Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter17 : Sard Mehri

Jaise hi gaana khatam hua sab logo ny taliya bjai to dono ny nazar chura li aur Zarvan aur Dua wapis apni table ki taraf barhe, Narmine ne tezi se ek waiter se tray li. Wo jaan-bujh kar Dua ke bilkul qareeb se guzri aur "galti se" apna haath jhatka, jis se uske hath mein maujood dark red drink ka pura glass Dua ki mehngi black saree aur uske blouse par gir gaya.

Oh my god! Dua, I am so sorry! Ye toh bohot bura hua," Narmine ne jhooti hamdardi jatate hue kaha, lekin uski aankhon mein jeet ki chamak thi.

Dua ghabra kar apni kharab hoti hui saree ko dekhne lagi. Saree ka rang dhappa ban kar phail raha tha.

Zarvan, jo ek pal pehle Dua ke sath muskura raha tha, uski aankhon mein achanak ek aisi barqi tezi aayi jise dekh kar wahan khare log bhi kaanp gaye. Usne foran apni coat utaar kar Dua ke kandhon par daal di taake wo cover ho jaye.

Zarvan ne Narmine ki taraf dekha. Uske honton par ek khaufnak muskurahat thi. "Narmine," wo dhimi magar sardi bhari awaaz mein bola, "Galti se galti ho toh insaan maaf kar deta hai, lekin jab galti neeyat se ho, toh insaan ise 'badtameezi' kehta hai.agr tum larki na hoti tou mein Tumhy apny andaz mein btata ke mein kon hoo aur yeh kiski bv hai..

Zarvan, main toh bas..." Narmine haklaane lagi, usay Zarvan ke gusse ka andaza ho gaya tha.

"Chup!" Zarvan ki dahar se pura hall khamosh ho gaya. "Tumhe laga tum ye sab karke Dua ko sharminda kar dogi? Tumne apni auqaat dikha di hai. Aaj ke baad agar tumne meri biwi ki taraf aankh utha kar bhi dekha, toh tumhare Dubai ke standard bhi tumhe nahi bacha payenge. Get out of my sight, right now!"

Narmine ka chehra zard par gaya. Wahan maujood sab log usay dekh rahe thay. Wo zillat ke maare wahan se foran nikal gayi.

Zarvan ne Dua ko, jo abhi bhi kaanp rahi thi, apne mazboot baazuon mein jakra. "Dua, chalo yahan se," usne naram lehje mein kaha.

Wo Dua ko lekar hall se bahar nikal gaya. Koi usay rokne ki himmat nahi kar raha tha. Gari tak pahunchte hue Zarvan ne gari ka darwaza khola aur Dua ko baithaya. Usne gari ko itni tezi se start kiya ke tyres ki aawaz goonj uthi.

Raste bhar gari mein sannata tha, lekin ye sannata gusse ka nahi, balki Zarvan ke us ehsaas ka tha jo Dua ne mehsoos kiya—ke Zarvan Khan apni biwi ke liye duniya se takra sakta hai. Farmhouse pahunch kar, jaise hi gari ruki, Zarvan ne Dua ki taraf dekha. Uske chehre par ab gussa nahi, balki ek gehri fikr thi.

Dua," usne dhimi awaaz mein pukara, "Main jaanta hoon tumhe bura laga, lekin yaad rakhna, main kabhi kisi ko ijazat nahi dunga ke wo tumhari taraf gandi nazar se bhi dekhe."

Dua ne pehli baar Zarvan ki aankhon mein dekha—wahan nafrat nahi, balki ek ajeeb sa tahaffuz aur mohabbat thi. Ussi pal, Dua ne pehli baar apne dil ki gehrayion se mehsoos kiya ke shayad Zarvan waqai uske liye 'behtareen' saabit ho raha hai.

Farmhouse ki pur-sukoon fiza mein gari ka engine band hote hi sannata chha gaya tha. Zarvan aur Dua jab kamre mein dakhil huye, toh halki si thakan aur shaadi ki mehfil ka garma-garam maahol dono par taari tha.

