CHAPTER – 1
{THE QUEST FOR STYGIAN}
UPDATE – 2
NEXT DAY :
CITY : MUMBAI
LOCATION : THAKUR VILLA
Jaante hi hain aap iss ghar ko to, filhaal iss ghar ke baahar khada tha Main. Waise to Zyadatar mera chehra sapaat aur aankhen sooni si hi raha karti hain par iss waqt ek krodh ki jawaala meri aankhon mein saaf dekhi jaa sakti thi. Mere haath mein do bags the, jinmein of course mera samaan tha. Tabhi gate ke paas khade ek guard ki nazar mujhpar padi aur fir uski aankhen failti chali gayi. Wo andar ki taraf bhaaga ek hi pankti ko laghbhag chillate huye – “Maalik... Maalik... Arjun Baba aa gaye!!”
Maine apne dimaag mein panap rahe anekon vichaaron ko jhatka aur andar ki taraf badh gaya. Main abhi ghar ki chaukhat par pahuncha hi tha ke andar ki taraf se laghbhag bhaagte huye ek buzurg vyakti aaye. Mujhe dekhkar unki aankhen bheegti chali gayi, wo kitne khush the iska andaza main laga paa raha tha. Maine apne bags ko chhoda aur unke paaon chhoo liye. Unhone mujhe uthaya aur apne gale se laga liya. Wo meri peeth par thapthapate huye aansoon baha rahe the, wahin unke peechhe hi kuchh aur shakhs bhi khade the. Jahaan unmein se do ko dekh kar mere chehre par halki khushi aayi wahin baaki dono ko dekh kar ek hi jhatke mein wo khushi kafoor ho gayi.
Khair, un buzurg vyakti joki mere Dadaji the, unhone kaafi derr mujhe gale lagaye rakhe aur jab wo alag huye to unke chehre par saare jahaan ki khushi thi. Unhone mere sar par haath fera aur,
DADAJI : Bahut waqt laga diya tune aane mein, bahut intezaar karwaya hai tune iss boodhe ko.
Fir, main unke peechhe ki taraf badha aur wahaan khade aadmi joki mere Chacha the unke paaon chhuye, wo bhi behadh garmjoshi se mujhse mile aur unke baad main Chachi se mila. Unhone sadaiv hi mujhe apne khud ke bete jaisa hi maana tha. To nischit hi unka behadh zyada emotional ho jaana laazmi tha. Khair, jab main in sabse mil liya to wahaan khade ek aur aadmi – aurat joki mere Maa – Baap the meri taraf badhne ko huye. Par tabhi maine apna haath aage kar diya, mere Jabde bhinche huye the aur aankhon mein ek tapish thi jisse un dono ne mehsoos kar liya tha. Wo ruk gaye aur laachari bhari nazron se mujhe dekhne lage. Abhi main kuchh aur sochta ke tabhi mujhe peechhe se ek aawaz aayi – “BHAIYAAAA...” jisse sunkar main palta.
Wahaan seedhiyon ke nazdeek khada tha ek ladka aur do ladkiyaan jinme se ek ladki (Anvita) par meri aankhen atak gayi thi. Wo bhi apalak mujhe hi nihaare jaa rahi thi. Ek chumbakiya taakat thi uski aankhon mein jo main unke alawa kahin aur dekh hi nahi paa raha tha. Wo chehra jiss se main sabse adhik prem karta tha, kitni mayoosi... Kitna gam, kitni peeda thi uske uss haseen rukhsaar par. Tabhi uske saath mein khadi ladki aur ladka (Sneha – Dhruv) meri aur bhaage aur mere gale lag gaye. Un dono ki aankhon mein bhi aansoon the, kuchh derr baad jab wo alag huye to maine dono ke sar par haath fera. Par iss dauraan meri nazren bas ussi chehre par hi atki huyi thi.
Wo dono bhi jaise mere mann ki baat samajh gaye the aur muskurate huye side hatt gaye. Main dheeme kadmon se uss ladki ki taraf badha aur uske saamne jaakar khada ho gaya. Maine apne kaanpte haath ko uthaya aur jaise hi uske chehre par sparsh karne waala tha wo palatkar seedhiyon se oopar ki taraf bhaag gayi. Main thaga sa khada usse jaate dekhta raha aur aakhir kaar kitne hi waqt baad meri aankhon se bhi neer chhalak hi gaya. Mujhe bahut ajeeb si anubhuti ho rahi thi uske jaane se, tabhi Sneha chalti huyi mere paas aayi aur mere kandhe par haath rakhkar boli,
SNEHA : Bhaiya, wo bahut zyada dard mein hai. Aapke jaane ke baad usne khudko ek shell mein band kar liya hai, yahaan tak ki kisi se baat tak nahi karti wo. Par maine kayi baar usse aapki photo se baatein karte dekha hai. Aap hi usse pehle jaisa bana sakte hain ab...
