Chapter 54: CHAPTER - 53

•••

Office se wapas aate hi apne kamre mein enter karte hi use ghair mamooli pan ka ehsaas hua. Halanke kuch bhi to nahi badla tha. Tie ki knot dheeli karte hue usne sofa par baith kar joote utaraye, cufflinks aur ghadi dressing table par rakhi to ehsaas hua ke uske perfumes aur lotions waghera ghaib the. Soch mein uljhte hue Wardrobe slide ki to khaali mili. Uske kapde, jootay, tie, kuch bhi maujood nahi tha. Wo ek dum se hairaan hua. Dimaag mein ek mumkinah khayal ne sar uthaya to uska senti mein bula. Magar agle hi pal wo joote pehan kar seedhiyo se utarta neeche aa gaya.

Mrs. Shirazi lounge mein baithi thi. Mulazma unke liye cup mein chai daal rahi thi. Jannat ki talash mein nigah daudate hue usne raahdari ki taraf rakha. Kuch hi der mein wo darwaze par dastak deta uske kamre mein enter ho chuka tha.

Uska saara saman carpet par dhara tha. Aur wo bilkul saamne neeche baithi uske joote tarteeb se rakh rahi thi. Aur itna magan ho kar kaam kar rahi thi ki na dastak suni thi, na uski maujoodgi ka ehsaas hua tha.

Seene par bazoo baandhe wo khushgawar hairat se use dekhta raha. Phir uske aqab mein be had nazdeek panjo ke bal baith gaya.

"Main abhi Adeel ko call karne wala tha, mere kamre se kuch saman chori ho gaya hai." Itne nazdeek se itne achanak awaaz aane par wo ek dum bokhlaayi. Sneakers chhoot kar neeche gir gae.

"Tum… tum kab aaye?" Ghabrakar poocha.

"Kaafi der ho chuki hai." Wahan ki aankhon mein dukh kar bola.

"Tum itni busy thi, tumhe pata hi nahi chala." Jannat hawas baakhtah hi use dekh kar reh gayi.

Ek tayrana nigaah kamre mein daudaayi. Phir fursat se use dekha. Aankhon mein shararat aur lips par jo muskurahat thi, wo use lab bhinche kar baar baar tha.

"Kya aap batana pasand karengi, mere jootay, kapde, ties khud chal kar neeche aaye hain ya aap unhe laayi hain?"

Jannat ki hawaayein ud gayi thi. Saari planning ka bairaag ghair ho gaya tha. Usne socha tha, wo apne bedroom mein uska saman set karne ke baad message kar ke batadegi ke ab wo kamra share kar sakti hai.

Lekin shomayee qismet ki, wo office se jaldi ghar aa gaya tha aur ab use aise dekh raha tha jaise wo koi jurm karte hue rangay haathho pakri gayi ho.

"Agar, aap laayi hain to phir kyun laayi hain?" Lahje mein kisi kadar masoomiyat thi. Jaise wo nahi jaanta ho. Wo kyun laayi thi.

" Wo… Main," dimaag khaali ho gaya. Shabdon ki kami thi, aur wo uski keefiyat se chakkar uthaata uske barabar mein hi baith gaya. Ke jawab dene ke liye jitna waqt chahiye le lo, mujhe bhi yahan se jaane ki koi jaldi nahi.

Jannat ko jee bhar ke rona aaya. Khud ko jis situation mein phansa liya tha. Uska aasaan tareen hal bhi use be intaha mushkil lag raha tha.

"Wo…mein…" uski nigaahon ke taasur se confuse ho rahi thi.

"Haan, tum kya?"

"Wo main apna room share karne ki ijazat de rahi hoon tumhe." Faris ne bhanwe uchkaayi.

"Lekin maine tumse ijazat kab maangi?"

Aur Jannat ko laga jaise aas paas bahut se dhamake hue hain. Aur aankhon ke saamne is izzat afzaayi par taare se chamak uthi ho.

"Us din to bada keh rahe the, kamre mein dil nahi lag raha…" Saari marawat, lihaaz balaye taq rakhte hue wo us par phat padhi.

"Main ne ye kab kaha?" Wo kadre hairat se seedha hua.

"Dil mein jagah nahi de sakti to kamre mein de do." Sulagh kar yaad dilaya. Chehra ghusse se laal ho raha tha.

"Main aisi koi baat kar hi nahi sakta." Be yaqeeni ki inteha.

"Jhutha" Jannat ne god mein jo coat rakha tha use utha kar carpet par patka.

"Sofaisa sofaisa!" Uth kar malazma ko awaaz di. Malazma foran haazir hui.

"Yeh saara saman abhi ke abhi sahab ke kamre mein pohnchao."

