof mein "Ants Ever After" kunda tha.

Yeh Saadi ke keychain ka judwaan tha.

Usne zanjeer ko hole se chhua, magar phir haath hata liya, jaise current ke nange taar ko chhu liya ho. Sar jhatak kar dabba band kiya, usay pheinkne wale andaaz mein nichle khaane mein dala, jooton ke dabbe andar rakhe, aur zor se almari band ki.

Gehri saans le kar wo bethi. To ab usne faisla kar liya tha ke wo bhai ko Hashim wali baat bata degi.

Aakhir Hashim bhai hi to the, koi ghair to nahi tha. Bhai samajh jayega, isliye wo bata degi.

'Magar kab?' Yeh Haneen ne abhi tay nahi kiya tha.

☆☆☆

"دشتِ طلب بھی کیا کوئی شہرِ طلسم ہے؟"

"Dasht-e-Talab bhi kiya koi Shehr-e-Tilism hai?"

∘❀∘

Jawahirat ka andaza hamesha ki tarah durust tha.

Nosherwan dosto ki taraf nahi gaya tha, wo uss pur-ronaq bazaar mein aa gaya tha, jahan raat mein bhi din ka samaan tha. Jo NATO containers aaj kal loote ja rahe the, unka samaan yahan kaudiyo ke bhaav bik raha tha. Pathan aur maqami dukaandaar is baat se qatan be-niyaaz the ke jo bech rahe hain, wo be-had keemti branded ki ashiya hain. Wo maze se bhaav-taav mein masroof the.

Nosherwan ne car kahi door khadi ki thi aur ab wo jeebon mein haath daale footpath pe chalta hua aage badh raha tha. Saath-saath uski mutalashi nigah aas paas chehro ko khoj rahi thi. Isi talaash mein wo aage chalta gaya.

Kaafi der baad, dry fruit ki ek samne se khuli dukaan ke samne ruka. Chand lamho tak putliyan suked dukandaar ko dekhta raha jo safi se ashiya jhaad raha tha, phir aage aaya.

"Ji sahab! Taaza dry fruit hai."

Dukaandaar usko dekh kar kapda rakhta, jaldi-jaldi apni ashiya ki khususiyaat ginwane laga.

Nosherwan ne pehle do-fiqre to bezari se sun liye, phir baat kaat kar bola, "Chalees gram chahiye."

"Bas? Magar kaunsa..?"

"Tumhe pata hai mujhe kya cheez chalees gram chahiye." Uski aankhon mein dekh kar drashti se bola to dukaandaar ke alfaaz halq mein atak gaye.

Usne zabardasti muskurane ki koshish ki, magar rangat mutaghayyar hoti gayi.

"Sahab, tumhe koi ghalat fehmi ho rahi hai. Hum aise kaam nahi karta."

"Main police wala nahi hoon. Maal do to main jaun." Wo bigde asraat se bola.

"Sahab, maine bataya na main..."

"Dekh bhai, meri ek jeeb mein pistol hai aur doosri mein note. Main tujhe kaunsi jeeb dikhau jo tu meri baat sune ga?"

Kehte saath usne shirt ka kinara tircha kiya aur pehli jaib mein arsa pistol zara sa jhalka.

Dukaandaar ne haath utha kar sir asbat mein hilaaya.

"Gulabi wale Quaid-e-Azam chalenge. Andar aao aur batao kaunsa chahiye."

Nosherwan istehzaiya muskuraya aur uske peeche andar chala gaya.

Jis waqt wo ghar wapas aaya, Hashim lounge mein neem-daraz tha. Yun ke pao table par rakhe the aur Sonia uske seene par sir rakhe tirchi leti, haath mein iPad pakre game khel rahi thi.

Wo ek haath se Sonia ke naram siyah baal sehlaata, doosre haath mein pakre milk se ghoont bharta TV dekh raha tha.

"Baba, mera game dekhiye na!" Wo khafa-khafa si boli.

Hashim ne ek nazar screen par daali.

"Itni der se to in lambi naak waale parindo ko dekh raha hoon. Ab to mujhe inki shakal bhi yaad ho gayi hai."

Muskurahat daba kar kehta wo phir se TV dekhne laga.

"Aapko mera koi game samajh nahi aata!" Wo musalsal screen par ungliya chalati keh rahi thi.

"Main is tarah ke games nahi khela karta, Soni! Aur jo main khelta hoon, wo main hamesha jeet-ta hoon."

"Sheru mere saath sab games khelta hai!"

