Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter15 : Haq Jatata Zarvan

Gari ki khamoshi ko sirf Dua ki halki si siskiyon ne toda. Zarvan ne aainay mein dekha—Dua ke paon se khoon abhi bhi ris raha tha aur usne dard ko bardasht karne ke liye apne honton ko bheeche rakha tha. Zarvan ka dil chhalni ho raha tha.

Usne foran gari ko ek qareebi medical store ke samne rok diya. "Bas do minute, Dua. Daro nahi," Zarvan ne narm-dili se kaha aur tezi se store ki taraf gaya. Kuch hi dair mein wo antiseptic, cotton aur naye bandage liye wapas aaya.

Gari dobara chali, magar is baar Zarvan Khan ne gari ka rukh farmhouse ki taraf karne ke bawajood apni tawajo Dua ki taraf rakhi. Usne gari side par ki aur gari ka drwaza khola wo utar kar peechy gya aur gari ki peechli seat ka drwaza khola.

Apna paon yahan rakho," Zarvan ne narm lehje mein kaha.

Dua hichkichayi, lekin Zarvan ki aankhon mein dekh kar usne apna zakhmi paon dheere se uski taraf barha diya. Zarvan ne boht ehtiyat se purani pati utari. Zakhm gehra tha, jise dekh kar Zarvan ke chehre par shikan ubhar aayi. Usne boht narm-dili se zakhm saaf kiya aur phir nayi pati bandhne laga.

Dua ka dhyan Zarvan ke jhuke hue sar par tha. Jo shakhs kal tak usay dekhna gawara nahi karta tha, aaj wahi uska marham bana hua tha. Jab Zarvan ne bandage bandhi, toh usne apni nazrein utha kar Dua ko dekha.

Ab dard kam hai?" Zarvan ne pucha. Dua ne bas khamoshi se sar hila diya. Zarvan ne wapas aakar driver seat sambhali aur gari farmhouse ki taraf dauda di.

Farmhouse pohanchte hi manzar badal gaya tha. Zarvan ke peeche peeche uske guards ki gariyan aa rahi thin, jo farmhouse ke charon taraf chaukas ho gayin. Zarvan ne gari se utar kar Dua ko sahara diya aur farmhouse ke andar le gaya, jahn pehly se hi mulazima majood thi.

Farmhouse mein dakhil hote hi, Zarvan ki pehli tarjeeh Dua ka aaram tha. Usne ghar mein dakhil hote hi farmhouse ki purani aur tajurbakar mulazima, Salma ko bulaya.

Salma!" Zarvan ki awaaz farmhouse ke bade hall mein goonji. Jab Salma haazir hui, toh Zarvan ne sakht hidayat di, "Dua ke liye abhi foran naram, garma-garam aur healthy khana taiyaar karo. Unhein ab taqat ki zaroorat hai, aur yaad rahe, khane mein koi kotahi nahi honi chahiye."

Salma ne sar jhuka kar ijazat chahi aur kitchen ki taraf barh gayi. Zarvan ne Dua ki taraf dekha, jo abhi bhi dabi-dabi si uske peeche khari thi. Zarvan ne koi sawal nahi kiya, bas aage barh kar Dua ko apni baahon mein utha liya. Dua ki dharkan ek pal ke liye ruki, magar usne koi muzahmat nahi ki.

Zarvan use le kar farmhouse ke sab se alishaan aur khule-dulle kamre mein gaya. Kamra kya tha, jaise kisi khwab ka hissa ho—badi si khirkiyan, naram bistar aur kamre mein chhayi hui halki si khushbu. Zarvan ne Dua ko badi ehtiyat se bed par bitha diya.

Dua, ye hamara kamra hai."Zarvan Khan ny sard pr naram lehjy mein kaha.

"H-hamara?" Dua ki aankhon mein hairat aur ghabrahat ki mili-juli lehar dauri. Wo ek dam se bed par sidhi ho kar baith gayi, jaise koi ajnabi jagah ho. "Lekin... lekin main yahan?"

