CHAPTER - 07

Paani Se Gaadha { part -2 }

پانی سے گاڑھ {حصہ دوم }

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𝑳𝒂𝒎𝒉𝒐𝒏 𝒌𝒊 𝒍𝒂𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒉𝒐𝒅 𝒌𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒛𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆? 𝑯𝒖𝒎 𝒋𝒊𝒔 𝒋𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆, 𝒘𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒛𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆?

𝑨𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒉𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒏𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊, 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂, 𝑼𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒃 𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒛𝒅𝒂𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆?

𝑲𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏-𝒆-𝒋𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊 𝒋𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒏, 𝑾𝒐𝒉 𝒈𝒖𝒍, 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒈, 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒏𝒂𝒎-𝒆-𝒔𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆?

𝑯𝒂𝒂𝒍-𝒆-𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒃 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒉𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒐 𝒋𝒐 𝒒𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒎 𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊, 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒇-𝒆-𝒇𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏, 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒕-𝒆-𝒅𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆?

𝑨𝒂𝒚𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒒 𝒔𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒛𝒎-𝒆-𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏, 𝑳𝒆𝒌𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒉𝒋𝒆, 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒏𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆?

𝑨𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒕-𝒆-𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒎, 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒋𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒖𝒎, 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒓-𝒆-𝒘𝒂𝒇𝒂 𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒆 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒂𝒃 𝒕𝒐𝒉 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒆?

- 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗮 𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗻



≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

جب رات کے پردے سے پھر رات نکل آئے… اس وقت کدھر جائے جو اہلِ نظر ہوگا؟

Jab raat ke parde se phir raat nikal aaye... us waqt kidhar jaaye jo ahl-e-nazar hoga?

∘❀∘

Hospital ke kamre mein wahi dawaaiyon ki boo phaili thi. Zumar badastoor usi tarah leti thi. Uski veeran nigaahein chhat par thi. Zehan mein jaane kya chal raha tha. Saadi jab andar aaya toh dekha, Zumar ka chehra pehle se bohot zyada murjhaya hua tha aur rangat haldi ki manind lag rahi thi. Uska tuta hua dil mazeed toot gaya.

Woh qareeb aaya. Zumar ki aankhon mein karb utra aur saath hi gardan mein ubhar kar doobi gilty ki nishani nazar aayi. Saadi mazeed qareeb aaya, yahan tak ke uske kandhe ke saath aa khada hua. Zumar ab nigaahein poori utha kar usko dekh rahi thi.

"Saadi! Usne mujh par goli chalayi. Maine khud suna. Tumhein mujh pe yaqeen haina?"

Chand ghante pehle police officers ke samne, sapat, sanjeeda aur mazboot dikhti prosecutor ab bohot kamzor lag rahi thi. Uske andaaz mein bebasi bhi thi, khauf bhi. Makdi ke jaal ka samaan tha, maloom nahi kab toot jaye. Saadi ne use sanjeedgi se dekha.

"Faris Ghazi ne aap se kya kaha tha phone pe?"

"Usne mujhe kaha ke woh mujhe sirf ek goli maarega."

"Nahi, mujhe unke alfaaz bataiye, ek ek lafz."

Zumar ki aankhon mein chamakti umeed mazeed gehri hui. Makdi ke jaale ka samaan mazboot hua. Woh pehle se zyada pur-aitemad ho kar boli.

"Usne kaha, 'Main sirf tumhein ek goli maarunga zumar... dil mein aur...'"

"Magar Faris Ghazi ne aapko kabhi aapke naam se nahi pukara. Woh hamesha aapko 'Madam' kehte the."

Woh ek dum bilkul ruk kar ta'ajjub se use dekhne lagi.

"Faris Ghazi ne aapko koi call nahi ki thi. Aapko Faris ne goli nahi maari thi. Unko setup kiya gaya hai. Kuch toh hai jo aap chhupa rahi hain. Please, mujhe sab kuch bataiye, ek ek baat!"

Zumar bilkul mutaharir se use dekhti gayi, bina palk jhapkaye, jaise saans tak ruk gaya ho.

"Saadi, tum keh rahe ho ke main jhooth bol rahi hoon?"

