2. منتظر

Haath me pakri tasveer ko usne neechey kiya aur aasmaan ko dekhne laga. Bench pe bethe hue aasmaan ko takta raha. 6 saal guzar chuke the magar har yaad aise dimaag me taazi thi jese 6 din pehle ki baat ho. Peechey se uske sar pe thapki pari to woh apne khayal se nikla aur peechey dekha.

"Oye shayar konsi nakaam muhabbat ka shair bana raha he ab?"

Uske jitne hi kad kaath ka magar usse ziyada saifad rangat ka wardi me malboos larka aa ke betha uske saath.

"Koi shayari nahi kar raha tujhe kya masla hai?"

"Mujhe kya masla hona hai kamre me gaya tu nazar nahi aaya to yahan aa gaya."

Usne koi jawaab nahi diya. Woh badal chuka tha. Kad 6 saal pehle se 4 inch lamba ho chuka tha aur jisamat bhi training ke natije me kafi achi ho chuki thi.

"Pichle 6 saal se dekh rha hoon tujhe Kabir yeh ek tasveer haath me pakre har raat bahir betha rehta hai."

"Har raat to nahi.."

Usne jese apni difaa me kaha jis pe Abbas has para.

"Hafte ki 7 me se 3,4 raaten kaafi hoti hain"

Woh has ke bola to Kabir ne ek nazar use dekha aur sar jhatka.

"Kuch log chahte hue bhi nahi bhoolte."

"Jab itna waqt guzre to bhool bhi jaate hain magar tere case me tu bhoolna hi nahi chahta."

Kabir ne tasveer ko ek aur dafa dekha jazbaat ubhre magar woh jazbaat ko zehen pe foukiyat dena kabhi seekh hi nahi paaya tha.

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"Miraal aa bhi jao!"

"Aa rahi hoon ruk jao!"

Woh bolti hui apna bag utha ke bahir bhaagi thi. Darwaze per chachi ko khara dekh ke woh ruki aur muskura ke salaam kiya.

"Assalamu Alaikum chachi"

"Walaikum assalaam beta kahan jaa rahe ho tum dono?"

"Bas movie dekhne jaa rahe hain shayad Shifa ko koi shopping bhi karni thi"

Usne kaha to uski chachi ne sar kham kiya woh aage barne lagi jab unho ne pucha.

"Acha to paise hain na tumhre paas?"

"Chachu aur Arib bhai pehle hi itna khayal karte hain aur aap bhi"

Usne gale lag ke kaha to uski chachi ne uska sar thapka aur kaha.

"Jao Shifa wait kar rahi hai"

Woh khuda hafiz kehti bahir nikal ayi thi. Wahan aye 6 saal beet chuke the aur us ghar ke logon ne use is tarah apna banaya tha jese woh shuru se wahin reh rahi thi. Chachi chachi ne use apni beti banaa liya tha aur Arib uske chachu ka beta jo ke usse 2 saal bara tha use apni choti behen ki tarah pyar karta tha. Woh job ke silsale me pichle ek saal se Manchester shift ho chuka tha uske bawajood woh Miraal ko har mah kuch pese bhijwata rehta aur jab woh mana karti to use yeh keh ke chup karwa deta ke bare bhaiyon ko naa nahi karte. Ya phir yeh kehta ke jab woh parhai mukammal kar le tab use ek bari si treat de de. Miraal chahte hue bhi use kuch na keh paati. Woh use pyaar se kehta to woh uske bhaiyon jese pyaar ko kese thukrati.

Woh to humesha se rishton ko tarsi hui thi use sab rishte wahan mil gaye the. Jo thori bohat talkhiyan thi uski zindagi me shazia mami ki soorat me woh bhi wahan aane ke baad khatam ho chuki thi magar phir bhi ek khalish si thi. Dil ab bhi jese kisi ka muntazir tha...

"Interview ki call ayi tumhe?"

Shifa ne ice cream khaate hue usse pucha to woh apni coffee ka ghoont bharti boli.

"Nahi abhi to nahi ayi. Tumhe aa gayi?"

Shifa ne ek maskhari si hasi hansi aur boli.

"Behen tumhe nahi aaya to mujhe kahan se aana tha tumse acha gpa nahi tha mera"

Usne kaha to usne sar jhatka.

"Khali gpa thori dekhte hain tum jese nakhrile log achey lagte hon shayad"

Woh use cherti hui boli to Shifa ne uske baazu pe ek thappar maara.

