Chapter 66: CHAPTER - 65

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Neend gehri thi magar sukoon bhari nahi thi, kuch der baad uski aankhe khul jaati thi jaise kisi ne jhankjhor kar jagaa diya ho. Ya bulandi se gira diya ho. Kai baar usne karvat badli, takiya kabhi sar ke neeche rakha. Kabhi gira diya. Kabhi comforter chehre tak liya, aur kabhi poora ka poora hata diya. Is uljhan aur bechaini mein use Mrs. Shirazi ka hashar yaad aaya. Woh uska haath apne haath mein liye kuch padhkar phoonkti rahi. Ab ke jab aankh lagi to aas-paas ka koi hosh nahi raha. Mukammal khamoshi aur sannate ki zadd mein woh kitni der tak soya raha kuch pata na chal.

Uske sukoon mein khalal ek dum se uthne wale shor ne daala tha. Band darwaze ke us paar theek thak ki awaaz ubhri thi. Koi cheez neeche giri thi. Kuch toota bhi tha shayad.

Usne keeni ke bal upar ho kar kamre mein nigaah daudaayi. Darwaza band tha. Bedroom mein uske siwa aur koi nahi tha. Table clock par waqt dekha to das baj rahe the. Awaaz mein tez thi pehle. Ab achanak madham ho gayi thi.

Uthkar baithte hue slippers pehne, mobile uthakar screen par kuch dekha phir use jeb mein daal kar baahar aa gaya.

Raahdaari ki doosri taraf lounge ke aain samne jo chehra nazar aaya woh Zaid ka tha. Saath ek jaisi shakl wale do chashme wale bachche bhi the. Lounge ke sofas ke gird chalte hue bhag rahe the. Us par nazar padhi to ruk gaye. Woh unke sar par aa gaya.

“picnic par aaye ho?” Jis tarah se unhone udham macha rakha tha to use gussa chadh gaya.

"Aaye hain." Zaid sar uthaye, Faris ki aankhon mein aankhein daal kar khada ho gaya. Gusse se gaal phoole huye. Uske chashmadoo cousin bhi uske peeche the to himmat aur jurat dekhne laayak thi. Kuch pistol bhi the jo jebon mein chhupe hue the aur jinse chhoti chhoti gende mein fire hoti thi. Sabse chhote wale ke paas jaadu ki talwar bhi thi aur teer kaman bhi (plastic ke).

"Who is he ?" Aise bade ghar mein unhe naya chehra nazar aaya to pooche bina na rah sake.

"No one," Zaid ne unse kaha.

Ek to wo unke shor se bedaar hua tha, doosra Zaid ka jawab use andar tak sangaa gaya.

"No one?" Aag ke sholo mein lapta Faris ghutno par haath rakhe jhuka. Taake aamne saamne barabari par baat ho sake. Baat kya hui thi, Zaid ke is tarah se seena tan ke ghoorne par zabardasti karke haath uthaye aur uske gaal pakad kar kheench daale.

Wo ek dum se cheekh utha. "Aah! Jannah Jani help."

Jannat jo apne chhote chhote mehmaano ke liye khane ka intezaam sambhal rahi thi open kitchen se manzar dekhte hi hosh ude. Fauran aa gayi.

"Faaris!" Zaid ke gaal chhurwaye, Faaris ko peeche hataya.

"Kya kar rahe ho tum?"

"Pyaar kar raha hoon." Daant par daant jamaye. Aawaaz neend se mutasir lag rahi thi. Bhaari, madhyam, gehri.

"Aise karte hain pyaar? Gaal laal kar diye bechare ke." Zaid ko khud se lagate hue Faris ko ghura.

Jeans par white t-shirt pehne wo bhanwe sukoode khada tha. Pesaani par baal be-tarteeb ho rahe the. Aankhon mein neend ka shumaar tha. Yakeenan wo bacho ki aawaaz aur shor se hi bedaar hua tha. Warna usne to socha tha wo use dopeher se pehle use nahi jagayegi ke itni mushkil se aur is kadar sukoon se soya hua tha jaise kaafi arse baad neend aayi ho. Pata nahi bachay Mrs. Shirazi ke bed room tak kaise pahunch gaye the. Ulajh kar raahdaari mein nazar daudayi. Chuki carpet nahi bichha hua tha to unhe apni gaadiyon ke liye ek lambi sadak mil gayi thi. Usne bachon ko bahar bhej diya.

"Yeh yahan kya kar rahe hain?" Wo kuch barhami se pooch raha tha.

