Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter10 : Zehar mein ghuli Muhabat

Raat ka andhera, badal ki garaj aur tez barish—ye sab Zarvan Khan ki nafrat ke gawah thay. Usne Dua ko gallery mein chhor kar darwaza band kar liya tha, magar uska dil kahan man raha tha? Wo bistar par to lait gaya, lekin uska zameer use sone kahan de raha tha? Ek taraf uske baap ki lash ka gham tha, toh dusri taraf uski ana ki wo tees, jo use Dua par taras khane se rok rahi thi. Woh karwat badalta raha, kabhi apne zakhmi bazu ki chubhan mehsoos karta, toh kabhi bahar hoti barish ki awaaz par uska dil dhalak jata. Aakhir-kaar, thak haar kar wo neend ke gahre samandar mein utar gaya.

Bahar gallery mein, Dua ka bura haal tha. Wo darwaza khatkhatate khatkhatate thak chuki thi. Barish ka pani ab gallery mein ek chhota sa talab ban chuka tha. Dua ki kameez aur shalwar poori tarah bheeg kar uske jism se chipak gayi thi. Sard hawaein uske wajood ko cheer rahi thin. Woh wahan farsh par baith gayi, apne ghutno ko seene se lagaye, sar ko deewar par tikaye wo siskiyan bhar rahi thi. Uski cheekhein barish ke shor mein gum ho rahi thin. Dheere-dheere, thand aur bebasi ne uske jism ko nirdhal kar diya. Uski aankhein jhukne lagin, aur wo wahi pani mein nidhal ho kar gir gayi.

Subah fajar ka waqt hua. Aasmaan par halki si safedi phail rahi thi. Zarvan ki aankh khuli toh uska sir bhari tha. Pehla khayal apne baap ka aaya, aur phir... Dua ka.

"Dua..." usne bar-jassta kaha aur jhatke se utha. Uska dil kisi buri waja se zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Woh tezi se chala aur gallery ka darwaza khola.

Samne ka manzar dekh kar Zarvan Khan ki saansein tham gayin. Dua wahan farsh par pari thi. Woh poori tarah bheegi hui thi, uske kaalay baal uske chehre par bikharay hue thay, aur pani ki boondein uske gauray, chamakdar chehre par motiyon ki tarah gir rahi thin. Uske hont sardi ki shiddat se sookh kar neelay par gaye thay. Woh bilkul be-sud thi.

"Dua!" Zarvan ki cheekh nikli.

Woh jhatke se niche jhuka aur Dua ko apne dono bazuon mein utha liya. Uska jism barf ki tarah thanda tha. Zarvan ka dil ghabrahat se phatne ko tha. Usne tezi se kadam uthaye aur use apne kamre mein la kar naram bistar par lita diya.

Dua... aankhein kholo! Dua!"

Usne pareshani mein Dua ke gaalon ko thapthapaya. Uski nabz boht dhimi chal rahi thi. Zarvan ne foran uske hathon ko apne hathon mein lekar ragarna shuru kiya, taake unmein harkat paida ho, lekin Dua ka jism abhi bhi thanda tha. Zarvan ka gussa, uski ana, uska badla—sab kuch pal bhar mein dhuaan ho gaya.

Uff! Yeh kya museebat hai... yeh kya kar baitha main?" wo khud se hi barbaraya. Uska matha pasine se bheer gaya tha. Wo ab us darinde ke bajaye ek pareshan aur khauf-zada insaan lag raha tha, jise darr tha ke kahin uske hathon ek aur jaan na chali jaye. Usne foran pani garam karne aur doctor ko bulane ki tadbeer sochni shuru kar di.

Zarvan ki aankhon mein ab nafrat nahi, balki ek ajeeb si pareshani thi. Usne kabhi nahi socha tha ke ek ladki ki ye bebasi use itna tor degi.

