Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter9 : Surkh Qayamat

Suraj ki tapish aaj aam dino se kahin zyada tez thi, jaise aasmaan bhi kisi baray atyachar ka gawah banne wala ho. Dua, jisne raat bhar ki uljhanon ke baad thori der pehle hi neend puri ki thi, ab apne kamre mein udas bethi thi. Lemon rang ka suit uske jism par tha, magar uska dil bujha hua tha. ose rat ki har bt yaad arahi thi..

Dosri taraf, Zarvan Khan ke farm house par tayariyan mukammal thin. Kal Karachi rawana hona tha. Zarvan apne baba, Farjad Khan ke sath kheton ka jaiza lene nikla.

Baba, ye zameen ab sukh rahi hai, iska koi faida nahi. Hum ise bech dete hain," Zarvan ne sardi se kaha.

Farjad Khan ne apne bete ke kandhe par hath rakha, unki aankhon mein fakhr tha. "Tumhari baat kabhi galat nahi hoti mere sher. Tum hi mera fakhr ho, mera sahara ho."

Zarvan ne halke se muskura kar pucha, "Aaj kuch khas baat hai baba? Itni tareef?"

Lekin ussi pal, waqt tham gaya. Farjad Khan ki nazrein Zarvan ke seenay par tikin, jahan ek surkh laser ka nishana jhilmila raha tha. Qatil ne nishana sadh liya tha. Farjad Khan ne bina ek lamha soche, apne bete ko dhakka de kar khud ko aage kar diya.

Dhaaaannn! Dhaaaannn! Dhaaaannn!

Teen goliyan Farjad Khan ke seenay mein utar gayin. Zarvan ki cheekh puri fiza mein goonji. "BABA!!!"

Zarvan ne ghum kar dekha, qatil ek mulazim ke bhes mein naqab poshi kiye khara tha. Zarvan ke bazu par bhi ek goli lagi, magar uski ragon mein khoon ki jagah ab aag daud rahi thi. Usne apni pistol nikali aur seedha qatil ke mathay mein goli utar di. Qatil wahin dher ho gaya.

Zarvan apne baba ko goud mein liye betha tha, jo khoon mein lath-path thay. "Baba... aankhein kholein!" Zarvan ka chehra gusse aur dard se patthar ban gaya tha.

Tabhi phone baja. Zarvan ki maa ki cheekhti hui awaaz aayi, "Zarvan! Beta... Sarmad... Sarmad Mirha ko utha kar le gaya hai!"

Zarvan ki aankhein surkh angaray ban gayin. Usne apne guards ko dahaara, "Baba ko hospital le jao! , main sab ko zinda jala doonga!"

Haveli ka sehan ab maidan-e-jang ban chuka tha. Sarmad Mirha ko ghasetate hue laya tha. Dadi cheekh rahi thin, "Sarmad! Yeh kya kiya tu ne? Ise wapis chhor kar aa!"

Sarmad pagal ho chuka tha, "Meri ana ka sawal tha Dadi! Maine wahi kiya jo zaroori tha."

Dua wahin bethi kanp rahi thi. Tabhi gates toote ki aawaz aayi. Zarvan Khan ka qafila dakhil hua. Zarvan ka bazu zakhmi tha, kapray khoon se bhare thay, aur haath mein bandook.

Dhaaaaannn! Zarvan ne pehli goli Sarmad ke seenay mein utari. Sarmad wahin gira. Uske baap ne badla lene ke liye bandook uthayi toh Zarvan ne ek na chhori aur firing kar di. Sehan khoon se lal ho gaya. Zarvan ne Dua ke chhotay chacha ko bhi wahin dher kar diya.

Tm logon ne mere baap ko mara... dekho, maine tumhare ghar ke mardon ko mita diya!" Zarvan ki awaaz mein ek karkash (harsh) khauf tha.

Dua kone mein bethi, apne kaan band kiye ro rahi thi. Zarvan ne Mirha ko ishara kiya, phir uski nazar Dua par pari. Zarvan ne qadam barhaye. Dua peeche hatne lagi, magar Zarvan ne uska hath pakar kar use jhatke se uthaya.

