Chapter 88: ּ ֶָ֢.CH87

•••

Shaam ke das baje Hammad ko Azam Shirazi ne apni study mein talb kar liya tha. Woh surkh padhti ankhon ko ragad kar apna halya durust karta kuch hi dair mein wahan pahuch gaya tha. Azam Shirazi samne hi couch par baithe thay. Uski mummy bhi wahan mojood thein. Unka chehra thaka hua tha, aankhein bheegi hui. Woh sar jhukaye hui thi. Unhone usay nahi dekha tha. Woh ek nazar un par daal kar apne dada ki taraf dekhne laga tha.

Woh uth kar uske samne aa khare hue the. Unke taseuraat kuch ache nahi lag rahe the. Woh usay bohot sakht nazro se dekh rahe the. unhein uske lehje par gussa tha, jis andaz mein usne apni maa se baaz purs ki thi, us andaz par.

"Kya ye zaroori hai ke tumhari mummy kisi se bhi milne se pehle tumse ijaazat lein?" (Woh uske samne khade the usse keh rahe the)

"Tumse pooch kar kisi ko gift de? Ya khayal rakhein? Ya Ghoomne jaayein?"

Zabt se Hammad ki aankhein surkh padne lagi. Chehra gham aur gusse ka aakkaas hone laga.

Dada kyun woh baat nahi kar rahe the jo woh sunna chahta tha?

Woh uski mummy ki baato ki nafi ya tared kyun nahi kar rahe the?

Woh Faris nami us mulazim ki pehchaan ki wazahat kyun nahi kar rahe the? Unhein sirf uske ravaiye ka gussa tha.

Woh sawal jo usne kiye, woh aitraz jo usne uthaye, woh behas jo usne ki, unhein sirf us amal ka masla tha.

"Tumhara is tarah se react karna ghair zaroori aur bachkana amal tha," woh ab asal mudde par aaye the.

"Aap mujhe blame kar rahe hain?" Hammad ke lehje se karb jhalka tha.

"Zindagi ke 23 baras guzarne ke baad mujhe pata chalta hai ke jis ladke ko main naukar samajhta raha hoon, woh mere dad ka beta hai. Aur meri mummy us se milti hain, importance deti hai. Uske liye mujhe ignore karti hain. Aur aap keh rahe hain mera radd e amal bachkana hai?"

Jameela Dawood ne kuch azeet ke saath apne bete ko dekha. Woh itna badgumaan kaise ho gaya tha?

"Aap sab ne itna arsa mujhse ye baat chhupayi?" Uske lab hilay, nazrein jhuki hui thi. Woh zabt ki inteha par khada tha.

"Ye baat itni ahem nahi thi ke tumhe batayi jati," unki awaaz mein gambheer, lehja sanjeedgi se bharpoor. Unhone peeth par haath bandhe aur ab uski aankho mein dekh rahe the.

"Haroon ne humse chhup kar us third-class aurat se shaadi kar li. Tumhara kya khayal hai, humein is tamaam maslay se chhutkara pane ke liye kya karna chahiye tha?"

Hammad ab apne dada ki taraf dekh raha tha.

"Kya humein tumhari mummy ke khandan se dushmani leni chahiye thi ya phir tumhare dad ko aaq kar dena chahiye?"

Unka sawal bhaari tha aur lehja bhi utni hi sakhti liye hue tha. Hammad ki aankhon mein zabt ki surkhi barh gayi thi.

"Hamaare paas do raahein thi: ya to hum tumhare dad ko aaq kar dete, ya us bache ko qubool karke apne khandan ka tamasha bana lete." Jameela Dawood ne kuch aziyatse aankhein beech li.

"Lekin hum is family ki behtari chahte the, tumhari behtari!" Azam Shirazi ne use kandhon se thaam kar uski aankho mein dekha.

Woh aankhein gehri hazel ho gayi, chehra dhundhla pad gaya. Azam Shirazi ne ek dum se uske kandhe chhod diye.

