Chapter 37: •CHP-36•

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shaam ka waqt tha. sandal aapa ki choti beti marwah ko pehlu me sulaye woh chaar payi par karvat ke bal laitee thi. doosri chaar payi par Sabra Bua abhi aakar baithi thi. pur soch nigahon mein bohat se sawal aur fikar liye woh jannat ko dekh rahi theen.

"Mein janti hoon, yeh aik mushkil baat hai. lekin karna bhi zaroori hai."

yuhin baithe baithe woh kuch soch kar mukhatib hui theen.

"Usne tujhe dhoonda to zaroor hoga."

jannat ki ankhen dheere se khul gayeen. sawal ghair mutawaqqa tha.

"Kyun dhoondega woh mujhe?"

usne himmat kar ke poocha.

"Biwi hai tu uski."

lamhe bhar ke liye aik sakoot sa us par taari huwa tha. Burhan ki bhi woh biwi thi, woh kabhi uske peeche nahi aaya tha. Faris shirazi ke sath to yeh aik zabar dasti ka un chaha rishta tha, jis ke aaghaz se pehle hi anjaam tay kar diya gaya tha. woh bhala uske peechay kaisay aa sakta tha? usey kaisey dhoond sakta tha? woh bua ko batana chahti thi, insaan unhen dhoondta hai jo gum ho jayen, unhen nahi jinhein woh khud gum kar de.

"Janna?"

Bua uski khamoshi par zara beqarar huien.

"Ab tak woh apni pehli biwi ko wapas bhi le aaya hoga bua."

Usne itne aam lehjey mein is andaaz mein baat ki jaisey woh apne shohar ki nahi, muhalle ke kisi doosre mard ki baat kar rahi ho. Bua takhir se usey dekh kar reh gayeen.

"Aur tu? tujhe wapas nahi lana chahe ga ?"

aur baat to 'chahat' ki thi. khwahish ki thi. aur mohabbat ki bhi. aur woh na chahat thi, na khwahish, aur na mohabbat.

"ho sakta hai usne ab tak mujhe Talaq bhi de di ho."

usne mutmahim lafzon mein bohat normal se lehjey mein Talaq ka ishara de diya. woh chahti thi bua samajh le ikhtilaaf koi chhota mota nahi.

"Agar de bhi de to kya farq parta hai. talaq to nahi ho sakti, tu hamal se jo hai."

jannat ki dharkanain tham si gayi. andar bahar sannata chhaa gaya. yeh khayaal to aik lamhe ke liye bhi uske zehen mein nahi aaya tha.

"Kya bohat zulm karta tha? maarta peeta-ta tha?"

aankhon mein fikar mandi samoye unhon ne chand lamho ke tawaquf ke baad tashweesh se poocha. lafzon ki maar ke aage, jismani tashadud ki kya auqaat? usey Burhan se parne wala woh thappar yaad aaya. takleef us thappar ki ziyada thi, aur bohat ziyada thi.

"Nahi!"

Bua ki saase yaka yak bahal hui. Aur unhone dil hi dil shukriya adaa kiya ke chalo tassadud ka masla nahi. aik baar fir khamoshi bahal ho gayi. aankhe mund kr Jannat ne dil se dua ki ke bua aur kuch na puchhe.

"Janna bachche kya sulah ka koi rasta nahi nikalta?"

Wo bahut mohtat lehze me bahut narmi se puchh rahi thi. aur ye sirf ek sawal nahi tha usey paltne ka rasta dikha rahi thi. Jannat dam sade rahi.

"Pehle ki baat aur thi ab tu uske hone wale bachche ki maa hai, mard lakh patthar dil sahi kamas kam apni aulad ke liye to naram parh hi jata hai!"

Uska chehra ojhal raha. nam aankhe band rahi. apni siskiya dabaye wo chupchap leti rahi. wo uth kar uski charpaayi par aa gayi. uske baju par hath rakha.

"Me jaanti hu ye tere liye bahut mushkil hai magar khud soch is tarah tanha zindagi kaise guzaregi? Phir tujh par auk bachche ki zimmedari bhi aane wali hai. Isliye agar sulah, safai ka koi hal nikalta ho, tujhe is hal par wakai gohr karna chahiye.!"

Apni baar khatam kar ke unhone chand lamho tak uske jawab ka intezar kiya. Magar Jannat ne goya lafz sil liye the. Saanso ko rokk liya tha.

