Episode 1: Rawalpindi ka Bhaijan

Raat ke do baje thay. Rawalpindi ke Farash Town ki galiyon mein sannata itna gehra tha ke door kahin kisi awara kutte ke rone ki awaz bhi deewaron se takra kar lout rahi thi. Is poore mohallay mein agar koi ek ghar tha jahan is waqt bhi roshni chal rahi thi, to wo Shamim ka do kamron ka chota sa makan tha.

Shamim ne purani steel ki balti mein haath dala aur thanday paani se apna chehra dhoya. Paani ki thandak jab uski ankhon se takrayi to uski neend thori kam hui. Usne sheeshay mein dekha. 54 saal ki umar, ankhon ke gird jhurriyan, aur chehre par thakan ki ek aisi teh jo shayad ab kabhi saaf nahi ho sakti thi.

Ghar ke dosre kamre mein unka beta aur betiyan so rahe thay. Shamim ne khamoshi se apni chadar uthaye, sar ko dhang se dhaka, aur darwaze ki taraf barhi.

"Abu... aap is waqt ja rahi hain?"

Ek halki si awaz andhere se aayi. Uska beta bister par uth kar baith gaya tha. Mohallay mein sab Shamim ko 'Bhaijan' kehte thay, aur ghar ke halat aur mardana kirdar nibhane ki wajah se bache bhi kabhi kabhi unhein isi tarhan pukarte thay.

"Haan beta, Fateh Jang jana hai. Malek sahab ke bhattay (brick kiln) se eentein load karni hain. Subah hone tak agar truck na pohncha to agla phera kisi aur ko mil jaye ga," Shamim ne bohot dheemi par pakki awaz mein kaha.

"Lekin rasta bohot kharab hai, aur raat ko akele..." Beta pareshan tha. Unka rasta koi aam rasta nahi tha. Pakistan ki highway par mard drivers ke liye bhi raat ko gari nikalna maut ko dawat dene jaisa tha.

"Gari aur road par jab nazar ho na beta, to darr khud hi peeche reh jata hai. Tum so jao, apna aur behno ka khayal rakhna."

Shamim ne darwaza khola aur thandi raat mein bahar nikal aayeen.

Farash Town se nikal kar jab wo adday par pohncheen, to wahan ka mahool bilkul alag tha. Charon taraf mitti, diesel ki boo, aur bare bare Bedford trucks khare thay jin par rang-baranga truck art bana hua تھا. Har taraf mard hi mard thay—kuch chai ke khokay par baithe sutte laga rahe thay, kuch gariyon ke neeche let kar grease saaf kar rahe thay.

Jaise hi Shamim ne adday mein qadam rakha, kuch purani ankhon ne unhein ghoora. Shuru mein jab unho ne Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) ka license liya tha, to log haste thay. Islamabad Traffic Police ke course mein 32 mardon mein wo akeli larki thi. Log kehte thay, "Aurat ka kaam ghar chalana hai, 10-wheeler chalana nahi." Lekin Shamim ne un sab awazon ko 'un-hear' karna seekh liya tha. Wo kisi ki taraf nahi dekhti thi, bas apne kaam se kaam rakhti thi.

"Salam, Shamim Baaji!" Ek naujawan driver, Usman, jo unka shagird bhi tha, tezi se agay aya. "Gari tayyar hai. Mobil oil check kar liya hai, pressure bhi pura hai."

"Walaikum Assalam, Usman. Charsadda wale malik ne kya kaha? Phera kahan ka hai?" Shamim ne pucha.

"7,000 eentein load karni hain Fateh Jang se, aur unhein Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) pohnchana hai. Takreeban 200 kilometers ka safar hai, aur rasta charhai wala hai."

AJK ka rasta... yani pahari raste, gehri khaaiyan, aur dunya ke sab se mushkil morr jahan ek choti si ghalti aur poora truck neeche.

