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Humne namrattapoorvak Khan bahadur ko salaam kiya to walid saahab ne humein baidhne ka sanket karte hue Khan bahadur saahab se kehna shuroo kiya-"Maashaa Allah behad zaheen hain! Mera katai irada ho chuka tha ki inhein vilayat bhej doon. Tamaam intezaam ho chuka tha ki yeh kayamat aa gayi aur saahab ab to aise aise bhayaanak scene dekhe hain ki ek minute ke liye bhi inko apne se lag karne ka hausla nahin hota. Laakh inko samjhaata hoon ki tumhein aakhir kis cheez ki kami hai? Allah ne daulat di hai, izzat di hai, na sahi unchi taaleem, magar saahabzaade kisi tarah maante hi nahin. Ab aap hi inhein kisi tarah samjhaaiye kisi tarahmaante hi nahin. Ab aap hi inhein kisi tarah samjhaaiye bhai saahab, to shayad yeh kuch maanien."

Khan bahadur saahab se pehle hi ek aur saahab, jo kheesien nikaale baidhe the, bol uthe- Maashaa Allah, peshaani par baulandi-e-kamaal ka sitaara bhi roshan hai. Huzoor waala, kaan pakadh kar arz karta hoon, ki aadmi pehchaanne mein is ghulam ne aaj tak dhokha nahinkhaya. Agar mera andaaza durust hai to saahabzaade ko bahoot bada aadmi banna hai. Bete, apna haath idhar badhana."

Khan bahadur saahab ne hanskar kaha-"Humaare mirza saahab bhu ajeeb cheez hain, palmistry ka shauk junoon ki had ko pahooncha hua hai."

Khair, humne haath pesh kar diya halanki haath raseed karne ko jee chah raha tha. Mirza saahab ne haath ko apne haath mein lekar dhyaan se dekha, phir aap hi "hum hum" karte rahe aur do teen minute khamoshi aur vuchar ke baad ek vichitr muskurahat ke saath bole-"Huzoor wala, meri yeh baat girah baandh lijiye ki aapke khanadaan ka naam yahi saahabzaade roshan karenge. Ilm to khair hai hi magar daulatki bhi had nahin hai. Agar daulat wali lakeer ko yeh chhoti chooti lakeerein kaat na deti to yeh haath baadshah ha haath hona chahiye. Yeh lakeer shuroo se bahu umda chali hai. Magar aakhir mein aakar kuch kainchi si ban gayi hai."

Kainchi ka naam sunkar humne to khair haath kheench hi liya ki kahin is kambakht ko ustra aur phir nahanna bhi nazar na aa jaaye. Magar is kainchi ke shabd ne walid saahab ko bhi kuch pareshan sa kar diya aur humne dekha ki unke chehre par bhi ek rang aaya aur ek gaya. Magar weh bade hazir, dimaag buzurg hain, baat kaat kar bole-" Khair , yeh to vishwas ki baat hai, main in baaton ko nahin maanta, kismat ka likha na kisi ne padha hai aur na koi padh sakta hai."

Weh maanein yaa na maanein; lekin hum to mirza saahab ke kayal ho gaye ki unko haath mein nazar bhi aayi to kainchi. Unke abhyaas aur kala ka isse bada pramaan aur kya ho sakta tha ki weh humaare haath mein kainchi dekhne mein safal ho gaye? Hum abhi mirza ki is baat par hairaan hi ho rahe the ki Khan bahadur saahab ne humse kaha-" Barkhurdaar, ab kya irade hain phir? Aapke walid saahab aapko baahar bhejne ko raazi nahin; magar taaleem to puri honi hi chahiye na?"

Humne kaha-"Waise to taaleem ka silsila jari hai hi, magar isliye baahar jana chahta tha ki Pakistan mein bhi humein philhaal wahi taaleem di ja rahi hai, jiska maksad darasal shikshit banaana nahin hai balki sachche sewak aur ghulam banana hai."

