اتار لیتے ہیں دنیا کو یوں تو شیشے میں، اکیلے ہوں تو آئینے سے ڈرتے ہیں۔

Utār lete hain duniya ko yun to sheeshe mein, akele ho to aaiyne se darte hain.

∘❀∘

Jawahirat car mein pichhli seat par aa kar baithi, toh Hashim saath saath barazman uska intezaar kar raha tha. Usne mobile thamaya aur driver ke aane ka intezar kiya. magar jab wo bahar khada raha toh do Hashim ko dekhe bina be taa'sur sa boli.

"Isko chalne ka kaho, Hashim!"

"Mummy, I am sorry." Usne Jawahirat ke ghutne par rakhi angoothiyo se mazayyan haath par apna haath rakha. Fiqarmand nigahe uske chehre par jami thi.

"Main is baare mein baat nahi karna chahti." Wo saamne dekhte hue aankhon par siyah glass laga rahi thi. "Hum bohot dafa yeh baat kar chuke hain, magar tum aaj bhi apne baap ke gunaah mujhse chhupane ki koshish karte ho, halanke tum jaante ho ki mujhe uski beti ke baare mein sab ilm hai."

"Mummy, I am sorry." Uska daaya haath hanooz Jawahirat ke haath pe tha.

"Aur us ladki ki itni himmat ho gayi ke wo mere sheher, mere ghar pahuch jaye magar tumne mujhe khabardaar tak na kiya? Main kya kar leti? Tamasha ya Wawela? Kya pehle kabhi kiya? Hmm um!" Talkhi se Usne sar jhatka. "Tumhare baap ko toh yeh bhi maloom nahi hoga ke main uski nahi ke baare mein jaanti hoon."

"Mummy, I am sorry." wo musalsal uspe nigahe jamaye narmi se keh raha tha.

"Mujhe, Hashim, us ladki ya uske kisi masle se farq nahi padta. Main umr ke is hisse se guzar chuki hoon jab farq pada karta hai. Mujhe koi parwaah nahi, agar wo tumhare baap ke karobar ya izzat ke liye khatra nahi hai agar hui bhi, toh tum sambhaal loge."

"Mummy, i am sorry." Wo zyada narmi aur zyada ahishta se bola.

Jawahirat ne ek haath se glasses upar sar pe chadaye aur aankhon ko ghumakar (eye roll) usey khafgi aur dukh ke mile jule taa'sur se dekha. "Tumne mujhe kyun nahi bataya ke wo idhar aayi hai? Mujhe be-khabar kyun rakha? Shayad main jaanti hoon kyun… Tum mujhe hurt nahi karna chahte." Kehte hue aankhon mein karb ki surkhi ubhri.

"Mummy, I am sorry." Usne zara sa maa ka haath dabaya.

Jawahirat nam aankhon se muskara di aur apna daaya haath Hashim ke usi haath par rakh diya. Aankhon ki khafgi narmi mein dhal gayi.

"It's okay, Main tumse kabhi khafa nahi ho sakti."

Hashim bhi muskara diya, phir peeche hua driver ko wapas aane ka ishaara kiya.

"Mujhe waqai is ladki se farq nahi padta. Us waqt to sirf yahi khayal dil kat-ta hai ke hum dono ne Zumar ki zindagi barbaad kar di. Mujhe iska afsos hai… majboori na hoti to main aisa kabhi na karta."

Woh chehre par ek dum umat kar aati takleef ko zabt se chhupa kar cellphone nikalne laga.

"Mujhe har raat sone se pehle Zumar ka khayal aata hai… Woh iss sab ki mustahiq nahi thi, Hashim!"

"Khair, agar aap kabhi adalat mein uske muqable par difence attorney ke tor par pesh hoti, to apni is raye par nazr-e-sani zaroor kar leti," woh bazaahir basaas sa kehta muskua diya.

Driver ne darwaza khol raha tha. Jawahirat ne glasses phir se aankhon par giraye aur pur-sukoon hokar tek laga li.

Ab saari duniya apni marzi ke rang mein nazar aa rahi thi.

☆☆☆

ظلم پر سہمی ہوئی، دُکھ سے مگر دہکی ہوئی، ایسی آنکھوں ہی سے تو طوفان اُٹھا کرتے ہیں...

