Instagram I’d:@author_fatima_khan
Intisaab
Har us shakhs ke naam
jo Allah ki raza mein raazi ho jaata hai.
Har us mard ke naam jo apni aurat ko izzat dena jaanta hai.
Khuda ke har bande ke naam jo gunaah karta hai.
Magar gunaah mein doobna nahi chahta, nikal jaana chahta hai.
Aap sab logon ke naam.
۔۔۔
Ek taqdeer, do logon ka milna, aur qismat ka yun badal jaana۔۔۔ jab ek doosre ke naseeb mein likh diya gaya ho, to raaste chahe kitne hi juda kyun na hon, dil mil hi jaate hain. Hamara milna mahaz ittefaq nahi, kainaat ka woh faisla hai jise koi badal nahi sakta. Aur jab woh do log milenge, to do adhoori kahaniyan mil kar ek mukammal daastaan ban jaayengi۔۔۔”
۔۔۔,,۔۔۔۔,۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔,۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
(Nepal)
Nepal
Log kehte hain agar Kathmandu dekhna hai to Thamel dekho ۔۔۔۔
Thamel Kathmandu ki woh gali hai jo kabhi soti nahi hai۔۔ hazaar chehre guzar jaate hain lekin insaan phir bhi khud se akela reh jaata hai. Tang galiyan۔۔۔ dono taraf imaaratein, cafes, dukaanen thin. Raat ke waqt ka manzar hi yahan alag hota, har taraf roshni hoti۔۔ yahan shor bhi hai, tanhaai bhi, aur bheed bhi۔۔۔ Thamel mein waqt rukta nahi, bheed kabhi kam nahi hoti, bas chehre badal jaate hain.
Kuch galiyan to itni tang hoti ke bamushkil do log wahan se guzar sakte۔۔۔ gali ke daayin jaanib pashm ki shawlein lehra rahi thin۔۔ sabz, sunehri, siyah, laal, neeli, rang-birangi shawlein, un shawlon pe kuch bane hue the۔۔۔ har taraf shor tha۔۔
Har taraf saayih kuch na kuch kar rahe the, kuch log camera se apne liye yaadein jama kar rahe the, kuch samaan le rahe the. To kuch dukaanon se Nepali souvenirs aur samaan khareed rahe the, aur chai ki dukaan ki bheed ke kya hi kehne. Thandi hawa chal rahi thi۔۔۔ is sard mausam mein garma-garam chai ke cup se uthta hua dhuan aur logon ki hansi-mazaak ki awaazein mahaul ko garma rahi thin. Kathmandu ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi, jo wahan maujood har insaan ko ek ajeeb sa sukoon de rahi thi۔۔
Sukoon? Woh dil hi dil mein soch rahi thi۔۔ woh isi ronaq ke bilkul beechon-beech, gali ke daayin jaanib khadi shawlon ki ek dukaan ke paas maujood thi… Yeh log kitne sukoon se apni zindagi guzaar rahe hain aur main kahan hoon? Kahan gum ho gayi hoon? Mera sukoon kyun ghaayab hai?” uske andar se ek sisakti hui awaaz ubhri. Duniya ke liye jo hawa sukoon ka jhonka thi, uske zakhmi dil ke liye woh ek taziyana thi.
Uske haath kaanp rahe the۔۔۔ woh logon se chhup rahi thi۔۔۔ usne apne larazte hue haathon se saamne latakti hui pashmeena ki ek gehri siyah shawl ko dekha. Dukandaar ki nazrein jaise hi doosri taraf ghoomin, usne baghair kuch soche woh shawl wahan se kheench li aur ek jhatke se apne upar odh li۔۔۔ apna chehra chhupa liya aur dheere dheere wahan se nikalne lagi۔۔۔ uske zehan mein bahut si cheezein thin, woh ab kya kare?۔۔۔ yahin se bhaag jaaye? Ya yahin rahe۔۔۔ woh yahan se kaise nikle۔۔۔۔
Bheed mein tanhaai thi۔۔
Dimaagh mein halchal,
Dil tadap raha tha۔
Aur،
Aur؟
Aur aankhein aansu baha rahi thin۔۔۔
Hamari zindagi humein ek aise mod pe laa ke khada kar deti hai jiska humein andaaza bhi nahi hota ke ek din aisa bhi aayega jo hum soch bhi nahi sakte۔۔ aaj woh kahan khadi thi? Woh apne aap ko dekh rahi thi۔۔۔
Woh andheri raat, woh mohabbat ka khasara yaad hai
Dil-e-naadaan ko apne gunaah ka har nazaara yaad hai
Is hujoom-e-shehar mein koi bhi apna na mila humein
Humein tanha chhod kar woh jaana tumhara yaad hai
Laayi hai zindagi humein ab ek aise mod par
Socha na tha kabhi, woh waqt-e-naaguwaar yaad hai
Khadi hai aaj woh khud ko hi hairat se dekhti
Badla hai jo naseeb ka, woh har sitaara yaad hai
Hum pachtaave ki aag mein raat bhar jalte rahe
Jo neend uda de, woh khwaab daraawna saara yaad hai
۔۔۔۔۔۔,۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ ۔۔ ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ ۔۔ ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ ۔۔۔۔۔ ۔۔۔۔
3 Saal Pehle
(Lalitpur)
Fajr ki azaan shuru hui۔۔۔۔
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
(Allah sab se bada hai)
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
(Allah sab se bada hai)
Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah, Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah
(Main gawahi deta hoon ke Allah ke siwa koi mabood nahi.)
Ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah
(Main gawahi deta hoon ke Muhammad ﷺ Allah ke Rasool hain.)
Hayya alas-salah, Hayya alas-salah
(Aao namaz ki taraf)
Hayya alal-falah, Hayya alal-falah
(Aao kamyabi ki taraf.)
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
(Allah sab se bada hai)
La ilaha illallah
(Allah ke siwa koi mabood nahi)
Fajr ki woh sehr-angez azaan jaise hi khatam hui, haveli ke pursukoon mahaul mein dalaan se hoti hui ek jaani pehchaani, mohabbat bhari magar ghusse mein doobi awaaz Ilma ke kamre tak pahunchi.
“Ilma! Na-laaiq, uth bhi ja, azaan ho chuki hai aur tu abhi bhi ghode bech ke so rahi hai. Kabhi to sahi waqt pe khud se uth jaya kar.”
“Yaar Ammi, aap mujhe sukoon se sone bhi nahi deti.”
Usne neend mein doobi awaaz mein shikayat ki.
“Poori raat jaag ke tumhein Fajr ke waqt hi apna sone ka program yaad aata hai۔۔۔ main ne kitni baar mana kiya hai tumhein ke jaldi so jaya karo, magar nahi, aap janab ko to raat mein der tak mobile chalana hai۔۔۔”
“Ammi, ab aap please mobile ka lecture dene na lag jana۔۔ main uth jaungi baad mein, aur waise bhi agar namaz ek din nahi padhi to Qayamat thodi aa jaani hai. Bahut log nahi padhte namaz. Mere padhne se kya hi ho jaana hai? Waise bhi meri itni saari friends hain, koi bhi nahi padhta har waqt ki namaz. Sirf Juma ki padhte hain aur sab ki life achhi chal rahi hai. Main bhi nahi padhungi to kuch hona nahi hai۔۔۔”
“Tumhari friends se bhi kaha karo, tum samjhaya karo unhein. Aur zaroori nahi tumhari friends nahi padhti to tum bhi nahi padhogi. Aur ek Musalman hone ki haisiyat se hum par farz hai ke hum namaz padhein. Tum apni un friends ko dekh rahi ho jo namaz nahi padhtin, to un logon ko kyun nahi dekh rahi jo namaz padhtay hain?”
“Ammi, please, aap rehne dein۔۔ mera jab dil karega, main padh lungi.” Ilma ne be-rukhi se kaha.
“Aur tumhara dil kab karega?”
“Pata nahi, magar jab karega tab padh lungi.”
“Tumhein ek din samajh aayegi ke zindagi mein namaz kitni zaroori hai. Tumhein samajh aayegi, jaise tum aaj kuch logon ko dekh ke unki tarah banna chah rahi ho۔۔۔ ek din tumhein afsos hoga ke kyun chaha tumne? Kyun unhein dekh ke unki tarah rehne ki khwahish ki?”
“Kuch nahi hota Ammi۔۔ aap khwah-makhwah itna sochti hain. Mere paas sab hai, mujhe kuch nahi chahiye. Phir zaroori thodi hai ke main namaz har waqt ki padhoon. Jab time milega, tab padh liya karungi.”
“Namaz hum isliye nahi padhte ke hamare paas kuch na ho to padhein aur sab ho to na padhein. Namaz hum apne liye padhte hain, hum apne Rab se nazdeeki, Rab se milne ke liye padhte hain. Allah Ta’ala humein khud se milne ka mauqa dete hain. Allah Ta’ala humein paanch baar khud se milne ka mauqa dete hain aur hum kya karte hain? Bas na-farmaani۔۔۔ hamare paas sab kuch ho to humein Allah se dua karni chahiye ke Allah humein woh waqt na dikhaye jise dekhne ki hamare andar himmat nahi. Zaroori nahi har waqt aisa hi hoga. Waqt badalta hai۔۔۔ InshaAllah, tumhein sab samajh aa jayegi.”
Saadiya Begum yeh kehte hue apne kaam se doosre kamre mein chali gayi aur Ilma laaparwahi se maa ki baatein ek kaan se sun ke doosre kaan se nikaal chuki thi aur phir sone lagi۔۔۔
Saadiya Begum phir aayi aur dekha ke Ilma abhi bhi sone lagi۔۔ unhone kaha:
“Uth ja Ilma, namaz qaza ho jayegi.”
“Ammi, main nahi padhungi namaz, mera dil nahi kar raha۔۔۔”
“Kya۔۔ kya kaha tune? Dil nahi kar raha? Yeh namaz hai, tere baap ki jaaydaad nahi ke tu bol degi ke main hissa nahi loongi, mera dil nahi kar raha.”
“Aap kahan pahunch gayi Ammi, rehne dein. Achha, theek hai, padhti hoon.”
“Haan, jaldi jao aur padho.”
“Theek hai.”
Yeh keh ke Ilma namaz ke liye wuzu karne chali gayi aur namaz ada ki.
Ilma Siddiqui apne ghar ki sabse chhoti beti thi. 19 saal ki Ilma ghar mein sab ki laadli thi۔۔ Ilma ka ek bhai tha, woh mulk se bahar kaam karta tha. Kaif naam tha uska. Ilma ke walid ka inteqal bahut arsa pehle hi ho chuka tha.
Achanak bed par rakhe phone ne zor-o-shor se vibrate karna shuru kiya. Ilma ne susti se kambal munh par kheench liya, lekin phone tha ke bajne se baaz hi nahi aa raha tha. Tang aa kar usne bina dekhe screen swipe ki aur kaan se laga liya.
“Khuda ke liye sone do۔۔۔” uski awaaz mein neend ka bhaaripan saaf tha.
“Ilma Siddiqui! Agar tum agle das minute mein bistar se na uthin, to main tumhare ghar aa kar tumhara kambal kheench lungi!”
Doosri taraf se uski pakki saheli, Anushay ki oonchi aur hyper awaaz goonji.
Ilma ne kachchi-pakki aankhein kholein aur jhunjhla kar baith gayi.
“Yaar Anushay! Subah subah kya aafat aayi hai? Kyun meri neend ke peeche padi ho?”
“Mere bhai ki shaadi aa rahi hai, bhool gayi? Agle hafte bhai ka nikah hai aur Ammi ne mujhe aur bhabhi ko aisi list thamaayi hai ke mere to tote ud gaye hain. Ab tum chup-chaap tayyar ho aur mere saath market chalo. Tumhara dressing sense achha hai, tumhare baghair main koi cheez final nahi kar paungi.”
“Main Ammi se poochti hoon, tum bas bees minute mein mujhe pick karne pahunch jao.”
“Tum meri jaan ho!”
“Main aapki jaan bhi ban gayi۔۔” Ilma ne chhedte hue kaha.
“Jaan to tum meri pehle se ho.” Anushay ne jataate hue kaha.
“Achha ji, is jaan ki tum jaan na nikaal lena, warna main mar jaungi۔۔”
“Pagal ladki! Kaisi kaisi baatein karti ho. Achha theek hai, phone rakhti hoon, tabhi to tayyar ho paungi۔۔”
Anushay ne theek bees minute baad haveli ke bahar horn bajaya. Ilma jo pehle hi tayyar khadi thi, halke gulabi rang ke kurte aur safed shalwar mein mulabbas thi. Usne apne upar ek pashmeena shawl liye rakha tha. Woh jaldi se bahar nikli aur gaadi ki front seat par baith gayi.
“Shukar hai Maharani ji! Aap waqt par aa gayin,” Anushay ne gaadi aage badhate hue kaha.
“Tumhare bhai ki shaadi hai na, isliye riayat de di,” Ilma ne hans kar jawab diya.
Taqreeban aadhe ghante baad woh dono shehar ke sabse mashhoor aur masroof-tareen shopping mall ki ek badi dukaan mein khadi thin. Dukaan mein har taraf sherwaniyan, lehange aur qeemti kapde saje hue the. Anushay aur Ilma baari baari kapdon ke thaan dekh rahi thin. Lekin kaafi der dhoondhne ke baad bhi Anushay ko apne bhai ke nikah ke liye woh khaas shade nahi mil raha tha jo woh chahti thi.
“Ilma yaar! Yahan to woh colour hi nahi hai, chalo kisi doosri dukaan par chalte hain,” Anushay ne thak kar kaha.
“Haan chalo, waise bhi yahan bahut habs ho raha hai,” Ilma ne apna dupatta sambhalte hue jawab diya aur dono dukaan se bahar nikal aayin.
Woh dono shopping mall ke basement (parking) ki taraf badhin, jahan Anushay ne gaadi park ki thi. Abhi woh apni gaadi ke qareeb pahunchi hi thin ke Ilma ne dekha, Anushay ki gaadi ke bilkul peeche ek aur ladke ne apni motorcycle is tarah khadi kar rakhi thi ke gaadi ka peeche nikalna namumkin tha.
Woh ladka wahin bike par baitha, helmet haath mein liye, phone par kisi se sanjeedgi se baat kar raha tha. Usne ek aam si grey henley shirt aur jeans pehen rakhi thi, bazuon par halki si ragein numayan thin.
“Excuse me, Mister!” Ilma ne aage badh kar thode kadak lehje mein kaha. “Aapko nazar nahi aa raha ke aapne apni bike kahan khadi ki hai? Hamari gaadi block ho gayi hai, ise hataayein yahan se.”
Us ladke ne phone kaan se hataya, apni gehri, khamosh aankhon se pehle gaadi ko dekha aur phir Ilma ko.
“Pehli baat to yeh ke, Miss, parking ka yeh hissa No-Parking zone hai, jahan aapki gaadi khadi hai. Main yahan sirf do minute ke liye kisi ka intezaar kar raha hoon. Aur doosri baat, baat karne ka ek tareeqa hota hai, aap hukm nahi chala sakti.”
Ilma, jo apne ghar ki sabse chhoti aur laadli beti thi, uska ziddi mizaaj foran jaag utha.
“Tareeqa? Aap mujhe tareeqa sikhaayenge? Gaadi jahan bhi khadi ho, aapka raasta rokne ka koi haq nahi banta. Apni yeh bike hataayein, humein der ho rahi hai!” Ilma ne abroo utha kar ghusse se kaha.
Ladke ne use dekha, phir ek halki si tanzia muskurahat uske labon par aayi. Usne helmet bike ke handle par taanga aur wahin aaraam se baith gaya.
“Ab to main do minute mazeed yahin rukunga. Zara main bhi dekhoon ke aap gaadi kaise nikaalti hain.”
“Tum۔۔۔ tum bahut badtameez insaan ho!” Ilma ka chehra ghusse se laal ho gaya.
“Aur aap bahut ziddi hain.”
Anushay ne jaldi se Ilma ka haath pakda.
“Ilma yaar, chhodo, behas mat karo.”
Lekin Ilma ghusse se us ladke ko ghoor rahi thi aur woh ladka bilkul pursukoon andaaz mein wapas apne phone par masroof ho gaya, jaise Ilma wahan maujood hi na ho.
“Bhai please, aap apni bike hata lein, humein late ho raha hai,” Anushay ne kaha.
“Theek hai, hata leta hoon, magar aap apne is badtameez dost ko samjha lein ke logon se kis tarah baat karni chahiye.”
Yeh kehte hue woh wahan se chala gaya.
“Achha, ab humein ghar chalna chahiye. Kal university ka pehla din bhi hai۔۔ aur hum shaadi ka samaan kal aane ke baad khareed lenge۔۔ aur online bhi mangwa lenge.”
“Theek keh rahi ho.” Anushay ne haami bhari.
Aaj Ilma ki zindagi ka ek naya aur bahut aham daur shuru ho raha tha; aaj university mein uska pehla din tha. Ilma ne siyah rang ka ek intehaai nafees aur saada abaya pehen rakha tha, haathon mein siyah gloves chadhe the aur sar par gehre gulabi aur greyish rang ki khoobsurat pashmeena shawl bahut saleeqe se scarf ki tarah odh rakhi thi.
“Achha Ammi, main jaati hoon, warna bahut late ho jayega. Assalamualaikum,” kehte hue Ilma ghar se nikal chuki thi.
Jab Ilma university ke bade se corridor se guzar kar classroom number 207 ke andar daakhil hui, to andar ka mahaul dekh kar uske chehre par ek dum chamak aa gayi. Saamne hi second row mein Anushay baithi hui thi aur use hi dekh kar haath hila rahi thi.
“Ilma! Yahan aao, main ne tumhare liye seat bacha kar rakhi hai,” Anushay ne oonchi awaaz mein chahakte hue kaha.
Class ke kuch students ne mud kar dekha, lekin Anushay ko is baat ki koi parwaah nahi thi. Ilma jaldi se ja kar uske saath wali seat par baith gayi.
“Shukar hai Anushay! Tum isi class mein ho, mujhe to laga tha tumhara department alag hai,” Ilma ne rahat ka saans lete hue kaha.
“Arey, woh Ammi ne aakhri waqt par mera subject change karwa diya tha. Main tumhein surprise dena chahti thi,” Anushay ne aankh maarte hue sharaarat se kaha. “Ab dekhna, is class mein hum dono mil kar kya dhoom machate hain!”
Abhi dono ki baatein chal hi rahi thin ke class ka bada sa darwaza dobara khula.
Ilma ne sar utha kar dekha aur woh dekhti reh gayi۔۔ uske saamne ek daraaz-qad, gandumi rangat ka ladka khada tha jisne black shirt pehen rakhi thi aur haath mein books pakde hue the.
Woh koi aur nahi, balki market wala wahi bike wala ladka tha.
Woh Maaz Shah tha.
Maaz Shah ne class mein daakhil ho kar khaali seats ki taraf dekha. Uski nazar second row mein baithi Ilma par bhi padi. Woh ek second ke liye ruka, lekin chehre par koi khaas taassur laaye baghair woh aage badh gaya aur Anushay aur Ilma ke peeche wali row mein ek khaali seat par ja kar baith gaya.
Is seat par pehle se ek ladka baitha hua tha. Usne Maaz ko dekh kar halka sa muskura kar sar hilaya.
“Hello, main Daniyal.”
Maaz ne apni books desk par rakheen aur usse haath milaya.
“Tumne bhi isi department mein admission liya hai?” Daniyal ne poocha.
“Haan, Marketing mein,” Maaz ne saada lehje mein jawab diya aur apne bag se pen nikalne laga.
Toh usne aahista se Anushay ki taraf rukh kiya.
“Anushay, yeh wahi bike wala ladka hai jo hamari class mein aa gaya hai.”
Anushay ne peeche mud kar Maaz aur Daniyal ko dekha, phir Ilma se boli,
“Arey haan, yeh to wahi hai.”
Abhi class ke students aapas mein halki-phulki baatein kar hi rahe the ke classroom ka darwaza khula aur professor andar daakhil hue, jin ke haath mein haazri ka register aur chalk ka dabba tha. Unke aate hi poori class mein ek dum khamoshi chha gayi.
“Good morning class! Main Professor Rehman hoon aur main aapko Business Communication padhaunga,” unhone desk par register rakhte hue kaha. “Aaj pehla din hai, isliye hum padhai shuru nahi karenge. Main baari-baari aap sab ka naam pukarunga, aap apni seat par khade ho kar apna poora naam aur apna taaruf karwayenge.”
Professor ne register khola aur naam pukarna shuru kiye.
“Anushay Khan!”
Anushay ne foran apni seat par khade ho kar chehre par muskurahat laate hue apna intro diya aur baith gayi.
Kuch naamon ke baad professor ne pukara,
“Maaz Shah!”
Maaz apni jagah par khada hua.
“Sir, mera naam Maaz Shah hai, aur maine isi shehar se apni intermediate ki taleem mukammal ki hai.”
Usne apna taaruf karwaya.
Ilma ne apni pashmeena shawl ko sameta aur khadi hui.
“Sir, mera naam Ilma Siddiqui hai,” usne narmi se kaha.
Maaz ne dil hi dil mein use dekhte hue socha,
Bol to itne pyaar se rahi hai jaise isse shareef aur koi ho hi nahi sakta۔۔ baat karne ka tareeqa bahut mukhtalif hai. Us din market mein jo ladki thi, woh badtameezi se baat kar rahi thi aur aaj yeh yahan ek suljhi hui ladki lag rahi hai.
Ilma ne apna taaruf karwaya aur apni jagah par baith gayi.
Maaz Shah ne ek nazar uski pusht par daali, jahan woh apni pashmeena shawl ko samete bilkul khamoshi se baithi thi. Woh ab bhi hairaan tha ke market mein shole barsane wali ladki itne aaraam se bhi baat kar sakti hai.
Professor Rehman ne kuch aur naam pukare aur jab taaruf ka silsila khatam hua, to unhone register band kar diya.
“Okay class! Chunke aaj pehla din hai, isliye hum koi baqaida lecture shuru nahi karenge. Lekin kal ki class se pehle, aap sab ke paas Business Communication ki course outline aur bunyaadi textbook honi chahiye, jo university ke book stall se mil jayegi. Aaj ke liye aap sab ko chhutti hai, aap ja sakte hain,” Professor Rehman ne muskura kar kaha aur apna samaan samet kar classroom se bahar nikal gaye.
Professor ke jaate hi class mein dobara ek khushgawaar si halchal mach gayi. Students apne bags sambhaal kar bahar nikalne lage.
Anushay ne foran Ilma ka haath hilaya,
“Chalo Ilma! Pehle din hi jaldi jaan chhoot gayi. Ab jaldi se canteen chalte hain, mujhe to subah se kuch na khaane ki wajah se chakkar aa rahe hain.”
“Isi liye tumhari Ammi tumhein daantti hain. Khaane ke naam pe tumhein sirf bahar ki cheez khaane ka dil karta hai aur chakkar aate hain. Ladki, sudhar jao, kuch kha piya karo, aunty ki daant se bach jaogi,” Ilma ne use kaha.
“Achha, ab tum mujhe bataogi main khaya piya karun? Jis ladki ko khud apne ghar pe daant padti hai khaana na khaane ki wajah se.”
“Achha, achha ladki, ab bas bhi karo. Tum to meri pol kholne mein lagi ho.”
“Pol to tumhari main kisi din Ammi ke saamne kholungi, abhi chup-chaap chalo, warna canteen ki saari achhi cheezein khatam ho jayengi,” Anushay ne Ilma ka haath kheenchte hue sharaarat se kaha.
Dono hansti hui classroom se bahar nikal kar corridor ki taraf badhin, jahan pehle din ki ronaq lagi hui thi.
Jaise hi woh sab canteen ke bade se hall mein daakhil hue, wahan talaba ka bepanah hujoom tha aur baithne ke liye koi table khaali nazar nahi aa rahi thi.
“Lo! Maine kaha tha na Ilma, yahan to pair rakhne ki jagah nahi hai,” Anushay ne mayoosi se idhar-udhar dekhte hue kaha.
Bilkul isi lamhe, Daniyal aur Maaz unke qareeb se guzre. Maaz Shah ne ek nazar canteen ke mahaul par daali aur phir Ilma aur Anushay ki taraf mutawajjah ho kar bola,
“Agar aap logon ko jagah nahi mil rahi, to wahan kone mein ek table khaali ho rahi hai. Aap log wahan baith sakti hain, hum kahin aur dekh lenge.”
“Iske andar kaun sa bhoot aaya hua hai?” Ilma ne Anushay ke kaan mein sargoshi ki.
“Yaar, koi bhi bhoot aaya ho, humein to jagah mil rahi na. Chalo, hum chalte hain,” Anushay ne jawab diya.
“Haan chalo.”
Dono us table ki taraf badhin aur wahan ja kar baith gayin.
“Uff! Achha hai jagah mil gayi, warna meri bhook se jaan nikalne hi wali thi,” Anushay ne apna bag kursi ki pusht par latkaate hue ek gehra saans liya. “Ilma! Tum yahin baitho, main jaldi se ja kar hamare liye khaane ke liye kuch le kar aati hoon, warna wahan bhi lambi line lag jayegi.”
“Theek hai, tum jao, main yahin hoon.”
Kuch hi der guzri thi ke Ilma ki nazar canteen ke counter ki taraf gayi, jahan Anushay khadi thi. Bilkul usi ke peeche Maaz aur Daniyal bhi line mein khade apne order ka intezaar kar rahe the.
“Lo Maharani ji! Aapki pasandeeda ilaichi wali chai haazir hai,” Anushay ne cup Ilma ke saamne rakhte hue chahak kar kaha.
“Yahan sirf chai aur momos hi mil rahe the, to main yeh le aayi.”
“Achha kiya, kam az kam kuch to mila.”
Abhi unhone pehla niwala liya hi tha ke Daniyal aur Maaz Shah bhi apne haath mein chai ke cups liye usi taraf aate dikhai diye. Canteen mein waqai koi aur jagah khaali nahi thi, aur ittefaq se Ilma aur Anushay ki table ke saamne wali do kursiyan bhi abhi khaali ho chuki thin.
Daniyal ne table ke paas aa kar poocha,
“Excuse me! Agar aap logon ko aitraz na ho to kya hum yahan baith sakte hain? Poori canteen mein kahin jagah nahi mil rahi.”
“Aap log baith sakte hain, kursiyan khaali hi hain,” Anushay ne kaha.
Maaz aur Daniyal shukriya keh kar unke saamne wali khaali kursiyon par baith gaye. Maaz aur Daniyal khamoshi se apni chai peene lage, jabke Ilma aur Anushay ne bhi baghair kisi baat-cheet ke apne momos khatam kiye. Market ki is mulaqat ke baad ek hi table par yun aamne-saamne baithna dono ke liye thoda ajeeb zaroor tha.
Order khatam karne ke baad, Daniyal aur Maaz wahan se uth kar chale gaye.
Kuch der baad Anushay ne apna bag sambhalte hue kaha,
“Hum bhi ab nikalte hain, pehle din ke liye itna kaafi hai.”
“Haan chalo, waise bhi ab kaafi dhoop ho gayi hai.”
Dono university ke main gate ki taraf badh gayin.
University se nikal kar Ilma seedhi apne ghar pahunchi. Jaise hi usne haveli ke daalaan mein qadam rakha, use ek sukoon ka ehsaas hua.
“Assalamualaikum Ammi!” Ilma ne lounge mein daakhil hote hi apna bag sofa par rakha.
Saadiya Begum jo kitchen mein dopahar ke khaane ki tayyari kar rahi thin, haath dho kar foran bahar aayin.
“Waalaikumassalam. Kaisa raha university ka pehla din?”
“Achha raha Ammi! Bas thodi thakan ho gayi hai.”
“Achha, tum jao aaraam kar lo. Waise suno, aaj tumhare chacha ka beta Haris aa raha hai.”
“Akele aa raha hai?” Ilma ne sawaal kiya.
“Nahi, Aiman ko bhi saath la raha hai. Ek saal baad woh Nepal wapas aaya hai, to socha uski daawat kar loon.”
“Achha, sahi hai.”
Haris aur Aiman Ilma ke chacha zaad cousin the.
Shaam ke waqt ghar mein bahut achhi ronaq lagi hui thi aur kitchen se khaanon ki bahut pyaari khushboo aa rahi thi. Ammi ne Haris ki pasand ka khaana tayyar karwaya tha aur Ilma bhi apne kamre se fresh ho kar bahar aa gayi thi.
Abhi woh hall mein baithi hi thi ke bahar gaadi ke rukne ki awaaz aayi aur thodi hi der mein lounge ka darwaza khula.
“Assalamualaikum Chachi Jaan! Assalamualaikum Ilma!”
Yeh Aiman thi, jo Ilma ki hum-umar thi aur bahut hansmukh aur chulbuli thi. Uske peeche hi Haris andar daakhil hua, lamba qad aur chehre par ek sanjeedgi sajaane ki nakaam koshish. Woh poore ek saal baad India se apna kaam khatam karke wapas aaya tha.
“Waalaikumassalam!”
“Kaisi ho Ilma? Suna hai aaj university ka pehla din tha?”
“Main bilkul theek hoon. Pehle hi din itni thakan ho gayi hai ke bas poochho mat,” Ilma ne sofa par tek lagaate hue shikayat se kaha.
“Pehle hi din thakan?”
“Waise Ilma, India mein ek saal rehne ke baad mujhe wahan ke doctors ne ek bahut pakki baat batai hai.”
“Kaun si baat?” Ilma ne tajassus hote hue poocha.
“India ke doctors ka kehna hai ke jo ladkiyan din bhar soti rehti hain aur ghar mein sab se ladti rehti hain, unhein university ka pehla din dekhte hi chakkar aane lagte hain aur woh foran boodhi hone lagti hain!”
“Chale chale, bongiyan na maare.”
“Waise main aapko ek cheez bataun?”
“Haan, batao.”
“Aaj university mein professor ne ek baat batai thi. Woh keh rahe the ke jo log mulk se bahar kuch waqt ya saal ke liye chale jaate hain, woh behki-behki baatein karne lagte hain. Pehle to mujhe yaqeen nahi hua unki baaton pe, par ab jab main aapko dekh rahi hoon to mujhe 99 percent yaqeen ho gaya hai ke woh sach keh rahe the.”
“Lo bhai! Yeh to ulta mere hi gale pad gayi,” Haris ne haar maante hue muskura kar sar hila diya.
Jis par lounge ek baar phir sab ke qahqahon se goonj utha.
“Achha, ab tum dono ki baat khatam ho gayi ho to khaana khaane chalein?”
“Kyun nahi.” Ilma ne haami bhari.
Sab hanste-muskuraate hue khaane ki mez par jama ho gaye. Dastarkhwan par garma-garam matar pulao aur qorma saja hua tha, lekin un sab ke beechon-beech ek khaas plate mein bahut hi chatpati aur koylon par siki hui botiyan rakhi thin, jinse barbecue ki bahut hi pyaari khushboo aa rahi thi.
Haris ne fakhr se muskura kar woh plate sab ke saamne rakhi aur khud hi bol pada,
“Chachi Jaan! Pulao aur qorma to apni jagah, lekin yeh jo mutton choila hai, yeh waqai bahut kamaal ke bane hain. Mutton choila Nepal ki ek dish hai, jo wahan ka riwayati chatpata tikka hai, jo apne khaas masalon ki wajah se bahut zaaykedaar hota hai. India mein yeh nahi milta, bahut din baad kha raha hoon.”
“Waise Ilma,” Haris ne niwala banaate hue sharaarat se uski taraf dekha, “Nepal ke log kehte hain ke jo ladkiyan university ke pehle din hi thakan ka bahaana karti hain aur din bhar soti hain, agar woh yeh chatpata choila kha lein to unka dimaagh ek dum tez ho jaata hai aur woh professors ki behki-behki baatein sunna band kar deti hain!”
Haris ne Ilma ke pichhle dialogue ka badla lete hue waar kiya.
Ilma ne niwala munh mein rakhte hi Haris ko dekha aur kaha,
“Zaiqa to waqai bahut achha hai, lekin tumhara yeh tanz bilkul bhi achha nahi tha.”
“Calm down yaar, mazaak kar raha tha. Tum to kidney pe le rahi meri baat.”
“Agar main baat kidney pe leti to ab tak mujhe pathri ho chuki hoti.”
Ilma kehte hue muskura di.
Sab hansne lage.
Khaana khatam hone ke baad Haris aur Aiman ne Saadiya Begum aur Ilma se ijaazat li. Woh dono apne ghar ke liye rawana ho gaye.
Agli subah Ilma bilkul waqt par uthi aur university ke liye tayyar hui.
Jab woh university ke main gate par pahunchi to Anushay pehle se wahan khadi uska intezaar kar rahi thi.
“Assalamualaikum Maharani ji! Shukar hai aaj aapne mujhe intezaar nahi karwaya,” Anushay ne uska haath pakad kar muskuraate hue kaha.
“Waalaikumassalam! Chalo chalo, ab baatein na banao, class ka waqt ho raha hai,” Ilma ne hans kar kaha aur dono apne department ki taraf badh gayin.
Jab woh dono classroom ke andar daakhil hui, to class mein kaafi students pehle se maujood the. Ilma aur Anushay apni jagah par ja kar baith gayin. Daniyal aur Maaz pehle se hi apni jagah par baithe hue the.
Abhi class ke sab students aapas mein halki-phulki baatein kar hi rahe the ke classroom ka darwaza khula aur Professor Rehman register haath mein liye andar daakhil hue. Unke aate hi poori class mein ek dum khamoshi chha gayi.
“Good morning class!” Professor Rehman ne desk par apna samaan rakhte hue kaha. “Jaisa ke maine kal kaha tha, aaj se hum baqaida padhai ka aaghaz karenge. Lekin lecture shuru karne se pehle, main aap sab ko is semester ka pehla group project assign karna chahta hoon, jo aapke final grades ke liye bahut aham hai.”
Professor ki baat sunte hi poori class mein ek halki si sargoshi shuru ho gayi.
Professor ne whiteboard par marker se kuch likhte hue kaha,
“Yaad rahe, yeh project aapko 5 logon ke group mein mil kar karna hai. Group aap log apni marzi se bana sakte hain, lekin mera ek rule hai; har group mein 3 ladkiyan aur 2 ladke laazmi hone chahiye, na isse kam, na zyada.”
Yeh sunte hi class mein ek dum sab students idhar-udhar dekhne lage taake jaldi se apne-apne groups final kar sakein.
Anushay ne foran Ilma ka haath dabaya aur khushi se chahki,
“Ilma! Shukar hai sir ne apni marzi se group banane ko kaha hai. Hum dono to ek saath hain hi, ab humein bas ek aur ladki aur do ladke dhoondhne hain.”
Ilma ne muskura kar haami bhari,
“Haan, chalo achha hua, ab kisi teesri ladki ko dekh lete hain.”
Abhi woh dono baat kar hi rahi thin ke peeche se Daniyal ne Anushay ki kursi ko halka sa thapthapaya. Anushay aur Ilma ne chaunk kar peeche mud kar dekha.
“Excuse me! Agar aap logon ne abhi tak apna group final nahi kiya, to kya main aur Maaz aapke group mein shaamil ho sakte hain? Is tarah hamare group ke ‘do ladkon’ ka role poora ho jayega.”
Anushay ne Ilma ke chehre ke taassuraat dekhe baghair foran Daniyal ko jawab diya,
“Arey haan, bilkul! Yeh to bahut achha ho jayega. Ab hum chaar to ho gaye, bas ek aur ladki ko apne group mein shaamil karna baaqi hai.”
Ilma aur Anushay abhi idhar-udhar dekh hi rahi thin ke pichhli row se ek ladki bahut hi pur-aitemaad aur chulbuli chaal chalti hui seedhi unki table ke paas aa kar ruk gayi. Usne ek pyaara sa printed cotton ka suit pehen rakha tha, aur chehre par ek badi si, khoobsurat muskurahat thi. Woh middle-class gharane ki ladki lag rahi thi, lekin uska andaaz bala ka friendly aur zindadil tha.
“Hello logo! Agar aap logon ki team abhi tak full nahi hui, to kya main is group ka hissa ban sakti hoon? Waise aaj mera pehla din hai, isi ka kuch reason ki wajah se main nahi aa saki.”
“Bilkul, bilkul! Aa jao, hamare group mein bilkul ek ladki ki hi jagah khaali thi.”
“Oh, thank you so much! Main to poore corridor mein ghoom aayi thi ke kahin pehle hi din akeli na reh jaaun. Mera naam Zara hai.”
Aur aise baith gayi jaise woh in logon ko pehle se jaanti ho.
“Main Anushay, yeh Ilma, aur peeche Daniyal aur Maaz Shah hain,” Anushay ne ek saath apne poore group ka taaruf karwa diya.
Zara ne foran peeche mud kar Maaz aur Daniyal ki taraf dekha aur boli,
“Hello bro! Aur kya haal-chaal?”
Phir sawaal karte hue kaha,
“Chalo, achha hai, hamare group ke ladke to bade suljhe hue aur handsome lag rahe hain. Ab project karne mein bilkul boreiyat nahi hogi.”
Zara ki baat sunte hi sab hans pade.
“Welcome to the group, Zara.”
Zara ne baithte hi Anushay ki taraf rukh kiya aur dheemi awaaz mein classroom aur university ke mahaul ke baare mein kaana-phoosi karne lagi.
“Waise tum kidhar baithi ho?” Anushay ne sawaal kiya.
“Main wahan last second bench pe baithi hoon.”
“Aur tum wahan kya kar rahi ho? Aao, mere paas jagah khaali hai. Hamare saath baitho, wahan baithe-baithe bore ho jaogi.”
“Ruko, main apna samaan wahan se lekar aati hoon.”
Zara apna samaan la kar Anushay ke saath wali seat par apna samaan rakh diya.
“Waise ab hum paanch logon ka group ban hi gaya hai to dosti kar lete hain,” Zara ne samaan rakhne ke baad kaha.
Maaz ne jawabaan kaha,
“Waise bhi ab project saath hi karna hai to hum ek plan banate hain. Ab kabhi bhi koi project mile ya kuch bhi ho, hum ek saath ek group mein rahenge.”
“Haan, yeh sahi hai.”
Sab ne uski baat par haami bhari.
“Achha Maaz, us din ke liye sorry, haan. Main thoda zyada rude ho gayi thi,” achanak se Ilma ne usse maafi maangi.
Maaz ko is baat ki tawaqqo nahi thi ke Ilma usse maafi maangegi.
“It’s okay! Koi nahi, maine bhi uska badla usi waqt le liya tha. Ab puraani baaton ko bhool jaate hain.”
Sab ki baatein chal hi rahi thin ke professor ne apne jaane ka ailaan kiya.
“Okay students! Aap log kal mujhe apne group ke members ke naam likh ke de dena.”
Yeh kehte hue woh class se bahar chale gaye.
Students ne rahat ka saans liya aur apne bags sametne lage.
Anushay ne foran Ilma aur Zara ki taraf dekha aur josh se boli,
“Chalo, bahut tez bhook lagi hai, kuch khaate hain.”
“Oye Daniyal! Tum dono bhi chalo ge?”
“Of course! Hum bhi insaan hain, humein bhi bhook lagti hai.”
“Nahi, mujhe laga tum dono ko bhook nahi lagti.”
“Kyun bhai? Hum itne bure hain?” Maaz ne hanste hue sawaal kiya.
Ilma in dono ki baatein sun kar boli,
“Achha, ab yeh baatein band karo aur kuch khaane chalo, warna pet ke choohe pet mein hi mar jayenge!”
“Haan yaar, chalo! Sachhi mein mujhe bhi bahut tez bhook lagi hai,” Zara ne bhi foran apna register bag mein daalte hue haami bhari.
Woh paanchon ek saath classroom se bahar nikal aaye. Corridor mein students ka kaafi hujoom tha, lekin yeh paanchon ab ek group ki tarah hanste-bolte canteen ki taraf badhne lage. Raaste bhar Anushay aur Zara university ke mahaul par baatein kar rahi thin.
Khush-qismati se kone mein ek badi table khaali mil gayi, jahan paanchon kursiyan kheench kar aaraam se baith gaye.
“Haan to bhai, ab batao kaun kya khayega?” Daniyal ne menu card dekhte hue poocha.
Anushay aur Zara ne apne liye chai aur samose final kiye, jabke Ilma, Maaz aur Daniyal ne bhi chai ka order diya. Maaz aur Daniyal jaldi se ja kar order le aaye aur table par rakh diya.
Chai peete hue in paanchon ke darmiyan baatein shuru hui.
Achanak Anushay ko kuch yaad aaya. Usne jaldi se apna bag khola aur us mein se ek intehaai khoobsurat, sunehri kadhai wale velvet ke cards nikaal kar table par rakh diye.
“Waise mere paas ek hi card hai, lekin main yeh ek card tum teenon ko de rahi hoon. Agle hafte mere bhai ki bhi shaadi hai aur tum sab ko zaroor aana hai.”
“Arey waah! University ke pehle hi hafte itni badi khushkhabri, aur woh bhi shaadi ki daawat? Main to bilkul tayyar hoon, bas yeh batao function din ka hai ya raat ka?” Zara ne chai ka cup table par rakhte hue chahak kar poocha.
“Shaam ka nikah hai, Zara! Bilkul night function,” Anushay ne muskura kar jawab diya. “Ammi kehti hain raat ki roshniyon mein hall ka manzar aur bhi khoobsurat lagta hai.”
“Arey, yeh to aur bhi achha hai,” Daniyal ne Maaz ki taraf dekhte hue kaha. “Hum zaroor aayenge, Anushay. Thank you so much.”
Maaz Shah ne Zara ke haath mein maujood sunehri card ko dekha, aur phir ek nazar Ilma par daali, jo bilkul khamoshi se apni chai khatam kar rahi thi.
“Waise Ilma, aaj hum phir se shopping pe chalenge. Kuch samaan reh gaya hai, hum saath mil kar lenge,” Anushay ne Ilma se mukhatib hote hue kaha.
“Haan, zaroor. Waise bhi aaj main ghar par velly baithi rehti, isse achha shopping pe chalein, maza aayega.”
Kuch der baad classes khatam hui to sab apne-apne gharon ke liye rawana ho gaye.
Ilma ghar pahunchi, fresh hui aur shaam ka intezaar karne lagi. Jab shaam ke chaar baj gaye aur Anushay ka koi phone nahi aaya, to Ilma ne khud apna mobile uthaya aur Anushay ka number dial kiya. Phone chand pal bajne ke baad utha liya gaya tha.
“Anushay! Tum kahan ho yaar? Abhi tak aayi nahi? Shopping ke liye nahi jaana kya? Main kab se tayyar baithi hoon,” Ilma ne laad aur halki si shikayat wale lehje mein kaha.
Doosri taraf se Anushay ki hansti hui awaaz aayi, lekin uske saath hi pas-e-manzar mein Zara ke qahqahon ki awaaz bhi saaf sunaai di.
Bilkul — main is poore passage ko natural Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kar raha hoon, meaning aur dialogues ka feel same rakhte hue.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ilma! Main tumhe batana hi bhool gayi. Darasal Zara ka ghar mere raste mein hi tha aur woh bhi free thi, to woh mere saath gaadi mein hi aa gayi hai. Hum dono is waqt market pahunch chuke hain aur ek dukaan ke andar hain,” Anushay ne bahut aam se lehje mein bataya.
Ilma ki awaaz maddham ho gayi, par pata nahi kyun use bahut takleef hui thi.
“Hmmmm! Theek hai,” usne yeh kehte hue phone cut kar diya.
Aaj tak… aaj tak kabhi aisa nahi hua tha ke Anushay Ilma ke bina kahin gayi ho, ya shopping ka plan ho aur woh Ilma ko liye bina nikal gayi ho. Hamesha Anushay haveli ke bahar horn baja kar uska ghanton intezar karti thi, aur aaj? Aaj woh kisi aur ke saath chali gayi.
Ilma ko takleef hui thi, shadeed takleef, par usne Anushay ke saamne apni takleef zahir nahi ki.
Kuch der baad phir se phone baja. Ilma ne phone uthaya.
“Hello, Ilma! Phone cut ho gaya tha. Achha, tum meri baat suno, tum ek kaam karo, kisi rickshaw ya taxi mein baith kar jaldi se main market aa jao. Hum isi badi shop par hain,” Anushay ne doosri taraf se kaha.
“Nahi yaar, rehne do. Tum dono gayi ho to tum dono shopping bhi kar lo. Ab main aa kar kya karungi?”
“Ilma, tumhe bura laga?” Anushay ne jaise tashweesh se poocha.
“Nahi, mujhe kyun bura lagega? Main theek hoon. Achha, phone rakhti hoon.”
Yeh keh kar Ilma ne phone cut kar diya.
Ilma ne phone bed par phenk diya aur ghutnon mein sar dekar baith gayi. Anushay ka yun Zara ke saath akele chale jaana uske dil ko bahut buri tarah dukha gaya tha. Uski aankhon se aansu nikal kar gaalon par behne lage.
Ab Ilma ne apni overthinking shuru kar di.
“Aaj Anushay kisi aur ke saath chali gayi, lekin kya hota hai? Hamesha to mere saath hi jaati hai… par agar dheere-dheere Anushay mujhse chhin jaayegi to? Main kya karungi?… Main to akeli reh jaungi…
Nahi, nahi… Anushay kabhi mujhe chhod hi nahi sakti. Woh to meri sabse achhi dost hai. Mujhe koi bhi akela chhod sakta hai, par Anushay nahi…
Lekin agar Anushay ko mujhse achhi dost mil gayi to? Woh mujhe chhod degi?
Yaar, main fazool mein itna soch rahi hoon. Kuch nahi hota. Ek din ki hi to baat hai. Waise bhi Anushay sabse zyada priority mujhe hi deti hai… deti hai…
Ilma, kuch nahi hota.”
Woh khud ko dilaasa de rahi thi.
Sochte-sochte uska sar dard karne laga.
“Main ab kuch nahi sochungi. Calm down, Ilma… calm down. Tu ab kuch nahi sochegi.”
Bed par leti woh khud ko pursukoon karne ki koshish kar rahi thi ke achanak neeche lounge se Haris ki oonchi aur hansti hui awaaz goonji.
“Chachi jaan! Kahan hain aapki laadli? Poore ek saal baad cousin India se aaya hai aur woh upar kamre mein chhup kar baithi hain.”
Ilma ne chaunk kar darwaze ki taraf dekha. Woh jaldi se uthi, apna chehra saaf kiya aur neeche lounge ki taraf bhaagi.
Neeche Haris aur Aiman sofa par baithe Sadia Begum se baatein kar rahe the.
“Lo bhai! Aa gayi hamari university ki thaki-haari student,” Haris ne Ilma ko dekhte hi shararat se kaha.
“Aap log achanak?”
“Achanak nahi, Ilma. Haris ka kaam jaldi khatam ho gaya to humne socha tumhe bhi saath lein aur market chalein. Shaadi ka kuch samaan bhi lena hai aur tumhe ghar baithe boreiyat se bhi bachana hai,” Aiman ne hanste hue kaha.
“Aap log jaayein, shopping kar aayein. Mera dil nahi kar raha bahar jaane ka.”
“Kyun? Tumhe to ghoomna, shopping karna bahut pasand hai, aur shopping ke liye Ilma mana kar de, aisa ho hi nahi sakta,” Haris ne foran uski baat sunte hi kaha.
“Aur Ilma, tum waise bhi ghar pe bore ho gayi ho. Hamare saath hi chalo.”
“Achha, theek hai. Aap log yahin intezar karein, main apna samaan lekar aati hoon.”
“Ilma, baat suno,” Haris ne use roka.
“Haan, boliye?”
“Woh… aate-aate tum apna munh bhi dho lena,” Haris ne mazaahiya andaaz mein kaha.
“Tension nahi lein, aapse zyada achhi dekh rahi hoon main,” Ilma ne foran jawab diya.
“Lo bhai, abhi se nakhre shuru! Jaldi jao, warna market band ho jaayegi,” Haris ne hanste hue sofa se tek laga li.
Ilma pair patakhti hui upar apne kamre ki taraf bhaag gayi.
Aaine ke saamne khade hokar jab usne apna chehra dekha, to uski aankhen ab bhi halki si surkh thi, lekin Haris aur Aiman ki aamad ne uske udaas dil ko ek dum behla diya tha.
Usne jaldi se halke neele rang ka ek saada aur pyara kurta pehna, apne baal sambhale aur almaari se apni wahi siyah pashmina shawl uthakar apne kandhon par daal li.
Jab woh neeche aayi to Haris ne shawl dekh kar ek baar phir use chheda.
“Waise Ilma, India ke doctors kehte hain ke jo ladkiyan garmi-sardi ka mausam dekhe bina har waqt kaali shawl odhe rakhti hain, unka dimaag pashmina ki tarah naram ho jaata hai!”
“Haris bhai! Aap please apni ye India ki medical research band rakhein aur chup-chaap gaadi nikaalein,” Ilma ne bhawein uchka kar kaha, jis par Aiman aur Sadia Begum bhi hans padi.
……………………….
Raaste bhar Haris aur Aiman apni India ki kahaniyan sunate rahe, aur Ilma unki baaton par bahar se hansti to rahi, lekin uske dimaag mein abhi bhi Anushay aur Zara hi the.
Kuch waqt guzarne ke baad achanak Ilma ne kehna shuru kiya.
“Waise Haris bhai…” Ilma ne seat par thoda seedha hote hue shararat se poocha, “India mein poora ek saal reh kar aaye hain, wahan koi ladki-vadki pasand nahi aayi kya? Aakhir aap kab ladki dekhenge aur aapki shaadi kab hogi?”
“Aap bhi shaadi karein, maza aayega aapki shaadi mein…” Haris ne front mirror mein se Ilma ki chamakti aankhon ko dekha. Uske labon par ek gehri aur maani-khez muskurahat aayi. Usne gaadi ka gear badla aur bilkul dheeme, sanjeeda lehje mein bola,
“Jab tum raazi ho jao.”
“Main?!” Ilma ka munh hairat se khul gaya. “Main kyun raazi hoon? Shaadi aapki honi hai, ladki aapne dekhni hai, ismein meri razamandi ka kya taalluq?”
“Lo bhai! Taalluq kyun nahi hai?” Peechhe baithi Aiman ne foran Haris ka saath dete hue Ilma ke kandhe par haath rakha. “Ammi to kab se keh rahi hain ke Haris ke liye Ilma se behtar ladki poore khandaan mein nahi mil sakti.”
Haris ne Ilma ko dekha, jo achanak chup ho gayi thi.
Yeh dekhte hue Haris ne Aiman se kaha,
“Behna, bas karo aur pareshaan na karo ise.”
Yeh kehte hue usne mahaul se awkwardness khatam karne ki koshish ki.
Aiman ne bhi Haris ka ishaara samajh kar hans kar kandhe uchka diye aur bahar sadak ke manazir dekhne lagi.
