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toh nae story bro?
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#1
Sham ka waqt tha. Aasmaan me narangi aur jamuni rang ghul-mil rahe the. Mehrabad ke sabse bade bungalow ke lawn me kareeb 100 logon ka jamawara tha—party karyakarta, vyapari, aur wo log jo bas neta ji ka mood samajhne aaye the. Ek ajeeb si bechaini thi hawa me.
Junaid Ahmed apni gold-bordered safed koti pehne lawn ke beech badi kursi par baithe the. Servant idhar-udhar chai aur biscuit le ja rahe the, aur neta ji har kisi ko vishwas dilane ki koshish kar rahe the ki agla chunav wahi jeetenge. Lekin unke apne shabd unhi ko jhoothe lag rahe the.
Is baar mukabla kathin tha. Trikoniye jung me unke do bade dushman the—Shukla aur Pathan. Shukla bas ek dalal tha, jo har election me paise se vote todta tha, lekin asli chinta Pathan se thi. Pathan ka vote bank mazboot tha, aur agar usne garib aur general musalmano ko apni taraf khinch liya, to Junaid Ahmed ka khel khatam ho sakta tha.
Bahaar neta ji apni awaaz tez kar ke ek nai yojna ghoshit kar rahe the—
"Is saal jo bhi vidyarthi 75% se upar ank laaye, use 800 rupaye diye jayenge!"
Bheed se thoda-shaant sa taliyon ka shor utha, magar josh kaafi halka tha.
Dusari taraf Fatima drawing room ke ek bade sofa par bethi thi, ek haath me remote, TV par ek purana serial chal raha tha. Bahar kya ho raha hai, isse koi fark nahi padta tha.
Ek servant andar aaya, “Madam, chai laun?”
Fatima ne bina aankh uthaye jawab diya,
"Thandi ho gayi to phenk dena."
TV ka volume badh gaya. Bahar siyasat ki aag jal rahi thi, andar Fatima bas maze le rahi thi.
---
Bangla bada tha, lekin hawa tang thi. Mehengi sandalwood ki lakdi se bani almirayein, Persian carpets, aur diamond-studded decor—sab kuch tha, bas azaadi nahi thi.
Fatima ek shandar zindagi je rahi thi, kam se kam logo ki nazar me. Badi-badi parties me ek perfect biwi ki tarah shauhar ke saath khade rehna, har speech ke baad sharmili si muskurahat dena, political wives ke beech apna ek sophisticated image banaye rakhna—ye sab ab ek mechanical act ban chuka tha.
Lekin andar se?
Fatima apne hi mahal me ek kaidi thi. Ek aisi aurat jo sirf trophy biwi ban kar rah gayi thi.
Junaid Ahmed mota ho chuka tha, uske chehre par haramkhori likhi thi, aur uski pasine se bhari kamar dekh kar Fatima ka sirf ghin se muh modne ka mann karta tha. Shauhar hone ke bawajood, use chhune ki ichha tak nahi hoti thi.
Lekin hukum chalane ki aadat nahi gayi thi.
Fatima ghar me ek rani thi, aur naukraniyon ko ek pal bhi chain nahi milta tha.
Uski ek hi kamzori thi—mehengi cheezein.
Italian leather ke purse, Dubai se mangwaye gaye designer heels, aur France se imported perfumes—ye cheezein uski jaan thi. Agar uska shauhar use khushi nahi de sakta, to kam se kam paisa to de sakta tha, aur Fatima ne ye compromise maan liya tha.
Bahar raat gehri ho rahi thi, lekin Fatima andar se aur bechain ho rahi thi. Ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi, ek klaustrophobia, jaise ye mehenga bangla uski ek qaidkhana ho.
Usne ek gehra saans liya, apna silk ka dupatta adjust kiya, aur glass table par rakhe apne favorite Chanel ke perfume ko uthaya.
"Kam se kam mehengi cheezein mujhe nahi chhodti," usne dheere se muskura kar socha, aur apni pasandida khushbu apne gale ke paas spray kar di.
---
Raat ka khaana hamesha ki tarah shaant tha.
Fatima apni diamond-studded spoon se bina awaaz kiye soup sip kar rahi thi, aur Junaid Ahmed apni usual mutton curry aur roti tod raha tha. Mote hoth, tezi se chabate hue, jaise uske samne sirf khaana ho, biwi nahi.
Baahar se wo ek shant shaadi-shuda jodi lag rahe the. Andar se? Sirf do ajnabi jo ek hi table par baithe the.
Dinner ke baad Fatima apne dressing table ke samne bethi apna night cream laga rahi thi jab Junaid andar aaya, apni koti utarti hue.
Uske chehre pe thodi bechaini thi, jo Fatima ne turant samajh li. Is election me pehli baar uske haarne ka darr uske chehre pe dikh raha tha. Aur jab ek aadmi kamzor mehsoos karta hai, to usse ek aurat ki zaroorat mehsoos hoti hai.
Junaid ne apna hath Fatima ke kandhe pe rakha.
"Aaj tumhari pasand ka dinner banwaya tha," usne dheere se kaha, moti ungliyon se Fatima ke baalon ko chhune ki koshish karte hue
Fatima ke roamte khade ho gaye. Nafrat se.
Uska pasina bhara hath, maas bhari kamar, woh moti taangon se bhara bistar par girta badan—sab kuch use ghin dilata tha.
Lekin gussa dikhana ek option nahi tha. Ek perfect biwi ki tarah, usne apna muh banaya, thoda haath uthaya, aur phir ek achanak se dard bhari saans li.
