Chapter 103: ּ ֶָ֢.CH102

قسط نمبر 21

Usay apne samaan ki packing karna thi. Apni nigarani mein mulazma se woh kaam mukammal karwaya.

Sham ka khana woh khanay ke baad kuch dair tak Mrs. Shirazi ke paas baithi rahi phir Rayyan ko saath liye kamray mein aa gayi.

Guzishta kayi dino ka mamool tha ke woh ab usay kamre mein lane lagi thi aur apne paas bhi sulane lagi thi. Us ke khilone ab yahan bhi bikhre rehte. Dadi ke paas bhi jagah thi magar Jannat un ke aaram ke liye apne paas hi sulane lagi thi ke aksar woh raat mein khauf zada ho kar uth jata tha. Woh nahi chahti thi ke Jamila Dawood be aaram ho.

Usay pehlu mein karwat ke bal litaaye, aahista se pusht thapthapate hue woh Faris ko dekh rahi thi. Nili jeans par safed aur siyah rang ke imtizaj ki hoodie zaib tan kiye mobile par kisi se baat kar raha tha. Kuch files, laptop aur zaroori documents coffee table par pare the.

Zaroori hidayat de kar us ne laptop utha liya.

Rayyan ki aankhe mukammal band ho chuki thi. Woh neend mein be had pur sukoon ho chuka tha. Us ki taraf se kuch tasalli ki. Lihaf durust kar ke, feeder ek taraf rakha aur uth kar us ke paas aa baithi.

Peshani par bikhre balo ko woh doosre haath se kuch ooper karta baghor kuch parh raha tha. Jannat ki nigahe us ke frameless glasses ki zad mein nazar aate adson par theher gayeen.

"Kya main tum se ek sawal pooch sakti hoon?"

"Haan!" Masrufiyat bhare lehje mein jawab aya.

Woh ujlat mein tha. Quetta rawangi se pehle woh apne bohot se kaam sar anjam de lena chahta tha. Woh sofe par sar rakhe kuch dair tak dekhti rahi. Jane kya soch kar honto par muskurahat aa gayi jise lab bheench kar chupate hue us ne cushion god mein rakh liya.

"Main poochna chaah rahi thi ke..." Zara sa dramatic waqfa diya.

"Ke?" Us ne mug se ghont le kar wapis rakh diya. Typing hanuz jari thi.

"Tumhein mujh se pyaar kab hua tha?"

Keypad par tehreek karti ungliyo ki harkat tham gayi. Gardan mod kar Shehzade ne usay dekha. Kuch ta'ajub se...

Woh sofe ki pusht par sar rakhay bohot mutma'in baithi thi. Aankhon mein narmi thi, chamak aur mohabbat bhi...

Laptop se haath kheenchta woh seedha ho baitha. Nigaahe hanooz us ke chehre par thehri rahi.

"Mohabbat?" Sawaliya abru uthate woh sanjeeda hua.

Us ke ta'suraat se Jannat ne khat uthaya.

"Kab tumhari nafrat khatam hui, kab mohabbat shuru hui, kab tum ne irada badla?"

Faris ne kuch kehne ke liye munh khola to us ne haath utha kar usay roka.

"Ab yeh mat kehna 'mujhe tum se mohabbat nahi hai' ya 'maine kab kaha mujhe tum se mohabbat hai.'"

Awaaz bhaari kar ke Faris ki naqal ki.

"Keh bhi sakta hoon!" Us ne muskurahat dabayi.

Pata nahi woh us ki naqal utarte hue itni cute kyun lagti thi.

"Apne aap ko jhutlaoge?" Jata kar poocha to woh muskara kar reh gaya.

"Ab batao bhi." Woh misar hui.

Ek lamhe ka tawaquf kar ke Faris ne rukh badal kar samne dekha. Yun jaise kuch socha ho. Phir ta'suraat aisay jaise kuch yaad na ho.

