Rah e Wafa (Roman Urdu Version)

Baab Number 1:

Naqsh-e-Na-Aashna

Har insaan ki zeest mein aata hai aisa mor

Jahan saamne hote hain bas raaste do;

Ik woh jo aasaan hai magar khokhla,

Doosra woh jo mushkil hai magar saccha.

Jo rakhta hai qadam is Raah-e-wafa par,

Phir chahe kitne hi zakham kyun na aaein

Wahi karta hai asal hijrat -

Zulmat se noor ki taraf,

Aur fareb se haqeeqat ki jaanib.

Delhi shehar ki galiyon mein bheer ka shor tha. Adhoore khwab aankhon mein sajaaye, Delhi shehar ke baasi apni apni zindagi mein masroof thay. Sadak kinare chalte log, gaariyon aur rikshaw ki aawazein, dukan daaron ki sadayein aur kahin kahin gaahkon ki chakh chakh. Delhi ki yeh dopehar maamool ki tarah thaki thaki si thi.

‘Khan Market’ Delhi ki woh dukan jaise waqt ki parton mein lipti hui mehsoos hoti thi, jis ke board par halke mtiyale pas-e-manzar par surkh rang mein likha tha: "Faqir Chand Book Store – 1951".

Woh is waqt halke banfshi rang ke lambay kurte mein malboos thi, jis par safaid kadhai ka khoobsurat kaam hua tha. Saath safaid khula trouser pehna hua tha.

Woh Faqir Chand Book Store ke saamne khari thi. Shiffon ka safaid dupatta us ke daayein kandhe par dhala hua tha. Kamar tak aate us ke reshmi siyah baal aadhe bandhe hue thay aur aadhe us ki pusht par bikhre thay.

Us ne ek nazar dukan par daali aur aglay hi lamhe Faqir Chand Book Store ki dehleez paar kar li. Wahan kitabon ke anbaar, kaaghzon ki maanoos khushbu, aur zindagi ka ek naya baab — us ka muntazir tha.

Wahan kitabon ka ek hajoom tha. Farsh par bhi kitabon ke oonche neeche dher lage hue thay.

Apne kandhon par purse daale, us ne pehle idhar udhar kitabon par nazar dorayi. Wahan classics, English novels, self-help, Urdu adab aur jadeed mutala’at ki bhi acchi khaasi tadaad maujood thi. Is waqt wahan zyada rash nahi tha.

Woh ek taraf barhi to us ki nazar ek kitab par pari. Jaise hi us ne woh kitab pakarne ke liye apna haath barhaya, usi waqt ek aur haath wahi kitab pakarne ke liye barha.

Dono ki ungliyan halki si takrayein, to dono ne chaunk kar ek doosre ki taraf dekha. Us ki bhoori badaami aankhon ne lamha bhar sarmayi aankhon mein jhaanka. Ek pal ko jaise waqt ruk sa gaya. Dono ki aankhon mein hairat thi. Phir woh muskurayi aur peeche hat-te hue boli: "Aap pehle le lein."

Anoshay ki aawaz mein Delhi shehar ka rang tha.

"Aap waqayi lene wali thein to le lein." Woh dheeme lehje mein bola. Aawaz mein hichkichahat saaf zahir thi.

Kitab ki taraf barhne wala doosra haath Azlan Yazdan ka tha. Wahi daraaz qad aur shaffaf rangat wala larka jo thori der pehle hi dukan mein aaya tha.

Safaid qameez shalwar ke saath khaki rang ki nafees waistcoat pehni hui thi. Qameez ki aasteinein fold ki hui thein. Kalayi par bhoore patte wali mehengi ghari thi.

"Mein ise pehle parh chuki hoon. Bas yun hi dobara dekhne ka dil chaha."

Anoshay ne kitab us ki taraf barha di.

Azlan ne kitab pakar li. Woh ek mashhoor Urdu novel tha.

"Aap Indians bhi Urdu novels parhte hain?" Azlan ne hairat se us se poocha. "Ji bilkul, sirf parhte nahi balkay pasand bhi karte hain." Anoshay ne muskurate hue kaha.

"Yaani Asad ne sahi mashwara diya tha." Woh khud-kalaami karte hue bola.

"Ji?" Anoshay ne poocha.

"Nahi, darasal mein ne ek novel likha tha to mere dost ne mashwara diya ke yeh India mein bhi publish karwa lo, wahan bhi acche Urdu novels pasand kiye jaate hain." Azlan ne jawaban kaha.

"Accha, to aap ek novel nigaar hain?"

Anoshay ne kaha to Azlan ne dheema sa muskura kar sar hila diya. Us ki dheemi si muskurahat jaazib-e-nazar thi.

"Kuch aisa hi samajh lein. Isi silsile mein Delhi aaya hoon. Faqir Chand Book Store ke baaray mein kaafi suna tha. Socha dekh hi loon."

Woh idhar udhar dekhte hue bola.

"To phir aap ko kaisi lagi Faqir Chand ki dukan?" Anoshay ne us ajnabi se poocha. Lehje mein ishtiyaaq tha.

"Jaise lafzon ki khanqah ho jahan harfon ke darvesh rehte hon."

Azlan ki sarmayi aankhein gehra sa taassur deti thein, jo ke naazuk si sunehri frame wali ainak ke haale mein thein.

"Aap yahan ke nahi hain? Theek samjhi kya mein?" Anoshay ne poocha. Lehje mein tajassus tha.

"Ji mein Pakistan se hoon. Urdu adab ka talib-e-ilm. Lahore se. Yahan ek adabi mehfil mein shirkat ke liye bhi aaya hoon." Yeh kehte hue Azlan ne ek Urdu shayari wali kitab ko haath mein liya. Aur us ka sar-e-warq dekhne laga.

Anoshay ne us ke haath mein pakri kitab ko dekha. Woh yeh bhi parh chuki thi. Usay khud par hairat hui.

