Chapter 99: ּ ֶָ֢.CH 98

Us ki aankh khuli to bed par Jannat ko na pa kar foran se uth baitha. Haath barhakar laptop on kar diya. Table clock par waqt dekha to dhai baj rahe the.

"Yeh kahan chali gayi?"

Tezi se uth kar woh bahar aa gaya. Rahdari sunsan thi. Kitchen lights off,. Namaz wale kamray mein bhi koi na tha. Mrs. Shirazi ke kamray mein bhi. Wo chand lamhe pareshaani ke alam mein, saraiyahat se kadam uthata woh library tak gaya. Drawing room, phir aqbi deewar ka sheeshe ka darwaza khol kar dayi taraf mura aur jhatke se ruk gaya.

Woh usay samne hi baithi nazar ayi. Swimming pool ke bilkul samne. Pool chairs par baithi hui thi. Ek haath mein plate, doosre haath mein spoon liya hua tha, maze se biryani kha rahi thi. Can paas hi rakha tha. us par nazar pari to us ke chehre ke ta’asuraat badal gaye. Jis tarah woh usay dekh raha tha, kuch gusse se, to usay laga woh buri tarah fas gayi hai.

Kya sochega? Roti aankhon ke sath study room se lagi thi aur ab itne maze se khuli fiza mein khana kha rahi thi.

"Main sachme bohot dukhi hoon," apne halq se mushkil se niwala utarte hue tezi se boli.

"Mujhe bhook lag rahi thi. Maine socha thoda sa khaa leti hoon. Warna, mera matlab hai... Sachm is baat par udaas hoon ke tum naraz ho..."

"Kya maine kuch kaha?" daant pees kar poocha, to woh sharminda ho gayi. Woh usay sard nigaho se ghoorta wapas palat gaya. Kitchen mein tap kar fridge khola. Dara hi diya tha usne toh. Ab raat ke is pehar lawn mein khana kaun khata hai bhala?

"Kya tum meri fikar mein uth kar aa gaye?" Be-had qareeb se awaaz goonji.

"Paani peene aaya hoon."

"Paani toh kamre mein bhi rakha hai."

Daant pees kar water bottle ka dhakkan khola. "Mujhe thanda paani chahiye tha."

"Room fridge mein bhi thanda hi rakha hai."

Woh zabt kar ke muda.

"Kya tumhein mujh se koi masla ho raha hai?"

Usne foran se nafi mein sar hilaya.

"Mujhe bhala kya masla hoga? Bhale se tum swimming pool ka paani piyo, main kaun hoti hoon aitraz karne wali?"

Bohot samajhdari aur sanjeedgi se apne lehje ko dhalte hue boli, ke mazeed koi bad-mizgi na ho, magar uska aakhri jumla Faris ka paara chadha gaya.

"Yani mera raat ko uth kar paani peene ke liye kitchen mein aana normal nahi hai?"

"Maine yeh kab kaha?"

"Tum yeh hi keh rahi ho."

Usne pehle nafi mein sar hilaya, phir foran se asbaat mein gardan hilai. "Normal baat hai, mein to! Bas waise hi keh rahi thi."

Plate haath mein thi. Ek aur niwala munh mein dala aur uske paas aa kar khadi ho gayi. "Kuch khao ge?"

"Tum bas apni shakal gum kar lo!" Usne haath ke ishaare se use wahan se jane ko kaha.

"Agar paas khadi raugi toh kya ho jayega?"

"Mera dimagh urh jayega." Dahine haath ko peshani tak le ja kar bhun kar jawab diya. Woh biryani khate khate uske peeche peeche kamre mein aa gayi.

"Asal mein, bahar sirf khana nahi kha rahi thi. Baith kar soch bhi rahi thi ke tumhare saath meri sulah ab kaise ho sakti hai? Waghaira waghaira. Pehle maine socha aunty se baat karni chahiye."

"Don't you dare!" Usne lehaaf hata kar bed par baithte hue use kadhe tewaro se ghoora. Jannat ke halq mein beech kuch atak gaya. Dar kar foran baat badli.

"Haan, haan, bilkul. Mujhe bhi yeh hi laga ke yeh acha idea nahi hai. Aunty ko tension dena bilkul bhi durust nahi hai."

Woh lehaaf taan kar let gaya.

"Phir maine socha ke tumhe thoda sa waqt aur space dena chahiye."