Dua ne bina ek lafz bole, chup-chap apni almari ka rukh kiya. Usne woh black saree utari, jis par Narmine ki giri hui drink ka dhappa abhi bhi nishaan chhod gaya tha. Usne apni poshaak badli aur ek halka, cotton ka suit pehan liya. Saree ki wazan aur uske sehar se aazaad ho kar, usne baalon ka jooda khola aur bistar ki taraf barh gayi.

Wo khamoshi se bed par let gayi aur apni palkein mund leen. Uski aankhein band thin, magar zahan mein woh saare lamhaat chal rahe thay—Zarvan ka dance floor par usay apni bahon mein lena, uske kaan mein kahi gayi woh baatein, aur Narmine ki woh zehrili harkat. Uska dil abhi bhi tezi se dhadak raha tha, shayad isliye nahi ke woh gusse mein thi, balki isliye ke use Zarvan ka wo 'tahaffuz' mehsoos ho raha tha jo usne pehle kabhi nahi jana tha.

Kuch hi der mein, Zarvan washroom se bahar nikla. Usne apne baal towel se saaf karte hue bed ki taraf dekha. Dua wahan leti hui thi, uska chehra takiye mein chupa hua tha aur saansein itni madham thin jaise woh geheri neend mein chali gayi ho.

Zarvan ke kadam wahin tham gaye. Wo hairat aur ek ajeeb se ehsas ke sath use dekhne laga. Usne ghari par nazar daali—itni jaldi neend? Use yakeen nahi aa raha tha.

Wo ahista se bed ke paas gaya aur bed ke kinare par baith gaya. Dua ke chehre par bikhri hui baalon ki kuch latein uski peshani ko chhoo rahi thin. Zarvan ne bade nazuk andaaz mein un laton ko hata kar Dua ke kaan ke peeche kiya. Uski ungliyan Dua ki thandi jild ko chhoo kar guzrin, toh Dua ki saans mein ek halka sa larza (tremor) paida hua, jise Zarvan ne note kar liya.

Kya ye sach mein so gayi hai, ya bas mujhse nazrein bachane ki koshish kar rahi hai? Zarvan ne socha.

Wo thodi der wahin betha Dua ko dekhta raha. Aaj ki raat ne rishton ki dor ko kuch aur mazboot kar diya tha, aur Zarvan ye jaan chuka tha ke Dua ka gussa ab mohabbat mein badalne ki ibtida (shuruat) kar raha hai. Usne ek gehri saans li aur sofy pr let gaya, magar uski nazrein phir bhi Dua ke chehre par thin..

Kamre mein madham roshni thi. Dua ne dheere se apni palkein uthaayin, jese koi geheri soch use sone na de rahi ho. Usne palat kar Zarvan ki taraf dekha. Zarvan ki aankhein band thin, uska chehra pur-sukoon tha.

Dua ki aankhon mein sawalon ka ek samundar tha. Uska zehan purana zakhm khured raha tha.

Zarvan mere sath itni hamdardi kyun kar raha hai? Usne socha, aur uski peshani par bal par gaye. Ye mere itna qareeb kyun aa jata hai? Wo tahaffuz, wo dance, wo Narmine se ladna... kya ye sab bas mujhe hasil karne ke liye hai?

Dua ka dil ek baar phir unhi puraani yaadon ki qaid mein chala gaya. Hamara rishta toh sirf kagazon tak mehdood tha. Mujhe panah chahiye thi, aur Zarvan ko mujhse inteqam!

Usne apni mutthi kass li. Zarvan ki taraf dekhte hue uski aankhon mein nafrat ki ek jhalak ubhri. Mujhe usse kabhi mohabbat nahi ho sakti, aur na hi hogi! Wo insaan hi toh hai jisne meri zindagi mein har zulm ki bunyaad rakhi hai. Aaj agar wo meri hifazat kar raha hai, toh shayad isliye kyunke ab main uski malkiyat hoon.

