Chapter 78: CH-77

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Subah chaar baje ki flight thi. Car haadse ke poore chhe mah baad Faris London ja raha tha. Yeh uska pehla safar nahi tha. Haan, mukhtalif noiyat ka zaroor tha. Wo mulk se bahar ja raha tha. Aur yaqeenan hamesha ke liye ja raha tha. Airport par, parwaaz se pehle, aur Heathrow Airport par pohanchne ke baad bhi Haider musalsal kisi se apne phone par raabte mein raha tha. Pal pal ki khabar thi jo wo pohancha raha tha. Us par nazar rakhne ki hidaayat di ja rahi thi. Haider ko shak tha ke wo kuch kar na de. Mumkin hai airport par hi gum ho jaye, bahar nikalte hi farar ho jaye. Usey Faris ki khamoshi kisi tor par normal nahi lag rahi thi. Jaisa Agha ne bataya tha, to us hisab se bilkul nahi. Taham usne kuch na kiya.

Airport se bahar gaari unki muntazir thi. Wo gaari mein sawar huye to aik baar phir call aayi. Usne call sunne ke baad driver ko koi aur address diya. Aur is tamam arsey mein Faris wajdan chup chaap bahar girti hui barf ko dekhta raha.

Gaari London ki sadko par daurti hui aik rihayashi colony mein taweel shahraah ke ehtraaf mein bane aik ghar ke samne ruk gayi thi. Subah ka waqt tha. Aasman badalo se dhaka hua, London mein guzishte kai roz se jaari rehne wali baarish chand satho ke tauqaf ke baad phir se shuru ho chuki thi. Haider ne seedhiya charh kar bell bajayi thi. Faris sar jhukaaye uske peeche khada tha, uske dono haath coat ki jebo mein the aur muffler gardan ke gird lapeta hua tha. Tasuraat sanjeeda, hazel aankho mein ek khamoshi thi jo thehri hui thi. Uski nigah band darwaze par, siyahi mael steps par, aur phir barf ki dabees teh par jam gayi thi.

Kuch hi dair mein darwaza khul gaya tha. Haider ne be-sakhta bhawe uchkayi thi. Darwaza kholne wale ko ek dam se sadma hua tha. Jis saraiyahat se darwaza khula tha, us saraiyahat se band hone hi wala tha ke Haider ne apna chowra kandha phansate hue uski har koshish ko nakaam bana diya.

Labon par muskurahat theher gayi.

"Tum yahan?"

Ujray bikhre, halka sa curl liye, surkhi mael shade dete siyaah baal, halki si taraasheeda daari, siyah frame wale glasses se jhankti siyaah tareek aankhein. Mooh mein brush liye usne be-sakhta thook nigla.

"Hello, Rahim! Kaise ho?"

Handle par girift jamaaye wo mushkil se sadme se nikla. Darwaza chorh kar usey andar aane ka rasta dete hue peeche hata. Faris Haider ke peechey khamoshi se andar aa gaya.

Brush haath mein pakre wo washroom mein chala gaya. Haider uske peechey darwaze mein aakhada hua. Usey tafseel se kuch batane laga. Faris aatish daan ke samne khada tha. Unki awaaz asaani se sun sakta thi.

"Matlab mein kuch samajh nahi aa rahi."

"Matlab yeh ke Faris tumhare saath yahan rahega." Daanto par brush karte, khaaste, mooh dhokar washroom se bahar aa gaya.

"Mazaak kar rahe ho mujh se. Yeh bhala yahan kyun rahega?"

Haider sanjeeda tha. Uske taasuraat mein koi raddo badal nahi hua tha.

"Bade sahab ka hukum hai."

"Shayad tumahre sahab bhool to nahi gaye ke main ab unke liye kaam nahi karta." Daanto mein zor diya.

"Behtar tha ke rehne ka koi aur bandobast hi kar lete ke hum tum tak na pohanch sakte." Haidar ne Tanz kar ke pucha.

"Free me nahi rehta kiraya deta hu mein" wo chid gaya.

