ㅤ

کوئی آج تک نہ سمجھ سکا یہ اصول گلشنِ زیست کا، وہی پھول نظر خزاں ہوا جسے اعتبارِ بہار تھا۔"

Koi aaj tak nah samajh saka yeh usool Gulshan-e-zist ka wohi phool nazar Khazaan hua jise aitbaar Bahaar tha.

• Gulshan-e-zist : The garden of life.

∘❀∘

Aaj bhi darwaza mery ne khola. Woh muskurayi bhi. Ghar par bhi, Nosherwan ke ghar mein ajeeb fiza chaayi thi ya shayad Saadi ko aise mehsoos ho raha tha.

Baharhaal us ne tamam socho ko zehan se nikaal kar andar aaya. Mrs. Kardar ka poochha. Woh ghar nahi thi. Chalo acha hai. Uska kal exam tha. Sheru ne abhi kaam ke liye bulaya hai, woh nipta kar jaldi se wapas pahunche ki koshish karega.

Sheru ke kamre ka darwaza kholne se pehle usne gardan modh kar dekha. Shehreen shaana andaaz mein, living room mein sofa par aatishdaan ke paas bethee thi.

Sunehri lat ungli par lapet ti woh muskurakar usse he dekh rahi thi. Fiza mein ghat lagaye jaane ka ehsaas barh gaya. Saadi ne darwaza khola. Noshirwan kursi par baitha tha. Sar utha kar dekha. Aankhein gulabi thi. Drugs se nahi ghusse se

"Khaiyat?" Tumne itni jaldi mein bulaya?" Saadi ne sarsery sa poocha. Do khada hua. Kaday tewaro se usay ghoorta samne aaya.

"Kab se jasoosi kar rahe ho meri?" Saadi ne gehri saans bahar ko khaarij ki.

"Agar tumhara ishaara mere..."

"BAKWAS MAT KARO. MAIN NE TUMHE IS LIYE NAHI BULAYA KE TUMHARI SUNOON."

"Haan, tum ne mujhe is liye bulaya hai taake mujhe beizzati kar ke ghar se nikaal sako."

"TUM HOTE KAUN HO MERI MAA KE LIYE MERI JASOOSI KARNE WALE?"

"TUM HO KAUN JO MERE DRUGS LENE KE BAARE MEIN BATATE?"

Ghusse se uske chehre ke naqsh bigad gaye.

"Main tumhara dost hota hoon."

"Tum ne mujhe meri maa ki nazro se girana chaha. Tum ne..."

"Agar giraana hota to main unko tumhare chalans ke baare mein bhi batata jo gaadi ghalat drive karne pe hua tha. Main unko tumhare us ladki Ke mangetar se maar khane ka bhi batata jisko musalsal ka zikar kar rahe thay. Aur bhi bahut kuch keh sakta tha magar maine tumhara bhala chaaha."

"OH SHUT UP!" Woh ghusse se chhillaya. "Tum mat chaaho mera bhala. Jo tumhara ehsaan tha mere upar aaj woh bhi khatam hua. Ainda main tumhari shakal bhi dekhna gawara nahi karunga."

"Main jaa raha hoon Nosherwan! Kyun ke main nahi chahta ke hum ek doosre ko aisi baatein keh dein jin pe humein pacchtana pade." Woh mazeed beizzat nahi ho sakta tha. Sheru ko cheekhta chilata chhod kar darwaza band karta bahar nikla phir thitik kar ruk gaya.

Shehreen is tumkannat se baithi usay dekh rahi thi.

"Tum us din mere brother in-law se pooch rahe thay ke main kaisi aurat hoon. Ab pata chal gaya main kaisi aurat hoon?" Haath baalo mein upar se neeche le jaate masoomiyat se poocha.

Saadi talkhi se muskuraya, nafi mein gardan hilaayi, samne aaya aur uske muqabil padi kursi ke pusht pe haath rakh ke ruko.

