Finale
Chapter 7 : " Book Of Hoax "
Update ~~ 109
Shruti sabse aage thi, uske hath mein compass aur map tha, use meghnath ne map par nishan bana kar use samjha diya tha aur compass mein jis taraf jana hai sui usi direction mein rehni chahie jab tak vo suin sahi jagah rehne wali thi tab tak rasta sahi tha. Wajah sirf itni thi ki aaruhi ko ye kaam saunpna sahi nahi tha aur agar meghnath aisa karta to piche books ko khinch kar lane mein dikkat ho jati isliye shurti ne apne aap ko chuna aur vo ye kaam pichle bees minute se bakhubi kar rahi thi. Bas ek chiz ki dikat thi jise vo juj rahe the vo thi bich-bich mein jahadiyun ka ana jise vo apne hath se hata kar aage badh rahe the jisme unka bahut sa samay jaya ho raha tha.
Bhale hi books ko khinch lene ka tarika khoj liya tha lekin usko itna khinch kar lana itna asan nahi tha, meghnath aur vishal dono ki sansein ukhadne lagi thi lekin rasta abhi lamba tha. Aaruhi piche se dono ki madad karti hui jhadiyun ko hath se hata rahi thi taki unko piche se ane mein dikat na ho. Suraj sar par kafi tez tha isliye ek dafa ruk kar sabhi ne pani piya aur fir taro taza hokar aage badh chale.
" hathon se jhadiyun ko hatana sahi nahi hai, ye jungle shant dikh raha hai par sabse jada raaz yahin dafan hai. Falh dikhne wala zeher ho sakta hai aur zeher dikhne wala pauda dawai ke roop mein kaam aa sakta hai... " meghnath ne piche se aaruhi ko samjhaya. Aaruhi ke hath par jhadiyun ko hatane se pehle hi chote-chote cut lag chuke the.
" Par bina uske nikalna mushkil ho raha hai.. "
" Iska istemal karo.. " meghnath ne apne bagal se machette nikal kar de di.
" Aaruhi ko ye doge? " shruti turant boli.
" han ... shruti sahi keh rahi hai, vaise bhi aaruhi ko kahan chalane ata hai.. kahin usne khud ko hi maar diya to " vishal ne bhi samjhaya.
" main handle kar sakti hun.. " aaruhi bich mein bol padi.
" Dhayan se chalana, uppar se majbuti se pakdna aur kandho ka zor lagana, kalaiyan nahi mudni chahie.. samajh gayi? " meghnath ne hanfte hue kaha.
" theek hai " aaruhi ne uske hath se le liya.
" Ye admi pagal ho gaya hai.. " shruti ne lambi ahein bharte hue kaha.
" hume chalna chahie " vishal ne baat ko wahin khatam kiya aur charon wapis apni manzil ki aaur badh chale. Aaruhi bade dhayan se machette se jhadiyun ki pagdandiya kaat rahi thi lekin takat puri lag rahi thi.
Taakreeban adha ghanta mashakat karke aur chalne ke baad thakan charon ko mehsus hone lagi thi lekin rukne ka samay nahi tha isliye chale jaa rahe the. Rasta ek pakdandi sa ban gaya tha, dono taraf itni jada jhad thi ki usme se jana khatre se khali ho sakta tha isliye vo patli si pakdandi mein se hi nikalna tha jisme halki si chadai ne sabhi ka aur dum nikal rakha tha. Pasine se tar batar, peron mein halki ladkhadahat aur kandhon mein dard. Safar itna asan nahi tha...
