Chapter 48: CHP47'

•••

Mrs. Sulaiman ne phone karke unhe apne ghar invite kiya tha. Ab kyunki unki teen din baad wapsi thi, toh uska khayal tha ke dawat attend kar lena chahiye.

"Main toh nahi ja sakunga, tum chale jao," woh remote se channel badalte hue popcorn ke packet haathon mein liye sofa par daraz the.

"Aur tum kyun nahi ja sakoge?"

"Kutte, billi, parinde, machhliya har tarah ki makhlooq pal rakhi hai unhone apne ghar mein. Bahar kahin dawat hota toh koi masla nahi tha."

"Phir toh mujhe bhi nahi jana chahiye," woh kuch soch kar keh gayi.

"Aise inkaar karogi toh acha nahi lagega. Main unse apni taraf se mazrat kar lunga, lekin tum zaroor jao."

"Aakeli?" Woh kuch pareshan hui. Faris ne screen se nazar hata kar use dekha. "Driver, guard, aur chaho toh Helen ko saath le jao."

"Ab yeh Helen kaun hai?" Suspect nazar se.

"Mere manager ki assistant hai! Woh tumhare saath chal jayegi."

"Aur tum yahan akela baith kar maza udaoge?" Tanak kar poocha.

"Nahi. Mujhe apne bhi bohot kaam hain. Aath baje meri meeting hai. Das baje Japanese investors ke saath dinner ka plan hai. Aur bhi kuch kaam hain. Baaki do din reh gaye hain." Wo apne programmes se aagahi de raha tha to Jannat ki rage tan gayi thi.

"Yun keh raha hai ke tumhare apne so kaam hain. Kutte billiyon ko kyun ilzam de rahe ho?" Woh gehri saans le kar seedha hui. "Tum ghussa kyun bana rahi ho? Isliye ke main tumhare saath nahi ja raha?"

"Main tumhare baghair hi theek hoon. Aur main invitation par zaroor jaungi. Balki aisa karungi aaj raat unke ghar hi ruk jaungi. Mere husband ko bohot zyada kaam hain. Raat ke baarah ek baje se pehle tum free nahi hona, Kaam do din mein khatam hona zaroori hai." Tanziya lehje mein zabardasti ki muskurahat dikhakar uth gayi. Woh mutajassam chehre ke saath baitha raha. Phir uth kar kamre mein aaya. Woh dressing table ke saamne khadi baal bana rahi thi.

"Main wapsi par tumhe khud pick kar lunga," usne kaha.

"Koi zaroorat nahi. Main to unke ghar mein billiyon ke saath waqt guzaroongi." Woh achi khaasi tapp gayi thi.

"Thik hai," usne maza liya. "Jaise tumhari marzi. Lekin ghar aakar tumhe achhe se shower lene hona. Kapde change karne padenge. Haath achi tarah se dhone honge. Jootey toh bahar hi utaar kar aana." Wo hidayat nama jaari kar raha tha. Wo zabt karke uske taraf muri.

"Yeh sari ihtiyaat ke tadabeer sirf mere liye hain? Tumhare liye kuch nahi hai?"

"Kyoon, tumhe bhi koi allergy hai?"

"Haan haina, Mujhe Faris se allergy hai," dant pish kar kaha. "Ab hato mere raaste se." Bag kandhe par daal kar use raaste se hata diya.

"Oh, kaafi serious allergy lagti hai." Woh mehfooz raha. Jannat ne qahr bhar nazar se use dekha. Baith kar sneakers pehne aur band kar ke seedhi hui toh mobile par call aane lagi.

"Helen aa chuki hai," Faris ne screen par nazar daalate hue ittila di. Usne garam shawl odh kar handbag mein mobile rakha, darwaze ki taraf badhti hui ruki.

Phir murh kar use dekha. Woh uske peeche khada tha.

"Apna khayal rakhiyega, Mrs. Faris!" Jebo mein haath daal kar uski taraf jhuk kar kaha.

"Achha, kis liye?" Uska para chadha hua tha.

