Lounge mein TV madham awaaz mein chal raha tha. Bade Abba ainak lagaaye sofe pe baithe akhbar padh rahe the. Zumar ne chai ke do cup maiz pe rakhay aur khud samne ja bethi. Elaichi aur dalchini ki mehek. Unhone ainak ke upar se nigah uthakar cup ko dekha aur phir usay.

"Mahine ka aakhir chal raha hai aur tum khud kamati ho. Is liye do teen hazaar se upar mangne ka sochna bhi mat." Dobara se padhte padhte unhone warning di.

"Main kuch aur mangne aayi hoon." Apna cup le kar usne ghoont lagayi. Phir ghoont bharte hue bade Abba ko dekhne lagi.

"Aur is waqt aayi ho jab tumhari maa ghar nahi hai. Is liye agar mozu-e-guftagu Nudrat ke rishtedar ki shaadi mein jana hai toh bhi saaf inkaar hai."

"Aap ne naye airport ke qareeb jo arsa hua plot le rakha tha mere naam se, uske kagzaat aap ke paas hain?" Jitni sanjidgi se usne poocha, woh utna hi chonkhe. Ainak utaari, akhbaar rakha aur achmbhe se use dekha.

"Kyun nahi honge?"

"Woh plot meri saari zindagi ki kamai hai. Tumhare aur Zulfi ke naam jo thoda bohot joda tha, usmein se Zulfi ne apna hissa naukri ke dauran hi le liya tha. Karobar mein bhi lagaya usne. Magar karobar mein toh peshaani ka likha chalta hai. Uska paisa kam hua, badha nahi. Tumhare hisse se yeh plot maine un waqto mein khareeda tha aur ab woh achha khaasa mehenga ho chuka hai. Usko bech kar main tumhari shaadi karunga aur bohot dhoom dhaam se karunga."

"Magar filhaal toh meri shaadi ka koi silsila nahi chal raha."

"Magad jald chalega. tumhari padhai, kuch is kam umri me tuti mangani ke baais, hum zyada hi protect ho gaye the. Warna tumhari shadi main kar bhi chuka hota. Ab bhi rishtay dekh raha hoon magar Zumar, tum be wajah aise zikar nahi chheda karti toh?" Sawali abru uthayi.

Zumar chand lamho tak bilkul khamoshi se unko dekhti rahi. Khamoshi duniya ka sabse bada iqraar, sabse badi saza.

"Abba, Saadi ko scholarship nahi mila."

Woh bilkul chup ho gaye. Aankho mein ranj aur malaal ubhra.

"Innalillah"

"Magar shayad kisi aur jagah se."

"Ab waqt nahi hai, woh nahi padhne ja sakta ma siwaye iske.." wo ruki aik waqfa diya magar Abba ki aankho se na nigah nahi hatayi. "Hum uski fees bhar de?."

"Magar hum itni mehengi university afford nahi," alfaaz labo mein toot gaye. Woh ek dam shocked se usey dekhne lage. "Aik minute, tum keh rahi ho ke?"

"Main bilkul yehi keh rahi hoon. Hum woh plot bech dete hain."

"Hargheez nahi." Shock ki jagah ghusse ne le li. "Woh meri saari zindagi ki kamai hai. Woh tumhara haq hai. Tumhari shaadi, zevar sab usse banega. Aur baqiya raqam tumhara bank balance hogi. Woh tumhara future hai."

"Saadi, hamara future hai."

"Paanch saal ki padhai, har saal ki laakho rupay ki fees, nahi Zumar, main yeh nahi kar sakta."

"Yani aapko Saadi se bilkul mohabbat nahi hai?"

"Mujhe emotional blackmail mat karo. Yeh harbe mujhpe asar nahi karte." Woh talkhi se uski baat kaat te hue. "Mujhe woh bohot pyara hai, Asal se sood zyada pyara hota hai. Magar mujhe Haseen aur Usama bhi pyare hain. Aur sabse badhkar mujhe tum pyari ho. Main Nudrat ke ghar ka aadha se zyada kharch uthata hoon. Kal ko Haneen badi hogi aur phir tumhari shaadi. Jis wajah se aik dafa tuti, woh dobara nahi dohra sakta."

"Meri fikar mat karo."

"Tumhare kehne se main fiqr karna chhod toh nahi sakta. Main baaki sab ko nazar andaaz karke saara paisa Saadi par kharch nahi kar sakta."

