Chapter 15: •CHAPTER-14•

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'𝑫𝒊𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒇𝒂 𝒌𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒃,

𝒍𝒂𝒃 𝒑𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒏;

𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒓-𝒆-𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒎𝒆,

𝒖𝒔 𝒌𝒐 𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒏!

𝑾𝒐 𝒋𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒊,

𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒇𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒏;

𝑼𝒔 𝒌𝒊 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒏,

𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒏!

𝒕𝒖𝒎 𝒌𝒐 𝒛𝒖𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒌𝒆

𝒅𝒊𝒍 𝒌𝒂 𝒋𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒌𝒆;

𝑬𝒉𝒅-𝒆-𝒘𝒂𝒇𝒂 𝒌𝒐 𝒕𝒐𝒅 𝒅𝒆,

𝒂𝒑𝒏𝒊 𝒎𝒂𝒋𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒏!

𝑼𝒔 𝒔𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒐 𝒌𝒊 𝒅𝒐 𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒊

𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐 𝒂𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒉𝒊;

𝑴𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒂 𝒚𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒎𝒖𝒉𝒂𝒍,

𝒑𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒕𝒏𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒉𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒏!'

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tie ki knot dheeli karte hue usne open kitchen ke samne ruk kar raahdaari mein nigah dorhayi thi. madham

si roshni thi jo poore ghar mein phaily thi. ajeeb sa sannata tha jo har taraf chaaya huwa tha. woh pandrah din baad London se lota tha aur ghar par chhai hui yeh weerani usey ajeeb si kefiyat se do chaar kar gayi thi.

Mrs. Shirazi ke bad room ka darwaaza band tha. woh yaqeenan ab tak so chuki hongi. woh un ke aaraam mein mukhil nahi hona chahta tha warna aisa kabhi nahi huwa tha ke woh beron mulk doray se wapas aaya ho aur fil for unse na mila ho.

woh sidiyon ka rukh karne hi laga tha jab nigah raahdaari ke ekhtatam par studio ke adh khulay darwaze par par gayi. darwaze ki darz se jhankti zar car roshni tiles par bhikri hui thi. aahista se qadam uthatay hue woh studio room mein agaya.

tamam battiya roshan theen. deewar geer khirkion ke parday doriyon mein bandhay hue they. bahar ka andhera khirkion se andar jhaank raha tha. rim jhim barish ki madham si aawaz. sar-sara kar guzarti thandhi num hawaon ka shor. Usne aik tayranah nigah hall mein dorhayi phir agey barhatay hue mashriqi deewar ke paas rakhay carton par jhuk gaya.

mujhey hue phool kate wilson ka drawing paper, result card, trophies khilone tasaveer ke album aik aik cheez ka sarsari se andaaz mein jaiza letay hue uske haath mein apna purana wallet agaya.

wallet khaali tha. Us mein koi aisi cheez na thi jo usay mutwajjah karti masiwaye uski chain ke jis ke doosre siray par shandar si talwar latak rahi thi. talwar ke blade ke west mein aik magnetic chip thi jis par ungli phertey hue usay yaad aaya tha ke is ke sath jari hui aik aur talwar bhi thi.

"Tum aa gaye beta!" Mrs. Shirazi ki aawaz par usne choank kar aqab mein dekha tha. wheel chair par Barajman siyah shawl mein apna aap chupaye woh maslak kamray se andar aa gayi theen.

"Mein samjha, aap so rahi hongi." key chain haath mein liye woh uth kar un ke paas agaya. jhuk kar unki peshani ka bosa liya phir haath pakar kar hi un ke paas side table par baith gaya tha.

"Tarikh ke according amount transfer kar diya hai meine." woh jaanta tha mrs. Shirazi ab usse kya puchhne wali theen. magar sawal se pehley hi woh inhen jawab day chuka tha.

