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Weakly check-up ke liye Mrs. Shirazi Faris ke saath hospital gayi hui thi. Woh ghar mein akeli thi. Yahaan wahan tehalte hue, usne Faris aur Rayyan ke masle ko kai baar socha, magar kisi bhi tareeke se koi hal nahi nikal payi. Ruby se raabta karne ke baad Ryan ke hawale se milne wali khabron ne usse bechain kar rakha tha. Dil karta tha bas udh kar wahan pahunch jaaye aur Faris ki tamaam mukhalfat ke bawajood Rayyan ko le aaye.
Yeh baat to tay thi, Faris usse jaane ki ijazat nahi dega. Aur woh khud se wahan ja nahi sakti thi, guards ki mojudgi mein toh bilkul bhi nahi.
"Kya usse Faris se dobara baat karni chahiye?"
Faris ka reaction yaad aaya to jhurr jhuri le kar reh gayi. Kitne din lag gaye the usse sambhalne aur wapas normal hone mein. Dobara baat ched kar woh koi aur badmazgi nahi chahti thi. Faris ke liye yeh mamooli baat nahi thi, aur yeh baat usse bhi samajh aa gayi thi. Toh ab kya kare? Rayyan ko yahaan kaise laaye? Woh zehan mein ek be-naam si uljhan aur kai sawalon ke saath tehal rahi thi, jab naukar ne seedhiya utar kar kisi ke aane ki khabar di.
"Kaun hai?"
"Apna naam Javeria Habib bataya hai."
"Javeria Habib?" Usne ruk kar zubaan tale naam dohraya. Abhi chand din pehle Mrs. Shirazi apni kisi dost ki beti ke baare mein bata rahi thi jo Pakistan aane wali thi.
"Kahin yeh woh to nahi?" Nichla lab kaat-te hue woh soch mein padh gayi, kyunki Mrs. Shirazi ka doston ka daira kaafi bara tha aur woh bohot se logon ko nahi jaanti thi.
"Theek hai, unhein andar bula lo," keh kar usne apne aap ko aaine mein dekha. Subah se kaale pajame par safed kurta pehne ghoom rahi thi. Jhunjhla kar wardrobe khola, kapde nikaal kar jaldi jaldi change kiye aur apna huliya thoda better karke drawing room mein gayi, toh saamne hi ek modern si naujawan ladki baithi hui nazar aayi. Siyah pant suit mein thi, baalon ka French bun bana rakha tha, gehre laal rang ki lipstick uske honthon ko numayan kar rahi thi. Surkh rang ka chhota sa clutch purse haath mein tha. Jannat par nazar padhte hi woh apni jagah se uth gayi. Laal gulabo ka bouquet uske haath mein tha.
"Ghaliban aap Mrs. Shirazi se milne aayi hain lekin woh is waqt ghar par nahi hain," haath milate hue Jannat ne bouquet le kar lihazdaar lehje mein kaha. Woh uski baat sun kar dheemi si muskurai. Phir Jannat ke ishare par sofa par baith gayi. Jannat ne bhi table ke doosri taraf ka sofa sambhal liya. Bouquet usne table par rakh diya.
"Main jaanti hoon ke woh ghar par nahi hain, aur main unse nahi, aap se milne aayi hoon."
Jannat ke asraat ek dum se badal gaye. Muskurahat simat gayi, magar agle hi pal usne apne aap ko sambhal liya.
"Oh acha, to kis silsile mein milne aayi hain aap mujhse?" Use achanak ehsaas hua ke ek anjaan ladki ko andar aane ki ijaazat dekar usne bohot badi ghalti kar di hai.
"Main Aarzoo Jahangir ki manager Javeria Habib hoon." Apna taaruf karwane ke baad woh ruk kar Jannat ko dekhne lagi. Shehad rang aankhon mein shanasaayi ki ramak abhari thi, na yeh naam sunkar tasuraat mein koi tabdeeli aayi thi. Faris Wajdan ki biwi kisi Aarzoo Jahangir ko nahi jaanti thi.
