میں زندگی کی جانب بڑھتا ہوں... لیکن زنجیریں پاؤں میں چھنک جاتی ہیں۔

Main badhta hoon zindagi ki jaanib… lekin zanjeerain paaon mein chhanak jaati hain.

∘❀∘

Raahdaari mein Saadi ke kamre ka darwaza khula nazar aa raha tha. Andar wo jaldi-jaldi tie pehn raha tha. Abhi mukammal tayar nahi hua tha, aur party shuru hone mein kam waqt reh gaya tha.

Aage chalte jao to gol maiz aati. Aur andar mur jao to lounge mein oonchi awaaz se TV chal raha tha…

Sofe par Faris taang par taang jamaaye, grey coat aur gol gale ki safed shirt mein malboos baitha tha. Meena baar-baar ghadi dekh rahi thi aur saath hi saath jewellery pehen rahi thi. Nudrat kabhi Sam aur Saadi dono ko, dono ko zor se daant kar jaldi nikalne ka keh rahi thi. Phir topo ka rukh samne bethi Haneen ki taraf tha, jo ghar ke kapdon mein khafa-khafa si baithi thi.

"Kab tayar hogi tum? Maamu kab se lene aaye baithe hain!"

Haneen ne sar jhatak kar budbada kar reh gayi, " nahi jana mujhe kisi party-waarty mein, bas itna kaha tha ki aaj shaam mujhe Alicia se koi uske hotel le jaaye, magar nahi!"

Nudrat ne use nazarandaaz kiya aur landline phone uthakar receiver kaan se lagaya. Seat ghutne par rakh, number dial kiya aur Saadi ko aawaaz di, "Saadi jaldi karo! Phupho log pahunch gaye honge!"

Faris ne chonk kar Nudrat ko dekha, "Woh log bhi mad'u hain?" Sarsari sa puncha.

Haneen ne kin aankhon se Faris ka be-ta'asur chehra dekha.

"Hmm" Nudrat ab hamsaya khatoon se phone par baat kar rahi thi, meethi aur naram lehje mein.

"Assalamu Alaikum, bhabhi, jee Main theek hoon... Aap ne subah kadhi bheji thi, main shukar hi nahi ada kar saki... Ji, aap ne itna takalluf kiya... Ek minute ." Receivers par hath rakha.

Ghusse se Haneen ko dekh kar chillayi,

"AAHISTA KARO T.V. KI AWAAZ, AAG LAGE ISE T.V. KO ME KYA KEH RAHI HOON HANEEN? MAIN EK DAFA UTH GAYI TOH JOOTE LAGA KAR HASHAR BIGAAD DENA HAI MAINE!"

Haneen ne talkhi se remote uthaya aur zor se button daba diya. Aawaaz band. Saare adaakar goonge ho gaye. Nudrat wapas naram lehje mein phone par baat karne lagi. Woh un bhooli maao mein se thi jinhe poora yaqeen hota hai ke receiver ke mouth piece par haath rakhne se doosri taraf awaaz nahi jaati.

Faris ne aankhein sukar kar Haneen ko dekha, "Tumhara mood kese behtar hoga Italian khana se?"

"Agar ab maine Italian khane ki taraf aankh utha kar bhi dekha toh mera naam Haneen nahi!" Woh kaat khaane ko doodi.

"Phir?"

"Alicia se milna hai, meri dost hai, magar sab masroof hain."

Nudrat ne baat karte-karte jhuk kar joota utaarna chaha magar sandal ke strap band the. Unko kaun khole, woh bhi is dheet aulaad ke liye! Phir wapas phone par karahi nama sunane lagi.

Faaris ne mobile nikala, call milayi.

"Waris, tum aur Saara aa rahe hona? Ok, aapa ki taraf aake in sab ko le jao. Main Haneen ko uski dost ki taraf le kar ja raha hoon."

Mobile band kar ke Husain ko dekha aur abru uthaye, "Das minute mein tayar ho kar aao, warna main ja raha hoon!"

Nudrat "Hein, Hein" karti reh gayi. Aur woh current kha kar uthi, beyakeeni Faris ko dekha.

"Magr aap party mein kyun nahi ja rahe?"

