Author

Henry bahut khush tha ke dheere dheere Heer usse ghulne milne lagi hai. Uske liye Heer ki fikr ne uske dil mein nayi umeed si bhar di thi us raat.

Dono mein baat-cheet hone lagi thi, beshak wo rajneetik hi kyun na ho.

Shaam ko kaam se lautte waqt, roz ki tarah Henry Heer ke liye gur ki gajak le ghar ki taraf chala aa raha tha jab usne door se dekha kisi ko uski biwi ki kalai thaamte.

Henry ka khoon khaul utha. Jo bhi uske haath mein tha, sab wahi gusse mein phek diya aur tez kadmon se uss taraf badha.

Isse pehle ki Henry us aadmi ko uski aukaat dikha sakta, us aadmi ne Heer ka naam liya—iska matlab tha ki wo Heer ko jaanta tha.

Henry wahi ruk gaya. Usne kuch nahi kaha, kyunki wo apni biwi ka tamasha yun sareaam raste mein nahi lagana chahta tha.

Jaise hi Heer mudi, uski nazar seedha Henry par padi. Lekin Henry ki nigahen bas Heer ki kalai par tikki thi—jo uske bajaye kisi aur ke haath mein thi.

Heer ne turant apna haath chhudaya, lekin Gurbaksh ne bhi kuch nahi kaha. Henry ki awaaz sunte hi wo bhi chonk gaya tha.

"Colonel Saab!" Heer ne dheemi si awaaz mein pukara, jaise ki wo apni pakeezgi ki dastaan kehna chahti ho.

Lekin Henry ke chehre par koi pratikriya nahi thi. Na gussa, na shaq, na narazgi—kuch bhi nahi.

Henry ne bas ek gehri nazar Heer par daali aur bina ek shabd kahe palat gaya.

Heer ka dil ek pal ke liye thama, par jaise hi usne Henry ko ghar ki taraf badhte dekha, wo bhi uske peeche bhagne hi wali thi ke Gurbaksh ne usse awaaz lagai.

"Heer, meri baat toh suno—"

"Bas!" Heer usse gusse mein tokte hue mudi. Uski aankhon mein gussa tha. "Bas! Es badtameezi layi main ek thapad vi maar sakdi si. Par meri nazran ch ek izzat si thode layi, isto ilawa kuch vi nahi. Na main kade thonu koi galat asra dita. Eho ji koi harkat main bardasht nahi karangi…. (Is badtameezi ke liye main tumhe ek thappad bhi maar sakti thi. Lekin meri nazron mein ek izzat hi thi tumhare liye, iske alawa kuch bhi nahi. Na maine kabhi tumhe koi galat asra diya hai. Ye gatiya harkat main bardasht nahi karungi…..)”

"Heer, tum galat samajh rahi ho. Mujhe tumhari madad chahiye." Gurbaksh ne tokte hue kaha.

Uski awaaz mein dard tha.

Lekin Heer ki aankhon mein sirf gussa. "Main aapki kisi baat mein nahi aane wali. Durr rahiye meri zindagi se! Shadi shuda hoon main."

Heer ne uski baat ko puri tarah nazarandaaz kar diya aur seedha ghar ki taraf bhagi.

Gurbaksh ki is harkat ne use uski hi nazron mein gira diya hai. Akhir ek aurat ke liye uski izzat hi toh sab kuch hoti hai aur Gurbaksh ki wajah se aaj wahi uske pati ke samne dag dar ho gayi hai.

Ghar mein aate hi usne dekha ki Henry apni rozmarra ki aadat ke mutabik coat utaar kar hanger par latka raha tha—jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Har din ki tarah apne jooton ke tasme khole aur palang ke paas rakh diye.

Par aaj Heer ko ye sannata ajeeb lag raha tha.

Wo kuch zyada hi shaant tha.

Jo kuch abhi abhi hua, usse dekhne ke baad bhi aisa rawaiya… Heer ko darra raha tha.

Aur jitni der wo shaant rehta, Heer ka darr utna hi badhta ja raha tha.

“Colonel Saab!” Heer ne dheemi awaz mein use pukara, par usne koi jawab nahi diya.

Henry dressing table ke saamne khada apni ghadi utar kar rakh raha tha, par Heer ko mehsoos ho raha tha jaise uski har harqat zyada hi thehri hui ho—jaise uske andar koi toofaan umad raha ho jo bas kisi bhi pal phat padne wala ho.

Uska dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha aur hath paseene se tar ho rahe the.

“Colonel Saab!” Heer ne phir use pukara, is baar thoda aage badhte hue.

Lekin Henry ne koi jawab nahi diya. Heer ki ankhen nam ho gayi. Henry ki khamoshi use darra rahi hai aur uske darr ko aur pakka sabit kar rahi hai par usne phir bhi himmat jutate hue pucha, “Aap naraz hain?”

Par Henry ab bhi shaant tha.

Uske haath thehar gaye the, par usne apna chehra ab bhi samne aayine ki taraf rakha hua tha, jaise Heer ki taraf dekhne se bach raha ho.

Heer ka galaa sukhne laga. Usne kabhi Henry ko gusse mein nahi dekha tha. Aaj bhi wo chilaye ya kuch kahe, usse ye zyada bechain kar raha tha ke wo bas shant tha.

"Aap kuch bol kyun nahi rahe?" Heer ki awaz thodi tez ho gayi. Uski bechaini badhti hi ja rahi thi. “Chilaa lijiye, sawal kijiye, chahe toh ilzam tarazi kar lijiye. Par is tarah khamosh toh na rahiye.”

Is baar Henry ne dheere se saans bhari, jaise apne gusse ko daba raha ho.

