02-06-2026, 11:19 PM
Chapter - 33
Ayesha khala ka ghar alishaan aur bada tha, lekin bheed se bhara tha. Unhone humein jaldi fresh hone ko kaha aur khud ammi-abbu se baatein karne lagi. Main Noor aur Rizwan ke saath guest kamre mein chala gaya. Kuch der baad Ayesha khala aayi aur Noor se baatein karne lagi. Main fresh hone chala gaya. Jab wapas aaya, Noor ke chehre par tanav tha. “Kya hua, Noor? Khala ne kuch kaha kya?” maine poochha. Noor ne sar jhukaya aur boli, “Rizwan ke abbu, khala bol rahi thi ki aur logon ka aana baaki hai. Is kamre mein auron ko bhi adjust karna padega.” Yeh sun kar mujhe gussa aaya—hum unke khaas bulave par itni door se aaye, aur yeh adjustment ki baat. Maine Noor ke kandhe par haath rakha, “Tum chinta mat karo, main kuch dekhta hoon.”
Noor ne sar hilaya, uski aankhon mein thakan thi. “Chalo, pehle chai pi lete hain,” maine kaha. Hum kamre se baahar aaye, jahan aangan mein ek naukar chai ke pyale le aaya. Noor ne Rizwan ko god mein liya, uske narm haathon ko sehlate hue chai pee, aur maine bhi ek pyala uthaya. Chai ki khushboo ne thodi rahat di, lekin Noor ki chuppi abhi bhi pareshan kar rahi thi.
Chai ke baad hum drawing room mein ikattha hue, jahan dining table par garma-garam parathe aur mutton curry ki khushboo faili thi, jo Ayesha khala ne hamare aane ki khushi mein banwaya tha. Ammi ne Rizwan ko god mein liye doodh pilaya, uske chhote haath unke dupatte se khel rahe the. Noor chupchap paratha kha rahi thi, uski aankhon mein wahi thakan.
Main Ayesha khala ke shauhar, Naseer mamu, ke paas gaya. “Mamu, nashta lazeez tha,” maine muskurate hue kaha, “par yeh guest kamra... Noor aur Rizwan ke liye thodi jagah chahiye.” Unhone bhi muskuraya, “Arre Imran, shaadi ka ghar hai, thodi bheed toh banta hai. Par main khala se baat karta hoon.” Unki baat mein pyaar tha, lekin masle ka hal nahi dikha.
Main Ayesha khala ke paas gaya, jo mobile par kisi caterer se baat kar rahi thi. “Haan, mutton mein thoda aur masala daal do, aur pulao bhi taiyaar rakho!” unhone kaha, phir meri taraf dekha. “Khala, ek baat karni thi,” maine dheere se kaha. “Noor thodi pareshan hai. Is kamre mein aur log adjust karne ki baat boli aapne. Rizwan chhota hai, humein thodi jagah chahiye.” Khala ne mobile side mein rakha, ek saans li, aur boli, “Arre beta, shaadi ka ghar hai, sab aate hain. Par theek hai, main ek alag kamra set karwa deti hoon.” Maine shukriya kaha, dil halka hua.
Ghar mein sab kal ki shaadi ke liye vyast the—Ayesha khala ki chhoti beti ka nikaah tha. Khala har kaam sambhal rahi thi—kabhi caterer se baat, kabhi phoolon wale se stage ke liye gulab ka intezaam. Unki awaaz ghar mein goonj rahi thi. Mujhe bhi ek kaam de diya, “Imran, tum zara stage ke gulab ke intezaam dekh lo.” Maine sar hilaya. Ghar ka mahaul jashn se bhara tha.
