"Tumne dekha tha Raghu ko?"Meri ummeed ki chidiya ne ekdam oonchi udaan bhari.
"Haan ek baar main office se nikla toh vo bahar bus stand ke paas khadi hui thi. Main uske paas gaya toh usne bataya ke vo Raghu ka wait kar rahi hai"
"Toh tum ruke uske saath phir?"
"Nahi, i didnt want to meet or see that guy. I hated him"
"Toh abhi toh tumne kaha ke tumne use dekha tha?"
"Actually vo already aa gaya tha par Bus stand ke paas hi ek panvadi ki dukaan hai, vahan se cigarette kharid raha tha. Saanwli uska wait kar rahi thi ke vo cigarette lekar aaye toh vo jaayen"
Maine uski taraf gaur se dekha. Vo ab bhi thoda ghabraya hua lag raha tha aur jis tarike se kahani bata raha tha, koi bhi yahi kehta ke vo jhooth bol raha hai. Mere chehre ke haav-bhaav dekh kar vo pehchan gaya ke mujhe uski baat par yakeen nahi ho raha.
"I can proove it to you"Vo bola.
"Really? How?"
"I have a pic"
"A pic?"
"Yeah us din vo saari pehen kar aayi thi, bahut khoobsurat lag rahi thi toh maine uski ek photo li thi. Us photo mein vo Raghu bhi hai"
"Kahan hai ye photo?"
"Mere cell mein"
Kehte hue usne apna mobile nikala, menu mein jakar ek pic kholi aur cell meri taraf badhaya.
"Here, ye pic dekhiye"
Maine cell uske haath se lekar ek nazar daali aur mujhe aisa laga jaise meri ummeed ki chidiya ke kisi ne pankh kaat diye hon. Mujhe laga tha ke shayad vo Saanwli ki koi pic hogi jismein Raghu uske saath hoga par vo asal mein ek bahut door se li hui photo thi. Photo usne sadak ke apni taraf ke hisse se shayad chhup kar li thi jismein doosri taraf Bus stand ke paas saari pehne Saanwli khadi hui thi. Aas pas aur bhi bahut saare log, sadak ka traffic, agar usne mujhe bataya na hota ke ham log Saanwli ko dekh rahe hain toh shayad vo meri nazar se bach hi jaati.
"Tumne chhup kar li thi ye photo, use bina bataya?"
"Haan vo asal mein door se li thi maine par phir use bata bhi diya tha. Use dikhayi bhi thi ye photo maine. Use pata tha ke ye photo li hai maine"Usne fauran jawab diya par main janta tha ke vo jhooth bol raha hai.
"Ismein Raghu kahan hai? Ye toh akeli khadi hai"
"Ek min"kehte hue usne camera apne haath mein liya aur photo saanwli se zara door ek panvadi ki dukaan par zoom kiya"Ye khada Raghu"
Phir jo pic usne mujhe dikhayi vo aur bhi zyada barbad thi. Ek saste se mobile se li gayi photo ko agar poori taraf zoom kar diya jaaye toh uska kya haal hoga aap andaza laga sakte hain. Aisa hi kuchh mere saamne tha. Usne ek insaan par poori taraf zoom kar diya tha jo dukaan par khada cigarette jala raha tha. Zoom karne ke baad photo is taraf bikhari gayi thi ke batana mushkil ho jaaye ke kahan naak hai aur kahan kaan. Uper se cigarette ka dhuan alag photo mein aa gaya tha jiske pichhe us insaan ka chehra poori tarah chhip gaya tha. Ek tarah se vo photo poori tarah bekaar thi.
"Ye send karo mujhe"Maine phir bhi usse kaha"Bluetooth on karta hoon"
Maine apne cell ka bluetooh on kiya aur usne vo pic mujhe bhej di.
"Toh us din vo vahan khadi Raghu ka wait kar rahi thi ke vo cigarette lekar aa jaaye jab tum usse milne pahunche. Tumhein kaise pata chala ke yahi aadmi Raghu hai?"
