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Walida saahiba ne vimaye mein bharkar kaha-" Meri to akal chakkar mein hai ki beti se milne ke liye khud baap ne daawat di hai."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Weh chakkar mein sahi, magar shukr karo ki akal hai to sahi. Mujhe to ismein subah tha."

Walida sahiba ne kaha-" Magar kya sachmuch weh hi beti se kahenge ki yeh ladka maine tumhaare liye pasand kiya hai?"

Walid saahb ne kaha-" Rahi na dhaamad ki dhaamad. Hazaar baar keh chuka hoon ki aajkal ka tareeka yahi hai ki bade gharaano mein ladki se pasand karaaya jaata hai ladka."

Walida saahiba ne kaha-" Haaye mere Allah! Pasand karaaya jaata hai!"

Walid saahab ko krodh aane laga-" Miss Pal ne huliya to zaroor badal diya hai tumhaara, magar dimaag ka koodha abhi tak saaf nahin kiya hai."

Walida saahiba ne pehloo badal kar kaha-" Na baba, main to na kabhi dekha na suna aur main to yahi kehti hoon ki aisi bahu byaah kar aa bhi gayi ,to weh do hi din mein saas ka choondha kaat kar hatheli par rakh degi."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Ab aisa khushnaseeb main nahin hoon ki weh tumhaare saath yeh salook kare. Jee to yahi chaahta hai ki tumhaare saath uska yahi bartaav ho; Magar insaan ka jo kuch jee chaahta hai, weh hua nahin karta. To tumhaare khyaal mein yeh jo kuch ho raha hai- Galat hai?"

Walida saahiba ne kaha-" Main to yahi jaanti hoon ki taat mein makhmal ka paiband raas nahin aa sakta."

Walid saahab ab betaqalluf ho gaye-" Chugad hain aap! Ajeeb aundhi khopdi pai hai. Asal mein himaaqat meri hi hai ki main tumse ye baatein karne baidh jaata hoon. Tum to usi waqt theek thi jab pachaas joote subah aur pachaas joote shaam ko bina baat ke baras jaaya karte the."

Walida saahiba ne bura maane bina kaha-" Mera kya hai, tum bhi to bhugtoge. Daadhi ka ek baal jo chhode."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Weh aapki tarah kaum ki naai nahin hai ki sasur ki shave banaane baidh jaaye."

Walida saahiba ne ab matlab ki baat kahi-" Achcha to main poochti hoon ki najjo mein kya buraai hai?"

Walid saahab ne sambhal kar baidhte hue kaha-" Najjo- tumhaare bhai ki laundiya! Ab utaaroo main joota? Khoon thukwa diya hai haramzaadi ne. Hum hain ki mem naukar rakhkar ise aadmiyat ke jaame mein laa rahe hain. Magar wahi misal ki kutte ki dum baarah baras ke baad nalki se nikaali gayi to tedi ki tedi hi nikli. Chali hain apne bhai ki laudiya ko bahu banaane. Andhi, khupdi, jaahil, ganwaar ki laddh! Naai ki aulaad naain, weh aayegi goya ab nawaab Ajmatullah Khan ki bahu bankar! Thu hai meri aukaat par!"

Walida saahiba ne turant uttar diya-" Aadmi itna bhi apni asliyat ko na bhoole ki apno hi ko neech samajhne lage."

Walid saahab ne waakai kheejkar kaha-" Dekh, main tujhse kehta hoon, kaan kholkar sunle. Agar tu apni in baaton se baaj na aayi, to talaak dekar ghar se baahar karoonga, samjhi ki nahin koi poochhe, agar humko inhi naai aur hajjamo se rishta jodne hote, to yeh sab dhong rachne ki aakhir zaroorat hi kya thi? Saari duniya ki zabaan sookh rahi hai, nawaab saahab , nawaab saahab kehte hue, aur chali hai apne bhaiya ko samdhi banaane, jo ab tak silli par ustre tez karta firta hoga wahin hindustan mein. Khabardaar! Jo ab hi uska naam liya."

Walida saahiba ne kaha-" Lo aur suno, to kya tumhaara matlab yeh hai ki main apne maa-baap ko bhool jaaoongi?"

Walid saahab ne bade sanyam se kaam lekar humse kaha-" Farhat miyan, ab tum sanjhaao ise, nahin to main shuroo karta hoon joota geeri."

Aur hum Miss Pal ko is or aata hua dekh lapke uski taraf, taaki use taal le jaayein. Warna weh bhi dekh leti ki nawaab saahab aur begham sahiba lis bhaasha mein prem karte hain. Darwaaze ke usi taraf Miss Pal ko rokkar humne kaha-" Miss Pal aap zara, mere saath aaiye."

Miss Pal ko to khuda yeh mauka de ki hum unhein bulaayein. Ek dum khilkar aur sattar bal khaakar boli-" Khairiyat to hai? Aap ko aur mujhse kaam?"

