Chapter 90: ּ ֶָ֢. CH89

•••

Shadi ke ek saal baad us ke ghar mein khush khabri aayi thi. Woh reports dekh kar woh apni jagah khada reh gaya tha. Adina jitni khush thi, us ke ehsaasat utne hi uljhan ka shikar ho gaye the. Woh mushkil se muskara saka tha, mushkil se hi mubarak baad de saka tha. Usay samajh nahi aaya tha ke us ka rad-e-amal kaisa hona chahiye. Usay is pal khushi mehsoos honi chahiye thi, magar woh ek dam se blank ho gaya tha. Siyah, tareek, khamosh aur weeran...

Jis tarah woh shadi ke waqt tardud ka shikar hua tha, bilkul usi tarah woh ab is khush khabri par bhi wahemo mein ghira tha. Us ke wujood par ek iztirari kefiyat tari thi. Ek nai zindagi ka aghaz karke khudko aane wali har nai situation ke liye tayar kar ke bhi... woh ab besakoon ho raha tha.

Us ke zehan mein baar baar Haroon Shirazi  aur aarzoo Jahangir ka tasavvur ubhar raha tha. Baar baar usay apni zindagi, apna maazi, apna bachpan nazar aa raha tha. Usay dar tha kahin woh patthar na ban jaye, apni aulad ko na chhod de. Woh apne andar tatol raha tha aur munjamid ehsaasat se ghabra raha tha.

us ne Jamila Dawood ko phone kar ke khush khabri sunayi, toh un ki khushi ki inteha na rahi.

"Mummy mujhe lag raha hai jaise main is ke liye tayar nahi hoon," himmat kar ke un se keh diya. Woh lamha bhar ke liye chonki, phir muskara di.

"Jab tumhara bacha is duniya mein aayega, usay uthao ge, toh uski khatir har jang ke liye tayar ho jao ge. Ye qudrati taur par hota hai, insaan pura ka pura badal jata hai," bohot narmi aur pyaar se samjhaya. Unhone iski ghabrahat kam karne ki koshish ki. Labo par muskan thehri thi.

"Har baap aisa to nahi hota... har baap jang nahi ladta. Kuch walidain zindagi ke maidan mein aulad ko tanha chhod dete hain," woh ek dam se khamosh ho gayi thi. Unhein us ke ehsaasat jaise samajh mein aaye the.

"Tum khush nahi ho?"

"Mujhe andaza nahi hai ke main kya mehsoos kar raha hoon," uska woh ek jumla Jamila Dawood par khamoshi tari kar gaya. Kitni hi der tak woh kuch keh na saki. Faris Shirazi  ko toh apni khushi par khush hona bhi mushkil lag raha tha.

"Jab woh duniya mein aayega toh tum apne ehsaasat ko samajh jao ge."

"Na samajh saka, na badal saka toh?"

"Tum Haroon ya Arzoo nahi ho, Faaris ho."

"Khoon toh unhi ka hoon... Bohot aasani se chhod diya tha unhone mujhe," woh uski awaaz mein gehra dukh mehsoos kiya jaa sakta tha.

"Tum waise nahi ho, ho hi nahi sakte," unke lehje mein iske liye mohabbat ki meethi chashni thi.

"Mummy Aap mujhe samajh kyun nahi rahi hain?"

"Samajh rahi hoon, isi liye keh rahi hoon. Tumhari aulaad bohot khush qismat hogi. Tum kabhi bhi usay nahi chhodo ge. Yeh toh khushi ka mauqa hai, tum khud ko kyun uljha rahe ho," unhone samjhaya.

Woh khamoshi unhe sunta raha. Ghabrahat khatam nahi hui, magar andar ka shor kuch had tak kam ho gaya.

Agle din, office se wapsi par woh bachon ki ek dukan mein chala gaya. Woh apne ehsaasat badalne aur apna khauf mitaane ki koshish kar raha tha. Woh khud ko sahi ma'ino mein badalna chahta tha. Magar khilone uthakar dekhte, unhein mehsoos karte, unki keemat dekhte, uske zehan mein phir bhi maa baap ka khayal aa raha tha.

"Kya unhone bhi mera intazaar kiya hoga? Chahat aur mohabbat se? Phir meri paidaish ke baad bhi khushi mehsoos ki hogi? Usay sadke dil se own kiya hua hoga?"