Charon ek-ke piche ek hi the, sabse pehle meghnath tha vo piche se dhakka de raha tha aur vishal aage se khinch raha tha, dono bich-bich mein jagah badal rahe the. Shruti compass ko follow kar rahi thi, rahat ki baat bas itni thi ki sar ki dhoop ab kam ho gayi thi, halke badlon ne jagah bana li thi. Ye rahat to jarur de raha tha lekin meghnath janta tha ki jungle ki baarish suraj ki garmi se jada khatarnak hoti hai par filal vo thandak rahat de rahi thi. Sabhi itna thak gaye the ki kisi ki ek dusre ki bolne ki koi himmat bachi hi nahi thi. Shruti compass aur pakdandi ke mutabik aage badh rahi thi ki tabhi compass ki sui do tarfa ghum gayi jise dekh shruti ek dum se ruk gayi. Uske rukne ki vajah se piche se aaruhi takrai aur vishal bhi achanak se ruk gaya aur thakan bhare sharir itni furti na dikha saka jise uski pakad rassi par se halki ho gayi. Piche meghnath ko iska bilkul amuman nahi tha aur na hi vo achanak se badte vajan ko sambhal pane mein saksham tha.
Achanak se aye piche vajan ki wajah se uska per mud gaya aur uske hath se rassi chhut gayi jiski wajah se vishal bhi ek dum se bhar ko sambhal nahi saka aur uske hath se rassi fisal gayi aur hua ye ki vo cart jispr books aur baki saman rakha tha vo piche ki taraf ludk gaya. Meghnath ne use bachane ki kosish ki aur usi kosish mein vo piche jhadyun mein jaa gira aur cart ludak kar thoda piche gayi aur jhadiyun men jaa ghusi.
" ohh shit... "
" meghnath... meghnath.. tum theek to ho na... " vishal sabse pehle pahuncha, uske sath hi aaruhi bhi thi, shruti dono ke piche the. Ek pal tak meghnath ki aaur se koi bhi awaz nahi ayi, vo muh ke bal jhadiyun mein gira hua tha.
" meghnath.. tum theek ho .. " vishal ne piche se uske kandhe par hath rakhte hue kaha. Bechaini to sabhi ke man mein thi aur vo tab tuti jab meghnath ne jawab dia.
" han.. " vo himmat karke apni jagah se khada hua jisme vishal ne bhi uski madad ki.
" tum theek ho? " aaruhi ne bhi pucha jisme usne sirf han mein sar hila dia. Usne apne kapde jhade, muh saaf kiya jispar mitti aur kuch patiyan chipak gayi thi.
" sorry.. vo aaruhi achanak se ruk gayi to mera hath rassi se slip ho gaya " vishal ne turant kaha.
" koi nahi.. "
" vo main to isliye ruki kyun ki shruti ruk gayi thi " aaruhi ne jhat se kaha. Teeno shruti ki taraf dekhne lage jo un teeno se thoda dur apni hi jagah par khadi thi.
" mai.. kya karti.. vo... ye compas main gadabd hui isliye.. " shruti turant boli.
" Koi nahi.. " meghnath bol kar piche ki taraf ghuma jahan par cart ludaki padi thi aur saman bikhra hua tha aur ek dafa asman ki taraf dekha,badal gehrate jaa rahe the.
" Hume jaldi karni padegi.. baarish hone wali hai.. " meghnath itna keh kar muda hi tha ki uske per ladkhada gaye. Vo to vishal ne sahi samay par pakad liya warna meghnath dubara gir jata.
" kya hua.. ? " usne turant pucha.
" per mein chot lagi hai .. shayad.. " meghnath ne ek kadam aage badne ki sochni lekin uske ulte per mein fir dard utha aur vo dard mein karha utha.
" tumhare per mein kuch laga hai.. " aaruhi ne turant dekhte hue kaha.
" han.. shayad kuch chuba hua hai.. " vishal ne bhi aaruhi ki nazron ka picha kiya to paya ki per mein kuch ghusa hua tha. Vo niche baitha to paya ki kuch kante jaise ghuse hue the jo jeans ke bahar se dikh rahe the.
" khinch kar nikal do " meghnath bola.
" dard ho to batana.. "
" jhatke se mat khichna bas.. "
" theek hai " vishal ne aram se ek-ek kar kanton ko per se nikal diya. Khoon jeans ke us hissa mein jama ho gaya tha.