"Maine yeh sawal is liye nahi poocha tha ke main ne aapko porch mein aisi baatein karte suna tha jin ke khulne ka aapko dar tha. Maine yeh sawal is liye poocha tha ke main ne aapko study ki khidki ke baahar khade ho kar apni aur Mrs. Kardar ki woh baatein sunte dekha tha jin ke khulne ka mujhe koi dar nahi tha." Chhupa kar ek ek lafz ada kiya. Shehreen ki muskurahat ghaib hui. Gardan mein ubhar kar ma'doom hoti gilti dikhayi dene lagayi.

"Dosti mere nazdeek ek hi cheez hai. Wafadari aur sirf ghair mashroot wafadari. Mrs. Hashim Kardar! woh dobaara drugs lega, main dobaara uski maa ko bataunga. Kyun ke meri aap ke khandan mein aamad o raft ki wajah sirf Sheru se dosti nahi hai. Yaqeenan ab aap ko maloom ho gaya hoga ke main kaisa dost hoon." Woh keh kar mud gaya. Shehreen talmila kar usay jaate dekhte rahi.

"Idiot"

☆☆☆

Hashim aik haath mein briefcase tha aur doosre mein mobile pe kuch type karta raahdari mein chalta ja raha tha. Woh surkh chehre ke saath bufri hui si taiz taiz peeche aayi. Daayein taraf se nikal kar ghoom kar samne aakhri ho gayi. Woh ruk gaya. Nazar uthakar usay dekha.

"Yeh kya kiya aap ne?" Zumar daba daba sa garrayi thi. Usko abhi tak yakeen nahi aa raha tha.

"Kya kiya maine?" Usne zara se shaane uchkaye.

"Aap ne mujhse wada kiya tha ke aap kam se kam saza ka mutalba karenge. Aur abhi aap ne saza-e-maut ka mutalba kar diya?"

"Maine wada kiya tha? Kya saboot hai aap ke paas koi kaghaz koi signature?" Zumar ke andar jawar bhataa fatne laga.

"Aap ne mujhe zubaan di thi."

"Nahi, maine aap ko sabak diya tha ke kabhi istighasha ke saath bina tehreeri kaaghaz ke deal nahi karte." Woh pur sukoon tha. Dobara se phone pe type karne laga.

"Main... main aap ke kehne pe usko kutahrey mein le aayi aur aap ne kya kiya mere saath? Aap ko andaza hai yeh case Rana Sahib ke liye kitna ahem tha? Unki reputation ka sawaal tha."

"Aur shayad aapki mulaazmat ka bhi. Is bewakufi ke baad aap yaqinan unke chamber mein dobaara dakhil hone ki himmat nahi karengi. Agar job Recommendation ka khat chahiye ho to main likhne ko tayaar hoon." Woh mehfooz ho gaya tha.

Zumar ne kinha tuz nazron se usay dekha.

"Main kabhi thi aap Saadi ke rishtedar hain to..."

"Main jab subah saat baje ghar se nikalta hoon to saari rishtedariya peeche chhod kar aata hoon. Business is business." Uska phone bajne laha wo kan se lagata. "Hello" kehta aur aage barh gaya. Zumar mein khadi reh gayi. Hashim ne door jaate hue phone kaan se hata kar mud kar usay dekha aur zara oonchi awaaz mein kaha.

"AGLI DAFA MERE SATH DEAL KARTE WAQT DIMAG HAZIR RAKHIYEGA." aur palat gaya.

Woh bebasi bhare gusse mein kholti mukhalif simt mein agay barh gayi wo kisi ke samne nahi roya karti thi, siwaye Saadi ke. Albatta is waqt dil kar raha tha ke bhari kachehri mein zameen pay baith kar rona shuru karde.

faris udhar aaya to woh bahar siriyo par baithi thi bazahir Bazahir lagta woh kisi ki muntazir hai magar uska chehra zard riyaasat bhara sa tha. Woh aakhri seedhi ke upar se garden tirchhi karke usey dekhne laga.

"Main guzra tha to... aap theek hain?"

Zumar ne nigahen uthayi. Phir dhoop ke wajah se palkain sikud kar usey dekha. Halka sa asbat mein sar hilaaya. Aas paas abhi bhi khaasa rush tha.

