Chapter 102: ּ ֶָ֢.CH101

"Kya ab gift dene ka sach me koi irada nahi hai tumhara?"

Woh baat kar raha tha to Jannat jawab nahi de rahi thi. Woh us ki taraf dekh bhi nahi rahi thi. Gehri saans le kar us ne gaadi rok di.

"Main sirf mazaq kar raha tha."

Jannat ne palke jhapka kar aansu rokhtay hue us ki taraf dekha. Chand lamhon tak jaise apne andar himmat muztama ki.

"Jab main tum se sawal karti thi, tumhare baap, bhai ya dada ke baare mein. Aur tumhari ex-wife ke baare mein bhi. Main chahti thi tum mujhe apne baare mein batao, main jan'na chahti thi. Mujhe lagta tha main sawal karungi to tum jawab doge, Wazahat dogay lekin tum kuch nahi kehte thay. Kisi sawal ka jawab nahi dete the."

Woh us ki aankho mein dekhte hue khaamosh baitha reh gaya.

"Mere zehan mein aise chhote mote se ikhtilaf aajate the. Bhai sotel hai is liye koi masla hoga. Baap ke saath koi issue. Dada se koi narazgi. Lekin main ne kabhi yeh nahi socha tha ke tumhare saath yeh sab hua hoga. Main ne kabhi nahi socha. Unka zikar tumhare liye kitna takleef deh raha hoga. Tum sunte rahe lekin tum ne mujhe nahi roka." Us ki awaaz bheegi.

"Jab Mudhat Bano ne mujhe sab bataya to..." ruk kar ab bhinche "Main tab se khud ko maaf nahi kar pa rahi. Woh bohot takleef mein nazar aa rahi thi."

Woh steering wheel par aik haath rakhe hue tha. Ta'ssurat sanjeeda thay. Labon par sukoon tha.

"Main Adina se bohot jealous thi." Aansoo saaf kar ke lehzay ko hat la imakan mazboot karte hue boli.

"Main us ki baaton mein aa gayi. Us ne kaha tum dono ki mohabbat ki shaadi thi. Main ne maan liya. Us ne kaha tum us ki wajah se kisi se shaadi nahi karna chahte. Maine yeh bhi maan liya. Us ne kaha woh kisi bhi waqt tumhe haan keh kar tumhari zindagi mein wapas aa sakti hai. Maine us par bhi yaqeen kar liya. Tumhari nafrat ne mujh se sab manwa liya, Faris!"

Woh pachhtawo ki zadd mein bohot dukhi nazar aa rahi thi. Us ne shakk kiya. Ghalat samjha. Ghalat socha.

"Mere zehan mein yeh khayal bhi nahi aaya ke pehli shaadi ka tajurba itna taqleef daayak tha ke dobara kisi rishtay mein nahi parhna chahte thay."

Woh kahin aur dekhne laga.

Sadak par gaadi guzergayi. Andheray mein kahin batiyan roshan huein. Faris lamhay bhar ke liye nazar banaye rakha kahi aur dekhne laga.

"Ghalati tumhari bhi hai. Tum apne baare mein kuch batate bhi to nahi the. Main ne apni lailmie mein..."

"Tumhein bohot hurt kiya. Jo baat takleef deti ho, insaan uska zikar nahi karta. Aunty bhi is liye khamosh thi ke baat mamooli nahi thi. Hammad bhai ne Adina se shaadi ki aur..." woh ruk gayi.

Main samjhti rahi ke bhai sotela hai. Shayad is liye kisi narazi ya ikhtilaf ke baais tum Rayyan ko ghar nahi la rahe. Mujhe yeh baat bohot disturb karti thi ke woh yateem bachha hai. Aur tum phir bhi nahi la rahe. Yeh us bachay par zulm tha. Ruby se meri roz baat hoti thi. Rayyan wahan theek nahi tha. Us ke haath par chot lag gayi to usay hospital le kar jaane wala koi nahi tha. Tum mujhe batao. Main yeh sab sunti aur kaise kaise chup baithi rahi?"

