Chapter 112: ּ ֶָ֢.CH111

Uska business trip par London jane ka irada hua to apne sath Jannat aur bachon ko bhi le kar gaya. Program achanak bana tha. Wo to chahta tha Jamila Dawood bhi saath chale, magar unho ne mana kar diya. Do maah baad waise bhi unhe apne ilaaj ke liye America jana tha, so tay paya gaya ke wo baccho ke saath ghoom phir aaye.

Phone par Haider ko ahkaamat jari karte Faris ne Begonia House ki safai aur us ke intezamat ki dekh bhaal ka hukm jari kiya. Wo us ghar ko bechne ka irada karke bhi abhi tak bech nahi saka tha. London pohanche to barf bari ne istaqbaal kiya. Kuch yaad karke wo muskara diya. Gari tayar khadi thi. Aadhe ghante ki drive ke baad gaari ek rehaishi colony mein rok di gayi thi.

“Yeh ghar to bohot khubsurat hai,” Jannat ke mooh se baghair ikhtiyar nikal aaya jab naye house ko bahar se dekha.

“Haan! Khubsurat to hai,” Faris ne Rayyan ko uthaya hua tha. Zeyn Jannat ki baho mein tha.

“Itna pyara ghar hai, isay bech kyun rahe the?” Poore ghar ka jaiza lene ke baad usne Faris se poocha. Wo khidkiyo ke paas khara barabar wale ghar ko dekh raha tha.

“Tumhein pasand aaya?”

“Bohut!”

Faris ne usay apni baho ke ghere mein le kar kareeb kar liya. Samne wale ghar ki us taraf ki khidkiyan roshan thi.

“Yeh Mrs. Grande ka ghar hai.”

“Jin ke paas Flora naam ki tooti hai?”

“Bilkul wohi.”

“unki nawasiyo ko dekh kar tumhe mein yaad aaya karti thi.”

"Haan"

Jannat muskurayi.

Agle din wo Rayyan aur Zayn ke sath barabar wale ghar mein Faris ke humrah Mrs. Grande se milne gayi thi. Goke wo kafi beemar thi aur unki yaad-dasht bhi theek se kaam nahi karti thi, magar Faris ko dekhte hi unhone usay pehchan liya. Unhone Zayn aur Rayyan ko bohut pyar kiya woh bohot khush thi.

Baat karte karte unka zehan bhatak jata tha. Wo batein bhool jati thi. Har thodi dair baad mutfakkar si usay dekhti. Kisi waqt ke dayre mein qaid ho jati thi. Aise sawal karti thi jin ka jawab dete Faris ke tas'surat mein kabhi kabhi karb utar aata. Phir wo bhool jati thin ke wo kis se baat kar rahi hai. Ghar wapas aaye to Faris bohut khamosh tha.

Agle din Faris office ke liye rawana hua to wo khud unse milne chali gayi thi. Fauran pehchan gayi ke Faris ki biwi hai. Hasti muskara kar baate karti rahi.

"Ek billi pali thi, mar gayi. Ek kutta pala tha, wo bhi mar gaya. Bas flora zinda thi, aur harry nahi raha tha, wo bas ek raat achanak mar gaya tha. Apne malik ke bagair wo bas chand hafte hi guzar saka."

Faris ki bohot si batein thi jo wo batati rahi. Ruk ruk kar alfaz ada karte hue British accent ki samajh usay bas is liye asani hui ke wo Faris ki biwi thi. Usse jo sunti thi.

Unse mil kar jab wo bahar aayi to hall mein lagi tasaveer ne uska dhyan kheench liya. Wo tasaveer dekhte hi ruk gayi. Chand tasaveero mein Faris bhi tha kisi café ke samne apne kisi sathi ke hamraah. Uske barabar mein khada daraz qad, surkhi mael shade dete siyah balo wala naujawan Jannat ki nigaho ka markaz ban gaya. Siyah frame wale square glasses, bal halka sa curl aur gham se bhare huay. Aankhe gehri aur tareek lag nazar aati thi.

Tasaveer mein uski muskarahat har dafa uske daye gaal ki taraf uthi huyi thi. Bohot good looking tha, Faris se shayad 2-4 saal bara hoga, lekin dekhne mein ham umar hi lagte the  Phir tasveer uthai jis mein wo Harry ke sath tha.

