Chapter 1: The Life That Is
Subah ki pehli kiran jab Manorama ke chehre par padti thi, tab woh already jaag chuki hoti thi. 49 saal ki umar mein bhi unki aadat nahi badli thi—4:30 baje uthna, sabse pehle nahana, phir pooja. Yeh routine 30 saalon se chala aa raha tha, jab se shadi hui thi.Aaj bhi waise hi hua. Manorama chup se bistar se uthi, Ashok ko disturb kiye bina. Woh Friday raat ko aaye the duty se, aur kal raat phir se peeke aaye the. Abhi bhi unki saans mein desi daaru ki boo thi. Manorama ne ek baar unki taraf dekha—55 saal ke ho gaye the Ashok, pet nikal aaya tha, chehre par jhurriyan, aur hamesha gusse mein rehte the. Kabhi kabhi sochti thi Manorama—yeh wahi aadmi hain jinse 30 saal pehle pyaar hua tha? Jinhe dekhkar dil dhadakta tha?
Par ab kuch nahi tha. Bas aadat thi. Zimmedari thi.
Manorama ne apna peela cotton ka salwar kameez nikala almari se. Simple sa, koi heavy design nahi, bas halka phulkari work border par. Dupatta bhi waise hi—halka, transparent nahi, sanskari. Unki saari sarees aur suits aise hi the. Kabhi bhi kuch bold nahi pehna. Yeh unki parvarish thi, unke sanskar the.
Bathroom mein jakar unhone jaldi se nahaya. Thanda paani tha, lekin aadat thi. Baal khol kar dhoya, phir towel se pochkar lambe baalon ko juda banaya. Chehre par kuch nahi lagaya—na cream, na powder. Natural beauty thi Manorama ki. Gora rang nahi tha, sawla tha, par ekdum chamakta hua. Aankhein badi badi, naak seedhi, hont bhare hue. Cheekbones sharp the, jawline defined. 49 ki umar mein bhi log 40 se zyada nahi dete the unhe.
Jism bhi waise hi tha—bhara hua, par mota nahi. Height 5'5" thi, aur figure 36-32-38. Breasts bade the, kamar patli, aur hips wide. Salwar kameez mein bhi unka jism dikhta tha—curves chhup nahi paate the. Par Manorama ne kabhi dhyan nahi diya. Unke liye yeh sab bekaar ki baatein thi. Unhe toh bas apne ghar se matlab tha, apne bachon se, apne dharm se.
Nahane ke baad seedha pooja room mein gayi. Choti si jagah thi, ek corner mein mandir bana rakha tha. Bhagwan ki murti, diya, agarbatti, phool. Manorama ne sabse pehle diya jalaya, phir agarbatti. Haath jodkar baith gayi.
"Om Namah Shivaya... Om Namah Shivaya..."
Mantra jaap shuru ho gaya. Aankhein band, mann shaant. Yeh waqt sirf unka tha. Duniya ki koi tension nahi, koi pareshani nahi. Bas Bhagwan aur woh.
Aadha ghanta pooja mein nikal gaya. Aarti ki, prasad chadhaya, phir uthkar kitchen ki taraf badhi.
Kitchen mein sabse pehle chai banani thi. Ashok ko 7 baje chai chahiye hoti thi, chahe kitna bhi peeke aaye ho. Manorama ne gas jalai, patila rakha, paani dala. Phir adrak koot kar daala, elaichi, aur chai patti. Dudh dala, cheeni daali. Dhire dhire ubalne laga.
Chai ubalne tak unhone nashta sochna shuru kiya. Aaj kya banaye? Kal raat ka khana bacha hua tha—dal, roti, sabzi. Ashok fresh nashta chahenge. Toh kya banaye?
Poha? Nahi, kal hi banaya tha.
Paratha? Haan, aloo ka paratha theek rahega.
Manorama ne aloo nikale, ubale hue the already. Mash kiya, namak daala, mirch, dhaniya powder, garam masala. Phir atta goondha, aur paratha belne lagi.
Tawa garam hua, ghee daala, aur pehla paratha rakh diya. Sssss... awaaz aayi. Khushbu failne lagi kitchen mein.
Tabhi bahar se awaaz aayi.
"Bai! Bai, uthi ho?"
Manorama muskurayi. Yeh awaaz thi Basantlal uncle ki. Woh hamesha subah jaldi uthte the, aur garden mein kaam karte the.
