Maktoob

Aaj Mayoon tha.

Noor peeli zardozi jodhein mein malboos thi. Us par golden zari ka kaam tha.

Woh aaine ke saamne khadi do jhumkon mein se ek chun nahi paa rahi thi.

Woh dono haathon mein ek-ek jhumka liye, ek-ek kaan par laga kar dekh rahi thi.

Tabhi Aashir ki aamad hui.

Usne Noor ki uljhan ko samajh liya.

"Daahine kaan wala," usne apni raaye di.

Noor fauran mudhi.

Uska achanak se aana aur mashwara dena use hairan kar gaya tha.

Use samajh nahi aaya woh kya kahe.

Woh saket khadi rahi.

Aashir muskuraya aur tayyar hone chala gaya.

---

Aashir bhi terrace par pahuncha, jahan haldi ka intezaam tha.

Usne nazrein daudayin.

Tabhi uski nazar Noor-ul-Ain par padi, jo mez par haldi rakh rahi thi.

Ammar se kuch kehte hue...

Tabhi uski nazar Noor ki kalaiyon par padi.

Jahan usne uski laayi hui laal choodiyan pehen rakhi thi.

Use ek alag sa ehsaas hua.

Ek sukoon.

Ek khushi.

Usne sar se paon tak use ek nazar dekha.

Woh aaj bhi shahkaar lag rahi thi.

Mayoon ki rasam shuru hui.

Ab baari Aashir aur Noor ki thi haldi lagane ki.

"Yaar Noorie, kam lagana please," Ammar ne Aashir aur Noor ko saath aate dekh kar kaha.

Noor ne sar hilaya.

Usne aur Aashir ne haath aage badhaye, gaalon par haldi lagane ke liye.

Tabhi Aashir ne Ammar ke chehre ko ek taraf se poora haldi-aalood kar diya.

Ammar ne use hairani se dekha.

Aashir ne ek aankh dabayi.

"Nikhra-nikhra chehra dikhega," usne Ammar ko pukarte hue kaha.

Noor ka kehkaaha chhoot gaya.

Uske hansne ki awaaz par Aashir palta aur use dekhne laga.

Uske chehre par bhi muskaan saji thi.

"Allah, bhai! Sabke saamne toh sharam kar lo. Ghoore ja rahe ho Noorie ko," Ammar ne sargoshi ki.

Aashir ka tilism toota.

Woh ghabraya.

Usne Ammar ko aankhein dikhayin.

Noor wahan se ja chuki thi.

Woh phir Ammar ki taraf palta.

"Yeh Noorie-Noorie kya hai? Bhabhi hai badi tumhari. Bhabhi bola karo."

Aashir ne aakhir kai dino se chal rahi mann ki baat aaj keh hi di.

Use Ammar ka Noor ko "Noorie" bulana, "bhabhi" kehne ki jagah, achha nahi lagta tha.

Ammar ka muh khula reh gaya.

"Bhai, chhoti hai mujhse woh," Ammar ne difa kiya.

"Ji, rishte mein badi hai woh aapse," Aashir ne do-ba-do jawab diya.

Ammar ne use dekha.

Uske chehre par nagawari saaf nazar aa rahi thi.

Ammar ke labon par tabassum bikhar gaya.

"Mausoof, aapke mizaaj badle hain," Ammar ne use chheda.

Aashir ne use ghur kar dekha.

---

Mayoon ka function jab khatam hua, Noor terrace par tahalne aayi.

Ya keh lo, apni uljhan suljhane.

Mann bechain tha.

Phir aaj woh uski nazron ke hisaar mein thi.

Uska uske liye jhumka chunna.

Woh rani haar.

Laal choodiyan.

Uske gird banaya hua woh dayara.

Sab uske dil mein chhupi mohabbat ko hawa de rahe the.

Woh jhunjhla uthi.

Uska mann chahta tha, koi apna ho jise woh gale laga kar sab bayan kar de.