"Yeh jadugar hai," aqb me se awaaz ayi to wo chonk kar murhi. Sofie ki beti, Emma, khadi thi.

"Jadugar?"

"Haan, bohot khatarnak wala jadugar, sansani khej lehja apnate huye wo aath saal ki ladki kareeb aa gayi.

"Isne hamare sare sikke gayab kar diye the aur James ki topi se itna bara phool nikala tha!" Woh iski fan thi, bade mutasirheen andaz me uske karname bata rahi thi.

"Wo Granny se milne aata hai to ghar mein kisi ko pata nahi chalta wo kaise aaya. Mom kehti hain wo khidki se aata hai, lekin main janti hoon wo khidki se bhi nahi aata. Kyunke Main aur James weekend par saari khidkiya lock kar dete hai, phir bhi wo mil ke chala jata hai."

"Wo ab kahan hai?"

"Pata nahi!" Emma ne kandhe uchkaaye.

"Wo na batakar aata hai, na batakar jata hai, lekin wo hamari saari chocolates utha kar le jata hai." James ne shikwa kiya tha

Wo baghor uski tasaveer dekh rahi thi. Ek mein uske bal kadre chhote the, doosre mein gardan tak lambe aur aage se kham khate hue peshani par gir rahe the. Teesre mein zyada ghunghrale lag rahe the. Woh hair dye karta tha jo is tarah lagta tha ke siyah balo mein surkh shade nazar aata tha.

Har tasveer mein ek si muskarahat thi, aankho ka ek hi ta’assur, khada hone ka ek hi andaz yun jaise jaan boojh kar hi wo mehsoos sa pose deta ho.

Chand aik tasveer me woh Faris ke pehlu mein khada tha. Unme sirf aik tasaveer thi jisme 17 saal ke Faris ke labo par muskaraahat nazar aa rahi thi. Usay woh tasveer bohot achi lagi. Woh kuch der tak Emma ke sath bate kar ke Begonia House wapas aagayi.

"Ghaliban woh tumhara bohut achhe dost hai," Faris ne kaha.

"Kon?"

"Raahim," usne sar uthakar Jannat ko dekha.

"Tum usay janti ho?"

"Thoda bohot jaan bhi gayi hoon," woh zara si muskrai.

(Jannat kya jane kaun tha Raahim?)

"Tum usay nahi jaan sakti," Faris ne kaha.

"Tum hi bata do," Jannat ne kaha.

"Woh ek museebat hai," Faris ne intehai sanjeedgi se apni biwi ko aagah kiya.

Jannat usay dekh kar reh gayi. Aur bilkul yeh hi baat agle din lambe chaure James Anderson ne unke lounge mein baith kar dohraai. Woh unke ghar dawat par aaye thay.

Uske chhote bhai William ko James ki baat par foran aitraaz hua.

"Uske baare mein aisi baat mat karo, James," William ki awaaz bhaari thi.

Jannat ne dono ki bachpan ki tasveer dekh rakhi thi, lekin ab to woh itne bade ho pehchaan hi nahi saki thi. Siyah rang ke three-piece suit mein malboos, woh Faris ke dost se kam mashkook guard jada lag rahe the. Hairstyle se leke jooto tak unki har shey nafees aur stylish thi.

Aik business aur doosra engineering student tha. Jo business student tha wo aik adad writer bhi tha, aur jo engineering kar raha tha wo hounted house documentaries ka deewana tha. Jannat unke studies aur career ko leke bahute confused huyi. Aise mashaghlo ke liye waqt mil jata hoga unhe?

"Parhai mein sifar (zero) hain yeh, dimag unka inhi cheejo me chalta hai jo ye bata rahe hai." Faris ne urdu mein sarghoshi ki.

"Yeh jhoot bol raha hai," James ne urdu mein ek ek lafz dhora kar Jannat par apni dhaak bitha di.

"Ham parhai mein bohot acche hain."

"Unhein urdu bhi aati hai?" Uski aankhein phaili.

"Humne Raahim se seekhi hai," James ne jawab diya.

Jannat marhoob ho gayi.

"Ab jab ke Raahim yahan nahi hai, main uski koi bhi burai bardasht nahi karunga." William aagah kar diya. Woh usay uska Ustaad manta tha.

