Raat ke khane ke baad woh lounge mein bilkul akeli baithi thi. Subah wapis aane ka program tha. Baccho se baat kar ke abhi farigh hui thi. Sata hua chehra tha aur behad khamoshi se deewar geer khidkiyo se bahar dekh rahi thin. Seedhiya utar kar neeche aata Faris Wajdan unki mojudgi ka ehsaas kar ke usi taraf aagaya tha. Woh be-ikhteyar apni jagah se uthne lagi to haath ke ishare se unhein mana kar diya.
"Aap ko kisi cheez ki zarurat to nahi?" Baazabta tor par yeh pehli baat thi jo woh unse kar raha tha. Mahzab aur shista sa lehaja tha. Unhon ne nafi mein sir ko janbosh di. Uski barub si shakhsiyat ka asar un par bhi hua.
"Kaisi hai woh?" Unhon ne Jannat ka poocha, uski tabiyat kuch theek nahi thi is liye jald sone chali gayi thi.
"Behtar hai ab! Coffee piyegi?" Us ne poocha to chand lamhon ki khamoshi ke baad unhone aahistagi se asbaat mein sar ko janbosh di. Woh kitchen mein chala gaya to woh uske peeche wahan aa gayi. Kursi par baith kar kaam karte hue dekhne lagi.
"Aap ka bohot shukriya! Is tarah Jannat ka khayal rakhne ke liye."
"Jannat mujhe tum kehti hai." Uska be-sakhta diye jaane wala jawab lamha bhar ke liye unke chehre par muskurahat bikher gaya.
Faris ki pusht unki taraf thi. Woh Capri trouser par safed rang ka dheela dhala sa sweater zaib-e-tan kiye coffee mug me undhel raha tha.
Baal peshaani par bikhre hue thay. Halki si shave badhi hui. Chehre ki sanjidgi. Hazel aankhon mein koi sakht ya ajnabi bhara taasur na tha.
Us ne coffee teng unhein pesh kar diya aur apna ang haath mein liye counter table se tek lagaye khada ho gaya.
"Shuru kare..."
Unki narm nigahe uske chehre par jamee rahi gayi. Pehli nazar mein woh unhein sanjeeda aur khadus lagta tha, magar woh itna bhi sakht nahi tha jitna unhein nazar aaya tha.
"Allah ka shukr hai, woh mehfooz haatho mein rahi. Warna hum ne usay barbaad karne mein kasar nahi chhodi thi..." Nichla lab kat-te, zabt pakadte unhon ne Faris ki aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha. "Uski shaadi agar kisi ghalat insan se ho jaati... agar woh..."
Unse baat poori nahi ki gayi. Jannat kamal apne poore khandan se kat-t gayi thi. Shadi kahan kis se hui, koi khabar kisi ne na li. Koi palat kar peeche na gaya. Kisi ne usay dhoondhne ki koshish bhi na ki. Woh itni be-rahm sakht dil kaise ho gayi? Kaise unhone yeh sab kar liya? Kyun dilo par mohar lag gayi? Aur hon par taale pad gaye? Kyun ehsaas khatam ho gaya?
"Woh mere naseeb mein thi. Usay mujh tak aana hi tha."
Faris ka jawab sunte hi unki dhadkan ruk gayi thi.
"Sab darwaze band na hote to uske hisse mein mera darwaza kaise aata?"
Woh usay dekh rahi thi. Apni jagah tum kar aur saans rok kar gehraiyo mein utar kar unhein laga tha ke zindagi ki fikro se pare shehzado ki aan-ban rakhne wala ek ameer naujawan hai jis ne sirf asayse hi dekhi hain. Aur jo zindagi ki talkhiyo ko na samajhta hoga, na jaanta hoga. Magar woh na tha. Sirf mohabbat nahi thi, usay Jannat Kamal se Woh uske har dard, har gham, har karb se waqif tha.
"Coffee pee lein, thandi ho jayegi."
Us ne tawajjo dilayi to unhon ne mug uthaa liya.
"Main jaanti hoon, mere yahaan aane se Jannat kaafi upset ho gayi hai."
Woh khamosh raha.
"Main baat karu to chup ho jaati hai. Rone lag jaati hai. Main usay bohot kamzor kar rahi hoon..."