Zarvan ne gehri saans li aur uske samne chair par baith gaya. Uski aankhon mein ab wo nafrat nahi, balki ek naya tehrao tha. "Haan, hamara. Main bhi yahin rahoonga. Tumhari tabiyat abhi kharab hai, paon mein zakhm hai, tumhein dekh-bhaal ki zaroorat hai. Main tumhe akela nahi chhor sakta."

Dua ne sahem kar sar niche jhuka liya, "Main theek hoon, Zarvan. Mujhe kisi dekh-bhaal ki zaroorat nahi hai, main sambhal sakti hoon..."

Zarvan ne uska jhoota dawayi-bhara lehja kaat diya, "Maine kaha na, bas! Ab tumhari zidd nahi chalegi. Tum yahan ho, meri hifazat mein ho."

Kuch hi dair mein Salma kamre mein ek tray le kar aayi, jis mein garma-garam soup aur halka-phulka khana tha. Kamre mein khane ki khushbu phail gayi. Zarvan ne khud tray uthayi aur Dua ke samne table par rakhi. Usne ek piyala soup ka uthaya aur chammach se hila kar thanda karne laga.

"Chalo, khana khao," Zarvan ne chammach Dua ke munh ke qareeb kiya.

Dua ek baar phir thithak gayi. Itne arsay baad kisi ne uske liye itna kuch kiya tha. Woh abhi bhi Zarvan ke is naye roop ko samajhne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

Dua ne jab dekha ke Zarvan khud use apne haathon se khilana chahta hai, toh uske andar ka khauf aur purani zidd ek dam se ubhar aayi. Woh thori ghabrahat aur halki si jhijhak ke sath piche hui aur boli, "Nahi... mujhe nahi khana! Aap ise le jayein, mujhe bhook nahi hai."

Zarvan, jo abhi tak bohot naram bana hua tha, uski ye inkaar sun kar uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa chamka aaya. Usne tray wapas table par rakhi aur apni chair thori aur kareeb kar li. Uska lehja badal gaya—ab woh sakht bhi tha aur us mein ek gehri mohabbat ki jhalak bhi thi.

Dua!" Zarvan ne uska naam pukaara, jismein ek ajeeb si authority thi. "Abhi khao, aur wo bhi aaram se! Jab main bol raha hoon na, toh tum mujhe inkaar nahi kar sakti. Main Zarvan Khan hoon, samajh aayi?

Woh Zarvan ki un aankhon mein dekh rahi thi jo ab use dara nahi rahi thin, balki usay ek nayi zaroorat ka ehsas dila rahi thin. Zarvan ne dobara soup ka chammach uthaya aur is baar usne koi safai paish nahi ki, bas khamoshi se chammach Dua ke honton ke qareeb kar diya.

Dua ne dekha ke Zarvan ki nazrein us par jami hain, aur woh har haal mein usay khana khila kar hi chhore ga. Dua ne dheere se apna munh khola aur pehla chammach le liya. Zarvan ke chehre par sukoon ki ek halki si muskurahat aayi.

Good," Zarvan ne dhimi aawaz mein kaha.

Dua khamoshi se khati rahi, aur Zarvan apne hathon se use khilata raha.

Zarvan ne Dua ko khana khilaya, bartan salma ko bula kr diye..

Ab tum aaram karo, bed par let jao. Main sofe par so jata hoon."Zarvan Khan ny Dua ko bola.

Dua, jo abhi bhi jhijhak rahi thi, boli, "Aap bed par so jayein, main sofe par so jati hoon."

Zarvan ne apni baat par zor dete hue kaha, "Nahi, tum aaram karo yahin bed par. Main bol raha hoon na, tum meri bat suna kro bas.

Dua ne halki si awaaz mein kaha, "Acha."

