Chapter 67: CHAPTER - 66

•••

Rawalpindi shehar ki hudood mein daakhil hone ke baad, matlooba address tak pahuchte pahuchte unhe aadha ghanta lag gaya tha. Aima ne qadra faasle par gaadi rok di thi. Rasta tang tha, gali ke andar matlooba ghar tak usay ab khud jana tha. Rubi ko call karte huye wo gaadi se utar gayi.

“Main aau tumhare saath?” usne poocha.

“Nahin, yahin ruko, main bas Rayyan ko le kar abhi aa rahi hoon.” Usne kaha to Aima ne steering wheel chhorh kar asbaat mein sar hila diya. Wo aahista aahista kadam uthati aage barhti gayi. Bilkul samne jis makan se jaamun ka darakht jhaank raha tha wahi do manzila makan hi Osaf Manzil tha, jismein baahar ki deewaron par lighting ka intizam ho raha tha.

Aas paas lights ka intizam sambhalte ladke khade the. Rubi phone nahi utha rahi thi, to usne apne taur se ladko se Osaf Manzil ke baare mein pooch kar confirm kar liya ke wo sahi jagah pohanch gayi hai. Adh khulw main gate ke samne ruk kar gehri saans li aur phir khud ko sambhalte hue andar daakhil ho gayi.

Gaadi ki khidki se Aima ne usay andar jate dekha, phir seat ke saath peeche lag kar aaraam se ho gayi.

Dono haath abhi tak steering wheel par the. Ungliyan hil rahi thi. Glasses baalon par rakh kar mobile utha liya. Jannat usay 5 minute ka keh kar gayi thi, lekin jab poore 15 minute guzarnay ke baad bhi uski aamad ke koi asaar nazar na aaye, to usne Jannat ko call ki. Bell ja rahi thi lekin doosri janib se koi response nahi aa raha tha.

Jaamun ke darakht par chadha ek ladka aankam andaaz mein phaili hui un shaakho ko kaat raha tha jo darwaze tak jhuki hui thi.

Wo khidki se bahar dekhte rahi. Kalai mor kar waqt dekha.

“Abhi tak aayi kyun nahi?”

Is se pehle ke wo darwaza khol kar bahar aati, usne Jannat ko baahar nikalte aur jaldi mein kadam uthate gaadi ki taraf aate dekha. Baccha uske saath nahi tha. “Isay kya hua?” Jannat ke asraat dekh kar wo ek dum seedhi ho gayi.

Uski aankhen phaili hui thi. Chehra zard ho raha tha.

Gaadi mein baithte hi usne darwaza band kar diya.

“Tum theek ho?” Aima ne pareshaan hokar poocha tha. Aankhon mein dehshat liye usne gardan mor kar usay dekha.

“Gaadi start karo.” Saansen bhaari thi.

“Kya hua? Is everything all right?” Wo pareshaan hokar pooch rahi thi.

“Aur tum? tum baccha ko nahi layi?”

“Aima, please chalo yahan se.” Ek dum se geeli awaaz mein kaha to usne Osaf Manzil ke baahar ke gate par ek nazar daalte hue gaadi start kar di. Kuch hi dair mein wo gaadi markazi shahrah par daal chuki thi.

Jannat Apna sar thame bethi thi. Aankho mein sadma nazar aa raha tha. Wahshat nazar aa rahi thi. Aziyat bhara sadma tha. Hairat thi aur beyaqeeni ka ta'ssur tha. Usay apni aankhon par yaqeen nahi aaya tha, samaat par yaqeen nahi aaya tha.

“Aap mujhse meri jaan kyun nahi maang leti?” Mutharakt gaadi mein wo bilkul saaket, bilkul khamosh aur veeran bethi thi.

“Aapne kaha wapas aa jao, main aa gaya. Aapne kaha shaadi kar lo, maine kar li. Magar yeh nahi, Khuda ke liye yeh nahi.” Uska dil bhaari ho gaya. Seene par bojh barh gaya. Saans lene mein dushwari hone lagi.

“Bahut hassaas tha wo, jab berahm hua to sab ke liye hua. Be-his hua to poori tarah se hua.”

“usay ilzaam mat do Jannat, main bhi nahi deti.”

Beikhtiyar honton par haath rakha. Apna rukh sheeshe ki taraf kar liya.

"Tum theek ho Jannat?" Aima ne poocha tha. Uski tabiyat bilkul theek nahi lag rahi thi.

“Yeh maine kya kar diya?” Uske lab hilay. Uska dil larza.

“Jannat! Kuch to kaho yaar, kya hua hai?” Aima ki awaaz kahin door reh gayi. Aas paas ke tamam manzar gayab ho gaye. Labon par kapkapahat thi. Aankhon mein tahayur tha. Usne apni kalai par giraft jama li.

“Faaris ko acha nahi lagega ke uski biwi Hammad ke betay se mile. Tumhein apne shohar ke ehsaasat ka khayal rakhna chahiye.”

Usne azeet se aankhein beech li.

"Ainda uska naam nahi logi mere saamne. Aur na hi milne ki koshish karogi."

