Chapter 37
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Main dabe paon baithak se nikla aur corridor se hote hue sidhe Ammi ke bedroom ki taraf badh gaya. Corridor bilkul sunsaan tha, par peeche se chal rahi TV aur un dono ki dheemi-dheemi hasi ki aawaz mere kaano mein aa rahi thi. Har ek qadam jo main aage badha raha tha, lag raha tha jaise mere pairon mein lohe ke wazan bandhe hon. Mera dil pehle se hi tezi se dhadakne laga tha, aur kitchen mein Chand se hui baat ke baad se toh dimaag mein ek ajeeb sa toofan macha hua tha. Chand ki woh baatein, uska mujhe ghurana, aur Akash ka wahan baithak mein aaram se baith kar drinks pina—yeh sab mere dimaag mein kisi chakravyuh ki tarah ghum raha tha. Maine hi un dono ke is khel ko is aakhri mukam tak pahunchane ka rasta khola tha, aur ab wahi faisla mujhe andar hi andar khaaye jaa raha tha.
Maine bedroom ke darwaze ke paas pahunch kar apne qadam rok liye. Mera haath darwaze ke handle par thar-thar kaanp raha tha. Mujhe darr tha ki kahin peeche se Akash ya Chand achanak corridor mein na aa jayein. Corridor ki ghup andhere mein khade hokar maine ek baar peeche mud kar dekha. Wahan sannaata tha, bas living room se TV ki halki goonj aur glass ke takrane ki aawaz aa rahi thi. Maine ek gehri saans li, darwaze ko aahista se dhakela aur andar dakhil ho gaya. Darwaza bina kisi aawaz ke khul gaya, jaise woh bhi is khamosh aur khaufnaak saazish mein mera sath de raha ho.
Kamre ke andar ka mahaul bilkul alag aur ajeeb tha. Yahan zero-watt ka ek peela bulb jal raha tha, jiski madham roshni kamre ke kono mein lambi aur daraawni parchhayiyan bana rahi thi. Bistar par Ammi bilkul be-sudh leti hui thin. Unke pairon se unki high heels utar kar zameen par behad be-tarkeeb tarike se bikhri padi thin, jaise unhe kisi ne jhatke se utaar kar phenk diya ho. Ammi ki woh short black dress unke jism par ajeeb tarah se upar ki taraf sikad chuki thi, jisse unki nangi aur gori jaanghein poori tarah se expose ho rahi thin. Unka dupatta kamre mein kahin nahi tha, aur unka badan ajeeb tarah se be-parda dikh raha tha.
Ammi poori tarah se nashe mein dhutt gehri neend mein so rahi thin. Unke muh se aane wali heavy breathing ki aawaz pure kamre mein goonj rahi thi. Unka sarr ek taraf jhuka hua tha aur unke baal bistar par bikhre hue the. Unke chehre par abhi bhi nashe ki laali aur garmahat saaf dikh rahi thi, aur unki saansein bohot bhaari thin. Main wahan darwaze ke paas khada hokar unhe ghurta raha. Mera dimaag kaam karna band kar chuka tha aur meri aankhein jaise bistar par chipak gayi thin.
Maine dheere-dheere bistar ki taraf qadam badhaye. Mera irada tha ki zameen se bedsheet ko utha kar unke upar daal doon taaki unka jism dhang se dhak jaye aur main is darr se thoda bahar nikal sakoon. Lekin jaise hi main bed ke paas pahuncha aur bedsheet uthane ke liye thoda neeche jhuka, meri nazar unke jaanghon ke beech wale hisse par padi.
Meri aankhein fati ki fati reh gayi aur mere haath wahin hawa mein jam gaye. Mera gala instantly sookh gaya aur dimaag mein jaise koi bada dhamaka hua ho. Ammi pantyless thin! Unhone neeche kuch bhi nahi pehna tha. Unki short dress itni upar khisak chuki thi ki unka woh sabse naziq aur khufiya hissa poori tarah se nanga, meri aankhon ke bilkul samane tha.
Main wahan bilkul ek statue ki tarah khada reh gaya. Mera dil mere seene ko cheer kar bahar aane ke liye betab ho raha tha. Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak... yeh aawaz mere kaano mein itni teez goonj rahi thi ki mujhe laga bahar baithak mein baitha Akash bhi ise sun lega. Mera jism achanak garam hone laga. Ek taraf mere andar behad guilt, darr aur pachtawa tha ki maine khud Akash ko yahan bulakar unke is silsile ko apne hi samane manzoori de di thi, unhe apne hi ghar mein thikana de diya tha. Lekin doosri taraf, mere andar ka fattu aur hawas-bhara dimaag unke is nange badan ko dekh kar machalne laga. Mera lund pajama ke andar instantly pathar ki tarah sakht ho kar tamm gaya, aur uski sakhti mujhe apne pajama ke kapde par saaf aur dardnak tarike se mehsus ho rahi thi.
