وقت کے کتنے ہی دھاروں سے گزرنا ہے ابھی، زندگی ہے تو کئی رنگ سے مرنا ہے ابھی۔

Waqt ke kitne hi dharo se guzarna hai abhi, Zindagi hai to kai rang se marna hai abhi.

∘❀∘

Har shay andher thi. Palakon pe bohot bojh tha. Ba mushkil se usne us bhaar ko aankhon se hatane chaha. Safed roshniyon wali chhat thi. Ird gird log the. Apne upar safed chaadar thi.

Kya yeh zindagi ka ikhtitam tha ya phir ek nai zindagi ka aaghaz?

Baazu'o mein soiyan thi, magar is se zyada chubhta hua ehsaas uske dil mein tha. Zumar ne do-teen dafa palkein jhapkain. Kuch dhundhle-dhundhle se wajood uske sarhane khade nazar aaye. Ek ghunghrayle baalo wala ladka tha, aur ek aurat thi—farbi mail. Woh ro rahi thi.

Usko jaagte dekh kar rote hue woh muskurai. Zumar ne muskurana chaaha, kuch kehna chaaha, magar labon se bas yehi alfaaz nikle, "Faris kahan hai?"

Ghunghrayle baalon wale ladke ne sar jhuka diya. Uski aankhein bhi shayad gulabi thi, jaise woh roya ho, abhi nahi, bohot pehle. Ab uske aansu sukh gaye the. Woh naram se uske upar jhuka, uske maathe se baal halka sa hataaya, aur aahista se bola, "Zumar, kya aap mujhe dekh sakti hain?"

Aur woh usko dekh rahi thi bina palak jhapke. Usne halki si awaaz mein sirf itna poocha, "Faris kahan hai?"

Kisi ne jawab nahi diya. Shayad aage-peechay aur bhi log the. Haan, uski baain taraf ek ladki bhi khadi thi. maathe pe kie gaye baal aur glasses wali. Lekin Zumar usko nahi dekh rahi thi. Ghunghriyale baalowale ladke ke hote hue, woh us ladki ko kam hi dekha karti thi.

Woh dobara uske upar jhuka.

"Aap theek ho jayengi. Bilkul theek ho jayengi. Kya aapko kahin takleef ho rahi hai? Kya main doctor ko bulaoon?"

Usne haan karne ki koshish ki, magar awaaz itni halki thi ke ladke ko sunne ke liye apna kaan uske chehre ke qareeb le jaana pada.

"faris... kahan... hai?"

Phir andhera sa dobara chhaane laga. Saari duniya ka noor chala gaya. Siyahi par siyahi ke parde the. Uska dimaag paani pe...

Behte par ki tarah halka, Upar kahin door chala gaya.

Dobara aankh kholi to chehre badal chuke the. Ab sirf woh ladka khada tha. Baaye taraf shayad koi aur bhi tha, magar baaye taraf walon ko woh kam dekha karti thi. Usne daain haath khade ladke par nigah markaz ki, lab hilaaye, to woh phir se jhuka. Ab uska libaas badla hua tha.

Shayad woh koi aur din tha.

"Aap kaisi hain?" usne poocha.

Uske lab halkay se pharpharaye. "Faris kahan hai?"

Ladke ke chehre par karb sa nikhra. Usne sar jhuka kar uthaya.

"Unki wife..." woh ruk gaya.

Zumar usay dekhti rahi. Use laga, is sawaal ka jawab maloom hai.

"Unki wife ko bhi goli lagi thi. Woh nahi rahi."

Woh mushkil se bol paya. Shayad uske galle mein koi cheez atki thi. ya paani, ya kuch aisa jo paani se bhi gaadha tha.

"...Zartasha mar gayi?"

Uski aankhon mein istijaab ubhra. Ek tak woh Saadi ko dekhti rahi. Saadi ne halka sa asbat mein sar hilaaya. Woh is mauqe par use nahi batana chahta tha, magar woh phupho se jhoot bhi nahi bol sakta tha.

"Faris kahan hai?"

Usne phir poocha, magar andhere barhte gaye. Ajeeb se andhere... jo na kuch sunne dete, na bolne. Palkein bhi uthne nahi dete. Woh dobara usi khai mein doobti chali gayi.

Phir aankh kholi to manzar badal chuka tha. Abke uska chehra baaye taraf tha, ghunghraale baalo wala ladka pata nahi kaha tha. Baaye taraf ek ladki khadi thi glasses wali, khamosh magar roi roi aankhon wali. Woh usay pehchaanti thi ya nahi, yeh abhi maloom nahi tha.

