Faris taiyaar ho kar ja chuka tha. Mrs. Shirazi apne kamre mein thi. Woh kuch der tak unke paas baithi rahi thi. Hammad ki, Haroon Shirazi ki baatein sunti rahi thi. Rayyan kamre mein yahan wahan ghoom raha tha. Apne khilono se khel raha tha. Apne papa ki hi tasveer ke frame ko chhed raha tha. Bahut sabr aur himmat wali khatoon thin Sir Shirazi. Bahut zabt se baat kar rahi thin. Bahut tahammul se bardasht kar rahi thin.
Unki hatheli sehlate woh unki sunti rahi aur dila sa bhi deti rahi. Phir usne topic badal diya. Kitaab uthai. Phir magazine, unse baatein kar rahi thi. Apni baatein aur Rayyan ki baatein.
Rayyan ki hansi, Rayyan ka wujood unke dil ko halka kar deta tha. Apne pote mein to jaan thi unki. Rayyan hanste khelte apna feeder peete Dadoo ke paas hi so gaya to woh unse ijazat lete uth khadi hui.
"Ab aap bhi aaram kijiye. Kaafi waqt ho chuka hai..." Takiya durust kar ke unhein letne mein madad karte huye boli.
"Faris abhi tak nahi aaya?"
Jannat ne wall clock par waqt dekha.
"Keh raha tha ke das baje tak aa jaayega. Main usse call karke poochti hoon."
Shab ba khair keh kar lights off karte, darwaza aahistagi se band kar ke woh neeche aa gayi.
Lounge mein baith kar usse call ki. Usne receive nahi ki. Phir message likha "kaha ho?" "Kab tak aaoge?" Ghaleeban woh kisi aise jagah par tha jahan signals ka masla tha ke message moosool hote nazar nahi aa rahe the.
WhatsApp par Aqsa aa gayi. Woh apne gao pohanch gayi thi aur bohat khush thi.
"Aapko zaide nikamme ki tasveer dikhau Aapi?"
"Haan"
Phir tasveer dikhadi. Zaida nikamma kisi dali par chadh kar baitha hua tha. Kaafi dilchasp laga.
"Zaida itna bura bhi nahi hai Aqsa!" Usne hans kar kaha.
Aqsa bura maan gayi. Jo usay bura lagta hai woh uski Apni ko bhi bura lagna chahiye.
"Shazia pasand karti hai isey. Pata nahi Shazia ko is mein kya nazar aata hai. Aapko pata hai Khala kehti hain, Shazia aur zaide ka rishta to woh kabhi nahi hone denge."
"Kyun bhai? Tumhari Khala kyun villain ban rahi hain?"
"Unhein mera rishta chahiye. Main bhala wahan kyun shaadi karoon jinko meri padhai par hi aitraaz hai?"
"Bilkul. Tumhare liye to tumhare abba bohat accha sa ladka dhoondenge..." Usne muskurate hue likha to doosri taraf apne gaon mein khule aasman tale chaar pai par lati Aqsa sharma gayi.
"Haan! Aap bhi na. Abhi to main bohat saara padhungi aur doctor banugi.." Uske bohat se khawab the.
"To woh bhi to padhai ke baad hi kuch sochenge na?" Aqsa muskurai. Usay apne abba par bohat pyaar aata tha.
"Filhal studies par dhyan do aur apne khandan ki siyasat ko ignore karo..."
"Ok Aapi!"
"Aur zaida bhi kehta hai, Aqsa tu padhai na chhodi take amma tere se mera vyaah na kare..."
"Kamal hai..." Woh hansi.
"Accha Aapi subah baat karoongi, aur gao ki tasveer bhi bhejoongi.
Theek hai.."
Aqsa se baat karne ke baad usne dobara Faris ko call ki. Uska mobile ab off ja raha tha. Woh uske intezaar mein raahdari mein hi tehalne lagi thi.
Kamar par haath rakhe, aahistagi se qadam uthate, daaye taraf dekha, samne taweel corridor tha. Do darwazay the. Ek raahdari ke ikhtitam par tha aur doosra daayein taraf. Pehla darwaza store room ka tha. Khol kar sarsari sa andar jhaanka. Mulazimo ko usne kai baar yahan aate dekha tha. Ek tarah ka store room magar yahan zyada tar files, documents ka zakhira tha. Kuch ghair zaroori samaan, gamle, kuch purani paintings, parde, guldan aur glass tables ke ilawa bohat hi arayishi ashya packed haalat mein rakhi thi.
