Doosri Qist (Episode 2)
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Andhera kamra aur phone ki khamosh screen.Qurat-ul-ain ne tezi se charger dhoonda aur phone on kiya. Uska dil kisi anjan darr se doob raha tha.
"Kaisi picture thi woh? Ismael itna... itna alag kyun lag raha tha?"
Qurat ne kaanpte hathon se message parha.
Ismael: "Darr gayi kya? Bas dekh raha tha ke meri asliyat bardasht kar sakti ho ya nahi."
Qurat ne chain ki saans li.
"Shukar hai, mazaq kar raha tha."
Usne socha Ismael sirf "cool" banne ki koshish kar raha hai.
Asal mein, woh tasveer Ismael ki thi hi nahi. Dusri taraf Hashir(Ismael ka dost) apne laptop ke samne baitha Ismael ki Snapchat ID login kiye muskura raha tha. Usne shararat mein apni car ke sath tike hue intense picture kheenchi thi—jis mein sirf uske bikhre curly baal aur cigarette ka dhuwan nazar aa raha tha—aur Ismael ban kar bhej di thi.
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Dupeher ke 3 baj rahe thay jab Hashir ne apne kamre ki battiyan gul karke laptop aur mobile on kiya. Uske paas Ismael ki Snapchat ID ka password pehle se tha. Usne muskurate hue ID login ki aur dekha ke Qurat-ul-ain abhi bhi online thi.
Hashir ne ek shararat sochi. Usne apni ek picture bheji jis mein woh apni gari se tike khara wa tha magar chehra wazay nahi tha. Usne "Ismael" ban kar woh picture bhej di.
Ismael (Hashir): "Paheliyan suljhana pasand hai na? Toh ye dekho tumhara 'Secret' kaisa dikhta hai."
Qurat: "Tum toh kafi khatarnak lag rahe ho! Kya tum waqayi wahi Ismael ho jo itni pyari baatein karta hai?"
Hashir ne screen dekh kar thanda saunsa bhara aur foran Ismael ko message kiya:
"Oye, handle kar ab isay. Maine thori 'masti' kar di hai."
Ismael ne foran charge sambhala. Woh Hashir ki tarah sakht nahi tha, balkay baaton ka jaadu-gar tha. Agle do ghante un dono ne aisi baatein kin ke Kainat apni "Dabang" personality bhool kar ek aam larki ban gayi.
Ismael: "Suno, tumhari awaaz sunne ka bohot dil kar raha hai. Kya tum mere liye ek chota sa gana gao gi?"
Qurat: "Pagal ho? Meri awaaz phatay hue dhol jaisi hai, tum darr jao ge!"
Ismael: "Darr toh mujhe tumhare school ki 'gunda-gardi' se lagta hai, tumhari awaaz toh mere liye sukoon hogi."
Qurat muskuraye bina na reh saki. Ismael ne usey itne "cute" nicknames diye ke woh andar hi andar pighalne lagi. Dono ne ek dusre ko bachpan ke qisse sunaye aur khoob hansi mazaq kiya.
Agle do din qurat ke liye kisi khwaab se kam nahi thay. School mein woh wahi 'dabang' larki thi jo rasta rokne walon ko thokar marti thi, magar ghar aate hi woh Ismael ki dunya mein kho jati. Ismael ab bohot "cute" aur care karne wala ban gaya tha.
Ismael: "Suno, aaj nani ne kya banaya? Kahin tumhein phir se kailay (bananas) toh nahi khane paray?"
qurat: "Haha! Nahi, aaj biryani thi. Magar tumhein kaise pata ke mujhe kailon se nafrat hai?"
Ismael: "Kyunke main tumhari khamoshi bhi parh leta hun, qurat. Tumhare har 'Hmm' ka matlab janta hun."
qurat hairat-zada reh gayi. Ismael uski har choti baat yaad rakhta tha. Woh uske liye voice notes bhejta aur usey ehsas dilata ke woh duniya ki sab se khas larki hai. Dheere dheere, qurat ko mehsoos hone laga ke shayad Ismael hi woh hai jis ka usey intezar tha.
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Raat ke do baj rahe thay. Nani k ghr mein har taraf khamoshi ka raaj tha, bas bahar sarak par kabhi kabaar guzarti gaariyon ki awaaz sannate ko cheer deti. Qurat-ul-ain apne kamre se nikal kar balcony ki railing se tek lagaye khari thi. Thandi hawa uske bikhre hue curly baalon se khel rahi thi, magar uska dimaag abhi tak us 'blur' picture mein uljha hua tha jo Ismael ne bheji thi.
Achanak mobile ki screen roshan hui. Ismael ka message tha.
Ismael: "qurat... main nahi janta ye sab kab aur kaise hua, magar ab mujhe tumhare messages ka intezar nahi hota, balkay tumhari aadat ho gayi hai.Qurat-ul-ain, main mazeed 'sirf dost' ban kar nahi reh sakta. Mujhe darr hai ke koi aur tumhari ye haseen ankhein mujh se pehle na chura le. Will you be mine? Kya hum ek relationship mein aa sakte hain?"
