"ہاں! جُرمِ وفا دیکھئے، کس کس پہ ہے ثابت، وہ سارے خطا کار سردار کھڑے ہیں۔"

Haan! jurm wafaa dekhiye, kis kis pe hai sabit, Woh saare khata dar sardaar khade hain.

∘❀∘

Shehreen ne darwaza khatkhaya ya phir dhakel diya.

Sheru couch pe aara tercha leta tha. Nigah pher kar bigde taa'surat ke saath usse dekha jo chokhat mein khadi thi. Bob cut sunhare baal, chonch ki tarah dono itraaf mein aage ko aate. Aankhon mein hamdardi thi.

"Mujhe afsos hai jo tumhare saath hua."

"Bohat shukriya." Usne takhti se keh kar chehra pher liya. Phir chonk kar wapas dekha. "Bhai ko toh nahi pata?"

"Main bilkul bhi un logo mein se nahi hoon jo kisi ki pusht pe uski shikayat lagate hain." Mrs. Kardar ne bata diya ho toh woh alag baat hai, "Waise?" woh ungliyan baalo mein upar se neeche laate hue soch kar kehne lagi. "Unko ek dam kaise pata chal gaya ke drugs tumhare kamre mein hi hogi?"

"Lo, mummy ke liye chehre padhna kya mushkil hai. Tumhara chehra toh aate hi padh chuki thi main, kai dafa. Main toh yeh soch kar hairaan hoon ke woh theek baithi thi study mein, phir achanak...?"

"Tumhare dost ke jaate hi, unko kya ho gaya?"

Nosherwan ne chonk kar usse dekha. "Saadi ke jaate hi?"

"Haan wohi tumhara dost, kaafi der betha Raha tumahari mummy ke sath. Achhi gupshup hai uski, tumhari mummy se. Wahan bhi uska zikar hota rehta na. Aaj bhi ka toh aane ka programme bhi nahi tha. Yeh toh hum shaam ki chai pee rahe the jab mujhe koi message aaya. Shayad usi ka tha. Toh unhone foran aane ka kaha. Shayad koi zaroori baat hogi jis se Nami ko mutala karna zaroori hoga." Bohat samajhdaar andaaz mein sir hilati woh wapas palti. Phir zara si mod kar usse dekha. Aankhein sikar kar, kaafi hamdardi thi. "Sheru , nahi nahi lagta ke tumhe apne jaison se dosti karni chahiye. Kahan tum kahan wo."

Woh aur baahar chali gayi.

Nosherwan uljha uljha sa usse jaate dekhte raha. Phir ek dum uthkar.

Shehreen ne kitchen se jhaank kar dekha. Woh kisi ke kamre ki taraf jaa raha tha. Woh pur sukoon si muskraadi. "Sheru ke dost ka dakhla toh is ghar mein band hua ke hua."

Nosherwan andar aaya. Jawahirat haath room mein thi. Mobile bed side par pada tha. Usne ehtiyat se bath room ke darwaze ko dekha aur phone uthaya aur messages kholne laga. Saadi ke naam se akka dakka message the. Woh sir jhatakta phone rakhne laga. Phir kisi khayaal ke tehat rukha.

Haath room ka darwaza ab bhi band tha. Woh phone haath mein liye chhakti screen par chand button aur dabane laga. Gmail kholi. Jawahirat ki mail... maane thi. Zara sa safha upar kiya aur reader par Saadi ka mail thread. Upar neeche tamam guftagu... Goya mukalma tha.

"Sheru kya kar raha hai aaj kal? Drugs toh nahi le raha? Kis se dosti hai? Drugs toh nahi le raha? Parhai kaisi jaa rahi hai? Drugs toh nahi le raha?" Jawahirat ke taweel sawal aur Saadi ke mukhtasar jawab, lekin jawab bhi, behar haal jawab hote hain. Jaise jaise purane message khulte gaye, uska chehra khoon simat kar muskaraahat pe aata gaya. Ab bheench gayi. Deh toliye se baal tehqiqati baahar nikle toh thithak kar reh gayi. Sheru ka laal bhabho ka chehra mobile ki light mein dehk raha tha. Woh toliya phenk kar apni aayi. Narmi se usse pukara.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?"

