****Transliteration format guide
Suraj ddub raha tha aur mujhe sheher pahaunchne ki jaldi thi. Kacha raasta aboor kar ke main pull par huliya. Dur, Raavi ki miṭi mein suraj utar raha tha. Bas ab jalte taambe sa kinara reh gaya tha. Main ne be dihaani mein is kinaare ko dekha, aur phir tai tai qadam uṭhaane laga. Magar kuch dur jaa ke mujhe khayaal sa hua ke main ne kuch dekha, is liye mein muṛa aur main ne pull ke jangle par jukhe hue teenon shakhs dekhe. Wo teenon saamne darya ke dal dal mein utarte suraj ko baṛe inhimaak se dekh rahe the. Main ne bhi suraj ki jaanib dekha, magar kuch na paa kar phir un teenon ke chehron ki taraf nigaah ki. In teenon ki shaklein mukhtalif theen, jaise hum sab ki aik dusre se mukhtalif hain. Magar phir bi, yun lagta tha jaise aik hi shakhs teen ban kar karha tha. Un ke kapṛe unche tabqe ke dihaatyon ke se the, aur juton par gard ke tehein jami thiin jaise wo meelon ka safar kar ke yahaan pahaunche hon. Issi lamhe ki khaatir — sukhte Raavi ki dal dal mein utarte suraj ko dekhne. Aur ab wo gehre inhimaak se, saṛak par aati jaati bhaari halki savaariyon aur insaanon se bekhabar us surkh hoti dal dal nigaahein jamai the. Main bhi pal bhar un ke qarib ruk gya.
Ab suraj chup chuka tha aur zamin se milte aasman par gehri surkhi pheli thi. Yakdum un teenon ne ek dusre ki taraf khaamosh nigaahon se dekha aur phir un ke sar jukh gaye. Phir khamosh hi wo sheher dusri samt muzafaat ko loṭ gaye. Main kuch der kaṛha un ke muzmahal qadmon se loṭ—ta dekhta raha. Phir mujhe sheher mein jaagti raat ki awaazein ne chaunkayaa. Ab phelti raat ke neele dhuen mein baṭiyan ṭimṭimaane lagi theen aur mujhe yaad aya ke mujhe ghar pahaunchne ki jaldi hai, chunaanche main tai tai qadam uṭhaane laga.
Agle roz jab mein sukhte Raavi ke pull se guzra to abhi suraj ddubne mein kuch der thi. Suraj ko dekh kar mujhe un teenon ka khayal aa gya aur mein baghair iraade ke jangle se lag khaṛa ho gya. Mujhe khayal bhi aya ke jaldi ghar pahaunchna hai. Munnu ddyoṛhi mein khaṛa ṛevṛyon ka intizaar kar rahaa ho ga aur Zakiya cinema ke liye tayaar ho gi. Phir bhi lamhe bhar ko wahaan ruk gya. Ghuroob ka waqt qareeb hi tha. Agle din mujhe raat bhar yahi khayaal sataata raha ke wahaan darya ki dal dal aur suraj ke taanbe mein kya tha ke wo teenon us inhimaak se usse dekhte the.
Ab roshni madham paṛ rahi thi aur suraj ka naaranji damakta thaal zamin ki taraf utar raha tha. Magar ‘ain ghuroob ke waqt dihaat ki samt se teen shakhs aate dikhai diye. Aik se qad, aik si chaal aur libaas. Jab qareeb pahaunche tho wo hi agle din waale shakhs the. Wo phir chup chaap aa kar jangle ke saath lag kar kaṛhe ho gaye, aur us hi inhimaak se ddubte suraj ko dekhne lage. Main ne un ki taraf dekha. Teenon ki aankhe koiley ki tara dekhti theen, aur un koiley ki tara dekhti aankho mein aik si udaas chup bhari thi. Ab phir mujhe hairat hui ke mukhtalif khad o khaal rakhne ke baawajud ye teenon aik se kyun lagthe they. In mein se aik shakhs khaas mu’amar thaa aur us ka chehra ghanni safaid daaṛi mein chuppa tha. Dusre ka rang apne dono saathiyon ke nisbat saaf tha aur ddubte suraj ki surkh roshni mein kundan ki tara damakhta tha. Is ke baal jhaalar ki surat gardan par paṛhe the. Aur maathe par choṭ ka nishaan tha. Teesra pehli dono ki nisbat siyah faam tha, aur behad chapṭi naak rakta tha. Main inhein ghaur se dekhta rahaa aur is asnaa mein suraj dub giya. Phir un teenon ne pehli ki tara aik dusre ki taraf dekhaa aur khaamoshi se sar jukha liya aur phir apne raaste par lauṭ gaye.
