Heer

Maine unhe is tarah se toota hua kabhi nahi dekha tha, jaise wo ab ho gaye hain.

Bilkul chup.

Wo mujhe Kashmir mere gham se door le kar gaye the, taaki main kuch behtar mehsoos kar saku, lekin ab wo khud gham mein doob gaye hain.

Aakhir wo bhi insaan hi toh hai aur kab tak himmat rakh paate? Unki bhi toh ek bardasht ki had thi... aur wo aakhri bandh unki maa ke guzar jaane ke baad toot gaya.

Kehne ko toh hum Lahore wapas laut aaye hain, par us din ka manzar main aaj bhi bhool nahi paayi, jab Colonel Caldwell meri baahon mein ek bache ki tarah apni maa ke liye roye the.

Pehli baar unhone mere saamne apna dil khol kar rakha tha. Ya phir shayad, maine hi pehli baar koshish ki thi unhe sach mein sunne ki aur samjhane ki.

Na jaane kyun, main unhe aise dekh nahi pa rahi hoon. Bahut bura lagta hai unhe yun khamosh aur apne khayalon mein dooba hua dekhna.

Kya ye sirf insaniyat ke nate hai? Ya kuch aur? Main kuch bhi samajh nahi paa rahi hun. Par unhein yun taklif mein dekha bhi nahi ja raha.

Bas itna jaanti hoon, ki ab hum dono ka is duniya mein ek doosre ke alawa koi bhi nahi hai.

Toh jab wo mere saath meri dhaal ban kar mere dukh ke waqt mein khade rahe, toh ab meri baari hai unhe unke gham se nikaalne ki.

Iss waqt wo sirf apni niji zindagi mein hi nahi, balki apne kaam ko lekar bhi gehre tanav mein hain.

Pehle unhe court martial ki dhamki mili thi, aur ab unhe shetriya karya se hata kar ek chhoti si desk job mein daal diya gaya hai.

Poora waqt unhe chaar deewaron mein band rakha jaata hai, aur bekaar ke kaam mein uljha diya gaya hai.

Isi tanav ke chalte unhone peena bhi zyada shuru kar diya hai. Raat bhar apni study mein baithe rehte hain, aur bas peete rehte hain.

Unka aisa haal dekh kar mujhe bahut chinta hone lagi hai aur Bebbe ji ki kahi ek hi baat mere dimaag mein baar-baar goonjti rehti hai:

“Puttar, viyah toh jeevan sathi da zindagi ch hon da sabto vadda sukh eh hunda ae, ke asi apna dukh sukh is naal wandh sakde haan. Jo gallan asi kise hor naal nahi keh sakde, oh apne jeevan sathi naal keh ke apna dil halka kar sakde haan. Nahi taan, oh gallan andar dab-dab ke nasoor ban jandiyan ne. (Beta, shaadi ka sabse bada sukh hi yeh hai ki hum apna dukh-sukh jeevan sathi ke saath baant sakein. Jo baatein hum kisi aur se nahi keh sakte, wo uske saath keh kar apna mann halka kar sakte hain. Warna wohi baatein andar dab kar nasoor ban jaati hain.)”

Ya mereya Rabba!

Main aakhir karoon toh kya karoon? Kaise unhe is gham se nikalu, jaise unhone har mumkin koshish ki thi mujhe mere dukh se bahar nikaalne ki?

Maine unke liye chai banayi aur unki study mein le gayi. Wo apni tambaaku ki nali taiyaar kar rahe the.

Maine wo unke haathon se kheench li. Tab unhe ehsaas hua ke main kamre mein hoon.

“Bas kar dijiye, Colonel saab,” maine dheere se kaha, wo nali samne mez par rakhte hue.

Unhone meri taraf dekha, unki bejaan aankhon ne mujhe jhanjhor kar rakh diya. Kya wo bhi aise hi mehsoos karte honge mujhe gham mein dekh kar?

