5. دوست

"Assalamu alaikum bhai"

"Walaikum assalaam! Bhool gayi na mujhe churail!"

"Pehli baat to yeh ke main churail nahi hoon aur dusri yeh ke apne bhai ko kese bhool sakti hoon?!"

"Acha to ab tak nahi bataya kesi rahi shadi aur sab se mulkaat?"

"Sab acha raha sab se kaafi der baad mili hun to thora sa adjust hone me waqt laga magar acha raha. Khala aur mamu ko bohat miss kiya maine aur Saif to shadi ke liye itna excited tha ke aap dekhte to has parte."

Woh khushi se batati gayi aur Arib uski baat sunta raha.

"Aur tumhara dusra cousin kaisa he? Kya naam tha uska...Kabir!"

"Um..theek hai woh bhi"

"Yeh theek hai kuch ziyada achey wala theek kyun nahi lag raha mujhe?"

Usne uski baat pe sar jhukaya aur has pari. Arib ki ek baat use humesha heran karti thi aur yeh uski awaaz lehja aur tassuraat ko bohat achey se pehchan ne wali selahiyat thi. Woh use aksar kaha karti thi ke use apni job chor ke therapist ya psychiatrist banna chahiye.

"Nahi sach me theek hai bas pehle jesi dosti nahi rahi thi aur waqt lag raha he sab sort out karne me."

Usne kaafi had tak sach bola jis pe Arib bhi kaafi had tak mutmaeen ho gaya.

"Miraal mujhe baba ne kisi proposal ka bataya he"

Woh khamosh rahi thi us zikar pe.

"Tumhari kya raaye he?"

"Mujhe nahi pata bhai..aap bataen aap ko kya sahi lagta hai?"

Woh use apne sage bhaiyon se bhar ke maanti thi aur woh un ek do logon me se tha jinke faislon pe use andha bharosa tha.

"Dekho Miraal main Hamza se nahi mila magar baba ke kehne pe maine uske baare me thori puch taach kar wayi he aur jahan tak mujhe lagta hai he is a decent guy with a bright future. Achi salary achi shakal surat hai aur jahan tak suna hai ek acha insaan bhi lag raha hai. Tumhare bhai ke tor pe maine apni tasalli kar ke hi yeh baat tum tak ponchne di hai. Ab tum kya chahti ho yeh tum hi bata sakti ho haina bachey?"

Woh bola to woh gehri soch me par gayi.

"Bhai...mujhe lag raha hai main..."

"Koi jaldi nahi hai socho tum Miraal. Bas yaad rakho tumse koi zabardasti karne ka soch bhi nahi sakta tumhare bhai ke hote hue samjhi? Nahi dil maanta to nahi ho ga. Jab tak tum taiyar nahi ho jaati aisi koi baat bhi nahi ho gi."

"Thank you bhai"

"Chalo apna khayal rakho"

Call rakhne ke baad woh wahin chat pe bethi asmaan ko takti rahi jab ushe chat ka darwaza khulta mehsoos hua aur usne mur ke dekha. Woh chalta hua uske paas aaya aur zameen pe uske saath beth gaya. Haath me pakre bag ko uski taraf kiya to usne bhawen uchka ke sawaaliya nazro se use dekha.

"Kya? Khol ke dekho koi bomb nahi hai"

Usne kaha to usne andar dekha aur honto pe muskurahat ubhri.

Andar se shawarma nikaala aur ice cream. Uski ankho ki chamak dekh ke Kabir bhi use dekhta hua muskura diya.

"Yeh tumhari purani khush fehmi hai"

"Kesi khush fehmi?"

"Ke main shawarma aur ice cream se maan jaun gi"

Woh shawarma kholti hui boli to baalo me haath pherta hua woh bola.

"But it always works"

Uski maanikhez muskurahat dekh ke woh use ghoorti rahi phir sar jhatak diya aur hasi na rouk paayi.

Uska qehqa hawaa me goonja aur Use dekh ke muskuraata Kabir bas use dekhta reh gaya.

"Bohat miss kiya maine"

"Kise?"

"Ice cream aur shawarma ko"

Usne kaha to uski ankho me dekh ke woh bola.

"Kyun wahan nahi milti thi ice cream?"

"Milti to thi magar achi nahi lagti thi"

Woh use bagour dekhta raha.

"Kyun itni buri thi kya?"

"Ice cream buri nahi thi bas uske saath aati yaaden dil dukhati thi"

Miraal ne apni nazre uski taraf mori.

