Chapter 80: ּ ֶָ֢. CH-79

•••

Raahim ko hamesha se lagta tha jaise uske dimag mein kuch chal raha hai. Woh kuch soch raha hai, kuch ban raha hai. Lekin kya? Uska andaza kisi surat ho nahi paata tha. Gin kar chand aik lafz hi the jo woh ada karta tha. Maths ke kuch sawalat jinke bishtar jawab haan ya nahi par mushtamil hote the. Zyada tar woh apne kamre tak mehdood hota tha. School mein bhi koi dost na the, wapsi par bhi woh taqreeban akela hi hota tha. James aur William ne bhi aik baar shikayat ki thi ke woh un se koi baat nahi karta. Unke khayal mein unke paros mein sirf Raahim hi tha jo Mr. Perfect tha. Jo unka khayal rakhta tha. Woh uske bohat bade fan the.

Mrs. Grande albata uski khamoshi aur liye diye se andaaz ko kisi khaatir mein nahi lati thin. Sirf isliye ke baraf hatane mein usne zara si madad kar di thi woh uski diwani ho gayi thi ke aisa koi ehsaan un par Begonia House ke makino ki taraf se pehle kabhi nahi kiya gaya tha. Faris ka ehsaan tha jo utar hi nahi raha tha. Khaas taur par canes dene aati thin. Bhaari bhar kam wujood sambhaale kitni hi dair tak sofa par baithi rehti thin. Ainaak durust karti kitaab parhtay jati thi. Flora pinjre mein phadphada rahi hoti aur Raahim ka tota Harry uski awaaz mein jawab de raha hota.

Dono ka milan kisi surat mumkin na tha ke Raahim aur Mrs. Grande  ke taluqaat kuch ache na thay. Woh Begonia Botax mein Raahim ko zaleel karne aur mukammal nazar andaaz karne ke liye bhi aati thin. Aisa nahunjaar parosi kabhi kisi dushman ko bhi naseeb na ho. Aatay jatay apne glasses ko durust karte, apne balon mein haath phirte wo jach bach hota, samne aao to masla na aao to bhi masla. Us din Faris apne school se wapas aaya to chehre par, gaal aur aankh ke upar soojan ka nishan wazeh tha. Honth ka kona bhi surkh ho raha tha. Dono ke maabain koi baat nahi hoti thi to istifsaar ka to sawaal hi paida nahi hota tha magar jab doosre aur phir teesre din bhi uske haath ki pusht par bhi zakham ka nishan nazar aaya to raha nahi gaya.

"Yeh roz tum kis se maar kha kar aate ho?"

Faris ne zara si nazar uthakar use dekha aur khamoshi se khana khata raha. Agle din woh uske peeche school tak gaya, chhup kar. Wapsi par bhi sarak ke us paar posheeda hi raha. Chand ladko ne use ghera tha. Phir woh aqb mein imarat ki taraf chala gaya tha. Wahan se dayen taraf aur baen taraf bhaga aur phir jhatke se ruk gaya. Woh do larke the. Umar mein bhi bade the. Faris is qadar bedardi se peet raha tha ke agar jo woh uske paas ja kar use kheench kar peeche na hatata to yaqeenan us lambe chodhe cartoon numa larke ki shakl mazeed bigar chuki hoti.

Larke use dekhte hi bhaag gaye.

Raahim ko yakeen nahi aaya. Sadme se use dekhta raha.

“Tum parhne jaate ho ya badmaashi karne?” Ghar pohanchte hi be-wajah ka zara raub jhaad kar poochhna chaha.

"Tumhara matlab hai, chup chaap maar khata rahoon?” Sawal saada tha. Raahim ka mun band hua. Baazoo chhura kar usne apna bag uthaya aur chalta bana. Shaam mein usne Haider ko report di.

"Agar kabhi tumhe yeh khabar mili ke kisi ka sar phadne, baazoo todne aur laatain maarne ki paadash mein Faris jail mein hai to mujhe ilzaam mat dena.”

“Kya matlab? Tumhe ilzaam mat du? Tum wahan kis liye ho? Nazar nahi rakh sakte us par? Samajh nahi sakte?” Haider ne jhaad kar rakh diya.

