Chapter 94: ּ ֶָ֢.CH93

•••

Karwato par karwate badalte, woh kuch bechaini aur beqarari ke aalam mein uth kar baith gaya tha. Us ke kamre ki khidkiya khuli hui theen, phir bhi dam ghuta hua mehsoos ho raha tha. Sleeping pills ka bhi koi faida nahi hua tha. Be-araami uske wajood ka hissa rahi thi. Woh sir thaame hue kitni hi der tak baitha raha. Ek ajeeb si jamud karne wali rawish ab zindagi ka hissa ban chuki thi. Na usay apni zaat se koi sarokar tha aur na zindagi ki koi fikr. Woh Pakistan laut aaya tha, apne taluqaat aur rabta har kisi se khatam karne ke bawajood, usay apna wajood mukhtalif doriyo se juda hua, lipta hua, bhatakta hua mehsoos hota tha.

Sukoon khatam ho chuka tha. Beqarari ang ang mein ghir chuki thi. Sadme par sabar aa gaya tha magar takleef phir bhi mehsoos hoti thi.

Woh subah se sham tak coat ki jeebo mein haath daale, Margalla ki pahaariyo par be-maqsad tehalte rehta, kisi bench mein mojasme dhal kar waqt guzar deta.

Ghar aata to dam ghut-ta aur cheekhne ka dil chahta. Sunnate se wahshat hoti. Abhi bhi uski kefiyat aisi hi thi.

Aahat ka ehsas hua to chonk kar uth baitha. Us ka flat teesri manzil par tha, mukammal tor par mehfooz ke darwaza bhi lock rehta tha. Uth kar bahar aaya. Saamne hi gallery mein saaya lehraaya. Usne haath barhakar danda uthaliya aur deewar ke saath lag kar khada ho gaya. Door slide hote hi kisi ne andar sar dala. Woh ghuma kar maarne hi laga tha ke poore chaand ki roshni mein ghunghrale baal numaya huay, phir ainak aur phir chehra.

"Koi ek kaam to tum normal insano jaisa kar liya karo," Raahim Afaq par nazar parhte hi usay tap chadhi. Jo bhaari danda hath mein tha, use bade sabr ke saath neeche kiya, warna dil yeh hi chahta tha ke woh usay jad de.

"Darwaza band tha yaar, main andar kaise aata?" Masoomiyat ki inteha mein woh langra kar sofa par dhe gaya.

Jhat se Joota utaara. Railing phalangte waqt paon kahin phans gaya tha aur nateejatan bohot sakht chot aayi thi.

"Door bell decoration ke liye nahi lagai.." Faris uske sar par khada tha.

"Oh mujhe bilkul pata nahi tha," zurabe utar kar  chot ka moaina karte huay uska sar uthaya.

Neem tareeki mein woh jeans aur safed shirt pehne khada tha. Aankhon ke halqe numaya the, rangat bhi zard, chehre par koi tasur nahi tha. Veerani, khamoshi aur sannata, andar bhi aur bahar bhi. Uske chhote se flat mein zindagi bas is dil tak mehdood thi jo dhadak raha tha, warna wajood to ek zinda laash jaisa tha.

Apne zakhm ko chhod kar uth khada hua. "Tum Pakistan aa gaye aur mujhse rabta nahi kiya?"

"Maine zaroori nahi samjha."

Mud kar kitchen mein chala gaya. Cabinet se first aid box nikal kar uske saamne table par rakh diya. Rahim hanuz apni jagah khada raha.

"Tumne zaroori nahi samjha?" Uska lehja chubhta hua tha.

"Zakhm saaf kar lo, infection na ho jaye." Uski baat khatam hone se pehle hi usay ghunsa para tha. Woh table par ladhak kar neeche jaa gira. Honth ka kona phat gaya. Khoon ki dhaar beh nikli.

"Bohat khujli ho rahi thi is haath mein," apne haath ko jumbish dete usne kaha. Gareban se daboch kar deewar ke saath laga diya. Usne Raahim ko isse pehle kabhi itna shadeed gusse mein nahi dekha tha.