"To kya tumne khayi hi nahi itne saal?"

Uske sawaal pe Miraal khamoshi se uske chehre ko takti rahi. Kabir ko beyhad herat hui thi. Aur dil dukha tha. Itne saalo me agar woh apni kisi kamiyabi aur khushion ko nahimana paya tha usi tarah Miraal bhi uske bagair bohat si cheezo se door ho gayi thi. Anaa aur zid ki jang me khasara dono ka hua tha.

"Ab shuru ho jao Kabir Khan 6 saal ka ek ek din beth ke batana hai bohat waqt lage ga"

Miraal ki chamakti muskurahat ko dekh ke woh use dekhta dekhta zehre lab muskura diya.

"Kahan se shuru karun?"

"Jahan se sab chuta tha"

"Jis din mujhe pata chala tha ke mera naam select ho gaya he us din main tumhe batane aa raha tha jab maine..khair bata nahi saka"

"Tumne kya? Baat puri karo"

Woh boli to woh kuch taz bazad hota baalo me haath pherta bola.

"Main..maine tumhe Saif ke saath aate dekha aur main bas pata nahi kyun gusse me aa gaya aur tumhe batane ke bajae sab ke samne elaan kar diya"

"Saif ke saath aane se..?"

Kuch sharminda sa usne sar kham kiya.

"Socho jo larka tumhe kisi aur ke saath dekh ke pagal ho jae woh is khayal se kitni baar marta ho ga ke tumhe koi aur humesha ke liye apna bana le ga..."

Woh sar jhukae bolta gaya Miraal use tuk tuk dekhti rahi.

"Tum jaanti ho main apne jazbaat apni feelings kisi ko nahi bata sakta main is maamle me bohat acha nahi hun tab bhi nahi bata saka aur aaj tak samjh nahi aati ke kese bataun. Magar tum Miraal Hussain mere jeene ki wajah bani thi un khoufnaak lamho me tumne mere kandhe pe haath rakha tha jab main khud is zindagi se tang aa gaya tha jab kuch nazar nahi aaya tha...aur jab koi aap ke jeene ki wajah ban jae to uske bagair rehna nahi aata phir..."

Miraal ko kuch samjh na aayi woh kya kahe bas dil bhar aaya tha. Bas yeh maloom ho gaya tha ke aisa nahi tha ke Kabir Khan ki zindagi me Miraal Hussain ki ehmiyat nahi thi. Bas masla hi yehi tha ke woh uske liye kuch ziyada ehem thi jis wajah se yeh sab dooriyan aa gayi thi.

"Tumhe nahi lagta agar tab tum naa bhaagte apne jazbaat se to yeh 6 saal na aate humare beech?"

"Kya farak parna tha Miraal jazbaat ek nahi the doori to aani hi thi..."

Woh khamosh reh gayi thi aur usne aage kuch poocha bhi na tha. Khamoshi me bohat se jawaab mil gaye the.

___________

"Shazia bachey kahan he?"

Safeer ne apni biwi se pucha to usne Dining table ki taraf aate Saif aur Kinza ko dekh ke muskura ke kaha.

"Yeh aagaye"

"Main Kabir aur Miraal ka puch raha hun"

Shazia ke chehre ki muskuraha gayab hui.

"Mujhe kya pata Asiya se puchen"

Uska lehja Safeer ko pasand to na aaya tha magar bahu ko samne dekh ke kuch na bola.

"Bhai main dekh ke aati hun dono ko"

Asiya uthi to Saif ne rouka.

"Phupho aap ruke main dekhta hun bethe aap"

Usne kaha aur upar jaane laga to Kinza use sawali nazro se dekhti rahi jese jaan na chah rahi ho ke woh kya kare. Jawaaban Saif ne uska haath thaama aur use saath le gaya. Woh sharmati sar jhukae uske saath chalti gayi.

"Yeh kahan chala gaya."

Saif ne Kabir ke kamre me dekhte hue kaha to Kinza bhi peechey se aayi.

"Miraal ka kamra bhi khali hai"

Dono ne heran ho ke dekha. Aur sochne lage.

"Call karo na Saif"

"Kese karun phone Kabir ka yahan he"

"Miraal ka?"

Usne Miraal ka milaya aur kamre se nikal ke aas paas dekhne laga.

