Chapter:4 **Junoon-e-Zanjeer**

** Shah Haveli ka Sannaata**

Haveli ke aalishan lounge mein sannaata is qadar gehra tha ke lagta tha deewaron se khamoshi tapak rahi ho. Chand-raat ke jhatpate mein, haveli ke qeemti jhaalar (chandeliers) ki madham roshni ne farsh par lambe lambe saaye bana diye the. Zoya ne apna jhatka hua hath apni chhaati se laga rakha tha, jahan uski dharkanen kisi dushman fauj ki tarah dharak rahi thin. Uska khauf ab gusse aur behad shadeed nafrat mein badal chuka tha.

Begum Shah (Zain ki dadi) apni jagah par kisi chatan ki tarah khari thin. Unki aankhon mein khandan ke waqar ka garoor aur chehre par hairat ki lakeerein thin. Unhone apni sfaid chadar ko apne shano par darust kiya aur unki gehri, tajurba-kar aankhein Zain par jam gayin, jo bilkul be-parwah khara tha—jaise usne koi dhamaka nahi balkay mausam ka haal sunaya ho.

"Zain Shah!" Begum Shah ki awaz lounge ki buland chhat se takra kar goonji. "Tum hosh mein toh ho? Yeh kya keh rahe ho tum? Is larki ka na koi khandan hai, na koi naam o nishaan humare barabar! Yeh ek aam gharane ki larki hai jo tumhare samne khari tamasha bani hui hai, aur tum keh rahe ho ke yeh is ghar ki choti bahu banegi?!"

Zain ne halki si smile ki, magar uski aankhon mein koi narmi nahi thi. Wo do qadam aage barha, uske qadam farsh par aahista magar bhaari aawaz paida kar rahe the.

"Dadi jaan," Zain ne bohot hi tehzeeb magar pakke lahje mein kaha, "Mera har faisla pehle se taye hota hai. Zoya ka naam-o-nishan kya hai, is se mujhe koi farq nahi parta. Farq sirf is baat se parta hai ke Zoya ab Zain Shah ki zanjeer mein bandh chuki hai. Is haveli ki deewaron ne ise apna liya hai, aur ab yeh yahin rahegi."

"Main nahi rahoongi!" Zoya achanak cheekh uthi, uski aawaz mein cheekh ke sath ek dard tha jo lounge mein goonj utha. "Tum kaun hote ho mere faisle karne wale? Tumhare is aalishan jail mein sone ki deewarein ho sakti hain, magar mere liye yeh sirf ek jahannam hai! Mujhe abhi, isi waqt mere ghar wapas bhejo!"

Zoya ne dadi ki taraf madad talab nazron se dekha. "Begum Sahiba! Aap is mard ko samjhayein. Yeh pagal ho gaya hai. Main ek shareef ghar ki larki hoon, meri dadi beemar hain aur wo ghar par akeli hain. Mujhe jaane dein, khuda ke liye mujhe jaane dein!"

Begum Shah ne Zoya ki taraf dekha. Unki aankhon mein hamdardi kam aur sakhti zyada thi. "Larki, chup karo! Shah Haveli mein aurtein is tarah chilla kar baat nahi kartin. Aur Zain... agar tumne is larki ko zabardasti yahan laya hai, toh tum poore sheher mein humari ruswayi ka sabab ban rahe ho. Is haveli ke qanoon aur riwayat ko is tarah paamal karne ki ijazat main kabhi nahi doongi!"

Zain ne apni dadi ki taraf dekha, uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa junoon chamak utha. "Dadi jaan, riwayat aap badlein ya main badloon, baat ek hi hai. Aur jahan tak ruswayi ki baat hai... jab Zoya meri biwi ban jayegi, toh koi ungli nahi uthayega. Main is shadi ke faisle se piche nahi hatne wala."

Zain ne apna rudaabdar chehra Zoya ki taraf kiya. "Aur tum... Zoya... tumhari dadi ko unki dawai aur sukoon mil chuka hai. Mere aadmi unke ghar ke bahar khare hain. Agar tum chahti ho ke wo sukoon se soyein, toh apna gussa thanda karo aur chup-chaap mere faisle ko qabool kar lo."

Zoya ne khauf se apna munh band kar liya. Uska dil dharakna band hone laga tha. Zain ne uski dadi ko dhaal bana kar use khamosh kar diya tha. Wo kitna be-reham aur chalak tha, iska andaza Zoya ko ab ho raha تھا.

### **Manzar 2: Siyah Kamra aur Tanhaai**

Zain ke isharay par haveli ki purani mulazma, **Sajida Bi**, kaanpti hui aage barhi. Usne Zoya ko haveli ke ooperi hissay ki taraf chalne ka ishara kiya. Zoya ke paas ab koi rasta nahi tha. Usne apne aanso saaf kiye, apne wajood ko sameta aur dadi aur Zain ko nafrat bhari nigah se dekhte hue seediyan charhne lagi.

