Chapter 16: •CHAPTER-15•

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"JANNAT!" Uska saans ruka.

Be ikhtiyar ho kar woh usi taraf barha jis taraf logon ka hajhoom tha. kinare par uske pounchane se bhi pehley gaari aik zor daar dhamake se aag ki lapait mein aayi thi. woh pathhar hu to chand lamho tak patthar hi raha. sakit, samait,  jaamed sadme se qowat mili. qadam be sakhta hi us taraf uthaye. beech raste mein hi kuch logon ne agey badhne se rok liya.

hawaas misl ho rahe the. woh gehre sadme mein tha. apna aap chhurate hue agay badhna chaah raha tha magar log usey agey badhne nahi de rahe thay.

"Faris.."

aan ki aan mein yeh kya huwa tha? kyun huwa tha? usne yeh to nahi socha tha. usne yeh to nahi chaha tha .

"FARIS!" ab ke aawaz buland thi. kapkapati hui aur darasht thi. jaisey kisi ne poori jaan laga kar usey pukara ho.

be jaan hoti tangon ke sath usne aik jhatkay se murr kar peechay dekha. sar par chhata taane sardi ki shiddat se kapkapati kuch kamzor aur nidhaal si jannat aankhon mein uljan liye is ke samne hi khari thi. kuch hi faasle par.

Sadme se faris ki nigah dagmagayi woh tham gaya, ruk gaya, thehr gaya. lamhay bhar ke liye usey apni aankhon par yaqeen nahi aaya tha. aa bhi kaise sakta tha? woh mujassam haqeeqat bani uske samne kaisay khadi thi? woh to gaari mein.

aankhon mein be yakeeni aur uljan liye, apne aap ko logon ki girift se azad karte hue woh uski janib badha. jannat nasamjhi ke aalam mein usey dekhne lagi. uski tabiyat theek nahi thi. sar dar se phataa ja raha tha. sardi aziat badha rahi thi magar faris ki ankhen uske tasurat uska khauf aur ghabrahat us par roshan din ki tarah ayaan tha.

"Mere sar mein dard tha to mein tablet laine ke liye..." usne khwamkhwa wazahat di.

aasman par bijli chamki. phir ghan garaj ki aawaz har simt gunji. woh us par nigah jamaye apni jagah khada raha.

ab ke jannat ne uske aqab mein dekha. shayad woh accident ki noiyat aur nuksaan ke bare mein janna chaah rahi thi. aglay hi pal uska halaq khushk huwa tha. zameen ne qadam jakar liye they. nigahein sholon par jham kar reh gayeen.

siyah Prado jo un ki gaadi se takrayi thi us gaadi mein aik hi nojawan tha. zakhmi tha aur usey gaadi mein daale chand muqami log usi waqt hospital ke liye rawana ho gaye the. lekin un ki gaadi jo bulandi se giri thi. Us mein to koi bhi nahi tha. magar phir bhi dono ki haalat aisi thi jaisey un ka nuksaan ho gaya ho. jaise woh sholon ki lapait mein gaari ke andar hi reh gaye ho.

Usne phir faris ko dekha. woh kamzor asaab ka shakhs nahi tha. aur aisa bhi nahi ke gaadi ka nuksaan usey pareshani mein mubtala kar de to phir woh itna mutfakir kyun lag raha tha? itna be chain aur be qarar kyun dukh raha tha? is ki aankhon ki surkh dard ki akkaasi kyun kar rahi thi? chehre ke tasurat muhsme mein kyun daal rahe the?

kya is liye ke woh bach gayi thi? kya is liye ke uske ghair zaroori wujood se jaan chhurane ka aik mauqa haath se nikal gaya tha? usey sadma huwa.

haan! shayad yahi wajah hai yakeenan yahi wajah hai. lab bhinch kar woh sakht tasurat ke sath usi waqt jane ke liye murr gayi thi. samne hi store ke shutter taley rukhte hue usne ghusse se surkh parte chehre ke sath faris wajdan ko dekha jo us ke barabar mein aa khada huwa tha.

