"Jo Ranjishe thi Jo dil mein gubar tha, na gaya..."

-جو رنجشیں تھیں جو دل میں غبار تھا، نہ گیا..."

∘❀∘

Us darmiyane darjay ke bungalow ke lounge ki badi si khidki ki dhoop mein chamak rahi thi. Sheesha aayna bana lounge ka aqs dikha raha tha. Khidki se chehra laga kar ke dekho to andar wo thaki thaki thaki si cheeze uthaye daakhil hoti dikhaai de rahi thi. Darmiyan se maang nikaal kar ghunghriyale baal clutcher mein half baandhne woh jhulti lat kaan ke peeche karti kitchen ke darwaze tak gayi.

"Sadaqat khana taiyar hai?"

"Ji baaji, bas roti daal raha hoon."

"Phir khane ke baad Saadi ki taraf jaana, aik kaam hai."

Lounge mein wheel chair par kitaab parhte hue abba ne be ikhtiyar uski taraf dekha. Woh ab wapas aarhi thi.

"Din kaisa guzra tumhara?" Unhone mamool ka sawaal kiya.

"Bas roz marra ke kaam the." Woh sofa pe baith kar jooto ka stripe kholte hue boli.

"Samaat kaisi rahi?"

"Hashim Kardar ka client tha. Kaisi ho sakti thi? " Abba ke kitaab par jhuke chehre par na-gowari ubhri.

"Har corrupt aur gunaah-gar aadmi usi ka client kyun hota hai?"

"Woh aik achha defence lawyer hai, Abba! Usay gunaaho ki justification dena aati hai." Woh clutcher utar kar baal jude mein bandhne lagi.

"Mujhe woh sakht na pasand hai, Intehai jhoota aur makkar aadmi hai."

"So to hai." Zumar ne taeed ki.

Bade Abba ne kitaab paray kar ke uska chehra dekha. "Saadi se kya kaam hai?"

"Hashim ne apni beti ki salgirah ka card diya tha Saadi ke liye. Wohi dena hai." Woh sarsari sa bata kar remote uthakar channel badalne lagi.

"To tum de aao." Unhone aik dum itni umeed aur itni mannat se kaha ke Zumar ne be-ikhteyar unko dekha.

"Main na bhi jau to farq nahi parta, Main usse naraz nahi hoon Abba!"

"To phir chali jao, Uski salgirah par hi wish kar dena."

Zumar ne unki aankho ko dekha. Woh udaas nazar aarhi thi. Uske dil ko kuch hua.

"Woh chhota hai, Tum to badi ho, Agar usse koi ghalati hui hai to tum maaf kar do.... Woh tumhari bimari mein tumhare saath nahi tha, Waqai yeh uski khata thi."

"Main kabka maaf kar chuki... Main uske khilaaf bura nahi soch sakti, Woh mera beta hai abba!"

"To card tum khud de aao Zindagi ka kuch pata nahi hota, Kaun kab chala jaaye aur doosre ko poori zindagi pachtawa hi rahe.."

Woh bina kuch kehe uth gayi. Abba dukh se usay jata dekhte rahe. Unhone phir kitaab nahi uthayi. Woh kamre mein jaate hue Sadaqat ko awaaz deti gayi.

"Meri roti mat banana" Aur woh mazeed dukhi ho gaye. Ab uska mood bigad chuka tha aur woh khana khaye bina kamre mein band ho jaaye gi.

Das pandrah mint baad woh kapde badal kar fresh ho kar kamre se nikli to unhone chonk kar usay dekha.

"Khana nahi khana?"

"Kya aap ka pota mujhe khana bhi nahi pooche ga?" Aam se andaaz mein sanjeedgi se keh kar usne maiz se card uthaye aur purse kandhe par daala.

Abba jahan thay wohi reh gaye. Aur Aankho mein tahir aur be-yaqini ubhar kar ma'adum hui aur uski jagah khushgawar tajazub ne le li. Jaise koi khawab mein aankh khulne ke darr se sahih se khush bhi na ho paaye. Aik dum unka chehra bujha.

"Kya tumhein pata chal chuka hai ke Faris riha ho chuka hai?"

