Chapter 47: < CHP46'

•••

Aaj Faris Wajdan ke dost ki shaadi thi. Apni tayyariyon mein magan, usne do kaam daar jode bed par phailaye hue the. Ek aasmaani rang ka tha, doosra halke gulabi rang ka. Samajh mein nahi aa raha tha ke kaunsa wala pehne? Pasand to dono hi the, isi liye uthaa laayi the. Mrs. Shirazi ko tasveerein bhej kar unke intezaar mein aise hi tahlte hue screen ko tak rahi thi jab woh dressing room se nikal aaya. Cuff links lagate hue, nazar bed par rakhe kapdon se hoti hui Jannat tak gayi. Mobile kan se lagaye, honto ko kat-ti hue woh shash-duniya mein mubtala lag rahi thi.

Usne waistcoat pehnne ke baad kalai par ghadi chadhate hue dressing table ke aaine mein Jannat ko dekha, phir coat uthate hue band ke qareeb aaya. Ek sarseri si nazar kapdon par daali aur phir side table se mobile uthate hue seedha ho gaya.

"Ye rang jada shuit karega," ishaara aasmaani rang wale jode ki taraf tha.

Jannat Kamal chonk kar mud gayi magar woh tab tak lambe lambe kadam bharte hue bedroom se ja chuka tha.

"Haan, aur main to jaise iski baat maan loongi."

Keh kar sar jhatka. Ek baar phir screen ko dekha. Mrs. Shirazi  online nahi thi. Nichla lab daanton ke tale rahe, ek baar phir apne kapdon ko dekha. Phir rohansa ho kar das tak kehti rahi. Phir jhijhak kar ek suit uthaya aur dressing room mein chali gayi.

Poore ek ghante ke baad woh mukammal tayyari ke sath bedroom se baahar aayi to Faris Shirazi us par nigahe daal kar hatana bhool gaya. Halke gulabi rang ke kaam daar jode mein malboos, natural sa look deta light makeup ke sath woh kisi jeeti jaagti gudiya ke mushabih lag rahi thi. Baal khule chhod rakhe the, itraaf mein pins madad se set kiye gaye the.

Lambi ghani palke aur liner ke wajah se sehad aankhein aur bhi zyada numaya ho rahi thi. Lambe jagmag karte earrings, gardan mein chamakta hua nafis locket, ungli me tehri hui angoothi. Woh kandhe par dupatta set karte hue samne sofa par baith kar apni silver sandals ki straps band karne lagi.

Chand lamhe woh usse apne dil ki nigah se dekhte rahe. Daahna haath be-ikhtiyaar coat ki jeb tak gaya. Ungliyon ki gript mein makhmal ki dibbi aayi. "Yeh to mujhe baad mein pata chala, tumhara to sirf dimaag hai, dil to sore se hai hi nahi." Woh shikwa bhari ek tambih si awaaz uski quwat sheb kar gayi.

"Sab tumhare is dil ke gird ghoom raha hai." Usne jeb se haath baahar nikal liya. Straps bandh kar uthi to nigahain sidha Faris Wajdan ki tie par ja kar tehri. Ek lamha ke liye munh khula, aur phir rukh badal kar nichla lab daanto mein dabaya. Uske frock ke sath Faris Wijdan ki nai match kar rahi thi. Allah, woh andar hi andar zor se cheekhi. Usne jaan boojh kar aasmaani rang wala jodha chuna tha ke woh gulabi frock pehne. Usse yaqeen tha ke woh uski baat nahi maane gi. "Uff Jannat! Tum itni predictable kyun ho? Aakhir kyun?" Aankhein mich kar khud ko andar hi andar jhirkha.

"Achhi lag rahi ho." Woh coat ka button band karte hue apni jagah se uth khada hua.

"Woh to main shuru se hoon." Kamal be-neyaazi se keh kar rukh badla ke tumhari tareef se meri heartbeat miss nahi hui, na hi jazbaat mein koi farq aaya hai. Lekin andar hi andar.

"Uff Usne tareef ki. Faris Wijdan ne tareef ki." Doosri cheekh. Dil band hone ko tha. Gaal thap uthe.

Magar bohot hi tahammul, waqar aur nazakat ke sath apne chhote se bag ki lambi si naqraayi zanjeer par grip badhate hue ek ada se sar uthaya. Woh hamesha chhupata, magar woh uske sanjeeda se ba-waqar chehre par muskurahat aur shararat ka rang dekh sakti thi.

