کچھ حقیقت تو ہوا کرتی تھی افسانوں میں، وہ بھی باقی نہیں اس دور کے انسانوں میں۔

Kuch haqeeqat toh hua karti thi afsano mein, Woh bhi baaqi nahi is daur ke insano mein.

∘❀∘

Zumar ke kamre ke qareeb saamne Nudrat, Fazeela aur Hammad ke saath khadi thi. Saadi khamoshi se unke paas ja khada hua.

Hammad akdha akdha sa lag raha tha. Fazeela hi saari baatein kar rahi thi, aur wheel chair pe baithe bare abba bas aas talab bhari nigahon se unko dekh rahe the.

"Pata nahi ab aage kya hoga? Pata nahi ab aage kya hoga?"

Fazila ki har baat mein pareshani thi, kabhi rukhaayi, lekin ek hi jumla baar-baar aata.

Unke taa'surat har shakhs samajh raha tha. Unka bhi kasoor nahi tha.

"Hum koshish kar rahe hain, bohot jald isko kidney donor mil jayega. Aur phir woh bilkul theek ho jayegi."

Bare abba ne umeed dilane ki koshish ki.

Hammad ne sanjeedgi se unhe dekha.

"Donated kidney kitne arsa chalta hai?"

Alfaaz the ya chaabak? Bare abba ke munh par lage. Woh bas use dekh kar chup ho gaye. Phir aahista se bole:

"Isai jab shaadi karte hain, toh ek half uthate hain ke ghareebi mein aur amiri mein, bemari mein aur sehat mein, hum saath rahenge. Hatta ke humein maut judaa kar de. Sad Shukr hai ke hamare yahan yeh half nahi uthaya jata. Warna bohot se log mushkil mein pad jaate."

Hammad bezari se rukh mor kar khada ho gaya. Fazila jaldi se baat badalne lagi.

Tabhi Jawahirat Kardar bahar aati dikhai di.

Saadi ke tane asab dheele pad gaye.

Woh muskurai, toh woh bhi muskuraya.

Is family ko dekh kar kitni tasalli milti thi, jaise har mushkil mein woh saath ho.

"Mujhe umeed hai ke aapki beti bohot jald sehat yaab ho jayegi. Aur agar na ho, tab bhi woh itni qeemti hai ke uske saath par uske zindagi ke sathi ko fakar hoga."

Saath hi Hammad ko dekha. Uska Hammad se taaruf nahi tha, phir bhi woh samajh gayi thi. Yahi hai bechara mangetar?

Saadi unka taaruf karwane laga.

"Aurangzeb Kardar ki biwi, Hashim Kardar ki maa!" Fazeela aur Hammad ke taa'suraat foran badal gaye. Bohot khushdili se unse mile.

Uske mulaazim door khade the. Aur phir uska raub-tamkinat se uthti gardan, gehri aankhein, aur unki muskurahat. Woh toh thi bhi malka.

Sivaye bare Abba ke, uske aage bichhne walo ki kami na thi.

"Tum pareshaan mat ho." Usne narmi se Hammad ko mukhatib kiya.

"Woh theek ho jayegi, aur tum logo ki shaadi bohot dhoom dhaam se hogi. Aur... kya tum mujhe office tak company doge? Zumar hamari family hai, aur uske fiancé se dobara mulaqat ka waqt jane mile ya nahi."

Saath hi umeed afza nigahon se Saadi ko dekha.

Woh muskara diya. Yaqeenan ab woh usko samjhaye gi, aur Jawahirat toh Jawahirat thi. Woh kahe aur koi inkaar kare, aisa toh ho nahi sakta tha.

Hammad besakhta "Ji bilkul, sure!" kehne laga.

Jawahirat aage chalti gayi. Hammad foran peeche lapka. Fazeela Begum ne tajziya bhari nigahon se dono ko jata dekha, magar kuch keh nahi sakti thi.

Bahar barish ab tham chuki thi.

Car ke qareeb aakar Jawahirat ne muskara kar driver ko kaha, "Office se doosri gaadi mangwa kar Shehreen ko le jana, aur ab apni shakal gum karo."

Aur hatheli phailayi. Us bechare ne jaldi se chaabi uske haath par rakhi aur waqai wahan se gum ho gaya. Wo Hammad ki taraf muri.