"Aap shayari pasand karte hain?" Anoshay ne us se poocha.

"Ji, bas yun samajh lein, jisay lafzon se ishq ho woh in kitabon ko chhor nahi sakta." Azlan ne kaha aur phir kitab wapas rakh di.

"Aap log Urdu aasaani se parh lete hain?" jane kis tehet magar us ne Anoshay se pooch liya.

"Kuch lakh parh lete hain… shayad yeh hairat ki baat na ho… har lafz ka koi na koi ghar hota hai, aur Urdu ka ghar sirf sarhad ke is taraf nahi, kai Hindustani dilon mein yeh zabaan ab bhi saans leti hai. Mere nana Urdu ke ustaad thay, un ke saath hi parhna aur samajhna seekha. Aur waise bhi jinhein parhne mein diqqat ho woh Roman mein parh lete hain." Anoshay ne kaha to Azlan ne samajhte hue sar hila diya.

"Urdu adab mein aap ka zauq mujhe pasand aaya." Azlan ne usay sarahte hue kaha, phir lehje mein thora tajassus samo kar poocha, "magar Urdu Bharat mein?… khaas tor par nayi nasal mein yeh shauq kam nahi ho raha?" Azlan ne poocha to Anoshay hans di. Ird gird kitabon ne jaise sar utha kar dekha.

Azlan ne hairat se usay hanste dekha. Jane kyun usay Anoshay ki hansi ek mukammal nazm ki tarah lagi…

"Aap khud bhi isi nayi nasal mein shumaar hote hain." Anoshay ne shararat se jataya, to Azlan ki muskurahat gehri hui. Usay apni mantiq ki shikast ka ehsas hua tha.

Anoshay ke mulaaim nuqoosh aur gandumi rangat mein ek khaas qisam ka thehrao tha jis ne Azlan ki tawajjo ko jaise kisi hisaar mein le liya. Woh aam larkiyon se mukhtalif thi, wajah sirf us ke nuqoosh nahi thay balkay woh waqar tha jo us ki saanwli rangat se jhalakta tha.

"Dekhein baat to sach hai. Magar yahan Bharat mein shayad aap un logon se nahi mile jo in kitabon mein apni zindagi dhoondte hain. Kitabein to woh duniya hain jahan ja kar hum apne aap ko paa sakte hain. Jahan zindagi ke kai rang, kahaniyan aur sabaq milte hain." Anoshay ab ek surkh jild wali kitab haath mein le chuki تھی۔ Gardan jhuka kar dekha to chand lattein us ke chehre ke atraaf mein jhool gayein.

"Mujhe laga Urdu sirf Pakistan ki ho ke reh gayi hai." Phir waqfa lete hue, "ghaliban aap shayari ka bhi zauq rakhti hain?" Azlan ne poocha.

Anoshay ne nazrein utha kar dekha. Us ki bhoori badaami aankhon ko kaajal ne aur gehra taassur de diya tha.

"Ji shayari bhi parhti hoon. Waise aap ke pasandeeda shayar kaun se hain?" Anoshay ne Azlan se poocha.

"Faiz Ahmed Faiz, un ke baad Iqbal, Ahmed Faraz aur Habib Jalib bhi mere pasandeeda hain." Azlan ne jawaban kaha.

"Aur aap kis ko parhna pasand karti hain?" phir Anoshay se poocha.

"Yahan Bharat ke Rajendra Manchanda Bani, un ke ilawa Tehzeeb Hafi, Parveen Shakir aur Bismil Saeedi bhi mere favourite hain. Aap ne Ashfaq Ahmed sahab ka 'Zaviya' ya un ke afsaane parhe hain?" Anoshay ne kehte hue aakhir mein us se poocha. Shayad woh dono ke darmiyan hone wali guftagu ko la-shaoori tor par tool de rahi thi.

"Ji bilkul! Woh to zindagi ka falsafa sikhate hain." Phir Azlan ne Anoshay ke haath mein pakri kitab ki taraf dekhte hue poocha. "Chalees Charagh-e-Mohabbat, kya aap yeh parh chuki hain? Kis usool ne sab se zyada mutassir kiya?"

Anoshay ne haath mein pakri kitab ki taraf dekha. Aur haan mein sar hilaaya. Phir kitab ko dekhte hue kaha, "Mohabbat ke in chalees usoolon mein se, jo Elif Shafak ke is novel mein Shams Tabrez se mansoob hain, mera pasandeeda ek usool hai. Woh yeh ke ek kaamil be-aib aur be-khata Khuda se mohabbat karna aasaan hai, jaisa ke bilashuba woh hai.

Is se kahin zyada mushkil hai apne saathi insaanon se un ki tamam tar khaamiyon aur naqaais ke saath mohabbat karna. Ek insaan sirf wahi jaan sakta hai jis se woh mohabbat karne ke qaabil hai. Mohabbat ke baghair koi daanish nahi." Anoshay ki aawaz narm thi magar lehja shaffaf tha. Baareek labon se ada hote us ke alfaaz saamne wale par apna asar chhorhte thay. Bilashuba Anoshay ki aawaz bohat pyaari thi.

"Jab tak ke hum Khuda ki makhlooq se mohabbat karna na seekh lein, hum Khuda se haqeeqat mein mohabbat kar sakte hain, na hi usay haqeeqat mein jaan sakte hain." Anoshay ne baat mukammal karte hue do kitabein haath mein lein jinhein woh khareedne ka iraada kar chuki thi aur saath hi Azlan ki taraf ek nazar dekha. Azlan ne gehri saans li aur kaha.

"Bohat accha usool hai aur yeh baat sach bhi hai. Jo insaan logon ka shukr ada karna aur un se mohabbat karna nahi seekh leta woh Khuda se mohabbat ka dawa bhi nahi kar sakta." Phir Anoshay ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.