"Thank you very much!" Usne jis tarah se sulag kar kaha, toh use laga ke is baat par wo razi ho raha hai.

"Time aur space chahiye mohtaram ko."

"lekin phir maine socha, kitna time aur space?"

"Will you please let me sleep now?" Usne lehaaf utha kar ghusse se kaha, toh Jannat ki aankho mein khafa si shikayat aagayi. Be-izzati jaisi feeling thi.

"Sure," ahista se boli. "Main kaun si keh rahi thi ke mere saath jago. Khud hi toh uth kar aa gaye, main to lawn mein baithi hui thi..." Bud-bada kar uth gayi. Kuch qadm chal kar wapas palat aayi. Us ke sirhane badi mushkil se jhuki.

"Are you sure tumhein time aur space chahiye?"

Woh lab bheench kar reh gaya.

"Ab mera koi maika bhi nahi hai jahan main kuch dino ke liye chali jaoon." Badi becharghi se keh kar seedhi hui. Faris ki lihaf mein band aankhein khul gayi.

"Mudhat Bano ke saath apne dusre ghar shift ho jaoon kuch dino ke liye? Mera matlab hai agar tum chaho to. Is tarah tum mujhe bar bar nazar aate ho to mera baat karne ka dil chahta hai aur tum gusse mein aa jaate ho."

Us ne chehre se lihaf hata diya. Us ke ta'asuraat se usay ek dum apni bewakoofi ka ehsaas hua ke is ghar mein us ne naraz ho kar hi jaana tha, naraz kar ke to nahi. Ab jo agar us ne keh diya ke "haan chali jao" to phir kya karegi woh?

"I think mujhe hi ghar chor dena chahiye." Woh uthne laga to woh foran se mana karne lagi.

"Nahi nahi, I’m sorry. Tum aaram karo. Main kuch nahi kahungi, kuch nahi bolungi. Good night, Allah Hafiz!" Foran se use kehti bahar nikal gayi. Darwaza bhi band kar diya.

Woh lab bheenche apni jagah baitha reh gaya tha.

•••

Agle din, usne jaise taise khud par zabt kiya aur Faris se mukhatib nahi hui. Saara din woh udaas rahi aur Faris office room mein cake, pastries aur jaane kya kya mangwa kar khata raha. Ghanta der ghanta swimming bhi ki. Shaam tak kahin ghoomne bhi chala gaya.

Woh bohot sabr se sab mashaahidah karti rahi.

"Koi baat nahi, Jannat. Dil dukhaya hai tumne uska. Aitbaar toda hai. Zara sa sabr karo, sab theek ho jayega," woh khud ko samjhati rahi.

Raat ka khana usne dining table par akelay baith kar khaya, kyun ke mohsoof ne Gul Khan se pizza banwa liya tha, aur ab lawn mein akelay tanawul farma rahe the. Woh kayi baar zabt kar ke darwaze tak gayi aur phir zabardasti ki muskaraahat labo par sajaye wapas palat aayi.

"Waqt aur space," gehri saans le kar dohraya. "Sab theek ho jayega," haath phela kar khud se kaha.

Fasla bas ek din tak hi rakh saki, ke agle din subah sawere hi us ke gym mein pohanch gayi.

"Any problem?"

Woh chest press machine par tha aur usay dekhte hi handle chhod kar uth gaya tha.

"Kya humare darmiyan ab kuch bhi theek nahi hoga?" Bohut becharagi bhare dukh se poocha.

Woh aankho mein khafgi liye usay dekhta raha.

"Ab main tumse maafi mang to rahi hoon." Steps utar kar neeche aayi.

"Kya maine kaha mujhe maafi ki zarurat hai ya main tumse naraz hoon?"

Jannat ki bhawen sukr gayin.

"Main manti hoon maine ghalat kiya. Mujhe tumhari baat maan leni chahiye thi."

"Kya main koi shikwa kar raha hoon?"

Jannat kuch keh na saki.

"Aur agar tumhein apni kisi deal ya waade ki parwah hai to fikr mat karo. Mujhe sab yaad hai."

Jannat ne rohaansa ho kar Faris ko dekha. Woh kya keh rahi thi aur woh kya sun raha tha.

"Kaunsi deal? Kaisa waada? Hamare darmiyan sab theek toh ho gaya tha."

Faris ne sar uthakar usay dekha. "Kab theek hua tha?"