Usne ghadi utar sheeshe ke samne rakh di aur dheere se muda.

Tabhi usne pehli baar Heer ki taraf dekha.

Aur uski gehri neeli aankhon mein woh shaant samundar nahi tha jo Heer har din dekhti thi.

Aaj waha ek ajeeb si thandak thi.

Ek aisi thandak jo Heer ko aur bhi zyada dara rahi thi.

Heer ne Henry ki aankhon mein dekha, par waha sirf ek gehra sannata tha—na gussa, na ilzaam, bas ek aisi thandak jo Heer ko aur zyada bechain kar rahi thi.

“Aap jaisa samajh rahe hain vaisa kuch bhi nahi hai.” Heer ne halki si bechaini ke sath kaha.

Henry ne bas ek pal ke liye usse dekha, phir apni nazar hata li.

"Then you tell me what I should understand." Henry ne pucha. Uski awaaz ab bhi utni hi shant thi jaise ke kuch hua hi na ho.

Par Henry hi janta tha uske andar kya selab umad raha hai aur wo khud ko kis tarah rok kar baitha hai.

Heer uski zindagi hai bhale hi Heer use kuch na samjhe par uske liye Heer uska sab kuch hai.

Aur jo usne aaj dekha wo use pagal kar raha hai.

Ye keh kar na usne kuch aur pucha na Heer ka jwab sunane ki zehmat ki aur kamre se bahr jane hi wala tha ke Heer ne uska hath tham use rok liya.

“Mujhe meri daleed tak pesh karne ka moka bhi nahi denge?” Heer ne kanpati awaz mein pucha.

Uska dimag chilla raha tha ke woh Henry ko koi jawab dene ki zimmedar nahi hai, lekin uska dil—jo ab ek biwi ka hai—baar-baar use apni begunahi sabit karne ko keh raha tha.

Woh nahi chahti thi ke Henry use bewafa samjhe. Kyunki chahe ye shadi uski marzi se na hui ho, par phir bhi Henry uska pati hai. Aur ek ladki, khaaskar ek Hindustani ladki, ko yahi sikha kar bada kiya jata hai.

Heer chahe dil se Henry ko apna jeevan saathi na samjhti ho, lekin uska zameer jaanta hai ke ab zindagi bhar Henry ki jagah kabhi kisi aur ko nahi mil sakti.

Ab jo bhi hai, uska jeevan saathi toh wahi hai.

Henry dheere se uski aur mudha aur kaha, “Look, Heer, I know that your consent was not involved in this marriage, and that’s why I never pressured you to accept me…”

“Jaanti hoon,” Heer ne use kapkapaati hui awaz mein beech mein hi tokte hue kaha.

“Then you tell me, with what right should I question you when you haven’t even accepted me as your husband yet?” Henry ne ek thandi si awaaz mein kaha.

Lekin Heer chup thi. Uske paas ab koi jawab nahi tha.

Haan, wo apni mitti se mohabbat karti hai, lekin wo andhi bhi nahi hai.

Jis din se uski Henry se shaadi hui hai, usne ek baat ache se samajh li hai—Henry kisi bhi doosre angrez afsar jaisa nahi hai. Aur wo apne is rawaiye se, insaniyat ke nate hi sahi, ek bhale aadmi ke saath nainsaafi kar rahi hai.

Heer ne ek pal ke liye Henry ko dekha. Uski aankhon mein uss jawab ki talaash thi jo shayad uska apna dil bhi nahi de sakta tha. Henry ki awaaz shaant thi, lekin uski thandak Heer ke andar ek ajeeb si bechaini bhar rahi thi.

“Then you tell me what I should understand,” Henry ne phir kaha.

Aur is baar uski nigah seedha Heer par tik gayi. Lekin usmein wo narmi nahi thi jo Heer har din dekhti thi—sirf ek gehra, thehra hua jazba tha. Na gussa, na dard—sirf ek thandak jo Heer ke rom-rom ko suuna kar rahi thi.

“Do I really have the right to ask?”

“Bilkul hai,” Heer ne apni bhari aankhon se jawab diya.

Henry ne ek dard bhari muskaan ke saath bas halka sa sir hilaya.

Aur Heer ka dil toot gaya.

“I don’t have any right. The day you truly accept this relationship—and me—as your husband from your heart… Only then will I have any right to question you. Until then, I have none.”

Bade bhari dil se ye keh kar Henry wahan se jaane hi wala tha ke Heer ne ek kadam aage badhaya.

“Main kabhi bhi kisi dusre mard ko…”

“It is not about another man, Heer,” Henry ne beech mein hi keh diya. “It is about you. It’s about us. Where are we?”

Heer chup thi. Uske paas ab bhi koi jawaab nahi tha. Lekin ek baat tay thi—abhi, iss waqt, uske liye sabse zaroori tha apni begunahi sabit karna.

“Meri baat samajhne ki koshish toh kijiye…”

“I know that man is from Amritsar. I have seen him multiple times in the market and the library. So don’t deny that you don’t know him.”

“Inkaar nahi kar rahi hoon. Bas... kam se kam meri baat toh suniye. Woh sirf mujhe kuch kehne aaya tha—sirf itna hi. Maine khud uska haath hata diya tha.”

Henry bas dekhta raha—jaise Heer ki baat sun toh raha ho, lekin usse maanna mushkil ho raha ho.

“Agar aapko mujh par bharosa nahi, toh aap kisi se bhi puch sakte hain aisa kuch nahi hai humare beech! Bappu ji se, Nooran se ya phir Iqbal chacha se puch lijiye. Bachpan se jante hai wo mujhe.” Heer ki awaaz mein ab ghabraahat thi. “Main pakiza hoon. Maine is rishte ko kabhi dhokha nahi diya hai.”

