Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter8 :Tishnagi-e-Ana

Walimay ka din tha, aur haveli se le kar hall tak har taraf ek alag hi raunak thi. Dua ne aaj khud ko boht nazaakat se sajaya tha. Usne sky-blue rang ka lehnga pehna tha, jis par silver zar-dozi ka kaam tha. Usne apne balon ko khoobsurati se curl karwaya tha jo uske kandhon par kisi aabshaar ki tarah gir rahe thay. Fajar, jo uske sath hi thi, uski dressing aur soft makeup mein Dua ki khubsurti ko char chand lag gaye thay. Dua ka chehra aaj ek ajib si masoomiyat aur chamak se pur-noor tha, aur uski khushi ki sab se bari wajah ye thi ke wo aaj apni behn jaisi cousin, Ayat se milne wali thi.

Sab log hall ke bahir kharay dadi aur Wasim Khan ka intezar kar rahe thay taake sab ek sath andar jayein. Kuch der mein hi Zarvan Khan ki family ki gariyan wahan pohanch gayin.

Zarvan Khan gari se utra toh hall ke bahir mojood har larki ki nazar uski shakhsiyat par tham si gayi. Usne black colour ka three-piece paint-coat pehna hua tha, aur uske hath mein bandhi qeemti ghari uske raub ko aur barha rahi thi. Uska andaz dil-kash tha, magar uski nigahain boht sakht thin. Dua ne jab use dekha, toh use foran barat wala waqia yaad aa gaya. Usne foran apna rukh mor liya, jaise wo Zarvan ko dekh kar bhi an-dekha karna chahti thi.

Wahan kharay kharay Zarvan apne baba aur mama se baat kar raha tha, aur Dua fajar ke sath kisi baat par hans rahi thi. Dono ke darmiyan ab ek gehri khamoshi thi. Zarvan ko kal wali baat par gussa tha ke Dua ne use kitni berukhi se ignore kiya tha, isliye wo bhi ab Dua ki taraf dekhne ki koshish nahi kar raha tha. Lekin kismat ko kuch aur hi manzoor tha—un dono ki nazrein baar-baar takraye ja rahi thin, jaise wo ek dusre ko apni taraf khinch rahi hon.

Itne mein Wasim Khan aur Dadi bhi aa gaye aur sab ek sath hall ke andar dakhil huye. Hall ka nazara shandaar tha. Ayat ko dekhte hi Dua ki aankhein chamak uthin. Usne foran barh kar Ayat ko gale laga liya.

Ayat! Tumhein dekh kar boht khushi ho rahi hai meri jaan!" Dua ne bharayi hui awaaz mein kaha.

Ayat ka chehra bhi Dua ko dekh kar khil utha tha. Dono ne wahan boht si tasveerein banwayin aur apni yaadein taza keen. Zarvan Khan wahan ek kone mein apni pur-asrar personality ke sath betha hua tha. Wo apne hi aura mein gum tha, magar uski gehri nazarain ruk ruk kar Dua par parh rahi thin.

Zarvan ko khud par ghussa aa raha tha. Is AC se bhare huye hall mein bhi use garmi mehsoos ho rahi thi. Usne tang aa kar apna coat utaar kar kursi par rakha aur apni tie dhili kar di. Wo Dua ko dekh kar khud hi tang parh raha tha; wo samajh nahi pa raha tha ke ye ladki uske andar itni be-chaini kyun paida kar rahi hai. Ek taraf Dua thi jo Ayat ke sath khush thi, aur dusri taraf Zarvan Khan, jo apni hi khamoshi ki qaid mein tarap raha tha.

Walimay ki raunak dheere-dheere simat rahi thi. Mehmaan rukhsat ho rahe thay, aur haveli mein ek baar phir tanhai aur sukoon ke saaye gehre ho rahe thay. Dadi aur Wasim Khan ke paas Farjad Khan aye, unke chehre par safar ki thakan thi.

Amma, ab humein ijazat dein. Hum ab yahin se seedha Karachi ki taraf rawana honge," Farjad Khan ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha.

Dadi ne hairat aur shikayat bhari nazron se unhein dekha, "Arey miyan, aise kaise Karachi? Itni bhi kya jaldi hai? Abhi toh aaye ho, aur ab chale?"

