Ok thik hai. Sab ek saath padhke comment karunga.Next 1 hour Mai 3 aur update de dunga sir ji .
Ok thik hai. Sab ek saath padhke comment karunga.Next 1 hour Mai 3 aur update de dunga sir ji .
Posted sir ji.Ok thik hai. Sab ek saath padhke comment karunga.
Padh rahe honge readers , but reply na karte , CnP hai na isliye , effort na lage mere koi .Casi will b mad.
I am also reading this since I follow Casinar ji so found him reading and replying here, so wanted to know what he is reading.
Thus started reading all here.
This is a fantastic story which deserves to be read by all story readers.
Padh rahe honge readers , but reply na karte , CnP hai na isliye , effort na lage mere koi .
Bulane par jo aaya vo koi 30 ke aas paas ka dubla patla ladka tha. Aankhon par ek mota sa chashma, itna patla ke tez hawa ke saath ud jaane ka khatra ho, sar par bhaari matra mein tel se chipke baal, bahut saleeke se iron ki hui shirt aur trouser and achhe se chamkaye gaye joote. In short, bilkul us tareeke ka ladka jo school mein kitabon se sar uthake nahi dekhte aur 12 saal tak class ke doosre ladke unki khichai karte hain.
Vo chup-chap aakar sar jhukaye mere saamne khada ho gaya.
"Ye hamare ek kaafi purane employee hain, Mr. Mafat Lal. Actually is office mein sabse purane yahi hain"Rao ne introduction ka round shuru kiya"Mr. Lal ye hain Inspector Khan, crime branch Mumbai Police. Ye aapse ek ladki ke baare mein kuchh sawal karna chahte hain jo yahan pehle kaam karti thi, Saanwli Mitra"
Yahan 2 baaton ka mujhe achambha hua.Pehla toh ye ke office mein ghusne se ab tak maine ek baar bhi nahi kaha tha ke main Crime Branch se hoon, ye apne aap hi jod diya Rao ne par maine bhi kuchh nahi kaha. Doosra, vo ladka ye sunkar ke main ek policewala hoon zara bhi surprised nahi tha, face ke expression zara bhi nahi badle.
Zaahir tha ke bahar bethi us receptionist ne vaisa hi kiya tha jaisa ke maine andaza lagaya tha. Office mein sabko khud hi danke ki chot par bata diya ke main policewala hoon aur mere sar se introduction ka zimma hata diya tha.
"Tum jaante ho ke ham kis ladki ki baat kar rahe hain?"Maine Mafat Lal se puchha.
Jawab mein usne sirf haan mein sar hila diya.
"Kya bata sakte ho tum uske baare mein?"
"Acchi ladki thi"Vo jawab mein bola.
Yahan ek baat aur jiski mujhe hairat hui vo ye thi ke kisi ne ab tak palat kar nahi puchha tha ke main ye sawal jawab kyun kar raha hoon.
"Ok i was actually expecting for a little more than that"
"I dont know anything"Vo sar jhukaye bola.
"Mr. Rao"Main manager ki taraf palta"Would you mind givins us some privacy please?"
"Not at all"Kehte hue vo utha aur darwaze ki taraf badh gaya"If you need anything, i am right outside"
"Thanks"Maine muskura kar jawab diya. Rao gaya toh khushi khushi tha par uske chehre ke haav bhaav se saaf zahir tha ke use yun apne hi office se bahar nikal diye jana bilkul bhi pasand nahi aaya tha.
"Betho"Rao ke jaane ke baad maine Mafat Lal se kaha.
"Kuchh hua hai na use?"Vo fauran hi kursi par betha aur meri taraf dekhta hua bola"Mujhe pata hai ke kuchh hua hai. Main ek mahine se phone kar raha hoon, number nahi lagta. Uske hostel gaya toh mujhe bole ke vo Saharanpur chali gayi vaapis par mujhe pata hai ke kuchh hua hai. Bina bataye aise kyun chali jaati bhala"
Vo ek hi saans mein bahut kuchh bol gaya aur takreeban sab kuchh hi mere matlab ka tha.