Zarvan Khan bed ke paas khara, hairaan aur pareshan, Dua ke chehre ko ghour se dekh raha tha. Uska gora rang ab bukhar ki shiddat se surkh par raha tha. Zarvan ek jhatke se peeche huta aur apne baalon mein ungliyan phairte hue kamre mein idhar udhar ghoomne laga. "Kya karoon... kya karoon?" Uske zehen mein khauf tha. Uski maa aur Mirha din bhar rone ke baad mushkil se soyi thin, unhein jaga kar mazeed pareshani dena wo nahi chahta tha.

Hospital le gaya toh police case ban jayega, ya phir Dua ke ghar walon ko khabar hogi. Aur main... main is waqt is sab mein nahi parh sakta. Kal Karachi nikalna hai." Zarvan ka dimagh tezi se chal raha tha. Usne foran faisla kiya aur nokron ke quarter ki taraf bhaga. Bakhtiyar ke darwaze par dastak di toh wo ankhain masalta bahar nikla, Zarvan ko itni subah apne darwaze par dekh kar wo hairan reh gaya.

"Bakhtiyar! Fauran apni begum ko bhejo, Dua behosh ho gayi hai!" Zarvan ki awaaz mein hukm aur ghabrahat dono thi.

Bakhtiyar ki begum sar hilati hui haveli ki taraf dauri. Zarvan ne use raste mein hi rok kar kaha, "Apne kuch kapray saath le aana." Wo dono kamre tak aaye toh Zarvan bahar hi ruk gaya. "Andar jo larki hai, use ye kapray pehna do." Bakhtiyar ki begum hairat se Zarvan ko dekh kar andar chali gayi. Kuch der baad wo bahar aayi toh uski aankhein phati ki phati reh gayin, usne socha bhi nahi tha ke Zarvan Khan ke kamre mein koi larki is halat mein hogi. "Sahab, wo toh bukhar mein tap rahi hai, bohat tez bukhar hai use," nokrani ne kaha.

theek hai mein dekh loo ga tum jao ab

Zarvan ne use rukhsat kiya aur khud kamre mein dakhil hua. Usne ek katori mein pani bhara aur saari raat Dua ki patiyan karta raha. "Saari ghalti hi meri hai... saza bhi mujhe hi mil rahi hai," wo gusse aur pachtavay mein barbarata raha. Dua ka bukhar toh thora kam hua, lekin sardi ki shiddat se wo hosh mein aakar kanpne lagi. Uske hont abhi bhi neele thay.

Zarvan ne Dua ko kambal mein lapeta aur uske hath apne hathon mein lekar ragarne laga. Wo Dua ke paon bhi garam karne ki koshish kar raha tha. Wo Dua ke itna qareeb tha ke uski garam saansein Dua ke gaalon ko chhoo rahi thin. Zarvan ka apna zakhmi bazu bhi dard se phat raha tha, magar uski saari tawajja Dua ki jaan bachane par thi. Wo dard aur thakaan se chur ho kar wahi bed ke paas baithe-baithe hi neend ki wadiyon mein kho gaya.

Subah ki pehli kiran kamre mein phail rahi thi, magar kamre ka mausam abhi bhi thanda aur bojh-tal tha. Dua ki aankhein dhire-dhire khulin. Uska sir abhi bhi bhari tha, magar bukhar ki shiddat mein kami aa chuki thi. Jaise hi usne apni nazrein ghumayin, toh wo ek jhatke se uth kar beth gayi.

Uske bilkul qareeb, Zarvan Khan betha tha. Wo raat bhar ki thakaan aur dard ki wajah se bed ke paas hi sar jhukaye so raha tha. Uska ek hath abhi bhi Dua ke hathon ko thame hue tha, aur woh gehri neend mein uske bilkul oopar jhuka hua tha. Dua ka dil kisi darinde ke samne aane wale shikhar ki tarah zor-zor se dhadakne laga.

"Ye... ye main kahan hoon? Aur ye... ye kya ho raha hai?" Dua ki awaz mein lرزish thi.

