Chapter 111: ּ ֶָ֢.CH110

•Last chapter 23•

• اخیر کِسٹ نمبر ۲۳ •

Apni safed hoodie ki jebo mein hath daale, woh be had sanjeedgi se Adina zubair ke samne khada ho gaya tha. Sard nigahe uske gusse se surkh parte chehre par jam gayi thi. Faris ki ijazat se hi woh andar aa saki thi aur itni jurrat bhi dikha saki thi.

"Mujhe mera beta chahiye." Faris ki aankho mein aankhen gaad kar usne apna mutalba wazeh kiya. Aaj woh har soorat Rayyan ko saath le jane ke liye aayi thi.

"Mujhe bhi meri beti chahiye. De sakti ho?"

Adina Zubair ke andar ek dam se sannata phail gaya tha.

Aankho mein iztirab liye, Jannat Kamal ne Faris Wajdan ko dekha.

"Toh badla le rahe ho tum mujh se?" Adina ka lehja pathreela hua.

"Tumhare saath tumhari tarah pesh aa raha hoon." Uske lehje ki baroodat Adina Zubair ko andar tak sulga gayi thi.

"Main yahan sirf apne bete ke liye aayi hoon." Uski awaaz buland hui.

"Aur main Rayyan ko tumhare ghar se nahi laya." Faris ki karakht awaaz sunane mein goonj kar reh gayi thi. Adina zubair ek dam se la jawab hui. Bete ko maa ke hawale karke usne ek baar bhi palet kar khabar nahi li thi. Apne muntashir khayalat ko yakja kar ke usne sar uthaya.

"Main apne bete ko ab apne sath rakhna chahti hoon," sambhal kar boli.

"Pichhle pandrah maah se Rayyan tumhare bhaiyo ke sath reh raha tha. Yeh muddat kafi nahi thi use apne sath rakhne ke liye?"

Woh janti thi baat kis taraf ja rahi thi. Woh pehle kabhi Rayyan ke liye na aayi, ab kaise aa sakti thi. Woh bhi tab jab woh apni dadi ke paas aa gaya tha.

"Main kabhi nahi chahungi, mera beta apne baap ke qatil ke paas rahe."

Faris ki istehzai muskaraahat dahine gaal ki jaanib uth gayi.

"Qatil kharcha utha sakta hai, apne saath nahi rakh sakta?" Uska lehja tanzia hua.

Adina ki nigahe sulag uthi.

"Main tumhare saath koi behas karne nahi aayi. Mujhe mera beta chahiye. Abhi aur isi waqt."

"Aur mera jawab bhi wazeh hai. Tum Rayyan Shirazi ko is ghar se kahi nahi le ja sakti."

Adina Zubair ko laga sunne mein ghalti hui hai. Woh Rayyan Shirazi ke liye aisi baat nahi keh sakta. Aise stand nahi le sakta.

"Main maa hoon uski, jab chahu, jis waqt chahu, use apne saath le ja sakti hoon. Tum kaun hote ho mere raste mein aane wale?" Woh mushtael hokar cheekh padi.

Woh jeebo mein hath daale use dekhta raha.

"Chacha hoon, uska haq rakhta hoon."

Dining hall mein Mrs. Shirazi thi. Woh uski awaz ba aasani se sun sakti thi. Rayyan unki god mein tha. Unka dil laraz raha tha.

Adina ki mutthiya takhti se bheench gayi.

"To tum aise nahi manoge. Main apne bete ke liye adalat mein jaungi. Main tum par case karungi. Tumhein media par badnaam kar dungi. Tumhein kya lagta hai, sirf tum hi sab kuch ho? Main tumhara woh hashar karungi ke tum kisi ko munh dikhane ke kabil nahi rahoge." Uska lehja zahreela ho raha tha.

"Tumhein nahi lagta, ab chal chalne ki baari meri hai?"

Apni jeebo se hath nikalte hue woh seedha hua. Adina zubair ki girift bag straps par sakht ho gayi.

"Tumhara kya khayal hai, pichhle do salo se jo tum kar rahi ho, mere paas uska record nahi hoga?" Usne na samjhi ke aalam mein Faris ko dekha.

Agle hi pal uske chehre par saaya sa lehra gaya.

"Aur woh kaun hai jis ke saath tumhari khufiya shadi chal rahi hai? Senator Kamran Javed ka beta?"

Uske pairo tale se zameen nikal gayi thi. Aas paas dhamako ka gumaan hone laga tha.