"Tum kyun phone kar rahe the use?"Maine ek baar phir apna notepad aur pen nikal liya.
"Dost thi meri. Ek saal se janta tha main use"Usne jawab diya.
"You mean jabse vo yahan kaam karti thi tabse?"
Usne haan mein sar hila diya.
"Yahan se job kab chhodi usne?"
"Koi 2 mahine pehle"
"Kyun chhodi thi?"
"Uske us boyfriend ke chakkar mein. Kehta tha ke shaadi karega usse isliye job chhod do. Mujhe pata tha ke vo uska bevakoof bana raha hai aur kuchh gadbad hogi. Ab ho gayi na. Pata tha mujhe"
Maine use gaur se dekha. Ek tarfa pyaar uske aankhon aur chehre se saaf jhalak raha tha.
"You know what, walk me through the details, ever since you knew her. Kab aayi, kya hua, kab gayi, kyun gayi, sab kuchh. Walk me through"Maine use kahani shuru se shuru karne ke liye kaha.
"Taqreeban saal bhar pehle aayi thi, receptionist thi. Bahut seedhi saadi ladki thi, kisi se zyada bolti nahi thi"
"Sivaay tumhare?"
Mere sawal par vo ek pal ke liye jhijhka.
"Nahi pehle toh mujhse bhi baat nahi karti thi par phir dheere dheere baat shuru ho gayi"
"Kisi cheez ki pareshani thi use yahan?"
"Yahan office mein?"
"Office mein aur yahan Mumbai mein"
"Bas ek hi cheez ki pareshani thi jiski Mumbai mein shayad sabko hai, Paisa. Uski salary bahut kam thi aur Mumbai mein thode se paiso mein guzara karna na-mumkin jaisa hi hai. Usi ko lekar aksar pareshan rehti thi. Din mein sirf ek baar khati thi. Agar dopahar ko kha liye toh raat ka khana nahi khaati thi aur agar raat ko khana hota tha toh lunch skip karti thi"
"Aur isi liye vo Sharafat Bar ja pahunchi?"
Maine sidha sawal kar diya. Vo Saanwli se pyaar karta tha isliye main janta tha ke khud is baare mein shayad na bata paaye aur agar bataya toh baat ghuma phirake bataya isliye maine hi teer nishane par chala diya. Nateeja vahi nikla jiski mujhe ummeed thi, vo ekdam baukhla utha.
"Vo nahi gayi thi, usko phasa kar le jaya gaya tha vahan par, behla phusla ke"
"Aur behlane phuslane ke kaam kisne kiya tha?"
"Aur kaun karega, vahi saali Bar wali ladki"
"Kaun ladki?"
"Bijli"Usne gusse mein kaha.
Ek baar phir ek jana pehchana naam mere saamne aaya. Bijli, Bijli, Bijli.
"Bar wali ladki ka naam tum kaise jaante ho?"
"Saanwli ne bataya tha"
"Aur ye Bijli yahan kya karti thi?"
"Is tarah ki ladkiyan kya kaam kar sakti hain? Ek hi toh kaam aata hai unhen"
"Yahan office mein?"Maine hairat se puchha.
Usne haan mein sar hila diya.
"Kiske liye?"
Usne jawab mein jis offce mein ham bethe the usmein chaaro taraf nazar daudayi.
"Mr. Rao ke liye?"
"Nahi inse pehle jo manager the unke liye. Bhatia Sir. Vo bulate the uske yahan kabhi kabhi, zyadatar saturday ko lunch ke baad jab sab apne ghar nikal jaate the"
"Ok, phir?"
"Bas yahin par us Bijli ne jaan pehchan bana li Saanwli se aur behla phusla kar use Bar mein le gayi"
"Tum jaante ho vo Bar mein kya karti thi?"
