Chapter 53: CHAPTER - 52

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Kuch waqt Mr. Shirazi ke saath guzaarne ke baad, woh apne kamre mein aayi aur darwaza band karke seedha khidki mein ja khadi hui.

Samne hi wasee o ariz lawn ka goshah aur baye taraf glass wire ke ehatay mein swimming pool nazar aa raha tha. Neelgo bulbs roshan the. Shade wali chairs aur ek corner mein zarqabar roshni pheli thi. Apne kamre ki khidki se nazar aata yeh manzar usse bohot acha lagta tha. Woh apne khayalon mein gum khadi thi ke usne dekha Faris white shirt aur trouser pehne huye glass door dhakel kar usi taraf aa raha hai. Woh ek dum parde ki oat mein ho gayi. Phir sar nikaal kar jhaanka. Tray mein green tea aur kuch snacks rakhkar maid uske peeche thi.

Woh couch par baith gaya. Mobile haath mein tha. Laptop aur kuch zaroori files pehle se glass table par dhari thi.

Woh usay dekh rahi thi, aur bohot ghour se dekh rahi thi. Green tea ka cup haath mein liye woh bilkul khamosh baitha tha. Uski nazrein swimming pool par jammi hui thi, ek hi maqam, ek hi nuqte par sakht thehri hui.

Woh chand lamhon tak apni jagah khadi rahi phir usne mobile par message type kiya. "Kya tumhe invitation mila?" Aur tawwaqo ke mutabiq usne notification milte hi apna mobile uthaliya. Couch ke saath lag kar ab woh usay typing karta hua dekh sakti thi.

"Kesa invitation?"

"Meri aur Zaid ki mangni ka," usne muskurahat aur aankhon mein roshni liye jawab likha. Aur phir sar utha kar uske taaseeraat dekhna chaha. Woh jabre bhinch kar screen ko dekh raha tha. Usay badi khushi hui.

"Seriously?"

"Haan, bhala main kyun mazaak karungi?" Saath hi usne invitation card forward kar diya jo Zaid ki taraf se usay bheja tha. Char din baad unki saalgirah thi aur sath hi ek mangni ki rasam bhi ada honi thi. Woh intezaar mein rahi ke ab woh kya kehta hai magar woh peshaani par bal daale mobile par nazrein jamaye baitha raha.

"Kya tum aaoge?"

"Kya mujhe aana chahiye?"

"Accha kis hesiyat se?"

"Mere shohar ki hesiyat se!" likhte likhte ruk gaya aur message mita diya. Phir dubara likha:

"Tumhare unke saath family terms hain."

Doosri taraf khamoshi…

"Main intezaar karun?"

"Nahi."

Uske inkar se chidh kar foran likha:

"Halanki aana chahiye."

"Achha aur wo kis liye?"

"Kyuki main keh rahi hoon," dhadakte dil ke saath type kar diya. Uske jawab ne jaise ek lamhe ke liye Faris ko bhi hairan kiya tha. Nichla lab danto mein kat-te hue messege delete kar diya. Foran se khidki se peeche hatt gayi Ab woh nahi jaanti thi Faris kya kar raha tha. Magar dobara uski taraf se koi bhi message nahi aaya.

Kuch dair tak kamre mein daye se baye, fir baye se daye chakkar katne ke bad wo firse khidki me aa gayi. Wo laptop khole hue apna kam kar raha tha. Magar har chand lamhe uski nigahe swimming pool par fir waha se uthi berooni deewar tak uth jati thi. Wo khidki me khadi rahi wo usay dekhti rahi. Yakayak usay mobile par messege mosul hua sar jhuka kar screen par nigah doraayi.

"Agar tum isi tarah khidki se mujhe tadti rahogi to me kam nahi kar sakunga."

"Allah!" Wo parda chorh kar jhtke se peeche hati. Nichla lab dato me diya. Haalaki wo chhupke khadi thi.

"Khush fehmi dekho janaab ki" ghbrahat par kabu paakar taizi se type kiya.

"Me bhala kyu tadne lagi?"

"Mujhe to ye bhi nahi maloom ke tum kahan par ho?" Ruk kar mazeed likha.

"Main toh apna kaam kar rahi hoon."

"😈" Aage se shaitani muskurahat moosul hui. Woh tap gayi.

"Poore ghar mein tumhein bas mere kamre ki khidki ke samne aakar baithna tha?" Bhunna kar likh diya.

