Ishq Fakiri

Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar (2)

Mujhe lagta hai,

Jab tak dilo me karne ko baat hai,

Sab theek hai..

Jab tak thaamne ko kisi ka haath hai,

Sab theek hai..

Hai jung zindagi, humesha hi rahegi..

Jab tak koi kisi ke saath hai,

Sab theek hai

(~Nayab Midha)

_______________________________

"Yeh kya harkat kar ke aayi ho tum?" Zara's bade Abba asked her angrily the next day when she returned. Seeing the anger on his face, Zara got scared and wanted to run away from there. But she knew she couldn't run, she had to answer him.

"Yeh aap kis lehze me baat kar rahe hai usse? Dekhiye Bhaisaab yeh baat araam se, shaanti se ho sakti hai." A voice came from behind. Zara looked behind her bade Abba and found her khalu standing there. It was then she noticed her khala and Adnan standing there.

"Ab yeh ghalti kar ke aayi hai toh me phoolon ke saath toh uska swagat nahi karuga na?" Her bade Abba was clearly displeased with everything that was happening.

"Bade Abba, mujhe nahi lagta Maine koi ghalti ki hai. Mujhe yeh shaadi nahi karni aur me bas apna faisla bata kar aayi hu. Koi ghalat kaam nahi kiya hai maine, Mera faisla sunane ka mujhe poora haq hai. Agar baba hote toh woh mujhse pehle hi pooch lete, par-"

"Baba hote toh Zara. Yeh mat bhoolo ab tumhare baba nahi hai, aur tum ab meri zimmedari ho. Tumhe ab mere hisaab se chalna hoga." Hearing his harsh words, Zara was hurt would be an understatement. She wanted to be out of here. She had never liked this people for their mentality. They treated daughters like they were some burden, freedom and daughters were two different things in this family. Her father knew this and hence always kept her away from these people.

"Bhaisaab, Zahid nahi hai toh kya hua, Zara ka yeh baap abhi Zinda hai. Us waqt aap isko yaha le aaye tab me chup tha, magar ab meri beti yaha nahi rahegi, woh mere saath jaegi. Agar Zahid hota, toh woh Kam se kam aapko toh apni beti ki zimmedari kabhi nahi deta." Khalu spoke with anger, he didn't like the tone Zara's bade Abba used on his Chanda. He has afterall always treated Zara like his own daughter.

"Aap aise Zara ko nahi le jaa sakte. Aap ke ghar me ek jawan ladka hai, me Zara ko bina kisi rishte ke waha rehne ki ijazat nahi de sakta."

"Jaha tak me jaanta hu, jawan ladka toh aap ke ghar me bhi tha kuch din pehle Tak. Tab aap ke yeh usool kaha gaye the? Aur jaha tak baat hai rishte ki, toh kya yeh kaafi nahi ki Chanda hamari beti hai. Aur yaha baat khatm hoti hai. Mujhe apni beti ko uske ghar le jaane ke liye kisi ke ijazat ki zarurat nahi." Rashid, her khalu, was furious. He went near Zara and patted her head.

"Jao apna saman le lo Chanda. Ghar chalo" he spoke softly looking at her broken state. He knew she was going through a lot and these people weren't helping. They were just increasing her pain. Zara broke down feeling a father's protectiveness after such a long time. She hugged her khalu and cried her heart out. Her khala and Adnan came near her and patted her head.

******************

"Chanda Hume maaf kar do meri jaan. Hume tumhe waha jaane Dena hi nahi chahiye tha, yeh jaante huye ki Zahid Bhai ne tumhe humesha un logo se dur rakha. Hume maaf kar do meri jaan" Zara's khala said hugging her.

Zara and Adnan's family was very close. Adnan's parents had always treated Zara like their daughter, she had grown up in front of their eyes. They had been a part of her every achievement, every happiness. When Zara's parents died, her Bade Abba insisted on taking Zara with them, since she was their blood. Her khalu tried denying, but Yusuf didn't budge. And eventually her khalu agreed, but after seeing his daughter being mistreated, he couldn't let her stay there. Her khala and khalu both felt guilty for letting her go there, even after knowing what kind of mentality those people have.