Chapter 95: ּ ֶָ֢.CH94

•••

Raahim Afaq ne apna kaam mukammal kar liya tha. Bug Device wo uske office mein laga chuka tha. CCTV camere mukammal uske control mein thay. Mobile calls tak trace ho sakti thi. Uski gaadi par bhi tracker mojood tha. Ab wo Junaid Lashari ki caller bhi sun sakta tha aur messages bhi dekh sakta tha. Usne in teen dino mein yeh kaam is qadar mehnat aur hoshiyari se kiya tha ke kisi ko bhanakh tak nahi padhi thi.

"Andaaza nahi tha tum is kaam mein itne professional ho," wo mutasir hue bagair na reh saka.

"Dekh lo," usne fakhar se collars seedhe kiye. "Khawah makhwah mein halka lete rehte ho. Mere jaise dost aur bhai qismat walo ko milte hain."

Faris ki khojti nigahe uske chehre par chal rahi thi.

"Koun ho tum?" usne sanjidgi ke andaz mein bohot achanak se poocha.

"Yeh kaisa sawal hai?" Raahim ne achanbey se Faris ko dekha.

"Black Hat Hacker? White Hat Hacker?" Wo maiz par kohniyan jama kar aage hua.

"Cool," Raahim haste hue seedha ho baitha.

"Ya phir Red Hat Hacker?" ruk kar kaha.

"Tum mujhe mere balo ki wajah se keh rahe ho?" Raahim ne hansi mein baat udhate hue uski tawajjo apne siyah balon ki taraf dilayi jin mein surkhi mael shade nazar aata tha.

"Yeh mere sawal ka jawab nahi hai," Faris ki nigahen uske chehre par jami rahi. Wo jaise usay padhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

"Main toh bas ek Raahim hoon, sirf ek Raahim," bazoo phela kar kaha.

"Ab samajh mein aaraha hai Azam Shirazi ne tumhein 17 saal ki umr mein hi kyun hire kar liya."

"Hahaha! Kya samajh raha hai?" Usne plate se badam utha liye.

"Yaqeenan tum Shirazi Enterprises ka koi system hack karte pakre gaye the."

"Main kabhi pakra nahi jata," poore aitmaad se nafi ki.

"Magar Haider tumhe gardan se pakar kar laya tha, ye usne kaha."

"Woh robot toh kuch bhi kehta rehta hai, uski baato ko serious mat liya karo," woh aitmaad se goya hua.

"Toh yeh keh mera sar na khao aur apne dushmano ki jasusi karo," aadatan uski peshani thonk kar chocolate se wrappers utarta uth kar chala gaya.

•••

Agle chand dino mein, Junaid Lashari ki calls sunte, messages parte, aur uski har harkat par nazar rakhte hue, Faris ko yeh ehsaas hua ke uska focus Azam Shirazi ke ilawa aur kahin nahi tha.

Bazahir unke saath rishte dari ka lehaz baratta ho, magar andar hi andar unki kamzoriyo ka mutalashi tha. Unhein nuksaan pahunchane ki mansoobe banata hua. Saalo ki dushmani thi jo darpar chalti aayi thi.

Woh mansuba jo karobari mafad ke liye banaya gaya tha, wahi raasta bohot se faido mein aa'de raha tha. Apne har khasare ka jimmedar wo  Azam Shirazi ko hi samjh raha tha. Kuchh kanooni junge bhi thi, kuch aziji ka mashla tha, jeet har jagah azam Shirazi ki hi hoti thi. Na uska sar jhukta tha, na wo tut te the. Aur nahi unhe giraya jaa sakta tha.

Junaid Lashari ke tamam ahkamat unhi ke mutaliq the, Aane jaane ka waqt, routine, karobari maamlaat, aur deals , wo ek ek cheez ki khabar rakhta tha. Har baat ki report leta tha. Uski baat Jamila Dawood se bhi hui thi aur Haroon Shirazi se bhi.

Hammad Pakistan kab tak aane wala hai? Yeh sawal wo kayi dafa teeno se pooch chuka tha. Kayi ghair qanoni kaamo mein bhi mulaawis tha. Uske aadmi ek tarah se mujrim hi thay, jinse wo har tarah ka kaam karwa sakta tha.

Usay Junaid Lashari par nazar rakhte hue teesra hafta tha jab ek phone call ne uske andar sannata phaila diye.

Baat Hammad ki ho rahi thi. Wo Pakistan aa chuka tha, tahaam woh apne ghar nahi gaya tha. Junaid Lashari jaanta tha ke wo is waqt kahan aur kis ke saath tha. Chalaak aur hoshiyar insaan tha; jaan gaya ke is waqt Hammad ke apni family ke saath kuch ikhtilafaat chal rahe hain. Usne apni marzi se shaadi kar li thi, uski biwi manzar-e-aam par nahi aayi thi. Unki shaadi ko abhi tak public nahi kiya gaya tha.