Mrs. Shirazi ne sar utha kar usey dekha. aik karb sa un ki aankhon mein thehr gaya. har mahinay ki yakam tareekh ko woh kuch aur hi suneney ki mutamanni rehti, aur har baar faris wajdan ka yeh jumla inhen aziat mein mubtala kar deta tha. har mah raqam transfer karne wala mohabbat transfer nahi karta tha.

"Tumhe lagta hai, is nanhe yateem bachay ko tumhare paiso ki zaroorat hai?" mohtaat andaaz mein unhon ne kuch aziat se poocha tha.

keychain ki talwar faris ki unglio mein mutharrak thi. sar jhuka huwa tha. chehra hanooz tasurat se aari tha.

"usey tumhari zaroorat hai faris!" unhon ne jaise usey aagahi di thi. aik baar phir ehsas dilane ki sae ki thi. woh khamosh raha tha. mushtael nahi huwa tha.

"Usey saza mat do, uska koi qasoor nahi hai!"

"Mein kisi ko saza nahi de raha hoon." bohat ahistagi se is ne kaha.

"Mein sirf jeeney ki koshish kar raha hoon!"

Mrs shirazi ne uski aankhon mein aag dekhi, dard dekha, aziyat dekhi aur phir jaise un ki har himmat dam tor gayi. yeh zulm hai. inhen ehsas huwa. woh uske sath zayad-ti kar rahi hain. un ka dil betha. Shwal ke Palu se apne ansoo ponchhe, phir yeh meem meem muskurahat mun par bikhertay hue unhon ne mauzo hi badal diya.

"Tour kaisa raha tha tumahara? safar mein koi mushkil to nahi hui? aur jannat ko kab lao ge faris? Uske baghair to is ghar mein khamoshi si dar aayi hai."

Usne mrs Shirazi ke teeno sawal theek thaak sune, magar jawab sirf aik ka diya.

"safar theek raha. bohat bhook lag rahi hai, Mein kuch khana chahta hoon."

woh jane ke liye utha tha.

"Mujhe pehle hi shaq tha. un ki aankhon mein ab bhi nami thehri thi magar lehje mein khush goriyat lout aayi thi jaise kuch der pehle tak un ke mabain aisi koi baat hi nah hui ho jis ne inhen hazaar ha tukron mein taqseem kar diya ho.

"kaisa shaq?" darwaze ki taraf barhate hue usne ruk kar poocha tha.

"Yahi ke tum dono ki larai hui hai." mrs. Shirazi ne itminan se aagah kiya.

"Tum usey Lahore chore aaye magar is liye ke woh tumhare sath London na ja sakey" unhon ne mashkook nigahon se dekhte hue kureda.

"Aisa to nahi huwa." woh sat pata gaya.

"Woh to apni marzi se.."

"Usey shadi attend karne se ziyada tumhare sath London jane ka shoq tha, aik do ghanton mein usne mere sath baith kar jane kitney programmes tarteeb de daale thay. mein maan hi nahi sakti woh apni marzi se ruk gayi ho

gi" un ka andaaz qatiat bhara tha.

mutharrak wheel chair ke barabar qadam uthatay hue Faris lab bhinch kar reh gaya.

"Sach-Sach batao larai hui hai tum dono ki?" mrs. Shirazi uske peechay kitchen mein aagai theen. suni un suni kiye woh freezer khol kar khane ke liye kuch dekhne laga.

"Mein kuch poochh rahi hoon Faris!"

"Yeh sawal aap ne apni Ladli se pooch liya hota." woh jaise jal kar bola tha. mrs. Shirazi ne labon par ubharti muskurahat ko baa-mushkil roka.

"Usse bhi poocha tha! kehne lagi apni marzi se ruk gayi hoon"

"Lekin asal masla to wahi ka wahi hai, jab use tumhare sath London jaana tha to phir shadi attend kar ke woh wapas kyun nahi aayi?"

"Ab mein kya keh sakta hoon?" microwave oven mein pizza garam karte hue woh ulajh kar bola.