"Andar aa jao sahab!" 13, 14 baras ka larka store ke counter se chillaya tha. aik lamhe ka tawaquf kiye baghair jannat foran hi seedhi chadh kar andar chali gayi. kursi khech kar baithte hue usne ne sard nazron se faris ko dekha. barsati ka head utarte hue usne gardan tak charhi hui zip khech kar seene par thehra li thi. aik haath musalsal harkat mein tha jaisey usey ghutan ho rahi ho aur woh shirt ke oopri button khol lena chahta ho sakhti se daant par daant jamaye jannat ne chehre ka rukh phair liya.

mout ! baddua ! bad naseebi ! saza !

tambiya !

usne ankhen moond li. woh apni kefiyat par qaboo pane ki koshish kar rahi thi, magar yeh aasaan nahi tha. hargiz aasaan nahi tha. agar woh gaadi mein hoti to is waqt uska dam ghuta usey laga agar us ne fi al-waqt khud ko na sambhala to usey kuch ho jayega. pandrah din pehlay bhi us par aisi hi kefiyat taari hui thi. lekin tab usne khud ko sambhaal liya tha. ab sambhaalna kuch mushkil lag raha tha.

"Pani dena!"  ladka bhaag kar mineral water ki bottle nikaal laya. chand ghoont bhar kar usne biscuit bhi utha liye thay. juice bhi le liya. apne associate Aadil Ahmed se phone par baat karte Faris ki nazar yaka yak us par pari aur woh ruk gaya. Kya keh raha tha yeh bhi bhool gaya.

juice ke sath biscuit khate hue woh cheeze utha utha kar dekh rahi thi. un ki qeemat pooch rahi thi. apni raye aama se bhi aagahi day rahi thi. terah chodan saal ka pathan ladk barh charh kar uski khidmat dario mein laga huwa tha. Faris ki ragein tan gayeen. jabre bhinch gaye .

'kya is be his ladki ko zara sa bhi ehsas hai ke mout usey qareeb se salam de kar ke gayi hai?'

"Baji! aur kuch chahiye aap ko?" pathan ladka bohat khush tha. mustadi se apna har kaam sar anjam de raha tha.

"haan, Jara wo lays chips bhi le aao, aur yeh chili mili yeh nai aayi hain kya? pehley to kabhi nahi dekhi. aur is ka flavour kaisa hai?" ab woh kuch aur utha kar pooch rahi thi.

"Yeh bacha log khata hai baji! Ham ko nahi maloom"

"Yeh kitney ka hai?"

"Das rupay ka baji!"

"Das rupay? paanch ki do ge to lungi."

"Sir! aap kuch keh rahay the." Aadil Ahmed ki aawaz par woh sir jhatak kar phone ki taraf mutwajjah huwa.

"Baji! abhi tum bola tumahra sar mein dard hai. hamara amma boltaa hai sar me dard ho to khatti cheez nahi khaani chahiye."

Aadil Ahmed ko zaroori Hidaayat de kar woh mura to zard rangat aur surkh padtee aankhon ke sath jannat kamaal teesra chips ka packet khol rahi thi.

"Yeh tumahra store hai Khan?"

"Nahi baji yeh Gul Khan ka store hein, ham to pakore bechta hain.." pakore baichnay se hi usey kuch yaad aaya to foot se bola.

"Aaj tum bhi bach gaya. Ham bhi bach gaya!".Jannat ne kuch heran ho kar usey dekha tha.

"Woh jaha tumhara gaadi khada tha na ham idhar roz pakore bachata hai, lekin aaj barish tha is liye aaj ham nahi baicha agar barish nah hota to ham idhar khada nah hota. aur phir hamara amma ro raha hota"

saans roke jannat usey dekh kar reh gayi.

"Suqar hai tumahra gaadi bhi khaali tha. Suqar hai, ham bhi wahan nahi tha" usne sar hila hila kar khushi ka izhaar kiya tha.

"Tumhe lagta hai, Allah ne hame bachaya hai?" bohat mohtaat ho kar, aur khasi soch o bichaar ke baad is ne bazahir pust aawaz mein poocha tha magar aawaz itni bhi past na thi ke faris wajdan ki samaaton se na takrati.

"haan! Allah ka boht boht shuqar hain baji !"