"Paanch maheene ho gaye hain mujhe tumhe dhoondte hue, aur tumne zaroori nahi samjha?"

Aankhon mein qahar liye, uski girift sakht thi. Woh sir jhukae chup raha. Woh uska gareban chhod kar basta jhasta seedha kamre mein gaya, lights on karke, uska saamaan ulta seedha karte huay kuch documents, bus tickets aur ek hand gun. Woh usay utha kar bahar aaya.

"Pindi kyun ja rahe ho tum? Aur yeh gun kis liye hai?" Uski aankhon mein khoon utra hua tha. Halat badal chuke the, waqt guzar chuka tha, magar Raahim Afaq ke samne woh hamesha wahi teenager Faris ho jata tha jise kisi jawab ya wazaahat ki himmat nahi kar pata tha. Bas khamoshi aur sirf khamoshi.

"Kuch pooch raha hoon tumse?" Woh phat pada. Faaris dam saadhe chup raha.

"Is liye ke us ghatiya larki ne tumhare bhai se shaadi kar li, to tumne apni zindagi barbaad karne ka faisla kar liya? Yeh nahi socha ke acha hua woh nagin tumhari zindagi se nikal gayi."

Faris ki mutthiya sakhti se bheench gayin. Uski surkh aankhon mein qabar ki nami barti gayi.

"Kya plan hai tumhara? Ab kya karna chahte ho tum?"

Khamoshi chaayi rahi.

"Yeh batao mujhe, yeh sab mera wahem aur shak hai. Tum aise kuch nahi kar rahe." Usne gareban se daboch kar jhanjhod dala.

"Yeh gun meri protection ke liye hai aur Rawalpindi mein job ke liye ja raha hoon." Faris ne sakhti se apna gareban chhuda liya tha. Zabt se chehra surkh ho raha tha, aur aankho ki nami barh chuki thi.

Raahim lab bhiche usse dekhta raha. Andaz se wazeh tha ke usay Faris ki kisi baat par yaqeen nahi aya tha.

"Yeh theek nahi hai jo tum soch rahe ho ya jo karna chaah rahe ho. Faris, yeh theek nahi hai."

Woh tahmmahul ke saath kuch lamhon tak Raahim ko dekhta raha, phir lounge table ki drawer se kuch kaaghzaat nikaal kar uske samne rakhe. Appointment letter jo usay Pindi se moosool hua tha, aur jis company ka tha, uska naam bhi likha tha. Uski licensed gun pichle paanch mah se uske paas thi. Yeh waqt kaafi tha kisi bhi hamla karne ya kisi ki jaan nikalne ke liye.

"Shayad tum nahi jaante, tumhare sahab ka pota apni biwi ke saath London mein hai."

Raahim ke andar ke tamam khauf aur khadshaat jaag ki tarah baith gaye. Apne chehre par haath pherta, usne gehri saans lekar apne asaab par qaboo paane ki koshish ki.

Phir woh uski taraf mutawajjah hua. London mein jitna arsa woh uske saath raha, hamesha sawalat ko nazarandaz karke wazaahaton ko chhupa liya karta tha. Sun kar ansuni karta hua, kisi ke sochne ka koi farq nahi padta tha. Magar pehli dafa usne Raahim Afaq ko koi wazaahat di thi.

"Tumhare saath jo kuch bhi hua, uska mujhe bohot afsos hai."

"Lekin mujhe nahi hai. Main yeh sab deserve karta tha." Uski ki veeran aankhon mein zindagi ki koi jhalak nahi thi. Uske chehre se muskarahat khatam ho chuki thi, uske dil mein koi ehsaas nahi tha.

Raahim chand lamhon tak usse dekhta raha. Woh uske liye bhaiyon jaisa tha, aur uski takleef hamesha use ajeeb sa dukh deti thi.

"Yahan tum ghalat ho." Usse gale laga kar uski peeth thapthapayi.

"Tum bas yeh hi ek mukka deserve karte ho jo maine tumhein mara hai."

