Chapter 51: CHAPTER - 50

•••

Pakistan pohachte hi usne pehle toh achi khaasi neend le kar apni safri thakaan utaari, aur uske baad farhat se apni shopping dikhane Ms. Shirazi ke bedroom mein pohanch gayi. Apne kapde, coat, staller ke bajaye usay bacche ke liye ki gayi shopping dikhane ka zyada shauq tha. Ab tak usne jitni bhi cheezen khareedi thi, sab ki sab bed par phela di. Woh ek ek cheez utha rahi thi aur unhein dikhate hue bata rahi thi ke usne yeh kab aur kahaan se li thi. Faris ke saath ki jani wali sabse pehli shopping toh yaadgaari thi. Us din jo kuch woh unhein nahi dikha saki thi, aaj dikha rahi thi. Mrs. Shirazi aankhon mein khushi ki chamak liye, bohot mohabbat se ek ek cheez haathon mein lete hue usse dekh rahi thi.

London ki fiza ne Jannat par acha asar chhora tha. Sehat kuch behtar ho gayi thi. Halqe kam ho gaye the, chehra fresh aur bhara bhara sa lag raha tha. Ab woh muskurati thi toh aankhein bhi chamak uthti thi. Mizaj mein jaise ek thehraav sa aa gaya tha. Uska khauf khatam ho chuka tha. Waqt ne usse nikhara tha. Woh pehle se bohot behtar thi. Dil hi dil mein Allah ka shukar ada karte hue unhone unke talaqat ki mazeed behtari ki dua ki.

Usne bag se siyah shopping bag nikala.

"Yeh kab liya?" Zara hairan hui ke usse yaad nahi tha. Na pehle usne dekha tha. Khola toh andar safed rang ke nanhe nanhe se moze, jootay, ooni cap aur libaas tha, feeder bhi safed rang ka.

"Kya yeh Faris ne liye the?" Aankhon mein ishtiaq liye kapdon ko haathon mein liya. Itni naram o mulaayam cheezen. Usne foran se uthakar Mrs. Shirazi ko dikhaya aur woh apni jagah saakht ho gayi. "Yeh yaqeenan Faris ne liye hain. Kitne pyaare hain na?" Woh keh rahi thi.

Ms. Shirazi ko laga, woh saans nahi le sakengi. Jo kapde haath mein the, unpar giraft barh gayi. Aankhein puri num, wujood andar tak veeran ho gaya.

"Pata nahi usne kab liye?" Sar utha kar Mrs. Shirazi ki taraf dekha. Unke badalte ta'asuraat usse pareshan kar gaye.

"Aap theek hain?" Uth kar unke paas aa gayi.

Unhone gehri saans lete hue apne seene par haath rakha. "Haan, theek hoon." Usne foran hi glass mein paani dal kar unhein diya. Chand ghont lene ke baad woh waqfe waqfe se gehri saansein leti rahi.

"Auntie" unka haath apne haathon mein liya aur fikr mandi se unhein dekha.

"Theek hoon, aise hi zara dil ghabra gaya."

"Aap aaraam kare. Main bhi toh kab se aapka sar kha rahi hoon." Sharminda ho kar saari cheezein sametni shuru ki.

"Aisa nahi hai beta!" Unhone roknay ki koshish ki, "Bas baaqi shopping kal dekh lenge." Unhein ehtiyaat se bed par litaaya. Bohot mohabbat aur fikr mandi se unki aankhon mein dekha.

"Thak gayi hoon shayad, is liye." Unki awaaz aansuon se bhar aayi thi. "Main Faris ko bulati hoon." Uth kar jaane lagi toh unhone haath pakad kar rok liya. "Pareshaan ho jayega woh. Aaram karungi toh theek ho jaungi."

Jannat unke gird baazu daal kar unke barabar mein hi let gayi. "Aap so jaayein ab." Unke kandon par apna sar rakha. Unhone khud ko pur sukoon karte hue aankhein band kar li. Jannat tab tak unke paas rahi jab tak woh so nahi gayi. Ehtiyaat se uth kar lamp off kar diya aur beaawaz qadamo ke saath bahar aa gayi. Chand lamhon tak wahan khadi rahi.