Taqreeban das minute baad Haris ne gaadi shehar ke sabse bade aur purronaq shopping mall ki parking mein laga di.
Woh teeno mall ke andar daakhil hue aur dheere-dheere mukhtalif dukaanon ka chakkar lagane lage.
Kuch der baad Ilma ek khoobsurat halke rang ke libaas ko pasand karke use dekhne ke liye dukaan ke doosre kone mein akeli chali gayi. Woh dukandaar se kuch poochne mein masroof ho gayi aur uska poora dhyaan kapde par tha.
Doosri taraf khadi Aiman ne jab dekha ke Ilma kaafi door hai aur unki baatein nahi sun sakti, to usne Haris se kaha,
“Aaj phir aap chup ho gaye? Kyun nahi bata dete use ke mohabbat karte hain aur shaadi ka iraada rakhte hain? Aap kab bataayenge ke aapko usse mohabbat hai?”
“Itni aasaan nahi hoti, Aiman… kuch baatein…” Haris ne ek gehri saans li aur apni awaaz ko jitna ho sake dheema rakhte hue bola, “Hum saamne wale ko sab bata dena chahte hain, par alfaaz khatam ho jaate hain. Hum bata hi nahi paate… khamosh ho jaate hain.
Kuch baatein keh dena itna aasaan nahi hota. Lamha, hafta, mahina, saal… ya zindagi guzar jaati hai, par kehne ki himmat nahi hoti.”
Aiman ne Haris ki aankhon mein jhaankti us gehri khamoshi ko dekha aur ek thandi aah bhar kar reh gayi.
Bilkul usi lamhe Ilma ne dukandaar ko shukriya kaha aur woh khoobsurat suit haath mein liye chahakti hui unki taraf badhi.
“Haris bhai! Aiman! Dekho, ye color kitna pyara hai.”
“Haan bhai, aapki pasand to hamesha hi laajawaab hoti hai. Ab agar aapki shopping khatam ho gayi ho to chalein? Mujhe sakht bhook lagi hai aur mujhe meri pasand ki chai bhi peeni hai!”
“Achha achha, chalo.”
Woh teeno mall ki dukaan se bahar nikle aur Haris ki farmaish par market ke ek pursukoon chai-khane ki taraf badh gaye.
Wahan baith kar unhone garma-garam chai pi.
Kuch hi der mein woh sab shopping ka samaan lekar wapas gaadi ki taraf aa gaye.
Haris ne gaadi haveli ke raaste par daal di.
Jab Haris ne Ilma ko ghar drop kiya, to Sadia Begum ne un dono ko rukne ka kaha, lekin Haris ne maazrat kar li.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Bilkul. Is baar poore scene mein Muaz ki jagah “Maaz” hi likh raha hoon. Baaki scene aur flow wahi rakha hai.
Agli subah…
Ilma bilkul waqt par uthi. Jab woh university ke main gate par pahunchi, to uski nazrein la-sha’oori taur par Anushay ko dhoond rahi thi, lekin Anushay wahan maujood nahi thi.
Jab woh class mein pahunchi, usne dekha ke Anushay pehle se hi class mein thi. Uske saath wali bench par Zara bhi baithi thi.
Anushay ki nazar Ilma par padi.
“Ilma, idhar aao… aao tumhein kal ki baat batate hain. Kal humne bahut shopping ki.”
Ilma ek pal ke liye wahin ruk gayi.
“Yaar Ilma! Tum soch bhi nahi sakti,” Anushay ne josh se uska haath pakda. “Humein market mein woh jo sunahri dupatta chahiye tha na, woh bilkul aakhri dukaan par mil gaya.”
“Bahut achha hua… chalo, tumhari shopping to complete hui.”
Maaz aur Daniyal pehle se hi class mein maujood the aur hamesha ki tarah apni seat par baith kar professor ka intezar kar rahe the.
Abhi Ilma Anushay ki baatein sun hi rahi thi ke Professor Rehman class mein daakhil hue aur baqaida lecture shuru ho gaya.
Ilma ka dimaag to class mein tha hi nahi. Woh bas ghadi ki suiyon ko dekh rahi thi ke kab ye class khatam ho aur woh yahan se nikle.
Jaise hi professor ne apne jaane ka elan kiya, Ilma ne rahat ka saans liya. Usne jaldi se apna bag sameta aur kisi se bhi zyada baat kiye baghair, Anushay aur Zara ko khuda hafiz keh kar haveli ki taraf rawana ho gayi.
……………………….
Mobile phone baj raha tha. Ilma ne phone uthaya.
“Yaar, kab tak aaogi?” Anushay ne doosri taraf se halki si jaldi aur josh wale lehje mein poocha.
“Yaar, bas das minute, aa rahi hoon. Raaste mein hi hoon.”
“Achha, theek hai. Jaldi se aa jao,” Anushay ne doosri taraf se kaha aur phone cut ho gaya.
Ilma ne phone apne chhote se purse mein rakha aur khidki se bahar dekhne lagi. Gaadi main road se hat kar shaadi hall ki khoobsurat, roshniyon se nahayi hui parking mein daakhil ho rahi thi.
Hall pahunch kar Haris ne gaadi ek taraf roki. Kyunki nikah ka function riwayati andaaz mein tha, isliye hall ko do hisson mein taqseem kiya gaya tha. Mardon ke liye alag hissa tha aur khawateen ke liye bilkul alag portion sajaya gaya tha.
“Tum dono andar jao. Main mardon wali side par ja raha hoon,” Haris ne gaadi lock karte hue kaha.
Ilma aur Aiman ne apne dupatte aur shawl sambhale aur ladies hall ke bade sheeshe wale darwaze se andar daakhil ho gayin.
Poora hall safed aur pastel rangon ke pardon aur chandeliers ki roshniyon se chamak raha tha, aur khawateen ki chahal-pahal urooj par thi.
Ilma jaise hi hall ke beech mein pahunchi, Anushay ki nazar us par pad gayi. Siyah rang ke bhaari aur khoobsurat lehange mein malboos Anushay, Zara ka haath pakde stage ke paas hi khadi thi.
“Ilma! Shukar hai tum aa gayi,” Anushay ne aage badh kar Ilma ko gale se lagaya.
“Mubarak ho, Anushay! Tum bahut pyari lag rahi ho.”
“Bilkul meri begum lag rahi ho.”
“Achha, aap ladki hain? Ye dialogue to mera shohar bolega, jo na jaane is waqt kidhar ghoom raha hoga.”
“Lo bhai! Abhi shaadi hui nahi aur inko dulha miyaan ki fikr pehle se satane lagi,” Zara ne Anushay ko kohni maarte hue chheda.
“Arre, fikr kyun na ho? Aakhir aaj nikah hai mera!”
“Madam, nikah aapka nahi, aapke bhai ka hai. Zyada sapne na dekhein,” Ilma ne muskurate hue kaha.
“Haan, aaj nahi hai, par kabhi to hoga na.”
“Achha, tab jab hoga tab dekha jayega. Abhi sapnon se bahar aa jao.”
Kuch der baad nikah padha ja chuka tha. Sab bahut khush the.
Nikah ki is gahma-gahmi ke foran baad khane ka elan kar diya gaya aur hall ke darwaze khol diye gaye. Nikah aur rukhsati ka poora function bahut jaldi aur khair-o-aafiyat se mukammal ho gaya.
Dekhte hi dekhte mehmaan rukhsat hone lage aur hall mein ek khamoshi si chha gayi.
Anushay apne bhai aur bhabhi ke saath unke ghar rawana ho gayi aur Zara bhi apne ghar chali gayi.
Ilma ne bhi Haris aur Aiman ke saath khuda hafiz kaha aur woh sab wapas haveli ki taraf rawana ho gaye.
Gaadi ki khidki se bahar andheri sadak ko dekhte hue Ilma bilkul khamosh thi.
Ghar pahunch kar woh bina kisi se zyada baat kiye seedhi apne kamre mein aayi, kapde tabdeel kiye aur bistar par let gayi.
……………………….
“Anushay, waise ye to batao, Ilma itne dinon se university kyun nahi aa rahi?”
Sab class mein baithe hue the, tabhi Maaz ne Anushay se poocha.
“Chaar-paanch din guzar gaye hain. Woh theek to hai na?”
“Ilma university nahi aa rahi?” Anushay ne hairani se poocha.
“Nahi aa rahi. Na tum bhi aaj aayi ho, lekin woh aaj bhi nahi aayi. Meri usse baat nahi hui. Darasal main shaadi ki wajah se bahut busy thi aur aaj free hui to aayi. Mujhe to ye bhi nahi pata tha ke woh nahi aa rahi.”
“Achha, theek hai. Tum use aaj pooch lena ke kyun nahi aa rahi.”
“Haan, fikr na karo. Main aaj ghar jaate hi usse pooch lungi ya ye ke uske ghar hi chali jaungi.”
“Haan, phir humein bhi bata dena ke woh kaisi hai,” Maaz ne haami bharte hue kaha.
University ki classes khatam hote hi Anushay ne apna bag sameta.
Jab Anushay ki gaadi haveli ke bade lohe ke gate ke saamne ruki, to wahan wahi purani maanoos khamoshi thi. Anushay ne gaadi ek taraf khadi ki aur tez qadmon se dalan se hoti hui lounge ke bade sheeshe wale darwaze ki taraf badhi.
Usne dastak di, to chand hi palon mein Sadia Begum ne darwaza khola. Anushay ko achanak wahan dekh kar unke chehre par ek narm si muskurahat aa gayi.
“Assalam-o-alaikum, Chachi jaan!” Anushay ne jaldi se salaam kiya.
“Wa-alaikum-assalam, Anushay! Kaisi ho beta? Bade dinon baad chakkar lagaya. Bhai ki shaadi khairiyat se ho gayi?” Sadia Begum ne pyaar se poocha.
“Ji Chachi jaan, sab bahut achhe se ho gaya. Waise… Ilma kahan hai? Woh itne dinon se university bhi nahi aayi.”
“Beta, uski tabiyat kuch dinon se kharab thi. Abhi woh theek hai, kal se university bhi jayegi. Woh upar kamre mein hai. Tum jao, use mil lo.”
“Theek hai Chachi, main jaake usse mil ke aati hoon.”
Kamre ka darwaza halka sa khula hua tha aur andar bilkul neem-andhera tha. Ilma bed par karwat liye leti hui thi.
Anushay kamre mein daakhil hui aur dheemi awaaz mein pukara,
“Ilma…”
Ilma ne chaunk kar sar uthaya.
“Tum yahan?” Ilma ne hairani se sawaal kiya.
Use umeed nahi thi ke Anushay aayegi, kyunki in guzre hue dinon mein Anushay ka ek phone bhi Ilma ke paas nahi aaya tha.
Ilma chahti thi ke Anushay use phone kare, magar nahi… Anushay ne phone nahi kiya tha. Isi wajah se aaj woh use apne ghar par dekh kar hairan hui.
“Ye kya tareeqa hai? Tum itne dinon se university kyun nahi aa rahi? Tumhein pata hai, mujhe to pata bhi nahi tha ke tum university nahi aa rahi. Woh to aaj Maaz ne tumhara poocha, tab mujhe pata chala ke tum guzre dinon university nahi aayi.”
“Maaz ne? Usne bhala mera kyun poocha?”
“Woh sautela bhai hai ji tumhara,” Anushay ne hanste hue kaha.
“Woh mera koi bhi bhai nahi hai!” Ilma ne buri tarah munh bana kar chidte hue kaha.
“Bhai nahi hai to phir kya hai?” Anushay ne shararat se bhawein uchka kar Ilma ke bilkul paas bed par baithte hue poocha.
“Woh kuch bhi nahi hai!” Ilma ne jhunjhla kar apna rukh mod liya aur bed par rakhe ek cushion ko god mein samet liya. “Tum bas is ukhadd-mizaaj ka naam lena band karo. Mujhe hairat ho rahi hai ke use meri ghair-haazri ka pata chal gaya aur meri sabse pakki saheli ko hosh hi nahi tha!”
Ilma ne apni karwahat aur shikayat ko ek baar phir zubaan de hi di.
“Yaar, tumhein kya bataun? Woh bhi shaadi ki wajah se bahut busy thi. Woh to bas ek-do baar Zara se baat hui, kuch kaam tha, isliye.”
Zara ka naam sunte hi Ilma ke chehre par maddham si udaasi aayi.
“Aur tum dekho, Ilma, mujhe jaise hi pata chala, main aa gayi tumhare paas. Waise ye batao, kal uni aaogi?” Anushay ne poocha.
“Haan, aaungi. Abhi tabiyat theek hai aur chhuttiyan bhi zyada karna munasib nahi.”
“Achha, phir theek hai. Kal hum uni mein milte hain. Abhi main chalti hoon, warna Ammi ne to mera kaam bana dena hai, pooch-pooch kar ke itni late kyun ho gayi.”
……………………….
Ilma ne aaj halke neele rang ka kurta pehna tha. Chaar-paanch din baad university aane ki wajah se uske dil mein ek ajeeb si jhunjhlaahat aur hichkichahat thi.
Jaise hi Ilma ne classroom ke bade lakdi ke darwaze ko dhakka diya aur andar daakhil hui.
“Assalam-o-alaikum!” Ilma ne narmi se kaha.
“Wa-alaikum-assalam! Shukar hai, Mehrani ji, aap tashreef le aayin. Warna mujhe to laga tha aaj bhi mujhe akele hi Professor Rehman ka lecture jhelna padega,” Anushay ne laad se uska haath dabate hue kaha, jis par Zara bhi hans padi.
“Welcome back, Ilma! Ab tumhari tabiyat kaisi hai?” Zara ne bhi garmjoshi se poocha.
“Main bilkul theek hoon, Zara. Thank you,” Ilma ne muskurakar jawab diya aur apna register desk par nikaal kar rakhne lagi.
“Achha suno, tum sab! Ab hum project par kaam karenge. Poori discussion hum library mein karenge,” Ilma ne chaaron se mukhatib hote hue kaha.
“Waise Ilma, kal maine aur Zara ne project ke baare mein discuss kiya tha aur Maaz aur Daniyal ko bhi bataya tha,” Anushay ne kaha.
“Tum logon ne pehle hi plan bana liya mere bina?”
“Tum nahi thi to humne socha, hum discuss kar lete hain aur jo plan banega tumhein bata denge.”
Ilma ko bura laga tha.
“Phir bhi, Anushay! Kam az kam mera intezar karna chahiye tha. Hum saath mein hote to zyada achha hota. Agar ye sab ye log karte to mujhe bura nahi lagta, par tum bhi inke saath thi. Kam az kam tumhein to sochna chahiye tha na ke mera intezar kar lete. Main hamesha ke liye to nahi chali gayi thi na.”
“Yaar, Ilma! Kya hua agar tumhare bina humne discuss kar liya? Tumhein bata to rahe hain na,” Anushay ne uski baat taalte hue kaha.
“Ye batane mein aur saath mein karne mein bahut farq hota hai.”
“Ilma, aur ab tum baat ko badha rahi ho. Ye koi badi baat nahi.”
“Haan, tumhare liye ye badi baat nahi hai, par mere liye hai. Kyunki jab ek group banta hai to har ek member zaroori hota hai aur humein har ek ke baare mein sochna chahiye. Ye nahi ke ek nahi aaya to uske bina cheez kar li.
Haan, agar main do hafte, teen hafte nahi aati to woh alag baat thi. Aur main to tumhari best friend thi na? Tum to mere saath hi har cheez discuss karti thi aur mere bina tumne kabhi ye cheez nahi ki.”
Ilma ne shikayat ki.
“Woh Zara thi na, to humne saath mein kar liya. Aur tum hamara plan sunogi to tumhein bhi zaroor achha lagega.”
Ilma khamosh ho gayi.
Kuch der baad woh sab library gaye hue the. Wahan ek taraf Zara aur Anushay kuch books dekh rahi thin aur Ilma paas hi ek side par khadi thi.
Usi waqt Maaz Ilma ke paas aaya aur baat karne laga.
“Ilma, suno.”
“Haan, bolo.”
“Kya hua hai tumhein?” Maaz ne sawaal kiya.
“Tumse matlab, kuch bhi hua ho.”
“Achha, ye batao tabiyat kaisi hai?”
“Pata nahi,” Ilma ne sapat se jawab diya.
“Yahan akeli kyun khadi ho? Unke paas kyun nahi khadi?”
“Mera dil kar raha tha main yahin khadi rahun. Aur tumhein kya? Main kuch bhi karun.”
“Maine to bas aise hi poocha. Tum udaas lag rahi thi.”
“Agar main udaas bhi rahun to tumhein kya farq padta? Jisko padna chahiye, farq use to pad hi nahi raha.”
“Padta hai farq,” Maaz ne aahista se kaha.
“Kya?” Ilma ne sawaal kiya.
“Kuch nahi. Achha, theek hai. Agar mera poochna tumhein bura laga to maazrat. Mera iraada tumhein hurt karne ka nahi tha.”
Maaz ke maazrat karne se Ilma ko andaaza hua ke woh doosre ka gussa us par nikaal rahi thi.
“I’m sorry, Maaz,” Ilma ne Maaz se kaha. “Darasal main pareshaan thi aur har cheez ka gussa tum par nikaal diya. Maazrat, galti to meri thi. Mujhe is tarah baat nahi karni chahiye thi.”
Maaz Shah ne jab Ilma ke labon se ye aitiraaf suna, to uske labon par ek behad pyari, dheemi si muskurahat ubhar aayi, jo usne Ilma se chhupane ke liye apna sar jhuka diya.
Ab university ka off-time ho gaya.
Students apne bags sambhalte tezi se corridors se bahar nikal rahe the. Ilma ne apna register bag mein dala. Uska dil Anushay ki baaton ki wajah se ab bhi thoda bhaari tha, lekin Maaz se maafi maangne ke baad uske andar ki jhunjhlaahat kaafi had tak kam ho chuki thi.
Woh Anushay aur Zara ko bas ek rasmi sa khuda hafiz keh kar tez qadmon se university ke main gate ki taraf badh gayi.
Woh rickshaw ka intezar kar rahi thi ke saamne use ek kaali rang ki car dikhai di. Ek naujawan gaadi se nikla, jisne mamooli si kaali rang ki shirt aur blue jeans pehni hui thi. Woh usi ki taraf aa raha tha.
Woh koi aur nahi tha, woh Haris tha.
“Haris bhai, aap bhi yahan?”
“Haan, woh main tumhare ghar hi ja raha tha to socha tumhare ghar jaana hai to tumhare saath hi jaya jaaye. Isliye tumhara yahin intezar kar raha tha.”
“Waise sach kahun to main bahut khush hoon ke aap mujhe lene aaye. Aaj waise hi mera mood off tha.”
“Kyun bhai? Tumhara mood kyun off tha?”
“Chhodein us baat ko aur chalein na, hum ghar chalte hain. Waise hi bahut dhoop hai.”
“Achha, ye batao, ice cream khaogi?” Haris ne jaise offer ki.
“Neki aur pooch-pooch?” Ilma ne muskurakar kaha. “Ice cream aur main na khaun? Aisa ho sakta hai bhala?”
Ilma muskurakar keh rahi thi.
Daniyal aur Maaz Ilma se kuch faasle par khade the. Maaz Ilma ko dekh raha tha.
Maaz ne aaj tak Ilma ko itna khush kabhi nahi dekha tha, magar aaj woh is ladke ke saamne bahut khush thi.
Maaz ko ye jaanne ka tajassus ho raha tha ke ye shakhs kaun hai.
Usi pal Zara aur Anushay bhi gate ke paas pahunchin.
Tabhi Maaz ne Anushay se poocha,
“Anushay, suno.”
“Haan, kya hua?”
“Tumse kuch poochna tha.”
“Poocho.”
“Woh dekho, Ilma jiske saath ja rahi hai, woh kaun hai?”
“Achha, woh? Woh to Haris bhai hain, Ilma ke cousin. Lekin tumhein ek cheez bataun, mujhe na aisa lagta hai jaise woh Ilma se mohabbat karte hain.”
“Mohabbat?” Maaz ko laga jaise usne galat suna hai.
“Haan, mohabbat. Bahut khayal rakhte hain woh Ilma ka.”
Na jaane kyun, magar ye sun kar Maaz ko bilkul achha nahi laga.
Gala sookh chuka tha, jaise dil par ek zakhm laga ho, jiski tapish uske poore wajood mein phail rahi ho.
“Achha, theek hai. Main chalti hoon, bhai aage lene,” Anushay ye kehte hue wahan se chali gayi.
Maaz wahin apni jagah par saakit khada raha. Uski nazrein ab bhi usi sadak par jami hui thin jahan Haris ki gaadi ab dheere-dheere door ho rahi thi.
“Tumhein kya hua, Maaz?” Daniyal ne Maaz ko dekhte hue poocha.
“Kuch nahi hua hai yaar, sab theek hai.”
“Pasand karte ho Ilma ko?” Daniyal ne saaf lafzon mein poocha.
“Nahi, aisi koi baat nahi. Woh to bas aise hi…”
“Lag raha hai ke pasand karte ho. Jis tarah tum use dekhte ho aur jis tarah tum abhi sawaal kar rahe the Ilma aur us ladke ke baare mein… aur woh baat ke woh uska cousin hai aur shayad mohabbat bhi karta hai, ye sunte hi tumhara chehra udaas ho gaya tha.”
“Nahi, aisi baat nahi. Tumhein ghalat lag raha hai.”
Ye kehte hue Maaz wahan se chala gaya.
Haris ne gaadi saamne roki. Usne Ilma ki pasand ki vanilla ice cream li aur dono gaadi ke andar hi baith kar khamoshi se khane lage.
Ilma ka mood ab kaafi had tak behtar ho chuka tha aur woh khidki se bahar dekhte hue muskur rahi thi.
Haris ne gaadi dobara haveli ke raaste par daal di.
Jaise hi gaadi main road se hat kar ek pursukoon, darakhton se ghiri sadak par aayi, Ilma ne ice cream ka aakhri chamach munh mein rakhte hue Haris ki taraf rukh kiya. Uski aankhon mein ek masoom sa tajassus tha.
“Waise Haris bhai…” Ilma ne seat par thoda seedha hote hue poocha, “aap poore ek saal India mein reh kar aaye hain, par aapne mujhe kabhi ye nahi bataya ke India asal mein kaisa hai? Wahan ka mahaul, wahan ke log… khaas taur par Delhi kaisa hai?”
Haris ne Ilma ke is achanak sawaal par muskurakar use dekha.
“Delhi… Delhi sirf ek shehar nahi hai, Ilma. Woh ek zinda tareekh hai. Bilkul waise hi jaise hamare yahan Kathmandu ke kuch purane ilaqon mein hai.”
“Sach mein?” Ilma ne dilchaspi se poocha.
“Haan! Lekin pata hai Ilma, Delhi mein rehte hue mujhe har roz ek aur shehar bahut yaad aata tha…”
“Kaun sa shehar?” Ilma ne poocha.
“Lahore…” Haris ne dheemi aur gehri awaaz mein kaha. “India mein mere jitne bhi dost bane, woh hamesha kehte the, Delhi agar dil hai to Lahore us dil ki dhadkan hai.”
“Lahore aur Delhi ka connection?”
Ilma ne hairat se dohraya. Uski ice cream ab khatam ho chuki thi aur woh poori tarah Haris ki baaton mein kho gayi thi.
“Haan Ilma, ye dono shehar ek doosre ka aks hain, bilkul kisi aaine ke do hisson ki tarah,” Haris ne muskurate hue gaadi ko ek pursukoon sadak par aage badhaya.
“Pata hai, tareekh ne 1947 mein ek lakeer kheench kar in dono ko alag to kar diya, lekin ye shehar apni rooh nahi badal paaye.
Delhi ki sabse mashhoor jagah Lal Qila, Red Fort, ka jo main gate hai, use ‘Lahori Gate’ kehte hain kyunki woh raasta Lahore ki taraf jaata tha.
Aur bilkul isi tarah, jab tum purane Lahore jaogi, to wahan ke sabse bade aur tareekhi darwaze ka naam ‘Delhi Gate’ hai.
Ye dono darwaze sadiyon se ek doosre ka naam liye khade hain, jaise ek doosre ko pukaar rahe hon.”
“Arre wah! Mujhe to ye pata hi nahi tha,” Ilma ne dang reh kar kaha.
“Sirf yahi nahi Ilma, wahan ke logon ka muqabla dekho,” Haris ke lehje mein Delhi ke dinon ki yaadein taaza ho rahi thin.
“Delhi ki Shah Jahan ki banayi hui ‘Jama Masjid’ dekho aur Lahore ki ‘Badshahi Masjid’… dono ka jalal, laal patthar aur safed gumbad bilkul ek jaise hain.
Lekin sabse badi baat wahan ki ‘tehzeeb’ aur zubaan hai. Delhi mein Urdu ka janam hua tha. Wahan aaj bhi jab purane log baat karte hain, to unke lehje mein wahi ‘aap aur janaab’ ka adab hota hai.
Jab batwara hua, to Delhi ke lakhon Musalman hijrat karke Lahore aa kar bas gaye, aur Lahore ke Hindu aur Sikh Delhi chale gaye.
Yaani Delhi ka ek bada hissa ab Lahore mein dhadakta hai, aur Lahore ki rooh Delhi ki galiyon mein basti hai.”
Baatein karte-karte na jaane kab ghar aa gaya, unhein pata bhi nahi chala.
“Achha, ab ghar aa gaya hai to ab aap ye cheez kabhi aur bata dena.”
“Haan, theek hai. Tum jao andar aur haan, Aiman ko bhi bhej do. Usi ke liye yahan aaya tha.”
“Theek hai, main bhejti hoon.”
Ye kehte hue Ilma andar chali gayi aur jaate hi kaha,
“Aiman, Haris bhai tumhara intezar kar rahe hain.”
Aur ye keh kar woh apne kamre mein chali gayi.
……………………….
Agli subah uni ke liye Ilma late ho chuki thi.
Jab woh class mein pahunchi to usne dekha Professor Rehman classroom mein pehle se the aur bachon ko kuch bata rahe the.
Woh ijaazat lekar class ke andar baith gayi.
Professor ne sanjeeda lehje mein kaha,
“Ek zaroori announcement hai. University administration ki taraf se semester ka schedule tabdeel kar diya gaya hai, jiski wajah se jo Business Communication ka project aapko do hafte baad jama karwana tha… ab uski final deadline agle teen din mein hai!”
“Kya?!”
Poori class mein jaise ek dum hungama mach gaya.
Students ek doosre ki taraf sadme se dekhne lage. Teen din mein itna bada project aur market research mukammal karna taqreeban namumkin tha.
Professor ne haath utha kar sab ko khamosh karwaya.
“Teen din baad jis group ka project mere desk par nahi hoga, use is semester mein fail kar diya jayega. Aap log ja sakte hain aur ja kar apne groups ke saath kaam shuru karein.”
Professor ke jaate hi class mein ek afra-tafri mach gayi.
Sab log apne-apne group members ko dekh rahe the.
“Yaar! Ab kya karenge? Teen din mein project kaise banega?” Anushay ne ghabra kar kaha.
“Humein rozana class ke baad library mein ghanton baithna padega, aur raat ko bhi online connect rehna hoga,” Daniyal ne Maaz aur Ilma ko dekhte hue kaha.
Bilkul, is poore scene ko bhi Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kar deta hoon aur character ka naam Maaz hi rakhunga. Flow aur emotions ko novel jaisa natural rakhunga.
Woh do din poore group ke liye kisi toofan se kam nahi the. Paanchon students subah se lekar der shaam tak university ki library ke ek kone mein sar jode baithe rehte the. Notes banana, live data ikattha karna aur presentation slides tayyar karna—sab itne masroof the ke kisi ko saans lene ki bhi fursat nahi thi.
Aur isi jaldi aur bhaag-daud ke beech, Ilma ki zindagi mein ek khamosh tabdeeli aa rahi thi.
Pehli baar Ilma Maaz Shah ko itne qareeb se aur ek bilkul alag roop mein dekh rahi thi. Maaz group ka sabse samajhdar aur focused member sabit ho raha tha. Jab baaki sab thak kar haar maan jaate, to Maaz bilkul pursukoon andaaz mein chai ke cup haath mein liye aata aur sab ka hausla badhata.
Ilma ne notice kiya ke Maaz jitna bahar se sakht aur ukhadd dikhai deta tha, andar se woh utna hi zimmedar aur khayal rakhne wala insaan tha.
Kaam ke dauran jab Ilma kisi point par ulajh jaati, to Maaz baghair kisi tanz ke, bahut dheeme aur gehre lehje mein uske paas baith kar use samjhata.
Uska bolne ka andaaz, uski kalaf lagi aasteenon ko upar chadhane ka tareeqa, na jaane kyun Ilma ko apne sehar mein jakadne laga tha.
“Chalo bhai logo! Final project tayyar hai.”
Bilkul usi lamhe Daniyal, Anushay aur Zara chai ke cup haath mein liye wapas table ke paas aa pahunche aur library ka woh khamosh sehar ek pal mein toot gaya.
“Shukar hai Khuda ka! Ab kal hum ise aaram se Professor Rehman ke desk par rakh sakte hain,” Anushay ne rahat ki saans lete hue kaha.
Ilma ne muskurakar haami bhari.
Agale din subah poori class mein ek ajeeb si bechaini thi. Har kisi ki nazrein Professor Rehman ke desk par thin, jahan ek-ek karke groups apne projects jama karwa rahe the.
“Ilma, file sambhal kar rakhna,” Anushay ne file ko dono haathon se pakadte hue kaha.
“Itni bhi nazuk nahi hai jitni tum bana rahi ho,” Ilma ne hanste hue jawab diya.
“Tumhein kya pata! Teen raaton ki neend qurbaan ki hai humne iske liye.”
“Tumne neend qurbaan nahi ki, mobile qurbaan kiya tha.”
Ilma kehte hi Daniyal hans pada.
“Ye baat bilkul durust hai. Kal raat teen baje tak mohtarma online thin.”
“Daniyal! Tum meri jasusi karte ho?”
“Jasusi nahi, group chat mein sab dekh rahe the.”
Isi dauran Maaz ne unke haath se file le li.
“Main jama karwa deta hoon.”
Ilma ne chaunk kar use dekha.
“Nahi, main kar dungi.”
“Aapko abhi do aur files sambhalni hain.”
Maaz ne saada lehje mein kaha aur file lekar Professor ke desk ki taraf badh gaya.
Ilma kuch lamhe use dekhti rahi.
“Kya hua?”
Anushay ne uske kandhe se kandha milate hue sargoshi ki.
“Kuch nahi.”
“Phir itni ghaur se kyun dekh rahi ho?”
“Main use nahi dekh rahi thi.”
“Achha?”
Anushay ne maani-khez andaaz mein bhawein uthayin.
“Haan!”
Ilma ne foran nazrein doosri taraf kar li.
Kuch hi der baad Professor Rehman ne tamam groups ki files dekhin aur aakhirkaar unke group ki taraf mutawajjah hue.
“Good work, everyone. Khaas taur par market research kaafi achhi hai.”
Sab ke chehron par sukoon phail gaya.
Daniyal ne foran dono haath hawa mein utha diye.
“Alhamdulillah! Ab main zinda reh sakta hoon.”
“Tum aise bol rahe ho jaise project nahi, jang jeeti ho,” Zara ne hanste hue kaha.
“Mere liye dono ek hi cheez hain.”
Sab hans pade.
Professor Rehman ne file ek taraf rakhte hue apni ainak utaari aur sab ki taraf dekha.
“Achha, kyunki aap logon ne apna project waqt par mukammal kar liya hai, to agle hafte se hum presentations shuru karenge. Har group ko pandrah minute diye jayenge.”
“Sir, pandrah minute?” Daniyal ne foran haath khada kar diya.
Professor Rehman ne use dekha.
“Ji?”
“Sir, agar hamari presentation pandrah minute se pehle khatam ho gayi to?”
“To aap baith jayenge.”
Poori class mein hansi phail gayi.
Daniyal ne sanjeeda shakal banayi.
“Sir, mera matlab tha ke agar pandrah minute mein hamari qabiliyat khatam ho gayi to?”
“Woh to aapki presentation shuru hone ke paanch minute baad hi pata chal jayega.”
Is baar Maaz bhi apni hansi nahi rok saka.
Daniyal ne use ghoor kar dekha.
“Tum bhi hans rahe ho?”
“Haan.”
“Dost ho ya dushman?”
“Filhaal faisla nahi kiya.”
Zara ne foran kaha,
“Daniyal, tumhari qismat hi kharab hai.”
“Meri qismat nahi, meri class kharab hai.”
“Mujhe kya pata tha yahan itne zaalim log milenge.”
Ilma be-ikhtiyar muskura di.
Maaz ki nazar ek lamhe ke liye uske chehre par padi.
Woh muskura rahi thi.
Bahut halki si, magar uske chehre par pehli baar woh sakhti nahi thi jo Maaz ne use pehli mulaqat mein dekhi thi.
“Miss Siddiqui.”
Professor Rehman ki awaaz par Ilma foran seedhi hokar baith gayi.
“Ji sir?”
“Aapke group ki presentation agle hafte ki pehli presentation hogi.”
Ilma ke chehre se muskurahat ghaib ho gayi.
“Pehli?”
“Ji. Koi aitraz?”
“Nahi sir.”
Usne aahista se sar hila diya.
Professor Rehman ne mazeed chand zaroori hidayaat dein aur phir class khatam karne ka elan kar diya.
Talaba apni-apni cheezein sametne lage.
Anushay ne foran Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Bas! Ab to tayyari shuru karni padegi.”
“Haan, lekin abhi se kyun pareshan ho rahi ho? Ek hafta hai hamare paas.”
“Ek hafta?” Daniyal ne peeche se awaaz lagayi. “Mere liye to ye sirf saat din hain, aur saat din bahut kam hote hain.”
Maaz ne apni kitaabein bag mein rakhte hue kaha,
“Aaj kaun-kaun library ja raha hai?”
Ilma ne foran sar uthaya.
“Aaj?”
Maaz ne uski taraf dekha.
“Haan. Behtar hai kaam pehle taqseem kar lein.”
Anushay ne Ilma ki taraf dekha, phir Maaz ki taraf.
“Mujhe to koi masla nahi.”
Kuch der baad chaaron library pahunch chuke the. Zara ko kisi kaam ki wajah se apne ghar jaana pad gaya tha.
Chaaron ek kone wali table par ja kar baith gaye. Aas-paas mukammal khamoshi thi. Sirf kabhi-kabhi kisi kitaab ke safhe palatne ki awaaz aati.
Maaz ne apna laptop khola.
“Achha, sabse pehle ye tay karte hain ke presentation ka topic kaun sa hissa kis ke paas hoga.”
Daniyal ne kursi peeche karte hue kaha,
“Main introduction kar leta hoon. Bas zyada lambi nahi honi chahiye, warna Professor sahib pehli slide par hi humein wapas bhej denge.”
Anushay hans padi.
“Tumhari introduction lambi nahi hogi, ye mojza hoga.”
“Dekha? Abhi se meri salahiyaton par shak kiya ja raha hai.”
Maaz ne muskurate hue sar hilaya.
“Tum dono behas baad mein karna.”
Ilma khamoshi se notes dekh rahi thi. Kuch der baad usne ek safha aage kiya.
“Ye hissa main kar leti hoon. Is mein research zyada hai, to main aaj hi kuch material nikaal lungi.”
Maaz ne sar hilaya.
“Theek hai. Phir main data aur main points dekh leta hoon. Anushay, tum presentation ki slides sambhal lena.”
“Aur Daniyal?”
Anushay ne jaan-boojh kar poocha.
Daniyal ne foran seena phula liya.
“Main team ka morale buland rakhunga.”
Ilma be-ikhtiyar hans padi.
“Yaani kaam nahi karoge?”
“Maine aisa kab kaha?”
Kuch der tak chaaron isi tarah kaam mein masroof rahe.
Phir jab zaroori material kaafi had tak jama ho gaya to Maaz ne laptop band kar diya.
“Bas, aaj ke liye itna kaafi hai. Baqi kal kar lenge.”
Anushay ne lambi saans li.
“Aakhirkaar. Mujhe laga tha aaj hum library mein hi reh jayenge.”
Daniyal ne ghadi ki taraf dekha.
“Waise kaafi der ho gayi hai.”
Ilma ne apne notes samette hue kaha,
“Waqt ka pata hi nahi chala.”
Chand lamhon ke liye sab khamosh baithe rahe.
Phir Daniyal ne achanak kaha,
“Ek baat poochun?”
Maaz ne use dekha.
“Poocho.”
Daniyal ne Ilma aur Anushay ki taraf dekhte hue kaha,
“Yaar, tum log batao… ye ladkiyan itna rooth-ti kyun hain?”
Anushay ne foran use ghoora, phir hanste hue boli,
“Kyun? Tumhein jalan ho rahi hai unke roothne se? Chaho to tum mard bhi rooth sakte ho.”
“Aisa thodi hota hai.”
Maaz aur Daniyal ne ek saath kaha.
Anushay hans padi.
“Kyun bhai? Mardon ko roothne ka haq nahi?”
Ilma, jo ab tak khamoshi se unki baatein sun rahi thi, achanak bol uthi,
“Kyun nahi?”
Sab ki nazrein uski taraf uth gayin.
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye sab ko dekha, phir bahut sukoon se boli,
“Balki dekha jaye to duniya mein sabse khoobsurat cheez to ye lagti hai jab mard roothe aur aurat use manaye, uske liye efforts kare.”
Daniyal ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
Ilma ne baat jaari rakhi,
“Kyuki aurat rooth-ti hi hai. Aurat ko to roothne ka haq hasil hai.”
Woh lamhe bhar ko ruki.
“Par mard ko bhi to thoda sa haq hasil hona chahiye. Unhein bhi to koi aisa chahiye jo unhein samjhe, manaye, mohabbat kare.”
Uski awaaz mein ab pehle jaisi shokhi nahi thi.
“Mard to aseer-e-mohabbat hote hain. Unhein bas apni aurat se mohabbat chahiye hoti hai.”
Chand lamhon ke liye wahan mukammal khamoshi chha gayi.
Maaz ki nazrein Ilma par thehar gayi thin.
Aur Ilma ko shayad is baat ka ehsaas bhi nahi tha ke uske chand jumlon ne kisi ke dil mein ek ajeeb sa sawaal chhod diya tha.
“Waise Ilma… tum wohi market wali ladki ho?”
Maaz ne jaise hairani se poocha.
“Tum aur itni gehri baat kar rahi ho… aisa lag hi nahi raha ke ye wahi ladki hai jis se main pehli baar mila tha.”
“Kyun? Buri lag rahi hoon?” Ilma ne sawaal kiya.
“Nahi, nahi. Mere kehne ka woh matlab nahi.”
Maaz ne foran wazahat ki.
Ilma ne use dekha.
“To phir kya matlab tha?”
Maaz chand lamhe use dekhta raha.
Phir usne kaha,
“Kuch nahi.”
Kuch hi der baad woh chaaron library se bahar nikal aaye.
Bahar shaam ka dhundhalka phail raha tha.
“Chalo bhai, ab ghar nikalte hain. Kal class mein milenge.”
Daniyal aur Anushay ne khuda hafiz kaha aur apne-apne raste par badh gaye.
Ilma ne sadak ke kinare khade hokar rickshaw ka intezar karna shuru kiya.
Isi lamhe uska mobile phone baj utha.
Usne purse se phone nikala. Screen par “Haris Bhai” ka naam chamak raha tha.
“Assalam-o-alaikum, Haris bhai!”
Ilma ne sadak ke kinare rickshon ko dekhte hue phone kaan se lagaya.
“Wa-alaikum-assalam, Ilma! Kidhar ho tum is waqt?”
“Bas bhai, abhi-abhi library se free hui hoon. College ke bahar khadi rickshaw ka intezar kar rahi hoon.”
“Achha, wahin ruki raho. Main aa raha hoon!”
Haris ne foran kaha.
“Main isi road ke paas kisi kaam se aaya tha. Bas paanch minute mein tumhare paas pahunch raha hoon.”
“Theek hai, main gate ke paas hi khadi hoon.”
Ilma ne ye keh kar phone purse mein rakh liya.
Theek paanch minute baad Haris ki safed gaadi gate ke saamne aa kar ruki.
Ilma muskurakar aage badhi aur front seat ka darwaza khol kar andar baith gayi.
Gaadi ke andar chalte heater ki garmi ne use bahar ki sard hawa se ek dum sukoon diya.
“Shukar hai aap aa gaye, Haris bhai. Warna is waqt rickshaw milna bahut mushkil ho raha tha.”
Haris ne gaadi ko main road par daalte hue muskurakar use dekha.
“Chalo, achha hua main waqt par pahunch gaya. Waise Ilma… aaj hum haveli nahi ja rahe.”
“Arre wah! Ye to bahut achha ho gaya. Aiman bhi ghar par hi hogi na?”
Ilma ne chamakti aankhon se poocha.
“Haan, woh subah se Ammi ke saath mil kar kitchen mein lagi hui hai.”
Haris ne muskurate hue gaadi ki raftaar zara badha di.
Kuch hi der baad gaadi Haris ke ghar ke saamne ja kar ruki.
Lounge mein Sadia Begum, Chacha jaan aur Haris ki Ammi sofa par baithi chai pi rahi thin.
Ilma ne sab ko salaam kiya aur phir Aiman ke saath baith gayi.
Kuch hi der baad khane ke liye sab table ke gird jama ho gaye.
Table par mutton choila, matar pulao, salad aur kai doosri cheezein saji hui thin.
Khane ke saath-saath baaton aur qahqahon ka silsila bhi chalta raha.
Haris hasb-e-maamool sab ko hansane mein masroof tha. Kabhi Aiman ko chhedta aur kabhi Ilma ki kisi baat par shararat se muskura deta.
Khane ke baad sab dobara lounge mein aa baithe.
Saamne garam qahwe ke cup rakhe the aur guftagu ek baar phir shuru ho gayi.
Kuch der tak aam baatein hoti rahin.
Phir achanak Haris ki Ammi ne Sadia Begum ki taraf dekha.
Unke chehre par halki si muskurahat thi, magar lehje mein ab pehle jaisi be-fikri nahi rahi thi.
“Sadia… ab bachche bhi bade ho gaye hain.”
Sadia Begum ne unki taraf dekha.
“Haan, waqt ka pata hi nahi chala.”
Chachi jaan ne ek nazar Haris ki taraf daali, phir Ilma ki taraf.
“Haris bhi India se apna kaam mukammal karke wapas aa gaya hai. Ab to iska bhi mustaqil iraada hai yahin rehne ka.”
Haris ke haath mein pakda qahwe ka cup wahin ruk gaya.
Woh khamosh baitha raha.
Chachi jaan ne baat jaari rakhi.
“Main to kaafi arse se soch rahi thi ke ab mazeed der karne ka koi faida nahi.”
Sadia Begum ne sawaaliya nazron se unhein dekha.
“Kya kehna chah rahi ho?”
Chachi jaan muskuraayin.
“Yahi ke kyun na Haris aur Ilma ke rishte ki baat pakki kar di jaye?”
Ek lamhe ke liye jaise poore lounge ki awaazein tham gayin.
Haris ki ungliyan cup ke gird zara mazboot ho gayin.
Usne be-ikhtiyar nazrein uthayin.
Saamne Ilma baithi thi.
Uski aankhon mein hairani thi, jaise use abhi tak yaqeen hi na aaya ho ke guftagu ka rukh achanak uski taraf mud gaya hai.
Chacha jaan ne bhi muskurate hue kaha,
“Hamari taraf se to koi masla nahi. Haris ki razamandi bhi hai, aur hum Ilma ko bachpan se jaante hain. Isse behtar rishta humein aur kya chahiye.”
Haris ne nazrein jhuka lein.
Uske chehre par ek aisi khamosh khushi thi jise shayad woh sab se chhupana chahta tha, magar chhupa nahi pa raha tha.
Aaj Haris ke dil ki baat ki ja rahi thi.
Aaj Ilma Siddiqui ko Haris ke naam kiye jaane ki baat ho rahi thi.
Ilma ne chand lamhon ki khamoshi ke baad aahista se nazrein uthayin aur saamne baithe Haris ko dekha.
Haris bhi usi ki taraf dekh raha tha.
Uske chehre par ek halki si muskurahat thi, magar Ilma ki nazrein uske chehre par thehar na sakin.
Usne foran nazrein jhuka lein.
“Ammi…”
Ilma ne halki si jhijhak ke saath kaha,
“Main abhi padh rahi hoon.”
Woh ek lamhe ke liye ruki, phir jaise apne dil ki baat samjhane ki koshish karte hue boli,
“Aur… maine abhi itni jaldi shaadi ke baare mein socha hi nahi hai.”
Lounge mein maujood sab khamoshi se use sun rahe the.
Ilma ne ek nazar phir Haris ki taraf daali.
“Aur Haris bhai ko to maine hamesha bhai hi samjha hai.”
“Main ne kabhi khayal hi nahi kiya ke…”
Woh aage kuch na keh saki.
Haris ke chehre par maujood muskurahat ek lamhe ko thehar gayi.
Magar usne nazrein jhuka lein aur kuch nahi kaha.
“Achha Ilma, hum thodi keh rahe hain isi waqt jawab do. Tum kuch time lo, soch lo achhe se, phir jawab de dena.”
Haris ki Ammi ne use tasalli di.
Kuch hi der baad dawat ikhtitam ko pahunchi aur wapsi ka waqt aa gaya.
Raat kaafi guzar chuki thi, isliye tay paaya ke Haris hi apni gaadi mein Chachi jaan, yani Sadia Begum, aur Ilma ko wapas haveli chhod aayega.
Poore raste gaadi mein ek bojhal aur gehri khamoshi chhayi rahi.
Ilma ne nazrein khidki se bahar jama rakhi thin, jahan andheri sadak par guzarti roshniyon ke aks baar-baar sheeshe par ubhar kar mit rahe the.
Doosri taraf Haris khamoshi se steering thaame gaadi chala raha tha.
Gaadi ke heater ki garmi bhi dono ke darmiyan paida hone wali is ajeeb si ajnabiyat aur khamoshi ko kam nahi kar pa rahi thi.
Taqreeban bees minute baad gaadi haveli ke bade lohe ke gate ke saamne aa kar ruk gayi.
Gaadi rukte hi Sadia Begum ne ek gehri saans li aur darwaza kholte hue Haris ki taraf dekha.
“Haris beta! Bahut shukriya tumhara. Raat kaafi ho gayi hai. Tum aaram se ghar jaana aur pahunch kar phone kar dena.”
“Ji Chachi jaan, aap fikr na karein.”
Sadia Begum gaadi se utar kar haveli ke andarooni dalan ki taraf badh gayin taake main hall ka tala khol saken.
Ilma ne bhi apna bag sambhala aur jaise hi gaadi ka darwaza khol kar bahar nikalne lagi, Haris ki dheemi aur sanjeeda awaaz ne uske qadam wahin rok diye.
“Ilma… ek minute ruko.”
Usne aahista se palat kar dekha.
Haris ne gaadi ka engine band kar diya tha.
Ab woh poori tarah uski taraf mutawajjah tha.
Uski aankhon mein aisi gehri udaasi aur dard tha jise Ilma ne pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha.
“Haris bhai… raat kaafi ho gayi hai. Ammi bhi andar chali gayi hain.”
“Main jaanta hoon, Ilma.”
Haris ne ek sard aah bhari.
“Main tumhara zyada waqt nahi loonga.”
Ilma khamosh khadi use sunti rahi.
“Tumne jo kuch kaha, woh bilkul sach hai, Ilma. Tumne mujhe hamesha ek cousin, ek bhai ki tarah samjha… aur is mein tumhari koi galti nahi.”
Haris ke labon par ek maddham si, magar be-had dardnaak muskurahat ubhri.
“Lekin…”
Woh ek lamhe ke liye ruka.
“Mere dil ka haal mukhtalif tha.”
Ilma ki palkein be-ikhtiyar jhuk gayin.
“India mein guzara hua mera ek-ek din tumhare naam tha.”
“Tum mere dil ki woh khwahish thin, Ilma… jise maine barson se apne andar sambhal kar rakha tha. Maine kabhi tumse kuch maanga nahi, kabhi tum par apni mohabbat ka bojh nahi dala… bas dil hi dil mein ye yaqeen liye jeeta raha ke shayad ek din tum meri mohabbat ko samajh jaogi.”
“Haris bhai…” Ilma ki awaaz rundh gayi. “I’m sorry… main waqai…”
“Sorry mat kaho.”
Haris ne narmi se uski baat kaat di.
“Mohabbat par kisi ka ikhtiyar nahi hota, Ilma. Na tumne mere dil mein ye ehsaas paida kiya, na tum ise khatam kar sakti ho.”
Ilma ne nam aankhon se uski taraf dekha.
Haris ne ek gehri saans li aur qadr-e-sambhal kar bola,
“Chachi jaan ne tumhein waqt diya hai. Tum aaram se socho. Main tumhein kisi faisle ke liye majboor nahi karunga.”
Woh ek lamhe ke liye khamosh hua.
“Magar ek cheez kehna chahta hoon.”
Ilma chup rahi.
“Ek din waise bhi tumhari shaadi kisi na kisi se honi hai, Ilma…”
Woh ek pal ko ruka, phir bahut dheemi awaaz mein bola,
“To kya woh main nahi ban sakta?”
Ilma ke dil ne ek dum jaise dhadakna bhool gaya.
Haris ne foran nazrein chura lein.
“Aaj nahi… kal nahi… theek hai. Main tumse abhi koi jawab nahi maang raha.”
Uski awaaz mein ajeeb si aajizi utar aayi thi.
“Bas itna bata do ke kya kabhi… kisi din… hamare rishte ki koi umeed ho sakti hai?”
Ilma ki aankhen nam ho gayin.
Woh kuch kehna chahti thi, magar alfaaz jaise gale mein atak gaye the.
Haris ne uski khamoshi ko dekha to foran bola,
“Nahi, Ilma. Abhi jawab mat do.”
Ilma ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Main aapko koi jhooti umeed nahi dena chahti.”
Haris ne foran sar hila diya.
“Aur main jhooti umeed maang bhi nahi raha.”
Usne ek gehri saans li.
“Bas ek chhota sa imkaan maang raha hoon… ke shayad kabhi tum mujhe sirf apne cousin ya bhai ki nazar se nahi, balki ek aise shakhs ki haisiyat se dekh sako jo tumhein apni poori zindagi dena chahta hai.”
Woh chand lamhon ke liye khamosh raha.
Phir uski aankhon mein nami utar aayi.
“Main tumhein apna banana chahta hoon.”
Ilma kuch kahe baghair gaadi se utar gayi.
Chand qadam aage badhne ke baad na jaane kyun uske qadam ruk gaye.
Usne palat kar Haris ki taraf dekha.
Haris ab bhi use hi dekh raha tha.