Faris ki rago mein khoon dorne laga.

“Taiyar rehna, mein kisi bhi waqt hukm de sakta hoon,” usne sun sunn hokar headphones lagaye aur kaafi dair tak apni jagah baitha raha. Mansuba wazeh tha, aur yeh mukhtasir alfazo mein hone wali baat itni mushkil bhi nahi thi jo uski samajh mein na aati.

16 saal pehle jo jaal Hammad ke liye bichhaya gaya tha, aur 16 saal bad wohi jaal ab dobara bichhaya ja raha tha. Jo saanp, jise Azam Shirazi dushmano mein dhoond rahe, woh saanp unhi ke qaribi rishte mein. Jo unki maut ki khwahish rakhta tha aur jiske zariye wo apna inteqam lena chahte tha, uski baari aane wali thi.

"Dusman ko harana ho to pehle uski taqat khatm karni chahiye.." Gaadi mein hone wali woh guftagu usne wazeh suni thi. Yeh alfaaz Junaid Lashari ke thay:

Uske dushman ki taqat uska beta aur pota hi tha. Uske waaris, jinke liye usne yeh business empire khada kiya.

Hammad Shirazi, Haroon Shirazi.

Neem tareeki mein Faris apni jagah baitha unhein dekh raha tha, unhein soch raha tha. Mobile samne hi padha tha magar usne abhi tak kisi ko call nahi ki thi.

Badla, inteqam, gussa aur ishtiaal – aag abhi tak jal rahi thi. Hammad Shirazi – Jamila Dawood ka beta!

Usne apne zehan se har manfi jazba jhatak diya aur sirf Jamila Dawood ke baare mein socha. Hammad unka beta tha – sirf unka beta.

Us raat jab usne Azam Shirazi ki gaadi nazar aayi, toh wo ruk gaya. Sheesha neeche hua, toh wo khidki par kohniya jamate hue bas chand lamhon ke liye ruka. Usne Azam Shirazi ki taraf nahi dekha, magar Azam usi ko dekh rahe thay.

Halki barish se uske baal bheeg huye thay, chehre par woh tazaagi nahi thi jo aam tor par hoti.

“hammad ki zindagi ko khatra hai , mashwara hai ke behtar hoga aap use wapas bula lein,” usne kaha.

Azam usay dekhte reh gaye.

“Agar main khud kuch kehta toh aap yakeen nahi karte. Jald hi saare saboot bhijwa doonga,” kehkar wo peeche hat gaya.

Hoodie ko sar par chadhaate hue wo mukhalif qadam uthata gaya. Barish ki dhund mein uska wujood mubhim hone laga. Azam Shirazi ko yehi laga magar dhund asal mein unki aankhon mein thi ; woh aankhein jinmein nami thehri hui nazar aa rahi thi.

•••

Us raat wo so nahi saka. Wo baar baar messages, phone calls aur bugging device se milne wale signal's ka muntazir raha. Aur agla din bhi isi mein lag gaya.

Shaam saare chhe baje ki call thi. Haroon Shirazi Pindi ke liye rawana ho raha tha. Woh ghaliban apne bete ko lene ja raha tha.

"Ek nahi sahi, do hi sahi. Ye bhi theek hai," usne Junaid Lashari ki sard awaaz suni.

"No baje se pehle pehle ye kaam ho jana chahiye."

Wo ba mushkil sans lete hue headphones utaar kar uth gaya. Usne Hammad ke liye apni tamam tar nafrat aur gusse ko ek taraf rakhte hue Azam Shirazi ko call ki. Unka mobile band ja raha tha. Phir usne Jamila Dawood ko call ki, magar wo phone nahi utha rahi thi. Raahim se rabta karne ki koshish ki, Haroon Shirazi ko messages kiye, magar kisi ne jawab nahi diya. Ghaliban unke paas jo number uske paas tha wo ab unke paas nahi tha.

Wo beqarari se apne kamre mein tehal raha tha. Dil mein andeshe khada tha, dhadkan tez thi, jaise kuch bura hone wala ho.

•••

Earrings utarte huye Adina Zubair sadme se gung aur sakit khadi reh gayi. Lamha bhar ke liye apni sama’at par yakeen na aya, aur jab yakeen aya, to zameen ghoomti hui mehsoos hui.

"Tum mujhe abortion ka keh rahe ho?" Use yahi laga tha.

Hammad Shirazi ne mud kar thode tanafur se use dekha. Uske shokh bhare taasuraat usay ajeeb lage.

"Haan, yeh koi mushkil kaam toh nahi hai. Tum aisa pehle bhi toh kar chuki ho."

Adina ke chehre par ek saaya sa lehra gaya.

"Actually, Main kuch dinon mein tumse is bare mein baat karne hi wala tha." Usne cufflinks lagane ke baad, coat pehna, perfume chhidka, aur drawer se kuch papers nikaal kar uske samne rakh diye.

