Teen din baad

Sara ki walida ke ghar mein sogavari chhayi hui thi. Waris ke janaze ko aaj teesra din guzar chuka tha, magar wahan pheli na-dida kafoor ki mehak aur mayyat ke ghar ki veerani barqarar thi.

Saadi andar daakhil hua to baahar baramde ki ek kursi par pair upar rakhke Haneen baithi thi. Gaal hathi pe jmaaye, ek na-dekhi nukte ko dekh rahi thi. Aansu tap tap gir rahe the.

Saadi ke dil ko kuch hua. Woh qareeb aaya.

Woh hamesha ki tarah samne dekhti rahi. Aansu girte rahe.

"Bhai, woh Mamu the, for granted. Pyaar karte the, khayal rakhte the. Sab for granted abjad tha. Hamara haq. Achhe lagte the. Izzat karti thi main unki. Theek hai, baat khatam. Magar teen din se main khud hairan hoon. Mujhe aaj pata chala hai ke main to Mamu se bohot mohabbat karti thi. Mujhe to pata hi nahi tha ke main unko itna miss karungi. Mera dil aise rakhega. Mujhe to kabhi pata hi nahi tha, bhai. Mujhe uthte-baithte Mamu ki shakl dikhai deti hai. Sote waqt aakhri khayal. Jaagte waqt pehla khayal. Waris Mamu. Bas."

Usne bheegi, ajnabi nigaho se Saadi ko dekha.

"Bas ek din chahiye... Mujhe sirf ek dafa Mamoo se dobara milna hai, aur unko batana hai ke main unse kitni mohabbat karti hoon. Sirf ek ghante ke liye."

"Bhai, kya hum sirf ek ghante ke liye bhi apni zindagiyo ko reverse nahi kar sakte?"

Woh khamoshi se dekhta raha, phir uth gaya. Dil aise ujra tha ke lagta tha aage kuch baqi hi nahi raha duniya mein.

Woh andar aaya. Kitchen mein Nudrat kursi par baithi thi. Zakia Begum door baithi aansu ponchti, tasbeeh parh rahi thi.

Saadi aa kar maa ke saath khada hua, unke kandhe par haath rakha. Nudrat ne sir utha kar surkh aankhon se use dekha.

Irdd-gird bhari rishtedaar khawateen ko yak-sar nazar andaz kiye, usse poocha.

"Saadi, log is tarteeb se kyun nahi marte jis tarah se wo paida hote hain? Yeh chhote pehle kyun mar jaate hain? Kaise wapas laun main use?"

Saadi ka dil bhar aaya. Usne maa ke kandhe se haath uthaya aur chal diya.

Andar ek kamre mein bed par Sarah baithi thi. Uski Saadi ki taraf pusht thi. Uski himmat nahi hui.

Chowkhat par ruk kar dekha, phir andar jhaanka.

Bedside table ke saath Waris ki betiyan khadi thi. Amal chupke chupke keh rahi thi.

"Mere Baba chale gaye... Ab main apne Baba ko kaise bulaungi? Ab mujhe naashta kaun karayega?"

Noor farsh par chaukdi maar kar baithi thi, ghutne par haath jamaye, gaalo pe haath rakhe. Zara sa socha, phir aankhein chamki.

Haath gaal se hata kar sir uthaya, behan ko dekha aur chehakh kar boli.

"Koi baat nahi! Hum Baba ko phone kar lenge! Woh hamara phone hamesha uthate hain!"

Amal ne udaasi se usse dekha aur nafi mein sir hila diya.

Woh samjhti thi, aur jo samjhti thi, woh chhoti behan ko nahi samjha sakti thi.

Noor uthhi aur Sara ka mobile uthakar jaldi jaldi Baba ka number milaya aur phone kaan se lagaya.

Aap ke matlooba number se jawab moosool nahi ho raha. Baraye mehrbani thodi der baad koshish karein.

"Kitni der baad karun dobara, Saadi bhai?" Usne chowkhat par khade Saadi ko pukara.

Sarah sab sun rahi thi. Apne naam par gardan mod kar dekha. Saadi sir jhuka kar aage aaya.

Woh Sara ke samne zameen par panjon ke bal baitha. Sara ne bheegi, veeran aankhon se use dekha. Uski naak aur gaal laal ho rahe the.

