- مٹ چھیڈو ہم اہل جنون کو...

"Mat chhedo hum ahl-e-junnon ko..."

∘❀∘

Zumar ne jab gaadi signal se tezi se guzari to batti zard thi aur uske nikalte hi woh surkh ho gayi. Usne be-ikhtiyar side mirror mein dekha. Traffic sergeant usay ishara kar raha tha. Geheri saans le kar sar jhatakte us ne car side pe ki. Engine band nahi kiya. Button dabaaya shisha neeche girta gaya. Usne sunglass upar kar ke ghungreyale balo par lagaaye aur steering par dono haath rakh kar intezaar karte nazar aane lagi.

"Bibi, aapne signal tora hai." Woh khidki tak aaya aur khurdare lehje mein bola.

"Signal mere guzarne ke baad red hua tha." Usne gardan zara uthakar be-nyazi se jawab diya.

"Nahi jee, aap ne laal batti cross ki hai, challan banta hai." Woh book ke safhe palte, mamool ke mutabiq keh raha tha.

"Aap isay sambhal kar rakhiye, Kyunke ham dono ko pata hai ke maine signal nahi to tora..."

"Batti zard thi."

"To aap ko maloom hoga ke zard ke baad bhi laal hoti hai. Aap ko nahi guzarna chahiye tha." Woh qalam khol raha tha.

"Phir aap ko bhi maloom hoga ke aap ke signal ka timer kharaab para hai." Us ne signal ki janib ishara kiya.

"To mujhe kaise pata chalega ke kitne seconds baad batti surkh honi hai?"

"Bibi! Aap bahes kyun kar rahi hain? Challan de aur jaye," Woh ukta kar bola.

Zumar ne asbaat mein gardan hilayi, chaabi ghumaayi aur car band kar di. Phir sar uthakar usay dekha.

"Main to challan nahi doongi kyunki meri galti nahi hai. Aur officer, aap mujh se unchi awaaz mein kaafi bad-tameezi se baat kar rahe hai, Is liye main yeh karungi ke main car idhar side pe lagaongi, phir District Bar phone karungi. Aadhe ghante mein yahaan bar ke numayinde aur do mukhalif media channels ke cameras honge, Aur main usi jagah par press conference karke unko bataungi kis tarah na-ehl traffic police apna timer theek karwane ki bajaye khawateen ko rok kar unse badtameezi kar rahi hai. Aur jab saara media IG traffic ko line pe le kar unki karikardagi par sawal uthayega, to woh yaqeenan sabse pehle us officer ka naam jaana chahein ge jis ne ek khatoon ko ghalat rok kar na sirf usay samat pe waqt par pohanchne se roka, Kyunke main District Prosecutor Zumar Yousuf hoon, aur agar main paanch minute bhi late hui aur usse case par zara sa bhi asar pada, to main is amal ko yaqini banaungi ke aap apni zindagi ke agle paanch saal adalat ke dhakke khate hue guzaarege. Main jin logo se rozana deal karti hoon woh qatil, chor aur rapists hote hain. Isliye meri car se haath hataiye, ja kar apni duty kare aur mujhe meri duty karne dein." Usne glasses wapas aankho par lagaaye, chaabi ghumayi aur accelerator par dabav barhaya. Officer be-ikhteyar peeche hataa aur woh zann se car aage le gayi.

"Allah in aurato ko zuban na de ya phir wakeel na banaye." Woh ghusse aur be-basi se bud-budate hue apni jagah par wapas ja raha tha.

☆☆☆

- اس شہروں نواز کے آداب دیکھنا..

"Is sheher dil nawaz ke ad'ab dekhna."

∘❀∘

"Saadi? Faris ka bhanja?" Jawahirat ne achambhe se abroo uthaye.

Nosherwa ne bezari se seb rakh diya. Uska khana haraam ho chuka tha.

"Woh har hafte Faris se milne aata hai?" Hashim gehri soch mein dooba aankho ki putliya sikude kisi ghair mar'ai nuqte ko dekh raha tha.

"Is mein koi ghair mamooli baat nahi hai."

"Magar woh mujhe bhi apne aas-paas nazar aaya hai, Ek do dafa bilkul random jagaho pe, Jahan uska koi kaam nahi tha.."

"Yeh ladka kuch gadbad hai." Hashim pehle se zyada disturb lag raha tha.

"Hashim, Mujhe is sare masle ka hal batao." Woh muztarib aur bechaini se boli.

"Mummy bhai sambhal lega nah"

Hashim ne suna hi nahi. Uska dimag tezi se kaam kar raha tha. Us ne Fiona ko awaaz di aur usay do dawat name lane ko kaha.