“Mujh se baat kijiye. Mere sath apna gham bantiye. Yun khud ko is tarah nashe mein toh mat dubaiye. Ye bahla kon sa tarika hai gham se ladne ka?” Maine kaha. Lekin unhone kuch jawab nahi diya. “Kuch toh kahiye,” maine phir kaha, unka chehra apne haathon mein lete hue.

Unka chehra mere haathon mein tha, lekin unki aankhon mein koi raushni nahi thi jaisi pehle hua karti thi.

Jaise wo kahin kho gaye hoon, ya phir apna sab kuch kho chuke hoon.

Kho toh hum dono hi chuke hai apna sab kuch.

Maine dheere se unki aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, “Mujhe kuch nahi chahiye, na shabd, na wada, bas itna chahiye ke aap mujhe apne dard mein shaamil hone dein. Mujhe apko sambhalne dein jaise apne mujhe sambhal liya tha”.

Ek lamha tha…… gehra, thama hua sa. Unka gala bhar aaya, lekin fir bhi wo kuch nahi bole.

Mujhe laga jaise unke andar kuch toot raha hai… ya ho sakta hai dheere-dheere bikhar raha ho, saalon se dabaye hue jazbaat, jo ab unki aankhon ke kone se aansu ban kar phisle ja rahe the.

Unhone apna chehra mere haathon se chhuda kar neeche jhuka liya, dono haathon se apne chehre ko chhupa liya aur phir, woh ro diye.

Nafrat, gussa, pachtava, kuch bhi nahi tha un rooh ko cheerte hue aansuon mein.

Sirf ek beta tha... jiski maa usse chhin gayi thi.

Sirf ek insaan tha... jo thak gaya tha majboot bane rehne se.

Sirf ek beta tha… jo thak chuka tha ek pita ke liye majboor sipahi bane.

Main kuch nahi boli. Bas unke paas rakhi kursi par baith gayi... aur unka sar apni godi mein rakh liya.

Wo bas rote rahe... bina kisi shabd ke, bina kisi shikayat ke.

Aur main unke baalon mein ungliyan chalatIe hue unka sar sehlati rahi jaise koi maa apne bache ko chhup karaati hai.

Aur shayad is waqt unhe sirf itna hi chahiye tha bas ke koi unke sath hai. Wo akele nahi hai.

Us raat unhone pehli baar khud se bhaagne ki koshish nahi ki.

Na nasha tha, na gussa, sirf ek thaka hua insaan, jo pehli baar khud ke liye ro raha tha.

Aur main...?

Main bas itna mehsoos kar pa rahi thi jahan unki takleef mujhe apni lagne lagi thi.

Kya shayad wahi mohabbat ka pehla kadam tha?

Kya mere dil ki deeware unke liye pighalne lagi thi?

Kya yehi woh pyar tha jiski baat Bebe ji kiya karti thi?

“Dhiye jado galan bina kahe bina kise alfazon de samajh aan lag jaan, te jado ek dil doosre duje dil di unkahi sun vi lave te samjh vi lave. Bas ahi ta pyar hunda hai. Jisne kise saboot ki lodh nahi hundi. (Beta, jab baatein bina bole bina shabdo ke samjh ane lagey, aur jab ek dil doosre ke dil ki unkahi batein sun le aur samjh bhi le. Bas yehi pyaar hota hain. Jisko kisi praman ki zarurat nahin hoti.)”

Kya yehi pyar hai?

Aur kya mujhe sach mein unse hone laga hai jaise ke wo dawa karte hai mujh se mohabbat ka?

Us raat ke baad sab kuch thoda thoda badalne laga tha.

Us din ke baad unhone kabhi sharab ya tumbaku ko hath tak nahi lgaya. Kyun bahla? Kyun ki mujhe acha nahi lagta tha.

Beshak, Colonel Saab ne mujhse kuch kaha nahi, lekin unki aankhon mein ek naya shukar tha, jaise unhone pehli baar mehsoos kiya ho ke wo ab akelay nahi hain.

Wo ab bhi zyada nahi bolte, lekin unka har ek andaaz bolne laga tha pehle ki tarah aur ab main un koshisho ko pehle ki tarah nazar andaaz nahi karti.

