Ijazat_€_Ishq

Chapter : 6 Boardroom war ~

Aaira file haath mein liye gusse mein office room mein dakhil hui aur zor se file table par rakh kar chair par baith gayi. Phir ek anjaan si soch mein kho gayi. Uski sochon ka markaz Zayden ki baatein thi.

"Kya woh sach mein is deal ko haasil karne ke liye kisi bhi had tak ja sakta hai? Aakhir us ne kya amount lagaya hoga? Agar uska mere se zyada hua to...."

"Nahi, nahi! Zyada kaise ho sakta hai? Agar uska zyada hua bhi to main us se double lagaungi. Main kisi bhi haal mein usay ye project haasil nahi karne dungi."

Abhi woh ye soch hi rahi thi ke uska phone ring hua. Phone par ek anjaan number dekh kar us ne ignore kiya aur wapas file dekhne mein masroof ho gayi.

Ek baar phir se uska phone baja. Is baar uske London wale dost Lucifer ka phone tha. Us ne naam dekha aur phone utha liya.

"Hello, Lucifer."

"Hello, Aaira... How are you?"

"Alhamdulillah, I'm fine. What about you?"

"Fine..."

Ye kehta Lucifer khamosh ho gaya.

Aaira ne awaaz di.

"Hello? Lucifer, tum ho?"

"Haan, hoon..."

"To khamosh kyun ho gaye? Jab main wahan thi tab to itna bolte thay ke mujhe tumhein chup karwana parta tha."

"Bas waise hi yaar. Jab se tum gayi ho, kahin dil nahi lag raha..."

"Waise kab tak aane ka irada hai tumhara?" Lucifer ye kehta hua uske jawab ka intezar karne laga.

"Mushkil hai. Shayad mera wapas aana. Main soch rahi hoon yahin hospital mein job start kar doon..."

"Nahi na, please Aaira! Mera dil nahi lag raha. Kuch dinon ke liye wapas aa jao." Lucifer ne iltija ki.

"Arrey, abhi kal hi to aayi hoon main wapas. Agar ab wapas jaane ka kaha to Mama bohot gussa hongi aur Baba bhi ijazat nahi denge. Abhi mushkil hai. Kuch time tak milne aa jaungi, theek hai?"

"Acha chalo. Ab mujhe kaam hai. Baba ne bulaya hai."

Ye kehti hui us ne phone band kar diya.

Woh achhi tarah jaanti thi ke Lucifer usay dil hi dil mein pasand karta hai, lekin usay batane ki himmat nahi rakhta.

Phone band kar ke woh phir se file dekhne mein masroof ho gayi.

Ek baar phir uska phone baja. Is baar us ne bina phone ko dekhe hi phone utha liya. Bina ye jaane ke aglay taraf kaun hai, us ne bolna shuru kar diya.

"Lucifer! Maine kaha na, main thore time tak aa jaungi. Kyun tang kar rahe ho mujhe? Abhi nahi aa sakti. Mama Baba gussa honge agar maine abhi jaane ka kaha to. Tum thora sabr karo. Main koshish karungi jaldi aane ki."

Ye kehti hui woh chup ho gayi. Uska dhyan abhi bhi file par tha.

Doosri taraf ek mardana awaaz gunji.

"LUCIFER? Kaun hai ye?"

Aaira ne foran mobile kaan se hata kar screen par dekha, jahan ek unknown number jagmaga raha tha.

Woh number Zayden ka tha.

Us ne ek baar phir poocha:

"Kaun hai ye Lucifer?"

Aaira ne uske sawal par usi se sawal kar diya.

"Pehle aap batayein, Mr. Aap kaun hain? Aur aapki himmat kaise hui mujh se sawal karne ki?"

"Ye to aaj tumhein achay se pata chal jayega main kaun hoon. Pehle tum mere sawal ka jawab do. Ye Lucifer kaun hai?"

Zayden ne gusse se wapas us se poocha. Is baar woh dahaR raha tha.

Aaira ek pal ke liye hakka bakka reh gayi, lekin khud ko sambhalte hue us ne usay munh-tor jawab diya.