Sajida Bi ne use haveli ke aakhir mein waqay ek bohot bade kamre mein dakhil kiya. Kamra behad aalishan tha, magar wahan ka rang o roghan aur furniture sab dark aur siyah (black/grey) shade mein tha. Yeh kamra bilkul Zain Shah ki shakhsiyat ki tarah lag raha tha—andhera, khamosh aur khaufnaak.

"Bibi ji, aap is kamre mein aaraam karein. Zain Sahab ne sakht hidayat di hai ke aap bahar na niklein," Sajida Bi ne aahista se kaha aur darwaza band kar ke bahar se lock kar diya.

Darwaza band hone ki aawaz (Click!) Zoya ke dil par kisi hathoray ki tarah lagi. Wo bhaagti hui darwaze ki taraf gayi aur use peetne lagi.

"Sajida Bi! Darwaza kholo! Khuda ke liye darwaza kholo! Main yahan ghut kar mar jaoongi!" Zoya rote hue chillayi. Magar bahar se koi jawab nahi aaya.

Zoya thak kar farsh par baith gayi. Usne apne ghutne apni chhaati se laga liye aur rone lagi. Barish ki boondein ab kamre ki bari khidki ke sheeshe par tezi se takra rahi thin. Khidki ke bahar haveli ka bara sa baghcha (garden) dikh raha tha jahan security guards lagatar chakkar kaat rahe the.

"Main yahan se kaise bhagungi? Yeh log bohot taqatwar hain... Zain Shah... tumne mere sath aisa kyun kiya? Maine tumhara kya bigara tha?" Zoya ne rote hue khud se pucha.

Tabhi use us raat ka khayal aaya jab wo pehli dafa Zain se takrayi thi. Ek barish ki raat thi, jab Zoya ki scooty kharab ho gayi thi aur Zain ki gari ne use takkar marte marte bachaya tha. Zoya ne gusse mein Zain ko bohot khari-khoti sunayi thi, aur Zain ki aankhon mein us waqt jo gussa tha, wo ab junoon ban chuka tha. Zain Shah jaisa ameer aur magroor larka kisi aam larki se apni be-izzati kaise bardasht kar sakta tha? Uska badla lene ka tareeqa hi alag tha.

### **Manzar 3: Haveli ke Shikaari**

Sannate ko chirte hue kamre ka darwaza achanak khula. Zoya ne jhatke se sir uthaya. Darwaze par Zain Shah khara tha. Usne apni black jacket utar di thi aur ab wo sirf ek siyah shirt mein tha, jiske baazu ko usne thoda ooper charhaya hua tha. Uska chehra bilkul pur-sukoon tha, jaise wo kisi jang ko jeet kar aaya ho.

Wo dheere dheere chalte hue kamre ke andar aaya aur darwaza piche se band kar diya.

Zoya foran farsh se uthi aur piche hatne lagi, yahan tak ke uski peeth deewar se ja lagi. "Tum andar kyun aaye ho? Bahar jao yahan se!"

Zain ne uski dar-khauf se bhari aankhon ko dekha aur halka sa muskuraaya. Wo uske bilkul qareeb aa gaya, itna qareeb ke Zoya ko uski saans ki tapish apne chehre par mehsoos ho rahi thi.

"Yeh mera kamra hai, Zoya. Aur is ghar mein aisi koi jagah nahi jahan jaane ke liye mujhe kisi ki ijazat ki zaroorat ho," Zain ne dhiimi, mardaana aawaz mein kaha.

"Main tumse nafrat karti hoon, Zain Shah! Tum ek darinday ho!" Zoya ne gusse se uski chhaati par apne dono hath rakh kar use piche dakaalne ki koshish ki. Magar Zain apni jagah se aik inch bhi nahi hila. Uska jism pather ki tarah sakht tha.

Zain ne achanak Zoya ke dono hath pakar liye aur unhein deewar ke sath ooper kar ke lock kar diya. Zoya dard aur gusse se bilbila uthi.

"Nafrat?" Zain ne uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, jahan junoon ki gehri surkhi thi. "Mujhe tumhari nafrat se koi gila nahi hai, Zoya. Tumhare is gusse aur nafrat ne hi toh mujhe tumhara deewana banaya hai. Agar tum dusri larkiyon ki tarah mere samne jhuk jatin, toh shayad main tumhe kab ka bhool chuka hota."

"Main kabhi tumhare samne nahi jhukungi! Tum meri jaan le sakte ho, magar mera dil aur meri izzat kabhi nahi jeet sakte!" Zoya ne apni bahein chhudane ki nakaam koshish karte hue kaha.