"Kitabon aur novels mein aap ki dilchaspi qaabil-e-qadar hai. Ho sake to mera novel bhi zaroor parhiye ga. Mera naam Azlan Yazdan hai. Aur aap bhi ghaliban talib-e-ilm hain?"

Azlan ne apna ta’aruf karwate hue aakhir mein istifhaam kiya.

"Mera naam Anoshay hai, Anoshay Zafar. Ek Bridh Ashram ki helper ke tor par kaam karti hoon. Part-time kitabon ka zauq poora hota hai." Phir us ne haath mein pakri kitabon ko ooncha karte hue kaha.

"Yeh kitabein mere bachpan ki saathi hain, sab se wafadar saathi. (Shayad yahi wajah hai ke mein kabhi mustaqil dost nahi bana saki. Us ne dil mein socha.)

Aur jahan tak baat hai talib-e-ilm hone ki, to woh hum saari zindagi rehte hain, kyun ke hum har roz kuch na kuch naya seekhte rehte hain." Anoshay ne kaha to Azlan mehaz sar hila kar reh gaya. Paishani par bikhre baal, halki barhi shave aur baareek moonchein usay la-ubaali sa taassur deti thein magar us ke libaas mein nafaasat ki jhalak thi.

"Mein aap ka novel zaroor parhoon gi." Yeh kehte hue Anoshay rasmi sa muskuradi. Baat mukammal hui, aur yon dono ke darmiyan hui guftagu ka ikhtitaam hua. Kehne ko ab kuch nahi bacha tha. Lekin usay Anoshay naam ki is Hindustani larki ki baatein acchi lagi thein.

Kaafi arse baad usay koi aisa mila tha jis ke saath us ne zehni hum-aahangi mehsoos ki thi.

Doosri taraf Anoshay kitabein khareed kar unhein apne bag mein daal chuki to dukan se baahir nikalne se pehle us ne be-saakhta gardan mor kar Azlan ko ek nazar dekha tha.

Us ki bhoori badaami aankhon mein ek ajeeb si kashish thi, jisay Azlan ne mehsoos kiya tha. Phir woh muri aur baahir ko chal di. Azlan wahin khara usay jaata dekhe gaya. Kya woh is larki se dobara milay ga? Kahin andar usay ehsas hua ke woh phir is larki se milay ga? Kab, kaise, kahan? Yeh jaane baghair.

Be-ikhtiyar usay kisi shayar ka kaha sher yaad aaya.

Woh ek aks ke pal bhar nazar mein tehra tha Tamam umr ka ab silsila hai mere liye

Us ne gehri saans bhari jaise kuch der pehle ka asar apne dil se zaail kar dena chahta ho. Aur phir bizaahir apne haath mein pakri kitab ki taraf mutawajjo ho gaya. Yeh jaane baghair ke ab us ka dil ek nayi lay mein dharakne laga tha.

Doosri taraf Anoshay jab kitabein khareed kar dukan se nikli thi to ek nazar yun hi mor kar Azlan ko dekha tha to usay apni hi taraf dekhte paaya tha.

Azlan ki aankhon mein ek shaffaf magar gehra taassur tha. Wahi jo lafzon se mohabbat karne walon ki aankhon mein hota hai.

Phir woh muri aur Faqir Chand Book Store se baahir qadam barha diye.

Woh Azlan Yazdan se hone wali is mulaqat ko bhool nahi sake gi. Woh usay bohat mukhtalif laga tha. Kaafi dinon baad woh yun kisi se apni parhi kitab ke baaray mein baat kar saki thi.

Jab ke… Faqir Chand ki kitabein gawah thein ke… Kuch mulaqatein haadsa nahi hoti,

muqaddar hoti hain…

.....

Royal Arc... ek naam... ek pehchan. Woh hotel chain jis ka tazkira sirf sahoolat ya aaraam ke hawale se nahi balkay saleeqe aur class ki alaamat ke tor par bhi kiya jaata tha. "Royal Arc" ka yeh khwab haqeeqat banaya tha — Zaman Malik ne. Lahore ki Shahrah-e-Quaid par waqi "Royal Arc" hotel ki yeh branch shehar ki sab se buland aur deeda-zaib imaarton mein shumaar ki jaati thi. Imaarat ki chhatti manzil par waqi executive office… sheishe ki deewaron se ghira hua tha. Zaman Malik khud, is waqt sheishe ki deewar ke paas kharay thay. Un ka libaas hamesha ki tarah be-daagh tha. Us waqt un ki office table ke saamne wali kursi par Wafa Zaman baithi thi. Us ke nuqoosh teekhe thay. Sheishe se aati sooraj ki sunehri kiranon se us ki gandumi rangat kuch kuch sunehri chamak de rahi thi. Baal qudrati tor par surkhi mayal bhoore thay jo bilkul seedhe kandhon se zara neeche tak aate thay. Zaman Malik ne aahista se palat kar kursi ki pusht par haath tika diya, aur ek nazar apni beti ko dekha. Woh is waqt halke mustard rang ki crisp cotton maxi mein malboos thi jo us ke takhnon se zara oopar tak aati thi. Is ke oopar safaid rang ka nafees cropped blazer pehna hua tha. Gardan ke gird peele aur safaid phoolon wala reshmi scarf ek taraf bandha tha. Apni is professional look ki wajah se woh apni umr se kuch bari lag rahi thi. Unhone us se kaha: "Wafa… tum bari ho gayi ho. Ab waqt aa gaya hai ke tum hamare business ko samajhna shuru karo." Unhone aahista se kursi khainchi aur baithte hue Wafa ki taraf dekha. "Yeh jo kuch tum dekh rahi ho, sirf hotel nahi hain… yeh barson ki mehnat hai, khwab hain… aur tum is khwab ka hissa ho." Wafa ne chand lamhe un ki taraf dekha. Hotel ke mahaul, karobaar ki duniya, glamour aur zimmedariyon ki pechidgiyan — sab jaise us ki nazar ke saamne se guzra. "Baba… mujhe nahi lagta mein yeh sab sambhaal sakoon gi. Aap ko nahi lagta aap jaldi kar rahe hain." Yeh us ki ghair-dilchaspi ka izhaar tha. Zaman Malik halka sa muskuraaye lekin aankhon mein sanjeedgi baaqi rahi. "Sambhaalna kabhi seekha nahi jaata, waqt sikha deta hai. Tum bas pehla qadam rakho. Mein tumhein jaldi karne ka nahi keh raha." Wafa khamosh rahi. Woh us ki ghair-dilchaspi ko waqti jhijhak ka naam de rahe thay. "Mein chahta hoon tum business ke maamlaat mein ba-qaayda dilchaspi lo. Kal se Waqar tumhein 'Royal Arc' ki doosri branch ka doura karwaye ga. Kuch cheezein tumhein khud dekhni chahiye, aur kuch seekhni chahiye." Wafa ki nazrein ab sheishe ki khidkiyon se baahir jhaank rahi thein. Wafa ki bhoori aankhon mein kuch anaabi sa taassur tha jo sooraj ki kiranon se kuch aur gehra anaabi lag raha tha. Us ki aankhon mein na inkaar tha, na be-zaari bas ek khamosh qubooliyat.