Main wahan khada kaanp raha tha. Dimaag keh raha tha, "Bedsheet daal aur yahan se bhaag jaa!" Lekin pair wahan se hilne ka naam nahi le rahe the. Aankhein unki jaanghon ke beech ke us garam aur nange hisse par tiki thin. Mujhe kitchen mein Chand ki kahi baatein yaad aa rahi thin, aur phir baithak mein baithe Akash ki robili aawaz. Agar Akash is waqt kamre mein aa gaya... agar usne mujhe yahan is halat mein dekh liya... toh mera kya hoga? Woh mujhe zinda nahi chodega. Uski berahemi aur uska gussa main pehle bhi dekh chuka tha.
Lekin is darr ke sath hi ek ajeeb sa pagalpan aur nasha mere sar par sawar ho raha tha. Woh manzar itna magnetic tha ki main khud par se control khota ja raha tha. Maine dheere se apne ghutne mode aur bistar ke kone par baith gaya.
Jaise hi maine apna thoda sa wazan bistar par dala, bed ke andar ke springs ne ek halki si 'charrr' ki aawaz ki.
Woh aawaz is khamosh kamre mein kisi dhamake ki tarah goonji. Mera poora jism ek jhatke mein tight ho gaya. Main bilkul frozen ho gaya, haath bedsheet par hi ruk gaye. Meri saansein ruk gayi thin. Maine apni gardan dheere se ghumayi aur bedroom ke adhe khule darwaze ki taraf dekha.
Kya kisi ke chalne ki aawaz aayi? Kya hallway mein kisi ki chappal ghisatne ki aawaz aayi?
Maine apne kaan darwaze ki taraf laga diye. Baithak se TV par chal rahe kisi purane gaane ki madham aawaz aa rahi thi, aur uske beech Akash ka ek tezz thahaka goonja. Uske baad Chand ne kuch kaha aur dono phir se hansne lage. Unki hansi sun kar mere jism mein thodi jaan wapas aayi, par mera dil abhi bhi mere seene mein ek pagal ghode ki tarah daud raha tha. Mera jism paseene se tar-ba-tar ho chuka tha. Meri peshani se paseene ki ek boond tapak kar mere gaal se hote hue neeche gir gayi.
Maine chain ki saans li, par darr ka woh ehsaas mere andar abhi bhi poori tarah se haavi tha. Har ek lamha lag raha tha jaise main maut ke kuen ke upar rassi par chal raha hoon.
Lekin is darr ke bawajood, meri aankhein wapas Ammi ke us nange hisse par chali gayi. Unki saansein abhi bhi usi raftar se chal rahi thin, har saans ke sath unka pet upar-neeche ho raha tha aur unke jism se ek ajeeb si garmi aur madhoshi nikal rahi thi.
Mera dimaag ab poori tarah se mere qaboo se bahar ho chuka tha. Ek ajeeb si excited aur pareshan-kun feeling mere andar phail gayi. Maine kaapte hue apne daayein haath ko dheere-dheere aage badhana shuru kiya.
Mera haath bilkul dheere, millimeter by millimeter aage badh raha tha. Mujhe lag raha tha ki agar main thoda bhi tez hila, toh hawa ki aahat se hi Ammi ki neend toot jayegi ya bahar hallway mein khada koi saaya mujhe dekh lega.
Maine ek baar phir darwaze ki taraf dekha. Wahin se baithak ki roshni corridor mein ek halki patli laakir ki tarah gir rahi thi. Har ek second mujhe lag raha tha ki abhi us laakir par kisi ka saaya aayega aur darwaza poora khul jayega. Darr ke maare mera gala bilkul sookh chuka tha, maine thuk nigla toh mere gale se ek ajeeb si aawaz aayi, jisse main khud hi darr gaya.
Maine apna dhyan wapas bistar par lagaya. Mera haath ab Ammi ke jism ke behad qareeb pahunch chuka tha.
Das inch...
Mera haath hawa mein thar-thar kaanp raha tha. Meri ungliyan aapas mein takra rahi thin. Dimaag mein ek taraf chalta hua khauf aur doosri taraf seene mein daudta hua khoon ka dabao.
Paanch inch...
