Chapter 40: •CHP-39•

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darwaze lock ho chuke the. gaadi start thi taqreeban magar abhi harkat mein nahi aayi thi. andar, bahar sannata sa chaaya tha. aik mukammal khamoshi dono ka ihata kiye hue thi. woh fikron mein ghiri sheeshe ki taraf rukh kiye baithi thi. naakhun ungli taley dabe Shawl ke andar muthi sakhti se band kiye.

"Kya haal hai?"

barabar mein baithe Faris wajdan ne khamoshi tor di.

"Mujh se koi baat mat karo!"

"Yeh sawal maine kisi aur se bhi poocha hai."

Jannat ka chehra surkh para .

"Ham se koi baat mat karo."

aur jis istehqaq se usne hum kaha, woh dheere se muskura diya. apni qismat, apna naseeb usey aaj se pehley kabhi itna achha nahi laga tha.

"Lekin mein karna chahta hoon." usne kaha.

Aadil Ahmed ki gaadi barabar se guzar kar aage hui to usne staring wheels par girift jamaye ail baar phir rukh mourr kar jannat ko dekha. seene par bazu bandhe wo khidki ki taraf rukh kiye baithi thi. chehra ojhal tha. khafa aankhe bahar kahin tarikeon se ulajh rahi theen.

"Tum ne mujh se poocha nahi, woh surprise kya tha jo mein Karachi se wapsi par tumhe dena chahta tha?"

woh ahistagi se goya huwa.

"Puchne ki kya zaroorat thi? jab woh surprise khud chal kar mere samne aagai thi." jal kar jawab dete hue ab ke usne apna rukh Faris ki taraf morra.

"By the way, mister shirazi! mein sirf auntie ki wajah se ghar jarahi hoon. tumhare sath jo meri deal hui thi, woh ab bhi qaim hai. maimne to auntie se keh diya hai, bhale se tumhari doosri shadi ho, teesri shadi ho, chothi shadi ho. I really don't care! mujhe sirf apni Talaq se gharz hai."

khamoshi se uski poori baat sun laine ke baad woh tamam tar tawajah driving par markooz kar chuka tha. hamesha ki tarah uska pursukoon rawaiyya jannat ko andar tak sulga gaya .

"Aur gaadi mein bhi isi liye baithi hoon kyunke unhone mujh se kaha, is liye nahi ke mein baithna chahti thi. tumahra to mujhe pata hai, tum to yahi sochoge tumhari saari plannings ka bera ghark jo ho chuka hai." woh shuru ho chuki thi.

"Kuch logi?"

Faris ne aqbi nashist ki taraf haath berhate hue poocha. peeche khane ke pack kiye lawazmaat rakhe the jo mrs. Shirazi ghar se layi thi. apni baat qata ho jane par usne sard nazro se usey dekha, phir ghusse se rukh mourr gayi .

"Don't talk to me!"

woh dukh se muskuraya. jaanta tha, baat karna chahega to woh ulajh parre gi, ya kaano par haath rakh kar rone lag jaye gi. aur woh aisa nahi chahta tha. In aankhon ne bohat rulaya, ab aur nahi. un ke mabain aik baar phir khamoshi chhaa gayi.

jannat nashist ke sath pusht tikaye, easy ho kar samne dekh rahi thi. gaadi main road par sarrayt pakdae hue thi. aas paas andhere mein roshniya bikherti gadiya guzar rahi thi. driving karte hue woh har thori der baad uski taraf dekhte hue jaise tasalii kar laita tha. haqeeqat ko khawab hone mein der hi kitni lagti hai? uska khauf, uska khadsha, uski tamam tar aziyate apni jagah qaim thi. sheeshe ke sath peshani tikaye, kisi gehri soch kisi gehre khayaal mein gum jannat ne ankhen moond li theen. zindagi ne aik baar phir raasto ka taayun kar liya tha. manzil abhi bhi dhund li thi. be naam aur ghair wazeh si thi. anjaam abhi bhi nahi badla tha. farq halaat par para tha, nafsiat par bhi, asaab par bhi