"Abhi tum keh rahi thi tum mujhe dekh nahi rahi ho 😂"

Woh faana si ho gayi. Apna mobile off karke khud se bohot door rakh diya. Khidkiyon se door ho kar sharafat se bed par chadh kar baith gayi.

"Mujhe usay message hi nahi karna chahiye tha." Bhanwe sakur kar khud ko kosa.

"Aur na hi uski khairiyat maloom karne ke liye kamre mein jaana chahiye tha. Zara tawajjo kya di, mahsuf toh saatwe aasman par pohanch gaye hain."

Kuch der tak baithi rahi, phir mobile uthaliya. YouTube par chand ek videos dekhi, bachon ke names search kiye.

Haathon par lotion lagate hue khidkiyon ki taraf aur phir wardrobe ki taraf dekhne lagi. Zehan kuch na kuch tarteeb dene mein laga hua tha.

"Kapde yahan rakhe ja sakte hain aur baby cot us maqam par. Dressing yahan se hata kar wahan rakh degi." Zehan mein har tarah ki tarteeb de kar takiya durust karti let gayi. Mobile haath mein tha. Woh Sidra se baat kar rahi thi.

Halki si dastak ke saath darwaza khul gaya. Kohni ke bal oopar hui toh darwaze mein Faris tha.

"Andar aa sakta hoon?" Woh poora ka poora andar tha aur ijazat maang raha tha. Uska message yaad aaya toh aankhon mein khafgi ubhar aayi.

"Tum soye nahi abhi tak?" Woh uth kar baith gayi.

"Neend nahi aa rahi thi toh..."

"Toh…?" usne sawalia abrow uthayi.

"Maine socha tumse baatein kar lu, tum bhi toh jaag rahi ho."

Mobile side table par rakh kar, barabar mein aa baitha.

"Halake maine ijazat nahi di thi." Ghoor kar kaha.

"Inkaar bhi toh nahi kiya," woh muskuraya.

Jannat burbura kar rukh badal gayi. Mobile haath mein liye haphazardly typing karne lagi. Sidra se baat kar rahi thi toh guftgu ko sametne lagi. Faris usay hi dekh raha tha. Uski white night dress ki aadhi aasteen se jhankte baazu par mendmel zakhm ki lakeer wazeh thi.

"Tumhe yeh zakhm kaise laga tha?"

"Kaunsa zakhm?" Usne sar utha kar poocha. Agle hi pal apne baazu par us maqam par uska haath ka lams mehsoos hua.

"Ab pooch rahe ho, ab toh zakhm bhi bhar gaya," manzar, waqt, lamha yaad aaya toh kahe baghair nahi reh saki.

"Nishan toh abhi bhi hai," woh keh raha tha.

"2 stitch lage the," usne yaad dilaya.

"Bua ke garaj mein bulbs fix kar rahi thi jab keel lag gayi thi." Bohot aam se lehje mein jawab de kar badam muh mein dala.

Parking area ka manzar, burhaan wasif ka theatre, sakht patharili zameen par girte hi hatho par lagne wali chot aur be itenai ki aziyat, woh khauf o dehshat, usne woh tamaam khayalat jhatak diye.

Wo chand lamhon tak muntazir raha ke woh mazeed kuch kahegi magar woh khamosh ho chuki thi.

"Aisa hi ek zakhm mujhe bhi laga tha, tab main paanch saal ka tha."

"Kaise?" Cushion ko sine se lagaye uski taraf rukh modha.

"Main almari mein chhupne ki koshish kar raha tha."

"Kis liye?" Woh zara si hairaan hui thi.

"Tum guess karo, kisliye?" woh poori tarah se uski taraf mutwajeh tha.

"Kisi bachay ka sar phada hoga, koi nuksaan kiya hoga ya phir..."

Faris ke peshaani par bal aa gaye.

"Khud hi toh kaha hai, guess karo," Jannat ne bhanvein sukedi.

"Guess karo yeh nahi kaha tha ke ilzaam lagao," woh acha khaasa bura maan gaya.

"Main toh yehi guess kar sakti hoon," usne ghoora.

"Ab koi bacha acha kaam anjaam de kar toh chhupne ki koshish nahi kar sakta."

"Haan! Magar mein se isliye nahi chhup raha tha ke mene koi nuqsaan kiya tha"

"To phir?"

Faris ne kuch batane ke liye muh khola fir ruk gaya.

"Forget about it," sar jhatak kar mobile uthaliya.

