CHAPTER - 08

Main gharaat gar میں غارت گر ______________________________

𝑻𝒖𝒎 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒉𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒆 𝒛𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒌, 𝒏𝒂 𝒒𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍-𝒆-𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝑱𝒐 𝒛𝒐𝒓-𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒈𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒑𝒏𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒒 𝒋𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒊𝒍 𝒉𝒐 𝒋𝒂𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝒀𝒆𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝒆𝒌 𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒊 ....

𝑮𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊, 𝒔𝒖𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑲𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒉-𝒌𝒖𝒍𝒒𝒊 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒖𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒃𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒛 𝒌𝒂 𝑱𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓𝒊 𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆. 𝑯𝒂𝒓 𝑲𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒉-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒉, 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒌𝒐𝒐𝒏-𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒚 𝒌𝒐 𝒘𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒊 𝒔𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓𝒊 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒋𝒉 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏.

𝑻𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒂𝒎 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒏𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊, 𝑻𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒂𝒎 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒌𝒊 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊.

𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒂𝒛𝒖𝒌 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒌𝒊, 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒂𝒛𝒖𝒌 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊. 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏, 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒌𝒉𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒌𝒊 𝑵𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒆𝒌 𝒛𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒉𝒖𝒑𝒂 𝒉𝒖𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊.

𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝒌𝒊 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏. 𝑳𝒐𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝒌𝒐 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒋𝒉𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒆𝒌 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒎𝒊 𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒌𝒐. 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒌𝒊 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒊 𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆.

𝑩𝒂𝒉𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒋𝒉 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝑻𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊 𝒌𝒆 𝒌𝒉𝒘𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆. 𝑮𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝒌𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒂𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑱𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒗𝒊 𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒕𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒂 𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒐 𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒂𝒑 𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆.

𝑺𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒆𝒉 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒌𝒊 𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒏𝒂 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕. 𝒀𝒆 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒉𝒐 𝒋𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒛𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒐.

𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒉𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒉𝒐𝒚𝒆 𝑩𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒉 𝒊𝒔𝒌𝒆 𝒌𝒆 𝒋𝒂𝒃 𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒋𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒂𝒉𝒂 𝑻𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒌𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒆. 𝑨𝒃 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒎𝒖𝒋𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒍𝒛𝒂𝒂𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒉𝒂-𝒅𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒌𝒂. 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒌𝒉𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒅𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒉𝒂. 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝒌𝒂. 𝑾𝒐𝒉𝒊 𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒊 𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊 𝒌𝒐 𝒌𝒂𝒎𝒛𝒐𝒓𝒊 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑫𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝒃𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒑𝒂𝒅𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝒔𝒆 𝑺𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒉𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑩𝒂𝒏 𝒋𝒂𝒐 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎!

- 𝖩𝗈𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗅

∘❀∘

Aur woh Saadi jo dedh saal se resham ban chuka tha, usne apne achhe waqt ke gharaat gar dost ke badhe haath pe chubhti hui nazar daali aur faisla kar liya ki usse faisla karne ki zaroorat nahi thi.

"Aur main ne aap se kya churaaya hai bhala?"

"Wohi jo tumhare khayaal mein pehle main ne tumse churaaya tha."

Saadi ka jabr haan pahunch gaya. Aankhon mein sakhti dar aayi.

"Aap mere khayalat ko nahi jaante. Hum is baare mein baad mein baat karenge." Kehte hue woh mudne laga phir thehr gaya. Door car mein baitha Fars usi taraf dekh raha tha. Saadi ne wapas dekha. Hashim ne muskurate hue haath badastoor badha rakha tha.

"Jald milte hain. Aapke office mein." Usne haath mila liya aur fori se wapas kheench kar palat gaya.

Car mein baithte hi Faris ne sawal kiya, "kya keh raha tha Hashim?"

Ignition mein chaabi ghumate hue usne sar jhukaye, zara se shaane uchkaye.

"Kuch khaas nahi, Office ka ek kaam tha. Wohi pooch rahe the." Car start karke sar seedha kiya.

Faris toh "hmm," kehkar khidki se bahar dekhne laga, magar side mirror mein Hashim door khada muskurate hue, jebo mein haath daale nazar aa raha tha. Usne car ki raftaar tez ki toh Hashim peeche reh gaya.

"Wohi jo tumhare khayal mein maine tumse churaya tha."

"Uff! Aur yeh baat usse kisne batayi hogi?"

Drive karte hue usne steering pe mobile rakha aur Shehreen ka number dial kiya. Kuch ghusse bhara type karne laga, phir iraada tark kar diya. Yeh text par karne wali baat nahi thi.

Bure mood ke saath usne speed tez kar di.