Waqt ulat kar kisi purane manzar mein qaid ho gaya. Ek adalat lag gayi thi. Ek faisla ho gaya tha. Woh faisla unke kandho par thahar gaya tha bilkul halka phulka sa do lafzi faisla. Lekin ek dum se woh faisla bhaari ho gaya.

Hammad ne apne dada ke tasuraat badalte dekhe.

"Humein jo behtar aur munasib laga, humne woh kiya," unhone sambhal kar kaha. Lehje mein mazbooti lo aayi. Sakhti, baroodat aur hakmanah pan phir se aagaya.

"Us ladke ka hamare khandan se koi talluq nahi! (Faisla wahi hai jo 15 saal pehle kiya gaya tha) Usne kabhi hamari zindagi mein interfere nahi kiya hai, na woh kabhi karega."

Hammad ne apne dada ko dekha. Woh itne yaqeen aur vusuq ke saath yeh baat kaise keh sakte the? Faris Wajdan unki zindagiyo mein tha; woh is haqeeqat se nazar kaise chura sakte the?

Uski wajah se Hammad ke rishtay mein darar aayi thi. Uske dad khud ko ghair zaroori tor par masroof rakhte the. Uski mummy us ladke ke liye fikrmand rehti thi.

Aur dada ko lagta tha ke woh ladka interfere nahi kar raha tha?

"Hamari family mein siwaye tumhari mummy ke aur koi usse nahi milta! Tumhare dad bhi nahi!" Azam Shirazi ne sanjeedgi se agah kiya.

"Tumhari mummy khud usse milna chahti hain. Yeh unka zati faisla hai. Lekin humne dekha hai, unhone tumhare hawale se apni zimmedariyo mein kabhi kotahi nahi ki."

Jameela Dawood ne saans rokkar apne sasur ko dekha. Woh unki side le rahe the, unki himayat kar rahe the. Faris Wajdan ki haqeeqat ayan ho gayi thi, aur is par koi sakht rad-e-amal nahi de rahe the.

"Magar Baba..."

"Yahi tumhari khami hai, Hammad! Tum wahan apna mawazna karte ho jahan tumhara mawazna nahi banta," unhone Hammad ki baat kaat di.

Hammad apni jagah tham gaya. Uske wujood par daraar padne lagi.

"Agar koi hamari family ka hissa hota, to woh hamare saath hi rehta. Is liye bila wajah ka issue create mat karo," unhone aakhri baat sakht lehje mein keh kar us par sukoot tari kar diya

"Hum is topic ko yahin khatam kar rahe hain. Aindah Faris ka zikar is ghar mein nahi hoga. Na hi tum usse apne sar par sawar karoge," unke lehje mein ab koi sakhti thi, magar ek tahakkum zaroor tha.

"Ab tumhe apni mummy se maazrat karni chahiye."

Woh mutthiya bhinche khada tha. Kushada peshani par salwatein thi. Aankhon mein qahar utar aya tha. Gussa khatam hone ke bajaye aur barh gaya tha. Lekin woh dada se mazeed koi behas nahi kar sakta tha.

Farq wazeh tha, baate saaf thi. Pehle dada sirf uski baat karte the. Aaj dada sirf uski baat nahi kar rahe the. Mawazna shuru ho chuka tha. Usay ek dum se ehsaas hua, woh sab kuch kho chuka hai. Khali ho raha hai.

Chingaari se aag bharak uthi thi. Is aag ne poore wujood ko lapet mein le liya tha.

"Hammad!" Jameela Dawood ne usey pukara tha. Zabt karte hue woh seedha apni maa ki taraf barh gaya aur unse apne rawaiye ki maazrat kar li. Unhone be-ikhtiyar use khudse laga liya.

Rote hue shikwa kar rahi thi, woh unki mohabbat par shakk kaise kar sakte hai? Woh itna manfi kaise soch sakte hai ? Muqammal family thi unki, ek haseen sa talluq tha sabka.