Woh jaise thandi saans le kar darwaze se palti.

"Agar aap yeh kehna chah rahe hain ke main Saadi se yeh puchne ja rahi hoon ke Faris kaise riha hua to aisa nahi hai. Main itni straight-forward hoon ke agar mujhe usse kuch bhi puchna ho to main chaar minute ki call kar ke baghair tanheed ke bhi pooch sakti hoon..."

"Abhi mujh se Hashim ne aik favor manga hai aur main usay wohi dene ja rahi hoon." Usi sanjeedgi se keh kar woh bahar nikal gayi. Abba ke chehre pe khushgawar hairat ubhar aayi. Sadaqat bhi bhaag kar chokhat mein aa khada hua tha aur ab unhi hairan magar musarrat aamez taa'surat ke saath unko dekh raha tha.

☆☆☆

یہی ہے جبر، یہی ہے اختیار کا موسم۔

"Yahi hai jabr, yahi hai ikhtiyar ka mausam.."

∘❀∘

Haneen aur Usama jab se Faris ke gird baithay thay, jab se woh aaya tha. Saadi khamoshi se gol maiz par unke muqabil baitha tha.

"Mamu! Kya woh dobara to... aapko.... nahi le jaayenge?" Haneen ne jhijakte hue anjaane khauf ke zair-e-asar sawaal kiya. Front choti aur maathe pe kate hue baalo ke saath woh ab ghar ke libaas mein thi.

Faris halka sa muskuraya. "Nahi" Saath hi Saadi ko dekha. Saadi narmi se muskuraya aur phir doosri jaanib dekhne laga.

"Ab aap humare saath rahenge na?" Sam ne ishtiyaq se poocha.

"Mere liye acha hoga agar main apna ghar kholu"

"Kyun jaate ho udhar? Yahin raho na."

Nudrat ne narazgi se kehte hue maze pe matar qeema ka donga rakha, khana bas lag hi chuka tha.

"Mujhe bohot se kaam karne hain aapa magar aata jata rahu ga." Wo sanjeedgi bhare andaaz mein keh raha tha. Woh aam tor pe dheema bolta tha, chhote chhote tukde lekin gussa chadhne pe awaaz buland ho jaati thi.

Nudrat ne taza chapati la kar rakhi hi thi ke Faris haath dhone ke liye uth gaya. Waise bhi woh libaas tabdeel kar chuka tha. Jeans ke upar buttons wali shirt, baal usi tarah pony mein muqid. Saadi ne peeche se awaaz lagayi.

"Mamu! Aapko hair cut ki ashid zarurat hai."

"Nahi. Mamu is hair style mein zyada ache lag rahe hain." Haneen ne foran mukhalifat ki. Saath hi woh plate se kheere tong rahi thi. Usama ne uske haath ko paray kiya. Usne gusse se Usama ko dekha.

"Kya hai?"

"Abhi khana shuru nahi hua. Tum kyun kha rahi ho?"

"Tumhare hisse ka to nahi kha rahi. Zyada toka mat karo warna tumhari dum baandh dugi."

"Meri koi dum nahi hai." Woh gussa se kehta khada ho gaya.

"Bas!" Saadi ne aik dum sanjeedgi se kaha. Bas aik lafz aur, woh dono khamosh ho gaye.

"Kitni dafa kaha hai mat ladha Karo aapas mein magar majaal hai jo...." Nudrat ki baat ghanti ki awaaz ne kaat di. Faris usi waqt wapis aata dikhai diya tha. Usama bhag kar darwaze tak gaya aur uske saath khidki ka parda hata kar dekhna.

"Kaun hai Usama?" Saadi ne baithe baithe poocha magar Usama ne koi jawab nahi diya. Bas wahi khada raha.

"Usama kaun hai?" Nudrat ne sawaal dohraaya. Faris bhi isi taraf dekhne laga. Usama aahista se unki taraf palta.

"Phool laayi hai.."

"Kaun?"

"phupho... Zumar phupho aayi hain aur phool laayi hai."

