کبھی کبھی آرزو کے صحرا میں قافلے سے آ کر رُکتے ہیں۔

Kabhi kabhi aarzoo ke sehra mein aaye rukte hain qafle se.

∘❀∘



Subah Haneen hamesha ki tarah bhaag-daud karte hue school ke liye tayyar ho rahi thi. Zumar aur sam bilkul tayyar uska intezar kar rahe the darwaze par khade the. Idhar woh aayi, udhar ghanti baji. Zumar ne aage badh kar darwaza khola. Ek naujawan bahar khada tha. Suit mein mablus, sunglasses lagaye, haath mein lamba sa dabba.

"Haneen Yousuf?" Woh sawaliya nazron se use dekhti ek taraf ho gayi.

"Kardar sahab ne bhijwaya hai." Woh unka koi mulazim tha. Packet hawale kar ke modab sa palat gaya. Bahar uski car khadi thi. Haneen qadar e hairan, qadar e anjaan si dabba le kar andar aayi. Gole mez par usse rakha. Sab ird-gird ikatthe ho gaye. Usne zara tazabzub se dabba uthaya aur phir... do saans lena bhool gayi.

Naya-nakoor laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod har modern aala alag-alag dabbe mein tha. Aur unke upar ek note.

"Main kisi ka ehsan nahi bhoolta."

—Aurangzeb

Zumar ne note padha. Nadarat ne aahista se usse bataya ke woh kaun hain.

"Faris ka woh cousin Hashim , jiska Saadi aksar zikr karta hai."

"Okay!" Woh Haneen ke ta'suraat dekhne lagi. Jo shauk se nikal kar khushi se sab kholne lagi. Nudarat albata chup ho gayi.

"Itne mehange-mehange gifts? Yeh humein nahi rakhne chahiye."

Zumar Haneen ko le kar darwaze ki taraf badh gayi. Woh unki itni zaati si guftagu mein dakhal nahi dena chahti thi. Nikalte waqt usne Haneen ki awaaz suni.

"Ami, yaar kya hai? Maine unka laptop theek kiya tha. Woh shukriya karna chah rahe hain. Aise kaise wapas?"

Woh bahar aa gayi. Jab Hannah car mein aayi aur front seat par baithi toh apni ami ka mobile kaan se lagaye baat kar rahi thi. Zumar ko maloom tha kis ki call hogi. Uski aadhi raat hogi na! Usne muskara kar car start ki magar woh sune bagair purjosh tafseelat bata rahi thi.

"Laptop silver color ka hai aur iPod..."

"Meri baat suno, Hannah! Tum yeh sab wapas kar do."

Woh neend se uth chuka tha aur ab mukammal alert tha. Woh bolte-bolte ruk gayi. Zumar ne drive karte hue ek nazar us par daali.

"Yeh sab main tumhein le doon ga."

"Aur agar tab main aapko wapas kar doon toh aapko kya lagega, bhai?"

"Unhone mujhe gareeb rishtedaar samajh kar taras kha kar nahi diya. Maine unka kaam kiya tha, unhone shukriya ada kiya hai. Agar main tohfay lene ki laalchi hoti toh jab woh kabhi-kabhi poochte hain ke falan mulk ja raha hoon, tumhein kuch chahiye? Toh har dafa yeh keh kar inkaar na karti ke ‘Sorry uncle, main baghair wajah ke tohfay nahi leti.’"

"Oh acha," woh waqai samajh gaya. "Okay, tum rakh lo. Ab mujhe sone do."

Haneen ne phone rakh diya aur khidki ke bahar dekhne lagi. Phir qadar uljhi si Zumar ko dekha.

"Agar aapko koi aise tohfa de toh aap rakh lein gi?"

Woh apne amal ki safai chahti thi. Zumar ko jaise kuch yaad aa gaya. Usne gear ke paas pichla khana khola aur kuch nikal kar uski god mein rakha siyah makhmali dabbi aur ek teh shuda kagaz.

"Haneen Yousuf..."

Woh sun reh gayi.

"Kal subah yeh kisi ne mujhe courier kiya tha. Padho."

Haneen ka chehra faqh ho gaya. Usne darte darte Zumar ki shakal dekhi. Jo pur-sukoon drive kar rahi thi. Usne dhadakte dil se kagaz uthaya.