Woh chup chap sunta raha. Ghalti bhi tasleem kar li.

"Masail baat karne se hal hote hain. Khamoshi se pechida" unhone samjha kar kaha.

Usne samajh kar sar hilaaya. Unhone uske maathe ka bosa liya aur woh ijazat le kar bahar nikal gaya.

Raahdari se guzarte hue, seedhiyon ki taraf jaate jaate, uski mutthiyan mazbooti se bhinchnay lagin. Uske zehan mein Faris Wajdan ka chehra tha. Aankho mein sholay nazar aa rahe the.

•••

Woh apne kamre mein writing table par betha parhai kar raha tha jab uske mobile par Raahim Aafaq ki call aayi. Usne Pakistan timing ka andaza lagate hue thodi hairat ke saath call receive ki. Itni raat gayi woh kyun phone kar raha tha?

Salaam-dua ke baad, agle chand lamho mein jo khabar mili, usne ek pal ke liye uske wujood ko sakht kar diya. Qalam haath me tha chhoot kar kitaab par ja gira.

Pehle ek haadsa seedhiyon ka tha. Ab ek haadsa swimming pool ka tha. Aarzoo Jahangir ka beta, isa, 4 ghanto tak zindagi aur maut ki kashmakash mein rehte hue, dam tod gaya tha. Aaj subah uska janaza tha. Tadfeen bhi ho gayi thi.

Woh khamoshi aur sadme ki kefiyat mein kursi ke saath pust tikaye betha reh gaya. Table lamp ki roshni na-kaafi ho gayi. Wasee kamray ka mahaul ghutan zada ho gaya.

Mushkil se saans lete hue, usne kapkapati ungliyon se Aarzoo Jahangir ka naam search kiya.

Woh aurat abhi kuch der pehle tak America ke kisi grand festival mein mehmaan-e-khususi ke tor par shirkat kar rahi thi. Uski taaza tasaveer internet par shaya ho gayi thi.

Woh sakit nigaho se uska muskaraata chehra dekh raha tha. Woh takabbur se gardan seedhi kiye, haath hila rahi thi.

Usey apne betay ki koi khabar thi bhi ya nahi? Khabar thi bhi to usay koi ehsaas nahi tha.

Uske liye woh taqreeb ahem thi. Apna naam ahem tha. Apne faayde ahem the.

Uske andar ek dum se ghusse ka babal utha tha.

Woh esi aurat ka beta hai? Usay apne wujood se ghin aayi. Woh esi aurat ki sabiya hai.

Woh apne chehre se nafrat Hui. Usay laga uska wujood nochne, usey apna khoon nochne ka jee chaha. Usay wajood se karahat karahat Aarzoo Jahangir ki wajah se badh gayi thi. Uske hisse ke mazalim bhi Aarzoo Jahangir ki wajah se aaye the.

Mobile screen phir se roshan hui thi. Raahim dobara call kar raha tha.

Usne saans lete hue apna sar thaam liya.

"Ab har koi tumhare dada jaisa to nahi hota, extra security de kar zinda rakhe" uski soch bhatak rahi thi.

Uska zehan muntashir ho gaya.

"Tumhare dada lakh pathar dil hon, lekin unhone koshish ki tumhe mehfooz rakhne ki!"

Muazne aur ehsasat ki Sidi par uske kadam be sakhta ladkhada gaye. Uski soch bhatak gayi. Uska zehen muntasir hone laga tha.

"Chahe to tumhari Jaan le sakte hai" wo gehri saas leta khudko is kefiyat se nikalne ki koshish kar raha tha. Jiske daldal me wo dashta jaa raha tha.

"Woh tumhare dada hai lakh pathhar sahi, he try to protect you," manzar dhundhle padhe. Awaze kat math hone lagi.

"Mujhe usay zinda rakhna hi tha. Yehi wada tha."

Wada Azam Shirazi ka. Haroon Shirazi ka wada!

