kamra e adalat mein ghair mamooli sannta tha. Garmi apne joban pe thi. Onchi khidkiyo se garam hawa ke thappde andar aa rahe the. Aise mein istifada aur difa ke benches pe tanaw ziyada khaamoshi thi. Judge sahab ghaz se parh kar apna tawil faisla sun rahe the aur sab mutawajah ho kar sun rahe the.

Aise mein sirf difa ki kursiyo par baitha woh safed kurta aur kasi hui pony wala mard tha jo har ek se la parwaha aur be-nyaaz kabhi exercise ke andaaz mein gardan ko daaye aur baaye kandhe ki taraf jhukata, kabhi ungliya chatkata, kabhi kaan ki lo maslne lagta. Kabhi halki halki shave se baal nochta. Gharz woh bore hota dikhayi de raha tha. Munh mein kuch chaba bhi raha tha. Uske apne wakeel Khilji sahab bhi waqfe waqfe se usay dekhte the. Unko apni taraf nigahe pherte dekh kar woh halka sa muskrata aur phir chehra kisi aur taraf mod kar bilkul sapat se taa'surat bana leta. Khilji sahab sar jhatak kar reh jate. Faris Ghazi unko isi tarah kabhi kabhi aajiz kar deta tha.

"Adalat ne Sarkar banam Faris Ghazi mein tamam gawaho, police aur maqtool ke ahl-e-khana sab ke bayanat aur digar sharahid ka baghor mutaliya kiya hai. Hum ne forensic report aur post-mortem report aur police ki tafeesh ko bhi bohot tawajjo se dekha hai." Judge sahab ki awaaz kamre mein goonj rahi thi. Aise mein Faris, Khilji sahab ki taraf jhuka aur sargoshi ki.

"Yeh kitni der tak aur bolega?"

Khilji sahib ne aik barham nigah us par daali. "Ghazi thora sabr karo. Yeh tumhari zindagi ka ahem tareen din hai. Chaar saal se tum qaid mein pade ho, Aaj ya toh tum riha ho jaoge ya phansi charhoge. Is liye fil waqt dua karo."

"Acha!" Usne tabedari se sar hilaaya. "Lekin yeh abhi kitni der aur bolega?"

Khilji sahab ne gehri saans li. "Jitni der bhi bolega tumhe usko sunna hoga." Faris gehri saans le kar peeche ho gaya.

"Gawaho ke apne hi bayanat se phir jane aur bohot se gawahaan ke pesh na hone ke bawajood adalat ke liye faisla karna aasan ho gaya hai." Judge sahab ki awaaz goonj rahi thi. Woh ainak naak par dhare chehra jhukaaye nuqat parh parh kar na rahe thay.

"Na kaafi gawaho aur adam saboot ke bais Faris Ghazi le lage ilzamaat mein shak paida ho gaya hai. Istighasha ke saboot go ke apni jagah thos hain lekin woh kisi bhi soorat reasonable doubt se mustasna nahi hain. Is liye adalat hamesha ki tarah shak ka faida mulzim Faris Zaheer Ghazi ko hi dene jaari hai."

Faris ab munh mein musalsal kuch chabata, khidki si chhan kar aati dhoop ko dekh raha tha. Uski sunehri aankhe roshni ki kirano ke bais jalte bujhate diye jaisi lag rahi thi.

"Is zaman mein Faris Ghazi, wald Taheer Ghazi apni biwi Zartasha Ghazi aur sotele bhai Waris Ghazi ke qatal ke case mein mujrim sabit nahi hota. Is liye muazziz adalat Faris Ghazi ke upar lage tamam charges mustarid karke police ko unki ba-izzat rihaai ka hukm jaari karti hai. Nez is case hai aur un ilzamat se hamesha ke liye mulzim ko bari karti hai..."

Khilji sahab aur unke saathi wakeel be ikhtiyar khade huye the, Woh aik doosre se gale mil rahe the. Istighasha (complaint) ke bench par aik bezaari si thi. Woh hairaan bhi the aur bad dil bhi. Khaamoshi majrooh hui thi. Judge sahab faisla sunakar ke ja rahe thay. Aawaaze buland ho rahi thi.

Aise me khilji sahab ne ekdam usay dhundha chaha to dekha wo chupchap kamra e adalat se bahir Jaa raha tha. Tab wo uske pichhe lapke.

rahdari mein unhon ne usay jaliya. Woh sipahiyo ki maiyyat mein ja raha tha magar usay hathkadi nahi lagayi gayi thi.

"Ghazi! Mubarak ho." Woh usse gale mile. Phir alag huay. "Saadi ne bohut mehnat ki tumhare case ke liye tumhe bohot mubarak ho ke tum riha ho gaye ho. Double Jeopardy ke qanoon ke tehat ab kabhi bhi in do qatalo ka muqaddama tumhare upar nahi chalaya jayega."