"Jab woh padh kar aayega toh itni achi job milegi, keh chand saalo mein sab bana lega. Phir main bhi toh kamati hoon." Woh bohot sukoon se keh rahi thi.

"Lanat hai mujh pe agar main apni beti ko paisa kamane ke liye zaya kar doon."

"Aur agar pota zaya kar diya, toh?" Woh lamhe bhar ke liye chup hue, magar daleel khatam nahi hui thi.

"Woh Pakistan mein bhi toh padh sakta hai." Zumar bohot bezaar hui.

"Abba yeh baat mat kijiye ga dobara. Kisi local university aur University of Leeds se padhne mein kitna farq hai, hum dono jaante hain."

"Woh paisa hamari security hai."

"Saadi hamari security hai."

Bade abba ne jhunjhlaahat se usse dekha. Ab ki baar unki aankho mein gehra ranj tha.

"Zumar mat karo apne saath aisa. Woh paisa tumhara haq hai. Main tumhari khushiyo ka raasta kharaab kar ke Saadi ka career nahi bana sakta."

"Daulat kisi shaadi ki zamaanat hoti toh sabse zyada khush badshaho ki betiyan hoti. Aur pata hai abba, sabse zyada na khush shahzadiya hi rehti hain."

Bade Abba ne thak kar apna cup uthaya. Unki chai thandi ho chuki thi. Ilaichi daal chini ki mehak sab zail ho chuki thi.

"Main nahi chahta kal ko tum is baat pe pachhatao."

"Kya aap kabhi mujh pe kharch kar ke pachtaye hai?" Woh udaasi se muskurayi. Unhone nafi mein gardan ko jambish di.

"Kabhi bhi nahi. Magar mera dil nahi manta. Aur Saadi bhi toh nahi manega."

"Usey kaun batayega?" "Maine ma'am Rimsha se baat kar li hai, Woh yehi samjhega ke wo scholarship pe ja raha hai. Kyunki agar usse pata chala ke paise aap de rahe hain toh woh kabhi nahi lega."

"Main nahi de raha, tum dena chaah rahi ho. Magar main tumhe iski ijaazat nahi dunga. Bilkul bhi nahi." Woh phirse mazahamat karne lage.

Zumar ne aakhri ghoont piya. Cup mez par rakha. Haath goya jhaad kar khadi hui.

"Aisa hai your honour ke baat shuru karne se pehle, maine poocha tha ke aap ke paas kagzaat hain ya nahi. Toh janab, woh kagzaat mere paas hain. Aur main property dealer se pehle hi baat kar chuki hoon. Isliye agar aapne mujhe rokne ki koshish ki, toh main aap pe muqadma kar sakti hoon aur yeh kam se kam mere halka-e-ehbab mein koi achha vakeel mere khilaf aapka case ladega nahi. Aur agar koi mil bhi gaya, aapko to kam se kam agle saath saal toh main aapko court ke chakkar zaroor lagawaungi."

"Isliye filhaal aap ke paas meri baat maanne ke siwa koi option nahi hai." Aur bohot malal mein ghire, bade Abba haans diye, magar phir malal laut aaya. Woh chai ke bartan uthakar wapas ja rahi thi. Unhone use pukara.

"Isse itni mohabbat na kiya karo. Allah warna bohot aazmaishe daal deta hai."

Zumar gehri saans le kar palti aur unko dekhte hue rasan se boli.

"Umar bin Khattabؓ ne farmaya tha, mohabbat par insaan ka ikhtiyar nahi hota. Yeh mere bas mein nahi hai Abba" Wo azardagi se muskurate huye wahan se chali gayi.

Woh fikar mand aur pareshan bethe reh gaye. Unko Aaj ehsaas ho raha tha ke uski shaadi me ghair zaroori dair karke unhone ghalti kar di. Unko aise nahi karna chahiye tha.

☆☆☆

Aspatal ki marmari raahdari mein heels se bhagte kadmo ki awaaz par Saadi ne sar uthaya. Jawahirat apne shauhar ke aage tez tez aa rahi thi. Apne saare makeup aur tayyari ke bawajood uska safed pada pareshan chehra kisi se chhupa nahi tha. Saadi ke paas woh ruki. Matwahish nazron se band darwaze ko dekha aur phir use.

"Sheru kaisa hai?"

"Woh theek hai."