Usne shola baranga haath uthaya. Screen samne lehraayi. Jawahirat ne screen ko nahi dekha. Woh bechaini se uska chehra dekh rahi thi.

"Woh meri jasoosi karta tha aap ke liye?"

"Sheru , ab main dobara drugs nahi loonga. Tum ne mujhse wada kiya tha." Usne Sheru ka baazoo hamaara.

"Nahi loonga nahi loonga. Kitni dafa batau? Magar usse main nahi chhodunga." Mobile bed pe phenk diya aur baaz degsey se chhidhata. Ghusse se bahar nikal gaya.

Jawahirat ne foran phone uthaya aur Saadi ka number nikala. Call button pe haath rakha, phir ruk gayi. "Woh drugs nahi lega, yeh tasalli thi toh doston ke aapas ke maamle mein usse padne ki kya zaroorat thi? Um hmm."

Shaane zara uchka kar usne phone door daal diya.

☆☆☆

"اب نہ وہ میں ہوں، نہ تُو ہے، نہ وہ ماضی ہے فراز، جیسے دو سائے، تمنا کے سرابوں میں ملے۔"

Ab na woh main hoon, na tu hai, na woh mazi hai Faraaz jaise do saaye, tamanna ke saraabo mein mile.

∘❀∘

Garma garam pakodo ki mehek saare mein pheli thi. Zumar apne makhsoos sofa pe baithi thi. Sam uske pairon ke qareeb carpet par bula ki jod tod raha tha. Haneen kaafi purjosh hi bartan laga rahi thi. Zumar ko dekhte to sharma kar muskradeti. Woh bhi muskradeti.

Faris abhi abhi aaya tha aur sirf salaam bola tha. Salaam mein bhi waqfa diya ke Zumar ki long dekh kar woh zara sa ruk gaya, phir remote uthakar channel badalne laga. Office se aaya tha, coat tie sab fit tha.

"Yeh achhi lag rahi hai." Nudrat kitchen se idhar aayi to sofa se kuch uthate hue Zumar ki badli hui long dekhi. Haneen, ne zara buland awaaz mein tabeer ki, plate lagaayi.

"Yeh phupho ko unki kisi purani student ne gift ki hai. Saath mein ek note bhi tha. Maine bhi padha tha note. Waise... Phupho! Aap ne uski likhai nahi pehchani? Mamu lein na." Saath hi Mamu ko plate pakdaayi. Usne bina kisi taseer ke sanjeedgi se plate le kar side pe rakh di. Pakode abhi karahi mein the.

"Nahi. Itna pech work hota hai, pehchana mushkil hota hai." Zumar saadgi se Nudrat ko qadray aahista awaaz mein bata rahi thi. Nadrat dobara kitchen mein aayi to Nain saath chali aayi aur chicken callange mein khula darwaza band kar diya. Karahi mein pakode daalte hue Nudrat ne mudh kar usse dekha.

"Darwaza kyun band kiya?"

"Taake hero heroine se apne proposal par tabadla khayaal kar le aur aap darmiyan mein entry na dein."

Dhuaan lounge mein jaa raha tha. Extort chala kar aasteen modti, woh chatni banaane khadi ho gayi.

"Aaj tum us moyek computer aur Alicia ko chhod kar kitchen mein ghusi ho, hairat hai." Ammi ki shikayat nazar andaz kar ke woh sar jhukaaye muskrate hue chutney ko katne lagi.

Lounge mein TV ka shor tha ya Sam ki khud se ki jaane wali baatein.

"Mujhe aap se kuch baat karni thi, Faris!" Qadrey tazabzub se usne aaghaz kiya. Remote rakh kar rukh uski taraf kiya aur sanjeedgi se usse dekha.

"Kis silsile mein?"

"Ek case ke silsile mein."

Woh zara chonka. Usne samjha tha shayad... Uh hmm, yeh koi aur maamla tha.

"Aapko toh pata hai, baaz dafa ek wakeel istighasha mein hota hai aur aise faisle sunata hai jo doosray fareeq ke liye khushgawar nahi hote." Ruk ruk kar alfaaz adaa kiye. Faris ne sir hila kar saari baat decode ki.