"Waitress thi, Genie in a bottle mein"
"Ok, phir?"
"Phir vahan use vo kambakht Raghu mila aur usne aur us bechari masoom ladki ko behlana shuru kar diya. Main bolta tha Saanwli ko ke vo uska shaadi ke naam par fayda utha raha hai par vo sunti hi nahi thi"
"Kaafi achhi dosti thi tumhari usse, nahi?"
"Thodi bol chal thi. Vo Raghu ke milne ke baad usne Bar mein toh kaam band kar diya par vo ladka mujhe theek nahi lagta tha"
"Tum mile the kabhi usse?"
"Nahi"
"Toh tumhein kaise pata ke vo theek nahi tha?"
"Jis hisaab se Saanwli batati thi usse andaza lagaya, itna toh pata chal hi jata hai logon ke baare mein. Ek number ka charsi tha sala"
"Charsi? Bole toh drugs?"
"Nahi main cigarette ki baat kar raha hoon par kaun jaane, drugs bhi karta hi hoga. Jo cigarette pita ho vo achha insaan kaise ho sakta hai bhala, pehle cigarette phir drugs"
Mera dhyaan apni jeb mein rakhe cigarette packet ki taraf gaya pare use nazar andaaz karke maine phir apne dhyaan Mafat ki taraf ghumaya.
"Tumhein kaise pata ke vo cigarette pita tha?"
"Phone pe aksar sunta tha Saanwli ko. Vo har waqt tokti rehti thi use ke cigarette na piya karo. Aur ek baar jab maine dekha use us waqt bhi vo cigarette hi jala raha tha."
_____________________________
"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.
______________________________
Chatpter 14 - The Unexpected
"Main abhi bhi keh raha hoon ke mujhe ye kuchh theek nahi lag raha"Khan ne meri taraf mudte hue kaha.
"Would you just relax?"Maine jeb se ek cigarette nikal kar jalayi"Sirf baat karni hai usse"
"Nahi, tune baat karni hoti toh phone par karta, yahan na aata aur apne saath mujhe bhi na ghasit-ta"
Ham dono Mumbai port ke paas ek sunsan si jetty par bethe hue the. Raat ke 9 baj rahe the isliye hamare aas paas us jagah par koi nahi tha. Hamse thodi door hi port par ek ship mein kuchh load kiya ja raha tha aur kaafi chehal pehal thi. Roshni se poora ilaaka nahaya hua tha aur har 5 min mein kisi ship ke horn se ham dono ke kaan baj uthte the. Jis jagah ham dono intezaar kar rahe the yahan bhi din mein kaafi logon ka aana jana rehta hoga par shayad shaam hote hote sab nikal jaate the isliye us waqt vahan sirf ham 2 hi maujood the. Main vahin ek taraf rakhe lakdi ke box par betha hua tha aur Khan mere saamne pareshaan sa chehal kadmi kar raha tha.
"Yaar phir cigarette?"Maine cigarette jalayi toh usne phir mujhe ghoorte hue puchha.
"Chhod na yaar"Maine uski baat ansuni kar di"Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ke tu itna pareshaan kyun hai? Teri kabse itni jaldi hawa khisakne lagi?"
"Nahi khisakti"Vo ruka aur mere paas aakar beth gaya"Par jabse tune mujhe apna ye plan bataya hai tabse jaane kyun ek anjaan sa darr sa dil mein betha hua hai, khaas taur se abhi jab main ghar se nikal raha tha. Jaane kyun dil hi dil mein aisa lag raha tha ke mujhe nahi jana chahiye"
"Abe chal phattu"Maine haste hue kaha"Chinta na kar, i wont let them rape you"
"Yeah right"Vo meri hasi se kheejta hua bola"Aur ye cigarette band kar, munh pe dhuan chhod raha hai mere. Saans lena mushkil kar raha hai"
"Abe kya kar raha hai"Usne mere haath par apne haath se thappad mara aur cigarette chhut kar neeche giri.