Jewellery tak theek tha... Mamu se love letter ki tawakku nahi thi...

Usne kagaz ki tahe kholi.

Sar uthaya.

"Pehle kehne ki himmat nahi hui class mein kabhi. Yeh aap par us se zyada suit karegi jo aap pehenti hain."

"Isey love letter kehte hain?"

"Isey achha love letter toh Lincoln Bros likh leta!"

Khat ki likhayi woh saaf pehchaan gayi. Khauf zail hua, lekin uljhan se sar uthaya.

"Kya aap yeh nose pin pehn rakhengi?"

Zumar ne chonk kar usse dekha.

"Tumne toh abhi ise khola bhi nahi!"

"Isme likha hai ke yeh aap par suit nahi karta."

Usne naak ko ungli se chhua.

"Agar kisi ka itna sense hai toh yeh bhi maloom hoga ke nose pin zyada achi lagegi."

"Ab dekhein, mera guess theek lagta hai ya nahi!"

Kehte hi dabbi kholi.

Heere ki long saamne thi. Haneen ne fatahna muskurahat se dekha. Zumar ne kandhe ucha diye.

"Kya aapko maloom hai yeh kisne bheji hai?"

Usne ehtiyaat se poocha.

"Itne batches padhaye hain... Sauon students guzre hain... Magar bohot kam ladkiyon ko mere ghar ka pata maloom hai. Inhi mein se koi hogi."

"Hogi?" Haneen ka halak tak kadhwa ho gaya.

"To ab aap kya karen gi ?"

"Is courier company par ja kar wapsi ka pata laine ki koshish karoon gi.aakhir unhon ne bhi kaisay diamonds jewellery courier honay di. phir is kowapas karoon gi. kyun ke mein students se tohfe nahi leti. yeh mereusoolo ke khilaaf hai."

"To phir mein bhi kardar sahib ko yeh sab wapas kar deti hoon. mere bhikuch usool honay chahiye. baat khatam, " Haneen ne zara khafgi se kaghazdabi mein rakha. dabbi wapas rakhi aur bahar dekhnay lagi.

zumar ne gehri saans li. Haneen aur apne darmiyan taaza taaza takaloufki khaleej mein anay wali kami ko aik usool ke peechay?

"Um hmm, usoolo mein tarmeem ho sakti hai. apnon ke liye sab ho sakta hai."

"Okay, mein isay rakh leti hu"Haneen sar hilaa kar bahar dekhatii rahi. Zumar ne achambe se usaydekha.

"Tum m kyun muskura rahi ho?"Us ne garbara kar jabra sidha kiya aur gardan dayen baen ghumayi.

"Nahi to"aur mazeed rukh phair liya. school mein woh dono aik sutoon ke sath kharihui theen. nigahein gate Par markaz thi.

"Hamein sirf un ka address chahiye ya koi Doosri contact information."

"Wo rahi Sabreena." usne andar aati larki ki taraf ishara kiya, phir becheni se zumar ko dekha.

"Magar aap is ka number pata kaisay haasil karen gi? is ke liye to aap korecord room mein jana ho ga ya school ke data system kahan ja rahi hain aap?" woh satoon ki oot se nikal kar jane lagi thi, Haneen ke harr baranay par rukkar usay dekha. halka sa muskarayi.

"Sabreena se uska pata laine." aur hakka bakka khari Haneen ko chor karzara agay aayi. tab tak Sabreena braamde tak aa chuki thi. haneen foranghoom gayi. samaat wahi lagi thi.

Zumar sabreena ke paas se guzarne lagi phir uska chehra dekh kar ruki aur Khushgawar herat se usay pukara.

"Arey! sabreen! madam Yasmeen ki beti hona aap? kaisi ho? Madam kaisi hain?" Sabreena ruki Zara uljha uljha sa muskarayi.

"Jee mein Sabreena aap?"

"Don't tell me ke tumne mujhe nahi pehchana? bachpan mein tum kitni healthy theen magar ab ziyada pyari ho gayi ho. ammi kidhar hain? abhi job karti hain?"

" jee ammi vise principal." kitni out of touch ho gayi hon. mein bhi Dubaichali gayi thi na. abhi bhatije ke admission ke liye aayi thi. aisa karo mujhe apna number de do."

kandhe pe tange purse se jaldi jaldi note buk aur qalam nikaal kar usay thmaya.