"Jee kahiye." Mulazima mashroob ka glass pesh karke gayi toh usne muskurate hue kaha, "Kis silsile mein milna chahti hain aap mujhse?" Lehze ko hatta la imakan kar ke poocha. Woh kisi bhi tareeke se apna bechaini ya khauf zahir nahi karna chahti thi.
Javeria Habib ne apne chhote se purse se ek card nikaal kar uske saamne mez par rakha. Jamuni rang ka VIP invitation card tha jo uske naam par tha.
"Yeh ma'am Arzoo Jahangir ke makeup product launch event ke liye aapka invitation hai." Jannat na samjhi ke haalat mein use dekh rahi thi. Faris se shaadi ke baad yeh pehli dafa tha ke kisi company ya brand ne uske shohar ki position aur haisiyat ki wajah se usay approach kiya ho. Usne card khol kar dekha, sirf uska naam likha tha. Faris Wajdan ka naam na hone par woh hairan ho gayi. Kuch lamhon tak woh aise hi card ko ulat pulat kar dekhte rahi.
"Sorry to say, lekin main yeh event attend nahi kar sakungi." Usne mana kar diya.
"Why not?" Javeria Habib ne hairat ka izhaar kiya.
"Main Aarzoo Jahangir ko nahi jaanti." Card wapas mez par rakh diya aur seedhi hokar baith gayi.
"Yeh hairat toh mujhe bhi hai ke aap ma'am ko nahi jaanti." Usne kaha,
"Halaanke khaas rishta hai aapka unse." Jannat ne sawaliya abru uthayi,
"Acha, kaisa rishta?" Sofa ke saath peeth lagate hue usne apna glass utha liya. Kuch ghoont lekar puray itminaan ke saath usay dekha. Javeria Habib ki muskurahat gehri ho gayi.
"Waise log aapke husband ke bare mein bilkul theek kehte hain."
Jis andaaz aur lehje mein usne Faris ka zikar kiya, Jannat andar se tap gayi, magar upar se kuch bhi zahir nahi hone diya.
"Acha! Kya kehte hain log mere husband ke baare mein jo aapko itna sahi lagta hai?" Gardan oonchi karke usne sawal kiya. Joveriya Habib ko is lamhe mein ehsaas hua ke yeh ladki itni aasaan nahi thi jitna usne samajh liya tha.
"Yahi ke apne dada ki tarah woh doosron ko andhere mein rakhne ka fun jaante hain." Usne tanz se muskurahat ke saath kaha.
Jannat ke andar ek dam se sannata phail gaya. Agle hi pal zabardasti ki muskurahat hontoon par saja kar uski taraf dekha.
"Woh kya hai ke mere husband ko gair zaroori log ko attention dene ki aadat nahi hai." Javeria Habib ke chehre se muskurahat ek lamha ke liye gaib ho gayi.
"I see." Pur Soch nazron se usay dekha aur phir se muskurate hue chup ho gayi.
"Kya aapko mujhse kuch aur bhi kehna hai?" Jannat jaise jaldi se jaldi us mulaqat ko khatam karna chahti thi.
"Maâam apni product launch ke liye sirf ek hafte ke liye Pakistan aayi hain. Aur wo aapse zaroor milna chahti hain," usne seedha seedha baat karne ki thaani.
"Jab main aapki maâam ko jaanti hi nahi hoon, toh phir unse kaise mil sakti hoon?"
"Unhein jaan-ne ke liye sirf unka naam hi kaafi hai," jata kar kaha. Jannat dheere se muskurayi. "Mere liye naam bhi kaafi nahi hai. Aapka bohot shukriya ke aap yahan aayi, Mera nahi khayal ke main yeh event attend kar paungi." Usne keh kar card uski taraf khiska diya. "Ab aap jaa sakti hain." Wo apni jagah se uth khadi hui.
Javeriya Habib ko bhi apni jagah se uthna pada.