"Bujha de ise"Vo dhuen ki vajah se khaansta hua bola"Aur ye sala Sharafat hai kahan?"
Kya Saloni wala Pratap ya Raghu aur Pratap Raghuvanshi ek hi aadmi the ya alag alag, is baat ki gawahi sirf ek hi aadmi de sakta tha aur vo tha Sharafat Bhai. Maine kaafi socha par is baat ko saabit karne ka aur koi tarika mere dimag mein nahi aaya. Is waqt meri halat kuchh aisi thi ke Saanwli ko dhoondhne ke saath saath mujhe apni bhi jaan bachani thi, apne sar se ek murder case talna tha. Agar zara bhi is baat mein sachchai thi ke Geetanjali isliye mari kyunki vo Saanwli ke baare mein kuchh jaanti thi toh iska sidha sidha matlab ye tha ke khud meri bhi jaan khatre mein thi. Vo toh sirf Saanwli ke baare mein mujhe kuchh batane ki koshish kar rahi thi jabki main toh khud use dhoondhta phir raha tha. Is sabke pichhe jo koi bhi tha, agar usne Geetanjali jaisi pahunchi hui hasti ko maarne mein koi hichkichahat nahi dikhayi toh meri toh aukaat hi kya tha.
Kaafi soch vichar ke baad maine Sharafat ko phone ghumaya aur usse kaha ke main kuchh baat karna chahta hoon. Vo fauran samajh gaya ke main ho na ho, Saanwli ko lekar hi kuchh puchhna chaunga. Jab maine dekha ke vo samajh gaya hai toh maine bhi baat ko chhupane ki koi zaroorat nahi samjhi aur sach bol diya.
Main ummeed kar raha tha ke shayad vo mujhe apne Bar ya kahin aur kisi adde par bulana chahega par usne mujhe yahan port ke paas ek jetty par bulaya. Pehle toh main akela hi aa raha tha par phir Khan ko bhi phone karke bula liya.
"Itni takleef hai toh aaya hi kyun tha?"Main chidta hua bola. Vo meri aakhri cigarette thi jo usne bujha di thi.
"Kyunki bulaya tha tune isliye, varna mujhe koi shauk nahi hai kisi aur ke pachdon mein taang adata phirun"
"Kaisa policewala hai tu?"
"Sharafat se apni zindagi jeene aur maze karne wala. Mujhe koi bukhar nahi chadha hua samaj se gandgi hatane ya achhe kaam karne ka. Apne ko bas thoda idhar udhar raub dikhane ka, rishwat ki kamai par aish karne ka aur ghar aake so jaane ka, itna hi chahiye police ki naukri se"
"Darpok sala"Maine cigarette ka khaali packet hawa mein uchhalte hue kaha.
"Haan tere toh pichhwade mein bada bahaduri ka piston laga hua hai na. Aa jata akele, mujhe kyun bulaya?"
"Bada ehsaan qureshi maar diya tune yahan aake mere pe. Ja chala ja"
"Zyda na bol, chala bhi jaoonga. Phir vo Sharafat banayega tera tandoori murga"
"Haan toh ja chala ja na, tere hone se bada usne darke pajama geela kar dena hai"
Usne ek baar meri taraf ghoor kar dekha aur uthkar ek taraf chal diya.
"Aur sun, jaate jaate ek cigarette ka packet pakdata jana"Maine pichhe se aawaz lagayi.
Vo uthkar chand kadam hi gaya tha ke ek boat ke horn se ham dono ke kaan khade ho gaye. Meri nazar saamne samundar ki taraf uth gayi aur Khan bhi ruk kar usi aur dekhne laga jahan se ek boat hamari taraf aa rahi thi. Horn ke kuchh pal baad hi ek flash light jali aur ham dono par focus ho gayi. Khan ulte kadam meri taraf badha aur mere saath aakar khada ho gaya.
