Kaale Chiraag

Baarish ke shor se kaan phate jaa rahe the. Andhere me ye shor aisa lag raha tha jaise ye duniya ki antim
raat ho......aur ab kabhi suraj na dikhayi dega. Ye silsila chaar baje shaam se shuru hua tha aur ab das baj
rahe the. Lekin is bich ek baar bhi baarish ka taar nahin toota tha.

Mrs Jaffery ek halki si shawl me lipti huyi easy chair me baithi thin. Unke chehre par gahri chinta ke
bhaaw the. Drawing room me unke alawa chaar vyakti aur bhi the.....jo dinner ke baad se ab tak yahin
baithe huye the. Is bich coffee ke kayi daur chal chuke the.

Jaffery pariwar ki buzurg ab Mrs Jaffery hi thin. Halaaki wo Jamil, Shakil, Ghazala aur Ruhi ki sauteli maa
thin. Lekin unke rakh-rakhaao se sautelapan prakat nahin hota tha. Charon bhai bahan bachche hi the
jab wo is ghar me aayi thin.....aur do saal ke baad khud bhi vidhwa ho ho gayi thin. Woh unki jawaani hi
ka samay tha. Lekin un bachchon keliye unhon ne khud par budhaapa odh liya.....aur ye sacchayi thi ki
wo unke liye mar miti thin.

Abhi pichhle hi dinon unhone bade bete Jamil ki shadi ki thi. Jab bahu ghar aayi to unhone saari
vyawastha uske hawaale kar diya tha. Lekin Jamil ne usay sweekar nahi kiya......wo sab unki buzurgi aur
guardianship har maamle me banaaye rakhna chaahte the. Mrs Jaffery aksar sochti ki kya unke apne
bachche bhi isi tarah unse pyar karte.....jis tarah ye charon karte hain? Wo ghanton is vishay par
sochtin.....lekin ant me unhen maanna padta ki unke apne bachche nalayaq bhi saabit ho sakte the.
Kyonki unke saamne aise kayi udaaharan hote.

Lekin aajkal wo kaafi dukhi thin. Kyonki unke swarg me ek buri-aatma ghus aayi thi......aur usne unka
sukoon chheen liya tha. Waise bhi wo Jamil ki patni ki aankhon me aansu nahin dekh sakti thin. Uske
baad ye baat bhi unke liye badi kasht-dayak thi ki Jamil aaj bhi ghar waalon ke sath dining table par
upasthit nahin tha. Wo Jamil ki patni ka murjhaya hua chehra dekhtin aur dil hi dil me kudhti rahtin.

Wo Jamil jo kabhi unke saamne unchi awaaz me bolne ki himmat nahin kar sakta tha....aaj hi unki har
baat ka barabari se jawab deta chala gaya tha. Usne kaha tha ki wo apni marzi ka maalik hai......jo
chaahe.....karega. Mrs Jaffery hastakshep nahin kar saktin.

Mrs Jaffery sannaate me aa gayi thin. Lekin phir iss tarah khamosh ho gayi thin jaise unse vastav me koi
badi galti ho gayi ho. Uss samay wo Shakil ko bhi aisi nazron se dekh rahi thin jaise kal wo bhi isi tarah
unka dil tod dega.

Shakil Jamil se chhota tha.....lekin umron me do saal se adhik ka antar nahin tha.

Mrs Jaffery ne ek lambi saans li aur khidki se baahar dekhne lagin. Shakil, Ghazala, Ruhi aur Jamil ki patni
Razia dhire dhire baaten kar rahe the. Baarish ke kaaran shayad unki awaazen Mrs Jaffery tak nahin
pahuch rahi thin. Unhone achanak unki taraf mud kar kaha...."Kya aaj tum sab ko nind nahin aa rahi?"
"Nahin ammi," Shakil bola. "Jab tak Jamil bhai aapke pairon par naak nahin ragdenge mujhe nind nahin
aayegi."

"Murkhon jaisi baaten mat karo.....jaao....so jaao."

"Mujhe nind nahin aayegi ammi.....mera dil chaahta hai ki Jamil bhai ka gala ghont dun."

"Kya bakwas hai." Mrs Jaffery krodh bhare swar me bolin...."Aisi behoodagi mujhe pasand nahin
hai.....agar tumne uske khilaf ek shabd bhi kaha to main tum se bhi naraaz ho jaaungi. Uska kya kasoor
hai? Wo to shayad hosh me hi nahin hai."

"Aap unhen mujh se adhik nahin jaanti ammi."

"Haan thik kaha.....tumhi ne to usko paal pos kar itna bada kiya hai....tumhi kyon nahin jaanoge."

"Aap mera matlab nahin samjhin."

"Main kuchh nahin samajhna chaahti.....jaao so jaao."

Tabhi ek naukar wahaan prawesh kiya......aur Shakil se bola...."Ek sahab aapko puchh rahe hain."

"Iss samay?" Mrs Jaffery ne hairat se kaha. "Kon hai?"

"Pata nahin kon sahab hain." Naukar ne kaha. "Be-matlab bahas karte hain.....kahne lage Mushtari
Manzil yahi hai na......yahan Shakil sahab rahte hain naa?......maine kaha jee haan rahte hain.....lekin ye
Jaffery Manzil hai.....kahne lage nahin Mushtari Manzil hai.....is baat par unhone jhagda shuru kar
diya.....bolne lage tum mujh se adhik vidwaan ho kya? Main M A, B A na jaane kya kya hun."

"Ohhoo...." Shakil uchhal kar khada ho gaya....uska chehra dekhne laga.....phir usne darwaaze ki taraf
chhalaang lagaayi.....aur Mrs Jaffery ke sawaal ka uttar diye bina raah-daari me daudta chala gaya.

"Kya musibat hai...." Mrs Jaffery barbadaayin..."Ek taraf se sabhi ke dimaag ulat'te chale jaa rahe
hain......Allah rahem kare..." Phir wo naukar ki taraf dekh kar bolin..."Kon aaya hai?"

"Pata nahin begam sahiba.....unhone apna naam bataya tha.....lekin phir MA, BA aur na jaane kya kya
kahne lage.....main naam hi bhool gaya.....bina matlab mujhse ladne lage the ki nahin ye Mushtari
Manzil hai."

"Jaao." Mrs Jaffery hath utha kar bolin aur naukar chala gaya.

Razia, Ruhi aur Ghazala me phir phusphusaahat hone lagi thi. Mrs Jaffery ke chehre par nazar aane waali
tanaao pahle se adhik badh gaya tha.

"Ladkiyo! aakhir kab tak jaagti rahogi?"

"Abhi nind nahin aayegi ammi....iss shor me.." Ghazala ne kaha. Kuchh der khamoshi rahi....Mrs Jaffery
ne kaha "Ye itni raat gaye is toofan me kaun aaya hai?.....main sach kahti hun ye donon ladke mujhe
pagal bana denge."

"Ammi....aap bekar pareshan ho rahi hain...." Ruhi boli...."Wo bhaiya ke koi dost honge....unke adhiktar
dost aise hi oot-pataang kism ke hain."

"Mere khuda......ye Jamil kitna achha ladka tha." Mrs Jaffery dukhi swar me bolin...."Kitaabon ka
keeda.....duniya ki buraayi se usay koi usay koi matlab nahin tha....achanak uss chudail aurat ne na jaane
kis prakar uska dimag ulat diya."

"Ammi.....wo aurat shaitani shaktiyon ki maalik lagti hai......aap us se aankh mila kar baat nahin kar
saktin...."

"Main uski soorat bhi nahin dekhna chaahti." Mrs Jaffery ne bura sa muhh bana kar kaha.

"Maine itni sundar aurat aaj tak nahin dekhi." Ghazala ne kaha.

"Kya sundarta hai usme?" Jamil ki patni Razia ne bura sa muh bana kar kaha. "Kisi laash ki tarah safed
dikhti hai."

"Khuda usay lash hi me badal daale." Ghazala ne kaha.....jo shayad ye soch kar garbada gayi thi ki kahin
uske is remarks Razia ko dukh na pahuchaya ho.

Tabhi Shakil kamre me prawesh kiya. Uska chehra laal pad raha tha......aur hansi phooti pad rahi thi.

"Ammi.....wo mera dost hai.......bahut door se aaya hai...usay pahle hamen suchna deni chaahiye thi.
Ham usay station lene jaate." Usne kaha.

"Ohho....tumhen doston se itna prem kab se ho gaya? Tumhara to ye haal tha ki jahaan kisi dost ke aane
ki khabar suni is tarah hont sikod liye jaise wo ssari zindagi tumhaare sath rahne keliye aaya ho."

"Ye dost un sab se alag hai ammi....ye un logon ki tarah bore nahin karta.....balki khud hi dusron ki
dilchaspi ka saaman ban jaata hai. Kahiye to main usay yahaan laaun?"

"Wo thaka hua aa raha hai......nahin ab ham subah us se milenge.....uska khana uske kamre me
jaayega...."
"Khaana....?" Shakil muskura kar bola. "Wo kahta hai maine pichhle hafte se khana nahin khaaya......aur
na aainda khaane ka iraada hai."
"Dusra pret-aatma..." Ghazala dhire se boli aur Shakil hasne laga......phir bola.

"Beshak......agar Jamil bhai pret-aatma se sambandh bana sakte hain to phir main kyon pichhe rahun?"

"Achha to phir mere liye kahin se thoda sa zahar laa do.....phir jo tum logon ka dil chaahe karte
raho....main dekhne keliye nahin aaungi." Mrs Jaffery ne kaha.

"Waah ammi.....zahar to laaunga....lekin unlogon keliye jinke kaaran aap pareshan hain. Bas dekhti jaaiye
tamasha......agar wo jaadugarni apna sar peetati huyi yahaan se na bhaagi to naam badal dunga apna.
Jamil bhai ke saare philosophy rakh ka dher ho jaayenge."

"To kya......aane waala...."

"Wo kewal mera ek dost hai.....ek murkh sa vyakti....jiske chehre se hi murkhta barasti hai."

"Tumhara hi dost jo thara..." Razia muskuraayi. Mrs Jaffery ke alawa aur sab hasne lage.

"Achha bhabi.....phir tum usay dekh hi lena." Shakil ne jhenp kar kaha aur drawing room se chala gaya.

**********************************************************

Agli subar break-fast keliye dining table par sab baithe pichhli raat aaye mehmaan ka intezaar kar rahe
the. Jamil is samay bhi anupasthit tha. Shakil ke baare me ummid thi ki woh aagantuk ke sath aayega.
Jab wo mehmaan aaya to unki aankhen hairat se phail gayin.

Wo peele rang ka shirt aur neela pants dhaaran kiye huye tha. Gale me pink colour ki plane tie thi......aur
sar par hare rang ka felt hat. Wo kisi techni-colour film ka koi kirdar lag raha tha. Aur uspar se chehre par
phaili murkhta purn gambheerta.....saari kami ko poora kar de rahi thi.

"Ye meri ammi hain...." Shakil ne parichay karana shuru kiya. "Ye bhabi Razia, ye donon Ghazala aur Ruhi
meri bahnen hain."

"Aap sab se khush kar.....arrrr.....mil kar badi khushi huyi..." Mehmaan murkhtapurn dhang se sar hilaata
hua baith gaya.

"Aur ye kon hain?" Mrs Jaffery ne puchha.

"Ali Imran.....M Sc, D Sc....Oxun....." Shakil hans kar bola."Oxford me mere sath the...."

Un sabon ko shayad ispar vishwaas nahin hua tha.....kyon ki wo sab apni hansi ko rokne ka prayas kar
rahi thin.

Imran sar jhukaaye baitha raha....Mrs Jaffery Shakil ko ghoor rahi thin......aur Shakil ka ye haal tha ki
hanste hanste dohra hua jaa raha tha.

"Kya behudagi hai Shakil......kyon paaglon ki tarah hanse jaa rahe ho?" Mrs Jaffery ne krodh bhare swar
me kaha.....aur Imran ne is tarah chaunk kar Shakil ki taraf dekha jaise wo sach-much paagal ho gaya ho.
Waise Imran ki Murkhta bhari gambhirta me koi kami nahin aayi thi.

Shakil ne mazbuti se apne hont band kar liye.....lekin soundless thahaake ab bhi jaari the. Aakhir jab
usne dekha ki kahkahe phir aawaz ke saath hone lage hain to wo table se uth hi gaya aur pet dabaaye
huye baahar nikal gaya.

"Dekha tumne?" Mrs Jaffery ladkiyon ki taraf dekh kar bolin....."Main tang aa gayi hun in ladkon se."

"Aap shayad unke koi bahut hi betakalluf dost hain...." Razia ne Imran ki taraf dekha jo is andaaz me
naashte me vyast tha jaise wahaan aur koi dusra nahin ho.

"Kuchh bhi ho.." Mrs Jaffery boli...."Manners har jagah aur har avasar bar qaayam rahna chaahiye."

Imran sar jhukaaye coffee pi raha tha. Razia, Ghazala aur Ruhi ek dusre ki taraf arthpurn drishti se dekh
rahi thin.

Achanak Mrs Jaffery ne Imran se puchha..."Aap donon ek dusre ko kab se jaante hain?"

"Kon donon?" Imran ne chini mila kar spoon ko table par rakhte huye hairat se puchha.

"Aap aur Shakil..."

"Ohh.....wo....jee haan....shayad London me pahli baar jaan pahchan huyi thi......main chemistry me
research kar raha tha.....uff.....wo bhi kya din the..."

"Aap kya karte hain?"

"Sair....sapaata ke alawa aur kya kar sakta hun? Pichhle saal gannon ki kheti kiya tha.....lekin baad me
pata chala ki gud banaana hansi khel nahin hai.....isliye iraada......wo kar diya.....kya kahte hain
usay.....mere sath badi musibat hai.....sahi shabd yaad nahin aate.....anyway
iraada.....iraada.....iraada....nahin....matlab ki......"

Imran chup ho gaya. uske chehre par uljhan ke bhaaw the. Aisa lag raha tha jaise shabd ko yaad karne ke
kram me uska kaleja phat raha ho......achanak usne prasann hokar kaha....."Jee haan yaad aa
gaya.....kahne ka matlab yah tha ki phir iraada tyag dena pada."
Wo chaaro usay aashcharya se ghoor rahi thin.

"Aapke daddy kya karte hain?" Mrs Jaffery ne is tarah puchha jaise vastav me wo chup hi rahna chaahti
hon lekin shishtachar ke naate unhen baat jaari rakhna pad raha ho.

"Arre unki kuchh na puchhiye." Imran sar hila kar bola. "Kabhi santosh karte hain aur kabhi
krodh.....unka sochna hai ki main bahut hi stupid aur dumb hun.....lekin wo isay saabit nahin kar
paate......yahi kaaran hai ki unhen santosh karna padta hai......lekin stupid kahte samay wo krodh me hi
hote hain....."

Mrs Jaffery ladkiyon ki taraf dekh kar chup ho gayin. Imran B.F. samaapt kar ke sar jhukaaye baitha raha.
Mrs Jaffery kuchh der baad bolin..."Agar aap uthna chaahen to hamen koi aapatti nahin hogi."

"Ohho....jj....ji haan.....dhanyawad...." Imran uthta hua bola aur chup chap kamre se nikal gaya.

Ghazala aur Ruhi phoot padin. Kaafi der tak hasti rahin.....Razia bhi hans rahi thi.....aur Mrs Jaffery ke
honton par bhi halki si muskurahat thi.

"Ammi.....maza aa gaya..." Ghazala apni hansi rokti huyi boli. "Ye koi bahut bada dute hai....aur bhaiya ne
ghar ke maatami vaatavaran se oob kar usay yahaan bulaaya hai. Ham itna dil khol kar kab se nahin
hanse......aap khud sochiye..."

"Hanso....aakhir ek din mere sarhaane baith kar rona. Jamil ki ye harkat meri jaan le legi....tum dekh
lena."

"Aap bhi kaisi baaten karti hain ammi..." Razia bol padi...."Mitti daaliye sab par....aap se adhik hamaare
liye aur koi nahin hai.....aap akaaran chinta karke pareshan hoti hain....mujhe to ratti bhar bhi parwaah
nahin."

"Tum mujhe bahlaane keliye aisa kah rahi ho." Mrs Jaffery ne dukhi swar me kaha...."Main kaise maan
lun ki pati ka bhatak jaana tumhaare liye kashtdaayi nahin hai?"

"Bilkul nahin hai ammi...." Razia ne kaha..."Main jaanti hun ki aap mere liye hi pareshan hain....aap
kahen to main koi badi saugandh kha kar kah dun taaki aapko vishwaas ho ki mujhe unke bhatkaao ki
thodi si bhi chinta nahin."

Mrs Jaffery ne sar jhuka liya.....lekin unke chehre par ab bhi dukh ki rekhaayen thin.

********************************************************
"Abbe......kyon mera time waste kar raha hai...Shakil ke bachche...." Imran aankhen tared kar bola. Lekin
Shakil poorv-vat bolta raha.
"By God.....agar tumne usay dekh liya to kaleja thaam kar baith jaaoge. Aisi haseen aurat aaj tak meri
nigaahon se nahin guzri..."

"Agar nahin guzri to isme mera kya kasoor hai?" Imran ro dene waali aawaz me bola. "Tum nahin jaante
main iss samay kin janjaalon se pichha chhuda kar tum tak pahucha hun.....mere paas bahut thoda
samay hai."

Shakil kuchh pal khamosh raha.....phir bola...."Pahle wo yahaan ke ek hotel me thahri huyi thi.....aur
logon ke hath dekh kar unke bhavishya-vani kiya karti thi. Tum khud soch sakte ho ki wahaan kitni bheed
bhaad rahti hogi. Kitne to kewal uske sameep kuchh samay bitaane keliye jaate the."

"Maamla ko adhik khicho mat.....ye bataao ki wo yahaan tumhari kothi me kaise aayi?''

"Jamil bhai ek party me invited the....wo bhi wahaan aayi thi. Jab Jamil bhai wahaan se chalne lage to
usne unhen rok kar kaha ki wo iss samay poorbi gate se buiding me prawesh na karen."

