تلخی کام و دہن کب سے عذاب جان ہے

"Talkhi kam o dahan kab se azaab-e-jaan hai"

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Raat zara gehri hui to us chhoti si market ki dukane band hone lagin. Ab faqat chand battiya roshan thin. Door ek darakht ki ot mein chhoti si gaadi khadi thi. Dashboard pe ek khaaki phoola hua lifafa rakha tha. Driving seat pe baithe Saadi ne kalai pe bandhi ghaadii dekhi aur phir peeche dekha. Irad gird koi nahi tha.

Tab hi us ka mobile baja. Us ne use samne kiya to neeli roshni chehre pe padne lagi. Blocked number ka calling likha aa raha tha. Saadi ne utha kar ehtiyaat se "hello" kaha. Phir doosri jaanib se awaaz sun kar jaise asaab dheele pade. "Ji boss, Kaisi rahi Conference?"

"Tumne ek bohot achhi cheez miss ki hai. Is se zyada ahem kuch nahi hona chahiye tha tumhare liye." Phone mein se halki si naswani awaaz sunai de rahi thi. Saadi ka chehra tareeki mein neem waazeh tha. Us ne zakhmi si muskurate ke saath phir peeche dekha.

"Kuch bohot ahem tha yahan. Khair, conference ka sunaiye?"

"Tum jaante ho aadha waqt to inko ye waazeh karne mein guzar jata hai ke theek hai humara koyla Anthracite assign nahi hai magar hum keh bhi rahe ke wo Anthracite hai... Main maan rahi hoon ke woh lignite hai aur humare ilaqe mein sadiyo se hai. Fossils isse behtar koyle me tabdil nahi ho sakte. Waise bhi.... Aur agar..."

Wo rawani se bolte hue ruki. "Pata hai Saadi! Aaj mujh se kisi ne Waris ke case ke baare mein poocha. Us ka kya bana? Faris ko saza ho gayi? Maine to itne arse se tum se poocha hi nahi."

"Aap itni bahadur nahi hain ke is case ko follow-up karein to mujh par chhorh dein; jo bhi bana hoga case ka, main khud dekh loonga Khala, maine aap se ek wada kiya tha ke mamu ko maarne ke baad unke laptop aur files ko jisne bhi churaya tha, main woh aap ko wapas la dunga. Bas main us bande ke laptop tak pahunch jaaun ek dafa, phir main aapko bataunga ke mamu ko kyun qatal kiya gaya.."

"Kaun? Kis ki baat kar rahe ho?"

"Ek ilzaam ne Faris Ghazi ki zindagi ke chaar saal le liye. Main bina saboot kisi par ilzaam nahi lagana chahta. Saboot ke baad bataunga."

"Itne saal ho gaye Saadi! Kyun parey ho is case ke peeche? Khatam karo. Allah ke hawale karke chhorh do."

"Ahm hmm, kaise chhod du? Mere khandan ke do log maare gaye. Meri phuphi ki zindagi barbaad ho gayi. Main un logo me se nahi hoon jo katal ko maaf kar dete hain; Allah farmata hai, 'Qasas mein tumhare liye zindagi hai.' Aur mere khandan ke baaqi logo ki zindagi qasas mein hi hai. Main to barabar ka badal luga Jisne ye kiya hai, woh jaan se jaayega. Bas, acha mujhe jaana hai bye!"

Ek dam se us ne phone band kiya. Front seat ka darwaza khol kar ek farbahi mail adedh umr ka shaks andar baith raha tha. Saadi khamoshi aur sanjeedgi se samne dekhne laga. Us shaks ne talkhi se Saadi ko dekha.

"Maine usay bari kar diya hai. Ab woh do jo tumne dena tha."

Saadi ne khamoshi se dashboard se khaaki lifafa utha kar unhein thamaya. Justice Sikandar ne andar jhanka. Chehre par mazeed kadwahat phaili. Kan ki loye surkh padi.

"Mere baare mein yeh gandh agar bahar nikala to..." (gham o ghusse se awaaz ka kanpne lagi).