"Afsos!" Faris ne hole se sar jhatka. Uske chehre pe sadgi si thi. "Subah do police walo se jhagda hua mera, Abhi unko sabaq sikhana tha. Lekin ab riha ho gaya hoon. Yeh nahi ho sakta. Kuch din mil jate to unki tabiyat acche se saaf karta."

Khilji sahab ne afsos se usay dekha. "Tumhein jail ne kya bana diya hai Faris Ghazi. Siwaye ladai jhagde ke tum har cheez bhoolte ja rahe ho. Tumhari zubaan bhi C class qaidiyo wali ho gayi hai."

"Le C block mein hi to tha..." Usne shane uchkaye Khilji sahab ne bohut se sakht alfaaz andar roke.

"Lekin ab tum riha ho gaye ho. Ab tumne apni zindagi mein koi jaldbaazi aur bewakoofi nahi karni. Ab yeh badmaasho walay kaam chhod do. Shareef aadmi ban kar raho. Jaise society mein raha jata hain. Tumhare khandaan walo ne bohot bhaag daud ki hai tumhare liye. Ab unko apni taraf se pareshan na karna."

"Achha!" Woh laparwahi se idhar udhar dekh raha tha. Chehra be taasur sa tha.

"Ab yahaan se nikal kar koshish karna ke achi job dhoondho, Achhi si ladki se shaadi karo, Aur aik pur sukoon zindagi guzaaro. Apne ghusse ko control karna seekho. Bahir ki duniya jail jaisi nahi hai Ghazi. Ismein tum baat baat par logo ki haddi pasli nahi tod sakte, Ab tumhein apni zindagi ko sanjeeda lena hoga." Phir ruk kar usay dekha. "Kuch poochoge nahi apne case ke baare mein?'"

Faris ne sanjeedgi se unhein dekha. "Fees mil gayi aap ko abhi ya nahi?"

Khilji sahab ne goya bar maan kar uska chehra dekha jo bilkul sapat tha, jaisi kisi baat ka koi asar nahi hua hai. Isse pehle ke woh kuch kehte unhone ne yaka yak kuch mehsoos kiya. Jaise aik lamhe ke liye kuch badla tha. Faris ki nigaho ka rukh. Woh unke kandhe ke peeche kisi ko dekh raha tha. Aur uski aankhon ki saari kefiyat badal gayi thi. Khilji sahab ne palat kar dekha. Rahdari mein bohot se log chalte ja rahe thay. Unmein woh bhi thi.

Ghunghriyale baalo wali prosecutor jiski naak mein heere ki aik long damak rahi thi. Woh do aurato ke humraah chalti seedh mein dekhti aage ja rahi thi. Faris ke qareeb se guzri to nigah uthi. Uski aankhein bhuri thi, Ek saniya ko bhuri aankhe sunehri aankho se mili phir woh aage barh gayi. Faris Ghazi ka chehra us ek pal mein bilkul badal gaya tha. Jaise woh koi aur insaan ho. Lekin agle hi pal woh wapis waisa hi ho gaya aur sar jhatak kar doosri simt mein holiya.

Khilji sahab ne bohot dafa un dono ko rahdariy aur baramdo mein aik doosre ke paas se guzarte dekha tha. Har dafa yeh aik lamha zaroor aata tha.

Uski rihaai ki khabar Hashim ko jab mili to woh corridor mein khada kisi se phone pe baat kar raha tha. Usne kamal zabt se apne kadwe huye taa'surat chhupa liye. Woh abhi itna masroof tha ke aik dam react nahi kar sakta tha. Albatta usne khud se ehad kiya ke agar us mein Saadi ka haath hai to usay hisaab dena hoga. Aur tawajjo zumar ki taraf mabzool kar di jo samne se file ke safhae sarsari andaaz mein palatti tez tez is taraf aa rahi thi.

Ek mamooli khatoon aur aik dupatta oṛhay no jawan ladki bhi uske humrah thi. Hashim corridor ke sire par usay mila tha. Zumar us ke salaam ka mukhtasir jawab de kar aage holi. Woh bina kuch kahe saath chalne laga. Ek crew cut wala no jawan uski baye jaanib tha.

Court room tak ki yeh walk khamoshi se kat jati agar Hashim ki kisi baat ke jawab mein wo no jawan bigde taa'surat se yeh na kehta. "Unhein mera shukar guzār hona chahiye ke mein raqan adaa kar raha hoon. Warna court mein yeh mujhe rapist sabit nahi kar sakte." Saath hi dabe huye ghusse se us ladki ko dekha.

Hashim ne nazro se tanbeeh ki magar Zumar ke qadam aik dam rukay thay. Woh ghoom kar us ke samne aayi aur sanjeeda magar tikhi nighao se usay dekha, "Aap ko mera shukar guzār hona chahiye ke maine aap ko settlement di hai. Warna agar hum trial pe jate to aap ko maloom hai kya hota?" Hashim ne abroo uthakar ladke ko khamosh rehne ka ishaara kiya. Magar woh jo pehle hi bohot bure mood mein tha, ukhra ukhra sa bola.