"Meri baat kaan khol kar sunain, Mr. Aap jo bhi hain, mera aap se koi waasta nahi. Na to main aapki wife hoon aur na hi behn, jo aap is tarah apni awaaz unchi kar rahe hain. Apni hadd mein rahain. Warna mujhe be-lagaam ghodon ko lagaam dena aata hai."

Ye kehti hui woh phone band kar chuki thi.

Saath hi us ne us unknown number ko bhi block kar diya.

Uska gussa saatwein aasman par pohanch chuka tha aur woh ab wapas file dekhne mein masroof ho gayi.

Zayden's Side

Zayden ne zor se apna mobile saamne wali deewar par de maara. Mobile zameen par gir kar tukray tukray ho gaya.

Uska bas nahi chal raha tha ke abhi us larki ke paas jaye aur usay uski badtameezi ka jawab de.

"Miss Aaira Sultan... bohot bari ghalti kar di tum ne. Ab bas tum dekhti jao. Ye jo tumhari saansain hain na, inhein tum par hi tang na kar diya na to mera naam Zayden Shah nahi."

Ye kehta hua woh coffee ka cup munh se laga gaya.

Coffee khatam karte hi ab uska rukh wahan jaane ka tha jahan deal final honi thi. Gari ki chaabi uthaye woh gari ki taraf chal diya.

Raste mein uski sochon ka markaz woh badtameez larki aur Lucifer tha. Ye soch-soch kar uska khoon khaul raha tha.

Rasta jaldi hi khatam ho gaya.

Ek bohot bari building ke aagay ja kar gari ruki. Us par bara-bara "SULTAN INDUSTRY" likha hua tha.

Andar dakhil hote hi woh seedha boardroom ki taraf barh gaya, jahan sabhi log usi ka intezar kar rahe thay.

Andar aate hi us ne sab par nazar dali. Uski nazrein kisi ko talash kar rahi thi jo wahan maujood nahi thi.

Sab par ek nazar daal kar woh kursi kheench kar baith gaya.

"Haris Sultan, meeting start karte hain..."

"Ruk jain. Itni bhi kya jaldi hai? Zara apni Shahzadi ko to bulain. Maine suna hai is company mein unka bhi 30% share hai. Unhein bhi to meeting ka hissa hona chahiye."

"Woh bas aane hi wali hongi. Hum meeting start karte hain..."

Itne mein Aaira room mein dakhil hui.

Har taraf khamoshi chha gayi.

"Sorry Baba. Ek call aa gayi thi. Do zara busy ho gayi. Hum start karte hain."

Sultan Industry, 20th Floor Boardroom.

Table ke ek taraf Haris Sultan, Aaira Sultan aur poori legal team baithi thi.

Table ke doosri taraf Zayden Shah akela tha. Haath mein file aur chehre par muskurahat.

Beech mein tha—50 Arab rupay ka project.

Aaj faisla hona tha... kaun jeetega?

Table par rakhi file ke upar dono ki nazrein thin. Ek taraf jeet thi, doosri taraf haar.

Aaj sirf project ka faisla nahi hona tha...

Aaj faisla hona tha ke kaun kisko jhukayega.

Haris Sultan ne gala saaf kiya.

"To janab... Sultan Industry aur Shah Group dono is 50 Arab rupay ke hospital project ke liye tayyar hain. Aaj final bidding hai. Jo zyada amount lagayega, project uska hoga."

Zayden ne file kholi aur ek nazar Aaira par daali. Uske chehre par wohi tanziya muskurahat thi.

"To shuru karte hain. Shah Group ki taraf se... 55 Arab."

Boardroom mein sargoshiyan shuru ho gayin. Legal team ne ek doosre ko dekha.

Aaira ne gusse se pen uthaya.

"Sultan Industry... 60 Arab."

Zayden halka sa hansa.

"65 Arab."

Aaira ne foran jawab diya.

"70 Arab."

Zayden ne bina kisi jhijhak ke kaha:

"80 Arab."

Haris Sultan hairan reh gaye.

"Beta Zayden... itni bari amount?"

Zayden kursi se tek laga kar baith gaya.