"Sochna jaroor!"

Aankho me fiqar liye uski pusht ko thapthapa kar wo apni chaarpayi par chal gayi. Jannat ne aankhe khol di. uska pura ka pura wajood dard ki lapet me aa gaya tha. Usne ab tak bua ko apne masle se aagahi nahi di thi. Faris ki nafrat aur anchahe rishte ke baare me nahi bataya tha.

Bua paanch salo ka azab janti thi, paanch saal ki aziyat se na-waakif thi. Unhe uske dard ka uski bekashi aur bebasi ka andaza hi nahi tha. wo abhi tak us poshida ikhtalaf ko mamooli nawaiyat ka samajh kar usey Faiza chachhi ki harkat se jod rahi thi. Unhe uske mamlat itne saaf aur sidhe lagte the unka khayal tha uska shohar aulad ki khabar sunte hi use baa khushi apna lega. wo uske is tarah achanak ghar chhorne par bhi bahut fiqrmand hoga. Aur wo hal ki bat krti thi. Sulah ki raah dekhti thi. Ehsaas ka zikr karti thi, maafi par yakeen rakhti thi.

Wo Faris wajdan ko nahi janti thi. Jan bhi nahi sakti thi. Magar wo to jaanti thi usey aur bahut achhe tarike se janti thi. Uski naak, gaal aur aankhe surkh hone lagi. Aankho par bazu rakhe wo beawaz rone lagi. wo Faris ke ghar mrs. Shirazi ki wajah se ruki hui thi. aur mrs. shirazi ki wajah se hi wapas nahi jana chahti thi. Aur ye baat wo chah kar bhi bua ko nahin bata sakti thi. Unhe Faris wajdan ki nafrat ki wajah nahi samjh sakti thi. Saare lafz, saari daleele, saari ki saari wajahate khatam ho jati thi.

Aik khamoshi si thi jo reh jati thi. Aik jamud hi tha jo tari ho jaya karta tha. Isne pehle bhi kisi ko kuch nahi bataya tha ab bhi nahi batana chahti thi. Lekin bua in sab baato se bekhabar un rasto ko dhundh rahi thi jo aziyate bhare aur purkhar the. Un khusiyo ko talash rahi thi  jin par uska koi haq tha hi nahi. Baat Naseeb ki thi aur ab bhi naseeb ki hi thi.

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"𝑲𝒂𝒉𝒂 𝒂𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒌𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆?

𝑲𝒂𝒉𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂? 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂..

𝒋𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒍 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒚𝒂𝒂𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉,

𝒋𝒐 𝒏𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒍 𝑱𝒂𝒂!"

Rang Birange gubbare ura diye gaye. tab mein pani bhara gaya, kaghaz ki kashtiyan banai gayeen, rangon se kayi lakerain safhon par lagai gayeen, kayi phool banaye gaye kayi ghar sajaye gaye. aur kayi khushiya sabz darakhton ki shaakhon par parindon ki soorat bitha di gayeen.

"𝑾𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒃 𝒌𝒊 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒏

𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒊 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒊..

𝒅𝒊𝒍-𝒆-𝒃𝒆-𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒏

𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂, 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂..!!"

fatima ki do guriya thee. aik ko dulhan aur doosri ke baal chhupa kar, marker se monchen darhhi bana kar, safaid shalwar suit pehna kar zabardasti ka gudda banadiya gaya. shaam tak shadi sar-anjaam paana thi. uske kamre mein, almaari ke aik khane mein dulhan ka poora kamra set Kiya jane laga. nanhe nanhe shadi card choti choti bachiyon mein baatey gaye.

"𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒖𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊 𝒅𝒉𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒆,

𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝒂𝒂𝒔, 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒆...

𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒂 𝒌𝒆𝒉 𝒈𝒂𝒊 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒆

𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒍 𝒋𝒂..."

maghrib tak sehan mein jeete jagte phool jama ho gaye. guriya ka kamra, uska samaan, uska jora dikhaya gaya, dulha ko bari shararti nigahon se parakhaa gaya hansi dubaiee gayi. phir rukhsati mulahiza ki gayi. neeche jin se upar uske kamre tak baarat aayi. phir palao khaya gaya. haste muskurate phool khushi khushi chalaye gaye magar un ki aamad se jo sukoon utar wo wahin thehr gaya.

"𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒊 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒌-𝒆-𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒎

𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒂𝒅 𝒌𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒉 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒌𝒂𝒎

𝒕𝒖𝒋𝒉𝒆 𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒈𝒊 𝒏𝒆 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒍𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒚𝒂

𝒕𝒖 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒌𝒖𝒓𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂.."

kamre ki safai karte, apne kapre dho kar taar par pheilate, taiz dhoop mein gulaabii rangat liye. mundair se aage dur dur tak phaile sar sabz khaiton ko dekhatii woh.

"𝒌𝒚𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒂 𝒉𝒖𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒈𝒉𝒖𝒃𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏

𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒎-𝒆-𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒈𝒊 𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏

𝒐 𝒋𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒌𝒉𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏

𝒔𝒐 𝒗𝒐 𝒉𝒐 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂"

ur neeche apni behno ki ghair mojoodgi mein jhule par beta Ali, jara si khafgi se usey daikhta huwa ke iski aamad ke baad se uski teen be adad shararti behne ab har waqt aapi aapi karti aur upar hi payi jati thi. ab na kisi se pipe cheenne par larai hoti, na jhoola hathyane par shore machta na choti chaarpayi ke liye rona dhona hota.

kitna sukoon aur kitni khamoshi thi ghar mein uski amma ab aaraam se har kaam karti thi. padosiyo ke ghar chakkar bhi laga aati thi. shopping par bhi baghair fikar ke chali jati thi. ab woh us se yeh nahi kehti thi ki tum un kakhyal rakhna, aur aise khayaal rakhna aur is tarah khayaal rakhna. dir se hi ghasib larki ne usey dekhte hue haath hilaya to dadi, nani ke ladle ne hanut se chehre ka rukh morra.

"𝒕𝒖𝒋𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒂𝒏 𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒋𝒐

𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒆 𝒌𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒋𝒐

𝒗𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒆𝒌 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒚𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝒌𝒂

𝒔𝒐 𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂, 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒍 𝒋𝒂"

ujale asmano par simat gaye, andher dharti par utar aaya. chahar so sukoon bhari khamoshiyan chhaa gayee. aur bohat upar se madham roshni mein woh manzar numaya huwa. Saleem se video call karti bua aur samne hi wo baithi thi.

Fatima, isha aur nanhi marwah ko sath liye. aaj subah hi bua ne ludo mangwa kar di thi aur ab hanste muskurate wohi khail khela ja raha tha. woh jeet rahi thi, bacchiya haar rahi theen. Saleem ko pata chala to khoob hansa.

"Yeh waisi ki waisi hai amma! zara nahi badli."

woh muskurayi. aur yahi muskurahat uski aankhon ki nami ban gayi.

"𝒏𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒉 𝒉𝒊 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒊,

𝒏𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒃 𝒉𝒊 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒃 𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒍-𝒆-𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒆𝒉 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂

𝒌𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒚𝒆 𝒋𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒂? 𝑼𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂"

woh neeche Ali ke paas gayi. kamar par haath rakh kar sar utha kar fatihana andaaz mein muskarayi.

"Tumhari behnain mujh se haar gayeen tum jeet kar dikhao to baat bane."

itne dino tak usey nazar andaaz karta Ali yak tak usey dekh kar reh gaya. uski nanhi si ghairat ko behno ki shikast gawara na hui. challenge qubool kar ke foran upar agaya. aik baar phir mehfil jami aur woh no sala bachche. se haar gayi.

"𝒀𝒆𝒉 𝒋𝒐 𝒓𝒂𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒏 𝒌𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒊 𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒂,

𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒌𝒉, 𝒖𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒓 𝒚𝒂𝒒𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒏𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒓

𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒊 𝒂𝒌𝒔 𝒌𝒐𝒊 𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒒𝒊𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒓-𝒆-𝒂𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂,

𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂.."

"Aap ko pata nahi lekin mein bohat zaheen hu."

usne sar utha kar fatihana andaaz mein jataya. behne uske sath jari baithi theen aur itna khush ho rahi theen jaise un ke bhai ko haft Aqleem ki doulat mil gayi ho.

aik marwah hi thi jo feeder muh mein daaley uski goad mein baithi, uski khamosh saathi bani hui thi.

