مرحلۂ اور بھی تھے جاں سے گزرنے کے لیے، کربلا کس نے پسِ کرب و بلا بھیجی ہے؟

Marhale aur bhi the jaan se guzarne ke liye, Karbala kis ne pas-e-karb o bala bheji hai?

• Pas-e-Karb-o-Bala : after suffering and hardship or beyond pain and trial.

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Zumar ne car restaurant ke bahar roki. Mobile aur purse utha kar bahar nikli. Idhar udhar dekha. Darwaze ke qareeb mez par "Reserved" likha yahaan se bhi nazar aa raha tha. Woh restaurant ka glass door khol kar andar aayi. Waiter se us mez ke mutaliq poocha. Yeh maloom hone par ke woh usi ke naam reserve hai, woh wahan baith gayi. Phir ghari dekhi. Wahan abhi tak koi nahi tha. Usne coffee order ki. Aur phir ungliyan aapas mein masalte hue intezaar karne lagi.

Kya woh waqai theek kar rahi thi? Kya waqai usay Faris ke alibi se milne yahan tak aana chahiye tha? Usoolan to Faris ko chahiye tha ke woh us ladki ko us se milwane le kar aata, lekin koi baat nahi. Woh apni hujjat tamam kar le. Woh Saadi ko dikha de ke woh waqai uske mamoon ke liye koshish kar rahi hai. Lekin kya yeh sab dikhaane ka koi faida hoga? Kya waqai uske upar se khudgarzi ka label utrega?

In tamam sochon se sar jhatak kar Zumar ne apni tawajjoh waiter ki taraf mabzool ki, jo ab coffee la kar saamne rakh raha tha. Jab tak usne cup uthaaya, saamne se koi aata dikhai diya. Zumar ne chonk kar udhar dekha.

Woh Zartasha thi. Siyah libas par sermai dupatta gardan mein lete hue woh khamosh nazron se dekhte kareeb aayi. Kursi kheench kar saamne baithi, kohniyan mez par rakheen, hatheliyo par kohni tikayi. Kafi kina toz nazron se Zumar ko dekhne lagi.

Zumar qadray gher mutma'in andaaz mein kursi ke kinare pe aage hui. Sar ke kham se salam kiya aur poocha, "Faris kahan hai?"

Zartasha ne halkay se shanay uchkaye aur Zumar ko badastoor bina palk jhapkaye dekhte hue boli.

"Yeh to aapko maaloom hona chahiye. Kya aapne abhi unke saath Lunch nahi kiya?"

"Lunch? Main to kaafi der se unka intezar kar rahi hoon. Unhone mujhe yahan bulaya tha, mujhe yahan kisi se milwana tha."

"Lekin mujhe to yahan koi nazar nahi aa raha. Aakhir kis se milwana tha unko?"

"Apni alibi se. Qatl ke waqt wo jis ke saath the."

Zumar ko ab kuch bohot bura lag raha tha, magar na wo apne mehsoosat samajh paa rahi thi, na Zartasha ka rawaiya, jo ajeeb nazron se usko dekh rahi thi.

"Aap ke liye kuch order karoon?" Zumar ne kehte hue waiter ko ishara kiya. Wo qareeb aaya to Zartasha ne uspe se nigah hataye baghair sirf juice ka order diya. Wo sir hila kar chala gaya.

Zumar ne dobara ghadi dekhi aur phir mobile ko. Aakhir Faris kahan reh gaya? Aur aakhir usne apni biwi ko yahan kyun bula liya?

Uske dil mein to koi guilt nahi tha. Wo to sirf uska purana student tha, aur kuch bhi nahi. Aur haan, wo Saadi ka mamu bhi tha. Magar phir bhi…

Zartasha ka rawaiya kuch ajeeb sa tha, jaise wo koi doosri aurat ho.

Doosri jaanib, Zartasha musalsal usse dekhe ja rahi thi. Andar hi andar koi laava sa pak raha tha. Use yaqeen ho chuka tha ke wo phone Zumar ne hi Faris se karwaya tha. Faris pe shak aur baaqi sab sirf Faris ki tawajju ke liye, uska ghar kharab karne ke liye ho raha tha.

Usko saamne baithi, ghunghriyale baalon wali, coffee ka mug ghoont ghoont peeti larki bohot buri lagi.

