Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter6 : Kun

Haveli ka bhari-bharkam darwaza ek jhatkay ke sath khula. Zarvan Khan apne guards ke jhurmat mein, dandanata hua andar dakhil hua. Uske chehre par gusse ke saaye thay aur aankhein angaron ki tarah surkh ho rahi thin. Haveli mein maujood har shakhs, chahe wo naukar ho ya rishtedaar, thithak kar ruk gaya. Sab ki nazrein us ghair-mamooli shakhs par thin, jiske wajood se ek ajeeb sa khauf aur roab baras raha tha.

Sab ki aankhon mein ek hi sawal tha—Yeh kaun hai?

Tabhi Farjhad Khan, jo Zarvan ke baba thay, foran aage barhe. Unhone mahool ki garmi ko bhaap liya tha. Unhone apni bahein phailain aur muskurate hue Zarvan ki taraf barhe.

"O mera beta aa gaya!" Farjhad Khan ne Zarvan ke qareeb ja kar uski kamar thapthapai, lekin unka lehja hoshiyar tha. Unhone Zarvan ke kaan mein jhuk kar halki, magar sakht awaaz mein kaha: "Koi bad-tehzeebi mat karna, beta. Sambhal kar."

Zarvan Khan ne apne baba ki baat suni, magar uska attitude wahi raha. Usne apni thandi aur gehri nazrein guards ki taraf ghumain aur sirf ek baar hathon se ishara kiya. Bagair koi baat kiye, saare guards ek sath palte aur haveli se bahar nikal gaye. Aangan mein ab sirf Zarvan ki apni shakhsiyat ka bojh baki tha.

Farjhad Khan ne usay apnon ki taraf mutwajeh kiya: "Zarvan, yahan aao. Inse milo, ye hain tumhari Dadi jaan."

Dadi, jo ab tak hairat se usay dekh rahi thin, aage barhin. Unka chehra khushi aur jazbaat se chamak utha. Unhone Zarvan ke sar par hath rakha aur boli:

"MA SHA ALLAH... MA SHA ALLAH! Kitna bara aur pyara ho gaya hai. Wahi roop, wahi surat... bilkul apne marhoom dada par gaya hai. Bilkul wo bhi aise hi gabru jawaan thay!"

Zarvan ne Dadi ki taraf dekha, lekin uske chehre par koi khushi ya narmi nahi thi. Usne bas ek thandi nigah daali, jaise wo kisi ajnabi ko parakh raha ho.

Dadi ne josh mein aakar kaha, "Aao yahan betho, dholki ka hissa bano! Sakeena! O Sakeena! Mera sab se bara pota aaya hai, iske liye kuch le kar aao."

Dua ki maa, Sakeena, foran boli, "Ji, main abhi le kar aati hoon."

Zarvan wahan beth toh gaya, magar uski aankhon mein bechaini saaf thi. Wo is shor-o-ghul aur hajoom se ghutan mehsoos kar raha tha. Wo uthte hue bola, "Nahi, is ki koi zaroorat nahi. Mujhe kuch kaam hai, main abhi aata hoon... Excuse me."

Dadi ne usay rokne ki koshish ki, "Beth jao, kuch der yahan, baad mein kar lena kaam."

Farjhad Khan ne bhi usay ishara kiya, "Beta, kahan ja rahe ho? Beth jao, Dadi itne pyar se bol rahi hain."

Zarvan ne apne baap ki taraf ek 'zehreele' andaaz mein dekha. Uski nazron mein gussa aur na-gawari thi. Wo majbooran wapis beth gaya, magar uska wajood wahan nahi tha. Itne mein Sakeena ek bari tray mein juice, biscuits aur mukhtalif cheezain saja kar layi aur Zarvan ke aage rakh di. Zarvan ne sab dekh kar ek gehra aur thaka hua saans liya.

Dosri taraf, Dua aur Fajar abhi kamre se bahar nikli hi thin ke unhein aangan ka shor sunayi diya. Dua ne darrte hue kaha, "Fajar, wapis chalte hain, yahan boht shor hai."

Abhi wo mudne hi wali thi ke unhein Ayat ki entry ka pata chala. Ayat ko uske ammi-abu aur Sarmad hospital se wapis laye thay. Dua ka dhyan foran Ayat ki taraf chala gaya. Ayat ke baba, Wasim Khan ne apni biwi se kaha, "Tum log ise kamre mein le jao, main abhi Amma se mil kar aaya aur sab bata doon inhe."

