Chapter 22: •CHAPTER-21•

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"aap bahut pyari hai!"

kitchen mein daakhil hote hi ye pehla jumla tha jo Faris wajdan ki samaat se takarya tha. stool khech kar baithte hue is ne usse is sehat mand bacche ko dekha jo ka counter table ke dosre kone mein apne kapron mein baa-mushkil samaya huwa betha tha. khuli dhuli shirt large size ki thi aur tab bhi use tang ho rahi thi. faris ko bohat ghhor karne aur zehen par zor daine ke baad yaad aaya ke woh mrs. Yazdani ka nawasa tha. mrs. Yazdani, wohi jo unke padosh mein rehti aur janwaron se mohabbat ke muamle mein kaafi mashhoor bhi thi.

"Yeh is liye ke aap khud bohat pyare ho." faris ki aamad se be khabar woh Tray mein cake Pastries aur jane kya kya sajane mein lagi hui thi.

"kya, kya aap mujh se shadi karen gi?" apni nanhi si surkh car ko table par yahan wahan dorate bacche ne zara sa jhijakte hue jannat se poocha.

"She is married!" Jawab faris ne diya tha. glass mein strawberry juice undelte Jannat ke hathon ki harkat lamhe bhar ke liye thi.

"yeh kab aaya?"

bache ne gardan moud kar aik nazar faris wajdan ko aise dekha jaise uski yeh mudakhlat use hargiz hargiz pasand na aayi ho.

"So what? woh apne husband ko chhor bhi to sakti hain."  use lajawab kar ke us ne apni peshani par bikhare balon ko dono hathon ki madad se peeche hataya.

"Are you married Jannat Jani?" kuch soch kar usne jannat se poocha.

"Jannat Jani?" faris ne achambhe se use dobara dekha.

"No, I'm single!" lawazmat se saji tray apne nanhe maheman ke samne rakhte hue jannat ne suna ya kisi aur ko. Bachhe ne faris ko yu dekha jaise keh raha ho. 'dekha? She is mine, she will be mine!'

faris ne rukh badal kar orange Juice ka glass labon se laga liya. 'yeh jannat single kabse hui?'

"To phir mein apni mummy ko kab lau?"

"Aik baar hamari baat tay ho jaye to."

"Is he serious?" faris se raha nahi gaya. mushkil se saat saal ka ho ga. age ke do daant bhi Mosoof ke gayab the.

"Tumhe kya masla hai. mujhe saat saal ka baccha purpose kare ya sattar saal ka budha?" jannat ko patange lag gaye.

"I am not a baccha!" bacche ko pehli baar apni hone wali mangetar se ikhtilaaf huwa.

"Dekha! woh khud man raha hai woh baccha nahi hai."

"tumhe kya masla?" ab to jannat ko bhi faris ki mudakhlat pasand nahi aa rahi thi. faris mehez kandhe uchakka kar reh gaya. ke bhala use kya masla ho sakta hai?

"Mein bada ho kar pilot banuga. mein aap ko poori duniya ki sair bhi karwaun ga. Hum dono ikhttey Disney land bhi jayen ge." woh jannat ko apne future plan se aagah karne laga.

"Jab tak tum jahaaz udane ke qabil ho ge tab tak yeh pachaas baras ki aik auntie mein badal chuki hogi." Jannat ne jal kar faris ko dekha.

"Age doesn't matter love matters!"

"Whatever!" Usne khaali glass ka counter table par rakha.

"Zaid honey! aap ka jab dil chahe aap apni mummy ko le aao." bohat muskura kar usne bacche ka gaal khincha.

"Suzie ko bhi sath le aaun?"

"Ab yeh Suzie kon hai?" faris ne aik baar phir un ke darmiyan taang udai thi.

"Meri billi hai" shaane be nayazi se bataya gaya. Faris ke tasurat badle.

"Nahi, Suzie ko laane ki zaroorat nahi hai. mein usse milne aap ke ghar aaungi." jannat ne talna chaha.

"Suzie bohat strong hai. uske andar super powers hain. woh mere dushmano ko jab dekhati hai, to woh usi waqt gir jate hain."

woh dar parda kisi baat par chout kar raha tha, faris pehlu badal kar reh gaya.

"Aap gire the na us din?" phir woh faris ki taraf mura. kamaal ki yaad das thi is bacche ki.

daidh saal hone ko tha, magar abhi bhi use woh waqia juzziyat samait yaad tha.

"Aap gire the na sidhiyo se. Suzie bohat power full hai. jannat jani kal mein Suzie ko bhi lau ga." Faris ne bhanwain sukairh kar use dekha.

"Mein tumhari us Suzie ki wajah se nahi gira tha."