"Woh meri aakhri ghalti se pehle," sharminda ho kar boli.

"Agar sab theek hota, to kya tum woh harkat karti jo tumne ki?"

Jannat apni jagah tham gayi.

"Abhi tum keh rahe the tum mujh se naraz nahi ho," woh rohaansi ho kar boli.

"Maine yeh kab kaha?" Uske peshaani par bal aa gaye.

"To jis wajah se naraz ho, us wajah par... I’m really sorry."

"You may leave now!" Usne maasoomiyat se kaha, tahakkum se.

Woh bujhe dil ke saath apne kamray mein band ho gayi.

"Kya bana?" Kuch hi der mein Aima ki call aayi. Woh Dubai mein thi aur kyunke ab tak bade bhai ne baaz-pars nahi ki thi, to kuch mutmain lag rahi thi. Usne mobile ko hata kar ghoora, aur phir kaan se lagaya.

"Jannat, tum."

"Aima, main waise hi bohot pareshaan hoon. Please mujhe kuch mat kaho," woh gheri saans le kar reh gayi.

Dopehar mein, Aima ne dobara call ki. Woh lounge mein pareshan si baithi thi.

"Acha tum aisa karo, mujhe batao woh kisi brand ki accessories istemal karte hain? Meri dost kal Pakistan ja rahi hai, main uske haath bhijwa deti hoon." Peeche se kuch shor bhi sunayi de raha tha wo mall me thi sayad.

Aima ne Alexander McQueen ke cufflinks bheje. Bas insani khopdiya hi nazar aayi.

(Alexander McQueen skull cufflinks)

"Kaun leta hoga yeh?" Jannat ki aankhon mein nagawari utar aayi.

"Musalman pehnte honge toh namaz toh nahi hoti hogi," kuch aur tasveere ko bhi rad kar diya.

"Tum mujhe theek se bata do gi toh main koi behtar gift le sakungi na," Aima tang aa gayi.

"Mujhe kya pata, main khud pehli baar yeh kharid rahi hoon." Usne haath khade kar diye. "Pakistan ki koi cheez hoti toh mujhe samajh bhi aata, uska toh sab kuch baahar ka hai."

"Na tumhe Cartier ki samajh aa rahi hai na, Alexander McQueen ki, Tum Faris bhai se pooch lo, unhe kis brands ki pasand hain, toh wahi bata do, main le aaungi."

"Agar woh mere kisi sawal ka jawab dete toh kya hi baat thi." Thandi aah bhar kar ahistagi se darwaza kholti kamre mein dakhil hui. Lights off thi. Woh so raha tha.

"Ek second!" Sarghoshi mein kehte huye wardrobe ka rukh kiya. Khidkiyo par parde giray hue the, magar zard roshni phir bhi mehsoos ho rahi thi. Ahista se wardrobe slide ki, daraz khole, Uske cufflinks ka shandar sa collection samne tha.

Mobile ki flash light on kiye, kuch tasveer kheench kar bheji. Aima kuch der tak toh uljhati rahi, phir usay chand ek brands samajh aa gaye.

"Haan, yeh toh Cartier hi ki lag rahi hai. Aur is taraf Dunhill ki hai. Bhai pehnte hain. Isay. Aur yeh Omega hai, I guess. Aur yeh pata nahin kis brand ki hai."

"Main dekhti hoon."

Chand aik siyah rang ke box the. Unhein khol kar dekha, brand ka naam check kiya. Bhool gayi, kamre mein hai. Aur Faris bhi so raha hai. Pehle jo mohtaat ho kar check kar rahi thi, ab be-ehteyati se uthak pathak karne lagi thi.

"Montblanc!" Usne naam parh kar bataya.

"Mon Blan!" Aqab se kumayri si awaaz mein se tashreeh ki gayi. "T aur C silent hain."

Woh ek haath mein mobile, doosray mein box liye apni jagah pathar hui. Munh band kar ke aankhein meein li. Woh lihaf hata kar uth gaya. Lights on kar di.

"Kya kar rahi ho?" Gardan mor kar apni wardrobe par sarsari si nigah dhodhayi. Ab agar woh bata deti kya kar rahi thi to surprise ka to yehi beda gharq ho jana tha. Taizi se box andar rakha, daraz band ki, aur wardrobe band kar di. Phir dheere se muskura kar muri.