Haal numa kamra tha to rack tartib se wusat mein rakhe gaye the. Inmein kitaabein, kaaghazat, files nazar a rahi thin. Kehne ko store room tha magar iski bhi jaise baqaidagi se safai ki jaati thi. Mitti aur gard ka nishan tak na tha.
Darwaza band kar ke saamne brown darwaze ko dekha. Is manzil par yeh wahid darwaza tha jo band rehta tha.
"Is taraf jaane ki ijaazat nahi hai..."
Poore ghar ka tour karate hue Mudhat ne aaj subah hi usse kaha tha. Yakeenan yeh hukumaat mulazimo ke liye honge.
Kuch soch kar woh usi taraf aa gayi. Usne handle ghuma kar darwaza andar ki taraf dhakel diya. Neem tareeki mein bulb ki roshni andar tak gayi. Bilkul saamne hi khidkiya thi jin se baahar ki tareeki nazar aa rahi thi. Usne saamne wale darwaze ko bhi aahistagi se khol diya. Kamre mein tareeki thi. Haath badha kar sui dabaya to lights on ho gayi. Pura kamra roshni mein naha gaya.
Woh aik haath handle par rakhe apni jagah khadi reh gayi.
"Kya yeh Faris Wajdan ka kamra hai?" Uski aankhon mein hairat ke saath izterab utar aaya.
Neelgo theme mein sajah hua kamra. Khidkiyo ke parde hum rang thay. Kitabein ke reek, almari jismein uper tak mukhtalif asnaad aur trophies bhi hui thin.
Woh bhaari saanso ke saath andar aa gayi thi.
Packed cartoons, kuch khulay, kuch khol kar band kiye hue. Shishe se jhaankti trophies, kuch salaamat, aur kuch toot kar jodi hui. School aur Faris ka naam behad numaaya tha.
Nazaar aa raha tha woh kitna ahem aur mehnati tha. Woh apni teenage mein padhai aur deegar sargarmiyo mein shandaar Karkardagi dikhata raha tha. Usne glass aik taraf slide kar diya.
Wajdan House mein to usse bachpan se judi chand ashya hi nazar aayi thin, magar yahaan to jaise uska poora bachpan tha.
Woh result card uthakar dekhne lagi. Phir usne diaries utha li. Siyah jild wali jismein tamam ke tamam safay takreeban khaali the. Kharid kar jaise yunhi rakh di gayi thi. Usne siyah cover ke aik kone par sunehri calligraphy mein likhe lafz VON ko chhua. Phir usse rakh kar box apni jaanib kheench liya.
Kinare par rakhi koi shay hila gayi. Woh lamhe bhar ke liye thitik gayi ke jis talwar par nazar padhi woh uski thi. Wohi neelgo nishan, wohi siyah lakeeron se jhalakta sunehri dasta, wusat mein joda surkh kameena, naqrai blade aur dasta ke saath jodi baarik si zanjeer...
"Yeh yahaan kaise? Oh!" Lamhe bhar ke liye shishdar hui thi. Phir usne sar uthaya. Jis jagah se talwar uthai thi, usi jagah par gard ki halki si teh par talwar ki hi chaap nazar aa rahi thi. Goiya woh cheez yaha kaafi arsay se mojood thi jabke uski talwar to box mein hamesha mojood rahi thi.
Shiddat se dhadakte dil ke saath usne doosri cheezo ko ulat palt karna shuru kiya. Tasweero ke kuch ahem magar woh sirf qudrati tasweero se bhare hue thay. Ek box jis mein kuch cheeze rakhi huyi ti. Ek gulabi hair pin jis par strawberry bani hui thi. Zard rang ki nanhi si ghari, ek nail polish, chhota sa aaina jis ke peeche mita mita sa "Janna" likha tha.
Jannat kamal apni jagah sadme se gung reh gayi.
Usne safed sheet mein dhare kaaghazaat baahar kheenche.
Aur kuch tasveer mein nikal kar qadamo mein bikhar gayi.