"Theek he baba" Sanjeedgi se jawab diya. Yaqeenan woh yeh jaanne mein dilchaspi nahi rakhte thay ke woh khud kya chahti hai. Jab ke us ke jazbaat se be-khabar Zaman Malik ne muskura kar sar hilaya. Phir kursi se thora sa aage jhuk kar meiz par pari file band ki, phir ek lamhe ke tawaqquf ke baad dobara nigaah Wafa par daali. Us ki anaabi aankhein khoobsurat magar sanjeeda thein. "Tum mere khoon ki waaris ho, aur Royal Arc sirf ek hotel chain nahi, yeh meri zindagi ka haasil hai. Mein chahta hoon ke kal ko jab log tumhein dekhein to sirf yeh na kahein ke 'Zaman Malik ki beti hai'... balkay mein chahta hoon tumhari apni pehchan ho. Aur tum bana sakti ho." Wafa khamosh rahi, yeh bachpan ki fairy tale nahi thi. Yeh karobaar tha. Ek aisi duniya jis ki usay khwahish nahi thi. "Aur ek baat aur, Muaz ko bhi apne saath rakha karo." Wafa ki sanjeeda aankhon mein ab be-niyaazi si thi. Magar is be-niyaazi mein kuch masnooyi sa taassur tha jisay woh khud bhi mehsoos na kar saki. "Baba, ab aap mujh se zyada expect kar rahe hain." Zaman Malik ne gehra saans liya. "Wafa, mein chahta hoon ke tum dono mil kar seekho. Tum bari ho, tum mein feham hai. Woh abhi nadaan hai… lekin is khandaani wirasat ko agar mazboot haathon mein dena hai, to tum dono ko ek doosre ka saath dena hoga." Wafa jawaban chand lamhe khamosh rahi, phir kaha, "Theek hai Baba… mein koshish karoon gi." Zaman Malik ne sar hilaya, jaise dil ke kisi goshe ko itminan mila ho. Apni beti se baat karte hue un ka rawayya jitna professional tha Wafa ne bhi usi tariqe ko barkarar rakha tha. Woh jaanti thi ke Zaman Malik ke daftar mein woh ek beti nahi, balkay 'Royal Arc' ki waaris thi aur wirasatein kabhi bhi khwahishat ki buniyaad par nahi baanti jaati.

.....

Sawan ke baadlon se dhaki woh shaam Karachi ke maamool se zara mukhtalif thi. Defense Phase 8 ki kushaada shahrah par waqi Royal Arc ke parking area mein siyah Mercedes aakar khari hui. Gaari ka pichla darwaza khula aur sabz block heels pehne woh baahir nikli. Us waqt woh sabz rang ka gown pehne hue thi jo takhnon se zara oopar ko tha. Saath surkh rang ka cropped blazer pehna hua tha, jis ke baazu kalaiyon tak aate thay. Gardan ke gird sabz aur surkh phoolon wala reshmi scarf baayein taraf bandha tha.

Woh nappe tuly qadam bharti building mein dakhil hui. Aankhon par se siyah chashma utara to anaabi taassur liye us ki aankhein waaziha huein. Istagbaliya par hotel ke official dress mein malboos mustaid amla maujood tha.

Woh lobby mein kuch der ruki rahi. Idhar udhar dekhne par oonchi pony mein bandhe baal us ke sar ke saath saath harkat karte thay. Jab Zaman Malik lobby mein dakhil hue to un ke saath managers bhi thay. Un ki shakhsiyat mein barson ki riyazat, tajurbe, aur kamyabi ki jhalak thi. Woh us ke paas chale aaye.

"Nice, waqt se pehle pohnchi ho." Wafa ne halka sa muskurane par iktifa kiya. "Chalo mere saath. Tumhein dikhata hoon hamara roz ka nizam kaise chalta hai."

Woh usay conference room, kitchen, housekeeping, aur events management ki jaghon par le gaye. Har jagah woh sirf dekhti rahi, waise bhi yeh sab us ke liye naya nahi tha. Us ke bachpan ki aksar chuttiyan inhi jaghon par guzri thein.

"Waqar!" Zaman Malik ne ek adhair umr, nihayat mustaid shakhs ko aawaz di jo un ke saath chal raha tha. "Ji sir!" "Kal se Wafa yahan ke operations ko barah-e-raast monitor karein gi. In ka cabin tayyar hai na?" "Ji sir, bilkul tayyar hai." Waqar ne moodabana sar hilaya.

