Chapter 55: CHAPTER - 54

•••

Maa'mool ki tarah wo Faris Wajdan ke saath gym mein maujood thi. Roz marra ke tamam workout karne ke baad thaki haari, trademill par khadi thi aur jaldi mein kadam uthaayi, baar baar time dekh rahi thi. Peeche dekha to Faris mobile phone kaan se lagaye baat karta hua nazar aaya. Uski pust uski taraf thi. Neechla lab daanto ke neeche dabaaya, wo button off kar ke utar gayi. Khayal tha use nahi pata chalega magar jaise hi call se farigh hua, wo achanak treadmill par time dekhte hue uske paas aa gaya.

"Tin minute baki the."

"Na… nahi to…"

"Dobara karo aur poore pandra minute tak." Lehje mein thodi si narmish thi.

"Kya?" Wo ek dum se cheekhi.

"Pehle din se keh diya tha ki tum jab bhi koi workout beech mein chhod dogi to tumhe saza milegi. Sirf tin minute bache the." Wo inkaar kar rahi thi magar Faris ne sunne an-sunhe karte hue usse phir se trademill par khada kar diya. Chand moments to jaise uske liye pandrah ghante ho gaye. Saza khatam ho gayi magar gussa khatam nahi hua. Naraazgi khatam nahi hui. Wo office chala gaya to seedha Mrs. Shirazi ke paas pohanch gayi.

"Sirf tin minute pehle utar gayi thi, main auntie! Sirf tin minute… aur usne pandrah minute badha diye." Mrs. Shirazi ko khub shikayat lagayi. Batate hue bhi rona aa raha tha. Unhone uske samne phone laga ke Faris ki class li.

"Mummy! Wo workout karte hue bilkul serious nahi hoti." Speaker on tha to aawaz usne bhi suni, sadme se muh khula.

"Jhuth keh raha yeh" tadap kar difa kiya.

"Main itni mehnat karti hoon." Aankhein aansuon se bhar gayi. "Yeh chahti hai sabhi workout ek minute mein karke farigh ho jaye. Kya yeh possible hai?" Wo keh raha tha.

"Agar isse tin minute mein hue toh tumhe sirf tin minute zyada lene chahiye the. Tumne meri bahu ko poore tis minute treadmill par khada rakha. This is not fair?"

wo mote mote aankho se aansu bhar ke rone lagi thi to wo foran uski himaayat mein utari

"Mummy yeh iski saza thi. Ab kya main isse ye kehta, das daafa alif be likh kar dikhaye?" Wo unki daant sun kar narmi se baat kar raha tha. Wo la jawab ho gayi. Phir sar uthakar usse dekha. Sir jhukaaye aur aansuon ko pare dakhel rahi thi. Unhe us par reham aaya.

"Tum dar guzar kar dete beta!"

"Roz karta hoon Mummy! Aap isse poochhe, Kal isne das baar biceps workout karna tha aur isne sirf chhe baar kiya, 2 minute ki break hoti hai ye pure 5 minute leti hai. Roz mujhe ise ghar ke kisi kone se dhoondh dhand kar gym le jana padta hai. Pandrah minute to aise hi jaaya ho jate hain. "Halanki ye jaanti hai mera ek ek lamha qeemti hai."

'Itni sari shikayatein' Jannat ko sadma hua, dukh hua. Sar jhuka gaya. Mrs. Shirazi speaker on karne par pachhtayi.

"Khair jo bhi hai," unhone lehje ko shakt kiya. "Tumhe meri bahu ke saath aisa nahi karna chahiye tha."

Dusri taraf, khamoshi…

"Faris?"

"Thik hai, meri baat karwaye isse, aayinda alif be likhwa loonga. Phir na kahe. So dafa kyun likhwa raha hoon?"

"Auntie! Isko dekhe" Chid kar sar uthaya. Mrs. Shirazi ke liye muskurana mushkil ho gaya.