Ek saat saal, das saal aur barah saal ka Faris Wajdan ke humraah khare, uske nana...
Doctor Mustafa!
Woh aankhon mein be yaqini liye saakt hi apni jagah khadi reh gayi.
Patthar, Harkaat or saknaat se mukammal aari...
Usse laga aankho ne dhoka khaya hai. Shayad har adher umr shakhs usse apne nana ka gumaan hota tha. Bahut ehtiyat se neeche farsh par baithte hue usne kapkapati ungliyo se tasveer mein uthai. Unhein qareeb se dekha.
Woh uske nana, Doctor Mustafa hi the. Wohi ba noor chehra, chakti hui roshan aankhein. Wohi meherban muskurahat. Woh jis bachhe ko apne saath liye har tasveer mein nazar aa rahe thay, woh koi aur nahi, Faris Wajdan tha. Tasveero ke peeche, sarsabz maidan ke us paar aik aali shaan qasar nazar aa raha tha. Uske zehan ke parde par dhand ki shabih wazeh hone lagi.
Phoole tanaffus ke saath woh neeche baithi deegar ashya nikalti gayi. Uski drawing ka aik dheer tha. Aur har safay par uska naam likha tha.
"Made by janna Mustafa"
Drawings mein baagh ka manzar tha, nadiyo aur naalo ka, oonche pahaadon ka... Badi saari haweli aur uske samne khade aik chhote se ghar ka. Woh ghar uska tha. Woh baagh uska tha. Woh khushiyo bhare pal, woh safay par bikhre rang, woh manzar mein dhalti yaadein uski thi.
Nana, janna, aur teesra fard jo har safay par tha, woh Faris tha.
Uska dahina haath besakhtha labon par aa gaya. Aankhein mukammal bhar gayi. Saans bhaari ho gaya.
"Aaj tareekh kya hai Saleem?"
"Teen November!"
"Abhi do din baqi hain.." Calendar dekh kar waqt ka hisaab lagate nana, ainak utar kar aankhein ponchhte, kami ko chhupate, kuch soch kar muskurate.
"Aisi kya khaas baat hai paanch November mein?" Saleem uske paas aakar pooch raha tha.
"Baba ke dost ka birthday hai..."
"Kis dost ka?" Saleem ko jaise unke tamam dosto ke naam azbar thay.
"Faris ka...."
"Kaun Faris? Faris ki baat kar rahi ho?"
"Mujhe kya maloom?" Kandhe achka kar kisi aur kaam mein masroof hoti woh...
"Bees saal..." ungliyo par hisaab karte Nana. "Haan ab poore hain saal ka hota woh..."
Uski aankho se aansoo toot kar gire.
"Tumhein yaad nahi, tum bahut chhoti thin. Mujhe yaad hai woh. Mujhe woh nahi bhoolta. Main usse bhool bhi nahi sakta."
Nana ke tamam dosto mein sabse kam umar. Sabse tanha. Sabse pareshan haal dost. Woh bhi bahut yaad aata tha.
"Tumse pehle maine usse kabhi bhi kisi bachhe se baat karte nahi dekha tha..." Woh aksar kehte the.
"Tumhare saath woh bahut hansta tha..."
Uska dil dard se phatne laga.
"Hadsati mout thi, car accident se huyi thi.."
Uski saskiya bandh gayi. Chehra tar hone laga.
"Bahut pyaara ladka tha. Bohat well mannered aur dheeme mizaj ka..."
November ka mahina ho aur Nana apne dost ka zikr na kare, aisa kaise mumkin tha?
"Ab khair se aap usse well mannered aur dheeme mizaj ka to na kahe..." Saleem in dino chhuttiyon par aaya hua tha.
"Achha khaasa badtameez ladka tha woh. Mazrat ke saath!"
"Sirf is liye ke woh tumhe ignore karta tha?"
"Sirf mujhe ignore karta tha? Aap shayad bhool gaye hain magar mujhe yaad hai. Usse iss baat se bhi masla tha ke main aap ke ghar kyun ro raha hoon..."
"Woh tumse jealous hota tha..." Woh hansey. Aur phir kaafi der tak bante rahe. Aankhein tar ho gayi. Dil tut gaya. Phir chup ho gaye. Raat gaye tak chaht par tehlte rahe.