Chand lamho ke liye raahdari mein sannata chha gaya. Jaise saans aana bhi band ho gaya ho. Nudrat plates lagate ruk gayi. Haneen ka khira uthata haath chehra bilkul sapaṭ ho gaya. Albatta Saadi tezi se darwaze ki taraf gaya. Faris ne baari baari sab ko dekha.

"Saadi!" Usne be-ikhteyar usay roka. "Main kamre mein hoon." Saath hi nigaho se ishara kiya, jaise na milna chahta ho, na uski aamad ki khabar ki jaye. Saadi ne samajh kar sar hilaaya.

Haneen peeche ho kar baith gayi, bhanwe kheech gayi, chehre par khafgi chha gayi.

Darwaza khulne pe baahar khadi Zumar ne sar uthaya. Ghungriyale baal half baandhe, woh zard chehre ke saath khadi thi. Baazu mein Soosan ke phoolo ka bouquet tha. Bad dikkat muskurayi. Usi pal naak ki long chamki. Aankhein bhi chamki.

"Salgirah mubarak ho Saadi!" Phool uski taraf barhaye. Saadi abhi tak sakte mein tha. Phir uske honth muskurahat mein dhalte gaye. Aankho mein bepanah hairat utar aayi.

"T-Thank you, Phuphu! Aaiye na andar.." kisi masoom bache ki tarah khush hota Saadi haansa aur usay raasta diya.

Zumar ki muskurahat madham hui. Narm taa'surat wale chehre ke saath mazid ki andar daakhil hui. Jis ghar mein chaar saal tak qadam na rakha tha, wahan chaar qadam bhi mushkil se par rahe thay.

"Zumar, kaisi ho?" Nudrat farat-e-musarrat se nehal usse aakar mili. Phir dieting chair pesh ki. Zumar ne aik lamhay ke liye gol maze ko dekha, jahan khana chuna tha. Gin kar plate rakhi thi. Aik family khana khane hi wali thi. Usne nafi mein sar hilaaya.

Saadi ne israr kiya. "Thoda sa le lein.." Magar woh wahan nahi baithi.

"Main khana kha chuki hoon..." Shaistagi, takalluf, tajazud.

Haneen ki aankho mein narazgi gehri hui. Be-har haal usne uth kar drawing room kam lounge ka darwaza khola.

"Kaisi ho, Haneen?"

Haneen jaise is sawaal par disturb hui thi, magar phir sapaṭ chehre ke saath, "theek" keh kar andar sofa ki taraf haath kiya. "Baithe."

Zumar usi takalluf se sofa ke kinare tang par tang rakhe baith gayi to Usama aakar mila. Woh jaise ab zara khul kar muskurayi. Uska gaal chooma. Phir peshaani se ghungriyale baal narmi se hata kar boli, "Kaise ho Usama?"

Chokhat mein khade Saadi ki muskurati aankhon mein takleef si ubhri. Aik purana manzar un mein jhilmilaya.

School uniform mein ghungriyale baalo wala larka ghutno ke baal uske paas khada tha. Aur ghutno ke bal uske samne uniform mein aik ladki baithi thi aur uske aansu saaf karte hue pooch rahi thi.

"Kis ne maara hai? Mujhe batao. Main abhi usay dekhthi hoon. Uski himmat kaise hui ke woh humaray Saadi ko maare? Idhar dekho. Rov mat. Main hoon na tumhare saath, tumhari support aur protection ke liye." Woh fikar mandi aur gusse se keh rahi thi.

"Main theek hoon. Aap?" Usama ki sharmati awaaz par woh chonka. Phir samne aakar baith gaya aur phoolo ko maiz par rakh kar bola.

"Aapko yaad tha mujhe Soosan pasand hain?"

Zumar ne sir ko khamm diya, boli kuch nahi. Nudrat khane par israr karne lagi, phir chai pe woh bas aik cup ke liye razi hui. Haneen Saadi ke saath ja kar baith gayi, shikwa aamez nazro se phupho ko dekhti magar khamosh.

"Mujhe yeh card dena tha. Hashim ne diya hai. Tumhare liye," kehte hue usne card Saadi ki taraf barhaya. Saadi to chonka hi, haneen zyada chonki. Uska dil zor se dhadak raha tha.

