Chapter 50: CHAPTER - 49

کِسٹ نمبر ۱۱

Faris wajdan us se naraz ho chuka tha. Packing ke dauran jab woh uske aage peeche phirti rahi aur baat karne ki koshish ki, toh usne koi jawab nahi diya. Tayari karte hue baar baar usay mukhatib kar rahi thi, magar wo aisa lag raha tha jaise kuch sun hi nahi raha ho. Khane ki table par bhi inteha ki khamoshi thi. Ab woh wahi purana, maghroor aur badmizaaj Faris tha. Jannat hairan thi, akhir usay hua kya tha? Aisi kaunsi baat thi jo usay buri lag gayi thi?

"Achha theek hai, kisi ko kuch nahi bataungi," kaafi soch vichar ke baad zara sa ehsaas hua toh keh diya. gaadi airport ki jaanib rawaan dawaan thi. Woh aqbi nashist par uske bilkul paas mein baithi thi. "Pura Pakistan ko batao, meri bala se," ek shaan aur ghamand ke saath baitha woh keh kar baahar dekhne laga.

Jannat hairan hui, "Waakai?" Phir kandhe uchka kar usne bhi rukh badal liya.

London ke Heathrow Airport par Adeel Ahmed nazar aaya toh chhoot'te hi pooch liya, "Mister Adeel! Kya aap kisi aise insaan ko jaante hain jo neend mein baatein karta ho?"

"Sorry?" Adeel ko Jannat ki baat samajh mein nahi aayi. Jannat, "Matlab jo neend mein baatein kare. Main ek ko jaanti hoon," haath se apni taraf ishara kiya jaise koi bara azaaz ki baat ho. Faris ne gussa dabate hue Jannat ko bazoo se pakad kar daayein taraf khada kiya, "Baz aa jao tum."

"Nahi, baz aasmaan par hi theek hai, usay neeche mat bulao tum."

Woh bade maze me thi . "And by the way tumne khud mujhe kaha sab ko bata do, ab kya masla hai?"

Faris zabt kar ke jhatke se palat gaya.

Airport ke waiting area mein toh usne inteha kar di. Qareeb baithay kisi suited booted aadhe Angrez, aadhe Pakistani se 'sleep talk' ka mowzu chhed diya. Woh bata rahe the ke kaise unke azeez neend mein chala karte the aur kaise wo ek baar ghar se baahar nikal gaye the. Aur Jannat bohot hairan o pareshan ho rahi thi,

"Kya waqai Uncle? Aisa hi hota hai? Oh mera Allah, acha phir, phir kya hua tha?"

Faris seat arm par kohni tikaye haath peshani aur aankhon par rakh kar zabt ke kadey marahil se guzar raha tha. Uncle sahab se guftagu khatam hui toh mohtarma ko bhook lag gayi. Beg se chips ka packet nikaal liya.

Faris ko offer ki to, woh achha khaasa jala bhuna baitha tha,  response tak nahi diya. Woh kandhe uchka kar rukh badal gayi. Chips ke chand packet, choclate, biscuits nikaal liye. Woh maze se kha rahi thi toh saamne bench par baithe bachay us par sanjeedgi se nazar jamaye hue the. Beg tha ya koi jadui thela, cheezein khatam hi nahi ho rahi thi.

Usi dauran ek nanhi si bachi nazron mein aa gayi. Uske pairon mein phoolon jese jootey the. Jab woh qadam uthati thi toh surkh roshni si bikhar'ti thi.

"Hum bhi aise jootey lenge." Faris ki jaanib jhuk kar kaha. Woh mobile par kuch likh raha tha, sar uthakar dekha, phir dekhta hi raha. Bachhi ne naya naya chalna seekha tha. Frock mein toh koi khilta hua phool lag rahi thi.

"Theek hai, hum yahi lenge." Woh manzar dekh kar uska mood khushgawar ho gaya.

"Main sirf apni baat kar rahi hoon." Muhtarma ko hosh aaya toh phir se toka, "Ye ham ab sirf tum ho?"

Ab ke kadi nazron se usay ghoora. Wo straw dato mein dabaye rukh badal gayi. Faris ki nigahein kaafi der tak us bachchi ke taaqab mein rahi.

"Tumhe lagta hai jab humara baby aayega toh hum alag ho sakege?" Usne kaha. Jannat ne chonk kar usay dekha. Straw moonh mein thahr gaya. Andar tak khamoshi chha gayi.