"Aap ki aur Faris ki mangani hote hote reh gayi thi, hai na?"

Zartasha ne achanak se sawaal kiya.

Zumar ko hairat aur shock ka aik jhatka sa laga. Wo ek tak use dekhne lagi. Cup maiz pe awaaz ke sath rakha.

"Zartasha?" andar ek ubal sa utha. Hairat aur gussa mushkil se zabt kar pai.

"Aapko koi ghalat fehmi hui hai. Aisa kuch nahi tha."

"Aap inkaar kyun kar rahi hain? Faris ne khud is baat ki tasdeeq ki thi ke wo aap se shaadi karna chahte the, lekin kisi wajah se aisa nahi ho saka."

Zartasha abroo uchka kar boli. Uske andaaz mein jealousy thi, masoom si jealousy thi.

Zumar bilkul sun reh gayi. Andar koi jawar bhata sa pakne laga.

Usne suna tha ke kuch mard biwiyon par dhaak bithane ke liye kehte hain: "Khandan ki falan aur falan ladki mujhpe marti thi, yeh aur woh…"

Magar Faris se is qisam ki baat ki tawaqqu na thi, Uska dil mazeed bura hua.

"Yeh intehai ahmaqana baat hai. Abhi Faris aane hi wala hoga. Aap mere saamne ye baat unse pooch lijiye ga. Jahan tak mera talluq hai, to meri shaadi taiyar hai. Aise waqt mein is qisam ki baat aapko karna aur sunna zeb nahi deta."

Zumar shadeed barhami se bolti doosri taraf dekhne lagi. Wo do auratein ghalat waqt aur ghalat moqa pe galat mawdu chhed baithi thi.

Zartasha ne halke se shanay uchkaye. Bina bole.

"Jo aap kahein."

Waqt guzarta ja raha tha, magar Faris ka koi naam o nishan nahi tha.

Zumar ne koi daswin dafa ghadi dekhi, phir sardi lehje mein Zartasha ko dekha.

"Mujhe nahi maaloom tha ke Faris waqt aur waade ka itna kacha hai. Iss waqt usko yahan hona chahiye tha. Mujhe aur bhi bohot saare kaam karne hai."

"Main nahi jaanti wo kidhar hain."

Zartasha abke zara difa'ana lehje mein boli.

"Mujhe to in fact pata bhi nahi tha ke wo idhar aa rahe hain. Main to yahan shopping karne aayi thi. Aap ko dekha to idhar aa gayi."

Wo lamha bhar ko ruki.

Ab use khayal aa raha tha ke agar Faris idhar aa gaya aur use yahan dekha, to phir kis tarah wazahat kar paayegi? Kya pata Zumar ne yeh sab usko Faris ki nazron se girane ke liye kiya ho. Lehje ko zara dheema karke usne baat jaari rakhi.

"Kal unhone zikr kiya tha ke unhein aaj aap se milna hai, isliye mera khayal tha ke wo yahin aane wale honge."

Zumar ne us baat ko koi ahmiyat nahi di. Wo usi tarah nazar andaz kiye doosri jaanib dekhti rahi. Uski fazool aur ahmaqana baton pe ab tak use gussa aa raha tha.

Agar yeh koi mazaak tha, to bohot bura mazak tha.

Aur tabhi phone ki ghanti baji.

Faris ka number aa raha tha. Zumar ne call uthai aur khushk lehje mein boli:

"Aap kidhar hain, Faris? Main aap ka kitni dair se intezar kar rahi hoon."

Chand lamhon tak khamoshi chhayi rahi.

Phir awaaz ubhri. "Zumar, I’m sorry."

Hashim ne laptop par ubharte alfaaz sune aur thake thake andaaz mein sir kursi ki pusht pe gira diya...

"Jee? Aap nahi aa rahe?"

Zumar ne kaha, magar lag raha tha ke wo sun nahi raha. Wo sirf keh raha tha, jo use kehna tha.

Kuch ajeeb tha uske andaaz mein.

Ruk ruk kar bolta, be tasur sa. Mehsoos hota tha jaise koi mashini, automatic lehja ho.

"Main tumhare qareeb hi hoon, Zumar. Lekin main yahan par nahi aa sakta. Ye meri majboori hai."

"Mujhe tumhein apni alibi se milwana tha... Kyunki tum hi ho jise mere qaatil hone par shak hai. Magar mere paas koi alibi nahi hai."