Usne unhi veeran aankhon se usay dekha, aur labon pe sirf ek hi sawaal tha.

"Faris... kahan hai?"

"Woh aaye the aapko dekhne. Subah Alicia bhi aayi thi. Hum is din aap ka intezaar karte rahe. Humein nahi pata tha yeh sab ho jayega."

Wo boli to Uski aawaaz madham thi. Is mein hamdardi thi... shayad kahin pyaar bhi tha.

Zumar bas usay dekh rahi thi.

Ladki qareeb jhuki...

"Phupho, aap..." woh ruki, hichkichai. "Aap theek hain? Doctor ko bulau?"

"Faris kahan hai?"

Usne phir poocha. Is sawaal ka jawab koi nahi de raha tha.

"Abhi shayad woh ghar par hi hon. Woh bohot upset hain... bohot zyada toot gaye hain."

Aur Zumar ek tak usay dekhti rahi. Usay sab yaad aane laga. Andheri khaiyon mein yaad-dasht ki roshni har shay az sar-e-nau zinda kar laayi thi. Usay ek ek cheez yaad thi. Dil mein uthta dard pehle se badh gaya tha.

Phir usne halki si nigah jhukai.

Usay apne upar safed chaadar padhi dikhai de rahi thi. Usne nigah phir se Haneen ke chehre par jamaayi.

"Mujhe kya hua hai?"

Haneen khamosh rahi. Usne nazar uthakar samne kisi ko dekha, jaise koi signal maanga ho. Shayad jawab nafyi mein tha, tabhi woh Zumar ko dekhne lagi.

"Mere gurday zaya ho gaye hain, hai na?"

Shayad usne khud hi kuch suna tha. Shayad neem behoshi mein koi baat uske kaanon mein pad gayi thi.

"Aap ke gurday..." woh ruki. "Mutasir hue hain."

Is se zyada mohtaram alfaaz usay nahi mile.

Zumar ke chehre pe na hairat aayi, na dukh ubhra. Shayad woh apni haalat mein aisa kuch soch chuki thi. Shayad woh keh dafa chuki thi. Yaqeenan wo jaanti thi, woh sirf tasdeeq chahti thi.

Ab ke usne halki si gardan seedhi ki. Haan, itna usay yaad tha ke dobara behosh hone se pehle usne gardan seedhi ki thi.

Ab na woh daain thi, na baain, darmiyan mein thi... Mualliq. Siyah tarcoal jaisi chaadar uske sar se sirki, to woh palakain behtar tor par jhapak pa rahi thi.

Farbi mial khatoon uske sarhane ab khadi thi.

Usne halka sa haath uthana chaaha, to unhone uska haath thaam liya.

Bohot mohabbat se usse pooch rahi thi. Ke wo kaisi hain? Kya khana pasand karegi? Kya usay kahin takleef hai? Kya woh doctor ko bulaye? Kya wo usay paani de?"

Woh bas unko dekhti rahi, aur jab boli, to sir-goshi mein. "Faris kahan hai?"

Nudrat ki aankhon mein achambha sa ubhra.

Zumar ka us se aisa koi taluq toh nahi tha, jo woh baar baar pooch rahi thi...

Shayad... Zartasha ki wajah se...

Baherhaal, zabardasti muskurate hue woh qareeb aayi. "Woh ghar pe hain. Shaam ko aayenge idhar tumhein dekhne. Woh bhi bohot pareshan hain is sab se... balke 'pareshani' to ek bohot chhota lafz hai."

Zumar ek tak unko dekhti rahi. Har baat, har lafz usay yaad tha.

Aur phir ek dam se woh chonki.

Badeqat tamaam usne gardan idhar udhar ghumai.

Usne un chand dinon mein... pata nahi kitne din the, magar sab ke chehre dekhe the, ghunghraalay baalon wala larka, aainak wali larki, woh farbi mial khatoon...

Sirf ek chehra nahi dekha tha.

Be-had khauf aur vahshat se usne rukh Nadrat ki taraf phera.

"Abba... Abba kidhar hain?"

Nudrat ki aankhon se aansu ublne ko be-tab ho gaye. Usay laga ke woh koi aur khabar sunne ja rahi hai... Koi aisi khabar, jis ko sunne ke baad uska dil bhi kaam karna chhod dega.