Talaq ke papers.

Adina apni jagah patthar ho gayi.

"We should part our ways now." (Humein apne raste ab juda kar lene chahiye).

Wo ab apne bag mein zarurat ki asiyah rakh raha tha.

"Tum yeh faisla kaise kar sakte ho? Humne toh saath zindagi guzarne ka wada kiya tha."

"Nikah karte waqt sabhi yeh wada karte hain." Usne hans kar is baat ko mazaak mein udayi.

"Tum... tum mujhse mohabbat karte thay, Hammad." Usne yaad dilana chaha.

"Tum bhi toh Faris se mohabbat karti thi."

Wo san hui.

"We are even now." (Ab hum barabar hain)..

Adina Zubair ki beyaqeen aankhein Hammad Shirazi par thehri rahi.

"Tum yeh kya kar rahe ho?" Wo ro dene ko thi.

"Main apne liye behtari ka faisla kar raha hoon, Adina dear."

Azam Shirazi ne accounts freeze kar diye thay, ghar se nikal diya tha, aur jayedad aur karobaar mein uska har hissa khatam kar chuka tha. Usay andaza nahi tha  ke Adina Zubair ke saath iski shaadi itni mehngi sabit hogi. Badla aur inteqam wahi tha jo ab poora ho chuka tha.

Ab usay uski zaat mein koi dilchaspi nahi rahi thi.

Woh sadme mein khadi thi. Kya kya khwab thay jo usne nahi dekhe the. Shirazi khandan ke waaris se Hammad Shirazi se shaadi karke, Aur ab wo apne raste alag karne ki baat kar raha tha.

"Main sirf itna jaanta hoon ke sab kuch chhod kar dada ke paas jaaunga, toh wo mujhe maaf kar denge."

"Aur main?"

"Tum kya?"

"Tumne mujhse shaadi ki"

"Zabardasti nahi ki."

"Maine tumhare liye Faris ko chhoda."

"Apni marzi se chhoda. Kya maine force kiya tha?" Sawal karke talakhi se muskaruraya aur Adina ke andar gusse ki aag bhadak uthi.

"Tum mere saath aisa nahi kar sakte. Maine tumhare liye kya kya nahi kiya." baazu se uska rukh modh kae chhikhi.

"Awaaz neeche rakho, Adina," uska haath jhatak kar gusse se ghuraya. "Main Faris nahi hoon ke tumhara yeh lehja bardasht kar saku."

Adina apni jagah tham gayi thi. Usay kuch ghusse se pare hatate usne apne kapdon ki shikan durust ki.

Aankho me aansu bharke uske kareeb hui.

"Hammad please ese mat karo, maine tumahre liye kya kya nahi kiya..."

"Aur maine bhi to tumhe paiso mein nehla diya hai.."

Adina jawab nahi de saki.

"Please, Aise mat karo. Maine tumhare liye"

"come on, Adina! Yeh kya tumhare liye, tumhare liye lga rakhi hai?" Ukta kar bazu peeche kiye

"You did nothing for me jo kiya apne liye kiya. Maine toh sirf ek offer ki thi."

"Mohabbat ka dawa jhoota tha?" Uske ke lab hilay,

"Mohabbat? Tum khud itni khoobsurat ho, tumhe paane ki khwahish thi. Ab zaahir hai saari zindagi iss tarah beghar ho kar nahi guzari ja sakti. Mujhe apne ghar wapas jaana hai. And actually I'm coming to realize ke tumhare saath shaadi ka faisla ghalat tha. Insaan ki sirf shakal-o-surat matter nahi karti aur bhi bohut kuch hota hai."

"Aur bhi bohot kuch dekhna padhta hai."

Adina Zubair ke apne alfaz tamanche ki tarah uske muh par aa gaye.. Wo bolne ke qaabil bhi nah rahi.

khwabo ka mahal chakna chhur ho gaya. Jo kisi ke sath kar chuki thi, waisa hi uske saath ho gaya. Ab woh baccha rakhna chahti thi go muqabil abortion ka keh raha tha. Ab woh ghar basana chahti thi to muqabil talaq ki baat kar raha tha.

"Tum mere khuloos ka yeh sila de rahe ho?" awaaz sadme se phat gayi thi.

"Khuloos? Innocent mat bano, dear. Main jaanta hoon tum kis nature ki ho. Kal tumhe koi aur pasand aa jayega, to uske paas chali jaogi. That’s what you always do."

Usne apne bag se paiso ka lifafa nikal kar maze par uchhel diya.

Adina Zubair ke saath uska qissa yahi khatam ho raha tha.

"Ek hafta ka time hai tab tak yeh flat khali kar dena. Ya phir khud hi payment de dena."

Aik haath se bag uthate hue, dusre haath se phone kaan se lagaye, wo usi waqt bahir nikal gaya.

