OS: TAARON KE SHEHER MEIN
Na chain se jeene degi, Na chain se marne degi,
Na chain se jeene degi, Na chain se marne degi
“Mujhe nahi pata kaise par, mujhe bhi mohabbat ho gayi hai tumse Meenu!” Nofil had held her arm and finally confessed her his love, after the misunderstandings that were growing between them, he had finally decided to catch up with her in the middle of the field where she was going to her college, and he was on his way to the dispensary.
“Itna time laga aapko ye samajhne mein?” Meenu’s big eyes had big fat tears in them.
“Ab rone kyu lagi tum?” Nofil had just begun to wipe her tears when both of them were jolted out of their conversation by a rude voice.
“Toh ye sab chal raha hai Doctori aur college ke naam par? Ishq mashooki?” It was Malik’s henchman who had caught them red-handed. “Ab toh panchayat, aur Meenu tere ghar wale tera faisla karenge. Batata hoon dono ko!” he moved away from that place at a faster pace.
Nofil had a worried look on his face, while Meenu had the land slid from under her feet. Her dreams of being a doctor and what not were coming to shatter. Before she could react, it was Nofil, who made her look at him, his hands on her shoulder- “Meri baat dhyaan se suno Meenu, jitni jaldi ho sake, college pohcho. Aur shaam se pehle mat lautna. Jab tak tum wapas aaogi, main kuch bandobast karta hoon iss situation ka.”
“Aap kya karenge Doctor saab, aap bhi gaye aur main bhi. Mere saath toh jo hoga so hoga, aapki izzat jaayegi so alag. Ye humne kya kar diya?” Meenu was biting her nails in tension as a fresh film of tears was forming in her eyes.
He pulled her finger out of her mouth and said- “Kuch nahi hoga. Aur ab jo hoga, usey ho jaane dena. Bohot ho gayi gaao walo ki ye chik chik. Mujh pe bharosa rakho aaj ki raat tum pursukoon hogi. Chalo Shaabaash, ab jaao college jaldi, isse pehle tumhare koi bhi bhai aa jaayein tumhare peeche.”
Haan chalo le chalein tumhein taaron ke shehar mein
Dharti pe ye duniya, humein pyar na karne degi
Hmm, Haan chalo le chalein tumhein taaron ke shehar mein
Dharti pe ye duniya, humein pyar na karne degi
“Doctor saab, Malik saab ne apne dere par bulaya hai aapko, panchayat rakhi hai, Meenu ke ghar walo ko bhi bulaya hai.”Compounder Afzal came to inform Dr. Nofil on main road in the late hours of the afternoon, who was standing near the Bus depot. But Afzal got confused seeing him on the bus depot, and then asked- “Sir, aap bechari Meenu ko iss beech majhdaar mein akele chodhke chale jaayenge? Ilzaam toh aap dono pe barabar ka laga hai.”Afzal felt disappointed.
“Arre nahi bhayi, kisi ko pick karne aaya hoon yahan. Aap chaliye, main aata hoon. Aur befikr rahiye, aapki Meenu par koi keechad uchalne nahi dunga.” He smiled his lopsided smile, and sent Afzal back.
Though Afzal felt astonished at Dr. Nofil’s ease at the situation and instead of hiding in the dispensary or talking to some elder of the village, he’s waiting for someone. Nevertheless, his respect for the doctor didn’t let him question any further and he left.
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“Aaiye- aaiye Doctor Saab, aapka hi intezaar tha. Badi khabrein chal rahi hain gaaon mein aapke aur Meenu ke bare mein.”Malik Nadir spoke with a wicked smile, but then looked at people around Nofil.He was with the Imam of the mosque of their village, and two other men and a woman with him. “Aapne bataya nahi tha Doctor saab ki aap apna Lashkar lekar aayenge?”Malik asked.
“Befikr rahiye Malik saab, inki khaatir tawaazo nahi karni padegi aapko. Ye mere mehmaan hain. Maine socha ki agar ilzaam mujhpe laga hai toh mujhe apne saath bhi kuch logon ko lekar aana chahiye na.” Nofil wittedly spoke as he looked at the other side. Meenu still in her white college uniform sat with her parents, and all her brothers were standing behind them being absolutely livid. Meenu looked up at him, and the reassurance on his face calmed her down and she sat with a poker face.
