Chapter 4: •CHAPTER-03•

Mrs. Shirazi usay Wajdan House se muta'arif karwatay hue Manjhli Manzil par hi hall numa aik aise kamray mein layi thi jo dekhne mein kisi artist ka studio lagta tha.

Watercolor, oil paint, acrylic colours, har tarah ki pencil, mukhtalif brushes, canvas papers, heavy card stock, ghurz ke har woh material maujood tha, jo ek artist ko apni takhleeq ke liye darkhwast ho sakta tha. Usne ghoom kar charon taraf dekha.

Qudrati manzar ki be-panah khubsoorat paintings deewaron par lagi thin aur kuch peak shuda halat mein deewaron ke paas hi rakhi gayi thin.

Beshqeemati paintings, araishi ashya crystal, lakri aur mitti se bani munfarid aur mukhtalif decoration thi. Jannat ek ek cheez ishtiaq ke aalam mein dekh rahi thin.

"Jab hum yahan shift hue to mere mana karne ke bawajood Faris , Shirazi House se ye sab le aaya tha. Woh chahta tha main is ghar ko apni paintings se saja dun."

Jannat ne chonk kar un ki taraf dekha.

Electric wheel chair par barajmaan woh us ke paas aakar ruk gayi thin. Makeup se aari chehra nikhra ankhra asa lag raha tha.

"Aap...Aap artist hain?" Yeh sab paintings dekh woh hairaan hui thin.

"Bas shoqiyah rangon se khail leti thin"

Un ke honthon par madham si muskurahat thehr gayi.

"Shoqiyah aur khail..?" "Yeh kisi professional artist ka kaam hai kya...!?"

Jannat sarhaye bina na reh saki. Kamal ki artist thi, Mrs. Shirazi ne us ki ankhon mein ubhartay hairat tajassus aur ishtiaq ke melay jale tassurats ko bohat ghor se dekha tha.

Mrs. Shirazi ki tasweeron ko dekh kar asli qudrati manzar ka gumaan ho raha tha.

"Ek waqt tha jab mujhe lagta tha agar main painting chhod doon gi to zinda nahi rahoon gi."

Deewar par Hunza ki buland o baala pahaaron ki tasveer par mutaharrik Jannat ki ungliyan saakit ho gayin. "Maine painting chhod bhi di aur zinda bhi rahi....!" Inhone kaha.

Jannat ne murnay ki taraf dekha. Woh apne baayein haath ko ab bhi zara mushkil se harkat de paati thin.

"Jin se mutalliq hum yeh gumaan kar lete hain ke unke baghair nahi reh paayenge; to waqt apne taur par sabit kar deta hai ke unke bina bhi raha ja sakta hai...!"

Woh sun hui thi apni jagah, bhaala jaise dil par laga tha. Wujood-e-maazi aur haal ke darmiyan pendulum ki tarah jhulne laga tha. Usne azeez bhare ehsaas ke saath Mrs. Shirazi ko dekha... Unki aankhon mein bhi karb ki kami thi magar chehre par ek zinda muskan thehri thi.

Electronik chair ko mutaharrik karte hue unhone meez (table ) par rakha, araishi qalam utha liya. Paas hi patthar par nasb ghari rakhi thi, lakri ka box bhi jis ke takhtoon par intehaai khubsoorti aur nafasat se phool tarashe gaye the.

"Waqt behtareen ustaad hai, 'mehroomiyon' ke saath jeena sikha deta hai."

Halaq mein ubharti gilty ko bimushkil neeche utartay hue usne gaal par phislati lat ko kaan ke peechhe uras kar atrāf mein nigaah daudai thi. Woh apna zehan bhatkana chahti thi magar zehan tha ke is ek lafz mein ulajh kar reh gaya tha.

Paintings ke saath hi samaan se bhare cartoon box pade the. Woh panjon ke bal baith kar crystal ke gul daanon ko dekhne lagi, jin ki chamak aankhon ko khaira kar rahi thi. Paas hi ek aur box pada tha. Adh khula hua woh jhuk kar us card ko dekhne lagi jis par teesri class ke Faris Wajdan ki pehli position stars aur stickers ke darmiyan jhagmagarahi thi.

