Do peher mein neend le kar uthi to Sofi ne bataya Faris sahab kahi bahar gaye hain. Usne mobile kamal kar dekha ke mumkin hai usne message kar ke bataya ho, woh kahan ja raha hai lekin koi paigham nahi tha. Jameela Dawood se poocha to unhe bhi ilm nah tha. Woh shayad kuch der pehle hi ajlat mein Haider ke saath kahi gaya tha.
Kuch pareshani se khidkiyo ki taraf dekhte use apni dhadkane tez mehsoos hui. Har tarah ke nafi khayalat ko jhatak kar usne khud ko Rayyan ke saath masroof kar liya. Nahla dhola kar kapde badle, uske hair tayar kiye. Phir Jameela Dawood ke kamre mein chali gayi. Sham ka khana dono ne waha khaya. Woh baar baar waqt dekh rahi thi. Uske iztirab mein izafa hota ja raha tha. Jameela Dawood daulat albatta pur sukoon thi. Usne Faris ke baare mein poochna chaaha, phir ruk gayi. Kahi aisa na ho unhe pareshan kar de. Socha khud pooch legi. Rayyan ko saath liye kamre mein wapas aayi. Use sila kar mobile uthaa liya. Das baj rahe the. Uski dhadkan Beyhad tez thi. Fikr aankho se ayan ho rahi thi.
"Aunty pooch rahi hain ghar kab aaoge?" Usne phir message kiya.
"Mummy se abhi baat hui hai meri! Main ne unhein bata diya hai." Hairat angaiz tor par jawab fori aaya tha. Jannat jhunjhula kar reh gayi.
"Kab aaoge?"
"Call karo, phir bataunga!"
Lab bhinch kar screen ko ghura. Aadha ghanta mazeed intezar kar ke usne call ki. Ghari ab raat ke gyarah baja rahi thi.
"Hello"
"Shuqr hai tumhari awaaz sunne ko mili."
"Kahan ho tum?" Woh tapti hui thi, mazeed tap gayi.
"Time dekha hai, kya ho raha hai?"
"Kya ho raha hai?"
"Barah bajne wale hai.."
"Toh bajne do barah ko tumhein kya pareshani hai?"
Bohat hi zabt kar ke Jannat ne khud ko kuch sakht kehne se baaz rakha aur usi waqt qadmo ki aahat ke saath hi darwaza khul gaya tha. Jannat ne be ikhtiyar sar uthaya. Bhoore rang ke trousers par siyah t-shirt mein malboos uska shohar aam se gharelo huliye mein kamre mein dakhil ho raha tha.
"Tum ghar par the?" Awaaz cheek se musabal, sadme se dabi hui.
"Haan."
"Magar Sofi ne kaha.."
"Bahar to main gaya tha, yahi astabal tak." Lehja mutabasim tha, goya astabal ka chakkar laga kar wapas aa gaya tha. Use toh pata hi nahi tha ke Haider aur Agha Ali ke saath uski office room mein meeting chal rahi thi.
"Toh yeh sab tumne is liye kiya ke main tumse baat karu?" Uski poori chaal samajh kar uska para mazeed chadha.
"Main nahi jaanta tha tumhein is baat ka ilm nahi ke main ghar par hoon. Yeh toh jab tumne message kiya toh pata chala."
Uski muskurahat Jannat ko andar tak sulgha gayi. Usne khud ko bohut kosa, chup kar ke baithi rehti toh aise mazak toh na banta uska.
"Pareshaan ho rahi thi tum?"
Uske paas aakar usne mamool ke mutabiq cushion durust kiye.
"Main bhala kyun pareshan hone lagi?" Budbuda kar ehtiyaat se sone ke liye let gayi. Aindah usay call ya match se pehle woh uska office room dekhegi, yeh usne tay kar liya.
"Tumhara woh notepad kahan hai?" Baayi taraf lihaf hata kar bed par baithte hue Faris ne yaad dilaya toh usne lab bheench kar aankhein band kar le.
"Jannat!"