Andar aik behas chhid gayi thi. Zindagi ki tamam tar talkhiya aik taraf thi, lekin Azam Shirazi ka woh tanha faisla aik taraf. Woh apne a'asaab par qaboo paate, kapron samet shower ke neeche ja khada hua. Kamre mein mobile abhi bhi baj raha tha.

•••

Dining table par khana lag chuka tha. Jameela Dawood office room ke aadhe khule darwaze ke samne dastak dete dete ruk gayi thi. Azam Shirazi couch par baithe the.

Haidar, pusht par haath bandhe unke samne mo'addab sa khada tha. Tafseelat se kuch aagah karta, unke sawalo ke jawab de raha tha. Faasla itna bhi nahi tha ke woh unki guftagu na sun sakti. Pehle pehl unhe laga ke Hamad ki baat ho rahi hai, lekin doosre hi pal mein unko inkishaaf hua ke baat Hamad ki nahi, Faris Wajdan ki ho rahi thi.

Woh uske mutaaliq Haidar se pooch rahe the. Uska result kaisa aaya tha, uske mamoolaat kaise chal rahe the, uske dost kaise the, halaat kaise thay, zindagi kaisi thi. Haidar unhein sab batata ja raha tha.

Woh jante the ke Jameela Dawood hi usay financially support kar rahi thi. Unhone is bare mein unse koi istifsaar nahi kiya tha. Faris Wajdan ko uske haal par chhod diya tha. Woh ab tak yehi samjhti rahi thi, lekin aaj ilm hua ke aisa nahi tha.

Woh abhi bhi us par nazar rakhe hue thay. Uske har pal ki khabar un tak pohanch rahi thi.

Woh drugs to nahi leta ho, kisi ghalat sargarmi mein to nahi pad gaya, kisi masle se do-char to nahi ho gaya. Woh khadsat ko leh par sawal kar rahe the Unke andaaz aur lehje mein azeeb si fiker jhalakti nazar aa rahi thi, woh ek pal me samajh gayi thi ke Azam Shirazi iss lamha woh nahi thay jo hamesha hote thay. Kahi mayne me sab kuch badal gaya tha.

Mumkin hai woh abhi bhi Haroon ki wajah se...? unhone is tabdeeli ko koi wajah dena chaahi lekin de na saki.

Haroon Shirazi ne aaj tak apne bete ke mutaaliq ghar ke kisi fard se baat nahi ki thi. Koi stand nahi liya tha, koi fikr nahi dikhayi thi. Usne to kabhi yeh jaan ne ki koshish bhi nahi ki thi ke uska beta kis halaat mein tha.

Geheri saans le kar woh darwaze par dastak deti hui andar aa gayi.

Haidar ijazat le kar usi waqt hi chala gaya.

“Khana lag chuka hai,” unhone kaha. Woh sar hilaate uth gaye.

Dining hall mein khane ke dauran aik ajeeb si khamoshi chhayi rahi. Sirf Haroon hi thay jo baat kar rahe thay. Hamad ka sar jhuka hua tha. Mukhtasar hmm haan mein jawab deta, woh apne dada ki taraf nahi dekh raha tha. Mukhtalif dishes uske samne rakhte hue, Jameela Dawood khud hi usse mukhatib ho rahi thi.

Khana khane ke baad, Haroon aur Azam Shirazi ja chuke thay to unhone fursat se Faris ko call ki.

“Tumhara paper kaisa hua?”

“Acha ho gaya.” Faris apne bag ko kandhe se lagaye, apni university ke hallway se guzar raha tha. Pechay students ka shor aur awaazain aa rahi thi. Woh cafeteria mein chala gaya. Video call ho rahi thi. Woh use bagor dekhne laga. Faris apni mez par akela baitha tha. Uske aas paas se koi guzar nahi raha tha. Kisi ne usse mukhatib kar ke baat karne ki koshish nahi ki thi.

"Tumne dost nahi banaye?" Woh Haidar ki bat sun chuki thi. Faris Wajdan hamesha har jagah tanha hi nazar aata tha.