"Faris!" maskoi khafgi se uska naam liya. "Isse kahe mujhse baat na kare ab kabhi…"

Wo roni surat liye uth kar bahar nikal gayi. Mrs. Shirazi usse dekh kar reh gayi.

Apne kamre mein jaakar usne aankhein ragad kar saaf ki, phir kapde badal kar bahar aayi aur Mrs. Shirazi se ijazat lekar Aqsa ke saath park chali gayi. Faris se naraaz thi to na to usse baat kar rahi thi, na uski call receive kar rahi thi. Kuch waqt khuli fiza mein bitane ke baad ghar ki taraf rukh kiya to sadak ke kinare uski gaadi ruki.

"Tumhara to har ek lamha qeemti haina, to tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Usne chidkar poocha. Aqsa peeche thi, jhankla paar kar ke bahar aayi to Faris ko dekh kar hairaan hui. "Uske sahab is waqt yahan?"

"Betho." Faris ne uske liye passenger seat ka darwaza khol diya. Aqsa saath thi to wo sabr kar ke chup chaap baith gayi. Mood buri tarah se off tha.

"Apna khayal rakhiyega, aapi!" Darwaza band kar ke Aqsa ne kaha. Haath bhi hilaaye. "Good luck aur thumbs up dikhana.

Kyu tumahri Malkan K2 surve karne jaa rahi ?" Khidki ka sheesha neeche kar ke Faris ne jhataka diya.

Aqsa bechaini se kanp gai. "Nahi, wo main…"

"Yahan se seedha ghar jao." Tahaqqum se kaha. Wo adab se sharif bacho ki tarah seedha chalti gayi, kabhi bhi mud kar nahi dekha.

Fares ne gaadi reverse ki. Jannat khidki ki taraf munh kiye chup baithi rahi. Wo bhi chup raha.

"Abhi tak naraaz ho?" Main road par gaadi daalte hue narmi se poocha.

"Baat mat karo mujhse."

"Magar kyun?" Wo dheere se muskuraya.

"Tumne aunty ko meri itni shikayatein lagayi. Asal gham yeh tha."

"Tum bhi to lagati ho."

Usne ghabra kar dekha. "Meri baat alag hai."

"Tumhari baat alag kyun hai?"

Apna munh band karke usne apna rukh khidki ki taraf kar liya.

"Achha, I'm sorry! Aindah unse kuch nahi kahunga."

"Tumhe lagta hai ? main sirf is baat par naraaz hoon ki tumne meri shikayatein lagayi."

"To aur kis baat par naraaz ho?"

"Kya tum nahi jaante?" Sadme se, dukh se poocha. Usne inkaar mein sar hilaaya.

"Tumne mujhe pachis minute treadmill par walk karwayi… umne." Faris ne gehri saans li.

"Ab main uske liye sorry nahi keh sakta."

Saaf keh diya. Chand seconds tak usse sakht nazaron se ghoorti rahi. Phir apna rukh badal gaya.

"Kya bahut thak gayi thi?"

Khamoshi…

"Thik hai. Uske liye bhi sorry; lekin wada karo. Aayinda koi bhi minute miss nahi karogi." Muqammal khamoshi.

"Pizza hut chale?" Mud kar poocha. Lekin wo to jaise wahan thi hi nahi.

"Long drive ke baare mein kya khayal hai? Khub baate karenge."

Uska sar khidki ki taraf hi raha. Wo use raj se nazarandaz kar rahi thi.

"Ice cream khaogi?"

Khamoshi…

Wo main road par gaadi daale hue, gehri saans lekar mod kaatne laga to awaaz aayi.

"Khila do." Waise hi ruthi hui si awaaz. Ukkhada hua sa andaaz.

Wo muskurahat jabt kar gaya.

"Jo aapka hukum!"

"Lekin gaadi mein hi khayenge." Usne keh diya, Fars ne sar hilaya.