Dono ki nazrein ek lamhe ke liye milin.
Phir Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein aur tez qadmon se haveli ke andar chali gayi.
Haris ki nazrein der tak usi darwaze par tiki rahin jahan se Ilma abhi-abhi andar gayi thi.
Bilkul, main poora scene Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kar raha hoon, aur naam ki spelling har jagah Maaz hi rahegi.
Ek hafta guzar chuka tha. Is poore hafte Ilma ne khud ko Haris se door rakha tha aur apna poora dhyan presentation ki tayari par laga diya tha. Aaj unke group ki baari thi.
Ilma ne aaj safed rang ka nafees sa kurta pehen rakha tha aur kandhon par halka gulabi rang ka pashmina odha hua tha.
“Okay class!”
Professor Rehman ne register band karte hue kaha.
“Aaj ki pehli presentation Maaz aur Ilma ke group ki hai. Aap log aa sakte hain.”
Daniyal, Anushay aur Zara apni jagahon se uth kar aage barh gaye.
Presentation shuru hui.
Daniyal ne introduction pesh kiya, Anushay ne slides sambhalein aur phir Ilma ki baari aa gayi.
Woh class ke saamne ja kar khari hui.
Pehli slide uske saamne thi. Woh bolti chali gayi.
Ek slide…
Phir doosri…
Phir teesri.
Ab uske lehje mein wohi confidence wapas aa chuka tha jo tayari ke poore hafte mein usne hasil kiya tha.
Class mukammal khamoshi se use sun rahi thi.
Professor Rehman bhi poori tawajjo ke saath uski wazahatein sun rahe the.
Aur Maaz…
Woh bas use dekh raha tha.
Aakhirkaar aakhri slide bhi mukammal ho gayi.
Chand lamhon ki khamoshi ke baad poori class taaliyon se goonj uthi.
Professor Rehman ne muskurate hue kaha,
“Excellent work, Ilma. Your explanation was very clear.”
Ilma ne shukriya ada kiya aur apni jagah wapas aane lagi.
Magar raste mein uski nazar ek baar phir Maaz se mili.
Presentation khatam hone ke baad class ahista ahista khaali hone lagi.
Ilma apni files sameit rahi thi ke Anushay uske paas aa gayi.
“Ilma!”
“Hmm?”
“Aaj mere saath market chal rahi ho.”
Ilma ne hairani se use dekha.
“Aaj?”
“Ji haan, aaj hi.” Anushay ne foran uska haath pakarne ke bajaye sirf uske saamne aa kar rasta rok liya. “Mujhe kuch cheezein leni hain, aur tumhein bhi pichhle kitne dinon se kitaabon aur presentation ke ilawa kuch yaad hi nahi. Thoda sa bahar chalo, dimaagh bhi fresh ho jayega.”
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye socha.
Guzishta ek hafte se waqai uski zindagi padhai, presentation aur apne uljhe hue khayalat ke gird hi ghoom rahi thi.
“Achha theek hai.”
Anushay ne foran muskura kar kaha,
“Ye hui na baat!”
Shaam ke taqreeban paanch baj rahe the. Asr ki azaan hui, usi pal Anushay ka phone aaya.
Ilma ne jaldi se kaha,
“Main bahar aa rahi hoon.”
“Main bahar hoon.”
Ilma ne kaha,
“Yaar, pehle namaz padh loon, warna Ammi bohat daanteingi.”
Anushay ne beparwahi se kaha,
“Yaar baad mein padh lena. Ek waqt ki namaz nahi padhogi to koi masla thodi ho jayega.”
“Achha, main aati hoon.”
Ilma ne namaz nahi padhi. Woh bina namaz padhe Anushay ke saath chali gayi.
Market hamesha ki tarah logon se bhari hui thi. Kahin kapron ki dukaanon ke bahar lights jagmaga rahi thi, kahin churiyon ki khanak sunai de rahi thi.
Woh dono ek dukaan ki taraf badhi hi thi ke peeche se ek awaaz aayi.
“Anushay, suno!”
Woh Zara thi.
Zara jaldi se dono ke qareeb aayi.
“Tum dono yahan kuch lena tha kya?”
“Haan, kuch samaan lena tha,” Ilma ne kaha.
“Achha hai tum bhi mil gayi. Chalo ab saath mein shopping karenge,” Anushay ne jaise offer kiya.
“Haan, kyun nahi.”
Teeno apni shopping mein masroof ho gayin.
“Zara, dekho ye dupatta kaisa hai?” Anushay ne Zara se mukhatib hote hue poocha.
“Yaar, dupatta to bohat pyara hai.”
Rose pink aur maroon ke mile-jule shade ka woh dupatta nihayat narm aur halke, chamakdar kapre ka tha. Roshni padne par uske reshmi kapre mein halki si chamak ubhar rahi thi. Chaaron taraf bareek sunehri zari ki nafees lace lagi hui thi, jis ke kinare par nanhi nanhi jhalar use mazeed dilkash bana rahi thi. Saada hone ke bawajood us dupatte mein ek alag hi nazakat aur khoobsurti thi.
Ek saada sa dupatta tha, magar uske rangon aur nafasat mein aisi dilkashi thi ke pehli nazar mein hi achha lagta tha.
Anushay ne dupatta apne saamne phaila kar dobara dekha.
“Ye to main le rahi hoon.”
“Haan le lo, tum par bohat achha lagega.”
Ye pehli baar tha jab Anushay Ilma ke saath aayi thi aur bina uski pasand ke, bina usse pooche koi cheez khareed rahi thi.
Ilma use dekhti rahi, magar lafz nahi the.
Khamoshi thi…
Dil mein ek khamoshi.
Dosti mein jab teesra aata hai aur humein apni value kam lagne lagti hai, to rishte badalne lagte hain.
Jab mehsoos hota hai ke hamari jagah ab sirf hamari nahi rahi, woh jagah koi aur bhi le sakta hai, to hum us dosti mein us tarah nahi reh paate jaise pehle rehte the.
Jaise har cheez ek doosre se share karte the, dheere dheere woh cheezein khatam hone lagti hain.
Ya to hum chup ho jaate hain…
Ya saamne wale ko baar baar batate hain ke humein achha nahi lag raha tumhara uske saath itna qareebi rishta.
Rishta chahe mohabbat ka ho ya dosti ka, agar teesra aata hai to insecurity bhi aa hi jaati hai…
Ke hamari jagah na le le.
Kuch der baad woh market mein ghoom hi rahi thi ke Anushay ne kaha,
“Chalo, kuch kha lete hain. Itni der se ghoom rahe hain, mujhe to bohat bhook lagi hai.”
Zara foran boli,
“Mujhe bhi.”
“Phir aaj tum dono ki farmaish poori karte hain.”
Teeno qareeb hi maujood ek restaurant mein chali gayin.
Restaurant mein shaam ke waqt mamool ki nisbat kuch zyada rush tha. Halki roshni, tables ke darmiyan ahista ahista chalte waiters aur mukhtalif tables se aati guftagu ki awaazein mahaul ko masroof magar pursukoon bana rahi thi.
Teeno ek kone wali table par baith gayin.
Anushay ne menu uthaya aur Zara ki taraf badhate hue kaha,
“Tum batao, aaj kya khana hai?”
Zara ne menu lene ke bajaye shararat se kaha,
“Jo tum khilaogi.”
“Tum dono ko dekh ke lag raha hai bachpan ki saheli ho,” Ilma ne unki baat sunte hue kaha.
Zara ne muskura kar kaha,
“Kyunke hamari vibe milti hai.”
“Bilkul!”
Dono phir hans padin.
Ilma ne paani ka glass utha liya.
Use samajh nahi aa raha tha ke use itni bechaini kyun ho rahi thi.
Woh jaanti thi ke Anushay ko naye logon se ghulne-milne mein kabhi waqt nahi lagta tha. Phir aaj Zara ke saath uski dosti use itni ajeeb kyun lag rahi thi?
Shayad isliye ke use pehli baar apni jagah kisi aur ke saath baanti hui mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Isi dauran restaurant ke doosre hisse mein maujood ek table par baithe Maaz ki nazar achanak saamne padi.
Woh apne ek dost ke saath baitha tha, magar Ilma ko dekh kar uski nigah chand lamhon ke liye wahin ruk gayi.
Wohi Ilma.
Wohi khamosh chehra, magar aaj mamool se kuch mukhtalif.
Maaz ne dekha ke Anushay aur Zara aapas mein hans rahi thin, baatein kar rahi thin, jabke Ilma zyada tar khamosh baithi thi.
Usne chand lamhe unhein dekha, phir dobara apni table ki taraf mutawajjah ho gaya.
Lekin kuch hi der baad uski nazar phir be-ikhtiyar usi taraf uth gayi.
Ilma us waqt bhi khamosh thi.
Anushay ne kuch kaha to Zara hans padi. Ilma ne bhi muskurane ki koshish ki, magar uski muskurahat chand lamhon se zyada uske chehre par na thehar saki.
Maaz ne ye farq mehsoos kiya.
Woh use dekhta raha, jaise samajhne ki koshish kar raha ho ke itne shor ke darmiyan bhi woh itni khamosh kyun hai.
Dheere dheere raat ka andhera barhta ja raha tha. Woh log wahan se khana khane ke baad apne ghar ke liye ja chuke the.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Ilma ghar pahunch kar kapde tabdeel karne ke baad apne kamre mein aa gayi.
Kamre mein maddham roshni phaili hui thi.
Woh khamoshi se bed par let gayi, magar zehan abhi tak shaam ke manzar mein uljha hua tha.
Restaurant mein Anushay aur Zara ki baatein, un dono ki be-takallufi, Anushay ka usse pooche baghair dupatta khareed lena…
Jaane kyun chhoti chhoti baatein bhi use baar baar yaad aa rahi thin.
Apna dhyan hatane ke liye usne bed ke paas rakha mobile uthaya aur yunhi screen par ungli pherne lagi.
Chand lamhon baad WhatsApp par ek notification numayan hua.
Unknown number.
Ilma ne kuch hairani se message khola.
Sirf ek jumla tha.
“Assalam-o-alaikum.”
Usne bhawein sikodi.
Number ke saath koi picture bhi nahi thi, sirf gehre surmai rang ka wallpaper tha.
Usne jawab likha.
“Wa-alaikum-assalam. Kaun?”
Jawab foran aa gaya.
“Maaz Shah.”
Ilma chand lamhon tak screen ko dekhti rahi.
“Maaz?”
Woh be-ikhtiyar seedhi ho kar baith gayi.
Use samajh nahi aaya ke Maaz ne use is waqt message kyun kiya tha.
Phir ek message aaya.
“Udaas ho?”
Ilma ne foran jawab diya.
“Tumhein kya chahiye, udaas rahun ya na rahun, ye mera masla hai.”
“Udaas lag rahi ho.”
“Tum itne confidence se kaise bol sakte ho?” Ilma ne hairan hote hue message kiya.
“Udaas na hua karo. Hamesha khush raha karo.”
Ilma kuch pal ke liye ye message dekhti rahi.
Phir Maaz ka message aaya.
“Aaj restaurant mein tum itni khamosh kyun thi?”
Ilma ki ungli screen par ruk gayi.
To Maaz ne use wahan dekha tha.
“Main khamosh nahi thi. Aur tumhein kya zarurat thi mujhe itni gaur se dekhne ki?”
Kuch der tak koi jawab nahi aaya.
Phir screen roshan hui.
“Gaur se nahi dekh raha tha. Bas nazar pad gayi thi.”
Ilma ne foran jawab diya.
“To tumhari nazar ghalat thi. Main bilkul theek thi.”
Is baar jawab aane mein chand lamhe lage.
“Achha, agar tum kehti ho to maan leta hoon.”
Phir ek aur message aaya.
“Lekin ek baat kahun?”
Ilma ne be-ikhtiyar screen ko dekha.
“Kya?”
Maaz ka jawab mukhtasar tha.
“Tum jab pareshan hoti ho to tumhari aankhein bata deti hain.”
Ilma ke chehre se muskurahat ghaib ho gayi.
Usne mobile ko kuch der haath mein thaamay rakha.
Use achha nahi laga tha ke kisi ne uske andar ki kaifiyat itni aasani se padh li thi.
Woh jawab likhne lagi, phir mita diya.
Dobara likha.
“Tumhein har baat notice karne ki aadat hai kya?”
Maaz ka jawab aaya.
“Har kisi ki nahi.”
Ilma kuch der tak is jumle ko dekhti rahi.
Uska dil bewajah ek lamhe ke liye tez dhadka.
Usne foran khud ko sambhala.
“Kitna ajeeb ladka hai.”
Usne mobile ek taraf rakhne ki koshish ki, magar kuch seconds baad phir utha liya.
Ek aakhri message screen par maujood tha.
“Waise, agar waqai sab theek hai to achhi baat hai. Bas apna khayal rakha karo, Ilma.”
Na jaane us ek lafz mein kya tha ke woh chand lamhon tak screen ko dekhti rahi.
Phir usne mobile band kiya aur takiye ke paas rakh diya.
Chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi thi, jise woh khud bhi samajh nahi pa rahi thi.
Shayad Maaz ki baat mein koi khaas baat nahi thi.
Shayad woh sirf ek aam sa jumla tha.
Magar baaz auqaat mamooli se jumle bhi dil ke kisi aise kone ko chhoo jaate hain, jiske baare mein humein khud bhi khabar nahi hoti.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Agley din university mein Ilma ne koshish ki ke woh mamool ke mutabiq rahe.
Magar na jaane kyun subah se uski nazar baar baar mobile ki screen par ja rahi thi.
Raat ki aakhri guftagu zehan ke kisi kone mein ab bhi maujood thi.
Woh khud bhi nahi jaanti thi ke woh Maaz ke agle message ka intezar kar rahi hai ya mahaz ittefaq se baar baar phone dekh rahi hai.
Class shuru hone se kuch der pehle mobile par ek message aaya.
Maaz:
“Class aa gayi ho?”
Ilma ne chand lamhe screen ko dekha, phir jawab diya.
Ilma:
“Haan. Kyun?”
Chand seconds baad jawab aaya.
Maaz:
“Aise hi poocha. Kal tum kaafi thaki hui lag rahi thi.”
Ilma ne be-ikhtiyar muskura kar phone neeche rakh diya.
Ilma:
“Bahut fikar ho rahi hai meri.”
Maaz:
“Haan, bas dil chah raha tha tumse poochun.”
Ilma ne uska jawab padha to chand lamhon ke liye khamosh rahi.
Phir ungliyan khud-ba-khud keyboard par chalne lagin.
“Aisa kya khaas ho gaya ke aaj dil chaha?”
Maaz ka jawab foran aaya.
“Kuch khaas nahi.”
Phir ek lamhe baad doosra message aaya.
“Bas kal tum khamosh thi.”
Ilma ne screen ko dekha. Na jaane kyun is mamooli si baat ne use achha mehsoos karwaya.
“Main hamesha hi aisi hoon.”
“Nahi.”
“To phir?”
“Pehle bhi dekha hai tumhein. Tum itni khamosh nahi hotin.”
Ilma ke labon par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
“Tum mujhe itna notice kyun karte ho?”
Kuch der tak jawab nahi aaya.
Phir sirf itna likha aaya.
“Pata nahi.”
Ilma ne mobile table par rakh diya, magar chand lamhon baad dobara utha liya.
“Achha chhoro. Class shuru hone wali hai.”
“Haan, class par dhyan do.”
“Tum bhi.”
“Koshish karunga.”
Ye unki baat-cheet ka aaghaz tha.
Us din guftagu wahin khatam ho gayi, magar agle din phir kisi na kisi bahane baat ho gayi.
Phir uske agle din bhi.
Shuru mein baatein bilkul mamooli thin.
Class ka kaam, assignment, presentation aur university ki masroofiyat.
Kabhi Maaz pooch leta,
“Aaj university kyun nahi aayi?”
Ilma jawab deti,
“Ammi ke saath kaam tha.”
Kabhi Ilma khud pooch leti,
“Aaj tum itne khamosh kyun ho?”
Aur Maaz hans kar kehta,
“Tumhein bhi ab farq mehsoos hone laga hai?”
Woh sirf “Haan” likh kar reh jaati.
Phir ahista ahista unki baaton ka waqt barhne laga.
Jo baat pehle chand messages mein khatam ho jaati thi, ab wohi baat kabhi kabhi ghante bhar chalti.
Ilma ko khud bhi maloom nahi hua ke kab Maaz uski rozmarra zindagi ka hissa ban gaya.
Ab agar subah university jaate hue baarish ho rahi hoti to sabse pehle use message karne ka dil karta.
“Aaj bohat baarish hai.”
Aur Maaz jawab deta,
“Chhatri le kar nikli ho?”
“Nahi.”
“Ilma!”
“Achha bhai, ab itna bhi na daanto.”
Kabhi woh kisi nai dish ki tasveer bhej deti.
“Aaj ye banaya hai.”
Maaz ka jawab aata,
“Tumne banaya hai?”
“Haan.”
“Phir to achha hi hoga.”
“Tumne khaya bhi nahi aur faisla bhi kar liya?”
“Tumne banaya hai, kaafi hai.”
Woh aise jumlon ko padh kar hans deti, magar kabhi unse zyada kuch nahi kehti.
Waqt guzarta gaya aur Ilma ki aadatein bhi badalne lagin.
Pehle agar koi baat use pareshan karti to woh khamosh ho jaati thi.
Ab na jaane kyun Maaz ko batane ka dil karta.
Ek din Anushay ne university mein usse poocha,
“Kya hua hai? Aaj kuch pareshan lag rahi ho.”
Ilma ne bas itna kaha,
“Kuch nahi.”
Anushay ne dobara poochne ki koshish ki, magar Ilma ne baat badal di.
Usi shaam usne Maaz ko message kiya.
“Aaj Ammi se thodi si daant padi.”
Maaz ne foran poocha,
“Kyun?”
“Pata nahi, shayad main subah der se uthi thi.”
“To phir waqt par utha karo.”
Ilma ne narazgi se jawab diya,
“Tum bhi Ammi ki tarah baatein karne lage ho.”
“Achha, phir nahi kahunga.”
“Nahi, kaho.”
Woh khud bhi apne jawab par ruk gayi.
Use mehsoos hua ke woh waqai chahti thi ke Maaz use samjhaye.
Ab woh use sirf apni badi baatein nahi batati thi.
Kabhi batati ke aaj class mein kis baat par hansi aayi, kabhi ye ke use kaunsa libaas pasand aaya, kabhi Anushay se hone wali koi mamooli si baat, kabhi ghar mein Ammi ne kya kaha.
Kabhi woh sirf itna message karti,
“Aaj mera mood achha nahi hai.”
Aur Maaz pooch leta,
“Kyun?”
Ilma phir poori kahani bata deti.
Woh khud nahi jaanti thi ke ye kab hua.
Kab ek ajnabi sa class fellow us shakhs mein badal gaya jise woh apne din ki chhoti se chhoti baat bhi batana chahti thi.
Aur shayad sabse ajeeb baat ye thi ke ab use Anushay se baat karne ki utni zarurat mehsoos nahi hoti thi jitni pehle hoti thi.
Anushay ab bhi uski dost thi, magar Ilma ki bohat si baatein ab uske paas jaane se pehle hi Maaz tak pahunch jaati thin.
Kabhi woh kuch sochti aur be-ikhtiyar mobile utha leti.
Naam saamne aata.
Maaz Shah.
Aur ungliyan khud hi likhne lagtin.
“Ek baat bataun?”
Aur doosri taraf se taqreeban hamesha ek hi jawab aata.
“Haan, batao.”
Shayad yahi do lafz Ilma ko sabse zyada apne lagne lage the.
Haan, batao.
Kyunke ab use yaqeen hone laga tha ke woh kuch bhi kahe, Maaz use sun lega.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Shaam ke waqt Haris ghar aaya to Saadia Begum ne use khane par rok liya.
“Aao Haris, khana lag gaya hai. Pehle khana kha lo, phir aaram se baatein karna.”
Kuch hi der baad Ilma bhi kamre se nikal kar khane ki mez par aa baithi.
Haris se uski mamool ki salam-dua hui, magar uske baad dono ke darmiyan zyada baat nahi hui.
Saadia Begum kabhi Ilma se kuch poochti aur kabhi Haris se uske kaam ke baare mein.
Khana khatam hone ke baad Saadia Begum ne bartan sameitne shuru kiye to Haris ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Ilma, tumse ek baat karni thi.”
Ilma ne chaunk kar uski taraf dekha.
“Mujhse?”
“Haan. Agar tumhare paas thoda waqt ho.”
Ilma kuch kehti, usse pehle Saadia Begum ne bhi Haris ki taraf dekha, jaise woh samajh gayi hon ke baat kis baare mein hai.
“Tum dono baith kar baat kar lo.”
Haris ne sar hilaya.
Saadia Begum wahin qareeb baith gayin.
Chand lamhon ki khamoshi ke baad Haris ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
Uske lehje mein aaj pehle jaisi be-takallufi nahi thi.
“Ilma, main aaj tumse ek jawab lene aaya hoon.”
Ilma ke dil mein ek anjaani si ghabrahat paida hui.
“Kaisa jawab?”
Haris ne nazrein ek lamhe ke liye jhukayin, phir dobara uski taraf dekha.
“Kya tumhein hamari shaadi ki koi umeed hai?”
Ilma bilkul khamosh ho gayi.
Usne shayad tawaqqo nahi ki thi ke Haris itni seedhi baat karega.
Ilma ne be-ikhtiyar Saadia Begum ki taraf dekha.
Saadia Begum ne narmi se kaha,
“Beta, Haris theek keh raha hai. Humne tumhein kaafi waqt diya hai.”
“Haan, main jaanti hoon tumhare liye ye aasaan nahi hai. Lekin ab waqt aa gaya hai ke tum khud bhi wazeh ho jao.”
Saadia Begum ne Haris ki taraf dekha, phir Ilma se kaha,
“Agar tumhare dil mein Haris ke liye haan hai to saaf keh do. Aur agar nahi hai to woh bhi saaf keh do. Kisi ko umeed mein rakhna bhi theek nahi hota.”
Ilma ne apne haath aapas mein bheench liye.
Haris use khamoshi se dekh raha tha.
“Main sirf tumhara jawab chahta hoon, Ilma.”
Kamre mein chand lamhon ke liye mukammal khamoshi chha gayi.
Ilma ke zehan mein jaise bohat si baatein ek saath gardish karne lagin.
Woh abhi tak Haris ko apne liye ek rishte ke taur par dekh hi nahi paayi thi.
“Main tumhein kabhi us nazar se dekh hi nahi paayi.”
Haris ke chehre par ek lamhe ke liye khamoshi utar aayi.
“Mere liye tum hamesha se Haris bhai jaise rahe ho. Maine kabhi ye nahi socha ke tum mere shohar ho sakte ho.”
Saadia Begum khamoshi se use dekhti rahin.
Haris ne bhi kuch nahi kaha.
Haris ke jaane ke baad ghar ek ajeeb si khamoshi mein doob gaya tha.
Haris ke liye uske dil mein ehtiram zaroor tha, magar woh ehtiram kabhi mohabbat mein nahi badla tha.
Us raat Ilma ne phone bhi zyada nahi dekha.
Maaz ka message aaya to usne jawab dene ke bajaye phone ek taraf rakh diya.
Doosri taraf Maaz kaafi der tak uske jawab ka intezar karta raha.
Usne ek baar phir chat kholi.
Pichhla message wahin maujood tha.
Usne kuch likhne ka socha, phir ruk gaya.
Shayad woh masroof ho.
Ya shayad aaj uska baat karne ka dil na ho.
Maaz ne phone side par rakh diya, magar kuch der baad phir utha liya.
Agli subah university mein bhi Ilma aur Maaz ki khaas baat nahi ho saki.
Class mein dono apni apni jagah baithe rahe.
Kabhi nazar milti to Ilma foran nazrein kitaab ki taraf kar leti.
Maaz ne bhi use kuch poochne ki koshish nahi ki.
Woh shayad samajh raha tha ke Ilma khud baat karna chahegi to karegi.
Class khatam hui to Anushay ne hasb-e-mamool sab ko canteen chalne ka kaha.
Kuch der baad Ilma, Anushay, Zara, Daniyal aur Maaz canteen ki ek mez ke gird baithe the.
Daniyal aur Zara kisi baat par behas kar rahe the, jabke Maaz khamoshi se sab ki baatein sun raha tha.
Ilma saamne rakhi chai ko dekh rahi thi, jabke Anushay kabhi un dono ki baat sunti aur kabhi Ilma ko dekh leti.
Kuch der baad usne Ilma se poocha,
“Tum itni khamosh kyun ho?”
Ilma ne chai ka cup mez par rakhte hue kaha,
“Bas… kal ghar mein kuch baat hui thi.”
Maaz ki nazrein be-ikhtiyar uski taraf uth gayin.
Anushay ne poocha,
“Kya baat?”
Ilma ne chand lamhe khamosh rehne ke baad ahista se kaha,
“Kal Haris bhai ghar aaye the.”
“Achha?”
“Haan. Unke liye… mera rishta aaya tha.”
Ye sunte hi mez par ek lamhe ke liye khamoshi chha gayi.
Zara ne bhi Ilma ki taraf dekha, jabke Daniyal ne apni baat rok di.
Maaz khamosh baitha use dekhta raha.
Anushay ne narmi se poocha,
“Phir?”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lin.
“Unhone mujhse khud poocha ke kya hamari shaadi ki koi umeed hai. Ammi ne bhi kaha ke ab mujhe saaf jawab de dena chahiye.”
“Aur tumne?” Anushay ne foran poocha.
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Maine mana kar diya.”
“Tumne mana kar diya? Mujhe to laga tha tum dono ek doosre se hi shaadi karoge. Tum dono ek saath itne achhe lagte ho.”
Bilkul — neeche poora text Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kiya hai, aur معاذ ki spelling har jagah “Maaz” rakhi hai.
Anushay ki baat sunte hi Maaz ne ek nazar Ilma ki taraf dekha. Maaz ne kuch nahi kaha.
Chand lamhe khamosh baithne ke baad woh apni kursi se utha.
“Main chalta hoon.”
Daniyal ne hairat se use dekha.
“Abhi?”
“Haan, kuch kaam hai.”
Maaz ne mukhtasar sa jawab diya aur wahan se chala gaya.
Ilma ki nazrein be-ikhtiyar uske peeche uth gayin, magar woh kuch keh na saki.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Raat kaafi guzar chuki thi.
Ilma apne kamre mein baithi kitaab khole hue thi, magar uski tawajjoh kitaab mein nahi thi.
Baar baar uske zehan mein canteen ka woh lamha aa raha tha.
Maaz ka use dekhna…
Phir khamoshi se uth kar chale jaana.
Usne phone uthaya.
WhatsApp khola.
Maaz ki chat saamne thi.
Kuch der tak woh sirf uska naam dekhti rahi.
Phir achanak ek message aaya.
Maaz: “So gayi ho?”
Ilma ke honton par halki si muskurahat aayi.
Ilma: “Nahi. Tum?”
Chand lamhon baad jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Main bhi nahi.”
Ilma ne phone haath mein thaame rakha.
Ilma: “Aaj tum itni jaldi kyun chale gaye the?”
Kaafi der tak jawab nahi aaya.
Phir screen par teen dots numaya hue aur ghaib ho gaye.
Dobara numaya hue.
Aakhirkaar message aaya.
Maaz: “Tumse ek baat poochun?”
Ilma: “Haan.”
Maaz: “Aaj Anushay ne jo kaha… tumhein bura laga?”
Ilma kuch der sochti rahi.
Ilma: “Kaun si baat?”
Maaz: “Haris ke baare mein.”
Ilma ne phone thoda sa neeche kiya.
Phir likha:
Ilma: “Nahi. Kyun?”
Is baar Maaz ka jawab foran nahi aaya.
Kuch der baad sirf ek jumla aaya.
Maaz: “Kyunki mujhe laga shayad tumhein is baat se farq padta hai ke log tumhein aur Haris ko ek saath dekhte hain.”
Ilma ne aahista se type kiya.
Ilma: “Mujhe farq nahi padta. Maine tumhein bataya na, maine Haris bhai ko kabhi us nazar se nahi dekha.”
Maaz ne jawab nahi diya.
Ilma ne dobara likha.
Ilma: “Maaz?”
Chand lamhon baad jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Hmm.”
Ilma: “Tum naraz ho?”
Maaz: “Nahi.”
Ilma: “Phir itne khamosh kyun ho?”
Is baar jawab aane mein kuch zyada waqt laga.
Maaz: “Kyunki aaj pehli baar mujhe laga ke shayad main tumhein khone se darta hoon.”
Ilma ki ungliyan keyboard par ruk gayin.
Woh kuch der us ek jumle ko dekhti rahi.
Dil ki dhadkan jaise achanak tez ho gayi ho.
Usne likha:
Ilma: “Khone se?”
Maaz: “Haan.”
Phir ek aur message aaya.
Maaz: “Shayad mujhe ye baat bahut pehle samajh jaani chahiye thi.”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
Maaz: “Ilma, main nahi jaanta ye sab kab hua. Kab tumse baat karna meri aadat ban gayi, kab tumhara ek message mere poore din ka mizaaj badalne laga.”
Ilma ki aankhein screen par jami rahin.
Kuch der tak woh khamosh baithi rahi, phir jaise bahut sochne ke baad uski ungliyan keyboard par chalne lagin.
Ilma: “Maaz… mohabbat karte ho?”
Message bhejne ke baad woh khud hi chand lamhon tak screen ko dekhti rahi.
Jo sawaal usne likh diya tha, ab usi ka jawab use bechain kar raha tha.
Kaafi der tak Maaz ki taraf se koi jawab nahi aaya.
Phir achanak screen par teen dots numaya hue.
Ghaib hue.
Phir dobara numaya hue.
Aakhirkaar jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Shayad.”
Ilma ne foran likha.
Ilma: “Shayad?”
Maaz: “Haan… shayad mohabbat hi hai.”
Ilma kuch der khamosh rahi.
Ilma: “Aur agar mohabbat nahi hai to?”
Maaz ka jawab aaya.
Maaz: “To phir mujhe samajh nahi aata ke tumhari fikr mujhe itni kyun rehti hai. Tumse baat na ho to din adhoora kyun lagta hai. Tum pareshan ho to mera dil bhi bechain kyun ho jata hai.”
Ilma ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
Ilma: “To tumhein khud nahi pata ke tumhein mujhse mohabbat hai ya nahi?”
Kuch lamhon baad jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Pata hai…”
Ilma ki nazrein screen par ruk gayin.
Maaz: “Bas shayad use mohabbat kehne mein der kar di.”
Ilma ne phone thaame thaame nazrein jhuka li.
Phir bahut aahista se likha:
Ilma: “Saath doge?”
Maaz ka jawab chand hi lamhon mein aa gaya.
Maaz: “Jab tak saans chalegi, tab tak saath dunga.”
Ilma ne screen ko dekha aur phir agla sawaal likha.
Ilma: “Izzat doge?”
Is baar jawab pehle se bhi zyada wazeh tha.
Maaz: “Itni ke tumhein kabhi apni izzat ke liye mere saamne bhi kuch kehna na pade. Main tumhari izzat ko apni izzat samjhunga.”
Ilma kuch der khamosh rahi.
Phir aakhri sawaal likha.
Ilma: “Mohabbat karte ho?”
Kuch lamhon tak koi jawab nahi aaya.
Phir Maaz ka message aaya.
Maaz: “Itni ke tumhein kabhi apne hone par akela mehsoos nahi hone dunga.”
Ilma ne woh jumla kai baar padha.
Phir uski ungliyan khud-ba-khud keyboard par chalne lagin.
Ilma: “Phir ek wada aur karo.”
Maaz: “Kaho.”
Ilma: “Agar kabhi mujhse naraz ho jao to khamosh hokar door mat jaana.”
Kuch der baad jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Wada. Tumse baat kiye baghair door rehna shayad mere liye bhi aasaan nahi hoga.”
Ilma ke honton par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
Dheere dheere baatein karte karte raat guzar gayi aur unhein khabar hi nahi hui ke subah hone wali hai.
Ilma ne phone ek taraf rakhne se pehle ek lamhe ke liye Maaz ki chat dekhi.
Aaj ki raat shayad un dono ke darmiyan bahut kuch badal gaya tha.
Agli subah Ilma university jaane ke liye tayyar ho rahi thi ke Ammi ne kaha,
“Ilma… aaj Haris India wapas chala jayega aur shayad kuch arse ke liye.”
“Ye to achhi baat hai na Ammi? Unka kaam wahan achha hai.”
“Aaj university se ghar tumhein woh drop kar dega. Tum wahan intezar karna.”
“Woh kyun?”
“Aise hi. Woh keh raha tha ke aaj tumhein woh ghar chhodega.”
“Achha theek hai, main intezar karungi.”
Ye kehte hue woh university chali gayi.
University pahunchne ke baad Ilma apni class mein chali gayi.
Aaj ajeeb baat thi ke raat bhar Maaz se hone wali baaton ke bawajood uske zehan ke ek kone mein Haris ki baat bhi maujood thi.
Haris aaj India wapas ja raha tha.
Shayad ek lambe arse ke liye.
Class ke dauran Ilma kai baar apna phone dekhne se khud ko rok na saki.
Maaz ka ek message aaya hua tha.
Maaz: “Class mein ho?”
Ilma: “Haan.”
Maaz: “Aaj bhi bahut khamosh lag rahi ho.”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath jawab diya.
Ilma: “Bas ghar mein kuch baat hui thi.”
Maaz: “Haris ke baare mein?”
Ilma kuch lamhe screen dekhti rahi.
Ilma: “Haan. Ammi ne bataya hai ke woh aaj India wapas ja rahe hain.”
Maaz ne kuch der baad jawab diya.
Maaz: “Achha.”
Phir ek aur message aaya.
Maaz: “Tum theek ho?”
Ilma: “Haan, bas thoda ajeeb lag raha hai.”
Maaz ne mazeed sawaal nahi kiya.
Maaz: “Ghar pahunch kar baat karte hain.”
Ilma ne sirf “Hmm” likh diya.
Din mamool ke mutabiq guzarta raha.
Classes khatam hui to Ilma ne apna bag uthaya aur university ke gate ki taraf jaane lagi.
Raaste mein use achanak yaad aaya ke Ammi ne kaha tha Haris use lene aayega.
Woh gate ke qareeb khadi hokar intezar karne lagi.
Chand minute baad ek gaadi uske saamne aa kar ruki.
Ilma ne gaadi ki taraf dekha.
Haris tha.
Woh kuch lamhe wahin khadi rahi, phir aahista se gaadi ki taraf badhi aur darwaza khol kar baith gayi.
“Assalam-o-alaikum.”
“Wa-alaikum-assalam.”
Haris ne mukhtasar sa jawab diya.
Gaadi chal padi.
Kuch der tak dono ke darmiyan khamoshi rahi.
Ilma ne khidki se bahar dekhte hue aahista se kaha,
“Aap waqai aaj ja rahe hain?”
Haris ne sadak par nazrein rakhte hue kaha,
“Haan.”
“Kitne din ke liye?”
“Pata nahi. Shayad kaafi arse ke liye.”
Ilma khamosh ho gayi.
Haris ne chand lamhon baad khud hi kaha,
“Tumne jo kaha, woh tumhara sach tha. Mujhe uska ehtram hai.”
Ilma ke paas kehne ko kuch nahi tha.
Haris ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Agar tumhara faisla badle to mujhe zaroor batana. Agar tumhein kabhi lage ke hum saath ek khushgawar zindagi guzar sakte hain to…”
Woh chup ho gaya.
Gaadi ghar ke qareeb pahunch gayi.
Haris ne gaadi rok di.
Ilma ne darwaza kholne se pehle ek lamhe ke liye use dekha.
“Allah Hafiz, Haris bhai.”
Haris ne uski taraf dekha.
“Allah Hafiz, Ilma.”
Ilma gaadi se utar gayi.
Woh chand qadam chal kar ghar ke darwaze tak pahunchi to ek baar peeche mud kar dekha.
Gaadi wahan nahi thi.
Woh khamoshi se andar chali gayi.
Haris apne ghar ja chuka tha.
Ghar pahunchte hi woh seedha apne kamre mein gaya.
Kamre mein andhera chhaya hua tha.
Uski aankhon se aansu aa rahe the.
“Ya Allah… uske liye mere dil mein itni mohabbat kyun daali? Woh mujhe nahi mil rahi to aisa lag raha hai mere paas kuch bhi nahi bacha.”
Woh ro raha tha.
“Kaash uske dil mein bhi mere liye mohabbat hoti to shayad hum saath hote.”
Usne bheegi aankhon se aasman ki taraf dekha.
“Allah… uske dil mein mere liye mohabbat ho sakti hai? Aaj nahi, kal nahi… kabhi bhi?”
Woh kuch der khamosh raha.
“Kaash mujhe usse mohabbat na hoti. Agar ho gayi to woh mujhe mil jaati to shayad main yahan ro nahi raha hota.”
Usne apne aansu ponchhe.
“Agar maine usse itni baat nahi ki hoti, usse itna be-takalluf na hua hota to shayad dard kam hota.”
Woh aahista se bola,
“Shayad isi liye kaha gaya hai ke na-mehram se hansi mazaak karna sahi nahi. Isi liye mana kiya gaya hai. Woh bhale meri cousin thi…”
Woh kuch pal ke liye ruk gaya.
“Thi to ek na-mehram hi na. Maine ghalti ki. Mujhe aaj uski saza mil rahi hai.”
Uski aankhon se phir aansu behne lage.
“Allah, mujhe maaf kar dena. Allah, ye banda aaj Aapke saamne, Aap se sachche dil se maafi maang raha hai. Aur wada kar raha hai, aainda kabhi na-mehram se itna free nahi hoga, chahe woh…”
Usne apne aansu ponchhe.
“Main koshish karunga, Ya Allah.”
Aur Haris pehli baar ye samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha ke baaz mohabbatein insaan ko milne ke liye nahi, khud ko samajhne ke liye milti hain.
Shaam hote hote Haris India ke liye rawana ho gaya.
Ghar se nikalte waqt usne sabko mukhtasar sa salaam kiya aur kisi se zyada baat nahi ki.
Ilma bhi khamoshi se use jaata dekhti rahi.
Raat tak ghar mamool ke mutabiq pur-sukoon ho chuka tha.
بالکل، میں اسے Hinglish/Roman Urdu میں تبدیل کر رہا ہوں اور معاذ کی spelling ہر جگہ “Maaz” ہی رکھوں گا۔
Ilma apne kamre mein baithi thi. Haath mein phone tha, magar woh kisi cheez par tawajjoh nahi de rahi thi.
Kuch der baad phone ki screen roshan hui.
Maaz ki call.
Ilma ke chehre par be-ikhtiyar halki si muskurahat aayi.
Usne call utha li.
“Hello.”
Doosri taraf se Maaz ki awaaz aayi.
“Assalam-o-alaikum.”
“Wa-alaikum-assalam.”
“Kya kar rahi thi?”
“Kuch nahi… bas baithi thi.”
“Awaaz se lag raha hai kuch soch rahi thi.”
Ilma halki si muskurayi.
“Tumhein har baat kaise pata chal jaati hai?”
“Ab tumhein thoda bahut jaanne laga hoon.”
Kuch lamhe dono khamosh rahe.
Phir Maaz ne poocha,
“Haris aaj chala gaya?”
Ilma ki muskurahat halki pad gayi.
“Haan. Shaam ko.”
“Tum mili thi usse?”
Ilma: “Haan.”
“Phir?”
“Kuch khaas nahi. Bas baat hui thi.”
Maaz khamosh raha.
Ilma ne khud hi kaha,
“Woh kaafi udaas tha, Maaz.”
“Hmm.”
“Mujhe bura lag raha tha. Maine kabhi nahi chaha tha ke use meri wajah se itni takleef ho.”
Maaz ne narm lehje mein kaha,
“Tumne uske saath ghalat nahi kiya, Ilma. Tumne sirf apne dil ki baat kahi hai.”
“Phir bhi…”
“Har kisi ki mohabbat ka jawab mohabbat se dena zaroori nahi hota.”
Ilma kuch der khamosh rahi.
“Shayad tum theek keh rahe ho.”
Maaz halka sa hansa.
“Shayad?”
Ilma bhi muskura di.
“Haan, shayad.”
Kuch der dono aam baatein karte rahe. University, class, Anushay ki baatein, Zara aur Daniyal ki nok-jhonk.
Phir achanak Ilma ne kaha,
“Maaz?”
“Hmm?”
“Aaj tumse baat karne ka dil kar raha tha.”
Doosri taraf chand lamhon ke liye khamoshi chha gayi.
“Mujhe bhi.”
“Sach?”
“Haan.”
Maaz ki awaaz mein halki si muskurahat thi.
“Shayad isi liye to phone kiya hai.”
Ilma ne kuch nahi kaha.
Bas khamoshi se muskurati rahi.
Raat mazeed gehri hoti gayi, magar dono ki baatein khatam hone ka naam nahi le rahi thin.
Aakhirkaar Ilma ne ghadi dekhi.
“Bahut der ho gayi hai.”
“Haan, lekin tumne phone band karne ki baat abhi tak nahi ki.”
Ilma hans padi.
“Tum bhi to kar sakte the.”
“Main? Main to kab se tumhari baat sun raha hoon.”
“Achha, ab so jao.”
“Tum bhi.”
“Good night, Maaz.”
Chand lamhe khamoshi rahi.
Phir Maaz ne aahista se kaha,
“Good night, Ilma. Apna khayal rakhna.”
Ilma ne phone band kiya to kuch der tak screen ko dekhti rahi.
Phir phone apne paas rakh kar let gayi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Dheere dheere waqt guzarta gaya.
Lamhe pal mein badle, pal seconds mein, seconds minutes mein aur minutes ghanton mein dhalne lage.
Phir din hafton mein badalne lage, hafte mahino mein aur mahine jaane kab saalon mein badal gaye.
Zindagi apni raftaar se chalti rahi.
University ke din bhi isi tarah guzarte rahe. Kabhi classes, kabhi assignments, kabhi exams aur kabhi doston ke saath canteen mein baith kar ghanton baatein.
Pehli pehli mohabbat thi, teenage ki mohabbat thi, jab insaan ko duniya fazool lagti thi. Woh sab bhool jaata, bas use ek insaan nazar aata.
Insaan ko mohabbat mein itna andha nahi hona chahiye aur hamesha khud ko sambhal kar rakhna chahiye.
Pehle baat karne ko koi bahaana chahiye hota tha, phir baat na karne ke liye bahaana dhoondhna padta tha.
Ek message din ka hissa tha, ek call raat ka sukoon.
Waqt guzarta gaya aur unhein ehsaas hi nahi hua ke mohabbat kab aadat bani, aur aadat kab zaroorat.
Aur shayad aadat ki sabse khatarnaak baat yahi hoti hai…
Ke insaan mohabbat ke baghair shayad reh le, magar aadat ke baghair khud ko adhoora mehsoos karne lagta hai.
Aadat jaan le leti hai.
Aadat jaan nikaal deti hai.
Aadat sukoon se insaan ko jeene nahi deti.
Kuch din isi tarah guzarte rahe.
Ek shaam Ilma apne kamre mein baithi assignment complete kar rahi thi. Kitaabein saamne phaili hui thin aur mobile baar baar uski tawajjoh apni taraf kheench raha tha.
Screen par Maaz ka message aaya.
Maaz: “Abhi tak jaag rahi ho?”
Ilma ne muskura kar jawab likha.
Ilma: “Assignment khatam kar rahi hoon. Tum?”
Chand seconds baad jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Main to kab ka khatam kar chuka hoon. Ab tumhari nigrani kar raha hoon.”
Ilma hans di.
Ilma: “Meri nigrani ki zaroorat nahi hai.”
Maaz: “Hai. Tum kaam ke chakkar mein khana bhi bhool jaati ho.”
Ilma ne saamne rakhi ghadi ki taraf dekha. Waqai kaafi der ho chuki thi.
Ilma: “Achha baba, kha lungi.”
Maaz: “Sirf keh nahi rahi?”
Ilma: “Nahi, waqai.”
Maaz: “Theek hai, phir khane ke baad batana.”
Ilma ne sar jhatka.
Ilma: “Tum bhi na…”
Maaz: “Kya?”
Ilma: “Kuch nahi.”
Woh mobile ek taraf rakh kar dobara assignment ki taraf mutawajjah hone lagi, magar chehre par muskurahat ab bhi maujood thi.
Isi dauran neeche se Sadia Begum ki awaaz aayi.
“Ilma!”
“Ji Ammi?”
“Zara neeche aao!”
Ilma kitaab band karke bahar nikli.
Seedhiyan utarte hi usne dekha ke Sadia Begum ke chehre par ajeeb si khushi thi.
“Kya hua Ammi?”
Sadia Begum ne use dekhte hi kaha,
“Tumhein ek khabar doon?”
“Kya?”
“Kaif aa raha hai.”
Ilma chand lamhon ke liye khamosh reh gayi.
“Kaif bhai?”
“Haan, tumhara bhai. Agle hafte ki flight hai. Is baar wapas aa raha hai.”
Ilma ke chehre par foran khushi phail gayi.
“Sach?”
“Haan. Ab wahin kaam nahi karega. Keh raha tha kaafi arsa ho gaya, ab ghar walon ke saath rehna hai.”
Ilma ke liye ye khabar waqai khushi ki thi. Kaif ko ghar se gaye kaafi waqt ho chuka tha. Kabhi phone par baat ho jaati, kabhi video call, magar ghar mein uski maujoodgi ki kami hamesha mehsoos hoti thi.
“Main Anushay ko bataungi!” Ilma ne foran kaha.
Sadia Begum muskura dein.
“Pehle apne bhai ke aane ki khushi mana lo, phir doston ko batana.”
Ilma hans di.
Isi raat usne Maaz ko bhi ye khabar batayi.
Ilma: “Ek baat bataun?”
Maaz: “Haan, batao.”
Ilma: “Kaif bhai wapas aa rahe hain.”
Kuch lamhe baad jawab aaya.
Maaz: “Waqai?”
Ilma: “Haan. Ab bahar kaam nahi karenge. Ghar aa kar rahenge.”
Maaz: “Ye to bahut achhi baat hai. Tumhein bhi khushi hui hogi.”
Ilma ne foran jawab diya.
Ilma: “Bahut zyada. Kaafi arse baad ghar mein phir se sab saath honge.”
Maaz: “Phir to tum kuch din bahut masroof rahogi.”
Ilma ne muskura kar likha.
Ilma: “Ho sakta hai.”
Maaz: “Achha hai. Ghar walon ke saath waqt guzaro.”
Ilma kuch der uska jawab dekhti rahi. Phir likha:
Ilma: “Aur tum?”
Maaz: “Main kya?”
Ilma: “Tumhein meri yaad nahi aayegi?”
Kuch der tak koi jawab nahi aaya.
Ilma ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
Phir mobile par paighaam numaya hua.
Maaz: “Yaad to abhi bhi aati hai, Ilma. Tum masroof ho jaogi to shayad thodi zyada aaye gi.”
Ilma ne mobile apne seene se laga liya aur be-ikhtiyar muskura di.
Kuch rishte waqt ke saath badalte nahi the, balki waqt unhein insaan ki zindagi ka aisa hissa bana deta tha ke unke baghair din ka tasawwur bhi ajeeb lagne lagta tha.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Agli subah Ilma abhi university jaane ke liye tayyar ho rahi thi ke Sadia Begum ne use awaaz di.
“Ilma, zara neeche aao.”
“Ji Ammi, aa rahi hoon.”
Woh apna bag uthaye neeche aayi to bahar se darwaza khulne ki awaaz aayi.
Ilma ne be-dhyani mein udhar dekha.
Agle hi lamhe uske qadam ruk gaye.
Saamne Kaif khada tha.
Chand lamhon ke liye use yaqeen hi nahi aaya.
“Kaif bhai?”
Kaif ne muskura kar kaha,
“Haan.”
Ilma foran uske qareeb gayi.
“Aap to agle hafte aane wale the?”
“Tareekh badal gayi. Kal raat hi ticket mil gaya tha. Socha tum logon ko batane se behtar hai seedha aa jaaun.”
“Ammi ko pata tha?”
“Raat ko bataya tha.”
Ilma ne Sadia Begum ki taraf dekha.
“Aur mujhe nahi bataya.”
Sadia Begum muskura dein.
“Tumhein batate to tum saari raat intezar karti rehti.”
Ilma ne Kaif ki taraf dekha.
“Itne saal bahar reh kar bhi aapne surprise dena nahi chhoda.”
“Aur tum itne saal baad bhi pehle jaisi hi ho.”
“Kaisi?”
“Bahut sawaal karti ho.”
Ilma hans di.
Kaif ne apna samaan ek taraf rakha aur sofa par baith gaya.
“Paani milega?”
“Khud lein.”
Kaif ne use dekha.
“Achha, bhai abhi aaya hai aur pehle hi ye rawayya?”
Ilma kitchen ki taraf jaate hue muskura di.
“Aapko itne saal baad ghar yaad aaya hai, mujhe nahi.”
“Achha, ab to aa gaya hoon.”
Sadia Begum dono ki baatein sunte hue khamoshi se muskurati rahin.
Kaif waqai wapas aa gaya tha.
Aur is baar sirf kuch dinon ke liye nahi.
Bahar ki naukri khatam karke woh ab ghar hi rehne wala tha.
“Kaheen jaane ki planning ho rahi hai?” Kaif ne poocha.
“Haan, woh university ja rahi thi, lekin ab aaj nahi jaungi.”
“Achha, kis khushi mein nahi jaogi?”
“Aapke aane ki khushi mein aur kya?”
“Achha ji, ek bahaana mil gaya university na jaane ka.”
Dono hansne lage.
Kuch der baad sab ne mil kar nashta kiya.
Nashta khatam hone ke baad din mamool ki masroofiyat mein guzar gaya. Kaif safar ki thakan ki wajah se zyada der aaram karta raha, jabke Ilma bhi kabhi Ammi ke saath baithti, kabhi Kaif ke paas ja kar usse baatein karti rahi.
Dheere dheere din guzarta gaya aur raat ho chuki thi.
Ghar mein khamoshi phail gayi thi. Sab apne apne kamron mein ja chuke the.
Ilma apne kamre mein bistar par baithi thi. Kamre ki roshni maddham thi aur uske haath mein mobile tha.
Screen par Maaz ka naam roshan tha.
Maaz: “Aaj to tum saara din ghaib rahi.”
Ilma ne muskura kar jawab diya.
Ilma: “Kaif bhai aa gaye the na, unke saath baithi rahi.”
Maaz: “Achha, to aaj mujhe thoda kam waqt mila.”
Ilma: “Sirf aaj?”
Maaz: “Haan, baaki dinon ka hisaab abhi nahi maang raha.”
Ilma hans di.