"Kyunke me tumahare saath Jaa raha hoon."

Woh foran bhagi phir ulte qadmo se wapas aayi. Faaris ke kaan ke qareeb jhuk kar maasoomiyat se poocha,

"Kya jo abhi Italian ke baare mein iraada zaahir kiya tha, woh wapas le sakti hoon?"

Faaris ne sirf ghura. Woh dono haath utha kar "Sorry sorry!" kehti andar bhaag gayi.

Jaldi-jaldi tayar hui. Aainak utaar kar contact lenses lagaye. (Uff, aankh mein daalna mushkil tha! Baar-baar phadak kar bahar nikal aate. Muskhil se dale, aadat jo nahi thi! Phupho ki shaadi ke liye khareede the.) mathe par kate baal, baki ke ird-gird pin laga kar baal khule rehne diye.

Naya purse uthaya jo teen mahine pehle England se wapsi par Saara laayi thi. Bahar aayi. Waaris aur Sara aa chuke the.

Waris ki gaadi ke qareeb Faaris aur woh khade baatein kar rahe the. Faaris bemanndi se keh raha tha,

"Tum isteefa nahi doge. Bhale aaj pehli dafa hi manga hai, magar mat dena."

Saath hi usne munh ki taraf chaabi uchhali. Usne catch ki Faaris gaadi tak aaya, front seat par baith kar sheesha khol diya. Un dono ki baaton ki awaaz pahunchne lagi.

"Main jis case ka IO hoon, us se mutaliq logon ke taluqaat hain... Fatimi se. Ilyas Fatimi mera boss hai. Mujhe lagta hai woh mujhe bech aaya hai." Waris ke chehre par bazahir sukoon tha, magar woh iztirab chhupa raha tha.

"Tum kis case ke IO ho?"

"Zahir hai, yeh main nahi bata sakta. Yeh classified information hai."

"Okay, magar..."

Nudrat aur Saadi samein bahar aa rahe the. Faris ne ruk kar pareshaani se Waaris ko dekha.

"Tum bas abhi kuch mat karna. Hum is baare mein baad mein baat karenge. Abhi mujhe likhna hai. Magar tum istifa nahi doge. Theek hai na, Waris?"

Usko tanbeeh karta woh baar-baar dohraata hua gaadi ki taraf aaya. Waris sar hila kar pheeka sa muskaraaya aur gaadi ki taraf mud gaya.

Faaris andar baitha, chaabi ghumayi, aur car reverse ki. Haneen ne dekha, uska chehra uljhan bhara tha. Woh be-had fikarmand lag raha tha.

Ek lamhe ke liye usne zehan mein dohraaya, "Ilyas Fatimi... Ilyas Fatimi."

Phir Alicia se milne ka khayaal zehan par chahta gaya. Lab aap hi aap muskurane lage.

Wo magan ki windshield dekhne lagi. Sadak ki kaali-safed dhaariyan waqfa-waqfa se gaadi ke neeche aakar gayab ho jaati. Usne ginna shuru kiya... Teen... main teen... ek, nau, das...

Aur phir se soch mein doob gayi.

☆☆☆

بنے ہیں اہلِ ہوس مدّعی بھی، منصف بھی، کسے وکیل کریں، کس سے منصفی چاہیں؟

Bane hain ahl-e-hawas mudda’i bhi, munsef bhi, Kise wakil kare, kisse mansafi chahein?

∘❀∘

Sonia ki doosri salgirah ki dawat Qasr-e-Kardar ke lawn ke bajaaye living, dining room, drawing room waghera mein manaayi gayi thi. Saare darwaze sliding the, deewaron mein ghusa diye gaye.

Ghar ka ground floor ek khula sa kamra ban gaya. Mehmaan idhar-udhar ghoom rahe the.

Shehreen daakhili darwaze par muskurate hue mehmaanon ko receive kar rahi thi. Farqi, jamni maxy mein malboos, apna iztirab chhupane ki koshish karti idhar-udhar Hashim ko dhoondhti, phir masroof ho jaati.

Seedhiyon ke upar, kamro ke aage bani railing ke saath siyah gown mein malboos, jawahirat pehne ek aurat khadi thi. Sard-mehri muskurahat ke saath Allah khatoon se baat kar rahi thi. Baal simat kar baayein kandhe par daale the.