"Mujhe neend aa rahi hai. Sone do ab!"
"Likh kar batao mujhe sunayi nahi de raha."
Karwat ke bal leti thi, jal kar cushion kaan par rakh liya. Ab pata nahi kitne din tak woh uske writing pad ka mazaak udayega. Ruhansa ho kar aankhe band kar lein.
"Tum apni baat par qaim kyun nahi rehti, Jannat, haan?" Usne dil hi dil mein khud ko bohot daata. Faris ne muskara kar usse dekha phir apni side table ka lamp off kar diya.
Mobile haath mein tha, do chand lamhe pehle moosool hone wale message ko dekh raha tha. Tareeki mein roshan hoti screen par "RA" ka naam jagmaga raha tha.
Raat ka jane kaunsa pehar tha jab uski achanak aankh khul gayi thi. Nichla lab dabate kisi qadar koshish se uth kar baith gayi. Takleef ka ehsas shiddat se ho raha tha. Gehri saans lete kuch der tak baithi rahi. Khayal tha tabiyat behtar ho jayegi, magar...
"Faris!" Dard ki shiddat se usne ba mushkil se pukara. Uski awaaz sunte hi woh foran bedar ho gaya tha.
"Tum theek ho?" Uska haath thaam kar sahara dete pareshani se poocha tha.
Nafi mein sar hilate usne mushkil se saans lene ki koshish ki thi. Uska chehra arq-aalood ho raha tha.
"Main mummy ko jagata hoon."
Shirazi Mansion ki battiya yake baad deegar roshan hoti gayi. Kuch hi der mein servant quarters ke darwaze khul gaye. Mudhat Bano chadar lapete tezi se seedhiya chadhti upar ja rahi thi. Driver hukum milte hi gadi nikalne ko bhaga tha.
Is harbarahat mein Zaufeshan ki bhi aankh khul gayi.
Khala kahin jane ki tayari pakar rahi thi.
"Kya hua?" Aankhein masalte poocha.
"Chhoti Bibi ki tabiyat kharab ho gayi hai. Hospital le ja rahe hai, main zara Bari Begum ke paas ho aau, tu soja!"
Sofi sir hila kar wapas apne bistar par daraz hui. Woh janti thi ke ghar mein ek naya mehmaan aane wala tha.
"pata nahi beta hoga ya beti?" Zara sa soch kar muskurai. "Jo bhi ho, Khala bacche ka khayal rakhne ke liye mujhe zarur apne sath le jayegi."
Woh inhi socho mein thi ke darwaza ek baar phir khul gaya tha. Khala usay bula rahi thi, Woh uth kar unke saath hi upar aa gayi. Rayyan ko mulazma uthaye hui thi. Woh ro raha tha.
Bari Begum Sahiba kamre mein thi. Unke chehre se pareshani jhalak rahi thi.
"Tu Rayyan ko sambhal, ise apne paas sula le."
Sir hila kar woh Rayyan ko uthaye dusre kamre mein chali gayi. Woh aksar Rayyan ke sath khelti thi, isliye woh uski god mein pur-sukoon ho kar so gaya.
Ab usay bhi neend aa rahi thi, magar woh aankhe malti baar baar darwaze ki taraf dekh rahi thi. Rahdari se awaze aa rahi thi.
"Allah khair karega, Begum Sahiba! Aap pareshan na ho."
Bahar raat bohot sard thi. Zaufeshan ne lehaaf zara achhe se oadh liya tha.
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Usne upar manzil par apne kamre ka darwaza aahista se khol diya tha. Woh kamra jo ab iska jannat ka bedroom nahi raha tha. Furniture badal chuka tha, parde hata diye gaye the.
Magar woh dekh sakta tha. Woh abhi bhi is kamre ko sabiq halat mein dekh sakta tha. Bate karti, hasti, apni padhai karti, woh guldaan me taza ful saza rahi thi, woh uske kapde ishtri kar rahi thi, woh uska haath thame mushkura rahi thi.
