7. درد

woh khamoshi se use dekhta hua bed per laita hua tha. Uski nazre baar baar apne samne bethi us larki pe jaati jo uske liye bohat ehem thi. Jo uskeliye saans ki tarah thi.

"Miraal kyun mu phula kar bethi ho"

Woh paass stool pe bethi use dekh ke kahe bagair reh na paya. Miraal jo ab bhi usi halat me wahan bethi thi beyhad khamosh aur udaas nazar aa rahi thi jo ke Kabir ko bilkul acha nahi lag raha tha.

"Aur kya karun main? Hasun ya nachun?"

"Bas gussa na karo baki jo karna hai tumhari marzi hai."

WOh bola to Miraal ne ankh ke kone se use ghoora.

"Gussa nahi hun main bas dil bechain he...yeh itne din ki thakawat jese abhi nikal rahi hai."

Woh boli Kabir ne ankho me narmi liye use dekha.

"Ghar jao Miraal rest karo main ab theek hun bilkul tumhare samne hoon"

Miraal ne gehra saans bhar ke sar uthaya aur gardan halki si mor ke use dekha. Ahista se stool paas khench ke uske baalo me haath narmi se pherne lagi.

"Mera sakoon wahin hai jahan tum ho Kabir Khan...jahan tum nahi wahan koi sakoon nahi"

Kabir use dekhta raha phir ankhe zor se bheenchi to Miraal pareshan hui.

"Kya hua he dard ho rahi hai kahin?"

Kabir ne ankhe bheenche hue hi sar kham kiya.

"Kahan?? Main doctor ko bulaa ke aati hoon tum-"

"I wish doctor ke paas hota is dard ka ilaaj magar kya karen Miss Miraal yeh dard dil ki hai iska ilaaj hi aap hain"

Woh bola to Miraal ne apna haath uske kandhe pe maara jis per woh thora karaaha.

"Tum itne cheesy kab se hue ho?"

Usne sar jhatka magar uske honto pe ubhri muskurahat Kabir se chupi nahi hui thi. Woh dono kuch der baat karte rahe. Phir Kabir ne bamushkil use ghar jaa ke araam karne pe raazi kiya jo ke bohat mushkil kaam tha magar usne kisi na kisi tarah kar hi liya tha.

Uske jaane ke baad Abbas aur baki uske kuch colleague bhi usse milne aur haadse ki malumaat ke liye aaye the.

"Assalamu alaikum sir..!"

Kabir bol ke uthne laga magar Naseer Ahmed ne uske kandhe ko thapak ke rouk diya.

"Walaikum assalaam. Laite raho Kabir it's okay"

Woh bole aur dheere se uske paas kursi pe beth gaye.

"Tabiyat kesi hai?"

"Alhumdulilah better sir"

Naseer Ahmed ne sar ko kham kiya tha.

"I know abhi tumhe rest ki zaroorat hai but I need you to walk me through all the things that happened that day."

"Jee sir. Us din jab lieutenant Abbas aur main is operation ke liye gaye the humne apne target pe successfully attack kar diya tha magar halaat kuch kharaab ho gaye unexpectedly wahan pe aam shehri mojood the jis wajah se unki safety ko dekhte hue hum second target pe nahi bar sakte the..."

Woh baaki sab details unhe sunata gaya. Kis tarah un per dusre fighter jet se hamla hua aur situation kharab hui aur Kabir jo ke dushmano ko harame tak wahan se nahi hata tha uska jet pukhta halat me tha aur woh kharabi ki wajah se gir gaya. Jisse Kabir ain moke pe nikal to gaya tha magar chouton se nahi bach paya tha.

"Captain Kabir aap bohat hi kam arse me kaafi kuch achieve kar chuke hain aur humare the best pilots me se ek hain. We are proud of you."

Kabir ke chehre pe ek choti magar bohat gehri muskurahat ubhri. Uski qurbani raye gah nahi gayi thi.

___________

Agle din subha subha ka waqt tha jab Miraal ki ankh khuli aur woh time dekh ke jaldi jaldi apne bed se utri aur kapre tabdeel kar ke neechey aayi. kal shaam jab woh ghar wapis aayi thi to uska soen ka koi irada na tha magar pichle dino ki thakawat jese ek hi dafa me nikal aayi thi.