Dil shiddat se dhadak raha tha. Wujood khauf ke apne shikanje mein jakda gaya.

Aima ne aadhe ghante tak musalsal drive karne ke baad petrol pump par gaadi rok di thi.

Gardan modh kar usay dekha to wo seat ke saath pusht tikaye, aankhein mundey bethi thi. Chehre par dard bhare ta'ssuraat thehray the. Baayen haath mein uska haath tha, aur giraft be-intiha mazboot.

"Kya ho gaya hai?" Aima ke lehje mein tashweesh numayaan thi. Usne jawab nahi diya. Wo jawab dene ki position mein nahi rahi thi.

•••

"Ma'am! Faris sahab aaye thay."

Wo ghar pohonche to mulazma ne Aima ko ittela di.

"F-Faris aaya tha?" Jannat ka dil kisi gehray patal mein ja gira. Aankhon mein wahshat bhar gayi. Wujood kaanp utha.

Aima ne hiraan ho kar Jannat ko dekha. "Tum to keh rahi thi ke unhe sheher se bahar jana hai?"

"Yeh kya ho gaya?" Jannat ka dil sookhay patte ki tarah larazne laga.

"Use pata chal gaya hoga... Aima, use pata chal gaya hoga ke main wahan gayi thi." Jannat ka rang safed pad gaya. Aankhon mein heras phail gaya. Sirf naam lene aur zikar karne par wo uska reaction dekh chuki thi. Ab jab pata chalega ke wo wahan se ho kar aayi hai, to wo kya karega?

"Hey, Relax!" Aima ne foran usay baazu se pakad kar sofa par bithaya. Uske haath apne haatho mein liye.

"Main Faris bhai se keh dungi ke maine jhoot bola tha. Main khud tumhein apne saath le kar gayi thi. Yeh mera idea tha. Hum bahar ghoom phir kar wapas aa gaye. Hum Rawalpindi gaye thay, yeh baat hum unhein kabhi nahi bataenge."

Woh keh rahi thi, samjha rahi thi, tasalli aur dilasa de rahi thi magar uski tashafi nahi ho rahi thi. Aankhen abhi bhi pheeli hui thi. Rang hanooj udda hua tha. Muthiya bhiinch kar usne khud par qaboo paane ki koshish ki thi, magar tension kisi surat kam nahi hui thi.

"Agar itna hi koi risky kaam tha, toh phir tum gayi hi kyun?"

"Mujhe laga…" uske lab hilay, baat adhoori reh gayi.

"Main kuch aur samajh rahi thi. Mujhe nahi pata tha, woh bacha…" woh ruk gayi. Saansen phir se phool gayi. Uski haalat dekh kar Aima ekdum se mutafakir hui.

"Koi baat mat karo. Relax raho, tumhein kuch ho gaya toh Faris bhai mujhe zinda nahi chhodenge." Jannat ke aansoo aankhon mein thehar gaye. Dar se Aima ka haath pakad liya.

"Mujhse ghalti ho gayi hai, mujhse bohot badi ghalti ho gayi hai. Yeh maamla mera nahi tha. Main isme kuch bhi nahi kar sakti thi. Isliye auntie ne mujhe kuch nahi bataya. Unhone mujhe door rehne ka kaha tha, Aima, Unhone mujhe mana kiya tha." Larazte kaampte sisiak padi.

"Khud ko compose karo, is tarah toh Faris bhai ko pakka shak ho jayega ke hum wahan gaye the," Aima ne samjhaya.

"Ab unhein call karo aur bilkul normal ho kar baat karo."

Usne gehri saans lekar apne asaab par qaboo paane ki koshish ki, phir kapkapati ungliyon se Faris ko call ki. Bells jaati rahi magar doosri taraf se call receive nahi hui. Uska halaq sookh gaya. Fikr mein dobara, phir teesri dafa call ki.

"Woh phone nahi utha raha."

"Busy honge."

Woh bara tha ya nahi, magar usne call receive nahi ki aur na hi uske kisi message ka jawab diya. wo ab ghar jaana chahti thi. Driver ko call ki magar koi jawab nahi aaya. Guard bhi ghar ke baahri gate par maujood nahi tha. Uska poora wujood andesho mein ghira gaya. Waswaso mein dab gaya.

"Aima, mujhe tum ghar drop kar do please," uske liye wahan baithna dushwaar ho gaya tha. Aima ne uska thanda pada haath apni giraft mein lete hue asbaat mein sar hila diya.

Woh ghar pohnchi toh us waqt shaam ke chhay baje rahe the. Aima uske saath andar aana chahti thi, magar Jannat ne usay mana kar diya.

"Main sab sambhaal loongi," lehja mazboot kar ke kaha aur kadam badha diye. Porche mein Faris ki gaadi khadi thi. Usay ek baar phir apni saansen atakti hui mehsoos hui thi.

Awaaz ek baar phir goonji. Khauf ne phir se sir uthaya. Khadshat ne phir se gher liya. Main gate ke samne wo kuch dair tak khadi rahi phir himmat jama karti andar daakhil hui. Roshniyo ka ghar mukammal khamoshi mein dooba hua tha.

