Zumar phone kaan se lagaye lounge mein bechaini se tehal rahi thi. Uski aankho mein shaadeed izterab qayam tha. Doosri jaanib bail jaa rahi thi. dhafatan woh ruki.

"Ji main Zumar baat kar rahi hoon. Ji bilkul... maine tulba ki fehrist maloom karne ke liye call ki thi jo scholarship ke liye namzad hue hain."

Ek ghunghriali lat ungli par lapet-ti, bazahir normal andaaz mein keh rahi thi.

"Aap mujhe woh paanch naam padh kar suna sakti hain? Ji, ji hmm." Woh ab aapas mein peywast kiye tehlti hui sunti gayi. Chehre par tanav barh gaya. "Ek do paanch..."

"Kya yehi tamam naam hai? Are you sure?"Aahista aahista aankho mein umeed ki lo bujhti gayi.

"Ok, magar kya aap counter check kar sakti hain? Is ferist mein waqai kisi Saadi Yousuf ka naam nahi hai?" Ek aakhri umeed... jis par sab ki duniya qaim hai. Magar jawab sun kar saari duniya doobti gayi.

"Ok." Use apni awaaz madhm si sunayi di. Aahista se phone rakha aur sofa par baith gayi. Kamre se Farhana ke darwaze kholne ki awaaz aayi. Lihaf ka bundle bana kar uthaye woh store room ki taraf ja rahi thi. Use zard shal sa baithe dekh kar ruki.

"Kya hua?" Woh chonki. Phir pheeka sa muskaraayi.

"Kuch nahi hua." Aur yehi to sadma tha ke kuch nahi hua.

☆☆☆

Aaj computer chair khali thi Kyunke Haneen sofe par bethi thi. God me plate thi aur wo abhi tak kha rahi thi. Unki one dish party khatam ho chuki thi.

Zumar bade sofa par baithi tissue se nafasat se lab thapthapa rahi thi. Saadi ammi ke saath bartan uthwa raha tha. sam baqi maza, pepsi pee raha tha.

"Haan maine pata kiya tha." Tissue se haath saaf karte hue Zumar ne Saadi ke sawal ka jawab diya aur phir uski taraf dekh kar sukoon se boli. "Namo ka elan abhi nahi hua. Shayad do teen din mazeed lage."

"Oh." Saadi ka josh umeed khauf sab thanda hua. Woh aakhri plate Nudrat ke haath mein pakdi tray mein rakh kar Zumar ke saath sofa par baitha. Ghutno pe kohniya rakhe, aage ko jhuka kar baitha, woh mayoos lag raha tha.

"Saadi! Tumhein scholarship mil jayega. Baaz dafa log merit par scholarship nahi bat-te balki na insaafi kar jaate hain. Iske bawajood tumhare saath na insaafi nahi hogi." Usne Saadi ke kandhe ko thapka.

Woh "hmm" kehkar muskara diya. Magar woh bad-dil zyada tha. Tabhi jab ghanti baji toh usne kaha. "Sam mote aaloo! Jaao jaakar darwaza kholo. Kabhi koi kaam bhi kar liya karo."

Sam ne foran tameer ki. Jab woh wapas aaya toh uske peeche Faris tha. Chokhat par woh zara dair ko jhijka, zumar bhi usko dekh kar zara zyada seedhi hui.

"Sorry, main ghalat waqt pe aa gaya. Woh jo cheeze kahi thi Aapa se, wohi lene aaya tha." Aur woh bilkul bhi naadim nahi nazar aa raha tha.

"It's okay mamu aaye. Hum bas party khatam kar chuke the." Saadi uth khada ho gaya.

"Hmm, main bhi bas nikalne wali thi. Aur aap theek hain?" Zumar apni cheeze sametate hue usse dekh kar zara sa takallufan muskaraayi. Faris ne qadare tajaub se usse dekha aur mez ki haalat ko. Party waqai khatam ho chuki thi.

