Chapter 85: ּ ֶָ֢.CH84

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Azam Shirazi London aaye to pehli fursat mein, Faris se mutaliq Haidar se tafseeli report talab kar li. Ek mahina hone ko tha aur woh abhi tak wapas nahi aaya tha. Koi bhi mashkook sargarmi filhaal nazar mein nahi aayi thi. Na woh Aarzoo Jahangir se milne gaya tha, na Farooq Habib se raabta karne ki koshish ki thi. University me woh abhi bhi nahi ja raha tha.

"Kya woh larka intiqamam barbad karne ka irada rakhta hai?"

Woh soch kar reh gaye the. Uske bank account mein har mahine ek raqam transfer kar di jati thi aur abhi tak ki ja rahi thi.

Guzishta ek mahine se un paiso ko chhua tak nahi gaya tha. Faris ne sirf ghar nahi chhorha tha, unki di gayi har ashaish, unka paisa, unki har murat ko khair baad keh diya tha. Unhein andaza tha ke woh is waqt khaasi pareshan kun zindagi guzar raha tha aur na university se ghair hazir na hota.

"Agar aap ijaazat dein to kya mein is se baat karu?" Haidar ne poocha.

"Nahi!" Kuch soch kar unhone sar uthaya.

Phir uske zimme aik kaam laga diya. Haidar kuch der tak khada raha. Zehan ne pehla sawal yehi kiya,

"Esa karna durust hoga ya ghalat?"

Magar woh apne malik ke huqm par koi sawal nahi utha sakta tha. Kamre se baahar nikalte

aisa hi usne matloobah number par call kar ke naye hukm naama jari kar diye the. Shaam tak Faris Wajdan ko store ke owner ne nokri se nikal diya. Kamra bhi wapas le liya gaya.

Haidar nayi report ka muntazir tha. Naye hukm ka bhi. Ghaliban Azam Shirazi usse har haal mein ghar laane ka kahenge magar uski nobat hi nahi aayi. Shaam tak woh Shirazi Enterprises ke head quarters mein unke office ke bahar maujud tha.

Andar jane ki ijaazat bina appointment ke nahi thi magar usse fori andar bhej diya gaya.

"Main aapko chhorh chuka hoon! Aap mujhe kyun nahi chhorh rahe?" Wo unke aali shaan office room mein khada tha. Unhone receiver wapas rakh diya.

Siyah trousers par usne surkh aur siyah rang ke imtizaj ka coat pehna hua tha. Muffler surkh rang ka tha. Ooni cap se jhankte baal uski peshaani par bikhre huay the. Lab sakhti se bhinche huay. Aankho se thakaawat jhalak rahi thi.

"Hum ne tumhein baahar jane ki sirf ijaazat di thi. Tum abhi bhi hamari zimmedari ho..."

"Is se kya farq parta hai?" Uska lehja har tarah ke tassurat se aari tha. Jazbaat ya ehsaasat nahi thay. Muqabil ek karobari shakhsiyat thi jiske sath uska koi rishta nahi tha.

"Bohat farq parta hai...."

"Ab aap apni baat se mukar rahe hain...."

Azam Shirazi ke labo par mubhim muskarahat ubhri. Office chair ke sath pusht lagate wo usse baghor dekhne lage.

"Mukar nahi rahe, Ehsaas dila rahe hain. Abhi bhi waqt hai, zid chhod do...." Unke lehjay mein ek ghair mamooli si narmi thi.

"Main zid chhorh doon? Aap mujhe nahi chhorh sakte?"

Uska sawaal un par lamha bhar ke liye sukoon tari kar gaya. Unke haatho mein ek qalam tha. Is qalam ko harkat dete wo uski aankho mein dekhte rahe.

"Begonia House tumhare naam par hai. Tum wapas aa sakte ho, rahi baat job ki is ke liye umar padhi hai. Filhaal parhai par tawajjo do!" Unke lehjay mein ek hukum tha. Wo ruk kar unhein dekhne laga.

