Kankar

Junaid dam saadhay gaal par haath rakhay apnay baap ko dekh raha tha, jo hua tha us ki usay tawaqqo
nahin thi, par jawab ho raha tha woh us ke waham-o-gumaan mein bhi nahin tha, us ka baap bachchon
ki tarah dhaarein maar maar kar rotay hue bas ek hi jumla dohraaye ja raha tha.

"Farah ko kabhi mat maarna, kabhi mat maarna"

Phir us ka baap achaanak uth kar kamray se nikal gaya.

"Ab tak wahi bala sar par sawaar hai, ab bhi sirf usi ka khayal aata hai"

Us ne achaanak apni maa ki barbraahat suni, ek ajeeb Pandora Box tha jo us ke saamne aa gaya tha, na
woh maa ki barbraahat samajh paya tha na baap ki kaifiyat.

Dono rad-e-amal us ke liye hairan kun thay aur shayad sirf us ke liye hi nahin wahan maujood har shakhs
apni apni jagah par isi kaifiyat mein tha, peshtar us ke ke woh apni maa se kuch poochta woh kamray se
nikal gayin ab drawing room mein woh, Farah aur us ki dono behnein reh gayi thin, chaaron ek doosray
se nazrein churaate hue dining table kankar ke gird baith gaye aur phir badi be dili se unhon ne nashta
shuru kiya tha magar koi bhi nashta karna nahin chahta tha.

Farah musalsal kuch dinon se zid kar rahi thi ke Junaid us ke saath Bhoor Ban chalay, us ki kuch cousins
sair-o-tafreh ke liye apnay apnay shauharon ke saath wahan ja rahi thin aur woh bhi chahti thi ke Junaid
bhi us ke saath chalay lekin Junaid na toh khud Bhoor Ban jaana chahta tha aur na hi use bhejna chaah
raha tha aur roz roz ki is bahas-o-takraar ne us waqt ek sangeen shakal ikhtiyar kar li jab aaj nashte ki
mez par Farah ne achaanak hi phir wahi bahas shuru kar di.

"Phir tum ne kya tay kiya hai?"

Farah ke sawal ne jahan Junaid ko hairan kiya tha, wahan baqi logon ki tawajjoh bhi un par markooz ho
gayi thi, Junaid ne na-gawari se use dekha tha, use tawaqqo nahin thi ke Farah ek zaati mamle ko is
tarah sab ke samne laane ki koshish kare gi.

"Jo tay kiya tha woh tumhein ek baar nahin baar baar bata chuka hoon aur ab phir woh dohraane ki
zaroorat nahin samajhta."

Haider ne betay ke is akhray hue jawab par Farah aur Junaid donon ko ghaur se dekha tha.

"Mein tumhein saaf saaf bata rahi hoon ke mein Bhoor Ban zaroor jaaungi aur Zareen, Farah ke jumle
par tilmila gai theen.

“Farah shauhar se kya aise baat karte hain?”

“Maine aap se mashwara nahin manga ke mujhe kisi se kis tarah baat karni chahiye aur kaise nahin, yeh
mera aur Junaid ka maamla hai isliye aap beech mein na bolain.”

Bohat rookhe andaaz mein usne saas ko jawab diya tha, Haider khamoshi se sab kuch dekh raha tha.
“Farah tum apna munh band kar lo to behtar hoga kyunki is se zyada main bardasht nahin karunga, main
tum par haath uthana nahin chahta aur tum mujhe is par majboor kar rahi ho.” Junaid ki awaaz bohat
buland thi, Haider be ikhtiyar uska naam pukar utha.

“Junaid!” Unke lehje mein tanbeeh thi magar Junaid us baap ki taraf bilkul mutawajjah nahin tha.

“Main kyun apna munh band karun, jo sach hai woh saaf saaf kahungi main tum se darti nahin hoon.”

Surkh chehre ke saath Junaid apni jagah se khada ho gaya tha.

“Do, tumhein baat karne ki tameez nahin hai.”

“Do, tumhein tameez hai?” Farah bhi uske andaaz mein khadi hokar boli thi, be ikhtiyar Junaid ka haath
utha tha magar Haider ke zor daar thappad ne uske haath ko gira diya tha.

Itni der se ghair janibdar rehne wale baap ne achanak use apni zindagi ka sab se bada surprise diya tha.

“Tumhari himmat kaise hui ke tum apni biwi par haath uthane ki koshish karo. Tumhein yeh khayal bhi
kaise aaya.”

Woh sakte ke aalam mein baap ko chillate hue dekh raha tha, phir achanak Haider ne dining table par
sar rakh kar rona shuru kar diya tha aur achanak woh isi andaaz mein taqreeban Bhaagte hue kamre se
nikal gaya tha.

"Aaj main jo kar rahi hoon wo sab ko bura lag raha hai, tumhein, logon ko, har ek ko, lekin yaad rakhna
ek waqt aisa aayega jab tum khud is sab ko rokoge, jo tum ne kiya, tum dekh lena."

"Haan aaj tumhari aakhri pesh goyi bhi poori ho gayi." Kamra lock kiye sar haathon mein thaame wo
phoot kar ro raha tha.

"Tum kya sochti ho main tumhare baghair mar jaaunga, tumhari judai ka maatam karta phirunga ya
rooonga?"

Athais saal pehle us ne kisi se kaha tha.

"Ab nahin rooge, kabhi na kabhi to rooge." Ek aawaz us ke kaanon mein goonji thi.

"Saarah... ab to, ab to mujhe..." Wo kya kehna chah raha tha wo khud bhi nahin jaanta tha.

☆☆☆

"Saarah tum aisa karo zara ghoom phir kar ghar dekho hum bas thodi der mein aajayenge. Aaj Aaliya
waghera bhi ghar mein nahin warna wohi tumhein company detin." Chachi Nadeema ki behan Nighat ne
us se kaha tha.

Us din woh bachi Nadeema ki taraf aayi thi, us waqt woh apni badi behan ke ghar jaane ke liye tayyar ho
rahi thin aur unhon ne israr kar ke Saarah ko bhi saath le liya lekin Nighat ke ghar pohanchte hi
Nadeema ka irada Nighat ke hamsayon ke ghar jaane ka ho gaya tha, jinhon ne apne lawn mein nayi
aabshaar banwayi thi aur bachi Nadeema ko is qism ki cheezon mein pehle hi bahut dilchaspi thi.

"Ab main aap ke saath mazeed kisi agle ghar nahin jaaungi, aap khud hi wapas aayen." Saarah ne
Nadeema bachi ke kehne se pehle hi inkar kar diya tha, phir Nadeema ki behan Nighat ne use ghar
dekhne ke liye kaha tha aur khud woh donon Nighat ke hamsayon ke ghar chali gayi thin, Nighat chand
maah pehle hi yahan shift hui thin aur yahan aane ke baad woh pehli ran ke yahan aayi thi lekin us se
pehle bhi woh sirf chand baar hi un ke ghar aayi thi aur woh bhi sirf do ek ghante ke liye.

Kuch der tak cold drink ke sip lete hue woh ghair dilchaspi se drawing Aur phir gilaas rakh kar woh
drawing room se bahar aagai, lounge mein azma vacuum cleaner se carpet saaf kar rahi thi, usay bahar
aate dekh kar muskurai thi.

'Main zara ghar dekh rahi hoon.' Us ne jaise apne bahar aane ki wazahat ki thi.

'Haan ji zaroor dekhiyein. Yeh idhar wala darwaza rahdaari ka hai, saare bed hum udhar hi hain aur
rahdaari ke akhir mein darwaza lawn mein khulta hai.'

Us ne haath ke ishaare se us ki rehnumai karte hue kaha tha, woh rehlaate hue rahdaari ka darwaza khol
kar us mein dakhil hogai thi, baari baari kamron ke darwaze khol kar us ne ek tairana nazar daali thi aur
andaza laga liya tha ke kamra kis ka ho sakta hai phir woh wapas lounge mein aagai.

'Yeh saamne kitchen hai aur woh study room hai.'

Usay aate dekh kar mulazima ne ek baar phir rehnumai ki thi, us ne un hi sarsari nazron ke saath kitchen
aur study room ko khol kar dekha tha.

'Oopar bhi kamre hain?' Us ne mulazima se poocha tha.

'Haan ji oopar bhi kamre hain, aap ho aaein wahan se.' Woh us ki baat par sir hilaate hue seedhiyan
charhne lagi. Seedhiyon ke khatme par woh phir ek rahdaari ke saamne khadi thi, pehle ki tarah us ne
phir darwaze khol kar kamron mein jhaankna shuru kar diya, kuch kamre locked the. Ek kamre ka
darwaza kholte hi woh thithak gai, darwaze ke bilkul saamne wali deewar ke saath qad-e-adam size ke
stereo rakhe the, woh badi dilchaspi ke saath is neem tareek kamre mein aai thi, khidki ke parde
kheench kar us ne stereo ko on karne ki koshish ki thi aur woh apni is koshish mein chand lamhon mein
hi kamyab hogai thi. Kamra achanak Elvis Presley ki awaaz se goonj utha tha, us ne fauran volume kam
kiya tha.

