Akas-e-Mustaqil

Chapter18 : Junoon-e-Atish

Raat ka sannata farmhouse ke kamron mein ghut raha tha. Zarvan ne apne faislay par amal karte hue us raat Dua ke kamre ka rukh nahi kiya, balki woh apny ghar apni maa ke pas hi ruk gaya. Maa ke paas beth kar usne bachpan ki yaadein taza ki, apni behn k sth waqat guzara..

Agli subah hui toh Zarvan ka mamool bilkul badal chuka tha. Wo nashta karke seedha dery (autaaq) ki taraf nikalne ki taiyari karne laga. Usne Dua ki taraf palat kar bhi nahi dekha, jo chup-chap ek kone mein khari usay jata dekh rahi thi. Zarvan ka wahi purana andaz—apni family ke sath waqt guzarna, unhe time dena aur dery ke mamlaat mein masroof ho jana—wapis aa gaya tha. Dua ko laga jese wo phir se ek anjaan ban kar reh gayi ho.

Zarvan ke jane ke baad, Dua ka gussa shidat ikhtiyar karne laga. Jis doori ki wo khwahishmand thi, jab woh haqeeqat ban kar samne aayi, toh usay sukoon milne ke bajaye ek ajeeb sa dard mehsoos hone laga. Woh ab phir se akele rehne lagi thi. Din bhar wo khamosh kamre mein baithi rehti, khirki se bahar rasta takti, Zarvan kbi ata aur kbi to farm house ata hi ni apny ghar chla jata.

Dua ki chidchidahat ab gusse mein badal gayi thi. Usay samajh nahi aa raha tha ke usay bura kis baat ka lag raha hai—Zarvan ke door jane ka, ya is baat ka ke Zarvan ne itni aasani se usay 'akela' chhor diya?

"Itni jald? Itni jald usne mujhe apni zindgi se nikal diya?" Dua ne khud se kaha, aur uski aankhon mein aansu aa gaye. Usne toh bas thodi si space mangi thi, lekin Zarvan ne toh jaise usay hamesha ke liye apni zindagi se nikal dia tha.

Dua ki khamoshi ab kamre ki deewaron ko bhi chubhne lagi thi. Wo gusse mein thi, apne aap se, Zarvan se, aur us taqdeer se jisne un dono ko ek rishte mein baandh kar bhi do ajnabi bana diya tha. Ghar mein sab kuch tha, magar Zarvan ki wo 'nazrein' gayab thin, jo har waqt Dua ko mehsoos hoti thin. Ab sirf ek thandi aur geheri "Sard Mehri" thi, jisne dono ke darmiyan kanton ki tarah fasla kar diya tha.

Haveli mein ek pur-sukoon shaam thi. Zarvan Khan apni maa aur behno ke darmiyan baitha chai pi raha tha. Ghar ka mahol halke-phulke qahqahon se bhara tha, magar Zarvan ka dhyan kabhi kabhi khamoshi se kisi gehri soch mein doob jata. Usne Dua se door rehne ka jo faisla kiya tha, wo usay andar hi andar kha raha tha, magar apni anaa aur Dua ki khwahish ka ehteraam karte hue, usne sabar kar rakha tha.

haveli se zara hat kar, andhere mein khada Bakhtiyar chupke se apni jaib se phone nikalta hai. Uske chehre par ek makkaraana muskurahat hai. Wo Waqas Khan ka sab se ahem mohra hai.

"Haan, sahib..." Bakhtiyar ki awaaz dheemi thi, "Zarvan Khan yahan apni family mein masroof hai. Farmhouse par security ka intezam abhi bohot dhila hai. Dua wahan bilkul akeli hai. Abhi mauqa hai, aap apna kaam kar sakte hain."

Doosri taraf, Peshawar ki haveli mein Waqas Khan ke honton par ek darinda-sifat muskurahat phail gayi. "Theek hai... bohot achha.

Aaj raat hi kaam ho Jay ga"

Farmhouse ka Manzar

Raat ka pahar thaa. Farmhouse ki khamoshi mein sirf jogno ki awaaz aa rahi thi.

