Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter5 : Qismat mein kia hai??

Raat ke aakhiri pehar, Peshawar ke aik baray aur sangeen hospital ke corridor (buraamday) mein ajeeb si khamoshi thi. Medicine ki boo aur deewaron par faili zardi khauf ko mazeed barha rahi thi. Achanak ICU ke kamre se nurse baahir aayi. Wahan corridor mein Ayat ke baba, uska bhai Sarmad, aur burkhay mein lipti Ayat ki ammi bad-fawaas khari thien, jo Ayat ki behoshi ke baad use lekar yahan bhagti hui aayi thien.

Ammi ne nurse ko dekhte hi lapak kar lady doctor ka rukh kiya, jo abhi abhi kamre se baahir nikal rahi thien.

"Doctor sahiba! Batayein kya hua hai meri beti ko? Use hosh nahi aaya abhi tak... kaisi hai ab wo? Batayein na!" Ammi ne roti hui aawaaz mein doctor ka hath pakar liya.

Lady doctor ne file band ki aur gehra saans lekar un ki taraf dekha. "Dekhein, unhein boht zyada weakness (kamzori) hai... jese unhon ne kaafi dino se kuch khaya peeya hi na ho. Aur kisi gehre sadmay (shock) ki wajah se un ka brain break down ho gaya hai. Bas ab aap log dua karein ke unhein jaldi hosh aa jaye... is sab mein thoda waqt lag sakta hai."

.

Sarmad, jo paas hi khara lagatar apni gari par hath maar raha tha, gusse aur tanaav se aage barha. "Kab aayega hosh use? Kal subah us ka nikah hai! Aap use jaldi theek karein... hum yahan zyada dair nahi ruk sakte!"

Lady doctor ne Sarmad ki baat sun kar use aik sakht aur na-pasandida nazron se dekha. Un ke lehjay mein narazgi saaf thi. "Aap ko is waqt nikah ki nahi, apni behn ki fikr honi chahiye! Use is haalat mein kuch bhi ho sakta tha... shukar karein ke wo khairiyat se hai abhi. Mazeed koi bhi dhabao un ke liye jaan-leva ho sakta hai!" Doctor ke is jawab ne jese Ayat ke baba aur Sarmad ko thanda kar diya.

Sarmad phir bhi doctor ki baat sun kar gusse se laal-pila ho gaya. Wo aage barh kar nurse ko mazeed kuch khari-khoti sunane hi wala tha ke us ke papa ne sakhti se us ka hath pakar kar use peeche jhatak diya aur khamosh rehne ka ishara kiya.

Doctor ke jaane ke baad, Sarmad corridor mein hi ghabraahat mein deewar ke sath khara ho gaya aur dhiemi magar tanni hui aawaaz mein apne papa se bola, "Papa! Kal nikah hai, haveli mein tayaariyan mukammal hain... ab kya karna hai hum ne? Kuch to sochein!"

Us ke papa ne pareshani se apne maathe ka paseena saaf kiya aur be-basi se bole, "Dadi ko phone laga kar itlaa do... keh do ke Ayat ko kab hosh aayega, abhi kuch pata nahi."

Sarmad ne bina waqt zaya kiye apni jaib se phone nikala aur dadi ka number dial kar diya. Doosri taraf, haveli ke kamre mein baithi dadi jo pehle hi fakar-mand thien, unhon ne jhat-pat phone uthaya.

"Haan miyan! Kab aa rahe ho wapis?" Dadi ne aate hi sawal poocha.

Sarmad ne thook nigla aur dadi ko doctor ki kahi hui saari baat batayi ke Ayat ki haalat kharab hai aur use hosh kab aayega, abhi doctor kuch nahi bata rahi. Baat poori karte hi us ne bhaari dil se phone rakh diya.

Doosri taraf, haveli mein dadi phone kaat kar bilkul haka-baka reh gaeen. Un ka dimaag sunn ho gaya. Kal nikah tha

aur ayat ko hosh hi nahi araha tha.

Dadi aik dam se biche hue takht par baith gaeen, un ki laathi un ke hath se chhoot gayi.

"Ab... ab kya kiya jaye?!" Dadi ne khali aawaaz mein khud se sawaal kiya. Un ka wo dabdaba aur roap aik pal mein aane wale tufaan ke darr mein badal chuka tha. Agar kal nikah na hua, to poore khandan mein un ki naak kat jani thi.