Dadi ki awaaz goonji, "Han bai, kya bana? Kaisi hai ab wo?"

Wasim Khan ne jawab diya, "Bas kamzori ho gayi hai, aram karegi toh theek ho jayegi."

Dua ne jab Ayat ko kamre ki taraf le jate dekha, toh us se raha na gaya. Wo boli, "Fajar, main zara Ayat ko dekh loon, wo aa gayi hai."

Fajar ne sar hilaya, "Main bhi chalti hoon."

Dua ne apna dupatta theek se sar par sambhala aur logon ke beech se hoti hui kamre ki taraf barhne lagi. Tabhi Dadi ki sakht awaaz piche se aayi, "Dua! Kahan ja rahi ho?"

Zarvan wahan baitha tha, magar uske aur Dua ke darmiyan itna hajoom tha ke abhi tak dono ki nazar tak nahi mili thi. Dadi ne jhooti muskurahat ke sath kaha, "Mehman aaye hain, zara salam toh karo beta."

Zarvan ne kisi khayal mein khoye hue apni siyah aankhein uthayi. Use ek pal ke liye wo choti bachi yaad aayi jiske sath wo bachpan mein khela karta tha, magar Dua toh apni hi dhun mein thi. Dua ne sirf Farjhad Khan (zarvan k baba) aur zarvan ki Mama ko salam kiya.

Farjhad Khan muskuraye, "Oho, ye toh Dua hai! Kitni bari ho gayi hai... Masha Allah, Masha Allah!"

Lekin Dua, Zarvan Khan ko dekhe bina hi, Fajar ke sath tezi se Ayat ke kamre mein daakhil ho gayi. Zarvan ne bas uske dupatta ka ek kone ko jhatke se door jate dekha, per ose koi frq nahi prha.

Ayat kamre mein bed par nidhal pari thi. Uski aankhon mein wo chamak nahi thi jo kabhi hua karti thi. Dua ne paas baith kar uska hath thama, uski aankhon mein aansu thay, "Ayat, meri behn... kaisi ho ab? Tumhein pata hai, main kitna dar gayi thi?"

Ayat ne be-rukhi se Dua ki taraf dekha. Uske honton par ek talkh muskurahat ubhri, "Tum yahan kyun aayi ho, Dua? Tum sab kyun ye jhooti humdardi jata rahe ho? Mujh se mat karo aisa... mujhe tumse koi baat nahi karni."

Dua ki awaaz bharraa gayi, "Main jaanti hoon tum mujh se naraz ho..."

Ayat ne palkaanein mund lein, "Tum se kya naraz hona... main toh ab apni zindgi se naraz hona chahti hoon." Dua ka dil ye sun kar machal gaya, wo Ayat ki bezari aur dard ko mehsoos kar sakti thi.

Kamre se bahar, aangan mein sannata tha, magar phir Wasim Khan ka mobile goonja. Wasim Khan ne phone uthaya, "Hello?"

"Main Wajdan ka papa baat kar raha hoon," doosri taraf se thandi aur sakht awaaz aayi.

"Ji, kahiye?" Wasim Khan ne pur-umeed lehje mein pucha.

Lekin agle hi lamhe, unke hosh urr gaye. Wajdan ke papa ne kaat-daar lehje mein kaha, "Hum ye shadi nahi kar sakte. Hum ne aapki beti ko hospital se ghar aate dekha hai. Aap ne hum se jhoot bola! Humein sab pata chal gaya hai. Ek 'nuks' wali beti ko hum apne ghar ki bahu nahi bana sakte."

Wasim Khan ka wajood gusse se kaanp utha. Unka chehra tamtama gaya, "Ye kaisi baat ki aap ne?! Hamare ghar ki izzat par ungli uthane ki himat kaise hui aapki?"

Aangan mein betha har shakhs—Dadi, Farjhad Khan, aur Zarvan—apni jagah se uth khara hua. Zarvan Khan ki aankhon mein ab gussa nahi, balkay ek gehari hairat thi. Wo samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha ke aakhir ye majra kya hai?

Tabhi, dusri taraf se phone kat gaya. Wasim Khan phone haath mein liye jhanjhalaye hue kharay thay. Haveli mein ek khamoshi chha gayi, jaise sab ka dum ghut raha ho.

