Tarteeb
- Main.
- Muhabbat.
- Jang.
- Aur tum..
1. Main
Hawaai jahaaz main yeh mera pehla safr na tha par mehsoos aisay hi ho raha tha jaisay shaid pehla ho. Sir dard ki shiddat say phata ja raha tha. Chakkar bhi aatay mehsoos ho rahay thay. Maida bhi ajeeb cheh-megoiaan karnay main laga tha. Gharz apnay hi jism nay rooh ko azaab dainay ki thaani hoi thee.
Is jahaaz main hifazati paiti kuch aisay sakht tareeqay say baandhi jaati thee kay woh gham-e-jaanaan ki maanind, rag-o-pay main saraayat kar jati. Mazboot sooti dhaagay kay rassay say bani paiti, jism kay har naazuk hissay say aisay guzarti kay insaan ko hilna to darkinaar, saans laina bhi do bhar ho jata.
Us par say taaqat war enginoun ka itna bayhangam shor kay apni hi soch bhi is toofaan-e-badtameezi talay dabb jaaye. Aur yeh to abhi mehaz shuroaat-e-safr theen. Kum az kum aath ghantay ka safr abhi mazeed baaqi tha.
Filhaal jahaaz runway par dheeray say reeng raha tha. Is kay bawajoood poora badn khof say kaampnay main masroof tha. Control room say ijaazat paatay hi enginoun kay shor main mazeed izaafa hoa aur jahaaz reengnay say dornay kay aml main daakhil hoa.
Abhi main is tabdeeli ko poori tarah sambhaal na paaya tha kay aisay main jahaaz nay aik shadeed qism ka jhatka lia aur satah-e-zameen ko khairbaad kaha. Jhatka itna ghair-mutawaqqo aur shadeed sa tha kay meri rahi sahi jaan bhi kafs-e-ansari ko alwida kehnay ko baytaab si ho gai.
Ab hum hawaaoun main thay – zameen ki pohanch say door. Mujhay jo jo duaain yaad theen, dil main parh daaleen.
Jahaaz jab mukammal toar par fiza main moallaq hoa aur engine ka shor kuch dheema hoa to tamaam mehsoosaat baari baari waapis aana shuroo hoay. Gardan mor kar khirki ki jaanib daikhnay par runway, airport or imaaraat saddioun ki doori par mehsoos hoay.
Waapsi kay sab darwaazay ab mukammal toar par band ho chalay thay.
Gharri ki tarf daikh kar dil ko hosla dia kay ab sirf chand hi ghantay baaqi hain. Dil main duaaoun ki jagah ab ‘chalay to kat hi jaaye ga safr, aahista, aahista’ ka vird, khud say hi shuroo ho chuka tha. Yeh koi aisi anhoni baat na thee – manjdhaahaar say kashti bach niklay to mallah sab say pehlay khuda say kiye waadoun ko hi faraamosh karta hai.
Main fauj ka khaas c-130 tayyaray main, deewar kay sath munsalik kursion main say aik kursi par bandha baitha tha. Meray sab itraaf tarbiyat yaafta fauji jawaan thay, jo jaanay kab say in jaan jokhoun waalay kaamoun kay aadi thay.
Kuch to ab hifazati paiti khol khaal kar, darmayaan wali jagah par halki phulki warzish kar kay khoon garma rahay thay. Aur kuch aik konay main cigrette sulgaaye qehqahay laganay main mashghool thay.
Main albatta abhi tak nai navaili sehmi mashraqi dulhan ki maanind kursi say bandha baitha apni zindagi main kiye gaye ghalat faisloun ka jaaiza lay raha tha.
In sehat mand kism kay insaanoun kay beech mera mankhani sa wajood bilkul bayjorr sa tha. Yeh sab jurrat mand aur mazboot sipaahi thay. Woh sipaahi jo faqt aik ishaaray par apni jaan watn par waar dainay ko tayyar. Jo mahaaz par pohanchnay ko baytaab. Jo dushman ki aankhoun main aankhain daal kar us ko lalkaarnay kay aadi.
Aur aik miskeen main, sirf aik adna sa hadsaati mutarjam.
Baray boorhay kehtay hain kay jab geedar ki moat ka waqt qareeb aaye to woh shehr ka rukh karta hai. Geedari kidher jaati hai, kehnay waloun nay is par bilkul roshni nahi daali. Koi aur din hota to shaid isi soch main poora din guzaar laita. Aj albatta main khud us geedar ki maanind tha, jo apnay chotay say khait ko chor chaar kar, aik anjaanay mustaqbil ki talaash main shehar pohancha hoa ho, aur hairaan-o-pariashaan beech chorahay haalat-e-iztaraab main munjamid khara ho.
Kitnay hi silsala waar ittefaaqat aik sath hoay thay jin kay baayas aj main idher tha. Warna is nokri kay baaray main to shaid main kabhi khwaab main bhi na sochta.
Asoolan to mujhay is nokri dilwaanay ka asal sehra James kay sir hi jaata tha. Agar woh saabitqadmi na dikhaatay to main aj idher honay ki bajaaye hostel kay kamray main baitha chat ko khaali aankhoun say ghoor raha hota. Main nay inkaar bhi kia tha laikin woh na maanay thay. Nokri ka taraasha akhbaar say kaat kar woh hi laaye thay. Form bhi unhoun nay hi bharay thay, hawaalay bhi woh khud hi kahin say dhoond dhaand kar laye thay.
Main nay taraasha daikh kar kabhi socha bhi nahi tha kay main muntakhib ho jaaoun ga. Africa kay aik mulk Congo main aik amn mission ko fauri taur par french mutarjam ki zaroorat thee. Teen maheenay ki nokri thee, aur sath main sirf yeh shart thee kay umeedwaar daulat-e-mushtarka (common wealth) ka passport rakhnay wala ho.
Mujhay yaqeen tha kay sainkaroun nahi to kum us kum beesioun umeedwaar to zaroor hee is nokri kay mutalaashi houn gay. Asl bhaid to interview walay din khula jab main tayyar ho kar 8 bajay say pehlay hi interview markaz pohancha. Kia daikhta houn kay poora hall khaalam khaali. Har tarf chaai ajeeb si khamoshi. mujhay laga jaisay khali pari kursian mera mazaak urra rahi houn. Yakbaargi yeh ehsaas hoa kay shaid kahin ghalat jagah na aa gaya houn. Ghabraahat kay aalam main patay ki dobara tasdeeq ki. Tha bhi main theek hi jagah par aur waqt bhi sahi tha, bawajood us kay har tarf hoo ka aalam.
Thori dair main interview ka bulaawa aaya. Behtareen shandaar say sajay kamray main 4 fauji afsaraan maujood thay. Un ki bazubaani pata laga kay is naukri kay liye main waahid umeedwaar tha. Interview lamba na tha par kaafi kathan tha. Jab un ki tassali ho gayi to unhoun nay mujhay do ghantay ruknay ko kaha.
Do ghantay guzray to mujhay aik file thama di gai jis main appointment letter (taqqarari naama) tha. Sath hi mission say mutailaqa briefing kay liye bhi bula lia gaya.
Yeh sab aml bohat hi aanan faanan sa ho raha tha. Mujhay apni kismat par bara fakhr mehsooos hoa kay kitni asaani say zindagi ki pehli nokri mili thee. Kitni dushwaarioun ka saamna karnay kay baad loug yahan pohanchtay hain aur main kaisay asaani say idher tak pohanch gaya tha.
Woh to jab briefing shuroo hoi to halaat ki nagufta-bahi ka andaaza hoa. Congo main khaana jangi kay saath saath aik jaan leva wabaa bhi in dinoun phaili hoi thee. Pehlay pehal to mera dil dagmagayaa, socha bharti ka parwaana idher hi in ko waapis pakraaoun aur rafu chakkar ho loun. Phir demagh main bhaari bharkam tankhwa ki laalach ghaalib aa gai. Itni achi tankhwaa mujhay abhi aur kidher milni thee.
Aik masla aur bhi tha, inkaar wala kaam bharti kay hukm naamay par dastakhat say pehlay to shaid mumkin hota, ab karta to qanooni taqaazay pooray karnay partay aur shaid maslay kum honay ki bajaaye barh jaatay. Manfi baatoun ko apnay zehn kay kisi konay main chupa kar, main nay musbit baatoun par ghor karna shuroo kia. Tankhwaa kay khwaab, paisoun ki farawaaani kay khwaab, Paris ki galioun main khoobnay kay khwaab – gharz jitni dair briefing chalti rahi main aisay hi khayaali pulao pakata raha.
Briefing khatm hoi, zaroori fauji training kal say shuroo honi thee so mujhay aj waapis jaanay ki ijaazat thee. Main khushi khushi kaaghaz sambhaalay waapis hostel chala aaya.
Hostel pohancha to James aur un kay do adad dostoun nay ghair lia. Interview ki roadaad unhain tafseel say sunaai. Woh baar baar toktay aur mazeed sawaalaat kartay. Nokri kay interview say zaada kathan interview to james mera ab lay rahay thay. Nokri milnay par mujh say zaada woh khush thay. Baar baar kehtay – ‘boy o boy, now i have a service man friend. Now go and make your country proud’.
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2. Muhabbat
Is ajnabi dyaar main James, meray waahid rafiq-e-kaar aur hamdard thay. Hum dono main hamaari awaargi kay ilaawa shaid hi koi qadr mushtarik ho. Hamaaray to hulyoun main bhi zameen asmaan ka farq hoa karta. Main patla dubla aur taqreeban lambay qadd ka tha, james lambay choray aur mazboot jussay waalay thay. Main rozana uth kar shave banaaya karta. Yeh daarhi moochoun ki kaashtkaari kartay. James apnay huliye say hippie laga kartay. Victorian style ki daarhi un kay gol matol say chehray kay gird haashiya lagaati mehsoos hoteen.
Sirf hulya hi nahi, harkatain bhi in ki tamaam hippioun waali hi theen. Khush mizaaj thay, maal-o-mataa ki kum hi parwah kartay. In ki zindagi ka falsafa ghoomnay phirnay, acha khaanay, peenay pilaanay, aur mehfi ki jaan banay rehnay tak mehdood rehata. Moqa mehl kuch bhi ho, yeh jashn manaanay ki koi na koi gunjaaish zaroor nikaal laitay. Coat ki ooper waali jaib main aik nafees steel ki choti si botal rakhtay. Us main koi nai koi alcoholic mashroob in kay saath hama waqt maujood rehta. Coffee bhi pia kartay to us botal main maujood mashroob thora sa undail lia kartay.