"land line bhi dena aur address bhi day do. mein maidam se milnay aon gi kisi din." Sabreena ko sochuney ka ziyada waqt nahi mila. woh kaghaz pay alfaaz ghaseetne lagijab woh daur chali gayi to zumar satoon tak wapas aayi kaghez Haneen kesamne lehrate hue fatihana nazron se usay dekha.

woh waqai muthahayyar khari thi. "Tum ne abhi meri yeh wali side dekhi nahi thi Hannah!"

"Waqai zabardast performance thi!"

Phir woh hairan pareshaan assembly ke liye bhagi, magar thehar kar mud gayi.

"Ye" Naak par ungli rakhi "Aap par waqai itni suit nahi karti!"

Aur bhaag gayi.

Zumar ne car mein wapas baithte hue ek lamha aaine mein apna chehra dekha. Sone ki baali jaisi nath… kya waqai us par suit nahi karti?

"Uh hm…" Usey mayoosi hui.

☆☆☆

"وہ بات سارے فسانے میں جس کا ذکر نہ تھا، وہ بات ان کو بہت ناگوار گزری ہے..."

"Woh baat sare fasane mein jiska zikr na tha, woh baat unko bohot nagawaar guzri hai…"

∘❀∘

Shaam ki thandi hawae darakhto ke patte sar sarate hue moseeqi bikher rahi thi. Saadi chhote chhote qadam uthata us khoobsurat ghar ke samne ruka. Jangle ka chhota sa gate dhakel kar khola aur sabzazaar par aage chalta aaya.

Jab Saadi porch tak aaya, toh ek dum thithak gaya. Hashim ki biwi, Shehrein, wahan khadi thi. Saadi ki taraf pusht, dakhli darwaze par nigah rakhe, woh jhunjhlayi hui mobile par baat kar rahi thi.

"Hashim ko pehle hi mujh pe shak hai aur ab toh uski maa bhi idhar hai. Main roz roz tumse milne nahi aa sakti. Cousin ho toh cousin ban kar raho!"

Bas chand seconds hi the. Saadi samajh nahi paaya ke mude ya aage chale, aur tabhi Shehreen kisi ehsas ke tehat palti. Furfur chalti zubaan ruki. Chehra faqh hua. Ek dum kaan se laga haath phone samait pehlu mein gir gaya.

"Assalamu Alaikum."

Woh sar jhuka kar sarsari salaam karta darwaze ki taraf badha.

"Walikum,Main behan se baat kar rahi thi." Woh muztarib si boli.

Saadi ne anjaan bante hue "Sorry," kehtabhua ruka.

Shehreen chup ho gayi. “mrs. Jawahirat andar hain?”

"Haan."

Jaldi se aage aayi, darwaza khola aur halaq ke bal chilayi—"MERY! MERY!"

Mery engilo daudti aayi. Shehreen ne ishaara kiya, toh woh foran Saadi ko andar le gayi. Shehreen doorstep par khadi ab bechain si uska jata dekh rahi thi. Siyah-fam housekeeper bahar nikalti dikhayi di toh usne roka.

"Suno! Yeh ladka kaun hai?"

"Yeh Saadi hai. Nosherwan ka dost."

"Oh! Faris ka bhanja! Hashim zikr karta tha."

Woh andar chali gayi, jale pair ki billi ki tarah idhar udhar chakr kaatne lagi.

"Jawahirat study mein hain… lounge ki bajaye. Matlab, is ladke ko usi ne bulaya tha!"

"Oh no… agar isne kuch bol diya toh…?"

Fikar mand si study ke darwaze tak aayi. Lakdi ka soundproof darwaza band tha. Woh dono andar the.

"Ab?"

Phir ek khayal zehan mein lapka.

Woh ghar se bahar aayi, imarat ke ird gird ghoom kar study ki khidki ke paas ruki. labo parMuskurahat a thehriandaaza durust tha. Jawahirat khirki khol kar bethne ki aadi thi aur is waqtbhi wo khirkike sath baithi thiSaadi us ke maqabil kursi pay tha. dono ke darmiyan mez thi jis pay taazaphoolon ka guldasta tha. Jawahirat angrezi tarz ke libaas mein malboskohni kursi ke hath par tikaye Do ungaliyon se locket ka heera chhairti muskura kar us ko sun rahi thi.