"Agar tumne apna khayal nahi rakha toh main woh ho jaunga, Kya kehte hain usay, bewa ka jo doosra lafz hai."

Jannat ne jhujhla kar use pare dhakela. "Haan toh phir kar lena doosri teesri shaadi." Usne bahar nikalte hi zordaar se darwaza band kiya.

"Baat suno!" Faris ne darwaza khol kar bahar aaya. Samne hi wo tiles par pao patkti lift ki taraf jaa rahi thi. "Unka ghar kaafi bada hai gum mat ho jana, ye na ho mujhe call kare ki, aao apni biwi ko dhundho hame mil nahi rahi."

"Allah!" Wo jhtke se muri, muthhiya bhich kar yaha waha dekhne lagi ki koi chij hath aaye or wo usay de mare, lekin waha bas ek indoor plant rakha tha, aur wo itna bhari gamla use utha kar mar nahi sakti thi.

"Chalo baki bate phone par" wo jane ke liye mura.

"Khabardar jo tumne, mujhe phone kiya." Sadid gusse ki halat me warn kiya. "Aur mujhe lene mat aana. Aaj main ghar nahi aungi." Dhamaka kar ke lift mein chali gayi. Woh muskurahat liye tab tak wahan khada raha jab tak darwaza bilkul band nahi ho gaya.

•••

"Lene aa jau?"

Message ka notification aaya toh usne sab kuch chhod kar mobile ki taraf mutwajja hui. Dopahar teen baje. Woh ghar se bahar thi aur mashoof ko ab khayal aaya tha.

"Nahi, mera ghar aane ka koi irada nahi. Saath hi gusse se bhari shakal bhi bhej di."

"Okay, jaise tumhari marzi." Uski taraf se khaas thanda jawab aaya. Jaise is baat se koi farq hi nahi pada.

"Aisa karna, kal bhi lene mat aana. Parso bhi nahi. Flight se ghante pehle pick kar lena mujhe." Ab usse kaise pata chalta wo gusse mein hai tabhi neele peele se gusse wale emojis bhi saath bhej rahi hai, taake sirf message na jaye, emotions bhi pahuch jaye.

"Lagta hai bohot acha waqt guzar raha hai tumhara." Faris ki taraf se tanzeeya muskurahat aa rahi thi.

"Haan, bohot acha, bohot sukoon mein hoon main." Jal kar likha. "Aur tumne mujhe jhooth bola, unke ghar billi kutte kaha hain?"

"Kya woh ab nahi rakhte?" Doosri taraf se woh hairaan hua. "Yeh kaisa sawaal hai?" Jannat ko aur gussa chadha. Doosri taraf agle teen-chaar minute tak khamoshi chhayi rahi. Woh online tha magar kuch keh nahi raha tha.

"Is waqt kahaan ho tum?" Saath hi shakl se ghoorti nazar bhi bhej di.

"Ghar par hoon."

"Kiske ghar par ho?"

"Apeni ghar par aur kahaan?" Woh hairaan hua.

"Tum toh keh rahe the pataa nahi kahaan kahaan jaate ho tum."

"Jahaan jahaan jaana tha, wahan se ho aaya hoon."

"Woh labh bhinche kar reh gayi. Kuch toh tha jo woh usse chhupa raha tha.

"Lene aaoon ya nahi?"

"Nahi."

"Yeh bhi koi poochhne wala sawaal tha?" Woh andar tak sulag gayi. Theek hai, woh naraz hai. Usne gusse mein jo keh diya, keh diya. Lekin raat bhar kisi aur ke ghar toh nahi ruk sakti thi, magar uska yeh aakhri message seen nahi kiya gaya tha. Faris offline ho gaya tha.