Phir usne raahdaari ki jaanib dekha. Ahista se kadam uthati shidiyo tak aayi. sar utha kar bahut upar tak dekha, subah uske bedar hone se phele hi Faris office chala gaya tha. Aur wo bhi bade dharrale se apne naye kamre me saman samet sift ho gayi thi. Na koi aamna samna hua tha na message par koi baat hui thi. Waapsi par kuch waqt mrs. Shirazi ke sath guzar kar wo dobara apne kamre me band ho gaya tha. Wo pehle bhi esa hi tha esa hi karta tha magar jane kya baat thi Jannat ko uske rawaiyye ka badlav bahut jada mehsoos hua.

"Mumkin hai uski tabiyat theek na ho, ya fir wo apne karobari mamlat ko leke pareshan ho?"  Nichla lab kat-te hue wo stand par hath rakhke kuch der tak khadi rahi. Aahista aahista seediyaan charhti upar aa gayi.

"Ab tak yaqeenan woh so raha hoga, magar tasalli kar lene mein koi harj toh nahi?"

Raahdaari ke aakhir mein sitting area ki khidkiyaan khuli hui thi. Pardey hawa se lehra rahe the. Usne mohtat ho kar aahistagi se bedroom ka darwaza khola.

Woh shawar le kar abhi baahar nikla tha, aur wardrobe ke saamne khada shirt pehan raha tha. Mud kar usse dekhne laga. Woh ghadbadha kar reh gayi.

"Tum yahan?" Woh hairan hua tha.

Jannat buri tarah phans gayi. Khayal tha, woh so raha hoga toh ek nazar dekh kar chali jayegi magar... "Woh... main apni cheez lenay aayi thi."

Shirt ke button band karte hue kuch hairat se usse dekha.

"Sure"

Woh zara confused si andar dakhil hui thi.

Theek hai jab woh subah se usay nazar andaaz kar raha tha toh aise mein munh utha kar uske kamre mein aane ki kya zaroorat thi? Andar hi andar khud ko malamat karte hue wardrobe ki ek side slide ki. Khane bilkul khaali the. Uska zaroori samaan toh aaj subah hi neeche muntakil ho chuka tha. Yaad aane par neechla lab kaat daala. Phir doosri slide kholi, woh bhi khaali mili.

"Allah! Kuch toh nazar aa jaaye jise dikha kar woh kahe ke haan, woh uske liye aayi thi." Teesri mein toh Faris ke kapde, ghadiyaan, jootey aur naayiyaan waghera rakhi thi.

"Uff!" woh apne nem baalon ko towel se sukhaata uske peeche khada tha. Woh aayene mein uska aks wazeh dekh sakti thi magar dekhna nahi chaahti thi.

"Yahan nahi hai." Phasi phasi si awaaz halq se nikli. Mud kar jaana chaha toh Faris rok kar khada ho gaya.

"Mujhe batao, main madad karta hoon."

"Nahi woh main ne shayad kahin rakh diya hoga. Woh meri white color ki shirt thi, wohi hi nahi mil rahi thi."

"Bas wohi shirt dhoondhne aayi thi?" Nazar jhuki hui thi to uski aankhon ke tasur se laa'ilm thi. Lekin lehje mein jo shararat thi woh chhupi nahi reh saki thi.

"Haan to aur kya chahiye hoga mujhe?" Uski baayein taraf se khisakna chaha to woh ek baar phir uske raste mein aagaya. Woh bebasi se rohaan si hui magar upar se bilkul zahir nahi hone diya. Angoothe se ungli ki por ko khurpate ab woh sar jhukaaye khadi thi aur woh qadar ghawr se usay dekh raha tha.

Make-up se mukammal aari chehra, baalon ko bas yunhi lapet samet kar ek messy sa bun banaya hua tha. Kuch latey galo ki atraf haal ka sa ghuma liye gardan ko chooh rahi thi. Sikan liye safed rang ki lambisi dheeli dhali shirt jiski jebon mein ghaliban baadam bhare hue thay. Aaj subah khate hue nazar aayi thi. Neelgoun pajama, gale mein jhoolta dupatta kisi aur rang ka tha, sleeper kisi aur rang ke thay. Uska apna ab koi aur rang ho raha tha. Woh dheere se muskara diya.

"Mera to apne kamre mein bilkul dil nahi lag raha, Tumhara lag raha hai?" Seene par baazoo baandhe intehai sanjeedgi se poocha. Jannat ki dhadkan miss hui. Sar utha kar usay dekha.

