Safar khamoshi se guzar raha tha. Zaira ayn waqt par form submit krney mein kamyaab hui thi aur university mein mujood inkay usataza khassey Khush huey thai. Unho ne dono kay lye teen behtareen institute ka intikhaab kia tha jisme se ek mein jana ab unki marzi par tha.
Shaam gehri ho chuki thi aur traffic kay baaiyss dair lg rahi thi. Aurangzeb Shah kay israar kay bawjood Zaira phone par unhey yeh nai keh saki kay uska Intizar kia jaaye kyoun ussey waqqi dair thi. Wajid Sahab ne bhi yahi tajveez di.
Pas woh chahney kay bawjood apni behn kay sb se eham din par uskay sath nahi thi.
Gaari sarak par rawaa thi. Mazeed ek ghntey ka safar baaqi tha.
"Bhaai jaan chahtey thai kay aj tumhara nikkah bhi ho jaye!"
Woh apne baap ki awaaz bhool gyi thi, opr sey bolay jaaney alfaaz bhi ussey alag se pareshaan kar gye.
Woh lataluqi liye khamosh baithi rahi.
"Lekin mein ne mana kar dia. Akhri faisla to Bhaai jaan ka hi tha lekin mein ne razamandi zaahir nai ki. "
"Kyoun?" Woh kisi soch mein bol gyi thi.
Ek aur waqfa. Jb sawalo kay jawaab na ho to baat ka aghaaz karna hi baiqaar tha.
"Ainda agr barrey abba mere nikkah ka kahein to behtar hai aap inqaar mt kijye ga. Jb mangni par aitaraaz nai kia to ab bhi na karein to acha ho ga!"
Zaira buht ba-adab aur tehri hui guftugo krti thi lekin aaj usme apni behn ki rooh aagyi thi.
Wajid Shah ne koi jawaab nai dia. Baaqi ka rasta khamoshi se kata.
Bilaakhir dairh ghantey baad woh apni shaan se sajji haveli puhnch gye thai. Kuch Mehmaan ja rahey thai magr function jaari o saari thi.
Woh gaari ka darwaza khol rahi thi jb ek sawaal ne ussey roka.
"Tum..... Khush ho?" Woh hichkichatey huey puch rahey thai.
Ajeeb sawaal tha. Khush?
Woh kuch kahey beghair taizi se gaari se utar gyi. iss waqt woh kuch sochna nai chahti thi siwaye iss baat kay woh aur uski behan ab baahir kay mulq parhney jaayein gai. Zaira iss baat par dil se khush thi. Kam az kam kuch waqt kay lye woh apne maazi, rivayato aur zabardasti kay rishto se azaad ho jaye gi.
Ek gehri saans lete huey Zaira Haveli kay pichley darwaazey ki trf bhaagi thi. Woh apni behen ko btana chahti thi kay ab ek nayi zindagi unka intizaar kar rahi hai.
Apni dhun mein mast, bhoorey khuley baalo wali Zaira buht khoobsurat lgti thi kyoun kay yeh shaaz o naazar hota tha.
Woh nikkah ki taqreeb waley kaprey pehney huey thi. Kaano mein jhumkey aur paoun mein khussa, Zaira muskurati hui hawa se race laga rahi thi.
"Ouch!" Woh kisi se takra gyi thi. Uss shakhs kay hath mein phone tha jo takraaney se dusri trf jaa gira tha.
"Excuse me!" Woh chirr kar bola.
Par jawaab to tb ata jb uss shakhs kay ilawa wahan koi aur mujood hota. Zaira ek lamhey kay liye rukki tak nai aur bhaagti chali gyi.
"Aap runway pe nai garage mein hain madame!"
Woh chillattey huey murra tha. Zaira ki uski trf pusht thi jo durr ja rahi thi.
"Sorrryyy!!!" Zaira ne murrey beghair mazrat se hath opr lehraya.
"Mad woman!"
Aarish ab us par se tawaju hata kar mobile utha raha tha jis par Arsh ki call thi. Rastey samjh na aaney ki wja se woh abhi tak nahi puhncha tha.