Faaris ke labo par halki si muskaraahat abhari aur phir madhoom ho gayi.

"Bohot bhook lagi hai yaar. Tumhare paas kuch khane ko hai?"

Alag ho kar hi woh kitchen ki taraf bhaaga. Fridge khol kar nigah daudayi. Ek haath mein juice pakda, doosre se salan ka bowl nikala.

"Roti mangwa do bas, subah se kuch nahi khaya."

Jam kar table par baith gaya.

Gehri saans lete hue Faris ne apna coat uthaya aur bahar nikal gaya. Juice peete huye Raahim ki nigahe us handgun par thehri rahin jo lounge table par rakhi thi aur jis par poore chaand ki roshni par rahi thi.

•••

Woh apni e-mails dekh raha tha.

Lashari Group of Industries ki taraf se guzishta raat hi jawab moosool hua tha.

Uski CV dekhi ja chuki thi.

Usse interview ke liye bulaya gaya tha.

Woh kuch der tak peshaani masalta raha.

Pindi se ek appointment letter usay mil chuka tha, lekin uski khwahish Lashari Group of Industries se judne ki thi.

Shirazi Enterprises ke muqable mein, bas Lashari Group hi aa sakta tha.

Muqabla shayad inhi dono ka tha.

Azam Shirazi, business mein maat dene ki bharpoor salahiyat rakhte the.

"Haidar tumhein dhoond raha hai."

Uske barabar me sofa par dhamm se baith gaya aur headphones hata kar kaha,

"Tumahri mummy bhi, chhe mahino se tumne koi rabta nahi kiya "

"Sab tumhare liye bohot pareshaan hain."

Faaris ka sar jhuka raha, Ungliyan keyboard par mutaharrik rahin. Woh ek nayi email type kar raha tha.

"Thik hai, jo hua so hua.

Magar is tarah rabta khatam kar dene se kya hoga?"

Woh bata nahi saka, us khandan se doori mein hi uski bhalayi thi.

Raahim tehlte chocolate khate, laptop par kaam karte hue usay dekh raha tha.

Aakhir uth kar uske paas punjoo ke bal baith gaya,

Gardan aage kar ke dekha, mashuk bhari nazar se.

"Kya chal raha hai tumhare dimaag mein?"

Faris ne uski peshaani thok kar peeche kiya,

"Ouch! Kya hai yaar?"

"Apne kaam se matlab rakho."

Itne arsay baad, Faris ne baqaida koi baat ki.

"Dekho, agar tum qatl ki plotting kar rahe ho, to pehle tumhe mujhse baat karni chahiye." Laptop band karke ek taraf rakha aur kaha:

"Tumse kyun karni chahiye?"

Raahim ki aankhein phail gayi,

"I knew it! Tum waqai kuch karne wale ho?"

Usne Faris ke kandhe se pakad kar jhonjhod diya.

"Hosh mein aao Faris! Ek insan ka qatl, Poore insaniyat ka qatl."

Rahim cheekha.

"baat woh kar raha hai, jo bachon ko agwah karta hai."

"Woh ek neki ka kaam kar raha tha!" jata kar kaha.

Faris ne taffus se sar hilata rukh modh kar kuch aur likhne laga. Usne ghoom kar sofa ke peeche se kaha,

"Ahm, Lashari Group of Industries kya karna chahte ho? waise iska maalik mujhe bhi kuch khaas pasand nahi. Kyun na mil kar hum Lashari Group ka beda gharq kar dein?"

"Kya tum mujhe kaam karne doge?"

Chilla kar kaha,  woh haath utha kar wapas sofa par aa baitha. Mez par taang par taang rakhi aur shak bhari nigahon se dekhne laga.

"Main filhaal sirf job talash kar raha hoon." usne zabt kar ke wazahat di.

"Haan, woh bhi sirf us company mein jo Azam Shirazi ke muqable mein hai. tum apna saara gussa un par nikalna chahte ho, unhein tabah kar ke."

Faris lab bheench kar usay dekhta raha. Woh hamesha uske dimaag tak aur uski soch tak pohanch jata tha. aaj bhi pohanch gaya tha.