Bekhawabi ka shikar aankhein, halki si badhi hui shave, lekin honthon par muskurahat, aankhon mein narmi, lehje mein huzn, aur asraat mein mazeed udaasi liye woh usay narmi se dekh raha tha. Woh nazrein jhuka gayi.

"Haan mera to bohot dil lag raha hai." Apni ghabrahat par qabu paate hue tez se kaha.

"To phir tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"

"Jee?" Chonk kar sar uthaya.

Shararat bhari aankhein uspar jami hui thi. Woh ghabra kar reh gayi.

"Bataya to hai, shirt lene aayi thi." Jawab de kar doosri taraf se likhna chaha magar Faris ne baazoo phela kar rok liya.

"Kya hai?" Woh zich hui.

Woh chand lamhon tak usay muskurati nigahon se dekhta raha.

"Ab dil mein jagah nahi de sakti to apne kamre mein hi de do." Bohot chahat se mutaliba kar ke uski dhadkano ko muntashir kar diya. Faris ke aqab mein aur bilkul samnay dressing table par rakha safed cluctcher uski nazron mein agaya.

"Wo raha" Ek dum se ishara kiya to Faris ne be ikhtiyar peeche dekha. Woh uski baayein taraf se nikal gayi. Lapak kar dressing table se apna cluctcher uthaliya.

"Yeh reh gaya tha." Dikha kar kaha.

"Tum white shirt ke liye aayi thi." Seene par baazoo baandh kar usay yaad dilaya.

"Uske bhi aayi thi." Wahii khade khade cluctcher apne baalon mein phansa liya, ke jaise uske raat bhar usay neend hi na aati.

"Achha, aur kis ke liye aayi thi? Ho sakta hai tumhari is list ke aakhir mein kahin mera naam bhi ho." Mehsoos ho kar poocha.

"Tumhara naam meri list mein hai hi nahi." Tez se darwaza khol kar bahar nikal gayi. Woh dheere se muskara kar reh gaya.

Siidhiya utar kar rahdari ki taraf jate hue usne fursat se apni peshani par haath maara. 'Aakhir woh uske kamre mein gayi hi kyun? Aakhir kyun?' Khud ko andar hi andar dheer saara daanta. Rukh kitchen ki taraf tha. Chalte chalte yaad aaya kamra us taraf nahi hai. Rahdari mein daakhil hui to seedha studio mein pahuch gayi. Wahan se jhanjhalkar apne kamre mein wapas aayi. Darwaza band kar ke apne dono haath dekhte gaalon par rakhe.

"Mera to apne kamre mein bilkul dil nahi lag raha. Tumhara lag raha hai?" Yun laga jaise usne qareeb aakar ek baar phir sawal dohraya ho. Dil dharak utha. Ehsaasat ajeeb hone lage. Usay pehle ghussa aata tha. Ab to barh abhi nahi laga tha.

"Dil mein jagah nahi de sakti to apne kamre mein hi de do." Gaal se haath hata kar, phir apne ehsaasat se ulajh kar apni peshani ko choo kar tasalli ki ke tabiyat to theek hai. "Phir dil aise kyun dharak raha hai? " Gehra saans lekar khud ko uski hazel aankhon ke asar se nikaala, phir jeb se baadam nikal kar. Munh mein daalti khidki ke samne ja khadi hui.

•••

Wo track suit mein malboos pichle ek ghante se jogging track par tha. Shirt kamar se chipki hui thi. Baal paseene se bheeg rahe thay. Chehra surkh tha aur saansein charhi hui thi.

Subah ka ujala phel chuka tha. Dhoop mein sabza chamak raha tha. Road par bhi aamad o raft nazar aane lagi thi.

Earphones kaan se nikal kar jebon mein daalte hue woh bench par baith gaya tha. Kuch der tak uski nigahein sabze se hoti hui jogging track ke us paar ahini baar par thi. Usne kalayi mod kar waqt dekha aur phir uth kar. Ghar ki janib rawana ho gaya.

Ghar mein mamool ki tarah zindagi bedar ho chuki thi. Usne shower le kar kapde badle, fresh hokar neeche aaya to kitchen mein nashtay ka intizam ho raha tha.

Woh seedha apni maan ke kamre mein gaya. Kuch der tak unke paas baitha raha. Muntazir nigahen baar baar darwaze ki taraf uth jaati thi. Jannat abhi tak nahi aayi thi. Mrs. Shirazi ne poocha to woh uth gaya.