"Hashim ki beti ki salgirah hai, Usne bohut israr kiya tha to main ne tumhari taraf se hami bhari... Mujhe umeed thi ke tum log aaoge."

Haneen Saadi ke kandhe par se jhuk kar card dekhne lagi. Saadi ke taa'surat woh nahi rahe thay. Usne bilkul khamoshi se siyah card par sunehri ibarte parhi. Phir card Haneen ki taraf barha diya.

"Hashim bhai mujhe apni party mein kyun dekhna chahenge phupho?"

"Tum uske rishtedar ho."

Saadi pheeka sa muskuraya. "Hashim bhai ke zehan mein har kaam ki koi khaas wajah zaroor hoti hai. Be-har haal aap unse mazrat kar lijiye ga. Hum nahi aa sakenge."

Card parhti Haneen ne be-ikhtiyar Saadi ko dekha. Uska chehra aik dam bujha tha.

"Ghar ki baat hai Saadi, pehle bhi to jaate rahe jo unke ghar to..."

"Ghar mein hai function?" Saadi ne choknna sa ho kar baat kaafi aur tezi se card le kar jaise tasdeeq ki. Aankho mein kuch chamka tha. Phir woh sambhla tha.

"Okay, hum aayenge." Woh normal andaaz mein muskuraya.

Haneen saari narazi bhool kar dobara card dekhne lagi. Usama bhi aakar us ke saath baith gaya.

"Black aur gold theme hai. Matlab hum sirf siyaah ya sunehri libaas pehn sakte hai" Woh Usama ko batane lagi. Phir aik dum usne Saadi ke haath ko dekha jismein usne key chain pakdi hui thi. Zumar bhi wohi dekhne lagi. Aur Saadi ne bhi gardan jhuka kar usay hi dekha.

Do teen chabiyo ke saath rang mein aik teen inch ka siyaah masnoi diamond sa piroya tha. Woh do inch mota tha aur upar se gol, neeche se takoon tha. Kisi heere ki tarah woh roshni munakkis kar raha tha. Is par sunehri huroof mein likha tha.

"Ants Ever after" (Hamesha ke liye Choontiya)

Zumar ke labo pe udaas muskurahat ubhri.

"Tum abhi tak choontiyo par yaqeen rakhte ho?"

"Main inhi cheezo ke liye jeeta hoon jin par yaqeen rakhta hoon." Us udaas muskurahat ke saath kehte Saadi ne siyaah heere ko dekha.

Chai aayi aur saath kabaab cake aur do aik cheeze, Magar Nudrat ke israr ke bawajood Zumar ne sirf piyali uthayi aur ghoont ghoont pine lagi.

"Yeh kardars karte kya hain? Inka business kis cheez ka hai?" Card mein mubtila haneen ne poocha. Uski nazre neeche likhe Hashim ke naam aur saath darj mobile number par jami thi.

Aik dam se bijli chali gayi aur har roshni ke bujh jaane ki khamosh awaaz sunai di. Phir UPS par batti jali aur pankha gad gad karta ghumne laga.

Saadi halka sa muskuraya aur sir jhatka.

"Woh aik oil cartels ke sarbara hai."

"Cartel kya hota hai?" Hameen ne be-ikhtiyar poocha. Phir jaise apni kam ilmii pe phupho ke samne aa sharminda huyi.

"Aise samjho jaise market mein burger ki teen dukane ho." Zumar ne narmi se kehna shuru kiya. "Aur dukane pachaas ka burger beche aur aik chalis ka to zyada kis ke bikenge?"

"Chalees wale ke." Haneen ke labo se phisla. Woh saari narazi bhool gayi thi.

"Bilkul, magar kam qeemat ke bayis chalees wala bhi munafa zyada nahi kama sakega. Aur baaki dono waise hi nuqsan mein rahenge. So yeh teeno yun karenge ke mil kar aik group yaani aik Cartel bana lenge aur yeh tay kar lenge ke teeno dukane aik hi qeemat pe burger bechegi. Yun teeno ko karobar milega."

