Chapter 57: •CHAPTER-56•

•••

Subah uski aankh khuli toh taqreeban 6 baje ka waqt tha. Faris ke sahara dene par wo uth kar baith gayi thi. Doctor aur nurse bhi kamre mein mojood thi. Wo glass haath mein liye waqfa waqfa se paani pi rahi thi aur...

Faris sine par baazu bandhe khamoshi se usko dekh raha tha.

Rone ke baais aankhein suji hui thi magar unmein kahin bhi gussa, khauf, pareshani nazar nahi aa rahi thi. Chehre ke ta'asuraat bhi kuch had tak normal the. Tabiyat kharabi ke baais rangat hanuza zaroor murjhayi hui si lag rahi thi magar guzashta shab ke waqiyye ki koi jhalak nazar nahi aa rahi thi. Check-up ke baad nurse ne cannula nikal kar sunny plast lagaya. Doctor ne kuch zaroori hidayat di. Kuch tanbiya Faris kr liye bhi thi wo ni use strees or har tarah ke pehni tabaw se bachana ka keh rahi thi. Shayad mamla is baar serious hua tha. Warna isse pehle wo bahut aasani se maslo ko taal deti thi. Jada asar nahi leti thi. Wo sunte hue uski taraf dekh raha tha. Aur wo nazar jhuka kar chehre ka rukh badal gayi thi.

Saat baje discharge kar diya gaya to wo usey ghar le aaya Mrs. Shirazi unke intezaar me lawn me hi bethi thi.

Wo sidha unke paas gayi thi. Unke gale lagi thi. Fir unse baat kar rahi thi. Wo uske Kaan par hath rakhe kafgi se kuch keh rahi thi. Aur usne ek dam se shrminda hote hue sar jhukaya tha. Faris jebo me hath dale kadre faasle par khada hua tha. Bekhwabi ka shikar aankho me surkhi si thehri thi. Chehra be taasur sa lag raha tha magar uske andar jo kuch ho raha tha usse sirf wohi wakif tha.

Chuki doctor ne muqammal aaram ki takid ki thi to jannat nashte ke baad kamre me chali gayi thi. Jabke wo kuch der tak Mrs. Shirazi ke paas unke kamre me betha raha tha.

"Jannat ki baaton se pareshan ho rahe ho?" Unhone narmi se pucha toh usne chonk kar sar uthaya. Sofa ke hathhe par uski ungliyaan aahista se mutaharrik hui.

"Nahi." Keh kar khidki ki taraf dekha.

Dhoop seedha uske chehre par rahi thi. Aankhon ka har rang numaya ho raha tha.

"Lag toh rahe ho." Maa thi aur uske andar tak jaan gayi thi. Mushfiq si muskurahat liye wo unki taraf dekhne laga. Phir seedha ho baitha.

"Main uski baaton se pareshan nahi hoon. Mummy infact mujhe accha laga usne apne khauf ka izhaar kar diya." Wo normal lehje mein aahista se goya hua.

"Pichhli baar usne pareshaani mein ghar chhod diya tha. Is baar usne aisa nahi kiya. Usne mujhse baat ki. Jo masla tha, woh mujhe bataya. Koi ulti seedhi harkat nahi ki. Aapka kya khayal hai, main is par upset ho sakta hoon?" Mrs. Shirazi ne uska haath apne haath mein liya. Phir num aankhon ke saath uske gaal par haath rakha.

"Usne kaafi se zyada stress liya. Toh less iska soch kar..." Usne baat adhoori chhod di.

"Agar tum kaho toh main Jannat se baat karun?"

Woh chaand lamho tak unhe ahistagi se dekhte raha.

"agar zarurat pari toh aap se kahoonga." Aur aahista se bola. Unhone uske haath par apni giraft barhai.

"Kuch mat socho, sab theek ho jayega."

"InshaAllah."

Woh apne kamre mein aaya toh Jannat bed crown se tek lagaye bethi thi.

"Ab kaisi tabiyat hai?" Woh pooch raha tha.

"Theek hoon." Woh use office ke liye tayar hota dekh kar ekdum se pareshaan hui thi. Bimaar woh thi, toh baaki kaamil mein be-araam woh bhi toh hua tha. Aankhein toh ratjage ki waazeh gawaahi de rahi thi.

