Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter16 :Nazron ka Raqs

Zarvan Khan kamre ka darwaza band karke jab bahar nikla, toh uske honton par ek aisi halki si muskurahat thi jo farmhouse ke mulazimon ke liye kisi ajube se kam nahi thi. Aaj tak kisi ne Zarvan ko itna pur-sukoon aur muskuraate nahi dekha tha. Uski ye muskurahat usay kisi naye ehsas se aashna kar rahi thi.

Salma!" usne awaaz di.

"Ji, Zarvan sahab?" Salma foran haazir hui.

Zarvan ne gehri nazron se kamre ke darwaze ko dekha aur hidayat di, "Tum har waqt apni bibi ke kamre ke aas-paas rahogi. Unhein jab bhi, jis cheez ki bhi zaroorat ho, foran madad karna. Main niche bethak mein hoon, Bakhtiyar ke sath kuch ahem kaam nipta raha hoon."

Itna keh kar Zarvan wahan se seedha niche wale kamre mein chala gaya, jahan Bakhtiyar pehle se intezar kar raha tha.

Dosri traf Kamre ke andar, Dua tanhai mein barbara rahi thi. Uske chehre par gusse aur frustration ke taassurat thay. "Ye Zarvan Khan khud ko samajhta kya hai? Jab jo chahega wahi hoga? Haan, mana ke isne mujhe panaah di hai, lekin jo bura salook iske ghar walon ne mere sath kiya, kya wo bhool jaun? Nahi! Ab main iski ek nahi sunungi. Bahut hua, ab wahi hoga jo mera dil karega!"

Niche bethak mein, Zarvan gaur se files dekh raha tha ke achanak Bakhtiyar ka phone baj utha. Bakhtiyar ne ghabra kar call dekhi aur phone kaat diya. Dobara phone aaya toh Zarvan ne sar uthaye bagair kaha, "Jaa ke attend kar lo, ho sakta hai koi zaroori call ho."

Bakhtiyar ne sar hilaya aur bahar nikal kar call uthayi. Doosri taraf Waqas Khan tha.

"Call kyon nahi utha rahe thay?" Waqas ne sakht lehje mein pucha.

Bakhtiyar ne darr kar aas-paas dekha, "Sahab, aap mujhe call na kiya karein. Main khud call karunga. Zarvan ke samne hoon, pakra gaya toh meri jaan chali jayegi!"

Waqas ne thandi aawaz mein kaha, "Wo sab chhoro, meri baat suno. Kuch din tak jese hi wo dono akele honge, tumne mujhe inform karna hai. Baaki kaam mera hai."

Ji, theek hai," Bakhtiyar ne kanpte huye kaha aur call kaat kar wapis Zarvan ke paas chala gaya.

Dosri traf Dua kamre mein qaid ho kar bore ho rahi thi. Khirki se bahir dekha toh mausam bohot suhana tha, thandi hawa chal rahi thi. "Itna khoobsurat mausam hai, yahan pade rehne ka kya faida?"

Usne himmat ki. Paon mein ab dard kam tha, isliye usne bed aur diwaron ka sahara liya aur larakharati hui neeche utar gayi. Jaise hi wo lawn ki taraf barhi, Salma ki nazar us par padi.

Bibi! Aap kahan ja rahi hain?" Salma ghabra kar dauri aayi.

"Main walk karne ja rahi hoon, mausam bohot pyara hai. Bas lawn tak jaungi," Dua ne wazeh kiya.

"Main aapko le jati hoon, bibi," Salma ne fikrmand ho kar kaha.

Dua ne jhalak kar dekha, "Nahi, main chali jaungi. Khud."

Salma ne masoomiyat se kaha, "Sahab ne sakht hidayat di hai ke aapka dhyan rakhun, warna wo mujhe dantein ge."

Dua ki aankhon mein ghussa aur chirchirahat ubhri, "Tumhare sahab ko toh pata nahi kya ho gaya hai! Chhoro unhein, main apna dhyan khud rakhna jaanti hoon. Tum jao, apna kaam karo!"

Dua ne zor de kar kaha aur Salma ko peeche chhor kar, khud ko sambhalte hue lawn ki thandi ghaas ki taraf barh gayi, jahan wo ab Zarvan ki qaid se door kuch pal apni marzi ke guzarna chahti thi.

Lawn mein thandi hawa chal rahi thi. Dua ne paon ko thoda aram milte hi sukoon ki saans li. Wahan maujood sukhe hue paudon ko dekh kar uski aankhon mein udaasi aur gussa dono ubhar aaye.