Shahreen deewar ke saath lag kar qareeb aayi. Kaan guftagu par lage the. Apna naam sunne ke khauf mein...

"Hamaare departments alag hain. Main iska zyada dhyaan nahi rakh paata. Magar pichle dino kuch doston se yeh sab pata laga, toh main ne chaha" saath hi shanay uchkaye

"Haan, main aa gayi hoon. Sab sambhaal loongi." Jawahirat ne muskura kar sir ko jhuka diya. "Main sirf tumhare moonh se sab sunna chahti thi. Kya tumhein yaqeen hai ke usne ghar mein bhi drugs rakhi hongi?"

"Mujhe nahi maloom. Shayad kamre mein ho. Main yahan kam hi aata hoon. Magar aap use pyar se samjhaiega."

Woh fikr mand bhi tha. Jawahirat ne muskura kar sir jhatka.

"Kehte hain, Khuda ne aasmanon se chaar kitaabein utaari, aur phir paanchwa danda utaara. Jo inse nahi maanta, woh isse maane ga."

"Phir bhi... acha, main Sheru se mil loon." Woh ijaazat chahta uth khada hua. Jawahirat ne usi tamkeenat se asbaat mein sir hila diya.

"Mujhe khushi hai ke tum iska khayaal rakhte ho."

Shahreen qadare hairan si wahan se hati. Chehre par uljhan thi. Alfaaz toot toot kar sunai diye, magar samajh nahi aaye. Woh kuch dair wahin sochti rahi, phir andar wapas aa gayi.

Ab sheru ke kamre se awaaz aa rahi thi. Darwaza aadha khula tha. Qareeb ek showcase deewar se laga tha. Woh wahin khadi ho kar ek magazine ba-zahir ulat-pulat karne lagi.

Andar couch par baitha tha. Baar baar ghari dekh raha tha. Dono abhi university ki baatein kar rahe thay. Nosherwan ghar ke kapron mein hamesha ki tarah be-niaz sa lag raha tha.

"Kya tum mummy se mile?"

la parwahi se kehte sheru ne room fridge se soft drink ke do can nikale. Ek uski taraf uchala aur doosre mein khud daant gaad diye. Saadi ne catch kar ke side par rakh diya. Use jald wapas jana tha.

"Haan, unhone hi bulaya hai. Pichli dafa unke aane pe main milne nahi aa saka tha, toh unka shikwa banta hai."

Usne saaf goyi se kaha.

"Mummy bhi na, badi possessive hain!" Sheru ne gardan peeche pheink kar ghoont bhara, phir seedha hua.

"Lona?"

"Um hmm, main chalta hoon."

Saadi ki nazar computer screen par padi.

"Oh Sheru, tum aur Haneen is game ka peecha kyun nahi chhod dete?"

"Hafte baad lagayi hai. Sara din parh parh kar dimaag khaali ho jata hai."

Saadi ne mud kar darwaze ko dekha. Yahan se aadha lounge nazar aata tha. Shahreen nahi dikhayi deti thi.

"Yeh tumhari bhabhi thi na? Blonde baalo wali?"

Bahar khadi Shahreen ke aasab tan gaye. Bhawain bhanj gayin.

"Lo, koi blonde nahi hai woh! Baal dye karwati hai. Har teesre mahine yahan se 500 pound ka hair dye karwa kar jaati hai!" Wo phir se hasa.

"Kis tarah ki hain tumhari bhaabi?" Sar-sari sa poocha.

"Subah subah itna makeup kar ke kamre se nikalti hai, phir saara shehar ghoomti hai. Bhai ka paisa be-tahasha jhonkti hai. Sonia ka khayaal bhi nahi rakhti. Bhai se aksar jhagra hota hai. Tumhein kaisi lagi?" Gardan peeche kar ke ghoont bhar ke keh raha tha.

"Hmm... acchi hain." Woh jaane ke liye aage badh gaya.

Tab tak Shahreen apne kamre mein ghaib ho chuki thi. Darwaza band kar ke bistar ke kinare aa baithi. Chehra ehsaas-e-hatak se surkh pad raha tha. Aankhon mein iztirab, pareshani, gussa sab tha. Woh be-chaini se kamre mein chakkar kaat-ti rahi.