Shamim ne truck ke bhaari steel ke darwaze ko khola aur upar driver seat par baith gaeen. Steering wheel itna bara tha ke ek aam aurat ke dono hath phele jate thay. Unho ne chaabi ghumayi. Gari ne ek bhari awaz ke sath start liya, aur poora cabin thartharane laga.

Gari jab Rawalpindi se nikal kar Fateh Jang ki taraf barhi, to purani sarak par sannaata tha. Shamim ka dhyan sirf teen cheezon par tha—unka khud ka wajood, unka truck, aur samne phaili hui sarak.

Bhattay par pohnch kar jab 7,000 eentein truck ke peeche load ho rahi thin, to thak-thak ki awaz ke sath Shamim ne steering par sar rakh diya. Unhein apni zindagi ke wo din yaad aane lage jab unka miyan ek maali (gardener) tha aur ghar ka kharcha poora nahi hota hai. Bache bhookay sote thay. Phir unho ne sweater bunna seekha, silai ki, par jab us se bhi guzara na hua to driving seekhi. Pehle car chalayi, phir Shehzore, aur aakhir mein is 10-wheeler truck par aa gaeen taake apni teen betiyon ki shadiyan kar sakein aur ghar ka choola jal sake.

"Baaji, loading ho gayi hai!" Mazdoor ki awaz ne unhein khwab se jagaya.

Ab asli imtihan shuru hona tha. 7,000 eenton ka wazan dunya ke sab se mushkil pahari raston par le kar jana tha.

Shamim ne gari ko gear mein dala aur clutch chora. Truck ne ek jhatka khaya aur Azad Kashmir ki taraf unchay paharon ki janib barhna shuru kar diya. Agay andhera tha, sarak ttooti hui thi, aur rasta bilkul anjan... lekin Shamim ke hath steering par bilkul mazboot thay. Wo janti thin ke unhein rukhna nahi hai, kyunke "Hum kamayein ge to hi khayein ge."

Episode 2: Murree Expressway Aur Tootta Hua Clutch

Fateh Jang se jab 7,000 eenton ka bojh laad kar Shamim ka Bedford truck nikla, to subah ki pehli kiran paharon ke peeche se jhaank rahi thi. Thandi, nam-dada hawa cabin ke ttoote hue sheeshay se andar aa kar Shamim ke chehre par lag rahi thi. Unho ne apni chadar ko ek haath se mazeed kas liya aur steering par dono haath jama diye.

Gari ab Rawalpindi ko peeche chorde hue Murree Expressway ki unchi charhaiyon ki taraf barh rahi thi. Yeh rasta jitna khubsoorat tha, ek truck driver ke liye utna hi beraham tha. 7,000 eenton ka wazan koi mazaq nahi hota; gari ka engine har charhai par aisi cheekh marta tha jaise abhi phat jaye ga.

"Baaji, agay dundh (fog) barh rahi hai," Usman ne cabin ke kone mein baithe hue pareshani se khidki bahar dekha.

"Dundh se mat daro Usman, dundh to chath jati hai. Bas yeh dua karo ke gari ka pressure na tootay," Shamim ne gehre lehjay mein kaha. Unki ankhon mein is waqt raste ka darr nahi, balki ghar ka fikar tha. Unhein yaad aa raha تھا ke kaise kal raat unki sab se choti beti ne unse kaha tha, "Abu, is phera ke baad aap do din ghar rukna, mujhe lagta hai aap ab thak chuki hain."

Thak to wo waqiyee gayi thin. 54 saal ki umar mein jab log araam ka sochte hain, wo har roz maut ke koochay mein gari dalti thin. Unki pith mein har waqt ek ajeeb sa dard rehta tha, aur dono ghutnay heavy clutch daba daba kar sujj chuke thay. Lekin jab ghar ke choolhay aur betiyon ki izzat ka sawal ho, to maa ka jism thakan ko pehchanna chor deta hai.

Gari jab Kohala ke qareeb pohnchi, jahan se Azad Kashmir ki hadd shuru hoti hai, to sarak mazeed tang aur tedhi ho gayi. Ek taraf aasmaan ko choti hui pahari deewar thi, aur dosri taraf hazaron feet gehri khai, jahan neeche darya-e-jhelum ka paani shore macha raha tha.