"Haan, Sheru aur tumhari umar mein zyada farq hai bhi nahi."

Hashim ne TV ko hi dekhte jhuk kar uske baal chume.

"Kya Soni ko pata hai wo Mama ke saath chuttiyo par nahi ja rahi?"

"Hmm" wo game me mashroof thi.

"Good, mere do ek kaam khatam ho jaaye phir Baba aur Soni chhuttiyon pe jaayenge. Theek?"

"Aur Sheru bhi jaayega? Aur Mama bhi? Aur mummy bhi?"

"Mama ke ilawa sab jaayenge. Mama ke saath Sonia sardi mein chali jaayegi."

"Okay." Usne sir hila diya. Game mushkil hota ja raha tha. Tabhi Hashim ki nigah andar aate Sheru pe padi, jo bina nigah milaaye seedha seedhiyo ki taraf badh raha tha.

Hashim ne usey pukaara.

"Ho sakta hai kal Saadi aaye. Main chahunga ke tum mere saath ho tab."

Nosherwan pehle zeene pe ruka, magar sirf ek pal ke liye. Dheere se bola, "Okay."

"Kaisa hai Sarmad? Aur uske bhai ke case ka kya bana?" Hashim ne ghoor kar dekha aur doodh ka ek ghoont bhara. Use bhi Jawahirat ki tarah yaqeen tha ke Sheru doston ke paas nahi gaya.

"Pata nahi. Maine poocha nahi." Sheru bina nigah milaaye seedhiyan chadhta gaya. Hashim ne bhi behas nahi ki.

Andar aakar usne darwaza lock kiya aur study table tak aaya. Jaib se ek packet nikala aur maze par rakha. Usme ajeeb se nanhe-nanhe tukde the.

Kursi kheench kar baitha, drawer se ek khali cigarette nikali. Packet wali manshiyaat masal kar bharne laga. Yeh karte hue uske haath mein jara larzish thi. Peshani pe paseena bhi tha.

Lighter jala kar cigarette ke kinare ko sulgaya aur doosra kinara hotho se lagaya. Saans andar kheench li, aankhein band ki. Kadwa maada andar tarta gaya. Saans baahar nikali to dhuein ke marghole har taraf bikhar gaye. Uska dimaag halka hota gaya. Har cheez se halka. Hawa se bhi halka.

☆☆☆

Nashte ke baad tayyari ki afrat tafri poore ghar mein phaili thi. Sam bhaag-bhaag kar school ke liye tayar ho raha tha. Saadi office aur Zumar court ke liye. Wapas aakar usne bade Abba ko le kar apne ghar jaana tha, so wo sabse zyada sukoon se baithe the.

Haneen unke qareeb baithi akhbaar mein se kuch sunati saath-saath tabsara bhi karti ja rahi thi jab Zumar udhar aayi. Haneen ki bolti zabaan zara dheemi hui. Alert ho kar baithi. Zumar bhi saath baithi. Haneen ne use nazar andaaz kiya.

"Master's kis subject me karne iraada hai, Haneen?" Jhuk kar jooto ke strap bandh karte hue, wo narmi se boli. Haneen ke tane ta'assuraat qadaray naram hue.

"Literature ya Arbi mein. Abhi faisla nahi kiya. (Phir ruki aur izafa ki,) ‘Bachelor's mein bhi Literature rakha tha.’"

"Yeh to achi baat hai. Tum itni zaheen ho, kuch bhi kar logi." Wo ab jhuki hui doosra joota bandh kar rahi thi. Haneen zara si muskurai. Saath hi almari ke kone ko aadatan naakhun se andar ragad rahi thi.

"Magar mujhe yaad hai tumne FSC mein board mein position li thi, aur entry test mein bhi bohot ache numbers the. Top merit banta tha tumhara. Phir engineering mein kyun nahi liya admission?"

Haneen ki muskurahat madham ho gayi. Usne sir utha kar Zumar ko dekha. Wo strap bandh kar uth rahi thi. Logon ko pata bhi nahi chalta aur wo gardan daba dete hai.

"Achanak se dil palat gaya to B.A. mein dakhila le liya. Dil to kabhi bhi palat jata hai na, Phupho!"

Uska akhbaar ka kinara ragadta nakhun mazeed tez ho gaya. Sar jhuka kar bade Abba ko koi doosri khar banane lagi. Albatta ab ke andaaz sust tha. Zumar ne jaate jaate mud kar use dekha. Yeh aakhri fakra kehte uski awaaz mein na tanz tha na talkhi. Bas ajeeb si udaasi thi.