"Aapne waqt diya, iske liye shukriya. Yeh card rakh lijiye. Mujhe yaqeen hai jab aapko maâam ke baare mein ilm hoga toh aap unse zaroor milna chahengi." Usne Arzoo Jahangir ka business card nikal kar table par rakh diya. Apna purse kandhe par dalte hue darwaze ki taraf qadam badhaye. Phir kuch soch kar ruk gayi. Mud kar Jannat ki taraf dekha.
"Kya main aapse request kar sakti hoon ke aap humari is mulaqat ka zikr apne shauhar se na karein?"
"Jee?" Jannat ne achi tarah se usay dekha.
"Never mind!" Wo uske andar bohot se wahem jagati, sadre darwaze ki jaanib badh gayi.
Business card aur VIP invitation glass table par rakha tha.
Aur Jannat kamaal is ajeeb o ghareeb mulaqat ka tajziya karti apni jagah khadi reh gayi thi.
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"Aqsa?"
"Jee aapi! Bio ki kitaab mein novel chhapa kar parhti hui Aqsa ki awaaz aayi. Dopeher ke baad se Jannat ka koi teesra chakkar tha. Har baar woh kuch kehte kehte ruk jaati thi. Magar ab ki baar aisa nahi hua tha.
"Aisa hota hai aksar filmo, dramas, aur kahaniyon mein. Koi ek kirdaar ko koi mana karta hai ke 'tumne falan baat falan bande ko nahi batani?'"
Jannat jo kitaabon ke saath peech par chadhi baithi thi, ekdum se uth kar uske paas aa gayi.
"Jee jee aaphi! Aksar hota hai aise." Woh bohot jada sanjeeda thi.
Aur woh jo kirdaar hota hai, woh yeh baat nahi batata aur buri tarah se phans jaata hai.
"Hai na?"
"Jee jee bilkul," Aqsaa ne zor se sir hilaya. "Yahi hota hai.
"Aur hum dekh rahe hote hain, aur humein gussa aa raha hota hai ke yeh baat kyun nahi batayi jaati."
Jannat ne aur kaha, "Haan na, itna gussa aata hai. Dil karta hai bas heroine samne ho aur use thappad laga dein. Aadhe se zyada masle to hal ho jaaye agar heroine hero se koi baat na chhupaye."
"Wahi to." Jannat ne bhi taayid mein sar hilaya. Jis masle mein uljhi thi, uska hawaai, fazaai, khayaali hal mil gaya.
"Thank you so much Aqsaa!" Khud se kehkar kaha.
Aqsaa bhoot bani use dekh kar reh gayi ke aisa kuch kiya to hai nahi, phir yeh thank you kis liye?
Ab uski aaphi shukriya ada kar rahi thi to usne koi madad kar hi di hogi. Mutmain hokar phir se bench par baith gayi.
Jannat ne gehri saans le kar sir uthaya. Pehle uske andar kuch darr tha lekin Aqsaa ke "Jee aapi! Bilkul aapi! Yahi hota hai aapi!" se thodi himmat mil gayi thi. Isse pehle ke Faris ko apne guard ya watchman se yeh baat pata chale, usse khud hi batani chahiye. Faisla karke mobile uthaya aur tezi se type kar ke message likha:
" -Mujhe tumhe ek bohot zaroori baat batani hai."
" -Achha." (Hairat liye tasuraat)
" -mein ghar aa raha hu, tab bata dena." Chhota sa jawab aaya.
" -Theek hai, koi jaldi nahi." Mutmain hokar andar chali gayi.
Shaam ke khane ke baad, jab woh kuch waqt Mrs. Shirazi ke saath unke studio mein guzar kar bahar aayi, toh Faris use kitchen mein jaata dikhayi diya. Woh uske peeche wahin aa gayi. Jaanti thi, ab woh apne liye coffee banayega aur office room mein band ho jayega.
" Tumne poocha nahi, main tumse kya baat karni thi?" Uske peeche ja kar kaha. Woh neeli jeans aur siyah denim shirt mein malboos tha jis ke tamam buttons khule hue the. White T-shirt par "A" likha nazar aa raha tha. "Oh haan." Use yaad aaya toh foran Jannat ki taraf mud gaya. Phir freezer se paani ki bottle nikaal kar counter table par rakh di.