---
Main din bhar kaam mein vyast raha, aur saath-saath door-door se aaye rishtedaaron se baatein aur salaam-aada karne ka mauka mila. Shaam ko main thak gaya tha, aur jab thaka-hara kamre mein pahuncha, to dekha ki Noor Rizwan ke saath soyi hui thi. Maine kamre mein nazar daudayi, to ek aur door ki bhabhi kone mein soyi hui thi. Ayesha khala ke kehne ke bawajood humein adjust karna pad raha tha. Un dono ko sota dekh main baahar nikla, aur kismat se Ayesha khala wahin drawing room mein thi. Maine unse poochha, “Khala, nahi ho paya bandobast?” Khala ne muskuraya, meri taraf dekha, aur boli, “Babu, ab ghar mein koi jagah nahi bachi hai. Lekin main ek kaam karwa sakti hoon.” Maine poochha, “Kya, khala?” Unhone kaha, “Mere jaan-pehchaan ke log hain, bagal mein hi rehte hain. Tu shayad unhe nahi jaanta. Agar tu chahe, to tu, Noor, aur Rizwan wahan thehar sakte ho.” Main kuch der sochne laga aur bola, “Lekin khala, kisi gair ke yahan theharna theek nahi hoga, aur ammi-abbu?” Khala ne thodi der socha aur kaha, “Woh dono toh yahan maze mein hain, unhe koi dikkat nahi hogi. Yahan unka man laga rahega. Aur woh log gair nahi hain, Imran. Agar tu chahe, to main unhe keh doongi.” Maine sar khujaya—mujhe kisi anjaan ke yahan rehna accha nahi lag raha tha. “Khala, hum yahin dekh lenge,” maine kaha. Unhone jawab diya, “Jaisi teri marzi,” aur phir chali gayi.
---
Raat ho gayi thi, aur Noor ke kamre mein aurat sone chali gayin. Main baaki mardon ke saath hall mein gadde par let gaya. Jaise hi maine sar neeche rakha, mujhe ehsaas hua ki takiya toh hai hi nahi. Pankha bhi dheere-dheere chal raha tha, bilkul bekaar. Mera dhyan Noor ke kamre ki taraf gaya, jahan AC ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi. Dopahar mein Ayesha khala ki baat yaad aayi—unhone mujhe wahan sone ko kaha tha, par maine unki baat nahi maani. Ab pachtawa ho raha tha.
Raat bhar garmi aur machchharon se joojhta raha. Machchharon ke kaatne se main baar-baar jag utha. Neend tooti, to dobara aayi hi nahi. Hawa lene ke liye maine socha ki bahar bagiche mein chala jaoon. Dheere se apni jagah se utha aur hall se bahar nikalne ko badha, par gate par tala laga hua tha. Maine apna sar pakad liya—ab kya karoon?
Pyaas bhi lag rahi thi, to main kitchen ki taraf gaya. Fridge khola, par ek bhi paani ki bottle nahi dikhi. Ab mujhe apne aap par gussa aane laga—Ayesha khala ki baat kyun nahi maani? Wapas gadde par laut kar sone ki koshish ki, par neend nahi aayi. Dil bechain tha, aur dimaag mein dopahar ki baatein ghoom rahi thi. Kal shaam ki ek ghatna yaad aayi, jisse thodi si muskan chehre par aa gayi, par saath hi bechaini bhi badh gayi.
Pyaas ab aur badh rahi thi. Maine socha, fridge mein paani nahi to kam se kam kal se paani hi pi loon. Dubara kitchen mein gaya, par wahan ka haal aur bhi kharab tha. Kaafi der tak khoja, par ek bhi saaf glass nahi mila. Gussa aur badh gaya. Aakhir mein, maine apne haathon se chullu banaya aur kal se rakhe paani ko piya. Tabhi deewar ke doosri taraf se dhamm ki awaaz aayi—koi kooda tha! Mera dil darr se dhadak utha. Dimaag mein ek hi khayal aaya—CHOR!
---
Main hadbada gaya aur jhat se khidki kholkar bahar awaaz ki disha mein dekhne laga. Mujhe koi dikha nahi—iska matlab jo bhi tha, woh wahan se ja chuka tha. Maine khidki band ki aur dheere se apne gadde ki taraf lautne laga. Tabhi khayal aaya ki agar sach mein chor tha, toh shadi ke ghar se kaafi kuch chura sakta tha. Main jaante hue aisa hone dena theek nahi samjha. Kuch pal sochne ke baad, maine faisla kiya ki Ayesha khala ko batana hi sahi hoga. Par raat ke teen baje unhe uthana kya theek rahega? Thodi der socha, aur laga ki aise uthana shayad galat ho. Phir maine socha ki kitchen ke upar wale kamre mein jaakar baat batana behtar hoga—woh log Ayesha khala ko jaankar de denge.