"Address main nahi samjha dungi. Aisi car drive karne ke moqe ko umeed hai tum zaya nahi karoge."

Aur ghoom kar front seat ki taraf badh gayi.

Hammad ne chaabi dekhi, phir us chamakti hui car ko. Aankhein jaise ghera ho gayi.

Jawahirat pichhli nishist ke saath khadi ho kar usko dekhne lagi. Woh jo pehle apna darwaza kholne laga tha, ruka. Phir tezi se udhar aaya, uske liye darwaza khola.

Woh tamkinat se andar baithi.

Hammad ne darwaza bandh kiya aur wapas driving seat tak aaya.

"Yahan se le lo seedha." Usne sirf itna kaha.

Hammad khud ko bohot pur-aitmaad dikhata, drive karne laga.

Gaadi sadak pe rawan dawaan thi.

Jauharat sar jhukaaye apne mobile par phone book khol rahi thi.

Hammad maroob sa, khamosh sa, drive karta ja raha tha.

"Be-fikr raho, woh theek ho jayegi."

Usne contacts ki fehrist aahista aahista neeche karte hue kaha.

Hammad ne back-view mirror mein dekha. Aur samne wind screen ko. "Ji..." Bas woh itna keh saka.

"Umeed hai usay donor kidney mil jayegi. Saal dedh toh chal hi jayegi. Bekaar ho gayi toh koi baat nahi, dialysis pe aa jayegi. Hafte mein do dafa hi toh karwana padega. Itni achi ladki ke liye tum yeh qurbani de hi sakte ho?"

wo A wale number se guzarti B pe aa gayi thi.

"Raha bacho ka sawal toh zindagi ka maqsad nahi hote. Na bhi ho sakein toh koi baat nahi, adopt kar lena."

Halke se shaane uchkaate hue, uska angutha screen par musalsal neeche jata raha. D... aur phir E... Abhi tak matloob shakhs saamne nahi aaya tha.

Hammad ke chehre par chhaya taffakur barhta gaya. Albatta, woh khamoshi se sirf "Ji" keh kar reh gaya.

Jawahirat use Zumar ke liye qail kar rahi thi ya us se mutanfir, woh samajh nahi pa raha tha.

"Dekho, zindagi mein har cheez perfect toh nahi milti. Mera khayal hai, woh ek acchi lawyer hai aur tumhare saath Australia ja kar bhi apni padhai aur job jari rakh sake gi. Na bhi rakhi toh tum ek kamaane waale bahut ho, nahi?"

Hammad ki aankhon mein mazeed tanav aa gaya. Usne sar ko asbaat mein hila diya, magar ab "Ji" tak nahi bola.

Jawahirat ka screen pe chalta angutha ek dum ruka. Labon pe halki si muskurahat aayi.

Ye J ki fehrist thi...

Jilani... Raqeeb Jilani.

Usne us number par ek text bheja.

-"Mere office ke bahar mera intezar karein."

Aur phone rakh ke sar utha kar chamakti nigahon se Hammad ko dekha. Yahan se uske sar ki pusht, maan aur aadhe chehre ke tane taa'suraat woh dekh sakti thi.

"Aage ka kya irada hai?"

"Kuch keh nahi sakta, qismat jis taraf le jaye."

Woh ehtiyaat se tol tol ke itna hi keh saka.

Office ke samne wo utre toh Jawahirat tez tez chalti aage badh gayi. Hammad tabedari se uske peeche tha. Matlooba floor par pohanch kar bhi woh us se aage hi chalti ja rahi thi.

Ird gird moaddab ho kar rukte aur salaam karte logon ko muskara kar sar ke kham se jawab deti, woh aage badhti gayi.

Yahan tak ke ek office ke samne aa ruki. Wahan ek suit mein malboos, adher umar sahab bahar, kalayi ki ghadi dekhte, mutfakkir se nazar aa rahe the.

Jawahirat ko aate dekh kar unke chehre pe chamak aayi. Aage badhe.

"Ma'am, main aap ka intezar kar raha tha."

Jawahirat ne muskurate hue unse Hammad ka taaruf karwaya.