Dono chalte chalte upar ki taraf chalte gaye. Jab chat tak ponche aur Miraal ke phone ki awaaz aayi to woh dono ek dusre ko dekh ke bhawen uchka ke upar aa gaye. Chat ka darwaza khula aur aage bare to dekh ke dono dekhte reh gaye aur Kinza ke mu se besakhta "aww" nikla tha.

Dono deewar ke saath lage bethe the aur Miraal ka sar Kabir ke kandhe pe gira hua tha. Dono itne pursakoon nazar aa rahe the jese zindagi kabhi isse behtar ho hi nahi sakti thi.

"Oye Laila majnu uth jao baba ammi ya phupho aa gaye to sari film yahin ban jaani hai"

Woh Kabir ko hilata bola. Kabir ne dheere se ankhe kholi.

"Kya masla hai?"

"Yeh lo"

Usne Kinza ko dekh ke kaha to woh hasti chali gayi.

"Kuch nahi beta lage raho tum shadi meri hui he aur romance inka chal raha he chalo Kinza"

Woh Kinza ko le ke jaane laga magar Kinza ne uska haath pakar ke rouka.

"Saif..! Acha nahi lagta..!"

"Inhe bohat acha lag raha he?"

Saif ne kaha aur is dafa Kabir ke saath betha aur dusre kandhe pe sar rakh diya Kabir ki ankh ek dam khuli.

"Yeh kya kar raha he door hat"

Woh hatata bola todusre kandhe pe sar rakhi Miraal ki bhi ankh khuli aur samne muskurati Kinza ko dekh ke uchal ke Kabir se door hui.

"Mujhe laga shayad sab cousins ke liye khaas service hai sone ke liye kandha dene ki"

Saif ne shararat bhare andaz me kaha to woh dono sharminda se sar jhukae reh gaye aur Kinza apne shohar ki baat pe khilkhila ke has pari.

"B..bakwas band kar"

Woh kehta hua uth khara hua.

"Humari baate to bakwas hi lagen gi"

Saif ne ankhe jhapkate hue kaha.

"Waise i have to say you guys are so cute!!"

Kinza boli to Kabir aur Miraal ki nazre mili aur Kabir neechey ko chal para. Aur uske peechey Miraal bhi.

"In dono ka kuch chal raha hai na?"

Kinza ne Saif ko dekh ke pucha.

"Bachpan se chal raha hai magar yeh sab pehle nahi dekha"

Usne kaha aur khud muskura para. Aur dono bhi unki harkato pe haste hue neechey chale gaye.

_________

"Phir aaj raat ka kya program hai?"

Nashte ke baad woh sab lounge me bethe hue the Asiya kitchen me jaa chuki thi aur Shazia aur Safeer apne kamre me woh chaaro wahan bethe hue baato me masroof the.

"Kuch bhi nahi soch rahi thi chachi  chachu ke paas chali jaun"

Miraal ne Chai peete hue kaha.

"Chalo phir call kar ke unhe keh do ke kuch din baad aao gi"

Saif ne kaha.

"Kyun kahun gi main yeh?"

"Kyun ke aaj Kabir ne hume khaane pe le kar jaana hai aur tum humare saath chalo gi"

Kinza thi jisne jawaaban kaha to Miraal ne use dekha jo use hi dekh raha tha.

"Kyun le ke jao ge mujhe? Dawat to di nahi"

Miraal ne kaha to woh zehre lab muskura ke bola.

"Mujhe nahi pata tha invitation ki zaroorat he tumhe muft ka khana sun ke to aa hi jao gi"

Miraal ne utha ke paas para cushion mara jise usne catch kar liya.

"Waise itni jaldi kya thi tumhe?"

Saif ne pucha.

"Chuttiyan khatam ho rahi hain wapis jaana hai kal"

Usne kaha to samne bethi uska chehra kuch bujh sa gaya.

"Itni jaldi?"

"10 din ki chuttiyan thi jaana ho ga ab"

"Mujhe Saif bohat batata tha aap ke baare me ke aap air-force me hain aur bohat passionate hain apne kaam ko le ke"

"Kuch cheezen aap ke liye bohat mayine rakhti hain mera kaam is liye bhi ehem hai mere liye kyun ke isse main apne mulk ki apne logon ki hifazat karta hun"

Uski ankho me wk alag chamak thi apne kaam ke baare me baat karte hue. Woh apne mulk ke paasbaano me se ek tha aur use fakhar tha is baat pe. Aur shayad uska woh fakhar aaj Miraal ko bhi uspe fakhar karne pe majboor kar chuka tha.