Main dheere-dheere chalte hue upar wale kamre ke darwaze tak pahuncha aur halke se dastak di. Koi jawab nahi aaya. Do-teen baar aur dastak di, tab jaakar darwaza khula. Samne Ayesha khala ki beti, jiska kal nikaah hone wala tha, khadi thi. Usko dekhkar main thoda chaunk gaya. Maine salam kiya aur jaldi se awaaz ke baare mein bataya. Gaur kiya toh laga ki woh darwaza poora nahi khol rahi thi, jaise meri nazar ko andar jhankne se rokna chahti ho.
Maine uski taraf dekha aur kaha, “Saba, mujhe laga shayad koi chor hai… deewar ke uss taraf se dhamm ki awaaz aayi thi.” Woh chup rahi, phir dheere se, adab ke saath boli, “Bhai, sab theek hai. Shayad tumhe galat laga. Raat mein aise awaazein ho jati hain.” Uska lehja weham door karne wala tha, par darwaza ab bhi thoda hi khula tha, aur woh mujhe andar jhankne se rokti si lag rahi thi.
Maine kaha, “Haan, par awaaz bahut tez thi. Ek baar dekh loon?” Yeh kehte hue maine ek kadam aage badhaya, darwaze ke paas jhankne ki koshish ki. Saba jaldi se boli, “Nahi, bhai, koi zaroorat nahi. Main dekh loongi.” Par uski awaaz mein ek ghabrahat thi, aur maine gaur kiya ki uske kurte ka ek button toota hua tha, aur baal thodi si bikhri hui thein. Mere dil mein shak aur gehra ho gaya. Woh jaldi se darwaza band karne lagi, par uske haath ka kapkapana mujhse chhupa nahi.
Main wahi khada raha, dimag mein sawaal uth rahe the. Yeh kya baat thi?
Ayesha khala ka ghar alishaan aur bada tha, lekin bheed se bhara tha. Unhone humein jaldi fresh hone ko kaha aur khud ammi-abbu se baatein karne lagi. Main Noor aur Rizwan ke saath guest kamre mein chala gaya. Kuch der baad Ayesha khala aayi aur Noor se baatein karne lagi. Main fresh hone chala gaya. Jab wapas aaya, Noor ke chehre par tanav tha. “Kya hua, Noor? Khala ne kuch kaha kya?” maine poochha. Noor ne sar jhukaya aur boli, “Rizwan ke abbu, khala bol rahi thi ki aur logon ka aana baaki hai. Is kamre mein auron ko bhi adjust karna padega.” Yeh sun kar mujhe gussa aaya—hum unke khaas bulave par itni door se aaye, aur yeh adjustment ki baat. Maine Noor ke kandhe par haath rakha, “Tum chinta mat karo, main kuch dekhta hoon.”
Noor ne sar hilaya, uski aankhon mein thakan thi. “Chalo, pehle chai pi lete hain,” maine kaha. Hum kamre se baahar aaye, jahan aangan mein ek naukar chai ke pyale le aaya. Noor ne Rizwan ko god mein liya, uske narm haathon ko sehlate hue chai pee, aur maine bhi ek pyala uthaya. Chai ki khushboo ne thodi rahat di, lekin Noor ki chuppi abhi bhi pareshan kar rahi thi.
Chai ke baad hum drawing room mein ikattha hue, jahan dining table par garma-garam parathe aur mutton curry ki khushboo faili thi, jo Ayesha khala ne hamare aane ki khushi mein banwaya tha. Ammi ne Rizwan ko god mein liye doodh pilaya, uske chhote haath unke dupatte se khel rahe the. Noor chupchap paratha kha rahi thi, uski aankhon mein wahi thakan.