"Ek to tum bakwas karti ho upar se ice cream ki jagah coffee peeti ho kab peena band karo gi tum coffe aur mere saath ice cream khao gi"

Usne kaha to Miraal ke tassuraat badle. Muskurahat dheemi pari. Woh kya batati ice cream kisi ki yaad dilati thi use aur woh yaaden ise hila kar rakh deti.

"Mujhe pasand nahi hai meri maa jaan choro"

Usne kaha aur uth khari hui. Shifa apni corn pakrre uske peechey bhaagi thi.

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Ghar ponchne ke baad chacha chachi ke saath raat ka khana khaya aur woh apne kamre me wapis aa gayi. Phone ke bajne pe usne phone ki screen ko dekha aur uspe namudaar hote naam ko dekh ke muskura di aur phone kaan se lagaya.

"Assalamu alaikum!"

Muskura ke kaha to jawaab bhi khush awaaz me aaya.

"Walaikum assalam churail"

"Kese ho?"

"Main theek hoon tum kesi ho?"

"Main bhi theek aaj itne din baad meri yaad kahan se aa gayi?"

Usne kaha to Saif ne has ke jawaab diya.

"Main thori bhula hoon pardesi to tum ho gayi ho! Upar se itne saalo se apni shakal bhi nahi dikhayi"

Usne shikwa kiya tha. Woh jab se wahan ayi thi uske baad ek dfa bhi wapis pakistan nahi jaa sakti thi. Ya phir shayad usne koshish hi nahi ki thi. Arib use do teen baar puch chuka tha magar apni parhai ka keh ke woh nahi jaati rahi thi.

"Bas kya karun parhai aur har cheez ne phasa ke rakha hua tha"

"Acha to ab to parhai bhi khatam ho gayi hai aur meri shadi bhi teh ho gayi hai"

Usne kaha to woh khushi bari herat se boli.

"Date tay ho gayi?!"

"Haan!"

"Mubaraak dulhe miya!"

"Mubarak aa ke dena"

"Saif aana to mushkil ho jae ga mera.."

"Miraal ki bachi main tumhar sar phaar dun ga agar nayi ayi. Ticket ka masla hai to main bhijwa dun ga magar aana hai tumhe! Kabir bhi nahi aa raha ab tum bhi yeh karo gi to main shadi hi aage karwa dun ga"

Uske kehne pe woh thitak gayi thi. Agar woh nahi aa raha tha to...

"Woh..woh kyu nahi aa raha?"

"Usse khud kyun anhi puchti tum?"

Woh khanosh thi. Kya kehti use.

"Main janata hoon Miraal kuch hua tha tum dono ke beech magar aise konse shikwe shikayaat thi jinho ne tum dono ko alag kar diya?"

Woh phir khamosh thi.

"Ek baat jaanta hoon main...in 6 saalon me aur kuch hua ho ya na hua ho..maine apne dost zaroor kho diye hain Kabir to phir kuch mahino baad milta he magar tum..?"

"Saif main..."

"Jo bhi hai Miraal Kabir nahi ho ga shadi pe use chutti nahi mil saki aur ab tum kya chahti ho main nahi jaanta..khuda hafiz"

Call kat chuki thi aur woh shayad ek aur apne ko naraaz kar chuki thi. Sar ko haath me diya aur gehr saans leti woh wahin bed pe lait gayi. Ankhe num huin thi aur nami gaal se hoti bistar pe jaa giri thi.

Zid thi ya bebasi jo bhu thi use takleef ke siwa kuch de rahi thi.

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6 saal me zahiri tor pe Asiya pe khaas koi frak nahi parha tha magar woh ab bohat udaas rehne lagi thi. Bhabi ki talkhi aur bhai ki betalluki ne dil uchaat kar diya tha. Ek Saif tha ya phir kuch mahino baad aane wala Kabir jo use dubara jee uthne ki himmat dete the. Lekin phir bhi kuch kami si thi. Jo 6 saal pehle gayi hui Miraal ke saath shuru hui thi.

Woh us shaam bhi apne kamre me tanha bethi apni zindagi ke baare me soch rahi thi. Aur har ek soch udaasi ko bara rahi thi jab kaano me woh awaaz gunji jise sunne ke liye woh taras chuki thi.

"Khala?"

Woh herat se sar tak na utha saki aur jab uthaya to beyaqeeni se dekh ti reh gayi. Woh chalti hui aage ayi aur bed pe bethi Asiya ke gaalo ko chuma.