"Hashim kahan hai?" Aurangzeb kareeb aaye.

Saadi ne kamre ki taraf ishaara kiya. "Woh andar hain. Aapke chhote bete ko hosh aa gaya hai. Usko food poisoning ho gayi thi." Aurangzeb aage badh gaye, magar Jawahriat wahi khadi sulagti huyi nazro se usey dekh rahi thi.

"Kya hua tha Sheru ko?"

Saadi ne ek nazar Aurangzeb par daali jo kamre ka darwaza khol rahe the.

"Mere sawaal nazar andaaz nahi kiye jaate jo bhi naam hai tumhara." Woh dabi dabi si gusse mein boli. "Main apna akela ghar tumhare upar chhod kar gayi thi. Agar mere bete ki is haalat ke zimmedar tum ho toh tum bhugtoge."

"Mrs. Kardar! Aapke 'akele ghar' ke dhaai darjan mulazim is baat ke gawah hain ke aapke bete ki tabiyat kharab thi, aur main sirf use aspatal laane ka kasoorwar hoon." Woh shaam mein use milne wale ladke se zyada sanjeeda aur samajhdar lag raha tha. Magar Jawahirat ke tane taa'surat waisa hi the.

"Kisi cheez se food poisoning hui use?" Woh shaki aur gusse bhari nazro se phir ghurrayi. "Usne dopahar ko wahi khaya tha jo hum sab ne khaya tha,"

"Usko food poisoning nahi hui."

Jawahirat ki aankhein hairat se phail gayin. "Kya matlab? Tumne abhi kaha..."

"Main nahi chahta tha ke Kardar sahab ko yeh baat unse pehli baar milne se pehle pata chale." Usne jeb se ek packet nikaal kar uske samne kiya. "Yeh drugs mujhe uske paas se mili thi, aur khaali cigarette bhi. Aapke bete ne manashiat ki overdose le li thi, jisse uski jaan bhi ja sakti thi."

Jawahirat ki haalat aisi ho gayi jaise saanp ne dank maar diya ho. Safed chehre aur phati phati nigahon se usne Saadi ke chehre se uske haath mein pakde packet tak ka safar kiya.

"Tum... tum yeh keh rahe ho ke mera beta addict hai?"

"Sirf main nahi, doctor ne bhi yahi bataya hai. Yaqeenan woh kuch arse se drugs le raha tha."

Jawahirat ne bolne ki koshish ki magar saare alfaaz halaq mein kaante ban kar atak gaye. Uska andar bahar zakhmi ho gaya. Aankhon mein nami utar aayi magar woh bechaini se nafi me sir hila rahi thi.

"Mera beta woh chobees ghante mere saamne rehta hai. Mujhe kabhi kyun nahi laga ke woh drugs leta hai?"

"Aaj kal ke ladko ko pata hota hai ke unhein kitni mikdar leni hai. Aur bohot maharat se woh yeh fun seekh jaate hain ke unhe logo ke darmiyan hote hue bhi khud ko normal kaise zahir karna hai. Aur phir saath baithe shakhs ko bhi ilm nahi hota ke uska dost ya beta manashiat ke zair-e-asar baitha hai. Yeh bhi doctor ne kaha hai."

Jawahirat ne halka sa asbaat mein sir hilaya. Tane taa'surat dheele pad gaye the, kandhe bhi dhalak chuke the.

"Magar woh zinda hai, Mrs. Kardar. Aur zindagi se ahem koi naimat nahi hoti. Usko mohabbat se samjhayega. Woh theek ho jayega. Aapne suna hoga, ‘Amor Vincit Omnia’ Mohabbat sab par fateh paati hai."

Woh keh kar mudne laga toh Jawahraat jaldi se uski taraf ghoomi.

"Kya tum... usse milo ge nahi?"

"Uski family uske paas hai, aur meri family mera intezaar kar rahi hogi."

Woh halka sa muskurata keh kar palat gaya. Jawahirat ek tak usse door jaate dekhti rahi. Jab woh nazro se gayab ho gaya, toh woh tez qadam uthate hue private room ke darwaze tak aayi.

☆☆☆

Shaam ka aasmaan halka surmai tha. Sooraj ne badalo ke narangi kinare ko dehka rakha tha, aur library ki khidki is manzar wazeha dikha raha tha. Andar, ek kone mein ek lambi maiz bichhi thi. Ek siray pe teen ladkiya bethi kitaabo mein magan thi. Dusre siray pe do muttasil kursiyon par woh dono baithe the.

