Chapter 33: •CHP-32•

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woh subah ke saat bajey ghar se nikalta tha aur baagh ke raste tehelta huwa bohat dur nikal jata tha. yeh uski roz marrah ki routine thi. ibtidayi kuch dinon tak to jannat usey khidki se hi jata dekhatii rahi thi.

chouthe din woh apne nana ki ijazat se main gate par mojood thi. aur phir jaisey yeh roz ka mamool ban gaya tha. yeh ka woh subah sawere jaisey hi usey baagh ke rastay nazar aata tha, woh apna hi tooty bag pehne bahar chali aati thi.

kabhi woh akeli hoti, kabhi raste mein uske namoone dost bhi sath hote. Tipu , mouni, kaka shaka aik to naam anokhe upar se harkatein bhi ajeeb.

Shaakho se latakte. aur maryam urf mouni to sara waqt barri ammao ki tarah apne sar par dupatta hi jamati rehti. jannat un ki leader thi. chikhte hue jis rukh ishara karti, woh sab hi usi taraf daud parte. choti choti baatein aur fuzool se latifey un ke liye itne mazhaka khaiz hote ke woh hans hans ke ghaas par lout poat ho jate. aur woh herat se unhen dekhte hue sochta reh jata.

'hansne wali baat kya thi ?"

kabhi kisi shararat par basti ke log dantne ko lapakte to woh saare usey dhaal banatey peeche chhup jate. aur log usey Azam Shirazi ka koi ghair mulki maheman samajh kar lehaaz kar jate. un ke jane ke baad jo jharkiyan wo pilata, aglay paanch minute tak to kisi ki aawaz bhi na niklti. uske baad wohi bhaag daud, shore saraba. aur woh unhen kabhi uljan aur kabhi uktahat se dekh kar reh jata. itne shore aur halle gulley ka woh aadi nahi tha.

Magar masla sirf aadat ka nahi tha. unhen hanstaa muskorata dekh kar usey ajeeb wehshat hoti thi. woh un ki sangat mein saat sala faris ho jaya karta tha. un ki nanhi nanhi khushion aur qehqahon se ulajhney lagta tha. saari mehromiyan, talkhiyan aik sath yaad aati to uske ehsasat ajeeb ho jate. aur mawazna shuru ho jata.

kitney khush qismat they yeh bachay har gham, pareshani aur khauf se mobara rishton mein ghiry mohabbaton se jurey unhen haq tha is tarag kehke laga kar hasne ka is tarah muskurane aur dhair saari shararte karne ka. nah kisi ke baap ne usay chorra tha, nah kisi ki maa ne usey thukraya tha.

woh duniya ke khush qismat tareen bachhe the jo apna bachpan waisa hi jee rahe the jaisa unhen jeena chahiye tha. un ke kaandhon par koi boojh nahi tha. aur zehnon mein koi sawal nahi they. woh shafaaf they. un par un ke walidain koi dhun nahi jamne de rahe thay. aur aik woh tha. Jise uske apne walidain ne mohabbat se likh kar nafrat se mita diya tha.

Us din woh wapas aaya to kaafi se ziyada udaas tha. sara din woh dr. mustafa ke ghar raha, Saleem aur jannat usse baat cheet karne ki koshish karte rahe magar woh chup raha. dr. mustafa aaye to uska ravayye mehsoos kar gaye. khane ke baad kuch der tak sawal jawab karte rahe magar woh sar jukaye khamosh betha raha.

ab woh unhen yeh betaye ke woh un ki saat sala nawasi aur uske dosto se jealous ho raha hai? is liye ke woh itna hanste aur muskurate hain?

woh chhotey bachon ka zikar kar ke un ke samne chhota nahi hona chahta tha. woh be sukooni ka saamna kar ke is baar khaali nahi hona chahta tha. saare gham, uljhanein aur mehromiya samete woh ghar chala gaya. us din pehli baar

aisa huwa tha ke usne dr mustafa se apni baat share nahi ki thi. agle din woh baagh mein gaya to bachon ne usey aik baar phir ghair liya. tang aakar usne kisi tanha weraan gooshe mein ojhal ho jane ki koshish ki, khayaal tha jab woh unhen nahi miley ga to woh apne khail mein Taman ho kar uska peecha chhor den ge magar woh bacche bhi goya bottle ka jinn the.

dayen baen aage peeche se chikhte hue yu namodaar hue jaisey woh un ke sath chappan chhupayi khail raha tha. yani ke had hai. tap kar jhirak kar, aur unhen acha khasa daant kar woh ghar chala gaya. aglay do din usne baagh ka rukh nahi kya. teesre din poori fouj uske darwaze par thi.