"Us ke saath yeh na hona chahiye tha,.." zair lab dohrate jaate. "Woh to mera bahadur bachha tha..."
Apna kaam karte, practical standalone, woh sab chhod kar darwaze ke paas aa kar khadi ho jati thi. Woh usay dekhte thay aur aankhon mein khauf utara hota tha. Bohat der tak haath apne haatho mein leke se khud se laga lete.
"Khudkushi be zat khud ek masla hai. Kisi masla ka hal hargiz nahi!"
Uska chehra apne nehayif haatho mein le kar, uski shahed aankho mein jhank kar kehte.
Woh tab pandrah saal ki thi. Nana ne pehli baar jaise jese usay aane wale samayon ki taklifo par sabar aur bardasht ka sabaq padhane ki koshish ki thi.
"Saanso ki dor khud se toote to toote, hum toordne ki koshish Mat karna."
Uske haath bejan hote god mein aa gire. Uski yaadash mein sab dhandla ho chuka tha. Magar usse wafqe wafqe se milne wali Nana ki baatein yaad rahi thin. Woh Faris naam ke ladke ko kabhi nahi bhoolay thay. Bistar marg par bhi.
Woh uski umr ka andaza lagaya karte thay. Har November ki paanch tareekh ussi hisaab kitab ke liye mukhtas ho jaya karti thi. Agar woh zinda hota to aaj poore bees saal ka hota. Ab uski umr yaqinan baees baras ki hoti. Height tab bhi achi thi, ab bhi achi hoti. Lambe baal suit karte thay, chhote baalo mein bhi khoobsurat lagta tha. Ab to ba kamal hota. Apne hum umr ladko ki tarah ulfool rough huliye mein ghoomna usse pasand nahi tha. Bila ka safai aur nafisati pasand.
Woh unhein dekhte hue, unhein sunti rahi. Woh thoda sa waqt, thodi si baatein, thoda sa zikr kar ke bilkul chup ho jaate. Ooper se khamoshi magar andar hi andar khud se baate jaari rakhte. Woh uske liye bohat zyada dukhi the.
Unhone apna clinic, apna ghar hatta ke woh sheher woh ilaqa tak chhod diya magar uski yaadash se pehchana chhuda na sake. Khud ko pachhtawo se na nikaal sake. Sirf ek tasveer apne wallet mein lagaay rakhte. Sab se pehli tasveer, ladka 6 saal ka aur woh 60 saal ke thay. Dosti ki alamat unki pehli tasveer paas rakhi. Baqi sab wahan ghar chhod aaye. Kai baar usne kaha tha wapas chalte hain. Chand din ke liye hi sahi. Magar woh nahi gaye the. Pehle kohat shift huay, phir Lahore lekin Quetta dobara nahi gaye.
"Uski maa usse apne saath le kar nahi gayi. Uske baba ne usse chhod diya. Woh bilkul akela tha. Yeh baat samajh mein aati hai. Jate waqt to bohat khush tha. Tum se keh kar gaya tha chhuttiyo mein wapas aaye."
"Phir kya hua? Kya hua?" Woh rukh mod kar aansu chhupane ki koshish karte the.
Usne be-sakhtha dahina haath seene par rakha.
Nana ka dost...
Nana ka Faris...
Nana ka bahadur bachha.
Uska chehra tar ho chuka tha. Woh ab doosri ashya ko dekh rahi thi.
Friendship Day ke cards, aur Get Well Soon ke teen chaar papers, woh theek ho gaya. Phir bhi usne likh kar de deti rahi. Har baar woh jab bhi phool le kar gayi, woh kabhi bhi kachre ki zinat nahi tha. Plastic sheet mein dhare, surkh be rang uske diye hue phool!
Uski nail polish, uski makeup kit, uska aaina, uske khawab, uski khushiya. Woh sab jo zindagi ke haalaat mein gum ho kar woh bhool chuki thi, ab yaad aa raha tha. Woh puzzle ki tarah aik aik shay ki takhliyat par chunti, aik achhuti tasveer mukammal kar rahi thi.
Faris Wajdan Shirazi
Sarsabz baagh, aik wasee aur ariz lawn ka sabza zar, unchi deewaro mein muqeed aik shandar qasar numa haweli. Sadak ke is paar daurte bhagte bacche, nehr ke kinare patthar, phool, patte aur tooti hui tankiyan, woh aur aik mubhim sa saathi. Aik dhundhla sa chehra, aik halki si shabiha...