Mrs. Sulaiman se maafi maangte hue woh uth kar khidkiyon ke paas ja khadi hui. Usne call Dubara kiya, phir bhi woh phone nahi utha raha tha. Ek saath kai messages bheje, lekin jawab nahi mila. Gussa aagaya. Mushkil se apne aap ko normal rakhte hue Mrs. Sulaiman ke saath guftagu kar rahi thi, magar dimaag badi mushkil se shaant ho raha tha. Pata nahi kitni baar usne call kiya tha. Shayad bees bar ya tees ka target to pura hone hi wala hoga. Dining table par khana lag gaya to Mrs. Sulaiman ke kehne par use uthkar jaana pada. Warna pareshani ke wajah se to aadhi bhookh wahan khatam ho gayi thi.

Agar woh sachmuch mein usse lene nahi aaya to? Usse bohot pareshani ho rahi thi. Kya soch rahe hain Mr. Sulaiman! Pehli baar ki mehmaan aur ghar aakar baith gayi. Khana khate hue soch lagatar uljhi rahi. Faris se uski do ghante pehle baat hui thi. Aur ab tak usne dobara contact nahi kiya tha.

Dinner ke baad, woh Mrs. Sulaiman ke saath drawing room mein baithi coffee pee rahi thi, jab maid ne andar aakar malikaan ko kisi ki aamad ki ittila di. Kyunki woh mobile mein baithi thi, usne nahi dekha. Lekin jab Faris wajdan drawing room mein enter karte dekha, to gusse se apni jagah se uth gayi.

Siyah jeans par white shirt aur maroon sweater mein, woh siyah rang ka coat pehne hue tha. Muffler gardan mein tha, haath coat ki jebon mein. Baal tartib se sajaye hue the lekin jo mathe par the woh betartib ho rahe the.

"Tumhe kuch andaza bhi hai, maine tumhe kitni calls ki hain?"

Usne achambhe se Jannat ko dekha, phir jeb se mobile nikala. Itni sari missed calls dekh kar hairaan hua. "Tumne mujhe calls ki hairat hai?"

Jannat ke lab bhinch gaye. Aankhon mein gussa bhar aaya.

"Mujhe to bilkul pata na chala."

"Haan, tumhe kuch kaise pata chal sakta hai?" Uske paas aakar badi aahista awaaz mein kaha.

"To kaisa guzra tumhara waqt?" Aankhon mein shararat liye sanjeedgi se poocha.

"Tumhe isse fark padta hai?"

"Bilkul padta hai." Usne uski aankhon mein dekhne laga.

"Tumhare baghair bahut acha waqt guzra." Sar uthakar ek ada se jawab diya.

"itne sari messages aur calls dekh kar andaza ho raha hai." Woh muskuraya.

Woh gussa se achha khasa tap gayi lekin chup rahi.

"Mere saath bhi acha waqt guzarne ki aadat daalo." Muskurati nazar se uske chehre par jamakar bola. "Main sirf achi aadatein adopt karti hoon." Itra kar kehkar usne rukh badla. Coffee to waise bhi thandi ho chuki thi. Ek saans mein khali karke mug rakha. Mrs. Suleiman aur unki betiyon se mili. Shukriya ada kiya, dua mein le liya.

"Chale?" Uske paas aakar kam awaaz mein boli.

"Main ne tumse kab kaha, main tumhe lene aaya hoon?" Woh pesaani par shikan dal kar pooch raha tha.

Jannat ne sar uthakar use aankhein dikhayi. "Chalo bhi." Dono haathon se uska bazu pakad kar kheenchte hue darwaze ki taraf le jane lagi. Saath hi hans kar Mrs. Suleman ko door se Allah Hafiz kaha.

"Tumhare un dawo ka kya hua? Mujhe lene mat aana. Flight se pehle pick karna. Main ghar nahi aaoongi. Wagera wagera?" Gaadi mein baithte hi Faras ne use latara. "Haan, to gusse mein kaha tha. Iska matlab yeh to nahi hai ke tum mujhe doosron ke ghar chhor kar khud ayyashiya karte phiro?"

"Ayyashiyan?" Steering wheel par gript jamaye wo kuch sadme se uski taraf mod gaya. Gaadi abhi start nahi hui thi. Woh khidki ki taraf khisak gayi. Jitni bhi mazboot banti, uske kisi na kisi tewar se dar hi jaati thi.