"Ahh..."
Junaid ne haath kheench liya.
"Kya hua?"
Fatima apna sar pakad ke bed pe gir gayi, drama shuru.
"Mujhe... chakkar aa raha hai. Pata nahi kyun... bohot ajeeb mehsoos ho raha hai," uski awaaz halki aur bechari si thi.
Junaid irritate ho gaya. Chhati tak button khol kar usne servant ko chillaya,
"Doctor bulao!"
Kuch hi der me doctor aagaye, pulse check ki, kuch random sawal kiye. Fatima thodi bechari si lagi, lekin itni bhi nahi ki serious lage.
"Sirf thoda tension aur weakness lag rahi hai," doctor bola, "Main ek sleeping pill de raha hoon, aram karein."
Fatima ne jaldi se wo dawa mangi, jaise yahi uska ilaaj ho. Ek pill muh me daali, paani piya, aur bistar me let gayi.
Junaid usse ghur ke dekhta raha—janta tha ki ye sab drama hai, par kuch bol nahi sakta tha. Ek haramkhor pati hone ke bawajood, ek majboor aadmi bhi tha.
Jaise hi doctor gaya, aur Fatima “so gayi”, Junaid ne apna phone uthaya.
Ek number dial kiya.
"Haan, kahan ho?"
Doosri taraf se ek sweet, chipakti awaaz aayi—"Main bas intezaar kar rahi thi, jaan."
Fatima ne apni palkein band rakhi, magar andar se muskurayi.
"Ja, aur apni raat kharab kar. Mera khel abhi shuru hi hua hai."
---
Junaid Ahmed kamar se nikalte hi sherwani ki silvatein thik ki, ek thoda thaka, lekin pichhle dikhave se halka mehsoos karte hue, seedha guest room ki taraf badh gaya.
Darwaza khula tha. Andar peeli bulb ki dhundhli roshni thi, aur bed ke beech ek nangi aurat apni pallu bichhaye bethi thi—Shabnam.
Shabnam, uske mali Rashid ki biwi. Gareeb, lekin chalak.
Junaid andar ghus kar darwaza dhakke se band karta hai. Shabnam apna pallu halki si adjust kar ke sharmeeli muskurahat deti hai, lekin uske aankhon me woh aadmi samajh nahi pata jo bas badan ki bhook mita ke chale jaate hain.
"Neta ji, aap bhi na... raat ke is samay yahan?" Uske swaad bhare hoth halka sa kaap rahe the, jaise bas samajhne ka natak ho.
Junaid ne koi jawab nahi diya. Bas seedha uske paas gaya, aur uska bhari badan uske upar gira diya.
Uske haath Shabnam ki naram kamar se lipat gaye, bina kisi pyaar ya lagaav ke, sirf ek bhooki aadmi ki tarah jo sirf chaatna jaanta hai.
Shabnam apne honth uske kaan ke paas le jaake foonk maar deti hai, ek aadmi ka guroor jagane ke liye ek natak.
"Aapke bina to raat hi adhoori lagti hai," usne bichhadne wali mehbooba ki tarah kaha, lekin andar se sirf 1000 ke note ka intezaar kar rahi thi.
Junaid apna moti taange bichhata hai, bechaini se haath idhar udhar ghumata hai, lekin do minute ke andar hi haanfne lagta hai. Uska pasina tapakne lagta hai, jaise ek purani diesel gaadi chadhai chadh rahi ho.
"Ahhh… haan... ruk," Junaid phusphusata hai, jaise ek ladaai haar chuka ho.
Shabnam andar hi andar mazak uda rahi thi, lekin chehre pe ek pyaar bhari muskurahat rakh rakhi thi. Usne halki si ahh bhari, jaise sabse bade sukh ka anubhav ho raha ho.
Paas rakhi table se Junaid ne ek crumpled 1000 ka note nikala aur uske haath me de diya.
Shabnam ne note ko dekha, ek halka sa “thank you” kaha, lekin jaise hi neta ji bistar pe palat ke let gaya, bechara hone ka natak karta hua, usne jaldi se uske purse me haath daal diya.
500 ke do aur note kheench liye.
Purse wapas wahi chhoda, aur bina awaaz kapde pehne, ek chalak si muskurahat ke saath nikal gayi.
Junaid bed par haanp raha tha, use kuch samajh nahi aaya.
Shabnam chalti hui soch rahi thi—"Siyape me na faide ka rakhna hi asal chaturai hai.”
---
Subah ka suraj dheere dheere bungalow ki khidkiyon se andar jhaank raha tha. Poore ghar me ek ajeeb sa sannata tha. Neta ji aur Fatima aapas me baat nahi kar rahe the.
Dining table pe dono aamne-saamne baithe the, lekin beech me ek deewar si thi. Junaid Ahmed akhbar me chhupa baitha tha, jaise duniya se koi lena dena nahi. Fatima apne haath me ek chhoti chandi ki chammach ghumaa rahi thi, lekin ek bhi shabd nahi bola.
Tabhi Shabnam ne aakar nashta parosna shuru kiya. Uske haath me garam garam paratha tha, jo seedha Junaid ke plate me dala. Aur jaise hi usne ek steel ka glass Junaid ke samne rakha, uske haath ne halki si neta ji ki ungliyan chhoo li.
Ek ajeez si, chipchipi masoomiyat uske chehre pe thi, jaise koi bhool se chhune ka natak kar raha ho.
Fatima ne yeh sab dekha. Uska khoon khol gaya.
Wo jaanti thi. Jaanti thi ki raat ko kya hua tha. Shabnam ki muskurahat uske dimaag me teer ki tarah chali.