"Nahi, woh theek hai ab. Pehle se kaafi behtar." Us ki bhari gambhir awaaz mein ek sukoon tha.
"Abhi dopeher mein behas hui to us ne mujh se kaha us ki aapi is waqt ghar mein hai. So yeh ek khush aind baat hai."
Jis lehze aur andaaz mein us ne baat ki, woh ranjidagi ke aalam mein bhi karb se muskara kar reh gayi.
"So don't worry!" Woh keh raha tha.
Mobile par call aane lagi to mazrat karte huye study room ki taraf chala gaya aur Hafsa Kamal aankhon mein nami liye usay jata hua dekhti rahi.
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Woh shawl odhe balcony mein khadi thi. Door ta hadd nigah dhand hi dhand thi. Sardi ka thartharata hota hua ehsaas khoon mein manzid kar raha tha. Us ne hathilya ragar kar dono haath jor kar hontho par laga liye.
Hafsa Kamal kuch der pehle hi Lahore ke liye rawana hui thin. Jaane se pehle kaafi der tak us ke paas baithi rahi thin. Un ke paas Nafisa ka ek locket tha, un ki namaz ki chadar, unka Qur'an aur jaaye namaz bhi. Woh sone ki chain jo un ke gale mein padi rehti thi, aur chandi ki ek angoothi jo ungli mein pehene rkhti thi. Kamal manzil ki chaabi bhi thi. Woh nam aankho se bas dekhte reh gayi.
Baqiyo ke hisse mein maa ki khoobsurat yaade thi. Mohabbat bhare alfaaz thay. Zindagi se bhar pur awaaz thi. Magar us ke hisse mein maa ki woh be-jaan cheeze aayi thin jinhein woh chhoo to sakti thi magar mamta ka ehsaas nahi kar sakti thi.
"Main nahi jaanti aisa kya hua ke unka dil badal gaya. Shayad tumhari duao se, ya shayad unhein apni taltiyon ka ehsaas hua hoga. Warna is se pehle unhone kabhi bhi tumhare baare mein nahi poocha tha." Palko ki baadh phalang kar aansu ki chadar par aa gire the
"Lekin Sakina se woh musalsal poochti rahi. Faisla bhi kar liya. Tumhein ghar bula lenge. Shayad woh jaan gayi thi ke durust simt par woh bhi nahi hain. Shayad unhein bhi andaza ho gaya tha ke auron se mukhtalif woh bhi nahi hai. Doosro ke zulm sabah sabah kar woh bhi andar se be-hiss ho gayi thi... Woh bas chahti thi koi aisa mil jaye jo jispe wo apni saari bad kismatiyo ke ilzam daal sake. Woh bas kisi tarah farar chahti thi. Hum insan hum yehi to karte hain janna! Aur shayad is liye shaitan ka mukalba bata diya gaya hai. Taake har insaan jaan le ke apni ghaltiyo ka bojh usay khud hi uthana hai."
Shirazi Mansion ki balcony mein khade unke alfaaz yaad karte, unka dukh mehsoos karte uski aankhein ek baar phir nam hone lagi thi.
"Unhein bhi maaf kar do. Baba ko bhi maaf kar do."
Aqb mein kamre ka darwaza khol kar Faris andar aaya tha. Coat utarte hue uski nigah balcony mein khadi Jannat Kamal ki taraf gayi thi.
"Main tumhein dobara nahi khona chahti. Aur yeh bhi nahi chahti ke tum unhi logo mein wapas palat aao."
"Bas itni si khwahish hai ke aur kisi ko na sahi, apni behno ko apna lo. Nana kaha karte the hum saat pariya hain. Aur pariya jab kisi kathin safar par nikalti hain to ekhatte nikalti hai. Bas ab yeh hua ke hum ne sab se chhoti pari ko khud se alag kar diya aur jo kathin safar humara tha, woh phir kabhi aasan nahi ho saka..."
Uski nigahen jhuk gayi thi.
"Main tumhein apna number de kar ja rahi hoon. Main tumhare palatne ka intezaar karungi. Main chahti hoon ke ammi ka ghar hai woh hum sab se phir se aabaad ho jaye aur jab kabhi hum sab behne wahan ekhtti ho, to yehi lage jaise hamara maika aabaad ho gaya hai."
Slide khol kar Faris ne bahar qadam uthaye. Woh apne khayalat aur soch mein itni garaq thi ke uski mojudgi ka ehsaas tak na hua.