"Sab maloom hai mujhe." bachay ne gardan seedhi ki.

"Aap ki eyes red hogayi theen. aap ko Sneezing ho rahi thi. aap bohat dar gaye the meri billi se mujhe sab yaad hai. meri billi bohat power full hai." khaali glass maiz par rakhte hue faris isi waqt uth kar chala gaya.

"Yeh bohat darte hain meri Suzie se!" Usne phir par asaraar andaaz mein jannat ki maloomat mein izafah karna chaha. labn par ubharti muskurahat ko baa-mushkil dabate hue jannat ne faris ki taraf dekha. woh lounge ke sofe par name daraaz ab channel surffing kar raha tha.

"Achha!"  usne bhi aage se shadeed herat ka izhaar kya.

"Aap meri Suzie ko apne paas rakh len. for your own safety!" bacche ne sargoshi mein kaha. jannat be sakhta hasti chali gayi. jhungula kar remote pitte hue faris usi waqt uth kar chala gaya tha.

Mrs. Shirazi ke bed room mein woh glass wall ke qareeb floor cushion par aalti paalti maare baithi thi. Laptop glass table par dhara tha jis par woh un ka article type kar rahi thi. mrs shirazi paas hi wheel chair par Barajman theen. woh bahar lawn ke sabze par chalkti is dhoop ka nazara kar rahi theen jo barah e raast ab un par bhi par rahi thi. darwaaza halki si dastak ke sath khula to jannat ne be sakhta nazar uthai. black three piece suit mein malboos, coat laa parwahi se baazu par daley, dosre haath mein mobile pakdae faris wajdan andar daakhil ho raha tha. uski tayari mukammal thi. woh do pehar teen baje ki flight se zaroori meeting ke liye Karachi ja raha tha.

kal shaam tak is ki wapsi mutawaqqa thi. aur phir parson unhen London ke liye rawana hona tha. thi. aur phir aankhon mein khafgi basaye woh khud ko masroof zahir karti taizi se typing karti rahi.

aik sarsari si nigah is par dalta woh sofe par ja betha tha. mrs Shirazi ki mojoodgi mein woh hamesha apni shakhsiyat ka ulat nazar aata. narmi sirf uski baton se hi nahi, chehre aur aankhon se bhi jhalkane lagti thi.

"Aap ko kisi se milwana chahta hoon, mummy!" jane se pehle usne kuch yaad aa jane par mrs Shirazi se kaha.

Jannat ke kaan khade ho gaye. usne sar utha kar faris wajdan ko dekha. uski pusht jannat ki taraf thi, woh uska chehra parhne se mukammal qassir thi.

"Achha woh kis se?" Mrs. Shirazi ne pur Ishtiaq lehjey mein poocha.

"kisi khaas ul khaas hai! aap ko usse mil kar bohat khushi hogi"  jannat ke lab bhinch gaye. gussa naye sirey se ud kar aaya. aaj use Aima Zahir ki class leni hogi. wohi kehti thi, uske faris bhai ladkiyo se das feet bees feet ki doori par rehte hain. ab pata nahi yeh kon thi jise woh auntie se milwana chahta tha.

Uske chehre par doobti ubharti shakki hikayaato ko padhte faris wajdan ne samane haath lahraya. woh chonki. phir gadh badha kar uth gayi.

Ab apne majazi khuda ko darwaze par chhorne bhi to jaana tha. mrs Shirazi ke kamre se nikalte hi usne chehre ka rukh mashriq ki simt kiya aur farsh par paon patak kar yu chalne lagi jaise sara qasoor hi un tiles ka tha jo uske peeron taley bichhi hui theen.

"Apni packing to badhe josh o kharosh se kar rahi ho, ho sake to mera samaan bhi pack kar dena"

Kadre faasle se hi remote key se gadi ka lock kholte hue woh bola to uska lehja mamool ke bar aks khush gawaar tha.

"Tumhe hi na pack kardu mein?" woh ghurrayi.

"Kar sakti ho to kar do." woh uske samne khada ho gaya. pehle gardan jhukai, phir uska haath pakda.

"Tum!" usne dabak kar haath chhurana chaha. labon par muskurahat sajaye woh zara sa uski taraf jhuka.

"Mummy hame hi dekh rahi hain."

Jannat ki haath chhurane ki justojoo dam toar gayi. zara sa rukh badal kar zabardasti muskarayi taa ke mrs. Shirazi jaan len woh un ke bete ko kitni mohabbat se ‘alvidah’ kar rahi hai. aur yeh bhi ke woh kitni khush gawaar zindagi basr kar rahi hai. mashaAllah

"Haan, ab theek hai." faris ki muskurahat gehri hui. usne haath chhura kar gadi ka darwaaza khoola. ab jao bhi sath hi chidak kar aankhen dikhayi.