Kamre mein buland hone wale music ne aundhe lete Haider ko bedaar kar diya tha, aankhein khol kar
seedha hote hue us ne kuch der tak is shor ko samajhne ki koshish ki aur phir woh uth kar bed par baith
gaya, us ne stereo par jhuki hui ladki ko side se dekha, ek nazar daalte hi usay andaza ho gaya tha ke
woh us ki behnon mein se nahin thi, yaqeenan behnon ki friends mein se hogi lekin is tarah munh utha
kar kamre mein jo dakhil hogai thi, woh kis qism ki dost ho sakti hai, naagawari ka ek ehsaas us ke andar
paida hua tha.
"Aap kaun hain aur yahaan kya kar rahi hain?" Usne bed se uthte hue buland awaaz mein poocha tha,
Sara uski awaaz par chaunk gai thi. Usne pehli baar kamre ka jaiza liya tha aur daaein taraf dekhte hi ek
lamhe ke liye uska saans ruk gaya tha. Black jeans mein malboos ek ladka safaid shirt pehnte hue usay
badi berukhi se dekh raha tha, uski samajh mein nahi aaya ke kya jawab de ya kya kare, jo kamra uski
tawaqqo ke mutabiq khaali hona chahiye tha ab yakdam wahan par ek shakhs baramad ho gaya tha aur
woh bhi ek mard, woh honqon ki tarah Haider ko dekhti rahi, shirt pehan kar button band karte hue woh
uske qareeb aa gaya tha, is jhatke se usne stereo ko band kiya aur phir isi ukhde hue andaaz mein kaha.

"Maine aap se kuch poocha tha?"

"Mujhe nahi pata tha ke yahan koi hai." Sara ne apni ghabrahat par qaboo pa kar bilakhir kaha.

"Oh very well, iska matlab hai ke yahan koi nahi hai toh aap ko munh utha kar yahan aana chahiye aur
phir baghair ijazat cheezon ko istemal karna shuru kar dena chahiye, aap Guest ho toh aap ko aaram se
wahin baithna chahiye jahan aap ko baithaya jaye yeh nahi ke munh utha kar kamron mein phirna shuru
kar dein." Kisi lihaz aur murawwat ke baghair bade kadwe lehje mein usne Sara se kaha tha.

"Sorry." Kisi wazahat ke baghair ek lafz keh kar woh darwaze ki janib badh gai aur woh jo kisi lambi
chaudi wazahat ka muntazir tha kuch hairan hua tha.

"Waise aap hain kaun?" Darwaze ke qareeb pahunch kar woh uski awaaz par wapas mudi thi.

"Ek Guest hoon." Bade pursukoon andaaz mein yeh jumla ada kar ke woh darwaza khol kar bahar aa gai.
Phir tezi se seerhiyan utar kar woh neeche aa gai aur wapas drawing room mein jaane ke bajaye bahar
porch mein nikal aayi, woh uske peeche hi lounge mein aaya tha, ab aapas ka ghussa badi hadd tak
khatam ho gaya tha.

"Yeh jo abhi neeche aayi thin yeh kaun hain?" Usne lounge mein aate hi mulazimah se poocha tha jo
abhi tak carpet ko saaf karne mein masroof thi.

"Pata nahi ji, yeh baji Nadeema ke saath aayi hain, shayad unki bhatiji hain."

"Khala Nadeema aayi hain?"

"Haan ji."

"Toh kahan hain woh?"

Woh toh ji Begum Sahiba ke saath Asghar Sahab ke ghar gayi hain, abhi thodi der mein aa jayengi.

"Aur tum ne unhein ghar mein ghoomne par laga diya." Us ne mulazimah ko jhadakte hue kaha tha.

"Nahin ji, mein ne toh unhein phirne ke liye nahin kaha. Woh toh Begum Sahiba keh kar gayi hain, unhon
ne toh mujhe bhi kaha tha ke mein un ko ghar dikha doon magar mein kaam mein masroof thi is liye
woh khud hi ghar dekhne lagin." Woh mulazimah ki baat par kuch sharmindah hua tha.

"Ab kahan hain woh, Drawing Room mein."

"Nahin woh toh bahar nikal gayi hain." Mulazimah ke jawab par woh hont bheenche lounge ka darwaza
khol kar bahar nikal aaya, Sara porch mein tehal rahi thi use dekh kar ruk gayi.

"Mein ne yeh toh nahin kaha tha ke aap ghar se hi bahar nikal jayen." Us ne choot-te hi kaha.

"Nahin mein apni marzi se yahan aayi hoon, waise bhi Chachi aane hi wali hain."

"Aap andar aa jayen."

"Nahin thank you, mein yahan theek hoon." Us ne Haider ki offer bade itminan se radd kar di. Woh kuch
der use dekhta raha phir wapas chala gaya aur woh dobara wahan tehalne lagi. Sharmindagi use kafi
uthani padi thi, aur yeh sharmindagi ka ehsas hi tha jo use bahar le aaya tha, kuch der mein Chachi aa
gayin aur phir woh un ke saath ghar aa gayi.

Haider ne Sara ko pehle sirf ek bar dekha tha aur tab woh kafi choti thi so us ke liye uska chehra naya hi
tha, yahi haal Sara ka tha woh Haider ki behnon ko toh achi tarah janti thi lekin Haider se us ki mulaqat
kabhi nahin hui thi, albatta Nadima Chachi se woh Haider ke bare mein bohat kuch sunti rehti thi kyunke
teen behnon ka iklauta bhai tha is liye ladla toh hona hi tha aur woh na sirf ladla tha balki khoobsurat
aur shokh bhi tha, graduation karne ke baad us ne baap ke business ko sambhal liya tha lekin us ke
bawajood us mein sanjeedgi naam ki koi shai nahin thi, woh har ek se chher-chhar karta, har ek par
jumle kasta lekin kyunke uska mazaq kabhi shaishtagi ki had se bahar nahin hota tha is liye kisi ko woh
kabhi bura nahin laga lekin aisa bhi nahin tha ke us ko kabhi ghussa hi na aaya ho, woh ghusse ka bhi
itna hi tez tha. Jab ghussa aana hota toh phir bas chand lamhe lagte the aur uska ghussa tha bhi toofani
qism ka jo cheez us ke samne aati woh utha kar phenk deta, magar yeh kaifiyat bohat der tak nahin rehti
thi jab ghussa khatam hota toh woh phir pehle ki tarah ho jata.

Us mulaqat ke baad woh do chaar baar aur Sarah se mila tha ya yeh kehna behtar hoga ke usne Sarah ko
dekha tha, ek baar Khala Nadeema ki beti ki shadi mein aur chand baar jab woh Khala Nadeema ke ghar
gaya tha, lekin pehli mulaqat ke baad dono mein kabhi koi baat cheet ya salam dua bhi nahi hui thi, phir
bhi aahista aahista usne Sarah ke liye woh jazbaat mehsoos karna shuru kar diye the jo koi mard kisi
ladki ke liye karta hai, woh Haider jaisi khoobsurat nahi thi, woh sanwli rangat ki malik thi magar uski
aankhein bohot khoobsurat theen, naak naksha bohot teekha na sahi toh bohot aam bhi nahi tha, jahan
uski shakhsiyat ki khaas baat uska daraz qad tha, kandhon tak steps mein kate hue balon ke saath lambe
kurton mein woh bohot khoobsurat lagti thi, har dafa uska saamna hone par woh sarsari nazron se use
dekhte hue saamne se hat jati thi.

"Ammi aap ab mere liye ladki dhundna band kar dein, maine aapka masla hal kar diya hai." Us din apni
maa ke kamre mein aate hi usne muskurate hue kaha tha, dressing table ke saamne baithi hui Nighat ne
palat kar bete ko dekha jo bade itminaan se unke bed par baith gaya tha.

"Achha kaun hai woh ladki?"

"Khala Nadeema ki bhatiji Sarah," itminaan se kaha hua yeh jumla Nighat ke hosh uda gaya tha.
"Tumhara dimagh toh theek hai?" Unhone jaise use ghoorka tha, woh jawab mein bade dilkash andaaz
mein hansa tha.

"Bilkul theek kaha hai aapka beta hokar mera dimagh kaise kharab ho sakta hai."

"Haider tum uske bare mein kuch nahi jaante."

"Jitna ilm zaroori hai utna main uske bare mein rakhta hoon, maslan yeh ke woh MA Economics kar rahi
hai, uske maa baap ki death ho chuki hai. Uske taya ne use pala hai aur woh unhi ke paas rehti hai,
jaidad naam ki koi shai uske paas nahi hai, ghar ke kaam kaaj mein use koi zyada dilchaspi nahi hai, logon
se zyada mel jol bhi nahi rakhti, do chachaoon se uske talluqaat kashida hain aur woh unke ghar jaana
pasand nahi karti wagaira wagaira." Haider badi tafseel se uske bare mein batata gaya.