In ki aadhi zindagi clubs, bars aur pubs main guzra karti thee. Aur apnay sath mujhay bhi har zabardasti ghaseet kar lay jaaya kartay. Wahan yeh apnay dostoun kay sath peenay pilaanay main lag jaatay aur mujhay majbooran kabhi lemon juice to kabhi soft drinks mangwaanay partay. Jitna waqt yeh masghool rehtay, utna hi waqt mujhay bhi lagaana parta. ‘just coke’ ki is gardaan ki wajah say mera naam hi ‘J. C.’ rakh dia gaya. Mujhay bhi asaani rehti, warna pehlay har mehfil main aadha waqt taaruf main hi sarf hota. Ajeeb mushkil sa naam tha mera, kisi ki zubaan par aata hi na tha. Talaffuz ka khoob qatal-o-ghaarat hota phir bhi kuch theek na bun paata.
Un dinoun main main aksar socha karta tha kay agar james say mulaqaat na hoti to zindagi bilkul mukhtalif hoa karti.
Jab main naya naya Glasgow aaya to sab kuch haseen aur munfarid sa laga karta. Kia galian, kia chaubaray, kia sarkain, kia fawwaray. University say faraaghat paatay hi akaila sarkain maapnay nikal parta. Naya mulk, ghar say doori, aur main akaila. Na koi rok thee, na tok, bus azaadi hi azaadi. Bara sa overcoat, sir par ooni topi, galay main mufler, aur haathoun main dastaanay pehan kar khoob ghoomta. Rastay main kabhi koi khoobsoorat phool nazr aata to toarr kar us ko coat kay collar par saja laita.
Glasgow ka mausam bhi meray liye bilkul mukhtalif sa tha. Main karakti garmioun main aag barsaatay sooraj ka aadhi tha. Idher sooraj ka lehja garmioun main bhi dheema sa rehta. Gaaoun main sab loug baarishoun kay mausam kay aanay ki dua kia kartay, idher taqreeban roz hi abr-e-baraan barsa karti.
Subah hi subah sooraj kay nikalnay say pehlay baadal aasmaan par qabza jama laitay. Kai baar aisa bhi hota kay hawaaoun ki wajah say, university kay rastay main baadal utar aatay. Tamaam taalib-e-ilm un baadaloun ko daikh kar shaklain banaaya kartay. Par main un rooi kay goloun kay darmayaan hirn kay bachoun ki tarah qalaanchain bhara karta. Kitni sundar si khushbu hoa karti thee hawa main. Door kahin pahaari jharnoun kay kinaaray khilnay walay dilfaraib phooloun say udhaar li gai khushbu.
Phir baarish hoti. Tip. Tip. Tip. Tip. Halki phulki dheemi phuwaar. Na khatm honay waali. Musalsal jaari rehnay waali.
Meray ilawa sab loug buri buri shaklain bana kar university kay baraamday main muqayyad ho jaatay. Aasmaan ki taraf daikh kar shikaayat kartay. Hazaar shikway, hazaar baatain. Aur aik main, chatri lay kar baarish main chehalain karta. Yakh basta paani sard hawa say takra kar phuwaar ki maanind mujh par gira karta. Hath shal ho jaatay, aankhain jamnay lag jaateen par dil na bhara karta.
Mujhay dost banaanay main bachpan say hi diqqat ka saamna karna para karta tha. Aur idher to yeh aur bhi mushkil kaam tha. Yahan har aik waqt ki kami ka shikaar tha. Sab ko hi jaldi hoti, kisi nay is class say doosri class jaana hota. Koi kisi professor say milnay ka khwaahishmand hota to kisi ko apnay tahqeeqay maqaalay bainulaqwaami conference main bhijwaanayay ki baagdoarr main masroof hota. Har samay bus bhagdarr ka saa aalam raha karta.
Chutti hoti to main aksar akaila hi university kay ahaatay main lagay darakhtoun kay neechay ja baithta. Udher say girjay ki maanind bani university kay main campus ki imaarat dikhai daiti. University ki imaarat, fun-e-taameer ki behtareen misaal thee. Geometric khoobsoorti ka shekhaar. Har zaawiya mutanaasib. Har eent baraabar.
Phir meray daikhtay hi daikhtay baadal neechay utar aatay. Imaarat say athkailian kartay. Kabhi kabhi to baadal poori imaarat ko hi apni aaghosh main dhaamp laitay. Mahol par purisraariat ki chaadar tann jaya karti. Laal eentoun aur naqsh-o-nigaar say muyazzan rahdaariaan aik munfarid si roshni say jagmaga jaateen. Sab jadooi sa laga karta – alif laila kay qissoun main paaye jaanay waalay shaahi mehloun ki maanind.
Kitna khush tha na main un dinoun. Apni hi zaat ki tanhai main bilkul mukammal.
Par yeh silsala zaada dair na chala. Kuch hi dinoun main usi mahol ki yaksaaniat say wehshat si honay lagi. Woh rahdaarian jo pehlay purisraar lagteen, bhayaanak lagnay lageen. Na koi hum zubaan, na hum dais. Bay ji kay haath kay paraathay itna yaad aatay kay raat ko neend na aati. Ajeeb baygaanoun par mushtamil basti main phans gaya tha main.
Kaisa ajeeb fitrat insaan tha main, jin cheezoun par main kuch din pehlay tak fareefta raha karta, ab woh hi baayas-e-wehshat bun chukee theen.
Udaasi ki aik wajah yeh bhi theek kay roommate say meri bilkul pehlay din say hi na bani. Un say qanooti aur khushk insaan main nay dunya main aj tak na daikha tha. Saara din moti moti kitaaboun say sir khapaatay. Aur sar-e-shaam so jaatay. Mausoof engineer bannay aaye thay, aur us kay ilawa un ki zindagi ka koi shoq aur koi maqsad siray say tha hi nahi.
Club waghaira mera jaanay ko mann na maanta. Itnay shor-o-ghul say mera ji ghabrata tha. Aadat bhi na thee. Teen chaar haftay main hi zindagi aik ujli chamakti subah say veeran dhalti shaam ban gai.
Phir jab meri udaasi choti par thee to James say ittefaaqan taakra ho gaya.
Hoa kuch aisay, kay haftay ki aik aam surmai si shaam thee. Subah say sooraj aik lehzay ko bhi namoodar na hoa tha. Huzn o malaal ka aik ajeeb sa samaa tha. Class say waapis atay waqt rahdari main barqi qumqumoun ki roshni mausam-e-bahaar ko bhi khizaan banaye hoay thee.
Aisay main kia daikhta houn kay rahdaari kay konay main chand afraad ghul ghapaara kar rahay hain. Mujhay tajassus hoa. Saath main is baat ka ehsaas bhi kay shaid kisi ko meri madad ki zaroorat ho. Pohancha to kia daikhta houn kay chand loug oonchi awaaz main dostaana behas main masroof hain.
Mujhay daikh kar unhoun nay thehra lia. Kehnay lagay hum 8 loug hain aur faisla nahi kar paa rahay kay aj konsay pub main jaain aur football ka konsa match daikhain. Tum hamaari madad kar do. Main nay sir hila dia. Waisay mujhay football ka sirf itna hi pata tha kay yeh aik khail hai jis main aik gaind aur baaies khilaari hotay hain.
Un logoun main aik lambay choray qadd kay mausoof thay jo mujh say baat kar rahay thay. Kehnay lagay main un teamoun ka naam loun ga jin kay beech match hai. Jo naam tumhain pasand aaye, tum woh lay daina. Hum woh hi match daikhnay jaain gay. Jab naam lainay ki baari aai to aik naam par unhoun nay baqi logoun say nazrain bacha kar, mujhay aik halka sa ishaaraa kia. Main nay un ka ishaara samajh kar bol dia kay yeh match daikhnay chalain gay. Kuch logoun nay shaklain banaai, aur baaqi khush ho liye.
Meray is ‘zahaanat kay muzahiray’ kay baad taa’ruf ka marhala taye paaya. Phir woh kehnay lagay kay tum bhi hamaaray sath chalo, aikailay hi dikhtay ho. Main aagay hi udaasi say tang aaya baitha tha, foran chal dia.
Us kay baad say James ki aur meri mulaqaat honay lagi. Aur rafta rafta yeh mulaqaatain dosti main badl gaeen.
Zindagi main daakhil honay waali doosri eham shakhsiat bhi James ki hi maarfat say aain – yeh Josephine theen. Josephine aik American theen aur idher French zabaan main koi degree karnay aaii hoin theen. James ki aik dost ki dost theen. Jab bhi koi party hoa karti, yeh wahan paai jateen.
Josephine say taaruf kia hoa kay zindagi main rang hi rang bikhar gaye. Laal baal, purkashish nain naqsh, aur zindagi say bharpoor muskaraahat un ki khaasiat thee. Woh hansa karteen to un ki sabz aankhain aur bhi gehri laga karteen. Meri zindagi aik so assee degree kay zawiye par ghoom gai. Udaas awaazaar larkay ki jagah aik shokh zinda dil larkay nay lay li. Aik din main ‘second hand store’ say dhair saari shokh qameezain aur tai’yaan bhi khareed laaya. Rozaana tayyar honay laga. Baal banaata. Khushbu lagata aur khoob ban sanwar kar phira karta.
Kuch hi mulaqaatoun kay baad mujhay ehsaas hoa kay main Josephine ki taraf na chahatay hoay bhi khincha chala ja raha tha. Par masla yeh tha kay Josephine sirf mujh akailay ko pasand na theen. Aur bhi bohat say larkay thay jo un kay qurb kay shiddat say khwaahish mand thay. Woh hum sab say achay tareeqay say milteen, par kisi aik par doosray say zaada multafit na hoteen. Hum hamaisha un ko muta’asir karnay ki koshish main hi lagay rehtay.
James nay bhi yeh baat bhaamp li. Woh bhi koi na koi ajeeb-o-ghareeb moqa talash kar kay mujhay aur Josephine ko ikatha kar daitay.
Kabhi un ki dadi ki billi ki saalgirah manaai jaati, kabhi janoobi amreeka kay kisi chotay say mulk ki azaadi ki taqreeb hoti. Gharz hum dono hi apni bisaat kay mutaabiq kuch na kuch sochtay rehtay.