"Mein koi uska baap hu jo use esi nasihate karu? Aur tumhe jese uske attitude ka andaza nahi hai?"

"Tum paise kis chij ke le rahe ho?" Haider ko ghussa chad gaya tha.

"Ye jo report mene tumhe di hai iske" wo sofe par panjo ke bal betha tha. Phone kan se lagaye, ghunghrale surkhi mail shade dete balo me adatan hath phairte hue, chewing gum chabate hue,

"Raahim Afaq?" Haider ghurraaya.

“Oh kahin tumhe yeh khushi toh nahi thi ke mein baby sitter hoon uska? Mujhe nahi lagta usey meri kisi instruction ki zaroorat hai.”

Haider ne phone hi kaat diya. Usne unhoni ki khushi ka ehsaas kiya ke ab to Haider kuch mahine ke liye yahan zaroor aaye ga magar khushi waqti thi. Kuch hi dair mein use dhamkiyo bhara aisa paighaam moosool hua ke use parhte hue jhunjhala kar reh gaya.

Samajh mein nahi aaya Faris se kya kahe ke kisi ka mun torna bohat buri baat hai. Bhale se woh aap ka haath bhi tod de?

Darwaze par dastak deta uske kamray mein daakhil hua. Use apne saath bahar khana khane ki dawat di. Faris chand lamho tak baitha raha. Phir uth gaya. Aadhe ghante ke baad woh aik restaurant mein aamne samne mojood the.

Khana pesh kar diya to Raahim ne gala khankhaar kar, lamba chora sa lecture diya ke jail jaane se behtar hai ke agar kuch ladke usey tang karein bhi to woh farar ho jaye, unke haath na aaye lekin un par haath na uthaye. Use qatayi tor par samjhana nahi aa raha tha. Lato aur ghooso se baat karne wala, kaise keh de chup chaap maar aur woh jazbazi mein hi ulajh kar reh gaya.

Khaate raho, jawab na do?

Hairat angez tor par uska ulta seedha ajeeb o ghareeb daleelon wala lecture Faris Wajdan ne chup chaap suna. Aisa pehli baar hua tha ke woh barah-e-raast us se mukhatib tha. Aur Faris chup chaap usey sun raha tha. Aur phir mukhtasir aur chhoti chhoti baton par dono ke darmiya baqaida tor par guftagu shuru hui. Uske kuch mukhtasir la jawab karte huay sawal the. Raahim khamoshi se sun raha tha. Kuch jawab de raha tha, kuch par jhanjhala raha tha.

"Maine yeh kab kaha hai maar khaate raho, jo haalat tumne unki ki hui thi us se behtar nahi hai ke bhaag jao, unke haath hi na aao. Simple!" Burger khaate huay woh ruk kar uski shakal dekhne laga.

"Kya ghalat keh diya maine jo aise ghoor rahe ho?" Ruk kar apna can uthaya.

"Shareefo ki tarah rehna seekho. Insaan ko apna raub bana kar rakhna chahiye. Yeh kya ke do char ladke ikattha huye to unpar pal pado. Aur maine tumhein dekha tha tum to aise ladh rahe thay jaise unki jaan le loge."

Shaayad woh khud bhi nahi jaanta tha kya keh raha tha. Faris sar jhatak kar phir se khane laga. Koi jawab na diya. Bahar nikal kar footpath par chalte huay, itraaf ka nazara karte, aik lamba chora sa larka Raahim ke qareeb se guzra, jeb mein haath daal ke wallet churata hua. Raahim ne pakad kar, baazoo maror kar, do chaar laatain maar kar usey dhun kar rakh diya. Bechara maafiyaan maangta, jaan chhurata hi reh gaya. Magar woh bakta jhakta usey kisi tor chorhne ko tayyar hi na tha.

Aur jab isi haatha pai mein Faris par nazar pari to usay aik dum se sabr o tahammul ki us misaal ka khayal aya jo woh Faris par qaim karna chahta tha. Girift dheeli hui. Shareefo ki tarah rehne wala saara image barbaad ho gaya.

Larka apni jaan bacha kar bhag gaya.

Raahim baraf par murda sa lete gaya. Usne aankhein band kar lein. "Woh mar chuka hai." Usne zaahir kiya.