"Main ne tum se baat karne ki koshish ki aur tum gusse mein aa gaye. Main haqeeqatan nahi chahti thi ke is maamlay ka asar hamare rishtay par pade. Main bilkul nahi chahti thi. Lekin jab Ruby se baat hui aur us ne mujhe bataya ke Rayyan ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Aur us ki koi fikr bhi nahi kar raha to main tumhare mana karne ke bawajood, jhoot bol kar wahan gayi..."

"Main jaanti thi jab usay ghar le aaoongi to tum zaroor naaraaz ho ge. Lekin mujhe lag raha tha. Main sab sambhal loongi. Mujhe lag raha tha sab theek ho jayega. Maine poora plan kar liya tha ke agar tum bachay ko nahi dekhna chaahoge to tumhare samne nahi aane dugi. Lekin sab kuch jaante boojhte usay wahan chhod kar is film mein na khud shamil hoongi, na tumhein hone doongi." Us ne ruk kar khushk ankhon ko ter kiya.

"Main wahan gayi. Is liye nahi ke tumhare ehsaasat ka khayal nahi tha. Ya tumhari narazgi ki parwah nahi thi. Parwah bhi thi, fikr bhi thi. Lekin main phir bhi gayi. Yeh sab bas ho gaya mujh se."

Faris ne nazar uthakar usay dekha. Woh ro rahi thi.

"Is tarah tumhein hurt karne par takleef mujhe bhi hai. Kyun ke ab tumhein lagta hai jaise mujhe tumhare ehsaasat ki parwa nahi hai? Lekin mujhe parwah hai." Woh apni baat keh kar nazar jhukati, aansoo saaf karti, chup ho gayi.

"Mujhe maaf kar do, Faris! Ainda tumhain hurt nahi karungi."

Usne nam aankho ke saath Faris ke haath par apna haath rakh diya. Woh use hi dekh raha tha. Uski hikayate mubheen si thi Aankho mein halki si nami nazar aa rahi thi. Lab sanjeedgi se bheenche huay the, magar chehre ke taasuraat sakht nahi the. Woh use dekh raha tha aur ek baar phir, woh use mukhtalif aur munfarid roop mein nazar aa rahi thi.

Woh Jannat Kamal, jo uski khamoshi se narazi ka asar liye huay thi, jaanti tak na thi ke uska wajood hamesha se uski zindagi mein aise hi raha hai. Uski dakhal andazi har baar uski zindagi ko kisi aur rukh mein daal deti thi.

Woh Jannat Kamal, jisne saat saal ki umar mein uski sard mehri ko kisi khatay mein na laate huay, usay hasna aur jeena sikhaya. Wohi Jannat Kamal, chaudah saal baad uski zindagi mein aayi aur uska jumood tod diya. Uski nafrato ko dho diya. Uske andar-bahar ki duniya ko yak-sar badal diya. Woh jab apni man-maani karti thi, ya zid pakarti thi, ya datt kar faisla karti thi, to uske khauf ke toofaan tham jaate thay.

Woh kaam jo mushkil hota tha, uska saath asaan kar deta tha. Uski sangat mein zindagi tareekiyo mein bhi khoobsurat lagi thi. Uska khayal, uske iraade, uski baatein, uska pur-azm andaaz use naye siray se jeena sikha deta tha. Uske dil ke maamlaat dil mein thay. Mohabbat ki shiddat bas aankho se nazar aa sakti thi.

Usne be-had narmi se uske haath par apna haath rakha. Mubheen sa  muskurayaa, "Maine pehle bhi kaha tha, main naraz nahi hoon. Tha bhi to ab nahi hoon."

"Phir tum mere saath theek se baat kyun nahi kar rahe the?" Nam aankhon ke saath shikayat ki.

Ab woh wajah batakar teesri jung-e-azeem nahi chhed sakta tha.