Heer ne Henry ki aankhon mein dekha.

Pehli baar usse mehsoos hua ke ye sirf shak ya narazgi nahi thi—ye us bharose ki baat thi jo Henry ne uske saath jeena chaha tha.

“Mujh par bharosa kijiye, Colonel Saab. Jaanti hoon... kabhi aapko moka nahi diya maine. Par mujhe Sahib ki kasam—main jhooth nahi bol rahi hoon. Mujhe nahi pata tha woh yahan kya kar raha tha. Usne sirf kaha ke use meri madad chahiye. Kyu aur kis baat ki, main nahi jaanti. Main toh uski baat bhi poori nahi sun paayi.”

Henry ne usse dekha—jaise uski baat ko tol raha ho.

Phir bas ek halka sa sir hilaya aur kamre se bahar chala gaya.

Lekin Heer jaanti thi—Henry sirf keh raha tha.

Uska bharosa ab waisa nahi tha jaisa pehle tha aur ye soch uske dil ko aur gehre dukh se bhar gayi.

Henry kamre se bahar aaya aur apne liye ek gilaas mein jaam bhar kar apni study mein jaake baith gaya.

Uska dil Heer par kabhi shaq nahi kar sakta tha, lekin usne jo apni aankhon se dekha—use bhool paana uske liye aasaan bhi nahi tha.

Yahan aaye use jitna bhi waqt hua ho, wo ek baat achhi tarah jaan gaya tha—ke yahan ki sanskriti aisi nahi hai jahan koi bhi gair mard yunhi kisi aurat ka haath thaamne ki himmat kar le.

Aur wo aadmi... jise Henry ne hamesha usi waqt ke aaspaas library mein dekha tha—jab Heer wahan jaya karti thi... toh ab wo khud ko kaise samjhaaye?

Ek gair admi jo uski biwi ko pehle se janta bhi hai aur uska haath tak thamne ki himmat rakhta hai ye baat use pagal bana rahi hai.

Admi bhale hi kitna bhi acha ho ek baar agar shak ka beej rishte mein panap jaye wo darar toh akhir daal hi jata hai.

Wahi Heer ne Henry ke jaane ke baad khud ko sambhalne ki koshish ki lekin ansun uski ankhon se rukne ka naam hi nahi le rahe the.

Uska dil bas ek hi kashmakash mein doob raha tha—Kya Henry ne uski baaton par vishwas nahi kiya?

Woh jaanti thi ki Henry ka gussa uski khamoshi mein chhupa tha, lekin jo baat usse tod rahi thi, woh tha uska vishwas... jo ab uski aankhon mein kahin dikh nahi raha tha.

Raat ke khaane ke waqt Henry ne kuch nahi khaya. Heer ne bahut baar bulaya, par usne sirf ek baat kahi, “I’m not hungry.”

Heer ka dil chah raha tha ki wo jaakar Henry ke saamne baith jaaye, uski aankhon mein aankhon daal kar apni baat rakh de. Par Henry ki woh thandi si doori usse baar-baar peeche kheench rahi thi.

Dusri taraf Henry apni study mein akela baitha, jaam ke ghoont bharte hue ek hi sawal se joojh raha tha—Kya woh Heer par vishwas kare ya apni aankhon par?

Uske andar ek jung si chal rahi thi.

Uska pyaar, uska bharosa, uski mohabbat—sab kuch us ek tasveer ke aage jaise dhundla pad gaya tha.

Usne ek purani diary kholi, jisme wo Heer ki chhoti chhoti baatein likhi thi jab se usne use pehli baar dekha tha—uski muskurahat, uska gussa, uski maasoomiyat.

Par har ek panno ke beech aaj woh tasveer chap aayi thi—jahan Heer kisi aur ke saath dikhayi di thi.

Uska mann keh raha tha, Heer jhooth nahi bol sakti.

Par uski aankhen keh rahi thi, Tumne khud dekha hai, Henry. Tumhare samne hua sab kuch.

Aur phir uski maa ki ek baat yaad aayi—

"Trust is not what we see, but what we choose to believe, even when the vision blurs."

Usne jaam ka gilaas table par rakha aur apne sir ko dono haathon se pakad liya. Uska dil cheekh raha tha, Mujhe Heer par vishwas karna hai... mujhe karna chahiye...

Isi soch mein dooba wo baitha tha, jab use Heer ki payal ki halki si jhankaar sunai di. Wo jaanta tha, wo aayi hai — par Henry ne apna sar utha kar uski taraf nahi dekha.

Heer uski kursi ke paas zameen par baith gayi aur dheere se use pukara. Lekin Henry ki aankhen ab bhi band thi, aur uska sar uske haathon mein daba tha.

Heer ka dil dheere dheere sehmta ja raha tha, lekin phir bhi usne himmat jutai aur apna kaanpta hua haath Henry ke ghutne par rakha.

Henry ne uski taraf dekha, lekin Heer ki surkh aankhon mein aansuon ki chamak dekh kar uska dil chhil sa gaya.

“Kuch kehna hai... jo aaj tak khud se bhi nahi kaha,” Heer ne dheere se kaha, “kyunki zaroori nahi samjha tha. Lekin aaj aapki aankhon mein shaq dekha, to laga... shayad aapko ye batane se aapke dil ko pur sukoon mil jaye.”

Henry ne koi jawaab nahi diya, par Heer bhi chup nahi huyi.

