Chapter 60: CHAPTER - 59

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Lounge mein woh sofa pe leti thi. Faris saamne hi baith kar kisi foreign channel par kuch khabrein aur business programs dekh raha tha. Call receive karte hue woh uth kar Mrs. Shirazi ke paas chala gaya, toh sofa par leti leti woh popcorn khaate hue apne mobile mein lagi rahi. Foreign channel par ads chal rahe the. Awaaz kadre dheemi thi. Ek program khatam hua toh doosra shuru hua. Manzar ek stage ka tha. Alag alag angles se camera ghumate hue audience dikhayi gayi. Background mein program ka naam likha nazar aa raha tha. Host ne program ka aagaaz kar diya tha. Ek shandar documentary video chalayi gayi. Ramp par mukhtalif libas mein walk karti ek haseen khatoon mukhtalif angles se dikhayi gayi.

Mukhtalif events mein li gayi tasveerat, jismein red carpet ki tasveerain sabse numayan thi. Kabhi interview deti hui, kabhi muskurate hue camera ki taraf haath hila kar dekhti hui. Kuch acting ke scenes the. Kabhi woh voiceover karti hui nazar aayi. Kabhi apni product launch karte waqt center of attention thi. Kabhi charity work karte hue, kabhi refuge camp ka daura karte hue, Shami panah guzeeron mein rashan baantte hue, kabhi kisi organization se jud kar kisi ke liye awaaz uthate hue. Taaruf ke saath taaliyon ke beech woh stage ki taraf jaati hui nazar aayi.

Mobile par jhuki hui Jannat ne geheri saans le kar sar uthaya. Woh remote se awaaz kam karna chah rahi thi, magar agle hi pal, ek American host ke saamne baithi hui us purkashish khatoon par nazar padte hi ruk gayi. Aankhon mein ek dum se hairani utar aayi. Smart sa sarapa, cream rang ka maxi type simple sa libaas, sunahri baal halka sa curl kiye hue shanon par bikhre the. Nafees diamond jewelry set, unglion mein bhi diamond ring thi. Nazuk se bharpoor pencil heel, jis mein paon numayan ho rahe the. Safaid doodhiya rangat, natural makeup se aur bhi nikhri hui lag rahi thi. Umar yeh koi chalis baras hogi, usne khud se andaza lagaya. Ya shayad apni asal umar se kaafi kam lag rahi thi. Woh kaafi der tak us shanaasa chehre par se nazar na hata saki. Kya mushabihaat thi us chehre mein. Ajnabi hote hue bhi ek dum se jaan pehchan sa lagne laga tha. Khushgawar hairat ke saath volume badha diya. Host mukhtalif sawal kar rahi thi aur woh bohot dheeme lehje mein, bohot nazakat se jawaab de rahi thi.

Woh ek American-origin Pakistani model aur successful businesswoman thi jo naye entrepreneurs ko startup funds dene waali thi. Yeh program isi silsile mein tha. Saath hi unki kaamyabi ka raaz aur unki zati zindagi ke baare mein bhi sawal kiye jaa rahe the. Woh sar uthaye, gardan seedhi karke, har sawal ka jawab bohot sanjeedgi, mizaaj aur khush ikhlaqi se de rahi thi. Aankhon mein ek fatihana chamak thi aur muskurahat to waise hi zinda dili ka saboot de rahi thi. Jannat unki shakhsiyat se ek dum maroob hoi. Woh usey baaki celebs ki tarah nahi lag rahi thi. Usay unki baatein aur bolne ka tareeqa pasand aaya. Muskurahat par to waise hi dil aaya hua tha.

Ad ka silsila shuru hua toh usne volume kam kar diya. Raahdaari se nikal kar Faaris mobile par kuch type karta hua open kitchen mein chala gaya.

"Kya dekh rahi ho?"

"Tumhari female version," hans kar boli. "Umar mein tumse badi hain, lekin kamaal ki hain. Kahin tumhari koi bichhdi hui aaya toh nahi hain?"

"Yeh koi aur mazaaq ho ga tumhara?" Usne na samjhi ke aalam mein muskara diya. "Aur muskurati bhi bilkul tumhari tarah hain," usne hans kar kaha. "Kis ko dekh liya hai tumne?"

"Ek businesswoman hain," sofa ki back side par baazu tikate hue usne jawab diya. Kitchen counter ke us paar, woh uski taraf peeth kie hue orange kaat raha tha juice ke liye.

"Koi saat brands toh ab tak launch kar chuki hain. Mujhe toh bohot khushi ho rahi hai ke woh Pakistani hain."