"Aur teeno jab chahe qeemat ikatthi barha denge. Logon ke paas koi doosra option nahi hoga to woh mehnga khareedne par bhi majboor honge."

Saadi ne muskurate hue izafa kiya. "Aur Hashim bhai yehi karte hain. Woh mulk ki tamam oil companies ke cartel ko lead karte hain. Aur yeh tail se bijli bana kar hukumat ko bechte hain. Aur unka jab dil karta hai, ye bijli ki qeemat barha dete hain. Aur phir yeh hota hai!" Usne abroo se pankhe ki taraf ishara kiya jahan UPS par chal raha tha. Zumar ne gehri saans andar ko kheench li.

"Mera nahi khayal ke energy crisis ki wajah oil companies hain."

"Yeh thar coal project ke scientists aur oil companies ke magroor aur ameer executives ki jang nahi hai phupho, yeh koyle aur oil ki jung hai, Mujhe yaqeen hai, Hashim party mein sunehri rang pehnega. Aik bachi ki salgirah ko black aur gold ka touch de kar woh log sirf duniya ko apne mazboot a'asaab dikhana chahte hain. Siyaah aur sunehri, yani koyla aur tail."

Woh narmi se theher theher kar bol raha tha.

"Anyways! ab main chalti hoon." Usne jaise kisi baat mein dilchaspi nahi li. Bas uthne ki tayyari karne lagi. Haneen ne card chhod diya. Chehra phir se bujh gaya. Saadi chup ho gaya. Usay laga jaise uski saaf goi ne usay naaraaz kar diya tha.

"Kuch dair to baitho!" Nudrat israr karne lagi. Magar uska kehna tha ke agle hafte tafseel se party pe saath baithe ge. Saadi usay darwaze tak chhodne gaya. Wapis aaya to Haneen akele lounge mein baithi thi.

"Chaar saal baad aayi aur chalees minute bhi nahi baith saki?" Woh bur burayi.

"Aise nahi sochte Haneen!" Woh jaise hurt hua tha.

"Magr main to aise hi sochti hoon bhai! Aap ka dil bohot bara hai. Aap bhool sakte hain magar mujhe yaad hai. Phupho ne hame jab chhoda jab humein unki zarurat thi. Humare mamu be-gunah thay magar phupho ne unko gunaah-gar maana. Aur is liye aap bhi zair-e-ataab aaye. Magar yeh ladai to aap ki mamu aur phupho ki thi, maine to kuch nahi kiya tha. Mera kya qasoor tha? Mujhe kyun chhoda?" Bolte bolte uski aankho mein aansu aa gaye.

Saadi ka dil be-had dukha.

"Unhone bohot kuch loss kiya hai in sab mein. Unki sehat, unki shaadi, unki zindagi sab khatam ho gaya..."

"To kya main ne kuch loss nahi kiya? Main ne phupho ko loss diya hai bhai. In chaar saalo mein kitne aise din aaye jab mujhe unki zarurat thi. Phupho na maa hoti hai na behan. Woh un dono se hatt kar hoti hai. Meri to koi behan bhi nahi thi. Mera bhi dil chahta tha main unse bohot kuch share karu. Woh meri baat sune, Magar woh ab hamari parwah nahi karti. Unhone hame jab chhoda jab hame unki zarurat thi. You know what bhai! Ab hum bare ho chuke hain. Ab hame unki zarurat nahi rahi. Main woh Haneen nahi hoon jo unke jane ke baad der tak khidki ki se unki raah takti thi ke shayad woh kuch bhool gayi ho to wapas aaye. Main bhi ab unki parwah nahi karti." Usne rukh mod liya.

Saadi ne kuch kehna chaaha phir khamoshi se bahar nikal gaya. Abhi bich raahdari mein tha ke kisi ehsaas ke tehat wapis aaya. Aur dheere se lounge ke andar jhanka.

Haneen khidki se parda sarkaye bahar dekh rahi thi. Door sadak pe jaise kisi ko talash kar rahi thi. Kisi ke bhool ke wapas aane ka intezaar kar rahi thi.

Saadi ki aankho mein udaasi aur halki muskurahat dar aayi. Woh khamoshi se wahan se hatt gaya. Raahdari mein wapis chalte hue usne haath mein pakde siyah aur sunehre card ko dekha.