Wafa ne ek gehri saans li. Yahan ki thandi AC wali hawa usay baahir ki sawan-zada nami se kahin zyada boojhal lag rahi thi. Karachi ki yeh building un ke business hotel ki sab se aham branch thi. Zaman Malik usay mukhtalif hisson ka ta’aruf karwa rahe thay. Achanak Zaman Malik ek darwaze ke saamne ruke aur muskura kar Wafa ki taraf dekha. "Aur yeh tumhara cabin hai. Royal Arc ka naya markaz-e-saqal."

Wafa ne jab qadam andar rakha, to saamne ki bari deewar par lage Royal Arc ke 'Logo' par us ki nazar pari. Usay laga jaise woh koi ohda nahi, balkay ek aisi zimmedari sambhaalne ja rahi hai jo usay us ki apni shanakht se door le jaye gi.

.....

Azan-e-fajr ke kuch der baad, kitchen ke sink mein pare bartan dhulay hue thay, aur choolhay par ab chai ka pani charha hua tha.

Us ki aankhon mein neend ki halki si laali baaqi thi, magar chehre par ek zimmedar sanjeedgi numaya thi. Namaz parhne ke baad woh seedha kitchen mein aayi thi. Aate mein halka namak daal kar usay goondha. Choolhay ke saath rakhi purani magar saaf slab par chota chota kata pyaaz, tamatar aur hari mirch plate mein pare thay. Woh jaldi jaldi omelette banane lagi aur phir parathay banane shuru kiye.

Ek purane steel ke thaal mein us ne chai ka cup, do parathay aur omelette rakha, aur khamoshi se kamre mein ja kar apne baap ke saamne thaal rakh diya.

"Abu, nashta rakh diya hai…" Aahista se kaha aur wapas palat aayi. Khalid sahab hafte mein ek nashta omelette ka zaroor kiya karte thay. Kitchen mein wapas aakar us ne baaqi sab ke hisse ka nashta tayyar kiya.

Apne aur baaqi sab ke liye us ne ghee wali rotiyon ke saath raat ka salan garm kiya tha. Phir kamre mein ja kar jaldi jaldi apne college ke kapre nikale, istari nikali aur taar laga kar istari garm karne lagi. Safaid kurta aur halke neele rang ka dupatta, us ka uniform tha. Istari karte karte woh baar baar ghari ki taraf dekhti.

Waqt jaise haath se phisul raha tha. Kapre istari karne ke baad us ne unhein almari ke ek taraf rakh diya aur saath wale kamre mein pohnchi. Ammi, bhai, aur chhoti behan ko uthane ka waqt ho chuka tha.

"Ammi… subah ho gayi hai, nashta bhi tayar hai…" "Are uth jao Kiran, school nahi jaana?"

Ghar mein halchal si hone lagi thi. Woh khud bhi nashta karne lagi phir saath wale kamre mein pohnchi, jaldi se uniform pehna aur phir bag mein apni kitabein check karne lagi.

Kaunsi kitab ke baghair aaj guzara ho sakta tha, woh dekh rahi thi taake bag ka wazan thora halka ho. Phir us ne ek nazar aaina dekha. Us ki rangat saanwli aur nuqoosh qabool-e-soorat thay.

Woh Zainab Khalid thi.

Ek be-had aam si larki, aaina dekh kar us ne apne baaray mein yahi socha tha. Phir woh sochti hi chali gayi. Kya tha us ke paas jo usay khaas banata? Us ne bohat socha usay kuch na mila.

Us ka ghar purana lekin saada sa tha. Mohalle ke aakhir mein waqi, do kamron par mushtamil woh makan kisi daur mein shayad naya bana tha. Bairooni darwaza lakri ka tha, jis ke kinare khasta ho chuke thay.

Sehan chota sa tha, eenton se bana farsh jagah jagah se ukharr chuka tha.

Ek taraf purani si tanki thi, aur us ke aas paas kuch maryal se gamlay pare rehte. Baramde ke andar hi ek taraf chota sa open kitchen tha.

Aur ek taraf darwaza tha jo andar ko jaata tha. Andar dakhil hote hi ek chota sa kamra tha jisay drawing room kaha ja sakta tha, lekin asal mein wahi sab kuch tha — baithak bhi, istari karne, silayi karne, khana khane ki jagah aur kabhi kabhi chhote behan bhaiyon ka sone ka kamra bhi. Farsh par dari bicchi hui thi.

Us ki Ammi ke jahez ki do kursiyan, ek meiz thi jo ek taraf pari thi. Saath almari aur sandooq pare thay. Chhat par pankha zaroor tha, magar us ki raftaar us ki apni zindagi ki tarah mahdood thi. Doosre kamre mein ek purana sa palang tha saath neeche zameen par mattress biccha tha. Ek taraf lohe ki almari thi.

Ghusalkhana bhi sehan ke saath hi jura hua tha. Yeh ghar chota tha magar kam na tha kyun ke is mein woh apne khwab bun rahi thi. Us ne Ammi ko jaldi mein salam kiya aur darwaze ki chatkhni khol kar baahir nikli.

Qareebi bus stop tak paidal chalna, us ke maamoolat ka hissa tha.

Chote chote gharon ke beech se guzarti, woh har roz ki tarah aaj bhi rickshew, chai ke hotel aur kariyana stores ke saamne se guzar rahi thi. Us se ek saal chota us ka bhai Umar us ke saath tha. Thore faasle par aane wali bus, jo ke hamesha kuch takheer se aati, aaj bhi waise hi haanpti hui pohnchi. Woh bus par charhi, bamushkil jagah banayi aur handle pakar kar khari ho gayi. Paanchwan stop aaya aur woh kiraya deti baahir nikli.

Aage usay seedh mein chand minute chalna tha aur phir us ka college tha. Yeh college shehar bhar ke baray colleges mein shumaar hota tha jo ke har saal merit ki buniyaad par pachaas ke qareeb bachon ko sau percent scholarship bhi deta tha. Zainab Khalid unhein bachon mein se ek thi. Us ne matric mein pichanve percent number liye thay aur ab woh is college mein fees ke baghair parhti thi jahan scholarship ke ilawa sirf wahi bachay parh sakte thay jin ke maali haalaat bohat behtar thay. Bahalhaal woh college pohnchi aur gate se andar dakhil hui, kandhe par bag tha.