Jhat se huqm sadey kiya. Magar malazma Faris ki thi. Uske ek hi ishare par Jannat ke hukum ko mukammal nazar andaz karti kamre se chali gayi. Jannat ka paara mazeed chadh gaya. Murh kar use dekha. "Ab tum jao yahan se." Sakht lahje mein use hukum sadey diya. Aankhon mein halki si nami, bhanwe shikari, lips bhinche hue. wo kuch lamhon tak khada raha. Agle hi pal apne aur uske maabain faasla khatam karte hue khud se laga liya. Wo uski is harkat par apni jagah tham gayi.

"Thank you so much! Mujhe ijazat dene ke liye." Awaaz madham aur gehri thi. Jannat ka ghussa yakayak thanda hua. Tassurat mein narmi utar aayi. Alag ho kar usne dono haatho se baalon ko peechay kiya.

"Agar mujhe pata hota, aaj mujhe surprise milne wala hai to main shayad bahut der se ghar aata." Uske kandhon par haath rakh ke keh raha tha.

"Haan, lekin iska matlab ye nahi hai ki main court nahi jaungi." Apni khaffat chhupane ko daharrane se keh diya.

"Of course, main aisa kuch soch hi nahi raha."

Wo usay nazar andaz karti kahin aur dekhne lagi. "Mujhe change karna hai." Faris ne kaha.

Usne wardrobe se kapde nikal kar use diye aur wo attach bath room mein chala gaya. Jannat kuch der tak apni jagah khadi rahi, phir labo par muskurahat liye apna baqi ka kaam samaitne lagi.

•••

Agle din vo office se jaldi hi wapas aa gaya tha. Ghar pahunch kar mulazimon se pata chala ke uski biwi apni saas ke saath Zaid ke ghar gayi hui thi. Vo seedha Afaq House chala gaya. Watchman ne uske liye darwaza khol diya.

Jebo mein haath daale vo bade hi dheeme andaaz mein andar daakhil hua. Sar sabz lawn ke beech me ek jagah stage tayyar kiya gaya tha. Neelgun theme mein kursiyan aur mezain sajayi gayi thi. Mehmaan khawateen, unke bachche, aur har taraf shor sharaba tha.

Bachche lawn mein bhaagte khel rahe the. Soori mehmaan-e-khaas thi. Itni laadli ke lagbhag har bacha usse god mein liye phir raha tha. Cake kaata ja chuka tha. Tohfey mil chuke the. Ab yaqeenan mehmaano ko khana khilaaya ja raha tha. Uski nazar Mrs. Shirazi par padi. Vo Zaid ki daadi ke saath guftagu mein masroof thi. Wo ankho me zara si bharmi liye apni Biwi ko khojne laga Aur tabhi uski nazar us par padi.

Aasmani rang ke dheele dhale kapdo mein, baalo ki pony banaye, vo glass door se nikal kar mrs. Shirazi ki taraf ja rahi thi. Zoya uske peeche peeche thi. Aqsa Mrs. Shirazi ke paas khadi badi halat se apni CCTV aankhon se idhar udhar dekh rahi thi ke yak a yak nazar Faris Wajdan par padi. “Aapi!” Uske munh se lafz nikalte nikalte reh gaye. Jannat, Zoya ke jooton ke tasmay bandh rahi thi. Dar si gayi.

"Kya hua Bhoot dekh liya kya?"

"Nahi mera matlab hai… wo waha…" apna baazu sidha karke ishara kiya. "Faris sahab…"

Jannat chok kar uth khadi hui, mud kar baahir ke gate ki taraf dekha, aur agle hi lamhe Faris Wajdan par nazar padte hi usay khushi bhari hairat ne gher liya.

"Main aati hoon." Keh kar wahan se nikal gayi. Faris wajdan ke qareeb pahunchne tak apni aankhon ki chamak, muskurahat aur khushi ke tamam rang chhupa liye. “Arey! tum yahan?” jee bhar kar hairan hui. “Tumne to kaha tha tum nahi aaoge?”

“Dekhlo,” Faris ne jataya. Phir haath se use door rehne ka ishara kiya, “Agar Susie ke saath waqt guzar kar aa rahi ho toh.” Magar vo uske bilkul paas aa khadi hui. Dahine haath ko saamne kiya, beech wali ungli mein gulaabi rang ki plastic ki khilona anguthi pehni hui thi. “Kaisi hai?” aankho me baccho jesa istihak leke pucha, “Button dabao toh light bhi jalti hai.” Faris ke chehre par muskurahat phail gayi.

“Mujhse kaha hota, main aisi hazaar la deta.”