Main bina uski poori baat sune oopar ki taraf chal diya. Hamesha se uska aur mera kamra ek hi tha. Aur main abhi ussi kamre ke baahar khada tha. Baar – baar main apna haath utha raha tha par darwaaze tak pahunchte hi jaise uski shakti apna dum tod deti. Tabhi maine ek lambi saans kheenchi aur darwaaze ko halka sa jhatka de diya, agle hi pal wo khulta chala gaya. Wo kamra, wo bilkul waisa hi tha jaisa main usse chhod gaya tha bas ek cheez alag thi aur wo thi meri tasveeren... Kamre ki har deewar par bas meri hi tasveeren thi. Baaki uss kamre ka rang, arrangement ya fir sajaawat sab kuchh waisa hi tha. Yahaan tak ki wo sugandh jo ab tak mujhmein basi thi, wo bhi jeevant thi uss kamre mein.
Maine chaaron taraf nazar ghumaayi par wo kahin nahi thi lekin sisakne ki aawaz spasht sunaayi de rahi thi. Main dheeme kadmon se aage badha to paaya ke wo bistar ke doosri taraf neeche baithi aur ghutnon mein apna munh dabaaye ro rahi thi. Usse yun dekh kar mera kaleja kaanp gaya.Main uske nazdeek gaya aur ghutnon par baith gaya.
Maine apne kaanpte haathon se uska chehra uthana chaaha aur kuchh der baad kaamyab hua. Derr isliye kyonki usne virodh to poora kiya ke wo chehra chhippaye rakhe par kaamyab naa huyi. Wo lagaatar roye jaa rahi thi par meri taraf ek nazar bhi nahi daali.
MAIN : S... Sw... Sweet...
Main abhi wo shabd poora bhi nahi kar paaya tha ke usne waapis se apna sar jhatakte huye usse ghutnon mein daba liya aur bolo,
ANVI : Jaaiye, chale jaaiye... Unnnhh... Kyonn aaye ho ab... Unnhhh... Itne saal to yaad nahi aaya ke main bhi iss duniya mein hoon... Unhhh...
Mujhe aese laga maano ke meri saansein rukne lagi hon. Uske wo shabd pighle huye lohe ke samaan lage mujhe apne kaanon mein. Main wahaan ruk nahi paa raha tha, par fir bhi maine uske haathon ko thaama aur,
MAIN : Please... Please aesa mat bolo... Main sirf tere liye lauta hoon, please aesa mat kar, mujhe...
Aage ke shabd jaise halak mein hi reh gaye. Zubaan bhi daga kar chuki thi. Main ladkhadate kadmon se utha aur mud gaya. Ab tak meri aankhen bhi paani se tar ho chuki thi. Par jaise hi main aage badhne ko hua peechhe se usne meri ungli thaam li. Ye ehsaas... Iss ehsaas se main parichit tha, poori tarah se parichit tha. Wo jab bhi bachpan mein mujhe apne paas rokna chahti yunhi meri ungli thaam liya karti.
Aaj fir jaise wo wahi chhoti si bachi ban gayi thi. Main palta aur uski taraf dekha to paaya ke wo mujhe hi tak rahi thi. Ek guhaar thi, ek iltija thi uski aankhon mein jo mujhe keh rahi thi ke ab mat jaana... Ab kabhi mat jaana. Main ek baar firse neeche baith gaya aur uske chehre ko apne haathon mein thaam liya. Main bina kuchh bole ek tak usse hi dekhe jaa raha tha. Kuchh palon baad main uske chehre par jhuka aur uski dono aankhon par baari – baari se kiss kar di.
Bas shayad uske emotions trigger ho gaye aur wo ek jhatke mein mujhse lipat gayi aur foot – foot kar rone lagi. Main samajh raha tha ke wo kya feel kar rahi hogi aur isiliye maine usse rone diya aur uske sar par haath ferne laga. Naa jaane kab tak wo roti aur rahi aur jab shaant huyi to mujhse alag hokar mere chehre par kisses ki bauchhar kar di. Uska bartaav saaf dikha raha tha uska intezaar, uski tadap aur uski chahat.