"Mujhe bhi karni hai. Watch mein bataya tha ke koi khatoon aayi thi tumse milne. Kaun aayi thi?"
Jannat ka saans ruka. Ghaliban Faris samajh raha tha ke uski koi rishtedaar ya dost ya phir koi jaan pehchaan ki khatoon hogi. Lekin woh toh javeriya habeeb ko jaanti tak nahi thi.
"Haan, woh koi Javeriya habeeb thi."
Usne ghabrahat par qabul paate hue keh diya. Ek toh us ladki ki baatein pur-asrar aur ajeeb si thi, doosra Faris ke rawaiye se zyada pareshani ho rahi thi. Kahin daant na par jaye ke ghar mein kyun aane diya.
"Javeriya habeeb?" Glass mein paani daalte hue uski taraf dekha. Woh is naam ki kisi khatoon ko nahi jaanta tha. Business aur invitation card par Jannat ki grip achanak mazboot hui.
"Haan." Uska galaa khusk hua. "Asal mein woh mujhe invitation card dene aayi thi. Koi Aarzoo Jhangir hain. Unhone mujhe apne makeup product ke launching event par invite kiya hai aurâ¦"
Glass Faris Wajdan Wajdan ke haath se chhoot kar neeche gira aur dhamaake se toot kar bikhar gaya. Woh achanak se shor hua, khauf ki ghanti baj gayi. Kahin kuch galat ho gaya tha ya na ho. Intensely dhadakte dil ke saath sar uthaya aur Faris ko dekha.
Aan ki aan mein Faris Wijdan ke tewar badal gaye the, tasur badal gaye the, mizaj badal gaya tha. Uski aankhon mein ghussa utar gaya tha. Leheje mein har tarah ki takleef ghul gayi thi.
"Woh andar kaise aayi?" Uske qareeb ja kar itni sakhti se poocha ke woh ghabra gayi.
"Woh⦠Main, main⦠woh⦠main samjhi ki aunty ki studentâ¦"
"Mummy ki Student? Tumne ek aisi aurat ko andar aane diya jise tum jaanti tak nahi thi?" Faris ke lehje mein wahi ajnabiyat aur begangi ek hi pal mein laut aayi thi.
"Woh mujhe laga keâ¦"
"Tumhe laga?" Woh phat pada. Jannat apni jagah sakt khadi rahi. Use Faris Wajdan is lamhe...
Jannat ke andar ek dum se sannata phail gaya tha. Agle hi pal zabardasti ki muskurahat honton par saja kar uski taraf dekha. Wo Kisi taur apne hwaason mein na tha.Shadeed gusse ke aalam mein uske haath se card chheen liya aur jalte hue aag mein jhonk diya. Wo uske peeche saans roke khadi thi, mutawaḥish si, pareshaan aur saakit.
"Koi chor daku aa kar kahe ke main Faaris Wajdan ka dost hoon, Jameela Daud ka student hoon, toh tum usse bhi andar aane dogi?" Jannat ka sar jhuk gaya, lab bhinch gaye, aankhein aansuon se bhar gayi.
"Maine kaha na, galti se..."
"Galti nahi hai," uski awaaz ek dum buland ho gayi thi. Lehja pehle se zyada sakht, zyada karakht ho gaya tha.
"Aakhir ho kya gaya hai tumhe?" Sar utha kar ghusse se puchi.
"Ek zara si baat par is tarah hyper kyun ho rahe ho? Excuse kar to Rahi hoon, tum phir bhi⦠agar na batati, jhoot bolti ya chhupa leti, phir kya kar lete tum?"
"Ek zara si baat?" Faaris ke honto se halki awaaz nikli, aankhon mein gham o gussa ubhar aaya lekin usne sabar kiya. Aag dil mein thi, lekin usse dil mein hi rakhna zaroori tha.