"Subah Aapa ne to kaha tha ke Zumar aur bacho ne shaam ko party karni hai. Main late ho gaya ya inke chhey jaldi baj gaye?" Usne socha. Phir sar jhatka.

Usse kya woh to apni cheeze uthaane aaya tha. "Haan theek hai, usse kal subah leni thi woh cheezen, lekin agar jaldi aa gaya toh kya hua? Haan?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Usne kandhe uchkaaye. Phir kitchen ki taraf rukh kar ke awaaz di. "Aapa mera bag de dein toh main jau.."

"Oh tum abhi aa gaye. Main samjhi kal aaoge." Nudrat haath saaf karti hairat se idhar aayi. "Achha baitho main laati hoon."

Zumar ne apni cheeze samet li thi. Sirf car ki chaabiya haath mein pakad rakhi thi. Ab usey uthna tha, magar Haneen saamne baithi bohot hi dil-jami se haddi se boti alag karti kha rahi thi. Zumar ne usse dekha toh woh udhar hi dekh rahi thi. Ghar ka sab se pur-aitimad bachcha phupho ke dekhne par sharma jaata tha. Muskara kar khana khane lagi. Zumar bhi muskaraayi aur Faris ko dekha jo abhi tak khada tha. Saadi ne single sofa ki taraf ishara kiya.

*Baith jaiye yeh kat-ta nahi hai."

Magar woh nazar andaaz kar ke Aapa ki taraf barh gaya jo andar se uska bag la rahi thi.

"Kya bus bhi bhijwaya hai Saleem Uncle ne?" Usne bag ko haathon mein le kar tola jaise wazan check kiya.

"Haan. Ek dafa dekh kar tasalli kar lo, sab kuch poora hai." Woh baith gaya. Bag ki zip kholi. Zumar bhi be-ikhteyar dekhne lagi. Baqi sab ko shayad pata tha ke andar kya hai.

Faris ne haath daal kar bandook nikaali. Lambi nali waali antique gun. Ulat palat kar dekha. Phir andar maujood goliya check ki. "Hmm," sab poora tha.

"Yeh hamare Abu ke aik dost thay. Unhein shikar ka bohot shauq tha. Faris ko unki koi gun achi lagi toh unhone iske liye bhijwa di. Magar usko man tha ke yeh khareedega, toh tofa nahi lega. Yun karte karte unhein baahar jana par gaya toh payment milne ke baad meri taraf drop karwa di." Nudrat ne Zumar ko dekhte hue wazahat di. Faris ne zip band kar ke sar uthaya toh woh usse dekh rahi thi.

"Aapko guns pasand hain?" Tajaub se usne eyebrows uthaye. Faris ne do teen second uski aankhon mein dekha phir eyebrows achuka kar bola.

"Bahut zyada. Kyunki guns insano ko nahi marti, insaan insano ko martay hai."

"Mera yeh matlab nahi tha, aur aapki padhai theek ja rahi hai?" Usne baat badli. Sofa ke kinare nahi, woh bas jaane ki tayari mein thi.

"Hmm." Magar usse dekhte hue Faris thehra. "Aap ne jo pichle hafte handout photocopy karwa kar class mein diya tha, woh mujhe nahi mila."

"Oh. Magar woh to aap ke aane ke baad diya gaya tha."

"Shayad, abhi meri koi ahmiyat nahi hai wahan." Usne shane achka diye. Zumar fikar mand hui.

"Phir to aapko woh teeno topics samajh mein nahi aaye hoge."

"Sab upar se guzar gaya." Haath se sir ke upar ishaara kiya. "Agar aap ke paas waqt ho to?"

"Ji bilkul, main kal nahi to parso.." thodi pe unki rakhe usne socha. "Haan parso, aap mere paas aayenge class se pehle. Main tab tak aap ke liye woh notes dobara photocopy karwa dungi."

"Sure, thanks!" Usne bas itna kaha. Haneen ab hath dhone kitchen mein ja chuki thi.