"Yeh meri nawasi hai, Burhan! Mere jigar ka tukda hai yeh. Main uski aankhon mein ek aansoo bhi nahi dekh sakta!"
"Main wada karta hoon aap se. Main Jannat ko kabhi akela nahi chhorunga. Marte dum tak uska sath dunga."
Uski awaaz aas paas har taraf goonj rahi thi. Uska adhoora wada dil par teer ho raha tha. Woh ab apne ta'ssurat ko sakhti mein, mohabbat ko nafrat mein, aur yaqeen ko shubhaat mein badalte dekh raha tha.
Dil par ek bhari bojh liye woh girne ke andaz mein baith gaya tha. Apna sir hathailiyo mein giraye woh zindagi mein pehli baar kisi nuqsan par ro raha tha. Woh nuqsan jo 17 mah pehle usse ho gaya tha. Aisa nuqsan jiska idraak ab ja kar ho raha tha.
"Mere sar par kya khadi ho, jao yahan se."
"Khuda ke liye jaan chhod do meri!"
"Amma ne kuch keh diya toh kya qayamat aa gayi?"
"Mahin se kya keh rahi thin tum?"
"Chahti kya ho tum? Kyun meri zindagi jahannum bana rahi ho?"
"Mahin meri biwi hai. Mere bache ki maa hai woh."
Woh cheekh raha tha. Woh usay bazu se sakhti se pakre intehai haqarat aur karahat se dekh raha tha.
"Tum itna gir jao gi mujhe andaza nahi tha."
"Burhan! Mujhe takleef ho rahi hai."
"Aaj agar tumhare Nana zinda hote, toh tumhara yeh ghatiya kirdar dekh kar wahi mar jate." Uska jumla yaad tha aur uski aankhon ka woh zakhmi tasur bhi, jaise lafzo ki kaat ne usay wahin maar diya ho.
"Main aisi nahi hoon." Sakht giraft mein woh sikur kar reh gayi thi.
"Ek nahi, do nahi, chaar? Kaun hain yeh?"
Jo khat usay dressing table se mile they, unhe phaad kar uske munh par de mare tha. Gusse aur ishtial mein uska mobile tak tod diya tha. Woh dare, sehmi aur motohash hi khadi thi.
Woh dekh raha tha. Woh gham se nidhal, khauf zada aur pareshaan haal Jannat Kamal ko apni aankho se dekh raha tha.
Jis se kabhi usne unchi awaaz mein baat tak nahi ki thi, ab woh usay jhidakne laga tha, datne laga tha, nafrat dikhane laga tha. Woh usay ek bojh, ek museebat ki tarah nazar aane lagi thi. Mahin ke saath zindagi mukammal thi. Ab usay aur koi wujood nahi chahiye tha. Manzar bhar kar ab mit nahi rahe the.
"Jannat Kamal..."
Us se judi tamam ki tamam yaadein, sakhtiyan, nafratein use yaad aane lagi thin. Apna har rawaiya, faisla aur alfaz bhi...
"Main ne apni biwi ke kirdar mein aaj tak koi jhol nahi dekha." Apna sar hathailiyo par girate usne baal noch liye the.
Uski amma darwaze mein khadi thin. Apni jawan aulaad ko yun rote dekhna bara takleef deh manzar tha unke liye. Bete ke kandhe par haath rakh kar pukarna chaha toh gusse se jhatak diya.
"Burhan!"
"Chali jaye yahan se. Akela chhod dein mujhe." Woh bhikhre hue andaaz mein kehte huye bekabu hote huya to mazbootan unhe bahar jana padha.lock lagaye wo darwaze se tek lagaye neeche beth gaya tha.
Jo ghalti kar baitha tha, woh chhoti nahi thi. Khasara aisa jo kisi surat poora nahi ho sakta tha. Ab saase bhaari lag rahi thin. Ab zindagi mushkil lag rahi thi. Use Jannat Kamal apni zindagi mein wapas chahiye thi. Woh usi rishte ko, mohabbat ko dobara haasil kar lena chahta tha.