"𝒋𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒂𝒕-𝒆-𝑱𝒂𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊 𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂,

𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒋𝒐 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂

𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒌𝒊𝒚𝒂,

𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒂, 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂.."

uski ankhen dhundhlayi tabassum  honto par thehr gaya. din bedaar huwa, shaam aankhon mein utar aayi. waqt guzra, chand din guzar kar aik baar phir ruk gayah.

•••

woh sandal aapa ke bachon ko ab shehzadiyo ki kahaniya suna rahi thi. Ali naak bhoon charha raha tha. usey to kisi bhoot kisi jin kisi taaqat war sahebzade ki kahani suni thi. jis ne kayi logon ke sar phare hon, dev bhagaye ho, pahad giraye hon, tabahiya machayi ho.

"Mujhe nahi aati aisi kahaniya"

woh usey ghur kar keh rahi thi.

"Aap bohat bore karti hain."

rukh badal ke usne kaan par haath rakha tha.

"𝑻𝒐 𝒚𝒆𝒉 𝒌𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒚𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒃-𝒆-𝒉𝒊𝒋𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒆

𝒉𝒂𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒌𝒉𝒏𝒂

𝒘𝒐𝒉 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒌 𝒌𝒆 𝒋𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎,

𝒌𝒐𝒊 𝒂𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂, 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒂"

safede ke pattoun se hawae sarsar kar guzri. baadalo ki oot se nikalti chandni sehan mein utar aayi.

uske aas paas har taraf umeed ke nuqrai zarre bikhar gaye. usne dua mangte hue un zarron ko ungli ki por par chuna. aankhon mein  jaan khawab ho kar bas gayi. qalb sarwar ke liye mein dooba to ang ang mein sukoon thehr gaya.

"𝑲𝒂𝒉𝒂 𝒂𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒌𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆?

𝑲𝒂𝒉𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂? 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒋𝒂𝒂..

𝒋𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒍 𝒈𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒚𝒂𝒂𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒌𝒉,

𝒋𝒐 𝒏𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒉𝒖𝒍 𝑱𝒂𝒂!"

aasman ko dekhte huw usne ankhen moond li. takiya phir se bhigne laga. magar labon par muskurahat thehri rahi aur kaafi der tak thehri rahi.

•••

mutala abr alood tha. fiza mein habs ke sath khamoshi chhai hui thi. shadeed garmi se uktaye hue Ali ka khayaal tha aaj barish zaroor hogi. woh bhi yahi chahti thi lekin ghar pounchane se pehle tak nahi. sandal aapa marwah ko liye apne maike gayi hui thee, Sabra bua hamsaye ke yaha dawat par usey aur bachiyon ko bhaij diya tha.

khud woh ghar mein Saleem ki biwi Anam ki kisi rishta daar ki wajah se ruk gayi theen jo aaj subah hi un se milne aagai thi.

Sabra Bua ki hamsaye ka ghar hare bhare khaito aur wasee sabza zaar ke us paar tha. dawat se chaar bajey tak farigh ho kar usne wapsi ka rukh kiya to us waqt aasman siyah baadalo ki lapait mein aa chuka tha.

Fatima, isha aur Ali, pagdandi par shor machate bhage chale jaa rahe the aur woh sar par dupatta liye ehtiyat se qadam uthaati un ke peeche chal rahi thi. shehad rang balon ki kuch late peshani se chipki hui theen. garmi ki shiddat se chehra surkh ho raha tha.

"Aaj to tufaan aaye ga."

Ali ne haath utha kar aasman ko dekhte hi keh diya.

"Allah na kare Ali."

woh dehal kar boli. usey barish zaroor chahiye thi magar tufaan ke sath hargiz nahi. Ali ne murr kar usey dekha, phir ruk gaya.

"aap yahan nayi aayi hona is liye aap ko nahi pata. hamein pata yahan saari hawae ruk jati hain, phir baadal aate hain. woh bilkul kale ho jatay hain. phir hawae chalti hain aur bohat zor se chalti hain. itni zor se ke agar aap kamre mein nahi chhupe gi to urr jayen gi."

jannat ne ruk kar paseena saaf kya. Gehra tanaffus le kar phir se qadam uthaye. pata nahi Ali ko yeh kyun lagta tha ke woh kisi aur siyare ki makhlooq thi jisey barish, aan tufaan ke bare mein koi ilm na tha.

"Iske baad barish aati hai, bohat taiz!"

Ali ne dono haath chehre ke qareeb laa kar, ankhen michi.

