Chapter 59: •CHAPTER-58•

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Hafte ka din tha. Apni nigrani mein woh ground floor ke zyada tar kamron ki safai karwa rahi thi. Ek nai tarteeb se cheezo ko organize karti, ghair zaroori samaan ko store room mein rakhwati, woh khud bhi mulazimeen ke saath lagi hui thi. Lakdi ke box mein dhari kuch araishi ashya ka jaiza leti hui woh sajawat ke liye kuch nai ashya ka intekhab kar chuki thi. Mrs. Shirazi ke kehne par usne lounge ki diwar-geer khidkiyon ke parde bhi badalwa diye thay.

Rahdari ki diwaro par kuch nai paintings se sajadi gayi thi. Indoor plants ki bhi jagah badli thi. Aur ab woh store room mein mazeed kuch aise besh qeemat decoration pieces ka jaiza le rahi thi jo Italy, France aur na jaane kahaan kahaan se khareede gaye the.

Uske hukum par Aqsa stool par chadhi, upari khanon ka jaiza le rahi thi. Files ka ek dheir tha jo gard se dhaka hua tha. Kaghzaat, lifafe, magazines, akhbaar aur ab uski tamaam tar tawajjo us araishi box ki taraf thi jo dabbe mein pack kona mein pada tha aur jise Jannat ne nikaalne ko kaha tha. Usay wahan se uthane ki koshish mein haath lambay karte hue woh aediyon ke bal kuch upar hui thi. Agle hi lamhe uska tawazun bigda tha.

"Aqsa!" Stool par girift jamaaye Jannat cheekhi. Aqsa ne be ikhtiyari ke aalam mein aediyon par zor dete hue almari ko pakda magar koshish ke bawajood wo files ko nahi sambhal saki jo dhad dhad ladakti seedha farsh par aa padi thi.

"Tum theek ho?" Jannat ne sar utha kar poocha tha.

"J-Ji, ji main fine, bilkul fine." Woh almari se chipki khadi rahi thi. Jannat ne be ikhtiyar sukoon bhara saans liya. Phir usne araishi box Aqsa ke hawale kiya aur khud bohot ehtiyaat se neeche utar aayi. "Uff! Ek kaam simat-ta nahi, doosra bikhar jaata hai." Farsh par bikhray kaaghzaat ka dheir dekh kar Jannat jhunjhlayi thi.

"Main inhein samet leti hoon, Aapi!" Aqsa keh kar panjon ke bal baith gayi thi. Ab ek ek karke sabhi kaghzaat files mein rakhne lagi thi.

ahtiyaat se kadam uthate, woh jaane ke liye mur rahi thi jab uski nazar farsh par gire akhbaar ke front page par padi aur woh thetak kar rukh gayi. Jhuk kar akhbaar uthaya. Agle hi lamhe, khabar padhte hi, woh sadme se gung apni jagah sakit khadi reh gayi.

Uske samne haadsati maut ki ek khabar thi. Mulk ke ek naamwar business tycoon Aazam Shirazi ke eklote bete, Baroon Shirazi, aur potey, Hammad Shirazi, ki maut ki khabar. Jo car accident mein jaan bahaq hue the.

Kapkapate haathon mein akhbaar liye woh dam-bakhud khadi thi.

"Mrs. Shirazi ne apne jawan bete aur shauhar ko ek hi din mein khoya tha?"

Uski palkon mein larzish thi, aur badan par kapkapi si tari thi. Akhbaar haath mein liye woh raahdari mein aa gayi thi, aur wahi se back door khol kar usne aqbi lawn ka rukh kiya tha.

"Jawan bete aur shauhar ki judaai ka sadma ek saath jhela tha?"

Uske qadam ruke, swimming pool ke samne lawn chairs par baithi Mrs. Shirazi aur Faris ke humraah bethe hue nazar aa rahi thi.

Woh Faris se kuch keh rahi thi. Phir uska jawab sun kar ek dum se muskurane lagi thi. Phir kisi baat par has padi.

Mohabbat ka, reham ka, humdardi ka... jaane woh kaun sa ehsaas tha ke unhein yun haste muskurate dekh kar uska dil fatne laga. Aankhein nam hone lagi thi.