Saadi ne gardan mod kar unko dekha. "Agar aap mujhe jaante hote to andaaza laga lete ke main ek shaks ki zindagi bachane ke liye aapke khandan ke paanch afraad ki zindagi barbaad nahi karunga. Main is had tak bhi na jata agar aap meri baat sun lete. Main aaya tha aapke paas, Justice sahab. Main ne aapki minnat ki thi ke Faris Ghazi beqasoor hai, magar aapne meri baat nahi suni thi. Hashim ka paisa har jagah bol raha tha. Mere paas is ke ilawa koi raasta nahi tha. Sorry." (Kandhe uchka kar be-niyazi se sorry kaha).

"Bakwas mat karo. Mujhe batao, tumhare paas iski koi copy hai ya nahi?"

"Ho sakta hai mere paas copy ho, kyunki main kabhi nahi chahunga ke Faris Ghazi ko dobara is case mein phansaya jaye. Aap apne end par khayal rakhiyega, main apne end par rakhunga. Ab aap jaa sakte hain."

Woh to jaise rukna hi nahi chahte the. Sar par topi aur gardan ka muffler durust kiya taake shanakht na ho paye, aur baahar nikal gaye. Saadi ne halke se kandhe uchkaye aur car start kar di.

☆☆☆

Qasr-e-Kardar par raat ki tareeki siyah badalo ki tarah utari hui thi, jo gehre pur-israr razo se ladhey huay ho. Aise jaise bas abhi barasne ko tayar hon aur unki khaufnaak garaj door door tak sunai deti ho.

Aise mein Faris Ghazi sabzay e zar par apni annexy ke samne khada tha. Ye jagah Hashim ke kamray ki aqbi balcony se saaf dikhayi deti thi. Do manzila annexy jo bilkul khamosh aur veeran khadi thi. Baahir se har saal paint hoti thi, jo use khushnuma aur nayi si lagta tha. Magar andar se woh banjar ho chuki hogi, woh jaanta tha.

Chaabi us ke paas nahi thi, aur use zarurat bhi nahi thi. Woh qadam qadam chalta baramde mein aaya. Dakhili darwaze par ruka. Mukhtasir ek nazar nam-oos aur andheray sabzay-zar par dali. Kardar us waqt ghar par na the, aur jo the woh so rahe the.

Woh wapas ghuma aur jhuk kar panjo ke bal zameen par baitha.

Jaib se haath bahar nikala to us mein pehli hi taar thi. Usne taar lock ke andar dali aur use mukhtalif zaviyo par ghumata raha.

"One, two, three, four, five, six... click." Awaz si aayi aur lock khul gaya. Woh taar jaib mein daal kar utha aur darwaza khola.

Annexy andher mein andhera padhi thi. Faris andar aaya. Usne koi batti nahi jalayi. Kadam kadam chalta hua aage barhta gaya. Daro-deewar meley se lagte the; veeran aur makri ke jaalo se bharpoor. Sofo par chadare padi hui thi. Fiza mein gard ki dabeez teh thi. Woh andhere mein wohi khada raha, yunhi khamoshi se baramde ko dekhne laga jo khule darwaze ke baais samne nazar aa raha tha.

"Faris Ghazi, aap ko dohare qatal ke jurm mein giraftar kiya jata hai."

Yahi, isi baramday mein khade unho ne usay hathkadi lagayi thi. Usne gardan mod kar idhar dekha. Yahi Isi ghar mein woh nanhi hashmukh ladki bhagti nazar aati thi— Zartasha. Aur yahi isi ghar mein us raat woh tehalta raha tha... Bechaini mein karb ke saath, jab Waris Ghazi ko maara gaya tha tab idhar usne nigahe uthakar dekha Usne raat qasr mein ek taqreeb jari thi. Roshniya aur qumqame raat ko manawar kiye hue the.

Ye takleef-deh yaadein thi. Faris ne sar jhatka, jaise sab kuch zehan se bhi jhatka ho. Phir tezi se bahar nikal aaya. Darwaza zor se band kiya. Lock click ho ke khud-ba-khud maqfal ho gaya. Woh ab lambe lambe dagh bharta door jata dikhai de raha tha.

☆☆☆

نشتر چھے ہوئے تھے رگ جاں کے آس پاس

"Nishtar chubhe hue the rag-e-jaan ke aas paas."

