Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter14 : Humdard

Zarvan Khan gehri kashmakash mein mubtala tha. Ek taraf uski nafrat thi aur dusri taraf Dua ki ye masoom aur thaki hui haalat. Wo khud ko matti karta hua peeche huta, darwaza khola aur kamre se bahar nikal gaya.

"Yeh mere dushmano ki aulad hai... mere dushmano ka hi khoon hai," wo khud se barbarata raha, "toh phir mujhe bura kyun lag raha hai? Kyun?"

Wo khud ko samjhane ki nakaam koshish karta hua wapas guest room ki taraf nikal gaya, jahan usay sukoon nahi, bas apni soch se farar chahiye tha.

Dua ke liye ye ab ek roz ka mamool ban gaya tha. Zarvan ki maa ne use haveli ki mazdoor bana kar rakh diya tha. Subah suraj nikalne se pehle uthna, ghar ki safai, dusting, bartan, aur kitchen ka sara bojh—Dua ye sab kuch akeli sehti rahi.

Wo ab kuch nahi kehti thi. Na koi shikayat, na koi zidd. Wo khamosh thi, jaise uske andar ki rooh thak kar so gayi ho. Usay ab na apne kapron ki fikr thi, na apne baalon ki, aur na hi is baat ki ke log usay kya keh rahe hain. Usne apni zaat ko mita kar khud ko sirf ek "mulazima" maan liya tha.

Dua ka rang zard par gaya tha aur aankhon ke gird halkay par gaye thay. Uski sehat din-ba-din girti ja rahi thi. Na wo theek se khana khati thi, na hi usay neend aati thi. Wo ab ek aisi machine ban chuki thi jo thakan se choor hone ke bawajood ruke bina kaam karti jati thi. Uska khush-mizaaj chehra ab ek gehri udaasi aur khamoshi mein kho gaya tha.

Haveli ke baki mulazmeen bhi use dekh kar dabe lafzon mein afsos karte, magar koi uski madad karne ki himmat nahi karta tha. Dua ab sirf ek zinda laash ki tarah thi, jise waqt ke haathon ne itna majboor kar diya tha ke ab usay kisi bhi cheez se koi farq nahi parta tha.

Haveli ki dining table par khamoshi ka basera tha. Dua aaj bhi mehnat-e-mashaqqat ke baad bilkul be-jaan si lag rahi thi. Uske chehre par koi khushi, koi shikayat, yahan tak ke koi jazbaat bhi baaki nahi bache thay. Woh bas ek mashine ki tarah table laga rahi thi.

Zarvan Khan, jo khamoshi se chair par baitha tha, usne apni nazrein Dua par tika rakhi thin. Usne sard lehje mein pucha, "Mera juice?"

Dua, jo shayad khayalon ki duniya mein khoyi hui thi, Zarvan ki achanak awaaz sun kar sakpaka gayi. Uske chehre par ghabrahat saaf dikh rahi thi, jese use khauf ho ke kahin us se koi galti na ho jaye. "M-main... main abhi lati hoon," wo larkharati hui awaaz mein boli aur tezi se kitchen ki taraf bhagi.

Zarvan ne use aise darte aur sehme hue dekha, toh uske dil ko kisi ne khunjjar ki tarah chot pohanchayi. Woh janta tha ke Dua mein ab pehle jaisi baat nahi rahi—wo bold, ziddi aur masoom Dua ab khauf ki chadar mein lipti hui thi. Zarvan ko ehsas hua ke usne ya uske ghar ne Dua ko kitna tor diya hai. Wo itna zalim bhi nahi tha ke ek insaan ko is had tak ghuta hua dekh sake.

Zarvan ne gusse mein chair piche dhakeli aur bina khana khatam kiye, khud par aur apni halaat par ghussa hote hue wahan se uth kar chala gaya.