"Mr. Farooq apni nand ke saath hospital gayi hui hain. Unki tabiyat kuch theek nahi. Isliye yahan chhor diya."

"kya ghar mein koi aaya nahi thi jo unki dekhbhal karti?" Wo aas-paas har taraf khilono ka bikheera dekh kar bahut irritate lag raha tha. Na is shor ki aadat thi, aur na mood aisa tha ke koi bhi badlaav accept kar pata.

Uske maathe par shikan aur aasaab tanav ka shikar lag rahe the. Jannat ne gehri saans le kar uski aankhon mein dekha.

"Tum aaram karo. Main khayal rakhungi."

"Ab koi aawaaz na aaye."

"Koi zaroorat nahi." Bigde tewaar ke saath keh kar bahar aa gaya.

Das baje ka waqt tha magar bahar dhoop se mausam mein ghuroob-e-aftaab ka gumaan ho raha tha. Aasmaan baadalo se dhaka hua tha. Ab halki halki boondabandi bhi hone lagi thi.

Usne mobile nikaal kar kuch dekha phir seediyo par baithte hue park ke saath surang le liya. Wasiyo or areez lawn mein ab football khela ja raha tha. Aur gend bhi fire ho rahi thi. Zoya Aqsa se nail polish lagwa rahi thi. Khuli fiza mein gehri saans lete usne aankhein moondi. Chand lamho ke baad aankhein kholte hi Zoya bilkul uske paas khadi thi. Apni badi badi aankhon mein kuch hairat sumo kar use baghor Dekhti hui. Nanhe nanhe surkh nakhun. Aankho par halka sa gulabi makeup liners bhi laga tha. Ek aankh par kuch mota, doosri par kuch patla. Lipstick bhi thi jo uske bareek se hontho par phaili hui thi. Gulabi dress thi, to matching eye shadow. Ek aankh zyada pink, ek aankh zyada jamid. 'Aqsa ke karname' Apni behan ko uske paas khada dekh kar Zaid foran alert ho kar bhaagta chala aaya.

"Zoya sweetie!" Use baazu se pakad kar peeche hataaya. "Don't talk to him!"

Haan! Wo to jaise iski behan ko kha hi jaata. Tap kar rah gaya.

Zoya kuch der tak apne bhai aur cousins ke saath football khelti rahi aur jab wo chips khane baithe to ek baar phir uske paas aa gayi.

"Jao yahaan se." Usne haath hila kar Zoya ko jaane ko kaha magar wo bhi Zaid ki behan thi. Kahin nahi gayi.

Faris ko is lamhe na mausam achha lag raha tha, na baarish, na mahol, na bache aur na shor. Kaafi ka mug haath mein liye Jannat bahar aayi. Zoya ko uske paas khada dekha to gehri saans le kar usse thama diya aur khud uske barabar mein baith gayi.

"Kab se khadi hai wo. Zara sa pyaar kar lete to kya ho jata?" Usne khafgi se kaha. Faris ne koi jawab nahi diya.

"Pata nahi apne bachay ke waqt kya karoge?" Bud bada kar Zoya ki taraf apne baazu phailaaye.

"Yahaan aao mera baby!" Wo khushi khushi uske seene se aangi, barabar mein baith kar apne nakhun dikhaye, makeup dikhaya. Abhi to wo mehndi bhi lagwaayegi. Nanhi nanhi hatheliyon ko phaila kar kaha. Isse baatein karte Jannat ne usse giraya to khilkhilate hue bhaag gayi.

Gehri saans le kar Faris ki taraf mudi to wo usi position mein ghoot ghoot coffee peeta kisi gehri soch mein gum tha. Shirt ki hoodie ab sir par thi.

"Auntie tumhara pooch rahi hai" wo chup raha. "Studio me hai" mazeed khamoshi jese kuch suna hi naa ho aik baar phir Jannat ka dil khauf ke shikanje mein aaya tha. Fikr mein dharka tha.

Baitha baitha bahut achanak jaane use kya ho jata tha. Ek peher agar wo theek hota tha to doosre peher uska mizaj bilkul samajh mein nahi aata tha. Jitna waqt wo uske saath guzar chuki thi, us hisaab se itna to jaan gayi thi ke wo aisa nahi tha. Uske mizaj mustaqil, uske aasaab mutahmil rehte the. Lekin ab to jaise ek chhoti si baat bhi uska achha khaasa paara chadha deti thi.