Manorama ne kitchen se bahar jhaanka. Balcony se dikhai diya—Basantlal uncle apne garden mein khade the, haath mein paani ka pipe. White kurta pajama pehne hue, bilkul saaf safed. Baal safed ho gaye the, par chehre par tej tha. Body ekdum fit—60 saal se upar ki umar mein bhi koi pet nahi, seedhe khade rehte the, shoulders broad.
"Haan Babuji, uthi hu! Aap kaise hain?" Manorama ne awaaz di.
"Bas theek hoon bai. Tum jaldi uthi aaj?"
"Nahi Babuji, roz ka time hi hai. Aap itni subah garden mein?"
"Haan, paani dena tha paudhon ko. Garmi badh rahi hai na, toh subah hi kar leta hoon." Basantlal ne muskurate hue kaha.
"Theek hai Babuji. Aap dhoop mein zyada mat khade rehna. Andar aa jaana thodi der mein."
"Haan haan, bas 10 minute aur." Basantlal ne haste hue kaha.
Manorama phir se kitchen mein chali gayi. Paratha palta diya, dusri side bhi sek li. Golden brown ho gaya tha. Nikala, plate mein rakha, aur dusra paratha belne lagi.
Yeh silsila chalta raha. Ek ek karke 6 paratha ban gaye. Ashok ke liye 3, Suraj ke liye 2 (agar aaj aaya toh), aur ek apne liye.
Chai bhi ready thi. Manorama ne ek cup mein chai daali, aur balcony mein aayi.
"Babuji!" unhone awaaz di.
Basantlal ne mudkar dekha. "Haan bai?"
"Chai pi lijiye. Laun?"
"Arre nahi nahi, main aa jata hoon. Tum kyun takleef karti ho?"
"Koi takleef nahi hai Babuji. Aap ruko, main laati hoon."
Manorama andar gayi, ek aur cup mein chai daali, aur balcony se hoke Basantlal ke ghar ki taraf badhi. Dono ghar jude hue the—ek common garden tha, aur balcony se seedha Basantlal ke back door tak jaaya ja sakta tha.
Basantlal apne veranda mein khade the jab Manorama pahunchi.
"Lo Babuji, chai." Manorama ne cup aage badhaaya.
"Arre Manorama bai, tum bhi na... kitni baar kaha hai takleef mat lo." Basantlal ne chai li, par chehre par shikayat thi—pyaar bhari shikayat.
"Koi takleef nahi hai Babuji. Aap itna kaam karte hain garden mein, toh chai toh banti hai." Manorama ne kaha.
Basantlal ne chai ka ghunt liya. "Wah... ekdum perfect hai. Tumhari chai ka koi mukabla nahi hai bai."
Manorama sharma gayi. "Bas Babuji, aap bhi."
"Sach keh raha hoon. Kusum ki chai mein yeh baat nahi thi." Basantlal ne kaha, phir chup ho gaye. Kusum aunty ko gaye 1.5 saal ho gaye the, par abhi bhi unki yaad aati thi.
Manorama ne topic badla. "Babuji, aaj Suraj aane wala hai. Weekend hai na."
"Achha? Bahut achha. Kitne din baad aa raha hai?"
"Haan, 2 hafte ho gaye. Padhai mein busy tha. Aaj bol raha tha phone par ki aa raha hai."
"Bahut achha ladka hai tumhara Suraj. Padhai mein bhi hoshiyar hai." Basantlal ne kaha.
"Haan, bas wahi toh hai ab ghar mein. Baaki sab toh bahar hain." Manorama ki awaaz mein halka sa dukh tha.
Basantlal ne notice kiya. "Harish, Varsha, Suman sab theek hain na?"
"Haan haan, sab theek hain. Apni apni zindagi mein busy hain. Kabhi kabhi phone karte hain bas."
"Hmm." Basantlal ne kuch nahi kaha. Woh jaante the Manorama ki zindagi kitni akeli thi. Char bachche, par sab door. Pati hain, par hain nahi jaise.
"Achha Babuji, main chalti hoon. Nashta banana hai." Manorama ne kaha.
"Haan haan jao. Aur sunno—" Basantlal ne roka.
"Ji?"
"Kal jo tumne bhindi banayi thi na, bahut mast bani thi. Mujhe bhi thodi de di thi yaad hai? Ekdum lajawab."