Faris ne bhi yaqeen kar liya. Kuch bhi kahe baghair wahan se chala gaya.

Raat ka jaane kaunsa peher tha uski aik jhatke se aankh khul gayi aur woh uth kar baith gaya tha. Sar thame. Mushkil se saans lete huay, haanpte huay ke yun jaise mailon daudta raha ho. Bahar baarish ho rahi thi. Bijli ghan garaj aur kadak ki awaaz thodi dair baad faza par chha jati thi. Usey apne seene mein dard uthta hua mehsoos ho raha tha. Uska sar phat raha tha. Samaat mein makhsoos awazen. Hathore ki tarah baras rahi thin.

Makhsoos dhun ki awaaz, firing, car accident ke dauran jab jhamake se sheeshay toote thay aur jab usey goli lagi thi. Woh rote huay aage ko jhuk gaya.

Kamre ka darwaza hamesha ki tarah halka sa khula hua tha. Raahim rahedari se guzarta hua, thikthak kar ruk gaya. Darwazay tak aaya aur phir apni jagah khara reh gaya. Faris Wajdan ko uske sath Begonia House mein rehte ye teer maheena tha. Aur is arse mein pehli baar woh usay sar pakad kar aur is qadar be-basi se rota dekh raha tha. Uski siskiya baarish ke shor mein bhi numaya ho rahi thi. Uska wujood buri tarah se kapkapa raha tha. Woh chhotay baccho ki tarah ro raha tha. Woh andar daakhil hote hote ruk gaya. Uski awaaz sunte apni jagah khara raha.

Ek baar phir takiye par sar rakhte Faris ne apne kaan par doosra cushion rakha tha. Yun jaise kisi shor ko dabana chah raha ho. Woh yun pareshan aur bechain tha jaise angaaro ke bistar par lete ho aur usey kisi pal sukoon na aata ho. Zarasi khamoshi chhai to woh chup chaap wapas palat gaya. Apne kamray mein, writing table ke saamne baith kar apna assignment tayar karne ki koshish ki magar kar na saka. Zehen musalsal ulajha raha. Kuch dair baad phir utha.

Kuch dair bad bazahir uth kar gaya to woh sota hi nazar aaya, magar uske ilm mein na tha woh beech beech mein so gaya tha ya phir jaag raha tha. Woh uske sar par khada tha.

"Kya uski har raat aisi hi hoti hai?"

Usne pehle dhiyan kyun na diya? Pehle khayal kyun na kiya? Woh soch kar reh gaya tha.

•••

Agley din uska achanak hi climbing center jane ka iraada ban gaya. Faris ko bhi offer kar di. Uska khayal tha woh bas yunhi outing ke bahane saath le ja raha hai. Magar wahan ja kar pata chala, woh sirf aik bahana nahi tha, woh usey enroll karwane ke liye hi apne saath laya tha. Classic climbing center mein na sirf Mrs. Grande mojood thi balke James aur William bhi apni maa ke saath aaye hue thay.

"Raahim tumhara bohat shukriya. Mein yeh to soch rahi thi ke unhein swimming club mein dakhil karwa deti hoon magar yeh zehen mein nahi aaya. Ab tum bhi yahan hotay ho to mujhe bohat tasalli rahegi!"

"Shukriya ki koi baat nahi, yeh mere liye izzat ki baat hai ke mein aapke kaam aya."

James aur William ne usey aankho hi aankho mein kha jane ki koshish ki thi. Jawanib mein usne bhi unki maa ki nazron se bachte hue munh churaya tha. Jaanta tha ek ko bulandiyon se dar lagta tha. Dusra kuch mota tha to charhne mein diqqat hoti thi.

Faris albata khamosh tha. Woh soorat-e-haal ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

"Maine aisi kisi khwahish ka izhaar nahi kiya tha."

"Jaanta hoon. Mein apni khwahish par tumhein yahan laya hoon. Mahine ki membership ki baat thi lekin sorry keh raha hoon salana kar doon." Qalam ke saath hi usey form pakraya.

"Ab kis ka hukum aaya hai?" Bhanwein uchkate woh uski taraf mura.