Woh raahdaari se guzar kar Saadi ke kamre ke darwaze tak aayi to woh aaine ke saamne khada nazar aa raha tha. Collar akadey huey upar khade the aur woh tie ki girah laga raha tha. Zumar zara sa muskurayi. Darwaza hole se pehle bajaya.

"To tumhara koi office bhi hai?"

Girah kheench kar upar le jaate woh khafgi se palta aur collar durust kiye.

"Do saal mein pehli dafa chhutti li, woh bhi sirf do hafto ki. Aur boss se chaprasi tak har banda guzarte guzarte taana de jata hai. Aap to aise mat karein."

"Oh! Aur itni lambi chhutti kyun li?"

Saadi chup ho gaya. (Judge pe aakhri dino mein pressure dalna tha, Mamoon ko manwana tha, Hashim bhai ka laptop hack karna tha, jiska mauqa aap ke zariye mil hi gaya aur ab in files ko kholna hai, magar chhutti khatam) Yeh sab sirf socha. Jab bola to sirf itna.

"Kuch research work kar raha tha, usi ko mukammal karna tha."

"Chalo phir weekend pe milne ka plan karte hain."

"Ji, aap to shaadi mein nahi aayengi na?" Usne sarsari sa chheda. Woh jo mudne lagi thi, chonk gayi.

"Kis ki shaadi?"

"Ab poora rishta maloom nahi, magar jis ladke ki shaadi hai, woh hamara bhi rishtedaar hai aur us Hammad ka bhi. Hammad aur Kiran is liye to aaye hue hain Australia se. Woh bhi honge shaadi pe. Aur Kiran kardar khandan ko bilkhusoos bulwaye gi. Woh sab bhi honge. So idhar aap Hammad ka saamna nahi kar sakeingi, mujhe pata hai. Is liye aap ka card idhar aaya to maine Ammi se kaha ke Phupho ko na bheje. Woh nahi aayengi."

Zumar ke lab bheench gaye aur aankhon ki patliyan sukdi gayin. Seene pe baazu lapet kar usay tandahi se dekha.

"Aur tumhe kyun laga ke main uska saamna nahi kar sakti?"

"Aap nahi kar sakti. Tabhi to khandan me kisi taqreeb mein nahi jaati."

"Khair aapne nahi jana to koi baat nahi, mein samajh sakta hoon." Bahut samjhdari se usne kaha.

"Main is liye nahi jaati kyunki waqt nahi milta aur..."

"Weekend pe waqt hoga phir?" Woh tezi se bola.

Zumar ne be-dhiyani se "Haan" kaha to usne jaldi se poocha:

"Matlab aap chalengi?"

"Main dekhungi." Woh ruk kar boli. Phir ghadi dekhi. Use ab chalna tha. Woh nikli to Saadi mukammal tayyar ho kar nikhrs nikhra sa baahar nikla.

Lounge mein bas bade Abba the. Haneen sone chali gayi thi. Unhon ne use sawaliya nazron se dekha.

"Woh taqreeb par jaane ke liye maan gayi?"

Bilkul muskara kar kehte usne chai ka cup uthaya aur samne baitha. Bade Abba ne ta'ajjub se use dekha.

"Tumne kaise raazi kiya use? Main kehta to kabhi na maanti."

"Ab aap ke paas Saadi Yusuf jaisa dimaag thodi hai." Ghoont bharte woh muskuraya. Phir kitchen ki taraf rukh karke awaaz lagayi.

"Ami! Aap nashta Lahore se la rahi hain ya kitchen se?"

"Kitchen se main joota phekna hai tumhare qad ka lehaaz kiye baghair." Woh tray uthaye masnoi khafgi se bolti aayi. Saadi ne afsos se dada ko dekha.

"Koi maane ga ke yeh khatoon mere peechhe mere behan bhai ko meri misale deti hain?"

"Mujhe pata hai achhe se. Jaldi jaldi ka shor is liye machate ho ke nashta aadha karna pade. Ab agar tumne yeh khatam na kiya na, Saadi, to mujhe 'Ami' na kehna!" Woh samne baithte hue uski shikayat dada se laga rahi thi. Woh muskurate hue bas sun rahe the.

Saadi ne hasbe adat bas thoda sa khaya. Phir haath saaf karta utha aur bohot mutanat se maa ko mukhatib kiya.

"Achha, Nudrat behan! Allah Hafiz."

Aur is se pehle ke woh waqai uske qad ka lehaaz kiye baghair ek haath jod deti, woh baahar nikal chuka tha.