Zumar sir jhukaaye, gardan tichhi kiye kaaghaz par kuch likh rahi thi, aur Faris kareeb baitha bore sa ho kar idhar udhar dekh raha tha.

"Chalien, yeh topic toh khatam hua. Sab clear thana?" Aakhri lafz likh kar safha uske saamne karte hi Zumar ne sir uthaya.

Idhar Zumar ne sar uthaya, Udhar Faris ne foran sanjeeda aur seedhe hote bohot tawajju se us kaaghaz ko padha.

"Jee, bilkul!"

"Okay. Ab aage chalte hain."

Woh notes ke safhe palat kar agle mawzoo par aayi. Phir qalam wale haath ko aadatan hilaati, rawaani se samjhane lagi. Faris notes ko dekhta zara zara dair baad sar asbaat mein hila deta. Barah-e-raast uske chehre par sirf do ek baar nigah daal saka, phir sir jhuka liya.

Zumar ka phone baja toh woh ruki. Number dekha aur mobile kaan se lagaya.

"Jee sir, maine hi woh sheet aapko bhijwai thi." Woh ruk kar sunne lagi.

"Jee bilkul, maine tamaam students ki hazri darj ki hai, siwaye Habeeba Waqar ke. Maine dansta tor par uska khaana khaali chhoda hai."

Woh gungurayali lat ko ungli par roll karti keh rahi thi. Faris ne tichhi nigah uthakar usse dekha, phir khidki ke baahar dekhne laga.

"Sir, saaf baat hai. Imtihan mein baithne ke liye 60% hazri zaroori hai, aur is bachhi ki hazri sirf 40% hai. Magar kyunki woh Dr. Tahira Karam ki bhanji hai, is liye Dr. Sahab ne mujhe call kar ke is 40 ko 60 banane ka kaha hai."

"So maine yeh khaana khaali chhod diya hai, kyunki mera qalam toh isko 60 nahi karega. Aage aapki marzi. Aap isko 60 kare ya 90. Main bari-uz-zimma hoon."

Sadgi se saari baat keh kar woh unki sunne lagi. Phir alwidaai kalmaat keh kar phone rakha aur kitaab ki taraf mutwajjah hui.

"Khairiyat, ma’am?"

Zumar ne jhuke chehre ke saath zara muskara kar sar jhatka. "Hmm, Yeh sab toh chalta rehta hai. Koi bhi naukri phoolo ki sej nahi hoti." Woh kitaab dobara kholne lagi. Faris ne is baar zara gaur se uske chehre ko dekha.

"Ek baat poochu?"

Zumar ne sawaliya nazar uthai, toh woh kandhe zara uchka kar thodi se shave ungli aur anguthe se adatan zara - zara nochta bola, "Yunhi khayal aa gaya… uss din jo aapne Kiya, Saadi ke ghar… jaan kar chaabiya bhoolna?"

Zumar ke liye yeh jumla ghair mutawaqqa tha. Woh lamha bhar ke liye dhak si reh gayi. Phir chehre pe halki surkhi samat aayi. Sar jhatak kar usne kuch kehna chaha, phir ruk gayi. Chand lamhe khamoshi mein guzar gaye. Agar woh jaan chuka tha, toh yeh Zumar ki aadat nahi thi ke woh inkaar karti.

"Mujhe nahi pata aapko Saadi kitna azeez hai, magar hamare liye woh khandan ka pehla bacha tha, aur bachay barabar pyare hote hain, magar jo tawajju pehle bacche ko milti hai woh doosro ke aane tak hum usi mikdar se dene se qasir ho chuke hote hain."

"Usama chhota hai, magar Haneen… woh mere har waqt ‘Hamara Saadi, Hamara Saadi’ karte rehne se wo mujhse kafi shy rehne lagi hai. Arsa pehle, main waqai kuch bhool gayi thi. Aik do dafa, magar baad mein mujhe pata chala ke woh har dafa khidki mein mera intezar karne lagi hai. Woh bohot zaheen hai, aur duniya zaheen logo ko tanha kar deti hai. Usey hamesha mujhse umeed hoti hai ke main use tanha nahi chhodungi. So, main khud usse har dafa yeh umeed naye siray se thama aati hoon."