"Mera dil chahta hai, Saadi, main apni tamaam degrees ko kahin phek aaun. Itne saal jinke liye maine zaya kar diye... Wo saal main Waris ke saath bhi guzar sakti thi. Kya hum zindagi ko rewind nahi kar sakte? Sirf ek din ke liye... ek saal ke liye... thoda sa zyada waqt... thodi si zyada mohlat, Saadi..."

Usne aankhein band ki. Tap tap aansu chehre par ladhakne lage.

"Khala," usne jhuka sir uthaya. "Hum zaroor unke qatilon ko dhoondein ge, aur unko saza dilwaenge."

Uske dil ki yasiyat aur ujra-pan badh gaya tha.

"Kya isse Waris wapas aa jayega?"

Phir Sara ne khud hi nafi mein sir hila diya. Saadi lajawab ho gaya.

Is sawal ka jawab uske paas tab nahi tha. Ye jawab usse kai saal baad mila tha.

☆☆☆

کون گواہی دے گا اُٹھ کر، جھوٹوں کی اِس بستی میں؟ سچ کی قیمت دے سکنے کا، تم میں جُرأت ہو تو کہو۔

Kaun gawahi dega uth kar, Jhooto ki is basti mein? Sach ki qeemat de sakne ka, Tum mein jurrat ho to kaho.

∘❀∘

Balcony mein Jawahirat aur Hashim khade the. Dono muztrab, magar bazahir sukoon se, anexi ki taraf dekh rahe the, jiske baramde mein police ke chand ahlkaaron ke saath Faris khada koi clue de raha tha.

Woh musalsal bhainvein sikdue kuch keh raha tha, aur officer sun raha tha.

"Tumhe wo cheezon ko uski gaadi ke bajaye ghar mein plant karwana chahiye tha..." Jawahirat na-gawari se samne dekhti boli.

Hashim ne halka sa nafi mein sir hilaaya.

"Kyun bhool jaati hain ke uska ghar hamari chaar deewari ke andar aata hai? Kya sochega koi jab koi bahar se andar security se guzre baghair aa nahi sakta hai, to iske ghar tak kaise pohanch sakta hai? Gaadi to poore shehar mein ghoomti hai."

Magar Jawahirat ka iztirab kam nahi hua tha.

"Kya ab police use giraftar kar legi?"

"Nahi. Lekin agar usne 'khudkushi nahi, qatal.. qatal' ki ratt na chhodi, to karna padega."

Jawahirat taajjub se uski taraf ghoomi.

"To ye sab kya hai? Ye talashi waghera?"

"Sirf ek warning."

Hashim halka sa muskaraaya, pheeki muskurahat.

Jawahirat qadr-e-muztarib wapas udhar dekhne lagi jahan Faris baramde mein khada tha. Yahan tak awaaz nahi aati thi. Woh sirf uski harkaat-o-saknaat se andaza laga rahi thi.

"Jhoot bol rahi hai woh psychiatrist," Faris mushkil se zapt kar ke bola.

Police officer khamoshi se sunta raha.

"Waris na kabhi uske paas gaya tha, na woh kabhi anti-depression dawaiyan leta tha. Ye sab bakwas hai. Ye ek qatal hai, aur aap ko iski tafteesh karni hogi."

"Post-mortem report ke mutabiq..."

"Main nahi maanta is report ko. Woh mera bhai tha. Maine use masood diya hai. Uske jism par tashaddud ke nishaan the."

"Aur iski wazahat kaise karein ge aap?" Police officer ne ek shafaaf plastic bag mein rakha mobile aur ek receipt dikhai.

"Humne mobile ke call logs se aap ki gaadi tak trace kiya hai. Aur yeh rassi... yeh sab cheezein aap ki gaadi se mili hain," usne zor de kar dohraaya.

Faris ke lab hile, "To? Woh us raat idhar hi tha. Ho sakta hai usne apna mobile meri gaadi mein bhool gaya ho ya kisi ne mujhe fasane ke liye yeh sab plant kiya ho."

"To phir kya hi acha ho, Ghazi sahab, ki yeh ek khudkushi hi ho!" Police officer ne haath mein pakri file ka ek packet lehraaya.

"Kyunki agar yeh qatal nikla, toh, yeh" packet lehraya, aapke paas se baramad hua hai." uska ishaara saf tha.

Faris ne samajh jaate hi use ghurte hue asbaat mein sir hila diya. "Bilkul, yani ke main is case ko follow na karun, warna yeh mere upar daal diya jaayega. Toh phir jaayein, jo karna hai karein, kyunki main toh inhein nahi chhodunga!"

Bahar wala raasta khamoshi se dikhaya.

