ہمیں نہ نے روک لیا پنجۂ جنون، ورنہ! ہمیں، عشیر! یہ کوتاہ کمند کیا کرتے۔

Humein neh ne rok liya panja-e-junoon, warna! humein, Asheer! yeh kotah kamand kiya karte.

• Panja-e-junoon : The grip of madness • kotah kamand : Short reach

∘❀∘

Lounge ki qad-aadam khidki ke saath Jawahriat khadi bahar dekh rahi thi. Uski aankho mein gehri soch thi aur haath mein jakre mobile par Saadi ki taza email khuli thi. Mobile itni der se yun pakad rakha tha ke screen paseene se num ho gayi thi.

Mery engilo qadam qadam chalti uske qareeb aayi. Moadib sa pukara.

"Mrs. Kardar! Aapki tamaam packing mukammal ho gayi hai. Raat ke liye Leeds ki flight bhi book karwa di hai aur Mrs. Shehreen ne kaha hai ke woh bhi chalengi."

Jawahirat ne abroo se "hmm" ka ishaara kiya to woh wahan se hatt gayi. Tabhi Aurangzeb seedhiya utarte dikhayi diye. Jawahirat aahat par bhi badastoor bahar dekhti rahi yahan tak ke woh peeche ek sofa par taang par taang jama kar baith gaye.

"Achanak hi tumne England jaane ka program bana liya?"

"Main sheru ko miss kar rahi thi aur is bahaane Shehreen aur Sonia ka bhi dil behal jayega. Hashim ke paas to itna waqt nahi hota."

"Yani ke tumne usey ek mukammal family trip ki shakal de di hai. Very good. Aur mere documents?" Woh bohot zabt se use dekh kar bole.

Jawahirat ne muday bina zara se kandhe uchkaaye. "Kya main do din se kai dafa bata nahi chuki ke mera laptop kharab ho gaya hai is liye woh filwaqt recover nahi ho sakte, na hi unka draft tayar ho sakta hai."

"Aur chunki ab tum bahar ja rahi ho to ek mahine ke liye yeh kaam multavi ho gaya. Tab tak to meri samaat ki tareekh bhi guzar jayegi aur iska sabse zyada faida to tumhe hi hoga."

Is tanzia lehje pe bhi Jawahriat sukoon se khadi bahar dekhti rahi. Dafatan Khawar andar aaya. Suit mein malboos, tarasheeda mooncho wala, woh chontis-paintis baras ka aadmi tha.

"Ji sir?"

"Aaiye Khawar Sahab! Aur zara wazahat kijiye ke aap jaisa expert meri biwi ka ek laptop kyun nahi theek kar saka?"

Khawar ne zara ki zara Jawahirat ko dekha aur phir Aurangzeb ko. Dono na khudao ka hona bhi azaab tha.

"Sir, maine koshish ki magar masla meri samajh se bahar hai. Agar aap kahen to kisi professional ke paas le jaoon? Ya office se kisi ko-"

Jawahirat tezi se uski taraf mudhi.

"Mere laptop mein hamari company ke kitne khufiya documents hain, maloom hai tumhe? Main kaise usey kisi doosre ke hawale kar sakti hoon?"

"Meri biwi ko yahi khush fehmi hai ke main kisi aur ko laptop nahi de sakta, jab ke main de sakta hoon. MERY!"

Unhone khashmgeen nigah dono par daal kar Mery ko awaaz di. Jawahirat ne muzatarib si ho kar Khawar ko dekha aur Khawar ne zara pareshani se Aurangzeb ko. Dono ka khayal tha ke Aurangzeb yeh nahi karega, magar.

"Magar sir..."

Aurangzeb ne haath utha kar use khamosh karaya. Mery saamne aayi to unhone sirf ishaara kiya. Woh pehle se muttla kar di gayi thi, so sar ko khum deti bahar nikal gayi.

Jawahirat goya sulag kar wapas bahar dekhne lagi. Uske chehre par shadeed iztirab phela tha. Yeh aadmi na qabil-e-bardasht tha. Shadeed na qabil-e-bardasht.

☆☆☆

دل‌بری ٹھہرا زبانِ خلق کھلوانے کا نام... اب نہیں لیتے پری رُو زُلف بکھرانے کا نام۔

"Dilbari thehra zuban-e-khalq khulwane ka naam... Ab nahi lete pari-ro zulf bikhrane ka naam."