Use dhundhli si yaadein aane lagin—wo barish, wo sardi, wo darwaze par dastak dena... aur phir uska behosh hona. Use yaad aya ke jab wo halkay hosh mein thi, toh kisi ne uske hath apne hathon mein lekar garmi di thi.or ose yad aya kisi ki garam sansaien osk chehry pr lg ri thi kisi k hath osk galo pr thy Kya wo Zarvan tha? kiya hua tha kal raat??

Dua ne abhi ye socha hi tha ke Zarvan Khan ki aankhein khul gayin. Uske chehre par neend ka gubaar tha, magar Dua ko utha hua dekh kar uski nazrein tezi se badal gayin. Wo Dua ko khamoshi se dekhne laga. Dua, jo abhi bhi uske jhatke se sambhal nahi payi thi, uski nazar apne kapron par pari. Uska libaas badla hua tha.

Ye ehsas hote hi Dua ka khoon khaul utha. Use laga jaise uski izzat par koi bahut bara dhabba lag gaya ho. Usne palak jhapkate hi Zarvan ka collar apne dono hathon se pakra aur use zor-zor se jhinjhorne lagi.

Zarvan! Tum itne ghatiya, itne kamzarf kaise ho sakte ho?!" Dua cheekhi, uski aankhon se nafrat aur gusse ke aansu behte hue uske chehre par gir rahe thay. "Tumne mere sath kya kiya hai? mere kapryy??

ye bolty hi Dua ki ankho ansoao se bhar gai..

Zarvan Khan, jo abhi gehri neend se utha tha, Dua ki is achanak harkat par bokhla gaya. Wo apni jagah se hila tak nahi, bas apni gehari, siyah aankhon se Dua ko dekhta raha. Uske chehre par koi gussa nahi tha, balki ek ajeeb si hairat thi. Wo samajh nahi pa raha tha ke ye larki jo abhi kal tak maut ke munh mein thi, ab itni taqat kahan se le aayi hai ke use jhinjhor rahi hai?

Dua... hosh mein aao," Zarvan ki awaz bhari aur thaki hui thi.

"Main hosh mein hi hoon!" Dua ne use mazeed zor se jhatka diya, uske baal bikhar gaye thay aur uska wajood ghusse se kaanp raha tha. "Tumhe laga hoga main be-sud hoon toh tum kuch bhi kar loge? Tumhe sharam nahi aayi?

Tumne meri majboori ka fayda uthane ki koshish ki?"

Zarvan ne abhi tak koi jawab nahi diya tha. Wo bas use dekh raha tha, ye soch kar ke uski ye nafrat aur ye ilzaam kitne dardnak thay. Usne raat bhar uski jan bachane ke liye jo koshish ki thi, jo dard saha tha, uska shayad Dua ko andaza hi nahi tha. Zarvan ne dhire se apna collar uski mutthiyon se chhuraya aur uth kar khara ho gaya. Uske zakhmi bazu mein dard ki ek lehar dauri, jiski wajah se usne apni aankhein ek pal ke liye meech lin.

phir Zarvan Khan ne uske ilzamon ka koi jawab nahi diya. Woh bas ek baar Dua ki surkh aankhon mein dekha, phir nazrein hata li Uske chehre par koi shikayat nahi thi, balki ek aisi be-hisi thi jo Dua ko andar se jhanjhor gayi. Woh palta aur bina ek lafz kahe kamre se bahar nikal gaya.

Darwaza band hone ki awaaz kamre ke sannatay mein kisi dhamakay ki tarah gunji.

Dua wahan bister par akeli reh gayi. Uska dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Woh ab bhi kanp rahi thi—ghusse se nahi, balki us khauf se jo Zarvan ki khamoshi mein chhupa tha. Kapde badle hue thay, aur Zarvan ne yeh tak nahi bataya ke yeh kisne kiya. Kya usne khud... nahi! Woh aisa nahi kar sakta, ya phir shayad wo kar sakta hai? Dua ka zehen baar-baar wahi sawal dohra raha tha, lekin jawab koi nahi tha.

Wo bister se uthi aur dheere-dheere chalte hue darwaze tak gayi. Darwaza bahar se band tha. Wo wapis bister par giri aur apne sar ko hathon mein pakar kar rone lagi.