Woh Jannat Kamal ki pehli mohabbat tha. Woh uske bagair jeene ka tasavvur nahi kar sakti thi. Woh usay chhod kar kabhi ja bhi nahi sakti thi. Is ghar mein har tarah ki sakhti usne sirf uski zaat ke liye bardasht ki thi. Uske sath jude rehne ke liye sab khamoshi se saha tha.
Talaq usne di thi. Rasta usne khud band kiya tha. Ab agar woh palat aaye toh? Rasta khol kar dobara apna le toh?
Woh Burhan Wasif hai. Nana ki taraf se joda gaya woh rishta hai jise woh kabhi bhi faramosh nahi kar payegi. Woh khud ko bata raha tha, samjha raha tha. Woh uske paas jayega, maafi mangega. Woh usay mana lega.
Jannat Kamal uski zindagi mein wapas aa jayegi. Magar mall mein padne wala thappad usay haqeeqat ki duniya mein wapas le aaya tha. Woh apne aap mein tham gaya tha. Usne zindagi mein pehli baar un shehad aankho mein apne liye nafrat dekhi thi. Usne pehli baar un mein dard ke saath ek ajeeb sa tas'ssur dekha tha.
"Ainda tum mujhe apni biwi ke aas paas bhi nazar aaye, toh mujh se bura koi nahi hoga."
Apne shauhar ka hath mazbooti se thaam kar nazro se ojhal hoti Jannat Kamal uske hawaason par sawar ho chuki thi. Woh saki wujood ke saath sar giraye chup baitha raha tha.
Aur bahar Fazila Tai apne bete ke gham mein nidhhal roti rahi thi.
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Gehri aur tabij dhund mein lipta hua woh ek ajeeb sa mahol tha. Sard, parta sukoon karta hua. Usne apni maa ko dekha. Aur baap ko bhi. Woh dhund ki shabih ki tarah the. Usne apne purane ghar ki seedhiyo ka manzar ek baar phir dekha.
Woh Husnain tha jo upar khada hua tha. Aur Jannat wahan kahin nahi thi. Kachi eento ka khoon tha, na cheekh-o-pukaar aur kohram tha.
Usne Nafisa ko dekha. Woh namaz parh rahi thi.
"Ammi!"
Woh unke paas ruk gayi thi. Woh panjo ke bal jhuk gayi thi. Usne kandhe par haath rakh diya tha. Unhone use tar aankho se dekha. Phir haath pakda, phir gale laga liya. Unka lams use pehli baar mehsoos hua. Kuch tha jo unhone uske haath par rakh diya.
"Mujhe maaf kar dei, Ammi!"
Muskura kar use dekha. Phir hath chhuda liya. Husnain saath hi tha. Woh usay seene se lagaye uth gayi thi. Farsh par ab khoon nahi tha, aur seedhiyo par ab koi Husnain nahi tha. Woh purana ghar ek dum se khali ho gaya tha.
"Ammi!"
Hospital mein aamad-o-raft ke sath ubharti woh madham si awaaz ek dum se sunai mein badal gayi thi ke la-shaor se shaoor ki manzilen tay karte uske hawas ek dum se bedaar ho gaye the.
Kamre mein pheli roshni mein ek tareeki si nazar aa rahi thi. Usne apne aas-paas har taraf nigah daudai thi. Uska bacha kahi nazar nahi aaya tha. Ghabra kar, motohash ho kar, usne uthne ki koshish ki thi. Usne awaaz dena chahi thi, magar awaaz nahi nikal rahi thi. Uska chehra tar ho raha tha. Uski halat ghair ho rahi thi. Darwaza khul kar nurse andar aayi thi.
"Leti rahe, please!"
"Mere shohar kahan hain?" Uska dil khauf aur andesho mein ghir shiddat se dharak raha tha. Kuch bura ho gaya hai. Usse apni jaan nikalti hui mehsoos ho rahi thi. Nurse kya keh rahi thi, woh sun nahi rahi thi.