Us raat mera ji kisi kaam mein naa laga, aur main pachtaya ke main ne aakhir in se puchaa kyun na ke wo sukhte Raavi ki dal dal mein utarte suraj mein kya ddhunddte aate hain? Main ne Zakiya se un teenon ka tazkira kiya. Magar Zakiya has kar khaamosh ho rahi. “ Yunhi koi dihaati sheher ki sair ko aye hon ge.” Main ne socha ke Zakiya ghalat bhi nahin kehti. Jab tak koi un teenon ko dekhe nahi, un ke asaar ka ihsaas nahi kar sakta. Agle roz tamaam din mujhe shaam ka intizaar rahaa. Ghuṛob-e-aftaab ke waqt main jangle par khaṛa un ki rah dekhne laga. Ain roshni ke ddhalte wo teenon ussi tara aik si chaal chalte jangle par aa rukke aur aati jaati sawaariyon aur insaanon ke shor se bekhabar ddubte suraj ko dekhne lage. Dekhne ke amal mein wo yun mahav hote they ke is ke darmyaan un se baat karna naamumkin lagta tha. Chunaanche main suraj ke puri tara ddhalne ka intizaar karta raha, aur socha ke jab ye teenon apne raaste par muṛenge, tab main un ka pheecha karun ga aur un se puchun ga ke tum kaun ho aur ddubte suraj aur sukhte darya ki dal dal aur shaam ke lamhe mein kya dhunddte ho?
Jab suraj pura ka pura ddub gya, to un teenon ne phir gang udaasi se aik dusre ki taraf dekha aur sar jukha liye. Aur mein us baat ka muntazir hua ke ab ye apni rah lein aur main un ke piche haulun. Magar ye dekh kar meri hairat ki koi intihaa naa rahi ke waapis apni raah par lauṭne ki bajai, wo sheher ki saṛak par huliye. Un ki jutiyon par gard ki tehein jami thin aur un ke qadam saat saat uṭh the they. Aakhir mein himmat kar ke un se mukhaatib hua aur main ne pucha:
“Bhaiyon! Tum kis gaon se aye ho?”
Chapṭi naak walle ne ghum kar mujhe dekha, aur phir wo teenon aik dusre ki taraf dekh kar khaamosh ho gai.
“Wahan pull par kya dekhte ho?”
Ab un ke asraar se mera ji bhojal ho raha tha aur yun lagta tha jaise meri ṭaangon mein — saare jism mein — pigla seesa utar raha hai aur mein chakra ke gir kar ddher ho jaaun ga. Wo teenon mere is savaal pe bhi naqsh-e-deevar ki maanand khaamosh rahe. Ab ke main ne chilla kar un se baat ki aur meri awaaz bhar aagai aur aankhe jalte paani se bheeg gain.
“Us suraj ko kyun dekhte ho?” Mein ne un ke qadam ke saath qadam milaane ki koshish ki, kyunke ab wo nihaayat taizi se chalne lage the. Wo teenon mere us savaal par bhi khaamosh rahe. Ab sheher ki saṛak qariib thi aur savaariyon ki rel pel thi. Masroof raat ki awaazein bahaut qarib aa gai thi aur hawaa mein jaate oktuber ki khunki thi. Kahin se chanbili ki mehek leher ban kar ai thi aur hum mahsul changi ke qarib se guzar rahe the ke achaanak mu’amar shakhs ne, jis ke baal baraf ki tara safaid paṛh chuke the, ne kaha:
“Kya tum ne nahin dekha? Kya is sheher ke kisi shakhs ne nahi dekha?”
“Kya? Kya nahi dekha?”
“Jab suraj ddubta hai aur ddub chukta hai” mua’mar shakhs ne chaadar ki bokal ṭheek karte we kaha.
“Suraj ddubta hai aur ddub chukta hai. Wo hum roz hi dekhte hain. Balke nahin dekhte kyunke suraj roz hi ddubta hai” main ne taizi se kaha ke wo mubaada shakhs phir khaamosh ho jai.
“Hum jaante the ke aisa hi hoga. Is liye hum aain hein. Ye phichle basti bhi…” mu’amar shakhs ne mashriq ki taraf ishaara kiya aur sar jukha ke khaamosh ho gya.
“Haan jahan se hum aain hain … “ chapṭi naak wale ne kaha.
“Kahan se? Mujhe saaf saaf batao.”
Is par darmyan ke shakhs ne meri taraf muṛh kar dekha. Is ke maathe par choṭ ka nishaan pehle se bhi gehra nazar aa raha tha.
“Ham ne bhi nahin dekha aur tumne bhi nahin dekha. Kyunke roz chaṛta ddubta hai. Is liye hum nahin dekhte. Is liye jab udar (us ne haath se mashriq ki taraf ishaara kiya) suraj ddubne par surkh lahu ki tara gehri hone lagi, aur raat ke andhere me bhi itni gehri aag ki tara dekhti rehne lagi, to hame khabr tak nahin hui, aur phir… “ wo achaanak khaamosh ho gya jaise uska gala randh giya ho.