“Mujhe ek hi chahiye thi, aur vo Zaid ne mujhe de di.” Itra kar kaha. “Tumhe apne fiance ki security ka intezaam karna chahiye.” Usne sanjeedgi se kaha.

Aur wo has di. Aankhon mein zindagi ki chamak thi. Chehra khushi se chamak raha tha. Aur yeh khushi kis liye thi? Uski aamad ki wajah se ya phir?…

"Well, if you excuse me, mere fiancé ko pasand nahi, main iske alawa kisi se baat karungi." Ek ada se keh kar jaane ko mudi, magar Faris ne use baazu se pakad kar rok liya.

"Tumhare fiancé se to main baad mein nipat loonga, lekin agar aapko yaad ho, aaj aapki appointment hai."

"Haan ji, yaad hai mujhe." Mrs. Shirazi ne unki taraf dekha to Faris ne muskurate hue haath hilaya. Unhone ishare se usay jaane ki ijaazat di.

"Aur maine yeh bhi kaha tha, dinner bahar karenge." Woh use baazu ke hisaar mein le kar daayein taraf bar ki oat mein ho gaya tha.

"Tumhari wajah se theek se kuch kha bhi nahi saki." Woh deewar ke saath peeth lagaye khadi thi. Sar utha hua tha. Aankhein chamak rahi thi.

"Abhi Aqsaa ko bula kar poochu hoon to pata chale tumne kya kuch kha liya hai."

"Nahi, kuch khaas nahi, sirf Zaid ke saath thoda sa cake khaaya tha."

Aur us nadan ko jaane kaise bhank pad gayi ke sab kuch chhod chhaad kar wahan aa gaya. "Jannat ji!" Faris aur uske beech zabardasti ghus kar khada ho gaya.

"Tumhara fiancé apni fitness ka bilkul bhi khayal nahi rakhta." Usne bharami ka izhaar karte hue tabsara kiya. Jannat ne use kohni de maari. Aankhon hi aankhon mein ghoori di ke bachche ke jazbaat ka khayal rakh lo.

"Unhone kya kaha hai abhi?" Zaid ki sakki nigaha.

"Keh rahe hain, aap bahut achhe lag rahe ho."

"Maine yeh kab kaha?" Woh bhunna gaya. Jannat ne chehra mod kar use ghoora.

"Tum bachon ke saath bilkul bachay hi ban jaate ho."

"Tum mujhe ilzam de rahi ho? Is panda ko dekha hai?" Haath se Zaid ki taraf ishaara kiya. Aur Zaid jo apni saalgirah ki moqasat se panda ke costume mein tha, khada reh gaya. Phir ladne ko aage badha, magar Jannat ne use beech raaste mein rok liya.

"Chhoro unhe, yeh to hain hi aise, aap to itne cute, itne pyaare lag rahe ho. Aur panda to mera hai hi favorite hai."

Zaid ke nanhe se dil ko thodi tasalli mili, naak sikhaakar Faris ko jalti sulgti nazar se dekha. Uske papa bhi wahan aa gaye.

"Mubarak ho aapko." Faris ne haath milate hue kaha. Jannat ke mubhina kehka laga kar hase. "sachme tumne sab miss kar diya. Bahut enjoy kiya hamne."

"Jannat ji, yahan se chale na!" Zaid uska haath kheench raha tha.

"Aapko apne bete ki security ab dugni kar deni chahiye." Usne mashwara diya. Wo jor se hase. "Dil bara karo yaar!" Pusht thapthapa kar tasalli di.

"Ab bacho ki khushi thi, kya kar sakte hain. " Wo bade mood mein the. '"Aao baitho.'"

"Nahi, ab chalte hain. Hospital jaana hai, chaar baje ka appointment hai, phir kabhi waqt nikal kar aaunga." Woh unse baat karte hue bahar chala gaya.

Jannat Mrs.Shirazi ke paas aa gayi. Apna purse uthaya, Mrs. Afaq se ijaazat li. Zoya ko pyaar kiya, Zaid se chhup chhupa baahar aayi to Faris gaadi mein uska intezaar kar raha tha.

Zaid uske peeche peeche bahar aa gaya. Pehle to usne is baat par shor machaya ke woh itni jaldi kyun hain aur jab Jannat ne hospital jaane ka bataya to kuch narm pada. "Main kal school ke baad aapse milne aaunga, phool bhi launga." Steering wheel par grip chhod kar Faris ne chup kar ke use dekha. Jannat passenger seat par baithi thi, aur wo darwaza band nahi karne de raha tha.

"Haan, theek hai, zaroor aana. Main aapka intezaar karungi. Cards khelange, drawing banayenge aur stories bhi padhenge." Woh use bahut pyaar se behla rahi thi. "Aur aap apni ring ka bahut khayal rakhna. Inko bilkul mat dena." Ishara Faris ki taraf tha. "Haan iska to jaise ab yahi kaam reh gaya hai, plastic ki anguthiya chori karna." Woh kande bheench kar reh gaya.