"Main dekhta hoon usay." Kamre se nikal kar daayen janib studio ke barabar mein saamne wala kamra uska tha. Woh aahista se darwaza khol kar andar aa gaya.

Pardo ki darz se jhankti tez roshni mein woh usay bed par dikhayi di. Cushions ke dhair mein woh is qadar sukoon se so rahi thi ke usay jagane ka iraada tark kar ke woh khidkiyon ke samne ja khada hua. Zara se Parde saraka kar swimming pool ke us paar dekha. Guzishta raat ka waqia yaad aaya to muskurahat labo ko choo kar guzri.

Mur kar kamre ka jayeza liya. Bohat si ashiya set ho chuki thi. Aur kuch samaan abhi bhi sofay par, aur bags mein rakha hua nazar aa raha tha. Kamre ki tarteeb aur sajawat se andaza aur raha tha, har cheez bohot chahat se muntakhib ki gayi thi. Har rang bohot soch kar chuna gaya tha. Khidkiyon ke parde, deewaron ki paintings, guldaan, qaleen.

Aise hi ek baar usne bed room sajaya tha aur phir uske rawaiye se dil bardashta ho kar apni pasand aur marzi ki har aik shai usne kamre se nikaal bhi di thi. Tab usne parde, paintings, bed ness, uske kapdon ki tarteeb, daraaz mein rakhi uski ghariyo aur taiyon ki setting ko bhi apni marzi se badal dala tha. Woh jaise uska har kaam apne haath mein lena chahti thi. Uski zarurat, uski chahat hona chahti thi.

Gehri saans lekar usne ek tairanah nigah kamre mein dawai. Jahan sab kuch tha magar woh nahi tha. Na iski koi cheez thi. Na jagah thi. London mein unhone sab kuch ek saath share kiya tha. Magar yahan aakar jaise ek baar phir ek khaala sa aa gaya tha. Yeh uska khayal tha. Magar yeh khayal galat tha. Tamaam tar koshishen uski taraf se thi. Jannat Kamal ne kadam nahi badhaye the. Woh ek faasla sa qaim rakhe, jahan thi, abhi bhi wahi nazar aa rahi thi. Neend mein zara sa kasmaasate hue usne karwat badal kar aankhein khol di to woh mudh kar use dekhne laga. Woh bhi mandi mandi aankhon se use hi dekh rahi thi. Sati aur tabiyat ka bojhal pan aisa ke uthne ko ab bhi dil nahi chaah raha tha.

"Good morning." khidki ke parde kheench kar woh uske paas aa gaya.

Aasmaani rang ki jeans par safed aur siyah rang ki imtezaad ki shirt. Aastine kohni tak mudhi hui thi. Har style se mukammal aari baal jo peshaani par bikhaare hue the. Deewar gir khidkiyon ki

dhoop uske baalon par pad rahi thi.**

"Kya time ho raha hai?" Usne aankhein misal kar aur peshaani ragad kar poocha.

"Nashte ka time ho raha hai." Faris ne jhuk kar haath badhaya, jise kasal mandi se thaam kar woh uth baithi.

"Raat tum der tak jagti rahi?"

"Neend nahi aa rahi thi."

Ek mubhiym si muskurahat Faras ke liye chhoo kar guzri.

"Kal raat koi keh raha tha uska is kamre mein bahut dil lag raha hai." Usne mazaak udaaya. Jannat gadbad kar rahi gayi.

"Neend ka dil lagne se kya taluq hai bhala?" Tap kar poocha.

"Taluq hai aur bahut gehra taluq hai." Woh sofa par jam kar baith gaya.

"Mere kamre mein to Idhar takiye par sar rakha, aur udhar neend aa gayi." Tang par tang jamaye magazine utha liya.

"Woh to main isliye so jaati thi kyunki tum mera sir bahut khaate the."

Faras ne magazine ke safhe ulte hue nigaah uthaayi.

"Ek zombie ke mooh se yeh baat sun kar azeeb lag raha hai." Jannat ka chehra gusse se laal ho gaya. Jabde peench gaye, mutthiya band ho gayi. Uske yeh tasurat intehaai sanjeedgi se mulayza farmae gaye.