"Kal raat mere mobile par 'mummy ki bahu' ki missed call aayi thi. Khairiyat hai? Itni raat ko aapne ek hi kamre mein hote hue mujhe call ki?" Mutabassim lehje mein kuch had tak sanjeedgi se poocha.

"Yeh kuch bhoolta bhi hai ya nahi?" Woh daant kachkacha kar rah gayi.

"Zara batana pasand karoge, zombie aur ke mujh mein kya kadar mushtaraq (common) hai?" Dat kar puchha.

"Tum batana pasand karogi, mujhe aur k2 mein kya mushtaraq (common) hai?" Jebon mein haath daale uski aankhon mein dekha.

"Bohot kuch mushtaraq hai." Daant pish kar kaha.

"Tum mein aur zombie mein bhi." Usne bola.

"Maslan kya?" Woh zabt ki kadi Azmaish se guzar rahi thi.

"Dono dimag bohot khati ho." Usne keh kar coat uthaya. Jannat ka khoobsurat chehra ghusse se laal ho gaya. Ab agar usse apni tayyari ka khayal na hota toh do yakinan kuch kar guzarti.

"Main tumhara dimaag khati hoon?" Ghusse se phat gayi.

"Main ne to phir bhi khoobsurat pahaadon ki tasveer lagayi hai."

"Khatarnaak pahaadon ki." Faris ne correction ki.

"Ke 2 ek killer mountain hai."

Jannat ne muthiya bhincha kar usse dekha. "Khawaakhwaah ka issue."

"Main ne ek random tasveer lagayi hai." Tahammul se etejaaj kiya.

"Soch samajh kar lagayi hai." Wo hu ba hu jawab de raha tha. Jannat ke ghusse ka graph badh gaya.

"Aakhir mein tumse kyun baat kar rahi hoon?" Usne khud ko khud hi jhirkh diya.

"Main bhi yehi soch raha hoon." Faris ke itminan mein koi farq nahi aaya. "Ab chalein? Baki ki ladai ghar aakar ladenge." Tapa dene wali muskurahat ke sath kaha.

Apna safed coat uthakar paon patkti huye darwaze ki taraf barhi.

"Aahista, aaraam se." usne peechay se kaha, "Meri fikar karne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai tumhe." Tanffur se keh kar bahar nikal gayi. Usne muskurate hue wallet aur chabi uthayi aur uske peeche chala aaya.

Shandar marriage hall ke behruni gate ke saamne gaadi rok di. Dono bahar nikal kar markazi hawale se andar ki taraf bade, to isteqbaaliye mein khade kai logon ki nazar unki taraf uthi hui thi. Usne jana tha sab Faris ko dekh rahe hain. Aur wo yeh bhi jana tha nazaron ki zad mein woh bhi uski wajah se aa rahi thi.

Faris ne uska haath pakad kar apne bazu par rakha.

"Agar duniya ko yeh batana maqsood hai ke hum married hain to unhe yeh bhi pata chalna chahiye ke hum happily married hain."

"Tumhe apni reputation ki kitni fikar hai na," woh dab kar boli.

"Ya ek private marriage ceremony hai, warna meri khabar ya tasveeron ko viral hone mein der nahi lagti." "Oh! acha ab tum mujhe yeh bata rahe ho ke tum ek celebrity ho?" Usne khaas uchi awaaz mein tanz kiya.

"Celebrity toh khair se nahi…" wo keh raha tha. "Magar aik celebrity ka beta hai," uska jumla uchak kar kisi aur ne hi muqammal kiya tha.

Faris ki muskurahat udaan chhoo gayi. Taaasurat pathar ho gaye. Jannat ne sar utha kar awaaz ki simt dekha, to mashroob ka glass haath mein liye ek shakhs ne sar ke halkay ishaare se salaam kiya. Farbi mail hum, sar aur moochon ke baal poori tarah se safed the. "Maine toh Kamran bhai se bhi kaha tha, unhe invite kar lete to hamari Eid ho jati."

Faris ki muthiyaan bhinch gayi. Aankhon mein surkhi utar aayi.