"Aap mujhse kya keh rahi hain, jara wazahat karengi Shahzadi Sahiba?"

"Disturb na karo mujhe. Main bahut thaki hui hoon, mujhe neend aa rahi hai." Kehkar usne chehre ka rukh khidki ki taraf kar liya. Faris ne gehri saans le kar gaadi start kar di thi.

•••

Mangal ki raat unki wapsi ki flight thi isliye aaj ka program shopping aur bahar ghoomne phirne ka tha. Magar Jannat ki tabiyat subah se theek nahi thi. Aur woh is moqe ko chhodna nahi chahti thi. Isliye tayaar hokar bahar aayi to Faras ne saaf mana kar diya.

"Nahi, bilkul nahi. Tum mujhe list bana do, tumhe kya chahiye, main khud le aaoonga." Woh rohaansi hui. "Morning sickness to mujhe roz hoti hai. Ab theek hoon."

"Jaakar aaram karo." Faras ke lehje mein pakad tha.

Woh rooni surat bataye apni jagah khadi rahi.

"Maid mere aane tak nahi rahegi. Main ne usse keh diya hai, khana tayaar kar rahi hai." To yeh wazeh tha woh apna faisla nahi badlega.

Uski bigri hui shakal ke saath kamre mein wapas chali gayi. Faris uth kar uske peeche aaya. Woh glass window ke qareeb naram resho wale carpet par baithi thi.

"Zaroori to nahi ke is baar hi sab jagah dekh li jaaye."

"Main ne kuch kaha hai tumh?" Bholepan se uski taraf dekha. Aankho me nami utri hui thi. "Aur main ne kab kaha, main tumhare saath ghoomna phirna chah rahi hoon?"

"Haan, yeh baat to tumne bilkul nahi kahi." Seene par bazu bandhe deewar se lag kar khada ho gaya. "Main hi program bata raha tha."

"Haan wahi to!" Lab bhinch kar rukh badal gayi.

Woh aankhon mein muskurahat liye use dekhta raha.

"Jo tumhe chahiye uski list bana do, main aaoonga."

"Mere zehen mein kuch nahi hai." Woh cushion god mein rakh kar carpet ke reshiyon ko chhedne lagi.

Faras ne side table se uska mobile utha kar use diya. "Jab zehen mein aajaye to mujhe message kar dena."

Woh kehkar chala gaye aur Jannat ke dimaag ki lambi list mein aur izafa hone laga. Foran se apne aap ko jhatak dekar inkaar mein sar hilaaya. Sar ke neeche cushion rakh ke lehti gayi. Mobile haath mein tha. Ab woh game khel rahi thi. Darwaze ki taraf se dekhte hue Faris ne uski taraf se tasalli ki aur phir maid ko hidaayatein deta chala gaya.

London ke aasman par ghataayein chhayi hui thi. Suraj ghuroob ho chuka tha. Andhere utar aaye the.

Battiyaan jal gayi thi. Raat mein bhi din ka samaan ban gaya tha. Sadkon, malls, markets mein har jagah zindagi ke asar the. Sheher ki night life puri tarah se jag gayi thi.

Sardi to thi hi, lekin pichle kuch dinon se chhoti chhoti baarish ne mausam ko aur bhi thanda kar diya tha. Baarish abhi bhi baras rahi thi aur har guzarta pal uski shiddat ko badha raha tha. Usne main road se daayein taraf gaadi modhi aur ek line mein khade kai gharon ki roshan khidkiyon ki taraf dekha aur sadak ke kinare gaadi park kar di. Chand palon tak woh screen par chupti chhupti roshni dekhte raha. Manzar dhundla kar bas ek pal ke liye hi saaf hota tha. Ain saamne bilkul aakhri mein roshan khidkiyon ke beech ek andhera ghar nazar aa raha tha. Gehri saans le kar usne jess ek baar phir khud ko himmat di aur chhatri khol kar bahar aa gaya.