"Itne bade Ghar ka jo tum flat jitna kiraya dete ho me bahut acche se janta hu."

"Jab tumahare boss ko koi masla nahi hai to tumhe kyu taklif ho rahi hai?" Paisaani par baal dalkar puchha.

"Mujhe bhala kyun takleef hogi? Jo baatein tum bhool rahe the, wo yaad dila raha hoon."

Rahim lab bheenche usey ghoorta raha.

"To phir kya socha hai?" chand lamho ka tauqaf de kar us ne poocha.

"Inkaar. Us churail Alizey ki wajah se main Shirazi khandan ke kisi bache ki zimmedari nahi lene wala."

"Woh Shirazi khandan se nahi hai." Khidkiyon ke paas khade Faris Wajdan ne yeh jumla waazeha suna tha. Woh khidki se bahar barf ko girta hua dekh raha tha. Uski baayein taraf aatish daan mein sholay bhadak rahe the.

Rahim ne gardan moorke raahdaari se lounge ki taraf uski pusht ko dekha.

"Kisi dost ka beta hai?"

"Yahi samjh lo, magar bahut ahem hai Pakistan mein uski zindagi ko khatra hai is liye yahan Lana padha."

"Ahm! Kaisa khatra?" Seene par bazoo baandh ke zara dilchaspi dikhai. Uski aankhon mein josh aur tajassus sa nazar aa raha tha.

"Hai koi khatra. Tumhein tafseelaat mein janne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Yeh yahan rahega. Tum uska mukammal khayal rakho ge aur bas!"

"Aur bas? Wow, great. Yeh kaam agar itna asaan hai to tum kyun nahi kar lete?"

"Rahim, kya is behas mein parna zaroori hai?" Haider ke lehje mein ab ke iktahaahat thi.

"Bilkul bohot zaroori hai. Pichli baar tumne mujh se chhay mahine ki baat kar ke wahan poora aik saal uljhaaye rakha tha. Upar se woh gulehri; Alizey Shirazi. Usne jitna mujhe Pakistan mein khwaar kiya hai, utna khwaar to main tumhare Azam Shirazi sahab ke sath kaam karke bhi nahi hua. Mujhe abhi tak drawne khwab aate hain. Tumhari baaton mein aa jata hoon is liye tum mujhe hamesha use karte ho."

"Azam Shirazi sahab ko apne family maamlaat mein tum se zyada kisi aur par bharosa nahi hai," Haider ne kaha.

"Haan, lekin yeh family to nahi hai." Ek ma'ni khez muskuraahat ke sath lounge ki jaanib ishara karte hue bade maze se deewar ke sath kandha laga kar khada ho gaya. Haider ko baat khatam ho jaane ke baad pata chala ke woh kya keh chuka hai.

"Listen!" Haider ne zabt kar ke peshaani masli.

"Haan, haan sun raha hoon." Apne lambe qad ke sath uski taraf jhuka.

"Agar koi raaz ki baat hai to kaan mein bata do. Tum jaante ho main bilkul bhi kisi ko pata nahi chalne doonga ke asal maamla kya hai."

"Kya tum thore se professional ho kar baat nahi kar sakte?"

"Bilkul professional tareeke se baat kar raha hoon. Woh kya hai ke mujhe tum par aur tumhare plan par koi bharosa nahi raha." Kandhe uchka kar apni jeebon mein haath daal liye.

"Haan, bharosa nahi raha lekin ghar ka istemaal karna hai?"

"Kitni baar batau, free mein nahi rehta." Bura maan kar kitchen mein chala gaya. Kursi kheench kar taang par taang rakhe baith gaya.

Haider ne kalayi mor kar waqt dekha. Usey dair ho rahi thi. Nau baje se pehle pehle usey kahi pohanchna tha. Usne briefcase se kuch kagzaat nikaal kar uske samne rakh diye. Sarsari si nazar dorhata wo aik baar phir seedha ho baitha.

"Tumhare boss ko khud aakar baat karni chahiye thi."