Zumar thak se reh gayi. Usne be-ikhtiyar phone ko ghura aur phir dobara kaan se lagaya.

"Faris, mujhe bilkul samajh nahi aa raha ke aap kya keh rahe hain?"

(Usay kab shak tha Faris pe? Wo sawal jawab to sirf tafteesh ka hissa thay. Wo itna bara ilzaam maan gaya tha?)

Hashim maiz ka sahaara le kar kursi se utha, aur phir ussi kursi ke qadmon mein akdu be-dam sa baith gaya.

Maiz ki oont mein chup kar.

Sir dono haathon mein gira liya.

Magar Faris, Zumar ki baat sunne ke liye bhi nahi ruka.

Wo kahe ja raha tha...

"Aur chunke mere paas koi alibi nahi hai, to iska ek hi matlab hai ke Waris Ghazi ka qaatil main hi hoon. Aur main usay marna nahi chahta tha... lekin mujhe aisa karna pada. Kyunki wo meri biwi ke saath mil kar mujhe dhoka de raha tha."

Zumar ka dimagh bhak se urr gaya.

Usne be-yaqeeni se saamne baithi Zartasha ko dekha.

Jiska juice aa chuka tha, aur wo straw usme ghumati kuch mix kar rahi thi, magan si.

Faris ki baat par wo be-ikhtiyar jalan ka shikaar hui thi, magar phir bhi uske chehre par ek masoomiyat thi... bachkana andaaz.

"Faris… aap… aap kahan hain?"

Usay laga wo mazaak kar raha hai.

Hashim usi tarah band aankhon ko ungliyon se masalta, sir ghutnon mein diye baitha raha.

Ek kard sa karb tha.

"I’m sorry, Zumar. Magar main wahan hoon jahan mujhe hona chahiye. Mujhe apni biwi aur apne bhai, dono ko khatam karna tha. Aisa kiye baghair mujhe bhi sukoon nahi aayega. Aur har cheez sahi ja rahi thi. Main saara shak Waris ke mutalliq case par daalne mein kaamyab ho raha tha. Magar mujhe aisa laga ke tumhein mujh par shak hai. To maine socha ke main shak ki tasdeeq kar loon. Main tumhein bata doon ke mere paas koi alibi nahi hai. Tum is case ki procescutor tar ho. Siwaye tumhare, har koi yeh samajhta hai ke Waris Ghazi qatal case mein sabse zyada bhag daud main kar raha hoon, to main begunah hoon. Siwaye tumhare koi bhi mujh par shak nahi kar raha. Ab aisi surat mein jabke tum Waris Ghazi ki mutalliq files nikalwane ke liye court se order lene ja rahi ho. Agar koi tumhein goli maar de. To sab ka shak us mutalliq case tak jayega, jiski Waris tafteesh kar raha tha. Faris Ghazi pe kabhi koi shak nahi karega."

"Aur rahi Zartasha, to tum asal target samjhi jaogi, aur woh sirf collateral damage."

"Faris, aap kya keh rahe hain? Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha. Faris, kya aap meri baat sun rahe hain?" Zumar ne ghabra kar bemushkil kehna chaha.

Uske ird gird jaise dhamake ho rahe the. Hashim ne aankhein kholi. Usay mez ka andaruni khala nazar aa raha tha, andhera ghutan. Usne phir se aankhein band kar li, sar mazeed andar kar liya. Upar rakhe laptop se awaaz badastoor aa rahi thi.

"Zumar, main tumhein call kar ke sirf ek baar maazrat karna chahta hoon. Main bilkul bhi aisa nahi karna chahta, lekin main majboor hoon. Mujhe maaf kar dena. Lekin tumhein bilkul takleef nahi hogi. Main tumhein sirf ek goli maaruga... sirf Aik, Dil mein. Aur phir sab theek ho jayega."

Zumar curent kha kar uth khadi hui. Phone kaan se lagaye usne behawaasi se idhar udhar dekha. Zartasha bhi sar utha kar achanak se use dekhne lagi thi. Restaurant taqreeban veeran tha. Uske paar unchi buildings thi, hotels the.

Yahi samne wale hotel mein toh Faris ne use bulaya tha... Phir achanak se change of plan... achanak se sab kuch. Woh bilkul bhi samajh nahi paa rahi thi. Aur Faris keh jaa raha tha.