Zarvan ki maa, jo ye sab dekh rahi thin, unhone foran teer chalaya. Unhone Dua ko ghoor kar dekha aur sakhti se boli, "Ye sab tumhari waja se hua hai! Zarvan ko tumhari ye sadi hui surat nahi pasand, tabhi wo khana chhor kar chala gaya hai. Lo, ab tum khud kha lo, main bhi ja rahi hoon."

Maa ke ye kadwe alfaz sun kar Dua wahan table ke paas hi khari reh gayi. Usne unhe kuch nahi kaha, bas unki jaati hui peeth ko dekhti rahi. Uske dil mein dard ka ek samandar tha, magar usne sab sambhaal liya. Sirf ek aansoo, jo shayed uske puray din ki thakan aur zillat ka nichor tha, uski aankh se gir kar uske gaal par chamak utha.

Woh wahan khamosh khari rahi, uski zindagi ab bas unhi khamosh aansuo'n aur zulm ke saaye mein simat kar reh gayi thi.

Ek shaam, jab haveli ki fizayein thori pur-sukoon thin, Dua Zarvan ke kamre mein dusting kar rahi thi. Wo ab itni thak chuki thi ke uske hathon mein wo pehli jaisi furti nahi rahi thi. Achanak, ek mehanga decoration piece uske hath se phisla aur seedha uske paon par ja gira.

Dard ki ek lehar uske jism mein dauri aur paon se khoon behne laga. Dua ne darwaze ki taraf dekha jahan Zarvan khara tha. Wo buri tarah ghabra gayi, "Mujhe... mujhe maaf kar do! Mujh se galti se gir gaya, ab nahi hoga aisa, please!"

Zarvan ke liye ye manzar bardasht karna mushkil tha. Wo tezi se Dua ke paas aya aur uske kandhon ko narm se thama. "Dua, kuch nahi hua... kuch nahi hua. Yahan baitho." Usne Dua ko sahara de kar bed par bithaya aur bhagta hua medical box lene chala gaya.

Zarvan wapas aya, medical box khola aur Dua ka zakhmi paon apne ghutno par rakha. Jaise hi usne zakhm saaf karne ki koshish ki, Dua ki cheekh nikal gayi. Dard ki shiddat mein usne Zarvan ki shirt ko uske kandhe ke paas se zor se dabaya. Zarvan ne khamoshi se tube lagayi aur pati karni shuru kar di. Pati karne ke baad usne Dua ka paon bed par aram se rakh diya.

Dua ne dhimi awaz mein kaha, "Mujhe... mujhe dusting mukammal karni hai."

Zarvan ne sakht lehje mein roka, "Nahi! Tum ab se kuch bhi nahi karogi. Bas, bohat ho gaya. Tum yahin sukoon se baitho, main abhi aata hoon."

Zarvan ne darwaza zor se band kiya aur seedha apni maa ki taraf barha. Uske andar ka ghutan ab gusse ka roop dhaar chuki thi.

Maa ne use dekhte hi pucha, "Kya hua? Itne gusse mein kyun ho?"

Zarvan ki aankhon mein aag thi, "Ye aapne meri biwi ko kya samajh rakha hai? Wo yahan ki nokrani nahi hai jo har waqt machine ki tarah kaam mein lagi rahe!"

Maa ne sard-meheri se dekha, "Wo dushmanon ka khoon hai, tumhari biwi nahi."

Zarvan ne apni maa ki baat kaat di, "Wo meri biwi hai, thi aur rahegi! Bas kar dein ab aap... bohot ho gaya. Kal se main use koi kaam karta na dekhun, baat khatam!"

Zarvan wahan se dandanata hua nikal gaya, peeche maa khamosh lekin gusse se bhari hui khari reh gayin. Zarvan ke is qadam ne haveli ki purani reet aur apni maa ki authority dono ko challenge kar diya tha.

Zarvan Khan guest room se takya utha kar seedha apne kamre mein dakhil hua. Dua, jo abhi tak bed par baithi apne paon ke dard ko mehsoos kar rahi thi, Zarvan ko andar aate dekh foran ghabra gayi. Uske chehre par wahi purana khauf tha ke shayad ab Zarvan usay daantne ya koi aur kaam karne ka kahega.

