Sehar e Roshni episode 22
written by sirraha
Aaj ek baar phir wo us unchi imarat ke aage khadi thi. Aaj phir dil mein ajeeb si be-chaini thi, magar dil ko sambhalti hui wo kadam badhati aage chalti gayi aur apni class ke samne ja kar ruki.
Ek gehri saans lekar wo andar dakhil hui. Usne apni us din wali jagah par dekha jahan Zoya ka bag rakha tha. Wo abhi aage kadam badhati ke usse pehle hi kisi ne use zor se gale laga liya.
”Seharrr! Tum aa gayi… tumhe pata hai maine tumhe kitna miss kiya? Ab tumhare Papa ki tabiyat kaisi hai? Wo theek hain na? Tum ab toh roz aaogi na?” Wo Zoya thi jo Sehar ko gale laga kar bas bolti hi ja rahi thi.
”Are bas-basss… mujhe chodhoge tabhi toh bataungi na,” Sehar ko use is tarah dekh kar hansi aa gayi.
”Oh… sorry!” Zoya ko jab ehsas hua toh wo piche hat gayi. “Actually meri aadat hai, main jab bolti hoon toh chup nahi hoti,” usne apni gardan masalte hue bola.
”Are nahi! Actually tumhe kisne bataya ki mere Papa ki tabiyat theek nahi thi? I mean… maine toh kisi ko nahi bataya tha,” Sehar ne use dekhte hue pucha.
”Are… wo Principal sir ne bataya tha ma’am ko, toh unhone kaha tha.”
”Zarur Nanu ne bataya hoga,” usne man mein socha.
”Sehar chalo, main tumhe apne doston se milati hoon!” Sehar aage kuch bolti usse pehle Zoya uska hath pakad kar use class ke ek kone mein le jane lagi. Wo apne bag ko sambhalti uske peeche khinchi chali gayi.
Chaar ladkon ke group ke samne Zoya ne ja kar ruki. “Hello guys! So meet my new friend.” Un sab ka dhyan us taraf gaya.
Sehar unhe dekh kar pehchan gayi. Ye wahi the jinhone uski help ki thi. Sehar ne unhe dekh halki si muskan di.
”Hello, I am Sahil,” sabse pehle Sahil ne apna ta’aruf karwaya. Uske baad Rohan aur Sameer ne bhi. Magar wahan khada Ayaan jaise jam gaya tha…
”Ayaan kuch bol…” Sameer ne uske kaan mein sargoshi ki. Toh us bhuri ankhon wale ladke ne apna hath aage badhaya.
”Myself Ayaan.” Uski nazrein Sehar ke chehre pe gadi hui thin.
Sehar ne pehle uska hath dekha aur phir use. Usne hath aage nahi badhaya, bas sapat chehre ke sath boli: “Myself Sehar Khanam.”
Sabki nazrein Ayaan ke badhte hath ki taraf thin… Rohan ne hansi ke mare apna munh piche kar liya tha. Zoya samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki ho kya raha hai isiliye wo boli:
”Accha toh Sehar, ye hain mere dost: Ayaan, Sahil, Rohan aur Sameer. Aur mera yahi group hai kyunki meri girls se nahi banti,” usne bagal mein khadi ladkiyon ke group ko dekh munh banate hue bola.
”Sach bolo na ki girls tumhe apne sath nahi rakhtin,” Sahil ne dheere se bola. Magar Zoya sun chuki thi.
”Kya bole tum… Kacche Baingon!” Usne gusse se use ghoora.
”Eyy! Kaccha Baingon mat bolna mere dost ko!” Rohan ne ungli utha kar use toka. Zoya ek dam se piche hui.
”Paka hua bolo, paka hua!” Uski baat pe Sahil, jo abhi pure daant dikha kar muskura raha tha, ek dam se sadme mein chala gaya. Zoya ko hasta dekh wo Rohan ko man hi man gaaliyan de raha tha.
”Haan haan bas karo Pheenki Bhindi,” usne bhi apna pasa phenka. Zoya ki hansi ruk gayi aur usne use ghura.
Baqi logon ka ye dekhna roz ka tha magar Sehar unhe achambe se dekh rahi thi, uske liye ye sab naya tha. Use dekh Sameer ne Ayaan ke pass ja ke dheere se bola: “Dheere dheere inhe bhi aadat ho hi jayegi in sab ki.”
Lekin Ayaan ne koi jawab nahi diya, wo bas baar-baar nazre utha ke Sehar ko dekhta aur uske dekhne pe phir dusri taraf dekhne lagta.
Break ki ghanti baji toh Zoya ne fatafat apna saman bag mein dala aur Sehar ki taraf ghum ke boli
“Chalo na Sehar, canteen ki coffee bohot zabardast hoti hai!”
Magar Sehar ne halki si muskurahat ke sath mana kar diya. “Nahi Zoya, mera kaafi kaam pending hai, main yahi ruk kar ise khatam kar leti hoon.”
”Yaar baad mein kar lena na please!”
”Nahi Zoya, phir bohot sara ho jayega.”