Qurat-ul-ain ke hathon se mobile girte girte bacha. Woh buri tarah "Shocked" thi. Usne kabhi nahi socha tha ke online dosti itni jaldi is mor par aa jayegi. Uska dil kisi dhol ki tarah bajne laga. Agle do ghante tak woh wahin khari rahi, asman ko dekhti rahi, magar dimaag mein Ismael ki care, uske voice notes, aur woh makhsoos "blur" picture wali kashish ghoom rahi thi.
School ki "Don" aaj ek haseen uljhan mein thi. Aakhir-kar, usne apne dil ki suni aur kaanpte hathon se type kiya:
"Haaan.. I will"
Qurat-ul-ain ke 'Haan' kehte hi Ismael ne ek aur message bheja.
Ismael: "Ab jab tum meri ho, toh haq banta hai ke tum apne Ismael ka asli chehra dekh lo. Taki us raat wali 'shararat' ka darr nikal jaye."
Usne ek bilkul saaf aur nihayat haseen tasveer bheji. Ismael waqayi ek "Chocolatey Boy" tha—masoom ankhain, halki si muskurahat aur nihayat pyaara chehra. Qurat-ul-ain ne tasveer dekhi toh uski ankhon mein chamak aa gayi. Usey yakeen ho gaya ke woh dhuwan urati hui picture sirf ek bura mazaq tha. Yeh asali Ismael toh kisi farishte jaisa tha.
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Sheher ke doosre rukh par, Hashir apni kaali car ke steering wheel par be-sabri se ungliyan maar raha tha. Uske phone ki screen roshan hui. Ismael ka notification chamka:
"Bhai! Kaam ho gaya. Woh maan gayi hai."
Hashir ne ek sardaah aur zahreeli muskurahat ke sath cigarette sulgayi. Dhuein ke baadal faza mein uchalte hue uski ankhon mein woh purana manzar ghoom gaya—teen saal purana woh manzar jo uske dimaag mein kisi gehray zakhm ki tarah naqsh tha.
Usne apni ex-girlfriend ko cheat karte hue pakra tha aur gusse mein us par hath uthane hi wala tha ke achanak ek choti si, chashmay wali larki beech mein aa gayi thi. Us waqt ki Qurat-ul-ain, jo apni cousin (Hashir ki ex) ko bachate hue poori quwwat se Hashir ke chehre par apna hath de maara tha.
"Bhoolna mat Hashir! Tum ameer ho sakte ho, par kisi larki par hath uthane ka haq tumhein tumhara paisa bhi nahi deta!"
Qurat-ul-ain ki woh garajti hui awaaz aaj bhi Hashir ke kaano mein goonjti thi.
Hashir ne apne gaal par hath phera, jahan aaj bhi us thappar ki tapish mehsoos hoti thi. Us waqt Qurat-ul-ain kafi choti thi, magar uski woh jurrat Hashir ki "mardaana ana" ko cheer gayi thi. Tabhi usne qasam khayi thi ke woh is "chashmish" ko iski auqat dikhaye ga.
"Bechari Qurat-ul-ain... tumne mohabbat ke jaal mein qadam rakh diya hai,"
Hashir ne khud-kalami ki.
"Tumhe laga tum mujhe thappar maar kar bhool jao gi? Ab main tumhare dil par woh chot maarun ga jis ka nishaan tumhari rooh se kabhi nahi mitega."
Usne car ka gear dala aur accelerator dabaya. Usay Ismael aur Qurat-ul-ain ki dosti ka raaz fash nahi karna tha, usay toh bas doriyaan hilani thin taake Qurat-ul-ain ko wahan la kar khara kare jahan woh khud se nafrat karne lagay.
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Qurat-ul-ain ne kambal apne chehre tak khinch liya, magar uski ankhon mein chamak saaf nazar aa rahi thi. Usne ek baar phir mobile on kiya aur Ismael ki bheji hui us "saaf" tasveer ko ghaur se dekha.
Ismael waqayi bohot pyaara tha. Uske chehre ki masoomiyat Qurat-ul-ain ke dil mein kisi thandi fawara (fountain) ki tarah utar rahi thi. Usne tasveer ko zoom karke uski ankhon ko dekha aur phir apna haath apne gaal par rakha, jo sharam se garam ho rahe thay.
"Ya Allah... main itni 'blush' kyun kar rahi hun? Main toh school ki Qurat-ul-ain hun, jiske samne larkay nazrein nahi uthate,"
usne khud ko jhirjhiraya, magar dil tha ke maanta hi nahi tha.
Usne ankhon ko moond liya aur khayalon ki ek nayi dunya mein chali gayi. Woh tasavvur karne lagi ke jab woh pehli baar Ismael se milegi, toh kya hoga?