Uske zehan mein sawaalon ka silsila barh gaya. Sirf paanch saal tak woh unke liye zaroori raha tha, unki zaat aur rishtay ke liye bhi sirf paanch saal tak mohabbat qaim rahi thi. Uske baad sab kuch kyun badal gaya tha? Woh chahat kyun khatam ho gayi thi? Uske liye uske apne hi ma baap ke liye kyu patthar ho gaya tha. Unhone kyu udaya Chhorh diya tha.?

"Kya aulaad ko chhodna itna aasaan hota tha?"

Woh ek bar phir andar tak tareekiyon mein gum ho raha tha. Agar uska baap usay chhod sakta hai, toh kya woh bhi?

Shop assistant uske paas aa gayi, madad ke liye puchhne lagi ke usay kis umar ke bache ke liye shopping karni hai. Woh ek paanch saal ke Faris ka tasavvur kiya, aur uska zehan ek dam khali ho gaya. Kuch bhi kharide bagair, woh wahan se chala gaya.

Adina ne kuch dafa usse shopping ke liye kaha, magar usne jawab nahi diya. Woh khamosh tha aur apni masroofiyat bada chuka tha.

•••

Adina ki dost Arooba ke ghar, unki bhanji ke aqeeqay par woh madhu the. Woh sofa par baitha Hamdan bhai se guftagu kar raha tha jab Adinah ne ek naayi paida hui bachchi achanak uski god mein daal di.

Woh chhoti si bachchi, uska koi wazan hi nahi tha. Woh aankhein moond kar soyi hui thi. Uske nanhe nanhe bandh haath, chhoti si ungliyan, aur beeche huye lab.

Faris ne ek dam ghabra kar woh bachchi foran wapas de di. Adina hairaan reh gayi. Ghar ja kar woh is par us par naraz huyi. Usne achanak esi harkat kyu ki thi?

"Kaisi harkat?" Adina gung si ise dekhti reh gayi. Woh uske sawal ka jawab nahi de saka.

"Tumhe bachhe pasand nahi hain?"

"Maine yeh nahi kaha."

"Toh kya keh rahe ho tum?"

"You should have asked me if I wanted to hold her or not!"

Adina gunj reh gayi. Usne yeh andaza kiya ke asal masla bachchi ka nahi, unka nahi. Uski aankho mein gussa bhar gaya tha.

"Tum mujhse hamare bache ki baat kar rahe ho."

Faaris ko apne halaq mein koi cheez atkti hui mehsoos hui thi.

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you are! Jab se tumhe pata chala hai ke hum ek child expect kar rahe hain, tab se tum pareshaan ho."

"Aisa kuch nahi hai," usne sambhal kar tardiid ki.

"To phir kya masla hai, Faaris?"

Woh chand lamho tak khamosh raha,

"Sirf itna ke main iske liye tayar nahi hoon. Mujhe kuch waqt lagega."

Aaj se pehle kabhi bhi usne Adinah zubair ko koi wazahat nahi di thi. Ab de raha tha, toh woh kisi taur samajh nahi rahi thi. Woh is Faaris ko nahi jaanti thi jo uske andar tha, jo duniya se chhupa hua tha. Woh uske andhero se nawaqif thi. Woh uske ghamon, uski takleefon aur mehroomiyo ka koi andaza nahi tha.

"To theek hai. It's not a big deal ke tum humare bache ke liye tayar nahi ho. Hum kuch saal intezaar kar lete hain. Abhi bhi waqt hai, main abortion karwa leti hoon."

Faris Wajdan ne shashdar ho kar usay dekha. Is ek lamhe mein usay apni rooh kheenchti hui mehsoos hui.

"Yeh tum kya keh rahi ho? Tumne yeh socha bhi kaise?" Uska lehja ekdum se sakht aur patharila hua tha.

"Faris, main sirf ek baat..."

"Yeh sirf ek baat nahi hai!" Woh phat pada.

Adina apni jagah tham gayi. Unki shaadi shuda zindagi mein Faaris kabhi is tarah ghusse mein nahi aaya tha, na hi kabhi uski awaaz unchi hui thi.

"Mainne sirf ek baat ki hai, tumhara andar janne ke liye ke tum kya chahte ho?" Usne aage badh kar uske baazu par haath rakha aur narmi se kaha,

"Mujhe tumhara rawaiya theek nahi lag raha. Har naya couple khush hota hai. Par hum khush nahi ho rahe. Main bohot excited hoon, par tum... Tumhare zehan mein kya chal raha hai, yeh main nahi jaanti. Tum khush nahi ho. Main shopping ki baat karti hoon aur tum ignore kar dete ho. Humne aane wale kal ke baare mein koi baat hi nahi ki. Humne naam tak nahi socha. Humne yeh bhi decide nahi kiya ke hum mil kar apne bache ke liye kya karenge. That's what a normal couple usually do.."