Qadre tawuqf se woh sanjeedgi se boli. "Ho sakta hai aapko yeh ghalat lage. Magar mere nazdeek kisi azeez shakhs ko apne qareeb rakhne ke liye koi bahaana karne mein koi burai nahi."

Faris ne be-ikhtiyar un taaza photocopy shuda notes ko dekha, aur phir Zumar ko.

"Bilkul mere nazdeek bhi nahi."

Woh usi sanjeedgi se adhura chhoda mouzu aur dobara notes par mutwajjah ho gayi. Qadre tawuqf ke baad Faris ne zara khankhara.

"Batane ka shukriya. Haneen ko nahi bataunga. Seriously."

Zumar ne sirf ek kadhi nigah uthakar usse dekha.

"Mujhe is baat ki bilkul fikr nahi. Kyunki itna toh aapko pata hona chahiye ke mera aitbaar tod kar aap kabhi bhi bach nahi sakte."

Phir notes uske samne rakhe aur silsila-e-kalaam wahi se jod liya jahan se toda tha.

Faris apne chehre pe zamane bhar ki borkyat sajaye, khamoshi se sunta raha.

☆☆☆

Mrs. Rimsha ke office me aik dafa phir chai ke do cups maiz ke mukhalif kinare par rakhe the. Is dafa Saadi ki taraf wala cup adha khali tha aur Mrs. Rimsha ka anchua. Woh saari baat Saadi ko bata kar ab bilkul khamoshi se uska rad-e-amal dekh rahi thi.

Saadi abhi samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha. "Aap yeh keh rahi hain, ma’am, ke aapne mere documents ek private sponsor ko bhijwaye hain, aur unhone mujhe sponsor karne ki haami bhar li hai? Aur woh har saal meri fees jama karwate rahenge?"

Woh waqai be-yaqeen tha.

"Fees, jama, akharajaat… jitni raqam hum de rahe the, wohi raqam woh denge."

"Ah, Thank you… mujhe nahi pata mujhe kya kehna chahiye."

Woh khush tha, aur khushi itni thi ke usme theek se koi taa'sur bhi nahi de pa raha tha.

"Magar woh hain kaun?"

Madam ne khamoshi se samne rakhi decor basket me se ek crystal ball nikali aur use ungliyon me ghumate hue, nazar Saadi ke chehre se hataye bina boli,

"Hai koi jiska dil bohot ameer hai aur aap par kharch karne ke liye paisa bhi bahut hai."

Phir zara sambhal kar goya hui,

"Ek charity businessman hain. Bohot se students ko private tor par sponsor karte hain. Aap ke qawaif unko ache lage aur sabse achi baat yeh thi ke aapne apni tarjeehat me apne khandan ko pehle number pe rakha."

"Jee magar, kya main unke baare me kuch jaan sakta hoon? Matlab agar main unse milna chahu toh…"

Crystal ball ghumate unke haath ruke. Woh nafi me sar hilati peechay ho kar baithi,

"Bilkul bhi nahi, Saadi! Mere kuch usool hain. Main sponsor ki koi tafseel aapko faraham nahi kar sakti."

"Agar main israar karun toh bhi nahi? Main sirf unka shukriya…"

"Kuch sawalo ke jawab jaanna zaroori nahi hota. Main aapka shukriya pahuncha dungi un tak."

"Acha…," woh udaas hua. "Aap meri Zumar phupho ko jaanti hain na? Aapne unko bataya yeh sab?"

Zara purjosh me aakar woh aage huwa. Madam ne jawab dene se pehle bohot dair tak uska tamtamata chehra dekha.

"Kya aap chahte hain ke main unko abhi khabar kar dun?"

"Nahi, nahi! Please aap mat batayiye ga. Main khud unko surprise dunga. Thank you so much! Main chalta hoon."

Jaldi se ijazat mangta, shukriya ada karta, dobara aane ka kehta woh darwaze ki taraf lapka.

"Saadi! Aapki phupho aapse bohot mohabbat karti hain. Unke liye kabhi koi qurbani deni pare toh peeche mat hatna." Woh jate jate muda.

"Jee, bilkul! Acha, aap mat bataye ga. Main khud bataunga."

Aur woh baahar tha. Madam ne sar jhatak kar gehri saans andar utari aur socha,

"Mohabbat ek bohot saada aur bohot pechida shey hai."

ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ❏❏❏