Usne kohniyo ke bal uthna chaaha, magar nahi uth sakki.

Jism mein dard tha. Shadeed dard.

Be-had karb se usne dobaara poocha.

"Batayiye, Abba kahan hain? Jab tak aap mujhe sach nahi batayengi, mera dil atka rahega."

Magar Nudrat khamosh thi.

Unhone sar jhuka liya.

Phir chehra modha shayad aansu ponchne ki koshish ki.

"Kya Abba bhi mar gaye?" Uske labon se nikla.

Nudrat ne tarap ke rukh uski taraf phera.

Aansuon ko ubalne diya, magar nafi mein sar hilaaya.

"Nahi..." Woh ruki. "Wo Ab theek hain." Phir chup ho gayi.

"Ab... Ab se kya matlab? Unhein kya hua tha?"

Woh atak atak kar bol rahi thi. Uthna bhi chahti thi, magar uth nahi sakti thi. Uske chehre pe tarap thi. Aisa lagta tha jaise woh kisi tarah sab kuch chhod kar is kamray se bhaag jaye... is aspital ke kamray se bhaag jaye.

Magar woh jaise mafluj ho kar reh gayi thi.

"Kidhar hain Abba?"

Alfaaz ba mushkil halaq se nikal rahe the.

"Unhein falij ka attack hua tha, magar ab woh theek hain. Woh ghar pe hain. Hum unhein hospital nahi la sakte. Ab woh theek hain, Zumar. Tum pareshan mat ho."

Nudrat ne uske baalon mein haath pherte hue usay tasalli di.

Woh ek tak unko dekhti rahi, bilkul khamoshi se, jaise saari duniya khatm ho gayi ho.

Upar uthne ki koshish khatam kar di aur sar nadhaal tareeqe se takiye par gira diya.

"Mere Abba mafluj ho gaye? Mere haadse ki wajah se? Mere Abba mafluj ho gaye?"

Usne Nudrat se sawal nahi kiya tha, khali khali nigahon se chhat ko dekhte hue, khud ko bataya.

Nudrat ke paas jawab tha bhi nahi.

Zumar ki gardan ab seedhi thi. Ek dafa phir, woh na daain thi na baain. Chand gehri saansain li. Aankhein band kar ke kholi. Ab cheezen behtar nazar aa rahi thi.

Nudrat ne aahista se uske qareeb ho kar kaha, "Police wale kab se chakkar laga rahe hain. Bahar bhi maujood hain. Unhein tumhara bayan lena hai."

Zumar ne asbat mein sar hilaaya.

"Unko andar bhejiye. Ek bayan hai jo mujhe dena hai."

Uski aawaaz ab bhi dard se bhari aur halki thi, magar iski noiyat mukhtalif thi.

Sakht....

Muntaqim....

Aag se bharpoor….

☆☆☆

جو تخت و تاج کے مالک ہیں، کیا وہ معتبر بھی ہیں؟

شور انگیز میں ڈوبی حکمرانی کا تماشا کر۔

Jo takht-o-taj ke malik hain, kya woh moattabar bhi hain?

Shor angej mein doobi hukmarani ka tamasha kar.

• Moattabar : Trustworthy • Shor angej : Tumultuous

∘❀∘



Office corridor battioun se jagmaga raha tha. Alicia phone kaan se lagaye raftari se chalte huye bolti jaa rahi thi.

"Haan, Haneen! Tum bilkul bhi fikar mat karo. Sab kuch theek ho jayega. Khuda behtar karega. Main aaj hi aaoongi tumhari aunty se milne. Ab wo kaisi hain?"

Corridor ka mor mudte hue usne fikar-mandi se poocha.

Phir doosri taraf milne wala jawab sun kar asbaat mein sar hilaate huye lift ki taraf aayi.

"Tum bilkul pareshan mat hona. Main zaroor aaoongi. Khuda ne chaha to woh jald theek ho jayengi. Kya unki kidney bilkul muqammal tor par fail ho chuki?"

Lift ka button dabate hue uske chehre par sogwariyat utri.

"I'm sorry, Haneen! Chalo ok, shaam ko milte hain."

Mobile band kiya. Aur saamne dekha. Lift ke darwaze khul chuke the. Woh andar chali gayi. Matluba floor par ungli rakh aur gehri saans le kar, gardan akdakar khud ko kisi morke ke liye tayar kiya.