"Arooba ki bhabhi ka teesra baby hai, aur woh abhi se uske liye is tarah excited hain jaise woh pehli baar maa baap ban rahe ho," usne bagair rukke ek hi sans mein wazahat de dali thi.

"Mein jo bhi sochu ho, yeh akhiri baat hai jo tumne sochi aur itne dharalle se keh bhi di." Usne bhari saanso ke bheech kaha, lehja hanooz sard, aur aankho mein khoon utra hua tha.

"I'm sorry, mein... mujhse ghalti ho gayi," usne tasleem kar liya.

"Meri zindagi mein jo bhi change ho, main use foran qubool nahi kar sakta. Mujhe thoda waqt chahiye hota hai. You need to understand this," sanjeedgi se kaha aur apni tie dheeli karta hua bedroom ki taraf chala gaya. Adina apni jagah khadi reh gayi.

Faris Wajdan ka rawaiya uski samajh se bahar tha. Uska ghussa, uski ghabrahat, aur phir abortion ke zikar par uska aisa rad-e-amal...

Uske dimag mein aakhir chal kya raha tha? Woh samajhne se qasir thi.

•••

Agle chand dino mein uske tamam khadshaat ghalat sabit ho gaye. Jo woh soch rahi thi, waisa kuch bhi nahi tha. Faris weekly check-up ke liye uske saath gaya tha aur pehle se bhi zyada uska khayal rakhne laga tha. Yeh alag baat thi ke woh bache ke mutaliq koi baat nahi karta tha.

Usne dopehar mein usne bache ki shopping ki baat ki. Khayal tha ke woh koi bahana kar dega, jaise ke woh pichhle ek maah se kar raha tha. Magar uski hairat ki inteha na rahi jab woh tayar ho gaya. Us raat woh dono ekhtta hi shopping mall gaye the. Yeh pehli shopping thi tay paya gaya tha ke khawaish ke mutabik dono shopping karege. Bataye bagair.

"C'mon, Adinah," woh zara se irritate lag raha tha.

"Koi excuse nahi," woh usse pehle hi shop mein ghus gayi. Coat ki jebein me haath dale, woh uski bachkana soch par sar jhatak kar reh gaya.

Shop mein dakhil hote hi woh kuch dair to bas esi hi tehlta raha, use apni khwahish ko samajhne mein bahut dikkat ho rahi thi. Phir dheere dheere uske qadam girl section ki janib uth gaye. Woh gulabi rang ke khilono, chhoti chhoti frocks, nanhe joote aur sweaters dekh raha tha.

Kayi khilone usne haatho mein uthaye, kayi cheezo ki qeemat check ki. Phir ek nanhi si frock uthali. Adina achanak peeche se kahin se aa gayi. Hans kar uske haath se frock lete hue dekhne lagi.

"To tumhe beti chahiye!"

"Maine aisa to nahi kaha," woh ekdam ghadbadaya.

"Tumhare dil tak pohanchna itna bhi mushkil nahi," woh boli.

Faris Wajdan ko beti chahiye thi, aur Adina zubair ko bete ki khwahish thi.

"Jab tak baby gender ka pata nahi chalega, kya hum isi tarah alag alag shopping karege?" Ghar pahuch kar usne Faris se kaha. Faris muskara kar reh gaya.

"Mere khayal se humein intezaar kar lena chahiye," woh kam mein masroof nazar aa raha tha. Woh gaal ke neeche baju rakhe huye usay dekhti rahi.

"Kya woh waqai khush hai ya sirf dikhawe ko uska sath de raha hai?" Usne socha. Halake aaj wo uske sath mall gaya tha, uska rawaiya bhi theek tha. Aur woh usay khush bhi lag raha tha.

Agle din usne bacho ke naam ke hawale se baat ki. Ek lambi si list usay thama di. Woh apne sare kaam chhod kar uske sath beth gaya. Kitne hi naam the jo Adina ne pasand kiye, aur usay reject kar diye, kitne hi naam ese the jo usay pasand aa rahe the aur wo usay reject kar rahi thi. Andar andar se wo janch bhi rahi thi. Woh apne bacche ke liye kitna sanjida hai, usay nazar aa raha tha.

"Meri taraf se do names final samjho." Bil akhir usne list neeche rakh di.

"Aur woh do names kaun se hain?" Woh maiz par kohni jamaye neeli bluery aankho me ulfat liye puchne lagi.