"Jamal Gardezi." Apna taaruf karate hue Jannat ki taraf apna haath badhaya salam ke liye. "Chale?" Is shakhs ko koi bhi jawab diye bina woh Jannat ko bazu ke hisaare mein le kar isteqbaaliye ki taraf barh gaya. Jamal Gardezi ke labon par ek shaitani muskurahat aa kar thehra gayi. Nazaron ne unka door tak ta'aqqub kiya. Faris ke rawaye se Jannat ko hairat hui. Kya woh har kisi se aise hi pesh aata tha?

Mrs. Shirazi  ek artist thi, zaroor woh apne artwork ki wajah se international level par jani pehchani jaati hongi tab hi Jamal Gardezi ne zikar kiya hoga. Usne socha.

Is par itna khafa hone ki toh koi baat nahi thi, magar Faris ke taa'asurat. Uske chehre aur aankhon se narmi mafaqud ho chuki thi. Halankeh aate waqt uske taa'asurat kaafi zyada khushgawar the. Shaadi hall mein Faris ke dosto se, unki biwiyon se, aur unke qareeb rishteydaron se milte hue usse idraak hua, woh itne saare mulki aur ghair mulki logon mein apne status, apne business ke maamlaat ki wajah se bohot ahmiyat rakhta tha. Log use dholkar khud aa kar mil rahe the. Khawateen uski tawakka se zyada uske sath achha rawaya barat rahi thi. Woh har thodi der baad sar utha kar use dekhne lagti thi.

Woh kam go aur reserved nature ka malik tha. Woh use kisi ke sath muskurata, ya phir khul kar guftagu karta hua nahi dekh rahi thi. Woh apne har andaaz, har baat aur har amal mein ek had ya deewaar si qaim kiye hue tha. Woh sar ke halkay ishaare se ya ishaara mein sar hilaata mukhtasir lafzon mein koi jawab de kar baat khatam karta nazar aa raha tha.

Usne nighah dali. Ab woh aati jaati ladkiyon ko dekh rahi thi. Kuch uske dosto ki behnein. Kuch un behnon ki dost thi. Kuch ki aankhon mein rashk tha, kuch hasad mein mubtala thi. Usne beikhtiyar Adina Zubair ke sath hone wali apni pehli mulaqat yaad aayi. Uski mazak udaati nigahain, tazheek aamaiz yaad aayi. Na chahte hue bhi woh apna muqabala Adina Zubair se karne lagi. Shayad woh waqai mein Faris Wajdan ke sath achhi nahi lagti thi, ya shayad uske sath Adina Zohair jaisi ladki hi jachti thi. Uski roshan aankhon ki chamak ek dum mander pad gayi. Wajood mein bechaini hi utar aayi. Gehri saans le kar woh apni jagah se uth gayi. Faris bilkul saamne hi kuch business personalities ke gheray mein khada tha. Woh daayein taraf baahar ki taraf qadam uthaati gayi. Taweel raahdari, oonchi deewaren aur deewar gir khidkiyan kisi mahal ke andaroni hisse ka pata de rahi thi. Tourist room mein chali gayi.

Oonchi lambi sheeshe ki deewaron ke samne apne sarape ka az sar no jaiza le kar usne dupatta set kiya, gulabi lips par gloss ka izafa kar ke baahar aayi to taweel raahdari ke doosre sire par use Faris nazar aaya. Woh zaroor uske intezaar mein wahan khada tha.

"Bata kar jaana chahiye tha tumhe."

Woh qareeb pohnchi to usne kaha, "Ab koi choti kaki thodi nahi hoon ke ghum ho jaungi."

Gallery ki taraf ka sheesha slide kiya to baahar roshniyon mein nahaya hua sar sabz qatiya nazar aane laga. Usne mobile nikaal kar kuch tasveerein kheenchin.

"Mrs. Salman tumse kya keh rahi thi?" Woh sutoon ke sath pusht tika kar khada ho gaya.

"Woh hamari shaadi par nahi aa saki thi isliye shaadi ki snaps dekhna chah rahi thi."

"Toh tumne dikhayi?"

"Nahi."

"Kyun?" Woh hairaan hua.

Jannat ne gardan morh kar use kshamgeen nazaron se ghoora jaise poochh rahi ho, kya tum waqai nahi jaante?

"Main kuch samjha nahi."