"Bohat arsa hua main usse nahi mila. Shayad derh saal ho gaya hai, Ab usay meri party mein aana chahiye." Woh jaise koi laya amal tarteeb de kar bola tha.

"Oh please, agar woh aayega to main party mein nahi aauga. Main usay apne ghar mein nahi bardasht kar sakta." Nosherwa ka mood bigad chuka tha. "University ke paanch saal main ne usay bardasht kiya hai. Ab aur nahi." Phir yakyak uske taa'surat badle. Woh khada ho gaya.

Jawahirat ne lounge ki simt dekha. Shahreen udhar hi aa rahi thi. Nosherwa ka chehra ek dam chamakne laga. Jawahirat ne muskurakar gehri sard nazro se baari baari dono ko dekha.

"Aap kab aayi? Mujhe pata hi nahi chala." Nosherwa ko apne rough huliye pe jaise sharmindagi hui thi.

"Bad qismati se sherry meri beti ki saalgirah hai aur uski salgirah ki tayari ke liye yeh yaqeenan early morning hi aayi hogi." Hashim muskara kar kehte hue utha aur mur kar use dekha. Woh bezari se nazar andaaz kar ke jawab diye bina Jawahirat ki taraf mutawajjh hui.

"Maine sitting arrangement final kar di hai, Aap dekh lijiye ga." Phir Nosherwa ko dekh kar takallufan muskaraayi. Hashim tab tak bahar nikal chuka tha,

"list mein do naam aur bhi add karne hain. Saadi Yousuf aur Zumar Yousuf." Jawahirat ne ussi sard muskaraahat ke saath nishandahi ki. Shahreen zara chonki.

"Saadi? Woh... Faris ka bhanja?"

"Aap usay janti hain?"

Nosherwa ko bura laga. Woh abhi tak khada tha.

"Umm Kuch zyada nahi." Woh sambhal kar be niyaz nazar aane lagi. Phir jab jaane ke liye paati toh Jawahirat ne awaaz di.

"Kya tum shaam mein aaogi?"

"Nahi" woh bahar ja chuki thi.

Jawahirat ne muskara kar Nosherwa ko dekha aur nazakat se earring pe ungli phairte hue boli, "Woh ek din mein bhi doosri dafa is ghar mein aana pasand nahi karti."

Nosherwa chonka, phir khafeef sa sar jhatka aur khada ho gaya.

"Yeh Saadi logo ka restaurant wahi haina?" Baat badalne ko usne poocha ya phir woh waqai usi nahej par soch raha tha. Jawahirat ne shane uchka kar glass labo se laga liya.

☆☆☆

-

ہوا کی زد پہ بھی دواک چراغ روشن ہیں...



"Hawa ki zad pe bhi do ik chirag roshan hai."

∘❀∘

Subah abhi taza thi aur safedi sunahre pan mein nahi badli thi. Kardars ke ghar goke nashta khatam ho chuka tha, fajr ki aayi, Shahreen wapas, Nosherwa dobara sone aur Hashim court ke liye nikal chuka tha.

Magar aksar gharo mein nashta, school, college ki tayyari abhi chal rahi thi. Is sector se darmiyani darje ke gharo mein ek woh chhoti bagiche wala ghar bhi tha jiski bairooni takhti pe Zulfiqar Yousuf (marhoom) likha tha. Ghar ke andar jao toh kamro se kamre nikalte the. Do manzila ghar chhota sa tha. Isi liye kitchen mein pakte nashte ki mehek aur dhuaa saare mein phaila tha. Ek farbahi mail khatun Paratha tawe par palat-te huye zor-zor se awaaz diye ja rahi thi.

"USAMA, HANEEN UTH JAO VAN AANE WALI HAI."

"Kya ammi mein kab ka taiyaar bhi ho chuka hoon." Ek terah baras ka larke ne narazgi se kehte huye kitchan mein jhaanka. Woh uniform mein malboos tha aur brush se gile baal sanwaar raha tha. Uske baal gehre bhoore aur ghunghriyale the. Apni Zumar phupho ki tarah.

Nudrat ne ujlat mein mudh kar use dekha. "Achha shabash... aur HANEEN kidhar hai?"

"Katto Begum abhi tak so rahi hai."

"Kitni dafa kaha hai Sam ke badi behen ko in namo se mat pukaro karo."

"Gin kar batao kitni dafa ammi?"

Isse pehle ke woh juta utarati woh bhaag chuka tha.

Ek kamre mein aakar woh ruk gaya. Wahan do palang mukhalif deewaro se lage the. Ek ki side par Usama ka bag rakha tha. Doosre par lahaf Munh tak liye woh so rahi thi.