Achanak, ek bohot unchi charhai par agay chalne wali ek passenger bus ne bina kisi signal ke brake maar di.

"Baaji! Brake!!" Usman chikh utha.

Shamim ne foran apna poora wazan daal kar heavy brake pedal dabaya aur sath hi left paon se clutch ko neeche tak dhabo diya taake gari peeche na ghire. Lekin sarak par mitti aur pichli raat ki shabnam ki wajah se truck ke bhaari tayyar slip hue.

KKKRRRCCCKHHH!

Ek khofnak awaz aayi. Gari ka clutch pedal achanak dheet ho kar bilkul neeche baith gaya. Clutch ka taar ttoot chuka tha!

7,000 eenton se lada hua heavy truck ab bina kisi control ke, us unchi charhai par peeche ki taraf ludhakna shuru ho gaya. Gari ka handbrake itna wazan rokne ke qabil nahi tha. Peeche maut thi—wohi gehri khai aur darya.

"Usman! Gootka (wooden block) nikalo! Bhaago!!" Shamim ne chikh kar kaha, unka apna gala khushk ho gaya tha.

Usman ne chalti, peeche girti gari ka darwaza khola aur sarak par chalang laga di. Usne bhagte hue truck ke pichle taaye ke neeche lakri ka bhaari gootka fasane ki koshish ki, lekin gari ki raftaar barh rahi thi.

Inside the cabin, Shamim akeli thin. Steering unke hathon mein tharthar raha tha. Agar wo gari ko seedha rakhtin to wo peeche khari dosri gariyon ko tabaah karti hui khai mein chali jati. Is ek secnd mein, unki ankhon ke samne unka poora ghar ghum gaya—unka beta, unki betiyan jo unke raste ko takti thin.

"Ya Allah! Madad!" Shamim ne poori jaan laga kar steering ko right taraf ghumaya, jahan pahar ki sethi deewar thi. Unho ne truck ke pichle hissay ko pahar se takrane ka faisla kiya, taake gari ruk sake, bhale hi unhein khud chot kyun na aa jaye.

BOOM!

Ek zordar jhatkay ke sath truck ka pichla hissa pahari chattaan se takraya. Eentein tootne aur sheeshay bikharne ki awaz aayi. Gari ek jhatkay ke sath ruk gayi.

Sannata cha gaya. Sirf engine se nikalne wala dhuwan aur radiator ka paani ubalne ki awaz aa rahi thi.

Usman bhaagta hua driver side par aya. "Baaji! Baaji! Aap theek hain?!"

Shamim ka sar steering wheel par gira hua tha. Unka poora jism kaanp raha tha. Unho ne dheere se apna sar uthaya. Unki peshani par ek chota sa zakham tha jahan se khoon beh kar unki ankh ke qareeb tak aa gaya tha. Lekin unki ankhon mein ansoo nahi thay—wahan ek ajeeb sa sukoon aur shukar tha. Wo bach gayi thin. Unka truck bach gaya tha.

Unho ne kaanpte hathon se cabin mein latki hui ek purani tasveer ko dekha jo unke bacho ki thi.

"Main theek hoon Usman," Shamim ne ttooti hui awaz mein kaha, jabki unka gala roudh raha tha. "Zindagi ne ek baar phir mohlat de di hai. Gari se neeche utro, dekho mechanical toolkit mein naya clutch wire para hai ya nahi. Hamein yeh phera har haal mein aaj hi pohnchana hai."

Usman hairat aur izzat se apni is 54 saal ki ustaad ko dekh raha تھا, jo maut ke munh se nikal kar bhi haar manne ko tayyar nahi thi.