Gaadi park karke woh ice cream lene chala gaya. Khidki ki taraf rukh kiye woh usay ice cream parlor mein daakhil hota dekh sakti thi. Aise hi khayalon mein ghum thi jab samne ek safed gaadi aakar ruki. Darwaza khol kar safed trousers par laal rang ki shirt pehne Adina zubair bahar aayi. Glasses apne balon mein atkaaye hue, purse kande par dala aur mobile kaan se lagaye hansti hui jaldi se andar daakhil ho gayi.

Jannat ki saansein tham gayin. Dil ruk gaya. Ek dum se khud par taari is jamoood ko torte hue woh darwaza khol kar bahar nikli. Harakat ghair iradi thi, uska rukh glass door ki taraf tha. Woh jaise Adina Zubair se pehle Faris Wajdan tak pohanch jana chahti thi. Sheeshe ki deewaron se andar ka manzar numaya tha. Uske qadam zameen par jam gaye. Nigahen ek hi maqam par theher gayin.

Faris Wajdan ke saath Adina Zubair maujood thi. Uski nafees ungliyo ki girift Faris ke baazu par thi aur uski dilfaraib nigahen Faris ke chehre par thein. Manzar wazeh ho kar agle hi pal dhundhla gaya. Woh ek dum se peeche hati. Khud par qaboo paati wapas phiri. Darwaza khol kar gaadi mein baith gayi. Mutthiyaa sakhti se beech gayi.

Mahin aur Burhan… zehan ke parde par kai manzar lehraye. Kai baatein yaad aayi. Kai khadshat, kai waswase, kai khauf se latay waham uske andar sama gaye. Woh andar tak hil gayi thi.

"Meri zindagi mein koi aurat nahi hai."

Usne gehri saans lekar khud ko sambhalne ki koshish ki. Teen se paanch minute ka doraniyah jo ke barhta gaya. Saat minute, phir das minute, pandrah minute. Adina Zubair ki gaadi samne hi khadi rahi. Fars Wajdan bahar na aaya. Uska dam ghutne laga, use wehesht si hone lagi.

Yakayak sheeshe par dastak hui. Usne chonk kar sar uthaya. Faris ne sheesha kholne ka ishaara kiya tha.

Usne kapkapati ungliyon se darwaza khol diya. "Sorry, thoda late ho gaya." Keh kar dono cups uski taraf barhaye jo baghair kisi tardud ke usne le liye. Lamhe bhar ke liye uska chehra dekh kar woh chonka tha. Phir ghoom kar seat par aa baitha.

"Tumhe kya hua?" Pooche bina na reh saka.

"Kuch nahi." Cover utar kar usne spoon nikaal liya.

"Tabiyat theek hai?"

"Haan." Woh keh kar ice cream khane lagi. Usne chand lamhon tak usay dekha phir apni ice cream glass stand par rakh di. Gaadi start karte hue woh chhotay chhotay spoon khud bhi le raha tha.

Gaadi mein pehle sirf khamoshi thi, magar ab to jaise sannata utar aaya tha.

"Ghar chalein?" Woh keh rahi thi.

Faris ne chonk kar uski taraf dekha. Aaj ke din ke liye uske paas bohot se plans the magar.

"Meri tabiyat kuch theek nahi hai." Woh ab keh rahi thi.

Usne asbaat mein sar hilate hue gaadi ka rukh ghar ki taraf mod diya tha.

•••

"Baat sun Rashida…"

Shaam ko fursat milte hi Ruby uske ghar pahunch gayi thi. Do baar khat likh kar uske zariye bhej chuki thi aur in do mahine mein ab tak koi jawab nahi aaya tha. Phone number company ka tha, to direct bacche ke chacha se baat nahi ho sakti thi. Ab usne teesri baar khat likha tha. Kaafi saari sooratain, duaayein padh kar phook maar kar khat bheja ke ye kis tarah se bache ke chaacha ko mil jaye, lekin Rashida ne is baar saaf mana kar diya.