"Ji, Dad. Main bas neeche pohanch raha hoon," woh ujalat me seedhiya utarta jaa raha tha, aur uske kadmo ki dhap Adina ke dil par gir rahi thi. Uske khwab toot rahe thay, masle ja rahe thay, aur uski duniya tabaah ho rahi thi.

Woh sakit, veeran, aur madhosh si apne kamre mein khadi reh gayi thi.

•••

Woh fikrmandi ke aalam mein tehal raha tha jab doorbell baji. Darwaza khol kar dekha to Raahim tha. Woh uske sath hi bahar nikal gaya.

"Usne bohot achanak apne admiyon ko hukam de diya. Woh sirf moqe ki talaash mein tha..." Raahim ne gaari drive karte hue uski baat suni.

"Maine Haider se baat kar li hai. Azam Shirazi meeting mein hain lekin woh sab dekh lega."

"Yeh number try karo."

Usne Haroon Shirazi ka doosra number diya.

"Haroon Shirazi akele nahi hain, unke sath guards bhi hain. Woh Hammad ko lene hi gaye hain."

"Don’t worry," woh keh raha tha.

Faris ke zehan mein Jamila Dawood ka chehra ek baar phir lehraya. Usne gehri saans le kar khayal jhatak diya. Ab woh do naye number par call kar raha tha. Haroon Shirazi ne uski call receive kar li thi.

"Hello?" Usne awaaz suni. Lab bheench kar ek lamha ka tawquf liya.

"Aap is waqt kahan hain?"

Woh Faris ki awaaz sunte hi chonk gaye. Aankhon mein dukh bhare iztirab ki lehar aa gayi. Us aakhri mulaqat ke baad kitna dhoonda tha unhone usse magar woh unhein nahi mila tha.

"Faris... Bete..."

"Jawab dijiye, aap is waqt kahan hain?" Uska lehja ajnabi sa tha.

"Ham Islamabad pohanchne hi wale hain," woh nasamjhi ke aalam mein goya huay.

"Aap please apna track change kar lein. Aap koi aur rasta ikhtiyar kar lein."

"Bas thoda sa safar baqi hai," woh samajh na paye.

"Listen to me!" Usne zor de kar kaha.

"Aap abhi aur isi waqt..."

Firing ki awaaz ek dum se goonji thi. Dhamake se hi car ke tyre chirchiraaye the. Uske alfaz aadhe adhoore wahin reh gaye. Wujood sakht ho gaya. Aur door kahin dhamake se sheeshe toote, aati hui gaari ghist kar trailer se ja takraayi. Tar tar.

Goliyon ki awaaz. Shor aur phir failta hua dehshatnaak maut bhara sannata.

Faris Wajdan ke haath se phone chhoot kar neeche gir gaya.

Manzar badal rahe the, awaaz mein badlaav aa raha tha, jagah badal rahi thi. Ehsasat manjmad, aankhein dhundhli, dimaag ma’oof. Sakte ki kefiyat mein usne khud ko hospital ke corridor mein qadam rakhte hue paaya.

Uske kaan abhi tak band the. Usse koi awaaz nahi aa rahi thi. Usse ab jaise kuch dikhai nahi de raha tha magar stretcher ke pahiye ka shor bohot tez tha. Is shor se juda hua manzar wazeh tha.

Safed chadar jo khoon se range hui thi. Wujood jo goliyon se chhanni lag raha tha. Do stretchers. Khoon se surkh parti chadrein. Latakta hua bejaan haath. Zakhmi chehre, band aankhein.

Usne be-ikhtiyaar deewar ka sahaara lete ruk kar sar uthaya. Usne Jamila Daud ko cheekhte aur rote hue stretcher se chadar hatate dekha. Usne Azam Shirazi ko farsh par jhukte aur girte dekha.

Woh khoon se surkh parte kapdon ke sath apni jagah par sakht sa, be-hiss khada tha. Uske te’assuraat mein maut ki si weraani utari hui thi. Usne khud ko Jamila Daud ke samne paaya. Unhein baazuon mein bhar kar woh peeche hata raha tha. Woh cheekhte hue apna aap chhuda rahi thin. Woh apne mazboot baazuon ke hisaar mein le chuka tha. Woh uske seene mein moonh chupaye ro rahi thin. Woh beqaboo ho kar baar baar apne shauhar aur bete...

Woh ki taraf lapak rahi thin. Woh manzar dhundla padne laga. Uski sakat aur himmat khatam hone lagi.

"Hammad... Hammad," woh usey awaaz de rahi thin.

Rahim qadre faaslay par hi ruk gaya tha. Agli subah car crash ki khabar shah surkhiyon mein dikhayi gayi thi, halankeh woh maut ka khel firing se shuru hua tha. ☆☆☆

Usne Junaid Lashari ko Haroon aur Hammad Shirazi ke janazon par shirkat karte dekha. Apni behan ke gham mein nadhhal unhein galey lagakar unke bete ke liye rote dekha. Woh Azam Shirazi ke samne bhi ruka tha.