"Yahaan kya hua?" Daahne haath ki ungliyo par nail ka nishaan tha. Usne chhoo kar dekhna chaaha to Faris ne haath jhatak diya aur phir uth kar andar chala gaya.

Jannat kuch pareshani se use dekh kar reh gayi. Shaam tak sab theek tha. Jahan tak uska khayal tha. Long drive se wapas aane ke baad wo kaafi had tak normal tha. Lekin ab wo ek baar phir use ajeeb bartao karta hua nazar aa raha tha. Jannat ki pareshani mein ek dam se izafa hua tha.

Bachay chaar baje tak chale gaye the. Mausam kuch aisa tha ke baarish shuru hui to raat der tak hoti rahi. Kuch waqt woh mrs. Shirazi ke paas baitha raha phir apne office mein band ho gaya. Adil ke saath finance manager bhi aaye hue the. Mulazima ke haath apne office mein coffee bhijwane ke baad wo khud kamre mein Khidkiyon ke samne khade ho kar sheeshe par phislti baarish ko dekhne lagi.

Aaj subah uski Ruby se baat hui thi aur kuch der pehle doosri baar bhi hui thi. Ruby jaan-na chahti thi wo Rayyan ko kab lene aa rahi thi. Ghar mein Tariq sahib ki doosri beti ke shaadi ke intezaam ho rahe the aur Rayyan ki tabiyat abhi bhi theek nahi thi. Wo doctor ko dikhane bhi nahi le ja saki thi. Rashida apne mayke gayi hui thi aur us par bhi kaam ka bojh badh gaya tha. Wo sun rahi thi to dil wahshato mein ghar gaya tha. Bechaini mazeed badh gayi thi. Masla baat se hal hone wala nahi tha. Wo Faris se baat kar ke dekh chuki thi. Dobara baat kar ke mazeed badmazgi wo nahi chahti thi. Khusoosan uske rad-e-amal ke baad wo pehle se zyada mohtaaj ho gayi thi. Wo uski marzi ke bina kuch bhi nahi karna chahti thi magar ab jaise sabhi options khatam ho gaye the.

Kisi maamle ki gehraai mein utarne ka filhaal uske paas waqt nahi tha. Use bas jaldi se jaldi Rayyan ke liye kuch karna tha. Uski chhoti hone ke nate wo usse milne ja sakti thi. Wo beemar tha to use doctor ko bhi dikhla sakti thi. Faris agar use apne paas nahi rakhna chahta tha tab bhi wo ek yateem bachay ke liy Osaaf Manzil ke makino ko khauf-e-Khuda aur sharam to dil hi sakti thi. Khabar geeri karne wala hota to shayad wo bachay ke saath acha sulook karte magar ab to jaise behisi ki inteha ho gayi thi. Faris ki taraf se bhi aur Osaaf Manzil ke makino ki taraf se bhi.

'Ek mulaqat se kya hoga?' Usne socha. Apne zameer se poocha. Haq ko dekha, sach ko parkha. 'is waqt kya ahem hai?' Wo khud se ulajhte hue baarish ki sangat mein is masle ka hal dhoondti rahi. Aur darmiyana hal koi na tha. Aar ya paar. Rayyan se mulaqat. Saari raat usne isi shish-o-panj mein guzari. Subah Faaris office ke liye ja chuka to usne Khaasi soch vichar ke baad Aima ko call kar ke ghar bulaya. Wo kuch masroof thi magar shaam tak waqt nikaal kar usse milne aa gayi. Ghar mein raunak lag gayi. Baaton baaton mein waqt guzarne ka paani nahi chala. Dining hall mein khana khate hue duniya jahaan ki baatein thi jo Aima gosh guzar karti rahi. Zyada tar uske shikwe Faris se the jo suni ansuni kaise khana khata raha. Mrs. Shirazi ne bharpoor saath diya. Jannat bhi muskurati rahi.

Chai peene ke baad Jannat Mrs. Shirazi ke saath unke bedroom mein aa gayi. Unhe medicine di.

Bed par takiye durust kiye aur comforter acche se daalte hue mulazima ko kuch zaroori hidaayat de kar unhe shab ba khair kehti drawing room mein aa gayi jahan Aima pehle se hi kitaab haath mein liye uske intezaar mein tehli rahi thi.

"Sorry! Is tarah tumhe disturb karne ke liye." Usne sofa par baithte hue kuch nervous ho kar kaha. Aima ne gehria saans le kar aankhein ghumaayi.

"For God's sake Jannat! Kitni baar sorry karogi tum?"