“Wo toh theek hai doctor Saab, par jaisa aap jaante hain, mere aadmi ne aapko aur Meenu ko rangey haath pakda hai… ye sab haram kaam karne ki saza dono ko milegi. Kyuki main jaanta hoon ki in gulon ke khilne se pehle hi kaliyaan khil rahi thi. Meenu ne aapke liye seedhi bhi banayi thi, jo usne kaha tha ki usne meri bahu ke liye banayi thi. Sab jhoot, inn sab haram kaamon ke liye.” Malik spoke.
“Ismein haram kya hai Malik sahab? Sirf itna hi toh kaha ki main Meenu ko pasand karta hoon. Wo bhi khule area mein. Na maine usko uske ghar se bhagane ki koshish ki aur na kabhi akele mein milne ki.Toh ismein dikkat kya hai?” Nofil softly put forward his point.
“Dekho daaktar, ye sab shehri baatein sheher mein jaake karna. Yahan Qaisar Kalan mein ye behoodgi nahi chalti.” One of Meenu’s brother spoke.
Jo tumna meri baahon mein, Main to so nahi sakta
Khuda ne tujhko diya mujhe, Tujhe main kho nahi sakta
Main marr jaunga agar kabhi kehna pad gaya yeh sanam
Main tera hi hoon, magar tera ho nahi sakta
Humein maar hi na daale, Buri nazar yeh logon ki
Ye hath chhudayenge, Na hath pakadne degi
“Maulvi sahab, kya aap kuch bata sakte hain iss maamle mein? Agar main aur Meenu ek dusre ko pasand karte hain aur iska izhaar bhar humne kiya hai, toh kya ghalat kiya hai?” Nofil looked at the imam of the village and asked this question.
“Dekho beta, ye gaao hai, yahan aise khuleaam ishqbaaziyaan nahi hoti. Isliye sab naraz ho rahe hain. Par agar main shariyat ke taur pe baat karoon, jo haq Allah ne humko diye hain, ek ladka ladki ek dusre ko pasand kar sakte hain. Par sair sapaton ke liye nahi, usko ek haq halal rishta banane ke liye.” Imam sahab said.
Malik Nadir interjected immediately-“Yahi, inhi behoodgiyon ki wajah se humare Qaisar Kalan ka mahaul bigad raha hai. Ye doctor apne sheher se ye saari modern baatein le aaya hai, aur phir humare gaaon ki maasoom bholi bhaali ladki ko behka raha hai.”
“Arre Meenu toh achhi khaasi padhai kar rahi thi, doctor banna tha usko. Tumhare inn chakkaron mein padke ab uski padhai bhi chhoot jaayegi.” One of Meenu’s brother spoke.
This intrigued not just Nofil but Meenu too, and both had an amused smile on their faces. Meenu couldn’t stop her chuckle as she sarcastically asked- “Aapko kab se meri padhai ki fikar ho gayi Bhai? Jahan tak mujhe yaad hai, aap aur mere sab bhai bas meri shaadi karwana chahte they.”
“Wo toh beta ab hum teri kara ke hi rahenge. Kaaleek potke humare mooh pe, hum tujhe ghar mein toh bithaane se rahe.” Meenu’s eldest brother spoke.
“Aur main bhi dekhta hoon ki meri beti ki zabardasti shaadi kaun karata hai.” Meenu’s father stood up angrily.
Malik Nadir angrily shut everyone up-“Ye panchayat meri hai, faisla main karunga. Meenu aur Doctor saab ko saza toh milegi. Taaki aagey aane wale har jodey ko naseehat lag jaaye ki ishq mashooki karne ki kya saza hoti hai.”
The elderly man with Nofil who looked like a sober city man in his Pajama Kurta with a kind face and half bald pate cleared his throat and spoke- “ Ijaazat ho toh main kuch boloon Janab?”
“Dekhiye janab, ye humare gaaon ka maamla hai. Aur humare maamlo mein sheher walon ko bolne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai.” Malik Nadir spoke rudely.