Police wale uska raasta chhod kar chale gaye. Faris wahan khada sochta raha. Uska gham ab ghusse ke marhale mein daakhil ho chuka tha.

---

Saadi, Sara ke kamre se bahar aaya toh usne kitchen mein ghunghriyale baalo ki jhalak dekhi. Zumar wahan khadi thi. Is waqt Nudarat ko dawa de rahi thi. Woh roz aati, phir unke saath rehti.

Saadi ko dekh kar woh nami bhari tasalli dene wale andaaz mein muskurai aur phir bahar aagai.

Woh dono saath aangan mein aaye. Wahan ab Haneen nahi thi. Zumar uski jagah baith gayi, Saadi saath khada ho gaya, mayus, shikasta, pareshaan.

"Hum, yani Faris Mamu aur main, prosecutor office gaye the, magar wahan koi bhi is case ko shuru karne ke liye tayyar nahi hai. Woh kehte hain.. Post-mortem report aur psychiatrist ki report ke baad toh bilkul bhi nahi."

Zumar ne hamdardi se use dekha. "Saadi! Kya yeh waqai khudkushi thi?"

"Zumar, yeh kaisi khudkushi thi jisme Mamu ke haath par rassi bandhne ke nishaan the? Ye qatal tha. Unki files gaayab hain. Laptop gayab hai..."

"Okay, me prosecutor Basirhat se baat karni chahiye. Woh yaqeenan yeh case..."

"Woh kyun, Zumar?" Saadi chid gaya, khafgi se uski taraf dekha. "Aap kyun nahi?"

Zumar ek dum ruk gayi. Achambhe se sar nafi mein hilaaya. "Main? Main toh chhutti pe hoon."

Saadi ka dukh gusse mein badal gaya. "Chhutti wale din hi mere mamu ka qatal hue thae!"

"Magar Saadi, dekho beta..." Woh darmi se kehti gayi. "Mujhe bohot afsos hai. Waris bhai bohot ache insaan the, bohot bozadaar aur rakha rakahaw wale. Jis din se yeh hua hai, hum sab upset hain. Magar maine itne saal baad ab break li hai, Saadi. Mere pas roz itne qatal cases aate hain, main bahut so ko bhugta chuki hoon. Yeh koi bhi doosra prosecutor le sakta hai, mera hona zaroori nahi hai."

"Humein aap par aitbaar hai... baqiyo par nahi." Saadi zidd kar raha tha.

"magar main ek haftay mein kya karloongi? Phir shadi ke waqt to mujhe lazmi chutti par jana hoga." Aur wo samajhate hue keh rahi thi, der Saadi ka dimagh bhuk se ud gaya, usne be-yaqini se Zumar ko dekha.

"A-Aap shadi kaise kar sakti hain?!"

Zumar ek dam se ruk kar usse dekhne lagi.

"Kya matlab?"

"Hamare Mamu ka qatl ho gaya aur aapko apni shadi ki padi hai?!"

Zumar uth kharhi hui, Saadi ke bilkul muqabil, wo ab bhi na-samjhi se use pesh kar rahi thi. Zumar ab samajhne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

"Saadi, meri shadi kal nahi hai. Abhi aath din hain! Aur yeh to pehle se tay tha. Card bat chuke hain, ab is tragedy ke baad koi dhoom dham nahi hogi. Shadi sadgi se hi hogi, magar Hamad ki family mein kitne log bahar se chutti le kar aaye hain, sab taiyar hai, ab cancel to nahi hoga na beta, jo hona hai woh hona hai."

"Aur hamari family, Zumar? Hum kitne toot gaye hain, hamare is gham me aap yun is tarah humein chhod kar shadi karne ja rahi hain?" Wo be-yaqeen tha aur Zumar abhi tak samajh nahi pa rahi thi ke wo kyun nahi samajh raha.

"Saadi! Ammi nahi rahi, Abba meri shadi ko lekar bohot wehmi ho gaye hain. Main 29 saal ki hoon. meri aik tyyar shadi cancel ho gayi thi. Ammi ki death ki wajah se pehle hamne yeh shaadi chhe maah aage ki. Ab dobara to aage nahi hogi na,"

"Aap itni khudgarz kaise ho sakti hain?" Wo sadme me tha.

Zumar mutrahir reh gayi, Bina palak jhapke usne Saadi ko dekha.

"Khudgarz?" Usay apni awaaz kisi khayi se aate huye sunai di.

"Main khudgarz hoon, Saadi?"