"Aur tumhare nazdeek in sab cheezon ki ahmiyat hi nahi." Nighat ne jal kar apne bete se poochha tha.

"As a matter of fact."

"Agar uske talluqaat apne chachaoon se kashida hain toh aapke liye achha hai ke bahu mayke walon ki
tareefein kam karegi aur wahan kam jaayegi, agar uske paas jaidad nahi hai toh usse kya farq padta hai,
after all mali Tor par to shohar ko hi support karna hota hai aur main is position mein hoon ke achhi
tarah use support kar sakoon, ghar ke kaamoun mein agar use dilchaspi nahin to yeh bhi koi itna bada
masla nahin hamare ghar mein pehle hi bahut saare kaam naukar karte hain baad mein bhi wahi
karenge." Woh bade itminan se tamam masail ka hal bata raha tha.

"Tumhara dimagh waqai kharab ho gaya hai, woh aisi kaun si hoor pari hai ke hum us ka har aib
nazarandaz kar dein, main ne tumhare liye ek se badh kar ek ladki dekhi hai aur tum ahmaqon ki tarah
sab se ghatiya ladki ko samne le aaye ho, mere kaun se do chaar bete hain jo ek agar apni marzi kar le to
main doosron par apne arman poore kar loon, meri to saari ummeedein tum hi se wabasta hain itne
bade bade Khandanon se tumhare liye rishte aa rahe hain aisi aisi khoobsurat ladkiyan hain ke dekho ge
to dang reh jao ge aur tum aisi ladki se shadi karna chah rahe ho jis ka na koi aage pichhe hai na hi koi
shakal o soorat hai."

Bade ghusse se unhon ne Haider ko jhadakte hue kaha tha magar us par qat'an koi asar nahin hua tha,
un ki baton ka jawab dene ke bajaye woh khada hote hue bola.

"Aap Daddy ko bata dein aur behtar hai ke ek do din mein rishta le jayen, jahan ladkiyon ko dekh kar
dang hone wali baat hai to woh main baad mein bhi hota rahoonga, is mamle mein aap ko mayus nahin
karunga. Magar shadi wahin karunga jahan main ne kaha hai." Woh shokhi se kehte hue kamre se nikal
gaya tha.

Phir to ghar mein jaise toofan hi aa gaya tha, us ki donon badi shadi shuda behnon ko bulwa liya gaya
tha ke shayad woh use kuch samjha payen, chhoti behnein alag use Sarah se shadi ke mazirat samjhati
rahi theen, baap ne is shadi ke khilaf sau sau daleelein di theen aur maa to baqaida waaste dene par
utar aayi theen aur jab sab ko aisa lagne laga ke shayad ab woh sudhar gaya hai aur us ne apna irada
badal diya hai tab us ne kaha.
"Achha to phir aap kab tak Sarah ke haan rishta le kar ja rahe hain?"

Nasihaton aur hidayaaton ka silsila dobara shuru kar diya gaya tha magar natija phir wahi tha, woh sab ki
baatein khamoshi se sunta rehta, kaan ki lau kheenchta hua sab ke chehre dekhta rehta aur phir akhir
mein wahi ek baat kehta aur phir wahi hua tha jo us ne chaha tha, jab ek hafte tak maa baap Sarah ke
ghar rishta le jane par tayyar na hue to aathwen din woh subah sawere ek bag ke saath apne kamre se
baramad hua tha. Us waqt sab Nashta kar rahe thay. Baray itminan se us ne chand chabiyan aur chand
kaghzat chai peetay hue baap ke samne rakh diye, sab ne hairani se usay dekha tha.

"Yeh kya hai?" Us ke baap ne kaha tha.

"Gaari, mere kamre aur mere office ke darazon ki chabiyan hain aur yeh meri checkbook aur office ke
kaghzat hain, main ghar chhod kar ja raha hoon."

Is se pehle ke koi kuch kehta woh dining room se bahar chala gaya tha, sab ek doosre ka munh dekh
rahe thay, phir sab se pehle Nighat utheen aur taqreeban bhagtay hue woh bahar ke gate par aayi theen
magar woh wahan nahi tha.

"Haider kahan hai?" Unhon ne gate se bahar jhankte hue chowkidaar se poocha, itni der mein baqi sab
bhi porch mein aa chuke thay.

"Haider sahib to apne kisi dost ke saath gaari mein gaye hain."

Chowkidaar ne ittila di, rang utre hue chehron ke saath sab wapas lounge mein aa kar baith gaye thay,
phir yakdam Nighat ne rona shuru kiya aur un ki donon chhoti betiyan bhi unhein chup karwane ke
bajaye un ke saath rone dhone mein shareek ho gayin.

Sham tak us ke ek ek dost ke ghar phone kar ke Haider ke walid usay dhoondne ki koshish karte rahe
magar woh to gadhe ke sar se seeng ki tarah ghaib ho gaya tha, us ka har dost yehi kehta ke unhein us
ke baare mein kuch pata nahin.

Teesre din tak un ka hosla mukammal taur par toot chuka tha, Nighat apne shohar ke saath us ke teenon
qareebi doston ke ghar gayin shuru mein to unhon ne saaf mana kar diya ke woh us ke baare mein kuch
nahin jaante magar jab Nighat ne minnatain shuru kar deen to ek dost us ke thikane ke baare mein
batane par majboor ho gaya tha, woh ek dost ke flat mein tha, woh sham ke waqt us ke flat par
pahunche thay, bell bajane par darwaza usi ne khola tha aur maa baap ko dekh kar us ke chehre par kisi
hairani ke taassurat nahin ubhre thay woh khamoshi se darwaze se hat gaya tha.

"Theek hai jaisa tum kahoge waisa hi hoga, ab ghar chalo." Nighat ne andar qadam rakhte hi us se kaha
tha aur phir waqai waisa hi hua tha jaisa woh chahta tha, Nighat doosre din hi rishta le kar Sara ke ghar
chali gayi theen.

Sara kuch dinon se bachi Nadeema ke ravayye mein ajeeb si tabdeeli dekh rahi thi achanak hi unhon ne
us se bol chaal khatam kar di thi aur yehi haal us ki cousins ka tha, woh achanak hi usay nazarandaz
karne lagi theen, us ne jab un ki janib se be rukhi Dekhi toh unke ghar jaana chhod diya, woh pehle bhi
apne chachaon aur bade taya ke ghar itna jaaya nahin karti thi, woh sirf unhi taya ke ghar rehna pasand
karti thi jahan woh shuru se rehti rahi thi. Taayi agar bahut achhi nahin thi toh woh bahut buri bhi nahin
thi, woh us par itni rok tok nahin karti thi aur agar kabhi karti bhi toh woh badi khamoshi se unke
ahkaam par amal karti thi.

Woh sirf paanch saal ki thi jab uske maa baap ek haadse mein mar gaye the aur doosre number wale
taya ne use apne paas rakh liya tha, uska baap unhi ke saath karobaar mein partner tha so fitrati taur par
har ek yahi chahta tha ke woh hi Saara ko apne paas rakhen chunaanche unhein rakhna hi pada,
nanhiyal mein sirf ek mamoon the aur woh bhi ek

muddat se beroon mulk the, behan aur behnoii ki maut par unhone bahar se phone karke Saara ke dada
se taaziyat ki thi aur yeh kaha tha ke Saara ab unhi ki zimmedari hai woh iske liye kuch nahin kar sakte,
nanhiyal se bhi uska talluq bahut pehle hi kat gaya tha.

Haider ka rishta sirf uske liye hi nahin balki poore khaandaan ke liye surprise tha, jab uski cousin ne use
Haider ki ammi ke aane ka maqsad bataya toh kuch der ke liye woh hairani ke aalam mein uska munh
dekhti reh gayi, achanak use chi Nadeema ki narazgi ki wajah samajh mein aa gayi thi, yaqeenan us
shaadi se bahut khush nahin thi, aisa nahin tha ke woh kisi aur ko pasand karti thi aur aisa bhi nahin tha
ke use Haider na pasand tha, woh khoobsurat tha aur phir usse be tahasha mohabbat karta tha aur aisa
kaise mumkin tha ke woh uski mohabbat se mutasir na hoti magar yeh ehsaas ke Haider ke alawa use
koi aur pasand nahin karta use bechain kiye rakhta tha.

Shaadi ke shuru ke kuch din toh hungamon mein hi guzar gaye the, roz kahin na kahin koi dawat hoti aur
phir do hafton ke baad Haider use saath le kar honeymoon ke liye Switzerland chala gaya tha, woh Saara
se itne waade karta tha ke Saara ko yaqeen karna mushkil ho jata tha woh bas uski baaton par muskurati
rehti.

Ek din wahin Saara ne usse poocha tha.

"Tumne mujhse shaadi kyun ki?"