"Mere shohar kaha hain? Please, mere shohar ko bula de!"
Usi waqt Mudhat andar aayi thi. Uske peeche hi Faris tha. Haal se behaal hoti uska haath pakre woh rone lagi thi. Woh shock aur sadme ki zad mein thi. Usne khud ko tanha aur bebas mehsoos kiya. Uska wujood andar se khali aur khokhla lag raha tha.
"Faris..."
"Woh theek hai. Bilkul theek hai." Chehre ke ird-gird bikhre baalon ko peeche banate, usne Jannat se kaha tha. "Nursery mein hai. Abhi le aate hain usse. Relax!"
Jannat ki ruki hui saansein ek lamhe mein bahal ho gayi thi, magar dil shiddat se dharak raha tha.
"Tumhari halat theek nahi thi. Tumhein yahan rakhna zaruri tha." Giraft mein lete, naram lahje mein woh bola. Woh guzashta 24 ghanto se ICU mein thi.
"Sab theek hai ab."
Maa ko aise karar nahi aa sakta tha jab tak woh apne bache ko khud na dekh leti. Bechaini se woh tasalli nahi kar sakti thi.
Kuch hi der mein baby crib ko dhakelte hue nurse andar aayi toh Jannat se alag ho kar Faris uth gaya. Ab woh dekh sakti thi. Faris Wajdan baby crib par jhuk raha tha.
Bed ko sitting position mein adjust karte hue Mudhat ne use takiyon ka sahara diya tha. Faris ne baby cot se safed makhmali kapro mein lipte bache ko uthaya toh Jannat ki dhadkane tham si gayi.
"Tum banjh ho, Jannat Kamal!" Maheen Abdul Kareem ka sarapa aankho mein aya'n hua tha. Use apne galo par nami mehsoos hui.
"Dusri shadi ka socho, Burhan. Is ladki se tumhein koi khushi nahi milegi."
Uske ird-gird har cheez par jaise ek sukoon aur khamoshi cha gayi thi. Uski saansein ruk gayi thi.
Bacche ko uthaye, jab woh uski taraf jhuka toh usne safed makhmali kambal se jhankti nanhi si mutthi dekhi jo band thi. Phir rooi jaisa chhota sa chehra samne aya.
Aankhe band thi, jinhe kholne ki koshish mein woh phir se rone laga. Woh itna chhota tha ke Faris ke hatho se lete hue usse dar laga.
"Zakariya A.S. ne toh kabhi dua nahi chhodi thi, Jannat!"
Usne sakte ke baad himmat kar ke apne kapkapate haath badhaye. Faris ne bohot ehtiyat ke sath bacha uske hawale kar diya.
"Mo'jzat toh Ambiya ke liye bhi hote hain, magar woh mo'jzat bina dua, sabr aur aajzi ke nahi hue. Yeh point tum miss kar rahi thi."
Bacha apne haath-pair hilata, harkat karta, aur rone laga. Jannat bhi rone lagi. Usne apne bete ko bhincha aur apne se laga liya. Uska chehra chuma, phir uske gaal, naak, hont, aur phir uski peshani par apne lab rakh diye.
Har dukh jo usne saha, har takleef jo usne sahi, har aziyat jo uske hisse mein aayi... sab bhula diya. Woh lamha bas ek lamha tha, jisne sare zakhmo ko mita diya.
"Allah hamesha barh kar ata karta hai, Jannat. Jo aapko hairan kar deta hai."
Bache ki aankhe khuli hui thi. Rang numaya ho raha tha. Woh aankhein Faris Wajdan ki thi. Rang bhi uska tha. Khado-o-khal bhi uske. Woh Faris Wajdan ka ek mini version tha.
Usne phir sar utha kar Jannat ko dekha. Uska be-tereeb sa chehra bata raha tha ke guzishta 24 ghante uske liye kitne mushkil guzre the. Bacha theek tha, magar biwi ki wajah se jo pareshani hui thi, uski jhalak ab bhi uske chehre par thi.
"Kitna pyara hai yeh, MashaAllah!"