"Kis building me?"

"Yahin isi kothi ke baare me boli thi.....yahaan 2 gate hain....ek uttar disha me dusra poorab disha me.
Aana-jaana poorab waale gate se hi hota hai. Anyway....Jamil bhai uski baat par hans diye.....ispar us
aurat ne kaha ki wo jaadugar nahin hai....balki taaron ki chaal se yahi prakat hai ki purbi phaatak 9 aur 10
baje ke bich ashubh ho jaayega. Unhone shishtachar me uss se waada kar liya lekin unka irada nahin tha
ki wo uski baaton par chalenge. Lekin phir ghar ke nikat pahuchne par achanak unhone iraada badal liya.
Wo uttari phaatak par aaye jo band tha. Waise usay khulwaane me koi dikkat nahin thi.....kyonki
darbaan ka kamra usi gate se mila hua tha. Wo gaadi rok kar phaatak khulwaane keliye utar hi rahe the
ki aisa laga jaise door kahin koi deewar giri ho. Pahle to unhone ispar dhyan nahin diya. Phir achanak
purbi phaatak ka dhyan aaya.....us aurat ki chetawani yaad aayi....wo tezi se gaadi me baithe aur purbi
gate ki taraf chal pade.....aur phir unke aashchrya ki koi seema na rahi jab unhone phaatak ko dhaha hua
dekha. Unke anusar phatak thik usi samay gira tha jis samay wo uss phaatak se paar kar rahe hote.
Arthaat phatak unki gaadi par hi girta........bass yahin se saari musibaten shuru huyin."

"Aahaa....musibat kyon?" Imran chahak kar bola...."Kaleja thaame baithe raha karo....tum chalte phirte
kyun ho?"

Shakil hasne laga....phir bola...."Clear hai ki ye ghatna Jamil bhai jaise Philosopher mind vyakti ke mastisk
ko buri tarah prabhawit kia. Tum unhen achhi tarah nahin jaante.....unka adhik samay liberary me
guzarta hai....wo itne prabhawit huye ki dusre din us hotel me jaa pahuche jahaan ye aurat thahri thi. Ek
ghante me uss se aur adhik prabhavit hokar laute. Dhire dhire unki aastha badhti gayi.....aur phir ek din
usay yahan le aaye....ammi se wo bahut darte the.....lekin ab ye haal hai jaise unhen unki parwaah hi na
ho."
"Lekin iss baare me Imran ulloo ka pattha kya kar sakta hai?" Imran jhunjla kar bola...."Tumne mujhe
yahaan kyon bulaaya?"

"Poori baat bhi to suno pyare...." Shakil muskura kar kaha.

"2 ghanta se tum poori baat suna rahe ho..."

"Achha ab tum apna muhh band rakho..." Shakil hath utha kar bola.

"Band hai." Imran hont bhichte huye bola.

"Baat agar yahin tak rahti to koi baat nahin thi.....duniya ke saare mard patni ke rahte huye bhi kisi dusri
aurat ke sapne dekhte hain.....aur ye bataana kathin hota hai ki jeewan me kab koi dusri aurat aa
jaaye..."

"Phir baat badhayi tum ne..." Imran mez par ghoosa maar kar bola..."Abbe kya main auraton ke daakhil-
kharij ke liye aaya hun? Shakil ke bachche.....kaam ki baat karo..."

"Sorry....mujhe nahin pata tha ki ab bhi tumhen aurat ke naam se bukhaar aata hai."

"Maleria..." Imran badi saadgi se bola.

"OK....haan to ye aurat mujhe bahut rahassyamayi lagti hai."

"Gadahe ho tum....Shakespear tak ko auraten rahassyamayi hi lagti thin.....har aashik ko uski....wo kya
kahte hain....mambusa....bambusa....nahin kuchh aur kahte hain.....wo jo aashik ki maada hoti hain..."

"Mahbuba..." Shakil natkhat si muskan ke sath bola.

"Haan...jeete raho....mahbuba....haan to har aashik ko uski mahbuba rahassyamayi lagti hai......iska ye

matlab nahin ki har aashik jasoos ko bulata phire,,,"

"O...ishwar ke bande....meri baat bhi to suno..."

"Nahin sunta...." Imran chilla kar bola...."Itni der se jhak maar rahe ho.....leki abhi tak koi vishesh baat
nahin aayi."

"Ab main ekdam vishesh baat hi sunaane ja raha hun....choch band rakho..." Shakil hath hila kar
bola...."Ye bataao....agar tum kisi aisi aurat ko raaton me uth uth kar imaarat ke vibhinn taraf choron ki
tarah jaate dekho to kya karoge?''

"Aahmm..." Imran angdaayi lete lete ruk gaya. Shakil kahta raha..."Sardi ki raaten hain....12 baje tak
poori kothi me marghat jaisa sannaata chha jaata hai.....aur phir wo apne kamre se nikal kar choron ki
tarah kuchh talash karti phirti hai......patli roshni waala torch uske hath me hota hai. Kabhi uski raushni
deewar pe rengti nazar aati hai.....aur kabhi farsh par. Main 3 raaton se usay dekh raha hun. Lekin
maune abhi tak kisi se isaki charcha nahin kiya."

"Ye tumne bahut achha kiya." Imran barbadaaya. "Aur koi khaas baat?"

"Wo kahti hai ki wo Switzerland se akeli aayi hai.....aur yahan kisi bhi videshi se uski jaan pahchan nahin
hai.....lekin mera vichar hai ki woh galat kahti hai."

"Kis buniyad par ye vichar hai?"

"Pichhli sham wo aur Jmail bhai ghoomne bahar gaye the.....main un donon ka pichha kar raha tha. Baat
ye hai ki jab se uski raaton waali harkat meri jaankari me aayi hai main lagbhag har samay us par nazar
rakhne ki koshish karta hun. Anyway.....pichhli sham mujhe shak hua ki woh ek videshi ko ishara kar rahi
hai......ye main na bata sakunga ki wo angrez tha, German tha ya Francisy tha.....lekin mujhe sandeh hai
ki usne usay ishara kia tha."

"Kahan ki baat hai?"

"Pichhli sham wo log Figaro me the.....yahan ke behtareen club hai."

"Lekin yahan ke aksar bade log Jamil se jealous bhi ho gaye honge?"

"Swabhavik baat hai. Yahan ke kayi ayaash aur daulatmand logon ne koshish ki thi ki wo hotel me rahna
chhod karunhin ke sath rahe......lekin wo uspar taiyar nahin huyi.....aur maidan Jamil bhai ke hath aaya.
Wo unse kah rahi thi ki usay hotel me shanti nahin milti. Jamil bhai ne apne sath rahne ka offer
kiya......aur wo fauran taiyar ho gayi. Kya ye aashcharya-janak nahin hai.....matlab wo intezar me thi ki
kab Jamil bhai aisa offer karte hain."

Imran kuchh na bola. Shakil kahta raha..."Ab yahan is Kothi me uske bhakton ki bheed rahti hai. 9 baje se
12 baje tak. Ammi ko ye baat bilkul pasand nahin.....lekin bhai sahab ka vyawahar aisa ho chuka hai ki
wo kuchh nahin kahtin.......ki kahin wo palat kar unhen hi kuchh kathor baaten kah den. Lekin agar kabhi
unhone aisi harkat ki to khuda ki qasam main Jamil bhai ki gardan udaa doonga."

"Ye tumhari sauteli maa hain?"

"Main nahin samjhta.....ham me se koi bhi aisa nahin samajhta......ammi bhi nahin samajhti ki wo hamari
sauteli maa hain.....mujhe badi taklif hoti hai jab koi kahta hai ki wo hamari sauteli maa hain."

Imran kuchh soch raha tha. Shakil bhi chup ho gaya tha. Phir Imran kuchh der baad bola...."Tumne us
videshi ka pichha nahin kiya jise us aurat ne ishara kiya tha?"
"Yahi galati huyi mujh se." Shakil bola. "Mujhe uska pichha karna chaahiye tha."

"Hmm....ok...main dekhunga." Imran ne kaha.."Kya tum bata sakte ho ki usay is building me kis chiz ki
talash hai?"

"Mujhe khud hairat hai....main kisi aisi chiz se anjaan hun jisme koi videshi aurat interest le sake.....aur
yahan tak pahuchne keliye usay itna lamba chauda drama karna pade."

"Ho sakta hai tumhari ammi kisi aisi chiz ko jaanti hon."

"Main nahin kah sakta.....aur na ye charcha un unke saamne chhed sakta hun."

"Kyon?"

"Unki pareshani badh jaayegi.....main nahin chaahta ki wo aur adhik uljhanon me paden."

"Hmm..." Imran phir kuchh sochne laga. Kuchh der baat usne puchha.

"Wo aurat kis naam se pukari jaati hai?"

"Starieta..."

"Naam se to Swiss hi lagti hai." Imran brbadaaya. Kuchh pal khamosh rah kar phir bola..."Kya wo logon
se kuchh fees bhi leti hai?"

"Haan.....hath dekhne ke 500 aur rooh se mulaakat karaane ke 2000."

"Kyaaaa??" Imran aankhen phaad kar bola...."Wo aatmaaon se mulakat bhi karaati hai?"

"Haan.....maine suna hai.....is tarah ki koi kriya karte dekha nahin hun."

"Aur iske baad bhi tum uss se bhaybheet nahin ho? Raaton ko chhup chhup kar uska pichha kiya karte
ho? Bade diler ho tum?"

"Yaar....Imran dear....aurat hi to hai....agar ammi ka dar na hota to main khud bhi uspar aashiq ho jaata."

"Khabardar...." Imran hath utha kar bola..."Ab tum us par aashiq nahin ho sakte......kyonki main kewal
naam hi sun kar aashiq ho gaya hun. Starieta....haha....kitni mithaas hai....aisa lagta hai jaise kaanon me
rass ki baalti ulat di ho..."

"Tum aur aashiq....!!" Shakil hasne laga.

"Kyon kya hua....kya mujhe aashiq hona nahin aata? Pahle na aata hoga.....magar ab main badi safaayi se
aashiq ho sakta hun.....ab tum mujhe dikhaao....uss aurat.....nahin.....Starieta.....Starieta kahna mujhe
achha nahin lagta.....isliye usay kewal Rita kahunga."

Shakil ghadi ki taraf dekhta hua bola..."15 minut baad wo lawn par nikal aayegi....phir tum qareeb se
uske darshan kar sakoge."

"15 minut bhi bahot hote hain..." Imran sach much aashiqon ke se andaz me thandi saans lekar bola.

*********************************************************

Imran ne usay dekha.......wo sach much bahut haseen thi.....lamba qad....ang ang perfect ratio
me....sharir par fitting dress.....kandhon par jhoolte ghunghraale baal.....jinki rangat sunahri thi. Nain-
naksh asadharan.....jinke sambandh me aam taur par ye socha jaata tha ki wo varnan karne se pare
hain.....matlab shabdon me unki tasweer pesh karna asambhav ho....kitnon ka kahna hai ki shayad wo
khud bhi koi rooh hai.

Khud Imran ne bhi yahi mahsoos kiya.....ki kuchh der dekhte rahne ke baad bhi kewal apni memory ke
sahare uski shakal ke baare me kuchh na bata sakega......kabhi uska upari hont ek halki curve ke sath
upar uth jaata tha.....aur kabhi aisa lagta tha jaise naak ki jad se muhh tak bilkul sapaat ho.....kabhi
aankhen swapnil si lagtin aur un se udaasi si jhaankne lagti.....aur kabhi aisa lagta jaise sharir ki saari
shakti aankhon me utar aayi ho. na jaane kyon un badalti huyi awastha ka prabhaav uske uski shakal aur
nain-naksh par bhi padta tha.

Wo lawn par tahal rahi thi. Uske sath Jamil bhi tha. Shakil aur Jamil me bahut samaanta thi. Waise tonon
ke appearance me bahut antar tha. Jamil ke chehre par gambhirta thi.....thahraav tha.....iske vipareet
Shakil khilandara aur chanchal lagta tha.

"Kya main Jamil bhai se tumhara parichay karaaun?" Shakil ne Imran se puchha.

"Hargiz nahin..." Imran daant jama kar bola. "Main raqeebon se parichit hona pasand nahin karta."

"Kya matlab?"

"Main abhi aur isi samay in mahashay ko Raqeeb ghoshit karta hun......kyonki pahli hi nazar me iss Jag-
maarini par aashiq ho chuka hun."

"Jag-maarini....ye kya balaa hai....?" Shakil par hansi ka dauda pad gaya.

"Jaahil ho....murkh ho....tum kya jaano. Maine Urdu-hindi ke ek romantic novel me padha tha.....aashiq
apni mamnooa....arr....phir bhul gaya.....kya kahte hain....mambooha...nahin.....mahbooba ko
sitamgar.....bewafa....jafa-pesha aur jag-maarini kahta hai...."

"Abbe....usay urdu me 'qattaala-e-aalam kahte hai....aashiq ke bachche...."

"Arrr.....haann....yahi tha..." Imran hairat se bola...."Tumhen kaise pata?"

"Dekho dear Imran......tum usay ullo banaaya karo jo tumhen nahin jaanta....."

"Achha.....to koi aisa aadmi pakad laao.....main is samay ulloo banaane keliye bechain hun......jaldi karo
warna.....mera nevous break-down ho jaayega."

"Achanak Starieta unki taraf mudi......wo us se thodi hi doori par palm ke bade gamlon ke bich khade
the. Shakil ko dekh kar wo bade hi manmohak andaz me muskaayi....wo kuchh is tarah unki taraf badhne
lagi jaise wo yun hi chahal-kadmi kar rahi ho.

"Arre....baap re..." Imran bhaybheet swar me bola...."Ye to isi taraf aa rahi hai."

"Aane do.....maine aksar mahsoos kiya hai ki woh mujh se kuchh kahna chaahti ho."

Imran ne dark colour ke sheeshe waala chashma nikal kar laga liya.

Stareita unke nikat aakar ruk gayi. Uske sath Shakil ka bada bhai Jamil bhi tha.

"Hello.....Mr Shakil....." Reeta ne apni muskaan ko kuchh aur adhik manmohak bana liya. "Aap se
mulaakat hi nahin hoti."

"Yahi shikwa mujhe bhi aap se hai. Shakil mom ke dher ki tarah pighal gaya.

"Waahh..." Wo jaltarang ki aawaz paida karti huyi hansi..."Main to yahin rahti hun."

"Magar aap bahut adhik vyast rahti hain." Shakil ne kaha.

"Phir bhi mujhe aasha hai ki aap se milna hota rahega."

"Sure..." Shakil muskuraaya.

"Jamil is bich Imran ko ghoorta raha.....jo kisi fauji ki tarah attension ki mudra me khada tha. Lekin Jamil
ne Shakil se uske baare me kuchh nahin puchha. Wo donon phir tahalte huye dusri taraf nikal gaye.
Imran waise hi khada raha. Jab Starieta aur Jamil dusri taraf nigaahon se ojhal ho gaye tab Shakil Imran
ko jhanjhodta hua bola...."Tumhen to saanp hi soongh gaya tha."

Imran kisi akdi huyi laash ki tarah khada raha.

"Arre..." Achanak Shakil bokhla kar pichhe hat gaya. Imran ke kaale chashme ke niche mote mote aansu
dhalak rahemran ki aankhen kuchh weeran si lag rahi thin.....aur aansu thamne ka naam nahi le rahe
the.....Shakil ek thahaaka keliye start liya....lekin phir is tarah khamosh ho gaya jaise wo galti kar raha ho.
Kyonki Imran ki gambhirta aur aansuon ki rawaani me koi antar nahi hua tha.

"Imran....kya hua?" Shakil usay dubaara jhanjhodta hua puchha.

"Kuchh nahin..." Imran thandi saans lekar bola. "Jab mujhe koi she'r yaad nahin aata to yahi haalat hoti
hai meri......main bahut der se wo she'r yaad karne ki koshish kar raha hun......Diwaana banana hai to
parwaana bana de.....lekin pura she'r yaad nahin aa raha.....tum bataao main kya karun? Pichhle saal
aise hi ek moka par mujhe double nimonia ho gaya tha."

"Kya bak rahe ho...." Shakil hans pada.

"Aray.....laanat hai tumhari dosti par.....main ro raha hun aur tum hans rahe ho?"

"Kya us aurat ne tumhen rone par majboor kar diya?'

"Nahin.....wo bechari kyon....waise wo mujhe bahut nek lagti hai......ye tumhare bhai Jamil the?"

"Tum ro kyon rahe the?"

"Ye muqaddar ki kharabi hai.....mujhe ek aise raqeeb ka khoon karna padega jo mere bhai ka
dost....arrr....dost ka bhai hai..."

"Kyon bakwas kar rahe ho." Shakil bura sa muh bana kar bola.

"Main bak raha hun....?" Imran daant pees kar bola..."Kya haq hai tumhare bhai ko.....maine is aurat ko
aaj se 18 saal pahle sapne me dekha tha. Usne mujhse kaha tha ki bas tum jaldi jawan ho jaao.....haan
phir jab main jawaan hua.....usne ek raat phir sapne me aakar kaha.....ab tum jaldi se budhe ho
jaao.....aur ham dusri duniya me milenge....ssalli..........frod kahin ki....arrr....hppp....mahbuba ko saali
nahin kaha jaata....achha ap tum mujhe anumati do main thoda civil-lines tak jaaunga."

"Kyaa.....lekin thahro....ab uske bhakt-janon ko bhi dekhte jaao...'

"Nahin.....kya tum mujh se hazaaro khoon karana chaahte ho?'

"Kya tum kisi samay gambhir nahin ho sakte?"

"Ye sawaal us samay karna jab main kafan me dikhayi dun......achha tata.....ab main ek ghanta baad
waapas aaunga."
Imran tezi se main gate se nikla aur kuchh door paidal chalta raha. Phir ek jagah taxi mil gayi.....aur wo
shahar ki taraf rawaana ho gaya. Telegraph office ke saamne usne taxi rukwaayi aur sidha us taraf gaya
jahaan std call ki jaa sakti thi. Kuchh hi der baad wo apni maatahat Juliana Fitzwater se sambodhit tha.....