"Haan, haan zaroor, kisi ko nahi dungi. Sambhal kar rakhungi. "Sambhal kar mat rakhna. Aap pehni rahe. Agar cell khatam ho jaye to main naye la duga. Aur agar unhone (chhote se haath se Faris ki taraf ishaara kiya) kuch kaha to mujhe batana."

Aqsa jaane kahan se guzarti thi ke nazar gate par pad gayi aur bhai bhai chali aayi. Zaid ko pakad kar peeche hataa diya. "Aapko Aapki mamma bula rahi hain. Jaldi se jaayein. Zoya ne gift khol liya hai."

"Allah Hafiz Jannat ji!" Woh bade sober tareeke se haath hila kar peeche hata. Aqsa ne foran se aage badhkar darwaza band kiya aur use apne saath le gayi. Jannat bade fursat se uski taraf mudi. Wo prehshani par laath daale baitha tha.

"To?" Usne kaha.

"To yeh mangni tod do." Seedha seedha hukam sunaya. Woh hasne lagi.

"Tum jealous ho rahe ho?"

"Main bhala kyun jealous hone laga?" Woh chidh gaya.

"Wohi to main pooch rahi hoon. Tum ek bachche se kyun jealous ho rahe ho?" Uske tassurat se khat uthaya.

"Baccha? Harkate dekhi hai iski? Is umar me mangni ke khawab dekh raha hai."

"Dekhiye Mrs. Faris, main bardasht nahi kar sakti koi mere fiancé ke baare mein aisi baat kare."

"Haan, haan jaanta hoon. Tumhara dil-gurda, jaan sab kuch hai woh." Faris ne sulag kar gaadi start kar di. Woh aankho mein shararat aur labon par muskurahat liye khidki se baahar dekhne lagi. Jaane dil mein sarosi kefiyat kyun thi? Isliye ke Faris uske kehne par wahan aa gaya tha? Ya phir isliye ke uske tassurat bhi Zaid se mukhtalif nahi the? Soch kar muskurati rahi.

Hospital mein check-up ke baad woh use restaurant le aaya tha. Menu card haath mein le kar Jannat ne apni pasand ki dishes order ki.

Aur jab woh khana kha rahi thi to woh usay hi dekh raha tha. Halki phulki si guftagu chal rahi thi. Mrs. Shirazi salgira party ke intezamat par tabsara tha. Aima ke university ke kuch ek kisse the. Woh sawaal karta ja raha tha aur woh bolti ja rahi thi. Mamool ke baraks woh use bahut khushgawar mood mein lagi.

Khana ke baad chai mangwai gayi. Aur ab woh apna cup haatho mein le kar baithi thi jab Faris ne jeb se makhmalin box nikal kar uske aage rakh diya. Chai ka ghoot lete hi woh ek dum ruk gayi thi.

"Yeh tumhare liye London mein khareedha tha." Faris ne kaha. Use andaza nahi tha, woh is gift ka ab kya karne wali thi. Shayad woh guzri hui kuch ek baaton ka hawala de kar isse utarti ya shayad inkaar kar deti. Magar usne kuch bhi kahe bina box khol diya.

Andar sona ka khoobsurat aur nafees bracelet rakha tha. Ek phool, jis mein dil aur triangle bana tha. Phool ke dono siro par gol chhinnay the jo ek baar ek zanjeer se jude hue the. Aankhon mein halki si sataish liye usne bracelet utha liya. Uske tassurat aur rawaiye se apne andar sukoon ki si kefiyat mehsoos ki. Faris ne hath badhaya.

"May i ?" Usne jaise ijazat chahi.

Jannat ne asbat mein sar hilate hue bracelet uske hawale karke apna baaya haath aage kar diya. Ek nazar usse dekhte hue bracelet pehnaya. Uski naazuk kalayi par wo zanjeer saj gayi.

"Thanks!" Usne kaha.

"Tumhe pasand aaya?"

"Bohot, lekin mere fiancè ki angoothi zyada pyaari hai." Wo use chidhane ke liye boli.

"Lekin mera gift zyada payedaar hai."

"Zaid ne mujhe ye ring bohot dil se di hai."

"Zaid ka dil bohot chhota hai, mera dil bohot bada hai."

Ab wo usse ye nahi keh sakti thi ke uska dil bada nahi tha.

"Kitna bada hai?"

Wo muskara kar reh gaya.

Use khushi thi ke Jannat Kamal ne uski taraf se diya gaya pehla tohfa haq se tarah se qubool kiya tha.

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