"Mere liye yeh zara si baat nahi hai."
"I'mâ¦sorry!" Jannat ne apne lab bhinch kar rone par kabu paate hue ahistagi se boli. Faris kuch lamho tak apni muthiya bhinchte hue, surkh aankho se usay dekhta raha, phir har ek cheez ko tabaah kar dene ki khwahish liye seedhiya chadh kar apne kamre mein chala gaya.
Sochon mein ghum, Jannat kaanch ke tukdo ke darmiyan pareshaan si khadi reh gayi. "Sirf is liye ke usne uski ijazat ke bagair kisi ko andar aane diya". Usne dard bhari palkain jhapkayi.
Farsh par bikhre hue kaanch ko dekha, phir us raakh ko jo burner par thi. Kayi lamhe uske rawaiye ko samajhte, apni galti ko tolte hue guzar gaye. Baat chhoti thi, lekin uska rad-e-amal pahaad jaisa tha. Uski samajh mein nahi aaya ke wo itna talakh kyun ho gaya tha.
Isi waqt Jannat, Mrs. Shirazi ke studio mein aagayi.
Wheelchair par baithe wo samne diwaar par lagi painting ko ghaur se dekh rahi thi. Usse dekh kar kuch hairaan hui, kyunki ghusse aur gham ke aaks uske chehre par waazeh the. Aisa lag raha tha ke wo abhi ro degi, lekin apne jazbaat ko qaboo mein rakh rahi thi.
Sari baat sunate hi Mrs. Shirazi hairaan reh gayi. Kuch der tak wo samajh nahi paayi ke wo kya sun rahi hain.
"Mein toh unhe jaanti tak nahi hu, mujhe wakai me laga aapki koi student aayi hogi. Yeh meri galti hai ye me manti hu. Wo sirf invitation card dene aayi thi, maine mana kar diya. Magar Faris meri kisi baat ka yaqeen nahi kar raha, use gussa hai ke maine andar kyun aane diya."
"Galatfehmi ho gayi, excuse bhi kiya, magar wohâ¦"
Mrs. Shirazi chup chaap sun rahi thi, unke chehre par fikar ke aasar the. Jannat ka dil thoda halka hua, lekin jab usne Mrs. Shirazi ke chehre par dekha toh asal mein pareshani ka ehsaas hua.
Mrs. Shirazi ne apna brush rakh diya aur wheelchair ka rukh uski taraf kar diya.
"Baitho," unhone sanjidgi se kaha.
Jannat ke paas ekdum sannata tha. Kuch lamho ke liye sab kuch chup ho gaya. Phir unhone apna mobile uthaya, kuch type karke uski taraf badha diya. Pareshani se unko dekhte hue usne mobile le liya.
"Allah kare sab khair ho!" Uska dil zor se dhadak raha tha. Mobile ko mazbooti se pakad kar screen par nazar daali. Search bar par "Aarzoo Jahangir" likha tha, aur neeche alag-alag tasveere thi. Usne wo chehra pehchaan liya, jaise pehle kabhi dekha ho. Agle hi pal uske zehan mein jhamaka hua. Ek foreigner channel par Lady Esperanza ke naam se jis aurat ka usne interview dekha tha, wo yahi thi.
Aarzoo Jahangir ek kamiyab business woman, ek famous model. Social media ke har platform par unke laakho fans the. Google search engine unki har tarah ki tasveeron se bhara hua tha.
Interviews, tweets, stories, videos, articles sab kuch samne tha. Jannat ne dheere se scroll kiya aur agle hi pal ekdum sadme mein reh gayi. Aankho par kisi taur yaqeen nahi aaya.
"Na mumkin" Yeh uska pehla tassur tha. Tassur hi reh gaya.
"Yeh mujhe bhi ajeeb lag raha hai ke aap aap ma'am ko nahi jaanti," doosri taraf se halki si muskurahat ke sath kaha gaya.
"Aapka unse gehra rishta hai." Uske ird-gird jaise dhamake ho rahe the. Uska sar be-ikhtiyaar nafi mein hilne laga, aankho mein hairani thi, hont chup ho gaye.