"Tumhare saath sabhi maamlaat shuru se main tay karta aaya hoon," Haider samne khada raha.

"Haan! Lekin yeh aik aisi 'special' case hai? Tum isay Pakistan se yahan hifazat ke liye laaye ho aur phir bhi mujhe hire karna chah rahe ho, jabke isey koi khatra bhi nahi hai." Yeh to Haider khud bhi nahi jaanta tha ke Azam Shirazi sahab ne yeh faisla kyun kiya tha.

"Khatra yahan bhi ho sakta hai," us ne haath uthakar nafi mein sar hilaate uski baat rad kar di. "Baat yahan sirf zindagi ki nahi hai. Tumhare boss ko mujh se kuch aur bhi chahiye." Us ne mez ke wast mein rakhe candy box se ek candy nikaal li.

"Mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai ke hifazat nahi karni Nazar rakhni hai" Uske hont hansi mein lipte, aur saath hi uska side wala daant labon ko choone laga tha.

Haider ne gehri saans lekar contract uske samne rakh diya. "Samajhdaar ho. Baat ki teh tak khud hi pohanch gaye ho to sign bhi kar do."

"Sharaait apni marzi ki hon to hi sign karne mein aasani hoti hai."

"Rahim! I'm getting late!"

"Mujhe bhi apni workshop mein kaam hota hai. Subah university bhi jaata hoon. Mrs. Grande apne cafe ki safai karwa rahi hain. Unhone tamam parosi ladkon ki list mein mera naam sab se ooper likha hai. Kal shaam saat baje tak mujhe wo kaam bhi karna hota hai." Usne gehri saans lekar kandhe uchkaye jaise roye zameen par us jaisa masroof insaan koi nahi.

"Kya chahte ho?"

"Zero barha do." Woh chand lamho tak Haider ke muskurate chehre ko dekhta raha phir jhuk kar contract uthaya aur ek zero ka izafa kar diya.

"Ek aur"

Haider ki girift qalam par sakht hui. Nazar utha kar usey dekha.

"Ya kafi badi rakam hai Rahim!" Awaz me garmahat aa gayi.

"Jo kaam tum mujhe de rahe ho, woh bhi chhota nahi hai."

"Tumhein sirf ek bache ka khayal rakhna hai," Haider zich hokar bola.

"Woh bachha nahi teenager hai, teenager jada mushkil hote hai"

Woh bhanwen uchka hua usey dekhte hue zara sa tewar de kar aur aik zero barha diya. Chhey mah tak ke liye ye rakam jayda thi. Rahim ne cheque ko uthaya, achi tarah dekh kar apni jeeb mein daal liya aur jhuk kar safhat par sign kar diye. Woh jaan gaya tha ke baat kuch aur thi. Masla chhota nahi tha. Woh ek aise ladke ki zimmedari usay saunpe rahe they jiske mutaliq koi bhi aagahi usay dena nahi chahte the.

Kuch hi dair baad woh Faris se baat karke wahan se chala gaya tha. Rahim coffee ka mug tayar karke lounge ki taraf aa gaya. Taarufi marahil se bhi to guzarna tha.

Bhaap udate hue cup uske haatho mein tha jab usne dekha ke woh ladka aatish daan ke samne wale sofa par apna coat, dastane aur joote pehne so chuka tha. Safri thakaan uske chehre se ayaan thi.

"Great," Rahim ne dheere se kaha.

Coffee ke ghoont leta, sidiya charh gaya. Kya usne coffee banane mein zyada waqt laga liya? Abhi to woh nashtey ke bare mein bhi poochhne wala tha. Ghoom kar raahdari ke aakhir mein kone par deewar ke paas latke aik sunahri pinjre ke paas chala gaya. Andar tota tha. Baen taraf uska kamra tha. Bara bara sa "RA" likha hua nazar aa raha tha.

"Danger Zone." Surkh rang mein. Pichle saal usne Begonia House ke kuch kamray kiraye par diye thay aur tab kisi bhi qisam ki baironi mudakhlat se bachne ke liye darwaze ko aisa shahkar bana dala tha. Ab to ghar khaali tha aur uske mizaj se aajiz aakar koi rehna bhi nahi chahta tha.