"Ham teeno mein ye uska wahid jasus hai jo hamari baatein us tak pahuncha deta hai," James ne doosri maloomat pahuchayi.

"Main yeh bhi usay zarur bataunga." William ne agah kar diya.

"Kya tumhein usne bataya hai, Raahim ke baare mein?" James ne kureda. Jannat ne nafi mein sir hila diya.

"Woh do kashtiyo par paon rakh kar, ajeeb si situation mein phas kar hame ye batata hai ke, 'Ab yeh ho raha hai.' 'aur me yeh karne laga hu' Humein lagta hai ke uski kahani khatam, aur phir wo agle din rabta karke batata hai, 'Main to zinda hoon,'" James ne kahani sunai.

"Tum kitne ehsaan faramosh ho, James. Unhone tumhare novel ke liye kitne achhute ideas diye hain,"

Ab ke James ne intehai sanjeedgi se Jannat ki taraf mutwajja hua.

"Meri wohi tahreer is waqt aath publishers reject kar chuke hai,"

Jannat ne tassuf se sir hilaya.

"Rejection ka matlab yeh nahi ke tum nakam ho chuke ho," William ne samjhana chaha.

James ne gehri saans lekar apni coffee ka mug uthaya aur khidki ke samne ja khada hua. Uske chehre par fikr ke asaar thay.

"Asal mein iski Raahim se ladai chal rahi hai, is liye buraiya kar raha hai. Kal tak gun gaa raha hoga," Jannat ne samjh kar sir hilaya.

Faris, jo ab tak khamoshi se unki baat sun raha tha, apne bete ki taraf mutawajeh raha. Jannat ko khane ka intizam dekhna tha, is liye maazrat karte hue uth gayi.

"Tumhari yeh wali biwi zyada acchi hai," William ne casual andaaz mein kaha.

"Comparison ka kaun keh raha hai?" Faris ne sulag kar puchha to William uske ghusse se khayif ho gaya.

"Waise hi keh raha tha,"

"Suno guys!" James apne khayalo se nikal kar wapas aaya. "Bahut ho gayi aankh micholi! Ab waqt aa gaya hai ke hum Raahim ko block kar de."

William ne Zayn ko Faris se le liya. Bacha roya nahi, to usay apni bahut badi kamiyabi mehsoos hui.

"Hey! Little buddy main hoon Uncle William,"

"Kuch keh raha hoon main!"

William ko ghuusa chadha

"Sun rahe hai.." Faris ki bezar si awaaz aayi.

"Pehle tay hua tha har teen mah baad. Phir tay hua chhe mah bad Aur ab poora ek saal hone wala hai aur usne humein apni shakal nahi dikhai. Video calls karta tha, woh bhi band kar di usne. Kya sirf 'I’m fine, thank you' likh dene se dosti ka haq ada ho jata hai? Jab woh mrs. Grande se mil sakta hai, to humse kyun nahi?"

"Kya sach mein woh yahan aata hai?" William ne hairan ho kar usay dekha. Faris ka nanha beta uske muh par hath rakhna chah raha tha.

"Emma se pucho, har weekend uski chocolates chori ho jati hai, kala bechari ne mujhe bataya tha ke yeh raahim ka kam hai."

"Mera nahi khayal ke woh yahan aata hai."sine par bazu bandhe faris ne sanjeeda se goya hua,

"Lekin Emma ne jo baat kahi, usay bhi to nahi jhutla sakte. Usne apne kaano se Raahim aur Miss Grande ki baate suni hain."

"Aath saal ki bachi ki kahani zyada credible hai tum dono ke liye?" Faris ne ghoora.

"Tum shayad Emma ko jaante nahi ho. Hamare paros mein sabse hoshiyar aur zaheen bachi hai woh."

" Aur Us bachi ko sirf yeh gham hai ke uske kamre se chocolates gayab ho jati hain."

William ne samajh kar taqeed ki aur Zayn ko oopar uthaya. Bacche ki khilkhilahat raahdaari tak gunji, jahan Rayyan khada yeh sab dekh raha tha.

"Bohot friendly hai tumhara beta! Iska matlab hai ke tum par to bilkul nahi gaya,"

James ki nazar Rayyan par pari.