Mirza saahab ne tadap kar kaha-"Bhai, Maasha Allah Zindaabad! Kya baat kahi hai saahabzaade saahab ne. Yeh baat main bhi kehna chahta tha; Magar itne khoobsurat ilfaaz nahin mil rahe the kehne ke liye. Aapne mere dil ki baat keh di saahabzaade."

Khan bahadur saahab, jo Khan bahadur hone ke naate swabhaav hi se ghulam the. Is baat se kuch adhik prasann to na hue; magar choonki ab kisi aur to to mere khayaal mein khud apne aap par munhasir hai ki taaleem kis tarah ki upaadhi ki asha na thi isliye aprasann bhi na hue aur madham swar mein kaha-"Yeh haasil karai jaaye. Yeh theek hai humaari taaleem ka tareeka kharab hai aur ismein sudhaar hona chahiye, magar isi taaleem ne hum mein azadi ka jazba bhi paida kar diya hai. Is se aap inkaar nahin kar sakte."

Humne kaha-" Durust farmaaya aapne, magar yeh jazba itna aam nahin hua, jitna clerky aam ho gayi hai. Azaadi ka jhanda uthaane waale to kuch hi paida hue; magar daftaron mein hazri dekar ghulam ban jaane waale anginat is taaleem ne paida kiye. Magar main aap se yahan tak sehmat hoon ki isi taaleem ka hum philhaal faaida uthaayein. Aur humein yeh ehsaas hi rahe ki hum khud bhi in kharaabiyon ko door karenge jo humein nazar aa rahi hain."

Khan bahadur saahab ne walid saahab ki or palat.te hue kaha" Bhai nawaab saahab, Maasha Allah! Badi samajhdari ki baatein karte hain saahabzaade! Main inse baat karke bada khush hua hoon aur is nateeje par pahoonch gaya hoon ki taaleem puri karke inhein khud yahi kaam karna chahiye. Bahoot achche professor ban sakte hain."

Mirza saahab ne farmaaya-" Bilkul yahi main bhi arz karne wala tha. Aur apni baat kehne ke liye munasib ilfaaz talash kar hi raha tha ki aapne mere dil ki baat keh di.

Walid saahab ne farmaaya-" Bhai jaan, maine to kabhi in saahabzaade ke maamlat mein dakhal nahin diya ki tum kya pado aur kya na padho. Jo kuch hai inke apne shauk ka nateeja hai aur aage bhi jo kuch karenge apne hi shauk se karenge. Warna sachi baat to yeh hai ki mere liye jo kuch hai, weh sirf yeh hain, andhe ki laadhi samajhta hoon inhein. Allah amin se pala hai aur inhi saahabzaade ko dekh dekh kar jeete hain. Ab aap hi bataaiye ki inko kis dil se saat samundar paar bhejkar main yaa inki maa zinda rahein.

Khan bahadur ne kaha-" Nahin saahab, vilaayat vagairah bhejna to khair vaahiyat hai, na yeh aapse mumkin hai na main iski rai doonga. Main khud isi kism ki jiddh ka muddhat se muqabala kar raha hoon. Saahabzaadi saahiba yahi chahti hain ki maa kaleje par patthar rakh le, baap apne dil ko faulad bana le aur unko inglistan bhej diya jaaye. Main to kehta hoon ki salaam hai aisi taaleem ko jo aulad hi ko chhudhwa de.

Mirza saahab ne farmaaya-" Saahabzaadi saahiba, weh to goya ladki ki jaat hai, aue jaana chahti hai inglistan goya england."

Walid saahab ne farmaaya-" Janaab, ladki aur ladke ka koi fark bhi to is taaleem ne utha diya hai. Magar ek baat hai ki maasha allah R.ana bibi bhi padhne likhne ki behad shaukeen hain."

Khan bahadur saahab ne walid saahab ko jawaab dene ke bajaaye hum se kaha-" Farhat miyan, tum mile ho kabhi R.na se."