"Main ba'izzat bari ho jata aur mujhe yeh Paise na dene parte aur meri job..."

Muddai larki ki maan talkhi se kuch bud budayi thi. Hashim ne ladke ko haath uthakar khamosh kiya aur Zumar ko dekh kar sanjeedgi se bola.

"Madam prosecutor, mein aap ko batata hoon ke trial pe jane ke baad kya hoga?"

Alfaz ki sanjeedgi ke bawajood Hashim ki muskaraahat barqarar thi. "Barah saal, kam se kam bhi barah saal case adalat mein chalega aur kuch sabit nahi hoga. Sana ne Fareed ko khud wahan bulaya tha. Mere paas un ke text messages ka record hai. Aur is baat se Sana inkar nahi kar rahi ke un ka chhota mota sahi, magar affair tha to. Na sirf mein adalat mein is affair ke saboot pesh karunga balkay das aise logo ko bhi laoonga jin ko is ladki ne zindagi mein kabhi dekha bhi nahi hoga aur woh Qur'an par haath rakh kar kahenge ke unke saath bhi yehi kar chuki hai. Mein isay adalat mein peshawar aurat sabit kar ke dikhaunga. Iske khandan aur mohalla isko disown kar dega, aur koi isse shadi nahi karega aur barah saal baad aakhri peshi pe jab yeh haar jayegi to iske paas na shohar hoga aur na bache Is liye aap ko waqai mera shukr guzār hona chahiye ke humne aap ko settlement di hai."

Fareed ne fakhr se muskara kar Hashim ko dekha. Sana ki maa ne labo mein koi baddua bud budayi. Sana ke chehre ka rang badal chuka tha. Zumar halka sa muskarayi aur nafi mein sar hila diya.

"Asal mein hoga yeh Hashim! Ke jab case trial pe jayega to mein isay trial tak nahi rakhungi. Pehle mahine mein hi mein poori story media par leak kar dungi. Yeh shaam ke akhbaar ki surkhi jitna case nau baje ki khabro mein aayega. Aath aur das baje wale talk shows is pe baat karenge. Sana ko morning show pe bulaya jayega jahan yeh male chauvinists qisam ki khawateen ke saath baith kar zulm ki poori daastaan sunayegi. NGOs iske liye walk karenge. Yeh international seminars par mad'oo hogi. Anti-army tabqa isko Fareed ki Sana ke saath nahi, balkay aik jarnail ko bete ki aik mazloom ladki ke saath ziyadti bana dega aur tumhara.." Fareed ki taraf rukh karte hue us ne baat jaari rakhi.

"Social circle tumhe out kar dega. Tumhara boss tumhari report par mushkook alfaz likhe ga. Koi bhi ladki tum se shaadi karne se pehle so dafa soche gi kyunki qatil ko log qubool kar lete hain, badkirdar ko nahi. Mein sana ko aik star bana dungi aur barah saal baad tum case jeet bhi jao to tum bohot kuch haar chuke hoge. Aur woh haare hue rishte tumhe yeh tumhara pachaas hazaar ke hair cut aur dhaai lakh ke suit pehne khada wakeel wapis nahi la kar dega. So agar mein tumhari jagah hoti to prosecutor ke samne apne munh se nikalne wale aglay alfaz ko rokh leti."

Muskaraahat madhoom thi aur aik katili nazar undono pe daal kar woh aage barh gayi. Fareed ka chehra ab Sana se mukhtalif na tha. Hashim pe albatta koi asar na hua tha. Woh kandhe zara se uchka kar us ke peeche ho liya.

☆☆☆

Usne pair mukammal kar liya tha aur abhi imtihani dauraniya khatam hone mein pandrah minute thay. Tab tak muntahin teachers ne usay wahan baithe rehne ko kaha tha. Haneen parcha ulta rakh baithe baithe likh likh kar dhukti ungliyo par jin pe kahin kahin ink lag gayi thi ko sehla rahi thi. Usay paper kar ke parhne ki aadat nahi thi aur baad mein bahar ladkiyo ke group mein kharay ho kar aik aik jawab milane se to woh bhagti thi. Aadhe jawab to woh galat nikal aate thay.

"Bas teen parche mazeed aur phir BA khatam. Shukar hai" usne khud ko tasalli di. Phir idhar udhar dekha. Ladkiya sar jhukai dhar idhar likhe ja rahi thi. Imtihani amle ki khawateen kadi nazro se dekh rahi thi. Haneen ki nazrein roshan daan tak gayi. "Teen teen, teen aik total huye das..." woh isi tarah khidkiya darwaze, sadak kinare darakht ginna karti thi aur woh bhi das das ke group bana kar phir se shuru karti.