"Yeh hamare azeez hain, Hammad. Aur Hammad, yeh Hashim ki ek company ki taraf se Australia mein hote hain. Aadha saal yahan, aur aadha wahan. Baccho ke paas udhar ki nationality bhi hai, lekin rehte idhar hi hain."

Phir usi shiri muskurahat ke saath Jilani sahab ko dekh kar boli,

"Hammad ek engineer hai aur Australia mein job karta hai. Aap ko isse mil kar khushi hogi."

Saath hi kalayi pe bandhi ghadi dekhi.

"Hashim mera intezar kar raha hoga, main chalti hoon."

Woh aage badhi toh khushdili se Hammad se musafa karte hue, Jilani sahab excuse kartek Jawahirat ke peeche aaye.

Hammad wahi mile julay taa'surat mein ghira, akhda reh gaya.

Khush hona chahiye ya pareshaan? Woh samajh nahi paa raha tha.

"Main is ladke ka kya karun? Mujhe toh wahan kisi ki zaroorat nahi hai."

Jilani sahab ne aage badhti Jawahirat ke qareeb aakar halki si sargoshi Ki.

Woh muskara kar unki taraf palti, chamak-daar aankhon se unhein dekha.

"Kya aap ko apni beti ke liye ek padhe likhe, khandani aur khush-shakal gadhe ki zaroorat nahi thi?"

Jilani sahab ki aankhein hairat se phaili, sar khud-ba-khud asbaat mein hil gaya.

"Good toh phir maine usay dhoond liya. You're welcome."

Unke "Thanks" ka intezar kiye bagair, woh mud kar aage badh gayi.

Jilani sahab ab ke zyada garam-joshi se muray, aur Hammad ke kandhe pe haath rakhe, usey apne saath aage le gaye.

Woh Hashim ke office mein aayi toh woh revolving chair pe baitha, kohniya desk par rakhe, ungliyon ke pooro se aankhein masal raha tha.

Coat peeche tanga tha aur shirt ke cuffs mude hue the.

"Tumhare aur Shehreen ke darmiyan koi larai hui hai?"

Aankhon se haath hata kar, Hashim ne chonk kar usse dekha. Chehre par tajjub ubhra.

"Aap ko kis ne kaha?"

"Shehreen ke mood ne."

Woh kohni pe tika purse be-niyazi se desk pe rakhti, uske samne baithi.

Taang pe taang jamai, aur gale mein padi chain ungli pe lapet-te, muskara ke gehri nigahon se use dekhne lagi.

Hashim nigahein chura gaya.

"Agar hui bhi hai toh kya? Main hamesha ki tarah usko maaf kar dunga. Aur agar maaf na kar saka toh chhod dunga."

"Yani tumhein maloom ho gaya ke uska apne cousin se affair tha?"

Usne ek dum buri tarah chonk kar apni maa ko dekha.

"Kya aap jaanti thi?"

"Bilkul."

"Toh phir mujhe koi kyun nahi bataya?"

"Batane se tum na-khush hote, aur main tumhein khush dekhna chahti thi."

"Beharhaal," Jawahirat ne baat badalne ke andaaz mein kaha,

"Faris ke case ka kya bana?"

Hashim be-zari se kursi pe peeche ko hua. Khud bhi Shehreen ka maamla discuss nahi karna chahta tha. Qalam utha kar ungliyon mein ghumate hue bola,

"Agar Zumar apne bayan par qaim rahe toh case bohot mazboot hai."

"Woh rahegi."

Phir aankhon se glass door ke paar ishaara kiya.

Hashim ne uss taraf dekha. Jilani sahab, Hammad ke kandhe pe haath rakh kar use apne saath le ja rahe the, dheere dheere mukhtalif cabins ki taraf ishara karte hue kuch bata rahe the. Hammad kaafi aaram deh lag raha tha.

"Yeh kaun hai?"

"Zumar ka mangetar."

Hashim ne ek dum ukta kar maa ko dekha.

"Mummy Aap kya karti phir rahi hain? Jab main keh raha hoon ke main har cheez sambhal raha hoon, toh phir yeh sab kya hai?"

"Maine kuch nahi kiya. Sirf accelerator par pao rakha hai. Yeh mangani waise bhi toot jani thi. Jitni jaldi tootegi, utna zyada Zumar apne bayan pe qaim rahegi. Warna tum uske khandan ko jaante ho, woh use bayan badalne par majboor kar sakte hain."