Us ne bari si siyah chadar uniform ke saath pehni hui thi jo us ke gird acche se lipti thi. College ko join kiye usay bamushkil ek mahina hua tha, lekin woh ta-haal kisi se khaas tor par ghul mil nahi saki thi. Har taraf chhote chhote groups bane hue thay. Woh kisi ko apni dost nahi bana saki thi ya yeh kehna behtar tha ke koi us ki dost nahi bani thi. Zainab sab ko khamosh nazron se dekhti phir hamesha ki tarah, pichli qatar mein apne makhsoos kone mein ja baithti. Aaj bhi us ne aisa hi kiya tha. Physics ki teacher chand lamhon baad hi aachuki thein aur lecture shuru ho chuka tha. Taqreeban saat minute baad class ka darwaza khula aur ek larki andar dakhil hui.

Woh maamooli si takheer se pohnchi thi, magar is ke eitemad mein zara bhi kami na thi. Woh teiz qadmon se andar aayi, aur nigah dorate hue seedhi Zainab ki taraf barhi. Aaj class mein sirf Zainab ke saath wali nishist khaali thi. Woh bina kuch kahe us ke saath baith gayi. Zainab ne is larki ki taraf dekha. Dil mein ek halki si khushi ubhri ke pehli baar koi is ke saath baitha tha. Woh class ki sab se daraaz qad, pur-eitemad aur khoobsurat larki thi. Us ne uniform ke saath dupatta slash ki tarah pehna tha. Surkhi mayal baal jo bilkul seedhe thay high pony mein band thay.

Us ki aankhein anaabi rang ki thein. Woh Wafa Zaman thi. Saada se huliye mein bhi woh be-had pur-kashish lagti thi. Khushgawaar si kaifiyat mein Zainab kuch der usay dekhti rahi. Us ki nazron ke artikaaz ki wajah se Wafa ne gardan mor kar sawaliya nazron se usay dekha.

Jaise pooch rahi ho kya hua? Zainab ne nafi mein sar hila diya. Professor sahiba ne board par kuch likhna shuru kiya hi tha ke unhone ailaan kiya, "Aaj aap sab ka surprise test hai, sab apni sheets nikaal lein." Zainab ne bag se apni geometry nikali. Pen ghayab tha. Uff! Umar ne is ka pen nikaal liya tha aur rakhna bhool gaya tha.

"Aap logon ke paas das minute hain, mukammal karein, yeh papers principal ke paas jayein ge. Hurry up!" Physics ki professor keh rahi thein. Aur unhone board par sawalat likhna shuru kar diye thay. Ab woh pen kahan se laye?

"Kya hua?" Wafa ne usay likhte na dekh kar us se poocha.

"Mera pen nahi mil raha." Zainab ne is se kaha.

"It's okay. Mere paas doosra hai." Wafa ne apna doosra pen nikaal kar us ki taraf barhaya.

"Shukriya..." Us ne dheere se kaha. Aur likhna shuru kar diya. Us din, pehli baar, usay laga ke woh college mein akeli nahi hai. Ek ajnabi chehra, jo us ki khamosh duniya mein dakhil hua tha — bin kahe, bas ek muskurahat ke saath. Zainab ne dil mein socha, shayad kal phir Wafa mere saath hi baithe... Woh usay pichle dinon doosri larkiyon ke saath bhi baithe dekh chuki thi. Woh kal is ke saath dobara bhi baith sakti thi. Aur yeh khayal, is din ka sab se roshan lamha tha.

.....

Sadak par dourti us gaari ne jaise hi Clifton ke sahil ki taraf mor kaata, hawa mein ek alag si taazgi ghul gayi. Wafa ne khidki se nazrein hata kar Muaz ki taraf dekha. Woh barabar baitha koi kitab parh raha tha aur apni hi duniya mein gum tha.

Woh dono Zaman Malik ke kehne par Royal Arc ki Blue Pier branch ja rahe thay.

Hotel ke peeche, zara faasle par hi samundar tha. Har manzil par balcony, aur har balcony se samundar ki jhalak…

Wafa gaari se utri. Us ne Muaz ki taraf dekha jo ab driver ke saath saman nikaal raha tha. Apni sehat aur qad ki wajah se woh apni umr ke larkon se bara lagta tha. Magar us ka gol matol sa chehra masoom tha.

Woh lobby mein Muaz ke saath dakhil hui. Aasmani rang ke gown ke saath gardan ke gird neele aur safaid phoolon wala reshmi scarf lipta tha.

"Mujhe bohat afsos ho raha hai." Muaz ne gardan daayein baayein hila kar kuch afsos bhare lehje mein bola.

"Kis baat ka afsos?" Wafa ne us se poocha. Woh dono ruk gaye.

"Raza ne Mehwish ke saath bohat bura kiya hai." Wafa ne kuch confuse ho kar us ki taraf dekha. Woh sehat mand gol matol chehre wala Muaz aakhir kis Mehwish ke liye pareshan tha.

"Mujhe pehle shak tha, Raza aisa hi nikle ga. Larkiyan hamesha ek red flag ko hi kyun pasand karti hain?"

Muaz ne kehna jaari rakha phir aakhir mein Wafa ki taraf dekhte hue poocha.

"Tum ho kitne aur yun baatein kar rahe ho, aur yeh Mehwish kaun hai?" Wafa ne halke se us ka kaan khainchte hue us se poocha.

"Woh, mein ne jo naya novel start kiya hai woh is ki heroine hai. Aur us ne ek ghalat larke se shaadi kar li hai bas isi baat ka afsos hai." Muaz ne jawaban usay wazahat di.