Zoya ne ek do baar aur koshish ki, phir munh bana kar ladkon ke group ke sath bahar chali gayi. Ab class khali thi. Sirf pankhon ki halki si aawaz aur Sehar ke pen ki sarsarahat thi. Wo apni notebook mein magan thi ke achanak mehsoos hua ke koi uski table ke paas khada hai.
Sehar ne sar uthaya. Samne ek ladka khada tha, hothon par ek halki, “over-confident” muskurahat liye.
”Hi! I am Farhan, Section B se,” usne bade fakhr se apna intro diya.
Sehar ne sapat nazron se use dekha aur phir apne aas-paas ki khali kursiyon ko. “Ji? Aap mujhse baat kar rahe hain?”
Farhan thoda chonka, phir hans kar bola, “Haan, aur yahan kaun hai? Maine suna hai hamari class mein ek ‘New Student’ aayi hai, toh socha thoda intro ho jaye.”
Sehar ne pen table par rakha aur bade hairat-zada andaaz mein pucha, “New Student? Kisne kaha aapse ke main new hoon? Main toh pichle das saal se isi school mein hoon.”
Farhan ka munh khula ka khula reh gaya. Wo thithak kar piche hua aur hairani se class ki deewaron ko dekhne laga jaise wahan koi jawab likha ho. “Das saal? Magar maine toh tumhe pehle kabhi… I mean, main toh khud yahan kaafi purana hoon.”
Sehar ne bilkul sanjeeda chehra banaya hua tha. Farhan ko apni “be-izzati” ka ehsas hua toh usne baatein banane ke liye ek zor ki hansi hasi. “Ohhh! I get it. Aap toh bohot funny hain! Nice joke.”
Usi waqt door khidki ke paas khada Ayaan ye sab dekh raha tha. Usne apne hath mutthiyon mein band kar liye. Uske zehen mein abhi bhi wahi manzar chal raha tha jab Sehar ne uska badhta hath ignore kar diya tha. Use Sehar ki pusht dikh rahi thi toh uske chehre ke tasurat wo nahi dekh saka, magar Farhan ki hansi sun uski ragein tan gayin.
”Mera hath pakadne mein toh ise ghairat aa rahi thi, ab dekhta hoon ye Farhan se kitni lambi baatein karti hai. Ab pata chalega ye baqi ladkiyon se kitni alag hai ya waisi hi ‘attention seeker’ hai,” Ayaan ne man hi man kadwahat se socha.
Wahan Farhan abhi bhi Sehar ke qareeb khada tha, samajhte hue ke usne mahol set kar liya hai. Magar agle hi pal Sehar ki muskurahat gayab ho gayi. Uska chehra ek dam thanda aur sapat ho gaya.
”Maine aapse aapka intro manga tha? Ya maine ijazat di thi ke aap meri table ke paas khade hokar mera waqt zaya karein?”
Farhan ki muskurahat uske chehre par hi jam gayi. “Hain? Par main toh bas dosti…”
”Yahan se jayein aur mujhe mera kaam karne dein,” Sehar ne do-took lehje mein kaha. “Dosti ki application canteen mein jama karwayein, mere paas fuzool logon ke liye waqt ki shortage hai.”
Farhan ka chehra gusse aur sharmindagi se laal ho gaya. Wo bina kuch kahe, apna sa munh lekar class se bahar nikal gaya.
Khidki ke paas khada Ayaan ye dekh kar dang reh gaya. Uske hothon par ek an-jani muskurahat nikal aayi. “Impressive! Is Farhan ka chehra dekhne layak tha,” Ayaan ne socha. Usne pehli baar mehsoos kiya ke ye ladki waqai alag thi. Ye wo “attention” nahi chahti thi. Lekin jab use ehsas hua ki wo kitni der se yahan khada ye sab dekh raha hai toh khud par hi hairan hua.
”Aakhir main itna kyun soch raha hoon, ek ladki hi toh hai.” Ayaan ne ek gehri saans li aur class ki taraf badh gaya.
School ki chutti ho chuki thi. Sehar ne apna bag kandhe par dala aur khamoshi se gate se bahar nikal aayi. Mumbai ki bhag-daur bhari sadkon par chalte hue wo apne khayalon mein gum thi, ke achanak ek kache raste ke kone par uski nazrein thithak gayin.
Wahan ek purani, toot-phooti jhompdi ke bahar ek shaks baitha tha. Uska ek paon shayad kisi hadse ka shikaar ho chuka tha, kapde jagah-jagah se phate hue aur chehre par ghurbat ki gehri lakeerein thin. Magar jo cheez Sehar ko hairat mein daal gayi, wo ye thi ke wo shaks is halat mein bhi nange sar, dhool matti ke beech ek phate hue boray ko musalla banaye, nihayat sukoon se Sajde mein gira hua tha.
Sehar ke qadam ruk gaye. Wo wahin khadi use dekhti rahi. Jab unhone namaz muqammal ki aur dua ke liye hath uthaye, toh unke chehre par aisi “Roshni” thi jo Sehar ne bade-bade amiron ke chehron par nahi dekhi thi.
Sehar se raha nahi gaya, wo dheere se unke paas gayi. “Baba… ek baat puchun?” usne hichkichate hue kaha.