Zulm par sehmi huyi dukh se magar dehki hui, aisi aankhon hi se to tufaan utha karte hain…

∘❀∘

(Do mah baad)

Bade Abba ke lounge-cum-dining area me dopehar ke khane ki khushbu pheli thi. Sadaqat jo mojooda din se chaar saal qabl kaafi dubla-patla aur kam umar sa lagta tha. taza roti laakar hotpot mein rakh raha tha.

Sarabrahi kursi ki jagah bade Abba wheel-chair par barajmaan the, aur gaah-e-bagaah daye haath pehli kursi pe sar jhuka kar luqme todti Zumar ko dekh rahe the. Kuch kehne ke lab kholte, phir khamosh ho jate.

Uske operation ko do mahine beet chuke the, aur tab se uski rangat utni hi zard rehti thi.

Dafatan, table par rakha Zumar ka mobile thar-tharaya. Usne aahista se sar uthakar dekha. screen par "Saadi England Mobile Calling" likha aa raha tha.

Bade abba ne screen padhi, uska chehra padha… aur caller ID jaan li.

Zumar be-taasur nigahon se mobile ko dekhti rahi, phir dobara roti ka tukda todne lagi. Unko bechaini hui.

"Phone baj raha hai."

"Main khana khaa rahi hoon." Luqma munh me rakh kar sar jhukaye dusra luqma todne lagi. phone khamosh ho gaya… zara sa waqfa phir bajne laga.

Zumar ne paani ka ghoont bhara aur mobile uthakar kaan se laga liya. "Hello?"

"Assalamualaikum, Zumar…" Woh ruka. Munh mein kuch hone ke baais uski awaaz zara mukhtalif lagi. "Zumar bol rahi hain na?"

"Jee, Zumar phupho bol rahi hoon." Sanjeedgi se kehti, phone kaan se lagaye woh paani ghoont ghoont pee rahi thi. Bhoori aankhein table par rakhe guldaan par jami thi. Chehra zard aur naqahat zada lagta tha. Bade Abba bas bechaini se usko dekhte gaye.

"Oh, ok! Kaisi hain aap, Zumar?" Woh subah sawere ke neele andhere mein doobi sadak par walk karte hue mobile kaan se lagaye kaafi lagao aur ishtiaq se pooch raha tha.

"Theek hoon. Tum kaise ho?"

"Main bilkul theek… Aap ki dard kaisi hai?" Woh sadak ke kinaare ek jagah khada ho gaya, apne haath par rakh kar mehsoos karna chaha.

"Dard nahi hai… ya phir ab ehsaas nahi hota." Woh glass rakhkar roti ka niwala todne lagi.

"Nahi, itni jaldi to dard khatam nahi hota," woh be-ikhtiyaar bol utha. "Abhi to kuch waqt mazeed lagega na zakham bharne mein… bohot se kaam… aap nahi kar sakti hongi…" Samne tez tez bhaag kar jogging karte ek ladke ko dekh kar woh be-khud sa bola.

"Hmm."

"Aur aap kaisi hain?" Uske sard-o-khushk rawaiye par woh bas itna pooch saka.

"Pehle jaisi hoon. Abhi khana kha rahi thi."

"Oh haan, aap ki toh dopehar hogi. Bade Abba jaldi khana kha lete hain na?" Woh khafif sa hansa.

Zumar khamoshi se niwala munh mein rakh rahi thi.

Saadi chup ho gaya. Phir dobara koshish ki.

"Main aaj mall ja raha tha dost ke saath… Kuch chahiye aapko?"

"Sirf sukoon. Aur woh udhar se nahi milta."

Woh phir chup ho gaya, murjha gaya. Aahista se bola, "chale, aap khana khaye. Main phone rakhta hoon, Zumar. (Qadray waqfe se izafa kiya) Zumar phupho."

Tab ehsaas hua ke baat ke aghaz mein usne yeh kyun yaad karaya tha.

Ikkees saal ki Zumar… ab woh phupho ban gayi thi.

Bhatije ne phone band kar diya. Zumar ne bhi mobile table par rakh diya.

"Us se kyun naaraz ho?" Bade Abba ghor se usko dekhne lage.

"Main usse naaraz nahi hoon. Woh mera bacha hai. Bacho se kaun muqabla karta hai?"

"Phir usko yeh kyun kaha ke 'Zumar phupho bol rahi hoon'?"