Daf'atan Hashim Peechay Se Chalta Aaya.

Coat ka button khula tha. Lab bheenchay hue aur aankhon mein sakhti thi. Usne "mujhe apni maa chahiye, kuch dair ke liye" kehkar Jawahirat ki kohni thami aur apne saath aage le gaya. Woh qadray hairaan, qadray chonkti, saath kheenchti chali aayi.

"Hashim yeh-?"

"Shhh..." woh use study mein laya. Khawar pehle se mojood tha. Jawahirat ne tashweesh se uske muqabil kharay dekha.

"Tum theek ho, Hashim?"

"Abhi? Bilkul nahi." Baalon mein haath pher kar gehra saans liya, khud ko relax kiya. Thakan bhari nigah se maa ko dekha.

"Hum kis ke liye money laundering kar rahe hain, woh jaante hain."

Jawahiraat ka saans ruk gaya. "Tumhara baap jaanta hai?"

"Agar woh jaanta hota toh kya main yahan aapko zinda khada nazar aata?" Hashim ne sakt nigah se dekh kar kaha. Jawahirat ka saans bahal hua.

"NEB wale hamari companies ki tafteesh kar rahe the, magar unko hamari terrorist groups ke liye ki gayi money laundering ki maloomat mil gayi." Hashim ki awaaz mein sakhti thi.

"Case ke sarbaraah ne kaha hai ke investigation officer se isteefa lewa lega. Magar maloom hai woh kaun hai?"

"Kaun?" Jawahiraat ne ek tak use dekha.

"Faris ka sautela bhai, Waris."

Aage aap khud samajh sakti hain ke Dad tak meri aur aap ki in sar-garmiyon ki khabar pohanchne se koi nahi rok sakta.

Jawahirat be-sahaara si sofa par gir gayi. Sar haathon mein gira liya.

"Masla yeh hai, ma'am, ke Waris apne paas jo case files hain, woh humein nahi dega." Khawar ne kehna shuru kiya.

"Woh khud kisi bhi surat khud ko nuksaan nahi pohanchne dega. Humein Waaris ko khud check karna hoga."

Jawahiraat ne sar utha kar, gulabi padti aankhon se Hashim ko dekha.

"Toh tumne isi liye apne baap se Faaris ke bhai ko phone karwaya taake woh party mein zaroor aaye?"

"Aur abhi abhi maine dekha, woh neeche aaya bhi hai, khada hai."

"Hum teen din se usko follow kar rahe the, ma'am. Woh hostel mein rehta hai. Biwi apni maa ke saath hoti hai. Uska laptop, files sab kuch hostel ke kamre mein hota hai. Woh idhar hai aur main uske hostel ja raha hoon. Humein check karna hai ke uske paas kya kya hai, aur usne kis kis ko dikhaya hai... Woh sab."

"Aur tum mujhe yeh sab ab bata rahe ho?" Woh phat padi. Nafrat bhari nigah se dono ko dekha.

"Kyuki kal aap England se wapas aayi hain aur aaj mujhe nazar aayi hain."

Jawahirat bhar kar Hashim ke saamne khadi hui aur gurrayi.

"Tumne kaha tha, kuch nahi hoga. Sab theek ho jayega. Tum sab sambhal loge? To phir ye sab kya hai?"

"Main koi aadi mujrim nahi hoon, do saal bhi nahi hue mujhe yeh kaam karte. Mujhe nahi maloom tha ke main itni jaldi nazro mein aa jauga."

Magar Jawahirat ne nafi mein sar hilaya. Woh uski koi baat sune baghair muztarib si bole ja rahi thi...

"Hashim... Hashim, is sab ko khatam karo."

"Uska mun band karo. Kuch bhi karo, magar jaldi!"

Ek sakht nazar dono par daal kar woh bahar nikal gayi. Hashim foran Khawar ki taraf palta.

"Usko bilkul bhi maloom nahi hona chahiye ke tum uske hostel gaye ho. Uske jaane se pehle wapas aa jaana. Kyuki agar use kuch ilm ho gaya, toh woh ilqaam mein aakar aisi jung shuru karega jo main nahi chahta."