"Julia....speaking..." dusri taraf se aawaz aayi.

"X2.....from Shadab Nagar...tum aur captain Jaffery pahli available flight se Shadab Nagar
pahucho.....tum sab ek taraf se nikamme ho.....agar main Imran par nazar na rakhun to.....wo meri
aankhon me bhi dhool jhonk de..."

"Kyon.....kya hua sir?"

"T3B...."

"Main samjhi nahin...sir"

"Main tumhen discharge kar doonga.... ....tum T3B ko nahin jaanti....? Main
France...Bohemia....Germany ki baat kar raha hun..."

"Ohhh....sirrr.....main samajh gayi....wo yahaannn??''

"Haan yahan Shadab Nagar me....lekin tum sab ko sharm se doob marna chahiye.....tum sab ke hote
huye bhi Imran ko sab se pahle uska pata chala....aur aaj wo donon ek hi building me rah rahe hain..."

"OK....sir..." Julia ki awaaz aayi....."Aapko pata hai sir ki wo Sir Sultan ka chaheta hai....wo usay aksar ham
logon par wariyata dete hain..."

"Sir Sultan ki kya haqiqat hai mere saamne..." Imran X2 ke roop me gurraaya..."Jab tak main chahun wo
us post par rah sakte hain.....achha ab bekaar baaten band.....tum tonon jitni jaldi ho sake yahaan
pahucho....Prince me tumhara rahna hoga...main khud hi tum se sampark karunga."

"Shayad main aapko dekh bhi sakun wahaan."

"Tumhari ye ichha kabhi poori nahin ho sakegi....jabki tumne mujhe hazaaron baar dekha hai." Imran ne
kaha aur phone disconnect kar diya. Sham ki chai Imran ko phir Shakil ki family ke sath pini padi. Lekin
Jamil tab bhi absent tha. Shakil ne Imran ko chhedna chaaha.....lekin chup rah gaya. Kyonki Mrs Jaffery
us samay adhik udaas nazar aa rahi thi. Imran sar jhukaaye baitha tha......aur uski chai thandi ho rahi thi.
Achanak wo khamoshi se nayi harkat shuru kar diya. Table par kahin kahin kuchh makhiyaan baithi
thin.......Imran unhen pakadne keliye aahista aahista chutki badhaata.......aur wo udd jaatin......bilkul aisa
lag raha tha jaise wo wahan khud ko akela maan raha ho.....Shakil ko chhod kar sab usay hairat se dekh
rahe the.......Shakil ke honton par natkhat si muskurahat thi.
"Bahut mushkil kaam hai janab." achanak Razia boli.....aur Imran ka hath jahaan tha wahin ruk gaya. Phir
Mrs Jaffery ke siwa aur sabhi hans pade. Imran bhi hans raha tha.....lekin uski hansi me sharmindagi bhi
shamil thi.

"Jj....ji....baat ye hai ki" wo murkhon ki tarah bola.."Main bachpan me isi tarah tidde pakda karta
tha.....apna bachpan mujhe yaad aaya karta hai......mujhe uss samay tak ki baaten yaad hain......jab main
ek saal ka tha."

"Khoob." Mrs Jaffery gambhirta se bolin.

"Jee haan logon ko vishwas nahin tha.....lekin jab main uss zamaane ki baaten karne lagta hun to meri
mummy chakit rahh jaati hain. Kahti hain......arre....tu uss samay kewal 6 maah ka tha."

"Kamal hai..." Ghazala hairat se aankhen phaad kar boli. Lekin Imran kewal Mrs Jaffery se sambodhit
raha......wo kah raha tha....."Mujhe achhi tarah yaad hai jab 2 baras ka tha.......tab iss building me aaya
tha.....ye ab se 24 saal pahle ki baat hai.....yahaan tab kewal ek boodhi aurat rahti thi."

"24 saal pahle ki baat kar rahe hain aap?" Mrs Jaffery ne puchha.

"Jee haan..."

"Tab phir aap ki wonderful memory aap ko dhoka de gayi....." Unhone muskura kar kaha.

"Impossible.....ye nahin ho sakta..."

"Vishwaas kijiye.....hamne ye building 24 saal pahle ek budhe angrez se kharidi thi. Wo yahan akela rahta
tha.....uske sath koi budhi aurat nahin thi."

"Main kaise vishwaas ka lun?"...Imran barbadaaya..."Meri memoryyyyy......"

"Aap ke kahne ke anusar aap kewal 2 baras ke the." Mrs Jaffery muskuraayin.

"Jee haan..."

"Tab aap ki memory bar bharosa nahin kiya jaa sakta.....main uss samay jawan thi."

"Mujhe dukh hai ki meri yaddaasht............" Imran dukhi swar me budbudaaya.

"Kuchh der khamosh rah kar bola....."Achha uss budhe angrez ka naam kya tha?"

"Mr Gordan."
"ufffohhhh.....mujhe Mrs Gordan yaad aa rahi hai."

"Yahaan koi Mrs Gordan nahin thi...."

Mrs Jaffery usay bolne ka avasar diye bina ladkiyon ki taraf dekh kar bolin..."Uss samay ham iss kothi ko
kharid kar badi musibat me pad gaye the.....tum logon ko yaad hoga.....tum sab chhote chhote the.....jis
din hamne kothi kharidi thi usi din police ne yahaan chhapa maara.....magar Gordan to jaa chuka
tha.....baad me hamen pata chala ki wo angrez nahin tha.....balki kidi dusre desh ka jasoos tha. Mahinon
police ham se puchh taachh karti rahi.....ajeeb musibat thi.....raat ko sone ke liye lete ki baahar police ke
officer dastak de rahe hain.....kabhi to aisa lagta ki police ham par bhi sandeh kar rahi ho...."

"Wo jasoos tha??" Imran hairat se aankhen phaad kar bola.

Lekin Mrs Jaffery uski baat ka jawaab diye bina bolti rahin...."Police waale jab bhi aate.....poori kothi ulat
palat kar rakh dete......kuchh nahin to kam se kam dedh sau baar talashi li gayi..phir jab tumhare papa ne
upar ke officers ko shikayat ki tab kahin jaakar ye silsila band hua."

Imran ulloo ki tarah idhar udher dekhe ja raha tha.

"Kya aapne sach much England me shiksha praapt ki hai?" Mrs Jaffery ne puchha.

"Nahin......balki wahaan shiksha mujhe praapt kar gayi.....Ishwar na le jaaye kisi sharif aadmi ko
England......ye shakil sahab jaante hain ki wahaan pakode aur baarah masaale ki chaat khane keliye
betaab raha karta tha......wahaan jalebiyaan bhi nahin milti thin. Khuda gaarat kare in angrezon
ko.....magar ab suna hai ki aajkal wahaan chhole bhatore bhi mil jaata hai."

"Haan.....mujhe yaad hai....." Shakil hansi ko rokta hua bola...."Ek baar tum ne wahaan ek bade hotel me
baigan ka bhurta maanga tha.....bechaara waiter baigan ka uchchaaran sahi karne ki koshish me behosh
ho gaya tha."

Mrs Jaffery ladkiyon ki taraf dekhti rahin.....Shakil ke alawa sabhi Imran ke sambandh me uljhan me
the.......ye baat unki samajh me nahin aa rahi thi ki Imran aadmiyon ke kiss class se sambandh rakhta hai.

*********************************************************

Dinner pe Mrs Jaffery nahin thin.....unki tabiyat kuchh kharab ho gayi thi. Isliye dusre logon ki ban aayi
thi. Ladkiyaan Imran ko baat baat par chhed rahi thin.

"Hamen hairat hai ki London waalon ne aapko waapas kyon aane diya?" Ghazala boli.

"Mujhe khud bhi hairat hai." Imran ne bade bholpan se kaha.

"Wahaan us samay chaidiya ghar me koi pinjada khali nahin tha." Shakil gambhirta se bola.

Imran khamosh hi raha......wo aasani se Shakil ki gardan naap sakta tha......lekin pata nahin kyon wo un
sab ke thahaakon ka nishana banta raha. Shayad logon ka vichar tha ki wo Shakil ka koi murkh dost hai
jise time-pass keliye Shakil ne mehmaan bana liya liya hai. Un dinon ghar ka watavaran kuchh bojhil sa
bana hua tha. Imran ke aane se pahle yahan koi dil khol kar hansta hua nahin dekha jaata tha. Mrs
Jaffery ko shayad un dinon thahaakon se nafrat ho gayi thi. Isi liye wo adhiktar dusron se alag thalak
rahti thin.

Uss samay raat ko dinner par unki anupasthiti me sabhi dil khol kar hans rahe the. Yahan tak ki Jamil ki
patni Razia bhi apni vaivahik jeewan ki samassya ko bhula kar khoob thahaake laga rahi thi. Thik tabhi
Jamil kamre me prawesh kiya. Wo akela tha. Usay dekh kar sabhi chup ho gaye.

"Ammi kahan hain?" Wo dhire se puchha.

"Apne kamre me." Ghazala boli. Unki tabiyat thik nahin hai.

"Ohh....achha......lekin wo mujh se naraz hain....anyway....iss samay main tum sab ke paas ek request
lekar aaya hun...."

Koi kuchh na bola.....unki nigaahen Jamil ke chehre ki taraf thin.

"Aap tashreef rakhiye naa....." Imran apni kursi chhod kar uthta hua bola....wo sab khana khatam kar
chuke the aur coffee ki pratiksha kar rahe the.

"Aap baithiye.....sorry aap mere liye ajnabi hain....Shakil ne bhi aapka parichay nahin karaya." Jamil ne
hath hila kar Imran se kaha.

"Arre.....main.....mm....mera parichay.....Imran.....matlab ki mera naam Imran hai.."

"Badi khushi huyi aap se mil kar......baithiye....aap avashya Shakil ke nazdiki doston me se hain."

"jj....ji haan....mujhe iska khafar haasil hai...." Imran baithta hua bola.

"Fakhar janab....." Razia ne toka.

"Arrr.....to maine kya kaha tha..." Imran bokhla gaya.

"Aao dute hain....chup rahiye...." Shakil bola.....kuchh der Jamil ko ghoorta raha....phir us se
puchha..."Aap kya kahna chaahte hain."
"Akhir tum log Starieta se nafrat kyon karte ho?....usay samajhne ki koshish karo.....aaj tak meri nazron
me itni genius aurat nahin guzri."

"Kya uss se pahle bhi kuchh auraten aap ki nazron se guzar chuki hain?" Razia ne vyang bhare swar me
puchha.

"Ohh...." Achanak Jamil aise simat gaya maano Razia ne usay thappad maara ho. Uske chehre par
bojhalta chha gayi. Wo kuchh der sar jhukaaye chup raha......phir bahut dhire kuchh barbadaata hua uth
gaya. Lekin abhi darwaaze se baahar nahin nikla tha ki Imran uski taraf jhapta.....phir wo donon sath hi
sath kamre se baahar nikle.
"Kahiye...." Jamil raahdaari me ruk gaya.

"Aapko dekh kar na jaane kyon mera dil aap ki or khichta hai......aap ne bura to nahin
maana.....uffohh....dekhiye main kitna bewakoof aadmi hun.....agar aapko meri harkat par gussa aaye to
mujhe maaf kar dijiyega."

"Main nahin samjha aap kya kahna chaahte hain?"

"Mujhe adhik badhne likhne waale logon se prem hai. Shakil ne bataya tha ki aap bahut padhte hain."

"Nahin.....kuchh itna adhik bhi nahin....." Jamil hasne laga...."Padne likhne ke liye saat janam bhi mile to
kam hai."

"Waahh....kitna mahaan aur darshanik vichar hain..."

"Aap ko phi;osophy se lagaao hai?"

"Bahut adhik..."

"Tab to hairat hai ki shakil se aapki dosti kaise huyi."

"Mere mukaddar ki karabi.....janab. Wo mujhe bilkul ulloo samajhta hai."

"Ohho.....aaiye....to ham yahan kyon khade hain? Main aapko apna work dikhaunga."

"Meri khush-naseebi hogi....chaliye." Imran kahta hua uske sath chalne laga...."Meri sab se badi ichha
yahi hai ki kaash apne yahaan bhi koi original thinker paida ho sake....."

"Har achhi soch waale vyakti ki yahi ichha honi chahiye." Jamil ne kaha "Magar kathinaayi to ye hai ki
ham sab inferriority complex ke shikar hain."

"Jee haan.....aur kya?"

"Aap Shakil ke close friends me se hain?"

"Jee haan....Shakil mujh se bahut adhik free hai."

"Kya aap mere liye usay kuchh samjha sakenge?"

"Kyon nahin....awashya...."

"Rukiye.....ham aaram se baaten karenge...Mere vichar se aaj subah bhi aap lawn par the jab Shakil ne
Starieta se baat-chit ki thi."

"Starieta....?" Imran ne aise is ko duhraya jaise iss word ka arth usay samajh me nahin aaya ho.

"Jee haan......wo aurat jo mere sath thi."

"Ohho....wo amgrez aurat?"

"Angrez nahin swiss hai..."

"Achha....achha jee haan.....maine usay dekha tha."

"Wo bahut hi genius aurat hai.....kuchh dinon keliye mehmaan huyi hai.....lekin ghar waalon ko pasand
nahin hai."

"Arre.....ye wahi aurat to nahin jiske baare me Shakil ne mujhe bataaya tha ki wo hath dekh kar
bhawishyawani karti hai,......aur chiraag ki lao par roohon se mulakaat karaati hai?"

"Jee haan.....lekin mujhe uss mission se koi ruchi nahin hai.....main to uske gyaan aur buddhimaani ka
fan hun."

"Phir main Shakil ko kya samjhaaun.....aap kya kahna chaahte hain?"

Jamil ne koi uttar nahin diya......ek kamre ke darwaaze se parda hataate huyeusne Imran ko bhitar
chalne ka ishara kiya.

Ye kamra bahut bada tha. Magar Imran ko samajh me nahin aaya ki woh liberary thi ya bedroom.
Yahaan ek taraf ek bada sa bed bhi tha aur chaaro taraf deewar se badi badi almaariyaan lagi huyi
thin.....un almaariyon me kitaaben thin....ek taraf ek bade table par news papers aur magazines ke dher
the.

"Baithiye...." Jamil ne bed ke nikat padi huyi chair ki taraf ishara kiya. Imran baith gaya phir Jamil ne
khud hi baat shuru ki.

"Meri family ki ladies Starieta se nafrat karti hain......aur Starieta chahti hai ki is desh ki auraton se
yahaan ki reeti-riwaaj ke sambandh me jaankaari praapt kare."

"Ekdam swabhavik baat hai." Imran ne kaha.

"Lekin mere ghar ki auraten uski soorat dekhna nahin chaahtin. Aap khud sochiye.....wo mujh se kahti
hai ki tumhaare ghar waale tumhaari tarah vyavhaar-kushal kyon nahin hain?"

"Zaroor kahti hogi. Lekin aapki patni.....meri samajh se wo iss baat ko bilkul pasand nahin kartin."

"Aap ne suna tha.....Razia ki baat?" Jamil nirasha bhare swar me kaha....."Wo samajhti hain shayad main
Starieta se vishisht aakarshan rakhta hun."

"Nahin rakhte aap?" Imran ne chakit swar me puchha.

"Ekdam nahin..."

"Haat-tere ki....."

"Kyon janab?"

"Arre to kya buddhimaani chaatne ki vastu hai?"

"Sorry.....aap ajeeb aadmi hain."

"Ajooba kahiye....." Imran sar hila kar bola...."Auraton ke sath bekaar samay barbaad karne se kya
faaida?.....ab yahi hai....kya naam hai Star Katiyar.....nahin anyway jo kuchh bhi naam ho....."

"Starieta..." Jamil barbadaaya.

"Ji haan....jab se maine usay dekha hai.....pata nahin kya ho raha hai mere seene me....."

"Maine aap ko samajhne me galti ki....." Jamil ne nirasha se kaha...."Agar aap jaana chaahte hain to jaa
sakte hain."

"Main nahin samajhta ki aap ne mujhe samajhne me galati ki." Imran ne khush-mizaaji se kaha. "Starieta
se mera parichay kara dijiye...."

"Aap hosh me hain ya nahin?"

"Main ekdam hosh me hun....abhi mera ishq third stage me nahin pahucha."

"Aap jaa sakte hain yahan se.....agar aap Shakil ke guest na hote to...."

Tabhi kisi ne darwaaze par dastak di.

"Aa jaao..." Jamil Imran ko khunkhaar nazron se ghoorta hua bola...Ek naukar kamre me aata hua
kaha...."Mem sahab aapko yaad kar rahi hain."

"Achha..." Jamil uthta hua bola....isi ke sath Imran bhi utha. Wo raahdari hi me the ki unhen ek cheekh
sunaayi diya......aur Jamil sarpat awaaz ki taraf bhaga. Phir Imran ne usay ek kamre me ghuste dekha aur
usi kamre se phir kisi aurat ke cheekhne ki aawaz aayi. Imran bhi jhapat kar Jamil ke pichhe pichhe hi
kamre me ghusa.

Kamre me ek chhoti mez par 3 chiraag (Deepak) jal rahe the......aur Starieta saamne waali deewar se sati
khadi thi.

"Kya baat hai?" Jamil ne ghabraaye huye swar me puchha. Lekin na to Starieta ne koi jawaab diya na hi
uske sharir me koi harkat huyi. Wo donon uske nikat pahuch chuke the. Imran ne dekha ki Starieta ka
chahra paseene me dooba hua hai.....aur aankhen is tarah phaili huyi hain jaise usay koi bhayanak chiz
dikhayi di ho. Wo palken bhi jhapka rahi thi......aur uski aankhen teenon chiraagon par jami huyi thin. Ye
kaale rang ke 3 diye the.....jinme tel me dobi huyi rui ki battiyaan jal rahi thin.

