"Haan Khawar, bolo!"

"Sir, aap wahi rukiye. Main aa raha hoon." Khawar lawn mein tha aur udhar aa raha tha. Hashim wahi ruk gaya, magar phir koi aur mil gaya to woh unka haal-ahwaal poochhne khada ho gaya. Khawar muntazir sa khada raha. Woh farigh ho kar apne Chief Security Officer ki taraf muda.

"Kya hua?" Istifsaar mein sakhti thi.

"Aap ko yeh dekhna chahiye." Khawar ne tablet aage kiya. Uski screen pe paanch cameras ki footage aa rahi thi. Khawar ne ek pe ungli rakh kar usse bada kiya. Hashim ne aankhein sikod kar usay dekha. Woh uske kamre ke band darwaze ka manzar tha. Khawar ne use tezi se rewind kiya aur phir play kiya.

Seedhiyo se do-chaar log utarte-chadte dikhai de rahe the. Unme ek siyaah suit aur ghanghriyale baalo wala ladka bhi tha jo sar jhukaaye zeene philangta upar gaya. Hashim ke kamre ka darwaza khola aur andar jaakar darwaza band kiya.

Hashim ko laga jaise kisi ne uske munh pe darwaza de maara ho. Uski aankho mein surkhi utar aayi, muthiya bhich gayi.

"Yeh kitni der pehle ki hai?"

"13 minute!"

aur 13 minute qabl jab woh Hashim ke kamre mein aaya to usne laptop mein flash drive lagane mein 3 second bhi na lagaye the. Laptop band raha aur flash ki batti chamakne lagi. Usne panjo ke bal carpet pe baithkar tezi se tab khola.

"Aapki device ka rabta ek hard drive se ho chuka hai. Kya aap tamam data copy karna chahenge?"

Bohot khushi ke saath, dhadakte dil se usne ‘Yes’ dabaya. Password usne "Sonia" type kiya. Hara signal, Saadi ne aankhe band karke gehri saans li.

Data copy hone laga... 10 fisad... 20 fisad... 40 fisad... Woh baar-baar mustarid nazro se band darwaze ko dekh raha tha... 55 fisad...

Neeche khade Hashim ne shola-bar nazro se Khawar ko dekha. Hashim ne gusse se Khawar ko dekha.

"13 minute se woh mere kamre mein hai aur tum ab bakwas kar rahe ho?" Woh sab daba sa garja. Khawar thook nigalte peechhe hua.

"Sir! Aap kisi se baat kar rahe..."

"Do bando ko le kar meri balcony par jao. Main idhar se jaata hoon." Saari shaistagi, mehmaan-nawazi dhafa kar ke woh tezi se zeene tak aaya.

... 70 fisad.. 73... 75... Saadi bechaini se ungliyan marod raha tha.

Hashim coat ka button kholte zeene philang raha tha, kisi aandhi toofaan ki tarah. Jaise abhi jaakar Saadi ko girebaan se daboch lena chata tha. Is ullu ke patthay ne Hashim bhai ko abhi bohot underestimate kiya tha.

85...90...

Saadi ne flash pakad hi rakhi thi, ginti khatam ho aur wo use kheench le. Maatha pasine se bheeg gaya tha.

Hashim ne dhaad se darwaza khola. Gusse se bhari uski nigahe aage-peechhe dodi.

Kamra khaali tha. Saadi wahan nahi tha. Albatta... Hilta hua parda hata hua tha. Balcony ka darwaza poora khula tha.

Woh andha-dhund baahar bhaga. Balcony mein bhi woh na tha. Woh tezi se bairooni zeene utarne laga. Is taraf lawn khaali aur neem andhera tha. Khawar aur do suit pehne aadmi bhaagte hue udhar aa rahe the. Hashim ka maatha bheegne laga. "Woh kahaan gaya?"

Andar khaali kamre mein harkat hui. Bathroom ka darwaza khol kar Saadi aahista se nikla aur usi aahistagi se kamre se baahar aa kar darwaza band kar diya.