Safed jhooth bolte hue humne kaha-" Jee, kabhi itefaq to nahin hua."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Are bhai, aamne saamne ghar hai, baagh se baagh mila hua hai, ek hi ahaata hai aur tum mile hi nahin us se."

Khan bahadur saahab ne farnmaaya-" Yeh bhi to aajkal attiquett hai ki sidhhi mulaqat paida nahin ki jaati. Khair main mulaqat ka silsila paida karoonga. Agar aap yahi chahte hain ki is silsile mein ekaadh murgi apni jaan se jaaye aur kuch machhliyon ka khoon ho to yahi sahi. Kal raat ka khaana mere ghar khaayein. Wahan aap dono ki mulaqat kara di jaayegi aur aap dono ki wajah se hum log bhi zara taqalluf kism ka khaana kha lenge. To phir nawaab saahab tay raha na? Mirza saahab, aap bhi bhooliyega nahin!"

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Mirza saahab zyaada se zyaada bhule to raat ke bajaaye din ke khaane par pahoonch jaayenge. Waise is kism ke maamle mein maasha allah yaddasht kaafi tez hai."

Mirza saahab ne niyampoorvak kheesein nikal kar kaha-" Kya baat farmaayi hai huzoor waala ne! Khair main inshaalaah hazir ho jaoonga. Kal hai, goya itvaar. Jee haan theek hai hazir ho jaoonga."

Mirza saahab ne kaha-" Goya itvaar na hota to kal aap tashreef na laa sakte! Mirza saahab bas yahi baatein buri lagti hain."

Mirza saahab ne jaldi se kaha-" Yeh baat nahin hai kibla balki kissa darasal yeh ahi ki mujhe somvar ka khyaal raha somvar ko mujhe ek aur meherbaan ke yahan ittefaaq se khaane par jaana hai. Agar kal somvar hota to khuda na khaaasta mujhe behad ranj hota."

Yeh bechaare mirza saahab, walid saahab aur khan bahadur saahab dono ke musaahab ki haisiyat rakhte hai. Dhoondha hai inhein walid saahab ne, magar ab khan bahadur saahab se bhi peng badhaaye hain. Kaam aapka sirf yeh hai ki raison ki darbaari karte rahein aur unhi ko khush karke apna bhala karte rahein. Musaahab mein jo gundh hone chahiye akal ke siwaay aur sab kuch mirza saahab mein maujood hai. Uchit anuchit raees ka samardhan karna inka kaam hai. Wek din ko raat keh raha hai to aap pramaan juta rahe hain din ke raat hone ke. Raees ko jo shauk hai usmein aap pesh hain. Kahin taash khel rahe hain to kahin shatranj ke khiladi bane hue hain. Humein is bechaare par taras aaya karta hai ki gareeb ka neejee jeevan to jaise kuch hai hi nahin. Pet jo kuch bhi karaye. Suna hai ki kabhi khud bhi achche din dekh chuke hain aur ab apna sab kuch luta kar doosron ke sahaare jee rahe hain. Kaaran yeh ki apne mein na koi yogyata hai, na gundh.

Khan bahadur saahab ke chale jaane ke baad walid saahab ne kaha-" Bhai mirza, tumhaari baat samajh mein nahin aayi. Aakhir itna ban.ne ki kya zaroorat thi ki kal itvaar hai na?"

Mirza saahab ne badi namratta se kaha-" Ab main kya karoo. Aap to safed poshi ki pol khol dete hain. Sankoj sirf yeh ahi ki daawat khair unhonein de di, magar main pehen kar kya jaoonga. Dhobi kambakht ko bhi meri iklauti sherwaani lekar marna tha."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" To yeh kaho na ki sherwaanichahiye tumko. Farhat miyan, meri koi sherwaani mirza saahab ko de do. Mere khyaal mein weh surmai sherwaani la do, jiske saath ki tumhaari bhi hai."