Car ab door ja chuki thi. Hashim aahista se palat aaya.

Lounge mein markazi sofa pe Jawahirat taang par taang jamaye, mobile pe kuch dekh rahi thi. Itwaar ke baais use office nahi jaana tha, magar woh phir bhi hamesha ki tarah taro taaza aur tayyar thi.

Woh qareebi sofa pe dheyr ho gaya, pair lambe karke table par rakh liye aur ungli se thodi masalta, par-soch nazron se saamne dekhne laga. Jawahirat ne mobile se nigah uthai.

"Pareshan lag rahe ho."

"Nahi toh," woh chonka.

"Kuch toh hua hai." Woh phir se mobile par ungli se page upar karne lagi.

"Nahi bas… abhi Saadi se mulaqat hui. Woh Faris se milne aaya tha."

"Aur tumhein yeh baat disturb kar rahi hai ki Saadi sab jaanta hai?"

"Kya nahi karni chahiye?" Uska mood bigda.

"Yeh bhi ho sakta hai ki yeh sab hamara wahem ho. Faris ke liye koshish karne ka yeh matlab toh nahi hai ki woh sab jaanta ho."

Magar Hashim ne sochte hue nafi mein sar hilaaya. "Uh um… woh jaanta hai ki yeh maine kiya hai, magar kyunki uske paas koi saboot nahi hai, isliye woh bar-mala izhaar nahi kar paa raha. Woh Faris tak ko kuch nahi bata raha. Usko dikhane ke liye usne mujhse haath bhi mila liya."

Jawahirat ne mobile pare daal diya aur chehra utha kar bechaini se Hashim ko dekha. "Toh ab kya hoga?"

"Saadi ko main sambhal loonga, woh abhi bhi wahi masoom bacha hai. Magar sawaal yeh hai ki jab uske haath saboot nahi laga, toh use kaise ilm hua?" Uljh kar kehte hue usne maa ko dekha.

"Main pichle ek hafte se, jab se woh meri party pe mere computer se data chura kar gaya hai, yahi soch raha hoon. Maine bina jhol ke plan kiya tha sab, har shey theek thi. Chaar saal pehle tak use kuch nahi pata tha kuch. Phir do saal woh England mein raha, wapas aaya tab bhi use kuch nahi pata tha. Kitna arsa ho gaya dad ki death ko?"

"Ek saal, paanch mah." Jawahirat be-ikhtiyaar boli. Ek karb sa har jagah phel gaya.

"Hmmm… Kal raat jab main Saadi ki behan se baat kar raha tha function pe, toh mujhe ehsaas hua ki dad ki death ke baad se woh log hamare ghar nahi aaye. Sonia ki pichli birthday pe bhi nahi aaye the. Agar main is dafa Zumar ko na kehta, toh woh ab bhi nahi aate."

Jawahirat ne bechaini se pehlu badla.

"Tumhare baap ki death se chand din pehle Saadi ne Faris ka wakeel badal liya tha aur baad mein usne tumahare baat karne par kaafi badtameezi bhi ki thi, yaad hai? Ho sakta hai woh is rawaiye par sharmindagi ki wajah se na aaya ho."

"Ya phir…" Hashim ekdum seedha hua, woh buri tarah chonka tha.

"Ya phir usne wakeel tab badla jab usse saari haqeeqat ka ilm ho gaya tha. Kya woh dedh saal se jaanta hai yeh sab?" Usse be-yaqeeni si mehsoos hui.

"Agar woh itne arse se jaanta hai toh ab tak chup kyun tha?"

"Woh chahta tha pehle Faris bahar aa jaaye aur phir woh mere peeche aaye. Magar usse kaise pata chala mummy?"

Yahan aakar Hashim ka saara dimaag ulajh jaata. Woh chaah kar bhi is sawaal ka jawab nahi dhoondh pa raha tha. Kab galti hui? Kidhar galti hui? Aur woh resham ban gaya?

"Main kya keh sakti hoon?" Usne gehri saans lekar shaane uchkaye aur phir se mobile utha liya.

"Kya maine tumhein nayi khabar di? Zumar Faris ke khilaaf kuch karne ja rahi hai."

Soch mein uljha Hashim chonka.

"Nayi petition?"

"Uhhun… woh usse shaadi karna chahti hai."

Woh ekdum seedha ho kar baitha.

"Uska dimaag durust hai?"

"Woh usse inteqam ke liye shaadi karna chahti hai."