"Kya matlab forget about it?" Usay gussa chadh gaya. "Khud hi baat shuru karo, suspense felao aur phir so jao" ghussa to usay wese bhi charha rehta tha. Faris ki is harkat par seikh paa ho gayi. Magar doosri taraf to jaise woh kuch sun hi nahi raha tha. Mobile par yun nigahen mafrooze thi jaise koi zaroori kaam kar raha ho.

"Asl mein mera hi dimagh kharab hai jo main tum se baatein karne lagi hu." Comforter ek taraf karte hue uthi gayi.

"Kahan jaa rahi ho?"

"Kahin bhi jaun, tumhe isse kya?" Darwaza khol kar aur puri kuwwat se band kar ke woh bahar chali gayi. Woh gehri saans le kar jaldi se uske peeche aaya. Raahdari se seedha kitchen mein gaya. Samne hi woh kursi par baithi thi. Sar jhuka hua tha, ghundhe hue baal pust par the. Bur burahat jaari thi.

"Jab dil chahega, baat karega, aur jab dil chahega, khamosh ho jayega. Main koi mazaak hoon?"

Usay nahi pata tha ke woh bilkul uske peeche khada tha. Muskuraate hue uske paas kursi kheench kar beth gaya.

"Acha? Karo kya baatein karni hai?"

"Main ne kab kaha ke tumse koi baat karni hai?" Usay patange lag gayi. "Yeh toh tum ho jo khamakha free hone ki koshish karte ho."

"Free hone ki koshish?" Woh muskuraat dabate hue apni band mutthi par thodi rakh kar usay pyaar se dekhta raha.

"Ainda main tumse koi baat nahi karungi, koi jawab nahi dungi. Saaf keh diya. Jese tum karte ho, main bhi waise hi karungi."

"Main khoufzada tha, isliye chhup gaya tha." Usne achanak kaha, aur woh jo sadid ghusse mein kuch aur kehne ka iraada rakhti thi, ekdum se chup ho gayi.

"Bas ya aur kuch?" Usne bazahir dostana lehze mein poocha. Woh chand lamhon tak uski aankhon mein dekhti rahi. "Jane kitni hikayaate thi jo in aankhon mein chhupi hui thi."

"Yani main koi aur sawaal bhi pooch sakti hoon?" Tasdeeq chahiye thi.

"Haan."

Woh hairan hui ke tawaqqo ke baraks jawab musbat mila tha.

"Fayda? Jab tum jawab hi nahi dete." Tanaffur se sar jhatka. "khud sawaal pooch kar sab jawab sun lete ho, lekin jab main kuch poochon toh khamoshi."

Woh ab bhi gusse mein lag rahi thi. Bandhe hue baal aage ki taraf uske kandhe par gir gaye the. Kuch dheele hokar gaal par phisal rahe the.

"Chai piyogi?" Usne uth kar cabinet se jar nikala. Woh hoth bhinchte hue ek sakht nazar uspar daali, apni anguthi ko aage peeche karti rahi. Chai banate hue woh apne aap se halki-phulki guftagu karta raha ke jaise usne si rakhe ho ke ab koi baat nahi karegi. Chai tayaar ho gayi toh ek cup uske aage rakha, aur doosra haath mein liye samne khada raha.

"Tumhe galat laga tha?" Ghoont bhar kar kaha.

"Kya?" Usne apna cup kareeb kar liya.

"Yahi ke main kisi aurat ko apni zindagi mein wapas lana chahta hoon."

Jannat ki dhadkan lamhe bhar ke liye ruk gayi. saans ruk gaya, aur cup par uski giraft mazid mazboot ho gayi. Us raat ke baad Adina Zubair ka zikr jaise aaj hua tha. Uska naam nahi le raha tha, na hi usay kisi sabaqa rishte se jod raha tha. Uske liye woh sirf ek aurat thi.

"Aur tum chahte ho, main yakeen karlu?" Uska lehja mazboot tha, magar dil shiddat se dhadka jaa raha tha.

Faris ki sabaqa biwi ka khauf jaise uski rag rag mein samaya hua tha. Khusoosan yeh inkishaaf zyada takleef deh tha ke Adina uski mohabbat thi aur woh usay har surat apni zindagi mein wapas lana chahta tha.

"karna to chahiye." Woh kursi kheench kar baith gaya.

"Tum mujhe talaaq dena chahte the." Aankhon mein aankhen daal kar yaad dilaya.