Jamil ne phir usay sambodhit kiya....andaaz bilkul aisa hi tha jaise wo door ke kisi vyakti ko pukaar raha
ho. Achanak Starieta chaunk padi......aur phir kapkapaati huyi aawaz me boli..."Ohh....Mr Jamil.....Ishwar
ke liye inn chiraagon ko bujha do."

"Kya baat hai?"

"Bujha do.." Starieta donon aankhon par hath rakh kar cheekhi.....Jamil chiragon ki taraf muda aur
phooken maar maar ka chiraagon ko bujhaane laga. ....lekin wo unme se ek bhi na bujha saka. Phoonk ke
saamne aayi lau bikharti huyi lagti lekin phir apni asli haalat me aa jaati.

Phir Imran ne jamil ko pichhe hat'te dekha. Uske chehre par dar ke lakshan dikhayi dene lage the. Imran
ko hirat avashya huyi thi lekin usne khud un chiraagon ko bujhane ki koshish nahin ki. Usne Starieta ki
taraf dekha.....jo apne chehre par se hath hataaye huye thi......aur ab phir uski haalat pahle jiasi nazar
aane lagi thi. Tabhi usne cheekh kar kaha...."Niklo yahan se......niklo jaldi...."

Wo khud bhi darwaaze ki taraf jhapti. Jamil uske pichhe tha. Imran bhi chup-chap baahar nikal
aaya......aur Starieta ne kuchh is tarah darwaza band kiya jaise kamre se koi chiz nikal kar us par hamla
karne waali ho. Imran khamoshi se sab kuchh dekhta raha. Starieta aur Jamil dono buri tarah bhaybheet
dikhayi de rahe the. Jamil usay sahaara dekar apne bedroom ki taraf jaane laga. Imran uske pichhe
chalta raha. Achanak jamil uski taraf ghoom kar bola..."Aap kahan aa rahe hain?"

"Mere layak koi sewa?" Imran ne badi vinamrata se kaha.

"Jee nahin aap jaa sakte hain." Jamil ne bade zahreele swar me kaha. Imran jahaan tha wahin ruk gaya.
Uske honton par ek natkhat si muskurahat thi. Jamil Starieta ke sath bedroom me ghus kar darwaza
band kar liya.
*****************************************************************Update-8

Next

Imran ne number dial kiya aur dusri taraf se Juliana Fitzwater ki awaaz aayi.

"X2 speaking..." Imran bharrayi huyi aawaz me bola.

"Yes sir...."

"Main subah se kayi baar ring kar chuka hun."

"Yess sir....main Jaffery manzil ke baare me jaankari praapt kar rahi thi."

"Kya information hai?"

"24 saal pahle Khan Bahadur Aqeel Jaffery ne ye building ek videshi se kharidi thi......jo khud ko
angrez bataata tha.....aur Shadab Nagar waale usay ek skilled Engineer ke roop me jaante the.
Lekin infact wo ek German Spy tha. Jo first world war ke samay se hi yahan resident tha. Ye
nhed us samay khula jab wo iss building ko bech kar gayab ho chuka tha."

"Thik hai....meri jaankari bhi is se alag nahin hai." Imran bola. "Lekin police iss building ki
talashi kyon leti rahi thi?"

"Mujhe abhi tak nahin pata chal paaya."

"Maloom karo.....ye bahut avashyak hai."

"Main T3B ko ek nazar dekhna chaahti hun sir....kya wo bahut boodhi hai?"

"Nahin.....tumhari jaisi hi umar hogi." Imran ne uttar diya.

"Main vishwas nahin kar sakti sir..."

"Khud jaakar dekh lo. Un logon ki bheed me mil kar chali jaao jo us se apne bhaagya ka haal
jaanna chahte hain."
"Very good sir....main usay nikat se dekhungi. Lekin iska ye arth nahin ki mujhe aapki baat par
shak hai.....baat vastav me ye hai ki Europr mr T3B ka naam bahut samay se suna jaata hai. Iss
hisab se wo kam se kam dedh sau saal ki honi chaahiye."

"Kya tumhen nahin pata ki uss giroh par shashan karne waali "T three B" kahlaati hai chaahe
uska asli naam kuchh bhi ho. Second world war ke samay me ye giroh toot gaya tha.....aur us
samay ki T3B apne ek diler sahyogi Alfanse ke sath Germany se France bhaag gayi thi. Phir us
ne wahan ek German Spy ka kaam kiya. 2nd world war me France ki tabaahi ki zimmedar
adhiktar yahi aurat rahi thi. Ek baar achanak uski maut ki khabar bhi phaili. Lekin uski sachayi
me duniya ke sabhi desh ko sandeh hai.......kyonki aaj tak uski maut ka koi thos saboot nahin mil
saka."

"Lekin is aurat ki pahchan kya hai sir?" Julia ne puchha.

"Sab se badi pahchan ye hai ki uski koi pahchan nahin hai. Agar tum uska huliya likhne baithi to
tumhen paseene chhoot jaayenge. Tum uska sahi huliya nahin bata sakti. Nikat se wo kuchh
dikhayi deti hai.....door se kuchh aur maloom padti hai. Differebt angles se wo alag alag shakal
ki lagti hai."

"Badi ajeeb baat hai."

"Tum dekho to usay.....bahut aasani se dekh sakti ho. Bhaagya ka haal jaanne waalon ki bheed ke
sath Jaffery Manzil tak pahuch sakti ho. Wo khud ko ek swiss aurat ghoshit karti hai. Tum bhi
swiss ho. Isliye tum uss se khul kar mil bhi sakti ho."

Imran ne phone kaatna chaaha lekin phir ruk gaya.

"Julia..."

"Yes sir..."

"Ab tum log us hotel ko chhod kar Empire me aa jaao."

"All right sir....." dusri taraf se aawaz aayi aur Imran ne phone disconnect kar diya.

************************************************************

Usi sham ko Imran ne Shakil ko badi bad-hawasi ki haalat me daudte dekha. Wo kothi ke us
bhaag se aa raha tha jidhar Jamil rahta tha.

"Ohh.....Imran..." Wo usay jhanjhodta hua bola...."Jamil bhai khtre me hain.....jaldi chalo..."

Phir wo uska hath pakad kar khichta hua usi taraf le jaane laga jidhar se daudta hua aaya tha.

"Kya baat hai...? Kuchh bataaoge bhi,"

"Wo apne bedroom ka darwaza bhitar se peet peet kar cheekh rahe hain......aur maine roshandan
se dhuwaan nikalte dekha hai."

Raahdari ke mod par Imran ko bhi Jamil ki cheekhen sunaayi din......Bedroom ka darwaaza band
tha.....aur usay andar se peeta jaa raha tha......aur raushandan se dhuwaan nikal kar hawa me
chakraa raha tha.

"Ye darwaza andar se band hai." Imran ne kaha.

"Pata nahin kya maamla hai.....khuda ke liye kuchh jaldi karo..." Shakil ka dam phool raha tha.

"Andar se kholo..." Imran darwaaze par haath maar kar cheekha.

"Nahin khulta...." Jamil ghuti ghuti aawaz me bola.

"Achha pichhe hat jaao......darwaaza se alag hato..."

Imran ne 5 kadam pichhe hat kar bbayen kandhe se darwaze par takkar maarni shuru kar di.
Darwaaze ka palla charmara kar toot gaya......andar dhuwaan bhara hua tha......aur Jamil ki
kitaabon ki almaariyaan dhraadhad jal rahi thin. Shakil ne Jamil ko khich kar baahar nikaala.

"Wo....wo....Starieta bhi hai andar...."

"Aap yahin rukiye..." Shakil kahta hua phir andar ghus gaya......lekin is baar bhitar ka scene
pahle se bhi adhik vichitra tha. Starieta farsh par chitt padi thi aur Imran usi ke sameep iss tarah
aankhen band kiye aur hath jode ghutnon ke bal baitha hua tha......jaise puja kar raha ho......aur
uske sar par dhuwaan chakraata phir raha tha.

"Ye kya kar rahe ho?" Shakil bad-hawasi me cheekha.

"Puja..." Imran English me barbadaaya. "Ek jalti huyi almaari ham donon par dhakel do....phir
main dekhunga ki kalmuhaa raqeeb kahaan tak hamaara pichha kar sakta hai."

"Khuda ke liye...." Shakil bebasi se bola..."Kya tum pagal ho gaye ho? aag poore kamre me phail
rahi hai...."

"Phailne do......jaao yahaan se...!" Imran phir angrezi me bola. "Tum mere raqeeb ke bhai
ho.....isliye main tumse nafrat karta hun......main khud hi Starieta ke kapdon me aag laga kar
yahin jal marunga...."

Achanak Starieta ne karaah kar karwat badli aur phir achanak bokhla kar uth baithi.....lekin
Imran ki sthiti me itna hi antar hua ki ab uski aankhen khul gayi thin.....Starieta ne sahmi huyi
nazron se charon taraf dekha.....aur phir uchhal kar darwaaze ki taraf bhaagi.

"Khuda hi samjhe tum se..." Imran daant pees kar bola...."Shakil ke bachche.....aakhir ho na
raqeeb ke bhaai."
Aag par jald hi qaabu paa liya gaya. 3 almaariyan jalkar rakh ka dher ho gayi thin. 2 ghante baad Jamil
Imran ka shukriya adaa kar raha tha.

"Ohh.....to kya aap ye samajhte hain ki ni mehbooba ko jal kar mar jaane deta." Imran bura sa muhh
bana kar bola aur Shakil hasne laga.

Uss samay kamre me Mrs Jaffery bhi maujood thin. Unhone Imran ki iss baat ko nadi hairat se suna.
Razia ke chehre par ab bhi hawaaiyaan ud rahi thin....aur wo ekdam khamosh thi. Ghazala aur Ruhi dhire
dhire baat kar rahi thin. Unme Starita mojood nahin thi.

"Kya tum ab bhi us aurat ko yahaan se nahin nikaaloge?" Mrs Jaffery ne Jamil se puchha.

"Ye kaise mumkin hai ammi?" Jamil ne dukhi swar me kaha. "Main khud hi request karke yahaan laaya
tha. Ab main kis muhh se kah sakta hun. Lekin agar wo khud hi jaana chaahe to main usay rokunga
nahin.....aap vishwaas kijiye."

"Jamil kyon meri zindagi ke pichhe pade ho?"

"Ammi.....khuda keliye samajhne ki koshish kijiye....ye baat sharafat se pare hai ki main usay yahai se
chale jaane ko kahun.......waise meri samajh se ab wo khud bhi yahaan na rukegi...."

"Ye baat aap kis aadhar pe kah rahe hain?" Shakil ne thande swar me puchha.

"Achha....bass...." Jamil hath utha kar bola. "Main bahas nahin karna chaahta..." Phir wo kamre se
baahar chala gaya.

Mrs Jaffery ne ek lambi saans li.....aur nidhaal si hokar easy chair me gir gayin.

"Shakil ke baare me aapka kya vichar hai?" Achanak Imran ne unse puchha.

"Jeee??" Mrs Jaffery sidhi hokar baithti huyi bolin...."Main aapka matlab samjhi nahin."

"Matlab kya ye mahashay aapke aagyakaari hain?"

"Mujhe kisi ke bhi aagyakari hone ki ichha nahin hai.....lekin main inhen galat raahon par nahin dekh
sakti."

"Yaar.....tum kahan ki baaten le baithe." Shakil jaldi se bola. "Aakhir ye donon kamre me kya kar rahe
the....? Aag kaise lagi? Starita behosh kyon ho gayi thi?"

"Ab tak jo kuchh bhi hua main unpar mittee daalta hun......bass ab tum donon bhai Rita se lag ho
jaao....wo meri hai aur hamesha meri rahegi."

Mrs Jaffery ye sun kar hakka-bakka rah gayin. Wo is tarah aankhen phaad kar Imran ko dekh rahi
thin......jaise uske sar par seeng dikhayi de rahe hon.

"Ohh.....ammi..." Shakil anayaas hans pada. "Aap iski baaton me na aaiye.....ye iss sadi ka sabse bada
makkaar vyakti hai."
"Khuda jaane tum log kya kar rahe ho...." Mrs Jaffery ne uktaaye huye andaaz me kaha.....aur uth kar
chali gayin. Unke sath hi Razia bhi uth gayi thi. Lekin Ghazala aur Ruhi wahin baithi rahin.

"Tum kyon fizool bakwaas kar rahe ho?" Shakil ne Imran se kaha.

"Haaaiinn.....ye bakwas hai?" Imran aankhen phaad kar bola. "Ye meri zindagi aur maut ka jawaab
hai......nn....nahin....sawaal hai..."

"Tum log jaao..." Shakil ne ladkiyon ki taraf dekh kar kaha......wo donon bedili se uth kar chali gayin.

"Ab bako......kya bak rahe the..." Shakil ne Imran ko ghoonsa dikhaate huye kaha.

"Main ye kah raha tha ki filhaal un donon ko unke haal par chhod do."

"Lekin aag kaise lagi thi?"

"8 baje tak main tumhen bata doonga." Imran sar hila kar bola. "Isliye iss se pahle mujhe bore karne ki
koshish mat karo."

"Tumne abhi tak kuchh nahin kiya.....wo pichhli raat ko lagbhag 2 baje kothi me chakraati phir rahi thi."

"Nishchit aisa hi hua hoga." Imran sar hila kar bola. "Aur uss raat tak hota rahega.....jab tak wo apne
maksad me safal na ho jaayen."

"Kaash.....tum us maksad hi par kuchh prakash daal paate." Shakil bola.

"Wo ababeel ke ande talaash kar rahi hai. Ab bass....mujh adhik bore mat karo.....warna wo aur na jaane
kya kya talash karne lagegi."

Shakil chup ho gaya. Imran bhi kuchh sochne laga tha.

************************************************************

"Arre....khuda tumse samjhe...." Imran sar peetne keliye donon hath uthaata hua bola. "Tumhaara
yahaan kya kaam?" Uske saamne Juliana Fitzwater khadi bade manmohak andaz me muskura rahi thi.
Jaffery manzil ke lawn ke donon taraf bane raaston me se ek par donon me takraao ho gayi thi.

"Main apne bhaagya ka haal maloom karne aayi hun."

"Lekin kya tumne gate par wo board nahin dekha jis par likha hai Miss Starita beemar ho gayi
hain......isliye kisi se nahin mil saktin."

"Mujh se wo zaroor milegi.....main uske desh ki hun..." Julia ne uttar diya.

"Kya tum akeli ho?" Imran ne puchha.

"Tumhen iss se matlab?"

"Main tumhen bhitar nahin jaane doonga."

"Dekhti hun....kaise rokte ho?''

"Mere paas ek thaila hai.....usme lagbhag 2 hazzar madhumakkhiyaan hain.....aur tum me wise hi dher
shahad hai...."

"Agar tum ne thodi bhi badmashi ki.....to bhugtoge...captain Jaffery baahar maujood hai."

"Uski muchhen mujhe pasand hain." Imran sar hila kar bola. "Tum mujhe bilkul achhi nahin lagtin."

Imran donon hath phaila kar khada ho gaya....raasta patla tha....kyonki donon taraf mehdi ki baaden
thin. Raasta band ho gaya.

"Main sach kahti hun.....tumhen pachhtaana padega."

"Main tum se shadi karne ka iraada nahin rakhta." Imran nirasha bhare andaz me muskuraaya. "Waise
agar tum apne aane ka maksad bata do to shayad main raaste se hat jaane ki sambhavanaon par vichar
karun."

"Yahaan tumhari mojoodgi ka kya matlab hai?" Julia ne puchha.

"Main yahan mendhakon ki utpatti aur vikas par research karne aaya hun."

"Aur main isliye aayi hun ki tumhen mendahon ka leader bana kar kisi gande talaab me dhakka de dun."

"Gande talaab me to main uss chuhe ko dhakka dunga.......jo bina matlab mere pichhe pad gaya hai.
Usme itni himmat nahin ki saamne aa sake. Lekin kab tak....ek na ek din.....tum jaanti ho na.....main
Imran hun......tumhen kayi baar mera tajurba ho chuka hai."

Julia kuchh sochne lagi phir muskur kar boli....."Kya is kothi ke niwasiyon se tumhare sambandh hain?'

"Ye.....kothi.....haan yahan mera ek dost rahta hai.....Shakil Jaffery..."

"Aur Starita tumhare hi kaaran yahan aayi hai?"

"Haannn....bilkul kyonki main us se wo karne laga hun....kya kahte hain usay....jisme raaton ko nind
nahin aati......kuchh haaye....waaye bhi karni padti hai....."

"Tum jaise duffer ko 'wo' kabhi nahin ho sakta...." Julia muskura kar boli.

"Tum bhala mere dil ka haal kya jaan sakti ho? Imran aankhen nikaal kar krodh dikhaata hua bola.

Julia kuchh kahne hi waali thi ki Shakil udhar aa nikla. Imran abhi tak waise hi hath phailaaye khada tha.
Shakil tezi se chal kar unke nikat pahucha.

"Ohh...." Imran hath gira kar uski taraf muda. "Ye dekho....ye ladki bhi Starita ki tarah swiss hai. Kaisi
lagti hai tumhen?"

Shakil is achanak sawaal par bokhla gaya. Julia bhi kam haseen nahin thi.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Shakil ne Imran se puchha.

"Maze kar raha hun.....agar tum is ladki ko mehmaan bana lo to tumhari ammi ka heart-fail ho sakta
hai."

"Kya bakte ho?"

"Tajurbe ke taur par meri jaan...."

"Bako mat......bataao ye kon hai?"

Julia tab hindi nahin samajh paati thi. Usne uktaa kar kaha....."Main Miss Starita se milna chaahti hun."

"Ohh......aapne wo board nahin dekha?" Shakil jaldi se bola.

"Main uske desh ki hun.....wo mujh se har haal me milegi."

"Achha....dekhiye.....main khabar pahuchaata hun...aap ka card?"

Julia ne apna card nikaal kar Shakil ko diya...

"Chal kar baithiye andar.....yahaan khade rahna to achha nahin lagta." Shakil ne jaate huye Julia se kaha.

"Ye aadmi mera raasta roke hua hai." Julia Imran ki taraf dekh kar gambhirta se boli.

