Wo uljhe hue dimaag ke sath kuch dair tak Mrs. Shirazi ke paas baithi rahi thi, phir lawn mein tehlne chali gayi. Uske baad usne library ka rukh kiya aur books ki setting badal di. Shower le kar kuch dair tak aaram kiya aur jab uthi toh dimaag halka tha.
Wo har tarah ke negative khayalat ko baar baar jhaykti, apni tawajjo wapas apni haali life ki taraf le aayi. Usay Faris ki narazgi ka khayal aaya, dheere se muskurayi aur naye siray se kuch socha. Yaad aaya gift lena tha, aur card pe likhna bhi. Shayad ye doori is liye bhi thi kyunki abhi tak usne us se koi baat nahi ki thi, na jazbaat ka izhaar kiya tha, na ehsaasat.
Usne socha aur faisla kar liya. Mrs. Shirazi se ijazat lekar mall chali gayi. Aaj aram aur tasalli se baat karegi. Ab tak agar usne gila shikwa nahi kiya, toh wo usse mauqa degi, uski sune gi aur apni bhi sunayegi.
Wo Rayyan ke liye shopping kar rahi thi. Kapde, khilone uthate hue muskurayi. Kuch tasaveer Mrs. Shirazi ko bheji aur unki rai li.
Aur tabhi Faris ki call aayi thi.
"Uff.." ghabra ke foran se call receive ki. "Hello!"
"Kahan ho tum?"
"Main? Wo... main shopping ke liye aayi hoon."
"Kis floor par ho?" Goya jaanta tha driver use kahan chhod kar gaya hai.
Usne mobile screen ko surprise se dekha. Kya wo yahan aa gaya hai? Foran se apni location bata di, phir aisay hi tehalte huay kapray dekhne lagi. Dil shiddat se dhadak raha tha. Dant padne wali hai, kyunke bina bataye kyun chali aayi.
"Bahut khush Nazar aa rahi ho tum? Aana bhi chahiye, kyunke ehsaas e sharmindgi naam ki koi cheez tum mein hai bhi to nahi."
Uske haath mein 15 mahine ke bache ka dress tak chhut gaya. Wo Burhan Wasif ko itna kareeb dekh kar, uski awaaz sun kar aur uski aankhon mein utarne tak behtarha se gadbadyi thi.
Dabe qadam peeche hote huay usne apne kapkapate haathon ko bhinch liya tha. Wo aankhon mein gusse ki surkhi liye, lab bhich kar ke usay dekh raha tha, jaise bohot bara sabr ka imtihan de raha ho.
"Main ne tumhein kisi cheez ki kami hone di? Aur tum ne kya kiya?"
Wo aankhon mein wehsat liye, bhari saanson ke saath usay dekh rahi thi. Uski himmat kaise hui thi baat karne ki? Rastay rokne ki? Mudi aur jaane lagi toh usne rasta rok liya.
"Baat kar raha hoon tumse!"
"Burhan!" Shopping bag haath mein liye Maheen foran se aa gayi thi. Jalan ki aag mein...
"Ap bhi kisi ladki ke munh lag rahe hain jise apni maa ki izzat ka lihaaz nahi tha usse aap baat hi kyun kar rahe hai"
Jannat ki tar aankhon mein Maheen ka aks ubhra. Wo apni jagah munjamid ho kar khadi thi. Uske andar ka ghussa, nafrat aur gham ka toofan bas aankhon aur chehre par zahir ho raha tha. Magar wo khamosh thi.
Wo cheekhna chahti thi, magar cheekh nahi paa rahi thi. Kuch kehna chahti thi, magar bol nahi paa rahi thi. Burhan aur Maheen!
"Burhan, yahan se chale!"
"Tumhari mohabbat ke sare daway jhoote the. Tum maafi mang sakti thi mujhse. Tum Keh sakti thi ghalti ho gayi. Lekin tumne kya kiya? Is lifestyle ke liye sare tamashay kiye. Apni maa ka bhi khayal nahi kiya, apne nana ki tarbiyat...."
Burhan Wasif... wo kar kya raha tha, keh kya raha tha?