Zaira saans lene darwaazey par jhuki thi aur ab aagey barhi hi thi kay kisi ne ussey apni tarf buht zor se kheencha tha. Zehni taur pe tyaar na honay ki wja se woh apna tawaazun bamuskil sambhaal payi aur deewaar kay sath jaa lagi.
Andar mehmaano ki chehal pehal thi jb kay yeh hissa nisbatan andhera aur khaali tha.
Woh phatti nighaao se samney kharey shakhs ko pehchanney ki koshish kar rahi thi. Uss shakhs ne Zaira kay mun par hath rakh lia tha.
"Kidhr se arhi hain malika e husan itna sajh dhaj kay?"
Zaira ne yakdm uska hath mun se dhakaila tha.
"Yeh kia badtameezi hai?"
Ussey shadeed saans char raha tha.
"Lo! Abhi to mein ne kuch kiya hi nai. Wese to buht kuch kr skta hun par phir sochta hun mere paas hi ana hai to jaldi kia hai!" Woh tanziya hansa tha.
"Hatto samney se Faheem! " Zaira ne ussey dhaka dia aur khud darwaazey ki taraf barhi thi kay usney dobara ussey kheencha aur iss baar baazo maroor dia.
"Barri Zaban chalney lg gyi hai? Ghosley se nikli nai chirya kay parr pehle e phail gye. Wah!!"
Zaira ki aankho mein aansu phney thai lekin woh iss ghaleez aadmi kay saamney rona nai chahti thi.
Woh musalsal khud ko iss se churaney ki koshish kr rahi thi.
"Abba ne jb kaha tha mere sath chal to tu ne kyoun haan nai bola. Uss Safoorah ne buht bigaara hua hai na tujhe. Par apni auqaat yaad rakh Zaira bibi. Talaaq shudda maa baap ki thukraayi hui Aulaad, ehsaan hai mera jo tujh jesi maamooli larki se mangni kar li aur tu ehsaan faramosh ab Faheem Shah ko inqaar karey gi? Jiskay aagey peechey, Din raat larkiyaan paagl hoti hain. "
"Toh chor do mujhe. Ek aur ehsaan karo Faheem shah!" Woh zabt kiye daant chaba kar boli thi. Aansu halaq mein phans rahey thai.
"Ek baat kaan khol kay sun ley meri Duniya kay jis konay mein bhi jaaye gi dhoond kay nikaalun ga aur tujh se hi shaadi karun ga. Yeh jo teri aqarr hai na isko ab tak apne baap ki wja se bardasht kr raha hun wrna tujh se behtar kon jaanta hai mujhe! "
Woh paseeney se sharaaboor baihaal ho chuki thi aur abhi tak apna baazo churwaney ki koshish kar rahi thi jissey usne qass kay marorr rakha tha.
"Han theik hai straight aja. Yeh lights wali haveli hi venue hai!" Kisi teesrey ki awaaz ahista ahista qareeb arhi thi.
Iss se pehle kay zaira madad kay liye chillati woh uss kay mun pe hath rakhey ghasset'ta hua servant quaters ki trf le gya.
"Bilkul chup!"
Woh Khamoshi se pichli trf kharey thai aur Aarish wahan se guzar kar andr daakhil honay lga tha jb ussey koi ahat mehsoos hui.
"Someone there?"
Woh aagey barha tha aur ussey 2 saaye dikhay thai.
"Hello? "
Woh waha bhaag kar puhncha tha jb Faheem barrey store room ki kundi lga raha.
"Oh sorry mujhe lga!" Aarish kuch tazbazab sa peechey hua.
"Arey jaanaab tussi aidr ki kar rahey ho. Mehmaana naal jao baitho khao piyo!"
Woh khaalis punjab kay purjosh andaaz mein bola.
"Sorry what?"
"Oh English people! I say go eat and sit in that faanoos wala big hall!"
"Oh ohkay! Yeah! I thought someone was here so..."
"Me! Myself! Store room. This. Doing."
Woh tooti phooti English mein isharey kr raha tha.
"nevermind!" Aarish muskurata hua jaaney laga par murr kay ek nazar store par daali.
Yhaan koi aur bhi tha? khud se sawaal kia gya. Ajeeb baat thi. Woh daihaan hatatey huey phir mutmayeen sa haveli ki trf barh gya.