• Zuban-e-khalq : public opinion • Pari-ro : angel-faced

∘❀∘

Annexe ke andar chhota sa lounge room tha jisme TV chal raha tha aur samne baithi Haneen channel badal rahi thi. Usne maatha dhakne wale baal chhod kar baaki pony mein bandh rakhe the aur zara bechain si lag rahi thi. Nudrat aur Faris khamosh baithe the.

"Tumne Aurangzeb uncle ki taraf nahi jaana? Unhone bulaya jo tha." Nudrat ne use pukara.

"Unki naukrani ne humein aate dekh liya tha. Jab bulana hoga, khud bula lenge."

"Acha, uth kar hamare liye chai to bana do. Koi kaam nahi karti tum."

"Ammi! Aap seedhe seedhe keh dein ke 'hannah tum bahar chali jao, humein baat karni hai' to main chali jaungi."

Woh remote rakh kar bura sa munh banati uth gayi. Faris khamoshi se dekhta raha.

"Ab kahan ja rahi ho?" Nudrat ne phir pukara.

"Waris Mamu ke paas. Woh call sunne bahar gaye the, wahi reh gaye."

Woh dakhli darwaze se bahar nikal aayi aur darwaza zara sa khula chhod diya. Phir bahar uske saath khadi ho kar kaan laga kar sunne lagi. Aankhon mein shararat aur labo par muskurahat thi.

"Ji, kya baat karni thi aapko?"

Faris ki awaaz saaf sunai de rahi thi.

"Aisa hai, Faris, ke Saleem bhai ne apni beti Zartasha ke liye isharo kinayo mein baat ki hai. Agar tumhe koi aitraaz na ho to main baat shuru karun?"

Woh uske saath ja kar baith gayin aur badi aas se uske ghane baalon par haath rakh kar kehne lagi.

"Kya Zartasha hi hai khandan mein waahid ladki?"

Usne naak se makhi uraai aur bezaari se idhar udhar dekha.

"Acha tum batao. Jahan kahoge main rishta le kar chali jaungi."

Haneen darwaze pe jhukaaye lab shararat se dabaaye sun rahi thi.

Faris chand lamhe Nudrat ko dekhta raha.

"Aap ki Nand... uska bhi to abhi kahin rishta nahi hua."

Bohot hi koi sarsari andaaz mein kaha. Nudrat chonki. Phir aankhon mein khushagwari ubhri.

"Haan, uska bhi..."

Phir ruk gayi. Aankhon ki jot bujh gayi. Faris ne ghour se unke ta'suraat dekhe.

"Main uske qabil nahi ya woh mere?"

"Nahi, asal mein meri saas... woh itni aasani se nahi manengi."

"Nahi maanti to na mane, Ek dafa baat kar lijiyega bas."

Uske ta'suraat zara sakht ho gaye. Nudrat ne jaldi se baat sambhali.

"Nahi, main puri koshish karungi. Woh bohot acchi ladki hai. Agar aisa ho jaye to bohot acha hai. Uska ek aur rishta bhi aaya hua hai aaj kal. Main phir is hafte ja kar baat karti hoon."

Aur bahar dil pe haath rakhe khadi Haneen hairan, khush, excitement, gharz har jazbe se guzar rahi thi. Tabhi kisi ne use kaan se pakad kar doosri taraf kheencha. Woh ghabra kar ghumi. Waris samne khada tha.

"Mamu, main aap ki taraf hi aa rahi thi."

"Magar maine socha ke kan suiyan lene mein bhi harj nahi hai?" Usne Haneen ka fiqra mukammal kiya. Woh abhi tak kaan ragad rahi thi, jhunjhla kar use dekha.

"Aap kidhar reh gaye the? Garmi mein itni der se khade hain."

Woh gaadi hata kar apni samne kar raha tha. Usne Faris ki gaadi ki taraf ishara kiya. Haneen ka kaan ragadta haath ruka. Aankho mein kuch chamka. Usne Waris ke haath se chaabi jhapti aur gaadi ki taraf bhaagi. Jaldi se darwaza khola, front seat par baithi aur dashboard ke khane ko ulat pulat karne lagi. Waris zara hairan sa uski taraf aaya.

"Kya kar rahi ho?"

"Jab Mamu hame pick karne aaye the, to mujhe dekh kar jaldi se kuch ismein daala tha. Mil gaya. Balki mil gayi!"