"HANEEENN" Uske naam ko lamba khech kar pukara.

"Katto Begum uth jao." Phir gusse se uska lihaf mein dabka bazoo hilaya. andar koi jambish nahi hui. Usama ke taa'surat badle. Aankho mein shararat chamki, woh payinti (bed's bottom side) ki taraf aaya. Wahan ek noswani per lihaf se bahar tha.

Usne do ungliyo se pair ke neeche gudgudi (tickling) ki.

Per tezi se andar khencha gaya. Saath hi lihaf utar kar woh dhaari.

"BADTAMIZ ULLU MEIN TUMHE CHHODUNGI NAHI."

Jhuk kar bed ke aas paas juta talash kiya magar woh bhaag kar chokhat ke baahar chhup gaya tha. Phir kachwe ki tarah gardan andar kar ke bola, "Van aane wali hai. Aaj main tumhe chhutti nahi karne dunga, katto begum." Juta urta hua us tak aaya magar Usama uran choo ho chuka tha.

"Main chhutti kar bhi nahi rahi. Paper hai mera, Magar mazaal hai jo yeh das minute zyada sone de.." Woh munh basorti pair farsh pe maarte uthi. "Kya yar roz subah subah uthna padta hai" Phir jaise kuch yaad aaya. Ek kar raahdari mein aayi aur zor se chillaayi.

"MOTE AALOO AB AANA TUM MERE PAAS COPY PAR COVER CHADHWANE YA NOODLES BANAWANE."

Gussa nikaal kar andar aayi. Ghadi dekhi. "Oh no," wo bhaag bhag kar taiyar hone lagi. Almari kholi toh kapro ka zakhira baahar gira. Ba mushkil us dher ko haath se rok kar andar se ek suit khenchha. Dher ko wapis dhakela aur bathroom mein ghus gayi.

Bahar Aayi toh jaldi jaldi joote polish kiye kapre koi khaas istri nahi the, Saath saath ammi ki salwate (tane).

"Kitni dafa kaha hai ke raat ko kaam kar ke rakha karo. Jis din main na karu tum dono koi kaam nahi karoge." Woh raahdari ke sire par gol maiz pe nashta rakhte afratfari mein daant bhi rahi thi. "Ek mera Saadi hai, bhi mujhe tang nahi kiya. Baghair kiye har kaam karta hai."

Woh jo zameen par bethe joote polish kar rahi thi ek dum ruki. "Ammi bhai kahan hai?"

"Restaurant pe hai, Aaj kal office se chhutti le rakhi hai. Magar fazar ke baad office ka kaam le kar restaurant chala jata hai. Colony ki masjid mein fazar bhi aaj usne parhai thi. Imam sahab bimar haina aur ek tum dono ho, jis din joote nahi khaoge namaz ke liye nahi uthoge."

"Allah bhai bhi na chhutti le kar bhi kaam karna nahi chhodega." Woh joote pehn kar uthi. Yeh baat kehte hue andaaz mein fakhr dor aaya tha.

Tabhi van ka horn sunayi dene laga.

"Jao mote ja kar baitho. Uncle ko tasalli ho." Usama ne foran hidayat par amal kiya aur "Achha katto begum" kehta bahar bhaga.

Haneen ne tawajjo nahi di. Wo brush liye jaldi se Maa ke qadmo mein aa kar baithi aur gardan unchi ki. Woh uski uchi front choti banane lagi.

"Ammi dua kijiyega. Bas aaj ka paper achha ho jaye, Phir teen reh jayege jaan chhutegi." Woh sar uncha kiye hue keh rahi thi.

Woh bees ikkis saal ki dubli patli si ladki thi. Rangat gandumi thi aur naqous mamooli, khoobsurat to bilkul nahi thi magar achi lagti thi Darmiyani si.

baal siyaah aur seedhe the. Kandho se zara neeche aate aur mathe pe barabar kate the. Ammi ne front chhoti banate hue mathe wale chhod diye thay aur pichhlo ko goondh kar rubber band laga diya.

Bag uthakar dupatta kandhe par barabar kar ke bahar nikalte nikalte haneen ne ek dam mud kar Nudrat ko pukara.

"Ammi bhai ne wada kiya tha ke aaj Faris mamu riha ho kar ghar aa jayenge, Ammi! Kya woh waqai aa jayenge?" Uski awaaz mein umeed bhi thi aur aas tootne ka khauf bhi.

"Tumhare bhai ne kab apna wada poora nahi kiya?" Nudrat num aankho se muskarayi to woh bhi muskara di. Van ka horn phir baja to woh bokhla kar bahar bhagi.