Woh kitchen ki taraf aayi to Asiya ko wahan yakhni dabbe me daalte hue dekha.

"Khala yeh Kabir ke liye hai?"

Asiya ne uski taraf dekha.

"Haan mera bacha itna kamzor ho gaya he uska rang dekha tha tumne? Jese khoon hi nuchar gaya ho!"

Woh Asiya ko pyaar se dekhti chali gayi. Is waqt unhe dekh ke kon kehta woh apne sage bete ki nahi batije ki baat kar rahi thi. Log jo bhi keh lete ek baat sach thi Kabir aur Miraal ke liye Asiya ka maa ka darja tha.

"Theek ho jae ga woh Khala...bilkulll theek ho jae ga"

"Waise Miraal tumhari baat hui thi uske doctors se? Koi masla aisa to nahi jiski wajah se baad me mushkil ho?"

Asiya ne pucha to Miraal ne sar ko kham kiya aur kuch uljhe tassuraat ke saath boli.

"Alhumdulilah koi jismani masla nahi hai magar doctors ne kaha hai ke bohat chances hain PTSD ke...aur yeh ke agar aisa koi masla nazar aaye to use kuch therapy wagaira ki help leni pare gi.."

Asiya khamosh ho gayi. Phir sar ko uthaya.

"Allah behtar kare ga."

Miraal ne apni khala ko dekha aur uske liye dil me hi dua ki.

Asiya ka diya yakhni ka dabba aur baaki saman le kar woh hospital chali gayi.

Hospital ponchi to Kabir ke kamre se ek lambe kad ki larki ko nikalta dekha. Chehre ka rang gandumi tha aur naksh bohat hi attractive. Bhoore rang ke baal kamar pe khule hue the aur usne jeans ke saath safaid kurta pehen rakha tha. Woh larki uske saath se guzarti hui gayi. Miraal ne use upar se neeche tak dekha. Nazro me teekhapan tha aur phir kamre ke darwaze ko kholti andar aayi.

Kabir jo ke dheemi muskurahat liye bed pe betha hua tha use darwaze se aata dekh ke chonka phir naram muskurahat ke saath use dekhne laga.

"Tum itni jaldi aa gayi? Soyi nahi sahi se?"

Kabir ne kaha to Miraal jawaab diye bagair haath me pakre bag ko paas pari table pe takha aur usme se dabba nikal ke rakha aur plate me yakhni daalne lagi.

"Jawaab kyun nahi de rahi?"

Kabir ne pucha to usne ek nazar dekha phir daalne lagi.

"Yeh mujhe ignore kyun kiya jaa raha hai?"

"Mu kholo"

Woh plate pakre uske saath aa khari hui. Kabir use dekhta raha.

"Pehle batao naraz kyun ho?"

"Nahi hoon naraz main mu kholo!"

"Nahi kholun to?"

Usne spoon aage kiya jispe usne mu na khola to Miraal ne plate ko neechey rakha aur us haath se uske gaalo ko pakra aur mu me spoon daal diya.

"Ab sahi ho?"

"Bohat hi koi zalim aurat ho tum!"

"Haan lagta hai waise bhi ek din me dil bhar gaya he kisi aur ke aane pe ziyada muskurahaten hoti hain tumhare chehre pe!"

Kabir use tuk tuk dekhta gaya phir bola.

"What?!"

Miraal ne uske mu me phir yakhni ka chamach daal diya. Kabir ne bamushkil piya aur mu haath ki pusht se saaf kiya.

"Mere mu me spoon thoons na to band karo! Aur yeh kis ki baat kar rahi ho?"

Woh bola to Miraal ne ek nazar ghoora phir mu phulae sar jhuka liya.

"Tum Isha ki baat to nahi kar rahi? Uf Miraal woh meri dost hai training saath ki hui he humne"

"Mujhe kya? Jo karzi karo tum"

"Lag to nahi raha ke tumhe koi farak nahi parta"

Woh zehre lab muskurata hua bola to Miraal ne ankh ke kone se use dekha.

"Isse pehle ke main utha ke kuch tumhari taraf phenku yeh piyo aur araam karo"

Woh murne lagi to uski kalahi ko usne thaama.