"Bas tumse mohabbat ho gayi thi, tumko dekh kar bahut achha lagta tha aur jab nahin dekhta tha toh
ajeeb si kami ka ehsaas hota tha sirf tumhein dekhne ke liye main kayi baar khala Nadeema ke ghar gaya
ke shayad tum mujhe wahan nazar aa jao, kabhi toh tum wahan nazar aa jatin aur jab wahan nazar
nahin aatin toh mera dil chahta ke main kisi bahane tumhare taya wale hisse mein chala jao magar Aisa
karna namumkin tha, pata hai do teen baar to main tumhein dekhne ke liye university bhi gaya tha phir
main ne wahan tumhari chand tasveerein kheenchien aur baad mein unhein dekh kar dil behlata raha."

Woh apna ek ek raaz afsha karta ja raha tha aur woh chamakti aankhon ke saath muskurate hue use
dekh rahi thi.

"Abhi jo tum mere paas ho to mujhe aisa lag raha hai jaise main mukammal hoon, mujhe koi kami nahi
hai aur shayad isi ehsaas ko mohabbat kehte hain." Woh narmi se us ka haath apne haathon mein liye
keh raha tha aur use yeh sab kisi khwab ka hissa lag raha tha, kya is se bhi koi itni mohabbat kar sakta
hai.
Haider us par ji jaan se fareefta tha us ka bas chalta to woh poori duniya utha kar us ke qadmon mein
rakh deta, jo ek maah us ne Switzerland mein guzara tha woh us ke liye jannat mein guzare gaye lamhon
ke barabar tha. Phir woh Pakistan wapas aa gaye aur Pakistan wapas aane ke chand din baad Haider ne
office jana shuru kar diya tha, Sarah ne bhi university dobara join karne ka irada kar liya tha aur jab ek
raat us ne Haider ko apne irade se agah kiya tha to us ne bade narm magar dotook lehje mein kaha tha.

"No More University ab tum shadi shuda ho is liye behtar hai ke apni tawajjuh ghar par do." Woh us ke
koore jawab par chand lamhon ke liye to hairan hi reh gayi thi.

"Lekin tum ne kaha tha balkay waada kiya tha ke mujhe padhne do ge."

"Sarah main ne koi waada nahi kiya tha main ne sirf kaha tha lekin ab main feel karta hoon ke tumhein
ghar par hi rehna chahiye."

"But it is not fair." Woh apni mayusi nahi chhupa payi thi magar Haider ke rawaiye mein koi tabdeeli
nahi aayi.

"Whether it is fair or foul you have to Accept"

"It." Woh us ki baat par rohansi ho kar chup ho gayi thi, Haider us ki kaifiyat se bekhabar nahi tha magar
woh ab ghar mein koi toofan nahi chahta tha, woh janta tha ke us ki ammi aur daddy kabhi bhi us ka
university jana pasand nahi karenge aur agar us ne un ki marzi ke khilaf use university bheja to saas aur
bahu ke darmiyan shuru mein hi kashidgi paida ho jayegi jo woh nahi chahta tha.

Agli subah Sarah bahut chup chup thi woh us khamoshi ki wajah achhi tarah janta tha, us ki khamoshi
todne ke liye woh use baat be baat chhedta raha magar us ki khamoshi nahi tuti thi.

Sham ko woh office se jaldi wapas aa gaya tha. Phir woh use saath le kar long drive par nikal gaya tha,
mukhtalif baatein suna kar woh use behlata raha magar us waqt woh taweel saans Le kar reh gaya jab
Sarah ne us se kaha.

"Tum kyun nahi chahte ke main apni taleem mukammal karun?"

Haider ne Sarah se saaf saaf baat karne ka faisla kar liya aur phir us ne Sarah ko apni majboori aur
khadshe sab bata diye the, woh badi khamoshi se sar jhukaye us ki baatein sunti rahi thi.

"Theek hai ab main dobara is mauzu par baat nahi karungi." Haider ke baat khatam karne par bade
bojhal andaaz mein us ne kaha tha aur Haider ne itminan ki saans li thi.

Aur phir waqai Sarah ne dobara us se apni taleem ke bare mein baat nahi ki.

Jon jon din guzarte the Haider masroof hota ja raha tha, ab woh pehle ki tarah sar-e-sham hi ghar nahi
aata balki raat gaye laut ta aur subah nau das baje dobara office chala jata, ab pehle ki tarah woh har
sham use tafreeh karane ke liye bahar nahi le kar jata tha lekin aisa nahi tha ke Haider ke dil se us ki
mohabbat kam ho gayi thi, woh Sarah ko ab bhi pehle ki tarah hi chahta tha. Sarah agar koi farmaish kar
deti to woh har qeemat par use poori karta, aisa kabhi nahi hua tha ke Sarah ne shopping ke dauran koi
cheez pasand ki ho aur Haider ne woh cheez use na dilwai ho, woh is baat ki parwah nahi karta tha ke is
cheez ki qeemat kya hai us ke liye bas itna kaafi tha ke Sarah ne is cheez ko pasand kiya hai aur us ka yeh
iltefaat Nighat ki aankhon mein kaante ki tarah khatakta tha.

Sarah ko byaah kar lana un ki majboori thi aur use unhon ne majboori hi rakha tha, unhein lagta tha ke
Sarah ne un ka beta nahi cheena, un ki poori duniya cheen li hai shayad woh haq bajaanib thi woh beta
jo pehle un ke ahkamaat par chalta tha ab itna khud-sar ho gaya tha ke na sirf apni pasand ki biwi le aaya
tha balki maa se bhi kisi had tak door ho gaya tha, ab woh pehle ki tarah office se aakar maa ke paas
nahi baithta tha balki seedha Sarah ke paas hi jata tha, shuru mein to unhon ne yeh sab sabr se bardasht
karne ki koshish ki thi, magar yeh kaam un se hua nahi, woh jab bhi Sarah ko dekhti ek aag si un ke andar
bharak jati thi, rafta rafta unhon ne Sarah par rok tok shuru kar di thi.

Shadi ko do mah hue the jab ek subah nashte ki mez par unhon ne kaha.

"Sarah ab ghar ka sara intezam tum ne chalana hai is liye behtar hai ke aaj se tum kitchen mein aana
jana shuru kar do." Sarah ne un ki baat par Haider ko dekha.

Haan, mera khayal hai is mein koi harj nahin kyun ke har zimmedari naukaroon par nahin chhori ja sakti.
Haider ne maa ki taaeed ki thi aur woh bas khamoshi se use dekh kar reh gayi thi.

Phir us ne ghar ke mamlaat mein dilchaspi lena shuru kar di thi aur jaise apni shamat ko khud dawat di
thi, woh kitchen mein khud to khana nahin pakaya karti thi bas mulazmon ke sar par khari reh kar
hidayat deti rehti thi aur Nighet mulazmon se hone wali kisi bhi kotahi ka zimmedar use hi qarar deti
thien, pehle aisa kabhi kabhar hota tha magar phir to jaise ye un ki aadat mein shamil ho gaya tha,
khane mein koi khami ya kami reh jati to Sarah ka qasoor hota, kisi ke kapre theek tarah se na dhulte to
ye bhi Sarah ki kotahi thi, kisi mulazim se koi cheez toot jati to ye bhi Sarah ki be parwai se hota tha.

Sarah un ke gile shikwe aur etirazat sun sun kar tang aa gayi thi, unhein Sarah ke kate hue balon par
etiraz tha us ne baal barhana shuru kar diye, un ki marzi ka libas pehna shuru kar diya magar woh phir
bhi kisi baat se khush ya mutmain nahin huien aur woh un ki marzi par chalne ki paband is liye thi ke
Haider yehi chahta tha.

Shadi ki raat ko us ne Sarah se bahut wazeh andaz mein kaha tha:

"Meri baat mano ya na mano lekin Ami ki har baat tumhein manni hai chahe woh theek ho ya ghalat,
tumhein wahi karna hai jo woh chahein aur kabhi bhi meri maa se badtameezi mat karna ye woh cheez
hai jo main kabhi maaf nahin karunga."

Woh ye fatwa sadir na bhi karta to bhi woh us ki maa ki itni hi izzat aur lihaz karti jitna woh ab karti thi
agarche baaz dafa ye sab bahut mushkil ho jata tha khas taur par Tab jab woh us ke jahez ki cheezein
ginwana shuru karti thien, ye baat us ke liye sab se zyada takleef deh thi jab unhein pata tha ke us ki koi
jaidad nahin thi aur na hi us ke paas koi rupiya tha to phir unhon ne Haider ke saath us ki shadi ki hi
kyun, woh aksar sochti thi magar kabhi bhi ye keh na payi, sirf ek dafa us ne un ke rawaiye ki shikayat
Haider se ki.
"Ye pehli aur aakhri martaba hai ke tum mujh se meri maa ki shikayat kar rahi ho, agar kabhi tum ne
mujh se un ke khilaf koi baat ki to ye tumhare liye acha nahin hoga" woh durshti se kehta hua us ke paas
se uth gaya tha aur woh to jaise sakte ke aalam mein reh gayi.

"Kya ye mujh se ab is tarah baat karega?"