"itni thand mein bahar kya kar rahi ho?"
Chonk kar rukh modha to laga ke us se takra gayi. Aansoo se tar aankhein surkh ho rahi thi.
"Woh bas waise hi. Apne tassurat sambhalte hue woh muskarayi..." Faris ne haath thamaya to woh uske sath andar aayi.
"Hafsa aapi chali gayi?" Woh pooch raha tha. Subah jaane se pehle woh alwidayi mulaqat karke gaya tha. Zaroori call aa gayi thi jise attend karte hi woh Haider ke saath kahi chala gaya tha.
Asbaat mein sir hilate uska coat utara.
"Khana lagau?"
"Nahi, khana khaa kar aaya hoon." Usay apne saath hi bed par betha liya.
"Kya hua? Pareshan lag rahi ho."
"Nahi, to" woh muskarayi to chamak aankho mein bhi nazar aane lagi. Faris ki mojudgi mein woh pursukoon ho jaati thi.
"To phir chup chaap gum sum kya soch rahi thi?" Woh uski aankho mein ek dum se Khayal aaya ke subah se ghaib tha.
"Yehhi ke maine ek workaholic bande se shadi kyun kar li?"
"Yani koi nikamma, nalayak hona chahiye tha?"
Usne aankhon mein khafgi bhar kar usay dekha.
"Ab maine yeh bhi nahi kaha."
"Matlab to yehi banta hai."
"Tum ghar se saat bajay niklay aur ab wapas aaye ho. Meri calls bhi attend nahi ki."
"Lekin message to kar diya tha ke aane mein der ho jaayegi." Jawab deta uth khada hua.
"Islamabad mein to kabhi is tarah tum nahi hote the. Yahan kya khaas baat hai?" Ab ke zara mashkook ho kar boli."
"Masroofiyat hai. Aur kya?"
"Is masroofiyat ka naam kya hai?" Tafteeshi andaaz mein poocha. Aur Faris ke labo par muskarahat aa gayi.
"Yeh to confirm hai ke meri koi doosri ya teesri biwi nahi hai jiske paas main jau?"
"Ho bhi sakti hai." Jannat Kamal behad sanjeeda thi.
"Kitna shak karti ho tum."
"Jis tarah ki harkate tum kar rahe ho, us par shak nahi, bohot saare shak bante hain."
Woh dressing room ka darwaza slide karta, daye janib mud gaya. Woh kapde badalna chahta tha.
Khayal nahi tha naraziya liye Jannat peeche hi andar aa jaayegi. Jis shirt ke button khol raha tha, us shirt ke
Cufflinks par khoon laga tha. Jannat dhak si reh gayi.
"Tum zakhmi ho."
"Nahi, nahi, kuch nahi hua mujhe." Woh har bara kar tezi se bola.
"Tum ne Junaid Lashari ko jail bhej kar bohot se dushman ikhatte kar liye hain. Shayad humein Quetta aana hi nahi chahiye tha."
"Jannat, main theek hoon."
"Kya tum ne koi banda maar diya?" Jannat ka dahina haath seene par aathra. Woh uski sun nahi rahi thi.
"Nahi, for God's sake!"
"Yahan kya hua hai? Tum... tum sach mein zakhmi ho?" Haath pakad kar tatolna chaaha. Woh tasalli karna chahti thi ke uske shohar theek hain.
"Mera aik aadmi zakhmi ho gaya tha. Yeh uski wajah se..." Cuffs hata kar usay dikhaya. "Koi zakhm, chot... kuch nahi."
"Tumhara aadmi zakhmi ho gaya tha? Sadma? Kisi ne tum par hamla kiya?"
"Jannat..."
"Kya firing hui thi? Kaun the woh log? Kya masla hua?"
"Kuch nahi hua, Relax karo.."
"Tum mujh se ab kuch nahi chhupa sakte. Sach sach batao, kya hua?"
Woh kuch sun nahi rahi thi, Faris ne kandhon se pakad kar aahistagi se kheenchte hue dressing room se bahar nikal diya. Darwaza band hua to Jannat hakka bakka khadi reh gayi. Rayyan kamre mein so raha tha, warna us ne itna chikhna tha ke awaaz bahar tak jati. Gussa aisa shadeed tha ke sulag kar munh banaye sone ke liye let gayi. Takiye wagairah phaila kar bed ke wasat mein, take mohsoof ko sone ki jagah bhi na mile.