"Kya woh subah aaya tha?" Zara ehtiyaat se poocha.

Woh pheeka sa muskra di "Ji. Aap ne usay kese samjhaya? Woh bohut dheema ho gaya tha. Maafi bhi maangi thi aur yeh bhi kaha ke wapas Dubai ja raha hoon. Dobara harras nahi karega." Woh abhi tak is Kaya palat par hairaan thi.

"Aur bhi kuch kaha?" Woh ghour se uske taa'suraat dekh raha tha.

"Nahi," Usne nafi mein sar hilaaya. "Is sab ka shukriya Faris!" Pheeki muskurahat bilkul ghaib ho gayi. Bujha bujha sa chehra jhuk gaya.

"Koi aur masla hai?"

"Meri job chali gayi. Chhodni to waise bhi thi, kahin aur apply kar rakha tha. Magar is tarah chhodne ka nahi socha tha." Na usne Hashim ka zikar kiya na Faris ne wajah poochhi. Dono ko yehi munaasib laga.

"Kya aap ki ammi... aap se mera zikar kiya tha pichlay hafte?" Zara thehr kar bola. Zumar ne chonk kar usay dekha. Phir na samjhi se nafi mein gardan hilayi.

"Nahi, kyun?" Aur Faris bas usay dekh kar reh gaya. Phir halka sa, nafi mein sar hilaaya.

"Yunhi. Aap ke abu se milna tha to. Mera khayal hai woh mujhe pasand nahi karti, Khair jaane dein. Apna khayal rakhiyega." Faris ne is baat ko jane diy aur Zumar ne usay...

Woh mud gaya. Jebon mein haath daale, sar jhukaaye door hota gaya. Woh neeche sar jhukaaye khaali khaali nazron se apne Hatho ko dekhti rahi.

☆☆☆

ایک نگاہ برفیلی، ایک بول پتھر سا، آدمی صرف خون بہنے سے نہیں مرتا۔

Ek nigah barfili, ek bol pathhar sa aadmi nahin marta sirf khoon behne se.

∘❀∘

Khane ki mez par roti ka kad ban dongay, salaw sab hasb-e-maamool sa tha aur do lukma todte hue keh rahi thi.

“Mein yaqeen nahin kar sakti, aha ke Saadi jis aadmi ki itni tareefain karta tha, woh itni chhoti harkat kar sakta hai.” Lukma chaba kar glass labo ka lagaya. Phir baari baari dono ko dekha. “Maine Saadi ko bhi phone kar ke keh diya, dobara apne Hashim bhai ka zikar mat karna mere saamne.”

“Usne kya kaha aage se?” Bade Abba sanjeedgi se pooch rahe the. “Wohi toh khud hairaan tha. Magar usse laga ke yeh koi ghalat fehmi hai. Maine bhi zyada israr nahin kiya. Uska dil kyun kharaab karoon apne Hashim bhai ke liye.”

Farhana ne gehri saans le kar salad ki plate uthai.

“Faris ka cousin jo hua?”

Bade Abba ne ek malamat ki nazar un par daali aur aisi bhi doosri nazar Zumar par aur sar jhatak kar khaane lagay. Zumar nawla salan mein dubo rahi thi.

“Nahi, Ammi, Faris toh bohot achha hai. Bohot decent aur mannered. Hamesha to the point baat karega. Kabhi aapko nuqsan pohanchane wali harkat nahin karega.”

Bade Abba ka nawla halkan mein atak gaya. Chonk kar Zumar ko dekha, phir Farhana ko. Unki rangat zara pheeki pad gayi. Foran, rotiya nikalne lagi.

"Yeh poori ho jayengi ya mazeed bana doon?”

“You know what, Abba."Zumar ka gussa Faris par kam ho chuka tha aur usse Faris aur uska farq wazeh nazar aa raha tha. "Sirf is liye ke main Faris ki teacher rahi hoon, usne pichle ek deirh hafte mein mujhe do teen favors ekhate diye aur ek dafa bhi nahi bataya. Yeh Saadi log aksar kehte hain ke hamara Mamu bohot gusse wale hain, magar mera khayal hai woh bohot sober hain. Aur Hashim uff..." Jharjhari le kar sar jhatk kar usne agla nawla toda.