“Ye surkhi basti basti phelti hai. Aisi surkhi main ne kabi apni zindagi mein na dekhi thi. Na hi mere buzurgon ne aur na hi un ke buzurgon ne kabi apne buzurgon se koi aisee baat suni thi. Is se pehle ka patha nahin”
Is par mein ne palaṭ kar piche rah jaane waale darya par phelte aasman ko dekha. Andhera khub sa gehra ho chuka tha, aur saṛkon ki zard baṭiyan ṭimṭimati thi. Mujhe apne saathiyon ki suratein nazar nahi aarahi thin. Sawaai un ke safaid safaid kapṛon ya phir un ke dhundle we chehron ke, jab wo kisi bijli ke khumbe tale guzarte the. Main ne palaṭ kar dekha ke is andhere mein bhi aasman ka wo ṭukṛa aag ki tara dehektha tha.
“Haan waaqai … hum ne nahin dekha.” main ne hairani chuphani ki koshish ki.
“Ab tum log kahaan jaa rahe ho?” bilaakhir main ne puch hi liya.
“Hum yu hi shehr ko jaa rahe hain. Baad mein aane ka kia faida.”
Mera ji chaaha in logon ke saath rahun. Inhein apne ghar le chalun. Magar wo achaanak hi dusṛi saṛak par muṛ gai aur mujhe yaad aagya ke mujhe ghar jaldi pahaunchna tha. Munna dhyoṛi mein khaṛa ṛevṛyon ke intizaar mein khaṛa ho ga aur Zakiya intizaar karte karte bezaar ho chuki ho gi.
Us se agle roz main sukhte Raavi par ruka aur suraj ko ddubte dekta raha. Pura ka pura suraj chup gya magar un teenon ka aaj koi pata naa tha. Pehle main bechaine se un ka muntazir raha, magar phir ddubte suraj ki surkhi mein mehev ho gya. Aasman par goya lahu ki chaadar tani thi. Phir achaanak us lahu ki chadar ke saamne tanhaa khaṛe mujhe khauf aane laga. Apne phiche — bilkul phiche — shaanon ki haddiyon ke darmiyaan mujhe kisi ka wujud ka ihsaas hua. Koi mere piche khaṛa tha. Main ne jaldi se muṛ kar dekha. Koi na tha — magar ghalat hai — main ne phiche dekha hi kab? Main apne piche kaise dekh sakta hun. Nahin dekh sak tha aur mere piche koi maujud hai. Mere andar ya shayad mujhse alag.
Savaariyan apne raaste par chali jaati thin. Baṭiyan jal chuki thi. Shaam gehri ho chuki thi. Aur phelti raat mein aasman ka wo ṭukṛa lahu ki chaadar banaa dehekta tha aur uski aanch dur dur ke andheron tak pahaunch ti thi. Khaufzada ho kar mein ghar ki taraf bhaaga aur ghar pahaunchte hi main ne Zakiya se us waqia ka tazkira kiya. Wo mere vehm par hasdi. Magar main usse chath par le gaya. Raat ki tareeki mein bhi wo surkhi chamak rahi thi. Zakiya kuch khaamosh si hogi, phir boli:
“Koi aandhi aati ho gi”
Agle roz main daftar mein file par jhuka tha ke Mujib-ullah ne Hafiz Ahmed se kaha:
“Yaar aaj kal suraj chupne par dekha hai aasman kaisa surkh hota hai. Andhere mein bhi baqaida surkh rehta hai”
Is par mujhe yun laga jaise main akela us chaadar-e-khun ke saamne khaṛa hun aur maare khauf ke mere maathe par paseena agya. Jun jun waqt guzarta gya aur shaam qarib aati gai, mere dil mein ajeeb dhakaṛ pakaṛ hone lagi. Main sukhte Raavi aur pal aur aasmaan aur suraj se bach kar nikkal jaana chataa tha. Un ka khauf mere andar phel raha tha. Khauf ke saath saath aasman ke lahu ki daldal aur un teenon shakhson ki kashish bhi mujhe khench rahi thi. Maine socha main apne saathiyonn se un teenon dihatyonn ka tazkira karun; ke is lahu rang shaam ki aamad ke saath saath theen dihaati bhi, jo mukhtalif suraton ke bawasf aik se the, is shehr mein utre the. Inhon ne sab se pehle mujhe ye surkhi dikhai thi aur dikhaa kar khud aik saṛak par ghum gai aur shehr ki bhiṛ mein gum ho gai. Maalum hota hai vo bhi basti basti is lahu rang shaam ke saath saath ghum the hain. Main ne inhein shehr mein bahaut dhundda hai magar kahin in ka naam-o-nishaan nahi.