"Buht shauq hai na awaragardiyaan karney ka. Mere sath nai gyi. ab saari raat yahi sarr aur apni behen kay nikkah ki khushi mana!"
Andr Zaira kay mun pe rumaal bndha tha aur woh baihaal baihosh ho rahi thi.
"Safoorah calling!" Zaira kay mobile ki screen chamak rahi thi.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Zaira kahan hai?" Safoorah ne pareshaani se pucha.
"Mujhe kia pata. Phone idr girra kay chali gyi hai. Kb se dhoond raha hun ussey!"
Faheem ne baizaari se keh kar phone band kar dia.
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"Ru! Bhaabi is pretty!" Safoorah ussi sofay par baithi thi aur Ruhaan waha se uth kar ek nisbatan khamosh konay mein khara tha. Yeh shaadiya kitni sar dard hoti hain. Usne socha.
"Konsi bhaabi? Kiski bhaabi?"
"Meri bhaabi yar! Safoorah bhaabi! She has a tough name though!" Aarish hansa tha.
"Yar kitni baar samjhaya hai yeh ek.. "
"Deal hai. Mujhe samjhatey ho ya khud ko yaad dilatey ho. Jb tak deal tb tk to bhaabi hi hui na !"
"Jo marzi kar!" Ruhaan ab iss dramey se waqqi baizaar ho raha tha.
"Hey!" Aarish Safoorah kay saamney ja khara hua.
Safoorah pareshaan thi par jawab khush dili se dia.
"Mein Ru ka... I mean Ruhaan ka Chota bhai Aarish hun!"
Aarish buht milansaar andaaz mein muskuraya tha.
"Aap se mil kay khushi hui!"
Ussey Aarish ka dostana andaaz acha laga tha.
"Mujhe bhi! Aap kaafi pretty hain!"
"Thank you!" Safoorah thori tazbazab hui.
"You got a very long name by the way. May I call you.. ammmm.... fari?"
"Zrur! Wese meri behen mujhe fia bulati hai aap chahein to fia bhi bula saktey hain!" Woh naam ki tajaveez par muskura rahi thi.
"Aur apki behan kon hain?" Aarish ab uskay samney wali kursi par baith kar dilchaspi se puch raha tha.
"Woh kisi kaam mein phans gyi hai. Ab tk aagyi thi par pata nai kaha reh gyi hai."
"So, Fia and fari. Both are done!" Aarish ne high five kay andaaz mein hath aagey kia.
Safoorah uski khush ikhlaaqi par khush hui thi. Woh bilkul uskey jesa lgta tha. Zindagi se bharpoor. Aur thai bhi dono ham umar.
"Done !"
Usne bhi hawa mein high five ka hath lehra dia aur dur kharey Ruhaan ki nazrein inkay tauqub mein masroof thei.
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Woh adhey ghntey se darwaaza peet'tey nadhaal ho chuki thi.
Aansu aur paseena uskay chehrey ko bhigo chuka tha. Kaprey kharaab ho chukey thai.
Ek dm bahir se kundi khulne ki awaaz ayi aur woh harbara kar peechey hui.
"Shukar mana adhey ghntey ki saza de raha hun. Agr kisi ko bhanak bhi lagi na Zaira tujhe yahi dafan kar dun ga. Chup chaap apne kamrey mein ja aur apni shakal theik kar kay ayein. Mehmaan ja rahey hain. Sab aagey ki trf hain!"
Zaira kaanpti taango se uthi aur apne hi dupattey se bandhey hath khulne par mun se rumaal kheencha aur waalihaana andaaz mein bahir dhorri thi.
Uskay honto kay atraaf mein neel par chukey thai. Baazo bhi laal nishaano aur neel se bhar gya tha. Paseene se abtar halat mein sar pe dupaata orhey mun chupaaye, seeriyaan charr rahi thi jb kisi ne peechey se pukaara.
"Excuse me?"
Zaira ki rooh fana honay kay qareeb thi.
Woh murrey beghair udhar hi jm gyi.
"Sorry actually , where's the washroom?"
Aarish ne angraizi lehjey mein pucha.