"Ohh... ye toh bilkul sookh rahe hain. Koi inka khayal nahi rakhta kya?" Dua ne paudon ko chhoote hue kaha, uski aawaz mein ek gehra dard tha. "Yahan toh insaan bhi sookh jaye, plants kya cheez hain... par ab se, main tumhein theek karungi."

Bethak mein:

Salma ne ghabrahat mein bethak ka darwaza khatkhataya. "Thak... thak..."

"Kaun hai? Andar aa jao," Zarvan ki bhari awaaz goonji.

Salma ne andar aakar sir jhuka liya. "Sahab, Bibi ji garden mein chali gayi hain. Maine bohot roka, par unhone meri ek nahi suni."

Zarvan ne apne sar par haath phaira, ek lambi saans li aur chair piche dhakel kar utha khada hua. "Uff... ye larki!"

Uske dil mein ek bechaini si thi, shayad isi liye woh seedha garden ki taraf nikal gaya. Lawn ka manzar kuch alag hi tha. Dua phoolon ke qareeb baithi thi, hawa se uske baal uske chehre par bikhar rahe thay, aur wo un phoolon ko dekh kar aise muskura rahi thi jaise koi khoi hui cheez mil gayi ho.

Zarvan wahan pahuncha toh Dua ne use dekha aur foran uth kar khadi ho gayi. Uske chehre se muskurahat foran gayab ho gayi.

"Maine bola tha aaram karo, toh tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?" Zarvan ne gusse aur fikr ke miley-jule lehje mein pucha.

Dua ne apni nazrein churayi. "Main kamre mein bor ho gayi thi, toh socha thodi taza hawa le loon."

Zarvan ne aage barh kar Dua ka haath pakda. Uski pakad narm thi magar us mein ek haq tha. "Begum, hawa le li ho toh andar chalo gi? Taake main sukoon se apna kaam nipta loon."

Dua ne jhatka de kar apna haath chhuraya. "Mujhe 'Begum' mat bolien! Aur haan, aap karein apna kaam, maine toh nahi bola kuch, mujhe yahin baithe rehne dein."

Zarvan ne halka sa ghoor kar use dekha, phir ek gehri saans li. "Theek hai, baithi raho."

Phir usne ghoom kar aawaz di, "Salma! Salmaa!"

Salma daudti hui aayi. "Ji Sahab?"

Zarvan ne Dua ki taraf ishara kiya, "Jab tak meri Begum lawn mein hain, inka khayal rakhna hai. Aur agar ye bolen bhi ki ''chale jao', toh tumne hilna nahi hai. Samjhi?"

Zarvan ye keh kar wapis bethak ki taraf badh gaya. Dua use jaate hue dekhti rahi. "Begum... Begum kya hota hai? Aaye bade! Jab dekho hukam sunate rehte hain," Dua ne apni jagah khade khade badbadaate hue kaha

Kuch din guzar chuke thay. Dua ka paon ab mukammal taur par theek ho chuka tha, aur is dorani Zarvan ne uski har chhoti choti zaroorat ka jaise apne sar par bojh utha rakha tha.

Ek subah, Zarvan ne file band karte hue kaha, "Dua, aaj mere dost ki shaadi hai. Unhone hum dono ko invite kiya hai."

Dua ne hairat se dekha, "Hum dono ko?"

"Haan, hum dono ko," Zarvan ne narm lehje mein jawab diya.

Dua ne foran inkaar kiya, "Main nahi jaungi."

Zarvan ne chair se uth kar uski taraf kadam barhaye, "Kyun? Kyun nahi jaogi?"

"Mera dil nahi hai," Dua ne sar jhukaye kaha.

Zarvan uske bilkul kareeb aa gaya, "Tumhein jana parega. Hamesha apni manwaati ho, aaj meri suno."

"Main kab manwaati hoon?" Dua ne dhire se kaha.

Zarvan ne halki si muskurahat ke sath uske chehre ko dekha, "Abhi bhi manwa hi rahi ho, sun toh rahi hi nahi."

Dua ne majbooran sar hila diya, "Theek hai, chaloongi."

Main Salma ko bol dunga, wo tumhe taiyaar kar degi. Aur suno, aaj tum saree hi pehno gi," Zarvan ne hukum diya.

Dua ne hairat se dekha, "Saree kyun?"