"Jarurat nahi padhi" ab woh mobile ko seedha rakhe muskurate hue bol raha tha.

Unhone gehri saas li. Hammad ka freind circle to khatam hone ka nam nahi leta tha. Aur ek Faris tha jiski contact list me baa-mushkil hi chand contact mehfooz the. Teen to woh janti thi, Raheem, James aur willam, ek mrs. Grande ka tha baki woh khud thi aur bas!

"Maine tumse kaha tha university life enjoy karo freinds banao.." usne muskura kar sun liya magar jawab nahi diye.

Baat karne ke liye abhi bahut kuch tha wo apni classes, schedule ke bare me batane laga. James ke sath climbing centre jane ka irada tha, uske bare me bhi aagah kiya. Mrs. Grande ke sath wo agle kuch hafto ke liye Freind district jane wala tha jaha unka ghar tha. Free ki moj masti aur dawaat, unhe hairat hui.. teeno kese man Gaya ye to baadme ilm hua ki wo Raheem ko jalana chahte the. Jis tarah wo pakistan bhar me unke bina hi moj mastiya karte phir raha tha., to bas ye sab isliye tha woh sun kar muskurati rahi.

Ye zaahri tha ke Faris Wajdan ki nafsiyat par kafi achha asar padh Gaya tha. Uska chehra ab kisi dukh ya gham se bhojak nahi lagta tha. Uski Khamoshi ab jada taweel nahi hoti thi. Uski aankho me zindagi ke rang unhe dikhayi de jate the. Wo khul kar hasne aur muskurane bhi laga tha.

Dada se alag hone ka faisla uske liye behtreen sabit hua tha. Jo bhoj uske asab par padhta tha wo khatam ho chuka tha. Izzat aur Khuddari ka ehsaas nayi manzilo ke janib kam san kar chuka tha. Uski shakhsiyaat ke ye tabdeeli unhe acchi lagi thi. Baat khatam ho gayi to wo uth kar sidhiyo ki janib barh gayi.

Mirror ki ot me diwar ke sath pusht tikaye Hammad Shirazi ne mutthiya sakhti se beech li thi. Uske chehre par dhup padh rahi thi. Aankho me aag jal rahi thi, awaaz sirf ab Faris ki thi. Jo uske andar aur bahut andar gunj rahi thi.

•••

Raahim glasses durust karta laptop screen ke samne aksar kar baitha tha. James, William aur Faris sabhi online thay. Woh apni sair o tafreeh ke qissay suna raha tha. Baqi dono toh tawajju se sun rahe thay magar Faris ki nigahe uske kamray ka jaiza lene mein lagi hui thi. Har baar uska kamra mukhtalif hota tha.

"Tum Pakistan ghoom rahe ho ya Pakistan tumhare peeche ghoom raha hai?"

"Filhaal toh dono kaam ho rahe hain," khasiana ho kar hansa.

"Yani tum kisi ulte seedhay kaam mein par gaye ho," Faris ne mashkook ho kar usay dekha.

"Nahin, woh ghalti sirf meine tumhari zimmedari lete waqt ki thi. Baqi koi bhi kaam ho, main soch samajh kar karta hoon."

Faris lab bheench kar reh gaya.

"Woh khaas kaam kya hai jiske baare mein tumne humein batana tha?" James ne ek dum se usay yaad dilate hue apni taraf mutawajjah kiya.

"Haan woh khaas kaam... bees hazaar pounds wala!" William bhi apni neend se jaag gaya..

Raahim ne tasreeh ki.  "Pounds nahi, rupees"

Notepad par khaali lakeerein kheenchte Faris ne chonk kar sar uthaya.  "Kaisa kaam?"

"Asal me..." Sanjidgi se bat karte hue

Raahim laptop screen par jhuka, suspend ki inteha karte hue apni awaz passt ki.

"Mujhe kisi ko afwah karna hai..."

Faris sastar reh gaya. James aur willam ke muh khul gaye.