" chalo, varna late .. aarghhh " meghnath ko laga tha ki use kanto ke chuban ka dard hai lekin jab vo aage pada to fir dard karha utha.
" lagta hai tumhara per muda gaya hai.. chot andruni hogi.. "
" lagta to wahi hai.. " uske chehre par dard tha " bag mein spray hai.. vo de do.. aram aa jayega " aaruhi ne turant bag se nikal diya. Ediyun ke pas hi dard tha to vishal ne uspar spray kar dia.
" vo chot par kuch laga lo.. "
" nahi wahan dard nahi hai.. waise bhi samay kam hai.. chalo... " meghnath ladkhadate hue aage badha. Vishal bhi uske sath chal diya, dono ne mil kar cart ko sahi kiya, us pure time main vishal itna samay gaya ki meghnath ab is cart ko dhaka nahi laga payega.
" chalo " jaise hi meghnath use khinchne ke liye hua vishal ne tok dia.
" tumse nahi ho payega.. tumhare per mein chot hai.. "
" lekin tum akele ise nahi khinch sakte "
" khinch sakta hun par jada tezi se nahi "
" wahi keh raha hun. Hum der nahi kar sakte "
" abhi raat hone mein samay hai "
" tum samajh nahi rahe ho ye jungle hai.. yahan din raat suraj ki marzi se nahi hota, yahan din aur raat is jungle ki marzi se hota hai.. Uppar badal dekh rahe ho, ye kohram machane ke liye tayar ho rahe hai. Jungle ki baarish aur uski raat yahan kaat nahi payenge. Subah tak charon zinda nahi bachenge aur kaisi dardnak maut hogi uska tum andaza bhi nahi laga sakte. Hume din rehte hi us jagah ko khojna hai warna sab khatam.. " meghnath ke bolne ke baad vishal ek pal tak use tak-takai lagaye dekhta raha.
" Mai kar dungi " bich mein aaruhi ke bolte hi ek pal ki shanti tut gayi.
" tum? "
" han kyun? " aaruhi ne meghnath se rassi le li aur use apni machette pakda di.
Meghnath, shruti ke sath chal raha tha bich main ati jhadiyun ko machette se katta hua aur bich bich mein shruti se map ko lekar rasta samjhne ki kosish karta hua, bich bich mein apne sidhe per se ulte per ko khuja laita jahan par chot lagi thi. Piche vishal ki madad karte hue aaruhi card ko khinch rahi thi. Dophar ka samay ho chuka tha aur halki baarish honi bhi shuru ho gayi thi. Charon manzil ke kareeb the lekin itni der se chalne ke baad thakan kafi ho gayi thi. Apne aap ko baarish se bachane ke liye sabhi ne raincoat dala aur usi bahane do pal aram karne ki sochte hue wahin baithe aur kuch khane ka socha.
" Mujhe lagta hai ab hum apni jagah se bahut kareeb hai.. us din book se mile map ke mutabik vo jagah yahan kahin hogi aur hum abhi idhar hai.. lagbhag adha kilometer ya use thoda jada. Par ... " meghnath ne khate hue pehle ache se chabaya aur fir per se dusre per ko khujane laga jo pichle adhe ghnate mein use kai dafa karna pada tha. Uske per mein jahan chot lagi thi wahan khujli badhti jaa rahi thi. " Par .. jungle aage kafi ghana lag raha hai, yahan par koi kisi ko akela nahi chhodega, humse koi bhi agar idhar-udhar hua to shayad kabhi kisi ko khoj nahi payenge. Ab chalo, ise pehle baarish jada tez ho jaye.. " meghnath kehkar utha ki badal ke garzaon ki awaz kahin jada teevr gati se gunj uthi. Sabhi ke sharir mein thakan thi kisi ka uthne ka man nahi tha.