Jaise jaise boat nazdeek aayi mujhe uske deck par khada Sharafat dikhai diya aur uske aas paas khade kam se kam 6-7 aadmi. Ye ek vaisi hi boat thi jaisi ke hamare desh ke local machhuare istemaal karte hain aur jaisi ke purani Amitabh Bachchan ki filmon mein bhi dikhai dete the. Scene bhi kuchh aisa hi tha, purani Don type films jaisa. Kinare par khada hero, door se raat ko dheere dheere nazadeek aa rahi boat aur uski flash light ki chamchamati roshni.
"Ab toh mujhe bhi kuchh theek nahi lag raha"Maine kaha"Chal nikalte hain yahan se"
"Too late for that"Khan ne bina meri taraf gardan ghumaye kaha"Ab okhli mein sar de diya toh moosal se kya darna"
Thodi der baad Boat Jetty se aa lagi. Deck par Sharafat khada tha aur uske saath uske kuchh aadmi.
"Aa jaiye"Usne hamein boat par aane ka ishara kiya.
"Ham yahan bhi toh baat kar sakte hain"Maine jhijhak dikhlayi.
"Mausam achha hai, aaiye raat ke waqt aapko samundar ki sair bhi kara laayenge. Main aksar raat ka khana apni boat par hi khata hoon, samundar ke beech"
"Kya bolta hai?"Maine dheere se Khan se puchha.
"Chal"Vo bola aur boat ki taraf badh chala.
Thodi hi der baad Boat ham dono ko liye ek baar phir ghoom kar Samundar mein badh chali.
"Aapke yahan hone ki ummeed nahi thi mujhe Khan Sahab"Sharafat Khan se bola"Assalam Alaikum"
"Matlab pata hai?"Khan use ghoorte hue bola.
"Ji?"Sharafat na samajhte hue bola.
"Assalam Alaikun, Is line ka matlab pata hai?"
"Hmmmmm"Sharafat ne pal bhar ke liye socha aur phir inkaar mein gardan hilayi"Nahi"
"Toh bol kyun raha hai jab matlab nahi pata toh?"
"Kamal hain"Sharafat muskurate hue bola"Main tameez ka tokra apne sar par uthaye khada hoon aur aap sidha tu tadak par aa gaye"
"Tune meri bad-tameezi abhi dekhi kahan hai"Khan ne tewar dikhate hue kaha"Kabhi fursat mein milna, achhe se sample deke dikhaoonga"
"Khana taiyyar hai"Sharafat ab bhi vahi sharafat ka chola pehne khada tha"Aaiye"
Boat ke ek hisse par khule mein ek table aur kuchh chairs lagi hui thi jispar uske aadmi khana laga rahe the. Vo ek kursi par ja betha aur ham dono uske saamne lagi 2 kursiyon par ja bethe.
"Aaj mutton banaya hai. Aap non-veg toh khaate hain na Sharma ji"
Usne puchha toh main haan mein sar hila diya.
"Aap kuchh baat karna chahte the?"
"Ji haan"
"Kariye"
"Saanwli mein aapki kya dilchaspi hai?"Main sidha matlab ki baat par aa gaya.
"Isi liye aap Khan Sahab ko saath laaye hain?"Vo apni plate mein khana nikalte hue bola"Taaki aap mere munh se baat nikalva saken?"
"Main kisi ke munh se kuchh nahi nikalvana chahta"Maine bhi khana apni plate mein dalna shuru kiya"Main sirf itna jaanna chahta hoon ke aap mujhe Saanwli ko dhoondhne se rok kyun rahe the?"
"Ye baat aapne mujhse us din toh nahi puchhi jab main aapke ghar aaya tha"Vo daant dikhata hua bola"Us din toh aap bas meri haan mein haan mila rahe the"
"Main puchhta toh aap bata dete?"