Lekin usne apne chehre pe ek bhi tewar nahi badalne diya. Ek bhi lafz nahi bola.
Neta ji ne ek baar Fatima ki taraf dekha, fir bina kuch kahe kha kar ghar se nikal gaye.
Jaise hi gadi bungalow ke iron gate se bahar gayi, Fatima apni kursi se dheere se uthi.
Usne ek thanda, sukhay hue patthar jaisa expression liya aur sidha Shabnam ki taraf dekha.
"Saare bhari kapde aangan me le jaake haath se dhona."
Shabnam jhat se ruk gayi. Uska muh halka sa khula, jaise kuch kehna chahti ho, lekin phir chup ho gayi.
Fatima ne ek muskurahat di. Wo muskurahat jo ek shikari apni shikar ko dekh ke deta hai.
Shabnam chup-chaap sar jhuka ke andar chali gayi.
Fatima palat kar apna phone uthati hai, driver ka number dial karti hai.
"Gadi nikal, mujhe bazaar jaana hai. Shopping karni hai."
Uska awaz me ek ajeeb si thandak thi. Aaj kisi aur ko pasina bahana tha, aur kisi aur ko shopping ka sukoon milna tha.
---
Kafi der shopping karne ke aad Fatima apni shopping se khush thi. Ek naya diamond bracelet, mehengi heels, designer dupatta—sab kuch perfect. Wo apni Scorpio ke paas aayi, halka sa aansh mein khadi ho gayi.
Guard aur driver abhi bhi uska saman uthane me lage the. Ek dukaandaar ka ladka bade sambhal kar shopping bags thama raha tha, jaise koi raja-rani ke saaman ko chhune ka mauka mil gaya ho.
Tabhi ek lafua ladka wahin se guzra. Orange jhalla t-shirt, jhilmilata sasta chashma, aur itna tez perfume ki garmi me bhi paseena sharma jaaye.
Jaise hi uski nazar Fatima par padi, uske kadam dheere ho gaye.
Ek ghatiya si muskurahat aayi chehre pe. Halki si seat belt adjust karne ki acting ki, phir sidha Fatima ke paas pahunch gaya.
"Madam, kya mast cheez lag rahi ho!" Usne taali bajayi, jaise koi badi jeet ho gayi ho.
Fatima ne sirf ek thanda nazar dala. Phone nikala aur screen par scroll karne lagi. Ek aisi beizzati jo lafua samajh nahi paaya.
Lekin wo haar maanne waalon me se nahi tha.
"Aise ignore mat karo na, dil tod dogi kya?" Usne apne chashme ko neeche kiya, jaise koi hero-entry maar raha ho.
Fatima ghin me phone side me rakha.
“Hatt.” Ek shabd, thanda aur nishkapat.
Magar lafua chhodne waala nahi tha.
"Ek baar coffee pe chalo, kasam se mazze karwa dunga!" Usne aankh mari.
Tabhi uski nazar padi.
Guard ek bada shopping ka bag uthaye Scorpio ki taraf aa raha tha.
Lafua thoda hila, par abhi bhi samjha nahi.
"Bhai police hoke chhoti moti baaton pe complaint lega?" Usne hero banne ki koshish ki.
Par jaise hi guard aur driver dono uske kareeb aaye, aur guard ne bas apni kamar seedhi ki, ladke ka chehra zard pad gaya.
Usne guard ke haath me ek wireless device dekha. Ek second me uske dimaag ka button on ho gaya.
"Bhaag yahan se warna andar kara degi!"
Fatima uske bhagne ka intezaar bhi nahi kar rahi thi.
Wo Scorpio ki taraf badhi, door khola, aur bina palatke andar baith gayi.
Guard ne shopping bags rakh diye, driver seat par baith gaya.
“Chalo.”
Scorpio ek tez jhatke me aage badh gayi.
Peeche lafua ladka bhaagta dikh raha tha, apne cheap perfume ke dhuen me ghum hota hua.
---
Fatima ne gaadi ke sheeshe se us lafua ladke ko bhaagte dekha tha. Uski confidence, uski masti bhari be-sharmi—ye sab kuch ajeeb tarah se uske dimaag me atak gaya.
Lekin zindagi rukti nahi.
Shopping ke naye kapde, mehenga bracelet, aur shaam ki chai—sab cheezein waise hi chalti rahi. Wo incident ek ajeeb sa mazedar yaadon ka tukda ban gaya, ek chhoti si disturbance jo dimaag ke kone me chipak gayi thi.
Kuch dino baad…
Bungalow ke lawn me election ka fever cha raha tha. Har taraf neta ji ke posters chipkaye ja rahe the.
Party karyakarta aur daily wage mazdoor poster lekar aaye the, aur deewaron aur gate pe chipkane me lage the. Ek bada sa poster—Junaid Ahmed ka rajnaitik muskurata chehra—bungalow ki boundary wall pe chipak raha tha.
Fatima ne drawing room ki khidki se dekha. Tabhi uski nazar ek jaan-pehchan wale chehre pe padi.
Wahi lafua ladka!
Ab orange jhalla t-shirt ki jagah ek purani si shirt aur jeans thi. Lekin attitude ab bhi wahi.
Mooh me ek sasti beedi daba rakhi thi, aur poster chipkate waqt uski beedi ek taraf hil rahi thi. Ek haath me poster ka thela, doosre haath se chipka raha tha.
Fatima ko ek ajeeb si masti chadh gayi. Jaane diya jaaye, ya dobara dekha jaaye?