"Yeh Faris ka samaan hai...! bachpan se is ki aadat hai apni har cheez ko sambhal sambhal kar rakhne ki. Tum yakeen nahi karogi, is ke khilone bhi neeche kahin pade honge sahi aur salamat...." apne bete ke liye Mrs. Shirazi ke liye mohabbat hi mohabbat thi.

Jannat ne result card wapas rakh diya. Neeche hi plastic sheet mein murjhay hue phoolon ka dheer nazar araha tha. Ek drawing paper bhi tha, fold kiya hua usne khola dekha. Kate Wilson bachon ki likhai mein bara bara likha tha.

Mrs. Shirazi ne door khinch kar deewar gir khirkion par se parde hata diye thay, kamra mazeed roshan hua to deewar ke

paas gol mez par seedhi rakhi friend paintings se apni janib mutawajjah kar gayin.

"Perfect...!" us ke labon se be ikhtiyar nikla tha. Mrs. Shirazi ne use muskura kar dekha. Sab se aakhir mein zar kar frame wali bari painting rakhi thi. Be had ehtiyat se use seedha kiye woh kuch mubhoot ho kar dekhne lagi thi.

Woh Quran ki aik ayat thi jise siyah painting paper par qudrati manzar ki jhalkiyon mein intehai khubsoorti aur meharat se likha gaya tha.

"Inna ma'al usri yusra."

Tamam huruf mukhtalif manzar khud mein samuye hue thay.

Phool, aasman, khizaan, rasida darakht, khardar jhaariyan aur hare bhare darakhton ke jhund, wasee sabza zaar... al-usr lafz mein khizaan ka manzar tha. Nokile siyah darakht, kaante daar khaar jhaariyan... aur is se aage yeh sarsabz phoolon, hare bhare darakhton aur wasee sabza zaar ki jhalk dikhlata hua. Magar yusra ka alif mukhtalif tha,

Hajam mein bhi likhai mein bhi Harf alif aasmani rang ka, aasman ki hi taraf utha, lehlehate badlon ki khubsoorti ki jhalak dikhlata raha tha. Puri ayat aik hi likhai, aik hi andaaz mein thi. Out line bhi aik hi rang... magar alif... jo aasman ki jhalak dikhlata tha, woh sab se alag, sab se numayaan, sab se munfarid tha.

Jannat kaafi deer tak realistic andaz mein banaye gaye in manzar ko huruf ke utaar chadhaao aur siyah background par sunehri roshni ki tarah ubharti is ayat ko dekhti rahi.

"Main bhi yehi chahti thi koi use dekhe, phir dobara dekhe, aur tab tak dekhtar hai jab tak is ka raaz na paadhle."

"Raaz..?" usne chonk kar Mrs. Shirazi ko dekha tha.

"Kya art bhi apni paintings mein raaz chhupati hain..?" Mrs. Shirazi muskura di.

"Woh raz mera nahi, is ayat ka hai! Is ayat mein hi chhupa hai...!"

Jannat ki aankhon mein ek ghair mubham sa tassur aakar thehra gaya.

"Quran ki har ayat ek jawab hai, us sawal ka, jo insaan ke andar uthta hai ; Jawab us waqt tak samajh mein nahi aata jab tak sawal samajh mein na aaye."

Mrs. Shirazi keh rahi thin - "Ab is ayat ko dekh lo, yeh bhi ek sawal ka jawab hai. Woh sawal jo ek waqt mein mere andar utha tha aur jawab kisi wajah se tumhare andar bhi hoga... "Kuch sawal mukhtalif ho sakte hain, magar un ka jawab ek hi hota hai...."

Na samjhi ke alam mein Mrs. Shirazi ko dekhte Jannat ki muztarib nigahain sar par aakar thehri. Us ki tamam tawajah ab wahi thi. Khizaan se murjhaye hue darakhton aur paton par....

"Azmaish ki wadiyon mein bhatkate har insaan ko is ayat par ghor karna chahiye...!"

" Har mareez ko, har mustaqeem ko, har aleel ko... woh keh rahi thin. Frame par Jannat ki mukhoti ungliyon ki giraft yaka yaka mazboot hui thi, lekin phir bhi is ayat ka sirf wohi matlab nahi hai jo hum aksar parh ya samajh lete hain, is ka ek aur matlab us ke huruf mein kahin chhupa hai.

Us ka lahnja par asrariyat mein dhala tha. "Dusra matlab..?" Jannat ke lab hile.