Phir kaafi dair baad bahar nikli toh ghar mein khoob shor macha tha.

"Maine tum pe aitbaar kiya, magar tum is qabil nahi thay! Bilkul apne baap pe gaye ho. Wohi mizaaj, wohi ghussa, wohi aadatein! Ek woh Faris kam tha, tumhare baap ki copy! Usay guns ka shauq hai, aur tumhein... tumhein uska!"

Shehreen hiraan magar mohtaat qadam qadam chalti Sheru ke kamre ke darwaze tak aayi. Woh poora khula tha.

Andar Nosherwan sharminda, bohkhlaya sa khada tha aur baar baar maa ko rok raha tha, jo bhari hui sherni ki tarah ek ek daraaz khol kar cheezein bahar phenk rahi thi.

Shehreen ne baazu seene pe lapait liye aur drama sukoon se dekhne lagi.

"Mummy please, main..."

"Mera dil cha raha hai abhi police ko phone karun aur kahun ke is drug dealer ko aa kar le jaayein! YEH MERA GHAR HAI, SUNA TUMNE? YEH MERA GHAR HAI!"

Woh chillati hui wardrobe se kapde nikal nikal kar farsh par daal rahi thi. Do safed aur surmai bootiyaan wale packets bhi bahar gire. Sheru ne sir jhuka diya.

"MERE BAGHAIR TUM KYA HO? MERE BAGHAIR TUMHARA BAAP KYA THA? YEH USKI SARI JAIDAD MERI ATA KI HUI HAI! YEH SAB MERA BAAP CHHOD KAR MARA THA, TUMHARA BAAP LE KAR PAIDA NAHI HUA THA!"

Usne kisi daraaz ki pusht pe lamba kar ke haath dala aur do packets bahar nikal kar zor se Sheru ke pair pe phainke.

"TUMHEIN AAJ MAIN IS GHAR SE BAHAR NIKAL DUN TOH KAHAN JAOGE? SADKO PAR SOOGE? WAHIN BHEEK MAANGO GE? AUR AGAR TUMHARE BAAP KO YEH SAB BATA DIYA, TOH WOH TUMHARA KYA HAAL KAREGA, MAALOOM HAI?"

Kamre ka samaan bikhar chuka tha. Sheru jazbaz sa khada tha.

"YEH... YEH AUQAAT HAI TUMHARI?" Jawahirat ne jhuk kar safed packet uthaya aur zor se Sheru ko de maara. Woh uske seene se lag kar pairo mein ja gira.

"YEH FUTURE HAI TUMHARA?" Woh jhuki, table se apna mobile uthaya, chehre ke samne laayi.

Camera ke click click par Nosherwan ne ghabra kar sir uthaya. Woh tasveer kheench chuki thi.

"Mummy, yeh aap kya—"

"‘MUMMY’ MAT KEHNA MUJHE" sherni ghurrayi.

"Agle aadhe ghante mein, baghair kisi mulaazim ki madad ke, tumhare kamre ki ek ek cheez durust jagah par na gayi, aur yeh sari drugs tumne aatish-daan mein na jhonki, toh main yeh tasveerein tumhare baap aur bhai ko email kar rahi hoon!"

"AADHA GHANTA HAI TUMHARE PAAS! SUNA TUMNE?"

Woh heel wali sandal se giri cheezon ko dhakel kar shola-bar nazron se use ghoorti darwaze ki taraf badhi. Shehreen foran peeche ho gayi. Aur Nosherwan chakraa gaya.

"Kya aadha ghanta? Main itni jaldi...?"

Jawahirat eediyo par wapas ghoomi.

"Ab tumhare paas sirf 20 minute hain. Ek lafz mazeed munh se nikalo, aur yeh 10 minute mein badal jayenge!"

Sakhti se ghoor kar woh baahir nikli aur thap se darwaza band kiya.

Nosherwan ne sir dono haathon mein le liya. Phir be-ikhtiyaar chehra utha kar ghari dekhi.

"Oh no!"

Jaldi se woh zameen par giri cheezein uthane laga.

"Magar mummy ko shak kaise hua? Itni achanak?"

☆☆☆

"یوں بہار آئی ہے امسال کے گلشن میں صبا! پوچھتی ہے، گزر اس بار کروں یا نہ کروں..."