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Subah jab sooraj ki roshni badalo ke kinare surkh aur jamni rang mein dehka rahi thi, to sheher ke karobari ilaqe mein usne siyah pant aur buttons wali shirt pehan rakhi thi. Baal bohut chhote katwa liye the, faujiyo style mein, goya ustara phirne ke do-chaar din baad ke do teen inch bhar baal ho. Do hafte pehle riha hone wale Faris se woh mukhtalif lag raha tha.

Detector dakhle ke samne khada tha. Log usmein se guzarte andar ja rahe the. Woh side se nikal kar chala gaya to guards chok gaye. Kisi ne usay awaaz di. Faris sune baghair, reception par lamhe bhar ke liye ruka.

"Hashim Kardar ka office?" Usne abru uthakar akde andaz me poocha.

"5th floor pe, magar aap?" Receptionist ka jumla adhoora hi raha, woh aage barh chuka tha. Guards beikhtiyar peeche aaye. Lift mein dakhil hokar usne guards ke aane se pehle button dabakar darwaza band kar diya. Guards ghabra kar wireless par ittila dene lage.

Paanchwi floor par jab lift ka darwaza khula, to wireless pakde ek guard usay apni taraf aata dekha. Faris ne use nazar-andaz karke raahdari mein aage badhne laga. Ghaliban usay office yaad tha. Floor zehen se nikal gaya tha.

"Hashim andar hai?" Faris ne secretary se sirf sar-sari sa puchha.

Wo "Ji..." Kehkar hairan si hokar uthi. Guard dodhta hua aa raha tha, use rukne ka ishara kar raha tha.

"Sir, Mr. Kardar masroof hain. Aap andar nahi ja sakte." Woh darwaze ki taraf aaya to guard samne aagaya.

"Sir aap yun andar nahi ja sakte. Aapko neeche security ko..."

"Mere mooh na lago.." tewari charhaye haath se uske kandhe ko peechhe dhakela aur darwaza khol kar andar dakhil ho gaya. Guard hawas-bakhta sa peechhe bhaaga.

Andar Hashim apni seat par tech lagakar baitha tha, saamne maujood do afraad se kuch keh raha tha. Is achanak haadse par usne sir utha kar dekha. Hashim ki nazrein Faris se lekar guard tak safar Kiya.

"Inko bhejo, mujhe baat karni hai."

Faris ne teesri kursi khenchi kar tang par tang rakh kar baitha. Hashim ke lab bheench gaye. Aankho me uthati na gawari ko usne jabt kar liya.

"Sir, main inko mana kar raha tha magar yeh..."

"Haan, theek hai. Main ne hi bulaya hai." Taza-dam hokar muskurate Hashim ne unhein jaane ka ishara kiya.

Woh nikle to Hashim peeche ho kar baitha aur khamoshi se Faris ko dekhta raha.

"Kyun bulaya hai?" Faris ne abro uthakar ukhde ukhde andaaz mein poocha.

Hashim utha aur deewar tak gaya. Wast deewar mein ek painting lagi thi. Hashim ne painting ko sliding door ki tarah daaye taraf slide kiya. Andar deewar mein nasb safe tha. Usne kuch number dial karke safe khola. Uski pusht ab Faris ke samne thi aur woh na password ya andar se safe nahi dekh sakta tha.

Safe band karke Hashim wapas aaya aur table par kuch documents aur ek plastic bag rakha. Shafaf bag ke andar zewar dikhayi de rahe the.

"Tumhari amanat. Tumhare giraftar hone ke baad police baar-baar ghar aati rahi thi, isliye mummy ne pehle hi tumhari tamam qeemati ashya wahan se nikal li thi. Check kar lo." Wapas baithte hue usne dostana magar mohtaat andaaz mein kaha. Faris ne bas ek nazar us sab ko dekha aur phir abro taan kar Hashim ko.

"Theek... aur kuch?"

"Tumhari rihaai ke liye maine bohot koshish ki thi. Justice Sikandar ko bohot favors diye hain. Aur ab jab main usse mayoos ho chuka tha, usne tumhein riha kar hi diya. Bahar haal, tum ab bahar ho, nai zindagi shuru karne...."