Zumar jane ke liye uth gayi. Magar uthne se pehle usne chaabiya cushion ke peeche rakhi aur unko dekhe bina khadi hui. Faris ne bag kandhe pe daalte hue, kin akhiyon se yeh dekha tha. Usse chhodne bahar gaya. Haneen wapas aayi to woh ja chuki thi. Woh ek dum khidki ke paas ja kar khadi ho gayi aur parda hata kar bahar dekhne lagi.

Faris putliya sikud kar ab baghor Haneen ko dekh raha tha. Daftan woh chehki. Chehre pe saare zamaane ki khushi dar aayi.

"Phapho phir bhool gayi." Aur jaldi se sofa tak aayi. Upar neeche haath maara.

Cushion paray kiya. "Yeh raha chabiyo ka guchha." Usne fatehana mein woh uthaya aur raahdari ki taraf lapki. Faris ko yahan tak awaaze aarhi thi. Zumar aur Saadi wapas aaye the.

"Phupho chabi bhool gayi." Saadi ne pukara.

Haneen unko chaabi de rahi thi. Zumar kuch keh rahi thi. Har dafa ka mamool ... Saadi har dafa hairaan hota. Phir kabhi hans deta. Ab bhi hans diya. Woh chali gayi aur ghar khamosh ho gaya. Halanke woh to atabat bhi nahi thi. Khamoshi saath laati thi, khamoshi chhod jaati thi.

Haneen wapas aayi to uska chehra gulnaar ho raha tha. Badi fursat se usne plate uthai aur kitchen mein chali gayi.

Kuch dair baad jab Faris unko khuda hafiz keh kar bahar nikla, to gaadi mein baithte hi bag pichli seat pe phenka. Dash board ka khana khola. Idhar udhar cheezen palti, Phir woh mil gaya.

Photocopy shuda notes.

Woh usse uthaye bahar nikaala. Sadak kinare ek koode ke bade se dabbe ke upar khade ho kar dono haath mein usse pakda, uske chaar tukde kiye aur andar phenk diya. Phir door aasman ko dekhte hue gehri saans li.

"Ab munh se nikal jaaye kuch to banda kya kare?"

Shane uchka kar woh wapas holiya.

☆☆☆

Kardars ka qasr apni poori aab-o-taab se is sabza-e-zaar mein phaila tha. Un mein bawarchi aur mulaazimo ki aamad-o-raft jaari thi. Saare baaqi maande kaam jaldi jaldi niptaaye ja rahe the. Shaadi mein din na hone ke barabar reh gaye the.

Saad Yousuf ne main door ke saamne khade ho kar chand gehre gehre saans liye.

"Ek aadmi murawwat mein peshkash kare aur main fauran se pahuch jau? Kya ye accha lagta hai?" Abhi jab woh Faris se mila tha to usne puchha tha.

"Acha lagta ho ya bura, main nikal raha hoon. Ab tum idhar baith kar TV dekho, deewaro se baatein karo ya Hashim se chai piyo, tumhari marzi." Woh chai aur wallet uthate hue bola to Saadi ne susti se usse dekha.

"Aisa sulook karta hai koi mehmaan ke saath?"

"Mehmaan kaun?" Faris ne sar utha kar waqai tajjub se poocha.

"Chhodiye yaar." Woh bad-dil hua. "Acha aap jaiye, magar woh jo mujhe pehchane hi na to?"

"Lo, Hashim bhi kuch bhoolta hai?" Faris ne sar jhatka. Uske andaaz par Saadi ne gaur se usse dekha.

"Aapki apne cousin se nahi banti kya? Us din bhi aapne unse koi baat nahi ki thi."

"Dekho yaar," Faris ne haath utha kar do-tok kehna shuru kiya. "Woh hoga accha aadmi, mera sara nanihal hoga accha. Magar woh mere jaise log nahi hain. Hum tum to driver hotel par maash ki daal kha kar meethi chai peeke wahi charpai par let jaane wale bande hain. Magar yeh aur tarah ke log hain. Mummy daddy type, mein inse bhi ghul mil nahi sakta. Ab tum ja rahe ho ya nahi? Andar lock kar jaun?"