Wasim Khan ne mur kar Farjhad Khan ko dekha. Unki aankhon mein aasuon ka ek sailab tha, magar wo use dabaye huye thay. Apne bhai ke saamne apni izzat-e-nafs ka janaza nikalta dekhna unke liye namumkin tha. Wo ba-mushkil khud ko sambhalte huye Dadi ki taraf mure, "Amma... aap zara kamre mein aayein, mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hai."

Dadi ne wahan baithay rishtedaaron ko ek jhooti muskurahat di, "Ruko, main zara abhi aati hoon. Tum log dholki jaari rakho, gaane-shane karo!"

Dadi kamre ki taraf barhin, aur unke peeche Waqas Khan (Dua ke baba) aur Sarmad Khan (Ayat ka bhai) bhi chal diye. Bade kamre mein dakhil hote hi darwaza zor se band hua.

Bahir aangan mein Zarvan Khan ka sabr jawab de raha tha. Wo Farjhad Khan ki taraf dekh kar gusse se bola, "Baba, mujhe yahan se jana hai. Boht ghutan ho rahi hai! Main sirf aap ki wajah se yahan betha hoon... Uff, kitna majboor kar diya hai aap ne mujhe!"

Farjhad Khan ne thandi saans bhari, "Zarvan, bas thoda sa sabr kar. Dadi aa jayein, phir mil kar chalte hain."

Dosri taraf, kamre mein qayamat barpa thi. Wasim Khan ne saari baat bata di thi. Sarmad gusse mein pagal ho raha tha, "Main abhi gun le kar jata hoon aur unke seenay mein goli utaar deta hoon!"

Dadi ki aankhon mein aag thi, "Bas karo! Koi kahin nahi ja raha."

Wasim Khan ki awaaz mein larzish thi, "Amma, bahir sab jama hain. Main nahi chahta Farjhad ke saamne mera ghuroor reza reza ho jaye. Is larki (Ayat) ne humein kahin ka nahi chora!"

Dadi ne zehar bhare lehje mein kaha, "To ab itni jaldi hum kis se shadi karein iski? Is se behtar tha isay zehar de dete, jaan toh choot jati."

Wasim Khan ne ek khatarnak faisla sunaya, "Amma, Abdullah se hi iski shadi kar dete hain aur faarigh karte hain. Is tarah jaan choot jayegi aur sab ke saamne hamara bharam (izzat) bacha rahega."

Sarmad Khan cheekha, "Ye kaisi baat kar rahe hain Baba?! Abdullah ko toh main jaan se maar doonga! Us se shadi nahi hogi!"

Waqas Khan ne himayat ki, "Bhai bilkul theek bol rahe hain. Agar shadi na ki toh izzat mitti mein mil jayegi."

Dadi ne daant pees kar kaha, "Hnn, samajhdari isi mein hai. Magar meri ek shart hai... is ki shadi karne ke baad main samjhoongi ke ye mere liye mar gayi hai. Isay hum se milne ki, ya hamare liye ise milne ki koi ijazat nahi hogi!"

Dadi ne thande aur patthar dil lehje mein hukm diya, "Wasim Khan, jao apni biwi ko bula kar lao."

Wasim Khan ne foran sehan mein maujood apni biwi ko ishara kiya. Ayat ki maa daarti-sehamti andar kamre mein dakhil hui. Dadi ne gusse mein bhari awaz mein unhein saari soorat-e-haal bata di, aur is dauran unhein kayi baar unki "badnaseebi" ka ehsas dilaya. Ayat ki maa ne sar jhuka liya, unki aankhon mein aasu thay magar zuban par taala tha.

Dadi ne apna faisla sunaya, "Hum ne faisla kar liya hai. Ayat ki shadi Abdullah se hogi. Use abhi phone do aur bolo, Abdullah se kahe ke parson hi nikah hai, wo parson hi barat le kar aaye!"

Ayat ki maa ka chehra peela par gaya, "Lekin Amma... itni jaldi?"

Dadi ki aankhon mein aag thi, "Is ke ilawa koi raasta nahi hai! Farjhad aaya hua hai, baqi rishtedaar bhi maujood hain, main chahti hoon mahol acha rahe. Shadi dhoom-dhaam se hogi! Kal raat mehndi ka intezam karo, parson barat, aur phir walime ka dekhenge. Ye majboori hum se sab kuch karwa rahi hai, warna is larki ki zindgi mein kehar (tabahi) barpa deti main."

