Chapter 86: ּ ֶָ֢.CH85

•••

Usne university dobara join kar li thi. Ab woh dil junoon se parhai bhi kar raha tha aur apna kaam bhi. Jameela Daood musalsal us ke saath rabte mein thin. Un ke saath aksar video call par baat ho jati thi.

Woh wahid insaan thin jin ke saath woh khul kar apni har baat kar leta tha. Apni roz marra tafseelaat se aagahi dete, hatta la imkaan mutmain aur pur sukoon nazar aane ki koshish karta magar woh phir bhi uski pareshaniyo ko bhanp leti thin. Us ke hosle barhati thin. Sabit qadam rahte. Un ki baatein hamesha zakhmo par marham ka kaam deti thi. Aksar woh talkh ho jata. Aksar woh sambhal bhi jata.

Azam Shirazi se dobara mulaqat nahi hui thi. Haider bhi nahi aaya tha. Woh bhi yehi chahta tha.

Tahaan Raahim Afaq us se milne aata raha tha. Nazar andaz karne aur gussa dikhane ke bawajood bhi

"Mrs. Grande ne bulaya hai tumhein! Un se mil lena..." Ab ki baar jab aaya to keh kar gaya. Woh masroof tha. Weekend par un se milne chala gaya. Un ki beti Sofi apne bacho ke saath aayi hui thi. Acha khasa Shor macha hua tha. Yahan bhi aur Begonia House ke lawn mein bhi...

Woh andar chala gaya. Kuch der tak un ke paas baitha raha. Unhone haal ahwal poocha. Us ke jawab se mutmain hoon. Kuch kitabe gift ki. Naseehate bhi di ke woh apna khayal rakhe.

Khush rahe. Us ne sar hilaaya. Shukriya ada karte hue wahan se nikal gaya. Wahan jahan Raahim Sofi ke bachon ko kuch fazool se Magic tricks dikhakar un ki pocket money hathiya chuka tha.

"Achhi kamai hogayi..." Paise ginte hue bola.

"Kam az kam bachon ko to bakhsh dia karo...."

"Tumhein bakhsh deta hoon, kya yeh kaafi nahi hai?."

"Main koi bachha nahi hoon" Daat peese.

Paise jeb mein daalta, bard phalang kar uske paas aagaya. Woh sar uthaye ab begonia House ko dekh raha tha. Chaar saal guzaare the. Ghar ki yaad aana fitri baat thi. Raahim ne uski nazro ka taqubb kar liya.

"Yeh ghar ab tumhare naam par hai. Usoolan mujhe iska kiraya dena chahiye? Tumhein ya Azam Shirazi ko?"

Khayaal tha use gussa aa jayega magar woh suni an suni kar ke baṛ ke saath tek laga kar khada ho gaya.

"Kya khayal hai kal outing kar lein? James aur William bhi free hain. Mujh se keh rahe the, chalo ge humare saath?"

Khilaaf-e-tawaqa is ne kandhe uchka diye. Goya ijazat di woh plan karna chahe to kar sakta hai.

Raahim ke liye uske rawaiye ka yeh badlaw hairan kun aur khushgawar tha.

Isi lamhe aik urti hui ball uske sar par aa gayi thi.

"What the hell !" Sar pakad kar ghuma to Aunt Sufi ke bachay Wi-Fi signals ki tarah tartib se khade the.

"Tum jadugar ho tum ne khud ko bachaya kyun nahi?"

"Dekh nahi rahe? Main baat kar raha tha...." Sar sehlate hue zabt kar ke jawab diya.

"Tumhein protective shield laga kar baat karni chahiye..." Jadugar unhein bohat azeez tha, samjhdari se mashwara diya.

Raahim ne kuch kehne ke liye muh khola, phir lab bheench kar jeb se paise nikaal kar unhein thama diye.

"Jao Yahan se. Warna main tum sab ko chooha bana doon ga..." Khaufzada karna chaaha.

"Kya tum humein tota bana sakte ho?" Ishtiyaq se poocha gaya.