"Are you out of your mind?" Wo cheekh utha.

"Nahi mera mind to mere andar hi hai" wo maze se seedha ho betha.

"Kisko agwah karna hai?"

"Kyu agwah karna hai?"

James aur willam laptop me ghus gaye. Raahim mazid akad gaya. Usne foran glasses hata kar, siyah glasses laga liye. Ke woh bahut mutbar aur professional si shakhsiyat lage.

"Toh gour se sune sab mujhe ek bacche ko agwah karna hai..."

"Crime ke alawa tumhara dimag aur kisi chiz me chalta hai bhi ki nahi?" Faris ko us par theek thak ghussa aa gaya.

"Aik to me jab bhi koi neki ka kaam karta hu, tum mere peeche padh jate ho"

"Neki? Tum ek bacche ko agwah karoge aur yeh neki hai?" Unki bahesh chhidh gayi.

"Toh bacche ka agwah karwa kon raha hai, tum yeh bhi to dekho uska bechara sagga baap..,"

James aur willam ne mushrka "oh" keh kar bato ko samjha

"Bees hazar rupay ke liye neki ho rahi hai.." Faris ne Tanz kiya..

"Puri baat to sunlo pehle, phir lecture dena. Dost hai mera uski biwi rishte me cousin bhi hai, dono families ke douran bahut badi jang chhidi hui hai, masla bado ka hai lekin beech me woh dono pees rahe hai. Ladki Wale baap ko bacche se milne nahi de rahe to me chand ghante ke liye usay ghayab karuga aur usay wapas le aaoonga.."

Faris ne jabt karke uski poori bat sabr aur tahammul se suni.

"Agar jo bacche ne muh kholkar tumahara bhanda phod diya to?"

"Woh do saal ka hai kya bolega?" Raahim ne goya naak se makhhi udhayi.

"Paanch minute ka kam hai yaar,.." usne chutki bajayi.

phir muskara kar bola, "Abhi nahi, lekin waqt aane par tumhein bhi pata chal jayega."

Woh yu baat kar raha tha jaise gaali ki nukkad tak jaa kar wapis aa jana hai، Faris ko ekdam raahim par Shaq hua. Kesi kesi sargarmi me mulawwis raha hoga ye. James aur willam had se jada excited huye..

"It is not a crime you know"

"Raahim ek bacche ko uske baap se milwa raha hai..," bhala wo kyun bardash kar sakte the ke koi unke raahim ko muzrim kahe..

Tay paya ke woh kal hi ladki walo ke ghar jayega, aur bacche ko kisi tarah agwah karke apne dost ke paas le jaayega.

"Oh tum koshis karna ke agar baby cart se bacche ko uthao to andar kuchh rakh dena, jisse sabko yehi lage ke baccha abhi bhi wahi hain..," James ke writerana masjware shuru ho chuke the.

"Do saal ka hai wo baby cart me kya kar raha hoga?.." William ne kaha.

"Raahim ek bacche ke sath tumhe deewar falanagne me kitni mushkil hogi?" James ko aur fiqr hui,

Phir usne kaha, “Shayad tumhe yaad ho, Flora aur Harry ke pinjre ke sath kaise Mrs. Grande ki khidki tak chadh kar gaya tha, Bilkul bandar ki tarah..."

"Bandar ki tarah?" Rahim muta'ariz hua.

"To hum aur kya kahen?" Woh uske taseerat se khaif huay ke kahin is saari karwai se unhein block hi na kar diya jaye.

Jis waqt woh saari planning ho rahi thi, Fares zabt kiye chup raha. Agle din woh university chala gaya. James aur William pal pal ki khabar usay dete rahe. Dopeher teen baje ke baad Raahim Afaq ke sath unka rabta khatam ho gaya. Aakhri dafa jab baat hui to usne yeh bataya ke woh bas pahunch gaya hai. Aage kya hua? Kuch khabar nahi thi. Shaam tak unhon ne uska intezaar kiya. Aur phir yaqeen kar liya ke pakda gaya hoga. Ab itne bhare pure gharane mein poore khandan ki mojudgi mein aik bachhe ko ghaib karna koi asaan kaam thodi na tha.