Dua, jo thori door khari Ayat se baat kar rahi thi, uske kaan bhi is baat par lag gaye. Usne be-ikhtiyaari mein us taraf dekha. Zarvan Khan bhi wahin khara tha, uske chehre par koi khaas taassur nahi tha, magar uski aankhein haveli ke in dar-o-deewar par tikki thin.

Farjad Khan ne thakan se peshani malte huye kaha, "Amma, wahan kaam ke dher lage hue hain. Sab kuch mulazmon ke bharose chhor kar aye hain, wahan ki zimmedariyan aur hain."

Dadi ne zid pakar li, "Miyan, do din aur ruk jate. Tumhari dawat karni hai, abhi toh tum aye ho aur chale diye? Ye toh mehman-nawazi nahi hui."

Farjad Khan ne is baar khamoshi se Zarvan ki taraf dekha, jaise wo apne bete ki raaye jan-na chahte hon. Zarvan Khan, jo abhi tak khamosh tha, usne halka sa sar jhuka kar gardan ko 'haan' mein hila diya. Uska ye ishara saaf tha—ruk jao.

Farjad Khan ye dekh kar hairan reh gaye. Zarvan, jo aksar jaldi mein rehta tha, aaj khud rukne ka ishara kar raha tha? "Thik hai Amma... agar aapki itni khwahish hai, toh hum do din baad chale jayenge," Farjad Khan ne narm lehje mein kaha.

Kuch der baad function ikhtitam ko pohncha. Zarvan Khan ki family wapis farm house pohnchi. Farjad Khan ne Sehan mein dakhil hotay hi sofe par khud ko gira diya, "Uff! Aaj toh waqayi boht thak gaya hoon."

Zarvan Khan, bina kisi se nazar milaye, seedha apne kamre ki taraf barh gaya. Uske kadmon mein ek ajab si jald-bazi thi.

"Zarvan! Zarvan Khan, idhar aao!" Farjad Khan ne peeche se awaz di.

Zarvan ruk gaya aur wapis palta. "Ji baba?"

Farjad Khan ne muskura kar bete ko dekha, "Aaj kaise rukne ko bol diya? Khairiyat toh hai? Sooraj kahan se nikla hai aaj? Tum toh jaldi mein thay."

Zarvan ke chehre par koi badlav nahi aaya, usne bas sard-mehri se jawab diya, "Agar main mana karta, toh kya aap ruk jate?"

Ye keh kar Zarvan wapis apne kamre ki taraf barh gaya, Farjad Khan sochein mein par gaye. "Ise kya hua hai? Ye ajeeb sa kyun behave kar raha hai?"

Zarvan ki mama, jo wahin khari thin, unhone halki si muskurahat ke sath kaha, "Pata nahi... aakhir hai toh aap hi ka beta."

Zarvan khan kamry mein aa kar khra ho gya Farm house ke us sunsaan kamre mein, Zarvan Khan gusse se bhara hua tha. Usne zor se apna hath deewar par mara, deewar ki thokar se uski apni ungliyon mein dard uth gaya, magar dil ka dard shayad us se kahin zyada gehra tha.

"Baba theek hi toh keh rahe hain... main kyun rukna chaha? Mujhe kya ho gaya hai?" wo apne aap se bar-bar keh raha tha. "Pata nahi mere sath ye kya masla hai. Mujhe is shehar se nikal jana chahiye, yahan mera koi apna nahi hai... koi bhi nahi."

Wo apne hi jazbaat ka qaidi ban chuka tha. Usay samajh nahi aa raha tha ke wo is shehar ko chhodne ki baat kar raha tha ya us larki se door bhagne ki jo uske khayalon mein basa kar baithi thi.

Agli subah, haveli ka manzar badla hua tha. Dadi ki dawat ki taiyariyan urooj par thin. Haveli ki auratein subah se hi khane ki khushbuon mein masroof thin. Dua, jisne aaj koi bharkila libaas nahi pehna tha, balki ek sadah si shalwar kameez mein malboos thi, wo bhi dawat ke intizamat mein lagi hui thi. Uske chehre par koi makeup nahi tha, bas ek pakeeza aur saaf-shafaf si rounak thi jo uski sadgi mein aur izafa kar rahi thi.

Dua dining table par bartan aur khane ki plates saja rahi thi. Uske hath bari nazaakat se kaam kar rahe thay, aur jab kaam mukammal hua toh wo ek tasalli bhari saans le kar kitchen ki taraf barh gayi taake baqi cheezein tayyar kar sake.