"Tota nahi chamgadar, main chamgadar bana sakta hoon...." Aise hi baazu se par phailaaye to bachay cheekhte, hanste shor machate, darwazw ki taraf bhaage. Mrs. Grande ne aajiz aa kar khidki se sar bahar nikala.

"RAAHIM?"

"I did nothing!" Jawaab usne bhi chilla kar diya.

"Tumhein to jaise main jaanti hi nahi hoon...." Sulag kar khidki band kar di.

"Aaj kal ke bacche t..."  badbadata kar Faris ki taraf muda. Woh hanooz jebo mein haath daale khada tha.

"Har baat ka jawab chahiye unhein..."

"Bade bhi ajeeb hain. Bacho ko loot te hain...." Faris ne luqma diya.

"Bees minute tak tricks dikhaye hain maine unhein"

"Mashaqat talab kaam hai jaise.." Faris ne tanaz kiya.

"Haan to tum sikka ghaib kar ke dikhado."

"Sirf aik sikka ghaib kiya?"

"Nahi! Main rumaal se gulab ka phool bhi nikaala. Mrs. Grande ki nawasi ne moh mein daal liya ke shayad is tarah taqatae mil jaayengi..." Woh batate hue hansa.

Kisi manzar ne yaad ke darwaze par dastak di. Sar jhatak kar Faris ne qadam uthaa liye. Raahim baatein karta uske saath chalta raha. Kuch hi dair mein woh Mrs. Grande ke cafe mein maujood the. Jahan aik alag hi raunak lagi hui thi.

William ne ishaara kar ke bulaya to woh uske paas ja khade huay. Nigahen James par jami hui thi jo samne baitha aath no saal ke baccho ko, apni haal hi mein shaya hone wali tees safho ki kitaab par sign ke saath autograph de raha tha. Mrs. Grande ke cafe mein aik qatar lagi hui thi.

"Zindagi agar tumhein muqqa maare to tum usey laat maar do...."

"Koi tumhein samundar mein phenke to tum usey lave mein phenk do...."

"Yeh likhne se yeh iske fan..." Raahim hairan o shashdar hua khada tha.

"Kaha to tha mera bhai bohat talented hai." William maza se chocolate khate hue bola.

"Yeh to koi mushkil kaam nahi! Hum bhi likh sakte hain. Kyun Faris?"

"Zindagi agar tumhein shirt de to paint tum khud khareed lo"

"Bilkul... zindagi agar tumhein shampoo de to shower tum khud le lo."

"Zindagi agar tumhein zameen de to ghar tum khud banalo.."

Dono mil kar hase the.

William ne dono ko ghur kar ke dekha tha. James ne bhi gardan mori thi. Woh aik dum se sanjeeda ho gaye.

"Kya masla hai?"

"Koi masla nahi."

"Yeh keh rahe hain..." William unka bhanda phodne hi laga tha magar woh uska moun kaise zabardasti kheench kar apne saath le gaye. James kandhe uchka kar phir se apni nanhi fan ki taraf mutawajah ho gaya tha.

Zindagi mamool par aane lagi. Woh Raahim, James aur William se milne laga. Woh aksar ghoomne phirne ka programme bhi bana lete. Mrs. Grande ke cafe par bhi mulaqat ho jaati. James aur willam to har roz aajate. Raahim albatta kabhi kabhi aata tha. Aaj kal woh inteha ka masroof tha. Kuch dino ke liye mukammal ghaib bhi ho gaya. Rabta bhi band rakha. Phir zahir ho to langda kar chal raha tha. Poochne par bataya ke paon phisal gaya tha, chot lag gayi thi. Teeno ko yakeen nahi aaya.

James aur William to ba qaida uski jasoosi mein lag gaye. Faris ko batate rehte begonia house mein kon aa raha hai aur kon ja raha hai. Usey koi dilchaspi nahi hoti magar sun leta. Ek ganje se koi mister the. Ek lambi kisi koi auntie thi. Jin ki steps utarte hue heel toot gayi thi. Un ke saath koi larka bhi tha.

Aik siyaah fam khatoon thi jo apne driver ke saath victoria House liye aayi thi. Ek lamba sa aadmi jo bohat ghusse mein lag raha tha. Unhone jitne huliya bataye un mein se koi aik haliya bhi Haider ka nahi tha.