Sare darwaze ginn kar us ne aik khushk siyahi wala qalam nikala aur uski nib ko kursi ke baazu par ragar kar un dekhe alfaz likhne lagi. Woh aamuman phool banati thi ya usually apna naam likhna shuru ho jati. Haneen Yousuf, Haneen Yousuf, Haneen... Haneen... aur la-shaoori tor par uske bina siyahi ke qalam ne likhna shuru kar diya.

Hashim Kardar.. Hashim.. Hashim

Woh aik dam chonki. Phir qadre ghabrahat se idhar udhar dekha. Chehre ka rang thoda surkh ho gaya. Bechaini se mathe pe gire bal theek kiye. Jo baat kabhi kisi se na kahi ho woh achanak bahar nikal aaye jaise bhara hua glass chhalak jata hai to insaan apne hi haatho se darne lagta hai. Us ne qalam rakh diya. Phir aankhein band ki.

Nazro ke samne woh chand lamhat chand ghadiya guzri... jab us ne kabhi Hashim ko dekha tha ya us se mili thi. Khandani dawate.. tehwar woh unki maa ke sotele bhai ka first cousin tha. Har waqt muskurata hua... bohot shaandar aur mutasir kun magar aik door ka rishtedaar. Us ke qareeb khade ho kar usay dekhna aise tha jaise banda Eiffel Tower ke neeche, hojoom mein khada ho.

Magar ab Eiffel tower tak gaye bhi kitna arsa ho gaya tha. Khandan mein door door tak koi aisi taqreeb hi nahi hui jis mein uski aik jhalak bhi nazar aa jati. Pata nahi kab dobara woh usay dekhe gi?

Us ne be-dili se socha aur khushk nib se phir se kuch banane lagi, phir phool, phir Haneen aur phir se Hashim...

☆☆☆

Hashim ne darwaze par dastak di aur phir handle pakad kar dhakela.

Andar office mein pur sukoon khamoshi thi. Woh apni kursi par baithi thermos se pyali mein chai undail rahi thi. Qareeb hi files aur moti siyah jild wali kitabe khuli rakhi thi. Zumar ne bas aik nazar usay dekha phir khamoshi se chini daan uthaya.

"Um hmm, mujhe phiki chai pasand hai," Hashim ne muskara kar kehte huay mana kiya.

Darwaze band kar ke andar aaya. Kursi kheechi tang par tang rakh kar baitha, coat ka button khola aur uske aage se pyali uthakar apni lips se lagai. Zumar ne abroo uchka kar chini daan wapas rakh diya aur file ke safhe palatne lag gayi.

Do teen ghoont bhar kar Hashim ne pyali mez par rakh di, phir khushgawar muskaraahat se usay dekh kar bola. "So, hum ab theek hain aapas mein?"

"Aap ko kya lagta hai?" Woh file pe chehra jhukay sanjeedgi se boli.

"Shayad nahi... kyun ke jis tarah abhi bahar aap mere haircut aur suit ko darmiyan me laayi..." Hashim ne zara se shaane uchkaaye. "Ispe mein sirf itna kahunga ke aap aik muntaqim mizaj khatoon hai.."

Usne nigah mein uthakar sanjeedgi se Hashim ko dekha. "Agar agli dafa aap ne kisi ko yun mere samne harasa karne ki koshish ki... to hum iske baad theek nahi honge. Is that clear?"

"Cristel!" Hashim ne piyali se dobara ghoont bharte hue muskara kar us ka chehra dekha. Us ke ghunghriyale baal clutcher mein bandhe thay. Naak ki long chamak rahi thi aur sukdi hui aankho mein thandi si be-rahmi thi.

"Mein apni job kar raha tha, phir bhi maafi mangta hoon."

"Aap ko maangni bhi chahiye." Woh phir se file ki taraf mutawajeh ho gayi. Chand lamho ke liye Hashim kuch na bola to Zumar ne sar uthakar usay dekha.

"Mujhe yaqeen hai aap sirf sorry karne nahi aaye. Aap ko koi favor chahiye." File band kar ke woh peeche ho kar baithi. "Kahiye, mein sun rahi hoon."

Hashim ne muskara kar aik paper bag samne rakha. Zumar ne usay khola. Andar se aik card nikla.

"Kya aap dobara shadi kar rahe hain?" Usi sard andaaz mein muskara kar Zumar ne card samne kiya. Woh halka sa hasa.

"Ohho.. Meri beti Sonia ki chhati salgirah hai aur aap invited hain."

Zumar ne card dekha. Woh mustateel dibbe mein rakha tha. Kisi shield ki tarah. Sab siyah tha aur samne sunehri ribbons se woh bin-dhakan ka dabba band hota tha. Andar aik chhota RSVP card bhi rakha tha. Jis ki aik satar mein shirkat karne ki haami aur doosre mein mazrat thi aur dono ke aage khaali khane bane thay.