Faris ki harkat pal bhar ke liye ruki. Sirf ek lamhe ke liye. "Acha!" Sar jhatak kar apna kaam karne laga.

"Ab shayad unka Pakistan ke liye bhi koi business plan hai. Kuch toh nojawano ko startup funding dengi. Kuch aisa hi keh rahi thi," usne apni dhun mein bata diya jo adha interview sun ke samajh aaya tha.

Faris chup raha toh usay laga shayad uski baat samajh mein nahi aayi.

"Matalab jo Pakistan ke naye entrepreneurs hain, woh apna setup karna chahte hain. Unke saath partnership karke unhe startup funds dengi. Lekin isse pehle unki team participate karne walon ka business plan dekhegi, unki capabilities janchegi, phir select karegi. Aur maze ki baat yeh hai ke bohot si foreign companies bhi unke saath hissa le rahi hain."

"Hmm" Faris ka dhyaan kahin aur tha.

"Jury ki team mein kya tum bhi shaamil ho gaye?" Faris apni jagah ruk gaya. Usne mud kar dekha.

"Mera? Kya dakhal?"

"I mean, baahar se team aaye gi, aur tumhara bhi toh ek naam hai business ki duniya mein. Pakistani ho ke agar us team mein shaamil nahi hoge toh kya faida?"

"Mere business man hone ka?"

"Pakistani hone ka?" Usne lafzon par zor de kar kaha, "Tumhe laazmi invest karna chahiye." Usko mashwara de kar popcorn munh mein daal liya.

Faris ko yeh ehsaas hua ke foreign TV channel uske saamne khula chhodne ka afsos tha. gehri saans le kar phir se orange kaatne laga.

Ad khatam hua toh interview ka silsila phir se joa gaya. Pehla hissa business sawalon par tha, ab unki zati zindagi se mutaliq sawal hone the.

"Toh kya yeh udti hui afwaahe sach hai ke aap dadi banne wali hain?" Host ke bilkul saamne sofa par baithi woh kaamyab khatoon ek dum se hans pari.

"Is tarah ki khabrein aap logon tak kaise pohanch jaati hain?" Uski awaaz, woh sheereen aur dilfareb awaaz…

Faris ke haath sakt, jism pathar ka ho gaya.

"Bas humare zaraye aap se mutaliq har chhoti badi khabar humein pohcha dete hain."

Audience mein ek halka sa shor mach gaya tha.

"Ji bilkul! Main jald hi dadi banne wali hoon."

Faris ke jism mein ek larzah sa cha gaya. Usne dono haathon se counter tham liya. Wo awaaz, hansi ki jhankaar...

Popcorn khate hue Jannat ne awaaz unchi ki, baat samajh mein nahi aayi thi.

"Ek naujawan ki daadi... Zara dekhiye toh, main aap se sirf teen saal badi hoon aur mujhe aapke saamne apna aap boodha lag raha hai." Woh apne makhsoos andaaz mein hans rahi thi.

“Zara batayiye, aapki is jawani aur khoobsurti ka kya raaz hai?”

“Oh please, yeh sawaal nahi! Taqreeban har interview mein mujhse yeh hi sawaal poocha jaata hai,” woh muskurate hue jawab de rahi thi.

Jannat uth kar ab ba ghor dekh rahi thi.

“So aapke betay ke hawalay se...” Usse pehle ke baat mukammal hoti, Faris ne uske haath se remote chheen kar TV off kar diya.

Is tarah achanak TV band ho jane par Jannat ek dum se choank gayi.

“Arey, band kyun kar diya?”

Haath barhakar remote lena chaha, lekin apni jagah ruk gayi. Faris ki nigahein siah tareek screen par thehri hui thi. Khaali, veeran, safid... koi aks nahi, koi ehsaas nahi, koi rang, koi asar nahi. Chehra mukammal tareek... peshaani ki ragain ekdum se numaya ho gayi thi.

Jabday kas kar bhinche hue the.

“Faris?” Uske lab hile. Ekdum se apne aap mein wapas aate hue usne Jannat ko dekha. Shoor tham gaya. Aawazein khatam ho gayi.

“Main malte kaat kaat ke thak gaya hoon. Ab baaqi kaam tum sambhalo…. Utho.” Woh jo ekdum se uske tasuraat se pareshan hui thi, hans kar bola,

“khud Karo jo karna hai.”

Jannat ne remote wapas lena chaha, lekin Faris ne mail nikal kar apni jeb mein daal liya. Baazu se pakad kar uthate hue usko kitchen counter ki taraf le aaya.

“Yeh itne se malte kaat kar thak gaye ho tum?” Woh uske peeche khadi thi. Gilaas mein paani daal kar ek hi ghont mein pee gaya.