"Kya aap bhool gaye hain hamare darmiyan kya tay hua tha?"

"Hamare darmiyan kuch bhi tay nahi hua tha...." Unhone uski baat kai. Wo thum gaya. Poore ek mahine baad unhein yaad aaya ke kuch bhi tay nahi hua tha?

"Tum is umar mein nahi ho ke hamare sath koi deal kar sakho. Hum ne tumhein sirf jane ki ijaazat di thi...."

"Jane ki ijaazat? Main ne aap se apni azaadi li thi!...." Daant pees kar kaha..

"Aur tum qaid kab the?...."

Faris ki muthiya bhinch gayi. Tanafus bhari honay laga.

"Kisi cheez ki kami hone di hai hum ne tumhein?" Nazro se ishaara kiya. Tawajjo uske huliye par dali. Wo jis mushkil waqt se guzar raha tha, uska sabab wo khud tha.

Taleem, rehish, aasishat. Sab kuch chhod kar khud apne liye imtihan ban chuka tha. Haath khaali reh gaye the.

Faris ka gussa hwaso par sawar hone laga.

"Aap kya chahte hain aap ka ghulam ban jau? Ya jo mulaazim ki pehchaan aap ne mujhe di hai, us par poora utar kar dikhau?"

"Hum ne tum se aisa koi mutalba nahi kiya...."

Wo chand lamho tak lab bhinche raha.

"Ab aap mujhe force kar rahe hain. Main office se baahar nikaluga aur aap ke staff ko cheekh cheekh kar batauga mein kon hu?" Unhone sawaalia abroo uthai. Itna jamood  tha un mein, itni be-hissi aur baroodat. Dar jis tarah baghair asar liye jawab de rahe the.

"To?"

Uska andar baahar aag ki lapet mein aa gaya. Zabt kiye wo kuch dair tak khada raha. Nigahen unke chehre se office table aur phir nameplate par thehr gayi.

Nameplate par sunahri huroof mein intehai khoobsurati se unka naam likha hua tha. Uski nigahen lamhe bhar ke liye saakit hui thi. Nazar uthakar phir unhein dekha. Zabt ki surkhi aankho mein thehri thi.

"Mujhe aap ki family mein, jaidad mein, khandani naam mein koi dilchaspi nahi hai. Main press conference nahi karunga, koi hint ya lead meri taraf se nahi jayega, mera wada hai. Mere raste mein mat aaiye. Main aap ko warn kar raha hoon. Warna nataij ke zimmedaar aap khud honge." Apni baat khatam kar ke jane ke liye murra.

Apna mustaqbil dau par laga rahe ho. Mukhtasar jumla yeh ayan karne ke liye kaafi tha ke wo kuch nahi kar sakta.

Faris ke qadamo ki harkat tham gayi. Door knob par haath thehr gaya. Uski aankho mein surkhi utar aayi. Mur kar Azam Shirazi ko dekha. Bardasht bas yahi tak thi.

"Main sirf jeene ki koshish kar raha hoon Azam sahab! Kya aap ko nazar nahi aa raha?" Wo darwaza khol kar chala gaya tha. Azam Shirazi apni jagah baithe reh gaye the.

Apne jazbaat aur ehsaasat par qaboo paye, wo unke office se nikalte hi be-maqsad sadko par phirte aur koi jagah nahi thi jahan raat guzar sakta. Mrs. Grande ke café mein chala gaya. Raat gayi tak wahan baitha raha. Khidkiyo se bahar ka manzar dekhta, saakit veeran hota raha. Mrs. Grande apne kaam se farigh ho kar uske paas baith gayi. Begonia House chhode usey mahina ho chuka tha. Ab achanak woh unke samne tha.

Unhone chand aik sawalat kiye, jin ke mukhtasir jawab woh "hmm" "haan" mein de raha tha. Usne wazeh kar diya, woh tafseel mein jane ko taiyar nahi.