"Meri bachi...! Miraal"

Woh yak dam apne ubharte jazbato ko rouk na payi aur use gale se laga liya. Uske gaal maatha sar choomti use pyar karti chali gayin. Miraal muskurahat liye bas unke pyaar ko mehsoos karti gayi. Usne bhi unhe itne saalo me bohat yaad kiya tha. Uski dusri maa thi woh jinho ne uske zindagi ke ehem saalo me use maa ki kami mehsoos nahi hone di thi.

Kuch der baad woh jab apne ansu saaf karti khud ko sambhal chuki to Miraal ko apni goud me litae uske baalo ko sehlati rahi.

"Yaad bhi nahi ayi na meri"

"Yeh ho sakta tha bhala?"

"Isi liye 6 saal shakal nahi dikhayi?"

"Dikhati to thi! Video call me"

Usne kaha to Asiya ne uske sar ko maarne aale andaaz me thapka.

"Khush ho na?"

Unke sawaal pe woh ek lamhe ko ruki aur jese khud se pucha ke woh khush thi? Magar phir apne jawaab se pehle hi usne bari si muskurhat ke saath apni khala ko dekh ke jawaab diya.

"Haan khala khush hoon sab itne achey the chachi chachi Arib bhai mujhe to poori family mil gayi"

Woh boli thi.

"Haan magar mere to dono bachey hi mujhe chor gaye..!"

Dono ke naam pe use samjh nahi aaya kya kahe.

"Aap dono ka ho gaya ho to Miraal neechey chaloo baba bula rahe hain! Phupho aap bhi!"

Saif ki entry pe Miraal ne jese shukar adaa kiya tha. Woh uthi to Asiya ne namaaz par ke aane ka kaha aur un dono ko bhej diya. Woh dono kamre se bahir nikle aur rah dari se guzrte hue uske kamre ke samne uske pajr tham gaye.

"Kya hua?"

Siaf ne kaha. Miraal ne sar jhatka.

"Sab waisa hi hai kisi kamre ka kuch nahi badalne diya maine"

Saif ne use apni maa ka Miraal aur Kabir ke kamre ko guest room banane wali khuwaish ke baare me use nahi bataya tha. Woh jaanta tha woh hurt ho gi.

"Woh..woh kesa hai?"

Use apne sawaal pe khud yaqeen nahi hua tha magar najane kyun yahan wapis aate hi jese uske andar ki puraani Miraal jaag uthi thi.

"Waisa hi hai jesi tum ho"

Usne kaha to Miraal ne sar utha ke Saif ko dekha.

"Khud ko sahi dikhata hai magar andar se bechain aur bas ek hi naam ko yaad karta."

Uski baat pe woh sar jhuka ke aage bar gayi. Woh nahi sunna chahti thi kuch. Jo tha theek tha waise hi. Woh aisa sochne per jese majboor thi.

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Neechey jaa ke woh apne mamu se mili jo ke usi waqt office se aye the aur Miraal ke aane ka sun ke kaafi heran aur khush the. Magar dusri taraf unki biwi thi jo khaas khush nahi thi.

"To Miraal wapsi kab ki hai?"

Apni mami ki sawaal per usne chehra utha ke unhe dekha aur bamushkil muskura ke jawaab diya.

"Bas walime ke do din baad wapis chali jaun gi"

"Itni jaldi kya he beta itne saalo baad ayi ho araam se raho aur Kabir bhi shayad kuch hafto tak aa jae"

Mamu ki baat per usne jawaab diya.

"Nahi mamu maine job bhi apply ki hui he aage uska bhi kuch karna hai to itni der mushkil hai rehna"

"Musaddiq aur bhabi nahi aaye?"

"Woh aaen ge shadi ke ek din pehle..!"

Baaten usi tarah chalti rahi aur waqt guzarta gaya. Sab pehle jese hi tha magar wahan ki har cheez bas usi ki yaad dilaati thi. Aur Miraal ko bechain karti.

Do teen din yun hi shadi ki shopping wagaira me guzar gaye the. Maiyon se ek din pehle hi uske chachi aur chachu bhi Pakistan aa gaye the. Safeer ke bohat israar karne ke bawajood woh dono wahan rehne ko taiyar nahi hue the. Woh bouj na daal ne ka keh ke apne apartment me rahe the magar Miraal wahin rahi thi. Use Saif ke do teen taano ne hi ehsaas dilwa diya tha ke uska jaana phir use naraaz kar de ga.

Us din maiyon thi aur ghar me logon ka aana jaana bohat tha. Maiyon ka function mehendi ka function larka larki ka saath hi rakha gaya tha. Aur dono hi Saif ki ghar ki chat pe the.