Bade Abba ka khaana haraam ho chuka tha. Woh napkin se haath ragad kar saaf kar rahe thay. Zumar ne khaana khatam kiya aur plate ikatthi kar ke pakka le gayi toh Farhana bhi saath hi aayi. Usne fridge khola toh mithai ka tokra andar rakha tha.

“Yeh kahan se aaya Ammi?” Usne haath badha kar gulab jamun uthaya aur munh se toda.

“Hammad ke ghar se. Woh log aaj aaye thay. Humne unko haan kar di hai. Bataya tha na" Woh salan dibbo mein daalti fridge mein rakh rahi thi.

"Hmm, Acchi hai.” Gulab jamun andar tak ghul gayi. Woh haath munh dho kar zara si muskurahat ke saath apne kamre ki taraf chali gayi, Farhana baaki bartan uthane wapas aayi toh Bade Abba hanuz sar barahi kursi par baithe thay. Nazar uthakar dekha. Afsos, malamat aur ham hurt ho chuke thay.

“Aap ne Zumar se nahi poocha tha?” Woh aahista se bole.

“Puchh bhi leti aur woh maan bhi jaati, tab bhi main Nudrat ke bhai ko apni beti ka rishta na deti, Yousuf sahab kabhi bhi nahi. Nudrat chahti hai ke main jhuk kar rahoon toh aisa nahi hoga,” tez lehje mein kehti, bartan uthak pathak karne lagin.

“Aap ne Zumar se nahi poocha tha?” Woh kursi dhakel kar uth khade hue. Farhana ne fikrmandi se unhe jaate dekha.

Wo Zumar ki taraf nahi gaye thay apne kamre mein gaye thay. Unko ik gune itminan hua.

"Shukar hai, yeh maamla khatam hua. Jaise bhi sahi."

☆☆☆

رو پڑا ہوں تو کوئی بات ہی ایسی ہوگی، میں کہ واقف تھا ترے ہجر کے آداب سے بھی۔

“Ro pada hoon toh koi baat hi aisi hogi. Main keh waqif tha tere hijr ke aadaab se bhi.”

∘❀∘

Waris ne lounge mein qadam rakha. Dopehar ka andhera chaaya tha. Pankha band. Sofe par akdu baithi Haneen jo naraazi se khala mein ghoor rahi thi. Usne idhar udhar dekha.

“Garmi mein kyun baithi ho?” ehtiyaat se pukarta qareeb aaya. Gardan tedhi kar ke uske taa'surat dekhe. Usne khafgi si aankhein uthayi.

“Bijli nahi hai. Ek se do jaati hai. Phir shaam ko chaar se paanch jayegi.” Waris haas para.

“Pakistan ka koi dimaagh aisa nahi hai jis mein bijli ki aamad-o-raft ka hisaab na ho.” Haneen nahi hasi. Issi tarah samne dekhti rahi. Woh muqabil sofe par baitha aur sanjeedgi se use dekha.

“Abhi phupho aayi thi. Tailor ke paas kuch kapde dene ke liye, maine bhi aaj unko koi mood nahi diya. Sochti toh hongi lekin yeh naaraaz hai. Unki muskurahat bhi simat gayi. Shayad hairaan thin. Whatever!”

Aur woh hairaan nahi thi bas zara pheekhi pad gayi thi. Bhool kar jaane waali chaabiyan Haneen uthaa to laayi, muskurayi bhi, magar woh pichlay dino ki be takallufi wala shikaf phir se bhar chuka tha. Faasla phir se aa gaya tha.

“Aur tum ne yeh kyun kiya?”

“Aap ko nahi maloom? Unhone Mamu ke rishte se inkaar kar diya.”

“Toh?”

“Toh?” Haneen ne taajub se use dekha. “Aap ko afsos nahi hua?”

“Mere afsos se kya hota hai? Yeh har insaan ka haq hai. Unhone kuch soch kar faisla kiya hoga.”