"Beti hui to janna aur beta hua to Ryan." Jo nam list me na the woh nam usne tay kar liye.

"Janna? Ryan?" Tasuraat yu huye jese kuch khas pasand na aaye ho.

Faris uski taraf dekh raha tha.

"Tum unhe reject nahi kar sakti, kam az kam janna to bilkul bhi nahi!" Usne wajeha kar diya.

"Kyun? Aisi kya khaas baat hai is naam mein?"

"Acha naam hai, chhota hai, aur cute lagega." Woh halke fulke lehze me goya hua. Phir apni file phirse utha li.

"Ya phir is naam ki koi ladki tumhari zindagi mein aa chuki hai?" File par sign karte waqt Faris Wajdaan ki harkat tham gayi. Sar uthakar Adina ko dekha. Uske chehre par ubharti sanjeeda tasuraat ko dekh kar Adina ek dum se sambhli.

"Just kidding yaar! Tum toh serious hi ho gaye ho." Has kar papers sametne lagi. Faris Wajdan ki nigaahe kafi der tak us par jami rahi thi.

•••

Sunday ko uska off tha. Woh Adina ko us din apni job promotion ki khushi mein ek mehange restaurant laya tha. Us din usne apni jeb ki parwaah kiye bagair usay kaafi mehangi shopping bhi karwaayi thi. Usne jis cheez par haath rakha, usay dila di thi.

Khana khaate waqt open area mein dono saath baithe the khud ko duniya ki sabse khush-naseeb ladki tasawwur kar rahi thi. Faris Wajdaan ke sangat mein aane wale kal ke sapne sochte hue, ek mukammal zindagi ka tasavvur karte hue, woh sadke dil se muskura rahi thi. Usne jo khawaish ki thi woh puri huyi thi jiska sath chaha tha usay mil gaya tha. Uske sath bate kar rahi thi jazbaat ka izhar bhi, woh mubhim sa muskuraate huye usay jawab de raha tha.

Khana khane ke baad woh restroom chali gayi. Haath dhote waqt usne aaine mein khud ko dekha. Makeup se bilkul aari chehra fresh lag raha tha. Uske ghungrale se sunahri baal joode mein maqeed the. Usne chand ek lato ko bel de kar kaan ke peeche ars diya. Handbag shoulder par dalte hue woh bahar aa gayi.

Railing ke paas kisi angrez ladki ke saath baithe Hammad Shirazi  ki nigah Adina par padi thi. Aur woh pehli nazar yu padi ki woh hatana bhool gaya tha. Uski nigaho ne Adina zubair ka door tak ta’aqub kiya, aur agle hi pal usay Faris Wajdan ke barabar baithte dekh wo tham gaya tha.

Waiter ab unhe coffee paish kar raha tha, woh ladki apni baat par ekdam se muskurayi thi, uski kefiyat lamhe me badal gayi, wajood shole me ghir gaya. Wo apni table chhod kar uth gaya. Waiter ko bill pay karke Faris Wajdan apni biwi ke hamrah uth gaya tha. aur agle hi pal, woh aamne samne huye the.

Faaris Wajdaan aur Hammad Shirazi ...

Faris ke chehre se muskaan ke sare rang ek dam se gaayab ho gaye. Aankho ki narmi khatam ho gayi aur lab bheench gaye.

Hammad ne ek haath apni trouser ki jeb mein dala aur Adina ki taraf mutwajja hua tha, Adina ne lamho me hi jaan liya ke mehnge kimti kapdo mein malboos wo shakhs koi aam nahi tha.

"Hello Faris! Kaise ho?" Salam ke liye haath badhate woh esa mukhatib hua tha ki jese unke mubayin esi salam dua hoti rehti ho, Faris ne haath nahi thama tha. Hammad ne muskurate hue haath peeche hata liya tha.

"Galban aap..?"

"Mrs. Faris" muskurate huye usne apne shohar ke bazu me hath dala. Usne bhanwe uchka kar kuch hairat se Faris ko dekha. Woh apni jagah munjamid sa khamosh khada tha.

"Tumne bata hi nahi? Shadi karli, card bhej dete, humari puri family shadi attend karti." Woh usse yuh mukhatib tha ke jese bahut purani dosti ho, jese woh esi hi formal ho kar ek dusre se baat karte ho, woh apne andar aag liye jabt se tahammul se khada tha. Woh Hammad ko apne raste se hata kar waha se niklna chahta tha.