Darwaze band hue. Lift upar ki taraf badhne lagi. Har guzarti manzil par Alicia ka aitmaad dagmaga rahi thyu. Usay laga, uska chehra safed pad raha hai.

Usne rukh pher kar lift ki dhaati deewar mein apna aks dekha. Phir siyah silki baalon mein haath phera.

Surmai aankhon ko suked kar tanqidi nazron se dekha ke kahin woh ghabraayi hui toh nahi lag rahi, magar nahi Bazahir woh pur-aitmad lag rahi thi.

Surkh shirt, safed pants, aur lambi heel ki sandals mein malboos, kohni par purse tikaye, woh andar se jitni dadi sehmi thi, utni lag nahi rahi thi. Matlooba floor aan pahuncha tha. Darwaze khule.

Woh usi aitmaad se chalti hui rahdari mein aage barhti gayi.

Kitne hi office cross kiye, kitno ke samne se guzari bina nazar milaye. Usay maloom tha ke usay kis office mein jana hai.

Sab se bada office, sab se aakhir mein tha. Alicia unke qareeb bas lehje bhar ko thehri.

Bahar maujood secretary ne sar uthakar usay dekha.

"Main aap ki kya madad kar sakti hoon?" Usne pukara.

Alicia zara sa muskurai.

"Aurangzeb Kardar ne mujhe bulaya hai. Meri unse appointment hai."

Uski baat par secretary qadre achambhe se apne notes khangalne lagi.

Alicia ne gardan pher kar band darwaze ko dekha. Yahan se, do andar nazar nahi dekh sakti thi.

Andar office mein, control chair par aur Aurangzeb Kardar, apni makhsoos tamaknat ke saath baithe, tanna abroo ke saath us nojawan ko sun rahe the, jo samne khada, apni presentation dikha raha tha, wo P cape pehne wala laa parwah se huliye wala nojawaan unka image consultant bhi tha aur compain manager bhi.

Wo kaafi mat'aan apni umar se zyada samajhdari se bolta, ek ek cheez samjha raha tha.

Jis mez ke muqabal kursi par baitha, laptop pe kaam karta Hashim, bohot hi be-zari se unhein nazar andaz kiye ja raha tha.

"Sir, baa zahir aisa lagta hai ke aap ke bhanje pe apne bhai ke qatal ka aane wala ilzam aap ke khilaf jayega."

Compain manager ne utha kar dramayi andaaz mein waqfa diya.

Hashim ne nigah pher kar mazeed bezari se usay dekha. "Hunh," keh kar sir jhatka, aur dobara laptop par type karne laga.

Ek toh is consultant se usay chidh thi.

Woh larka woh baatein batane ke paise leta tha jo woh apne baap ko muft mein bata sakta tha.

"Lekin sir, hum is mauqe ko apne mafaad mein bhi istemal kar sakte hain."

Aurangzeb Kardar ke khafa chehre par sikne ubhri. "Aur woh kaise?"

"Aap jaante hain ke is waqt aap zimni elections ke liye khade ho rahe hain. Aise mein, kuch key players apne matluba umeedwaro ke bajaye, aap ko uthta dekh kar aap ke khilaf istemal hone wala koi bhi mauqa zaya nahi karenge. Is liye, bajaye is baat par mudafiana andaaz ikhtiyar karne ke, hum is ko apne haq mein istemal kar sakte hain. Jaise..." josh mein kehte hue, apne haath mein pakray tablet ko aurangzeb Kardar ke paas laaya aur unhein kuch dikhane laga.

"Yeh woh bayan hai jo aap press ke samne denge. Jisse aisa lagega ke aap goke apne bhai ke is amal se khafa hain, lekin apne asar-o-rusukh ka istemal kiye baghair, is maamle ko qanoon par chhod rahe hain. Aap sabke samne yeh kahenge ke - 'beshak! Muzrim mera saga bhanja hi kyun na ho, agar woh waqai mujrim hai to isko qanoon ke mutabiq saza milni chahiye.' Aur aap apna koi bhi asar-o-rusukh istemal karke usay wahan se nikaalne ki koshish nahi karenge.. Aisi surat mein, aap ko ek insaaf pasand shakhs ki haisiyat se dekha jayega."

Aurangzeb ne bigad kar usay dekha.

"Yaani ke main Faris ko is maamle se nikalne ki koi koshish na karun?"

Compain manager Ahmar Shafiq muskuraya aur chutki bajai.