Ajeeb se khauf ne use gher liya tha shadi ke baad pehli dafa Haider ne Ussay iss tarah jhaṛka tha woh
jaanti thi ke Haider ko aksar ghussa aata tha aur yeh ghussa mulaazmon aur ghar ke logon par utarta
rehta tha magar woh uss se bhi itni mamooli baat par naraaz ho sakta hai, yeh uss ne nahin socha tha.

Aur phir aisa ek do baar nahin kayi baar hua, woh mamooli si baat par kisi lihaaz aur murawwat ke
baghair sab ke saamne ussay buri tarah jhaṛakta aur woh khamoshi se ussay dekh kar reh jaati.

"Kya yeh woh shakhs hai jo abhi chand mah pehle mujh par dil o jaan se fareefta tha jo kehta tha ke woh
mere liye apni jaan bhi de sakta hai, jiss ka bayaan tha ke agar main ussay nazar nahin aati toh woh kisi
doosri shai ko bhi dekhna nahin chahta." Uss ke kaanon mein uss ki baatein goonjtin aur woh Haider ko
dekhe jaati.

"Saare mard aise hi hote hain Sarah, ab zaahir hai tum uss ki mehbooba toh rahi nahin uss ki biwi ban
gayi ho iss liye bas compromise karti raho, yehi aurat ki waahid dhaall hai." Ek din Faryal ne ussay
samjhaya tha jab woh pareshaan ho kar uss ke paas gayi thi.

"Lekin main ne toh kabhi uss se bade bade mutaalibe nahin kiye. Main toh bas yeh chahti hoon ke woh
mujhe iss tarah na jhaṛke meri izzat kare."

"Sarah yeh zindagi hai, haqeeqat hai koi film nahin yahan par." Sarah ne Faryal ko baat mukammal nahin
karne di.

"Main ne kab kaha ke yeh haqeeqat nahin hai aur main kaun si film wali baatein chah rahi hoon kya
haqeeqi zindagi mein shauhar biwi ki izzat nahin karta?"

"Zyaada tar nahin karta." Faryal ne bade waazeh lehje mein kaha tha.

"Magar karni toh chahiye."

"Karna toh aur bhi bahut chahiye magar kya woh karta hai? Aur hona toh aur bhi bahut kuch chahiye
magar kya hota hai? Iss liye tum iss chahne ke chakkar se nikal aao warna zindagi bahut mushkil ho
jaayegi." Woh khamoshi se Faryal ke chehre ko dekhne lagi.

"Pata nahin uss ne bhi meri baat samjhna kyun chhor di hai?" Uss ne socha tha, woh maayusi ke aalam
mein wahan se laut aayi thi.

Kuchh dinon se Haider phir pehle jaisa ho gaya tha, shaam ko jaldi aata aur ussay baahar ghumaane le
jaata, donon dinner baahar karte aur phir raat gaye waapas aate aisa lagta hi nahin tha ke woh kabhi uss
se naraaz bhi hua hoga, uss ka dil chahta ke woh uss se Pooche ke use itna ghussa kyun aata hai? Aur
woh bhi sirf isi par magar har dafa woh sirf soch kar hi reh jaati "Faryal ne theek kaha tha mard ko
samajhna bohot mushkil hota hai aur phir Haider jaise mard ko samajhna toh shayad aur bhi mushkil
hai." Woh dil hi dil mein dohraati.

Phir unhi dinon uske taya ki beti ki shaadi shuru ho gayi thi. Shaadi se ek hafta pehle dholak rakh di gayi
thi, Haider ka mood un dinon bohot acha tha so usne Sarah ko ijazat de di thi ke woh roz sham ko taya
ke ghar chali jaye.

Mehndi se ek din pehle achanak Sarah ki saas ne apni chhoti beti Aaliya ke sasural walon ki dawat kar di
thi. Haider ko Faisalabad jaana tha isliye woh subah hi subah chala gaya tha. Uski saas ne dopehar ke
qareeb use dawat ke bare mein bataya tha.

"Ammi aaj toh mera jaana zaroori hai, aaj toh Maira ka jahez khandan walon ko dikhana hai aur Maira ke
sasural wale bhi aa rahe hain, sara khandan jama ho raha hai, agar main nahin gayi toh taya aur tai ko
bura lagega lekin main koshish karungi ke jald wapas aa jaaun."

Usne saas ko apni majboori batai thi, uski saas ne jawab mein kuch kehne ke bajaye na-gawari se use
dekha tha aur phir kamre se chali gayi thin, phir woh wahan itni masroof rahi ke use jald wapas aana
bhool hi gaya tha. Raat ko das baje ke qareeb uska taya zaad use ghar chhod kar gaya tha aur ghar ka
gate dekhte hi use aaj ki dawat yaad aa gayi thi magar ab kya ho sakta tha. Chowkidaar ne bell bajane
par gate khola tha aur woh badi khamoshi se lounge se guzar kar upar apne kamre mein chali gayi thi.
Kamre ka darwaza kholte hi woh thithak gayi thi, saamne rakhi hui rocking chair par Haider jhool raha
tha, use dekh kar Haider ne kursi hilana band kar di thi, Sarah ne darwaza band kar diya.

"Kis se pooch kar aaj tum apne taya ke ghar gayi thin?" Haider yakdam uske muqabil aa kar poochne
laga tha.

"Tum ne mujhe ijazat di thi."

"Magar Ammi ne subah tumhein mana kiya tha na ke aaj mat jao?"

"Haider aaj wahan sab log ikatthe ho rahe the poora khandan..."

"Main ne tumhein taqreer karne ke liye nahin kaha sirf yeh pooch raha hoon ke Ammi ne tumhein mana
kiya tha ya nahin?" Uske tewar bilkul badle hue the.

"Haan magar main ne..."

"Tumhein himmat kaise hui ke Ammi ke mana karne ke bawajood tum munh utha kar chali jao... bolo!"

Sarah ne uski baat ka jawab dene ke bajaye uske saamne se hatne ke liye qadam aage barha diya. magar
Haider ne baazu se pakar kar ek jhatke se use wapas kheench liya tha.

"Yeh tumhare baap ka ghar nahin hai ke tum is tarah munh utha kar chal paro, yeh mera ghar hai aur
meri baat ka jawab diye baghair tum ek qadam nahin hila sakte." Woh aankhon mein terti nami ke saath
us ka chehra dekhti rahi.
"Tumhare liye meri behen ke susral walon se ziyada ahmiyat apne ghatiya aur third class rishte daron ki
hai."

"Agar woh third class hain toh main bhi third class hoon."

"Third class nahin, tum toh us se bhi giri hui ho, tumhari toh koi class hi nahin hai."

Us ne shock ke alam mein Haider ka chehra dekha tha. Kya yeh wahi zuban hai jis ne saat din pehle kaha
tha.

"You are the best thing that ever happened in my life"

"Haider mujh se is tarah baat na karo."

"Kyun na karoon? Kya main tum se darta hoon ya tumhara mulazim hoon, main kyun tumhein tumhari
auqaat na bataun."

"Meri auqaat kya hai main jaanti hoon magar tum yeh sab keh kar mujhe apni auqaat bata rahe ho."

Us ne dheeme lehje mein jawab dete hue apna baazu Haider se chhurane ki koshish ki, Haider ka radde
amal us par chabuk ki tarah barsa tha.

Haider ke labon se mughallizat nikalna shuru ho gayin. Woh us se baazu chhurate chhurate ruk gayi.

"Haider mujhe is tarah mat kaho." Be ikhtiyar Sarah ki zuban se nikla tha magar us ki baat ne Haider ke
ishteal mein aur izafa kar diya tha, us ne use aur bura bhala kehna shuru kar diya tha.

"Kyun na kahoon? Tum ho kya? Mera khati ho, mera pehenti ho, mere ghar mein rehti ho aur khud ko
samajhti kya ho."

"Tumhara asli chehra bohot ghinauna hai tum khud-" Ek zor dar thappar ne Sarah ko baat poori nahin
karne di. Woh gaal par haath rakhe be yaqeeni ke alam mein use dekhne lagi.

Haider tum waqai be hooda shakhs ho. Ek aur thappad uske chehre par pada tha aur phir jaise
thappadon ki barish shuru ho gayi thi.

"Haider mujh par haath mat uthao, mujhe maro mat!" Usne uska haath pakadne ki koshish ki thi magar
Haider par to jaise junoon sawar tha, woh ruka us waqt tha jab woh zameen par gir kar phoot phoot kar
rone lagi thi, usne saari muzahamat tark kar di thi.

"Tum jaise bhonkne wale kutton ko chup karane ka wahid tareeqa yahi hota hai, main dekhungi aainda
tum meri maa ki ijazat ke baghair ghar se bahar kaise jaati ho." Woh yeh keh kar dhamake se darwaza
band kar ke bahar nikal gaya, woh kitni der roti rahi use andaza nahin hua.