Lamhay bhar ke liye Khawar ne sar hilaya, phir Hashim ke saath bahar nikla. Dono seedhiyon ke upar railing tak aaye.

Hashim ne neeche dekha. Dakhli hisay par Shehreen mehmaanon se mil rahi thi. Saath do chhoti bachiyan bhi thi. aath saal ki judwaan, Kashmiri seb jaise gaalon wali. Sharma sharma kar maa ke peechay chhup rahi thi.

Hashim ne khamoshi se unko dekha. Gardan me gilti si ubhri, phir gayab ho gayi. Dheemi awaz mein bola:

"Waris ko hurt mat karna, Khawar! Uske bacche chhote hain."

Khawar ne asbaat mein sar hilaya aur seedhiyan utarne laga.

Dakhli darwazay tak pohancha toh Waris andar aa raha tha. Usne khawar ko roka. Khawar ruk gaya, saans bhi Goya ruk gaya.

"Main cell phone saath la sakta hoon? Mujhe zaroori calls ki fikr hai."

Mobile ki taraf ishaara kiya. Naya ta’ammul bhara lehja. Fikr se Khawar ka chehra dekhta aaya tha, magar khicha-khicha sa tha.

"Sure sir"

Sir halka jhukaya aur Khawar aage badh gaya.

Hashim gehra saans lekar khud ko compose karta, halki muskurahat liye aage aaya. Waris ko nazar-andaz kiya.

Woh tab tak chhupta tha jab tak muqabil shak mein ho. Ab jab haqeeqat khul gayi thi, woh chhup nahi sakta tha. Iqraar kar leta.

Isliye Waris se koi baat nahi ki. Seedha Sara ki taraf aaya.

Woh Zumar ke saath gup-shup mein masroof thi.

Azli sada lehje mein keh rahi thi.

"Deadh hafta reh gaya hai functions shuru hone mein. Aap kaisa mehsoos kar rahi ho?"

"Bilkul blank." Zumar ne muskurahat ke saath shaane uchkaye.

Wo maroon rang ki be-qameez pehni thi, phool daar dupatta kandhay par daala hua. Ghongriyalay baal khule hue the.

Hashim ne peechay se uske baal dekhe, phir aage aaya.

"Hello, Sara. Aur hello, DA."

Zumar ne saamne dekha, zara sa muskurayi.

"Thank you, Hashim? bohot arsay se aapne mujhse koi favour nahi manga."

"Bohot arsay se mere kisi azeez ko criminal litigation ki zaroorat hi nahi padi."

Zumar ne sar jhatak kar, juice ka glass honton se lagaya.

Hashim ne phir Sara ki taraf mutwajjeh hua.

"Aap kab aayi England se?"

"Mujhe teen maah huye hai, Hashim bhai. Ghar lene ke chakkar mein sara waqt guzar gaya. Job abhi isi maah se shuru ki hai."

Woh khushi thi.

"Toh ghar mein kab shift ho rahi ho?"

"Bas aglay hafte." Woh muskurayi. "Ab hum ek family honge."

Hashim ne muskurahat ke saath bachiyon ko dekha. Aik ke gaal naram se chhua.

"Inke naam?"

"Amal aur Noor."

Sara ne peechay chhupi Noor ko aage laane ki koshish ki, magar woh raazi nahi hui.

Hashim sirf muskurakar reh gaya.

Phir Kuch dair baad, Jawahirat ko udhar le aaya.

"Zumar, yeh meri mummy hain. Aur yeh hamari Public District Prosecutor—Zumar Yousuf."

Jawahiraat muskurakar gal se gal mila kar usse mili. Phir alag ho kar bharpoor nazar daali, jo andar tak utar gayi.

"Saadi ki aunty hoon."

Phir woh thoda faasla par kharay baray abba se milane le gayi. Waris bhi saath hi tha.

Hashim badastoor usko nazar andaz karta raha. Woh apni aadat se bar-khilaf nahi ja sakta tha.

☆☆☆

جائز تھی یا نہیں، تیرے حق میں تھی۔ کرتا تھا جو کبھی، وہ وکالت تمام شد۔

Jaaiz thi ya nahi, tere haq mein thi. karta tha jo kabhi woh waqalat tamam shud.