Usne apne kamre ka bakhaira samet dala. Chart board, card board, tasveerein, akhbarat ke tarashe, magazines ke safho se li gayi maloomat aur jane kya kya almari mein lock kar ke rakh diye thay. Kuch safhe aag mein jhonkar jala diye thay. Kuch cheezein dustbin mein phenk di thi. Zehan mein bohot kuch chal raha tha.

Zor se wardrobe band karta barabar wale kamre mein chala gaya. Jaldi jaldi kuch ghair zaroori cheeze samet kar usay rehne ke qabil banaya. Kamra waise behtar tha, bas safai nahi hui thi. Apne kaam se farigh ho kar woh aik baar phir neeche aya tha taake uska samaan bhi kamray mein rakh sake. Samaan kamray mein pohancha kar uske bag ki har tarah ki talashi lene ke baad woh apne kamre mein band tha. Aur yaksooyi se woh kaam kar raha tha jo us lamhay karna zaroori ho gaya tha.

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Ghar ka naam Begonia House tha. Is liye tha ke is mein Begonia phool kabhi parwan nahi chadhta tha. Jald murjha kar mar jata tha. To chunanche is ghar mein Begonia phool ki itni amwaat ho chuki thin ke uska naam Rahim ne "Begonia House" rakh diya tha. Doosri manzil ki gallery mein usne bay inteha khoobsurat phool lagaye the aur woh unka bohot khayal bhi rakhta tha. Aik tota bhi tha aur baqi woh khud bhi tha.

Aur ab aik Faris naam ka ladka tha. Aik purasraar khamoshi thi aur bay inteha tajassus tha.

Woh ladka Rahim se koi baat nahi karta tha. Uske kisi sawal ka jawab nahi deta tha. Nashta, dopehar ka khana aur shaam ke khane ke siwa kamre se bahar nahi aata tha. Woh usey bilkul waisa hi nazar andaaz kar raha tha jaisa barabar wale ghar ki Flora Grande usey karti thi. Ghar mein waheed aik tota hi tha jisse Rahim baatein karta aur poore ghar ke chakkar lagata tha. Neeche basement mein uska workshop tha.

Woh aik miniature maker tha. Uski aik website thi aur woh us par Victorian tarz ke ghar banata tha. Zyada tar woh basement mein hota. Upar aata to Faris usey ya to apne kamray mein milta ya phir sidiyo par baitha hota. Dono ke darmiyan baqaidah tor par koi baat nahi hoti thi. Usay kabhi kabhaar gumaan hota ke usne Haider ke saath hone wali uski tamam guftagu harf ba harf sun li hai jab hi khud ko aik khol mein band kar ke khud lab sil liye hain. Jaise ussy darr ho ke agar woh Rahim ke saath baat karega to saare raaz afsha ho jayenge.

Lekin yeh bas uska khayal tha. Uske chehre ke ta'assuraat ko samajhna bhi Rahim ke liye mushkil tha. Woh Faaris se koi baat karna bhi chahta to woh jawab nahi deta tha. Suni an suni kiye rukh mod leta. Apni jagah se uth jata. Uski aankhen kisi na kisi soch mein ghair hoti. Uska zehan kahin na kahin bhatka hota. Khana khate waqt aksar woh ruk jata, kabhi pehle chand lukmo ke baad aur kabhi beech mein hi chor kar uth jata. Kamray mein uski har aik cheez apni jagah par hoti thi. Thodi si bay tartibi kisi bhi cheez mein nazar nahi aati thi. Raat sote waqt kamray ki lights mukammal on hoti. Darwaza bhi woh andar se lock nahi karta tha.

Us ke roz marra ke mamoolat ko parkhte samajhte wo achambhe mein par gaya tha. Bhala ek be zarar se bachay se Azam Shirazi ko kya khatra ho sakta hai? Phir usey yaad aya ke yahan wo uski hifazat ke liye bhi tha. Baat kuch aur thi. Maamla sachme mein kuch aur tha.