“Par ye maamla mere bete ka hai, ismein bolna meri zaroorat bhi hai, haq bhi; aur maaf keejiye, iss maamle mein aapse zyada iqtiyaar bhi.” Nofil’s father spoke clearly, which unexpectedly had made Malik Nadir dumb-found for a moment. “Mujhe Nofil ka call aaya tha, usne mujhe bataya tha ki usko ek ladki pasand aa gayi hai, aur wo chaahta hai ki main aake uske ghar walo se baat karoon. Isse pehle main aata aur taur tameez se baat karta, aap logon ne yahan panchayat laga li?” Nofil’s father looked incredulously at Malik Nadir and his men.
Haan chalo le chalein tumhein taaron ke shehar mein
Dharti pe ye duniya, humein pyar na karne degi
Ho,Haan chalo le chalein tumhein taaron ke shehar mein
Dharti pe ye duniya, humein pyar na karne degi
Log humse jalte hain, Jalte hain iss baat pe
Kyun itne zyaada khoobsurat lagte hain hum sath mein
Log humse jalte hain, Jalte hain iss baat pe
Kyun itne zyaada khoobsurat lagte hain hum sath mein
Meenu’s family looked incredulously at Nofil’s father, as her father spoke- “Sahab, aap ye kya keh rahe hain? Aapka aur humara kya meil? Main kukkadbaaz, mere ek bete ki kiryane ki dukaan, ek bus conductor, aur do nikamme bete. Aap jaise padhe likhe, shehri logon se hum anpadhon ka kya jod?”
“Bhai sahab, jod toh Allah taala ne Nofil aur Meenu ka banaya hai. Hum toh ghar wale hain, saath nibhana toh humara farz hai. Agar aap logon ko koi aitraaz nahi, toh kya main baat pakki samjhoon?” Nofil’s father asked politely.
“HUMEIN AITRAAZ HAI!!!” Malik Nadirstood up from his seat and spoke angrily. “Hum ye hargiz nahi hone denge. Gaaon mein ye mohabbat ki shaadiyaan nahi hoti, aur na hongi.”
“Baith jaaiye Malik saahab.” Maulvi sahab interjected calmly, but firmly. The respect that the Imam had in the village, Malik Nadir sat down. “Apne mazhab se aagey aap nahi hain. Meri nazar mein Doctor saab aur Meenu ne sirf izhaar kiya tha, aur unke maa baap unke rishte ke liye raazi hain, toh mere hisaab se aapki panchayat aur uski saza maayne nahi rakhti.”
The assent from the crowd around and the accepting nods from Meenu’s family had settled the matter, and Malik Nadir yet again sat dejectedly, for he lost another panchayat because of Meenu and Nofil.
Both the families were meeting and greeting, Nofil introduced his father, mother and the qaazi his father brought along from city, and were discussing the wedding program, when Roshan excitedly yelled- “Gaaon walo… Aaj shaam Maghrib aur Isha ke darmiyaan meri buaa ka nikaah hai. Aur kal dopahar walima. Aap sab aaiyega. Bohot kaam karna hai.”
And that’s how in a jiffy, the wedding was getting arranged. Nofil’s mother handed over a package of gharara kurta that she had purchased in excitement when Nofil’s father had said that he has started liking a girl and wanted to marry.
After namaz of Maghrib, all the villagers started collecting in the common ground, where modest marquee was stood and the wedding procession was about to begin. All villagers dressed in their best came to attend the nikaah of doctor saab and their beloved Meenu.