Phir James nay mashwara dia kay French seekhna shuroo kar do. Kehnay lagay kay larkioun ko jo cheezain pasand houn un main dhayaan lainay say un ki qurbat paanay main aasaani rehti hai. Baat cheet karnay kay bahaanay bhi miltay raha karain gay tum dono ko.
Mujhay yeh baat abhi tak samajh na aai thee kay Josephine ko agar French seekhnay ka itna hi shoq tha to France kyun na gaeen? Idher kyun aeen? Khair main nay is sawaal ko nazr andaaz kia aur French ko intakhabi mazmoon kay toar par chun lia.
Aik din main library main kitaaboun main sir khapa raha tha kay James bhaagay bhaagay aaye. Kehnay lagay kay nazdeeq kay aik qasbay main kal salaana harvest festival hai. Door door say loug ikathay houn gay, khaain peeyain gay. Shaam main ‘strathspey’ naami mashoor raqs ka muqaabla bhi hai. Josephine kay sath tumhain waqt guzaarnay ka is say acha moqa tumhain na milay ga. Bolo kia kehtay ho, koshish karoun? Main nay kaha zaroor, is main bhala poochnay ki kia zaroorat hai.
Yeh Josephine kay paas gaye, jaanay kia kaha aur kaisay kaha, shaam main mujhay khabr day de kay Josephine jaanay ko tayyar hain. Saari raat khushi kay baayas main theek say so na paaya. Zara si dair ko aankh lagi to suhaanay khwaab dikhai dainay lagay. Khwaab, jin main main aur Josephine haathoun main haath daalay sooraj mukhi kay khaitoun main phirr rahay hain. Phir alarm baja aur main khwaaboun ki dunya say baahar aaya.
James apnay kisi dost say gaari maang laaye thay. Jospehine ki aik do sahelian bhi hamaaray sath theen. Wahan pohanchnay par James khud un sahelion kay sath nikal paray aur main aur Josephine tanha reh gaye. Woh laal rang ka libaas main mujassam shola lag rahi theen aur aankhoun main khubi jaa rahi theen. Jis ki bhi un par nazr parti, woh doosri nigah daalay bina na rehta.
Jab woh meray sath hoteen to mujhay laga karta kay poori dunya meri muthi main hai. Main un kay saath khoob akar akar kar chala karta. Phir hum dono nay aik khail main hissa lia. Khail fasal kay bawaai aur kaatai kay mukhtalif marhaloun par mabni thaa. Mujhay apni salahiatoun kay johar dikhaanay ka bharpoor moqa mila. Hum dono khail kay final round tak pohanchay aur taqreeban jeet’tay jeet’tay reh gaye. Gharz poori dopehar aisay hi basr hoi. Phir shaam hoi aur mailay kay khatm honay ka waqt qareeb aaya.
Ab bus ‘strathspey’ ka muqaablay hona baqi tha. Khaitoun kay darmayaan main aik bari si jagah par shamiaana lagaaya gaya tha. Neechay lakri ka farsh bichaaya gaya tha ta kay jootoun kay talway jab fatrsh say takraain to ‘tap tap’ ki makhsoos awaaz aye. Shamiaanay kay chaaroun atraaf chaaray say bani gatharian jin ko rassi main lapaita gaya tha pari theen. Shaiqeen unhi gatharion par araam say baithay hoay thay.
Hum bhi aik khali gathari dhoond kar us par baith gaye. Shaam dhalnay kay aakhiri maraahil main thee. Andhaira dheemay say roshni ki jagah lay raha tha. Aik konay main saazinday (band) bagpipe pakar kar kharay thay. James aur un ka group bhi hamaray sath aan mila tha.
Phir moseeqi shuroo hoi. Bagpipes ki dhunoun nay mahol par sehr taari kar dia. Kitnay hi loug raqs karnay ko raqsgah main pohanch gaye. Ajeeb sa raqs tha – kuch hissay waltz say miltay, kuch bhangray say mushaahbehat rakhtay. Josephine kehnay lageen chalo hum bhi in main shaamil houn. Mujhay sirf thora bohat bhangra aata hai main nay unhain bataaya. Kehnay lageen mujhay nahi pata bhangra kis raqs ka naam hai par yeh bhi chalay ga.
Hum bhi hajoom main shaamil ho gaye. Pehlay aik qataar banti jis main loug aik doosray kay aamnay saamnay kharay hotay. Phir bagpipes aik taiz si dhun bajaatay. Raqs karnay walay apnay partner kay ird gird aisay chakar lagaatay jaisay chand zameen kay gird ghoomta hai. Phir kohnioun main kohnian daal kar jhooma jaata. Phir kohnian chor kar dobara faaslay par jaaya jaata. Takneeki tor par yeh aik intehaai mushkil sa raqs tha.
Hum dono poori dil’jamayi say raqs kay steps ko samajhnay ki koshish kar rahay thay. Jab hum kohnian phansa kar ik doojay kay gird ghoom rahay to main bus Josephine ki aankhoun main ghoor raha tha. Main un kay itnay qareeb tha kay un kay dil ki dharkan mujhay sunaai day rahi thee. Mujhay sirf raqs par tawajjuh daina shadeed mushkil lag raha tha. Is wajah say hum aik do dafa girtay girtay bachay. Josephine shikaayat kar rahi theen kay main raqs par poori tawajjuh nahi day raha – daita bhi to kaisay. Mera dil kar raha tha kay unhain usi waqt bata doun kay main un kay sehr main buri tarah giraftaar houn. Par raqs itna mushkil aur mauseeqi itni oonchi thee kay yeh baat kehna taqreeban na mumkin sa tha. Hum aisay hi choti choti ghalatian kartay rahay aur deewanoun ki tarah aik doosray par hanstay rahay.
Bagpipe ki jadooi dhun. Logoun kay qehqahay. Sondhi sondhi fiza. Main. Main aur Josephine.
Kuch dair baad hum thak haar kar waapis apni jagah par aa baithay. Kaafi warzishi qism ka raqs tha, khoob kasrat karnay ka moqa mila tha aur ab jor jor apni jagah say hila hoa mehsoos ho raha tha. Poora din Jospehine kay saath guzaarnay kay baad bhi meri baat beech main hi reh gai thee. Aur hanstay hanstay ab jaanay ka waqt aa gaya tha.
Jitnay din Jospehine kay sath raha, din younhi guzartay rahay. Mulaqaatain hoteen, baatain hoteen, qehqahay lagtay, shiraratain hoa karteen par meray dil ki baat dil main hi reh jaati. Main saara waqt bus moqay ka mutalaashi hi raha.
Aur phir aik din achaanak mujh par aik khabr bijli ki tarah giri. Humain pata chala kay Josephine kay aik mangaitar mausoof bhi paaye jaatain hain. Na sirf yeh balkay woh hazrat thay bhi hamaari hi university kay aik adad assistant professor. Yeh woh raaz tha jis ki wajah say Josephine French parhnay idher aieen hoi theen. Mera aur Jospehine ka us roz mushtarka parhai ka iraada tha par mujhay itna ghussa tha kay main saara din moun bana kar kamray main para raha.
Shaam main darwaazay par dastak hoi. Khola to saamnay Josephine khari theen. Mujhay kehnay lageen chalo coffee peenay chalain, main sath ho lia. Dil to chah raha tha kay un say khoob larai karoun. Itna sataanay ki bhala kia zaroorat thee. Shuroo main agr woh bata daiteen kay mera koi mangaitar hai to main apni deewangi ko koi aur simt day daita. Acha khaasa waqt nahaqq younhi arzoo-s-muhabbat ki kushmakhush main zaaya kia.
Hum coffee pee rahay thay. Phir unhoun nay apni mangani ko seegha-e-raaz main rakhnay ki wajah bataai. Kuch khandaani masaail thay jo ab hall ho gaye thay. Kehnay lageen kay shaid agr main tum say pehlay mili hoti to tumhaaray khaloos ki qaail ho jaati. Tum bohat achay ho, jo waqt tumhaaray saath guzra, us ko main kabhi bhula na paaoun gi. Kehnay lageen mujhay muaaaf kar daina. Main muskara para, muaafi kaisi, bus khuda karay ap kay honay walay ‘woh’, meray roommate ki tarah aadam baizaar na saabit houn. Aur hum dono hi hans paray.
Afsos to tha, dil main aag si bhi lagi thee, par yeh aag chinghaartay hoay aatish fishaan say nikaltay hoay laaway ki si hiddat na rakhti thee. Yeh to shaid geeli lakarioun kay sulagnay ki maafiq thee. Aik aisi aag jis main dhoaan zaada aur hiddat kum hoa karta hai.
Hum coffee khatm karnay kay qareeb thay kay aisay main James bhi kahin say tapak paray. Jidher bhi khaana peena chal raha hota tha woh kisi na kisi tarah pohanch hi jaaya kartay. Un kay kehnay par hum dono nay bhi dobaara coffee mangwai. Woh aaye to baat cheet ka mozo bilkul hi mukhtalif ho gaya aur baat hansi mazaaq main khatm hoi.
Jab hum waapis aa rahay thay to main thora udaas tha. James kehnay lagay
‘tumhain aisay dukhi nahi hona chahye. Yaad karo kay Josephine say milnay say pehlay tum kitnay udaas raha kartay thay. Ab daikho, kitnay mukhtalif ho. Aur kitni hi aisi yaadain hain jo sirf us larki ki wajah say tumhaari zindagi main hain’.
‘par muhabbat James, us ka main kia karoun’
‘is umer main aisi hi hoti hai muhabbat. Meri taraf daikha karo, khush rehta houn. Jab udaas hota houn to khush honay kay asbaab khud takhleeq kar laita houn. Mujhay bhi dukh mehsoos hota hai, kai baatain buri lagti hain. Par zindagi main hum ginay chunay din lay kar aaye hain. In ko hum faraaq main aahain bharnay main guzaar dain, ya khushi kay qehqahoun main dabo dain, yeh faisala bus hamaara hai…………..’
James ki baat jaari thee magr main apni sochoun main gumta jar raha tha. Aik dukh mujhay yeh bhi tha kay theek say muhabbat karnay ka abhi moqa kahan mila tha. Josephine ki zindagi main koi pehlay say na hota to woh mujhay pasand kar laiteen.
James nay meray kandhay par thapki di to meri tawajjuh waapis un ki tarf chali gai.