Dono ki baatein mamool ke mutabiq chalti rahin. Kabhi university ki baat, kabhi Kaif ke achanak aa jaane ka zikr, aur kabhi bila wajah ki chhoti chhoti baatein.
Ilma abhi Maaz ka jawab padh hi rahi thi ke darwaze par halki si dastak hui.
Ilma ne jaldi se apna mobile jaise chhupane ki koshish ki.
Kaif ki awaaz thi.
Darwaza khula aur Kaif andar aa gaya.
“Soyi nahi abhi?”
“Nahi, bas… aise hi.”
Kaif ne use dekha.
“Kya kar rahi thi?”
“Kuch nahi, bas mobile dekh rahi thi.”
“Achha.”
“Dil kar raha tha tumse baat karun. Aur batao, kaisi ho?”
“Bas theek hoon.”
“Koi pareshani to nahi hai na tumhein?”
“Nahi bhai, main bilkul theek hoon.”
“Agar kabhi bhi koi pareshani ho to tum mujhe be-jhijhak bata sakti ho.”
“Ji zaroor. Agar kabhi bhi mujhe koi pareshani hui to main aapko zaroor bataungi.”
Kuch der dono ki baat jaari rahi.
Phir Kaif ne kaha,
“Achha Ilma, raat kaafi ho gayi hai. Tumhein kal university bhi jaana hai. Ab so jao.”
“Theek hai bhai.”
Kaif ab apne kamre mein ja chuka tha.
Ilma ne foran apna mobile uthaya aur message dekhne lagi.
Maaz ka message abhi tak screen par maujood tha.
Maaz: “Kahan chali gayi thi?”
Ilma ne jawab likha.
Ilma: “Kaif bhai aa gaye the, unse baat kar rahi thi.”
Chand hi lamhon baad jawab aa gaya.
Maaz: “Achha, mujhe laga shayad so gayi ho.”
Ilma: “Nahi, bas bhai kaafi arse baad aaye hain na, is liye baatein ho rahi thin.”
Maaz: “Phir ab so jao. Kal university bhi jaana hai.”
Ilma ne mobile haath mein liye kuch der screen ko dekha.
Ilma: “Tum bhi so jao.”
Maaz: “Tumhare good night kehne ke baad.”
Ilma ke honton par muskurahat aa gayi.
Ilma: “Good night.”
Maaz: “Good night, Ilma.”
Ilma ne mobile ek taraf rakha aur let gayi.
Magar aaj pehli baar use kuch ajeeb sa mehsoos hua.
Abhi kuch der pehle jab Kaif kamre mein aaya tha to usne foran mobile chhupa liya tha.
Pehle to usne is baat par zyada ghaur nahi kiya, magar ab khamoshi mein wohi baat baar baar zehan mein aa rahi thi.
Ilma ne karwat badli.
“Shayad bas aise hi…”
Usne khud ko tasalli di aur aankhein band kar lein.
Subah aankh khuli to sabse pehle uska haath mobile ki taraf gaya.
Usne screen kholi aur raat ki chat saamne aa gayi.
Ek lamhe ke liye woh khamosh rahi.
Phir uski nazar darwaze ki taraf gayi.
Agar Kaif kabhi uska mobile utha le to?
Is khayal ke aate hi Ilma ne poori chat kholi aur raat ke messages dekhne lagi.
Kuch der baad usne ek ek karke woh messages delete kar diye.
Mobile ek taraf rakhte hue usne gehri saans li.
Magar dil mein ek bechaini si ho rahi thi.
Ilma ne is ehsaas ko zyada ahmiyat nahi di. Woh tayyar hui, apna bag uthaya aur kamre se bahar aa gayi.
Neeche Kaif pehle hi tayyar baitha tha.
“Chalo?”
Ilma ne use dekha.
“Aap mujhe university chhodenge?”
“Haan, kyun? Koi masla hai?”
“Nahi, bas soch rahi thi aap to abhi safar se aaye hain, aaram kar lete.”
Kaif ne gaadi ki chaabi uthai.
“Aaram bahut kar liya. Ab zara bhai banne ki baari hai.”
Ilma muskura di.
“Achha ji.”
Dono gaadi mein baith gaye.
Raaste mein Kaif kabhi bahar dekhta aur kabhi Ilma se university ke baare mein poochta.
“Kitna waqt reh gaya hai tumhari degree mein?”
“Zyada nahi.”
“Phir aage kya socha hai?”
“Abhi to kuch khaas nahi socha.”
“Soch lena chahiye. Waqt bahut jaldi guzarta hai.”
Ilma ne khidki se bahar dekhte hue kaha,
“Aap bhi yahi kehte the jab bahar gaye the?”
Kaif hans pada.
“Tab to mujhe sirf ye sochna tha ke jaldi se kaam mil jaaye.”
“Aur ab?”
“Ab sochta hoon ke ghar se itna door kyun gaya tha.”
Ilma ne muskura kar use dekha.
Kuch der baad university ka gate saamne aa gaya.
Kaif ne gaadi aahista kar di.
“Yahin utaar doon?”
“Haan.”
“Wapsi ka bata dena. Main lene aa jaunga.”
“Nahi, main khud aa jaungi. Aapko zehmat hogi.”
“Zehmat kaisi? Phone kar dena bas.”
“Achha theek hai.”
Ilma ne darwaza band kiya aur university ki taraf badh gayi.
Kuch qadam hi chali thi ke peeche se Kaif ne horn diya.
Ilma ne palat kar dekha.
Kaif ne sheesha neeche kiya.
“Aur suno!”
“Ab kya hua?”
“Aaj padhai bhi kar lena. Sirf doston ke saath gappein mat lagati rehna.”
Ilma ne hanste hue kaha,
“Aapko kaise pata main gappein lagati hoon?”
“Tumhara chehra bata raha hai.”
“Jaayein aap!”
Kaif hansta hua gaadi lekar chala gaya.
Ilma abhi gate ke qareeb pahunchi hi thi ke saamne se Anushay aati dikhai di.
Usne Ilma ko dekha to foran boli,
“Oh-ho! Aaj to madam ki gaadi bhi alag hai!”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Kya matlab?”
“Gaadi se utarte dekha hai maine. Kaun tha?”
“Mere bhai Kaif.”
Anushay ne foran aankhein badi kar lein.
“Kaif bhai aa gaye?”
“Haan, kal hi aaye hain.”
“Aur tumne mujhe bataya bhi nahi?”
“Kal hi to aaye hain, main khud abhi tak theek se yaqeen nahi kar pa rahi.”
Dono baatein karti hui class ki taraf badhne lagin.
Class ke bahar Zara aur Daniyal pehle hi khade the. Maaz bhi kuch faasle par mobile dekhte hue unka intezar kar raha tha.
Zara ne Ilma ko dekhte hi poocha,
“Aaj itni der?”
Anushay ne foran jawab diya,
“Madam ko unke bhai university chhodne aaye the.”
Daniyal ne muskura kar kaha,
“Oh, to aaj protocol ke saath entry hui hai.”
Ilma ne use ghura.
“Aisa kuch nahi hai.”
Zara ne hanste hue kaha,
“Waise Kaif bhai waqai aa gaye?”
“Haan.”
Bilkul، is passage ko natural Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kar raha hoon. Qur’an ki Arabic ayat bilkul Arabic mein hi rahengi aur tarjuma Roman Urdu mein hoga.
“Phir to ghar mein kaafi ronaq ho gayi hogi.”
“Haan, Ammi to bohat khush hain.”
Daniyal ne Maaz ki taraf dekh kar kaha,
“Tum itne khamosh kyun ho?”
Maaz ne nazrein mobile se uthayin.
“Main? Main to sun raha hoon.”
Anushay ne foran kaha,
“Tum sab sunte ho, bolte kam ho.”
“Har baat mein bolna zaroori nahi hota.”
Ilma ne be-ikhtiyar Maaz ki taraf dekha.
Uski nazar bhi ek lamhe ke liye Ilma se mili, phir dono ne nazrein hata leen.
Class shuru hone ki ittila hui to sab andar chale gaye.
Din mamool ke mutabiq guzar gaya. Lecture, kuch assignments aur darmiyan mein canteen par paanchon doston ki hamesha ki tarah kuch der baithak bhi hui.
Shaam ko Ilma Kaif ke saath ghar wapas aa gayi.
Ghar mein Kaif ki maujoodgi waqai mehsoos ho rahi thi. Kabhi woh Ammi ke saath baith kar baatein karta, kabhi ghar ke kisi aur kaam mein masroof ho jata.
Raat ko khane ke baad Ilma apne kamre mein aa gayi.
Usne bag ek taraf rakha, phir aadatan mobile utha liya.
Kuch messages the, chand university ke notifications aur social media ki aam posts.
Woh baghair kisi khaas maqsad ke scroll kar rahi thi ke achanak uski ungli ruk gayi.
Screen par ek video aa gayi.
Ilma ne pehle to use ignore karne ke liye scroll karna chaha, magar video ke pehle hi chand seconds ne uski tawajjo rok li.
Video ka background siyah tha. Video mein baarish ho rahi thi aur Urdu font mein likha tha:
“Halal tanhai, haram guftagu se behtar hai.”
Do pal ke liye woh ruki, phir usne scroll kar diya.
Ek aur video saamne aayi jismein ek ghari thi jo bohat purane zamane ki lag rahi thi. Ghari daayein taraf thi aur baayein taraf likha tha:
Surah No. 67 — Surah Al-Mulk — Ayat No. 12
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ یَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّہُمۡ بِالۡغَیۡبِ لَہُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَۃٌ وَّ اَجۡرٌ کَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۲﴾
Tarjuma:
Beshak jo log apne Parwardigar se ghaib mein darte rehte hain, unke liye maghfirat hai aur bada ajr hai.
Ilma ne mobile apni god mein rakh diya.
Kuch der baad usne dobara phone uthaya, magar is baar uski tawajjo screen par nahi thi.
Woh be-ikhtiyar usi jumle ke baare mein soch rahi thi.
“Halal tanhai… haram guftagu…”
Usne aahista se sar jhatka aur mobile ek taraf rakh diya.
“Bas ek video thi.”
Magar dil ne is baat ko itni aasani se qabool nahi kiya.
Kuch jumle sirf padhe nahi jaate.
Woh khamoshi se zehan mein utar jaate hain.
Aur jab woh zehan mein utar jaate hain to bohat kuch badal jaata hai.
Ilma abhi inhi sochon mein gum thi ke mobile ki screen roshan hui.
Ek naya message aaya tha.
Usne phone uthaye baghair sirf upar nazar dali.
Maaz: “Abhi jaag rahi ho?”
Ilma chand lamhe screen ko dekhti rahi.
Pehle woh aise message ka jawab foran de deti thi.
Magar aaj uski ungli mobile ki taraf nahi badhi.
Usne notification hata diya aur phone dobara ek taraf rakh diya.
Chand lamhe khamoshi rahi.
Phir mobile dobara roshan hua.
Maaz: “Kya hua? Aaj itni khamosh kyun ho?”
Ilma ne is baar bhi message padh liya.
Uske dil mein jawab dene ki khwahish hui.
Bas ek chhota sa jawab…
“Kuch nahi.”
Magar woh likh na saki.
Usne mobile ki screen band kar di.
Kamre mein khamoshi thi, magar uske zehan mein sawal bohat the.
Usne phir mobile haath mein liya, message dekha aur reply kar diya.
“Kuch nahi.”
Kuch hi der baad Maaz ka jawab aaya.
“Phir aaj itni khamosh kyun ho?”
Ilma ne kuch der socha.
“Bas thak gayi hoon.”
Maaz: “University se?”
Ilma: “Haan, shayad.”
Maaz ne kuch der baad likha,
“Achha, zyada mat socha karo. Aaram karo.”
Ilma ne jawab diya,
“Hmm.”
Kuch der baad usne mobile side table par rakha aur let gayi.
Maaz ka aakhri message screen par maujood tha.
Maaz: “Good night, Ilma. Apna khayal rakhna.”
Ilma ne uska jawab nahi diya.
Usne aankhein band kar leen.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Subah mamool ke mutabiq university jaane ki tayari ki.
Gaari mein baithte hue Kaif ne poocha,
“Neend poori hui?”
“Haan.”
“Sachi?”
“Ji bhai.”
Woh khirki se bahar dekhti rahi.
University pahunch kar Anushay aur Zara se mulaqat hui.
Sab mamool ke mutabiq baatein karte rahe.
Maaz bhi wahan tha.
Ilma ki nazar ek baar us par padi, magar usne sirf mamooli sa sar hilaya aur apni jagah baith gayi.
Maaz ne bhi use dekha, magar us din dono ke darmiyan pehle jaisi baat nahi hui.
Class mein bhi woh apne kaam mein masroof rahe.
Canteen mein sab saath baithe to Anushay aur Daniyal kisi baat par behas kar rahe the, Zara hans rahi thi.
Ilma bhi unki baatein sunti rahi, magar aaj uski tawajjo baar baar apne mobile ki taraf ja rahi thi.
Maaz ne ek baar poocha,
“Sab theek hai?”
Ilma ne mukhtasar sa jawab diya.
“Haan.”
“Pakki baat?”
“Haan, bilkul.”
Maaz ne mazeed kuch nahi poocha.
Shaam ko university khatam hui to Ilma Kaif ke saath ghar wapas aa gayi.
Ghar mein dakhil hote hi usne apna bag kamre mein rakha aur kuch der bistar par baith gayi.
Din mamool ke mutabiq hi guzra tha.
Phir bhi use lag raha tha jaise kal raat ke baad uske andar kuch badal gaya ho.
Usne mobile uthaya.
Screen par kai notifications maujood the.
Ilma ne ek ek karke notifications dekhe, phir social media khol liya.
Kuch der tak woh baghair kisi khaas maqsad ke mukhtalif posts aur videos dekhti rahi.
Ek video scroll karte hue achanak uske saamne aa gayi.
Safed background tha. Us par ek ayat likhi thi.
Surah No. 4 — Surah An-Nisa — Ayat No. 108
یَّسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یَسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ وَ ہُوَ مَعَہُمۡ اِذۡ یُبَیِّتُوۡنَ مَا لَا یَرۡضٰی مِنَ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مُحِیۡطًا ﴿۱۰۸﴾
Caption mein likha tha:
“Jis din is ayat ki meaning samajh jaoge, tarjuma parhoge to bohat kuch samajhne lagoge, dheere dheere.”
Ilma ne jaldi se Qur’an khola.
Surah No. 4 — Surah An-Nisa — Ayat No. 108
Ayat saamne aayi:
یَّسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یَسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ وَ ہُوَ مَعَہُمۡ اِذۡ یُبَیِّتُوۡنَ مَا لَا یَرۡضٰی مِنَ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مُحِیۡطًا ﴿۱۰۸﴾
Tarjuma:
Woh logon se to chhup jaate hain, lekin Allah Ta’ala se nahi chhup sakte. Woh raaton ke waqt jab Allah ki na-pasandida baaton ke khufiya mashware karte hain, us waqt bhi Allah unke paas hota hai. Unke tamam aamaal ko woh ghere hue hai.
Ilma ne tarjuma dobara padha.
Phir ek baar aur.
Woh ayat ko jaane kitni der tak dekhti rahi.
Aakhirkar usne aahista se dobara parhna shuru kiya.
Ek baar…
Doosri baar…
Teesri baar…
Woh taqreeban das martaba ayat parh chuki thi, magar har baar use yun lagta jaise uske kisi ek lafz par uski nazar ruk jaati ho.
Uski aankhon se aansu khud-ba-khud behne lage.
Usne jaldi se aankhein saaf karne ki koshish ki, magar aansu rukne ke bajaye mazeed behne lage.
Achanak use kal raat ka woh manzar yaad aa gaya.
Darwaze par dastak hui thi.
Kaif bhai andar aaye the.
Aur usne foran mobile chhupa liya tha.
Wohi chhota sa manzar uske saamne baar baar aa raha tha.
Logon se chhupaya ja sakta hai.
Lekin Allah se?
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
Usne Qur’an ko dono haathon se thaam liya aur kaafi der khamosh baithi rahi.
Kamre mein khamoshi thi.
Ilma abhi bhi Qur’an apne haathon mein liye baithi thi ke paas rakha mobile achanak vibrate hua.
Usne mobile ki taraf dekha bhi nahi.
Chand lamhon baad dobara vibration hui.
Screen par Maaz ka naam numayan hua, magar Ilma ki nazrein Qur’an par hi rahin.
Mobile kuch der baad khamosh ho gaya.
Ilma ne gehri saans li aur dobara ayat par nazrein jama dein.
Kuch der baad mobile ek baar phir vibrate hua.
Is baar bhi usne use nahi uthaya.
Use maloom tha ke shayad Maaz ka message hai, magar aaj pehli baar uske dil mein use foran dekhne ki khwahish nahi hui.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Bilkul—main is poore scene ko natural Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kar raha hoon. Qur’an ki ayat agar aaye to Arabic mein hi rahegi, aur Maaz ki spelling poore scene mein isi tarah hogi.
Agle din Ilma hasb-e-mamool university chali gayi.
Class se pehle woh corridor se guzar rahi thi ke uski nazar ek ladki par padi jo hamesha ki tarah ek taraf khamosh baithi thi.
Woh ladki aksar akeli hi nazar aati thi. Na kisi ke saath zyada baat karti, na doston ke group mein shamil hoti. Ilma ne use kai baar dekha tha, magar kabhi baat nahi hui thi.
Aaj na jaane kyun Ilma ke qadam khud hi uski taraf badh gaye.
Woh uske qareeb ja kar ruk gayi.
“Aap yahan akeli baithi hain?”
Ladki ne sar utha kar Ilma ko dekha, jaise use uske baat karne ki tawaqqo na ho.
“Haan… bas.”
Ilma uske paas baith gayi.
“Class shuru hone mein abhi waqt hai, socha aapke paas baith jaaun.”
Ladki ne halki si muskurahat di.
“Aap Ilma hain na?”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Ji… aapko mera naam kaise pata?”
“Class mein suna tha.”
Kuch der dono khamosh baithi rahin.
Phir ladki ne achanak Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Ek baat poochun?”
“Hmm, poochhein.”
Woh chand lamhe khamosh rahi, phir seedha sawal kar diya.
“Aap mohabbat karti hain?”
Ilma ek lamhe ke liye khamosh reh gayi.
“Kya?”
“Maaz se…”
Ilma ki nazrein be-ikhtiyar uske chehre par uth gayin.
Ilma ne foran koi jawab nahi diya.
Uske zehan mein kal ki ayat ke alfaaz ek baar phir goonjne lage.
Woh chand lamhe khamosh rahi, phir nazrein jhuka leen.
“Tumhein aisa kyun laga?”
“Pata nahi… bas kabhi kabhi kuch cheezein nazar aa jaati hain.”
Ilma ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Class shuru hone ki ghanti baji to dono apni jagah se uth gayin, magar is ek sawal ne Ilma ke zehan mein jagah bana li thi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Class ke baad Ilma library chali gayi.
Woh ek kone wali mez par baith kar apni kitaab khole hue thi. Aas paas chand students khamoshi se padh rahe the.
Kuch der baad wohi ladki saamne wali kursi kheench kar baith gayi.
Ilma ne kitaab se nazrein uthayin.
“Aap bhi parhne aayi hain?”
Ladki ne halki si muskurahat ke saath sar hila diya.
“Haan, lekin aapse ek baat karni thi.”
Ilma ne kitaab band kar di.
“Kya hua?”
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh rahi, phir boli:
“Subah maine aapse Maaz ke baare mein poocha tha. Shayad aapko bura laga ho.”
“Nahi, aisi koi baat nahi.”
“Main bas yeh kehna chahti thi ke kabhi kabhi humein apne kuch talluqat ke baare mein ruk kar sochna chahiye.”
Ilma khamoshi se use dekhti rahi.
Ladki ne kuch lamhe Ilma ko dekha, phir aahista se boli:
“Haan, mohabbat ho jaati hai. Kabhi kisi ke liye ehsaas paida ho jaate hain, kisi ki aadat ho jaati hai, kisi ki baatein achhi lagne lagti hain.”
Ilma khamoshi se sunti rahi.
“Lekin mohabbat ka matlab yeh nahi ke insaan apni har had bhool jaye. Mohabbat ho jaana koi gunaah nahi, magar mohabbat ko apni zindagi ka aisa hissa bana lena ke insaan sahi aur ghalat ka farq bhool jaye… yeh theek nahi.”
Woh ek lamhe ke liye ruki.
“Hum Musalman hain. Hamara deen humein na-mehram se hudood qaim rakhne ka hukm deta hai. Sirf yeh soch lena ke dil mein niyyat saaf hai, har cheez ko jaiz nahi bana deta.”
Ilma ki nazrein kitaab par jam gayin.
Ladki ne narm lehje mein kaha:
“Mohabbat ho jaye to insaan Allah se madad maang sakta hai, apne dil ko sambhal sakta hai, aur agar waqai is rishte mein khair ho to use halal raste se haasil karne ki koshish kar sakta hai. Lekin jab tak woh rishta halal na ho, faaslon aur hudood ka khayal rakhna hi behtar hai.”
Ilma ne kuch kehna chaha, magar alfaaz uske labon tak aa kar ruk gaye.
Ladki ne mazeed kuch nahi kaha.
Woh khamoshi se apni kitaab khol kar baith gayi, aur Ilma kaafi der tak isi ek baat ke baare mein sochti rahi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Library se nikalne ke baad Ilma wapas class ki taraf aa gayi.
Maaz bhi wahin maujood tha.
Uski nazar Ilma par padi to usne mamool ke mutabiq muskura kar poocha,
“Kya hua? Aaj itni khamosh kyun ho?”
Ilma ne mukhtasar sa jawab diya.
“Kuch nahi.”
Phir woh apni jagah ja kar baith gayi.
Maaz ne ek do baar usse baat karne ki koshish ki, magar Ilma har baar baat ko mukhtasar kar deti.
Pehle jahan woh khud baat shuru kar deti thi, aaj woh nazrein bhi chura rahi thi.
Maaz ne aakhirkar mazeed kuch nahi poocha.
Baaki din bhi isi tarah guzar gaya.
Class khatam hui to Ilma ne apna bag uthaya aur Kaif ke saath ghar wapas aa gayi.
Ghar pahunch kar usne kapde badle aur kuch der apne kamre mein baithi rahi.
Azaan ki awaaz sunai di to woh uth gayi.
Usne wuzu kiya aur namaz ke liye khadi ho gayi.
Woh namaz parh rahi thi aur uski aankhon se aansu qatra qatra gir rahe the.
Aaj se pehle kabhi bhi woh namaz mein nahi royi thi, magar aaj aansu khud hi aa rahe the.
Namaz ki adaigi ke baad dua ke liye usne haath uthaye.
Aaj dil mein bohat kuch tha.
Bohat si baatein thi.
Aaj woh apne Rab ko bohat kuch batana chahti thi.
“Allah… main bohat gunaahgaar hoon. Bohat ghaltiyan ki hain. Mere Maalik, jis cheez se Aap ne mana kiya tha, maine woh bhi kar diya.”
Ek aansu uske haath par gira.
“Main pagal thi… mere Maalik, aaj main Aap se apni har ghalti ki maafi maangne aayi hoon. Aap to maaf kar dete hain na? Kya mujhe bhi maafi milegi? Kya main bhi kabhi ek nek insaan ban paungi?”
Uski awaaz bharra gayi.
“Allah… bohat takleef ho rahi hai.”
Aansu mazeed nikalne lage.
Woh kaafi der tak haath uthaye baithi rahi.
Phir aahista se haath chehre par phere aur aankhein saaf ki.
Kuch der ja-e-namaz par khamosh baithi rahi, jaise dil ka bojh kuch halka hua ho.
Itne mein darwaze par halki si dastak hui.
Ilma ne foran aansu saaf kiye.
“Kaun?”
“Main hoon.”
Kaif ki awaaz sun kar Ilma ne jaldi se dupatta durust kiya.
“Aa jaayein.”
Kaif andar aaya to ek nazar Ilma ke chehre par padi.
Aankhein abhi bhi surkh thi.
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh raha, phir uske qareeb aa kar baith gaya.
“Ro rahi thi?”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
“Nahi… bas.”
Kaif ne use ghaur se dekha.
“Ilma, mujhe nahi pata kya baat hai, lekin agar koi pareshani hai to mujhe bata sakti ho.”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
Kaif ne dobara poochhne ke bajaye kuch der use khamosh rehne diya.
“Dekho, main tumhein majboor nahi karunga. Jab dil kare tab batana.”
Ilma ne apne haathon ki taraf dekha.
Kuch lamhon baad usne aahista se kaha,
“Bhai… ek baat batani hai.”
“Hmm, batao.”
“Aap mujhse naraz to nahi honge?”
Kaif ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Pehle batao to sahi. Phir dekhenge naraz hona hai ya nahi.”
“Mujhe… Maaz pasand hai.”
Kaif khamosh ho gaya.
Ilma ne foran nazrein jhuka leen.
“Hum university mein ek saath the, phir baat-cheet hone lagi. Pehle bas aam si baatein hoti thi, phir… pata hi nahi chala kab baat karna aadat ban gayi.”
Woh kuch lamhe ruki.
“Aur phir mujhe usse mohabbat ho gayi.”
Kaif ne foran koi jawab nahi diya.
Phir usne aahista se kaha,
“To tum us ladke ke liye rishta le kar aana chahti ho?”
Ilma ne khamoshi se uski taraf dekha.
Kaif ne kaha,
“Aur haan, main nahi chahunga ke tum us ladke se baat karo.”
Ilma chup rahi.
“Jab mohabbat ho gayi hai to hum kuch nahi kar sakte. Bas ek cheez kar sakte hain… woh hai nikah. Yeh zyada behtar rahega.”
Ilma ne aahista se sar hila diya.
Kaif kamre se bahar chala gaya.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Agle din Ilma university pahunchi to uske zehan mein Kaif ki baatein baar baar aa rahi thi.
Class ke baad Maaz ne use rok liya.
“Ilma, ek minute.”
Ilma ruk gayi.
“Kya hua?”
Maaz ne use ghaur se dekha.
“Kuch dinon se tum bohat badal gayi ho. Mujhse baat bhi nahi kar rahi. Agar mujhse koi ghalti hui hai to batao.”
Ilma ne kuch lamhe khamosh rehne ke baad aahista se kaha,
“Maaz, humein baat nahi karni chahiye.”
Maaz ke chehre par hairat aa gayi.
“Kyun?”
“Kyunki hamara rishta halal nahi hai. Hum ek doosre ke liye na-mehram hain. Aur maine bohat sochne ke baad yeh baat samjhi hai ke na-mehram se bila-wajah baatein karna, hansi mazaaq karna, ek doosre se is tarah jude rehna… yeh sab mujhe nahi karna chahiye.”
Maaz kuch der khamosh raha.
Phir usne dheere se kaha,
“To tum keh rahi ho ke hamara rishta haram hai?”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
“Hamara talluq jis tarah chal raha tha, woh sahi nahi tha.”
Maaz ne ek lamhe ke liye kuch socha, phir bola,
“To phir humein baat nahi karni chahiye.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
“Haan.”
Maaz ne achanak poocha,
“Lekin ek baat poochun?”
Ilma ne uski taraf dekha.
“Tum apne cousin se bhi to itna hansi mazaaq karti thi. Us waqt tumhein yeh ghalat nahi lagta tha?”
Ilma kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
Phir usne saaf lehje mein kaha,
“Lagta tha.”
Maaz ne use dekha.
“Kya?”
“Ghalat tha.”
Woh kuch lamhe ruki.
“Main tab ghalti par thi. Shayad mujhe ehsaas hi nahi tha ke main kya kar rahi hoon. Maine jo kiya, ghalat kiya. Lekin sirf is liye ke main pehle ghalat thi, ab bhi wohi ghalti dohrati rahoon, yeh to theek nahi.”
Maaz khamosh raha.
Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Main maanti hoon ke main gumraah thi. Mujhe bohat si baaton ka ehsaas nahi tha. Lekin ab mujhe ehsaas ho gaya hai. Aur ab main kisi bhi na-mehram se bila-wajah baat nahi karungi, na hansi mazaaq, na aisi dosti jiska deen mein koi rishta nahi hota.”
Maaz ne nazrein jhuka leen.
Ilma ki awaaz mein ab pehle jaisi ghabrahat nahi thi.
“Agar mohabbat hai to iska matlab yeh nahi ke hum har cheez jaiz samajh lein. Agar hamare liye is rishte mein khair hai to phir ise sahi rasta bhi milega.”
Maaz ne kuch nahi kaha.
Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Main chahti hoon ke hamara rasta haram ki taraf na jaye. Maine kal bhi bhai ko apne baare mein bataya hai. Unhone kaha hai ke woh tumse rishta lene ke liye baat karenge.”
Maaz chand lamhe khamosh raha, phir halki si hairat ke saath bola,
“Tum pagal ho? Apne bhai ko bhi bata diya?”
Ilma ne use dekha.
“Is mein pagal hone wali kya baat hai?”
“Tumhein itni jaldi sab kuch batane ki kya zaroorat thi?”
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Kyunki agar humein ek din shaadi hi karni hai to ghar walon ko batana to padega na. Main yeh nahi chahti ke hum chhup chhup kar baatein karte rahein aur phir kabhi na kabhi sab kuch ghar walon ke saamne aaye.”
Maaz khamosh ho gaya.
Ilma ne baat jaari rakhi.
“Main tumhein chhorna nahi chahti, Maaz. Lekin main yeh bhi nahi chahti ke tumhein paane ke liye main Allah ki nafarmani karti rahoon. Agar hamare naseeb mein ek doosre ka saath hai to woh sahi raste se bhi mil sakta hai.”
Maaz ne nazrein jhuka leen.
Kuch lamhe dono khamosh rahe.
Phir Maaz ne aahista se kaha,
“Tum waqai badal gayi ho.”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath jawab diya,
“Shayad badalna zaroori tha.”
Ilma ne poocha,
“Tum log mera haath maangne aaoge na? Hamare is rishte ko nikah ka naam doge na?”
Maaz ne nazrein chura leen.
“Ilma… main nahi kar sakta.”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Kyun?”
“Main tumhara rishta nahi le kar aa sakta.”
“Tum nahi la sakte?”
Uski awaaz mein be-yaqeeni thi.
“Mohabbat karte ho mujhse, phir rishta nahi la sakte?”
Maaz khamosh raha.
Phir Maaz ne aahista se kaha,
“Abhi hamari padhai chal rahi hai. Abhi shaadi nahi kar sakte.”
Ilma ne kuch lamhe use dekha.
“Achha, abhi shaadi nahi karenge.”
Woh zara ruki, phir boli,
“Lekin baat to pakki kar sakte hain na?”
Maaz ne kuch nahi kaha.
“Hum apne ghar walon ko bata denge. Rishta tay ho jayega. Phir do saal baad jab hamari padhai khatam ho jayegi to shaadi kar lenge.”
Maaz ne nazrein jhuka leen.
Ilma ki awaaz mein ab narmi thi.
“Lekin tab tak hum aise chhup kar baat nahi karenge. Na roz message karenge, na phone par baatein karenge. Agar hum waqai ek doosre se mohabbat karte hain to do saal intezar bhi kar sakte hain.”
Maaz khamosh raha.
Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Main nahi chahti ke hum dobara usi ghalat raste par jaayen. Main nahi chahti ke hum ghar walon se chhup kar baat karte rahein. Agar tum mere liye sahi ho to phir yeh rishta sahi tareeqe se bhi ho sakta hai.”
Maaz ne sar uthaya.
“Ilma…”
“Hmm?”
“Main tumse shaadi nahi kar sakta.”
Ilma kuch lamhe use dekhti rahi.
“Kyun nahi kar sakte?”
Maaz ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Ilma ne dobara poocha,
“Maaz, kyun?”
Magar woh khamosh raha.
Ilma kuch lamhe use dekhti rahi.
Phir aahista se boli,
“Tumne mujhse kaha tha na ke saath doge?”
Maaz khamosh raha.
“Woh waada yaad hai tumhein? Tumne kaha tha jab tak saans chalegi, saath doge.”
Uski awaaz dheemi hoti gayi.
“Aaj woh saath dene ka waqt aaya hai, Maaz. Tum doge na mera saath?”
Maaz ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Ilma ne uski taraf dekha.
“Tumne yeh bhi kaha tha ke meri izzat ko apni izzat samjhoge. Mujhe izzat doge na?”
Maaz ne nazrein jhuka leen.
Ilma ki aankhein nam ho chuki thin.
“Aur tumne kaha tha ke tum mujhse mohabbat karte ho…”
Woh kuch lamhe ruki.
“To ab jab mujhe tumhare saath ki zaroorat hai, tum khamosh kyun ho?”
Maaz ne aahista se sar uthaya.
Uske chehre par koi ta’assur nahi tha.
Phir usne bohat saadah lehje mein kaha,
“Nahi karta main tumse mohabbat.”
Ilma jaise apni jagah sakht reh gayi.
Maaz ne nazrein hata leen.
“Woh sab jhoot tha.”
Kuch lamhon tak Ilma kuch nahi boli.
Use yun laga jaise abhi abhi kahi hui har baat ka matlab badal gaya ho.
“Jhoot…?”
Uske munh se bamushkil nikla.
Maaz ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Ilma ne use dekha, jaise shayad woh agle hi lamhe keh dega ke woh mazaaq kar raha tha.
Magar Maaz khamosh raha.
Us khamoshi mein Ilma ko apne hi sawal ka jawab mil gaya.
Woh kuch lamhe use dekhti rahi.
Aaj pehli baar use mehsoos hua ke jis shakhs ke saath ne use hamesha mazboot rakha tha, wohi shakhs use akela chhor kar khada hai.
Aaj usne uska saath chhor diya tha.
Aaj usne bewafai kar di thi.
Wafa ki baatein karne wale ne aaj wafa nahi nibhayi.
Aaj woh use akela chhor gaya tha.
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
Use yaad aaya, Maaz ne kabhi kaha tha ke woh uska saath dega. Uski izzat ko apni izzat samjhega. Use kabhi akela mehsoos nahi hone dega.
Magar aaj woh sab baatein uske saamne bikhri hui thin.
Na koi wazahat thi, na koi waada.
Bas ek jumla tha.
“Woh sab jhoot tha.”
Ilma ne aahista se saans li.
Use rona nahi aaya.
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh khadi rahi, phir baghair kuch kahe apna bag utha liya.
Maaz ne use jaate hue dekha, magar roka nahi.
Ilma ne bhi peeche mud kar nahi dekha.
Aaj woh use akela chhor gaya tha.
Aur shayad sabse zyada takleef is baat ki thi ke jis ke saath ki use sabse zyada zaroorat thi, wohi aaj uske saath nahi tha.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Ilma ghar pahunchi to seedhi apne kamre mein chali gayi.
Sadia Begum ne use awaaz di, magar usne sirf itna kaha ke woh thak gayi hai.
Kamre ka darwaza band karte hi woh kuch der wahin khadi rahi.
Uske haath mein abhi bhi bag tha.
Usne aahista se bag neeche rakha aur bistar par baith gayi.
Subah se jo kuch hua tha, woh baar baar uske zehan mein aa raha tha.
“Main tumse shaadi nahi kar sakta.”
Phir uska wohi chehra.
Wohi khamoshi.
Aur aakhir mein—
“Nahi karta main tumse mohabbat.”
Ilma ne aankhein band kar leen.
Woh khud ko samjhana chahti thi ke shayad use ghalat-fehmi hui ho, shayad Maaz ke paas koi wajah ho, shayad woh ghusse mein tha.
Magar phir wohi jumla yaad aa jaata.
“Woh sab jhoot tha.”
Usne aankhein kholin aur mobile utha liya.
Screen par Maaz ka naam dekh kar uski ungli kuch lamhon ke liye ruk gayi.
Na koi naya message tha, na koi call.
Usne mobile wapas rakh diya.
Shaam guzarti gayi.
Raat ko sab ke so jaane ke baad kamre mein khamoshi phail gayi.
Ilma bistar par leti chhat ko dekh rahi thi.
Ilma ki aankhon se aansu beh nikle.
Usne karwat badal li aur chehra takiye mein chhupa liya.
Phir jaise saara din roke hue aansuon ko rasta mil gaya.
Woh be-aawaz roti rahi.
Kabhi aankhein ponchti, phir kuch der baad aansu dobara behne lagte.
Aaj use samajh aa raha tha ke kisi ke saath ki aadat pad jaye to uske chale jaane ke baad kamre ki khamoshi bhi kitni bhaari lagti hai.
Usne takiye se chehra uthaya.
Aankhein surkh ho chuki thin.
Kuch der woh isi tarah baithi rahi.
Phir aahista se bistar se uthi, wuzu kiya aur ja-e-namaz bichha li.
Namaz parhne ke baad woh wahin baith gayi.
Kamre mein mukammal khamoshi thi.
Ilma ne haath uthaye, magar kuch kehne se pehle hi uski aankhon se aansu behne lage.
“Allah…”
Awaaz bharra gayi.
“Mujhe maaf kar dein.”
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh rahi, phir jaise dil mein jama har baat apne Rab ke saamne rakh di.
“Aaj mujhe samajh aaya hai…”
Usne aansu saaf kiye.
“Aaj mujhe samajh aaya hai ke Aap ne na-mehram se door rehne ka kyun kaha tha. Mujhe pehle yeh baat samajh nahi aati thi.”
Uski awaaz phir toot gayi.
“Lekin main ghalat thi, Allah.”
Woh sar jhuka kar rone lagi.
“Mujhe pata hi nahi chala ke kab baat karna aadat ban gaya, kab uski awaaz sunne ki aadat pad gayi, kab uske ek message ka intezar hone laga… aur kab main Aap se zyada ek insaan ke baare mein sochne lagi.”
Kamre mein uski siskiyon ke siwa kuch nahi tha.
“Aap ne to mujhe pehle hi samjha diya tha… ke na-mehram se faasle rakho. Magar main nahi samjhi. Main apni mohabbat ko sahi samajhti rahi.”
Usne dono haathon se apna chehra dhaanp liya.
“Aaj samajh aa gaya hai, Allah… aaj waqai samajh aa gaya hai.”
Kuch der baad usne haath dobara uthaye.
“Din mein main haram ki taraf aati rahi… aur raat ko Aapke saamne aa kar maafi maang rahi hoon.”
Uske aansu musalsal beh rahe the.
“Maine ghalat kiya. Bohat ghalat kiya. Mujhe maaf kar dein.”
Usne bharrai hui awaaz mein kaha,
“Maine Aapko bhula diya tha, Allah. Mujhe apni mohabbat sabse badi lagne lagi thi. Mujhe yeh bhi yaad nahi raha ke jis dil ko Aap ne diya hai, us dil ka haq sabse pehle Aap ka hai.”
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
“Aaj woh shakhs bhi chala gaya… lekin shayad Aap ne mujhe nahi chhoda. Shayad isi liye aaj mujhe apni ghalti samajh aa gayi.”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
“Allah, main nahi jaanti ke main Aapke saamne kis munh se maafi maangun… lekin Aap hi to hain jin ke paas gunaahgaar wapas aa sakta hai.”
Uski awaaz bohat dheemi ho gayi.
“Mujhe maaf kar dein.”
“Aur agar main dobara kabhi us raste par jaane lagoon to mujhe rok lena. Mere dil ko apne qareeb kar lena.”
Woh rote hue boli,
“Mujhe halal aur haram ka farq samajhne wali bana dein. Mujhe aisa dil de dein jo Aapki raza ko apni khwahish par tarjeeh de.”
Phir kuch der woh khamosh rahi.
Aansoo aahista aahista behte rahe.
“Allah… aaj mujhe bohat takleef ho rahi hai. Lekin shayad yeh takleef zaroori thi. Shayad mujhe yeh samajhne ke liye itna tootna hi tha.”
Usne haath apne chehre par phere.
“Bas ek baat hai… mujhe apne se door mat karna.”
Apne Rab se baatein karte karte na jaane kab woh so gayi, use khud bhi pata nahi chala.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Subah ki halki roshni pardon se kamre mein aa rahi thi.
Ilma ki aankh khuli to kuch der woh khamosh leti rahi.
Raat ko jo kuch hua tha, sab aahista aahista yaad aane laga.
Usne ek gehri saans li aur bistar se uth gayi.
Namaz-e-Fajr ada karne ke baad woh kuch der ja-e-namaz par baithi rahi, phir kamre se bahar aa gayi.
Kaif nashtay ki mez par baitha tha.
Ilma khamoshi se aa kar uske saamne wali kursi par baith gayi.
Kaif ne use dekha.
“Kya hua?”
Ilma ne chand lamhe khamosh rehne ke baad kaha,
“Bhai… mujhe aapse ek baat batani hai.”
Kaif ne nashta ek taraf rakh diya.
“Haan, batao.”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
“Kal main Maaz se mili thi.”
Kaif ka chehra foran sanjeeda ho gaya.
“Wohi university wala ladka?”
Ilma ne aahista se sar hila diya.
“Ji.”
“Kya hua?”
Ilma ne use kal ki saari baat bata di.
Ke usne Maaz se nikah ke baare mein baat ki, apne aur uske darmiyan faasle rakhne ki baat ki, aur phir Maaz ne kya jawab diya.
Aakhir mein usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Usne kaha ke woh mujhse mohabbat nahi karta… aur jo kuch usne pehle kaha tha, woh sab jhoot tha.”
Kaif kuch lamhe khamosh raha.
Phir usne poocha,
“Aur tum?”
“Main…”
Ilma ki awaaz bharra gayi.
“Main bohat royi thi.”
Kaif ne aahista se saans li.
“Ilma, usne jo bhi kaha, woh uski baat hai. Lekin main ek baat zaroor poochunga.”
Ilma ne use dekha.
“Woh ladka hai kaun?”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
Kaif ne dobara poocha,
“Naam Maaz hai na?”
“Ji.”
“Kaun se department mein hai?”
“Mere saath hi class mein hai.”
Kaif ne kuch lamhe socha, phir seedha sawal kiya,
“Aaj uni ja rahi ho?”
“Ji.”
“To aaj mujhe dikhana use.”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Aapko?”
“Haan.”
“Kyun?”
Kaif ne bilkul saadah lehje mein kaha,
“Bas dekhna hai kaun hai woh ladka jisne tumhein itna pareshan kiya.”
Ilma kuch nahi boli.
Kaif ne mazeed kaha,
“Main koi tamaasha nahi karunga. Bas use dekhna chahta hoon. Aakhir mujhe bhi to pata ho ke tum kis ke baare mein itne dinon se sochti rahi ho.”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka leen.
“Bhai, please aap usse kuch kehna mat.”
Kaif ne use dekha.
“Maine kaha na, main kuch nahi karunga.”
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Kuch der baad dono university jaane ke liye ghar se nikal gaye.
Raaste mein Kaif ne is mauzu ko dobara nahi chheda.
University ke gate ke qareeb pahunch kar Ilma ne bahar dekha.
Talaba hasb-e-mamool apni classes ki taraf ja rahe the.
Kaif ne gaari roki.
“Kahan hai?”
Ilma ne ek nazar saamne dekha.
Kuch faasle par Maaz apne doston ke saath khada tha.
Ilma chand lamhe use dekhti rahi.
Phir aahista se boli,
“Woh…”
Kaif ne uski nazar ke rukh ko dekha.
“Kaun?”
Ilma ne halke se ishara kiya.
“Woh jo black shirt mein khada hai.”
Kaif ne Maaz ki taraf dekha.
Kuch lamhe use khamoshi se dekhta raha.
Phir Ilma ki taraf mutawajjah hua.
“Yeh hai?”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
“Ji.”
Kaif ne dobara ek nazar Maaz par dali.
Uske chehre par ab bhi sanjeedgi thi, magar usne Ilma se kuch nahi kaha.
Bas itna bola,
“Achha.”
Ilma ne bag uthaya aur gaari se utarne lagi.
Kaif ne use roka.
“Ilma.”
Woh muri.
“Ji?”
“Fikr mat karo. Main tumhare saath hoon.”
Ilma ne chand lamhe use dekha, phir khamoshi se sar hila diya.
“Ji bhai.”
Woh university ki taraf chal di.
Kaif kuch der wahin baitha raha, phir uski nazar dobara Maaz par gayi.
Usne gaari start ki, magar jaane se pehle ek baar phir usi taraf dekha.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Ilma university ke andar dakhil hui to saamne Anushay aur Zara khadi thin.
Anushay ke haath mein coffee ka cup tha aur Zara uske mobile ki screen dekh rahi thi.
Ilma unke paas pahunchi.
“Kya dekh rahi ho?”
Zara ne mobile uski taraf badha diya.
“Yeh dekho, hamari class ka naya timetable aaya hai.”
Ilma ne screen dekhi.
“Achha, to Thursday ko bhi class hai?”
“Haan, aur woh bhi subah aath baje.”
Anushay ne munh banaya.
“Itni subah kaun university aata hai?”
Ilma hans di.
“Hum aate hain.”
“Tum aa jaya karo, main tumhari haazri lagwa dungi.”
Zara ne foran kaha,
“Aur phir Professor pakad lenge ke Anushay kahan hai.”
Teeno hans padi.
Class shuru hone mein abhi kuch waqt tha, isliye wahin khadi ho kar assignment aur agle hafte hone wale quiz ke baare mein baat karti rahin.
Kuch der baad Anushay ne Ilma se poocha,
“Tumne woh presentation wali file dobara banayi thi?”
“Haan, kal raat.”
“Mujhe bhi bhej dena. Meri file kahin ghaib ho gayi hai.”
“Tum har cheez aakhri waqt par kyun dhoondti ho?”
“Kyunki waqt se pehle kaam karna mujhe aata hi nahi.”
Zara ne hanste hue kaha,
“Yeh iski purani beemari hai.”
Ilma muskura di.
Class ka waqt hua to teeno andar chali gayin.
Ilma ne poora din aam dinon ki tarah guzarne ki koshish ki.
Kabhi lecture, kabhi notes, kabhi doston ke saath chhoti moti baatein.
Maaz bhi wahin tha.
Uski nazar ek do baar Ilma ki taraf gayi, magar dono ke darmiyan koi baat nahi hui.
Chhutti ke waqt Anushay ne apna bag uthaya.
“Main aaj seedha ghar ja rahi hoon. Ammi ne kaha hai jaldi aana.”
Zara ne poocha,
“Kal aaogi?”
“Agar subah uth gayi to.”
Ilma hans di.
“Tumhein koi alarm nahi jaga sakta.”
“Tum dua kiya karo mere liye.”
Teeno university ke gate tak saath aayin, phir apni apni taraf chal dein.
Ilma bhi ghar wapas aa gayi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Raat ko sab ke so jaane ke baad woh apne kamre mein ja-e-namaz par baithi thi.
Usne haath uthaye.
“Allah…”
Kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
Phir aahista se boli,
“Dekhein, aaj bhi maine usse baat nahi ki.”
Uski aankhein nam ho gayin.
“Woh saamne tha… lekin maine khud ko rok liya.”
Usne gehri saans li.
“Dil mein bohat se sawal the, magar maine koi sawal nahi kiya.”
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
Usne haath chehre par pher liye.
“Mujhe dobara wohi ghalti nahi karni.”
Raat isi khamoshi mein guzar gayi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Agli subah Ilma mamool ke mutabiq university pahunch gayi.
Jaise hi woh gate ke andar dakhil hui, sab use hi dekh rahe the.
Woh apne classroom mein gayi to use bohat ajeeb lag raha tha.
Sab ki nazar us par thi.
Anushay bhi wahin thi.
Ilma Anushay ke paas gayi aur kaha,
“Anushay yaar, yeh sab log mujhe kyun dekh rahe hain?”
Anushay ne apna phone nikala.
“Yeh dekho.”
Ilma ne phone uske haath se liya.
Screen par ek chat khuli hui thi.
Ilma ki nazrein pehle message par padi, phir agle par.
Woh chand lamhon mein hi pehchan gayi.
Yeh uski chat thi.
Uske apne alfaaz.
Uske apne messages.
Woh baatein jo usne kabhi Maaz se ki thin.
Lekin chat mein kahin bhi Maaz ka naam nahi tha.
Na uska zikr, na koi aisi cheez jisse saaf pata chalta ke woh kis se baat kar rahi thi.
Ilma ke haath thande pad gaye.
Usne foran Anushay ki taraf dekha.
“Yeh chat tumhare paas kaise aayi?”
Anushay ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Woh sirf Ilma ko dekhti rahi.
Phir boli,
“Ilma… tum yeh sab kya kar rahi thi?”
“Kya matlab?”
“Yeh sab tumhari chat hai na?”
Ilma ne phone ki screen ki taraf dekha.
“Haan…”
Phir achanak use kuch khayal aaya.
“Lekin yeh tumhare paas kaise aayi?”
Isi waqt Zara peeche se unke qareeb aayi.
“Sirf Anushay ke paas nahi hai.”
Ilma ne mud kar use dekha.
“Kya?”
Zara ne apna phone nikala aur screen Ilma ke saamne kar di.
Wohi chat wahan bhi khuli hui thi.
Ilma kuch lamhon tak use dekhti rahi.
“Yeh… tumhare phone mein bhi?”
Zara ne sar hila diya.
“Haan.”
Ilma ke chehre par pareshani wazeh ho gayi.
“Lekin… yeh to meri private chat thi.”
Anushay ne aahista se kaha,
“Ilma, yeh sirf mere aur Zara ke phone mein nahi hai.”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“To aur kis ke paas hai?”
Zara ne class ki taraf dekha.
“Sab ke phone mein.”
Ilma ke qadam jaise wahin ruk gaye.
“Sab ke…?”
Anushay ne sar hila diya.
“Haan.”
Kuch lamhon ke liye teeno khamosh rahin.
Ilma ne dobara phone ki screen dekhi.
Wohi alfaaz.
Wohi chat.
Bilkul, main is poore scene ko natural Hinglish/Roman Urdu mein convert kar raha hoon, aur Qur’an ki koi Arabic ayat ho to use Arabic script mein hi rakhunga. Maaz ka spelling bhi isi tarah rahega.
Magar saamne wale shakhs ka naam kahin nahi tha.
Bas uski apni baatein thi.
Aur ab poori class jaanti thi ke woh baatein Ilma ki thi.
Ilma abhi tak Zara ke phone ki screen dekh rahi thi ke achanak uski nazar class ke doosre kone ki taraf gayi.
Maaz apni jagah par baitha hua tha.
Woh bilkul pur-sukoon nazar aa raha tha. Jaise class mein kuch hua hi na ho.
Ilma ki nazar us par thehar gayi.
Kuch lamhon tak woh use dekhti rahi. Phir usne dobara phone ki screen dekhi aur Maaz ki taraf dekha.
Woh ab bhi apni jagah baitha tha, phone haath mein liye kuch dekh raha tha.
Ilma ke dil mein ek ajeeb sa ehsaas paida hua.
Use laga shayad Maaz ne hi unki chats sabko bheji hain.
