Chapter 52: CHAPTER - 51

•••

Quran ki tilawat se farigh ho kar Mrs. Shirazi Jannat ke kamre mein aa gayi. Neeche shift ho jane ka yeh faida hua tha ke woh iske kamre mein aasaani se aa ja sakti thi.

Khidkiyon se swimming pool nazar aata tha. Deewaron par dhoop utri hui thi. Sabza roshni mein chamak kar aur haseen lag raha tha. Woh usi taraf dekh rahi thi. Jannat musalsal bolte hue wardrobe khule khadi thi. Woh uski sun rahi thi, usse jawab bhi de rahi thi. Wardrobe mein sirf uski cheeze, uska samaan tha. Bacche ke liye gaye samaan ko tareeq se neeche rakh rahi thi. Kamra chonki bara tha to dayein taraf ka hissa bacche ke liye bahut khubsurti se set kiya ja sakta tha.

"Baby cot yahan acha lagega," unhone kaha.

"Haina, maine bhi kal yehi socha. Aur is deewar ke saath main alag se wardrobe le loongi. Kapde, khilone sab tarteeb se rakh doongi."

Unhein idraak hua, aane wale waqt ke baare mein uski soch kaafi had tak badal chuki hai. Woh ab apne khauf ko mita kar naye khwab sajane lagi hai. Unhein is positive tabdeeli par khushi mehsoos hui.

"Haan, yeh theek rahega." Woh dil se muskurai.

Jannat unke paas sofa par chadh kar baith gayi.

"Sach sach bataye, aapki kya khwahish hai?"

"Kis baare mein?"

"Aapko pota chahiye ya poti?" Woh aankhon mein tajassus aur ishtiaq liye puch rahi thi.

"Mujhe bas apne bete ki sehatmand aulaad chahiye. Beta ho ya beti! Isse farq nahi padta," unhone uske haath par haath rakh kar narmi se kaha.

"Ye kehne ke liye dhair saara shukriya," unke gaal se gaal mila kar ke kaha, phir uth kar doosri cheezen sametne lagi. Saath hi shaadi ka hawala bhi de rahi thi.

Mrs. Shirazi ab wardrobe ki taraf dekh rahi thi. Pandrah din Faris Wajdan ki sangat mein guzarne ke bawajood usne kamra alag kar liya tha. Jaanti thi Faris usse waqt aur space de raha hai. Woh is par apni marzi musallat nahi karna chahta tha. Yeh ek azadi thi. Khud se ek faasla qaim kar ke woh usse apna faisla badalne ka mouqa de raha tha. Unke honton par mubhim si muskurahat thehar gayi. Magar kuch soch kar jaane kyun dil udaasiyon mein ghar gaya. Mini kitchen set safed rang ke makhmalen kapde. Aankhon mein izteraab liye unhone Jannat ki taraf dekha.

"London mein Faris theek raha? Koi pareshaani to nahi hui?" unhone pucha.

Jannat ruk gayi. Gardan mod kar unhein dekha. Chand lamhon tak khadi rahi. Ab woh unhein allergy reaction ka bataye? Ya sleeping pills aur anti-depressant ka hawala de? Woh unhein kisi bhi surat pareshaan nahi karna chahti thi.

"Jee, woh theek raha bas usse thoda sa jhukam hua tha. Aur kuch nahi," muskurayi woh, gehri saans lekar chup ho gayi. Rukh badal kar phir se bahar dekhne lagi. "Kal aap keh rahi thi mujhe painting dikhayegi?" Unki khamoshi aur aankhon se jhalakti pareshaani mehsoos kar ke unke paas aa gayi.

"Haan, ek muqammal ki hai. Kaafi arse se bana rahi thi lekin adhuri hi thi. Tum dono London chale gaye to phir fursat se muqammal kar li."

"Chale, phir mujhe dikhaye. Taake main usse rate kar sakoon. Waise to main aapki har painting ko das mein se poore bish number deti hoon."

Woh muskurayi.