Baat maa ki thi. Zikar nana ka tha. Uske kirdar, gunahon aur ghaltiyon ka tha.
Usne ghar, sheher, khandan sab chor diya tha. Lekin wo log apni zubano se uska zikar nahi chhod sake. Wo shakhs jiska chehra wo kabhi nahi dekhna chahti thi, jiska tasavvur hamesha us par pahad ban kar tut-ta tha , jiski mohabbat ka khayal usay wehshatnaak andhero mein duba deta tha, wohi shakhs uske samne khada tha. Bhaut kuch keh raha tha.
Aur wo khadi thi. Wo isay kehne de rahi thi. biwi ban kar bhi usne sab khamoshi se suna tha. aur ab biwi na ho kar aik baar phir wahi kar rahi thi. Dar aur khauf ke saath, sar jhuka kar sab tasleem karne ki aadat phir se sar uthaa rahi thi.
Faris Wajdan ki nigah door se us par padi thi... aur uske sath khade us shakhs par bhi jise wo dekh rahi thi. Mobile jeb mein rakhte hi wo jaldi mein kadam uthata aage barh gaya tha.
"Tumse mohabbat aur shadi... meri zindagi ki sabse bari ghalti thi."
Baat maa aur nana ki tarbiyat ki thi, baat kirdar ki thi, aur us ilzam ki bhi jo uspar lagaya gaya tha. Pura khel Maheen Abdul Kareem ka rachaya hua tha. Poora planning uski thi.
uske aas paas logon ki aamad-o-raft, mehnge malboosat ko dekhti khawateen, counter par cashier machin ki typing, tiles par ghusti trolley ka shor, sab madham padhne laga. Har aik shey tariki ka hissa ho gayi. Maheen ka wajood bhi adam ho gaya. Agar roshni kahin thi, toh wo sirf Burhan Wasif ke wajood par pad rahi thi.
Sadhe paanch saal ka aitmaad mahej chand mahino mein khak hua tha. Jo kirdar saadhe paanch saal tak izzat ki zeenat bana raha tha, wohi kirdar Burhan Wasif ki aankhon mein dhool matti hua tha. Koi shey salo se mazboot rehne ke baad, ek halki se jhatke se tooti thi. Aur wo aj bhi wahi tha, usi maqam par, us guman me usi khushfehmi aur khayal mein ki mujrim wohi thi, Har saza, har azab, har musibat ka haqdar bhi wohi.
Woh uske ghar mein tha, uspar cheekh raha tha, wo uspar chilla raha tha. Wo khato ko uske munh par maar raha tha. Wo phool bouquet aur card phad kar wo usay sawal kar raha tha.
Wo jamod jo uspar tari tha, us jamud par ek daraar si padi. Usne bahut arse tak sab kuch Khamoshi se saha tha, ab nahi seh saki thi. Usne ekdam se kuwwat pakdi aur pure jor se Burhan Wasif ke gaal par thappad jhad diya.
Maheen ne ekdam se munh par haath rakha. Bhare Khandan me rushwa karke talaq di thi jisne usne gardan morkar sadme se gung, uski taraf dekha, ujalat me kadam uthakar uski taraf bhadte Faris Wajdan ke kadmo ki harkat tham gayi. Madham se shor me thappad ki awaz to kahi dab gayi thi. Magar paas me khade chand auk log uske tarf mutwajjah jarur huye the. Jannat ne apna kapkpata hath neeche kar liya. Uski sanse chari huyi thi, uski rago me angaro ke dhuwe udh rahe the, uske aansu jane kyu palko ki bandh par atke gham par tehre reh gaye the, woh jitni mazbooti dikha sakti thi usne dikha di, uska pura wajood tufano ki zadd me lag raha tha. Magar woh khadi thi woh Datt kar aur sar uthaye , us insan ke samne khadi thi jo uski zindagi ki tabahi ka sabab bana tha.
Pehla mard, zindagi me aane wala pehla rishta, pehli mohabbat, pehla ghar, pehla shohar. Woh usay dekh raha tha, Maheen uski jurrat par sakit thi.
"Tumhari yeh himmat..." Maheen mustal huyi.
