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Subha naashtay ka waqt hochuka tha. Sab neechay dining table par bethay thay, aur ghar mein naashtay ki sohni khushboo ke saath pooray ghar mein hal chal machi hui thi.
Woh rozana ki tarah iss baar bhi sab se aakhir mein neechay aaya tha, araam se tehl tehl kar. Ahad ne ussay behadd awaazein bhi dein thein, aur eik ghar mein rehne ke bawajood behadd calls bhi kein thein lekin 'nawabzaaday sahab'—jo Shanzay ussay kehke cheirti thi—behadd susti se neechay aye thay. Sab apni jagah par beth chukay thay, aur dining table par seats khatam hogayein thein.
"Idhar aajao tum, Zaviyaar beta. I'm done." Anaya apni jagah se kharri honay hee lagi thi ke Zaviyaar ne unhein uthnay se manah kardiya tha.
"It's okay, Aunty. Mein kitchen counter pe khaalounga. Masla nahi hai." Zaviyaar ne unkay kareeb aakar madham awaaz mein kaha tha. Woh nahi chahta tha ke dining table par maujood tamaam logoun ki tawajjah uski taraf mabzool ho.
"Are you sure? Mujhay masla nahi hai." Anaya ne bhi madham awaaz mein hee poocha tha.
"Apkay guests hain, aunty. Apko yahan hona chahiye." Zaviyaar ne bas halki si muskurahat ke saath itna sa kaha tha. Anaya aiteraaz karna chahti thi, lekin Zaviyaar ne ussay mauqa hee nahi diya. Usne eik plate khamoshi se uthayi, uspar apnay hissa ka paratha rakha aur niwala leta woh kitchen ki taraf barhgaya.
Inara ki tawajjah uskay aatay hee apni family se hatt kar uspar parr gayi thi. Usne Anaya aur uskay beech mein tabadla halka bohat sunn liya tha, aur jab usne Zaviyaar ko dining room se bahar jaatay dekha toh ussay dil mein dukh sa hua. Usne apni nazarein poori table ki taraf pherrein thein. Kiya waqqai uskay liye koi jagah nahi bachi thi? Jab jawab naffi mein aya, toh Inara ke chehray par wazeh afsos ubhra aur aankhein kitchen ki taraf mutawajjah hoyein. Ussne ussay dhoondhne ki koshish ki, lekin woh na dikha.
"Itni pareshaani horahi hai, toh chali jao na andar!" Barabar mein bethay Ahad ne ussay kohni maartay madham awaaz mein kaha.
"Asoolan tumhein jaana chahiye!" Inara ne moun banatay kaha.
"Asool ke muttabiq toh apko uski fikr honi bhi nahi chahiye. But here we are!"
"Why is it so difficult to talk to you?" Inara ne aankhein pherrein.
Ahad ke chehray par shararat se tapakti muskurahat ubhri. "Maybe because you found someone with whom conversations flow."
Inara ne moun banaya. "Kiya bakkrahay ho?"
"Itni daer raat tak terrace par bethay bethay kiya kartay ho, sab pata hai mujhay!"
Inara ki aankhein hairat mein phattein. Ahad ki muskurahat mazeed gehri hui. "Bestfriend houn mein uska. Aesay hee nahi banna, bachoo."
Inara ne foran table par parri choori uthayi thi, aur dhamki dene walay andaaz mein usne woh Ahad ki taraf point ki thi. Ahad ki muskurahat foran dhal gayi aur aankhein phattein. "If you tell anyone, I will kill you with my bare hands!"