"itni taiz itni taiz ke"

"ke agar mein kamre mein nahi chhupugi to beh jaoon gi."

baqiya jumla usne bezaar ho kar mukammal kiya.

"Bilkul..!"

Ali itraya. phir taizi se bhaga. fatima ne uski dekh dekhi raftar pakdi Albata Isha pagdandi se guzri kahin se phool kahin patte kahin se koi kaliye tore jarahi thi. aur is amal ki wajah se woh jannat se bhi peeche reh gayi thi.

"Isha?"

har thori der baad woh ruk kar usey pukarne lagti. aur isha sarrayat pakar kar phir se sust ho jati. khaito ke us paar mazboot raste par qadam jamate hi usey fiza mein yaka yak thandak ka ehsas huwa. hawae chal gayi theen magar itni taiz nahi theen ke usey ura le jayen.

Isha ka haath pakar kar apni raftaar berhate hue woh dayen taraf gali mein daakhil ho gayi. bilkul samne sadak wazeh nazar aati thi. jis par ikka dukka gadiya guzarti hui dikhayi de jati theen warna motorcycle ya phir rikshaw nazar aate rehte.

Aik siyah Range rover usey sadak kinare hi khadi dikhayi di thi. shayad koi jageerdar apni zamino ke dore par tha. gardan mourr kar usi taraf dekhte woh doosri gali mein daakhil hui aur agle hi lamhe apni jagah pathar ki tarah sakit ho gayi.

Ali ne bhaag kar aahini darwaaza andar ki janib dhakel diya tha. fatima uske peeche bhagi thi. Isha ko gali mein hi koi cheez neeche giri hui mili thi jisey uthane ke liye woh jhuk gayi thi.

waqt lamhe bhar ke liye ruka tha aur phir jaise ruka reh gaya tha. barish ke qatre fiza mein muallaq hue, hawae ruk gayeen, shhor tham gaya.

siyahi mile jeans par khaki cotton off white shirt mein malboos Faris wajadan uske samne khada tha. kushidah peshani par baal bikhare the. Hazel aankhon ki surkhi mein nami thehri thi.

barhi hui shave ke sath yaqeen aur be yakeeni mein madgham hote tasurat mein aik posheeda karb liye woh vahm se khayaal, aur phir khayaal se aik haqeeqat ho gaya tha.

baadalo ki ghann garaj ke sath barish shuru hui. usey ghar chhore hue pachees din ho chuke the, chhbiswe (26) din woh uske samne khada tha. usne woh muddat poori hone nahi di thi. usey waqt ki had se niklne nahi diya tha. jannat ko apni aankhon par yaqeen nahi aaya tha. faris wajdan yahan nahi ho sakta tha. woh uske peeche yahan nahi aa sakta tha. aik nikah hi to tha, aur us nikah ki to faris wajdan ke nazdeek koi ahmiyat hi na thi.

woh kisi business deal ki tarah is rishte ko aik aam sa contract samjhta tha, aur is aam se contract ke liye woh itna safar tay kar ke yahan tak nahi aasakta tha. Uska rasta nahi rok sakta tha. lekin jo Faris uske samne khada tha, usne aisa kar diya tha. woh ab qadam utha raha tha to uski chaal ghair mutawazan thi. aisay lagta tha jaisey woh kisi lambe safar se shikast khorda siya lota ho. manzil ab bhi uske liye be naam, aur rasta abhi bhi uske liye mushkil raha ho. jane woh barish thi jis ne uska chehra tar kar diya tha a woh ansoo the jo uski aankhon se gir rahe the? woh samajh na saki.

Faris ke sath uske mamlaat ab is noiyat ke hargiz nahi the ke woh is lamhe kamzor padtee ya hassas ho jati. woh uska sahara nahi tha ke uske bina woh toot kar rezah hoti. lekin usey rona aaya tha aur jane kyun shiddat se rona aaya tha magar woh saari chikhe aankhon mein liye, zabt kiye khadi thi. woh zindagi ki taraf bohat mushkilo se palti thi, dobara fanaa nahi hona chahti thi. woh wahi khari thi, jahan woh thi, magar faris wahan nahi tha, jahan woh huwa karta tha. woh pehle kisi aur muqam par tha, ab kisi aur maqam par nazar araha tha.