Dua ko laga jese wo kisi aisi daldal mein phans gayi hai jahan se nikalna namumkin hai. Zarvan ki qurbat, jo use kabhi sukoon deti thi, ab usay ghabrahat mein mubtala kar rahi thi. Wo khamoshi se bed ke kone mein simat gayi, apni aankhein dobara band kar leen, lekin uske dil ki dharkanein Zarvan ki maujoodgi se ab bhi be-taab thin.

Dosri traf Peshawar ki us purani, aali-shaan magar udaas haveli mein aaj sannata kuch zyada hi gehri tha. Dadi, jo pichle kuch arse se bimaari ki wajah se bed par lagi thi, unka chehra zard aur aankhon mein inteqam ki wohi purani chamak thi jo kabhi kam nahi hui thi.

Waqas Khan dadi ke kamre mein maujood tha. Dadi ka gala khushk ho raha tha aur wo baar-baar khans rahi thin. Unka saans lena bhi dushwar tha, magar dadi ke zehan mein sirf ek hi junoon tha—Zarvan Khan ki barbadi.

"Waqas..." Dadi ki awaaz larzti hui nikli. "Tumhein mere bachon ka badla... zaroor lena hai Zarvan Khan se. Usay is duniya se mita do... wo hamare khandan ka dhabba hai."

Waqas Khan ne bed ke paas kursi par baith kar dadi ka haath thama. Uska chehra pathar ki tarah sakht tha. "Bas ama, aap thoda sambhal jayen, apni sehat theek karein. Jab sahi waqt aayega, main badla zaroor lunga. Zarvan ka naam o nishaan mita dunga, ye mera vada hai."

Dadi ne gehri saans li, unki aankhon mein aansu thay. "Kyun na... kyun na hum police ko sab bata dein? Zarvan ko jail mein sadte huye dekhna chahti hoon main!"

Waqas Khan ne ek thandi aur tanziya muskurahat ke sath sar hilaya. "Ama, aap bhool rahi hain? Kya kabhi hamare khandan ne police ka sahara liya hai? Nasl-dar-nasl khoon-rezi hamari fitrat rahi hai. Aur agar aaj hum police ke paas gaye bhi, toh kya kahenge? Ke Sarmad ne uske baap ko maara tha, aur Zarvan ne uska badla liya? Police kabhi Zarvan Khan ke khilaf khari nahi ho sakti, uski pohanch aur uska roab hi itna hai."

Dadi ne bed ke takiye par sar patka. "Mujhe sabar nahi aata, Waqas! Mere bachon ka khoon... uske haathon par hai. Rayiga na chorna... uska khatma kar do!"

Waqas Khan ki aankhon mein Waqas ne apni ankhon mein wohi darkar-e-khooniyat utar li. "Woh sirf waqt ka intezar kar raha hai, ama. Zarvan jitna ucha udega, uska girna utna hi dardnak hoga. Maine apne aadmi (Bakhtiyar) ko farmhouse mein chhor diya hai. Jaise hi Zarvan akela hoga, tabhi meri chot seedhi uske dil par lagegi."

Agli subah farmhouse mein mausam kuch bohot suhawan tha, magar Dua ke dil mein ek ajeeb si chidchidi si bechaini thi. Zarvan niche bethak mein kuch zaruri meetings mein masroof tha.

Dua upar apne kamre mein khari khirki se bahir dekh rahi thi, ke achanak usne dekha ke ek mehengi car farmhouse ke gate par aakar ruki. Car se Narmine utri. Uske kapre aur andaaz se lag raha tha ke wo poori taiyari ke sath aayi hai. Dua ne apni nazrein phailakar use dekha. Ye phir yahan kya kar rahi hai?

Dua chupke se kamre se nikli aur seedhiyan utar kar aisi jagah ja kar khari ho gayi jahan se woh bethak ka darwaza aur wahan hone wali guftagu ko dekh aur sun sakti thi, baghair kisi ki nazar mein aaye.

