Maktoob

Noor ko Lucknow aaye 10 din ho chuke the.

Aur woh jald se jald Allahabad lautna chahti thi.

Wajah - Aashir Sahab.

Usne kuch nahi kiya tha.

Par woh uske hawason pe chhaya rehta tha.

Us raat ke baad subah jab woh uthi toh Suraj aaj aasmaan mein maujood nahi tha, taazgi thi fizaon mein, iztirar tha, chidiyon ki cheh-chahat, aasmaan mein halki-halki neeli roshni thi. Subah bahut nayi si thi.

Uski zindagi mein bhi ek naya sawera tha, bas usse woh anjaan thi.

Subah usne apne Nanu ke kamre mein dastak di toh usne wahan sirf Nanu ko nahi, Aashir ko bhi paya.

Woh palang ke paas kursi lagaye, Nanu ka BP check kar raha tha. Saath unhe hidayat bhi de raha tha.

"Kya Dadu, kitni baar kaha hai namak kam khaya kariye. Badha liya na BP." Uski awaaz mein fikrmandi thi.

"Noor, aao beta." Nanu ne use dekh apne paas baithne ka ishara kiya.

Aashir ne uski taraf ek nazar daali.

Noor ne salaam kiya.

Usne sir ke kham se jawab diya.

"Nanu ki tabiyat kharaab hai?" Usne fikrmandi se poocha.

"Aapke Nanu ko badparhezi bahut pasand hai, bas kuch nahi, usi ka nateeja hai." Aashir ne kuch dawaiyan dabbe mein rakhte hue kaha.

"Oh."

"Dadu, aaj aapka check-up hai. Aap bina uff kiye mere saath chal rahe hain." Usne tanbih ki.

"Aye aye, Captain." Dadu ne halke-phulke lehje mein kaha.

Noor ki hansi chhuti.

Kal ki apni himakat woh bhooli nahi thi, isliye woh bahut kam bol rahi thi.

Aashir jab kamre se chala gaya toh woh Nanu ki taraf mudhi.

"Nanu, kyun karte hain badparhezi? Pad gaye na bimaar." Lehja masnui kadak tha.

Nanu ne muh bisora.

"Ek police kaafi hai. Tum na bano doosri. Woh waise bhi doctor shayad mujhe tang karne ke liye bana hai."

Noor ne sir jhatka.

Woh dono baatein kar rahe the jab use pata chala Aashir Nanu ki dawaiyon ka khud khyaal rakhta hai.

Woh sofe par baithi khyaalon mein gum thi.

Uske khyaal Aashir ki taraf bhatke.

Use raat dekh woh samajh gayi thi, woh late aaya tha.

Par phir aaj subah bina bhule jaldi uth woh Dadu ki tabiyat ka khyaal rakh raha tha.

Unke appointments, unki dawaiyan-use sab yaad rehti thi.

Woh toh Aashir ko bahut laparwah samajhti thi.

Ghar se door rehne wala.

Par yeh Aashir toh mukhtalif tha.

Nanu ka khyaal rakhna.

Phir use dopahar ka waqya yaad aaya.

"Kaise hain aap, Phupha?" Aashir ne baat shuru ki.

"Alhamdulillah, and thanks to you, young man." Zaviyar sahab ne jawaban kaha.

Noor bhi Ammar aur Sumaira ke saath hall mein aa rahi thi jab in dono ki guftagu uske kaanon mein padi.

Abba kyun thanks bol rahe hain inhe?

Usne socha.

"Beta, tum agar mere liye behtareen doctor ka intezaam na karte..." Usne Zaviyar sahab ko kehte suna.

"Ye mera doctor hone ke naate farz tha."

"Beta, mujhe phone kar roz meri tabiyat poochna farz nahi tha tumhara." Zaviyar sahab ne Aashir ka haath dabate hue kaha.

Noor ke liye yeh sab naya tha.

Ye Abba ki khair-khairiyat lete hain.

Uske mann mein pehla khyaal aaya.

Uske dil mein Aashir ke liye izzat badhi.

---

Pichhle do dino se Sumaira kahin khoyi thi.

Kuch pareshan, kuch hairaan.

Noor ne poocha bhi, par usne baat palat di.

Noor Sumaira ke paas aa rahi thi, use mobile mein kuch dikhane ke liye. Jab woh darwaze ke paas pahunchi, usne siskiyon ki awaaz suni.

Woh darwaze ke paas hui.

"Main keh rahi hoon na, main paise arrange karti hoon.

Tum bas Bhai ko kuch na batana.

Please, I beg you.

Phone nahi kaatna.

Hello, hello?"

Phir usne Sumaira ki siskiyan suni.

Bas, ho gaya.

Ab toh main jaan kar rahi hi, masla kya hai.

