شیشہ گروں نے اس کی بصیرت بھی چھین لی۔ آنکھیں تھیں اس کے پاس مگر دیکھتا نہ تھا۔

Sheesha-garo ne uski baseerat bhi cheen li. Aankhein thi uske paas magar dekhta na tha.

•Baseerat (بصیرت) : perception, It refers to deep understanding, foresight, or the ability to see beyond the obvious.

∘❀∘

Hospital ka waiting room yak thanda tha. Haneen ghutne mila kar sir haathon mein giraye baithi thi. Alicia saath khadi uske kandhe pe haath rakhe tasalli dene wale fikarmand andaz mein keh rahi thi:

"I am so sorry. Jo bhi tumhari aunty ke saath hua, main soch bhi nahi sakti thi ke unke zakhm itne gehre honge. Mujhe batao, kya main tumhare liye kuch kar sakti hoon?"

Woh behad pur malal nazar aa rahi thi. Chehre pe chand ghante pehle Hashim ke saath hui mulaqat ka asar aur shikastagi abhi tak barqarar thi, aur woh Haneen ke liye fikarmand bhi thi.

Haneen ne sogwariyat se nafi mein sir hilate hue chehra uthaya. Ainak ke peeche uski aankhon mein behad dukh tha.

"Mera nahi khayal hum phupho ke liye ab kuch kar sakte hain. Main unke liye pehle bhi kuch nahi kar saki thi. Ab mujhe har us rawaiye par bohot sharamindagi hai jo maine unke saath rakha."

Alicia uske kandhe ko thapthapate hue uske saath baithi, purse apne qadmon ke qareeb rakha, aur phir samjhane wale andaz mein kehne lagi:

"Tum purani baaton ko bhool jao, dilon ke saare mail dho daalo. Jin rishton ki mushtarik shay khoon hoti hai, woh ek doosre ki taraf palat ke zaroor aate hain."

Haneen bedili se uski saari baatein sunti gayi. Kisi baat se koi farq nahi pad raha tha. Uski pareshaan nigahen baar-baar corridor ki taraf uthti thi, jiske paar kamre mein Zumar thi. Usne bayan dene ke liye raza-mandi zahir ki thi aur abhi police aa gayi thi. Tab se Saadi aur police officers bahar nahi nikle the.

"Tumhari Ammi kidhar hain? Main unse afsos hi kar leti." Alicia ruki, phir wazaahat dene wale andaz mein boli, "I am sorry, main pichle din bohot masroof rahi. Apni documentary ke silsile mein." Kehte hue uske chehre ka rang qadray pheeka pada, magar Haneen ne note nahi kiya. Alicia ne shukriya ada kiya. apni dosti ko kisi bhi qeemat par daav pe nahi lagana chahti thi.

"Woh mere dada ke paas hain. Unko ghar shift kar diya gaya hai. Woh bohot bimar hain. Phupho ke haadse ne unpe bohot bura asar dala hai."

Woh aahista aahista pesh aane wale tamaam halaat batane lagi. Alicia sunti gayi.

Unse hat kar, corridor ke paar kamre mein, Zumar bistar par leti thi. Chaadar gardan tak daale, sirhane ki taraf se bed thoda uthaya gaya tha, aur woh takiyon se tek lagaye, supaat chehre aur khushk, weeraan aankhon ke saath.

Zumar apne seene pe rakhe baaham mile haathon ko dekh rahi thi. Saadi uske saath khada tha. Bilkul saath. Do police wale samne maujood the, bayan qalam-band kiya ja raha tha.

"Phir Faris Ghazi ne call karke jagah ki tabdili ka bataya. Uske kehne pe main uske restaurant gayi jahan par usne mujhe bulaya tha."

Saadi ne chonk kar use dekha. Use hairat hui ke yeh baat Faris ya Haneen ne usse nahi batayi thi.

"Restaurant mein jaane ke baad kya hua?" ASP Sarmad Shah pooch raha tha.

Zumar ne jawab dene ke liye nigahen uthain, pehle usko dekha, phir gardan pher ke Saadi ko, aur ek haath Saadi ki taraf badhaya. Saadi uska haath pakadte qareeb hua, jaise koi moral support thi jiski usko zaroorat thi. Ab ke usne zyada aitmaad se police officer ko dekha aur boli to awaaz thandi thi.