"Aur aap, ghaliban Faris ke dost hai?.." Adina uske ta'ssurat se katai be parwah apni dhun me bhujne lagi

“Aray nahi, friend nahi, Faris mere grand father ke mulazim ka beta hai. He used to live in our house. Mere grandfather ne hi uski kifaalat ki thi.."

"Mere grandfather, you must know him, Azam Shirazi... Head of Shirazi  Enterprises.”

Adina zubair ke samne uske wajood ke parkhichhe uda diye the, woh kamal jabt ka mujahira karte huye apni mutthiya sakti se beech li. Adina lamhe bhar ke liye sakit huyi thi.

Is se pehle ke woh kuch samajh pati,  Hamaad ko kuch ghuuse aur nafrat se daye taraf dhakelte huye woh Adina ka haath grift me liye wahan se chala gaya. trouser ki jeb mein haath dale, ek khafif si muskaan ke saath unhe jaate hue dekhta raha.

•••

woh jabse ghar aaye the, unke darmiyan ek khamoshi si chhaayi hui thi. Adina kuch uljhan ka shikar thi. Hamaad Shirazi ne jo baat ki thi  woh zehan se nikal hi nahi paa rahu thi. Faris ke tassurat se to yehi lag raha tha jaise dono ke mabhaim koi purani muhjmat ho. Aur phir usne Hammad ki baat ki koi tarteeb bhi naa ki thi.

“Tumne kabhi bataya nahi ke…” woh kuch kehte kehte ruk gayi thi

Faris, laptop khole betha tha,

“thi Kya?” sar utha kar Adina ko dekha. Uske lehze me sakti uthar aayi thi.

“Jo Hamaad Shirazi  ne kaha…”

“Kya batana zaroori tha?”

“Main aisa toh nahi keh rahi hoon,”

“Toh phir kya keh rahi ho?”

“Main to bas sirf yeh jaanna chah rahi thi… tumhari zindagi.. tumahare bare mein.."

"Shadi se pehle tumhe mere bare me kuch bhi janne ki khawaish nahi thi.." usne nazar utha kar usey yaad dilaya. Woh ek dam se chhup huyi.

“Tab tumhe sirf meri jaat garj thi. Ab tumhe sab janna hai?” uska lehja behad talkh ho raha tha.

Adina ek pal ke liye khamosh ho gayi, usne mehsoos kiya ke uska sawaal galat tha, jawab bhi galat tha. Woh phir mohtat ho kar sambhal gayi.

“Main  to bas yeh… main toh bas yeh jaan-na chahti thi… jo baat usne kahi... I mean kya tumahare dad wakai mein unke servent..?”

“Kya is baat se koi farq padta hai?” tarqeed ya takeed kiye baghair usne Adina ki aankho me sakti se dekhte huye sawal poocha tha.

“Nahi, mera matlab yeh nahi tha… mein to bas..” keh kar apna hath uske hath par rakha, usko composed karti huyi muskurayi.

"Sirf baat kar rahi thi.."

“aisa kuch nahi hai, jo woh keh raha tha.” mukhtasar keh kar usne file utha li. Adina usay dekhti rahi.

"Bhala Hammad Shirazi  ko kya zaroorat padi thi is tarah Faris ke baare mein baat karne ki? Wo to pure wasaq se keh raha tha, uske dada ne hi Faris ki kafaalat ki thi. Jaane is baat me kitni sacchai thi magar woh uljhan mein jaroor padh gayi thi. Ke aj tak siwaye Jamila dawood ke uske kisi rishtedar se mili thi, na usne apne parents ka zikr kiya, uski family Pakistan mein kahaan rehti thi yeh tak nahi bataya tha.

Wahid Jamila dawood hi thi jo uske raabte me thi Faris ne bataya tha ke woh uski door pare ki rishtedaar hain aur uske liye maa jaisi hain. Magar woh sirf maa jaisi nahi, maa se bhi barh kar thi. Roz hi unki Faris se phone call hoti thi uske sath bhi raabte me rehti thi. Magar jo kuch Hammad Shirazi  ne bataya tha. Woh usay uljhan me daal chuka tha.

"Kya Faris mujhse kuch chhupa raha hai?" Usne ne socha, magar is sawal ko apne soch tak hi mehdood rakha. Faris se kuch poochh kar woh koi badmazgi nahi chahti thi.

Kapray teh karte hue faris par nazar dali. Uski peshaani par bal thehre the aur aankho mein ghussa barqaraar tha. Woh gehri saans li aur wahan se uth gayi.