"Tumhare Dubai ke kaafi chakkar lagte rahe hain. Kya uski details se bhi aagah kar du?"

Aankho mein herat liye woh sannato mein ghiri reh gayi thi.

"Agar media ko beech mein la rahi ho toh I guess tumhari khabro ko rating zyada milegi. Hype bhi zyada create hogi. Aur Senator Kamran kam az kam nahi chahenge ke unka siyasi career is tarah se tabah ho jaye."

Wo sadme se ghung khadi thi. Tod phod ka shikaar hoti ek dum se fana.

Jo shakhs uska naam nahi sunna chahta tha, shakal nahi dekhna chahta tha, woh us par yun nazar rakhe hue tha uske toh zehan mein kabhi khayal hi nahi aaya tha.

"Rayyan ki custody ke liye adalat jana chahti ho? Shauq se jao. Tumhein challenge karta hoon! Mere Jeete ji use mujh se le kar dikhao tum!"

Woh bhari saanso ke sath mutohash si khadi reh gayi thi. Usne socha tha, woh use adalato mein dakhelegi, use media par badnaam karegi, us par pressure barhaye gi, aur uski zindagi tabah kar degi.

Usne kya socha tha aur kya ho gaya tha. Aasab par aisi zarb pari thi ke woh kuch bhi karne ke qabil nahi rahi thi.

"To ab batao, beta chahiye ya apni zindagi?" Usne ek lamhe ka tauqaf kiye bagair jumla adhoora chhod diya. "Faisla abhi hoga. Main nahi chahta roz roz koi tamasha khada ho."

Patthar jism par daraar pad gayi. Aankho mein qahar utar aaya. Uska wujood khud-saakhta aag mein jalne laga tha. Uske liye zindagi ahem thi. Apna ghar aham tha. Jis shakhs ke saath woh rishte mein munsalik thi, woh shaks bhi ahem tha.

"Main tumhein dekh lugi." Mutthiya bheench kar, haatho ki kapkapaahat par qaboo pate hue, sakht lehje mein dhamka kar woh usi waqt ghar se nikal gayi thi.

Darwaza band hua toh gehri saas lete hue Jannat Kamal ne Faris ko dekha.

"Adalati notice aa bhi sakta hai," Haider modabsa Faris ke barabar mein khada keh raha tha.

"Dekhte hain, kya karti hai." Woh aam se lehje mein bola, goya uske liye yeh masla sire se masla tha hi nahi. Woh Rayyan ke maamle mein Adina Zubair jaisi aurat se nimatne ke liye mukammal tayyar tha.

Gehri saans le kar mura toh Jannat par nazar padte hi ruk gaya. Usne qareeb aakar Faris ka haath bohot mazbooti se pakad liya.

"I’m so proud of you," Faris Wajdan ne saans bhar kar apni biwi ko dekha, jiski kuch der pehle tak achhi khasi hawaiya udi hui thi.

"Main K2 sar karke nahi aaya."

"Lekin mere liye yeh masla K2 jaisa hi tha. Kasam se bohot dari hui thi, pata nahi kya hoga."

"Thank you, Faris. Thank you so much.."

"Kis liye?" Woh zara sa hairan hua.

"Tumne Rayyan ke liye jo stand liya, uske liye."

"Woh toh mujhe lena hi tha."

"Haan, lekin jo tumne kiya..."

"Kya kiya?"

Kehna chahti thi jo Adina Zubair ke saath kiya, uske liye bhi shukriya, magar muskan honto par sajaye woh chup rahi. Yun laga jaise Adina Zubair ki tamaam harkato ka badla le liya gaya ho.

Dining hall mein dakhil hote hi, Mrs. Sherazi ke barabar mein baithte Faris ne paani ka glass utha liya.

Mrs. Shirazi aankho mein nami liye use dekh rahi thi. Rayyan unki god mein tha, aur maiz par hath rakhe plate ko chherne ki koshish kar raha tha.

"Aap khana nahi kha rahi hain?" Sar uthakar poocha.

Unki aankh se aansoo beh nikle, foran hi saaf kiye.

Jannat, Faris ke barabar mein baith gayi thi.

"Mummy?" Woh unki taraf mutawajjah hua.

"Agar woh Rayyan ko lene phir aa gayi toh?" Jo khadsha tha, woh labo par aa gaya. Aaj woh khaali haath chali gayi thi. Kon Jane kab woh wapas aa jaye.