Haan, bilkul sahi suna aap ne.

Ab kuch baatein badalne lagi hain.

Main darwaze par unke lautne ka intezar karne lagi hun.

Is baat ka intezar karne lagi hun ke aaj wo mere liye kya layenge kaam se lautte waqt.

Mera dil dheere dheere pighalne laga hai. Ye ab jhooth nahi hai, lekin is ka matlab ye bhi nahi hai ke main apna maqsad bhool chuki hu.

Bilkul bhi nahi.

Bas fark itna hai mujhe jald se jald koi zariye dhoondhna hai dubara apni mitti ki azadi ka.

Waha Amritsar mein toh mai apne bahut se krantikari bhai behno ko janti thi. Par yahan nahi aur ab mahool aisa hai main kisi bhi anjaan shakhs par na hi toh bharosa kar sakti hu aur na hi jokhim utha sakti hun.

Mujhe Amritsar dubara jana hoga. Pata lagana hoga ke akhir kon kon bacha hai.

Taki mujhe koi zariya mil sake apna inteqam lene ka.

Ab bas bahut rona aur shog manana ho gaya.

Ek din shaam ke waqt mein isi soch mein dubi baithi thi upar chat par jab wo mere samne aa kar manji (khatiya) par baithe.

Unke hath mein kuch panne aur wo dibba tha jo unki maa ki chithi ke sath aya tha. Shayad wo panne bhi chitiyan hi the.

Us chote se lakdi ke dibbe par jab bhi unki nazar padti to aankhein bheeg jaati, par ab wo usse chhupate nahi the.

Shayad ab wo gham se lad nahi rahe the, usse apna rahe the.

Aur main... main unke saath us gham ko jee rahi thi jaise wo mere ko jeete the aur ab bhi jee rahe hai.

Unhone wo dibba dheere se khola. Main bas chup chap unhein dekh rahi thi.

Unhone ek motiyon ki mala nikali us dibbe mein se ye kehte hue, “This belonged to my mother. Her mother gave it to her. She always kept it close. And you know, it is said that pearls are a symbol of a mother’s tears and blessings. That’s why she sent this for you.”

Unhone mere hathon mein wo motiyon ka har rakhte hue kaha, aur maine hairani bhari nazron se unhe dekha.

“Mere liye!”

“Yes, for you.” Unhone kaha aur meri utsukta badh gayi.

“Kya wo janti thi mujhe?” Maine hairani mein pucha kyun ke main to nahi janti thi unhe ya shayad kabhi koshish hi nahi ki maine.

Unhone ek halki si udasi bhari muskan ke sath kaha, “No, not completely. I wish I had told her. Introduced you to her. She could have known you, and you, her." Unhone kaha, us dibbe mein se ek neelam ki anguthi nikalte hue. "How lovely and wise my wife is…”

Unki akhon mein jo pyar aur garv tha mere liye, usne meri dhadkane badha di ke maine apni palkein zhuka li. Unhone dheere se mera chehra apne dusre hath mein liya aur halke hath se mere gal sehlate hue kaha, “She would have loved you deeply. So much. Maybe even more than she loved me.”

Maine halki si chedne wali leh mein pucha taki wo thoda muskura hi dein, “Toh kya apko bura lagta?"

Unke chehre par halki si muskan aayi aur unhone jawab diya, "No, not at all. Because you, Heer… you deserve nothing but love."

Unki ye baat sun mere andar kuch ajeeb sa mehsus hua mujhe aur maine phir apni nazrein zhukha li.

"My father gave this to my mother after my birth. And do you know why? Because of my blue eyes.” Unhone jab ye kaha us angoothi ko dekhte hue maine apni palkein utha unki taraf dekha. "Mother used to say that in this entire world, if my father ever loved anyone the most, it was me.”

Unki ankhon mein ek alag si chamak aur khushi thi.

Aur unki batein sun mujhe mere Bappu ji yaad aa gaye kyu ki Bebe ji bhi aisa hi kehti thi mujhe.