"Kya woh mujhe dekhte hi ruk jayega? Kya woh mere bikhre hue curly baalon ki tareef karega? Shayad woh mere liye koi gulab le kar aaye... nahi nahi, woh toh khud itna masoom hai, shayad woh bhi meri tarah hichkichaye (hesitate) ga."
Woh soch rahi thi ke kaise woh dono school ke baad kisi pur-sukoon jagah baithenge. Ismael uske liye koi romantic gana gun-gunayega aur woh sirf usey sunti rahegi. Usne socha ke Ismael k samne woh wahi masoom Qurat-ul-ain ban sakegi jo nani ki god mein sar rakh kar sukoon pati hai.
"Ismael... tum meri zindagi mein kisi mojzay (miracle) ki tarah aaye ho,"
usne muskurate hue socha.
Woh khayali pulao bana rahi thi ke woh Ismael ko apne pasandida suits pehan kar dikhayegi, usey apne school ke qissey sunayegi aur shayad... shayad woh dono mil kar naye saal ke har lamhe ko yaadgar bana denge. Uske dil mein ek ajeeb si khushi raqs kar rahi thi, yeh soche bina ke uski is khushi ki dori kisi aise shakhs ke hath mein hai jo usay tabah karne ki qasam kha chuka hai.
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Hashir ki kaali gaari ek sunsaan sarak ke kinare ruki hui thi. Mobile ki screen roshan hui—Ismael ki call thi. Hashir ne headphone kaan se lagaya aur gehri saans khinchi.
"Bhai... main keh raha tha ke..."
Ismael ki awaaz mein hichkichahat (hesitation) saaf thi.
"Kya hum yeh sab rok nahi sakte? Matlab... woh abhi sirf 16 saal ki bachi hai Hashir. Usay toh dunya ki samajh bhi nahi hai. Mujhse uske sath itna bara jhoot bolna ab hazam nahi ho raha."
Hashir ne cigarette ka ek lamba kash liya aur dhuan bahar nikaalte hue sardaah lehje mein bola,
"Bachi hai?"
Usne ek zahreeli hansi hans di.
"Ismael, woh thappar kisi bachi ka nahi tha. Woh meri ana par parne wali woh chot thi jisne mujhe teen saal tak sone nahi diya. 16 saal ho ya 40, usne Hashir ka garoor tora tha... ab main uski masoomiyat torun ga."
"Lekin bhai, woh aap ko ab pehchan bhi nahi payegi, woh toh tab bohot choti thi—"
"Isi liye toh maza ayega!"
Hashir ne baat kaat di.
"Usey pata bhi nahi chalega ke dukh dene wala wahi hai jisay woh bacha rahi thi. Ismael... tum apna kaam karo, baki mujh par chhor do. Usey milne ke liye bulao aur bas."
Hashir ne bina doosri baat sune call kaat di. Uska chehra gusse se surkh ho raha tha.
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Ghar pahonch kar Hashir ne apna coat bed par phenka aur seedha bathroom mein chala gaya. Shower on karte hi garm pani ki bhap (steam) poore bathroom mein phail gayi.
Garm pani ki tez boondein jab uske jism par parne lagin, toh usne apni ankhein moond lin. Magar andhere mein bhi usey wahi chehra nazar aa raha tha. Woh 'chashmish' bachi, bikhre hue curly baal, aur woh gehri ankhein jo darrti nahi thin.
Usey yaad aya ke kaise us choti si larki ne uske samne khare hokar uski ankhon mein ankhein daal kar usey lalkara tha. Us thappar ki tapish aaj bhi uske gaal par mehsus ho rahi thi. Pani ke neeche khare hue bhi Hashir ko sakoon nahi mil raha tha.
"Tumne mujhse mera sukoon chhina tha Qurat-ul-ain... ab main tumhari neendein haram karun ga,"
usne socha. Pani uske curly baalon se hota hua neche gir raha tha, magar uske andar ki aag aur thandi hone ke bajaye barhti ja rahi thi. Woh usay rulate hue dekhna chahta tha. Woh chahta tha ke jis mohabbat par woh aaj blush kar rahi hai, kal wahi mohabbat uski zindagi ka sab se bara azab ban jaye.
Hashir bathroom se baahar nikla, ek towel apne kandhe par dala aur aaine ke samne khara ho gaya. Usne apne bikhre hue baalon ko peeche kiya aur aaine mein apne aks ko dekhte hue ek sardaah muskurahat di.
"Khel toh ab shuru hua hai, Qurat-ul-ain. Kal ki subah tumhare liye ek naya savera nahi... meri nafrat ka pehla qadam hogi."
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TO BE CONTINUED
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Ek naam jo sach nahi, ek chehra jo raaz bana,
Online lafzon mein rishta, haqeeqat mein aag bana.
Woh khel samjha mohabbat ko, woh maan gayi dil se,
Ek ne waar kiya khamoshi se, ek haari har pal se.
Magar kahani yahan khatam nahi hoti,
Yeh sirf aaghaz hai dard ki roshni ka,
Jahan masoomiyat bhi hathyar banay gi,
Aur toota hua dil bhi insaan banay ga.