Disclaimer
This book is transliteration of Umera Ahmed’s masterpiece Peer-e-Kaamil WITHOUT HER PERMISSION.
This is only for those readers who understand Urdu but can’t read it. On Goodreads, some people asked meabout Roman transliteration of Peer-e-Kamil. I couldn’t find it, so I made a mental note to try and make it available to others for free when I get time. Then I forgot about it because I never get time.
And this morning, I got this book. Some kind soul had enough time to transliterate, print, and spiral bind and bring it home.
Anyone interested in reading the roman version can borrow from me.
And those online can read it here.
P.S. This is NOT English translation. If you want that, it’s available on Amazon.
“Mera naam Venus Edward hai.”
Wo ladki uski taraf apna hath badhate hue boli thi. Wo us waqt library ki book shelf se ek kitaab nikaal raha tha, jab wo uske qareeb aayi thi.
“Salar Sikandar!” Usne Venus se hath milaate hue apna ta’aruf karwaya.
“Main jaanti hoon, tumhein ta’aruf ki zaroorat nahin hai.”
Venus ne badi garm joshi se kaha. Salar ne use ye nahin kaha ke use bhi ta’aruf ki zaroorat nahin thi. Wo apni class ke pachaas ke pachaas logon ko unke naam se jaanta aur pehchaanta tha. Na sirf ye balke wo bried biodata bhi baghair atke kisi ghalti ke bata sakta tha. Jaise wo is waqt Venus ko ye bata kar hairaan kar sakta tha ke wo New Jersey se aayi thi. Waha wo ek saal High Bridge ki ek company mein kaam karti rahi thi. Uske paas marketing mein ek degree thi aur wo ab dusri degree ke liye wahan aayi thi aur wo usse kam az kam 6-7 saal badi thi. Agarche qad-o-qaamat se Salar usse bahot bada lagta tha magar wo jaanta tha ke wo is waqt apne batch mein sab se kam umr tha. Apne batch mein sirf wahi tha jo kisi qism ki job kiye baghair sidha MBA ke liye aaya tha. Baaqi sab ke paas kahin na kahin kuch saal kaam karne ka tujruba tha magar is waqt Venus ko ye sab kuch batana use khush fehmi ka shikaar karne ke mutaraadif tha.
“Agar main aap ko coffee ki dawat doon to?” Venus ne apna ta’aruf karwane ke baad kaha.
“To main use qubool kar lunga.”
“Wo uski baat par hansi. “To phir chalte hain, coffee peete hain.” Salar ne kandhe uchkaaye aur kitaab ko dobara shelf mein rakh diya.
Cafeteria mein baith kar wo dono taqreeban aadh ghanta tak ek dusre ke sath baatein karte rahe. Ye Venus ke sath uski shanasaayi ka aaghaaz tha. Salar ke liye kisi ladki ke sath talluqaat badhana koi mushkli kaam nahin tha. Wo ye kaam bahot aasani se kar liya karta tha. Is baar mazeed aasaani ye thi ke pahel Venus ki taraf se hui thi.
3-4 mulaqaaton ke baad usne ek raat Venus ko apne flat par raat guzaarne ke liye invite kar liya tha aur Venus ne kisi ta’ammul ke baghair uski dawat qubool kar li. Wo dono university ke baad ikatthey bahot si jaghon par phirtey rahe. Salar ke flat par unki waapsi late night hui thi.
Wo kitchen mein apne aur uske liye glass tayyar karne laga jab ke Venus be takallufi se idhar udhar phirte hue uske apartment ka jaaiza le rahi thi phir wo us ke qareeb aa kar counter ke saamne khadi ho gayi. “Bahot acha apartment hai tumhara. Main soch rahi thi ke tum akele rehte ho to apartment ka huliya khaasa kharaab hoga magar tum ne to har cheez bade saleeqey se rakhi hui hai. Tum aise hi rehte ho ya ye ehtemaam khaas mere liye kiya gaya hai.
Salar ne kuch kahe baghair ek hi saans mein glass khali kiya. Venus uske jawaab na dene par ab kuch uljhe hue andaz mein use dekh rahi thi.
Venus mein uski dilchaspi khatm hone mein sirf chand minute lage the. Wo nahin jaanta use kyun uske wajood se uljhan hone lagi thi. Wo pichle 2 ghante ek night club mein uske sath dance karta raha tha aur uske sath be had khush tha aur ab chand minton mein…………..”
Salar ne apne kandhe jhatke aur sink ki taraf chala gaya. Wo apna glass dhone laga. Venus dusra glass le kar uske paas chali aayi. Salar ne usse glass le liya. Wo apne seeney par dono baazu lapetey uske bilkul paas khadi use dekhti rahi. Salar ko uski nazron se jhunjhlaahat ho rahi thi.
“Main………….. Meri tabiyat kuch theek nahin hai.”
Glass ko shelf par rakhte hue usne Venus se kaha. Wo hairaani se use dekhne lagi. Wo bilwaasta taur par use wahan se jaane ke liye keh raha tha. Venus ke chehrey ka rang badal gaya. Salar ka rawaiyya be had tauheen aamez tha. Wo chand lamhey use ghoorti rahi phir tezi ke sath apna sweater aut bag utha kar apartment ka darwaza dhamaake se band kar ke nikal gayi. Wo dono hathon se apna sar pakad kar sofe par baith gaya.
Venus aur Imama mein kahin kisi qism ki koi mushabehat nahin thi. Donon ki gardanon mein maujood moti bhi bilkul ek jaisa nahin tha uske bawajood is waqt uski gardan mein jhooltey hue us moti ko dekh kar be ikhteyaar wo yaad aayi thi. Kyun………….? Ab phir kyun………….? Aakhir is waqt kyun……………? Wo be had musta’il ho raha tha. Uski wajah se uski raat kharaab ho gayi thi, usne center table par pada hua ek crystal ka guldaan uthaya aur poori quwwat se use diwaar par de maara.
Weekend ke baad Venus se uski dobara mulaqaat hui laikin wo usse bade rukhey aur ukhdey hue andaaz mein mila. Ye usse talluqaat shuru karne se pehle hi khatm karne ka wahid raasta tha. Use har us aurat se jhunjhlaahat hoti thi jo use kisi bhi tarah se Imama ki yaad dilati aur Venus un aurton mein shaamil ho gayi thi. Venus jo uski taraf se kisi maazrat aur agli dawat ka intezaar kar rahi thi wo uske is rawaiyye se buri tarah dil bardaashta hui thi. Yale mein ye uska pehla affair tha.
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~~~
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Shabana Mukhtar