"Ohkay, aap hamara khana kharab karna chahte hain toh aise hi sahi."

Usne plate door ki aur sar utha kar sanjeedgi se unko dekha.

"Woh us waqt kahaan tha jab main bimar thi? Mera operation tha, Hammad ne mangni tod di thi. Ek ajnabi aurat mujhe gurda tak de sakti hai, magar woh Saadi jis ko maine ungli pakad kar chalna sikhaya tha, woh ek din bhi mere liye nahi ruk saka? Woh mere paas kyun nahi tha us waqt jab mujhe uski zaroorat thi?"

"Yeh tab kyun nahi kaha jab usne phone kiya tha?"

Usne gehri saans lekar sir jhatka. Boli kuch nahi.

"Tumhein asal gussa is baat pe hai ke Saadi ne tumhare muqable mein Faris ka yaqeen kiya."

Aur us naam par uski aankhon mein surkhi ubhar aayi.

"Agar aap bhool gaye hain toh main aapko yaad karwa du ke Faris ka naam mere samne mat liya karein. Usne mujh par goli chalayi, usne meri zindagi barbaad kar di. Aur ab bhi woh aap sabko masoom lagta hai?"

Usne zor se napkin pare hataya.

"Toh phir tum iske khilaf case ko khud kyun nahi leti? Agar itna yaqeen hai tumhein uske mujrim hone ka?"

"Kyunki main takleef mein hoon. Aur main is takleef ko badhana nahi chahti. Bayan de diya, gawahi bhi doongi. Magar aage sarkar jaane aur Faris Ghazi."

Talakhi se, phate dil se kehti, usne akhir mein bohot dukh se bade Abba ko dekha.

"Aur kyunki main achi tarah samajhti hoon ke Nudrat bhabhi kyun operation ke din se aaj tak mujhse milne nahi aayi. Mujhe baar baar jhoota kehlwaye jane ka shauq nahi hai."

Usne mobile aur purse uthaya aur badbadati hui uth khadi hui.

"Baba jee sari umar kehte rahe ke woh nahi rakhta ta’alluq, toh main kyun rakhoon? Soch soch kar ek din hum tanha ho jaayenge."

"Main tanha ho chuki hoon. Thank you, Abba." Kagzat samete, purse kandhe pe latkaya aur kursi peeche dhakeli. Unhon ne qadre hairat se usay dekha.

"Ab kahaan ja rahi ho?"

"Saadi ki fees jama karwani hai."

Aur woh ek dum lajawab hokar usay dekhne lage.

"Magar tum, tum toh uspe gussa thi, Zumar?"

"Kya matlab? Haan!? mujhe uspe gussa hai. Lekin aapne kya samjha tha? Main uski fees jama karwana chhod dungi? Oh, Abba!" Krah kar nagwari se unko dekha. "Woh bacha hai, main nahi." Aur chije liye baahir nikal gayi.

Bare Abba ne ek nazar adhure khane par dali. Yeh agle char saal tak ke aksar adhore reh jane wale khano ka aaghaz tha.

Car mein baithne tak usne ek do mazeed calls suni jo office se thi. Uske baad woh mazeed driving seat pe baithi, lab kat-te huye, pur soch si samne dekhti rahi. Chehre pe uljhan thi.

"Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Hashim ko kaise mili mere gawah ki maloomat?" Achambhe se woh budbadai.

Kuch dair sochti rahi, phir ek dum chaunki. Be-ikhtiyar mobile uthaya. Chehre pe ta'ajjub ubhra. Phir gussa.

Hashim ka number mila kar phone kaan se lagaya. Lab sakhti se bheench rakhe the.

"Hello, Madam Prosecutor. Mujhe kaise yaad kiya itne dino baad?" Woh hamesha ki tarah khushgawar sa bola tha.

"Bohot mubarak ho! Aapne Noman Akram Banam Afzal kathiyawadi ko, yani mere case, ko kharab kar diya, Hashim!"

"okay… aur maine kya kiya hai?"

"Meri surgery se pehle aapne mujhse mera phone liya tha, Faris ki call records waghera ke liye. Magar dar haqeeqat aapne usme se mere gawah ka number aur pata nikala, usko trace kiya, usko paise ya favors de kar munh band karwaya aur gawahi badalwadi. THANK YOU SO MUCH, HASHIM!" Zabt karte karte bhi awaaz buland ho gayi.