"Yahi to sari game hai, sir! Aap ki jagah koi bhi hota to woh is scandal par parda dalne ki koshish karta. Lekin aap ke mukhalif kisi bhi surat aap ko is scandal ko cover karne nahi denge. Toh phir kya hi achha ho ke hum bhi isay cover karne ki koshish na karein, balki hum unhi ka daur unhein par khel jayein. Dekhiye.."

Woh ab apni is strategy ki mazeed tafaheem kar raha tha. Aurangzeb bazahir bure mood ke sath, lekin tawajjuh se sun rahe the.

Hashim ne nigah utha kar dobara be-had bezari aur sakhti se in dono ko dekha, phir keyboard par type karne laga.

Usay jis khabar ka intezar tha. Zumar ke bayan ka woh aayi nahi de rahi thi. Paanch din ho chuke the Zumar ko goli lage. Faris azaad ghoom raha tha, biwi ki maut ka sog mana raha tha, aur filhal koi bhi nahi tha jo yeh keh sake ke qatal Faris ne kiya hai.

Go ke hotel ke kamre se mukhbiri ke baad gun baramad kar li gayi thi, magar forensic report ko usne abhi rok rakha tha.

Forensic aur fingerprint report, Zumar ke bayan ke baad aani chahiye thi.yeh plan tha.

"Lekin agar Zumar mar gayi? Uff"

Us se aage woh sochna bhi nahi chahta tha.

Ek laash ka mazeed bojh apne kandhon par nahi!

Usne sar jhatak kar apni email kholne laga.

Khawar ne do roz pehle usko Faris ki Alibi ladki ki tafseelat bhej di thi. Us ke wehem durust the. Woh wakai Alicia hi thi.

Magar usne Hashim se rabte ki koi koshish nahi ki thi. Woh usi se milne idhar aayi thi. Hashim ko maloom tha isliye bhi usme Alicia ko nahi chheda.

"Woh khud chal kar uske office aayegi. Kab?"

Woh muntazir tha.

Bahar khadi Alicia ne secretary ko nafi me sir hilaate huye dekha.

Woh keh rahi thi, "Aapki koi appointment record nahi hai. Kya aap phir se appointment lena chahein gi?"

Magar Alicia, bina sune, tezi se darwaze ki taraf aayi.

Isse pehle ke koi use rok pata, usne darwaza khol diya.

Sabase pehle Hashim ne chonk kar dekha tha. Aur phir woh ek dam uth khada hua. Bilkul sapat sard sa.

Aurangzeb ne haath mein pakray tab pe Ahmar Shafiq ki presentation dekhte hue sir uthaya, toh woh bhi ek dam bilkul theher se gaye.

Woh darwaze mein khadi thi, aur secretary peeche se aakar use rokte huye shkat goyi se suna rahi thi.

Aurangzeb Sahab ke saath jhuke consultant ladke ne bari bari in dono baap-beta ke taa'surat dekhe, phir seedha hua.

Secretary ko ishara kiya.

Woh khamosh hokar peeche hatt gayi.

Alicia do qadam mazeed andar aayi.

Woh musalsal Aurangzeb Kardar ko dekh rahi thi, bina palak jhapke, sapat chehre ke saath, jaise taa'surat chhupane ki koshish kar rahi ho.

Hashim ek dam gusse se Ahmar ko dekha.

"Bahar jao! Foran!"

Consultant ladka sar asbat me hilate hue dono haath utha kar bola, "Sir, agar yeh koi scandal hai to mera khayal hai ke mera yahan hona sabse zaroori hai. Kyunki main hi aage hone wali Surat e haal ka tajziya kar sakta hoon aur main hi aapko behtar tareeke se guide kar sakta hoon ke aapko is situation ko kis tarah handle karna hai kyunki Maine..."

Hashim ghoom kar us taraf aaya. Baap ke haath se tablet lekar consultant ko de maarne ke andaaz mein thamaya. Use kohni se pakda, kheench kar darwaze tak le kar gaya aur hakka bakkase ahmar ko baahar nikaal diya. goya dafa karne ke liye, darwaza band kiya. Phir wapas mud kar Alicia ke saamne aa khada hua. Sakht sholabar nazro se use ghura.

"Kya chahiye? Kis liye aayi ho?"

Aurangzeb bhi ab seedhe ho kar baith gaye the aur teekhi khamosh nazron se use dekh rahe the. Alicia ne nazron ka rukh Hashim ki taraf pher diya, phir khud ko pur-aitemad zahir karte hue boli,

"Paiso chahiye."