Zaira ne beghair murrey ya kuch kahey daaye trf ishara kr dia.
"Thank you!" Woh uss trf barh gya aur zaira tez raftaar se apne kamrey ki trf bhaag gyi.
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Kamrey ka darwaaza khulney pe Zaira chonki thi. Woh naha dho kar kaprey badal chuki thi aur zakhmo par kisi hadd tak ointment bhi laga chuki thi lekin aankhain laal soojhi hui thi. Baazo bhi halka sa soojh gya tha. Hont kay atraaf ka neel ointment lganey kay bawjood chup nai saka tha.
"Zaira tum kahan thi yar? Mein kb se tumhey.....?"
Safoorah Dulhan kay libaas mein Zaira ki trf barhi jo sofay par uski trf pusht kiye baithi thi.
Zaira ghabra rahi thi. Woh kese chupaye gi sab.
"Zaira mein tum se baat kar rahi hun... Itni dair kahan laga ..."
Zaira kay palat kar jawaab naa dene par woh baat krti krti sath baith gyi aur Zaira ka kandha apni trf kia.
"Ouch!" Zaira kay mun se ek kamzor cheekh nikli thi.
Safoorah ki waqqi rooh khich gyi. Usne apni behen ko aaj se pehle iss halat mein kabhi nai daikha.
"Yeh.. yeh.... Kiaa hua hai.... Kese hua hai?"
Safoorah kay andr se khoon nuchar gya tha. Apni behn key chehrey par neel, baithi awaaz, soojhi aankhain aur baazo ki dard daikh kay ussey waqqi thandey paseeney a gye.
"Kuch bhi to nai!" Zaira ki awaaz iss qadar bojhal aur baith gyi thi maano pehchaan mein na aye kay yeh zaira hai.
"Tumhara.... Mujhe btao Zaira kis ne kia hai yeh sb?" Safoorah ko ghussa aur darr ek sath lg raha tha.
Zaira khamosh ,bharri bharri nighao se usey daikhti rahi phir jb sabr ne ghutney taik diye to ek dm se galey lagi aur phoot phoot kar rona shuru kr dia.
"Yhan se le jaaye mujhe. Mujhe nahi rehna idhr. Woh janwar hai. Woh mujhe jaan se maar de ga!"
Woh hichkiyaan le rahi thi aur Safoorah ko samjhaaney ki zrurat nai thi kay woh kis baarey mein baat kr rahi hai.
"Uski jurrat kese hui tumhey hath lganey ki. Mujhe btao idr daikho usne kuch....."
Safoorah ka dil doob raha tha.
"Nai. Nai.. Allah na karei. Bas bazoo maroor kar dhamkaya hai aur phir mujhe baandh kar... Store room mein lock kar dia...!"
Zaira sahi trhaa bol nai paa rahi thi . Woh buht roi hui aur ghabraayi hui thi.
Safoorah kay tan badan mein aag lag gyi.
"Mein issey jaan se maar dun gi Zaira. Iski himmat kese hui tumhey hath laganey ki. Aaj tak issey iss lye bardasht kia tha kyoun kay yeh apni ghatiya zabaan se aagey nai barha tha par ab .."
Safoorah ka bass nai chal raha tha ussey shoot kr dey.
"Utaaro! Utaaro yeh manhoos angoothi. Foran! Issi waqt!" Usne zaira kay hath se woh anghooti utaar kay zameen par phaink di.
"Ainda tum issey kabhi nai pehno gi. Sun rahi ho tum . Mein kal hi abba se baat krun gi. Aaj raat buht ho gyi hai!"
Safoorah uska bheega chehra saaf kar rahi thi.
"Nai fia please. Usne kaha hai woh maarr dey ga mujhe agr kisi ko bataya. Fia barrey abba humara bahir parhna cancel kar dein gai. Please. !" Zaira ab kadrey sambhal rahi thi.
"Paagl mt bano ek bahar parhne kay chakar mein , apni behen ki zindagi barbaad honay dun mein?"