Beta to nahi thi main par phir bhi Azeez bahut thi main mere Bappu ji ko.

“And Mother wanted me to give these final keepsakes of hers to my wife after marriage.” Unhone mera hath thamte hue kaha aur wo nilam ke heere wali anguthi meri ungali mein pehna di. “That’s what she wrote in her last letter.”

Main bas chup chap sun rahi thi unhein ek tak dekhte hue.

Unki khushi aur utsukta unki un gehri neeli aankhon mein saaf nazar aa rahi thi.

“Kya wo humari shadi ke bare mein nahi janti thi?” Maine dheere se pucha wo nayab angoothi ko dekhte hue kyu ke unki baton ne mere man mein jigyasa jha di thi.

Beshak mere pass gehno ki kami nahi hai kyu ke bappu ji ne shadi mein bahut genhe banwaye the mere liye jo unhone dur dur ke vayapariyo se banwae the aur Colonel Saab ne bhi mujhe ek bahut hi khubsurat manik ka har diya tha par ye angoothi aur motiyon ki mala behad khubsurat aur khas hai aur iske piche jude jazbaat bhi.

Beshak ab Bebe ji ke gehne bhi mere hi hain unke Jane ke baad par unhein dekh mujhe unki yaad aati hai aur dil dukhta hai to kya Colonel Saab ko bhi aisa hi mehsoos hoga?

“I never got the chance earlier, and when I finally sent the letter, it probably reached too late; she had already gone.” Unhone meri taraf dekhte hue kaha aur mujhe mere khayalon se bahar nikala.

Unki ankhon mein nami thi par unhone ek muskan ke sath mere hath jo unke hath mein tha us angoothi ko apne angoothe se dheere se sehlate hue kaha, “Little jewel, I want you to always wear this and keep my mother's memories alive….for me.” Unhone jab un umeed bhari nazron se meri aur dekha aur pucha, “Can you do that much for me?”

Main inkar na saki aur maine dheere se sar hilaya aur unke chehre ki muskan aur badi ho gayi.

Main to soch rahi thi ushe shayad uski maa yaad aaye aur unhe dukh ho, par wo to ise har pal dekhna chahte the.

Toh itna toh main kar hi sakti hu unke liye.

“Par main samjhi nahi. Mera matlab aapne bataya kyu nahi unhein apki… Mera matlab humari shadi ke bare mein?” Maine phir se pucha jo swal mere zehan mein ghoom raha hai.

Tabhi ek hawa ka jhonka yun aya ke mere sar se dupatta utar gaya aur mere balon ne mera chehra chupa liya.

Is se pehle ke main apne baal hata sakti, unhone dheere se mere baal mere chehre se hatate hue mere kaan ke piche kiye aur dupatta dubara mere sar par rkha.

Wo itne kareeb the ke meri saanse hi teez ho gayi jab unki garam saason ki hawa mujhe mere chehre par mehsoos hui aur waha se bas bhagne hi wali thi, “Rehne dijiye agar apko nahi batana toh. Main toh bas aise hi…..”

“No Heer, you have every right. And for the first time, you're actually asking me for something.” Unhone mujhe tokte hue kaha aur main wahi baithi rahi.

"After our marriage was fixed and the Great War had ended, on the morning of our wedding, I was writing a letter to my parents when I received the news that my father had been martyred in the war. After that, I never found the strength to complete the letter to my mother. I was scared; how could I tell her that the husband she was waiting for would never return? And amidst such a profound grief, how could I possibly share the biggest happiness of my life?

Other than my father and I, no one knew where my mother was. So I chose not to tell her at all. At least she would continue to live in the hope that one day her husband would return.

But then… when I saw what happened at Jallianwala Bagh, when I saw how you lost everything, I realized just how much you needed a mother’s love in that moment. That’s when I decided to resign and go to my mother. But neither was my resignation accepted, nor was I allowed to leave Hindustan.