"Aapko lagta hai ke aap andar operation table pe zindagi aur maut ki kashmakash mein hongi, aur me baahir aapke phone ka ghalat istemal kar raha hoonga?"

"Aap keh rahi hain ke maine aapke phone se uska number nahi liya?"

"Nahi~ Main keh raha hoon ke maine doctors ke baahir aajane aur operation ki kamiyabi ki ittila milne ke baad aapka phone khola tha~" wo maze se bola tha.

"Ugh, aapki insani hamdardi!" Thak kar gehri saans li. "Aur jab aapne mujhe kaha tha ke aapko meri baat pe yaqeen hai, toh mujhe laga ke aap badal gaye hain… magar nahi. Aap aaj bhi waise hi hain."

"So to hoon~ See you in court~. Tab tak aap koi naya gawah tayar karein." Mehjooz sa kehte hue usne call band ki.

Zumar ne "uff" keh karke jhar jhari li. Abhi phone rakha hi tha ke woh dobara baj utha.

Number dekh kar uske abroo tan gaye.

Nagwari se usne call uthai.

"Ji, Advocate Mehmood?"

"Madam, aap se ek…"

"Mera jawab ‘Na’ mein hai. Apne client Faris Ghazi se kahiye ke baar baar mujh se mulaqat ke liye israar na kiya kare."

"Aap sirf ek dafa us se mil kar tasalli se uski baat sun lein. Uska point of view bhi toh jaan’ne ki koshish karein. Ek wakeel ki haisiyat se aap ko case ke dono pehlu par nazar daalni chahiye."

"Shayad aap bhool rahe hain ke main is case ki wakeel nahi hoon. Na prosecutor Na defender. Main is case ki victim hoon. Aur victim ke liye koi doosri side nahi hoti."

"Okay, lekin ek dafa uski baat sun’ne mein kya harj hai?" Woh narmi se samjhane lage.

Zumar ne baat kaat di. "Main zaroor sunti agar woh kehta ke kisi ne us se gunpoint par call karwayi hai, tab main usko be-gunah bhi tasavvur kar leti. Magar jab woh sire se har cheez se inkaar, jab woh mujhe jhoota keh raha hai, toh main kyun sunoo?"

"Magar ek wakeel ki haisiyat se—"

"Kya ‘wakeel wakeel’ ki rutt laga rahe hain aap? Jab ek wakeel ki haisiyat se uski minnat ki thi ke uska case lad’ungi aur woh mujhe na maare, tab usne suni thi meri baat? Ainda mujhe phone mat kijiye ga."

Aur thakk se call kaat di.

☆☆☆

قفس اُداس ہے یارو، صبا سے کچھ تو کہو کہیں تو بہرِ خدا آج ذکرِ یار چلے

qafas udaas hai yaaron saba se kuchh to kaho kahi to bahre-khuda aaj zikr-e-yaar chale.

• Qafas (قفس) : prison/cage. • Saba (صبا) : wind.

• Bahre-khuda (بَحرِ خُدا) : for God's sake.

∘❀∘

Jail ke us kamray mein bichhi maiz ke ek taraf Faris tha aur doosri jaanib Haneen aur Nudrat. Woh khamoshi se baitha tha. Pehle wala tantana, akad aur gussa sab nadaarad tha aur woh iske bar’aks kaafi dheela lag raha tha.

"yahan mat aaya karein, woh bhi Hannah ko le kar. Kitni dafa batau, yeh koi mahaul hai aane ka?" Usne khafgi se Nudrat ko mukhatib kiya, magar andaaz mein thakaan thi.

"Saadi wapas ja chuka hai. Shohar mera mar chuka hai. Doosra bhai bhi katl ho chuka hai. Aur kya karu?" Nudrat rohaansi ho gayi.

"Ami, aap yeh melodrama kaafi dair se kar rahi hain, ab bas kar dein." Woh chid kar boli toh dono ne be-ikhtiyar usay dekha.

"Itni dair se sun rahi hoon main yeh baatein. Bas kar dein aap dono. Aur ami, kar len na aapne jo baatein karni thi. Ab baahir intezaar karein, mujhe mamu se akele mein baat karni hai."