Main Ayesha khala ke shauhar, Naseer mamu, ke paas gaya. “Mamu, nashta lazeez tha,” maine muskurate hue kaha, “par yeh guest kamra... Noor aur Rizwan ke liye thodi jagah chahiye.” Unhone bhi muskuraya, “Arre Imran, shaadi ka ghar hai, thodi bheed toh banta hai. Par main khala se baat karta hoon.” Unki baat mein pyaar tha, lekin masle ka hal nahi dikha.
Main Ayesha khala ke paas gaya, jo mobile par kisi caterer se baat kar rahi thi. “Haan, mutton mein thoda aur masala daal do, aur pulao bhi taiyaar rakho!” unhone kaha, phir meri taraf dekha. “Khala, ek baat karni thi,” maine dheere se kaha. “Noor thodi pareshan hai. Is kamre mein aur log adjust karne ki baat boli aapne. Rizwan chhota hai, humein thodi jagah chahiye.” Khala ne mobile side mein rakha, ek saans li, aur boli, “Arre beta, shaadi ka ghar hai, sab aate hain. Par theek hai, main ek alag kamra set karwa deti hoon.” Maine shukriya kaha, dil halka hua.
Ghar mein sab kal ki shaadi ke liye vyast the—Ayesha khala ki chhoti beti ka nikaah tha. Khala har kaam sambhal rahi thi—kabhi caterer se baat, kabhi phoolon wale se stage ke liye gulab ka intezaam. Unki awaaz ghar mein goonj rahi thi. Mujhe bhi ek kaam de diya, “Imran, tum zara stage ke gulab ke intezaam dekh lo.” Maine sar hilaya. Ghar ka mahaul jashn se bhara tha.
---
Main din bhar kaam mein vyast raha, aur saath-saath door-door se aaye rishtedaaron se baatein aur salaam-aada karne ka mauka mila. Shaam ko main thak gaya tha, aur jab thaka-hara kamre mein pahuncha, to dekha ki Noor Rizwan ke saath soyi hui thi. Maine kamre mein nazar daudayi, to ek aur door ki bhabhi kone mein soyi hui thi. Ayesha khala ke kehne ke bawajood humein adjust karna pad raha tha. Un dono ko sota dekh main baahar nikla, aur kismat se Ayesha khala wahin drawing room mein thi. Maine unse poochha, “Khala, nahi ho paya bandobast?” Khala ne muskuraya, meri taraf dekha, aur boli, “Babu, ab ghar mein koi jagah nahi bachi hai. Lekin main ek kaam karwa sakti hoon.” Maine poochha, “Kya, khala?” Unhone kaha, “Mere jaan-pehchaan ke log hain, bagal mein hi rehte hain. Tu shayad unhe nahi jaanta. Agar tu chahe, to tu, Noor, aur Rizwan wahan thehar sakte ho.” Main kuch der sochne laga aur bola, “Lekin khala, kisi gair ke yahan theharna theek nahi hoga, aur ammi-abbu?” Khala ne thodi der socha aur kaha, “Woh dono toh yahan maze mein hain, unhe koi dikkat nahi hogi. Yahan unka man laga rahega. Aur woh log gair nahi hain, Imran. Agar tu chahe, to main unhe keh doongi.” Maine sar khujaya—mujhe kisi anjaan ke yahan rehna accha nahi lag raha tha. “Khala, hum yahin dekh lenge,” maine kaha. Unhone jawab diya, “Jaisi teri marzi,” aur phir chali gayi.
---
Raat ho gayi thi, aur Noor ke kamre mein aurat sone chali gayin. Main baaki mardon ke saath hall mein gadde par let gaya. Jaise hi maine sar neeche rakha, mujhe ehsaas hua ki takiya toh hai hi nahi. Pankha bhi dheere-dheere chal raha tha, bilkul bekaar. Mera dhyan Noor ke kamre ki taraf gaya, jahan AC ki thandi hawa chal rahi thi. Dopahar mein Ayesha khala ki baat yaad aayi—unhone mujhe wahan sone ko kaha tha, par maine unki baat nahi maani. Ab pachtawa ho raha tha.
