CHAPTER - 04

انسان دوست

- Insaani Dost -

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𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒋𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑱𝒂𝒃 𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒃 𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒂 𝒌𝒉𝒐 𝒓𝒂𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐, 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒌𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒅-𝒆-𝒊𝒍𝒛𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒉𝒓𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐!

𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒌𝒉𝒖𝒅 𝒑𝒆 𝒃𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑱𝒂𝒃 𝒔𝒂𝒃 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒑𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒏, 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒌 𝒌𝒊 𝒊𝒋𝒂𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒅𝒐!

𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒛𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒛𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒐 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊, 𝒀𝒂 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒆 𝒋𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒂 𝒋𝒂𝒚𝒆, 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒐. 𝒀𝒂 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒊 𝒋𝒂𝒚𝒆, 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒏𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝒏𝒂 𝒅𝒐. 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒃𝒐𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒐, 𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅!

𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒌𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒃 𝒅𝒆𝒌𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒃𝒐 𝒌𝒐 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒐, 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒉𝒐 𝒌𝒐 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒒𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒐!

𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 "𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒉" 𝒂𝒖𝒓 "𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒉𝒊" 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒛𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝒌 𝒋𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒂 𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒂 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒊 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑱𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒐 𝒌𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒌𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒚𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒅-𝒎𝒐𝒅 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒌𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝒋𝒂𝒚𝒆,

𝒀𝒂 𝒋𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒐 𝒌𝒐 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒊 𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒈𝒊 𝒅𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒂𝒍𝒊, 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒖𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒌𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒓 𝒋𝒉𝒖𝒌 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒈𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒛𝒂𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐,

𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒋𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒔𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒊 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒓 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒐, 𝒀𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒉𝒐 𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒐 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒂𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒂 𝒆𝒉𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂 𝒌𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐, 𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒏𝒂 𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝒏𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒌𝒐 𝒅𝒖𝒌𝒉 𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒆,

𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒃𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒌𝒐 𝒃𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒐 60 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅, 𝑱𝒊𝒕𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒂𝒔𝒍𝒆 𝒌𝒊 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃! 𝑻𝒂𝒃... 𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒃, 𝑻𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒉𝒐𝒈𝒊 𝒚𝒆𝒉 𝒛𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒏, 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒋𝒐 𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊! 𝑨𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒉𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒂𝒃 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒊𝒌 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒉𝒆!

(Rudyard Kipling)

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

تم ناحق ٹکڑے چن چن کر دامن میں چھپائے بیٹھے ہو۔ شیشوں کا مسیحا کوئی نہیں، کیا آس لگائے بیٹھے ہو؟

Tum na-haq tukde chun chun kar daaman mein chhupaye baithe ho. Sheesho ka maseeha koi nahi, kya aas lagaaye baithe ho?

∘❀∘

Ghar aakar Saadi ne sabse pehle Haneen ke kamre mein jhaanka. Phir yaad aaya ke wo is waqt tuition Academy gayi huyi hai. Wo apne kamre mein aakar packing karta raha. Jab maghrib ke qareeb lounge se baato aur TV ki aawaaz buland hui to wo baahar aaya. Haneen bag sofa pe rakh kar (yaani phenk kar) kitchen mein ghus gayi thi. Wo chowkhat pe ja khada hua.

"Ek buri khabar hai." Muskurahat dabaye baat ka aaghaz kiya.

Wo fridge se khana nikalne mein masroof thi, masroof hi rahi.

"Maine aaj Nosherwan ke ghar tumhari team ke high scorers ki fehrist dekhi. Mazrat ke sath aap ko mubtla kiya jata hai ke ab aap pehle number pe nahi hain."

"Dinner kharab mat karo bhai! Mujhe pata hai main hi top pe hoon." Wo khafgi se usay dekh kar plate uthaye lounge mein chali aayi. Computer chair kheenchi, button dabaya, sath hi luqma tora.

"Aakhri dafa kab check kiya tumne?" Wo bhi sath aa khada hua.

"Parso, Aapko pata hai main do din test ki tayari mein rahi, isliye khol nahi saki. Toh aap mujhe bana rahe hain?" Ek haath se khate doosre se mouse chalate wo email khol rahi thi. Phir labo par muskurahat aayi. Ungli se ainak peeche ki.

"Kardar sahab ki email aayi hai." Saadi ne bhi aage hokar padha.

Haneen ne unko chaar paanch roz pehle movies ki ek fehrist bheji thi jo unko dekhni chahiye, jiska jawab unhone "Thanks" likh kar diya tha. Sath ek smile bhi thi.

Haneen muskara kar apni game wali site kholne lagi. Phir sabse pehle fehrist saamne layi. Apna naam dhoonda. Muskurahat ghaib hui. Wo plate rakh kar aage hui. Wo doosre number pe thi aur pehle pe koi aur tha.

"Ye kaun hai? Aur isne kab?" Wo hairan aur zara ghusse me uski profile khol kar dekhne lagi. Monas (Feminine) aur taluq America se, iske alawa kuch nahi tha.

"Ants Ever After... iska kya matlab hua?"