"Faris ne mujhe call ki aur usne mujhe kaha ke usne apne bhai ko qatal kiya tha aur yeh ke uske paas Alibi nahi tha."

Saadi ne current kha kar apna haath uske haath se nikala. Behadd be-yaqeeni se uska chehra dekha.

Jo Faris ke kahe tamaam alfaaz min o an dohra rahi thi.

"Zumar?" Usne iste'jaab se pukara.

Zumar ne apne khaali reh jaane wale haath ko dekha aur phir Saadi ko. Yeh uske liye ghair-mutwakke tha.

Officer pooch raha tha, "Phir kya hua?"

Aur Zumar Saadi ko dekh rahi thi. Woh bilkul gung tha.

"Aap kya keh rahi hain? Mamu ne aisa kuch nahi kiya."

"Saadi, main udhar thi. Faris ne mujhe call kiya, usne yeh sab mujhe kaha, yeh sab jo maine abhi likhwaya hai. Aur phir usne ye kaha ke woh sirf mujhe aik goli maarega, woh bhi dil mein. Lekin usne mujhe teen goliyan maari. Usne kaha ke woh apni biwi ko bhi qatal karna chahta hai aur mujhe bhi. Aur phir aisa hi hua. Usne shoot kiya. Aap uske ghar jaaye uski guns talaash karein. Uske paas guns ka ek bohot bada collection hai. Mujhe yaqeen hai unhi mein se koi gun usne hamare upar istemal ki hogi. Main toh yeh samajh nahi paa rahi ke woh abhi tak aazad kyun ghoom raha hai? Saadi, tum meri baat sun rahe ho?"

Aakhri alfaaz kehte hue uska aitmaad kam ho raha tha.

Saadi be-had be-yaqeeni se nafi mein sir hilaate hue do qadam peeche hata.

"Zumar! Aapko koi ghalat fehmi hui hai, aisa kuch nahi tha!"

Phir tezi se woh officers ki taraf muda.

"Aap please isko band kar dein! Mujhe apni phupho se baat karni hai. Yeh bayan iske baad bhi kiya ja sakta hai. Please aap abhi baahar jaayein."

Woh unko baahar bhejna chahta tha.

Zumar ke chehre ka rang badla, lab bheench gaye. Usne qadray gusse se Saadi ko dekha.

"Mujhe koi ghalat fehmi nahi hui, maine apne kaano se suna hai! Usne kaha, usne apne bhai ko qatal kiya hai, usne kaha woh apni biwi ko aur mujhe qatal karne ja raha hai, aur usne hum par goli chalayi. Yeh goli hum par Faris ne chalayi! Main is baat ki gawah hoon!"

"Zumar, please khamosh ho jaayein. Kuch bhi mat kahe! Yeh sab koi bohot badi ghalat fehmi hai, please khamosh ho jaayein!"

Woh be-had alert ho gaya tha...

Saadi use rokne ki koshish kar raha tha, lekin use samajh nahi aa raha tha ke woh police walon ko wahan se kaise nikale.

"Saadi, meri baat suno, main sach keh rahi hoon. Mera dimaagi tawazun bilkul barqarar hai. Main kisi bhi duress mein aakar yeh bayan nahi de rahi. Main District Prosecutor Zumar Yousuf hoon, meri ek credibility hai. Main jhoot nahi bol rahi. Yeh sab Faris ne kiya hai, usi ne apne bhai ko maara, usi ne humein bhi marne ki koshish ki. Aap usi ko bula lein, aap usi ko mere samne laakar yeh sab pooch sakte hain."

"Zumar! Please khamosh ho jaiye!"

Woh tarap kar use rokne ki koshish kar raha tha, lekin Zumar ne dekha ke Saadi ka haath ab uske haath mein nahi tha. Usne apna khaali haath peeche kheench liya. Chehre ke ta'ssuraat aur mazeed sard ho gaye.

ASP Sarmad aage badha, Saadi ke kandhe par haath rakha aur tanbihi andaz mein usse dekha.

"Aap baahar chale jaayein. Aur agar aapne call karke Faris Ghazi ko mutanabbeh karne ki koshish ki, to main aapko qanoon ki raah mein rukawat daalne ke jurm mein giraftaar kar sakta hoon. Aur mujhe umeed hai ke aap koi bhi aisi harkat nahi karenge jiska nuksaan sirf aur sirf aapke mamu ko hoga."