∘❀∘

Lift hotel ke matlooba floor par ruki. Darwaze khulay. Purzosh si Haneen aur munh mein kuch chabata hua Faris bahar niklay.

Aage kamron ki raahdari thi. Dono taraf darwazay khamosh roshniyon ke saath.

Haneen ne bade pyaar se saath chalte Faris ko dekha.

"Thank you, Mamu! Aap mujhe meri best friend se milwane laaye."

"It's okay. Toh kya karti hai tumhari friend?"

Haneen chalte chalte ruki. Qadrey chonk kar Faris ko dekha.

"Sorry?"

"Matlab, parhti hai ya job waghera?"

Alicia ke kamray ka darwaza sirf chand qadam door tha.

"Parhai toh chor di. College nahi ja saki. Tuition fees afford nahi kar sakti thi. Ab pata nahi kya karti hai."

"Aur uske parents kya karte hai?"

"Mujhe nahi pata. Magar aap kyun pooch rahe hain?"

Ab ki baar Haneen uljhi thi. Faris ab bhi sanjeedha tha.

"Tumne raste mein kaha tha tum usay teen saal se jaanti ho. Magar tumhe uski buniyadi maloomat tak nahi pata?"

"Maine kabhi poochi nahi."

Woh dobara chalne lage. Magar ab ke Faris muztarib tha. Aur Haneen abhi Kamray ke baahir aakar Faris ne kuch soch kar Haneen ko dekha.

"Main andar aana chahunga. Mujhe maloom hona chahiye ke main tumhe durust jagah laaya hoon ya nahi."

"Sure!" Haneen ne na-khushi se kaha aur dastak di.

Darwaza jaldi khula... aur khulta chala gaya.

Siyah shoulder-cut baalo aur surmai sabz aankhon wali gori si Alicia samne huyi.

Muskurahat honton pe phurti hui. Siyah pant aur safed shirt pehni thi, jiske baazu kohni tak the khule the. Kadre shararat kadre shramahat se wo Haneen se gale mili. Alag huyi usay upar se neeche tak dekha. Haneen lab dabaye muskura rahi thi.

"Tum bilkul apni video jaisi ho."

Phir usne Faris ko hello kaha aur andar aane ki daawat di.

"Yeh mere uncle." Haneen ne ta'aruf karaya.

Faris ne tikhi nazar se Alicia ko dekhta, phir idhar udhar dekhta sofe pe aa betha.

Haneen garamjoshi se baith gayi, aur dono tez tez angrezi bolne lagi.

Faris khamoshi sa betha, un dono ko Angrezi me tez tez bolte huye dekhne laga.

Raat ki munasibat se kamray ki saari zard battiyaan roshan thi.

Alicia ne is doran uth kar room service ko call ki.

Alicia ne shaisatgi se wapas baith kar poocha,

"Aur aap kya karte hain?"

"Government sector mein job." Wo baghor usko dekhta bola. "Aur aap ki job kya hai?"

Alicia zara ruki. Haneen ko dekha, phir Faris ko aur boli, "Main National Geographic ke liye kaam karti hoon. Hum ek documentary banane idhar aaye hain."

"Or National Geographic ne aapko naukri de di, halanke aap kabhi college nahi gayi?"

Alicia ke chehre par muskurahat halki pari. "Agar afford kar sakti to zaroor college jati. Magar is job ke liye degree se zyada meri qabliyat aham thi."

"Aur kya documentary bana rahi hain aap log?"

"Hum is shehar ke tareekhi maqamat ko cover karenge." Wo gardan unchi kar ke muskurahat ke saath boli.

Faris ne eyebrow uthaya. "Islamabad ke tareekhi maqamat ko?"

"That's Great, kyunki mujhe apni zindagi ke 33 saalo mein Islamabad mein koi tareekhi maqam mila hi nahi. Kya aapko Nat Geo walo ne nahi bataya ke ye shehar 60s ki daihai mein ek artificial shehar ke tor par banaya gaya tha?"

Alicia ne thook nigla. "Mera matlab tha tareekhi ahmiyat ki hamil imaratein jaise Supreme Court, Parliament, Prime Minister House waghera."