"Jaan?" Zain ne apna sar thoda jhukaya, uske lab Zoya ke kaan ke qareeb aagaye. "Tumhari jaan lena mera maqsad nahi hai, meri jaan. Mera maqsad toh tumhe is qadar apna banana hai ke jab tum aaine mein khud ko dekho, toh tumhe khud mein sirf Zain Shah dikhayi de."

Zoya ki aankhon se ek aur aanso nikal kar uske gaal par beh gaya. Zain ne apna angootha aahista se uske gaal par phera aur us aanso ko saaf kiya. Uska yeh touch (lams) jitna naram tha, uski baatein utni hi be-reham thin.

"Kal subah tayar rehna," Zain ne kaha aur uske hath chhor diye. "Kal humara nikah hai. Khamoshi se qabool kar lena, warna tumhare paas jo kuch bhi bacha hai... tumhari dadi aur tumhari thori si izzat... main wo sab mitti mein mila doongi."

Zain mudha aur kamre se bahar chala gaya, darwaza phir se lock ho gaya.

### **Manzar 4: Sazish ka Jaal**

Haveli ke dusre kone mein, ek aur kamra roshan tha. Wahan Begum Shah aur Zain ki chachi, **Nuzhat Begum**, baithi thin. Nuzhat Begum ka beta, **Zubair**, hamesha se Shah Haveli ki daulat par nazar rakhe hue tha aur wo Zain se shadeed hasad karta tha.

"Amma jaan!" Nuzhat ne dadi ke paas aate hue kaha. "Zain ne toh hadd hi paar kar di hai. Is tarah kisi aam aur aawara larki ko haveli mein lakar shadi ka elaan karna... kya humari koi izzat nahi hai? Agar yeh shadi ho gayi, toh Zain ka dabdaba aur barh jayega, aur mere Zubair ka kya hoga?"

Begum Shah ne gehri saans li, unki aankhon mein ajeeb si chalaki thi. "Nuzhat, chup raho! Zain ziddi zaroor hai, magar wo be-waqoof nahi hai. Wo is larki ke piche kyun pagal hai, mujhe pehle iski wajah maloom karni hogi. Aur jahan tak is shadi ki baat hai... Shah Haveli ka nikah itna aasan nahi hota. Main is larki ko is ghar ki bahu tabhi tasleem karungi jab yeh humare imtehaan mein poori utregi."

Nuzhat ne muskura kar dadi ki taraf dekha. "Toh aapka kya irada hai?"

"Kal nikah hoga... magar uske baad jo khel shuru hoga, wo is larki (Zoya) ko khud is haveli se bhagne par majboor kar dega. Aur Zain khud use apne hathon se is ghar se nikalega," Begum Shah ne thande lahje mein kaha, unke chehre par ek makkarana muskurahat thi.

Wahan khara Zubair, jo khamoshi se yeh sab sun raha tha, usne apne hath ki muthi ko sakht kiya. "Zoya... tum bohot khoobsurat ho. Zain Shah tum jaise haseen tohfay ke kabil nahi hai. Agar tum is haveli mein aayi ho, toh Zain ke sath-sath, tumhe mera saamna bhi karna parega."

Haveli ke deewaron ke peechay ek bohot bara aur khatarnak jaal bunna ja raha tha, jahan Zoya bilkul akeli aur be-bas thi.

### **Manzar 5: Tanhai aur Aakhri Faisla**

Raat ke do baj chuke the. Barish ab dhiimi ho chuki thi, magar sardi barh gayi thi. Zoya khidki ke paas baithi thandi hawa ko apne chehre par mehsoos kar rahi thi. Uske gaal ab bhi aanso-on se geele the, magar uski aankhon mein ab rona khatam ho chuka tha. Wahan ab ek ajeeb sa thahrao aur pakka irada aa chuka tha.

"Tumne mujhe kamzor samjha hai na, Zain Shah?" Zoya ne andhere kamre mein dekhte hue kaha. "Tum samjhte ho ke tum mujhe dara kar, meri dadi ki dhamki de kar mujhe apne hathon ki kathputli bana loge? Tumne meri mohabbat nahi dekhi... toh tumne abhi tak meri nafrat ki taqat bhi nahi dekhi."

Zoya uthi aur usne aaine ke samne khari hokar khud ko dekha. Uske bikhre baal, rone se laal aankhein aur chehre par thakan thi, magar uski aankhon ki chamak ab badal chuki thi.

"Main is nikah ke kagaz par sign zaroor karungi... magar is haveli mein qadam rakhte hi, main tumhari har khushi ko nafrat mein badal doongi. Main tumse azaadi bhi haasil karungi aur tumhare is garoor ko bhi mitti mein mila doongi. Yeh mera tumse wada hai, Zain Shah!"

Kamre mein dobara sannaata chha gaya, magar yeh sannaata kisi bohot bare toofan ke aane se pehle ki khamoshi thi. Kal subah ka sooraj Shah Haveli mein ek naya toofan lekar aane wala tha.

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