Hashim ke liye itna bohot tha. Usne mobile uthaya aur coat ka button band karte hue khada ho gaya.

"Raat ko khane par milte hain."

Kehta hua bahar nikal gaya.

Corridor se guzarte hue, Jilani sahab ne use dekh kar garam joshi se Hammad ka taaruf karwana chaha.

"Yeh Hashim-"

Magar woh ek nazar bhi dale bagair, sakht taa'surat ke saath aage badh gaya.

Aurangzeb ke office ka darwaza zor se khula.

Woh andar apne compain ke logo aur uss P cap wale consultant ke saath masroof nazar aa rahe the.

Hashim ne sirf aik sakht ishaara kiya, aur woh sab apni apni cheeze uthaye, bahar nikal gaye.

Aurangzeb qadre tashweesh se use dekhne lage. Hashim meiz ke samne aaya aur bola,

"Main Alicia ke maamle ko sambhal loonga, lekin phir aap ko ek qurbani deni padegi."

"Aur woh kya?"

"Woh Faris ki alibi hai. Agar aap chahte hain ke woh ladki yahan se chup chaap chali jaye, toh phir woh Faris ke haq mein bayan nahi degi. Alicia ke jaane ka matlab hai Faris jail se nahi niklega."

Aurangzeb Kardar maathe par bal liye, use sunkar soch mein doob gaye. Chand lamhon ki khamoshi chhayi rahi.

"Ajeeb ittifaaq hai ke dono cases mein wohi ladki uski alibi hai."

"Toh phir main Alicia ko yahan se bhej doon ga, lekin aap Faris ko nikalwane ki bilkul koshish nahi karein ge."

Aurangzeb ne halke se shanay jhatke.

"Mujhe uski be-gunahi ka yaqeen nahi hai. Yaqeenan usne Alicia ko kuch de kar is gawaahi pe majboor kiya hoga. Toh theek hai, woh chali jaye. Yeh zyada behtar hai."

Hashim ne unhein sanjeeda nazar se dekha, phir mud gaya.

Tez tez chalta bahar aaya. Baqi log toh idhar-udhar ho gaye thay, sirf woh consultant larka jo wahin khada tha, foran uski taraf lapka.

"Agar un khufiya meetings ka talluq us ladki se hai jo uss din aayi thi, toh main aapko bata sakta hoon ke humein use kis tarah handle karna chahiye. Kyunke aisi larkiyan-"

Is se pehle ke woh apni baat mukammal kar pata, Hashim ne jhapat se uski gardan pakda, diwaar se lagaya aur uski aankhon mein aankhein daal kar ungli uthaye chaba chaba kar bola.

"Ainda... mere mukhaatib kiye baghair mujhse baat karne ki koshish ki, toh tumhein yahin pe gaadh doon ga. Samajh aayi?"

Haka-baka se ladke ki gardan chhodi, apne coat ki na-deeda silvatein durust ki, aur use ghoorte hue wapas mud gaya.

Mana kiya tha usne apne baap ko... is siyasat aur iske dhund mein padne se. Aur phir is jaise taaza graduate hue, khud ko maahir analyst samajhne wale larke ko bhaari tankhwa par rakhne se.

Magar nahi... uski sunta tha kaun? Ya shayad... usse gussa bohot aa raha tha aaj kal.

Woh kahin bhi nahi gaya. Gaari be-maqsad drive karta raha. Aur phir ruka, toh saamne ek floral market thi.

Hashim utara, ek bada sa guldasta kharida, use front seat par rakha, aur jab dobara drive karne laga... toh aankhon mein sadeed karb tha.

Abke wo utra to samne Qabristan tha. Wo phool hath me pakde chote chote kadam uthata kabro ke darmiyan se guzarne laga.

Zartasha Ghazi. Waris Ghazi.

Yeh qabrein... Kareeb kareeb thi. Kahi aas paas Zumar ki walida ki qabar bhi thi. Aur Saadi ke walid ki bhi.

Magar wo sirf Zartasha ki qabar ke saamne aa khada hua. Jhuk kar bahut adab se Guldasta uske upar rakha, phir seedha hua.