Jannat wheel chair par haath jamaaye unke saath studio mein aa gayi. Samne hi deewar par safed chaadar mein ek large size ki painting deewar ke saath rakhi thi. Ab tak ki Mrs. Shirazi ki tamaam paintings mein yeh sabse badi thi. Taqreeban aadhi deewar cover kar rakhi thi. Usne aage badh kar kapda hata diya, gehre rangon se bani ek dark painting samne thi.

Jannat kamaal dam saadhe khadi reh gayi.

Samandar ki taraf aasman ki bulandiyo ko chhoota ek wasee o azeem mahal lambe minar, unchi mazboot deewarein. Mahal ke bahar jagah jagah siyah hoti ghaas se aadhi chhupi, aadhi zahir hoti khoon alood neze, teer aur talwar. Mahal ki tamaam khidkiyan tareek, sirf ek khidki roshan thi. Is khidki ki chaukhat par surkh khoon tapak raha tha. Andar kisi ki mojoodgi ka bhi gumaan ho raha tha. Ungliyan khoon se rangi hui talwar tuti hui aur hifaazti chunah phata hua nazar aa raha tha. Unhone is qadar tafseel aur safai se ek ek cheez banayi thi ke woh mutasir hue bina na reh saki.

"Zabardast!" Uske munh se besaakhta nikla. "Yeh aapne kab banayi?"

"Kaafi arsay se bana rahi hoon. Hamesha adhuri hi reh jaati thi. Ab complete karne mein kaamyab hui hoon."

"Bahot gehri hai," usne kaha. "Jaise yeh hathiyar, khoon, deewarein hain, aur yeh siyah jhadien aise lag raha hai jaise har ek shay ki apni ek hikayat hai."

"Isme waqai mein ek kahani hai. Sunogi?"

Jannat ne murkar unhein dekha. "Zaroor!" Aankhon mein ishtiaq liye kaha.

Jebon mein haath daale Faris studio ke darwaze mein ruk gaya. Dastak ke liye haath uthaya. Magar Mrs. Shirazi ki awaaz sunte hi ruk gaya.

"Ek jadoo gar shehzade ne zakhmi ho kar unchi lambi deewaron ke ek mazboot mahal mein khud ko qaid kar liya tha." unhone haath se mahal ki wahid roshan khidki ki jaanib ishara kiya. "Uska badan zakhamo se choor hai. Haath khoon alood hain, hathiyar bhi toot chuka hai. Ghora bhi nahi raha."

Jannat dam saadhe unhein bohot tawajju se sun rahi thi.

"Jadoo gar shehzade ne apni rahi sahi kuwwat jama ki aur mahal ki deewaron ke saath woh khoobsurat phool aur podon ko khatarnak kaantay daar jhadion mein badal diya. Rang birange phool, narm malaik ghaas aur sooraj ki roshniyon se chamakta sabza sab siyah ho gaya. Deewaron se vahshat tapakne lagi. Uncha mazboot mahal har kisi ko khauf zadah karne laga."

Adh khulay darwaze se unhein dekhta Faris apni jagah manjamid khada tha.

"Ab jab bhi koi khazane ki talash mein mahal ki hudood mein dakhil hone ki koshish karta to apne andar zindagi ki lehar liye woh khoon khuwar jhadien deewar ban kar usse lahu lahan kar deti. Har taraf khauf o hiras phelne laga. Log mahal se door bhaagne lage."

Jannat ki nigahain Mrs. Shirazi par thehri thi aur Mrs. Shirazi ki nigahein painting par. "Waqt guzarta gaya. Duniya badalne lagi. Sadiyan beet gayi. Magar mahal ke andar jadoo gar shehzade ke liye uska waqt thaara raha. Uske zakham, uski aziyat, uska har gham uske liye wahein thaara raha. Shehzade ko lagta tha ke yeh uski is duniya mein aane ki saza hai ya phir is fateh ki jo usne apna sab kuch khatam karke hasil ki hai."

Darwaze ke us paar Faris ki aankho mein haza ki ek lehar uthi. Surkh dooron mein karb utra. Lab bhinch gaye. Dard badhta gaya.

"Phir?" Jannat samne hi floor cushion par baithi unhein magan ho kar sun rahi thi.