‘Abhi tumhain udaasi ho gay. Kuch din aur beetain gay aur tumhain Josephine ki shabih bhi theek say yaad nahi rehni. Chuttian honay ko hain, kahin nikal jaao. Waapis aao gay to sab theek ho jaaye ga’.
Main nay sir hila dia aur hamaari baat cheet ka rukh badl gaya.
Phir agla poora saal main nay French parhnay main guzaara. Jis ko main nay izaafi mazmoon kay tehat chuna tha, woh hi mazmoon meri zindagi par haawi ho gaya. Main raatoun ko uth kar kitaabain parha karta. Balzac, Proust, Hugo, Zola, Bretonne, Bosco, Giono, classic literature ki jo kitaab library main hoti utha laata. Itnay mukhtasir arsay main itni kitaabain parhnay ka to main kabhi soch bhi na sakta tha.
Josephine to meri zindagi say nikal gain laikin un ka dia hoa tohfa French ki soorat main meri zindagi main reh gaya.
Aur ab yeh hi tohfa tha jis ki wajah say main aj hawai jahaz main baitha ajnaani manziloun ki jaanib rawaan dawaan tha. Chaaha kuch, aur paaya kuch.
Ajab sa ittefaq hi to hai zindai – koi taana kisi banay say kabhi bhi aur kahin bhi bus younhi say mil jaata hai ……………..
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3. Jang
Congo main Beni naam kay shehr main hamaari flight land ki. Udhar say hamaara camp kaafi doori par tha. Jahaaz say baahir nikaltay hoay ajeeb sa ehsaas hoa. Yahan par dhoop bhi ajnabi si lagi, aur saaye bhi. Pichlay kaafi arsay say main Glasgow kay mausam ka aadi ho chala tha. Pooray saal main itni dhoop ka saamna na kia ho ga jitna airport say camp tak kay safr main karna para.
Baghair chatt kay fauji jeepoun ka yeh qaafla subaq raftaari say camp ki jaanib ja raha tha. Halaat kaafi kharaab ho chukay thay aur mazeed bigarnay ka shubah tha. Camp tak pohanchtay pohanctay raat ho gai.
Camp incharge nay hamaara mukhtasir sa istaqbaal kia. Sonay ki jagah, rozaana mamoolat aur hifaazati intizaamat ka bataaya. Main itna thaka hoa tha kay jab in cheezoun say faraaghat mili to bistar par gira aur sath hi ankh lag gai.
Aglay roz camp kay bigal say aankh khuli to kuch dair ko samajh na aai kay main houn kahan. Phir hosh aana shuroo hoa to shaooor waapis aaya. Hamaara camp sheher say door aik jungle main banaaya gaya tha. Yeh command headquarter tha aur idher kaafi bari tadaad main fauji tainaat thay. Ghanay jangal kay ain beech main darakht aur jhaarian mashinoun kay zariye say saaf kee gain theen. Camp kay bilkul sath hi meethay paani ki aik jheel thee laikin hamari naql-o-harkat par kaafi pabandian theen so udher jana mamnoo tha. Mukhtalif fauji qaafaloun par hamla kar kay samaan aur aslahah lootnay ki karwaayiaan aj kal mamool theen.
Hum jis ilaqay main thay udher jungle bhi thay aur pahaar bhi. Kuch hi faaslay par Rwenzori pahaarioun ka silsala shuroo hota. Camp say door ufaq par yeh pahaarian dikha karteen. Subah subah sustaatay hoay jab main baahir pohancha to Mount Stanley ki taraf say aati hoi thandi hawa nay taro taaza kar dia. Main nay Africa kay jungloun kay baaray main bus kahaanioun main para tha. Aj sab kuch meri nazroun kay saamnay tha.
Aik taraf ghanay jungle, saath hi jheel, aur door ufaq main pahaar. Mujhay apna ap Tarzen kay kirdaar say milta julta lagnay laga. Mujhay bataaya gaya tha kay meri duty camp kay doctor kay sath lagaai gai hai. Aj hum logoun nay dus bajay imdaadi muhim par aik qareebi gaaoun kay liye rawaana hona tha. Meray paas abhi kuch waqt tha.
Tayyar ho kar main mess hall main baith gaya. Meray ilawa kaafi fauji chup kar kay naashta karnay main masroof thay. Camp main aj kum hi logoun ka mood khushgawaar tha. Is ki wajah malaria say bachao kay liye di jaanay waali golian theen. Is ilaaqay main malaria ko aik khooni beemaari gardaana jata tha aur har saal sainkaroun jaanain is ki nazr hoa karteen. Yeh khaas kism ka malaria virus tha. Yeh zaada khatarnaak is liye tha kay mareez par is ki koi alamat waazih nahi hoti. Chaltay chaltay khoon ki ulti aai aur insaan khatm. Is say toarr kay liye hum logoun ko har teen roz baad aik goli khaani thee. Karwi kaseeli yeh goli na sirf moun ka zaiqa kharaab karti, sath hi aglay din sir dard aur matli ki bhi kaifiat rehti.
Hum naye aanay waaloun nay raat ko dawaai ki pehli khoraak li thee. So aj saaray hi zindagi say awazaar phir rahay thay.
Meray sath kuch fauji aa kar baith gaye. Kuch dair baat cheet hoi. Phir main un say ijaazat lay kar doctor sahab ko dhoondnay nikla.
Doctor sahab darmayaani umer kay chotay say qadd kay insaan thay. Kaafi achay tareeqay say milay. Amreeka kay rehnay waalay thay aur pichlay paanch maheenoun say idher thay. Aglay maah yeh wapis jaanay waalay thay. Is baat par yeh thora nakhush thay kyunkar yeh idher say waapis lotna nahi chahatay thay. Mujh say glasgow ki baatain poochtay rahay. Jitna mujhay pata tha, main nay bataya.
Hamaaray camp main do adad lady doctors bhi maujood theen. In dono ka taaluq Australia say tha. Un say bhi mera taa’aruf karwaya gaya.
Thori dair baat cheet hoi aur phir hamara qaafla rawaana hoa.
Thora hi aagay pohanchay to baarish shuroo ho gai. Jeepoun ko rok kar aarzi parchatian daali gain. Yeh rainforest qism kay jungle thay, idher baarish bina itla’a kay aanan faanan ho jaya karti. Choti si sarak jungle kay beech say bul khaati guzarti thee. Har tarf haryaali aur ghana jungle. Qudarti khamoshis. Sirf jeapoun ka shor hi is khamoshi ka seena cheer raha tha.
Yeh jungle anwaa-o-iqsaam kay jaanwaroun ki amaajgaah thee. Hathioun say lay kar badnaam-e-zamaana African chewntian bhi in jangaloun main raha karteen. Hamain khasoosi hidaayat thee kay agar kisi jangli hayaat say saamna ho to photography say parhaiz kia jaaye. Jungle main hangaami halaat kay ilaawa ruknay ki bilkul ijaazat na thee.
Jeepoun kay is qaaflay kay aksar driver maqaami loug thay. Un ko ilaaqay aur mausam say zaada behtar shanasai thee. Aisay aarhay tirchay rastoun say yeh loag aisay mahaarat say jeap nikaal kar lay jaatay kay aql hairaan ho jaati. Gaaoun pohanchnay par faujion nay hifazati hissaar qaim kia. Do fauji hamaari party main thay us kay ilawa sab hifazati intazaam karnay main lagay rahay.
Jeap say samaan nikaal kar hum nay aik aarzi haspataal banaaya. Gaaoun waaloun ko pehlay say hi hamaari aamad ki itlaa day di gai thee. Is bayas mareezoun ki aik bari tadaad qataar banaaye hamari muntazir thee.
Main nay ghurbat aur maflook-ul-haali ko kabhi pehlay itnay qareeb say na daikha tha. Mera dil dehl kar reh gaya. Bachay, boorhay, jawaan – sab hi to thay. Katay phatay, jhulsay, natawaan, aur kamzor – halaat say buri tarah sataaye. Aik tarf mardoun ki qataar thee, doosri tarf auratoun ki. Main darmayaan ki kursi par baitha tha ta’kay jis ko zaroorat ho us ki madad kar sakoun.
Jang kitni ajeeb shaye hai. Kuch arsa pehlay yahan kay makeen aik sath rehtay thay. Ab woh hi aik doosray ki shakl daikhnay ko rawa na thay. Hanstay bastay ghar ujarr rahay thay. Hamaaray paas dawaaioun ka itna zakheera na tha kay har marz ki dawaai hamaaray paas ho. Kisi ko dawaai milti, to kisi ko dilaasa. Dilaasa paanay waalay bhi hans rahay thay, dawai paanay waalay bhi. Kamaal zarf waalay loug thay.
Kuch French say bhi nabald thay, un kay liye humain kisi aur mareez say madad laini parti. Jis say bhi kehtay, woh hans kar apni khidmaat paish karta. Yaqeen na aaya kay in hi logoun kay bhai’bund is wehshiana jang main masroof hain. Itnay tahammul aur sabr waalay loug kaisay darindoun say badtar andaaz main aik doosray ki boatian bhanbhornay main lagay thay?
Shaam tak yeh silsala chalta raha. Gaaoun waaloun nay hamaaray khaanay ka bandobast bhi kia hoa tha par humain baahar ka khaana khaanay ki bhi mumaaniat thee. Main nay un kay khaloos ka shukria ada kia aur bari mushkil say unhain samjhaaya kay hum yeh khana nahi kha saktay. Phir bhi phaloun kay baray tokray hamaaray hawalay kiye gaye. Main nay woh tokray security afsar kay hawaalay kiye aur apni jan khalaasi karaai.
Waapasi par main bilkul gum sum tha. Itni takleef aur azziat daikhnay ka mera yeh pehla tajruba tha.
Doctor sahab baat samajh gaye
‘tum pehli baar mahaaz par aaye ho na?’ main nay sir hila dia
‘shuroo shuroo main bohat takleef hoti hai. Mujhay jab degree mili thee to main socha karta tha kisi achay say haspataaal main sakoon ki nokri karoun ga. Phir mujhay aik aisi jagah jaana para jahan jang ho rahi thee. Aik hi din main itni takleef daikhi kay us kay baad main nay tahayya kar lia kay dunya kay liye kuch karoun ga. Bus woh din aur aj ka din, aisay hi jangaloun aur sehraaoun ki khaak chaan raha houn main’
‘ap thakay nahi abhi tak kia is say’ main nay un say poocha
‘thak to gaya houn par zindagi main ab meray paas aur is kay siwa hai bhi kia. Bachay baray ho chukay hain, begum ki apni hi aik dunya hai. Main saari jawaani un kay sath nahi raha to ab mujhay un kay sath rehna aur bhi mushkil lagta hai. Un ko meri aadat nahi. Mujhay apni zindagi main paa kar woh bokhlaa say jaatay hain. Kabhi kabhi to mujhay apna ghar maidaan-e-jang say zada khofnaak lagta hai. Ajeeb si ajnabiat ka ehsaas hota hai’.