Pants ki jeebo mein haath daale, sar jhukaye. Jooti se mitti pe pada koi kankar masalte hue, kitni der khada lab kat-ta raha.

"I'm so sorry, Zartasha.. tum bohot pyaari... bohot masoom si thi. Main waqai aisa nahi karna chahta tha... lekin meri majboori thi. Bohut se logo ki khushiyon ke liye... kisi ek ko qurbani toh deni parti hai."

Hole se nudbudate huye usne udaas nazro se kabar ke kutbe ko dekha.

"Magar... shayad tumhare liye yahi behtar tha. Tum Faris ke saath khush nahi thi... jise sirf ek jannat mein rehne ki aarzoo thi. Umeed hai, ab woh puri ho gayi hogi."

"Zyada umeed hai... ke Faris bhi jald tumhein join kar lega. Tum dono hum se zyada khush raho ge. Tumhare liye acha hi hua." Sar asbaat me hilate usay zara si tasalli huyi.

Phir bhi wo kafi dair tak wahin khada raha.

Baarish ke baad ki geeli hui mitti ki sondhi khushbu...

Aur qabron ka sannata...

Aas paas khamoshi se tehrta raha.

☆☆☆

ہم سے ہمارے حال کی تفصیل پوچھئے، ہمدردیوں کے نام پر سازش بہت ہوئی۔

Hum se hamare haal ki tafseel poochiye. Hamdardiyo ke naam par saazish bohot hui.

∘❀∘

Mahaul mein ajeeb sa tanav tha. Saadi muztarib aur bebas sa khada, salakho ke paar dekh raha tha, jahan Faris nafi mein sar hilaata, daayein se baayein chal raha tha. Uske chehre par shadeed gussa tha, jaise bas na chalta ho wo kisi ka gala daba de. Phir ekdum woh samne aaya, dono haatho se salakho ko pakad kar usi taish se Saadi ko dekha.

"MAIN NE NA KOI CALL KI THI, NA MAIN IS DOHARE QATAL MEIN MULAWWIS HOON. AGAR TUMHARI PHUPHO YEH BAAT BAAR BAAR KEH RAHI HAIN TOH ISKA MATLAB HAI WOH JAANTI HAIN KE YEH SAB KISNE KIYA, AUR WOH KISKO COVER KAR RAHI HAIN."

Ghungriyale baalon wale ladke ke chehre par sharmindagi thi, jismein hazan bhi shamil tha.

"Phuphi jhooth nahi boltein, unhe koi dhamki mili hai."

"KIS QISAM KI DHAMKI? WOH KEH RAHI HAIN KE MAINE QATAL KIYA HAI, AUR TUM KEH RAHE HO KE UNHE DHAMKAYA GAYA HAI?" Faris ne taish se salakhon ko jhatka diya, magar woh salakhain bohot mazboot thi, ye jhatke unko todne ke liye naa kafi the.

Faris bebasi ho kar salakhon se peeth lagaye khada ho gaya. Ab uska chehra Saadi nahi dekh sakta tha, aur woh dekhna bhi nahi chahta tha. Usse lag raha tha ke wohi apne maamu ka mujrim hai, kyunki woh baar-baar Zumar ki tarfdari kar raha tha.

"Kya pata kisi ne phupho ko majboor kiya ho, dhamkaya ho, dara diya ho ke yeh sab kehne par majboor ho gayi ho." Faris ne uski taraf istehzaai pusht kiye sar jhatka.

"Main nahi maanta! Kis kisam ki khatoon hai wo, jaanta hoon unhe. Unhe koi majboor nahi kar sakta. Woh apni marzi se kisi ko cover rahi hain."

"Aap fikr mat karein, hum is masle ka hal nikaal lenge. Phupho apna bayaan wapas le lengi. Main aur Hashim bhai aap ko—"

Faris bufar kar uski taraf mudha. "BHAAR MEIN GAYA HASHIM! MUJHE USKI KISI BAAT PAR YAKEEN NAHI HAI, NA USKE KIYE GAYE WAKEEL PAR, NA USKE KISI WADE PAR. WOH TOH SABSE ZYADA KHUSH HOGA MUJHE YAHAN DEKH KAR!"