"Na bhai, Na!" Usne haath uthayah

"Apne ghar walo se qut nahi khani mujhe. Do baar woh tera khat de aaya hai. Ab agar main kahungi to woh shayad pakad lega.

"Bas yeh aakhri baar hai, dekh, tere aage haath jodti hoon."

Rashida ne zich ho kar use dekha. "Toh yeh kya paraye phandey mein taang adaye jaa rahi hai. Aqqal manti hai ki uske chaacha ko bilkul bhi khabar nahi hogi?"

Ruby lajawab ho gayi.

"Ho sakta hai, use tere khat mil rahe hon aur phir bhi nahi aana chahta ho?"

"Main maan hi nahi sakti, mera khat padh kar kis ko bhi ehsaas nahi hoga." Woh roohansi ho gayi.

"Dekh!" Rashida ne gehri saans le kar kaha.

"Yeh jin ke ghar mein yeh bachcha reh raha hai, yeh uske rishtedaar hain. Ye jo paise kha raha hai ye uska sagga mamu hai. Jisne use yaha chorh rakha hai wo uski saggi maa hai. Aur jo paise bhej kar ye samajh raha hai ki jimmedari puri kardi, wo uska sagga chacha hai. Ab bata mujhe, kis kis se ladegi? Kis-kis mein ehsaas jagayegi? Jab maa hi  behis hai, toh aur kaun ehsaas karega?"

"Main kar rahi huna ehsaas!" Ruby ne kaha.

Aur yahan Rashida lajawab ho gayi.

"Wo itna chhota sa hai Rashida, mera toh isse dekh kar kaleja muh ko aata hai. Usse toh kuch pata bhi nahi. Uske saath kitna zulm ho raha hai, naukro se bhi badtar zindagi hai iski."

Rashida ne thandi aah bhar kar royi. Us ladki ko samjhana bekaar tha. Khat de kar do ghar aayi. Dimaag alag-alag khayalon ka gadhab ban gaya tha. Teen khat, teen koshishen, ab ke usne soch liya tha ki agar jawab nahi mila to woh bachche ko uthaye khud Islamabad uske chaacha ke paas chale jayegi. Lekin yeh mansuba zyada khatarnaak tha. Nakami ke chances zyada the. Bachche ke is tarah ghar se gayab hone par zyada mushkilat ka paish aa sakti thi. Agwa aur chori ka ilzaam lag sakta tha. Uski maa ke liye bhi masla ho sakta tha.

"Aur phir is baat ki bhi koi jamanat nahi thi ki chaacha bachche ko qabool kar lega. Aye mumkin hai woh ise wapas bhijwa de?"

"Kya pata Rashida sachi hi keh rahi ho? Chaacha jaan bujhkar is masoom bacche ko yahan chhod gaya ho."

Josh se sochate-sochate woh hosh mein aa gayi.

"Allah Shona, koi toh hal nikalna hai, bas kisi tarah yeh khat mil jaye. Us ghar ke malik ko mil jaye. Malikain ko mil jaye. Kisi ko toh mil jaye. Koi toh iske liye aaye." Usne dil se dua ki aur uski yeh dua qubool kar li gayi thi.

•••

Sard hawa ka jhonka sar-sara kar guzra tha. Woh darakhto ki chhaon mein bench par baithi thi. Samne track par har umar ke log nazar aa rahe the. Aqsa bhi yahin kahin tahel rahi thi. Gehri saans le kar usne sar uthaaya. Mobile par notification aaya to usne dekha, apni office chair par barjman ho kar Faris ne apni tasveer bheji thi. Chehra mutabassim tha. Jannat ke honto par bhi muskurahat aa gayi.

"Ab kaisi tabiyat hai tumhari?" Woh puchh raha tha.

"Kuch behtar hoon. Aqsaa ke saath park mein hoon." Usne jawab likha.

"Tumhe aaram karna chahiye." Turant jawab aaya.