"Kya hai, Hashim bhai! Ke Aaj kal ke bacche thode se zyada smart hain~" Kaan khujate hue usne masoomiyat se khud kalami ki aur usi aitmaad se seedhiya utarne laga.

Dakhli darwaze ke qareeb deewaar pe bohot se digital photo frames aaveza the. Unmein tasaveer slideshow ki soorat harkat kar rahi thi. Hameen aur sam baatein karte hue kaafi shauq se unko dekh rahe the Hashim, Nausherwaan waghera ki tasaveer. Bachpan, university...

Saadi abhi seedhiyan utar kar aaya hi tha ki. "Hey, Saadi!" Nosherwan, jo jebo mein haath daale ek mujasme se tek lagaye khada tha, pukar kar bola. Saadi ghooma.

Woh adatan baghair coat ke, sunehri shirt par siyaah vest mein malboos tha aur istehzaaiya muskura kar use dekh raha tha.

"Apne behan bhai ko le aaya karo na kabhi idhar. Dekho, kitne excited ho rahe hain. Inhone shayad aisi cheez pehle nahi dekhi hai." Saadi ne ek nazar door khade dono par daali.

"Haan! Unhone tum jaisi cheez kam hi dekhi hai." Magar Nosherwan jaise nahi suna.

"Magar inka qasoor nahi hai. Gurbat aur chhota khandan bohot badi museebat hai." Taasuf se kehte hue usne sar hilaaya.

"Agar tum yeh chahte ho ki main bhadak kar tumahara upar hamla karu aur tum sab mera tamasha banao, toh aisa nahi hoga. Main mehmaan hoon. Aadaab-e-mehmani mujhe aate hain." Sanjeedgi se keh kar woh mud gaya. Uska rukh dakhli darwaze ki simt tha.

"Tumhari behan kaafi badi ho gayi hai." Nosherwan ne phir pukara. Ab ke hamla mukhtalif noiyat ka tha.

Saadi ke qadam zanjeer hue. Usne gardan modhi. Aankhon mein surkhi ubhri, lab bhinche, magar isse pehle ki woh jhapatt kar bhinchi hui muthi ko Nosherwan ke chehre tak le jata.

"AYE! KYA BOLA HAI? KIS KI BEHAN KI BAAT KI HAI, HAAN?" Faris barahmi se bolta, tez-tez qadam uthata udhar aa raha tha. Aise ki woh, jo Saadi se do inch lamba tha, Saadi ke aage aakar Nosherwan ki taraf badha.

Nosherwan waqai gadh-bhadaya tha. Usne Faris ko aate nahi dekha tha, magar la-parwaai se shane jhatke.

"Aisa kya keh diya maine?" Woh do qadam peeche hata.

"BAKWAS MAT KARO! MERI BEHAN KI BETI KA NAAM MAT LENA AINDA, WARNA HAATH-PAANV SALAAMAT NAHI RAHENGE TUMHARE! BAAT SAMAJH MEIN AAYI YA NAHI, HAAN?" Ghoorte hue ungli se uske seene ko dhakela.

Tabhi Hashim aakar tezi se dono haatho se dono ko door kiya. Woh abhi-abhi sidhiya utarta udhar aaya tha.

"Kya masla hai? Kya hua hai?" Sulah-jo andaaz mein usne Faris ka kandha thaama. Magar Faris ne jhatke se chhudaya aur taish bhari nigaho se Hashim ko dekha.

"APNE BHAI KO SAMJHA LO. IS TARAH KI BAKWAAS AINDA KI TOH MAIN ZUBAAN SE JAWAB NAHI DUNGA."

Aas-paas maujood log dekhne lag gaye the. Door khade Haneen aur sam bhi mutawajje ho gaye. Mamu aur Nosherwan maddhe muqabil the.