Itne mein mehmanon ki aamad shuru ho gayi. Haveli ke darwaze par gariyan rukne ki awaaz aayi. Zarvan Khan, apne baba, mama aur apni choti behn Mirha ke sath andar dakhil hua. Zarvan ki chahat toh nahi thi wahan aane ki, magar dadi ki zid aur baba ka irada use yahan khinch laya tha.

Aao, aao! Khush amdeed, betho," Dadi ne bari khushi se unka isteqbal kiya.

Puri dining table mazedar khanon se bhari hui thi. Haveli ki auratein khana laga rahi thin. Dua kitchen se nikli aur apne dupatte ko apne kandhon par thik karti hui dining hall ki taraf aayi. Sab mehman table par beth chuke thay. Zarvan Khan wahan baith kar bhi an-dekha kar raha tha, magar jaise hi Dua ki entry hui, uski nazrein khud-ba-khud uth gayin.

Dua ne dekha ke sab khane mein masroof hain, toh wo bhi ek kone mein beth gayi. Sab log baat cheet kar rahe thay aur khane ka lutf utha rahe thay. Dua khamoshi se apni plate mein kuch dal rahi thi, jabke Zarvan Khan ki ek nazar abhi bhi uski taraf thi.

Zarvan ne mehsus kiya ke aaj Dua itni sadah kapron mein bhi kitni pur-kashish lag rahi thi. Lekin usne foran apni nazarain apni plate par kar lin. Uske dil mein abhi bhi wahi jalan thi—ek taraf uska gussa tha, aur dusri taraf wo be-chaini jo use Dua ke qareeb aate hi hoti thi.

Sab khana khany mein masroof ho gy phir dadi ny achank se bola

Dadi ne muskura kar Farjad Khan ki taraf dekha, "Farjad, main tum se kuch mangne wali hoon. Kya tum mujhe mana toh nahi karoge?"

Farjad Khan ne narm lehje mein sar jhukaya, "Ji Amma, farmaiye. Aap ka har hukm sar aankhon par."

Dadi ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si chamak thi, "Main chahti hoon ke tum apni beti Mirha ka rishta hamare Sarmad ke liye de do. Dono gharane mil jayenge toh rishtey mazboot ho jayenge."

Dua, jo pas khari thi, uske hathon se pani ka glass halka sa hil gaya. Yeh Dadi ki meethas nahi, balki ek gehri chaal thi. Lekin Zarvan Khan ke liye ye kisi dhamake se kam nahi tha.

Zarvan Khan ek dum se apni kursi se utha, uski kursi peechay zameen par zor se giri. Uska chehra gusse se surkh ho gaya tha. "Yeh aap kaisi baat kar rahe hain?! Main apni behn ko kabhi nahi doonga! Samjh aayi aapko?"

Sarmad, jo apni khamoshi mein ghuroor liye betha tha, foran uth khara hua, "Zarvan! Tumhari himmat kaise hui Dadi se aise baat karne ki? Aaj tak kisi ki majaal nahi hui jo yahan unke aage zuban khole!"

Farjad Khan bhi tesh mein aa gaye, "Ama! Yeh kya drama hai? Aap meri beti ke liye ye sab kya soch kar bethi hain? Kya yahi mila aapko karne ko?"

Haveli mein shor mach gaya. Ghar ki auratein darr ke mare seham gayin. Dua ek kone mein khari kanp rahi thi, uski aankhein phati ki phati reh gayin jab usne dekha ke Zarvan Khan ne apni kamar se pistol nikal li hai aur use sidha hawa mein taan diya hai.

Ek lafz aur nahi bolenge koi!" Zarvan ki awaaz mein maut ka darr tha. "Chaliye Baba, yahan se! Mujhe toh waise bhi in sab logon se nafrat hai!"

Zarvan ne apni family ko ishara kiya aur apne guards ke sath tezi se bahar nikla. Haveli mein sannata chh gaya.

Lekin Sarmad, jo apni izzat par chot kha kar pagal ho chuka tha, usne cheekh kar kaha, "Zarvan ki himmat kaise hui mere baap par bandook taanne ki? Main ise zinda nahi chhorunga!"

Sarmad bhagta hua apne kamre ki taraf gaya aur apni bandook nikal laya. Dadi aur ghar ki baqi auratein uske samne khari ho gayin. "Sarmad! Ruk jao! Hat jao sab!" wo chilla raha tha.