Ba-Mushkil muskurahat roke Saadi ne shane uchka diye.

Haneen ab nichla lab dabaye bechaini se idhar udhar pages khol rahi thi. Wo bohot mehjooz ho raha tha. Behno ko tang karne se zyada lutf bhi hota hai kisi cheez mein bhala?

"Aakhir usne jelly wala round kaise paar kiya? Aur ekdum se top pe kaise aa gayi?"

Saadi usay tang kar chuka tha, so muskara kar kitchen mein Ammi ke paas chala gaya. Wo ab bhi waise hi lab kaat rahi thi. Phir kuch der sochti rahi aur usko paigham bheja. Khana wana sab bhool gayi thi.

"Hi"

"Hello!" Agle hi minute jawab aaya. Haneen keyboard par ungliyan rakhe screen ko dekhte type kar rahi thi.

"Aapne jelly wala round kaise paar kiya?"

"Normally, hum baat ka aaghaz haal ahwal puchhne se karte hain."

"Main normal nahi hoon, main Haneen hoon. Ab batao tumne wo round kaise paar kiya?"

"Mehnat ki, baar baar koshish ki, aur ho gaya. Toh tum Haneen ho Pakistan se?"

"Haan! Aur tum kaun ho America se?"

Wo ab bhi mutasib andaz mein khafgi se screen ko dekh rahi thi. Wahan pehle muskurata hua nisaan ubhra aur phir paigham.

"Main Alicia, Virginia se. Aur mere aaba o ajdaad Fransisi hain."

"French American?" Haneen ne mashkook nazron se screen ko ghura. "Main kaise yaqeen karloon ke tum wahi ho jo keh rahi ho?"

"Okay, main camera on kar deti hoon. Mujhe is high scorer se baat karke acha lagega jiska record maine toda hai."

Aur usne camera chat open ki.

Haneen ke liye itni jaldi ye ghair mutawaqqa tha, phir bhi usne kaano pe headphones charha liye, apna camera magar on nahi kiya. Warna Ammi ne kitchen se joota phenkna tha.

Kaano mein khoobsurat awaaz goonji.

"Kya tum mujhe dekh sakti ho?"

Screen pe chhota sa bedroom nazar aa raha tha. Alicia ki pusht pe diwar par sheesha tha jo computer table ka aks dikha raha tha.

Wo waqai aik American larki thi, 17-18 saal ki. Baal siyah, shoulder cut, bohot gori, badi badi aankhe, kisi halke rang ki aur bohot pyari muskurahat.

Screen par usne haath hilaaya.

Wo bhi itna muskara di ke Haneen ke naraaz asaab dheele par gaye.

Wo zara purjosh si ho kar aage hui, baat karne lagi.

"Toh tum French American ho?"

"Haan, magar main khud ko American keh lana zyada pasand karti hoon."

Wo phir hansi. Usay hansne ki aadat thi.

"Lekin tum apne naam se kyun nahi aati? Aur tumhare is nickname ka kya matlab hua?"

"Oh, wo?" Usne laparwayi se shaane uchkate hue jhuk kar daraaz se kuch nikala.

"Wo toh ek ibarat hai jo meri keychain pe likhi hui hai."

Saath hi siyaah pathar wali keychain lehrayi aur wahi table par rakh di.

"Mujhe khud bhi iska mafhoom nahi pata."

"Acha, wo jelly wala round?" Haneen ki sui wahi atki thi.

"Ek do tips bata sakti hoon main."

Alicia daayi hatheli par thodhi giraye, aage ho kar baithi thi aur bolne lagi. Haneen bohot ghor se sun rahi thi.

Jab Saadi wahan se guzar kar kamre mein jaane laga, screen dekh kar raste mein ruka. Ishaare se poocha. "Kaun hai?"

Haneen ne mic par haath rakh kar bataya.

"Meri nayi dost."

Aur foran dobara wahin mutwajjah ho gayi.

Wo abroo uchka kar kamre ki taraf chala gaya.

☆☆☆

Phone ki ghanti baji toh Saadi chonka aur idhar udhar ajnabi nazro se dekha.

Wo apne office mein baitha tha. Saat saal guzar chuke the aur sab kuch badal chuka tha.

Thakan se sar jhatak kar usne phone uthaya jo abhi tak Hashim ki call ke baad se garam tha.

"Ji, main aap ko bhejta hoon."

Office mein se kisi ki call thi. Wo sar hila kar kehta hua laptop screen ko dekh raha tha jahan usne ghalat command de kar apne data ko corrupt kar diya tha.

Ab dobara se Hashim ki files woh kaise lega?

"Uff!" Usne phone rakh kar sir dono haatho mein gira liya. Zehan khaali khaali sa tha.

☆☆☆

چھوڑا نہیں غیروں نے کوئی نوکِ دشنام، چھوٹی نہیں اپنوں سے کوئی طرزِ ملامت۔

Chhoda nahi ghairo ne koi naavak-e-dushnaam, Chhuti nahi apno se koi tarz-e-malamat.