Kamre mein sannata tha. Ayat ki maa ke liye ye kisi azab se kam nahi tha. Ek taraf beti ki bimari aur beizzati ka darr, aur doosri taraf Dadi ka ye sakht hukm.

Dadi ne kamre ka darwaza khola aur ek jhooti, mehfooz si muskurahat sajaye bahar nikal aayin. Aangan mein betha hua mahol jaise ek pal ko tham gaya. Farjad Khan, Zarvan, aur baki ghar wale foran apni jagah se uth kharay huye,...

Zarvan Khan ne apne baba ki taraf dekha, uski aankhon mein wahi purani kashmakash aur gussa tha. Usay yahan ek pal bhi rukna zehr lag raha tha.

Dadi ne hath ka ishara karte hue kaha, "Arey, betho, betho! Khare kyun ho gaye?"

Farjad Khan ne Dadi ki taraf dekha aur phir apne baitay ki bechaini ko mehsoos karte hue kaha, "Nahi Amma, ab hum chalte hain. Humein ijazat dein, hum farm house par stay karenge."

Dadi ki muskurahat mein halki si tezi aayi, "Yahin ruk jao, tumhara hi ghar hai. Kahan ja rahe ho?"

Peechay kharay Wasim Khan aur baki bhai gusse mein ek dusre ko dekh rahe thay. Unka zehen soch raha tha dadi kese ruknyyy ka bol ri hein inhy unka khoon khol raha tha pr wo dadi ki waja se chup thy.

Farjhad Khan ne wazan-daar lehje mein jawab diya, "Nahi Amma, ijazat dein. Hum nikah mein toh aayenge hi, na?"

Dadi ne sir hila kar tasdeeq ki, "Haan... wahi toh baat karne hum kamre mein gaye thay. Nikah ki tareekh change ho gayi hai. Ab parson hi barat hai, aur kal mehndi hai. Hum dhoom-dhaam se karenge, tum log time se aa jana, kal lazmi thik hai?"

Farjhad Khan ne sir jhukaya, "Ji Amma, zaroor."

Is ke baad mahol mein ek ajeeb si thandak aa gayi.

Farjhad Khan ki family apne guards ke jhurmat mein haveli se rawana ho gayi.

Haveli ke darwaze band hote hi aangan mein phir se wahi khaufnaak sannata utar aaya, magar ab is sannate mein ek anay wali shadi ka bojh aur uske peeche chupa hua ek bara jhoot shamil ho chuka tha.

Ayat ki ammi kamre mein dakhil huin. Unki aankhon mein gussa aur majboori ka ek ajeeb sa milan tha. Unhone phone zor se bed par patka aur karakhti hui awaaz mein boli, "Ye lo phone! Milao apne aashiq ko!"

Dua aur Fajar hairat aur darr se Ayat ki ammi ko dekh rahi thin. Ayat ki ammi ne ek jhatke mein saari haqeeqat bayaan kar di, "Wajdan walon ne shadi se inkaar kar diya hai. Ghar walon ne apni izzat bachane ke liye tumhari shadi Abdullah se karne ka faisla kiya hai. Aur shart ye hai ke shadi ke baad tum kabhi hamari shakal nahi dekhogi! Unhon ne kaha hai Abdullah ko bolo parson hi barat le kar aaye, kal tumhari mehndi hai."

Ye keh kar woh kamre se nikal gayin, piche ek gehra sannata chhor gayi. Ayat par jaise sakta taari ho gaya tha. Kuch lamhon tak wo khamosh rahi, phir uski kapkapti hui awaaz gunji, "Dua... ye abhi Ammi ne kya bola?"

Dua ki aankhein num thin, "Haan Ayat... tumhari shadi Abdullah bhai se ho rahi hai."

"Dua! Ye kaise ho gaya? O mere Allah!" Ayat ki aankhon se aansuon ki lari beh nikli.

Dua ne himmat di, "Ayat, phone lagao Abdullah bhai ko!" Fajar, jo ab tak khamosh thi, uske honton par ek halki si muskurahat ubhri, jaise wo is shadi ke haq mein ho.

Ayat ne kaanpte hathon se phone lagaya. Dusri taraf se Abdullah ki awaaz aayi, "Hello? Ayat? Tum? Kya hua?"