"Main ye sab is liye bata raha hoon kyunki main jaanta hoon, ye meri tumse aakhri guftagu hai. Aur is aakhri guftagu mein, main tumhein apni haqeeqat batana chahta tha. Zartasha aur tumhare marne ke baad, main jaanta hoon mujhe sukoon nahi milega, lekin kam az kam main is qanooni karwai se bach jaonga. I'm sorry, Zumar!"

"Faris, tum kidhar ho? Please, mujhe batao. Main tumhari madad karungi. Jis tarah bhi ho, main tumhari madad karungi!"

Zumar bechaini se jaldi jaldi kahe ja rahi thi. Halat ki nazakat bhaanp kar, usay jo bhi karna tha, jaldi karna tha.

"Main tumhara case ladungi. Tumne jo bhi kiya, is sab ki koi na koi wajah hogi. Main court mein tumhare saath khadi hoongi. Tum jo bhi mujhe keh rahe ho, ye sab attorney-client privilege ke tehat mehfooz rahega. Main tumhari attorney hoon, Faris! Meri baat suno."

Lekin woh nahi sun raha tha. Woh isi tarah baatein kiye ja raha tha. bilkul kisi robot ki tarah. Jaise use Zumar ki kisi baat mein dilchaspi na ho.

"Apni jagah se hilna mat. Main tumhein dekh sakta hoon. Tum badhawaas ho rahi ho, lekin bilkul bhi mat hilna, warna tumhein takleef hogi. Main tumhein sirf ek goli maaroon ga, dil mein. Baqi meri be-wafa biwi ke liye hain."

Khawar ne Barrett M95 ki naal mein se ek aankh band karke jhanka. Nishana set kiya.

"Faris, please aisa mat karo! Main tumhari madad karungi. Main tumhara case ladungi. Please meri baat suno!"

Usay laga woh minnat kar rahi hai. Uski aankhon mein shayad aansu aaye the. Zartasha bilkul haq dak si use dekh rahi thi.

"Kya ho raha hai, D.A.?" Usne poocha, lekin Zumar ko kuch hosh nahi tha. Woh isi tarah khadi, phone kaan se lagaye, Faris se minnat kar rahi thi.

"Please, Faris! Mere saath is tarah mat karo. Tum aisa nahi kar sakte. Tum ek ache insaan ho. Tumhare andar achhai hai. Har shakhs ke andar hoti hai. Humein sirf isko bahar laane ki zarurat hoti hai. Tumhein yaad hai? Ye maine tumse kaha tha! Please! Main tumhari teacher rahi hoon. Meri shaadi hone wali hai!"

Usne kabhi zindagi mein kisi ki itni minnat nahi ki thi. Aise kisi ke saamne nahi jhuki thi. Lekin woh uski sun hi nahi raha tha.

"I'm sorry, Zumar! Magar mujhe aisa karna hai. Ye sab batane ke baad, main tumhein zinda nahi chhod sakta. I'm so sorry..."

Aur woh uske saath bohot kuch keh raha tha, lekin ab ke Zumar usay nahi sun rahi thi. Woh isi tarah bheegti aankhon ke saath musalsal kahe jaa rahi thi.

"Faris! Main tumhari teacher rahi hoon! Main Saadi ki phuphi hoon! Meri shaadi hone wali hai! Please, mere saath is tarah mat karo! Apni biwi ke saath is tarah mat karo!"

Zartasha hakka bakka si uth khadi hui. Usay kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha ke Zumar, Faris se ye sab kyun keh rahi hai.

"Faris! Tum aisa kuch nahi karoge! Please meri baat suno! Tum yaad karo, main tumhari teacher hoon! Main ne tumhein padhaaya hai! Main Saadi ki Phuphi hoon. Tum mere saath aisa kuch nahi kar sakte. Tum mere paas aao. Idhar aao. Main tumhara wait kar rahi hoon. Hum is bare mein baat karenge. Jo bhi baat tumhein karni hai, hum karenge. Main tumhara case ladungi. Main sab kuch theek kar lungi, Faris. Tum sirf meri baat suno."

Lekin ab Faris ki taraf se khamoshi chha gayi thi. Woh kuch bhi nahi keh raha tha. Saans lene ki aawaaz tak nahi thi.