Jannat kamal ne kuch na kaha , koi gila shikwa , kuch bhi nahi. Himmat pakad kar rukh badala aur phir Faris par nazar tehar gayi, wo aansoo jo burhan aur Maheen ke samne aankho me tehre rahe the wo ab uske galo par phisal gaye the. Woh siskiya jo seene me dabi huyi thi, ahista ahista ubhar rahi thi. Woh uski jung thi usay ladhne de di gayi.
Usne fairs ke taraf aik kadam uthaya, phir dusra aur ruk gayi. Uski siskiya ab hichkiyo me badal chuki thi. Sar jhuka gaya tha, mazeed aage badhne ki ab himmat nahi rahi thi. Bakiya fasla Faris Wajdan ka tha, usne tay kar liya. Uska hath girift me lete huye Burhan wasif ki taraf kadam uthaye.
"Aindah meri biwi ka rasta rokne ya usse baat karne ki koshish ki, toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga."
Usne intehai durast lehja me uske kareeb rukhte huye usse warn kiya tha.
Uski aankhon mein aag si jal rahi thi. Burhan Wasif ka wajood Jannat kamal aas pas ek lamha ke liye bhi bardaasht nahi hua tha.
Yehi waqt hai Maheen ko laga yeh hi mauka hai. Yeh hi lamha hai wo apna kaam dikha sakti hai, wo jannat kamal se apne shauhar ki is beizzati ka badla le sakti hai. Wo Ek baar phir se us ki shadi shuda zindagi ko aag laga sakti hai.
"Bohot shauq hai aapki biwi ko shadi shuda hote hue bhi shadi shuda mardo pe dore dalne ka. Hamare khandan ki hai, toh jante hai kis kirdar ki hai. aap pata nahi iske chakkro mein kaise aa gaye." Usne zaher fan lehje me intehai hiqarat se jannat ka zikr kiya.
Wajahat ka paykar wo shandar sa mard, jannat kamal ke pehlu me khada usay hasad ki aag me jala raha tha.
"Are you talking about my wife?"
Woh uski taraf mura. Maheen ko laga tha woh us shakhs ko aik dum se ghusse aur ishtiyaal mein aata hua dekhe gi. Uski aankhon mein shak hoga. Badgumani ke taasuraat ubhray ge. Magar woh mard uski aankhon mein dekhte hue tahammul se pooch raha tha.
"Kya aap bhi unhi logo mein se hain jin se yeh shaadi se pehle rabte mein thi?" Sambhal kar doosra nuqta joda. "Iske to kaafi affairs thay. Burhan ne is liye to isay talaaq de di thi. Aur isne to hamara bachha tak zaya karne ki koshish ki. Shayad aapko yeh sab kisi ne bataya hi nahi."
Jannat ka poora wajood laraz raha tha. Faris ke peeche khade usne aankhein meinch kar khud par zabt ka pehra bithaya tha. Maheen ko jawab denay ke bajaye usne Burhan ko dekha.
"Kya aapki biwi ko hamesha se Jannat par keechad uchalne ka shauq tha ya aap se shaadi ke baad hua hai?" Woh sawaal, maheen par kisi talwaar ke war se kam nahi tha. Burhan Wasif ki nigahe us par jami rahi gayi.
"Kyu ke, mene apni biwi ke kirdar mein aaj tak koi jhol nahi dekha."
Maheen fati fati nigha se Faris ko dekh rahi thi. Usay nahi pata tha is tarah uske shohar ke samne munh kholna isay is tarah bhari padh jayega,
Aik sakht aur sard padhti nigah burhan wasif par dalte huye wo Jannat ko apne bazoo ke hashar me leta jane ke liye mudh gaya tha. Burhan wasif ki nighahe Faris Wajdan ki pusht par jami reh gayi thi.
Woh shakhs us ladki ko apnaaye hue the jo uske liye badkar ho chuki thi.
Jise usne chhod diya. Usay kisi aur ne apna liya tha. Jise uske ghar mein kuch na mila, usay kisi aur ke ghar mein aabaad kar diya gaya tha.
Woh ladki...
Woh Jannat Kamal...