"Tameez naam ki cheez meri aulaad ko choo kar nahi guzri! Tum Ghar pahuncho me batati hoon." Aankh ka kinara saaf karti, Nudrat usko sakhti se suna kar chali gayi.

Woh asar liye bina sanjeedgi se Faris ki taraf mudi. Dupatta sar pe liye, ainak lagaye, woh khafa nazar aa rahi thi.

"Kya aapki phupho se baat hui?"

"Nahi. Woh milna nahi chahti."

Woh maiz pe rakhe apne haatho ko dekhne laga. Haneen usko dekhti rahi, yahan tak ke ek purana manzar uski aankhon ke samne se guzra…

Chhoti Haneen… Khafa aur khamosh si, bagheeche ke kone mein bethi thi, aur Faris uske samne panjo ke bal baitha pooch raha tha…

"Aur phir ami ne tumhe daanta?"

"Sirf daanta? Woh tab se mujhe daant rahi hain jab se maine gumla toda hai. Mera dil kar raha hai main mar jau." (Is umar mein ise marne ki badi fantasy hoti thi.)

"Aur?"

"Aur kya?"

"Aur kya dil chah raha hai tumhara?"

"Yahi ke main jannat mein chali jau, wahan mere paas bada sa ghar ho..."

"Aur?" woh narmi se poochta ja raha tha, aur woh batati ja rahi thi…

"Kya dekh rahi ho?" Uski awaaz par woh chonki. Faris thakaan se usay dekh raha tha.

"Kyun nahi kehte jo kehna chahte hain? Kab tak apni feelings aur soch ko andar daba kar rakhenge? Aapko phupho par gussa hai na? Toh keh dein. Jo bhi andar hai, nikaal dein."

"Haan, mujhe gussa hai us par." Usne ek dafa bhi nahi socha ke M-Main..." talkhi se kehte kehte woh ruka.

"Ke main?"

"Ke main kisi takleef mein hoon. Jo mari hai, woh meri biwi thi, aur mujhe woh bohot pyaari thi. Bajaye iske ke woh hamare saath khadi hoti aur meri biwi ke qatil tak pahunchne mein hamari madad karti, woh mujh par ilzaam laga rahi hai. Hm!?" Muthiya bheench kar kehte usne sir jhatka.

"Aur?"

"Aur tumhein pata hai jail kaisi hoti hai? Tareek aur khaali."

"Aur." woh sukoon se poochti gayi. Faris ne gehri saans li, aur phir se apne haathon ko dekhne laga.

"Aur jab raat hoti hai aur battiyan bujha di jaati hain, main tab bhi salakhon ke saath baith jata hoon is hisse mein jahan roshni ki kiran subah sabse pehle girti ho. Us andhere mein sabse zyada Zartasha yaad aati hai. Usko andhere se darr lagta tha. Woh raat ko sote waqt bhi dressing room aur terrace ki battiya jala deti thi." Kehte hue woh ruka. Ab uska sar jhuka tha aur kohniya maiz par rakhi thi. Dono haathon se peshaani masalta raha.

Haneen bas usay dekhti gayi.

"Aur?" Usne sir uthaya, thakaan se choor aankhon se baayen jaanib deewar ko dekhne laga. Kuch yaad aaya, chehre par udaas si muskurahat ubhri. Haneen ne arsay baad Faris ko muskurate dekha tha.

"Woh bohot pyaari thi, Hannah. Jab shaadi hui, mujhe pasand nahi thi woh. Immature, bachkana, aur bewakoof lagti thi. Magar ek dafa main beemaar hua toh woh fajr tak jaagi rahi. Haan, batti usne us raat bujha di thi sari battiyan, kahin main disturb na hoon. Us din se woh mujhe achhi lagne lagi thi. Haneen jab police mujhe se puch tachh karne aa rahi thi tab bhi wo mere sath thi, usay yakeen tha maine kuch galat nahi kiya."

"Aur?"

"Aur main Zumar se mil kar usse yeh poochna chahta hoon ke Zartasha ko wahan kisne bulaya tha? Aur yeh ke usne aakhri baatein kya kahi thi? Restaurant waley kehte hain ke woh dono kaafi dair wahan baithi baatein karti rahi thi. CCTV footage mein sirf is liye nikalwana chahta tha ke dekhlu ke Woh naraaz toh nahi lag rahi thi? Main call par us se theek se baat nahi kar saka tha, magar-" usne talkhi se sar jhatka. "Magar har woh footage jo mere liye zaroori thi woh ghaib hai."