Manorama muskurayi. "Haan Babuji, yaad hai. Aaj kuch aur banaungi, aapke liye bhi bhejungi."
"Nahi nahi, main mazak kar raha tha. Tum apna dekho."
"Arre Babuji, aap bhi na. Theek hai, dekhti hoon kya banta hai." Manorama ne kaha aur wapas apne ghar ki taraf badhi.
Basantlal ne unhe jaate hue dekha. Manorama ki chaal mein ek grace thi—dhire dhire chalti thi, par confidence tha. Salwar kameez mein bhi unka figure dikh raha tha—kamar ki curve, hips ki roundness. Basantlal ne jaldi se nazar hata li. Yeh kya soch raha hoon main? Unhone khud ko daanta.
Manorama wapas kitchen mein aayi. Paratha garam kiye, aur Ashok ke liye plate lagayi. Chai ka cup bhi saath mein rakha, aur bedroom mein le gayi.
"Ji, uthiye. Nashta ready hai." Manorama ne dheere se kaha.
Ashok ne aankhein kholi. Laal thi aankhein, kal raat ki daaru ka asar abhi bhi tha.
"Hmm." Bas itna hi bola, aur uthkar bathroom chale gaye.
Manorama ne plate side table par rakh di, aur bahar aa gayi. Koi "good morning" nahi, koi "thank you" nahi. Bas hmm. Yeh toh roz ka tha.
Thodi der baad Ashok bahar aaye. Kurta pajama pehne hue, baal bikhre hue. Baith gaye dining table par, aur khana shuru kar diya.
Manorama paas khadi thi. "Aur chai chahiye?"
"Haan." Ashok ne bina dekhe kaha.
Manorama chai laayi. Ashok ne li, aur peene lage.
"Aaj kya plan hai aapka?" Manorama ne poocha.
"Kuch nahi. Ghar par hi rahunga. Kal raat bahut kaam tha office mein, thak gaya hoon."
"Theek hai. Khana kya banau lunch mein?"
"Jo bhi bana lo. Mujhe kya farak padta hai." Ashok ne kaha, thoda rudely.
Manorama chup ho gayi. Yeh bhi roz ka tha. Kabhi kabhi sochti thi—kyun poochti hoon? Jawab toh wahi milta hai.
Ashok ne khana khatam kiya, haath dhoya, aur drawing room mein ja kar TV on kar diya. News channel laga liya.
Manorama ne bartan uthaye, aur kitchen mein le gayi. Dhone lagi. Ek ek karke saaf kiye,닦e, aur rack par rakhe.
Tabhi phone ki ghanti baji.
Manorama ne haath닦e, aur phone uthaya.
"Hello?"
"Mummy!" Suraj ki awaaz thi.
"Haan beta, bol. Kaise ho?"
"Main theek hoon Mummy. Aaj aa raha hoon, 2 baje tak pahunch jaunga."
"Achha beta, theek hai. Khana kha kar aana, ya ghar par khana hai?"
"Nahi Mummy, main kha kar aaunga. Aap tension mat lo."
"Theek hai beta. Dhyan se aana."
"Haan Mummy. Papa kaise hain?"
Manorama ne Ashok ki taraf dekha. TV dekh rahe the, koi dhyan nahi.
"Theek hain beta. Kal raat duty se aaye hain."
"Achha. Theek hai Mummy, main aata hoon. Bye."
"Bye beta."
Phone rakhne ke baad Manorama muskurayi. Suraj aa raha tha. Ghar mein thodi raunak aayegi. Woh sabse chota tha, aur sabse zyada pyaara. Baaki teeno bachche bhi achhe the, par Suraj se ek alag hi bond tha.
Bartan dhone ke baad Manorama ne ghar ki safai shuru ki. Pehle drawing room, phir bedroom, phir bathroom. Pocha lagaya, jhaadu lagayi, sab kuch saaf kiya. 2 ghante lag gaye.
11 baje tak sab kaam ho gaya. Manorama ne ek baar phir chai banayi—apne liye aur Ashok ke liye. Ashok ko di, aur khud balcony mein baith kar peene lagi.
Bahar dhoop tez ho gayi thi. Garmi badh rahi thi. Manorama ne dekha—Basantlal uncle abhi bhi garden mein the, par ab shade mein baithe the, kuch padh rahe the.
"Babuji!" Manorama ne awaaz di.
Basantlal ne dekha. "Haan bai?"