Camp main bistar par main saari raat karwatain hi badalta raha. Neend mujh say kausoun door thee. Aik hi din main kitna zulm daikha tha main nay. Azziat kay itnay waqiaat.
Kuch raatain hum kisi khushi ki paishbandi main jaagtay hain. Kuch kisi ghum kay bojh talay. Koi ansoo khushi ka, to koi aansoo ghum ka.
Meray zehn kay parday par mazloom shaklain ghoom rahi theen. Woh nannhi si bachi, jo shaid chaar saal ki bhi na ho. Khoraak ki shadeed qillat ka shikaar thee. Us ki aankhain kitni chamkeeli theen par jism aisay jaisay churrmura sa kaaghaz. Aik choti si toffee par hi woh aisay khush ho gai thee jaisay poori kaynaat kay khazaanay usay mil gaye houn.
Phir woh aurat jis kay dono hath kisi zaalim jangju nay ghussay main kaat daalay thay. Jis kay zakhm ki infection itni barh chuki thee kay us ki zindagi bachaanay ka waahid raasta us kay dono bazo kaat daalna tha. Woh jo is haalat main bhi muskara rahi thee.
Kaisi ajeeb si thee yeh khudai. Kahan thee is main maseehai?
Jungle say jaanwaroun kay chinghaarnay ki awaazain aa rahi theen. Kitnay hi jaanwar aj ki raat shikaar bannay walay thay. Jin ki zindagi ka aakhiri sooraj gharoob ho chuka tha. Par in sab darindoun ki darindagi insaanoun kay saamnay heech thee. Jaanwar to khuslat say majboor hain, bhook ko khuda samajhtay hain, shaoor say aari hain. Insaan ko to shaoor mila hai, insaan to khuda rakhta hai. Phir bhi aik insaan hi thay jo har tarf bay-tahaasha zulm dha rahay thay. Insaan hi thay jin kay sharr say koi bhi mehfooz na tha.
Saari raat aisi hi sochoun kay bhanwar main guzri.
Subah mess main jaldi chala gaya. Aj duty bhi na thee socha radio hi sun looun ja kar. Kia daikhta houn doctor sahab bhi mess main maujood thay. Lounge main angeethi kinaaray baithay woh koi kitaab parh rahay thay. Hath main mota sa cigar tha. Main bhi un kay paas ja kar baith gaya aur unhain salam kia.
‘neend nahi aai raat bhar’ unhoun nay salam ka jawab dainay kay baad kaha
‘nahi. Kaafi diqqat rahi. Malaria waali dawaai ka asr bhi shaid aj kal say zaada hai. Sir bhaari mehsoos ho raha hai’ main bola
‘tum yahan tak kyunkar aur kaisay pohanchay’ unhoun nay sawal kia
Main nay poori roaydaad sunai. James ka bataaya. Josephine ka bataaya. James aur Josephine ka soch kar dil ko sakoon sa mehsoos hoa. Woh meray loug thay, door sahi to kia, mukammal toar par meray na to kia, par thay to meray hi na.
Phir mess main aur loug bhi aana shuroo ho gaye. Hum bhi uth kar naashta karnay chal diye. Jin ki aj duty na thee woh chutti mana rahay thay.
Wireless set par jang kay hawaalay say khabrain bhi pata chalti rehteen. Aj mahol kaafi kasheeda tha. Do baray qabeelay jo abhi tak khulay aam jang main shaamil nahi hoay thay, takra paray thay. Agar yeh do bhi is jang ka hissa bun jaatay to halaat bilkul hi qaabo say baahir ho jaanay thay.
Khabr yeh thee kay Hutu qabeelay kay sardaar par aj kal main qatilaana hamla hoa tha. Hutu qabeelay nay inteqaami karwaai main apnay hareef qabeelay par hamla kia aur un kay sardaar kay baitay ko aghwa kar lia tha. Safaarati tor par aman o amaan qaaim karnay aur maslay ka munsifaana hall nikaalnay ki abhi tak ki hamaari aur hakommati tamaam koshishain baysood rahi theen. Yahan baithay sab qayaas araaiaan kar rahay thay kay ab jang bohat zaada phailay gi.
Hum taqreeban tabahi kay dahaanay par baithay thay.
Aik konay main kuch fauji dunya o mafia say baynayaaz taash khailnay main lagay tha. Main pehlaly ki dunya ki haqeeqatoun say uktaaya hoa tha. Un ko aisay khush daikh kar un kay sath ja baitha. Mujhay bhi unhoun nay khail main shaamil kar lia. Yeh teenoun kaafi zaada piay hoay thay aur gehray nashay main thay.
‘yaar tum logoun kay khayaal kay mutaabiq kia khwaaboun ki tabeer sach ho sakti hai’ aik kehnay lagay
‘mujhay to khwaaboun ki tabeer par pakka yaqeen hai’ doosray nay kaha
‘mujhay bhi’ main nay kaha
‘ajab loug ho tum. Khwaab waab kuch nahi hotay. Main nay zindagi main aj tak koi khwaab nahi daikha. Daikho kitni achi zindagi guzaar raha houn. Aisi laghv baatain beemar zehnoun main aati hain.’ ab teesray walay bolay thay
Main chup sa ho gaya.
Waqt kay sath teenoun ka khumaar mazeed barh raha tha. Ajab bay dhangi baatain kar rahay thay. Hamaari baat cheet khwaab say khila tak gai, phir khila say aurat tak aai, aur phir udher say ghoom ghaam kar doobara khwaaboun ki tabeer tak aa pohanchi.
Main jald hi is tamaashay say thak gaya aur waapis kamray ki tarf chal para. Mujhay yaad aaya tha kay ghar say aanay waalay khat parhna baaqi thay. Ap dunya main kahin bhi houn, ghar ki yaad dil garma hi daiti hai.
Yeh khat meri training kay dinoun main hostel kay patay par aaye thay. Main nay James ko bata bhaija tha kay meri parwaaz say pehlay woh khat mujhay day jaain. Woh bhalay maanas subah hi subah sab parwaanay pakray airport par aa gaye.
Socha tha jahaaz main parh loun ga par woh safr meri tawaqquh say zaada mushkil saabit hoa tha. Khat nikaaaly. Thori dair to band lifaafoun ko hi takta raha. Kitni apnaayat aur khaloos bhara tha un main. Bhayya, aapa, bay ji, baba jaan, khala, sab kay hi khat thay. Khala naraz theen. Abbu udaas. Bhayya ko cricket team kay bowler ki kami abhi tak tang kar rahi thee. Aapa nay saba ki shaadi ki poori tafseel likh bhaiji thee. Hatta kay saba kay haathoun [1]par lagi mehndi kay naqsh ka khaaka bhi bana bhaija tha.
Bay ji ka khat aakhir main khola. Bay ji aisay khat likha karteen kay aik jumlay main kisi cheez ko karnay ki takeed hoti, aur doosray main dil say nikli koi dua. Jumloun ki saakht kuch youn hoti – parhaai dil laga kar kia karo aur classes time say jaaya karo. Dhairoun duaain tumhaaray imtehaan kay liye, abhi say do nafl maan kar baithi houn. Saba ki shaadi ka zikr unhoun nay bhi kia, magr aapa ki tarah tafseel ki bajaayee sirf aik jumla likha tha.
‘kaafi khwaahish thee kay saba meri bahu banti par kismat ko yeh manzoor na tha, aapa nay kuch zaada hi jaldi kar daali is muaamlay main, par chalo koi nahi, rab tum dono ka bhala karay, bari duaain tum donoun kay liye’.
Jaanay kidher say aik aansoo ankh say nikal kar tapp say khat par ain udher ja kay gira jidher Saba ka naam likha tha. Main shaid aur udaas ho laita kay hangaami bigal baj utha.
Baahar pohancha to pata chala kay mujhay aur doctor sahab ko fori toar par rawaana hona hai. Jonah naami Hutu qabeelay kay sardaar jin par kal qaatilaana hamla hoa tha, tibbi imdaad kay liye hamari sahooliat kay istemaal kay khwaahish mand thay. Raazdaari bazarya ustwaari shart thee aur humain wahan foran pohanchna tha. Shaid Jonah ki haalat khatray main thee. Qudrat ki taraf say amn kay farogh kay liye yeh behtareen moqa hath aya tha. Agr hamaara yeh insaani aur safaratkaari mission kamyaab ho jaata to amn dobaara laut aanay kay imkaan barh jaatay.
Mujhay briefing room main bula kar hikmat-e-amli samjhaai gai. Jonah aur Hutu qabeelay kay baaray main chand cheeda cheeda haqaaiq ki jankaari di gai. Aik file thamai gai jis main kaafi saaray naam aur kawaaif maujood thay. Mujhay un logoun say kia kehna tha aur kis tarah kehna tha is ki tafseelat bhi us file main theen. Waqt thora tha aur ghalati ki gunjaaish bilkul na thee.
Doctor sahab main laakh salaahiatain theen par woh sirf aik moalajj thay. So meray naazuk kandoun par doosray hi din aik bohat bara baar a para tha.
Humain lainay kay liye un hi ki taraf say aik gaari aai. Hamaari gaarioun ko us jagah kay qareeb bhi phataknay ki ijaazat na thee. Mera dil dhak dhak kar raha tha albatta doctor sahab bilkul pursakoon thay.
‘hosla rakho, sab theek hi ho ga’ unhoun nay mujhay tassali dee
Humain pohanchtay pohanchtay dopehar ho gai.
Yeh qabeela pahaar kay daamin main jungle kinaaray raha karta tha. Waisay to in main say bohat say loug ab shehroun main muntaqil ho chukay par aik bari tadaad ab bhi idher hi raha karti. Is jagah ko aik tarah in logoun ka roohaani markaz bhi maana jaata. Maidaan main kaafi saari jhonprian bikhri pari theen. Sardaar ki rihaaishi jhonpri bulando baala aur sab say munfarid thee.