"Kya Dr. Aamna ne tumhe yeh nahi bataya ke ghussa tumhari sehat ke liye theek nahi hai?" Magazine rakh kar usne poocha. "Kya aunty ne tumse yeh nahi kaha, mujhe gussa mat dilaya karo?" Aankhon mein aankhein daal kar yaad dilaya.

London mein do teen baar to woh uski shikayatein laga kar Mrs. Shirazi se daant parwa chuki thi.

"Main just ek baat karta hoon aur tumhara paara chadh jaata hai."

"Sirf baat karte ho? Sirf baat?" Leheje mein ghussa, hairat, aur dukh sab dikhai diya.

"Haan! for example, agar main tumse yeh kahoon tum is tarah, neend mein uth kar, aur is alool jalool se Huliye mein bhi bohot khoobsurat lag rahi ho to tumhe is baat par bhi gussa aa jayega."

Aur Jannat Kamal ke tasurat, ehsaas, jazbaat ek dum se badal gaye. Bajar veeran zameen ek dum sabz o zar ho gayi. Chehre par ek dum se surkhi doodi. Gussa kahan gaya, pata nahi? Baat kya ho rahi thi. Andaz ho nahi raha. Dimaag ne jhankhoda aur dil ko jagaya, baar baar koshish ki. Faris ke chalo ka ehsaas dilaya, maazi ka hawaala diya. Dard naak kisse sunaaye tab jaakar mohtarma ko hosh aaya.

"Tum bas tum jao yahan se." Baazu pakad kar use sofa se uthaya. Pura zor laga kar kheenchte hue darwaze tak laayi.

"Dekha, ab yeh baat hai, mujhe kamre se nikaalne wali?" Woh darwaze mein hi aistada ho gaya.

"Main tumhe nikal nahi rahi. Jaane ka keh rahi hoon." Rohan se ho kar wazahat di.

"Dono mein kya farq hai?"

"Dono mein farq mera sar hai." Jhunjhla kar kaha.

"Kya sar mein dimaag bhi hai?"

"Allah mujhe sabr de, Allah mujhe sabr de." Usne dono haath uthaaye. Woh be-sakhtah hash diya.

Woh zeer-e-lab bur-burate hue paon malti washroom mein ghus gayi.

"Oh, haan, yaad aaya. Zombie ka to dimaag nahi hota." Buland aawaaz mein kaha. Washroom mein koi cheez farsh par tha karke giri thi. Woh kamre ka darwaza band karta muskurate hue chale gaya.

Aur washroom ke andar aaine ke samne khadi Jannat Kamal apne alool jalool se huliya ko dekh rahi thi aur bohot gaur se dekh rahi thi.

•••

Nashtay ki table par use andaza hua aaj Faris ka office jaane ka koi iraada nahi tha. Chand ek phone calls attend karne aur kuch zaroori hidaayaat yahan wahan dene ke baad usne apna mobile phone bhi off kar diya.

Ab woh jahaan jahaan jaati thi, woh apni shirt ki jebo mein haath daale uske peeche peeche tha.

"Kya hai?" Chid kar poocha.

"Main to bas tahal raha hoon." Usne kandhe uchhaaye.

"To kahin aur ja kar tahlo." Magar woh kahin nahi gaya.

"Tumhe pata hai! aaj main office kyun nahi gaya?"

"Kyun nahi gaye?"

"Kyunki aaj se tum gym mein mere saath workout karne wali ho."

Jannat ki aankhein phail gayi.

"Mujhe tumhari tarah koi muscle nahi banana. Main already bohot smart hoon." Fauran se kaha. Magar Faris ne jaise uski baat nahi suni.

"Har  trimester ke liye safe exercise jo tum aaram se kar sakogi."

"Lekin mujhe uski zaroorat nahi hai."

"Zaroorat hai."

"Main pregnant hoon. Bohot mohtaat rehna padta hai." Uski aankhon mein taswish numaya huyi.

"Jahan mere jaisa personal trainer ho, jo bachche ka baap bhi ho, wahan tumhe kya masla paish aa sakta hai?"

"Yahi to asal masla hai." Daant pish kar kaha.

Woh muskurate hue uska haath thame ground floor par apne gym le aaya. Ek lamba sa hall jo har tarah ki equipment se bhara hua tha. Woh glass wall se use workout karte hue dekh leti thi magar andar kabhi nahi gayi thi. Ab andar aayi thi to samajh nahi aa raha tha ke bahar kaise nikle. Slide door band kar ke Faris uski taraf mutawajeh hua.