"Miraal woh phool kahan hen? Jaldi upar lao!"

"Jee khala laayi!"

Woh ab tak taiyar bhi nahi hui thi aur kaamo me lagi thi.

"Shabbo jaa ke neechey dekho gajre aaye ke nahi! Nahi aaye to Shabeer bhai ko kaho! Larki wale aa jaen ge kich der me!"

Woh kehti hui seeriyon se bhaagti apne kamre me gayi thi. Bed pe pare apne kapre uthate woh bathroom me ghus gayi aur naha dho ke kapre tabdeel kar ke bahir aayi aur jaldi se baalo ko sukhane lagi. Baalo ko sukha ke chehre pe makeup karti woh taiyar hone lagi. Usne kaali choti kameez aur uske neechey shalwar pehni thi net ke hi kaale dupatte ke saath kameez dupatte aur shalwar sab pe hi bohat nafees halka halka kaam hua tha. Saada magar khubsoorat jora pehne woh beyhad khubsoorat lag rahi thi. Time nahi mila tha jis wajah se usne bas baalo ko chutiya kar ke ek kndhe pe daal diya tha. Kaano me jhumke pehne woh jaldi jaldi me bahir nikli thi.

Phone pe aati saif ki teesri call ko kaat ti hui jaldi woh bahir nikal rahi thi jab uski nazar samne nahi paru thi aur kisi mazboot kandhe se takra gayi. Tkrane ki wajah se woh girne lagi thi magar uski kamar me haath dala aur use girne se bacha liya gaya. Woh apni ankhe zor se band kar chuki thi. Jab khud ko girta na mehsoos kiya to usne ankho ko kholna chaha magar dil tham sa gaya tha.

Woh khushbu...

Usne dheere se ankho ko darte darte khola aur ankh ke khulte hi samne nazar aane wale chehre ne uski saanse puri tarah se rouk li thi. Woh uske samne tha. 6 saal baad Kabir Khan uske samne tha.

Badle hue chehre lambe kad aur chore seene ke saath. Woh hil na saki. Uski nazre bhi Miraal me gari hui thi is tarah jese koi khuwaab dekh raha ho. Woh badal chuki thi. Pehle se lambe baal aur kuch lamba hua kad magar ab bhi woh usse kaafi choti thi.

"Miraal! Miraal kahan ho!"

Door si aati awaaz pe dono chounk gaye the aur Miraal foran usse door hati. Do kadam seeriyon ke utri hi thi jab samne se aati Asiya ko dekh ke tham gayi.

"Allah Kabir tum kab aaye!!"

"Assalamu alaikum phupho"

Woh muskura ke apna bag wahin chore neechey gaya aur Asiya ke gale lag gaya. Uski awaaz bhi usne 6 saal baad suni thi aur woh tak badal chuki thi. Us 18 saala larke ki awaaz ab yaqeenan bhaari ho chuki thi. Jab woh uske saath se guzar ke gaya to usne pehli baar uski wardi ko dekha aur dekhti rahi. Alhur usne apna khuwaab pura kar hi liya tha.

"Maa sadkey maa waari mere dono bachey wapis aa gaye.. ab main khush hoon!"

Unho ne kaha aur Miraal ko apne paas bulaya. Miraal hichkichati hui neechey gayi thi. Asiya ne dono ko apne seene se laga liya to dono hi awkward si halat me wahan khare reh gaye.

"Khala chalen? Sab intezaar kar rahe hain"

Miraal ke kehne pe Asiya ne apne maathe pe haath maara.

"Oh haan main tumhe bulane ayi thi rasam shuru karni hai jaldi chalo aur Kabir jaldi taiyar ho ke aao neechey."

Kabir sar kham karta upar chala gaya. Upar jaate hue nazar usper uthi to woh idhar udhar dekhti bas isi koshish me thi ke use na dekhe.

Sab log Kabir ko dekh ke bohat heran magar khush the.

"Tu to keh raha tha aa nahi sakta?"

Saif ne use pucha.

"Bas last moment pe chutti mil gayi to main aa gaya"

"Bohat acha kiya beta"

Safeer ne uska kandha thapka tha.  Brown shalwar kameez pehne hue woh beyhad acha lag raha tha. Ek khush shakal nojawaan.