Mera dil itni tezi se dhadak raha tha ki mujhe apna poora jism us dhadkan ke sath hilta hua mehsus ho raha tha. Mujhe lag raha tha ki main paap ki us daldal ke bilkul muhane par khada hoon jahan se wapas lautna namumkin hoga. Bahar se aane wali TV ki aawaz aur glass ki khadkhadahat jaise mere darr ko aur badha rahi thin.
Do inch...
Ab mujhe hawa mein ek ajeeb sa badlao mehsus hone laga. Ammi ke us nange jism se nikalne wali tapan, woh garmi ab meri ungliyon ki poron ko mehsus ho rahi thi. Woh jism ki natural garmi thi jo nashe ki wajah se aur bhi zyada tezz mehsus ho rahi thi. Meri ungliyon ki tapan aur unke badan ki tapan jaise hawa mein hi ek doosre se takra rahi thin.
Ek inch...
Mera haath bilkul unke us nazeeq hisse ke upar tha. Meri ungliyon ke bilkul neeche woh nanga badan tha jisse main is duniya mein aaya tha. Woh chut jisse main paida hua tha, jisse mera wajood juda tha. Us jagah ki tapan mere poore wajood ko jala rahi thi. Mera lund pajama mein bilkul dard karne laga tha, itna sakht ho chuka tha. Meri ungliyan us garam hawa ke daayre mein dakhil ho chuki thin jo unki chut se radiate ho rahi thi. Ek ajeeb sa magnetic khichao tha jo mujhe touch karne par majboor kar raha tha. Mera dimaag sunn ho chuka tha, har ek soch, har ek fikr jaise us garmi mein pighal gayi thi.
Mera haath ab bilkul touch karne hi wala tha. Ek millimeter se bhi kam ka faasla bacha tha. Meri ungli ka pora unke jism ki naziq tapan ko mehsus kar raha tha, bas ek microscopic touch baki tha.
Tabhi... baithak se glass ke table par rakhne ki ek tezz 'thak' ki aawaz aayi.
Aur uske sath hi Akash ki woh bhari, karkash aur robili aawaz corridor se hoti hui mere kaano tak pahunchi, "Abe saale Chand! Whiskey aur daal isme... aaj toh poori raat yahi chalega!"
Us aawaz ne jaise mere dimaag mein bijli gira di ho. Akash ki aawaz sunte hi mere jism par ek thandi lahar daud gayi. Mera poora badan kaanp utha aur mera haath hawa mein hi freeze ho gaya.
Mera dimaag jo ab tak hawas ki dhundh mein khoya hua tha, achanak bilkul saaf ho gaya. Mujhe ek jhatke mein yaad aaya ki main kahan hoon, kya kar raha hoon, aur sabse badi baat—yeh jism kis ka hai.
Yeh Ammi hain. Lekin ab... ab yeh kiski hain?
Yeh ab mere 'Naye Papa' yaani Akash ki hain.
Dimaag mein jaise ek behad ganda aur bhayanak sach goonj utha—"Yeh unki hai. Yeh Akash ki hai. Yeh mere naye baap ki property hai."
Akash ne ghar mein aate hi jis tarah Ammi ko pakda tha, jis tarah unke ghutne par haath rakha tha, aur jis tarah unhe apne sath short dress mein lekar aaya tha—woh sab mere dimaag mein flash hone laga. Ammi ab Akash ke hawale ho chuki thin. Woh unki ban chuki thin. Aur main? Main toh bas ek chutiya, ek nalaayak beta hoon jo unke samane gidgida raha tha aur unhe 'Papa' bol raha tha.
Agar maine is waqt is jism ko touch kiya, toh main Akash ke haq par daka daal raha hoon. Main us aadmi ki cheez ko haath laga raha hoon jo bahar baitha hai aur jisne mujhe ek pal mein barbad karne ki taqat rakhi hai. Akash mera naya baap hai, aur yeh chut... yeh ab mere naye papa Akash ki hai. Us par sirf Akash ka haq hai. Mera chuna ek gunah hoga.
Mera dil darr aur dehshat se bilkul baith gaya. Woh hawas jo abhi tak mere sar par chadi hui thi, ek jhatke mein beh gayi aur uski jagah ek aisi dahshat ne le li jo maine pehle kabhi mehsus nahi ki thi. Mujhe laga ki agar main is waqt aage badha, toh Akash achanak kamre mein dakhil ho jayega aur mujhe range haathon pakad lega. Phir woh mujhe aur Ammi dono ko khatam kar dega.