Meenu was sitting inside a makeshift room in the marquee in the gharara kurta Nofil’s mother gave, Sartaj chachi and Meenu’s bhabhi were helping her wear the ornaments. Meenu wasn’t registering much except the fact that she was getting married. Just this morning Nofil had confessed his love for her, and the chaos that unfolded was unnerving. Roshan had come to pick her up from college, because the entire house was in disarray with the panchayat held for her. Her bicycle was still in the college. Back from college, she didn’t get time to even change out of her uniform, that she was dragged to Malik Nadir’s dera, where the decision of her marriage was made suddenly. What with the happiness and frolic happening since then, Meenu could hardly register. She was asked to take a bath with ubtan, and God knows better how her bhabhi had arranged henna for her in the meanwhile. Water was still dripping from her long hair, when she was pulled and sat on the khatiya, and four girls from neighbourhood giggled and laughed, as they applied mehendi, asthey learnt it from the nearby art center. She barely asked to fill her palms on both the sides, and in the meanwhile henna was also applied on her feet. Roshan had arranged a makeshift bonfire in an iron pan where she dried her henna as fast as she could, and scraped everything off as soon as it dried. Everyone was ready and was waiting for her to reach the venue, where they decided to dress her up in the marquee room.
“Meenu, doctor saab tujhe aagey padhne toh denge na?” Meenu’s bhabhi asked, as she was combing her hair into a braid.
“Kyu nahi padhne dega Nofil isko? Mujhe toh nahi lagta ki wo mana karega. Hai na Meenu?” Sartaj chachi asked while slipping glass bangles on Meenu’s henna clad orange hands.
“Pata nahi chachi. Meri doctor saab se koi baat hi nahi hui. Humein mohabbat kya huyi, iss gaaon walo ne humein saza hi suna di.” Meenu spoke as if in a trance.
“Tu pagal hai kya Meenu? Isey tu saza kehti hai? Shukr adaa kar ki Doctor saab ke abba ne sab sambhaal liya. Nahi toh palle baandh di jaati tu kisi theth nikamme ke saath.” Meenu’s bhabhi spoke.
“Haan Meenu beta, mujhe lagta hai kiNofil ke ghar walo ne sahi waqt pe aake tum dono ko bacha liya. Bas Allah kare ki tum dono khush raho, aur ab bina kisi rukawat ke padhai karo, aur ek din doctor banke Qaisar Kalan ka naam roshan karo.” Sartaj Chachi spoke.
Meenu smiled a little this time as she asked- “Ab aap apne ghar ki chhatt par aake mujhe padhne ke liye mana nahi karengi?”
“Tu aake kyu padhegi pagli? Ab nikaah ke baad tu bhi toh rahegi humare doctor saab ke saath mere ghar mein.” Sartaj chachi teased.
The redness that crept on Meenu’s face was evident, and she knew nothing but to hide her face in her palms in shyness.
Jo bhi ishq mein hote hain, Hote hain deewane se
Khushi nahi dekhi jaati mohabbat ki zamaane se
Mujhe pata hai oh jaanam chahe kuchh bhi ho jaaye
Tu khud mar jaayegi, Jaani na marne degi
Haan chalo le chalein tumhein taaron ke shehar mein
Dharti pe ye duniya, humein pyar na karne degi
“Maimoona Khanum, aapka nikaah Nofil Ahmed ke saath tayy paya gaya. Kya aapko ye nikaah qubool hai?” Maulvi saahab asked.
“Qubool hai.” Meenu has answered thrice for this question. She had thought about this in her head, and found no reason to negate. Though marriage wasn’t her first priority, but marriage with Dr. Nofil was on her list of priorities. Better early to get married than the entire hullabaloo about her studying from him.
“Qubool hai.” Nofil had also answered thrice to this question, though his stance was way more relaxed and happier than Meenu. Probably because he had been making grounds for this marriage for a few days, his mind was more prepared. He didn’t get to talk to Meenu after their confession, and though he didn’t know the exact state of her mind, but he knew, she would have wanted so much to say, and he will hear her out tonight once they are married.
Motichoor ke laddoo were distributed among the entire village as the Nikah ka meetha, as that was the only sweet that the halwaai in the village could make at such a short notice. Nofil’s parents didn’t take any dinner from Meenu’s family, as they straightaway wanted the ruqsati. And as per promise, Nofil’s family instead will give lunch to the entire village as walima. And that’s how Meenu’s dearest abba, eyes full of tears bid his dearest child adieu with the best hopes for her bright future.