"Phir yeh ke ek gareeb yateem ladki jo jaadugar khandan se nahi thi, kuch vahshiyon se bachti bachati mahal ki taraf aayi. Apni jaan bachane ke liye usne mahal mein dakhil hone ki thaani. Magar chonki wo jaadu nahi jaanti thi, isliye uska mahal ki hudood mein dakhil hona mumkin nahi tha. Jis waqt wo mahal ke bairooni darwaze par vahshi darindo mein ghiri hui khadi thi, us waqt shehzade ne hairan ho kar use khidki se dekha. Mahal ki bairooni deewar se andar tak ka hissa apna rang badal raha tha. Siyah ghaas hari ho rahi thi. Zameen se podhe phoot pade the. Jis jagah ladki khadi thi, us jagah par ab koi kaantay daar jhaadi na thi. Darwaze par jo jaday lipti hui thi, wo bhi toot kar raakh ho rahi thi. Darwaza saaf hua to ladki andar gayi. Vahshi darinde is had se bahar rahe, andar na aa sake." Ravani se bolte hue unhone ek lamhe ka tauquf kiya.

"Jaadugar shehzade ke liye woh manzar kisi sadme se kam nahi tha. Uska jaadu us ladki par kisi taur asar nahi kar raha tha. Uske liye zameen hari ho rahi thi. Phool khil rahe the. Mahal sadio se tareek raha tha magar ab ladki ke aate hi kirnein bhi zameen par utarne lagi thi. Shehzade ko laga, woh ladki uske mazboot hisaar mein shagaaf kar degi. Jhaadiyan roop badlenge to deeware kamzor ho jaayengi. Deewar kamzor ho gayi to phir wo ghair mehfooz ho jaayega. Aziyat, gham, aur sabhi dukh phir se aa jaayenge. Maazi apna aap dohraayega. Phir se jung hogi. Phir se fateh hogi aur phir se qaid milegi. Jaadugar shehzada aisa nahi chahta tha. Gusse aur inteqam ki aag mein jhulste hue usne ladki ko qatal karne ka faisla kar liya."

Jannat ki saansein ruki. Tajassus ke saath saath khauf bhi badh gaya. Woh jaise ek ek manzar apni aankhon se dekhte hue ek mawarai kahani mein mukammal gharq ho chuki thi.

"Pehle pehal usne koshish ki ladki mahal ke andar dakhil na ho sake. Magar chonki jaadu ka asar us ladki par nahi hota tha, isliye woh darwazo par chadhi khatarnak belon ko zyada der tak uske raste mein haayel na kar saka. Ladki jab mahal ke andar dakhil hui to uska uthaya gaya har qadam khauf ki tareeki aur wahshat ke sannate ko mitaata gaya. Khidkiyon se kirnein andar aane lagi. Jo makhluq tareeki mein basera karti thi, woh roshni mein fana hone lagi."

"Mahal ki poori nau manzilein thi aur har manzil jadui si. Apne andar bohot se raaz liye hue thi. Ladki pehli manzil par das din rahi, doosri manzil par bhi das din. Teesri manzil par bhi das din. Aur is dauran usay shehzade ki Khud Nawisht (Autobiography) mili jo woh sadio se likhta aa raha tha. Har manzil par usay kuch hissa mil jata jise padte hue woh ek an dekhe wujood ki mohabbat mein giraftar hone lagi."

"Usay apne aas paas shehzade ki mojoodgi ka gumaan hone laga tha. Woh usse baatein karti."

"Aawazain bhi deti thi, nagme bhi sunti thi magar phir bhi jawab nahi aata tha. "Main tumhein bacha sakti hoon," woh jara oonchi awaaz mein kehti. "Main tumhein azad kar sakti hoon," woh usay yaqeen dilati. "Tumhare zakhm bhar jayenge, tumhara dard bhi khatam ho jayega. Ek baar mere samne aajao," magar shehzada jo usay ek threat ke tor par dekhta tha, woh uske samne kaise aasakta tha? Uske liye toh woh ek mujrim thi, saza ki mustahiq thi jo uski ijazat aur marzi ke baghair uske mahel mein ghus aayi thi."