Mrs. Shirazi ne hotho par madham si muskurahat liye use chand lamhon tak dekhti rahi.

"Chalo main tumhein ek minute deti hoon. Main ne jaan boojh kar mera alif ko numayaan kiya hai. Ta ke meri tarah kisi ko dushwari ka samna na ho, aur use aghaz pakarne mein kuch aasani ho." Apni baat ke intiqam par dheere se muskurate hue unhone Electronic chair ka rukh darwaze ki taraf mod diya tha. Aur Jannat Kamal , painting haathon mein liye apni jagah khadi rahi thi.

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"Jannat..! Khuda ke liye! Jannat...! Jannat mera bacha..!" Shor ek dam se barha tha. Aawazain tez hui thin. Ek jhannatedar thappar us ke gaal par pada aur woh lehra kar kanch ke tukron par aan giri.

"Ammi...!" woh rote hue dubi aawaz mein chikhi thi. "Ammi... Ammi..." Yak aik is ki aankh khul gayi. Woh hard bara kar ek jhatke se uth bethi thi.

"Ammi..!" labon mein halki si jhilmil uthi thi. Kapkapate haathon mein shaal bheenchte hue us ne kisi ehsas ke tehut sarr uthaya tha. Agley hi lamhe Faris Wajdan ki shola bargahon aankh ki zadd mein aate hi barf hogayi. Us ka dil ruk gaya. Aansu tham gaye. Woh jis tarah se use dekh raha tha, use laga woh saans bhi na le payegi..

Ek bar phir woh us ke aram mein muqil hui thi. Ek bar phir woh us ki awaz se baidar hua tha. Guzishta kai raaton se yehi ho raha tha. Woh sotay mein aksar dar jati thi. Ro padti thi, chikhne lagti thi.

Mujrimon ki tarah sharam saari se sar jhuka kar us ne peshani par phislati lat ko kaan ke peechhe urasa, blanket aur takiya uthaya aur kamre se nikal gayi.

Laounge mein doubke sofe par beth te hi us ka zabt khatam ho gaya. Aankhein chhalak pari. Surkh eento par phailta khoon, kareem tiles par dher hota, wajood us ki aankhein dhundlane lagi, wajood kapkapane laga.

Mazi ek bar phir us ke hawasoon par sawar ho chuka tha.

"Khuda tumhein us ki woh saza dega jo tum saari umar yaad rakho gi...." Shor ek bar phir utha tha. Aawaz sunai dene lagi thi. Peshani ghatnon par lagaye woh hichkiyan le kar rone lagi...

Aaht ke saath kamre ka darwaza jhilkay se khul gaya tha. Ajalt mein aansu ponchte us ne be ikhtiyar sarr uthaya tha. Rahdari mein bed room ke darwaze mein khara woh qahr bar nazaroon se use hi dekh raha tha.

"Attention seeker.."

Is ki budbadhat wajeh thi , ek nafrat bhari nigah jannat par daalte woh jhatke se plate gaya tha.

"Hichkiyon ka gala ghoontte siskiya lab tale dabaaye, woh use geeli aankhon se dekh kar rah gayi thi. Zehan ki iscreen par ab koi manzar nah tha, nah sannaton se koi aawaz takraar hi thi. Ek jamid sannata tha, jo har taraf chha gaya tha."

Nafrat bhari ek nigaah hi kaafi thi, use dardnaak maazi se kar banak haal mein phannay ke liye...

Yeh tumhara naseeb hai jo tumhein yahaan laya hai... Taareeki mein maks roshan hua, aaina par daraarein padd gayi thin. Mawaazna shuru ho chuka tha. Do chehre ek ho gaye the. Azeeat phann phulaaye wajood se lapat gayi thi.

Duniya ka sab se haseen aur shafaaf jazbah mohabbat ka hai, is jazbe mein salahiyat hai nafrat ki har chattan ko paash paash kar dene ki.

"Mohabbat"

Bohat bhaari aur mushkil tha yeh lafz us ke liye jo labon se ada hota tha, nah khushi ka ehsaas dilaata tha. Jo umeed jagata tha, nah yaqeen dilaata tha.

"Mohabbat."

Aaina saamne tha. Aaina wazeh tha. Jannat ne aankhein mitch li, lab bheench liye. Guzishta kai raaton ki tarah woh raat bhi us ne aankhon mein hi kaati thi.