Saara office ke liye tayyar, car ka darwaza khol rahi thi jab gate ki ghanti baji. Usne mud kar dekha. Gate ooncha tha, yahan se maloom nahi hota tha ke baahar kaun hai.

Woh chaabi darwaze mein chhod kar bag car ki chhat par rakh kar gate tak aayi aur use khola. Aadha darwaza khulte hi haath thatak kar ruke.

Bahar Faris khada tha. T-shirt, jeans, chhote kate baal, sanjeeda gehri nazrein aur supaat chehra. Saara ne baqi darwaza sust rawi se khola.

"Faris?" Koi nadeeda lat kaan ke peechhe arasti woh ek taraf hati. Chehre par tazabzub sadir aaya tha.

"Aap theek hain?" Sarsari sa sawaal kiya. Albatta usko gehri nazar se dekh raha tha.

"Hmm." Woh hmm me sir jara sa hila kar mazeed ek janib huyi.

"Mera itni subah aana acha nahi laga, ya aana hi?" Uski hichkichahat ke bais woh jara sardi se bola.

Sara ke chehre par sharmindagi ubhri.

"Aisa nahi hai. Aao."

"Bachiyo se milne aaya tha main." Woh wahin khada raha. Sara bhi idhar hi khadi rahi, magar usse nigah nahi milayi.

"Woh school ke liye tayyar ho rahi hain. Bas hum nikalne hi wale the." Saath hi usne ghadi dekhi jaise jaldi mein ho.

"Yani kisi aur waqt aau?" Uske chehre ke badalte rang baghor dekhte woh khushk andaaz mein keh raha tha.

Sara ne iztirab se haath uthakar usse dekha.

"Tum aa sakte ho, Faris."

"Magar zyada nahi, hmm?" Woh uske taa'suraat parh raha tha.

"To aapke khayal mein Waris ko maine qatl kiya tha?"

"Aisa nahi hai. Mujhe yaqeen hai tumhein phansaya gaya tha. Yaqeenan tumhare dushman bohot honge aur—"

"Aur mera idhar aana aapke khandan ke liye khatre ka baais ban sakta hai. Main samajh gaya. Ainda door rahunga." Sir hila kar woh yeh keh raha tha jaise waqai samajh gaya ho. Sara ne dukh se use dekha.

"Faris! I am sorry. Magar main pehle hi bohot mushkil zindagi guzar rahi hoon. Mere paas meri betiyo ke ilawa koi nahi hai. Main unko kisi bhi khatre mein nahi daal sakti. Tum please mujhe ghalat mat lena."

"Kaha na, samajh gaya. Ab mil lu ya jau?"

"Nahi. Aao please." Woh ab ke waqai peeche hati aur andar ki taraf badhi. Woh chand lamhein zabt se use aage jaate dekhta raha, phir sir jhatak kar peeche ho liya.

☆☆☆

"ہر حقیقت فریب لگتی ہے جب کوئی اعتبار کھو بیٹھے۔"

"Har haqeeqat faraib lagti hai jab koi aitbaar kho baithay."

∘❀∘

Study room mein khamoshi phaili thi. Nosherwan bhi is khamoshi ka hissa bana, haath patty rakhe, maiz ke us taraf baithe Hashim ko dekh raha tha jo bohot inhimak se file ke safhe par raha tha. Use aaj office der se jana tha, isliye woh raat wale libas mein tha.

"Teesri dafa pooch raha hoon, Saadi kab aayega?" Woh ab bezar hone laga to muqaddas khamoshi ko toda.

"Hm!?" Hashim ne safha palta. Phir nigah utha kar usay dekha.

"Kya uske intezar mein tum tamam raat nahi soye?"

Usne Sheru ki bilkul gulabi aankhon ko dekh kar kaha tha. Sheru ka upar ka saans upar aur neeche ka neeche reh gaya. Rangat zara pheeki hui. "Soya tha magar bohot der se." Usne ghabra kar kaha. Phir baghor Hashim ke taa'surat dekhe.

Woh phir se file mein masroof ho gaya tha. Laakh shatir sahi, itni jaldi Hashim ko shak nahi ho sakta tha ke woh phir se drugs pe aa gaya hai.

Mobile baja. Hashim ne ungli se button dabaya aur "Bolo." kehte hue file ka doosra safha palta. Uske paas itni fursat bhi na thi ke mobile kaan se lagata. Uski secretary ki awaaz goonji.