"Uncle, jab dushmani 10 saal purani ho to paise ki parwah nahi ki jati. Aur waise bhi... main haarna nahi seekha."

Ye kehte hue us ne seedha Aaira ki aankhon mein dekha.

Aaira ka chehra laal ho gaya. Uske haath kaanp rahe thay.

Company ka budget 80 Arab tak tha. Us se upar jaana uske liye mumkin nahi tha.

Lekin woh haar maan ne ke liye tayyar nahi thi.

Us ne aakhri baar himmat karke kaha:

"85 Arab."

Boardroom mein ek dum se khamoshi chha gayi.

Zayden ne file band ki.

Uske chehre par ek ajeeb si muskurahat ubhri.

"90 Arab. Shah Group."

Ek dum se sab khamosh ho gaye.

Aaira ne apni muthi bheench li.

Haar?

Nahi.

Ye nahi ho sakta.

Tabhi Aaira khari hui.

"Ruk jain, Mr. Shah. Paise se har cheez nahi khareedi jati. Is project ke peeche sirf business nahi... izzat bhi hai. Mere Baba ki izzat."

Zayden ek qadam uske qareeb aaya.

"Izzat? 10 saal pehle jab tumhare Baba ne meri family ki izzat mitti mein milayi thi... tab ye izzat kahan thi, Miss Sultan?"

Haris Sultan foran beech mein aaye.

"Bas! Ye personal baatein yahan nahi hongi."

Zayden ne muskurakar kaha:

"Theek hai, Uncle. Personal baat baad mein. Filhal... project mera hua. 90 Arab. Papers bhej dijiye."

Woh jaane laga to darwaze par ruk kar bola:

"Oh, aur haan... Lucifer ko mera salaam kehna. Aur ye bhi keh dena ke meri cheezon se door rahe. Usi mein uski bhalai hai."

Ye keh kar woh nikal gaya.

Zayden boardroom se bahar nikla hi tha ke peeche se Aaira ki awaaz sunai di.

"Mr. Shah!"

Zayden ke qadam ruk gaye.

Us ne dheere se palat kar dekha. Aaira tez qadam uthati hui uski taraf aa rahi thi. Chehre par gussa saaf nazar aa raha tha.

Zayden ne apni bahein seene par baandh lein.

"Ji, Miss Sultan? Ab kya reh gaya?"

Aaira uske saamne aa kar ruk gayi.

"Aapko lagta hai aapne project jeet kar bohot bara teer maar liya hai?"

Zayden ke honton par halki si muskurahat aayi.

"Nahi. Mujhe lagta hai maine sirf woh cheez haasil ki hai jo mujhe chahiye thi."

"Ye project aapko nahi milna chahiye tha!"

"Lekin mil gaya."

Zayden ka jawab itna pursukoon tha ke Aaira ka gussa aur barh gaya.

"Aapne jaan-boojh kar bidding itni barhai!"

"Bilkul."

Aaira ek pal ke liye khamosh reh gayi.

"Matlab?"

Zayden ek qadam uski taraf barha.

"Matlab ye ke mujhe pata tha tum peeche nahi hatogi."

"Aur aapko ye bhi pata hona chahiye tha ke main itni aasani se haar nahi maanungi."

"Mujhe pata hai."

Zayden ki nazrein seedhi uski aankhon mein thin.

"Isi liye to maza aa raha hai."

Aaira ne gusse se usay dekha.

"Aapko har cheez game lagti hai?"

"Har cheez nahi."

Zayden ne file apne haath mein mazbooti se pakri.

"Lekin tumhare saath ye zaroor game hai."

Aaira ne foran jawab diya:

"To phir ek baat yaad rakhna, Mr. Shah. Game shuru karna aapko aata hoga, lekin khatam karna mujhe aata hai."

Zayden ke chehre par muskurahat aur gehri ho gayi.

"Challenge accepted, Miss Sultan."

Aaira palat kar jaane lagi, phir ruk kar dobara uski taraf dekha.

"Aur Lucifer ko is sab mein mat laiyega."

Zayden ki muskurahat ek pal ke liye gayab hui.

"Kyun? Naam lene se bhi darr lagta hai?"