Aakhir curiosity jeet gayi.
Wo apna dupatta sambhalte hue lawn me aa gayi.
"Arre madam, help chahiye kya?" Lafua ladke ne ek nazar dalte hi poocha, jaise ab wo use pehchan chuka ho.
Fatima ne ek halka sa muskurahat diya.
"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?"
Ladka ne beedi side me daali aur haath pochta hua bola—
"Poster chipka raha hoon, kya lagta hai?"
Fatima ne thoda sarcasm me bola—
"Kya Junaid Ahmed ko vote doge?"
Ladka hans pada.
"Arey nahi madam, vote toh ya toh Shukla ko ya Pathan ko dunga!"
Dono ek pal ke liye ek doosre ko dekh kar hans pade. Ek ajeeb si irony thi is mazak me.
Fatima ke chehre pe ek chhoti si mischievous muskurahat aayi. Ye ladka ab bhi nahi jaanta tha ki wo kisse baat kar raha hai.
---
Lafua ka be-baak andaaz, bina kisi sharam ke flirting karna, ye sab kuch Fatima ke andar ek ajeeb si chingari jala raha tha.
Uska jeevan hamesha control me raha tha. Ek neta ki biwi, ek perfect aurat. Jo sab kuch paakar bhi khud ek pinjre me band thi.
Lekin ye ladka…
Bina kisi dar ke jata tha, jo man me aata tha bolta tha.
Fatima ne dhyan diya—uske baal halki si gile the, shayad pasine se, ya shayad usne abhi abhi munh dhoya tha. Shirt ke button khule hue the, collar dheela tha. Pura ka pura bina kisi tension ke.
Aise aadmi ko kisi ki zarurat nahi hoti. Na respect ki, na paison ki, na izzat ki.
Fatima ko ye ajeeb sa lag raha tha, lekin wo rok nahi paa rahi thi.
"Toh tum Pathan ko vote dene wale ho?"
Ladka muskuraya, thoda aur kareeb aaya.
"Agar koi aur option ho toh soch sakta hoon."
Fatima ne dekha, lafua ab apne pakde hue poster side me rakh raha tha. Uski nigahain ab sirf Fatima pe thi.
"Aur agar koi aur option main hoon?" Fatima ne halki si shararat bhari awaaz me kaha.
Ladka thoda ruka, phir muskuraya. "Agar tum option ho, toh abhi se jeet maan lo."
Baatein aur tez hone lagi.
Fatima ke haath ab thoda gesture me chalne lage, aur ladka bhi ekdum be-lagaam flirting kar raha tha. Kahi na kahi dono jaante the, ab ye flirting sirf mazaak nahi thi.
Jab Fatima ne uska haath pakda aur dheere se neeche kheench diya, tab ladka bhi samajh gaya ki ye game ab ek naye level par pahunch chuka hai.
---
Dhoop dhal chuki thi. Bungalow ke pichle hisse me, jahan sirf naukar aur mazdoor jaate the, ek purana sa bathroom tha—tang, shant, magar aaj ek raaz ka gawah banne wala tha.
Fatima bina ek shabd kahe usse kheench laayi. Ladka pehle toh hairan hua, phir uske chehre pe ek maskhari bhari muskurahat aayi.
“Badi tez ho, madam…” usne dheere se kaha.
Darwaza bandh hota hai. Ek gehri sans ki awaaz, ek pal ki bechaini.
Fatima ne apni nazar uske chehre par gaadh di—narmi thi, lekin saalon ki dabi aag bhi. Saalon se jo pyas daba rakhi thi, aaj wo aag ban chuki thi.
Ladka bina rukhe, uske bilkul paas aaya. Uske haath Fatima ki kamar par sarak gaye, ungliyan uske kapdon ke kapkapi ko mehsoos karne lagi.
Jaise hi darwaza bandh hua, usne ek pal ki bhi deri nahi ki. Ek bechaini thi, ek junoon jo sirf sharir nahi, dimaag me bhi chadh chuka tha. Fatima ki dehkti aankhon me kuch tha jo uska sabr tod raha tha.
Fatima ne pehli baar kiss ki shuruat ki—tez, bhookhi, jaise kisi ne saalon se mehsoos na kiya ho. Ek pal ko wo peeche hata, phir usne Fatima ko deewar se jod diya.
Saans ek doosre me ghul gayi.
Kapde silvatein banane lage, haath aur hoth ek doosre me ulajhne lage.
Pichwade me ek purana bulb jhool raha tha, hil raha tha, jaise deewaron ko bhi bechaini ho.
Jo aadmi sirf postere chipkane aaya tha, wo ab neta ji ki biwi ke dil, dimaag aur jism par apni chaap chhod raha tha.
Fatima ke liye ye koi sharafat ka khel nahi tha, ye ek jungle ki bhook thi jo usne kabhi accept nahi ki thi.
Aur lafua ke liye…
Ye sirf ek aur jeet thi.
Saans abhi bhi tez chal rahi thi. Kapde suljhaaye ja rahe the, lekin dil aur dimaag abhi tak uljhe hue the.
Fatima ne aakhri baar uski taraf dekha, ek halki si muskurahat ke saath.
"Naam kya hai tera?"
Ladka ne hothon par ek shaitani hasi laayi, haath se apne bikhre hue baal sudhaare.
"Raju."
Sham ka waqt tha. Aasmaan me narangi aur jamuni rang ghul-mil rahe the. Mehrabad ke sabse bade bungalow ke lawn me kareeb 100 logon ka jamawara tha—party karyakarta, vyapari, aur wo log jo bas neta ji ka mood samajhne aaye the. Ek ajeeb si bechaini thi hawa me.