Bakhtiyar ne bade shatirana andaaz mein farmhouse ke guards ko control kar rakha tha. Usne apne ek khaas aadmi ko call ki, jisne duty par tainaat guards ko 'chaye' ke bahane gehri neend sulane wali dawa pila di thi. Kuch hi der mein, woh sab ke sab apne-apne maqamat par behosh paray thay.

Andhere ka fayda uthate hue, Waqas Khan ke char na-maloom aadmi farmhouse ki deewaron ko phand kar andar dakhil huye. Unki harkaton mein koi aahat nahi thi. Woh shikaar ki tarah aage barh rahe thay.

Dua apne kamre mein thi. Woh bed par leti hui thi, magar use neend nahi aa rahi thi. Kamre mein ek ajeeb sa bojh tha, jese koi an-honi hone wali ho. Usne socha ke shayad ye sirf uski tanhayi ka asar hai, isliye usne apni aankhein band kar leen.

Kamre ke bahar, dheere se darwaze ki kundi khuli. Dua ko laga shayad Zarvan aaya hai, uske dil ki dharkan ek pal ke liye tez hui, magar agle hi lamhe use mehsoos hua ke ye kadmon ki aahat Zarvan ki nahi hai. Woh koi aur hai.

Dua ne jhatke se aankhein kholin aur bed se uth kar baithi. Jaise hi usne samne dekha, uske hosh ud gaye. Kamre ki dhoondli roshni mein use char saya-daar, na-maloom log nazar aaye jo mask lagaye hue uski taraf barh rahe thay.

Dua ki cheekh uske gale mein hi dum tor gayi. Uske paas sambhalne ka waqt hi nahi tha. Ek aadmi ne tezi se aage barh kar use kabu karne ki koshish ki. Farmhouse, jo kabhi Zarvan ki hifazat ka ghar tha, aaj kisi ki saazish ka garh ban chuka tha.

Farmhouse ka kitchen, jo thodi der pehle sukoon mein tha, ab ek dehshat-naak waqiye ka gawah banne wala tha. Salma, jo kitchen ke akhri kaam samet rahi thi, kitchen ke darwaze se bahar nikli hi thi ke uski nazar samne corridor mein hone wali harkat par pari.

Dua apne kamre se nikli thi, aur usse pehle ke woh kuch samajh pati, do na-maloom aadmiyon ne usay daboch liya tha. Ek ne Dua ke munh par apna sakht haath rakh diya tha taake wo cheekh na sake. Dua ne unki giraft se nikalne ke liye apne haath-paon pure zor se chalaye. Is kashmakash mein, corridor mein rakha hua ek mehenga decoration piece zameen par gir kar chur-chur ho gaya.

KAUN HO TUM LOG?! KAHAN LE JA RAHE HO ISAY?!" Salma ki cheekh farmhouse ki deewaron se takra kar goonji.

Dua ki aankhon mein khauf aur aankhon se behne wale aansu dekh kar Salma ka khoon khol utha. Woh bhagti hui un aadmiyon ki taraf lapki. Magar un mein se ek shaks, jisne apna munh niqaab se chupa rakha tha, palat kar tezi se Salma ki taraf aaya. Usne Salma ko zor ka dhaka diya, jisse woh sambhal na saki aur seedha farsh par ja giri. Uska sar qareebi deewar se takraya aur woh dard ki shiddat aur khauf se foran behosh ho gayi.

Dua ki cheekhein ab uske gale mein hi ghut rahi thin. Un aadmiyon ne usay zabardasti ghaseet-te hue farmhouse ke bahar khari gaari tak pohanchaya. Dua ne akhri koshish ki, usne unka haath kaatne ki koshish ki, magar unki taqat ke aage wo bilkul be-bas thi.

"Jaldi karo! Zarvan Khan ke aane se pehle yahan se nikalna hai!" un mein se ek aadmi dahara.

Dua ko gaari ki pichli seat par baand kr patak diya gaya. Uske kaan mein sirf gaari ke tyre ki rugrahat aur un aadmiyon ki bhaari saansein goonj rahi thin. Farmhouse ka gate khula aur gaari tezi se andhere mein ghayab ho gayi.

Dua bas yehi soch rahi thi Zarvan Zarvan kahan ho tum?