"Tumhein Sophia ne kitni dafa kaha hai yun novels ko apne sar par sawar nahi karte. Khair ab chalo." Wafa ne kehte hue us ke kaan chhor diye.

Muaz ne us ki baat sun kar haan mein sar hilaya aur us ke saath chal diya.

Reception par maujood manager ne unhein foran pehchan liya, rasmi salam aur khairiyat ke baad unhein un ka kamra de diya gaya.

Woh dono kamre mein pohnche. Balcony mein khare ho kar Wafa ne door lehron ko dekha. Manzar khush-kun tha. Apni dressing ke lihaaz se woh is jagah ka hi ek hissa lag rahi thi. Kuch mukhtalif tha to woh thein us ki anaabi aankhein.

Us ne gardan mor ke Muaz ko dekha. Woh saman set karke phir kitab parhne mein masroof ho chuka tha. Saath kuch kha bhi raha tha.

"Tum yahan nahi aao ge?" Us ne Muaz se yun hi pooch liya.

"Nahi yaar, pehli dafa to nahi aaye na. Aur waise bhi tumhein pata chala?" Muaz ne kitab par se nazrein utha kar Wafa ki jaanib dekhte hue us se poocha.

"Kya?"

"Yahi ke Azlan bhai wapas aa rahe hain." Woh keh kar phir kitab parhne laga.

Jab ke Wafa ne be-ikhtiyar apne baayein haath ko ooncha karke dekha, wahan ek angoothi thi. Woh sab kaise bhool gayi thi. Woh qadam qadam chalti Muaz ke saamne bed par baithi.

"Tumhein kis ne bataya?"

"Mamma ne. Tum un ki call nahi utha rahi. Woh keh rahi thein tumhein bata doon." Wafa jawaban khamosh rahi.

"Waise tumhein excitement hai? Hum Lahore mein hote to Azlan bhai se zaroor milte, un ka pehla novel mein ne parha hai. Woh acche writer hain. Ab se mere favourite bhi hain. Apni university mein bhi kaafi maqbool hain. Tumhein pata hai unhone mujhe signed copy di hai. Mein ne apne doston ko bhi bataya hai..." Woh kitab chhor kar josh se usay batane laga.

Hah! Wafa ne gehri saans bhari woh us ko shuru karwa chuki thi. Ab aglay paanch minute tak us ne lagataar bolte rehna tha. Accha khaasa parhaku aur baatuni larka tha Muaz Malik. Woh apni dhun mein Azlan ki tareefein kiye ja raha tha, magar Wafa ki nazrein apni angoothi par jami thein. Woh angoothi jo mehaz ek zewar nahi, balkay ek waada thi— jis ka bojh usay ab apni ungli par mehsoos ho raha tha.

Muaz ki aawaz ab usay door se aati hui mehsoos ho rahi thi. Azlan Yazdan ki wapasi ka matlab tha ke ab usay apni peshawarana aur zaati zindagi ke darmiyan ek lakeer khainchni hogi.

"Wafa! Tum sun rahi ho na?" Muaz ne usay khamosh dekh kar toka.

"Haan Muaz, sun rahi hoon. Tum bas apni kitab parho aur tayyar ho jao, humein neeche manager se meeting ke liye bhi jaana hai." Wafa ne Muaz se kaha aur dobara balcony ki taraf mur gayi.

Baahir samundar ki lehrein ab pehle se zyada pur-shor lag rahi thein, bilkul us toofan ki tarah jo Azlan ke naam ke saath us ke dil mein uthne laga tha.

.....

Karachi shehar se milon door… yeh Bahrain ki gehri siyah raat thi.

Woh jaan chuka tha… agar aaj ki raat zinda bach nikla, to zindagi dobara us ki hogi. Lekin abhi khatra baaqi tha.

Woh khufia kamra jis mein woh us waqt maujood tha, samundar ke qareeb, Bahrain ke ek purane tark shuda sahli godam mein waqi tha. Us ne ehtiyat se darwaze ki darz se jhaanka.

Baahir guards halki roshni mein kharay thay— neend se boojhal aankhein, magar haath mein pakray hue hathyar.

Woh wapas aachuke thay. Darwaze se baahir nikalne ka matlab tha maut ko gale lagana. Us ne cheezein apni siyah jacket ki andarooni jaib mein daalein. Aur ab yahan se nikalne ke liye tayyar tha.

Woh aahistagi se us kamre ke kone mein maujood ek chowray sanati pipe ki taraf barha, jo shayad godam ke nikaas ke liye lagaya gaya tha.

Pipe ka dahana is ke kasrati jism ke liye tang tha, magar is waqt yahi wahid rasta tha.

Us ne zameen par ghutne teike, aur apna rukh pipe ke andhere ki jaanib kiya. Apne chowray kandhon ko sikeirte hue woh kohniyon ke bal andar reingne laga. Zang aalood loha is ke baazuon ko cheel raha tha aur gard-o-ghubaar se is ka dam ghutne laga, magar is ne himmat na haari. Har inch ka faasla tay karne ke liye isay apne azlaat ki poori quwwat sarf karni par rahi thi.

Woh kohniyon ke bal reingta hua pipe ke aakhri sire tak pohncha. Pipe ka doosra sira ek chhote se zer-e-zameen kamre mein khulta tha, jo shayad godam ka service chamber tha. Wahan lohe ke baray valves aur zang aalood mashinon ke dher lage thay. Yeh jagah oopar ke hangamay se kati hui aur khamosh thi.

Jaise hi pipe khatam hua, woh oondhe munh ek thanday concrete ke farsh par gira. Is ne sambhal kar apne chowray kandhon ko jhatka aur khare ho kar gard jhaari. Is ka andaaz bata raha tha ke woh aisi mashaqqaton ka aadi hai.