Siyah makhmali dibbi haath mein liye Haneen ne fatahana nazro se use dekha aur purjosh ho kar dibbi kholi.

"Oh God! Katto Wapas rakho foran. Yeh Faris ki personal cheeze hain."

"Dekhne to de."

Waris ne haath badhakar dibbi leni chahi magar usne haath door kar liya. Dibbi khul chuki thi aur jo do tok si angoothi ki tawakku kar rahi thi, khud bhi tehar si gayi.

Siyah makhmal pe heere ki nafis si long thi, bilkul moong ki daal ke daane jitni.

"Wapas rakho isey."

Darwaze ke saath khade Waris ne ab sakhti se kaha to usne dibbi band karke ehtiyaat se wapas rakh di. Phir khud bhi bahar nikal aayi. Chehre par muskurahat thi, aankho mein chamak.

"Yeh nose pin thi."

"Faris ne li hogi kisi ke liye. Ab mat chedna usey."

"Aha! Mujhe pata hai kis ke liye. Meri phupho naak mein long pehenti hain!"

Waris ki aankhon mein nagwari utar aayi. Beikhtiyar idhar udhar dekha.

"Aqal kidhar hai tumhari? Dobara yeh baat mat karna."

"Kyun? Maine kya kaha hai?"

"Meri baat gour se suno."

Woh sanjeedgi se uske samne khada kehne laga.

"Mujhe bhi pata hai ke tumhari phupho naak mein long pehenti hain. Aur mujhe yeh bhi pata hai ke tum andar se kya sun kar aayi ho. Faris ne pehla mashwara mujhse kiya tha. Yeh baatein Haneen, humare khandano mein pasand nahi ki jaati, Dedh do saal pehle tak woh iska student bhi raha hai. Agar usne tab yeh baat nahi ki, to is liye ke khandan mein koi yeh na keh sake ke unka koi affair raha hai. Ab yeh wali baat..."

Sakhti se dashboard ki taraf ishara kiya.

"Ye kisi ke samne nahi dohrani tumne. Nudrat appa ke samne bhi nahi."

"Acha." Haneen ne munh bana kar gardan pheer li. Sare adventure ka in ehtiyaat pasand mamu ne bera gharq kar diya tha. Tabhi Mary engilo uski taraf aati dikhai di. Haneen beikhtiyar seedhi hui.

"Kardar sahab aapko bula rahe hain."

Haneen sir jhuka kar jaane lagi to Waris ne car lock kar ke aage aya.

"Thehro akeli mat jao. Main saath aa raha hoon."

Uske chehre pe kaafi sakhti simat aayi thi.

☆☆☆

اس راہ میں جو سب پر گزرتی ہے، وہ گزری... تنہا پسِ زندان، کبھی رُسوا سرِ بازار۔

"Is raah mein jo sab par guzarti hai, woh guzri... Tanha pas-e-zindaan, kabhi ruswa sar-e-bazaar."

• Pas-e-zindaan : behind the prison • Sar-e-bazaar : in public view

∘❀∘

Hashim ke kamre ki khidki ka rukh Annexe ki taraf tha. Is liye wahan se yeh manzar saaf nazar aata tha. Hashim ne ek sarsari nazar unpar daali. Samne bed pe khula bag rakha tha aur Shehreen almari se hangers nikal nikal kar dheir kar rahi thi. Woh bhinche hue abru ke saath use dekhta raha.

"Kuch arsay se tumhare England ke chakkar zyada nahi lag rahe?"

Hanger se shirt utarte hi Shehreen ke haath ruke. Phir usne khench kar utara. Teen tahe lagayi, bag pe rakha aur sunhari baal kaan ke peechay le ja kar seedhi hui.

"Mrs. Kardar ne peshkash ki thi aur wahan meri khala bhi rehti hai. Acha hai, is bahane unse bhi mulaqat ho jayegi. Tumhara waqt hota to hum ek family ki tarah jaate."

"Koi baat nahi. Tum shayad mere baghair wahan zyada khush rehti ho."

Woh talkhi se kehta aankhein suked kar use kapde tabdeel karte dekh raha tha.

"Tum jhagre ke mood mein ho?"

Usne bezaari se kehte hue dresser se ek daba uthaya aur usme cheeze bharne lagi.

"Jhagadne ka koi faida nahi hai. Wahan ja kar bhi tum meri beti mulazmo pe chhod deti ho. Uska bukhar pichle hafte theek hua hai magar.. sherry tumhare paas na idhar uske liye waqt hota hai, na udhar hoga."