Haider dobara wapas nahin aaya, bas achanak use yun lagne laga ke ab woh aur aansoo nahin baha sakti
thi, saare aansoo jaise uski aankhon se khushk ho gaye the woh uth kar qaleen par baith gayi, bojhal
haathon ke saath usne khule hue baalon ko bal de kar bandha, uska jism ajeeb be-wazni ke alam mein
tha, use laga jaise woh kabhi zameen se uth hi nahin paaye gi. Khud ko ghasit kar woh deewar ke paas le
gayi aur phir tek laga kar baith gayi, ajeeb rahat ka ehsaas hua tha.

If it were now to die, it were now to be most happy

Do saal pehle Virginia Woolf ke novel ka ek jumla uske dimagh mein jhamake ki tarah aaya tha, woh
novel padhte hue usne kabhi nahin socha tha ke kabhi woh bhi Mrs Dalloway ki tarah yeh baat sochegi.

Woh jaanti thi ke biwi ko sirf Haider ke khandan mein hi marne ki riwayat nahin hai, balkay uska apna
khandan bhi is riwayat par amal paira hai aur Haider ke khandan mein to barsaha baras se yeh riwayat
chali aa rahi thi aur khandan ke kisi mard to kya, kisi aurat ke liye bhi Haider ka yeh kaarnama qabil e
aitraaz nahin tha, khud uske apne ghar mein bhi yeh koi aisi buri baat nahin samjhi jaati thi, woh
bachpan se apne chacha aur taya ko apni apni biwiyon par garajte, baraste, galiyan dete aur marte
dekhti aayi thi. Aisa kabhi kabhar hi hota tha magar hota zaroor tha aur sab ne use jaise lazmi burayi
samajh kar qubool kar liya tha. So ab khud uske saath yeh sab hua to kaun si ajeeb baat ho gayi thi, kaun
si qayamat toot padi thi.

"Mard ka rupaiya khate hain to uski jootiyan khane mein kya harj hai."

Ek dafa unke ghar ki mulazimah ne kaha tha,

"Apna aadmi sau dafa mare, aakhir woh sar ka taaj hi hota hai." Tai ne ek baar chachi se kaha tha.

"Aurat agar mard ko khud par haath na uthane de toh woh kabhi usay maar nahin sakta." University
mein ek baar Faryal se kaha gaya uska jumla jaise usay munh chida raha tha. Deewar ke saath sar tikaaye
khuli aankhon se woh jaise apne maazi ki film dekh rahi thi.

"Marta hai toh kya hua, mohabbat toh woh mujhse hi karta hai."

Uski cousin Shazia ne ek dafa apne shauhar ke baare mein usse kaha tha, woh khaali ul zehni ki kaifiyat
mein us jagah se khadi ho gayi, thande pairon ke saath chalte hue woh dressing table ke saamne aakar
baith gayi. Usne apni sooji hui aankhon ko khol kar aaine mein apni shakal dekhne ki koshish ki.

Uska balai honth thappad lagne ki wajah se phat kar sooj gaya, khoon ke chand dhabbe uske honthon ke
ird-gird lage hue the, uske gaal ungliyon ke nishan se bhare hue the, usne apne haath ko chehre par rakh
diya, bahut aahistagi se usne apne honthon ko chhua phir apne gaal par haath phera.

"Aisa ho kaise sakta hai ke main tumhein hone wale dard ko mehsoos na karoon, tumhein chot lage aur
mujhe pata bhi na chale kya kabhi yeh ho sakta hai?" Ek baar Haider ne usse kaha tha jab uska haath
phal kaatte hue zakhmi ho gaya tha aur usne Haider ke saamne yun zaahir kiya tha jaise chot bahut
mamooli thi aur usay dard nahin hua, haalan ke usay waqai takleef hui thi. Usne aankhein band kar lin.

"Sarah tum bahut khush qismat ho, har kisi ko Haider jaisa khoobsurat, daulat mand aur mohabbat
karne wala shauhar nahin milta." Kal raat ko uski cousin Ayesha ne kaha tha, tab usay fakhr hua tha.
"Hum ne apni zimmedari poori kar di hai, ab hum par tumhara koi haq nahin hai, tum Haider ke ghar ko
hi apna ghar samajhna aur apne masail khud hi hal karna." Rukhsati ke waqt uske taaya ne uske sar par
haath pherte hue kaha tha.

Door kahin Fajr ki azanain ho rahi thin, usne aahistagi se aankhein khol din.

"Mujhe namaz padh leni chahiye." Usne zir-e-lab kaha tha.

Haider usse jhagadne ke baad neeche lounge mein aakar baith gaya tha, ghar ke sab log sone ke liye
apne kamron mein jaa chuke the, cigarette par cigarette phoonkte hue woh musalsal Sarah ke baare
mein hi soche ja raha tha, uske alfaaz usay nezay Ki ani ki tarah chub rahe the, kaafi der baad jab us ka
ghussa thanda hua to achaanak usay apne kiye par sharmindagi hone lagi thi.

"Mujhe usay itna maarna nahi chahiye tha."

"Nahi, main ne jo kiya, theek kiya, woh yehi sab deserve karti thi." Us ka dil khud hi us ke haq mein kehta
aur phir khud hi is bayan ko contradict karne lagta. Ek ajeeb si bechaini usay apne hisaar mein liye hue
thi.

"Agar main yeh na karta to woh zyada hi khudsar ho jati, ab kam az kam woh apne har qadam par do
baar socha kare gi, us jaisi aurat ko seedha karne ka waahid tareeqa yehi tha."

"Magar aaj pehli dafa hi us ne mere hukum ki khilaf warzi ki hai, warna to woh wahi karti hai jo main
usay kehta hoon, phir baat bhi itni mamooli si thi, kya itni mamooli si baat par main ne is tarah usay
maar kar ziyadati nahi ki?"

Ek soch usay jo bujhati thi, doosri usay radd kar deti thi, thak haar kar us ne kaha tha.

"Theek hai ab jo bhi kiya hai, us par sochne ki zaroorat nahi hai, aise jhagde ho hi jaate hain phir khud ba
khud hi sab kuch theek bhi ho jata hai, yeh muamla bhi sahih ho jaye ga, woh khud hi aainda ke liye
mohtaat rahe gi aur main bhi is muamle ko aur tool nahi doon ga."

Yehi sochte hue woh sofe par let gaya aur phir pata nahi kab usay neend aa gayi. Us ki aankh kisi ke
kandha hilaane se khuli thi.

"Haider... Haider uth jao." Yeh us ki ammi ki awaaz thi, us ne aankhein khol dein.

"Yahan kyun so rahe ho?" Ammi ne poocha.

"Bas aise hi." Woh uth kar baith gaya tha, wrist watch par us ne time dekha phir usay khol kar saamne
rakhi table par rakh diya. Is waqt chhe baje the.

"Ammi mujhe chaye ka ek cup bana dein," aasteenein palat'te hue us ne apni ammi se kaha.

Us ki ammi usay chaye ka cup thama rahi thin jab us ne Sara ko seerrhiyon se utarte dekha tha, woh
rozana is hi waqt neeche aati thi, us ka chehra dekh kar chand lamhon ke liye usay shadeed malal hua
tha. Pehli dafa usay ehsaas hua tha ke us ne usay kitni buri tarah peeta tha, woh chaye ka cup haath
mein thaam kar usay dekhne laga, Sara usay nazar andaaz kiye us ke bilkul muqaabil thi.

Haider khamoshi se use dekh raha tha, pehli baar un dono ki nazrein mili theen.

Haider ne nazrein jhuka lein, isi waqt usne dekha ke Sara ki mutthi mein kuch band tha, Sara ne mutthi
uske saamne rakhi hui sheeshe ki mez par khol di thi. Uske haath mein se kuch ek chhanke ki awaaz ke
saath mez par gira tha, Haider ki nazrein mez par markooz ho gayeen. Wahan woh anghoothi aur
diamond se jura locket tha jo usne Sara ko muh dikhai mein diya tha.

“Ab mere paas tumhari koi cheez nahi hai, har cheez main yahin chhor kar ja rahi hoon, ab main dobara
yahan kabhi nahi aaungi.”

Woh yeh keh kar lounge ke darwaze ki taraf barh gayi, Nighat ek lamhe mein sab kuch samajh gayeen.

“Ek baat kaan khol kar sun lo Sara, agar aaj tum yahan se gayi to dobara yahan nahi aasako gi, is dehleez
ko paar karne se pehle achhi tarah yeh baat samajh lo.”

Sara ne ruk kar baghair muray un ki baat suni, un ki baat khatm hone par usne mur kar Haider ko dekha
jo us jagah baitha use dekh raha tha phir usne apni saas ko dekha aur agle hi lamhe bade itminaan aur
sukoon ke saath dehleez paar kar li yak dam woh Haider ki nazron se ojhal ho gayi.

Haider be yaqeeni ke aalam mein kuch der tak darwaze ko dekhta raha phir uski nazar locket par aa kar
tik gayi jis par likhi hui tehreer uska munh chida rahi thi. Only death will separate us, jis din usne Sara ko
yeh locket diya tha, uske sirf aath hi mah baad Sara uska ghar chhor kar chali gayi thi.