Woh tashweesh se usey dekhte rahi. Café band karne ka waqt qareeb tha. Lights madham kar di gayi thi. Counter par makhsoos uniform mein malboos ladki kuch hi dair mein ijazat le kar chuki thi to usne sar uthaya.

"Kya main aap ke café mein job kar sakta hoon?" Usne kuch soch kar bohot achanak se poocha. Mrs. Grande herat se usey dekh kar reh gayi.

"Mujhe iski zarurat hai," zara jhijak kar kaha. Sar hanuz jhuka hua tha. Woh bohot mutazarrib aur pareshan nazar aa raha tha.  Vacancy nahi thi magar woh phir bhi inkar nahi kar sakein. Woh larka unhein bohot azeez tha.

"Haan, sure!" Kuch soch kar boli.

"Tum Christy ke saath kal se counter sambhal lo."

Usne khoi hui nazar uthayi. Unhein dekha. Phir shukriya ada kar ke chala gaya. Agle din subah sawere hi woh unke café par maujood tha.

"Ho sakta hai aap se kuch log aa kar kahen ke mujhe job se nikal diya jaye, to kya aap..." Kehte kehte ruk gaya.

"Aisi himmat kaun karega?" Mrs. Grande ko ghussa aagaya.

"Kya tumhara bhai tumhare liye masle khade kar raha hai?" Ishara Raahim ki taraf tha. Unke taasuraat se lag raha tha aaj woh usey chhodengi nahi.

"Nahi, aisi baat nahi."

Woh bud badate hue andar chali gayi. Kuch zaroori hidayaat lene ke baad usne counter par apne hisse ka kaam sambhal liya.

Azam Shirazi kuch bhi kar lete, Mrs. Grande kam az kam unki kisi akhir par usey kaam se nahi nikaal sakti thi. Apni job secure kar ke rehne ka bandobast karne laga to pata nahi kahaan kahaan se James, William aur Raahim Afaq uth kar aa gaye.

"Samne wali building mein aik flat kiraye ke liye khaali hai. Agar hum chaaro mil kar thoda thoda pay kare to kaisa ....?" Counter table par baitha Raahim ne kaha, to isay mukammal nazar andaz karte hue woh bail banaata raha. James aur William ki gardane bhi dayen baen se numood hui thi.

"William ko apne hisse ka aik room chahiye. Tum to jaante ho, hamari mom hounted House documentry ke kitni sakht khilaf hain."

Woh suni ansuni kiye apne kaam mein laga raha.

"Please, Faris man jao."

"Yahan se chalte ho, isse pehle ke main Mrs. Grande ko shikayat lagau." Mukhatib James aur William the. Dhamki usne Raahim ko di thi.

Woh stool par chadh kar baitha tha, darne ki adaa kari karta sahm gaya. Phir muskurate hue kohniya jamaayi.

"Waise maan-na padega tumhari zehniyat ko, Mr. Grande versis Azam Shirazi, woh tumhein job se nikaalne ke bajaye Haider ke daant tor dengi." Has kar qadre sharaarat se apni baat enjoy ki.

"Faris!" James aur William ne course ki soorat usay apni taraf mutawajeh kiya tha.

"Please, please!"

"Tum dono ke saath to main phir bhi mamlaat tay kar sakta hoon, par is ke saath nahi.." Usne unke leader Raahim Afaq ki taraf ishara kar ke wazeh kiya. Un ka leader coffee ka teesra lag order kar chuka tha. Dukhi ho gaya.

"Ab main tumhe kaise yaqeen dilau ke main tumhare dada ji ke liye kaam nahi kar raha?"

"Pehli baat woh mere dada ji nahi hain. Dosri baat tum unhein chhod nahi sakte. Teesri, mujhe tum par ab koi bharosa nahi...." Raahim kuch dair tak sakte ki si keefiyat mein baitha raha. Jaise kisi bohot gehre sadma se guzar raha ho. Harakat bhi nahi ki. Na palko mein koi jumbish hui.