Aur fir dobara mujhse lipat gayi aur mere seene par apne foolon se haathon se maarne lagi. Uski iss nadaani par mujhe rote huye bhi hansi aa gayi. Aaj kitne hi waqt baad main dil se muskuraya tha.Usne jab meri hansi ki aawaz suni to meri taraf yun dekhne lagi jaise wo Police mein ho aur main gunahgaar. Haalanki, gunahgaar to tha main, uska gunahgaar tha main jo mujhse sabse adhik prem karti thi. Tabhi wo hua jo maine kabhi socha naa tha, main jaise hi usse dobara gale lagaane ko hua,
“CHATTAAAAKKK...CHATTAAAAKKK...CHATTAAAAKKK...”
Ek ke baad ek teen thappad maare usne mere gaal par aur idhar main awaak sa munh faade usse dekhne laga. Agle hi pal usne dono haathon se meri shirt ka collar pakda aur apne chehre ki taraf mujhe kheench liya. Wo meri aankhon mein jhaankte huye boli,
ANVI : How dare you!! Aapki himmat kaise huyi mujhe akela chhodkar jaane ki. Jab aap jaante ho ke main aapke bina nahi reh sakti, fir kyon gaye mujhe chhodkar aur ab mann kiya to waapis aa gaye. Meri feelings, mere emotions ki koyi parwaah hi nahi hai. Main aapse kabhi baat nahi karungi... Kabhi nahi!!
Aur itne kehkar usne mujhe ek jhatke ke saath door kar diya. Main abhi bhi iss sab ko process karne ki koshish mein laga tha, jo mujhse kabhi tezz aawaaz mein baat tak nahi karti thi aaj usne mujhe teen – teen thappad raseed kar diye the. Tabhi, ek baar fir uski aankhon se aansoon tapakne lage, maine aage badhkar usse zor se khudmein bheench liya. Wo purzor Koshish kar rahi thi meri pakad se nikalne ki par maine yunhi usse jakde rakha.
MAIN : Please Maaf kar de mujhe. Chaahe to aur maar le par aese berukhi mat kar, please maaf karde...
Par wo aese hi meri pakad se chhootne ki koshish mein lagi rahi. Tabhi main uss se alag hua aur apni jeb se ek Kit – Kat nikaal kar uske saamne kar di. Ye uski favourite chocolate thi aur jab bhi wo udaas hoti thi ya mujhse rooth jaati thi, main aksar usse issi ke zariye manaya karta tha. Maine uski aankhon mein dekha aur kaha,
MAIN : Ab to Maaf karde SWEETY...
Uska nickname jiss se kewal main hi usse pukaara karta tha, aaj fir ye naam mere mukh se sunkar uske aansoon tham gaye aur wo apni jagmag aankhon se mujhe dekhne lagi. Maine apni baanhe faila di aur uski aur dekh kar haan mein sar hilaya, bas fir kya tha, ek prem poorn aalingan mein shaamil ho gaye hum dono. Jab hum alag huye to wo mere gaal par haath ferne lagi aur meri aur glaani bhari nazron se dekhne lagi.
ANVI : I'm Sorr...
MAIN : Shhh... Tera hakk hai!!
Wo kuchh aur kehti uss se pehle,
MAIN : Chal aa sona nahi hai tujhe!?
Aksar wo kisi naa kisi kaam se bachne ke liye neend ka bahaana kar meri god mein sar rakh kar so jaaya karti thi. Usne muskurate huye haan mein sar hila diya aur bed par meri god mein sar rakhkar let gayi. Main uske baalon ko sehlaate huye uske kandhe ko thapki dene laga jiske falswaroop wo kuchh derr mein so gayi aur main bhi uske chehre ko taakte huye neend ki vaadiyon mein kho gaya.
YESTERDAY (AFTER THE MANALI INCIDENT) :
CITY : MANALI
PLACE : NEW DAWN HOTEL & RESTAURANT
ROOM NO. 312...
Iss kamre mein maujood hain do ladkiyaan,ek to wahi Camera waali ladki aur doosri jisne uske behosh hone par usse jagaaya tha. So, jaise hi ye hosh mein aayi to “ARJUNNN” Shabd chillati huyi uthi. Iski condition aur dobara se mausam kharaab hone ke dar se iske saathi isse yahaan waapis le aaye aur iss waqt ye dono ladkiyaan yahaan iss kamre mein thi.