Usse pehle ki woh kuch likhti, uske aur dhoop ke beech ek saaya sa aa gaya. Usne be-seenhe sar uthaaya aur agle hi pal apni jagah tham gayi. Mobile screen par Faris ke muskurahat ke tasveer ab bhi aa rahe the. Woh screen par nahi dekh rahi thi, lekin tasveer dekh chuki thi. Aas-paas door door tak har cheez par ek sajeeb jhamood tari hua tha.

Aadina Zubair uske samne khadi thi.

track suit mein malbus, oonchi pony tail banaye, mutanasib saraape mein har kisi ki nazar ka markaz Aadiya Zubair uske samne thi. Pani ki bottle se chand ghont bhar kar, chhote rumal se apna paseena pochh kar, aur phir ek dil-ke-qareeb muskurahat honto par sajaye uske paas aayi.

Sare se paar ek jaayeze hi mein usne uske wajood mein chahiti ek naye zindagi ka andaza laga chuki tha. Lekin uski aankhon ki wo ilahi aur fatah ki chamak ek lamhe ke liye bhi madam nahi hui thi. Ek tazheek aamiz nazar us par daalte huye usne rumal se apni gardan ko thapthapaya tha.

"So you're expecting a baby, me bhi kahu Faris hamari shaadi ko delay kyun kar raha hai?" Qareeb aur kuch awaar me dhamaka kaise hota hai aur us dhamake se jism ke parhichhe kaise udhte hai. Yeh Jannat kamal ne us lamhe mein jaana tha.

"Usne mujhse kaha, kuch mahine intezaar kar lo. Magar wajah nahi batayi. Toh wajah yeh hai." Haath se ishara kiya.

A

ur ishtejahi andaaz se hasi.

"Kya tumhe lagta hai, uske bachche ki maa ban kar tum iske dil tak rehsai hasil kar sakogi? Ya phir hum dono ke darmiya aa sakogi?"

Jannat ka dil shiddat se dhadak utha. Saansain bhari hone lagi. Woh aag thi jo lafzo ki surat mein wajood mein utar aayi thi aur use raakh kar rahi thi.

"You know what!" Uski taraf jhuk kar usne Jannat ke dupatte par lagi bell ko ungliyon se chhua.

"Tumhare khwabon ka mil tumhari aukaat se bahut ooncha hai. Sirf mere ek kadam uthane ki dair hai aur sab chukna chhor ho jayega." Fatahana muskurahat honton par sajaye uski aankhon mein aankhon daal kar boli.

"Faris bhi mera hai, ghar bhi mera hai aur jagah bhi meri hai." Leheje mein sakhti, aankhon mein adawat ke saath khatarnaak teevaron ke saath apni position, apne iraade usne Jannat Kamal par wazeh kar diye. Sar jhatak kar jogging track ki taraf jaane lagi to pathar ka moosa ban gayi Jannat Kamal apne aap ko toad kar uth gayi. Usne Aadina Zubair ka bazu sakhti se pakad kar use jhatake se roka tha.

"How dare you!"

apna bazu chhoda kar usne intehai hisse ke aalam mein kaha. Jannat ki aankhon mein khoon utar aaya. Tasaurrat patharile ho rahe the.

"Aindah mere shauhar ka naam is tarah se liya to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga."

Adina zubair lamhay bhar ke liye sadme se gung hui. Wajood sholo ki zubaan mein aag gayi. Andar-bahar har taraf aag jalne lagi. Us aag ki zubaan mein Jannat bhi aane lagi.

"Tumhara shauhar? Kya tum mujhe bewakoof bana rahi ho?" Awaaz mein gusse ki chamak thi jab usne haq se poocha.

"Janti ho main kaun hoon? Adina Zubair hoon main. Faris Wajdan ki pehli aur aakhri mohabbat. Usne meri jagah kisi aur ko nahi di. Sirf is bache ki wajah se woh tumhe apne saath rakhe hue hai, warna tumhe toh kab ka ghar se nikaal chuka hota." Uski zubaan zehar ugal rahi thi.

