Wabasta | Complete ✔

Chapter 13

"Aman, tum kab aye? Aur yeh bahir corridor main kyun baithe ho?" Shagufta asked when she opened the door to fetch the newspaper.

"Bas, abhi thodi der pehle. Mujhe laga aap sab so rahe honge isiliye socha kuch der wait karloon."

Shagufta nodded her head. "Achha? Andar aajao."

He followed her inside. She was going towards Firdaus's room when Aman's voice stopped her midway.

"Aunty woh...Firdaus ghar par nahi hai. Bahir gayi hai."

Shagufta widened her eyes, not being able to comprehend fully. There was fear rising in her eyes.

"Bahir gayi hai? Kabh, aur kahan? Tumhe kaise pata?"

"Main jab aaya tha woh nikal rahi thi. Kisi Zubin ke saath gayi hai."

"Tumne usey roka nahi?"

Aman pursed his lips and pulled them taut. He knew he didn't have to answer that.

Shagufta sighed. "Haan, itne saalon mein meri nahi suni toh ek din mein tumhari kya sunegi. Allah kare woh sahi salaamat ghar wapis ajaye."

"In Sha Allah, ajayegi. Mujhe nahi lagta woh drugs lene ya kuch aisa waisa karne gayi hogi. Shayad aise hi kahin bahir jane ka mann kiya hoga toh chali gayi. Waise bhi itni subha subha usey kuch milega bhi nahi."

"Baat toh tum theek keh rahe ho. Kya hojata agar ek baar mujhe bata kar jaati? Pareshan hogayi hoon uski inn harkaton se. Khair, ab toh umeed ka hi sahara hai." She shook her head gently in despair. "Tumne naashta kiya? Main tumhare liye kuch bana deti hoon."

"Shukriya aunty, main breakfast karke aya hoon. Lekin chai pee sakta hoon."

Shagufta smiled at him and then walked over to the kitchen. Aman follwed her inside and stood near the counter leaning against the doorframe.

"Zaitoon khala nahi nazar aa rahi?"

"Unka BP aajkal bohat high rehta hai. Usi ke wajah se raat ko dawai lekar soti hai, toh subha zara deir se uthti hai. Woh bhi bechari kahan hum maa beti ke beech phans gayi. Jis umar mein unhe araam karna chahiye woh mere saath idher udher bhaagti rehti hai. Firdaus ke peechhe bhaagti rehti hai woh alag. Sach baat toh yeh hai ke agar woh aaj mere saath na hoti toh main kabh ka toot kar bikhar jaati."

"Woh aap dono sey bohat pyaar karti hai."

"Haan, woh toh bohat karti hai." Shagufta smiled.

Aman waited for a few minutes before he asked her another question.

"Aunty yeh Zubin kaun hai?"

Shagufta glanced at him while adding tea leaves into the kettle on the stove.

"Zubin Hamdani. Firdaus ka dost hai. Uske saath university main parta tha. Uske walid politician hai shayad." She paused. "Achha larka hai. Firdaus sey kaafi banti hai uski. Haan yeh alag baat hai ke dono mein se kisi ne university complete nahi ki. Ussey pehle hi drugs ke chakkar mein par gaye."

Aman was a little taken aback.

"Zubin bhi...?"

Shagufat nodded. "Haan, woh bhi ek addict hai. Pehle aisa nahi tha, phir university ke kuch doston ke galat influence mein aakar drugs lene laga. Hum jab yahan Lahore aye the, tab kuch waqt ke liye Firdaus ne bhi lena chhor diya tha. Lekin unhi doston ke galat sangat ke wajah se usney phirse shuru kardiya. 

Jab Firdaus rehab se bhaagi thi, tab woh do hafte usi ke saath thi. Baad mein jab hosh mein ayi tab bataya tha usney mujhe."

"Toh aapko unke ek saath aise ghoomne se aitraaz nahi hai?"