"Aur yeh sab usne aapko kyun bataya?"

"Kyuki main hi uski madad kar sakti hoon." Jawahirat ne mehjooz andaaz mein shaane uchkaye. Hashim ke taa'surat bigad gaye.

"Inteqaam ke bohot tareeqe hote hain, usse shaadi karne ki kya zaroorat hai?"

"Shayad uske mansoobe ke mutabiq unke darmiyan marriage contract hona zaroori ho.... Khair, mere liye yeh baat taftees ka baais hai. Ab humein Faris ki fikr karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Uske liye Zumar kaafi hai."

Magar Hashim bechaini se aage ko jhuka.

"Awwal toh Faris usse shaadi nahi karega, aur agar kar bhi li toh kya guarantee hai ki woh usse inteqam legi? Agar usse sab haqeeqat maloom ho gayi aur woh jaan gayi ki Faris be-gunaah hai toh?"

"Woh kabhi nahi jaan payegi, woh usse nafrat karti hai!"

"Aur agar nafrat marr gayi toh? Agar unhein ek doosre se mohabbat ho gayi aur woh mil kar humare khilaf khade ho gaye toh?"

Jawahirat ne sard saans khench kar ke muskara kar usse dekha.

"Tum bhi jaante ho aur main bhi jaanti hoon ki shaadiya mohabbat se khaali hua karti hain."

Hashim ki aankhon mein chhayi bechaini karb mein badal gayi. Tane a’saab dheele pad gaye. Usne aahista se sar hilaya aur uth khada hua.

Jawahirat ne uski jabri muskurahat ke saath use seedhiyo ki taraf jaate dekha aur phir halka sa jhatka mehsoos kiya. Aankh ka kona ungli ki nok se pocha.

Mobile pare daal diya aur gardan mod kar khidki ke baahar dekhne lagi.

Wahan itwaar ki subah ab baasi ho kar dopahar mein badal rahi thi. Sabza aur mulaazimo ki chahal-pahal sab yahan se dikhayi deta tha, magar woh yeh ab nahi dekh rahi thi. Use kuch aur yaad aa raha tha.

Hashim ne kaha, "Saadi pichle hafte Sonia ki salgirah se pehle aakhri dafa unke ghar dedh saal qabl aaya tha."

Hashim nahi jaanta tha ki Saadi ne wahan aana kyun chhoda tha. Magar woh jaanti thi aur yeh bhi ki woh Hashim ko bhi nahi batayegi.

Jawahirat ne sar jhatka. Abhi bohot se kaam karne the. Yaadein maazi kisi aur waqt sahi.

☆☆☆

وقت کے کتنے دھاروں سے گزرنا ہے ابھی زندگی ہے تو کئی رنگ سے مرنا ہے ابھی۔

Waqt ke kitne dhaaro se guzarna hai abhi Zindagi hai toh kai rang se marna hai abhi.

∘❀∘

Saadi ke jaane ke baad se itwaar ke naashte ke bartan yunhi mez par rakhe the. Sadaqat na jaane kin kaamo mein masroof tha. Zumar ne nazar uthaye bina use awaaz di aur phir chai ka cup utha liya.

Daf’atan mehsoos hua, bade Abba musalsal use dekh rahe hain. Magar woh TV ki taraf dekhti rahi.

"Kaisi rahi shaadi?"

Nigaah screen pe jamaaye, Zumar ne halke se shaane uchkaye.

"Yeh toh chand baras baad pata chalega ki kaisi rahi shaadi!"

"Tum theek ho?" Bade Abbu uski khwabida aankhon ko gaur se dekh rahe the.

"Hamesha se behtar." Aakhri ghoont cup upar kar ke andar undhela aur phir unko dekha. Halka sa muskurayi.

"Ek baat poochu Abba?"

"Tum kabse tamheed baandhne lagi?"

"Jab se yeh maaloom hua ki mujhe bohot kuch maaloom nahi tha." Muskurati aankho mein kichiya si chubhi. magar woh zabt karke unki taraf poori ghum gayi.

"Abba kabhi Faris ne mera rishta maanga tha?"

Bade Abba ke liye yeh sawaal ghair-mutwakke tha. Woh chonk gaye. Kuch kehne ki koshish ki, magar zabaan saath nahi diya.

Prosecutor bhoori aankhein sikud kar unke taa'surat dekh rahi thi.

"Aapne inkaar kyun kiya?"