Zarvan ne darwaze ki taraf barhte hue peeche mud kar dekha aur dheemi awaaz mein kaha, "Mera hukam hai.

Sham ka waqt:

Salma ne Dua ko taiyaar kiya. Zarvan ka order tha, isliye Dua ne ek qeemti black saree pehni thi. Saree ka fabric bilkul makhmal jaisa tha, jo uske jism ke sath aise chipak gaya tha jaise koi dusri jild. Jab usne sheeshe mein khud ko dekha, toh woh khud apni khoobsurti se dang reh gayi.

Abhi wo sheeshe ke samne khari apne baalon ko theek kar rahi thi ke kamre ka darwaza khula. Zarvan andar aaya aur Dua ko taiyaar dekhte hi uske kadam wahin tham gaye. Usne black three-piece suit pehna hua tha, jismein wo kisi badshah se kam nahi lag raha tha.

Zarvan ne sheeshe mein Dua ko dekha aur dheere dheere uski taraf barhne laga. Dua ki saansein sheeshe mein apne peeche aate Zarvan ko dekh kar rukne lagin. Zarvan uske bilkul piche aa kar khara hua. Usne apne mazboot haath Dua ki kamar ke gird lapete aur use apni taraf khench liya.

Dua ki dharkan uski chhati mein zor se dhadakne lagi. Zarvan ki garam saansein Dua ke kaan aur gardan ko chhoo rahi thin. Zarvan Khan ne dheemi, khumar-bhari awaaz mein kaha, "Tumhein pata hai? Tum aaj bohot haseen lag rahi ho... bilkul waisi hi, jaisi us din Ayatt ki shaadi par lag rahi thi.

Dua ne hairat se use dekha, "Aapko... aapko sab yaad hai?"

Zarvan ne uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, "Mujhe tum bachpan se ab tak yaad ni... balky mere dil mein hifz ho chuki ho."

Zarvan wo ...Dua ki zuban jaise ruk gai.Wo bolna chahti thi, magar Zarvan ne apni ek ungli uske honton par rakh di. "Bas khamosh... mujhe bas tumhe aankhein bhar kar dekhne do."

Zarvan ki nazrein Dua ke har naqsh-o-nigar ko aise parh rahi thin jaise koi kitaab ho. Dua ki saansein tez ho rahi thin, uske hoth kaanp rahe thay.

Zarvan... hatayein... mera makeup kharab ho jayega," Dua ne bohot mushkil se apni aawaz nikali.

Zarvan ne uske honton ke kareeb aa kar kaha, "Maine toh abhi kuch aisa kiya hi nahi ke tumhara makeup kharab ho.

Dua ne ghabra kar kaha, "Mujhe... mujhe garmi lag rahi hai, paseene aa rahe hain."

Zarvan ne uski kamar se pakar usay aur apne kareeb kiya aur muskurate hue bola, "Mera ab dil nahi kar raha shaadi mein jaane ka.

Dua ne hairat se kaha, "Ye kya keh rahe hain? Mujhe toh shaadi par jana hai!"

Zarvan ne thodi derr use apni giraft mein rakha, phir ahista se use chhoda aur uske chehre ko apne haathon mein lete hue bola, "Tumhein toh jana tha na?

Dua ny gabra kar bola nahi mujhy jana hai.

Zarvan ny muskuraty huye kaha Theek hai, jaao... makeup theek karo, neeche aao, phir chalte hain."

Zarvan kamre se nikal gaya, aur Dua wahin khari apni tez dharkano ko sambhalti rahi, sheeshe mein khud ko dekh kar jismein ab Zarvan ka asar saaf dikh raha tha.

Dua jab seerya utar rahi thi, toh uska black saree ka pallu halka sa sarak kar uske kandhe par aa gaya tha. Uski har chaal mein ek nazaakat thi, aur uski khamoshi mein ek gehrai. Zarvan neeche khara, apni gehri, baaz jaisi aankhon se use dekh raha tha. Uska dil chah raha tha ke wo khud aage barh kar use sambhale, magar wo apni jagah jama raha, jaise koi shikaari apne shikaar ki har ada par nazar rakhe ho.

Dua jaise hi neeche pahunchi, Zarvan ne bina ek pal zaya kiye uska haath thaam liya. Uska haath garam aur mazboot tha, jo Dua ko ek ajeeb si chahat aur tahaffuz (protection) ka ehsas dila raha tha. Wo use gari ki taraf le gaya.

Zarvan ne gari ka front door khola, lekin Dua ne peeche hat-te hue kaha, "Main... main peeche bethungi."