"Tumahare dar se nahi ja raha hoon, waqt bohat kam reh gaya hai." wrist watch par time daikhta woh gaadi mein betha to jannat kamaal ne be ikhtiyar sukh bhara saans liya. magar uski yeh sukoon bhari kefiyat faris wajdan se kyun kar bardasht ho sakti thi. sheesha neeche  karte hue usne zara sa sar bahar Kiya.

"Mere paas aik surprise hai tumahre liye."

woh puchna chahti thi kaisa surprise ya surprise ki aadh mein chhupi kaisi saza kaisa badla? kaisa intizam magar lab bheenche seenay par bazu bandhe  taktaki se use chup chaap dekhatii rahi.

"Karachi se jab wapas aon ga tab."

Ignition mein chaabi ghumate hue usne gaadi start kar di. jannat do qadam peeche hatt gayi. aankhon par siyah glasses lagaye woh gaari reverse karne laga. chokidaar ne gate khol diye the. ab woh siyah gaadi ko aahini gate se bahar nikalta dekh rahi thi.

"Surprise?" jane kyun uska dil kisi nagehani ehsas ke tehat dharak utha tha.

Mrs. Yazdani ne apne pote ki saalgirah par invite Kiya tha. faris Karachi gaya huwa tha. Aima Murree ghoom rahi thi. aur woh akele na pehle koi function attend kar saki thi, na ab karna chahti thi. dil bojhal, udaas sa tha. lekin mrs. Shirazi chahti theen woh zaroor jaye.

"Woh bohat pyar se bulaa rahi hain Jannat"

woh aaj kal uski zaroorat se ziyada khamoshi ko had se ziyada mehsoos kar rahi thi.

"Mera dil nahi chaah raha." sar jhuka kar woh aik baar phir typing karne lagi thi. mrs. Shirazi ne use baghore dekha. guzashta kayi dinon se woh aisi hi thi. udaas, khamosh, pareshan!

"Woh kya sochegi?"

"Mein keh dun gi Faris Karachi gaya huwa tha is liye nahi aa saki ." khat khat key board par uski ungelian taizi se mutharrik thi.

"Mrs. Yazdani ka yeh invitation khaas tumahre liye hai Jannat, faris to aise functions aur gatherings bohat kam hi attend karta hai." usne sratha kar unhen dekha.

"Aap hukum de rahi hain?"

"Yahi samajh lo kitne din ho gaye, mein ne tumhe tayyar hote nahi dekha, make up jwellery kuch bhi nahi zara yaad karo, Lahore jane se pehle tum kitna tayyar rehti theen. jaise phool khila rehta hai. bilkul aise hi lagti thi tum mujhe!" nam aankhon ke sath woh pheeka sa muskurai.

"Chalo utho shabash! jaa kar tayari karo, mrs. Yazdani tumhe apne sath hi apne farm house le kar jayen gi. mein un se baat kar layti hoon."

"Auntie please"

"Jannat! No arguments, fresh ho jaogi beta!" Gehra tanaffus le kar woh usi waqt uth gayi thi. tayari karte hue uska zehen musalsal uljha huwa tha. ajeeb be sukooni thi jo wujood mein phaili hui thi.

tayari mukammal karne ke baad usne sar dard ki goliya ki talaash mein bed side table ki drawers khichi andar rakhi ashya ko ulat palat karte uske hathon se siyah makhmali dibiya takrayi. woh kuch der tak kisi mujasme ki tarah sakit si baithi reh gayi. phir usne makhmali dibiya khol kar dekhi. nafees si Emerald dimond ring chamak rahi thi.

kuch der tak woh saans roke is besh qeemat tohfe ko dekhati rahi. phir bhaari dil ke sath use rakh kar uth gayi.

jane kyun uski kefiyat ajeeb si ho rahi thi. Aik Anjana sa khauf sar uthane laga tha. har tarah ke khayalat ko jhatkti wo shawl achi tarah se ourh kar purse sambhalti kamre se nikal gayi thi. magar jo be sukooni us dibiya ko dekh kar uske wujood mein utri thi, usse bawajood koshish ke bhi woh peecha na chhura saki thi.

rest room mein deewar size aaine ke samne ruk kar usne apne sarape ka az sarno jaiza liya. phir khule balon ko samaitt kar un ka juda banane lagi. heels ki tak tak ke sath hi deewar geer aaino mein kisi ka aks ubhra. usne choank kar be sakhta nigah uthai.

siyah rang ki baarik saari mein malboos ik nazakat aur ada se sej sej qadam uthati woh uske barabar mein aa khadi hui thi. Sunhere brown baal jude mein muqeed the. kuch ghunghralli latey dodhaiya chehre ke etraaf mein thi.

kajal se labraiz badi badi aankhon mein jannat kamaal ko dekhte hi taajjub ubhra tha. surkh labon par aik dil fraib si muskurahat sajh gayi thi.