Magar Mujib-ullah aur Hafiz Ahmed dono mujhse baat karne se ihtiraaz karte the. Arsa hua un donon ne mujhse das bees rupai qarz liye the jo nahi lauṭai the, aur ab wo mujhse parkhaash rakte the.
Chunaanche mein khaamsoh raha aur ghar lauṭe hue jab pull par pahauncha to main ne apni raftaar taiz kar di, ddubte suraj ki taraf se aankhe pher lin, aur shehr ki saṛak ko baghaur dekhta raha. Magar phir bhi wo lahu rang shaam mere saath saath chalti — aagey phiche phelti — saans leti jhukti chali aati thi. Mere saamne phele shaam ke pheeke andhere mein kujlai aasman par sya parindoh ki ṭoliyaan aaṭh ke handse ki shakl mein uṛti jaati thin. Un ki tara main bhi apne ṭhikaane ko lauṭ raha ta — thikaana ke jo ab mehfuz naa raha tha. Kyunke lahu rang shaam is ki khiṛkyon, darwaazon, ṭhos diwaaron mein se beh beh kar, usse apne aap bhar rahi thi.
Ab main raat gai tak shehr mein ghumta. Har qism ki dukan mein jhaankta ke shayid wo gard alud jutiyon aur safaid chaadron ki bukkalon mein chuppi dihaati nazar aajay aur main un se phuch paun ke ye surkhi kahaan se aathi hai aur is ke aane ke baad kya aata hai? Tum pehli basti kyun choṛ ai. Aur ab wo kis haal mein hai? Magar masroof taiz raftaar kalbal kalbal karte shehr mein un ka kahin naam-o-nishaan na tha aur ahl-e-shehr tijaarat mein kamaal munhamik tha.
Magar kuch hi dinon mein shehr mein shaam ke waqt mein main ne kuch aadmiyon ko maghrib par phelti surkhi ki taraf ishaara karte dekha. Maalum nahi ye surkhi ki itlaa chand hi din mein kyun aag ki tara saare shehr mein phel gai. Mein ne to savai Zakiya se aur kisi se tazkira nahin kya tha. Phir sab ne us khunchukaan aasman ko kyun kar dekh liya? Is par mujhe khayaal aya ke wo dihaati yaqeenan shehr mein maujud hein.
Ab har jagaa us surkhi ke charche the. Chaudry saahib mere puraane waaqif kaaron mein se hain aur Mazang ke chauk mein kitaabon ki dukaan karte hain. Shaam gai un ke yahaan dost ehbaab ki suhbat raha karti hai. Idhar kuch dinon se main ne wahan jaana tark kar rakha ta. Kuch dinon se muraad yahi ke jab se wo teenon shakhs mile the. Aur ab teenon ke ghaib ho jaane par ek ajeeb iztiraab mujh par haawi hua tha, kya ghar aur kya baahir — ghar mein mera ji chahta baahir jaun aur baahir aakar sochta, nahin ghar ziyaada mehfuz tha. Phir main kuch bhi faisla naa kar paata ke mujhe kahaan hona chahiye aur aik bhojal pan mere jin par aa paṛta.
Is shaam mein yuhin, purane waqton ki tara, Chaudry saahib ki dukaan par jaa nikla. Kuch purane kuch naye log jamaa they. Mujhe dekhte hi Chaudry saahib boley:
“Kyun bhai tumhara kya khayal hain? Kehte hain ye sab aaṭomi tajarbaat ka asar hai. Suna hain ab duniya ke sard hisse garam aur garam sard ho jain ge. Ruton ka silsila bhi badal jai ga!”
Is waqt mein ne phir socha ke in teenon dihaatyon ke waardat un ko sunaaon, magar itne hujoom mein mujhe baat karne ka ji na chaaha aur mein chup chaap aik kone mein baith kar akhbaar dekhne laga tha ke us shom ghaṛi ka nuzul hua.
Achaanak aik taiz, naa khush gawar si mehek kahin se aai. Aisee mehek main ne aaj tak kabi naa sunghi thi. Us mehek ke aate hi mera dil andar hi andar ddhene laga. Aur maalum nahi jism ke kis hisse mein baṛa gehra magar meeṭha meeṭha sa dard uṭha. Darasal mein aakhri waqt tak faisla naa kar paya ke wo mehek thi ya dard. Us ki naakhushgawaari se ghabraa kar main ne akhbaar maize par rakh diya aur khaṛa ho gya. Sab ne mujhe hairat se dekha.
“Kya baat hai, kahaan chal diya?” Chaudry saahib ne heraan ho kar pucha.