"Tum office kyun ja rahe ho?"

"Kuch zaroori kaam hai." Woh normal leje mein jawab dete hue tie ki knot bandh ne laga.

"Tum raat bhar nahi soye tumhe aaram karna chaiye" khafit sa ho kar keh diya. Labo par mutbhahim si muskurahat liye wo use mud kr dekhne laga. Wo bhanwe sukude bethi thi. Chehre par halka halka izterab numaya ho raha tha. Ungliya aapas mein ulajh rahi thi.

"Apna khayal rakhna."

Mukammal tiyaari ke baad mobile uthaye bahar nikla toh woh bhi apne andar ek ajeeb si besakooni liye peeche aayi thi. Magar woh bahar nahi gayi thi. Usne glass wall se hi usse gaadi ki taraf jaate dekha tha. Dil ajeeb si lay par dhadak utha. Jo tasuraat usne Faaris ke saamne chhupa ke rakhe the, woh chehre aaya hone lage. Aankhon mein anjaana sa khauf utar aaya tha. "Kya woh usse naaraz ho chuka hai?" Ise ekdum se mehsoos hui. Ise pehli baar is tarah uski narazgi ki fikr hui thi.

Woh Sara din apne kamre mein hi rahi. Mrs. Shirazi waqfe waqfe se use dekhne aati rahi.

Side table par rakha uska mobile aaj bohot khamosh tha. Karwat par karwat badalte, neem taareeki mein diwaar ko ghoorte, khud se ladte aur khud se bujh te woh kaafi se zyada beqarar rahi. Faaris zaroori kaam ke silsile se shehar se baahar tha. Uski waapsi mein dair ki tawwako thi. Mrs. Shirazi ne use aagaah kar diya tha.

Wo so chuki toh use ghar mein ekdum se khamoshi ka ehsaas hua.

Dil udaas tha. Dil pareshaan bhi bohot ho raha tha. Tabiyat ka bojhalpann alag. Nafsiyati haalat bhi ajeeb ho rahi thi. Usne mobile uthake Faris ko call ki toh mobile off mila. Kitni hi der tak woh aankhon ko masal masal kar nami chhupati rahi.

Use apni baatein yaad aa rahi thi. Apna lehja aur rawayya yaad aa raha tha. Woh saare ilzaam jo usne lagaye aur tamam shak jo usne dikhaye. Pata nahi usse kya hua tha. Halanki woh har takleef, har baat daba leti thi. Bardasht karke nazarandaaz kar jaati thi, khusoosan Adina Zubair ke maamle ko usne kabhi bhi is had tak apne sar par sawar nahi kiya tha. Magar pregnancy ke baad se woh aisa nahi kar paa rahi thi. Uske mizaaj mein khaatir khwah tabdeeli aayi thi. Chhoti si baat use pahaad ban jaati thi. Ek zara sa wahem hilaa deta tha. Ek zara sa shak dehla deta tha.

Ghaadi raat ke bara baja rahi thi. Faaris abhi tak nahi aaya tha. Wo ghar ke aqbi angan mein swimming pool ke saamne aahistagi se tahel rahi thi. Sar aur kadhe jhuke hue tre.

Yunhi ek chakkar kaat kar mud rahi thi toh Faaris wajdan par nazar padte hi uski dhadkanen tham gayi. Woh raahdaari se guzar kar idhar aa raha tha. Uski kushida peshaani par bal the, jabde bhi kuch batti se tanne hue. Wo uske ghusse mein laga tha.

"Tum yahaan kya kar rahi ho?"

Uske qareeb aakar aur phir kuch waqt nazron se dekhte hue jo kaha toh woh ekdum se ghabra gayi thi.

"Aaraam karne ka kaha tha maine tumhe. Hadd hai."

Lab bheench kar usne Jannat ka haath pakda aur waapas kamre mein le aaya tha.

"So how're you feeling?" Woh bed par bethi thi aur Faris saamne khada wrist watch ka cufflink wagairah utaarte hue pooch raha tha. Chehre par guzashta shab ka koi asar na tha. Na gusse, na sharam, kuch bhi na tha. Hospital se waapsi ke baad woh usse ab nazar aaya tha. Ab baat hui thi. Ab dekh raha tha.