"Tumhare ghar walon ne meri izzat uchhali thi... ab meri baari hai."

Zarvan ne Dua ko ghaset kar gari mein betha diya. Guards ke sath uska qafila haveli se nikla toh peeche sirf laashein aur tabahi chhor gaya. Dua ka dil dar ke mare band ho raha tha—wo ab ek aise shakhs ki qaid mein thi, jo ab maseeha nahi, ek darinda ban chuka tha.

Haveli ka sehan ab laashon ka dher ban chuka tha. Waqas Khan aur Shaban jab ghar mein dakhil huye, toh samne ka manzar dekh kar unke kadam wahin jam gaye. Har taraf khoon, cheekhein, aur maut ka sannata tha. Dadi, jinka saara raub aur ghamand ek pal mein dhool ho gaya tha, wo farsh par bethi apne beton aur pote ki laashon ko dekh kar pathra chuki thin.

"Waqas... mera bacha..." Dadi ne apni kanpti hui aankhein upar uthayin, unka libaas laal khoon se bhara tha. "Dekh... ye kya ho gaya hai? Tere bhai... aur tera bhatija Sarmad... sab chhin gaye mujhse."

Dua ki maa ka bura haal tha, wo apna sar peet rahi thin, "Haye! Meri Dua! ko le gaya use... meri bachi ko wo darinda utha le gaya!"

Waqas Khan ki aankhon mein khoon utar aaya. Uski ragon mein behta khoon ubalne laga. "Kisne kiya ye?! Kaun tha wo?!" usne ghum kar sab se pucha, lekin wahan khamoshi thi. Waqas ne wahan giri hui ek bandook uthayi aur usay check kiya. "Main janta hoon ye kiska kaam hai! Farjad Khan... ye usi ka beta Zarvan Khan hai! Chalo Shaban, aaj main is dushmani ka hisab chuka kar aunga!"

Shaban, jo apne baap aur taya zaat bhai ki lash dekh kar pehle hi barood bana hua tha, usne apni pistol load ki. "Haan taya aaj main apne baap ki maut ka badla liye bina nahi rahoonga!"

Dono jaise hi darwaze ki taraf bhage, Dadi ne uth kar unhein jakar liya. Wo unke qadmon mein gir gayin. "Nahi! Mere bache, ruk jao! Khuda ke liye ruk jao!"

"Ama, hat jayein raaste se! Meri bachi meri aankhon ke samne wo utha le gaya hai, aur mere bhaiyon ko maar diya usne!" Waqas Khan dahara.

Dadi roti rahi, unki cheekhein sehan mein goonj rahi thin. "Main sab ko kho chuki hoon Waqas! Ab tum dono ko nahi kho sakti. Wo mard nahi, wo maut ka nanga naach nach raha hai! Sarmad ne uske baap Farjad ko maara, toh usne badle mein sab ko khatam kar diya. Wo jalal mein hai, wo kisi ko zinda nahi chhoray ga! Ruk jao... hum koi aur rasta nikal lenge, lekin abhi nahi!"

Waqas Khan ki aankhein pur-nam thin, magar uske dil mein aag thi. Dua ki maa ki cheekhein sun kar uska dil phat raha tha.

Haveli ke bahar ka raasta sunsaan tha, lekin har taraf maut ki badboo thi. Zarvan Khan ja chuka tha, apne sath Dua ko le kar, aur peeche ek aisi aag chhor gaya tha jo shayad ab poore khandan ko jala kar raakh kar degi. Waqas Khan ne bandook toh neeche gira di, magar uski mutthi ab bhi banch hui thi. Wo janta tha ke ye jang abhi khatam nahi hui, bas ek naye, aur zyada khatarnaak dor mein dakhil hui hai

Farm house ke sehan mein qadam rakhte hi Zarvan Khan ne Dua ka hath jhatak diya. Dua, jo gusse aur khauf ki mari hui thi, sambhalne ki koshish kar rahi thi, lekin phir uski nazar sehan ke beech bichhi us charpai par pari jis par ek safed chadar lipti hui thi.