"Hukum?" Yun anjaan bana jaise kuch pata hi na ho. Faris ne lab bheench liye. Woh sar khujata uske paas aaya.

"Tumhari wajah se mein apne bohat se ahem kaamon se break le chuka hoon lekin yeh nahi chhod sakta. Teen mah ka break kaafi hai."

Ab ke Faris ne sawaliya abroo uthai.

"Tumhein agar zara dair ke liye bhi ghar mein chhod do to Haider yu react karta hai jaise koi alarm bomb rakha ho aur woh bas tik tik tik... phatne hi wala ho. Ab mein har waqt to ghar baith kar tum par nazar nahi rakh sakta. Is liye mein ne socha hai jab bahar kahin jana hoga to tum mere saath hi jaoge. Tab tak jab tak Haider ko yaqeen nahi ho jata ke tum mere saath bhi aur mere baghair bhi bilkul safe ho."

Sanjeedgi se keh kar mur gaya. Faris kuch dair tak baitha raha phir usne form fill kar diya.

Mrs. Grande asal mein climbing center ki regular member thi. Usay wahan dekh kar bohat khush hui. Aur phir jaise yeh weekend ka mamool ban gaya. Woh Raahim ke saath wahan anay laga. Parhai ke ilawa yeh pehli sargarmi thi jis mein woh hissa le raha tha. Usey rock climbing ke douran apna no ko girift mein aatay pathron par jamaye rakhna hota tha. Khud se tay karna hota tha ke usey kab, kis taraf jana hai aur kis patthar par girift barhakar neechay kis maqam par apna wazan rakhna hai. Kai baar woh crash pad par tawajjo ke fiqdan ke bais gira tha. Aur kai baar usey chote bhi aayi thi.  Bold ring mein itna waqt le rahe ho. Rock climbing mein Allah hi hafiz hai. Raahim tehalte hue keh raha tha.

"Girne se darte ho, musalsal gir bhi rahe ho."

"Apne baazu seedhe rakho. Joote ki nok par wazan jamaa'o." Woh uske saath saath hota aur instructions diye jaa raha tha.

"Tumhari girift mazboot honi chahiye. Tawazan barqarar na rakhne ki soorat mein girne ka bhi aik tareeqa tha. Giro is tarah ke paon mein moch aaye na koi chot lage. Aap dobaara bhi uth sake. Phir se koshish kar sakte ho." Mrs. Grant wahan khadi rehti thi. Woh uski har harkat ko mulahiza karti thi. Uske hoslay barhati thi. Woh jab girta to sarahne lagti thi. Uthna agar khaas hai to karna bhi koi aam baat nahi.

Raat sone se pehle climbing center ka manzar uski aankho mein chal raha hota. Jogging se thaka hua hota to foran neend bhi aa jaati. Woh ab khud mein tawanai si mehsoos kar raha tha. Andar ka shor thamne laga tha. Dard aur takleefo se kuch dair ke liye tawajjo hatt rahi thi. Sochne aur fikr karne ke liye maqsad mil gaya tha.

Usey khud ko khana pada aur usne thaka diya. Mushakkat mein poor az dar laga diya. Usey kuch waqt laga aur woh seekh gaya.

"Jitna Faris ko support karti hain, usse thoda sa bhi hame karti to hum bhi complete assessment foran pass kar lete."

James aur William abhi tak bold rang mein iske huay they aur bina kisi ki sarparasti ke unse kuch bhi nahi hota tha. Unke baraks Faris rock climbing shuru kar chuka tha. Aur din ba din behtar hota jaa raha tha.

"Aur nahi to kya." William ne bhi apna hissa daala.

"Woh to apne café mein humein ghante bhi nahi deti. Aur Faris wahan sara din baith kar homework karta hai. Kehte hain writers ke liye aisi jagae bohat achi hoti hain. Window side par baith kar agar kuch socho to ache ideas zehan mein aate hain." Woh writer tha. Usey jagao ki bohat fikar rehti thi.

Pichle bench par Raahim aankhon par baazu rakhe chitt leta tha. Uth kar baith gaya. Dono bhaiyon ki gardanon mein baazu daalte hue jhuka.