Kaash Ammi hoti.

Toh woh unki godh mein sir rakh kar saara dukh bayan karti.

Woh unhe batati...

Kaise unki beti ne mohabbat ki jang haari hai.

Kaise unki beti suhagan hokar bhi suhagan nahi hai.

Woh sab kehti.

Abba ke gale lag kar apne ashq bahaati.

Woh use bacha lete.

Apni panaah mein chhupa lete.

Magar...

Uski aankhon mein aansuon ki baadh aa gayi.

"Kyun chali gayi, Ammi? Aap mujhe tanha chhod gayin. Main kisse dil ki haalat bayan karun? Abbu, main kiski godh mein sir rakhun?"

Woh siski.

"Jab yeh zamaana mujhe dard deta hai, main kiske ghar ki bandi banun?"

Woh zaar-o-qataar ro rahi thi.

Maa-baap toh hamesha yaad aate hain.

Magar aaj unka na hona use chubh raha tha.

Sahi kehte hain log, walidain ka saaya na hona bhari duniya mein besahara kar jaata hai.

Kaash woh hote.

Aye kaash...

Kaash yeh kaash na hota,

Hum dil-aazaar na hote,

Beqaraar na hote,

Na gile hote,

Na shiqwe.

Par kya khoob hai,

Yeh kaash na hone mein bhi kaash hai.

Usne talkhi se socha.

Uski aankhein phir bharne lagi.

Muqammal jahaan kise mila hai...

Use Ammi ki yeh baat aaj shiddat se samajh aayi.

---

Woh kamre mein aayi.

Toh usne Aashir ko bed par baitha paya.

Uske aane ki aahat se Aashir uski taraf mudha.

Jaise hi uski nazar Noor-ul-Ain par padi, woh thitka.

Roi-roi aankhein.

Gaalon par surkhi.

Aapas mein pewast hoth.

Woh apni jagah se fauran utha aur uske ain muqabil aa khada hua.

Noor uski karwai se ghabra gayi.

"Noor-ul-Ain, kya hua hai?" usne poocha.

Lehje mein fikr saaf zahir thi.

"Aapko kisi ne kuch kaha?" doosra sawaal.

Is baar Noor ne use aur gaur se dekha.

"Aapki tabiyat theek hai?" teesra sawaal.

Noor ki aankhon mein phir nami aayi.

"Kuch toh boliye. Aap mujhe dara rahi hain," Aashir ne shikast-khurda lehje mein kaha.

Uske lab hile.

"Kyun?"

Aashir samajh nahi saka.

Kya?

Woh talkhi se muskurayi.

"Kyun itni fikr? Kyun meri itni fikr hai aapko?" Sawaal ghair-mutawaqqa tha.

Aashir ke aasaab dheele pad gaye.

Usne gehri saans li.

"Kyuki biwi hain aap meri."

Woh hansi.

Ek khokhli hansi.

Aashir ko use dekh kar fikr hui.

"Biwi ab yaad aayi aapko? Chhe mahine se kahan thi main?"

Aashir shayad in sawaalon ke liye abhi tayyar nahi tha.

Woh ruka.

Usne uski aankhon par nazar daali.

Jahan sirf qurb tha.

Uska mann kiya, woh iss ladki ko apni panaah mein le, uske saare gham le le.

Kaash woh aisa kar sakta.

Aye kaash...

"Jawaab dijiye."

Iss baar lehja hukmi tha.

"Noor-ul-Ain, kya hum baith kar baat kar sakte hain?"

Aashir ne mohtaat lehje mein poocha.

Noor ne kuch der use dekha.

Phir woh sofe par ek kinare baith gayi.

Aashir bhi doosre sire par baith gaya.

Usne ek gehri saans li.

Aaj nahi toh kabhi nahi.

Usne socha.

Guftagu aaj lambi hogi.

"Main riwayati baatein nahi karunga.