"Yani aap ki wajah se kisi ko saza ho jati hai. Hmm phir?"

Wo zara der ko chup hui. "Mere ek case ka faisla isi tarah hua tha. Mujrim ka bhai usse khush nahi tha aur woh iska izhaar bhi kar raha tha."

"Yani usne aap ko dhamkiyaan waqara di hain. Hmm, aage?"

"Ahm. Jee Aap jaante hain hamare khandaan mein..."

"Aap mamla ghar tak nahi le jaana chahti, bahar hi bahar hal karna chahti hain." Is dafa fiqrha hi nahi poora hone diya. Woh gehri saans lekar ruk gayi.

"Main chahti hoon ke yeh mamla main..." Woh ruk gayi. Baat lapet kar karne ka faida nahi tha. Woh shakhs school ki teacher nahi tha jisse woh aitmad se peecha chhuda sakti thi.

"Agar main aap ke department mein iski shikayat darj karwaoon toh us shakhs ki har us minute rokne ka tareeqa kya hoga?"

"Koi masla nahi. Woh peeche ho kar baitha. Kaane ki aur gaddte hue laa parwai se shaane uchkaaye. 'Main director se baat kar loonga. Hamari van usay pick kar legi. Do chaar haath lagenge toh dimaagh durust ho jaayega uska."

Zumar ki aankhein be yaqini se phail gayi. Foran nafi mein sir hilaaya.

"Nahi, please. Main tashadud par yakeen nahi rakhti. Yeh masla baat cheet se hal ho sakta hai. Sab ke andar achayi ka asar hota hai. Humein sirf uska izhaar karne ki zarurat hoti hai."

"Aap do ghante ke liye usay mere ladko ke hawale kar dein. Saari andar ki achayi baahar aa jaayegi." Phir uske taa'surat dekh kar woh ruk gaya. Isse pehle ke woh usay yeh zikar bhool jaane ka keh deti, woh qadray narmi se bola.

"Thik hai. Bat kar lete hain phir. Main mil loonga us se."

"ard ka baat karna aur hota hai."

"Okay!" Usne sir hilaaya. Zara tasalli hui. "Woh aadmi aaj kal court aata hai, roz apeel ke chakkar mein. Agar aap subah aa jayein toh main usay dikha dugi."

"Sure! Koi aur masla?"

"Nahi bas yahi tha. Thanks!" Woh halka sa muskrayi. Faris ne ghari dekhi aur awaaz di:

"Haneen, la rahi ho ya main jau?"

"Nahi, la rahi. Aap jaye," Woh dish uthakar aati hui bade mood mein boli. Aaj woh bohot khush nazar aa rahi thi.

☆☆☆

"خالی ہاتھوں کو کبھی غور سے دیکھا ہے فراز... کس طرح لوگ لکیروں سے نکل جاتے ہیں۔"

"Khaali haatho ko kabhi ghour se dekha hai Faraz... Kis tarah log lakeeron se nikal jaate hain."

∘❀∘

Pakode khatam ho gaye. Zumar chali gayi. Ammi namaz parhne kamre mein gayi toh Faris unke paas chala gaya. Ab Haneen thi aur online.

"Mera masla hal ho gaya." Usne chehkate hue ittila di. Alicia aadatan hasi.

"Himmat ki ya zyada himmat wala dhoonda?"

"Zyada himmat wali ko dhoondh kar kuch himmat kar li. Phir khayal aane pe cellphone uthakar dikhaya.

"Yeh dekho, mujhe gift mila."

"Wow! Brand new?" Woh bhi pur-josh hi aage hokar dekhne lagi.

"Haan aur bhi bohot kuch hai. Ek ameer se uncle hain hamare ahbaab mein." Woh collar jhaad kar boli.

"Waqai? Aur woh kaun hain?"