"Allah par bharosa rakhein. Mere hote huye woh Rayyan ko aap se nahi chhin sakti," unke haatho par apna haath rakhte hue yaqeen dilaya.

"Maa hai, kuch bhi kar sakti hai," unki awaaz kanp gayi.

"Mummy! Agar usse Rayyan ki fikr hoti toh woh use apne paas rakhti. Yahan woh sirf hamara reaction dekhne aayi thi." Usne mukhtasir jawab de kar unhein andar tak pur sukoon kar diya. Woh Faris ko dekh kar reh gayi thi, jo pur sukoon aur mutmaeen nazar aa raha tha. Woh us aurat ko bohot andar tak samajh kar, parakh kar baat kar raha tha. Unka dil bhar aaya.

"Aap khana shuru karein," woh unse keh raha tha.

Jameela Dawood ke dil par jo khauf ke baadal the, chhat gaye. Aankho mein nami liye unhone apne pote ka gaal chuma. Jannat ne Rayyan ko unse le kar kursi par bitha diya. Khana ek baar phir shuru kar diya gaya tha.

•••

Sham mein, woh unke kamre mein aaya toh woh bed crown se tek lagaye jaag rahi thi. Usse dekhte hi muskarayi, magar aankhon mein gham thehra hua nazar aa raha tha. Unke haatho mein mobile tha aur mobile par Hammad ki tasveer thi. Rayyan ki wajah se aaj unhein woh bohot shiddat se yaad aaya tha.

Faris unke paas baith gaya.

"Bachhe so gaye?" Unhone poocha. Usne asbat mein sar ko jambish diya.

Unhone mobile rakh diya.

"Aap pareshaan lag rahi hain?"

Unhone sar utha kar Faris ko dekha. Chand lamho tak chup rahi, jaise apne khauf ke izhaar ke liye munasib lafz na mil rahe ho.

"Rayyan tumhara bhateeja hai, tum uske baap ki jagah par ho. Ho sakta hai, uski maa ki wajah se bhi tumhare dil mein koi nafrat aa jaye ya kabhi tumhare liye yeh sab mushkil ho jaye."

"Mummy!" Usne unka haath pakad kar, nafi mein sar hilate unhein rokna chaha.

"Main sirf itna keh rahi hoon, Adina ki wajah se Rayyan ko kabhi akela mat kar dena, Faris! Uska poori duniya mein tumhare siwa aur koi nahi hai." Unki awaaz bheegi hui thi. Chehra tar tha. Woh bohot hassas ho rahi thi. Usne unki kefiyat samajh kar unki aankho mein narmi se dekha.

Shayad unhein darr tha ke Adina in dono ke darmiyan koi doori na paida kar de. Kahin woh baar baar ki mudakhlat se Faris ko Rayyan Shirazi se muntafar na kar de.

"Is aurat ka muqabla mujh se hai, mummy. Aap be fikar rahe, main Rayyan ko is jang mein kabhi istemal nahi hone duga." Uska mawqif wazeh tha. Irada wazeh tha. Niyat wazeh thi.

Rayyan Shirazi is ghar ka ek fard tha, uski family ka ek hissa, uska bhateeja. Woh sahi mano mein ab uska guardian hi tha.

Unhein ehsas hua woh bila wajah ki fikr paal rahi hain.

Kuch der tak unke paas baithe rehne ke baad jab woh ja chuka toh unhone gehri saans lekar nam aankhon ko saaf kiya. Phir duaaein parhte hue sone ke liye let gayi.

•••

Ghar pahunchte hi Adina Zubair ne bedroom ka darwaza zor se band kiya tha. Bag neeche phenk kar, gusse mein tehalte hue apne baal noch liye the.

"Beta chahiye ya apni zindagi? Faisla abhi hoga. Main nahi chahta, roz roz koi tamasha ho." Faris Wijdaan ki awaaz baazgasht ban kar ek baar phir goonji thi. Usne apna faisla suna diya tha. Woh har tarah ki qanooni jung ke liye taiyar tha. Uske paas bohot se raaz aur kamzoriya thi. Woh isay barbaad kar sakta tha.

Woh jaldbazi mein koi step nahi utha sakti thi. Senator Kamran Javed ke sath apne is rishte ko chhupakar rakhna tha. Woh is tarah nazro mein aa sakti thi.