Episode 3: Paharon Ki Chhaon Aur Kalejay Ka Bojh

Kohala ki thandi hawa ab zakhmi truck ke gird ghum rahi thi. Sarak par bikhri hui eenton ka malba aur radiator se nikalti hui bhaap ka shor ab maddham ho chuka tha. Usman truck ke neeche leta hua gande kapron aur grease se lathepar, kaanpte hathon se naya clutch wire fasane ki koshish kar raha tha.

Shamim sarak ke kinare ek bhaari patthar par baithi thin. Unho ne apni chadar ke pallu se apni peshani ka khoon saaf kiya, par dard unke sar se hota hua unki reedh ki haddi tak ja raha tha. Unka poora jism is waqt cheekh raha tha ke 'ab bas kar do', lekin unka dil unhein ijazat nahi de raha tha.

"Baaji! Ek hath zara is lever ko pakarna, thora upar kheenchein!" Usman ki awaz truck ke neeche se aayi.

Shamim uthin, unke ghutno ne saath chorne ki koshish ki par unho ne khud ko sambhala. Cabin ke andar jhuk kar unho ne lever ko poori taqat se oopar kheecha. Unke hathon ki rabein ttan gaeen.

"Ho gaya Baaji! Chordein!" Usman ne haanpate hue kaha aur truck ke neeche se bahar nikal aya. Uska chehra mitti se kala ho chuka tha, aur ankhon mein abhi bhi darr saaf nazar aa raha tha.

Usman ne Shamim ki taraf dekha, unki peshani par se abhi bhi khoon ka ek halka sa qatrah tapak raha tha. Us se raha nahi gaya. Usne apne dupattay ke kone se hath saaf kiye aur bola:

"Baaji... ek baat kahoon? Bura mat maniyega."

Shamim ne dheet clutch pedal ko paon se daba kar check kiya, "Haan Usman, bolo. Kya baat hai?"

"Baaji, aap ghar kyun nahi baith jatin?" Usman ka gala bhar aya, uski awaz mein sachiyee thi. "Aaj jo hua... agar thora sa steering left na hota, to aap aur main is waqt is darya mein hotay. Aapki betiyan hain, beta hai... unka sochein. Is umar mein mardon ke liye yeh 10-wheeler chalana azaab hai, aap kyun apni jaan suli par tangti hain har roz?"

Shamim khamosh ho gaeen. Unho ne steering wheel par jami hui mitti ko dekha, phir dheere se ghum kar Usman ki ankhon mein dekha. Unki ankhon mein ansoo nahi thay, ek ajeeb sa, pathar jaisa sach tha.

"Usman beta," Shamim ki awaz bilkul dheemi par bhaari thi. "Tumne kabhi apni maa ko bhookha sote dekha hai?"

Usman ne nafi mein sar hilaya.

"Main ne apne bacho ko dekha hai," Shamim ne chadar ko apne kando par phela diya. "Jab unka baap beemar tha, aur ghar mein ek anay ka dana nahi tha. Main jab logon ke gharon mein kapre dhone jati thi, to log aisi nazron se dekhte thay jaise main koi khairat mangne aayi hoon. Us din main ne socha tha, izzat ki roti mardon ke is jahan mein cheen kar leni parti hai. Agar aaj main darr kar ghar baith jaoon, to kal meri betiyon ki parhai choot jaye gi, unki shadiyon ka kharcha kahan se ruki sarak se thodi na aaye ga? Yeh truck meri majboori nahi hai Usman, yeh meri betiyon ki izzat ka qila hai."

Usman ne apna sar neeche kar liya. Uske paas is maa ke hosle ka koi jawab nahi tha. Wo bas itna bol saka, "Aap bohot azeem hain, Baaji."

"Azeem kuch nahi hota beta, bas halat insan ko loha bana dete hain. Chalo, gari start karo. Hamein Kashmir pohnchna hai," Shamim ne kaha aur wapas driver seat par sawar ho gaeen.

Do ghante ke mazeed safar ke baad, jahan har morr par Shamim ka zakhmi jism unhein dard ka ehsaas dila raha tha, truck aakhir-kar Azad Kashmir ke us chote se gaaon mein daakhil hua jahan sarak ban rahi thi.