"Kaka ne machhliya pakri hain. choti choti si hain. tum dekho ge?"

aur kaka ki to shaan hi allag thi. steal ke aik bartan ko foran hi aage kar diya. us ne sarsari si nigah dorhayi.

"Yeh tadpole hain." baa-mushkil zabt kar ke kaha.

"Haan hamein pata hai. yeh machhliyan hain." yeh jannat thi.

"yeh machhliyan nahi hain." usne tahammul se kaha.

"Yeh bade ho kar maindak banege."

"Nahi! yeh bade ho kar badi machhli bane ge."

jannat datt gayi. usne haar maan li. un ki machhliyan, un ki marzi bade ho kar Doctor, Engineer, Maindak, Giraffe, Hathi, shark kuch bhi banaye. Uski balaa se.

"Tue ko billi ka bacha mila hai, black colour ka hai, itna cute hai woh Tipu ghar se laaye ga to hum sab uske sath khelain ge."

aik aur ittila baham pohanchai gayi. aur bade hi raaz darana andaaz mein pohanchai gayi. chunke jannat ki billi Saleem ko dedi gayi thi so woh bohat mohtaat ho kar baat kar rahi thi taa ke us ke nana ko bilkul pata nahi chale ke aik aur billi ka intizam ho chuka hai. woh bezaar sa unhen khamoshi se dekh raha tha.

wasee o Areez sabza zaar par Azam shirazi bahar baithe the. lawn chair ka rukh usi taraf tha. bazahir woh coffee peete hue Agha Ali ki baat sun rahe the magar woh dekh use hi rahe the.

Faris ki un par nazar pari to aankhon mein yaka yak sakhti utar aayi. rukh badal kar apne kamre mein gaya. coat aur sneakers pehan kar bahar aaya to aik wawela macha huwa tha. kaka se bhagte hue bartan gir gaya tha. un ki

tadpole jinhone bade ho kar machhliyan banna tha, woh ghaas mein kahin gum ho gaye the. aur woh sab ke sab unhen dhoond rahe the.

"pani ke baghair to woh mar gayi hogi."

yeh khayaal jannat aur uski genius fouj ko poore das minute ki talaash bisar ke baad aaya tha.

"Koi baat nahi! mein abba ke sath dobara jauga to bohat saari dhoond lau ga." kaka ne tasalii di.

Faris unhen sath liye baagh ki taraf chala gaya. bacche uske sath bohat khush the aur yeh khushi dono fariqin ke liye bas waqti hi thi ke jab Tipu apni billi ke sath baagh mein namodaar huwa to usey tab samajh mein aaya ke poori fouj usey laine kyun aayi thi.

"Wahin rukko mein keh raha hoon, wahi rukko."

woh qadre faasle par khada haath ke ishare se keh raha tha aur jannat billi uthaye uske paas aa rahi thi.

"Bohat pyari hai, bilkul bhi nahi kat ti. tum haath lagao."

uska khayaal tha faris ko billiya achi nahi lagti theen tab hi nana ne uski billi ko dar badar kar diya tha magar yahan to maamla hi ulat tha. uske nana ke dost ke chehre par na pasandeedgi kam aur khauf ziyada tha. halaanke woh to aman ki ilm bardaar ban kar aayi thi taake faris aur billiyon ke darmiyan koi muahmat karwa sake magar.

"Daro nahi yeh bohat achi hoti hain, kuch nahi karti."

kehtain woh pyar aur minnat bhare lehjey mein samajha rahi thi. aur woh aik haath se usey dur rehne ka ishara karta ulte qadam peeche hatt raha tha.