"Are you dead?" (Kya tum mar chuke ho?) James ne usey fikar mandi se jhanjhor daala.

"In your dreams!" (Tumhare khwabon mein!) James ko hata kar phir se uski taraf mutawajeh hua.

"Tum mere chhote bhai ho. Main bhala kaise tumhein is tarah udne ke liye chhod sakta hoon?"

Faris Wajdan tarrap kar mudha tha. "Tum mere bade bhai kab se ho gaye?"

"Okay, I'm out. James aur William ne, Tum dono iske saath mamlaat tay kar lo." Usne haar man kar, mez par head down kar liya.

Woh bohot khush hue ke alag kamra mil jayega. Magar Faris Wajdan, rehaish ke mamlat mein kam az kam Raahim Afaq ki kisi chaal mein phanse ke liye taiyar nahi tha. Saaf saaf mana kar diya. Woh teeno mayoos ho kar chale gaye. Shaam mein café band hua to Mrs. Grande ne usey rok liya.

"Kahan ja rahe ho?"

Usne rehaish ka filhaal bandobast nahi kiya tha, so yeh raat ya to kisi bench par guzarne wali thi ya phir kisi shop ke shed tale. Batana nahi chahta tha so chup raha.

Woh fikar se usey dekhte rahi. Phir israr kar ke usey apne saath hi ghar le gayi.

Begonia House ke lawn mein James, William aur Rqahim ikhatta baithe the. Raahim ne baqaida doorbeen aankho par tehra kar usey dekha. Halanke woh kuch zyada door bhi nahin tha.

"Kya yeh wahi hai jo nazar aa raha hai ya meri aankhain mujhe dhoka de rahi hain?"

"Wahi hai, wahi hai! Farisss..." James aur William ne cheekhe.

Woh teeno begonia House ki baad ke saath lag gaye.

"Agar wapis nahi aata tha to ghar chhodne ki kya zarurat thi?" Raahim ne tanz kiya.

"Exactly! Aur kya keh raha tha, yeh main to kabhi wapis nahi aaunga." Uski naqal utaari gayi.

"Subah hum poora ghanta khade rahey. Uski minnate karte rahe aur usne aik nahi suni."

Mrs. Grande lock khol rahi thi aur woh jeebo mein haath daale tapa hua sa khada tha.

"Yahan se to main bohot acche se tum per nazar rakh sakta hoon. Pal pal ki khabar, har khabar ki tees tees pound charge karoonga. Main to bohot ameer ho jaoonga."

Lock khul gaya to Mrs. Grande ne fursat se gardan mori. Teeno bahar ki oat mein yun chhupay jaise baqaida koi baroodi hamla mutawaqqa ho.

"Main dekh rahi hoon, Raahim! Aur sun bhi rahi hoon." Mrs. Grande ne chilla kar kaha. Raahim ne aankhe meech li. Uska badla ab woh kisi aur waqt per lein gi.

"Main tumhe khabardar kar rahi hoon." Buland awaaz mein keh kar Faris ko apne saath andar le gayi.

"Faris bohot khush kismat tha."

"Bilkul bohat khush qismat hai."

Mrs. Grande se beizzatiya sehne wale James aur William ki raye thi. Raahim afaq ki bhi. Chin gum Chabate hue uth gaya.

"Chalo, hum apni party kare" Wapis lawn chairs par dharna de diya. Kursiyo ke bajaye meiz par chadh gaye. Taake barabar wale ghar ke makino ko woh khush aur khurram nazar aa sake. Aur andar Mrs. Grande apne ghar ka aik kamra Faris ke liye khol rahi thi.

"Tum mujhe is ka kiraya de sakte ho? Main waise bhi akeli rehti hoon. Sufi to sirf weekend par aati hai."

Woh keh rahi thi. Woh chup hua khada tha.