Saadi ki aankhon mein gehra dukh ubhra. "Aap unke baare mein aisa kyun sochte hain? Sab cousin ke darmiyan raqabate jhagde chalte hain, magar iska matlab yeh nahi ke woh aapko yahan dekh kar khush ho. Wohi toh aapke liye sabse zyada koshish kar rahe hain!"

"MAIN HASHIM KO TUMSE ZYADA JAANTA HOON! WOH JAAN BHUJ KAR YAHA AATA HAI TAKE MUJHE DEKH KAR FAATEHANA MUSKURA SAKE! AGAR AAJ KOI UTH KAR YEH KEH DE KE MERI BIWI AUR BHAI KA QATAL BHI HASHIM NE KIYA THA, TOH MAIN MAAN LOONGA!" Ghusse me Woh jaane kya kya bole ja raha tha.

Saadi be-yaqeeni aur dukh se peechay hata. Usse itna gehra sadma laga tha ke kuch kehne ke qabil bhi nahi raha tha. Magar kehne ki nobat aayi hi nahi, kyunke chand minutes ko unko chhorh kar gaya Hashim wapas aagaya.

"Tum theek kehte ho."

Aawaz pe sun se khade Saadi ne chonk kar sar mora. aur gusse se tez tez bolte Faris ne ruk kar udhar dekha. Pant ki jebo mein haath dale, grey suit mein malboos Hashim ka chehra sanjidgi thk, aur gehra malaal bhi.

"Bilkul theek! Main hi gadha, ullu ka pattha hoon, jo apne hazaar kaam chhod kar tumhare liye din raat ek kar raha hoon! Meri maa kabhi D.A. ke paas jaati hai, aur kabhi uske mangetar ke paas, taake uska rishta Bach jaye. taake wo apni zindagi me pursukoon ho kar apni mehrumiyo ka badla tumse na le! Apni biwi, apni bacchi... unko kitne din se nazarandaz karke, main idhar tumhare liye khwaar ho raha hoon, aur tumhe yeh lagta hai ke main yahan maza lene aata hoon?"

Woh aage bara, jebo mein haath daale, kadam-kadam chalta wo salakho tak aaya. Faris ab tak usi sanjeeda, mashkook nazro se usko dekh raha tha. Saadi ne pareshaani se Hashim ko dekha. Woh bohot hurt lag raha tha.

"MUJHE TUMHARI KISI BAAT PAR AITBAAR NAHI HAI! SAB YAAD HAI MUJHE, KAISE MERI BIWI KO MERE KHILAF BEHKATE THE!" Faris jawaban gharraya.

"Jaise ke maine kaha, main hi bewakoof tha jo itne din se tumhare liye koshishe kar raha tha. Halanke, mera baap jiska tumse rishta mujhse zyada se zyada hai. tum par laanat bhej kar apni compain par mashroof hai. Isliye, YOU KNOW WHAT, FARIS? Tumhari yeh blame game dekh kar mujhe bhi yakeen hone laga hai ke tumhi is dohare qatal ke peeche ho! Meri taraf se tum sado is jail me, mein jaa raha hoon."

dukh aur barhami bhari aankhon se dekhta, wo palta aur tez-tez baahar nikal gaya. Saadi tezi se salakhon ke kareeb aaya.

"Aap kyun apne gusse mein beqabu ho jaate hain? Woh Hashim bhai hain! Aapko pata hai, woh kitne din se yahan aapke liye khwaar ho rahe hain hamare sath? Aapke wakeel ki fees, tamam akharajat, police officer se sifaarishe, har cheez wohi kar rahe hain. Aur aap phir bhi unhi ko ilzaam de rahe hain? My God!"

Woh be-had be-yaqeen tha, jaise Hashim se zyada hurt hua tha. Faris ne gusse se sar jhatka. "Main kisi pe ilzaam nahi de raha, main bas yeh keh raha hoon ke mujhe kisi par aitbaar nahi hai."

"Aapne kaha tha ke woh is qatl mein mulawwis hain, aapne unpe itna bada ilzaam laga diya!"

"Mera matlab nahi tha! Zaahir hai woh is mein mulawwis nahi hain. Uska mere bhai ya biwi se kya lena dena? Lekin iska yeh matlab bhi nahi ke woh mere saath mukhlis hain. Woh Hashim Kardar hai! Agar woh chahta toh main do minute mein baahar hota. Main baahar is liye nahi hoon kyunki usne chaha hi nahi!"