"Aap abhi tak bahar hain? Andar aaiye na, bahut garmi hai."
"Haan, bas 5 minute aur. Yeh akhbar padh raha tha."
"Akhbar toh andar bhi padh sakte hain na. Aaiye, main aapke liye nimbu paani bana deti hoon."
Basantlal hanse. "Tum bhi na Manorama bai, bilkul meri behen jaisi ho. Hamesha meri chinta karti ho."
Manorama bhi muskurayi. "Aap bhi toh mere bhaiya jaise hain Babuji. Chinta toh karni hi padegi."
"Achha theek hai, aa raha hoon." Basantlal uthkar andar chale gaye.
Manorama bhi andar aayi, aur nimbu paani banana shuru kiya. Nimbu nichoda, paani daala, namak daala, jeera powder, kala namak. Achhe se mix kiya, aur ek glass mein daal kar Basantlal ke ghar ki taraf badhi.
Basantlal apne drawing room mein baithe the jab Manorama pahunchi.
"Lo Babuji, nimbu paani." Manorama ne glass diya.
"Arre wah, thank you bai." Basantlal ne glass liya aur ek ghunt liya. "Ekdum perfect. Tum jaanti ho main kaise pasand karta hoon."
"Haan Babuji, itne saal ho gaye na saath rehte hue. Ab toh pata chal hi gaya." Manorama ne kaha.
"22 saal." Basantlal ne kaha. "22 saal ho gaye tumhare yahan aaye hue."
"Haan Babuji. Harish 8 saal ka tha jab hum aaye the. Ab 30 ka ho gaya, shaadi bhi ho gayi."
"Time kitni jaldi nikal jaata hai na." Basantlal ne kaha, thoda sad होकर.
Manorama samajh gayi. Kusum aunty ki yaad aa gayi hogi.
"Babuji, aap akele toh nahi feel karte?" Manorama ne dheere se poocha.
Basantlal ne ek lambi saans li. "Karta hoon bai. Bahut karta hoon. Par kya karein, yahi zindagi hai. Kusum chali gayi, bachche apni apni zindagi mein busy hain. Bas main akela reh gaya."
"Aapke bhai hain na, bhabhi hain."
"Haan, hain. Par woh bhi apne kaam mein busy rehte hain. Aur main unhe disturb nahi karna chahta. Unki apni family hai, apni zindagi hai."
Manorama ne kuch nahi kaha. Woh samajh sakti thi yeh feeling. Woh bhi toh akeli thi—pati hain par nahi jaise, bachche hain par door.
"Babuji, aap kabhi bhi aa sakte hain hamare ghar. Akela feel ho toh baat karne aa jaiye. Main hoon na." Manorama ne kaha.
Basantlal ne Manorama ki taraf dekha. Unki aankhon mein sachhai thi, pyaar tha. Ek ajeeb sa ehsaas hua Basantlal ko—jaise koi unki parwah karta hai, unki fikr karta hai.
"Thank you bai. Tumhari baat se bahut achha lagta hai." Basantlal ne kaha.
"Aap bhi na Babuji, thank you kya. Hum toh family jaise hain." Manorama ne kaha.
"Haan, bilkul." Basantlal muskuraye.
Manorama wapas apne ghar aayi. Ashok abhi bhi TV dekh rahe the. Manorama ne lunch banana shuru kiya.
Aaj kya banaye? Ashok ko kuch bhi chalega, par Suraj aa raha hai. Usse kya pasand hai?
Rajkot wali dal, aloo gobhi ki sabzi, aur roti. Haan, yeh theek rahega.
Manorama ne dal dhoi, pressure cooker mein daali. Phir aloo aur gobhi kaate, aur sabzi banana shuru ki. Pyaaz, tamatar, masale—sab kuch perfect proportion mein.
Khana banate banate 1 baj gaya. Ashok ko bhookh lagi hogi.
"Ji, khana ready hai. Kha lijiye?" Manorama ne poocha.
"Haan, laga do." Ashok ne kaha.
Manorama ne plate lagayi—dal, sabzi, roti, achaar, salad. Sab kuch proper se. Ashok ke saamne rakha.
Ashok ne khana shuru kiya. Koi comment nahi, koi tareef nahi. Bas chup chaap khate rahe.
Manorama bhi apne liye plate lagayi, aur kitchen mein baith kar khane lagi. Akele. Hamesha akele.