"Sir, maine Saadi Yousuf ko call ki thi." Woh ruki. Hashim ne chain se us safhay mein kuch underline kiya.

"Halima, main agle kitne minute tumhare bolne ka intezar karunga?"

"Sorry sir, unhone kaha ke woh masroof hain. Unko apna schedule dekhna padega. Aaj to namumkin hai. Agle hafte main unko dobara call kar ke poochungi agar.." Woh ruki magar phir jaldi se boli. "Agar Hashim bhai ko mujhse milne ka itna hi shauq hai to.."

"Ok!" Hashim ne call cut kiya aur safhay par do alfaaz ke gird daira lagaya. Waqalat saara alfaaz ka khel hi tha.

Sheru ke maatha par bal pad gaye the.

"Attitude dekha aapne uska? Badtameez insaan! Khud ko samajhta kya hai?"

Hashim ne thakawat se sir nafi mein hila kar Sheru ko dekha.

"Tum kab bain-al-sutoor baatein parhna seekhoge, Nosherwan?"

Woh jo bhara hua aage ho kar baitha kuch aur kehna chahta tha, hairat se ruka.

"Iski, is baat ka aur kya matlab?"

"Kya tum Saadi ko nahi jaante? Woh badtameezi nahi kar raha, woh mujhse mulaqat ko taal raha hai."

"Magar woh kyun talega?"

"Jab usko koi madfan saboot milega toh woh sab se pehle mere paas aayega. Saaf baat hai, usse meri files nahi khulengi. Bina saboot ke woh mera saamna nahi karna chahega aur files ko kholne ke liye usay waqt chahiye."

"Aur agar usne files khol li?"

"Nahi khulengi." Hashim ne itminan se kehate hue woh qa'il stand par khe palande pe daali aur laptop apne qareeb kiya.

"Saadi kabhi bhi computers ke saath achha nahi tha. Mere computer ki hard drive ko woh apni kisi device se remotely access toh kar sakta hai, magar files pe lage taale kholne ke liye woh aise programs istemaal karega jo taala toh nahi sakte, lekin ismein baari baari hazaaro chaabiyan laga kar dekhte hain ke shayad koi chaabi lag jaye. Aur jab aadhe safar mein bhi taala nahi khulta toh frustration ka shikar shakhs zor zor se chaabi ghumata hai aur uske baad pata hai kya hua hai Sheru?" Woh halka sa muskuraya. "Ghalat chaabi taale mein toot jaati hai. Aur tuti chaabi wala lock phir subah chaabi se khulne ke qabil bhi nahi rehta."

"Aur agar tum Gulistan-e-Saadi khatam ho chuki hai, toh main kaam kar lu?"

Sheru mathe bal liye utha. Maiz pe dhara apna mobile bhi uthaya. Udhar usne apne mobile ko dekha, idhar Hashim ne uski nigaho ko. Phir Hashim ne sanjeedgi se haath badhaya.

"Phone do."

Sheru ne na majhi se phone use pakraaya. Hashim ne screen ko chand dafa dabaya. "Yeh Saadi ka number hai." Screen Sheru ko dikhayi aur phone phir apne saamne kar liya. "Aur yeh ho gaya, Saadi ka number delete." Dobara screen lehraayi.

Nosherwan ka moun khul gaya. "Bhai magar.."

"Tum meri study se nikal kar usay call karne aur us par ghusa karne ka soch rahe thay, na? bilkul bhi inkaar mat karna. Aur mujhe maloom hai tum iska number kahin se dobara bhi le sakte ho. Magar main tumhe yeh batane ki koshish kar raha hoon ke agar tumne Saadi ko chhed kar mere liye koi musibat khadu ki, toh main tumhare saath kitni sakhti se pesh aa sakta hoon." Uska phone apni daraz mein daalte hue woh qatiyat se keh raha tha.

Sheru ne khafgi se use dekha. Phir "Okay" keh kar mud gaya.

"Aur nashte ke liye jaate hue Fiona na se keh dena ke aaj ke saare khane tumhe tumhare kamre mein pohnchayein. Kyunki aaj ke din tum ghar se baahar nahi nikloge." Woh koi doosri kitaab kholte hue keh raha tha. Sheru hakka bakka sa palta.

"Main pachees saal ka hoon bhai!" Usne ehtijajajan khafgi kaha.

"Aur main sath setis ka. Kya mujhe dobara dohrane ki zarurat hai ke tum aaj ke liye grounded ho?" Abru uthakar aik sakht nigah is par daal kar Hashim ne poocha. Shero ke aasab dhile pad gaye.