"Kuch nahi, bas waise hi. Dekh rahi thi. Tumhare cufflinks kaafi achhe hain na, to isliye." Muskuraahat.

Woh bhanwain sikode usay dekhta raha.

"Mere cufflinks ka tumne kya karna hai?" ukhada hua lehja.

"Kuch nahi... Main bhala kya karungi. Ye to aise hi bas... Main chalti hoon. Tum aaraam karo." Khisakna chaha to woh raste mein eestada ho gaya.

"Kya maine ye nahi kaha tha ke aaraam kar raha hoon, mujhe disturb na kiya jaye?" Lehja sakht tha.

"Haan, bilkul! Kaha tha. Main bas wo... ghalti se., Sorry!"

Apni jaan bachati, daye taraf khisak kar bahar nikal gayi.

"Ufff..." Sanse bahaal karte hue seene par haath rakha. Phir Aima ko call ki. Usne teeno brands ke cufflinks ki mukhtalif tasaveer bheje, Ab woh baghor dekhte hue pasand kar rahi thi. Mon Blanc ka cufflink usay pasand aa gaya. Ek Omega ka liya. Sab done karke mutmain ho gayi. Shaam tak Aima ne bataya ke uski dost kal ki flight se wapas nahi aa rahi thi.

"Yeh aaj kal mere saath itna bura kyun ho raha hai?" Woh ro dene ko thi. Socha tha kal hi gift de kar baat karegi, magar...

Ab woh sheeshe ki deewar ke samne daaye se baye, aur baye se daaye march karne lagi thi. Behtar hai ke yahin se kuch khareed le. Acha sa qalam ya phir ghari. Kal usay hospital check-up ke liye jana tha. Usne parso ka plan banaliya. Faris qareeb se guzar raha tha to muskura kar uske peeche aayi.

"Hello, Mrs. Sherazi! Paanch minute honge aapke paas?"

"Nahi!" Saaf inkaar.

Tahammul se uska bazu pakar kar rok liya.

"Is tarah munh bana kar rehne se behtar nahi hai ke tum mujhe thoda sa daant do, ghussa dikha do, thoda sa lar jhagad lo? Main chup chaap sun loongi. Tumhein kuch bhi nahi kahungi."

"Aur main aisa kyun karu?"

"Taake humare darmiyan sab theek ho jaye."

"Kyun theek ho jaye?"

Jannat ne bebasi se usay dekha.

"Faris..."

Ek haath jeb mein dale, doosra haath railing par rakhe, usay ghoorta hua seedhiyanchadh gaya.

Woh lab bheench kar reh gayi thi.

•••

Mrs. Shirazi ki sehat behtar hui to Wajdan House mein dawat rakhi gayi. Ghar roshniyo mein nahaaya hua tha. Dost ahbab aur kuch rishtedaro ko mad’oo kiya gaya tha. Uski taraf se Saira Khala aur Ibrahim Uncle bhi aaye the.

Khane ka intizam wasee lawn mein kiya gaya. Gol maizo ke gird tarteeb se kursiya rakhi gayi. Mulazim mustaidi se apna kaam sar anjaam dete hue mehmaanon ka bohot achhe se isteqbaal kar rahe thay. Mehmaano ki tawajju ka markaz Rayan bana hua tha. Sab us se mil rahe thay, usay pyar kar rahe thay. Wo apni dadi ki god mein tha, aur itne saare bacho ki mojoodgi mein neeche nahi utar raha tha. Woh bacho ko dekh raha tha lekin unke saath khelna nahi chahta tha. Bhaagna nahi chahta tha.

Chand ek baar mrs. Shirazi ne usay neeche utara, magar wo rone lag gaya tha.

"Kya woh darr raha hai?" Jannat pareshan hui. Ruby ne bataya tha ke Ausaf Manzil ke bacho ki wajah se hi use kai baar chot aayi thi. Mrs. Shirazi ke seene par sir rakhe, jis tarah wo kuch pareshan sa sab ko dekh raha tha, to Jannat ke dil ko kuch hua. Halankeh sara din wo kaafi fresh raha tha.

Is dauran, apne bhai aur paros ke bachon ke saath khelti Zoya ki nazar us par padi, aur wo sab chhod chhad kar ruk gayi. Us par ek dum se inkashaf hua ke wo bohot chhota sa baby hai. Apne safed frock mein bhaagti hui paas aa khadi hui.