Dusre officer ne darwaza khola, woh Saadi ko baahar jaane ka keh rahe the.

Zumar use dekh rahi thi, ba-zahir sapaat aur sard nigahon se, lekin un mein bechaini thi, umeed thi. Jaise woh abhi aayega, uska haath thaam kar kahega, "Meri phupho sach keh rahi hain. Meri phupho jhoot nahi bol sakti!"

Magar Saadi be-yaqeeni aur haq-daq saala ka sirf musalsal nafi mein sar hila raha tha.

"Yeh sab ghalat ho raha hai. Aisa nahi hai. Mere mamu aisa nahi kar sakte. Main sach keh raha hoon, meri baat sunain! Aap please yeh bayan rok dein!"

Magar officer ne uski agli baat nahi suni. Bohat izzat aur ehtram se uski kohni pakdi aur use baahar ka rasta dikhaya, aur darwaza band kar diya.

Zumar ne aankhein band ki, chand gehre saans andar utaare, Aur phir kholi to woh pehle se bhi zyada khud ko samet chuki thi. Usne kehna shuru kiya wohi sab jo uske nazdeek sach tha. Aur yeh sab kehte huye uski nazron ke saamne aspataal ke bistar par leta apna wajood tha. Na ird gird naliya aur machine, na fiza me rachi Basi surgical spirit ki azeeb si boo. Na-kara gurde, dialysis ki zindagi. Kuch bhi na tha sirf falij jada bade Abba the. Sirf wohi.

Behad musmail aur pareshan sa Saadi baahar aaya. Corridor se guzarta hua woh waiting room ke saamne ruka, phir tezi se andar aaya. Haneen aur Alicia wahan baithi baatein kar rahi thi.

"Haneen!"

Uske andaaz par Haneen be-ikhtiyar uth khadi hui, mutafakkir nigahon se uska chehra khoja.

"Kya hua bhai?"

"Jab tum aur mamu aur..." ek nigah Saath khadi foreign ladki par daali, aur phir Haneen ko dekha. "Tumahari Freind Zumar ka intezar kar rahe the hotel me, kya tab mamu ne unhe koi call ki thi?"

Haneen ne na-samajhi se use dekha.

"Kya matlab? Kaisi call?"

"Haneen! Jab tum sab log saath the to kya Mamu ne Zumar ko kisi restaurant mein bulaya tha? unhone unhe koi call ki thi? Kya unhone kaha tha ke woh..." Woh ruka. Yeh alfaaz to woh khud bhi ada nahi kar paa raha tha. Ba-Mushkil himmat mujtama karke bola,

"Unhone kaha tha ke wohi Waris Mamu ke qatil hain... aur woh Zumar ko bhi marna chahte hain, aur Zartasha Aunty ko bhi."

Haneen ke chehre pe pehle hairat ubhri, phir shadeed shock.

"Aap kya keh rahe hain? Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha." Phir usne Alicia ko dekha.

"Alicia, hum sab saath the. Aisa kuch bhi nahi hua tha! Unhone ek-do dafa call ki thi, magar Phupho ka phone band ja raha tha."

Alicia ne bhi utni hi uljhan se Saadi ka chehra dekha.

"Main mudakhlat nahi karna chahti, lekin hum log kam az kam dedh ghanta wahin par rahe, mere hotel ke kamre mein. Aur hum baatein karte rahe the, ya zyada waqt khamosh rahe the. Phir phone aaya ke Zartasha ko goli lagi hai, jo Haneen ke uncle ki biwi thi. Is par yeh dono aikhatte wahan se nikal gaye."

Saadi uski taraf muda. Usne thehar thehar kar usse poocha,

"Kya jab tum log saath the, tum teeno, to kisi ek lamhe ke liye bhi Faris Mamu tum logon se alag hue the?"

Haneen aur Alicia dono ne nafi mein sar hilaya.

"Nahi, aisa kuch bhi nahi hua tha, bhai! Magar aap kyun pooch rahe hain?"

Saadi ne karb se aankhein band ki, kanpati dono haathon se masli. Woh bohot pareshan ho gaya tha.