"Pata nahi, yaad nahi." Kandhe uchka diye.

Us ke la-parwa se rawaiye par Jannat Kamal ko gussa aate aate khatam ho gaya. Chehre par musarrat ke rang phoot pare. Mohsoof ne pehli baar tarteed nahi ki.

"Saabit hua mohabbat to usay hai." Lab bheench kar apne jazbaat par qaboo paate hue zara sanjeeda hui.

"Aisa bhi mumkin hai ke tumhein kuch pata na ho. Ya tumhein kuch yaad na ho?" Gardan seedhi kiye, ek aur se kureda.

Woh sofa ki pusht par bazu phelaye mubhim sa muskaraaya.

"Bilkul mumkin hai?"

"Jaise ke main tumhein jaanti nahi hoon!"

"To batao kitna jaan gayi ho?" Mehsus challenge karti muskurahat dil ke taar chhed gayi.

"Poore so feesad!" Woh pur-aitemaad thi.

"Phir to tumhein pata hona chahiye main ne kab aur kyun iraada badla!?" Sawal kar ke phansa diya.

Jannat ke lab bheench gaye.

Aankhon mein khafgi ubhar aayi. Har baar woh usay baton mein laga kar us nahj par aata tha jahan woh sawal kar ke jawab dene wali ban jaati thi.

"Kabhi yeh apne munh se kuch kahega bhi ya nahi?" Badmaza ho kar sar jhatka.

"Ab itne achhe mood ko ghaarath karna koi achi baat na thi. Itni mushkil se to sulah hui thi." Soch mein par gayi. Sabit karna bhi zaroori hai ke so feesad jaan gayi hai.

Woh cushion god mein rakhe uske chehre ke utaar chadhaav se mehzooz hota intehai sanjeedgi se usay dekhta raha.

"Lahore se wapsi ke baad? Lekin tab to hamari koi baat hi nahi hoti thi." Sar utha kar Faris ko dekha, uske ta'suraat ne phir se confuse kar diya. Gehari soch mein doob kar yahan wahan dekha. Aur phir kisi khayal ke tehat ek dum se uski aankhein phaili, munh khula, gardan mod kar Faris ko dekha.

"Us thappad ke baad!"

Hadd se zyada sadme se aawaaz nikli.

Faris Wajdan ki muskurahat uran chhu ho gayi.

"Ji nahi!" Chidh kar foran uski baat kaati.

Jannat ki hansi chhoot gayi.

"Kaha na! Aisa nahi hua." Woh tap kar bola.

"Bilkul yahi hua." Rayyan ka ehsaas kar ke apni hansi zapt karte aawaaz pust ki. "Main bewakoof yahi samajhti rahi ke tumhara thapar se dimaagh hil gaya hai, is liye tum itna badal gaye ho."

Uska chehra surkh ho chuka tha. Woh hans hans kar behaal ho rahi thi.

Faris ka para chadh gaya. Jabde bhinchte hue usne cushion uthaya.

"To naazreen! Faris Wajdan Shirazi ki mohabbat ki shuruaat ek thappad se hui." Anchor person ban kar khabar padhi. Cushion munh par rakha. Magar hasi phir bhi na ruki.

"Kya masla hai tumhara?"

"Masla mere saath hai?" Jannat ko gudgudi si ho rahi thi. "Main to ek paheli boojhne ki koshish kar rahi hoon." Kamal ka itminan tha.

"Jaisa tumhara dimagh hai, kuch mat boojho." Woh tapa hua tha.

"Kyun na boojhu?"

"Mujhe tum se koi mohabbat nahi hui. Uth jao yahan se."

Woh nahi uthi. Dhittai se hansi baithi rahi.

"Jannat Kamal!" Zabt kar ke warning di. "Jab main keh raha hoon aisa nahi hua to..."

"Ok, theek hai. I'm sorry." Apni hansi par qaboo paate hue dono haath utha kar apni shikast maan li.