"Tum waqt nikalna shuru karo, main pairvi karungi."

Woh lipsticks uthakar dabbe mein daal rahi thi. Hashim sar jhatak kar bahar nikal gaya. Raahdari ek sire ka darwaza aadha khula tha. Woh nursery thi, aur udhar guard ke saath ek mulazma khadi nazar aa rahi thi. Hashim ki aankh me afsoos ubhra. Palat kar aik malamati nazar apne kamre par dali. Aur sidiya utarne laga. Bich sidiyo ke woh ruk gaya. Abroo bich gaye phir taizi se aakhri zeenay tak aaya.

"Tumhara bhai mila tha mujhe pichlle saal keh raha tha jab bhi computer kharab hota hai woh tumhe call karta hai."

Aurangzeb sofe par Barajman keh rahay thay. samne wale sofe ke kinare Haneen bhi thi, aur baar baar kabhi sath khade waris ko dekhatii kabhi khidki ke sath mojood khud ko sulagti nazro se ghoorti jawahirat ko.

"Bhai computers mein acha nahi hai. isliye" woh zara tazabzub se boli. phir dobarah Jawahirat ko dekha. Jawahirat ab Seene pay baazu lapete tandahi se usay dekhe ja rahi thi. aam halat me pur aitmad rehne wali Haneen garbara thi, Hashim baa-mushkil zabt kar ke wahein khada raha.

"Yeh laptop..." Aurangzeb ne maiz ki taraf ishara kya. "Chal nahi raha. waise to mein kisi ko bhi bula leta magar tumhara imtehaan bhi aaj Le hi lete hai."

Haneen ne aik nazar waris ko dekha jis pe Aurangzeb ne doosri nazar bhi nahi daali thi aur phir laptop utha kar goad mein rakha usay khola on kiya.ab woh Jawahirat ko danista tor pay nah dekhne ki saee kar rahi thi.

screen par kuch harf likhe aa rahay thay Haneen ne chand keys dabayi. phir nigah uthai to aakhiri sidi pe khada Hashim bhi usay hi dekh raha tha bilkul saans rokay muztarib. Kardars ke cheharo ke taab laana bohot mushkil tha wo sar jhuka kar screen ko dekhne lagi chand button mazeed dabaye system chalne laga.

"Ghaliban yeh on ho gaya hai"

"to phir Haneen ! kya masla tha is me? " Aurangzeb ne aik istehzaya muskurahat se biwi ko dekhte hue puchha.

Haneen ne chehra uthaya hashim se nazar mili. hashim ne nafi mein sar hilaya 'um hmm kuch manfi mat batana.'

Usne Aurangzeb ko dekha. woh muntazir thay. woh kisi family war ke darmiyan phas gayi thi. normal halaat mein usay, aik minute wo normal nahi thi. woh Haneen thi us ne tan kar gardan seedhi ki laptop ka rukh un ki taraf phair kar usay maiz par wapas rakha aur bilkul seedhi khadi ho gayi.

"Is mein koi bhi masla nahi tha. start up ka masla bhi khud sakhta tha. shayad aap ne ya kisi aur ne.." masoomiyat se Mrs. kardar ki aankho mein dekha "koi shararat ki thi uske sath." gardan aurangzeb ki taraf mor li muskarayi woh bhi muskuraye.

Hashim ne "Uf!" Karha kar aankhen band ki, "yeh bachay bhi na."

"Mein is favor ko yad rakhu ga." aurangzeb ne buland aawaz mein kaha tha Haneen aur waris jane ke liye mure.

"kya khana kha kar nahi jaogi?" Jawahirat zara muskura kar sard aankhon se usay dekhte hue boli.

"Nahi. hum jaldi mein hain. " waris ne usay ishara kiya.

"bahut arsay se tum ne mujhe movies ki fehrist nahi bheji?"

aurangzeb ne usi sakht aur barub lehje mein poocha tha. shayad un ka sab se naram andaaz yahi tha. Haneen ne beniyazi se shanay jhatke.

"Mein ab movies nahi dekhti. do teen ghante mein khatam ho jati hain aur phir dil karta hai is jaisi movie aur bhi dekhi jaye magar waisi movie nahi millti. so mein ab american TV shows dekhti hoon. lambay lambay season baar baar ki enjoyment."

ye woh aakhri baat thi jo us ne kahi. phir k khuda Hafiz keh kar woh nikal aaye. darwaaza band karte hue waris ne aik khamosh magar gehri nazar Hashim pe zaroor dali thi.