Junaid Ahmed apni gold-bordered safed koti pehne lawn ke beech badi kursi par baithe the. Servant idhar-udhar chai aur biscuit le ja rahe the, aur neta ji har kisi ko vishwas dilane ki koshish kar rahe the ki agla chunav wahi jeetenge. Lekin unke apne shabd unhi ko jhoothe lag rahe the.
Is baar mukabla kathin tha. Trikoniye jung me unke do bade dushman the—Shukla aur Pathan. Shukla bas ek dalal tha, jo har election me paise se vote todta tha, lekin asli chinta Pathan se thi. Pathan ka vote bank mazboot tha, aur agar usne garib aur general musalmano ko apni taraf khinch liya, to Junaid Ahmed ka khel khatam ho sakta tha.
Bahaar neta ji apni awaaz tez kar ke ek nai yojna ghoshit kar rahe the—
"Is saal jo bhi vidyarthi 75% se upar ank laaye, use 800 rupaye diye jayenge!"
Bheed se thoda-shaant sa taliyon ka shor utha, magar josh kaafi halka tha.
Dusari taraf Fatima drawing room ke ek bade sofa par bethi thi, ek haath me remote, TV par ek purana serial chal raha tha. Bahar kya ho raha hai, isse koi fark nahi padta tha.
Ek servant andar aaya, “Madam, chai laun?”
Fatima ne bina aankh uthaye jawab diya,
"Thandi ho gayi to phenk dena."
TV ka volume badh gaya. Bahar siyasat ki aag jal rahi thi, andar Fatima bas maze le rahi thi.
---
Bangla bada tha, lekin hawa tang thi. Mehengi sandalwood ki lakdi se bani almirayein, Persian carpets, aur diamond-studded decor—sab kuch tha, bas azaadi nahi thi.
Fatima ek shandar zindagi je rahi thi, kam se kam logo ki nazar me. Badi-badi parties me ek perfect biwi ki tarah shauhar ke saath khade rehna, har speech ke baad sharmili si muskurahat dena, political wives ke beech apna ek sophisticated image banaye rakhna—ye sab ab ek mechanical act ban chuka tha.
Lekin andar se?
Fatima apne hi mahal me ek kaidi thi. Ek aisi aurat jo sirf trophy biwi ban kar rah gayi thi.
Junaid Ahmed mota ho chuka tha, uske chehre par haramkhori likhi thi, aur uski pasine se bhari kamar dekh kar Fatima ka sirf ghin se muh modne ka mann karta tha. Shauhar hone ke bawajood, use chhune ki ichha tak nahi hoti thi.
Lekin hukum chalane ki aadat nahi gayi thi.
Fatima ghar me ek rani thi, aur naukraniyon ko ek pal bhi chain nahi milta tha.
- “Shabnam! Wo pichle hafte jo Italian crockery mangwayi thi, ab tak unpack kyun nahi hui?”
- “Rehana, ye carpet dhang se clean nahi kiya? Itna mehenga hai, aur tumhare haathon me reh ke ek dum sasta lag raha hai!”
- “Kanta bai, tumhe kitni baar samjhau ki bed sheets har do din me change honi chahiye? Mujhe purani cheezein pasand nahi!”
Uski ek hi kamzori thi—mehengi cheezein.
Italian leather ke purse, Dubai se mangwaye gaye designer heels, aur France se imported perfumes—ye cheezein uski jaan thi. Agar uska shauhar use khushi nahi de sakta, to kam se kam paisa to de sakta tha, aur Fatima ne ye compromise maan liya tha.
Bahar raat gehri ho rahi thi, lekin Fatima andar se aur bechain ho rahi thi. Ek ajeeb si ghabrahat thi, ek klaustrophobia, jaise ye mehenga bangla uski ek qaidkhana ho.
Usne ek gehra saans liya, apna silk ka dupatta adjust kiya, aur glass table par rakhe apne favorite Chanel ke perfume ko uthaya.
"Kam se kam mehengi cheezein mujhe nahi chhodti," usne dheere se muskura kar socha, aur apni pasandida khushbu apne gale ke paas spray kar di.
---
Raat ka khaana hamesha ki tarah shaant tha.
Fatima apni diamond-studded spoon se bina awaaz kiye soup sip kar rahi thi, aur Junaid Ahmed apni usual mutton curry aur roti tod raha tha. Mote hoth, tezi se chabate hue, jaise uske samne sirf khaana ho, biwi nahi.
Baahar se wo ek shant shaadi-shuda jodi lag rahe the. Andar se? Sirf do ajnabi jo ek hi table par baithe the.
Dinner ke baad Fatima apne dressing table ke samne bethi apna night cream laga rahi thi jab Junaid andar aaya, apni koti utarti hue.
Uske chehre pe thodi bechaini thi, jo Fatima ne turant samajh li. Is election me pehli baar uske haarne ka darr uske chehre pe dikh raha tha. Aur jab ek aadmi kamzor mehsoos karta hai, to usse ek aurat ki zaroorat mehsoos hoti hai.
Junaid ne apna hath Fatima ke kandhe pe rakha.
"Aaj tumhari pasand ka dinner banwaya tha," usne dheere se kaha, moti ungliyon se Fatima ke baalon ko chhune ki koshish karte hue
Fatima ke roamte khade ho gaye. Nafrat se.
Uska pasina bhara hath, maas bhari kamar, woh moti taangon se bhara bistar par girta badan—sab kuch use ghin dilata tha.