"Oh hello!" Usne door se haath hilaya, to Rayyan kuch fikrmandi ke sath khada raha. Faris ne gardan mod kar usay dekha, phir usay bulaya to woh unke paas aagaya. Ab woh ajnabi nigaho se dono ko dekh raha tha, apne bhai ko bhi jo unke paas tha. Uski fikr ek dum se barh gayi.

(Kahin uske bhai ko le na jaye...)

"Isko batao ke hum zayn ko le jane wale hain," Faris ne ahistagi se bataya to Rayyan ke lab bhinch gaye.

"Jane dein unhein?" Ab woh pooch raha tha.

Nafi me sar hilaya "Nahi.." Rayyan ki aankhein bharne lagi thi.

William ko shararat soojhi to uth khada hua.

"Bye bye!" woh uske bhai ko le jaa raha tha.

Aur usne ek dum rona shuru kar diya. Kuch beqaraari aur khauf se.

"Bas kar do, William! Kafi hai itna," Faris ne kaha, magar William ne darwaza khol diya.

"William!" Faris ab apni jagah se uth gaya tha.

Aur is lamhe James Anderson par ye baat wazeh hua ke Faris Wajdan ko us baache ka rona bilkul bardasht nahi hua tha.

"Kahin le kar nahi jaa rahe. Yeh dekho, wapas aagaya,"

Usne jab tak William se zayn ko le nahi liya, tak tak Rayyan ka rona band nahi hua tha. Siskiya bharte aur hichkiya lete hue woh Faris ke paas sahem kar betha tha. Uska bhai ab "Papa" ke paas tha bas itni si tasalli thi.

William ne maazrat khwahana andaaz mein haath uthaye. Phir uske samne jhuk kar apna haath barhaya dosti ke liye. Rayyan ne Faris ke seene mein munh chhupa liya. Usse dosti nahi karni thi.

Open kitchen se yeh manzar dekhte huye jannat kamal muskura kar reh gayi thi.

Mobile par ek notification mosool huyi, to Faris ne apni jeb se nikal kar dekha.

RA ka message tha.

"Jald milte hain, bro!"

Usne parh kar mobile wapas jeb mein dal liya. woh William ki taraf mutawajeh tha, jo apni university ka koi kissa suna raha tha.

•••

Shandar studio mein kamyab aur pur-sukoon zindagi ke mutalliq interview deti pur-aitmad Aarzoo Jahangir mushkura kar haath hilati, audience ke saath tasveer khinchwati, sign karti apni secretary aur manager ke humraah qadam uthati jaa rahi thi.

Sunehri rang ke maxi numa libas mein uska mutanasib sarapa numaya ho raha tha. Lambi pencil heels ne jaise shaan badha di thi. Uske brown baal halka sa curl liye hue uske dahine kandhe par gire hue the.

Ghaneri palke upar ko uthi, khoobsurat katao liye hotho par dilfareb si muskan theher gayi thi. Uski ek ek cheez nafees, qeemti aur mehngi thi.

Haat hilate halka sa muskaraate hue woh kai dhadkano ko tham rahi thi. Woh ek kaamyaab aurat thi, kamyab model, jiski chaal mein ek khaas waqaar sa jhalakta nazar aa raha tha.

Woh camera flashes ki zad mein haath hilati apni siyah aala shaan gaari mein sawar ho chuki thi. Woh kuch hi der mein Manhattan ki ek taweel imarat ke luxury flat mein daakhil ho rahi thi. Aur tanha dakhil ho rahi thi.

Aur tab jo uski chaal ka waqaar, jo gaari se lift aur raahdari tak tha, woh ab khatam ho raha tha. Iski seedhi kamar aur uthi hui gardan ab jhuk rahi thi. Isne apna mehnga qeemti bag chhod diya.

Iske Branded ke nafees joote, jinke poori duniya mein bas teen hi joore thay, unhein kheench kar utarte kuch be-dardi se phainka, jaise woh uske talwon ko jalate rahe ho. Ab woh cream tiles par qadam uthati apne aali shaan bedroom ka darwaza khol rahi thi. Woh kamra aisa tha jaisa kisi malka ka hujra...

Wardrobe ne poori deewar ko gher rakha tha. Uske mehnge tareen kapro ka, jooto ka, aur bags ka collection nazar aa raha tha. Uske jeete gaye awards sheeshe ke us paar saje hue dikhai de rahe thay. Woh apne jahazi size ke bed par dheh si gayi thi.