"Mein tumhe aik naseehat karunga. Kardars se faasla rakhna. yeh achhe log nahi hain"

woh dono sath sath sabza-e-zaar aboor kar rahay thay jab us ne kaha Haneen ne ulta taajjub se usay dekha.

"Mein to do saal se in ke ghar bhi nahi aayi. kardar sahab ko aakhri mail saal pehle ki thi shayad. yahi bhijwate hain har mah basket mujhe to yeh bhi nahi pata ke un ka business kya hai!"

"Basket?" Is sawal par Haneen dil khol kar haansi.

"Hashim bhai ki bet 6 may ko paida hui thi. So har mahine ki chhe tareekh ko chocolates aur branded sweets se bhari basket sab rishtedaro ke ghar aati hai. Ke wahi ki Sonia ab itne maah ki ho gayi ab itne ki! Jab tak woh do saal ki nahi ho jaayegi, yeh hota rahega. Ameero ke chochle."

Woh dono baatein karte hue door hote ja rahe the.

Hashim ne khidki se unko jaate dekha. Aankho mein gehri soch thi magar phir baap ki awaaz ne chonkaya.

"Hashim, mujhe draft nikal kar do taake me papers banwau. Aur yeh kaam tumhari naqaabil-e-aitbaar maa ke jaane se pehle ho jaana chahiye."

Hashim ke abroo tan gaye. Khawar ko jaane ka ishara kiya. Woh chala gaya to saamne aaya. Sofa pe birajman baap ke bilkul saamne.

"Meri maa ko mulazimo ke saamne beizzat mat kiya karein."

Wo khade hue. Ek khasmagi nigah us par daali aur doosri jawahirat pe, jiske tane asaab dheele pade the. Aankhon mein musarrat ki.

"Jo kaha hai woh karo, mujhe mat samjhaya karo."

Woh apne kamre ki taraf badh gaye. Unka darwaza band hote hi jawahirat tezi se uske kareeb aayi.

"Kya tumne dekha? Woh hamesha kis hadd tak ke mulazimon ke saamne..."

"Mummy, mere saath mere baap ke khilaf baat mat kiya kijiye."

Jawahirat ruk gayi. Nigahe yak tak Hashim ke chehre pe tik gayi. Wo ghusse me lag raha tha.

"Aindah aap unse kabhi galat bayani nahi karein gi. Zameen nahi bechni to mujhe bataiye. Hashim har maska sambhal sakta hai. Khud galat kisam ke iqdam mat kiya kare."

Jawahirat ne usko dekhte hue asbat mein gardan hilaayi. Hashim ek taraf se guzar kar baahar nikal gaya.

Baramde ke uchey satuno ke saath Khawar chaukas muaddib khada tha. Woh brahmi se kehkar uske saamne aaya.

"Tum meri maa ke liye kaam nahi karte. Mere baap ke liye bhi kaam nahi karte. Tum mere liye kaam karte ho. Ainda un dono ka koi bhi aisa hukum mat maanna jo unke darmiyaan kisi jhagde ka sabab bane. Kya main dobara dohrau ya tum samajh gaye ho?"

Khawar ne sar jhuka liya. "Sorry sir, Mrs. Kardar ne mujhe dhamki, okay, main ainda ehtiyaat karunga."

Hashim ne gehri saans lekar gardan modhi. Yahan se annexe nahi nazar aati thi. Woh pichhli taraf thi magar use kuch an dekha nazar aaya tha.

"Yeh aadmi... Faris ka bhai Waris Ghazi."

"Iss pe nazar rakho, Khawar. Phone tap karo, office bug karo, jo bhi karo. Maine suna hai yeh petroleum imdaraat ki dealings ki report tayar kar raha hai. Bazahir koi khatre ki baat nahi hai, magar jis tarah yeh mujhe dekh raha tha abhi... Samajh gaye hona?"

Usne Khawar ka kandha thapthapa kar poocha. Khawar ne asbaat mein gardan hilaayi.

"Good!"

Hashim wapas mud gaya aur Kardar qasr pe utarti neeli shaam aahista aahista siyahi mein badalti rahi.