"Chalo ab shuru karte hain."

Warm up ke baad usne sabse pehle cardio workout karwana shuru kiya aur Jannat kuch Dili aur jhunjhlaahat se uski instructions par yeh soch kar amal karti rahi ke bas dus pandrah minute tak exercise karwayega aur phir chhutti ho jayegi. Magar uski hairat aur sadme ki inteha na rahi jab wo duration badhata gaya. Upar se zara zara si galti par daant alag se par rahi thi.

"Aise exercise karte hain? Ek tum ho, haathon mein jaan nahi hai kya?"

"Yeh kya kar rahi ho? Are you, dead?"

Wo acchi khaasi tapi hui thi magar thammul se sab sunti jaari thi.

"Dusro ke shauharo ki biwiya pregnent hoti hain to wo kehte hain hil kar paani bhi mat piyo, aur tum ho…"

Theek aadhe ghante baad bench par workout karte hue wo keh rahi thi.

"Jara batao to yeh kaun se mard hain jo kehte hai hil kar paani bhi mat piyo. Main to aise kisi mard ko nahi jaanta?" Uske paas khada watch band par seconds ke hisaab se time dekh raha tha.

"Haan to tum to apne jaise ko hi jaante hoge na." Tap kar boli. "Khadoos, be rahm, zalim."  Baki alafaz zehen mein ada kiye.

"Main tumhari tareef kar rahi thi."

unchi aawaaz mein kehdo, zara main bhi sunu. Usne daant peese.

"Ab bas main bahut thak chuki hoon." Usne haath uthaa liye.

"Paanch minute baaki hain." Usne sakhti dikhayi.

Wo rohaansi hui. Paanch minute bade mushkil se guzre. Do minute ka waqfa mila to gehri saans lete huye bench par baith gayi. Sard aah yun bhari jaise us par na jaane kitna zulm dhaya gaya ho. Bottle munh se laga kar do ghont liye, phir Mudh kar Faras ko dekha. Do saamne hi siyah mat par khada uske ji uthaye hue tha. Lamhe bhar ke liye aankhein phaili thi. Dusre hi pal munh se "Masha Allah" nikla tha. Aise to nahi wo itna fit nazar aata tha. Aur teesre hi pal wo khud se apne liye apni marzi ka workout choose kiye rack par pahunch gayi.

"Usse sari mushkil exercise karwaayi ja rahi hai aur khud dekho kitne aaram se dumbbell utha raha hai. Aasaan kaam apne liye aur mushkil kaam iske liye."

Usne bade size wala uthana chaha to din mein taare dikh gaye. Chalo koi baat nahi, shuruat kam wajan se kar leni chahiye. Koi masla nahi. Khud ko khud hi tasalli dete huye seedhi hui aur tab hi nazar Faris se do chaar hui. Wo dono haathon mein maharat se dumble uthaaye arm workout karte hue use dekh raha tha. Lab par mubhiym si muskurahat ubhri jise daba kar rukh badal gaya.

Ab wo peechay nahi hutt sakti thi. Gala khankhar kar gaal par bikharti lathon ko peeche kiya aur jaise taise dono haathon se poora zor laga kar 5lg ka dumble uthaya. Aankhon mein fatah ki chamak ubhri. Agle hi pal wo uske haathon se chhoot kar gira, itni hi zor daar awaaz gunji aur utni hi saraiyyat se wo bokhla kar peechey hati. Faris apna dumbbell rakh kar tezi se uske paas aaya.

Wo jhuk kar qadmo mein dekh rahi thi. Allah ka shukr tha ke paon bach gaye the warna usne koi kasar nahi chhorhi thi khud ko nuqsaan pahuchane ki.

"Are you out of your mind?" Baazu se pakad kar use peechay banate hue sakhti se daanta.

"Wo pata nahi kaise haath se chhoot gaya." Ghabra kar foran hi wazahat di.

"Khud se chal kar tumhare haathon mein aaya aur chhoot gaya?" Uska paara chadh gaya tha.

"Kuch ho jata agar?"

"Chot lag jati to?"

Wo aankhon mein hairani liye use dekh kar saham gayi.

"Mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai jaise tumne mujhe tasavvur kar ke yeh dumbbell giraaya hai?" Tehori par bal dal kar ghusse se kaha.

"Naah… naahi to!"

"Phir yeh mujhe mere sar par girta hua kyun mehsoos hua hai?" Zabt kar ke poocha.

"Ab agar tumne mujhe kuch aur kaha na to main yeh sach much mein tum par gira dugi." Uske tassurat se Khaif hokar foran hi dhamki di.

"Pehle theek se uthana to seekh lo Bruce Lee ki behan!"

Uske qadmon se dumbbell uthaa kar wapas uski jagah par rakha. Wo bhanwe sukoode khadi rahi.

"Jo workout maine bataya hai wo kaun karega?" Apne seene par baazu band kar sakhti dikhayi.

"Mujhe nahi pata ab bas khatam karo yeh sab."

"Abhi to sirf tumhe minute hue hain." Baazu se pakad kar use trademill par khada kar diya. Usse jee bhar ke rona aaya. Speed adjust ki to na chahte hue bhi use aahistagi se qadam uthana pada.

"Tum aakhir mujhe kis baat ki saza de rahe ho, haan?" Das minute ke baad speed badhane aaya to wo phat padi. Magar usse to jaise koi awaaz hi nahi aayi thi.

"Kya museebat hai." Jhunjhlaahat ke aalam mein tez tez qadam uthane lagi. Saans phool raha thi. Dhadkan tez ho rahi thi. Mudh kar dekha to wo use kahin nazar na aaya. Foran se raftar kam ki sukh bhari saans lete ab mariyal se qadam uthaa rahi thi magar wo kisi jin ki tarah achanak namodar hua tha.

"Yeh kya zombie ki tarah chal rahi ho." Daant kar speed wapas adjust karni chahiye aur Jannat ki sar par lagi talwo par bhuji.

"Zombie mat kaho mujhe." Cheekh kar boli. Agle hi pal uska rang uda ghabra kar tez tez qadam uthana Shuru kiye. Faris speed badha raha tha.

"Faris Faris! Please speed kam karo." Wo cheekhi magar usne to jaise kuch suna nahi.

"Haan to kya keh rahi thi aap?" Control button par haath rakhe ab wo tapa dene wali muskurahat ke saath pooch raha tha.

"Kuch nahi keh rahi thi main." Use bahut tez tez qadam uthana pad raha the. Bas bhaagne ki kasar reh gayi thi. Pareshan ho kar haathho par gript badhaayi ke gir na jaye.

"Aunty Faris ko dekho." Kuch aur samajh na aaya to wahi khade khade chillaayi.

"Unhone mujhe bahut baar dekha hua hai, ab tum dekh lo." Apni gehri aankhein us par jamaye Sanjidagi se kaha.

"Main gir jaungi"

"Kya main itna handsome hoon?"

"Faris please!"

"Nahi girogi. Yeh munasib speed hai. Shabash tez tez qadam uthao." Wo control button par haath rakhe zara sa peeche hata.

"Dobara aise nahi karungi." Minnat kar ke boli. Uski roti shakal dekh kar taras aaya. Speed kam kardi.

"Drame karna koi tumse seekhe, Pandrah minute tak ab yahi speed rahegi." Tahakkum se kehkar wo wapas bench par ja baitha.

Munh hi munh hi mein bud-budate hue wo be-dili se chalti rahi. Allah Allah kar ke workout khatam hua aur wo to jaise rassi tod kar gym se bhaagi.

"Aaj pehla din hai to isliye kam waqt diya hai." Raahdari se guzarte hue Faris ne kaha.

"Ye kam waqt tha?" Jannat ki aankhein ubal padi.

"Cardio workout kal theek se karna. Biceps workout aaj das baar kiye hain to

Kal pandrah dafa karenge. trademill par pachis minute walk karna hogi. Shoulder workout ka duration bhi badhana hoga."

Wo abhi se aane wale kal ke liye sab tarteeb de raha tha. Aur Jannat ki shakal aisi ho rahi thi jaise kisi bhi lamhe ro de gi.

"Allah kare kal ise subah saat baje hi office jaana pade." Aasman ki taraf dekhte hue dua ki.

"Tumne kuch kaha?"

Usne gardan modh kar puchha. Wo ghabada kar ruki ki dua to dil me ki thi usne kese sunli?

"Nahi, bhala me kya kahungi?"

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