Sara ki wapsi uske taya ke ghar ek toofan le kar aayi thi, har ek ne Sara ko wapas jaane par majboor kiya,
magar uski khamoshi jaise ek dhaal si ban gayi thi. Waqti taur par is maamle ko daba diya gaya kyunki
taya ke ghar shadi thi aur woh is mauqe par koi masla khara karna nahi chahte the magar shadi ke
fauran baad hi unhon ne Haider aur Sara ke maabain musalahat ki koshishein shuru kar di theen aur is
mein woh akele nahi the.

Uske khaandaan ka har fard yahi chahta tha ke woh wapas chali jaye, har ek Haider ka haami thi, har ek
use hi qasoorwar samajhta tha, kisi ko bhi woh wajah jaiz nahi lagi thi jiski wajah se usne Haider ko
chhora tha, har rishtedar aurat use apne qisse sunati thi ke apne shauhar ke kaise kaise zulm o sitam ke
bawajood usne apna ghar nahi chhora aur woh kaisi hai jo shauhar ke chand thapron par hi ghar chhor
aayi.

Woh bas spot nazron se sab ko dekhti rehti, Tai ne Faryal ko bhi bulwa liya tha.

"Sara tum pagal ho gai ho." Do ghante apni hidayaton aur naseehaton par khamoshi dekh kar woh jhinjla
uthi thi. Do ghante baad woh pehli dafa boli thi.

"Haan main waqai pagal hoon is liye Haider jaise aqalmand ke saath rehna nahi chahti."

"Us ke saath nahi rahogi to kahan rahogi?" Faryal ne tanziya lehje mein poocha.
"Kahin bhi reh loongi magar us ke saath nahi."

"Sara woh tumhara shohar..."

"Faryal tum to bas karo, main logon ki taqreeren aur naseehaten sun sun kar tang aa gai hoon, main
tumhein saaf saaf keh rahi hoon ek dafa samjhao ya ek crore dafa mujhe us ke ghar phir bhi nahi jaana,
yeh mera pehla aur aakhri faisla hai. Yeh meri zindagi hai main jaanti hoon ise kaise guzaarna hai, main
chahoon to tabah karoon, chahoon to aabaad karoon, doosron ko is se kya."

Faryal ko us ki baaton se zyada us ke lehje par hairat hui thi woh pehli jaisi Sara nahi thi. Faryal khamoshi
se us ki Tai ke paas aa gai thi.

Sara ke Taya chand baar Haider ke paas bhi gaye magar woh bhi kuch kam ziddi aur akkhar nahi tha,
woh na sirf apne kiye par sharminda nahi tha balkay us ne Sara ko manane ya wapas laane se bhi inkaar
kar diya tha.

"Woh yeh ghar khud chhod kar gai hai agar wapas aana chahti hai to khud hi aaye, main to use lene
kabhi nahi jaunga." Us ne Taya se kaha tha aur us ki Ammi ne to Taya se saaf saaf keh diya tha.

"Humein ab us ki zaroorat nahi hai, woh us ghar se chali gai hai to hamare liye hamesha ke liye chali gai
hai, agar woh khud wapas aana chahegi bhi to main use aane nahi doonga."

Sara ke Taya ne us din us se do took baat karne ka faisla kiya tha. Is se pehle woh Sara ko narmi se
samjhate rahe magar us din unhon ne Sara ko buri tarah jhadka tha, use apne ehsaan ginwae the. Magar
Sara tab bhi apni baat par hi jami hui thi.

"Main ab us ke ghar nahi jaungi, agar aap mujhe yahan rakhna nahi chahte to main Dar-ul-Amaan chali
jati hoon."

Us ne bilakhir keh diya tha, magar us ke taya mazeed bhadak uthe the.

“Dar-ul-Amaan jana tha to maa baap ke marte hi chali jatin, ab ja kar logon ko yeh batana chahti ho ke
hum kitne kamine aur zaalim log hain ke ek bhatiji ko bhi nahin rakh sakte, mujhe batao ke tum agar us
ke ghar nahin chahti to akhir chahti kya ho?”

“Main talaq chahti hoon”

Us ki baat par kamre mein baithe hue us ke sare chacha taya jaise sakte mein aa gaye the.

“Hamare khandaan mein kabhi kisi ladki ne talaq ki baat nahin ki aur tum…”

Sarah ne zindagi mein pehli baar taya ki baat kaati thi.

“Yeh aap ka mujh par akhri ehsaan hoga, mujhe is se talaq le dein. Main ne ab kisi bhi soorat is ke saath
nahin rehna, aap sab jitna mujhe samjha rahe hain, mera irada utna hi pakka ho raha hai, is liye aap
apna waqt zaya na karein. Main khush qismat kabhi bhi nahin rahi hoon, is liye is badnaseebi ko bhi
mera muqaddar ban jane dein.”
Dheeme dheeme lehje mein sar jhukaye apni baat kehne ke baad woh uth khadi hui.

“Theek hai main tumhein talaq dilwa deta hoon lekin Sarah phir ek baat yaad rakhna, main talaq ke
fauran baad tumhari shadi karwa doonga chahe woh rishta jaisa bhi ho, tumhein qubool karna padega
aur is shadi ke baad tum hamare ghar kabhi mat aana.”

Taya ne jaise akhri harba istemal kiya tha unhein yaqeen tha ke yeh waar khali nahin jayega, magar ek
lamhe tak Sarah ne un ka chehra dekhne ke baad be-taasir awaz mein kaha.

“Theek hai aap jahan chahein meri shadi kar dijiye ga mujhe koi aitraaz nahin hoga” woh kamre se bahar
nikal gai.

Ek ajeeb si khamoshi wahan chha gai thi, har ek apni apni jagah kuch na kuch soch raha tha.

Jab Haider ko Sarah ke taya ne us ke mutalbe se agah kiya tha to woh be-yaqeeni ke aalam mein unhein
dekh kar reh gaya.

“Aap chahte hain main use talaq de doon?” us ne poocha.

“Yeh main nahin chahta, Sarah chahti hai jab musalehat nahin ho sakti to behtar hai mukammal
alaihdagi ho jaye take main us ki shadi kahin aur kar doon” Haider ke seene mein jaise ghonsa laga tha,
sari zid aur ana ko balaye taaq rakhte hue us ne kaha.

“Main ek baar us se milna chahta hoon.” Phir do din ke baad woh Sarah se mila tha.

"Main tumhein lene aaya hoon." Usne Sarah ko dekhte hi kaha tha. Sarah us ki baat ka jawab diye
baghair sofe par baith gai.

"Tum mere saath ghar chalo."

"Main ghar mein hi hoon." Bade sard lehje mein jawab aaya tha.

"Sarah main ab kisi behas mein padna nahin chahta, ghalti tumhari thi aur ghar bhi tumne apni marzi se
chhora tha phir bhi main tumhein lene aaya hoon is liye behtar hai ke tum mere saath ghar chalo."

"Warna tum kya karoge?" Sarah ne jaise us ka mazaq udaya tha.

"To tum ghar nahin chalo gi?"

"Na aaj, na aainda kabhi."

"Ek baat yaad rakho main tumhein talaq kabhi nahin doonga aur na hi ab tumhein lene aaoonga." Woh
phir ghusse mein aa gaya tha.

"Talaq tum mujhe nahin doge main khud tum se le loongi aur tumhein yahan dobara aane ki zaroorat
bhi nahin hai." Us ka lehja bahut pur sukoon tha.

Haider ek jhatke se uth kar drawing room se nikal gaya.

Woh jo dobara kabhi na aane ka keh kar gaya tha, ek hafte ke baad khula ka notice use dobara kheench
laya tha, is baar woh haqeeqatan pareshan tha.

"Theek hai jo kuch hua tum use bhool jao, aainda yeh sab kuch hamare darmiyan nahin hoga, lekin yeh
sab tamasha khatam karo main tumhein apne ghar le jana chahta hoon." Us ki awaaz mein pehle jaisa
tantana nahin raha tha.

"Magar mujhe tumhare saath nahin jaana." Sarah ka lehja bahut do took tha, woh do ghante tak us ke
saath sarkhapata raha, magar woh apni baat par qaim rahi phir woh ek baar nahin kai baar use manane
gaya tha, magar woh to jaise patthar ki sail ban gai thi. Poore khandan ki laanat malaamat ka shikar hone
ke bawajood woh apne mutalbe se hatt nahin rahi thi.

Us ke apne khandan ka har fard ab Haider ka haami ho chuka tha, har ek ko lagta tha ke Sarah ko Haider
ki pehli ghalti maaf kar deni chahiye aur phir ab to woh khud use apne saath le jaane ke liye baar baar aa
raha tha magar Sarah jaise in sare taanon, teshon aur hidayaat se be niaz ho chuki thi. Woh sara din ghar
ke kisi kone mein baithi har ek ke taane bardasht kar rahi hoti, tai ke kosne sunti rehti phir bhi us ka wahi
mutalba tha.

"Mujhe Haider ke saath nahin rehna. Mujhe us se talaq chahiye."