"Main keh raha hoon ke aap kuch chhupa rahi hain."

"Sirf is buniyad pe ke woh mujhe mere naam se nahi pukarta tha? Usne goli bhi toh mujh par pehli dafa hi chalayi thi. Bohot saari cheezein pehli baar hoti hain!"

"Woh jhooth nahi bol rahe. Unhone aapko koi call nahi ki. Aap bataiye, kuch hai jo aap chhupa rahi hain. Aap Waris mamu ke target case ki files nikalwa rahi thi. Kya aap kisi ko cover kar rahi hain? Kya koi aapko yeh sab kehne pe majboor kar raha hai?"

Yeh khadsha Hashim ne raste mein zaahir kiya tha, yunhi sar-sari sa, magar Saadi ke zehan mein usne jadh pakad li.

Zumar ke dil par kisi ne pair rakh diya tha. Uski aankhon mein gulabi si nami utri. Lab bheench gaye.

"Tum yeh keh rahe ho ke main jhooth bol rahi hoon?"

"Zumar! Aap mujhe sab kuch sach sach KYUN NAHI BATATI?" Saadi ki awaaz buland hone lagi thi.

"Tumhein maloom hai Saadi, woh kya takleef hai jo maine pichle kuch dino mein sahi hai? Mere gurde zaya ho gaye hain, mera baap mafluj ho gaya hai, meri zindagi ki saari umeedein toot gayi hain! Main kabhi normal nahi ho sakungi. Aise waqt mein bhi tumhein lag raha hai ke main jhooth bol rahi hoon? Tumhein Faris zyada qabil-e-aitbaar lag raha hai? Kya tum mujhe nahi jaante?" Wo mutaharir beyakeen thi.

"Main aapko jaanta hoon, isliye keh raha hoon ke aap koi baat mujhe nahi bata rahi hain. Aap kuchh chhupa rahi hain, Kahin na kahin kuch ghalat hai."

"Alicia keh rahi hai, Haneen keh rahi hai, mamu unke saath the. Unhone koi call nahi ki. Woh teen log jhooth nahi bol rahe!" Saadi naaraazgi se use dekh kar tezi se bola.

Zumar ke abroo gusse se ikatthe hue. Usne kohni ke bal thoda uthne ki koshish ki.

"Haan, theek hai! Woh sab sach bol rahe hain, ek main jhooth bol rahi hoon! Tumhein nahi karna mera aitbaar, mat karo! Lekin main duniya ki har adalat mein ja kar uske khilaf gawahi doongi. Main poori duniya ko bataungi ke kis tarah usne mere upar goli chalayi... apni biwi ko maara apne Bhai ko maara, meri zindagi barbaad kar di!"

Saadi ne gusse se muthiyaan bheench lein.

"Apko pata hai aapka sabse bada masla kya hai, Zumar? Jab aapke dimaag ki sui ek baat par atak jati hai, toh phir wo wahan se nahi hilti. Aap uske aage-peeche har qisam ki soch ka darwaza khud par band kar leti hain. Ho sakta hai aap bilkul sach keh rahi hoon."

"HO SAKTA HAI? TUMHEIN MERE SACH BOLNE MEIN SHAK HAI?" Woh be-yaqeeni se gurrayi.

"Lekin Zumar, main sirf itna keh raha hoon ke koi teesri cheez bhi ho sakti hai. Aap kyun thande dil se is baat par nahi sochti? Ek dafa, Faris Ghazi ko begunah tasavvur karke sochiye. Ho sakta hai use phansaya gaya ho? Yeh sab ek setup ho aur kuch bhi na ho? Aap ek dafa, sirf ek dafa, apne mafruzat ko peeche kyun nahi kar leti? Agar waqai aap kisi ke dabao mein nahi hain toh?"