Ab darwaze ke saamne khada tha. Ghanti bajayi bhi nahi thi magar andar se jaise usse dekh liya gaya tha. Darwaza khula aur ek Filipino mulazima Mary muskurati hui khadi thi.

"Good evening!"

"Thanks, main.., Hashim ghar pe hain?" Mamu ke cousin ko kya kehkar pukarna chahiye, samajh nahi aaya.

"Aur aap kon?"

"Main Saadi hoon. Asal mein unhone kaha tha.."

"Saadi Yousuf Khan? Faris sahab ke bhanje?"

"Mr. Kardar ne aapke baare mein ittila kar di thi. Agar woh na hote to unke ahkaam ke mutabiq main aapko study mein le jaati. Lekin kyunki woh hain, isliye aap idhar aa jaiye."

Mary ne itni khush-ikhlaqi se muskurate hue adab se andar aane ka ishara kiya ke woh waqai hairan hua. Beharhaal, uska aitmaad badha. Woh andar aaya. Nigahen ghumakar oonche aur aala-shaan lounge ka jaiza liya. Aur phir jo kehta hai ke use khoobsurti mutasir nahi karti, woh duniya ka sabse bada jhootha hai aur mutasir to woh bhi hua.

"Kitna bada aur pyara ghar hai, magar bas itna hi, Allah inko naseeb kare. Ameen." Aur bas.

Mery ke aqab mein qadam uthata hua woh lounge ke wast mein aaya. Ek lambi si chair lounge ke kinare par wo tang se tang jamaye bethi thi, jo yahan ki maalik lag rahi thi. Seedhe bhoore baal, gori naazuk, Hashim si siyah aankhein. Do ungliyon se locket me piroya hua patthar chhedti.

Aahat par usne sar uthaya, muskurai, aur sawaliya nigahon se Mary ko dekha.

"Hashim sahab ke mehmaan hain. baithiye, main unko ittila karti hoon."

Woh seedhiyon ki taraf mudi to Jawahirat ne muskurate hue Saadi ko dekha. Albatta aankhen bilkul sard thi.

"Main Faris ka bhanja hoon, Saadi Yousuf." Woh thodi sanjeedgi se bola. Apne yahaan aane ke faisle par phir se socha, kahin ghalti to nahi ki.

"I see" Jawahirat ne asbaat mein sar hilaaya. Taa'suraat nahi badle. Mary abhi seedhiyon ke beech mein thi jab Hashim kamre se niklta dikhayi diya. Ujlat mein coat pehenta Saadi ko dekh kar muskurate hue woh zine utarne laga.

"Mujhe khushi hai ke tum aaye ho."

"Aap shayad jaldi mein hain, Hashim bhai!" Bas yehi munh se nikla aur yehi tay ho gaya. Hashim utar aaya tha. Muskurate hue uska shaana thapka.

"Main waqai jaldi mein hoon aur mujhe waqai bohot zaroori kaam hai. Magar tumhe main apni study dikhana chahunga aur yeh main apni khushi ke liye kar raha hoon." Phir maa ko dekha.

"Kya taaruf ho chuke?" Apne sawal ka jawab khud hi dekh kar "aao," keh kar usse upar le aaya.

Seedhiyo ke ikhtitam pe pahuch kar Saadi ne nigahen ghumayi. Peeche Jawahirat unhe dekh rahi thi. Woh uske aane par khush hai ya ghusse mein hai, uske taa'suraat yeh batane se qasir the.

Woh sar jhatak kar Hashim ke peeche ho liya. Wo wasi aur taweel study thi. Kitabo ke sliding racks unke peeche mazeed racks. Saadi ne sataish se aage peeche gardan ghumayi. "Wow! Aap to waqai parhne wale aadmi lagte hain."

Hashim ka dostana rawaiya usko mazeed pur aitmaad kar raha tha. Uski baat pe woh haans ne diya.