☆☆☆

فرشتہ مجھ کو کہنے سے میری تحقیر ہوتی ہے، میں مسجودِ ملائک ہوں، مجھے انسان رہنے دو۔

"Farishta mujh ko kehne se meri tehkeer hoti hai. Main masjood-e-malaik hoon, mujhe insaan rehne do."

• Masjood-e-malaik : The one before whom angels prostrated (Hazrat Adamؐؑ)

∘❀∘

Zulfiqar Yousuf ke ghar ka lounge aaj zyada hi pur-raunak lag raha tha. Zumar raat unke paas theharne aayi thi. Nudrat khushi khushi store se saaf towel aur lehaaf waghera nikaal rahi thi. Haneen albatta qadre musmail si Zumar ke saamne wale sofa pe pair upar kar ke baithi thi. Zumar ne bohot dafa sochti nazro se use dekha, magar phir khamosh rahi.

Haneen ka chehra school se aate saath hi aisa tha. Jis baat ko woh itne dino se nazar andaz karne ki koshish kar rahi thi, woh aaj zyada bhayanak tareeke se samne aa gayi thi. Uski us badtameez, maghroor aur nalaiq class fellow Sabrina Javed ki walida, Yasmeen Javed jo school ki vice principal bhi thi, ne use aaj apne office mein bulaya tha.

"Aap ne 9th mein board top kiya tha, Haneen! Kyunki aap ke notes bohot ache hote hain."

"Jee ma'am!" Usne mohtaat nazro se unka chehra dekha. Woh kursi pe bohot tamakanat aur raub se baithi use dekh rahi thi.

"Aur Sabrina kaafi din se aap se notes maang rahi hai. Na notes aapne diye, na hi uski practical notebook bana kar di."

"Ma'am! Woh notes main lecture ke dauraan leti hoon. Angrezi ke khat, mazmoon waghera, mein jo kitaabo se tayar karti hoon, woh mere bhai aur phupho ki purani kitaabein hain. Woh main kaise kisi ko de sakti hoon? Aur main usko kyun notebook bana kar doon?"

"Aap ko pata hai 9th ka board top tab matter karega jab aap 10th mein bhi top karein. Mila kar result aayega na? So aap Sabrina ki madad kiya karein. Agar nahi karein gi, toh is baat ko zehan mein rakhiye ga ke vice principal chahe toh aap ka dakhla bhi na bhejd, chahe toh aise remarks likh kar school se nikal de ke agle teen saal tak koi school admission dene ka ehl na rahe."

"Monday tak Sabrina ki notebook tayar honi chahiye. Aap ja sakti hain."

Aur woh bebasi, ghussa, yaha tak ke har jazba mehsoos karti wapas aayi aur tab se aise hi thi.

"Ami, mere brown joote nahi mil rahe, landay wale!"

Samko phupho ki mojoodgi mein taaza taaza kharide joote dikhane ki jaldi thi, is liye kaafi der se awaaz laga raha tha. Haneen chonki. Phir uth kar andar gayi, jahan woh almaari khole khada tha, aur usko zor ki chutki Kati.

"Kitni dafa ami ne bataya hai, landa nahi kehte, L shop kehte hain!"

"Accha."

Aur Phir se halaq phaad kar chillaya, "Ami! Ami! Mere L shop wale joote nahi mil rahe jo landey se liye the!"

"Uff!" Woh karah kar baahar nikal aayi.

Zumar mushkil se muskurahat rok kar baithi thi. Haneen pheeka sa muskurayi.

"Bahar hawa hai. Ooper terrace pe baithte hain."

Zumar uth khadi hui. Sam joote dhoond kar foran baahar aaya aur aankhein phailaaye tajjub use dekhne laga.

"Phupho, us waqt bahar nahi jaayega. Hamare lawn ka darakht terrace tak jaata hai. Us pe jinn hote hain."

Zumar ne gehri saans li. Jinnat... Jinn ke baare mein sunane ko har shakhs ke paas ek kahani zaroor hoti hai.

"Aur pata hai phupho, mere dost ke ghar ke qareeb ek qabristan hai jahan..."

Sam pur-josh andaaz mein bolne laga. Woh is umar mein daakhil ho gaya tha jab bachay school se aakar "Meri teacher" aur "Mera dost" ke aqwal-e-zareen saara waqt sunaate hain.

Zumar ne narmi se uske maatha se baal hataye. "Main tumhe isse behtar kahani sunati hoon. Magar pehle upar chalo."

Sam ki pareshaani nazar andaz kar ke woh upar aa gaye. Haneen bhi bujhi bhuji si unke saath thi.

