Chapter 83: ּ ֶָ֢.CH82

•••

Woh guzishta teen dino se is kamre mein band tha.

Waqfe waqfe  se Haider aur Raahim usse milne aate rahe, baar baar us se baat karne ki koshish kar rahe the, Samjhane ki bhi. Magar woh kuch bhi sunne ko tayar nahi tha.

"God tum aise to nahi the?" Raahim ko hairat ho rahi thi.

Us ka aik dam se ishtaal mein aajana. Aur is tarah se react karna uski samajh se bahir tha.

Us ke liye Faris ki situation nayi thi magar Haider usey kaafi arse se jaanta tha. Uski pareshani bata rahi thi ke is tarah ishtaal mein woh pehle kabhi nahi aaya tha. Kya yeh thappad hi hai jiska uski zaat par itna asar par gaya ya phir ilzaam aisa hai ke bardasht nahi ho raha?

Ab ki baar jab aaya to kursi kheench kar us ke samne baith gaya tha.

"Tum wahan kyun gaye the?"

Woh Aarzoo Jehangir se milne gaya tha, yeh baat usey bohut hairan kar rahi thi.

"Jaise ke tum nahi jaante!" Phad khanay wala andaaz tha.

"Sach mein! Mein tumhe kya zarurat padi is model se milne ki? Maana ke woh bohat mashhoor hai. Khubsurat hai aur us ka to har koi madah..."

"Munh band rakho apna!" Woh aik dum se bhadak utha tha. Raahim be basi se usey dekh kar reh gaya.

"Agar tum is tarah react karoge to mein tumhari koi madad nahi kar sakunga!"

Woh bed par baitha tha, bhanwe sukri hui thi. Khoobsurat chehra ghusse se laal ho raha tha. Samne tray mein khana para tha. Us ne abhi tak kuch nahi khaya tha.

"Meri help, aur tum karoge?" Us ki aankhon mein shole jag gaye. Lahja talkh ho gaya.

"Mere samne bante ho take mein tum pe bharosa karu. Mujhe tumhari sab chaalo ka ilm hai. Aise hi to Azam Shirazi tumhe itna paisa nahi dete."

Rahim gehri saans le kar seedha ho baitha.

"Sach mein bohat si baatein mere ilm mein nahi hain."

Is lamhe darwaza khol kar Haider andar daakhil hua.

"To mera sar kyun kha rahe ho? Haider se pooch lo, yeh bata dega tumhare Azam saha  is tarah zanjeeron mein jakad kyun rakhna chahte hain..."

Raahim ne aik dum se chonk kar Haider ko dekha tha. Khankhaar kar gala saaf karte us ne pusht par hath bandh liye.

"Yeh zanjeere wanjeere kahan se aa gayi? Kaun qaid hai bhai?" Raahim ne hanuf pan ki inteha kar di.

Faris rukh badal gaya. Woh un se mazeed koi baat nahi karna chahta tha. Raam kuch dair tak usse dekhta raha. Phir naye sare se baat shuru ki.

"Faris! Samajhne ki koshish karo. Woh aik chhoti si misunderstanding thi yaar, and it's all over now!" ishaara Alizeh wali baat ki taraf tha.

"Chhoti si misunderstanding thi?" Faris ne achambhe se usse dekha.

"Usi misunderstanding ke liye ghar mein cameras laga rakhe the tum ne?" Lehje mein daba daba sa ghussa tha. Aankho se na gawari jhalak rahi thi.

Raahim ne chonk kar usse dekha. Uske ghusse aur na-raazgi ki wajah jaise ab samajh mein aayi thi.

"Woh, Main ne is wajah se nahi lagaye the!" Us ne foran wazahat di.

"Tum Azam Shirazi ke liye kaam karte ho. Don’t act like you care for me...." Woh phat para tha.

"Tum, Haider, Agha Ali. Tum sab mujhe control karne ke liye ho, mujh par nazar rakhne ke liye, meri har baat Azam Shirazi ko batane ke liye ho...."

"For God’s sake, Faris! Kya ho gaya hai tumhein?" Uske sabr ka paimana labreez hua to bol parra.

"Woh camere main ne tumhari wajah se nahi lagaye the. Mere apne kuch issues hain, main jahan bhi rahun, mujhe ehtiyat karna padta hai. This is my way to protect myself!"

Faris ki peshaani ki rage ubhar kar numaya ho rahi thi. Aankho mein aag bhadak rahi thi. Raahim sanjeedgi se usse dekh raha tha. Woh jitna arsa uske saath raha, kabhi bhi is kadar ishtiaal mein nahi aaya tha.