Itni roshniya thi uske apartment mein aur aisi sahuliyat ke tangi ka to gumaan bhi nahi ho sakta tha, magar usay ho raha tha.

Woh kaamyab aurat...

Woh Aarzoo Jahangir...

Woh Lady Esperanza...

Uska dam ghut raha tha. Woh ek kamiyab aurat, jo kamyabi, khushi aur sukoon ka har raaz jaanti thi. Jise dekh kar log rashk karte thay, jise khushqismat aur kamyaab samjha jata tha.

Woh aurat ab side table ki daraz khench rahi thi. Andar anginat dawaiyo ka dher tha. Woh har ek pack se goli nikalti jaa rahi thi. Uski Hazel aankho mein surkhi tair rahi thi. Pani ke sath usne kayi goliya ek sath nigal li thi.

Ab woh qeemti aur naram reshmi safed qaleen par baithi thi. Usne haal hi mein jo Instagram post ki thi, woh do lakh likes ka pichla record bhi tod rahi thi. Mohabbat bhare comments aur messages se DM bhar chuka tha. Uske fans usay kitna chahte the. Uski mohabbat mein woh kitne pagal the, nazar aa raha tha. Unki tadaad crores mein thi. Woh usay idealize karte the, uski misaalein dete the.

Magar uske lakho madaho par ab ek insan ki nafrat bhari thi. Woh ek insan, jo uski kaamyabi aur shohrat ki har chamak ko mand kar raha tha.

Usne jis cheez ki bhi khwahish ki thi, hamesha hasil kar ke hi rahi thi. Magar ab jo khwahish thi, woh hasil nahi ho rahi thi. Jo na dolat se poori ho rahi thi, na paiso se kharidi ja rahi thi.

Duniya ki mehngi tareen brands ki aurat, jis ka ab duniya ke kaamyab tareen logo mein shumar hone laga tha, woh aurat apne balo mein ungliyan phansaye mathosh ho rahi thi. Uske bedroom ka manzar ek bar phir badal raha tha.

"Woh mera beta hai! Iski maa sirf main hoon. Usay maine janam diya, nau mahine apne pait mein rakha. Woh mujhe kaise faramosh kar sakta hai?" Woh cheekhte hue keh rahi thi.

Char saal pehle woh Faris Wajdan se milne Shirazi House gayi thi, aur usne milne se inkaar kar diya tha. Mulaqat Jamila Dawood se hui, to usne apna sara gussa unpar nikal diya tha.

"Tumne usay bharkaya hai, tumne Faris ko mere khilaf kiya hai. Bhala koi aise bhi karta hai apni maa ke sath? Meri majboori woh kisi taur samajh nahi pa raha! Uske baap ne mujh se usay cheen liya tha."

Woh shadeed gusse aur iztaraari kefiyat mein Jamila Dawood ke samne khadi zehar ugal rahi thi. Woh apne lafzo, rawayye aur lehje se kisi taur normal nahi lag rahi thi. Jo baat usne us waqt kahi thi, wohi baat isi lamhe phir dohra rahi thi.

"Main tumse milne aayi thi," Jamila Dawood ki awaaz saadaton se takrane lagi.

"Palat-palat kar aur baar-baar maine tumse kaha tha, apne bete ko sath le jao."

Be-tehsha surkh aankho mein nami liye woh apni jagah tham gayi.

"Tum ne kuch kaha tha mujh se? Bhool gayi ho to yaad dilau?"

Ab woh kamre ke wast mein khadi thi, yun jaise fiza mein ma'looq ho.

"To yun kehte ho ke tum ne mere bete ko mere khilaf kiya hai. Tum ne uske dil mein mere liye nafrat bhari hai. Tum ne usay vargalaya hai."

Chikh pari.

"Aarzoo Jahangir.." ne Jamila Dawood ko nok diya tha. "Bacha sirf paida kar dene se koi maa nahi ho jaati."

Uske aas paas ajeeb sa shor aur awaazain ubharne lagin. Camera ke flash, mike, sawalat ki bochar, taaliyo ki golnj, ramp par uske jalww, magazines par uski tasweere, uski brands ki promotion, kisi shaahi khandaan se mulaqat...