"Kyu... kyu qaid kiya hai mujhe? mein ny to kuch bhi nahi kia tha.. aur raat ko kia Keeya isne mere sth wo zor zor se phoot phoot kar rouny lgi..

Dosri taraf, Zarvan Khan kmry k bahir hi khara tha. Uska zakhmi bazu ab mazeed dard karne laga tha, magar wo dard uske dil ke bojh ke aage kuch nahi tha.

Wo guse se neechy utara or Sehan mein agya.

Bakhtiyar dur khara sar jhukaye khara tha.

"Sahab... woh... larki hosh mein aa gayi?" Bakhtiyar ne darte-darte pucha.

Zarvan ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh bas bahar barasti hui boondon ko dekh raha tha, jo ab dheemi par gayi thin. Usne apni mutthiyan zor se bhinchein. Use Dua ke woh ilzaam yaad aa rahe thay—Ghatiya, Kamzarf.

Zarvan ne aankhein band kar lin. Woh Dua ko yeh batana nahi chahta tha ke usne nokrani ko bulaya tha. Uski ana (ego) use rokh rahi thi ke wo safai pesh kare. Woh chahta tha ke Dua usay bura hi samjhe, taake uski nafrat usay mazeed mazboot bana de. Lekin andar hi andar, usay mehsoos ho raha tha ke is nafrat ke khel mein woh khud apni rooh ko qatl kar raha hai.

Zarvan Khan sehan mein usi jagah baitha tha jahan uske walid ka basera hota tha. Woh purana sofa, wo khamoshi—sab kuch usay apne baap ki yaad dila raha tha. Zarvan ki aankhon mein aansu nahi thay, unmein sirf ek aag thi, ek surkhi thi jo badle ki pyaas se ubhri thi. Uske andar ka insan mar chuka tha, ab sirf ek pathar ka Zarvan bacha tha.

"Kaash aap yahan mere sath hote, Baba..." wo dhire se badbadaaya. Uski awaaz mein dard aur tanhai thi.

Itne mein Bakhtiyar dabe paun wahan aaya, "Sahab... apki flight ka waqt ho raha hai."

Zarvan ne ek pal ke liye socha, phir thanday lehje mein bola, "Aik ticket aur karwa do. Dua bhi hamare sath jayegi." Bakhtiyar hairan hua, magar koi sawal karne ki jurrat na kar saka aur sar jhuka kar chala gaya.

Dosri taraf, haveli mein sannaata aisa tha ke saansein lene ki awaaz bhi chubhti thi. Teen janazon ke uthne ke baad se haveli ek zinda qabr ban chuki thi. Dastarkhwan par koi kuch nahi kha raha tha, sirf aansu thay jo khanon mein mil rahe thay.

Shaban, jiski aankhon mein khun utra hua tha, apne taya Waqas Khan ke paas betha. "Taya jaan, main unse badla le kar rahunga. Main Zarvan Khan ka naam-o-nishaan mita doon ga!"

Waqas Khan ne apne bhatijay ka kandha pakra, "Hum mil kar badla lenge, Shaban. Usne hamara ghar ujara hai, hum uski duniya ujad denge."

Dadi, jo ab tak pathar bani bethi thin, unhone apni bhari aur thandi awaaz mein kaha, "Abhi kuch nahi kar sakte. Sahi waqt ka intezar karo. Mere bachon ki lashein usne bichayi hain, main khud oski laash bichaa doon gi, magar abhi nahi."

Dua ki maa ne sisak kar pucha, "Aur Dua? Dua ka kya karna hai?

Dadi guse se Ek raat guzar gayi us darinde ke paas... ye hmare liye doob Jane ki bat hai

Dua ki maa :amaa, mujhe meri beti chahiye!" Woh dhaarey maar kar rone lagi.

Dadi ne thandi nazar se unhe dekha,. Agar Dua yahan aa bhi jati hai, toh usay marna hi paray ga. Woh izzat-e-khandan ke liye daagh ban chuki hai. Jab tak wo wahan hai, usay zinda rehne do. Wahi uski saza hai."