"Tum aaj ki sham meri kitabo ke naam karo, Mujhe ek call karni hai, phir nikalne se pehle main khuda hafiz kehne aaunga. Magar tum kuch khaoge?"

"Nahi, it's okay. Main..." Woh sharminda hua. Magar Hashim muskurata hua palat chuka tha. Saath hi woh mobile number bhi dial kar raha tha. Woh Aisa hi tha. Bohut kamo ko aik hi waqt me niptane wala.

Neeche Jawahirat cup ke aakhri ghoont bhar rahi thi. Sar uthakar usne Hashim ko study se nikal kar apne kamre mein jate dekha to mug rakh kar khadi hui.

Bareek heel se chalti hui woh Lounge ke sare pe bane apne kamre tak aayi. Andar qad aadam aaine ke samne khade aurangzeb tie ki knot durust kar rahe the. Ek suit mein malboos mulazim unke coat ko kandhe se halka sa brush kar ke peeche ho kar tanqeedi nigaho se jaiza le raha tha.

"Kya tum mujhe mere shohar ke saath tanha chhod doge?" Muskurate hue kehte Jawahirat aaine ke saath aa khadi hui. Mulazim sar hila kar fauran se baahar nikal gaya.

Cufflinks uthate aurangzeb ne ek na pasandeeda nazar us par daali.

"Kya Hashim taiyyar ho gaya?"

"Pehle woh tumhare bhanje ke rishtedaro ki khatir madarat to kar le. Waise is kaam ke liye kya tum bohot nahi the?" Muskrahat hanooz labo par thi. magar aankhen sulag rahi thi.

"Faris ke rishtedar jab chahen idhar aa sakte hain. Usko uski maa ka jayez hissa maine kabhi nahi diya tumhare liye. Ab aur kya chahti ho? Annexy? Wo uske hisse se bohot kam hai, tum jaanti ho." Talkhi se kehte hue, woh tie pin laga rahe they.

"Tumhare bas mein hota to usse aur bhi bohot kuch de dete, magar woh khud hi kuch lene mein interested nahi."

"Kitna achha hota agar tum apni shakal mujhe kam se kam dikhaya karo." Woh aaine mein apne aap ko dekhte maathe pe bal liye hue bole the. Jawahirat ki muskurahat khatam ho chuki thi. Ba-mushkil usne zabt kiya.

"Main jaa rahi thi magar tumse mukhatib hone ki takleef maine sirf is liye uthayi ke agar hum teeno ja rahe hain to Faris ka rishtedaar mere ghar mein akela kyun hai?"

"Kya tumhara doosra beta apne kamre mein apni na-kaami ka sog nahi mana raha?"

Woh jo maiz se purse uthane aayi thi, ruki. Jhapat kar purse uthaya aur ghoom kar uske saamne aayi.

"Usay na-kaam mat kaho aurangzeb! Woh agar pehle number par nahi aata to doosre number se niche bhi nahi jate. Agar woh Stanford ya Harward nahi jaa saka, tab bhi teen behtareen universities use approve kar chuki hain. Aur ek dafa tum uska DNA test kyun nahi kara lete taake tumhe bhi maloom ho jaye ke woh tumhara hi beta hai aur shayad phir tum uski qadr karna shuru kar do." Sherni bukhar chuki thi.

Aurangzeb ab collar durust kar rahe the. "Woh mera apna beta hai. Mujhe azeez hai. Is liye jaha usse dekhna chahta hoon, wahan nahi hai. Achha hona sirf Hashim jaisa hona nahi hota."

"Woh, Faris ki behen ke bachhe woh mujhe zyada qabil lage the."

Jawahirat shola baar aankho se unhe ghoorti rahi. Phir tezi se palat gayi. Bahar aakar usne mohdib khadi mery ko roka.

"Faris ke rishtedaar ko chai waghaira bhijwa dena. Phir raat ka khana khilaye baghair mat jaane dena. Aur us par nazar bhi rakhna." Mery ko nazron se ghoor kar kaha. Mery ne sar hilaaya.