"Aima ne hamari tasveer dekh kar jaante ho mujhe kya kaha? Yeh Faris bhai aise kyun baithe hain, jaise mirchay chabaye huye hon. Ab main doosron ko khudka mazak udaane ka mauka doon? Woh sawaal jaise uthayi, dulha aakhir aise kyun baithe hain? Uska mood kyun off hai? Itne ghusse mein kyun lag raha hai? Khush kyun nahi hai? Zabardasti ki shaadi hui hai kya? Koi ek tasveer bhi aisi nahi ke bas itni si muskurahat nazar aayi ho."

Uska lehja gumgern aur andaaz shikwa bhara tha. Faris Wajdan apni jagah khada raha. Dil ki halat ajeeb thi ke woh khoobsurat tareen lamhe na sirf apne liye balke uske liye bhi takleef deh bana chuka tha. Woh waqt jo yaadgar rehna tha, woh tasveeron mein muqeed ho kar aziyat ka baais ban raha tha.

Woh uske peeche, bohot qareeb aakar khad hua. Wo relling par hath rakhe kahin door dekh rahi thi.

Aahista se mobile pocket se nikaala. Bazu ke hisaare mein le kar qareeb kiya. Mobile ka front camera on kiya ek lamhe tasveer click hui thi. Woh apne khayalon mein gum thi. Is harkat par bokhalayi. Dusri click hui. Shikwa isliye to nahi kiya tha ke woh tasveer mein aaye.

"Achi aayi hai." Keh kar use bhi dikhayi.

Woh manzood aasab ke sath khadi thi. Haan, woh apni tasveer ko acha keh sakta tha. "Delete karo ise." Aage badh kar mobile chhinna chaha.

"Main bohot acha lag raha hoon."

"Lekin main achi nahi lag rahi. Idhar do mujhe." Ek to woh lamba, upar se haath bhi ooncha kar liya.

Woh rohansi ho gayi.

"Mummy ko send karta hoon."

"Hargiz nahi!" Usne dabi awaaz mein cheekh kar kaha.

"Magar kyun?" Zara hairan ho kar use dekha.

"Meri tasveer achi nahi aayi. Isse delete kar do," zabt karke boli.

"Toh theek hai, hum ke liye ek tasveer kheenchwa lo, main ise delete kar doonga."

"Faris! Use gussa chadh gaya."

Woh nafi mein sar hilaate hue peeche hta. Woh uski zid se waqif thi. Na chahte hue bhi dham gayi. Tevar bigde hue the. "Theek hai, pehle waada karo tum ye delete kar doge." Bahar haan kar doonga. Achhi khaasi tasveer ka woh issue bana rahi thi.

"Mujhe tum par koi yaqeen nahi hai."

"Main waada karta hoon kisi ko nahi bhejoonga. Khud hi dekh kar hasta rahunga," shararat se kaha. Aur woh beech-beech mein aankhon mein mote mote aansu bhar laayi. Faris use dekh kar reh gaya. Woh itni hi baat par itni sensitive kyun ho rahi thi?

"Acha nahi hansunga aur delete bhi kar doonga." Qareeb aakar bazu daraz kar ke ek selfie lene chaha. Ab ki baar woh uske pehlu mein aaraam se khadi rahi. Sar utha kar Mrs. Shirazi  ke liye dil se muskurayi. Aankhon ki nami badh gayi. Aur tasveer bharhaal bohot achi aayi thi. Woh dono apne aap mein adhoore, apni tasveer mein mukammal lag rahe the.

Kuch der tak raahdari mein tehlte rehne ke baad woh uske saath hall mein wapas aayi. Woh ab kuch behtar thi. Zara mood bhi behtar tha. Pehlu mein baitha Faris be had sanjeedgi se har thodi der baad koi na koi aisi baat zaroor kar deta jisse woh gusse se laal ho jati. Phir jhuk kar sar ghoshi mein jawab de kar use la jawab karte hue tanz se muskurati toh apne chehre par sanjeedgi taari rakhna Faris ke liye mushkil ho jata. Uski aankhein muskurane lagti thi. Taa'surat mein taqseem aajati. Musarrat bhare rang har andaaz se jhlkne lagte the.

Woh nazaron mein kuch isliye bhi aa raha tha ke mamool se hatt kar woh bohot mutmain, bohot khush lag raha tha.