Sartaj Chachi and her husband were hospitable enough to welcome Nofil and his family to their house for their stay. Meenu walked with Nofil and his family towards their home. She hadn’t looked anywhere just bowing her head low. She could see Nofil brushed his fingers to her hand, but she couldn’t muster her courage to hold his hand in front of everyone. She finally looked up walking, when she saw bring lights. Their humble hosts had even decorated their building from outside with fairy lights; they really considered Dr. Nofil their son. She bowed again before anyone sees her.
Nofil and Meenu sat in front of each other as they gobbled biryani that was sent to their room to have dinner. She was extremely quiet, though she smiled at him with her whole heart.
“Kya baat hai Meenu, tum kuch bol kyu nahi rahi ho?” Nofil asked finally.
“Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha Doctor saab, main kya boloon. Sab kuch kitna jaldi jaldi ho gaya na.” Meenu smiled and said.
“Nofil. Ab se please Doctor saab mat bolna. Tum meri mareeza nahi ho.” He corrected her and then laughed.
“Ji…” she went quiet, and then suddenly spoke- “Nofil…Aapse ek baat poochu?”
“Arrey ismein poochna kya hai, tum toh hukm karo.” He lent towards her in attention and adoration.
“Aap mujhe aagey padhne denge na?”she spoke out that one thing that ate her inside.
He stopped for a moment in washing his hands and looked at her. He washed and dried his hands watching her very attentively. She has been worrying about her studies all this while, and he was thinking that she has gone all shy bride types. He held her wrist and made her sit on the bed and sat closely next to her.
“Meenu, mujhe pata tha ye baat mujhe karni hogi, par maine socha nahi tha waise ki ye sab baatein main aaj raat mein karunga. Khair, mujhe bohot achhe se pata hai tumhari education ke kya maayne hain. Of course, tum iss gaaon ki star ho. Tumhare kisse mash’hoorhain. And honestly, I respect it.” Nofil earnestly spoke.
Meenu gave him a fond smile, there were selected few who actually complimented her hard work, and this coming from an accomplished person like him made it all the more special, let alone the fact that he loved her. She knew he had to speak more, so she continued smiling, waiting for him to continue.
“Main chaahta hoon ki tum kuch baatein samjho. Pehli baat, maine ye shaadi tumhein ya khud ko bachaane ke liye majboori mein nahi ki hai. Maine abbu se kuch din pehle hi keh diya tha. Par aaj jab ye sab kuch subah hua toh maine unhein aur ammi ko fauran bula liya.” He told her the side of the story that they didn’t get time to talk about. “Hum beshak shaadi kuch waqt baad bhi kar sakte they, lekin mujhe laga ki ab bas bohot ho gaya hai. Tumhari padhai ka sabse zyada harj hota hai gaaon ki rok tok se.”
Meenu fondly looked at him this time. To now know that this marriage was not for saving their grace, but for her education, it was enlightening. “Nofil…” she felt speechless.
“Baat, puri sunn lo… Meenu, na sirf tumhare liye, balki iss purey gaaon ke liye, tumhari education sabki top priority hai. Aur mere liye bhi. Pehle bhi thi, par ab poorey haq se hai.Meenu, tumhein bohot dil laga ke padhai karni hai. Main chaahta hoon ki tum saath saath pre medical exam ki bhi taiyyari karo, main padhaunga. Jab tak tumhara ye course pura hota hai, main chaahta hoon ki tumhara admission kisi medical college mein ho jaaye. Khoob mehnat karni hai tumhein. Maimoona Khanum se Dr. Maimoona Nofil banna hai tumko.” He smilingly repeated her words that she once told him.
She felt so overwhelmed at his words, that she went and gave him one tight hug for the beautiful future he was showing. A moment later, realizing her action, she pulled out shyly, and started walking towards wash basin- “Haath dho loon main apne?” she tried warding off the redness on her face, and went washing her hands.
“Haan haan shaukh se dho lo…” Nofil somehow was still in the mood she just left him in when she hugged… “Aur phir haath dhokar mere peeche padh jaao na… Please!” he had his eye brow raised in teasing. He laughed aloud when she splashed some drop of water on him for teasing her.
Well, marriage and her education walked hand in hand.
------------THANKS FOR READING----------
you have put in lot of efforts.
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