"Iska matlab hai tum dono ki larai hui hai." unhon ne kuch soch kar kaha.

"Larai..?" Timer ki aawaz kitchen mein gunji thi.

"Kaisi larai?" faris ki bhanwe suker gayeen. jabre bheench gaye.

'Jannat kamaal ab bhi baz nah aayi apni harkato se' Uska Parah charha.

"Husband, wife mein kya larai bhi nahi ho sakti?"

"Hamari nahi hoti!"

Agar jannat sun leti to ghash kha kar gir jati. Mrs shirazi ne achambhe se usey dekha.

"Ab aap kya chahti hain?" woh zich huwa tha.

"Kuch nahi tum pizza khao" mrs. Shirazi ne muskurahat dabayi.

woh un ka hissa nikaalte laga to unhon ne mana kar diya. maiz par kohni tikaye, band muthi thorhee par jamaye, woh usey bohat ghhor se aur mohabbat se dekhne lagi. woh kuch uljhan ka shikar huwa tha. Khuli kitaab to na tha magar mrs. Shirazi usey parh hi liya karti theen.

"Jannat theek hi kehti hai." chand lamho ke baad unhon ne kaha.

Usne chhuri se piece kaat kar muh mein daalte hue unhen dekha. aankhon mein sawal tha. yani kya, kya kehti hai jannat?

"Yahi ke jab tum confusion ka shikaar hote ho to ziyada dilchasp lagte ho." niwala faris ke halaq mein ataq gaya. woh be ikhtiyar khansane laga. mrs. Shirazi ne foran glass mein pani undail kar usey diya. Usne chand aik ghoont bharay. tanaffus bahaal kiya, phir sir utha kar mrs. Shirazi ko dekha. woh muskura rahi theen. aur un ki muskurahat zindagi se bhar poor thi.

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Lahore ki subah barish ka libada oudh kar utri thi. aasman ki ujli nili rangat par kuch der pehley tak simat jane wale baadal aik baar phir phail rahay the. kuch aisi hi kefiyat uski bhi hui thi jab saira khaala ne usey jannat ki ghair mojoodgi ke baray mein aagah kiya tha.

"Yahan nahi hai?" na lehjey mein fikar thi, na ghabrahat bas aik uljan ke ab usey intzaar mein rukna parre ga jab ke woh jald az jald Islamabad jana chahta tha.

"kab tak aaye gi?"

"Jannat ne tumhe nahi bataya?" khaala kuch mutfakkar nazar ayen. Usne nafi mein sir hila diya. woh apni aaya ke ghar hai.

"Aap mujhe address bata de, mein usey wahi se pick kar laita hoon."

mobile nikalte hue use be had formal lehjey mein kaha tha. Saira khaala ne kuch herat aur uljan se usey dekha tha. 'kya un pandrah dinon mein is ki aik baar bhi jannat baat nahi hui hai?' 'ya phir jannat ne hi usey la ilm rakha hai?' kuch hi der mein woh aaya ka address le kar ghar se nikal gaya tha. Lahore ki sadko par gaari dorate hue usne ne aik baar phir jannat ka number try Kiya tha. Uska mobile of jaa raha tha.

aasman par rim jhim barasti barish ne aik dam hi shiddat ikhtiyar kar li. pandrah bees minute ki drive ke baad woh matlooba address par pahonch chuka tha. zeli sadak se gaari andar woh le to gaya tha magar tang galiyo ki bina par ab mazeed jana mumkin nahi tha.

chanar ke darakht taley gaari rok kar us ne samne dekha. Saira khaala ne teesri gali mein siyah gate ki nishan dahi ki thi. darwaza khol kar bahar nikalte hue us ne rain coat ka head apne sar par charha liya.

baadal aik dam shiddat se garje they. aawaz aisi thi jaisey aasman toot para huwa. musla dhaar barish mein dayen mor murte hi woh gali mein siyah rang ke teesre gate ke samne ruk gaya tha. aam ke ghane darakht ki shaakhe sehan se bahar gate ke oopar bahar phaily hui theen. barish ka pani patton se ras ras kar neeche gir raha tha.