"To aap konsa camera use karti hain? Humein acha lagega agar aap humein apne cameras dikhayein." Faris ne idhar udhar dekha jaise kuch talaash kar raha ho.

Haneen bilkul chup si ho kar baari baari dono ke chehre dekh rahi thi, samajh nahi paa rahi thi ke guftagu kis simt ja rahi hai.

"Main... darasal camera work nahi karti." Alicia ki muskurahat bilkul ghaib ho gayi thi. Zara ruki aur phir rawani se boli, "Main computers mein achhi hoon. Mujhe mukhtalif companies apni websites check karne ke liye hire karti hain. Ye ek freelance job hai."

"Ye jumla mujhe aap ka pehla such maloom hua hai." Faris ke kehne pe uski rangat pheeki parti gayi.

"Aap ye keh rahe hain ke main ye sab gadh bol rahi thi?"

"Main ye keh raha hoon ke jo aap gadh rahi thi usmein bohot jhool hain."

Haneen ne purse uthaya aur uth khadi hui. Alicia aur Faris ne be-ikhtiyar use dekha.

"Baitho please," Alicia ne kaha.

"Nahi, humein party pe jaana hai. Humein der ho rahi hai. Chalein, mamu." Aur phir wo Alicia ke israr pe bhi nahi ruki. Alicia ne ek gift pack uske saath kar diya. Haneen ne khola bhi nahi. Lab bhinche, narmi se abru sukde, raahdari mein chalti gayi.

"Wo achi ladki hai, magar wo bohot kuch chhupa rahi hai. Aur ye Nat Geo wali kahani bilkul..." Faris sanjeedgi se saath chalta keh raha tha ke tabhi Haneen ghoom gayi.

"Thank you so much, Mamu! Meri best friend ke saath wo karne ka jiska aapko koi haq nahi tha!"

Ehsaas-e-touheen se uska chehra surkh hone laga.

"Main ne sirf chand sawaal kiye thay. Mujhe haq hai ke main tumhari internet friend ko check kar sakoon."

"Kya aise kiya jata hai mehmaano ke saath? Wo kitna hurt hui hogi. Is se behtar tha ke aap mujhe late hi na!"

"Wo jhoot bol rahi thi aur main uska jhoot pakar raha tha."

"Kya maine kabhi aap ki baatein pakar kar Phupho ko bataya ke wo nose pin aap ne unko bheji thi?"

Shiddat-e-jazbaat mein jo uske munh mein aaya, bolti chali gayi. Aur ehsaas hone pe ek dum chup hui. Saans tak ruk gaya. Faris ne buri tarah chonk kar usay dekha. Uski aankhon mein tajjub, be-yaqeeni, hatta ke sadma bhi tha. Wo usi tarah usay dekhta raha jab ke wo bazahir khud ko sambhale khari thi, magar andar se darr rahi thi.

"Tum kaun ho, Haneen?"

☆☆☆

ہاں، تلخیٔ ایّام ابھی اور بڑھے گی، ہاں، اہلِ ستم مشقِ ستم کرتے رہیں گے...

Haan, talkhi-e-ayyam abhi aur barhay gi, haan, ahl-e-sitam mashq-e-sitam karte rahain ge...

تلخیٔ ایّام (Talkhi-e-Ayyam) means bitterness of days or hardships of time in English. It refers to the difficulties, struggles, or sorrows one experiences over time.

اہلِ ستم (Ahl-e-Sitam) means people of oppression or oppressors in English. It refers to those who commit injustice, cruelty, or tyranny.

مشقِ ستم (Mashq-e-Sitam) means practice of oppression or habit of tyranny in English. It refers to the continuous act of inflicting cruelty or injustice.

∘❀∘

Halka halka sa music pas-manzar mein baj raha tha. Hashim glass pakray muskurata hua lounge ke us konay mein aaya jahan Zartasha khari thi.

Phone pe baar baar number mila kar, maayusi se band karti, siyaah saari mein malboos, siyaah baal, bilkul Shehreen ke andaaz mein kate huay, phone band kar ke jab gardan uthai to Hashim ko saamne khara dekha.

Wo muskara raha tha. Wo pheeka sa muskurai. Uski aankhein bari aur siyaah thi, aur rangat sunehri.