"Bas yahi laga ki tumhara aur uska koi jod nahi hai."

"Kis ko laga? Aapko ya Ammi ko?"

"Hum dono ko." Unhone ehtiyaat se alfaaz ka chunaav kiya.

"Mujhe kyun nahi bataya?"

Woh unki aankhon mein dekhte hue sawaal pe sawaal kar rahi thi.

"Jab rishta nahi karna tha toh batane ka faida?"

"Kya yeh sach hai ki aapne Faris ko ghar bula kar inkaar kiya tha aur beizzati bhi ki thi?"

"Hargiz nahi! Farhana ne Nudrat ko phone pe inkaar kiya tha. Ghar bulaane wali baat kisne kahi?" Unko shadeed hairat aur sadme ka jhatka laga.

Zumar ke labo par zakhmi muskurahat aayi.

"Abhi toh aap keh rahe the ke aap dono ne inkaar kiya tha?"

Bade Abba ek lamha bhar ke liye chup reh gaye. Woh ab thodhi hatheli par rakhe dilchaspi se unko dekh rahi thi. Kitni dafa ki gayi khwaish unhone dil mein dohrayi. Kaash is ladki ko wakeel na banaya hota.

"Ab der ho gayi hai, inkaar mat kijiye ga. Aapki marzi ke bar-khilaf inkaar kiya Ammi ne. Aap sirf unke liye mere dil mein koi bura khayal na lane ko keh rahe the. Kyunki aap mujhse discuss kiye bina kabhi inkaar na karte."

"Tumhari Ammi ne acha faisla kiya mere liye."

"Mujhe pata hai. Mujhe koi shikayat nahi. Bas yeh jaan'na chah rahi thi ke kya unhone mera naam le kar inkaar kiya tha?" Woh remote utha kar ab TV ki taraf rukh karke baith gayi. Bade Abba hanuz taffakur se usko dekh rahe the.

"Tumhe kisne bataya?"

"Haneen ne. Uske khayaal mein inkaar maine kiya tha."

"Tumne tasheeh nahi ki?"

"Jab khayalat zehan mein itne rashook ho chuke ho, toh mahej alfaaz se unki nafi karne ka kya faida?" Woh channel badalte hue apni gungarali lat ungli pe lapet rahi thi. "Main toh soch rahi hoon ke Faris shayad itna bhi bura nahi jitna main samajhti thi."

Bade Abba ne chonk kar usko dekha.

"Kya koi khas baat hui hai?"

"Koi khaas nahi. Main Faris ki case file padh rahi thi yeh dekhne ke liye ke judge ne kyun usko bari kiya?" Magar judge haq ba janeeb tha koi bhi cheez usko mujrim sabit nahi karti. Sar-sari se andaz mein kehti, woh ruk kar koi headline padhne lagi.

"Aur tum phir bhi usko mujrim gardanti (samjhti) ho?"

"Ho sakta hai main galat hoon. Yeh sab ek setup ho. Shayad." Usne halka sa shana uchkaya. Bade Abba hairat se usko dekhte reh gaye.

"Tumhare khayaalat itni jaldi nahi badal sakte. Koi aur baat hai, hai na?"

"Maine aage badhne ka faisla kar liya hai, Abba. Woh mujrim hai ya nahi, mujhe farq nahi padta ab. Main mazeed apne dukho aur mehroomiyo ka kasoorwar usko nahi thehraungi. Main Saadi se dobara milne lagi hoon, khandan ki taqreebat mein jaane lagi hoon. Aap yahi chahte the, Aur agla qadam?—" Usne gardan pher kar unko sanjeedgi se dekha. "—Aap kahenge ke main shaadi kar loon."

"Main chaar saal se yeh keh raha hoon."

Woh chand lamhe unko takti rahi, phir sar asbaat mein hila diya.

"Ok. Main kar loongi. Jab aap kahe, jisse aap kahe. Magar is dafa mujhse poochhe bina aap kisi ko inkaar ya iqraar nahi karenge."

Aur yeh keh kar woh pur-sukoon uth aayi.

Bade Abba sal se baithe reh gaye. Kitni dair tak unka zaeef dimag ulajhta raha, phir aakhirkar hairat ki dhund chhati.

Umeed ki kiran chamki.

Zumar ne bohot arse baad hi unki baat maan li thi. Saadi logon se sulah, iske liye khush aayind sabit hui thi. Woh khushgawari hairat mein ghire huye the. Samajh nahi aa rahi thi apni khushi kis se share karein. Phir jaldi se phone uthaya. Unhein Nudrat ko batana tha.