"Nahi. barbaad nai ho gi. Baahir chaley jayein gai to barrey abba ziada asaani se samjh sakey gai kay mein uss insaan se nikkah nai kar skti. Tb samjhaana asaan ho ga. Abhi Woh kisi ki baat pe yaqeen nai karein gai!"
"Tumhara chehra daikhain gai to yaqeen karne pe majboor ho jaye gai!"
Safoorah bazid thi.
"Aap kyoun nai samjh rahi. Yeh humara akhri chance hai. Hum risk nai le sktey. Mujhe aisey daikh lia to aur fiqarmnd hon gai hum dono kay hwaaley se aur rahi qasar woh insaan poori kr dey ga!"
"Zaira lekin.... !"
"Humey agli Saturday ki ticket book krwaani hai fia . Time nai hai. Universities open ho chuki hain. Meri behen agr hum dono kay future ki khaatir kisi ghair insaan se nikkah ki deal kar skti hai to mein to bas maar bardasht kar kay ayi hun !"
Woh phir ro parri thi aur Safoorah ne ussey galey se lga lia. Woh uskay baalo mein musalsal haath phair kar tassali dene ki koshish kar rahi thi.
Ek aanu uskay apne hath par bhi girra tha. Woh hairat se ussey daikhney lagi phir apna hath apni palko se lgaya.
Baiyaqeen si ho gyi. Woh ro rahi thi?
Safoorah Aurangzeb ro rahi thi?
Nahi.. Safoorah roti nai hai. Safoorah akhri saans tak larti hai aur haar nai maanti. Iss pinjrey se azaad honay ka waqt agya hai ab.
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"Safoorah?" Yeh raat ka shayad teesra pehar tha. Woh dono kb se sofay par thi pata nai chala. Zaira Safoorah ki goud mrin sarr rakh kar so chuki thi aur Safoorah usi trha baithey ,zaira kay baalo mein hath phairti so gyi thi.
"Beta tum ne kaprey tak nai badley? Kia hua hai?" Phuphoo kharri thi.
Safoorah aankhain massalti yaad kar rahi thi kay woh kahan aur kyoun baithi hai.
"Woh bass aankh lg gyi baatein krtey krtey!"
Safoorah ehtiyaat se seedhi hui thi.
"Uthao issey. Khud to jahan marzi aye so jati hai sath sath tumhey alag tang kia hota hai!"
Phuphoo zaira ki trf barhi thi kay Safoorah ne unhey hath rok kay peechey kr lia.
"Please ussey sonay dein. Mujhe koi msla nai hai. Aap jayein!"
"Beta tum subah tak aisey hi baithi raho gi paagl ho?" Woh hairaaan hui thi.
"Gee pagal hun. Ab aap jayein!" Usne narmi se kaha aur wapis uskay sar pe hath phairtey annkhain bnd kar lein.
Ek se ek barh kay paagl hain dono!
Phuphoo barbarayi thei.
_______________________
"Fia uthai . Please uthain!"
Zaira pareshaan si ussey hila rahi aur woh harbara kay uthi.
"Kia hua hai tum theik ho? Phir chot lagi? Usne kuch kaha hai?" Safoorah ghabra gyi thi.
"Aap poori raat se aise hi baithi hain. Aap.. ap ne mujhe uthana munasib nai samjha?" Zaira sharminda hui thi.
"Pagal larki mujhe laga pata nai kia ho gya hai!" Ab Safoorah apni akri kamr seedhi krne ki koshish kr rahi thi.
"Fia ?" Zaira abdeeda ho rahi thi.
"Please meri maa! Meri jaan! Mera chaand! Royein mt ab! Mein theik hun. Naha kay arhi hun. Baahir nai nikalna koi tumhey aisey na daikhai. Mein khud nashta aur chai le kay aoun gi!"
Woh uskay mathey par pyaar kar kay washroom chali gyi thi. Aur Zaira apni behen kay pyaar ko bas daikh kay reh gyi.
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"Ao beta acha hua tum agyi mein ne tum dono ka admission....!"
"Baba uski zrurat nai hum scholarship admission le chukey hain apki ijazat kay baad hi apply kr dia tha. Teen top universities mein se mein ne apne aur zaira kay liye Yale's University choose ki hai. America ki top universities mein se hai. Please baba mein Ruhaan kay shehar ya university nai jana chahti!"