Uska zehan maflooj ho raha tha. Na andar ki aag kam ho rahi thi, aur na hi qissa khatam ho raha tha. Dil chah raha tha ke woh har ek cheez tod phod kar rakh de.

Aakhir woh Rayyan ko apne saath kaise le jaye?

Kuch bebasi se is tamaam maamle ko sochte hue woh kisi khayaal ke tehat ek jhatke se ruk gayi thi. Uske ta’assuraat lamhe bhar mein badal gaye the. Uski bhujhi hui aankho mein chamak utar aayi thi. Tar hue chehre par muskarahat saj gayi thi.

"Yeh mere zehan mein kyun na aaya?" Haste hue beikhtiyar apne baalo mein haath phera aur bed par baith gayi.

Shaitaan ne ek chaal chal di thi. Usay ek rasta dikha diya tha.

"Hal toh yeh hi hai ke Rayyan uske paas hi rahe," uske andar ka shor tham gaya tha. Aag bujh gayi thi. Woh ab Faris Wajdan ka muqabla nahi kar sakti thi, lekin baad mein toh kar sakti thi. Aur poore haq se apna beta bhi le sakti thi.

Iske liye waqt aur planning darkaar thi. Faris Wajdan ko shikast se dochar karne ke liye uski mazbooti ko kamzori mein badalna zaroori tha. Uski aankhon se shaitaniyat jhalak rahi thi.

Faris Wajdan ka mehfooz deewaro ka woh qila andar se hi aag pakad sakta tha. Tabahi kisi qareebi se hi shuru ho sakti thi. Woh qareebi koi aur nahi, uska beta Rayyan Shirazi hi ho sakta tha.

Khandan ka naam, jaidad mein hissa, karobar mein shares. Agar woh peeche hat jaaye to Rayyan ko yeh sab mil sakta hai. Aur phir woh khel sakti thi. Soda khasare ka nahi tha.

Rayyan ko Faris ke paas hi rehna chahiye. Usne tay kar liya.

Uski aankhe apni mumkinah kamiyabi ko soch kar chamakne lagi. Tasawwur mein ek hi naam aur aankhon mein ek hi chehra tha. Rayyan Shirazi ka chehra jo uska beta tha aur jiske bade hone ka ab usse intezaar tha. Mansooba ban gaya. Irade bandh gaye. Pehla qadam usne utha liya. Mutmayin ho kar usne apni ticket book karwai aur agle din ki flight se London rawana ho gayi. Aankhon mein chamak thi aur labo par fatahana si muskurahat. Woh Adina Zubair thi. Nafrat aur intezam ki aag mein apne hi bete ki barbaadi ka soch kar muskura rahi thi.

•••

Lawn chair par Mrs. Shirazi ke hamrah baithay usne dhoop mein door phoolo ke paas Rayyan, zayn aur Faris ko dekha. Woh Rayyan ki baat tawajjo se sunta, sar hila raha tha, aur Zayn ko uski walker mein bitha raha tha. Rayyan haste hue apni khilona car, giraffe, aur plastic ka bhalu sab tarteeb se zameen ke aas paas rakh raha tha. Woh blocks jodne ki koshish mein apne papa ki baat bohut tawajjo se sun raha tha. Woh ghutne par baith kar Faris ki gardan mein baazu dale apne chhote bhai ko gubbare se behla raha tha.

Zayn ne apne haath upar uthaye hue the. Uske bhare bhare gaal aur honth gulabi ho rahe the. Phool se labo se neeche ke do daant jhalak rahe the. Woh bohot active aur shararti sa bachha Walker ko harkat de raha tha. Uski kilkariya sunayi de rahi thi.

Jameela Dawood ke hamrah baith kar chai peete woh musalsal unhein dekh rahi thi. Woh manzar bohot mukammal sa lag raha tha. Bacho ki zimmedari sirf uske kandho par nahi thi. Faris rozana ki buniyad par bacho ko time deta tha. Aur chhutti ka din toh tha hi sirf unke liye.

Phir woh khud bhi uth kar unke paas chali gayi. Jameela Dawood ne muskurate hue unhein dekha. Unke ghar ki raunake Allah ne lauta di thi. Us par woh apne Rabb ka jitna shukr ada karti kam tha.

•••

Woh Eid ki shopping par gaye toh Jameela Dawood ko apne saath hi mall le kar gaye the. Zayn ki woh pehli Eid thi. Wajdan house mein Rayyan ki bhi.