"MAFRŪZĀT?!" Woh chilayi thi. "Main kitni dafa keh chuki hoon ke maine uski awaaz suni hai! Uska phone aaya tha mujhe! Usne mujh par goli chalayi! Main Faris ki awaaz pehchanti hoon! Main jaanti hoon woh Faris hi tha! Har cheez ki sense banti hai, siwaye iske ke tum meri baat sun'na hi nahi chahte! Tumhe mujh par aitbaar nahi hai! Theek hai, Saadi, mat karo mujh par aitbaar! Lekin ek waqt aayega jab adalat usko saza sunayegi, aur jab wo mujrim sabit hoga aur woh khud aitraf-e-jurm karega! Tab main tum sab ke chehre dekhna chahungi! TUM, HANEEN, BHABHI... KOI BHI MERI BAAT PAR YAQEEN NAHI KAR RAHA! MAIN JAANTI HOON... LEKIN TUM LOG DEKHOGE... ZAROOR DEKHOGE!"

Tez tez bol kar woh haanpne lagi thi. Sar takiye par gira diya, Saadi khafgi se peeche hua.

"Aik yahi sabse bada masla hai aapka, Aap kisi doosre ki koi baat samjhti hi nahi hain. Aap samajhne ke liye baat nahi sunti, aap jawab dene ke liye sunti hain. Aap apne khayalaat me itni feased ho jaati hai ke Aap kisi naye tasavvur ke liye apna zehen khulla nahi rakhti. Aapko khud bhi pata hai aap galat keh rahi hai magar..."

Aur Zumar ke liye yeh bahut tha.

"NIKAL JAO MERE KAMRE SE! ABHI AUR ISI WAQT YAHAN SE CHALE JAO! MUJHE AKELA CHHOD DO! MUJHE TUMSE KOI BAAT NAHI KARNI!"

Usne chilate hue apna baazu uthaya aur darwaze ki taraf ishaara kiya. Saadi bhi ghusse se khada, use dekhta raha. Woh itni ziddi kyun ho rahi thi? Woh uski baat kyun samajh nahi paa rahi tha?

"Aapko sirf is baat ka ghussa hai ke maine aapko yeh case lene ke liye kyun kaha. Ye ke is case ki wajah se aapki shaadi delay ho rahi thi. Aap is case ka ghuss Faris Mamu par nikal rahi hain, aur koi baat nahi! Aap aik dafa phir wahi kar rahi hai, Unki biwi qatal ka hua hai, hamara khandan tabah ho chuka hai, aur aap apni zid le kar baithi hain! Zumar, aap aisa kyun kar rahi hain?"

"Nikal jao mere kamre se aur dobara mat aana! main tumhari shakal bhi nahi dekhna chahti iss waqt! jao, saadi!"

Pani se gaadha...

"NIKAL JAO MERE KAMRE SE AUR DOBARA MAT AANA! MAIN TUMHARI SHAKAL BHI NAHI DEKHNA CHAHTI ISS WAQT! JAO, SAADI!" Wo zor se chillayi.

Woh foran tezi se mura, darwaza khola aur bahar nikla.

Haneen samne khadi thi. Na-mukammal band patt ki wajah se woh sab sun chuki thi.

"Aakhir woh itni khud-farz kaise ho sakti hain ke unhein kisi ka bhi khayal na ho? Na Mamu ka, na Sara Khala ka... unhein sirf apna gham yaad hai!"

Saadi gusse se kehta aage badh gaya. Haneen dheeme qadam chalti uske qareeb aayi.

"Aapko Phupho se is tarah baat nahi karni chahiye thi."

Woh muta'ajib sa uski taraf ghuma.

"Unke ilzaam ki wajah se Faris Mamu ko faansi ho jayegi aur tum kehti ho ke-"

"Jo bhi tha, aapko Phupho se is tarah baat nahi karni chahiye thi! Kam az kam aapko toh nahi!"

Wo keh kar woh mud gayi. Saadi ne khafgi se sar jhatka, munh mein kuch budbudaaya aur aage badh gaya.

Haneen chalti hui darwaze tak aayi. Zara si darz se andar jhaanka. Zumar usi tarah leti thi. Gardan seedhi thi, woh upar dekh rahi thi... aur woh ro rahi thi... buri tarah.