"Jannat! wahin rukko aage mat aao mein keh raha hoon, aage mat aao."

aur woh suni un suni karti aage aa rahi thi.

"Itni choti billi se bhi koi darta hai?"

khafgi bhare pyar se poocha.

"Meri tabiyat kharab ho jayegi. Isey peeche karo. usne jharka."

"Nahi tabiyat kharab nahi hoti. dekho mujhe kuch huwa?"

usne billi ko seene se laga kar bheencha.

"Bilkul nahi  bilkul tang nahi karti. bohat pyar karti hai."

"Haan, yeh bilkul nahi kaat-ti, bilkul tang nahi karti, aur bohat pyari, bohat achi hai lekin mujh se isey dur rakho."

aakhri jumla is qader ghusse aur sakhti se usne kaha ke woh dar kar wahin ruk gayi. aglay kayi lamhe lab bhinch kar usey dekhati rahi. phir shadeed ghusse ke aalam mein "Kutti" keh kar apne sipahiyo samait murr gayi.

"Kutti?" woh apni jagah hakka bakka khara tha. "bhala un ki dosti kab hui thi?" woh bhanwain sukude us namooni ko jata daikhta raha. jo sar jukaye bohat ghusse se apne ghar ja rahi thi.

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"Aaj jannat nahi aayi."

Khane ke lawazmaat maiz par sajate Mudhat ne poocha to glass mein pani undelte usne ruk kar dekha. subah wala waqea yaad aaya to muskurahat dahine gaal ki janib uth gayi.

"Woh ab nahi aaye gi. Kutti kar ke gayi hai."

sath hi usne poora qissa sunaya to Mudhat hasdi.

"Bohat pyari bachi hai, itni pyari baatein karti hai, halanke shuru mein jab dr mustafa jab usey laaye the to bohat darii sehmi si rehti thi. baat to dur ki baat hai kisi ke paas aati tak nahi thi."

Pulao ka chmcha mun tak le jate uske dahine haath ki harkat thi. sar utha kar Mudhat ko dekha.

"Kyun?"

Mudhat glass mein pani undail rahi thi, choank kar usey dekhne lagi.

"Tumhe Dr. mustafa ne kuch nahi bataya?"

"Kya nahi bataya?"

Faris ne chamcha rakh diya. usse pehlay ke woh kuch batati, darwaze par dastak hone lagi.

"Aap ko agha Ali bulaa rahe hain."

Darwaaza par mulazim larka tha.

"Tum khana khao, mein abba ki baat sun kar aati hoon."

magar woh nahi aayi thi. ghaliban uske zimme koi kaam laga diya gaya tha. woh khana khane ke baad kuch der tak lawn mein tehelta raha phir kuch soch kar dr. mustafa ke ghar chala gaya.

darwaaza Saleem ne khola tha. usey andar daakhil hota dekh kar jannat wahin se chalaye.

"Baba.. faris aaya hai."

woh jo is khayaal mein tha ke mohtarma apni kutti nibhaaye gi to us par tapaak istaqbaal par garbara kar reh gaya. woh haath se pakar kar usey andar layi. jhat se apne khilone aur bhalu waghera hata kar sofey par uski jagah banai.

"Yahan betho."

maiz par hamesha ki tarah usne phoolon ki pankhudiyan alag kar ke gole daira bana rakha tha. masli hui pankhudiya ke gird pattoun ki lehar aur salamat phoolon ka ghaira tha.

"kahan gum ho larke? subah se nazar hi nahi aaye."

Dr. Mustafa ne poocha to usne jannat ki

poori karstani unhen sunadi aur woh kuch shak aur herat se apni nawasi ko dekh kar reh gaye. nawasi jo apna gussa

narazgi bhulae apni koi drawing Faris ko dikha rahi thi, yakayak  khafa ho gayi.

"Kutti"

yeh aik din mein doosri baar dosti khatam ho rahi thi bhanwain sookde woh khafa khafa sa aatish daan ke qareeb kone mein jaa betha. chehre ka rukh deewar ki taraf tha taa ke Saleem , Sabra Bua, tote, parinde, chidiyo aur

chyontiyon ko bhi pata chal jaye woh kitni naraaz hai.