"Acha theek hai, main mazrat karta hoon. Tum thande ho jao." Kehte hue woh baar-baar sard nigaho se Saadi ko bhi dekh raha tha.

Faris "HUH" keh kar sar jhatak kar aage badh gaya. Aur Saadi, Hashim se nigah milaye baghair, apne behan bhai ki taraf chal diya.

"Mera qasoor nahi tha, bhai, maine..."

"Tum dono mere kamre mein aao." Hashim ne usse aur Khawar se sakhti se kaha aur seedhiyo ki taraf badh gaya.

"Woh mujhe chakma de kar nikal gaya. Meri naak ke neeche woh mere kamre mein ghusa aur..."

Usne gusse se kehte hue couch ko thokar maari. Khawar kamre ki har cheez check kar raha tha. Kamro ke andar cameras nahi the, so uske aane ka maqsad wazeh nahi tha.

"Magar woh andar kyun aaya tha?" Nosherwan hakka-bakka reh gaya. Phir hairat ki jagah gusse ne le li.

"MAIN USKO CHHODUNGA NAHI. USKI ITNI HIMMAT!" Woh gusse se khaulta darwaze ki taraf badha.

Hashim ne baazu se pakad kar use roka.

"Chup karo. Faris aur tum mein koi farq hai ya nahi? Uski tarah har waqt haath ki zubaan mat istemaal kiya karo."

"Magar sir, woh andar kyun aaya tha?"

"Kuch lene aaya tha ya kuch rakhne. Poore kamre ko de-bug karo. Microphone, camera sab dhoondo. Agar woh jasoos hai toh ab tahammul se tamasha dekhega. Aur agar woh chor hai, toh sabse pehle yahan se nikalne ki koshish karega."

Hashim tez-tez cheeze ulat-pulat karte hue keh raha tha. Woh disturb tha. Gusse mein tha. Magar zabt karne ki koshish kar raha tha.

"Woh jaise hi exit pe pahunche, tum use roko. Mujhe aise mat dekho. Jo keh raha hoon, woh karo." Khawar ko jhadak kar woh kehne laga.

"Aur DA?"

"BHAAD MEIN GAYI DA!"

Woh baahar aaya toh Fiona tray uthaye ja rahi thi.

"Merry Engeo, se necklace le kar mummy ne kaha phekha tha?" Wo uska raasta rok kar bola. Fiona ek dum rukh gayi.

"Isi gamle mein, kisi naukar ki himmat nahi hui thi ke-"

"Mera ek kaam karo." Woh jaldi-jaldi usse samjha raha tha. Fiona sir hilati, alert si, uska chehra dekh rahi thi jisme paseena tha aur rang bhi zard pada tha. Hashim theek nahi tha.

☆☆☆

~ وقت وقت کی بات ہے، کل جو رنگ تھا، آج وہ داغ ہے۔

Waqt waqt ki baat hai, Kal jo rang tha, aaj wo daag hai.

∘❀∘

"Bas ab ghar jaa rahe hai." Dono ko sath le kar lawn ki taraf jate hue Saadi ne bataya. Tabhi peeche se aati mulazima usse takra gayi. Tray giri bartan bikhar gaye.

"I am sorry! Sorry… please ....."

Fiona bokhlaate hue maazrat karti, bartan sametne lagi. Saadi ne "It's okay" keh kar coat zara sa jhaada aur aage badh gaya.

"Abhi chale jaaye? Magar abhi, toh khana bhi nahi khaya?" Haneen ne lawn mein apni maiz tak aakar daba-daba sa ehtehjaaz kiya. Sam khamosh raha. Woh dono wajah se la-ilm the, magar lounge ka jhagra dekh chuke the.

"Khana kisi achhe restaurant se khaenge. Bas chalo yahan se."

Saadi ne Zumar ko dekha. Woh akeli khadi thi, aur woh jald bhula dene walo mein se kabhi nahi thi. So, foran raazi ho gayi. Woh is mahaul se faraar chahti thi.