Zarvan ne Dua ki ghabrahat ko mehsoos kiya, magar usne koi sakht alfaaz nahi kahe. Usne bed ke bilkul sath wale sofe par takya rakha aur Dua ki taraf dekhe baghair kaha:

Daro nahi. Main ab se yahan sofe par soya karunga."

Dua ne hairani se uski taraf dekha. Zarvan ne apni baat mukammal karte hue gehri aur saaf awaaz mein kaha, "Tum meri biwi ho, aur main nahi chahta ke koi ye kahe ke tumhare shauhar ne tumhe kabhi biwi ka darja nahi diya. to hum q dein to ab se me isi kmry mein rahoo ga."

Dua ne ek gehri aur sukoon ki saans li. Uske seene par jo bojh tha, wo kuch kam hua. Usne bas khamoshi se sar hila diya. Uske liye ye tasalli kaafi thi ke kam se kam aaj ki raat use akelay pan aur khauf ke saaye mein nahi, balki kisi ki maujoodgi mein sukoon se nind aayegi.

Zarvan ne sofe par darazi li aur light off kar di. Kamre mein khamoshi chha gayi, magar ye khamoshi ab pehle jaisi bojh-talab nahi thi. Dono ek hi kamre mein thay, par dono ke darmiyan ek ehteraam ki deewar khari ho gayi thi. Dua ne bed par let kar apni aankhein band kin, aur arsay baad aaj wo be-khauf ho kar so sakti thi.

Zarvan, sofe par leta hua, chhat ki taraf ghoor raha tha. Usne apni maa ke khilaf jakar jo faisla kiya tha, wo janta tha ke ye asaan nahi hoga, lekin Dua ki wo zakhmi halat dekhne ke baad, uska zameer ab aur khamosh nahi reh sakta tha.

Subah ka suraj nikal aaya tha. Zarvan Khan ki aankh khuli toh usne dekha Dua abhi tak gehri neend mein so rahi thi. Zarvan ne boht ahista se apne kapray uthaye taake Dua ki neend kharab na ho. Wo dabe paon utha aur washroom mein chala gaya.

Kuch dair baad Dua ki aankh khuli. Use achanak yaad aaya ke use nashta banana hai. Wo ghabra kar uthi, magar paon ki takleef ki wajah se uska tawazun bigar gaya. Wo jaise hi bed se neeche utri, uska paon laraikhara gaya aur wo girne hi wali thi ke Zarvan washroom se bahar nikal raha tha. Dua ka tawazan bigrta dekh wo phurti se aage barha aur Dua ko uski kamar se thaam liya.

Dua uske itne qareeb thi ke Zarvan ki garam saansein uske chehre se takra rahi thin. Zarvan ne use mazbooti se sambhala aur bed tak wapas le ja kar bithaya. Uski aankhon mein fikar thi, "Tum kahan ja rahi thi?"

Dua ne sahem kar jawab diya, "Nashta banana tha... mujhse der ho gayi hai."

Zarvan ne sakhti aur narm-dili ke milay-julay lehje mein kaha, "Ab se tum kuch bhi nahi karogi. Sab mulazim dekh lenge, tum bas aaram karo. Main yahin tumhara nashta mangwata hoon."

Dua ne thakaan se sar jhuka liya, "Mujhe... mujhe fresh hona hai."

Zarvan ne bina kisi jhijhak ke kaha, "Aao, main chhor deta hoon."

Zarvan ne Dua ko sahara diya aur use washroom tak le gaya. Wahan pahunch kar usne bade ehteraam se kaha, "Main yahin bahir khara hoon. Tum ho jao, toh mujhe awaz de dena, main tumhe wapas bed tak chhor dunga."

Dua ne hairat aur shukarguzari se usay dekha. Aaj Zarvan ka ye andaz bilkul badal gaya tha. Wo jo kabhi usay nokrani samajhta tha, aaj wahi shakhs uske kadmon ke sath khara tha. Dua washroom ke andar chali gayi.