Hum waakai Miss Pal se zara door hi ki alek salek se kayal the; Isliye ki unke baare mein dheere dheere yeh andaaza ho chuka tha ki weh zaroorat se zyaada hi dilchaspi lene lagi hain is sewak se. Aur kuch ajeew shikaari nigaahon se dekha karti hain humein. Magar is samay to unhein taal le jaana zaroori tha. Isliye humne bade madhur swar se kaha-" Kyon, kya aap se kaam nahin padh sakta kisi ko?"

Miss Pal ne humaare peechhe lapakte hue kaha-" Kisi aur ki baat nahin yahan, sawaal aapka hai, jo mujhsekhuda jaane kyon naraaz rehta the?"

Humne apne kamre mein dakhil hote hue kaha-" Naraaz? Oh main naraaz rehta hoon aapse? Naraazgi ki bhalaa kaun si baat hai?"

Miss PAl ne apne khuraatt chehre par zabardasti bhola pan paida karte hue kaha-" Yeh to aapko maloom hoga. Main to har jatan karke thak chuki hoon ki aap mujhse is kadr bezaar na rahein. Magar apni badkismati ke siwa ise kya samajh sakti hoon ki aap kabhi seedhe muhn baat hi nahin karte."

Humne bhi zabardasti muskura kar kaha-" Nahin Miss Pal. yeh aapka khyaal hai. Main aapse bhalaa kyon naraaz hone laga. Aap to mera itna dhyaan rakhti hain aur mujhe khoob andaaza hai ki aap sabse zyaada dhyaan mere hi kaamo par deti hain. Kya main itna ehsaan faraamosh hoon ki phir bhi aapse naraaz ho.oon?"

Miss Pal ne bade hi aakarshak dhang se farmaaya-" Shukr hai ki aapko itna andaaza hai. Khair aap bataaiye, kya kaam tha is waqt?"

Humne kaha-" Jee nahin, ab to sabse badi yeh kaam hai ki aap apne dil se galatfehmi door keejiye ki aapse naraaz yaa aap ke kehne ke mutaabik bezaar hoon."

Humko kya maloom tha ki Miss Pal is awsar se itna laabh uthaayeingi, ek dum kuch lajjakar boli-" To phir iska matlab yeh hai ki aap itne bhole hain jo ek aurat ki nazarein bhi nahin pehchaan sakte aur un nazaron ki iltjaayein bhi nahin samajh sakte."

Imaan ki baat yeh hai ki humein is spashtwaadita ki asha na thi. Ek dum bhonchke se reh gaye aur sab kuch samajh lene ke baad badi namratta se kaha-" Yeh aapko kaise maloom ki main nahin samajhta hoon. Main to baraabar abbajaan se kaha karta hoon ki Miss Pal mere kaamo mein asaadhaaran dilchaspi leti hain aur main unse bada prasann hoon. Weh mere liye ek behtareen dost saabit ho rahi hain."

Miss Pal ne aakhon ko matka kar kaha-" Bas dost? Yaani sirf dost?"

Miss Pal to is waqt buri tarah gale padh rahi thi. Aaye the namaaz bakhshwaane yahan roze bhi gale padh gaye.

Humne phir bhi apne aapko sanyat rakhte hue kaha-" Dost ko aakhir aap kya samajhti hain? Badi cheez hota hai dost Miss Pal aapko maloom hai ki mere chand dost hain, aur unmein se ek aap bhi hain."

Miss Pal ne kaha-" Shayad Khan bahadur saahab ki ladki ko dost se kuch zyaada samajhte hain?"

Humne ab sach bolna shuroo kiya-" Weh to khair baat hi doosri hai. Yeh unka zikr aap kaha se le daudi!"

Miss Pal ne niraash hokar kaha-" Jee haan, main bekaar hi yeh zikr le daudi. Khair chhodiye is zikr ko, kaam bataiye."

Humne bhi mauka ganimat jaankar kaha-" Kaam yeh tha Miss Pal ki aaj to khair hum log Khan bahadur saahb ke yahan khaane par jaa rahe hain, magar main apne chand doston ko kal ya parson khaane par bulaana chahta hoon. Zaahir hai ki khaana raat hi ko hoga. Main aapko subah katai faisla karke bataa doonga. Ab aap yeh farmaaiye ki chhe saat aadmiyon ke liye kya prabandh kiya jaaye?"

Miss Pal ne kaha-" Aapke hukm ki der hai, yeh mera kaam hai,yeh main kar doongi."

Humne kaha-" Mera matlab yeh hai ki dishes kya kya hongi?"

Miss Pal ne berukhi se kaha-" Jab aap faisla karenge, to fehrist bana doongi aur aapki manjoori le loongi."

Zaahir hai ki ma koi daawat thi na kisi ka khaana. Maqsad to tha Miss Pal ko zara taale rakhna. Halanki jab Miss Pal chaubees ghante isi ghar mein hai aur walid saahab aur walida sahiba mein is prakaar ki tu-tadaak hoti rehti hai, Miss Pal se yeh baat kab tak chhipaayi jaa skti hai. Hum Miss ko wahan se taalkar yahan tak laaye the ki itni hi der main walid saahab krodh mein bhare hue wahan bhi tashreef le aaye. Unhein dekhte hi humne sabse pehle Miss PAl se kaha-" Achcha to main aapko subah ittila doonga, aap ja sakti hain."