Jab tak koi usse tang na kare, woh mutahammil rehta tha. Uske aasab control mein hote the. Woh is tarah aape se bahar bhi nahi hua tha.

Azam Shirazi ka teh, iltizam ya phir is kadar rakhniya lafzon mein maan ka hawala kiya baat thi jis ne usse jalti hui aag mein lakhda kiya tha. Aasab par aisa daar tha ke woh manhal nahi par raha tha. Woh uske dukh ka andaaza karna chahta tha. Woh uske karab ko samajhta chah raha tha. Magar Faris ke liye aur andaaz mein ab dukh nahi tha, sirf ghussa tha. Raahim ne gehri saans le kar apne balo mein haath phera. Use bhi ehsaas tha ke uske saath ghalat ho gaya. Baat chhoti nahi thi. Kuch soche samjhe baghair unho ne jis tarah haath uthaya tha, aur ab haqeeqat maloom ho jaane ke bawajood bhi woh usse milne nahi aaye the, samajh mein nahi aa raha tha, ab unhein kya karna chahiye. Haider, Azam Shirazi ke saath musalsal rabte mein tha. Woh kisi kaarobari doure par the. Tafseel se koi baat nahi ho pa rahi thi.

Apni taraf se woh dono baat karne aur usse samjhane ki poori koshish kar rahe the. Intezaar mein the ke kab woh thanda hota ke usse normal zindagi ki taraf laya ja sake. Magar uska ghussa tha ke kisi soorat kam nahi ho raha tha.

"Mujhe tum dono ne, yahan se na jaane diya to main sach mein kuch kar baithunga." Ab woh unhein tarah tarah ki dhamkiyan de raha tha. Aag lagaane ki, sab barbaad karne ki aur apni jaan lene ki bhi...

Uski har ek baat uske androoni khalafshar ka pata de rahi thi. Woh dimaag se nahi soch raha tha aur dil par to jese baraf jam gayi thi. Khauf bhi kahin nahi tha. Ehsaasat bhi nahi. Woh larka jo naap tol kar baat karta tha, jis ki awaaz buland nahi hoti thi, jisse lafzo mein sakhti nahi jhalakti thi. Woh ab ek dum se Us ke saath bhi nafrat aamaiz lehje mein pesh aane laga tha.

"Main tumhein bata chuka hoon, Alizeh ka mamla aik misunderstanding tak thi. Tumhari be-gunahii bhi sabit ho gayi. Kyun tum is baat ko jaane nahi de rahe?" Raahim jhunjhlai hui bezar awaaz mein bola tha. Woh aur Haider achhe khase thake huay nazar aa rahe the.

"Misunderstanding?“ Woh talkhi se hasa tha.

"Yeh kaisi misunderstanding hai jis par koi mazrat hi nahi ki gayi!" Haider ne be-ikhteyar raahim ko dekha tha. Woh stool par baitha usse hi dekh raha tha.

"Woh yahan nahi hain. America mein hain. Yahan hote to zaroor tumse milte."

"Main ne mulaqat ki nahi, mazrat ki baat ki hai." Daant pees kar ghurraya.

"Hum un tak tumhara paigham pohonchaa dete hain, woh mazrat bhi kar lenge." Dono ne nazro hi nazro mein kuch tay kar ke pata pheench diya ke woh zara madham ho aur apni aqal ka istemal kare. Thanday dimagh se kuch soche.

"Tum log unhein yeh hukm doge?" Us ne tamskhar udaaya. Use achi tarah se andaaza tha, aisi koi bhi baat woh Azam Shirazi se karne ki himmat nahi rakhte.

"Mashwara denge." Haider ne zabt kar ke kaha.

"Is position mein ho ke mashwara de sako?"

"Tum is position mein ho ke is tarah ke mutalbe kar sako?" Haidar ne phaar khane wale lehje mein kaha. Faris apni jagah tham gaya.

"Itni si baat tumhein kai dino se samjha rahe hain aur tum ho ke...." Haider ne haath ke ishaare se use mazeed kuch kehne se baaz rakha. Woh apne ghusse par qaboo paate chup ho gaya. Kuch dair baad kursi ghaseet kar bed ke qareeb hua, jahan woh taange latkaye baitha tha.

"Main tumhari madad karne ki koshish kar raha hoon, kyun tum is tarah khud ko torture kar rahe ho?"

"Tum meri koi madad nahi kar sakte." Us ka sar jhuka raha.