Hashim ne istehzaai andaaz mein sar jhatka, ghoom kar aage aaya aur baap ki kursi ke saath ja khada hua. Ab dono ek taraf the, aur unke muqabil Alicia, table ke doosri jaanib khadi thi. Apne purse ke handle ko mazbooti se pakde hue, khud ko mazboot rakhne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

"Main bohot paisa de chuka hoon tum maa beti ko. Ab kya chahiye?"

Aurangzeb bole to andaaz mein haqaarat thi.

"Jis paise ki baat aap kar rahe hain, main aapko yaad dilati chalu, woh meri maa ke us ilaaj par kharch hue the jo unko aapki maar peet ki wajah se karwana pada. Aapko shayad bhool gaya ho ke meri maa ko chhodte waqt aapne use itna bura maara tha ke woh hospital mein rahi thi. Unki back bone mutasir hui thi, aur un medical bills ko pay karte karte hum aaj bhi wahi khade hain jahan chhe saal pehle the."

Aurangzeb ne istehzaai andaaz mein naak se makhhi udhai.

"Tum mere khilaf kahin bhi kuch sabit nahi kar sakti."

Alicia ne asbaat mein sar hilaaya,

"Ye to bilkul durust baat hai kyunke jab maine aap par sue karna chaaha tha, to aapke maahir wakeel bete ne...(ek zakhemi nazar Hashim pe daali, phir Aurangzeb ki taraf dekhne lagi,) ...adaalat me jury ke saamne yeh sabit kar diya tha ke na sirf meri maa seedhiyon se apni ghalti ki wajah se giri thi, balki woh dimaghi tawazun se mehroom ek kamzor aurat hai. Shayad isme sara kamaal aapke bete ka bhi nahi tha, kyunki jis law firm ne mera case pro bono liya tha, agar unhone mere wakeel ke taur par ek na-tajurba-kaar first-year associate ko na muqrar karte, to shayad hum adaalat mein itni buri tarah beizzati na hote. Chahe yeh apka mulk ho ya mera mulk, qanoon wahan bhi aapka tha, yahan bhi aapka hai. Isliye main lambi baat nahi karungi."

Kehte hue wo ruki uska dil andar se zor se dhadak raha tha. Chand gehre saans le kar usne khud ko dobara bahadur dikhane ki koshish ki. Dono baap-beta usko sakhti se ghur rahe the. Do qadam aage aayi, table ke saamne rakhi kursi ki pusht par haath rakha aur himmat jamaa kar phir boli,

"Main Harvard jaana chahti hoon. Aur mujhe maloom hai ke main sare tests clear kar loongi, agar mujhe sirf itni umeed ho ke meri tuition fees pay kar di jayegi. Aur kyunki aap mere waalid hai, na-jaiz hi sahi, magar main aapki beti hoon. isliye aapko chahiye ke aap mujhe support karein. Main aapse aur kuch nahi maangugi, na mujhe aapse koi jazbaati attachment hai, na koi umeed. Sirf Paise chahiye. Aapke Pakistani rupiy mein yeh sirf chand million ki baat hai. Aapke liye to yeh kuch bhi nahi hai. Sirf chand million."

Usne ruk kar ek mohim si umeed se dono baap-bete ko dekha, phir ek file saamne rakhi, jisme uski taleem ke agli chand saalon ke kharche ki tafseel thi.

Unke taa'surat ek jaise rahe. sakt, sard.

"Aur tum yeh sab kehne is waqt aayi ho jab mera baap election mein hissa le raha hai? Tumhara khayal tha ke ek scandal ke khauf se hum tumhein paise de denge aur tum hansi-khushi rahogi?"

Hashim ne yeh kehte hue muskura kar nafi mein sar hilaya.

"Tumhari jaisi bohot si ladkiyan guzri hain jinhnon ne aakar izzatdaar logon par ilzaam lagaye. Magar you know what, Alicia? Un ladkiyon un aurton ka ab kahin bhi nahi hai. Aaj kisi ko woh yaad bhi nahi hain. Lekin woh mard jin par unhone ilzaam lagaye, chahe sahi chahe jhoote woh mard aaj bhi khabron mein hain, woh mard aaj bhi taqat mein hain, aaj bhi hukumat kar rahe hain. Tumhara koi mustaqbil nahi hai, Alicia. Tum jahan se aayi ho, wahan chali jao. Kyunki agar tumne humein isse zyada disturb karne ki koshish ki, to main tumhare saath bohot bura paish aaunga aur tum yeh baat jaanti ho."