"Tum mein aisa karne ki himmat aa sakti hai. Mujh mein toh bilkul bhi nahi," woh sach kar keh raha tha. Woh jitna hi mazboot tha, apni aulad ke liye utna hi kamzor ho sakta tha.

"Tum mujhe pareshan kar rahe ho," Jannat ki aankhon mein nami utar aayi. Aankhein, naak, gaal surkh hone lage.

"Oh God, kya ho gaya hai?" Faris waqai ghabraya tha, "Main ne tum se yeh toh nahi kaha ke main usay tum se cheen loonga."

"Main yeh hi samjhi hoon," woh ro padi.

"Tum galat samjhi ho, for God sake rona band karo, log humein dekh rahe hain, Jannat!"

"Haan toh dekhne do, unhein pata chalna chahiye tum kitne buray ho."

Woh uth kar apni pusht par haath bandhe uske aage khada ho gaya taake kisi ko yeh pata na chale ke woh kitna bura hai. Woh uski is harkat par seeth pa ho gayi.

"Haan, chup kar roti raho, koi parwa nahi. Yeh nahi ke do lafz tasalli ke bol do," pas aawaz mein sikhwa kiya.

"Ab main tum se kya kahu?" Faris ne uske paas baith kar poocha. "Yahi ke mere bache ko poora ka poora apne paas rakh lena. Main haftay mein ek din mil liya karunga? Ya phir yeh ke khula ke liye jo wakeel chahiye woh main hire kar dunga?"

Woh lamhay bhar ke liye chup thi. Andar hi andar aur rone ko aaya.

"Khabardar jo mujh se tumne baat bhi ki toh."

Apna back pack uski god mein patak kar dusri bench par ja baithi. Faris gehri saans lekar reh gaya.

"Sare mard ek jaise hote hain." Aansu saaf karte hue woh bur budayi.

"Haan, magar aapke wala toh khoobsurat bhi bohot hai." Aunty ji ne kitab se nazar hata kar apni aankhon se chashma hata kar uske walay ko baghaur dekhte hue tabsera kiya. Ghaliban woh kaafi der se unka mu'aina kar rahi thi.

"Shauhar aisa ho toh biwi ko kya khaak sukoon ki neend aati hogi."

"Yeh toh aapne bilkul theek kaha," unki baat samjhe baghair usne apni baat ki. "Good-looking mardo ki biwiyon ko bohot zyada mohtaat rehna chahiye."

Jannat ka moonh khula ka khula reh gaya. Baat toh jaise ab samajh mein aayi.

"Koi good-looking nahi hai woh," tadap kar kaha.

Aunty ji ne ab ke chashma naak par gira kar usay ghura. Bhala yeh kaisi biwi thi jise apne shauhar ki tareef bardasht nahi ho rahi thi.

"Nazar rakha karo is par" maao ki tarah naseehat ki. "Mujhe nahi rakhni koi nazar, wajar" bigad kar ke sine par baazu bandh liye. Tang par tang rakhi, "Karta hai to karle doosri, teesri, chauthi shaadi."

Rone ki baais se mohtarma ki aankhein aur naak surkh ho rahi thi. Aunty ji ko uski khud-sari par gussa aa gaya. "Ye aaj kal ki naujawan nasal bardasht to hai hi nahi. Arre, doosri, teesri, chauthi shaadi, ye bhi koi kehne ki baat hai? Aur kal ko agar doosri, teesri, chauthi aa gayi, to lag pata jaye."

Aunty ki barhami dekh kar woh zara dhum si gai. Abhi toh usne ye bhi nahi bataya tha ke woh maa banne wali hai, aur ye bhi ke woh court ja kar khula le gi. Phir shayad aunty apna joota hi utaar leti.

Faris ko mukammal nazar andaz kiye, woh aunty se baatein karne lagi. Aunty ke paas bahut se muft mashware the. Unhone haath thaama aur shauhar ko mitti mein milane ke tareeke sikhane lagi. Aur tareeke sikhate sikhate apni nand aur jethani ke kisse chheer kar baith gayi. Jannat unki khandani siyasat aur maslon mein aisi uljhi ke Faris ke saath apni ladaai, qissa, narazi sab bhool gayi.