Uski sabiqa biwi. Kisi pachtawe ki zad mein na kal thi, na aaj nazar aa rahi thi. Woh jo uske bina jeene ka tasawwur bhi nahi kar sakti thi, usay mukammal aur zinda nazar aa rahi thi.
"Burhan!" Maheen Abdul Kareem ki aankhon mein qabr ki nami thi, gussa tha. Burhan Wasif sanaaton mein ghira kaafi der tak khada raha tha.
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Mall ke restaurant ke private cabin mein, woh uske paas hi baitha tha. Uska sir jhuka hua tha. Chehra surkh, nam aankhein laal ho rahi thi. Dheemi dheemi sikhiya, Ungliya milti, woh sir jhkaaye baithi thi. Uska wujood bhi kapkapa raha tha.
"Tum maal aa rahi thi to mujh se raabta kar leti..."
Us ne sar uthakar Faris ko dekha. Woh khaali glass mein paani undail raha tha.
Woh bata nahi sakti thi ke us ke liye toh gift lene aayi thi. Aaj ke liye kitne plans the us ke.
Aansoo phir se beh nikalay. Lab bhench kar rona par qaboo paane ki koshish ki magar be-sood.
"Lo, paani piyo!" Glass thama diya. Us ne chand ghont le kar glass haathon mein dabaaye rakha. Jaise kisi mazbooti ki zaroorat ho. Gehri saans lete us ne khud ko kisi had tak sambhal liya. Sir uthakar us ki aankho mein dekha.
Wahan ghussa tha, na khafgi. Shak ki koi lehr aur na hi koi istahzaa.
"Tumhein akele maal aata hi nahi chahiye tha."
"Tum naraz the. Tum se kaise kehti?" Us ne romal diya to aansoo saaf kar liye.
Woh chand lamho tak la jawab ho kar baitha raha.
"Keh sakti thi. Main koi aisa naraz bhi nahi tha ke saath na aata."
Woh zara sa chup hui. Aankho mein aansoo thehre rahe.
"Tumhare liye gift lena tha. Tumhein kaise laati?" Asal masla toh yeh tha.
"Gift?" Hairat se abroo uchka kar seedha ho baitha. "Us ki kya zaroorat par gayi."
Woh theek thaak baaton mein uljha kar us ka zehan bhatka chuka tha.
Woh pehle ungliyaan muslti rahi. "Maine socha tha tumhein gift doon gi aur baat karungi aur..."
"Aur?"
"Maafi mangugi." Nazre jhukaye rahi.
Woh gehri saans leta usay dekhta gaya.
"Main naraz nahi hoon."
"Toh jo raazi hote hain, kya woh aise karte hain jaise tum kar rahe ho?"
Woh kuch der chup chaap baitha raha.
"Achha theek hai, chalo!"
"Kahan?" Sar uthakar poocha.
"Tum ne jo kaam karne hain, woh jaldi se karo. Phir ghar chalte hain."
Woh aankho mein hairat liye usay dekh kar reh gayi. Woh cabin ka darwaza khol kar bahar nikal gayi, toh handbag uthayi aur uske peeche bahar aa gayi.
"Kya khareedna hai tumhein?" Lift ka rukh karte hue poocha, taake is hisaab se woh uski madad kar sake.
"Ghadi leni thi..." Lab kaat kar bata diya. Usay pata tha kis floor par usay kis tarah ke brand mil jayenge. Wahi le gaya.
Salesman unhein nafees qeemti aur be-intaha mehengi ghadiya dikhane laga. Woh zara sa confuse hui, khadi thi.
"Tum apni pasand ka gift logi ya gift meri pasand ka hoga?" Kitne dinon baad woh pehle ki tarah baat kar raha tha. Meiz par kehni ka kar poocha toh woh confused khadi rahi. Chehra hanooz surkh sa, palkain bhighi hui.
"Tum khud pasand karlo."
"Okay," keh kar us ne sab se mehngi tareen ghadi par haath rakh diya. Nikaal kar kalaai par pehen kar bhi dekha. Jannat ne qeemat poochhi toh hosh ud gaye. Itne paise uske paas is waqt nahi the.