Kuch hi der baad darwaza khol kar woh bahar aa gaya. Lihaf mein dabak kar lete us ne qadamo ki aahat se andaza lagaya woh daayein taraf aa khada hua hai. Aur doosre hi pal us ne darwaza khulne aur band hone ki awaaz suni.
"Kya hai?" Jhunjhla kar uth gayi. Darwaza khol kar bahar aayi to woh usay Jameela Dawood ke kamre ka darwaza kholta nazar aaya.
"Andar aajau mummy?"
"Aajao."
"Aur aap ke paas hi so jau, agar ijazat ho."
"Kya biwi ne kamre se nikal diya hai?"
"Yahi samajh le"
Darwaze ke paas khadi Jannat ne aankhein bech kar cheekh dabayi.
"Ab kya sochengi aunty?" Zabt pakad kar tan fan karti darwaza khol kar andar aayi.
"Aunty! Yeh jhoot bol rahe hain. Main ne unhein kamre se nahi nikala hai."
Woh bed par takiya sir ke neeche rakhe aaram de haalat mein neem draaz ho chuka tha. Chehre par itminaan tha aur sukoon tha. Woh aur tap gayi.
"Asal mein..."
"Kya mujhe yahan sukoon ki chand ghadiya mayyassr ho sakti hain?" Faris ne uski baat kaayi.
"Um hmm Faris!" Mrs. Shirazi ne khafgi se sarzarish ki to us ne lihaf sar tak taan liya.
Jannat tazbazab ka shikar chand lamho tak khadi rahi. Samajh mein nahi aa raha tha aunty ki mojoodgi mein kya kahe, kya na kahe. Gaal par phailti lat ko peeche karte bed ke qareeb hui.
"Ab uth, chalo!" Daant pees kar lihaf kheenchte hue bud budayi. Ab poori baat jaane bina usay kaise neend aa sakti thi? Pata nahi kaun zakhmi hua tha aur kaise zakhmi hua tha.
"Do not disturb!" Uski awaaz aayi.
"Aunty ko bata du, hamla hua hai, koi zakhmi hua hai?" Sargoshi mein badi dhamki di.
Faris ne lihaf hata kar Jannat ko sakht nazro se dekha. Aankho hi aankho mein Jannat ne chand aur dhamkiyo ka izafa ki. Woh lab bheench kar reh gaya.
"Ab tum maafi maang hi rahi ho to theek hai." Daant pees kar awaaz buland ki, taki Jameela Dawood bhi sun le, Jannat ka dil chaaha is par cheekh parhe.
"Aunty! Yeh fazool mein bole ja rahe hain. Main ne koi maafi nahi mangi hai."
"Faris.." Jameela Dawood ne ab ke kitaab se nazrein hata kar bete ko dekha. "Meri bahu ko tang mat karo,"
"Bahu beshak mujhe tang kar le?" Unhone ghoori di.
"Bechari lene aayi hai. Ab jao apne kamre mein."
Us ne sar par khadi bechari ko dekha, jis ki aankho mein kaher utra hua tha.
Woh uth kar ek tapa dene wali muskurahat usay dikhata kamre se chala gaya.
"Ab jao!" Unhone muskurate hue usay ijaazat di to woh mutfakkar nazar se unhein dekhte hue sar hila kar chal gayi.
Kamre mein aayi to woh sar ke neeche takiya rakhe leta hua tha.
"Agar tumne mujhe sach sach nahi bataya ke kya hua tha to main abhi aur is waqt aunty ko sab kuch bata dugi. Woh tum se saari baat aglaa lenge."
Bazahir lab bheench kar ghusse se khadi thi lekin aankho mein fikr aur pareshani bhi nazar aa rahi thi. Faris ko ek dam sw ehsaas hua ke baat agar uske liye mamooli hai bhi to uski biwi ke liye nahi ho sakti. Woh uth kar beth gaya. Haath barhaya to woh zara dair tak kuch khafgi se ghoorti rahi, phir haath tham kar paas hi baith gayi.