"Aisa bhi to mumkin hai ke yeh aik warning ho. mere liye tumhare liye ya shayad kisi aur ke liye?"

ladke ne achanbhey se jannat ko dekha .

"Warning? Kaisa warning? Wallah! Ham bohat achhe pakore banata hai. safai ka bhi bohat khayaal rakhta hai, kisi din kha kar dekho"

Faris wajdan ne ain usi waqt uske aur larke ke mabain haal us choti si maiz par juice patka tha.

"Kitne ka hai?" daant pees kar keemat poochi ja rahi thi.

ladke ne sar utha kar faris ko dekha. is grahak ko to woh yaksar faramosh kar betha tha. jannat ne gardan seedhi ki. nagwari se usey dekha, phir rukh badal gayi. pathan larka ab faris ki khidmat darion mein lag gaya tha.

woh pichhle daidh ghante se maiz par head down kiye baithi thi. na neend aa rahi thi, na sukoon mil raha tha. sulagti hui muttwaram aankhe bhi ab takleef pahunchane lagi theen.

pathan ladka uske liye chai le aaya tha. Tablet wo le chuki thi magar uski tabiyat thi ke kisi bhi soorat sambhalne mein nahi aa rahi thi. jism mein ab maror uth rahe thay. koi aisa intizam bhi nahi tha ke woh daraaz ho kar so jati.

"Sahab! Tumahara aadmi kab aaye ga?" pathan larka sirf unhi ki wajah se store band nahi kar raha tha. faris ne kalayi mourr kar waqt dekha. Uske andaze ke mutabik Aadil ko ab tak pahunch jana chahiye tha.

kuch soch kar usne mobile nikala. aur us se qabal ke woh call karta, siyah mercedes store ke samne aa khadi thi. head lights ki taiz roshni glass door par pari. horn bhi baja aur mobile par call bhi aane lagi.

jannat ne be sakhta sar uthate hue bahar dekha. samne do gadiya theen. aik mein Aadil aur doosri gaari me uske guard sawaar the.

"Is everything all right sir!" Aadil andar aa gaya tha. usey accident ki tafseelaat se aagah karte hue woh darwaze mein hi khara raha tha.

Aadil Hadayat le kar palat gaya to usne sarsari nigahon se jannat ko dekha jo apni jagah sar th kar usi taraf aa rahi thi.

Faris ke kareeb se guzarte hue, usey aik dam apna sar ghoomta mehsoos huwa, is se qabal ke woh larkhara kar girti, faris ne bar waqt usey baazu se pakar kar sambhaal liya.

faris ki yeh harkat itni ghair mutawaqqa aur achanak thi ke jannat ko sambhlne mein aur phir sambhal kar samjhne mein chand lamhay lagey. agley hi lamhe usne shadeed ghusse ke aalam mein badak kar apna baazu yu chhuraya jaise usey saanp ne pakar liya ho. deewar ka sahara le kar apna tawazun barkarar rakhte hue usne sakht pathreli nigahon se usey dekha.

"Mera haath kyun pakra tum ne?" ab ke uska sawal, rawayya aur tasurat faris wajdan ke liye ghair mutawaqqa thay. woh is position mein hargiz nahi thi ke is se behas mubahise kar sakti. bukhaar ki shiddat se jism tap raha tha. ankhen dhundla rahi theen. sar ghoom raha tha. aur tab bhi woh samajh rahi thi ke agar koi bewaqoof usey girne se bacha raha hai to uske haq mein ghalti kar raha hai. Faris ke Jabrey bheench gaye.

Aadil Ahmed aur guards ke samne jis tarah woh uske sath paish aayi thi, woh baa-mushkil zabt kiye khada tha warna dil chaah raha tha aik thapar to laazmi jad de usey.

"Baji! yeh larai warai khatam karo. tumara tabiyat kharab hai. tum gir jaye ga." pathan larke ne hi usey calm down karne ki koshish ki thi. In do ghanton mein un ke liye diye rawayye se woh itna to jaan hi chuka tha ke koi aala aur ghair mamooli qisam ki dushmani hai jo in dono mein jane kab se chali aa rahi hai.

"Mujhe ab girne se dar nahi lagta Khan!"  Faris ki aankhon mein dekhte hue woh darasti se boli.