Mera haath bilkul kaanp gaya. Maine achanak apni ungliyon ko peeche khicha, jaise maine kisi sulagte hue lohe ko chhoo liya ho. Mera haath jhatke se peeche hata aur maine use apne seene par daba liya. Meri saansein phool chuki thin aur main haanp raha tha. Mere muh se ek dabi hui cheekh nikalne wali thi par maine apne daayein haath se apna muh band kar liya taaki aawaz bahar na jaye.
Main bistar par baitha kaanp raha tha, mera jism paseene se bilkul geela ho chuka tha. Dimaag mein lagatar Akash ke gusse aur uski gaaliyon ki aawaz goonj rahi thi. "Abe saale chutiye Idris...!"
Maine behad jaldi aur kaapte haathon se zameen par bikhri hui bedsheet ko uthaya. Is baar mere andar koi hawas nahi thi, sirf aur sirf ek jaan-leva darr tha. Maine bina unki taraf dekhne ki koshish kiye, bedsheet ko Ammi ke nange badan par daal diya. Maine sheet ko unke kandhon tak khicha aur unke poore jism ko, unke pairon ko achhe se cover kar diya. Ab unka nanga badan chhip chuka tha, par kamre ki peeli roshni mein chadar ke neeche unka jism abhi bhi unki bhaari saanso ke sath upar-neeche ho raha tha.
Maine bedsheet ko sahi karne ke baad jaldi se apne qadam peeche kiye. Main bistar ke kone par, darwaze ke thoda qareeb baith gaya.
Mera dil lagatar dharak raha tha. Main hallway se aane wali har ek aahat ko sunne ke liye apne kaan khade kiye hue tha. Baithak mein un dono ki whiskey peene aur cheers karne ki aawazein abhi bhi bilkul saaf sunayi de rahi thin. Beech-beech mein TV ke gaane ki aawaz tez ho jati thi.
Main bas bistar ke kone par baitha, andhere mein apni saanso ko kabu karne ki koshish kar raha tha. Mera jism abhi bhi darr se thar-thar kaanp raha tha, aur main shukr mana raha tha ki main us aakhri second mein ruk gaya. Mera dil keh raha tha ki main kisi bade toofan se bach gaya hoon, par dimaag mein abhi bhi wahi sawaal tha ki ab aage kya hoga. Main bas isi intezaar mein baitha tha, aur har ek second jo guzar raha tha, woh kisi saal ki tarah lamba lag raha tha.
Tabhi, baithak se achanak Akash ki wahi tezz aur gusse se bhari aawaz goonji, jisne mujhe ek jhatke mein hosh mein la diya.
"Idris! Abe saale, kahan mar gaya? Sunayi nahi de raha kya?"
Maine jaldi se khada hokar apne kapde aur pajama thik kiya, aur dabe paon darwaze se bahar nikal aaya. Corridor se hote hue main jaise hi baithak ke andar pahuncha, wahan ka mahaul bilkul badal chuka tha. Kamre mein whiskey ki smell aur bhi tezz ho gayi thi.
Akash sofe par bilkul failakar baitha hua tha. Uska glass lagbhag khali tha aur uske chehre par kafi chidchidahat thi. Chand uske bagal mein baitha tha, aur uski aankhein nashe mein thodi laal ho chuki thin.
Akash ne mujhe dekhte hi gusse mein apna glass table par de maara. "Saala nalaayak, ek cold drink ka intezam nahi kar paya raat mein. Pata tha ki cold drink khatam hone wali hai, phir bhi khali haath aa gaya."
Mujhe achhe se yaad tha ki dopahar ki bachi hui cold drink jo kareeb ek glass thi, unhone pehle hi drink mein mix kar li thi. Ab unke paas whiskey mix karne ke liye kuch nahi bacha tha aur neat whiskey unse pi nahi jaa rahi thi.
Maine dabe paon khade hokar dheere se kaha, "Papa... dukanen band thin."
"Abe chup saale!" Akash ne daantte hue kaha. "Chal ab jaakar fridge se thanda paani lekar aa. Jaldi kar, dry neat nahi pi ja rahi."
Maine chupchap gardan jhukayi aur kitchen ki taraf chal diya. Kitchen ke andhere mein jaakar maine fridge khola aur paani ki thandi bottle nikaali. Tray mein do saaf glass rakhe aur bottle lekar baithak mein wapas aa gaya.
Maine table par bottle rakhi aur dono ke glass mein thanda paani daal diya.
Akash ne glass uthaya aur bade gusse mein paani mix karke whiskey ka ek bada sip liya. Phir usne thodi rahat ki saans li. Chand ne bhi apna glass uthaya, paani mix kiya aur peena shuru kiya. Dono ke chehre par nashe ki bhari laali thi aur unki aankhein choti ho rahi thin. Woh dono lagatar paani pee rahe the jaise unhe bohot tezz pyaas lagi ho.