Us ne darwaaza bajate hue apne siyah jooton ko dekha jo khichar se latt patt ho chuke thay. takreeban paanch minute tak to woh gate hi dhar dhar a taa raha, tab kahin ja kar gate khula tha.

sadah siyah shalwar kameez mein malboos, siyah shawl apne ird gir achhi tarah se odey, sar par chhata tane jannat kamaal samne khari thi. kuch sakit aur mutkahir si . rangat zard, hont be rang aur khushk. ankhen surkh o mutwaram theen. dahine gaal ke oopar, aankh ke baen taraf neel ka gehra nisaan, kuch soojan bhi thi shayad.

faris ki aankhon ki sard Mehri yak dam barhi. chehre ke tas surat sard ho gaye. apni ye haalat bana kar woh duniya ke samne kya saabit karna chaah rahi thi? yahi ke us par zulm wa sitam ke pahar torrey ja rahay hain? yeh dramebaaz ladki usey zaher lagi thi.

jannat kamaal kuch herat se usey dekh rahi thi. peshani par bikhar kar gaal par phisalti laton ko aaj woh samait kar peechay nahi hata rahi thi. rat jagey ki gawahi deti ankhen be tarah se surkh zaroor theen magar num nahi.

chehre par kisi qisam ka ta-assur nahi tha magar aankhon mein aik be naam ki khafgi lehra rahi thi, gussa bhi tha shayad.

"Laine aaye ho?" Usne yu poocha jaise woh kisi aur wajah se bhi aasakta tha. lehja be ta-assur magar aawaz kuch bou jhal si thi.

"Majboori hai" daant pees kar intehai burudat se jawab dete hue faris ne fasali nigahon se usey dekha. Aur use laga tha sayad majboori khatam ho chuki hai. Ab wo use hamesha ke liye kher bad kehne aaya hai.

"Aur waqt nahi hai mere paas! Do minute mein pahuncho." akhar lehjey mein hukum day kar woh jane ke liye murr gaya tha. barr barahat jari thi. jhunjhalahat mein qadam utha taa woh shadeed ghusse mein lag raha tha.

Gadi ke qareeb pahonch kar usne murr kar peechay dekha to jannat chhatri ke saaye mein ehtiyat se qadam uthaati nazar aayi. bag kandhe se latak raha tha. Sar jhuka huwa tha aur shaano par bikhare seedhay girte lambe baal chehre ko dono taraf se ghairay hue thay. Clutcher ab bhi haath mein hi tha jaisey woh ujlat mein apna sab kuch samait kar foran hi bahar aagai ho .

woh qareeb pahunchi to faris ne Drashti se jannat ka baazu pakar kar uska rukh apni taraf morra. takleef deh ta-assur chhupate hue jannat ne bazoo chhurane ki koshish ki thi magar uski takleef mein aur izafa huwa tha .

"Apni yeh haalat bana kar, aakhir kya saabit karna chahti ho tum? tum par zulm wa sitam ke pahar toar raha hoon mein? Jee jaan laga kar in pandrah dinon mein apni yeh haalat banai hai taa ke mammy ke samne mera tamasha bana sako? ab is haalat mein tumhe le kar jaoon mein? is haalat mein...?" woh dubi aawaz mein dahara tha .

woh dam sadhay kuch sadme se uski aankhon mein dekh kar reh gayi. baazu ki takleef jaisey aik lamhey mein gayab hui thi.

"Chahti kya ho tum?" woh dabi aawaz mein gurraya. qaher barsati aankhon mein jaisey khoon bikhra huwa tha.

jannat ke lab bhinch gaye. aankhon mein surkhi phaily. magar usne jawaban kuch nahi kaha.