"Tamheed kato aur asal baat par aao," Faris ne uski baat bezaari se kaati. Hashim ne gehri saans li aur zara se shanay uchkaye.

"Tumhein job chahiye hogi, aur mere paas tumhare liye ek achhi post hai."

"Nahi chahiye, Aur kuch?" Faris khada hua aur apni cheezen ikatthi karne laga. Hashim ne sir utha kar taasuf se use dekha.

"Hum cousins hain yaar. Tumhari problem meri bhi problem hai."

"Magar meri biwi tumhari biwi nahi thi," Faris ki awaaz buland hui. Aankho mein gussa utra, aur kaan ki loye surkh pad gayin.

"Tumhein lagta hai main bhool gaya hoon ke tum usko mere khilaf uksaya karte the?"

"Oh Khuda!" Hashim ne jhuke hue andaaz mein sir jhatka. "Tum apni is ghalat fehmi ko door kyun nahi kar lete ek dafa? Woh meri behan ki tarah thi. Agar tum mujh se koi muqaddas saheefa bulwana chahte ho, to uthwa lo. Main ek imaandar aadmi hoon."

Faris shak o shuba se aankhein sukde usay dekh raha tha.

"Tumhare is rawaiye ke bawajood maine tum pe shak nahi kiya. Ek lamhe ke liye bhi nahi socha ke tumne woh qatal kiye honge. Mujhe tumhari begunahi par yaqeen tha. Magar tumhein mujh par yaqeen nahi hai." Hashim hurt lag raha tha.

Faris ke tasuraat dheele pad gaye, magar woh usi tarah usay dekhta raha. Hashim ab utha. Dono ke darmiyan maiz haeel thi.

"Aur mujhe tumahari fiqr hai, kya karna chahoge ab?"

"Jis ke khandan ke do fard maare gaye ho, usay kya karna chahiye? Siwaye har zimmedar shaks ka gireban pakarne ke?"

Kamre mein jaise carbon monoxide bhar gayi thi. Hashim ka dam ghoontne laga. Usne beikhtiyar apni tie ki knot dheeli ki.

"Main tumhare saath hoon. Mujh se achha wakeel tumhe nahi milega jo is case ko dobara se zinda karke asal qatilo ko samne laye. Isliye job nahi karni yaha, mat karo. Magar jab aur jahan se tumhe kuch maaloom ho, sabse pehle mujhe aakar bataoge. Right?" Hashim ne musafha ke liye haath badhaya. Faris ukhda ukhda khada raha. Phir mutazabzib sa haath mila liya.

Hashim muskara diya.

Faris baahir nikla to jawahirat darwaze ki chowkhat par dikhai di. Uska chehra tanav ka shikar tha. Tezi se Hashim tak aati hui usne poocha, "ye kyun aaya tha?"

Saath hi usne darwaza band kiya.

"Jab bhi isey Azad dekhti hoon, to mujhe tumhare hatho me hathkadi nazar aati hai."

Hashim ne uski fikr aur pareshaani ko nazarandaz kiya, "Maine bulaya tha. Job offer ki, magar usne mana kar diya."

"Job? Kyu? Achha! Taake woh masroof rahe aur kisi bhi intiqami karwai se baaz rahe?"

Hashim ne asbat me sar hilaya. Jawahirat ne thandi saans andar utari.

"Usay tum par shak to nahi hai na?" Uske khadshe badhte Jaa rahe the.

"Agar hota to woh is tarah aram se na chala jata. Woh haatho se baat karne ka aadi hai, aur adakar to bilkul nahi hai."

Uska phone bajne laga. To usne jhunjhla ke call receive ki, "Ji ji, sir, main aapke office pahunch gaya hoon. Bas lift mein hoon. Aa raha hoon."

Bahut asani se jhoot bol kar call kaati aur apne briefcase mein zaroori cheeze daalne laga. "Kaam se jaa raha hoon. Shaam ko milte hain."

"Hmm..." Jawahirat ba dikkat muskarayi

☆☆☆

Woh ek nafis aur khubsurat se aarasta bungalow ka study room tha, jahan woh laptop ke saamne baithi kaam kar rahi thi. Uske baal jude mein bandhe hue the aur sabz aankhe sukde karte hue screen par jamaayi hui thi. Labo se ballpoint ka kinara dabaye woh laptop ki screen dekh rahi thi.