"Dena chahta 'tha', Yeh tumne khud keh diya tha. Past tense my dear wife, fal maazi, meri ab aisi koi khwahish nahi rahi."

Jannat haaka baaka si usay dekh kar reh gayi. "Zara dekho, toh khadus ko saari baatein yaad thi uski. Aur zaahir aise karta tha jaise kuch sun hi nahi raha"

"Meri zindagi mein tumhare siwa koi aur aurat nahi hai." Usne chai ka ghoont lete hue keh diya. Baat sadha, mukhtasar aur wazeh thi. Jannat ki dhadkanein ruk gayi, saansein ruki, agle kai lamhon tak wo usay khamosh nigahon se dekhti rahi. "Kya woh dansta Adina Zubair ka zikr nahi kar raha? Aur agar kisi aurat ka masla nahi tha, toh woh usay talaaq kyun dena chahta tha? Kuch toh tha jo chhupa hua tha ya phir woh jaan bujh kar usse chhupa raha tha."

"Tum mujh se nafrat karte the aur mujhe talaaq dena chahte the aur phir achanak tum aakar kehte ho ke main talaaq nahi dena chahta, toh main is baat ko kya samjhun haan? Aisa toh sirf kahaniyon mein hota hai kisi ka achanak aik second mein mohabbat ho jaye."

"Aur maine kab kaha ke mujhe tumse mohabbat ho gayi?" Maiz par kohniyan jamaa kar uski aankhon mein jhaanka.

Woh jo apni dhun mein bol rahi thi, saakit ho gayi. Sawaal tha kar ke dil ko laga. Saaf saaf, beizzat. Chehra khafgat se surkh padha. Ab na woh uth sakti thi, na rukh badal sakti thi, na ghaib ho sakti thi. Haan, Faris ne kab kaha ke usay mohabbat ho gayi?

"Mera matlab tha, main keh rahi thi asal mein woh..."

"Haan, haan bolo. Main sun raha hoon." Chehra mutabassim ho gaya, aankhon mein shararat utar aayi.

"Asal mein mera dimagh kharab hai jo main tumse baatein kar rahi hoon." Uski chaal samajhte hi kursi dhaakel kar uth gayi.

"Chai to pilo"

"Zehar de do tum mujhe." Murkar chillayi. Phir bedroom mein jakar darwaza zor se band kar diya. Usne mesa par baith kar maze se chai peena shuru kar diya.

"Samajhta kya hai yeh khud ko?" Bigray hue tewar ke saath lihaf odh kar let gayi. Aankhon par bazu rakh liya. Phir jhanjhla kar karwat badli, do baara badli, cushion apne kaan par rakha.

"Faris bhai ne kabhi tumse mohabbat ka etraaf kiya?" Dusre kaan mein awaaz goonjti rahi. "Mohabbat aamaal se jhalakti hai toh ehtraaf ki zarurat nahi padti."

Khayaal ki dhaar par bada bada likha aaya, uska alfaaz, uska jumla, uska jawab. Usne apne sar dete hue aankhen band kar li. "Kaise insaan tha woh, mohabbat ka ehtraaf hua nahi tha aur woh apni zubaan se tasleem kar baithi thi."

"Allah, Allah, Allah…"

Faris ne darwaza khola. Khankhar kar gala saaf kiya. Usne cushion uthakar usay maar diya. "Khabardaar jo tumne mujhse kuch kaha toh." Wo takriban ro dene wali thi. Wo muskurahat jabt kiye sofe par ja betha.

"Haa thik hai maine tumse ye nahi kaha ke mujhe tumse mohabbat hai. Lekin yeh bhi toh nahi kaha ke mujhe tumse mohabbat nahi hai. In fact, maine toh mohabbat par koi baat hi nahi ki." Tang par tang zamaye dahine pao ko zumbish dete hue. Sofe ke hatto par hath tikaye wo kisi saltanat ka shehzada bana betha tha. Wo comforter me dabki padi rhi. Koi jawab deti to fas jati. Na jawab de kar fasna jada munasib laga.

"Mera aesa bhi koi mushkil sawal nahi hai?" Usne kaha.

"Jannat kamal?" Phir pukara.

Wo esi ho gayi jaise apne kan kahi girvi rakh aayi ho. Wo jere rab muskurate hue uth kar chala gaya. Darwaza band hua, to Jannat ne dheere se aankhein khol di.