Woh barbara kar reh gaya. Aisa khafa khafa sa uski baat ka bura maanta woh us lamhe apne dil ke bohot qareeb laga. Muskurati nigaho se usay dekhte hue gala khankhar kar uske kaan mein boli.

"Lekin yeh to haqeeqat haina ke tum uske baad hi badal gaye the." Awaaz sargoshi ke mushabeh thi.

"Mujhe ab tumhari awaaz nahi aani chahiye." Woh laptop god mein rakhe apna kaam shuru kar chuka tha.

"Kya is wajah se tumhari feelings badal gayin ke maine CPR diya tha?" Chand lamho ke baad phir sargoshi hui.

"Tum baaz nahi aogi?" Jabde bhinch kar poocha gaya.

"Nahi." Nafi mein sar hilaya.

Laptop utha kar wapis table par rakh diya.

"Yaad karo, hum dono ki ek jang chal rahi thi aur tumne achanak hathiyaar phenk diye the."

"Mujhe itna yaad hai tumne phir bhi uthaye rakhe." Woh ab uski taraf mutwajjah ho chuka tha.

"Haan to mujhe khud ko defend jo karna tha. Ab tum musalsal firing kar rahe the. Na haar tasleem ki, na aman ka paigham diya aur ek dum se gun phenk di."

"Aisi situation mein, maine to yahi samjhi ke chunke tum apni gun se to mujhe nahi maar sake, to ab kisi aur tareeqe se mujhe khatam karna chahoge. Ho sakta hai tumhare haath mein koi bomb ho jis se tum mujhe uda kar rakh do. So I had to take my safety precautions."

Uski anokhi mantak aur tanjiye ne Faris ke labo par muskurahat bikher di. Aankhon mein narmi ka ta'ssur tha. Baazu ke hisaar mein leta woh usay apne saath laga chuka tha.

"To is liye tumne hathiyar nahi phenke?"

"Bilkul! Mujhe us waqt tum par koi bharosa nahi tha."

"Lekin main to kar chuka tha."

"Magar tumne mujhe to nahi bataya ke chalo jang khatam karte hain, dost ban jaate hain ya aisa kuch." Woh Uske seene par sar rakhe keh rahi thi.

"Haan yeh meri ghalti hai."

"Aur bohot badi ghalti hai." Jata kar boli.

Agle kayi lamho tak khamoshi si chhaayi rahi. Mazi ko sochte Faris Wajdan lamha bhar ke liye jaise apne khol mein band ho gaya tha.

"Tumhein mera intezaar karna chahiye tha."

"Tum par bharosa hota to zaroor karti."

"Maine surprise ka kaha tha. Tum mere jawab ke liye ruk sakti thi."

"Tumhare surprise se bhi bohot darr gayi thi main." Zara sa alag ho kar sar uthaya to Faris uski aankho mein dekh raha tha. Kuch dukh se, kuch khauf aur pareshani se, jaise woh waqt unke mabain phir se thehar gaya ho.

Jaise us raat stretcher se chadar hatane par usay Jannat ka chehra nazar aa gaya ho.

Usne Jannat ke gaal par phisalti lat ko kaan ke peeche kar diya. Chand lamhon ka tauqqaf ke baad uska haath apne haath mein le liya.

"Hum London business tour par nahi ja rahe the jaisa ke maine kaha tha. Maine honeymoon plan kiya tha. Aur, yeh baat main London pohanchne se pehle tumhein batane wala nahi tha."

Jannat Kamal apni jagah tham si gayi thi.

"Maine tumhare liye ring bhi li thi. Mera irada tha ke hum wahan kuch waqt saath mein guzare ge. Main tumhein samjhunga, tum mujhe samajhne ki koshish karogi. Hum ek nayi shuruaat karenge. I planned everything. Lekin phir tumhari chachi aa gayi aur sab wahi khatam ho gaya."