"Main zameeno ke mamlaat dekhne gaya tha. Zahir hai jo mere dada ke dushman the, woh ab mere dushman hain... So jara si badmashgi hui lekin sab control ho gaya. Main bhi mehfooz hoon. Akram Khan ko goli lag gayi, baazu mein, aur kuch nahi hua."
"Aur kuch nahi hua?" Woh sakit nigaho se usay dekh kar reh gayi. Uska dil shiddat se dhadakne laga tha. Jab tak uske maazi se na waqif nahi thi to mamlat ki nazakat ko samajhne se qasir rahi thi lekin ab woh janti thi ke Azam Shirazi ke dushmanon ke saath uske mamlat bhi jung ki tarah the.
"Pareshani ki koi baat nahi hai." Woh narmi se keh raha tha.
"Pareshani ki baat hai tabhi tum ne kaha main aunty ke samne zikar nahi karu."
Faris ne gehri saans le kar usay dekha. Kaash woh khoon ke dhabe na dekhti to itni tension mein na aati. Wazahat se bhi uski pareshani aur barh gayi thi.
"Sab theek hai. Main ghar par hoon. Tumhare saamne hoon aur Allah hai hifazat karne wala."
Khushk labo ko tar karte Jannat ne sambhal kar baalo ki lat ko peeche kiya.
"Tum ne mujhe dressing room se nikala."
"God!" Woh hans parha. "Kabhi kabhi tum bilkul baccho ki tarah behave karti ho."
"Agar main yeh harkat karu to tumhe kaisa lagega? Haan?" Tunak kar poocha.
"Kuch bhi nahi. Biwi ho, Nikal diya to kya hua?" Jawaab de kar usay mazeed tapa diya.
"Abhi to yeh keh rahe ho, lekin agar main tumhe nikalti to tum..." uski baat adhoori hi reh gayi ke Faris ka mobile bajne laga tha. Usne side table se utha kar call receive kar li. Jannat kuch fiqar se dekhte lagi. Kuch dair tak woh sunta raha. Chehre ke ta'ssurat mein sakhti utar ti aayi.
"Main abhi aata hoon! Haider se kaho mera intezaar kare. Baat khatam hui to Jannat ne pareshani se dekha."
"Kahi jaa rahe ho?"
"Bahar Haider aaya hai. Baat kar ke aata hoon, tum so jao. Uske ta'ssurat ab kuch aur the."
"Faris! Sach mein koi masla nahi hai." Baazu pakad kar roka liya.
"Bilkul nahi hai, aaram karo, main das minute tak aa jaaunga."
"Please zyada dair mat lagana. Mujhe bohot pareshani ho rahi hai."
Usne ruk kar uska haath thapatapaya. "Abhi aa jaaunga tum so jao."
Kamre ka darwaza band hua to usne kuch fikrmandi se khidkiyo ki taraf dekha. Raat bohot sare dar tareek ho rahi thi. Bed par neem daraz woh uski wapsi ka intezaar karne lagi. Tareeki mein aik hi nuqte par nazar jhamaye uski aankh lag gayi. Jaane kaun sa peher tha jab yunhi bechaini ke aalam mein aankh khul gayi. Kohni le bal upar ho kar takiya durust karna chaaha to aik dam se Faris ka khayal aa gaya. Jara sa mathosh ho kar usne apne pehlu mein nigah daurayi. Rayyan ki doosri taraf woh mojood tha. Uski atki hui saanse aik dam se bahaal huein. Be ikhtiyaar peshaani par haath rakha.
Ek ajeeb sa khauf tha jo uske andar thehr sa gaya tha.
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"Akram Khan kaisa hai?"
Agli subah nashte ki mez par Jameela Dawood ne Faris se poocha to Jannat ko achhu lag gaya. Khanshte hue glass mez par rakh kar Faris ko dekha. Woh bade itminaan se bread par jam laga raha tha.
"Thik hai, bhi pehle se behtar hai woh."
Woh sakte ke aalam mein apne shohar ko dekh rahi thi. Nashte ke baad usne Faris ko study room mein jaaliya.
"Tum ne aunty ko bata diya?" Sadme se pucha.
"Batana para warna tum pata nahi kitne arsay tak dhamkati rehti. Yeh karo warna mein aunty ko bata dugi."
"Yeh karo, warna mein aunty ko bata dugi wo karo warna mein poori duniya ko bata dugi?"