"Usne ishare se bataya tha mujhe"Mafat bola"Jaise hi usne bataya main vahan se chala gaya"
"Kyun chale gaye?"
"Pasand nahi karta tha main use"
"Kyun?"
"Theek nahi lagta tha mujhe vo"
"Tumhein kaise pata ke vo theek nahi tha jabki tum usse kabhi mile tak nahi, kabhi baat tak nahi ki?"
Mere is sawal par vo bagalein jhaankne laga. Sawal ka jawab main khud bhi janta tha ke vo kyun Raghu se itna chid raha tha isliye maine aage is baare mein koi sawal nahi kiya.
"Theek hai, aage badho. Vo Raghu se mili, phir?"
"Uske baad usne Sharafat Bar mein job chhod diya. Uske baad kaafi khush rehne lagi thi. She was in love with him you know, hamesha uske baare mein hi baat karti rehti thi"
"Kya bataya usne Raghu ke baare mein? Kya kaam karta tha vo?"
"Aisa koi personnal detail kabhi uske baare mein batati nahi thi vo. Maine puchha toh taal jaati thi isliye bhi mujhe laga ke ladka theek nahi hai shayad"
"Toh kya batati thi uske baare mein?"
"Yahi ke how great he is, kitna khyaal rakhta hai uska, kaise khush rakhta hai usko. All the usual bullshit you know, sab dikhava"Vo munh banata hua bola.
"Phir?"
"Phir ek din vo mujhe boli ke shift kar rahi hai vo Raghu ke saath, live in relation you know aur boli ke kuchh din baad shaadi karne wali hai"
"Kabki baat hai ye?"
"Takreeban 2 mahine pehle ki"
"Phir?"
"Phir phone karna band kar diya maine use"
"Kyun?"
"Mujhe achha nahi laga"
"Aur usne bhi kabhi palat kar phone nahi kiya?"
"Nahi"Usne inkaar mein gardan hila di.
"Isse pehle bhi tum hi phone karte the ya vo karti thi tumhein?"
"Main karta tha"
"Aakhri baar mile kab the usse?"
"Jab usne yahan se job chhodi"
"Tumhein aisa kyun lagta hai ke Saanwli ke saath kuchh hua hai?"
"Maine koi mahina bhar phone nahi kiya usko phir ek din aise hi kar diya toh uska number off mila. Main kuchh din tak phone try karta raha par har baar off hi aata tha. Phir main usse milne hostel gaya toh pata chala ke vo Saharanpur chali gayi hai"
"Haan toh ismein galat lagne jaisi kya baat hai. Ho sakta hai ke vo chali gayi ho"
"Bina aise mujhe bataya?"
"Tum kaun sa uske best-friend the. Abhi toh tumne bataya ke tum hi use phone karte the, vo nahi karti thi?"
Meri is baat ne fauran asar dikhaya. Uske chehre par aakrosh aur dukh, dono bhaav ek saath pradarshit hue.
"Apna phone number batao. Mujhe aur kuchh puchhna hua toh phone karunga"
Uska number lekar maine use vaapis bhej diya aur thodi der baad Rao se milkar office se bahar nikal aaya. Jaate hue maine dekha ke vo reception ke paas khada mujhe jaate hue ghoor raha tha. Ek nazar maine uspar daali aur bina kuchh kahe bahar nikal aaya.
Maar khaya hua aashiq, ladki ne kabhi bhaav nahi diya, chhup chhup kar uski photo khinchta tha, uske boyfriend se jalta tha, khud hi usko phone karta tha aur vo palat kar phone tak nahi karti thi, vo shaadi karne wali thi is baat se dukhi tha, aise jaane kitne khyaal mere dimag mein chal rahe the jab maine apni gaadi ka darwaza khola. Palat kar office ke gate ki taraf dekha toh vo gate ke paas khada tab bhi meri taraf hi dekh raha tha.