"Woh log jo hain, jo tumhare peeche pade hue hain. Woh yahan aayenge to main tumhein ghar se nahi nikaloon gi. Chahay woh mujhe woh Queen elizabeth se mulaqat ka bhi jhansa de dein hum par koi aanch nahi aane doongi..." Woh jazbe aur josh se boli ke woh unhein dekh kar reh gaya. Muskara kar tasalli de kar chale gayi. Gehri saans le kar woh khidki ki taraf gaya. Barabar wale ghar ka manzar dekh kar woh buri tarah se badmazah hua.

Bahar nikal kar baar ke paas ja khada hua. Raahim badi fursat se uski taraf mura.

"Arey hum se koi milne aaya hai."

"Ghoor ne aaya hai."

"Maarne aaya hai."

"Agar tum ne meri koi bhi baat apne Azam Sahab ko batayi to main tumhari jaan le luga..." Us ne

Shadeed ghusse ke aalam mein khalis Urdu mein dhamki di. James aur William ne hanuq pan se uski shakl dekhi thi.

"Batane ko hai hi kya? Yehi ke Azam Sahab! Jab se aap ke potay ne Mrs. Grande ke cafe mein job shuru ki hai, unke customers barh gaye hain. Khaas tor par school ki larkiya bohot zyada aane lagi hain. Mrs. Grant ka business to khoob chamak raha hai. " Peeste hue Faris ko dekha.

"Ab tum khud socho, main unhein aisi khabrein deta achha lagu ga ?"

James aur William bhi hain. Aise hi khwaamkhah ! Urdu ki zaban bana samjhe. Bas unhein pata tha Raahim has raha hai to unhein bhi hansna chahiye. Woh jhunjhula kar palat gaya. Raahim ki bansri usse kaafi dair tak sunayi deti rahi.

•••

Woh shower le kar abhi bahar nikla hi tha ke darwaze par dastak hone lagi thi. Sweater pehante hue darwaza khola to Mrs. Grande samnay khadi thi.

"Tum se milne koi aaya hai!" Unhone kaha.

"Kaun?" Bhala is se yahaan kaun milne aa sakta tha. Pareshani fitri thi.

Unhone muskurate hue ishaara diya ke woh khud aa kar dekh le. Woh sweater ke button band karta bahar aa gaya. Samne hi lounge mein Jameela dawood baithi thi. Us par nazar parte hi apni jagah se uth khadi hui. Mrs. Grande usse tanhai mein baat karne ka moqa dete, wahan se hatt gayi.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum mummy" unke tasuraat aise the ke usse hi ibtida karna parhi. Woh bohot ghusse mein nazar rahi thi.

"Poore aik mahine tak rabta khatam kiya tha aur ab assalam-o-alaikum mummy?" Woh sar jhuka gaya.

"Messages nazar andaz kar diye. Calls attend nahi ki, mobile band kar diya aur ab ... assalam-o-alaikum mummy?" Woh aik dum apne rawaiye par sharminda hua. Be basi se unhein dekhta sar jhuka gaya.

"Kya main tumhare liye zara si bhi ehmiyat nahi rakhti Faris?"

"Aisi baat nahi hai mummy!"

"Mujhe mummy mat kaho agar mujhe maa nahi samajhte to " Kuch bekrar se sar uthaya. Pareshani mein ghira hua tha. Unka ghussa aur khafgi mazeed iztraab paida karne lagi. Ab woh daat rahi thi aur woh chup chaap unhein sun raha tha.

"Main aap ko ignore nahi kar raha tha."

"To jo ye tum kar rahe thay, usey kya kehte hain?"

"Main sirf..." us ke lab hile. Aankho se iztaraari kefiyat jhalak rahi thi.

"Mujhe laga aap mujhe daategi, ghussa kare gi. Aakhir ko ye aap ke bete ka mamla tha."

Jameela ka tamam ghussa aik dum se khatam ho gaya.

"Aap ke sasur ne bhi to yehi kiya."