LADKI : AHANA tu theek hai na??
AHANA : Haan baba kitni baar poochhegi.
LADKI : Ab tension hogi to poochhungi hi naa! Waise ek baat bata tu mujhse baatein kabse chhippane lagi?
AHANA : Kyon pareshaan kar rahi hai bekaar mein.Tujhe pata to hai ke main tujhse kuchh nahi chhippati.
LADKI : Achha aesa hai, To jab tune Boyfriend bana liya hai to mujhe bataya kyun nahi!?
AHANA (Shocked) : Kya bakwaas kar rahi hai!? Mera Boyfriend, matlab kuchh bhi...
LADKI : Main bakwaas kar rahi hoon. To ye Arjun kaun hai?
ARJUN... Ye naam sunte hi ek alag sa connection feel hua usse iss naam se, iss naam waale insaan se. Wo apne jeevan mein ab tak kisi bhi Arjun se nahi mili thi par jaane kyon ek aakarshan, ek kashish thi iss naam mein jo usse sochne par majboor kar rahi thi.
LADKI : Dekha kaise sochne lagi! Soch le, bahaana soch le, ab hum to paraaye ho gaye hain tere liye... Ab hame kaahe bataaiyegi apne Saiyaan Ji ke baare mein!!
Ek naatakiya tone mein kahi thi ye baat usne apne honthon par ek sharaarti muskaan liye aur ”Saiyaan Ji” kehte waqt uska lehza kuchh adhik hi shaitaani tha.
AHANA : Bakwaas band karegi. Main nahi jaanti kisi Arjun ko...
LADKI : Sun rahe ho naa Gaaon waalon!! Kaise jhooth bol rahi hai ye ladki... “Main nahi jaanti kisi Arjun ko”!! Hey Bhagwaan, kitna badal gaya Insaan...
Usski nakal karte huye kahi thi wo line isne jisse sunkar Ahana bhi muskaaye bina naa reh saki.
AHANA : Bas kar drama company. Kaha naa main nahi jaanti kisi Arjun ko.
LADKI : Ae bhaav kyon khaati hai. Bata naa, kaisa hai dikhne mein,hot hai... Hot to hoga hi agar tune pasand kiya hai to!! Bata naa...
AHANA : Aeeee bas kar yahaan main jisse jaanti tak nahi tu pata nahi kya – kya soche jaa rahi hai.
LADKI : Fir tu uska naam lete huye kyon uthi!?
AHANA : Wahi to mujhe bhi samajh nahi aa raha hai. Main tujhe shuru se batati hoon. Main waterfall ki photos click kar rahi thi ke tabhi wo aandhi wageraah aane lagi. Fir wo kohra, uske baad shayad main behosh ho gayi. Jab main hosh mein aayi to uss se just pehle mujhe kuchh visions dikhe jo bilkul real lag rahe the.
VISION – 1 :
Ye scene hai ek Jungle ka jismein ek ladki jo aur koyi nahi balki Ahana hi hai, ek jheel ke kinaare baithi hai.Ek behadh hi khubsurat jheel hai ye jiski sundarta mein koyi bhi kho jaaye. Aas – paas bade – bade aur ghane pedd hain joki kuchh ajeeb si shapes aur sizes ke hain. Jheel mein kayi prakaar ki machhliyaan tairti dikh rahi hain kyonki uska paani bilkul transparent hai arthat ek dum swachh jal. Ahana ne ek long dress pehni huyi hai jaisi aksar royal families ki hoti hai. Tabhi ek ladki peechhe se bhaagte huye aati hai, uski dress bhi Ahana jaisi hi hai par chehra kuchh dhundhla dikh raha hai...
LADKI : Chal jaldi Ahana, wo aa gaye hain!!
Ye sunkar Ahana ki khushi dekhne yogya thi, wo bina kuchh kahe ya sune ek disha ki taraf bhaagti huyi chali gayi.
VISION – 2 :
Yahaan iss scene mein Do yuvak hain jo ek bheeshan yuddh mein lage huye hain. Dono ka hi chehra dhundhla sa hai. Dono ki shaktiyaan aapas mein takra rahi hain aur kuchh hi waqt mein ek yuvak ne doosre vyakti joki poore kaale kapdon mein tha usse neeche gira diya. Wo uske oopar antim prahaar karne hi waala tha ke tabhi...
KHAAACHHHHH...