• Naavak-e-dushnaam : arrow of abuse • Tarz-e-malamat : style of reproach

∘❀∘

Banquet hall mein andheri shaam us pal khoob roshan thi.

Moseeqi, qahqahay, rang... Stage par dulha dulhan ke saath rush laga tha. Tasaveer utarwayi ja rahi thi. Group photo, happy ending & ferry tales.

Dusri taraf khana khul chuka tha. Buffet stand ki taraf jaane walo mein Haneen aur Sam bhi the.

Haneen halki gulabi lambi frock aur choodi daar pajama pehne hue thi, aur Sam ka kurta shalwar tha. Wo qad mein uske mooh ke kaan tak aata tha.

Uske saath saath chalte hue, wo zara aage nikalne laga to behan ne kohni se pakar kar qareeb kiya aur tafteeshi andaaz mein ghura.

"Mote aalu... Ek minute. Shadi ke khane ke teen usool yaad hain na?"

"Bilkul!" Wo mura aur usko dekhte hue ungliyon pe ginwane laga.

"Pehla usool: Wo cheez nahi khaani jo sirf maida bharti hai, jaise chawal, roti aur salad."

"Doosra: Jo aam tor par khate rehte hain jaise murghi aur beef, un par zyada qeemti gosht ko tarjeeh deni hai, jaise mutton aur prawns."

"Teesra aur aakhri usool: Yeh sab apna aakhri khana samajh kar khana hai!"

"Durust!" Haneen ne raub se sir ko khum diya aur phir dono saath saath aage aaye.

Plates uthayeein, tanqeedi nigah se door tak buffet dishes ka jaiza liya. Phir barbeque dekh kar Haneen ki aankhein chamki. Dono pur-aitemaad chaal chalte hue us taraf aaye.

Zumar bhi wahi khadi thi.

Nafasat se plate mein zara sa khana daal rahi thi.

Aaj bhi siyaah rang pehna tha. Ghungriyale baal bhi waise hi aadhe bandhe the.

Haneen ne use nazar andaz kar ke apni plate bharni shuru ki.

Zumar ne sir uthaya toh wo saath khadi thi.

Wo log aikhatte hi aaye the, aur jab se koi baat nahi hui thi.

Zumar zara sa mudi aur meiz par rakhe maiyonnaise ka ek pyala uthaya aur Haneen ki taraf barhaya.

Haneen ne yun zaahir kiya jaise dekha hi nahi.

Khana daal kar us table ki taraf aayi. Ek aur pyala uthaya aur doosri taraf mud gayi.

Zumar ki muskurahat pheeki pad gayi. Pyala haath mein reh gaya.

"Phupho, yeh main le loon?" Sam ne jaldi se usay sharmindagi se bachaya.

Haneen ne sun liya tha, magar sanjeedgi se plate mein gravy daalti rahi. Chamach rakha to usay aik mehendi wale haath ne utha liya. Be-ikhtiyar nigaho uthi.

Wo Kiran thi. Kaam-daar libaas, zevar, makeup, zara bhari bhari si, hasti muskurati.

Saath mein uski koi cousin bhi thi. Wo usey baat karte hue khana daal rahi thi.

Haneen ki nigah mazeed peeche gayi.

Qareeb ek table par uski saas thi, nokrani thi, do judwa bache the. Jinhein har koi ruk ruk kar jhuk jhuk kar pyar kar raha tha.

Haneen ne be-ikhtiyar mud kar Zumar ko dekha.

Wo dekh chuki thi. Aur ab sanjeedgi se rukh mod gayi thi.

Kitna takleef deh hota hai kisi ke paas wo ho jo aap se cheena gaya ho...

Haneen peeche mur kar phupho ke haath se mayonnaise ka pyala tham le. Magar wo ab Sam ke paas tha. Ab dair ho chuki thi.

"Hammad!"

Usne naam ki pukaar suni toh idhar udhar dekha.

Wo apni maa ki table pe jhuk kar kisi se mil raha tha.

Glasses lagaye hue. Achhi Shakal ka toh tha, magar us waqt wo use zeher lag raha tha.

Zara dabe gusse se wo khana nikal kar Zumar ke barabar aa khadi hui. Ammi aur bhai door ki table par thay, magar wo teeno yahin kharay rahe.

"Ye curly baalo wali prosecutor thi na? Hammad bhai ki ex fiancé?"

Kiran ki cousin ne unchi si sargoshi ki. Un dono ki taraf unki pusht thi, magar awaaz ka raasta kaun rok sakta hai bhala? Kiran ne tirchay ho kar dekha, phir shaane uchka kar khana nikalte hue boli.

"Thi nahi, wo ab bhi prosecutor hai. Career woman, you know?"