Haveli ke aangan mein sannaata tha, lekin dadi ammi ka zehen is waqt kisi deewane ki tarah chal raha tha. Wo achanak ek jhatkay se uthien, apni laathi farsh par zordaar tareeqe se maari aur poori haveli ko sir par uthate hue cheekh-pukaar shuru kar di.

"Waqas Khan! Yasir Khan! Kahan mar gaye sab ke sab?!" Un ki bhaari aur karkht aawaaz kamron ke bhed-bhaav ko cheerte hui goonji.

Raat ke is pehar dadi ki aisi hosh-ruba cheekhein sun kar haveli ke tamam log sote hue uth kar bhaagay chale aaye. Sab ke dilon mein ajeeb sa darr tha. Sab se chote chachu ne ghabra kar poocha, "Amma! Kya hua is waqt? Khairiyat to hai?"

Usi lamha baahir ke daalaan se Dua aur us ki ammi bhi jaldi jaldi dupatta sambhaalti hui wahan pohnch gaeen. Sab ki nazrein dadi ke gusse se laal chehre par tiki thien.

Dadi ne aik jhatkay se un sab ki taraf dekha aur tanni hui aawaaz mein boli, "Sarmad ka phone aya tha... Ayat ko abhi tak hosh nahi aa raha! Doctor keh rahe hain abhi waqt lagega."

Yeh sunte hi Dua ki maa ne jhat se apna dil pakar liya aur khauf se kaanp kar bolien, "Allah reham! Ya Allah reham... be-chari bachi!" Dua ne bhi ghabra kar apni ammi ka hath pakar liya, us ki apni saans halaq mein atak gayi thi.

Lekin dadi amma ke chehre par hamdardi ka ek lafz tak na aaya. Unhon ne apni laathi dobara zameen par de maari aur ziddi lehjay mein bolien, "Ab tum log aage nikah ka socho ke kya karna hai! Kal subah sab mehmaan bhi aa jayenge... aur Karachi se Farjat bhi pohnch chuka hoga. Kuch bhi karo, kaise bhi karo... nikah ki tareeq thodi aage lo ya jo karna hai karo, par yeh shaadi to main karwa ke rahoongi! Kaise bhi ho, yeh ho kar rahe gi... is parivar mein meri naak nahi katni chahiye!"

Dadi ka yeh berahi wala faisla sun kar poore sehan mein aik ajeeb aur khofnaak khamoshi chha gayi. Sab bhai ek doosre ka moonh dekh rahe the, aur Dua ka dil yeh sab sun kar buri tarah dharak raha tha.

Dadi amma ki baat sun kar Waqas Khan (Dua ke papa) ne gahra saans liya aur dadi bad-dil se boli, "Abhi larkay walon ko phone lagao aur bolo ke nikah aglay jumay (Friday) ko rakh rahe hain! Hamaare khandan mein koi mar gaya hai ya kuch bhi bahana banao... aglay jumay ki tareekh lo un se!"

Waqas Khan ne uljan se apni maa ki taraf dekha, "Par amma... is waqt sab so rahe hon ge. Yeh munasib waqt nahi hai phone karne ka."

"Tum logon ko jo main bol rahi hoon na, wohi karo!" Dadi ne unhein aage bolne hi na diya. "Bolo koi fout (faut) ho gaya hai aur hum sab wahan ja rahe hain... bas!"

Waqas Khan ne dadi ki baaton par andar hi andar gussa karte hue apni jaib se phone nikala aur number dial karne lage.

Doosri taraf, Wajdan (larkay) ke ghar mein is waqt gahra sannaata tha. Sab gehri neend so rahe the ke achanak phone ki bell bajne lagi. Wajdan ki ammi ne neend mein achanak ankhein kholien aur apne shohar ko jhinjhodte hue uthany lagien, "Suniye Wajdan ke papa! Aap ka phone baj raha hai... dekhein to sahi, is time kaun phone kar raha hai?"

Wajdan ke papa ne buri tarah karwat badli aur neend se bhari aawaaz mein phone utha kar kaan se lagaya, "Hello...?"

"Main larki (Ayat) ka chacha bol raha hoon, Waqas Khan.