•••

Arooba kisi shaadi mein invited thi aur akeli nahi jaana chahti thi. Usne Adina ko bhi apne saath chalne ko kaha. Faris ne ijazat di, toh Adina uske saath chali gayi. Khayal tha ek chhota sa function hoga, magar shadi hall mein dakhil hote hi usse laga ke woh kisi mahal mein aa gayi ho.

Esa pehli baar tha ke Adina ne kisi elite class ka function attend kiya tha. Arooba ke saath chalti hui, usne apni gardan seedhi rakhi. Usse apne husn ka idrak tha aur is baat ka bhi kaise kisi functions mein kaise khudko pose karna hai. Tawajja aur nigaho ka markaj kese banna hai.

Usne kali silk saree jebtan ki hui thi, sunehri mail balo ka juda bana rakha tha. Surkh rang ka halka makeup, surkh rang ki heels  aur kalai bhari chooriyan pakistani shadi ka function tha to wo usi mulajbt se tayyar hui thi. Isme koi Shaq nahi tha ki wo beintehaa haseen lag rahi thi. Aur isi wajah se wo har aik ki nazro me aa rahi thi. Murawwatan aur halakt muskurate huye, woh arooba ki colleagues se mili phir ek maiz sambhal kar baith gayi. Gardan uchi kiye wo har taraf dekh rahi thi, aur tab achanak uski nigah Hammad Shirazi par padi thi.

Woh sehzado ki si aan ban ke saath black three-piece suit mein spiral staircase se neeche aa raha tha. Woh usay dekh chuka tha. Uski taraf hi aa raha tha. Murawwatan usay bhi apni jagah se uthna pada tha.

Uske kimti kapde, perfume aur shehzadon jaisi thi aan o shaan. Woh ekdam se mutasir aur maroof huyi thi.

"It's nice to meet you again!"

"You too!"

Muskurate hue apna haath nazakat se uske haath mein de diya.

"Aapke shohar sath nahi aaye?"

"Nahi, main apni friend Aruba ke saath aayi hoon."

Usne  bhawein uchkai phir muskurayaa.

"Aaiye, main aapko apni mummy se milwata hoon."

Woh usey sath liye samne ki taraf khadi katoono ki taraf badha tha, uske pukarne par jis khatoon ne usay mud ke dekha, un par nazar padhte hi wo apni jagah patthar ho gayi.

Jamila dawood, Faris Wajdan ki rishtedaar khatoon, jitni sariyyat se uski aankho me hairat utri thi. Utni hi sariyyat se unke ta'ssurat badle the. Usay yaha, is tarah aur phir apne bete ke sath dekh kar woh bhi sakte me aa gayi thi.

"Aap?"

"Kaisi ho beta!" unhone khudko sambhalte huye ta'ssurat normal kar liye, ek nazar hammad ko dekte usay gale laga liya.

"Arey aap to jaanti hain ise," wo muskuraya. Mrs. Shirazi is lamhe bilkul bhi muskura na saki, adina ke ta’asuraat saara waqt confusion liye rahe. Theek se woh ku h bhi enjoy na kar saki.

Shaam das bajay jab woh ghar aayi, toh Faris kitchen mein tha. Usne burner par doodh chadha rakha tha. Mobile phone kaan se lagaye wo office ke mamlaat discuss kar raha tha. Gardan mod kar usay dekhte hue haath hilaya. Apna purse ka inter karte hue wo thoda khench kar baith gayi. Fridge khol kar paani ka glass uske samne rakhte hue usne burner band kar diya.

"Kaise raha tumhara din?"

"Thik raha," keh kar kuch ghoont aur liye. Phir glass rakh diya.

"Kaafi unchay bade khandan ke log aaye hue the. Mujhe andaza nahi tha ke Arooba Shirazi  Enterprises mein job karti hai."

Faris apni jagah saakit hua.

"Jameela aunty bhi wahan thi. Unse bhi mulaqat hui." Woh keh rahi thi.

Usay apna saas lamhe bhar ke liye rukta hua mehsoos hua tha.

Woh uske khandan ki shaan-o-shaukat, unki daulat, status, aur unka rehne sehne ka tareeqa dekh kar aayi thi. Jis hall mein jo shaadi hui thi, woh London ka mehnga tareen hall tha. Uske ta’asuraat badle hue se nazar aa rahe the. Aankhon ki chamak barh gayi thi.

"Tum ne bataya hi nahi ke woh Haroon Sherazi ki waqf hain. Main to unhain ek aam si aurat samajhti rahi."