“Jaa rahan hun. Maalum nahi ye kaisi mehek hai” main ne gehri gehri saansein le kar kaha.
“Mehek — mehek kaisi?” Chaudry saahib ne hawaa mein sungh kar kaha. Aur mein un se baat kiye baghair ghar ki taraf chal diya. Raaste bhar us ajeeb—o—ghareeb naakhushgawaar dard aur dehshat bhari mehek ki lehren aati jaati rahin aur mujhe yun mehsus hua ke main chakra kar gir jaun gaa aur chakra kar girne se pehle ke neele neele andhere meri aankhon mein ghumte rahe. Jab mein ghar pahauncha to Zakiya mujhe dek kar ghabraa gai.
“Kya baat hai? Tabyat to theek hai na? Chehre par kaisi zardi hai?”
“Theek hun” main ne kaha. “Ye mehek maalum nahi kaisi hai.”
Main ne maathe ka paseena pahauncha, halan ke wo November ka mahina tha. Zakiya ne hawaan mein sungh kar kaha:
“Ye paṛos mein jaane din raat kya maajun bante rehte hain Hakim saahib ke haan, issi ki bu hai aur phir aaj handdiya bhi lagh gai thi.”
“Magar ye to har jagaa hai — har saṛak par — tamaam shehr mein.”
“Mausum jo badla hai. Sardi ke phul paṭon ki mehek ho gi.”
Zakiya ne be dihaani se kaha aur silai par uun ke khaane dalne lagi. Phir main ne ddarte ddarte hawa mein sungha to ye faisla naa kar saka ke wo mehek baaqi hai ya nahin. Shayid wo khatam ho chuki thi. Us ke khatam hone par mujhe behad khushi hui magar phir bhi us ki yaad mere andar baaqi thi, jaise choṭ ke baad sozish rah jai. Aur is khayal se mujhe kapkapi aagai ke shayid wo mehek lauṭ aye. Magar daftar ke kaam kaaj mein is haadise ko bhul gya.
Aaj mere saamne failon ka ddher laga tha. Mujib-ul-lah aur Hafiz Ahmed baṛe zor shor se kisi film par behes kar rahe the aur kaaghzaat ka mafhoom mere zehen se phisal jaata tha. Tang aa kar main ne ghenṭi ka buṭon dabaya aur chupraasi ko half—set chai ka order diya aur jaib se ciggareṭe ki ddibya nikaali, magar ain ussi waqt mujhe aik shadid jhaṭka laga jaise main kisi be intihaa unchaan se gir gya hun. Aik taiz chakar ke saath neele peele andhere mere gird ghum rahey the. Main ne sar ko dono haathon se thaama aur kuch der baad mujhe maalum hua ke darasal wo dard aur dehshat bhari mehek phir lehr dar lehr kahin se aa rahi hai. Main ne diwaana waar khiṛkiyan band karna shuru kin. Mujib-ul-Lah aur Hafiz Ahmed ne hairan ho kar dekha.
“Bhai dhup aane do. Band kyun karte ho?” Hafiz Ahmed ne apne makhsus bhinche bhinche lehje mein kaha.
“Ye mehek … tumhe nahi aa rahi kya … kis qadar naa qabil-e-bardaasht hai”
Mujib-ul-Lah aur Hafiz Ahmed ne hawaan me naak unchi kar ke sungha aur phir Hafiz Ahmed ne qadr-e-taamul se kaha:
“Haan yaar … ye kaisi bu hai. Ya shayad khushbu? Is se to dil kharaab hone lagta hai.”
Us roz main ne sheher mein kuch aur logon ko bhi is mehek ka tazkirah karte suna, jis ki lehren ki lehren aathi thin aur phir tham jaati thin, phir aathi thin aur phir tham jaati theen. Magar shaam ko ghuroob-e-aftab ke waqt in mein taizi aur shiddat aati jaati. Yahan tak ke chand hafton mein is mehek ya boo ka ye aalim ho gya ke aksar mujhe saans lena dushwaar ho jaa ta. Ab is shehr ke damakte chehre in lehron par aik dum zard paṛh jaate the. Aksar logon ko giraani aur khafqaan ka aazar rehne laga. Aur doctoron ka kaarobaar khub chamka. Daanishwaron ka kehna tha ke atomi tajarbaat se dunya ke mukhtalif hisson mein mukhtalif asraat ho rahein hain. Ye ajeeb-o-ghareeb mehek bhi inhi tajarbaat ka asar hai aur issi baais logon ka aasaab ki haalat naazuk ho gai. Chunaanche sab se phele dukaano se aisaabi thakan dur karne ki davaiyan khatam hona shuru huin. Ye bhi na tha ke davaiyan kam miqdar mein aati ho. Magar ahl-e-sheher mein is dava ki zakhira andozi ka ajab junoon pehla tha, ke chand hi din mein neend ki goliyan bhi gohar-e-nayaab ho gain.