Ghalibaan usko kabhi bhi kisi ne is tarah itne khushgawar mood nahi dekha tha, itna muskurate hue nahi dekha tha. Uski doosri shaadi ke silsile mein jitni cheh magoiyaan hui thi, jitne afsaane ghade gaye the, jitni baatein banayi gayi thi, unke haters ko unki muh ki khani padi thi.

Woh lamhe khoobsurat the. Aur khoobsurati se guzar gaye. Shaadi ka function khatam hua toh us waqt raat ke baarah baj rahe the. Kuch qareebi doston se milne ke baad woh Faris ke saath behruni darwaze par aayi toh is waqt rim-jhim baarish baras rahi thi. Thandak ka shiddat se ehsaas hua. Usne coat, manzar aur dastane pehne hue the magar phir bhi kapkapa rahi thi.

"Kya banega aapka?" Faris kahe bina na reh saka.

"Is tarah khade rahe to qulfii ban jaungi," larazti awaaz mein kaha. Phir uske bazu par gript barhate hue chhatri ke saaye mein gaadi ki taraf barh gayi thi.

Woh itni thaki hui thi ke ghar pohnchte hi so gayi magar Faris ne kapde badal kar laptop utha liya tha.

Woh shaadi ke poore saat mahine baad aaj apni shaadi ki tasveer mein dekh raha tha.

Woh uske pehlu mein bazahir mutmain, sar uthaaye baithe thi magar uski shehd aankhon mein khauf namaya tha. Jaise woh nahi jaanti thi ab uske sath kya hone wala tha. Zindagi ab use kisi doorahaye par lane wali thi. Kis azmaish mein daalne wali thi. Uske haath baaham pewist the. Chehre par kahin kahin tafakkurat ke nishan lehrate hue the.

Woh bridal dress mein inteha ki haseen lag rahi thi aur yeh husn us raat use nazar nahi aaya tha. Usne to nazar bhar kar dekha bhi nahi tha. Jannat Kamal ne apni raat uski study mein bitayi thi. Ye nayi life ka aaghaz tha. Naye ghar mein pehli raat. Naye rishte ki pehli nafrat thi. Woh bhaari dil ke sath tasveer badal raha tha.

Walime ki tasveeron mein woh sar uthaaye, gardan oonchi kiye zyada muskurayi thi. Zyada khush nazar aayi thi. Har kisi se bahut confidence se baat karti, apne dupatte ko set karti, apna pose phir behtar karte hue usne apni tasveer ko bohot confidence se kheenchwai thi. Woh hairaan tha. Woh ek baar phir hairaan hua tha.

Us raat jo rawaya usne diya tha. Aur jis tarah uski haisiyat wazeh ki thi, use kamre se nikal diya tha. Uske baad bhi woh khul kar muskurate hue itne saare logon ko dhoka dene mein kaamyab ho gayi thi.

Woh apne khandan mein wapas nahi jana chahti thi. Woh us shaadi ko har surat nibhana chahti thi. Magar uske ehsaas, uski zindagi, uski majbooriyon se qatey be khabar Faris Wajdan ne uska har khwab, uski har umeed khak mein mila di thi.

Zindagi jitni us par tang thi, mazeed usne kar di thi.

Woh lounge se uth kar kamre mein aa gaya.

Woh gehri neend mein thi. Sofe ki wajah se khud mein simat kar sone ki aadat ho chuki thi. Kitni der tak woh uske paas khada raha. Phir paas baith kar uske haath par apna haath rakha.

Jaise abhi bhi dar ho, woh palak jhapakte hi kisi khwab, kisi khayal ka hissa ho jayegi. Yeh khauf, bechaini, yeh kuch kho dene ka ehsaas uski rag rag mein utara hua tha.

Woh neend mein zara sa kasmasaayi to uski bechaini ka khayal kar ke haath hata liya.

Shaadi ache haalaat mein nahi hui thi. Shaadi marzi aur chaah se bhi nahi hui thi. Magar jo ata kiya, wo marham tha un zakhmo ka jo wo saalo se apni rooh par liye phir raha tha.. Un zakhmon ka jinke dard ka ehsaas use bohot dair se hua tha. Apne inaam se agahi bohot dair se mili thi. Aur use is baat ka pachhtawa tha behad pachhtawa…

❏❏❏