Peeche, farmhouse ke corridor mein Salma behosh pari thi, aur kitchen mein abhi bhi wohi sannata tha, magar ab is sannate mein ek an-honi ki boo thi.

Dua ko jab hosh aaya, toh uska sar phat raha tha. Usne aankhein kholin magar charon taraf sirf ghup andhera tha. Wo uthne ki koshish karne lagi toh usay ehsas hua ke uske haath-paon bandhe hue hain. Usne chillane ki koshish ki, magar uske munh par patti bandhi hui thi. Woh ek purani, seen-dhari (damp) kothri mein thi jahan se sirf silan ki boo aa rahi thi. Dua ko kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha—ye log kaun thay? Unhein kya chahiye tha? Kya ye Zarvan ke dushman thay, ya phir koi aur? Har guzarta lamha uske khauf mein izafa kar raha tha. Wo bas ro rahi thi aur apne aap ko is andhere mein tanha mehsoos kar rahi thi.

Doosri taraf, waqt tezi se guzar raha tha. Fajar ki pehli kiranon ke sath masjidon se azan ki sadaayein gunjne lagi thin. Farmhouse ke us corridor mein, jahan Salma giri thi, wahan ab bhi sannata tha. Aahista-aahista, Salma ki palkon mein harkat hui. Sar mein uthte hue shadeed dard ne usay hosh mein la diya. Usne apni aankhein kholin, toh sar se khoon beh kar uske chehre par aa chuka tha. Woh ladkhadati hui uthi aur jaise hi use yaad aaya ke Dua ke sath kya hua, uski ruh kaanp uthi. Usne jaldi se apna phone nikala, uske haath laraz rahe thay.

Zarvan apne ghar mein gehri neend mein tha, magar Salma ki call ki ringtone ne usay jhatke se utha diya. Usne phone uthaya, "Haan Salma? Itni subah kyu phone kar rahi ho?"

Sahab... sahab!" Salma ki siskiyan phone par gunji. "Bibi g... Bibi g ko woh log le gaye! Sahab, wo utha le gaye unhein!"

Zarvan ka dil ek pal ke liye baith gaya. Wo bed se aik jhatky mein utha, uske zehan mein khauf ki ek lehar dauri. "Salma! Sambhal kar bolo, kya hua hai? Kaun le gaya? Dua kahan hai?"

Salma rote hue, ruk ruk kar saari kahani sunane lagi. "Sahab, wo... wo na-maloom log thay. Main kitchen mein thi, maine cheekh suni. Unhone mujhe zor ka dhaka diya, mera sar deewar se takraya aur main behosh ho gayi. Jab hosh aaya toh... toh Bibi g wahan nahi thin. Wo unhein gaari mein daal kar le gaye!"

Zarvan ke haath se phone chhootne hi wala tha. Uska chehra gusse aur khauf se surkh ho gaya.

Salma, tum wahan rehna, main bas abhi aa raha hoon!" Zarvan ne phone patka aur apni pistol uthai. Uski aankhon mein ab aag thi. Jo "Sard Mehri" kuch ghante pehle thi, wo ab ek khooni inteqam mein badal chuki thi. Wo jaanta tha ke agar Dua ko kuch hua, toh wo khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar payega. Usne apni car ki chaabi uthai aur engine start karte hi farmhouse ki taraf udaan bhari.

Zarvan Khan ki gaari farmhouse ke gate ko todti hui andar dakhil hui. Uske chehre par aisi haibat thi ke asman bhi kanp jaye. Gaari rok kar wo aise nikla jaise koi toofan zameen par utar aya ho.

"Salma!" Zarvan ki ghaaz-numa awaaz farmhouse mein goonji.

Salma jo sar par patti bandhe kursi par bethi thi, Zarvan ko dekhte hi roti hui uske qadmon mein gir gayi. Zarvan ne use jhatke se uthaya. "Bata, kahan gaye wo? Kaun thay wo log?"

"Sahab... mujhe nahi pata, sab kuch itni jaldi hua..." Salma siskiyan bhar rahi thi.

Zarvan ne farmhouse ka corridor dekha, jahan decoration piece ke tukre bikhre hue thay. Uski nazar wahan paray behosh guards par pari.