"Mere uncle ke uncle. Yeh pechida rishtedariyaan tum nahi samjhogi. Achha, mujhe ek baat batao, tumne us travel's wali game mein.." landline phone ki ghanti pe woh badmaza hui Aage badh kar number dekha. Bade abba ke ghar se tha. Dusri ghanti par woh khamosh ho gaya. Ammi ne andar se uthaal liya hoga. Woh mutmain hi hokar baat karne lagi. Phir ek dum ruki. Jaldi se Alicia ko 'bye' kaha aur aahista se receiver uthakar kaan se laga liya.

Hassab-e-twakku badi ammi hi thi. Woh chhankti hui aankhon ke saath sunne lagi.

"Main ne toh pehle hi bata diya tha, Zumar nahi manegi. Usne toh saaf inkaar kar diya hai."

"Magar mein khud baat karke dekhun, shayad..." Nudrat ko ab bhi aas thi.

"Bhai, jab usne inkaar kar diya toh kya gunjaish reh gayi? Dekho, bura na maano agar woh usse jaanti hai. Uska kehna hai ke woh mizaj ka bohot sakht aur ghusse wala hai, wild sa. Uske saath kaise guzara karegi woh?"

Haneen ne receiver rakh diya. Uska chehra bilkul zard pad gaya tha. Barah baj gaye the aur Cinderella ki sawari jo woh udti ja rahi thi. Badsoorat kaddu me badal kar zameen bosh huyi thi.

Nudrat ko aam taur pe extension se doosra phone uthaye jaane ka pata chal jata tha ke awaaz halki ho jaati thi, lekin aaj nahi chal saka. Unhone be-basi mein samne baithay Faris ko dekha, jo baghoran ke taseer parh raha tha aur receiver cradle par daal diya.

"Inkaar kar diya?"

"Main Zumar se khud baat karungi. Woh is tarah ki baat nahi keh sakti. Woh..."

"Kis tarah ki baat? Keh dein, main bura nahi manunga."

"Yeh hi ghussa aur mizaj ki bakhti. Magar tum is baat ko ego ka masla na banana. Mujhe ek dafa mazeed..."

"Nahi, koi zarurat nahi. Inkaar ho gaya, baat khatam."

"Faris sirf ek dafa mujhe.." woh nafi mein sir hilaata uth khada ho gaya.

"Aapa banda izzat se rishta maangta hai, aur izzat se na mile toh qissa tamam. Main das saal ka tha jab mera baap fot ho gaya tha. Umar guzri hai rishtedaaro ki siyasat dekhte dekhte. Yeh sootele ka lafz jab aakar khatam hua jab hum ne ek doosre ko bujhna shuru kiya, shayad das baarah saal pehle. Warna is se pehle waris ho, aap ho ya aap logon ke rishtedaar, mein sab ke liye doosri biwi se hone wala sootele beta hi tha aur aap mein aap se koi mujhe pasand nahi karta tha. Main yeh sab aapka dil dukhane ke liye nahi keh raha. In baato ki ab koi ahmiyat nahi. Bas itna batana hoon ke main aap ke rishtedaaro mein agar shaadi karta toh izzat se karta warna nahi,. Is liye ab dobara unse baat mat ki jiye ga."

Nudrat ne aahista se sir athbaat mein hilaaya. Woh usko samajh sakti thi.

☆☆☆

"ستمگر، تم سے امیدِ کرم ہوگی جنہیں ہوگی، ہمیں تو دیکھنا یہ ہے کہ تُو ظالم کہاں تک ہے۔"

Sitamgar, tumse umeed karam hogi, jinhein hogi, humein to dekhna yeh hai ke tu zalim kahaan tak hai.

∘❀∘

AC ki hawa ne office mein khanak sa mahaul paida kar diya tha. Zumar ne baat ka aaghaaz karne se pehle tamam files ooper tale kar ke ek taraf rakh li. Phir chair pe peeche hokar baithi aur gehri saans le kar mez ki doosri taraf maujood us handsome aadmi ko dekha jo tang par tang rakh kar baitha tha, gardan zara jhukaaye, haath mein pakde mobile pe kuch type kar raha tha, gel hue baal peechay ko set kiye hue aur eyebrow itne acche. Saadi ne jo uska zikar kar kar ke tasur diya tha, woh kisi bohot khush ikhlaaq aur aajiz aadmi ka tha. Yeh aadmi isse mukhtalif tha, Zumar ko mukhtalif laga.