"Toh jski shaadi nahi hui? Sach! gurday zaya ho gaye thay na?"

"Gurday ka kya hai? Wo toh mil gaya tha. Koi French aurat kisi awara bhatakti rooh ki tarah achanak se aayi aur gurda de gayi."

"So filmy haina?"

Haneen ka rang safed pada. Plate pe haathon ki giraft sakht hui.

"Gurde ka bahana hai. Jo auratein career ke peeche pad jaati hain, phir unke ghar kahan bastay hain? Isi liye hamare deen mein ghar aur khandan ki kitni ahmiyat hai."

Be-niyazi se lat piche karte Kiran ki awaaz itni dheemi thi ke aas paas ke chand log toh sun hi chuke thay.

Haneen ne kin-akiyo se Zumar ko dekha.

Wo kaante mein machhli ka tukda phansati, sanjeeda aur sapat nazar aa rahi thi.

"Kya keh sakte hain, dehshatgardi itni barh gayi hai."

"Yaar, insaan ko khud samajh hoti hai sari. Ab kisne kaha hai ke auratein qatl ke cases mein pade? Isiliye hamare Deen me.."

Yahan sab ka apna Allah aur apna deen tha.

"Hello, Kiran!"

Kisi ne Kiran ko mukhatib kiya toh uski musalsal chalti zubaan ruki.

Zumar ab kisi doosre stand ki taraf ja rahi thi. Wo awaaz pe lamha bhar ke liye ruki, phir chalti gayi.

Aur Haneen ki toh sari duniya hi us awaaz par ruk jaati thi.

Jo zara tirchi hui thi, poori peeche mud gayi.

Aur mudte hi Kiran bhi thi, bohot khushgawar hairat se.

"Arey Hashim, aap!"

Wo ek haath mein kaanta aur ek mein plate liye muskurata hua khada tha. Bina tie ke, shirt, grey coat.

Muskurate hue, Kiran ke rasmi kalmaat ka jawab diya.

"Mujhe khushi hui ke aap aaye. Kya aapki mummy bhi aayi hain?"

Usne Hashim ke aqab mein door majme mein talashna chaha.

Wo unki company ke ek ohde-dar ki beti thi, aur wo log uske boss thay.

Chand lamho pehle ki raoonat, tamkinat sab ghaib ho gayi. Khush-ikhlaqi ud kar aayi.

"Kaisi ho tum? Aur ye tumhari aankhon ke neeche itne halqay kyun par gaye hain?"

Wo muskara kar keh raha tha, magar lehja itna thanda tha ke Kiran ke haath be-ikhtiyar apni aankhon ko chhua.

"Apni sehat ka khayal rakha karo, Kiran, kyunki agar kisi ka record ho kharabi sehat ki bina par ke kisi aurat ko chhod dene ka... Toh main sochta hoon, agar mojuda aurat ki kabhi taang, bazu ya haddi bhi toot gayi, toh iska kya hoga?"

"Hello, Haneen!"

Wo keh kar Hashim ne Haneen ko mukhatib kiya aur aage badh aaya.

Kiran bilkul haka-baka si khadi thi, magar Haneen ab usay dekh bhi nahi rahi thi.

Uske lab khul gaye the, Uske tanav zada aasab dheele pad gaye. Sar ke khum de kar wo zara dur hati, ese ke Hashim bhi sath hi chalta aaya. Kiran wahi reh gayi thi.

Zumar door kisi aur mez par Saadi aur Nudarat ke saath ja baithi thi.

"Yeh karne ki..." Kehte huye Haneen ne door Zumar ko dekha. "Kya zaroorat thi?"

"Maine Zumar ke liye nahi kiya, aur tumhein yeh maaloom hai." Woh apne makhsoos andaaz mein shaane zara uchka kar plate mein chawal daal raha tha.

"Aap bas itna sa lenge?" Usne pehle Hashim ki plate ko dekha phir apni.

"Ismein bhi bohot calories hain, jiska matlab hai extra workout. Main boodha ho raha hoon, samjha karo." Haneen haans kar sar jhatkti kebab uthane lagi. Hashim ne kaante mein phansa tukda munh mein rakhte hue muskurati nazaro se usse dekha.

"Mere halqa-e-ahbab mein koi doosri Haneen nahi hai. Maine jhoot bola tha."

Woh chonk kar usse dekhne lagi. "Yani aapne waqai mujhe nahi pehchana tha?"

"Haan, kyunki jis Haneen ko main jaanta tha, woh itni ghabraai hui, pareshaan si nahi hoti thi. Tumhein kya ho gaya hai kuch arse se?"

Woh bilkul thehar gayi. Kya woh waqai itni badal gayi thi ke Hashim tak ne mehsoos kar liya?

"Main toh waise hi hoon aur aap se toh ab sirf taqreebat mein hi mulaqat hoti hai. Eiffel Tower! Aapko kya pata main kaisi hoon?"