Qadamo ki aahat ke saath hi adh khulay darwaze ko andar ki jaanib dhakelta Faris apni jagah ruk gaya tha. Woh neeche thande farsh par baithi thi. Uski ashya mein apni yaadon ko khojti hui. Cards, gifts aur khilonon mein ghari hui.
Aahista se qadam uthate woh andar aa gaya. Uske samne panjon ke pal jhuka to Jannat Kamal ne sar uthaya. Uski aankhein nam aur chehra tar tha. Uska wujood siskiyo ki zed mein lag raha tha. Uske ta'ssurat batla rahe the rahe the woh usay pehchaan ki thi.
Ek janna, Aur uska dost Faris!
Ab na pariyon ki baatein ki ja sakti thi, na shehzadiyo ke qisse sunaye ja sakte thay. Na rangon ka junoon tha, na khaali safho ka craze ab sirf woh thi aur Faris tha. Zindagi ne kisi aur mod par, kisi aur waqt mein, kuch aur halaat ki zadd mein dono ko saamne la khada kiya tha.
Faris ke ehsasat dukh ki lapait mein aa gaye. Uske andar ki kayfiyat badal hi gayi thi. Woh ajeeb ranj ki zadd mein apne andar bikhra sa gaya. Uske saamne ab uski biwi na thi. Woh ab Dr. Mustafa ki nawasi thi jo usay dekh rahi thi.
"Tum jante ho mein kaun hoon?" Sawal mukhtasar sa bohot aziyat se poocha gaya.
Faris ka sira asbat mein hila.
Woh andar tak sakin ho gayi.
"Kab se?" Aankhein bheegi hui thi.
"Jab tum ne ghar chhod diya tha. Tab tumhare samaan mein unki tasveer dekhi thi."
Woh lab bhich kar tahammul aur zabt se surkh parti aankho ke saath usay dekhti gayi.
"Mujhe kyun nahin bataya?"
Shikhwah tha. Dukh tha. Jazbaat par mushkil qaboo rakhe hui thi.
"Mujhe laga mumkin hai tumhe kuch yaad nah ho.." Faris ke liye apne hi alfaz kuch bhari ho gaye.
"Lekin tum toh yaad dila sakte thay. Tum toh mujhe bata sakte thay." Woh ro rahi thi. Uska dil doob raha tha. Woh saari yaadein, woh waqt aur liye uska dost aur nana.
Usay ab Nana bohot shiddat se yaad aa rahe the.
"Jannat" uske labo se be-ikhteyaar nikla.
"Mujhe tumhein khud dhoondna parta hai. Mujhe tum tak khud aana parta hai. Koi pehl tum kyun nahi karte? Tumhein khud mujhe kyun kuch nahi batate?" Us ne Faris ka hath jhatak diya.
"Mujhe darr tha. Mein Dr. Mustafa ki nawasi ka samna nahi kar paunga."
Woh apni jagah tum kar gayi. Aankho mein aansu thehr gaye.
Apne andar ek dukh, ek karb sa liye woh himmat mujtama karta uske paas baitha gaya tha.
Chand hi lamho mein uska haath apne haath mein le chuka tha. Us ne shikwa kiya tha. Koi ibtida woh khud se kyun nahi karta, ek ibtida woh ab khud kar raha tha. Bahut si baatein thi jo dil ki thi aur dil mein hi reh gayi thi. Bahut. I'tiraaf aise thay jo ta-hal nahi ho sake thay. Woh ab keh sakta tha. Woh ab usay sab bata sakta tha. Woh is bojh ko apne dil se hata sakta tha. Woh is khala ko ab pur kar sakta tha.
"Main doosri shaadi kabhi nahi karna chahta tha. Sirf mummy ki khwahish par maine majbooran tum se nikah kiya tha. Mujhe tum se nafrat thi. Sirf tum se hi nahi, apne nikah mein aane wali har ladki se hoti. Tumhari jagah koi bhi hoti toh main yehi karta. Nikah ko contract rakhta aur fursat milte hi apni jaan chhuda leta. Mere liye yeh aasan tha. Ba nisbat bharosa karne ke, mujhe yeh aasan laga."