Ek talwaar peechhe se uske chhati mein ghus gayi aur dard se jhoojhta hua jab wo palta to uski aankhen kuchh adhik hi failti chali gayi aur bas yahi shabd nikle uske munh se...
“ Dhokha... Dhokha... Badla lungaa main... Main Waapis Aaungaaaa...”
VISION – 3 :
Ye drishya hai ek behadh hi bade kamre ka jismein bistar par baithi hai ek ladki jiska pet foola hua hai aur spasht dikh raha hai ke wo Maa ban ne waali hai. Tabhi achanak hi uske daayen haath ki ek ungli mein pehni angoothi gaayab ho gayi. Wo pehle to chaunki par jaise hi usse ehsaas hua ke iska matlab kya hai uske munh se cheenkh nikal gayi – “NAHHHHHIIIIII...”
Aur issi cheenkh ke agle hi pal wo ladki raakh ke dher mein badal gayi!!
VISIONS FINISHED...
AHANA : Jaise hi ye Visions khatam huye mujhe ek chehra dikha aur apne aap hi meri aankhen khul gayi aur maybe wo Arjun naam bhi mere munh se nikla.
Wo ladki bas munh faade ye sab sun rahi thi, ab uske liye to ye cheez asaadharan hi thi.Khair, kuchh derr inki baatein chali fir Ahana kisi aur hi soch mein gum ho gayi.
AHANA (Mann Mein) : Sorry, KIARA... Par main wo Saanp waali baat tujhe nahi bata sakti. Tu Bharosa hi nahi karegi. Par mujhe uske baare mein pata lagaana hai. Wo Saanp bahut alag tha aur mujhe usse dekhkar itna gussa kyon aa raha tha. Jabki mujhe dar bhi lag raha tha. Dono feelings ek saath mein, kaise!?
Khair, Ahana ke alawa koyi aur bhi tha jispar kal ki uss ghatna ka gehra asar hua tha. Aaiye jaan lete hain uska haal bhi.
UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION :
Wo Saanp jiska naam shayad BOTIS tha, uss pathhar mein ghus gaya. Aur uske baad ek ajeeb si jagah par prakat hua par iss waqt wo apne human form mein tha arthat aadam roop mein. Wo iss waqt khada tha ek raakshas jaise dikhne waale praani ke saamne. Usne laal rang ke kapde pehne huye the, haath mein ek Bhaala tha aur sar par do seeng (horns) bhi maujood the. Wo jalti huyi nigaahon se iss saanp ko dekh raha tha aur iss bechaare ki jaan halak mein atki huyi thi.
AADMI : Himmat kaise huyi tumhaari khaali haath lautne ki. Wo ladki, kahaan hain uski shaktiyaan!?
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... COMMANDER maafi... Maafi... Ye gulaam aapse maafi maangta hai... Main uss ladki ko maarne hi waala tha ke tabhi mera zehar kisi ne apne andar samaa liya!! Hisss... Hisss...
Wo aadmi jhat se apni jagah se uth gaya aur aankhen faade iss Aadmi roopi saanp ko dekhne laga.
AADMI : Kya kaha tumne, Tumhara zehar, kisine apne mein samaa liya. Asambhav!!! LORD ki power ko koyi kaise rok sakta hai.
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... Main bhi hairaan hoon COMMANDER. Main aapko sab kuchh batata hoon...
Iske baad usne poore scene ka bakhaan uss aadmi ke saamne kar diya. Wo aadmi hairaan pareshaan sa ho gaya par asli dhamaaka abhi baaki tha.
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... COMMANDER... Ek aur baat bhi hai... Hisss... Hisss...
AADMI : Kya!?
SNAKE : Hisss... Hisss... Maine uss Dhuen mein kisi ki urjaa mehsoos ki thi. Hisss... Hisss...
AADMI : Kiski Urjaa...
Aur jo naam uss Saanp ne kaha usse sunkar uss Aadmi ka halak sookh gaya. Wo dhamm se neeche gira aur apni aankhon aur saanson ko kaaboo karta hua kuchh sochne laga. Par ek baat to tay thi ke uski jaan Laghbhag nikal hi gayi thi. Kaaran wo naam jiski urjaa ki charcha ho rahi thi...
SNAKE : Usmein “STYGIAN” ki urjaa thi wo bhi bahut zyada maatra mein!!
Iss Update Mein Itna Hi... Next Update tak ke liye Bye – Bye...
Bane Rahiye!