Faris apne ghutne par hara rang ka backpack rakh kar besaakhta sakoon bhar sans li. Pandrh minute bade sukoon se guzre. Ailan hua to woh uth kar uske paas aya.

"Mera to fourth month chal raha hai," woh saare haal ahwal yun de rahi thi jaise kayi saalo ki shanasaayi ho. Aur aunty bhi tasbeeh ke daane ghumate hue yun khush ho rahi thi jaise wohi nani banne wali ho. Pregnancy ke hawale se bhi naseehatein di. Jaate waqt phone numbers ka bhi tabadla hua.

"Main aapko bohot miss karungi aunty!" Unse gale lag kar boli. Faris ne nigahe dorhayi. 'Sar-e-raah chalte kisi se bhi uski dosti ho jati thi.'

"Kaash meri seat aapke saath hoti."

"Haan! Kaash," Faris ne haath pakad kar daant peese aur usse apne saath le jaane laga. "Sabr nahi hai tum mein," usse bura laga.

"Pichle ek ghante se sabr hi to kar raha hoon."

"Haan to kya usmein mera kasoor hai, flight late ho gayi?"

"Sarasr meri ghalti hai," woh mutarif hua aur uska haath apni giraft mein liye aage barh gaya. Woh mahez use ghur rahi thi.

Ek sukoon bhari khamoshi thi. Aas paas bohot se musafir business class cabin mein neelgo roshni mein so rahe the, bashumul uski zauja mohtarma ke. Halaankeh woh jaag raha tha.

Laptop god mein rakha tha. Screen roshan thi. Kuch bechaini se peshani masalte hue, woh aram-deh haalat mein baith kar bhi bohot bechain lag raha tha. Aankhon mein fikr ka saya tha, dil mein wahem ka khauf. Haalaat ki dahshat thi. Maazi ki vahshat thi. Aur sawaal the. Bohot se aur mushkil sawaal. Usse sambhalne mein waqt lagta tha, ab bohot zyada waqt lag raha tha. Haalat yun ho rahi thi jaise woh wahiin khada ho. Andar bohot shor tha aur bepanah be sakoni thi.

"Tum soye nahi?" Jannat ki awaaz par chonk kar uski taraf dekha. Usse dobara vomiting hui thi to tabiyat theek nahi thi. Abhi bhi pait par haath rakhe woh neend mein doobti hui lag rahi thi.

"Neend nahi aa rahi," keh kar woh uski taraf mutawajeh hua.

"Pareshan ho?" Jaane kab se woh uski bechaini dekh rahi thi, to pooche bina na reh saki.

"Nahi." Woh chup ho gayi.

"Mera dil nahi cha raha," mooh bigadte hue usne aankhen band kar li. Naak mein khaarish thi. Khaane ke tasavvur se hi ubkai aane lagi.

"Ab is tarah ki cheez mein khao gi to yahi hoga."

"Kis tarah ki cheezein?"

"Jin se bag bhara hua hai."

"Tumhara matlab hai morning sickness chips aur chocolates khane ki wajah se hoti hai?" Jannat ki bhanwain sikud gayi.

"Tumse behas fazool hai," usne flight attendant ka call button dabate hue kaha.

"Haan, lajawab jo ho gaye ho. Ab to tum yahi kaho ge," tunnak kar boli.

Kuch hi der baad flight attendant hazir hui. Faris ne fruit platter aur milk ka order diya, jo ke kuch hi der mein pesh kar diya gaya. Uske israarat aur ek do ghuro ke baad, woh na chahte hue bhi uth kar baith gayi.

"Chaaho to har paanch minute baad ek bite lo, lekin ye har surat khatam hona chahiye." Uske seat ki position adjust karte hue, table tray khol di. Air hostess ek ek kar ke ashiya rakhte gayi. Woh gehri saans le kar bahar tareekhi mein dekhne lagi. Fork utha liya. Phir be-dili se thoda thoda kar ke khaane lagi.

Apne balon mein ungliyan phirate hue ab woh samne dekh raha tha. Laptop ki screen tareek ho chuki thi, aur aisi hi tareeki uske andar bhi aa gayi thi. Sine par bojh badha hua tha. Gehri saans le kar usne apni peshani masli. Guzishta shab wali kayfiyat ek bar phir us par taari ho rahi thi. Baat samaan ki thi. Us ghar ki thi aur ghar ki deewaron se judi hikayaton ki thi. Shayad usse wahan nahi jaana chahiye tha. Jo darwaze saalo se band the, unhe kholna nahi chahiye tha.