Bakhtiyar inhy hosh mein lao zarvan Khan ny deshat bhry lejjhy mein kaha.

bakhtiyar ny pani ki baltiya in pr dali.

Sab guards jhatke se hosh mein aaye, dar aur dehshat se unka rang zard par gaya. Zarvan unke sar par ja khara hua. Uski aankhon mein khoon utra hua tha. Usne Bakhtiyar ka collar pakra aur use ghaseet kar darwaze par le aya.

"Bakhtiyar!" Zarvan dahara, uski pistol ki nalli Bakhtiyar ke maathe par tahi thi. "Tu yahan ka in-charge hai, aur tere hote hue ye sab ho gaya?

Bakhtiyar ka gala sookh gaya. "Sahab... mein... mein nahi janta..mein yahn tha nahi me to apk sath tha....."

Zarvan ne pistol ki nalli ko dabaya aur Bakhtiyar ke kaan ke paas gungunaya, "Agar aik minute mein mujhe sach na mila, toh main teri zindagi ka chiragh hamesha ke liye bujha dunga. Mujhe CCTV footage chahiye! Abhi ke abhi!"

Zarvan ke jalal se pura farmhouse kap-kapa raha tha. Usne bandook ki nook par sabko line mein khara kar diya. Wo kisi darinde ki tarah har ek ki aankhon mein dekh raha tha.

"Farmhouse ke bahar ki, aur aas-paas ki jitni cameras hain, sab chalao!" Zarvan ne hukam diya.

System start hua. Screen par wo gaari nazar aayi, magar uski number plate dhundli thi. Zarvan ne screen ke kareeb ho kar dekha, uska seenah gusse se phool raha tha. Usne screen par zor ka mukka mara.

"Dua..." uska dil ek tees ke sath pukara.

Wo sab ke saamne khara hua, uski aankhein angaron ki tarah sulag rahi thin. Usne awaz mein aisi dhamki bhari ke sab ki ruh kanp gayi:

"Sun lo sab ke sab! Agar Dua ko ek kharash bhi aayi, ya uski aankh se ek aansu bhi gira, toh main Zarvan Khan har us insan ki jaan le lunga jo is saazish mein shamil tha. Main tumhare khandan, tumhari nasal aur tumhari hasti ko jala kar raakh kar dunga. Mere liye insaniyat khatam ho chuki hai, ab sirf badla bacha hai!"

Zarvan farmhouse se bahar nikla, uska mobile abhi bhi kaan se laga tha. Usne apne khaas aadmiyon ko call milayi. Karachi se Jane wala har rasta block kar do. Har us banday ko uthao jis par mujhe shak hai. Agar Dua na mili, toh main is shehar ko masmaan-e-khak kar dunga!"

Zarvan ki gaari wahan se aise nikli jaise koi aag ka gola. Uske andar Dua ko khone ka darr nahi, balki uske liye kuch bhi kar guzarne ka junoon tha.

uska phone baja. Screen par 'Ammi' ka naam chamak raha tha. Zarvan ne kaanpe hue haathon se phone uthaya.

"Beta, kahan ho tum? Dua mil gayi?" Maa ki awaaz mein fikar thi.

Zarvan ki saans bhari hui thi. "Ammi... Dua ko koi utha kar le gaya hai. Main dhund raha hoon. Aap dua karein, main use har haal mein wapis launga." Usne dusra jumla sune baghair hi call cut kar di. Uske paas waqt ka har lamha Dua ki zindagi ke barabar tha.

Wo pagaloon ki tarah apni gaari ki taraf bhaga. Usne engine start kiya, tyre ke jalne ki boo har taraf phail gayi. Wo gaari ko aise chala raha tha jaise wo zameen par nahi, asman mein ur raha ho. Highway par har gari ko side par karte hue, wo har us jagah ruk raha tha jahan camera lage thay.

Har stop par wo gaari se utarta, apni pistol ki nook guards aur staff ki peshani par rakhta aur garajta, "Footage dikhao! Ek-ek pal ki footage mujhe chahiye! Agar ek bhi second miss hua, toh tumhari zindagi ka aakhri second hoga!"