"Mujhe kisi se darr nahi lagta."

"Achha?"

Zayden ne bhawein utha kar kaha.

"Phir kal dekhte hain."

"Kal kya?"

"Kal tumhein khud pata chal jayega."

Ye keh kar Zayden palta aur corridor mein aage barh gaya.

Aaira wahi khari usay jaate hue dekhti rahi.

"Ajeeb aadmi hai..." us ne dheere se kaha.

Phir uski nazar Zayden ke haath mein pakri file par gayi.

"Lekin ye project main tumse wapas lekar rahungi, Zayden Shah."

Doosri taraf Zayden lift ke saamne ja kar ruk chuka tha.

Lift ke darwaze band hone se pehle us ne ek baar peeche mud kar dekha.

Aaira ab bhi wahi khari thi.

Uske honton par halki si muskurahat aayi.

"Dekhte hain, Miss Sultan... pehle haar kaun maanta hai."

Zayden's Side — Next Morning

Subah ke waqt Zayden apne office mein window ke paas khara shehar ko dekh raha tha. Uske haath mein coffee ka cup tha, lekin uska dhyan coffee par nahi tha.

Uski sochon ka markaz sirf ek hi shakhs thi.

Aaira Sultan.

Kal boardroom mein uska gussa, uski aankhon mein nazar aati zid aur aakhri jumla...

"Ye jung abhi khatam nahi hui."

Zayden ke honton par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.

"Mujhe bhi pata hai, Miss Sultan... jung abhi shuru hui hai."

Tabhi darwaze par knock hua.

"Come in."

Haris ka assistant file lekar andar dakhil hua.

"Sir, woh documents aa gaye hain jo aapne kal mangwaye thay."

"Table par rakh do."

Assistant ne file table par rakhi aur chala gaya.

Zayden ne file kholi.

Ye hospital project se related documents thay.

Us ne kuch pages dekhe, phir ek jagah ruk gaya.

Uski aankhon mein ek chamak ubhri.

"To ye hai tumhari kamzori..."

Us ne foran apne assistant ko call kiya.

"Mujhe legal team ke saath conference room mein milo. Aur Sultan Industry ke saare public tenders aur upcoming projects ki details bhi mere table par chahiye."

Doosri taraf se jawab aaya:

"Yes, sir."

Zayden ne phone rakha aur kursi par baith gaya.

Us ne ek paper par kuch points likhe.

Sultan Industry ke upcoming projects.

Competitors.

Financial limitations.

Aaira Sultan ki business responsibilities.

Har point ke saamne us ne ek nishan lagaya.

Uski nazar aakhri point par ruk gayi.

"Kal tumne kaha tha ke tum haar nahi maanti..."

Woh kursi se peeche tik gaya.

"Ab main dekhna chahta hoon ke tum kitni der tak apni zid par qayam rehti ho."

Thodi der baad legal team conference room mein aa gayi.

Zayden ne file table par rakhte hue kaha:

"Hospital project ke papers complete karwao. Lekin saath hi ek aur kaam hai."

Sabki nazrein uski taraf uth gayin.

"Sultan Industry ke aglay major tender mein hum participate karenge."

Ek member ne hairani se poocha:

"Sir, woh project to abhi officially announce bhi nahi hua."

Zayden halka sa muskuraya.

"Mujhe announcement ka intezar nahi hota."

Room mein khamoshi chha gayi.

"Aur yaad rakho..."

Zayden ne file band ki.

"Humein rules ke andar reh kar compete karna hai. Main Aaira Sultan ko harana chahta hoon... uski company ko barbaad karna nahi."

Uski awaaz pur-aitemaad thi.

Phir us ne apni watch dekhi.

"Aur ek meeting arrange karo."

"Kis ke saath, sir?"

Zayden ne seedha jawab diya:

"Miss Aaira Sultan ke saath."

Sab ek doosre ko dekhne lage.

Zayden ke chehre par wahi purani muskurahat aa gayi.

"Kal boardroom mein usne mujhe challenge kiya tha."

Woh khara hua.

"Ab us challenge ka jawab bhi usay khud hi milega."

To be continued...