Dono ki khwahish thi, baccho ke kapde Jameela Dawood hi khareede. Woh aankho mein mohabbat ki narmi liye unhein dekh kar reh gayi thi.

"Pehle din aapki pasand ke ho jaayein. Doosre din meri pasand ke, aur teesre din Faris ki.."

"Mujhe teesra din milega..?" Zara sa shikawa kiya.

"Bilkul tum teesre number par ho.."

Jameela Dawood muskara kar reh gayi. Rayyan aur Zayn ke kapde bohot chahat se khud pasand kiye. Unki hamesha khwahish rehti thi, woh Faris aur Hammad ko bhi aise hi ek jaise kapdo mein dekhein. Toh ab kaafi arse baad yeh khwahish bhi poori ho rahi thi. Eid ke roz unke hi pasand kiye gaye shorts aur shirts mein malboos Zayn aur Rayyan unhein Faris aur Hammad hi lage. chand lamho tak bilkul saakit ho kar nam aankho se unhe dekhte rahi thi. Phir unhone pehle Rayyan ka bosa liya tha, phir Zayn ka. Woh Zayn ko god mein liye aansu pochhti rahi.

Bacho ke saath guzari jani wali woh Eid unke liye bohot khas hogayi. Do peher mein Zoya apne bhai ke saath aa gayi. Phir unke chasmatu cousin bhi aa gaye. Aur dekhte hi dekhte ghar bacho se bhar gaya.

Woh lawn mein baithi haste hue bacho ke sath Rayyan ko khelta dekhte rahi.

Eid ke teesre din Lahore ka program ban gaya. Jannat ki behno ki taraf se dawat thi. Woh Jameela dawood ko apne saath hi le jana chahte the lekin unhone inkaar kar diya. Unki chand doste Pakistan aane wali thi.

Lahore ka safar shuru hua toh Jannat ne kuch yaad aane par ek dum se uski taraf dekha.

"Tumhein woh jagah yaad toh hogi jahan hum ruke the?"

"Kaunsi jagah?" Steering wheel par grip jamaye woh siyah gaadi ki zadd mein sadak par nazre jamaye.

"Jahan accident hua tha."

"Kab hua tha?"

"Faris!" Zara jhunjhla kar uski taraf rukh moda.

"Oh! haan yaad aaya..."

"Ham wahi rukege. Mein us larke se milna chaungi..."

Aqbi nishisht par baby chair par Rayyan baitha tha aur barabar mein Zayn tha. Woh chhe mah ka chooza gehri pur sukoon neend so raha tha.

"Mumma" Rayyan ke haath mein ek jahaaz tha. Neele rang ka.

"Ji mama ki jaan!" Gardan modh kar uski taraf mutawajeh hui. Rayyan ko pani chahiye tha. Uski mukhtasir bottle nikaal kar usay dee jismei straw laga hua tha. Chand ghoont le kar uski bas ho gayi.

Do ghanto ka safar tay hua. Aur ab ke Faris ne jis station par gaadi roki, to Jannat ne khidki se bahar dekhte hue andaza lagana chaha ke woh kahan par the.

Petrol pump aur saamne kuch stores. Aur duka nahi aur phir uski nazar saamne hi pakore ke stall par pad gayi. Wahan pandrah solah baras ka larka khada tha. Haatho par dastane thay, sar par cap tha. Woh wahi larka tha, Jannat foran pehchaan gayi.

Bachhe so rahe thay. Woh gaadi se nikal kar baahar ke stall ki taraf gayi.

"Assalamualaikum Khan!"

Pathan larke ne sar uthakar usay dekha. Aankhein chhoti kar ke aqb mein darwaza khol kar uske shohar baahar aaye to Khan ka pehle munh khula, phir aankhe.

"Arey barish wala baji!" Uska tahtum Jannat kamal ke saare josh par pani pher gaya. Faris ne bamushkil muskurahat zabt ki. Khushbash sa Gul Khan foran uski khidmat mein hazir hua.

"Baji! Tum wohi ho na, wahan ruka tha tum jab barish ho rahi tha?"

Woh pehchaan kar tasdeeq chaah raha tha ke wo bhi wohi thi ya nahi.

"Aur tum waha phisal kar gira tha. Humein tum yaad hai."

Woh khush tha. Faris ki hansi be-sakhta thi. Jannat ne gardan modh kar qaherbar nazro se usay dekha to zabt pakar kar usne mazrat khwahana andaaz mein apne haath khade kiye.