"Yun bahar aayi hai amsaal ke gulshan mein saba! poochti hai, guzar is baar karun ya na karun..."

∘❀∘

Bade Abba ke living room mein khamoshi ka waqfa bas chand lamhon ka aaya tha.

Nudrat apna mudda bayan kar ke qadray be-basi se baari baari saas-sasur ko dekhne lagi. Bade Abba chup se ho gaye. Pehle Farhana Begum ki taraf dekha, jo agle hi pal qata’iyat se ilahi mein sir hila rahi thein.

"Yeh na-mumkin hai. Hamari taraf se inkaar samjho, Nudrat!"

"Farhana?" bare Abba tanqeedi andaaz mein unhein dekha magar kuch maamlaat mein unka zor apne shauhar pe bohot chalta tha aur yeh unhi mein se ek tha.

"Nahi bhayi, yeh nahi ho sakta. Hum tumhare bhai ko nahi jaante. Aise kaise kisi ko apni beti de dein?"

Woh apni na-goaari zabt kar rahi thein.

"Magar bade abba isko jaante hain. Aur aap Waris se pooch sakti hain, woh—"

"Lo... woh bhi toh tumhara hi bhai hai, tarafdaari hi karega!"

"Hum soch kar batayenge, Nudrat!"

Woh zara buland awaaz mein bole toh Farhana khamosh ho gayin. Nudrat pheeka sa muskuraayi, qadray afsos se saas ki badbadahat dekhi aur apna purse waghera sametne lagi.

Woh mayoos thein. Aur badi ammi taish me thi Unke jaane ki dair thi ke woh bade abba pe baras pari.

"Nudrat ki himmat kaise hui apne bhai ka rishta Zumar ke liye maangne ki?"

"Jaise hamari himmat hui thi aap ki beti ke bhai ka rishta Nudrat ke liye maangne ki!"

Woh bhi bade abba thein, tahammul aur sukoon se jawab diya. Woh mazeed tilmila gayin.

"Tab mujhe nahi pata tha ke yeh aisi niklegi! Baccho ko bhi apni tarah ka bana diya hai—zabaan daraaz!"

"Wo yateem bachay hain, Farhana. Yateemon ko nidar banana chahiye. Woh badtameez nahi hain."

"Bahar-haal, hum Nidrat ke bhai ki taraf rishta nahi dein ge. Woh Fazila ke bete mein aakhir kya burai hai? Udhar ‘haan’ kar dete hain. Kab se wo jawab maang rahe hain?"

"Fazila bhi toh Nudrat ki rishtedaar hai. Uska beta Faris se accha nahi hai!"

"Rehne bhi dein. Fazila meri ammi ki taraf se bhi rishtedaar lagti hai. Haan."

Woh mazeed bigar gayin.

"Aap Zumar se pooch lijiye, Farhana. Dono rishte bata dijiye. Jo uska faisla ho."

Khilaaf-e-ma’mool, badi ammi is tajweez par khamosh ho gayin.

"Theek hai. Aap kuch mat kahiye ga. Main khud Zumar se baat kar lungi. Agar usne Faaris ke liye inkaar kar diya, toh phir aap Imaad ke liye inkaar nahi karenge."

Bade Abba ne isbat mein sir hila diya. Albata dono mutafakkir aur mutazabzib the. Kyun? unki khud bhi samajh mein nahi aa raha tha.

☆☆☆

"جو فرق صبح پر چمکے گا تارا، ہم بھی دیکھیں گے!"

"Jo farq subh par chamkega taara, hum bhi dekhenge!"

∘❀∘

Woh shaam bohot suhaani utar rahi thi. Zumar ne wast colony mein car roki aur gardan mod kar Haneen ko dekha.

"Tumhein yaqeen hai tum mere saath aana chahti ho?"

Aaj Zumar ke do din ka waqt tamaam hua tha, aur woh tayar thi.

"Positive!

Woh gardan akra kar boli. Maathay par kuch baal chhod kar baaqi French choti mein bandhe the, aur ainak ke peechay bhaagti aankhon mein baala ka aitamaad tha—aur muskurahat bhi.

"Yeh long achi lag rahi hai aap pe!"

Saath hi usne jaldi se jabra seedha kar liya. Zumar ne "Thanks" keh kar dashboard se phoolon wala khaaki lifaafa uthaya. Car band ki aur baahir nikal aayi.