Khawar, mez ki oat mein zameen par baithe Hashim ne a'itbaar mein sar hilaaya. Uski sakhti ke neeche aankhein surkh ho rahi thi. Khawar ne ungli trigger par rakh kar kaan se lage handsfree mein kaha.

"Sir are you sure, Aap agle alfaaz sunna chahte hain?"

Meiz ki ot me bethe Hashim ne asbat me sar hilaya. Aik aik lafz, uski Shakti se meechi aankho surkh ho rahi thi.

"Kya tum usay dekh sakte ho khawar?"

"Yes sir, abhi bees second hai. Woh dono restaurant mein hain. D.A. ghabra gayi hai, magar woh ek bahadur aurat hai. Woh bhagegi nahi. Wo Faris ko aakhiri saans tak convince karne ki koshish karegi."

"Uske chehre pe is waqt kya hai Khawar?" Woh shiddat se kanpatti masal raha tha.

"Na khouf na pareshani sirf shock aur be-yaqeeni."

Neeche restaurant mein, Zumar ke saamne khadi Zartasha ko ab fikar hone lagi thi.

"Kya ho raha hai? Aap Faris se kya keh rahi hain? Woh kidhar hai?"

Magar Zumar ko is waqt kuch hosh nahi tha. Uska dimaag keh raha tha ke woh Zartasha ka haath pakad kar wahan se bhaag jaye, lekin dil ko ab bhi yaqeen tha ke Faris aisa kuch nahi kar sakta. Usne aakhri koshish karni chahi.

"Faris, please! Tum kuch aisa mat karna jis par tum pachtao. Main tumhare saath hoon. Main tumhara case bhi ladungi aur tumhein support bhi karungi. Please, Faris! Kya tum meri baat sun rahe ho? Faris, please! Meri shaadi hone wali hai! Mere saath is tarah mat karo! Apni biwi ke saath aise mat karo! FARIS… FARIS?"

Khawar ne trigger daba diya. Ek... Do... Teen... Chaar...

Takk… Takk…

Aur Zumar ne mehsoos kiya ke phone uske haath se gir gaya hai. Woh farsh pe ja laga. Magar koi awaaz nahi aayi.

Zumar ko is waqt kisi bhi cheez ki awaaz sunayi nahi de rahi thi. Bas yun laga ke kamar ko kuch cheer kar nikla hai...

Ek... Do... Teen... Koi parchhi thi jisme woh aa lagi thi, koi ajeeb sa ehsaas, dard... bepanah dard...

Usne jhuk kar maiz ke kinare ko dono haathon se thaamna chaha, magar tawazun barqarar nahi rakh pai.

Zartasha ki aankhein hairat aur khauf se phail gayi. Zumar ne dekha... Woh khadi thi. Zumar ab do unchai par lag rahi thi... Kyunki woh khud girti hi ja rahi thi.

Usne logo ko apni taraf badhte dekha. Usne Zartasha ko girte dekha. Woh ondhe muh zameen par jaa giri.

Usne marble ka farsh apne gaal se takrata mehsoos kiya. Thanda farsh. Sakht se sakht dil jaisa thanda.

Iske ilawa zindagi mein har ehsaas khatam ho chuka tha...

Haan, shayad koi uske aas paas tha...

Kuch surkh… surkh sa tha…

Koi surkh si shay thi jo uski kamar se nikal kar uske ird gird bikhar rahi thi. Safed marble ke farsh par, uske haathon pe, uske chehre ke kareeb… Woh behti ja rahi thi.

Woh pani nahi tha. Woh pani se gaadha tha.

Hashim ke office mein ab khamoshi chha gayi thi. Usne aankhein khol kar, thake thake se haathon se laptop band kiya aur...

Sust ravai se intercom utha kar bola, "Halima, ek cup coffee lao. Aur phir jab tak main bahar na aaun, kisi ko andar mat aane dena. Main kuch waqt tanha rehna chahta hoon."

Phir aankhein band kar ke sir seat ki pusht se laga diya.

Sog ki ek sehar pehar Zumar Yousuf ke naam. Zartasha Ghazi ke naam!

"Tumhe kisi jannat mein rehne ka shauq tha, Zartasha! Tumhari yeh khwahish bhi Faris ki jagah maine poori ki."

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