Aik manzar uski aankho ke samne jhilmila gaya.

Hotel ki lobby zard roshniyo mein chamak rahi thi. Chaar paanch suit mein malboos afraad khushgawar andaaz mein aik doosre se mil rahe thay. Un mein aik Hashim Kardar bhi tha jo kisi se muskurakar kuch keh raha tha. Hashim ke peeche uski secretary khadi thi jisne aik haath mein Hashim ka laptop uthaya rakha tha aur wo haath pehlu mein gira hua tha. Woh bhi samne muskurate hue milne ke liye aaye afraad ko dekh rahi thi.

Door se jeans shirt aur peak cap mein malboos Saadi chalta hua aaya. Uska sar jhuka hua tha. Woh usi tarah secretary ke paas se guzar kar aage barh gaya. Secretary wahi mutawajeh rahi, usne nahi dekha ke uske guzarne ke baad laptop ke side ke socket mein aik flash drive lag chuki thi.

Saadi aik qareebi maiz pe ja baitha. Kandhe se bag utara. Andar se laptop nikala aur us par mukhtalif jagah pe ungli se press karne laga.

Screen par paigham aa raha tha.

"Apki device ko aik hard drive mili hai. Kya aap sara data copy karna chaheinge?"

Saadi ne muskurate hue "Yes" dabaya. Agle hi lamhe uski muskurahat gayab huyi. Screen par paigham jal-bujh raha tha. "Enter password."

"Oh nahi yaar," usne be-basi se mud kar dekha jahan woh log abhi tak khade baato mein masroof thay. Usse kyun khayal nahi aaya ke Hashim ke laptop par password ho sakta hai.

Woh jaldi se sab samaan samet kar utha aur sar jhuka kar unke qareeb se guzra aur secretary se takra gaya aur khafeef sa "sorry" kehta aage barh gaya. Hashim ne chonk kar usay dekha aur phir door tak sochti nigaho se uska ta'aqub kiya.

"Chali gayi?" Faris ki awaaz par Saadi chonka. Uske samne Faris khada tha.

"Hmm!" Usne card barhaya jaise phupho ke aane ka maqsad bayan kiya ho. Faris ne sarasari sa dekha aur phir gold meja tak aagaya. Haneen aur Usama sab wapis aa gaye. Jara si baat-cheet ke baad zindagi jaise phir normal routine pe aa gayi thi.

☆☆☆

"Ab na fursat hai na ehsaas hai gham se apne.."

"اب نہ فرصت ہے نہ احساس ہے غم سے اپنے"

∘❀∘

Aasmaan par siyahi phail rahi thi. Woh study table pe files phailaye baithi thi. Halki si aahat ne usay sar uthane par majboor kiya. Abba wheelchair ghasitte andar aa rahe thay. Woh be-ikhteyar khadi ho gayi.

"Aap ke bulane pe na aati jo aap khud aa gaye?" Hasaas se shikwa kar ke woh wheelchair peeche se thame aur samne laayi aur phir khud muqabil hone par paao upar kar ke baith gayi. Bade abba muntazir nigaho se usay dekh rahe thay.

"Kya usne khana nahi poocha jo shaam mein tum ne wapis aakar khaya?"

"Maine yeh nahi kaha tha ke main khaa kar aaungi. Khana metter nahi karta." Ghungriyaali lat ungli pe lapet te us ne jawab diya.

"Kya woh khush tha?"

"Aapko din mein do dafa to phone karta hi hai pooch lijiye ga."

Dono ke beech khidki ke baahar phaili raat jaisi khamoshi chha gayi. Abba fikar mandi aur tassuf se usay dekh rahe thay.

"Phir baat aapne shuru karni hai ya maine? Aur agar aap ne ki to kitne fiqro ki tamheed bandhenge?" Us ne itminan se puchha.

"Zumar shaadi kar lo." Woh azarda se bole.

"Aaj aap ne tamheed hi nahi bandhi." Usne cushion uthakar god mein rakha.