Kabhi woh apne saath lagi naliya ko dekh rahi thi... kabhi machines ko, kabhi safed chaadar ko... kabhi haath mein lage cannula ko. Aur aansuon ka ubal ubal kar ankhon se niklate ja rahe the. Kahin koi halki si siski bhi nikal jaati, toh woh honthon pe haath rakh kar use daba leti.

Yeh uske liye bohot sharamindagi ki baat thi... ke koi use rota dekh le. Woh toh Dado ki death par bhi sab ke samne nahi royi thi. Sirf akeley kamre mein band hokar royi thi.

Haneen ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye. Woh kaafi dair wahi khadi rahi. Use chhup kar Zumar ko dekhne ki aadat barson se thi... magar rone hue pehli baar dekha tha.

☆☆☆

کوئی تدبیر نظر نہیں آتی، کوئی صورت نظر نہیں آتی!

Koi tadbar nazar nahi aati, koi soorat nazar nahi aati!

∘❀∘

Nudrat aur Bare Abba Zumar ke kamre mein the, aur Saadi bahar. Woh jaan bujh kar andar nahi gaya tha. Woh us se naraaz tha, magar Zumar ne bhi use andar bulaya nahi. Ek dafa kisi se puchhwaya bhi nahi, manaya bhi nahi.

Woh khafa-khafa sa baahar hi baitha raha tha. Zumar aaj pehle se behtar lag rahi thi sehat mein nahi, jazbati kefiyat mein. Tek laga kar qadre uth kar baithi thi. Ghungriyale baal pony mein bandhe, khamosh aur sanjeeda.

Samne wheel-chair par mojood Bare Abba ko uska har andaaz aziyat de raha tha. Woh door kisi ghair-marai nuqte ko dekhti, bazaahir un dono ko nazar-andaz kar rahi thi.

Nudrat khamosh se samne couch par baithi thi. Zumar lakh aziz sahi, Faris unka bhai bhi. Aur Saadi ki tarah Zumar se jhagra karke uspe cheekh-chilla kar naraaz nahi ho sakti thi.

Zehan mein baar baar khayal aa raha tha... 'Aakhir woh bhi toh Farhana ki beti hi nikli.' Magar woh zahir nahi kar rahi thi. Bilkul chup... kisi na kisi musalihat ki umeed liye.

Bare Abba ne haath badhaya aur beti ka haath thaam liya. Woh bed ke qareeb baithe the. Unki zid par aaj unhein yahaan aane ki ijaazat mili thi.

Is bebas se lamz par Zumar ne chehra ghuma kar unko dekha. Woh bohot kamzor aur boorhe lag rahe the... udaas bhi.

"Beta, main Faris ko jaanta hoon... woh aisa kuch nahi kar sakta. Zaroor usko phansaya ja raha hai."

"Intelligence officer ko kaun phansa sakta hai, Abba?" Woh bezar hui.

"Kyun? Kya woh insaan nahi hote? Kya unki kamzoriyaan nahi hoti? In intelligence officers ki filein ke anbaar hain jo begunah hote hue bhi nikale gaye... phansaye gaye... ya phansi chadh gaye. Woh sab se alag hai kya?"

"Theek hai. Aap bhi yahi samajhte hain ke main jhoot bol rahi hoon, halaanke sabse zyada nuksan mera hua hai. Maine uske alfaaz sune the, maine uski minnat ki thi ke woh mere upar goli na chalaye, woh meri zindagi kharab mat kare. Dard se bhari awaaz mein kehte uski aankhein surkh padne lagi thi. Maine Abba usko itna tak kaha ke main uska case ladoongi, har adalat mein uske saath khadi hoon gi, woh mere saath ye zulm na kare, lekin usne phir bhi mujh pe goli chalayi. Agar usne meri koi khair qabool nahi ki, toh aap uske liye mujh se koi khair ki talab mat rakhein."

"Main jaanta hoon tum jhoot nahi bol rahi, lekin ye sirf aur sirf koi galatfehmi..."

Zumar ne bezaari se apna haath unke haathon se nikal liya. Woh dil masos kar baithe reh gaye.