"Aise to mat jao? Please...?"

Uske please ne jese uska dil pighla diya aur woh use dekhti rahi phir uske paas beth gayi.

Uske maathe pe aate baalo ko ungliyon se peechey karte hue uske haath baar baar uske maathe se lagte jahan pe halka halka paseena tha. Usne apne haath ki pusht se uske maathe ko saaf kiya.

"Jealous Miraal dekhne ka mouka mile ga yeh nahi socha tha. Waise bohat cute lagti ho"

Miraal ne sar jhatka aur muskura di.

"Tumhari tabiyat kesi hai?"

"Theek hoon"

Uski ankho me dekhte dekhte woh bola aur haath aage kar ke uske baal kaan ke peechey kiye.

"Neend aayi raat ko..?"

"Hmm"

"Kabir ek waada karo"

Kabir ne use dekha magar is baar kuch seedha ho ke betha.

"Kya?"

"Agar tumhe kuch bhi bura feel ho ya kuch bhi ho tum mujhse nahi chupao ge..mujhe nahi farak parta kya waqt hai kon hai aas paas tumhe mujhe batana he.."

Woh boli to ankho me bohat se ehsasaat the. Sab se bar kar wahan fikarmandi thi.

"Kyun itni fikar kar rahi ho Miraal..main theek hoon aur kuch hua to tumhe hi bataun ga na?"

"Bohat gham dekh liye hum dono ne Kabir...ab nahi..ab mujhme tumhe kisi bhi takleef me dekhne ki himmat nahi hai"

"Aisa kuch nahi ho ga..I promise"

Usne narmi se kaha to Miraal ko kuch sakoon aaya aur sar kham kiya.

Jo bhi tha zindagi to guzarni hi thi fikar ke saath guzre ya phir khushi ke saath..aur Miraal Hussain ki fikren Kabir Khan ke saath humesha kuch kam hi ho jaya karti thi.

_____________

Shaam ke waqt chai ke do cup pakre woh apne kamre me gayin thi jahan pe Safeerullah bathroom se nikal kar bed per bethe hi the. Shazia ne chai ka cup apne shohar ko pakraya aur kuch sochti hui kuch bure mood me dusri taraf jaa bethi aur Safeer apni biwi ko dekhne laga jo ke kisi gehri soch me nazar aa rahi thi jo ke yaqeenan koi achey asaraat nahi the.

"Allah khair hi kare"

woh bole to Shazia ne apne shohar ko dekha.

"Kya matlab?"

"Jab bhi humari begam sahiba itna sochne bethti hain to kabhi kuch acha nahi hota"

Shazia ne kuch gusse se apne shohar ko ghoora.

"Aap ko to waise bhi meri har baat buri lagti hai koi nayi baat karen."

Shazia boli aur Safeer haas e chai ke ghoont bharne lage.

"Waise maine aap se baat karni thi ek. Yeh jo chal raha hai na ghar me mujhse bardash nahi ho raha pata nahi aap ko nazar kyun nahi aa raha"

Woh boli to Safeer ne ulajh ke dekha.

"Kya chal raha he?"

"Aap ka bhatija aur bhanji jo heer ranjha bane phir rahe hain aur upar se jo aap ki behen unka is sab me saath de rahi hai! Yeh koi shareef gharon ke tor tareeke nahi hai Safeer sahab aur sochen jawan larka larki ka yun itna saath rehna koi munasib baat hai?"

Safeer ke chehre ke tassuraat kuch badle aur jab Shazia ko apne baat ka asar hota nazar aaya to woh aage apni baat jari rakhin.

"Aur gazab khuda ka ghar me jawan bahu abhi kuch arsa pehle aayi he kya sochti ho gi ke kese tor tareeke hain humare ghar ke? Yeh Asiya ko samjhaen aur in dono ke liye bhi koi munasib rishte dekh ke apni zimedari se farigh hon. Asiya ko to kal ko kisi ne kuch nahi kehna, baat aap ko hi karni hai duniya ne agar kuch hua"

Shazia ki baat mukammal hui to tab tak Safeer puri tarah apni sochon me guum ho chuka tha.