Raat ka sannaata tha. Dua bed par aur Zarvan sofe par gehri neend mein thay. Waqt guzarta gaya aur fajar ki azaan ki goonj ne fiza ko roohani bana diya. Zarvan, jo abhi bhi so raha tha, uske chehre par ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha—woh thakan aur wo purani sakhti jo uske chehre par har waqt rehti thi, ab gayab thi, wo souty huye pur sakoon lg raha tha.

Dua ki aankh khuli. Usne bed ka sahara le kar boht sambhal kar kadam uthaye. Paon mein abhi bhi dard tha, isliye wazoo karte waqt usne boht ehtiyat ki taake zakhm gila na ho. Almari ki taraf barhte hue usne har cheez ka sahara liya. Jab almari kholi aur ja-namaz nikali, toh uski nazar ghum kar sofe par soye hue Zarvan par gayi.

Wo chand lamhon ke liye ruk gayi. Zarvan ko sote hue dekh kar uske dil mein ek dua nikli. Usne apne sar par chadar lpeti aur khamoshi se ja-namaz bichha kar namaz shuru kar di.

Ibadat mein lipti hui Dua ka chehra fajar ki roshni mein chamak raha tha. Itne mein Zarvan ki aankh khuli. Usne uthte hi dekha ke Dua ja-namaz par baithe sajde mein sar jhukaye hue hai. Woh pal bhar ke liye wahi tham gaya. Jab Dua ne salam phera aur apne dono haath dua ke liye uthaye, toh Zarvan ki nazrein us par jam gayin.

Wo use dekh raha tha—ye wahi larki thi jiske sath wo bachpan mein khela karta tha, jise wo kabhi apna maanta tha. Namaz padhti hui Dua kitni pur-sukoon aur haseen lag rahi thi. Zarvan ke dil mein ek baar phir wahi bachpan ki mithi si yaad taaza ho gayi. Wo sochne laga ke kahan kho gayi thi ye masoomiyat? Aur kyon usne apni hi zindagi ki is sab se qeemti dua ko itne arsay tak apne se door rakha?

Dua ke uthay hue hath kaanp rahe thay. Uske dil ki pukaar dil mein hi goonch rahi thi jo koi sun ni skta tha siwaye Allah k :

"Aye mere Rab, tu 70 maao'n se zyada apne bando se pyar karta hai. Mein bhi teri hi bandi hoon... mujh par reham kar. Mujhy kisi nayi azmaish mein na daal. Mujhe meri maa se milna hai, mujhe bohat yaad aati hai unki. Meri madad kar, mujhy in mushkilon aur azmaishon se nikal de. Tu sab dekhta aur janta hai main kis kashmakash mein hoon. Main nahi jaanti Zarvan ko mere haq mein behtareen sabit kar, usay waisa bana de jo mere liye behtareen ho. Mere Rab, main ne apne ghar mein bhi mohabbat nahi paayi, na yahan... main dushmani ki bheed mein gir gayi hoon. Par main tujh se iltija karti hoon, mera mustaqbil mere aaj aur kal se behtareen ho."

Dua ke aansu uske rukhsaaron se hote hue ja-namaz par gir rahe thay. Har sisk (sob) mein ek purani udaasi thi, ek an-kahi shikayat thi.

Sofe par baitha Zarvan, jo abhi tak khamosh tha, Dua ke rone ki awaaz se bechain ho utha. Uska dil, jo kabhi pathar se kam nahi tha, Dua ke girte hue aansuon ki har boond par chirakta ja raha tha. Wo dekh raha tha ke kaise wo pani ki boondein ek pathar mein suuraakh kar deti hain, waise hi Dua ke aansu uske dil ki sakhti ko pighla rahe thay.

Zarvan se ab aur raha na gaya. Wo bechaini mein apni jagah se utha aur aahista-aahista Dua ke paas aa khra hogaya. wo nahi janta tha wo kiya mang rahi h..Usne side se dekha—Dua ka chehra aansuon se poora tar tha. Wo aise ro rahi thi jaise apni puri zindagi ke shikway, apni saari tanhaiyan aaj isi ek lamhe mein apne Rab ke samne rakh rahi ho.