Khanay ke baad usey kuch medicine lete dekh kar usne wohi medicines uthakar dekhi.

"Post-thoracotomy"

"Kya iski heart surgery hui hai?" Bhanwein uchaka kar socha. Doosri chand adwiyaat depression aur anxiety waghera ke liye thi.

Haider musalsal uske sath rabte mein tha. Rozana ki report wo usey deta tha. Wo uske rawaiye ke bare mein jana chahta tha aur Raheem ko samajh mein nahi aata tha ke usay kya kehna chahiye. Mehze ek khamoshi se wo uski soch ka andaza kaise laga sakta tha? Uske zehen mein kya chal raha hai, us tak kaise pohanch sakta tha?

Subah sawere Berry ke pinjray ki safai karke wo isi shash-o-panj mein tehlta phir raha tha jab darwaze ki ghanti baji. Aage barh kar darwaza khola to samne dus saal ka Spider-Man aur gyarah saal ka Batman khade thay.

Usne be ikhtiyar apni aankhein ghumaein. Dono ne apne masks utaar kar muskurahatein dikhayein. Haath mein ek dabba tha. Usmein bohat saari chocolates thin.

"James and William." Dono ne apne apne seene par lage badges ki taraf ishara karke taaruf karwaya.

"Kahan se aaye ho?" Chocolates lete hue poocha. Unho ne sarak ke us paar surkh baaz walay ghar ki peechay ki jaanib ishara kar diya. Wo naye ghar mein isi hafte shift hue thay.

"Kya tum logon ko kisi ne bataya nahi ke wo ghar haunted hai?"

Raheem jo khauf bhare ta'asuraat dekhne ka muntazir tha, sar jhatak kar reh gaya.

"Naam kya bataya tumne?" Spider-Man dobara naam batane laga tha ke usne haath utha kar rok diya.

Padosiyon ke bachay dard-e-sar hua karte the.

"Tension Number 1" - Raheem ne haath jhaad kar James ki taraf ishara kiya. Ye uska nam tey hua. "Tension Number 2" doosra ishara William ki taraf tha jo hanuf bana usey dekh raha tha. Dono ke naam mile kar ke wo andar chala gaya.

"Ye abhi abhi isne kya kaha?" Ek bhai ne doosre bhai se poocha tha. James ne lab bheench liye. Gardan andar dali. Samne woh apni table par bartano ko khali kar raha tha.

Gehri saans le kar, khali dabba unke hawalay kar diya. James ne box khol kar dekha ke shayad is mein kuch ho, ke barabar wali Mrs. Grande ne to kaafi saari cookies daal ke de di thi. Magar ye koi bohat hi kanjoos qism ka padosi tha. Khali dabba dete hue isay koi sharam bhi nahi aayi.

"Apni mummy se shukriya kehna."

"Keh dein ge," wo jal kar bola. Phir dono apne ghar chale gaye.

"Mkm! Usne kaha hamara ghar haunted hai," James ne fikr mandi se apni maan ko bataya.

"Jis ke tum dono jaise bache ho, uswy bhala haunted house se kya dar?" Mrs. Anderson gehri saans le kar grocery ki list banati rahin.

James aur William apna pados jaan'ne char baar us se milne aa chuke thay. Ek baar tota dekhne aaye the. Doosri baar haunted house ke mutaaliq maloomat chahiye thi. Teesri baar William ko Mr. Well Samajh ke bare mein poochna tha. Usey unka ghar bahar se bohat acha laga tha. Chauthi baar wo apni koi kahani discuss karne aaye thay aur har baar bawajood koshish ke bhi wo unhein ghar se nikaal nahi saka tha. Darwaze par bara bara danger board lagane ka koi faida nahi tha kyunki James aur William jaisi makhlooqaat par ye ziada asar nahi karti thin. Chauthe din unka school shuru hua to usne bhi sukoon ki saans lete ghar ki tamam khidkiyo par parday daal diye. Darwaza band kar diya. University doston ke saath joint study ka program tha. Saat baje likhna tha. Ek baar phir sar utha kar seedhiyo ki taraf dekha. Faris aaj neeche nahi aaya tha. Usey Haider ki baat yaad aayi, uska hukum bhi. Balon mein haath phirte uske kamre mein gaya. Wo writing table par hi koi kitaab khole baitha tha. Usne bataya ke wo dinner pe aa jaayega. Faris ne usey koi jawab na diya. Wo kuch dair tak usey dekhta raha phir sar jhatak kar chala gaya. Char ghanto ka keh kar wo dedh ghantay baad hi wapas aa gaya tha. Uska sar ghoom raha tha.