"Miraal tumhari bhi to itne saal baad mulakaat ho rahi hai Kabir se! Bachpan me to ek second alag nahi hote the yeh dono"

Safeer ne haste hue kaha tha. Baki rishtedaar aur jo bhi unhe jaan ne wale log aas paas the muskura pare bas un dono ke siwa. Un dono ki nazar yak dam mili thi aur ek dusre ki bugahon me tooti hui kuch purani yaaden dikhi aur dard ki leher si dhor gayi thi.

"Ab itne arse baad mile hain to baate to bohat hon gi!"

Miraal ke chachu ne kaha tha jis per Miraal bamushkil muskurai aur sar jhuka ke wahan se chali gayi. Un logon ko kya pata tha ke baate to bohat thi ehsaas to bohat the bataane wale magar shikwo ki aisi deewar beech thi ke chahte hue bhi koi kuch nahi keh paa raha tha.

"Tu ne mujhe bataya nahi"

Kabir ke saath aa ke Saif khara hua to Kabir ne dheere se kaha.

"Kis baare me?"

"Ke woh ayi hui he"

"Woh kon?"

Usne Saif ko ghoora.

"Fouji sahab mujhe ghoorna band karo mujhe pata hota tu aa raha hai to bata deta"

Usne kaha tha.

"Aur kab tak yeh khel khelna hai?"

"Konsa khel?"

"Anjaan na ban Kabir tum dono ke beech kuch hua tha aur shayad baron ko is baat ka andaza na bhi ho mujhe hai."

Kabir seedha dekh tha samne Saif ki khala zaat aur mamu zaat behne dance aur dholki bajane me masroof thi. Unke beech bhi uski nazre use dhoond rahi thi magar woh wahan nahi thi.

"Shayad ab use farak nahi parta."

Nazro ne use dhoonda jo dusre kone me khari taaliyan baja rahi thi.

"Kese keh sakta hai aisa?"

Saif ne uski nazro ke takkub me dekha. Miraal ke paas aa ke ek larka khara tha jo use kuch keh raha tha aur us per Miraal muskura di thi.

"Woh kon hai?"

Kabir ki awaaz pe uski nazre wapis Kabir pe ayi.

"Um..Kinza ka cousin hai Hamza"

Kabir ke tassuraat ko bagour dekhte hue usne bataya tha. Kabir sar kham karta khamosh raha. Saif ko wapis wahan bulaya gaya tha jahan Kinza uski mangetar bethi uska intezar kar rahi thi. Woh wahan wapis murta hua dil me hi soch ke muskuraya tha.

"Saale sahab ko to Allah hi bachaye"

Woh bohat achey se jaanta tha ke Kabir jo Miraal ke aas paas Saif ko na bardash kar paata tha woh kisi aur ko kaise karta. Woh jitni bhi koshish kar leta khud ko kaabu me rakhne ki yeh na mumkin tha aur Saif se behtar koi nahi jaanta tha is baat ko.

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Khaana lag chuka tha aur sab khaane me masroof the jab Shazia ke apna mobile kitchen me se laane ka kehne pe woh ghar ke andar ayi thi. Kitchen me jaa ke har daraaz kholne lagi. Peechey se aate shaks pe uska dihaan nahi gaya tha. Woh phone pakar ke muri to yak dam ruk gayi. Fridge me se kheer ka bowl nikaalta Kabir uski taraf pusht kiye hue tha. Woh wahan se nikal ne lagi thi jab uski nazar us per pari.

Woh chamche ke saath kheer bowl me se hi khaa ne laga tha.

Woh aage bari thi aur uske haath se kheer ka bowl aur chamcha pakar liya tha. Woh use herat phir sawaaliya nigahon se dekhta raha.

"Badaam aur pista crush kar ke dale hue hen."

Woh bolti hui bowl pe rap wapis charah rahi to Kabir ko jese samjh aaya. Use ab bhi yaad tha. Kabir badaam pista nahi khaata tha. Use allergy to nahi thi magar khaa ke uski tabiyat kharab ho jaati aksar.

"Ab khaa leta hoon"

Uski baat pe woh kuch na boli.

"Ab samjh gaya hoon ke zindagi me jo ho uski aadat daalni chahiye kyun ke jo dil ke kareeb ho woh aksar aap ke paas humesha ke liye nahi hota"

Uski baat per usne nazre utha ke use dekha. Ranjishen nigahon ki is kadar thi ke dono ko khud samjh na aaya kab woh us had tak aa gaye.

'Kis kis ko bataen ge judai ka sabab hum...rasmo rahi duniya hi nibhane ke liye aa...ranjish hi sahi dil hi sahi dukhane ke liye aa...'

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