"Zumar keh rahi hain ke Mamu ne unko call ki, aur unhone kaha ke woh unko shoot karne lage hain... aur yeh ke Mamu ne unke samne aitraf-e-jurm kiya!"

Haneen ke chehre ka shock ek dum na-gawari aur gusse mein dhala. Woh tezi se aage aayi.

"Kya matlab? Mamu ne yeh sab kaha? Phupho jhoot bol rahi hain! Mamu hamare saath the, unhone kuch bhi nahi kaha! Yeh kya mazaak hai?"

Woh taish se buphar rahi thi. Zumar is qisam ki harkat kyun kar sakti thi?

Saadi ne nafi mein gardan hilaayi aur thaka thaka sa kursi pe baith gaya.

"Mujhe kuch nahi pata kya ho raha hai… Magar Zumar ko koi ghalat fehmi huyi hai. Woh Mamu pe ilzaam laga rahi hain, Mamu to khud itne toot gaye hain... Unhone to aisa socha bhi nahi tha ke yeh sab hoga. Mamu ne aisa kuch nahi kiya... Hai na, Haneen?"

Usne taa'id ke liye sir uthakar Haneen ko dekha. Woh uski tarah pareshan na thi, woh ghusse mein thi.

"Meri samajh me nahi aata, Phupho Mamu se kaunsa badla utaar rahi hain? Yeh ek dehshat-gardi ki karwai thi, woh is mein Mamu ko kyun ghaseet rahi hain? Unhein aisa karna bilkul zaib nahi deta. Mujhe unse is cheez ki tawakku nahi thi."

Woh ghusse se wapas baithi. Apne chehre pe pehle ko chhayi wali Zumar ke liye hamdardi khatam ho chuki thi. Wahan sirf aur sirf malal bhari bebasi thi.

Alicia un dono ke samne khadi fikarmandi se bari bari dono ka chehre dekh rahi thi. Uski kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha ke woh kis masle mein phansi jaa rahi hai.

"Bhai! Aap Mamu ko call karein, unse poochhein ke Phupho kya keh rahi hain!"

Saadi ne thaki thaki nigahon se use dekha.

"Main aisa kuch bhi nahi kar sakta jo Faris Ghazi ko mazeed mushtaba banaye. Is bayan ke baad police unse zaroor pooch-gach karegi... Shayad unko giraftaar bhi kar le. Mujhe waqai nahi pata ke hame kya karna chahiye."

"Agar aap nahi bataenge to main unhein call karne ja rahi hoon. Unhein pata hona chahiye ke Phupho unpe kya ilzaam laga rahi hain, aur woh bhi police ke samne!"

"Oh God!" Haneen ka to bas nahi chal raha tha ke woh har cheez ko tehas-nehas kar dale. Woh be-ikhtiyar khadi hui jaise waqai call karne ja rahi ho.

Saadi ne use roka.

"Nahi! Is waqt cheezon ko Kharaab karne ki nahi, unko hal karne ki zaroorat hai."

Haneen ne sawaliya nigahon se bhai ka chehra dekha.

"Phir hum kya karein? Kisi ko bataein? Kis se madad maangein?"

Saadi ne mobile nikala, phone book kholi, number dial kiya. Aur phone kaan se lagate hue Haneen se bola,

"Thank God, hamare rishtedaro mein koi ek shakhs to aisa hai jiske baare mein main keh sakta hoon ke woh har masla sambhal sakta hai."

Doosri taraf ghanti ja rahi thi.

Haneen ne bhanwe sikud kar achambe se socha, phir uske ta'ssuraat dheele pade.

"Oh, Hashim bhai! Aap Hashim bhai ko bula rahe hain. Okay!"

Woh be-araam si ho kar kursi ke kinare baith gayi. Albatta woh abhi bhi bechain thi aur na-khush bhi.

Samne khadi Alicia ke chehre par ek rang aa raha tha aur doosra ja raha tha. Is sari guftagu mein Hashim ka naam sab se waazeh tha. Hashim, phir Hashim... idhar bhi Hashim...

Usne khankhar ke un dono ko mutawajjah kiya.

"Mera khayal hai, mujhe chalna chahiye. Meri Mummy ki call aane wali hai, woh hotel mein mujhe is waqt na paa kar pareshan ho jayengi. Main raat ko phir aaungi, tum pareshaan mat hona."