Woh bina dastak diye darwaza khol andar dakhil hui.

Darwaza khulne ki awaaz pe Sumaira ne peeche mudh ke dekha.

Noor ko dekhte hi uski aankhein fail gayin. Chehre par khauf saaf wazeh tha.

Noor ne uska jaiza liya.

Uske andar ki waqeel aur ek behen dono use gaur se dekh rahi thi.

Noor ne pehle darwaze par kundi lagayi.

Woh Sumaira ke ain saamne khadi hui.

"Maine sab sun liya hai, Aira." Uska lehja sakht tha.

Sumaira ne aankhein churayi.

Usne dono haathon ka pyala bana Sumaira ke gaalon ko pakda.

"Mujhse bhi chhupogi ab tum, Chanda?"

Bas uska yeh kehna tha aur Sumaira ne phat se use gale laga liya.

Woh zaar-o-qataar rone lagi.

"Mujhse ek galti ho gayi hai, Noor.

Mujhe uski saza mil rahi hai.

Allah ne jo hudood banaye hain, unhe humein nahi langhna chahiye.

Bilkul nahi."

Woh siskiyon ke beech keh rahi thi.

Noor ka dil ghabra raha tha.

"Saaf-saaf batao, Aira. Masla kya hai?" Usne bahut aaraam se poocha.

"Meri class mein ek ladka aaya tha. Woh har cheez mein meri help karta tha. Mujhe laga woh achha hai."

Woh ruki.

"Phir hum dono ne contacts share kiye aur main usse roz baat karne lagi, der raat tak."

Usne Noor ki taraf dekha. Use laga chehre par koi nagawari hogi.

Par wahan sirf fikrmandi thi.

"Jab mujhe ehsaas hua yeh sab galat hai, maine usse saaf mana kar diya baat karne se.

Woh gusse mein aa gaya. Usne mujhe dhamki di, woh hamari chats poore college mein sabko leak kar dega aur Bhai ko bhi bhej dega.

I swear, Noor, maine usse koi nazeeba baat nahi ki, phir bhi..."

Woh kehte hi rone lagi.

Noor ne fauran use wapas gale laga liya.

Uski toh aisi ki taisi.

Usne mann mein socha.

"Koi nahi, har masle ka hal hota hai. Iska bhi hoga." Noor ne Sumaira ke aansu poche. "Pehle rona band karo."

"Tum mujhse naraz nahi ho?" Sumaira ne masoomiyat se poocha.

"Nahi." Ek lafz jawab.

"Meri jaan, tum meri dost ho. Main tumhari galtiyon pe daantungi, par khafa nahi hongi."

Sumaira bheegi aankhon ke saath muskurai.

Sumaira ko khana usne kamre mein hi khilaya.

Use sulane ke baad woh kamre mein chakkar laga rahi thi.

Use uss ladke ko sabak sikhana tha, magar kaise?

Ammar kuch zaroori kaam se bahar gaya tha.

Isliye usse baat ho nahi sakti thi.

Woh kiski madad le?

Tabhi uske zehan mein Aashir ka khyaal aaya.

"Nahi."

Yeh kya soch rahi hoon main?

"Woh bahut old-fashioned lagte hain. Woh nahi samjhenge yeh masla. Kahin Aira ko hi na daante." Usne khud se kaha.

Tabhi neend mein bhi use Aira ki siskiyan sunai di.

Woh peeche mudhi.

Sumaira neend mein ro rahi thi.

Woh turant uske paas pahunchi.

Uska sir sehlaane lagi.

"Kuch nahi, Aira. Kuch nahi hua."

Uss lamhe faisla ho gaya.

Usne apne aap ko Aashir ke kamre ke saamne paya.

Dastak di.

Darwaza khulne ki awaaz pe usne Aashir ko use hairani se dekhte paya.

"Aap?" Woh goya hua.

"Kya main aapse baat kar sakti hoon?" Woh fauran mudde pe aayi.

"Ji, andar aaiye."

Aashir use ba-gaur dekh raha tha.

Ek gehri saans li.

Phir Aashir ko sab kuch bata diya.

Baat ke ikhtitaam par usne Aashir ko dekha, jo bhawen sikode use dekh raha tha.

Uski mutthi bhi band thi.

"Haye Allah, maine galti toh nahi kar di?

Kahin Sumaira phans na jaye."

Usne khud-kalami ki.

"Sumaira ka phone chahiye mujhe."

Aashir ne bas itna kaha.

Lehja sakht tha.

Usne asbaab mein sar hilaya.

"Aap please Aira ko mat daantiyega.

Use apni galti ka pachtawa hai.

Woh ladka galat hai.

Balki khabees hai."

Usne ilteja ki.

Aashir ke taassuraat nahi badle.

"Aap jaa sakti hain."