Jannat aankho mein dard liye lab bheinch kar usay dekh rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein haza thehra hua tha. Uski awaaz se dard jhalak raha tha. Woh bol raha tha. Woh usay bolne de rahi thi.
"Main rishte, aitbaar, wafa aur mohabbat jaise mamlaat se bohot aage nikal chuka tha. Meri zindagi mein inki koi gunjaish nahi thi. Mujhe lagta tha main sakht rawaiya doon ga toh tum mujh se koi umeed nahi rakhogi. Main chahta tha..."
"Tumhein bhi mujh se nafrat ho aur.. aur tum mere saath zindagi guzarne ka khawab na dekho. Tumhein nafrat sikhate sikhate kab main ne tum se mohabbat seekh li, pata hi nahi chala..."
Uska woh aakhri jumla Jannat ki dhadkanon ka tha.
"Mujh se sirf ek bhool hui. Mere ehsasaat badal rahe thay toh mujhe chahiye tha main tumhari har ghalat fehmi door karta, apne ehsaasaat sirf dil tak mehdood na rakhta. Mujhe chahiye tha main tum par apni marzi musallat na karta. Mujhe tumhein time dena chahiye tha. Mujhe tum par sab wazeh karna chahiye tha. Agar main baat kar leta toh tum us raat ghar chhod kar na jati."
Woh rawani se baat karte hue ek lamhe ke liye ruk gaya tha. Usay dukh tha woh uske hote hue bhi is tarah beghar kyun hui thi. Kyun uski zindagi mein woh is tarah shaamil hui ke uske paas nafrato ke siwa aur kuch dene ko nahi tha.
"Maine apne faisle kabhi nahi badle. Magar tumhare liye, maine apna har faisla, apna har irada badla. Nikah mummy ki pasand se hua tha magar maine tumhein apni marzi se biwi ka darja diya."
Woh uske gaal par haath rakhe ab aankho mein dekh raha tha.
"Jo maine kiya, ya jo nahi diya, usay main kisi tor justify nahi kar sakta. Jo ghalat hai, so ghalat hai." Jannat ki shehad aankho mein uska aks jhilmilane laga.
"Meri nafrato mein tumhara koi hissa nahi hona chahiye tha." Woh be-had ranjida tha. "Agar Dr. Mustafa zinda hote, aur unhein maloom hota main ne unki nawasi ke saath kya kiya toh woh mujhe kabhi maaf nahi karte."
Jannat ne be-ikhteyaar apne gaal par thehr uske haath par apna haath rakha. Bahut dukh, fikar aur pareshani se uski jaanib dekha.
Usay jaise ab samajh mein aaya tha woh apne khol mein band kyun tha.
"Mujhe duniya ka woh aakhri mard hona chahiye tha jo tumhari aankho mein aansu lata."
"Tumhe lagta hai tumhara rawaiya zyada bura tha?" Woh boli toh bheegi awaaz mein ek thehrav tha. Lehja narmi liye huye tha.
Apne gaal se Faris ka haath hata kar usay mazbooti se thaam liya.
"Jis tarah ki zindagi mein ne guzari hai, aur jis tarah ke rawaiye meine sahay hain, jo dukh, mehroomiya aur azmaishe jheli hain, in sab ke muqable mein tumhara ghar mere liye kisi jannat se kam nahi tha."
Aankho mein gham ki surkhi liye usay kuch azmaish se dekha.
"Mujhe tumhare rawaiye ka dukh zaroor tha lekin main sukoon se soti thi aur aaram se poore ghar mein phirti thi aur aunty thi mere paas aur koi ki nahi thi wahan aur tum chup chaap sab sunte, dekhte aur bardasht karte thay kyunki main tumhari koi baat maan nahi rahi thi."
Guzra hua waqt unke darmiyan aakar thehr gaya tha.
"Jis raat tum ne sirf setting badalne par mujhe ghussa dikhaya tha, us raat mein ne apna har khauf mita diya tha. Us raat mein ne faisla kar liya tha ke main tumhari koi bhi ghalat baat bardasht nahi karungi. Main halaat se aakhri saans tak ladun gi aur tumhare samne haar nahi manungi. Yeh mera faisla tha tum se mil kar lene ka. Tumhare muqable mein aane ka, main is baar chup chaap sehna nahi chahti thi. Main ladna chahti thi."