Siyah jeans par siyaah rang ka sweater aur us par siyah coat mein malboos woh jaldi se kadam utha raha tha. Fence ke us paar lawn ka qata tha. Ghaas behangam thi. Woh lawn ko paar kar ke markazi darwaze tak gaya. Seedhiyon chadh kar usne gehri saans li, phir chabi ghumakar darwaza andar ki taraf dhakel diya. Usne apne andar, apne wajood ki andheron mein kadam rakh diye, jaise woh ghar uske andar jaise tha.

Sakaan, veeraan, khamosh... Masalla saal se band. Haath badha kar lights on karne ka uska bilkul bhi mann nahi ho raha tha. Us ghar mein use andheron ki aadat thi. Woh har manzar se bhaagta rehta tha, har us azab se jo deewaron par likha tha. Har us dukh se jo is fiza mein chhaya hua tha.

Shayad woh khoon ki badboo thi. Zakhmon ka dard tha. Rooh ki chikhe thi jo use apne aas-paas ek baar phir mehsoos hone lagi thi.

Gehri saans le kar usne deewar par haath rakha. Markazi darwaze se hall tak bulbs jal gaye. Madham si roshni mein dhool se chhupi har cheez nazar aayi. Woh apni jagah kuch palon tak khada raha, jaise lakdi ke farsh ne uske paon ko jhakad liya ho.

Shiddat se dhadak raha dil muthi mein band ho raha tha. Use andar tak dard ki lehr uthti mehsoos ho rahi thi. Awaaz woh jhooliyon par aa kar dam tod di thi. Usne apne peechay darwaza band kar diya. Aahiste se kadam uthaate hue lounge tak gaya. Siyah sofa safai na hone ki wajah se apni peeth par mitti ki chadar odhe hue tha. Magazines, akhbaar, coffee table ke neeche carpet par bikhre hue the, ek toota hua glass uske paon mein tha. Tukde yahan wahan bikhri hui thi. Farsh par kahin kahin khoon ke baqi rahe gaye nishaan bhi the. Yeh sirf wohi jaanta tha. Aur apne khoon ko sirf wohi pehchanta tha. Kitchen itna sunsan tha, jaise kabhi wahan koi rizq nahi laya gaya tha. Table par kuch blood strips, chhuri, first aid ka box waise ka waise rakha tha.

Woh apne aap ko sar jhukaaye isi table par baitha hua dekh sakta tha. Nazar hata kar seedhiyon ka rukh kiya. Wazn padne par awaaz aayi thi. Usne railing ko mazbooti se thaam liya.

Upar ek kamra tha. Use kholne se pehle ruk kar apne hawaas ko theek karna pada. Itni tez sardi mein bhi uski peshani paseene se bheeg gayi thi.

Usne handle ghuma kar  darwaza khol diya. Lights on kar di. Kamra roshan hone ke bawajood uske liye abhi bhi andhera aur mubham sa raha.

Usne palkain jhpakai. Saans bhaari ho gayi. Seene par bojh pad gaya. Dil mein dard se bhar gaya. Bed par be-tarteebi se bikhre cushions, kuch neeche giraye hue, wardrobe khula hua.

Table ka saman be-tarteebi ke sath kuch neeche gira hua, kuch toota hua bikhra hua tha.

"Kaun ho tum?"

Toote hue aaine se uski nazar khidkiyo ki taraf gayi. Kaafi der tak wahan tehri rahi. Phir woh aage badh gaya. Bedside table ke paas baithte hue usne drawer khinchi. Ek saath kai reports uske haath mein aa gayi. Sambhal kar rakhi gayi thi. Sambhli hui mili thi. Usse laga uska saans band ho jayega. Dil phat jayega. Woh apne kadmo par khada nahi ho sakega. Us kamre se bahar kahin nahi ja sakega. Dard aisa hi tha. Woh gham, woh azmaish, woh museebat aisi hi thi. Uski aankhein puri tar ho chumi gayi thi. Uska wajood sholay ke zad mein aa chuka tha. Uska mustaqbil, uska haal mit gaya tha. Maazi theher gaya tha. Maazi raha gaya tha. Kitni der tak woh be-jaan kaghazon par zindagi ki nishandahi karti nishan likhayron ko dekhta raha. Andar ek shor sa raha tha. Zameer malaamat kar raha tha. Ungliyan uski taraf uth rahi thi. Woh har hone wali qiyamat ka zimmedar khud tha.