Zarvan Khan, jo abhi tak ek darinde ki tarah pesh aa raha tha, us charpai ko dekhte hi jaise pathra gaya. Uski maa wahan bethi sisk kr rou rahi thin, aur Mirha bhi bap ko dekh charpai se lipat kar mayyat par bilak kr rouny lgiii.

Zarvan Khan ke andar ka wo barood, jo haveli mein phata tha, ab wapis ek thande sannatay mein badal gaya. Usne ghutno ke bal beth kar apne baap ke sarhane hath rakha. Woh cheekh raha tha, magar uski awaaz mein ab gussa nahi, balki ek aisi tadap thi jo kisi patthar dil ko bhi mom kar de.

"Baba... uthiye na! Main badla le aaya hoon, Baba! Maine un sab ko mita diya jinhone aap par goli chalayi thi!" Zarvan ki cheekhein sehan ki deewaron se takra kar wapis aa rahi thin. Yeh wo pehli baar tha jab Zarvan Khan kisi ke samne itna kamzor hua tha, itna toota hua. Woh mard, jo abhi kuch der pehle maut banta phir raha tha, ab apne baap ke lye bacha ban kar bilak raha tha.

Tabhi, usay Dua ka khayal aaya. Uska gussa wapis ubal pada.

Zarvan utha aur tezi se Dua ki taraf barha. Usne Dua ka baazu pakar kar use khincha aur janazay ke bilkul samne la kar zor se dhabak diya.

idhar ye "Dekho! Dekho ise!" Zarvan ki aankhein khoon se lal thin, aur uske chehre par aansuon ke nishan uske dard ki gawahii de rahe thay. "Ye tha tmhara khandan? Hum yahan khushiyon mein shareek hone aaye thay, duaaein dene aaye thay... aur tumhare ghar walon ne mujhe kya tohfa diya? Mere baap ki mayyatki

Dua, jo farsh par giri hui thi, darr ke mare kaanp rahi thi. Wo Zarvan ki halat dekh kar sehmi hui thi, magar uski baatein sun kar uska dil bhi baith raha tha.

"Zarvan... main... main nahi janti thi..." Dua ki awaaz dhimi thi, uske aansu ruk nahi rahe thay.

Tum nahi janti thi?" Zarvan ne zor se dahara, aur gusse mein aakar aas-paas bari kisi cheez par laat maar di. "Tumhari ana, tumhari zidd, aur tumhare ghar walon ki ghaleez soch ne mere baap ki jaan le li! Ab tum yahan hi rahogi, meri nazar ke samne, taake tum dekh sako ke tumhare khandan ki wajah se main kya ban gaya hoon

Zarvan ki maa, jo ye sab dekh rahi thin, unhone dard bhari nazron se Dua ko dekha. Zarvan Khan wahan se utha aur janazay ki taraf wapis barh gaya, uski peeth mein ek aisi tanhai thi jo bayan se bahar thi. Dua ab uske farm house mein qaid thi, ek aise shakhs ki qaid mein, jisne badla toh le liya tha, magar apne andar ki dunya tabah kar li thi.

Haveli ka sehan, jo kuch din pehle shadi ki raunak se bhara hua tha, aaj laashon aur aansuon se bhara tha. Wasim Khan, Yasir Khan, aur Sarmad—teenon ki mayyatein line mein rakhi hui thin. Yeh khandan ke wo mard thay jo kabhi is haveli ka maan hua karte thay, aur aaj wo thandi lashon mein tabdeel ho chuke thay.

Dua ki maa, chachiyan, aur ghar ki baqi auratein sar peet rahi thin. Haveli mein rona-peetna itna shiddat se tha ke parosi bhi sun kar seham gaye thay. Ayat wo bhi wahan pohanch chuki thi. Wo zameen par bethi bilak rahi thi, uski aankhon mein aansu khatam ho chuke thay, magar siskiyan rukh nahi rahi thin. Sab nidhal thay, jaise kisi ne haveli ki rooh hi nikal li ho.

Dosri taraf, zarvan ny Dua ko andery kmry me band kr dia tha.