Phir usne sar jhuka kar ek file par kuch likha. Achanak usne khirki ki taraf dekha to ruk gayi. Do judwa bachiya apne hum-umar do teen bacho ke saath baahar jati dikhai de rahi thi. Sara pen chhod kar beikhtiyar baahar lapki.

Lounge mein Zarina Begum meethi silaiyon par kuch goondh rahi thin. Gaahe bgaahe chalti TV screen par bhi nazar daal leti.

"Sara, yeh Turk drame dekh dekh kar hum kuch behaya nahi hote jaa rahe?" Unhone itayat chahiye. Magar Sara sun hi nahi rahi thi.

"Ammi! Aapne bachiyo ko phir park bhej diya? Mainne mana kiya tha na!" Bhanwe sukude wo khafgj se unke sar par khadi thi.

Zarina Begum ne khafgi se apni aankh ki chashme ke upar se usay dekha, "Bas karo, Bibi. Tum to aise pareshaan ho rahi ho jaise unhein akela bhej diya ho. Aas-paas ke bache bhi thay aur carnal Khursheed ki mulazima bhi. Abhi ghante bhar mein aa jaayengi."

"Aap bhi na, kamaal karti hai." Sarah narazgi se kehti unke saath baithi magar bilkul nishast ke bilkul kinare par. "Pata hai na, Ammi, halaat kitne kharaab hain, phir bhi unko baahir bhej deti hain!"

"Achha tumhari betiya hain to hamari nawasiya bhi hain. Dushman nahi hoon main unki. Ghar mein qaid karke rakhu to buzdil aur dari sehemi si ban jaayengi. Bilkul tumhari tarah." Zarina Begum ne usay zaleel karte hue apni silai jaari rakhi.

"Main nahi hoon buzdil Woh Saadi bhi har waqt yahi kehta rehta hai." Woh khafa bhi thi aur pareshan bhi. "Waris ki maut bhool gayi aap? Kaise unko maar diya gaya tha. Jab kisi khandan mein koi qatal ho jaye, to khandan wale pehle jaise nahi rehte, reh hi nahi sakte."

"Sach, tumne bataya hi nahi Faris ke riha hone ka. Mujhe Aziz Bhai ki biwi ne bataya." Zarina Begum ne silai rok kar uski taraf poori tarah mutawajje hui aur uski baaqi baatein nazar-andaz kar di.

Sarah ki aankhein hairat se phail gayi. "Faris? Woh toh... riha nahi hua tha... woh... kya matlab?"

"Tumhe nahi pata?" Zarina Begum ulta hairan ho gayin. "Jab tum London mein thi, tabhi toh riha hua tha."

"Saadi ko bhi pata nahi hoga phir toh. Warna woh zikr to karta." Sarah hairan si baithi thi.

"Lo wohi toh use lene gaya tha. Use kab kisi baat ka nahi pata hota?"

"Magar yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Achanak se?" Woh ulajh gayi. "Aur Saadi ne bhi nahi bataya." Phir achanak se maa ki taraf dekha. "Aur kya bataya auntie ne?"

"Yahi ke apne Mamu ke ghar reh raha hai, Jawahirat ke paas. Apna ghar nahi khola. Aur Nudrat ke paas bhi nahi reh raha. Magar achaa hi hua. Mujhe toh kabhi bhi woh qasoorwar nahi laga tha. Shukar hai ke bache ki jaan bach gayi." Zarina Begum ne phir se silai utha li.

"Hmm... Saadi bhi yahi kehta tha. Faris aisa bhi nahi kar sakta. Magar ek hafta ho gaya aur mujhe pata hi nahi." Woh achambhe mein thi. Phir be-ikhtiyar ghadi dekhi aur phone ki taraf badi.

"Kise phone karne lagi ho?" Zarina Begum ne poocha.

"Carnal Khursheed ki maid ka number hai mere paas. Usse kehti hoon ke unhein jaldi ghar laaye. Poore pandrah minute ho gaye hain." Sarah fikrmandi se kehti cordless utha kar number dial karne lagi. Zarina Begum ne maathe chhu kar burburaayi. Sara ka koi ilaaj na tha.