Chand ne meri taraf dekhte hue ek kamini muskurahat ke sath kaha, "Idris bhai... bade sust ho yaar tum. Thoda tez kaam kiya karo."
Maine bina kuch bole sarr jhuka kar haan mein hila diya.
Tabhi Akash ne apne glass ka ek aur sip liya aur meri taraf ghurte hue kaha, "Sun saale. Aaj raat tu andar bedroom mein nahi soyega."
Mera dil ek jhatke mein baith gaya. Maine ghabrahat se Akash ki taraf dekha. "Papa...?"
"Haan. Aaj raat tu yahin baithak mein is sofa par soyega," Akash ne hukm dete hue kaha, jaise woh is ghar ka asli malik ho. "Aur Chand... tu jaakar andar Idris ke kamre mein so jaa. Wahan aaram se bistar par sona."
Chand ne sofe se uthte hue ek ajeeb si chalaaki se meri taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein mere liye mazaak tha. "Chalo yaar Akash, kafi late ho gaya hai. Main chalta hoon bedroom mein. Shukriya bhai."
Main wahan bilkul bebas khada raha. Mere apne hi ghar mein mujhe sofa par sone ke liye kaha ja raha tha, aur mera dost Chand mere hi bedroom par kabza kar raha tha. Lekin mere andar itna darr tha ki main unke samane ek lafz bhi nahi bol paya.
Akash ne mujhe ghura aur bola, "Kya dekh raha hai saale? Chal nikal ab yahan se, aur lights off kar dena jab hum so jayein."
Maine dheere se sarr hilaya aur side mein ho gaya. Chand corridor se hote hue mere bedroom ki taraf badh gaya. Uske jaane ke baad, Akash ne table se apna glass uthaya, bache hue paani aur whiskey ka aakhri ghoot liya, aur sofe se khada ho gaya.
Uska jism nashe mein ladkhada raha tha, par uske chehre par ek ajeeb sa sukoon aur fatah ka ehsaas tha. Woh bina meri taraf dekhe, dheere-dheere chalte hue corridor ki taraf badha aur seedhe master bedroom ke andar chala gaya—wahi kamra jahan mere Abbu aur Ammi sote the, aur jahan abhi Ammi behosh so rahi thin.
Maine master bedroom ka darwaza band hone ki aawaz suni. Mera dil achanak ek ajeeb si kashmakash mein ghir gaya.
Ek taraf mere dimaag mein ek ajeeb si khushi aur excitement thi. Akash aur Ammi ka ek sath hona... woh baat jo kab se unke beech pak rahi thi, jise aakhri mod maine diya tha, woh ab mere samane sach ho rahi thi. Akash ab poori tarah se is ghar ka aur Ammi ka malik ban chuka tha, aur main is baat se andar hi andar ek ajeeb sa sukoon mehsus kar raha tha.
Lekin doosri taraf, mere andar ek bohot tezz gussa aur chidchidahat machal rahi thi. Yeh gussa Chand par tha. Chand... jo mera dost ban kar aaya tha, par usne bina kisi resistance ke, bina kisi sharm ya jhijhak ke mere hi bedroom par kabza kar liya tha. Uski aankhon mein mere liye jo mazaak tha, woh mere dimaag mein teer ki tarah chubh raha tha. Mujhe ehsaas ho raha tha ki Chand meri madad karne nahi aaya tha, balki is pure khel mein apna maza lene aur mera mazaak udane aaya tha.
Par main kya kar sakta tha? Main toh ek behad bebas, darr se kaanpta hua fattu ladka tha. Mujh mein na toh Akash ke samane bolne ki himmat thi aur na hi Chand ko mere kamre se bahar nikalne ki gairat.
Maine baithak ki lights off kar di. Kamre mein andhera chha gaya, bas corridor ke kone se aane wali thodi si peeli roshni baithak ke farsh par pad rahi thi. Maine ek thandi saans li, baithak ke us sofa par leta jo mere liye behad uncomfortable tha, aur apni chadar ko odh liya.
Mera jism thak chuka tha, dimaag lagatar chal rahi darr aur excitement ki wajah se bilkul khali mehsus ho raha tha. Hallway mein ab bilkul sannaata tha, bas dukanen band hone ke baad bahar sadak par aane wali sardi ki halki sarsarahat sunayi de rahi thi. Maine apni aankhein band kar li. Us uncomfortable sofa par karwatein badalte hue, dheere-dheere mere dimaag par neend ka nasha chhane laga, aur main gehri, behosh neend mein chala gaya.