__________

Kuch bare haadso ke baad bhi hume aksar lagta hai ke us haadse ka hum pe koi khaas asar nahi hua magar dar haqeeqat kuch haadso ke asar hume zehni tor pe hila dete hain magar unka asar kuch der baad nazar aata hai. Kabir ko bhi laga tha ke woh theek tha jismani choute thi jo kuch arse me bhar jaani thi magar zehni tor pe hua asar ab samne aa raha tha. Woh dupeher me thori der ke liye soya tha aur jis tarah us haadse ke flashbacks ne use jagaa diya tha aur dubara sona uske liye mushkil ho gaya tha. Jab woh utha to maatha paseena se bheega hua tha aur haatho me halki si kapkapi thi.

Usne gehre gehre saans liye aur side table se water bottle uthana chaha magar water bottle khaali dekhi to ankhe bheench lin. Bamushkil uth ke betha aur side pe pari wheelchair ko khencha. Paun ke fracture ki wajah se abhi kuch arsa woh bed rest pe tha. Aur kandhe pe bhi chout lagi thi jis wajah se woh sticksbhi use nahi kar sakta tha.

Ek paun pe khara ho ke wheelchair pe bethne laga magar dusra haath jo ab tak kuch kapkapa raha tha wheelchair se phirsla aur wheelchair peechey ko chali gayi aur woh zameen pe gir para.

Woh dard se karhaya aur bebasi uski ankho se behne lagi. Woh nahi rota tha woh is kadar bebass kabhi nahi tha. Woh to humesha se sab se mazboot raha tha. Kam az kam jismani tor pe woh to kabhi bimar tak na hota tha. Phir aaj use paani ke liye yeh sab sehna par raha tha.

"Kabir?...Kabir!"

Kamre me aati Miraal ke jese kadam tham gaye aur use zameen pe us tarah betha dekh ke uska dil jese dharakna bhool gaya.

"Ya Allah..Kabir kya hua he??"

Woh zameen per uske paas foran aa bethi uske jhuke hue sar ko apne haath me thaam ke upar kiya aur uske chehre ko dekh ke jo ajeeb si gehri takleef use hui thi usne aaj tak mehsoos nahi ki thi.

Uske chehre pe ansu aur bebasi Miraal ka dil cheer gayi thi.

"Main..main paani lene jaa raha tha.."

"Koi baat nahi Kabir kuch nahi hota tum mujhe bula lete main..hoon na?"

Miraal ne kaha aur use baazu se pakar ke uthana chaha magar 6ft ke nojawaan ko uthana uske bas ki baat nahi thi. Woh use rukne ka keh ke bahir bhaagi. Kinza seeriyon me mili to usse Saif ka pucha aur jab pata chala ke woh abhi tak wapis nahi aaya tha to uska dil ghabraya magar phir darwaze se andar aate Kabir ke dost Abbas ko dekh ke woh us tarah gayi aur use apne saath Kabir ke kamre me le gayi. Kinza unke peechey aayi thi.

Abbas jese use dekh ke pareshan hua magar phir aage ho ke uske baazu ko apne kandhe pe ghumaya aur Miraal ne dusri taraf se use sahara diya aur bed pe wapis bithaya.

"Kinza paani"

Miraal ne Kinza ki taraf dekh ke kaha to woh foran sar hilati bahir ko bhaagi.

Miraal ne tissue pakar ke Kabir ka maatha aur gaal saaf kiye.

"Kuch nahi hua Kabir...sab theek ho jae ga yaqeen karo mera..."

Kabir ne apni ankhe ragri jese sharminda ho..Abbas wahan khara raha phir aake apne dost ke saath beth gaya. Uska kandha thapka aur use gale laga liya. Kabir ne gehre saans bhare aur uski kamar pe thapki di jese uska Shukriya adaa kar raha ho.

Usne peechey hone ke baad sar jhuka liya.

"Kabir sar mat jhuka...tu fakhar hai is mulk ka hum sab ka..teri chout waqti hai kuch arse me tu theek ho jae ga bilkul theek. Aur is waqt tera kamzor parna bhi galat nahi hai..insaan jab chout khaata hai to takleef hoti hai it's okay.."

Abbas bola aur Kabir ne sar ko kham kiya. Shayad yeh baat apne us saathi us dost se sunna uspe ziyada asar kar raha tha...