"Shayad mujhe... waqt chahiye tha," mukhtasir jawab diya.

Woh chand lamho tak uski aankhon mein dekhti rahi.

"Tum pakka naraz nahi hona?" Tasdeeq chahi.

"Nahi."

Uska woh mukhtasir sa, pur-yaqeen lehje mein ada kiya hua lafz uske andar sukoon bitha gaya. Dil se bojh sirak gaya. Wajood halka phulka sa ho gaya.

"Ab ghar chalein?" Woh pooch raha tha.

"Haan, haan chalo! Lekin mujhe ice cream bhi khani hai." Aansoo saaf karti, hashash-bashash ho gayi. Uski aankho mein chamak utar aayi thi. Lab bhi muskura rahi thi. Foran se bag khol kar uska tohfa aur card usay wapas thama diya.

"Kya kar rahi ho?" Ek haath se steering wheel sambhalte, doosre haath se cheezein sambhale tapp gaya.

"Ice cream, mat bhoolo." Woh seat par easy ho kar baith gayi thi.

Faris gehri saans le kar reh gaya.

Aath baje ghar pahunche to lounge roshniyon mein nahaya hua tha. TV on tha, carpet par khilaune bikhre huay the. Mulazma Rayyan ke saath baithi thi. Mrs. Shirazi wheel chair par theen, woh phone call sun rahi theen. Unhone unhein andar daakhil hota dekha to haath hilate huay muskura diya.

Rayyan to foran se uth kar, sab kuch chor chaar kar Jannat ki taraf lapka. Taango se lipat gaya. Phir apne nanhe haath upar kiye. Jannat ne bag sofa par rakhte, jhuk kar use uthaa liya.

Faris, haath mein gift pack liye, doosre haath se tie ki knot dheeli karta, apne kamre mein chala gaya.

"Aapko pareshaan to nahi kiya?" Mrs. Shirazi ke paas baithte huay poocha. Doosre haath se Rayyan ke baal saware.

"Meri jaan mujhe pareshaan kar sakti hai bhala? Baar baar tumhare kamre ki taraf ja raha tha." Woh muskura kar batane lagi.

"Miss kar rahe the aap mujhe? Haan?" Usne Rauyan ka gaal choom liya. "Dekho to, main kya layi hoon." Shoppng bag khol kar uski cheezein nikalne lagi. Rayyan unhein haath mein lekar dekhne laga. Uski muskaraahat bohot pyari thi. Uska khilta hua chehra zindagi ka ehsaas dilata tha. Mrs. Shirazi muskuraate huay unhein dekhti rahi thi.

•••

Apne kamre ki khidkiyon ke samne woh sofa par baithi bahar dekh rahi thi. Swimming pool ke daayen taraf sitting area mein Faris couch ke saath lagaye, carpet par baitha apna kaam kar raha tha. Laptop table par rakha tha, files ka dher tha, aur woh apne kaam mein bohot masroof nazar aa raha tha.

Mudhat, Rayyan ko uthaye Faris ke paas aa gayi thi. Ab woh usse kuch keh rahi thi. Khali feeder haath mein tha. Faris ne sar ko asbat mein jhuka diya, to woh Rayyan ko uske chand khilauno ke saath uske paas hi bitha kar chali gayi.

Sofa ki pusht ke saath gardan lagaye, woh aankho par girti dhoop se bachte huay unhein dekhti rahi.

Pehle to Rayyan apne khilaunon ki taraf mutawajeh raha, phir apni car uthaye Faris ki god mein charhne laga. Faris ne laptop screen se nazar hata kar use khud se alag karke neeche bitha diya. woh phir se uth kar uske paas aaya, aur is dafa Faris use door nahi kar saka.

Rayyan ab poore istehqaq ke saath god mein charh kar baith gaya tha. Gaari haath mein thi. Apni taang jhulaate, woh aage peechhe ho raha tha. Jaise bohot ache mood mein ho.