Qareeb ho ke Haneen ka kandha thaam kar keh rahi thi.

Saadi ne zara ki zara nazar utha kar is foreigner ladki ko dekha jo unke liye be-had fikarmand lag rahi thi. Aur phir doosri taraf jaati ghanti sunne laga...

"Jee Hashim bhai," rabta milte hi wo baccho jesi besakhtgi se bola, "Please aap idhar aa jaye... Jee idhar hi aspataal me... Mujhe nahi pata yaha kya ho raha hai lekin Phupho ko koi galatfehmi huyi hai, aapko tafseel yaha aane par bataunga lekin, wo abhi police ko apna bayan de rahi hai... Wo jo bayan de rahi hai wo hamare khandan ke liye tabahkun saabit ho sakta hai."

Aur dusri taraf car drive karte huye kano me handsfree lagaye Hashim ne thak kar aankhe band ki. Aur phir gehri saans le kar kholi. Bil akhir wo bayaan aa hi gaya tha jiska woh intezar kar raha tha.

"Mein aa raha hoon saadi, tum bilkul fiqr mat karo. Mein sab sambhal lunga! Hashim sab sambhal sakta hai." Halki si muskurahat se usne handsfree kano se utare aur accelerator par paw ka dabao badha diya.

☆☆☆

Police officers zumar ke kamre se nikal rahe the jab corridor ki deewar ke saath lage mayoos aur fikr mand se khade Saadi ne koi aahat si mehsoos kar ke gardan mori.

Reception ki taraf se Hashim chalta hua aa raha tha. Black Suit mein malboos, kalai pe bandhi ghari dekhte hue, doosre haath mein mobile pakray woh tez qadam utha kar qareeb aaya. Tahkkum aur raunat se un officers ko dekha. Woh foran seedhe hue the. ASP ne moad-banah andaaz mein salaam kiya. Hashim ne mahaz sir ke kham se jawab diya aur unhe nazar andaaz kar ke Saadi ki taraf aaya.

"Mujhe mukhtasir batao ke hua kya hai?" Aur use to jaise Hashim bhai ke aane se bohot taqliyat mil gayi thi. Woh pareshani se tez tez bolta usay sari. surat-e-haal samjhaane laga. Hashim ke liye kuch bhi naya nahi tha, magar ba zahir puri tawajjo se sun kar usne sar hilaaya aur use wahin rukne ka keh kar kamre ki taraf barha.

"Mujhe Zumar se akele mein baat karni hai." Andar maujood doctor ko usne bas ek fiqre se bahar bheja, darwaza band kiya aur bed ke saamne aaya.

Qadri tek laga ke leti Zumar ne uktakar Hashim ko dekha aur bezari se munh pher liya.

"Aap jis liye bhi aaye hain, kitnaa hi achha ho, wapas chale jaen kyunke main is waqt kam az kam aap se baat karne ke mood mein nahi hoon."

"Kya yeh sach hai ke aap ne Faris ke khilaf bayan diya hai?" Woh sanjeedgi se pooch raha tha.

Zumar ne wapas munh uski taraf kiya aur bigree taa'surat se boli. "Aap ko mere bayan pe jo bhi aitraaz karna hai, jo bhi wawela karna hai, aap court mein kar sakte hain. Kyunke main apni kisi baat se aik kadam bhi pichhe nahi hatungi."

Hashim ke chehre pe malaal ubhra aur be-yaqini bhi. Woh qareeb aaya.

"Main janta hoon ke aap mujhe kitna na-qabil-e-aitbaar samajhti hain, shauq se samjhiye. Magar aapke bare me, mein aik baat janta hoon, ke aap jhuth nahi bolti aur bila wajah kisi ke bare me itni badi baat nahi keh sakti."

Wo jo bezari se usay dekh rahi thi, kadre chonki. Chehre ke taa'suraat thode naram huye.

"Aap kya kehna chah rahe hain?" Aawaz mein albatta wohi be-etnai aur khushki thi, jaise woh jald az jald Hashim ki company se chutkara pana chahti thi.

"Main sirf itna pooch raha hoon ke kya waqai wahi hua tha jo aap ne police se kaha? Kya waqai aap ne Faris ko aitraaf-e-jurm karte suna?" Kafi tawajjo aur dhyan se usay dekhte pooch raha tha jaise uska kaha gaya ek ek lafz uske liye bohot ahmiyat rakhta ho.