Washroom ke bahar kharay Zarvan ka zehan kashmakash mein mubtala tha. Ye mujhe kya ho raha hai? Main kyon uski itni fikr karne laga hoon? Usne apne dil ke sawalon ko daba diya aur Dua ko sahara de kar bed tak laya.

"Dua, tum koi kaam nahi karogi. Main dery se aaj jaldi aa jaunga, apna khayal rakhna," ye keh kar wo tezi se kamre se nikal gaya, jaise apne jazbaat se bhaag raha ho.

Zarvan ke nikalte hi, kamre ka sakoon ek dam se hawa ho gaya. Darwaze par Zarvan ki maa ka saya ubhra. Wo aag ugal rahi thin. "Tumne mere bete par kya jadoo kiya hai? Jo wo tumhari itni fikr kar raha hai?"

Dua unhe dekh kar dar ke mare bed ke ek kone mein simat gayi.

"Neeche aa jao, maharani! Bohat kaam paray hain. Ye mat samajhna ke Zarvan bol kar gaya hai toh tum aaram hi karogi. Paanch minute mein neechay aao!" wo hukmiya lehje mein keh kar chali gayin.

Dua ki majboori aur paon ka zakhm, dono uske dushman thay. Wo sahara le lekar ba-mushkil darwaze tak pahunchi aur seerhiyan utarte hue kitchen tak gayi. Uska har kadam dard se bhara tha, magar khauf itna tha ke wo rukne ka soch bhi nahi sakti thi.

Dery mein Zarvan ka dil bilkul nahi lag raha tha. Uski nazar files par thi, magar khayal sirf Dua ki taraf ja raha tha—kya usne kuch khaya hoga? Kya uske paon mein dard hoga?

"Bakhtiyar! Gari nikalo, mujhe haveli jana hai," Zarvan ne achanak kaha. Bakhtiyar, jo waqas khan ki saazish ka hissa tha, wo foran khara ho gaya, "Ji sahab!"

Haveli ke kitchen mein, Dua bartan dho rahi thi. Wo thakaan se choor thi ke achanak Zarvan ki maa wahan aa dhamkin. Dua unhe dekh kar itni ghabra gayi ke uske hath se ek plate phisal kar zameen par ja giri aur chanak ke toot gayi.

Zarvan ki maa ki aankhon mein aag daur gayi, "Tumne hamari plate kaise tori? Itni himmat tumhari!"

Dua kaampne lagi, "M-maaf... maaf kar dein, wo galti se..."

Zarvan ki maa ki aankhon mein aag daur gayi, "Tumne hamari plate kaise tori? Itni himmat tumhari!"

Dua kaampne lagi, "M-maaf... maaf kar dein, wo galti se..."

Maa ne gusse mein aakar uska hath pakra, "Galti? Tumhari harqat hi galti hai! Aaj tumhein iski saza mil kar rahegi."

Wahi pal tha jab Zarvan Khan ki gari haveli ke porch mein ruki. Uska dil kisi an-honee ki pesh-goi kar raha tha. Wo tezi se darwaze ki taraf barha, aur jaise hi ghar mein pohncha, use apni maa ki chillane ki aur Dua ke rone ki awaaz sunayi di.

Haveli ke sehan mein qayamat ka manzar tha. Zarvan ki maa Dua ko baalon se pakar kar ghaseet rahi thin. Dua ka zakhmi paon, jis par pati bandhi thi, zameen par ragar kha raha tha aur us se khoon ris kar patthar ki zameen ko laal kar raha tha. Dua ki cheekhein haveli ke dar-o-deewar ko hila rahi thin.

Zarvan, jo abhi dery se wapas aaya tha, ye manzar dekh kar gusse se pagal ho gaya. Uski aankhon ke samne sirf Dua ki be-basi thi. "CHHOREIN OSE!" Zarvan ki gajti hui awaaz se pura sehan goonj utha.