Woh shakhs uske samne hi khada tha. Kai saal pehle usne uski jaan lene ki koshish ki thi aur kai saal baad usne uski behan ka ghar ujaad diya tha. Kya paisa, dolat mein itni taqat hai ke iske liye qeemti zindagiyon se khela jaye?

Woh us shakhs ki aankhon mein jeet aur fatah ka rang dekh sakta tha. Usne apne tor par Azam Shirazi ki nasal khatam kar di thi. Usne apne hareef ko akela, tanha, laachaar aur be-bass kar diya tha. Behna neem pagal thi. Ab jo kuch bhi tha, sirf uska tha. Control bhi, hukoomat bhi.

Jis dushmani ko dabaane ke liye aur jis karobar ko farogh dene ke liye yeh shadi hui thi, woh maqsad ba-akhir poora ho hi gaya tha. Ghar, banglay, jaydad aur Shirazi Enterprises — yeh sab kuch ab unke qabze mein jaane wala tha. Woh is mukhhs ki shaater nigahon ko dekh sakta tha.

Teen din ki taziyat ke baad ghar mein aik khamoshi aur aik sanata chha gaya. Gham aur sogwari ki fiza har taraf phaili hui thi. Kamray sunsaan, mulazimon ki sargoshiyaan madum. Roshnion mein safed tiles, safed kafan jaisi lag rahi thin.

Us raat woh wahin tha. Woh Azam Shirazi ke sath, unke kamray mein unka khayal rakhne ke liye tha, jahan sab mulazim Junaid Lashari ke hukum par kamra chhod kar chale gaye thay. Woh wahan khada raha.

"Suna nahi maine kya kaha?" Junaid Lashari ne ek dum se talkh ho kar hukum diya. Uski khatarnak sada tak, surkh padti aankhon mein gheyz o ghazab ka samandar tha. Muthiyaan sakhti se bheench kar usne apne gusse par qaboo paa liya.

"Mujhe unhein akela chhodne ki ijazat nahi hai."

Woh bola to awaaz be-had karakht thi.

"Kaun ho tum?" Junaid Lashari ko uske lehje se ajeeb khatre ka ehsas hua.

"Azam Shirazi ka mulazim hoon. Faris... Faris Wajdan."

Sofe par nadhhal se baithe Azam Shirazi ne neem-wa aankhein khol kar usse dekha. Woh apni wohi pehchaan barqaraar rakhe huye tha jo unhone usse di thi. Halankeh is lamhe, iski mojoodgi mein, apni kamzori ki haalat mein, woh kisi inteqami karwai ki tawakko rakhe hue thay.

Unke dil mein koi khauf nahi tha. Jo garajdaar awaaz thi, woh ab murda ho chuki thi. Woh usse dekh rahe thay, is baat se bilkul be-khabar ke Junaid Lashari isi waqt jhatke se apni jagah se uth khada hua tha.

Dusre hi pal usne apne shaaq bhare t’asuraat ko chhupane ki koshish ki thi. Woh ajnabi sa shakhs jo uske tasavvur mein kabhi tha hi nahi, magar uska naam yaad raha tha. Faris Wajdan.

Woh usse kabhi bhool nahi saka tha. Naam ke sath hi uske khadd-o-khaal mein us choudah pandrah baras ke larke ki wazeh shabih nazar aane lagi thi. Khaas tor par aankhon ka rang.

Kya woh usse pehchan chuka hai?

Yeh pehla khayal tha jo Junaid Lashari ke zehan mein aaya.

"Oh, kabhi dekha nahi tumhe."

Jhalak rahi thi. Azam Shirazi ke lab kapkapaye. "Khas aadmiyon mein se ek hoon. Har jagah nazar nahi aata." Us ke lehje ki barorat ankhon se zahir thi.

"Haider se bhi khas?" Yunhi sawaal kiya. Use Azam Shirazi ke ek ek aadmi ka ilm tha. Un ke kai guards tak us ke isharon par chalte the. "Agar aap mil chuke hoon to." Jawaab diye bagair usne darwaza khol kar unhein bahar ka rasta dikhaya. "Sahib aaram karna chahte hain."

Junaid Lashari ki peshaani par paseene ke qatrey namoodar hue the, aur aankhon mein ek meham sa shock ab bhi tha. Taasuraat albata sanjeeda thay. Wo composed lag raha tha. "Theek hai," usne mazeed behas ka irada tark kar diya. Is larke ko wo yaad tha ya nahi, ye alag baat thi magar ek baat tay thi, wo usse pehchan nahi saka tha. Agar pehchan leta to kam az kam is tarah baat na karta. Yaqeenan usay wo haadsa yaad nahi raha hoga.