"Pareshaan ho?"

Zartasha ne asbaat mein gardan hilaai. "Faris maloom nahi kidhar reh gaye." Phir qareeb kharay Saadi ko pukara, "SAADI!"

Wo jo bante huay Zumar se kuch keh raha tha, palta aur tabedari se chalta udhar Tak aaya. "Jee?"

"Faris?"

"Haan, wo Hannah ko uski friend ke paas le gaye hain. Ammi ne mana bhi kiya tha magar..." Tabhi kisi ne Saadi ko pukara. Wo muskara kar Hashim bhai ko dekhta wapas chala gaya.

"Hannah? Oh... Saadi ki chhoti chaalaak behan." Hashim ko yaad aaya. Usne muskurate huay gehri nazar se Zartasha ke chehre ka par chhata daba daba sa ghussa dekha.

"Yani Faris ek dafa phir kisi ahem moqa se ghaib hai?"

"Ghar se party ke liye tayar ho kar nikle thay. Phir pata nahi kya hua... Wo har taqreeb pe to yun nahi karte."

"Haan, wo sirf is taqreeb pe yun karte hain jahan ye hoti hai." Dheeme se kehte Hashim ne abru se ishaara kiya.

Zartasha ne chonk kar us taraf dekha. Saadi aur Zumar Jawahirat ke saath kharay thay. Zartasha ne ulajh kar wapas Hashim ko dekha.

"Ye to Saadi ki Phupho hai."

"Aur Faris ki purani teacher bhi. Kya tum hi ne mujhe nahi bataya tha ke Zumar ke walid ne jo tumhari shadi ki dawat ki thi, us se bhi Faris thodi der baad ghaib ho gaya tha? Aur jab maine tum sab ko zumar samet invite karna chaha tha, to usne mujhse khud kaha tha ke mujhe Zumar ko nahi bulwana chahiye, sirf ghar ke kaafi log hai?"

"Toh?"

"Oh! Kya tumhain nahi maloom ke Faris ne Zumar ka rishta manga tha magar kisi wajah se inkaar ho gaya? Saadi ne ek dafa mummy ko bataya tha."

Hashim ne zara sa shanay uchkaaye. Zartasha haq daq sunti rahi.

"Maine to ye kabhi nahi suna."

"Tumhari shaadi ko huye bhi kitne din huay hain? Sirf paanch mahine!"

Zartasha ne gardan poori mod kar Zumar ko dekha. Zumar ab Sara se baat kar rahi thi. Neem rukh dikhai deta. Ghungriyale lat gaal par girti. Narm muskurahat se bharpoor. Heere ki long usi taraf thi. Zartasha ne tandahi aur gusse se wapas rukh phera.

"Okay, mujhe tumhain nahi batana chahiye tha. Mujhe yaqeen hai in dono ke darmiyan ab kuch nahi hai. Ye ek purani baat thi."

Zara wakfa de kar glass labon se lagaya phir bola, "Ye saari achi hai. Kya is designer ki hai jahan Shehrein tumhain le kar gayi thi?"

Zartasha ki aankhon mein udaasi chaayi. Gardan daayein se baayein hilaayi.

"Faris ne kaha wo afford nahi kar sakte to maine order cancel karwa diya."

"Ye kya baat hui? Payment Shehreen ke bill mein ho jati, tumne mujhe bataya hota."

"Faris ko acha na lagta. Rehne dein, Hashim bhai." Wo udaasi se rukh murd gayi

Aurangzeb Kardar guzarate huay Saadi ke paas ruke. (Zumar ko dekha tak nahi) sirf tane huay abru se sawaal kiya, "Tumhari behan nahi aayi?"

Chehra sakht aur sard mehri tha. Saadi foran wajah batane laga.

Woh "Hmm" kar ke aage barh gaya.

Saadi wapas aaya to Zumar Sara se baat kar rahi thi. Wo bore sa ho kar idhar-udhar dekhne laga. Tabhi dakhli darwaze se jaga chhod kar aati Shehreen par nazar pari. Usne bhi ek tez nazar Saadi par daali aur aage barh gayi.

Wo khamosh raha. Nausherwan England mein hi tha. Agar wo hota to shayad Saadi party mein na aata.