“Gurbaksh Singh mujhe pasand karta tha,” Heer ke labon se jaise hi ye alfaaz nikle, Henry ne apni muthi kas li. Heer ne wo bhi dekh liya. Foran usne apni begunahi bayaan karte hue kaha, “Lekin main nahi. Kabhi bhi nahi. Usne kabhi khud mujhse ye baat nahi ki, warna main uska muh tod chuki hoti. Mere dil mein uske liye kabhi kuch nahi tha. Mere liye toh hamesha se Bappu ji ka faisla hi sabse ahem tha aur unhone aap ko chuna mere liye. Na maine kabhi usse koi umeed di, na koi vada. Bas aankhon mein sirf izzat thi, aur kuch bhi nahi. Main kasam khati hoon, Colonel saab... mujhe Sahib ki kasam. Aap jaante hain, wo mere liye kya hai — main kabhi uski jhoothi kasam nahi khaungi. Mera yakeen kijiye. Maine aap ko koi dhokha nahi diya hai.”

Heer ne apni baat uske saamne rakh di.

Henry bas chup chaap usse dekhta raha, aur Heer ka dil ghabraane laga — kahin usne apna dil khol kar Henry ko aur zyada naraz toh nahi kar diya?

“Oh really?” Henry achanak bol utha, “So if I had come straight to ask for your hand, would you have broken my face too?”

Uske hothon par ek halki si muskaan thi. Pehle toh Heer hairaan reh gayi, lekin phir ek narmi se uske dil mein umeed jagi... shayad Henry ka vishwas ab bhi us par kayam hai.

Heer kuch pal ke liye usse takti rahi, jaise uski baaton ka matlab samajhne ki koshish kar rahi ho. Phir dheere se muskaraayi—ek kamzor si muskaan, jisme thoda sa sukoon tha, thoda sa dard.

“Shaayad tod deti,” usne halka sa jawab diya, “Kyon ki shaadi ek aisa rishta tha mere liye jisme vaise toh main bandhna nahi chati thi par lekin agar mujhe bandhna padta bhi toh main mere baap ki marzi ke khilaaf jakar nahi karti. Unki izzat bahut ahem hai mere liye.”

Henry uski aankhon mein dekhta raha. Ab uske chehre par pehle jaisa sannaata nahi tha—ab wahan ek gehri samajh thi, ek tasalli thi.

“Then I should be thankful I asked your father for your hand instead.” Henry ne halki awaaz mein kaha Heer ka wo haath apne haath mein thamte hue jo uske ghutne par tha.

Heer ki sanse mano tham si gayi lekin usne apna haath uske haatho se chudwaya nahi is bar.

Kyu?

Wo nahi janti.

“Aap ab toh naraz nahi hai na?” Heer ne dheere se pucha.

“No, I was never angry with you, and I’m still not. Heer, sometimes things happen that are beyond our control, and that’s exactly what happened with me. My heart refused to believe that you could ever betray me, but my mind kept screaming that what I saw with my own eyes couldn’t be a lie.” Henry ne jawab diya.

Heer ke dil mein na jane kyu par hal chal si Hui uski batein sun kar. Use pehli baar ehsaas hua ke Henry ko us par andh vishwas hai aur wo uski kitna faida utha rahi hai.

Haa bhale hi wo bewafa nahi thi par jhooth to bol rahi thi na aur uski sena ke ahem bhed bhi pehle Amritsar mein apne sathiyon ko de chuki thi. Jis se ek bar Britishers ko bhari nuksan bhi hua tha.

“I trusted you before, and I still do. But sometimes… what the eyes see takes over the trust the heart holds.” Henry kehta chala gaya aur Heer ki aankhon se ek aur aansu nikal kar uske gaal par beh gaya. Henry ne apni ungliyon se us aansu ko pyaar se poncha.

“But if you hadn’t stopped me… maybe I would’ve ended up killing my own trust forever,” Henry ne dheere se kaha, “And I trust you more than I trust myself, Heer. When you say you didn’t do anything wrong, I believe you—because my Heer doesn’t know how to lie.”

Heer ne uski aankhon mein dekha—jahan ab wo thandak nahi thi… sirf ek shabd tha—vishwas. Aur uski aankhon se phir se aansuon ka silsila beh nikla.

Jhooth toh wo bol rahi thi aur bahut bada jhooth bol rahi thi.

Aaj Henry ki in baton ne aur uske is atoot vishwas ne Heer ko dara diya ke akhir agar ane wale waqt mein kabhi Henry ko uski asli sachai ke bare mein pata chala toh?

Henry dheere se uska haath apne labon ke paas laya aur use choomte hue kaha, “Today I realized that sometimes, to trust someone, you don’t need proof—just the voice of your heart is enough.”

Heer ke pure sharir mein mano bijli si dodh uthi jab Henry ne uska hath chuma usne turant apna hath sharmate hue Henry ke hath se chudwaya aur waha se bhaag gayi.

Ek halki si muskan Henry ke chehre par chaa gayi Heer ko yun sharmate dekh.

Agli subha….

Jab Heer gurughar se wapas ghar aayi, toh uski saansein ruk si gayi. Gurbaksh Singh, Iqbal ke saath khada tha… Henry ke saamne.

Kal raat sab kuch toh theek ho gaya tha… phir ye yahan kya kar raha hai? Heer ne socha.

Uska dil zor zor se dhadakne laga. Kal raat tak usne Henry par bharosa karna shuru kiya tha… lekin ab Gurbaksh ko yahan dekh kar uska vishwas dagmagane laga.

“Mrs. Caldwell!” Henry ne usse pyar se pukara, jab uski nazar Heer par padi, jo thoda door khadi thi.

Apne khayalon mein doobi Heer ne apne aap ko sambhala aur dheere kadam uthate hue Henry ki taraf badhi. Dil mein bechaini thi, kadam bojhal the.