"I'm Good!" Nazar chura kar yahaan wahaan dekhne lagi. Poorani baatein, apna rawayya yaad aaya toh sharmindgi alag ho rahi thi. Sirf ek qatal ka ilzaam baqi reh gaya tha. Uske ilawa toh do usse har tarah se mujrim bana chuki thi.

Ab woh saamne wardrobe khole khada tha. Kuch hi der baad woh kapde nikaal kar washroom mein chala gaya. Wo shower ki awaaz sunkar sir jhukaye bethi rahi. "Use Faaris se baat karni chahiye? Kya baat karni chahiye?" Zehn behtar se uljha hua tha. Kuch bhi samajh nahi aa raha tha.

Shower lene ke baad woh halke surmai rang ke trousers par bina baazu wali siyaah baniyan mein bahar aaya tha.

Baalon ko achi tarah se raghad kar sukha rahe the ki us par nazar padi to wo ruk gaya.

"Tum phir se ro rahi ho."

Jannat ne rukh mod kar apni aankhon par haath rakha toh uske dil ko kuch hua.

"Ab kya ho gaya?" Woh ekdum se pareshan padha tha. Barabar mein baith kar uska rukh apni taraf kiya.

"Maine tumhe kitni baar calls ki, tumne mujhse baat nahi ki. Tumne mere message bhi nahi dekhe, aur ab tum "

"Ab main kya?" Woh zara hairaan hua tha.

Uska zehn muntashir tha. Pehle kuch aur keh rahi thi. Ab kuch aur kehne lagi thi.

"Main kal dar gayi thi Faris. Mujhe laga tum mujhe wajdan house se nikaal kar wahaan shift kar rahe ho. Tum adina ko waapas la rahe ho toh bas is wajah se maine..."

Do use dekh kar reh gaya. Jis tarah ke haalaat se do guzri thi, uska yeh khauf fitri tha. Do karke kisi bhi rad-e-amaal par naraz nahi ho sakta tha. Kisi bhi baat par pareshan nahi ho sakta tha. Magar uski ye wazahat...

"hamari yeh baat toh kal khatam ho gayi thi." Usne bohot halke phulke se lehje mein kaha. Magar woh bhi behti aankhon ke saath sir jhukaaye rahi. Jaise uske liye toh kuch bhi khatam nahi hua tha.

"Wese tumhe m nahi lagta hamara relation din ba din strong hota ja raha hai?" Mutabassim lehje mein poocha toh Jannat ne chonk kar nehi ke aalam mein sir uthaya.

"Ab yahi dekh lo. Kya pehle bhi aisa hua ke main call na karoon aur tum itna pareshan ho jao?"

Woh ekdum se bokhla gayi.

"Aisa to nahi hua, me is wajah se pareshan nahi thi." Aankhe ragad kr saaf krte hue uth khadi hui. Lamho me usne khud par qabu paate hue apne tasuraat ko badla tha, apne khauf ko chhupaya tha. Apni pareshani ko rafa kiya tha. Wo use baghor dekhte hue muskura diya

"Good night," comforter tan kadr woh sone ka natak karne lagi, jaise ab aur kuch kehne ya sunne ko bacha hi na ho. Andar ka shor bhi kuch had tak tham gaya tha. Kisi baat ko soch kar ab usse dar nahi lag raha tha.

Towel sofa par uchhalte hue, woh apni side par aa gaya. Sone se pehle kuch der tak mobile uthaye baitha raha. Kuch messages aur emails thi jinhe dekhna zaroori tha. Jannat uski taraf karwat badalti, gehri neend mein chali gayi thi. Mobile rakh kar woh usse dekhne laga. Rangat ab bhi zard thi. Aankhon ke halqe bhi kuch zyada dikh rahe the. Woh pehle se kuch behtar thi, magar phir bhi kamzor lag rahi thi. Jhattka kam toh nahi tha jo usse laga, na woh stress kam tha jo usne guzashta raat liya tha.