"Kya woh waqai mein Azam Shirazi ke liye kaam karna chhorh chuka hai?" Usne socha. "Agar haan to ghar kyun na chhoda?" Raahim se jitni baar mulaqat hui, usne Azam Shirazi ka zikr kiya na Haider se mutaliq koi sawal poocha tha. Woh aise hi khud ko har us baat se door rakhna chahta tha jo usey takleef deti thi.

•••

"Main Pakistan ja raha hoon..." Woh usse milne aaya to bataya.

"Is tarah achanak..?" Faris hairan hua.

"Main baitha hua tha to socha, kyun na Pakistan visit kar liya jaye?"

"Pakistan visit?" Faris ne maayni khiz nigaho se usse dekha.

"Tum yahan yeh bhi to keh sakte the, Main apni family se milne ja raha hoon."

Raahim ne muskrate hue coffee ka mug qareeb kar liya.

"Aur sunao parhai kaisi ho rahi hai?"

"Abhi abhi kisi ne topic change kiya hai..." Faris ne haath khada kiya.

"Ghair zaroori topic!" Keh kar ghoont bhara.

"Parhai mukammal ho gayi. Degree haasil kar chuka, kuch paise bhi kama liye. Kuch dinon tak Northern Areas mein jaoon ga, Ghoomu phiroun ga, maza uroun ga."

"Phir London wapis aajao ge?"

"Haan agar apne kuch dushmano ke hatthe na chadh gaya to.."

"Kitne be murawwat Insaan ho tum, Main itna safar kar ke yahaan aaya hoon aur tum ne khane ka nahi poocha abhi tak...."

"Kisi ne abhi abhi phir se topic change kiya hai...." Faris ne elaan kiya. Rahim khisiya ho kar khansa.

"Bahut bhook lag gayi hai yaar! Pizza order kar do..." Faris ne pizza order kar diya. Das pandrah minute mein deliver kar diya gaya. Khana khate hue bate bhi ho rahi thi.

"Tumhare dada aik achhe insaan hain. Agar mujh se poochho to.." us ne achanak hi keh diya.

"Main aisa koi sawaal tum se kyun poochho?" Rahim ne gehri saans li.

"Waise hi bata raha tha..."

"Tum to tareef karoge, Un ke liye kaam jo karte ho..."

"Main sirf tumhare dada ke liye kaam nahi karta. Mere aur bhi bohat se clients hain..." Sanjidgi se collar jhaad kar inkishaaf kiya.

"Kya woh bhi tumhein apne dushmano par nazar rakhne ke liye hire karte hain?" Woh gardan peeche ki taraf kiye qehqa laga kar hasa.

Faris lab bhinche baitha raha.

"Dushman! I like it, yeh khidmaat sirf Azam sahib ke liye, waise tum mujh par zabardasti musallat kiye gaye the, warna main un ke liye kaam karna chhod chuka tha..."

"Achha zabardasti?"

"Haan bilkul taras aa gaya mujhe tum par bechara sa ladka, Kahin kisi bare nuqsan mein na daal de de..."

"Azam sahab ko, Un ke ehsaanaat bhi to hain mujh par..."

"Yun kaho ke paiso ki zarurat thi."

"Zahir hai free mein sukoon kaun barbad karta hai?" Hansate hue usey mazeed beizzat ki. Woh bhanwe sukde baitha raha.

"Tum bhi mujhe hire kar lo apne kisi dushman par nazar rakhne ke liye. Main sirf nazar nahi rakhta. Main phatne se pehle bomb neutralize bhi karta hoon. Aur is ke liye bohat paise bhi charge karta hoon..."

"Lage raho, Khud se lage raho..." Woh sar jhatak kar khana khata raha. Rahim muskurakar reh gaya.

Uski flight shaam cheh baje ki thi. James aur William bhi use see off karne gaye the.

"To chhote chhote pyare pyare bachho!" Us ne gala khankhaar kar taqreer shuru ki.

"Hum tumhein abhi bhi bachhe lagte hain? Tum apni aankhein aik baar check kyun nahi karwate?" James aur William ko gussa aa gaya.