Usama agli seat par uncle ke saath beta tha aur pichhli nisishto par ladkiya baithi thi. Haneen ke baithte hi van chal padhi.

Uski class fellow Rafia ne zara munh bana kar kaha, "Haneen jaldi aaya karo."

Usama ne gardan modh kar usse dekha.

"Rafia baaji ... jab aap log thirty one street mein rehte the aur aap ko ham se baad mein uncle pick karte the to hum bhi aapka isi tarah intezaar karte the"

Rafia hoth sikud kar khamosh rahi. Haneen ne fatehana nazro se usse dekha aur apna bag aage Usama ki taraf badhaya jise usne apne qadamo mein rakh liya. Rafia aur sazal ne bhi apne apne bag isi niyat se uthaye ke zara zyada aaram se baith sake. Isse pehle ke woh apne bag aage paas karti, Haneen ne baazu barha kar Usama ki gardan ki nabz mehsoos ki. Phir larkiyo ko dekhte hue excited si boli.

"Aabhi saans le raha hai. Aisa Karo tum sab apne bags de do taake bachche ka saans sahi se to band ho."

Bags aage barhate haath no zar ke war munh bana kar wapis ho gaye. Haneen ke chehre ke taa'surat badle aur woh tanbihi nazro se un sab ko dekh kar pichhe ho kar baith gayi. Usama ne gardan zara modh kar muskurahat chhupate usse dekha aur aik aankh dabayu. Haneen ne bhi besakhta andar aati muskurahat rok li.

Ghar ki murghi aur bahar ki daal mein wazeh farq tha.

☆☆☆

Islamabad me Subha ka doodhiyapan zard hokar khastha par gaya aur sooraj sawa neze pe pahuncha to saare darakht paseene mein naha gaye. Magar London mein abhi subah taza thi. Thandi si chhaya mein gharey Bilton hotel ke andar lobby mein mamool ki gehma gehmi thi.

Ek corner mein aik farbehi mail suited buted sahab ke saath aik suit mein malboos to jawaan khada tha. Wo sahab jaise kisi ka intezaar kar rahe thay. Dafatan no jawaan ne ghari dekhte hue unko mukhatib kiya.

"Conference shuru hone mein khaasa waqt hai, Doctor Ataa kyun na hum andar chal kar baithe?"

"Bas thodi der aur Khizar."

"Aapki wapsi kab hai Islamabad ki?"

"Conference attend kar ke nikal jaunga shaam ko. Tum log kab tak ho?" Magar phir Khizar ka jawab sune bina hi woh jaise dood kisi ko dekh kar shana sa sa muskaraye to Khizar ne us janib dekha.

"Aap Doctor Sara ka intezaar kar rahe the?"

"Aao tumhein milwata hoon." Woh usse liye entrance tak chale aaye. Jahan se woh chalti aa rahi thi. Woh gori, gulabi, neeli sabz aankho wali thi. Umar tees se pentis ke darmiyan magar kaafi dubli patli. Khoobsurat nahi thi, pyari thi. Muskurati to aankho ke gird lakeere parti. Baal French knot me bandh rakhe the.

Majmuyi tor par uske chehre pe ek saada aur pur khuloos sa taa'sur tha. Woh unko dekh kar shana-saai se sar kamm deti qareeb aayi. Haath mein file, folder, bag bohot kuch uthaa rakha tha.

"Sorry Dr. Ataa. Mujhe der to nahi hogayi? Betiyo ko Islamabad chhod kar aayi hoon. Aap ko pata hai na unse tafseeli baat na kar lu to mujhe tasalli nahi hoti." Bahut saada aur mazrat bhare andaaz mein boli.

"Bilkul aisa hi hai. Acha inse milo. Yeh Khizar hain. Planning Commission mein shayad tumne kabhi inko dekha ho. Aur Khizar, yeh Dr. Sara Ghazi hain. Chemical Engineer hain. Thar Coal Power Project ki Project Director hain. Process design mein PhD karne wali pehli Pakistani aur aaj ki International Energy Agency ke is seminar mein hamare mulk ki numaindagi karengi. Mukhtasar yeh ek rocket scientist hain." Baat khatam kar ke unhone fakhr se is ohdedar ke taa'surat dekhe.

"Sir, mujhe madam ke credentials sunna acha lag raha tha, warna hamari bohot achi mulaqat hai. Madam ka Planning Commission mein roz ka aana jana hai." Khizar ne jab bataya jab woh sab keh chuke, Sara ne muskara kar sara asbaat mein bulaya. Dr. Ataa behad mahsoos nazar aane lage.