"Aap log please mujhe akela chhod dein. Jisko mujrim samajhna chahiye, uske liye aapke dil mein hamdardi hai toh theek hai, hamdardi lene ka mujhe bhi koi shauq nahi. Main jaisi hoon, waisi hi theek hoon."

"Aise kyun sochti ho? Hum intezam kar rahe hain, bohut jald koi kidney donor mil jayega, tumhe kabhi dialysis pe nahi aana padega. Tum dobara se sehat yaab ho jaogi."

Woh sapat chahre ke saath gardan pher kar khidki ki taraf dekhti rahi.

Nudrat aahistagi se uske kareeb aayi, aur bed ki paaon ki taraf baith gayi. Minnat bhari bebasi se usko dekha.

"Zumar, mere liye kya tum apna bayan wapas nahi le sakti? Faris jail chala jayega, usko saza ho jayegi, woh barbad ho jayega."

Usne zakhmi nigahon se Nudrat ka chehra dekha.

"Aur main, bhabhi? Meri khushiyan, mere gham? Unka kya? Aap sab ko lagta hai ke main apni zidd par aadi hoon? (Shikayat amaiz nazar apne baap par daali) lekin aap log ye nahi sochte ke zidd karne ke liye mere paas kuch bacha nahi hai. Main tabah ho chuki hoon! Ab Faris barbad ho abaad. Mujhe isse koi hamdardi nahi hai. Maine uski izzat ki hamesha, kyunki mujhe insaan ke andar ki achhai par yakeen hota hai. Magar main ghalat thi. Woh waise hi hai jaise log uske baare mein kehte the. Aap uske liye mujh se koi umeed na rakhiye. Kyunki main aap sab ki na-aitibaari seh chuki hoon. Lekin Faris ko maaf nahi kar sakti."

Woh gardan mod kar phir se khidki ki taraf dekhne lagi. Ye ek ishaara tha ke ab sab chale jayein.

Nudrat shikastagi se bade Abba ki wheelchair ke peeche aayi, aur unko lekar baahar nikal gayi. Darwaza hasb-e-mamool aadha khula reh gaya.

Dafatan Raahdari se kuch awaaze aayi. Nudrat kisi se mukhatib thi... Khatoon ki awaaz... Fazeela aunty... Hammad ki ammi! Woh pehchanti thi.

Woh aahista se seedhi leti rahi, takleef chahre par namudaad hui, aur aankhein band kar li, bilkul aise jaise woh so rahi ho. Wakai ye woh subahate thi jisme jagte huye usay office jaane ki koi tension nahi thi. Konsi khawaish kaha aa kar puri huyi thi.

Nudrat aur Fazeela aunty ko andar le aayi thi. Zumar ki aankho me filhaal sirf andhera tha. Magar wo awaaze sun sakti thi. Fazeela aunty yaqeenan uske bazu ke karib bed ke saath khadi thi.

"Bahut zyada afsos hua. Hum sab bohot pareshan hain. Koi yakeen bhi nahi kar sakta ke Zumar ke saath is tarah hoga, woh bhi itne aham moqe se pehle. Hamare toh saare rishtedaar bhi aa chuke. Ab kuch samajh nahi aa raha ke kya karein. Hammad ki behan, behnoi... pata nahi kitno flights hain... Aage karwani padengi... Ya shayad cancel."

Wo keh hamdardi se hi rahi thi, magar andaaz mein koi azlat thi. Zumar band aankhon se sune gayi.

"Do shaadiyan ikathi ho rahi thi. Hammad ke taya ke bête ke function bhi saath hi the. Walima toh hum de hi ekhtte rahe the. Ab zaahir hai, yeh shaadi toh abhi hohi nahi sakti. Shehzad ke functions toh kal se shuru ho jayenge. Ab aap toh jaanti hain, hamari bhi majboori hai.

"Sab ki majburiyan hain, main jaanti hoon..." Nudrat boli toh awaaz mein paspaai thi.

Zumar aankhein band kiye leti rahi. Nudrat tab shayad unke liye koi juice nikaal rahi thi, magar wo mana karne lagi.