Saadi ne afsos se usse dekhte huye sar nafi me hilaya, "Mujhe samajh nahi aa rahi ke mere ird-gird ke itne sahi log itni ghalat baaton pe kyun arr (atak) chuke hain?"

Aur gila amej nazro se usay dekhta, Hashim ke peeche baahir ko lapka.

Woh police station ke baahar apni car ke saath khada tha, jebo mein haath daale, door ufaq ko dekhte huye. Uski aankhon mein koi soch thi aziyat bhi thi… lab bhinche hue the. Saadi ko be-panaah sharmindagi ne aan ghera. Woh jaldi se uske qareeb aaya.

"Main aap se maazrat karta hoon, mamu ki taraf se. Woh gusse mein keh gaye jo bhi kaha, lekin of course unka yeh matlab nahi tha."

Hashim ne unhi nazro se Saadi ka chehra dekha.

"Main soch bhi nahi sakta ke koi aadmi apne bhai ko qatl kaise kar sakta hai. Is liye maine socha ke Faris ne yeh nahi kiya hoga. Bilkul aise hi, main yeh bhi nahi soch sakta ke koi aadmi apne bhaiyo jaisa cousin par yeh ilzaam kaise laga sakta hai! Magar ruko, Kya tumhe bhi lagta hai ke main Faris ke saath mukhlis nahi hoon? Ya is sab mein mera haath ho sakta hai?"

Saadi ne foran nafi mein sar hilaaya. "Of course nahi! Unhone abhi khud kaha ke unka yeh matlab nahi tha. Woh gusse mein keh gaye. Please aap dil par mat lein." Phir fikrmandi se, thoda ghabraya sa bola, "Humein aaj lawyer ke paas bhi jaana tha… Haashim bhai, aap wahan jaa rahe haina?"

Uske dil ko dhadka lag gaya tha. Hashim ke chehre par zakhmi si muskurahat ubhri.

"Agar tumhe lagta hai ke Faris ki baaton ki wajah se main uske liye behtareen wakeel nahi karunga, ya wakeel ki fees dena ya uski sifarise karna band kar dunga, toh tum Hashim Kardar ko nahi jaante!"

"Of course, hum abhi lawyer ke paas jayenge! Hum behtareen strategy apnaayenge, aur chand din mein Faris baahar hoga. Don’t worry." Thakan se keh kar usne Saadi ka shana thapthapaya.

"Aap khud bhi toh yeh case lad sakte hain!"

"Faris aur mera ek rishta bhi hai jo itna acha nahi hai. Main paisa bachane ke liye uske liye shehar ka behtareen wakeel na karun? To Yeh mere nazdeek ghalat hai! Mere saath woh kabhi bhi aaraam deh ho kar baat nahi karega, apne wakeel se kar lega."

"Main logo ke liye baghair kisi sile ki umeed rakhe favours karta rehta hoon. Dukh sirf is baat ka hai ke jis cousin ke liye main apni biwi ko bhi time nahi de paa raha tha… jiski wajah se woh mujh se lad bhi padi… us cousin ne mujhe yun kadhere mein la khada kiya!"

Sir jhatakte hue usne apni car ki chaabi nikate huye woh car ka driving door khol raha tha.

Saadi ne ek dum chonk kar usay dekha. Nigaho ke samne hospital ka manzar ghooma… bazu se aasteen upar kar ke apne zakhm dikhati Shehreen, Uski aankhon ka karb… aur uske raaz khul Jane ke baad ki bahaduri.

Woh jhoot nahi bol rahi thi. Unki waqai ladaai hui thi.

Magar Faris ki wajah se nahi…

Toh phir…?

Woh ek dum, Hashim ko dekhne laga. Woh bilkul mukhtalif baat kar raha tha.

"Chalo." Hashim ne use baithne ka ishaara kiya.

Khayaal ki dhund hati toh Hashim ke chehre ka malaal nazar aaya, woh abhi tak Faris ki baato pe afsurdah tha. Saadi ne zehan se tamaam socho ko jhatak kar ghoom kar front seat ki taraf aaya.

Woh bhi pata nahi kya sochne laga tha…

ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ☆☆☆