Zarvan ki nazrein us par jam gayin. Usne halki si naraazgi aur thori si mohabbat se kaha, "Dua... Dua, meri sunti kyun nahi ho? Aaram se aage betho."

Uska lehja itna hukmiya tha ke Dua ke paas inkaar ki gunjaish nahi bachi. Wo khamoshi se front seat par baith gayi. Zarvan ne gari start ki, aur unke peeche guards ki gariyon ka qafila harkat mein aa gaya.

Safar ke dauran gaari ke andar khamoshi thi, magar dono ke darmiyan ankho se ankho tk baatein bahut thi. Zarvan ek haath se steering sambhal raha tha aur ankho se Dua ki taraf dekh raha tha. Gari ki speed aur sadak ki lights Dua ke chehre par ek ajeeb sa noor paida kar rahi thin.

Zarvan Khan ny hath se aik old love song play kia..

AAfto ke door mein sakoon ki ghari hai tuuuu..

meri zindgi hai tuuuu..

Oski ankhy buhat muhabat se Dua k chehry ko dekhy ja ri thi.. aur Dua zarvan Khan ko dekh ri thi ke use kia hua hai..

Shaadi hall pahunch kar, jaise hi gari ruki, Zarvan ne foran utar kar Dua ki taraf ka darwaza khola. Usne apna haath Dua ke liye barhaya, jaise wo keh raha ho, "Ab se tumhari har choti bari khushi aur har kadam mere sath hoga.

Shaadi hall ke bahar roshniyon ka jalaal tha, aur andar logon ki bheed. Zarvan jab apni nayi Begum ko sath le kar andar dakhil hua, toh mehfil ki tamam nazrein wahi tham gayin. Zarvan Khan ka ye naya roop, aur Dua ki siyah (black) saree mein lipti huye khoobsurti, sab ke liye ek hairat ka sabab thi.

Shaadi hall ka maahol qeemti itar aur phoolon ki khushbu se mehak raha tha. Zarvan ne jese hi hall mein kadam rakha, wahan maujood har shakhs ki tawajo un dono ki taraf markooz ho gayi. Zarvan ne Dua ka haath apni mazboot hatheli mein jakra hua tha, jise chhorne ka uska koi iraada na tha.

Zarvan ke university ke purane dost—Ahsan, Wajhat, aur jinki shaadi thi, wo Uzair—door se hi unhein dekh kar unhy hey kia phir unk pas gya.

Zarvan Khan! Tum aur yahan?" Uzair ne muskurate hue hath barhaya, magar jese hi uski nazar Zarvan ke haath mein phanse Dua ke naazuk haath par padi, wo ruk gaya.

Zarvan ne Dua ko thoda apne kareeb kiya, uske kaandhe par apna haath rakha aur ek makhsoos fakhr (pride) bhari muskurahat ke sath bola, "Milo, She is my wife, Dua Zarvan."

Ahsan aur Wajhat ne hairat se ek dusre ko dekha, magar sab se zyada reaction Narmine ka tha, jo university ke zamane se Zarvan par marti thi aur abhi kal hi Dubai se wapas aayi thi. Narmine ki aankhon mein Dua ko dekh kar jalan ki ek choti si lehar dauri. Uski nazar Dua ke black saree pehne hue jism aur uske chehre ki masoomiyat par tiki thi, jise dekh kar uska dil jala ja raha tha.

Narmine aage barhi, usne apni aankhon mein jhooti muskurahat sajai aur Zarvan se boli, "Wow Zarvan! Tumne shaadi kar li aur bataya bhi nahi? Main toh kal hi Dubai se wapas aayi hoon toh ye khabar mili... bilkul yakeen nahi hua."

Zarvan ne Narmine ko ek sard (cold) nazar se dekha. Uske liye Narmine ka wajood is waqt Dua ke samne koi ahmiyat nahi rakhta tha. Usne Dua ki taraf dekha, jo Narmine ke sawal se thodi ghabra gayi thi.

Zarvan ne Dua ka haath aur mazbooti se pakra aur Narmine ki taraf dekh kar bola, "Kuch faislay zindagi mein achanak hote hain, Narmine. Aur Dua ko batana zaroori samjha maine, baki duniya se kya lena-dena."

Narmine ne Dua ko upar se neeche tak dekha aur tanziya lehje mein boli, "Bohat hi simple pasand hai tumhari, Zarvan. Wesay... Dua, tum kahan se ho? Zarvan toh hamesha standard ki baat karta tha."