"Mere apne so kaam hain. Ab mein har waqt uske saath bound ho kar to ghar mein nahi baith sakta. Tum kya chahte ho mein university bhi chhor doo?" Ruk kar kuch suna, lehje mein ghussa aa gaya.

"Hamare darmiyan ye te nahi huay tha" Chand lamho ka tauqaf kar ke peshaani masli.

"Tumhein chahiye tha pehle usey kisi nafsiyaati doctor ko dikhatey, phir mere paas chhorte."

"Wo koi baat hi nahi karta to mein kya keh sakta hu?"

Phone par kisi se behas karte uski nazar Faris par pari to ruk gaya. Wo seedhiyon par baitha tha. Usay achanak apne jumlay ki sangeeni ka andaza hua. Call kat di. Faris uth kar apne kamray mein chala gaya. Raheem gehri saans le kar reh gaya tha.

London mein uska teesra hafta tha. Aur is arse mein wo pehli baar bahar nikla tha. Murda qadam uthaate chalta gaya tha. Uske qareeb se hi cycle ke pedals par zor zor se paon maarti paanch chhe saal ki bachhi guzar gayi. Usne do ponytails bana rakhi thi Uska frock gulabi rang ka tha. Ek jhalak mein usey wo Dr. Mustafa ki nawasi Jannat lagi thi. Usne nazar hata kar rukh mod liya. Apne andar ek khaali pan sa mehsoos karte kahi aur dekhne laga. Aise bohot se munazir thay jo guzrey waqt ka hawala zehen ki tareekiyo mein roshan karte thay.

Jaise barish ki raat aur band kamra ka tasavvur uske hawaso par bhaari parta tha, aise hi bachon ka shor, muskurahatein, qahqe bhi usey pareshan karte thay.

Coat ki jeebon mein haath daale wo aage chalta rehta agar rasta mein hi usay mausam ke badlaav ka ehsaas na hota. Barish barsne lagi to wo ruk gaya. Mazeed aage barhna mushkil ho gaya. Usne wapsi ka rukh kar liya tha lekin Begonia House tak pohanchne se pehle uski nazar door se us aali shaan gaari par par gayi thi jo abhi abhi wahan aa kar ruki thi. Usne Haider ke humraah Azam Shirazi ko nikalte dekha tha. Chhatri ke saaye mein bairooni darwaze ki taraf barhte dekha tha.

Wo ulte qadam peeche hata. Sarak ke us paar ek taweel gali ke daaman mein deewar se lag kar khara ho gaya. Sahar ka sooraj ghuroob hone mein kaafi waqt tha. Boonda bandi ab barish ka roop dhaar chuki thi.

Hoodie sar par charhate, wo seedhi par baith gaya tha.

Aazam Shirazi ki aik jhalak thi aur zehan ke pardo par manazir bikhar gaye thay. Ab tak kahi jane wali har talkh-o-tarsh baat uske ird-gird goonjne lagi thi. Samne barish ka pani jama ho raha tha. Wo apne gird bazoo lapetay us pani ko dekhne laga tha. Apna to kis kahin aur jamane laga tha. Lab kapkapa rahe thay aur aankhen be-tahasa ho gayi thin. Uski har takleef ka sabab Aazam Shirazi they. Uske har dukh ki ibtida un se hoti thi. Uski har saza ka tayun wahi karte thay. Usne larazte haatho ko coat ki jeb mein daal kar khatthi se bheench liya. Bilkul samne hi James aur William aik dusre se behas karte larte jhagra karte chalay aa rahe thay. Faris par nazar pari to chonk kar ruk gaye.