Zarvan ki aankhon mein bhi nami utar aayi. Usko ehsas hua ke wo shakhs jise wo apni nafrat ka nishana samajhta raha, woh andar se kitni tooti hui hai. Usne apna hath barha kar Dua ke kandhe par rakhna chaha, magar phir ruk gaya. Woh janta tha ke ye Dua aur uske Rab ka raaz-o-niyaz ka lamha hai, jismein kisi aur ka dakhal gunaah hoga.

Wo bas wahin khara raha, Dua ki siskiyon ko sunta hua.. Dua ne apni siskiyon ko dabaya aur aakhri baar "Aameen" keh kar hath apne chehre par phere. Uska dil thoda halka ho chuka tha, magar aankhon mein ab bhi aansuon ki nami thi.

Wahin paas khara Zarvan, jo abhi tak uske dard ko dekh raha tha, dil hi dil mein pukaar utha: "Aye mere Rab! Jo ye mang rahi hai, ise ata kar de. Ise sukoon de." Zarvan ko khud hairat thi ke uske honton se ye dua kaise nikli, magar us waqt uska zameer sach bol raha tha.

Jaise hi Dua ne hilne ki koshish ki aur uthne ke liye hath uthaya, Zarvan ne foran apne kadam piche kiye. Woh nahin chahta tha ke Dua ko pata chale ke woh uski ibadat mein dakhil hua hai. Wo bijli ki raftar se wapas sofe ki taraf gaya aur aankhein band kar ke let gaya, jaise woh gahri neend mein ho.

Dua ne ja-namaz ko bade ahtiyaat se sameta. Paon ka zakhm ab bhi usay dard de raha tha, isliye wo har cheez ka sahara le rahi thi. Usne ja-namaz almari mein rakhi aur wapas bed ki taraf barhi. Zarvan ko sofe par "soya" hua dekh kar, usne gehri saans li aur apne sar se chadar utaar kar bed par dher ho gayi. Wo bahut thak chuki thi, aur aaj ki raat ke aansuon ne usay andar se nichod kar rakh diya tha.

Zarvan, jo aankhein band kiye hua tha, apni palkon ke darmiyan se chori-chupi Dua ko dekh raha tha. Usne dekha ke kaise Dua thakaan se nidhal ho kar bed par let gayi hai. Uske dil mein ek kasak uthi—kash wo use bata sakta ke ab wo akeli nahi hai.

Lekin usne khamosh rehna hi behtar samjha. Wo bas Dua k liye sofe par leta raha, jabke Dua ki aankhein neend ke bojh se band ho rahi thin.

Suraj ki pehli kiran ne farmhouse ke kamre mein dastak di. Bahar, Bakhtiyar ne foran Waqas Khan ko phone lagaya.

"Sahab, Zarvan Khan ab farmhouse mein hai. Usne Dua ko wahan shift kar diya hai. Haveli mein kal Zarvan ki maa ne Dua par jo zulm kiye, uske baad se Zarvan ka ye faisla hai," Bakhtiyar ne mukhtasar mein saari tafseel bata di.

Phone ke dusri taraf Waqas Khan ke honton par ek makrooh muskurahat ubhri. "Bahut achha, Bakhtiyar. Zarvan ne khud hi mere liye raasta saaf kar diya hai. Ab wo apni tawajo haveli se hata kar farmhouse par lagaye ga. Tum bas nazar rakho, waqt aane par main bataunga ke meri agli chaal kya hai."

Farmhouse ke andar:

Kamre mein halki si roshni phail chuki thi. Zarvan ki aankh khuli toh uska pehla khayal wahi fajar ka manzar tha, jab Dua aansuon mein bhigi apne Rab se apne liye "behtareen" mang rahi thi. Woh uth kar baith gaya aur Dua ko dekha, jo abhi uth rahi thi.

Zarvan ne bed se uthte hue kaha, "Dua, main tumhe washroom ke bahar tak chhor deta hoon, tumhein chot lagi hai."