Ji, mujhe maaf kar dijiye.

Maine aapko nikah mein ek...

Aapke saath haq-talfi ki.

Main aapka gunaahgaar hoon."

Noor ki aankhein phail gayin.

"Maine aapko ek ghar mein hote hue bhi aapke liye use ek makaan bana diya.

Main aapka gunaahgaar hoon."

Use laga, woh kuch bol nahi payegi.

"Main humsafar hote hue bhi humnava na ban saka.

Main aapka gunaahgaar hoon."

Woh dam-saadh kar use dekhti rahi.

"Main maafi nahi maangunga, Noor-ul-Ain.

Main apne har lehje se aapko yeh bataunga ki main kitni pachtave ki zad mein hoon."

Ek khamoshi ka waqfa aaya.

Noor ke lab hile.

Jaise woh alfaaz ikattha kar rahi ho.

"Aap akele gunaahgaar nahi.

Maine bhi iss rishte mein humnavai nahi paida ki."

Woh bas itna keh saki.

"Par in sab baaton ka ab kya fayda?" Noor ne sawaal kiya.

"Ab toh hum alag-alag raahon ke musafir banne wale hain."

Aashir ke gale mein ek girah ubhri.

Woh Noor ke chehre par koi aisa tasur dhoondh raha tha, jo use yeh bawar kara de ki yeh kehte hue use bhi takleef hui hai.

Par lehja sapat tha, chehra be-taasur.

Usne aankhein meechein.

"Noor-ul-Ain, kya alag-alag raahon ke musafir banna zaroori hai?" usne sargoshi ki.

Kamre mein jaise tilism toota ho.

Bikhra hi.

Noor ne use be-yaqeeni se dekha.

"Kya?"

Ek lafzi sawaal.

"Kya hum ek raah ke saath musafir nahi ho sakte?"

Doosra sawaal.

Noor ko apni samaton par yaqeen nahi hua.

"Kyun?"

Phir wahi sawaaliya nishaan.

Aashir ne use dekha.

Uske chehre par huzn bikhar gaya.

"Kyuki shayad mujhe aap humsafar iss safar ki bhaane lagi hain."

Jumla tha ya qayamat.

Noor samajh na saki.

Aashir Malik usse keh raha tha ki woh use bhaane lagi hai.

Woh khwaab dekh rahi thi.

Aisa hi nahi ho sakta.

Yeh lamha pakka ek khwaab hai.

Noor ne sar jhatka.

Usne aankhein meechein.

Phir kholi.

Use yaqeen tha, aankhein kholte hi Aashir saamne nahi hoga.

Par aankhein kholte hi woh saamne baitha tha.

Use jhatka laga.

"Aap jhooth bol rahe hain?"

Usne apni hairat par kaabu paate hue kaha.

Aashir ne use unhi nigahon ke hisaar mein phir liya.

"Nahi."

Sukhe lab hile.

Phir Asiya...

Aashir ki muskaan gehri hui.

Sama mein huzn thehra.

Iztiraar badhne laga.

"Asiya mera maazi thi, Noor.

Aap haal hain.

Aur aap chahen toh mustaqbil."

Woh goya hua.

"Woh dost hogi ab.

Aap chahen toh iss dil ka sukoon."

Noor ko laga, Aashir pakka pagal ho gaya hai.

"Aap theek hain na?" usne fauran poocha.

Pehle Aashir ne use na-samajhi se dekha.

Phir uski baat ka matlab samajh kar uska kehkaaha chhoot gaya.

"Ji, mera tawazun barqarar hai," usne shaistagi se kaha.

Noor ko khiffat hui.

Phir uske tasuraat sakht hue.

"Aap mujh par taras kha rahe hain?"

Aashir ko laga, usne talwe par lagi sooi chubho di ho.

"Nahi, nahi, bilkul nahi. Main aap par taras kyun khaunga?" woh ghabraya.