Ek manzar, phir doosra, teesra usne aankhein band kar ke, gardan ke peeche dono haathon se dabao dala. Phir paani ki bottle uthayi. Chand ghunt bhare. Phir jeb se tablets ka chhota sa packet nikalne hi wala tha, ke Jannat ki awaaz samaat se takrai.

"Gardezi sahab us din tumhare dada ki bohot tareef kar rahe the. Keh rahe the tumhari personality bhi unki jaisi hai."

Woh lamhe bhar ke liye saaqit hua, phir gardan mod kar usse dekha.

"Gardezi sahab?"

"Haan, woh jin ke safed lambe baal hain. Us din shaadi par bhi they. Jamal Gardezi."

Woh sun ho gaya. "Mrs. Sulaiman ne to usay kuch nahi bataya tha, to kya woh Jannat se milne aaye the?"

"Woh keh rahe the tumhari business strategy, tumhare faisle, tumhara har maamle mein apni team ko lekar chalne ka tareeka late Chairman Azam Shirazi jaisa hai. Yun lagta hai jaise aaj bhi sab wahi deal kar rahe hon."

Woh bohot normal lehje se bata rahi thi, magar Faris ke andar sab kuch fanaa ho raha tha.

Bazahir yeh tareef ek rai thi aur yeh rai sirf Gardezi sahab ki nahi thi. Iske halqa-e-ahbab aur business society mein taqreeban har doosra shakhs yehi kehta paaya jata tha magar hairaan kun baat yeh thi ke yeh sab Jannat se sun raha tha. Kuch ghalat ho gaya tha. Yaqeenan khatre ki ghanti baj uthi. Girdizi sahab ke tasavvur se uske jabre pehnch gaye.

"Kya aisa hi hai?" Woh pooch rahi thi. "Nahi." Uska apna haath be-sakhta gardan tak aaya. Usne tie ki knot dheeli kar di. Collar se daayen ka batan bhi khol diye. Wujood mein aag jal bhi thi. Aankhon mein dhuwaan sa bhar raha tha. Woh sakte mein tha. Rooh jal rahi thi.

Woh Azam Shirazi nahi tha. Woh Azam Shirazi jaisa nahi ho sakta tha. Uske ehsaasat se qati be-khabar Jannat ne lemonade ke kuch ghoont liye. Aur kayi khayalon mein ghiri hui thi.

"Aur kya kaha?"

Aankhon mein surkhi utar aayi thi. Taseerat bazahir to nahi the magar andar ki karakhti uski aankhon se ayaan ho rahi thi.

"Aur toh kuch khaas nahi. Thodi dair ke liye aaye the, isliye jaldi chale gaye. Aur haan! Phir jaise kuch yaad aaya toh uski taraf dekha. "Mujhse kehne lage, You should be very careful of your husband. You don't know him." Hamla shadeed aur zarb kaari thi. Hamesha tab hi padti thi jab tawakko nahi hoti thi. Uski mutthiyan bhinch gayi. Jannat ko Mr. Suleman ke ghar akele bhej kar usne ghalti kar li thi.

"Phir?"

"Phir, maine kaha? Yeh baat karne ke baad aapko mere husband se bohot zyada mohtaat rehna chahiye."

Faris wajdan shocked hue usay dekh kar.

Fiza ki kashidaagi ek dam kam hui jise mehsoos karte hi sansein se bojh hat gaya.

"Maine sirf itna kaha aur woh ek dam se hashne lag gaye, ajeeb tarah se. Phir bole, ‘Aisi baat Faris ki biwi hi keh sakti hai.’ Uske baad woh zyada dair nahi rukey." Seb ki qash moonh mein daalte hue sar uthaya aur ruk gayi.

Faris usay dekh raha tha. Palkein jhapkaye baghair usay dekh raha tha. Jannat ke liye uske taseerat qatee samajh se baahar ho gaye, uski hazel aankhein dhundi ho gayi . Uski har hikayat phir se andhera ho gayi, muqammal sannata ho gayi.

"Tumne Gardezi sahab se kaha, woh mujhse muhtaat rahein?"

"Haan? Kya nahi kehna chahiye tha?" Woh puzzled hui. Woh agle chand lamhon tak kuch keh nahi saka. Woh usay hairaan kar rahi thi. Bohot zyada hairaan kar rahi thi.