"Pata nahi kisi gunah ki paidaish mein tum mere galey par gayi ho." jhatkay se uska bazoo chhortey hue usne apni side ka darwaaza khola tha.

barr badate hue kuch jhunjhlaht ke aalam mein usne gadi start ki thi. yaka yak hi usey apni unglio par chip chapahat ka ehsas huwa tha. yuhi daena haath samne Kiya to woh khoon se surkh tha. woh apni jagah thitak kar ruk gaya.

darwaaza khol kar jannat barabar mein baithi to usne be sakhta gardan mourr kar usey dekha. chhatri tangon mein rakhne ke baad ab woh apne balon ko samait kar clutcher mein jakar rahi thi. bohat ehtiyat aur ahistagi se.

aik lamhey ke liye faris ki soch aur khayaal muntashir hue thay. aik lehje ke liye kisi be maienay se khadse me sar uthaya tha. woh apne balon ko samait chuki to usey laga shayad woh ab fursat se, hamesha ki tarah koi wazahati jawab jab degi, koi anokha bayan day gi magar woh chup thi. goya muh mein zuban hi na ho. Khidki ki taraf muh moray usne apni soorat bhi gum kar li thi.

Faris ki nigah aik lamhe ke liye uske dahine baazu ke us maqam par ki thi jisey usne intehai sakhti se pakra tha. phir is ne gaadi start kar di thi.

safar khamoshi se katne laga tha. wind screen par mutharrak wipers, kohre mein lipta road, barish ki aawaz. shadid sardi, aur shawl mein apna aap chupaye. khidki ki taraf apna rukh kiye, ankhen moonde hue wo baithi thi. zara der ke liye hi us par ghunodghi chhai thi.

phir is ki aankh khul gayi thi. bukhaar ki shiddat se peeta o jo daal sardi ki shiddat se kapkapa raha tha.

chehre ka rukh ab bhi khidki ki taraf tha. bhoole se bhi nah rukh badal rahi thi. aur nahi hi usey dekhne ki ghalti kar rahi thi. woh bhi khamoshi se gadi drive kar raha tha. herat angaiz tor par usne dobarah koi baat nahi ki thi. nahi gussa dikhaya tha. nahi jhirkiya pilayi theen. nah hi un gunaaho ka hawala diya tha jin ki paidaish mein woh uske galey par gayi thi.

Khushk labon ko tar karte hue usne gehra saans liya. faris ne gaadi petrol pump ke samne sadak ke ain kinare par rok di thi. agey petrol dalwati gadion ka rush tha. woh rain coat ka head sar par charhaye gaari se nikal gaya. jannat samney dekhnay lagi. dhund mein malfoof darakht bas chand qadmon ke faasle tak hi wazeh the. Usne pani ke chand mazeed ghoont bharay. phir dahinay haath ki unglio se kanpatti dabanay lagi.

woh khana order par pack karwa kar palat hi raha tha jab usne aawaz suni thi. musalsal bajta horn. tyre ki chir chrahat aur phir tassadam. usne petrol pump par mojood logon ko dayen simt bhagtay dekha. barish kuch ziyada hi taiz hogayi thi. har manzar dhundlaa tha. mubhim tha. ghair wazeha !

"Accident ho gaya" koi keh raha tha. barish ke shor mein ab logon ki taiz aawaz mein bhi shaamil hogayi theen. kisi ehsas, kisi andaishay, kisi khayaal ke tehat usne ujlat mein qadam uthate hue wahan dekha jahan uski gadi khadi thi.

agley hi lamhe, uska dil ruka, sase tham gayeen. parcel hath se chhut gaya. shayad zameen chakrayi thi ya aasman sar par gira tha. woh tassadam, woh koi aam tassadam to na tha.

be qaboo hoti gaadi is ki gaadi se aakar takrayi thi jis ki wajah se uski gaadi gumti hui bulandi se neeche ja giri thi.

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