Use ab yaad aa raha tha Karachi jaane se pehle woh kitne khushgawar mood mein tha. Aur use laga naya surprise ek saza ke roop mein milne wala tha. Adina Zubair uski zindagi mein wapas aane wali thi. Khud se sab soch liya.

"Maine tumhein bohot dhoonda." Woh gum ho gayi thi to apne aap mein main bhi nahi raha tha.

Aankho mein nami liye woh uski aankhon mein dekhti rahi. Woh bua ke ghar se lene aaya to samajh liya majburan aaya hai. Phir yeh gumaan kar liya ke bachhe ke liye apna liya hai. Magar uske dil mein to woh tab se thi jab woh jaan-ta bhi nahi tha ke woh expect kar rahi thi.

Faris Wajdan ne use tamam tar mehroomiyo, ilzaam aur nafraton ke bawajood apna liya tha.

Use woh Nana jaisa laga. Mohabbat bhi unke jaisi thi. Ehsas bhi waisa. Fikr bhi wesi hi.

Tasuraat mein ek gham sa liye usne uske seene par sar rakh diya.

Ghar chhodna ek ghalti thi. Aakhri mulaqat ke liye hi sahi, jawab ke liye hi sahi, woh ruk sakti thi. Woh intezaar kar leti to shayad un dono ke darmiyan sab wahi theek ho jata. Nafrat aur badgumaniya mit jati. Dar khatam ho jata. Aitmad barh jata.

"Thaki hui lag rahi ho, so jao ab." Narmi se bola.

Aankho mein thakawat aur halki si neend ka taasur tha, magar woh uthne ke mood mein nahi thi. Paas hi baithi rahi. Woh apna kaam karne laga to woh bolti rahi, kuch woh kehta raha. Apna sawal bhool gayi. Bato mein gum ho gayi.

Jaane kya kuch yaad aa raha tha, use hans ke bata rahi thi. Woh muskurate hue sun raha tha.

"Ab ki baar hum Lahore jayenge to us larke se zaroor milenge jis ne humein apne store mein jagah di thi. Uske pakore khayenge. Woh keh raha tha bohot achh banata hai aur haathon par dastane chadh kar rakhta hai aur safai ka bohot khayal rakhta hai."

"Haan bechara bohot pareshaan tha tumhari harkaton se aur tumhare kartab se kaafi mutasir bhi lag raha tha."

Use yaad tha kaise us bechare ne Jannat ko phisalta dekh kar apni peshani par haath maara tha. Jannat ne tap kar, sulag kar Faris Wajdan ko dekha.

"Tumse bardasht nahi hota na ke main thodi dair ke liye khush ho jau?" Bigar kar poocha. Gussa alag aa raha tha. Aakhir yeh sari beizzati wali baatein use yaad kyun reh jati hain.

Woh hans diya.

Isi lamhe Rayyan uth kar rone laga to Jannat foran se uske paas chali gayi. Barabar mein baith kar use dobara se litate hue pusht thapthapane lagi to woh zara sa pur sukoon ho kar phir se so gaya. Faris ab usi ko dekh raha tha.

"Yeh neend mein zyada nahi uthne laga?"

"Haan, Aunty bata rahi thi is umar mein bacho ko thodi be-arami hoti rehti hai."

Woh jawab de kar uske andar ka shor barha gayi. Wajah jo bhi ho, magar use hamesha yeh lagta tha ke woh kisi khauf mein aakar hi uthta hai. Woh tasalli karta tha ke uske aas paas koi hai ya woh akela toh nahi. Aur yahan wahan ghabra kar yun dekhta hai jaise kuch aisa nazar na aa jaye jo woh nahi dekhna chahta.

Woh raat jo uski aankho mein thi. Uska khauf kahi na kahin kisi bhayanak khwab ki soorat uske nanhe zehan mein bhi thehar gaya tha.