Usne comforter ko kheench kar theek karte hue lamp off kar diya tha. Magar bawajood koshish ke, woh so nahi saka tha. Shor aisa hi tha, hilaa dene wala. Band aankhon ke aage thahre manzar bhi kisi aziyat se kam nahi the.

Kaanch jo kadmon ko chhu raha tha, aag woh ga raha tha. Muthiyaan bheench kar usne apna sir takiye mein daba diya. Woh sona chahta tha, bohot gehri neend sona chahta tha. Magar guzashta raat ki tarah, aaj raat bhi usse neend nahi aane wali thi. Aur agli kayi raato tak bhi, shayad woh isi be-khuwabi ka shikaar rehne wala tha.

•••

Nashtay ki mez par bohot zyada khamoshi thi. Mr. Shirazi aur Faris toh roz marra ki tarah baat kar rahe the, magar usse toh jaise kisi bhi baat ka jawab dete hue ajeeb si dikkat ho rahi thi. Baar baar nazar utha kar Faris ko dekhti thi, toh uske chehre ke asrat mein koi tabdeeli nahi aati thi.

Apne belt par bed lines dekhte hue, woh lagataar usse mukhatib ho raha tha. Kuch der pehle toast par jam lagane ko kaha tha. Phir orange juice ka glass manga tha. Aur ab cup mein chai dalne ko keh raha tha. Pata nahi usse kya ho gaya tha? Andar hi andar khud se ulajhte hue usne chai ka cup uske saamne rakh diya. Sab normal the toh woh kyun abnormal ho rahi thi?

Nashtay ke baad usne workout kiya aur apne mutashir khayalat aur pechida sochon ko organize karti hui lawn mein aa gayi. Khuli faza mein gehri saans lete hue, aasman ki taraf dekha. Phir sheeshe ki deewar ki taraf jahan Faris Wajdan usse cellphone kaan se lagaye baat karta nazar aa raha tha. Mrs. Shirazi apne studio mein thi. Woh unke paas baith gayi. Aksar dopeher mein woh walk ke liye park jati thi, magar aaj do baje hi maid ko saath liye chal padi. Aqsa apne college gayi hui thi, warna woh uske saath hi jati. Sar par dupatta aur shawl achi tarah se liye, woh sine par haath baandhe jogging track se qadar faaslay par seedhe kiari ke qareeb ahista se qadam utha rahi thi jab usse apne aqab mein kisi ki mojoodgi ka ehsaas hua. Be-ikhtiyar mur kar peeche dekha toh usse Faris nazar aaya.

“Yeh office nahi gaya?” Woh usse dekh kar aik dum se hairaan hui. Lambe lambe kadam aaghe barhta, woh ab uske barabar mein uski hi raftaar se qadam uthane laga tha.

“Tum yahan?”

“Haan.” Uska lehja waisa hi mutawazan tha.

"Allah Kare Khair Ho." Woh bohot andar tak darr gayi.

"Kyunki main kuch maamlaat mein rad-o-badal karne wala hoon, so mujhe laga tumse baat kar leni chahiye." Jannat ka dil zoron se dhadka. Aakhir aisi kaunsi baat thi jo ghar mein nahi ho sakti thi, aur jis ke liye usay apne office se bhi chutti leni pari thi? Woh ruk gayi. Dono aamne samne hue. Chand lamhon tak sanseintehayi karte hue, woh chup khara raha. Aur woh bhi bechain si idhar udhar dekhti rahi. Aakhirkar, usne is khaufnaak khamoshi ka talaa toda.

"Aaj se tum walk par mere saath aogi. Shopping ke liye, dinner ke liye bhi. Aima ke saath apne plans cancel kar do. Balke main usay khud mana kar dunga. Usay jab bhi milna hoga, woh hamare ghar aayegi. Dekhta hoon, mere hote hue kaun tumhare is chhote se dimaag mein khannas bharne ki koshish karta hai."

Usne jhuk kar apni ungli se Jannat ki peshani ko thonka.

Jannat ne ghabra kar sir uthaya. Faris Wajdan ki pehli saari baatein ek taraf, aur aakhri ek baat dusri taraf thi. "Tum mere dimaag ko chhota keh rahe ho?" Awaaz sadme se phat gayi thi.

"Kya nahi kehna chahiye?" Usne apne haath track suit ki jebein mein daal liye.