"Tumse, apni zindagi se halat se, to haan tough time mene bhi tumhe bahut diya hai."
Narm mazboot lehja mazboot aasab ki tarjumani kar raha tha.
"Mujhe yaad hai main tumhe zabardasti maal le kar gayi aur tumhare samne bachay ki shopping ki. Main sirf tasavvur kar sakti hoon meri is harkat se tumhe is waqt kitni takleef pahunchi hogi."
Servant quarter ke us kamre ki khidkiyo se baahir halki halki ram jham phir se barasne lagi thi. Andar ka mahaul phir se sard hone laga tha.
"Maine tum par shak kiya. Tumhein kai baar hurt kiya. Tum par bharosa nahi kiya. Ghaltiya sirf tum se nahi hui hain, mujh se bhi to hui hain. So tum baar baar yeh mat kaha karo ke woh waqt bura tha. Mere liye woh bohot se bure waqt se sab se acha waqt tha, Faris!"
Aankho mein mohabbat ki chaashni liye woh poore ehtmad se keh rahi thi. Faris ka dil bhaari hua. Woh waqt asaan nahi tha jiska zikr woh itni asaani se kar rahi thi.
"Tumhara ghussa, baikhudi, nafrat beshak ghalat thi lekin uski bhi to wajah thi. Tumhari biwi ne dhoka diya. Tum ne apni beti ko kho diya. Aur jis tarah ke halaat se tum guzre the, tumhare liye bharosa karna mushkil tha..." Woh ek ek kar ke un tamam ghirao ko khol rahi thi jo maazi ke gham ko taza karte thi. Chhataon aur dukh ko hawa deti thi. Jin ka saaya haal par padta tha to woh apne khol mein band hone lagta tha.
"Tum yeh dekho, hum ne kamzoriyon ka faida uthaya aur chhupaya bhi. Hum ne iraade bhi badle aur khud ko badalne ki koshish bhi ki..." Uske lafz marham the, uski awaaz mein sukoon tha. Woh sun raha tha, bohot tawajjo aur khamoshi se.
"Nana hote to main unhe batati, unke dost ne mujhe us waqt apna liya jab mere apne mujhe kiya kar chuke the. Main unhe batati ke main unke dost se bohot ladi hoon aur woh apna har faisla badalne par majboor ho gaya hai. Woh jaise pehle badal gaya tha, waise hi ab bhi badal gaya hai. Main unhe tumhari ek ek baat batati. Aur woh khush hote. Woh tumse bohot khush hote!"
Faris Wajdan ki aankhein tar ho chuki thin. Jannat ne tasweere samet li.
"Nana tumhein bohot yaad karte the." Woh ab keh rahi thi. "Tumhari baatein, tumhare sawaal, woh baar baar tumhara zikar karte the. Woh doosre ladkon mein tumhein dhoondhte thay. Unhein tumhari maut ka bohot dukh tha." Woh ab tafseel se unke baare mein batari thi. Woh sab baatein jo zehan mein thin. Jo uski zaat se jodi hui thin. Woh bhaari dil ke saath sun raha tha.
Usne baat karte karte kuch bechaini se pehlu badalna chaaha to uski halat ka khayal karte hue Faris ne sahaara de kar uthate hue single bed par baithaya. Khud woh uske paas hi baitha tha.
"Tum ne meri sab cheezen sambhal kar rakhi hui hain..." Kamre mein tairana nigah daudate hue boli. Woh muskuraya.
"Tumhare paas bhi to abhi tak mere gifts hain. Talwar hai, diary hai, stickers hain." Woh nam aankho ke saath dheere se hansi.
"Haan! Tumhare in tohfo mein mere nana ki yaadein thin aur aise dost ki bhi jo wada kar ke wapas nahi aaya tha."
"Aa nahi saka tha, uski qabar ban gayi thi. Woh dafan ho gaya tha."
Aankho mein nami liye usse dekh kar reh gayi. Phir uske kandhe par sar rakh kar uske baazu par girfta mazboot kar li.
"Bahut mushkil waqt tha?"
"Bahut..."
"Kya main tumhein yaad aayi?"