☆☆☆

لفظوں کو اس نے جھوٹ سکھایا کچھ اس طرح! ساری علامتوں سے معنی بھی لے گیا۔

Lafzo ko usne jhooth sikhaya, kuch is tarah! saari alamato se ma’ni bhi le gaya.

∘❀∘

Itwaar ki dopehar qatra qatra pighal rahi thi. Sunehri dhoop ne Nudrat ke restaurant ki sheeshe ki deewaro ko chamka rakha tha. Nudrat kitchen mein aasteen chadhaye masroof si khadi ladko ko hidayat de rahi thi. Saath hi chulhe par rakhe pakwano ko bhi dekh leti. In kaamo ke dauraan unhone do phone attend kiye the. Ek Saadi ka, ke woh Faris ke saath ghar pahunch chuka hai, jis par Nudrat ne khana bhijwa diya, magar khud woh customers ki wajah se jaane se qasir thi. Aur doosra Bade Abba ka. Wohi puraani baat, Zumar ki shaadi! Albata ab ke ek cheez ka izafa hua tha. Zumar maan gayi thi, aur ab woh chahte the ke Nudrat is silsile mein unki madad kare. Nudrat tab se yahi soch rahi thi ke rishtedaro mein kaunsi jagah baat chalayi ja sakti hai?

Tabhi counter wala Junaid andar aaya.

“Aunty! (Woh sab Nudrat ko aunty kehte the) Koi Mrs. Kardar aayi hain, aap ka pooch rahi hain.”

“Mrs. Kardar? Oh ho!” Woh jaldi jaldi haath dhokar cap utarti dupatta durust karti baahar aayi to sheeshe ki deewar ke saath ek kursi par, tang par taang jamaye, seedhe bhoore baalo wali Jawahirat baithi thi. Woh tezi se us taraf aayi.

“Sorry, main kitchen mein lagi thi, aap ko intezaar karna pada.” Woh usse milkar kham-kha sharminda ho rahi thi.

Jawahirat usi tamkeenat se baithi muskurati rahi. Navy blue lambi qameez aur safed pant pehne, woh bina makeup ke bhi kaafi tazaa aur jawan lagti thi.

“Kya aap ghar gayi thi? Mujhe bataya hota, main udhar hi aa jati.” Nudrat samne baithte hue mazeed fikr mand hui. Mrs. Kardar ki ab woh kya khaatir karein, pehli dafa jo aayi thi.

“Mujhe kuch baat karni thi, iske liye yahi jagah durust thi.” Kehkar woh pehle idhar udhar ki baatein karne lagi, Saadi ki job, restaurant ka nafa nuksaan, maali masail. Tabhi Junaid juices le aaya. Jawahirat ne straw se chhoo kar ek ghoont bhara, phir seedhi ho kar muskurate hue Nudrat ko dekha.

“Faris hum sab ki koshisho se baahar aa chuka hai, aap yaqeenan bohot khush hongi.”

Baat mein sadaqat thi ya nahi, andaaz aisa tha ke Nudrat ehsaan ke bojh tale sar tasleem-e-kham kiya.

“Aap ke saath ka shukriya!”

“Ab aap ko use normal zindagi ki taraf lana hoga. Dobara shaadi, nayi family, waghaira...”

"Abhi to..." hichkichayi. “Abhi do hafte to huye hain use riha huye.”

“Haan, magar Zartasha ki death ko to chaar saal ho chuke hain. Faris mazboot a’asaab ka maalik hai, ab tak is sadme se nikal chuka hoga.”

“Yeh to hai.”

“Aap ko shayad ab Saadi ki shaadi ki fikr hogi. Oh, aur aisa karte hue aap apne bhai ko bhool gayi.” Muskurakar straw glass mein hilaate huwe, Jawahirat narmi se nok gayi toh Nudrat ko dhero sharmindagi ne aan ghera.

"Nahi nahi, Faris ki shaadi mere zehan mein thi. Main bas chahti thi ke woh zara settle ho jaye aur, phir woh maan bhi jaye."

"Woh toh maan hi jayega. Kaun apni zindagi ki nayi shuruaat nahi karna chahta?Oh, I see. Aapko yaqeenan khandan walo ki pareshani hogi." Sar asbat mein hilaate hue usne ek aur ghoont bhara. Nudrat ki aankhein achambhe se sukar gayi.