Uski muskurahat ab ab sangheen nataish ki dhamki mein badal chuki thi. Alicia ki aankhon mein nami ubharne lagi, uske lab kapkapaye.

"Main aapki behan hoon..."

"Tum mere liye ek aisa masla ho jisko main kabhi hal nahi karna chahunga. Tum aur tumhari maa mere baap ke paiso par happily ever after rehna chahti ho jab ke aisa nahi hoga."

"Main woh baat sari zindagi yaad rakhungi... 'Hamesha ke liye chitiya(ants)' case jeetne aur mujhe khairat me meri maa ke ilaz ki raqam dene ke baad aapne mujhe yeh kaha tha ke main ek cheenti hoon, aur mein jaanti hoon, chitiya kya hoti hai magar shayad aap khud nahi jaante Hashim!" Wo teekhi nazro se Hashim ko dekhti huye boli.

Hashim pehli baar istehzaiya muskuraaya.

"Agar tumhe lagta hai ke main is baat se be-khabar tha ke tum yahan par ho, to tum ghalat ho."

Yeh kehte hue Hashim aage aaya, apne laptop par chand buttons dabaye aur screen uski taraf ghoom di. Yeh Khawar ki email thi, jisme Alicia ke ticket ki copy, uske hotel mein thehrne ke records, aur kuch aur maloomat shaamil thi jo do din pehle bheji gayi thi.

Alicia ne pehle screen ko dekha, phir ekdum Hashim ki taraf dekha, hairan aur pareshaan.

"Main tumhare yahan aane ka intezar kar raha tha. Kyunki tum yahan kisi Net geo documentary ke liye nahi aayi thi, jaise tumne mere cousin aur mere bhai ko bataya tha. Main jaanta tha ke tum yahan hamare liye aayi ho paise maangne, ya blackmail karne, ya dhamki dene. Kyunki tum khud ko hamare khandan ka hissa samajhti ho, jab ke aisa nahi hai. Aur tumhe maloom hai main tumhara yahan intezar kyun kar raha tha?"

Hashim ne laptop ki screen band ki, sidha hua, phir uske bilkul samne aaya. Qad mein us se kaafi lamba tha. Gardan jhuka kar, uski safed padti shakal ko dekhte hue, ek ek lafz chaba chaba kar bola,

"Is liye nahi ke mujhe tumhe inkaar karna tha, ya koi dhamki deni thi. Sirf ek sawaal tha... Tumne mere khandan ko target kyun kiya? Main katai nahi maan sakta ke tum bilkul ittifaq se mere cousin ki Alibi ho. Tum bilkul ittifaq se meri bhanji ki dost ho. Main Alicia, ittifaqaat par yaqeen rakhne wala aadmi nahi hoon. Isliye abhi tum mujhe abhi aur isi waqt bilkul sach bataogi tumne meri bhanji se dosti kaise ki?"

Yeh sab Alicia ki tawakku se bohot zyada tha. Wo iske liye tayyar nahi thi. Usne khushk honton par zabaan phiri, ek qadam peeche hati, be-yaqeeni se power chair par baithe Aurangzeb ki taraf dekha, jo haqaarat aur ra'unaat se usko dekh rahe the. Phir kadre bechaini se Hashim ki taraf dekha.

Uska saara aitemaad zail ho raha tha...

Usse yaad tha chand saal pehle, jab Hashim uske ghar aaya tha cheque munh paradne, ek khairat ki tarah, Aur jab usne kaha tha:

"Tum Happily Ever After rehna chahti ho? Aisa nahi hoga. Tum Ants Ever After ho. Tum aur tumhari maa hamesha aise hi rahogi."

Aur usne yeh baat likh kar rakh li thi. Apni diary mein. Apni almaari ke andaruni darwaze pe. Photo albums ki tasveero ke piche. apne keychain pe, Alicia ne yeh baat har jagah likh ke rakh li thi. Siwaye apne dil ke. Aur aaj yeh alfaaz uske seedhe dil pe lage the.

"Haneen meri dost hai. Isse zyada main kisi cheez ki wazahat nahi dena chahti."

Hashim chand lamhon ke liye bilkul khamosh ho gaya. Phir dheemi aur thandi awaz mein bola, "Agar tum chahti ho ke main mustaqbil mein kabhi tumhari koi umeed poori karun, to ho sakta hai ke tumhare beech batane se main waqai tumhari koi madad kar sakun."