"Kya aap hamare liye yeh shadi aage nahi kar sakti?"

Magar wo abhi tak yak tik usay dekh rahi thi.

Khudgarz... Khudgarz.... Khudgarz

Phir lab bhinch liye.

"Humein kisi se sirf utni hi qurbani maangni chahiye jitni wo de sake."

"Mujhe nahi pata!" Saadi ko gussa aane laga.

"Hamare khandan mein ek qatl hua hai aur aap prosecutor hain. Kya aap hamare liye itna sa bhi nahi kar sakti? Humare ghamo ka kya, Zumar?"

"Aur meri khushiyon ka kya?" Wo bas usay dekhti reh gayi keh na saki.

Saadi gusse me aage badh gaya. Zumar ne gardan modhi kar usay jate dekha.

Ghar aayi to bade Abba kamiz ke button band karte huye aaiyne ke samne khade the. Woh kahi Jaa rahe the sari dopaher wo bhi Sara ki taraf the. Shayad aaram karke usi taraf jaa rahe the. Ammi ke jane ke baad zara kamzor ho gaye the magar mazboot rehne ki adaakari Acchi kar lete the. Use dekh kar muskaraaye. Mude.

Magar Zumar nahi muskaraayi. Na mudi.

Bade Abba ki muskurahat gayab huyi ghor se usay dekha.

"To phir, tum kitni dair ki tameed baandhogi?" Maloom tha wo kuch kehna chahti thi.

"Aap, Fazeela aunty se keh dijiye, shadi ek ya do mahine aage kar dein."

Bade Abba ke abru sukde, mazeed gir se usay dekha.

"Kyun?"

"Saadi ke Mamoon fot ho chuke the. Jawan maut hai. Kitni khudgarzi ki baat lagegi agar main..." Alfaaz bharraye, magar use rona aa raha tha.

"Khudgarzi?" Woh aage aaya, bilkul saamne. "Aur kidhar se aa rahi hain yeh baatein?"

Darwaze ki taraf dekha jahan se woh aayi thi. " Tum fotgi ke ghar se aa rahi ho. Matlab, Saadi ne kaha hai yeh sab?"

"Uffo! Usne kuch nahi kaha. Main khud keh rahi hoon. Maut ki wajah se shadi aage karni chahiye. Nahi ki to khudgarzi hogi?"

"Itna tez rad-e-amal, Zumar? Yani waqai usne yeh kaha hai? To phir bilkul khamosh ho kar meri baat suno."

Unhone haath uthakar use roka. "Agli dafa agar Saadi kahe ke shadi aage ki ja sakti hai to kehna, jab tumhari Dadi fot hui thi, tab meri tayar shadi chheh mahine aage ki gayi thi. Agar woh kahe ke rishtedaar ki maut par shadi delay ki ja sakti hai to kehna, uski Dadi ki wafat ke sirf ek mahine baad Faris ne shadi ki thi aur humne kuch nahi kaha."

"Aur agar woh kahe ke tum khudgarz ho, to use batana ke uski fees kaun de raha hai?"

"Abba?" Zumar ne tarap kar gusse se unko dekha.

"Woh sirf itna chahta hai ke main yeh case le loon!"

"Yeh tumhari marzi hai. Magar main shadi aage nahi karunga. Nudrat se bhi baat ho chuki hai, use koi aitraaz nahi. Tumhari shadi Ammi, Saadi ki wajah se nahi ho saki thi aur—"

"Woh bacha tha! Usse ghalti hui thi!"

"Woh ab bhi bacha hai. Ab bhi ghalti kar raha hai."

Phir zor dheeme huye. "Woh apni taraf se khuloos-e-niyyat se keh raha hai magar woh bacha hai. Isko in bareeqiyon ki samajh nahi. Yeh mauzoo khatam hua!"

Woh coat theek karte bahar nikal gaye.

Zumar unko dekhti reh gayi. TV par koi aurat kisi drama mein keh rahi thi.

"Sach kehte hain log. Bhanjey-bhateejey ko pyaar do ya qurbani, woh apni aulaad nahi hote."

Usne kofat se remote uthakar TV band kiya. Mobile uthaya aur call milai. Phir bola to lehja sard tha.

"Saadi, subah mujhe office mein milo. Apne Faris Mamoon ya jo bhi saath lana chahte ho, laa lo. Jo bhi material hai, mujhe bhej do. Main case ki reading kar loongi."

Aur phone band kar diya. Chehre par albata na-khushi thi.