Wasim Khan ne daur kar Sarmad ke hath se bandook cheen li. "Sarmad! Hosh mein aao! Hum abhi kisi qisam ki dushmani mol nahi le sakte. Zarvan Khan akela hi hum sab par bhari hai, agar aaj goli chali toh tabahi mach jayegi!"

Dua, jo ye sab dekh rahi thi, uska dil zor-zor se dhark raha tha. Zarvan ki woh khatarnaak surat-e-haal uski aankhon ke samne se nahi hat rahi thi. Usay ehsas hua ke aaj ki is dawat ne rishton ki buniyaad hila di hai. Zarvan Khan wahan se chala toh gaya tha, lekin wo apne peeche ek aisi nafrat ki aag chhor gaya tha jo shayad kisi bhi waqt pure khandan ko jala kar rakh kar sakti thi.

Haveli ka sehan ab ek shamshaan jaisa khamosh tha. Waqt jaise tham gaya tha. Khane ki mez par bikhri hui cheezein aur khwateen ke sehmay hue chehre us bad-tameezi aur hungamay ki gawah thi jo abhi kuch pal pehle hua tha. Sarmad ki aankhon mein abhi bhi gusse ki aag is qadar bhadak rahi thi ke koi uske qareeb jane ki himmat nahi kar raha tha.

Dadi, jo khud bhi is naye mor se sangeen thi, unhone sakht lehjay mein hukum diya, "Sarmad! Jao apne kamre mein, aur aaj ki raat bahar mat nikalna."

Sarmad wahan se utha, uske kadam zameen par bojh ban kar par rahe thay. Apne kamre mein bed par undhay moun lait kar wo chhat ko ghoorne laga. Uski muthian banch chuki thin. Usne? Zarvan Khan ne meri himmat ko lalkara hai? wo dil mein buhrbuhra raha tha., mere baap ki taraf pistol taanne ki himmat kaise hui uski? Woh bhool gaya hai ke woh kiske samne khara tha. Main ise barbad kar doonga. Iski yeh jurrat ise mahngi paregi.

Dosri taraf, farm house par qayam-o-pazeer Zarvan Khan ki haalat kisi ubalte huye jwalamukhi se kam na thi. Woh lounge mein tehal raha tha, uski gehri saansein uske seene ki halchal ko zahir kar rahi thin. Uski personality mein ek ajeeb sa tanao tha, ek aisa aura jo samne walay ko baha dene ke liye kafi tha.

Baba, main ne pehle hi bola tha aapko!" Zarvan ruka aur apne baap ki taraf barha. Uska raub, uski aankhon ki chamak aur uski awaaz ki goonj kamre mein ek thar-tharahat paida kar rahi thi. "Yeh log khud-garz hain, inki auqat sirf ghalat khwahishat palne ki hai. Meri behn ko mangne ki himmat? Agar mera bas chale toh main inki saat naslein tabah kar doonga!"

Farjad Khan, jo is puray maamlay par sharminda thay, unhone narm lehja apnaya, "Zarvan, hum maamlay ko dekh lenge. Hum khud handle kar sakte thay, tumhe itna tesh mein aane ki kya zaroorat thi?"

Zarvan Khan ne apne baap ki taraf dekha, uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si haivaniyat bhari narazgi thi. "Afreen hai aap par, Baba! Aap abhi bhi sakoon ki baat kar rahe hain? Woh meri behn ki taraf ungli utha rahe thay aur aap mujhe sabr ka keh rahe hain? Mera bas chalta toh main aaj hi unke halaq mein goli utar deta."

Zarvan Khan ki awaaz mein jo thandak thi, woh kisi goli se kam na thi. Uska wajood wahan mojood har shakhs ke liye ek khauf ki alamat ban gaya tha.

Farjad Khan ne thandi saans bhari, "Zarvan, kal ki baat hai, humari flight hai. Hum kal apne kheton ko dekh lenge aur parson yahan se nikal jayenge. Ek din ka sabr kar lo, yeh dushmani humare liye nahi hai."

Zarvan ne apne baap ko ek gusse bhari, magar geheri nazar se dekha. Woh janta tha ke unka faisla atal hai, lekin uske andar ki aag bujhne wali nahi thi. Woh bina koi jawab diye, apne coat ko ek jhatkay se utar kar apne kamre ki taraf barh gaya. Uske chalne ke andaz mein woh "Khan" wala ghamand aur "Alpha" personality ka aura wazeh tha, jo hawaon ko bhi cheerta hua mehsoos ho raha tha.