Jahan tak mera taaluq hai, main ne dono davaaon ko besud paya. Dard-o-dehsat bhari mehek ki wo lehrein apni kaaṭ mein talwaar se ziyada taiz theen, aur aadmi ke andar utar jaati theen. Main ne socha ke logon ke saamne ye tajwiz pesh karun ke is talwar ki kaaṭ kaaṭ-thi mehek se bachne ka behtareen tareeka ye hai ke is se maanoos ho jain, is se apna shaama jaanye. Davaaon se koi faraq naa paṛe ga. Magar aik aajeeb be dali ke haathon main khaamosh raha, go kuch arsa baadhi, khud ba khud yahi tareeke kaar sab ne ikhtyaar kya. Is mehek ne shehr mein dehshat ko aam kar diya tha. Go koi bhi bazaahir dehsat ko tasleem na karta tha, magar sab har lamhe kisi an jaane haadise ke khauf se sehme rehte the, aur wo sehm kuch bejaa bhi na tha ke chand hi hafton baad aakhir wo haadisa ronuma hua.
Wo wast December ki aik shaam thi. Main Chaudhary saahib ki dukaan se uṭh kar ghar ki jaanib aa raha tha. Har taraf savaariyon aur insaanon ki rail pail thi. Dukaanein jagmag jagmag karti thi, aur ahl-e-shehr bazaahir zindagi ke jhamelon mein masroof the. Is deshat-o-dard bhari mehek ki lehren kabi kabi kaaṭ kar guzar jaati. Mera sar chakraa jaata. Mein ruk jaata, aur phir lehr ki guzarne ke baad chalne lagta. Ab tamaam ahl-e-shehr ka yahi dastoor ho gya tha. Go wo khud is ka ilm naa rakh the the. Koi baahir se aane waala unhe dekhta to hairaan hota ke aakhir ye chalte chalte, kaam karte karte in aadmiyon ko kya hota hai ke achaanak ruk jaate hain, aankhe band karte hain, saans rok lete hain, aur phir aik gehri saans le kar masroof ho jaate hain. Haan! Ab yahi hum sab ka maamool tha. Wast december ki is shaam main pull ke qarib tha. Achaanak mere sar par aik barchi lagi. Chakraa kar main ne bijli ke khanbe ka sahaara liya, aur donon haathon se sar thaama. Magar barchi to kahin naa thi, aur naa hi barchi maarne waala koi haat. Phir mujhe maalum hua ke darasal ye barchi nahi, us mehek ki nihaayat shadeed naa qabile bayaan had tak shadeed lehr thi. Khauf ne mujhe munjamid kar diya. Yun lagta that ke is boo ya mehek (maaloom nahin wo kya thi) ka sarchashma kahin mere qarib, bahut qarib pahaunch giya ho. Mere shaanon ke haddiyon ke darmyaan. Gardan ke qarib. Mere ain piche kahin mujh se itna qarib ke mujh se alag bhi naa ho.
Magar achaanak meri nazar, aane waale aik aajeeb-o-ghareeb savaari par jaa ruki. Wo aik bahaut baṛa gadda tha, jisse do safaid bail khench rahe the. Bailon ki ankhon par siya khupe chaṛe the, aur naakon mein moṭe moṭe rase, aur safaid jild tile un ki pasliyan aur kulhon ki haddiyan saans leti thin aur rasson jaṛe nathnon se saans gi garam bhaap uṭhi thi. Gadde ke chaaron taraf lakṛi ka jungla sa banaa tha, aur is ke andar sya parde tane the. Darasal wo parde bhi na the. Jaise hilti, lehre khaati, andhere ki diwaarein. Saamne se thoṛi khaali thi, aur siya parde se baahir do gaaṛibaan beṭhe haddiyon bhare andhe bailon ko haankte the. In gaaṛibaanon ki shaklein andhere ki waja se main na dekh saka. Aur phir sya kapṛon par unhon ne malgiji chaadron ki bukkalein bhi maar rakhi thi ke un ke aade aade chehre chup gai the. Un ke sar jukhe the. Jaise lambi musaafat ke baad neend ka ghalba ho. Un ki pusht par wo siya parda (ya diwaar) haule haule hillta tha. Aur siya parde (ya diwaar) ke andar andhera ubhraa ta, aur is ghup andhere ke gird siya parde tanne the, aur in pardon mein se dard-o-deshat bhari mehek ki wo lehrein uṭhthi thi jin ki kaaṭ talwaar se baṛ kar taiz thi. Dekhte hi dekhte gaaṛi mere qarib se guzar gai, aur main chakraa kar kachhe mein utar kar qai karne laga.