uske kandhe kisi boojh se jhuke nahi jarahe the. dil se jaisey koi saqeel se hatt gayi thi. woh khud ko bohat halka phulka sa mehsoos kar rahi thi. maazi hanooz jura huwa tha magar aisa pehli baar huwa tha ke uski takleef usey apne haal ka ihata karti hui mehsoos nahi ho rahi thi. yeh khushi chand lamho ki hi sahi, yeh sukoon kuch pal ka hi sahi lekin mila to sahi. woh mrs. shirazi ko aik baar phir sochne lagi thi. ghamo ke baadal poori tarah se nahi chhate the magar usey aasman abhi se, bohat ujla, bohat neela nazar aane laga tha. woh kuch adhoore khowabo ko aankhon mein sajaye aane wala kal ko soch rahi thi. adhuri tasweer ka aik hissa mukammal hone wala tha.

pursukoon khamoshi mein uski ankhen ahistagi se band hone lagi sakhti se band unglio par girift dheeli pari. shawl ka aik serra kandhe se sirak kar pehlu mein aa gira. bahar halki halki si bonda Bandi shuru ho chuki thi.

Faris ke sath wapsi ka har safar aise hi baadalo se aur baarisho se ghira rehta tha. aur kise ilm tha. wapsi ke is safar mein woh do nahi, teen hoge? woh neend ki wadiyon mein utar gayi. aur Faris wajdan apni nigahein road par jamaye yaksoi se driving karta raha.

jane kitna waqt beeta tha lekin usey yaqeen tha, ziyada se ziyada aik ghanta hi guzra ho ga ya usse bhi kam. barish tham chuki thi. wind screen par kahin kahin qatre nazar aa rahe the. uski tabiyat makdar ho rahi thi. matli ka ehsas shadeed hone laga. pehle pehal to ankhen moond baithi rahi ke theek ho jayegi, magar jab ubkai ka ehsas huwa to usne be sakhta Faris ke baazu par haath rakha.

"Gaadi roko faris!"

"Kya huwa?"

Gaadi ki raftaar yaka yak sat pari aur agle hi lamhe sadak se zara neeche ho kar ruk gayi. wo darwaaza khol kar taizi se bahar nikal gayi. andhere mein sadak kinare ghaas aur ounche lambe darakhto ke samne woh panjoo ke bil jhuk gayi thi. pani ki bottle uthaye Faris uske peeche bahar aa gaya. Khaste hue keh karti woh aziyat mein gayi. woh kuch fikar mandi se peeche khada raha.

woh uth kar seedhi hui to usne pani ki bottle barhai. usne bottle le kar mun haath dhoya. uski aankhon mein nami teer rahi thi, saans bhaari tha.

himmat kar ke qadam uthane gayi to faris ne haath aage kya, jo ke baghair kisi tasaddud ke usne thaam liya. shayad usey dar tha woh gir na jaye. kapkapata huwa sard hath faris ke haath mein diye woh passenger seat par baithi.

"Are you alright?"

woh usse pooch raha tha. bhaari saanson ke sath usne asbat mein sar hilaya. wujood par aik kapkapi si taari thi. woh apni seat sambhale ab uski taraf poori tarah se mutwajjah tha. aankhon mein fikar thi. mobile holdar mein aistaadah uske mobile ki screen aika aik roshan hui thi.

'AR' ke naam se call aa rahi ke thi. chand aik massages ka notification bhi faris ne call disconnect kar di. peeche kahin daur aur bahut dur kisi gaadi ki head lights tareek ho gayi thi. ab ki baar usne ijazat nahi chahi thi. haath barha kar aqbi nashist se dinner box khola.

"Pulao, qeema mutter, fried chicken, meethe mein kheer hai, fruit trifle bhi hai."

usne khane ginwaye, ke shayad ab woh kuch khale.

"Tum ghar se itna kuch laaye ho?"

zara heran ho kar uski taraf muri. neend se bhari hui hai aaraam ankhen, be thaasha rone ki wajah se sooji hui lag rahi thi.

"Mummy layi hain."