"Kab tak is tootay rishte ka sog manao gi meri bachhi? Meri maut aasan kar do, ab bas kar do."

"Aap Jante hain main jazbaati black mailing mein nahi aaya karti. Jab mujhe karna hoga main bata doogi. Waise bhi ab main budhi ho rahi hoon. Kaun karega mujh se shaadi?"

"Do chaar saal mein waqai budhi lagne lagogi. Main wakai is takleef ke saath nahi marna chahta."

"Okey abba saaf baat karte hai." Us ne cushion pare rakha. Pair neeche kiye, taang par taang jamaayi, baal kaano ke peeche udse aur gehri saans li. Woh wapas district Prosecutor ke roop mein chali gayi thi.

"Aap meri shaadi kisi bhi XYZ se kara de, main kar loongi. Phir chand din mein mazeed bad dil ho jaoongi. Zyada bezaar aur talkh woh mujh se tawaqqoat bandhega jo main puri nahi karongi. Main aisi hi rahoongi. Woh shuru mein bardasht karega kahega mazi bhoola do. Main khaungi shaadi jab ki tab bhi is phase se nahi nikli thi, abhi waqt lagega. Woh sabr karega. Magar phir jald hi sabr kho dega. Gussa karega... Haath uthayega..., nafrat karega.... Teen maah mein ghar se nikaal dega aur main yahin aakar baithi hoongi. Ab batayein aap ke liye kya zyada takleef daih hoga?"

Abba ne dukh se usay dekha. "Kya tum apni shaadi ko kamyab banane ki koi koshish nahi karogi?"

"Is phase se nikli hi nahi to kaise karongi?"

"Kab niklogi is phase se?"

"Aap mujhe jaante hain. Jab mere upar kuch taari ho jaye to mere liye usko jhatkna namumkin hota hai. Main usay apni zindagi bana leti hoon. Aur jab aakhri dafa humne yehi behas ki thi to do din tak aik doosre se baat nahi ki thi. Is dafa kitne din ka irada hai?"

Abba ne aahista se asbat me sar hilaya. "Magar tum koshish to karogi na is phase se nikalne ki?"

"Main chaar saal se koshish kar rahi hoon. Main bahut trauma se guzar rahi hoon. Mere gurde zaya ho gaye, tayar shaadi cancel ho gayi, woh Hammad mujhe chhod kar chala gaya. Bimari ke aalam mein woh waqt bahut bura tha Abba! main aage nahi barh sakti jab tak us waqt ko bhoolaa na du, Mujhe kuch time dein..." Woh sar hilaate hue wapas palat gaye. Zumar dukh se unko jaate hue dekhte rahi lekin woh khud bhi be-bas thi.

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Raat ka siyah parda sare gunah aur aib chhupa chuka tha. Aise me, kardars ke unche ghar ki saari battiya roshan thi. Jawahirat barik heel se tez tez chalti dining hall mein aayi to qatar mein khade mulazim jaise usi ke muntazir thay.

Fiona ne aankh se aik sar jhukaaye khadi Filippino mulazima ki taraf ishaara kiya. Jawahirat muskurati hui uske qareeb gayi to us Filippin's Merry Engeo ne sar uthaya. Phir nadamat se jhuka liya.

"Kya tum is johri se mera necklace le aayi ho jis ko tum ne woh becha tha?" Sard si muskurahat ke saath usne poocha.

Merry ne surkh mutwaram aankhein uthayi. "Yes ma'am!" aur dabba aage kiya. Phir khola.

Jawahirat ne do ungliyo par woh necklace uthakar dekha. Heero ka naazuk necklace waisa hi tha.

"Aur tumhari chori ka ilm hone par maine tum se kya kaha tha?" Woh ungliyo mein masal kar necklace ko dekh rahi thi.

"Yahi ma'am... ke agar main necklace wapis la di to aap meri agency ko nahi batayengi aur main baizzat tareeqe se apne mulk wapis ja sakugi..." Woh darte darte boli.

Jawahirat ne sherni jaisi aankhein uthakar usay dekha.