Narmine ne darwaza khatkhataya aur andar dakhil hui. Zarvan file par juka hua tha, usne sar utha kar dekha toh uski aankhon mein sakhti aa gayi.

Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho, Narmine?" Zarvan ki awaaz mein sard-mehari thi.

Narmine ne apni aankhon mein aansu sajane ki koshish ki. Wo aage barhi aur table ke paas khari ho gayi. "Zarvan, main sirf sorry kehne aayi hoon. Kal jo kuch bhi hua... wo bas... main bohot embarrassed hoon. Meri neeyat aisi nahi thi."

Zarvan apni chair se utha, uske haath uski pocket mein thay. Wo Narmine se kuch faasle par khara ho gaya. "Sorry se kuch nahi badalta, Narmine. Dua meri biwi hai. Us par drink phenkna, usay zaleel karna, meri tauheen hai."

Narmine ne Zarvan ki taraf kadam barhaye, uski awaz mein ek ajib si narmi thi jo kisi ko bhi pighla sakti thi. "Main jaanti hoon, lekin tum mujhe itna bura kyu samajh rahe ho? Hum university mein kitne close thay. Kya purani dosti ki koi qadar nahi rahi?"

Dua, jo darwaze ki aad mein khari thi, usne dekha ke Narmine ne apna haath Zarvan ke haath par rakhne ki koshish ki. Dua ke seenay mein ek tez si chubh-an hui. Uska dil chaha ke wo wahan jaye aur Narmine ko wahan se dhaka de, magar wo wahin jam kar khari rahi, ye dekhne ke liye ke Zarvan kya karta hai.

Zarvan ne foran apna haath peeche khench liya, jaise Narmine koi aag ho. "Dosti ki qadar tab tak rehti hai jab tak insaan apni hadd mein rahe, Narmine. Aur tumhari hadd ab khatam ho chuki hai. Mere ghar aur meri biwi ke mamlaat mein dubara dakhal dene ki koshish mat karna."

Narmine ka chehra gusse aur sharmindagi se laal ho gaya. "Tum itne badal gaye ho, Zarvan? Ek larki ke liye tum apne purane doston ko thokar maar rahe ho?"

Haan," Zarvan ne bina soche samjhe kaha, uski aawaz mein ek ajeeb si garmi thi. "Dua ke liye main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon. Ab tum yahan se ja sakti ho."

Dua ne jab ye suna, toh uske dil ki dharkan ek pal ke liye tham gayi. Ek taraf Narmine ki be-sharmsi thi aur dusri taraf Zarvan ka wo wazeh iqraar. Dua ne dekha ke Narmine jalte hue qadmon se wahan se nikli aur Zarvan wahin khara apni aankhein band kar ke ek gehri saans leta raha, jaise Narmine ka wahan hona uske liye saza ho.

Dua wahan se mud gayi, uske zehan mein ab ek nayi kashmakash thi. Zarvan ne use itni buri tarah mana kar diya... kya ye sab waqai wo mere liye kar raha hai?

ab Sham ka waqt hua Dua kitchen mein khari coffee bana rahi thi, lekin uska dimaag kahin aur hi uljha hua tha.

Zarvan Khan dheere-dheere kitchen mein dakhil hua. Dua ko ehsas hua ke wo peeche khara hai, toh usne apni movement aur teez kar di taake wo kisi tarah Zarvan se door ho sake.

Dua," Zarvan ne narm lehje mein pukara aur uske bohot kareeb aa gaya.

Dua ne jhatka de kar apna haath chhuraya aur doosri taraf ho gayi, "Mujhe kaam karne dein, Zarvan. Aap yahan se jayen."

Zarvan ne ek pal usay dekha, phir ek gehri saans lete hue uske peeche gaya. Is baar usne mauqa nahi diya aur dono hathon se Dua ki kamar ko gehri girft mein lete hue use apni taraf khench liya. Dua ka back Zarvan ke seene se ja laga.