Yeh to Rahim tha jisay lag raha tha bas yun gaya. Aur yun aaya. Ke tu raha tha mulaqat ke bahane jayega.

Ho sakta hai usne irada badal liya ho aur deewar phalangi ho. Aur kisi mamoon, chachi ki bandook ki zadd mein aaya. Woh usay senkro tareeqo se bhagte, girte, goli khate, phislte martay dekh chuke thay. James ka writerana dimagh unke chhakke chhuda raha tha. Fares aur William ne usay jhadak kar uska mog band karwa diya.

Thak haar kar apne gharo ko laut kar aaye to karwat badalte raat guzar gayi. Na bechaini kam hui, aur na theek se neend aa sakay.

Agle din dopeher bara baje usse rabta ho saka.

"Mission accomplished!"

Bacche aur bacche ke baap ke sath li gayi selfie unhein bheji. Woh usay bilkul theek thak dekh kar mayoos huay.

"Tumhein goli nahi lagi?"

"Deewar se nahi gire?"

"Koi haddi nahi tooti?"

"Tumhein police ne nahi pakda?"

Unhein itnay baday adventure ka inteqam bohot bojhal aur boring laga.

"Tum teenon ke sath dosti rakhne se behtar hai insaan saanp paal le." Rahim ko gussa chadh gaya.

"Hum bandar paale ge" Unhone tay kar liya.

Raahim ne teenon ko block kar diya...

•••

Finance MBA ki degree hasil karne ke baad usne internship ke liye apply kiya to sab se pehle Jamila Dawood se baat ki. Unse dua ka kaha. Woh zindagi ke har mod par qadam milaye uske saath saath thi. Uski himmat aur hosla barhati hui. Musbat raah dikhakar aage barhne ka shauq dilati hui. Usne apni pehli salary bhi unhe hi bheji. Woh chahta tha woh usse kharch karein. Unhone sambhal kar rakh li.

"Janata hoon. Aapki aik painting ki qeemat isse kai guna zyada hogi..."

"Mere liye tumhari pehli tanqah se zyada mehngi koi painting nahi!"

Woh unki taraf dekhta muskura diya. Uski muskurahat unhein khushi ka ehsaas dilati. Woh unka beta tha. Uski har khushi aur kamiyaabi unke liye ba'ais iftikhaar thi. Woh usay zindagi mein mutmain aur kamyab dekhna chahti thi.

Jis company se usne internship ki, us company ne uski skills se mutaasir ho kar stunt manager ka accounting ki job offer kar di.

Raahim ko ilm hua to usne khankhar kar gila saaf kiya.

"Yeh sab meri wajah se hai. Agar jo mein tumhein kabhi gunda banne ka mashwara na deta to tum kabhi bhi is maqam par na hote jahan ho!"

"Main pata nahi tumhein call kyun karta hoon..." Faris ko apni galti ka shiddat se ehsaas hua. Woh hans diya.

"So happy for you bro!" Usne phir thumbs up  dikha kar usay saraha.

"Jab tum apna business shuru karo to partnership ke liye main hazir!"

"Jis din mera apna business dubonay ka irada hoga, main zaroor tum se rabta karunga," usne kaha. Din Rahim dhehattayi se hasta raha.

Usne Greenwich mein hi kiraye par chhota sa flat le liya. Ab woh apne tamam kharchay khud uth raha tha. Chahta tha ab Jamila Dawood se financially support na kare. Magar woh phir bhi uske bank account mein mahana raqam transfer kar diya karti thi.

"Ab main job kar raha hoon mummy.."

"To karte raho. Main ne kuch kaha?.." Woh aankhon mein shararat liye usay dekhte.

"Main paise istemal nahi karunga. Zaya ho jayenge."