Duniya ki kaamyab tareen karobar karne wale shakhsiyat ki list mein uska naam..

"Baees saalo ke baad tumhein yaad aaya ke ek beta bhi hai?" Jamila Dawood use dekh rahi thi. Jis taqat se woh aurat uske bete ki baat kar rahi thi, uska poora wajood aag hone laga tha.

"Woh mera beta hai, mera. Main use hasil kar ke rahungi."

Jamila Dawood se mulaqat ke baad woh aik zidd si ho gayi thi. Ab usay apna hona chaahiye. Uski zindagi mein apna wajood chahiye. Uski mohabbat mein apna hissa chahiye.

"Woh koi cheez ya award nahi hai jise tum jeet sako." Awaaz kamre mein gonj kar rahi thi. Uska wajood sakt ho gaya.

"Kamyabi ki seedhi bhi nahi, jis par qadam rakh sako."

Uski palke larz uthin.

"Khoyi hui aisi cheez bhi nahi jise saalo baad own kar sako"

Woh bejaan tango ke saath neeche baith gayi thi.

Awaazw samato par hathore ki tarah baras rahi thi.

Woh zid, aik zid, aur khwahish, sirf khwahish reh gayi thi ke jiske peeche aik duniya marti thi, uske wajood se uski aulaad ko nafrat thi. Aur yeh nafrat use paagal kar rahi thi.

Us waqt usay apne bete ko apne se jodne ka bas aik hi rasta nazar aaya tha aur usne woh rasta apna liya tha. Woh interviews mein apne bete ka naam lene lagi thi. Uski tasweer dikhane gayi thi. Use apni zaat se jodne lag gayi thi.

Jane kaun si kami thi jo woh poora karna chahti thi. Duniya ki saari mohabbate aik taraf, aur uski aulaad ki nafrat doosri taraf...

Uski tarjihayat mein aik dam se beta aa gaya tha. Aik kamiyab, khoobsurat aur jo bhi uska beta ho, jiske wajahat ki log tareef karte to use apna kamal apna lagta. Woh uski aulaad hai, woh batana chahti thi. Woh uska khoon hai, woh itrana chahti thi.

Uski tamaam duniya isi daire ke gird ghoomne lagi thi.

Jo woh chahti thi, woh ho gaya tha. Google search iski aulaad ke tor par Faris Shirazi ka naam dikhane laga tha. Woh sirf aik naam tha. Jo nazar aata tha. Beta kahi na tha. Rishte aise nahi jode ja sakte the. Aise nahi banaye ja sakte the. Naam ke sath naam likh dene se kuch nahi hota tha, kuch nahi ho sakta tha.

Javeriya Habib uski awaaz sun kar darwaze par dastak deti andar aayi thi. Usne tartib aur nafasat se apne is kamre ka aik baar phir hashar bigad diya tha. Woh aik baar phir us halat mein thi ke ek cheez ko tahes nahes kar dena chahti thi.

"Usne kaha, 'Woh mujhe nahi janta.' Mere bete ne kaha." Uski awaaz goonj kar reh gayi thi

Faris ka chehra aankho mein aa gaya tha.

"Ma'am, sambhale khud ko."

Preshani aur fikar mandi ke aalam mein Javeriya uske saamne baith gayi thi.

"Javeriya, woh meri aulaad hai."

Sine par haath rakhe takeedi andaz apnaya, jaise yaqeen dilana chahti ho. "Mera beta, mera khoon hai woh. Uske inkar karne se yeh haqeeqat nahi badlegi. Kabhi nahi badlegi, bilkul bhi nahi."

Nafi mein sar hilane lagi. Javeriya usay sahara dete huye uthaa rahi thi. Kabhi kabhi uski madam ki halat aisi ho jati thi. Woh depression ki mareeza thi. Har hafte psychiatrist ke paas jaati thi. Adwayat par zindagi guzar rahi thi, aur unhi se neend le rahi thi. Jaane achanak unhe kya ho jata tha. Woh bhari duniya ke saamne kuch aur hoti thi, tanhaai mein kuch aur.

Javeriya t'asuf se usay dekh kar reh gayi thi.

"Woh aap se nahi milna chahta. Aap is baat ko chhod kyun nahi deti?"