Jannat ne bighre hue tewaro ke saath chhuri utha li, aur Faris counter par jhuk kar gehri saansain le raha tha. Uske aasab iztraab ko mehsoos karte hue andar ek aag jal uthi thi. Lounge ke saamne screen toh tareek thi, lekin manzar uski aankhon mein chal raha tha. Awaaz band ho chuki thi, lekin lagta tha poore ghar mein goonj rahi thi.

Jannat malto ka juice tayar karke, unko gilaas mein daal chuki thi. Faris kahin nazar nahi aaya. Tray utha kar, woh Mrs. Shirazi ke kamre mein gayi, jahan Faris bhi baitha tha.

Sab ko ek ek gilaas pesh karke, apna gilaas haatho mein lekar unke saath baith gayi. Ab woh unse baatein kar rahi thi, shayad kisi program ke baare mein ya kal ke menu par guftagu ho rahi thi. Faris khamoshi ke aalam mein unke paas baitha raha, phir Mrs. Shirazi se ijazat le kar chala gaya.

Jannat kamray mein aayi toh Faris letay hue tha. Woh jhuk kar usay dekhne lagi.

"Suno?"

“Hmm?” Faris takiye mein sar diye araam se para hua tha, mooh aur aankhein sab baazoo mein chhupi thi.

“Tum so rahe ho?”

“ahm hmm”

“abhi toh nau bhi nahi baje,” Jannat mayoos hoti hui boli. Woh aam tor par shaam mein Faris ke saath lawn mein walk karti thi. Aaj pata nahi usay kya ho gaya tha, itni jaldi so raha tha.

“Tabeeyat theek hai tumhari?”

Khamoshi…

Jannat ne light off karke doosri taraf aake baith gayi. Haathon par lotion lagate hue kuch pal usay samajhne ki koshish karti rahi, phir khud bhi sone ke liye let gayi.

Rozmarra ki routine ke mutabiq workout karwane ke baad, jab Faris office ke liye rawana ho gaya, toh Jannat ghar mein ghoomti phirti intezam ka jaiza lene lagi. Office room ki safai qareeban roz hoti thi. Aaj bhi ho rahi thi, toh woh darwaza khol kar andar aayi.

Ek nazar aas paas daali aur phir office chair par baith kar daayein baayein ghoomte hue deewaro ki bari khidkiyon se bahar dekhne lagi. Lawn mein dhoop chamak rahi thi. Aasman bilkul saaf tha. Usne maali Abdul Ghafur ko paudon par jhukay hue dekha. Aqsa kabhi daaye aur kabhi baaye se hatho ko hilate hue apne baap se kuch keh rahi thi. Kai dafa usne roti hui shakal banayi thi, aur jab woh sir jhuka ke khadi hui, toh lag raha tha ke ab usse apne baap se daant par rahi hai.

Usne mulazma ko lawn se taazaa phool laane ka hukum diya, aur phir maze par kohaani rakh kar maze par rakhi cheezon ko dekhne lagi. Daraazo mein files aur kuch papers waghera rakhe hue the. Doosri maid sheeshe ki maze ko saaf kar rahi thi. Chhote carpet par vacuum kiya gaya, aur couch ke cushions tareeke se lagaye gaye. Sab kaam karne ke baad, maid ne office table ke paas rakhi dustbin ko khaali karna chaha. Tabhi shopper haath se chhoot gaya, aur lakdi ki tiles par ek envelope aur kuch purane kagaz bikhar gaye.

Maid ne maafi maangte hue sab samaetna shuru kiya. "Koi baat nahi," Jannat ne sar hila kar kaha. Uski nazar achanak se ek envelope par padi, jisme bara bara karke “Ruby Akram” likha tha. Kisi khatoon ka khat tha.

“Yeh dikhana mujhe,” usne kaha toh maid ne foran se envelope uske hawale kar diya. Usne envelope ko palat kar dekha. Jis pata se yeh bheja gaya tha, woh address aur saath mein phone number bhi likha tha.

"Hairat hai, Faris ne bagair padhe hi phenk diya?" Jannat ne socha. Ek tajassus ke saath usne envelope ko cheer kar uska fold kiya hua safha nikaala. Ruby akram ka yeh khat Faris Shirazi ke naam tha. Jannat kuch der tak samajhne ki koshish karti rahi, phir maid ko kuch kaam lagate hue woh wahan chair par baith gayi.