"Na Sirf restaurant ki footage, balki Waris Mamu ke qatl ki raat hotel entry aur exit ki footages bhi ghaib hain. Firing wale din bhi ittefaq se us floor ke cameras kharab the. Kamra bhi aap ke naam tha. Jo receptionist us waqt desk par thi jab is kamre ki chaabi li gayi, woh bhi ghaib hai. Aap ko buri tarah phansaya gaya hai Mamu is sab mein."

Woh hatheliyo pe chehra giraye udaasi se keh rahi thi.

"Magar Zumar in tamaam waqiyat ko kyun nahi dekhti? Kyun meri baat nahi sunti? Mujhe is mein phansaya ja raha hai."

"Woh kehti hain ek intelligence officer ko kaun trap kar sakta hai?"

"Kese nahi trap kar sakta? Yeh Hashim ka security officer khawar bhi pehle ek agency mein tha. Phir kisi naakarda jurm ki paadash mein nikaala gaya. Hashim ne uska case lada aur usey bari karwa kar apne paas le aaya."

Chand lamhay khamoshi chhaayi rahi. Faris kaafi dair se bol raha tha, isliye ab thak chuka tha.

"Aap ke agency ke dost, seniors koi nahi hain jo hamari madad kar sakein?"

"Haneen, yeh agencies tab tak saath deti hain jab tak aap unmein shaamil hain. Jab nikaal diye jao toh sab khatam."

"Magar aap ka dushman kaun ho sakta hai? Kisi pe toh shak hoga aapko?"

"Dushman toh bohot hain. Kitne cases dekhe, yaad bhi nahi. Magar yeh mere dushman ne nahi kiya. Yeh Waris ke qatl ko cover karne ke liye kiya gaya hai aur.."

woh kehte kehte ruk gaya. Aankhon mein chubhan si ubhri.

"Aur?" Haneen ne baghor kar usay dekha.

"Mujhe Hashim pe shak hai."

"Oh!" Hannah ne gehri saans lekar peechay huyi.

"Mujhe maloom hai jo aapne bhai se kaha aur Hashim bhai ne sun liya waghera waghera. Waise idea bura nahi hai. Aap ki jagah yahan Hashim bhai ko dekh kar mujhe bohot khushi hoti."

Usne muskara kar aankhein band kar ke jaise maza liya.

"Magar abhi aapne kaha ke yeh sab karne wala aap ka nahi, Waris Mamu ka dushman hai. Toh Hashim bhai ki unse kya dushmani? Aur waise bhi woh qatil lagte toh nahi hain."

"Main yeh nahi keh raha ke Hashim ne qatal karwaya hai. Magar mujhe is mein woh phansa sakta hai. Sabse badi baat meri car mein jo bhi dala gaya so dala gaya tha, magar jis subah mein aur tum Alicia ke paas hotel gaye thay, jab peeche se mere ghar ki basement se meri gun churayi gayi. Na koi lock toota, na darwaza! Itne guards, security checkposts, CCTV cameras ke hote hue bhi koi kaise mere ghar mein daakhil ho sakta hai agar Hashim uski madad na kare to?"

"Khair, jhol toh har security system mein hots hain. Jab log Pentagon tak pohanch sakte hain toh Kardar ka qasr kya cheez hai?"

Haneen ko yeh baat dil ko lagti hui nahi lagti thi.

"Aur Hashim ki behan? Woh kyun chali gayi?"

"Bataya toh tha, woh meri wajah se gayi. Mere pe gussa jo tha, woh hi nikala usne."

"Aur agar usko Hashim ne dara dhamka kar bheja ho to? Haneen, main us aadmi par aitbaar nahi karta. Woh subah uthate waqt, aankh kholne se pehle bhi jhoot bolta hai."

"Ab yeh mat kehna ke woh mere liye behtareen wakeel muqarrar kar raha hai toh iska yeh matlab hai ke woh bohot mukhlis hai. Tumhein pata hai..." woh batate batate ruka.

"Keh dein. Main sun rahi hoon. Main hamesha sunungi." Woh udaasi se muskurayi.