Aur Dil maazi ke azhdhon se lapta saari raat rota raha tha.

Woh Faris Wajdan ke liye adamm thi, mawra'i thi , na nazar aane wali aik aisi takhleeq, jis ke hone ya na hone se usay koi farq nahin parta tha. Farq parta bhi to kyun? Kya woh us ki marzi aur mansha se is ghar mein laai gayi thi!?

Nahi, bilkul nahi.. To farq parta bhi to kyun? Kamre mein to jaise taise woh usay bardasht kar chuka tha, magar apni zatiyat mein na woh kisi qisam ki muddakhilat bardasht karta tha aur na hi usay apni zindagi mein koi maqam dene ko tayyar tha. Ghusse ka intehai tez mushtamil yahi wajah thi ke woh khud bhi muhtat ho gayi thi aur is ghar mein is tarah se rehne lagi thi jaise woh chahta tha. Ajnabiyon ki tarah musafiron ki tarah jinhein chand roz yahan thehrna hai aur phir chale jana hai. Magar woh musafir nahi hona chahti thi. Ajnabi nahi rehna chahti thi. Lekin is ke bas mein tha hi kya? Woh khud ko itna kamzor, intiqala char mehsoos karti thi ke haq ke liye awaz tak utha nahi sakti thi.

Faris ne hudood ka taeen kiya tha to woh bhi apne khool mein band ho gayi thi. Is ne khamoshi ko pasand kiya tha to woh bhi saamet (mute) ho gayi thi. Magar yeh khamoshi ab usay andar hi andar mitane lagi thi. Is ki uljhan barhane lagi thi. Aik maeen muddat tak woh nikah ka paband tha. Aik maeen muddat tak hi woh usay apne ghar mein rakhe huye tha.

Ab jab woh muddat tamam ho gayi, jab woh wajah ikhtitam ho gayi, us ke baad? Us ke aage kya...?

Talaaq ka tasawwur us ki rooh khinchne lagta tha. Contract ka khayal aziz bhi ho raha tha. Marwah karti bhi to kya? Nafrat ki is deewar ko dhaati bhi to kaise? Woh to khud ali daaman thi. Halat se ladne ke liye to ab us ke paas aik mohum umeed bhi nah rahi thi."

"Excuse me? " park se waapsi par Wajdan house behruni gate se andar dakhil hote hue chok kar ruk gayi thi , mud kar dekha to samne Wajdan house ke main gate par jeans or safaid top me malboos ladki use hath se rukne ka ishara kar ke ujlan me kadam uthate us ke paas hi aa gayi thi .

Bhanwain sookdte hue usne Jannat ko dekha sar se pao tak fir Wajdan house par Nazar dali jese tassali chah Rahi ho ki iski aankhe ne hargiz dhoka to nahi khaya . Iske bad paishani par bal or aankho me Shak liye seene par bazu bandhe hue.

"Aapki Tarif..?"

Jannat ne Bhanwain achka kar us ladki ko hairat se dekha

"Tumhein kya lagta hai?"

Usne kaha to lehje se nagawari jhalak rahi thi.

"Faris bhai ke aage peeche parwaanon ki tarah phirne wali ladkiyon mein se aik" usne tamskhur uraya..

"To kya tum bhi un mein se ho?"

Jannat ne sawal uthaya. woh jal gayi. Tap si gayi, lekin aage se kuch nahi boli.

"Kaun ho? Yahan kya kar rahi ho?" Wahi tafteeshi andaaz!

"Tum kaun ho? Aur mujh se kya pooch rahi ho?" Jannat ne ab ke theek thaak us ki class lenay ki thaani.

"Aima Zaheer hoon main. Faris Wajdan mere dad ka business partner hain, Sherazi khandan ke saath hamare family terms hain." Gardan aksar is ne tareef karwaya. Aur tum ruk kar ek baar phir sar ta pair Jannat ka jaiza liya gaya.

"Tum kaun ho?" Jannat ne chand lamhon tak usay be tassur nigaahon se dekha, phir andar dakhil ho gayi. Aima Zaheer choki, phir bhi. Is tarah woh pehli baar nazar andaz hui thi. Sadma gehra tha. Nikalnay mein chand lamhe lagay. Phir woh sar pat us ke peechay bhagi, safed rosh par us ka raasta rok kar khari ho gayi.