Faris ko achanak apna dam ghatta hua mehsoos hua. Arooba ko daawatnama mila tha. Woh usay bhi saath le gayi thi. Kaash usay pata hota to wo usay na jane deta.

"Faris! Kya sach mein? Ager woh tumhare relatives hain to tum..." ishara us janib tha ke woh itni shaandar aur Faris itni aam zindagi kyun guzar raha hai? In halat mein kyun reh raha hai?

Faris ko apna dimagh achanak se mauf hota hua mehsoos hua. Woh usay kya jawab dega? Kya wazahat kya daleel? Uski ghabrahat achanak se barh gayi.

"Coffee piyogi?" Usne sambhal kar poocha.

"Tum mawzu badal rahe ho?"

"Mera nahi khayal is par koi baat banti hai." Woh rukh badal gaya.

"Aunty, tumhari rishtedaar hai, yani Shirazi khandan ke saath tumhara ta’alluq hai?" Uski aankhein phaili hui thi.

Faris ke andar khatrey ki ghanti kahin baj gayi thi. Zameen qadamoon se nikalti nahi thi, magar woh apne aap ko fiza tang mehsoos kar raha tha. Uske paas is waqt Adina Zahid ki tadeed karne ke liye koi lafz nahi tha. Qismat ne kya khoob chaal chalti thi. Ek taaruf Hammad Shirazi ne diya tha, aur ek taaruf usne Jameela dawood ki taraf se karwa chuka tha. Taqid ya tarteed, dono nahi kar sakta tha.

"Faris!"

"Main busy hoon, baad mein baat karte hain." Burner band karte hue, wo usi waqt kitchen se nikal gaya.

•••

Agle kai dino tak jitni baar us ne is maslay se, is topic se, is guftagu se farar ki koshish ki, usay itni hi baar sawaal kiye, Usay achanak hi us ke khandan, us ke rishtedaro mein dilchaspi paida hogayi thi. Wo us ke baare mein sab kuch jaana chahti thi. Wo kisi baat ka koi jawab nahi de raha tha. Wo apni marzi ke mafhoom aur nateejay aksar ikhtiyar karti, aur uski pareshani barhati ja rahi thi.

Us ka khayaal tha ke chunanchah wo us ke rishtedaar hain, is liye use un se madad leni chahiye. Wo apni job mein struggle kar raha tha. Usay un se baat karni chahiye. Shirazi Enterprises mein job karne walo ko kitni marat milti thi, is ka andaza usay kaafi achay tareeqay se ho gaya tha. Arooba ko achi khasa pay milti thi.

"Faaris, tum sun bhi rahe ho main kya keh rahi hoon?"

"Adina! Just stop!" Us ki bardasht khatam ho gayi thi to jhalla kar rok gaya.

"I don't want to talk about it!"

"Tum har baat par inkaar karte ho. Halaat kaise badlayenge? Zindagi kaise badlegi?" Wo lad rahi thi.

"Kya hai humare halaat ko?" Usay bhi gussa aagaya. "Aur kya hai hamari zindagi ko jise badalne ki zaroorat hai?"

"Isay tum zindagi kehte ho? Yeh ghar hai jahan hum apne bachhe ko dekhein ge? Is ghar mein?" Haath phaila kar us ne is chhote se flat ka mazaak udaya jise wo apni job se us waqt afford kar sakta tha.

Adina zubair ko wo chhota sa flat ek qaid khana, ek band kotri sa lag raha tha. Wo saakit nigaaho se usay dekh raha tha.

"Kuch din pehle tak yeh ghar bhi tumhare liye theek tha. Mere halaat bhi theek the. Aur ab achanak...?"

"Achanak kuch nahi hota. Main kitnay time se tumhe keh rahi hoon ke humein koi achha sa flat lena chahiye. Tumhari tanqah se hum dono ka guzarah mushkil hota hai aur tum..."

Faris usay dekh raha tha. Kya yeh wahi Adina zubair thi jo ek kamre ke flat mein bhi uske sath reh sakti thi? Jise uske halaat aur zindagi se koi sarokaar nahi tha. Jiske liye faqat uski zaat ahm thi. Saath aham tha. Jis ne kabhi bhi kisi cheez ko, chhoti cheezon ko is par fauqiyat nahi di thi, jo hai, jaisa hai, ki buniyad par usay qubool kar ke ab wo har cheez keede nikar rahi thi.