Aur phir Hashim apne kamre se nikal kar study mein jaata dikhayi de raha tha.

Andar Saadi ek kursi par baitha kisi kitaab ke safhe palat raha tha. Woh itna mehat ke jab Hashim uske qareeb aaya to bhi nahi hila. Bas padhta raha. Hashim ne gardan teerchi kar ke kitaab ka sarwarq dekha.

"Yeh kahaan se nikaal li tum ne? Main to ise bhool bhi chuka tha."

Saadi chonka. Phir usse dekh kar jaldi se khada ho gaya.

"Uff, mera khayal tha aap ja chuke hain. Balki aap jaaiye Hashim bhai. Warna mujhe Lagega ke main aap ko disturb kar raha hoon."

Hashim ne jawab diye bina kitaab uske haath se le li. Ulti palti, Pehle safhe par qalam se likha tha. "Hashim Kardar ke naam. Shayad kabhi zaroorat pade. Faqat mohammad aula."

Woh halka sa muskuraya. "Mohammad aula aur Mohammed Shami ye dono judwa bhai the, mere sath law school me mohammad aula ne mujhe ye kitaab di thi aur khud kisi trauma se guzra tha , to shayad usko is kitaab ne thik hone me madad ki thi. Whatever, mujhe to yaad bhi nahi theek se." Wo us kitaab ki pusht ko padhne laga.

"Yeh tehrvi sadi ke kisi Musalman aalim ki likhi hui kitaab hai. Main ne jab padhhi thi, achhi thi magar ab bhool chuka hoon. Kya tumhe pasand aayi?" Usne chehra uthakar Saadi ko dekha.

"Bahut zyada ajeeb charm hai is mein, jaise main Sheikh ke zamaane mein wapas chala gaya hoon."

Hashim ne kitaab maiz par rakhi. Jhuk kar khade hue qalam nikaal kar pehle safhe par Muhammad Ali ke dastakhat tale, likha -

"For the reading pleasure of Saadi Yousuf"

Neeche apne sign kiye, tareekh daali aur kitaab band kar ke usse thamayi.

"Pehli dafa mere paas se koi khaali haath nahi jaata."

"Arey thank you magar iski zarurat nahi thi." Woh sharminda hua.

"Zarurat mujhe bhi nahi thi magar tum zaheen ladke ho aur main sirf zaheen logo se mutasir nahi hota. Main zaheen, mehnti logo se mutasir hota hoon aur tum woh bhi ho, Khana khake jaana." Kandha thapak kar bilkul kisi bade bhai ki tarah wo coat ka button band karta mud gaya aur tez tez baahar nikal gaya.

"Kya banda hai." Saadi ne sataish se socha tha.

☆☆☆

Madam Rimsha ke office mein khamoshi chhayi thi.

Table ke dono siro par chai ke cup dhare the. Madam ki taraf wala to aadha khaali tha. Magar Zumar ki chai malai ki teh tale ke thandi ho chuki thi. Wo tani hui gardan aur usse zyada tane hue naqous ke saath samne bhi khatoon ko dekh rahi thi.

"Aap kya kehna chah rahi hain? Khul kar kahiye Zumar!" Unhone bohut sukoon se kiya. Zumar ne sar ko asbat mein jumbish di.

"Main khul kar baat karne hi aayi thi, kyunki mujhe lagta hai Mrs. Rimsha Bilgrami ke aap ne merit par scholarship dene ki bajaye un umeedwaro ko diye hain jin ke taleemi idaro ya khud unhone aap ko is kaam ke liye commission diya hai. Aur mujhe aise mat dekhein, kyunki mujhe yaqeen hai ke aisa hi hua hai. Aur main Zumar Yousuf hoon. Is liye main karungi yeh ke main aap ke idare ke khilaf ek charge sheet tayar karungi aur pichlay das saal ke reject hue umeedwaro ko talash kar ke samne laungi jin ka haq bilkul Saadi ki tarah mara gaya tha. Aur main unka mawzna un baccho se karungi jin ko aap ne scholarship diye hain. Aur na sirf yeh, mawzna sirf media payega balkay aap ke asaso aur bank balance ki tamam tafseel samait main court mein jaungi jiska nateeje mein aap ko apni job chhodni padegi. Aap ka ghar bechay sab mutasir hoge. Is liye aap har us bacche ka naam list se kharij kare jis ko na-jaiz scholarship diya gaya hai."