Mujhe maalum nahin ahl-e-shehr ne us shaam is gaaṛi ko dekha ya nahin, aur jo dekha to un par kya guzri. Main bemushkil ghar pahauncha aur chaarpai par gir gya. Zakiya ne mujh se bahaut pucha magar ajeeb dehshat ne meri zubaan band kar rakh thi.
Chand roz baad akhbaar mein aik choṭi si khabar chappi ke sheher ki municipality intihai gher zimidaar hoti jaa rahi hai. Kuṛe karkaṭ bhari gaaṛioyn ko sar-e-shaam shehr ki aam saṛkon se nahin guzar na chahiye. Is se fizaa mutaafan hoti hai aur ahl-e-shehr kabidah khaatir.
Main ne daftar se hafte bhar ki chuṭi li thi aur un saath dinon mein shehr ki kefiyat main khud dekh saka. Magar akhbaar se maalum hota tha ke aik ajeeb-o-ghareeb gaaṛi sya pardon main, ghaaliban kuṛa karkat bhare, shehr ki mukhtalif saṛkon se guzarti hain, jis ke gaaṛibaan khwaabidah hote hain. Ye gaaṛi muzaafaat se hoti shehr se guzarti hai, aur phir municipality se mutaaliba ke se is qism ki naakhushgawaar gaaṛiyon ka shehr mein wurud band kiya jai, ya in ke liye kam aabaad rasta muqarar kiya jai waghera waghera.
Saatwein roz main ghar se nikla. Un saat dinon mein ahl-e-shehr kis qadar badal chuke the. Chaaron samt zard zard bekhwaab chehre chal phir rahe the, jo befikr aur laa parwaa nazar aane ki koshish main baṛe dard bhare andaaz mein mazeka-khaiz ho gaiye the. Aur mujhe yaad aya ke aaj subh aaine mein meraa chehra bhi aise hi tha. Shehr mein achaanak tafrihi taqreebat bakasrat hone lagi thi aur ahl-e-shehr jauq-dar-jauq in taqreebat mein jaate the, balke waqt se bahut pehle darwaazon par muntazir rehte the. Aur waapsi par un ke chehre pehle se ziyaada zard aur mazeka-khaiz nazar aate the.
Daftar mein, main ne failon ki taraf tawajon karne ki koshish ki magar baar baar mere aankhon ke saamne wo gaaṛi aa jaa thi thi. Municipality ke gadde to is surat ke to kabi naa the. Us ki neem khwaabeedah gaaṛibaan, aankhon bande, haddiyon bhaṛe bail aur siyaan pardon ke andar bhara andhera, aur is ki dehshat bhari mehek jis ne ahl-e-shehr ko matli mein mubtila kar diya tha aur un ke chehron ka rang nachoṛ liya tha aur un ki ankhon ki chamak dho ddaali thi. Wo pardon dhakha andheraa baar baar mere saamne aaye jaata tha. Kis cheez ki baas aisi ho sakti thi? Ta’afun aur khushbu ka murakab?
Achaanak aik paagal khwaahish se mera gallaa ruk giya. Main ne tasawur mein dekha ke main andha dhund us gaaṛi ki jaanib bhaaga jaata hun aur baan se us ka pardah haṭaa tha hun. Andar dekhta hun — andar kya hai … is ta’afun aur khushbu ki asal dekhne ki khwaahish ne paagal pan ki tarah mujhe jakaṛ liya. Is liye aaj phir ghair iraadi taur par mere paaun Raavi ke pull par dhime paṛ gaye. Suraj dubne mein abhi kuch der thi aur dard aur dehshat bhari mehek ki lehren haule haule taiz ho rahi theen. Jangle ke saath lag kar aik ajeeb khauf ne mujhe ghera. Darya ki daldal baahein pasaare mujhe bulaa rahi thi. Tahdaar — nigal jaani wali daldal — aur mujhe khadsha hua ke mubaada mein us mein kuud jauon aur us mein utar te suraj ke saath jazb ho jaun aur hamesha ke liye us chaadar-e-khun mein dafan kar diya jaun. Mujhe yun lagaa kuch mere yun qarib aa raha hai ya main khud kisi chees ke qarib pahaunch gya hun. Wo jis ka mujhe — nahin, hum sab ko — hum se pehlon aur hum se baad aane waalon ko intizaar hai aur mera jism pathraa raha hai. Magar is pull aur daldal aur suraj se najaat nahin. Wo mere andar hi aur mere saat. Main ne bebas ho kar apne chaaron taraf dekha ke achaanak mera dil ruk gya.