Jannat ki nigaahe Faris ke chehre par jamein rahi. Uske taasuraat lamhe bhar ke liye mubhim ho gaye thay. Woh apna kaam phir se karne laga tha magar Rayyan ki wajah se ab tawajjo nahi thehar rahi thi. Woh apni gaari usay de raha tha. Uske be-mafhoom se chhote chhote lafz thay, jo woh ada karta hua, ab uske laptop par haath rakhna chah raha tha. Faris ne uska haath hata diya.

Usi lamhe Mudhat wahan aa gayi thi. Jhuk kar usay uthana chaha to Rayyan ne ek dum se uska haath hi jhatak diya. Jannat ke honto par muskaraahat aa gayi. Woh jahan baitha tha, wahi baitha rehna chahta tha.

“Feeder nahi chahiye kya?” Mudhat ne pichkara.

Usne dono haathon se feeder le liya, lekin uske paas nahi gaya.

Woh aankho mein dilchaspi liye unhein dekhti rahi.

“Kya usay Faris mein apne baap ki khushboo aati hogi?” Usne socha. Woh zahiri taur par sab ke paas chala jata tha, sab uthate thay aur pyar bhi karte thay, magar Faris ke saath uska maamla alag tha. Woh uske paas khud jata tha. Usne kai baar notice kiya tha. Dining table par Rayyan ne kai martaba haath uski jaanib uthaye thay. Agar Faaris lounge mein baitha hota, to woh uske paas pahunch jata. Taang se lag kar khada rehta.

Is mukhtasir arse mein usne ek baar bhi Faaris ko Rayyan ki taraf is tarah se mutawajje hote nahi dekha tha, jaise aaj dekh rahi thi. Mudhat usay wahan chhod kar ja chuki thi. Doodh peene ke baad woh uski god se nikal gaya. Apne khilaune utha utha kar uske laptop ke paas hi table par rakhne laga. Ek gaari usay bhi de di, joki Faris ne le kar rakh di. Keyboard par tezi se kuch likhte hue, woh gaari par bhi nazar daal leta.

Rayyan ab coffee table ke neeche ghusna chahta tha. Shayad wahan kuch gir gaya tha. Faris ne uska baazu pakad kar usay bahar nikala aur phir rukh sa gaya. Rayaan ka baazu uske haath mein tha. Jannat ne mehsoos kiya, woh kuch dekh raha tha hai. Dusre hi pal woh seedhi ho baithi. Zara sa aage ho kar ghour karna chaha.

Faris ab uski shirt utaar raha tha. Jannat ke taasuraat mein pareshani utar aayi. Rayyan ki pusht par neel jaise nishan thay jo ab kaafi halke ho chuke thay. Wahi nishan ab Faris dekh raha tha. Uske baazu par, gardan ke neeche, aur peshani par jagah jagah mandamil hote zakhmo ke kai nishan thay.

Usne Faris ke taasuraat parhne ki koshish ki. Woh Rayyan ko dekh raha tha. Uski aankho mein kuch tha jo woh samajh nahi pa rahi thi.

Ab woh usse poochhna bhi chahta ke yeh chotain kaise aayi thi, to woh bata nahi sakta tha.

Masoomiyat se usay dekhte, Rayyan phir se coffee table ke neeche jane laga. Faris ne pakad kar bitha diya.

Shirt pehnane ke baad usne mulaazim ladke se kaha, woh usay le jaye. Uske khilaune, feeder aur jo cheezein wahan bikhri padi thi, woh uthane ko kaha.

Jannat apni jagah se uth kar khidki ke paas aa khadi hui. Aankho mein nami si utar aayi. Nigaahein Faaris ke chehre par jami rahi. Mulaazim ladka wahan se ja chuka tha. Rayyan bhi ab wahan nahi tha. Na koi disturbance thi, na koi shor na koi betawaji. Lekin Faris ab kaam nahi kar pa raha tha. Chand ek pages par sign karte, laptop par kuch likhte, woh peshani masal kar peeche ho gaya. Sofe par apni gardan giraaye, daayein se baayein apne baazu phailaaye woh aankhein moond chuka tha.