Wo khamosh ho kar peeche hui to Madam Rimsha ne sar hilaya. Taham'mul se jaise ek gehri saans kharij ki aur usi itminaan se usse dekha.

"Aap ne keh liya Zumar?"

"Aur ab main aap ke kehne ki muntazir hoon." Uska lehja be-pichak tha.

Madam Rimsha jhuki. Daraz se ek file nikali. Seedhi hokar uske aage rakhi aur boli. "Iske pehle shafe pad Saadi academic record aur tamam kawaif hain aur agle safho pe un paanch bacho ke. Usse ek nazar dekh lijiye. Uske baad aap jis ka naam kahengi main nikaal kar Saadi ka naam daal dungi."

Zumar ne tanbahi se unko dekha aur file uthali, kholi aur pehla shafa samne kiya, Saadi ke kawaif padhte gardan mazeed uchi huyi, aankho me fakhr ubhar aaya, Abru uthakar unko jatati nazro se dekha aur phir nigahen jhuka kar safha palta.

Tane hue taa'surat ke sath wo padhti gayi. Aahista aahista naqoosh dhile huye, kandhe zara dhalke, bhanwe khafgi magar pashpayi se bhinchi. File khatam kar ke woh kitni der usko dekhti lab ka kat-ti rahi.

"Ab in mein se kis ka naam aap nikalwana chahti hain? Zumar?" Unhone narmi se poocha. Zumar ne khamoshi se unko dekha aur file ahista se maiz pe daali.

"Zumar apne bache hum sab ko pyare hote hain chahe woh pyare na bhi ho. Woh hum sab ko qabil lagte hain chahe woh qabil na bhi ho."

"Aap yeh keh rahi hain ke Saadi mustahiq nahi tha?"

"Main yeh keh rahi hoon ke kuch bachay Saadi se zyada mustahiq the."

Zumar ne aankhein band kar ke kanpatti masli woh behad thakawat ka shikar lag rahi thi.

"I’m sorry magar isse zyada qabil aur ghareeb bache the do paanch. Meri jagah aap hotay to aap bhi mein faisla karti."

Zumar ne band aankhon ke saath asbat mein sar hilaaya. Abhi kuch der woh aankhein nahi kholna chahti thi. Khawab toot chuka tha. Neend khul chuki thi, magar wo kuch der aur usi khawab mein rehna chahti thi.

"Kya usne kisi aur scholarship program mein apply nahi kiya?"

Zumar ne aankhein kholi. Saare khawab hawa mein tahlil ho gaye. Pheeki si muskurahat ke saath usne nafi mein gardan hilaayi. "Wo kar chuka hai. Wahan bhi nahi mila."

"I’m sorry!" Woh afsos se usay dekh rahi thi. Aur Zumar bhi unko dekhte hue kuch soch rahi thi. Zehen muntasir tha, soche bhatak rahi thi, magar woh nuqta samne tha jispe usay pahuncha tha. Abhi nahi to kabhi nahi.

"Mrs. Rimsha, kya aap mujhe ek favor degi?"

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Kitaab haath mein liye woh padte padte balcony mein ja baitha tha. Bahir shaam abhi halki neeli thi. Door tak phaila sabza-e-zar aur wahan se Faris ki annexe nazar aati thi.