Dua ne sahem kar Zarvan ki taraf dekha, lekin Zarvan ne Dua ko bolne ka mauqa hi nahi diya. Usne Narmine ki aankhon mein aankhein daal kar kaha, "Mera standard meri pasand hai, Narmine. Aur meri pasand ab mere sath khari hai."

Dua ka dil zor se dhadka. Zarvan ka ye "possessive" andaaz sab ke samne usay ek naya ehsas dila raha tha.

Mahfil mein gaano ki awaaz tez ho gayi. Ahsan ne Zarvan ko zor diya, "Yaar Zarvan, aaj toh wife ke sath dance banta hai!"

Zarvan ne Dua ki taraf dekha, jiski aankhein hall ki bheed aur Narmine ke teekhay sawalon se dar rahi thi. Zarvan ne Dua ke kaan mein dheemi awaaz mein kaha, "Dar mat, main hoon na."

Wo use dance floor ke beech mein le gaya. Jab music shuru hua, Zarvan ne Dua ki kamar par apna haath rakha. Dua ne pehle jhijhak mehsoos ki, lekin Zarvan ne usay apni nazron se aise dekha jese wo sirf usi ki malkiyat ho.

Tumhe pata hai Dua," Zarvan ne dance karte hue uske bilkul kareeb ho kar kaha, "Narmine jaisi hazaron auratein aa jayein, lekin meri nazrein sirf tumhein dhundti hain.

Dua ne sharmindagi aur hairat se nazrein jhuka lin, aur isi lamhe hall ki lights dim (madham) ho gayin, jahan sirf wo dono ek dusre mein khoye hue nazar aa rahe thay, aur Narmine dur khari jalte hue unhein dekh rahi thi.

Dance floor par music ki dhun dheemi thi aur Zarvan ki nazrein musalsal Dua ke chehre par thi. Wo dono ek dusre ki nazron mein qaid thay. Magar door khari Narmine, jo is manzar ko bardasht nahi kar pa rahi thi, uske zehan mein saazishein panap rahi thin. Uski aankhon mein jalan aur gusse ki aag saaf dikh rahi thi.

Dance ke har step mein ek nazaakat thi. Zarvan ne use gol ghumaya. Dua jab ghoomi, toh uski black saree ka ghera hawa mein lehrane laga, jise Zarvan ne foran apni giraft mein le kar sambhala. Unke darmiyan faasla itna kam tha ke Dua ko Zarvan ki saanson ki khushbu aur uske dil ki dharkan saaf mehsoos ho rahi thi.

"Tum kitni haseen lag rahi ho, Dua," Zarvan ne dance karte karte uske kaan ke bilkul paas jhuk kar kaha. Uski awaaz mein ek thandak thi jo Dua ke jism mein jhurjhuri si paida kar gayi.

Dua ne sharm se nazrein jhuka lin, magar Zarvan ne apni ungli se uska thodi (chin) upar ki aur apni nazrein uski aankhon mein gada deen. "Mujhe aankhon mein dekho," usne hukmiya magar narm lehje mein kaha.

Dua ne apni kaanpti hui palkein uthayin aur seedha Zarvan ki gehri, kashish bhari aankhon mein dekha. Dance ke dauran, jab wo dono ek dusre ke itne kareeb thay, aisa lag raha tha jaise waqt tham gaya ho. Zarvan ne ahista se Dua ki kamar ko mazeed jakra aur use apni taraf khencha, jisse Dua ka sar seedha Zarvan ke seene par aa tika.

Zarvan ne apna sar Dua ke baalon mein chhupa liya aur gehri saans li. Usko Dua ke baalon ki khushbu mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon mil raha tha. Dua ne bhi apni aankhein band kar lin aur khud ko Zarvan ke mazboot sahare mein chhor diya. Is lamhe mein, na koi dushman tha, na koi purani ranjish—bas ek Zarvan tha, ek Dua thi, aur ek mehakta hua raqas.

Dua ne kuch nahi kaha, bas ek halki si smile di, jo Zarvan ki jeet thi. Wo dono ek-dusre mein is tarah khoye hue thay ke unhein khabar hi nahi thi ke hall ki lights madham ho chuki thin aur log sirf un dono ko dekh rahe thay. Wo ek perfect couple lag rahe thay, jinki chemistry logon ki aankhon mein chub rahi thi, khas taur par Narmine ki, jo dur khari jal rahi thi.