"Chand din London mein kya guzare, tumhara toh dimag hi saatve aasman par pahunch gaya hai. Samajh rahi ho tumne usay paa liya?"

Jannat ki aankho mein nami aa gayi. Qadam bejaan hone lage.

"Pregnant ho, isliye abhi tak is ghar mein ho. Warna ab tak woh tumse apni jaan chhudwa chuka hota." Sakhti se keh kar usne uski aankhon mein dekha. Phir intehai gusse se jhatka,

"Hadd me raho, jo mera hai, woh mera hi hai. Tum humare beech aayi ho, tum hi humare beech se jaogi." Khatarnaak tewaro ke saath keh kar woh jaane ke liye mud gayi.

Jannat ladkhada kar peeche hui, aur bench ka sahara lekar baith gayi. Usay saans lene mein dushwari ho rahi thi. Palkein jhuka kar samne dekha. Adina Zubair ne uski taraf nahi dekha tha. Woh bhaagte hue nazron se ojhal ho chuki thi, magar woh usse apne aas paas, apni zindagi mein, apne ghar mein hatta ke apne bedroom mein bhi nazar aa rahi thi.

"Yeh le aapka juice!" Aqsaa ne uski taraf strawberry juice ka glass barhaya aur agle hi pal uske tewar dekh kar pareshaan ho gayi.

"Aapi! Aap theek hain?"

Usne poocha magar Jannat ne nahi suna. Woh sar uthaye gehri saansein le rahi thi. Mobile pe pehlu mein pada tha, messages abhi bhi aa rahe the. Usne mobile uthaya aur dekha.

"Main bas abhi office se nikalne wala hoon. Ghar chali jao toh bata dena warna main tumhe park se pick kar leta hoon. Kahi Jana hai."

"Park mein hoon," usne kapkapate unglio se message type kiya, aur mobile neeche rakh diya.

"Ghar chalein Aapi? Mujhe lagta hai aapki tabiyat kharab ho rahi hai."

Magar woh apni jagah se nahi uth paayi. Pandra minute baad Faris ne use park se pick kar liya tha. Apne tasuraat par kabu paate hue woh khud ko sambhale hue thi. Apni aankhon mein ubharti nami ko peeche dhakelti samne dekh rahi thi.

Woh ab usse baatein kar raha tha. Woh sun rahi thi magar samajh nahi rahi thi. Kuch keh bhi nahi rahi thi. Faris uski khamoshi ko tabiyat ki kharabi par maan raha tha. Kal se uski tabiyat nidhhal thi. Woh ab bhi yahi samajh raha tha.

Dus minute ki drive ke baad woh ek bungalow numa ghar ke porch mein gaadi rok chuka tha. Uska dhyan kahin aur tha, soch kahin aur thi. Shayad woh usse kisi se milwane laya tha, usne khali zehniyat ke haalat mein socha. Lawn se guzrte hue sadar darwaze bilkul khamoshi si thi. Andar dhakil hote hue usne ek khoyi hui si nigah aitraaf me dorhayi.

"Kaisa hai?"

uska haath apne haath mein liye pooch raha tha.

"Kya?"

"Ye Ghar"

"Theek hai" uska andaaz, uska lehza, uski aankhe.  Faris ko laga wo uske sath yahan kahi nahi hai.

"Sirf theek hai?"

"Aur kya kahu?" Sar utha kar pucha.

"Tumhe mujhe batana chahiye pasand aaya ki nahi?"

"Isse kya hoga?"

"Me apne lawyer se baat karuga , malkiyat ki documents tayyar hoge, ye ghar tumhare naam ho jayega." Sadme se gunj usne Faris ko dekha samaat par yakeen nahi aaya tha. Faris yeh ky akeh raha tha? Kyu keh raha tha? Kadam jhakde gaye, andar tak sab hil gaya.

"Tumhare liye driver, maid ka bhi intezam ho jayega aur har mahine tumhare account mein raqam transfer kar diya karunga."