Usne envelope cheer diya aur bhoore rang ka fold kiya hua kaagaz nikaala. Yeh ek lamba khat tha, jo kai references par mabni tha. Shuru mein samajh nahi aayi ke woh kya padh rahi thi, lekin jab salaam-dua aur khair-khairiyat ke baad ek naam "Rayyan Shirazi" ka zikr shuru hua, toh Jannat ek jhatke se apni jagah se uth khadi hui.

Rayyan Shirazi saade pandrah mah ka bacha tha, jo Ausaf Manzil mein apne mamu ke saath reh raha tha. Ruby akram us ghar ki naukrani thi. Bacha uske saath rehta tha aur woh apni sada si zubaan mein bata rahi thi ke Ausaf Manzil mein woh bacha kis haal mein tha aur kaise rota rehta tha. Jannat jese jese padhti ja rahi thi, uski saansein rukti ja rahi thi.

"Mujhe Rasheeda se pata chala ke aap bahut paisa dete hain, lekin Tariq sahib us paisay ka ek rupiya bhi Rayyan par nahi kharch karte. Main toh doodh mein bhi paani mila kar deti hoon. Jo roti bach jati hai, uske chhote chhote tukde kar ke usay khilati hoon. Begum sahiba har cheez par nazar rakhti hain. Ramsha baji apne bete ke kapde deti hain, toh wahi main Rayyan ko pehnati hoon. Woh bahut kamzor hai, aur bemar bhi hai."

Jannat ka dil ek muthi mein jakhda gaya. Aankhen bhar aayi.

“Yeh mera chautha khat hai. Main chaar mahine se intezaar kar rahi hoon, ab tak koi jawab nahi aaya. Sahib, main aapse guzarish karti hoon ke Ryan ko yahan se le jaayein. Yeh mera phone number hai, mujhse ispar raabta kar sakte hain.”

Aur neeche phone number likha hua tha. Baat khatam ho gayi. Waqt khatam ho gaya, par dard khatam nahi hua, aur bechaini bhi khatam nahi hui. Usne be-ikhtiyar mez ka sahara liya, aur phir girne ke andaaz mein kursi par baith gayi thi. Aankhon mein ab be yaqeeni si utri hui thi, jaise uske hosh ud rahe hon. Wo jaanti thi ke Faris ka bhatija apne khayalon mein ro raha hai, is tarah reh raha hai, lekin yeh sochne ka tu usne kabhi guman bhi nahi kiya tha.

Mrs. Shirazi aur Faris Wijdan ke darmiyan usne sirf ek martaba Rayyan ka zikr suna tha. Sirf ek baar, jab wo usse ghar laane ki baat kar rahi thi, jab darwaze ki daraar se wo chup kar unki baat sun rahi thi. Usne Faris Wajdan ko ekdum se ghusse mein aate dekha tha. Usne chand baar Mrs. Shirazi se unke potay ke baare mein baat karne ki koshish ki thi, magar wo hamesha is baat ko taal deti thi. Unhone haal hu mein usse mana kar diya tha ke wo Faris se is maamle mein koi baat na kare. Wo usse iss masle se bilkul door rakhna chahti thi.

Unhone kabhi bhi kisi ikhtilaf ka izhaar nahi kiya tha, na hi kabhi kisi masle ka zikar kiya. Wo hamesha aise dikhati thi jaise yeh koi sanjida masla nahi tha. Lekin wo jaanti thi ke wo apne yateem potay ki wajah se kitni takleef mein rehti thi, kitna gham seh rahi thi, aur kitna dard mein roti thi. Tabhi usne himmat ki thi aur wada kiya tha.

Wo wada jo wo ab tak pura nahi kar saki thi. Baat usri yusra ki thi, to usne khud apni shart rakhi thi, lekin ab use idraq hua tha ke Mrs. shirazi usse Rayyan se milwana nahi chahti thi. 'Warna ek address dena kaunsa mushkil kaam tha? Aakhir unhe kya khauf aur pareshaani thi, jo unhein apne upar yeh jabar karna pad raha tha?' 'Kya Faris aur Hamad ke darmiyan koi ikhtilaf tha?' 'Kya is ikhtilaf ki wajah se Faris apne bhatijay ko qubool karne ke liye tayar nahi tha?' Usne shiddat se dhadakte dil ke saath kuch pareshaani mein socha, jab uski ungliyon ki girift us khat par aur mazid mazboot hui thi.

'Kya yeh ikhtilaf, yeh jhagra, yeh nafrat itni zyada thi ke bhai ki maut ke baad bhi…?' Uska dum ghutne laga. Uski nazrein Faris Wajdan ke bade office room mein idhar udhar bhatak rahi thi. Us kamre mein har taraf ek ajeeb se khauf aur bechaini chhayi hui thi.