"Waise kya tum jaante ho ke unke saath Azam Shirazi ki rishtedari bhi hai?"

Faris ne chonk kar sar uthaya.

"Kaisi rishtedari?"

"Daud Lashari tumhari mummy ke walid hain."

Faris hairan sa baitha reh gaya.

Woh gehri muskaraahat ke saath uth kar chala gaya.

Agle din, subah soobere jogging se wapsi par, maatha pasina saaf karte uske paas aaya.

Faris, siyah three-piece suit mein, apne job interview ke liye mukammal tayar nazar aa raha tha.

"Best of luck." Kandha thapthapa kar sofa par ja baitha.

TV on kar liya, chips ka packet bhi khol liya.

"Tum yahan se kab tak jaane wale ho?" Chips khaate hue uska moonh ruk gaya.

Gardann moad kar Faris ko dekha.

Taasuraat ek dum se khatarnak ho gaye.

"Sharam nahi aati apne bade bhai se aisa sawal karte hue?" Gusse se bharak kar bola.

"Bhool gaye woh waqt jab maine tumhein Begonia House mein poore chaar saal tak bardasht kiya tha?"

"Us bardasht ke paise bhi tumne bohot liye hain. Main free mein yahan kyun rakhoon?" Woh sard lehje mein bola.

Aankhon mein shak tha, kahin use dobara na bheja gaya ho.

"Theek hai, theek hai. Kiraya le lena mujh se." Uljha kar apne matlab ki baat tak lana Raahim Afaaq ke dahine haath ka khel tha.

Faris Wajdan ka parah chadh gaya.

"Tumhara apna koi ghar nahi hai jo tum yahan raho ge?"

"Main aaj kal bohot gareeb ho chuka hoon. Khane ke liye paisay bhi nahi hain." Maskeen si shakal banate hue, apne track suit ki khaali jebein bhi dikhaye.

"Gareeb ke paas gaari hai, mobile hai, laptop hai, branded kapde hain.

Bas ghar nahi hai." Faris ne daant piise.

"Nazar kyun lagate ho? Ma sha Allah bolo. Allah mujhe aur rizq de."

Faris zabt kar ke bahar nikal gaya.

•••

Uska interview liya gaya tha, wohi dekhi gayi, tajurbe aur salahiyaton se mutasir ho kar hire kar liya gaya. Company join karte hi usne tamam mamlaat par bohot bareek-beeni se nazar rakhna shuru ki, jaisa ke uska khayal tha. Shirazi Business Empire ko harif ki nigah se dekha jata tha. Muqabla jaise unhi se tha, aur unhi se ho sakta tha.

Usay company join kiye teesra hafta tha jab usay dawood Lashari ke bete ki aamad ki ittila mili jo America ke trip se haali mein lota tha. File uthaye apne office se nikal kar, office staff ki gathering mein nazar aate, kuch anjaane chehro ko dekhte huye woh daye taraf lift mein dakhil hua tha. Uske saath navy three-piece suit mein ma malboos, pentalees saal ka smart aur slim sa mard andar aaya. Mobile par kuch dekhte, ek haath jeb mein daale ruk gaya. Screen scroll karte, kuch dekh kar muskurate woh ek dam se gungunane laga, aadatan, yunhi sarshari ke aalam mein.

Waqt ruk gaya. Lift ki charo deeware Faris Wajdan par tang ho gayin. Uski peshaani arq-aalood hone lagi, aankhon mein dehshat ka taseer thehar gaya. Sannate mein woh mukhsoos dhun baar-baar goonjti hui, ek dum se buland hone lagi. Itni buland ke Faris ko apne kaan phattay hue mehsoos huye.

“Yeh Hammad to nahi hai.” Tez roshni mein ek dhundli si moheeb shakal numaya hui.

“To tumhare maalik ne tumhein hamare aage chaare ki tarah phenk diya, taake woh apne potay ki jaan bacha sake.” Bhari qadamo ki ahat, tareek kothri ka andhera, dehshat bhari sakht pathreele alfaz, aur woh gungunahat.