"Aisa karti hoon main, gift de rahi hoon toh mujhe hi pasand karna chahiye." Gadbad kar ke uski kalaai se ghadi utwar kar salesman ko wapas de di, jaise woh koi dhamaka khez cheez ho.
"Itne paison se toh Aqsa ke gaon mein do teen ghar ban jaayein." Soch kar phir doosri taraf gayi. Woh ab jebo mein haath daale khada tha.
Usne ek ghadi pasand ki. Uski qeemat poochhi. Munaasib thi. Magar is waqt uske paas bag mein jitni raqam thi, us par bhaari. Nichla lab kaat kar reh gayi. Ab usay kya pata tha yahan itni mehengi ghadiya honge. Abhi toh usay aur bhi shopping karni thi.
"Gift tum le lo, payment main kar doonga." Usne jis tarah se kaha, Jannat ka chehra khift se surkh ho gaya. Woh uski muskurahat ubharte aur chhupte dekh sakti thi. Woh uske ta'ssurat se mehfooz ho raha tha.
"Lo," credit card nikaal kar de diya.
"Rolex ya Rado ki loge toh acha rahega." Mashwara de kar khud shop se bahar beech par ja baitha.
Usne gehri saans le kar Rolex ki kuch ghadiya check ki. Qeemat dekhi. Ab rang dekh rahi thi. Ek gold color mein thi. Doosri silver.
"Silver behtar rahegi," uske kande par jhuka kar bola. Uski awaaz sunte hi woh bokhla kar seedhi hui. Pa... nahi kab andar aaya. Abhi toh bahar baitha tha.
"Oh, achha, theek hai. Silver hi theek hai."
Mushkil hal ho gayi. Ghadi pack ho gayi. Kharid kar bahar aa gaye.
"Dusra kaam kya hai?"
"Dusra kuch zyada khaas kaam nahi tha." Bag ki straps par grip barhai.
"Kaam toh tha," us ne kureda.
"Haan, woh asal mein mujhe card likhwana tha." Jhijhak kar bata diya. Saare plans share karne par rahe the. Surprise ka beida garkh.
Gaadi ka darwaza kholte us ne ruk kar Jannat ko dekha. Achanbhay se.
"Kaise card?"
"Woh likhwate hain koi achhi si baat, duaa ya koi message," passenger seat par baith kar wazahat di.
"All right, samajh gaya," us ne gaadi start kar di.
Jahan card likhwana tha, wahan pehle siyah rang ka card pasand kiya. Us par nakarai roshnai se ab koi ibarat likhwani thi.
Woh peeche deewar se pusht lagaye, jebo mein haath daale khada tha. Aur woh apni mez par kuch dekhti soch rahi thi. Likhwana kya hai. Pehle toh irada kiya tha, Aima se poochegi. Aima toh saath nahi thi. Jo saath tha, usse apni beizzati karwane ka mood nahi tha.
"Kuch nahi likha?" Qareeb aakar khaali safhe par nazar daurate poocha.
"Abhi soch rahi hoon."
"Itna soch rahi ho?"
"Tumhara kya bharosa, bura hi maan jao." Jata diya.
"Paighaam likhna hai ya koi dhamki dena hai?"
Woh dheere se hans di.
"Achha, theek hai, mujhe sochne do ab."
"Bas simple sa likh do. Dabbe mein dabba, dabbe mein cake." Us ne ek dum se Faris ko dekha aur hans parhi. Hasi ki jaltiring mein aas paas zindagi ke asaar bikhr gaye. Jaise koi bhooli busri baat yaad aayi ho.
"Allah tum ne bhi yeh sher sune hue hain?" Woh us ki taraf ghoom gayi.
"Haan! Kisi ne likh kar diye the mujhe. Ghaliban Friendship Day tha." Jebo mein haath daale bola,
"Main tumhein bata nahi sakti yeh sher mera kitna favorite tha. Main kitna arsa apni friends ko yeh likhti rahi."
"Ek aur bhi tha." Ab woh yaad kar kar ke usay sunane lagi. Woh mubhim sa muskurata raha.