Jannat usay dekh rahi thi. Uski aankho mein narmi aur mohabbat nazar aa rahi thi.

Ab tak uska yeh hi khayaal tha ke woh mahej apni maan ke liye Rayyan ko wapas laya hai, magar aaj uski yeh ghalat fehmi door ho gayi thi. Jis tarah usne Rayyan ko bithaane diya tha aur jis tarah se shirt utaar kar uske zakhm ka moaina kiya tha, ab usay yeh nahi lag raha tha. Woh Rayyan ka chaahi tha jo usay wapas le aaya tha.

──── ୨୧ ────

𝚂𝚊𝚖𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚞 𝚑𝚘 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚑𝚊𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚔𝚑𝚞,

𝚝𝚞 𝚑𝚒 𝚖𝚎𝚑𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚜 𝚑𝚘 𝚓𝚒𝚍𝚊𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚔𝚑𝚞

𝙹𝚊𝚊𝚗𝚎 𝚔𝚢𝚞𝚗, 𝚝𝚞𝚓𝚑 𝚜𝚎 𝚓𝚎𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚑𝚒 𝚋𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚊, 𝚓𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚑𝚞𝚗, 𝚓𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚔𝚑𝚞𝚗...

𝚃𝚞 𝚑𝚒 𝚔𝚊𝚊𝚏𝚒 𝚑𝚊𝚒, 𝚞𝚖𝚛 𝚋𝚑𝚊𝚛 𝚔𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚢𝚎, 𝚊𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚞𝚓𝚑 𝚜𝚊 𝚗𝚊 𝚞𝚖𝚛 𝚋𝚑𝚊𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚔𝚑𝚞...

𝙹𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚓𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚒 𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚑 𝚔𝚊𝚗𝚠𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚗, 𝚞𝚗𝚖𝚎𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚔 𝚛𝚘𝚣 𝚍𝚘𝚘𝚋 𝚔𝚊𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚔𝚑𝚞 ....

𝙴𝚔 𝚑𝚒 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚑𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚒 𝚋𝚘𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝙽𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚛, 𝚔𝚢𝚞𝚗 𝚔𝚘𝚒 𝚊𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚞𝚖 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚊𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚔𝚑𝚞..

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Jannat use dhoondti hui baahar aayi to Faris use pool mein swimming karta hua dikhayi diya.

“Suno!” Railing ke paas aakar awaaz di.

Woh chehre par haath pherte hue kinare par aaya.

“Auntie ne mujhe bataya hai hum Quetta ja rahe hain?” Uske lehjay aur andaaz mein excitement nazar aa rahi thi.

“Haan!” Woh kinare par kohniya lagaye bola.

“Tum ne mujhe bataya kyun nahi?” Jannat ko ab samajh mein aaya ke woh uski doctor se pregnancy mein safar ke baare mein kyun pooch raha tha.

Abhi confirm nahi hua. Kinare se hatt kar woh dabki lagata door ho gaya.

“Confirm nahi hua to kar lo.” Woh hifazati railing par haath jama kar boli.

“Kyun?”

“Tum bhool bhi gaye?”

Woh aankho mein ‘na’ kabhi ka taasur liye use dekhne laga.

“Wahan mere nana ka ghar hai.” Bahut mayoos ho kar use baat yaad dilayi. Aakhir woh kaise bhool gaya?

“ohh haan, croro ki zameen.”

Jannat ne lab bheench liye.

“Ab jab main kuch ulta seedha nahi soch rahi to tum bhi mujhe ulta seedha sochne par majboor mat karo.”

Woh muskara kar reh gaya.

“To kab tak jaana hai?” Uska bas chalta to abhi ud kar pahunch jaati.

“Kal ka irada hai.”

Woh jaise bas yahi jawab sunne aayi thi.