Larkay ke papa ne neend mein hi sar hila diya, "Ji... ji boliye, khairiyat?"

Waqas Khan (Dua k papa) ne jhoot boltay hue thook nigla, "Wo... hamaare yahan aik foutgi ho gayi hai. Hum sab abhi wahan ja rahe hain... to aap se yeh kehna tha ke nikah ab aglay jumay ko kar lete hain, Ayat aur Wajdan ka."

Yeh sunte hi Wajdan ke baba ki aankhein aik dam se khul gaeen. Wo badd-fawaas hokar bistar par seedhe baith gaye, "Kyaaa?!"

Waqas Khan ne baat ko jaldi khatam karne ke liye kaha, "Ji, hum bas nikal rahe hain, to hum ne socha aap ko abhi bta dein."

Wajdan (larka) ke papa ka dimaag tezi se chalne laga, unho ne kaha, "Hamaari tayaariyan to mukammal hain... main ghar mein mashwara kar ke aap ko batata hoon."

Yeh bol kar unhon ne thode shak aur pareshani mein phone rakh diya. Raat ke is pehar aane wali is khabar ne un ke pure ghar ka sukoon ura diya tha.

Agli subah ka suraj nikal chuka tha. Peshawar ke us aalishaan farm house ke lawn mein subah ki thandak thi, lekin lounge ke andar ka mahool bilkul sard tha.

Zarvan subah jaldi uth kar tayyar ho chuka tha. Dark grey rang ke bade hi qeemti shalwar kameez mein us ka jalaal aur roap hamesha ki tarah dekhne wala tha. Wo apni wrist-watch (ghari) ka strap band karta hua lounge mein aaya,

Wo log abhi tak is baat se bilkul be-khabar tha ke haveli mein kya tufaan aaya hai aur shaadi delay ho chuki hai.

Lounge mein sofe par us ke baba Farjaad Khan aur un ke sath hi un ki ammi bethi hui thien. Zarvan ko dekh kar us ke baba ne narm-dili se ishara kiya, "Aao beta, baitho mere paas."

Zarvan ne ek pal un dono ko dekha aur phir khamoshi se saamne wale sofe par baith gaya. Us ke chehre par hamesha ki tarah ek sangeen sannaata tha.

Farjaad Khan ne thoda aage hokar Zarvan ki taraf dekha, "Zarvan... aaj shaam ko nikah hai Ayat beti ka. Lakh ikhtilaaf sahi, purani dushmani apni jagah... lekin main bas tumhari dadi ki khaatir yahan Peshawar aaya hoon. Aur main wahan haveli mein koi behas, koi laraai nahi chahta."

Zarvan ne apne baba ki baat sun kar tanz-iya muskurahat ke sath sar ko jhatka aur apni bhaari aawaaz mein bola, "Aap mujhe aise samjha rahe hain... jese main wahan ja kar sab kuch kharab kar doon ga."

"Beta, main tumhein jaanta hoon..." Farjaad Khan ne us ke gusse ko thanda karne ki koshish ki. "Tum yahan apni marzi se nahi aaye, mujhe maloom hai. Par jab un se milo, to adab se milna. Main nahi chahta ke purani ranjishein phir se aur gehri ho jayein."

Zarvan Khan ke maathe par bal par gaye. Us ne gusse mein apne jabray bheeche aur sofe se adha uthte hue bola, "Theek hai! Sun li aap ki baat... aur kuch kehna hai ya main jaaoon?!"

Zarvan ka yeh rookh aur sakhsh lehja dekh kar us ki ammi se raha na gaya, wo foran bolien, "Zarvan! Aise baat karte hain apne papa se?!"

Lekin Farjaad Khan ne hath utha kar apni begum ko rok diya, "Ruko... main baat kar raha hoon, yeh baap aur bete ka maamla hai."Akhir mera khoon hai kholy ga hi.. Phir unhon ne dobara Zarvan ki taraf dekha, "Suno beta Zarvan Khan... shaam ko to hum nikah mein jayenge hi, par main chahta hoon us se pehle hum ek baar abhi ja kar tumhari dadi se mil lein? Abhi chalein?"

Zarvan Khan ke sabar ka paimana labrez ho chuka tha. Us ke andar haveli walon ke liye nafrat is hadd tak thi ke wo un ka saaya bhi bardasht nahi karna chahta تھا.