"To kya ab tum mujhe yeh batana chahte ho ke life mein bilkul settle ho gaye ho?"

"Ji haan!" Woh laptop screen ke samne kursi kheinch kar baith gaya.

"Phir to tumhein shaadi kar leni chahiye..."

Usne pani ka glass leeon se lagaya hi tha ke aik dam se khansi shuru ho gayi.

"Dhyaan se beta..." Usne sanbhalkar saans le kar unki taraf dekha. Kuch sadma se...

"Kya khayal hai tumhare liye koi larki dekhu?" Woh uske taseerat ki parwah kiye baghair kehne lagi.

"Main chobees saal ka hoon, mummy!"

"Shaadi ke liye bilkul munaasib age hai..."

"Agle das saal tak mera shaadi ka koi irada nahi!.."  Usne hatmi faisla suna diya. Jamila khafa ho gayi.

"Yeh aaj kal ke ladko ko kya ho gaya hai? Hammad bhi kehta hai abhi shaadi nahi karni. Tum bhi yeh keh rahe ho, phir kab karni hai shaadi?"

Hammad ke zikar par uski muskurahat aik dum se simat gayi. Dono bhaiyo ke darmiyan kabhi bhi koi khuli baat nahi hui thi. Na hi unki zindagi ya mamlaat aik jaise the. Magar anjaane mein Jamila Dawood aksar uska naam le liayati thi. Uske kisi na kisi rawaiye ya jawab se unhein Hamad yaad aa jata tha.

Woh bhi aise hi karta hai? Hammad bhi yehhi kehta hai! Har baar yeh mumaslat us par khamoshi si taari kar deti thi. Woh khud mein Shirazi khandan ke kisi fard ki shabih ya jhalak nahi dekh sakta tha. Hammad aur uska na muqabla tha, na muazna tha, na barabari thi. Usay apne bade bhai ki nafrato ka idraak bachpan se tha. Magar Jamila Dawood ke liye woh dono barabar the.

"Kahan kho gaye?"

"Yahi hoon!"

"Kya tumhe kabhi bhi koi larki pasand nahi aayi?" Mutbassim lehze mein qadre sanjeedgi se puchhne lagi.

"Mummy!" Woh aik dum se surkh ho gaya tha. Uske taseeraat dekh kar unki hasi chhoot gayi.

"Aap yeh theek nahi kar rahi..." Woh chid gaya tha. Woh muskurahat zabt kar ke usay mohabbat bhari nazro se dekhne lagi.

"Main sirf itna keh rahi hoon ke shaadi ke liye socho, mind nahi ban raha to bhi banao. Yeh koi baat nahi ke das saal baad karoge ya pandrah saal baad!"

Woh chup raha.

"Koi munaasib rishta mil jaye to abhi kar lo, career se zehan nahi bhale ga. Balke tum apni family ke liye mazeed sakht karoge, zindagi mein aik thehraav aa jayega. Tumhein apne ahdaaf samajh mein aane lagayenge. Mujhe bohat khushi hogi agar tum apni zindagi mein settle ho jaoge."

Usne koi behas nahi ki. Koi daleel, ehtraz kuch nahi diya.

Zindagi mohabbat, rishtay aur khushiyon par usay apna haq kabhi mehsoos nahi hua tha. Uski zindagi mein na koi larki thi, na kisi ko lane ka koi irada tha, na uske ehsasat aise the, na tarjihato mein koi shaamil tha. Yeh aik sarsari si baat thi. Faisla to phir bhi uska hi tha. Usne wazeh inkar kar diya. Woh aisa kuch nahi soch raha, usne Jamila Dawood ko bata diya.

Usay nahi pata tha woh bohat jald apna irada badalne wala tha. Aik nai zindagi ki shuruat karne wala tha. Aik naya rishta nibhane wala tha. Woham o gumaan mein bhi nahi tha ke uski soch, uska zehan, uske ehsaas aik baar phir us par kadi azmaish ban kar utarne wale the.

❏❏❏