Usne Aashir ko kehte suna.

Kamre se bahar aate hi usne ek lambi saans li.

Sahi samjha tha maine. Yeh hai hi old-fashioned.

Aira ko hi qusoorwaar thehrayenge.

Bewakoof hai yeh.

Khadoos.

Woh badbadha rahi thi.

Agle din usne Sumaira aur Aashir ko ghar mein nahi dekha.

Uski ghabrahat aur badh rahi thi.

"Ya Allah, uss khadoos ke dil mein reham daal dein."

Tabhi takreeban dopahar ke waqt usne Sumaira ko gate se andar aate dekha.

Sumaira ne andar aate hi uska haath thaama aur use apne saath takreeban kheenchti hui kamre mein le aayi.

Noor ko laga ab uski aur Sumaira ki dosti ka khatma hai.

Par woh usse maafi maangegi.

Ho sake toh thappad bhi kha legi.

Kamre mein aate hi Sumaira ne use gale laga liya.

Use hairat hui.

"Shukriya, shukriya, Noor."

Sumaira ke mujhse yeh alfaaz sun use hairat ka doosra jhatka laga.

"Tum best ho."

"Nahi, tum wali ho."

Teesra jhatka.

Sumaira usse alag hui.

"Tum shukriya kyun bol rahi ho?" Usne poocha.

"Tumne Bhai ko sab bataya na?"

Noor ne sir hilaya.

"Uske liye Bhai ne uss ladke ko aisi adab sikhayi. Kya batayein, aur toh aur saari chats bhi permanently delete karwa diye."

Chautha jhatka.

"Hein?"

"Hein kya? Puri baat batao mujhe."

"Bhai subah mere room mein aaye.

Unhone mujhse sab poocha.

Maine aitiraaf kiya."

Woh thami.

"Unhone daanta?"

Noor ne fauran poocha.

"Nahi, pagal. Unhone mujhe gale laga liya."

"Aur kaha, "Laanat hai mujhpe agar main apni behen ki hifazat nahi kar sakta, woh mujhse apni pareshani nahi bata sakti.

Aur Mai unn mardon mein se nahi ho apni Ghar ki aurton ka haath thaam unki dhaal na bane chahe woh galat ho ya sahi."

Noor aankhein fadhe use dekh rahi thi.

Mujhe toh kamre se nikaal diya tha.

Usne socha.

"Aage?"

"Maine Bhai se maafi maangi.

Unhone mujhse wada liya ki main kabhi aisa kuch nahi karungi.

Koi pareshani hogi toh ghar pe bataungi."

"Hein?"

"Khadoos itna bhi khadoos nahi tha."

"Nahi, old-fashioned."

Usne aitiraaf kiya.

Use pachtawa bhi hua.

Bina jaane Aashir ke baare mein Aira ke liye rai qayam karne ka.

Par phir use yaad aaya, usne use kamre se nikala tha.

Khadoos.

Ek narm-gosha Noor ke bina ijazat panap raha tha Aashir ke liye uske dil mein.

Uss din ke baad woh Aashir pe gaur karne lagi.

Uska kam bolna.

Har cheez par dhyaan dena.

Badi ka ehteram.

Apne kaam ko lekar bahut sanjeeda hona.

Uske zehan mein jo Aashir ka khaka tha, woh badal raha tha.

Kuch naya.

Kuch khaas.

Dheere-dheere woh uski aadaton par gaur karne lagi.

Jaise Aashir ka bina cheeni ke chai lena.

Ande aur paratha shauq se khana.

Hamesha daayi kalai mein ghadi pehenna.

Woh bhi sirf Fastrack ki.

Woh bachchi nahi thi.

Woh samajh rahi thi yeh sab kis taraf ja raha hai.

"Nahi, nahi...

Aisa nahi ho sakta.

Main bas unki izzat karti hoon.

Aur kuch nahi.

Us lihaaz se pasand nahi hai woh mujhe."

Woh ruki.

Usne khidkiyan kholi, taazi hawa ko andar aane ke liye aur khud ke andar ki kaifiyat ko samajhne ke liye.

"Nahi. Woh bas achhe insaan lagte hain mujhe."

Phir uski nazar aaine par padi.

"Kisse jhoot bol rahi ho, Noor-ul-Ain?

Khud se?"

Uske mann ne sargoshi ki.

Pata hai kyun?

Khud se jo bhaagta hai, har daav haarta hai.

Uski aankhon mein nami umad aayi.

Usne aankhein band ki.

Uss lamhe lab hile.

"Haan... mujhe mohabbat ho gayi hai Aashir Malik se."

Par pata nahi kyun, use iss baat se khauf aaya.

Ehsaas khoobsurat tha, par dil ghabrata tha.

Jaise kuch galat ho gaya ho.