"Hammad bahar intezar kar raha hai, aisa karte hain hum wahin baithte hain, is kamre mein toh mujhe ghutan ho rahi hai. Pata nahi, aspatalo mein aisi ghutan kyun hoti hai!"

Aur unki awaaz door hoti gayi. Shayad woh kamre se ja rahi thi. Aur phir darwaza band ho gaya sannata chha gaya, qabar ki pehli raat sa sannata. Zumar ne aankhein kholi. Woh ab kamre mein akeli thi.

Khirki ke bahar dopahar pehle se taza thi, magar ab badal umat kar aa rahe the, baarish jaise barashne ko thi... Woh sapat taa'surat ke saath chitt leti, chhat ko dekhti rahi. Ab koi bhi yeh afsos nahi laaye tha. Marey ehsaas murkhte the. Usse pata tha ab kya hoga. Doosri dafa uski mili toh na jayegi. Phir bhi ek umeed thi, shayad aisa na ho.

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کوئی بھی آدمی پورا نہیں ہے... کہیں آنکھیں، کہیں چہرہ نہیں ہے...

Koi bhi aadmi pura nahi hain... Kahi aankhe, kahi chehra nahi hain..

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darwaza aikdam khula woh chonki soti nahi ban sakti thi magar phir uski zarurat bhi nahi thi Kyunke aane wali fazeela aur Nudrat nahi hai. Usko Zumar ke paas akela chhodne dena ka bohot tahakkam se kehti, Jawahirat kardar ne andar qadam rakha.

Band gale ke sabz gown, safed heels, baalo ka nafis sa juda banaye, jawan aur smart si Jawahirat muskurati hui andar daakhil hui. Zumar usi berukhi aur na-pasandidgi se usse dekhti rahi.

"Hello Zumar, kaisi ho?"

Ek Filipino mulazma aur ek coat mein malboos mulazim phoolon ke bade bade guldaste liye peeche aaye aur saari mezo ko bhar diya. Jawahirat ne aankh se ishara kiya aur woh bahar nikal gaye.

Saath hi Shehreen Kardar bhi andar aayi. Usne bhi lambi kamiz pehen rakhi thi aur kandhe par lambi chain ka purse tha. Sunahre bob-cut baalon me haath pher kar unhe peeche karte hue, masnoi muskurahat liye, woh Zumar ke qareeb ruki aur jaise taaruf karwaya.

"Main Mrs. Hashim Kardar hoon. Hum party mein mile the."

Zumar ne sar ke kham se unke rasmi kalamat ka jawab diya. jaise wo sadeed kofatt me mubtla ho. Jawahirat ne Zumar ki taraf ishara karte hue Shehreen ko bataya.

"Zumar Yousuf, Public Prosecutor hai. Hashim ne yaqeenan tumse zikr kiya hoga."

Shehreen ne mooh mein kuch chabate hue la-parwahi se shaane uchkaaye. "Jee, I know… DA hai ye yahan ki…" wo Zumar ki taraf mudi, "Sorry to say, kaisi ho tum?" Usko jaise uske andaaz-e-takalluf par khud hi lutf aaya tha.

Zumar ne rakhai se, "bahut achhi" kehkar nazro ka rukh khidki ki taraf pher liya. Wahan dopahar badalo se siyah padhti jaa rahi thi.

"Aap baithiye, Mrs. Kardar! Main bahar ja rahi hoon, yahan bore ho jaungi."

Shehreen apne baalo ko phir se peeche jhatakti, be-niyazi se kehti mud kar bahar nikal gayi. Jawahiraat bas muskara kar use jaate dekhti rahi. Phir ek kursi pe tang par tang rakh ke baithi, kohniyan kursi ke hatth pe aur anguthiyon wale haath baaham milaye.

"Mujhe bohot afsos ho raha hai jo tumhare saath hua. Jisne bhi kiya, woh..."

Usne tanak kar Jawahirat ko dekha,

"Jisne bhi kiya, kya matlab?? Faris ne kiya hai yeh sab! Aur agar aap uski wakalat karne aayi hain mere saamne, to please apna waqt zaya mat kijiyega."