Ganti bajakar dono muntazir gate par khadi thein. Zumar Haneen se daraaz qad thi, ghunghriyale baal joode mein bandhe, aur sanjeeda chehra woh long waaqai achi lag rahi thi. Pur-sukoon thanday ta’suraat.

Haneen albata pur-josh thi.

Kharamaa kharamaa chalte woh sahab gate tak aaye.

"Jee?"

"Main district court se aayi hoon—Zumar Yousuf. Mrs. Yasmeen se milna hai."

Unhone baahir jhaanka.

"Kis silsile mein?"

"Agar aap agle ek second mein mujhe izzat se andar na le gaye, toh main yeh court order (khaaki lifaafa upar uthaya) wapas bhej kar judge ke paas chali jaungi, aur kahungi ke aap ne court ka hukm maanne se inkaar kar diya hai. Kal aap ko Justice Siddiqui ke paas haazir hona padeg —tauheen-e-adalat ke zimme mein! Aur ab? Darwaza khol rahe hain ya main jaaun?"

Sahab ki aankhein poori khul gayin. Albata darwaza unhone phir bhi qadray tazabzub se khola.

Andar baithak numa drawing room tha, jo baahir ke darwaze se laga hua tha.

Zumar ne paaydaan (doormat) par jootay utaare, kyunki andar naram qaleen tha. Phir apne jootay haath mein uthaye aur chalti andar aayi. Tang par tang rakh kar single sofa par baithi.

Haneen bhi aane lagi, phir uski nigah drawing room ki deewar par lagi shield par pari.

Usne ruk kar paaydaan par apne jootay utaare aur phir Zumar ke qareeb doosray sofa par baith gayi.

"Mere paas sirf 15 minute hain. Mrs. Yasmeen ko bulayein."

Zumar ne ghadi dekhte hue sipaat lehje mein kaha.

Sahab foran andar chale gaye.

Mrs. Yasmeen jaldi hi unke hamarah aayi.

Zumar ko dekh kar kuchh uljhi huyi. istiqbaali muskurahat ke saath "Salaam" kiya aur baithte hi Haneen pe nazar pari, jo unki aamad pe khadi ho gayi thi. To chinki, Woh phir se Zumar ko dekhne lagi.

"Yeh meri bhateeji hai."

Zumar ne sardi se unhein dekhte hue kaha.

Madam ne abke zara sanjeedgi se Haneen ko ghoor kar dekha.

Haneen ghutne milakar baithi thi, magar gardan waise hi tani hui thi.

"Aap kis silsile mein..?"

Magar Zumar ne unka sawal poora nahi hone diya.

Woh sahab wapas ja rahe the. Usne unko pukaara.

"Aap kidhar ja rahe hain Mahmood ur Rehman Javed sahab! Saari baat aapke samne hi hogi." Woh mutazabzib se wapas aa baithay. Biwi ko dekha, woh mushtabah nazron se Zumar ko dekh rahi thi.

"Pakistan Penal Code padha hai bhi aapne?"

"Jee!"

"Extortion ek jurm hai. Article 384 teen saal qaid ya phir jurmana ya dono. Blackmail karna bhi jurm hai. Article 387 saat saal qaid ya jurmana ya dono. Is waqt aap ye dono kar rahi hain aur bilkul bhi mujhe darmiyan mein mat tokiye ga kyunki meri bhateeji ke saath ye dono jurm karne pe aap pe saza wajib hui hai. Aap isko force kar rahi hain ke yeh aapki beti ke liye notice banaye, warna aap ise school se nikaal denge. Oh shayad aapne apne shohar ko nahi bataya?" Mahmood ur Rehman sahab achambhe se baari baari dono ko dekhte.

"Yeh sarasar jhoot hai. Aap mere hi ghar mein aakar mujh pe hi ilzaam kaise laga sakti hain?"

Zumar ne khaaki lifaafa uthaya. Kaagaz nikale sharap se samne rakhay.

"Mahmood sahab! Aap ne G-11 mein ek plot le na jaayaz qabza kar rakha hai." Ms. Yasmeen jo zabt e taish mein abhi bohot kuch bolne ka irada rakhti thi, ek dum sannate mein reh gayi. Mahmood sahab chonch kar usse dekhne lagay.