Faris ne sar asbaat mein hilaaya aur ungliyan aapas mein masalte hue kehne laga, "Hum chhote the toh maamu hum sab ke liye khilone laaye. Hashim ko troy pistol di aur mujhe troy rifle. Hashim mere paas aaya aur bola, 'Tumhari rifle toh bilkul achi nahi. Agar main tumhari jagah hota toh dad ko yeh wapas karke isse behtar le leta.' Main yeh sun kar foran gaya aur maamu ko wapas kardi. Maamu ko mere rawaiye se bohot afsos hua. Unhone ek aur khilona mujhe diya aur woh rifle kaafi dukh se saamne karke poocha, 'Kya koi yeh lega?' Hashim foran gaya aur bohot tabedaari se wo le li. Baad mein maine poocha, 'Agar khud lene ka dil tha toh mujhe woh sab kyun kaha?' Toh wo bola, 'Maine toh subah se tumse baat bhi nahi ki,' aur aage badh gaya. Us din main apne maamu ke dil se utar gaya aur Hashim mere dil se."

"Magar hum yahan asli guns ki baat kar rahe hain, maamu. Hashim bhai bure honge, corrupt aur jhuthe bhi, magar unke paas yeh sab karne ki koi wajah nahi hai. Koi ek bhi cheez aapke maamu ya unke khandan ko iss sab mein mulawwis nahi dikhai deti. Mujhe lagta hai... Aurangzeb Kardar ke elan aapse izhar-e-latalkhi ke baais aap unse narazgi ki wajah se aisa soch rahe hain."

"Hmm... shayad." Woh pursoch nazaro se dar-o-deewaar ko dekhta. Neem kayal ho gaya tha? Ya phir ab bhi mashkook tha? usko khud nahi maloom tha

Mulaqat ka waqt khatam ho chuka tha. Sada dene wale ne sada lagayi toh Haneen uth khadi hui. Faris ne nazar uthakar use dekha aur sate chehre ke saath muskara diya.

"Thank you, Hannah. Doosri dafa meri baat sunne ke liye."

"Aur Pehli dafa kab tha?" Hannah ko yaad aaya... Waris maamu ke qatal wali raat hotel mein jab usne usne zikr kiya tha. Us long (nose pin) ka.

"Main hamesha sunungi, chahe phupho na bhi sunain." Wo ruki zara hichkichayi, "Jab aap unse milna toh un par gussa mat karna. Woh takleef se guzri hain, aur shayad aisi takleef se guzarne ke baad main bhi yahi karti."

"Yehi masla hai, Haneen, ke sirf woh takleef se nahi guzri."

"Apna khayal rakhiyega."

"Suno..." Woh ja rahi thi jab Faris ne pukara. Woh be-ikhtiyaar mudi.

Woh chand lamhe dekhta raha, phir ahishta se bola, "Main yahan se nikalna chahta hoon. Kya tum log mujhe yahan se nikal loge?" Aur bad-diqqat kehte hue uski awaaz mein dhero be-bas aur karb ubhar aaya tha.

Haneen ko dhakka sa laga. Woh bohot kuch kehna chah rahi thi magar... "Kash main najumi hoti," kaha aur bahar nikal gayi.

Faris ne sar dono haathon mein gira diya. Woh ek surang ke andar khada tha jahan dono taraf andhera tha... aur dono taraf ka munh band tha.

☆☆☆

Zumar se baat karke Hashim ne mobile jeb mein rakha aur saamne dekha. Woh apne kamre ki balcony mein khada tha, aur yaha nasheb mein vake Faris ka ghar nazar aata tha.

Dusre haath mein pakde mug se coffee ke ghoont bharte hue, woh railing pe jhuk kar sochte hue annex ko dekhne laga.

"Tum pehle se zyada pur-sukoon nazar aa rahe ho?"

Jawahirat aqab se chalti hui aayi aur uske saath aa khadi hui. Hashim ne badastoor samne dekhte huye zara se shaane uchkaye.

"Mujhe koi khauf nahi hai. Mere haath saaf hain."

"Aur mera khauf badhta ja raha hai. Yeh saara drama agar khul gaya toh?"

"Kuch nahi hoga. Sirf do log hamare liye khatra ban sakte the, Faris aur Zumar. Ab dono masroof hain. Faris ka wakeel case ko badhata jayega. peshii pe peshii, kamzor difa. Aur agle aath das saal toh Faris jail se nahi nikalne wala." Kehte hue ruk kar ghoont bhara.