"Kar sakta hoon. Azma kar dekho!"

Us ne aahistagi se sar uthaya. Aankhein zabt se surkh par rahi thi.

"Mere maa baap ne mil kar mujhe jaan se maar diya. Aur mera sagga dada mujhe dafan karne ke bajaye meri laash ko yahan wahan ghasite ja raha hai...."

"Ab madad karo meri, kar sakte ho tum?" Cheekh kar us ne jis lehje aur andaaz mein kaha, Raahim afaq sadme se gung apni jagah baitha raha gaya. Us ka dar khatam ho chuka tha. Ab woh duniya ke aik aik fard ko yeh bata sakta tha ke woh kaun tha? Woh kya ho gaya tha.

"Apne sahab se kaho, main un se milna chahta hoon." Us ka saans bhaari ho raha tha.

"Kal... har haal mein. Warna us ke baad jo hoga, us ke zimmedaar woh khud hoge." Us ke lehje mein aisi kaat thi ke aik lamhe ke liye toh woh bhi usse kuch keh nahi sake the.

Khidkiyo se bahar London ka aasman bohat tareek ho raha tha. Neeche night life mukammal bedaar thi.

Roshniyo mein naha hua sheher zindagi ke shor mein kahi gum ho raha tha.

•••

Azam Shirazi ko us ka paigham pohonchaa diya gaya tha. Woh shaam ki flight se London aa gaye thay. Magar woh us se do din baad hi milne aaye the. Sham ko no baje, us waqt jab woh bistar par chit leta chhat ko ghoor raha tha. Haider ne ittila pohonchayi to woh uth kar baahar aa gaya. Samne hi neelgo si roshni mein woh lounge ke sofa par baithay dikhayi diye.

Siyah three-piece suit mein malbus the. Bhoore baal gel se jame hue the. Aankhon par nafees glasses the. Un ki tarashada safed daadhi ke saath chehre ke karak tasuraat numaya ho rahe the. Guard un ke paas hi khare the.

Raahim, albatta, wahan nahi tha. Ghaliban usey is private guftagu mein shamil hone ki ijaazat nahi thi lekin usey yaqeen tha ke us ne shamil hone ke liye koi na koi hal dhoond liya hoga. Haider ne ishaara diya to guard bahar chale gaye. Darwaza band hua to woh aahistagi se qadam uthata un ke samne sofa par baith gaya.

Hamesha ki tarah, peshaani par bikhre baal aaj ooper ko uthey hue the. Us ki kashada peshaani par amoodi lakeere numaya ho rahi thi. Aankho mein qissa aur sard mehri thi. Lab sakhti se bhinche hue.

Haider sar jhukaaye aur haath bandhe un ke sofa ke aqab mein khada tha.

"Humein bataya gaya hai tum hum se milna chahte ho!" Kalai moad kar waqt dekhte unhone guftagu ka aaghaz kiya. Aawaaz bhaari, barud si thi. Aankho ka tasur sakhti liye hue tha. Chehre ke tasuraat mein aik sard mehri si nazar aa rahi thi.

"Kaho hum sun rahe hain." Hukum diya gaya. Magar woh chup raha. Joote ki nok se qaaleen ke reshay ko chheerta raha. Wo usey dekhte rahey.

"To apni maa se milne gaye the tum?" Woh kuch nahi bola to unhone baat shuru ki. Un ke liye main wazeh tha ke unhein is ki is harkat par kitna ghussa hai.

"Maa se nahi, aap ke hareef se milne gaya tha." Azam Shirazi ki aankhein woh us ke jawab par thame the.

"Aap ne kaha tha, woh mujhe dhoond rahi hai. Yehi confirm karne gaya tha..." Sar jhuka raha. Daahna qadam Mutaharrik raha. Us ki shirt ke ooperi button khule hue the. Gardan se neeche mandmail hi lakeer nazar aa rahi thi. Woh ab apne dada ki aankho mein dekh raha tha. Baat maan ki ho rahi thi. Lehja aur jumle kisi bhi adabi taqaze se baala tar the.

"Us ka shohar mil jata to bata deta, main kaun hoon. Wo mil jati to usey bhi yaad dila deta." Us ka lehja sakhti aur iraday wazeh the. Woh compose ho kar baat kar raha tha. Azam Shirazi us ki aankho mein aag dekh sakte the. Chaar saal pehle unhone usey jo baat batayi thi, woh usey hathiyar ke tor par ab istemal kar raha tha. Jaise un ki koi kamzori hath aa gayi ho.