"Haan, chalo. Bade Abba ne bhi jald aane ko kaha tha."

Jawahirat se usne ijaazat li. Uske israar aur hairat ke bawajood woh wapas aayi aur chalne ka ishaara kiya. Baramde ki seedhiyo par Imaad unhi ko dekh raha tha. Kaan ka aala ungli se dabaaya.

"Isko bagair talaash ke mat jaane dena." Woh dheere se bola tha.

"Right sir." exit par suit buited khade retired carnal Khawar ne sun kar sar hilaaya. Phir unki taraf mudha jo Zumar ke peeche chale aa rahe the. Zumar sanjeedgi se aage badh rahi thi, magar Khawar ne khankhaar kar mutawajjeh kiya.

"Ma'am, sir jara zehmat hogi aapko, please?"

Zumar ne chonk kar usse dekha. Saadi ka halaq khusk hua. "Gadbadh"

"Kya hua?"

"Darasal, Mrs. Jawahirat ka necklace chori ho gaya hai aur."

Khawar ki samajh mein nahi aaya woh DA (District Attorney) se kya kahe. Magar DA ko adhoore fiqre samajhne mein der nahi lagti thi.

"Achha, Mrs. Jawahirat ka necklace chori hua hai, aur ab aap hamari talashi lena chahte hain?"

"Nahi, Ma’am, darasal... jo log ghar ke andar gaye the, unko.."

"Magar hum toh haath dhone gaye the!" Haneen ne aik dam se rohaansi ho kar kaha.

Khawar ne baat sambhalni chahi, magar Zumar ke toh sar pe lag chuki thi.

"Achha, aapka matlab hai ki mere bacche chor hain?"

"Ma’am, Saadi sahab andar gaye the, toh mere paas footage.."

"Ek minute, pehle Haneen aur Sam chor the, ab Saadi ho gaya, aur agle minute mein, MAIN HUGI? aur ab aap hame choro ki tarah line me khada karke hamari talashi lena chahte hai?"

"Nahi, aap ki nahi"

"Meri family ke bacche hain yeh. Inki talaashi lene se pehle aapko meri talaashi lena hogi. Magar is andhere kone mein nahi wahan un mehmano ke saamne doongi main talaashi. Taake unko bhi pata chale ki aap log izzat se bulakar izzat se kaise rukhsat karte hain!"

Soorat-e-haal bigad chuki thi. Hashim achambe se inko dekhta us taraf aa raha tha.

"Zumar! Saadi, khana lagne wala hai. Aap log itni jaldi kaise ja rahe hai?"

Zumar ne chehra ghuma kar teekhi nazro se Hashim ko dekha.

"Main bohot zyada sarahugi nahi is baat ko, Hashim, agar aap apni adakaari pas-e-pusht daal de. Kyunki main nahi maan sakti ke aapka guard aapki ijazat ke bagair humein yun rok sakta hai!"

"Magar, kya hua hai Khawar?"

Hashim ne hairat aur uljhan se Khawar ko dekha, jo nafi mein sar hilaata kuch kehna chah raha tha.

"Aap ki mummy ka necklace chori hua hai. Hamaari talashi leni hai." Haneen ne bebasi se kaha.

"TALASHI... WHAT?" Hashim ne be-yaqeeni se Khawar ko dekha.

Saadi pant ki jeebo mein haath daale ab qadray itminaan se sar jhukaye khada tha. Khawar uske mukarne ke liye tayyar na tha. Woh gadbada gaya.

"Sir, mera yeh matlab nahi tha." Jaldi se sambhal kar bola.

"Yeh mere mehmaan hai, Khawar!" Woh daba-daba sa usper barsa. Zumar ne sar jhatka.

"Apni wazahate mehfooz rakhein, Hashim! Aap mere bhatije ko Faris ka bhanja hone ki saza nahi de sakte."

Saadi ne chonk kar use dekha, aur Hashim ne bhi. Zumar ne achadti nigah uspe daali.