“Ji,” Heer ne dheere se kaha—par usmein itni himmat nahi thi ke wo pas khade Gurbaksh ki taraf aankh utha kar bhi dekh sake.

Usse dar lag raha tha—ke kahin apne junoon mein aakar, Gurbaksh koi aisa kadam na utha le, jo uske inquilab ke sapne ko adhoora chhod de.

“He came to meet us,” Henry ne kaha, Gurbaksh ki taraf ishara karte hue—aur Heer ki bechaini aur bhi badh gayi.

Uske haath paon thande padne lage, lekin usne kisi tarah khud ko sambhale rakha—taaki na Iqbal ko kuch shaq ho, na Henry ko.

Heer ne apna dar apni bhari awaz mein bakhubi chupate hue pucha, “Kahiye Gurbaksh Bhaji kya baat hai?”

Heer ke muh se Gurbaksh ke liye bhai sun Henry ke chehre par ek dheemi si muskan aayi par usne use turant chupa liya.

“Dhiye, eh savere mere ghar aya si ke isne saab ji nu te tenu milna hai. (Beta, ye subha mere ghar aya tha ke ki ise tumse aur sahab se milna hai.)” Iqbal Ali ne kaha. “Kehnda si koi bahut jaruri kaam hai. (Keh raha tha ke koi bahut hi zaruri kaam hai.)”

Heer ne Henry ki taraf dekha jaise ki uski nigahon se ye ashwasan chahti ho ke use us par ab bhi yakeen hai.

Aur hua bhi aisa hi.

Henry ne use ek halki muskurahat di jaise ki use vishwas dila raha ho ke sab theek hai aur wo uske sath hai.

Heer ki saans mein saans toh aa gayi par Gurbaksh kya kehna chahta hai iska dar ab bhi uske dil mein hai.

Henry ne Iqbal ko wahan se jane ko kaha aur uske jane ke baad Gurbaksh se pucha, “Speak, young man—what is it that you want to say? What was so important that you dared to block my wife’s way yesterday?”

“Apni kal ki harkat ke liye maafi chahta hu.” Gurbaksh ne nazre jhukate hue kaha.

Gurbaksh ka chehra pehle se zyada uda sa lag raha tha. Uski aankhon mein bechaini aur thakaan dono thi—jaise raat bhar neend ki jagah sirf fikr ne li ho.

Usne Henry ki aankhon mein dekha, phir Heer ki taraf dekha… aur phir dheere se bola, “Mujhe apki madad chahiye…”

Heer ki saans rukh gayi. Gurbaksh kabhi is tarah nahi bola tha. Aaj uski awaaz mein ek alag hi tooti hui si vinamrta thi.

“Mere bhai… Ajmer Singh… British Indian Army mein Subedar hai… Frontier Province mein posted tha,” usne hichkichate hue shuru kiya. “Kuch dino pehle… patrolling ke dauraan unki tukdi ka sampark headquarters se toot gaya. Kaha ja raha hai wo ‘missing in action’ hain…”

Heer ne jhatke se uski taraf dekha. Gurbaksh ki aankhon mein aansuon ki chamak thi—lekin wo sambhal raha tha khud ko, bas mushkil se.

“Main Lahore isliye aaya hoon… kyunki Army Headquarters yahin hai. Main unke baare mein kuch bhi jaanna chahta hoon—kuch bhi,” uska gala bhar aaya. “Lekin meri koi nahi sunta… aur mujhe laga… Heer ke zariye main un tak pahunch sakta hoon apki madad se…”

Heer kuch kehne hi wali thi jab Henry ne peclearlyhle hi puchha, “And who is your brother’s commanding officer?”

“Colonel Morrison… ya shayad usse bhi upar koi. Main nahi janta.. main bas…” usne Heer ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, “Main chahta hoon tumhare pati meri madad karein.” aur phir Henry ki taraf muda aur apne hath jod kar us se vinati ki, “Colonel Sahib mere bhai ko dhundne main madad kare.”

Henry ne thoda socha, phir apni kursi se uth kar Gurbaksh ke samne aaya. Uske chehre par pehle jaise roshni nahi thi, lekin uski aankhon mein ek tahqiqat bhari shanti thi.

“Gurbaksh Singh,” Henry ne kaha, “I can understand your pain. The wait endured by a soldier’s family is the hardest kind of wait.” wo shabd sirf Gurbaksh ke liye nahi the.

Henry ye dard khud bhi seh chuka hai apne pita ke intezaar mein akhirkar.

Gurbaksh ne bas uski aankhon mein dekha, kuch nahi bola.

Henry ne dheere se Heer ki taraf dekha, jaise usse puchh raha ho ke kya use uski madad karni chahiye.

Heer ne bas apna sar halki si haan mein hila diya—aur aankhon se ek nazar mein woh sab keh diya jo shabdon se kehna mushkil tha.

Henry ne Gurbaksh ke kandhe par haath rakha, “I can have some inquiries made. But you’ll have to follow my lead. No one is going to act impulsively or do anything reckless—understood?”

Gurbaksh ne zor se haan mein sir hila diya. “Main kuch nahi karunga. Bas… bhai ko dhoondhne mein madad chahiye.”

Henry ne gusse aur thande vichar ke beech ki ek nazar us par dali, “Alright. I’ll get some information by tomorrow morning. Where are you staying here in Lahore?”

“Mere ek dost ke yahan,” usne jawab diya.

Henry ne haan mein sar hilaaya, “Fine. I’ll send for you.”

Gurbaksh ne ek gehri saans li, jaise pehli baar uska bojh kuch halka hua ho. Jaise hi wo jaane ke liye muda, usne aakhri baar Heer ki taraf dekha aur apne haath jod kar dheere se sir jhukaya—jaise kal ke liye maafi maang raha ho.