Upar wala portion kisi doosri family ne kiraye par le rakha tha. Albatta terrace ki taraf bahar lohe ka zine jaata tha aur wahan ye log bhi kabhi kabhi baith jaaya karte the. Bagiche ka darakht terrace ke ek hisse tak hhana shaya tha, Woh darakht se door, beech mein bichhi kursiyo pe ja baithe.

"Toh Usama Yousuf Khan jinnat se darta hai?"

Sam ko baaho ke halqe mein le kar apne saath bithaye woh kin-aankhiyo se saamne baithi Haneen ko dekhte hue boli.

Haneen ne tajzub se asbaat mein sar hilaaya.

"Woh darawne hote hain, haina?"

"Aur yeto tumhein pata hai ke insaan, farishto aur jinno se zyada ashraf hai? Yaani ke zyada noble hai?"

"Mujhe pata hai." Usne deeniyat mein parh rakha tha... Ashraf-ul-Makhluqat.

"Toh yeh insaan zyada noble is liye hote hain kyunki hum woh bhi kar sakte hain jo jinn nahi kar sakte."

"Jinn ghaib ho sakte hain, phupho!"

"Haan! Aur humein chhupne ke liye ghaib hone ki zaroorat nahi. Aram se pareshaani aur andar ka khauf doosron se chhupa kar bhi apne aap ko normal dikha sakte hain."

Zumar ne kin-aankhiyo se dekha. Haneen chonki thi.

"Magar woh ud bhi sakte hain!"

Sam ko jinno ki tehkeer pasand nahi aa rahi thi.

"Aur humein upar jaane ke liye pero ki zaroorat nahi. Hamara kirdar humein buland karta hai. Hum zyada mazboot hain kyunki hum apni family ka mushkil aur pareshaani mein haath thaamte hain."

"Magar.." Sam dara-dara darakht ko dekh kar khamosh ho gaya. Woh samajh nahi pa raha tha, magar Zumar use samjha bhi nahi rahi thi.

"Main tumhare dost se zyada achi jinno ki kahani sunaati hoon tumhein."

Woh sam ko mukhatib ho kar uske baal sehlate hue keh rahi thi. Haneen bhi zara aage ho kar gaur se sunne lagi.

"Sadiyo se jinn aasmaano ka safar karte farishto ki baatein suna karte thay. Phir ek din achanak unhone aasmaano ko tatola toh use band paaya. Woh kaan lagaane gaye toh un par sholay barsne lage. Woh is waqt nahi jaante thay ke unke Rab ne insaan ke saath neki ka iraada kiya hai ya koi burai ka."

"Toh woh zameen mein phel gaye taake pata khabar le ke kya ghair-mamooli waqia pesh aa raha hai jo aasmaan par itne pehre lag gaye hain."

Yeh kehte hue usne aasmaan ko dekha. Woh tareek tha. Chaand ke bagair sirf taaron se dhaka, pur-israr, khamosh aur gehra.

"Phelte-phelte, un mein se kuch Wadi-e-nakhla par jaa pahuche. Wahan Rasool Allah ﷺ apne sahaba ko Fajr ki namaz padha rahe thay, to Qur'an utar raha tha. Namaz ka Qur'an jab unhone suna toh unke dil badal gaye. Woh foran apni qaum, apne khandan ki taraf palte aur unko bataya ke 'Humne ek ajeeb Qur'an suna hai jo rahnumai deta hai.'"

"To Sam Yousuf, tumhare dost ka dost jo bhi kahe, mujhe to Quran mein jinnat ka zikar bohot pyar se bayan kiya mila hai. Mujhe to woh bohot noble lage. Unhone sachai jaan li to use chhupaya nahi. Apne logo mein wapas ja kar un tak haq pahunchaya. Ye to insaano ki achhai hai na? Sach ke liye stand lena. Kya ab bhi tum jinno se darte ho?"

Sam, jo bilkul mashoor ho kar sun raha tha, istifsar par chonka. Zara se shaane giraye.

"N-Nahi to."

"Jinno se na dara kar, Sam! Atom bomb na unhone banaye the, na barsaye the. Insaan zyada khatarnaak hota hai."

Haneen be-takalluf si sun rahi thi. Zumar ab Sam ko neeche se kuch laane ke liye bhej rahi thi. Jab woh chala gaya to usne Zumar ko apni taraf rukh karte dekha.