Before leaving for Kashmir, I completed the letter to my mother and posted it… but that letter will never reach her now. I wanted to call her here, but I couldn't because of the war; there were restrictions on travel, and she wasn’t of the age to make such a long journey alone either."

Unki batein sun kar mein hamesha ki tarah dang thi. Har paristhiti mein ye hamesha mere bare mein pehle sochte hain.

Itni mohabbat koi kaise kar sakta hai kisi ko? Wo bhi niswarth?

Har lamha har din mere dil mein unke liye izzat jahan badhti rehti hai wahi unki hukumat ke liye nafrat bhi hai.

Kya is nafrat ki jung mein mujhe bhi in se mohabbat hone lagi hai?

Unhone ek khat meri aur kiya, “Read this.”

Maine kanpte hathon se wo chithi unke hath se li aur khamoshi se padhi,

My dearest boy, Henry,

If you are reading this, then I am gone to be by your father’s side.

Yes, my darling, I know he is no more. Did you really think that hiding your sorrow from the world would hide it from me? I am your mother.

And more than that, I was Thomas’s wife. Even if he left silently, I felt it.

When two hearts are bound by love, they know each other’s silence, even across time and distance.

So now, my child, don’t mourn me and smile.

Because I am no longer alone, your father is with me again.

And you... you must not walk alone either.

You once told me about a brave girl—a lioness, you called her.

Marry her.

Do not waste time. Love her, protect her, and build a life that is yours.

Wherever you go, live happily. That is all I ever wanted.

When you meet my daughter, give her these small tokens from me: The pearl necklace that once belonged to my mother. A symbol of blessings and tears.

And this sapphire ring... the one your father gave me when you were born, because of your deep blue eyes.

You know how much they meant to me.

Let them now live with you so that through them, your father and I may always remain in your memories.

Smile for us, Henry.

Carry our love with you, beyond seas, beyond sorrows.

Let my strength be your light.

With all my love,

Your Mother,

Lily Caldwell

Wo khat padhte padhte kab meri aakhon se ansuon ki dhara beh nikli, main nahi janti.

Wo log jinhe main janti bhi nahi thi milna toh dur ki baat hai unka gham mujhe andar se tod raha hai aakhir kyun?

Kyon ki wo Colonel Saab ke mata pita hai. Ye colonel saab ka dukh hai jise mera dil bhi utna hi mehsoos kar raha hai jitna ki wo.

Maine apni bheegi palkein utha jab unhe dekha wo bas khamoshi se mujhe dekh rahe the.

“Colonel Saab!” Mere kanpte honthon se bas yahi nikla aur unhone ne bina kuch kahe mujhe bahon mein khinch liya.

Maine bhi apne bahein unki caho aur kas li.

“Wo hamesha hamare dil mein rahenge.” Maine apna chehra seene mein chupa liya aur unka chehra mere sar ke upar tha.

Maa baap khone ka gham hum dono seh rahe the aur shayad yeh gham hi tha jo ab mujhe unke kareeb la ra tha.

"I can’t promise, Heer, that I’ll always be able to keep you happy… But I can promise that I’ll always walk beside you, as your companion in every joy, every sorrow.”

Mere dil se bas ek hi jawab nikla. “Hum dono kaafi hain ek dusre ke liye, Colonel Saab.”

Aur is pal Lahore ki us shaant chat par, do dilon ne be-zubaan si misaaq kar li thi.

Us raat ke baad kuch badla tha hum dono ke beech.

Dard ab bhi tha, par us dard ke saaye mein ek naya rishta panap raha tha.

Ek rishta jo lafzon ka mohtaaj nahi tha... sirf nazron, thapkiyon, khamoshiyon aur choti choti baaton se jeeta ja raha tha.

Garmiyan puri tarah se khatam to nahi hui thi, par barsatein is baar jaldi aa gayi thi aur Lahore ki ye pehli barsat thi hum dono ke hi liye.