"Saatwi manzil par pohchte hi ladki ko ehsaas hua ke uske paon zakmi hone lage hain. Woh hadiyon mein dard mehsoos karne lagi. Aathwi manzil par uske zild par chot ubharne lagi jese chotay chotay cut lagte hai . Shehzade ko khushi hui ke ladki ki salahiyat akhir khatam hone lagi hai. Usne apne jadoo ka zor mazeed barha diya."

"Aathwi se noohwi manzil par pohchnay tak ladki zakhmon se choor aur buri tarah mutasir ho chuki thi, magar usne himmat nahi hari. Woh pehli aur aakhri dafa us qile ke bhoot se, yani ke us shehzade se milna chahti thi. Usne woh darwaza khola jismein shehzada band tha. Waqt ke dairay mein qaid, zakhmon se choor kisi ghayal sher ki tarah sar uthaye khara tha, hamla karne ko muqammal tayyar. Ladki ke qadam rakhne ki dair thi ke mahel ki bakiya manazir us manzil par bhi uski mojoodgi ka asar hone laga. Siyahi mit gayi, andhera chhat gaya, roshni bikhar gayi. Manzar saaf hone laga."

"Magar yahan ek anhooni hui. Uska asar sirf mahal ke dar-o-deewar ko nahi hua, balke shehzade par bhi hua. Waqt ki zanjeer toot gayi, shehzade ke zakhm bharne lage, uska dard khatam ho gaya. Aur Uska jism phir se sehatmand ho gaya, aur ladki bejaan hokar uske qadmon mein aa giri."

"Aunty please! Sad ending nahi," usne foran hi dukhi hokar kaha. Magar Mrs. Shirazi is kahani ki writer nahi thi, woh iske ending nahi badal sakti thi.

"Shehzade ko us aakhri lamhe mein ehsaas hua ke apna hisar mazboot karne ke liye woh pichle nawwe din se jis ladki ko aziyaton se do char karta raha hai, wohi ladki uske tamam dukh aur aziyaten apne rahe hue wujood mein samet kar, usay apni awaaz ka aadi banate hue uske dil mein apne liye mohabbat jagakar khatam ho chuki hai."

Faaris kahani ke hisaar se bahar nikal aaya.

"Zalim shehzada 90ve din tak uski mohabbat nahi pehchan saka. Gadha!" Jannat ko gussa chadh gaya. Woh dekh rahi thi.

Inteqaam par be inteha dukhi hui baithi thi. Mrs. Shirazi muskurain aur bahar darwaze ke paas khada Faaris muskurane se qaasir tha.*

"Tumhein shehzade ki psychology bhi samajhni chahiye beta!"

"Main usay kya samjhoon? Aap yeh dekhein. Woh ladki uska dard chunne aayi thi Aunty! Uske liye marham layi thi." Usay bohot dukh ho raha tha.

"Magar shehzade ko kya pata, woh jo apne saath layi hai woh uska marham hai? Uske zakhmon ke liye hai?"

Unhone narami se poocha. "Usay samajhna chahiye tha ke ladki ke aane se phool khil rahe hain yeh zindagi ki alamat hai." Woh apni baat par date hue thi.

"Yeh phool uske jadoo ka asar khatam kar rahe thay, toh woh kaise bharosa karta?" Wo lajawab ho gayi. Mrs. Shirazi ne narami se uski taraf dekha. Dheere se muskurain.

"Jo log bohot zyada hassas hote hain aur jinhone bohot sa dukh saha hota hai, woh apne gird aise hi ek deewar khari kar lete hain beta! Aur tehiya kar lete hain ke ab jab bhi kabhi kisi ne yeh deewar phalaang ne ki koshish ki, toh woh usay tod denge magar apni hudood mein hargiz nahi aane denge." Unhone mahal ki unchi mazboot fasilon ki jaanib ishaara kar ke kaha. "Khud ko kisi bhi mumkina aziyat se mehfooz rakhne ke liye woh yeh hifazati iqdamat karte hain. Aur anjaane mein un logon ko bhi hurt kar dete hain jinka wahid maqsood is deewar ko phalaang kar unke daman se saare kantay chunna  hota hai."