Har tarah ke khayalon ko jhatak kar woh almari tak gaya. Pat khol diye. Uske branded kapde, qeemati ghadiyaan, jootay har ek naye jaise ke waise rakhe hue the. Magar woh in cheezon ko lene nahi aaya tha.

Woh apni cheezon ko ulat-pulat kar raha tha. Aur use dhoondhne par bhi woh nishani, intezaar, ulfat aur mohabbat se judi cheez nahi mil rahi thi. Aur phir jaise kapdon ke neeche se bag mil gaya. Use nikal kar zip khol di.

Kuch der tak in cheezon ko haath mein liye baitha raha. Cheezein be-jaan thi. Ghair mutaharrik, sakit bilkul uski tarah. Waqt ek baar phir ruk gaya tha. Apne andheron se ladta woh kitni der tak farsh par be-his o harkat betha raha.

Kai manzar aankhon mein lehraye. Kai baatein yaad aayi. Kai galtiyaan, kai sazaayein, kai faisle, kai kotahiyan ka khayal aaya. Woh apni hathiyon ko dekh raha tha. Uske haath khaali the. Baar baar khaali ho rahe the. Woh bag mein kaagzat waqar rakh kar utha. Zip kheench kar kandhe par dala aur lights off kar ke bahar aa gaya. Bawajood iske ke woh is ghar se, iske bosida mahol se, takleef de yaadon se jaldi se jaldi nikalna chahta tha, magar phir bhi uske kadmo mein ujlat nahi thi.

Woh bhari sans ke sath darwaza khol kar bahar aa gaya. Lock laga kar mudha to jhanke se ruk gaya.

Ek adher umar angrez khatoon chhata taye hue, haath mein flash uthaye, bahut hairaan hokar use dekh rahi thi. Flash light ki roshni aankhon par pad gayi to usne be-hasta haath upar kiya.

"Farisss" hamisha ki tarah usne kaafi lambi naam kheenchha. Aankhon mein bachon jaisa ishtiyaaq aur khushi lehrayi. "Maine Sufi se kaha tha yeh ladka zaroor aayega." Woh unhe dekh kar reh gaya. Itne saalon baad woh use pehchaan gayi thi.

Kaafi boodhi ho chuki thi. Mushkil se chal paati thi. Aage badh kar uska baazu pakda. Bilkul waise hi jaise woh das-gyaarah saal pehle pakadti thi. Woh quwwat rakhte hue bhi baazu na chhoda sakta tha. Na sakat rakhte hue bhi inkaar na kar sakta tha. Uske ghar ki baari ek taraf se tooti hui thi. Woh yaqeenan wahi se aayi thi. Woh use apne saath apne ghar le aayi. Darwaze mein lamhe bhar ke liye woh jhijhaka , pehli nazar hi us safed reshon wali billi par pad gayi thi jo bilkul saamne baithi thi.

"Aao na"

Woh chand second ke liye ruk gaya, phir unka izhaar dekh kar andar aa gaya. Lounge ke sofa par baithte hi usse sneez aayi. Billi sofa ke neeche se, aur bilkul uske paon ke paas se sar sara kar guzri thi.

"Itna arsa kahaan gum rahe tum? Ek baar bhi nahi aaye?" Saath hi unhone kisi ko awaaz di. Aur phir yaad aane par kaha, "Arey, main to bhool hi gayi thi, main to akele rehti hoon." Kitchen mein jaakar naya glass nikala aur usme juice daal kar laaye. Pehle ke muqablay woh kaafi bhaari ho gayi thi. Tehr tehr kar kadam uthaati thi. Nazar bhi kamzor thi. Uske saamne sofa par baith kar unhone oon ka gola utha liya. Woh chhekho mein uljha hua tha. Muffler naak tak kheenchta, jeb se tissue nikala. Billi kaafi se zyada friendly thi. Uske bilkul paas hi baithi thi. Aur phir usse ehsaas hua, woh ek nahi thi. Uske kai bachche bhi the. Sofa ke neeche, table ke neeche, carpet par reengte hue. Uski aankhon se ab baqaida paani aa raha tha. Gardan ke pichle hisse par kharish hone lagi thi, magar woh phir bhi baitha raha tha.