Heer ne dheere se sir hilaaya aur Gurbaksh chala gaya.

Heer ne Henry ki taraf dekha, lekin uske nazar ke saamne toh bas Gurbaksh ka bebas chehra tha. Uske mann mein ek khayaal ubhra, "Majboori aur bebasi aakhir insaan ko kahaan le aati hai..."

Wahi Gurbaksh Singh jo kabhi angrezon se nafrat karta tha, aaj ek angrez ke saamne haath jod kar apne bhai ke liye madad maang raha tha—sirf is umeed mein ke shayad koi raasta nikle.

Heer jaanti thi, Ajmer ke bina Gurbaksh adhoora hai. Ajmer sirf uska bhai nahi, uska sab kuch tha.

“Colonel Saab…” Heer ne dheere se use pukaara.

“Yes, my love?” Henry ne uski aur kadam badhaaye. Jaise hi usne woh do shabd kahe, Heer ki dhadkane ek baar phir se tez ho gayi.

“Aap Ajmer Bhaji ko dhoondh lenge na?” Heer ne kapkapaati hui awaaz mein puchha. “Woh bahut acche insaan hain… unko main bachpan se jaanti hoon…”

“Whatever is within my power, I will try my best,” Henry ne uska haath thaamte hue kaha.

Heer ki baat sun kar Henry ke dil mein Heer ke liye izzat aur bhi badh gayi—kaise kisi ka bhi dukh uske dil ko chhoo jata hai.

Kuch din beet gaye. Henry ne apne auhde ki taqat se pata toh laga liya… par khabar achhi nahi thi.

Usne Iqbal ko keh kar Gurbaksh ko ghar bulaaya. Jaise hi Gurbaksh pahuncha, usne dekha Heer bhi wahi Henry ke paas khadi thi. Aaj uski aankhon mein aansu the, aur woh Gurbaksh ko ek shanubhuti bhari nazar se dekh rahi thi.

Gurbaksh ko mehsoos ho gaya tha—jawab mil chuka hai. Par uske dil ne ab bhi ek chhoti si umeed thaami hui thi ke shayad yeh sab jhooth ho…

Pohanchte hi usne puchha, “Colonel Sahib, kuch pata chala mere bhai ke baare mein?”

Henry ne ek gehri saans li. Wo aage badha, apna haath uske kandhe par rakha aur kaha:

“I am sorry, gentleman. Your brother was martyred due to a childish dare. Some soldiers in his unit made a bet as a joke, and it ended up costing the lives of several men. To cover it up, those soldiers were declared 'missing in action'. I am deeply sorry for your loss. May God grant peace to your brother’s soul.”

Gurbaksh ke paon tale zameen khisak gayi. Uske hosh udaas ho gaye. Ek pal mein uski aankhon ka dard, gussa ban gaya aur wo chilla utha:

“Sharat? Ek bachkani sharat? Tum sab gore…”

“Gurbaksh!” Iqbal ne gusse bhari awaaz mein uski baat kaat di. “Zubaan sambhaal kar baat kar! Tujhe pata hai tu kis ke samne khada hai? Sahib ji ne tere bhai ko nahi maara hai!”

Gurbaksh ne apni gusse se bhari laal aankhon se pehle Henry, phir Heer ki taraf dekha… phir bina kuch kahe, waha se chala gaya.

Henry use hairani se dekh raha tha. Aur Heer ka dil bechain ho raha tha… kyunki Gurbaksh ki aankhon mein aag thi. Aur usse darr lag raha tha—na jaane ye aag ab kis kis ko jala kar raakh karegi…

Jaise jaise waqt beeta, Henry aur Heer ke beech ka wo tikhapan kuch dheemi padi. Heer ab utni khamosh nahi rehti thi jitni pehle rehti thi, aur Henry bhi uske har jazbaat ko samajhne ki koshish karta tha. Kabhi kabhi dono angan mein baith kar shaam ki chai ke saath baat cheet kar lete—koi purana kissa ya phir kisi kitab ke bare mein charcha.

Par phir bhi… ek doori thi, jo kabhi khatam nahi hoti thi.

Heer ka dil ab bhi aksar uske rashtrawadi iradon ki taraf jhukta tha. Jab bhi desh mein koi naya kanoon ya British Sarkar ka dabav badhta, Heer Henry se behas karne lagti. Wo jaanti thi Henry un sab faislon ka hissa nahi hota, par uska uniform… uska rank… sab kuch Heer ko yaad dila deta tha ke wo ek angrez ka ghar hai, par wo ek gulam desh ki beti bhi hai.

Ek shaam Henry study mein tha jab Heer ne akhbar le kar andar kadam rakha. Uske chehre par chinta thi.

Henry ne pucha, “What happened, Princess?”

Heer ne akhbar ka ek hissa uske saamne rakh diya. Rowlatt Act Passed.

Henry ek nazar akhbar par dali aur phir Heer ki taraf dekha jo gusse mein laal thi. Ab tak Henry ek baat to ache se samajh chuka hai ke Heer ko apni matrabhumi se bahut lagaw hai aur apne logon se bhi.

Nahi sirf apne logon se hi nahi wo kisi ko bhi dard main nahi dekh sakti.

Usne gehri saans bhari lekin iss se pehle ke wo kuch keh skta Heer shuru ho gayi,

“Aapke logon ne ab toh had kar di, colonel Saab. Ek kanoon jahan bina kisi saboot ke kisi ko bhi giraftar kiya ja sakta hai? No lawyer, no trial? Aap ise justice kehte ho?” uski awaaz kaapne lagi thi, par aankhon mein wo purani aag thi.