Jannat ne screen par wapas nazar dali, aur dekha ke Arzoo Jahangir ke former spouses mein pehla naam 'Haroon Azam Shirazi' ka tha. Children names me Faris Haroon Shirazi ka naam likha tha.
"Esa kaise�" Usne girti hui nazar se Mrs. Shirazi ko dekha.
Mrs. Shirazi ne dheere se jawab diya,
"paanch saal ka tha jab Aarzoo use chhod kar chali gayi thi." Unka lehja naram tha lekin kisi chhupi hui takleef ka izhaar kar raha tha. Unki aankho mein ek soch thi, jaise unhein kuch yaad karna pad raha ho.
Jannat abhi bhi sadme mein thi. Usse ab bhi yaqeen nahi ho raha tha. Mrs. Shirazi aur Faris ke beech jo mohabbat thi, aur jis tarah se wo Faris ka khayal rakhti thi, dekh kar koi nahi keh sakta tha ke Faris unki saggi aulad nahi thi. Usne phir se sar nafii mein hilaaya, haqiqat ko tasleem karne mein waqt lag raha tha. Yeh rishta khoon se zyada gehra tha, mohabbat aur khuloos se bandha hua.
"Toh aapne⦠aapne Faris ki parwarish ki?" Kuch der baad Jannat ne poocha.
Mrs. Shirazi chup rahi, na haan mein jawab diya na naa mein. Unka jawab beech mein hi adhoora reh gaya. Ab wo apni gardan mod kar khidki ke bahar dekh rahi thi.
"Faris ka ravaiya dekhne ke baad tumhe kya lagta hai, kaisa ho sakta hai?"
Unhone gardan mod kar usse poocha. Aankho ki nami gehri thi, chehre par ek dard sa nazar aa raha tha. Jannat ke andar ajeeb si bechaini aur dukh phel gaya. Jis baat ko wo chhoti samajh rahi thi, Faris Wajdan ke liye wo chhoti nahi thi. Maa aur bete ke beech ikhtilaf aam baat nahi thi.
"Aarzoo chahti thi ke Faris ke saath sab theek ho jaaye, magar Faris, aisa nahi chahta tha. Unki nazre ab jhuki hui thi, wo apne hatho ko dekh rahi thi. Jannat ko ekdum se ehsaas hua ke Aarzoo Jahangir ka zikr Mrs. Shirazi ke liye bhi khushgawar nahi tha.
"Kya wajah sirf yeh hai ke wo usse chhor kar gayi thi?" Jannat ne poocha.
"Kya yeh wajah na kaafi hai, Beta?"
Unhone sar utha kar poocha. Jannat ki aankhen bheeg gayi, aur uska sar jhuk gaya. Uski maa ne bhi usse chhod diya tha, lekin phir bhi wo unse nafrat nahi kar saki thi. Uski himmat nahi hui ke wo unse aur koi sawaal karti. Sawaal dukh dete thay, aur usse apne dukh, apne kashmakash, apni mehroomiya yaad aayi. Ek waqt aisa bhi tha jab wo apni duniya se chhupi rehti thi, khamoshi talashti thi.
"Main toh aap dono ki mohabbat dekh kar kabhi nahi soch sakti thi ke aap uski biological mother nahi hain. Agar aap nahi batati toh main kabhi yaqeen nahi karti," Jannat ne dheere se kaha.
"Wo mera beta hai," Mrs. Shirazi ne jis fakhr aur pyar se kaha, Jannat ki aankho mein aansu aa gaye. Unki izzat aur mohabbat Jannat ke dil mein aur barh gayi.
"Main chahti hoon ke tum Faris se is baare mein dobara koi baat mat karo. Wo bohot disturb ho jaata hai," Mrs. Shirazi ne kaha.