Nazar hata kar khud ko apne kaam mein masroof karte khayalat jhatak diye.

Rayyan ke barabar mein neem daraz Jannat Kamal ko ek dum se kuch yaad aaya to Faris ko dekha.

"Hamari baat toh wahi beech mein reh gayi."

"Kaun si baat?"

Jannat ne daant peese.

"Wahi baat, mohabbat wali ke kab hui thi?"

Usne Faris ke labo par muskurahat ubharte dekhi. Usne jawab nahi diya.

"Tum mujhe ignore kar rahe ho ab?" Rayyan ki wajah se awaaz sargoshi mein dhalay hui thi.

"Tumhein mujhe batana hi hoga ke tumhein mujhse mohabbat kab aur kis waqt hui thi."

Woh muskurahat jo honto par thi, ab aankhon mein bhi nazar aa rahi thi. Jannat Kamal mohabbat ki baat kar rahi thi. Faris Wajdan ne toh naam bhi uska khud rakha tha.

Woh bud budakar nazre hata gayi.

Rayyan ke barabar mein lie mobile par kuch dekhte uski aankh lag gayi.

Apne kaam se farigh ho kar bed par aaya toh sade baarah ka waqt tha. Jannat par lehaf durust karte hue lamp band karne hi laga tha ke Rayyan phir se jaag gaya tha. Rone ki tayyari pakadte uth kar baith gaya. Doosre hi pal usne usse god mein utha liya tha. Tahaffuz ka ehsaas hote hi woh foran chup ho gaya. Aankho mein neend bhari hui thi. Seene se laga aur ubne laga. Use barabar mein litaye, kuch der tak woh uske chehre ko dekhte raha. Phir usne lamp off kar diya tha.

•••

"Tum ne abhi tak mujhe woh ring di kyun nahi?"

Agle din subah sawere hi Jannat Kamal ne usse lawn mein rok liya. Woh track suit mein malboos jogging se abhi abhi lauta tha. Mutahair sa ho kar usse dekhne laga.

"Kaun si ring?"

Woh zabt se muskurayi.

"Wohi jo tum ne mere liye khareedi thi."

"Oh, bhool gaya."

"Tum har ahem baat bhool jate ho." Barhami se badbadakar reh gayi.

"Main tumhein London mein dene wala tha, magar jis tarah ke humare halaat chal rahe the tum ne ring mere moun par de marni thi."

Jannat ka moun kuch sadma se khula, kitna ghalat sochta hai woh uske baare mein.

"Ab main itni bhi bad lihaj nahi thi ke diamond ring munh par de maarti."

Uske barabar qadam uthata woh jhatke se ruk gaya.

"Diamond ring?"

Jannat ka rang ud gaya.

"Tumhein kis ne kaha main diamond ring dene wala tha?"

Woh andhi, gungi, behri sab ho gayi. Qareeb se khisakna chaaha toh usne baazu pakad kar rok liya.

"Woh.. Mujhe laga diamond hi hogi." Ghabra kar wazahat di.

"Diamond hi kyun hogi?" Woh bhi ad gaya.

Woh lab kaat kar reh gayi.

"Kya tumhari khufiya sargarmiyo mein mere samaan ki talashi lena bhi shaamil hai?"

"Nahi toh bhala main kyun talashi lugi?" Gudguda si gayi.

"Toh phir?"

"Daraz mein rakhi hui thi, nazar aa gayi." Sach batana pad gaya.

"Nazar aa gayi toh uthakar pehn leti."

"Mujhe kya pata tha mere liye hai."

Sar uthakar Faris ko dekha. Uski muskurati nigaho ki zad mein jhunjhla kar reh gayi.

"Chand lamho tak uske tasurat se mahzooz hote usne apne track suit ki jeb mein haath daal kar nikala toh wohi makhmali dabia samne thi.