Zumar ne asbaat mein sir hilaaya. "Maine sab sach kaha hai. Ek ek lafz!."

Hashim ne samajhne wale andaaz mein "Ok!" kehte hue Collar se nadidah gard jhaari, coat ka button band kiya aur, "Toh phir aap mujhe hamesha apni himayat mein payengi." Keh kar mud gaya. Zumar usay bahar jate dekhte rahi. Ab bhi uski nigaahon mein bezari thi magar uski shiddat kam thi.

Usne darwaza khola toh bahar khada Saadi nazar aaya. Zumar ki nigaahon mein umeed si jagi. Usne zara gardan utha ke dekha magar Saadi uski taraf nahi dekh raha tha. Woh foran Hashim ki taraf pur umeed sa badha tha.

Darwaza band ho gaya tha. Darmiyan ka rasta ruk gaya. Zumar ne sir be dilli se takiye pe daal diya. Aankh ke kinare pe halki si aansu thi magar usne jaldi se ungli ki nok se usay saaf kar liya. Woh baith ke rone walo mein se kabhi bhi nahi thi. Toh phir aaj kyun? Hm?

"Kya aap ne Zumar se baat ki?" Bahar woh beqarari se Hashim se poochhne laga.

Hashim ne asbaat mein sir hilaate hue uska kandha thapka. "Tum fikar na karo. Hum police station chalte hain. Woh Faris ko arrest karke wahin laayenge."

Saadi ko jhatka laga tha. "Kya woh mamu ko arrest kar lege?"

"Woh district Prosecutor hai, aur woh keh rahi hai ke uske upar Faris Ghazi nami shaksh ne qatalana hamla kiya hai. Woh usko zaroor arrest karenge, isliye tum Faris ke liye mamlaat bigadne ke bajaye thande tareeqe se cheezo ko hal karne ki koshish karo. Aao."

Hashim bahar ki taraf badha to mutajajib sa khada Saadi foran uske peeche Lapka. Haneen bhi ab corridor ke sire par aa khari hui thi. Wo Haneen tak ruka.

"Tum ammi ko phone kar lena aur unse kehna ke woh tumhare paas aayen." Haneen ne asbaat mein sir hilaaya. Kadre mujtaba nazron se samne jaate Hashim ko dekha, jo ab Saadi ke intezaar mein ruk gaya tha. Nigahein mili.

Hashim ne, "Kaise ho beta?" kehte hue goya haal ahwal ka farz nibhaaya aur jawab ke intezaar kiye baghair Saadi ko chalne ka ishara karta muda aur phir Haneen ke saamne woh dono tez tez bahar nikal gaye.

Haneen lab kat ti, waha khadi sochti rahi. Phir Zumar ke room ke darwaze tak aayi. Dastak dene ko haath barhaya magar haath ne darwaze ko nahi chhua. Usne haath gira diya.

Kisi bhi cheez ka koi bhi faida nahi tha. Kam az kam uski Zumar se itni be takallufi nahi thi ke woh aik be-faida guftagu unke saath kar sake. Woh bure dil ke saath wapas palat gayi.

☆☆☆

افکار پر پہرہ ہے، قانون یہ ٹھہرا ہے جو صاحبِ عزت ہے وہ شہر بدر ہوگا۔

Afqar par pehra hai, qanoon yeh thehra hai jo sahib izzat hai woh shehar badar hoga.

• Afqar (افکار) : thoughts

∘❀∘

Police station ke us kamre mein ek khaali meiz bichhi thi aur uske ird gird teen kursiyan. Saadi bechaini se kursi ke kinare tika meiz par kohni rakhke sar haatho mein giraye baitha tha. 21 saala kam umar chehre pe bepanah fikr mandi thi.

Saath wali kursi par Hashim tang par tang rakhke baitha, mobile pe button dabaye ja raha tha. Waqfe waqfe se woh nazar utha ke Saadi ko bhi dekh leta. Kabhi kabhi kandhe pe haath rakh ke tasalli amaiz andaaz mein thapka deta.