"Toh aap Saadi ki phupho hain?" Bina jazbaat, sard aur sapat sa poocha. Abhi tak type kar raha tha.

"Ji, Kardar Sahab!" Usne sar ko halka sa hilaaya. "Is lihaaz se mein yeh bhatee hoon ke aap kuch professional kursi ka muzahira karenge."

"Aap ke client ne mere driver ko lootne ki koshish ki, phir usse goli maar di..."

"Goli chal gayi." Usne zabt se tasweeh ki.

"Aur phir usne police ke saamne itiraaf bhi kar liya."

"Ji. Jab usne khud police ko bulaaya taake woh zakhmi driver ko hospital le ja sakein, tab usne itiraaf kar liya."

"Aap aik chor aur katil ki himayat kar rahi hain?" Hanooz gardan jhukaaye, tez tez type kar raha tha.

"Mein apne client ki himayat kar rahi hoon." Zara der ko ruki "kya ham is maamle ko settle kar sakte hai?"

"Ek dafa gor se mujhe dekhein aur bataiye kya mujhe aapki dayyat chahiye hogi?"

Zumar ne sar se paaon tak usse dekha. Hazaaro rupay ka haircut, dhai teen lakh ka suit, utni hi malait ke joote... Aur, oh ghaadi.

"professional courtesy, kardar Sahab!" Usne yaad dilaya.

Hashim ne mobile rakha aur nazar uthakar be-tasur aankhon se usse dekha.

"Bibi! Main aapko ek favor dunga. Aap apne client ko kathere mein le aaye."

"Kabhi bhi nahi."

"Aap usko kathere mein laakar judge ke samne testify karne de, Mujhe uski dayyat nahi chahiye, mujhe uski sharmindagi chahiye."

"Aap aisa kar dein toh main kam se kam saza ka mutalba karunga."

Woh chand lamhe sochti nazro se usse dekhte rahi. Wo saanjhe the.

"Kitne saal?" Hashim ke banaye gaye saal usse qubool the.

"Okay!" Usne hami bhar li. Woh utha, coat ka button band kiya, halka sa muskuraya, sar ko khum diya aur bahar nikal gaya.

Usne mobile check kiya. Faris ki koi call, koi paighaam nahi tha. Woh qadre mutazabbis si baithi rahi. Phir usne phone kiya.

"Aap ne kaha tha ke aap subah aayenge.? Main intezaar kar rahi thi."

Woh ek lamhe ko bilkul khamosh ho gaya. "Main aa raha tha." Zumar ko tasalli hui. Is aadmi ko abhi aadha ghanta pehle usne corridor ke doosre sire pe waqai Advocate Mashood ke chambers mein gum hote dekha tha. Roz hi woh aata tha. Har dafa usse guzarte guzarte koi sakht baat keh jaana, koi mayni khez ishaara... Uf! Woh tang aagayi thi.

Bahar jane ke liye darwaza khola toh us waqt Faris ne usse kholne ko haath badhaya tha. Uska haath hawa mein reh gaya. Phir usne peeche kar liya.

Ek pur soch nazar Zumar par dali. Uske chehre par use aate dekh kar itminan aaya tha. Long mazeed damkne lagi.

"Rana Sahib mera intezaar kar rahe honge. Mujhe der ho jaayegi. Aap khud usse baat kar lenge na?" Wo tasalli karna chah rahi thi. Wukla ke chambers ke aage yeh raahdari thi. Balcony numa, jis ke doosri taraf se neeche maujood market, gaadiyon ka shor, naanbai ka thela sab nazar aata tha. Woh dono wahan khade the.

"Hmm. KIdhar hai woh?" Jebo mein haath daale khada Faris ne idhar udhar gardan ghumaayi. Aaj woh jeans par round neck wali shirt mein malboos tha, jis ki aasteen kalayi se balisht bhar peeche tak aati thi. Woh apne cousin se bohot mukhtalif tha.

"Yeh Arshad Fayaz, muncho wala." Zumar ne abroo se ishaara kiya. Woh shakhs ab chamber se nikal raha tha. Faris ne chand lamhon tak goor se usay dekha. Phir bohot sukoon se Zumar ki taraf ghuma.

