Chapter 21: •CHAPTER-20•

•••

usne wardrobe khol kar apne tamam fancy rang Birange malbosaat ka jaiza liya. phir nichala khana khol kar jewellery box nikale. nikah nama aur haq mohar ka cheque bhi neeche hi mojood tha. farsh par baithi wo nikah naame ko kaafi der tak dekhati rahi. phir usne aik aik kar ke woh jewellery box nikale jo mrs shirazi ne usey diye the.   wo zewraat jo shirazi khandan ki bahu ka muqaddar thehre the. kuch der wo khayalat mein ghark apni tamam cheezon ko dekhti rahi. phir usne aik faisla kar liya. Faris wajdan ke samne apni haliya position, apne haliya maqasid wazeh kar laine ka faisla .aik baat to tay thi. ab un ke mabain kuch bhi theek nahi ho sakta tha. nahi woh use apnane ko tayyar tha, aur na hi jannat kamaal ab aisa kuch chahti thi.

woh jaan gayi thi uska ghar kabhi nahi le ga. Talaq har baar muqaddar thehre gi. budduae  teer ki tarah thi. teer nishane par hi aakar lagti thi. aur usey achi tarah se andaza ho chuka tha ke us jaisi larki kisi ghar ki zeenat kisi mard ki izzat nahi ban sakti. woh aik majboori thi. Burhan ne bhi uske sath is tarah ka rawaiyya rakha tha. faris bhi ab yahi kar raha tha. So ese mein mojooda soorat e haal se samjhota zaroor kiya ja sakta tha magar woh khud ko aik baar phir halaat ke dhare par nahi chhorna chahti thi. aik faisla woh khud bhi karna chahti thi. aik rasta woh apne liye bhi rakhna chahti thi.

study room ke darwaze par madham ki dastak de kar usne darwaaza khol diya tha. Laptop ki key board par mutharrak Faris ki ungaliya yak dam sakit hui thi be sakta sar utha kar usne darwaze ki taraf dekha. yeh janne ke liye ke is waqt kon mukhil huwa hai. lekin agle hi lamhe jannat kamaal par nazar parte hi woh ruk sa gaya. woh kisi mulazim ki aamad ki tawaqqa zaroor kar raha tha, magar jannat ki nahi.

aankhon mein khafgi ragein tani hui lab bheenchey hue sar utha huwa laptop band karte hue faris ne badi fursat se us ka andaaz mulahiza farmaya tha. Uske hathon mein kuch jewellery box the jo usne office table par rakh diye. faris ne aik nazar un box ko dekha, phir use lab baham paivest the magar aankhon mein sawal tha ke yeh kya hai? yeh kis liye hai?

"Auntie ne mujhe nikah par jewellery di thi." Usne saare jewellery box khol kar sone ke zewraat use dikhaye, "aur yeh haq mohar!" Usne das laakh ka cheque uske samne rakh diya. band muthi par thodhi jamaye woh ab bhi be ta-assur nigahon se use dekh raha tha.

"Mujhe kyun de rahi ho?"

"Rakhu bhi to kis liye?" usne ulta sawal kiya.

"Yeh na ho, baad mein tum hisaab kitaab ke liye saira khaala ke paas pahunch jao, is liye saare mamlaat abhi se clear kar rahi hoon." goya use apne

kaghazi shohar se achhai ki koi umeed nahi thi.

"Haq mohar ke paanch laakh mere bante hain lekin mein tumhe poore das wapas kar rahi hoon. ab yeh is liye nahi kar rahi hoon ke tumhari nazar mein koi devi sevi ban saku, bhae, jab shadi hui hi  nahi hai to..."  woh wazahat dena chaah rahi thi. aur yeh wazahat ulta is ke galey par rahi thi .

Faris ne band muthi honton par zamayi thi. jannat ko jane kyun laga, usne muskurahat zabt ki ho. woh muskuraye ga kyun? aik lamhe ke liye woh uljhi thi.

lekin ab insaan apni fatah par nahi muskuraye ga to kya roye ga? dimagh ne toka. woh muskuraye, roye, hashe ,bhad mein jaye. usne khayalat ko jhatak kar apni baat mukammal ki.