Junaid Lashari ja chuka to zabt ki surkhi aankhon mein liye usne Azam Shirazi ki taraf qadam uthaye. Is waqt kamray mein in dono ke siwa aur koi nahi tha. Wo un ki nazron mein ajeeb sa tasha sa tasur dekh sakta tha. Dehshat ya khauf bhara nahi, bas is baat ka idraak karta hua tasur ke ye larka ab unse ek ek zulm ka badla lega.

In teen dino mein ek baar bhi unhon ne usay apne bhai ya baap ke liye rote nahi dekha tha. Wo taziyat ke douran safed shalwar suit mein malboos ek hi jagah, ek kone mein, itraf se mukammal bayniyaz, khamosh aur weeran sa baitha raha tha. Taziyat par koi ek insaan bhi us ke paas nahi gaya tha. Kisi ko bhi us ke nuksan, khsare aur rishte ka ilm nahi tha.

Wo sar uthaye usay dekh rahe thay. Shayad wo kuch kehne aya hai. Shayad koi ghussa, badla, inteqam. Ke un ke paas kamray mein rehne ka hukm usay aur kaun de sakta hai? Wo to is haalat mein bhi nahi thay ke kuch keh pate. Faris ne khamoshi se takiya durust kiya tha. Lihaf hata kar jagah banayi thi. Phir unhein sahara de kar sofa se uthaya tha, bed par lita diya tha. Pani ka glass bhar kar apne hathon se hi pilane laga ke un ke haath buri tarah se kapkapaa rahe thay.

Unhein lag raha tha, wo un ki jaan nikalne aya hai. Aur wo jaan aise nikalega ke iska to gumaan bhi nahi tha.

Wo ek dum se phoot phoot kar rone lage. Us ke samne, usay khud se lagaye. Lekin ek dum usay rone nahi aaya. Us ka dil pathar aur saaket tha. Us ki aankh se ab tak ek aansoo bhi nahi nikla tha.

Unhein ehsaas hua, unka aur us ka nuksan ek hi tha. Qareebi rishton ko dono ne kho diya tha. Magar usne apne bete ko, jawan potay ko kho diya tha. Unki sari zindagi ki jama pounji khatam ho gayi thi. Un ke tamam ke tamam faisley, irade, khwab aur umeed khaak, mitti, dhool ho kar reh gayi thi.

Wo rote rahe. Wo baitha raha. Usne apne baazoo ki giraft bhi mazboot nahi ki. Unhein tasalli ke liye koi ek jumla bhi nahi kaha. Kitne saal lage the unhein ek but mein tarashte hue. Ab wo mujassama ho kar kaise bol padta?

Is raat wo un ke kamre mein hi raha. Is raat bhi wo so nahi saka.

•••

Junaid Lashari ka dimaag ghooma hua tha. Aankho mein shock aur be-yaqeeni ka tassur tha. Faris Wajdan agar koi mulazim hota to zinda na hota. Aur agar zinda hota to use murda na kiya jata. Azam Shirazi ki yeh chaal samajh se baahir hogayi. Is larke ko is had tak bachane ki koshish kyun ki gayi? Use chupaya kyun gaya? Aur woh do baar Shirazi House gaya aur har baar woh Azam Shirazi ke saath hi nazar aaya. Woh ek lamhay ke liye bhi unhein chhod kar nahi jaata tha. Us ke samne to bilkul bhi nahi. Uski chaal, andaaz, lehja aur tassurat se yeh nahi lagta tha ke woh koi mulazim hai, magar woh dekh raha tha. Woh yeh hi ban kar dikh raha hai.

Faris Wajdan ko us raat yeh khabar mili ke Shirazi House mein wakeel ko bulaya gaya hai. Jo shak tha woh yaqeen mein badal gaya. Itna bara point woh kaise miss kar gaye? Itni badi khabar se kaise be-khabar rahe? Unse ghalti kaise aur kyun kar hogayi?

“Woh mujhe pehchan gaya hai,” yeh pehla khayal tha jo usay aaya. Yeh pehli baat thi jo usne sochi.

Dimaagh ek dum se kaam karne laga. Mansooba tay hua. Police apni tahqiqat kar rahi thi. Maamlay ko naya rang aur moarh dene ka waqt aa gaya tha.

Social media par ye khabar viral ho gayi. Akhbar ke front safahat par, kuch TV channels par bhi chala diya gaya.

'Jaidad ke lalach mein najayaz bete ne apne baap aur baday bhai ka qatal kar diya.'

Is khabar ne khalbali si macha di ke business tycoon Azam Shirazi ka to aik hi pota tha. Kai sawaal uthaye gaye, badnami alag. Apne wujood par aisa dhabbaa, aur aisa sawal usay shadeed aziyat se dochar kar gaya.