"Kya faida chaar chaar aankho ka jab nazar khaak na aata ho..." Faris ne bhi un ki side li.

Raahim ne siyah frame wale glasses ko peeche hata kar set kiya. Us ke surkhi mayil baal aaj kuch bikhre hue nahi the.

"Tum log jitne bhi bare ho jao.." yeh izaz woh us se kabhi nahi cheen sakte the.

"Haan to main keh raha tha ke main tum logo ko miss nahi karunga. Bilkul bhi nahi. Meri teen adad tension se jaan chhut rahi hai aur main aaj bahut khush hoon..."

"Aur tumhei yeh khush fehmi kyun hai ke hum dukhi ho rahi hain?" Faris ne us ki taqreer mein khalal dala.

"Haan dekho hamare hansate muskurate chehro ko?" William jhat se bola. James ne kalaai ghumaai

"baaki kitna waqt hai is ki flight mein? Yeh kab jaye ga!"

Raahim ne daat pees kar teeno ko dekha.

"Lehaaz aur murawwat tum logo ko chhoo kar nahi guzri. Itna nahi ho raha ke thodi si respect kar lo..." Usi waqt mein aqb mein gaadi ruki thi. Un ki baatein adhuri reh gayi.

Raahim ki nigahen us ke aqbi mein padi to us ne bezawati gardan modhi aqbi nishast ka darwaza Haider ne khola tha. Azam Shirazi bahar nikal rahe the. Faris ke tasuraat aik dam se badal gaye. Nazre hata kar Raahim ko dekha. Haath milaya,

"ok chalta hoon! Allah Hafiz!" Us ne mazeed aik lamha bhi zaya nahi kiya tha aur wahan se chala gaya tha.

James aur William us se milne ke baad Faris ke peeche bhage the. Taxi samne hi khadi thi. Faris ne aik baar bhi mudh kar peeche nahi dekha tha.

•••

Aarzoo Jahangir ki urti urti talaq ki khabar mein media mein gardish karti rahi. Akhbaaro ke articles mein magazines ke safho par kuch chatpate se tanziye shaya kiye jaane lagay. Khabro ko shuru mein rad karte karte us ne phir aik interview mein is khabar ki tasdeeq kar di.

Zindagi mein pehli baar Aarzoo Jahangir ki khabar ko us ne follow kiya tha, aur wajah us ka beta tha jisko us ne media se door rakha hua tha. Naam bhi nahi leti thi. Us ka kahin zikar na tha. Sawal bhi na tha. Mamlaat personal the. Woh kholna nahi chahti thi.

Talaaq ke theek chaar maah baad us ka shohar Farooq Habib inteqal kar gaya. Khabar mein dilchaspi na thi magar bawajood koshish ke bhi woh khud ko us ke khandan ke baare mein mukammal maloomat hasil karne se nahi rok sakta tha. Woh bacha us waqt kahaan tha woh bas yeh janna chahta tha. Farooq Habib ne apni pehli wife ko talaq de kar hi Aarzoo Jahangir se shaadi ki thi. Beta baap ke paas tha tha. To yakeenan bhaiyo ke paas hoga.

Us din university se wapsi ke baad us ne Raahim ko call ki thi.

"Kuch information chahiye thi mujhe!"

"Main abhi se bata raha hoon free mein kuch nahi karunga.."

"Yeh kam hai ke tumhare khane ke bill mein hi deta raha hoon?" Faris ne usey sharm dilana chaaha.

"Phir theek hai. Main baat sunne ke paise charge nahi karta..."

"Haider bilkul theek kehta hai tumhare baare mein!" Woh barbara kar reh gaya.

"Mujhe Farooq Habib ke beta ki maloomat chahiye thi..."

"Farooq Habib?"

"Aarzoo Jahangir ka shohar!"

"Ohh I see" Puri baat samajhte Raahim Afaq ke lab gol hue.

"Abhi pichlay maheene jin ki death Hui hai?"

"Haan! Main janna chah raha tha unka woh beta jo Aarzoo Jahangir se hai, woh kis ke paas hai..." Us ka lehja sanjida tha. Raahim ko aik dum se mamle ki nazaakat ka aur idrak huwa.