Dua ne sahem kar sar utha kar dekha, phir apni gairat aur azadi ki koshish mein boli, "Nahi, iski zaroorat nahi hai. Main... main khud ja sakti hoon."

Zarvan thithak gaya. Usne socha tha ki shayad Dua ab uske sahare ko qubool kar legi, magar uska inkaar sun kar usne is baar israr nahi kiya. Zarvan ne bas sar hilaya aur ek kadam piche hat gaya.

Dua uthi, magar uska paon ab bhi bohot dard kar raha tha. Wo laraikhara rahi thi, har kadam par uska chehra dard se sikur jata tha. Zarvan wahi khara raha, uska dil chah raha tha ke wo foran aage barh kar use sambhal le, magar usne khud par zabt (control) kiya. Wo khamoshi se usay washroom tak jaate hue dekhta raha. Uska har kadam Zarvan ke dil par ek chot ki tarah lag raha tha, magar usne Dua ki zidd ka ehtram kiya.

Washroom ka darwaza band hua toh Zarvan ne ek gehri saans li aur apni jagah se hat gaya. Wo janta tha ki abhi Dua ke dil mein uske liye darr baqi hai, aur ye darr mitaane mein waqt lagega.

Dua washroom se nikal kar ba-mushkil bed tak pahunchi. Zarvan ne apni jagah se uth kar aage barhne ki koshish toh ki, magar khud par sakht control karte hue wo ruk gaya. Wo nahi chahta tha ke Dua ko ye mehsoos ho ke wo us par zabardasti kar raha hai ya uski azadi chheen raha hai. Usne Dua ko khud se bed tak aate hue dekha, aur phir khamoshi se apne kapray uthaye aur washroom chala gaya.

Dua bed par bethi apni kismat aur purani zindagi ke shikway dil mein liye gusse se bhari hui thi. Wo abhi tak Zarvan ke badalte hue rawaye ko samajh nahi pa rahi thi.

Kuch hi der mein Zarvan bahar aaya. Wo sheeshe ke samne khara apni kalayi par qeemti ghari bandh raha tha. Uska dhyaan ghari se zyada sheeshe mein nazar aane wali Dua par tha. Wo teerchi nazar se baar-baar Dua ko dekh raha tha, jo gusse mein bethi thi. Zarvan ke honton par ek halki si muskurahat aayi.

Aaj main dery par nahi ja raha," Zarvan ne achanak kaha.

Dua ne jhat se sar uthaya aur hairat se pucha, "Q?"

Zarvan ne mirror mein dekhte hue jawab diya, "Apni biwi ka khayal bhi toh rakhna hai."

Dua ka gussa aur barh gaya. "Mera khayal rakhne ki aapko koi zaroorat nahi, aur na hi main aapki biwi hoon, ai samajh?"

Zarvan ne ghari pehni, coat theek kiya aur mud kar Dua ke samne khara ho gaya. Uski aankhon mein sharaarat aur gehrayi dono thi. "Nikah ke papers par sign kiya hai, Dua. Aise kaise biwi nahi ho? Aur biwi ka khayal rakhna toh mera farz hai."

Dua ne tang aa kar kaha, "Aap jayein dery par! Main apna khayal khud rakhna jaanti hoon. Shukriya jo aapne kal se meri dekh-bhaal ki, bahut meherbani aapki.

Zarvan ne gehri saans li aur uske qareeb ho kar bola, "You're welcome. Par ye mera farz tha."

Wo jaante-boojhte Dua ko tang kar raha tha. Zarvan ko pata tha ke Dua ka ye gussa asal mein uski jhijhak hai. Wo muskuraya. Dua ko apne gusse aur uski baaton ke beech akela chhor kar. Zarvan ko maza aa raha tha Dua ke is naye roop ko dekh kar, aur Dua ko samajh nahi aa raha tha ke wo is shakhs se kaise nipte jo ab nafrat se nahi, balki 'haq' se baat kar raha tha.