Pehla taaruf aur pehchaan. Woh pehchaan jo bhari duniya mein phela di gayi thi – najayaz aulaad! Uski tasveere viral ho gayin. Magazines, akhbarat aur private channels ko aik chatpata sa topic mil gaya.

Woh guest room mein kitni hi der tak sar jhukaye baitha raha. Junaid Lashari ne pehli chaal chal di thi. Saza ka ilzaam uske sar dalne ka aik raasta nikaal liya tha. Kaisa shaatir dimaagh tha uska. Uski haqeeqat tak pohanchne mein ek lamha nahi laga.

Planning bhi kar li, hamla bhi. War kiya ke wujood hisso mein bikhair diya. Usay lagta tha ke woh Shirazi House se bahar nahi nikal sakega. Kisi ka saamna nahi kar payega. Kisi sawal ka jawab nahi de sakega. Uski har wazahat khokhli lagti. Uski har daleel ka mazaaq udaya jata. Apni chahaton ke gala ghot te huye usne sajday mein sar rakha tha aur kitni hi der tak rakha raha tha. Uski haqeeqat is tarah nahi khulni chahiye thi.

Woh apne bimaar dada se kuch keh bhi nahi sakta tha. Sham tak social media par aik aur behas chhidh gayi. Jo manzar dikhaya ja raha tha, woh dhundla par gaya.

Yeh kaam Raahim Afaq ne kiya tha. Aarzoo Jahangir ke saath Haroon Shirazi ke nikah, divorce, aur paidaishi certificate ke tamam documents aik aik kar ke har jagah phela diye.

Usne Junaid Lashari ki chand ek audios bhi publish kar di. Woh jin ghair qanoni sargramiyo mein mulawis raha tha, unke mutaliq kuch dastawizaath thi.

“Aisay hai to phir aisay hi sahi, ab dekhta hoon main isey.."

Laptop par khat-khat ungliya chalata woh goya hua. Ek se zyada IDs aur har ID se jagah jagah behas karta aur ladhta hua links share karta hua.

Faris uske peeche khada tha. Gol ainak peeche khisakakar woh kursi par panjo ke bal ghoom bhi raha tha.

“Yeh Junaid Lashari to haath dhokar tumhare peeche hi par gaya hai. Bohat bara dhachka laga hai bechare ko tumhari soorat mein. Paagal hi ho gaya hai.”

Hashkar laptop ki screen uski taraf ghumayi.

“Zara apni tasveero par yeh larkiyon ke comments to check karo.” Uske ta'ssurat se katai beniyaz woh apni baatein kehta raha.

“Tum yeh sab kyun kar rahe ho?”

Usne Raahim se madad nahi maangi thi. Usay yeh bhi nahi pata tha ke iske maslay ka koi hal bhi uske paas hai. Guzishta chaar ghanton mein jo uski zaat sawalia nishan bani thi, us sawalia nishan ko yun mita dega, is ka to woham-o-gumaan bhi nahi tha.

"Maine Azam Sahab se baat ki aur unhon ne wo tamam documents de diye jo mujhe darkar the. Agar shukar ada karna hai toh apne dada ka karo. Maine toh yeh sab sirf public kiya hai. Aur haan, yeh sab free of charge nahi kar raha. Is sab se nikalte hi tum mujhe meri munh maangi keemat ada karoge."

"Kya samjhe? ungliya dukh gayi hain meri typing kar kar ke? Online jung ladna koi aasan kaam hai?"

Kursi gol ghuma kar phir uski taraf rukh kiya.

"Aur dekho, James aur William ne bhi saath diya hai. Woh screenshot lekar sirf itna poochte hain, raahim, yeh positive hai ya negative?"

"Aur bas. Phir woh jaate hain aur unke class fellows... Yeh aadhe se zyada jo Angrezo ne tumhari himayat mein comments kiye hain, toh yeh adad wahan se aa rahi hai..."

Hash kar bola. Uski aankho mein nami thehr gayi, lab bhinche rahe. Woh jabt ke kade marahil se guzarta hua uth kar baahir chala gaya. Kitni der tak ek band darwaze ke saath pusht tikaye khada raha. Andar ek aag si jal rahi thi.

Jo kuch ho raha tha, woh uske asaab par bhaari pad raha tha. Use Azam Shirazi ke kamre mein bulaya gaya. Samne hi unke wakeel baithe hue the. Woh wheelchair par the. Haider unke peeche khada tha. Files mein be-shumar documents the. Uska naam, uski pehchaan, uska sab kuch lota diya gaya tha. Sirf sign karne ki dair thi.

Azam Shirazi ne apni tamam jayedad apne hosh-o-hawas mein Faris Wajdan ke naam kar di thi.

wo sadme aur sakat nigaho se unhe dekhte huye apni jagah khada reh gaya tha. Ishara milte hi Haider, wakeel aur naukar sab kamre se chale gaye. Woh Azam Shirazi ko dekhta raha, aur woh gardan uthaye usse.