Wo dono hi bheege hue raincoats mein malboos usey chand lamhon tak dekhte rahe. Unhain is gali se hi guzar kar apne ghar ki taraf jana tha. Wo uske samne aa kar ruk gaye.

Faris ne zara sa sar utha kar unhein dekha.

"Ham se Rahim pooche ga to hum keh denge hum ne tumhein bilkul bhi nahi dekha."

James dosti wale lehje mein goya hua. William uska haath khenche ja raha tha taa ke wo yahan se chalay. Lekin usey to jaise Faris ki gunjaish mein shamil hona tha. Faris ne sar jhuka liya aur nigahen barish ke pani par thehrayeen.

"Agar tum chaho to hamare ghar aa sakte ho. Mein Mam se keh doonga ke jis ball se kal khidki ka sheesha toota tha wo tumhari thi aur tum hamare ghar maazrat karne aaye ho. Mom maazrat karne walon ko bara pyaar deti hain, unhein lagta hai ghalti tasleem karna bara kaam hai." Ab baghair kisi wajah ke to wo usey apne ghar nahi bula sakta tha.

Wo sunne an-suni karte raha.

"Lekin nahi, kaisa ajeeb larka tha. Raheem theek hi kehta hai uske bare mein." James lab bheench kar reh gaya.

"Jese tumhari marzi." Beizzati ka jo halka phulka sa ehsas ho raha tha usay rad karte, janay ke liye aagay barhe.

Aasman par aik dum se bijli kadki thi. Aawaz tez, bhaari, aur khatarnaak thi. Haath sakhti se bheenche apni jagah se uth khara hua, bohat hi achanak aur aik jhatke mein.

Barish ek dum se tez ho gayi. Yahan aaye roz aisa hi mausam ho jata tha. London barisho ke hawale se kaafi se zyada mashhoor tha.

James kafi hairan hua tha. Kya wo waqai mein unke ghar anay wala tha? Qadam uthaye to wo bhi unke peechay chalte hue unke ghar ki bairooni baad tak aa gaya. James ko jaise yaqeen nahi aaya tha.

"Aao! Aao!" Khush akhlaqi ka muzahira karte andar le aaye. William kaafi se zyada pareshaan ho raha tha.

James ne ghar ke andar ja kar lamba chowra sa introduction diya.

Lekin wo ball to William ki thi. Mrs. Anderson ne Faris ko dekhte hue apne betay ko ghora. Usne sar jhuka liya.

"Haan, William hi to uske sath khel raha tha. Ab ye excuse karne aya hai."

Aur jo excuse karne aaya tha wo chup chaap ho kar khidki se qareeb thoda door baitha hua tha. Uska sar ab bhi jhuka hua, uski ungliyan ghutnon par mutaharik thi. Uska chehra spaath magar aankhon se ajeeb sa ta'asur jhalak raha tha.

"Jamie! Agar ye tumhari hi koi banayi hui kahani hai to..?" humein uski kisi baat par yaqeen nahi aaya.

"Theek hai, mein kahaniya sunata hoon lekin iska matlab ye to nahi hai ke mein har waqt kahaniya hi sunata rehta hoon. Aap ko mujhe sanjeeda lena chahiye Mom!" William uske peeche chhupa khara tha. Bhai ke sar par se saare ilzaam jo hatawane mein laga tha.

Unhoon ne gehri saans le kar Faaris ko dekha. "Phir maazrat kyun nahi ki usne abhi tak?"

"Mujh se kar li na, bas baat khatam."

"Lekin tumne kaha, wo yahan mujh se baat karne aya hai."

"Sirf chaar crack hi to aaye hain sheeshe par, sirf chaar crack. Aap is baat ko bhoolti kyun nahi hain?" Zara sa rohaanasa hua.