Dua ki maa ki cheekh nikal gayi. Wo apni saas ko ajeeb aur khaufzada nazron se dekhne lagi.

Dushmani ki aag ne rishton ki pehchaan hi mita di thi. Dua wahan Zarvan ki qaid mein thi, aur yahan apne hi ghar mein uske liye maut ka faisla sunaya ja raha tha.

Dosri traf, Dua kamre ke us kone mein simti bethi thi, jahan usay Zarvan ne qaid kar rakha tha. Uski aankhon mein ab aansu nahi, balki ek ajeeb sa azm tha.

Mujhe yahan se bhagna hi hoga... agar main yahan rahi toh Zarvan mujhe barbad kar dega

Usne kamre ka darwaza parakha—wo bahar se mazbooti se band tha. Uski nazar kamre ki khirki par gayi.

Wo khirki from house ke andar ki gallery aur seeryon ki taraf khulti thi. Dua ne dabe paon us taraf rukh kiya. Uski dil ki dhadkan tez thi, magar haveli wapis jaane ki umeed ne usay hosla diya hua tha.

Usne khirki ki kundi ko boht ahista se khola, kahin koi awaz na ho jaye. Khirki khul gayi toh samne seeryon ka rasta tha jo niche sehan ki taraf jata tha. Dua ne sakoon ka saans liya. Wo khirki se bahar nikli aur boht sambhal kar, deewar ke sath chipti hui seerya utarne lagi. Har qadam uthate waqt wo dar rahi thi ke kahin koi mulazim ya guard use dekh na le.

Uska jism abhi bhi kamzor tha, bukhar ki wajah se sar chakara raha tha, magar uska maqsad saaf tha. Wo kisi tarah sehan tak pohanch gayi. Sehan se bahar nikalne ka rasta waise toh mushkil tha, magar Dua ne himmat nahi haari. Wo andhere ka fayda uthate hue, sayon mein chupti hui main gate ki taraf barhne lagi.

Use lag raha tha ke jaise hi wo gate ke bahar qadam rakhegi, wo azad ho jayegi aur kuch hi ghanton mein apni haveli ki deewaron ke andar hogi, jahan usay apne ghar wale mil jayenge. Use ye khayal tak nahi tha ke uski haveli mein kya ho raha hai, wo bas wahan jana chahti thi jahan uska sukoon tha.

Dua ki saansein seene mein atak gayin jab wo farm house ke sehan ke darwaze tak pohnchi. Wo baar-baar ghabrayi hui nazron se peeche mud-mud kar dekh rahi thi, jese use khauf ho ke koi uska peecha kar raha hai. Uski tawajja puri tarah peeche ki taraf thi, isliye usay samne kharay shakhs ka andaza hi na hua.

Achanak, wo kisi sakht aur mazboot cheez se ja takrayi. Wo koi deewar nahi thi, balki ek mazboot aur chaudha seena tha jo usay apni taraf aate hue nahi dikha tha. Dua jhatke se ruki, uske haath achanak se sambhalne ke liye samne wale shakhs ke seene par tik gaye. Usne sar utha kar dekha toh uske pairon tale zameen nikal gayi; ye Zarvan Khan tha, jo bilkul uske samne khara usay ghour se dekh raha tha.

Zarvan ki gehri, siyah aankhein Dua ki tharrayi hui aankhon mein garri hui thin. Wo khamosh tha, magar uski nigahon mein ek ajeeb sa gussa aur hairat thi. Dua ke haath abhi bhi Zarvan ke seene par majbooti se jame hue thay, aur wo is qadar darr chuki thi ke usse hila tak nahi ja raha tha. Dono ke darmiyan khamoshi itni gehri thi ke unki saansein tak ek dusre ko mehsoos ho rahi thin. Dua ki saansein taizi se chal rahi thin aur uske dil ki dhadkan uske kaanon mein gunj rahi thi, jabke Zarvan bilkul sakoon se, apni pur-asar nazron se usay dekh raha tha. Us pal wahan waqt jese thum gaya tha.