Jannat ne lab bhinch kar usay dekha. Bohat hi khafgi se. Itni mushkil se to koi kamzori hath lagi thi.
"Main ab tumse koi baat nahi Karugi."
"Kabhi tum apni is baat par qayam bhi rahi ho, My Dear wife?" Aankho mein shararat sambhal kar poocha.
"Ab zaroor rahugi." Sulag kar aik tafseeli nigah us par daalti chali gayi. Woh jeebo mein haath daale muskara kar reh gaya.
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Rayyan ko high chair par bithaye woh usay cirileck khila rahi thi. Apni jagah par woh bohot chup sa baitha ho tha. Bhook lagi hui thi. Khoob ser ho kar khaa liya to tissue se honth saaf karte woh muskurayi. Phir usay kirki se utar diya. Woh uske paas hi khada hua tha.
Uska pyala sink mein dhoote woh usse baatein kar rahi thi. Mobile bajne laga to call receive karte uska haath thaam ke kitchen se bahar aa gayi. Saira Khala ki call thi. Woh khairiyat se Lahore pohanch gayi thi. Rayyan apna haath chhura kar peeche ko bhaaga to unki baat sunte usay bhi mudna parh gaya aur aglay hi pehle woh ruk si gayi.
Lounge ke samnay hi woh Rayan ko Fars ki tangon se lipta hua dekh sakti thi. Apni jagah Fars Wajdan bhi lamhay bhar ke liye tha tha. Phir usne jhuk kar Rayyan ko uthaa liya tha. Gardan mein baazu daale usne puray sukoon se Fars ke kandhay par apna sar rakh diya.
Saira Khala ki baat sunte uski nigahen Faris Wajdan par jee rahi gayi.
Usne Faris ko Rayyan se baat karte kabhi nahi dekha tha. Ab dekh rahi thi. Woh kuch keh raha tha se lagarayaan samajh raha hai. Ooni cap durust karte usne soofi se uska coat mangwa liya. Kuch hi deir bad woh usay saath liye bahar chala gaya tha.
Aisa pehli baar nahi hua tha ke Rayyan uske paas gaya ho. Yeh roz ka mamool tha. Magar yeh pehli baar hi hua tha ke Faris ne usse koi baat ki thi aur usay saath le kar gaya tha.
Khala se baat karne ke baad woh glass walls ke paas aakhari hui thi. Woh chacha bhatija ko Haider ke maraah istilaab ki taraf jata hua dekh sakti thi. Dil mein thehrah hua, narmi ka, mohabbat ka ehsaas uski shahed rang aankho mein ubhar ne laga tha.
Jaane kya baat thi jo Rayyan Shirazi ko is tarah Faris ki taraf mutawajah karti thi. Shayad khoon ki kashish thi ya phir baap ki khushboo usay baar baar ehsaas hota. Dono ka talluq aam sa nahi tha. Jaise koi raaz tha jo dono mein hi chhupa raha gaya tha.
Woh apne liye chai banane kitchen se nikal kar raahdari ki taraf ja rahi thi ke office room se baam kalte hi Fars uska rasta rok kar khada ho gaya. Chai lena chahi to haath peeche hata liya.
"Mujhe laga yeh chai mere liye hai."
Usne sakht nazron se ghurte hue apne kain sweater ki jeeb se note pad nikaal kar samne kiya.
"Mujh se baat mat karo." Wazeh likha hua tha.
"Oh" Jannat subah wali baat par qaim thi. Woh to sab bhool bhool bhi gaya tha. Muskurahat dabaye aage ko jhuka.
"Ab likh kar baatein kiya karo gi?"
Jannat ka chehra ghusse se surkh parh gaya. Writing pad ko wapas jeeb mein thonsa kar aik ada se jaane ko murri magar Faris ne baazu se pakad kar roka liya.
"Maine to woh baat mazaaq mein kahi thi."
Woh gardan seedhi kiye suni un-suni kiye khadi rahi. Lab bhinche hue the. Khamoshi barqarar rakhna thi. Faris ko uski yeh nakhirili aur usay bhali lagi. Woh muskuraya diya.
"Well, if you excuse me," writing pad ka dosra safha khol kar usay dobara dikhaya. Goya kuch jawab pehle se likh rakhe the ke zarurat pari to woh dikhade gi.