"Agar hamari waqai mein shadi hui hoti aur hum ne is rishte ko nibhaya bhi hota to mein hargiz hargiz maaf na karti. lekin ab situation kuch aur hai isliye mujhe yahi munasib lag raha hai. iske ilawa jo tum har mah tum mere bank account mein nan nafaqa ke tour par raqam transfer kar dete ho, woh mein ne in teen mah mein aik baar bhi istemaal nahi ki hai. yeh na ho ke badme tum kehte phiro ke mein tumahre lakhon rupaye udati hoon." aik lamhe ke tawaquf ke baad usne faris ko dekha. is ki zaheen aankhon ke ta-assur se woh kuch nervous si hui. woh us par nigahein jamaye betha tha. khamoshi aur yaksoi se sun bhi raha tha. aisa bhi hona tha? Khair usne us lat ko kaan ke peeche ursa jo uske gaal par phisal rahi thi.

"Talaq mujhe fori chahiye hogi. tumhe abhi se documents ka intizam kar lena chahiye taa ke munasib waqt par bana kisi takheer ke sign kar ke aik dosre se jaan khulasi ki ja sake. lekin agar kuch wajohat ki bana par mujhe qabal az waqt yeh ghar chhorna par jata hai aur is dauran mera tum se fial for rabta bhi nahi ho paata to mein aik mah tak ki muddat ko zehen mein rakhon gi aur us ke baad samajh jaoongi ke mujhe Talaq ho chuki hai."

"so tumhe is baat ka khayaal rakhna ho ga ke mujhe is aik mah ke andar andar Talaq ho jani chahiye."

aik lamhe ko ruk kar usne yahan wahan nigah dorate kuch socha ke kahin kuch reh to nahi gaya?

"lambi chorrie tamheed bandh kar aur is terhan jewellery aur haq mohar ki raqam wapas kar ke tum kya yeh saabit karna chaah rahi ho ke tumahre liye paise ahem nahi hain? Really? You want to me believe in this rubbish!"

Jannat hakka bakka use dekh kar reh gayi.

"khud ko bohat acha saabit karne ke liye aik aur drama ke dekho mujhe tumhari doulat ki koi chahat nahi hai. na naam aur status ki mere liye bas tum hi kaafi ho. aur dekho, mein kitni acchi hoon ke sab kuch wapas kar rahi hoon bhala mujh jaisi farishta sifat larki tumhe aur kahan miley gi."

theek thaak beizzati ki thi. jannat ka chehra maare khaft ke surkh par gaya.

"Tumhe kya lag raha tha ke is tarah mein bohat impress ho jaoon ga. aur mujhe lagey ga ke yahi hai woh mohabbat karne wali wafa shohar larki, jise meri doulat, Wajahat , status se qatan koi gharz nahi hai? Aur.."

jannat ke zabt ka pemana labraiz ho gaya. saari bardasht khatam ho gayi. jewellery box utha kar is ke sar par maarte maarte woh yak dam ruk gayi.

woh dilchasp nazron se daikhta apni jagah betha raha.

"You know what? Mujhe mera apna haq mehar chahiye poore paanch laakh."  zeher khand lehjey mein kehte hue usne check jhapat kar utha liya.

Faris ke labon par madham sa tabassum ubhra.

"Mere liye yeh kuch bhi nahi hai. chaho to poore das laakh rakh lo? I really don't care!"

"Kyu rakh lu, bhikari samajh rakha hai? paanch laakh se aik rupiya kam ya ziyada nahi lugi. saare paise nikalwa kar unhen aag laga dungi magar tumhe maaf nahi karoon gi. aur yeh jewellery shadeed.." ghusse ke aalam mein box utha kar Faris ki pahunch se dur kiye gaye.

"Auntie ne diye the. auntie ko hi wapas karoongi. tum is qabil hi nahi ho ke."