Hum dono ko udher lay jaaya gaya. Meri tawaquh kay bar aks jhonpri andar say jadeed sahooliat say mukammal lais tha. Bijli kay liye idher generator istemaal kiye jaatay. Sardaar kay bistar kay sath kursi par sardaardni bhi baithi hoin thee. Baahir darwazay kay sath do adad musallah naujawaan bandooqain sambhaalay mustaid kharay thay.
Doctor sahab nay Jonah ka moaaina kia. Jonah khush kismat thay kay golian jism say choo kar guzri theen aur zaada chotain jeep ulatnay ki theen. Zakhm albatta gehray thay aur kuch main infection abhi say hi pinapna shuroo ho chuki thee. Hamaaray paas x-ray machine na thee par saaf dikh raha tha kay Jonah ki kaafi saari haddi paslian toot phoot kay aml say guzar chuki hain.
Doctor sahab Jonah say sawaal sawal kartay, main tarjuma, phir Jonah jawaab daitay, aur main tarjuma karta. Isi tarah meray zariye unhoun nay zubaani muaaina poora kia. Phir woh zakhm saaf karnay main lag gaye. Yeh aik kaafi lamba aml tha.
‘waisay to chotain kaafi hain, laikin zinda bach jaanay kay imkaan roshan hain. Khoon albatta kaafi saara lagay ga’ doctor sahab nay mujhay khushi ki khabr di.
Blood test karnay kay liye aalat doctor sahab kay paas thay. Jonah ka blood group check kia gaya. Unhain khoon ki kum az kum do teen botaloun ki zaroorat thee.. Atia dainay waaloun main say kisi ka bhi khoon un kay khoon say na mila. Un kay baitoun main sab mukhtalif jagah masroof thay aur un main say koi bhi yahan maujood na tha. Main nay doctor sahab ko bataaya kay mera aur Jonah kay khoon ka group aik hi hai. Agar yeh chaahain to mujh say khoon lay saktay hain. Meri paishkash qabool hoi. Jonah ko meray khoon ki botal lagai gai. Sath main doctor sahab nay unhain neend aur dard ko rafu karnay ki davaiiaan bhi day daaleen.
Hum dono nay woh raat Jonah kay sarhaanay hi guzaari.
Subah hoi to Jonah ki tabeyat behtar lag rahi thee. Doctor sahab nay doobara moaina kia aur inndia dia kay Jonah ab khatray say mukammal toar par baahir nikal chukay hain.
Jonah ki mukammal sehetyaabi kay liye albatta waqt aur kuch aur cheezain, jin main x-ray machine sar-e-fehrist thee, darkaar theen. In zaroori ashyaa ka bandobast sirf doctor sahab hi kar saktay thay so woh subah hi subah waapis rawaana hoay.
Un kay khayaal kay mutaabiq dopehar say pehlay un ki waapasi kaafi mushkil thee.
Ab main bilkul akaila reh gaya tha. Do raatoun say lagataar jaagnay kay baad dunya ajeeb si mehsoos ho rahi thee. Meray liye aik choti si jhonpri main sonay ka intazaam tha, main us main ja kar so dia.
Sai’pehar ko doctor sahab waapis pohanchay. Unhoun nay x-ray machine kay sath sath baqi sab zaroori ashya ka intazaam bhi kar lia hoa tha. Jonah ka x-ray hoa, aur filmain dhoieeen gain. Un filmoun ki roshni main doctor sahab nay jonah ki hadioun ko bithaya. Aik operation bhi kia gaya. Hamaari do teen din ki musalsal koshish rang laai. Jonah pehlay say kaafi behtar ho gaye.
Mujhay Jonah nay apnay paas rok lia, kehnay lagay jab main apnay pairoun par khara houn ga, tab tumhain jaanay ki ijaazat milay gi. Doctor sahab albatta waapis jaa saktay hain.
Jaanay say pehlay doctor sahab nay meray kandhay par hath rakh kar meri kaarkardagi ko saraha aur bolay
‘yeh bohat bari zimadaari hai jo tum bohat khushasloobi say saranjaam day rahay ho. Agar muamlaat aisay hi chaltay rahay to main tumhaari pakki nokri ki sifaarish zaroor karoun ga’
Is waqt meray demagh main bohat say khayaal chal rahay thay par pakki nokri aur paisay ka khayaal un main nahi tha. Main nay phir bhi un ka shukria ada kia aur woh rukhsat hoay.
Kitni ajeeb si baat thee, idher aanay say pehlay mera maqsad sirf paisay kamaana tha. Aur ab, ab in cheezoun ki meri nazr main zara bhi wuqat na thee. Kitna baym’aani tha yeh sab kuch meray liye is waqt.
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4. Aur Julie
Jonah pachaas pachpan saal kay lagbhag thay. Is qabeelay ki sardaari pichli saat aath pushtoun say un kay khandaan main hi chali aa rahi thee. Ooncha lamba qadd, daraaz shaanay, aur pathar ki tarah sakht jism. Mujh say baat karnay main ab woh itna na jhijaktay. Agar koi aur mahol hota to main yeh keh daita kay Jonah mujh par bharosa kartay thay. Is soorat-e-haal main albatta yeh baat kehna kaafi mushkil tha.
Jab Jonah baithnay kay qaabil hoay to aik subah main un ko wheelchair par bitha kar baahir lay aaya. Un ki hi khwaahish thee – woh chahatay thay kay un kay qabeelay waalay yeh na samjhain kay un ka sardaar kamzor ho gaya hai. Un ko apnay qabeelay ki zameen say sakht ishq tha. Kehtay thay kay yahan is zameen par un ki tareekh madfan hai. Main un ki wheelchair ko dhakailta phirta aur woh mujhay apnay bachpan kay waqiaat sunaatay.
Jhonparian thori oonchai par theen. Baarishoun kay aksar honay ki wajay say qudarti naalay banay rehtay. Aik tarf aik bohat bara maidaan tha jis main bachay khaila kartay. Is kay darmayaan main Avocado ka aik bohat bara darakht laga tha. Jonah ki khwaahish thee kay main un ko udher tak lay jaaoun. Yeh darakht yahan muqaddas aur moajazaati maana jaata tha.
Woh mujhay bata rahay thay kay kaisay is aik darakht nay un logoun ki kismat badli. Yeh taqreeban do sadioun say un kay qabeelay ki azmat ki nishaani tha. Qudarti toar par har avocado ka darakht itni zindagi na paata par yeh saaloun say qaaim tha. Is par ab bhi phool khila kartay par phal na lagtay. Bus phool khiltay, phir rafta rafta murjha kar gir jaatay. Qabeelay kay loug un phooloun ko jama kartay, un kay haar banaatay, auratain us say apna singhaar kia karteen.
Qabeelay ki tamaam taqareeb is darakht kay saaye talay hoteen. Darakht say thora door aik chaubaara banaya gaya tha. Us par sardaar baith kar awaam kay masaail suna kartay. Shaadiaan bhi idher hi tay paaya karteen. Bachoun ki paidaaish ka jashn bhi yahan hi manaaya jaata. Aur marnay waaloun ki akhri rasoomat bhi idher hi ada hoteen.
Loug door door say mannatain maangnay idher aaya kartay. Jonah keh rahay thay
‘mujhay bohat khwaahish thee kay meri koi beti ho par har baar hamaaray haan baita ho jaaya karta. Phir aik din hum dono nay is darakht kay paas aa kar mannat maangi. Us saal Julie paida hoi. Hum to taqreeban mayoos honay ko thay par hamain is darakht nay zindagi ka sab say bara tohfa dia’
Jonah bari aqeedat say darakht ko daikh rahay thay. Phir un kay gaaoun waalay aa gaye. Sardaar ko daikh kar sab nay khoob naaray lagaaye. Sab hi josh-o-kharosh say bharay baithay thay. Phir main Jonah ko waapis lay aaya. Zaada dair tak baithna un kay liye nuqsaan deh tha.
Yahan par Jonah kay ilawa taqreeban sab hi mujhay ajeeb tareeqay say daikha kartay. Un kay baitoun ki nigaahoun main to mujhay anjaani nafrat waazih dikha karti. Meri khwaahish thee kay mujhay idher say jaanay ki ijaazat milay aur zindagi dobara kisi dagr baithay.
Doctor sahab aatay. Check up kartay, dawayaan daitay aur waapis chalay jaatay. Un ki wajah say mujhay camp ki khabrain bhi milti retheen. Woh Arica ki sair karnay ka program bana rahay thay, mujhay bhi us main unhoun nay shaamil rakha hoa tha. Kehtay thay farigh ho lo, phir Mount Kilimijaro sar karnay chalain gay.
Jonah aur main kamray main khaana khaaya kartay. Julie humain khaana dainay aaya karti. Us ki aankhoun main mujhay khud say hamdardi nazr aati. Woh bhi kabhi hamaaray saath hi khaana kha lia karti. Satrah athaara saal ki umer thee par zahaanat say bharpoor thee. .
Woh shehr kay kisi convent college main parha karti. Halaat kharaab hona shuroo hoay to Jonah nay us ko school say waapis bula lia tha. Meray name tag par sirf J. C likha hoa tha. Woh khaana khaatay waqt poochnay lagi kay is say kia banta hai. Main nay poori kahaani suna daali. Julie aur Jonah dono mujh say Glasgow ki baatain karnay lagay aur baatcheet kay ikhtitaam tak meri aur Julie ki dosti ho gai.
Convent main parhnay ki wajah say Julie achi khaasi angraizi bhi bol laiti thee. Us ko in halaat kay kharaab honay ka bohat dukh tha. Apnay bhaioun ki banisbat choti umer main hi woh bohat zaada samajhdaar thee. Jang say nafrat karti thee. Kehti thee hum poori dunya say in fazool ki jangoun ki wajah say peechay reh gaye hain.
Aik din main baahir avocado kay darakht talay bichi kursi par baitha aik kitaab parh raha tha. Woh bhi udher aa gai. Poochnay lagi main kia parh raha houn. Main nay kitaab ka bataaya. Us nay kaha mujhay bhi is main say kuch parh kar sunao. Thori dair pehlay hi aik jumla nazr say guzra tha, dua kay baaray main tha, main nay parh kar suna dia.