"Yes!" Haath jod kar khushi khushi qadam uthati wahan se chali gayi.

•••

Hafsa ne kamaal manzil ke darwazay khulwa diye the. Aaj subah se hi woh yahaan thin. Shaam tak doosri behne bhi yahaan ikatthi hone wali thin. Nafisa ki wafat ke baad se yeh ek mamool sa tha ke tamaam behnein weekend par ikatthi hoti thin. Ghar ki safai bhi karti thin, sadqa khairaat aur Allah ke naam par daawat bhi. Maa baap ke ajar ke liye.

Unki apni mulazima apne gaon gayi hui thi to unhon ne Sakina ko bula kar ghar ki safai shuru karwa di thi. Ammi ke kamre ka darwaza khol diya tha. Apni nigrani mein jhaad ponch kar rahi thin.

"Bas, kya kahen betiyon ka gham, Allah Sohna kisi ko na de..." Almari se unki tasveer nikaal kar dekhte, us par haath pherte hum aankhon ke kinare saaf karte. Woh is ek jumle ko sunte hue lamhe bhar ke liye ruk gayi thin. Mud kar use dekhne lagin.

"Kabhi kabar to mujhe lagta hai sara qusour mera hi hai..." Khidki ke pait saaf karte Sakina dil girfati ke aalam mein bolti seedhi hui.

"Na main badi bibi ko Jannat ke baare mein batati, na woh is tarah har baat alam bilti hui. Na dil par le leti. Par kya karti. Khud hi to poochti thi..."

Hafsa ki aankhon mein ek dum se taqhir utar aata tha.

Hairat, sadma…

Nafisa Jannat ka naam tak nahi leti thin. Poochna to door ki baat thi.

"Tum kya keh rahi ho?" Woh uske paas aayi.

Sakina ne ek thandi saans bhar kar Hafsa ko dekha.

"Bibi ji! Woh jab Burhan sahib ki shaadi hui thi na doosri, to uske baad woh mujh se poochti thi.."

Hafsa ka dil ek dum se zoro se dharka shuru ho gaya tha.

"Kis ke baare mein poochti thi?"

"Jannat bibi ke baare mein, ji, ke ghar ke halaat kaise hain? Shohar kaisa hai? Kya chal raha hai? Woh pehle ghar aati thi na yahaan par, woh nahi milti thi. Phir usne aana hi chhod diya..." Sakina apni tehreer unhein yaad karwa rahi thi.

"Tum se, tum se woh Jannat ka haal ahwal poochti thi?"

"Ji Bibi ji. Aur main sab sach sach batati rahi. Bhool gayi. Betiya to aisi baatein chhupati hain ke mao ko takleef na ho. Par mujhe lagta tha. Unhein dekh nahi hota hoga. Ab batayein, kaun nahi jaanta, woh chhoti se... kitni nafrat karti thin. Par dil ka haal to Allah jaane. Woh jis din unka inteqal hua tha na, usse ek din pehle maine unhein bataya ke ghar mein jhagda hua hai. Jannat Bibi ghar mein chhup chhup kar roti rahi.  Aur burhan baba to, unhein monh bhi nahi lagate. Baatein bhi nahi karte. Kehne lagi, Hafsa aaye to baat karti hoon, use ghar le aaye. Bas ji."

Hafsa ka dil ek dum se gehre pataal mein ja gira.

"Ammi ne yeh kaha tha?" Alfaaz kuch sadme se toot kar nikle.

Sakina ne sar hilaaya. "Qasam le lo, jii! Awaaz mano kaan mein khadi hai."

Woh sada se apni jagah patthar ho gayi. Zehan mein ek manzar ubhra. Phir lafz. Awaaz, naam... Seene par haath rakhke, be-ikhteyar deewar ka sahara liya. Jo baat woh yaksar nazar andaaz kar chuki thi, woh ek dum se zehan mein taza ho gayi thi.

---- •♡• ----