Faris ki hansi chhut gayi. jannat faq chehare ke sath apni jagah pathar hui khari reh gayi. woh hash raha tha? woh us par hans raha tha. Uski be basi par? Uska mazaaq ura kar? tamasha bana kar ab woh hans raha tha?

agle hi lamhe aagahi ka woh lamha us par pahad ban kar toota. aur use ehsas huwa faris woh hakikat hi to use parh kar sun raha tha jise woh pichle teen mah se likhti rahi hai. woh bhi to wohi kar raha tha jo woh khud karti rahi hai.

Usne bhi to zich kiya tha usey zabardasti kisi museebat ki tarah musallat rahi thi. aur phir woh kaise bhool sakti hai ke woh mrs shirazi tavassut se hi apni marzi o Mansha se is ghar mein rehti rahi hai. use yaka yak hi idraak huwa, woh apna boya kaat rahi hai. use saza milni hi thi. faris ki khamoshi ne kabhi to aawaz mein dhalna hi tha. woh uski majboori ka faida uthaati rahi hai to woh uski kamzori ka haq kyun nahi uthaye ga?

woh us par nigah jamaye kayi lamhoon tak sakit khari rahi. usne pehle kyun nahi samjha? pehle kyun nahi jana?

"Tumhe ab yeh sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." kaafi der baad woh kuch kehne ke qabil hui to uska lehja kaafi se ziyada sakhti liye hue tha.

"Hamara nikah aik contrect hai. aur yeh contrect hi rahega. mein is haqiqat ko badalne ki koshish ab kabhi nahi karoongi." poore etmaad aur yaqeen ke sath usne apne iraday faris wajdan par wazeh kar diye The.

"Jis tarah tum auntie ke liye khush gawaar shadi hone ka natak kar rahe hona. Usi tarah mein bhi sirf un ki wajah se yahan ruki hui hoon. aur yeh mera tum se wada hai. jab jane ka waqt aaye ga mein khamoshi se chali jaoon gi. is liye tumhe yeh sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hai." do tok andaaz mein tanafur se keh kar woh usi waqt office se nikal gayi thi.

taizi se kursi chhor kar faris ujlat mein qadam uthata uske peeche aaya tha. beech raah daari mein hi usne kandho se pakar kar jannat ka rukh mora. woh uski is harkat par heran hue bina na reh saki. phir yaad aaya yahan gussa karna bantaa hai.

"Ab kya masla hai?" kandhe jhatak kar fankaari.

"Masle ka hal hai! ab tum haq mehar ki poori raqam apne paas rakh sako gi?"

chhanake se jannat ke andar kuch toota. kirchiya aankhon mein sama gayeen .

"Magar contrect ki haqeeqat kabhi nahi badlegi."

woh keh kar ja chuka tha aur jannat kamaal jwellery box aur haq mehar ki raqam liye apni jagah khadi reh gayi thi.

•••

Awail January ki dhoom aluch sakti. Har taraf sannato ka raaz tha. Wo sitting room me floor par tange samete khamosh bethi thi. Ehtraaf me zarkar roshni ka halka sa taasur faila tha. Samne glass wall par ubharti uski safiya adhuri thi. Aadha chehra aaya'n tha to aadha tariqui se uljha hua. Usne jalalat ke kayi roop dekhe the. Magar ye nahi dekha tha. Lehje kayi sahe the magar ye  nahi saha tha. Dutkar to waise bhi uska muqaddar thi. Magar isse nafs par chot sabse bhari thi. Maa ki badduao me auk baddua mout ki bhi to thi. Ye Wahid dua thi jo poori nahi hui thi. baqi Barbadi ka har chehra usne dekh liya tha. har aziyat chakh li thi. har dhutkar seh li thi. bas yeh mout hi reh gayi thi. bas yahi.

Sar jhukaye wo nam aankhon se apne khali hatho ko dekhne lagi thi, nigahein lakeeron se uljhi hui thi, naseeb talkhi se muskuraya tha.