faasla khatam huwa. aur waqt ruk gaya. qareeb pahonch kar usne ahistagi se haath uthaya, kapkapati unglio se uska gaal chuva. woh yaqeen karna chahta tha jannat khayaal nahi thi, aik haqeeqat ho chuki thi. uske chehre ke tasurat yaka yak yun hue jaisey us mein abhi abhi zindagi ki ik nai lehar dorhi ho. ya jaise uski thi hui sansen naye sire se bahaal hogayi ho. woh phir se jee utha ho. wo uski har kefiyat aur ehsas se be khabar se bohat sadme se dekh rahi thi. Ali keh raha tha, aaj tufaan aayega. Ali theek hi keh raha tha.

jannat kamaal ki zindagi mein tufaan aa chuka tha. yaka yak woh apne satke se bahar aayi. usne faris ka haath jhatak diya. usi sarraiyat se rukh badal kar ghar mein daakhil hui aur isi taiz bochhaar mein bikhti hui sidiya chadhti apne kamre mein band hogayi.

Baris aandhi ne zor pakar liya tha. aandhi shiddat ikhtiyar kar gayi thi. safede ke darakht hawa ke zor se goya sehan ki dewaron par jhuke chale aa rahe the. dur kahin bijli chimki thi. baadal garjay the. andar aur bahar ka mausam aik sa ho gaya tha. fiza ka sakut tufaan ne darham barham kiya tha aur uske andar ka sukoon faris wajdan ne khatam kar diya tha. woh andhere mein khidki ke samne sar jukaye baithi thi. chehra saata huwa tha. lab bheenche hue the. aankhon mein nami thehri thi.

Faris wajdan kisi ke bulane par yahan nahi aaya tha. Bua abhi kuch der pehle hi apni position clear kar ke gayi theen. unhon ne Faris se rabita nahi kiya tha aur nah hi is silsile mein Saleem se koi baat ki thi. woh yeh zaroor chahti theen, jannat apne shohar ke paas chali jaye magar uske liye unhon ne khud se koi koshish nahi ki thi. woh usey aetmaad mein liye baghair aisa koi qadam uthane ka soch bhi nahi sakti theen.

to kya mrs. shirazi ne usey bheja tha? kya woh un ke kehne par yahan aaya tha? uska dil chaha, woh abhi neeche jaye aur isse mrs. shirazi ke bare mein puche magar woh nahi gayi. zehen ko, har tarah ke khauf aur waswase ki girift se chhurati wahin baithi rahi.

jane kitne gham the jo yaad aaye ja rahe the. apni aziyate, sabr, bardasht aur faris wajdan ki nafrat, dhamkian aur Talaq aik wada tha jo usne khud se Kiya tha. aur apne is wade par usey har soorat qaim rehna tha.

wapsi ki har raah us par pehle se masdood thi. dil ka har darwaaza us par bohat pehle se band tha. ab usey koi hamaqat nahi karni thi aur kisi soorat nahi karni thi. na sar jhukana tha, na minnat karni thi aur na kisi dabao mein aakar koi qadam uthana tha. baat ab uske bachche ki thi. aur sirf bachche ki hi reh gayi thi.

woh Adamm thi to ab usey manzar nahi hona tha. tasawwur thi to ab usey haqeeqat nahi hona tha.

usey Arsalan bhai ka suit day kar oopar ayen to aankhon mein khush gawaar sa ta-assur thehra tha. woh faris ki aamad par itni khush theen ke paon zameen par nahi tik rahe thay. aisey jaisey woh un ka sach much ka damaad ho.

"Mein soch rahi hoon, tere ghar wale ko khush khaberi suna du. ya tu khud sunayegi?"

unhon ne poocha. woh gum sum hi unhen dekh kar reh gayi. Bua uske liye sab kitna mushkil kar rahi theen.

"aur yeh kya to andar chhup kar baith gayi hai, kya soochega woh?"

Bua us par khafa huien. unhen faris ki kitni fikar honey lagi thi. sirf is liye ke woh uska shohar tha. uski aamad ka maqsad uska irada jane baghair sirf is liye ke woh uski thi to woh ahem ho gaya tha.

"Waise ma sha Allah tera ghar wala hai bada sohna"

lagey hathon tareef bhi kar daali.