"Main bado ko nahi tok-ti, warna mujhe apne credentials sunna bilkul bhi acha nahi lag raha tha." Phir Khizr ki taraf mutawajeh hui. "Aur sunaiye Khizar! Planning Commission wale theek hain?"

"Sunayegi to aap Madam... Aap logo ne International Court mein IMF ke khilaf case jeeta hai. Jitni mubarak doon, kam hai."

"Ji Khizar sahab... iska to Governor sahab ko credit jata hai jinhone apne kharch pe case ladha tha." Woh ab abroo utha kar saadgi aur khushi se keh rahi thi.

"Koi shak nahi." Dr. Ataa ne tareef ki. Phir jaise kuch yaad aane par poochhne lage. "Dr. Sara, kal hi kisi ne mujhse poocha to socha aap se maloom kar lunga, aap ke husband ke murder case ka kya bana?"

Sara ki muskurahat pheeki par gayi. Aankhon mein saaye lehraye. Usne khafeef sa sar jhatka. Planning Commission ke ohdedar ne sawaliya Dr. Ataa ko dekha.

"Waris Ghazi, NAIB officer the, Teen chaar saal pehle unka murder hua tha. Unke bhai ne hi kiya tha. Sara, kya usay saza hui?" Woh dobaara uski taraf mutawajeh hue.

"Oh, bohot afsos hua." Khizar ko jaise sharmindagi hui.

"Main nahi jaanti ke unke bhai ne qatal kiya bhi tha Dr. Ataa sab kehte thay. Shayad kiya ho, magar main is case ko follow nahi karti. Inteqam, qisas, badla in sab se kuch hasil nahi hota. Mera kul asasa meri betiya hain. Aur woh abhi bohot chhoti hain. So, main kisi aise mamle mein nahi involve hona chahti jo unki safety ko khatre mein dale. Bhari mehfil mein kisi ke dukh ka zikr chhed dena, buri niyat se ho ya achhi niyat se, dil hamesha ek tarah se hi dukhata hai." Woh bhi afsorda ho gayi thi.

"Ma'am... Aap se kuch documents maange thay maine. Aap ne kaha tha mail karwa denge magar mujhe mile nahi abhi tak." Khizar ne jaise baat badli. Woh abhi tak lobby mein khade thay aur mahaul khaas sa sogwar ho gaya tha. Lamhe bhar mein woh teenon arround se kat gaye thay. Sara zabardasti muskurai.

"I'm sorry, Khizar! Mera senior engineer chhutti pe hai kuch dino ki, main shaam mein Islamabad wapas ja rahi hoon. Jate hi usko yaad karwaugi. Woh aap ko mail kar de ga."

"Oh haan.. main poochne laga tha... Aap ka senior engineer aap ke saath saath hota hai hamesha, aaj nazar nahi aa raha."

"Woh kisi zaati kaam mein masroof hai," kehte hue uski zabardasti ki muskurahat qudrati muskaan mein badalne lagi. Khizr ne maathe ko chooā.

"Main uska naam hamesha bhool jaata hoon. Kahi yeh na ho ke main uski mail miss kardu."

"Saadi, Saadi Yusuf!" Sara ne yaad dilāya. Phir chehre pe dobara bashāshat laate hue un dono ko dekha. "Andar chalte hain. Aaj humare paas tawanai ki duniya ko dikhane aur batane ke liye bohut kuch hai." Woh keh kar aage badhi to dono uske saath ho liye. Albata Dr. Ataa abhi tak yeh mauzu chhedhne par pashimani mehsoos kar rahe thay. Aur Khizr yaad karte hue keh raha tha,

"Bilkul... Saadi Yusuf ... bohot hi competent larka hai. Main ek dafa mila tha." Woh door hote gaye aur lobby ki gehma-gehmi mein unki awaaz mein madhham padhti gayi.

☆☆☆

-گرفتہ دل تھے مگر حوصلہ نہ ہارا تھا..

"Ghirifta dil the magar hosla na hara tha"

∘❀∘

Islamabad mein dopehar tez shuao ke saath goya baras rahi thi. Aise mein sunehri roshni mein nahaye chhote bageeche wale ghar se aage main road par nikle to markaz shuru ho jaata jahan ek qataar mein dukane thi aur qataar ke kone pe aakhri dukaan mein ek chhota sa restaurant tha. Upar bade se board pe jali huroof mein likha tha.

"Foodily Everafter"

Yaqinan yeh pariyo ki kahaniyo ke ikhtitami "happily ever after" ki ishtihā angez nai shakal thi.