"Main sab sambhal loonga. Be fikar raho." Saadi ne bad-diqqat muskurane ki koshish ki, magar is waqt kisi bhi cheez ka dil nahi chah raha tha. Wo kitni hi dair se Faris Ghazi se mulaqat ke liye baithay the, magar koi use laa hi nahi raha tha. Bahar phelti sars peher raat mein dhal chuki thi. Saadi uth kar kamre mein muztarib sa chakkar kaatne laga.

Yeh khayal ke Faris ek na-karda jurm ki paadash mein, kisi ghalat fehmi ki wajah se hawalaat mein band hai, uske liye intehai takleef-deh tha. Hashim mobile par button dabaaye jaa raha tha.

Achanak darwaza khula. Hashim ne kaafi pur-sukoon andaaz mein, aur Saadi ne be-had betaabi se us taraf dekha. Do ahlkaar Faris Ghazi ko andar la rahe the. Uske haathon mein hathkariyan thi.

Woh jeans aur round-neck wali grey shirt malboos, jiske aasteen kalai tak aati thi. Faris intehai gusse bhari bebasi ki kefiyat mein tha. Abroo bhinche the aur uski sunehri aankhon mein shadeed talkhi thi.

Hashim ne foran mobile rakh kar uthte hi ek kadak nazar ahlkaar par daali.

"Hathkadi kholo."

Uska andaaz itna sakht tha ke bina koi sawal kiye, foran Faaris ki hathkadiyan khol di gayin. Faris ne haath jhatke, kalai khinchi aur taang par tang rakh ke baitha. Uske maathe pe abhi tak bal the.

"Tum theek ho?"

Hashim masnoi hamdardi se poochhte hue khada raha, jabki Saadi jaldi se aakar uske saath wali kursi par baitha. Faris ne ek teekhi nazar Hashim par daali aur istehzaaiya sar jhatka jaise keh raha ho ki mujhe is haalat mein dekh kar sabse zyada khushi tumhein hi hui hogi. Hashim uski sard mehri mehsoos kar ke darwaze ki taraf badha.

"Main ASP se mil kar aata hoon. Tum baat sun lo." Saadi ko ishara kar ke woh baahar nikal gaya. Ab ke Faris ne unhi taa'surat se use dekha.

"Kya waqai tumhari phupho ne mujh par yeh ilzaam lagaya hai?"

Uski aankhon mein shadeed gussa tha. Saadi ne bebasi se nafi mein sar hilaaya.

"Main khud samajh nahi paa raha yeh kya hua hai. Kya aapne unhein call ki thi? Kya aapne unko restaurant mein bulaya tha?"

"MAINE UNHI KISI RESTAURANT MEIN NAHI BULAYA THA... HOTEL ME BULAYA THA... HANEEN THI, USKI WO DOST THI. MAINE UNHE KOI CALL NAHI KI THI. MAIN SAMAJH NAHI PAA RAHA, MADAM MERE BAARE MEIN AISI BAATEIN KYUN KAR RAHI HAIN? YEH SAB JHOOTH HAI, BAKWAAS HAI!" Usne taish se kehte hue maiz par mukka maara.

Saadi peeche ko hua. Lab kaat-te hue sochne laga. Ab kuch-kuch surat-e-haal samajh mein aa rahi thi.

"Magar unhone kaha aapne unhein call karke kaha hai ke aapne hi Waris Ghazi ka qatl kiya hai, aur yeh bhi ke..." Saadi ruka. Usse woh tamaam takleef-deh alfaaz yaad the jo Zumar ne uske saamne officer ko bataaye the.

"...aur yeh ke main tumhein sirf ek goli maarunga, Zumar aur is tarah ki bohot saari baatein." Woh waqai dohra nahi paa raha tha. Use sharmindagi ho rahi thi. Aakhir Zumar is kism ki baat kaise kar sakti thi?

"Main Madam se aisi baat kyun karunga? Mere paas do gawaah hain, Haneen aur Alicia. Hum saara waqt ek saath rahe. Maine kisi se aisi koi baat nahi ki. Aur main usko kaise goli maar sakta hoon? Mere paas toh us waqt koi gun bhi nahi thi!"