"Thank you Hashim... mein koshish karoon gi, wada nahi karti. Magar invitation aur favor mein farq hota hai." Us ne card be-neyazi se mez par daal kar usi thanday pur sukoon andaaz mein poocha.

Hashim ne abroo se paper bag ki taraf ishara kiya. Zumar ne dekha us mein aik aur card bhi tha. Us ne woh nikala. Us par darj tha: "Saadi Yusuf and Family"

Hashim ne ghor se Zumar ke badalte ta'assurat dekhe. Uski aankho mein takleef ubhri. Chehre pe muztrib sa ehsaas numaya hua. Phir wohi khamoshi chha gayi. Us ne be-taasur aankho se Hashim ko sawaali andaaz mein dekha.

"Aap usay courier kar de ya hand deliver?"

"Nah woh mere courier karne se aayega, nah khud bulane se. Magar aap kahengi to woh aayega."

Zumar ne dheere se shane uchkaye. "Main usay bhijwa doon gi. Kehlwa bhi doon gi. Magar woh apni marzi ka malik hai. Aap kisi ko majboor to nahi kar sakte na.."

Woh pehle jise andaaz mein bol rahi thi. Magar samundar mein Patthar phekne ke baad ke bante daire abhi tak phail rahe thay.

"Nah main aaj paida hua hoon, nah aap. Hum dono jaante hain ke woh aap ka kaha nahi talega." Hashim zara aage hua. Us ki aankho mein gehri sanjeedgi thi. "Saadi ko meri party mein hona chahiye kisi bhi tarah. Aap usay wahan laayengi."

Zumar ne jawab nahi diya. Woh bas cards ko dekhti rahi. Hashim cup rakh kar wapas peeche hua aur us ke chehre ko muskara kar parhte hue narmi se se poocha.

"Woh kya kar raha hai aaj kal? Hm?"

"job!" Woh kisi soch mein thi.

Hashim khaamosh raha. Chai thandi ho chuki thi. Usne phir bhi aakhri ghont andar undhela aur zara awaaz se piyali rakh di.

Zumar ne nazre uthakar usay dekha aur halke se isbat mein sir hilaaya. "Aap abhi tak yahin hain, yani aap ko koi aur bhi favor chahiye?"

Hashim ne muskara kar sir ko khum diya aur bolne ke liye lab khole ke...

"mera jawab inkaar hai."

Woh kuch kehte kehte ruk gaya.

"Abhi maine kuch kaha hi nahi."

"Main jaanti hoon aap kya kehna chahte hain." Daire ab phail phail kar mitt chuke the aur woh sanjal chuki thi. "Aap ko Sarkar banam Abdul Ghafoor Haider me settlement chahiye, magar nahi hum trial pe ja rahe hain."

Hashim ki muskaraahat ghaib ho gayi. Us ne waqai hairat se abroo uthayi. "Lekin yeh aik accident tha. Ghalti driver ki nahi thi. Phir bhi woh diyyat dene ko tayar hai."

"Woh aik sola saal ki larki thi jo is accident mein mar gayi hai Hashim. Hum trial pe ja rahe hai."

"Agar ladki ka khandaan diyat lene par razi ho gaya, tab prosecutor ka kya khayal hoga?"

"Tab prosecutor apni jeb se diyyat jitni raqam ada kar ke mutasira khandaan ko majboor kar dega ke woh trial pe jayein."

"Oh... Aap khud yeh raqam ada karegi unko?" Usne masnoi hairat se abroo uthayi.

Zumar pehli dafa poore dil se muskarayi.

"Main ne kaha hum trial pe ja rahe hain, main nahi. Sorry, magar aap ko shaayad maloom nahi, yeh case mein plead nahi kar rahi. Yeh prosecutor Basirat ka case hai."

Woh aik lamhe ke liye bilkul khamosh reh gaya, bhanwe sikud kar us ne waqatan achmbhe se Zumar ko dekha aur phir samjhte hue sir hilaaya.

"Pachas hazaar ka haircut aur do laakh ka suit. Aap waqai aik muntiqim mizaj khatoon hain." Bazahir muskurate hue woh keh raha tha. "Aap ne jaan boojh bhooj kar yeh case unhein de diya kyunki jab unhein maloom hoga ke diffence mein Hashim ka case hai, toh woh kabhi usay settle nahi karenge."

"Good very good."

Zumar ne muskara kar abroo uchhaye.

"Main maaf nahi kiya karti Hashim, you know that. Kya main ab bhi aap ki party mein invited hoon?"

"Bilkul! Aur aap Saadi ko bhi laayengi. Hamare zaati taluqat is sab ki wajah se mutasir nahi ho sakte." Woh muskara kar uthaa. Coat ka button band kiya. Baar baar bajta mobile silent kiya. Phir usi rasan se bola.