"Kya pahle se tumhari jaan pahchan hai?" Shakil ne Imran se Hindi me puchha.

"Bilkul nahin.....waise ye ladki mujhe tumhaare liye achhi lagti hai......agar isay mehmaan banaane ka
iraada ho to isko Starita se nahin milne dun?"

"Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai." Shakil jhunjlaa gaya phir Julia se English me bola..."Aaiye
chaliye..."

Imran ek taraf hat gaya.....Julia Shakil ke sath chali gayi. Imran wahin raasta par tahalta raha. 10 minutes
baad Julia baahar aayi. Shakil uske sath tha.

"Kyon.....kya hua?" Imran ne Hindi me puchha.

"Usne milne se inkaar kar diya." Shakil ne uttar diya.

"Achha ab tum please waapas jaao....tum ekdam gadahe ho.....mera khel bigaad doge....no....bilkul
nahin...bass chale hi jaao.......warna main abhi aur isi samay yahaan se chala jaaunga."

Shakil chup-chaap andar ki taraf chala gaya.

Imran Julia ki taraf dekh kar muskuraaya. "Tum Starita se kyon milna chaahti ho? Kya tumhaare chuhe
officer se tumhen koi nirdesh mila hai?"

"Wo chuha hi sahi." Julia bura sa muhh bana kar boli...."Lekin kya wo bhoot ki tarah tum par sawaar
nahin rahta? Kya usne tumhaare muhh se shikaar nahin cheene hain?"

"Ohh....main maanta hun.." Imran ne gambhir swar me kaha...."Lekin main usay kisi din prakash me
laakar usay maza chakhaaunga....mera naam Imran hai..."

"Tumhaare farishte bhi hamaare chief officer tak nahin pahuch sakenge..." Julia gussa dikhaati huyi boli.

"Bahut jald.....waise kya usi ne tumhen yahaan bheja hai?"

"Yahi samajh lo.....phir mere aane ka maksad clear ho jaayega......shayad tum samajh hi gaye hoge."

"Main nahin samjha..."

"Tum samjho ya na samjho....X2 khub samajhta hai.....aur tum sanyog se anjaane me usi ke liye kaam kar
rahe ho..."

"Uski aisi ki taisi..." Imran buri tarah jhunjlaa gaya..."Agar wo is maamle me taang adaaya to main uski
dhajjiyaan udaa doonga."

"Rote kyon ho?" Julia hans padi.

"Achhi baat hai.....main usay saawdhaan kar dunga.....ki Foreign Department ka secret service usme
interest le rahi hai."

"Agar tumne aisa kiya to apni haalat par pachhtaane keliye bhi zinda nahin bachoge."

"Raasta udhar hai..." Imran ne baahri gate ki taraf ishaara kia aur khud kothi ki taraf mud gaya. Phir usne
palat kar ye bhi nahin dekha ki Julia khadi hai ya chali gayi.

Wo portico se varanda ki taraf badh raha tha ki Ghazala ne usay awaaz diya....."Aye....maulaana....zara
ek minut..."

Imran ruk kar uski taraf muda.....aur kisi jhagraalu aurat ki tarah bhinna kar bola...."Tum khud
maulaana..."

"Ye aurat kon thi?"

"Meri bhabi ki saali......tum se matlab?"

"Yahaan kyon aayi thi?"

"Sahkil ke sath uski shadi hogi.....phir dekhunga tumhari ammi jaan ko...."
"kya.......??" Ghazala hairat se aankhen phaad kar boli...."Tumhara dimagh to nahin kharab ho gaya?"

"Khuda kare tumhaara dimaag kharaab ho jaaye..."Imran daant pees kar bola aur Ghazala hakka-bakka
khadi rah gayi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise uske uttar ke baad ab uske paas koi shabd hi na hon.

Imran usay chakit chhod kar bhitar chala gaya. Wo sidha uss bhag ki taraf aaya jahaan Jamil rahta tha.
Wo apne kamre me mojood tha. Starita bhi wahin thi. Imran anumati liye bina kamre me ghusta chala
gaya.

"Haainn....kyaa.....yaani..." Jamil uchha kar khada ho gaya. Hakla kar kuchh bolna chaha. Starita jo shawl
me lipti huyi ek easy chair par baithi thi.....bokhla kar sidhi baith gayi. "Chot....?" Shakil kuchh sochne
laga phir bola..."Main ye na bata sakunga......haan pichhli raat roz ki tarah main apne kamre me so raha
tha.....mujhe itna hi yaad hai....baad ki baaten mujhe inse maloom huyi hain." Shakil ne ladki ki taraf
ishaara kiya.

"Badi ajeeb baat hai...." Budha barbada kar rah gaya.......wo tatolne waali nazron se Shakil ki taraf dekh
raha tha. Phir achanak usne puchha...."Aapko iss baare me kisi na kisi par shak to hoga hi...."

"Mujh par to hairaton ka pahaad toot pada hai...." Shakil ne kaha...."Mujhe kisi par sandeh nahin..."

"Kisi aurat ki koi kahani?" budhe ne kaha aur phir ladki ki taraf iss tarah dekha jaise ab yahaan uski
upasthiti awashyak nahin ho. Ladki chup chap uthi aur kamre se chali gayi.

Shakil dhire dhire apni naak sahlaata hua bola..."Aaj tak koi aurat mere jeewan me nahin aayi..."

"Koi aisi aurat jo zabardasti aapki zindagi me shamil hone ki koshish ki ho?"

"Kaash kabhi aisa bhi hua hota...." Shakil ne thandi saans li.

"Kya aap kisi aisi aurat ko jaante hain jiski upari hont par baayen taraf ek ubhra hua til ho.....aur thuddi
me gadha sa ho?"

"Kya matlab?" Shakil ne bokhla kar uthna chaaha.

"Lete rahiye...aapka sar zakhmi hai." Budhe ne uske seene par hath rakh kar usay litaa diya.

"Kya us aurat ki naak me red nag waali nose-pin bhi thi?"

"Ahha....rukiye....." Budhe ke maathe par lakiren ubhar aayin. Wo dhire dhire sar hilaata raha....phir
bola...."Nishchit roop se thi.....mujhe achhi tarah yaad hai......kyonki maine aaj tak kisi modern ladki ko
nose pin pahne nahin dekha......isliye mujhe yaad rah gayi..."

Shakil ka poora sharir paseene me doob gaya.....kyonki ye Jamil ki patni Razia ka huliya tha. Usne kuchh
der baad kamzor si awaaz me puchha.
"Kya aisi hi koi aurat un donon aadmiyon ke sath thi?"

Budhe ne uske chehre par nazar jamaaye huye sahmati me sar hilaa diya....Shakil ne aankhen band kar li.
Budhe ne kuchh der baad puchha....
"Kya aap aisi kisi aurat ko jaante hain?"

"Nahin......main nahin jaanta..."

"Phir aapne nose-pin ka refrence kyon diya tha?"

"Ohh....bass waise hi.....muhh se nikal gaya tha."

"Main nahin maanta.....aap kyon chhupa rahe hain.....pata nahin wo log aapse kaisa salook karte."

"Ab main aapko kaise vishwaas dilaaun.....nose-pin waali baat bas yun hi kah diya tha..."

"Main laakh baras bhi sweekar nahin karta...."

"Mat kijiye....." Shakil ne jhunjlaa kar kaha....phir turant sambhal kar bola....."Iss lahje ke liye maafi
chaahta hun......vastav me sar ke dard ke kaaran dimaag kaabu me nahin hai."

"Koi baat nahin...." Budha muskura kar bola...."Iss ghar ko apna hi ghar samajhiye...lekin ek request
hai......ek nahin do...."

"kahiye....kahiye..."

"Jab tak main apradhiyon ka pata na laga lun.....aap yahan se jaane ka iraada na karen. Matlab ye ki
aapko yahan chhupe rahna hoga. Main iss maamle me itni saawdhani barat raha hun ki abhi is ghatana
ki report tak darj nahin karaana chaahta....yahaan aaye din aisi wardaaten hoti rahti hain.....ek bahut
bada giroh iske pichhe kaam kar raha hai. Wo log aksar kisi na kisi maaldar vyakti ko pakad kar uske ghar
waalon se badi badi raqamen wasool karte hain....yahaan ki police bhi pareshan hai.....lekin uske paas in
logon ka koi record nahin hai.

Shakil kuchh na bola. Budha kuchh der chup rahne ke baad kaha...."Aur dusri baat bhi sun lijiye.....main
bahut frank aadmi hun....saaf bolta hun. Aajkal ke yuva me ek pagalpan paaya jaata hai.....jahan koi
aurat ya ladki shishtachar se pesh aayi bas samajh lete hain ki wo unse pyar karne lagi hai.....jabki uske
dil me thoda sa bhi is prakar ka koi bhaawna nahin hota.....lekin ye chhokade majnuon jaisi harkaten kar
ke bina matlab dusre dusre prakar se bhi unhen apni taraf attract kar lete hain........ye ladki jo pichhli
raat se aapki sewa kar rahi hai uspar raham kijiyega.....ye bahut hi sidhi aur saaf dimaag ki ladki
hai......meri iklauti beti....main usay galat raaston par nahin dekh sakta....."

Shakil ko apni aawaz kanth me hi phansi huyi lag rahi thi. Uski samajh me nahin aa saka ki jawaab me
kya kahe. Waise budha uske jawaab ka intezar kiye binaa kamre se jaa chuka tha.

*********************************************************

Jaffery Manzil me sansani phaili huyi thi. Shakil ki rahassyamayi gumshudgi Mrs Jaffery ke liye nayi
pareshani thi. Pahle to wo samjhin ki Shakil bhi aadat khilaaf unhen bataaye bina kahin chala gaya hai.
Lekin jab kaafi samay beet gaya to pareshani badh gayi. Shakil pahle aisa kabhi nahin kiya tha.

Din dhal gaya lekin Shakil waapas nahin aaya. Mrs Jaffery paaglon ki tarah poori kothi ke chakkar kaat
rahi thin. Ek jagah Imran se muthbhed ho gayi jo ek khambe se tek lagaaye aankhen band kiye khada
tha.

"Kya usne aapko bhi kuchh nahin bataaya tha...?" Mrs Jaffery ne usay sambodhit kiya aur wo chaunk
pada.

"Jeeee??" Usne palken jhapkaayi.

"Main Shakil ke baare me puchh rahi hun..."

"O.....haann....aisa mezbaan aaj tak meri nazron se nahin guzra......mujh se kaha tha picnic par chalenge
aur khud gayab."

"Meri samajh me nahin aata ki main kya karun."

"Kya samajh me nahin aata?"

Mrs Jaffery uske sath jhak maarna bekaar samajh kar aage badh gayin. Imran wahin par khada raha.
Kuchh der baad jab usay vishwas ho gaya ki aas paas koi nahin hai......tab wo us kamre me jaa ghusa
jahaan phone rakha hua tha....

"Hello..." Usne number dial kar ke mouth piece me kaha....."Kon hai?"

"Jaffery sir..."

"Julia kya kar rahi hai?"

"Wo kaale tie waalon ke pichhe hai."

"Thik hai.....tum Jaffery manzil pahuch jaao.....tumhen us aurat par nazar rakhni hai....aaj shayad wo
akeli baahar jaayegi.....bass tumhen kewal uska pichha karna hai......aur kisi maamle me interfare karne
ki zarurat nahin hai.....chaahe kuchh bhi ho...."

"Ok sir...."

Imran ne phone kaat diya. Phir kamre se nikal hi raha tha ki ghazala aa takraayi....."Aakhir aap bataate
kyun nahin ki bhaiya kahaan hain?"

"Aapke bhaiya ne meri mittee paleed kar di...." Imran bisoor kar bola,

"Kyon?"

"Usne mujhe bada dhoka diya hai."

"Kya dhoka diya hai....?" Ghazala usay ghoor ka dekhi.

"Kuchh nahin aap se kya bataaun?"

(.........Jaari.)
"Aap mujhe unka pata bataaiye....main aur kuchh nahin jaanti."

"Pataa....? Achha kahin note kar lijiye...." Imran ne gambhirta se kaha...."Jaffery Manzil.......Shadab
Nagar."

"Achhi baat hai....mat bataaiye...." Ghazala daant pees kar boli...."Mujhe vishwaas hai ki aap bahiya ke
baare me bahut kuchh jaante hain."

"Main bhaiya ke baare me bahut kuchh jaanta hun...."

"to phir bataate kyon nahin?"

"Bataata hun.....magar tum mere kahne par vishwaas karogi?"

"Kyon na karungi?"

"Wo jahaan kahin bhi hain.....ekdam thik thak hain....tum apni ammi se kah do bekar bore na hon."

"Iss tarah jaane ki kya zarurat thi.....bata kar nahin jaa sakte the?"

"Mujh se bahas na karo.....main kewal ye jaanta hun ki wo kahin gaye hain.....ye nahin jaanta kahaan
gaye hain.....mujh se kaha tha ki jaldi hi waapas aa jaaunga."

"Ham nahin samajh sakte ki aap ki tarah ke aadmi hain."

"Kya main aapki khushaamad karta hun ki aap mujhe samajhne ki koshish kijiye." Imran bhinna kar bola.

"Main aap se baat nahin karna chaahti..." Ghazala ne jale kate lahje me kaha aur wahaan se chali gayi.

Imran phir us kamre me ghusa jahaan phone rakha hua tha. Is baar usne Julia ke number dial kiye....uttar
milne me der nahin lagi...

"Yes sir..."

"Kya hua?"

"Bahut kathinaayi ho rahi hai sir....case bahut puraana hai.....uska koi record bhi maujood nahin hai. Us
kothi se sambandhit uss jasoos ki kahani zaroor famous hai.....lekin detail kisi ko nahin pata. Haan.....ek
aadmi se kuchh jaankari milne ki sambhaawana thi......lekin uski haalat aisi nahin ki wo kuchh bata sake."

"Kon hai?"

"Ek retired CID inspector.....jo uss zamaane me yahin tha. Lekin wo damma ka mareez hai. Aajkal uski
halat thik nahin hai. Saans itni tez chalti hai ki ek shabd bhi bol nahin paata. Maine likh kar kuchh jaanne
ki koshish ki lekin uske hath bhi buri tarah kaanp rahe the."

"Meri samajh se tum is baare me Imran ka sahyog haasil karo."

"Wo kya kar sakega?"

"Kuchh na kuchh kar hi lega. Tum chinta mat karo....maine usay buri tarah jakad liya hai.....air wo mere
panje se nahin nikal sakta......uss se jo kaam chaahe le lo."

"To main usay wahaan le jaaun? Wo aadmi aajkal ek sarkari dispansery me hai."

"Haan.....tum usay wahaan le jaao.......achha haan.....kaale tie waalon ka kya raha?"

"Sab thik hai.....mera khayal hai ki wo kewal kuchh dinon keliye apni activities jaari rakhna chaahte
hain.......koi khatra nahin hai.....maine yahi andaaza lagaya hai."

"Mujhe bhi aisa hi lagta hai...." Imran ne phone kaat diya.

*********************************************************

Shakil sikuda simta ek easy chair me baitha hua tha. Soch raha tha ki kisi tarah yahan se nikal bhaage. Iss
ghar ke nivaasi apne vyawahaar aur rakh-rakhaav ke hisaab se vichitra the. Budhe se wo baat kar hi
chuka tha. Aur ab uske kuchh shabd uske kaanon me goonj rahe the. Duniya ka koi baap apni beti ke
maamle me itna frank nahin ho sakta. Shakil ab tak darzanon swatantra vicharon waale vyaktiyon se mil
chuka tha. Lekin usay abtak koi aisa baap nahin mila tha jisne us se kaha hota ki wo uski ladki se milne
julne me is baat ki sawdhani barten ki simple jaan pahchan ishq aur muhabbat ki manzilen nahin tai
karne paayen.

Ye to baap ka nirdesh tha......aur beti ki ye sthiti thi ki baar baar Shakil ke kamre me aati thi. Us se
ghanton baaten karna chaahti thi. Ek baar to usne uska sar dabaane ki koshish ki thi.....aur Shakil aise
bokhlaa gaya tha jaise usne sar kaat lene ki dhamki di ho.

Shakil us se bhaagna chaahta tha. Uske baap ka dar kuchh is tarah se uske dil me baith gaya tha. Waise
vastavikta ye thi ki ladki use dilo jaan se pasand thi. Wo chaahta tha ki wo bass uske nikat baithi
masoomiyat bhari baaten karti rahe. Uske baat karne ki shaily bahut ho manmohak thi. Lekin jab Shakil
dimaagi taur par uske sath baaten karne me phasne lagta tabhi uski kalpana me wo safed aur ghani
moochhen is prakar ghus aati jaise aadam ki jannat me saanp.

Yahaan 2 naukar bhi the. Ye donon apne malik se bhi adhik vichitra the. Inme se ek goonga.....aur dusra
bahra. Ek ke sath kanth se cheekhna padta tha......to dusre ko kuchh samjhaane ke kram me achhi khaasi
exercise ho jaati thi.

Sab baaton ke alaawa Shakil ke dimaag par ek bahut bada bojh tha......Razia waali baat. Uski samajh me
nahin aata tha ki aakhir Razia ne uspar hamla kyun karaaya tha.......aur usay kahaan le jaa rahi thi. Wo do
aadmi kon the......jinhone usay utha rakha tha. Shakil ko yahaan kewal isi liye roka gaya tha ki iss ghatna
ki chhan been ki jaa sake.

Budha police officer usay bahut chatur aur anubhawi lagta tha. Lekin Shakil me itni himmat nahin thi ki
wo usay Razia ke baare me kuchh bata sakta. Wo chaahta tha ki kisi tarah yahaan se jaan chhute to khud
uss maamle me kuchh chhaan been kare. Dusri taraf usay Mrs Jaffery ka khayal tha.....ki wo uske liye
kitna pareshan hongi. Usne budhe se iski charcha kar ke ghar phone karne ki anumati maangi....lekin
budhe ne manaa kar diya. Ab Shakil ki samajh me nahin aa raha tha ki usay kya karna chaahiye. Wo soch
hi raha tha ki ladki kamre me prawesh ki.