Henry ne shaant rehkar kaha, “Heer, I don’t support it. I’m a soldier, not a lawmaker.”

“Toh phir chup rehkar unke hukum bajate rehna aapka farz hai?” Heer chilla uthi. “Kya aapko pata hai iska kya asar padega? Yeh kanoon humare logon ke liye nahi, sarkar ke dar ko palne ke liye hai. British crown apni kursi bachane ke liye hume insaan nahi, sirf subjects samajhti hai!”

Henry ne gahra saans le kar uski aankhon mein dekha. “Listen, love. No matter what, even if I agree with the policy or not. I can't go against the crown.”

“Vishwa yudh mein madad ke badle crown ne hume wade kiye the aur badle mein hume de kya rahe hai ye log? Ye kala kanoon!” Heer ki aankhen bhar aayi gusse aur dard se.

“I hate this law too, Heer. But I can’t tear off my uniform and run into the streets just because I disagree with a policy. This world doesn’t work like that.”

Heer ne uski taraf dekha… uski akhon mein samajh bhi tha… par bechaini bhi.

“Kya is duniya ko waise kaam nahi karna chahiye, jaise insaniyat kehati hai?” usne dheere se kaha.

Kuch pal ke liye dono chup rahe.

Henry ne uske samne khade hote hue kaha, “Heer, the hardest thing for me is being stuck between two worlds. I understand your emotions… and my duty too.

But between the lines, but when I see tears in your eyes, even my duty starts to feel like a burden.

Maybe I can be a good soldier, Heer… but without you, I could never be a complete man.”

Heer ne uski taraf dekha—uski aankhon mein pehli baar ek aisi sachchai thi jo Henry ke rank ya uski uniform se pare thi. Wo ye baat ab Henry ke bare mein samajhne lagi thi ke wo bhi is siyasat ke kale kanoonon ko sahi nahi samjhta tha lekin apne farz ke tale wo bhi majbur tha.

Jaise wo pani miti se ishq karti hai vaise hi Henry ke liye uska farz sarvopari tha. Wo bas imandari se apna kaam karna chahta tha. Usne kuch nahi kaha, Henry ne dheere se apna haath Heer ki taraf badhaya… aur uska hath tham liya.

Par dono jaante the… aage ka raasta asaan nahi tha. Rowlatt Act sirf ek shuruaat thi—ek toofan aane wala tha jo sab kuch badal kar rakh dega.

Aur hua bhi kuch aisa hi. Dekhte dekhte mahol bahut bigadne laga. Kuch bade netaon ki giraftariyon ne janta mein rosh bharna shuru kar diya tha.

Henry ko har waqt Heer ki chinta rehti thi, kyonki us waqt wo aksar apni duty par hota aur Heer ghar par akeli. Mahol din-ba-din zyada bechaini bhara hota ja raha tha.

Wahin doosri taraf, Baisakhi aane wali thi, aur Heer ka dil tadap raha tha apne pariwar se milne ke liye. Aakhir itna bada tyohaar tha—wo chahti thi is din ko apno ke beech manaye.

Shaam ko jaise hi Henry ghar aaya, Heer ne bejhijhak apni khwahish uske saamne rakh di. Aakhir kyun nahi? Henry ne aaj tak usse kisi baat ke liye inkaar jo nahi kiya tha.

“Colonel Saab,” Heer ne use chai ka cup dete hue dheere se pukara.

“Yes, little jewel…”

“Aap mujhe Heer nahi pukar sakte?” Heer ne thoda chidkar kaha, kyonki jab bhi Henry use aise naamon se pukarta, usse kuch ajeeb sa mehsoos hota tha.

“I like calling you little jewel, sweetheart.” Henry ne muskurate hue kaha. Use Heer ko yun pareshan karna ab pasand aane laga tha.

“Agh! Besharam,” Heer ne use danta, par Henry zor se hans pada.

Heer ne ek gehri saans li. “Khair,” aur uske saamne baithte hue boli, “Mujhe Baisakhi par Amritsar jana hai. Kitna waqt ho gaya Bebe-Bappu ji se mile hue. Mujhe ja kar Bappu ji se jhagadna hai. Keh rahe the har hafte mujhe milne aayenge… dekhiye, ek baar bhi nahi aaye.”

Heer masoomiyat se apne dil ki baat bayan karti gayi, aur Henry ke chehre se muskan gayab hoti gayi jaise hi usne Amritsar jaane ka naam liya—wohi muskan jo Heer ko chedte waqt aayi thi.

“Pata hai, Sahib ke liye naye kapde aur khilone bhi layi hoon. Aaj Elizabeth ke saath bazaar gayi thi,” Heer ne utsaah se bataya. “Aur Nooran ki shaadi bhi hone wali hai. Usne khat likha tha mujhe… bataya tha na maine. Uske liye bhi tohfa layi hoon…”

“Little jewel,” Henry ne use rokte hue kaha, “Please forgive me, but we won’t be able to go to Amritsar for Baisakhi. I have to leave for Sialkot tomorrow for some important work, and I won’t be back for a week. I will return by the evening of Baisakhi day, but I promise—once I’m back, I’ll take you to Amritsar myself.”

Heer ka chehra utar gaya. Sare khwab jo usne sajae the, ek pal mein bikhar gaye.

Uska udaas chehra dekh kar Henry ka dil kachot utha.

“Princess, listen to me. I am not saying we can't go. We might not be able to go on the day you really want to be there—just a day after.” Henry ne use pyar se samjhane ki koshish ki.

Heer ki aankhen bhar aayi thi, par usne khud ko sambhalte hue ek sujhav diya—

“Haan toh aap chale jaiye na… main chali jaungi train se…”

“Have you ever traveled alone before?” Henry ne pucha, aur Heer chup ho gayi.