Us ko bilkul pasand na aaya. Kenhay lagi
‘is musannif ko dua ki bilkul samajh nahi. J.C tum batao kay tum dua ko kia samajhtay ho’
‘dua …………. Dua shaid dunya ki sab say bari taaqat hai. Par meri duaain kabhi qabool nahi hoa karteen. Jo bhi maangta houn, adhoora hi reh jaata hai’. Main nay kaha
‘tum nay kabhi kisi aur kay liye du maangi’. Us nay poocha
‘haan, shaid …. Shaid maangi thee aik dafa kisi kay liye.’
‘kaisay’. Woh boli
‘raatoun ko uth uth kar, sajdoun main, chaltay hoay, baithay hoay. Nazroun hi nazroun main us kay chehray ka tawaaf kartay hoay, udaas raaatoun main us ki yaadoun ko seenay say laga kar, bhari mehfiloun main khamoshi kay lamhay talaash kar kay. Aur ab bhi karta houn. Aur shaid karta rahoun ga’
‘J.C. tum, tum nahi samajhtay dua ko’. Woh boli. Meri ana ko jhatka sa laga, woh larki kitnay araam say keh gai thee kay main dua say nabald tha.
‘dua main jung karni parti hai. Khud say. Halaat say. Taqdeer say. Dua main girna parta hai. Marna parta hai. Larna parta hai. Alfaaz say ya dil say nikli sada say dua mukammal nahi hoa karti. Tum khud socho, agar tum ghar baithay dua kartay rehtay to kia tum aj woh bun paatay jo ho. Nahi na. Dua to bus aml hai. Jab kisi cheez ko paanay ki koshish karo gay, mujassam dua bun jao gay. Kisi ka sahara bannay ki dua kyun kartay ho, bun kyun nahi jaatay? Kisi ki khidmat karnay ki dua say behtar hai, khidmat karna shuroo kar do. Koshish karnay ki dua say behtar hai, koshish karna shuroo kar do’.
Main us ki baat par ghor kar raha tha.
‘Julie jisay main kho chuka houn, us kay liye kaisay dua karoun phir?’
‘Waapis jaao. Muqaddar say takrao. Cheen lo us ko halaat say. Phir jab kisi kay dukh khushioun say badl do, to phir dua karna. Phir kehna kay tumhaaray mann main jalti chingaari sada aisay hi jalti rahay. Dua to bus tumhaari zaat kay andar say aanay waalay shaoor ki sada ka naam hai. Karo zaroor, par yeh na samjho kay khuda nay tumhain kuch daina hai. Khud cheen lo halaat say jo chahatay ho. Kar guzro jo karna hai’.
Main us ki shakl daikh raha tha.
‘chalo ab tum sakoon say apni kitaab parho, shaid yeh musannif bhi koi achi baat keh day’
Yeh keh kar aur mujhay hairaan sa chor kar woh chal nikli.
Main nay apni har nakaami ooper waalay par daali hoi thee. Kuch ghalat hota to samajh laita kay dua qabool na hoi. Hamaisha har zimadaari say khud ko mawara kar daita. Ab mujhay ehsaas ho raha tha kay meri soch main behtari ki bohat gunjaaish thee.
Usi shaam phir khoob ghadr macha. Jonah aj apnay pairoun par larkharatay hoay kharay honay main kaamyaab hoay thay. Jonah nay mujhay galay lagaaya. Kehnay lagay kay mera yeh ehsaan woh zindagi ki aakhri saans tak na bhoolain gay.
Tumhaara khoon meri ragoun main dorr raha hai aur tumhain dainay ko meray paas koi sila nahi. Kal tumhaaray aizaaz main shandaar taqreeb manaai jaaye gi. Us kay baad tum waapis chalay jaana.Jonah ko logoun nay ghair lia tha. Jang ki hikmat-e-amli banaayi jaani thee. Mera ab yahan koi kaam na tha.
Mujhay apnay jaanay ka sun kar khushi bhi hoi, aur ghum bhi.
Agli subah main apna mukhtasir sa samaan samait raha tha kay Julie nazr aai. Kuch pakr kar darwaazay kay sath khari thee. Main nay poocha kia hai to kehnay lagi tumhaaray liye aik tohfa hai. Meray liye us nay aik rawaaiti haar banaaya tha. Kehnay lagi tum jaa rahay ho, bhool jao gay. Yeh haar tumhain meri yaad dilaata rahay ga. African tarz ka haar tha, kaafi kasheeda kaari ki gai thee. Haar ki pichli tarf J. C bhi kunda hoa tha.
‘Tum kyun itni udaas ho rahi ho. Hum to aik doosray ko zaada jaantay bhi nahi’ main nay mazaak main kaha
‘Shaid is liye kay aj mujhay ehsaas hoa hai kay mujhay kisi say muhabbat hai’. woh udaas say lehjay main boli.
‘Kis say’ main nay poocha
‘Us say jo aaj qurbaan honay ja raha hai’
Mujhay baat samajh na aai so tafseel poochi. Woh us qaidi ka haal bataanay lagi jo in ki tehveel main tha.
‘hamaaray loug jis larkay ko uthaa laaye hain main us ko bohat arsay say jaanti houn. Woh larka meray sath kitnay hi saal convent main parhta raha hai. Shuroo say hi mujhay pasand kia karta tha. Laikin mai nay kabhi us ki tarf dhayaan nahi dia. Ab pichlay haftay say woh yahan qaidioun ki tarah para hai. Aur aj ki shaam us ki zindagi ki akhiri shaam saabit ho gi’.
‘To tumhain ab hi kyunkar ehsaas hoa hai kay tum us ko pasand karti ho’. Main nay poocha
‘J.C tum nahi samjho gay yeh baatain’
‘Samjhao gi, to shaid samajh hi jaaoun ga’
‘Aj subah pehray daaroun ko doosray kaamoun main laga kar main usay nashta daini gai thee. Us ki rassian khol kay usay bola kay bhaag jao warna maaray jao gay. Jaantay ho J.C us nay kia kia, kehnay laga rassian waapis baandh do. Mujhay tumhaaray bina waisay bhi zinda nahi rehna. Kon karta hai aisay bhala J.C kon? Kon khud ki hasti aisay mita dainay ko tul jaata hai? Kaisay na karoun us say pyaar main J.C kaisay na karoun?’
Julie bilak bilak kar ronay lagi. Mera bhi dil bhar aaya. Meray paas to dilaasa dainay ko bhi kuch na tha
‘J.C us nay aik lamhay main meri zindagi badl di. Aj subah tak woh mera kuch na tha. Par ab us kay liye main poori dunya say takra jaaoun gi. Is kay liye mujhay gar marna bhi paray to main tayyar houn. Main nay socha tha yeh haar tumhain kal jaanay say pehlay khud pehnaaoun gi. Par ab mujhay nahi pata kay meray liye kal ki subah ho gi ya nahi’.
Muhabbat kaisa munfarid sa jazba hai. Aik insaan kaisay asaani say aik lehzay main aik ajnabi say mata-e-hayaat bun sakta hai.
Main soch raha tha Jonah say baat karoun. Par Jonah kay kamray main mera aj daakhla mana tha. Jangi karwaayioun kay plan ban rahay thay. Qabeelay kay akabareen jama thay. Baray eham faislay kiye ja rahay thay.
Meray paas Julie ko dainay ko kuch na tha. Bus wohi hamaisha ki tarah khaali, rookhi pheeki, lafzi dua.
Shaam hoi. Mujhay takht par Jonah kay sath bithaaya gaya. Pooray qabeelay kay loug jama hoay. Alaao ko itna dehqaaya gaya kay mujhay aisay lagnay laga kay sholay asmaan say ja milain gay. Phir Jonah nay hath ka ishaara kia. Paanch chaay loug baray baray dhol utha kar lay aaye. Hajoom say naujawaan larkay larkioun ka aik poora ghol nikal aaya aur alaao kay gird naachnay laga. Un kay qadmoun ki thaap say zameen dehal rahi thee.
Tharaktay jism. Lalkaarti awaazain. Hajoom unhain daikh kar deewana waar chilla raha tha.
Aik taraf aag par chaar adad jangli bhainsay bhoonay jaa rahay thay. Hamaaray saamnay aik maiz sa bicha tha. Us par aik kaafi baray say pyalay main koi mashroob tha. Pyaala jis kay saamnay aata woh us say aik ghoont peeta aur apnay sath walay ki taraf sirka daitay.
Jonah meray sath baithay thay. Pyaalay say ghoont lay kar unhoun nay pyaala meray saamnay kar dia. Main nay hichkichatay hoay aik choti si chuski li. Ajeeb karwa kasaila sa mashroob tha jis main say taaza khoon ki baas shiddat say aa rahi thee. Mashroob main bhainsoun say nikla taaza khoon milaaya gaya tha. Ghoont laitay hi mujhay khankaarna para tha. Jonah nay buland qahqaha lagaaya aur meri kamr par thapki dee. Aur main nay chupkay say payaala aagay khiska dia.
Phir bhunay hoay bhainsoun ka gosht paish hoa. Yeh gosht beghair mirch masalay kay tayyar kia gaya tha. Us kay bawajood itna lazeez tha kay shaid hi main nay zindagi main aisa kuch khaaya ho. Sath main dhol ba-awaaz-e-buland bajaaye jaa rahay thay. Raqs ki shiddat main aur bhi izaafa ho chuka tha. Aur raqs karnay waaloun ki tadaad ab pehlay say bhi zaada thee.
Khaanay, peenay, aur raqs ka yeh dor kaafi dair tak chala. Phir Jonah nay hath ka ishaara kia aur sab jidher thay, jo kar rahay thay, chor chaar kar saakit-o-jaaamad ho gaye. Aisa sannata phaila kay sooi giray to awaaz aaye. Ab ki baar Jonah nay door kharay jang-juooun ko ishaara kia.
Kuch hi dair main woh aik jawaan ko ghaseettay hoay takht kay saamnay lay aaye. Jawan kay chehray say shadeed kamzori ayaan thee. Albatta qaid-o-band ki museebatain sehnay kay baad bhi us ka chehra pur azm tha. Main nay kaafi ghor say us kay chehray ka jaaiza lia laikin khof ka naam-o-nishaan bhi us par na tha. Mujhay aik ajeeb si chamak us ki aankhoun main dikhi. Pooray maidaan main sab ki tawajjuh ka markaz woh naujawan hi tha. Sab dum saadh kay tiktaki baandh kar us ki tarf daikh rahay thay.