"Mein pandrah din pehley parking area mein giri thi, phir khud uth kar aur khud chal kar bhi gayi thi. ab bhi girungi to khud uth kar jane ki himmat hai mujh mein!"

"Mein bhi koi mara nahi ja raha tha tumahra haath pakarne ke liye." Faris ne dabi aawaz mein jhirak kar kaha.

Bigre tewaro ke sath jannat ne fat se chhatri khol di. agar Faris Bar waqt apna sar peeche na hata ta to noke us ke sar mein zaroor lagti. woh phoolay tanaffus aur bigre tewaro ke sath sambhal kar qadam uthai bahar nikal gayi. gaari tak pounchane se pehlay is

ka paon phisla tha. ( halaanke ke woh kitney ehtiyat se qadam utha rahi thi )

aur woh aik baar phir neechey giri thi. bohat buri tarah se sab dabi krah uske halaq se kharij hui. oopar se barish ki bochhaar jis ne chand second mein hi usey mukammal bhigo diya tha. chhatri jane kahan gayab hui thi.

"Khadoos se meri himmat bardasht nahi hui, nazar laga di!"

woh apni kohni sehlate hue musalsal ro rahi thi. Jane kya soch kar jane kya samajh kar aur jane aur kitni takleefo par. halanke usey faris wajdan ke samne nahi kabhi rona tha, nahi kamzor padna tha lekin yeh gham ke woh giri aakhir faris wajdan ke samne hi kyun giri? kyun? aur tab hi usne faris ko zeena utar kar apni taraf aate dekha. labon par tanzia muskurahat thi. jannat ka chehra

khaft se surkh par gaya. Uske sar par pahonch kar faris ne apna haath badhaya. khairaat ki tarah ke lo khud se pakdo ke tumhe is situation se nikala ja sake.

Wo bhi jannat kamal thi. tanaffur se uska haath jhatak kar baghair kisi madad, baghair kisi sahare ke khud se hi uth khari hui. koi haddi vaddi nahi tooti thi ke usey ab bhi kisi sahare ki zaroorat padtee. chote hi to aayi theen. aur chote! woh to usey hamesha aati rehti theen. is se bhi to mushkil tareen waqt dekha tha usne to phir aise kaise kamzor par jaye. keechar se latt patt kapron ke sath mukammal tor par bheegi hui ab woh apne qadmon par khari thi. dil chaha ab to cheekh kar ro parre. lekin usne sabr ka muzahira kiya aur gaadi ka darwaaza khol kar dahap se andar baith gayi.

Darwaza usne zor se band kya tha. pathan ladke ne sukh bhar saans le kar glass door band kiye, shutter giraya aur yeh Jah wo ja. aqbi nashist ka darwaaza khol kar Faris uske barabar mein betha to usne danista apne chehre ka rukh khidki ki taraf mour liya. Uski shakal aisi ho rahi thi jaisey woh khoob dil khol kar rona chahti ho magar kisi wajah se ro nahi pa rahi ho.

"Jee sab theek hai mummy! aap pareshan mat ho." Faris ne ruk kar phone par kuch suna.

"Kuch log barish mein kartab dikhnana chaah rahe the, to bas wohi dekhte dair ho gayi." jannat ne zabt kar ke muthiya bhinch li. Faris ne kalayi morr kar waqt ka hisaab lagaya.

"Hum bas daidh do ghante tak pahonch jayen ge." phir usne Allah Hafiz kehte hue call kaat di thi. jannat ki rangat safaid ho rahi thi. hont neelay par rahe the. thandak ka ehsas hadion mein ghusta mehsoos ho raha tha. lekin woh sar uthaye yun baithi thi jaisey bas shoqia hi kapkapa rahi ho.

Aadil Ahmed ne gaadi start kar di. Main road par gaadi daalne tak sab theek tha. phir jab gaadi ne sarayat pakri tab bhi woh gardan uthaye sheeshon par phisalti barish ko bare sukoon ke sath dekh rahi thi. Uske baad jane kya huwa, uski ankhen band hone lagi. sar dhalak kar sheeshe se jaa laga. haath be jaan ho kar pehlu mein girey. aur usey apne aas paas ka koi hosh nahi raha.

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