Ek shaam wo ghar aate aate puri tarah bheeg chuke the. Main bhag kar unke liye sukha kapda layi unka sar ponchne ke liye aur unhe dante hue kaha, “Kya aap thodi der wahi daftar mein intezar nahi kar sakte the barish ke rukne ka? Ab dekhiye, sardi lag jayegi apko aur main keh rahi hun, main apko koi na dawa dungi na apka khyal rakhungi. Bahut ziddi ho gaye hai na aap. Kaha to aap se mana jata nahi.”

Main unhein dant rahi thi aur wo mahashay hamesha ki tarah dant nikal rahe the.

Uff, Rabba ji!

Ye admi kabhi kabhi mujhe pagal lagta hai.

‘Haan, pagal to hai. Tumhare ishq mein.’

Mere adhar se ek awaz aayi, aur main to apni soch par hi sharam se laal ho gayi aur bahana bana, wah se bhaag gayi.

“Little jewel! What happened?” Wo mujhe piche se pukar rahe the, par main ruki nahi.

Thodi der baad kamre mein jab unke liye chai layi, toh dekha wo ek bheegi hui kitab ko sukha rahe the.

Maine chai table par rakhte hue pucha, “Ye gili kaise ho gayi?”

“I was looking for this in the library for you when the weather suddenly turned bad. I thought I’d reach home quickly, but it started raining on the way, and we both got drenched.” Unhone ne kitab dikhate hue kaha aur main has padi.

“Aap bhi na, Colonel Saab! Pagal hain pure…aah…” Main chonk gayi aur mere muh se nikla meri baat beech mein rokte hue aur sanse aur tez ho gayi jab unhone achanak se meri kalai tham Mujhe apni aur khincha aur dheemi si awaz mein kaha,

“Completely drowned in your love.”

Maine sharam mei nazre jhuka li aur unhone apni ungliyon se mera chehra thoda upar kiya taki main unki gehri nili akhon mein dekh sakun.

Mera dil zor zor se dhadakne laga tha aur saanse bhi ukadne lagi.

Ye ab nayi baat nahi thi.

Colonel Saab Ab koi moka nahi chodte hai mujhe yun chedne mein.

Maine unhein dheere se dhaka diya aur khilkhilati hui karne se bahr bhaag gayi.

“Heer! Heer! Come back here!”

Wo piche se awazein laga rahe the par main nahi ruki.

Rasoi mein jakar maine apne dhadhkte dil par hath rakha aur mere labon par halki si muskan aa gayi.

Ek jeevan saathi ka zindagi mein hona itna bhi bura nahi hai. Agar wo aisa samjhne wala aur tut kar chahne wala ho, wo bhi bina kisi swarth ke.

Raat ke khane ke baad mein jab wo bistar par baithe apna sara kam nipatne ke baad maine wo kitab jo wo laye the mere liye unke hath mein rakh di, “Aap padhenge mere liye?” Maine pucha.

“Sure, sweethe…..”

“Heer.” Maine unhe tokte hue kaha.

“I'll try next time, darling.” Unhone mazakiya andaz mein kaha kitab kholte hue aur mera muh khula ka khula reh gaya.

“Ek baat puchu?” Maine utsukta se pucha.

“Of course.” Unhone safe palette hue kaha.

“Aap urdu aur hindi bahut achi bol toh lete hi hai kya aap ko padhni bhi aati hai?”

"Teach me; maybe I’ll even learn how to read it.” Unhone ne muskurate hue kaha.

Aur maine gehri soch ka natak karte hue kaha, “Dekhna padega ke mere pass waqt hai ya nahi aur apne pati se puchna bhi padega. Agar wo naraz ho gaye toh?”

“Why would he be upset, after all?” Unhone ne bhi mere mazak ko badhawa dete hue anjan hokar pucha.

“Ab kya bataun bahut sanki mizaaj ke angrez afsr hain. Kya pata kis baat par bigad jaein?” Maine ek gehri saans lene ka natak karte hue kaha aur unki aankhein hairani mein badi ho gayi.

“Is that what you think about me?” Unhone pucha aur main has has kar apna pait pakad kar lout pout ho gayi unke ye hairani bhare bhav dekh kar.