Par usne daleel di, “Toh kya hua… ab kar loongi na…”

“In an environment like this, where revolutionaries are protesting everywhere?” Henry ne use tokte hue kaha.

“Par wo toh mere apne log hain, bhala mujhe unse kaisa dar?” Heer ne haath kiya.

“And you, the wife of a Colonel,” Henry ne use yaad dilaya.

“Acha toh Iqbal chacha ke saath bhej dijiye. Un par toh aapko yakeen hai. Wo honge mere saath toh kaisi chinta?” Heer zid karti rahi, har mumkin rasta sochti rahi—kyunki use yeh tyohaar apne parivaar ke saath manana tha.

“You can't go anywhere without me. No, absolutely not. I cannot take any chances when it comes to your safety. We will go to Amritsar and you can stay with your family as long as you want. You have my words, but only when I will take you there and bring you back by myself.” Henry ne apna akhri faisla suna diya.

Heer ki nam aankhen aur uska utra chehra dekh kar Henry ka bhi dil pighal gaya tha, par wo bhi kya kar sakta tha? Uske liye Heer ki suraksha sabse pehle thi.

Heer ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas chup chaap wahan se uth kar chali gayi.

“Princess! Princess! Listen to me!” Henry ne use rokne ki koshish ki, par Heer apne aansu chhupate wahan se nikal gayi.

Na usne Henry se baat ki, na koi shikayat. Shayad use laga ke ab uska koi haq hi nahi raha.

Usne pehli baar khushi mein koi khwahish zahir ki thi apne pati se. Aur jab wo hi poori na ho saki, toh ab aage aur kya maange?

Us raat Heer ne khana bhi nahi khaya. Chup chaap apne kamre ke kone mein baithi raahi. Na koi shikayat, na koi sawal. Sirf ek gehri khamoshi thi jo har ek cheez se zyada bol rahi thi.

Henry ne usse bohot baar bulaya, par Heer ne ek bhi baar palat kar jawab nahi diya. Wo uski aankhon mein jhaank kar dekhna chahta tha, lekin Heer ne apni aankhon mein aansuon ka dariya chhupa rakha tha.

Thodi der baad Henry dheere se uske paas aaya. Uske samne do ghutnon ke bal baith gaya.

“Princess, please… look at me,” usne narmi se kaha.

Heer ne aankh uthakar bhi nahi dekha.

Henry ne uska haath pakad liya.

“I understand you're hurt, but you have to believe me. I’ll take you to Amritsar myself. You’ll stay as long as you want. I promise, little jewel.”

Heer ne dheere se apna haath chhuda liya. Ab usne Henry ki taraf dekha, par us nazar mein wo chamak nahi thi jo thodi der pehle thi. Sirf ek thaka hua, toota hua sa sawal tha.

“Tab Baisakhi toh nahi hogi, Colonel Saab…” usne dheere se kaha, jaise apne dil ki kabar khol di ho.

Henry ke paas koi jawab nahi tha. Wo sirf uske chehre ko dekhta raha, jaise shabd uske gale mein atak gaye ho.

Heer ne apne aansu pochne ki koshish ki par wo baaghi ho chuke the.

“Mujhe bas ek din ki khushi chahiye thi... ek din apno ke saath… jahan mujhe Heer ban kar jeene ka mauka milta. Bas ek din…” uski awaaz bharayi hui thi, par andar se wo khud ko sambhal rahi thi.

Henry ne uska haath phir se pakda, is baar zor se.

“Then let me make it up to you. When I return, we’ll celebrate it again. I’ll make sure it feels just like Baisakhi. I promise you, sweetheart.”

Heer ne ek thandi si muskurahat di—wo muskurahat jisme na roshni thi na umeed.

“Kehna kitna asan hai par aap bhi jante hai guzra hua waqt dubara nahi ata.”

Yeh kehkar wo uth kar palang ki taraf badh gayi, aur Henry wahi zameen par baitha reh gaya—ek aisa insaan jo har jang jeet sakta tha, magar apni Heer ka dil nahi jeet paaya.

Agle din subah Henry Sialkot ke liye nikal gaya. Par uska dil wahan tha hi nahi. Ek ajeeb si bechaini uske andar se uthti rehti thi, jaise kuch chhoot gaya ho, kuch galat ho raha ho.

Uski Heer jise wo udaas chhod kar aaya tha, uski woh chhupi khamoshi ab Henry ke liye ek saza ban gayi thi.

Wo kuch din Henry ke liye sabse mushkil the. Na kaam mein dil lagta tha, na hi kisi baat mein sukoon milta. Har pal wo bas ghadi ki soiyon ko dekhta, din ginta, intezaar karta... kab ye waqt guzar jaaye, kab wo wapas laut kar Heer ko uske mata-pita ke paas le jaaye—uski ek adhuri khwahish poori kare.

Lekin us shaam, jab wo Lahore wapas aaya—Sialkot ka kaam nipta kar jaise hi sheher ke andar kadam rakha—use raste mein ek aisi khabar mili jisne uska dil jhanjhor ke rakh diya.

Jitni tezi se ho saka, Henry ne apne pairon ko ghar ki taraf mod diya. Aur jaise hi usne bunglow ke bahar kadam rakha, uska dil tham sa gaya—usne Heer ko dekha, badhawas halat mein, na paon mein jooti thi aur na hi sar par dupata, na chehre par hosh. Wo kisi pagal si haalat mein seedha ghar ke bahar ki taraf bhag rahi thi.

Henry ki saansen ruk gayi thi. “Heer!” uske honton se bas yeh ek lafz nikla, par Heer to jaise kuch sun hi nahi rahi thi.