______________________________
"Haan ek baar main office se nikla toh vo bahar bus stand ke paas khadi hui thi. Main uske paas gaya toh usne bataya ke vo Raghu ka wait kar rahi hai"
"Toh tum ruke uske saath phir?"
"Nahi, i didnt want to meet or see that guy. I hated him"
"Toh abhi toh tumne kaha ke tumne use dekha tha?"
"Actually vo already aa gaya tha par Bus stand ke paas hi ek panvadi ki dukaan hai, vahan se cigarette kharid raha tha. Saanwli uska wait kar rahi thi ke vo cigarette lekar aaye toh vo jaayen"
Maine uski taraf gaur se dekha. Vo ab bhi thoda ghabraya hua lag raha tha aur jis tarike se kahani bata raha tha, koi bhi yahi kehta ke vo jhooth bol raha hai. Mere chehre ke haav-bhaav dekh kar vo pehchan gaya ke mujhe uski baat par yakeen nahi ho raha.
"I can proove it to you"Vo bola.
"Really? How?"
"I have a pic"
"A pic?"
"Yeah us din vo saari pehen kar aayi thi, bahut khoobsurat lag rahi thi toh maine uski ek photo li thi. Us photo mein vo Raghu bhi hai"
"Kahan hai ye photo?"
"Mere cell mein"
Kehte hue usne apna mobile nikala, menu mein jakar ek pic kholi aur cell meri taraf badhaya.
"Here, ye pic dekhiye"
Maine cell uske haath se lekar ek nazar daali aur mujhe aisa laga jaise meri ummeed ki chidiya ke kisi ne pankh kaat diye hon. Mujhe laga tha ke shayad vo Saanwli ki koi pic hogi jismein Raghu uske saath hoga par vo asal mein ek bahut door se li hui photo thi. Photo usne sadak ke apni taraf ke hisse se shayad chhup kar li thi jismein doosri taraf Bus stand ke paas saari pehne Saanwli khadi hui thi. Aas pas aur bhi bahut saare log, sadak ka traffic, agar usne mujhe bataya na hota ke ham log Saanwli ko dekh rahe hain toh shayad vo meri nazar se bach hi jaati.
"Tumne chhup kar li thi ye photo, use bina bataya?"
"Haan vo asal mein door se li thi maine par phir use bata bhi diya tha. Use dikhayi bhi thi ye photo maine. Use pata tha ke ye photo li hai maine"Usne fauran jawab diya par main janta tha ke vo jhooth bol raha hai.
"Ismein Raghu kahan hai? Ye toh akeli khadi hai"
"Ek min"kehte hue usne camera apne haath mein liya aur photo saanwli se zara door ek panvadi ki dukaan par zoom kiya"Ye khada Raghu"
Phir jo pic usne mujhe dikhayi vo aur bhi zyada barbad thi. Ek saste se mobile se li gayi photo ko agar poori taraf zoom kar diya jaaye toh uska kya haal hoga aap andaza laga sakte hain. Aisa hi kuchh mere saamne tha. Usne ek insaan par poori taraf zoom kar diya tha jo dukaan par khada cigarette jala raha tha. Zoom karne ke baad photo is taraf bikhari gayi thi ke batana mushkil ho jaaye ke kahan naak hai aur kahan kaan. Uper se cigarette ka dhuan alag photo mein aa gaya tha jiske pichhe us insaan ka chehra poori tarah chhip gaya tha. Ek tarah se vo photo poori tarah bekaar thi.
"Ye send karo mujhe"Maine phir bhi usse kaha"Bluetooth on karta hoon"
Maine apne cell ka bluetooh on kiya aur usne vo pic mujhe bhej di.
"Toh us din vo vahan khadi Raghu ka wait kar rahi thi ke vo cigarette lekar aa jaaye jab tum usse milne pahunche. Tumhein kaise pata chala ke yahi aadmi Raghu hai?"