Zumar khush nahi thi. Bilkul bhi nahi

☆☆☆

مدّعی نہ شہادت نہ حساب پاک ہوا، یہ خوں خاک نشیناں تھا، رزقِ خاک ہوا!

Mudda'i na sahadat na hisaab paak hua. Yeh khoon khak naseena tha, rizq khak hua!

∘❀∘

Saamne teen kursiyon par woh teeno the.

Bechaini sa aage jhuka hua ikkis saal ka Saadi, uske baayen taraf, taang par taang rakhe, suit mein malboos, mobile pe type karta Hashim. Teesri kursi par jeans aur gol-galey ki shirt pehne, pichhe ko ho kar betha Faris.

Hashim kyunki unse musalsal ta'awun kar raha tha aur woh ek practice karta hua wakeel tha. is liye aur khud uski peshkash par usko saath laye the, goke wo aur Faris aapas mein baat nahi kar rahe the.

"Yeh woh tasaveer hain."

"Kandhon pe nishaan, kamar pe kisi wazni cheez se maarne ke asar, sar pe chot, haath-paanv pe rassi bandhne ke nishaan." Faris aik aik cheez par ungli laga kar tasaveer usay dikha raha tha.

Zumar khamoshi se kursi ki peeth se lagi baithi thi. Uske ghunghriyale baal halke se uske chehre ke aas paas bikhar rahe the!

Baki baal Jode mein bandhe the. Laung chamak rahi thi.

"Uska boss us par isteefa dene ke liye dabaav daal raha tha. Fatimi."

Hashim ne bina kisi izhar ke seedha chehra banaye use dekha.

"Maine use isteefa dene se mana kiya tha, magar wo pareshaan tha. Aap ko uske paas jakar taftees karni hogi. Uska laptop, files sab gaayab hain. Yeh zaroor jiski taftees kar raha tha usi logon ne use marwaya hai."

Faris poore yaqeen se keh raha tha. Zumar aage hui, sir haan mein hilaya. Ek file nikal kar uske samne rakhi, kholi aur ek safhe par ungli se ishara kiya.

"Do rassiya, Ek mobile phone, ek kapda jo saboot ke taur par rakhe gaye hain, saboot number 12, 13, 14 aur 15 jo case ka record hai, yeh aap ki gaadi se baramad hai."

"Mein janta hoon." Faris ne sanjeedgi se kaha.

"Faris! Is case ko shuru karne se pehle mujhe ye tay karna hai ki main prosecution mein hoon ya defense mein. Isliye filhaal ek attorney ki hesiyat se main ek sawal puchhna chahti hoon. Aap ka jawab 'attorney-client privilege' ke tahat mehfooz rahega."

("Attorney-client privilege" ka matlab hai ki jo baat ek client ne apne vakeel ko batai ho, chahe wo jurm ka iqraar hi kyun na ho, vakeel use kisi ko nahi bata sakta. Agar ye rule toda gaya to vakeel ka license cancel ho sakta hai. Aur wo saari zindagi wakalat nahi kar sakega.)

"Theek hai."

Faris ne hairani se use dekha aur sir hilaya. Hashim halka sa muskura diya. Wo jaanta tha baat kis taraf ja rahi hai. Usne Saadi ka kandha thapthapaya.

"Hum bahar chale jaate hain."

"Koi Zaroorat nahi hai." Faris ne Zumar ki taraf dekhte hue haath uthakar roka. Saadi ne samajhi se sabko dekha.

Zumar aage hui, sanjeedgi se Faris ko dekha.

"Kya aapne apne bhai Waris Ghazi ka qatl kiya hai? Ya kisi bhi tarah aap is qatl mein shamil hain?"

Saadi ka dimagh bhak se ud gaya usne beyakeeni se Zumar ko dekha, Faris ke jabde bhinch gaye.

Hashim ne baa muskhil muskurahat roki. "Intresting!"

"Nahi! Bilkul nahi!" Faris ruka, use wakai sadma laga tha.

"Aap kaise soch sakti hain ki main apne bhai ko maar sakta hoon?"

"Faris! Aap qanoon bhi jaante hain aur taftees ka tareeka bhi. Aapne bhi kaafi taftees aise shuru ki hongi. Aur aap khamosh rahiye."

Usne jazbati hokar kuch kehne wale Saadi ko haath utha kar chup karwaya, magar Saadi chup hone ke liye tayar nahi tha.