"Mrs. Shirazi kahan hain?" Apne andar ke izteraab par qaboo paate hue mulazma se poocha.

"Unki tabiyat kuch theek nahi thi, isliye aaram kar rahi hain," mulazma ne foran jawab diya.

"Aur... aur Faaris?" Usne darte darte poocha tha. Isse pehle ke mulazma koi jawab deti, uske aqab mein office room ka darwaza khul gaya tha.

Jannat ki dhadkane tham gayi, saans ruk gaya. Dekhe bina hi woh jaan gayi thi ke uske peeche is waqt kaun maujood tha. Woh na palat saki, na apni jagah se ek inch hil saki. Mulazma adab se sar jhukaati wahan se chali gayi. Chand lamho ke baad usne khud ko sambhalte hue...

Aahista se rukh badla. Taassuraat se aari, spaat chehra aur khoon se laal hoti aankhein liye Faris wajdan uske samne tha. Jannat Kamal ko ek dum se apni taangein bejaan hoti mehsoos hui. Taaham, woh mutahammil rahi. Muthiya bhiinch kar apne haathon ki kapkapahat par qaboo paane ki koshish ki. Taassurat se waazeh tha ke woh jaan chuka hai. Usne driver nahi bheja. Usne guard ko bula liya. Calls receive nahi ki, message ka jawab nahi diya. Haan, woh jaan chuka hai. Woh sab jaan chuka hai. Laa-ilm thi. Usse yeh ghalti, yeh bhool, laa-ilmi mein hui thi. Usne socha. Usne soch kar khud ko sambhala. Phir khankar kar gala saaf kiya. Kuch kehne ke liye bohot himmat jama ki. Palko ko jhapka kar nami ko roka.

Is se pehle ke woh kuch kehti, Faris ne ek hi jhatke mein usse baazu se jhapat kar deewar ke saath laga diya.

Jannat ekdum se boakhla gayi. Aankho mein haras phail gaya. Rag-o-pay mein thand si lehra gayi.

"What Do You Take Me For?" uski  aankhon ko apni aankhon ke focus mein lete hue gussa kar bola.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Mujhe nahi pata tha."

"Tumhein nahi pata tha?" uski awaaz gusse se bhar gayi thi.

Jannat ka dil khauf aur dehshat se bhar gaya. Taangein sun hone lagin.

"Maine mana kiya tha tumhein," Baazuo par aahni giraft aur zyada sakht ho gayi.

"Main wahan sirf... main Riyan ke liye gayi thi," roti hui kaha. "Main sirf uske liye, aunty ke liye... mujhe nahi pata tha."

"Maine tumhein in sab se door rehne ko kaha tha! Maine tumhein mana kiya tha!" Woh cheekha.

"Faaris, I’m... I’m really sorry," Jannat ne kaha, magar uski awaaz toothi hui thi.

Raahdari ke doosre siray par Mrs. Shirazi wheel chair par baithi darwaza khol kar bahar aayi thi. Mulazma unke peeche thi. Phatti phatti nigahon se Faris aur Jannat ko dekh kar reh gayi.

Unki maujoodgi se bilkul bekhabar Faris ek jhatke se Jannat ko chhod kar peeche hat gaya tha. Woh roti hui ab kuch keh rahi thi, wazahat de rahi thi aur maafi maang rahi thi. Phir usne Faris ke paas aane ki koshish ki thi.

"Stay away from me!" usne gusse mein usse door karte hue cheekha.

Dukh, sadma, khauf aur pareshani liye Meher Shirazi bas dekhti reh gayi.

Jannat ro rahi thi. Faris gusse mein tha.

Maamla Rayyan ka tha. Uski nanhi jaan ka tha.

"Maine kaha tha," mazboot magar toota hua lehja tha Faris ka. "Maine kaha tha agar tum chahti ho humare darmiyaan sab theek rahe toh tum isme nahi pado gi, magar tum... Tumhein meri feelings ka koi khayal nahi hai! Main kis baat se rok raha hoon, isse tumhein koi farq nahi padta!" Woh cheekh utha. Awaaz dur tak goonj gayi thi.

Mrs. Shirazi ke lab hilay, magar awaaz nahi aayi. Haath uthana chaha magar himmat nahi hui. Woh ab saans lene ki koshish kar rahi thi, lekin saans nahi aa rahi thi. Dard baazu mein utha aur phir seene tak pohnch gaya. Dil mein ek barqi lehr si daudi.

"BEGUM SAHIBA?" Mulazma ek dum se cheekh uthi thi. Jannat Kamal mathosh ho kar palt gayi. Magar tab tak dair ho chuki thi. Unki aankhon ke samne dhund chha gayi. Gardan dhalak gayi. Wujood bejaan hone laga.

"MUMMY? MUMMY KYA HO GAYA HAI AAPKO? MUMMY PLEASE AANKHEIN KHOLIEN!" Aakhri awaaz jo unhone suni woh Faris Wajdan ki thi. Uske baad unhein koi hosh nahi raha tha.

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