Unke jaane ke baad walid saahab ne krodh se kaanpte hue kaha-" Yeh jo tumhaari maa hai, haramzaadi naain kahin ki. Yeh mujhko zinda na rehne degi aur isi ke haathon saara bhanda footega."

Humne mauka ganimat jaankar kaha-" Aap jis waqt un par gussa karte hain, us waqt yeh bhi bhool jaate hain ki unse oehle bhanda fodega aapka yeh gussa. Aapko yeh bhi yaad nahin rehta ki miss Pal is ghar mein hain. Weh yeh gaali galoch sunegi to kya kahengi. Ab is waqt unhein naain keh rahe hain aur aapko yeh bhi khyaal nahin ki deewar ke bhi kaan hote hain."

Walid saahab ne zaraa naram padhkar kaha-" Yeh to bataao kya karoo? Ab usne yahi rat laga rakhi hai ki apne bhai ko najjo ke liye zabaan de chuki hoon. Weh kisi tarah nahin chahti ki Khan bahadur ke yahan nisbat ho."

Humne kaha-" Iska tareeka yeh hai ki main khud unko samjhaaoonga aur unko vishwas dila doonga ki Najjo ka sawaal isliye paida nahin hota ki main khud uske saath shaadi karne ko taiyaar nahin hoon, magar aap apne gusse ko kaabu mein rakhiye."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Main to khud ghar mein kadam nahin rakhta, zyaadatar baahar hi rehta hoon is sir firi aurat ke kaaran. Magar kabhi to baat karni hi padhti hai aur jab baat karta hoon, to musibat aa jaati hai, main jitna aage badhta jaata hoon utna hi is aurat ka darr meri jaan nikaale rakhta hai, ki agar is aurat ne haqiqat khol di to kisi ko munh dikhaane laayak na rahenge."

Humne kaha-" Aap is tarf se itminaan rakhiye, main poori koshish karoonga ki weh Najjo ka khyaal apne dil se nikaal de."

Walid saahab ne kaha-" Ek Najjo ka khyaal hi kya, zaroorat to yeh hai ki weh ek dum sab ko bhool jaaye. Aur nazar yeh aa raha hai ki weh apni asliyat kisi tarah na bhoolegi. Miss Pal ki badaulat salika aa gaya hai kuch likh-padh bhi gayi hai, magar dimaag wahi naain ka hai. Seedhi baat karte karte ek dum wahi rag phadakti hai aur kaabu se baahar ho jaati hai. Ab keh rahi thi ki weh mujhe maar daalo, magar main apne bhai ko nahin chhod sakti."

Humne kaha-" Iska bhi ilaaj hai aap neeti se kaam le. Kuch din chup rahiye, jab weh is nayi zindagi ki aadi ho jaayengi aue jab unchi society ka maza chakh lengi, to khud hi sab kuch bhool jaayengi. Aurat hain bechaari. Unki jo aadat ban chuki hai, unse majboor bhi hain."

Walid saahab ne usi prakaar niraasha ke saath kaha-" Sau baat ki ek baat yeh ahi ki asal nasal ki naain hai. Asliyat mushkil se hi bhoolegi aur iske kaaran mujhe hamesha yeh dhadka laga rahega ki kab bhaanda phodti hai. Miss Pal bechaari oopar se kalai to kar sakti hai; Magar taambe ko chaandi naihn bana sakti."

Taambe ko chaandi banaana Miss Pal ke liye kya, kisi ke liye bhi mumkin na tha. Walida Sahiba ko kehte hain, magar khud Shrimaan jab apni asliyat par aate hain to kya kasar utha rakhte hain patni se gaali galoch aur baat waat peechhe haraamzaadi kehna aakhir baat kya hai? Magar ab koi samjhaaye bade miyaan ko? Agar saaf saaf keh do to khud bhi do char gaaliyan sun le. Bhalaayi isi mein hai ki sunte jaayein aur peete jaayein. Warna asal baat to yeh hai ki asliyat ka izhaar dono taraf se hota rehta hai. Fark sirf itna hai ki walida sahiba bechaari is jaati se bhi hain aur moorkh bhi hain. Walid saahab is jaati se awashta hain lekin moorkh nahin hain; Balki saari duniya ko moorkh banaaye hue hain. Had yeh ki Khan bahadur jaisa kaaiyaan aadmi, jisne zindagi bhar jodh todh kiye hain aur samay ki sarkaar ko moorkh bana kar khitaab tak haasil kiya hai, Weh bhi walid saahab ki chalbaazi ka shikaar bane hue hain. Aur is khare padhaan ki samajh mein yeh baat aa gayi hai ki yeh ajnabi mahaajan unki takkar ka khanadani raees hai. Khair, walid saahab ka krodh is samay kisi na kisi tarah shaant kiya, aur unhein itminaan dila diya ki weh khud apne ko kaabu mein rakhkar tanik dheeraj se kaam le aur dekhein ki walida saahiba mein unka yeh supoot kya tabdeeliyaan paida karta hai?