"Ab sach me yeh likhwa doon?" Ruk kar shararat se poocha.
"Apne bacho ko fakhr se dikhana ho toh likh do."
Woh hasti chali gayi. Phir nichla lab o haaye kaghaz par jhuki. Us ne likh kar de diya. Card print ho gaya. Gift ke saath pack kar ke rakh rahi thi, woh bola.
"Ab aur kya baaki hai?"
"Kuch bhi nahi. Kisi restaurant mein khana kha lein? Kya khayal hai?" Us ka lehja khushgawar tha. Woh ab pareshan nahi lag rahi thi.
"Fine!" Us ne gaadi markazi shahrah par daal di thi. Pandrah minute ki drive ke baad woh ek restaurant mein mojood the. Khana khane ke baad Jannat ne gehri saans li.
Jo gift us ke paiso se khareeda, woh usay pesh kar rahi thi. Jo card us ke saath likh kar aayi, woh ab us par rakh rahi thi. Woh band muthi thodi (chin) par rakhe usay dekh raha tha. Honth sanjida se bhenche hue. Kamal maharat se muskurahat roki gayi thi. Jannat ko aise situation mein phans kar apna aap bohot hi bewaqoof sa mehsoos ho raha tha.
"Kiya mujhe gift kholte waqt kuch acting bhi karni hogi, jaise main kisi shock mein hoon? Yaqeen nahi aa raha ke tum mujhe gift de sakti ho, ya aisa kuch?" Woh pooch raha tha.
"Allah!" Us ki aankho mein taare naach gaye. Theek thaak beizzati thi. Khift se chehra surkh par gaya.
"Theek hai, ab is ki koi zaroorat nahi. Bilkul bhi zaroorat nahi." Zabt kar ke us ne ghadi ka box aur card uthakar apne bag mein wapas thons diye, kabhi na dene ka azm kar ke. "Hadd hai."
"Main toh sirf tumhari help karna chaah raha hoon."
"Tum mera mazaq uda rahe ho." Zor de kar naraazgi se boli. "Khud se saari baatein ugwal wali tum ne. Warna maine toh tumhein surprise hi dena tha."
"Thik hai, thik hai. I'm sorry. Tum jo karna chaah rahi ho, woh karo. Main chup hoon..."
"Main ab kuch nahi karungi." Gusse se jawab de kar uth khadi hui.
"Couple aamuman aik doosre ki pasand se gift lete hain aur ikhatte bhi lete hain. Yeh koi aisi badi baat toh nahi hai." Us ne mamle ko thanda karna chaaha.
"Haan, magar woh yeh toh nahi poochte ke gift lete waqt mujhe kesa reaction dena hoga. Hairaan hota hoga ya pareshan hona hoga ya shock mein jana hoga." Us ne kaha, aur jis andaz se us ne last jumlay mein uski naqal utaari, woh hans diya.
"Haan haan, ab hans lo. Mujh par hans lo." Woh achha khaasa chad kar bahar nikal gayi.
Woh bill ada kar ke bahar aaya toh Jannat gaadi ke paas naraz si khadi thi.
"Main toh is liye pooch raha tha. Jaisa reaction tum chaahogi, main waisa hi de dunga." Us ke paas aakar kaha.
"To tumhare apne ehsasat ka kya?" Us ne mud kar poocha to woh apni jagah ruk gaya.
"Mere ehsasat gaye bhad mein," Us ne halke phulke andaaz mein kehte hue gaadi ka lock khol diya.
Woh apni jagah tham kar reh gayi.
"Ice cream khana chaogi?" Woh pooch raha tha. Apne hawaso mein laut te darwaza khol kar baith gayi. Nafi mein sir ko jambish di. Us ka dil aik dum se bhaari ho gaya tha.
"Ghar chalte hain."
Us ne sir hila kar gaadi start kar di thi. Doran-e-safar aik ajeeb si khamoshi chaayi rahi thi. Woh khidki ki taraf rukh kiye gehri soch mein fark thi. Us ke chehre par takleef deh ta'ssurat ubharte mit te ja rahe thay. Andar ka dard aankhon se ayaa ho raha tha.
âââ