"Noor, main aap par koi taras nahi kha raha."

Noor use dekhti rahi.

"Please, ek baar... sirf ek baar thande dimaag se sochiye."

Lehje mein minnat thi.

Noor ne ek gehri saans li.

"Kya guarantee hai aap mera dil nahi todenge?"

Uska khauf zahir hua.

Aashir chup raha.

Usne uska daahina haath apni giraft mein liya.

"Jaan kar toh kabhi nahi todunga.

Yaar, aap achhi lagne lagi hain mujhe.

Kaise, pata nahi.

Bas... achhi lagti hain."

Noor ne apna haath dekha, jo uske haathon mein tha.

"Shayad iss rishte ki pakeezgi ka khumaar hai.

Ya aapki shakhsiyat ka.

Ki badle hain mere ehsaasaat."

Noor ne uski aankhon mein dekha.

Jahan jhooth ka koi rang nahi tha.

"Waqt lijiye, Noor.

Par sochiyega zaroor."

Woh itna keh kar chala gaya.

Noor uthi.

Woh kamre ke chakkar kaatne lagi.

"Pakka tabiyat theek nahi hai inki.

Beheki-beheki baatein kar rahe hain.

Tum dil par na lo in baaton ko."

Woh badbadayi.

Par unki aankhein...

Uski aankhein bharne lagi.

Usne apna sir dono haathon mein pakad liya.

"Ya Allah, yeh kaisi aazmaish hai?"

Usne aasman ki taraf dekh kar poocha.

---

Agle do din Aashir ne use waqt diya.

Woh usse dekh kar katrati thi.

Aaj Aashir late tha.

Raat bahut ho chuki thi.

Noor ko bhook lagi.

Woh kitchen mein aayi.

Usne noodles banana shuru kiya.

Sochon mein uljhan thi.

Tabhi use manoos kadmon ki chaap sunai di.

Usne apna dupatta durust kiya.

Woh Aashir tha.

Woh aspataal se laut aaya tha.

Use dekh kar lag raha tha, woh fresh ho gaya hai.

Noor jaanti thi, woh khana lene aaya hai.

"Aap noodles khayenge?" woh mukhatib hui.

Aashir ne ek nazar noodles par aur ek nazar us par daali.

"Haan."

Usne asbaab mein sar hilaya.

Woh noodles plate mein nikaal rahi thi.

Usne ek plate Aashir ki taraf kar di.

Dono ne khamoshi se noodles khaye.

"I hope aap mujhe baad mein bhukkad nahi kahengi."

Noor ne itni tezi se gardan modhi ki Aashir ko darr tha, kahin koi nas na khinch jaaye.

"Araam se."

Noor ko woh chaar saal pehle wala Aashir yaad aaya.

Aashir muskura raha tha.

Noor ke hothon par bhi tabassum bikhar gaya.

Woh sar jhatak kar hansne lagi.

---

Agli din Ammar ki mehendi thi.

Aashir tayyar ho raha tha, tabhi uski nazar ek sticky note par padi, jo sheeshe par laga tha.

Us par likha tha:

"Bismillah,

Noor-

ul-Ain."

Usne woh chit utaari.

Phir use lafz-ba-lafz padha.

Uske chehre par tabassum bikharne laga.

Jab use samajh aaya ki yeh kya hai, woh fauran kamre se nikalne ke liye aage badha.

Tabhi uski nazar darwaze par khadi Noor par padi.

Jo muskura rahi thi.

Neeli saari mein malboos, wahi rani haar zeenat diye hue, jo uski pasand thi.

Uske lab hile.

"Iss rishte ke liye Bismillah, Aashir."

Aashir ne hairani par kaabu paaya.

Woh uske ain muqabil khada hua.

"Beshak, Bismillah."

Woh goya hua.

Dono ke chehre pe bikhrein rang unki nayi ibtida ki gawahi de rahe the.