“Main is liye yahan nahi ruka tha.” Uski aankhein surkh ho chuki theen, uski awaaz bheegi hui thi. Uska wujood darzar tha. Azam Shirazi ki kefiyat bhi is lamhe mein mukhtalif na thi.

"Azam Sahab, mein..."

usne apne dada ko us lamhe sisak kar apna sar hatheliyo mein girate dekha.

"Aap ab mera tamasha bana rahe hain. Aap ab mujh par lagaye gaye ek ek ilzaam ko sach kar rahe hain."

“Main is liye yahan nahi ruka tha,” woh cheekh utha.

“Sirf is liye ke koi aap ke mare hue bete par sawal na uthaye. Aapne nikah nama public kiya. Sirf is liye ke koi aap ke bete ke kirdar par baat na kare. Aap mera birth certificate samne le aaye.”

Azam Shirazi ka sir nafi mein hila. Bohat koshish se woh wheelchair se uthet the.

“Faris,” woh do qadam peeche hata.

“Mujhe aap ka har sabaq achhi tarah se yaad hai. Mujhe aap ki nafrat yaad hai. Mujhe aap ka gussa yaad hai. Aap ke faislo ke zakhm meri rooh par abhi bhi taza hai, Aap ab yeh nahi karenge. Ab aap is tarah mujhe koi aur gham nahi dege.”

Woh ro raha tha. Woh unke samne panjo ke bal jhuka shikasta hal mein. Azam Shirazi ke ang ang mein azeet sama gayi.

“Hum ghalat the. Hum shuru se ghalat the. Humne tum par bohot zulm kiya.”

“Kisi yateem ke sar par haath rakhna zulm nahi hota.”

Azam Shirazi ka dil cheer gaya.

“Aap ke bohot ehsanaat hain mujh par, aur main hi in ehsanaat ki wajah se ruka.”

"Is naam ke liye nahi Ruka. Apne naam ke Liye Nahi. Shirazi Khandan ke Liye Nahi. Main Yahan..."

Uski awaaz ek dum se kamzor pad gayi.

"Main yahan sirf mummy ke liye. Aap ke liye ruka tha, Azam Sahab."

Azam Shirazi ko laga unhein agla saans nahi aayega.

“Mujhe yeh nahi chahiye,” usne tamam kagzat phenk diye.

“Meri zaat aaj poore media par discuss ho rahi hai. Sirf itna kare, mujhe phir se gumnam kar dein, jaise pehle kiya tha. Mujhe ek baar phir se maar dein... Jaise, jaise pehle maara tha. Ek aur qabar.”

Woh jis tarah se baat kar raha tha, toota hua, aziyat mein, karb se bhara hua. Unka dil bas phatne ko tha.

"Faris..." kis qadr koshish se unka naam liya.

“Aap phir se koi hukum dein, koi plan karein, kuch toh karein!” Woh cheekha tha.

Apni zaat par tohmat sirf adina zubair ki sahi thi. Ab toh khule aam uska wajood discuss ho raha tha. Nikah nama par baat ho rahi hai. Aarzoo Jahangir ko ghera ja raha hai. Woh interviews dene se katra rahi hai. Ek qatil bete se woh khud ko kyun jodti? Woh is khabar ki wazahat ya tarteed kuch bhi nahi kar rahi. Ab main haalat se ladne ki quwwat kahan se lata?

Woh unhein dekh raha tha. Kitna tod diya tha unhone usse. Kitna kamzor kar diya tha uski zaat ko. Kitni badi aziyat se dochar kar chuke the woh usse.

"Yeh hamara faisla tha. Humne tumhein tumhare baap se juda kar diya." Unki awaaz bhaari, kamzor thi. Aulad aur pote ka sadma unhein khatam kar gaya tha.

"Humne kiya. Hamari nasal sirf Jameela ki aulaad se chalegi. Dekho toh hamare ghuroor aur takabbur ne hamare saath kya kiya. Jo baat Allah tay karta hai, woh humne tay karna chahi..."

Faris aankho mein nami liye unhein dekhta raha.

"Humne tumse tumhara haq, tumhari pehchaan cheeni. Aur humse bhi sab le liya gaya."

Usne be-ikhtiyar nafi mein sir hilaya.

"Humne tumhein tanha kiya. Aaj hum bhi tanha ho gaye." Woh andar tak tootne laga. Mazeed wahan baithna, unhein sunna, unhein dekhna mushkil ho gaya.

"Humne hakim ban kar faisle kiye. Hum par asli Hakim ka faisla aa gaya."

Unka poora wujood laraz raha tha. Woh ussi waqt uth kar chala gaya. Azam Shirazi ka chehra tar hone laga tha. Unki siskiya sannate mein goonjne lagi theen. Unke aas paas ab andheron ke siwa kuch bhi na raha tha.

❏❏❏