Jannat Kamal bokhla gayi. Chehre par khafft ke sab hi rang chha gaye. (Blushing) Goya woh jaanta tha subah uthte hain pehla sawal angoothi ke mutaliq hi hoga aur woh ise jeb mein daale ghoom raha tha.

"Mazaaq uda rahe ho tum mera?"

"Tumhein rang de raha hoon. Mazaaq kahan se aa gaya?" Hairan hua.

"Abhi deni hai. Sham mein nahi de sakte the?" Daant diya.

Faris ki hansi be-khasta thi.

Woh tap kar jaane lagi.

"Tum meri samajh se baahir ho." Woh uske peeche tha.

"Baat mat karo mujh se."

"Hua kya hai?"

"Tum ne khud raat ko kaha ring dena chahte the toh maine pooch liya ke kyun nahi di. Iska matlab yeh toh nahi hai ke tum usi waqt mujhe dene lag jao. Dimagh ghooma hua tha. Khud bhi samajh mein nahi aa raha tha kya keh rahi thi."

"Agar usi waqt bhi de di toh kya ho gaya?"

"Itni mehengi cheez jeb mein daal kar kyun ghoom rahe the." Phir se lad padhi. Asal gham hi is baat ka tha ke angoothi jeb mein kyun thi. "Aakhir usse pehle se kaise pata chal jaata hai woh kya kehne wali hai."

"Fine shaam mein de doonga. Gussa thanda karo."

"Shaam mein bhi nahi chahiye mujhe," zabt kar ke sar jhatakti andar chali gayi. Gussa hanooz chehre par dhara hua tha. Woh track suit ki jebo mein haath daale uske peeche apne bedroom mein aa gaya. Wardrobe kholke woh uske kapde nikaal rahi thi.

"Pehle London mein dene ka irada tha toh tumhare mizaj nahi milte the." Ek lamhe ka tawaquf kiya.

"Jis dinner par dene ka irada tha toh tumhare haath mein Zaid ki angoothi thi."

Hanger se kapde nikaal kar bed par rakhte hue Jannat ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.

"So mujhe bracelet par ikhtifa karna pada."

"Phir?" Mud kar uske samne hui.

"Phir maine is gift ko apne bachhe ki paidaish tak ke liye mehfooz kar liya."

Aur uska jawab Jannat ki aankho mein mohabbat ke kai rang thehri gayi. Chehra mutbassim tha.

"Ab tum batao kya karu?" Uski aankhon mein jhaank kar poocha.

"Kis baare mein?"

"Diamond ring ke baare mein."

"Jo aakhri faisla kiya tha. Us par qa'im raho."

Sadiq dil se mashwara deti sar jhatak kar chali gayi. Woh muskurakar reh gaya.

•••

Mall mein hone wali badmazgi Maheen Abdul Kareem ki zindagi par asar andaaz ho rahi thi. Jannat ka thappad, uske ka yun istifsar karna uski position ko kisi had tak kamzor kar gaya tha. Burhan ek dum se khamosh ho gaya.

Wo ab us se koi baat bhi nahi kar raha tha. Wo gusse se pagal ho rahi thi. Baar baar lab kaanti, daayein ya main tehlti bechaini ki inteha par thi.

Zunaira aapa alag mujzsis thi ke unhein kya hua. Do din pehle tak toh bilkul theek the. Shaam tak unhein Karachi ke liye rawana hona tha. Burhan kamre mein aaya toh wo taizi se uth kar uske paas aa gayi.

"Aap meri calls kyun nahi utha rahe the Burhan! Itni pareshani ho rahi thi mujhe!" Burhan ne sard nazro se use dekha. Wo ghusse mein lag raha tha. Shayad beizzati ka ehsaas, ya phir Jannat ka thappad hi uss nahj par le aaya tha. Shayad wo abhi tak uss sadme se nikal nahi paya tha. Jawab diye. Wo kapde badal kar bahar chala gaya.