Main bayshak fauji na tha par fauj kay sath kaam kar raha tha. Abhi bhi main wardi main tha – agr meray saamnay us barbariat ka muzaahira hota jis say Julie nay mujhay agaah kia tha to shaid main khud ko kabhi muaaf na kar paata. Meri nabz bhi ab pehlay say bohat zaada raftaar say chal rahi thee.
Jonah mera sahaara lay kar kharay hoay. Aik hath main baisaakhi thee, doosray hath say unhoun nay mera kandha thaama hoa tha. Hum dono aahista aahista chaltay hoay is naujawaan kay saamnay pohanch gaye. Beech main kuch hi qadmoun ka faasla tha. Us kay haath paaoun baandhay gaye thay. Qaid main kaafi sitm bhi dhaaye gaye thay. Taar taar kaproun kay neechay say us kay badn par paray zakhm aag ki roshni main saaf dikh rahay thay.
Dono aik doosray ko nazroun hi nazroun main maap toul rahay. Phir baqi akabareen bhi udher hi aa gaye. Kuch dair behas hoi – kuch khusr-pusr chali. Yeh zubaan meray liye bilkul ajnabi thee. Phir faisala sunaaya gaya. Naujawaan ki maut ka faisla. Halaankay mujhay andaaza tha kay kia honay waala hai par bawajood is kay, main sunn sa ho kar reh gaya. Main nay Jonah ki aankhoun ki tarf daikha, wahan darindagi aur barbariat thee. Yeh hargiz woh insaan na thay jinhain main pichlay do haftoun say jaanta tha.
Hajoom chilla raha tha. Kuch manchalay aslahah lehra lehra kar naach rahay thay. Hawaai fire kar rahay thay. Naujawaan ko aik dafa phir ghaseeta jaanay laga laikin phir achaanak har tarf khamoshi chaa gai.
Julie un kay rastay main khari thee. Julie, satrah athaarah saal ki kum goh si larki. Hath main aik bandooq pakray. Aisay jaisay koi seesa pilaai deewaar ho.
‘apni bandooqain neechay gira do aur aik tarf kharay ho jao.’ us nay garj kar kaha
Jangju Jonah ki tarf daikh rahay jaisay pooch rahay houn, kia hukm sardaar. Jonah nay un ko peechay hatt jaanay ka ishaara kia. Meray say sahara lay kar kharay thay, mujhay kehnay lagay kay main un ko chor doun. Woh khud apni baisaakhi ko taiktay hoay chal paray aur Julie kay ain saamnay kharay ho gaye.
Aik taraf baap tha, aik taraf beti. Mannatoun muraaadoun say maani gai beti. Do jism par aik hi khoon ……..
‘Julie hatt jao, faisala ho chuka hai. Agr tum is kay sath khari rahi to jo is ki saza hai, woh tumhaari bhi ho gi’
Karb say un ki awaaz randh rahi thee.
Jangaloun main girnay walay tanaawar darakht jab girtay hain to zameen aik dhamakay say dehl jaati hai. Larz kar reh jaatay hain aik lehzay ko jungaloun kay makeen. Ab bhi mujhay kuch aisa hi lag raha tha. Jonah aik tanawar darakht thay aur yeh darakht ab girta dikhaai day raha tha.
‘faisla main kar chuki, ab ap kar guzrain jo ap nay karna hai’
Phir woh logoun ki tarf muri aur kehnay lagi
‘logo, hum kab tak yeh jangain lartay rahain gay. Kis ki khaatir larr rahay hain? Kyun larr rahay hain hum? Tum loug shaid yeh samjho gay kay Julie ko is larkay say pyaar hai. Shaid is liye woh aj idher khari hai. Haan. Mujhay is say koi inkaar nahi, haan hai mujhay is insaan say pyaar. Par main aj idher apnay liye nahi khari. Main aj idher tum sab kay liye khari houn. Hum bohat kuch pehlay hi kho chukay hain. Aj is ka khoon hoa to kal ko kitni hi Julian houn gi jo in sarkoun par ghaseeti jaain gi. Kitnay hi bachay yateem aur kitnay hi maan baap houn gay jo apnay bachoun ko apnay haathoun zameen ki goud main utaarain gay’
Phir woh saans lainay kay liye thehri.
Is samay woh bhiprhi hoi lehroun ki maanind dikh rahi thee. Ap kisi insaan say us ka khof khatm kar dain to us say zaada taaqatwarr koi na. Aj is poori kaynaat main Julie say zaada baykhoff koi na tha
‘logo, kaho apnay sardaar ko kay woh ruk jaaye. Kaho us ko kay woh yeh zulm na dhaaye. Kaho us ko kay tumhain is jang say koi gharz nahi. Main tumhaaray sardaar hi ki beti houn, main nay us ko bachpan say daikha hai. Main jaanti houn kay us kay mann main bhi amn ki khwaahish hai. Woh bhi chahata hai kay hum aik naye subh ka sooraj daikhain. Shaant rahain. Abaad rahain. Kis kay liye lartay hain hum. Is zameen kay liye jo hamaari na hai. Is zameen kay liye jis ko hum aisay hi chor kar chalay jaain gay jaisay hum say pehlay aanay waalay. Aj hum is ko waapis jaanay dain to kal ko hamaaray dushman bhi amn ki zubaan samjhain gay. Logo tum kyun nahi samajhtay ho is baat ko. Kyun nahi? Kyun nahi? Batao logo, mera sath do, kaho kay tum meray saath ho. Kaho kay tumhain amn chahye. Keh do logo. Bolo. Apni soch ko nafrat ki bairioun say azaad kar kay mujhay jawab do’
Maidaan us ki awaaz say goonj raha tha. Sab dum saadhay baithay thay.
Phir hajoom main say aik nanha sa larka khara hoa. Woh bareek si awaaz main kehnay laga
‘main Julie kay sath houn’
Phir aik tarf say aur yeh sada aai. Phir aik aur. Phir to jaisay bandh tootnay par sailaab aata hai waisay Julie kay naam kay naaroun ka sailaab aa gaya. Yeh subah kay bhoolay loug thay jo ab ghar waapis aa rahay thay.
‘khamosh …. ‘
Ab ki baar Jonah dhaaray.
Hajoom main kuch khamosh hoay. Kuch na. Saraseemgi si thee. Shaid sab hi jaantay thay kay aglay kuch lamhain aam nahi. Kay aglay kuch lamhoun main jo bhi ho ga woh tareekh ki kitaaboun main raqm rahay ga.
Jonah ki paiti main aik chaaqo urrsa hoa tha. Unhoun nay woh nikaal lia. Sab kay dil dharak rahay thay. Waqt jaisay dheemi raftaar say guzr raha tha. Main taqreeban aankhain meech kar khara tha. Phir anhoni baat hoi, naujawaan kay dil main chaaqo utaarnay ki bajaaye Jonah neechay baithay aur us ki bandishain kaatnay lagay. Un kay jism main abhi itna dum na tha, is baayas woh larkhara gaye. Naujawaan aur Julie nay mil kar unhain thaam lia.
Un dono ki hi madad say woh kharay hoay aur Julie ko galay laga lia.
Dhol phir bajnay laga. Raqs phir jaari hoa. Is baar yeh khof ki milaawat say paak khushi thee. Amn ki umeed kay chamatkaar ki khushi thee.
Nayi nasl nay puraani rawaayaat ki aik bari deewar dhaa di thee. Julie nay meri tarf daikha. Ab us kay chehray par aik fatehaana muskaraahat thee. Aj us nay zindagi jeeti thee. Mujhay aisay laga jaisay woh keh rahi ho, ‘daikho J.C, aisay banta hai insaan mujassam dua’.
Raat dair gaye jashn jaari raha. Phir aahista aahista sab rukhsat hoay.main jahan baitha tha wahin baitha raha. Meray mehsoosat abhi mamool par waapis na aaye thay.
Main asmaan ko taknay laga. Aj asmaan par baadaloun ka naam-o-nishaan bhi na tha. Avocado kay darakht kay peechay milkyway ki kehkhashaan aisay dikh rahi thee jaisay us darakht say kisi ghair-marai taaqat kay tehat juri hoi ho. Kiss qadr mukamal milaap tha yeh zameen aur asmaan ka.
Main nay bay ji say suna tha kay jab hum khuda ko maqbool ho jaain to kaynaat hum par muskaraati hai. Humaaray saamnay naye rang khilaati hai, woh rang jo hum aam dinoun main na daikh paatay hain. Aj mujhay mann-o-ann yeh sab rang dikh rahay thay.
Maidaan bilkul khaali ho chuka thaa. Jaanay say pehlay alaao bujhaaya ja chuka tha. Us main bus kuch sulagtay koylay hi baaqi thay. Par mujhay alaao main sitaaroun say must’aar lia noor bharakta dikh raha tha. Main khayaal ki manzil par tha – mujhay haqeeqat ka adraak to tha par yeh haqeeqat mujhay takhayul ki nigah say dikh rahi thee. Phir mujhay aisa laga jaisay bohat say hayoolay sitaaroun say utr kar zameen par aa rahay houn. Mujhay un ki poshaakoun main nizaam-e-shamsi main ghoomtay sayaaray dikh rahay thay.
Phir woh asmaani hayolay alaao kay gird naachnay lagay. Gaanay lagay. Meri rooh bhi un kay raqs main shaamil ho gai. Aj koi kaynaat kay sab say taaqatwar afreet say takraaya tha. Aj kisi nay khof ki aankhoun main aankhain daal kar daikha tha. Aaj aik nanhi si jaan nay khof kay diyo ko patakh kar zameen par phainka tha. Aj rehm ki jeet hoi thee. Aj muhabbat ki jeet hoi thee. Aj koi sab kuch lutaaye bina bhi sarshaar hoa tha. Takhta-e-daar aj gulo gulzaar hoa tha.
Woh hayoolay khushi say chilla rahay thay. Ba awaaz-e-buland gaa rahay thay
Muhabbat javeda quwwat
Muhabbat fateh-e-aalam ..
Main bhi is geet main un kay saath shaamil tha. Main bhi aj kuch lamhoun ko kaamil tha. Meri saansain. Meri dharkan. Mera dil un kay saath gaa raha tha …
Muhabbat javeda quwwat
Muhabbat baypanah raahat
Muhabbat fateh-e-aalam
Muhabbat fateh-e-aalam ….
[1] Yaatri – http://proudpakistanii.com/yatri-urdu/
All the images in this post are taken by Anas Shoaib. You can reach Anas on his Instagram @notanas_
The short story is written by swede. He can be reached on twitter @omcswe