Woh sambhal kar muskara di magar Hashim ne gardan daayen se baayen hilaayi.

"Aur tum chahti ho ke main is wazahat par yaqeen kar loon? Okay, kar liya."

Haneen zara sar jhuka kar khane lagi. Dafatan kisi ehsaas ke tehat usne chehra utha kar dekha. Door, jawahirat ke saath Noherwan khada tha aur wo usay dekh raha tha. Bigde taa'sur, Bhinchi bhanwo ke saath. Woh seedhi ho gayi.

"Aisa kuch nahi hai." Hashim ne goya usse tasalli di. Woh uska chehra padh raha tha.

Usne abroo uchka diye. "Aapka bhai abhi bhi mujhe isi tarah dekh raha hai. Us din aapke ghar bhi usne mujhe dekhte hue bhai aur maamu se kuch kaha tha... woh abhi tak mujhse adawat rakhta hai?"

"I'm sorry! Main uski taraf se mazrat karta hoon." Usne narmi se kaha aur phir sheru ko ghoor kar tanbeehan dekha. Woh doosri taraf dekhne laga. Haneen asbaat mein sar hila kar dish se kabab nikalne lagi. Uska chehra ab zara sanjeeda aur bujha bujha sa tha.

Hashim maazrat karte aage badhne laga, magar phir ek dum ruk kar usay dekha, kuchh click hua tha. Achanak se!

Woh thehar gaya. Lamha bhar ko saari duniya thehar gayi. Phir uski aankho mein halki si takleef ubhri. Ba-Mushkil se usne chehre par muskurahat laaya aur asbat me hilaya.

"I'm sorry, Haneen! I'm really I'm, Main pehle nahi keh saka, tumse mulaqat nahi hui thi. Mujhe waqai bohot... I'm sorry!"

Haneen ne chonk kar usse dekha. Uski aankhon mein dard tha, thakaan thi.

Uske zehan ke parde par ek bhoola-bisra lamha ubhra. Tab bhi iski aankho mein aisa hi dard tha.

Haneen ne sar jhatka. Woh lamha bhar mein shaadi ki taqreeb mein wapas aayi, magar ab Hashim ja chuka tha.

Woh apni mez tak khaali-zehni ke aalam mein wapas aayi. Zumar jaa chuki thi. Tissue se lab thapthapate hue woh Saadi se aahista se kuch keh rahi thi. Jise usne badhiyani se suna.

"Kya tum ne woh use wapas kar diya?"

"Kar dunga jald hi." Saadi ne mukhtasir kaha.

Hannah choki. 'Bhai ne kab neckles wapas karna hai aakhir?' Magar phir uske zehan ki roo bhatak gayi. Hashim ki maazrat dedh saal baad usne woh shikwa door kar diya jo Haneen ko us se tha hi nahi.

"Sam kapdo pe mat girao." Nudrat ki tawajjo udhar nahi thi. Woh hasb-e-ma'mool Sam ko lataad rahi thi. Woh bhi aage se Haneen aur Saadi ka bhai tha.

"Ammi, dagh toh acche hote hain."

Haneen wapas aa chuki thi, mukammal tor pe tanak kar usne dekha.

"Yeh khud bhi hamare khandan par kisi dagh se kam nahi hai."

"Mat tang karo isay." Nudrat ne daba-daba sa ghura.

Woh foran chamak kar boli, "Yeh shuru karta hai hamesha, tali do haatho se bajti hai."

"Magar thappad ek hath se padta hai aur ghar ja kar padta hai."

Is dhamki pe woh badbada kar sar jhukaye khana khane lagi.

Saadi uth kar gaya toh Nudrat ne Zumar ke qareeb ho kar kaha, "Yeh jo neele kapdo wali ja rahi hai na, yeh Humaira ki beti Ramia hai. Engineering tak mukammal ki hai isi saal. Mujhe yeh Saadi ke liye pasand hai."

Zumar ne chonk kar use dekha, Aur kaafi dilchaspi se, "Yeh toh bohot pyari hai. Phir kab maang rahi hain aap rishta?" Uske chehre pe jo Kiran ki baato se disturb sa taasur chhaya tha, woh do zail ho kar musarrat mein badalne laga.

Haneen ne ek achharti nigah us daraz qad ladki pe daali jo lambe frock mein idhar udhar ghoom rahi thi. Aur kyunki uske liye yeh khabar nayi nahi thi. Isliye sar jhatak kar khane lagi.

"Abhi bade Abba se mashwara karna hai, phir hi koi baat shuru hogi." Yeh kehte huye bhi balke sochte huye bhi Nudrat ka chehra chamkne laga tha.

"Aur Ammi, agar unhone inkaar kar diya toh?" Sam ne apne se hi bohot bado wala sawal puchha tha, aur Nudrat ka haath jooto tak jaate jaate reh gaya.