"Humein andaaza tha tum hamare liye masail paida kar sakte ho." Unhein uski harkat par koi hairani nahi thi.

Aik imtihan unhone lena tha aur nateejah un ki soch ke ain mutabiq nikla tha.

"Batao kya mutalbaat hain tumhare? Aaj hum sun lete hain..." Unhone sanjeedagi se hankara bharte hue kaha.

Usey tawaqqo nahi thi. Us ki baato ke jawab mein woh aik sawal rakh denge.

Mushtal hone ke bajaye mutahmil ho jayenge.

"Bolo! Kya chahiye? Koi sports car ghar ya koi aisi khwahish...." unhone baat daanistah adhuri chhod di. Zahir kar diya woh usey kuch bhi de sakte hain. Kuch bhi!

Azam Shirazi jaan gaye the, ab woh control se bahar tha. Zabardasti kar ke ya dabao daal kar usey qabu nahi kiya ja sakta tha. Us mein koi khauf nahi bithaya ja sakta tha. Filhal woh us ka andar jaanchna chahte the. Us ka dimaagh parhna chahte the. Baqi baatein baad ki thin. Woh kisi bhi soorat usey apne khandaan ke saath khilwad karne ki ijaazat nahi de sakte the.

Woh kuch der tak chup raha, phir aage ho kar baitha. Baat dada se nahi, ab Azam Shirazi se ho rahi thi.

"Mujhe mera naam chahiye. Mukammal naam. Baap aur khandaan ka naam!" Us ne jurrat ka muzahira karte hue mutalba rakh diya.

Baat khwahish ki thi to khwahish bas yehi thi. Haider ne kuch hairani se use dekha. Usey Azam Shirazi ke alfaaz bohot achi tarah se yaad the. Jis din woh hadd se nikalega, woh use shoot kar denge. Ab woh samne tha aur aisi talab rakh raha tha Jis ke liye itne saalo tak, us ke andar taqleen nateejat ka khauf bithaya jata raha tha.

"Warna?" Unhone sawaali nazar uthai. Un ki nigahen use jaanch rahi thin. Woh bhi un ka hi pota tha.

Siyah tareek huwa beta tha. Ghair wazeh muhim, dhundhla.

"Main kya kar sakta hoon, aur kya nahi, us ka andaaza aap ko bakhubi ho chuka hoga..."

Azam Shirazi ne mushkil se khud par zabt ke pehrey bithaye the. Aaj tak kisi ne is liye aur un se baat karne ki jurrat nahi ki thi, kaha ke dhamki dena.

"Aarzoo Jahangir aik celebrity hai. Aap ka khandaan bhi kam mashhoor nahi, jahan bhi zuban kholun ga baat jungle mein aag ki tarah phaile gi."

"Chhote sahab ab nahi bachenge..." Haider ne socha. Pehle thodi bohot umeed thi, sab theek Us ki nobat nahi aaye gi. Ab yaqeen ho gaya sab khatam ho jayega.

"Iski nobat nahi aayegi chahe to hum yahi tumhari jaan le sakte hain."

"To le lijiye. Main apne irado se baaz aane wala nahi hoon."  Aankhon mein aankhein daal kar Wazeha kar diya. Us ke andar ab koi khauf nahi tha.

"Aa bhi sakte ho hum chahe to...." unhone side table se snow globe ko uthakar harkat di.

Nanhe nanhe safed zarre mutaharrik ho kar chahar so bikhar gaye.

"Meri koi bhi kamzori aap ke haath mein nahi hai." Azam Shirazi us ki aankho mein dekhte rahe. Us ki jalti aankho ka taasur patthar kar dene wala tha.

"Hum ne tumhein parhaya likhaya. Ek achi zindagi di. Us ka tum humein ye sila de rahe ho? Is Tarah dhamkiyan de kar...?"

snow globe hanuz un ke daahne haath mein mutaharrik raha. Haider ne kuch na kabhi se apne sahib ko dekha. Woh bohot tahammul se baat kar rahe the. Un ka lehja bhi kuch aisa sakht nahi lag raha tha.

"Tasreeh kar lein, Ye dhamkiya nahi hain. Main apna haq lene ki baat kar raha hoon."

"Haq ki baat aaj kar rahe ho?" Saada sa aik chubhta hua sawaal tha.

Woh pehle kyun chup raha, ab kyun baat kar raha hai? Is tarah achanak kya badal gaya tha?