"Sorry bhai! Main usay approach nahi karunga."

"Aur main is baat kal subah yakeen karunga. Fiona unse kaho ke mera nashta yahi pahuncha de. Main office der se jau ga." Sheru ne munh bana kar darwaza khola aur baahar nikal gaya. Uske nikalte hi Hashim ne band darwaze ko dekha aur halka sa muskuraya, phir sir jhatka. "Yeh kab bara hoga?"

Wapas kitaab ki taraf mutwajeh hote hue, woh le bhar ko ka chehra uthakar idhar udhar dekha. Study ke racks, kitabe, lamps. Ek azeeb se nostalgia ne Hashim ko apni gript mein le liya. Kitaab paray kar ke usne peeche tek lagayi aur qalam haatho mein ghumate un daro deewaron ko dekhne laga. Uski aankho me gehri soch thi.

Phir us ne apna mobile nikala aur jaise rait mein daba koi gumgashta sanduq dhoond raha ho, to Saadi ka number talaash kiya. Phone kaan se laga kar woh ghanti jaate sunta raha.

"Ji Hashim bhai!" Woh aaj bhi uski call reject nahi kar sakta tha. Hashim ke labo pe muskurahat dar aayi.

"Tum ne aane se inkar kyun kar diya?" Woh dostana andaaz mein pooch raha tha.

Wo chand lamhe khaamosh raha. "Aaj office dobara start kiya hai, to abhi nikalna mushkil hoga."

"Tum chaho to main tumhare office aa jata hoon." Woh narmi se bola.

"Aap mujh se kyun milna chahte hain Hashim bhai?"

"Kyunki mujhe lagta hai tum badal gaye ho."

"Waqt badal gaya hai." Woh mohtat sa bol raha tha. Hashim ne do ungliyo se aankhein masli. Naak ki haddi ko chutki mein liya. Phir gehri saans li. "Waqt bhi wohi hai, main bhi wohi hoon aur tum bhi shaayad hamare darmiyan koi ghalat fehmi nahi aa gayi hai. Main woh door karna chahta hoon."

"Mujhe koi ghalat fehmi nahi hai." Usay to yaqeen tha. Hashim khaamosh ho gaya. Chand lamhe study ki khaamoshi un dono ko bolne pe majboor karte, dono chup rahe.

"Saadi, Kya hum wapas ja sakte hain? Achay waqt mein wapas? Jab hamare darmiyan yeh zumani baatein nahi hoti thi. Tum raat ke aik bajay bhi meri aik call pe chalay aate thay. Jab tum muje Hashim bhai kaha karte thay to dil se kehte thay. Kya koi raasta bacha hai Saadi?"

"Shaayad nahi."

Hashim ne mobile band kar ke mez par daal diya. Study ke daro deewaar phir se bolne lagay. Uski samaato mein achay waqto ki baazgasht sunai dene lagi. Bamushkil in sab ko zehan se jhatka dekar, Hashim seedha hua aur kitaab phir se khol li.

Doosri taraf, apne office mein laptop ke samne soch mein tum baitha, Saadi abhi tak mobile ko tak raha tha. Phir usne bhi har cheez ko zehen se jhatka diya, seedha hua aur laptop qareeb kiya. Gardan unchi kar ke aage peeche ka jaiza liya aur phir apna program dekha jo abhi tak chal raha tha. Nakami dar nakaami. Usay shiddat se frustration hui. Muztarib se andaaz mein chand aik keys dabayi. Program se aik saath do teen kaam karwane ki koshish ki aur... aur... screen pe jalta bhujta nishan jagmagane laga. Usne dobara cherh chhad ki aur... program corrupt ho gaya.

"Party ki saari mehnat zaya chali gayi." Chaabi lock mein toot gayi thi. Sab barbaad ho gaya.

Files damage ho chuki thin aur ab koi bhi cheez unko recover nahi kar sakti thi.

Usne sar dono haatho mein tham liya. Woh waqai computers ke saath achha naa tha. Aur woh bina saboot ke kisi se madad bhi nahi maang sakta tha. Ab woh kya kare? Usne sar uthakar apne office ko ajnabi nazar se feeki padti rangat ke saath dekha.

"Dobara se Hashim ka computer? Na mumkin." Ab to Hashim usay apne qareeb bhi na bhatakne de.

Aur aik waqt tha jab... Usne yaad karne ki koshish ki. Achhe waqto ki saari kahaniya fiza mein aaj bhi unmit roshnai se likhi thi.

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