"I'm engaged" usne haath lehra kar apni ungli Jannat ko dikhayi.

"Good to know!" Ek baar phir Jannat ne usay mukammal nazar andaz kiya. Aima Zaheer us ke barabar qadam uthanay lagi.

"Vaise kya chal raha hai? Ghar tak aa gayi ho. Kahan tak baat bani?" Lehje mein ishtiaq tha, tajassus tha, excitement thi.

"Wese me wajeh kar Dena chahti hu ki ye koshishe in par nahi chalti .. Kisi aur sayare ki fazai makhluk hain. Larkiyon se yeh das qadmon ki doori par rehte hain. Khare khare munh par be izzati kar dete hain. Intiha ke maghroor lekin mere saath woh achhe hain, kyunkeh main un ki behan hoon, matlab asli wali nahi... Lekin woh Azir bhai ke dost hain, is liye woh mere bhi bhaiyon jaise hain aur sach poocho to mujhe bhi bara armaan hai un ki shaadi ka."

Woh Jannat ke saath andar aagaye thi.

"Main ne to soch rakha hai ke un ki shaadi par khoob hala gula karoon gi, aakhir itna intezar karwa rahe hain woh auntie to bas un ki na na se aajzi aa chuki hain. Ek baar main ne un se kaha tha, yeh aise nahi maanenge, gun point par nikah karwaien... Ya jazbati blackmail karein unhein. Ya phir agency walon se baat kar ke pehle unhein aghwa karwaien phir rihaai ki shart nikah rakhein. Aur anti itni masoom hain, woh mere mashwaron se hi dar jaati hain."

Jannat ke peechhe woh American tarz ke shandar kitchen mein aagaye. Zabaan abhi bhi chal rahi thi. "Asal mein woh khaas maghroor waqai hue hain, unhein koi larki pasand hi nahi aati. Nah woh apni pasand batate hain. Bas yehi kehte rehte hain, main ne shaadi nahi karni. Dialogue to hum larkiyon ke hain. Faris bhai ne chura liye. Ab banda pooche, kyun nahi karni to kehte hain bas nahi karni. Yeh line bhi humari hi hai!"

Cabinet me se Jannat Ne do glass nikale, phir un mein lime juice dala Pusht Aima Zaheer ki taraf thi, jo counter table ke is paar khadi haath hila hila kar ke rahi thi. "Aisi aisi larkiyon ke rishte unho ne thukraye hain. Aisi aisi larkiyon ke, ke main kya bataoon." Jannat ne usay lime juice cake aur pastry ke saath peesh kiya.

"To tum yahan kaam karti ho?" Poochte huye us ne yahan wahan bhi dekha ke shayad woh head servant ho ya ghar ki muntazima ya phir mrs. Sherazi ki koi student.

Jannat ne nafi mein sar hilaya.

"To...?"

"Main Jannat Kamal hoon Faris Wajdan ki biwi!"

Juice peetay hue Aima ko zor ka jhatka lagaa. Glass rakh kar buri tarah se khanaaste hue usne Jannat ko dekha.

Kuch hairat, sadaa, aur be yaqeeni se phir pehli aur be saakhta hasti chali gayi.

"Nice Joke! I like it.." kehte hue wo aage hui.

"Dekho! Agar tum in mein interested ho to main tumhari help kar sakti hoon, Faris bhai ko is shaadi par aamaadah karne ke liye bante bante be haal hi ho gayi... Phir jinsi zabt kar ke bade hi professional andaaz mein kahaniyan jama kar ke, baqaida ek plotting ki zaroorat hai, hamein ek jaal bichhana hoga. Aisa jaal jo unke dil ko qaboo kar le..."

Sar jhukaaye bade hi pur asraar andaaz mein baat karti woh Jannat ke labon par muskurahat bikhair gayi.

"Arey.. arey.. tum to abhi se sharma rahi ho..."

Aima ke aqab mein seerhiyon par nazar partay hain Jannat ki muskurahat simat gayi.

"Fiqr na karo, main tumhare saath hoon, milkar game khelte hain Faris bhai ke saath koi chaal chalte hain....!

Dekhna khud se haan karenge wo shaadi ke liye."

Sar par chapet rasid hui to use yaka yaka khatre ka idraak hua. Lafz ghum hogaye. Ya woh us ki khufiya guftago sun chuka tha.