"Mujhe tanhaai ka ehsaas hota hai. Mere khayal se mujhe, mujhe Habib se baat karni chahiye. Main isa ko apne paas bula leti hu..."

"Haan, yeh theek rahega."

Aarzoo ne jaldi se apna mobile uthaya.

"Ma'am," Javeria ke lab hile.

"Mansoor se kehti hoon, wohi sab manage karega."

"Ma'am, isa mar chuka hai."

Mobile phone kaan se lagaye, apne tamam tar josh ke saath woh ek dum se sakit ho gayi. Mobile kaan se lagaye kuch lamho tak khadi rahi. Aankho mein tafakkur ki parchhaiyan lehraye. Peshani par haath rakha, aur khud par hairan hui ke woh kaise bhool gayi. Isa ki wafat ko poore 9 saal ho chuke the. Yeh baat uske zehan se kaise nikal gayi? Kya hota ja raha hai?

Javeriya Habib ko ab ke zyada tashweesh hone lagi thi. Is mukhtaair arse mein yeh teesri martaba ho raha tha ke woh Isa ko is tarah se yaad kar rahi thi.

"Isa toh mar chuka hai."

Zair-e-lab dohrati, neeche baith gayi. Paanch saal ka Faris aur teen saal ki isa, jab woh unhe chhod kar gayi thi. Tab usay kyu khayal na aaya ke uske bacche abhi bahut chhote hai.

Usne peshani masal kar sir uthaya. Kamre ka manzar phir se badal chuka tha. Usay aas paas bohut se khilone bikhre huye dikhai diye. Faris ki chhoti si care, isa ke jahaz aur teddy bears, uski chhoti si cycle. TV par chalne wale cartoons ka shor, khaali safhe par qalam ghaseet kar rang bharta apne peshani par se balo ko hata ta Faris...

"Mumma"

Usne gardan morkar pichhe dekha. Awaz ki simit. Woh safed shorts par siyaah shirt pehne seedhiyo ki taraf bhaaga tha. Phir woh uski tango se lipat gaya tha.

Usay yeh sab kyun yaad aa raha hai? Aarzoo ki aankhon mein ajeeb si wehsat utar aayi.

Habib, Isa ko uthaye khade the. Messi shiddat se ro rahi thi. Aur woh apna bag ghaseet ti, glasses ankho mein tehrate behrooni gate aboor kar rahi thi.

"Talaaq ho gayi. Rishta khatam. Taluq khatam. Sab khatam."

"Aapko aaram ki zarurat hai. Aap so jaaiye," Javeriya Habib keh rahi thi. Magar woh apne bacho ko dekh rahi thi.

Isa cart mein tha. Faris uski god mein baitha baate kar raha tha. Uski chhoti chhoti baate ajeeb sa sukoon ragh-o-pe mein sarayat karta hua mehsoos ho raha tha.

Us ne baby cart ki taraf haath barhaya to Isa wahan nahi tha. Faris ki awaaz ek dum se khatam ho gayi.

"Faris"

Awaaz ke taaqib mein woh qadam uthati doosre kamre tak gayi aur pathra kar reh gayi. Us ne teen sala beti ko dekha. Uska poora wajood bheega hua tha. Woh neeche baitha tha aur apne jhoole ko khud hi hila raha tha. Aahista aahista uske kapdo se abhi bhi paani tapak raha tha.

Uske ragh-o-pe mein khauf ki lehr sarayat kar gayi. Us ne rote hue moun par haath rakh liye.

"Ma'am!" Javeriya Habib ne kandho se pakad kar hilaya tha. Aarzoo Jahangir ki aankho se wahshat dikhayi de rahi thi.

"Mujhe yeh sab kyun nazar aa raha hai?" Uska wajood kapkapa raha tha.

Javeriya Habib tarham bhari nigaho se usse dekhti peeche hat gayi thi.

Usay guman hua.

Woh fikr mandi ke aalam mein tezi se bahar nikal gayi thi.

"Doctor ko call karo." Woh kisi se keh rahi thi.

Aarzoo Jahangir carpet par let gayi. Apne aap mein simat kar us ne apne gird bazu bandh liye.

Kamre mein uski madham si awaaz abhi bhi gonj rahi thi. Woh rhymes thi jo woh bacho ko suna rahi thi.

❏❏❏