Usne hamesha unhein bohot mazboot dekha tha. Apni zindagi, waqt, aur haalaat par sabr aur shukr karte hue hi dekha tha. Unki aankhon mein yaqeen ki ek gehri chamak hoti thi.

Aati thin. Mutma'in, pur sukoon, pur umeed. Unki aankhon mein yaqeen ki ek gehri chamak nazar aati thi. Unka chehra husn-e-zan se manawwar rehta tha. Uski nazar Faris tak gayi. Woh lawn chairs par gardan peeche ki taraf giraye aaraam-deh haalat mein baitha tha. Dhoop mein aankhein band thi. Ta'asuraat naram the. Mrs. Shirazi ki nazar Jannat par nahi pari thi, magar Jannat unhein hi dekh rahi thi. Akhbaar par grip barhaye woh wapas palat aayi thi. Store room ka darwaza band karke, woh kitni hi der tak ghair zaroori samaan mein ghiri, gehri saansein leti rahi thi.

Ek ajeeb si besakooni thi jo uske andar phail gayi thi. Ek aziyat bhara ehsaas tha jo uski rag rag mein sama gaya tha. Usein achanak Mrs. Shirazi ke dukh, unke nuqsan aur unki aziyat par rona aaya.

sadma ek to nahi tha. Woh kis qadar mushkil haalaat se guzri thi. Mehri saans le kar usne Aqsa ko dekha, jo apni dhun mein sab bikhray hue kaghzaat sametne mein lagi hui thi. Sath hi kuch gunguna bhi rahi thi.

Safai ka hukam diya gaya tha, so ghair zaroori files aur documents, mamool ki tarah, store room mein rakh diye gaye the. Naukrani kaghzaat aur files ka ek bhara hua carton liye andar aayi. Aaj subah hi Faris ne apni study ki safai karwayi thi. Mulazma ne woh carton baqi cartons ke barabar mein table par rakh diya tha. "Faris sahab ne to maano ghar ko hi office bana diya hai," Aqsa files ikatthi karte karte thak gayi thi.

Jannat ne akhbaar lapait kar daraz mein rakh diya. Khidki ki slide khol di.

"Or kya rakhna hai Aapi?"

"Upar jo parde rakhe hain, woh le aao," usne hukam diya aur bahar dekhne lagi. Kuch der tak gehri saans leti rahi. Uski daayein taraf aaj hi Faris ki study se aaya hua carton aadha khula sa pada tha. Khaki rang ka ek bara lifafa kone mein phansa hua tha. Us par kahi "Ruby Akram" ka naam likha huea nazar aa raha tha.

•••

"Aaj tum chup chup si kyun ho?" Faris ke poochhne par usne chonk kar sar uthaya.

"Nahi toh," badqat muskurayi. Kitaab haath mein thi. Usne abhi tak uska ek bhi safha nahi palta tha. Gaal par chalti lat ko kaan ke peeche karti hui usne Faris ko dekha.

Woh sofa par thi aur Faris bed crown ke saath tek lagaye baitha tha. Laptop khula hua tha. Uske frame glasses par laptop screen ka sabzi mael aks manakis ho raha tha. Baal maathe par bikhre hue the.

Woh kuch der tak usay dekhti rahi.

"Tumhe Hammad bhai yaad to aate honge?"

Uska sawal itna achanak aur Faris ke liye itna ghair mutawaqqa tha ke touch pad par uski ungli ek dam se sakit hui thi. Nazar us par jami thi. Shayad woh muntazir thi ke woh apne bhai ke zikar par kuch to kahega, magar Faris ka chehra supat aur zubaan bilkul khamosh thi.

Usne be-ikhtiyari nazar utha kar Jannat ko dekha tha. Lab bahem piwast rahe. Jannat ke achanak is sawal ne usay jaga diya tha.

"Achanak ye sawal kyu?" Khud ko masroof zahir karte hue, Faris phir laptop ki taraf mutawajeh ho gaya tha.