"Haan wohi laa sakti hain. tum se mujhe aisi koi umeed bhi nahi."

Faris usey dekh kar reh gaya.

woh jo kuch der pehley tak uske offer karne par bhi inkaar mein sar hilaye narazi ki deewar qaim kiye baithi thi, to ab khud uth kar peeche chali gayi thi.

darwaaza band huwa to faris ne gardan mourr kar peeche dekha. gaari ki zar car dom lights on kiye ab woh box waghera dekh rahi thi. Bua ke ghar se aate waqt theek se khana bhi nahi kha saki thi .

apne liye plate mein pulao nikala. sath hi chicken ka leg piece rakha. gaadi ishtiha angaiz khushbu se bhar gayi.

"Lao, yeh mein khol deta hoon."

Raite ka nanha sa box usse nahi khul raha tha.

"Khol lugi mein khud hi."

usne kaha magar yaad aaya agar aik kharash bardasht na karne walay ki gaadi ke andar rayeta ka koi aik qatra bhi gira to woh kitna hangama kere ga? kyunke jis tarah se woh kholna chaah

rahi thi, to yahi hona tha.

tameez se box usey diya. jisey khol kar usne wapas kar diya.

"Aik plate mere liye bhi."

palao ka teesra chamch muh tak le jatay usne ruk kar faris ko dekha. na gawari se bhawe sukood kar apni plate aik taraf rakhi. doosri plate mein pulao nikala, sath hi leg piece bhi, rayta, salad waghera daal kar farigh hui to pata chala woh kab ka uski plate uthaye khana shuru bhi kar chuka tha.

"Tum.."

lab bhinch kar usey kuch sakht ast kehna chaha magar ruk gayi.

"Samjhta kya tha yeh khud ko?"

"Pani chahiye?"

Faris ne apni bottle se aadha pani pi kar baqiya uski taraf badhaya. woh usey

ghurti hui apni plate par jhuk gayi.

"Tumahra bacha huwa nahi chahiye."

"Ok! waise bhi yeh aakhri hai."

usne bottle dobara labo se lagana chahi.

"Idhar do mujhe."

Ghusse se jhirak kar bottle khichi. mirchi bhi to lag rahi thi. shayad raite mein ziyada thi.

muskurahat zabt karte hue woh rukh badal gaya. Aqbi nashist par aalti paalti maare ab woh khana kha rahi thi. bahut aaraam aur tasalii se. chehra karb

se aari, ankhen dard se khaali, laa parwa sa andaaz jaisey gaadi mein uske sath aur koi tha hi nahi. apne aap mein magan apne rizq se insaaf karti, back view mirror us par adjust kiye woh us par nigahe jamaye betha reh gaya tha.

pandra saal phele apni saari khafgi, narazgi bhule woh usey bahut khush ikhlaqi se welcome Kiya karti thi. kya woh aaj bhi aisa kar paye gi?

'Nahi!' tabassum mit gaya. 'Shayad nahi!' Haza thehr gaya. aur dard barh gaya.

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Awsaf manzil mein kaam karte yeh uska doosra maheena tha. aur is mukhtasir arsey mein us ghar ka naqsha kisi had tak badal chuka tha. mazdoor mistri aaj bhi kaam par lagey hue the. Manjhli manzil par samne wale do kamro ko roghan kya jaa raha tha. upar wala pura naya taamer huwa tha. ab darwazo aur khidkiyo ka kaam baqi reh gaya tha. plot ki kiste ada ho chuki theen. store khul gaya tha, gaadi khareed li gayi thi. furniture naya ho chuka tha, sofe badal chuke the. har kamre mein mehange nafees tiles bhi lagwaye jarahe the. mahine ke aakhir tak tarek sahib ki barri beti ki shadi thi. woh us ghar ki mulazma thi to jahez ki tayari khud apni aankhon se dekh rahi thi.