Restaurant ke baramde mein bichhi kursiya khali thi. Qareeb hi phoolo ka stall lagaye kam umar Pathan bacha mojood tha. Restaurant ki sadak ke samne ki deewar sheese ki thi. Jisse andar jhaanko to sab suna paddā tha. Abhi lunch time shuru nahi hua tha to siwaye waiters ke jo kaam niphtate phir rahe thay, wahan koi grahak mojood na tha.

Sab maize khaali thi. Siwaye sheesay ki deewar se lagi maiz ke. Us pe laptop rakha tha. Ek khuli file aur do Mobile, saath coffee ka mug jise wo wafqe wafqe se ghoont bhar raha tha. Jabke uski nigahen laptop screen pe jami thi.

Woh kaafi sanjeeda nazar aa raha tha. Jeans par button wali shirt jis ki aasteene peeche modh rakhi thi. Screen pe jami aankhe gehri bhuri aur purkashish thi. Rangat bohot saaf thi aur naqoosh kaafi handsome, baal piche ki taraf brush kar rakhe the. Samne se dekho to seedha lagte, piche se dekho to ghunghriyale the. Bilkul Zumar jese. Uski majmuyi shakhsiyat zehan pe ek saaf-suthra khushgawar sa taa'sur chhodti thi. Laptop ki taraf dekhte hue woh ghāye bhagaye wo ek nazar un phones pe bhi daal leta. Qareeb se guzarta waiter bhi unhi phones ko dekh raha tha.

"Saadi bhai?" Waiter ne ruk kar usse mukhatib kiya.

"Hmm?" Woh masroof sa parhta raha.

"Is mobile ka malik abhi tak nahi aaya?"

"Uske abbu ko ittila to kar di hai, aajayega." Woh parhte parhte nichla lab dabaye bola. Uski awaaz bhaari aur saaf thi. Urdu ka lehja kisi bhi ilaqai zaban ke asar mein nahi tha.

"Bada koi laparwah ladka tha itna qeemti mobile maiz pe chhod gaya. Aap na dekhte toh koi chura kar le ja chuka hota."

Saadi ke labo pe halki si muskurahat aayi. Gardan hilaye baghair sirf nigahe utha kar waiter ko dekha.

"Customer toh uske baad aaye hi nahi. Main na hota toh tum dono phir toh rahe ho. Phir kon chura kar le jata?"

Waiter jhep gaya. "Matlab gum sakta tha, gir sakta tha. Shukar aap ne dekh liya, Madam ki tarah aap bhi bohot zahanat daar hain bhai."

"Thoda sa makhhan cream soup ke liye bachaye rakho Juned!" Halki si muskurahat ke sath naram si tanweeah karta woh ab kuch type kar raha tha. Juned ghadbadha kar wahan se uth gaya.

Dafatan us ne mobile uthaya aur call milayi. Yeh uska apna mobile tha.

"Saadi Yusuf baat kar raha hoon, Thar Coal hai.... Ji...., Ji," Us ne ruk kar suna. Phir asbat mein sar hila kar bola.

"Ji, maine wo report dekh li hai. Magar jo cheez maine aap se maangi thi woh mukammal nahi hai. Main aap ko apni demand likh kar mail kar raha hoon. Agle hafte hame field pe jana hai. Tab tak..." woh dheeme magar qatai lehje mein baat karta raha tha. Itne mein bahar se phoolo wala pathan larka aakar uske samne kursi khech kar baith gaya.

"Haan Gul Khan, kaise ho?" Phone band kar ke usne phir se type karte hue us ko mukhatib kiya.

"Yaar Saadi bhai tumhare sheher ka log bada kharab hai." Bade hi bigde mood mein kehte hue taang par taang rakhe, naak se makhhi udhayi.

"Achha ab kya kar diya hai mere sheher ke logo ne?"

"Woh jo sadak ke us taraf baitha haina?" Ishare se Saadi ne us taraf dekha. Jahan door phoolo ka ek aur stall laga tha. Jisko Gul Khan se jara bara bachcha chala raha tha.

"Woh khana kharab ka bachcha humara phool churaane ke peeche hota hai."

"Achha. Tum is liye yahaan aakar baith gaye the take usay churane mein mushkil na ho?" Saadi ne samajh kar asbat mein sar hilaaya.

"Yaar Saadi bhai inzaaq na kiya karo humare saath. Woh hamari nazar ke nishane pe hai." Phir aage ho kar bola. "Bhai tumhara naam Saadi haina? Matlab pyaare Saadi kehte hain?"

"Nahi, mujhe gusse se bhi sab Saadi hi kehte hain. Saad nahi hai yeh. Saadi hi hai. Sheikh Saadi se." Woh bache ko dekhe baghair kaam karte hue keh raha tha.