"Na main aaj paida hui hoon, na aap... Saadi Faris ke liye koshish kar raha tha. So, jab wo riha hua, toh itne arse baad aapko Saadi ko invite karne ka khayal aa gaya? Aapko jaana tha ke Faris kaise riha hua ya phir Saadi ko is baat ki saza deni thi? Maqsad jo bhi tha, aap mere bhatije ko yun beizzat nahi kar sakte. Aapke aur Faris ke khandani jhagdo se hamara koi talluq nahi hai!"

"Meri bilkul samajh mein nahi aa raha yeh sab kya ho raha hai. Aap galat samajh rahi hain?"

"Main kuch nahi samajh rahi hoon. Chalo!"

Zumar keh kar aage badh gayi. Haneen aur sam jaldi se peeche ho liye. Saadi aakhri mein nikla aur phir mud kar Hashim ko dekha. Hashim bilkul badli hui nigaho se use ghoor raha tha. Saadi jaldi se palat gaya.

"Sir..." Khawar ne bebasi se usse jaate dekha jo yaqeenan kuch le kar gaya tha.

"Jaane do usay, Aaj jaane do." Woh karwahat se kehta palat gaya. Peeche khade Nosherwa ne tilmilaahat se yeh sab dekha tha.

"Aap uski phupho se darr gaye? Isko kyun jaane diya?"

"Main kisi se nahi darta. Aage mauqa aayega."

"Aur usko bataya kyun nahi ke uski behan ne subah kaise aap se madad maangi thi?" Nosherwan uske saath chalta ghusse se keh raha tha.

Uske dil mein Saadi ki raqabat ke angare dehkna kam nahi huye the.

"Bataunga... jab uske munh par thappar maarna hoga tab bataunga." Woh talkhi se badbadata aage badh raha tha.

"Magar bhai,"

"Mehmaano se bhara pada hai ghar, main koi tamasha nahi karna chahta abhi." Usne saari baat hi khatam kar di.

☆☆☆

اپنے ہی ہوتے ہیں جو دل پر وار کرتے ہیں، محسن۔ غیروں کو کیا خبر دل کس بات پہ دکھتا ہے۔

Apne hi hote hain jo dil par waar karte hain, Mohsin. Gairo ko kya khabar dil kis baat pe dukhta hai.

∘❀∘

Sadak tareek thi, magar sunsaan nahi. Traffic chal rahi thi. Saadi khaamoshi se drive kar raha tha aur sam peechli seat par aankhein moonde padha tha.

"Mujhe yaqeen nahi aata ke Hashim is had tak ja sakta hai." Zumar wind screen ke paar dekhti talkhi se boli thi, bhanwe abhi tak narazgi se bhinchi thi.

"Phupho, unke guard ki ghalti pe unko blame mat kare. Is sab mein Hashim bhai ka koi kasoor nahi hai." Peeche baithi Haneen tezi se aage huyi.

"Haneen, mulazim maalik ke ishaare ke bina itna bada kaam nahi kiya karte. Aur Hashim ke mulazim toh kabhi bhi nahi."

"Phupho theek keh rahi hain. Hashim bhai humein beizzat karna chahte the." Saadi ne kehte hue car roki.

"Mera restaurant jane ka dil nahi hai, Saadi. Kuch take away kar lete hain." Zumar uktai hui boli.

Saadi ne asbaat mein sar hilaate hue Haneen ko ishara kiya ke woh pichhli seat par pade uske coat se wallet nikal le. Idhar Haneen ne coat uthaya, idhar Zumar ne purse khola.

"Phupho, main de raha hoon. Hannah wallet do mera." Ab ke Saadi ko drushti se kehna pada kyunki Haneen wallet nahi de rahi thi. Haneen ne wallet nikala bhi nahi tha. Usne kuch aur nikala tha.