"Kyun inkaar karenge woh hamare Saadi ko? Koi wajah bhi hai kya?" Zumar ne muskurahat dabaye usse poocha. Wo jawaban muskara kar reh gaya.

Magar Haneen ka chammach le jaata haath ruka. Sar uthaya, sanjeedgi se Zumar ko dekha aur phir dekhti rahi, yahan tak ke Zumar ne bhi usko dekha. Nudrat sweet dish lene ke liye uth gayi jab Haneen boli.

"Baghair wajah ke bhi inkaar ho jate hain. Phupho, kisi acche bhale aadmi ko bhi apne zaum mein jangli jaahil hissa war keh kar rad kar diya jata hai."

Zumar ki aankhon mein achambha ubhra. "Sorry?" Uski samajh mein nahi aaya.

"Main toh aapki memory refresh kar rahi thi. Kyun? Kya aapne yahi keh kar Faris Mamu ke rishte ko inkaar nahi kiya tha?" Aur sar tha jhuka kar darmiyan mein roka phir chammach munh mein daal liya. Phir rukh pher kar sweet dish ke liye uth gayi.

Aur Zumar Jahan tha wahin reh gayi, saqit jamid. Saans tak band ho gaya. Jaise andhere mein seedhiyan utarte aakhri zeene ke baad yeh samajh kar paon utara jaaye ki abhi ek zeena aur baki hai aur woh lamhe bhar ko paon ka hawa mein mualliq hokar zameen ko lagna. Wo lamhe bhar ka shock, wo dil ki betarteeb dhadkan wo waqt ki raftaar ko thama deti hai. Bilkul khamosh ruka hua waqt.

☆☆☆

کچھ زخم صدیوں بعد بھی تازہ رہتے ہیں، فراز! وقت کے پاس بھی ہر مرض کی دوا نہیں ہوتی۔

Kuch zakham sadiyo baad bhi taaza rehte hain, Faraz! Waqt ke paas bhi har marz ki dawa nahi hoti.

∘❀∘

-Maujooda din se paanch saal qabl-

Haneen ke kamre mein full pankha chal raha tha. Carpet pe jaaye namaz bichaye Zumar tashahhud mein bethi thi. Nazre haatho pe markooz, chehre ke gird dupatta, lab hilte hue. Phir usne daayein baayein salaam phera aur dua ke liye haath uthaye. Tab hi nigah almaari se kuch nikaalti Haneen par padi.

Zumar muskurayi aur wo jo kisi baat pe junjhlayi khadi thi pheeka sa muskura di aur phir se cheeze ulat pulat karne lagi.

Zumar haatho mein dekhti zere lab dua mangti rahi. Phir chehre pe haath pher kar uthi toh Hussain palang ke kinaare baithi use dekh rahi thi. Uska chehra bujha bujha sa, dimaag kahin aur atka hua lag raha tha. Koi pareshaani thi shayad.Magar kaun puchhe? kaun bataye?

Unka rishta itna pur takalluf tha ke do saal se Saadi ki ghair maujoodgi ne bhi unko kareeb nahi kiya tha. Bas muskurahat se muskurahat tak ka rishta.

"Kya main isey yahi rehne du, Hannah?" Usne jaaye namaz uthane se pehle poocha.

Haneen ne asbaat mein gardan hilaayi. "Abhi Ammi do chaar salwatein aur sunaengi jab wuzu karne jaayengi," Zumar ko maloom tha.

Haneen chehra hatheliyo pe giraaye baithi rahi.

"Phupho, aap toh saari namaze padhti hain na? Main aapse ek baat poochun?"

Wo uljhan bhare andaaz mein is tarah poochne lagi jaise riyaazi, science ya mu'ashrati uloom ke sawaal discuss karne hamesha uske paas aati thi. Is se zyada woh kabhi kuch nahi discuss karti thi.

"Puchho," woh narmi se keh kar wapas jaaye namaz pe baith gayi.

"Kya aapko Allah Ta'ala se mohabbat hai?"

"Haan, hai" Zumar ke liye jawab asaan tha.

"Kaise? Mera matlab hai aap is mohabbat ki ta'reef kaise karegi?"

Zumar chand lamhe pur soch nigaho se uska Kam umar chehra takti rahi, phir zara se shane uchkaaye.

"Mera nahi khayaal ke main is mohabbat ko define kar sakti hoon."

"Okay. Meri ek Christian dost ne poocha tha, is liye main pooch rahi thi." Woh sar hila kar uth gayi.

Zumar ne gardan mod kar use bathroom jaate dekha. Maathe pe ke baal aur baaki baal hairband mein jakde kandho se neeche girte the. Chehre pe pehli uljhan ab bhi wahin thi. Koi masla tha.

Magar khair, Usne ghaadi dekhi. Ab use ghar jaana tha, warna Ammi khafa hogi.

Jab Haneen namaz padh kar aayi toh Zumar ja chuki thi.