“Sherdil se kaho ke is ladke ko le jaye.”

“Aur haan, usse kehna laash hum Azam Shirazi ko hi bhejenge, usey pata chalna chahiye agar Hammad hamare haath aa jata, to hum uska kya hashar karte.” Kothri ki tareeki ne usey mukammal tor par nigal liya.

Ab woh phone kaan se laga chuka tha. Kuch sunte hi gusse mein aagaya tha. “Kya maine yeh nahi kaha tha mujhe report shaam chhe baje tak mil jani chahiye?” Woh hi sard lehja, karahat awaaz.

“Yeh mera kaam hai, to mere tareeqe se hi hoga. Understood?”

Usne kis qadar koshish se gardan modh kar uska chehra dekha. Siyahi mael gehri aankhen, gel se bandhe hue baal, clean-shaven chehra. Call sunte huye pathar le hotay tasuraat. Lift matlooba floor par ruki, to woh baat karte usse pehle hi nikal gaya. Darwaze barabar ho gaye. File uske haath se choot kar neeche jaa gir gayi.

Dawood Lashari ka beta, Junaid Lashari. Lashari Group of Industries ka waaris. Jamila Dawood ka bhai.

Faris Wajdan apni jagah sakit khara reh gaya.

•••

“Maine Haider ko bata diya hai tum yahan ruke hue ho.” Char paanch din tak ghayab rehne ke baad Rahim usse milne aaya to sanjeedgi se bataya.

“Ab kal ko koi aur nich nich hogi, to sab mera gala hi boojhein ge. To isi liye.”

Faris chup raha. Yun lag raha tha jaise usne kuch suna hi na ho. Aam tor par woh aisi baton par sakht rad-e-amal deta tha.

"Hellow," uski aankho ke samne haath lehraya. "Yahin ho ya kaha ho?"

Woh gardan modh kar usay dekhne laga. Uski aankhein surkh thi aur halqay numayan, jaise woh kaafi rato tak soya na ho.

"Tum theek ho?" Woh ek dam sanjeeda ho gaya. Usne dheere se nafi mein sar hila diya.

"Kis ki baat kar rahe ho tum?"

"Jis ne mujhe agwah kiya tha."

Rahim ko shiddat ka jhatka laga.

"Kya? Sach mein? Kaise? Tum to kehte thay tumhe kuch yaad nahi hai!"

Faris ne gehri saans le kar apna sir hathailiyo par gira diya. Uski haalat abtar thi, woh trauma ke asar se guzar raha tha.

"Woh Dawood Lashari ka beta hai, mummy ka bhai."

Raahim Afaq apni jagah hairan o pareshaan baitha reh gaya. Usay samat par jaise yaqeen nahi aaya.

"Tumne usay kaise pehchana?" Sadme se nikal kar poocha.

"Awaz se. Gungunahat se. Woh dhun kabhi mere zehan se nahi nikli."

Raahim ne hairani ke sath usay dekha.

"Ho sakta hai tumhe ghalat fehmi hui ho."

"Nahi, main uski awaz nahi bhool sakta. Mujhe sab yaad hai."

Faris ka rang uda hua tha, aur uski saanse bhaari chal rahi thi.

"Are you sure?"

Usne sir ko haan mein hila diya.

"Agar maine usay pehchan liya hai, to ho sakta hai woh bhi mujhe pehchan le."

"Tumhari uske sath mulaqat hui hai?"

"Abhi tak nahi."

Maamla ek dam se aur zyada pechida ho gaya.

"Tum ab kya soch rahe ho?"

"Main resign karna chahta hoon."

"Tum darr rahe ho?"

"Mohtaat ho raha hoon."

Raahim khamosh ho gaya. Baat yahin khatam ho gayi.

Agle din, woh ek baar phir uske samne tha.

"Mere khayal se humein Azam sahab se baat karni chahiye."

Woh chai ka cup haath mein liye gallery mein khada tha.

"Yeh mera masla hai. Isay suljhaunga bhi main hi."