"zindagi kitne hi mushkil adwaar se kyun na guzar rahi ho, dua kisi bhi soorat, kisi bhi haalat mein nahi chhodni chahiye." mrs. Shirazi ne aaj subah usey nasihat ki thi.

"Meri duae qabuliat mein bohat waqt leti hain" woh kahe bina na reh saki.

"Jo takheer Rab ki taraf se ho, woh hamesha khair lati hai!" mrs shirazi keh kar masroof ho gayi magar woh kitni hi der tak apni jagah baithi rahi thi.

"har takheer mein aik khair! Usne khud ko kuch samjhaana chaha.kuch kuch mehrumiya ataa ka aik roop hoti hain jannat! Allah ke kun ki muntazir apna roop badalne ko har lamha mustaed, asal imtehaan to us muddat ka hai. jo is mehroomi mein guzari jati hai."

Glass wall par uski dhund li adhuri saliha ab kuch wazeh hui thi.

"Is dauran hamare sabr ko jancha jata hai. hamare shuqar ko parkha jata hai. phir imaan ka darja mutayyan hota hai." usne ankhen ragad kar saaf ki.

"Mangti raho aur dekhatii jao Allah ki marzi se tumhari jholi mein kya girta hai, jo gire use bakhushi apna lo, khuwa woh nuqte jitni khushi ya zarre jitni barket hi kyun na ho."  Musbit soch ne jarr pakri. aansu palkon par thehr gaye. andar ka shhor tham sa gaya. apne balon ko samaitt kar juda banati woh banati wo kamre mein aagai.

Ghadi raat ke das baja rahi thi. faris abhi tak nahi aaya tha. sofe par nim daraaz ho kar floor lamp ki roshni mein magazine ki waraq gardani karte uski aankh lag gayi thi.

neend ki gehri wadiyon mein utarte use kisi khawab kisi khayaal ki tarah yaad tha to bas yahi ke magazine hata kar aik taraf rakhte hue kisi ne use lehaaf udha diya tha.

•••

Park mein aqsa ke hamrah tehelte hue uski nazar siyah track suit mein malboos shakhs par pari to woh chonk kar wahi ruk gayi. uski gardan ke gird muffler achi tarah se hothon tak lipta huwa tha jis ki wajah se aadha chehra mukammal posheeda tha.

Aqsa ka baazu pakar kar foran rukh badalti, woh ujlat mein mukhalif simit qadam uthane lagi.

"Kya huwa?"  aqsa apni Malkin ke bdalte tassurat se pareshan ho jati thi.

"Yeh jo hamare peeche aa raha hai, yeh faris hi hai na?" usne aqsa se tasdeeq chahi. aqsa ne poori gardan morr kar peeche dekha, phir zor o shor se sar hilaya.

"Jee Jee, yeh apne faris sahab hi hain."

jannat ke lab bhinch gaye.

"Dekho aqsa! paas paas rehna."

aqsa samajh na saki, Malkan ne aisa kyun kaha hai. lekin kuch hi der baad jab peeche baar baar murr kar dekhne par faris wajdan ne use idhar idhar ho jane ka ishara diya to woh be chari confuse ho gayi. samajh mein nahi aaya ke kis ki mane? faris ki ya phir jannat ki? magar uske college ki fees to sahab hi dete the. apni maslehto ko mad nazar rakhte hue woh apni raftaar maddham karte hue wo waqai me idhar udhar ho gayi. Jannat ko uski ghair mojudgi ka ehsas us waqt huwa jab faris taiz taiz qadam utha taa uske barabar mein chalne laga tha. zair lab bud badate hue usne apni raftaar badhayi. magar woh usse phir bhi age na nikal saki.

dono barabar the. jannat ke qadmon mein ujlat numaya thi jab Ke faris ka andaaz sukoon liye hue tha. phir usne bhagna shuru kar diya. woh tab bhi aik lamhe ke liye na aage nikla na peeche huwa.

jannat ne dur tak jogging track ko dekha phir thak haar kar phoole tanaffus ke sath ruk gayi. ghutnon par haath rakh kar jhuk kar sansen hamwar karne lagi. woh bhi ruk gaya. agle chand lamhay khamoshi ki Nazar hue.