Humnewalid saahab ke kapdhonki almaari se surmai sherwaani laakar mirza saahab ko de di aur mirza saahab ka chehra naye phool ki tarah khil utha, jaise yeh sherwaani unke liye amrit siddh hui ho. Seedhe khadhe hokar sherwaani pehni aur farshi salaam bajaakar rukhsat ho gaye. Mirza saahab ke jaane ke baad humne bade dukh se kaha-" Bechaare sakht musibat mein hai."

Walid saahab ne kehkaha laga kar kaha- Saahabzaade, yeh bade behrupiye hain. Yeh to chalaaki thi in hazrat ki. Yeh is tarah ki tarqeebein na karein, to kaam kaise chale inka? Yon hi maarte khaate rehte hain. Main khoob samajhta hoon aur jaan boojhkar inki madad karta rehta hoon, magar iska matlab yeh nahin hai ki mujhe unse koi umeed bhi hai. Agar isi waqt koi do hazaar gaaliyaan mujhe de aur inheihn kisi faaiyde ki umeed ho us shaks se, to un gaaliyon mein apni taraf se bhi utni aur jodh denge. Mera usool to yeh hai ki pehchaanon sabko magar mauka mile to madad zaroor karo aur phir koi umeed kisi se na rakho."

Walid saahab ye baatein kar rahe the aur hum soch rahe the ki wah ri teri shaan ki tune ek hajjaam ko itna bada dimaag diya hai. Yeh udaarta aur ek naai mein. Yeh hi walid saahab to hain jo baal kaatne ke baad raeeson se kaha karte the ki aaina dekhkar agar huzoor khush ho jaayein, to baal katwaai ke baad inaam ka bhi haqdaar ho jaoonga. Aur aaj unhi ki udaarta aur daansheelta ka yeh aalam hai. Such kaha hai kisi ne-
"Khuda jab husn deta hai, nazakat aa hi jaati hai."

Walid saahab is samay asadhaaran roop se prasann the aur prasann hone ki baat bhi thi ki Khan bahadur saahab ne humein apni beti se parichay karaane ke liye khaane par bulwaaya tha. Iska matlab saaf hai ki khud to pasand kar hi chuke the mujhe apna daamaad banaane ke liye aur ab sirf apni saahabzaadi aur begham saahiba ko dikhaana chaahte the. Walid saahab ne maare khushi ke kaha-" Kal wahi suit pehen kar jaana, weh jo kala banwaaya hai, kya kehte hain use?"

Arz kiya- "Dress Suit."

Kehne lage-" Haan wahi. Khaane par wahi to pehen kar jaate hain na fashionable log. Magar main soch raha hoon ki main kya pehnoonga."

Humne kaha-" Aap kaali sherwaani peheniyega. Weh bhi to khaane ka libaas hai."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Miyan yeh khaane ka libaas aur khaane ka joota such poochho to meri samajh mein hi nahin aata. Main kehta hoon weh jaamedaar ki sherwaani kyon na pehnoo, jo is ghar mein se nikli hai?"

Humne kaha-" Hai to weh bhi kimati cheez, magar darr yahi lagta hai ki is ghar ke pichhle maalik ko na pehne dekha ho kisi ne."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Ab kaun dharaa hua hai yahan, is ghar ke pichhle maalik ko dekhne waala aur uske kapdhe pehchaanne waala. Weh jo mirza ko abhi di hai, weh bhi to isi ghar ke pichhle maalik hi ki thi. Khair, ehtiyaat achchi cheez hai, main kaali sherwaani pehen loonga. Mera kya hai, war-dikhaawa to tumhaara hai. Zaraa saleeke se jaana aur suit mein jis cheez ki kami ho, uska intezaam aaj hi kar lena. Allah ne chaaha, to tumko dekhkar khan bahadur jis tarah reejhe hain, unki begham bhi pasand karengi. Bahoot hi napi-tuli baatein karna. Bas kisi se weh andaaza na hone paaye ki unki shaan dekhkar hum raub mein aa gaye hain. Is daawat ke silsile mein is prakaar ki naseehaton ka silsila der tak jaari raha.