"Bewaqufi ki baatein mat karo. Woh unki bahu ka bhai hai. Itna qareebi aur ahem rishta hai. Tumhe lagta hai woh tumhari baat par yaqeen kar lenge?"

Raahim ne kuch kehne ki koshish ki, lekin alfaz kho gaye.

"Aur mummy Woh kya sochein gi? Abhi ke halaat mein, sab ki nazar mein villain to main hi hoon."

Faris ka lehja sard aur faisla kun tha.

"Tumhe saboot chahiye?"

"Haan. Shayad tabhi koi yaqeen kar sake."

"Tumhare irade kya hain?" Raahim ab ke seene par bazu baandhe khada ho gaya.

Faris ne gardan modh kar usay dekha. "Madad karoge meri?"

"Agar plan share karoge to."

Faris ne gehri saans li.

"Yeh asaan nahi hai lekin main us par nazar rakhna chahta hoon."

"Done ho gaya, phir yeh mujhe chhod do." Raahim ne uska kandha thapthapaya aur chala gaya.

Faris ne usi din apni naukri se resign de diya.

Sham tak, Raahim apne kamray se baraamad hua. Usne laptop meja par Faris ke samne khol diya.

"Jara yeh dekho, bas thodi si effort."

Raahim ki aankhein neend se bojhal thi, ghungriyale uljhe hue baal aur chehre par halki si thakaan thi. Usay neend bhi aa rahi thi, bhook bhi lagi thi, aur woh Margalla Hills par hiking ka bhi keh raha tha.

Faris ne achambhe se usay aur phir laptop ki screen ko dekha. Jis par Lashari Group of Industries ke head office ke tamam CCTV cameras ki live footage nazar aa rahi thi.

"Yeh tumne kya kiya?"

"Main ne IP address online search kiya, login bahut simple Phir signature information ki koshish ki, kuch passwords try kiye aur boom!" Raahim ne screwdriver ghoomate hue kaha jaise koi bahut asaan kaam kiya ho.

"Tumne Lashari Group ka poora security system hack kar liya!" Faris ne sadme ke saath usay dekha.

"Haan. Tumne hi to kaha tha tumhe meri help chahiye. Lo, ho gayi help."

Faris usay dekhte reh gaya. Laptop screen par alag-alag angles se footage chal rahi thi, parking area, raahdariyan, reception, aur andhrooni ahate ki bhi.

"Tumne... tumne yeh sab kaise kar liya?"

"Main ek IT student hoon. Kya tum bhool gaye?" Raahim ne screwdriver ko ek aur baar ghoomate hue laptop apne taraf ghuma liya.

"Mera nahi khayal tha ke iske liye humein security system tak jaana padega. Main bas uski call trace karna chahta tha."

"Yeh sab bhi to isi ke liye hai. Tum uske zehan tak pohchna chahte ho, aur main uske office, uske phone tak. Phir humein yeh bhi dekhna hai ke woh kin logo se milta hai aur kin sites ko visit karta hai."

Ab woh sanjeeda aur professional guftgu baat kar raha tha.

"Ismein khatra bhi hoga."

"Yeh waale kaam mujhe chhod do," usne mutmain ho kar kaha.

"Tum kya karoge?"

"Dekhte jao, bas." Raahim ne apni jacket uthayi aur chala gaya.

Us raat, ek rehaish imarat ke neeche Azam Shirazi ki gaadi aake ruki. Haider wahan pohch gaya tha. Woh Faris ke flat ka darwaza bajane laga.

Faris ne darwaza nahi khola, calls bhi receive nahi ki. Mobile off kiye apne kamre me chhup gaya.

"Azam sahab tumse milna chahte hain," Haider ne kaha, jab Faris jogging se wapas aa raha tha. Haider ne raste mein hi usay rok liya.

"Mein kisi se nahi milna chahta, bar bar mujhe disturb karna band kardo, sard lehje me woh keh kar chala gaya. Uske baad bhi dobara unki gaadi usey nazar aayi magar wo unse milne unki bat sunne nahi gaya tha.

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