Mrs. Shirazi baato mein masroof thi. Zoya pehle badi badi aankhein phaila kar usay dekhti rahi.

"Baby!" Usay woh achha laga. Haath utha kar uska haath pakadna chaha, magar Rayyan ne foran se kheench liya. Zoya ghuma kar doosri taraf aayi to Rayyan bhi gardan mor kar usay dekhne laga.

Usne apne nanhe se purse ki zip khol kar us mein se toffee nikaal kar uski taraf barhayi.

"Baby! Yeh lo." Pyari si awaaz mein puch kara. Daye jaanib sir jhuka kar mohabbat se usay dekhte hue qareeb ho kar apna haath mazeed ooper kiya. Phir khayal aaya, khol kar dena chahiye. Toffee khol kar di to Mrs. Shirazi mutawajjah ho gayi. Unhone us ke haatho se toffee le kar Rayyan ke munh mein de di. Meethi si naram cheez thi. Usne chaba chaba kar kha li.

Phir wo bhaag kar gayi aur apne chhote bag se ek aur chocolate aur chips ka aadha khula hua packet nikal layi. Mrs. Shirazi ne muskura kar usay dekha. Phir Rayyan ko neeche utar diya. Rayyan unke ghutnon se lag kar khada raha. Ab wo chhote chhote chips ke tukde uske munh mein de rahi thi. Bohot sanjeedgi aur badi zimmedaari ke saath.

"Baby! Yeh bhi lo." Rayyan uske saath hi neeche baith gaya. Woh jo kuch uske munh mein daal rahi thi, wo kha raha tha.

Jannat ko wo manzar bohot pyara laga. Mrs. Usman ki baate sunti muskuraate hue un dono ko dekhti rahi. Usay nahi pata tha ke yeh cute sa interaction kuch hi dair mein ek khatarnak mod lene wala hai.

Jab mehmano ke liye khana lagaya ja raha tha, to Zoya ne ek alag hi qisam ka mutalba rakh diya. Woh Jannat ke paas aa gayi thi.

"Janna babi! Main baby ko apne ghar le jaau?"

Woh jo thakaan ka shikar saare intizam ko dekh rahi thi, ruk gayi. Aankhein phaila kar Zoya ko dekha. Kuch hairet se! Usay Rayyan chahiye tha. Aise nahi ke khelne ke liye ya dosti ke liye chahiye tha. Wo usay apne saath ghar le jaana chahti thi.

"Zoya, wo bahut chhota hai. Aap usay ghar kaise le jayegi?"

"Main uska khayal rakhungi. Khana bhi dungi. Bohot saari chawket (chocolate) dungi, bistit (biscuits) dungi."

Jannat ko hansi aa gayi.

"Lekin wo bohot chhota hai, bohot royega."

"Main usay chup karwa lungi," wo pur-aitmaad thi.

"Aap roz yahan aa jaya karein, Rayyan ke saath yahan khelen, chocolate aur biscuit bhi dena," daleel se samjhana chaha, magar Zoya ko aur koi hal qubool nahi tha. Zidd bandh li aur rona shuru kar diya. Apni mama ko khana bhi khane nahi de rahi thi.

"Isay jo bhi bacha pasand aata hai kehti hai ke ghar le chale," wo hans kar batane lagi.

Jannat ke kuch aur samajh mein nahi aaya toh keh diya, "Rayyan Faaris ka hai." Zoya Faris se bohot darti thi.

Umeed thi ke apni zidd se peeche hat jaayegi, magar wo choti si apne safed frock mein ghoomti hui Faris ke paas pohanch gayi.

"Faris untle!" Uske ghutne par haath rakh kar mutawajjah kiya toh wo baat adhoori chhod kar uski taraf mura.

"Janna babi ne kaha, baby aapka hai."

Pehle toh usay kuch samajh nahi aaya ke wo kya keh rahi hai.

"Wo wala baby aapka hai?" Tasdeeq ke liye door ishaara kiya. Mrs. Shirazi ki taraf. Faris ki bhanwe sikud gayi.

"Main baby ko apne saath ghar le jau..?" Ab wo badi sanjeedgi se ijazat maang rahi thi.

Ek toh uski Jannat baji! daant pees kar Jannat ki talaash mein nigah dohraai toh wo apni kursi par baithi nichla lab daanto mein dabaye Jamila Daud ke peeche chhup gayi.