"Allah, Faris bhai! Ek to aap bhi na.. poore teen mahine baad wapas aayi hoon magar mazal hai jo aap achhe se istiqbaal kar len."

"kis ke saath game khelna hai? Aur kis liye chaal chalni hai?"

Us ke tasaavvuraat sakht nahi the,

Aankhon mein Jannat ne pehli baar narmi dekhi.

'Woh main.... asal mein...." Aima haklai

'Hmm... woh, kya?' Zara se sakht tasaavvuraat ke saath poocha gaya.

"Woh main un se ek novel discuss kar rahi thi. Usne Jannat ki taraf ishaarah kar ke kaha."

Faris ne nazar utha kar Jannat ko dekha. Woh hunuz unhi tasaavuraat ke saath khamosh khadi thi. Mazeed kuch bhi kahe Baghair woh sar jhatk kar chala gaya.

"Did you see that?" Aima ne badi amaaon ki tarah Fars ki taraf ishara kar ke apni peshani ko chhua.

"Aise hi hain yeh, yeh hain ke behan, teen mah baad aayi hai to theek se salaam dua kar lena, nahi, bas aise hi ghuse Main hi rehna hai." Ek baar phir saari hamdardiyon se saj kar woh Jannat ki taraf mudi, jo ghoont ghoont juice pee rahi thi.

"Ek baar phir soch lo, chidiya si to ho , guzaara kar logi is toofan ke saath?"

"AIMA.." lounge se Faris ki awaaz aayi thi.

"Ab kya kar diya maine..?" woh wahin se chillayi . Phir lime juice ek hi saans mein chadha kar stool se utri.

"Abhi chalti hoon, phir aaoongi, phir mil kar discuss karenge ke is dev ko kaise qaboo karte hai, and please agar tum Faris bhai ki koi employee ho to is ke rob mein aane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Just relax, thik hai na...? Aur Miss Shirazi kahan hogi?"

"Woh is waqt sorhi hogi."

"Unhe bata dena Aima aayi thi. Unse phir milne aaoongi." Flying kiss de kar woh Faris ke saath maddaf'aana andaaz mein larti uljhti bahar chali gayi thi. Jannat ki khamosh nigaahon ne glass wall ke us paar Faris ka door tak taaqub kiya tha.

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- Khush ho?

Hand railing pakar kar seedhiyan chadhte, us ke qadmon ki harkat tham gayi thi. Nigahain screen par ubhartay Masiha par yun thehri ke aas paas se ghaafil hogayi. Kuch der pehle hi us ki Saira khala aur Sidra ke saath video call hui thi. Aur ab Ammar ka message aagaya tha. Nah salaam nah dua, direct sawaal. Woh sawaal jo Saira khala ne bhi us se nahi poocha tha.

- Mama se to kaafi nis nis kar baatein kar rahi thin. (Dusra message)

Halaq mein ubharti gilti ko us ne bimushkil neeche utara.

- Yeh itna hasna muskurana kab seekha tum ne? (Teesra message)

- Acting to kamal ki hai, bohat impress hua hoon main. 😃 (Saath hi hasi wali emoji)

Mobile haath mein liye woh apni jagah tham kar reh gayi. Ammar ne nikah mein shirkat ki thi aur na walima attend kiya tha. Ajnabiyyat to nah thi ke khala ka beta tha. Magar is tarah ke chubte sawal, jo sawal kam, jawab zyada lag rahe the.

woh is ke liye bhaiyon jaisa tha.

Shafeef.... mehrban... ehsas karne wala.. jara jara si baat par iske liye aape se bahar ho Jane wala ... is ke liye wo saira khala ke baki members jaisa hi tha. Magar is ke yeh chubtey sawal. Woh use itna kaise jaan sakta hai? Is tarah se kaise jaan sakta hai? Us ka zehan uljhan ka shikaar ho gaya tha.

~ Kaise ho Ammar? Us ne sambhal kar message type kiya tha.

- Kya main ise apne sawalat ka jawab samjhon? (Jawab aaya)

Woh kuch hairat se screen ko dekh kar reh gayi. Apne peechhe dher saare sawalat chhode, agle hi lamhe woh off line ho gaya tha aur Jannat Kamal tashweesh mein mubtilaa apni jagah khadi rah gayi thi.

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"Tum dua nahi maangti Jannat..?"