"What a surprise!" kuch heran ho kar us ne jannat ka sar ta pair jaiza liya.

"Ghaliban yeh hamari teesri mulaqaat hai. aur abhi tak hamara theek se introduction bhi nahi huwa!" saari ka Palu haath mein pakdae woh aik ada se muskarayi. Uski muskurahat bhi ajeeb tanzia ki hui thi.

jannat ne sar jhatak kar khamoshi se rukh badla, clutch mein chhotey size ki makeup kit rakhi. Aima ki tanbeeh apni jagah, magar is ladki se use kuch achi vibes nahi aati thi.

"I'm Adina Zubair!"  apna naam batate hue usne jannat ke tassurat jacche. jannat kisi Adina Zubair ko nahi janti thi. yeh uske chehre par saaf saaf likha tha.

"Faris wajdan ki pehli biwi!"

Jannat ne jhatka kha kar use dekha. Nakrai clutch hath se chhut kar farsh par ja gira. Liners, lip gloves aur maskara yaha waha bikhar gaye.

"You are surprised!" woh uske tasurat se kuch heran hote hue hans pari.

"ghaliban shirazi khandan ke kisi fard ne tumhe abhi tak faris ki pehli shadi ke bare mein nahi bataya?"

"Faris ki pehli shadi?" aankhon mein sadma liye jannat apni jagah sakit khari thi.

"To kaisi life guzar rahi hai tumhari mere ex husband ke sath?" Adina ki tanzia nigahein uske chehre par thehr gayeen.

"Kya usne tumhe bataya nahi, woh mujh se kitni mohabbat karta hai? alehadgi ke baad bhi woh mere liye kitna deewana raha hai? meri hi wajah se usne kitni ladkiya reject ki hain? kitney rishton se inkaar kya hai?"

jannat ka dimagh maoof huwa tha. hawas misl ho rahe the. woh yaqeen aur be yakeeni mein pathrayi hui

nigahon se Adina Zubair ko dekhe ja rahi thi.

"Mrs. laghari ki beti Samrah ke sath to us ki baat takreeban tay ho chuki thi lekin ain nikah ke waqt usne inkaar kar diya. Can you imagine? Ain nikah ke waqt aisi mohabbat hai uski bhula nahi hai woh mujhe nahi bhool sakta hai woh kabhi aaj bhi mein is ke dil mein abad hoon meri jagah nah usne kabhi kisi ko di hai, nah hi woh de sakta hai!"

jannat ki aankhon mein nami phail gayi. manzar dhundla sa gaya. to yeh wajah thi faris wajdan ki nafrat, dhutkar aur be aitnai ki. nikah jaise muqaddas rishte ko aik Moeen muddat tak qaim rakhne ki.

"Woh aaj bhi mujhe apnane ka muntazir hai. inkaar to meri taraf se hai. faisla to mein nahi badal rahi. lekin socho jannat agar mein usey haan keh dun. zara socho! tumhari kya hesiyat reh jaye gi?"

woh sawal nahi, goya pahad tha jo jannat ke sar par toota tha. khud se kya gaya har aik ehad aik lamhay mein fanaa huwa tha. woh jo apna ghar chhorne ka faisla bohat pehle kar chuki thi, ab ghar ujadta dekh kar satke mein aagai thi.

"Nice to meet you Jannat" adina Zubair ke labn par aik fatihana muskurahat raqsa thi.

"Ummid hai hamari agli mulaqaat wajdan house mein bohat jald hogi!"

Wo ja chuki thi aur Jannat kamaal wash besin par girift jamaye maoof hote zehen ke sath ba-mushkil apne qadmo par khadi thi.

(Flashbacks)

"Mein aap ko kisi se milwana chahta hoon! mummy bohat khaas ul khaas hai!"

"woh aik surprise hai tumahre liye"

Usne saans laine ki koshish ki magar use saans nahi aa raha tha. seene par haath rakhe woh neeche baith gayi thi.

phone calls, khush gawaar rawaiyya, side table se bar aamad hone wala ring case.

"Kar sakta hoon! mein to ab mummy se yeh bhi keh sakta hoon, meri biwi banjh hai, mein doosri shadi karna chahta hoon."

jannat kamaal ne aziyat se aankhen mitch li thi.

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