Budhe aadmi ne sunehri muskurahat ke sath sar uthaya. “Puch beti, khuda ki makhlooq ko mana nahi karte.”
”Aap… aapki ye halat hai. Na rehne ko dhang ka ghar hai, na jism par sahi kapde, upar se ye bimari… phir bhi aap itne sukoon se Sajda kar rahe hain? Aapko shikwa nahi hota ke Allah ne aapko itni mushkil mein rakha?”
Budhe aadmi ne ek gehri saans li aur door aasman ki taraf dekh kar bole, “Beti, shikwa toh unhe hota hai jo Allah ko sirf ‘mangne’ ke liye yaad karte hain. Maine toh use ‘shukr’ ke liye pakda hai. Usne mera ek paon liya, par dusra toh chodh diya na? Usne duniya ki chhat cheen li, magar apne Sajde ki taufeeq toh nahi cheeni na.”
Unhone Sehar ki ankhon mein dekha, jahan ansu dher ho rahe the.
“Yaad rakhna beti, jab hum thode se gham mein Allah ko kosne lagte hain, toh hum dar-asul uske diye hue hazaron sukoon ko thukra dete hain. Wo toh ‘Rehman’ hai, wo humein todta isliye hai taake hum dobara sirf uske hath se judna seekhein.”
Sehar ki ankhon mein ansu bhar aaye.
Usne larzti awaaz mein pucha, “Aur tut kar unke paas jayein toh wo apna lete hain Baba?”
Budhe aadmi ne ek sunehri muskurahat ke sath sar uthaya,
“Haan! Har dafa apna leta hai!”
Sehar ne gardan jhuka li, ek ansu uski palkon se phisal kar matti mein jazb ho gaya.
“Lekin main unhe bohot peeche chodh aayi hoon Baba…”
Baba ne Sehar ki dukhi ankhon mein dekha aur nihayat narmi se bole, “Beta, dur tum aayi ho… Allah toh wahin hai. Tum laut jao, wo wahin milega.”
Sehar ke dil par jaise kisi ne hath rakh diya ho. Use ehsas hua ke wo gham ke peeche itni andhi ho gayi thi ke wo “Allah ko peeche chodh aayi thi,” magar wo ‘Rehman’ toh aaj bhi wahi uska intezar kar raha tha.
Sehar ne jaise hi ghar ka darwaza khola, Fatima Begum samne hi baithi uska intezar kar rahi thin. Unke hath mein unka phone tha jo shayad abhi abhi baje ja raha tha.
”Aa gayi Sehar beta?” Nani ne use dekh kar ek gehri saans li.
”Ji nanu..” Sehar ne thaki hui muskurahat ke sath apna bag side mein rakha.
“Sehar, subah se tumhare ghar se lagatar calls aa rahe hain. Kabhi tumhare papa call karte hain, kabhi tumhari maa… Aakhir hua kya hai wahan? Kal tak toh wo sab tujhse baat tak nahi karna chahte the, aur aaj sab ke sab tujhse baat karne ko itne betab kyun hain?” Nani ne sawaliya nazron se use dekha.
Sehar ka chehra ek pal ko sakht hua, phir usne aaram se kursi khinchi aur baith gayi.
”Kuch nahi nani, bas maine unhe sach ka aina dikha diya hai. Jab tak main jhoot ki chadar mein lipti thi, unhe main ‘gunahgaar’ lagti thi. Ab jab haqiqat samne aayi hai toh unhe apni ‘Sehar’ yaad aa rahi hai.”
Nani ne uska hath pakda. “Toh beta, ek baar baat kar le unse? Dekh, wo sharminda honge…”
Sehar ne jhat se apna hath piche khinch liya. Uski ankhon mein purana dard aur ek thanda gussa chamka.
”Nahi nanu. Maine kaha tha na ke main unhe maaf nahi karungi… toh main nahi karungi. Unki ek ‘Sorry’ wo mahine wapas nahi la sakti jo maine andhere kamre mein ro kar guzare hain. Unka pachtawa meri wo izzat wapas nahi la sakta jo unhone Daniyal ke samne neelam hone di.”
”Lekin Sehar, khoon ka rishta…” Nani ne samjhane ki koshish ki.
”Nani, filhal ke liye main unki baat nahi karna chahti. Maine zindagi mein sukoon dhoondna shuru kiya hai, aur unka zikr mujhe phir usi aag mein dhakel deta hai. Please, unse keh dein ke Sehar ab mar chuki hai.”
Itna keh kar wo uthi aur apne kamre ki taraf badh gayi, Nani ko peeche hairani aur afsos mein duba chodh kar. Abhi wo seedhiyon par hi thi ki peeche se Fatima ki aawaz aayi:
”Beta tu jo kare, main usme tere sath hoon… shayad tu theek hi kar rahi hai.”
Sehar ne ek gehri saans lekar dheron qarb apne andar utara. Wo kamre mein dakhil hui hi thi ki uska phone baja, usne call uthaya toh dusri taraf se Noor ki aawaz aayi:
”Sehar, news dekho jaldi!”
To be continued…