"Phupho aap ye kya-"

"Main is waqt aapki phuphi nahi hoon, Saadi! Main prosecutor hoon. Main koi bhi dakhal bardaasht nahi karungi. Agar aapne dobara bola to main aapko bahar bhej sakti hoon."

Saadi chup ho gaya lekin baar-baar Faris ko dekh raha tha.

Zumar ne Faris ki taraf dekha, sanjeeda aur theek seedha sawaal kiya.

"To phir ye saboot aapki gaadi se kyun mile?"

"Kisi ne mujhe set up karne ki koshish ki hai."

"Ok" Zumar ne asbaat mein sir hilaya.

"So kya main ye maan loon ki aap is qatl mein shamil nahi hain?"

"Woh mera bhai tha, Madam Prosecutor! Main apne bhai ko qatl kyun karunga?"

"Kya bas yahi aapka defense hai?" Woh thande lehje mein boli jaise mayoos ho gayi ho.

Faris khamosh raha. Ab use ehsaas hua tha ke Zumar uske khilaf nahi, balki uske saath hai. Woh dheema pada.

"Nahi, mere paas alibi hai. Main us waqt apni bhanji ko uski dost ke ghar chhodne gaya tha, ek hotel mein. Yakeen hotel ke CCTV footage mein mere aane-jaane ka waqt record hoga. Aur main us ladki ko gawah ke taur par bhi pesh kar sakta hoon."

"Ab yeh hai behtar defense!" Zumar ne haan mein sir hilaya aur notes likhne lagi. Phir usne Faris ko dekha.

"Aapko mujhe apni alibi se milwana hoga. Main tabhi case plead karungi."

"Okay! Kal tak usse le aata hoon ya aapko udhar le jau. Done?"

"Sure!" Zumar ne aur notes liye, phir sochne wale andaaz mein Faris ki taraf dekha.

"Police ne aapko giraftar nahi kiya? Gaadi se yeh Milne ke bawajud bhi?" Usne tasaveer ki taraf ishara kiya.

" Kyun ke mera khayal hai. Ye warning thi ke main isse khudkushi ka case samajh kar band kar doon warna wo ise mere upar daal den ge".

"Hmm, ab hum kisi simt badh rahe hain".

Tab hi Hashim khanakara. "I'm sure, Faris be gunah hai." Saath hi Faris ke taa'surat dekhe. Wo zara narm hue. Sar ke isbat se Hashim ki baat ki ta'eed ki aur uth gaya.

"Har cheez ke liye shukriya, Madam Prosecutor!" Aur Faris bahar nikal gaya.

Saadi qadre be chain, qadre uljha howa tha, Zumar se baat shukriya karne ke liye lab khole, magar phir lab tham gaya, wo baghair kuch kehne bahar chala gaya. Hashim sab se aakhir mein utha. Muskurakar Zumar ko dekha.

"Aapka kya khayal hai? Kya Faris waqai begunah hai?"

Zumar ne saamne rakhe papers sambhalte hue bas halki si beparwahi dikhai.

"Meri raye matter nahi karti."

"Come on! Ab to hum dost hain!"

"Nahi, hum bilkul bhi dost nahi hain." Zumar ne sanjeedgi chehra uthakar usay dekha. "Bahar haal, mera khayal hai ke woh begunah hai."

Hashim ke gale me phanda sa laga, bharahal woh muskurata raha.

"Kis baat se apko yeh laga?"

"Qatal case mein teen cheezein hoti hain – qatil, maqtool aur wajah-e-qatal. Is triangle mein qatil ki jagah Faris fit nahi aata. Kyunki uske paas apne bhai ko marne ka koi reason nahi hai. Woh Waris Ghazi ko kyun maarega?"

"Hmm" Hashim asbaat mein hilake wo mud gaya, magar uske chehre se maskan muskurahat ab ghaib ho chuki thi. Aur uski jagah sakti ne le li thi. Khud pe so dafa laanat bhej kar woh bahar nikla.

"Aakhir itni ahem baat woh kaise miss kar gaya?"

Faris aur Saadi bahar khade the. Woh coat ka button band karte hue unke paas aaya, halka sa muskuraya.

"DA ko tumhari baat par yaqeen hai, Faris. Ab bas tumhe apni alibi se milwana hai, bas."

Phir ek pal ke liye ruk kar poocha, "Tumhari Bhanji ki dost kaun hai aur kahan rehti hai?" Woh zehan mein ek naya plan banate hue poochhne laga.

"Woh American hai. Gori. Hotel mein reh rahi hai. Kal mila doonga Madam se usko." Faris na-khush lag raha tha.