Lekin gussa dikhana ek option nahi tha. Ek perfect biwi ki tarah, usne apna muh banaya, thoda haath uthaya, aur phir ek achanak se dard bhari saans li.
"Ahh..."
Junaid ne haath kheench liya.
"Kya hua?"
Fatima apna sar pakad ke bed pe gir gayi, drama shuru.
"Mujhe... chakkar aa raha hai. Pata nahi kyun... bohot ajeeb mehsoos ho raha hai," uski awaaz halki aur bechari si thi.
Junaid irritate ho gaya. Chhati tak button khol kar usne servant ko chillaya,
"Doctor bulao!"
Kuch hi der me doctor aagaye, pulse check ki, kuch random sawal kiye. Fatima thodi bechari si lagi, lekin itni bhi nahi ki serious lage.
"Sirf thoda tension aur weakness lag rahi hai," doctor bola, "Main ek sleeping pill de raha hoon, aram karein."
Fatima ne jaldi se wo dawa mangi, jaise yahi uska ilaaj ho. Ek pill muh me daali, paani piya, aur bistar me let gayi.
Junaid usse ghur ke dekhta raha—janta tha ki ye sab drama hai, par kuch bol nahi sakta tha. Ek haramkhor pati hone ke bawajood, ek majboor aadmi bhi tha.
Jaise hi doctor gaya, aur Fatima “so gayi”, Junaid ne apna phone uthaya.
Ek number dial kiya.
"Haan, kahan ho?"
Doosri taraf se ek sweet, chipakti awaaz aayi—"Main bas intezaar kar rahi thi, jaan."
Fatima ne apni palkein band rakhi, magar andar se muskurayi.
"Ja, aur apni raat kharab kar. Mera khel abhi shuru hi hua hai."
---
Junaid Ahmed kamar se nikalte hi sherwani ki silvatein thik ki, ek thoda thaka, lekin pichhle dikhave se halka mehsoos karte hue, seedha guest room ki taraf badh gaya.
Darwaza khula tha. Andar peeli bulb ki dhundhli roshni thi, aur bed ke beech ek nangi aurat apni pallu bichhaye bethi thi—Shabnam.
Shabnam, uske mali Rashid ki biwi. Gareeb, lekin chalak.
Junaid andar ghus kar darwaza dhakke se band karta hai. Shabnam apna pallu halki si adjust kar ke sharmeeli muskurahat deti hai, lekin uske aankhon me woh aadmi samajh nahi pata jo bas badan ki bhook mita ke chale jaate hain.
"Neta ji, aap bhi na... raat ke is samay yahan?" Uske swaad bhare hoth halka sa kaap rahe the, jaise bas samajhne ka natak ho.
Junaid ne koi jawab nahi diya. Bas seedha uske paas gaya, aur uska bhari badan uske upar gira diya.
Uske haath Shabnam ki naram kamar se lipat gaye, bina kisi pyaar ya lagaav ke, sirf ek bhooki aadmi ki tarah jo sirf chaatna jaanta hai.
Shabnam apne honth uske kaan ke paas le jaake foonk maar deti hai, ek aadmi ka guroor jagane ke liye ek natak.
"Aapke bina to raat hi adhoori lagti hai," usne bichhadne wali mehbooba ki tarah kaha, lekin andar se sirf 1000 ke note ka intezaar kar rahi thi.
Junaid apna moti taange bichhata hai, bechaini se haath idhar udhar ghumata hai, lekin do minute ke andar hi haanfne lagta hai. Uska pasina tapakne lagta hai, jaise ek purani diesel gaadi chadhai chadh rahi ho.
"Ahhh… haan... ruk," Junaid phusphusata hai, jaise ek ladaai haar chuka ho.
Shabnam andar hi andar mazak uda rahi thi, lekin chehre pe ek pyaar bhari muskurahat rakh rakhi thi. Usne halki si ahh bhari, jaise sabse bade sukh ka anubhav ho raha ho.
Paas rakhi table se Junaid ne ek crumpled 1000 ka note nikala aur uske haath me de diya.
Shabnam ne note ko dekha, ek halka sa “thank you” kaha, lekin jaise hi neta ji bistar pe palat ke let gaya, bechara hone ka natak karta hua, usne jaldi se uske purse me haath daal diya.
500 ke do aur note kheench liye.
Purse wapas wahi chhoda, aur bina awaaz kapde pehne, ek chalak si muskurahat ke saath nikal gayi.
Junaid bed par haanp raha tha, use kuch samajh nahi aaya.
Shabnam chalti hui soch rahi thi—"Siyape me na faide ka rakhna hi asal chaturai hai.”
---
Subah ka suraj dheere dheere bungalow ki khidkiyon se andar jhaank raha tha. Poore ghar me ek ajeeb sa sannata tha. Neta ji aur Fatima aapas me baat nahi kar rahe the.
Dining table pe dono aamne-saamne baithe the, lekin beech me ek deewar si thi. Junaid Ahmed akhbar me chhupa baitha tha, jaise duniya se koi lena dena nahi. Fatima apne haath me ek chhoti chandi ki chammach ghumaa rahi thi, lekin ek bhi shabd nahi bola.
Tabhi Shabnam ne aakar nashta parosna shuru kiya. Uske haath me garam garam paratha tha, jo seedha Junaid ke plate me dala. Aur jaise hi usne ek steel ka glass Junaid ke samne rakha, uske haath ne halki si neta ji ki ungliyan chhoo li.