"Pandrah January ki tickets confirm hui hai." honto par se muffler hatate hue gardan par thehrate hue usne sanjeedgi se kaha. jannat ne sar utha kar use dekha.

"Theek hai!" bhale  se uski jannat ki ticket confirm ho ya jahannum ki. . woh use kyu bta raha hai. aankhon mein na samjhi ka ta-assur liye sawal thehr gaya.

"Tum mere sath London ja rahi ho."

jannat sakit hui. ankhen herat o be yakeeni se pheli. samaat par yaqeen na aaya. ab woh kya kar raha hai? ab woh kya chaah raha hai?

"Tumhe lagta hai tum mujhe apni marzi se kahin bhi le ja sakte ho?" woh mushtael hui.

"Lahore le ja chuka hoon. London bhi le ja sakta hoon." uska lehja normal tha. jaise ghair zaroori guftagu mein woh yuhin hissa le raha ho.

"Lahore mein chali gayi thi. London mein nahi jaungi"

Faris ne sawalia aabru uthaye.

"Tumhara kya bharosa mujhe parking area ya road par chhor kar chale jao. phir das pandrah din baad auntie ke majboor karne par laine aajao. sorry! mein yeh risk nahi le sakti. bilkul bhi nahi." usne saaf inkaar kar diya.

woh ab Faris ko nahi dekh rahi thi. woh bas nafi mein sar hilaate hue apne tajziyon par qana ho rahi thi. Lahore woh usey batore saza le kar gaya tha. batore saza chore kar bhi aaya tha. wo use apni biwi apni izzat nahi samjhta tha. jis shakhs ki woh biwi thi, nah izzat! us shakhs par ab woh koi bhrosa nahi kar sakti thi.

"Theek hai!" chand lamhon ke tawaquf ke baad Faris ne kaha. aawaz gambhir thi. tas surat sanjeeda magar kahin sakhti nahi thi. narmi bhi nahi. yu jaise inkaar se usey koi khaas farq na para ho. yun jaisey woh aise hi kisi jawab ka mutamanni ho raha ho. pal pal uske tasurat, uske irade aur ehsasat badalte the.

"Mummy ke huqam par tickets book karwai hai. inqaar bhi tum unhen karo."

Uske labon par ubharti fatihana muskurahat jannat ko andar tak shulga gayi. mrs Shirazi ko faris wajdan inkaar nahi kar sakta tha, uski kya majaal thi. Kur kar, tap kar, usne sar utha kar faris ko dekha.

"Mein acchi tarah se janti hoon, tum mujhe London kyun le kar jana chahte ho."

"Kyun le jana chahta hoon?"

"Tum jo marzi mansube bana lo mister shirazi! khudkushi mein nahi karungi na London burj se na kisi aur jagah se!"

Jogging track par paon patakti woh jane ke liye murr gayi thi. Pockets mein haath daale faris wajdan munbassim chehre ke sath apni jagah khada reh gaya tha.

•••

bed par takiyo ke sahare woh nim daraaz koi kitaab haath mein liye betha tha. mobile paas hi para tha. har thori der baad masool hotay massages ke notifications ko musalsal nazar andaaz kiye woh bazahir padhne ki koshish kar raha tha magar uski tamam tar tawajah us uthak pathak ki taraf thi jo jannat kamaal ki wajah se ho rahi thi. Daraze khinchi jarahi thi. cheezon ko idhar udhar kiya ja raha tha. jis cheez ki talaash thi, woh use poora kamra ulat palat karne ke ba wujood nahi mili thi.

thak haar kar woh wardrobe ki taraf muri jo tamam ki tamam khuli hui thi. safri bag kalin par dhara tha. hanger se kapre nikaal kar teh karti ab woh shadid ghusse mein lag rahi thi.

chaar din baad un ki London ki flight thi. samaan abhi se pack kiya ja raha tha. aur kuch ghusse aur jhunjhlaht ke aalam mein Kiya ja raha tha.