"Allah! Yeh kya ho gaya. Ab aur narazgi, kya sochega, bachi ko sikha kar bhej diya ke baby uska hai. Ab usay poori baat kaun samjhaye?"

"Aap usay mujhe de do. Main thelungi (khelugi), Main bohot khayal rakhugi," wo usse darr bhi rahi thi, jhijhak bhi rahi thi aur mutalba bhi kar rahi thi.

Uske walid sahib wahin baithe the.

"Chalo, Faris, jaldi se meri beti ka rishta maango aur bas!"

"Aapke dono bacho ke rishte isi ghar mein hoge?" Usne jis tarah se tap kar poocha, Ubaid bhai ka qehqa s buland hua.

Wo sar jhatak kar reh gaya.

Jannat ne Zaid ko bhej kar Zoya ko mushkil se wahan se hata diya.

Khana lag chuka tha. Wo ab tamaam intezaam dekh rahi thi. Go ke mulazim mojood the, magar phir bhi usay nighrani karni padh rahi thi.

Mehman khana khane lage toh wo Saira khala ke paas hi baith gayi. Paon dukh rahe the aur thakan ki wajah se kamar mein bhi dard ho raha tha. Mehmano mein baithna zaroori tha. Uth kar ja bhi nahi sakti thi. Halanke Mrs. Shirazi ne kaha tha ke wo kuch der aaram kar le, magar usay munaasib nahi lag raha tha.

Saira Khala ab us se baat kar rahi thi. Unke ilm mein nahi tha ke Faris ka bhatija bhi hai.

“Apne nanihaal mein tha,” usne bataya.

“Toh ab yahin rahega?”

Uski nigah bhatakti hui Faris tak gayi.

“Ji, inshaAllah, yahin rahega,” usne kaha. Kuch der tak idhar udhar ki baatein karti rahi, phir chup ho gayi.

“Wahan sab kaise hain?” Aahista se poocha. “Sab” se murad uski behne thi.

“Sab theek hain. Haniya ki mashaAllah se beti hui hai. Pichle hafte sab uski taraf the.”

Wo zara si muskurai, magar aankho ki nami ko na daba saki. Na koi lafz ada kar saki, na jazbat ke izhar ke liye kuch keh saki. Wahan sab ikatthe the aur wo nahi thi. Gham, khushi, dawat ya mulaqat koi talluq hi us se nahi rakha gaya tha.

Uski khushi mein bhi un mein se koi na pehle shamil hua tha, na ab ho sakta tha. Uske bcche ki chheh khala thi, un mein se koi bhi uski paidaish par mojood nahi thi. Gahri saans lekar usne khayalat ko jhatak diya. “Wo in maamlat se nikal chuki hai,” usne khud ko samjhaya. “Wo aage barh chuki hai.” Bar bar dohraya.

Ab wo khana kha rahi thi. Saira Khala use dekh rahi thi. Behno ke siwa usne kabhi bhi khandan ke kisi doosre fard ke baare mein nahi poocha tha. Maheen, Burhan, apne taya ki family ke baare mein bhi nahi.

Saira Khala ki aankhein soch mein doob rahi theen. Wo use kuch batana chahti theen kuch aisi baatein jo ab tak uske ilm mein nahi thi magar phir unhone irada tark kar diya.

Jin ka zikar takleef se do char karde, unka zikar behtar hai kiya hi na jaye.

Kuch der ke baad wo uth kar mehmaano ko dekhne lagi ke kisi ko kisi cheez ki zarurat na ho. Mulazim salad, raita aur mukhtalif dishes serve karte nazar aa rahe the. Wo paani ki bottle pakde Mrs. Shirazi ke paas baith gayi.

Rayyan unki god mein so gaya tha. Zoya apni mama ke paas baithi khana kha rahi thi. Woh Kuch der ke liye wo Rayyan ko bhool gayi thi. Jannat ne muskara kar use dekha.

Itaraf mein chahal-pahal aur ronaq nazar aa rahi thi. Sab bohot acha lag raha tha. Kursi par baithe baithe takleef ko chupate hue usne apni position badalne ki koshish ki.

“Tum jao, ab thoda aaraam kar lo,” Mr. Shirazi ne fikarmandi se kaha.

“Nahi, bas theek hai.” Kalai mod kar waqt dekha.