"Khandan wale?"

"Woh toh Faris ko qatil samajhte haina wife killer. Tsk tsk. Magar logo ka kya hai, woh toh sirf Zumar ki wajah se aisa samajhte hain. Zumar ki ahmiyat hai khandan mein. Usne kaha ke aisa hai, toh aisa hai. Magar aap fikr na karein. Kisi Zumar jaisi ladki se Faris ki shaadi karwa dein, saara masla hal."

Nazakat se shaane uchka kar woh straw glass mein gol gol ghumane lagi. Mascara lagi muskurati aankhein Nudrat ke uljhay uljhay chehre par jami thi.

"Zumar jaisi ladki?"

"Samne ki baat hai, Nudrat. Logon ne Zumar ki baat Zumar ki credibility ki wajah se maani. Aap koi itni hi an-baan aur haisiyat wali ladki dhoondhiye. Logon ko Faris ki begunahi ka yaqeen aa jayega. Woh kahenge agar Faris bura tha, toh yeh rishta usko kyun milta? Aisa na kiya toh kal raat ke function ki tarah aap kahi saal tak logon ko sirf jawab hi deti rahengi."

Nudrat ke chehre par udaasi bikhar gayi. Kal bhi kitne logon ne sawaal kiya tha. kya Faris kabhi dobara khandan mein sar utha kar jee sakega?

Thodi jhuka kar woh dilgireftgi se boli, "Pata nahi logon ko kab yaqeen aayega ke Faris begunah tha."

"Isi liye toh keh rahi hoon, uski shaadi aur uski izzat dono ka sochiye."

Narmi se anguthiyo wala haath Nudrat ke farbhi kamlaye hue haath par rakha. Nudrat ne aankhein utha kar tashakkur se usko dekha.

"Main bilkul aisa hi karungi. Moqa dekh kar Faris se baat karti hoon."

"Ab aapko hi kuch karke usko khandan walo ki nazar mein dobara surkhroo karna hoga. Kyunki ab Zumar toh ek ek se nahi kahegi ke usko Faris ki begunahi ka yaqeen aa gaya hai."

Sar-sari se kehte huye wo mobile nikal kar missed calls check karne lagi. Nudrat ne be-had chonk kar usay dekha.

"Zumar ne? Aisa kab kiya?"

"Aisa kiya matlab?" Jawahirat ne ulta hairat se unko dekha. "Judge ne usko bari kar diya. Zumar qanoon se waqif hai. Woh bhi convince ho chuki hai ke Faris begunah hai. Mere poochhne par usne khud aitraf kiya tha. Ab Faris par shak karne ki wajah reh jati hai?"

Nudrat ne aadhi baat samajhte hue baqi aadhi par uljhte sar hila diya. Unka khayal tha ke Zumar ab tak apne bayan par qayam hai, magar shayad woh badal rahi thi.

Jawahirat ne kalai par bandhi ghadhi dekhi aur muskurati hui uth khadi hui.

"Mujhe der ho rahi hai."

"Arey, aap baithiye na. Junaid snacks la hi raha tha." Woh jaldi se mud kar Junaid ko pukarne lagi, magar Jawahirat ne unhein rok diya.

"Main diet pe hoon, aur restaurants ke khane waise bhi nahi khati. Takalluf na kariye."

Nudrat ka josh maanid par gaya. Khamoshi se sir hila diya.

"Is baat ko mere aur aap ke darmiyan rehna chahiye. Agar Faris ko ilm hua toh woh meri zid mein maante maante bhi inkaar na kar de."

"Ji bilkul!" Nudrat samajh gayi thi aur ab woh use car tak chhodne baahar ja rahi thi. Zehn mein bohot se sawaliya nishan ubhar rahe the.

"Zumar jaisi ladki? Zumar jaisi?"

☆☆☆

پتے کی بات بھی منہ سے نکل ہی جاتی ہے، کبھی بھی کوئی جھوٹی خبر سناتے ہوئے۔

Pate ki baat bhi munh se nikal hi jaati hai. Kabhi bhi koi jhooti khabar sunate hue.

∘❀∘

Dopehar ab siyah paher mein badal rahi thi.

Chhote baagiche wale ghar mein khana sehar ho kar kha chukne ke baad ki ganuda fiza chhayi huyi thi.