Samreen ne apne liye mehanga tareen furniture pasand kiya tha. roz shopping ke liye bazaro ke chakkar lagte the. mehnge mehnge branded kapre, jewellery, makeup waghera khareede jate the. braamde se aage sheeshe lagi diwaro ke aas paas nafeesa sofe par baith kar, kapre phela phela kar jaiza liya jata tha, pasand na pasand ko jancha jata.

aaye roz mehmanon ki aamad oRaft . aur woh sara sara din kitchen mein khana pakane aur safai mein halkan hoti rehti. majaal hai jo ghar ka koi aik fard bhi usey saans bahaal karne deta ho. zara der ko jo kahin aaram ki gharz se bithti to daant phatkaar shuru ho jati. woh uski maa ko uske kaam ki achi khasi thankhowa de rahay the. do mahine to usne jaisey tese guzaar liye the magar uski maa chahti theen woh saal daidh saal tak yahi rahay taa ke baap ka acche se ilaaj bhi ho jaye aur jo karz unhone le rakha hai, woh bhi utar jaye.

un ki dost ke tavassut se yeh kaam usey mila tha magar ghar ke makeen usey insaan kam, kaam wali machine ziyada samajhte the. Aur use saal bhar ke bacche ki zimmedaari bhi usey sop rakhi thi. jo ghar se munsalik alag thalag store room numa kamray mein uske sath hi hota tha. aur hamesha ki tarah kitchen mein intahaa ki garmi bardasht karte, ghar aaye mehmanon ke liye Mango shake banate woh bhool chuki thi pichle daidh ghante se gayab hai, aur bacha kamre mein akela hai. ghar ke makeeno ke paas to intizam tha, magar uska store numa kamra is asayish se takmeel mahroom tha. woh ujlat mein tray uthaye drawing room mein gayi, sab ko juice serve kiya aur usse qabal ke phir se koi hukum nama jari hota woh ujlat mein qadam uthai kitchen ke aqbi darwaze se apne store room numa kamre mein aagai. peene se sharabor, garmi se nidhaal bacha ro ro kar halkan ho chuka tha. usey dekhte hi haath uthaye is ki taraf lapakne laga. Ruby ke dil ko kuch huwa. usey baazuo mein bhare kitchen mein le aayi.

"Maaf kar do yaar! mein to bhool hi gayi."

glass mein thanda pani daal kar uske labon se lagaya to wo apne nanhe nanhe haath thande glass par jamaye yun pani peene laga jaisey sadiyo ka piyasa ho.

baal maathe se chipke hue thay. chehra, naak, ankhen gulabii ho rahi thi. woh itna pyara tha ke dil chahta dekhte jao, magar is pyare se bacche ki qismat kitni kharab thi. baap mar chuka tha, maa usey bhaiyo ke dar par chhore kar gayi to phir palat kar khabar na li thi. Rashida se usne suna tha. woh sirf apni maa ki fotgi par aayi thi aur uske baad usne bhoole se bhi us ghar ka rukh nahi kiya tha.

"Yeh itni vaddi gaadi mein baith ke aayi thi. tadfeen ke bas kuch der baad hi nikal gayi."

woh counter table ke paas usey liye khari thi. samreen apne kamre ki safai ka hukum daine aayi to bacche ko uske hamrah kitchen mein dekh kar seekh pa ho gayi.

"kitni baar kaha hai usey ghar mein mat laya karo."

"bibi jee! bijli kab ki gayi hui hai to kamre mein barri garmi hai."

Wo na gawari se aik nazar bacche ko dekhati usey apne kamre ki safai ka order de kar chali gayi. woh usey baazuon mein uthaye samreen ke kamre mein aagai. Bacche ko aik jagah bithaya.

"Ab yahan se mat hiliyo. mere ko kaam karne do."

Bacche ne usey masoom aankhon se dekha, aur apni jagah betha raha. tooti hui khilona car jo uski goad mein rakhi thi, usey jhinjhorta, hilata woh hamesha ki tarah bahut khamosh aur bahut pur sukoon tha. Awsaf manzil mein jab woh nai nai aayi thi aur uske liye mukammal anjaan thi to tab bhi jab usne uthaya tha to woh bohat aaraam se apne baazu khud se uthaye uski goad mein agaya tha. woh raat ko sote mein bhi bilkul tang nahi karta tha. aksar raat mein aankh khulti to woh barabar mein leyta huwa, ankhen khuli hoti, aur uske dupatte ka sira muh me.