Raat jab unke bunglow par utri to deewaro ne dekha ke Sara apne bed mein lehaaf taane leti thi aur uske daaye-baaye do nanhu pyaari si bacchiya leti thi. Ek chhat ko ghur rahi thi aur doosri maa ke kaano par phislti lato ko ungliyo fer rahi thi.

"Amal, Noor, mujhe aapse ek baat karni hai." Sara ne chhat ko dekhte hue gum-sum andaaz mein baat shuru ki.

"Kya hua, Mama?"

"Aap logo ko shayad yaad na ho magar aapke Baba ke ek bhai the... Hai... Kuch wajah thi Woh yahan se chale gaye the... matlab ke unko jail ho gayi thi." Sara ruk gayi aur gehri saans li.

"Magar Faris Chachu toh riha ho gaye hain na?" Amal ek dum boli. Sara dang reh gayi.

"Tumhe woh yaad hain?" Sara ne hairani se poocha.

"Ji Mama," Amal ne ulta usay hairan hoke dekha. "Main ne khud suna hai, Nani kisi ko phone par bata rahi thin ke woh ab baahir aa gaye hain. Toh ab hum unse milne kab jaayenge?"

"Nahi, Amal," Sarah ke lehje mein sakhti aa gayi. "Humne unse door rehna hai. Unke saath masle hai bahut, unke peechhe bure log lage hain. So hum unke qareeb jaayenge to woh bure log humare peeche bhi lag jaayenge. Isliye ab hum unse zyada qareeb nahi honge." Noor ne sir hila diya. Woh maa ke baalo se musalsal khel rahi thi. Magar Amal ne utni hi samajhdaari se poocha,

"Okey Mama, hum unse milne kab jaayenge?"

Sara usko dekh kar reh gayi. "Main ne kaha na, hum unse milne nahi jaayenge. Be-shak woh bohot acche hain, magar unke saath rehne se humein bhi nuqsan pahunch sakta hai. Isliye ab main tum dono ke munh se unka zikr na sunu. Okay?" drushti se keh kar phir fikarmandi ke saath lamp bujha rahi thi.

Noor ne lamp bujhate hi foran aankhein band kar lekin Amal ki aankhe poori khuli hui thi.

☆☆☆

centaurus mall mein rango aur roshniyo ka selab jagmaga raha tha. Teesre floor ke ek boutique ki saari battiya roshan thi. Wast mein makhmali sofe biche hue the. Kapdo ke racks kone mein the. Wahin ek qad dawar aaine ke samne Shehrin khadi apni tanqeedi nigaho se pehna hua golden gown dekh rahi thi.

Jiski aik aasteen nahi thi aur doosri kalai tak aati thi. Usne daaye aur baaye dono taraf se tedi ho kar apna aks dekha. Sunahre bob-cut baalon ko do ungliyo se peeche kiya aur bezaari se mooh banaya.

"Fall itni achi nahi hai jitni maine kahi thi."

Qareeb khadi ladki jaldi jaldi wazahat dene lagi, magar Shehrin ne goya usse suna hi nahi. Woh har zaviye se apne aap ko aaine mein dekh rahi thi. Uske aks mein peeche sofas par baithi Sonia aur saath hi mustaid khadi mulazima bhi dikhayi de rahi thi. Sonia bore si hokar baar-baar pao kalin se ragad rahi thi.

Aks mein dukan ka darwaza bhi nazar aaraha tha, aur Shehrin jo bigray mood ke saath manager ko kuch kehne lagi thi, darwaze ki taraf dekh kar bilkul sakit ho gayi. Phir usne halki si thook nigli.

Darwaze ki chowkhat par Saadi khada tha. Jeans ki jeebo mein haath dale, woh Shehrin ko hi dekh raha tha.

Shehrin ne mud kar sofo ki taraf dekha, "Shameena, Sonia ko lekar upar food court jao. Main kuch dair mein aati hoon."

Phir manager se mukhatib hoke boli, "Main aap se zara thaher kar baat karti hoon." Manager sir hila kar chali gayi, magar Shameena ne bachi ka haath pakad kar thoda jhijhak ka izhar kiya.

"Ma’am, upar kis jagah?"