Lounge ke kone mein khamosh kharay dekhte Waris ka mobile baja. Usne phone nikala aur paighaam dekha. System on alert aa raha tha. Waris apni jagah munjamid ho gaya. Uska computer uske kamray mein tha aur usko paigham bhej kar bata raha tha ke koi use on kar raha hai.

Toh kya koi uske kamray mein tha?

Uska chehra safaid padta gaya. Wo Sarah ke qareeb aaya, halki si sargoshi ki,

"Main ek call karne lawn ja raha hoon. Zyada dair ho jaye to keh dena ke main kahin aage peeche hoon. Agar jaldi na aau to Faris tumhain ghar le jaye ga."

Wo hairan si mudhi. Samajh kar sir hila diya. Waris dheemi raftaar se chalta nikla, bahar aate hi uski raftaar tez ho gayi. Dil me ajeeb se khayalat aa rahe the.

Dining hall ke kone mein kharay, bazahir kisi se muskurakar baat karte Hashim ko ilm tak nahi ho saka ke wo kab wahan se nikal gaya.

Ye report use Khawar diya karta tha, aur Khawar nahi tha. Na uski koi call aayi thi.

Hashim ka ba-mushkil se chupayi bechaini barhti ja rahi thi.

☆☆☆

جینے کے فسانے رہنے دو، اب ان میں اُلجھ کر کیا لیں گے

Jeene ke fasane rehne do, ab in mein ulajh kar kya lenge.

∘❀∘

Hotel ke restaurant area mein zard roshniyo ne sehr angez maahol tari kar rakha tha.

Haneen aur Faris aamne samne baithe thay, yun ke Haneen ka sar jhuka tha. Wo ghar nahi gaye thay, seedha yahan aa gaye thay. Ab apni zubaan ki phislan par Haneen sharminda thi.

"Tumhain kaise pata chali nose pin wali baat?" Faris ne sanjeedgi magar narmi se poocha.

Haneen ne khafa khafa sa chehra uthaya, "Aap ki gaari mein dekhi thi. Mujhe kya pata tha ke aap wo Phupho ko yun bhejenge?"

"Maine yun nahi bheji thi." Faris ke maathay pe aadatan bal paday. "Saaf baat karta hoon, us waqt mujhe laga meri unse shadi ho jayegi aur wo meri likhai pehchan jayengi. Naam is liye nahi likha ke koi aur dekh kar ghalat na samajh le."

"Phir aap ne Zartasha aunty se shaadi kyun kar li?"

"Kyunki tumhari Phupho ne rishte se inkaar kar diya tha. Baat khatam. Ammi keh rahi thin Zartasha se karlo, maine kar li. Main is shaadi se khush hoon."

"Magar main khush nahi hoon. Mujhe gussa hai Phupho par ke unhone inkaar kyun kiya?"

"Unki walida ne inkaar kiya tha. Unko to maloom bhi nahi hoga."

"Main nahi maanti!"

"Whatever Hannah. Main ye sirf is liye bata raha hoon ke ye baat apne zehan se nikal do. Mera unse koi affair nahi tha. Ab unki shaadi ho rahi hai, koi bhi baat humare munh se aisi nahi nikalni jo unko hurt kare."

"Okay." Haneen ne sar mazeed jhuka liya. Faris chand lamhay khamoshi se usay dekhta raha.

"Unko kehna, ye long ab unpe suit nahi karti. Usko utaar kar koi aur pehn lain."

"Maine kaha tha, aap ki shaadi ke agle din hi kaha tha, magar wo kehti hain mujhe iski aadat ho gayi hai aur main tabdiliyo ke saath bahut dair se adjust karti hoon. So main isay pehne rakhungi."

Faris ne sar hilaya, peeche ho kar betha, juice ka glass labon se lagaya aur muskuraya. "Tumse to darna chahiye, Haneen!"

Halka sa muskara kar Haneen ne nazrein uthakar usay dekha.

"Is liye aap Alicia ki fikar na karein. Wo koi jhoot nahi bol rahi. Ab hum chalte hain, party pe bhi jana chahiye."

Wo uth gayi to Faris wallet nikalta khada ho gaya.

☆☆☆