"Aap jaye. Main narmi se samjha doonga. Woh subah aa kar aap se maafi maange ga."

Uski aankhon mein hairat ubhri, phir fikr mandi. "Magar Faris, aap usse..."

"Don't worry. Main usay haath bhi nahi lagaunga." Haath jebon se nikaal kar utha diye. Woh zara muskuraya aur sar hilati aage badh gayi.

Faris wahan khada raha jab tak woh chali nahi gayi. Phir woh Arshad nami us shakhs ke peeche chalne laga. Wo do plazas ke beech mein rush se bhari jagah mein aage badhta jaa raha tha. Faris faasla rakh kar uske aqeeb mein tha. Jab sadak qareeb aane lagi toh woh isi tarah jibon mein haath daale, moun mein kuch chhupata teez chalne laga. Yahan tak ke uske sar pe pohanch gaya.

"Kya haal hain Arshad Sahab? Agar main sab theek hoon?"

Arshad ne chonk kar gardan modhi. Woh uske saath chal raha tha.

"Kaun?"

"Mujhe pehchaan jaoge. Itni jaldi kya hai? Aao is taraf," sadak kinare khadi deen ki taraf ishaara kiya. Arshad ne bigde tewar se usay dekha.

"O, KAUN HO TUM?"

"Aaram se bhai sahib. Is taraf aayiye. Aap se kuch hisaab kitaab karna hai."

Woh van ke qareeb thay. Arshad ne wahi se guzarkar aage jaata tha aur woh abhi kuch bakht kehne ko munh khol hi raha tha ke deen ka darwaza slide hokar khula. Dono jawan bahar nikle. Ek ne qareeb aa kar uske kandhay par bade josh se "As-Salaam-Alaikum" keh kar haath rakha. Syringe haath mein thi. Sui andar gayi. Arshad jo is uftad pe ghusse mein agle ko gatane laga tha, bilkul saakit hota gaya. Dono ne baazon se pakad kar us bejaan hotay huay wujood ko deen mein daal diya. Darwaza band kiya. Sab kuch itni phurti se hua ke aas paas kisi ne notice nahi liya.

Faris ghoom kar front seat par aabitha aur jhuk kar ek khaana khola.

"Ghazi! Chalein?" Driver no jawan ne poocha.

"Hmm!" Usne ishaara mein gardan hilaayi. Driver ne gaadi start ki. Phir usse dekha. Woh is khaane se dastaane nikaal raha tha."Yeh kyun?"

Faris ne chewing gum chabate patla sa dastana haath pe chadhaya aur peeche ko khencha.

"Zubaan ka pakka hoon. Wada kiya tha usse haath nahi lagaunga." Ab woh doosra dastana pehn raha tha. Driver no jawan ne sir jhatka diya aur staring ghumane laga.

Qareeban chaar ghante baad ek nisbatan sunsaan sadak par wohi van ruki. Darwaza slide ho kar khula. Arshad ko neeche utara gaya. Uske chehre par kisi paint ka nisaan na tha. Albatta woh safed naqab wala sa tha.

Faris ne utare baghair zara jhuk kar uska collar pakda aur uski aankhon mein dekhte hue chaba chaba kar bola.

"Tumhara chehra is liye chhoda hai taake jis ko tum aziyat de rahe the usse ilm na ho sake. Subah ja kar tum usse maafi maangoge. Aur dobara usko shakal mat dikhana apni. Aur haan agar humare drawing room ki sair ka safarnama se bataya ya dobaara usko harras karne ki koshish ki to taliban ka thappa laga dunga tumhare upar. Amreeki agli flight se le jayenge aur saari umar tumhara khandan tumhari shakal ko tarsega. Baat aayi hai khopdi mein ya nahi?" Collar ko jhatke se chhoda.

Arshad ne dono haath uthakar gehri saans li. Sar baar baar asbaat mein hilaya. Abhi woh kuch kehne ki position mein nahi tha. Faris ne ek achadti nazar us par daali, peeche hua, darwaza zor se band kiya aur van zan se aage barh gayi.

ㅤ

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❏❏❏