"Shameena." Shehrin ne teiz nazro se ghura to Shameena foran Sonia ki ungli thaame baahar nikal gayi.

Shehrin phir se aaine mein dekhte hue gown ka fall wala gala ungliyo se idhar-udhar karne lagi.

Saadi qadam-qadam chalta uske kandhe ke peeche aa khada hua. "To aap golden pehan rahi hain, Good main black pehan raha hoon,"

"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Woh muday baghair aaine mein hi uska aks dekhte hue teizi se boli. Saadi ne masnooi hairat se shane uchkaaye aur kaha, "Yeh ek mall hai aur yahan log shopping karne aate hain."

"Mujhe ghar se follow kar rahe the ya phone se trace kiya hai?"

"Kya aap yeh nahi maan saktin ke hum ittefaq se mile hain?"

"Ek lamhe ke liye bhi nahi."

Saadi ne jawaban asbat me sar hilaya, "okay! Aap ke phone se trace kiya hai."

Shehrin uski taraf palti aur sanjeedgi se usay dekha. "Humein is tarah ek saath nahi nazar aana chahiye."

"Isi liye aapne unko bhej diya?"

"Woh Hashim ko bata degi," usne goya jhidak diya.

"Itni na-qabil-e-itbaar mulazima?" Saadi hairan hua.

"Woh nahi, Sonia! meri beti. Woh apne baap ko har baat batati hai," Shehrin ne talakhi se kaha aur kaano mein pehne siyah nago wale ke aweze utarne lagi.

"Aap itna darti hai Hashim bhai se?"

"Saadi!" Shehrin ne dabay dabay ghusse se usay dekha. "Main us se nahi darti. Magar woh Sonia ko mujh se le sakta hai agar main uske khilaf gayi. And you know what? Tumhare yahan aane ka matlab hai ke tumhe Hashim ke khilaf meri madad chahiye, aur main aisa kuch bhi nahi karne wali."

"Jab aapne mujh se madad maangi thi to maine bhi kiya aise hi mana kiya tha?" Saadi ab bohot sanjeeda tha. Shehrin ek saniye ke liye khamosh rahi.

"Woh aur masla tha," uski awaaz dheemi padi. Saadi jawab diye baghair usko dekhta raha. Woh bhi usay dekhti rahi, phir sar jhatka.

"Kya chahiye?"

Saadi halki si muskaan ke saath apni androni jeeb se ek tablet nikala aur tezi se uske purse mein daal diya. Sab itni phurti se hua ke Shehrin bas khadi reh gayi.

"Mera tab Aap kal mujhe party mein wapas kar dena. Itna sa kaam."

"Mager tum yeh khud bhi le kar ja sakte ho party mein," woh hairan hui.

"Security protocol sakht hai. Mobile waghera ki ijazat nahi hai. Magar aap to family hain na."

"Tum kya karna chah rahe ho?"

"Aap doosra kaam karne ki haami bhare, main bata doonga."

"Aur kya hai woh doosra kaam?" Shehrin ne bohot zabt ke saath seene par baazu lapet kar poocha.

"Mujhe Hashim bhai ke laptop ka password chahiye. Har soorat mein."

"Tum...uff" uska sabr jawab dene laga. "Tum party mein na hi aao Saadi. Tum humein dono ko mushkil mein daloge."

"Main ek hafte se, jab se Hashim bhai ne bil-khusoos mere liye card bhejwaya tha, tabse is party ki tayari kar raha hoon. Aur main aap par aitbaar kar raha hoon. Aapko Hashim bhai se apne tamam dukho aur aziyato ka badla lena hai na? To phir aapko mere saath khada hona hoga. Chahe aap pasand karein ya na karein. Aap mujhe Hashim bhai ka password la kar dengi."

Usne sanjeedgi aur masnoi se aik aik lafz ada kiya.

Shehrin ke taa'suraat dheeme pad gaye. Usne tazabzub, umeed aur khadshaat se bhari aankho se Saadi ko dekha.

"Tum kya karne ja rahe ho?"

Woh udaasi se muskara diya. Ek zakhmi si muskaraahat ke saath "Jo unhone hum se churaya tha, main woh wapas churane ja raha hoon."

ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ

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