"Tum itne din kahaan ghaib rahe?" Baghore dekh kar poocha. "Phir kisi se ladkar aaye ho?" Khafgi se ghoora. "Us boodhe Arthur ne kaha ke yeh ghar ab bech diya jayega. Kya aisa hi hai?" Ab ke zara pareshan ho gayi. "Tum kyun bech rahe ho? Tum yahaan aakar rehte kyun nahi ho?"

"Main Pakistan shift ho chuka hoon." Sanjeedgi se keh kar usne glass uthaya. Use zukam ho chuka tha. Khansi bhi ho rahi thi. Aankhon se lagatar paani aa raha tha. "Oh acha." Unka ka gola rakh kar billi ko godh mein le liya. Jaise ek masoom bachche ko godh mein liya jata hai. Bilkul waise hi. "Lekin tum to Pakistan bhi nahi jana chahte the."

Woh unhe dekh kar reh gaya. Unki yaadash mein sab aage peeche ho chuka tha. Bahut si baatein woh bhool gayi thi. Bahut si hikayatein unhe yaad nahi thi. Yeh bhi ke is waqt woh athara saal ka nahi hai, aur yeh bhi ke woh unke pados mein nahi rehta.

"Tumhara pasandida juice cookies lona. Sab halal hai." Bas woh yeh nahi bhool gayi thi ke woh Musalman hain.

"Ab main chalta hoon." Khaali glass table par rakhte hue utha. Khansi zyada ho rahi thi.

"Fariss!" Unhone khud bhi uth kar uske paas aayi. Woh chaah kar bhi unse do kadam door na ho saka. "Itna shor tha tumhare ghar. Sab theek hai na? Biwi kahaan hai tumhari?"

Yeh sawaal sadma tha. Yeh sawaal aziyat thi. Uski haalat abtar ho chuki thi, magar woh phir bhi apni jagah se ek inch nahi hila. Jawab ke liye muntazir nazar se use dekhte hue woh apna sawaal bhool gayi. Apna chhuriyo zada haath utha kar uske gaal par rakha, phir doosra rakha. Bhool gayi thi ke kya keh rahi thi. Ab kya kehne wali thi.

"Arey, tum to bahut handsome ho gaye ho." Unki kamzor aankhon mein khushi utari. Woh mushkil se muskuraya. Aankhon mein aansu uski amezish shamil ho gayi.

"Main phir aaoonga," keh kar jana chaaha.

"Haan, haan! Theek hai. Padhai bhi to karni hogi." Unhone haath hata liye. Woh darwaze ki taraf badh gaya to kuch yaad aane par use phir se pukara.

"Fariss! Tumhare paas paise to hain na?"

Woh apni jagah thehra reh gaya. Murh kar unhe dekha. Jaane kahaan se paise dhoond laaye. Zabardasti uske haathon mein pakraaye "Kuch kha lena."

Woh jazbaat ki garmi se surkh padte chehre ke saath khada raha. Phir hoodie sar par chadhate hue darwaza khol kar bahar nikal gaya.

"Koun tha bahir?" Sofie sach much seedhiyon se utari thi. "Koun?" Woh zara sa hairaan hui khadi thi. "Abhi jo aaya!"

"Koi bhi to nahi aaya." Bur budrate hue darwaze hat gayi. Phir khaali glass aur cookies dekh kar Suhri se lad padi. "Mere cookies tumne mere cookies kha liye." Hamesha ki tarah apni mehmaan nawazi bhool kar woh saara ilzam uske sar par daal rahi thi. Lawn mein kisi ajneebi ko road ki taraf jaate dekh kar Sofie gehri sans le kar reh gayi thi.

❏❏❏