"Tumhein kyun yaad rehta hai ghar mein ab kaun sa naya nuqsan karna hai?" Unho ne daant diya. Wo bhawon seechr kar reh gaya.

"Mujhe tumhari chalakiyo ka poori tarah se ilm hai."

Wo tasuf se sar hilate Faris ke paas aa gayeen. Jaane uske betay kya keh kar bechare ko apne sath le aaye thay.

"Kya tum theek ho?" Unho ne poocha tha, magar usne jawab nahi diya tha. Pani ki offer ki gayi thi, to pani nahi liya tha. Uski bechaini aur beqarari har guzarate lamhe ke sath barhti ja rahi thi.

"Rahim ka kya lagta hai yeh?" Andar ja kar apne betay se poocha. Wo noodles kha raha tha, sar uthaya.

"Dushman!" Usne yahi suna tha.

"Kya?"

"Pata nahi! Kuch to lagta hoga." Har bara kar reh gaya.

Wo gehri saans le kar bahar aayeen to darwaze par dastak hone lagi thi. James ne bhaag kar darwaza khola tha. Samne hi Rahim khara tha, chhatri uthaye, achha khaasa tapa hua.

"Faaris ko dekha hai kahi?" Wo qataar mein sab hi gharon ke darwaze khatkhatata, uske bare mein poochta hua yahan tak aya tha. Dedh ghanta ho gaya tha ussy dhoondte hue. Har jagah se pata kar liya tha.

"Nahi, bilkul bhi nahi! Humein kya pata wo kahan hai? Hum kya jaane wo kahan ho sakta hai!" Haath lehrate hue baat karta wo uska paara mazeed charha gaya. Lekin is se pehle ke mazeed koi baat hoti, uski mam ne usey kaan se pakar kar kheenchte hue peeche hata diya. Wo krahta reh gaya.

"Haan wo baccho ke sath aya tha." James ko peeche hatate unhoon ne kehte hue, andar aane ka raasta diya aur Faris par nazar parte hi Rahim mushkil se sabr kar saka. Zabardasti muskara kar Mrs. Anderson ko dekha.

"Haan, wo waise hi bas main dhoond raha tha." Daant pis kar qadam uthate uske sar par pohanch gaya. Kisi aur ke ghar mein tha to kuch keh bhi nahi sakta tha, warna dil to chaah raha tha rakh kar aik thappar uske gaal par to zaroor jor de. Magar sabr kar ke usey bazoo se pakra aur khenchte hue bahar late Mrs. Anderson ka shukriya ada karna nahi bhoola.

Dayein taraf gali se guzarte usne Faris ka bazoo jhatke se chor diya.

"Samajh kya rakha hai mujhe tumne? Baby sitter hoon tumhara? Apne sare kaam chor kar tumhein doosro ke ghar dhoondta phiroon?"

Wo chup raha.

Munh hi munh mein badbadate hue, wo chhatri tale liye liye daak bharte aage barha aur Faris ko bheegne ke liye chhor diya. Phir ruk kar mura. Wo apni jagah par wahi khada tha. Peshani masalte wapas uske paas aya.

"Ab kya masla hai?" Zich ho kar poocha. Usey jo masla tha, wo usay bata nahi sakta tha. Ghar mein Aazam Shirazi the. Jab tak wo wahan thay, wo ghar nahi jana chahta tha. Wo saari raat yahin barish mein bahar hi Guzar lena chahta tha. Raheem ne gehra saans le kar usay dekha.

"Aazam Shirazi ja chuke hai" Jaane kaise, magar wo bujh gaya ke wo ghar kyun nahi ja raha tha.

"Ab chalo." Lehje mein is baar narmi thi. Usne khamoshi se qadam utha liye.

Sadak ke us paar Begonia House ke samne, Porche mein koi gaari nahi khari thi. Ghar ke andar yaqeenan wo nahi thay, sirf Haider mojood tha. Wo uske liye shopping kar ke laya tha. Jis naye school mein uska admission hua tha, uski aagahi dene aya tha. Drawing room mein Faaris sofa par uske samne behta chup chap usey sun raha tha.

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