Kitaab rakh kar uske paas aabaithe. Ab wo poori tarah se Jannat ki taraf mutawaajeh thi. Sukhe honton ko tar karte hue Jannat ne himmat ikattha kar li. Har tarah ke khauf aur wahem ko sulaya. Baat ek masoom bachay ki thi. Uske liye ab zindagi aur maut ka maamla ho gaya tha.

"Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha to socha tumse baat karni chahiye." Usne sofa ki back side par baazu rakhte hue aahistagi se bola.

"Kaho, main sun rahi hoon."

"Pehle waada karo yeh baat sirf hum dono ke beech rahegi."

"Wada raha."

"Mujhe tumhari help chahiye." Ek sarsari si nazar drawing room ke band darwaze par daalte hue usne madhyam aawaaz mein kaha. Aqab mein khidkiya band thi. Parday doriyaan mein bandhe huye the. Raat taareek aur chaand poora roshan tha.

“Kis silsile mein help chahiye?” Aima ne god mein cushion rakh liya tha.

“Main tumhare saath kahin jana chahti hoon.”

“Kisi se milne jati ho? Aur main ye baat Faaris ko nahi bata sakti.”

“Matlab Faris se chhup kar kisi se milna hai.” Aima ki aankhein phail gayi. Aawaaz ekdum se khamoshi mein dhal gayi.

“What are you trying to do?”

“I’m just trying to help someone.” Aima use dekh kar reh gayi. Jannat ki aankho mein ek khauf sa thehra tha. Chehre se pareshani nazar aa rahi thi.

“Main kuch samajh nahi pa rahi.” Jannat chand lamho tak sir jhukaaye chup rahi.

“Main tumhe har baat nahi bata sakti, lekin kuch kehne lag gayi. Samjho, ye zindagi aur maut ka maamla hai. Mujhe ek bachhe se milne jana hai.”

“To ye baat tum Faaris bhai se kyun chhupa rahi ho? Wo tumhe mana to nahi karenge.”

“Wo mana kar chuka hai.” Uski nigahen jhuki hui thi. Lehja dard ki aabhaasi kar raha tha.

“Faaris nahi chahta main wahan jau. Lekin is bachche ke liye mera wahan jana zaroori hai.”

“isliye tum chhup kar wahan jana chahti ho?”

Jannat ne aahista se sar hila diya.

“Agar Faris bhai ko pata chal gaya to?” Usne khauf ka izhaar kar diya. Jis tarah se wo ghabrayi hui thi, usse saaf nazar aata tha Faaris ke liye ye baat mamooli nahi hogi.

“Isi liye mujhe tumhari madad chahiye. Main nahi chahti Faaris ko kuch bhi pata chale. Tab tak nahi jab tak main use yahan nahi laati.”

“Tumhe lagta hai ye baat Faaris bhai se chhupi reh sakti hai? Phir mujhe kehne do, you really don't know him!”

“Phir mujhe kehne do. Aur please don't tell him! Mera is waqt is bacche ke paas jana bahut zaroori hai. Baaki sab mamlaat samjho mere liye secondary ho gaye hain.” usne keh diya. Bhaari dil ke saath aur muta’ajjib hokar keh diya.

“Faaris bhai bhi?” Wo chup rahi. Sar jhukaaya.

“Main nahi janti asal maamla kya hai. Lekin mera yaqeen karo Jannat, mujhe ye sab theek nahi lag raha, Agar unhone mana kiya hai to…”

“Tum meri madad karogi ki nahi?” Usne sar uthaakar do tok lehje mein poocha, Aima use dekh kar reh gayi. Aankhon mein halki si nami thi. Taa’suraat sanjeeda ho rahe the.

“Agar tum madad nahi karna chahti to it's okay. Main khud manage kar lugi.” Keh kar uthna chaaha to Aima uska haath pakad liya.

“Batao, kya karna hai?” Usne gehri saans le kar poocha, Jannat ki aankhein khushi se nam ho gayi.

“Thank you so much, Aima, thank you so much!” Uske dono haath apni grip mein le liye.

“Shukriya baad mein ada karna, pehle ye batao kya karna hai?” Jannat ne gehri saans le kar use dekha, phir madhyam aawaaz mein apne mansoobe se aagah karne lagi.

Khamoshi se Jannat ki baat sunte Aima ke tassurat kai baar badle the, kai baar usne kuch hairat aur phir kuch tashweesh se Jannat ko dekha tha.