"Ho sakta hai woh apni maa ke paas ho?" Us ne kuch soch kar kaha.

"Woh aurat jab divorce leti hai to apne bacho ko saath nahi rakhti, na hi palat kar khabar leti hai..."

Us ke liye aur andaaz mein ajeeb si sakhti thi.

"Ho sakta hai is baar unho ne soch samajh kar koi faisla kiya ho?"

"Tum kehna kya chaah rahe ho?"

"I think you should talk to your mother!"

Faris ke tasurrat mein sakhti si aa gayi.

"Main ne tum se mashwara nahi manga..."

"Tum unke bete ke baare mein jaan kar kya karoge?" Asal sawaal yeh tha.

"I just want to make sure he’s safe!"

"Make sense!" Rahem ne sar hilaaya.

"Ab zaroori to nahi ke sab tumhare dada jaise ho. Extra security de kar zinda rakhe."

Faris lamhe bhar ke liye tha tha. Doosre hi pal woh sulag uthha.

"This has nothing to do with my grandfather!" Uski lehja aik dum se karsht hua tha.

"Tum hamesha unke zikr par itna tap kyun jaate ho?"

"Tum mere mamlaat mein unhein kyun le aate ho?"

"Main unhein nahi lata. Woh tumhare sabhi mamlaat mein har jagah hain.."

Faris Wajdaan ke lab bheech gaye. Dono ke beech aik dum se khamoshi chha gayi.

"Fine! Main pata karwa kar batauga tumhein."

Is se pehle ke mazeed koi badmazgi ya ladai hoti, Raahim ne baat wahi khatam kar di. Woh kuch bechaini se uski taraf se jawab ka intezaar karta raha. Din ba din uski fikr mein izafa hota ja raha tha.

Aarzoo Jahangir ki zidd, jayedad ke masle, adalati karwahiya aur un sab se bachne ke liye us bachhe ke bhai koi hal talash karenge. Aur woh hal

Uska dil aik dum se apni shikanje mein aaya tha.

Intizar kuch mushkil hua to usne khud hi call kar di. Raahim ke paas aik khabar thi lekin tasdeeq shuda nahi thi. Woh usey batana nahi chahta tha.

"Koi bara masla hai?"

"Nahi, aisa nahi hai. Ho sakta hai kisi aur ki baat ho. Mujhe Farooq Habib ki behen ka address mila hai. Kal unki taraf jauga. Kal tak confirm karne do."

"Kon si baat hai jo tum confirm karna chah rahe ho? Is he alright?"

Raahim aik dam se khamosh ho gaya tha. Baalon mein haath pher kar woh kuch beqarari se yahaan wahaan tehal raha tha.

"Jo bhi baat hai bata do mujhe...."

"Shayad Habib House mein koi haadsa pesh aaya tha. Bachcha seedhiyo se gir gaya tha..."

Aur Faris Wajdaan jhatke se uth gaya. Usey lamhe bhar ke liye apna dil rukta hua mehsoos hua tha.

"Jis ne mujhe yeh khabar di hai usey mazeed kuch pata nahi. Main kal unki behen Nazia Habib se milu ga to asal baat unse hi maloom ho sakti hai..."

Usne call kaat di. Hatheliyo par sar garay kitni dair tak baitha raha. Raat se din, aur din ke mukhtalif pehr kis tarah guzre, andaza na tha. University mein apni classes bhi usne ghaib dimaghi ke aalam mein attend ki. Zehan uljha hua tha. Zameer alamaati ho raha tha. Usey aik mahine ka intezaar nahi karna chahiye tha. Usey fori tor par hi Farooq Habib ke khandaan se raabta kar lena chahiye tha.

"Kya woh kuch kar sakta tha uske liye? Agar haan to kya? Kisi haisiyat aur kisi bunyad par? Sirf yeh ke maa aik thi. To kya Farooq Habib ke beto se zyada uska haq ho sakta tha us par? Kya Aarzoo Jahangir ke batin se janam lene wali har aulaad ka muqaddar aik sa ho ga? Dhutkar aur azmaishain unke hi hisse mein aayengi? Maut bhi, bad-sulooki aur rishton se mehroomiyan bhi?"