"Nahi, Main to yeh soch rahi hoon ke usne yeh kyun kiya? Kya koi wajah batayi thi usne?"

Itni saadgi par Zumar ne aankhein sikud mushtaba nazron se use dekha.

"Aap yeh kehna chah rahi hain ke aapko meri baat ka yaqeen hai?"

Jawahirat ne muskara kar shanay zara se jhatke.

"Main jaanti hoon tum sach bol rahi ho."

"Aur aap yeh kaise jaanti hain? Hum doosri dafa mil rahe hain!" Woh sard sa ghoor kar boli. Agar yeh usse qareeb hone ki koi koshish thi, to wo Hashim ki maa ko ismein kaamyab nahi hone degi.

"Kyunki main is azeeyat ko pehchanti hoon jo ghalat samjhe jaane wale sahi logo ke chehron pe hoti hai."

Zumar ki mushtaba andaaz mein ubhri aankhon mein uljhan abhari.

"Aur aap mujhse doosri mulaqat mein mera chehra kaise parh sakti hain?"

Jawahirat uthi aur qadam qadam chalte khidki tak gayi. Bahar baarish ki nanhi nanhi boonde zameen par gir rahi thi. Woh chand lamhon tak khidki se bahar dekhti rahi. Phir mudi to chhere se muskurahat gayab thi uski jagah afsos tha.

"Mujhe waqai dukh hai jo kuch tumhare saath hua. Kaash yeh sab na hua hota. Kyunki is cheez ne tumhari zindagi barbaad kar di. Aur zyada dukh ki baat yeh hai ke koi tumhari baat par yaqeen nahi kar raha. Hashim ke baare mein main kuch nahi keh sakti. Woh keh raha hai use tum par yaqeen hai, to yaqeenan aisa hoga. Lekin jahaan tak meri baat hai, main tumhe nahi jaanti. Ho sakta hai tum jhoot bol rahi ho, ho sakta hai sach. Lekin main yeh zaroor jaanti hoon ke... Jab kisi ko durust hote hue na qabil-e-aitbaar samjha jaye to uski haalat kya hoti hai."

Zumar ke tane taa'suraat qadre dheele pade the magar lehje ki rukhai barqaraar thi.

"Kam az kam meri feelings aap nahi samajh sakti. Aap apni zindagi mein bohot aish-o-aaraam se rehne wali ek malka hain. Aapki ek saltanat hai. Aapko hum jaise logon aur hamare masail ki samajh nahi aa sakti."

Jawahirat halke se muskurai. Uski pusht par maujood khidki ke sheeshe pe paani ki boonden tar tar girne lagi thi.

"Main waqai ek malka hoon, ismein koi shak nahi. Main aur mera shohar is sheher ke behtareen couples mein chauthe number par shumar kiye jaate hain. Lekin kya tum yeh jaanti ho ke main uski doosri biwi hoon?"

Zumar ne buri tarah chonk kar use dekha. Lab "oh" me sukde.

"Pehli biwi toh mar gayi, iske baad kitni aayi, maine hisaab rakhna chhod diya. Ab yaad hai toh sirf nafrat jo main usse karti hoon. Magar darti bhi hoon. Malka banna bhi aasaan nahi hota."

Zumar ke chehre ki nagwaari ab khamoshi mein badal gayi thi. Woh dhyaan se sun rahi thi.

"Hum sab andar se chakna choor hote hain. Main bohot si baatein apne shohar se keh nahi saki. Ek din aayega jab main kahungi... jab mere andar ki sherni ghurrayegi... Lekin tab tak..."

Usne baarish se bheegte sheeshe se haath uthaya, mudi aur karb se muskurayi.

"Tab tak mujhe masnoi muskurahato ke saath khelte rehna hoga."

Woh wapas chalte hue aayi, kursi par baithi usi tamaknat aur ra'unat ke saath, aur moti ke earrings par ungli pherne lagi.

"Aur doosri mulaqat mein tumhein yeh sab main kyun bata rahi thi? Taake yeh samjha saku ke agar tum aaj apne inteqaam ke liye khadi na hui, toh kabhi nahi ho sakogi. Aur agar tum is safar mein akeli bhi reh jao, main tab bhi tumhara saath doongi."