Dua Zarvan ke farm house par ek kamre mein qaid thi. Wo mayoosi ke samandar mein doob chuki thi. Uski aankhon ke samne baar-baar wahi manzar ghoom raha tha—Zarvan ka wo darinda roop, aur phir apne ghar ki tabahi ki khabar. Usne khirki se bahar dekha, jahan suraj dhal raha tha, lekin uski zindagi mein ab andhera hi andhera tha. Wo janti thi ke uske ghar walon par kya guzri hogi, aur ye ehsas usay andar hi andar kha raha tha.

Haveli mein Dadi ka haal sab se bura tha. Wo ek kone mein bethi, aankhein farsh par tikaye, pathra si gayi thin. Unhone ek hi din mein apni aulad aur apna pota kho diya tha. Waqas Khan, jo abhi bhi zinda tha, wo bas ek zinda laash ki tarah khara tha. Uske kandhon par ab poore khandan ka bojh tha, lekin uska dil apne bhaiyon aur Sarmad ki maut ke gham se phat raha tha.

"Ye kaisi dushmani thi..." Waqas ne bhari awaaz mein kaha, "Jo humein is mor par le aayi?"

Shaban bhi wahan betha tha, usne apne baap Yasir ki laash par hath rakha hua tha. Wo kuch nahi bol raha tha, lekin uski khamoshi mein ek aisa toofan tha jo aage chal kar Zarvan Khan ki tabahi ka sabab ban sakta tha.

Haveli ke bahar janazay uthne ki taiyari shuru ho gayi thi. Har taraf sirf "Haye! Haye!" ki cheekhein thin. Dua ki qaid aur haveli ka matam—ye dushmani ab ek aisa surkh darya ban chuki thi, jis mein dono khandan doob rahe thay.

Dua ko ek aise kamre mein band kiya gaya tha jahan roshni ka naam-o-nishaan nahi tha. Andhera uske dil ki tarah gehra aur bojh-tal tha. Wo farsh par simat kar bethi hui thi, apne pairon ko seene se lagaye, sar ghutno mein chhipaye wo bas siskiyan bhar rahi thi.

Uski aankhon mein ab aansu nahi bache thay, bas ek khushki aur jalan thi. Use lag raha tha jaise wo kisi kabr mein zinda dafan ho. Zarvan ka wo darinda chehra, uski pistol ki awaz, aur uski haveli mein machi tabahi—ye sab manzar uske zehen ki screen par baar-baar chal rahe thay.

Kyu... kyu hua ye sab?" wo dheemi awaaz mein khud se hi sawal kar rahi thi, magar jawab mein sirf kamre ki khamoshi thi jo usay mazeed dra rahi thi.

Usay khayal aaya apne ghar ka, apne chachuon ka, aur Sarmad ka. Wo janti thi ke wahan matam barpa hoga, lekin wo itni bebas thi ke apni maa ke aansu tak ponchne ke liye wahan mojood nahi thi.

Kamre ka darwaza khula aur roshni ki ek kiran andar aayi. Zarvan Khan darwaze par khara tha. Uski aankhein sooji hui thin, kapray wahi khoon-aalood thay, aur uske wajood se maut aur tabahi ki boo aa rahi thi. Wo Dua ki taraf dekh kar bhi nahi dekh raha tha.

"Ro kyun rahi ho?" Zarvan ki awaaz mein pehle jaisa junoon nahi tha, balki ek thaki hui be-hisi thi. "Ab rone se kya hoga? Jinhone mere baap ko cheena, wo chale gaye. Jin ka tumhen gham hai, wo ab wapis nahi aayenge."

Dua ne sar utha kar use dekha. Uske chehre par ab khauf nahi, balki ek aisi nafrat thi jo Zarvan ko bhi hairaan kar gayi. "Tum insaan nahi ho... tum ek darinda ho, Zarvan Khan! Tumne sirf unhen nahi mara, tumne meri zindagi, mera sukoon aur meri har khushi ko khatam kar diya hai!"

Zarvan ne ek qadam aage barhaya. Uska saya Dua ke puray wajood par chha gaya.

Zindagi?"Mein abi apny bap ko inhi hatho se Dafna kar araha hoo tum zindgi ki bat krti ho..