"Main is case ko settle karwauga. Hashim sab sambhal leta hai, you know that. Bawajood is ke ke Basirat sahab ke paas aaj ke baad bohot waqt hoga." Usne samundar mein doosra patthar phenka.

"Kyun? Aaj kya hua hai?" Us ne dobara se files khol li.

"Unke case ka faisla jo aa gaya hai."

"Kis case ka?" Woh ab aik satar ko under line kar rahi thi. Hashim ne jawab nahi diya. Zumar ne doosri satar under line ki. Phir aikdam Us ne chonk kar sar uthaya.

"Kis..? kis case ka?" Ab ke sawal ki noiyat mukhtalif thi. Aankho mein bepanah shock aur izterab tha aur chehra safed parhta ja raha tha. Jaise sonahri sahra mein achanak se baraf baari ho jaye.

"Oo... aap ko nahi maloom tha? Mujhe bhi abhi pata chala." Hashim ko jaise bohot afsos hua tha.

"Kya faisla aaya?" Us ne agli saans mein poocha. Woh jagah se bhi nahi uthi. Gardan uthakar Hashim ko dekhte woh bilkul saakin thi.

"Not guilty. Har ilzaam se bari." Hashim ne hamdardi se sar jhuka. "I’m sorry." Phir dobara se bajte mobile ki taraf mutajeh hota bahar nikal gaya. Corridor mein aakar us ne talkh muskurahat ke sath us ke office ke band darwaze ko dekha. Bahar

"Main bhi maaf nahi karta, you little bitch.." aur sar jhatak kar aage barh gaya. Andar, Zumar abhi tak usi tarah baithi thi. Sahra mein baraf baari hanuz jari thi.

☆☆☆

-یہی جنوں کا یہی طوق و دار کا موسم..!

"Yehi junoon ka yehi toq-o-daar ka mousam."

∘❀∘

Do peher sehe peher mein badal gayi. Magar us jail ka aahni gate waisa hi tap raha tha. Bahir nikal kar us ne sonahri aankho ki putliya sikhude idhar udhar kisi ko talash kiya aur phir woh usay nazar aa gaya. Door gaadi ke darwaze se aik lagaye khara saadi. Usay aata dekh kar Saadi bhi muskurate hue aage barha. Dono ne qadam qadam faasla aboor kiya aur aamne samne aaye. Faris apne bhanje se do inch lamba tha.

Us ne mushafe ke liye haath yun barhaya jaise arm wrestling ke liye panja barhate hain. Saadi ne jawab mein nicha us ke haath se milaya. Fatah ka nishan Saadi muskura raha tha. Faris sanjeeda tha.

"Kahan chalein?" Car mein baith kar pehla sawal Saadi ne poocha.

"Hamare ghar ya kardars ki taraf?"

"Qabristan"

Saadi ne "hmm" keh kar gaadi start kar di. Faris ne aik nazar dono ki seats ke darmiyan gear ke sath khane mein rakhe Saadi ke mobile ko dekha aur phir khidki se bahar dekhne laga.

"Main aau?" Qabristan ke sire par gaadi rok kar Saadi ne poocha.

"Mujhe tanhai ki aadat hai waqt lagega." Yeh wazeh nahi tha. Keh kar woh nikal gaya.

Saadi khamoshi se usay jate dekhta raha tha. Us ne yeh nahi dekha ke us ka mobile ab khane mein nahi pada tha.

Qabristan mein un do qabro pe fateha parh kar woh uth gaya. Phir aik darakht ki oat mein aaya jahan se Saadi usay nahi dekh sakta tha aur us ke mobile number dial kiya.

"Haan, Stepney... Ghazi bol raha hoon." Baat karte hue adatan kaan ki lo ko do ungliyo se masal raha tha. "Haan, main bahar aa gaya hoon. Baat suno dhyaan se. Mujhe kuch cheeze chahiyein. Kal shaam tak tayar ho. Meri gun, mera chaaku. Aik blue passport. Do mukhtalif shanakhti card meri tasveer aur mere naam ke ho magar government issued hon aur is ke ilawa.." woh jadeed aslahe ke chand naam ginawata gaya. Phir ruk kar jaise uktahata se uski baat suni.

"Jo kaha hai woh kar ke do. Zyada sawal mat karo." Call band kar ke record mitaya aur aik aakhri nazar un do qabro par daali.

Zartasha Faris Ghazi

Waris Ghazi

Chand lamhay woh wahan khada raha. Phir un dono se kuch bhi kahe baghair wapis aa gaya.

Car mein saadi idhar udhar haath maar raha tha kuch talash kar raha tha.

"Kya hua?"

"Pata nahi mobile kidhar rakh diya."

"Yeh tumhari seat ke peeche gira hai." Saadi ne chonk kar dekha. Us ka mobile pichli nishist ke peeche gira tha. Jaise agle khane se slip ho kar peeche gir gaya ho. Saadi ne shukar karte hue phone uthaya aur gaari start kar di.