Shayad isi liye woh itna pur-sukoon baitha hai.
Shayad woh chahta tha ke sabko unki baaton ka pata chal jaaye.
Ilma ne foran nazrein hata lein.
Uska dil tezi se dhadakne laga.
Anushay ne uski taraf dekha.
“Ilma?”
Ilma ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Uski nazar ek baar phir be-ikhtiyar Maaz ki taraf gayi.
Is baar Maaz ki nazar bhi usse mil gayi.
Dono ki nazrein sirf ek lamhe ke liye milin.
Ilma ne foran nazrein jhuka lein.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Ilma kuch der class mein baithi rahi, magar uska dhyaan baar-baar usi chat ki taraf ja raha tha.
Aakhirkaar woh apni kitaabein utha kar library chali gayi.
Library mein nisbatاً khamoshi thi. Woh ek kone wali mez par ja kar baith gayi aur kitaab khol li, magar kuch lamhe guzarne ke bawajood ek safha bhi nahi padh saki.
Uske saamne baar-baar wahi chat aa rahi thi.
Aur phir Maaz ka pur-sukoon baitha hona use mazeed uljha raha tha.
Kuch der baad library ka darwaza khula.
Ilma ne be-ikhtiyar nazar uthayi.
Maaz andar aaya.
Uski nazar bhi Ilma par padi, magar woh kuch kahe baghair ek taraf se chalta hua usi mez ke qareeb aa gaya.
Ilma ne foran kitaab band kar di.
Maaz ne kursi kheench kar saamne baithte hue poocha,
“Kya hua?”
Ilma ne use kuch lamhe dekha.
Phir seedha sawaal kiya,
“Yeh chat tumne sabko bheji hai?”
Maaz ke chehre par hairani aayi.
“Kaunsi chat?”
Ilma ne apna phone uske saamne rakh diya.
“Yeh.”
Maaz ne screen ki taraf dekha.
Kuch lamhe khamosh raha.
Ilma uske chehre ko dekh rahi thi.
“Yeh sabke phone mein hai, Maaz.”
Maaz ne dobara screen dekhi.
“Tumhein lagta hai maine yeh bheji hai?”
Ilma ne nazrein nahi hatayin.
“Mujhe nahi pata. Lekin mujhe aur kaun nazar aata hai?”
Maaz kuch der khamosh raha.
Phir usne kehna shuru kiya,
“Haan… maine bheji hai.”
Ilma do pal ke liye sakat khadi reh gayi.
“Tumne aisa kyun kiya, Maaz?”
Uski aankhon mein aansu the.
“Tumhein kya mila yeh karke?”
“Tumhari wajah se sab mujhe aise dekh rahe hain.”
Apni izzat ka zikr karte hue uske haath kaanp rahe the.
“Tumhein andaaza bhi hai tumne meri zindagi barbaad ki hai? Tumhein ehsaas bhi hai?”
“Ke mohabbat karte the… yahi kaha tha tumne. Kabhi mohabbat ko itna ruswa nahi kiya tha tumne, Maaz Shah.”
“Tumhein andaaza bhi hai tumhari is ek harkat ki wajah se mujhe kya kuch nahi sehna padega?”
Woh kuch lamhon ke liye khamosh hui.
“meri zindagi to tumne barbaad kar di.”
Ilma ne use dekha.
“Maine tum par bharosa kiya tha. Tumhein apni baatein batayin, apni kamzoriyan batayin… mohabbat karti thi tumse.”
“Main tumse mohabbat karke kya paaya? Yeh?”
Uski aankh se ek aansu gir gaya.
“Tumne mera woh bharosa bhi tod diya.”
“Kyun kiya tumne aisa?”
Maaz ne kuch lamhe khamosh rehne ke baad kaha,
“Kyunki tumhare bhai ne mujhse milne ki koshish ki thi.”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Kaif bhai?”
“Haan.”
Maaz ki awaaz ab bhi pur-sukoon thi.
“Woh mere paas aaya tha.”
Ilma kuch nahi boli.
“Aur usne mujhe dhamki di thi ke tumse door rahun.”
“Mujhe uska is tarah aana aur mujhe dhamki dena bilkul pasand nahi aaya.”
Ilma ki aankhon mein hairat thi.
“Main ne yeh sab isliye kiya kyunki main us dhamki ka badla lena chahta tha.”
“Aur main ne le liya.”
Ilma ko jaise apne kaanon par yaqeen hi nahi ho raha tha.
“Us baat ka badla tumne meri izzat daav par laga kar liya?”
“Meri zindagi barbaad kar di tumne.”
“Main to is Maaz ko jaanti hi nahi thi.”
“Tum kyun aisa kar rahe ho?”
“Maine tumse bahut mohabbat ki thi.”
“Magar aaj aisa lag raha hai jaise main tumhein jaanti hi nahi.”
“Aaj mujhe ghinn aa rahi hai tumse.”
“Main tumhein kabhi maaf nahi karungi, Maaz. Kabhi nahi.”
“Tumne meri aankhon mein bahut aansu laaye hain. Tumne mere saath bahut ghalat kiya hai… bahut zyada.”
“Maine tumse kitni mohabbat ki thi…”
“Magar aaj usse bhi zyada nafrat ho rahi hai.”
“Shadeed nafrat.”
Yeh kehte hue Ilma wahan se chali gayi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
University chhutte hi Ilma foran apne ghar pahunchi.
Aaj Kaif use lene nahi aaya tha. Woh jaanti thi ke aaj Kaif bahar gaya hai.
Woh akeli ghar aayi aur aate hi apne kamre mein chali gayi.
Kamre mein jaate hi usne sabse pehle apna bag utaara, phir bed par let gayi.
Woh ro rahi thi. Aankhon se aansu beh rahe the.
Seene mein dard ho raha tha.
Aaj use apni ghalti ki saza mili thi.
Aaj use uski mohabbat ne ruswa kiya tha.
Rote-rote woh so gayi.
Raat ka waqt tha jab Sadia Begum Ilma ko khana khane ke liye bulane aayi.
Ilma ne khana khane se mana kar diya aur bed par hi leti rahi.
Sadia Begum wahan se chali gayin.
Woh raat bhar apne kamre mein roti rahi.
Raat najane kab guzar gayi, use pata bhi nahi chala.
Subah ho chuki thi, lekin aaj Ilma neeche university jaane ke liye nahi aayi thi.
Kuch der baad Kaif Ilma ke kamre mein aaya.
Usne dekha uski behen bahut takleef mein hai. Aankhon ke neeche halke bane hue the.
Usne Ilma se sawaal kiya,
“Ilma, kya hua tumhein? Tum to ro rahi thi… aaj university nahi jaana?”
Ilma ne kuch nahi kaha.
Kuch der khamosh rahi.
Kaif use dekh kar bahut pareshan ho raha tha.
Ilma ne kehna shuru kiya,
“Bhai… main university nahi jaungi.”
“Kyun nahi jaogi?”
“Bhai… kal aap Maaz se mile the?”
Kaif kuch lamhe kuch nahi bola.
Phir kaha,
“Haan, mila tha. Aur keh kar aaya hoon ke tumse door rahe.”
Ilma ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.
“Kya hua, Ilma? Bacche, ro kyun rahi ho?”
“Bacche, mujhe takleef ho rahi hai tumhare aansuon se.”
Kaif ki aankhein bhi nam ho gayin.
“Bhai… usne kabhi mujhse mohabbat ki hi nahi.”
“Bhai, usne mujhe sabke saamne ruswa kar diya.”
“Meri izzat barbaad kar di usne.”
“Ilma… kya kiya usne? Tum mujhe batao. Bacche, ro mat.”
“Bhai… hamari chat…”
“Meri aur Maaz ki.”
“Usne leak kar di.”
“Hamari poori university mein sabke paas hamari chat hai.”
“Lekin us chat mein yeh pata nahi chal raha ke ladka kaun hai. Sirf yeh pata chal raha hai ke ladki main hoon.”
“Sab mujhe jis tarah se dekh rahe the, mujhe bilkul bhi achha nahi lag raha tha.”
“Mujhse bahut badi ghalti ho gayi.”
“Maine ghalat shakhs ka intekhab kiya tha.”
Kaif ne Ilma ki baat khamoshi se suni.
Uske chehre par gussa bhi tha.
Kaif kuch lamhe khamosh raha.
“Fikr mat karo.”
Kaif ne use tasalli di, phir kamre se bahar nikal gaya.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Kuch der baad woh university pahunch gaya.
Wahan mamool ke mutabiq students aa-ja rahe the.
Kuch log Kaif ko dekh kar ek doosre se baatein karne lage, magar Kaif ne kisi par tawajjo nahi di.
Uski nazrein sirf ek shakhs ko talaash kar rahi thi.
Maaz.
Kuch der baad Kaif ki nazar us par pad gayi.
Maaz apne kuch doston ke saath khada tha.
Kaif seedha uski taraf badha.
Maaz ne bhi use aate hue dekh liya.
Woh kuch lamhe khamoshi se Kaif ko dekhta raha, phir bola,
“Aap yahan?”
Kaif uske saamne ja kar ruk gaya.
“Haan. Tumse baat karni thi.”
Maaz ne apne doston ki taraf dekha, phir Kaif ki taraf.
“Kya baat hai?”
Kaif ne kuch sakht lehje mein kaha,
“Thoda bahar chal kar baat karte hain.”
Maaz ne kuch lamhe use dekha.
Phir bola,
“Theek hai.”
Dono university ki building se kuch faasle par ek nisbatاً sunsaan jagah ki taraf badh gaye.
Kuch lamhe dono khamosh rahe.
Aakhir Kaif ne Maaz ke gaalon par ek thappad jarr diya aur uska collar pakad liya.
“Terri himmat kaise hui meri behen ke saath aisa kuch karne ki?”
Maaz khamoshi se use dekhta raha.
“Teri wajah se meri behen ki zindagi barbaad ho rahi hai.”
“Woh ro rahi hai.”
“Tu ne meri behen ki aankhon mein aansu laaye hain.”
Kaif ne phir haath uthaya, magar is baar Maaz ne uska haath pakad liya aur jhatak diya.
“Aapne mujhe dhamki di thi.”
“Uska badla maine aapki behen se liya.”
“Saale—”
Kaif ke munh se be-saakhta nikla.
Maaz ne uski taraf dekh kar kaha,
“Sala nahi hone wala sala.”
“Par maine teri behen ko shaadi ke liye mana kar diya, to sala tu banne se raha.”
“To yeh sab tune jaan-boojh kar kiya tha?”
Maaz ne be-niyazi se kandhe uchkaaye.
“Aapne mujhe dhamki di thi. Maine sirf jawab diya hai.”
Kaif ek qadam aage badha, magar Maaz ne foran apna phone nikala aur Younis ko call kar di.
“Younis, kahan ho?”
Doosri taraf se jawab aaya to Maaz ne mukhtasar sa kaha,
“Bas university ke peeche aa jao. Kuch log bhi saath le aana.”
Kaif ne yeh suna to tanzia andaaz mein hansa.
“Log bula kar kya karega?”
Maaz ne phone jeb mein rakhte hue use dekha.
“Abhi pata chal jayega.”
Chand hi minute guzre the ke Younis apne kuch saathiyon ke saath wahan pahunch gaya.
Younis ne pehle Maaz ki taraf dekha, phir Kaif ki taraf.
“Kya masla hai?”
Maaz ne thande lehje mein kaha,
“Yeh sahib mujhe samjhane aaye the.”
Kaif ne gusse se kaha,
“Samjhane nahi aaya tha, apni behen ka hisaab lene aaya tha!”
Younis ne ek lamhe ke liye Maaz ko dekha.
Phir mahaul ki kashidgi mehsoos karte hue apne saathiyon ko ishaara kiya.
“Kya hua?”
Kaif ne hanste hue kaha,
“Der lagegi kya?”
Maaz ne thande lehje mein jawab diya,
“Tumhari dhamki ka badla kal maine teri behen se le liya.”
“Aaj tujhse lunga.”
Kaif ke peeth par achanak kisi ne bamboo ki lathi se waar kiya.
Kaif ko bahut tez chot lagi.
Isse pehle ke woh khud ko sambhal pata, ek aur waar hua aur woh zameen par gir pada.
“Bas karo!”
Kaif ne gusse aur takleef ke mile-jule lehje mein kaha.
Magar Maaz khamosh khada use dekhta raha.
Younis ke saathiyon ne Kaif ko dobara pakad liya.
Kaif ne khud ko chhudane ki koshish ki, lekin woh kamyab na ho saka.
Kaif ke badan par zakhm ban gaye the.
Ek aur dhakka laga to Kaif dobara zameen par baith gaya.
Usne haath se apna chehra saaf kiya aur kuch der khamosh raha.
Ab Kaif ko saans lene mein pareshani ho rahi thi.
Uske chehre se khoon beh raha tha.
Use apni aankhon ke saamne sab dhundhla mehsoos ho raha tha.
Woh log Kaif ko maarte rahe.
Kaif ki saans rukne lagi.
Younis ne apne saathiyon ko peeche hatne ka ishaara kiya.
“Chalo, bahut ho gaya.”
Maaz ne Kaif ko dekha aur phir Younis ke saath wahan se chala gaya.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Kuch der baad university ki chhutti ho chuki thi.
Ek-ek karke saare students bahar nikalne lage.
Achanak kuch bachchon ki nazar zameen par pade Kaif par gayi.
“Arre… yahan koi pada hai!”
Dekhte hi dekhte students ka hujoom wahan jama ho gaya.
Har koi hairat aur khauf se Kaif ko dekh raha tha.
Kuch bachche uske paas aaye.
Unhone dekha Kaif ki saans nahi chal rahi thi.
Kaif mar chuka tha.
Isi hujoom mein Anushay bhi wahan aa pahunchi.
Usne jaise hi zameen par pade ladke ko dekha, kuch lamhon ke liye uske qadam wahin ruk gaye.
Use jaise us shakhs ko pehchan liya tha.
“Kaif…?”
Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
Woh ghutnon ke bal Kaif ke paas baith gayi aur uske chehre ko gaur se dekha.
Yeh wahi Kaif tha jise woh achhi tarah jaanti thi.
“Nahi… yeh Kaif nahi ho sakta…”
Anushay ki aankhon se aansu behne lage.
Usne kaanpte haath se Kaif ko hilaane ki koshish ki.
“Kaif… aap mujhe yun chhod kar nahi ja sakte.”
“Maine to abhi tak aapko yeh bhi nahi bataya tha ke main aapse mohabbat karti hoon.”
Uski aankhon se aansu lagataar beh rahe the.
Kuch der baad Anushay ne apne aansu ponchhe aur kaanpte haathon se Kaif ko chhua.
Ek bande ne Anushay se poocha,
“Kya aap is shakhs ko jaanti hain?”
“Haan… jaanti hoon.”
“Humein inhein ghar le jaana chahiye. Yahan theek nahi hai.”
Us shakhs ne use yaqeen dilaya.
Kuch der baad Kaif ko ghar laya gaya.
Ilma us waqt apne kamre mein thi aur Sadia Begum kitchen mein.
Darwaze par dastak hui.
Ilma ne darwaza khola.
Usne saamne Anushay ko dekha aur uske saath do-chaar ladke khade the.
Unhone ek ladke ko uthaya hua tha.
Ilma ki nazar us ladke par padi.
Woh Kaif tha.
Zakhmi.
Uske chehre se khoon nikal raha tha.
Ilma jaise khatam ho chuki thi.
Woh saans nahi le paa rahi thi.
Uske haath kaanp rahe the.
Aaj ek bhai mar chuka tha.
Woh cheekhna chahti thi, magar uske halq se awaaz nahi nikli.
Woh kuch kehna chahti thi, magar alfaaz jaise khatam ho chuke the.
“Kaun hai, Ilma? Kaun aaya?”
Sadia Begum poochti hui dalaan ki taraf aayin.
Woh ek lamhe ke liye wahin ruk gayin.
Unke qadam ladkhada gaye.
“Kaif…”
Unke munh se mushkil se yeh lafz nikla.
Ilma ki aankhon se aansu beh rahe the.
Woh kuch kehne ki koshish kar rahi thi, magar uske hont kaanp rahe the.
“Ammi…”
Sadia Begum ne Kaif ki taraf dobara dekha.
Achanak unke seene mein shadeed dard utha.
Unhone apne seene par haath rakha aur saans lene ki koshish ki.
“Mera… Kaif…”
Unki awaaz toot gayi.
“Ammi!”
Ilma cheekh uthi aur foran apni maa ki taraf badhi.
Ilma rote hue unke paas baith gayi.
Sadia Begum apne seene par haath rakh kar gehri saans lene ki koshish karne lagin.
“Nahi… mere bachay ko kuch nahi ho sakta…”
Anushay bhi rote hue khadi thi.
Usne foran kisi ko madad ke liye bulane ko kaha.
Sadia Begum behosh ho chuki thin.
Unhein hospital le jaya gaya.
Ilma bhi unke saath hospital gayi, jabke Anushay ghar par Kaif ke paas ruki.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Hospital ki safed, khamosh raahdari mein Ilma bechaini se chahal-qadmi kar rahi thi.
Uski nazrein baar-baar emergency ke band darwaze par ja theharti thin.
Uske haath lagataar kaanp rahe the.
“Ya Allah… meri Ammi ko kuch na ho.”
Uski aankhon se aansu beh rahe the.
Woh haath utha kar dua kar hi rahi thi ke achanak emergency ka darwaza khula.
Ek doctor tezi se bahar aaya.
Ilma foran uski taraf badhi.
“Doctor! Meri Ammi… woh kaisi hain?”
Doctor ne ek lamhe ke liye khamosh ho kar Ilma ko dekha.
“Aap Sadia Begum ki beti hain?”
“Ji… ji, main unki beti hoon.”
“Bataiye na, meri Ammi theek hain?”
Doctor ne gehri saans li.
“Humne poori koshish ki…”
Ilma ke dil ki dhadkan jaise ek lamhe ko ruk gayi.
“Kya matlab?”
Doctor ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Mujhe afsos hai… hum unhein bacha nahi sake.”
“Meri Ammi ko kuch nahi hua hoga…”
“Aap dobara dekhein.”
“Please… ek baar phir dekhein.”
“Woh mujhe chhod kar nahi ja sakti.”
Doctor khamosh raha.
Ilma ki aankhon se aansuon ka sailaab behne laga.
Aaj usne apne sabse qareeb rishton ko kho diya tha.
Use ek hi din mein apni maa aur apne bhai dono ko khona pada tha.
Uske munh se ek dard bhari cheekh nikli.
“Ammi… mujhe chhod kar mat jaayein…”
Raahdari mein uski siskiyan goonjne lagin.
Kuch der baad doctor ne usse kaha ke woh patient ko yahan se le ja sakti hai.
Woh wahin baithi rahi.
Kuch der baad usne Maaz ko apni taraf aate dekha.
Maaz uske saamne aa kar khada ho gaya.
Maaz doctor se baat karne laga.
Doctor se baat karne ke baad woh Ilma ke saath wali kursi par baith gaya.
Ilma jaise is waqt bhool chuki thi ke Maaz ne uske saath kya kiya tha.
Ilma ne kehna shuru kiya,
“Maaz…”
Uski aankhon mein aansu bhar aaye the.
“Baba mujhe bachpan mein hi chhod kar Allah Miyan ke paas chale gaye the.”
“Aaj Ammi aur bhai bhi chale gaye.”
“Main akeli reh gayi hoon, yaar.”
Ilma ne apne chehre ko dono haathon mein chhupa liya.
“Maine sabko kho diya…”
“Sabko…”
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Raat kaafi guzar chuki thi jab woh log Sadia Begum ko lekar ghar aaye.
Sehan mein logon ka hujoom jama tha.
Auratain sisak rahi thin aur mardon ki dheemi awaazein mahaul ko mazeed sogwaar bana rahi thin.
Ilma ki nazar jab safed chaadar mein lipte Kaif par padi to uska dil jaise phat gaya.
Woh ladkhadate qadmon se aage badhi.
“Kaif bhai…”
Uski awaaz mushkil se nikli.
Kuch der baad janaaze ki tayyari mukammal hui.
Sadia Begum aur Kaif dono ko namaz-e-janaza ke liye le jaya ja raha tha.
Ilma unhein jaate hue dekhti rahi.
Dheere-dheere woh uski aankhon se ojhal ho gaye.
Kuch der auratain wahin baithi rahin, phir ek-ek karke sab apne ghar jaane lagin.
Anushay us raat Ilma ke paas hi ruki thi.
Abhi kuch auratain dalaan mein thin.
Anushay bhi wahin thi, jabke Ilma namaz-e-Isha ada karne ke liye apne kamre mein aayi.
Usne wuzu kiya aur ja-e-namaz bichhayi.
Usne namaz padhna shuru ki.
Aankhein nam thin.
Khuda se bahut fariyaad thi.
Usne namaz padhi, salaam phera aur kuch duaein padhne ke baad Allah se dua maangna shuru ki.
Apne dard batana shuru kiya.
Woh chand lamhon ke liye khamosh hui.
Aansu uski ungliyon se phisal kar ja-e-namaz par girne lage.
“Main bahut kamzor hoon, Ya Allah…”
“Bahut kamzor.”
Kamre ke darwaze par dastak hui.
Anushay andar aayi aur uske saath baith gayi.
Ilma aur Anushay ke beech khamoshi thi.
Aise hi ek-do din guzar gaye.
Doosre din Anushay Ilma ke saath baithi hui thi aur usse baat kar rahi thi. Tabhi usne achanak poocha,
“Ilma, tumhein pata hai Kaif ke saath kaise hua? Kisne kiya? Tumhein kuch pata hai? Uska kisi ke saath jhagda hua tha?”
Ilma ko us waqt Kaif aur uski aakhri baat yaad aa gayi.
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
“Shayad woh Maaz se milne gaye the.”
“Maaz se?”
“Maaz se milne gaye the?”
Ilma batana nahi chahti thi, magar phir usne sab kuch batana shuru kar diya.
“Woh chat meri thi.”
“Woh chat meri aur Maaz ki thi.”
“Mohabbat ho gayi thi mujhe usse. Usne bhi kaha tha ke mujhse mohabbat karta hai, par…”
“Par kya?”
Anushay ne baat sunte hue poocha.
“Par jab maine shaadi ki baat ki to woh mukar gaya. Dhoka de diya.”
“Kehta tha shaadi nahi kar sakta.”
“Aur chat bhi usi ne leak ki thi.”
Anushay ko jaise uski baaton par yaqeen hi nahi aaya.
“Maine bhai ko bata diya tha. Shayad woh Maaz ke paas hi gaye the.”
Anushay kuch waqt khamosh rahi.
Phir uski aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.
“Tumhari wajah se meri Kaif ab is duniya mein nahi hai.”
“Tumhari wajah se uske saath yeh sab hua.”
“Tumne kyun bataya Kaif ko? Sab na batati… kuch nahi hota.”
Ilma ne bechaini se uski taraf dekha.
“Main Kaif ko yeh bhi nahi bata saki ke main kitni mohabbat karti thi…”
“Main shaadi karna chahti thi usse.”
“Par tumhari wajah se sab khatam ho gaya.”
“Main tumhein kabhi maaf nahi karungi, Ilma.”
“Kabhi bhi nahi.”
“Meri mohabbat tumne mujhse chheen li.”
“Anushay, kya keh rahi ho? Jo bhi hua… kya main thodi chahti thi ke unke saath aisa ho?”
“Mujhe to andaaza bhi nahi tha…”
“Tumhara bhai aur Ammi to mar hi gaye hain, Ilma…”
“Tum bhi mar jao.”
“Tumne mujhse meri mohabbat chheen li.”
Yeh kehte hue Anushay wahan se chali gayi.
Ilma wahin akeli reh gayi.
Use yun lag raha tha jaise Anushay ke ek-ek lafz ne uske andar kuch tod diya ho.
“Tum bhi mar jao…”
“Tumne mujhse meri mohabbat chheen li.”
Yeh alfaaz baar-baar uske kaanon mein goonj rahe the.
Ilma ne apne aansu ponchhe aur kuch der khamosh baithi rahi.
Phir achanak uske zehan mein Maaz ka khayal aaya.
Najane kyun woh Maaz se milna chahti thi.
Ilma aahista se uthi.
Dupatta theek kiya aur kamre se bahar nikal aayi.
Gali mein qadam rakha to kuch auratain ek ghar ke bahar baithi thin.
Ilma ko dekhte hi unmein se ek ne doosri ko kohni maari.
“Dekho, Ilma hai na?”
Doosri aurat ne use upar se neeche tak dekha.
“Haan, wohi hai.”
Pehli aurat ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, magar itni dheemi bhi nahi ke Ilma na sun sake.
“Maa ko mare abhi do din nahi hue aur ladki ko ghar mein baithne ka sabr nahi.”
“Dekho, kahan chali ja rahi hai akeli?”
Ilma ke qadam wahin rukne ko hue, magar usne khud ko sambhala aur aage badh gayi.
Peeche se doosri aurat ki awaaz aayi,
“Main to kehti hoon ise ghar mein hi rehna chahiye.”
“Aise waqt mein ladki ka akele ghoomna achha nahi lagta.”
Pehli aurat ne foran kaha,
“Arre meri beti bhi isi university mein padhti hai.”
“Bata rahi thi ke yeh kisi ladke se baat karti hai.”
“Dekha! Main na kehti thi ke maamla kuch aur hai.”
“Pata nahi aaj kal ki ladkiyon ko kya ho gaya hai.”
“Maa ka janaaza utha nahi ke…”
Baaqi alfaaz Ilma ne nahi sune.
Uski aankhein bhar aayin.
Woh tez qadmon se aage badh gayi.
Har qadam ke saath use mehsoos ho raha tha jaise log uske kirdaar ka faisla kar rahe hon.
Jaise uske dukh ki koi qeemat hi na ho.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Kuch der baad woh Maaz ke ghar ke qareeb pahunch gayi.
Darwaze ke saamne khade hokar Ilma ke qadam ruk gaye.
Dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha.
Usne ek gehri saans li aur darwaze par dastak de di.
Kuch lamhon baad darwaza khula.
Saamne Maaz khada tha.
“Maaz…”
Uski awaaz mushkil se nikli.
Maaz ne nazrein chura lein.
“Kya hua?”
Ilma ne ek qadam aage badhaya.
“Kaif bhai tumse milne aaye the?”
Maaz ke chehre par ek lamhe ke liye khamoshi chha gayi.
Ilma ne gaur se use dekha.
“Jawab do, Maaz…”
“Kya Kaif bhai tumse milne aaye the?”
Maaz ne kuch lamhe use dekha, phir nazrein jhuka lein.
“Haan.”
Ilma ke dil ki dhadkan tez ho gayi.
“Kab?”
“Us din…”
“Jis din unke saath yeh sab hua?”
Maaz ne khamoshi se sar hila diya.
Ilma ki aankhon se aansu beh nikle.
“Woh tumse kya baat karne aaye the?”
“Mujhe nahi pata.”
“Jhoot mat bolo, Maaz!”
Ilma ki awaaz pehli baar buland hui.
“Tumne hi maara hai na unhein?”
“Maine unhein nahi maara.”
Maaz ne thande lehje mein kaha.
“Pehle unhone mujh par haath uthaya.”
“Main nahi jaanta tha ke woh mar jayenge.”
“Haan, thodi maar-peet hui thi…”
“Par main nahi chahta tha ke woh mar jaayein.”
Ilma be-saakhta use dekhti rahi.
Phir ek thappad seedha uske gaal par ja laga.
“Maaz Shah…”
“Tum mar jao.”
“Allah kare tum mar jao.”
“Tum tadap-tadap kar maro.”
“Tumne mujhse mera sab kuch chheen liya.”
“Mere paas koi nahi bacha.”
“Main tumse kabhi yeh umeed kar hi nahi sakti thi.”
“Mera sab kuch chheen-ne wale tum ho gaye.”
“Main dua karti hoon tum kabhi khush na reh pao.”
“Jaise tumne meri zindagi barbaad ki hai, waise tumhari zindagi bhi barbaad ho.”
“Main tumse badla lekar rahungi.”
Maaz halki si muskurahat ke saath bola,
“Kaise logi badla?”
“Kisi ko nahi pata kisne maara.”
“Kaun tumhari baat par bharosa karega?”
Ilma use dekhti rahi.
Najane kyun use Maaz ki woh muskurahat duniya ki sabse bekaar muskurahat lagi.
Ilma ki aankhon mein aansu the.
“Main badla nahi le sakti…”
“Lekin mera Rab hai.”
“Mera Rab mera badla tumse lega.”
“Mere har ek aansu ka badla.”
Maaz ne sakht lehje mein kaha,
“Tumhari bakwaas band ho gayi ho to ab tum yahan se ja sakti ho.”
“Main ja rahi hoon.”
“Par dekhna…”
“Ek din tum tadpoge.”
Yeh kehte hue Ilma wahan se chali gayi.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Ilma seedha apne ghar ki taraf rawana hui.
Magar jaise hi woh apne mohalle ke qareeb pahunchi, uske qadam achanak ruk gaye.
Aasmaan par dhuen ke siyah baadal chhaye hue the.
Door se cheekh-o-pukaar ki awaazein aa rahi thin.
Woh ghabra kar aage badhi to manzar dekh kar uske hosh udd gaye.
Uska ghar aag ke sholon mein ghira hua tha.
Khidkiyon se aag bahar nikal rahi thi.
Darwaze ke qareeb lakriyan aur malba bikhra pada tha.
Aas-paas ke kai gharon se bhi dhuan uth raha tha.
Gali mein log khaufzada hokar bhaag rahe the.
Kuch log apne gharon se bachchon aur buzurgon ko nikaal rahe the.
Ek taraf mushtail logon ka hujoom tha aur doosri taraf mohalle ke log apne gharon aur jaanon ko bachane ki koshish kar rahe the.
Kuch log logon se unka mazhab pooch kar unhein maar rahe the.
Agar koi kehta ke woh Muslim hai to us par tashaddud kiya ja raha tha.
Ghar ke mardon ko maara ja raha tha.
Ilma ke kaanon mein lagataar cheekhein goonj rahi thin.
Kahin sheeshe tootne ki awaaz aati, kahin log apne darwaze band kar rahe the.
Ilma har mod par ruk kar dekhti, phir kisi na kisi tarah khud ko bheed se bachate hue aage badh jaati.
Ek jagah kuch log sadak ke beech khade the.
Ilma ka dil halq mein aa gaya.
Woh foran ek tang gali mein mud gayi aur deewar se lag kar khadi ho gayi.
Uski saansein tez chal rahi thin.
Ek aadmi uski taraf aa raha tha.
Ilma wahan se bhaag nikli.
Ilma ke paas mobile bhi nahi tha.
Poore ilaqe mein jhagde aur tashaddud ka mahaul tha.
Woh kisi tarah wahan se nikalne ki koshish kar rahi thi.
Ek aadmi ne usse poocha,
“Kahan ja rahi ho?”
Magar tab tak woh bahut aage nikal chuki thi.
Woh bhaagte-bhaagte Thamel ki galiyon mein pahunch gayi.
Wahan logon ka hujoom tha.
Kuch log tourists the aur kuch wahin ke rehne wale.
Ilma ne ek dukaan se chupke se ek shawl uthayi aur use odh liya.
Ab woh bilkul akeli reh gayi thi.
Aaj na bhai tha.
Na baap.
Na maa.
Aur na mohabbat.
Uske haath kaanp rahe the.
Use samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kya kare.
Kahan jaaye?
Ab uske paas ghar bhi nahi tha.
Wahan ka mahaul dekh kar ab woh wapas bhi nahi ja sakti thi.
“Allah… aap mujhe raasta dikhayein.”
“Allah, mere saath kya ho raha hai?”
“Allah…”
“Allah, takleef ho rahi hai.”
“Allah, maine bahut ghaltiyan ki hain.”
“Main jaanti hoon…”
“Par main nahi chahti ke ab koi ghalti karun.”
“Allah…”
Uski aankhon se aansu beh rahe the.
Najane kyun uska dil namaz padhne ko kar raha tha.
Wahan kahin aisi jagah nahi thi jahan woh sukoon se namaz padh sakti.
Woh ek kone mein baith gayi.
Use woh din yaad aaya jab woh namaz nahi padhna chahti thi.
Us din sab kuch tha uske paas.
Aaj kuch bhi nahi tha.
Aaj sirf Allah ka saath tha.
Allah ki mohabbat.
Allah par bharosa.
Use khud se sharmindagi mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Aaj woh apne Rab se maang rahi thi.
Aaj woh apne Rab ke paas thi.
Jab sab kuch tha tab woh nahi thi.
Tab usne kitni aasani se keh diya tha,
“Namaz ek din nahi padhungi to kuch thodi ho jayega.”
Aaj use shiddat se namaz padhne ki chaah ho rahi thi.
Uska dil chaah raha tha ke Allah use thaam kar rakhe.
Hum insaan bahut khudgharz hote hain.
Jab har cheez hoti hai, har khushi hoti hai, to hum Rab se door hone lagte hain.
Aur jab kuch nahi hota to sabse pehle Allah ko yaad karte hain.
Insaan ko Allah ke liye loyal hona chahiye.
Har waqt.
Har lamha.
Sirf gham mein Allah ko yaad nahi karna chahiye.
Khushiyon mein bhi Allah ko yaad karna chahiye.
Use bhoolna nahi chahiye.
Gham mein bhi Wohi.
Khushi mein bhi Wohi.
Tanhai mein bhi Wohi.
Aur hujoom mein bhi Wohi.
Kaash hum aise bande ban jaayein…
Jinhein Rab sirf zaroorat ke waqt nahi,
mohabbat ke waqt bhi yaad aaye.
Ilma kuch der isi kone mein baithi rahi.
Log uske aas-paas se guzar rahe the. Kisi ke haath mein camera tha, koi hanste hue apne saathi se baat kar raha tha, koi dukaan ke bahar khada qeemat pooch raha tha. Thamel ki galiyan apni mamool ki zindagi mein rawan thin, magar Ilma ke liye jaise waqt wahin ruk gaya tha.
Usne apne haathon ko dekha.
Ab bhi kaanp rahe the.
Aankhein band ki to ghar ka manzar saamne aa gaya.
Woh shor… woh jhagda… woh aadmi jo uski taraf badh raha tha…
Ilma ne foran aankhein khol dein.
Usne khud ko sambhalte hue pashmina mazeed apne gird lapet liya.
Uske paas na mobile tha, na paise ka koi thikana, na yeh maloom tha ke raat kahan guzaregi.
Bas ek Rab tha, jise woh aaj pehli baar itni shiddat se pukaar rahi thi.
Woh aahista se uth khadi hui.
Qareeb hi ek chhoti si masjid ka sabz board nazar aaya.
Ilma ki nazrein wahin ruk gayin.
Dil jaise ek lamhe ke liye thehar gaya.
Woh be-ikhtiyar us taraf chal padi.
Woh aurton ki masjid thi.
Masjid ke sehan mein dakhil hote hi use ajeeb sa sukoon mehsoos hua.
Bahar ka shor jaise peeche reh gaya tha.
Woh ek taraf baith gayi.
Kuch der khamosh rahi.
Phir uske hont hile.
“Ya Allah…”
Awaaz itni dheemi thi ke shayad use khud bhi poori tarah sunai na di.
“Main kya karun?”
Aankhon se aansu behne lage.
“Mere paas koi nahi hai…”
Woh ruk gayi.
Phir khud hi dil mein ek khayal aaya.
Wohi to ghalat keh rahi thi.
Koi tha.
Hamesha se tha.
Bas woh khud use bhoolti rahi thi.
Ilma ne apne aansu saaf kiye.
“Aap hain na, Allah?”
Is baar uske labon par halki si muskurahat aayi.
“Aap to hain.”
Kuch der baad usne wuzu kiya.
Paani ke thande chhinte chehre par pade to jaise dil ki ghutan bhi thodi kam hui.
Woh namaz ke liye khadi hui.
Aaj use namaz jaldi khatam nahi karni thi.
Aaj woh Rab se bhaag kar nahi, Rab ke paas aayi thi.
Sajde mein jaate hi uske zabt ke band toot gaye.
“Ya Allah… mujhe maaf kar dein.”
Aansu ja-e-namaz mein jazb hone lage.
“Maine aapko sirf tab yaad kiya jab mujhe aapki zaroorat thi…”
Uski awaaz bharra gayi.
“Jab sab kuch tha, tab maine aapko bhula diya tha.”
Ek lamhe ke liye woh khamosh rahi.
“Lekin aaj… aaj mere paas kuch nahi hai.”
Usne peshani mazeed jhuka di.
“Bas aap hain.”
Sajda taweel hota gaya.
Aur shayad pehli baar Ilma ko mehsoos hua ke kabhi-kabhi insaan ke paas jab kuch nahi bachta, tab use maloom hota hai ke uske paas sabse qeemti cheez pehle hi maujood thi.
Allah.
Woh aahista se uthi, pashmina durust kiya aur masjid se bahar aa gayi.
Thamel ki gali mein qadam rakhte hi logon ka hujoom phir se uske saamne tha.
Woh kuch faasle par ja kar ruk gayi.
Isi waqt uski nazar do ladkiyon par padi.
Dono ne siyah abaye pehen rakhe the. Ek ke kandhe par bag tha jabke doosri apne haath mein chhota sa suitcase liye hue thi.
Unke saath ek aadmi bhi tha, jo shayad unka koi jaanne wala tha.
Woh kuch baat kar rahe the aur Ilma ko sunai de raha tha.
“Jaldi karo, Lahore ki train abhi nikalne wali hai.”
Ek ladki ne ghadi dekhte hue kaha.
“Haan, agar der ho gayi to phir agli ka intezar karna padega.”
Doosri ne apna suitcase sambhala.
Saath khade aadmi ne be-fikri se kaha,
“Tum dono bas mere peeche rehna, bheed bahut hai.”
“Lahore…”
Na jaane kyun uska dil chah raha tha ke woh unke peeche chali jaaye.
Yahan se bahut door.
Ilma unke peeche chalne lagi.
Kuch der baad saamne station ki imarat dikhai dene lagi.
Uske qadam khud-ba-khud tez ho gaye.
Woh teeno andar dakhil hue.
Ilma bhi kuch lamhon baad andar aa gayi.
Station logon se bhara hua tha.
Elaanaat ki awaazein goonj rahi thin.
Log apne samaan ke saath idhar-udhar ja rahe the.
Woh dono ladkiyan ek taraf khadi ho gayin.
Ilma unse kuch faasle par ruk gayi.
Phir achanak door se train ke aane ki awaaz sunai di.
Lohe ke pahiyon ki awaaz aahista-aahista qareeb aa rahi thi.
Platform par maujood logon mein halchal mach gayi.
” Aa gayi!”
Ek ladki ne foran kaha.
Chand lamhon baad train platform par aa kar ruk gayi.
Darwaze khule.
Log jaldi-jaldi sawar hone lage.
Woh aadmi dono ladkiyon ke saath aage badha.
Ilma kuch faasle par khadi rahi.
Usne train ko dekha.
Aur pehli baar dil mein ek faisla kiya.
Woh bhi jaayegi.
Kahan?
Use nahi maloom tha.
Kaise?
Yeh bhi nahi maloom tha.
Bas itna maloom tha ke use is jagah se nikalna hai.
Usne apna qadam aage badhaya.
Phir ek aur.
Aur phir woh bhi bheed mein un teeno ke peeche train ki taraf chal padi.
Uske dil mein sirf ek dua thi—
“Ya Allah… agar yeh raasta mere liye nahi hai to mujhe rok dijiye.”
Woh train ke darwaze tak pahunchi.
Ek lamhe ke liye thehri.
Phir andar qadam rakh diya.
Aur jaise hi usne train mein qadam rakha, bahar platform par khadi duniya aahista-aahista usse door hone lagi.
Na jaane kyun use bharosa tha ke Allah use ruswa nahi hone denge.
Woh apni bandi ko sahi jagah pahuncha denge.
Use tawakkul tha.
Ilma ne khidki ke paas jagah talaash ki.
Woh baith gayi.
Haath ab bhi kaanp rahe the.
Magar is baar un kaanpte haathon mein khauf ke saath ek ajeeb sa yaqeen bhi tha.
Shayad woh manzil nahi jaanti thi.
Magar use yaqeen tha—
Jis Rab ne use yahan tak pahunchaya hai, woh aage ka raasta bhi dikha dega.
۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Train mein zyada bheed nahi thi.
Jagah aasani se mil gayi thi.
Woh dono ladkiyan bhi isi dabbe mein baithi thin.
Kuch der tak woh aapas mein dheemi awaaz mein baat karti rahin, phir unmein se ek ki nazar Ilma par padi.
Woh kuch lamhe use dekhti rahi, jaise kuch soch rahi ho.
Phir usne narmi se poocha,
“Aap kahan ja rahi hain?”
Ilma ne chaunk kar uski taraf dekha.
Ek lamhe ke liye use samajh nahi aaya ke kya jawab de.
Phir aahista se boli,
“Aap log kahan ja rahe hain?”
Dono ladkiyon ne ek doosre ki taraf dekha.
“Lahore.”
Ilma ke dil mein jaise kuch hil sa gaya.
Usne kuch lamhon ke liye nazrein jhuka lein.
Phir dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Main bhi… Lahore ja rahi hoon.”
Dono ladkiyon ke chehron par halki si hairani aayi.
“Achha?”
Ilma ne bas sar hila diya.
Kuch lamhon ki khamoshi ke baad doosri ladki ne poocha,
“Aap akeli ja rahi hain?”
Ilma ki ungliyan be-ikhtiyar pashmine ke kinare se ulajh gayin.
“Ji… akeli.”
“Koi saath nahi hai?”
Ilma ne aahista se sar hila diya.
“Nahi.”
Ladki ne ek lamhe ke liye use gaur se dekha.
“Koi ghar wala?”
Is sawaal par Ilma ki nazrein khidki se bahar chali gayin.
Bahar manzar tezi se peeche bhaag raha tha.
Usne dheemi awaaz mein jawab diya,
“Nahi… koi saath nahi hai.”
Dono ladkiyan khamosh ho gayin.
“Aapke ghar wale aapko akele aane-jaane dete hain?”
“Lahore mein aap rehti hain?”
Woh ladkiyan sawaal kiye ja rahi thin.
“Mere ghar mein koi nahi hai.”
Ilma ne bahut aahista se kaha.
Dono ladkiyan ek doosre ko dekhne lagin.
Shayad unhein is jawab ki tawaqqo nahi thi.
“Aapka matlab?” Pehli ladki ne poocha.
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Bas… koi nahi hai.”
Uski awaaz mein aisi thakan thi ke uske baad sawaal karna jaise munasib nahi laga.
Kuch lamhon ke liye dono khamosh rahin.
Phir doosri ladki ne narmi se poocha,
“To Lahore mein aap kis ke paas ja rahi hain?”
Ilma ke lab khule, magar awaaz nahi nikli.
Usne khidki se bahar dekha.
“Mujhe nahi maloom.”
Dono ladkiyon ne hairat se use dekha.
“Kya matlab?”
“Lekin wahan aap rahengi kahan?”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
Is sawaal ka jawab uske paas waqai nahi tha.
Kuch der baad pehli ladki ne aahista se poocha,
“Aap ghar se naraz hokar nikli hain?”
Ilma ki aankhein foran nam ho gayin.
Usne nazrein chura lein.
“Nahi…”
Pehli ladki ne apne bag se paani ki bottle nikali aur Ilma ki taraf badha di.
“Paani pee lein.”
Ilma ne pehle bottle ko dekha, phir ladki ki taraf.
“Nahi, theek hai.”
“Le lijiye. Aap kaafi der se khamosh baithi hain.”
Ilma ne kuch lamhe hichkichane ke baad bottle le li.
“Shukriya.”
Usne ek ghont paani piya.
Paani halq se utra to use ehsaas hua ke waqai uska gala khushk ho raha tha.
“Waise mera naam Shifa hai,” pehli ladki ne kaha.
“Aur woh mere shohar hain.”
Usne saath khade aadmi ki taraf ishaara kiya.
“Aur yeh unki behen Maryam.”
Shifa ne kuch der baad kehna shuru kiya,
“Hum log Nepal ghoomne aaye the.”
“Socha tha kuch din sukoon se guzarenge, nayi jagahen dekhenge… lekin yahan aa kar halaat hi badal gaye.”
Maryam ne bhi aahista se kaha,
“Kuch gaon mein Musalmanon ke darmiyan ladai-jhagde shuru ho gaye the.”
“Halaat itne kharab ho gaye ke logon ko apne ghar chhodne pade.”
Shifa ke lehje mein khauf saaf mehsoos ho raha tha.
“Kuch jagahon par to Musalmanon ke gharon ko aag bhi laga di gayi.”
“Humne apni aankhon se logon ko ghar se nikalte dekha hai.”
“Uske baad wahan rukna mumkin nahi tha, isliye humne bhi wapsi ka faisla kar liya.”
Ilma ke haath mein pakdi paani ki bottle wahin ruk gayi.
Uske zehan mein apne ghar ke manazir ek dum se ghoom gaye.
Shor.
Cheekhein.
Bhaagte hue qadam…
Aur phir aag ke shole.
Usne jaldi se nazrein jhuka lein.
Shifa ne uske chehre par badalte hue taassuraat dekhe.
“Aap theek hain?”
Ilma ne jawab nahi diya.
Uski ungliyan pashmine ke kinare ko mazbooti se pakad chuki thin.
Kuch lamhon baad uske lab hile.
“Mera… ghar bhi jala diya.”
Awaaz itni maddham thi ke shayad agar dabbe mein train ki awaaz na hoti to Shifa bhi na sun paati.
Shifa kuch lamhe use dekhti rahi.
“Kya?”
Ilma ne is baar nazrein uthayin.
Aankhon mein aansu jama the, magar woh unhein behne nahi de rahi thi.
“Mera ghar bhi… jala diya gaya.”
Dabbe mein achanak khamoshi chha gayi.
Maryam ne be-ikhtiyar Ilma ko dekha, jabke Shifa ke chehre par dukh ubhar aaya.
“Ya Allah…” Shifa ke munh se be-ikhtiyar nikla.
Ilma ne nazrein khidki ki taraf mod lein.
Bahar andhera tha.
Aur us andhere mein use apna woh ghar yaad aa raha tha.
Shifa ne kuch der use khamoshi se dekha, phir aahista se poocha,
“Aap Lahore mein kahan rahengi?”
Ilma ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Uski nazrein ab bhi khidki se bahar thin.
Shifa ne dobara poocha,
“Koi rishtedaar hain wahan?”
Ilma ne bahut aahista se sar nafi mein hila diya.
“Nahi.”
“Phir… kahan jaayengi?”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
Uske paas waqai koi jawab nahi tha.
Shifa ne kuch lamhon tak use dekha, phir jaise kuch yaad aaya.
“Waise hamare ghar ke paas ek masjid hai.”
Ilma ne pehli baar uski taraf dekha.
Shifa ne baat jaari rakhi,
“Woh aam masjid jaisi nahi hai. Aurton ke liye alag jagah hai.”
“Wahan kuch auratain rehti bhi hain.”
“Quran samjhaya jata hai, deeni baatein sikhayi jaati hain… aur rehne ka intezam bhi achha hai.”
Maryam ne bhi aahista se sar hilaya.
“Haan, kaafi auratain wahan kuch arse ke liye rehti hain.”
Shifa ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Agar aapka Lahore mein koi thikana nahi hai, to aap wahan reh sakti hain.”
Ilma kuch na boli.
Shifa ne narmi se kaha,
“Main aapko mashwara dungi ke aap wahin chali jayein. Jagah mehfooz hai, khaas taur par aurton ke liye.”
Ilma ki aankhein ek baar phir nam ho gayin.
Itni der se woh sirf yahi soch rahi thi ke Lahore pahunch kar jaayegi kahan.
Aur ab pehli baar kisi ne uske saamne ek raasta rakha tha.
Shifa ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Aap fikr na karein. Hum aapko wahan tak le jayenge. Hamare ghar ke qareeb hi hai, aapko akele nahi jaana padega.”
Ilma ne kuch lamhon tak Shifa ko dekha.
Phir bahut aahista se sar hila diya.
“Shukriya…”
Bas itna hi keh saki.
Iske baad usne dobara khidki se bahar dekhna shuru kar diya.
Dil mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon utarne laga tha.
Woh Lahore ja rahi thi, jahan na use koi jaanta tha, na woh kisi ko jaanti thi.
Train ke safar mein na jaane kitne ghante guzar gaye the.
Kabhi Ilma khidki se bahar dekhti rehti aur kabhi aankhein band karke seat se sar tika deti. Shifa aur Maryam bhi kabhi kabhi usse baat kar letin, phir khamoshi se apne safar mein masroof ho jaatin.
Raat gehri hoti gayi.
Ilma ko khud bhi maloom nahi tha ke woh kitni der soti rahi.
Achanak train ki raftaar kuch kam hone lagi.
Bahar roshniyon ki qatarein dikhai dene lagin.
Shifa ne khidki se bahar dekha, phir Ilma ki taraf mutawajjah hui.
“Lagta hai Lahore aa gaya.”
Ilma ne chaunk kar aankhein khol dein.
“Lahore?”
“Ji.”
Train aahista aahista platform par dakhil hui.
Khidki ke bahar logon ki bheed nazar aane lagi. Kahin musafir apna samaan uthaye jaldi mein chal rahe the, kahin coolie awaazein laga rahe the, aur kahin log apne aane walon ko dhoond rahe the.
Train aakhirkaar ruk gayi.
Shifa ne apna bag uthaya.
“Chalein?”
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye apni seat ko dekha.
Uske paas na koi samaan tha, na koi manzil.
Platform par qadam rakhte hi Ilma kuch lamhon ke liye ruk gayi.
Yeh Lahore tha.
Ek aisa shehar jahan uska koi nahi tha.
Woh khamoshi se chaaron taraf dekhne lagi.
Shifa ne uske qareeb aa kar kaha,
“Aap hamare saath hi rahiyega. Bheed mein kahin alag na ho jayein.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
Woh Shifa aur Maryam ke peeche chalne lagi.
Kuch faasle par Shifa ka shohar bhi unke saath aa gaya tha. Usne unka samaan utha liya aur woh log station ke bahar ki taraf badhne lage.
Ilma khamoshi se unke saath chal rahi thi.
Har qadam ke saath use mehsoos ho raha tha jaise woh apni pichhli zindagi se mazeed door hoti ja rahi hai.
Usne dil hi dil mein kaha,
“Ya Allah… ab aage bhi Aap hi mera raasta aasaan kijiye.”
Aur phir woh Shifa ke saath Lahore station se bahar nikal gayi.
Lahore station se bahar nikalte hi Shifa ke shohar ne gaadi ki taraf ishara kiya.
“Chalein, ghar zyada door nahi hai.”
Ilma khamoshi se unke saath chal padi.