Uske lehje mein ab narmi thi. Aurangzeb ne nagawari se Hashim ko dekha magar bole kuch nahi. Unhe maloom tha ke Hashim yeh sirf Alicia se kuch kehlwane ke liye keh raha hai. Alicia ko hosla hua.

"Shayad aap bhool gaye hain ke main computers mein achi hoon. Maine AAPKE walid (Usne aapke par zor diya.) ka email hack kar rakha tha. Main dekhti thi ke wo kis tarah ek chhoti ladki ko emails bhejte thay, uske jawaab dete thay, usko sarahte thay. Main sirf yeh dekhna chahti thi ke apne khoon ko chhod kar kisi aur ki beti se itna pyar koi kaise kar sakta hai?"

"…Aur ab tum us kisi aur ki beti ko nuksaan pohchana chahti ho, right?"

Hashim ke chehre ki sakhti laut aayi. Wo ek kadam aur aage bada, aur Alicia do kadam peeche hati. Ab wo dar rahi thi, jaise usse lag raha ho ke Hashim abhi us par jhapat parega.

"Tumne use kaise track kiya? Bilkul sach batana, warna mujhe sach nikalwane ke bohot se tareeqe aate hain."

Alicia ki gardan khud bakhud nafi me hili. Halq sookh chuka tha. Lamha bhar ki narmi ne usko dhoka de diya tha.

"Maine usse trap nahi kiya. Main wo games khelne lagi jo wo khelti thi. Mujhe maloom tha ke wo mujhe contact karegi, aur phir hum dost ban gaye." Uske chehre par bechaini ubhri. "Hum waqai dost hain. Please, usko kuch mat kehna. Please."

Wo kamzor pad gayi. Wo jaanti thi ke wo is taqatwar aur roab-dar baap bete ke samne kamzor pad jaayegi, aur bilkul waisa hi ho raha tha.

"Main usko bohot pasand karti hoon. Wo meri bohot achi dost hai. Please, meri aur uski dosti ko kisi aur nazar se mat dekho."

Hashim ne gehri saans li, asbaat mein sar hilaaya, phir apni kursi ki pusht se peechay jhuka, taang par taang rakhi, aur gardan uthakar tamkinat se Alicia ko dekha.

"Ab tumhe jo karna hai kar lo. Kyunki mere paas se ek phooti kodi bhi nahi milegi. Apne mulk wapas jao, mehnat-mazdoori karo, aur phir jis school mein jaana hai jao. Aur nahi to kahin scholarship ke liye apply kar do, koi na koi tum par taras kha kar kuch de hi dega. Lekin wo shakhs kam az kam mera baap nahi hoga."

Iske baad, Hashim ne sakhti se ungli uthai aur darwaze ki taraf ishaara kiya.

"OUT."

Alicia ki aankhon mein ubharti nami ab barhne lagi. Usne tadap kar apne baap ko dekha.

"Khudawand tumhein kabhi maaf nahi karega."

Aur phir wo tez-tez qadam lete hue nikal gayi.

Uska yahan aana… uska yahan thehrna… inke paas aakar minnat karna… sab bekaar lag raha tha.

Uske niklte hi Hashim ke ta'asuraat badle. Wo tezi se utha. Aurangzeb ke chehre par bhi ab qadar e taffakur tha.

"Hashim!" Unhone pukara, magar is se pehle ke wo unki taraf palta, mez par haath rakha, unki aankhon mein dekh kar, aur ek-ek lafz chaba chaba kar bola—

"Main hamesha ki tarah, is dafa bhi aapka phehlaya hua kachra saaf kar lunga. Kyunki Hashim hai hi is kaam ke liye. Hashim har cheez sambhal sakta hai. Yeh bhi sambhal lega."

"Lekin meri baat yaad rakhiyega…"

"Agar meri maa ko is baare mein kuch bhi pata chala, ya wo hurt hui…"

"To main aapka saath nahi doonga."

Phir seedha hua. Apna laptop uthaya aur unhein ghoor kar dekhta mud kar baahar nikal gaya.

Aurangzeb gusse se munh mein kuch budbuda kar sar jhatak kar reh gaye.

Abhi Faris ka masla khatam nahi hua tha ke ek aur masla aan pohancha tha.

"Bure waqt ki ek ghalti… Uf!"

☆☆☆