Jannat ne unke haath apne haatho mein le liye. Mrs. Shirazi ne sar uthaaya aur agle hi pal apni jagah se ruk gayi, kyunki aankhon mein gham aur gussa liye Faris Wajdan darwaze mein khada tha. Uski mutthiya band thi, jabde bhinche hue the. Wo guftagu sun chuka tha. Ab wo aur bhi zyada ghusse mein aagaya tha. Dukh, kasak, aur bechari si haalat ke sath, kuch kehne laga lekin phir ruk gaya aur jhatke se palat gaya.
"Farisâ¦!" Mrs. Shirazi ne ekdum se pareshani ke sath use pukara. Jannat bhi ekdum hosh mein aayi, aur foran khadi ho gayi.
"Main dekhti hoon," Jannat ne foran kaha, aur Faris ke peechhe bhaag kar bahar aayi. Faris apni gaadi unlock kar chuka tha, aur darwaaza khol hi raha tha jab Jannat uske samne aa gayi.
"Is waqt kaha ja rahe ho?" Jannat ne poocha.
"Jahannum mein. Chalo gi sath?"
Faaris gusse se phat pada. Jannat ek lamhe ke liye ruki fir boli.
"Haan, bas mujhe 5 minute do, main kapde badal kar aati hoon." Wo jabde bhich kar reh gaya.
"Hato aage seâ¦"
"Yahan se toh main kahin nahi jaaungi." Jannat ne gaadi ke adhoore khule darwaze ko zor se band kar diya aur samne jam kar khadi ho gayi.
"Saath le kar jao, ya phir kahin mat jao."
"Haan, taake end of the road par tum mujhse kaho ke main kitna zalim aur sangdil insaan hoon, jise us aurat se nafrat hai, jo usne 9 mah tak apne pait mein rakha tha."
Jannat ne dil mein ek dard mehsoos kiya, lekin apni jagah par khadi rahi.
"Oh! Shayad tumhe is baat se bhi problem ho ke main us aurat ko 'aurat' kyun keh raha hoon." Faaris ne dard aur gusse se kaha.
"Aur mujh jaisi ek nafarman aulaad ki duniya aur aakhirat toh yahin tabaah ho gayi. Aur tum kitni badkismat ho ke tumhe mera saath mila." Dahine haath se apni taraf ishara kiya. Takleef mein woh tha aur dard use mehsoos hone laga. Time uska tha aur dil uska phatne laga.
"Ab hato mere raste se⦠main kuch waqt akeleâ¦" Uska jumla adhoora reh gaya. Jannat ne aage badh kar use khud se alag kar liya tha. Apne tamam tar gusse aur ishtial ke saath Faris Wajdan apni jagah se khamosh ho gaya.
"Maine kaha na, agar bahar ja rahe ho toh hame saath le kar jaoge, warna nahi jaoge." Jannat apni girift mazboot kar ke khadi rahi. Faris ne palkein jhapkai, chand lamho tak khada raha, sakit aur khaamoshi ke saath, veeraniyo mein ghira hua.
Mrs. Shirazi aankhon mein pareshani liye glass walls ke peeche se unhein dekh rahi thi. Jannat ne thoda alag hokar Faris ki aankho mein jhanka, phir uska haath thaam liya.
"Bolo, kya karna hai ab?"
Jannat ki girift itni mazboot thi ke agar Faris apna haath chhudana bhi chahta, toh nahi chhuda sakta. Agle kai lamho tak wo aankho mein huzn ki nami liye andheri raatein dekhte hue khamosh raha.
"Sirf do minute hain tumhare paas," uska lehja waise hi rukha tha. Jannat ki aankhein chamak uthen, "Bas hum abhi gaye aur abhi aaye."
Woh foran andar chali gayi. Seedha Mrs. Shirazi ke paas gayi aur kaha, "Main sab sambhal loongi sab, aap fikr mat kare" Haath thaam kar tasalli di. Phir kapde badal kar bahar aayi, tab tak Faris gaadi start kar chuka tha. Passenger seat par baithte hi seat belt bandhte waqt, jab tak wo farigh hui, gaadi markazi shahrah par pahunch chuki thi.
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