'Koi itna sangdil kaise ho sakta hai?' Usne sochna shuru kiya tha. Aur ekdum se uski soch rukh gayi thi, jism mein ek khamoshi si phel gayi thi. Office ka kamra tang aur tarik ho gaya tha, aas-paas khamoshi chhayi hui thi.

Itni shiddat ki mohabbat aur itna mazboot rishta hone ke bawajood, aakhir aisi kya wajah thi ke Maz Shirazi ab tak Faris Wajdan ko Rayyan ke liye raazi nahi kar saki thi?

Mulazma saamne hi fursat se rakhiyon mein file saf kar rahi thi. Phir usne guldaan se murjhaaye hue phool nikaal kar taazaa phool daalne shuru kar diye. Uske ird gird ek dum se mehak phail gayi.

“Usey ilzaam mat do, Jannat, mein bhi nahi deti,” unhone kaha tha.

Is poore arse mein, usne Faris ka apni maa ke liye kitni mohabbat thi dekhi thi. Wo apni maa ki takleef par kitna bechain ho jaata tha, unka koi bhi hukum kabhi nahi taalta tha. Usse unki fikr rehti thi. Iske bawajood yeh rawaiyya…?

Wo intehai uljhanon ke saath apni jagah baithi rahi thi. Ruby ka khat haathon mein tha, Ruby ka number bhi. Uski khwahish is tarah poori hogi. Rayyan tak pohanchne ka raasta is tarah nikle ga, yeh to usne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha.

Usne matlooba number dial karke cell phone kaan se laga liya. Kuch der tak apni dhadkano ke saath saath ghanti ki awaaz sunti rahi. Thodi dair baad, der se hi sahi lekin call uthayi gayi.

"Hello!" Woh samajh rahi thi koi khatoon hongi, magar awaaz kisi ladki ki thi.

"Ruby Akram baat kar rahi hain?" "Ji kaun?" Doosri taraf se wo alert ho gayi thi.

"Main…" Usne ruk kar apne us rishtay ko socha jo Riyan se tha. "Main Rayyan ki chachi baat kar rahi hoon."

Doosri taraf Ruby Akram aik jhatke se apni charpai se uth khadi hui thi.

"Aap…? aap waqai Riyan ki chachi hain?" Uski awaaz ek dum se bhar gayi thi.

"Maine itne khat likhe, itni duaein maangi."

Khushi ki inteha nahi thi. Mur kar soye hue bachay ko dekha, phir mooh par haath rakhe khidki ke paas ja khadi hui. Usay to jaise abhi bhi yaqeen nahi aa raha tha ke Rayyan ke dadyal se rabta ho gaya tha.

"Ji, mujhe aapka khat mila tha Ruby," usne khushk honton ko tar karte hue kaha. "Rayyan kaisa hai?"

"Jii, Theek hai ji." Mur kar nihal hoti nigahon se masoom chehre ko dekha. Aankhon mein khushi ke aansu the.

"So raha hai."

"Hath kaisa hai ab uska?"

"Vaisa hi hai. Maine Rasheeda se kaha tha ke doctor ko dikhane le jaye. Doctor ki fees bhi to bhaari lega, Rasheeda is liye nahi le jaati. Uska ghar wala bhi bara ghusse wala hai."

Palkein jhuka kar apne andar utarte hue Jannat ne sar uthaya.

"Aap… Aap mujhe batao, aap kab aao gi lene?" Ruby intezari mein poochh rahi thi ke aur kitne din Riyan Shirazi is haal mein Ausaf Manzil mein rahega.

Agar uska bas chalta to wo khud bache ko chhodne aa jaati.

"Main jald aungi Ruby, tum bas Rayyan ka achhe se khayal rakho."

"Jald…? yani kal?"

Nichla lab daanton tale diye, jhalmilati aankhon se woh sar jhukai rahi.

"Kya Riyan ki mamma se rabta nahi hua?" Usne poocha.

Ruby ke kandhe jhuk gaye. Chehre par mayusi chha gayi.

"Maine aapko sab bataya hai. Aap phir bhi Rayyan ko lene nahi aao gi?" Woh uske sawal ka jawab diye baghair apni kah rahi thi.

"Aisa nahi hai Ruby, aur na hi main tumse rabta kyun karti?" Usne sambhal kar kaha. Ruby ko kuch hausla hua.

"Tum mujhe Ausaf Manzil ka address message kar do. Main InshaAllah jald Rayyan se milne aungi."

"Milne nahi." Ruby ki awaaz mein ajeeb sa ehsas tha.

"Lene aana. Aap usay lene hi aao gi." Hatmi lehje mein keh kar usne call kaat di thi.

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