"Isay bhi baat karta hi kehte hai mohatarma" mutabasim lehje mein qadray sanjeedagi se goyaa hua. Woh lab bhinche kar daaye taraf store room ka darwaza khol kar andar chali gayi.
Mrs. Shirazi wahan mojood thi. Madhat box mein rakhi kuch qeemti nafees paintings aur decoration pieces nikal kar dikhari thi. Unhein charity ke liye kuch samaan alag karna tha.
Cup haath mein liye woh khidki ke paas hi baith gayi. Chand ghunht bhare to dil mein be-sukooni utar aayi.
"Shohar sahab ko chai chahiye..." Dil ne kaha.
Usne sar jhatka, baithi rahi.
Naukar hain uske banwa sakta hai woh apni chai.
"Tumhare haath k chahiye usay..." Dil phir se pighla.
"Kya keh raha tha kal mujhe? Main apni baat par qaim kyun nahi rehti?" Narm padte padte phir se gusse ki zadd mein aa gayi.
Gussa waqt tha. Aadat se majboor jhijhula kar uth gayi. Kuch hi der mein chai bana kar uske office room ka darwaza khatkhata kar andar aayi to khamoshi aur sunai ne istiqbaal kiya. Office table ke us paar khidkiyon ke parde samtay huay the. Laptop, mobile, kuch kagzaat aur files wahi rakhi hui thi.
Azam Shirazi ke zair istemal rehne wale is shandar office mein taairana nigah daurate usne chai ka cup mez par rakh diya.
Golden name plate wast mein thi. Is par Arabi khattati mein likhe naam par nazar padte hi woh apni jagah se bhar ke liye manjamid hui thi.
"Azam Wajdan Shirazi!"
Naam padhte uski aankhe tahyur se phail gayi. Faris ke dada ka mukammal naam.
Usay jaise ab samajh mein aaya tha Fars ne apna naam kyun nahi badla tha. Woh naam dada ki taraf se tha aur dada ka hi tha.
"To kya pehchan chhupa kar unhon ne jaan boojh kar apna naam joda tha ya phir yeh lafz sirf aik ittefaq hi tha?"
"Bade sahib ko bohot mohabbat thi Faris se, hain woh bhi pehchaan nahi paye..." Mudhat ki awaaz zehan mein goonji to name plate par haath phaira. Dil mein ajeeb dard sa thehr gaya. Office room mein unki har aik shey jo ki to rakhi thi. Faris ne koi tabdeeli ki thi na singh badli thi, na unka naam hataya tha. Darwaza khulne ki awaaz par woh aahista se mudi. Faris haath mein koi file uthaye andar daakhil ho raha tha. Us par nazar padte hi khushgawar si hairat ne gher liya.
"Baat karne aayi ho?"
Usne cup zara sa aage khar ka kar ishaara diya ke woh uske liye aayi hai.
"Lekin mujhe to tumhari chai chahiye thi..." Muskurahat dabaye uske paas aakhda ho gaya. Woh chup ka roza rakhe kisi aur taraf dekhne lagi. Mukammal nazar andaaz karne ki koshish karte huye.
"Mrs. Faris?
Lekin mrs. Faris ne tahya kar liya tha. Woh apni baat par har soorat qaim hi rahe.
Hath jhatak kar badi nazakat se qadam uthati office room se chali gayi. Faris ki nazar qadamoun mein gire writing pad par padhi. Jhuk kar uthaa liya. Ghaliban sweater ki jeeb se ghalti se gir gaya tha.
Khool kar dekha. Hasb-e-zaroorat jumlay likhe the.
"Mujh se baat nahi karo..."
"Main musroof hoon..."
"Mere raaste se hatt jao!"
"Aunty bula rahi hain..."
"Alarm laga lo, main tumhein subah nahi jagaongi."
"Meri taraf dekhna band karo."
Faris ke labo par muskurahat aa gayi. Dusre hi lamhe darwaza khol kar woh ujlat mein andar aayi aur writing pad haatho se cheen liya.
"Yeh jo likh kar hoti hain, yeh bhi batein hi hoti hain."
Jannat tap kar reh gayi.
Chand aik safhat palat kar uske samne kiya.
"Mind your business!" Goya apni baat par qaim thi. Chup hi rahe gi.
Pehle woh muskurahat daba raha tha. Ab ke hans diya. Woh use ghoorti huye bahar chali gayi.
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