"Haan, main wohi hoon jo is raat store mein ruki thi. (Yani jo giri thi, woh koi aur hogi.)"

Usne foran se kursi kheench kar samne rakhi.

"Baji, bohot khushi hui hamko. Aur tum pakore khayega hamare?"

Jannat ka mood zara sa khushgawar hua.

"Haan bilkul. Main isi liye toh aayi hoon..." Faris ka baazu pakar kar usay bhi apne saath ghaseet layi.

"Jannat main yeh nahi khata."

"Tum dekh nahi rahe, Gul Khan kitna safai pasand hai?"

"Main safai ki baat nahi kar raha. Main ne kabhi is tarah kuch khaya nahi."

"Toh aaj khaa lo!" Usay apne saath hi kursi par bithaa liya. Tawajja gaadi ki taraf bhi thi ke bache se lage hue the.

Gul Khan ne plate mein pakore tal kar garam garam pesh kiye toh usne foran ek utha liya aur doosra Faris ko diya.

"Yeh toh bohot tasty hain Khan!" Usay beech mein bohot maze ka zayka laga. Thoda sa tukda tod kar khate hue Faris ne bhi maza chakha. Pasand aaya toh doosra bhi utha liya. Phir teesra bhi.

"Hamare haath mein Allah ne zayka rakha hai. Aur Ammi bolta hai, tum achi niyat se pakore banayega toh is mein Allah aur barakat daal deta hai. Is liye sab ko hamare pakore bohot pasand aate hain."

Khan se baate karke uske ghar ka haal-chal poocha. Woh Eid ki chhuttiyo par tha lekin school bhi jaata tha. Pakoro ki keemat ada karke, uski aur uske stall ki tasveerein kheench kar usne Jamila, Dawood, Aima aur apne pados ki khwateen ke group mein bhej di.

"Tum hamari mashori kar rahe ho?" Gul Khan bara khush hua.

"Haan bilkul! Dekhna yahan se jitne log guzre ge, tumhare pakore zaroor khayenge." Jannat bohot ek excited thi.

"Tum humein pakore wala banayega?" Jannat ko hansi aa gayi.

"Nahi bhai! Hum to bas yeh koshish kar raha hain ke tumhare bohot saare customers ho." Woh uska lehja aur andaaz apna kar boli.

"Acha ek minute!" Gul Khan ab ke bari sanjeedgi se apne stall ke aage huliya behtar karke khada ho gaya. Seene par baazu bandhe, gardan unchi ki.

"Tum ab hamara tasveer kheencho!"

Aur Jannat kamaal professional photographer ban gayi. Ek tassuf-bhari nigah apni biwi par dalte hue darwaza khol kar zayn par jhuka jo abhi abhi neend se bedar hua tha. Seat belt ko kholkhar usay utha liya. Seedha hua toh Gul Khan pakore ki plate haath mein liye muskurahat dikha raha tha.

"Baji, tum hamara aik video banao hum apne bare mein batayega"

"Haan, theek hai. Aima ko send kar dungi. Woh apni kisi dost ke zariye kisi channel par chalwa degi."

Ab video shooting shuru ho gayi.

"Salam Alaikum! Hamara naam Gul Khan hai aur hum pakore banate hain. Hum bohot mehnat karta hain. Hamara pakora jo khata hai, bolta hai bohot zaykedar hai. Tum hamara pakora khane yahan zaroor aao."

Saath hi jagah ka pata, petrol station ka naam aur jis area mein stall tha uska bhi tafseel se bataya.

"Apni mumma ko dekh rahe ho?" Zayn ke baalo mein haath pherte hue usne apne bete se kaha. Woh  dhoop mein mundi-mundi aankhe khol kar idhar-udhar dekhne ki koshish ki. Phir usay cheenk aa gayi.

"Jannat"

"Bas Faris, abhi aayi."

Phir jab Zayn rona laga toh Gul Khan ko bohot si shabashi aur mehnat ki talqeen karke woh wapas aayi. Zayn Faris ki girift se nikalne ki koshish karte hue uski taraf hamakne laga.

“Baaki sab ka bhi interview kar lo,” Faris ne tanz kiya.

“Woh baad mein phir kabhi kar lugi.” Mood acha tha, so mind nahi kiya. Hanste hue bade pyaar se Zayn ko le liya.

“Is tareekhi jagah ki bhi tasveer leni thi jahan tumhari hungami landing hui thi.”