"Aur jo baat woh kar rahe the?" Woh jaan boojh kar ruk gaya.

"Konsi baat?" Bhanwain sukar kar, usne Faris ko ghura.

"Pehliyon mein baatein kyun karta tha woh?"

"Unhone tumse kaha, ‘You should be careful of your husband.’"

"Haan, woh toh main shuru se bohot careful hoon," easy ho kar bohot mutma'in lehze mein boli.

Faris usay dekh kar reh gaya.

"Woh toh aise baat kar rahe the, jaise tum koi serial killer ho aur mujhe is ka ilm nahi hai. Aisa ho sakta hai ke mujhe ilm na ho?" Ta'keed ke liye uski taraf dekha magar doosri taraf toh ek gehera sakoot tha. Taajjub tha, hairani thi, sadma tha

"Woh aisi kyun thi? Dr. Mustafa ki nawasi, woh aisi kyun thi?" Apni tamaam tar narazgi ke bawajood usne Gardezi sahab ko uska weak point nahi diya tha. Usne sabit kar diya tha ke woh uski hi biwi thi. Uske saath hi khadi thi. Itna kuch ho jaane ke bawajood itni aziyatein, itna gham sehne ke bawajood, itne ikhtilafaat ki zad mein rehte hue bhi, usay apna faisla suna kar apni narazgi par qa'im reh kar bhi woh uske saath hi thi. Apne andar se yak dum sukoon sa utarta hua mehsoos hua.

"Lekin unki yeh baat toh theek hai, tum mujhe nahi jaanti." Ek baar phir usne usay tatola ke shayad kahin toh uske andar shak-o-shubhaat ke saaye honge. Kahi toh usay esi baat mili hogi jisne uske andar ka sukoon mita diya hoga, ehsaasat jalaye honge magar...

"Maine tumhein jaan kar kya karna hai?" Woh uski aankhon mein aankhein daal kar laa parwaai se pooch rahi thi. Wo sahi mayno mein la jawab ab hua tha.

"Maine kaunsa tumhare saath saari umar ke liye rehna hai?"

Ek ada se apne baalon ko jhatka, baato baat mein plate khaali ho chuki thi.

Faris ke liye muskurahat chhupaana mushkil ho gaya tha.

"Yeh tumne bilkul theek kaha."

"Main hamesha durust baat kehti hoon."

Usay andaza hi nahi tha ke woh anjaane mein uske dil se kitna bhaari bojh utaar chuki thi. Ab woh maze se kha rahi thi. Kuch dair baad hi nigahon ki tapish ka ehsaas kar ke uski taraf gardan mori. Faris armrest par kohni tikaye, baayein haath ki ungliyon ko apne honthon par thehraaye usay dekh raha tha.

Bohat narmi aur be inteha unsiyat ke saath. Woh is business cabin ki waheed musafir thi jo apni seat par aalti paalti maare baithi thi.

"Tum mujhe aise kyun dekh rahe ho?" Mashkook ho kar ghura.

"Kaisay dekh raha hoon?"

"Jaise dekh rahe ho."

"Wohi toh, kaise dekh raha hoon?"

"Sawal main pooch rahi hoon tum se." Woh chid gayi.

"Can I ask you something?" Chand lamho ke baad usne kaha.

"Sure," ek haath mein plate aur doosre haath mein fork uthaye ijazat di.

"Why are you so cute?"

Aur woh jo soch rahi thi ke kabhi bhi uski kisi bhi baat par kisi bhi tarah ka reaction nahi degi, woh sachmuch mein blush kar gayi. Satpata kar plate rakh di. Haath badha kar uske chehre ka rukh mora.

"Kahin aur dekho tum."

Woh hans diya.

Khud khidki ki taraf ho kar plate qareeb kar li. Dil dhak dhak kar raha tha. Awaaz kaano mein bhi goonj rahi thi. Jahaz mein bhi goonj rahi thi. Usay laga yeh dhak dhak Faris bhi sun raha hai. Musafir bhi sun rahe hain.

"Are you alright?" Woh has zabt kiye hue pooch raha tha. "Please mujhe disturb mat karo," keh kar apni shakl phir se ghum kar li. "Bhala jiske paas Jannat ho, usay anti-depressant ki kya zaroorat?" Woh muskurate hue sar jhatak kar reh gaya.

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