"Yeh saara baraf ka kamal hai bro, tum log bhi yeh trick azmalo. Sab theek ho jaayega."

"Kaisi trick?"

Faris ne Mrs. Grant ke ghar ke samnay se baraf hatane mein madad ki thi

"aur dekho" us samne ne aankhon se samnay ishara kiya. Faris neeche utara tha aur Mrs. Grant usay paani ki bottle de rahi thin. James aur William ki aankhein aik dum se phail gayi. Sirf itni si baat par itni muraat?

"Really? Unhein yaqeen nahi aaya."

"Aur nahi to kya, azma kar dekh lo."

"To kya phir woh humein apne café mein bhi baithne degi? Khidki ke paas? Sara sara din?"

Raahim kandhe uchkata wapas phir daraz ho gaya. Agley din chhutti thi. Subah subah hi woh dono broom uthaye Mrs. Grande ke ghar pohnch gaye. Driver se baraf hatanay lagay. Ab unhein tab tak wahan khade ho kar yeh kaam karna tha jab tak ke Mrs. Grande unhein dekh na letin. Unhein nahi pata tha Mrs. Grant nau baje se pehle nahi uthti thin.

Raahim kafi kalk liye khidki se bahar dekhta, hanshta, "Ollis!" karta raha.

"Tum kitne makkar ho." Faris ne kaha.

"Makkar?" Gardan modh kar usey dekha. Hairat se...

"Us din jab tum Mrs. Grant se behas kar rahe thay, mein sun raha tha."

"Oh!" Us ke lab gol hue. Aankho mein shararat utari.

"Usey makkari nahi, zahanat kehte hain. Aisa plan ke sab ko faida ho." Kaafi table par taang par taang rakhay baith gaya.

"Faida"

"Ha, ab dekho, James ko Mrs. Grande ke café mein apni kahani likhne ka shauq poora karta hai. Mrs. Grande chahti hain, unka driveway roz baraf se saaf hota rahe aur main chahta hoon Harry ki Flora se shaadi ho jaye." Mazay se ghoont bhara.

"Unhone kaha agar main roz yeh kaam saraanjam doon to Harry aur Flora ki shaadi ho sakti hai aur main ne kaam kar diya. Woh dekho! Safai ho rahi hai." Hahaha hanste hue khidki ki taraf dekha.

"Jeet hi jeet hai bhai, tumhein to mujhe appreciate karna chahiye."

Faris aankho mein uljhan si liye chand lamho tak usey dekhta raha. Phir uske tawaqqaat mein mard pan utar aaya.

"Meray mamle mein bhi tum ne apne Azam Shirazi sahab se aisa hi drama kiya hai?" Raahim Afaq ki muskurahat simti. Us ne sar uthakar Faris Wijdan ko dekha. Uska chehra be-tasur tha.

"Win win situation I mean."

Apne har mamle mein faida aur asani dekhne wala Raahim is pal kuch keh nahi saka. Raahim, Azam Shirazi aur Faris Wajdan ke darmiyan faida do fereeqon ka to zaroor tha, magar is mushtarka faide mein aik fereeq apna khsara jata raha tha.

Us ne kitaabein uthai aur seedhiya chadhta ojhal ho gaya. Shaam mein James aur William Raahim ka shukriya ada karne aaye. Mrs. Grande ne na sirf unhein ghar bula kar nashta karwaya balkay James ko café mein bhi baithne diya. Us ne khidki ke paas baith kar aik bohat acha scene likha tha. Us ne woh scene Raahim ko bhi parhne ke liye diya. Baraf hatate kisi dukhi bache ki roodat thi jisay wohain super powers mil gayi thi. Woh bohat khush tha. Mrs. Grande apni beti se milne gayi to flora ko uske hawale kar ke gayi. Do tota aik hue. Us ne baray pinjray ka intezam kiya. Uski khushi dekhne layak thi.

Faris apni kitaab haath mein liye usay aur pinjray ko dekhta raha, phir karwat badal kar kitaab ke safhe par nazarain jamali.

•••

Climbing Center ke ilawa woh uske saath gym aur jogging ke liye park bhi jane laga tha. University dosto ke saath outing ka plan banta to Raahim usey bhi zabardasti saath liye phirta.