Woh us ke paas aagayi. Sar uthaye usse dekhte rahi. Woh unka muwazana apne dada ke rawaiye se kar raha tha. Us ne khud se akhz kar liya tha woh bhi yehi karengi jo dada ne kiya tha. Woh aisa kaise kar sakta hai.

"Aisa kaise soch sakta hai?"

"Haan woh mera beta hai to phir kya tum nahi ho?"

"Woh kehna chahta tha Hammad unki saggi aulaad tha. Woh is ke muqable mein usey foqiyat nahi de sakti..."

"Theek hai, aulaad se bhi ghaltiya ho jati hain, magar iska matlab ye to nahi hota ke aap rishte hi khatam kar dete hain. Chhod dete hain?"

"Mummy maine kuch nahi kiya tha...." Tadap kar sar uthaya.

"Koi affair nahi chalaaya, koi shaadi ki baat nahi ki thi, us ladki ne jhoot bola."

"Kya ho gaya hai Faris!" Unhone usse baazuo se thaam liya.

"Kya maine tumse koi wazahat maangi hai?"

Woh khamosh hua.

"Main jaanti hoon mera beta aisa nahi hai..." Aankho mein dekh kar yaqeen dilaya.

"Agar aisi koi ghalti tumse hoi bhi hoti, to main zyada se zyada kya karti? Naraz hoti, daant deti, ghussa karti aur samjhati..."

"Maaye yehi to karti hain. Ye to nahi hota ke chhod deti hain! Ya sab khatam ho jata hai...." Woh aankho mein nami liye chup raha.

"Ghar chhod diya, parhai chhod di, kyun kar rahe ho is tarah apne saath? Kyun saza de rahe ho..."

"Meri bardasht ab khatam ho chuki hai main! Is tarah mazeed raha to mar jaunga."

Woh aankhon mein dukh aur karab liye usse dekh kar reh gayi.

Us ka haath apne haath mein liya. Narmi se uski taraf dekha.

"Main jaanti hoon, is waqt tum ye baat nahi sunna chahte. Lekin woh tumhare dada hain. Lakh patthar dil sahi lekin ye bhi aik haqeeqat hai ke unhone tumhara khayal rakha. He tried his best to protect you.."

Yeh jaante hue bhi ke woh us par bohot zulm kar chuke hain, unhone tasveer ka musbat rukh dikhane ki koshish kiye

"ye sab is waada ki wajah se tha, jo aap ke shohar ne unse kiya..." Jameela dukh se usse dekhte rahi.

"Ye zimmedari, ye bojh jo mera unhone uthaya. Ye sab unhein majbooran karna parha. Mere liye nahi apne bete ke liye. Mujhe to woh aise dekhte hain jaise main koi gunaah hoon. Gunaahon par hi to parda rakha jata hai mummy! Gunaahon ko hi to chhupaya jata hai."

Unka dil kat gaya. Kuch keh nahi paayi. Ajeeb sa dar mehsoos karne lagi.

"Apne mustaqbil ka socho! Kuch ban jao phir be shak alag ho jana ..." Unhein is baat ki fikr thi ke woh bhari duniya mein is tarah tanha ho kar, apne bal boote par sab kaise kar paayega.

"Unhone kaha meri rago mein aik ganda khoon daud raha hai in sab bato ke baad aapka khayal hai mujhe rukna chahiye?" Wo la jawab ho gayi.

"Maine unse kaha mujhe mera naam chahiye, muqammal naam.."

"Aur unhone kaha woh nahi de sakte jab meri pehchaan mujhe nahi de sakte to mein unse aur kuchh kyu lu mummy?" Uski aankho me itna dard tha aur awazo yuh jaise woh abhi ro dega.

Uske ehsasat uske tassurat me ayaa ho rahe the. Unhone be ikhtiyar uske hath par apni grift mazboot karli.

"Faris!"