Wo tezi se lapka aur apni maa ke hath se Dua ka hath chura liya. Dua dard aur khauf se kaanpte hue Zarvan ke piche chhip gayi. Zarvan ne apni maa ko dekha, uski aankhon mein gussa aur azadi ka ek naya junoon tha.

"Maine aapko saaf lafzo mein kaha tha ke use tang na karein, phir ye kya salook hai?" Zarvan ne gusse se pucha.

Maa ne apni dhitai se kaha, "Main iske sath is se bhi bura salook karungi! Isi ke khandan ki wajah se aaj tumhara baap humare beech nahi hai!"

Zarvan ne ek gehri saans li aur thanday magar sakht lehje mein bola, "Agar aapko nafrat hi karni hai toh mujhse karein, Dua se nahi. Aur ab bohot ho gaya, main ise yahan se le kar ja raha hoon. Aaj se Dua mere Karachi wale form house par rahegi."

Maa ki cheekh nikal gayi, "Ek do take ki larki ke liye tum apni maa ko chhor doge? Iski auqaat hi kya hai?"

Zarvan ne Dua ka hath thama, jo ab uski girift mein mehfooz mehsoos kar rahi thi. "Iska naam Dua hai, aur ye meri biwi hai. Ye uski auqaat hai. Main yahan aata rahunga, Mirha hai, baki mulazmin hain, lekin jab tak aapka dimaag thanda nahi hota aur aap insaaniyat nahi seekh leteen, Dua wahan se ek qadam bhi bahar nahi niklegi."

Zarvan ne Dua ko sahara de kar bari ehtiyat se uthaya. Wo usay ghaseet kar nahi, balki apni baahon ke sahare gari tak laya. Dua ki aankhon mein aansu thay, lekin is baar ye aansu khauf ke nahi, balki us ehsas ke thay jo Zarvan ne aaj use diya tha.

Zarvan ne Dua ko gari ki pichli seat par bithaaya, khud driver seat sambhali aur engine start kiya. Gari haveli ke darwaze se bahar nikal gayi, aur piche chhor gayi wo purani haveli aur uski maa ka jalan-zada chehra.

form house ki taraf jaati hui gari mein khamoshi thi, magar dono ke dilon mein alfaz ka toofaan barpa tha. Zarvan Khan steering par mazbooti se haath rakhay gari chala raha tha, magar uska dhyaan raaste se zyada apne andar ki aawaz par tha.

Main ise ab aur koi dukh nahi dene dunga, wo baar baar apne dil se keh raha tha. Iska kya kasoor tha? Kasoor toh un zalimon ka tha jinhone mere baap ko cheena, Dua toh bas ek be-gunah mohra hai. Main nafrat mein itna gira hua hewaan nahi hoon ke ek masoom ki zindagi barbaad kar doon.

Wo gari ke aainay (rear-view mirror) se baar baar Dua ko dekh raha tha. Dua ki aankhon mein thakan thi, magar uske chehre par ab wo pehle wala khauf nahin tha.

Dua piche seat par bethi, khirki se bahar guzarte hue manzron ko dekh rahi thi, magar uski soch wahan nahin thi. Wo Zarvan ke rawaye par gaur kar rahi thi. Zarvan ko meri itni fikr kyun hai? Woh jo mujhse itni nafrat karta tha, aaj wohi mere liye apni maa se lar gaya?

Usne thoda sar utha kar aagay dekha, jahan Zarvan ki chori-chupi nazrein us par thi. Dua ke dil mein ek sawal ubhra, Kya woh mujhse...? Magar foran hi usne apna sar jhatak diya. Nahi, aisa nahin ho sakta. Ye sirf ek fikr hai, shayad usay apni galti ka ehsaas ho gaya hai, bas aur kuch nahin.

Dono apni apni soch mein magan thay, magar ye safar dono ke darmiyan banne wali nafrat ki purani diwaron ko dheere-dheere girane laga tha. Gari ki raftar tez thi, aur dono hi is anjaan manzil ki taraf barh rahe thay, jahan shayad nafrat ki jagah kisi aur jazbay ne jagah bana li thi.