Apni peshaani masalte, wo apni jagah khada tha. Zabt karta hua, leheje ko hatta-e-mumkan narm rakhte hue, usay wazahat de kar, apna mowaqif batlata hua. Magar Adina ki aik hi rat thi. Jameela dawood se baat kar ke wo apni job ka bandobast kare. Un se help le. Loan mang kuch kare takay unke halaat behtar ho.

"Agar tum baat nahi kar sakte to main unse...!"

"Don't you dare, Adina!" Us ne sakhti se mana kar diya.

"Faris, masla kya hai tumhare saath?"

"I lied, okay!" Wo phat par gaya.

"Woh meri raleetive nahi hain. So just stop mentioning her!"

Wo apni jagah saakit ho gayi.

"Tum yeh, kya keh rahe ho?"

"Wohi jo tum ne suna,"

"Unke saath mera koi rishtha nahi hai! Shirazi khandan ke saath mera koi ta’alluq nahi hai!" Dil par jabr kar ke, us ne sakht leheje mein waazeh kar diya.

"Tum ne jhoot kaha?" Us ke lab hile. Aankhon mein sadma thahra gaya.

"To kya woh sachme Shirazi Khandan ke mulazim ka beta tha? Kya sach mein Jameela dawood ke saath uska koi rishta nahi tha?"

"Aunty ne humare nikah mein tumhari taraf se shirkat ki thi. Unhone Dad se mera rishta manga tha. Ab tum mujh se keh rahe ho wo tumhari rishtedaar bhi nahi hain? Tum kya chhupa rahe ho mujh se?" Wo cheekh parri. Gusse se chehra surkh ho raha tha.

Faris bebasi se usay dekh kar reh gaya. Aisi mushkil situation mein wo pehle kabhi nahi phansa tha. Apni zaat par uthte kisi sawaal par aise jabr aur aise sabr ka samna usne pehle kabhi nahi kiya tha.

"Adina..." Wo usay door rehne ka ishara karti, shadeed gusse mein ulte qadam peeche hati thi.

"Tum ne kaha tha tumhe kisi baat se koi farq nahi padta." Wo bola, to leheje mein karab panha tha.

"Jhoot se padta hai." Wo gusse se pair chatkti kamre mein band ho gayi thi. Faris apni jagah khada raha.

Sari raat wo theek se so nahi saka. Subah uthte hi usne Adina se baat karni chahi, uska mood puri tarah se off tha. Wo uski taraf dekh bhi nahi rahi thi.

"Main ne tumse koi jhoot nahi bola." Nashte ki mez par usne kaha, wo telkhi se hasi.

"To phir sach kya hai, dobara bata do."

Wo bebasi se usay dekh kar reh gaya.

"Ab bhi apni baat par ade hue ho tum! Ab bhi tum is discussion se bhag rahe ho."

"Mera nahi khayaal ke is tarah ki baatein humare darmiyan discuss honi chahiye."

"Kyun nahi honi chahiye?" Usne plate mein peech peech diya. Kursi dhakel kar uth gayi.

" Kya Tumhare baare mein kuch bhi jaanne ka haq nahi rakhti hoon?" Usne mithiyan sakhti se bheench li thi.

"Tumhare parents kon hain? Kahan hain? Aisa bhi nahi hota ke aulaad ka apne maan baap se koi rabta bhi na ho."

"Main ne tumhe shadi se pehle bata diya tha." Bohat himmat aur bardasht se, usne apne leheje ko hatta la imakan narm rakha tha.

"Jhoot bataya, ab mujhe tumhari kisi baat par yakeen nahi."

Wo zabt kiye raha.

"Batao kon ho, kya ho, kahan se ho tum?"

Lab bheench kar, jis badtameezi se usne sawaal kiye, ab ba mushkil se apne aap par qaboo paa sakta tha.

"Yeh sawaal tumhe shaadi se pehle poochna chahiye tha."

"Ab pooch rahi hoon na! Andha bharosa karne se insaan ko maar hi lagti hai." Uska leheja mjheeb sulagte hua sa tha.

Koi bhi jawab diye bina, wo maiz chhod kar uth gaya. Nashtay ke baghair hi office chala gaya. Shaam mein ghar wapas aaya to wo uska intezaar kiye baghair hi so gayi thi.

Shaadi shuda zindagi mein aisa pehli baar hua tha. Wo dieting table par betha ab akela hi khana kha raha tha. Usay nahi pata tha ke aane wale dino mein yeh tanhaai aik roain banne wali thi. Usay nahi pata tha, ajnabiat aur badgumani ki yeh fiza jo is ghar par utari thi, mustaqil taur par thehr jaane wali thi.

❏❏❏