"Mein sab manage kar luga, abhi job shuru ki hai. Mrs. Grande keh rahi hai me yaha reh sakta hu , lekin me jald hi kamre ka bandobast kar luga. Mein sachme aapko jee kar dikhauga mummy! Aap meri fiqr na karey."

Woh unhe samjha raha tha. Unhone gehri saas lete huye nafi me sar hilate huay use roka tha.

"Nahi tumhe khuse ab kuch bhi karne ki jarurat nahi hai, tumhari padhai par me koi samjhota nahi kar

Sakti.."

"Mummy"

"Chup chaap meri baat suno, Faris! Theek hai tumhare dada ke saath apne ikhtilafat hain. Magar, Main tumhari maa hoon. Jab tak unhone tumhari zimmedari uthai, main ek taraf rahi. Ab jab tumne unhein chhod diya hai, toh main khud ko ek side par nahi rakh sakti. Main tumhein financially support karungi."

"Mummy, please!" usne ehtijaj kiya.

"Aur agar tumne yahan bhi zid ki, toh main saari zindagi tumse baat nahi karungi."

"Aap mujhe blackmail kar rahi hain?"

"Haan, yeh hi samajh lo. Tum yahan din raat job karoge, rehne ke liye maare maare phiroge. Hazaar masail honge aur main wahan America mein chup chaap baithi rahoon? Tumne yeh kaise socha?"

"Kyun mujhe ehsaanat ke bojh tale daba rahi hain?"

"Ehsaan nahi kar rahi, farz nibha rahi hoon. Tumhari jagah Hammad hota toh main uske liye bhi yahi karti jo tumhare liye kar rahi hoon."

"Mummy, samajhne ki koshish karein."

"Mummy bhi kehte ho aur samjha bhi rahe ho?"

Woh be-basi se unhein dekh kar reh gaya.

"Abhi mere saath chalo! Room ka bandobast kar lete hain. Phir tumhein university bhi join karni hai. Yeh saare maamlaat isi hafte ho jane chahiye."

Woh unke israar par, na chahte hue bhi unke saath chala gaya. University ke qareeb hi Hall of Residency mein rehne ka intizam hua. Advance bhi unhone diya. Dean se mulaqat bhi hui. Saare maamlaat unhone khud dekh liye. Ek mahine ki ghair-hazri ke baad ab woh saare kaam khud theek kar rahi thi.

Unhone raahim ko phone kar diya. Woh shaam mein hi uska samaan hostel mein dene aagaya.

"Main soch raha tha tumhari sari kitaabein bacha kar baaki ke liye ek bada pinjra khareed leta hoon."

Woh writing table par apne ashiyaar rakh raha tha aur haaris ko dekh kar ruka.

"Kamra toh acha hai, magar begonia House ki baat hi kuch aur hai."

"Tum yahan sirf samaan dene aaye ho," Faris ne yaad dilaya.

Haaris ne suni an-suni karte hue darwaza khola aur sar baahar nikal kar kisi ladke se poocha, "Kya yeh barabar wala room khaali hai?"

"Asal mein mujhe kisi pyaare roommate ki zarurat hai jo din raat nazar rakhe aur mujhe bohot paise milne wale hain. So agar hum aadha aadha share kar lein toh kya tum yeh room chhod sakte ho?"

Ladka nafi mein sar hilata, kuch ghabra kar ulte kadam waha se bhag gaya.

Faris ne use coat se pakad kar andar khincha aur darwaza zor se band kar diya.

"Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho tum?" Woh usse lad pada.

"Apna kaam kar raha hoon."

"Apna kaam kar rahe ho ya mujhe mashkook bana rahe ho?"

"Tumhari waali line zyada behtar hai." Raahim hansa.

"Anyways call kar lena mujhe agar koi jarurat padhe to. Mrs. Shirazi khaas taur par taakeed karke gayi hain. Khayal rakhna, apna" kandha thapthapaya aur baahar nikal gaya.

Woh kuch der tak band darwaze ko dekhta raha, phir gehri saans lekar apni kitaabein set karne laga.

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