Chunki Haneen saamne nahi thi, is liye woh aaj kuch nahi bhooli. Na Hannah ko yaad rahi. Woh bas bezari se computer ke saamne aayi aur use on kiya. Desktop ki ghaadi usne Alicia ki riyasat ke maqami waqt ke mutabiq set kar rakhi thi.

Wahan subah ho chuki thi aur Alicia online thi.

Chaukhaté mein Alicia saaf nazar aa rahi thi. Woh do saal pehle ki nisbat ab zara badi lagti thi, yahi koi bees baras ki. Doosre chaukhaté mein Haneen thi. Udaas aur khafa khafa si. Uske ghar walo ko Alicia ki itni aadat ho chuki thi ke saara waqt bhi Haneen ka camera on rahta toh kisi ko masla na hota.

"Tum udaas lag rahi ho," Alicia uska chehra dekhte hi bhuj gayi. Haneen ne gardan daayein-baayein hilayi, magar aankhon mein wohi udaasi chhayi rahi.

"Main forum par tumhare sawal ka jawab post karne lagi thi," saath hi woh keys dabaye ja rahi thi. Alicia ne check kiya. Phir uski aankhe achambhe se sukdi.

"Haneen! Mujhe lagta hai tumne galat jawab likh diya hai. Mera sawal tha: 'Kya aapko Khuda se mohabbat hai?' Tumne jawab mein 'Pata nahi' likh diya hai."

"Ye sach hai. Mujhe waqai pata nahi hai."

Magar Alicia chup ho gayi. Haneen ab muthi par thodhi giraye usse dekh rahi thi.

"Magar tum aur main, hum zyada tar deen ki baatein karte hain, ek doosre ko apne-apne deen ke baare mein batate hain... Aur tum bhi meri tarah apni kitaab bohot padhti ho... Phir?"

"Bahut nahi, main hafte mein ek-do dafa hi padh paati hoon. Jab bhai tha toh hum roz padhte the, magar ab mujhe waqt nahi milta." Hannah ne shaane uchkaye.

"Dekho Alicia, main jhooth nahi bolungi. Mujhe bohot ache lagte hain woh novels aur dramas jinmein hero ya heroine bohot hi gunaahgaar hote hain, aur phir kisi bade waqiye ke baad woh bilkul mazhabi ho kar Allah ki mohabbat mein sab gunaah chhod dete hain. Main aisi kahaniyo ki bohot qadar karti hoon, magar main khud ko inse relate nahi kar saki kabhi. Magar uska shukar ada karti hoon, ehtram bhi karti hoon, dua bhi mangti hoon. Use ma'bood tasleem karti hoon. Main apni ammi, apne bhaiyon, Abu aur-" (mud ke dekha, Zumar ja chuki thi kab ki) "aur kuch doosre rishtedaro se bohot mohabbat karti hoon. Isliye main keh sakti hoon..."

Zara tawakkuf karke wo chehra hatheli se hatakar, peechhe tek lagate hue saaf-goi se kehne lagi, "Tumhari saari taqreer ek taraf, abhi tum kisi baat par pareshaan ho? Mein sirf itna hi kahugi ki jo bhi masla hai usay hal karne ki koshish karo."

"Haan, ek school ka masla hai. Khud hi hal ho jayega." Woh talkh hui. Alicia ne lab bheench kar nafi mein gardan hilayi. Uski surkh aankhon mein fikrmandi thi.

"Masle khud hal nahi hote, karne padte hain. Aur iske do tareeqe hain: ya toh khud mein himmat talash karo, ya zyada himmat wale ko talash karo."

Aur phir woh aadatan haansi. Ye uska andaaz tha.

"Zyada himmat wala?" Haneen ne mud ke darwaze ko dekha. Phir nafi mein sar jhatak kar seedhi hui.

"Kya tumne Prison Break ka ye season khatam kar liya?" Saath hi phone ki ghanti bajne lagi. Haneen ne bezari se door pade phone ko bajte dekha.

Ammi aur Sam Zumar ke jaane ke baad so gaye the. Use hi uthna padega.

"Nahi, abhi chhatti qist pe hoon. Yaar, is baar maza nahi aa raha. Waise mujhe Michael se zyada Lincoln pasand hai. Accha, main chalti hoon. IsWaqt meri ek rishtedar aunty ka phone hota hai aamuman, aur woh lambi baat karti hain."

Woh alwidai kalimat kehti sign-off karne lagi. Phir bhaag kar musalsal bajta phone uthaya. CLI pe number anjaana tha, magar phir bhi kahin dekh rakha tha

"hello? Ji, Haneen baat kar rahi hoon. Oh! ji ji, sure. Abhi? Abhi nahi, magar shaam mein mamu aayenge humari taraf toh main unke saath aa jaungi. Sure, Aurangzeb uncle."

Muskura kar usne phone rakha. Chehre pe aayi saari kalfat aur bezaari zail ho gayi. Woh ammi ko batane bhaagi.