"Is liye ke Alizeh ki wajah se hum ne tum par haath uthaya to tumhe laga ab haq ki baat karni Chahiye?" Labo par muskurahat liye sawaal poochha.

"Is liye ke Aarzoo Jahangir meri zindagi mein nahi hai, to main us aurat ke naam se kyun pehchaan

Jaa raha hoon?"

Azam Shirazi is athara saal ke larke ke samne mukammal la jawab ho gaye. Floor lamp ki roshni halke se ithmaai. Khidkiyo ke is paar baraf ke rui jaise gaale  fiza mein muntashir zameen par utarne lage.

Khamoshi aik dum se taweel ho gayi. Sawal jawab ka silsila ruk gaya. Azam Shirazi ab use hi dekh rahe the. Bara-e-raast. Us ki aankhon mein, aur use laga woh is ke andar us ki rooh tak utar gaye hain. Aur use parh rahe hain. Us ne nazre jhuka lee. Qadamo mein dekhte phir se reshoun ko chheda.

"Aleezeh humari bachi hai, uski is harkat par hum tum se mazrat kar lete hai." Unhone kamaal mahaarat se mozu badla. Lehja sulah jo tha. Awaaz mein khrakhti nahi thi.

"Aap ke thappar aur ilzaam ki mazrat kaun kare ga?"

Un ke labo par khafeef si muskurahat ubhri. Aankho mein dilchaspī ka ansar thehr gaya.

"Kya mazrat se zid khatam ho jayegi?" Saada sa aik sawaal magar sada ki baat thi ke puchne wale Azam Shirazi the.

"Nahi! Is se farq nahi padta." Goya woh us ke liye itne ahem nahi the ke un ka aitazaar us par kuch asar karta.

"Mujhe ab sirf apna naam chahiye."

"Hum ye nahi de sakte." Hatmi atal baat kehte unhone snow globe bhi rakh diya. Masnooi fiza mein Muallaq mutaharrik zare neeche girte saakit honay lagay.

"Tum ne aise mutalba ki jurrat ki, hum tumhein Maaf kar rahe hain. Ainda aisi ghalti mat karna!"

Faris Wajdan ki muthiya sakhti se bhinch gayi. Zindagi mein pehli baar Azam Shirazi ko us ki aankho mein woh tasur nazar aaya tha jo woh aam tor par apne dushmano ki aankhon mein dekha karte the.

Ab woh muntazir the, woh kya kehne wala tha. Apna aap sabit karne aur naam wapis lene ke aur bohot se tareeqay the. Aur unhein har haal mein usse qaabu karna tha.

"Apni parhai mukammal karo. Hum tumhein tumhare hisse ka business set kar ke denge. Haider se keh dete hain tumhare account mein deal raqam transfer kar diya kare."

Unhone kuch soch kar mazeed kaala bech diya. Woh us ke andar umadte ke sailab par band bandh rahe the. Faris unhein dekhta raha. Woh un se naam ki baat kar raha tha, woh maratibaat ki baat kar rahe the.

"Aur agar main na manu to?" Sofa ke saath pasht lagaye, seenay par baazoo bandhe mukammal itmad ke

Saath un ki taraf dekhta raha.

"Humare liye tumhein khamosh karwana koi mushkil kaam nahi." Khatarnak naak sa ishara tha.  Zinda rehna chahey to is tarah, warna maut ka raasta hargiz mushkil nahi. Baat bohot talkh aur bhaari thi. Unhone bahut aam se lehze mein keh di.

Us ki aankhon ki surkhi mein ab nami utar aayi thi. Bohot halki si ke madhum roshniyo ka aks un mein jhilmilane laga tha.

"Main aik shart par apna muh band kar sakta hoon. Saari umar ke liye " Azam Shirazi ne ab ke use ghour se dekha tha.

"Kaho! Hum sun rahe hain..."  Khayaal tha woh koi farmayish karne wala hai. Kisi mukhtim raqam ki jaidad aur naam Ke ilawa woh us ka har mutalba manne ke liye tayar the.

"Apne bete ke saath kiya hua wada khatam kar ke mujhe azad kar de..."

Lounge mein aik dum se sannata phaila tha. Azam Shirazi apni jagah lamha bhar ke liye munjamid huay the. Haider ne be ikhtiyar is ki taraf dekha. Woh kam golar ka use mamool se bohot mukhtalif laga.

Gehra....!

Pur asrar.....!

Behad pechida.....!

