Hasrat

02.

"In the flesh." Zaviyaar ne aankh maari thi. Shanzay muskuratay hoye aagaye barhi thi aur Zaviyaar ne apnay haath kholay thay, jaisay k woh Shanzay se eik hug expect karraha tha.

Tabhi uski aankhein hairat se phattein jab Shanzay ne ussay gallay laganay ke bijaye uskay kaan pakray aur ussay apni height tak neechay kheencha. Zaviyaar k sisakne par Inara ki besaakhta hassi chutti.

"Tumhari jurrat kese hui ke thori si raqam ke liye tum mere bhai ki, aur apni bhi for that matter, zindagi dao par lagao?"

"Ahh, Shanzay. Araam se!" Zaviyaar ne sisaktay kaha tha. Jis tarah Shanzay ne ussay moura hoa tha, ussay yeh apnay kaan ka aakhri din lagraha tha.

"Jawab dou! Manah kiya tha na mene!"

"Sorry, sorry! Ainda nahi karounga! Race kiya, gaari hee nahi chalaounga." Zaviyaar ne uskay saamne haath jorray thay. "Mera kaan jaanay dou. Eik kaan k saath mein acha nahi lagounga."

"Woh toh tum filhaal mujhay lag bhi nahi rahay, lekin chalo." Shanzay ne uska kaan chorra. "Maaf kiya. Mein nahi chahti meri shaadi ki photos tumhari wajah se kharab houn."

"Reham dekhanay ke liye shukria, ustaani jee." Zaviyaar haath jorr kar uskay saamne jhuka tha.

"Zaviyaar kuch din yahan rahega." Ahad ne dono Inara aur Shanzay ko inform kiya tha. "Shaadi tak, atleast."

Shanzay ne hairat ke saath Ahad ko dekha tha, phir Zaviyaar ko aur phir Ahad ke paer ke paas parray uskay bag ko.

"Ahad, a word?" Shanzay ne apnay bhai ka haath pakra tha aur kheench kar woh doosre konay legayi. Inara aur Zaviyaar ko itni daer mein pehli baar akela chorr ke.

Halanke unki awaaz sirf khusar pussar mein dono tak aarahi thi, unkay chehray k taasuraat yehi batarahay thay ke Shanzay aur Ahad yaqeenan kisi baray pacheeda maslay par baat karrahay thay.

"So," Inara ne usse jaanchtay hoye mukhatib kiya. "You're still a spawn of Satan?"

"Depends." Zaviyaar ne jawaban kandhay uchkaye thay. "Are you still a princess?" Ussne jaanchnay walay andaaz mein poocha tha. Inara ne apna moun phulaya aur usko qatal karne wali nazroun se dekhne ke liye aankhein sukherein thein. Only if looks could suffocate someone to death.

"I guess people don't really change then." Zaviyaar hassa tha.

"God, tum toh abhi tak na-qaabilay bardaasht ho!"

"Kioun ho tum itnay manhoos, khudgarz, insufferable, nalaiq, nikammay, badtameez, behuda, besharam aur aqal se paidal?" Pandra saala Inara ne chirrne walay andaaz mein uskay sarr par kharra hokar poocha tha.

Lawn chair par betha sathra saala Zaviyaar bas halka sa muskuraya. "Mein toh paidaishi aesa houn. Agar masla hai toh baat kioun karti ho mujhse?"

"Aur tum abhi bhi woh bhooli si princess ho. Tell me, do you still carry a tiara with you?"

Choti si 7 saala Inara apnay princess dress ko sambhalti hui aur apni poori taaqat lagakar usska naam chilati hui 9 saala Zaviyaar ke peechay bhaagrahi thi jo uska princess tiara churra kar bhaaga tha.

"Zaviyaar mera crown wapis karo!"

"Get it yourself, Princess!"

"God, you—," Inara apnay haath galla dabojne walay andaaz mein uthaye uski taraf barhi hee thi ke Shanzay ne unki taraf murrkay apna galla saaf kiya tha. Zaviyaar ki nazar Ahad par parri thi, jo hairat bharri aankhoun lekin chehray par madham muskurahat liye ussay dekh raha tha. Youn jaisay pehchaan na paa raha ho. Usse andaza hee nahi hua tha Inara ko cheirrne mein kab uskay chehray par eik madham si muskurahat ubhri thi.