"Aap ko jaana hai to jayein... mere paas in sab cheezon ke liye time nahi hai!"

Zarvan ne sakhth lehjay mein jawab diya aur bina un ki taraf dobara dekhe, jhatkay se lounge se uth kar baahir chala gaya. Us ke peechay us ki ammi aur papa bas use dekhte hi reh gaye.

Doosri taraf, haveli ke ek roshan kamre mein Dua uth chuki thi. Subah ke naye ujale mein wo safaid shalwar kameez pehne, aayine ke samne khari apne lambe aur sunehri brown baalon ko suljha rahi thi. Bina kisi banawat ke bhi wo is waqt nihayat haseen aur masoom lag rahi thi. Comb table par rakh kar wo muri, to us ka dhyan khirki mein rakhe un chote chote plants (paudon) ki taraf gaya jinhein wo roz baray pyaar se dekhti thi. Us ne aage barh kar un paudon par aahista se pani chidhka. Paudon ki sabz pattiyan chamkeen, to use achanak hospital mein pari Ayat ka khayal aaya. Us ka dil ek dam udas ho gaya.

"Allah ji... Ayat ko jaldi se hosh aa jaye. Ameen." Us ne dil hi dil mein sachi dua mangi. Phir apne baalon ko sameta, dupatta saleeqe se sar par lachkaya aur kamre se baahir nashte ke liye nikal gayi.

Usi lamha, Peshawar ke us sangeen hospital ke kamre mein, jahan har taraf dawayion ki tekhboo thi, Ayat ke bed ke paas bethi us ki ammi lagatar ro rahi thien. Unhon ne be-jaan Ayat ka thanda hath apne hathon mein thama hua تھا.

"Meri pyari beti... mera bas chale to main tumhein is zaalim duniya se chupa doon. Kya haal ho gaya hai meri bachi ka..." Un ka aansu Ayat ke hath par gira, magar Ayat abhi tak un tamam dukhon se be-khabar gahri behoshi mein thi.

Udhar haveli ke baray gate par achanak teen qeemti gariyan aakar rukien. Farjaad Khan apne hifazati guards, apni biwi, aur apni college jaane wali beti Mirha ke sath haveli ke aangan mein dakhil hue. Jese unhon ne subah socha tha, wo shaam ke nikah se pehle dadi se milne pohnch gaye the. Magar un ke sath Zarvan Khan nahi tha, wo gusse mein farm house par hi ruk gaya tha.

Jese ہی yeh log haveli ke aangan mein dakhil hue, samne deorhi ki seedhiyon se utarte hue Waqas Khan (Dua ke papa) aur Yasir Khan (Fajar aur Shaban ke papa) ki nazrein un par parien. Dono ke chehron par ek pal ko sakhti aayi.

Lekin sehan ke darmiyan takht par bethi dadi ammi, jo raat bhar ki pareshani mein gheri thien, unhon ne jab apne sab se baray bete Farjaad ko dekha, to un ke sakht chehre par ek ajeeb sa sukoon aaya aur wo unhein dekh kar halke se muskura dien. Unhein lag raha tha ke chalo, un ka bara beta is mushkil waqt mein haveli pohnch gaya hai.

Dadi ammi ne takht par bethe bethe hi Farjaad Khan ki taraf bahein phailayein aur un ke sakht chehre par ek mamta bhari muskurahat aayi. "Kaise ho mere bachay? Itne arsay baad tumhein dekha... ankhon ki thandak bahaal ho gayi."

Farjaad Khan ne agay barh kar dadi ke sar par hath rakha aur un ke paas baithte hue narm-dili se bole, "Bas amma, aap ki dua se sab theek-thaak hai."

Dadi ne thoda rukh badla aur samne gusse ko daba kar khare Waqas aur Yasir Khan ki taraf dekha. Un ka lehja phir se wahi karkht ho gaya, "Tum dono bhi baith sakte ho... koi manaadi nahi hai."

Dadi ka tanz sun kar dono bhaiyon ne apne gusse ko qaboo kiya aur khamoshi se wahan biche daston par baith gaye. Farjaad Khan aur dadi ki baatein shuru ho gaeen. Dadi ki nazrein Farjaad ke peechay khari masoom si larki par parien.