Khana khatam karne ke baad Ashok phir se TV dekhne lage. Manorama ne bartan dhoya, kitchen saaf ki.
2 baje Suraj aa gaya.
"Mummy!" Darwaza kholte hi awaaz di.
"Aa gaya beta!" Manorama khushi se bahar aayi.
Suraj 22 saal ka tha, lambi height, patla, chehre par halki daadhi. Bilkul Manorama jaisa dikhta tha—wahi aankhein, wahi naak.
"Kaise ho Mummy?" Suraj ne Manorama ko hug kiya.
"Main theek hoon beta. Tu kaisa hai? Padhai kaisi chal rahi hai?"
"Sab theek hai Mummy. Exams aa rahe hain, isliye thoda busy tha."
"Hmm. Khana khaya?"
"Haan Mummy, raaste mein kha liya."
"Achha. Chal andar aa, fresh ho ja."
Suraj andar aaya. Ashok ko dekha.
"Namaste Papa."
"Hmm." Ashok ne bina dekhe kaha.
Suraj ko bura laga, par woh익숙 tha. Papa hamesha aise hi the.
Suraj apne room mein gaya, fresh hua, aur bahar aaya. Manorama ke paas baith gaya.
"Mummy, aap kaise hain? Sab theek hai na?" Suraj ne dheere se poocha.
"Haan beta, sab theek hai." Manorama ne kaha, par awaaz mein woh confidence nahi tha.
"Papa... woh phir se...?" Suraj ne Ashok ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Haan beta. Kal raat bhi peeke aaye the. Par koi baat nahi, main manage kar leti hoon."
Suraj ka dil bhar aaya. Usse pata tha Mummy kitna suffer karti hain. Par woh kuch kar nahi sakta tha. Abhi toh padh raha tha, koi job nahi, koi paisa nahi.
"Mummy, aap tension mat lo. Main jaldi job kar lunga, phir aapko yahan se le jaunga."
Manorama ne Suraj ke baal sahlaaye. "Beta, tu apni padhai par dhyan de. Baaki sab theek ho jayega."
"Par Mummy—"
"Suraj, main theek hoon. Tum chinta mat karo."
Suraj chup ho gaya. Woh jaanta tha Mummy nahi sunegi.
Shaam ko Manorama chai bana rahi thi jab Basantlal ki awaaz aayi.
"Bai! Bai!"
Manorama bahar aayi. "Haan Babuji?"
"Yeh dekho, aaj market se lauki laaya tha. Bahut fresh hai. Tumhare liye bhi le aaya." Basantlal ne ek thaila aage badhaaya.
"Arre Babuji, aap kyun takleef karte hain?"
"Koi takleef nahi bai. Tumhare liye kuch karna takleef nahi hai." Basantlal ne kaha.
Manorama ne thaila liya. "Thank you Babuji. Kal isse banaungi, aapke liye bhi bhejungi."
"Haan haan, zaroor." Basantlal muskuraye.
Tabhi Suraj bahar aaya.
"Namaste Babuji." Suraj ne haath jode.
"Arre Suraj beta! Kab aaya tu? Kaisa hai?" Basantlal khush ho gaye.
"Aaj dopahar ko aaya Babuji. Main theek hoon. Aap kaise hain?"
"Main bhi theek hoon beta. Padhai kaisi chal rahi hai?"
"Achhi chal rahi hai Babuji. Exams aa rahe hain."
"Bahut achha. Mehnat karta reh, sab achha hoga."
"Ji Babuji."
Basantlal Manorama ki taraf मुड़े. "Bai, Suraj bahut hoshiyar hai. Isko achhe se padhao, bahut aage jayega."
"Haan Babuji, main koshish karti hoon." Manorama ne kaha.
"Aur sunno, agar koi zaroorat ho—padhne likhne mein, books ki, fees ki—mujhe batana. Main hoon na."
Manorama ki aankhon mein paani aa gaya. Itni care, itni fikr. Apne pati se nahi mili, par iss paraye aadmi se mil rahi thi.
"Thank you Babuji. Aap bahut achhe hain." Manorama ne kaha, awaaz bhaari होकर.
Basantlal samajh gaye. "Achha main chalta hoon. Tum log chai piyo, baat karo."
Basantlal chale gaye.
Suraj ne Manorama ki taraf dekha. "Mummy, Babuji bahut achhe hain na?"