Phir Haider aakhri baar us ke paas aaya tha, us roz woh waqai bahut taish mein tha.

Tum ne mujhe yeh soochne par majboor kar diya hai ke main ne tumhare saath jo bhi kiya woh theek
tha, tum yehi sab kuch deserve karti thi, magar Sarah tum bohat pachtao gi, main ne tumhe aasman par
pohanchaya tha aur tum apne aap ko khaai mein dhakel rahi ho."

"Main pehle bhi khaai mein hi thi, pehle bhi mere paas kuch nahin tha."

"Kya nahin tha tumhare paas? Kya nahin diya tha main ne tum ko, tumhe khud se barh kar chaha tha.
Tumhare maangne se pehle har cheez tumhe di thi, kabhi main ne tum se poocha ke tum ne kitne rupay
kharch kiye ya kyun kiye, kabhi kisi cheez ke liye tumhe tarsna para, bolo kya nahin diya main ne? Kya
nahin diya?" Woh jaise phat para tha.

"Tum ne mujhe izzat nahin di." Woh chand lamhon ke liye kuch keh nahin paaya.

"Haider mere dil mein ab tumhare liye na mohabbat hai na nafrat, koi jazba hi nahin hai tumhare liye,
main ab kabhi bhi tumhare dukh sukh ki saathi nahin ban sakti haan waqt aaya to shayad aasteen ka
saanp ban jaaun aur woh main banna nahin chahti, mere saath apna waqt zaya mat karo, main ne saari
zindagi apni marzi ka koi faisla nahin kiya, shayad aainda bhi na kar sakoon, bas ek faisla kiya hai main ne
aur woh main kabhi nahin badloongi."

Woh be-yaqeeni ke aalam mein use dekh raha tha jo pur sukoon awaaz mein keh rahi thi.

"Tum zubaan se jo kehte ho, us ka paas nahin rakhte ho, tumhe apne kiye par koi malaal nahin hai sirf
logon ke saamne hone waali subki se bachne ke liye tum mujhe wapas ghar le jaana chahte ho, tumhare
saath guzaare hue aath mah mere liye aath saalon jaise the, zillat kya hoti hai yeh tum nahin jaante kyun
ke tum ne kabhi is ka experience nahin kiya, main ne kiya hai."

Us raat jo gaaliyan tum ne mujhe dein, jis tarah tum ne mujhe maara kya us ke baad bhi tum soch sakte
ho ke main dobara tumhare ghar jaaungi, tumhara inaayat kiya hua libaas pehnoongi, tumhare tohfon se
dil behlaoongi, tumhari baaton par qehqahe lagaoongi, tumhare pyar ke daavon par yaqeen karoongi,
tumhare liye banungi sanwaroongi... Nahin... Main yeh nahin kar sakti... Kyun ke yeh karoongi to mujhe
apne wajood se ghin aayegi, tumhare liye woh sab kuch mamooli baat thi mere liye nahin hai, main
tumhari kisi aisi aulaad ko janam dena nahin chahti jo tumhare jaisi ho, magar ek waqt aisa zaroor
aayega jab tum pachtao ge aur tum khud woh sab yaad karo ge jo tum ne kiya."

"Tum mujhe sabaq sikhana chahti ho, saza dena chahti ho."

"Aur nahin, main aisa kuch nahin chahti, tumhein sabaq aur saza khud hi mil jayenge."

"Sara, main tumhein kabhi talaq nahin doonga, kabhi nahin."

"Theek hai, mat dena, kuch aur zaleel karna chahte ho, kar lena, ruswai ke alawa tum ne mujhe diya bhi
kya hai?"

Woh hont bhainche use dekhta raha phir thake hue lehje mein us ne kaha.

"Theek hai, main tumhein talaq de doonga, magar tum yaad rakhna tum mujhe kho kar pachtaogi, main
nahin, tum duniya ki wahid ladki nahin ho ke main tumhara matam karta phiroon, tumhare liye ro'un
peetun."

"Aaj nahin ro'oge, kabhi na kabhi tum ro'oge." Us ke lehje ki thandak Haider ko kaat gayi thi, kuch kahe
baghair woh darwaza khol kar bahar nikal gaya.

Dusre din haq mehar ke pachas hazar ke check ke saath talaq nama use masool ho gaya tha, Haider ne
taya ke naam khat bhi saath bheja tha ke woh us ka jahez aa kar wapas le jayen phir taya aur tai us ke
jahez ka saman wapas lene gaye the, woh tai ko apne bedroom mein le gaya aur wahan ja kar us ne
almari khol kar Sara ka sara zevar bed par rakh diya tha.

"Yeh zevar to tum logon ka hai." Us ki tai ne use yaad dilaya tha.

"Jo cheez us ne istemal ki hai woh us ki hai, aap woh sab le jayen" yeh keh kar us ne Sara ki almari ki
chabi unhein de di thi, tai khali baigon aur suit cases mein us ki cheezein bharti rahin aur woh deewar se
tek lagaye unhein dekhta raha.

"Darazon mein se bhi sab kuch nikal len" Tai ne darazon ko khol kar ek nazar dekhne ke baad band kiya
to us ne kaha tha.

"Magar is mein to rupay wagaira hain"

"Yeh sab us hi ko diye the main ne, aap yeh sab nikal len aur dressing table par se bhi sari cheezein utha
len." Haider ne be taasir awaz mein kaha tha, phir us ne deewar par lagi hui kuch tasveerein aur
showcase mein sajaye hue kuch decoration pieces bhi un ke hawale kar diye the.

"Yeh bhi wohi khareed kar layi thi" woh jaise kamre mein us ki ek ek nishani khatm kar dena chahta tha.

Talaq ke ek mah baad Haider ne doosri shadi kar li thi, us ki maa apne bhai ki sab se khoobsurat aur
chhoti beti byah kar layi thi, Zareen ke muqable mein Sara kuch bhi nahin thi, woh sirf khoobsurat hi
nahin thi balki ranai aur dil kashi ka majmua thi jo bhi shadi ke din Zareen ko dekh raha tha, woh
mabhoot hua ja raha tha, har ek Hyder ki qismat par rashk kar raha tha ke logon ko pehli biwi aisi nahin
milti aur use doosri biwi ke roop mein pari mil gayi thi. Agar kisi ko us ke husn ne mas'hoor nahin kiya
tha to woh Hyder tha. Us ne shaadi ki raat us ka ghoonghat uthaya tha aur us ke saamne Sarah aa gayi
thi.

Zareen Hyder ki mehviyat ko mehsoos kar ke khud par naazaan thi. Hyder ko pandrah maah qabl hone
wali shaadi ki raat yaad aa rahi thi, use lag raha tha jaise woh sehra ki garam ret mein dhansata ja raha
tha, woh thi to sab kuch tha, woh nahin thi to us ke paas kya tha.

Shaadi ko teen maah guzar gaye the jab ek subah nashte ki mez par Nighat ne Hyder se kaha.

"Sarah ki shaadi ho gayi hai." Ruke hue saans ke saath us ne maa ko dekha tha jo us ki kaifiyat se be-
niyaaz kahe ja rahi thi.

"Use apne kiye ki saza mil gayi hai, us ka shohar ek general store chalata hai, us ki biwi mar gayi hai, do
bete hain us ke, yehi koi aath das saal ke, banna hai us ki umar chalees ya paintalees ke lag bhag hai,
Nadeema bata rahi thi ke masjid mein nikah padhwaya aur yeh keh kar rukhsat kar diya ke ab woh un ke
saath koi waasta na rakhe, mare ya jeeye jaise bhi rahe dobaara un ke ghar kabhi na aaye."

"Achha hua hai bahut achha hua hai us ke saath, us ne jaisa kiya waisa hi paaya hai kuch logon ko izzat
raas nahin aati aur hum ne use kis muqaam par laa khada kiya aur us ne apne liye thokerain chunti hain,
us kam bakht ko meri bad-dua lagi hai."

Hyder yakdam kursi kheench kar khada ho gaya.

"Aaj aakhri baar aap ne us ka zikr kiya hai, aainda kabhi mere saamne us ka naam bhi mat lijiye ga, is ke
baare mein kuch mat kahiye ga, achhi thi ya buri thi ab is ghar se us ka koi talluq nahin hai is liye aap ko
haq nahin pahunchta ke us ke baare mein kuch kahein." Woh yeh keh kar tez qadmon se bahar nikal
gaya, sab dam saadhe use bahar jaata dekhte rahe.

Teen maah baad Hyder ne ek din use bazaar mein dekha tha. Badi si kaali chadar mein khud ko lapete
woh ek chhote se bachche ka haath pakdi hui thi, Hyder be ikhtiyaari mein us ke peeche lapka tha. Woh
gaadi ka darwaaza tak band karna bhool gaya tha, Sarah ne bhi use dekh liya tha aur woh tezi se ek zeli
gali mein ghus gayi thi magar woh Hyder ki nazron se ojhal nahin ho paayi thi, woh taqreeban bhagta
hua us ke qareeb pahuncha tha.