"Magar jo goli phupho ko maari gayi thi, woh Alicia ke saath wale kamre ki khidki se maari gayi... aur jab police ne wahan chapa mara toh wahan mojood gun aapki thi. Yeh wahi American gun thi jo aapne black mein Peshawar se khareedi thi. Aur aapke nishaan lage glass aur cutlery bhi wahan se kabze me li gayi hain. Fingerprints ke results aa gaye hain. Woh kamra bhi aapke naam booked tha aur hotel ke us floor ke CCTV cameras bhi kharaab the. So aap Alicia ke kamre mein gaye ya doosre kamre mein, koi saboot nahi hai. Aur is pe mujt-jaj Zumar ka yeh bayaan... main kuch bhi samajh nahi paa raha, aakhir ho kya raha hai, Faris Mamu?"

Woh Hashim ki batayi gayi maloomat, jo baad mein Zumar ke bayaan ke baad manzar-e-aam par layi gayi thi, dohrata gaya. Aakhir mein uski bebasi bhi jaise barhami mein badalne lagi.

Hashim wapas aa gaya tha aur ab khamoshi se kursi par baitha tha.

Faris ne ab ke gaur se uska chehra dekha. "TUM YEH KEHNA CHAH RAHE HO KE MAIN JHOOTH BOL RAHA HOON? MAIN BAKWAAS KAR RAHA HOON, HAAN?"

"Main sirf itna poochh raha hoon... kya aapne phupho ko call ki thi?"

"MAIN NE KISI KO KOI CALL NAHI KI. MAIN MADAM SE AISI BAAT KAISE KAR SAKTA HOON KE MAIN UNHEIN GOLI MAARNE WALA HOON? RUBBISH! GOLI MARNE SE PEHLE KAUN BATATA HAI?"

Usne ishtiaal se sar jhatka, jaise bas na chal raha ho ke is maiz ko utha kar Saadi ke upar de maare. Saadi ek dum ruk kar use dekhne laga, ajnabi, ajeeb nazron se.

"Madam kaun?"

"Tumhari Phupho, Aur Kaun!" Faaris akhda-akhda sa bola.

"Aap Zumar ko ‘Madam’ kehte hain, right?" Uske zehan mein jaise alarm baj raha tha. Qadre purjosh hokar woh aage ko hua. "Lekin Zumar ne jo bayaan diya hai, usme unhone bataya ke aapne unhein ‘Zumar’ keh kar mukhatib kiya hai. Magar aap bhi phupho ka naam nahi lete. Mujhe yaad hai, aap hamesha unhein ‘Madam’ kehte the."

"Oh damn!" Hashim ne karaah kar jaise aankhein band ki.

Script likhne mein zara si ghalti kitni tabah-kun sabit ho sakti thi.

Faaris ne halka sa shana uchkaya. "Isse kya farq padta hai?" Woh abhi tak Saadi ki baat ka matlab nahi samjha tha.

Saadi tezi se khada hua. "Main jaanta hoon aapne kuch nahi kiya. Aap sach keh rahe hain, aapne waqai unhein koi call nahi ki." Usne tasalli dene wale andaaz mein Faris ke kandhe par haath rakha. Hashim bhi uth khada hua.

"Main baahar intezaar kar raha hoon tumhara." Bahar nikal gaya.

"Hashim bhai bohot jald aapko yahan se nikal lenge."

"Haan?" Faris ne istehzaaiya sar jhatka. "Hashim? Aur Mere liye koshish karega? Kabhi bhi nahi. woh jo kar raha hai, woh bhi sirf dikhaawe ke liye hai. Main usko jaanta hoon. Apna matlab na ho, toh woh kisi ki madad nahi karta."

Saadi ne muta'ajib sa ho kar use dekha. "Woh un pehle logo mein se the jo aapki begunahi par yaqeen kar raha tha. Kam az kam unke baare mein aapko itna manfi nahi hona chahiye. Aap tasalli rakhein, Hashim bhai aapko bohot jald riha karwa lenge."

Faris shakki sa kuch badbada kar chup ho gaya.

Uski aankhon mein pichhle chand dino se chaaya maal aur karb ab shadeed gusse mein dhal raha tha.

Aakhir Zumar ne us par itna bada ilzaam kya soch kar lagaya hai?

Woh achi tarah janti thi ke Faris qatl nahi kar sakta Ya shayad woh kisi aur ki jagah uska naam le rahi thi? Shayad woh kisi aur ko cover kar rahi thi?

Pata nahi.

Usne sar jhatka.

Saadi ab baahar ja raha tha. Use jald az jald phupho se milna tha. ㅤ ㅤ

ㅤ

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