Dua ne chhutne ki koshish ki, "Chhodein mujhe! Main keh rahi hoon na, door haten!"

Zarvan ne apni pakad thori aur mazboot ki aur apna chehra Dua ke kaandhe ke paas jhuka diya. "Kya baat hai, Dua? Tum itni chidchidi kyun ho rahi ho? Kuch toh hua hai jo tum mujhe bata nahi rahi."

Dua ne apni nazrein jhuka lin, uske dil ki dharkan zarvan ki giraft mein aakar tez ho gayi thi. Zarvan ne ek haath se uske chehre ko ghuma kar seedha apni aankhon ke samne kiya. Wo dono ki nazrein aapas mein takrayin. Zarvan ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon aur sawal tha, jabke Dua ki aankhon mein gussa aur bewasi thi.

Bolo," Zarvan ne dheemi magar geheri awaaz mein kaha, "Mujhse kya chupa rahi ho? Aisa rawaya kyun hai tumhara?"

Dua ne apni aankhein kas kar band kar lin aur apne dil ki dhadkanon ko sambhalti hui, poori taqat se uski nazron mein dekhte hue boli, "Main... main kuch bhi nahi kar rahi! Aap kyun mere pas aarahy hein?"

Wo itne rude (badtameez) aur berukhe lehje mein boli ke Zarvan ek pal ke liye sannaat mein reh gaya. Dua ne foran uske haathon se khud ko chhuraya aur bhabhrake hue wahan se bahar nikal gayi.

Zarvan wahin khara raha, uske hathon mein abhi bhi Dua ki chhu-an mehsoos ho rahi thi.uske zehan mein Dua ka wo rude lehja aur uski aankhon mein chhupi hui nafrat baar-baar ghoom rahi thi.

Kitchen se nikalne ke baad, Dua seedha apne kamre mein chali gayi aur darwaza andar se band kar liya.

Usne apni peshani par haath rakha aur gehri saans li. Main kyun nahi samajh pa raha? Zarvan ne khud se sawal kiya. Main jitna uske qareeb jata hoon, wo utni hi mujhse door hoti jati hai. meri qurbat use bojh lag rahi hai?

Zarvan soch raha tha ke uska bar-bar Dua ke kareeb jana, usay chuna, ya uske maamlaat mein dakhal dena Dua ko ghutan ka ehsas dila raha hai. Usne mehsoos kiya ke Dua shayad uski in harkaton se chir rahi hai.

Wo mujhe apne paas nahi aane dena chahti, Zarvan ne dil mein socha, aur uske honton par ek dardnak muskurahat ubhri. Har baar main koshish karta hoon ke humare darmiyan fasle kam hon, magar wo har baar mujhe aur door dhakel deti hai. Shayad meri mohabbat ya mera ehsas uske liye sirf ek bandish hai.

Zarvan ne wahi kitchen ke counter par haath tikaye aur aankhein band kar lin. Usne faisla kar liya tha. Ab main uske pas nahi jaunga. Ab main us se door rahunga. Agar use meri maujoodgi se chid hoti hai, toh main use wahi sukoon dunga jo wo chahti hai—meri doori.

Woh dheere qadmon se wahan se bahar nikla. Usne tay kar liya tha ke ab wo Dua ko wahi space dega jiska wo baar-baar izhaar kar rahi thi. Zarvan ke liye ye faisla aasaan nahi tha, kyunke wo Dua ko har waqt apni nazron ke samne dekhne ka aadi ho chuka tha, lekin uski anaa (ego) se zyada ab Dua ki khushi aur sukoon uske liye ahem tha.

Dua ne jab kamre mein band hote hue yeh socha ke Zarvan phir koi zid karega ya use manane aayega, toh wo anjaane mein usi ka intezar kar rahi thi. Magar ghanton beet gaye, raat gehri ho gayi, aur kamre ke darwaze par dastak nahi hui. Zarvan ne apni baat par amal karna shuru kar diya tha—usne apne aap ko Dua ki duniya se khamoshi ke sath door kar liya tha.