"Aise hi khayal aaya," usne kaha. "Aunty bhi unke baare mein zyada baat nahi karti." Faris Wajdan ki aankhein frameless glasses ke peeche mukammal chup gayi thi. Uske ta'asuraat mein koi tabdeeli nahi aayi thi.

Chehra aur bhi zyada supat aur sanjeeda sa lagne laga tha.

Shayad guzar jaane walon ka zikar kuch qareebi rishton ke liye bohot takleef deh hota hoga, usne gehri saans lekar socha. Lekin woh toh aaj bhi apne nana ko yaad karti thi aur unke baare mein dheero baate bhi karna chahti thi. Jaanay kya wajah thi ke is ghar mein un logon ka koi zikar nahi hota tha jo isi ghar ka ek mazboot hissa reh chuke the. Gehri saans lekar usne kitaab band karke rakh di. Phir uth kar baahar aayi. Mrs. Shirazi ke bedroom ke saamne ruk kar usne band darwaze par aahista se dastak di thi. "Come in" ijaazat milte hi, usne darwaza khola aur andar aayi. Mrs. Shirazi bed ke crown se tek lagaye, aur kitaab haath mein ek kitaab liye bethi thi. Use dekh kar kuch hairaan ho gayi ke abhi kuch der pehle toh woh Faris ke saath thi.

“Main aapke paas aa jaun?” masumiyat se poocha.

“Bhalla yeh kaisa sawal hua?” Kitaab rakh kar, glasses utaarte hue unhone uski taraf haath badhaya aur woh bohot se aansoo apne andar dabaaye, unke pehlu mein lete hue unki baahon mein samayi thi.

“Kya hua meri beti ko?”

Unke seene par sar rakkhe woh num aankhon ke saath muskurayi. Unki aagosh mein ekdum se bohot sukoon mil gaya tha usay.

“Kuch bhi nahi hua mujhe,” keh kar kuch der chup chaap leti rahi.

Woh unke saamne unke shauhar aur bete ka zikar karna chahti thi. Woh unhein store room se milne wali ek akhbaar ke front page par nazar aayi ek khabar ka hawala dena chahti thi. Usay unka zikar karte waqt dard ka ehsaas hua tha. Pehli baar usay mehsoos hua ke woh andar se kis qadar tooti hui thi. Pahaad jitni aazmaishe jhel kar bhi unke labon par aaj bhi kalma-e-shukr jari rehta tha.

Usay unke honay ka khayal aaya, woh maasoom aur yateem bacha jise Wajdan House mein aanay ki ijaazat nahi thi, aur jise Faris Wajdan qabool karne ko tayyar nahi tha. Usey Faris ke saath unki guftagu, unki baatein, unka iltija bhara lehja aur aansooon se bhari aankhein yaad aayi. “Aapne Faris se dobara baat ki?” usne aahistagi se poocha.

“Konsi baat?” Mrs. Shirazi ke daaye haath ki ungliya uske baalon mein mutharrik rahi thi.

“Apne potay ke baare mein,” usne baat adhoori chor di. Mrs. Shirazi ka haath ruk gaya. "Pehle toh maine socha tha, jab main usri Yusra ka raaz paa lugi, toh aap mujhe address de dengi aur main aapke pots se milne jaungi aur usey yahaan le aungi.” Ek lamha ko ruk kar usne apni kamzor parhti awaaz ko mazboot kiya, “aur ab mujhe lag raha hai ke mujhe usse jald milna chahiye.”

Mrs. Shirazi ke ta’assuraat badal gaye. Unki siyahi mael aankhon mein ek ghair ma’loom sa ta’assur thehar gaya. Jannat uth kar baith gayi. Woh chehre par pareshaani liye unhein dekh rahi thi aur woh unhe.

“Main Faris se baat karna chahti hoon. Main usay samjhana chahti hoon ke woh zulm kar raha hai.”

“Jannat!” Unhone kuch saday se uska haath pakad kar usay mazeed kuch kehne se roka tha. Ek iztaraari kefiyat unke wujood par taari ho chuki thi.