Mrs. Shirazi dost se baatein kar rahi theen. Paani ke chand ghont liye. Aur tabhi usne Faris ko andar jaate dekha, toh mazrat karte hue foran uth kar uske peeche sadar darwaza aboor karte hue rahdari mein chali gayi.

Wo phone call attend kar raha tha. Wo muntazir si khadi rahi. Uska British lehja dimaag ghuma raha tha. Kuch baatein samajh mein aa gayi, kuch nahi aayi. Guftagu karobari nahi thi; kisi Raahim ka zikar ho raha tha jisse ghaliban Faris ka rabta nahi ho pa raha tha.

Baat karte karte jo hi muda to nazar Jannat par padi, wo alert ho gayi.

“Farmaiye?” Call disconnect karte hue uski taraf mura.

Ek toh itna formal aur ajnabi sa ravaiyya hota tha iska ke bas...

Aahista se muskurai.

“Main ne socha, pooch loon, kisi cheez ki zarurat toh nahi hai?”

“Kuch chahiye hoga toh khud le luga. Tumhe fikr karne ki zarurat nahi.” Sard lehje mein jawab dete hue usne rukh badal liya. Nigahe mobile screen par jami hui thi, kuch type kar raha tha.

“Kyun fikr na karu? Aakhir ko tum mere shauhar ho,” jata kar kehte hue wo uske samne khadi ho gayi.

"Pata nahi kitne dino tak hoon." Us ki bar barahat waazeh thi.

"Kitne dino tak se kya matlab? Hamesha ke liye ho."

"Kisi ne khula ke liye court bhi jana tha," us ne yaad dilaya.

"Achha," woh anjaan ban gayi.

Aur jis ke khilaf jana tha, woh koi vehsi, zalim aur darinda tha. Scrolling karte hue kuch 'ok' kar ke send kar diya.

"Sirf zalim?" Jannat ne foran se tok diya. "Main ne vehshi darinda tumhain kabhi nahi samjha. Haan yeh zarur sochti thi ke kitna khadoos hai, ziddi aur badtameez hai, aur kitna maghroor hai yeh baat bhi nahi karta, jawab nahi deta, aur dekho meri chai pi gaya. Bhooka kahin ka!"

Apni dhun mein bol rahi thi. Zabaan ko brake lagi jab Muthiya bandh karte hue Faris ne jis tarah se lab bheench kar sir uthaya tha, to usay laga ab uski khair nahi.

"Yeh to main purani baatein kar rahi hoon, jo main pehle sochti thi, tab to main bohot hi pagal thi," foran i'tiraaf kiya aur bari hi masoom si muskaraahat dikhayi, jis ka koi faida na hua.

"Aur reh kya gaya hai?" Faris ka paara charh gaya tha.

"Tum reh gaye ho. Baaki jo kuch bhi samajhti thi, woh khatam ho gaya."

Woh apni jagah thehr gaya. Woh aankhon mein nami liye usay dekhti rahi. Woh sar jhatak kar rukh badal gaya.

"Aisa kab tak chalega?" Bohut hi narami aur pyar se poochte hue apni gardan ko dayein taraf jhukaya.

"Bohot lambe arse tak," jawab foran mil gaya. Woh ghoom kar uske samne khadi hui. Sar ghumakar usay baghoor dekha.

"Main ne pehli baar ghour kiya hai, tum naraz ho kar zyada achhe lagte ho," haath badha kar uski tie knot durust ki.

"Tum bhi behtar lagugi agar mujh se door rahogi toh," tohammul se warning di.

"Phir main buri hi theek hoon," khushi khushi uska bazu pakar kar dahina gaal kande se laga liya.

Faris ka mobile baj utha. Kisi James Anderson ki call thi. Us ne bazu chhod diya aur call receive karta gallery mein ja khada hua.

Jannat gehri saans leti sofa par ja baithi. Gardan ko peeche kiye aur ceiling ko ghoorne lagi. Pata nahi iski ghoorne ki aadat kab khatam hogi. Nigahe gallery tak gayi,  woh phone kaan se lagaye baat kar raha tha. Uske labo par muskaraahat nazar aa rahi thi. Woh seedhi ho baithi. Kitne dino baad woh is tarah muskara raha tha. Usne nigah hata li, jaise nazar lag jane ka khadsa ho.

Phir dupatta durust karti bahar chali gayi.

❏❏❏