"Main tumhein ek ghar dena chah raha tha aur us ke liye mujhe wazaahtein deni par rahi thi. Tum writer kyun nahi ban jaati? Itna sansani khaiz scenario hota hai tumhare dimaag mein. Main khud hairan reh jaata hoon."

Aur woh jo apne zameer ki aawaz sun kar apne aap mein dabti phir rahi thi, ek dum se chid gayi. "Abhi raat tum keh rahe the ke yeh baat khatam ho chuki hai."

"Kya maine waqai aisa kaha tha?" Woh hairan hua. Aankhein muskuraraheen thi.

Jannat ne chup chap usay dekha.

"Tumhari yaadash kamzor nahi hoti ja rahi?"

"Tumhari sohbat ka asar hai, kya kar sakta hoon."

Isse pehle ke woh kuch kehti, Faris jogging track par bhagte hue door nikal gaya. Woh bhainwein sikore apni jagah khadi reh gayi thi.

Khaane ke baad woh apne liye sabz chai bana rahi thi jab mulazim usay khaki lifafa de kar gaya tha. Usne wahi khade khade lifafa chaak kar ke kagzaat nikale aur apni jagah tham gayi.

Woh bachay ki custody ke papers thay. Uska aitbaar bahal karne ki koshish, uska trust jeetne ki justju. Jo kaha tha usne, woh kar dikhaya tha.

Aur Jannat ko toh aisi koi baat yaad hi nahi thi.

Isi lamhe mobile baj utha. Barfili pahadon ke saath "Aunty ka beta" likha hua nazar aa raha tha. Usay apne haath munjamad hotay mehsoos hue. Nichla lab kaat-te hue usne call receive kar li thi.

"Tumhein papers mil gaye?"

Kisi qadar koshish se uske lab hilay.

"Haan."

"Good." Doosri taraf se itminan bhari awaaz aayi.

"Aur koi hukm?" Woh apne makhsoos lehje mein bohot sanjeedgi se pooch raha tha.

"Maine aisa koi hukm toh nahi diya tha." Uski aankhon mein aansu utar aaye. Sar jhuk gaya tha.

"Hukm nahi diya tha, magar yaqeen bhi toh nahi kar rahi thi. Ab jo tumhari story ka villain hai, usay hero banne ke liye kuch toh karna tha."

Usne beikhtiyaar nichla lab daanton mein dabaya. Aankhein mukammal bheeg gayi thi.

"Haan toh kya maine kaha tha mere saath itna bura karo." Baayein haath ki ungliyo se aankhon ko masalte hue awaaz ko hatta mumkin mazboot kiya.

"Jo kar raha hoon, usay bhi toh dekho."

Woh chup rahi. Kehne ko kuch baqi nahi raha tha. Usne khaki lifafa counter table par rakh diya.

"Ab kya kar rahi ho?" Woh mawzoo badalte hue bola.

"Sabz chai bana rahi thi." Usne dahine haath ki pusht se aansu saaf kiye. Mur kar aanch halki kar di.

"Iske baad kya karogi?"

"Aunty ke saath lawn mein jaungi. Woh abhi namaz parh rahi hain."

"Us ke baad?"

"Us ke baad…" ek lamhe ke liye ruki.

"Pata nahi."

"Mausam acha ho raha hai. Kya khayal hai kahin bahar chalein?" Woh pooch raha tha. Jannat chup rahi.

"Mummy se bhi kaho. Aaj hum teenon chalenge." Keh kar call kaatna chahta tha.

"Suno," Jannat ne ek dum se kaha, toh woh cell phone kaan se lagate lagate ruk gaya tha.

"Sunao?"

Woh nichla lab daanto tale dabaye chand lamhon tak khadi rahi. Phir himmat jamaa kar ke boli,

"Tumhara shukriya."

Faris ke labo par tasannum bikhar gaya.

"Achha toh woh kya ke liye?" Woh anjan banta hua muskuraya.

"Ab wajah tum khud hi dhoond lo." Usne tap kar call kat di. Woh muskurata reh gaya. Jannat ka maala tum aankhon ke saath khaki lifafa ko dekhti rahi.

❏❏❏