"Aap ko gulaab nishchit pasand honge?"

"Haan....haan....bahot..." Shakil ke hont phadphadaane lage.

"Main aap hi ke liye laayi hun..."

"Thanks...." Phool lete samay Shakil ka hath kaanp raha tha.

Wo wahin ek chair par baithti huyi boli...."In me se ek mere joode me laga dijiye...mujh se nahin lagaaye
jaate..."

Shakil ka poora sharir kaanpne laga. Kanth sookh gaya.....aur sar chakraane laga......aur safed moochhen
kisi jangali bail(Ox) ki tarah us par jhapatne laga.

"Laga dijiye naa...." Wo uski taraf pith karke baith gayi.

"Mm....main....pp...phool....!!" Wo haklaaya.

"Jee haan....ek phool mere joode me laga dijiye..."

"Wo.....wo.....aapke baba..."

"Haan....wo mere baba.....aap kya kahna chaahte hain?"

"Wo naraz honge..."

"Kyon?"

"Pata nahin..."

"Matlab ek phool lagaane se wo naraaz honge?"

"Jj....jee haan..."

"Arre wo bade vinamra aur nek vyakti hain..."

Shakil usay kis tarah bataata ki un donon ke bich kis tarah ki baaten ho chuki hain.

Tabhi kamre ke baahar kisi ke kadmon ki awaaz aayi aur Shakil ka dil dhadakne laga. Darwaaza khula aur
budha prawesh kiya.
Budha pahle darwaza par hi ruka aur phir unke nikat aakar bola......"Baby.....tum abhi shahar nahi
gayin?" Usne ladki se puchha.

"Ab jaaungi......inke liye thoda gulaab laayi thi." Ladki ne masoomiyat se kaha. "Daddy.....ye aap se bahot
darte hain."
"Kyon....? Ohh...." Budha muskuraaya.

"Ye kahte hain ki tumhare daddy se dar lagta hai."

"Tum jaao ab shahar.....der mat karo...suraj doobne se pahle hi waapas aa jaana..."

"Main picture bhi jaaungi daddy...." Wo phir bachchon ki tarah naaz se boli.

"Nahin....aaj nahin phir kabhi chali jaana.....tumheere ghar mehman hain..."

"To mehmaan ko bhi le jaaun...?"

"Nahin.....ye nahin jaayenge.....Kyon?" Wo Shakil ki taraf deka.

"Nahin.....main nahin jaaunga...." Shakil jaldi se bola.

"Phir main aap se nahin bolungi..."

"Jaao baby.....der na karo...warna waapsi me der hogi."

Ladki kuchh pal khadi rahi phir chali gayi. Budhe ne Shakil se kaha....."Mujhe kisi had tak kaamyabi ho
gayi hai.....aaj maine uss aurat koBartram road Kothi No 21 me dekha tha...."

Shakil kuchh nahin bola. Wo jaanta tha ki Bartram Road ki kothi no 21 Razia ke parents ka residence hai.
Aaj wo wahaan gayi hogi. Uski uljhan badhti jaa rahi thi. Aakhir wo kya kare. Kya wo usay bata de ki wo
uske bade bhai ki wife hai. Kya vastav me Raziya raaste se bhatak gayi hai? Agar aisi baat huyi to wo log
kahin muhh dikhaane layaq nahin rahenge.

Lekin ye baat khul jaane par khud uski position kya hogi? Sambhav hai ki usay bhi apradhi samjha
jaaye.....kyonki kyon ki wo iss baare me apni jaankari police ko nahin bata kar kanoon ki raah me
rukaawat daalne waala samjha jaaye....

"Dekhiye.....iss kahani ko khatam kijiye......aur mujhe ghar jaane dijiye....mere gharwaale bahot pareshan
honge.....main kisi aisi aurat ko nahin jaanta jo Bartram Road ki kothi no 21 me rahti ho...."

Budha sar hila kar muskuraaya phir bola...."Mujhe dukh hai ki aap apne bade bhai ki patni Mrs Razia ko
nahin jaante...."

Shakil ke hath pair thande ho gaye. Usay aisa lagne laga jaise uske sharir ka saara khoon jam gaya
ho.....budha usay dhyan-purwak dekh raha tha.

"Kyon......aap kya sochne lage?" Budhe ne puchha.

"Main ye soch raha hun ki main pagal kyon nahin ho jaata...."

"Thik hai jab kisi oonche khandaan ki izzat khatre me pad jaaye to yahi sochna chaahiye.....Razia ki beeti
zindagi to ab dhire dhire saamne aa rahi hai.....aap log uss family me rishta karke ghaate me rahe..."
Kuchh ruk kar budhe ne phir kaha...."Main aise 3 sazaa paaye vyaktiyon ko jaanta hun jinse Razia ke
awaidh sambandh rah chuke hain...."

"Khuda ke liye ab bass kijiye....." Shakil ne apne donon kaan bahd kar liye aur bola....."Ab main
jaaunga......aap mujhe nahin rok sakte...."

"Samajhdari se kaam lijiye aap......kya aap sach-much chaahte hain ki aapki family ki pratishtha mittee
me mil jaaye? Main dusri tarah maamle ko suljhaane ka prayaas kar raha hun....matlab saanp bhi mar
jaaye aur laathi bhi na toote...."

"Main nahin samjha...."

"Main poori koshish kar raha hun ki aap ka pariwar badnami ka shikar na hone paaye.....aur mujrim apni
saza paa le.....iske liye aap ko wahi karna hoga jo main kah raha hun....."

"Kya karna hoga...?"

"Abhi khamoshi se yahin rahiye...."

Shakil kuchh na bola. Uss ka chehra is tarah peela pad gaya tha jaise wo koi bahut hi puraana mareez ho.

*********************************************************

Juliana Fitzwater Imran se mili. Imran par murkhta ka dongra baras raha tha. Usne us se kaha ki wo usay
civil hospital tak le jaana chaahti hai.

"Mujhe kayi saal se bukhaar nahin aaya...." Imran ne uttar diya.

"Main tumhen mar jaane ki raai nahin de rahi hun..." Julia ne muskura kar kaha....."Mera khyaal hai ki
ham wahaan T3B ke baare me kuchh jaankari haasil kar sakenge."

"Tab to tumne avashya bhaang kha li hai.....T3B ke baare me hospital se kya maloom karogi?"

"Kya tumhen pata hai ki wo iss kothi me koi wastu talash kar rahi hai?"

"Mujhe pata hai...."

"Kya talash kar rahi hai...." Julia ne utsukta dikhayi.

"Asli shilajeet......aur mamire ka soorma...."

"Ye kya chiz hain?"

"Badi kaam ki chizen hain....lekin tum mujhe kyon le jaana chaahti ho?"

"Tumhare bina ye kaam na ho sakega."

"Kaam kya hai?"

"Lambi kahani hai.....lekin tum ye bataao ki kya tumhen pata hai ki iss pariwar ne ye building kis se
kharidi hai?"

"Ek videshi se jo vastav me ek German Jasoos tha..."

"Oh my God....." Julia ne hairat se kaha...."Tum kabhi pichhe nahin rahte..."

"Main kaam ke baare me puchh raha hun..."

"Civil hospital me ek aisa mareez maujood hai jo iske baare me kuchh na kuchh avashya bata
sakega......matlab ye ki wo ek retired CID inspector hai. Aaj se 24-25 saal pahle jab ye kothi khareedi gayi
thi wo yahin posted tha aur uss German jasoos ke pichhe kaam kar raha tha."

"O....teri..." Imran chintit sawr me bola...."Yahaan tum sab mujh se aage ho gaye..."

"Ye hamaare chief ke liye koi badi baat nahin..." Julia ne garv se kaha.

"Bass tum ab jaa sakti ho...mere saamne uss nalaayak prani ka naam mat lo..."

"Wo tumhaari bahot qadar karta hai...." Julia ne gambhir swar me kaha.

"Meri nigaah me uss choohe ki koi position nahi......aakhir wo samne kyun nahin aata?"

"Kaam ki baat karo Imran.....main uss retired CID waale si mili thi......lekin wo mujhe kuchh nahin bata
paaya."

"Kyon?"

"Wo damma ka rogi hai.....aaj kar bimari itni badhi huyi hai ki wo baat bhi nahin kar sakta."

"Imran thodi der kuchh sochta raha phir bola...."Jab wo bol hi nahin sakta to mujhe sath le jaakar kya
karogi?"

"Mujhe vishwaas hai ki tum kisi na kisi tareeqa se kuchh maloom kar hi loge..."

Imran apni aadat ke anusar samay barbad karta raha......phir donon civil hospital ke liye nikal pade. Lekin
phir thodi hi der baad Imran Julia par buri tarah baras raha tha.....kyonki ye lambi daud bekaar saabit
huyi. Rogi ke pariwar waale usay hospital se le jaa chuke the. Lagbhag ek ghante baad julia hospital ke
register se rogi ka pata maloom kar saki.

"Haalat itni kharab thi ki wo bol bhi nahin sakta tha.....phir uske ghar waale usay yahaan se kyon le
gaye?" Imran ne chinta prakat ki.

"Usne khud hi jaana chaha tha..." Julia ne uttar diya. "Hospital staff ka yahi kahna hai."

"Anyway.....to phir ab uske ghar chalne ka iraada hai kya?"

"Sure.....iske alawa aur koi chara nahin..."

"Aaj tum meri aisi taisi kara ke rahogi shayad.....chalo." Imran ne bura sa muhh bana kar kaha.

Julia kuchh nahin boli......phir unhone ek taxi li aur maloom kiye huye pate par rawaana ho gaye.

"Lekin wo hamen kya bata paayega? Tum kya pata karna chaahti ho?" Imran ne puchha.

"Yahi ki T3B ko kis wastu ki talash hai?"

"Kisi ne tumhen galat raaste par laga diya hai...."

"Agar kisi ko pata hota ki wo kon si chiz hai to uss baat ke khulne se pahle hi usay praapt kar chuka
hota...."

"Lekin meri jaankari ke anusar police saikadon baar us kothi ki talashi le chuki hai."

"Bahut purani kahani hai......" Imran ne sar hila kar kaha......"Mujhe pata hai ki police bahut dinon tak
prayas karti rahi thi...."

"Uss vyakti se kam se kam ye to pata chal jaayega ki police ko jis chiz ki talash thi wo usay mil paayi thi
ya nahin...."

"Arre baba......chal to raha hun....." Imran apne maathe par hath maar kar bola...."Bekar kaan mat
khao...."

"Tum khud ko na jaane kya samajhte ho?" Julia chidh kar boli.

"Iss samay main khud ko ek shadi-shuda vyakti samajh raha hun.....aur.....huppp.....ham shayad pahuch
gaye..."

Taxi ek ghar ke saamne ruk gayi thi. Julia ne hi kiraaya diya. Donon main gate ki taraf badhe. Bhitar
baramde me ek naukar maujood tha.
"Hamen Mr Beg se milna hai...." Imran ne us se kaha.

"Wo bahut bimaar hain sir...."

"Hamen pata hai.....ham unhen dekhne aaye hain.....kal hospital me bhi unse mulakaat huyi thi."

"Achha....rukiye....main begam sahiba ko suchit karta hun...." Naukar ne kaha aur bhitar chala gaya.

"Mujhe aashcharya hai ki 'begam sahiba' ke rahte huye wo kaise ab tak kaise zinda raha." Imran
barbadaaya.

"Jis prakar tumhen 'begam sahiba' ke nahin hote huye bhi maut nahin aati....." Julia daant pees kar dhire
se boli...Itne me naukar ne aakar un se andar chalne ka niwedan kiya.

Rogi ek bade bed par chitt pada hua tha. Uski aankhen band thin.......aur seena kisi lohaar ki dhaukni ki
tarah phool-pichak raha tha. Imran ne pichhe mud kar dekha. Naukar unhen wahaan chhod kar jaa
chuka tha.

"Julie Darling....." Imran dhire se bola......"Na abhi tumhari shadi huyi hai na meri...."

"Kya bakwaas hai....?"

"Agar hamne ek minute ke andar hi andar shadi na kar li to ye budha phir se jawan ho jaayega."

"Main sach kahti hun....itne ghoonse maarungi ki tum apni shakal bhi nahin pahchan sakoge...."

Achanak rogi ne aankhen khol di......laal laal si darawani aankhen.......aur Imran jhuk jhuk kar usay
aadaab karne laga. Phir darwaaze ki taraf mudaa jahan 3 aadmi khade the. Unme se ek ne darwaaze ko
bhitar se band kar liya. Julia bhi bokhla kar mudi.......aur uski aankhen hairat se phail gayin.....kyonki un
teenon ki taaiyaan (Tie's) kaali thin.......aur wo X2 ke nirdesh par ek baar unka pichha bhi kar chuki thi.
Unke baare me X2 ka khyaal tha ki wo Starita ke sathi hain.

"Main na kahta tha ki shadi kar lo....." Imran roni soorat bana kar bola.

Budha rogi uth kar baith gaya tha.......phir wo bed se niche utra.......aur tan kar khada ho gaya. Wo ek
lamba kad ka aadmi tha. Usne apni safed daadhi bhi chehre se hata di.

"Lo dekho...." Imran ne dhire se kaha "Ho gaya na jawan....."

Julia kuchh na boli. Wo apne sookhe honton par zubaan pher rahi thi. Chehre ka rang udd gaya tha. Usne
badi mazbooti se Imran ki kalaayi pakad li.

"Tum log kaun ho?" Lambe aadmi ne garaj kar puchha...jo kuchh der pahle tak damma ka ek rogi bana
hua tha.

"Ham log...." Imran bura sa muhh bana kar bola...."Aurat-mard hain.......ham Mr Beg se milne aaye the."

"Kyon milna chaahte ho?"

"Kya aap Mr Beg hain?" Imran ne hairat prakat kiya. Phir Julia se bola....."Tumne to kaha tha ki Mr Beg
rog ke badhe hone ke kaaran baat bhi nahin kar paate?"

"Main kya bataaun...." Julia thook nigalti huyi boli...."Tum khud dekh rahe ho..."

"Kis chakkar me ho tum log?" Lambe aadmi ne garaj kar phir puchha.

"Mr Beg se puchhna chaahte the ki ab ham shadi kar len ya nahin...."

"Main tumhen bolne par majboor kar doonga..." Lamba vyakti Imran ko ghoorta hua bola.

"Kya main itni der se bol nahin raha?" Imran ne hairat dikhayi.

"Tum kon ho......Mr Beg se kyon milna chaahte ho?"

"Main Abdul Mannaan hun.....Mr Beg se isliye milna chaahta tha ki un se shadi ki anumati le sakun."
Usne lanbe aadmi ki aankhon me dekh kar phir kaha....."Ye ladki Eurasian hai.......Mr Beg ki
bhatiji.....abhi haal hi me Italy se aayi hai.....kal pahli baar Mr Beg se hospital me mili thi."

"Ye iss tarah nahin bataayega......" Lambe aadmi ne apne sathiyon se kaha...."In donon ko is kamre se le
chalo......phir dekhenge....."

"Kya god me le chaloge....?" Imran ne murkhta-purn dhang se kaha. "Ok.....main to god me bhi chal
sakta hun.......magar khabardar iss ladki ko hath bhi mat lagana.......warna...........main yahin aatmhatya
kar loonga...."

Kaale tie waalon me se ek ne badh kar Imran ki gardan se revolver laga diya......aur uspar thoda sa zor
daalta hua bola...."Chalo...."

Julia Imran ke sath chal rahi thi. Imran ne dukhi swar me kaha...."Laanat hai aise chacha par......kya ye
khud tumse shadi karna chaahta hai? Tumne mujhe kis musibat me phasa diya....."

Julia kuchh na boli......iss samay uski saari budhimaani prasthaan kar chuki thi. Unhen ek dusre room me
laaya gaya......aur thodi hi der baad wo wahaan akele rah gaye.

Imran ne kisi ladaaki aurat ki tarah paitraa liya...."Kis gadhe ne tumhen raai diya tha ki mujhe iss musibat
me phasa do...."

"Main nahin samajh sakti ki ye kya ho gaya."

"Agar main maar daala gaya to tum se samajh loonga...."

"Kuchh socho.......rihaayi keliye kuchh socho....." Julia ne bechaini se kaha.

"Main kya sochun......ab bulaao apne uss choohe officer ko." Imran jale kate swar me bola.

"Tumhen yahaan laane ka suggestion usi ne diya tha."

"Kya matlab...." Imraan ne apne nathune phulaaye.

"Matlab ye ki usi ne kaha tha.....Beg ke maamle me Imran se sahayata lo.....wo uss se baat karne ka koi
na koi upaaye kar hi lega..."

"Uske baap ka naukar hai Imran...." Imran gurraaya.

Julia chup rahi. Kahti bhi kya. Wo khud bhi bokhlaa gayi thi. Kuchh der baad usne kaha....."Kal jab main
us budhe se mili thi tab woh itna healthy nahin tha.....aur na itna lamba tha.....mujhe vishwas hai kal
waala budha Mr Beg hi tha......lekin ye.....sab kuchh shayad aaj hi hua hai. T3B ke sathi ham par gahri
nigaah rakhte hain."
"Tumne meri scheme bhi barbad kar di."

"Main kya karti......mujhe to har haal me X2 ke aadeshon ka paalan karna tha..."

"Achha to karo paalan......main to chala aatmhatya karne....."

***********************************************************

Jaise hi Starita Jaffery Manzil se nikli captain Jaffery ne uska pichha karna shuru kar diya. Wo ek taxi me
tha. Starita akeli thi. Gaadi driver chala raha tha. Kuchh der tak to aisa lagta raha jaise wo bina matlab
vibhinna sadkon par chakkar laga rahi ho......phir wo Prince hotel ke saamne ruk gayi. Captain Jaffery ne
usay car se utar kar hotel me prawesh karte dekha.

Woh bhi taxi se utar gaya.......aur taxi wahin khadi rahi. Hall me pahuch kar usne dekha ki Starita apne
chaahne waale bhakton me ghiri huyi hai. Yahan bahut se log usay pahchaante the.