Uska junoon ab hadd se guzar chuka tha. Wo har us raaste ko check kar raha tha jahan wo gaari ja sakti thi. Uski aankhein sirf Dua ki tasveer dhoond rahi thin. Uske dimagh mein sirf ek hi baat chal rahi thi—kisne ye jurrat ki?

Zarvan Khan ki gaari raftar ki haddon ko tod rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein aansu nahi, balki khoon ki pyaas thi. Wo ab sirf apni biwi ko wapis nahi lana chahta tha, wo apni zindagi wapis lena chahta tha, aur jo koi bhi iske beech mein aayega, Zarvan use raakh bana dega.

Zarvan Khan Karachi ki sadkon par ek aag ka gola bana ghoom raha tha. Usne shehar ke tamam ahem raste, toll plazas aur exit points apne aadmion se block karwa diye thay. Har guzarne wali gaari, har truck aur har choti-moti sawari ki talashi li ja rahi thi.

Wo khud har block road par ja kar gaariyon ki checking kar raha tha. Uska zehan bhatak raha tha—kahan gai ho Dua tum? Kaun hai wo jisne itni himmat ki? Uske dimaag mein Waqas Khan ka naam abhi tak nahi aaya tha, wo bas apni Dua ko dhoond raha tha, ek paagal shikaari ki tarah. Uski aankhein har taraf Dua ko dhoond rahi thin, har gaari ki khirki mein wo bas Dua ka chehra dekhne ka mutawwaqqa tha.

Raat ka teesra pehar tha, thakawat se Zarvan ka jism choor-choor ho raha tha, magar uski rooh mein bapa toofan use chain nahi lene de raha tha. Wo ek block road par khara tha, uski shirt par pasine aur dhool ke nishan thay, aur aankhein neend aur khauf ki waja se surkh angara ban chuki thin.

Bakhtiyar, jo darasal khud andar se saazish ka hissa tha, darrte-darrte Zarvan ke paas aaya. Usne dekha ke Zarvan ka haath pistol ki grip par aise jamm gaya tha jaise wo kisi bhi pal goli chala dega.

Sahab..." Bakhtiyar ne naram lehje mein kaha, "Sahab, aap ne pichle 18 ghanton se kuch nahi khaya, na hi aram kiya hai. Karachi bohot bada shehar hai, yahan kisi ko dhoondna suyi dhoondne ke barabar hai. Aap thak gaye honge, zara aram kar lein, hum subah fresh ho kar dobara talash shuru karenge."

Zarvan ka jism ek jhatke ke sath akad gaya. Wo palta, aur uski raftar itni tez thi ke Bakhtiyar kuch samajh bhi na paya. Zarvan ne jhatke se apni pistol nikaali aur Bakhtiyar ke maathe ke bilkul beech mein 'thokk' kar di.

Bakhtiyar ki aankhein khauf se phat gayin aur wo piche ki taraf ladkhadaya.

Tum..." Zarvan ki awaaz mein aisi sardi thi ke aas-paas kharay guards ki ruh tak kaanp gayi. "Tum mujhe bataoge ke main kya karoon aur kya nahi? Meri biwi dushman ke qabze mein hai, aur tum mujhe keh rahe ho ke main aram kar loon?!"

Zarvan ne pistol ko Bakhtiyar ke maathe par aur zor se dabaya, yahan tak ke uski khaal par nishan par gaya.

Zindagi aur maut ka khel khela ja raha hai yahan, aur tum mujhe neend ki baat kar rahe ho? Agar agle ek ghante mein meri Dua mujhe na mili, toh main khud nahi janta mein kia kuch Kar skta hoo.

Zarvan ne pistol se uske maathe par ek zor ka jhatka diya aur wo neeche gir gaya. Zarvan garja, "Jao! Dhundho use!

Zarvan ka jalal dekh kar koi bhi uske aage bolne ki jurrat nahi kar raha tha. Wo phir se apni gaari ki taraf bhaga. Uska junoon badh raha tha. Wo ab sirf dhund nahi raha tha, wo Karachi ki har gali ko ulatne par tula hua tha. Uska har ek qadam tabahi ki dastak tha.