"Phoolo ko dekh kar, haan! Hamesha!"
Jannat ke labon par muskurahat aa gayi.
"Sirf phoolo ko dekh kar?"
"Do poniyo ko dekh kar bhi..."
Woh nam aankhon ke saath nahi di.
"Aur kab?"
"Jab jab mrs Grant ki nawayasiya Harry ko Grande aayi, tab bhi."
"Mrs. Grande? Woh kaun hain?"
"London mein hamari neighbour hain..."
"Aur Harry?"
"Woh Raahim ka tota hai!"
"Aur Raahim kaun hai?"
"Woh bhi bas kuch hai..."
"Koi anokhi makhlooq hai kya?"
"Yehi samajh lo"
Muskura kar usne atraaf mein ek baar phir nigah daudayi.
"Tumhare kamre mein har cheez kitni tarteeb aur safai se rakhi hai, Faris!"
Usne bhi dekha. Sar uthakar aur bohot hi takleef se.
Usay mohabbat se pata chala tha ke Azam Shirazi aksar uske kamre mein aate thay. Uski cheezo ko dekhte thay, dairies ko parhte the aur trophies ko chhote thay. Aur chand ek baar to unki yahin aankh lag gayi thi. Uske kamre ko saaf rakhne ki zimmedari unhone nibhayi thi. Usne dard sa mehsoos karte hue, khayalat ko jhatkna dena chaaha.
"Faris!" Usne aahista se pukara.
"I'm sorry!"
"Kis liye?"
"Main tumhein bohot hurt karti rahi..."
Woh gardan modh kar usse dekhne laga.
"Main apni manmani is liye nahi karti thi ke tumhein dukh pohanche. Main sirf apna ghar bachane ki koshish kar rahi thi." Uski aankhon mein dekh kar aasaniyat se boli.
Woh narmi se muskuraya.
"Tum ne pehle bhi meri baat na maan kar meri zindagi badal di thi, ab bhi tum ne wohi kiya..." Apne baazu ke ghere mein lete woh aahista se gaya.
Jannat ki dhadkan taiz hui.
"Pandrah saal pehle tum ne mujhe jeena sikhaya tha. Pandrah saal baad bhi tum ne wohi kiya. Koi bachchi agar apne maa baap ki mushtarka nafrat ko sehate hue bhi hans sakti hai, khel sakti hai, shararate kar sakti hai, to... main kyun nahi..."
"Aur koi ladki agar apni marriage failure ke baad, bakht ilzaam, khandaan bhar ki nafrat sehne ke baad bhi, itni positive ho kar mere saath apni nai zindagi ka aaghaz, Sadiq dil aur chahat se kar sakti hai, to main kyun nahi?"
Woh uski aankho mein dekh raha tha.
"Apologies mujhe karna chahiye."
Woh aankho mein mohabbat ka asar liye use dekh rahi thi.
Woh Nana jaisa tha. Bohat shafeeq aur mehrbaan sa apni galtiyo ka idraak karta, unhein samajhta hua, khud ko badalta hua, jeene ki koshish karta hua.
"Chalain, yahan bohot thand hai," Faris ne kaha to awaaz bhaari thi.
"Yeh kamra bohot si aise yaado se bhi joda hua tha jo uske aasab par bhaari par rahi thi."
Jannat sar hila kar uth gayi. Kamre se baahar nikalte hi darwaza band karte karte woh ruk gaya.
Khidki ke aein neeche wahaan woh tha. Aur rote hue bed ke neeche bhi. Chhupa hua sa, aur aankhein ragar ragar kar saaf karta. Aur bahaduri se rone par qaboo paata hua bhi.
Uske ta'ssurat ek dum se khauf aur wahshat mein badal gayi.
Jannat ko is lamhe shiddat se ehsaas hua ke usne yahaan aakar takleef deh yaadon mein usse ek baar phir dhakel diya hai.
Darwaza band kar ke, Faris ka baazu giraft mein liya.
"Chalain?"
Usne chonk kar usse dekha phir uske sath aage barh gaya.
Aur mazi ka Faris wahi kahin andheray mein apne bistar ke neeche chhup raha tha. Khamosh, veeran Kamre mein bachpan ki yaadein, siskiyo samet wahi kahi sard fiza mein thehri rahi thi.
âââ