Kisi ehsaas ke taht Zumar aur Saadi ne palat kar dekha. Woh do ungliyo mein jagmagata necklace uthaye hairat se dekh rahi thi. Zumar ki nigahe wahi thehar gayin. Saans ruk gaya, aur Saadi ko toh apne ird-gird har aawaaz aana band ho chuki thi.

"Yeh, coat mein tha." Haneen ne uljhan aur pareshani se un dono ko dekha.

"Yeh Mrs. Kardar ka hai. Main isse pehchanti hoon." Sard aawaaz mein woh boli aur unhi barfili nazro se Saadi ko dekha.

"Yeh idhar kaise?" Aur tab hi hairan pareshaan Saadi Yousuf ne chonk kar Zumar ke ta’suraat dekhe.

"Nahi phupho aap galat samjh rahi hai.,"

"Saadi, gaadi chalao." Woh seedhi ho gayi. Chehra bilkul sapat tha.

"Phupho, aapko lagta hai ke yeh maine churaya hai? Main chor hoon?" Hakka bakka Saadi ka toh jaise dil hi toot gaya.

"SAADI, gaadi chalao!"

"Yeh Hashim ne mujh pe planned kiya hai! Usne mujh pe setup kiya hai! Main aapko sab bataunga, magar mujh pe aitbaar toh kare!"

"Aitbaar? Zumar ne dukhi nigaho se usay dekha. "Aur agar wahan tumhari talaashi li jati aur yeh tumhare paas se niklta toh? Kya main is saher mein kisi ko munh dikhane ke qabil rehti, Saadi? Maine tumhe yeh sab nahi sikhaya tha. Tum woh Saadi nahi ho jisko main jaanti thi."

Saadi ne bebasi se steering par maatha maara.

"Maine agar yeh churaya hota toh kya coat utaar kar yun phenk deta? Main aisa kar sakta hoon kya?"

"Bhai chori nahi kar sakte. Kabhi bhi nahi. Yeh kisi ne bhai ki jeb mein dala hoga." Haneen se mazeed bardasht nahi hua tha.

"Kisi ne nahi, Hashim ne! Yeh sab uska kiya dhara hai!"

"Saadi, mujhe ghar drop kar do. Abhi aur isi waqt." Zumar rukh mod kar sheeshe ke paar dekhne lagi.

"Kya matlab ke aapko drop kar du? Aap mujhe itne crisis mein yun chhod kar nahi ja sakti, Zumar!"

Jazbaat ki intiha thi ke uske munh se Zumar nikla. Woh jo ikkis bars Zumar rahi thi, aur pichhle chaar saal ki sard-mahri ki deewar ke baad Phupho bani thi, usko yeh lafz chaabuk ki tarah laga.

Bohot tadap kar usne sulagti nigahon se Saadi ka chehra dekha.

"Aur mere crisis mein tum mere saath the? Yeh toh ek chori hai. Tum acha vakeel kar lo, toh duniya ki kisi bhi adalat mein khud ko begunah sabit Karwa loge?"

"Yeh crisis nahi hai. Crisis woh tha jis mein tum mujhe chhod kar gaye the. Tumhe pata hai Saadi! Jab kisi ki kamar cheer kar gurda nikala jaaye toh kaisi takleef hoti hai? Tum kabhi bhi woh takleef nahi samajh sakte aur baat karte ho crisis ki."

Saadi bilkul thanda pad gaya. Haneen ko laga woh neela pad jaayega. Magar woh nahi pada. Har kisi ko neela nahi karta.

"Aap ne aaj keh hi diya."

Zumar ne sar jhatak kar rukh mod liya. Uski aankhein shiddat-e-zabt se surkh pad rahi thi.

"DROP ME!" usko dekhe bina do lafz bole. Haneen bas apne bhai ko dekh rahi thi. Woh sar hila kar car start kar raha tha.

"I’m sorry! Main aap ke paas nahi tha. Mera test tha phupho aur main fail nahi hona chahta tha." Haneen ko laga Saadi ki aankho mein aansu hain ya shayad uski apni aankhein nam thi. Woh dil girihfta si piche ho kar baith gayi.