Woh jhuk kar apne bete ko dekhne laga. Jannat rone ke saath hansi thi. Woh bache ko bar bar choom rahi thi.
Apni aankho mein tashakkur ki nami liye woh apni jagah thehr sa gaya tha.
Woh Jannat Kamal ki aankho mein wohi mohabbat dekh raha tha jo ek maa ki aankho mein apni aulad ke liye hoti hai. Wohi tarap, wohi reham, wohi dil jo ek maa ka hona chahiye. Wohi ehsaas jo ek maa mein hona chahiye.
Uski aulad ke hisse mein ab na dukh aa sakte the, na nafrate, aur na tanhaiya. Maa usse chhod kar kahi nahi ja sakti thi aur na baap zindagi ke bhir mein gum ho kar use bhula sakta tha.
Bacha phir se rone laga tha. Jannat usse feed karwane gayi. Mudhat takiya theek karte uske paas baith gayi. Kuch hi der mein Jameela Dawood usse milne aayi thi. Rayyan bhi saath tha. Unhone naye family member ko apni god mein uthaya.
"Yeh toh bilkul Faris hai," unhone mohabbat se apne pote ka matha chuma. Jannat muskarayi.
"Bohat bohat mubarak ho, beta!" Woh duaye parh kar bache par phoonk rahi thi.
Rayyan Jannat ke paas baitha hua tha, chhote se baby ko zara hairat se baghor dekhta hua.
Tas'suraat sab ko maze de rahe thay. Zara der ke liye uski god mein diya. Bacha rone laga toh Rayyan ne bhi ghabra kar rona shuru kar diya. Usse laga bache ko dard hua hai ya kisi ne use mara hai. Woh nahi chahta tha ke bacha roye.
"Bhai ko bhook lagi hai isliye ro raha hai," Jannat ne samjhana chaha. Usne bache se apne dono haath peeche kar liye. Phir kisi tarah zid karke bed se utar kar door ho gaya.
Masoom aankho mein abhi bhi koi fikr thahri hui nazar aa rahi thi. Baar baar bache ko dekh raha tha, jo ab uski mama ke paas tha aur ab ro bhi nahi raha tha.
"Iska naam kya rakhe?" Jameela Dawood ke jane ke baad ab sirf woh dono the jo is nanhe ke paas the.
"Tum batao?" Faris usse keh raha tha.
"Hame aunty se poochna chahiye!"
"Mummy ne kaha hai iska naam tum rakho gi."
Woh chand lamho tak usse mohabbat bhari nazro se dekhti rahi. Kai naam soch rakhe the, magar ab bas ek naam zehan mein aa raha tha.
"Zayn kaisa rahega?"
Faris ne uski taraf dekha. Tas'suraat se wazeh tha ke use accha laga hai.
"Zayn Faris Shirazi!" Jannat ne mukammal naam liya toh woh muskara diya.
"Perfect hai."
Jannat ne apne nanhe zain ko dekha jo aankhe mundhe, muthhiya beeche neend ki wadiyo mein utra hua tha.
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Teesre din usse hospital se discharge kar diya gaya tha. Woh Shirazi Mansion pohanchi toh usne aali shaan qasr numa haveli ko roshniyo mein nahaya hua dekha. Mulazim apna kaam kar rahe the. Wasee sabzar par dawat-e-khas ka intezam abhi se ho raha tha. Aur yeh sab Jameela Dawood ki khwahish par ho raha tha.
Is ghar mein woh Hammad ke liye aise kai functions aur gathering organize kar chuki thi. Ab pote ki khushi thi aur is khushi ko woh Jannat aur Faris ke sath celebrate karna chahti thi.
Hafte ke din dawat rakhi gayi thi. Us din unka ghar mehmano se bhar gaya tha. Jannat ki behno ko khususan bulaya gaya tha. Woh dawat-e-aqiqah thi jisme unke bohot se qareebi dosto ne bhi shirkat ki thi.