________

Abbas ke jaane ke baad Miraal wapis Kabir ke kamre me aayi. Uske paas aa bethi to woh khamoshi se sar jhukae betha raha.

"Theek ho?"

Koi jawaab na aaya.

"Kabir?"

"Tum bhi soch rahi ho gi kitna buzdil insaan hai..kamzor..."

Woh jese khud pe hi hasa.

"Mulk ke liye jaan dene ki baat karta hai jo ek accident se itna kamzor ho gaya...shayad sach me jaan chali jaati to phir bhi izzat reh jaati..."

Miraal ki ankho me dukh ubhra aur woh boli.

"Aisa soch bhi kese sakte ho tum Kabir? Tumhe maine apne Allah se ro ro kar maanga hai 5 din meri jaan atki rahi ek lamha sakoon ka saans nahi liya is liye? Ke tum yeh kaho ke tum na bachte to behtar tha? Mera kya Kabir? Main kuch nahi hun?"

Usne sar uthaya aur Miraal ko dekha.

"Aur konsi izzat ki baat kar rahe ho jo tumhare marne se reh jaati aur ab nahi rahi? Mard bhi ro sakta hai mard bhi kamzor par sakta hai. Humare muwashre ki in ghatiya baato me tum aao ge yeh to nahi socha tha maine..."

Woh boli to Kabir ne sar jhatka.

"Mera...woh matlab nahi tha..."

"Jo bhi tha Kabir magar ek baat to tum bhi maante ho na ke takleef tumhe ho ya mujhe woh sehni hum dono ko hoti hai usse larna hum dono ko hota hai...is sab me tum kabhi akele nahi ho...main humesha tumhare saath hoon..tumhare paas.."

Woh boli to woh sar kham kiye nam ankho ke saath muskura diya.

"Miraal?"

"Hmm?"

"Kya tum mujhse shadi karo gi?"

Miraal hakka bakka si use dekhti reh gayi. Kuch lamhe guzre to Kabir bola.

"Jaanta hoon ring nahi hai naa hi sahi proposal hai but still ab nahi reh sakta tumhare bagair...magar phir bhi agar tum naa kar bhi do-"

"Yes..! Tumhara saath chahiye koi ring nahi..!"

Woh bari si muskurahat liye boli thi aur phir Kabir ke kuch kehne se pehle hi darwaza khula aur Safeer aur Shazia andar aaye.

Dono ne us taraf dekha aur Miraal bed se uth khari hui.

Safeer ke chehre pe mamool se kuch mukhtalif tha. Kuch sakht sa. Aur Shazia..woh humesha ki tarah thi.

"Miraal kya kar rahi ho yahan?"

Safeer ka lehja sakht tha.

"Mamu main Kabir ka haal puchne-"

"Munasib nahi hai yeh tum jao yahan se baad me baat karta hun main"

Safeer ne sakht lehje me kaha to Shazia boli.

"Baad me kya abhi saaf baat karen."

"Shazia khamosh-"

"Konsi baat?"

Kabir tha jo bola.

"Dekho Kabir humare ghar me yeh sab nahi chale ga. Bachpan ki baat aur thi dosti thi theek tha magar ab tum dono jawaan ho aur is tarah saath saath rehne se baage banti hain behtar hai Miraal tum apne chachu ke apartment pe chali jao ya wapis"

Safeer ne kaha to Miraal wahan se jaane lagi magar uska haath Kabir ne thaam ke rouk liya.

"Aap Miraal ko jaane ka kese keh sakte hain? Woh is ghar ka hissa hai."

"Beta woh thi saalo pehle ab to apne chacha ke saath rehti hai na ab wohi ghar hai iska."

Shazia ne kaha to Kabir ke tassuraat tann gaye.

"What? Chalen agar beti na sahi to is ghar ki dusri bahu to bane gi yeh. Mujhse shadi ke baad."

Shazia aur Safeer jese hakka bakka se dono ko dekhte reh gaye. Usne un dono ko lajawaab kar diya tha aur Miraal heran si uska chehra dekhti rahi.

_______

Assalamu alaikum!!

I know I didn't update anything for very long again but seriously I'm SOORRYYY😭

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and it wasn't the last one and this short story is not so short anymore 😭😭😂

Well don't forget to vote and comment!

Lots of love <3