"Kya naam hai uska?"

"Alicia." Saadi ne jawab diya. Ab woh udaas aur mughmal sa Faris ke peeche ja raha tha, jo is sari karwai se bilkul bhi khush nahi lag raha tha.

Hashim ne lab bhinch liye aur be-taasur nigahon se unhe jata dekhta raha. Uski gardan ki ek nas ubhri aur phir gayab ho gayi. Usne halka sa sir jhatka, jaise kisi soch ko nazar-andaz karne ki koshish kar raha ho, magar… kuch uske zehan mein atak gaya tha.

"Alicia… American?"

"Hey Saadi!" Usne Saadi ko pukaara.

Dur jata Saadi palta. Dhoop ke bais usne aankhein sikood kar dekha.

"Faris se kaho ke mujhe apni alibi ka naam, hotel ka pata waghera text kare. Main uski credibility check kar leta hoon. Court mein har angle se uska hisaab judge kiya jayega."

"Okay!" Saadi mur gaya. Faris door ja raha tha, aur woh uske peeche chal diya.

Hashim wahi khada unhe dekhta raha. Phir usne mobile nikala aur kisi ko call milai.

"Khawar! Kuch der mein ek aurat ka naam aur hotel ka pata text kar raha hoon. Mujhe uske baare mein utni maloomat chahiye jitni uski saggi maa ko bhi na ho."

Karhakhtgi se keh kar usne phone band kar diya.

☆☆☆

Chaar saal baad

Hammad aur Saadi ke mushtarka rishtedaar ki shaadi ke function mein khara Hashim bina kisi karakhtgi ke muskara kar kisi se baat kar raha tha. Us ke mukhatib ne qahqa lagaya to maazi mein khadi Haneen chonki. Irad gird dekha. Woh rangon aur roshniyon se function mein khari thi. Haath mein plate pakre woh dheere dheere chalti wapas apni mez tak aayi. Sut ruyi se baithi. Zumar wahan nahi thi. Haneen ne zara ki zara gardan mori. Woh qadre faasle pe Jawahirat ke saath khari thi. Haneen ki rishte ko inkaar karne wali baat pe abhi tak us ke wahi ta'asuraat the. Shakir soch Piyale ka thanda meetha, garm ho gaya tha.

Haneen ne "hunh!" kar ke rukh mod liya aur souffle khane lagi.

"Kya tum yeh soch rahi ho ke yahan aakar tum ne ghalti ki?"

Jawahirat ne muskara kar nazakat se apne baal ungli se banaye aur saath khari Zumar ko dekh kar poocha. Woh khud band galey wale lambe off-white gown mein malboos thi aur hamesha ki tarah jawan aur tar-o-taaza lag rahi thi.

Zumar ne dulha dulhan ko dekhte shane uchkaaye. "Mujhe farq nahi parta."

"I am sorry! Us din Sonia ki salgirah pe bhi main ne aisi hi baat kar ke tumhein dukhi kar diya tha." Jawahirat ne narmi se us ka haath dabaya.

Zumar pheeka sa muskurayi boli kuch nahi.

"Main danista tor pe tumhein ehsaas dilane ko aisi baatein kar jaati hoon. Tum khud dekho apne aap ko. Us shakhs ke peeche tum khud ko zaya kar rahi ho. Depression ek marz hai aur tum is se sehatyaab nahi ho saki."

Woh narmi se keh rahi thi. Zumar phir se samne dekhne lagi. Us ki aankhon mein kab se ta'asuraat raqam the.

"Tum kabhi aage nahi barh sako gi agar tum Faris se inteqam na lo. Woh is sab ka zimmedar hai aur woh azaad ghoom raha hai."

"Maine chaar saal intezar kiya ke shayad court usko saza de magar... magar woh kal bhi sab ki nazar mein be-gunah tha, aaj bhi woh be-gunah hai," woh samne dekhte hue talkhi se boli.

"To phir ab kya karogi? Khamosh ho kar baith jaogi?" Woh ehtiyaat se Zumar ke ta'asuraat dekhte hue pooch rahi thi.

"Um hmm... ab main apna inteqam khud loongi," woh sard aur sapat lehje mein dulha dulhan ko dekh rahi thi. Jawahirat ki aankhein chamki, hont irt mein dhalte gaye.