"To phir khush ho jao. Kyunki main tumhari agency ko pehle hi sab kuch bata chuki hoon. Kal tumhe yahan se deport kar diya jayega aur tum dobara zindagi bhar yeh naukri nahi kar sakogi. Kyunki mere nazdeek iski ahmiyat yeh thi.." Kehte hue Jawahirat ne necklace uchhal diya. Woh udte huye aik masnoi podhe ke hamle mein ja gira.

"Wafadari se barh kar kisi cheez ki ahmiyat nahi hoti Merry! Ab tum ja sakti ho."

Usne tamkinat se Fiona ko ishara kiya, jo shocked aur sadme se chor Marry ko waha se le jane lagi.

kisi mulazim mein himmat nahi thi ke gamle mein gire Necklace ko dekh bhi leta. Jawahirat usi tarah chalti hui hall cross kar ke lounge mein aayi aur chehre pe masoom maazrat khawahana muskurahat sajaye, Faris ko mukhatib kiya jo aik painting ke samne khada tha. Woh abhi abhi aaya tha.

"Tumhe dekh kar bohot accha laga Faris. Tum theek to ho?" Woh iski taraf palta to Jawahirat ne uske kandho ko thaam kar kisi bacche ki tarah usay apne samne kiya.

"Uff.. tum kitne kamzor ho gaye ho. Apni rangat to dekho."

Woh jo be niazi se usay dekh raha tha, zara sa sar jhanka. "Theek hoon. Mere portion ki chaabi..."

"Offcourse... Woh mere paas hai. Main uski safai karwati rahi hoon. Magar tum dekh rahe ho party qareeb hai aur saara staff masroof hai. Mujhe jaise hi tumhari aamad ka pata chala maine guest room set karwa diya."

"Auntie! Main apne ghar jana chahta hoon." Usne jaise bezaari ko zahir na karte hue kaha. Jawahirat muskara kar usko baazu se thame, aage barhne lagayi. Woh khamoshi se saath chalta aaya.

"Kya tum mujhe sirf aik hafte ke liye apni mehmaan daari ka haq bhi nahi doge? Tum jaante ho tumhari rihayi ke liye maine aur Hashim ne bohot koshish ki.... Magar meri jaan! Hum kya karte, yeh adalati nizam bohot kharab hai. I hope, tum hum se khafa nahi hoge."

"Nahi, aisi koi baat nahi hai." Woh rahadari mein aakar ruka. Jawahirat ne muskurate hue Fiona ko ishaara kiya. Us ne foran darwaza khola. Andar saja sajaya gaya kamra taiyar tha.

"Party ke baad tumhara portion tayar karwa dugi... Ab tum aaram karo hmm." Muskra kar kehti woh khadi rahi.

Faris khamoshi se andar chala gaya. Wo shayad khud bhi apne ghar se bachna chahta tha. Darwaza band kar diya,

Jawahirat ki muskurahat simti, aankho me iztirab ubhra aur kadwahat. Wo plati to beirooni darwaze se Hashim aa raha tha. Piche aik suit me malboos mulazim briefcase uthaya hua tha.

Jawahirat taazgi se muskura kar, taizi se us tak aayi. Hashim ne darwaza band hone se pehle kabal Faris ko dekh liya tha, tabhi taa'surat barham huye.

maa ke kareeb aa kar dabi dabi si awaz me gurraya. "Yeh yaha kya kar raha hai??"

"Mujhe usay party me dekhna hai aur tab tak usay yaha rok kar rakhne ka isse behtar koi tarika nahi hai.." phir muskura kar Hashim ka shana thapka.

"Magar mujhe uske yaha hone se koi dar nahi Kyunke me jaanti hoon, Hashim sambhal lega!"

Magar Hashim ko tassli nahi huyi, woh muskura bhi nahi saka.

"Baba!" Sidhiya utarte frock me malboos bacchi us taraf aa rahi thi.

Coat ke buttons kholte Hashim be ikhtiyar muda. Aankho me be panah pyar umad aaya. Wo jhuka aur dhodti huyi bacchi ko utha liya.

"Baba ki jaan! Kab aayi ho?" Baari baari uske gaal chumta wo pooch raha tha. Jawahirat ne muskura kar dono ko dekha aur aage badh gayi.

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