“Aap jo bhi kahen, main unse bilkul, bilkul bhi ab mohabbat nahi karti. Na kabhi karungi.” Woh be-basi bhari tes se Waris ko dekh kar boli. Woh labon pe mutthi rakhe, khamoshi se sunta gaya.

“Mujhe Abu se bhi mohabbat nahi hai. Woh humein us waqt chhod kar chale gaye jab humein unki zarurat thi. Unko chahiye tha woh sadak par ehtiyaat se chalein. Unko humara sochna chahiye tha.” Woh sar jhuka kar keh rahi thi aur uski awaaz mein nami thi.

“Main phupho ko jab bhi dekhti thi mujhe unmein Abu nazar aate thay. Mujhe lagta tha hum bhi dost nahi ban sakte. Main aur phupho kabhi bhi nahi. Agar wo mere qareeb aaye toh woh mujh se chhin jayengi. Magar pichlay kuch dino mein mujhe lagne laga ke aisa nahi hoga. Phir aisa hi ho gaya. Ab mera koi bhi friend nahi hai. Main dobara kabhi unke paas koi bhi Masla le kar nahi jaungi.” Sar jhukaaye uske aansu tap tap gir rahe thay.

“Faris ke rishte ko inkaar karne ka yeh matlab nahi hai ke woh tumse kam mohabbat karne lagi hain.”

“Aap jo bhi kahe, Hum kabhi dost nahi ban sakte.”

“Achha. Kahin baahar chal kar kuch khate hain.” Woh chaabi uthaa ta uth khada hua.

“Mujhe nahi khana kuch,” ghusse se sar jhatka. Hanuz naaraaz thi shayad saari duniya se.

"Chalo Khair, Main Toh Chaah Raha Tha Ke Is Bolan Restaurant Mein Ja Kar Mutton Karahi Banwate Hain (Haneen ne jhatke se geela chehra uthaya) Saath Mein Tandoor Wali Roti, Salad, Magar Khair, Chhodo tum Ne Toh Kuch Nahin Khana."

"Mutton Karahi Kuch Mein Nahin Aati, Achha," Jaldi Jaldi chehra Ragarhti Woh Peero Mein Chappal ghasit ti, Uth Kar Andar Bhaagi. Saath Hi Aawazs Bhi De Rahi Thi.

"AMI, AMI MAMU KEH RAHE HAIN hum khane pe baahir.."

Woh muskurakar car start karne baahar nikal gaya.

☆☆☆

یہ خوابوں کی بستی ہے، ذرا دیکھ کر چل بسی... یہاں کا ہر شخص بڑے پیار سے دَستا ہے۔

Yeh Sapno Ki Basti Hai, Zara Dekh Kar Chal basi... Yahaan Ka Har Shaks Bade Pyaar Se Dasta Hai.

∘❀∘

Airport se ghar tak saara raasta dono khamosh rahi thi. Jab kaar Kardar Qasr ke saamne ruki toh Jawahirat ne driver ko mukhatib kiya. "Tum baahar jao."

Shehreen ne jo utarne ki tayyari mein thi, chonk kar use dekha. Sunglasses oopar kar ke baalo par lagaaye. Driver chal gaya toh Jawahirat ne muskurakar gardan uski taraf mori.

"Agli dafa, Nosherwan ko mujh pe shak karwane ya mere contacts ke khilaaf bharne se pehle ek sau ek dafa sochna. Kyunki yeh aakhri moka hai jab maine nazarandaz kiya hai woh bhi sirf is liye ke tum do ek saal se zyada is ghar mein tikti mujhe nazar nahi aari ho. To ye mukhtasir waqt mein tumhare liye na khushgawar nahi banaugi na tum mere liye banana. Main chahti toh Hashim ko bata deti ke tum apni khaala ke ghar itna kyun jaati ho. Magar main apne bete ki mukhtasir si shadi shuda zindagi khatam nahi karna chahti. Is liye nahi bataungi ke tumhari khaala ke bete ke zikar pe tumhara rang kis tarah safed padta hai, jaise abhi pad raha hai. Clear?"