"Tum to aise react kar rahi ho jaise mein tumhe zabardasti London le ja raha hoon." bil akhir faris ne khamoshi ka qatal toda.

"Haan to kya aisa nahi hai?" woh palat kar gurrayi.

"Tumhari har chaal ab mujhe bohat achi tarah samajh mein aa rahi hai."

"Kaisi chaal?" labon par ubharti muskurahat dabay woh seedha ho betha.

"Mere sath London jane ki khwahish to hamesha se tumhari hi thi."

hanger se gulaabi sweeter nikalte jannat kamaal mushtal ho kar uski taraf muri

"Yeh tum ne khud keh diya 'thi' yani fal maazi past tense! ab meri aisi koi khwahish nahi rahi."

"Achha mazak hai." woh hansa.

"Mazak nahi, hakikat hai yeh"  jannat jal bhun gayi.

"Tumhari hakikate bhi tumhari tarah kuch ajeeb si nahi hain?" uska lehja mazaaq udane wala tha.

jannat ne palat kar use sard nazron se ghoora.

"Koi khushfehmi hai to dur kar lo mein sirf mumy ki wajah se tumhe majburan sath le ja raha hoon."

"Mein bhi sirf un ki wajah se sath jarahi hoon. warna tumahare sath to mein gali ke nuqqadh tak bhi nah jaoon."

"Bohat khoob! woh mehjooz huwa. jannat ko tap charhi. is se qabal ke woh koi jawabi hamla karti, faris ka mobile baj utha. screen par ubhrte naam par nazar parte hi woh call receive karta usi waqt uth kar kamre se chala gaya tha.

woh jo apne kapre haath mein liye khari thi, uski is harkat par thitak si gayi. faris ki beshar calls karobari nowiyat ki hoti thi jinhein woh hamesha uske samne hi attend karta tha. dost ahbaab se baat cheet bhi uske samne ho jaya karti thi, magar pichle kayi dinon se aik makhsus number se aane wali call attend karne ke liye woh uth kar bahar chala jata tha. har baar uske tas surat badalte the aur aankhon ki chamak kuch barh si jati thi. pehle to usne koi khaas notice nahi liya tha magar ab use shak hone laga tha.

kuch soch kar woh be aawaz qadmon ke sath bahar aagai thi. usne phir wahi se sitting area ki taraf dekha.

"Mein bhala tumhe kaise bhool sakta hoon?" samne  victorine tarz ke aaine mein Faris ka side pose wazeh nazar araha tha.

"Mummy se mein ne filhaal baat nahi ki hai. mein unhen surprise dena chahta hoon." Usne ruk kar kuch suna. Fir muskuraya.

"Tum keh sakti ho!" khamoshi aik baar phir chhai thi. woh bohat tawajah aur yaksoi se mukhatib uski baat sun raha tha. aur is douran kayi baar is ke labon par muskurahat bhikri thi.

"kon? meri biwi?" uski tum fikar mat karoon mein sab sambhaal lunga.

'kya sambhalenga wo?' jannat ka maatha thnka. mukhatib yakeenan aik ladki thi. uska shak yaqeen mein badal chuka tha.

Magar yeh ladki thi kon? yeh sawal ab woh direct faris wajdan se nahi pooch sakti thi. puchne ka koi haq bhi nahi rakhti thi. haq rakhti bhi hoti to puchhna nahi chahti thi. use yahi zahir karna tha ke aisi kisi baat se use koi farq nahi padta hai. sar jhatak kar woh kuch hi der mein kamre ke andar thi.

haan, usey ab hargiz hargiz farq nahi parna chahiye. usne apne gaal thapthapa kar khud ko samjhaya. phir apne kaam mein jat gayi .

kon ho sakti hai? kuch hi der baad apna bakhera samete hue woh aik baar phir sochne baith gyi thi.

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