Baat gehri thi. Uske dil ko lagi. "Jab ehsaas hota hai toh us waqt kaafi dair ho chuki hoti hai." Ruk kar, gehri saans li, phir uski jaanib dekha. "Jaadoogar shehzade jaise log bure nahi hote beta! Woh itni baar toot chuke hote hain ke unhein judne se khauf aata hai. Woh bas kisi par aitbaar nahi kar pate." Baat mukammal hokar khatam hui. Woh utri hui shakal ke saath usne rukh mod kar painting ko dekha.

Gehray samundar, bulandiyo mein khara ek shandar siyaah mahal, mazboot deeware aur khidkiyan, jaadoogar shehzada khidki mein tha. Doosray darwazay mein khada raha tha.

•••

Lime juice ka glass hontho se lagaye usne doosre haath se apna cell phone counter table se utha liya tha. Open Kitchen se nikal kar seedhiyo ki taraf jaate hue woh chonk kar ruk gayi thi. Nigaahein mobile screen par ubharti us ek jumlay par thehr gayi jo pehle usay ek mazaak ke siwa kuch na laga tha. Lekin agle hi pal saboot ke tor par bheji gayi tasveeron par nazar parhte hi woh apni jagah pathar ho gayi. Glass uske haath se chhoot kar farsh par girte hi jhamake se toota tha. Pehle uska dil ruka tha, phir saansen bhi tham si gayi thi.

Hairat, sadma, beyaqeeni se usne beikhtiyar deewar ka sahara liya. Poore floor ne ek dum aag pakar li thi. Gird-o-nawaah ki har ek cheez andheri ho gayi thi.

Uska tanaffus phool gaya tha. Aankhon mein wehesht utar aayi thi. Agle hi lamhe usne haanpte hue shadid gusse ke aalam mein apna cell phone samne ki deewar par de maara tha. Farsh par bikhray kaanch ke tukron ki parwah kiye baghair tezi se kadam uthaye aur apne bedroom mein ja kar band ho gayi.

Peshani masalte, lab kaat-te, balon ko tod-te woh kamray mein bechain si tehli rahi thi. Usay yaqeen nahi aa raha tha. Yakeen aa bhi nahi sakta tha. Usne parde hata kar khidkiyan khol di. Isse koi faida nahi hua to darwaza slide kar ke balcony mein aayi.

Bahar aayi, magar andar ki aag ab bhi jalti bhadakti rahi. Aasman bhari raha. Wehesht uske har ang mein sama gayi thi. Railing par haath jamaye ab woh gehri saansein le rahi thi.

Kamray se bahar, raahdari se aage, lounge ke samnay farsh par gira uska cell phone ek baar phir jagmaga raha tha. Kaanch ke tukray idhar udhar bikhray the. Juice lakiron mein behta hua floor ke do inch neeche tak phel chuka tha. Aur woh bahar dekh rahi thi. Andheron mein wahan, jahan sab reza reza ho raha tha.

•••

Woh office room mein apna kuch kaam nipta kar paani peene ki gharz se kitchen mein aaya to Mrs. Shirazi lounge se seedha idhar aayi thi.

"Kaam ho gaya?" Pyaar se poocha.

"Abhi baaki hai, aap paani peeyengi?" Woh fridge se paani ki bottle nikaal kar counter par rakhta huwa bola gaya. Unhone mana kar diya.

"Jaldi so jaya karo beta! Is tarah raat tak jaagna sehat ke liye theek nahi hai," sanjeedgi se takeed ki.

"Pehle kaam zyada tha lekin ab koshish karunga jaldi so jau," keh kar paani ka glass honthon se lagaya. "Jannat tumhare saath ab kaisi hai?" Aankhon mein muskurahat liye madhhm awaaz mein poocha.

"Theek hai, kal se ek shehzade ko gadha keh rahi hai."

Woh beshakta hans diye.