Muskurakar thande baraf se leheje mein keh kar woh darwaze ki taraf murhi. Shehreen ne thook nigla phir gardan taan kar kehne ki koshish ki, "Hashim jaanta hai woh mera dost tha."

"Bilkul, Hashim yahi jaanta hai ke woh tumhara dost tha, Sherry.." muskurakar kehti hui baahar nikal gayi. Shahreen ne aankhein band kar ke kholi.

"Botox ki maari budhiya.." aur khud bhi muskurahat chehre pe laate hue baahar aa gayi.

☆☆☆

بے اعتبار شخص تھا، وہ وار کر گیا لیکن میرے شعور کو بیدار کر گیا۔

Be-aitbaar shakhs tha. Woh war kar gaya lekin mere shaoor ko be-daar kar gaya.

∘❀∘

Kachehri mein mamool ki chehal pehal thi. Hashim ne mobile par baat karte hue is office ka darwaza khola aur andar aaya. Aas paas ki mezo ko nazarandaz karta aakhri desk ki taraf barh gaya.

"Haan, tum mujhe kaam khatam kar ke ittila kar do. Do ghante tak. Lazmi." Mobile band kar ke kursi kheench kar saamne dekha. Aur ruk gaya.

Woh kursi pe tek lagaye baithi muskurakar use dekh rahi thi. Ghungryaale baal joode mein bandhe thay. Sirf aik lat gaal ko choo rahi thi. Hashim ki nazrein be-ikhtiyaar mez par rakhi name plate pe jhuki.

"Main taa'ruf khud hi karwa deti hoon. Public District Prosecutor Zumar Yousuf Khan. Do hafte pehle meri taqreer hui hai. Aur shayad aik mahina pehle aap se aakhri mulaqat hui thi. Bhoole toh nahi honge aap mujhe?"

Hashim be-ikhtiyaar nahi diya. Haste haste nafi mein sar hila diya aur bohot mehfooz hone wale andaaz mein use dekha.

"Yani meri wajah se aap koi nayi job mil gayi? Good!"

"Toh phir kis case ke silsile mein aap aaye hain, Kardar Sahab?" Woh muskurate hue keh kar haath mila kar mez par rakhe aage hui.

"Mera khayal hai mustaqbil mein humein bohot se cases yahin baith kar tay karne honge. Is liye kyun na pehle aap mujhe achhi si chai pilwaye, baghair sugar ke." Wo abhi tak lutf andoz ho raha tha. Zumar sard sa muskurayi.

"Sure! Mere desk par chai ka samaan har waqt maujood hota hai. Aapko ab yahan khud chai banane ki aadat dalni hogi, magar ainda ke liye. Kyunki pehli chai main aap ke liye bana dungi, baghair sugar ke." Keh kar woh uthi aur kettle uthali. Hashim kohni kursi ke hatthe pe rakhe gardan uthakar use chai banate dekh raha tha.

"Ab case pe baat kar lete hain, Kardar Sahab!" Cup uske saamne rakhte hue Zumar ne chini dan se do chamach nikale. usko dikha kar chai me undhele aur chamach rakh diye. Phir kursi pe, aa bethi aur boli, "Yaqeen kijiye, mera dimagh aaj bilkul haazir hai." Hashim phir se hans diya, dil hi dil mein tilmalate hue.

Paanch saal baad bhi woh isi tarah buffet table ke saathke saath khada haans kar kisi se baat kar raha tha. Aur bekhyaali mein usse dekhte Zumar zara chonki. Ird gird shaadi ka function jo maazi ki dhool mein dhundhla ho gaya tha ab wazeh hone laga.

Usne ek haath se kanpatti masli aur karb se aankhein band ki. Haneen meetha lene ja chuki thi, magar jo kadwa keh kar gayi thi, uska asar ab bhi taza tha. Yeh rishta kab manga gaya, kab inkaar hua, usse yeh nahi maloom tha, magar ek baat saaf nazar aane lagi thi.