Mujhe yun hasta dekh wo bhi hasne lage.

Phir unhone kitab padhna shuru ki. Main wahi unke paas baithi thi, aur mujhe nahi pata kab sunte sunte meri aankh lag gayi.

Aur agli subah jab aankh khuli, toh dekha main unke kandhe par sar rakh, sari raat soti rahi hun, aur wo bhi mere bagal mein baithe baithe hi so gaye.

Maine apna sar dheere se utha kar jab sota hua shant chehra dekha to ek alag sa sukun tha us subha mein.

Aur unke bikhre ghungrale baal unke mathe par bahut haseen lag rahe the. Jo maine pehli baar dhyan diya jis din se humari shadi hui hai ke unke ghungrale baal kitne jachte hai in par.

Apni baatein soch kar main pagalo ki tarah muskura rahi thi jab wo thoda sa hile aur ghabra kar main waise hi akhein band kar unke kandhe par sar rakh sone ka natak karne lagi.

Wo uthne wale the aur main achanak se ghabra gayi thi ke kya karu. Toh jo mujhe samjh aya maine wahi Kiya.

“I know you are awake.” Unhone apni subha ki bhari awaz mein kaha aur meri akhein achanak se khuli to maine dekha ek pyari si muskan labon par liye wo pehle hi unki neeli aankhon se mujhe dekh rahe the.

Aur hamesha ki tarah mere dil ne mera sath chhod zor zor se dhadakna shuru kar diya aur main bistar se chalang lagakar kamre se bahar bhaag gayi aur piche kamre mein se unke hasne ki awazein bahr tak aa rahi thi, jisne mere labon par bhi halki si muskan laa di.

Aise hi chote chote palon mein waqt guzar raha tha. Hum dono dheere dheere age badhne lage the.

Ek patni to apna farz nibha hi rahi thi, ab ek beti ki bari thi. Maine Colonel Saab se baat ki Amritsar jane ki aur unhone kaha wo chuti ke liye aavedan denge aur hum jald Amritsar jaenge.

Ek raat jab wo kitab ki kuch pangtiyaan padh kar ruk gaye, toh maine unke kandhe se apna sar tikaya aur aankhen band kar ke unki awaaz mein kho gayi.

Ab na jaane kyu mujhe unke paas hi sukoon sa milta hai aur main dheere dheere puri tarah se unse ghulne milne bhi lagi hun ab aur us subha ke baad na hi hichkichati hun ab unke kandhe par sar rkhane se.

Aur kyu hi hichkichaun? Mere pati hai, Colonel Saab.

"Do you like falling asleep to the sound of my voice?” Unhone dheere se pucha kitab band karte hue.

Maine aankhen khole bina kaha, “Bahut zyada. Ismein ek ajeeb si tasalli hai… Jaise koi kahani meri rooh tak utar rahi ho.”

Unhone ek halka sa hansi bhara sans liya. "Then, in the next life, should I just become a storyteller?”

“Sirf mere liye,” maine dheere se kaha.

Wo raat pehli baar thi jab maine unka haath pakad kar usmein apni ungliyaan phansa di. Kya pata, shayad un raaton mein jab duniya badal rahi hoti hai, kuch dil bhi khamoshi se apni jagah dhoond lete hain.

Agli subah unhone mujhe chhat par bulaya.

Main jab upar pahunchi, toh dekha, chhat ke ek kone mein ek chhoti si mez aur kursi rakhi thi, aur ek blackboard laga hua tha. Saath hi do chalk aur kuch Urdu, Punjabi aur Hindi ki kitaabein padhi thi.

“Yeh sab kya hai?” Main hairan ho kar boli.

“I told you that I wanted to learn Urdu and Hindi. So I turned this rooftop into your classroom. And yes, to keep the teacher in a good mood, you will also get a steaming hot cup of tea every day too.

Main khilkhila kar hasne lagi. “Apko kya lagta hai, colonel saab, aap sirf ek cup chai ki rishwat se mana lenge mujhe? Bahut sakht adhyapika hun main.”