Poore raaste woh khidki se bahar dekhti rahi. Sadkon par gaadiyon ki aamad-o-raft, dukaanon ke bahar roshniyan aur logon ki chahal-pahal dekh kar use ajeeb sa mehsoos ho raha tha.
Yeh shehar uske liye bilkul ajnabi tha.
Kuch der baad gaadi ek nisbat-an pursukoon gali mein aa kar ruk gayi.
Shifa ne darwaza khola.
“Aayein.”
Ilma uske saath andar dakhil hui.
Ghar saada magar bahut saaf-suthra tha. Ek chhota sa sehan, saamne kamre aur ek taraf namaz ke liye alag jagah bani hui thi.
Shifa ne Ilma ko baithne ka ishara kiya.
“Aap safar se bahut thak gayi hongi. Pehle aaraam kar lein.”
Ilma ne sirf sar hila diya.
Shifa kuch der baad uske liye khana aur chai le aayi.
“Thoda sa kha lein.”
Ilma ne saamne rakhe khane ko dekha. Safar ke dauran use waqai theek se kuch khane ka khayal nahi raha tha.
Usne khamoshi se chand luqme liye.
Shifa paas hi baithi rahi, magar usne Ilma se koi sawaal nahi kiya.
Shayad use andaaza tha ke kuch dukh aise hote hain jin ke baare mein foran poocha nahi jaata.
Khane ke baad Shifa ne ek kamra dikhaya.
“Aap kuch der yahan aaraam kar lein.”
Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Shukriya.”
Woh kamre mein chali gayi.
Bistar par baithte hi use pehli baar mehsoos hua ke uske jism mein kitni thakan jama ho chuki thi.
Woh leti aur na jaane kab aankh lag gayi.
—
Shaam ke qareeb uski aankh khuli.
Kamre mein halki si naarangi roshni phaili hui thi.
Shifa darwaze ke paas khadi thi.
“Ilma…”
Ilma ne uth kar baithte hue use dekha.
“Ji?”
“Paanch baj gaye hain. Agar aap tayyar hain to mere saath chalein.”
“Kahan?”
“Usi masjid mein jis ka maine aapko bataya tha.”
Ilma kuch lamhe khamosh rahi, phir sar hila diya.
Shifa ne apne haath mein pakda hua ek chhota sa thaila uski taraf badhaya.
“Yeh aapke liye hai.”
Ilma ne hairat se thaila dekha.
“Mere liye?”
“Haan.”
Usne thaila khola to andar chand saada aur saaf-suthre kapde the.
Ilma kuch lamhon tak unhein dekhti rahi.
“Yeh to…”
“Mere kuch kapde hain. Aapke paas is waqt kuch nahi hai na.”
Shifa ne bahut saadgi se kaha.
Ilma ki aankhein nam ho gayin.
“Main yeh kaise le sakti hoon?”
Shifa muskura di.
“Jaise ek behen doosri behen ke kapde le leti hai. Bas.”
Ilma ne kapdon ko apne haathon mein thaam liya.
“Allah aapko jazaye khair de.”
“Ameen. Ab jaldi se tayyar ho jayein.”
Kuch der baad Ilma ne Shifa ke diye hue kapdon mein se ek saada libaas pehna aur pashmina apne saath le liya.
Paanch bajne ke kuch der baad dono ghar se niklin.
Masjid zyada door nahi thi.
Gali se aage nikalte hi ek pursukoon si imarat dikhai di. Bahar saada sa darwaza tha, jis ke ek taraf khawateen ke dakhle ke liye alag raasta bana hua tha.
Shifa ne Ilma ko isi taraf le gayi.
Darwaze se andar qadam rakhte hi Ilma kuch lamhon ke liye ruk gayi.
Andar ka mahaul bahar ki duniya se bilkul mukhtalif tha.
Sehan saaf-suthra tha. Ek taraf chand aurtein khamoshi se Quran padh rahi thin. Kahin se tilawat ki dheemi awaaz aa rahi thi, aur doosri taraf chand ladkiyan ek buzurg khatoon ke gird baithi thin jo unhein Quran ka mafhoom samjha rahi thin.
Fiza mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha.
Na shor…
Na jaldi…
Na kisi se koi sawaal.
Bas Quran ki aahista aahista padhi jaane wali aayaat ki awaaz.
Ilma ne be-ikhtiyar apni nazrein jhuka lein.
Shifa ne aahista se kaha,
“Yahi hai woh jagah jis ka maine aapko bataya tha.”
Ilma ne chaaron taraf dekha.
Use pehli baar laga ke shayad Allah ne waqai use kisi raaste par la khada kiya tha.
Woh khamoshi se masjid ke sehan mein aage badh gayi.
Shifa use sehan ke ek kone mein bane chhote se daftar ki taraf le gayi.
Darwaze ke bahar ek takhti lagi thi.
“Intizamiya”
Shifa ne darwaze par halki si dastak di.
Andar se ek aurat ki awaaz aayi.
“Aa jaayein.”
Shifa ne darwaza khola aur Ilma ke saath andar dakhil ho gayi.
Kamre mein ek darmiyani umr ki khatoon mez ke saamne baithi kuch kaagzaat dekh rahi thin. Sar par saada sa dupatta tha aur chehre par thehra hua sukoon.
Shifa ne salaam kiya.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum.”
Khatoon ne sar uthaya.
“Wa-Alaikum-Assalam. Aao Shifa.”
Phir unki nazar Ilma par padi.
Chand lamhe woh use dekhti rahin.
“Yeh kaun hain?”
Shifa ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Yeh Ilma hain.”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein.
Shifa ne aahista se baat shuru ki.
“Yeh abhi hamare saath Lahore aayi hain. Inka yahan koi nahi hai, isliye main inhein aapke paas laayi hoon.”
Khatoon ne Ilma ki taraf dobara dekha.
“Betay, baitho.”
Ilma kursi ke ek kinare par baith gayi.
Khatoon ne narmi se poocha,
“Tumhara poora naam kya hai?”
“Ilma Siddiqui.”
“Achha.”
Unhon ne kuch lamhe tawaqquf kiya, phir poocha,
“Aur Lahore mein pehle kabhi aayi ho?”
Ilma ne nafi mein sar hila diya.
“Nahi.”
“Tumhare ghar wale?”
Yeh sawaal sunte hi Ilma ki ungliyan aapas mein ulajh gayin.
Woh kuch na boli.
Shifa ne bhi khamoshi ikhtiyar kar li.
Khatoon ne Ilma ke chehre ko gaur se dekha, phir mazeed sawaal nahi kiya.
“Theek hai. Agar abhi batana mushkil hai to koi baat nahi.”
Ilma ne pehli baar unki taraf dekha.
Khatoon ne narm lehje mein kaha,
“Yahan kisi ko apni poori kahani foran sunana zaroori nahi hota. Jab dil chahe, tab batana.”
Ilma ki aankhein nam ho gayin.
“Main… yahan reh sakti hoon?”
Khatoon ne ek lamhe ke liye use dekha.
Phir bahut saadgi se jawab diya,
“Agar tum waqai rehna chahti ho to kyun nahi.”
Ilma ki palkein jhuk gayin.
“Mere paas jaane ke liye koi jagah nahi hai.”
Khatoon ne kursi ki pusht se tek laga li.
“To phir filhaal yahi tumhari jagah hai. Baqi Allah behtar karega.”
Shifa ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
Ilma ne kuch kehna chaha, magar awaaz gale mein hi ruk gayi.
Usne sirf itna kaha,
“JazakAllah…”
Khatoon ne muskura kar jawab diya,
“Allah tumhein sukoon de, beti.”
Phir unhon ne Shifa se kaha,
“Tum ise khawateen wale hisse mein le jao. Wahan Nadia Apa maujood hongi. Unhein bata dena ke Ilma aaj se yahin rahegi.”
Shifa ne sar hilaaya.
“Ji.”
Ilma uthne lagi to us khatoon ne use rok kar kaha,
“Beti.”
Ilma palti.
“Ji?”
“Yahan tumhein kisi cheez se darne ki zaroorat nahi. Aaraam se raho. Namaz padho, Quran padho… aur jab dil chahe, Allah se baat karo.”
Ilma ki aankhon mein ek baar phir aansu aa gaye.
Usne khamoshi se sar hila diya.
Phir Shifa ke saath bahar nikal aayi.
Wahin masjid ke sehan mein, chand qadam door, Ilma ruk gayi.
Usne apne saamne phaili hui is pursukoon jagah ko dekha.
Shayad Allah ne use waqai akela nahi chhoda tha.
Raat aahista aahista masjid ke sehan par utarne lagi.
Din bhar ki chahal-pahal kam ho chuki thi. Sehan mein ab pehle jaisi raunaq nahi thi.
Isha ki azaan ki awaaz aayi to masjid mein maujood aurtein aahista aahista namaz ke liye jama hone lagin.
Ilma bhi khamoshi se wuzu karne chali gayi.
Namaz ke baad Nadia Apa use khawateen ke rehne wale hisse mein le gayin.
Ek kushada sa kamra tha, jahan chand aurtein pehle hi aaraam kar rahi thin. Kisi ke paas tasbeeh thi, koi Quran band karke rakh rahi thi, aur koi khamoshi se apne bistar ki chaadar durust kar rahi thi.
Nadia Apa ne ek taraf ishara kiya.
“Yahan so jao, beti.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
Kuch der baad ek khatoon uske liye ek saaf-suthra kambal le aayin.
“Yeh le lo. Raat ko thand ho sakti hai.”
Ilma ne dono haathon se kambal thaam liya.
“Shukriya.”
Khatoon muskura kar chali gayin.
Ilma kuch der wahin baithi rahi.
Aas-paas maujood aurtein aahista aahista so rahi thin. Kamre mein ab sirf halki halki saanson ki awaazein thin.
Ilma ne kambal apne gird lapeta aur deewar se tek laga kar baith gayi.
Uske paas ab ek chhat thi.
Ek bistar tha.
Ek kambal tha.
Ilma aahista se let gayi aur kambal apne sar tak kheench liya.
Kamre mein kisi ko nazar nahi aa raha tha ke kambal ke andar uski aankhein khuli hui thin.
Woh chhat ko dekhne lagi.
Chand lamhe guzre.
Phir uski palkon se ek aansu nikla aur kanpatti se hota hua takiye mein jazb ho gaya.
Usne aankhein band kar lein.
Aur jaise hi aankhein band huin, woh saare manzar phir se saamne aa gaye.
Ghar…
Shor…
Woh khauf…
Woh bhaagte hue qadam…
Aur aag ke sholay.
Ilma ne kambal apne chehre par mazeed kheench liya.
Usne apne munh par haath rakh liya taake uski siski kisi ko sunai na de.
Magar aansu ruk nahi rahe the.
Woh kambal ke andar munh chhupa kar ro rahi thi.
Khamoshi se.
Itni khamoshi se ke paas soi hui kisi aurat ko khabar tak na hui.
Uske kandhe halke halke kaanp rahe the.
Woh rote hue dil hi dil mein keh rahi thi,
“Ya Allah… main kahan aa gayi hoon?”
Ek lamhe ke liye uski awaaz andar hi andar toot gayi.
“Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha…”
Aankhon se aansu behte rahe.
“Bas Aap mujhe chhodna mat.”
Woh kuch der khamosh rahi.
Phir kambal ke andar hi apne haath seene par rakh liye.
“Sab chale gaye… sab kuch khatam ho gaya…”
Uske lab kaanpe.
“Lekin Aap hain na?”
Is sawaal ka jawab use kisi awaaz mein nahi mila.
Magar is baar bhi usne khud hi dil ko jawab diya.
“Haan… woh hain.”
Ilma ne aankhein band kar lein.
Aansu abhi bhi beh rahe the, magar uske dil mein ek chhota sa yaqeen baqi tha.
Shayad subah kuch aasaan ho.
Shayad Allah koi naya raasta khol de.
Aur isi umeed ko apne andar liye woh kambal mein simat kar roti rahi.
Kab aankhon se aansu behte behte neend aa gayi, use khud bhi maloom na hua.
Subah ki halki roshni khidki se chhan kar kamre mein dakhil hui to Ilma ki aankh khuli.
Chand lamhon tak woh khamoshi se chhat ko dekhti rahi.
Phir use yaad aaya ke woh kahan hai.
Woh aahista se uth kar baith gayi. Kambal ab bhi uske gird lipta hua tha. Aankhein raat bhar rone ki wajah se bhaari thin.
Kamre mein baqi aurtein bhi jaag chuki thin. Koi wuzu ke liye ja rahi thi, koi apni chaadar durust kar rahi thi.
Ilma ne bhi wuzu kiya aur Fajr ki namaz ada ki.
Namaz ke baad woh kuch der jaanamaz par baithi rahi.
Uske dil mein raat wala bojh ab bhi tha, magar kal ki nisbat kuch halka mehsoos ho raha tha.
Kuch der baad Nadia Apa ne sab ko nashtay ke liye bulaya.
“Betiyo, nashta lag gaya hai.”
Ilma bhi baqi aurton ke saath hall ki taraf chali gayi.
Wahan farsh par dastarkhwan bichha hua tha. Chai, anday, rotiyan aur kuch halka sa nashta rakha tha.
Ilma khamoshi se ek kone mein baith gayi.
Nadia Apa ne uske saamne plate rakhi.
“Lo, nashta karo.”
“Ji.”
Ilma ne aahista se nashta shuru kiya.
Use kal se pehli baar mehsoos hua ke usne sukoon se kuch khaya hai.
Nashtay ke baad sab aurtein dobara ek bade kamre mein jama hone lagin.
Saamne Quran-e-Pak rakhe the.
Ek umar-rasida khatoon aage baithin aur Quran khol liya.
Ilma bhi khamoshi se sab ke darmiyan baith gayi.
Khatoon ne tilawat shuru ki.
Kamre mein Quran ki awaaz phail gayi.
Ilma ki nazrein Quran par jam gayin.
Tilawat ke baad khatoon ne aayat ka tarjuma aur mafhoom samjhana shuru kiya.
Woh bahut saada andaaz mein baat kar rahi thin.”Allah apne bande ko uski taaqat se zyada aazmaish nahi deta. Kabhi humein lagta hai ke hamare liye sab raaste band ho gaye hain, lekin Allah ke haan koi raasta band nahi hota.”
Ilma ki nazrein jhuk gayin.
Uske dil mein jaise kisi ne dastak di.
Kal tak use bhi yahi lag raha tha ke uske liye sab kuch khatam ho chuka hai.
Ghar nahi raha tha.
Apne nahi rahe the.
Koi manzil nahi thi.
Lekin phir bhi…
Woh yahan tak pahunch gayi thi.
Khatoon ne Quran band nahi kiya tha. Woh keh rahi thin,
“Kabhi kabhi insaan jis cheez ko apni zindagi ka ikhtitam samajh raha hota hai, Allah usi jagah se uski zindagi ka ek naya baab shuru kar deta hai.”
Ilma ki aankhon mein nami utar aayi.
Tilawat khatam hone ke baad kuch der tak kamre mein khamoshi rahi.
Umar-rasida khatoon ne Quran aahista se band kiya aur apne saamne rakh diya.
Aurtein ek ek karke uthne lagin. Koi wuzu ke liye ja rahi thi, koi apni kitaabein samet rahi thi, aur kuch ladkiyan wahin baith kar aapas mein aahista awaaz mein baatein karne lagin.
Ilma apni jagah baithi rahi.
Uske dil mein ajeeb sa sukoon tha.
Zindagi abhi bhi wahin thi jahan kal thi. Sawaal wohi the, maazi wohi tha, aur aane wala kal ab bhi be-yaqeeni mein dooba hua tha.
Magar aaj pehli baar use mehsoos hua tha ke shayad har sawaal ka jawab foran milna zaroori nahi.
Kabhi kabhi bas itna kaafi hota hai ke insaan ko ek jagah mil jaaye jahan woh saans le sake.
Woh uth kar apne kamre ki taraf jaane lagi to raaste mein Nadia Apa mil gayin.
“Ilma.”
Woh ruk gayi.
“Ji?”
Nadia Apa ne use gaur se dekha.
“Ab tabiyat kuch behtar lag rahi hai?”
Ilma ne halka sa sar hilaya.
“Ji…”
Nadia Apa kuch lamhe khamosh rahin, phir jaise kuch soch kar bolin.
“Ek baat kahun?”
“Ji.”
“Agar tum chaho to yahan rehte hue koi kaam bhi kar sakti ho.”
Ilma ne hairat se unki taraf dekha.
“Kaam?”
“Haan.”
Nadia Apa ne qadre dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Yahan se kuch faasle par ek chhota sa school hai. Hamare hi idare se wabasta hai. Wahan bachiyon ko padhaya jaata hai. Kaafi arse se ek English teacher ki zaroorat hai, lekin koi munasib ladki mil nahi rahi.”
Ilma khamoshi se sunti rahi.
“Agar tumhein English achhi aati hai aur tum padha sakti ho to tum wahan ja sakti ho.”
Ilma ke zehan mein jaise ek khayal aaya.
“Lekin… main?”
“Kyoon? Tum kyoon nahi?”
Nadia Apa muskuraayin.
“Kaam karogi to thode bahut paise bhi mil jayenge. Apne chhote-mote kharch ke liye kisi ke saamne haath phailane ki zaroorat nahi padegi.”
Ilma ki nazrein jhuk gayin.
“Yahan har koi ladki isi tarah kuch na kuch karti hai. Kisi ko silai aati hai to woh kapde seeti hai aur kuch log padhate hain. Tumhein dekh kar lagta hai tumhein English achhi aati hogi.”
Ilma kisi par bojh nahi banna chahti thi.
Nadia Apa ne mazeed kaha,
“School bhi zyada door nahi hai. Subah jaogi, dopahar tak wapas aa jaogi. Baqi waqt yahan raho, namaz padho, Quran padho.”
Ilma ne kuch der socha.
Phir bahut aahista se boli,
“Main padha sakti hoon.”
“To phir kal chalte hain.”
Nadia Apa ne jaise faisla kar liya.
“Pehle school dekh lena. Agar tumhein munasib laga to kaam shuru kar dena.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
“Ji.”
Nadia Apa aage badh gayin.
Ilma kuch der wahin khadi reh gayi.
ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
Agale din shaam ke waqt masjid ke darwaze se Shifa andar dakhil hui.
Uske haath mein ek chhota sa bag tha.
Ilma sehan ke ek kone mein baithi Quran padh rahi thi.
Shifa ki nazar us par padi to woh seedhi uski taraf aa gayi.
“Ilma!”
Ilma ne Quran se nazrein uthayin.
Shifa ko dekh kar uske chehre par pehli baar halki si muskurahat aayi.
“Aap aa gayin?”
“Haan. Tumhein dekhne ka dil kar raha tha.”
Shifa uske paas baith gayi.
“Kaisi ho ab?”
“Theek hoon.”
“Waqqai?”
Ilma ne is baar zara behtar andaaz mein muskura kar sar hilaaya.
“Ji, ab kaafi behtar hoon.”
Shifa ne itminan ka saans liya.
“Achha, phir mere saath chalo.”
Ilma ne hairat se dekha.
“Kahan?”
“Ek jagah dikhani hai.”
“Kahan?”
Shifa ne muskura kar kaha,
“Wohi school jis ka Nadia Apa ne tumhein bataya tha.”
Ilma kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
“Aaj?”
“Haan, aaj hi. Abhi chalte hain.”
Ilma ne Quran band kiya.
Shifa ne uske liye laaye hue bag ki taraf ishara kiya.
“Aur yeh tumhare liye kuch kapde hain. Zyada nahi, bas chand cheezein.”
Ilma ne bag apni taraf kheenchte hue dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Shifa… bahut shukriya.”
Shifa ne muskura kar jawab diya,
“Shukriya Allah ka ada karna. Hum to sirf zariya hain.”
Ilma ki nazrein ek lamhe ke liye jhuk gayin.
Yeh jumla use bahut apna sa laga.
Woh dono masjid se bahar niklin.
Shaam ki roshni aahista aahista maddham ho rahi thi.
Ilma Shifa ke saath chal rahi thi.
Use nahi maloom tha ke aane wale din uski zindagi ko kahan le jayenge.
Lekin aaj pehli baar…
Uske qadam kisi anjaan jagah ki taraf nahi ja rahe the.
Uske saamne ek raasta tha.
Aur us raaste par chalne ke liye uske paas ek chhoti si umeed thi.
Allah par bharose ki umeed.
School masjid se zyada door nahi tha.
Chand minute paidal chalne ke baad Shifa ek chhoti si imarat ke saamne ruk gayi.
Imarat bahut badi nahi thi, magar saaf-suthri thi. Saamne ek chhota sa sehan tha jahan chand bachiyan baithi hui thin. Deewar ke saath gamle rakhe the aur ek taraf chhota sa board laga tha.
Shifa ne darwaza khola.
Andar se bachiyon ke padhne ki awaazein aa rahi thin.
Ilma ne khamoshi se ird-gird dekha.
Jagah saada thi, lekin use achhi lagi.
Na shor tha, na bahut zyada hujoom.
Bas ek pursukoon sa mahaul tha.
Shifa use ek kamre ki taraf le gayi jahan chand bachiyan kitaabein khole baithi thin.
“Yahin English ki class hoti hai,” Shifa ne kaha.
Ilma ne kamre mein nazar daurayi.
Phir aahista se boli,
“Achhi jagah hai.”
Shifa muskura di.
“To phir kal se aa jaogi?”
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye socha, phir sar hila diya.
“Ji.”
“Subah nau baje aana hoga.”
“Aur kitne baje tak?”
“Ek baje tak. Phir tum wapas masjid aa jaana.”
Ilma ne dobara sar hila diya.
“Theek hai.”
Us waqt use pehli baar apne aane wale din ka ek mamool dikhai diya.
Subah namaz.
Phir Quran.
Aur uske baad school.
Kisi kaam ke liye bahar jaana.
Kuch bachiyon ko padhana.
Aur phir wapas usi jagah aa jaana jahan usne apne Rab ke saamne khud ko dobara jodna shuru kiya tha.
—
Agli subah Ilma mamool se kuch pehle uth gayi.
Fajr ki namaz ada karne ke baad usne kuch der Quran padha.
Phir Nadia Apa ne use nashta diya.
“Aaj pehla din hai, ghabra to nahi rahi?”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath sar hilaaya.
“Nahi. Bas thoda sa.”
“Ghabrane ki zaroorat nahi. Jo aata hai woh padhana, aur jo nahi aata woh seekh lena.”
Ilma muskura di.
“Ji.”
Nashtay ke baad usne Shifa ke diye hue kapdon mein se ek saada sa libaas pehna aur waqt dekh kar school ki taraf chal padi.
Nau bajne se chand minute pehle woh school pahunch gayi.
Wahan pahunch kar use wohi saada sa mahaul mila.
Bachiyan aa chuki thin.
Kuch apni kitaabein khol rahi thin aur kuch aapas mein baatein kar rahi thin.
Ilma ko dekh kar ek khatoon ne use apne paas bulaya.
“Tum Ilma ho na?”
“Ji.”
“Aao, aaj tum class le lo. Pehle din dekh lete hain bachiyon ke saath tumhara tareeqa kaisa rehta hai.”
Ilma ne isbaat mein sar hilaaya.
Woh class ke andar gayi.
Saamne baithi bachiyon ne use gaur se dekha.
Ilma kuch lamhon ke liye khamosh rahi.
Phir usne kitaab kholi aur bahut saada andaaz mein padhana shuru kiya.
Shuru mein uski awaaz thodi dheemi thi.
Lekin kuch hi der baad woh khud bhi pursukoon ho gayi.
Bachiyan sawaal karti rahin.
Woh jawab deti rahi.
Kabhi kisi lafz ka matlab samjhati, kabhi jumla banwati.
Waqt ka use andaaza hi nahi hua.
Jab ghadi mein ek baje to class khatam hui.
Ek bachi ne jaate jaate kaha,
“Teacher! Aap kal bhi aayengi na?”
Ilma ek lamhe ko ruk gayi.
Phir uske chehre par halki si muskurahat aayi.
“Haan, InshaAllah.”
Bachi chali gayi.
Ilma ne khaali hoti class ko dekha.
Dil mein ek ajeeb sa ehsaas paida hua.
Kuch din pehle tak use lagta tha ke uski zindagi mein kuch baqi nahi raha.
Aur aaj…
Kisi ne use “Teacher” kaha tha.
Woh lafz bahut mamooli tha.
Lekin Ilma ke liye nahi.
Usne apni kitaabein sametin aur school se bahar nikal aayi.
Wapsi par uske qadam pehle se halke the.
Woh dobara usi masjid ki taraf ja rahi thi.
Wohi jagah jahan use rehne ki jagah mili thi.
Wohi jagah jahan usne namaz mein sukoon paaya tha.
Aur ab uski zindagi ka ek naya mamool bhi ban gaya tha.
Subah se dopahar tak school.
Aur dopahar ke baad masjid.
Phir namaz, Quran, aur Allah ke saath woh khamosh waqt jismein woh apne dil ki har baat keh deti thi.
Din isi tarah guzarne lage.
Ek din.
Phir doosra.
Phir teesra.
Ilma har subah nau baje school jaati, dopahar ek baje tak bachiyon ko padhati aur phir wapas masjid aa jaati.
Aahista aahista bachiyan bhi usse maanoos hone lagin.
Aur Ilma bhi.
Use mehsoos hone laga tha ke zindagi shayad dobara apni jagah bana rahi hai.
Maazi khatam nahi hua tha.
Zakhm bhi maujood the.
Lekin ab un zakhmon ke saath jeena seekhne ka ek raasta zaroor mil gaya tha.
Aur woh raasta…
Use na jaane kahan le jaane wala tha.
Aise hi ek mahina guzar gaya.
Shifa kabhi kabhi shaam ke waqt Ilma se milne aa jaaya karti thi.
Woh dono masjid ke sehan mein baith kar baatein kartin.
Ilma ab pehle ki nisbat kuch zyada baat karne lagi thi.
Ek shaam Shifa ne use gaur se dekha.
“Tum badal gayi ho.”
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Main?”
“Haan.”
Shifa muskuraayi.
“Pehle tumhare chehre par har waqt ek khauf sa hota tha. Ab bhi udaasi hai, lekin tum us udaasi ke saath jeena seekh rahi ho.”
Ilma ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Bas saamne aasman ko dekhti rahi.
Shayad Shifa theek keh rahi thi.
Woh theek to nahi hui thi.
Lekin toot kar bikharne ke baad khud ko dobara sametna zaroor seekh rahi thi.
Mahine ke aakhri din school se wapsi par Nadia Apa ne use apne paas bulaya.
“Ilma, zara idhar aao.”
Ilma unke paas ja kar baith gayi.
“Ji, Nadia Apa?”
Nadia Apa ne ek safed lifaafa uski taraf badhaya.
“Yeh tumhari pehli tankhwa hai.”
Ilma kuch lamhon tak lifaafe ko dekhti rahi.
Jaise use yaqeen hi na aaya ho.
“Meri?”
Nadia Apa muskura dein.
“Haan, tumhari. Poore chaalis hazaar Pakistani rupay.”
Ilma ne aahista se lifaafa haath mein le liya.
Usne kabhi is tarah apni kamaai haath mein nahi thaami thi.
Lifaafa khola to andar Pakistani rupay ke note the.
Ilma ne ek ek note ko dekha.
Usne Nepal aur Pakistan ke noton mein kaafi farq dekha tha.
Ilma ne dobara noton ko dekha.
Chaalis hazaar.
Yeh raqam shayad kisi aur ke liye mamooli ho.
Lekin uske liye…
Yeh sirf chaalis hazaar rupay nahi the.
Yeh uski pehli kamaai thi.
Uski apni mehnat ke paise.
Kisi se maange hue nahi.
Kisi ke ehsaan ke nahi.
Usne lifaafa band kiya aur kuch der khamosh baithi rahi.
Phir uski aankhon mein nami utar aayi.
Nadia Apa ne poocha,
“Kya hua?”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath sar jhuka liya.
“Kuch nahi… bas…”
Woh ruk gayi.
“Bas kya?”
Ilma ne lifaafe ko dono haathon mein thaam liya.
“Mujhe lag raha hai jaise main waqai dobara apni zindagi shuru kar rahi hoon.”
Nadia Apa ki aankhon mein bhi shafqat utar aayi.
“Zindagi kabhi ek jagah rukti nahi, Ilma. Bas kabhi humein uske saath chalne mein waqt lag jaata hai.”
Ilma ne khamoshi se sar hila diya.
Us raat woh apne kamre mein wapas aayi to lifaafa apne samaan ke darmiyan rakh diya.
Phir jaanamaz bichhaayi.
Namaz ada ki.
Aur sajde mein chali gayi.
Kaafi der tak woh kuch nahi boli.
Phir aankhon se aansu behne lage.
“Ya Allah…”
Uski awaaz bahut dheemi thi.
“Aapne mujhe phir se khada hona sikha diya.”
Woh kuch der khamosh rahi.
“Maine socha tha mere paas kuch nahi bacha… lekin Aapne mujhe ek raasta de diya.”
Uske aansu jaanamaz par gir rahe the.
“Bas… mujhe is raaste se kabhi door mat karna.”
Us raat pehli baar use apni tanhaai itni bhaari mehsoos nahi hui.
Uske paas bahut kuch nahi tha.
Magar uske paas ek chhat thi.
Namaz thi.
Quran tha.
Ek kaam tha.
Apni pehli kamaai thi.
Aur sab se badh kar…
Uska Rab tha.
Agli subah Ilma hasb-e-mamool waqt par uth gayi.
Fajr ki namaz ke baad usne kuch der Quran padha, phir nashta kiya aur tayyar ho kar nau baje school ke liye nikal gayi.
Aaj bhi class mein wohi mamool tha.
Bachiyon ne sabaq padha, Ilma ne unhein English ke naye alfaaz samjhaye aur phir kuch der unse jumle banwaaye.
Ek mahine mein woh is mahaul ki aadi ho chuki thi.
Ab school jaate hue use ajnabiyat mehsoos nahi hoti thi.
Dopahar ek baje class khatam hui to woh apni kitaabein samet kar wapas masjid aa gayi.
Zuhr ki namaz ada ki, kuch der Quran padha aur phir apne kamre mein aa kar aaraam karne lagi.
Shaam ke taqreeban chaar baje use achanak Shifa ka khayal aaya.
Woh uth kar Nadia Apa ke paas gayi.
“Nadia Apa, woh mobile…?”
“Haan, le lo. Kyun?”
“Shifa ko phone karna hai.”
Nadia Apa ne mobile uski taraf badha diya.
Ilma ne Shifa ka number milaya.
Kuch der baad doosri taraf se Shifa ki awaaz aayi.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum, Ilma!”
“Wa-Alaikum-Assalam.”
Ilma ke lehje mein halki si khushi thi.
“Shifa, tum aaj aa sakti ho?”
“Aaj?”
“Haan… agar masroof na ho to.”
Shifa hans padi.
“Tum jab itne arse baad khud phone karke bulaogi to main kyun nahi aaungi? Bas thoda waqt do, main aati hoon.”
Call khatam hui to Ilma ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
Taqreeban ek ghante baad Shifa masjid pahunch gayi.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum!”
Ilma use dekhte hi sehan ki taraf aa gayi.
“Wa-Alaikum-Assalam.”
Shifa ne use gaur se dekha.
“Achha! Aaj to chehre par khaas khushi hai.”
Ilma muskura di.
“Ek baat batani thi.”
“Kya?”
“Mujhe pehli tankhwa mili hai.”
Shifa ke chehre par bhi khushi phail gayi.
“Waqqai?”
“Haan.”
“MashaAllah! Mubarak ho.”
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Main soch rahi thi… kuch samaan lena hai.”
“To le lete hain.”
Shifa ne foran kaha.
Ilma ne hairat se use dekha.
“Abhi?”
“Haan, abhi.”
Phir Shifa ne apna phone nikala aur kisi ko call ki.
“Bhai, aap kahan hain?”
Kuch der doosri taraf ki baat sunti rahi, phir boli,
“Agar farigh hain to masjid ke paas aa jaayein. Humein kuch samaan lena hai.”
Call khatam karke usne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Bhai aa rahe hain. Gaadi mein chalenge.”
Ilma ne foran kaha,
“Lekin main zyada cheezein nahi loongi.”
Shifa hans di.
“Tumhein abhi se wazahat dene ki zaroorat nahi. Pehle bazaar chalte hain, phir dekhte hain.”
Kuch der baad Shifa ka bhai gaadi lekar masjid ke bahar aa gaya.
Ilma ne apne dupatte ko durust kiya aur Shifa ke saath bahar nikal aayi.
Ilma ne siyah shawl odh rakhi thi. Uska chehra poori tarah dhaka hua tha, sirf aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thin.
Shifa ne gaadi ka darwaza khola.
“Aao.”
Ilma pichhli nashist par baith gayi aur Shifa uske saath baith gayi.
Shifa ka bhai gaadi ke bahar khada tha.
Lamba qad, sanjeeda chehra, ghane siyah baal aur halki si badhi hui daadhi. Usne saada sa safed kurta pehna hua tha. Libaas mein koi khaas banaawat nahi thi, lekin uski shakhsiyat mein ek thehra hua sa waqar tha.
Uska naam Faiz tha.
Faiz Malik.
Woh pachees saal ka khoobsurat mard tha.
Woh gaadi mein baithne hi wala tha ke uski nazar ek lamhe ke liye pichhli nashist ki taraf uthi.
Siyah shawl mein lipti hui Ilma ki sirf aankhein dikhai de rahi thin.
Bas ek nazar.
Woh chand lamhe uski aankhon par thehra, phir foran nazrein hata liin.
Usne dobara us taraf nahi dekha.
Usne gaadi start ki.
Ilma ne bhi ek baar saamne ki taraf dekha, magar uska dhyaan driver ki taraf nahi gaya.
Woh khidki se bahar dekhne lagi.
Shehar ki sadkein shaam ki roshni mein badal rahi thin.
Dukaanon ke bahar roshniyan jal chuki thin. Sadak par logon ki aamad-o-raft badh gayi thi.
Kuch der baad gaadi ek masroof market ke saamne ja kar ruk gayi.
Faiz ne gaadi ek taraf park ki aur engine band kar diya.
“Shifa.”
“Ji, bhai?”
Faiz ne saamne market ki taraf dekhte hue kaha,
“Aap log yahan shopping kar lo. Mujhe paas hi ek kaam hai.”
Shifa ne foran poocha,
“Aap hamare saath nahi chalenge?”
“Nahi, bas thodi der ka kaam hai.”
Faiz ne ghadi par nazar daali.
“Jab tum logon ki shopping ho jaaye to mujhe phone kar dena, main aa jaunga.”
“Theek hai.”
Faiz gaadi se bahar nikal aaya.
Shifa bhi darwaza khol kar utarne lagi to Ilma ne apna siyah shawl dobara durust kar liya. Uska chehra mukammal taur par dhaka hua tha, sirf aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thin.
Woh dono gaadi se bahar nikal aayin.
Faiz ne ek lamhe ke liye unki taraf dekha, phir foran nazrein hata liin.
“Ehtiyaat se jaana.”
Shifa ne sar hilaaya.
“Ji, bhai.”
Faiz doosri simt chal pada.
Ilma ne uski taraf dobara nahi dekha. Uski tawajjo saamne phaili hui market par thi.
Shifa ne uske qareeb aate hue kaha,
“Chalo, pehle tum apne liye kapde le lo.”
“Zyada nahi lene.”
“Jo zaroorat hai, woh to lena hai.”
Dono ek kapdon ki dukaan mein dakhil ho gayin.
Dukaan mein har taraf mukhtalif rangon ke kapde saje hue the.
Ilma kuch der khamoshi se unhein dekhti rahi.
Shifa ne ek saada sa suit nikaal kar uski taraf badhaya.
“Yeh kaisa hai?”
Ilma ne kapde ko dekha.
“Achha hai.”
“To yeh le lo.”
Ilma ne doosra kapda bhi dekha. Is baar usne khud ek halke rang ka saada suit pasand kiya.
“Yeh bhi le leti hoon.”
Shifa ne muskura kar kaha,
“Bas do?”
“Haan, filhaal itne kaafi hain.”
Kapde pack hone ke baad dono dukaan se bahar nikal aayin.
Chalte chalte Shifa ki nazar ek chhoti si jewellery shop par padi.
“Ek minute.”
Woh Ilma ko saath lekar andar chali gayi.
Dukaan mein sheeshe ki almaariyon mein chhoti chhoti anguthiyan, churiyan aur doosri cheezein rakhi thin.
Shifa ki nazar ek saada si angoothi par ruk gayi.
Ilma ne uski nazar ka peecha kiya.
“Pasand aayi?”
Shifa ne foran nazrein hata lein.
“Bas achhi lagi thi.”
Ilma ne dukandaar ki taraf dekha.
“Yeh dikhaiye.”
Shifa ne hairat se use dekha.
“Ilma, rehne do.”
Ilma ne angoothi haath mein lekar dekhi.
“Tumne mere liye itna kuch kiya hai. Yeh meri taraf se hai.”
“Lekin tumhein apni cheezein bhi leni hain.”
Ilma halka sa muskuraayi.
“Woh bhi le rahi hoon.”
Phir usne woh angoothi Shifa ke liye khareed li.
Dukaan se nikalne ke baad Shifa kuch der tak angoothi ko dekhti rahi.
“Tumhein waqai yeh nahi lena chahiye tha.”
Ilma ne apne haath mein pakde thailay ki taraf dekha.
“Pehli tankhwa thi. Socha kisi apne ke liye bhi kuch le loon.”
Shifa ki aankhon mein apnayat utar aayi.
“Tum mujhe apni samajhti ho?”
Ilma kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
Phir bahut aahista se boli,
“Agar na samajhti to tumhare liye yeh na leti.”
Shifa muskura di.
“Achha, ab ek libaas bhi mere liye dekh lete hain.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
Dono dobara dukaan ki taraf mud gayin.
Shaam aahista aahista raat mein badal rahi thi.
Aur bazaar ki roshniyon ke darmiyan Ilma apni pehli tankhwa se khareedi hui chhoti chhoti cheezon ko dekh rahi thi.
Uske paas abhi bhi bahut kuch nahi tha.
Magar ab use har cheez dobara haasil karne ki umeed hone lagi thi.
Dono dukaan se bahar niklin to Shifa ne apne haath mein pakde thailay dekhe.
“Achha, ab Faiz bhai ko phone kar deti hoon.”
Usne mobile nikala aur Faiz ka number milaya.
“Bhai, hamari shopping ho gayi hai.”
“Achha, main kahan aaun?”
“Wahin jahan aapne chhoda tha.”
“Theek hai, paanch minute mein pahunchta hoon.”
Call khatam hui to dono kuch der wahin khadi rahin.
Chand minute baad Faiz gaadi lekar unke saamne aa kar ruk gaya.
Shifa ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Chalo.”
Ilma khamoshi se gaadi ki pichhli nashist par baith gayi. Shifa bhi uske saath baith gayi aur Faiz ne gaadi start kar di.
Raaste mein Ilma zyada tar khidki se bahar dekhti rahi.
Kuch der baad gaadi masjid ke saamne ruk gayi.
Shifa ne uski taraf dekha.
“Tum utar jao, hum tumhein masjid chhod dete hain.”
Ilma ne apne haath mein pakde thailay sambhale.
“Bahut shukriya.”
“Kis baat ka?”
Shifa muskura di.
“Chalo, andar jao.”
Ilma gaadi se utar gayi.
Usne ek baar Shifa ki taraf dekha.
“Allah Hafiz.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
Ilma ne sar hilaaya aur masjid ke andar chali gayi.
Faiz ne gaadi dobara aage badha di.
Ab gaadi mein sirf Shifa aur Faiz the.
Kuch der dono khamosh rahe.
Phir Shifa ne khud hi baat shuru ki.
“Bhai?”
“Hmm?”
“Ilma achhi ladki hai.”
Faiz ne sadak par nazrein rakhte hue kaha,
“Haan.”
Shifa ne qadre hairat se use dekha.
“Aapko kaise pata?”
Faiz ne mukhtasar sa jawab diya,
“Tumhari baaton se.”
Shifa muskura di.
“Nahi, maine uske saath waqt guzara hai. Woh waqai bahut achhi hai.”
Faiz khamosh raha.
Shifa ne khidki se bahar dekhte hue kaha,
“Bahut kuch bardasht karke yahan pahunchi hai. Shuru mein bilkul khamosh rehti thi. Kisi se zyada baat nahi karti thi.”
Faiz ki nazrein ab bhi sadak par thin.
“Kya hua hai use?”
Shifa kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
“Mujhe bhi poori baat nahi maloom. Nadia Apa ne bhi zyada poocha nahi. Bas itna maloom hai ke uska ghar nahi raha aur woh akeli yahan tak aayi hai.”
Faiz ke chehre par sanjeedgi aa gayi.
“Akeli?”
“Haan.”
Shifa ne aahista se kaha,
“Ek baat hai.”
“Kya?”
“Mujhe yeh ladki achhi lagti hai.”
Faiz ne koi jawab nahi diya.
Shifa ne muskura kar kaha,
“Pata nahi kyun, lekin dil chahta hai iska khayal rakhun. Shayad isliye ke woh bilkul akeli hai.”
Faiz ne sirf itna kaha,
“Achhi baat hai.”
Shifa ne bhai ki taraf dekha, phir khamosh ho gayi.
Gaadi sadak par aage badhti rahi.
Kuch der baad woh Shifa ke sasural ke qareeb pahunch gaye.
Faiz ne gaadi rok di.
Shifa ne apna samaan uthaya aur darwaza kholne lagi.
“Allah Hafiz, bhai.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
Shifa gaadi se utar gayi.
Faiz ne gaadi dobara start ki aur ghar ki taraf rawana ho gaya.
Bahar aasman par andhera phail raha tha.
Ilma ne nazrein aasman ki taraf uthayin.
“Ya Allah…”
Lab hile, awaaz na nikli.
Bas dil mein ek hi khayal aaya.
Shayad zindagi waqai khatam nahi hui thi.
Shayad Allah ne use ek aise raaste par la khada kiya tha, jiske baare mein usne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha.
Woh kaafi der wahin baithi rahi, phir wuzu kiya aur namaz ke liye chali gayi.
Us raat pehli baar use apne kamre ki khamoshi darane ke bajaye sukoon dene lagi.
Agli subah Ilma mamool ke mutabiq school gayi.
Class mein bachiyon ko padhate hue uske chehre par pehle jaisi ghabrahat nahi thi. Ab woh is jagah ko ajnabi nahi samajhti thi.
Chhutti ke baad woh wapas masjid aayi to Asr ke baad Shifa bhi aa gayi.
“Ilma!”
Shifa ki awaaz sunte hi Ilma bahar aa gayi.
“Aap aa gayin?”
“Haan, tumse milne ka dil kar raha tha.”
Shifa ne muskuraate hue kaha.
Dono kuch der sehan mein baith gayin.
Phir Shifa ki nazar Ilma ke chehre par gayi.
“Waise ek baat bataun?”
Ilma ne uski taraf dekha.
“Kya?”
“Tumhein mere bhai ke baare mein kuch maloom hai?”
Ilma ne foran nazrein jhuka lein.
“Nahi…”
Shifa halka sa muskuraayi.
“Woh bhi waise zyada baat nahi karta.”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
Shifa ne chand lamhe tawaqquf kiya, phir dheere se boli,
“Hum dono ki zindagi kuch zyada aasaan nahi rahi.”
Ilma ne pehli baar poori tawajjo se uski taraf dekha.
Shifa ki muskurahat maddham pad gayi thi.
“Hamari Ammi ka inteqal bahut pehle ho gaya tha. Tab main bahut chhoti thi.”
Ilma khamoshi se sunti rahi.
“Ammi ke jaane ke baad Abu ne hi humein paala. Faiz bhi tab bahut zimmedar the. Mujhse umr mein bade the, lekin mujhe hamesha aisa lagta tha jaise woh bhai kam aur mere liye baap jaise zyada ban gaye hon.”
Shifa ne nazrein neeche kar lein.
“Phir jab Faiz bhi satrah saal ke the to Abu bhi inteqal kar gaye.”
Ilma ke chehre par dukh ubhar aaya.
“Satrah saal?”
“Haan.”
Shifa ne aahista se sar hilaaya.
“Aur main pandrah saal ki thi.”
Kuch lamhon ke liye dono ke darmiyan khamoshi chha gayi.
“Us umr mein shayad insaan ko samajh bhi nahi aati ke walidain ke baghair zindagi kya hoti hai. Humein bhi nahi aayi thi. Bas itna maloom tha ke ab ghar mein Abu ki awaaz nahi aayegi.”
Shifa ki awaaz mein halki si nami aa gayi.
“Faiz bhai ne phir sab sambhaal liya. Apni padhai bhi, mera khayal bhi… ghar bhi.”
Ilma ne dheere se poocha,
“Woh itna sab kaise kar lete the?”
Shifa ke labon par halki si muskurahat aayi.
“Pata nahi. Shayad halaat insaan ko sikha dete hain.”
Woh kuch der khamosh rahi, phir boli,
“Isi liye Faiz bhai aise hain. Bahut kam bolte hain. Har cheez khud sambhalne ki aadat hai unhein. Agar pareshan bhi hon to kisi ko batayenge nahi.”
Ilma ne kuch nahi kaha.
Shifa ne Ilma ki khamoshi ko dekha to halki si muskurahat uske labon par aa gayi.
“Meri shaadi ko kuch arsa ho gaya hai. Mere shohar zyada tar kaam ki wajah se bahar rehte hain, isi liye main bhi aksar apne sasural mein hi hoti hoon.”
Woh chand lamhe khamosh rahi, phir muskura kar boli,
“Waise tumhein yaad hai Maryam?”
Ilma ne foran sar uthaya.
“Maryam?”
“Haan, wohi jo train mein hamare saath thi.”
Ilma ko train ka woh safar yaad aa gaya.
Maryam ka khamosh mizaj, Shifa ke saath uski baatein, aur woh safar jis ne Ilma ko ek aisi jagah pahuncha diya tha jahan use zindagi dobara shuru karne ka mauqa mila.
“Haan, yaad hai.”
Shifa ne muskura kar kaha,
“Woh bhi meri nand hai. Mere shohar ki behen.”
“Achha…”
Ilma ne aahista se kaha.
“Isi liye woh hamare saath thi.”
Shifa hans di.
“Haan.”
Phir usne qadre itminan se kaha,
“Aur Alhamdulillah, meri saas-sasur bahut achhe hain. Bahut khayal rakhte hain. Mujhe kabhi aisa mehsoos nahi hone diya ke main is ghar mein nai hoon.”
Ilma ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
“Yeh bahut achhi baat hai.”
“Haan, main waqai khushnaseeb hoon.”
Shifa ne dheere se kaha,
“Zindagi mein sab kuch ek jaisa nahi hota na… kuch cheezein humse chhin jaati hain, lekin Allah kuch rishte aise de deta hai jo un kamiyaan ko mehsoos nahi hone dete.”
Ilma ne uski baat suni to kuch der khamosh rahi.
Phir Shifa ne uski taraf dekh kar kaha,
“Bas mere shohar zyada tar bahar rehte hain, to kabhi kabhi ghar mein akelapan mehsoos hota hai. Lekin saas, sasur, Maryam… sab hain, isliye zyada mushkil nahi hoti.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
“Pata nahi kyun, lekin tumse mil kar aisa nahi laga ke tum ajnabi ho.”
Shifa ki baat khatam hui to dono kuch der khamosh baithi rahin.
Bahar aasman par andhera gehra ho chuka tha. Masjid ke sehan mein lagi roshniyan ek ek karke jal gayi thin. Deewaron par padti zard roshni ke darmiyan sehan pehle se zyada pursukoon dikhai de raha tha.
Shifa ab apne ghar ja chuki thi.
Dheere dheere raat ho gayi.
Aaj Ilma ko na jaane kyun har cheez badi shiddat se yaad aa rahi thi.
Raat ka waqt tha. Kuch der baad Ilma bhi apne kamre mein aa gayi.
Kamre mein dakhil hote hi usne darwaza aahista se band kiya aur bistar ke kinare baith gayi.
Woh apne saamne rakhe samaan ko dekhne lagi.
Wohi chand kapde jo usne apni pehli tankhwa se khareede the.
Usne kapdon par haath phera aur aankhein nam ho gayin.
“Ya Allah…”
Awaaz bamushkil nikli.
Woh bistar se neeche utar kar jaanamaz par baith gayi.
Kuch lamhe haath uthaye khamosh baithi rahi, phir aansu behne lage.
“Ya Allah… shukriya.”
Uske hont kaanpe.
“Aapne mujhe wahan se nikaal liya jahan mujhe lagta tha ke meri zindagi khatam ho gayi hai.”
Aansu musalsal girte rahe.
“Mere paas kuch nahi tha… lekin Aapne mujhe raasta diya. Rehne ki jagah di… kaam diya… aise log diye jinhein main jaanti tak nahi thi, lekin unhon ne mujhe apne ghar ki tarah jagah di.”
Woh dono haathon se apna chehra dhak kar rone lagi.
“Main Aapka shukr kaise ada karun?”
Kamre mein uski siskiyan phail gayin.
Kuch der baad usne aansu ponchhe.
“Aur Ya Allah…”
Uski awaaz mazeed dheemi ho gayi.
“Mujhse jo ghaltiyan hui… mujhe maaf kar dijiye.”
Woh sar jhuka kar baith gayi.
“Main bahut door chali gayi thi Aap se… mujhe maaf kar dijiye, Ya Allah. Mujhe aisa na banaiye ke main sirf museebat mein Aapko yaad karun.”
Woh der tak isi tarah baithi Allah se baat karti rahi.
Phir na jaane kyun uske zehan mein ek chehra ubhra.
Maaz.
Ilma ki aankhein ek dum khul gayin.
Dil mein ajeeb si kasak uthi.
Maaz ki awaaz…
Uske paighamaat…
Woh raatein jab woh der tak baat karte the…
Aur phir woh jhoot.
Woh baat jisne uske andar sab kuch tod diya tha.
Ilma ne aankhein band kar lein.
“Kaash…”
Lafz uske labon par aa kar ruk gaya.
Usne khud ko rokne ki koshish ki, magar yaadein ek ek karke wapas aane lagin.
Kaash woh usse kabhi baat hi na karti.
Kaash use kabhi apna samajh kar us par bharosa na karti.
Kaash woh uski baaton ko haqeeqat na samajhti.
Kaash woh uski mohabbat par yaqeen na karti.
Ek aansu uske rukhsaar par beh gaya.
“Shayad… mujhe kabhi kisi par itna bharosa nahi karna chahiye tha.”
Usne nazrein jhuka lein.
Dil ke kisi kone mein ab bhi woh sawaal zinda tha jis ka jawab use kabhi nahi mila tha.
Aakhir usne jhoot kyun bola tha?
Kya woh saari baatein jhooti thin?
Kya woh tamaam raatein, woh guftagu, woh waade… sab sirf ek dhoka the?