_________

Woh dono raat ko dinner ke baad ghar wapis jaa rahe the. Dinner ke waqt hasi mazaaq aur baato ke saath un sab ne bohat enjoy kiya tha. Woh yaqeenan keh sakte the ke Kinza Saif ke liye ek perfect larki thi. Woh un dono ke saath bhi aise dosti kar chuki thi jese humesha se unki dost hi ho.

"Khamosh kyun ho itni?"

Unhe restaurant se nikle bohat waqt ho chuka tha aur Miraal tab se khamosh thi.

"Waise hi"

"Kinza achi larki hai haina?"

"Hmm"

Woh bahir dekhte hue bas thora sa boli. Kabir use dekh ke bas nasamj sa betha reh gaya. Woh kuch der pehle tak bilkul theek thi najane ab kya hua tha.

"Kabir...?"

"Haan?"

"Tumhe...tumhe..main kya har din yaad aati thi in 6 saalo me?"

Woh uske sawaal me use dekhe bagair dheere se muskuraya aur dheere se use dekha ek nazar.

"Bhoolti kab thi?"

"Kyun?"

"Jawaab jaanti ho tum"

Woh bola.

"Aur zubaan se kehta hun to har lamha aise lagta hai jese dil me koi khanjar utaar raha ho kyun ke jaanta hun tum aisa mehsoos nahi karti."

"Kese jaante ho?"

Woh is baar uski ankho me dekh ke boli thi.

"To kya karti ho?"

Usne chehra mora to is baar Kabir haath uske gaal pe narmi se aaya aur uska chehra wapis uski taraf mora.

"Meri taraf dekh ke jawaab do Miraal"

Uski ankho me nami ubhri aur woh dheere se boli.

"Tum dubara mujhe tor do ge..aur main ab nahi toot sakti.."

Woh ghar ke bahir ponch chuke the. Woh dono bas ek dusre ki ankho me dekhte reh gaye.

"Shayad...shayad sahi keh rahi ho tum...har muhabbat ka safar mukammal nahi hota har kisi ko sab kuch nahi milta.."

Woh bola to ankho ki nami najane kab ankho se gaal ka safar teh kar chuki thi.

Is baar zid nahi thi is baar unke beech khouf ki deewar hayal thi. Ek ko dil tootne ka khouf tha to dusre ko torne ka.

Dono bewakuf the. Dono dil ke toot jaane se drte the.

_________

Almari ko saaf karte hue Asiya ke samne woh ek envelop aa gira jise dekh ke ek lamhe ko woh sochti reh gayi ke usme kya tha? Phir use ek dam jese yaad aaaya tha aur usne envelop ko uthaya aur andar khol ke un do kagazon ko nikal.

Purani bohat se zakham kurede gaye the. Saalo pehle diye jaane wale dhoke ka nateeja tha un kagazo per. Uske shohar hi bewafai ke kisse the ek kagaz per to dusre pe uske shohar ke kiye gaye talaaq ke kagazaat pe dastakhat. Un do kagazaat ne Asiya ki zindagi kis tarah badli thi woh aaj tak nahi seekh paayi thi unhe lafzo se bayaan karna.

"Phupho?"

Awaaz sunayi dene per usne jaldi se dono kagazaat ko wapis almari me ghusaya aur almari band ki.

"Idhar hun Kabir"

Kabir wardi me chalta hua Asiya ke paas aaya.

"Main aap ko dhoond raha tha."

"Haan main bas almari sahi kar rahu thi. Jaa rahe ho?"

Asiya ne nojawaan bhatije ko dekha ankho me jese khud ba khud pyaar utar aaya aur kuch lamho pehle ki nami gayab hui.

"Jee. Magar agli baar aap ko saath le kar jaun ga ab bohat ho gaya okay?"

Usne narmi se kaha. Bilkul usi tarah jis tarah koi bacha maa se zid karta hai.

"Main to aa hi jaun gi filhal soch rahi hun tumhe ghar mil gaya he ab larki dekh lun tumhare liye"

Unki baat pe uske chehre pe kuch udaasi aayi.

"Kyun shaadi nahi karni? Mujhe dadi banne ka koi mouka nahi dena kya?"

Unho ne use cherte hue kaha to woh sar jhatak ke has para.