Sham ko 9 baje raahim ne call ki to usne dhadakte dil ke saath call receive kar li thi.

Koi buri khabar nahi ho. Dil yeh dua kar raha tha. Halaat kuch aur keh rahe the.

"Main ne tumhein tasweere bheji hain. Dekhi nahi tumne?"

"Kon si tasveere?"

"His name is isa! Woh bilkul theek hai!" Aur Faris Wajdan ki atki hui sansen aik dam se behal ho gayi thi. Usey hold par rakhe Noor se WhatsApp on kiya.

Saadhe teen saal ka bachcha. Woh park mein kahin tha. Aur aik tasveer mein woh sofa par bhi baitha hua nazar aa raha tha. Meiz par candy box se kuch uthata hua bhi. Uski peshaani par kuch chot ke nishan nazar rahe the. Lekin woh bilkul theek tha.

"Apni phuphi ke paas hai. Pehle to woh yeh keh rahi thi ke haadsa tha. Bachcha gir gaya lekin..." usne danishta baat adhoori chhodi, "Tumhare khadshaat durust thay. Jayeedad ka masla..."

"You know Farooq Habib ke betay aur unki saabiq biwi yeh har guz nahi chahte ke bachhe ko uska hissa mile..."

Faris gehri saans leta bed par baitha gaya.

"Aur uski phuphi kiya mean unke paas mehfooz hai?"

"Haan! Woh aik maqool khatoon hain. Isa ab unke paas hi rahe ga. Tum tension nahi lo. Woh bilkul theek hai..."

"Tum ghar kaise pohnch gaye? Mera matlab hai unhone is tarah tumhe aane kaise diya?"

"Main ne unse kaha main Aarzoo Jahangir ka rishtedaar hoon. Woh mere khalazad ki phuphi hain. Bachay se milne aaya hoon waghera waghera!"

"To phir unhone mujhe milne diya. Apna phone number bhi de aaya hoon. Agar koi issue hoga to woh mujhse raabta kar lengi...."

Faris ne bekhasta sukoon bhari saans li. Jaise koi bhaari bojh seene se sirak gaya ho.

"Aur Isa ki shakl tum se milti hai. Dekhta bhi tumhari tarah hai. Ghoor ghoor kar..." woh hansa.

Aur Faris muskara bhi nahi saka.

"Thanks!"

"Kya baat hai? Faris Shirazi mera shukriya ada kar raha hai. Main kahin hairat se wafat na paa jau"

"Zinda raho. Abhi hum ne mil kar aur bhi bohot se kaam karne hain..."

Fridger khol kar usne pani ki bottle nikaali.

"Meri fees mujhe milni chahiye."

"London aoge to sab hi hisaab barabar honge..." Ab woh fridge mein kuch khane ke liye dekh raha tha.

"Main kal hi Northern Areas ki taraf ja raha hoon aur soch raha hoon agar James aur William bhi saath hote to kitna maza aata tum to be-intiha bore insaan ho. Tumhare saath outing se behtar hai insaan Haider ko saath le aaye..."

"Lage raho. Mujhe koi farq nahi padta..." Usne fridge se ande, bread, mayonnaise, ketchup waghera nikaal kar maiz par rakha.

"Waise tum in chhuttiyo mein Pakistan kyun nahi aajate ho? Ho sakta hai tumhare woh qaatil dushman garmiyo sardiyo mein kahin mar khao gaye ho?"

"Aur yeh bhi to ho sakta hai woh zinda javed phir rahe ho?"

"Phir bhi, mera nahi khayal ke main kabhi Pakistan wapas jauga." Mobile kandhe ke sahare kaan se lagaye woh anda phet ta raha.

"Aisi koi pabandi Azam Sahab ki taraf se to nahi hai..."

"Tum unse raabta mein ho?"

"Arey nahi yaar! Tum unse meri qabr ka pooch lo. Visit kar lena..." Ghusse se call kaat di. Raahim ne mobile kaan se hata kar screen ko ghura. Phir sar jhatak kar reh gaya.

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