"Tum kuch plan kar chuki ho. Main tumhari madad kar sakti ho agar tum chaho to. Aakhir Faris ne be-wajah tum pe itna zulm-"

"Wajah thi uske paas," Zumar ne rukh pher kar Jawahirat ko dekha. "Uska rishta mere parents ne thukraya tha. Woh yahi samjha ke maine thukraaye hai so usne mujhe aisa bana diya ke mein hamesha ke liye tukrayi jau."

Jawahirat ne narmi se uske kandhe pe haath rakha. "I am sorry."

"Maine uski tamam case files prosecutor Basirat se mangwa li hain." Jawahirat ke halq mein kuch atka. Bazahir muskurakar usne hairat se kaha,

"Magar tum qanoon se mayoos ho phir is case ko re-open karne ka kya faida?"

"Re-open nahi karna, sirf parhna hai aur dekhna hai ke ismein koi chingari baqi hai ya nahi. Aur mujhe umeed hai ke mere dil ki yeh bhi murda ho chuka hai. Yun meri hujjat tamam ho jayegi."

"Oh! tum khud ko mutmain karna chahti ho ke insaf ka rasta chhod kar inteqam ka rasta tumne qanoon se mukammal mayoosi ke baad apnaya?"

Jawahirat ki atki saans bahal huyi. Dilchaspi barh gayi.

Zumar ne asbaat mein sar hilaya. Irad gird ke logon se be-niyaz woh dono madham awaaz mein baat kar rahi thi. "To... iske baad tum kya karogi?"

"Mrs. Kardar! Jab yeh sab hua tha aur maine Faris ko apna mulzim naamzad kiya tha tab kisi ne meri baat ka yaqeen nahi kiya. Agar court usko Jawab deta tab bhi Saadi, Abba, Haneen sabko yeh zulm lagta. Koi bhi nahi manega ke Faris ne yeh sab mere saath kiya. Usne mujhe us jurm ki saza di jo maine kiya hi nahi tha."

"Aur ab tum kya karogi?" Zumar ne gaal pe aayi ghunghriyali lat ungli par lapeti. Zara muskara kar Jawahirat ko dekha aur aahista se boli, "Main usko ek aise jurm ki saza doongi jo usne nahi kiya hoga. Aur main usko is sab mein is tarah phansaungi ke Saadi, bade Abba sab usay mujrim maanenge."

"Magar Zumar, kisi ko set up karna ek mushkil kaam hai. Tumhein is ke liye Faris ke pal pal ki report chahiye hogi. Uske bank balance, credit cards, tickets, computers har cheez tak rasai chahiye hogi aur sab se barh kar aakhir mein tumhein khud usse nikalne ka mehfooz rasta chahiye hoga taake koi tum par shak na kar sake. Yeh sab tum kaise karogi?" Jawahirat zara uljhi thi. Zumar ki muskurahat mein mazeed mani aa gayi.

"Hai ek tareeqa. Magar is par khud ko raazi karne ke liye mujhe kuch waqt chahiye."

Jawahirat ne qadre chonk kar usay dekha. "Kaisa tareeqa?"

Woh jawab mein itna aahista boli ke Jawaharat ko mushkil se sunai diya.

"In sickness and in health Till death do us apart"

(Bimari mein aur sehat mein hum saath rahenge hatta ke maut humein juda kar de)

Jawahirat bilkul sun reh gayi. Usne be-yaqeeni se Zumar ko dekha. "Tum... aisa nahi kar sakti."

"Main sab kuch kar sakti hoon. Usay mujhse shaadi karni hogi. Aur usne mere saath jo kiya woh poori duniya ne dekha. Bas kuch din lagenge, phir main khud ko raazi kar loongi is shaadi ke liye. Aur uske baad jo main uske saath karoongi woh bhi poori duniya dekhegi."

"Tum apni zindagi ke saath itna bara jua kaise khel sakti ho?"

"Meri zindagi thodi si reh gayi hai, Mrs. Kardar. Chaar saal tak to yeh gurde chal gaye magar ab shayad hi mazeed chaar saal chalain. Is thodi bohot zindagi mein mujhe bas ek kaam karna hai. Saadi aur Abba ko dikhana hai ke main sach bol rahi thi. Aur Faris ko uske kiye ki saza dilwani hai, bas."

Jawahirat ne chonk kar usay dekha. "Oh. Aur tum yeh sab apne dil ka bojh halka karne ko mujhe nahi bata rahi ho. Tumhein meri madad chahiye haina."

Zumar halka sa muskurayi. "Main aap ke saath apne dil ka bojh kyun halka karungi. Off course mujhe aap ki madad chahiye~"

ㅤ ㅤ

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