Ek ajeez si, chipchipi masoomiyat uske chehre pe thi, jaise koi bhool se chhune ka natak kar raha ho.
Fatima ne yeh sab dekha. Uska khoon khol gaya.
Wo jaanti thi. Jaanti thi ki raat ko kya hua tha. Shabnam ki muskurahat uske dimaag me teer ki tarah chali.
Lekin usne apne chehre pe ek bhi tewar nahi badalne diya. Ek bhi lafz nahi bola.
Neta ji ne ek baar Fatima ki taraf dekha, fir bina kuch kahe kha kar ghar se nikal gaye.
Jaise hi gadi bungalow ke iron gate se bahar gayi, Fatima apni kursi se dheere se uthi.
Usne ek thanda, sukhay hue patthar jaisa expression liya aur sidha Shabnam ki taraf dekha.
"Saare bhari kapde aangan me le jaake haath se dhona."
Shabnam jhat se ruk gayi. Uska muh halka sa khula, jaise kuch kehna chahti ho, lekin phir chup ho gayi.
Fatima ne ek muskurahat di. Wo muskurahat jo ek shikari apni shikar ko dekh ke deta hai.
Shabnam chup-chaap sar jhuka ke andar chali gayi.
Fatima palat kar apna phone uthati hai, driver ka number dial karti hai.
"Gadi nikal, mujhe bazaar jaana hai. Shopping karni hai."
Uska awaz me ek ajeeb si thandak thi. Aaj kisi aur ko pasina bahana tha, aur kisi aur ko shopping ka sukoon milna tha.
---
Kafi der shopping karne ke aad Fatima apni shopping se khush thi. Ek naya diamond bracelet, mehengi heels, designer dupatta—sab kuch perfect. Wo apni Scorpio ke paas aayi, halka sa aansh mein khadi ho gayi.
Guard aur driver abhi bhi uska saman uthane me lage the. Ek dukaandaar ka ladka bade sambhal kar shopping bags thama raha tha, jaise koi raja-rani ke saaman ko chhune ka mauka mil gaya ho.
Tabhi ek lafua ladka wahin se guzra. Orange jhalla t-shirt, jhilmilata sasta chashma, aur itna tez perfume ki garmi me bhi paseena sharma jaaye.
Jaise hi uski nazar Fatima par padi, uske kadam dheere ho gaye.
Ek ghatiya si muskurahat aayi chehre pe. Halki si seat belt adjust karne ki acting ki, phir sidha Fatima ke paas pahunch gaya.
"Madam, kya mast cheez lag rahi ho!" Usne taali bajayi, jaise koi badi jeet ho gayi ho.
Fatima ne sirf ek thanda nazar dala. Phone nikala aur screen par scroll karne lagi. Ek aisi beizzati jo lafua samajh nahi paaya.
Lekin wo haar maanne waalon me se nahi tha.
"Aise ignore mat karo na, dil tod dogi kya?" Usne apne chashme ko neeche kiya, jaise koi hero-entry maar raha ho.
Fatima ghin me phone side me rakha.
“Hatt.” Ek shabd, thanda aur nishkapat.
Magar lafua chhodne waala nahi tha.
"Ek baar coffee pe chalo, kasam se mazze karwa dunga!" Usne aankh mari.
Tabhi uski nazar padi.
Guard ek bada shopping ka bag uthaye Scorpio ki taraf aa raha tha.
Lafua thoda hila, par abhi bhi samjha nahi.
"Bhai police hoke chhoti moti baaton pe complaint lega?" Usne hero banne ki koshish ki.
Par jaise hi guard aur driver dono uske kareeb aaye, aur guard ne bas apni kamar seedhi ki, ladke ka chehra zard pad gaya.
Usne guard ke haath me ek wireless device dekha. Ek second me uske dimaag ka button on ho gaya.
"Bhaag yahan se warna andar kara degi!"
Fatima uske bhagne ka intezaar bhi nahi kar rahi thi.
Wo Scorpio ki taraf badhi, door khola, aur bina palatke andar baith gayi.
Guard ne shopping bags rakh diye, driver seat par baith gaya.
“Chalo.”
Scorpio ek tez jhatke me aage badh gayi.
Peeche lafua ladka bhaagta dikh raha tha, apne cheap perfume ke dhuen me ghum hota hua.
---
Fatima ne gaadi ke sheeshe se us lafua ladke ko bhaagte dekha tha. Uski confidence, uski masti bhari be-sharmi—ye sab kuch ajeeb tarah se uske dimaag me atak gaya.
Lekin zindagi rukti nahi.
Shopping ke naye kapde, mehenga bracelet, aur shaam ki chai—sab cheezein waise hi chalti rahi. Wo incident ek ajeeb sa mazedar yaadon ka tukda ban gaya, ek chhoti si disturbance jo dimaag ke kone me chipak gayi thi.
Kuch dino baad…
Bungalow ke lawn me election ka fever cha raha tha. Har taraf neta ji ke posters chipkaye ja rahe the.
Party karyakarta aur daily wage mazdoor poster lekar aaye the, aur deewaron aur gate pe chipkane me lage the. Ek bada sa poster—Junaid Ahmed ka rajnaitik muskurata chehra—bungalow ki boundary wall pe chipak raha tha.
Fatima ne drawing room ki khidki se dekha. Tabhi uski nazar ek jaan-pehchan wale chehre pe padi.
Wahi lafua ladka!
Ab orange jhalla t-shirt ki jagah ek purani si shirt aur jeans thi. Lekin attitude ab bhi wahi.