Raat bhar garmi aur machchharon se joojhta raha. Machchharon ke kaatne se main baar-baar jag utha. Neend tooti, to dobara aayi hi nahi. Hawa lene ke liye maine socha ki bahar bagiche mein chala jaoon. Dheere se apni jagah se utha aur hall se bahar nikalne ko badha, par gate par tala laga hua tha. Maine apna sar pakad liya—ab kya karoon?
Pyaas bhi lag rahi thi, to main kitchen ki taraf gaya. Fridge khola, par ek bhi paani ki bottle nahi dikhi. Ab mujhe apne aap par gussa aane laga—Ayesha khala ki baat kyun nahi maani? Wapas gadde par laut kar sone ki koshish ki, par neend nahi aayi. Dil bechain tha, aur dimaag mein dopahar ki baatein ghoom rahi thi. Kal shaam ki ek ghatna yaad aayi, jisse thodi si muskan chehre par aa gayi, par saath hi bechaini bhi badh gayi.
Pyaas ab aur badh rahi thi. Maine socha, fridge mein paani nahi to kam se kam kal se paani hi pi loon. Dubara kitchen mein gaya, par wahan ka haal aur bhi kharab tha. Kaafi der tak khoja, par ek bhi saaf glass nahi mila. Gussa aur badh gaya. Aakhir mein, maine apne haathon se chullu banaya aur kal se rakhe paani ko piya. Tabhi deewar ke doosri taraf se dhamm ki awaaz aayi—koi kooda tha! Mera dil darr se dhadak utha. Dimaag mein ek hi khayal aaya—CHOR!
---
Main hadbada gaya aur jhat se khidki kholkar bahar awaaz ki disha mein dekhne laga. Mujhe koi dikha nahi—iska matlab jo bhi tha, woh wahan se ja chuka tha. Maine khidki band ki aur dheere se apne gadde ki taraf lautne laga. Tabhi khayal aaya ki agar sach mein chor tha, toh shadi ke ghar se kaafi kuch chura sakta tha. Main jaante hue aisa hone dena theek nahi samjha. Kuch pal sochne ke baad, maine faisla kiya ki Ayesha khala ko batana hi sahi hoga. Par raat ke teen baje unhe uthana kya theek rahega? Thodi der socha, aur laga ki aise uthana shayad galat ho. Phir maine socha ki kitchen ke upar wale kamre mein jaakar baat batana behtar hoga—woh log Ayesha khala ko jaankar de denge.
Main dheere-dheere chalte hue upar wale kamre ke darwaze tak pahuncha aur halke se dastak di. Koi jawab nahi aaya. Do-teen baar aur dastak di, tab jaakar darwaza khula. Samne Ayesha khala ki beti, jiska kal nikaah hone wala tha, khadi thi. Usko dekhkar main thoda chaunk gaya. Maine salam kiya aur jaldi se awaaz ke baare mein bataya. Gaur kiya toh laga ki woh darwaza poora nahi khol rahi thi, jaise meri nazar ko andar jhankne se rokna chahti ho.
Maine uski taraf dekha aur kaha, “Saba, mujhe laga shayad koi chor hai… deewar ke uss taraf se dhamm ki awaaz aayi thi.” Woh chup rahi, phir dheere se, adab ke saath boli, “Bhai, sab theek hai. Shayad tumhe galat laga. Raat mein aise awaazein ho jati hain.” Uska lehja weham door karne wala tha, par darwaza ab bhi thoda hi khula tha, aur woh mujhe andar jhankne se rokti si lag rahi thi.
Maine kaha, “Haan, par awaaz bahut tez thi. Ek baar dekh loon?” Yeh kehte hue maine ek kadam aage badhaya, darwaze ke paas jhankne ki koshish ki. Saba jaldi se boli, “Nahi, bhai, koi zaroorat nahi. Main dekh loongi.” Par uski awaaz mein ek ghabrahat thi, aur maine gaur kiya ki uske kurte ka ek button toota hua tha, aur baal thodi si bikhri hui thein. Mere dil mein shak aur gehra ho gaya. Woh jaldi se darwaza band karne lagi, par uske haath ka kapkapana mujhse chhupa nahi.
Main wahi khada raha, dimag mein sawaal uth rahe the. Yeh kya baat thi?
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)