"Main wada karta hoon. Marte dam tak aap ke khandaan ke samne nahi aaunga. Na kabhi naam ka mutalba karunga. Na jaidaad ka. Aap ko sahih ma'ino mein mar kar dikha sakta hoon main! Us ne sara masla hi khatam Kar diya. Baat hi khatam kar di.

"God, yeh larka..." Listening Bug ke zariye un ki guftago ko sunte, Raahim Afaq ne shashdar ho kar sar uthaya tha. Woh gaadi mein baitha tha. Kaano mein ear phones laga rakhe they. Is ke ehtraaf mein baraf ki dhand har so phailti ja rahi thi.

"Shart sirf itni hai ke koi mujhe control nahi kare ga. Mere peeche nahi aayega. Mujh par nazar nahi rakhe ga!"

Azam Shirazi ab tak kuch keh nahi sakay the. Woh un ki dee hui aasaishaat chhodne ki, aur apni zindagi khud se jeene ki baat kar raha tha. Usey un ki dolat se koi hissa nahi chahiye tha. Koi murawwat koi raqam bhi nahi. Us ka mutalba bohot asaan aur wazeh tha. Magar woh khud uljhay hue the. Shaadeed hairat aur mukhmasay mein Ghir gayay the.

"Aur tum chahte ho, hum is bhonde mazaaq par yaqeen kar lein."

"Maazaq nahi hai yeh..." Woh sanjeedgi se goya hua.

"Masle ka hal hai!"

Woh apni umar se zyada gehra lag raha tha. Soch samajh kar. Bohot mufahmat se. Apna Mutalba mutawara tha.

"Hum kaise yaqeen kare?"

"Main pichle pandrah saalo se chup hoon. mazeed chup reh sakta hoon!"

Woh mahaz atharah saal ka tha. Us ne amali zindagi mein abhi qadam nahi rakha tha. University join kiye

doosra mahina tha. Parhai bhi mukammal nahi hui thi. Woh sab kuch dao par laga kar sirf aur sirf un ke tasallut se azad hone ki baat kar raha tha.

Raahim kursi se kamar tikaye socho mein gharaq hua baitha tha.

To kya us ka ghar chhodna. Edinburgh mein Jana aur itne dinon tak aisa rawaiya mahaz aik plan ka hissa tha? Woh Azam Shirazi ko is nuqte tak lana chahta tha. Jahan baith kar is mamle ko suljha kar khatam kiya ja sake? Be yaqini se nafi mein sar hilaaya. Baalo mein ungliya phansaayi. Woh us ki zahanat se mutaasir huye bina na reh sake.

"Tum par yaqeen nahi kiya ja sakta!" Unhone qateyi lehjay mein kaha.

"Phir aap ke paas aik hi option bachta hai. Mujhe qatal kar de doosri har soorat mein to main lazmi zaban kholoon ga, chahey hazaar pehre bithaa de. Mujhe koi khauf nahi!"

Haan... woh maut se khauf zada nahi tha. Yeh zindagi us ke liye jahanum thi.

Chand lamho tak woh unhein dekhta raha phir woh uth kar kamre mein chala gaya. Apna bag uthaya. Muffler dastane aur full coat pehene baahir aa gaya. Ab woh Azam Shirazi ke samne khada tha.

Mutalba wazeh tha. Mukammal naam aur pehchaan dein. Ya phir baahir jane ki ijaazat teesri soorat mein Woh unhein kisi bade nuqsan se do chaar karne ke liye tayar tha. Azam Shirazi us ki aankhon mein aag dekh sakte the.

"Isey jaane do!" Unhone gehri jachti nazron se usey dekhte akhirkar Haider se kaha. Us ne wahan khare khare apna dil ket-ta hua mehsoos kiya. Duniya ke hawale karna aasan tha un ke liye  unhone apne liye aasani chun li thi.

Lock khol diye gaye, Rukawate hata di gayi.

Woh jaise usi intezaar mein tha. Jaane ke liye qadam uthaye, ruk kar muda. Kuch kehne ke liye. Phir

"Sahib! Mera nahi khayal ke is tarah jaane diya jaye." Haider ne kaha. "Aap kahen to main is ke peeche jaoo?"

Irada multawi karta darwaza aboor kar gaya.

"Chhod do. Kuch dino tak dhakkay khayega to khud hi aa jayega..." Unhone sanjeedgi se kaha. Jis tarah ki aasaishaat us ne dekh rakhi thin, jis tarah ki shaahna zindagi us ne guzaar rakhi

Thi, unhein yaqeen tha woh chaar din bhi nahi guzare ga aur wapas aa jayega.

❏❏❏