Wahan ka thaikedar (contractor), Chaudhary Aslam, haath mein aik purana register liye, pareshani mein idhar udhar ghum raha tha. Gariyon ki late delivery ki wajah se uska kaam ruka hua tha.

"Oye khote de puttar! Itni der kar di?!" Chaudhary door se hi chikhata hua truck ki taraf barha. "Puri dunya ka kharcha mera barh raha hai yahan! Tum drivers ko maut aati hai waqt par aate hue?!"

Truck ruka. Shamim ne handbrake kheecha. Engine ki awaz band hui to har taraf ajeeb sa sannaata cha gaya.

Chaudhary gusse mein bad-tameezi karta hua driver side ka darwaza kholne ke liye agay barha. "Neeche utar oye! Aaj tere paise katon ga main—"

Jaise hi darwaza khula, Chaudhary ke lafz uske halaq mein hi phans gaye.

Gari ke unchay cabin se koi 25 saal ka hatha-katha mard nahi, balki ek 54 saal ki khatoon neeche utar rahi thin. Unki peshani par jmna hua khoon ka nishan tha, salwar qameez par mitti lagi hui thi, par unki peeth bilkul seedhi thi aur ankhon mein ek ajeeb sa rob tha.

Chaudhary do qadam peeche hat gaya. Usne kabhi khwab mein bhi nahi socha tha ke Rawalpindi se 7,000 eenton ka bhari truck pahari raston se guzar kar ek aurat le kar aaye gi.

"Salam Alaikum, Chaudhary sahab," Shamim ne mardana aur thasay wale lehjay mein kaha. "Eentein poori hain. Raste mein Kohala ke qareeb clutch wire ttoot gaya tha, is liye do ghante dair hui. Aap malba check karwa lein aur mazdooron ko bolein loading shuru karein."

Chaudhary Aslam jo abhi tak gusse mein pagal ho raha تھا, uski zaban jaise gung ho gayi. Usne Shamim ke zakhmi chehre ko dekha, phir unke hathon ko dekha jo steering pakad pakad kar sakht ho chuke thay. Uska gussa pal bhar mein sharamindagi mein badal gaya.

"A-Aap... aap chala kar laayi hain yeh gari?" Chaudhary ne haklate hue pucha.

Usman jo truck ki doosri taraf se utra tha, wo agay aya aur bola, "Chaudhary sahab! Kohala ke pahar par gari ka clutch ttoota tha. Agar hamari Baaji na hotin, to aaj na yeh truck bachta aur na hum. Inho ne apni jaan par khel kar aapka maal yahan pohnchaya hai."

Gaaon ke kuch aur mazdoor aur local log bhi truck ke gird jama ho gaye thay. Sab log hairat aur behadd izzat se Shamim ko dekh rahe thay. Mardon ke is jahan mein, jahan aurat ko kamzor samjha jata hai, wahan yeh khatoon paharon ka seena cheer kar apna rasta bana kar aayi thi.

Chaudhary ne apna register aik taraf rkha, usne dono haath bandhe aur Shamim ke agay sar jhuka diya.

"Mujhe maaf kar dena, Baaji," Chaudhary ki awaz mein ab sachha ihteram tha. "Main aapki takleef ko nahi samajh saka. Aap jaisi maaein agar is mulk mein hain, to yeh mulk kabhi haar nahi sakta."

Usne apne munshee ko awaz di, "Oye Shabaan! Foran Baaji ke liye chai aur nashta le kar ao, aur unhein andar mere daftar mein bitao. Jab tak gari khaali nahi hoti, Baaji araam karein gi."

Shamim ne aik gehri saans li. Unho ne asmaan ki taraf dekha, jahan Kashmir ke haseen pahar dhoop mein chamak rahe thay. Unke chehre par ek thaki hui, par haseen muskurahat aa gayi. Unho ne dil mein kaha, 'Shukar hai Ya Allah... aaj ka choola jal jaye ga.'