Haneen lounge mein digest le kar sofa pe pair upar kar ke baith gayi thi, aur Sam gol mez se bartan uthate hue khafgi se keh raha tha, "Kabhi koi kaam bhi kar liya kar, katto!"

Magar wahan sun kaun raha tha?

Faris haath dhoke udhar aaya toh Haneen mazeed risala padhne mein magan thi.

"Darwaza lock kar lo, main ja raha hoon. Ammi ko bata dena, phir aaoonga."

Hannah ne risala rakhte hue usse dekha. Pure-aasteen ki shirt aur jeans mein malboos, Faris ki aankhon mein kaafi uktahat liye baat karne ke saath phone bhi mila raha tha.

"Bhai, kahan hain Mamu?"

"Apne kamre mein."

Woh raahdari mein aage badhte hue mobile kaan se laga raha tha.

Jis waqt jab woh baahar nikla aur Jenin darwaza band karne gayi, Faris ke alfaaz samat me padhe.

"Yaar Stepney, kidhar ho? Acha suno, ek bande ko check karna..."

Darwaza band hua toh awaaz ka raasta ruk gaya.

Haneen lock karke wapas aayi aur bhai ke kamre ke paas ruki. Zara jhuka kar band darwaze ko dekha, phir dastak di.

Woh jo computer chair par baitha mobile number mila raha tha, chonk kar sar uthaaya, phir mobile rakhte hue muskuraya.

"Aao Hannah main tumhare paas hi aane laga tha."

"Mujhe aapko kuch batana tha bhai..."

Ungliya marodte Haneen ne khushk hote hue gale ke saath alfaaz jama karne chahe .

Kaise lagega kehna main chatting karte hue pakdi gayi thi? Aur phir maine Hashim bhai ko bula liya!

Dono fikron mein se kis fikre par uska aitbaar tutega?

Zahir hai, pehle wale par. Agar Hashim kisi aur cheez ke liye bulaya hota, toh khair thi. Magar chatting? Woh kaise bataaye?

"Haan bolo?"

Woh mutawajjeh ho kar sun raha tha.

Haneen ne lab kholne chahe, magar ek dum khayal aaya.

"Aap mere paas kyun aane lage the?"

"Woh.. Mujhe ek kaam tha."

Kehte hue usne laptop ke paas rakhi flash drive uthai. Labon par zabaan pheri aur himmat mujtama karke chehra uthaaya. feeka sa muskuraya.

"Yeh kuch documents main decrypt karne ki koshish kar raha tha magar—"

Ahtiyat se tol tol kar lafz adaa Kiya.

"—Magar yeh meri kabiliyat se upar ki cheez thi. Main ise theek se operate nahi kar paaya aur file corrupt ho gayi hai. Kya tum kisi tarah ise recover karne mein meri madad kar sakti ho?"

Haneen bina palak jhapkaye chand lamhon tak flash drive dekhta raha. Phir nazar uthai.

Aankhon mein sadma aur khafgi ubhar aayi thi.

"Hannah, please sirf thodi si help kar do."

Haneen ki gardan nafi mein hili. Woh do kadam peeche hata. Shikwa-kun aankhein badastoor Saadi pe jami thi.

"Kisi ke documents ko aap kholne ki koshish kar rahe hain, uska taluq aapke office se hai ya nahi, mujhe nahi pata. Magar yeh ghalat hai. Ghair qanooni hai. Aur main aise kaam nahi karti."

Saadi ne gehri saans le kar aankhein band ki. Phir kholi toh wo chaukat tak peeche hat chuki thi.

"Hamara maseeha sirf ek shakhs hota hai aur woh hum khud hote hain. Tum kabhi bhi is phase se nahi niklugi agar tum apni khud madad nahi karogi."

"Main kisi phase mein nahi hoon. Main theek hoon, pehle jaisi."

Saadi ne nafi mein sar hilaya. Flash drive rakh di. Uth kar uske saamne aakar khada ho gaya. Woh abhi tak abru bhinche usse dekh rahi thi.

"Tum badal gayi ho. Ek waqt tha jab tum hamare khandan ka sabse pur-aitmad aur bold bachcha thi. Ab toh tumne khud ko bilkul aam ladkiyo jaisa bana liya hai."

Haneen ke chehre pe tareek saya laharaya, magar woh gardan karak kar ke boli:

"Main nahi badli. Aur main is sab mein aapki madad nahi karungi. Yeh ghair qanooni hai."

Haan, saare qanoondan hamare hi khandan mein paida hone the.