Jaise usne apne dil ko kisi aise raaste par daal diya ho, jahan se wapas lautna aasaan nahi hoga.

Mohabbat ka ehsaas toh khoobsurat tha, phir uske dil mein yeh khauf kyun tha?

Woh khud se yahi sawaal kar rahi thi.

Aur shayad usse jawab ka darr tha.

Usse is haqeeqat ko maane ek hafta guzar chuka tha.

Aur is ek hafte mein usne Aashir ko bahut kam dekha tha.

Woh kaam ke silsile mein bahar tha.

Noor ne sukh ka saans liya.

Par dil mein ek baar use dekhne ki khwaahish bhi thi.

Noor aur Sumaira saath baithe thein, jab Sumaira ke phone par uski dost ka phone aaya.

Woh use apni behen ki shaadi mein bula rahi thi.

Sumaira ne phone rakhne ke baad yeh baat Noor ko batayi.

Par uske lehje mein udaasi thi.

Jo Noor ne bhaanp li.

"Kya hua? Udaas kyun ho gayi thi?" Noor ne pyaar se poocha.

"Kuch nahi. Kaash main bhi apne Aashir bhai ki shaadi mein sabko aise bula paati."

Aashir ki shaadi.

Noor ke gale mein girah ubhri, jise usne ba-mushkil neeche nigla.

"Kar lena, jab unki hogi toh."

Usne ba-mushkil kaha.

Pata nahi Noor ko kyun lagta tha ki Aashir aur uska saath nahi.

Shayad umr ka farq.

Use samajh nahi aata tha.

Par dil sargoshi karta tha.

Sumaira ne use taassuf se dekha.

"Yeh nahi ho sakta. Woh shaadi nahi karenge." Sumaira ne bezari se kaha.

Noor thitki.

"Kyun?"

"Kyun kya? Tumhe Asiya Appi ke baare mein nahi pata?"

Noor ko kuch galat hone ka ehsaas hua.

Kaun Asiya?

Sumaira ne use hairani se dekha.

Phir usne Aashir aur Asiya ki dastaan aur unki kahani ka ikhtitaam batana shuru kiya.

Har lafz ke saath Noor ka saans lena mushkil hota jaa raha tha.

Aashir ki mohabbat.

Asiya.

Woh yakeen nahi kar paa rahi thi.

Use laga woh aur sunegi toh uska dil phat jaayega.

Woh bahana bana kar wahan se uth gayi.

Kamre mein aate hi usne darwaza band kiya.

Usne apne hothon par haath rakh siski ka gala ghonta.

Woh rona chahti thi.

Par aansu bin awaaz beh rahe thein.

Bahar baarish thi.

Uske andar toofaan.

Woh chillana chahti thi.

Par jaise woh chillana bhool chuki thi.

Bahar bachche baarish mein masti kar rahe thein.

Jashn mana rahe thein.

Woh apni mohabbat ke maatam par aansu baha rahi thi.

Usne faisla kar liya.

Woh kal hi Allahabad wapas chali jaayegi.

Aur usne kiya bhi wahi.

*****

Haal (2026)

Woh jhumke utaar rahi thi.

Aaj usse gussa aa raha tha Aashir par.

Kyun dekh raha tha woh use?

Uske paas baar-baar apni zaat ki nafi karane ki himmat nahi thi, na dil ko kirchiyon mein bikherne ki.

Pehli baar uska dil 21 saal ki umr mein toota tha.

Dusri baar 24 saal mein Aashir ke inkaar par.

Ab woh phir apna dil daav par nahi lagana chahti thi.

Usne bahut mushkil se alag hone ka faisla liya tha.

Woh phir se bikharna nahi chahti thi.

Jis tarah uski nazron ke hisaar mein uska dil dhadakta tha, woh dar gayi thi.

Ek mohabbat Aashir ne ki.

Ek mohabbat usne.

Jahan mukammal tha,

Bas mohabbat nahi.

"Ya Allah, mujhe himmat de.

Mujhe is ruswai se bacha le.

Jo maktoob nahi, dil usse hata de."

Woh jaanti thi, woh aur Aashir saath hokar bhi saath nahi.

Usne apni diary kholi.

Aur likhna shuru kiya,

Kya hum phir se ajnabi nahi ho sakte?

Yakdili hai phir bhi,

Aashnaai nahi chahiye.

Kya hum phir se

Usi mod se shuru nahi kar sakte,

Jahan tum aur main

Ek doosre ke liye

Ghair-shanasa the?

Kya tum mujhe

Mera woh dil lauta sakte ho,

Jise tumse mohabbat na hui ho?

Ya hum phir se

Do dil nahi ho sakte -

Jo alag-alag dhadakte the,

Ek doosre se pare,

Aur ek doosre se bekhabar.