Jaffery ne nazdik hi ek table engage kar li.Aisi sthiti me iske alawa aur chara hi kya tha. Starita ke table ke
paas kayi chairs thin. Lekin Starita ke andaz se aisa lagta tha jaise wo jaldi se un se pichha chhudana
chaahti ho. Uski nazren baar baar ek taraf uth rahi thin.

Pahle to Jaffery ne uski taraf dhyan nahin diya......lekin phir jab ek baar usi disha me uski nazar bhi uthi
to usay apni mehnat safal hoti huyi lagi.

Wo ek naujawan ladka tha jise Starita baar baar dekh rahi thi. Wo us se kaafi doori par tha.......aur uske
gale me kaala tie tha.

Jaffery bahut hi dhairya ke sath baitha raha. Usne khaane pine ki kuchh chizen mangwayi thin......aur
samay kaat raha tha.

Captain Jaffery ki prsonality bahot shandar thi. Wo ek laba chauda aur robdaar vyakti tha. Uski chadhi
huyi moochhen usay aur adhik robeela banaati thin. Haalaki fauj se alag huye usay bahut samay beet
chuka tha............lekin captain Jaffery ke andaaz ab bhi faujiyon jaise the. Kisi zamaane me wo Militery
Secret Service ka ek bahut hi tez aur active officer tha. Lekin ab Imran ke adheen rahne se uske saare
kas-bal nikal gaye the.......aur wo X2 se bahut adhik bhaybheet rahta tha.

Jaffery wahin baitha raha. Abhi tak Starita ke bhakton ki bheed kam nahin huyi thi. Jaffery kabhi Starita
ko dekhta aur kabhi uss kaale tie waale ko.

Kaale tie waale ne Cadbery chocolet ka ek packet iss tarah hath me pakad rakha tha jaise wo use kisi ko
dikhana chaahta ho. Ek baar Starita ki nazar phir uski taraf uthi......aur kaala tie waala packet phaad kar
usme se chocolet nikaalne laga. Phir wo apni jagah se utha aur upari floor ki sidhiyon ki taraf chala gaya.

Jaffery ki nigaah uska pichha karti rahi. Wo seedhiyaan chadh raha tha. Starita ki nazar baar baar uski
taraf uth rahi thi.

Lagbhag 5-6 minute baad Jaffery ne kaale tie waale ko niche utarte dekha. Wo niche aakar sidha baahar
nikalta chala gaya. Starita ke chehre par bechaini si dikhayi dene lagi thi.
Jaffery ke dimag me ek naya vichar ubhra. Wo chup-chap apne table se utha aur seedhiyon ki taraf
badha. Seedhiyon ke paas pahuch kar ek pal kuchh socha aur phir tezi se seedhiyaan chadhne laga. Upar
pahuch kar wo phir sochne laga. Uski tez aur khoji nazren charon taraf nirikshan kar rahi thin.

Ek lambi raahdari thi......donon taraf kamre the jinke darwaaze band the. Jaafery ke kadam aage bhi
badh rahe the aur uska dimaag tezi se soche jaa raha tha. Wo soch raha tha ki 5 minute me upar se
niche laut aane me wo kahaan gaya hoga. Tabhi usne rahdari ke ant par common toilet bana dekha.

Toilet ka gate khol kar wo bhitar ghus gaya. Andar poori tarah sannata tha. Ek taraf kayi urinels lage
huye the......unke aage ek corner par kayi dustbins latak rahe the.....ye kachre se bhari baaltiyaan thin.
Jaffery ki nigaah un baltiyon se guzar kar aage badhne waali thin ki wo thithak gaya. Ek balti me cadbury
chocolet ka wrapper mudi tudi haalat me pada hua tha.

Jaffery ne badi furti se usay utha liya aur aage badhta chala gaya. Sath hi wo us wrapper ko kholta bhi
jaa raha tha. Kagaz ki tahon ke bich ek aisa kagaz dikhayi diyajispar pencil se kuchh likha hua tha. Usne
kagaz ke un sabhi tukdon ko apni jeb me daal liya aur waapsi ke liye muda.

Wo jab hall me pahucha tab Starita apni table se uth rahi thi. Uske sath hi dusre log bhi uthe. Lekin
Starita ne muskura kar unse kuchh kaha aur wo baith gaye. Wo badi shaan se dhire dhire chal kar
seedhiyon ki taraf jaa rahi thi. Jaise ho wo nazron se ojhal huyi Jaffery ne charon taraf ek sarsari nigaah
daali aur jeb me se un kagaz ke tukdon ko nikaala. Phir un me se wo kagaz alag kiya jis par pencil ki
likhawat thi. Baaki kagazon ko phir se jeb me daal liya. Wo us likhawat ko padh raha tha........

"Scheme safal rahi. Ek aurat aur ek mard hamari qaid me hain. Mard kuch stupid sa lagta hai. Wo desi hi
hai.....lekin aurat Italian lagti hai. Usne apni sahi nationality nahi bataayii. Abhi tak ham un se kuch nahin
jaan paaye. Unhen forteenth street waale makan me rakha hai. Ye batana kathin hai ki wo kul kitne
vyakti hain. Unse abhi tak kuchh bhi nahin maloom kiya ja saka.......ab ham agle aadesh ki pratiksha me
hain."

Jaffery ne ek gahri saans liya aur uth khada hua.

Jaffery ne ek gahri saans liya aur uth khada hua.

Jafferyko pata tha ki Julia aaj Imran ko civil hospital le jaayegi. Donon ek dusre ko apni apni gatividhi se
awagat rakhte the. Wo sochne laga sambhav hai wahi donon unke hath lage hon.

Wo apni mez se uth kar counter par aaya jahaan phone rakha hua tha. Usne sab se pahle julia keliye
hotel me phone kiya. Lekin wahan se jawab mila ki wo 9 baje subah ki nikli huyi abhi tak wapas nahin
aayi hai. Captain Jaffery ne receiver rakh diya. Phir usne Imran ke liye Jaffery Manzil phone kiya. Lekin
wahan kisi ne bataya ki Imran 10 baje se gayab hai.

Ab wo X2 ke baare me sochne laga. Kya X2 ko bhi in halaat ki jaankari hogi? Kaash usay X2 ne apna No
bhi diya hota.

Wo counter ke paas se hat kar ek khambe ki oat me khada ho gaya. Starita oopar se wapas aa gayi thi.
Leki yahan se doori adhik thi isliye Jaffery uski haalat ka andaaza nahin laga sakta tha. Waise usay
vishwaas tha ki wo gahri mansik uljhan se grast hogi. Agar uske aas paas bhakton ki bhaad nahin hoti to
shayad wo yahan ruk bhi nahin sakti thi. Jaffery soch hi raha tha ki ab usay kya karna chaahiye ki usne
Starita ko phir uthte dekha. Shayad wo ab un logon se vida hona chaah rahi thi.
Chaahne waalon ki bheed usay car tak chhodne aayi. Jaffery ab ye dekhna chaahta tha ki Starita kahan
jaati hai......aur kya karti hai.

Jaise hi uski car harkat me aayi.....usi ke pichhe Jaffery ki taxi bhi chal nikli. Lekin thodi hi der baad uski
nirasha ki koi seema na rahi jab usne agli car ko Jaffery Manzil ke gate me ghuste dekha.....ab kya ho
sakta hai. Pahle wo samjha tha ki Shayad Starita apne aadmi se sandesh nahin praapt kar paane ke baad
jaankari praapt karne keliye koi doosra source khojegi.

Anyway ab iske alawa aur koi chara na rah gaya tha ki Jaffery kisi na kisi tarah 14th street ki uss building
ka pata lagaane ki koshish kare jahaan uski samajh se wo donon qaid the.

Lekin 14th street koi chhoti si jagah nahin thi. Isliye wahan kisi vishesh building ka pata ka paana kathin
hi tha.

**********************************************************

Aye Miss Juliana Fitzwater........tum oongh rahi ho?" Imran ne usay jhanjhod kar kaha. Wo sach-much
baithe baithe ungh rahi thi.

Julia chaunk kar bedili se muskuraayi. Ye raat thi kamre me bulb ki roshni ho rahi thi.

"mujhe jhanjhat me phasa kar khud ungh rahi ho?.......aur phir muskurati bhi ho........kaash maine
madhumakkhiyon waala thaila usi din tum par khali kar diya hota. Tumse khuda hi samjhe."

"To phir koi uaaye nikaalo na...." Julia donon hathon se aankhen malti huyi boli. "Kab tak yahan
rahenge?"

"Upaaye ye hai ki tum mere sar par baith jaao aur main zor zor se raag bhairvi gaaun."

"Bhairvi kya?"

"Bhairvi tumhare chief ki poonchh me bandhi ghanti ko kahte hain."

Julia hansne lagi.....lekin is hasi me jaan nahin thi. Imran thodi edr chup raha phir bola...."Meri samajh se
ab T3B kewal time pass kar rahi hai."

"Time pass se tumhara kya matlab?"

"Usay jis chiz ki bhi talash thi shayad mil chuki...."

"Ye tum kis aadhar par kah rahe ho?"

"Phir bahas shuru ki tum..."

"Main bahas nahin kar rahi.....mai kewal tumhare iss khyaal ka kaaran jaanna chaahti hun. Anyway isay
bhi jaane do.....yahi bata do ki uss chiz ke mil jaane ke baad bhi wo Jaffery Manzil me kyon rah rahi hai?"
"Wo sochti hogi ki kahin uski mehnat barbaad na ho jaaye. Kyonki kuchh agyaat log uski nigrani kar rahe
hain. Usay iska ahsaas ho gaya hai......warna wo is tarah hamen qaid kyon karwa deti?"

"Ye koi baat nahin huyi.....main koi logic chaahti hun..."

"Achha bass......ab apni taayen....taayen band karo.....main kuchh sochna chaahta hun...."

"Kuchh aur nahin balki chhutkaara ka upaaye..." Julia uski aankhon me dekhti huyi boli.

"Chhutkaara ka upaaye kya sochna hai......aise awasar baar baar nahin milte.....agar wo log maar daalne
ki dhamki den.....to unhen itna gussa dilaao ki wo sach much tumhen maar hi daalen. Arre iss jeewan me
rakha hi kya hai?"

"Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai."

"Phir kyon laayi thi mujhe apne sath......jab mere kisi suggestion par nahin chalna tha...."

"Tum se khuda hi samjhe Imran......tum maut ke muh me bhi gambhirta nahin apna sakte...."

"Main abtak nikal chuka hota.....lekin mujhe tumhari chinta hai..."

"Meri chinta mat karo.....bas kuchh shuru to karo.....main apni raksha khud kar loongi..."

"Tumne pahle kyon nahin bataaya tha....? Achha ab main shuru karne jaa raha hun......"

Lekin iss se pahle ki wo kuchh shuru karta.....kisi ne baar se lock me chaabhi daali.....darwaaza khula aur
4 aadmi bhitar ghuse. Unme se ek ke hath me revolver tha.

"Utho tum log...." Revolver waale ne tez aawaz me kaha.

Wo donon khade ho gaye. Imran ne apne donon hath bhi utha liye the......aur wo ab bahut adhik
bhaybheet dikhayi de raha tha. Aisa lagta tha jaise ab uska dam hi nikal jaayega.....wo haanpta kaanpta
un logon ke sath chalne laga.

Wo ek hall me aaye.

"Arre.....ye to wahi hai...." Imran ne Starita ki awaaz suni......iss samay wo Starita se bahut different
dlkhayi de rahi thi......jisay usne Jaffery Manzil me dekha tha. Iss samay uske sharir par skirt ke bajaaye
tight pants aur chamde ki jacket thi......aankhon me naaritva ki jhalak tak nahin thi. Wo bass ek
naujawan ladka dikhayi de rahi thi.

"Kyon......tum kon ho?" usne Imran ko ghoorte huye puchha.

"Ek circus boy...." Imran ne sharma kar uttar diya.

"Tum jhoote ho..."

"Main tumhen kaise vishwaas dilaaun....iss ladki se puchh lo....ye bhi yahi kahegi. Ham Star Circus me
kaam karte hain...."

"Aur shakil itna sadharan aadmi hai ki circus waalon se dosti karta phire...."

"Bachpan me ham donon ne ek hi school me padhayi ki thi...."

"Anyway.....tum meri toh me kyon the?"

"Shakil ne mujh se kaha tha ki tum yahan kisi khazaane ki talash me aayi ho. Usne bataya ki tumne uske
bade bhai ko ek raat warn kiya tha ki wo ek vishesh gate se apni kothi me na jaaye.....warna ghaate me
rahega......wo gate sachmuch gir pada. Phir tum uske sath Jaffery Manzil me hi rah padi. Shakil ne ek raat
sanjog se tumhen wahan kuchh talash karte dekh liya.....main galat to nahin kah raha.....?"

"Bakte raho...." Starita gurrayi.

"Mujhe detective banne ka bahut shauk hai....jab Shakil ne mujh se uski charcha kiya to maine us se
waada kar liya ki main Jaffery Manzil me tumhaare stay ka maksad pata lagaane ki koshish karunga."

Imran ek lambi saans liya aur phir bola...."Isliye mai bhi Jafferi Manzil ka niwasi ban gaya.....ye ladki jo
meri GF hai mere liye kaam karti rahi....isi ne uss kothi ke baare me dher saari jaankariyaan jutaayi....Mr
Beg ka pata lagaya.....aur phir mujhe yahaan laa phasaaya....aisi waahiyaat to shaitaan ki mehbooba bhi
nahin hogi...."

"Main tumhen goli maar doongi....warna bataao ki tum kon ho? Aur tumhare sath kitne aadmi the? In
ghatnaaon ki jaankari kitne logon ko hai?"

"Kewal 3 aadmi jaante hain....." Imran ne sar hila kar kaha....."Main.....meri ye bekaar si gf.....aur Jamil ki
wife ka dewar...."

Starita usay chup-chap ghoorti rahi.....phir boli...."Tumhare paas kya saboot hai ki tum sach bol rahe
ho?"

"Mere paas koi saboot nahin ki main sach bol raha hun.....ye ladki bhi jhoot bol sakti hai.....Shakil bhi
jhoot bol sakta hai.....Star Circus waale bhi jhoot bol sakte hain.....kewal tum sach bol sakti ho...."

"Tumne mere baare me kya pata lagaya?"

"Kuchh bhi nahin....." Imran ne nirasha se sar hila kar kaha....."Bass itna hi mujhe pata chala ki main
tumhare bina zinda nahin rah sakunga.....jeewan bhar tumhare sapne dekhne padenge...."

"Bakwaas band karo...."

"Main ab chup hi rahunga.....waise tum is ladki se sachayi jaan sakti ho....ye bhi tumhari hi tarah swiss
hai..."

"Tum swiss ho...?" Starita ne Julia se puchha.

"Haan.....main swiss hun...." Julia ne swiss me uttar diya......aur usne usi bhasha me Imran ke statement
ko approve kiya. Tabhi ek aadmi kamre me aaya....

"Kya sab kuchh raedy hai?"

"Yes madam..." usne bahut adab se jawaab diya.

"In logon ko kamre me band kar do...." Usne Imran aur Julia ki taraf ishara kiya.

Imran bahut der se us chhote se suit-case ko dekh raha tha jise Starita daahine hath me latkaaye huye
thi.

"Kya tumhen wo chiz mil gayi jiski tumhen talash thi?" Imran ne puchha.

"Yess......" Starita muskurayi...."Lekin wo kisi prachin shahi khazaane ke heere jawahiraat nahin
hain......tum log jasoosi kahaniyaan padh padh kar kuchh zyada hi dimag kharab kar lete ho...."

"Lekin wo kya chiz thi?"

"Kuchh bahut hi mahatwapurn kaagzaat aur dastawez jinhen main duniya ki kisi bhi government ke
hathon bech sakti hun.....croron dollar ki business hogi."

"Ye papers yahan kaise pahuche the?"

"Ek circus boy ko in baaton se dilchaspi nahin honi chahiye.....main tum par daya kar rahi hun.....tum
maare nahin jaaoge.....subah tak tum ko rihaayi mil paayegi....." Starita ne kaha.

"Main tum se raham ki bheek nahin maangta...." Imran bura sa muhh bana kar kaha...."Kya tum mujhe
koi ghatiya vyakti samajhti ho? Tumne jis tarah Jaffery Manzil waalon ko ulloo banaya us tarah mujhe
nahin bana sakti.....tumhare sambandh me kon si aisi baat hai jiski jaankari mujhe nahin hai. Tum bahut
dinon se Jaffery Manzil me ghusne ki yojna bana rahi thi.....is baare me tumne jyotish aur sadhuon waale
gyan ka dhong rachaya....tum jyotish me skilled to ho sakti ho lekin Indian sadhuon aur fakiron waali
gyan ka A B C D bhi tum nahin jaanti hogi. Tumne kahin se sadhu santon ke iss kamaal ki charcha sun liya
hoga.....bas do-chaar kaale chirag lekar daud padi chamatkar dikhane.....lekin ek baar bhi chiraagon ki
lao par kisi aatma ko nahin dikha saki. Iske bajaaye tumne Jamil par ye prakat karna shuru kar diya ki
aatmaayen tum se naraaz ho gayi hain aur tumhen nuksan pahuchane ki koshish kar rahi hain.....wo raat
yaad hai naa tumhen jab tum apne kamre me cheekh rahi thi.....aur aise bhaybheet dikhayi de rahi thi
jaise wo chirag tumhare liye maut ka sandesh laane waale hon. Jamil se tumne chiragon ko bujhane
keliye kaha tha lekin wo unhen nahin bujha saka.....ye tumne kewal isliye kiya tha ki usay kam se kam un
chiragon ke asadharan hone ka vishwaas ho jaaye.....vastav me wo bechara dhoka kha gaya....halaaki
bahut padha likha aadmi hai.....wo yahi samjha ki chirag to asadharan hain.....atah yahi baat ho sakti
hain ki aatmaayen tum se naraaz ho gayi hain.....tumhara aisa karne ka maksad kewal Jaffery Manzil me
mehman ki haisiyat se sukoon ke sath rah sako aur un papers ki talash jaari rakh sako...............chirag
vastav me asadharan hain............kyon??"