Woh jo chaar saal se yeh sochti rahi ke Faris ne uske saath aisa kyun kiya, toh iska jawab mil gaya tha. Usne inteqam liya tha. Thukraaye jaane ka inteqam.

"Main tumhein sirf ek goli maarunga dil mein, yehhi kaha tha usne." Usse sab yaad tha. Intikam tha toh intikam hi sahi.

"Main tumhe ek goli maarunga, Zumar, sirf ek goli."

Ek mez par pohnch kar usne mobile pe call mila kar usse kaan se lagaya.

"Basirhat Sahab! Sorry, main aapko ghalat waqt pe tang kar rahi hoon. Mujhe ek case file chahiye."

"Ji..."

"Public records ke ilawa bhi ho kuch aap ke paas, us case se mutaliq,"

"Ji sara box bhejwa dijiyega. Main apne mulaazim ko bhejti hoon aap ki taraf."

Woh pooch rahe thay ke usse kaunsa case chahiye. Zumar ne gehri saans li. Door khade Kiran aur Hamad ko apne judwan bachon aur dulha dulhan ke saath muskurate dekh kar photo utwarte dekha aur boli toh awaaz yakh tandhi thi.

"Sarkar banam Faris Ghazi."

Usne phone band kiya aur saamne dekhne lagi. Chehra ab sapaat tha aur dimaagh thoda mujtama tha.

Door Haneen sweet dish table par plate mein kuch nikaal rahi thi. Kin akhiyon se do qareeb khade Hashim ko kisi se baat karte dekh rahi thi. Woh ahishta ahishta nikaalti rahi yahan tak ke Hashim ka mukhatib mud gaya toh woh us tak aayi. Woh usse dekh ke bas halka sa muskuraya.

"Mujhe aap se yeh kehna tha, ke" apne pyale mein chamach hilate aur match ko dekhte woh bhar bhar kar boli. "Ke mujhe bhi bohot afsos hai. Aap ke father ki death ka. Mujhe unke janaze pe aana chahiye tha, magar main nahi aasaki. I’m sorry Hashim Bhai!" Nigah mein uthakar usse dekha. Usne sar ke kham se taaziyat wasool ki.

"It's okay. Magar tumhe aana chahiye tha Haneen! Saadi toh aaya tha. Us waqt nahi sahi, baad mein aana chahiye tha. Lekin iske baad tum logo ne humari taraf aana chhod diya bilkul." Aakhri alfaz adaa karte Hashim ke halka mein kuch atka tha. Gardan mein ubhar kar madhum hoti gilti aankhon mein chonk jane ka ehsaas. Haneen agar mutawajeh hoti toh mehsoos kar leti.

"I’m sorry!" Woh sar jhukaaye keh kar mud gayi. Wapas meethe ki jagah par aayi toh Saadi wahan khada tha.

Aahista se bola, "Hashim Bhai kya keh rahe the?" Usne udaas aankhon se usse dekha.

"Main unse maazrat kar rahi thi ke main unke walid ki wafat par nahi aa saki. Mujhe aana chahiye tha. Aur isse pehle unhone bhi maazrat ki. Unhone kaha ke unhe afsos hai." Saadi ne pyale mein chamach ulte hue takhti se sar jhatka.

"Kitna aasan hai Haneen, deir saal baad ek shaadi ki taqreer mein aakar keh dena ke mujhe afsos hai. Hmm?" Haneen ne yaasiyat se usey dekha.

"Unhe afsos hai. Waqai hai."

"Agli dafa jab woh tumhe kahen ke unhe afsos hai, toh unse kehna afsos kaafi nahi hota." Woh sanjeedgi se kehta palat le gaya. Woh ab Zumar ki table ki taraf jaa raha tha. Haneen dil musos kar rahi main khadi reh gayi.

Kya woh saari zindagi usi nuqte par khadi rahegi? Kya woh bhi phupho ki tarah kabhi aage nahi barh sakegi?

Uska zehan pal bhar ko apne ird gird se bunt gaya. Dil aur dimagh par koi dhundh si chha rahi thi. Siyaah raat mein sunehri dhundh., Uska zehan us dhund mein doobta gaya... doobta gaya.

ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