"Aap ke khilaf faisla aaya tha aur aap ne faislay par apne stay order le liye the. Aur yeh jo doosray kaagaz hain yeh main kal adalat mein jama karwaungi, jis ke baad aap ka stay order cancel ho jayega. Aage jo hoga woh aap jaante hain."

"Yeh bacchi jhoot bol rahi hai. Main ne aisa kuch nahi kiya." Woh phir se aalam e taish mein aakar bolne lage. Mahmood sahab yake baad dige kaagaz ko dekh rahe the aur rangat udti ja rahi thi.

"Kya saboot hai iske paas ki main ne aisa kaha hai?"

Apne haathon ko dekhte hue, Haneen ne sir uthaya aur iPhone ki siyah screen unke samne ki.

"Ma'am us din ki hamari staff room ki guftagu maine isme record kar li thi." Bade adab se guzarish ki. Ma'am ko ek do saanp sookh gaye. Bilkul chup ho gayi.

"Aap bilkul bhi nahi chahegi ke hum yeh guftagu principal sahiba ko sunwaen. Right?" Zumar ne saadgi se sawaal kiya. Woh dono khamosh the.

"Chai toh nahi pilawainge aap?" Agla sawaal mazeed saadgi se poocha.

"Dekhein, aapko galat fahmi hui hai. Main aapko yaqeen dilata hoon ke aiyandah wale paanch minute mein..." Woh unko haath uthakar samjhaate rahe.

"Maazrat yaqeen dahani." Mrs. Yasmeen bilkul khamosh baithi rahi.

Gaadi mein baith kar darwaza band karke, Zumar ne sochti nazron se Haneen ko dekha jo seat belt baandh rahi thi.

"Yeh phone toh tumhe Kardar sahab ne Mem se aakhri guftagu ke baad nahi diya tha?"

Haneen ne shararat se lab dehaye, nazrein uthayen.

"Phupho meri bhi ek side aisi hai jise aap nahi jaanti."

Woh haas kar car start karne lagi.

"Waise aap meri principal se bhi toh baat kar sakti thi na?" Usay abhi khayaal aaya.

"Main ne masla hal karne ka wada kiya tha, Mrs. Yasmeen ko tumhara dushman banane ka nahi."

Haneen ke lab "Oh main gol huye..." Phir muskraadi. "Thanks!"

"Tumhare Faris mamu ka aaj shaam tumhari taraf aata hoga? Woh aam taur pe weekend par aate hain na. Mujhe unse kuch baat karni thi. Isliye socha mulaqat ho jaye toh accha hai." Haneen ne buri tarah chonk kar usse dekha. Woh pur sukoon si drive kar rahi thi.

"Woh shaam mein aayenge, kaha toh tha. Aap thoda sa ghar chal kar wait kar lengi na?"

"Sure."

Haneen samne windshield ke paar dekhne lagi. Ungliyaan bhi madorti rahi. Phir zara ki zara az merkodikha. "Yahan rok dein. Pudina le loon main."

"Pudina kyun?" Woh market ke qareeb car le gayi.

"Jab chutney banayengi toh ammi ko laazmi pakode banane padenge. Samjha kare na."

Woh sabzi ki dukan ki taraf aayi aur zara out mein khadi hui ke door parking mein mojood Zumar usse na dekh paye. Jaldi se mobile par (jis mein ammi ki sim thi) call milayi.

"Mamu! Aap is waqt humare ghar aa sakte hain?"

"Nahi." Woh masroof tha.

Haneen ne phone kaan se hata kar usse ghura.

"Ammi pakode bana rahi hain."

"Main dieting pe hoon."

"Uffo phupho aayi hui hain. Unko koi zaroori baat karni hai. Aap ne nahi aana toh na aayein. Main keh deti hoon ke woh aap se phone par baat kar lein." Woh jal kar boli. Umeed thi ke ab woh foran haami bhar le ga, magar..

"Sure unke paas mera number hai, ab mein kaam karlu."

"Nahi nahi ek minute rukiye." Woh ghabra kar boli. "Main ne phupho se kaha hai ke unka paigham de chuki hoon aur aap ne haami bhar li hai. Ab mujhe jhoota sabit karna hai toh marzi hai. Bye..." Jaldi se phone band kar diya aur sabzi wale ko paise dene lagi.

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