Wo jaise ungli par sab gin kar wazeh kar raha tha. Aur Jannat sadi se phir khadi thi. Kifayat aisi thi jaise paron talay se zameen kheench li gayi ho. Uske hawaas shal, zehan ma'uf, qadam bejaan hone lage.

"Kya Adina Zubair durust keh rahi thi? Faris Wajdan usay bewakoof bana raha tha? Uske jazbat se khel raha tha?"

"Faris bhi mera hai, ghar bhi mera hai aur jagah bhi meri hai."

Faris ab kuch keh raha tha magar wo usay sun nahi rahi thi. Wo jaise apne aap mein, apne toofanon mein gum ho rahi thi. Uski aankhon ke kinare nam ho chuke the. Uske ta'asurat mein ek dum se veerani utar aayi thi. Uski hathiliya paseene se bheeg rahi thi.

"Mujhe ghar jana hai," uski awaaz kapkapayi.

Chehra mukammal safed pad chuka tha.

"Jannat?"

"Please mujhe ghar jana hai," usne roti hui kaha. Sar buri tarah se chakra raha tha. "Mujhe aunty ke paas jana hai."

"Kya ho gaya hai? Meri taraf dekho," kandhon se thaam kar uska rukh apni taraf kiya. Uski aankhon ke samne andhera barh gaya. Taangein bejaan ho gayi.

Gaadi mein baithne tak aur phir hospital pahunchne tak usay sab yaad tha. Uske baad jaise sab mubhaeen, sab dhundhla ho gaya tha.

Usay jab treatment di ja rahi thi tab bhi wo roti hui mrs. Shirazi ke paas jane ka keh rahi thi. Aur phir jaise ek dum sab sakin ho gaya tha. Dard bhi, aziyat bhi, wehshat bhi aur khauf bhi.

Wo kitni der tak dawaon ke zair-e-asar rahi thi, usay andaaza nahi tha magar jab hosh aaya to Faris bhi buri tarah se dekh raha tha. Kamre ki madham roshni bhi aankhon ko takleef pohcha rahi thi. Aur jism mein to jaise jaan hi nahi rahi thi.

Usne uthna chaha to Fars ne foran se haath pakar kar rok diya. Usay sahara de kar sir ke neeche takiye rakhe takay wo neem daraaz position mein aa sake. Khud uske paas hi baith gaya.

Usay waqiya yaad aane laga to ankhein phir se nam hone lagin. Na chahte hue bhi wo aziyat mein ghar gayi, phir se ro pari. "Subah tak tum bilkul theek thi. Phir achanak kya hua?" Wo az-had pareshan aur fikrmand lag raha tha. Magar ab wo usay nahi dekh rahi thi. Uski baat ka jawab bhi nahi de rahi thi. Asab muntashir the, chehra aansuon se tar. Aziyat ang ang se ayan ho rahi thi.

"Kya hua hai? Kis baat ka itna stress le rahi ho?" Narmi se gaal par haath rakha to usne sar uthaya. Chehra safed, aansuon se labraiz aankhein surkh ho rahi thi.

"Adina..." uske lab hilay. "Usne kaha, tum apni shaadi ko delay kar rahe ho kyunki main pregnant hoon. Jabke tum mujhe keh rahe the, tumhari zindagi mein koi aurat nahi hai. Tumne jhoot kaha...tum…"  u

Faris Wajdan lamhe bhar ke liye jaise sakte mein aa gaya tha.

"Maine tumhein ijazat di thi. Kya nahi di thi?" Rote hue poocha. "Main... maine kaha tha, jise chaho, apni zindagi mein shaamil kar lo. Main kabhi rukawat nahi banoongi. Kya nahi kaha tha? Phir tumne mujhse yeh kyun kaha ke tumhari zindagi mein mere ilawa aur koi nahi hai?" Wo shiddat se rote hue keh rahi thi.

---- •♡• ----