Aima khas tor par apni bhabhi ke sath aayi thi. Junaid bhai bacho ke sath Canada gaye the, isliye woh nahi aa sake. Aqsa bohot zid karke do hafto ke liye aa gayi thi. Jannat apne kamre mein thi jab neeche dining hall mein mehman khawateen ke liye khana lagaya ja raha tha. Woh badi fursat se bache ko dekhne upar aayi thi.
"Allah aapi, yeh toh itna pyara hai, dil chahta hai kha jaun!"
Jannat Kamal ne sar uthaya. Dusri taraf woh kalai par wristwatch chadhate Faris Wajdan ki aqbi nazro ki zad mein aayi thi.
Zain ko god mein liye Aqsa ek dum bokhlayi.
"Woh main pyar se khane ki baat kar rahi hoon," foran se wazehat di. Jumla aur zyada khatarnak ho gaya.
"Aqsa! Idhar lao." Jannat ne kameez ki silwate theek karte hue apne hath barhaye. Usne afiyat ismein jani ke bache ko khamoshi se unke hawale karke chali jaye, aur woh chali gayi.
"Ab Faris sahib samjhenge ke main koi sach-much ki adam khor hoon." Staircase ki daye taraf deewar se lag kar burburai. Apni peshaani par haath maar kar khud ko saza di.
"Maa baap ke samne keh rahi hoon bache kha jaun. Taf hai tujh par Aqsa!" Dobara haath maara.
"Koun aadam khor hai?" Adeel samne hi akhbar haath mein liye khada tha. Us par nazar padte hi woh bad maza hui. Kitne tez kaan the uske. Majal hai jo koi lafz bhi chok jaye.
"Main hoon aadam khor! Main!" Apni taraf ishara kar ke kaha.
Akhbar phelaye usne chand lamhon tak Aqsa ko dekha. Na hairat hui, na sadma pohcha. Yun jaise woh is khud sakhta haqeeqat se bohot pehle se waqif ho.
Yaqeen kar ke sir hila kar dobara se parhne laga.
Aqsa jal kar koyla ho gayi. "Pata nahi yeh yahan kyun khada hai."
Sidhiya utar kar Faris neeche aaya toh Aqsa seedhi ho gayi.
"Tumhari aapi bula rahi hai," Faris ne kaha toh adab se sir jhuka gayi.
"Aqsa!"
"Ji sahab!"
"Mere bete ke ilawa kuch aur kha lo," three-piece suit mein malboos, muskaraahat daba kar, woh jebo mein hath dale sanjeedgi se bola toh sir jhukaye Aqsa ne aankhe bhinch li.
Phir upar gayi toh Jannat Zayn ko baby cot mein sula rahi thi. Bacho ka khayal rakhne ke liye Sofi wahin baithi thi.
"Aapi! Main ne sach-much khane ki baat thori na ki thi."
Jannat muskarai. Safaid Maxie mein woh bohot pyari lag rahi thi. Shehad rang baal khule chor rakhe the.
"Khana kha liya tumne?"
"Abhi nahi."
Mardo ke khane ka intizam bahar tha, jabke khawateen ka neeche dining hall mein. Sofi ke liye khana kamre mein bhijwa kar woh Aqsa ke saath neeche aayi. Woh mubarak baad qabool karte kuch nai mehman khawateen se mil rahi thi. Phir woh apni behno ke paas ja baithi. Apne bhanjo se ek baar phir mil rahi thi.
Usne nahi socha tha ke uski aulaad ki khushi par uski tamam behne bhi shareek hongi. Woh sab ko acha akhlaq aur behtareen tawajju de rahi thi. Woh khush aur mutmayin nazar aa rahi thi.
Jameela Dawood bayhad khush thi. Unki sehat pehle se kafi behtar thi. Aur unka chehra bhi khila hua tha. Mauqe ki munasibat se kaafi arse baad bohot achhe se tayar hui thin.
"Looking so pretty," Faris Wajdan wheelchair par unki taraf jhuka toh unhone be-ikhtiyar uska chehra haatho mein lete uski peshaani ka bosa liya.