Maheen usse kisi tor samajh nahi pa rahi thi. Is tarah achanak ek khala sa kyun aa gaya tha. Jannat Kamal unki zindagi mein is tarah wapas kyun palat aayi thi. Na hokar bhi wo is tarah kyun asar andaaz ho rahi thi? Karachi unhein by road jaana tha. Dauran-e-safar usne Burhan se baat karna chahi. Magar wo chup tha. Jannat Kammal ke shohar ka wo sawal dono ke darmiyan ek lakeer si bana gaya tha.

"Kya wo uss par shak kar raha hai?" Barabar mein baithay lab kaante wo mutashakker hui.

"Usne aisa kyun kaha?" Kaafi dair baad wo kuch bola toh ma bayn andar tak hil gayi.

"Kis ne?" Uska halk sukh gaya tha. Goya wohi sawal hi Burhan ke hawaso par sawar ho gaya tha.

Woh Jannat ke shohar ke samne apni zubaan kholne par buri tarah se pachhtayi thi.

"Tum jaanti ho mein kiski baat kar raha hoon."

Steering wheel par grip jamaye woh jabre bhinche hue tha.

"Aap mujh se pooch rahe hain? Kya aap Jannat ko nahi jaante? Woh toh aapki aankhon mein bhi dhul jhokti rahi, hum sab ko maloom hai. Woh khat, gifts aur uske mobile mein jo numbers save thay aur woh messages. Woh toh aap ne khud parhe the, kitni ghatiya guftagu jo woh doosro se kar rahi thi. Kya aap bhool gaye?"

Burhan bhi kuchh nahi bhoola tha. Maheen ki banayi hui tasveer par woh jo ek dhund aane lagi thi, chhut gayi thi. Usne khud dekhe thay. Wrong calls bhi khud receive ki thi. Khat aur gifts bhi uski mojudgi mein aate rahe the. Jannat Kamal ne usse dhoka diya tha. Jannat Kamal ne uski amanat mein khiyanat ki thi. Woh mohram thi uski. Woh apne dil ko phir se sakht patthar kar raha tha. woh nafrato ka rukh phir uski taraf mod raha tha.

"To yeh sab uske shohar ko kyun nazar nahi aa raha?"

Aankho me lahoo ki surkhi liye woh bola toh Maheen ke aas paas sannate chha gayi.

Sambhal kar Burhan ke baazu par haath rakha.

"Bahut makkar ladki hai woh. Apne shohar ko bhi bewakoof banaya hua hai. Jald hi uski asliyat us par bhi khul jaayegi. Tai Ammi theek kehti hain Jannat jaisi ladkiya ghar nahi basati. Woh wahan bhi sirf paiso ke liye hai. Woh wahan bhi..." woh keh rahi thi jo bhi andar tha. Zahar ki soorat lafzo mein dhalta hua. Woh bolti ja rahi thi. Uske andar ki aag ab aankho mein bhi nazar aa rahi thi.

Magar iztirab badta jaa raha tha ke woh Jannat Kamal ki har asliyat se waqif thi. Woh jaanti thi uska kirdar kitna shafaf tha. Uski niyat kitni saaf thi. Woh be-gunah thi aur yehi haqeeqat ab uske hawaso par sawar ho rahi thi. Woh chehra jo woh sab ko dikha rahi thi, woh use nazar nahi aata tha.

Woh Jannat Kamal ko usi roop mein dekhna chahti thi jo usne bana diya tha. Bad-kirdar, be-hiss aur awara ladki. Woh apne andar ki siyahiyo mein gark hotay Burhan se baate karti ek baar phir uske kirdar ko sawali nishan bana rahi thi aur usne ek dum se gaari be-kaabu ho gayi thi.

"BURHAN..." Maheen cheekh uthi thi.

Jhatka shadid tha. Usse apna sar ghoomta hua mehsoos hua tha. Doosray hi pal woh hosh o khud se be-gana ho gayi thi.

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