"koi sohna wona nahi hai woh."

woh jo itni der se sabr kiye baithi thi, bol pari. Bua murr kar usey dekha. woh khafa khafa aa chehre ka rukh badal gayi. unhon ne almaari se aik mardana

shumal nikaali aur jane kyun muskarati hui chali gayeen. barish ka zor toot gaya tha. madham phwaar hanooz baras rahi thi. usne doosri mom batii jalayi, phir teesri, phir chothi magar andhera tehra raha uljan barhti rahi. kuch hi der baad Ali agaya.

"Woh aap ke shohar hain?"

pata nahi Ali pooch raha tha ya bata raha tha. usne kuch nahi kaha.

"Thand lag gayi hai unhen cheenkain aayi ja rahi hain. itni der tak to woh darwaze mein kharrey barish mein bhigte rahe."

woh uske barabar mein takhat par tik gaya. torch haath mein thi.

"Amma ne abbu ke kapre diye hain unhen. bilkul acche nahi lag rahe."

"kapre? ab ke zara sa rukh morra.

"Nahi, woh khud.."

usne nigehain mom batii par jamali, light jane kab on hui thi.

"Un ki gaadi achi hai, aur mobile bhi.."

phir jaisey kaam ki baat yaad aayi to foran neechay utra.

"Amma keh rahi sar dard ki goli de den."

"Kis ko chahiye ?"

"Jin ko chheeke aaye ja rahi hain unhen."

ab ke do zara sa choak kar uski taraf muri.

"Bua ne kaha bithaya hai usey?"

"baithak mein."

usey yaad aaya baithak ke bairooni darwaze se aksar aik billi andar aa jaya karti thi. barish ke mausam mein to laazmi aisa hota tha. sab kuch chore chhar kar woh taizi se neeche aayi.

Isha aur fatima braamde mein rakhi chaar payi par baithi theen. Bua ne daant kar bithaya tha isha bhagtay hue do baar phisal kar gir chuki thi.

"Bua?" woh seedha kitcehn mein aagai.

Bua khana garam karte hue uski taraf zara si khafgi se dekha ke mohtarma ko neeche aana yaad aa gaya?

"Aap usey kisi aur kamray mein bitha den."

ungelian masalte hue woh pareshani se boli.

"Janna! mujhe tujhse yeh umeed nahi thi."

Bua ko ba qaida gussa aa gaya .

"Mein ne yeh to nahi kaha ke usey ghar se nikaal de." woh ehtajajan dabi aawaz mein chillayi.

"Aik hi baat hai!"  un ka Para charh gaya.

"Mein dekh rahi hon jab se woh bechara aaya hai tujhe aaram nahi mil raha "

"Bechara?"

Jannat ki aankhon mein is na insafi par ansoo aa gaye.

"Usey billiyo se allergy hai Bua ! baithak mein betha raha to tabiyat kharab ho jaye gi."

"Tabiyat to uski pehle se kharab hai, pata nahi kaise gaadi chala kar yaha aaya hai."

woh zair lab burr badate hue bartan mein saalan nikaalte lagen.

"tujhe, jahan bithana hai, bitha de."

Unhone haath se ishara kar diya.

"Bua..!"

woh rondi si hui. Bua ne khud ko sakht pathar kar liya. uska shohar, uska farz, uski zimmedaari.

woh bigre tewaro ke sath bahar nikal gayi. Ali ko aawaz de kar baithak mein bheja aur khud sidiya charh kar oopar aagai.

bed par se kuch risale ghusse se ikathe kar ke side table par rakhe. takiye waghera durust kiye. chand mazeed mom batiyo ka izafah kar ke roshni barhana chahi.ain usi lamhe Ali kamre mein daakhil huwa.

"Unhon ne kaha, mein yahin theek hu."

"Kya matlab, yahin theek hu? tum ne bataya nahi unhen, kamre mein billi aati rehti hai?"

"Yeh kyun batana tha?"

Ali saraapaa sawal ban gaya.

"Uff!" usne peshani par haath mara. phir zabt kar ke sidiya utarti neeche aagai. Ali bare maze se behalta uske peeche tha.

"Bataya tha maine, bataya tha billi aati hai kamre mein lekin woh phir bhi nahi utthe"

usne murr kar Ali ko dekha, phir daant kach kachte hue drawing room ka adh khula darwaaza poora khol diya. darwaze ke bilkul qareeb woh sofe par shlwar suit mein malboos betha tha.

chhekho se kuch aajiz ho kar usne sar uthaya. aankhon mein khafgi, gussa, narazi aur jane kya kuch liye jannat kamaal aik baar phir uske samne khadi thi.