"Ab woh waqt aa gaya hai ke tum darna chhod do Hannah! Insaan ko insaan banne ke liye bahadur banna hota hai." Narmi se muskura kar kaha. Tareek raat, ghana darakht, terrace ki tanhai, Haneen ke andeshe, khauf-sab uski aankho ki narmi mein zail hota gaye. Zumar nahi puchegi, ye to tay tha. Woh sirf sawal ka aitmaad de kar faisla doosre par chhod degi.

Haneen unhi aur Sam ki jagah par uske qareeb aa baithi. Ab sar jhuka kar ungliyan marodte hue baat ka aghaaz karna chaha, magar alfaaz halq mein phans gaye. Zumar ne noor se uska jhuka chehra dekha.

"Main ek bohut pur aitmad ladki ko jaanti hoon jo har baat ka turant jawab de kar sab ko hansa deti hai. Aaj kya woh ghar pe nahi hai? Main jab se aayi hoon, mujhe nazar nahi aayi."

Haneen ne halka sa haans di. Sar uthaya. Aankho mein iztirab ubhra.

"Alicia kehti hai meri American dost! ke maslo ke do hal hote hain. Ya to khud mein himmat talash kar lo, ya zyada himmat wale ko."

"Aur?"

"Meri class fellow, Sabrina..."

Pehla qadam mushkil hota hai. Phir agle qadam to khud-ba-khud uthne lag jate hain jaise barson ki aadat ho. Sari baat sun kar Zumar ne sanjeedgi se kaha.

"Pehli baat, tumhe school mein bully kiya ja raha hai, balki ye harassment hai aur ye jurm hai Hannah. Tum kabhi bhi zindagi mein zulm ke upar khamosh nahi rehna. Okay?"

Haneen ne foran asbaat mein gardan hilai.

"Doosri baat, ye masla to main do din mein hal kar sakti hoon. Mere paas ek aisa plan hai jiske baad woh teacher dobara tumhe dhamkane ki jurrat nahi kar sakegi."

"Waqai?" Haneen ki aankhon mein hairat, khushi-gharz har positive jazba chamakne laga.

"Haan, tum dekhti jao main kya karti hoon."

Haneen ka chehra goya roshan hone laga. Alfaaz duniya banate hain, alfaaz duniya bikherte hain. Sirf alfaaz ne hi usko itna mutmain kar diya tha. Woh pur sukoon si ho kar baith gayi. Phir jaldi se seedhi hui.

"Oh! Ammi ne trifle bana kar rakha tha fridge mein. Aaiye neeche chalte hain, warna mota Aalu sab kha jayega!"

Zumar ne halka sa haans di magar woh neeche nahi gayi. Usne Hannah ke jaane ka intezar kiya. Saath hi chehre ka pur sukoon taasur gaayab ho gaya. Uski jagah muztarib soch ne le li. Usne mobile nikala. Phone book upar neeche ki. Ek number par call ki.

Chauthi ghanti par utha liya tha.

"Faris! Maine aapko disturb to nahi kiya?"

Woh gym se aa raha tha. Saans abhi tak phoola hua tha. "Nahi ma'am, bataiye."

"Meri ek friend ka case hai. Muqabil ek school ki vice principal hain." Tareek raat mein sargoshi numa awaaz mein woh keh rahi thi.

"Aur woh khatoon haath nahi aa rahi. To inko deal karne ka koi plan hai aapke paas?"

Zumar ne gehri sans li. Neeche se Haneen aur Usama ke phir kisi baat par ladne ki awaaz aa rahi thi. Woh samat ki had se door the. "Nahi. Lekin agar main ye us friend ko abhi keh deti to woh bhi dobara apna masla le kar mere paas nahi aayegi. Sach bataun to mujhe nahi pata ke mujhe kya karna hai."

"Okay. Aap un khatoon ka koi number, pata waghera de dein. Unki background file tayar kar ke aapko bhijwa dunga. Kuch to mil jayega unke khilaf istemal karne ko."

"Thank you so much Faris, bas ye hamare darmiyan rahe."

"Theek. Aur koi masla?" Wo zara ruka.

Magar Zumar ne dobara se shukriya ada kar ke phone rakh diya. Ab woh behtar mehsoos kar rahi thi.

"Bechare purane students kitni izzat karte hain. Kaash Madam Yasmeen bhi izzat karwana jaanti hoti." Seerhiya utarte hue woh soch rahi thi.

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