"Kya tumhein hairat nahi hui ke judge ne mujhe riha kar diya?" Faris khidki se bahar dekhte hue bola. Saadi ne shane uchkaye.

"Aap ne woh qatal nahi kiye mein jaanta hoon."

"Kya farq parta hai? Poori duniya to nahi samjhti hai. Aur woh judge woh itni aasani se kaise mana mujhe hairat hai." Kehte hue mudkar fori se Saadi ka chehra dekha.

"Agar tumhara is mein koi haath hai Saadi to keh ho, Mein sun raha hoon."

"Mera haath kaise ho sakta hai? Meri baat judge sunega aur maane ga bhi kyon?" Us ne la parwai se phir shane uchkaye aur drive karte raha.

Faris ne asbaat mein sar hilaaya. "Magar tumne meri baat ki tarteed nahi ki, Theek hai." Aur khidki ke bahar bhaagte darakhto ko dekhne laga. Saadi ne koi jawab nahi diya. Bas khaamosh raha.

"Tum bolo ge ya mein kisi doosre tareeqe se tumhe bulwau?" Ab ke Faris ne zara dhime lehje mein sakht baat ki to Saadi ne jara bezari se mor kaata.

"Maine kuch galat nahi kiya, Jo hua hai qudrat ne kiya hai."

"Achha aur tumhari qudrat ne kya kiya hai?"

"Wahi jo hamesha se hote aaya hai, huh.. hamaan ko firaun ke khilaaf khada kar diya."

"Kya?" Faris ne abroo tan kar uktaye huay andaaz mein poocha. Saadi ne gehri saans li.

"Mere pasandida qisso me se aik hai firaun aur Musa alayhissalam ka qissa. Wajah phir bhi kabhi batauga lekin agar aap ne bhi koi kitaab parhne ki zahmat ki ho jo ke jail mein aap ne nahi ki hogi doosre ki haddiya aur daant toadne se fursat jo nahi milti hogi to aap ko maaloom hota ke, Hamaan jo Firaun ka aik wazeer tha. Bohut daana bahut zor aawar. Firaun ka daaya haath. Us ka har hukam bajane wala. Yeh saare firaun apne apne Hamaano ke mohtaaz hote hain. Agar hum Hamaan ko apni mutthi mein kar lein to bohut se kaam nikal aate hain. Maine bhi bas kuch yahi kiya tha." Woh mubham si baat kar ke phir se khaamosh ho gaya tha. Faris sar jhatak kar khidki se bahar dekhne laga. Us ki sunehri aankho mein gehri sochi ki parchahiya raqam thi.

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-دل کو لہو کریں کہ گر یہاں رفو کریں..!

"Dil ko lahoo karein ke Gireban rafu karein.."

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Us buland o bala amarat ke top floor ka kushada aur purkashish andaaz mein aarastha office mukammal roshan tha. Power set pe Jawahirat tek lagaye bethi thi. aur narm si muskurahat ke saath samne kursi pe bethe Hashim ko dekh rahi thi jo sar jhukaye mobile pe kuch type kar raha tha.

Peeche Nosherwa mutarib jhunjlaya huwa sa tehal raha tha kisi pendulum ki tarah daaye se paaye.

"Mujhe wazahat chahiye, Hashim" Jawahirat ne muskarate hue use mukhatib kiya. "Tum itne bekhabar kaise ho sakte ho ke uske riha hone se pehle tumhein maloom bhi na ho sake."

"Main arazi ke muqadmaat mein masroof tha aur yeh sab achanak hua hai." Hashim ne phone rakh kar kandhe zara jhatak kar kaha.

"Justice sikander ke taa'surat main dekhe thay. Woh zehen bana kar aaya tha. Yakeena use is kaam ke liye pehle se raazi kar liya gaya tha. Un logo ki itni haisiyat nahi ke us ba-asar judge ko khareed sake.."

"Judge sirf khareede nahi jaate, unko majboor karne ke aur bhi bohot se tareeqe hote hain."

Nosherwa ghoom kar Hashim ke samne aaya. "Aur agar kisi ne us judge ko blackmail kiya hai bhai to woh us Saadi ke ilawa koi nahi ho sakta."

"Please sheru, kya hum Saadi se hatt kar koi baat kar sakte hai?"

Muskarati hui Jawahirat ki aankho mein sakht tanbeeh ubhri.

"Usne waha 10 logo ke samne meri bezti ki aur aap chahte hai me usay bhool jau?" Hasb-e-aadat Nosherwa bhadak utha.

"Tumhein wahan nahi jana chahiye tha." Magar woh Hashim ki baat nahi sun raha tha.

"Woh mujhe jata raha tha ke woh mere challan ke mutaliq jaanta hai jo England mein hua tha. Woh khud ko samjhta kiya hai?"