Library ki balcony ke daye taraf Hashim ki balcony thi aur uske mazeed paray ek aur balcony. Albata woh ek doosre se juda mein kisi doosri balcony tak jaane ke liye aapko andar se hi jaana padta. Saadi is sab se bekhabar rehta agar se woh awaaz na aati. Aisi awaaz hai koi dam ghutne ki kefiyat mein khasne ki koshish kar raha ho.

Usne chonk kar sara uthaya. Phir idhar udhar dekha. Hashim ki balcony se paray ek doosri balcony ke kamre ke khulte darwaze par woh betha tha. Ghutno mein taqreeban sar de mare khaansne ki koshish karta woh kam umar naujawan lagta tha. Na wo kamre ke andar tha na bahar na hosh mein behosh. Darmiyan mein tha kahin.

Kitaab phenk kar andar bhaga. Library se nikal kar railling ke upar aaya. Badhawasi se idhar udhar dekha. Phir neeche Jawahirat ke Sofay par usi andaaz mein mery bethi muh se coffee pee rahi thi. Baaki sab sunsaan pada tha.

"Suno upar aao jaldi," usne pukaara. Mery gad-bad kar rahi thi. Phir sambhal kar seedhiyon tak aayi. Saadi jab tak aage ja kar Hashim ne saath wale kamre ka handle ghumane laga tha. Woh lock tha. "Khana tayaar hai. Main aapko bulane hi lagi thi." Wo jina ba jina chadhte upar aayi.

"Is kamre mein kaun hai?"

"Uh, ye no-sherwan hain, magar" woh usse darwaze se zor azmayi karte dekh kar ruk gayi.

"Isse kholo, woh theek nahi hai." Wo ab darwaze ko dhakka de raha tha. Mery ki haalat par ghussa ghalib aane laga. Woh tezi se uske samne aa gayi.

"Woh aaram kar rahe hain aur unka hukm hai ke is dauran agar kisi ne unko tang kiya, toh woh bohot bure pesh aayenge. Is liye behtar hai ke aap mere saath dining hall.."

"AGAR WOH LADKA MAR GAYA TOH TUMHARE MAALIK TUMHARI JAAN LENE MEIN KITNE SECOND LAGAYENGE HAAN?" Woh uski taraf mudh kar itne ghusse mein bola ke Mery chup ho gayi.

"Ok, M-Main chaabi laati hoon., Yeh Aise nahi khulega."

Wo ab ke zara tez raftar se mujhe gayi. Uske wapas aane tak Saadi musalsal darwaze ko zor zor se lat mar raha tha. Chabi layi to wo peeche hua. Darwaza khula toh balcony ka dusra manzar dusre zawe se samne aaya. Chaukhat par takreeban ondha gura hua ladka. Munh se niklta jhaag, halak se ajeeb awaaz Saadi tezi se uski taraf lapka.

"Huh," Mery ka munh khil gaya.

"TUM THEEK HO? SUNO, IDHAR DEKHO." Woh jaldi jaldi us ladke ko sidha karta usey jagane ki koshish karta. Uski rangat mutaghayar ho rahi thi.

Aankhein khul bandh ho rahi thi.

"Tum fikar mat karo, tum bilkul theek ho jaoge. Hum tumhe hospital le ja rahe hain. Tum sona nahi. Jaagne ki koshish karo."

Uska chehra thapthapate woh pareshani ke aalam mein keh raha tha. Nosherwan ne adh khuli aankhon se dhundla sa manzar dekha. Us pe jhuka, chote ghunghriyale baal, pareshan awaaz. Uska zehan tareeki mein doobta gaya.

"Gaadi tayar karwao aur mulazimo ko idhar bhejo. Isay uthana hai."

"DEKH KYA RAHI HO JALDI KARO." Woh mery ko haqqa bakka khade dekhte huye cheekha tha.

"M-Main, Mr. Kardar,"

"UNKO BAAD MEIN ITTILA KARNA. PEHLE GAADI NIKALWAO. JAOO."

Mery satpata kar baahir bhagi. Yeh sab uske liye bohot achanak aur ghair mutawaqqa tha.

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