Namaz Maghrib ke baad do Mrs. Shirazi ke barabar jeethi khamoshi se qaleen ke reshon ko chehr rahi thi, jab Unhon ne sawal pooch kar use chonkaya tha.

Aik Dua..

Aik pukar...

Aik umeed...

Aik Yaqeen...

Aik sada..

"Maafi to mangti hu.." Woh carpet par ungli se lakeer khinchtay jhuke sar ke saath aahistagi se boli thi.

"Aur dua?" Ab ke Jannat ne sar utha kar unhein dekha tha. Kuch hairat, kuch uljhan, kuch ghabrahat se

Mrs. Shirazi ki muyeet mein rehte hue aisa kabhi nahi hua tha ke use ajnabi ya kisi khof ka ehsas hua ho. Woh aisi hi thin. Itni hi shafeeq, itni hi mehrban... Narm Haraj, akhlaq husna ki maalik... Magar ab woh us se aik aise raaste ki baabat istifsaar kar rahi thin jis ke baare mein khud woh bhi theek Se kuch jaanti nahi thi. Bhool gayi thi woh chhod diya tha sab us ne... Usne yusra ki ki painting ab saamne deewar par lagi nazar aa rahi thi. Us ki nigahein wahiin kahin thin. Usr par phalati yusr par bhatkti magar zehan kahin aur tha. Tawajjuh kahin aur thi.**

"Jannat?" Use sochon mein ghaltan dekh kar unhone pukara tha.

"Kya maangoon?" Us apni awaaz bohat door se aati hui mehsoos hui thi.

Kitni hi der tak Mrs. Shirazi us ki khali aankhon mein dekhti rahi. Koi umeed, koi yaqeen ya phir zindagi ka hi koi rang kuch to nazar aaye magar wahaan kya tha. Aik habib tareeki, aik mohib sannata..

"Jo tumhara dil chahe." Unhon ne narmi se kaha tha.

"Jo mera dil chahe....!" Koi shay phaans ki tarah us ke halaq mein unki thi. Nigah mein usr par jaa thehri thin. "Agar jo Allah na chahe?" Us ke lab kapkapaye the....

"Aisa nahi hota ke woh na de."

"Kuch duaen qubool nahi hoti, auntie."

Shikayat be-sakhta hi lab par aayi thi.

"Kuch cheezein nahi milti, kuch log nahi milte, kuch khwab adhoore hi reh jate hain. Kuch nuksan poore nahi hote." Diwar gir khidkiyon ke us paar shaam ka manzar us ki tareekiyon se uljha gaya tha.

"Duaen radd nahi hoti, jannat! mehfooz ki jati hain. Jo aap maang rahe hain, woh na mile to bhi.. aap ke haath khali nahi lautaye jate. Allah hamesha barh kar ata karta hai, woh aap ko hairan kar deta hai."

Ankho mein ubharti nami ko rehte hue jannat ne sir jhuka liya. Kya maange? zehan shayad ab bhi yahi atak jata tha. Jis ki talab thi ya chaah rakhti thi, woh use mil nahi sakta tha, jo "mehroomiya" us ka muqaddar theen woh 'ataa' mein nahi badal sakti thin. Kuch kaam bas takhayyul the. Namumkin aur kuch mamlaat mein woh be-bas thi, qatai be-bas...

"Aap ki duaen qubool hoti hain?" Yunhi sir utha kar us ne poocha tha. Aawaz rundhi hui thi.

"Haan..! hoti hain, aur ek khoobsurat dua to hal hi mein qubool hui hai."

Woh muskurayi, "Kaun si dua?"

Ek shauq tajassus sa bhara tha us ki ankho mein...

"Yahi ke... mujhe Faris ke liye ek achi, nek-sirat larki mil jaye."

Jannat ki ankho se shauq gum ho gaya. Tajassus ki jagah aziyat ne le Li sar jhuka kar fir apne khol me band Hui or kalin par lakiren khichne lagi Mrs. shirazi ek gehra saas le kar reh gayi..

"Dua mangte rehna chaiye Qubool ho jaye tab bhi na Qubool ho tab bhi ye duae radd nahi hoti jawab jarur aata hai jholiya khali nahi rehti "

Wo ab jannat ko dekh Rahi thi or jannat sar jhukaye bilkul khamosh bethi thi .

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Take care Cutie..

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