"It’s okay. Mujhe koi shikayat nahi hai."

Zumar ne be-tasur lehje mein kaha. Ghar aayi toh woh khamoshi se gaadi se utar gayi aur Ammi bilkul itni khamoshi se aakar nahi baithi thi. Unke paas sawaal the. Kya raha? Kaun kaun mila? Khane mein kya tha? Magar Haneen aur Saadi ke paas unke jawab na the.

Saadi ne Haneen ko pehle hi kuch batane se mana kar diya tha ke Ammi dil ke mareez thi.

Sam dunya o mafiyah se be-khabar, neem draz so raha tha.

☆☆☆

ان کے جلووں کو زندگی کہہ کر اپنی نظر کا وقار کھو بیٹھے۔

Unke jalwo ko zindagi keh kar, apni nazar ka waqar kho baithe

∘❀∘

Control room mein andhera tha. Sirf badi screens ki roshniya unke chehron ko chamka rahi thi. Hashim taang par taang jamaye, mutthi labo par rakhe party ki footage dekh raha tha. Nosherwan jebo mein haath daale, deewar ke saath khada aur Jawahirat be-cheni se idhar udhar tahel rahi thi.

Khawar control par button dabata, videos aage peechay kar raha tha.

"Saara ghar de-bug karwa liya hai. Usne kuch nahi rakha. Main toh yeh samajhne se qaasir hoon ke tumhari poori fauj ki mojoodgi mein woh Hashim ke kamre mein dakhil kaise ho gaya?" Wo zabt kho kar Khawar par baras padhi.

"Usne kuch nahi rakha. Woh kuch le kar gaya hai." Hashim gaur se screen ko dekhte hue bola.

"Aur DA uske saath mili hui thi?" Nosherwan ko apne ilawa har ek par shak tha.

"Na-mumkin," phir achanak Hashim seedha hua. "Usay, isay peeche karo."

Khawar ne rewind kiya. Cake table par Shereen cake kaat rahi thi. Phir usne Sonia ki plate se dil nikaal kar ek dish par rakha. Ab woh Fiona se kuch keh rahi thi. Phir Fiona dish uthaye Saadi ki table tak gayi. Nazro ke tabadle. Hashim ke labh bheench gaye.

"Yeh ek doosre ko jante hain?" Jawahirat ko hairat hui. Halanke woh uske samne kai dafa mile the.

"Woh itne saal meri wife rahi hai aur Saadi, Faris ka bhanja hai. Woh yaqinan ek doosre ko jante hain." Hashim uktaa kar bola. Nigahahe abhi tak un par thi.

"Is dil pe Sonia likha hua tha na?" Usne yeh Saadi ko kyun bhijwaya?"

"Yunhi mehmaan nawazi kar rahi hogi." Nosherwan ne himayat karne ki shayi ki. Jawahirat ne khamoshi se usse ghura. Woh chup ho gaya.

Hashim ek dum uthha aur tezi se bahar nikal gaya. Ba-mushkil se ek minute baad woh isi tarah wapas aaya.

"Khawar, bahar jao," tahakkum se kaha toh Khawar foran bahar nikal gaya.

"Mera laptop bahar kyun nikla pada hai? Kis ne nikala tha?" Phir usne chonk kar Nosherwan ko dekha.

"Tumhe mera password kyun chahiye tha?"

"Woh sherry ko... aapke honeymoon ki pictures..."

"TUM NE USKE SAMNE MERA PASSWORD DALA?" Woh Gaiz-o-gajab se ghurrata hua uske sar pe pahuncha. Nosherwan ne na samjhi se usay dekha.

"Jee, magar..."