Mooh me ek sasti beedi daba rakhi thi, aur poster chipkate waqt uski beedi ek taraf hil rahi thi. Ek haath me poster ka thela, doosre haath se chipka raha tha.
Fatima ko ek ajeeb si masti chadh gayi. Jaane diya jaaye, ya dobara dekha jaaye?
Aakhir curiosity jeet gayi.
Wo apna dupatta sambhalte hue lawn me aa gayi.
"Arre madam, help chahiye kya?" Lafua ladke ne ek nazar dalte hi poocha, jaise ab wo use pehchan chuka ho.
Fatima ne ek halka sa muskurahat diya.
"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?"
Ladka ne beedi side me daali aur haath pochta hua bola—
"Poster chipka raha hoon, kya lagta hai?"
Fatima ne thoda sarcasm me bola—
"Kya Junaid Ahmed ko vote doge?"
Ladka hans pada.
"Arey nahi madam, vote toh ya toh Shukla ko ya Pathan ko dunga!"
Dono ek pal ke liye ek doosre ko dekh kar hans pade. Ek ajeeb si irony thi is mazak me.
Fatima ke chehre pe ek chhoti si mischievous muskurahat aayi. Ye ladka ab bhi nahi jaanta tha ki wo kisse baat kar raha hai.
---
Lafua ka be-baak andaaz, bina kisi sharam ke flirting karna, ye sab kuch Fatima ke andar ek ajeeb si chingari jala raha tha.
Uska jeevan hamesha control me raha tha. Ek neta ki biwi, ek perfect aurat. Jo sab kuch paakar bhi khud ek pinjre me band thi.
Lekin ye ladka…
Bina kisi dar ke jata tha, jo man me aata tha bolta tha.
Fatima ne dhyan diya—uske baal halki si gile the, shayad pasine se, ya shayad usne abhi abhi munh dhoya tha. Shirt ke button khule hue the, collar dheela tha. Pura ka pura bina kisi tension ke.
Aise aadmi ko kisi ki zarurat nahi hoti. Na respect ki, na paison ki, na izzat ki.
Fatima ko ye ajeeb sa lag raha tha, lekin wo rok nahi paa rahi thi.
"Toh tum Pathan ko vote dene wale ho?"
Ladka muskuraya, thoda aur kareeb aaya.
"Agar koi aur option ho toh soch sakta hoon."
Fatima ne dekha, lafua ab apne pakde hue poster side me rakh raha tha. Uski nigahain ab sirf Fatima pe thi.
"Aur agar koi aur option main hoon?" Fatima ne halki si shararat bhari awaaz me kaha.
Ladka thoda ruka, phir muskuraya. "Agar tum option ho, toh abhi se jeet maan lo."
Baatein aur tez hone lagi.
Fatima ke haath ab thoda gesture me chalne lage, aur ladka bhi ekdum be-lagaam flirting kar raha tha. Kahi na kahi dono jaante the, ab ye flirting sirf mazaak nahi thi.
Jab Fatima ne uska haath pakda aur dheere se neeche kheench diya, tab ladka bhi samajh gaya ki ye game ab ek naye level par pahunch chuka hai.
---
Dhoop dhal chuki thi. Bungalow ke pichle hisse me, jahan sirf naukar aur mazdoor jaate the, ek purana sa bathroom tha—tang, shant, magar aaj ek raaz ka gawah banne wala tha.
Fatima bina ek shabd kahe usse kheench laayi. Ladka pehle toh hairan hua, phir uske chehre pe ek maskhari bhari muskurahat aayi.
“Badi tez ho, madam…” usne dheere se kaha.
Darwaza bandh hota hai. Ek gehri sans ki awaaz, ek pal ki bechaini.
Fatima ne apni nazar uske chehre par gaadh di—narmi thi, lekin saalon ki dabi aag bhi. Saalon se jo pyas daba rakhi thi, aaj wo aag ban chuki thi.
Ladka bina rukhe, uske bilkul paas aaya. Uske haath Fatima ki kamar par sarak gaye, ungliyan uske kapdon ke kapkapi ko mehsoos karne lagi.
Jaise hi darwaza bandh hua, usne ek pal ki bhi deri nahi ki. Ek bechaini thi, ek junoon jo sirf sharir nahi, dimaag me bhi chadh chuka tha. Fatima ki dehkti aankhon me kuch tha jo uska sabr tod raha tha.
Fatima ne pehli baar kiss ki shuruat ki—tez, bhookhi, jaise kisi ne saalon se mehsoos na kiya ho. Ek pal ko wo peeche hata, phir usne Fatima ko deewar se jod diya.
Saans ek doosre me ghul gayi.
Kapde silvatein banane lage, haath aur hoth ek doosre me ulajhne lage.
Pichwade me ek purana bulb jhool raha tha, hil raha tha, jaise deewaron ko bhi bechaini ho.
Jo aadmi sirf postere chipkane aaya tha, wo ab neta ji ki biwi ke dil, dimaag aur jism par apni chaap chhod raha tha.
Fatima ke liye ye koi sharafat ka khel nahi tha, ye ek jungle ki bhook thi jo usne kabhi accept nahi ki thi.
Aur lafua ke liye…
Ye sirf ek aur jeet thi.
Saans abhi bhi tez chal rahi thi. Kapde suljhaaye ja rahe the, lekin dil aur dimaag abhi tak uljhe hue the.
Fatima ne aakhri baar uski taraf dekha, ek halki si muskurahat ke saath.
"Naam kya hai tera?"
Ladka ne hothon par ek shaitani hasi laayi, haath se apne bikhre hue baal sudhaare.
"Raju."