"Ainda main isse koi baat nahi karungi." Yeh irada kar liya. "Kisi bhi sawaal ka jawab nahi doongi. Kamzor nahi parungi. Koi shikwa bhi nahi karungi. Samajhta hai mujhe phasa lega. Huhm."

Takiye me sar dekar be-tarah se jhunjhlai. himmat bandhane se aur irade bandhane se kuch nahi ho raha tha. Faris ka lehja, uski muskurati nigahein, uska istehqaq se sawaal poochhna... Woh apni dhadkano ko sun rahi thi aur ehsaasat mein uljhi hui thi. Aur bahar lawn mein pollton ki roshniyon mein Fars raat gayi tak tahalta raha tha.

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Neend se bedaar hote hi usne kamre ki tamaam khidkiyan khol di. Bahar ka nazara karte hue angdaayi li. Phir kapde nikaal kar washroom mein ghus gayi. Shower liya, kapde badle, baal dry karke pony banayi, dupatta liya aur nikhar si bahar aa gayi.

Kitchen mein mamool ki tarah se nashtay ka intezam ho raha tha. Mrs. Shirazi caretaker ke saath lounge mein baithi Quran parh rahi thi. Woh pehle unke paas gayi. Unse milne ke baad kitchen mein ja kar nashtay ke intezam ka jaiza liya. Lagta hai phir bhatakti hui seedhiyon ki taraf gayi. Kalai modh kar waqt dekha. Saade saat baj rahe the aur woh abhi tak neeche nahi aaya tha. Kahin uski woh dua qubool toh nahi ho gayi ke subah saat baje se pehle pehle usay office jaana pade? Nichla lab dato tale dabaya.

Aur phir khud ko har lihaz se compose karte hue seedhiya chadne lagi.

"Keh dungi, aunty ne bheja hai, jao dekho, mera beta abhi tak neeche kyun nahi aaya?" Ahistagi se dastak de kar bedroom ka darwaza khola toh andher koi nahi tha. Bed par koi sikan nahi thi, sab kuch waise hi rakha tha, comforter ab tak istemal nahi kiya gaya tha.

Tehreer rok kar rahdaari mein nigah daudai. Sitting area mein bhi koi nahi tha. Uske kadam be ikhtiyaar study room ki taraf uth gaye. Adh khulay darwaze ko ahistagi se andar dhakela toh usay samne hi couch par soya hua dikhai diya. Lamha bhar ke liye toh jaise usay apni aankhon par yaqeen nahi aaya. Darwaze ke handle par girift jamaye kitni hi der tak khadi reh gayi.

Laptop, mobile, kuch files aur kagzat carpet aur sheeshe ki table par dhare the, pani ka glass bhi rakha tha, coffee ka mug bhi.

"Kya woh saari raat study mein soya raha?"

Woh kuch der tak apni jagah khadi rahi. Kareeb aa kar usay dekha. Phir awaaz dete hue kandha hilaya toh uski aankh khul gayi. Khidkiyo se dhoop seedha chehre par par rahi thi toh mandhi munshi mundhi aankhon ke saath uth kar baith gaya. Jab usay bedaar hua toh study mein apni mojoodgi ka ehsaas karke seedha hua. Tasuraat ek dam se badle. Ghaliban use tawakka nahi thi, ke wo upar aayegi.

"Tum…" uski aankhein raat jagne ki gawahi de rahi thi.

"Haan, tum niche nahi aaye to auntie ne bheja."

Aur theliyon sar giraye, kuch der tak betha raha.

"Tum yahi soye rahe?"

"Kaam karte karte aankh lag gayi."

Wo daahine haath se peshaani massal raha tha. Aankhein hanoos band thi. Do din pehle jab wo office mein so gaya tha to usne jab bhi mrs. Shirazi ko yehi jawab diya tha. Wo nichla lab daanto mein dabaye khadi rahi. Phir glass mein paani daal kar use diya.

"Tum chalo, main fresh ho kar aata hoon." Usne kaha.

Wo sar hila kar study se chalu gayi. Nashte ke dauran uska rawaiya theek raha. Workout karwate hue bhi, Bas farq yeh tha, wo aaj use kam daant raha tha. Zyada baat bhi nahi kar raha tha. Zehen kuch uljha hua sa laga ki jab wo baat kar leti to wo chonk kar poochhta, wo kya keh rahi thi. Office ke liye rawana hua to wo glass walls ke samne aake khadi hui. Aur kaafi der tak khadi hi rahi.

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