"Mera aisa koi iraada nahi hai phupho shadi wadi rehne den"

"Haan tumne keh diya aur maine maan liya! Chalo shabash abhi bata do koi pasand hai to kyun ke main to dhoondu gi hi dhoondu gi tum kuch bhi keh lo"

Unho ne kaha to woh bas khamosh ho gaya.

"Waise hai ek larki meri nazar me"

"Aap larkiyan dekhne bhi kag gayi?"

"Humesha se dimaag me tha"

Humesha se sun kar woh chonka aur apni phupho ki bagour dekha.

"Miraal ke liye baat karun uske chachu se?"

Woh unke kehne per chonk sagaya phir zehre lab muskura kar bola.

"Uska rishta aaya hua he already aur uske chachu se ziyada uska jawaab jaanen woh mujhe pasand nahi karti"

"Tum to humesha se karte ho"

Woh unki saafgoyi pe heran hua aur unhe dekhta raha.

"Tumhe paala hai maine beta itne saalo me tumhari ankhe parna aa gayin hen aur uski bhi"

Asiya ke jawaab par woh khamosh ho gaya.

"Woh nahi muhabbat karti phupho 6 saal pehle bhi woh ziddi thi hum sab ko chor ke chali gayi zidd me aaj bhi woh apni baat pe usi tarah ari hui he"

"Kabir...6 saal pehle bhi woh khud nahi gayi thi woh mana kar chuki ghi jaane se. Shazia Bhabi ne majboor kiya tha use. Bohat talkh baate ki thi usse jiske baad woh yahan se gayi thi...usne kisi ko nahi bataya tha yahan tak ke mujhe bhi nahi. Mujhe baad me pata chala aur woh tab tak jaa chuki thi aur main itni mazboot aur khudmukhtaar nahi thi ke use roukti ya yahan se le kar chali jaati use.."

Unki awaaz me pachtawa tha.

"Naraazgi door ho jaati hai bachey magar dooriyan beech me sadiyan hayal kar deti hain aur unhe khatam karte karte insaan khatam ho jata hai magar ranjishen naui khatam hoti dubara mat doori aane dena apne aur uske beech Kabir"

"Maan jae gi?"

Asiya ne muskura ke sar kham kiya.

"Pehle kabhi hua tha ke woh nahi maani tumse?"

Woh muskura diya tha.

"Abjaun main?"

Usne muskura ke kaha to Asiya ne sar kham kiya uska sar neechey kar ke uska maatha chuma.

"Allah apni hifazat me rakhe mere bachey ko."

Unki dua sunke jese Kabir ke dil ko humesha wala sakoon mila aur woh unhe apna khayal rakhne ka keh ke wahn se nikal aaya.

Shazia subha se ghar pe na thi aur taya abba se woh subha nashte ki table pe hi mil chuka tha. Ab Saif aur Kinza se mil raha tha jab nazar un dono ke peechey ghar ke darwaze pe dhori.

Najane kyun yeh ankhe humara saath nahi deti? Humesha ek hi shaks ke peechey is tarah dhorti hain jese uske ilawa kuch maine na rakhta ho.

"Apna khayal rakhna!"

"Tum bhi aur bhabi ko achi jagah bhi le jaana kahin kanjoos aadmi"

Woh Saif ko bola to Saif use ghoor ke phir khudi has para. Kinza saath me khari muskura pari.

"Miraal kahan he waise milne nahi aayi?"

Kinza ne kaha to Saif bhi use dekhne laga.

"Haan pata nahi kahan he subha se nahi dekha use."

Kabir ko najane kyun aisa mehsoos hua ke woh wahn nahi thi phir bhi woh use mehsoos kar paa raha tha. Aur jab uski ankhe upar khirki ki taraf pari to samjh aa gaya. Nazre mili thi aur Miraal ki soojhi ankho ne Kabir ka dil jakra tha.

"Mil liya usse"

Woh bola to dono Kinza aur Saif ka dihaan us per gaya. Kabir ka chehra bhi wapis un dono ki taraf hua tha. Najane agar aur ek lamha bhi use is tarah dekhta rehta to woh kya kar bethta.

Is dafa woh apne jazbaat se nahi bhaag raha tha. Is dafa woh Miraal se nahi bhaag raha tha is dafa woh thi jo bhaag rahi thi aur woh use kahin jaane dene wala nahi tha. Is baar nahi.

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Assalamu alaikum!

I know its been long! I wasn just not feeling like writing anything recently but here is a quick update!

Don't forget to vote and comments y'all!

Lots of love<3