Wo soch kar reh gaya kyunke Haneen ab mud kar ja rahi thi. Uske kaan surkh the, aankhon mein sadeed be-basi bhara ghussa tha. Bhai jaanta tha ke woh ab computer istemal nahi karti, usne dedh saal pehle lounge ki computer chair bhai ke kamray mein shift kar di thi.

Computer achhe nahi hote aur uske liye to bilkul bhi nahi, so woh kis tarah aisi baat keh sakta tha?

"Pata hai aaj mujhe Zumar ne kya kaha?"

Haneen jaate jaate ruki.

"Yeh ke unhein Mamu ki be-gunaahi ka yaqeen aa gaya hai. Woh apne tamam ilzaamat wapas leti hain."

Saadi kehte hue khud bhi uljha tha. Kuchh khatak Raha tha.

Haneen jhatke se wapas palti.

"Ye phupho ne kaha?"

Saadi ne asbaat mein sir hila diya.

Haneen ke lab bhinch gaye, aankhon mein na-gawari ubhar aayi.

"Toh aapne aage se kya kaha?"

"Main kya kehta?"

"Kam az kam itna toh pooch sakte the ke woh jhoot kyun bol rahi hain?"

"Jhoot?"

Saadi ko dhachka laga.

"Woh jhoot bol rahi hain. Woh itni jaldi aur itne aaraam se apna zehen nahi badalti. Main unko jaanti hoon."

"Zumar jhoot nahi bolti."

"Okay, magar woh wakeel hain. Unhone alfaaz ka mohtaat chunaav kiya hoga. Yaqeenan woh adaakari kar rahi hain."

"Tum itni jaldi unke baare mein itni manfi (negative) kyun ho jaati ho, haan? Kya pata unko waqai—"

Usay dukh hua tha.

"Main unko jaanti hoon. Woh baghair kisi wajah ke itni badi baat nahi keh sakti. Pata nahi woh kya soch rahi hain."

Woh na-gawari aur gusse se kehti baahar nikal gayi. Saadi ne afsos se sar jhatka. Woh dono jitni usko pyaari thi, utni hi ek doosre se door bhi thi.

Woh be-dili se wapas kursi par gir gaya. Do ungliyon mein flash uthakar dekhi. Aaj aathwa din tha na-kaami ka.

Ab woh kya kare? Kaise saboot le kar Faris aur Zumar ke paas jaye? Uske paas ek inteqam aur insaaf ka aik mansuba tha, magar usko Faris aur Zumar ki madad chahiye thi.

Akele chinti kuch nahi kar sakti thi.

Baahar Haneen Bur-Barati Hui Wapas Sofa Pe Dhap Aa Baithi.

"Aise baithti ho? Lagta hai zalzala aa raha hai."

Qareeb baithe Sam ne risale se sar nikaal kar na-gawari se tabsira kiya. Magar usne sune baghair hi "Hunh!" sar jhatka.

Phir zehan ki ro bhatak gayi. Gussa udaasi mein badal gaya.

"Sam, ek baat batao?"

Usne khoye khoye lehje se pukara.

"Kya main waqai badal gayi hoon?"

"Kab se?" Woh hairan hua.

"Dedh saal pehle se" usne socha magar Same ko kya bataye?

"Jab se maine B.A. mein admission liya hai."

"Uh.." wo sochne laga. "Nahi toh, ab bhi tum utna hi khati ho, waise hi mazaak karti ho, mere saath usi tarah ladti ho, aur jab mere dost mujhe kuch kahe toh unse ladne bhi usi tarah pahuch jaati ho. Tum toh waise hi ho."

"Achcha." Wo hans di. Sam par thoda sa pyaar aaya magar zaahir kiye baghair usne ek cushion uthate huye godh mein rakha.

Risala ghayab?

Woh hairat aur pareshani se uth kar dhoondhne lagi. Phir achanak Sam ko dekha.

"Tum digest padh rahe ho? Kisne ijazat di tumhein, haan?"

Lapak kar sofe tale se joota uthaya.

"Aane do aaj Ammi ko! Maine tumhara hashar na karwaya toh dekhna!"

Isse pehle ke woh gusse se uspe chipat-ti Sam chalang maar kar chaukat tak gaya aur phir aage ghaib.

Haneen taish se laal surkh hoti, joota liye uske peeche bhaagi.

"Yeh mota aalu aaj bachega nahi!"

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ

☆☆☆