"Tumhara abbu kaisa hai? Subah namaz pe nahi tha."

"Bas ab baba hamari tarah thodi hai ke pehli azaan par uth jaye." Us ne gardan akda kar kaha.

"Haan aur phir masjid mein aakar sajde mein so jaye., Dekh raha tha main tumhe aaj."

Gul Khan par Usama ban kar yad aaya. "Yaar tumhara ek aankh pichhe bhi gaya huwa hai. Kabhi toh maaf kar diya karo tum itna lamba surat parhtha hai humein neend aajati hai." Phir kuch yad aane par taa'surat badle, dilchaspi se mazid aage hua.

"Bhai tumne itna acha Quran parhna kahan se seekha?"

"Mere school ka aik qari..." woh batate batate ruka. Jaise kuch yaad aaya. Sar uthakar Juned ko pukara. "School ka order taiyar ho gaya?"

Saath hi wall clock dekha.

"Kon sa order bhai?" Juned, Sufyan dono bhagay aaye.

Saadi ne achambhay se dono ko dekha.

"Kya matlab Fahim ne nahi bataya? Kal main idhar tha jab phone aaya tha. Picnic ka order tha. Fahim ko batakar gaya tha main. " Woh kehte hi khada hua tha jaise alarm sanch raha ho kahin.

"Fahim toh bimaar tha. Aaj aaya hi nahi hai. Us ne toh koi zikar nahi kiya bhai."

"Ya Allah, do ghante tak delivery hai aur yahan kaam bhi nahi shuru hua." Woh uthte hue cheezein sameetne laga. Us ka irada bhaanp kar dono bokhla gaye.

"Bhayi! Aap rehne den. Hum kar lenge."

"Unki call maine uthayi thi. Order maine note kiya tha. Jab unhone naam poocha toh maine Saadi Yousuf banaya tha. Maine unko zuban di hai ke aaj saah peher tak order taiyar hoga toh ab woh mere bharose aayenge. So order bhi mujhe hi poora karna hai.." Qatiyat se kehta woh laptop band kar ke maze ke peeche se laga. Gul Khan ne uska cup uthakar coffee chakhi. Saadi ke khud ko dekhne par muskuraya.

"Hum pe toh paraye ghar ka pani bhi haram hai. Magar tum toh apna bhai ho." Do ghoont aur bhare. Sadi uska kandha thapthak kar reception tak aaya.

Ekdam Gul Khan "Oh khana kharaab!" kehta cup chhod kar bhaga. Un teeno ne mud kar dekha.

Sadak pe muqabil wala larka phool uthaye bhaag raha tha. Gul Khan uske peeche lapak raha tha. Ek safed gaadi qareeb aati dikhayi de rahi thi.

Saadi wapas register ki taraf mutawajeh hua magar zehan mein jaise kuch anka. Safed gaadi? Us ne tazi se gardan modi.

Woh safed Rolls-Royce thi aur us ke malik ko toh do laakho mein pehchanta tha.

"Nosherwa Kardar!" Woh be-ikhteyar glass door ke qareeb aa khada hua.

"Tu thehr toh sahi," dono larke aage peeche bhaagte sadak par aaye. Rolls-Royce ne ekdam break lagaye. Tyres chir chiraye. Dosra toh bhaag gaya tha, Gul Khan dabak kar sar pe haath rakhe sadak par baith gaya.

Gaadi ka darwaza khol kar surkh chehra liye Nosherwa tezi se bahar nikla.

"Andhe! Idiot, tumhare baap ki sadak hai? Chalne ki tameez nahi hai. Abhi meri gaadi kahin lag jati toh kaise nuqsaan poora karte? Apne maa baap ko bech kar?" Uska jaise bas nahi chal raha tha, larke ko do thappar laga de. Dress pant shirt upar bana aasteen ke waist mein malboos woh office ki tayari mein lag raha tha.

Saadi jeans ki jebon mein haath daale kadam kadam chal kar bahar aaya aur restaurant ka sabza aboor kar ke sadak ke kinare aa ruka.

"Aur agar tumhari gaadi se is bache ko chot lag jati toh tum kis ko bech kar nuqsaan poora karte?"

Nosherwa jo bigde tewaro ke sath gaadi ki taraf palat raha tha, be-ikhteyar palta. Saadi ko dekh kar ghussa jaise kam hua, magar aankho mein tapish aur qeena badh gaya. Gul Khan lapak kar Saadi ke peeche khada ho gaya.