Imran Starita ko aankh maar kar muskuraya phir bola....."Diye dohre tah waale the.....unke bich gap
the.....upari bhag me tumne tel daal kar rui ki battiyan daal di thin......lekin vastav me donono tahon ke
bich me paani aur carbide hota tha......aur ruyi ki batti ke niche ek patli se nalki se gas nikal kar jalti thi.
Pakli nazar me ye lagta tha ki lao ruyi ki batti se nikal rahi hai........lekin vastawikta ye thi ki lao us patli si
nalki se nikalti thi......jiska sambandh carbide se tha........ab rah gaya phatak ke girne ki samassya......to
uske upari bhag me pahle se hi daraad padi huyi thi.......tumhaare aadmiyon ne thodi si mehnat karke
usay uss raat gira diya tha......kyon kya galat kah raha hun......?"

"Mujhe tumhare baare me dubaara vichar karna hoga...." Starita ne khunkhaar swar me kaha.

"Gaur karne keliye bahut samay hai.....main jaanta hun tum mujhe zinda nahin chhodogi......phir main
kyon uss anand se vanchit ho jaaun .....mujhe aisi baaten karne me bahut anand milta hai...."

"Haan to Jamil ke kamre waali aag bhi aatmaaon ka pratishodh tha.....?? Wo aag tumhin ne lagaayi
thi.....wo bhi aise ki Jamil ko ahsaas tak nahin ho paaya......halaaki wo tumhare paas hi tha.....ab tum ye
papers le jaa rahi ho jo uss bechaare German detective ne badi mehnat se churaaye the......."

"Kahaan se churaaye the?" Starita gurraayi.

"England ke foreign department ke office se.......aur unhen Jaffery Manzil me chhupa diya tha......udhar
police ko uspar sandeh ho gaya......aur wo kothi bech kar bhag nikla......usay itna samay bhi nahin mil
saka ki wo un papers ko wahaan se nikaal sakta.....ho sakta hai usne jaan bujh kar unhen wahin rahne
diya ho......socha hoga ki jab kaam padega nikaal lega....police ko infact unhin papers ki talash thi. Wo
detective bechara na jaane kahan mar-khap gaya...."

"Ab tumhara bachna asambhav hai...." Starita bharrayi huyi awaaz me boli.

"Tumhaare bina main zinda bhi nahin rahna chaahta.......T3B.....yaani Thressia Bimbol B of Bohemia....."

Achanak suit-case Starita ke hath se choot kar gir pada.

"Maar daalo isse...." Wo jaldi se jhuk kar suit-case uthati huyi cheekhi. (LAST)
Julia bokhla gayi. Wo samajh rahi thi ki Imran makkari se kaam lekar kisi na kisi tarah apni jaan
bachaayega. Lekin Thressia ke vyaktitva se parda utha dena.......arthaat usay challange karna tha. Kya
Imran se vastav me moorkhta huyi thi?

Achanak paacho aadmi Imran par toot pade. Julia uchhal kar ek taraf hat gayi. Usne bhi guess kar liya tha
ki papers usi suit-case me ho sakte hain jo Thressia badi savdhaani se apne hathon me thaami huyi thi.

Julia ne Imran ko un vyaktiyon ke ghere se nikalte huye dekha.......aur phir ye bhi dekha ki do aadmi ek
ke baad ek farsh par dher ho gaye.

"Apne hath uthaao warna goli maar doonga...." uss aadmi ne kaha jiske hath me revolver tha.

Imran ne uski taraf dhyan diye bina Thressia ke suit-case par jhapatta maara lekin Thressia bhi kam
phurteeli nahin thi. Wo usay saaf bacha le gayi. Thressia wahi aurat thi jisne saare Europe ko ungliyon
par nacha rakha tha. Wo itni aasani se kaabu me nahin aane waali thi. Dusre hi pal usne tezi se ek chhota
sa pistal nikaal liya. Lekin shayad is kaaran se wo log fire nahin karna chaahte the ki building shahar ki
ghani aabadi waale hisse me thi.
Julia buri tarah dari huyi thi. Uski samajh me nahin aa raha tha ki Imran ne ye kya paagalpan shuru kar
diya hai. Agar wo adhik akad nahin dikhaata to shayad Thressia un donon ko nikal jaane deti. Wo
Thressia aur uske kaarnaamon ko bhali bhaanti jaanti thi.

Imran ne phir hath upar utha diye......aur Thressia apne sathiyon ki taraf dekh kar gurraayi...."Kitne
nikamme ho tum log......tum se ek aadmi nahi pakdaa jaata...isay pakad kar iska gala ghont do........aur
tum bhi chup-chaap khadi raho.....warna anjaam bahut dardnaak hoga."

Julia jahaan thi wahin khadi rahi. Paachon aadmi Imran par jhapte. Imran phir jhukaai dekar unke ghere
se alag ho gaya.....aur do aadmi ke sar buri tarah takraaye. Teesre ke maathe par Imran ka ghoosa
pada.......aur chuthe ke pet par laat. Paanchwen ne aage badhne ki himmat nahin ki.

Achanak Thressia ne Imran par Fire kar diya. Imran chakrakar gira.......aur phir na uth saka. Pistal ki
awaaz bahut halki thi. Shayad in kamron hi me goonj kar rah gayi ho.

Ab iss ladki ke hath pair baandh kar yahin daal do." Thressia ne bahut shaant swar me kaha. Julia chup
thi. Unhone apni taaiyaan kholin.....aur Julia ki taraf badhe. Thressia Imran ki taraf pith kiye unhen dekh
rahi thi......aur shayad Julia ki bebasi ka anand le rahi thi. Julia ko uski muskurahat bahut hi daraawani
lagi thi.

Achanak Imran lete hi lete Thressia ki taraf khisakna shuru kar diya. Paanchon vyakti Julia ko baandhne
me vyast the......aur Thressia unhen dekh rahi thi. Unme se koi bhi Imran ki taraf dhyan nahin de raha
tha. Kewal Julia ne kankhiyon se uski taraf dekha tha aur aankhen band kar li thi. Usay dar tha ki kahin
kisi ki nazar Imran par na pad jaaye.

Imran Thressia ke nikat pahuch chuka tha. Usne ek hath uske suit-case par daala aur lete hi lete kamar
par ek aisi laat jamaayi ki wo uchhal kar un paachon aadmiyon par jaa padi. Ek sath kayi cheekhen aur
karaahen kamre me goonj uthin. Imran jhapat kar Thressia ka pistal bhi utha liya......jo nazdik hi farsh par
pada hua tha.

"Tum sab seedhe khade ho jaao." Imran ne unhen lalkaara. Us aadmi ne apni jeb ki taraf hath le jaana
chaha jiske paas revolver tha. Lekin Imran ki tez nazron se bach paana kathin tha. Imran ne uspar fire kar
di. Goli uski kalaayi par lagi aur wo larkhadaata hua samne ki deewar se jaa takraaya.

"Koi bhi apni jagah se hilne ki koshish kiya to uska anjaam bahut bhayanak hoga..." Imran ne khooni
swar me kaha......aur jhapat kar zakhmi aadmi ka revolver bhi uski jeb se nikal liya.

"Ab tum log apni apni taaiyan kholo......aur unhin taaiyon se Thressia ke hath pair baandho."

Wo log patthar ki moortiyon ki tarah khade rahe. Thik tabhi dusre kamre ke darwaaze par kisi ki
parchhayi padi aur Imran uchhal kar aisi position me aa gaya ki darwaaze se bhitar aane waala bhi pistal
ke nishaane par rahe.

Dusre hi pal captain Jaffery dabe paaon kamre me prawesh kiya.......aur phir aise uchhal pada jaise
bedhyaani me uske pair kisi spring par pad gaye hon.

"Juliana Fitzwater ko kholo..." Imran ne Jaffery se kaha......aur wo Julia ki taraf mud gaya. Julia ke mukt
hone me adhik der nahin lagi.
"Ab T3B ko inhin taaiyon se baandh do..."

Lekin Jaffery jaise hi uske saamne pahucha.....wo donon hathon se uski badi badi moonchhen pakad kar
jhool gayi.......aur phir usay iss tarah darwaaze ki taraf khichne lagi ki khud uske bhari bharkam sharir ki
oat me ho gayi. Jaffery atyadhik peeda se karaahne laga.......lekin uska hath uss sundar si naari par nahin
uth saka. Wo Imran hi tha jisne bedardi se uski kamar par laat jamaayi thi.

Imran uski taraf jhapta lekin darwaaze par pahuch kar Thressia ne usay Imran par dhkel diya......aur khud
hirniyon jaisi kulaanche bharti huyi nikalti chali gayi. Imran ne Jaffery ko side karke baahar ki taraf
chhalaang lagaayi.....lekin jabtak wo main gate tak pahucha baahar se kisi car ke start hone ki awaaz
aayi. Andhere me usay car ki back light dikhayi di. Car bahut teevra gati se jaa rahi thi. Imran ne usay
agle mod par gayab hote dekha.......aur nirasha se apna sar hilaate rah gaya.

Aaas paas koi car bhi nahin thi ki wo uska pichha karta. Thressia Bimbol B of Bohemia saaf bach kar nikal
gayi thi.

Imran bura sa muhh banaate huye bhitar aaya. Yahaan Jaffery un chaaron aadmiyon se jam kar badlaa le
raha tha. Paachwaan to der se behosh pada tha. Uski kalaayi ke zakhm se badi maatra me khoon bah
gaya tha.

Jaffery ke baaye hath me revolver tha aur daahine hath se wo un chaaron par ghoose barsa raha tha.
Revolver ke bhay se wo uspar hamla karne ki himmat nahin kar rahe the.

"Shabaash.......shabbaash.....bravo...." Imran ne usay chumkaarte huye taaliyaan bajaayi aur

kaha...."Lekin ye bechaare to moochhon ki bahut izzat karte hain."

"Khamosh raho..." Jaffery gurraya..."Warna tum se bhi achhi tarah samajh loonga..."

"Chalo khatam karo.....Jaffery stop..." Julia ne hath utha kar kaha....."Ab inhen to baandh hi lo..."

"Julia ki nazren us chhote se suit-case par jami huyi thin jo Imran ke hath me tha.

"Thressia nikal gayi...." Imran ne us se kaha.

"Ye bahut bura hua..."

"Khuda aisi moochhen kisi ko na de...." Imran ne iss andaz me kaha.....jaise wo moochhen nahin koi
bhayanak beemari ho.

"Tum apna muhh nahin band karoge....?" Jaffery zor se cheekha.

"Jaffery ye log bhi faraar ho jaayenge..." Julia ne kathore swar me kaha.

Jaffery unlogon ke hath pith par baandh kar unhen jaanwaron ki tarah farsh par giraane laga. Jab wo
chaaro ko baandh chuka tab Imran ko kha jaane waali nazron se ghoorne laga.

Imran ko vastav me iss samay us par bahut gussa aa raha tha.....kyonki Thressia usi ki kamzori ke kaaran
bhag nikalne me safal huyi thi. Wo iss samay X2 ke roop me to kuchh kar nahin sakta tha...........lekin wo
abhi usay kuchh maza chakhaana chaahta tha.

""Aisi mardaangi se kya laabh Jaffery sahab ki auraten moonchhen pakad ke jhool jayen." Usne vyang
bhare swar me kaha.

"Main tumhari zubaan khich loonga..." Jaffery kanth ke bal cheekha.

Imran suit-case ek taraf daal kar kaha..."Aao aaj apni ye ichha bhi poori kar lo..."

Julia chup-chap khadi unhen dekhti rahi. Jaffery ghoosa taan kar Imran par chadh daudaa......lekin jaise
hi wo uske nikat pahucha Imran ne jhukaayi dekar iss shakti se uski kanpati par waar kiya ki Jaffery ki
aankhon me taare naach gaye. Wo larkhadaaya.....balance banaaye rakhne ki koshish ki.....lekin at last
un qaidiyon par jaa pada. Wo chaaro buri tarah cheekhne lage.

Jaffery gusse me sulagta hua phir utha.....lekin wo Imran hi kya jo apne kisi pratidvandi ko sambhalne ka
awasar de.

Thodi hi der me Jaffery bekaar ho gaya. Iss bich Julia suit-case lekar 9-2-11 ho gayi.....

Jaffery diwar se tika buri tarah haanf raha tha. Imran ne muhh bana kar kaha....."Tum sab ek tarah ke
lafange ho.....ab dekho wo shaitaan ki naani suit-case hi le bhaagi."

Jaffery gusse se paagal ho raha tha. Usne jeb se revolver nikaala aur Imran par jhonk maara. Imran bhi
sachet hi tha. Goli uske sar par se guzar gayi. Lekin Jaffery deewanon ki tarah tragger dabaata hi chala
gaya.......yahaan tak ki aakhri goli bhi chala di. Lekin iske baad bhi Imran uss se kuchh hi doori par khada
muskuraata raha. Usne iss samay Sang Hi ka vichitra art "Sang Art" ka faaida uthaya tha.....warna Jaffery
jaise achhe nishane baaz ke hathon usay maut hi naseeb hoti.

"Kya main second round ke liye kartoos pesh karun.....shrimaan kaptaan sahab?" Imran ne zahreele lahje
me puchha......aur Jaffery ne revolver us par kheech maara. Imran phurti se ek taraf hat'ta hua
bola......"Ab gussa thook dijiye.....kaptaan sahab....warna ye chaaro bhi agar farar ho gaye to aapka
chooha X2 aapki buri tarah khabar lega...achha.....tata....."

**********************************************************

Jaffery Manzil me subah break-fast par shakil apni Ram-kahani suna kar chup hua to Imran
bola...."Maksad ye tha ki wo log tumhen uss samay tak roke rakhen jab tak Thressia un papers ko paane
me safal na ho jaaye. Wo samajhte the ki kewal tumhi Thressia ki rahassyamyi gatividhi se avagat ho.
.......aur koi nahin jaanta. Isliye wo log tumhen yahaan se hata le gaye......aur unhone Mrs Razia ke baare
me ek man-gadhant aarop taraash kar tumhen uljhan me daal diya. Maksad yahi tha ki tumhen kisi na
kisi prakar roke rakh saken.....jabtak Thressia kaamyab na ho jaaye."

"Kya tumhen pata tha ki wohi log mujhe le gaye the?" Shakil ne puchha.

"Maine usi samay unka pichha kiya tha......aur mujhe unke thikaane ka bhi pata tha. Lekin mujhe infact
Thressia ki chinta thi. Main hi nahin mere alawa bhi kuchh log usme interest le rahe the. Ant-tah wahi
log papers haasil karne me safal rahe.......aur main muhh dekhta rah gaya.......Koi baat nahin.....kuchh
bhi ho tumne mujhe jis kaam keliye bulaaya tha......wo to ho hi gaya. Yaani kisi prakar usay Jaffery
Manzil se nikaala jaaye."

Sab uski taraf dekh kar uski baaten sun rahe the.

"Ahha.....ye Jamil sahab kahan hain?"

"Wo bahut sharminda hai.....ab usay is topic par na chhediyega...." Mrs jaffery bolin.

"Agar......wo log mujhe maar daalte to....?" Shakil ne Imran se puchha.

"Us se pahle tum wahaan se nikaal laaye jaate....maine kayi din tak un logon ko bahut kareeb se dekha
tha. Aur jab main nishchint ho gaya......tab phir main dusre maamlat ki taraf dhyan diya."

Ruhi aur Ghazala uss murkh vyakti ko aankhen phaad phaad kar dekh rahi thin......aisa lag raha tha jaise
unhen uske sar par seeng dikhayi de diya ho.

Usi din Imran ne ek public telephone booth se Julia ko sambodhit kiya.

"Tum ne bahut hoshiyari se kaam liya.....agar tum wo suit-case lekar na chali aati to Imran nishchit roop
se koi na koi jhanjhat khada kar deta........ab tum wo suit-case bahut sawdhani ke sath Sir Sultan tak
pahucha do."

"Lekin sir usay ye papers mile kahaan se the....?"

"Ek tah-khaane se jiska pata Jaffery Manzil waalon ko bhi nahin tha. Aaj subah unhen wo tah-khaana
dikhayi diya. Thressia uska raasta khula chhod gayi thi warna wo ab bhi uss se anjaan hi rahte."

"Mr Beg ke baare me kuchh pata chala?" Julia ne puchha.

"Mr Beg naam ka koi retired inspector ho sakta hai kabhi yahaan rahta ho......ab koi nahin hai. Ye un
logon ki chaal thi. Wo pata karna chaahte the ki unki tohh me kon log hain. Pahle unhone kisi damma ke
mareez ko Mr Beg bana kar hospital me bharti karaaya.......aur uski publicity kiya......phir hospital se le
gaye. Aur ye chaal tumhare aur Imran keliye choohe daan ban gayi."

"Aur sir Imran pahle se bhi un papers ke baare me bahut kuchh jaanta tha..."

"Awashya jaanta hoga.....wo jaanta hai ki kab aur kis awasar par kon si chiz uske kaam aayegi....lekin
Imran ne kal ek bahut bada kaarnama anjaam diya.....kyon....kon sa kaarnaama....? Hello...."

"Yes sir.....jee haan sir wo vastav me ek bada kaarnama hi tha...."

"Tum nahin samjhi.....Thressia waale maamle se alag....ek dusra kaarnama......aur wo kaarnama

tha.....Jaffery ki marammat......kewal usi gadhe ki gaflat ke kaaran wo nikal gayi...."

"Lekin sir kya Alfaanse nahin tha Thressia ke sath?"

"Pata nahin.......agar raha bhi hoga to saamne nahin aaya....."

"Thressia ka nikal jaana achha nahin hua sir....."

"Kya kiya jaaye.......anyway.....phir sahi......agar wp phir Europe ki taraf nahin chali gayi......to tum dekhna
uska anjaam......" Imran ne X2 ki haisiyat se baat kar ke phone kaat diya.

THE END