Teen shabhin hain, aik si chaal mein chaadron ki bukkal maare chali aati thhee. Main pathrai aankhon se muzaafaat ki samt unhe dekhta raha. Yahaan tak ke wo log qarib aan rukhe. Aaj mua’amar shakhs ki ankhon se lagaa taar aansun beh rahe the aur us ki safaid daaṛi un se tar thi. Baaqi donon ki aankhen jhukin thi aur daant bhinche the, aur chehron par maut ki zardi khundi thi.
“Tum itne roz kahan ghaib rahe — main tumhein dhund tha raha. Mujhe bataun ye shehr mein kya ho raha hain?” Main ne lar kaṛhaati wi zubaan mein ṭuṭ the saanson ke darmyaan kaha.
“Hum intizaar kar rahe the. Hum apne aap ko rok rahe the. Hum ne apne aap ko baand rakha tha. Ye dekho.”
Mua’mar shakhs aur us ke donon saathiyon ne apni baanhein mere saamne pehlaain aur apne shaane aur pushtein jin par rasson ke nishaan kanda the.
“Hum yahaan nahi aana chaate the” mu’amar shakhs ki awaaz hichkiyon mein ddub gayi.
“Magar us ke siwaa koi chaa ra naa tha ke … ” dusri ki baat adhoori reh gayi. Yaqdam wo peṭ pakaṛ ke dohra ho gya, aur uske saathi bhi shadeed karb mein jhuk gaye. Us dukh aur deshat baṛi mehek ki shadeed lehrein guzar rahin theen, hame kaaṭ thi huin hamare andar jazb hoti, hame chusti hui.
“Wo dekho! Mua’mar shakhs ne achaanak dihaat ki taraf ishaara kiya aur phir teenon ke chehre maut ki zardi mein sat gaye. Main ne dekha gard uṛ thi rah par siya gaaṛi huyula ubhar raha hai. Safaid bail jin ki aankhon par siya khupe chaṛe hain aur naakun mein moṭe rasse aur siya kapṛon, malgiji chaadron ki bukkalun mein chehra chupai neem khwaabeedah gaaṛibaan, jo shaayid is kaaṭhi chusti dukh aur dehshat bhari mehek ki hama waqt qurbat se behosh rehte hain aur un ke piche siya parde — aik larzish mujhe sar se paun tak raund gi. Teenon dihaatyon ki aankhon se chamak rukhsat ho gai, jaise wo maut ke qarib hon. Gaaṛi aahista aahista qareeb aa rahee thee aur uski ki kaaṭhi mehek hamara lahu chus rahi thi. Gaaṛi bilkul qarib aagai, yahan tak ke hamare baraabar se bilkul guzar gai. Gaaṛibaanon ke chehre chaadron mein chuppe the aur siya pardon (ya diwaarein) madham hawaan mein hilne ke baawajud na hilte the.
Achaanak wo teenon is gaaṛi ke piche bhaage aur aik saath inhon ne parda uthaa diya. Un ke sar parde mein chup gai magar parda uthne ke baawajud na uṭha tha. Dusre hi lamhey aik dehshat zada ghair insaani cheekh ke saat wo teenon palṭe aur deewaanon ki surat dihaat ki taraf bhaagey.
“Tum ne kya dekha? Tum ne kya dekha?” main un ke piche bhaaga magar wo phaṭi phaṭi aankhon ke saath baaghte rahey.
“Bolon … bolon…” main ne un ki minnat ki. Magar wo bhaagte rahe. Yahan tak ke main bhi un ke saat saat bhaagta shehr se koson dur nikal aaya.
“Mujhe bataon … mujhe bataaon” bilaakhir main ne mua’mar shakhs ki chaadar pakaṛ li. Us ne apni pahṭi phaṭi aankhein meri jaanib pher din aur phir apna mun khol diya. Us ki zubaan taalon ke saath chapak chuki thi. Wo teenon gang ho chuke the.
Main chakra kar gir gya magar wo teenon bhaag the rahe aur meri nazron se ujhal ho gai. Un ke piche gard uṛ thi rahi, phir wo bhi bheṭ gai, aur main ghar lauṭ aya.
Mahinon main ne un teenon ko dhundaa hain magar kahin un ka naam-o-nishaan nahin. Ussi din se gaaṛi ne apna rasta badal liya hai. Ab wo shehr se nahi guzarti, pull se ho kar kacche mein utar jaati hai aur muzaafaat ka rukh karti hai. Ahl-e-shehr is dukh aur dehshat bhari mehek ke is tarah aadi ho chuke hain ke iska ehsaas nahin rakhte aur samajthe hain ke wo talwaar ki kaaṭ kaaṭi lehrein mar gayin. Bhuli basri kahaanin ki tarah — magar main ab bhi unhein apne jism mein utar ta jaan paataahon aur koi din raat mere andar bolta hai: “Ab tumhari baari hai — ab tum dekho ge”
Aur aaj main us pull par aan khaṛa hua hun, us savaari ke intizaar mein.