Zayn ko feeder dete hue lab bheench kar usne Faris ko dekha.

“Baat toh aise kar rahe ho jaise tum khud toh kabhi phisal kar gire hi nahi!”

“Itni buri tarah se kabhi nahi gira. Bilkul!” Uska pursukoon lehja Jannat ko aur tapa gaya.

“Woh sab tumhari wajah se hua tha. Tumne mujhe nazar lagayi thi!”

Faris ka sadaqe se munh khula. Driving karte hue usne dekha,

“Meri nazar lag gayi thi tumhein?"

"Itne aaram se aur itminan se chal rahi thi tum aur mujhse bardasht nahi hua? Aur tumne mashallah nahi kaha”

“Kis baat par mashallah kehna chahiye tha mujhe? Ke tez barish mein chhatri pakad kar dolti hui ja rahi ho?”

Aur bagair kisi warning ke uske bazu par ghoosa pada tha.

“Mujhe pata tha! Tum mera mood zaroor kharab karoge. Tum ho hi aise! Tum mujhe kabhi khush nahi dekh sakte!” Uska chehra gusse se laal ho raha tha.

Hontho par muskaraahat liye usne back-view mirror ki position theek ki.

“Acha hai, ghanta aadha ghanta is tarah ladte hue achha guzar jayega.” Woh mehfooz hua.

“Mujhe tumhare saath Lahore aana hi nahi chahiye tha. Main hi bewaqoof hoon jo har baar yeh soch leti hoon ke nahi mera tumhare saath acha waqt guzrega. Tum mujhe khushi doge. Lekin tumne mujhe sirf gussa dilana hota hai. Yeh nahi ke biwi ki thodi si tareef kar do!”

“Yeh girne wali baat mein tareef kahan se aa gayi?” Mutahair hokar poocha.

“Main toh tumhari foran tareef karti hoon. Main toh keh deti hoon, ab tum achhe lag rahe ho. Lekin tum kya kehte ho? Kapre ache lag rahe hain. Baal ache lag rahe hain.”

“Toh yeh kapre aur baal hote kis ke hain?” Ab ke woh jhunjhla utha.

“Toh tumhein kehna chahiye tha ke tum par yeh kapre ache lag rahe hain. Tumhare baal pyare lag rahe hain.”

“Dono mein kya farq hai?”

“Zameen aasmaan ka farq hai!”

“La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.”

“Aur tumhein kya lagta hai?”

“Okay fine, theek hai. Sorry. Maaf kar do. Ghalti ho gayi mujhse. Ainda tum barish mein chhatri le kar niklogi toh mashallah zaroor bolunga.”

Aur woh Zayn ko seene se lagaye, bigre tevaron ke saath khidki ki taraf rukh mod gayi. Baat yahan tak rehti toh theek tha, lekin Lahore pohanch kar Nafisa ke ghar mein apne bhanje bhanjiyo ke saath barish enjoy karte hue, jab woh Faris ke ain samne phisal kar giri, toh din mein tare nazar aa gaye.

Upar se Faris ki hansi ne mohabbat barhadi. Usne dono haath chehre par rakh liye.

“Khala gir gayi!”

“Khala! Aap ko chot lag gayi?”

"Khala! Aap ro rahi hain?"

Woh shade ke tale khada tha. Coffee mug hue uske paas aa gaya.

"Kya tum theek ho?" Panjo ke bal jukhte hue muskurahat zabt kar ke poocha.

"Baat mat karo mujhse!" Haath hata kar woh gusse se cheekh pari. Uski aankhein nam aur aansuon se laal ho rahi thi. Isay haste huye ho dekh liya tha.

"Yaqeen karo, maine nazar nahi lagayi."

Lekin Jannat ne sar nahi uthaya. Chehre se haath nahi hataye.

"Ab khud uth jaogi ya uthaa lu?" Jhuk kar sarghoshi ki.

Uske azaaim se ba-khabar hote hi Jannat ne jhatkay se sar uthaya. Ghabra kar idhar-udhar dekha. Phir uska haath pakar kar foran se uth khadi hui.

Baramde ki khidki se bahar ka manzar dekhte hue Hafsa ke labo par muskurahat aayi. Unki naram aankhein Faris ke wajdan par jami rahi thi. Woh Jannat ko wapas shade ke neeche le gaya tha.