"Usne ishare se bataya tha mujhe"Mafat bola"Jaise hi usne bataya main vahan se chala gaya"
"Kyun chale gaye?"
"Pasand nahi karta tha main use"
"Kyun?"
"Theek nahi lagta tha mujhe vo"
"Tumhein kaise pata ke vo theek nahi tha jabki tum usse kabhi mile tak nahi, kabhi baat tak nahi ki?"
Mere is sawal par vo bagalein jhaankne laga. Sawal ka jawab main khud bhi janta tha ke vo kyun Raghu se itna chid raha tha isliye maine aage is baare mein koi sawal nahi kiya.
"Theek hai, aage badho. Vo Raghu se mili, phir?"
"Uske baad usne Sharafat Bar mein job chhod diya. Uske baad kaafi khush rehne lagi thi. She was in love with him you know, hamesha uske baare mein hi baat karti rehti thi"
"Kya bataya usne Raghu ke baare mein? Kya kaam karta tha vo?"
"Aisa koi personnal detail kabhi uske baare mein batati nahi thi vo. Maine puchha toh taal jaati thi isliye bhi mujhe laga ke ladka theek nahi hai shayad"
"Toh kya batati thi uske baare mein?"
"Yahi ke how great he is, kitna khyaal rakhta hai uska, kaise khush rakhta hai usko. All the usual bullshit you know, sab dikhava"Vo munh banata hua bola.
"Phir?"
"Phir ek din vo mujhe boli ke shift kar rahi hai vo Raghu ke saath, live in relation you know aur boli ke kuchh din baad shaadi karne wali hai"
"Kabki baat hai ye?"
"Takreeban 2 mahine pehle ki"
"Phir?"
"Phir phone karna band kar diya maine use"
"Kyun?"
"Mujhe achha nahi laga"
"Aur usne bhi kabhi palat kar phone nahi kiya?"
"Nahi"Usne inkaar mein gardan hila di.
"Isse pehle bhi tum hi phone karte the ya vo karti thi tumhein?"
"Main karta tha"
"Aakhri baar mile kab the usse?"
"Jab usne yahan se job chhodi"
"Tumhein aisa kyun lagta hai ke Saanwli ke saath kuchh hua hai?"
"Maine koi mahina bhar phone nahi kiya usko phir ek din aise hi kar diya toh uska number off mila. Main kuchh din tak phone try karta raha par har baar off hi aata tha. Phir main usse milne hostel gaya toh pata chala ke vo Saharanpur chali gayi hai"
"Haan toh ismein galat lagne jaisi kya baat hai. Ho sakta hai ke vo chali gayi ho"
"Bina aise mujhe bataya?"
"Tum kaun sa uske best-friend the. Abhi toh tumne bataya ke tum hi use phone karte the, vo nahi karti thi?"
Meri is baat ne fauran asar dikhaya. Uske chehre par aakrosh aur dukh, dono bhaav ek saath pradarshit hue.
"Apna phone number batao. Mujhe aur kuchh puchhna hua toh phone karunga"
Uska number lekar maine use vaapis bhej diya aur thodi der baad Rao se milkar office se bahar nikal aaya. Jaate hue maine dekha ke vo reception ke paas khada mujhe jaate hue ghoor raha tha. Ek nazar maine uspar daali aur bina kuchh kahe bahar nikal aaya.
Maar khaya hua aashiq, ladki ne kabhi bhaav nahi diya, chhup chhup kar uski photo khinchta tha, uske boyfriend se jalta tha, khud hi usko phone karta tha aur vo palat kar phone tak nahi karti thi, vo shaadi karne wali thi is baat se dukhi tha, aise jaane kitne khyaal mere dimag mein chal rahe the jab maine apni gaadi ka darwaza khola. Palat kar office ke gate ki taraf dekha toh vo gate ke paas khada tab bhi meri taraf hi dekh raha tha.
______________________________