"Kya karoon, majboori hai! Tik tik tik!" Woh apne dono haath jod kar aur phir aik dil se phaila kar banate hue dhamake ki nishan dehi karta.

"Aik bachha humare saath hai, sab mohtaat ho kar rehna." Raahim apne dosto mein elan karta. Usey is lafz "bacche" se badi chid thi.

"Tum pata nahi kaise is ke saath aik ghar mein ro rahe ho." Raahim ke dosto ko usse hamdardi hoti.

"Yeh to aadha pagal hai?"

"Poora pagal hai." Us ne kitaab se nazarain hata kar wajah thi. Raahim ke dost Qutiba laga kar kehte.

"Jab insan par is tarah ki museebatein naazil ho." Us ne Faris ki taraf ishara kiya, "To woh poora hi pagal ho jata hai." Faris suni an-suni kaise rukh modh kar kitaab hi parhta raha. Agley din woh school se wapis aaya to Raahim kahin jane ki tayyari kar raha tha.

"Kuch Pakistani artists ka exhibition hai. Chalo gay mere saath?" Faris bag rakh kar kitchen mein chala gaya.

"Tum se pooch kyun raha hoon main?" Yaad aane par achi peshaani pe haath maara ke woh ijazat to har guz nahi leta tha.

"Main aaj shaam English exhibition dekhne ja raha hoon. Tum bhi saath chalo gay. Akela nahi chhod sakta."

Shaam mein woh us ke saath chala gaya. Ahr art gallery mein kuch Pakistani artists ke fan paro ko dekhta woh khula purvai se tehlta raha. Qudrati manazir ki khoobsurat paintings ko dekhte, uski nazar Sketch par parhi aur woh apni jagah ruk gaya. Dhadkan tez ho gayi.

Jeebo mein haath daal kar usne ghoom kar charon taraf dekha. Aur tabhi uski nazar Jameela Dawood par parhi aur woh jahan ka tahan khada reh gaya. Woh chand kadmo ke faasle par thi. Kisi se baat kar rahi thin. Unki nazar achanak us par parhi.

Faris ne gehri saans le kar rukh modh liya. Jaise usne unhein nahi dekha. Ujlat mein kadam uthaya, raahdari se guzar kar bahar nikal gaya. Raftar barhali. Woh jald az jald yahaan se chale jana chahta tha. Aur phir woh ruk gaya. Mazid aage barhna jaise dushwar ho gaya tha. Jameela Dawood ne usey awaaz de kar roka tha. Aur usey rukna par gaya tha.

Unhone aage barh kar usey khud se laga liya. Woh ro rahi thi. Phir uska chehra apne haatho mein liya tha. Uske haath apne haatho se laga liye the.

Unki mohabbat, unki tadap, unka israr dekh kar uske dil ko kuch hua. Bawajood koshish ke bhi haath nahi tham sake. Fasla nahi barha sakaa. Unhein chhod kar wahaan se nahi ja sakaa. Woh kamzor par gaya tha. Be bas ho gaya tha.

Woh uska haath tha se usey apne saath qareebi restaurant mein le aayi thi. Woh usse haal aur khair-maqdam pooch rahi thi aur woh chup baitha tha. Uski aankho se iztarab aur andaz se ghabrahat wazeh thi.

Jameela Dawood ko aik dum se bohat ajnabi ka ehsaas hua. Unka dil gham se bhar gaya. Unka Faris khul kar koi baat nahi kar raha tha. Usey wahaan se uthne ki bhi jaldi thi. Usey un ke baare mein janay mein bhi koi dilchaspi nahi thi. Unka nahi khayal tha woh wahan unki numayish dekhne aaya tha. Unhein laga, woh raasta bhatk gaya tha. Unhein yeh bhi laga woh unke saath baithna nahi chahta tha. Yeh paanch minute kaafi the jo usne unhein de diye the. Woh bas ab jald az jald uth jana chahta tha aur woh uth gaya.

Woh bahar nikal kar sadak cross karta kisi hajoom mein gum ho jana chahta tha. Aur woh ho gaya tha. Usey jata dekhte unhone kitne hi aansoo apne andar utaar liye the.

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