"Ye Mirha hai na? Yeh tab boht choti thi... kitni barhi aur pyari ho gayi hai, Ma Sha Allah se!" Dadi ne sarahne wale andaaz mein kaha, phir achanak unhon ne chaaro taraf dekha. "Aur... Zarvan kahan hai?"

Farjaad Khan ne thoda jhijhakte hue jawab diya, "Wo... use kuch zaroori kaam tha, is liye ruk gaya. Shaam tak aa jayenge wo bhi."

Dadi ne aik gehra saans liya aur thoda gambheer hokar bolien, "Beta, ek baat batani thi... shaadi post-pone (aage) ho gayi hai."

Dadi ne baat ko dawayi ki tarah gol karte hue kaha, "Bas... Ayat ki tabiyat kuch theek nahi thi, behosh ho gayi thi to hum ne tareeq aage kar di. Ab aglay Friday (jumay) ko nikah hoga."

Farjaad Khan ne afsos se sar hila diya, "Oho... Allah bachi ko shifa de. Boht bura hua."

Usi lamha dadi ne paas hi khari Dua ki maa (Waqas Khan ki biwi) ko dekha aur jhatkay se bolien, "Moonh kya dekh rahi ho? Koi khane peene ko lao, mera beta aaya hai... jao!"

Dua ki maa ne chup-chaap sar jhukaya aur kitchen ki taraf barh gaeen. Wahan majood sab bhai aur ghar wale dadi ka moonh dekh rahe the ke poti hospital mein hai, ghar mein itna bada jhoot bola gaya hai, magar in ki akaar aur hukmarani abhi tak wesi ki wesi hi hai.

Itne mein haveli ke baray darwaze se Yasir Khan ke bachay—Fajar, Shaban aur un ki maa (jo kuch din pehle kahin gayi thien) bhi saaman samethay aangan mein dakhil hue.

Dadi ne unhein dekhte hi aor tanz kiya, "Aa gaye tum log bhi? Aur reh lete wahin!"nani se pyar hai dadi se nahi haha..

Fajar ne halki si aawaaz mein kaha, "Ji..."

Fajar ki maa ne bhi apne tevar badle aur thoda rukha bolien, "Bas kya karein... aana hi para."

Dadi ne un ke jate hi Farjaad se shikayat ki, "Is ki zubaan boht tez hai!"

Farjaad Khan halka sa muskura diye, "Chorien bhi amma... is umar mein bhi aap bilkul wesi hi hain jo pehle thien, haha!"

Kitchen se nikal kar jab Dua ki maa ne Fajar ki maa ko aate dekha, to wo jaldi se un ke paas aayeen aur un ke kaan mein dhiemi aawaaz mein saari sachai batayi, "Shaadi cancel ho gayi hai abhi... Ayat ki tabiyat boht kharab hai, wo hospital mein hai." Fajar ki maa yeh sun kar dang reh gaeen.

Lekin dadi ammi to jese kisi alag hi dhun mein thien. Unhon ne apni laathi farsh par maari aur un ke chehre par ek ajeeb sa ziddi junoon thirakne laga.

"Aaj dholki hogi hamaare ghar!" Dadi ne ailan kiya. "Jumay ko shaadi hai bhai! Ab shaadi hum dhoom-dham se karein ge. Mere sab bachay mere paas hain... ab koi rukaawat nahi hogi!" Un ki is baat par pure sehan mein ek ajeeb sa tanaav chha gaya, kyunke un ke sab bachay to paas the, magar jis ka nikah tha... wo hospital mein be-jaan pari thi.

Shaam ke saaye gehre ho chuke the. Farm house ke aalishaan lounge mein andhera utar raha tha jab Zarvan Khan ne jhatkay se apna phone nikal kar apne baba ko dial kiya. Ring jati rahi, magar doosri taraf se koi jawab na aaya—baba ka phone silent par tha. Zarvan ne gusse se phone sofa par phenka aur baahir ki taraf dekha.

"Bakhtiyar!" Us ne apne khaas mulazim ko zor se aawaaz di. Bakhtiyar jaldi se haazir hua, "Ji chote sahab?"

"Abhi tak baba log wahan se nahi aaye?" Zarvan ke lehjay mein tanaav saaf tha.

Bakhtiyar ne adab se sar jhukaya, "Nahi chote sahab, abhi tak to koi gari wapis nahi aayi."