Faris uski peshaani par chipke hue balon ko dahine haath se hata raha tha. Jannat halki si gardan modey huye thi. Aur phir uski kisi baat par chahte hue bhi muskurane lagi thi.

Haniya, Zayn ko uthaye baithi thi. Rayyan unke bete ke sath khel raha tha. Wo mug haath mein liye unke paas aayi thi. Jhuk kar Zayn ko dekha.

"MashaAllah khala kitna pyara hai yeh," Haniya ne zameen ke kai baar chume jane wale gaal ko ek baar phir chuma.

"Kya aap dono mein se koi bahar nahi aana chahega?"

Khidki mein hi Jannat ka chehra numoodar hua. Woh muskuraayi.

Unke Bachhe Jannat ka haath kheench rahe the.

"Bas kar do ab, beemar ho jaugi." Unka lehja shafqat bhara tha.

"Bas abhi aayi aapi.."

"Woh Faris ka mobile de dein. Woh bahar ja raha hai."

Unhone mobile uthakar de diya. Kuch hi dair mein Faris chala gaya toh Jannat kapray badal kar unke paas aa baithi. Barish ruk chuki thi. Mausam kaafi khushgawar sa ho gaya tha.

Zayn ko Haniya kamrw mein sula aayi thi. Rayyan ko khana khila kar farigh hui toh bahir ke gate par dastak hone lagi. Gate par Hafsa aapi gayi thi. Woh Jannat ke kamray mein kuch dair baad aayi. Ghaliban baithak mein kisi ke saath mojood rahi thi.

"Tayi ammi aayi thi." Isne nahi puchha tha magar unhone bata diya.

Jannat Zayn ke kapre bag mein rakh rahi thi. Suni ansuni karte hue chup chap kaam karti rahi.

"Tumse milne ka keh rahi thi."

Jannat ka sar jhuka raha.

Hafsa aapi ne Jannat ki taraf dekha. Woh na kisi se sawal karti thi, na kisi se milna chahti thi. Darwaza usne sirf behno ke liye khola tha. Mafi bhi sirf unhein di thi.

"Aapi, main yahan sirf aapke kehne par aur sirf aapse milne aayi hoon." Sar uthakar boli toh lehje mein ek ghum chhupa tha.

"Janti hoon, is liye mana kar diya."

"Mumma" Rayyan darwaza dhakel kar andar aaya. Hafsa aapi ke chhote bete se uski kaafi dosti ho chuki thi. Woh uske saath khelta raha. Ab bhook lagi thi, neend bhi aa rahi thi.

Jannat ne be-ikhtiyar use godh mein utha liya. Unhone mohabbat bhari nigahon se us bache ko dekha, phir Jannat ko.

"Faris ko Sachme koi farq nahi padta?" Uske liye cirilek bana kar layi to Hafsa ne puchha

"Kis baat se?"

"Rayyan uski pehli biwi ka beta hai."

Jannat ne be-ikhtiyar sar uthaya, muskarayi, phir nafi mein sar hilaya.

"Nahi, hum dono is tarah usay nahi dekhte."

Jannat ki aankho mein narmi thi. Woh Rayyan ko bohot pyar se khila rahi thi. Hafsa aapi shayad kabhi samajh nahi sakti thi. Rayyan to jaise ek ayna tha, jismein Faris ko apna aks nazar aata tha aur Jannat Kamal ko apna.

"Bachhe to mohabbat aur sirf mohabbat ke haqdar hote hain, aapi! Unke hisse mein nafratein kyun aaye?"

Hafsa aapi ne takeed mein sar hilate hue naram se Rayyan ke sar par haath phera. Us yateem bache ki muskurahat bohot pyari thi. Woh tote-phote alfazo mein Jannat se batein kiye ja raha tha. Baar-baar apne papa ka pooch raha tha.

Jab Jannat usay sulane lagi, to Hafsa baahar chali gayi. Sukoon bhari saans lete hue unhone Nafisa ke roshniyo mein doobe hue ghar ko dekha, jismein har taraf zindagi ke aasar nazar aa rahe the.

Haniya kitchen mein khane ka intezam dekh rahi thi. Sohail bacho ke sath lounge mein baithe the. Eman abhi pahunchi thi, aur uska shohar das baje tak aane wala tha.

Wo dupatta theek kartu isha ki namaz padhne chali gayi.

Jannat ne gehri saans lekar khidki ki taraf dekha.

Raat ki tareeki mein rimjhim barish baras rahi thi.

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