Dard ab bhi kahin andar maujood tha.
Lekin is dard ke saath ek aur ehsaas bhi tha.
Woh ab pehle wali Ilma nahi rahi thi.
Jis ladki ko kabhi lagta tha ke ek shakhs ke chale jaane se duniya khatam ho jaati hai, aaj woh jaan chuki thi ke insaan sab kuch kho kar bhi zinda reh sakta hai.
Allah ke sahare.
Usne aankhein band ki.
“Ya Allah…”
Ek lamhe ke liye awaaz toot gayi.
“Agar woh mere liye nahi tha to mere dil se bhi uski har aisi yaad nikaal dijiye jo mujhe Aap se door kare.”
Woh kuch der khamosh rahi.
Phir bahut aahista se boli,
“Aur agar meri ghalti yeh thi ke maine ek insaan par Aap se zyada bharosa kar liya tha… to mujhe dobara aisi ghalti na karne dijiye.”
Kamre mein phir khamoshi chha gayi.
Bahar raat mazeed gehri ho chuki thi.
Ilma ne jaanamaz par apna sar jhuka diya.
Us raat use Maaz bahut yaad aaya.
Magar is baar us yaad mein mohabbat se zyada malaal tha.
Aur shayad yahi malaal use aahista aahista Allah ke aur qareeb le ja raha tha.
Waqt guzarta gaya.
Masjid ki zindagi ab Ilma ke liye mamool ban chuki thi. Subah school, dopahar ko wapsi, phir Quran, namaz aur masjid ki doosri zimmedariyan.
Kabhi Shifa aa jaati, kabhi Ilma khud uske sasural chali jaati.
Maazi ab bhi kabhi kabhaar yaad aa jaata, magar har guzarte din ke saath uska dard kuch maddham padta ja raha tha.
Ek din dopahar ke baad Ilma masjid ke sehan mein baithi Quran padh rahi thi ke Nadia Apa ne use awaaz di.
“Ilma, tumhara phone aaya hai.”
Ilma ne Quran band kiya aur uth kar unke paas aa gayi.
“Kis ka?”
“Shifa ka.”
Ilma ne phone haath mein liya.
Doosri taraf Shifa ki awaaz sunte hi uske chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum.”
“Wa-Alaikum-Assalam. Ilma, aaj main apne maike mein hoon.”
“Achha?”
“Haan. Aur maine Faiz bhai ko tumhein lene ke liye bhi bhej diya hai.”
Ilma kuch lamhe khamosh rahi.
“Mujhe?”
“Haan, tumhein. Tum mere paas aa jao. Aaj zara dil kar raha tha tumse baatein karne ka.”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Achha, theek hai.”
“Woh bahar hi hoga. Tum tayyar ho jao, woh tumhein le aayega.”
“Ji.”
Call khatam hui to Ilma ne phone Nadia Apa ko wapas kar diya.
Nadia Apa ne poocha,
“Shifa ne bulaya hai?”
“Ji. Woh apne maike gayi hui hai. Keh rahi thi Faiz mujhe lene aaye hain.”
Nadia Apa ne isbaat mein sar hilaaya.
“Achha, jao. Lekin Maghrib se pehle wapas aa jaana agar der na ho.”
“Ji.”
Ilma apne kamre mein gayi.
Usne saada sa libaas pehna aur upar apna maroon rang ka bada sa shawl le liya.
Shawl ko is tarah lapeta ke uska chehra taqreeban mukammal taur par dhak gaya.
Sirf aankhein hi nazar aa rahi thin.
Woh aaine ke saamne ek lamhe ko ruki.
Phir shawl durust kiya aur bahar aa gayi.
Masjid ke gate ke bahar ek gaadi khadi thi.
Faiz gaadi ke paas nahi, balki driving seat par baitha uska intezar kar raha tha.
Ilma gate se bahar nikli to Faiz ne saamne se aati hui aahat par nazar uthayi.
Bas ek lamhe ke liye.
Maroon shawl ke peeche se nazar aati do aankhein…
Faiz ki nigah chand lamhon se zyada na thehri.
Usne foran nazrein jhuka lein.
“Assalam-o-Alaikum.”
Ilma ne dheemi awaaz mein jawab diya.
“Wa-Alaikum-Assalam.”
Faiz ne gaadi ka darwaza khol diya.
Ilma andar baith gayi.
Usne shawl ko dobara apne gird durust kiya aur khidki ki taraf dekhne lagi.
Faiz ne ek baar bhi us taraf nahi dekha.
Usne gaadi start ki aur khamoshi se sadak par le aaya.
Gaadi ke andar sirf engine ki halki awaaz thi.
Ilma khamosh baithi bahar dekhti rahi.
Aur Faiz ki nazrein sadak par thin.
Dono ke darmiyan koi guftagu nahi hui.
Bas ek mukhtasar si mulaqat…
Ek nazar…
Gaadi kuch der sadak par chalti rahi.
Kuch der baad Faiz ne gaadi ek nisbat-an pursukoon gali mein mod di.
Chand minute baad gaadi ek do-manzila ghar ke saamne aa kar ruk gayi.
Faiz ne gaadi band ki.
“Shifa ka ghar aa gaya hai.”
Ilma ne shawl durust ki aur darwaza khol kar bahar nikal aayi.
Faiz bhi gaadi se bahar aaya, magar usne phir nazar nahi uthayi.
Usne ghar ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha,
“Aap andar chali jaayein.”
Woh chand qadam aage badhi, phir Faiz ki awaaz peeche se aayi.
“Daayin taraf se andar jaana hai.”
Ilma ne mud kar dekha.
Faiz ne haath se raasta batate hue kaha,
“Saamne wala darwaza drawing room ka hai. Aap daayin taraf se chali jaayein. Shifa wahin hogi.”
“Ji, shukriya.”
Ilma aage badh gayi.
Faiz ne ek lamhe ke liye use jaate dekha, phir foran nazrein hata liin aur ghar ke andar dakhil ho gaya.
Ilma daayin taraf se ghar ke andar pahunchi to Shifa pehle hi uske intezar mein khadi thi.
” Aa gayi tum!”
Shifa ne khush ho kar kaha.
“Ji.”
Shifa ne use andar le jaate hue kaha,
“Aao, main tumhein ghar dikhati hoon.”
Ghar bahut bada nahi tha, magar saaf-suthra aur saleeqe se rakha hua tha. Deewaron par chand saada si tasveerein, lakri ka furniture aur ek taraf kitaabon ki chhoti si almaari thi.
Shifa ne muskuraate hue kaha,
“Yeh hamara ghar hai.”
Ilma ne aas-paas dekha.
“Bahut achha hai.”
“Hum dono isi ghar mein rehte the.”
Shifa ki awaaz qadre badal gayi.
“Ammi Abu ke inteqal ke baad main aur Faiz kaafi arsa yahin saath rahe.”
Ilma ne khamoshi se uski taraf dekha.
“Phir meri shaadi ho gayi to main apne sasural chali gayi.”
Shifa ne ek lamhe ke liye ghar ki taraf dekha.
“Ab Faiz yahan akela rehta hai.”
“Akela?”
“Haan.”
Shifa ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Kabhi kabhi main aa jaati hoon. Lekin zyada tar woh apne kaam mein masroof rehta hai.”
Ilma ne kuch nahi kaha.
Shifa use ghar ke doosre hisse ki taraf le gayi.
“Yeh mera purana kamra tha. Ab jab bhi aati hoon to yahin rehti hoon.”
Phir usne ek band darwaze ki taraf ishara kiya.
“Aur yeh Faiz ka kamra hai.”
Ilma ki nazar ek lamhe ke liye darwaze par gayi.
Isi waqt upar se qadmon ki halki si awaaz aayi.
Shifa ne kaha,
“Woh shayad apne kamre mein chala gaya hai.”
Ilma ne nazrein hata lein.
“Achha.”
Shifa ne muskurakar kaha,
“Tum baitho, main khane ka dekhti hoon.”
Kuch der baad dono khane ki mez par baithi thin.
Shifa ne Ilma ke liye khana nikaalte hue kaha,
“Zyada to kuch nahi banaya, lekin ghar ka khana hai.”
Ilma ne muskurakar kaha,
“Itna kaafi hai.”
Dono aahista aahista baatein karte hue khana khati rahin.
Kabhi Shifa school ke baare mein poochti, kabhi Ilma use apne kaam ke baare mein batati.
Khane ke baad Ilma ne ghadi dekhi.
“Shifa, ab mujhe wapas jaana chahiye.”
Shifa ne bahar dekha.
“Haan, kaafi der ho gayi hai.”
Isi dauran Faiz neeche aa gaya.
Uske haath mein mobile tha. Woh khamoshi se kamre mein aaya.
Shifa ne kaha,
“Faiz, Ilma ko masjid chhod aao.”
Faiz ne sirf sar hilaya.
“Theek hai.”
Ilma ne Shifa ko dekha.
“Allah Hafiz.”
“Allah Hafiz. Aur jaldi aana dobara.”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath sar hilaya.
Woh bahar aa gayi.
Faiz ne gaadi nikali aur Ilma ke liye darwaza khol diya. Ilma baith gayi to woh doosri taraf ja kar driving seat par baith gaya.
Wapsi ka safar bhi khamosh tha.
Kuch der baad Ilma ne khidki se bahar dekhte hue kaha,
“Aap ka shukriya.”
Faiz ne sadak se nazrein hataye baghair jawab diya,
“Koi baat nahi.”
Phir dobara khamoshi chha gayi.
Masjid qareeb aayi to Faiz ne gaadi aahista kar di.
“Masjid aa gayi.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
Ilma gaadi se utar kar masjid ke darwaze ki taraf badh gayi.
Faiz ne us waqt tak gaadi nahi chalayi jab tak woh andar dakhil na ho gayi.
Phir usne gaadi mori aur wapas ghar ki taraf rawana ho gaya.
Faiz Ilma ko masjid chhod kar wapas ghar pahuncha to raat kaafi ho chuki thi.
Ghar mein dakhil hote hi usne gaadi ki chaabi ek taraf rakhi aur kuch der wahin khada raha.
Phir use khayal aaya ke khana bhi kha lena chahiye.
Woh kitchen mein gaya, khana nikala aur khamoshi se khane ki mez par baith gaya.
Chand luqme hi khaye the ke mobile ki ghanti baj uthi.
Shifa so chuki thi.
Khane ke baad woh kuch der sofa par baitha raha. Ghar mein mamool ke mutabiq khamoshi thi.
Woh utha aur apne kamre mein chala gaya.
Kamre mein aa kar usne kapde badle, wuzu kiya aur Isha ki namaz ke liye ja-e-namaz bichha di.
Kamre ki khamoshi mein usne takbeer kahi.
Namaz shuru hui to uske zehan mein din bhar ki masroofiyat ek ek karke peeche reh gayin.
Woh hamesha ki tarah sukoon se namaz padh raha tha.
Sajde mein gaya to kuch der wahin thehra raha.
Jaise duniya ki har awaaz se alag ho kar sirf apne Rab ke saamne reh gaya ho.
Namaz khatam karne ke baad woh kuch der ja-e-namaz par baitha raha.
Phir dono haath utha liye.
“Ya Allah…”
Uski awaaz bahut dheemi thi.
“Sabse pehle Aap ka shukr hai.”
Woh ek ek karke apne din ki nematein yaad karne laga.
“Sehat ka… rizq ka… ghar ka… meri behen ka… aur is baat ka bhi ke Aap ne mujhe har mushkil waqt mein sambhala.”
Woh khamosh hua.
Phir achanak uske zehan mein Ilma ki aankhein aa gayin.
Woh chand lamhe khamosh baitha raha.
“Aur… aaj…”
Usne nazrein jhuka lein, jaise dua mein bhi is baat ko kehne mein jhijhak mehsoos ho rahi ho.
“Pata nahi kyun… main ne aaj use doosri baar dekha.”
Uski awaaz mein halki si uljhan thi.
“Aur har baar jaise hi meri nazar us par padti hai… main foran nazar jhuka leta hoon.”
Woh chand lamhe khamosh raha.
“Main jaanta hoon ke nazar jhuka leni chahiye. Yeh durust bhi hai.”
Usne aahista se saans li.
“Lekin is ladki ke maamle mein… pata nahi kyun kuch aur hi ho jata hai.”
Usne aankhein band kar lein.
“Aisa lagta hai… agar doosri baar nazar padi to shayad…”
Woh ruk gaya.
Baat mukammal na kar saka.
Kuch der khamosh baitha raha.
Phir bahut aahista se bola,
“Ya Allah… main apne dil ko bhi Aap se chhupa nahi sakta.”
Usne haathon ko aur mazbooti se thaam liya.
“Agar yeh sirf ek khayal hai to ise mere dil se nikaal dijiye. Aur agar iske peeche koi aisi baat hai jise main abhi nahi samajh pa raha… to mujhe is mein bhi apni raza ka raasta dikhaiye.”
Woh khamosh ho gaya.
Subah ki roshni aahista aahista khidkiyon se andar utarne lagi.
Faiz Fajr ke baad kuch der Quran padh kar apne kamre se bahar aaya to Shifa pehle hi nashtay ki mez par baithi thi.
“Aao bhai, nashta kar lo.”
Faiz kursi kheench kar baith gaya.
Shifa ne uske saamne chai ka cup rakhte hue kaha,
“Aaj office nahi jaana?”
“Jaunga. Kuch der baad.”
Dono khamoshi se nashta karne lage.
Kuch der baad Shifa ne achanak Faiz ki taraf dekha.
“Bhai?”
“Hmm?”
“Aap ko ek baat kahun?”
Faiz ne cup mez par rakhte hue use dekha.
“Kaho.”
Shifa muskurayi.
“Aap ko ab shaadi kar leni chahiye.”
Faiz ke chehre par koi khaas taassur nahi aaya.
“Kyun?”
“Kyun ke aap ki umar ho gayi hai. Aur kab tak akele rahenge?”
Faiz ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Main akela nahi hoon. Tum ho.”
Shifa hans padi.
“Main shaadi-shuda hoon bhai. Main hamesha aap ke saath to nahi reh sakti.”
Faiz khamosh ho gaya.
Shifa ne chai ka cup uthate hue kaha,
“Waise Maryam achhi ladki hai. Tum dono ek doosre ko jaante bhi ho. Agar tum kaho to main ghar walon se baat kar sakti hoon.”
Faiz ne foran nafi mein sar hila diya.
“Nahi.”
Shifa ne hairat se use dekha.
“Itni jaldi jawab?”
“Haan.”
“Kyun? Maryam mein kya kharabi hai?”
“Koi kharabi nahi. Maryam achhi ladki hai.”
Woh chand lamhe khamosh raha.
“Bas… main ne is baare mein kabhi nahi socha.”
Shifa ne use ghaur se dekha.
“To phir kis ke baare mein socha hai?”
Faiz ne foran jawab nahi diya.
Uski nazrein chand lamhon ke liye mez par tik gayin.
Phir usne bahut sanjeedgi se Shifa ki taraf dekha.
“Shifa…”
“Haan?”
“Agar main tum se ek baat poochun to bura to nahi mano gi?”
Shifa ke chehre par tajassus aa gaya.
” पूछو.”
Faiz ne ek lamhe ke liye khamoshi ikhtiyar ki.
Phir dheere se bola,
“Kya meri aur Ilma ki shaadi ho sakti hai?”
Shifa ke haath mein pakda cup wahin ruk gaya.
Woh chand lamhe Faiz ko dekhti rahi.
“Ilma?”
Faiz ne isbaat mein sar hilaya.
“Haan.”
Shifa ke chehre par hairat bhi thi aur ek halki si muskurahat bhi.
“Aap… Ilma ki baat kar rahe hain?”
“Haan.”
“Aap uske baare mein itna kaise sochne lage?”
Faiz ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Pata nahi.”
Phir kuch tawakkuf ke baad bola,
“Pata nahi kyun… par shayad achhi lagti hai mujhe woh.”
Faiz ne mazeed kaha,
“Main koi ghalat qadam nahi uthana chahta. Agar mujhe uske liye kuch mehsoos ho raha hai to main use sahi tareeqe se hi aage badhana chahta hoon. Isi liye tum se pooch raha hoon.”
Shifa ki muskurahat ab kuch gehri ho gayi.
“Bhai…”
Woh kuch kehne hi wali thi ke Faiz ne aahista se kaha,
“Lekin ek baat hai.”
“Kya?”
“Faisla uska hoga. Agar woh razi na ho to baat wahin khatam.”
Shifa ne isbaat mein sar hilaya.
“Yeh baat mujhe sabse achhi lagi.”
Faiz khamosh ho gaya.
Nashtay ke baad Faiz kuch der ghar mein ruka, phir office ke liye nikal gaya.
Woh ab apne kaam mein kaafi masroof rehta tha. Apni banayi hui software company ke maamlaat, clients ki meetings aur team ke kaam dekhne ke liye use aksar subah se shaam tak waqt dena padta tha.
Shifa use darwaze tak chhodne aayi.
“Shaam ko jaldi aa jana.”
Faiz ne gaadi ki chaabi haath mein lete hue kaha,
“Koshish karunga.”
“Aur haan…”
Shifa ne muskurakar kaha,
“Jo baat subah hui hai, main use bhooli nahi hoon.”
Faiz ne use dekha, phir halki si muskurahat aayi.
“Shifa.”
“Achha, achha. Kuch nahi kehti.”
Shifa hans di.
Faiz gaadi mein baitha aur office ki taraf rawana ho gaya.
Udhar Ilma subah ke mamool ke mutabiq school pahunch chuki thi.
Bachiyon ko English padhate hue ab use kaafi itminan mehsoos hota tha. Shuru ke dinon ki jhijhak khatam ho chuki thi. Bachiyan bhi usse maanus ho gayi thin.
Dopahar ke qareeb class khatam hui to chand bachiyan uske paas ruk gayin.
“Madam, kal wala sabaq dobara samjha dengi?”
Ilma muskura di.
“Haan, kal dobara samjha dungi.”
Woh apna samaan samet kar school se nikli aur masjid wapas aa gayi.
Wapas aa kar usne pehle wuzu kiya, namaz padhi aur phir khana khane ke liye baqi khawateen ke saath baith gayi.
Saada sa khana tha.
Lekin Ilma ko ab in chhoti chhoti cheezon mein bhi sukoon mehsoos hone laga tha.
Khane ke baad woh Quran ki class mein ja baithi.
Aaj Nadia Apa chand ladkiyon ko deen ki bunyadi baatein samjha rahi thin.
“Humein deen sirf ibadaat tak mehdood nahi karna chahiye.”
Unhon ne aahista se kaha.
“Namaz zaroori hai, Quran zaroori hai, lekin hamare muaamlaat bhi hamari ibadat ka hissa hain. Hamara akhlaaq, hamari zubaan, hamara kisi ke saath bartao… yeh sab bhi dekha jata hai.”
Sab khamoshi se sun rahi thin.
“Kabhi kabhi hum samajhte hain ke neki sirf badi badi cheezon ka naam hai. Haalanke kisi ka dil na todna, kisi ki madad karna, kisi ki pardah-poshi karna, kisi ke liye aasani paida karna bhi Allah ke haan bahut maani rakhta hai.”
Ilma ki nazrein jhuk gayin.
Yeh baat use apne maazi ki kai baatein yaad dila gayi.
Nadia Apa ne mazeed kaha,
“Aur sabse aham baat… insaan ko apne Rab ke saath apna taalluq kisi ek haalat se wabasta nahi karna chahiye. Khushi ho to Allah ke saath, gham ho to Allah ke saath, kamyabi ho to Allah ke saath aur aazmaish aaye to bhi Allah ke saath.”
Ilma ne dil hi dil mein socha,
“Ab shayad woh yahi seekh rahi thi.”
Class khatam hui to Asr ka waqt qareeb tha.
Namaz ke baad Ilma kuch der sehan mein baithi rahi.
Shaam ke taqreeban paanch baje masjid ke darwaze se Shifa andar dakhil hui.
Uski nazar Ilma par padi to woh seedhi uske paas aa gayi.
“Ilma!”
Ilma ne muskura kar use dekha.
“Aap aa gayin?”
“Haan.”
Shifa uske paas baith gayi.
“Kya kar rahi thi?”
“Bas abhi namaz padhi hai.”
“Achha.”
Kuch der dono khamosh rahin.
Phir Shifa ne achanak poocha,
“Achha ek baat batao.”
“Ji?”
“Tumhari umar kitni hai?”
“22 saal. 23 October ko 22 mukammal ho jayenge.”
“Achha Ilma… ek aur baat poochun?”
“Poochein.”
“Tum shaadi kab karogi?”
Ilma chand lamhe use dekhti rahi.
Phir uske chehre par hairat si aayi.
“Shaadi?”
“Haan, shaadi.”
Shifa ne muskurate hue kaha.
“Aakhir kabhi to karni hai na.”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Main ne… is baare mein abhi nahi socha.”
Shifa ne ghaur se uske chehre ko dekha.
“Bilkul nahi socha?”
“Nahi.”
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Abhi to bas yahi sochti hoon ke apni zindagi ko dobara sambhal sakun.”
“Samajh sakti hoon.”
Phir woh muskura kar boli,
“Lekin zindagi hamesha sirf guzre hue kal ke baare mein sochte hue to nahi guzari ja sakti. Kabhi kabhi aane wale kal ke liye bhi dil mein jagah rakhni padti hai.”
Ilma ne kuch jawab nahi diya.
Woh khamoshi se saamne phaile masjid ke sehan ko dekhti rahi.
Shifa ne Ilma ko kuch der dekha, phir jaise dil mein koi baat tay karke boli,
“Ilma… main chahti hoon tum meri bhabhi ban jao.”
Ilma ek dum khamosh ho gayi.
Usne Shifa ki taraf dekha, jaise use yaqeen na aaya ho ke usne kya kaha hai.
“Main…?”
“Haan, tum.”
Shifa ne muskurakar kaha.
“Main chahti hoon tum mere bhai se shaadi karo.”
Ilma ne foran nazrein jhuka lein.
“Shifa… main shaadi nahi karna chahti.”
“Kyun?”
“Bas… mera dil nahi chahta.”
Shifa ne kuch der use dekha, phir narmi se boli,
“Main tumhe majboor nahi kar rahi. Lekin Ilma, poori zindagi akele bhi to nahi guzari ja sakti.”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
“Kabhi na kabhi tumhe apni zindagi ke baare mein sochna hoga. Aur main chahti hoon ke agar tum shaadi karo to tumhara ek aisa raasta ho jahan tumhe kisi ajnabi ke darmiyan khud ko dobara sabit na karna pade.”
Shifa ki awaaz mein khuloos tha.
“Main chahti hoon ke tum mere ghar ka hissa bano. Meri bhabhi bano.”
Ilma ki aankhein nam ho gayin.
“Lekin main abhi… is baare mein soch bhi nahi sakti.”
“To mat socho abhi.”
Shifa ne foran kaha.
“Tumhe aaj koi jawab dene ki zaroorat nahi hai.”
Woh thodi der khamosh rahi, phir boli,
“Bas ek baat bata doon? Faiz ne khud tumhare baare mein mujhse baat ki hai.”
Ilma ne hairat se sar uthaya.
“Kya?”
“Usne kaha ke woh tumhe pasand karne laga hai. Aur agar tum razi ho to woh tumse nikah karna chahta hai.”
Ilma ke dil ki dhadkan jaise ek lamhe ko ruk gayi.
Woh kuch kehne hi wali thi ke Shifa ne haath ke ishare se use rok diya.
“Abhi jawab mat dena.”
” Soch lo. Waqt lo. Chaho to Faiz se ek baar baat kar lo.”
Ilma ne aahista se sar jhuka liya.
“Main… sochungi.”
Shifa muskura di.
“Bas, mujhe yahi jawab chahiye tha.”
Woh uth khadi hui.
“Main chalti hoon.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
Shifa chali gayi.
Ilma wahin kuch der baithi rahi.
Maghrib ke baad woh apne kamre mein aa gayi.
Darwaza band kiya to bahar ki duniya jaise ek dum door ho gayi.
Woh bistar ke kinare baith gayi.
Shifa ki baat baar baar zehan mein goonj rahi thi.
“Main chahti hoon tum meri bhabhi ban jao.”
Ilma ne aankhein band kar lein.
Aur achanak ek purana manzar uske saamne aa gaya.
Woh din…
Jab woh Maaz ke saamne apni zindagi ka khwab lekar gayi thi.
Usne socha tha shayad woh use qabool karega.
Shayad woh uske saath zindagi guzarne ki baat karega.
Magar uske badle use jo mila tha, woh sirf sharmindagi thi.
Alfaaz ab bhi kahin andar mehfooz the.
Woh ruswai…
Woh toot-ta hua bharosa…
Woh ehsaas ke jis shakhs ko apna samjha tha, usi ke saamne khud ko kitna bebas mehsoos kiya tha.
Ilma ki aankhon se aansu beh nikle.
“Main dobara nahi kar sakti…”
Woh dheere se boli.
“Main dobara kisi par bharosa nahi kar sakti.”
Darwaze par halki si dastak hui.
Ilma ne foran aansu ponchhe.
“Kaun?”
“Main hoon, beta.”
Nadia Apa ki awaaz thi.
Darwaza khula to Nadia Apa andar aa gayin.
Unhon ne Ilma ko dekha aur foran samajh gayin ke woh ro rahi thi.
“Kya hua?”
Ilma ne kuch nahi kaha.
Nadia Apa uske paas baith gayin.
“Mujhe batao.”
Kuch lamhon baad Ilma ne dheemi awaaz mein Shifa ki saari baat unhein bata di.
Nadia Apa khamoshi se sunti rahin.
Jab Ilma khamosh hui to unhon ne kaha,
“Faiz ek achha ladka hai. Jaanti hoon main use. Use aurton ki izzat karni aati hai aur woh namaz bhi padhta hai.”
Woh kuch der ruki, phir boli,
“Agar tumhe samajh nahi aa raha kya karo, to tum ek baar usse baat kar lo. Phir tumhe jo theek lage.”
“Waise bhi shaadi bahut khoobsurat rishta hai.”
“Shaadi poori zindagi ka faisla hai, beta. Sirf kisi ke achha hone se faisla nahi hota. Dil ka itminan, deen, akhlaaq, zimmedari… sab dekhna hota hai.”
Ilma ne aahista se sar hilaya.
“Ji.”
“Aur sabse badh kar Allah se dua karna. Agar Faiz tumhare liye behtar hai to Allah tumhare dil mein itminan daal dega, aur agar behtar nahi to Allah tumhe usse bhi behtar raasta dega.”
Ilma ki aankhein phir nam ho gayin.
“Main dua karungi.”
Nadia Apa ne uske sar par haath rakha.
“Bas yahi karo.”
Raat ho chuki thi.
Isha ki namaz ke baad masjid mein Quran ki tilawat ho rahi thi.
Ek khatoon Surah Ash-Sharh ki ayaat padh rahi thin.
Phir Nadia Apa ne tarjuma padha:
“Fa-inna ma’al-usri yusra. Inna ma’al-usri yusra.”
“Beshak mushkil ke saath aasani hai.”
Phir dobara farmaya gaya:
“Beshak mushkil ke saath aasani hai.”
Ilma khamosh baithi sunti rahi.
Uske zehan mein apni poori zindagi jaise ek ek manzar ban kar guzarne lagi.
Woh ghar…
Woh judai…
Woh tanhai…
Maaz…
Woh ruswai…
Phir masjid…
Pehli tankhwaah…
Shifa…
Aur ab Faiz ka naam.
Usne aahista se nazrein jhuka lein.
Shayad har mushkil ke baad waqai aasani aati hai.
Shayad Allah use ek aise raaste ki taraf le ja raha tha jiska use abhi andaaza bhi nahi tha.
Usne dil hi dil mein kaha,
“Ya Allah… agar yeh bhi Aap ki taraf se koi raasta hai to mujhe ise pehchanne ki samajh ata farma dijiye.”
Agli subah Ilma mamool ke mutabiq Fajr ke liye uth gayi.
Namaz ke baad kuch der Quran padha, phir apni rozmarra ki masroofiyat mein lag gayi.
Dopahar ko school se wapas aane ke baad Ilma ne namaz padhi aur khana khane ke baad kuch der aaram kiya.
Asr ke qareeb woh sehan mein baithi thi ke usne Shifa ko dekha.
Shifa hasb-e-mamool muskurati hui uske paas aa kar baith gayi.
“Aaj badi khamosh ho.”
Ilma halki si muskurayi.
“Bas aise hi.”
Shifa ne use ghaur se dekha.
“Kal wali baat ke baare mein socha?”
Ilma ne chand lamhe khamosh reh kar sar hilaya.
“Haan.”
“Phir?”
Ilma ne apni ungliyan aapas mein uljha lein.
“Main… ek baar Faiz se milna chahti hoon.”
Shifa ke chehre par foran muskurahat aa gayi, magar usne koi aisi baat nahi ki jis se Ilma ko jhijhak mehsoos ho.
“Theek hai.”
Ilma ne uski taraf dekha.
“Bas baat karna chahti hoon. Isse zyada kuch nahi.”
“Main jaanti hoon.”
Shifa ne narmi se kaha.
“Aur tumhe jitni baat karni ho, utni hi karna. Koi jaldi nahi hai.”
Ilma ne sukoon ka saans liya.
“Main bhai ko bata deti hoon.”
Usne Faiz ko call ki.
Chand lamhon baad call uth gayi.
“Assalam-o-alaikum.”
“Wa-alaikum-assalam. Bhai, aap kahan hain?”
“Office mein hoon. Kyun?”
Shifa ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Ilma aapse ek baar baat karna chahti hai.”
Doosri taraf chand lamhon ki khamoshi hui.
Phir Faiz ki awaaz aayi.
“Achha.”
Shifa ne muskurate hue kaha,
“Woh aapse kuch baat karna chahti hai.”
Faiz ne mukhtasar sa jawab diya.
“Theek hai. Jab woh munasib samjhe.”
Shifa ne Ilma ko dekha.
“Sunn liya?”
Ilma ne aahista se sar hila diya.
Shifa ne phone band kar diya.
“Kal mere saath ghar chalo. Woh bhi hoga. Aaram se baat kar lena.”
Ilma ke dil mein halki si ghabrahat uthi.
“Ghar?”
“Haan.”
Shifa ne foran wazahat ki.
“Main bhi saath hongi. Tum dono akele nahi hoge. Pehle tumhe ek doosre se baat karni chahiye. Baqi jo Allah ko manzoor.”
Ilma ne kuch der socha, phir aahista se kaha,
“Theek hai.”
Agale din Shifa dopahar ke baad Ilma ko lene masjid aa gayi.
Ilma ne saada libaas pehna hua tha aur sar par halka sa dupatta tha. Uske upar siyah rang ki shawl thi. Chehre par mamool ki sanjeedgi thi, magar dil mein ek anjaani si bechaini maujood thi.
Woh Shifa ke saath gaadi mein baith gayi.
Raaste bhar Shifa kabhi school ki baat karti rahi aur kabhi apne ghar ki. Ilma zyada tar khamosh rahi.
Kuch der baad gaadi ek pursukoon si rehaishi sadak par ja kar ruk gayi.
Ilma ne saamne maujood ghar ko dekha.
Shifa ne gaadi se utarte hue kaha,
“Aao.”
Ilma uske saath andar dakhil ho gayi.
Darwaza khola to saamne Faiz maujood tha.
Woh chand qadmon ke faasle par ruk gaya.
Uski nazar Ilma par padi to hamesha ki tarah foran jhuk gayi.
“Assalam-o-alaikum.”
Ilma ne bhi nazrein neechi rakhte hue jawab diya.
“Wa-alaikum-assalam.”
Shifa ne dono ki taraf dekha aur mahaul ki sanjeedgi mehsoos karte hue muskura di.
“Achha… tum dono baitho.”
Faiz ne saamne wale kamre ki taraf ishara kiya.
“Aap log idhar baith jaayein.”
Teeno baith gaye.
Kuch lamhe khamoshi rahi.
Shifa ne dono ke chehron ko dekha, phir achanak khadi ho gayi.
“Achha, tum dono baat karo.”
Ilma ne foran use dekha.
“Aap?”
“Main chai banati hoon.”
Shifa muskurakar boli,
“Jo baat karni hai, kar lo. Main yahin hoon, bas kitchen mein ja rahi hoon.”
Faiz ne kuch kehna chaha, magar Shifa pehle hi kitchen ki taraf ja chuki thi.
Kamre mein khamoshi reh gayi.
Ilma ne saamne baithe Faiz ki taraf dekha.
Faiz bhi khamosh tha.
Usne nazrein uthane ke bajaye saamne mez par rakhe cup ki taraf dekha.
Kuch lamhon baad Ilma ne khud khamoshi todi.
“Aap mere baare mein kuch nahi jaante.”
Faiz ne pehli baar uski taraf dekha, magar sirf ek lamhe ke liye.
“Main jaanta hoon.”
Ilma ki awaaz mein sanjeedgi thi.
“Nahi. Aap nahi jaante.”
Woh chand lamhe ruki.
“Aapko nahi maloom main kahan se aayi hoon. Aapko mere maazi ke baare mein kuch nahi maloom. Aapko yeh bhi nahi maloom ke meri zindagi mein kya kuch guzar chuka hai.”
Faiz khamoshi se sunta raha.
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Aur phir bhi aapne Shifa se mere baare mein baat ki.”
Faiz ne aahista se jawab diya,
“Main ne aapke baare mein bahut kam jaana hai.”
Woh kuch der khamosh raha.
“Shaadi kisi ek shakhs ki khwahish se nahi hoti, Ilma. Dono ki raza-mandi zaroori hai.”
Ilma ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Faiz, aap mere baare mein kuch nahi jaante. Main ne apne maazi mein bahut ghaltiyan ki hain.”
Faiz ne kuch der use dekha.
“Main jaanta hoon ke main aapke baare mein sab kuch nahi jaanta. Lekin main aapke baare mein jitna bhi jaanta hoon, us mein aap mere liye bahut khaas ho gayi hain.”
Uski awaaz mein sanjeedgi thi.
“Main aapke saath ek halal raasta qayam karna chahta hoon. Main aapse nikah karna chahta hoon.”
Ilma khamosh rahi.
“Main aapse koi haram taalluq nahi banana chahta. Main aapke saath nikah ka rishta chahta hoon.”
Faiz ne aahista se kaha,
“Main do pal aapse baat nahi karna chahta. Main aapse saari zindagi baat karna chahta hoon.”
Ilma ki nazrein jhuk gayin.
“Main jaanta hoon ke aapne apni zindagi mein bahut si ghaltiyan ki hongi. Shayad aisi bhi jin ke baare mein aap kisi ko batana nahi chahtin.”
Woh chand lamhe ruka.
“Magar aap mujhe apni har ghalti ke saath qabool hain.”
Ilma ki aankhon mein nami utar aayi.
Faiz ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Mujhe yeh jaanne ki zaroorat nahi ke aapke maazi mein kya hua, kyun hua. Woh aapka maazi hai.”
Phir usne aahista se kaha,
“Mujhe aapke haal aur mustaqbil se matlab hai.”
Ilma khamoshi se use dekhti rahi.
“Jo guzar gaya, woh wapas nahi aa sakta.”
“Main aapko yeh nahi kahunga ke aap mujhe sab kuch batayein. Na main aap par koi sawal musallat karna chahta hoon.”
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh raha.
“Main sirf yeh chahta hoon ke agar aap mujhe apni zindagi mein jagah dein to main aapke maazi ka faisla karne wala nahi, aapke saath aapke mustaqbil mein chalne wala insaan banun.”
Faiz ne dheere se kaha,
“Main chahta hoon ke aap mere mustaqbil ka ek aham hissa banein.”
“Agar aapka jawab haan hoga to mujhe lagega ke main bahut khushnaseeb hoon… kyun ke mujhe aap mil jayengi.”
Uske lehje mein khushi thi.
“Main chahta hoon ke aap mujhe apni marzi se chunein.”
Kuch lamhon tak dono ke darmiyan khamoshi rahi.
Ilma ke paas Faiz ki baat ka koi fori jawab nahi tha.
Woh bas use dekhti rahi.
Uske alfaaz mein koi israar nahi tha, na koi sawal… sirf ek aisa yaqeen tha jis ke saamne Ilma ko apne andar ke bahut se band darwaze yaad aane lage the.
Isi khamoshi mein Shifa ne chai ke cup mez par rakh diye.
“Chai rakh di hai.”
Ilma ne chaunk kar uski taraf dekha.
Shifa ne dono ki taraf ek nazar dekhi, jaise mehsoos kar liya ho ke woh kisi baat ke darmiyan aayi hai, magar kuch poocha nahi.
“Pi lo, thandi ho jayegi.”
Kuch der baad chai ke cup khaali ho chuke the, magar kamre mein khamoshi ab bhi qayam thi.
Ilma ne Shifa se kaha,
“Shifa, ab chalna chahiye.”
“Haan, theek hai. Chalo bhai, aap humein chhod dein. Ilma masjid chali jayegi aur mujhe sasural chhod dena.”
Teeno gaadi mein baith gaye.
Bahar hawa thandi chal rahi thi.
Kuch der baad Ilma masjid ke paas pahunch gayi.
“Allah Hafiz.”
“Allah Hafiz.”
Ilma gaadi se utar kar masjid ke andar chali gayi.
Faiz aur Shifa bhi wahan se rawana ho gaye.
Dheere dheere raat kaafi guzar chuki thi.
Ilma apne kamre mein bistar par leti chhat ko dekh rahi thi, magar neend uski aankhon se bahut door thi.
Faiz ke alfaaz baar baar zehan mein aa rahe the.
“Main aapke maazi ka faisla karne wala nahi… aapke saath aapke mustaqbil mein chalne wala insaan banun.”
Usne aankhein band kar lein.
Kaash maazi sirf maazi hota.
Kaash kuch yaadein insaan ke peeche chalna chhod detin.
Magar kuch din aise hote hain jo waqt guzarne ke bawajood khatam nahi hote.
Woh din bhi aisa hi tha.
Wohi din…
Jab uske bhai ka inteqaal hua tha.
Ilma ke zehan mein woh manzar ek baar phir taaza ho gaya.
Ghar mein phaili hui bechaini, logon ki awaazein, kisi ke rone ki awaaz, aur phir woh khabar jisne jaise ek hi lamhe mein sab kuch badal diya tha.
Uske bhai ki maut.
Aur us maut ke baad maa ko padne wala dil ka daura.
Us din Ilma ne sirf apna bhai nahi khoya tha.
Usne apni maa ki woh haalat bhi dekhi thi jisne use andar se kahin tod diya tha.
Aur is sab ke peeche…
Ek naam tha.
Maaz.
Ilma ne karwat badli.
Kabhi woh sochti thi ke shayad use Maaz se mohabbat thi.
Phir waqt guzra to use mehsoos hua ke mohabbat to kab ki khatam ho chuki hai.
Lekin nafrat?
Woh bhi itni saada nahi thi.
Shayad kabhi thi.
Bahut zyada thi.
Magar ab…
Ab Maaz ke liye uske dil mein mohabbat nahi thi.
Na woh use maaf kar paayi thi, na mukammal taur par bhula saki thi.
Woh uski zindagi ka ek aisa baab tha jise Ilma padhna nahi chahti thi, magar phaad kar phenk bhi nahi sakti thi.
Woh uska malaal tha.
Ek aisa malaal jo waqt ke saath kam to ho gaya tha, magar khatam nahi hua tha.
Ilma ne aankhein khol dein.
Faiz ne usse uske maazi ka hisaab nahi manga tha.
Magar kya woh waqai apne maazi se azaad ho chuki thi?
Woh der tak khamoshi se chhat ko dekhti rahi.
Ilma ne aankhein band kar lein.
Is sawal ka jawab abhi uske paas nahi tha.
Aur shayad isi liye…
Use Faiz ko bhi jawab dene ke liye kuch waqt chahiye tha.
Doosri taraf Faiz namaz padh raha tha.
Namaz ke baad usne haath utha kar dua ki.
“Ya Allah… use mere naseeb mein likh do.”
Uski awaaz mein ek sachchi si bechaini thi.
“Please, Ya Allah… pata nahi kyun, main chahta hoon ke woh mere paas aa jaye. Puri zindagi mere saath rahe.”
Agale do teen din bhi isi tarah guzar gaye.
Ilma ki zindagi zahiran mamool ke mutabiq chal rahi thi. Subah school, dopahar mein masjid wapsi, namaz aur phir Quran ki class. Magar uske dil mein Faiz ki baatein ab bhi kahin na kahin maujood thin.
Woh baar baar sochti.
Kya woh apne maazi ko peeche chhod kar apni zindagi ke baare mein koi naya faisla kar sakti hai?
Woh abhi kisi nateejay tak nahi pahunchi thi.
Ek raat Isha ki namaz ke baad Ilma apne kamre mein baithi Quran ki tilawat kar rahi thi. Uske saamne Quran khula tha aur saath hi tarjuma bhi rakha tha.
Woh aahista aahista ayaat padhti ja rahi thi.
Kuch safhon ke baad uski nazar ek ayat par thehar gayi.
Woh ruk gayi.
Usne ayat dobara padhi, phir neeche likha hua tarjuma padhne lagi.
78.8 — Surah An-Naba
وَّ خَلَقْنٰكُمْ اَزْوَاجًاۙ (8)
Tarjuma: “Aur humne tumhein jode paida kiye.”
Ilma kuch der bilkul khamosh baithi rahi.
Uski nazar dobara usi jumle par gayi.
“Aur humne tumhein jode paida kiye.”
Ilma ke dil mein ek ajeeb si kaifiyat paida hui. Na woh use mukammal taur par samajh pa rahi thi, na is khayal se khud ko alag kar pa rahi thi.
Usne aahista se Quran ke safhe par haath rakha aur gehri saans li.
Tabhi darwaze par halki si dastak hui.
“Ilma?”
Yeh Nadia Apa ki awaaz thi.
Ilma ne foran Quran ki taraf dekha.
“Ji?”
Darwaza zara sa kholte hue Nadia Apa andar aayin.
“Neeche aa jao, sab khawateen baithi hain. Quran ki ayaat padhi ja rahi hain aur Aapi sab ko samjha rahi hain.”
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye apne saamne khule Quran ko dekha, phir use ehtiyaat se band kiya.
“Achha, aati hoon.”
Woh Quran ko apni jagah rakh kar uth khadi hui.
Kuch der baad woh seedhiyan utar kar neeche bade kamre mein pahunchi.
Wahan ghar ki taqreeban sab khawateen daire ki surat mein baithi thin. Darmiyan mein Quran-e-Pak khula hua tha aur Nadia Apa ke paas baithi Badi Aapi aahista aahista ayaat padh rahi thin.
Ilma khamoshi se ek taraf ja kar baith gayi.
Usne nazrein jhuka lein aur haath god mein rakh liye.
Tilawat khatam karne ke baad Aapi ne Quran ke safhe par ungli rakhte hue kaha,
“Aaj hum Surah Ar-Rum ki ek bahut khoobsurat ayat padhenge.”
Kamre mein maujood sab khawateen khamosh ho gayin.
Unhon ne tilawat shuru ki.
Ar-Rum 30:21
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجࣰا لِّتَسۡكُنُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَكُم مَّوَدَّةࣰ وَرَحۡمَةًۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتࣲ لِّقَوۡمࣲ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Tarjuma:
“Aur uski nishaniyon mein se hai ke usne tumhare liye tumhari hi jins se jode banaye, taake tum unki taraf sukoon hasil karo aur tumhare darmiyan mohabbat aur rehmat rakhi. Beshak is mein ghaur-o-fikr karne walon ke liye nishaniyan hain.”
Urdu — Tafsir Ahsan-ul-Bayaan
“Yani tumhari hi jins se auratein paida keen taake woh tumhari biwiyan banen aur tum joda joda ho jao. Zauj Arabi mein jode ko kehte hain. Is aitbaar se mard aurat ke aur aurat mard ke liye zauj hai. Auraton ke jins-e-bashar hone ka matlab hai ke duniya ki pehli aurat Hazrat Hawwa ko Hazrat Adam Alaihissalam ki baayi pasli se paida kiya gaya. Phir in dono se nasl-e-insani ka silsila chala.”
“Matlab yeh hai ke agar mard aur aurat ki jins ek doosre se mukhtalif hoti, masalan auratein jinnat ya haiwanaat mein se hotin, to unse woh sukoon kabhi hasil na hota jo is waqt dono ke ek hi jins se hone ki wajah se hasil hota hai. Balki ek doosre se nafrat aur wehshat hoti. Yeh Allah Ta’ala ki kamaal rehmat hai ke usne insaanon ki biwiyan insaan hi banayin.”
“Mawaddat yeh hai ke mard biwi se bepanah pyar karta hai aur isi tarah biwi shohar se. Jaisa ke aam mushahida hai. Aisi mohabbat jo miyan biwi ke darmiyan hoti hai, duniya mein kisi bhi do shakhs ke darmiyan nahi hoti. Aur rehmat yeh hai ke mard biwi ko har tarah ki sahulat aur aaraam pahunchata hai, jis ka mukallaf use Allah Ta’ala ne banaya hai aur isi tarah aurat bhi apni qudrat aur ikhtiyar ke daire mein.”
“Insaan ko yeh sukoon aur bahami pyar unhi jodon se hasil hota hai jo Shariat ke mutabiq aapas mein nikah se qayam hote hain. Islam inhi ko joda qarar deta hai.”
Tafseer mukammal hone ke baad bhi kuch der tak kamre mein isi ayat ka zikr hota raha.
Kuch khawateen nikah ke baare mein baat karne lagin, koi ayat ke alfaaz par ghaur kar rahi thi aur koi miyan biwi ke darmiyan mohabbat aur rehmat ke rishte ko bayan kar rahi thi.
Ilma khamosh baithi sab sunti rahi.
Uske zehan mein sirf ek baat baar baar gardish kar rahi thi.
“Taake tum unki taraf sukoon hasil karo.”
Kuch der baad khawateen uthne lagin.
Ilma bhi sab ko Allah Hafiz keh kar apne kamre ki taraf chali gayi.
Kamre mein pahunch kar usne darwaza band kiya aur kuch der khamosh khadi rahi.
Phir aahista se bistar par baith gayi.
Uske zehan mein aaj suni hui ayat aur tafseer ke alfaaz ek ek karke wapas aane lage.
Joda.
Sukoon.
Mohabbat.
Rehmat.
Nikah.
Usne gehri saans li.
“Shayad insaan poori zindagi akela nahi guzar sakta…”
Yeh khayal uske dil mein aaya.
Usne saamne rakhe Quran ko dekha.
Allah ne insaan ke liye jode banaye the. Nikah ke zariye ek aisa rishta qayam kiya jismein sukoon, mohabbat aur rehmat rakhi gayi.
Phir achanak uska zehan apne maazi ki taraf chala gaya.
Maaz.
Uska naam aate hi Ilma ke dil mein ek bojh sa utar aaya.
Kuch raaste aise hote hain jo bhoolay nahi jaate. Hum kitna bhi chahein, magar bhool nahi paate.
Use unke darmiyan hone wali woh saari chats yaad aa gayin.
Woh raatein jab woh ghanton ek doosre se baat karte the.
Woh messages…
Woh befikri…
Woh taalluq jise us waqt woh mohabbat samajh rahi thi.
Lekin phir Maaz ne use dhoka diya tha.
Jis shakhs par usne aitbaar kiya, usi ne us aitbaar ko tod diya tha.
Ilma ne aankhein band kar lein.
Ab use apne us maazi par bhi sharmindagi mehsoos hoti thi.
Use maloom tha ke nikah se pehle is tarah kisi na-mehram se taalluq aur be-takalluf guftagu durust nahi thi.
Usne aahista se sar jhuka liya.
“Ya Allah… mujhse jo ghalti hui, mujhe maaf kar dena.”
Kuch der khamosh rehne ke baad uske zehan mein ek aur chehra aaya.
Faiz.
Jisne usse chhup kar taalluq qayam karne ke bajaye nikah ka raasta ikhtiyar kiya tha.
Use apni baqi zindagi maazi ki ek ghalti ke naam nahi karni thi.
Agar Allah ne uske saamne ek naya raasta rakha tha to use us raaste ke baare mein sochna chahiye tha.
Aur Faiz…
Usne Faiz ke baare mein socha.
Uski baatein yaad aayin.
Uska andaaz yaad aaya.
Aur sabse badh kar yeh baat ke usne Ilma ko hasil karne ke liye koi ghalat raasta nahi chuna tha.
Usne rishta bheja tha.
Ilma ke dil mein pehli baar is faisle ke hawale se woh khauf nahi tha jo pehle tha.
Usne aahista se kaha,
“Main Faiz ko haan kar dungi.”
Magar phir usne ek lamhe ko aankhein band kar lein.
Uske dil mein ek itminan utarne laga.
Woh Faiz se shaadi ke liye haan karna chahti thi.
Agale din usne Shifa ko phone kiya.
Kuch der baad Shifa ne phone uthaya.
“Hello Ilma?”
“Shifa, tum aaj mere paas aa sakti ho?”
Shifa uski awaaz sun kar chaunk gayi.
“Khairiyat?”
“Haan… bas tumse zaroori baat karni hai.”
Kuch der baad Shifa uske paas pahunch gayi.
Dono ek doosre ke saamne baith gayin.
Shifa ne Ilma ko dekha.
“Ab batao, kya baat hai?”
Ilma ne chand lamhe khamosh rehne ke baad aahista se kaha,
“Main ne faisla kar liya hai.”
“Kis baare mein?”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Faiz ke rishte ke baare mein.”
Shifa khamosh ho gayi.
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Main Faiz ko haan kehna chahti hoon.”
Shifa ke chehre par hairat aur khushi ek saath zahir hui.
“Waqai?”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
“Haan.”
Phir woh kuch lamhe khamosh rahi aur boli,
“Main chahti hoon ke agar meri shaadi ho to Sunnat ke tareeqe se ho.”
Shifa ne muskura kar uska haath thaam liya.
Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Main Faiz se shaadi ke liye haan kar rahi hoon.”
Woh jaanti thi ke maazi wapas nahi badla ja sakta.
Maaz ne jo dhoka diya, woh bhi ab uski zindagi ka hissa nahi tha.
Lekin mustaqbil…
Woh abhi uske haath mein tha.
Aur is baar Ilma ne faisla kiya tha ke woh apne mustaqbil ka raasta ghalat taalluq se nahi, nikah se shuru karegi.
Shaam ke waqt Shifa apne ghar pahunchi.
Darwaza kholte hi usne awaaz lagayi,
“Faiz!”
Andar se koi jawab nahi aaya.
“Faiz!”
Ab ki baar bhi khamoshi rahi.
Shifa ne jootay utaare aur andar aate hue buland awaaz mein kaha,
“Janab! Kahan hain?”
Kuch der baad kamre se Faiz ki awaaz aayi,
“Kya hua hai? Itni awaaz kyun laga rahi ho?”