Aurangzeb Shah ko samjh nai aya woh kia kahein. Jahan se bhaag rahi hai wohi jaa rahi hai. Par kyoun bhaag rahi hai? Ab sach btaoun ya jaaney dun?
"Ammm beta theik hai par tum uss se kyoun bhaag rahi ho. Tumhey woh pasand hai na? Khush ho na?"
"G Ab buht khush hun islye apni parhaai sukoon se muqamal krna chahti hun!"
"Safoorah mein ne aap ko ijazat di iska mtlb yeh nai hai kay aap apni rivaayat ya hadood bhool jaye. Baba ka maan hain aap. Sharminda mt kijye ga mujhe!"
Safoorah ko andr hi andr jese zameer ne jhanjhorra tha.
"Gee!" Woh khamosh si wapas palat ayi aur Aurangzeb sahab uski pusht ko jata dhaik rahey thai.
Mein ne apna farz poora krne ki koshish ki hai Allah. Meri ghaltiyon ko maaf kar dey. Meri betiyaan ab tere amaan mein de raha hun. Inko Hifazat se rakhna.
Dil se dua nikli thi. Aur Baityoo kay lye baap ki duaein qabool hua krtei hain.
__________________________
"Mujhe yaqeen nai arha finally kal humari flight hai!" Zaira buht khush thi.
"Hai na! Finally!" Safoorah uss se double excitement se boli.
"Hostel done hai na humara?"
Zaira ko yaad aya tha.
"Nai yar baba keh rahey hain kay Connecticut mein unkay dost hain koi unkay flat ka upper portion khaali hain whaan sirf ek female caretaker rehti hai. Hum waha rahein gai!"
"Wese yeh to buht acha hai. Hostel kay rules se jaan choot jaye gi aur humara apna comfort zone ho ga!" Zaira mutmayeen thi.
"Han ye to hai!" Packings muqamal ho chuki thi aur kal flight thi. Uss din kay baad se Safoorah ki Ruhaan se ya udkay ghr waloun se koi baat nai hui thi. Albata Daadi jaan ne do teen baar phone kia tha jinka jawaab woh ba'adab aur khush ikhlaaqi se deti thi. Daadi jaan ussey achi lgti thei. Unka pyaar kisi rishtey ka muhtaaj nai tha. Woh bailoss si muhabat krti thi aisa ussey lgta tha.
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"Allah Hafiz Baba!" Safoorah unse pichley 15 minute se chipki hui thi. Woh nai jaanti thi kay sb se mushkil Allah Hafiz apne baba ko kehna ho ga.
"Allah Hafiz puttar! Khyaal rakhna ay apni vi tey zaira da vi. Khana peena. Dil laga kay parhna. Roz phone krna. Tey kisi cheez di vi zrurat hovay foran dassna. Mere dost airport tey aan gai aur tuvano hifazat naal khaar puhncha dain gai. Puhnch kay phone krna!"
"Baba yeh baat ap aathvi baar keh rahey hain!" Woh rotey rotey hans di thi.
Unho ne uska maatha chooma aur dua di. Aur ab zaira ki baari thi.
"Apna vi khyaal rakhna aur apni iss shararti behen da vi tey...."
"Barrey abba aap tension na le!"
Zaira muskurayi thi.
"Mera zimadarr bacha!" Aurangzeb sahb ne uskay sar pe pyaar dia aur baap ki duao kay saayein mein dono baityaan ek naye safar ki jaanib rukhsat ho chuki thein.
Aik aisa Safar jisme sab kuch naya aur anjaan tha. Zindagi ab inkay liye konsay tuhfey laaye gi yeh to waqt hi btaye ga!
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A/N
Ohkay I thought to post their first university scene as well that will be ultimate face off :D
It was planned since the story wasn't even decided but words got long, so....
in Next part INN SHAA ALLAH.
Fasten your seat belts. A completely new and unexpected journey is waiting for four of them.
To know where will it lead?
Who will win? Who'll lose?
Or Game over for all?
Stay tuned.
Don't forget to press 🌟.
I hope you're loving it till now.
Writer loves ya all.
Nawaal.