Saath hi usay deewar par purana zang aalood iron hook nazar aaya. Woh muskuraya. Teekhe nuqoosh par us ki muskurahat dil-fareb thi. Is ne usay haath mein liya, ab yahi us ka hathyar tha. Phir darwaze ki taraf barha hi tha ke qadmon ki aawaz sunayi di, woh ruka, koi aaraha tha.

Ek lamha zaya kiye baghair woh darwaze ke peeche hua. Aane wala shakhs abhi kamre mein dakhil hi hua tha ke… Karakh!!

Us ne poori quwwat se hook us ki gardan ke peeche de mara.

Aadmi ke halaq se ghutti aawaz nikli, woh jhatke se gira…

Lekin is ne usay mazeed do waar de kar poori tarah behosh kar diya.

Phir jhuk kar us ne us ke paas se hathyar uthaya. Ek gun… baghair silencer ke. Phir yahi gun apne belt mein thoons li.

Ab usay nikalna tha — saamne ki deewar ke paar ek zeena nazar aa raha tha — shayad yeh oopar sahil ki taraf jaata tha.

Woh bhaagta hua us zeene tak pohncha hi tha ke achanak baayein taraf ki raahdari se do aadmi namoodar hue.

"من انتَ!؟"

(Tum kaun ho?)

Un aadmiyon ne chillate hue us se poocha.

"أبوك…"

(Tumhara baap!)

Us ne kaha phir unhein dekh kar ek aankh wink ki. Aur jhuk kar ek steel rod uthayi. Pehle aadmi ke qareeb aate hi us ke ghutne par maara.

"Karakh!" Phir is ke sar par ek aur zarb lagayi.

Doosra foran gun chalata, us se pehle us ne rod is ke haath par maari. Gun neeche giri, aur aglay lamhe us ki thori par seedha ghounsa maara. Woh neeche gira to woh bhaagta hua zeene par charha.

Oopar ek chota sa lakri ka darwaza tha. Isay dakeil kar khola… aur saamne… bandargah ka khaali area. Purani kashtiyan, aur pani… magar usay chalne ka waqt nahi mila. Kyun ke pichle zeene se guards ka shor sunayi dene laga tha. Woh teizi se bhaagne laga…

Ret, pani, malba… har cheez us ke qadmon tale aarahi thi. Door ek bajri se bhara truck khara tha. Us ke neeche chhupne ke siwa aur koi rasta na tha. Woh foran is ke neeche ghusa aur khud ko chhupaya. Jald hi guards wahan tak pohnch chuke thay.

"هو لا يستطيع الهروب بعيدًا!"

(Woh door nahi ja sakta!)

Woh chillate, aage ki taraf barh gaye. Woh un ke door jaane tak dubka leta raha. Lekin woh zyada der chhupa nahi reh sakta tha. Chand lamhon baad woh jaise hi bajri wali jagah se nikla us ne gun nikali magar ruk gaya.

Saamne marammat-shuda purani kashti ke aqab mein teen aadmi thay. Un ke hote hue woh ba-hifazat yahan se nahi nikal sakta tha. Ek bhi lamha zaya kiye baghair woh aage barha.

Pehle aadmi par woh jhapta, ghutne ka waar seedhe us ke pait mein para aur woh aadmi peeche ja gira. Doosra shakhs peeche se is par charha, magar is ne poori taqat se apni kohni us ki naak par maari. Tarakh ki aawaz ke saath is ki naak ki haddi tooti aur khoon ka fowara choota.

Isi zakhmi naak aur us ke jabre par apne fouladi mukkay raseed kiye to woh aadmi peeche ki jaanib dhe gaya. Chand seconds ki baat thi aur woh aadmi aglay chand lamhe kuch karne ke qaabil nahi raha tha.

Teesra aadmi saanp ke tattoo wala, gun nikaal chuka tha. Lekin is ne is se pehle hi wahan maujood lohe ke purze ki nauk us ke haath par maari aur gun neeche giri, saath hi us ne is tattoo wale ka sar kashti ki deewar se maarna shuru kar diya. Ek, do, teen, phir is ki pasliyon ke darmiyan apna ghutna zor se maara. Woh karaahta hua peeche ko gir gaya.

Lekin phir inhi aadmiyon mein se ek ne ek chota sa chaqu kamar ki jaanib se us ke kandhe mein ghoump kar nikala. Isay dard hua aur be-ikhtiyar jhatka diya.

Magar woh gira nahi khud ko sambhala, palta aur is hamla-awar ko zameen par patakh kar is ke chehre par ghounse maarne laga. Ek, do, teen...

Yahan tak ke woh aadmi bhi behosh ho gaya. Woh ghutnon ke bal baitha. Jacket ki wajah se zyada nuqsan na hua tha. Lekin is ke paas waqt nahi tha.

Us ne nazar dorayi to door ek purana zang aalood store nazar aaya. Us ki aankhein chamkein. Darwaze par store 16 likha tha. Isay ishaara mil chuka tha.

Woh dorta hua us ke paas pohncha. Darwaza thora sa dakeila aur woh khul gaya. Andar purane drum, rasiyan, aur sari hui machli ke khaali crate rakhe thay. Ek deewar ke saath phisalti hui seerhiyan neeche ja rahi thein. Woh neeche utra, ab saans dhounkni ki tarah chal raha tha magar hawaas mukammal bidaar thay.

Neeche ek surang thi. Shayad purani smuggling ke raaste. Taqreeban das minute chalne ke baad us ne dekha ek chota sa aahini darwaza surang ke aakhir mein tha. Us ne isay dakeil kar dekha. Saamne seerhiyan thein. Woh seerhiyan charhta wahan se nikla. Saamne khajoor ke darakhton ka jhund tha.

Raat aadhi se zyada guzar chuki thi. Ab bas isay intezar karna tha.

....

(I have made some changes, do re - read the chapter if you have already read it yet in previous days. Thank you in regards. Next Chapter has been Uploaded. Do give a feed-back. )