"Agar ab tumhe reaction huwa to mein tumhe CPR nahi dun gi. Hospital bhi kaafi doori par hai. abhi se bata rahi hoon tumhe."

lehjey ko hatte al amkan sakht rakhte hue usne apne makhsoos lehjey aur andaaz mein us par wazeh kar diya. aur jane kaisey, aur jane kis tarah faris wajdan ke labon par tabassum bikhra. aankhon ki nami yakayak barh gayi. be naam sa hajan surkh dooron mein thehr gaya.

"apni zindagi piyari hai to upar kamre mein aajao."

woh keh kar palat gayi. Faris apni jagah se uth khara huwa. isi khamoshi ke sath woh uske peeche sidiya charhata chhat walay kamre tak agaya. darwaaza khol kar usey andar daakhil hone ka rasta deti woh khud bahar hi rahi. aur kuch hi der mein woh phir se neeche thi.

Bua tray hathon mein liye bahar aayi to usne chehre ka rukh poora ka poora mourr liya ke muabada ab woh isse yeh keh den ke khana bhi woh le jaye. sad shukar ke bua ne aisa kuch na kaha.

woh khana daine gayeen to kuch der tak upar baithi rahi aur woh neeche jalay paiir ki billi ki tarah chakrati rahi. yahan se wahan. aur phir wahan se yahan.

light aa chuki thi. Bacche so gaye thay. sandal aapa ne phone kar ke keh diya, mausam ki kharabi ki wajah se woh

kal hi ayen gi. aur usey kisi soorat na neend aa rahi thi aur na sukoon mil raha tha. ajeeb si tension bhi jisne usey ghair liya tha.

"jane bua kya baat kar rahi hon gi. woh un se kya keh raha hoga? aisa nah ho bua minnat samajat karne.." usne nichla lab dato tale dabaya. kuch hi der mein usne Bua ko seedhiyan utarte dekha.

"ziyada to kuch nahi khaya."

woh kitchen mein tray rakh kar uske paas agaien.

"To phir?" woh khud se kuch puchh bhi nahi rahi thi aur chahti thi jo sab bata den.

"Tabiyat nahi theek goli di hai mein ne. koi baat bhi nahi kar raha. tum jao o par. usse pucho, kisi cheez ki zaroorat to nahi. mere samns jhijak raha tha tumhe bata dega."

"Bua" usne ruwan si ho kar sar uthaya.

"Aap..."

"Jannah" unhone khafgi se toka.

"Shohar hai woh tera, koi ajnabi nahi hai. ja shabash!"

unhone mohabbat se pukara to aankhon mein dhair saari nami liye woh bigre tewaroon ke sath upar aagai.

"Aik to bua." ankhen ragar kar saaf kee.

"Kuch samjhti hi nahi hain."

burr badate hue andar daakhil hui. samne hi woh usey bed par nind daraaz dikhayi diya. woh janti thi, usey apne ghar ke ilawa kisi aur jagah par theek se neend nahi aati thi magar woh bed par aik hi position mein itni gehri neend so raha tha ke woh chand lamhe ke liye uske chehre se nazar na hata saki. Isey be sukoon kar ke woh hamesha kitne sukoon se sota tha. Thak kar lab bheenche, ankhen ragdi. aik baar phir usey dekha. barish se mausam kaafi se ziyada thanda ho gaya tha. halka sa pankha bhi chal raha tha to kuch soch kar kambal phila diya ke uski tabiyat bhi theek nahi thi.

paas hi mobile rakha tha, jhuk kar utha liya. mobile off tha. Battery taqreeban khatam. us mobile ki charger wali pin poorey ghar mein kisi ke paas nahi thi. usey be ikhtiyar mrs. Shirazi ka khayaal aaya. jab bhi woh rabita nahi kar paata tha to woh uske liye bohat pareshan ho jaya karti thi. ab bhi ho rahi hogi.

gehri saans le kar mobile rakh diya. Bulb bhuja kar usne khidki ka aik patt khol diya aur khud Shawl orhhey bahar aagai. mundair ke paas ruk kar usne tareqi mein dur tak dekha. tufaan guzar chuka tha. magar uske assaar reh gaye the.

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