Zarvan khilkhila kar hasa, magar uski hansi mein dard tha. "Kaunsi zindagi? Mere baap ke baghair zindagi kya hai? Tumhari family ne mere ghar ka chirag bujhaya, aur main ne tumhare ghar ki raunak chheen li. Ab hum barabar hain, Dua. Is andhere kamre mein ab tumhari zindagi ka har din isi tarah guzaray ga... bilkul meri tarah, akela aur tabah shuda."

Usne darwaza wapis band kar diya aur bahar se kundi laga di.

Andhera ek baar phir Dua ko apni aghosh mein le gaya. Wo wahan akeli thi, apne ghamon ke sath, aur bahar ek aisa shakhs tha jo apni tabahi ke aansu ro raha tha. Wo dono ek hi dushmani ki aag mein jal rahe thay, lekin unke darmiyan ab nafrat ki aisi deewar khari ho gayi thi jise girana namumkin tha.

Raat ka pehar tha, fiza mein ek thandak thi jo form house ke us sannatay ko aur gehra kar rahi thi. Zarvan Khan, jisne din bhar apne baap ke gham aur apni zakhmi bazu ki takleef mein guzara tha, aakhir-kaar neend ki aaghosh mein chala gaya tha. Uska wajood nidhal tha, magar uske zehen mein ab bhi wohi manzar ghoom raha tha.

Zarvan ki aankh achanak khuli. Uska sara gussa ek baar phir ubhar aaya. Usay Dua ka khayal aaya—woh larki jo uske liye ab sirf us tabahi ki nishani thi jo uske khandan ne uske ghar mein barpa ki thi.

Woh utha aur tezi se us andhere kamre ki taraf barha jahan Dua qaid thi. Usne darwaze ki kundi kholi aur Dua ka baazu pakar kar use bahar ghaset laaya.

"Mujhe tum se nafrat hai dua!" Dua ki aankhein aansuon se surkh ho chuki thin. "Main tumhe dekhna bhi nahi chahta! Yeh meri majboori hai ke mujhe tumhy dekhna prh ra hai!"

Dua dar kr guse se to mujhy wapis chor aao yahn q laye ho..

Zarvan Khan guse se tmhy saari zindgi ab Mera jalal sehna hai kese chor aaoo..

Zarvan Khan ne uski baat suni, magar uske chehre par koi shikan nahi aayi. Usne Dua ko dhakka dete hue gallery ki taraf kar diya. "Toh phir dekho mat! Yeh tumhara kamra nahi hai. Aaj se tum yahin, is gallery mein soogi. Mere kamre mein tumhare liye koi jagah nahi hai."

Zarvan ne zor se darwaza band kiya aur bistar par ja kar lait gaya, usne Dua ki ronay ki awaaz ko apne kano se nikalne ki koshish ki.

Lekin qudrat ko kuch aur hi manzoor tha. Kuch hi der mein tez barish shuru ho gayi. Bijli ki garaj aur tez hawaon ne gallery ki fiza badal di. Thandi hawaen Dua ke kapron ko bhed rahi thin, aur woh barish ki chheentay usay kapkapa dene ke liye kafi thin.

Dua darr gayi. Woh uth kar darwaze ke paas aayi aur zor-zor se hath maarnay lagi.

"Zarvan! Darwaza kholo! Zarvan, barish ho rahi hai, please! Zarvan, sun rahe ho?!"

Uska gala baith chuka tha, lekin Zarvan ne andar se koi jawab nahi diya.

Dua ki cheekhein barish ke shor mein gum ho rahi thin, lekin woh darwaza khatkhati rahi.

"Zarvan! Khuda ke liye darwaza kholo! Main mar jaungi yahan! Zarvan...!"

Gallery mein ab pani jama hona shuru ho gaya tha. Dua ki halat aisi thi ke koi bhi insaan dekh leta toh pighal jata, magar Zarvan Khan abhi apni ana aur nafrat ke us "Tishnagi-e-Ana" ke bawar mein tha jahan usay kisi ki takleef nazar nahi aa rahi thi. Woh bistar par aankhein band kiye para raha, jabke bahar Dua barish mein bheegti hui, darwaze par dastak deti rahi.