"Tumhe nahi lagta, ab tumhe meri nawasi ko manana chahiye?" Dr. mustafa ne poocha.

"Nahi! woh aisay hi achi lag rahi hai." uski aankhon mein shararat chumki.

Dr. mustafa ne ghour kar dekha .

"Aap ki nawasi subah meri jaan laine wali thi mat bhuliye!"

Usne kaha. Nigahein musalsal jannat

par thi. Saleem uske paas ja betha tha. ab minnat samajat karta, usey kahaaniyon ke behlawe de raha tha.

"Allah ke liye beta! shehzadiyo ki kahani mat sunane baith jana. aisa na ho, raat ko sone se pehle dobara zidd karke giray ke neechay aik matar rakha jaye taa ke yeh confirm ho sakay ke woh asli shehzadi hai ya nahi."

"Yeh bhi ho chuka hai?" faris hansa.

Jannat ka chehra mazeed deewar ki taraf ghoom gaya. woh pehle faris ko gussa dikha rahi thi. ab apne nana se bhi naraaz ho chuki thi.

"Haan,  pichhle hafte huwa."

"To phir kya pata chala?

"Hamari jannat itne sukoon se soyi ke bas.."

jawab Saleem ne diya. jannat ko gussa agaya.

"Yeh is liye ke Saleem ne saat gadde nahi rakhay the."

Narazi ke bawajood gardan mour kar wajahato dena zaroori samjhi. sara qasoor Saleem ka tha. agar woh saat gaday rakhta to jannat confirm shehzadi thahartii.

"To mein kahan se lata saat gadde?"

Saleem ne ehtijaj kya.

"Aur gadde chode, hamein to woh matar bhi nahi mila, jo neechay rakha tha. ho sakta hai dato ki pariya matar ko daant samajh kar le gayi ho."

Dr mustafa ne kaha. jannat chonki phir aadat se majboor sab bhool bhaal kar un ke paas aayi.

"Aisa bhi hota hai baba?"

woh aankhon mein herat smoye poochne lagi.

"Haan! pariyan aati hain? yaad hai faris jab tumahra daat toota tha aur hum ne usey takiye ke neeche rakha tha aur..."

"Aap mujhe kyun beech mein laa rahe hain?" woh be sakhta chirr gaya.

"Achha.." woh hase.

"Yani hum baqi sab ki baatein karen tumhari nahi?"

woh chehray ka rukh badal gaya.

"Baba! batae na phir kya huwa tha?"

"Phir pari aayi thi. faris ka daant le gayi, paise rakh kar chali gayi. haina faris?"

woh faris ke tasurat se Mahzooz ho rahe the. plate se French fries khate hue woh yun zahir kar raha tha jaisey kuch sun hi nahi raha.

jannat ki ankhen Ishtiaq se pheli. lekin usey phir afsos bhi huwa ke jab uska pehla daant toota to pata nahi kab kese kaha gira tha ke dobarah mila hi nahi. warna mouni ne to kaha tha takiye ke neechay rakhna pari aaye gi.

Raat kaafi der tak mehfil jami rahi. baatein hoti rahi. woh sone ke liye guest room mein gaya to kuch hi der baad jannat aagai. woh bed par koi kitaab khole betha tha. sar utha kar usey dekhne laga.

"Baba ne kaha hai tumhe billiyan buri nahi lgti aur aur tumhe dar bhi nahi lagta."

"Haan!" usne takid mein sar hilaya.

"Baba kehte hain agar tum billi ke sath khelo ge to tumhari tabiyat bohat ziyada kharab ho jaye gi! Bohat ziyada.

"woh theek kehte hain!"

"To tum ab kabhi bili ke sath mat khelna. pyar bhi nahi karna." usne tanbeeh ki. muskurahat zabt kar ke usne sar hilaya.

"Theek hai."

"Warna tum bemaar ho jaoge. phir school bhi nahi ja sakoge. phir teacher tumhe maregi."

Ghaliban dr mustafa ne bohat tafseel se usey samjhaya tha.

"Haan, mein jaanta hoon."

"Good Night!"

woh samjha bujha kar chali gayi. woh mutabassum chehre ke sath apni jagah betha reh gaya.

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