Unhone aankh maar kar kaha, “And if I don’t do my homework? Will you deduct my marks, Mrs. Caldwell?”

Maine ek chalk uthayi aur kaha board par apna naam theek se likhte hue, “Nahi. Pehle naam sahi seekhna hoga. Heer Henry Caldwell.”

Kyu ke unhone sirf Heer likha hua tha tooti fhooti si Punjabi mein.

Wo hans diye. “Yes, ma’am.”

Aur usi pal se hamari subah ka ek naya silsila shuru ho gaya. Har din ek naya akshar, har din unki masoomiyat bhari angrezi aur meri hassi se bhara hota.

Ek din unhone Urdu ka ‘Ishq’ likha…

Aur neeche likha, “Only for you.”

Main kuch keh nahi payi… Sirf muskurayi, aur unka haath pakad kar usi chalk se unke naam ke saath apna naam likh diya aur Lahore ke asmaan ke neeche kuch rishte khamoshi se itihas likhne lage the.

Is se pehle wo kuch kehte main waha se sharma kar niche bhaag gayi.

Ab khamoshi ke ye chote chote pal bahut kuch kehne lage hain hum dono ke beech.

Ek din shaam der tak kheench gayi thi. Lahore ke aasman par baadal garaj rahe the, lekin barish abhi tak thami nahi thi. Main baramde mein khamoshi se baithe colonel saab ka intezaar kar rahi thi. Aaj din bhar maine unhe ek baar bhi nahi dekha tha, na hi koi khabar aayi thi.

Wo aaj daftar se late aane wale the, ye toh unhone kaha tha... par itni der?

“Kya koi meeting lambi ho gayi hogi? Ya rasta band ho gaya hoga barish ki wajah se?” Maine apne aap se kehkar khud ko tasalli deni chahi.

Raat barasat ke sath aur gehri hoti gayi. Saare naukar apne kamron mein ja chuke the, aur pura bangla ek ajeeb si sannate mein doob gaya tha.

Maine abhi abhi apne liye chai banayi hi thi, jab mujhe laga jaise kisi ne haveli ke peeche ke darwaze ko dhakka diya ho.

Main ek pal ke liye ruk gayi.

Shaayad billi hogi… Ya koi naukar kuch bhul gaya ho.

Lekin agle hi pal… Ek kadmon ki halki si aahat sunai di.

Mera dil zor se dhadak utha.

Maine chai ka cup rakh diya, dupatta sambhalte hue saamne wale sehn ki taraf badhi, jahan se awaz aayi thi.

“Colonel Saab?” Maine dheere se pukara.

Koi jawab nahi aaya.

Maine phir kaha, “Colonel Saab? Agar aap mazak kar rahe hain, toh main sach mein gussa ho jaungi!”

Ab mera gala sukhne laga tha.

Main ghar mein akeli thi aur yun angrez afsran ke gharon mein ghus paith ka mamla to vaise hi aam sa ho gaya tha.

Tabhi peechhe se kisi ne halki si khidki ka parda hila diya. Maine palat kar dekha, aur ek parchai jaisi koi cheez mere kamre ke andar jhaank rahi thi.

Mera kaleja moonh ko aa gaya.

Ye colonel saab toh nahi ho sakte… Wo hamesha samne se aate hain… Bina awaaz kiye nahi rehte.

Maine himmat jutaayi.

Dheere se kamre ke andar kadam rakha. Saari batiyaan bujhi thi, sirf ek kone mein dia jala tha.

Tabhi kisi ne mere peechhe se darwaza bandh kar diya.

Maine ghabra kar palat kar dekha, aur ek chehra… jo Henry ka nahi tha.

Ye chehra main yun is tarah se dekhungi ye to maine socha hi nahi tha.

Mere hath paun kanpne lage aur apani akhon par yakeen nahi hua.

“Tum?” Mere honthon se bas itna hi nikla. “Tum zinda ho!”

Wo chehra thoda aur saamne aaya, chaandni ki halke roshni mein uski shakal saaf dikhi…

Nooran.