"Is sab ke liye thank you so much mummy!" Unke haath apne haathon mein le kar woh panjo ke bal jhuka.
"Mere pote ki khushi hai."
"Bas ab main chahta hoon aap apne pairo par dobara khadi hoon."
Unhone irada bandh kar asbat mein sar ko jumbish di. Woh uske liye yeh bhi karengi. Kuch hi dair baad woh unse ijazat le kar bahar chala gaya.
Sofi Rayyan ko Jannat ke paas chor kar gayi toh Aqsa ne use uthaa liya.
"Iska khayal main rakh loongi, Aapi!"
Jannat Jameela Dawood ke saath hi unki dost se baat kar rahi thi. Sar hila diya. Woh Rayyan se bate karti, usey apne sath hi bahar le aayi. Seedhiyo par ruk kar woh door ishara karti usey bohot kuch dikha rahi thi.
Lawn roshan tha. Aqsa ne usey zara der ko neeche utaar diya. Uski maa ki call aa gayi thi.
Aur saamne, wahan jahan mardo ke baithne ka intizam kiya gaya tha, wohin Faris Wajdan khada tha. Raha badalte, uski nazar Rayyan Shirazi par pari aur woh apni jagah ruk gaya.
Shirazi Mansion ke sar sabz lawn par apne chhote chhote qadam dharte, woh kuch betaabi se, beqarari se uski taraf aa raha tha.
Faris ke taâasuraat lamhe bhar ke liye mutaghayyar huye. Woh muskarahat jo hontho par thi, ek dum se khatam ho gayi. Dost sath hi tha, jo itne pyare se bache ko dekh kar muskaraaya.
"Koun hai yeh?" Munjamid wujood par woh ek sawal kari zarb ban kar laga.
Shirazi Mansion ka wasee lawn, mulazimo ke saath tamkinat se qadam uthata, balon mein haath pher kar usse khud se alag karta Haroon!
Wohi sawal, wohi lawn, wohi ghar, wohi manzar...
"Hamara mulazim ka beta hai." Woh awaaz, baap ki awaaz, woh usey andar tak munjamid aur kanasa kar gayi. Rayyan Shirazi ne apne dono haath upar kar liye.
Apne hisar se nikalte, usne jhukh kar usey narmi se utha liya. Dost mutwajeh tha, jawab ka muntazir, ke usne bhi Faris ka yeh roop nahi dekha tha.
"Mera beta hai yeh," jawab de kar Rayyan ki taraf mutwajeh hua jo usse lipat gaya tha. Faris ka dahina hath uski pusht par aa gaya.
Rayyan par nazar padte hi Aqsa ne beqarari se hatheliyo ko masla.
"Abhi toh yahin khada tha, wahan kaise chala gaya? Faris sahib zarur daantenge, bache ko thand mein bahar kyun le aayi?"
Lekin Faris sahab ke chehre par koi ghussa nahi tha. Woh Rayan ke saath hi us shed ke neeche bhadakti hui aag ke paas baitha tha. Woh ab Rayyan ko kuch khila bhi raha tha.
"Khair hai! Keh doongi khud hi chala gaya." Woh andar aa gayi.
"Rayyan kahan hai, Aqsa?"
"Woh Faris sahab ke paas bahar hai," Jannat ne poocha toh foran jawab diya.
"Bahar toh kaafi thand nahi hai?" Woh zara pareshan hui. Mobile nikal liya taake Faris ko call kare aur Rayyan ko andar le aaye.
"Wahan thand nahi hai jahan saare mard baithe hain. Aag jalai hui hai, Aapi! Bahar mard zyada enjoy kar rahe hai."
Woh call karte karte ruk gayi. Agar aisi baat hoti toh Faris usey foran andar le aata. Sar hila kar mulazima ke zimmede chand kaam lagati, drawing room mein chali gayi. Aqsa ne khushi khushi staircase ke saath apni chand tasveere banayi, phir khawateen mein ja baithi.
âââ