Jawahirat bechaini se usko dekhti ja rahi thi.

"Rahi Zumar, toh woh apne ilaaj mein masroof rahegi. Ho sakta hai jald hi uski shaadi ho jaye, toh woh manzar se bilkul out ho jaye."

Coffee khatam karke usne mug peeche mez par rakha aur railing se tek laga kar seene pe baazu lapete. Maa ko muskara kar dekha.

"Aur Zartasha ka khandan toh waise bhi Faris ko mujrim samajhta hai. Koi bhi mere peeche nahi aane wala."

"Tum Saadi ko bhool rahe ho."

"Saadi? Woh toh chhota, masoom sa bacha hai. Usne Faris ko mujhpe chhod diya hai. Do saal tak toh woh padhai ke liye England rahega, phir wahi job karega, kya pata family ko bhi wahan bula le. Bahar ja kar kaun wapas aata hai? Uski kya fikr karni?"

Laparwahi se eyebrows uchkate hue bola, jaise Jawahirat ke unn wehm-o-gumaan pe taajjub hua ho.

"Khuda kare aisa hi ho." Usne bhi acchi umeed ki. Phir dono saath ja khade hue aur veeran annexe ko dekhne lage.

Aaj, chaar saal baad... woh annexe itni veeran nahi thi.

Uske basement me diwaar pe lagi tasveeron aur cuttings ke saamne Faris khada tha, aur peeche kahin Saadi beta chai pee raha tha.

Cuttings ke upar chalti chaar saal purani film khatam hui toh Faris chonka. Phir haath mein pakde cup ko dekha. Woh hanooz garam tha. Aur wo itna purana safar karke wapas bhi aa gaya tha.

Zehan ki raftaar, roshni ki raftaar se kahin zyada thi.

"Kuch khilayenge ya main jau?"

Apna cup khaali karke rakhta Saadi utha toh Faris chonk kar muda.

Jeans, joggers aur T-shirt mein malboos, daraaz qad larka chaar saal pehle ke muqable mein zyada sanjeeda, sehatmand aur bada bada lag raha tha. Tol tol kar bolne wala, magar acha bolne wala.

"Marzi tumhari."

Ek ghoont bhar kar usne meethi chai rakh di. Phir kuch soch kar mobile aur wallet uthaya.

"Chalo, saath chalte hain. Aapa se do chaar din se mulaqat nahi hui."

"Jee magar ghar me ab pehle din jaisi khatir nahi hogi. Bhindi bana rahi thi Ammi. Ab aap do hafte purane ho chuke hain."

Saunf muthi mein bharte hue, mazaaq se kehta, seedhiyon ki taraf chala gaya. Faris bina koi tabsara kiye uske peeche chal diya.

Jab car waapas road par chalti hui Kardar Qasr ke qareeb hone lagi, toh Saadi ne dekha.

Hashim aur Sonia apne kutte samait abhi tak lawn mein khade the. Ab game ki noiyat badal gayi thi.

"Main ek minute Hashim bhai se baat karke aata hoon!"

Woh car side par rok kar bahar nikla toh Faris ne bezari se peeche se pukara. "Jaldi aana!"

Usay aata dekh kar Hashim ne Sonia se kuch kaha. Woh sar hila kar ek taraf ko chali gayi. Saadi qadam-qadam chalta qareeb aaya.

"Hello Saadi!"

Hashim ne muskara kar usay dekha. Dono mein se kisi ne musafaha ke liye haath nahi badhaya.

"Bas ek baat kehni thi, Hashim bhai."

Woh sanjeedgi se usko dekhta kehne laga.

"Shehreen chahti hai ke main aapse baat karun, is liye kar raha hoon. Aap Sonia ko uske saath jaane de. Unhone apni flight bhi aage karwali hai."

"Okay, main usay jaane dunga. Ek shart par."

Saadi ke eyebrows taajjub se ekhatte hue.

"Aur woh kya hai?"

"Jo tumne mujhse churaya tha, woh wapas kar do. Aur main Sonia ko Shehreen ke saath jaane dunga. Deal?"

Jeb se dayaan haath nikal kar Hashim ne uski taraf badhaya. Saadi ne uski sard muskurahat ko dekha, aur phir uske haath ko.

Faisla karne ke liye bas chand second the.

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ

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