Ayat ro rahi thi, "Abdullah... ghar wale maan gaye hain. Parson... parson barat le kar aa jao."

Abdullah ki awaaz mein khushi ki lari daur gayi, "O mere Allah! Kya sach mein? Woh maan gaye?"

"Haan, ye sach hai. Kal meri mehndi hai, parson barat hai. Bas... unki ek shart hai, main un se zindgi mein kabhi nahi milungi. Magar yaqeen karo, mera dil bhi ab un se milne ko nahi kar raha."

Abdullah ne sukoon ki saans li, "Theek hai Ayat. Main ghar mein sab ko bata deta hoon. Tum pareshan na ho, main aa jaunga aur tumhe yahan se le jaunga."

Phone rakhne ke baad Ayat ke chehre par ek ajeeb si khushi thi. Lekin Dua thori udas thi. Usne dhimi awaaz mein pucha, "Ayat... kya main tum se kabhi nahi milungi?"

Ayat ne Dua ka hath thama, "Sab theek ho jayega, Dua. Nikah ke baad hum milenge. Ye sab waqati baatein hain. Main kisi se milun na milun, tum se, Fajar se aur Ammi se zaroor milungi!"

Haveli mein naya sooraj ummeed aur halchal dono le kar nikla tha. Subah se hi mehndi ki sajawat ka kaam zor-o-shor se jari tha. Wasim Khan khud har cheez ki nigraani kar rahe thay, "Sarmad! Degi aa gayi hain, jao jald se check kar lo, mehmanon ke aane mein dair nahi hai!"

Andar, Dua apni zimmedariyan nibha rahi thi. Pehle usne Fajar ko sajaya, phir Ayat ko taiyar kiya, jo aaj kisi pari ki tarah haseen lag rahi thi. Sab kuch karne ke baad, Dua jab apne kamre ki taraf bhagi toh raste mein uski ammi mili.

"Dua! Abhi tak aisi hi ghoom rahi ho? Jao, jaldi taiyar ho jao, mehman aane hi wale hain! Uff, ye larki bhi na..." Ammi ne sar pakar liya. Dua muskurati hui apne kamre ki taraf bhagi.

Doosri taraf, Zarvan Khan ka andaaz alag hi tha. White shalwar kameez ke upar match karti hui waskat, haath mein keemti ghari aur paon mein khri jooti. Aaj uski shakhsiyat mein ek ajeeb sa khamosh raab aur roab tha. Farjhad Khan ne gari ka horn bajaya, "Chalo, chalo! Sab gari mein betho."

Dua kamre mein taiyar ho kar nikli. Usne gehri yellow frock pehni thi, lambe baal khule chhor diye thay, aankhon mein kajal aur honton par halki si surkhi—wo aaj kisi qayamat se kam nahi lag rahi thi. Sheeshe mein khud ko dekh kar uske honton par ek halki si muskurahat ubhri.

Haveli mein mehmanon ka aana shuru ho chuka tha. Farjhad Khan aur Zarvan Khan ki gari lawn ke samne ruki. Zarvan Khan ka irada zyada der rukne ka nahi tha, wo apny baba ki zid pr yahn agya tha. tabhi Zarvan ke phone par ek zaroori call aa gayi. Shor-o-gul se bachne ke liye, Zarvan haveli ke andar ki taraf mud gaya.

Dua isi waqt kamre se nikli thi aur apni dhun mein chalti hui aa rahi thi.

Ek pal ke liye waqt thamm gaya.

Dua ki aankhon ne Zarvan ki gehri, siyah aankhon mein dekha. Zarvan ny bhi Dua ki ankho mein dekha. zarvan ke kadam Dua ko rasta deny ke liye ruk gaye. Wo dono ek-dusre ke liye anjaan thay, magar wo nazrein jo takrayin, un mein ek ajeeb sa kashish bhara tan-o-za tha. Dua ne nazrein jhuka kar side se guzarne ki koshish ki, magar tabhi uska paon phisla.

"Ahhh!"

Dua girne hi wali thi ke usne ghabra kar zarvan Khan ka mazboot baazoo pakr lia. Dua ki dhadkanein ruki hui thin, uski saansein tez thin. Zarvan use hairat aur gehri nigahon se dekh raha tha.

Haveli ke lawn mein honay wala shor jaise kahin door chala gaya tha. Wahan sirf wo dono thay, aur ek ajeeb sa an-kaha ehsas.