"US MATLAB PARAST AURAT KE PAAS SAB TASWEERE HAIN. USNE TUMHE ISTEMAL KIYA MERA PASSWORD LENE KE LIYE AUR YEH.., YEH TUMHARI SHERRY NE US GHATIYA AADMI KO MERA PASSWORD DE DIYA... YEH.." Woh zehni andaz mein chalata, us screen ki taraf ishara kar raha tha.

"Nahi, Sherry aisa nahi kar sakti." Nosherwan shocked tha.

"TUMHE KYA LAGTA HAI, KYUN CHHODA THA MAINE USAY? WOH EK MATLAB PARAST AURAT HAI, MAKKAR AUR KHUD-GARAZ. USNE SAADI KE LIYE TUMHE ISTEMAL KIYA AUR USNE PATA NAHI MERA LAPTOP KHOL KAR KYA-KYA DEKHA HOGA." Hashim ka sar chakra kar reh gaya.

"Sherry aisa nahi kar sakti bhai! Aap ko..."

"BAKWAAS BAND KARO." Hashim ne usse gireban se pakad kar deewar se laga diya aur surkh padti aankho se uski shastar aankho mein goya gadh kar bola.

"MAINE AGAR KISI CHEEZ KO IGNORE KIYA HAI TOH IS LIYE KE SHAYAD TUMHE KHUD HI AQAL AA JAAYE. WOH TUMSE SHAADI KARE, YA KISI SE BHI. MUJHE ISSE FARQ NAHI PADTA. LEKIN ACHHA HOGA AGAR TUM KHUD US BEWAKOOFO KI JANNAT SE BAHAR NIKAL AAO."

Jhatke se usne dam bhakhut khade Nosherwan ka gireban chhoda. Phir baalo mein haath pherte hue chalta hua khud ko pursukoon karne laga. Jawahirat apni jagah sakit khadi thi.

"Woh jaanti hai tum usay pasand karte ho?" Ab ke bola toh lehje nisbatan narm tha. "Aur woh itni khud-faraz hai ke tumhe dhoka dene mein usne lamha nahi lagaya aur woh bhi us Saadi ke liye. Pata nahi usne 13-14 minutes mein kya kya dekha hoga." Woh thak haar kar kursi par baith gaya.

"Tumne itne ahem documents laptop mein kyun rakhe the?"

"Acha ab main apni rago se khoon bhi nikaal lu is dar se ke koi khanjhar na ghonp de? Aur bohot kam documents mein laptop mein aur woh bhi security ke teho mein."

Nosherwan nazre jhukaaye khada tha. Usse yaqeen aa gaya tha aur isi liye usse yaqeen nahi aa raha tha. Jawahirat ne uski kohni ko narmi se chhua.

"Is sab mein tumhara kasoor nahi hai. Das pandrah minute mein woh kuch bhi nahi padh sakta."

Hashim ne sar uthakar usse dekha. "Yeh tumhari galti nahi hai. Sheru, jao, jaa kar so jao. Aur rahi sherry, toh tum isse koi rishta jodna chahte hl to jod lo..Mujhe koi aitraaz nahi. Bas soch samajh kar karna jo bhi karna." Hashim ne kaha.

"Jao, shabash, aaram karo."

Wo bade bhai se baap banne mein der nahi lagata tha.

"Sorry bhai." Usse nigah milaye bina sheru ne bohot si baato ki maazrat aik saath ki aur kamre se nikal gaya.

Jawahirat hairaan nazro se Hashim ko dekh rahi thi.

"Aapko kya laga tha? Main nahi jaanta?"

"Mujhe yeh lag raha hai ke shayad main hi tumhe nahi jaanti." Woh sate hue chehre ke saath muskurai. Phir uske kandhe pe haath rakh kar dabaya,

"Kal ka bachha woh kuch bhi nahi kar sakta, aur agar kuch kiya bhi toh mere paas uska jawab hai."

"Jao, change karo aur so jao."

Hashim ne aahista se asbat me sir hila diya. Uska sir, dard se phata jaa raha tha.

"Tum hisaab doge, Saadi!"

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