Chand ek ideas uske bhi the. Jaanti thi Faaris use ab akeli mein kahin aane jaane nahi deta tha, hatta ke uske ghar bhi nahi. Family gathering aur function attend karna to door ki baat thi. Toh ab pehla mission hi ye tha ke wo kisi tarah Jannat ko apne ghar bulaye. Ye kaam Faaris ki marzi aur ijaazat ke bina qatey na mumkin tha aur ise mumkin banane ke liye Jannat ne puri kahani tayar kar li thi.

“Ek baar phir soch lo.” Aima ko pata nahi kisi baat ki fikar thi. Baar baar keh rahi thi,

“Bahut socha hai. Mazid sochne mein waqt zaya kiya to kuch bura ho sakta hai.”

Usne kaha. Aima chup ho gayi. Tamaam maamlaat tay kar ke wo chale gayi. Do din ka intezaar kar ke teesre din usne subah sooraj se plan ke mutabiq Faaris ko Aima ki call ke baare mein bataya aur uski tabiyat kharab ke baare mein aagahi di. Ghar mein akeli hai to zyada pareshan ho rahi hai. Bhai aur bhabhi ko nahi bataya ke wo pareshan na ho jayein.

“Hua kya hai use?” Faris ne poocha.

“Food poisoning.” Jannat ka galaa khushk ho gaya. Wo jhoot bol rahi thi to dharkan mazeed tez ho chuki thi.

“Raat hospital guzar kar aayi hai.” Usne zyada kaha.

Baath Mrs. Shirazi ke samne ho rahi thi to wo inkaar na kar saka.

“Thik hai, chali jao. Kab tak wapis aao gi?”

Usne ijaazat di to Jannat ne be ikhtiyaar sukhi saans li.

“Agar theek hui to jald aa jaungi, warna ho sakta hai iske paas aaj raat ruk jau, Kya khayal hai?” Wo chand lamho tak use dekhta raha. Aur uske is tarah dekhne par Jannat ke andar halchal si hui.

“Tum jaante ho, mujhe jhoot aur dhoka pasand nahi. Jab keh diya hai use fire kar do, to fire kar do, No second chance.” Faaris ke office room se ek baar usne ye lafz suna tha. Wo nazrein chura gayi.

“Thik hai, jaise munasib lage.” Coat pehente hue ijaazat de di.

“Main drop kar doon ya?” Ruk kar poocha. Use aaj zaroori meeting attend karni thi. Sheher se bahar bhi jaata tha.

“Tumhe office ke liye der ho jaayegi. Mujhe to abhi tayari bhi karni hai.” Sambhal kar kaha.

“Okay, khayal rakhna apna.” Wo apna wallet, chabiya aur mobile uthaaye bahar chala gaya.

Thik aadhe ghante baad wo driver ke saath Zaheer House pahunch gayi thi.

Driver to use chhorh kar chala gaya, lekin guard wahan khada raha. Jannat kuch pareshani se andar aa gayi.

“Aakhir tumne aisa kya kiya ke Faris bhai ko tumhare peeche jinnat jaisa guard lagane pada? Kya meri ghair mojoodgi mein tum agwa hui ho?” Aima ne shak ke saath poocha.

“Allah na kare. Ye kya bak rahi ho?”

Jannat khafiif si ho kar idhar udhar dekhne lagi.

“Aakhir itni sakht security ki wajah kya hai?” Aima bohot hairaan hui thi.

Dil hi dil mein Adina Zubair ko galiyaate hue, Jannat raakh badal kar reh gayi. Na wo ek chhoti si baat par itni tension leti aur na Faris is tarah rok tok karta.

“Ab kya hoga?” Pareshan ho kar poocha.

“Mujhe andaza tha aisa ho sakta hai.” Keh kar apna bag kandhe se lagaya. Phir wrist watch par time dekha.

“Hum pichle darwaze se bahar nikalenge. Gaadi tayaar khadi hai.”

Jannat ki inki hui sanse ekdum bahal hui.

“Love you Aima!” suqrana nigaho se use dekhte kaha. Aima gehri saans le kar reh gayi. Kuch hi der baad wo Aima ke hamraah aqbi darwaze se bahar nikal gayi. Gaadi samne hi khadi thi. Aima ne driving seat sambhal li, toh dil hi dil mein dua karte hue wo bhi gaadi mein sawar ho gayi. Is baat se qatey khabar thi ke Rayyan ke liye uthaaya gaya ye qadam uske raaste mein kitni badi mushkil laane wala tha.

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