“Nahi,” unhone nafi mein sar hilaate hue uske haath par girift mazboot ki. “Hargiz nahi,” ek baar phir zor de kar kaha tha. “Tum Faris se is baare mein kabhi bhi koi baat nahi karogi.” Lehja taadeebi tha, andaaz ta’keedi. Tabdeeli nahi aayi thi. Chehra aur bhi zyada supat aur sanjeeda sa lagne laga tha.

"Auntie…"

"Yeh mera aur Faris ka maamla hai, beta tum khud ko involve mat karo." Unhone samjhane ki koshish ki thi.

"Toh kya main iss family ka hissa nahi hoon?" Uski awaaz bhar aa gayi.

"Aisi baat nahi hai, bache." Pyaar se kaha.

"Toh phir kyu? Aap phir kyu mujhe apne hotay se milne nahi de rahi?" "Meri taraf dekho," gili aankhon se ab woh unki taraf dekhne lagi thi. Uske chehre ke ta'assuraat aise thay jaise abhi kisi waqt ro de gi. Maa aur bete ki yeh kaisi mohabbat thi ke maa sabar pe sabar kiye ja rahi thi aur beta jabr pe jabr. Itni dard bhari dooriyan jheel kar bhi woh maa thi jo farz nibha rahi thi.

"Tum Faris ke baare mein ulta seedha nahi socho gi," unhone jaise uske ta'assuraat aur aankhon se uske jazbaat ek baar phir parh liye thay.

"Woh mera bohot pyaara beta hai. Usne kabhi mujhe takleef nahi pahuchai." Woh ruki thi.

"Rayyan mera beta hai. Main jaanti hoon, mujhe is maamle ko kaise handle karna hai," unhone gham aur pareshaani ke milay julay ta’assuraat ko chhupate hue, sanjeeda lehje mein kaha.

"Magar tum, tum is maamle mein nahi pado gi. Kabhi bhi nahi."

Woh kuch fikarmandi se unhein dekhti reh gayi thi.

Uska toh khayal tha ke woh uski madad karengi, magar unhone toh saaf inkaar kar diya tha.

"Maine aapse wada kiya tha aunty!" Usne yaad dilaya.

"Tumne yeh baat keh di, main samjhungi tumhara wada poora ho gaya."

Jannat unhein be-basi se dekhti reh gayi.

"Wada karo ke tum kabhi bhi Faris se koi baat nahi karogi. Rayyan ka naam bhi nahi lo gi."

Uska sar jhuk gaya.

"Kab tak? Aakhir kab tak aap yeh kahengi?"

Usne nazar uthayi toh aansoo gaal par phisal gaye. "Main maa banne wali hoon, maine abhi apne bache ko apne haathon mein nahi liya hai, lekin abhi se auntie abhi se soch aa jaye to mera dil phatne lagta hai."

"Jannat!" Unhone tadap kar usay dekha, aur agle hi pal usay seene se laga liya. "Kya ho gaya hai bache? Yeh kya soch rahi ho tum? Main pareshaan nahi hoon, toh tum kyun ho rahi ho?"

Woh roti ja rahi thi aur jis ka dard tha, woh uski pusht sehla rahi thi.

"Mujhe Allah par poora yaqeen hai. Woh mere liye aasaani karega. Tum pareshaan mat ho," woh keh rahi thi. Phir usay khud se alag kar ke uske surkh padte chehre ko dekha. "Main Faris se khud baat karungi, Jannat. InshaAllah sab theek ho jayega." Woh usse jada jaise khud ko tasalli de rahi thi.

"Tum bas dua karo mere betay ke liye. Sirf dua." Phir muskurayi. "Ab jao, aaraam karo. Aur kuch nahi sochna." Pyaar se uske gaal par haath rakha. Woh aansoo saaf karti uth kar chali gayi. Darwaza band hua toh Mrs. Shirazi ne ek gehri saans lekar apni pusht bed crown ke saath tek di. Unki aankhon mein izteraab numaya tha. Haathon mein kapkapaahat thi. Aur dil toh jaise phatne ko tha.

Unhone gehri saans lekar aankhein moud li thi. Labon par wazaif jari tha. Zikr jari tha. Dua jari thi.

Apne har dukh, har dard, aur har aziyat par unhone har surat sabar kiya tha.

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