"Bara Ameer chacha hai bacche ka mahine ke mahine paise bhejta hai."

Rashida ne yeh bhi bataya tha.

"Lakh to deta hoga woh tere tareek sahib ko."

woh heran ho kar usey dekhne lagi thi.

"Saga chacha bachhe ko apne paas bhi to rakh sakta tha. yahan aata hai kya woh ?"

"arrey nahi kabhi nahi aaya. tujh se pehle jo Salima maai thi, usne bataya tha. bank se paise bhejta hai. dhair saare hote hain. tune dekha nahi kaisey Ameer ho gaye yeh sab, plot bhi le liya hai. keh rahay hain samreen ki shadi wadde hall mein karege."

bed sheet badalte, kutta mein samait kar aik mein rakhte aur phir kapray se furniture, dressing table aur aaina ragar kar saaf karte woh uski taraf dekhte hue tasali kar leti thi. surmai knickers aur muljhami rang ki purani shirt mein woh bacha wahi betha tha, jahan woh usey bitha kar aayi thi.

kabhi usey lagta woh uski boli samjhta hai. uska kaha maanta hai. bhala itne chhotey se bache mein itni samajh kaisay ho sakti thi ke woh kisi aam si Ruby ki baat mane?

Jis ki saggi maa usey yahan kaam par lagaye ghar ke kharche poore kar rahi thi? woh sone se pehley pata nahi kitni baatein usse karti jati. gaal chhoo kar choari hila kar hansati to woh nahi parta. neeche ke do khane ke nanhe moti jaisey daant numaya hote. woh usey sara sara din isi kamrs mein chore kar ghar bhar ke kaam niptate rehti aur bhagam bhaag usey bhi dekhne aa jati. kabhi woh ro ro kar nidhaal ho chuka hota aur kabhi uski di gayi ashya se kheltaa mukammal pur sukoon. cheezon ko pakar pakar kar uth jata tha. chhotey chhotey qadam bhi utha laita. kamre mein nuqsaan deh koi shai nah thi. sirf aik chaar payi aur band single almaari. bosedah sa qaleen, aur bas is liye usey

mukammal itminan rehta ke woh theek hoga. pankha chalaye woh safai mein magan thi.

bari bibi ne kamray mein usey aur bachay ko dekha to seekh pa ho gayeen. achi khasi jhaad pilane ke baad aik adad thapar bhi jarr diya. aakhir uski jurrat kaisay hui thi ke usne samreen ke kamray ka pankha chala diya tha aur bachhe ko bhi le aayi thi. woh bacha jis ke paiso se poora ghar chal raha tha. gaal ro reh kar daal bikta raha. nichli aayi to usey aik baar phir kamre mein tanha chhor aayi.

woh khelte khilata carpet par bhooka so gaya. shaam mein feeder bana kar aayi, jaga kar mun se lagaya to sukoon se doodh peete woh uske purane se phate hue dupatte ka kon apni nanhi ungli mein dabane laga aur woh ronay lagi.

"Pata nahi tera chacha kaisa insaan hai. is jahannum mein jhonk ke paise beje ja raha hai."

bahar ka habs shadeed tha. bijli phir se gayab thi. kamre ka darwaaza band kar ke tamam khirkiya khole wo apni chaar payi par baith gayi thi.

bacha khaali feeder mun se lagaye ankhen band kar chuka tha. aur woh khar ki ki jail jaisi salakhon se bahar dekh rahi thi

"Ho sakta hai bacche ke chacha ko ghar ke makeeno ke rawaiyyo ki bilkul bhi khabar na ho? ho sakta hai usey lagta ho woh paise bhaij raha hai to uske sagge mamu uska bohat khayaal rakhte hoge ?

Haath ki ungliya mein apni ungisht shahadat diye woh uski band aankhon ko dekhte kuch soch rahi thi. aur apni is soch par amal karne ka hatmi faisla bhi kar chuki thi.

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