Zarvan ke maathe par bal par gaye, wo lounge mein gusse se chakkar kaatne laga. "Ab tak to unhein aa jaana chahiye tha. Wo to sirf milne gaye the dadi se... aakar unhon ne shaam ke nikah ke liye tayyar hona تھا. Pata nahi kya majra hai... meri hi galti hai jo main ne unhein akailay us haveli mein bhej diya! Ab mujhe waqai gussa aa raha hai." Zarvan ke jabray bheeche gaye, us ki sabar ki hadd khatam ho rahi thi.

"Bakhtiyar! Driver ko bolo gari nikale aur guards ko bolo tayyar rahein. Hum abhi ja rahe hain haveli!" Us ka hukm sunte ہی Bakhtiyar baahir ki taraf bhaga. Zarvan ka dil keh raha تھا ke haveli walon ne zaroor koi naya khel khela hai.

Doosri taraf, haveli ke aangan mein dholki bichi hui thi aur larkiyan dholak par thap lagane ki tayaari mein thien ke isi dauran hospital se Wasim Khan (Ayat ka papa) ka phone dadi ko aaya.

"Amma! Ayat ko hosh aa gaya hai... hum abhi use lekar ghar hi aa rahe hain. Doctor ne kaha hai use rest (aaram) ki zaroorath hai, wo ghar par hi aaram kar legi."

Dadi ne sukoon ka saans liya aur jaldi se bolien, "Theek hai, theek hai... jaldi aao!" Dadi ko ab mazeed tasalli ho gayi thi ke chalo poti ko hosh aa gaya, ab shadi dhoom-dham se hi hogi.

Haveli ke andar, Fajar jaldi jaldi qadam uthati hui Dua ke kamre mein dakhil hui. Dua jo abhi bhi udas bethi thi, use dekh kar Fajar ne khush-khabri sunayi, "Dua api! Ayat api ko hosh aa gaya hai! Ab wo bilkul theek hain aur ghar aa rahi hain."

Dua ke chehre par ek dam se muskurahat aayi aur us ne aasman ki taraf dekha, "Shukar hai mere Allah ka... lakh lakh shukar hai!"

Fajar ne us ka hath pakra, "Ab aayein na api! Dadi ne aangan mein dholki rakhi hai, hum bhi chalte hain wahan."

Dua ne dheere se apna hath chhudaya aur bad-dili se boli, "Fajar... mera dil nahi kar raha yaar."

"Chalein na api, please... meri khaatir!" Fajar ne masoomiyat se zid ki.

Dua ne halke se muskura kar haar maani, "Acha chalo..."

Fajar ne use oopar se neeche tak dekha, "Aap aise hi jayengi? Kapray change kar lein, thora tayyar ho jayein."

Dua ne sar hila diya, "Nahi, mera dil nahi hai tayyar hone ka."

"Acha rukien..." Fajar ne shararat se muskurate hue Dua ki almari kholi aur us mein se ek halki si nude shade ki lipstick nikali. Dua kuch samajh pati, us se pehle hi Fajar ne boht saleeqe se wo lipstick Dua ke haseen honton par laga di aur us ke sunehri brown baalon ki do latsein (flicks) nikal kar us ke chehre par bikhair dien.

Dua ne aayine mein dekha aur aahista se use danta, "Fajar! Yeh kya kar rehi ho tum?"

"Ab theek hai... boht achhi lag rahi hain aap, Ma Sha Allah!" Fajar ne khushi se taali bajayi. Safaid shalwar kameez, sar par dupatta, honton par wo halki si lipstick aur chehre par girti baalon ki do latsein—Dua is waqt qayamat lag rahi thi.

Usi lamha, haveli ke baahir ek zordaar break ki aawaaz aayi. Black color ki do baray size ki gariyan, guards ke sath haveli ke baray gate se andar dakhil huien. Gari ka darwaza jhatkay se khula aur Zarvan Khan baahir nikala.

Us ke chehre ka jalaal aur gussa is waqt aag barsa raha tha. Wo lambay qadam bharta hua seedha haveli ke aangan ki taraf barha, jahan dholki bichi hui thi aur sab ghar wale majood the. Us ki entry ne pooray aangan mein aik khofnaak sannaata phela diya.