"Mummy, main aapko bata raha hoon, aap usay party mein invite nahi kar rahi, Main usay apne ghar mein bardasht nahi karunga."

"Main card de chuka hoon, sorry," Hashim ne dono haath uthakar kaha.

"Sheru, Saadi masla nahi hai. Wo party mein aayega to main usse dekh loongi. Apne bete ke bezti ka badla kaise lena hai, mujhe maloom hai." Kehte hue aage ho kar narmi se usne sheru ka haath dabaya. Woh jara dheela padha.

"Masla Faris hai. Main usse apne ird gird bardasht nahi kar sakti. Mujhe batao Hashim, tum is mamle ko hal karne ke liye kya kar rahe ho?"

Hashim ab kagaj par kuch likh raha tha. Yakeenan wo bhi disturbed tha. Magar composed nazar aa raha tha.

"Maine usay aik dafa andar karwaya tha. Doosri dafa bhi karwa sakta hoon."

"Woh aik dafa bahir aa sakta hai to doosri dafa bhi aa jayega. So behtar hai ke tum uske saath achaa khelo. Woh nahi jaanta ke qatal kis ne kiya, kaise aa jaate hain, aur uske nazdeek hum uski wahid family hain." Jawahirat mutmain nahi thi.

"Woh humein kabhi bhi pasand nahi karta tha." Nosherwa uktaa kar kehta, khidki ke paas ja khada hua.

"Is liye behtar hai ke woh humse dushmani na rakhe. Kyunki bahar aane ke baad woh sabse pehle yeh jannd ki koshish karega ke sab kis ne karwaya tha."

"Hashim sambhal lega. Aap kyu fiqr karti hai," Hashim bahut etmaad se piche ho kar bethte huye bola.

"Maine tab bhi jo kuch kiya apni family ke liye kiya. Ab bhi apni family ko protect karne ke liye mujhe jo bhi karna pada, main karuga.. apni family ke liye kuch bhi karna jurm nahi hota, Agar main Waris Ghazi ko raste se na hata ta to woh humare khilaf cases khol kar humein tabah kar sakta tha. Aur woh zartasha mein usko marwana to is qatal ko bhi owner killing ki shakal na de sakta. Mujhe uske liye afsos hai magar mere paas aur koi option nahi tha. Phir jab qatal hota hai to kisi ko to jail jana padta hai. Mujhe Faris se humdardi hai. Us ke chaar saal zaya huay magar woh aik intelligence officer tha. Agar woh andar na jata to qatil ko dhoondhne ki koshish karta. Apne khandan ko mehfooz rakhne ke liye maine use busy rakha to kya galat kiya? Woh zinda salamat hai, uska to kuch bhi nahi gaya, Apno ko to sab khote hain. Humne bhi dad ko khoya tha. Be-shak natural death se hi sahi Magar hamari zindagiyo mein bhi dukh aur pareshaniya hain. Mujhe afsos hai, un sab ke liye. Magar zumer ko mera shukr guzaar hona chahiye ke maine use gawahi ke liye zinda chhorh diya. Wo theek hai. Zindagi guzar rahi hai. Par perfect to nahi ho sakti na ab zindagi."

Hashim ne baat karte hue zara se shane uchkaye.

"Bohut se logo ki zindagi agar do chaar ki qurbani se bach jati hai to is mein koi burayi nahi. Main Faris ko sambhal loonga. Usay aane de mummy woh kuch nahi kar sakta, okay. Woh aik jazbaati milay mein pagal ho jaane wala aadmi hai. Na us mein aqal hai na us mein koi dur andeshi hai, jail me reh kar wo kitna badla hoga wesa hi bad dimag hoga. Aise dushman ko to insaan thaka thaka kar hi mar deta hai.."

Phir seedha hokar baithte hue bola. "Ab hum tumhare project ke baare mein baat kar lete hain, Sheru!"

Aur Nosherwa ne jaise kadwi goli nigal li. Bat suni aur be-dili se kursi kheench kar baitha.

"Aur mere project ke raaste mein rukawate khadi karne wale bhi kaun hain bhai? Saadi aur uski baat."

Hashim be-ikhtiyar haans diya. "Yaar yeh tumhara aur Saadi ka kisi ladki par jhagra to nahi hai?"

Jawahirat ne muskara kar sar jhatka aur baghor Shiro ke taa'surat dekhe jo mazeed khafa lagne laga tha.

"Shiri Sonia ko kab ghar laayegi?"

Jawahirat ne usse dekhte hue Hashim ko mukhatib kiya. Sheru aik dam koi file uthakar dekhne laga. Albatta uski gardan mein ubhar kar girti gilti wazeh mehsoos hui thi.

"Is waqt uska kya zikar?" Hashim ne goya naak se makhhi udhayi aur kaam ki taraf mutajjah ho gaya.

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