"Achha, main samajh gaya." Nosherwa ne taish ko daba kar tanziyah muskurane ki koshish ki. "Yeh shayad tumhara main business hai. In awara larko ko chote lagwao aur phir gaadiyo ke malikaan se raqam wasool karo. Good Good. Kya yeh karne se restaurant ka kiraya poora ho jata hai?" Saadi aankhen sikude kar thande taa'surat ke saath usse dekhta raha.

"Mera asal business tum achi tarah jaante ho. Agar tumhara mood kharaab na ho toh main dohra du ke main kis project pe kaam kar raha hoon?" Nosherwa ke chehre par phir se surkhi barhne lagi. Lab bhinch kar mushkil se zabt kiya.

"Mere paas itna waqt nahi hai Saadi ke main tumhare office ki roodaad sun saku. Mere paas meri aik company hai jahan jaane ke liye main tumhare isss, assistant ki wajah se late ho raha hoon." Usne hakarat se bache ki taraf ishara kiya jo Saadi ke baazu ki oot se usay dekh raha tha.

"Acha tum office ja rahe ho, Very good! lekin mera geography agar durust hai toh mera restaurant tumhare ghar se office ke raste mein nahi padta. So meri chhoti his mujhe yeh batati hai ke yaqeenan tumhare ird-gird aaj kisi hawale se mera zikr hua hoga aur tum hasb-e-maqool ghusse mein be-qaboo ho kar mujhe check karne aaye ho. So ab tum dekh hi chuke ho ke main wohi Saadi hoon." Kandhay zara se uchhaka kar Saadi ne bohot aaram se kaha.

Waiters Juned, Sufyan, Gul Khan ka baap aur aik raahgheer ab jama ho kar tamasha dekh rahe the. Zabt ki shiddat se Nosherwa ki aankhe surkh hone lagi.

"Main achi tarah jaanta hoon tum kaun ho"

"Main bhi jaanta hoon ke main kaun hoon. Main aik yateemi mein bara hone wala middle class larka hoon. Meri maa yeh chhota sa restaurant chalati hai aur mera ghar isse bhi chhota hai. Main England padhne bhi scholarship pe gaya tha aur maine zindagi mein woh din bhi dekhe hain jab paise na hone ke bais se humein chutni se roti khani parti thi. Aaj main aik chemical engineer hoon. Aik scientist. Aur aaj bhi meri tanakhah bohot zyada nahi hai. Apne khandan, apne ghar, apni maali haisiyat, mujhe kisi cheez ke baare mein sach sach batane se koi jhijak mehsoos nahi hoti. Main Saadi Yousuf Khan hoon aur yahan sab mujhe jaante hain."

"Kya ab tum bhare majma mein apna tarruf karwa sakte ho?"

Nosherwa ka ghussa thanda aur aankho ki tapish mazeed bharak chuki thi. Woh khamosh raha toh Saadi ne do kadam peeche hat te hue kaha.

"Agar nahi toh behtar hai ke tum apni qeemti car ko theek se drive karna seekh lo kyunki yeh pehli dafa nahi hai jab tum ghalat drive kar rahe ho. Aur agar tumhara yahi khade rehne ka irada hai toh phir gaadi aage peeche kar lo taake humare customers ko takleef na ho." Isi tarah jebo mein haath daale woh wapas palat gaya.

Chhote chhote kadam uthata woh andar aaya toh bahar Nosherwa gaadi mein baith kar usay start kar raha tha.

Gul Khan bhi uske saath andar aaya tha aur ab khaasi mazbooti se khada tha.

"Na toh Saadi bhai kitni ki hogi uski dabba gaadi jis par itna akad raha tha?"

Saadi ne halka sa muskurake usay dekha. "Zyada nahi, bas chaar saade chaar crore rupay ki."

Gul Khan ka munh mare shock ke khul gaya. Saadi aasteene fold karte hue counter tak aaya. Magar uska phone baj uthha. Number dekh kar usne tezi se call li. Advocate Khalji ka number tha.

"Ji Khalji bhai kya bana? Samat ho gayi?" Poochte hue uske chehre par lamhe bhar ko doubt aur umeed ka mila jula taa'sur ubhra. Phir jawab sun kar wo taa'sur muskurahat mein dhalta gaya.

"Really! Aap ko yaqeen hai na mamu bari ho jayenge? Okey main dua kar raha hoon!" Phone rakh kar usne foran bahar dekha. Nosherwa ki car ja chuki thi. Uski dhool tak wahan nahi thi.

Saadi ne pur-azm muskurahat ke saath door aasman ko dekha.

"Yeh khabar sunkar aapki shakl kesi hogi, mein dekhna chahta hoon Hashim bhai" aur phir amle ki taraf mud Gaya.

"C'mon boys... Hamare paas abhi do ghante hai."

❏❏❏