"Haan beta. Bahut achhe hain. Bhagwan ne agar kuch achha diya hai toh yeh padosi." Manorama ne kaha.
Raat ko khana khane ke baad Ashok phir se peene lage. Manorama ne kuch nahi kaha. Kya fayda tha?
Suraj apne room mein chala gaya. Manorama bartan dhone lagi.
Ashok nashe mein aa gaye. Chillane lage.
"Arre! Paani laa!"
Manorama paani le gayi.
"Itni der kyun laga di? Kya karti rehti hai poora din?" Ashok ne gusse se kaha.
"Main bartan dho rahi thi." Manorama ne dheere se kaha.
"Haan haan, bahana. Poora din kuch kaam nahi karti, bas bahar ghoomti rehti hai."
"Main bahar nahi ghoomti. Ghar ka kaam karti hoon."
"Haan, ghar ka kaam. Padosi ke ghar chai dena, unse baatein karna—yeh hai ghar ka kaam?" Ashok ne taana maara.
Manorama chup ho gayi. Yeh bhi roz ka tha. Nashe mein Ashok kuch bhi bolte the.
"Kya hua? Jawab nahi hai? Haan, kyonki sach hai na. Poora din us buddha ke ghar jaati rehti hai."
"Babuji achhe hain. Woh humare landlord hain, aur—"
"Landlord hain toh kya hua? Itna kya pyaar hai unse? Haan?"
Manorama ke aankhon mein aansu aa gaye. "Aap galat samajh rahe hain."
"Main galat samajh raha hoon? Ya tu galat kar rahi hai? Randi kahin ki!" Ashok ne gali di.
Manorama ka dil toot gaya. Yeh shabd. Yeh gandi gandi gaaliyan. Roz sunti thi, par har baar dard hota tha.
"Main kuch galat nahi kar rahi. Aap nashe mein hain, isliye aisa bol rahe hain." Manorama ne kaha, aur kitchen mein chali gayi.
Ashok कुछ देर chillate rahe, phir so gaye.
Manorama kitchen mein baith kar royi. Chup chaap, bina awaaz kiye. Yeh bhi roz ka tha.
Thodi der baad Suraj aaya.
"Mummy..." Uski awaaz mein dard tha.
"Haan beta." Manorama ne aansu닦e.
"Aap kyun सहती हain yeh sab? Kyun nahi छोड़ deti Papa ko?"
"Beta, shaadi hai. Rishta hai. Chhod nahi sakte."
"Par Mummy, yeh rishta kya hai jisme sirf dard ho? Koi respect nahi, koi pyaar nahi?"
Manorama chup rahi. Kya jawab deti? Suraj sahi keh raha tha.
"Mummy, please. Aap apne baare mein socho."
"Beta, main theek hoon. Tu chinta mat kar. Sone ja."
Suraj ko pata tha Mummy nahi sunegi. Woh wapas apne room mein chala gaya.
Manorama baith kar sochne lagi. Yeh zindagi thi uski. Subah uthna, pooja karna, khana banana, ghar saaf karna, pati ki gaaliyan sunna, raat ko rona. Roz ka routine.
Par ek cheez thi jo usse khushi deti thi—Basantlal uncle. Unki baatein, unki care, unki fikr. Woh ek alag hi sukoon dete the. Jaise koi apna ho, koi samajhne wala ho.
Manorama ne kabhi socha nahi tha ki yeh feeling kya hai. Bas itna jaanti thi ki Babuji ke saath waqt bitana achha lagta hai. Unse baat karna achha lagta hai.
Aur Basantlal? Unhe bhi Manorama se baat karna achha lagta tha. Unki हंसी, unki baatein, unki simplicity—sab kuch achha lagta tha. Par woh bhi nहीं jaante the ki yeh feeling kya hai.
Dono jaante the sirf itna—ki ek doosre ki company mein sukoon milta hai. Aur filहाल, yahi kaafi tha.
Manorama ne ek lambi saans li, aansu닦e, aur sone chali gayi. Kal phir wahi routine hoga. Wahi zindagi. Wahi dard.
Par shayad, Basantlal uncle ki wajah se, thoda sa sukoon bhi hoga.
Aur yahi sukoon, dheere dheere, kuch aur mein badalne wala tha. Par abhi, na Manorama ko pata tha, na Basantlal ko.
Abhi toh bas yeh zindagi thi. The life that is.
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