"Kise pata, shayad bata bhi deta"
"Toh ab bata dijiye"
"Arrey aap Khana lijiye na Khan Sahab"Vo meri baat nazar andaaz karta hua Khan se bola.
"Bhookh nahi hai mujhe"Khan ne inkaar mein sar hila diya.
"Khane ko kabhi mana nahi karta, rizq hai, le lijiye. Thoda chakh hi lijiye. Varna jisne 2 waqt ki roti ata ki hai vo bura maan jaayega"
Uski baat Khan ne maan li aur apni plate mein khana daalne laga.
"Toh ab bata dijiye ke kyun rok rahe the mujhe?"Maine sawal phir dohraya.
"Akele mujhse milne aane mein dar lag raha tha aapko isliye policewale ka raub dikhane ke liye inhen saath le aaye?"Usne phir meri baat ansuni kar di.
"Aapne meri baat ka jawab nahi diya"Maine kaha.
"Mood nahi hai mera"Vo kandhe uchkata hua bola.
"Khud rokne aaye the ya kisi ke kehne par?"
"Kya matlab?"
"Raghuvanshi ke kehne par dhamkane aaye the na mujhe?"Mere andar jaane kahan se ek ajeeb si himmat paida ho gayi thi"Vo khud saamne nahi aaya, aapko bhej diya"
"Kaun Raghuvanshi?"
"Pratap Raghuvanshi"Khan ne khana khaate khaate beech mein bola.
"Vo kaun hai?"Sharafat uski taraf mudte hue bola.
"Tera baap. Usi ki najayaz aulad hai na tu? Usi ke liye kaam karta hai?"
"Aap mere mehmaan hain, mere yahan meri table par khana kha rahe hain, is baat ka galat fayda na uthayen"
"Pratap Raghuvanshi ka kya interest hai Saanwli mein?"Is baar sawal maine kiya.
"Mujhe kaise pata Pratap Raghuvanshi se hi puchhiye"
"Kahan milega vo?"
"Ye aap khud pata kijiye. Main uske baare mein kuchh nahi janta"
"Kamal hain. Jiske kehne par aap kutte ki tarah dum hilate ghoomte hain usi ka pata nahi jaante?"Main tana maarte hue bola.
AUr iske baad jo hua uska maine bilkul andaza nahi lagaya tha. Vo Sharafat jise maine ab tak sirf muskura kar aap aap se baat karte hue suna achanak gusse mein bhadak utha. Vo ek kaafi lamba chauda insaan tha, achanak utha, ham teeno ke beech rakhi table ko utha kar ek taraf uchhala aur meri gardan pakad li.
"Apni aukaat mat bhool saale" Uske lambe chaude haath mein meri gardan poori sama gayi. Maine Khan ki taraf dekha. Vo Sharafat ke is achanak hue hamle se chaunk kar pichhe ko ja gira tha par fauran uth khada hua aur apne shirt ke andar se apni service revolver nikal kar Sharafat ki taraf uthayi. Tabhi kahin se ek goli ki aawaz goonji, nishana Khan tha. Goli uski kanpati par lagi aur aur uska chehra pal bhar mein khoon se san gaya. Uske haath se gun chhot kar niche gir padi, shareer ladkhada kar boat ke chaaro tarf bani lakdi ki deewar se takraya aur neeche aa gira.
Mere sar par pichhe se kisi ne ek bhaari cheez se vaar kiya aur main bhi apne hosh khota neeche gir pada. Aakhri kuchh lamhon mein mujhe boat ke doosri taraf se Sharafat ke aadmi bhaag kar aate hue dikhayi diye. Khan ke jismse jaan nikal chuki thi aur sar se bhaari matra mein khoon beh kar nikal raha tha.
"Yeh laash pani mein uthake phenko"Mujhe Sharafat ki aawaz sunai di aur main hosh kho betha.