Faiz bahar aaya to Shifa ko saamne khada dekh kar ruk gaya.
“Tum achanak?”
Shifa ne sanjeeda chehra banaya.
“Haan. Bahut zaroori kaam hai.”
Faiz foran mutawajjah hua.
“Kya hua?”
Shifa sofa par baith gayi.
“Pehle paani pilao.”
Faiz ne use hairat se dekha.
“Tumhein paani chahiye ya waqai koi zaroori baat hai?”
“Dono.”
Faiz paani le aaya.
Shifa ne glass haath mein liya, ek ghoont piya aur phir jaan boojh kar khamosh ho gayi.
Faiz ne bechaini se poocha,
“Ab batao bhi.”
Shifa ne glass mez par rakha.
“Ilma ne haan kar di hai.”
Faiz jaise ek lamhe ke liye samajh hi na paya.
“Kya?”
Shifa ne muskurate hue dobara kaha,
“Ilma ne tumhare rishte ke liye haan kar di hai.”
Faiz ke chehre par be-ikhtiyar muskurahat aa gayi.
Woh chand lamhe kuch nahi bola.
Shifa use dekhti rahi.
Phir hans kar boli,
“Ab aise kya dekh rahe ho?”
“Mujhe yaqeen nahi ho raha.”
“Kyun?”
“Pata nahi…”
Woh chand lamhe khamosh raha.
“Waise Shifa, kahin tum jhoot to nahi bol rahi?”
“Haan bhai, mere andar to itni himmat hai na ke main tumse jhoot bolun!”
Shifa hans padi.
“Ek baat aur kahi hai usne.”
Faiz ne foran sar uthaya.
“Kya?”
“Woh chahti hai ke shaadi Sunnat ke tareeqe se ho.”
Faiz ke chehre par is baar muskurahat ke saath itminan bhi aa gaya.
“Yeh to main bhi chahta hoon.”
Shifa ne foran kaha,
“Achha?”
“Haan.”
“Phir theek hai.”
Shifa ke chehre par muskurahat phail gayi.
Aur Faiz kuch der tak khamosh baitha raha, jaise use ab bhi yaqeen karne mein waqt lag raha ho ke jis dua ko usne itni shiddat se maanga tha, uska jawab uske saamne aa chuka hai.
Ek mahina jaise palak jhapakte hi guzar gaya.
In ek mahine mein ghar ki fiza hi badal gayi thi. Ilma ke liye har din apne saath ek nayi masroofiyat le kar aata. Kabhi kapron ki tayari, kabhi nikah ke intizamaat, kabhi Shifa ke saath baith kar shaadi ki chhoti chhoti baatein tay karna.
Aur aaj woh din aa hi gaya tha.
Ek Mahina Baad
Ilma apne kamre mein aaine ke saamne baithi thi. Aaj usne gehre maroon rang ka khoobsurat lehenga pehna tha, jis par sunahri aur silver dhaage se nafees kadhai ki gayi thi. Aasteenon aur daaman par bhaari kaam tha, jabki dupatte ke kinare par bareek zari aur motiyon ka kaam use mazeed khoobsurat bana raha tha.
Usne dupatta sar par is tarah liya hua tha ke uska aadha chehra bhi halki si ot mein aa gaya tha.
Zewaraat bhi bahut zyada nahi the.
Kanon mein chhote magar nafees jhumke, gale mein ek nazuk sa haar, haathon mein maroon aur sunahri chooriyan aur ungli mein ek saadah si anguthi.
Uske haathon par mehndi ka rang gehra ho chuka tha.
Doosri taraf Faiz bhi tayyar ho chuka tha.
Usne kala saadah magar nafees kurta shalwar ke saath black waistcoat pehna tha. Libaas mein koi ghair-zaroori chamak damak nahi thi, bas nafasat aur saadgi thi.
Kalai par ghadi aur halki si khushboo.
Aaine ke saamne khada woh khud ko dekh raha tha, magar uske chehre par ajeeb si muskurahat thi.
Shifa ki baat use baar baar yaad aa rahi thi.
“Ilma ne tumhare rishte ke liye haan kar di hai.”
Usne be-ikhtiyar muskura kar sar jhuka liya.
“Alhamdulillah…”
Aaj woh us ladki ko apni zindagi ka hissa banane ja raha tha jisse use mohabbat ho gayi thi.
Kitni achhi naseeb thi na, jis se mohabbat hui woh aaj uski hone ja rahi thi.
Masjid
Maghrib ke baad masjid ke ek pur-sukoon hisse mein nikah ka intizam kiya gaya tha.
Masjid mein na koi shor tha, na music, na ghair-zaroori hangama. Safed chadrein bichhai gayi thin aur qareeb hi chand safed phool rakhe the.
Molana sahab saamne baithe the.
Faiz apne chand qareebi logon ke saath unke saamne maujood tha.
Doosri taraf khawateen ke hisse mein Ilma baithi thi.
Uske sar par maroon dupatta tha. Nazrein musalsal jhuki hui thin, magar dil mein ajeeb si be-qarari thi.
Shifa uske paas baithi thi.
Usne Ilma ke haath par apna haath rakha.
“Ghabra rahi ho?”
Ilma ne aahista se sar hilaya.
“Thodi si.”
Magar phir achanak uski nazar apne haathon par padi.
Aur dil mein ek khayal aaya.
Kaash aaj Abu hote.
Bas ek lamhe ke liye uske dil mein apne walid ki tasveer ubhri.
Use yaad bhi to bahut kam tha.
Woh to us waqt duniya se chale gaye the jab Ilma chhoti si thi.
Magar kuch rishte yaadon ke mohtaj nahi hote.
Baap ki kami umr ke saath khatam nahi hoti.
Aaj use pehli baar shiddat se mehsoos hua ke agar Abu zinda hote to shayad isi tarah uske saamne baithe hote.
Uske sar par haath rakhte.
Aur shayad uski zindagi itni mushkil nahi hoti.
Walid zindagi ka ek aham hissa hote hain. Unke chale jaane se bahut takleef hoti hai.
Ilma ki aankhen nam ho gayin. Usne jaldi se palkein jhapkain.
Udhar Molana sahab ne nikah ki karwai shuru ki.
Zaroori tafseelaat mukammal karne ke baad unhone Ilma ki taraf dekha.
Kamre mein ek dum khamoshi chha gayi.
Molana sahab ne nihayat thehre hue lehje mein kaha,
“Mohtarma Ilma Siddiqui bint Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, aap ke walid-e-mohtaram is duniya mein maujood nahi hain aur aap ke nikah ke liye yahan aapki ijazat se main bator sharai wali nikah ki karwai anjaam de raha hoon.”
Ilma ne nazrein jhuka lein.
Molana sahab ne aage kaha,
“Main aapka nikah Faiz Malik ibn Salman Malik ke saath, paanch lakh rupaye haq-mehr ke ewaz tay karta hoon. Kya aapko ye nikah qabool hai?”
Use apne walid ki shiddat se yaad aa rahi thi.
Magar aaj woh maujood nahi the.
Usne aankhen band keen.
Phir bahut dheemi magar wazeh awaaz mein kaha,
“Ji haan… mujhe qabool hai.”
Molana sahab ne dobara poocha,
“Aapko ye nikah qabool hai?”
Ilma ki awaaz is baar zara wazeh thi.
“Ji haan, mujhe qabool hai.”
Teesri baar sawal hua.
“Ilma Siddiqui bint Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, kya aapko ye nikah qabool hai?”
Ilma ki aankh se ek aansu phisal gaya.
Usne use foran saaf nahi kiya.
Bas halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Ji haan… mujhe qabool hai.”
Molana sahab ne sar hilaya.
Phir Faiz ki taraf mutawajjah hue.
“Faiz Malik ibn Salman Malik…”
Faiz ne seedha ho kar baithte hue Molana sahab ki taraf dekha.
“Main ne Ilma Siddiqui bint Abdul Rehman Siddiqui ka nikah, jis ki janib se main nikah ki karwai anjaam de raha hoon, aapke saath paanch lakh rupaye haq-mehr ke ewaz baandha. Unhone is nikah ko qabool kar liya hai. Kya aapne is nikah ko apne aqd mein qabool kiya?”
“Main ne qabool kiya.”
Molana sahab ne dobara poocha,
“Faiz Malik ibn Salman Malik, kya aapne ye nikah qabool kiya?”
“Main ne qabool kiya.”
Teesri baar sawal hua,
“Kya aapne Ilma Siddiqui ka nikah apne aqd mein qabool kiya?”
Is baar Faiz ke honton par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
“Ji haan… main ne qabool kiya.”
Chand lamhon ki khamoshi ke baad Molana sahab ne dua ke liye haath utha diye.
Sab ne haath utha liye.
Ilma ne bhi apne haath dua ke liye utha liye.
Uski palkon par aansu thehre hue the.
Molana sahab dua kar rahe the, magar Ilma ka dil kahin aur tha.
Woh apne Abu ko yaad kar rahi thi.
Aaj agar woh hote…
Shayad woh Faiz ko apne qareeb bula kar kehte,
“Meri beti ka khayal rakhna.”
Woh soch rahi thi.
Ilma ki aankhon se ek aur aansu beh nikla.
Dua khatam hui.
Molana sahab ne sab ko mubarakbaad di.
Shifa ne Ilma ko dekha to uski aankhen bhi nam thin.
Woh jhuk kar Ilma ke kaan ke qareeb boli,
“Mubarak ho…”
Ilma ne nam aankhon ke saath muskurane ki koshish ki.
Shifa ne uska haath thaam liya.
Masjid ke bahar raat ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi.
Ilma ne apna dupatta sambhalte hue aahista aahista qadam bahar ki taraf badhaye.
Bahar do gaadiyan khadi thin.
Shifa ne Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Tum Faiz ke saath chali jao. Main doosri gaadi mein aa rahi hoon.”
Ilma ek lamhe ke liye khamosh ho gayi.
Ab tak woh sab ke darmiyan thi, magar achanak use ehsaas hua ke ab use Faiz ke saath akele ghar jaana hai.
Shifa ne muskura kar kaha,
“Aur itna mat ghabrao. Woh tumhein kha nahi jayega.”
Ilma ne foran use ghura.
Faiz pehle hi gaadi ke paas khada tha.
Usne Ilma ko aate dekha to darwaza khol diya.
“Aaiye.”
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye use dekha, phir khamoshi se gaadi mein baith gayi.
Faiz ne darwaza band kiya aur khud doosri taraf ja kar driving seat par baith gaya.
Kuch hi lamhon baad Shifa ki gaadi bhi masjid se rawana ho gayi.
Faiz ne gaadi start ki.
Kuch der dono ke darmiyan khamoshi rahi.
Sadak par raat ki roshniyan phail rahi thin.
Ilma khidki se bahar dekh rahi thi.
Faiz ne ek nazar use dekha.
Aaj pehli baar woh uske saath is tarah baithi thi.
Nikah ke baad.
Uske dil mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha.
“Thak gayi ho?”
Ilma ne khidki se nazrein hataye baghair kaha,
“Thodi si.”
Kuch lamhe phir khamoshi rahi.
Phir Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Shifa Aapi bhi hamare saath aa rahi hain.”
“Haan, unhone kaha tha ke woh doosri gaadi se aayengi.”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
Kuch der baad gaadi ghar ke saamne ruk gayi.
Faiz ne engine band kiya.
Ilma ne ghar ki taraf dekha.
Wohi ghar tha, magar aaj uske liye sab kuch badal chuka tha.
Faiz ne aahista se kaha,
“Chalein?”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
Dono gaadi se bahar nikle.
Chand lamhon baad Shifa ki gaadi bhi ghar ke saamne aa kar ruk gayi.
Shifa gaadi se utri aur muskurate hue Ilma ke qareeb aayi.
“Pahunch gaye?”
“Ji.”
Shifa ne use dekha.
“Chalo andar.”
Sab ghar mein daakhil ho gaye.
Ghar ke andar abhi bhi halki si ronaq baqi thi. Chand qareebi rishtedaar maujood the jo unhein dekhte hi dobara mubarakbaad dene lage.
“MashaAllah, Allah dono ko khush rakhe.”
“Aameen.”
Kuch der baad jab sab apne apne kamron mein chale gaye to ghar ki ronaq bhi aahista aahista khamoshi mein badal gayi.
Shifa Ilma ke paas aayi.
“Ab tum aaram karo.”
Ilma kamre mein aa kar apna dupatta theek kar hi rahi thi ke bahar se Isha ki azaan ki awaaz sunai di.
Kuch der baad Faiz bhi kamre mein aa gaya.
Faiz ne bhi azaan suni to bola,
“Namaz parh lein?”
Ilma ne sar hila diya.
Dono ne wuzu kiya.
Faiz ne ja-e-namaz aage bichhai aur Ilma uske peeche khadi ho gayi.
Nikah ke baad ye unki pehli namaz thi.
Faiz ne takbeer keh kar namaz shuru ki.
Ilma uske peeche khamoshi se khadi rahi.
Ruku aur sajde mein jaate hue Ilma ke dil mein ajeeb sa sukoon utar raha tha.
Aaj ka poora din jaise ek taraf reh gaya tha.
Nikah, logon ki mubarakbaadein, Abu ki yaad aur Faiz ka uski zindagi mein aa jaana…
Sab kuch.
Sajde mein uski aankhen bheeg gayin.
Namaz khatam hui to dono ne dua ki.
Ilma ne aankhen band kar lein.
Aaj dil mein bahut kuch tha, magar dua ke liye alfaaz bahut kam.
Usne khamoshi se dua ki,
“Ya Allah… meri aane wali zindagi aasan kar de. Mere har faisle mein khair rakh. Mujhe apne qareeb kar de, mere dil ko apni yaad se jode rakh, aur mujhe aisa bana de ke main har haal mein tujhe raazi karne ki koshish karun. Mere is naye rishte mein bhi barkat ata farma aur mujhe apne deen se kabhi door na karna.”
Uski aankhon se ek aansu beh nikla.
Doosri taraf Faiz ne bhi haath uthaye hue the.
Uske dil mein shukr ka ehsaas tha.
“Ya Allah… tera shukr hai. Tu ne mujhe woh ata kiya jiski main ne khwahish ki thi. Ilma ko meri zindagi mein halal rishte ke saath shamil karne ke liye tera shukr hai. Main wada karta hoon ke hamesha iska khayal rakhne ki koshish karunga, iski izzat karunga aur ise khush rakhne ki koshish karunga. Mujhe is rishte ki zimmedari nibhane ki taufeeq dena.”
Kuch der dono khamoshi se dua karte rahe.
Phir Ilma ne apne haath chehre par pher liye.
Faiz ne bhi dua khatam ki.
Ilma ne nazrein uthayin to Faiz ki nazar us par thi.
Dono ke darmiyan chand lamhon ki khamoshi rahi.
Faiz ne aahista se apna haath aage badhaya aur Ilma ka haath thaam liya.
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye uski taraf dekha, phir nazrein jhuka lein.
Faiz ne narm lehje mein kaha,
“Ab aap sirf meri mohabbat nahi hain, aap meri shareek-e-hayat hain.”
Ilma khamoshi se use sunti rahi.
“Aur mere liye bahut khaas hain.”
“Main ye nahi kahunga ke hamari zindagi mein kabhi mushkil nahi aayegi. Lekin main ye zaroor chahta hoon ke jab bhi koi mushkil aaye, hum ek doosre ka saath na chhodein.”
Faiz ne uske haath par apni girift zara mazboot ki.
“Main hamesha aapka khayal rakhne ki koshish karunga. Aapki izzat karunga aur kabhi jaan boojh kar aapko takleef nahi dunga.”
Ilma ne dheere se poocha,
“Aur agar kabhi mujhse koi ghalti ho gayi?”
Faiz ke labon par halki si muskurahat aayi.
“To hum baat karenge. Khamosh ho kar ek doosre se door nahi honge.”
Ilma ki aankhon mein ek narm si muskurahat utar aayi.
“Wada?”
“Wada.”
Kuch der dono khamosh baithe rahe.
Phir Faiz ne uska haath chhod diya aur kaha,
“Ab aapko aaram karna chahiye.”
Subah ki azaan ki awaaz ne khamosh fiza ko aahista aahista apne hisaar mein le liya.
Faiz ne azaan sunte hi Ilma ki taraf dekha.
“Fajr ka waqt ho gaya hai.”
Ilma ne bhi isbaat mein sar hilaya.
Faiz uth khada hua.
“Aap aaram se fresh ho jaayen. Main masjid mein namaz parh kar aata hoon.”
“Ji.”
Faiz ne ek nazar Ilma ko dekha aur phir kamre se bahar nikal gaya.
Kuch der baad Ilma bhi uth gayi.
Usne wuzu kiya, fresh hui aur namaz-e-Fajr ada ki.
Namaz ke baad kuch der ja-e-namaz par baithi rahi.
Dil mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha.
Kal tak jo zindagi use bahut door aur ghair-wazeh mehsoos ho rahi thi, aaj isi zindagi ka ek naya baab uske saamne tha.
Namaz ke baad usne Qur’an-e-Pak khola aur kuch der tilawat ki.
Phir woh Qur’an band karke ehtiyaat se ek taraf rakh kar kamre mein baith gayi.
Kuch der baad darwaza khula.
Faiz andar aaya.
Masjid se wapsi ke baad uske chehre par bhi ek ajeeb sa itminan tha.
Usne Ilma ko dekha to halki si muskurahat uske labon par aa gayi.
“Uth gayi thin?”
“Ji. Namaz parh li, fresh bhi ho gayi.”
“Achha.”
Faiz ne kamre mein ek nazar daali aur phir Qur’an-e-Pak ki taraf badha.
Usne Qur’an uthaya aur baith kar uske safhe kholne laga.
Ilma use khamoshi se dekhti rahi.
Kuch lamhon baad Ilma ne poocha,
“Main aapke liye chai bana doon?”
Faiz ne foran sar uthaya.
“Nahi, aap rehne dein. Shifa chai bana rahi hai. Abhi kuch mehmaan bhi bahar hain.”
“Achha.”
Ilma khamosh ho gayi.
Faiz ne Qur’an khola aur phir Ilma ki taraf dekh kar qadray narm lehje mein kaha,
“Aap idhar aa kar baith jaayein.”
Ilma aahista se uske qareeb aa kar baith gayi, magar munasib faasle par.
Faiz ne nazrein Qur’an ki taraf jhuka lein.
Kamre mein kuch lamhon ke liye mukammal khamoshi chha gayi.
Phir uski awaaz sunai di.
Narm, thehri hui aur pur-sukoon.
Woh Qur’an-e-Pak ki tilawat karne laga.
Ilma khamoshi se sunti rahi.
Har ayat ke saath jaise kamre ki fiza badalti ja rahi thi.
Bahar ghar mein mehmaanon ki halki halki awaazein thin, Shifa ke bartan rakhne ki awaaz kabhi kabhi sunai deti, magar is kamre ke andar sirf Qur’an ki tilawat goonj rahi thi.
Ilma ne ek lamhe ke liye Faiz ki taraf dekha.
Use mehsoos hua ke shayad zindagi ka sukoon hamesha badi badi cheezon mein nahi hota.
Kuch der tak Faiz tilawat karta raha.
Phir usne Qur’an-e-Pak ko ehtiyaat se band kiya aur use ek taraf rakh diya.
Ilma ab bhi khamosh baithi thi.
Faiz ne uski taraf dekha.
“Aap yahin baithiye, main abhi aata hoon.”
“Ji.”
Woh uth kar kamre se bahar chala gaya.
Kuch der baad darwaza dobara khula to Faiz ke haath mein do cups the.
Usne ek cup Ilma ki taraf badhaya aur khud doosra cup lekar saamne baith gaya.
“Aapke liye chai.”
Ilma ne cup lete hue halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha,
“Shukriya.”
Dono kuch der khamoshi se chai peete rahe.
Faiz ne cup mez par rakha aur kuch lamhon tak saamne dekhta raha.
Phir dheemi awaaz mein bola,
“Ilma… ek baat soch raha tha.”
Ilma ne uski taraf dekha.
“Kya?”
Faiz ke chehre par ek udaas si muskurahat aayi.
“Agar aaj hamare parents hote na… to shayad bahut si cheezein mukhtalif hotin.”
Ilma khamosh ho gayi.
Faiz ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Shayad aaj ka din bhi kuch aur hota. Ghar mein itni khamoshi na hoti. Koi maa aapko subah uth kar dekhti, aapse poochti ke nashta kiya ya nahi… aur koi baap shayad mujhe bitha kar kuch samjhata.”
Woh halka sa muskuraya, magar aankhon mein nami utar aayi.
“Shayad woh aapko apni beti ki tarah rukhsat karte… aur mujhe samjhate ke ab ye sirf meri zimmedari nahi, meri amanat hai.”
Ilma ki aankhen bhi nam ho gayin.
Faiz ne aahista se kaha,
“Kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai ke kuch khushiyan insaan ko isliye bhi adhoori lagti hain kyunki jin logon ke saath woh khushi baantna chahta hai, woh maujood nahi hote.”
Ilma ne cup dono haathon mein thaam liya.
“Aapko unki bahut yaad aati hai?”
Faiz ne chand lamhe khamosh reh kar sar hilaya.
“Haan… bahut.”
Phir usne dheere se kaha,
“Lekin shayad Allah ne hamari zindagi mein kuch logon ko isliye bhi bheja hai ke jo jagahen khaali reh gayi hain, woh kam az kam tanhai na ban jaayein.”
Ilma ne uski taraf dekha.
Faiz ne uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha,
“Main aapse ye nahi kahunga ke aap mere parents ki kami poori kar dein. Woh jagah koi nahi le sakta.”
Woh ek lamhe ke liye ruka.
“Bas itna chahta hoon ke jo zindagi humein mili hai, use hum mil kar achha bana dein.”
Ilma ki aankh se ek aansu beh nikla.
Usne foran nazrein jhuka lein.
Faiz ne narm lehje mein kaha,
“Royein nahi.”
Ilma ne halki si muskurahat ke saath aansu saaf kiya.
“Main ro nahi rahi.”
Faiz bhi muskura diya.
“Achha… to ye aankh mein jo paani hai, woh chai ki bhaap se aaya hai?”
Ilma be-ikhtiyar hans di.
Kamre ki udaasi mein pehli baar ek halki si muskurahat ghul gayi.
Aur is chhoti si subah mein, do aise log jo apni apni zindagiyon mein kuch khaali jagahen liye chal rahe the, pehli baar ek doosre ke saath un khaali jagahon ko samajhne lage the.
Waqt dheere dheere guzarta raha.
Subah ki ronaq aahista aahista dopahar ki khamoshi mein badalne lagi.
Ek ke baad ek mehmaan Ilma se milne aata raha. Koi use duaein deta, koi aane wali zindagi ke liye nek khwahishaat deta aur koi chand lamhe uske paas baith kar mohabbat se baatein karta.
Ilma bhi sabse muskura kar milti rahi.
Kuch der baad jo log baqi reh gaye the, woh bhi rukhsat hone lage.
Ghar mein ab pehle jaisi chahal pehal nahi rahi thi.
Shifa bhi subah se musalsal kaamon mein masroof thi. Mehmaanon ke jaane ke baad usne kitchen sameta aur phir Ilma ke kamre mein aa kar boli,
“Ilma, main bhi ab chalti hoon. Sasural se kaafi der se phone aa rahe hain. Wahan kuch zaroori kaam hai.”
Phir usne Faiz ki taraf dekh kar kaha,
“Faiz, mujhe zara ghar chhor do.”
Ilma ne foran kaha,
“Shifa Aapi, itni jaldi kyun? Kam se kam do teen din to ruk jao.”
Shifa ne halka sa muskurate hue kaha,
“Main bhi rukna chahti hoon, lekin sasural se phone aa rahe hain. Wahan zaroorat hai meri.”
“Achha, theek hai.”
Faiz ne foran razamandi zahir ki.
Ilma ne Shifa ki taraf dekh kar kaha,
“Allah Hafiz.”
“Allah Hafiz, apna khayal rakhna.”
Shifa ne use pyaar se dekha aur phir Faiz ke saath bahar nikal gayi.
Kuch der baad Faiz gaadi lekar Shifa ko uske sasural chhorne chala gaya.
Ghar mein ab Ilma akeli reh gayi thi.
Woh kuch der khamoshi se apne kamre mein baithi rahi.
Kuch der baad bahar gaadi rukne ki awaaz aayi.
Ilma ne nazrein utha kar darwaze ki taraf dekha.
Chand lamhon baad Faiz kamre mein daakhil hua.
“Shifa ko chhor aaya hoon.”
Faiz ne ghadi ki taraf dekha aur phir Ilma se poocha,
“Aapne kuch khaya?”
Ilma ne nafi mein sar hila diya.
Faiz ne foran kaha,
“To phir pehle kuch kha lijiye. Subah se aap musalsal sabse mil rahi hain. Ab thoda aaram bhi zaroori hai.”
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Aap bhi to subah se masroof hain.”
Faiz muskura diya.
“Meri fikr baad mein kijiyega, pehle apni fikr karna seekhiye.”
Ilma ne use dekha aur dil hi dil mein socha…
Koi shakhs uska itna khayal rakh raha tha.
Dono khane ki mez par aa gaye.
Ilma ne khamoshi se plate apni taraf kheench li.
Dono kuch der khamoshi se khate rahe.
Khane ke baad Ilma ne plate uthane ke liye haath badhaya to Faiz ne foran kaha,
“Rehne dein.”
“Kyun?”
“Aap aaram karein, main rakh deta hoon.”
“Main kar sakti hoon.”
“Mujhe maloom hai aap kar sakti hain, par zaroori to nahi main ye kaam aapse karwaun.”
“To aap mujhse jhaadu pocha karwayenge?”
Faiz be-ikhtiyar hans diya.
“Aap kaisi baatein kar rahi hain. Main aapko isliye to nahi keh raha.”
“Aap farq na karein, main aapse jhaadu pocha nahi karwaungi. Aapko meri jaan ho.”
Ilma kuch lamhe wahin baithi use dekhti rahi.
Faiz plate utha kar kitchen ki taraf chala gaya.
Shayad khayal rakhna bade waadon ka naam nahi hota.
Kabhi kabhi ye ek plate utha lene, waqt par khana yaad dilane aur thakan dekh kar aaram karne ko keh dene mein bhi chhupa hota hai.
Kuch der baad Faiz wapas aaya.
Ilma abhi bhi khamosh baithi thi.
“Aap kya soch rahi hain?”
“Kuch nahi.”
“Ye kuch nahi mujhe bahut kuch lag raha hai.”
Ilma ne bas halki si muskurahat di.
Kuch waqt baad dono apne kamre mein gaye.
Faiz bed par baitha laptop mein kuch kaam kar raha tha.
Ilma apne baal kanghi kar rahi thi.
Phir usne kuch sochte hue Faiz se poocha,
“Aapko mujhse mohabbat kab aur kaise hui?”
Faiz ne uski taraf dekhte hue kaha,
“Mohabbat kab aur kaise ho jaane ka khel nahi hai. Mohabbat bas ho jaati hai… ek pal, ek lamhe mein. Aur mujhe aapse ho gayi.”
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Nepal
Maaz apne kamre mein akela baitha tha.
Woh kaafi der se ro raha tha.
Aankhen surkh ho chuki thin, saansein be-tarteeb thin aur aansu musalsal uske chehre par beh rahe the.
Woh apne andar uthne wale toofan ko sambhal nahi paa raha tha.
Uske dil mein baar baar ek hi khayal aa raha tha.
Kaash woh ek baar mere saamne aa jaaye…
Achanak usne sar uthaya.
Aur phir woh saakit reh gaya.
Uske saamne Ilma khadi thi.
Wohi chehra.
Wohi aankhen.
Wohi khamoshi.
Maaz ki saans jaise ek lamhe ke liye ruk gayi.
Dono ki nazrein milin.
Aur phir dono ne ek hi waqt mein nazrein chura lein.
Maaz ne bheegi aankhon se use dekha.
Uske dil mein ek saath hazaaron baatein uthin.
Woh chahta tha ke uthe, uske paas jaaye, use apne saamne dekh kar sab kuch keh de.
Ke woh kitna toot gaya hai.
Ke usne use kitna yaad kiya hai.
Ke woh har lamha apne kiye par pachta raha hai.
Uska dil chah raha tha ke woh uske saamne phoot phoot kar roye, cheekh kar apne dil ka bojh halka kare.
Magar woh apni jagah se na hil saka.
Ilma ne use dekha.
Uski aankhon mein na gussa tha, na inteqam.
Bas ek aisi thakan thi jo bahut kuch sehne ke baad aati hai.
Maaz ke lab kaanpe.
“Ilma…”
Woh kuch aur keh pata, isse pehle Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Main ne tumhein kitna chaha tha, Maaz…”
Maaz ki aankhen dobara nam ho gayin.
Ilma ki awaaz mein dard tha.
“Itna chaha tha ke main tumhare liye har cheez karne par raazi thi. Tumhari ek khushi ke liye main apni kitni hi khushiyan chhor sakti thi.”
Woh ek lamhe ke liye khamosh hui.
“Tumhari wajah se mujhe bahut aziyat hui. Bahut kuch sehna pada. Lekin phir bhi… main tumhein chhorna nahi chahti thi.”
Maaz ne nazrein jhuka lein.
“Main ne tumhare liye har cheez chahi thi… tumhare saath ek zindagi ka khwab dekha tha.”
Uski awaaz mazeed bhaari ho gayi.
“Lekin tumne mere saath kya kiya?”
Maaz ke aansu gaalon par beh nikle.
“Dhokha… fareb… aur khamoshi.”
Woh use dekhti rahi.
“Jab tum mujhe chhor kar ja rahe the, main ne tumhein kitna roka tha na?”
Maaz ne be-ikhtiyar aankhen band kar lein.
Woh manzar jaise dobara uske saamne aa gaya tha.
Ilma ki awaaz uske kaanon mein goonj rahi thi.
“Main ne tumhein rokne ki poori koshish ki thi. Tumse kaha tha ke mat jao… lekin tumne kya kiya?”
Uski aankhon mein nami aur gehri ho gayi.
“Tumne ek baar bhi mere baare mein nahi socha. Ek baar bhi nahi socha ke tumhare jaane ke baad main kis haal mein rahungi.”
Maaz ne sar uthaya.
“Ilma…”
Magar uski awaaz jaise us tak pahunchi hi nahi.
Woh bolti rahi.
“Tumhari wajah se main ne apne bahut se logon ko dukh pahunchaya. Bahut se faisle kiye, bahut kuch bardasht kiya… sirf isliye ke mujhe lagta tha tum bhi mujhe utna hi chahte ho jitna main tumhein chahti hoon.”
Usne ek gehri saans li.
“Lekin main ghalat thi.”
Ye alfaaz Maaz ke liye kisi zakhm ki tarah the.
Ilma ne dheere se kaha,
“Ab mujhe samajh aa gaya hai ke shayad tumne mujhe kabhi us tarah chaha hi nahi tha, jaise main tumhein chahti thi.”
Maaz ke labon se be-ikhtiyar nikla,
“Aisa nahi tha…”
Ilma khamoshi se use dekhti rahi.
“To phir kya tha, Maaz?”
Maaz ke paas koi jawab nahi tha.
Woh sirf ro sakta tha.
Ilma ki awaaz ab bahut dheemi ho gayi.
“Tum meri zindagi ka aisa malaal ho… jise main chah kar bhi apni zindagi se alag nahi kar sakti.”
Usne aankhen jhuka lein.
“Tumne meri zindagi barbaad nahi ki shayad… lekin mere andar ek aisi kami zaroor chhor gaye ho jise main saari zindagi mehsoos karungi.”
Maaz ke aansu rukne ka naam nahi le rahe the.
Ilma ne aahista se kaha,
“Aur ab mujhe tumhare is jhoot ki koi zaroorat nahi. Na tumhari wazahat ki… na apne liye kisi jawab ki.”
Kamre mein khamoshi chha gayi.
Phir Ilma ne aakhri baat kahi.
“Aur rahi baat maafi ki…”
Uske labon par ek behad udaas muskurahat aayi.
“To main tumhein bahut pehle maaf kar chuki hoon.”
Maaz ne use dekha.
Ilma ki aankhon mein aansu the, magar dil mein nafrat nahi.
“Mujhe tumse kabhi nafrat ho hi nahi saki, Maaz.”
Woh chand lamhe khamosh rahi.
“Tumse nafrat karna mere bas mein hi nahi tha.”
Maaz ke andar kuch toot kar bikhar gaya.
Woh chahta tha ke aage barh kar use rok le.
Use bataye ke halaat ne use toda tha.
Ke usse ghalti hui thi.
Magar uske qadam jaise zameen mein jam gaye the.
Usne bheegi aankhon se Ilma ko dekha.
“Mujhe maaf kar do…”
Ilma ne kuch nahi kaha.
Bas use dekhti rahi.
Maaz ne aankhen band keen.
Aur jab chand lamhon baad dobara aankhen kholin to saamne koi nahi tha.
Kamra khaali tha.
Sirf uski apni saanson ki awaaz baqi thi.
Maaz ne khaali jagah ko dekha.
Woh jaanta tha Ilma wahan haqeeqat mein maujood nahi thi.
Woh sirf uske zehan ka ek waham thi, ek aisi tasveer jo uske andar jama hote dukh, pachtave aur yaadon se bani thi.
Usne dono haathon se apna chehra dhaanp liya.
Achanak ek purani yaad poori shiddat se uske zehan mein ubhri.
Kuch arsa pehle…
Woh din jab Ilma usse aakhri baar mili thi.
Woh dono kuch der ke liye ek doosre ke saamne khade the.
Ilma ki aankhon mein shikayat thi aur Maaz ke dil mein be-shumaar aisi baatein jinhein woh zubaan par nahi la paa raha tha.
Us mulaqat ke dauran Maaz ne woh hudood bhi paar ki thin jinhein use kabhi paar nahi karna chahiye tha.
Ilma ke chale jaane ke baad bhi woh manzar uske zehan se nahi nikla tha.
Lekin zindagi aage barh gayi thi.
Phir ek din—
Maaz ka accident ho gaya.
Sab kuch itni achanak hua ke use kuch samajhne ka mauqa hi nahi mila.
Jab use hospital le jaya gaya to woh shadeed takleef mein tha.
Chand din ilaaj ke baad doctors ne mazeed tests karwaye.
Aur phir woh khabar aayi…
Use cancer ki tashkhees hui thi.
Maaz kai lamhon tak doctor ke saamne khamosh baitha raha.
Cancer.
Ek lafz tha, magar use yun mehsoos hua jaise kisi ne uske saamne uski poori zindagi khol kar rakh di ho.
Woh khamoshi se doctor ko dekhta raha.
Doctor mazeed kuch samjha raha tha, ilaaj, reports, agle marahil…
Magar Maaz ke kaanon mein kuch saaf sunai nahi de raha tha.
Uske zehan mein sirf ek sawal goonj raha tha.
Agar main mar gaya to?
Usne be-ikhtiyar apne seene par haath rakha.
Abhi kuch der pehle tak use lagta tha ke zindagi bahut lambi hai.
Lekin ab pehli baar use ehsaas hua ke “baad mein” hamesha insaan ke ikhtiyar mein nahi hota.
Woh hospital ke kamre mein akela baitha chhat ko dekhta raha.
Uski aankhon ke saamne apni zindagi ke ek ek manzar guzarne lage.
Woh din jab Ilma se pehli baar mila tha.
Woh din jab use uski mohabbat ka yaqeen hua tha.
Woh lamhe jab Ilma ne us par bharosa kiya tha.
Phir woh sab kuch jo usne us bharose ke saath kiya.
Woh khamoshi…
Woh jhoot…
Woh judai…
Aur woh aakhri mulaqat.
Maaz ne aankhen band kar lein.
Use Ilma ka chehra yaad aaya.
Phir achanak use uski woh baat yaad aayi jo gusse aur be-basi mein uske labon se nikli thi.
“Mar jao Maaz, tum mar jao… taras taras ke maro. Tum bahut tarpoge.”
Maaz ka poora wajood jaise sunn ho gaya.
Usne aankhen khol dein.
“Baddua…”
Lafz uske labon se be-ikhtiyar nikla.
Usne sar jhuka liya.
Kya ye wohi dard tha?
Kya ye isi baddua ka nateeja tha?
Nahi.
Usne foran khud ko roka.
Nahi…
Woh ye kaise keh sakta tha?
Bimari ki haqeeqat ko woh apni ghaltiyon ya kisi ki baddua ka yaqini nateeja nahi bana sakta tha.
Lekin us waqt uska pachtawa itna shadeed tha ke har cheez use isi taraf le ja rahi thi.
Usne dono haathon se apna sar thaam liya.
“Ya Allah…”
Uski awaaz laraz gayi.
Aaj use Allah yaad aa raha tha.
Lekin zindagi ne pehli baar use bataya tha ke insaan ke paas abhi to hota hai, baad mein ki koi guarantee nahi hoti.
Uska seena bhaari hone laga.
Usne aankhen band kar lein, magar aankhen band karte hi maazi ki tasveerein ek ek karke uske saamne aane lagin.
Ilma ka chehra…
Uski nam aankhen…
Uske bhai Kaif ka woh chehra jab woh mar gaya tha…
Sirf Maaz ki wajah se mara tha.
Uski woh awaaz, jismein kabhi mohabbat hua karti thi aur phir sirf dard reh gaya tha.
Maaz ne be-ikhtiyar aankhen khol dein.
“Nahi…”
Usne khud se kaha.
“Ab nahi… main mazeed nahi soch sakta.”
Magar sochain kahan rukti thin.
Kuch der baad uske parents bahar se wapas aa gaye.
Maaz ko is haalat mein dekh kar uski walida foran uske paas aayin.
“Maaz… kya hua?”
Maaz ne jawab nahi diya.
Uske walid ne doctor se baat ki aur kuch zaroori kaagzaat mukammal kiye.
Doctor ne unhein bataya ke abhi kuch mazeed tests aur ibtidai ilaaj hoga, jiske liye chand din hospital mein rehna zaroori hai.
Agle chand din Maaz ke liye jaise waqt se larnay ke din the.
Kabhi dawa, kabhi tests, kabhi doctors ki amad…
Aur har baar jab doctor kamre mein daakhil hota, Maaz ki nazrein uske chehre par thehar jaatin.
Woh jaanna chahta tha ke shayad koi achhi khabar mil jaaye.
Shayad koi raasta ho.
Shayad abhi bahut waqt baqi ho.
Lekin ek din doctor kamre mein daakhil hua to uske chehre ki sanjeedgi pehle se mukhtalif thi.
Usne kuch der reports dekhin, phir Maaz ke parents ki taraf dekha.
“Main aap logon se ek zaroori baat karna chahta hoon.”
Maaz khamoshi se use dekhta raha.
Doctor ne gehri saans li.
“Humne ilaaj ki poori koshish ki hai, lekin bimari kaafi aage barh chuki hai.”
Kamre mein khamoshi chha gayi.
Maaz ki walida ne foran poocha,
“Lekin doctor sahab… ilaaj to ho sakta hai na?”
Doctor chand lamhe khamosh raha.
“Kuch din pehle tak hum umeed ke saath ilaaj aage barha rahe the, lekin ab reports wazeh hain. Cancer aakhri marhale mein hai.”
Maaz ki ungliyan chadar mein dhans gayin.
Usne nazrein jhuka lein.
Doctor ki awaaz ab bahut narm thi.
“Ab is marhale par hum woh ilaaj nahi kar sakte jisse bimari khatam ho jaaye.”
Maaz ke walid ki aankhen nam ho gayin.
“To phir…?”
Doctor ne aahista se kaha,
“Mera mashwara hai ke aap ise ghar le jaayein.”
Ye alfaaz Maaz ke kaanon mein jaise goonj kar reh gaye.
Ghar le jaayein.
Yani ab hospital ke paas bhi uske liye kuch nahi tha.
Yani ab ilaaj khatam nahi hua tha…
Balki umeed ka woh hissa khatam ho gaya tha jise woh ilaaj samajhta tha.
Maaz ne pehli baar doctor ki taraf seedha dekha.
“Doctor… mere paas kitna waqt hai?”
Doctor khamosh ho gaya.
Kuch sawalon ke jawab alfaaz mein nahi diye ja sakte the.
“Hum koi hatmi waqt nahi bata sakte, Maaz. Har mareez mukhtalif hota hai. Abhi aapko aaram, dawaon aur apne ghar walon ki zaroorat hai.”
Maaz ne halki si muskurahat ke saath sar hila diya.
“Samajh gaya.”
Magar woh samjha nahi tha.
Woh sirf sun raha tha.
Aur apne andar toot raha tha.
Ghar wapas aate hue gaadi ki khidki se bahar sadkein tezi se peeche ja rahi thin.
Woh khamosh baitha tha.
Uski walida baar baar use dekh rahi thin, magar Maaz kisi se baat nahi kar raha tha.
Uske zehan mein sirf ek baat gardish kar rahi thi.
“Ab kitna waqt hai?”
Kabhi woh sochta…
Agar main ne us din Ilma ki baat sun li hoti to?
Agar main ne use dhoka na diya hota?
Agar main ne uske aansuon ko samjha hota?
Agar main ne mohabbat ko khel na samjha hota?
Agar…
Agar…
Agar…
Usne aankhen band kar lein.
Kitne “agar” the uski zindagi mein.
Aur kitne hi “baad mein”.
Magar aaj use pehli baar samajh aaya tha ke “baad mein” sirf ek lafz hai, wada nahi.
Uski aankh se ek aansu nikal kar gaal par beh gaya.
Usne foran chehra doosri taraf kar liya taake parents na dekh saken.
Magar andar se ek sawal baar baar uth raha tha.
Agar maut waqai itni qareeb ho to kya Allah mujhe maaf karega?
Phir Ilma yaad aayi.
Uski woh aankhen…
Woh aansu…
Woh aakhri dard…
Aur uski baddua.
“Allah tumhein bhi kabhi woh dard de jis se main guzar rahi hoon…”
Maaz ka dil zor se dhadka.
Usne dono haathon se apna chehra dhaanp liya.
“Ya Allah…”
Uski awaaz bamushkil nikli.
“Main nahi jaanta ye meri saza hai ya sirf ek bimari… aur main ye jaanne ke qabil bhi nahi hoon.”
Uski awaaz toot gayi.
“Bas… agar mere paas thoda sa waqt baqi hai to mujhe tauba ka mauqa de de.”
Woh khamosh ho gaya.
Phir ek aur khayal aaya.
Ilma kahan hogi?
Kya woh khush hogi?
Kya woh kabhi use yaad karti hogi?
Kya use maloom bhi hai ke woh kis haal mein hai?
Phir usne khud hi aankhen band kar lein.
“Nahi…”
Usne khud ko roka.
“Use kuch batana zaroori nahi.”
Magar agle hi lamhe dil ne sawal kiya—
Agar ye waqt uski zindagi ka aakhri hissa hai to kya woh Ilma ko ek baar dekhna chahega?
Jawab foran andar se aaya.
Haan.
Sirf ek baar.
Sirf itna ke woh uske saamne baith kar keh sake—
“Ilma… mujhe maaf kar do.”
Agle chand din Maaz ne Ilma ko dhoondhne mein guzar diye.
Usne kai jagahon par poocha, purane numbers par rabta karne ki koshish ki, un logon se bhi maloomat leen jo shayad uske baare mein kuch jaante hon.
Magar koi jawab nahi mila.
Ilma kahan thi, use maloom nahi tha.
Uska ghar bhi ab wahan nahi tha.
Aur Nepal ke halaat bhi din ba din aise hote ja rahe the ke logon ka ek jagah se doosri jagah muntaqil hona mamool ban gaya tha.
Har koshish ke bawajood Maaz tak Ilma ki koi khabar nahi pahunchi.
Woh har raat yahi soch kar sota ke shayad kal koi khabar mil jaaye.
Magar har subah pehle se zyada khaali hoti.
Aaj bhi woh apne kamre mein akela baitha tha.
Khidki ke bahar shaam utar rahi thi.
Kamre mein halki si roshni thi, magar Maaz kai ghanton se isi jagah baitha hua tha.
Uske saamne mez par dawaein padi thin, paani ka glass rakha tha aur ek taraf woh reports jinhein ne uski zindagi ka rukh badal diya tha.
Usne ek baar phir aankhen band kar lein.
“Ilma…”
Naam labon par aaya to dil jaise kisi ne mutthi mein jakar liya.
Woh kursi se uthne ki koshish hi kar raha tha ke achanak use yun mehsoos hua jaise kamre ke doosre sire par koi khada hai.
Woh ruk gaya.
Uski nazrein wahin jam gayin.
Safed libaas…
Jhuki hui nazrein…
Wohi chehra…
Wohi aankhein…
“Ilma…?”
Uske labon se beikhtiyar nikla.
Woh aahista-aahista uski taraf badha.
Magar chand qadam baad hi woh ruk gaya.
Usne aankhein jhapkayin.
Samne koi nahi tha.
Sirf khaali kamra tha.
Maaz ne bebasi se hansne ki koshish ki.
“Tum yahan nahi ho…”
Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
“Mujhe maloom hai.”
Woh kuch lamhe khamosh khada raha, phir aahista se wapas kursi par baith gaya.
Lekin is baar uske dil mein ek ajeeb si ghabrahat utar chuki thi.
Usne mez par rakha paani ka glass uthaya.
Haath kaanp raha tha.
Glass labon tak pahuncha hi tha ke achanak uske seene mein shadeed dard utha.
Usne glass foran mez par rakh diya.
“Aah…”
Uska haath seene par ja thehra.
Saans bhaari hone lagi.
Woh uthne ki koshish karne laga, magar jism ne saath nahi diya.
Agle hi lamhe use shadeed khaansi aayi.
Ek baar…
Phir doosri baar…
Aur teesri baar khaanstay hi uske labon par khoon aa gaya.
Maaz chand lamhe saakit reh gaya.
Usne apni hatheli dekhi.
Surkh khoon.
Uski aankhon mein khauf utar aaya.
“Ya Allah…”
Woh bemushkil itna hi keh saka.
Phir ek aur shadeed khaansi aayi aur is baar khoon zyada tha.
Kursi ek taraf sarak gayi aur Maaz zameen par ghutnon ke bal gir pada.
Awaaz sunkar bahar maujood uski walida foran kamre mein aayin.
“Maaz!”
Woh cheekh uthin.
Maaz ne sar uthane ki koshish ki, magar aankhon ke saamne andhera chhaane laga tha.
Uske walid bhi foran andar pahunche.
“Kya hua ise?”
“Khoon… Maaz ko khoon aa raha hai!”
Walid ne foran use sahara diya.
“Beta, aankhein kholo. Maaz!”
Maaz ne bemushkil aankhein kholeen.
Uske labon par ab bhi khoon ke asaar the.
Woh kuch kehna chahta tha.
Sirf ek naam zubaan tak aaya.
“Ilma…”
Phir uski aankhein band hone lagin.
“Nahi beta, aankhein band mat karo!”
Uske walid ki awaaz laraz gayi.
Chand hi lamhon mein use gaari mein hospital le jaya gaya.
Raaste bhar uski walida uska haath thaame duaein padhti rahin.
Aur Maaz neem-behoshi ki haalat mein sirf ek hi baat sochta raha—
Koi jaakar Ilma ko bata de…
Aaj woh mar raha tha.
Tadap-tadap kar mar raha tha.
Aaj baddua ne asar kar diya tha.
Hospital pahunchte hi doctors ne Maaz ko foran emergency mein transfer kar diya.
Uske walidain bahar khade the. Maa musalsal duaein padh rahi thi, jabke uske walid baar-baar emergency ke darwaze ki taraf dekh rahe the.
Kuch der baad ek doctor tezi se bahar aaya.
“Patient ke saath kaun hai?”
“Hum… hum uske walidain hain.”
Doctor ne sanjeedgi se poocha,
“Ise pehle se cancer ki tashkhees hai?”
Uske walid ne foran sar hila diya.
“Ji… aakhri stage batayi hai. Chand din pehle hi doctor ne kaha tha ke ab ghar le jaayen.”
Doctor ne ek lamhe ke liye aankhein band keen.
“Aur aaj se pehle aisi haalat hui thi? Khoon ki ulti?”
“Nahi… aaj pehli baar itna khoon aaya hai.”
Doctor ne kuch lamhe socha, phir kaha,
“Hum poori koshish kar rahe hain, lekin iski haalat bahut naazuk hai. Aap khud ko zehni taur par tayyar rakhein.”
Maaz ki walida ke qadam ladkhada gaye.
“Doctor sahab… mera beta bach jaayega na?”
Doctor ne koi jhooti umeed nahi dilayi.
“Main abhi kuch hatmi nahi keh sakta.”
Woh dobara andar chala gaya.
Andar Maaz ki saansein be-tarteeb ho rahi thin.
Machines ki awaazein musalsal kamre mein goonj rahi thin.
Usne aankhein kholne ki koshish ki.
Use kuch saaf dikhai nahi de raha tha.
Uske seene mein dard ki ek shadeed lehar uthi.
Usne hilne ki koshish ki, magar jism ne saath nahi diya.
Chand lamhon baad machine ki awaaz badal gayi.
Doctors foran uske gird jama ho gaye.
“Blood pressure gir raha hai.”
“Jaldi karein.”
“Maaz! Aankhein kholo!”
Magar is baar Maaz jaise bahut door ja chuka tha.
Uske zehan mein aakhri baar Ilma ka chehra aaya.
Phir uski saans aahista-aahista madhham pad gayi.
Koshish jaari rahi.
Kuch der baad doctor ne ek lambi khamoshi ke baad machine ki taraf dekha.
Usne nazrein jhuka leen.
Aur phir bahar khade walidain ki taraf qadam badhaye.
Maaz ki walida doctor ka chehra dekhte hi samajh gayin.
Doctor ne bahut dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Humne poori koshish ki… lekin hum use bacha nahi sake.”
Unki duniya jaise wahin ruk gayi.
Maaz ke walid deewar ka sahara lekar khade rahe.
Aur andar, ek kamre mein, Maaz ki zindagi khamosh ho chuki thi.
Use yeh kabhi maloom na ho saka ke uski beemari kisi baddua ka nateeja thi ya nahi.
Lekin apni aakhri ghadi mein woh use apni ghaltiyon ki saza samajh kar tadapta raha tha.
Aur Ilma…
Woh us waqt kahan thi, use kuch khabar nahi thi.
Aaj uska mehboob khatam ho chuka tha.
Par woh mehboob tha, hai nahi, kabhi.
Woh to qaatil ban gaya tha.
Woh bhi uske sage bhai ka.
Aaj Maaz Shah ne apni aakhri saans li thi.
Aaj Maaz Shah khatam ho chuka tha.
—
Is kahani ka yahan ikhtitaam ho gaya hai…
Ya ek naya aaghaz hoga?
Yeh aane wala waqt hi batayega.