Aurangzeb sahab ko kaam tha aur unhone usse bulaya tha. Wah.

☆☆☆

اب احتیاط کی کوئی صورت نہیں رہی، قاتل سے رسم و راہ سوا کر چکے ہیں ہم۔

Ab ehtiyat ki koi soorat nahi rahi, qatil se rasm-o-raah savaa kar chuke hain hum.

•Rasm-o-raah : friendly relations •Savaa : equal, similar

∘❀∘

Leeds mein surmai subah apne andar nami samoye utar rahi thi. Sara ke kitchen ki khidki se baadalon se dhanka aasman saaf nazar aata tha. Wo chulhe se saucepan utaar kar garam doodh cup mein undel rahi thi. Peechhe kursi par Zakia begum baithi phal kaat kar Saadi ke samne rakhti ja rahi thi. Woh jab se aaya tha, khamosh baitha tha.

"Kitne dino baad aaye ho! Itna nahi hota ke chakkar laga lo? Woh bhi mere waris ko shikayat karne pe ke 'Nudrat aapa se kaho Saadi ki khabar lein!' Tum aaye ho ya PhD main kar rahi hoon? Ya tum?"

Apne azli saada andaz mein abroo sukude bolti hui woh udhar aayi. Tray mez pe rakhi. Baari-baari har mug mein chammach hilaya. Phir sab ke aage mugs rakhe. Zakia begum ne lab uthate hue baghor Saadi ko dekha.

"Aaj Saadi ne aate saath hi bachiyo ka nahi poocha?"

Woh chonk kar sambhala. Zara sa muskuraaya. "Nahi toh, main bas..."

"Wahi to Ammi! Yeh aaj bohot bujha-bujha lag raha hai. Koi masla hai toh mujhe batao?" Apna cup lekar samne baithti woh sanjeedgi se poochne lagi.

Woh sharminda ho gaya.

"Asal mein mera masla nahi hai, mera ek dost hai, uska masla zara pechida hota ja raha hai."

"Okay," Sara ne tawajjo se sunte hue cup honto se lagaya.

"Us ladke ki mummy kaafi kaafi possessive hain aur caring bhi. Woh idhar aaya bhi isliye ke uski mummy usko mere saath rakhna chahti thi, taake main uska khayal rakhu aur uspe nazar bhi rakhun. Woh drugs pe chala gaya tha pehle..."

"Oh! Toh kya usne drugs chhod di?" Zakia begum ne zara fikrmandi se poocha. Saadi ke chehre pe bebasi dikhne lagi.

"Yahi toh masla hai. Mere aur uske subjects alag hain, department alag hai. Kabhi-kabhi mulaqat hoti hai. Uski mummy ki har mail ke jawab mein main 'sab accha hai' ki report deta tha, magar abhi kuch desi ladko se mujhe pata chala hai ke woh phir se drugs pe chala gaya hai. Shayad koi ladki chhod gayi hai usay. Ek toh isko bhi har mahine nayi mohabbat ho jaati hai!"

Aakhir mein woh jal kar bola. Zakia aur Sara hans padi.

"Us din usne gaadi kahin maari hai, jurmana bhi hua... Matlab chalaan! Shukar hai us waqt woh drugs pe nahi tha, warna maamla bigad jata. Uski mummy ko nahi maloom yeh baat. Ab main kya karun? Kya shikayat lagaun ya uske aib chhupaun?"

"Dekho Saadi," Sara ne cup rakh kar sanjeedgi se uski taraf mutwajjeh huyi. "Ek maa hone ki haisiyat se mera haq hai ke mujhe apne bachay ke har kaam ki report mile. Agar tum uske sacche dost ho toh uski maa ko zaroor batao taake woh uski islaah kar sake. Agar uski jagah Sam yeh karta, toh tum yahi chahte ke tumhari ammi ko khabar di jaye. Hai na?"

"Oh!" Saadi ke lab sukde. Phir usne asbaat mein sar hilaya. Woh samajh gaya tha. Sara bilkul theek keh rahi thi.

"Uski maa ko batao taake do jootay lagayein usko!" Zakia Begum ki saari mamta jaag uthi thi. Woh muskara kar reh gaya.

"Thank you aap dono ka." Phir cup uthate hue mauzoo badla. "Waris mamu theek hain? Sirf ek saal reh gaya hai na aapke program ka?"

"Sirf? Poora ek saal pada hai." Sarah ghoont bharte hue udaasi se muskaraayi. "Aur phir hum bilakhir ek family honge, aur family ki tarah rahenge. Bohot khwaar kar diya hai in padhaaiyo ne."

"Waqai!" Zakia Begum bhi Sarah ko dekhte hue maghmoom si muskara di. Sirf ek saal... Poora ek saal... Reh gaya tha.

Saadi muskara kar ghoot bharne laga.

❏❏❏