Zumar ek tak use dekhti ja rahi thi. Chehre ki saari talakhiya, be-rukhi, be-zari... sab ghaib tha. Jawahirat ne kalaai pe bandhi ghari dekhi aur uth khadi hui.

"Mujhe jaana hai, ek meeting mein. Phir mulaqat hogi."

"Aap baithiye na..." Woh be-ikhtiyar boli, toh apni awaaz mein ek narmahat mehsoos hui. Jawahirat ne muskara kar nafi mein sar hila diya.

"Kisi ka aitmaad hasil karne ke liye apni zaat ka ek tukda tod kar usse dikhana hota hai. Maine yeh kar liya... magar takleef mujhe bhi hui hai. Isliye ab chalugi."

Narmi se kehti woh palti. Aankh ka ek kona bheeg gaya tha. Aurangzeb, uski ki gayi tazleel, dukh, bewafai... sab yaad aa gaya tha. Magar baahar nikalne tak woh khud ko sambhal chuki thi.

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Waiting room mein Haneen usi tarah baithi thi. Baal pata nahi kab ke brush kiye hue, baddil-murjhayi hui si. Saadi uske muqabil udaas sa baitha tha. Baar-baar nigaahein phuphi ke kamre ki taraf jaati rahdari ki taraf uthti, phir sir jhuka kar badbada kar khud ko rok leta.

Rafatan kisi aahat par usne sar uthaya. Chowkhat mein Shehreen khadi thi.

Saadi be-ikhtiyar uth khada hua. Usne ishaara kiya, baahar bulaane ka ishaara.

Haneen apni soch mein gum thi. Woh khamoshi se uth kar Shehreen ke peeche aayi.

Woh raahdari mein khadi thi, seene par baazu lapete, fursat se usko aate dekhti rahi.

"Ji kahiye, Mrs. Kardar?"

"I'm sorry, main tumse excuse karna chahti thi. Maine tumhare saath zyadti kar di thi. Sheru aur tumhare bich mujhe nahi aana chahiye tha."

Saadi ne chonk kar use dekha, phir aankhein chundhya kar uski zehni haalat janchna ki koshish ki.

"It's okay." Woh baghoor uske ta'suraat parhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

"Good... yani ke ab hum acche dost ban sakte hain? Hm?" Woh halka sa muskurayi. Uski gaal ki haddi numayan ho gayi thi. Jab muskurati toh aankhein chhoti ho jaati.

"Kya aapko mujhse koi kaam hai?"

"Abhi nahi hai. Ho sakta hai mustaqbil mein ho." Usne abroow chukaye.

"Aap be fikar rahiye, na maine kuch suna tha na main kisi ko kuch bataunga." Usne pichle saal ki us bhooli bisri baat ki jaanib ishara kiya.

"Tum be fikar raho kyunki Hashim ko pata chal gaya tha." Saadi ne chonk kar usay dekha.

"Kya?"

"Yahi ke mera apne cousin ke saath affair chal raha hai. Aur dekho, usne mere saath kya kiya hai."

Usne kaftan shirt ka khula aasteen upar uthaya. Kanday ke qareeb baazu ki jild saamne aayi. Us pe jamni siyaah se neel the, cut bhi lage the. Saadi bilkul saakit sa reh gaya.

"Yeh, yeh mere shohar ne mujhe piya tha. Ab is baat ko kaafi din guzar chuke hain. Yeh party ke baad ki baat hai. Isliye mujhe bilkul bhi darr nahi raha ke tum kisi ko kuch bataoge. Chunke mujhe koi darr nahi hai, to mere khayal se hum achhe dost ban sakte hain."

Aasteen neeche karte hue woh dobara se muskurayi. Uske kandhe ko halka sa chhuka, jaise Hashim bhakta tha, aur mud kar corridor mein aage chalti gayi.

Saadi jazbaz sa usko jate dekhta raha. Ajeeb si thi wo usne socha.

"Umm-hmm," sir jhatka, aur aage chalta gaya.

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