Khali glass mez par rakh kar woh unke paas aaya.

"Aap meri koi baat bhoolti nahi hain."

Mrs. Shirazi wheel chair par thi, woh unke samne kursi par baith gaya. "Maayein bhala apne bachon ki choti choti baatein, unki choti choti khwahishein bhi bhoolti hain?" Unka chehra apne haathon mein bhar kar bolein.

"Tab mein baccha nahi tha."

"Mere liye to tum aaj bhi bacche hi ho," woh unki aankhon mein apne liye mohabbat dekh sakta tha.

"Jab aap mujhe chor kar gayi thi, main tab hi bada ho gaya tha."

Unke andar ek dum se sannata phail gaya. Aankhon mein nami ter gayi. Faaris ne unka haath apne haathon mein phir naram se apne labo se lagaya. Woh kuch dard, kuch afsoos se usay dekhte rahe.

"Tum london me apne ghar gaye thay?" Woh pooch nahi rahi thi, na hi bata rahi thi. Woh bas uske andar ki besakooni tak pohchna chahti thi. Woh sar jhukaye bilkul khamosh raha.

"Qabristan ghar nahi hua karte." Woh apne murda khwab aur khwahishein ka peeche reh janay wala samaan utha laya tha. Uski khamoshi unhe azeeyat se do char karne lagi.

"Mujhe maaf kar do," unki awaaz beikhtiyar bheeg gayi. Faaris ne tarap kar sar uthaya tha. "Aise mat kaha karein please," unki aankhen aansuon se bhari hui thi aur lab kapakpa rahe the.

"Mummy please!" Woh ek dum se bechain ho gaya.

Unke haath mazbooti se thaame, unke qadmon mein hi baith gaya. "Maine aapko kabhi bhi kisi maamle mein kasoorwaar nahi thehraya."

"Lekin main to thehrati hoon. Mere seenay par bojh hai. Janay walay to chale gaye, jo peeche reh gaye hain, main unhe ek nahi kar payi. Main tumhein aur ayaan ko abhi tak ek nahi kar payi." Woh sishak padi. Unke haathon par Faris ki girift ek dum se dheeli pad gayi thi. Woh farsh par tha. Woh zameen mein utar gaya. Azeeyat ek ang ang mein sama gayi.

"Woh chhota sa masoom bachha hai. Uska in sab maamlat mein koi kasoor nahi. Use khud se door na karo. Please usay saza mat do."

Woh peeche hua tha. Sar jhukaye, khamosh, saakhit! Bas is maqam par aakar uski saari himmat aur bardasht khatam ho jati thi. Mazeed kuch sunne ki taab nahi rehti thi. Qadmon ki aahat ke saath hi Jannat raahdaari se namudar hui thi.

"Aunty! Aap yahan hain aur main aapko studio mein dhoond rahi thi."

Saakht fiza mein irti'aash paida hua. Mrs. Shirazi ne foran se aansoo saaf kiye. Faaris uth kar wahan se chala gaya. Sar jhuka hua tha to woh dekh nahi sakti thi. Magar uski aankhen. Usne gardan modh kar usay seedhiyon ki taraf jaate dekha. Phir woh Mrs. Shirazi ke paas aayi. Unka rukh doosri taraf tha, to woh tab tak khud ko compose kar chuki thi, magar unki aankhein abhi bhi laal ho rahi thi.

"Ji beta!" Woh bazaahir muskara rahi thi, magar unke chehre se udaasi jhalak rahi thi. Woh nichla lab kaat kar reh gayi. Jaane Faris ke saath unki kya baat hui thi? Woh bhi to chup chaap upar chala gaya tha.

"Maine socha sone se pehle aapse baatein kar loon magar aap kamre mein nahi thi."

"Haan, main Faris ke paas aayi thi. Chalo kamre mein chalte hain," lehjay ko hatta mutmaeen karte hue boli. Unke saath raahdari ki taraf jaate hue usne seedhiyon ki taraf upar dekha tha. Upar ki manzil ki tamaam battiya gul thi. Har taraf andhera sa phaila hua nazar aa raha tha.

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