" Man kar raha hai bas yahin so jaun.. sala.. kahan se kahan pahunch gayi.. kya sapne dekhe the ki ek makhmali palang par gand uchalungi par yahan jungle ke khurkduri jameen par gand tudwa rahi hun. Kya se kya ho jata hai... haye... " shruti apni jagah se khadi hui aur meghnath ke piche chal di. Ab kaman meghnath ke hath mein thi. Piche aaruhi aur vishal card ko lekar aa rahe the jisme unhe jada diat ho rahi thi kyun ki baarish ki vajah se card ke payein kichad mein fans rahe the. Meghnath aage badhta hua bar-bar per khuja raha tha jispar shruti ki nazar bar bar jaa rahi thi.
Baarish tez hone ho rahi thi, ek ghanta aur beet gaya lekin abhi tak vo apni jagah par nahi pahunche the. Meghnath ka dimag pareshan tha kyun ki use apni manzil nahi mili thi aur reh-reh kar per mein ho rahi khujli use aur jada pareshan kar rahi thi. Ek ghanta aur beet gaya aur abhi bhi unhe rasta nahi mila tha.
" sham hone ko ayi hai, andhera hone wala hai, samajh nahi ata ki vo jagah mil kyun nahi rahi " meghnath map par nazar gadaye hue tha mano map se puch raha ho ki kahan chupi hai vo jagah.
" mujhe to lagta hai ye sab ek bakwas hai... asal mein koi jagah hai hi nahi, vo books, vo map .. sab ki sab banai hui hai. Khud socho agar aisi koi jagah hoti to kya yahan dur se dikhai nahi deti.. Aisi tumhare jane se hawa mein se prakat hokar nahi ayegi. Main to pehle din se keh rahi hun is admi ki mat suno... Lekin meri kisi ne nahi mani, iski kahaniyun mein ghuste chale gaye.. Sala khojne chale the maarne wale ko ab to apne hi marne ke bare mein sochna padh raha hai.. behenchod.. " shruti unchi awaz mein chillai.
" Meghnath tumhe yakeen hai ki hum sahi jagah aye hai... ? " vishal ne shruti ki baat ke baad kaha par meghnath kuch nahi bola " Kuch to bolo, kya hum sahi jagah hai? " vishal ne fir toka, baarish tez hoti jaa rahi thi, patton par gir rahi pani ki bundein kano mein chubne lagi thi.
" Are ye kya bolega, isko khud kuch nahi pata. Pata bhi kaise hoga, jab kuch sach hai hi nahi. Sab kuch ek bani hui kahani hai. Hamare pas tent hai, hum koi sahi jagah dekh kar use laga lete hai.. aaj ki raat katni hai bas... kal wapis.. nahi to.. "
" Zinda nahi bachenge subah tak... humse koi zinda nahi bachega ... " meghnath ek dum se chilla pada jise dekh ek pal ke liye vishal tak ghabra gaya kyun ki uski awaz mein ek alag hi gussa tha. " Kitni baar samjhaya tujhe maine.. ki jo bhi maine bataya vo sach hai... pagal ladki... samajh nahi ata kya tujhee... " chillate hue usne shruti ki taraf dekha aur per ko zor-zor se khujane laga jiski wajah se vo kahi jada bechain aur pareshan tha. Is vishay par kuch hota use pehle aaruhi bol padi.
" meghnath tumhara per.... " usne per ki taraf ishara kiya to vishal bhi piche se uske per ko dekhne laga takhno se uppar per ke piche walla hissa mota hokar bahar ki taraf nikla hua tha jahan par meghnath khujaye jaa raha tha. Meghnath ne jab dono ka ishara pakar khujlane ki jagah apne per ko mehsus kiya tab use bhi samajh aa gaya.
Usne turant apni jeans uppar khinchi to paya jahan vo kante jaisi chubi thi udhar hi per ka kuch hissa fulh kar mota ho gaya tha. Par itna hi nahi tha, vishal ko kuch ajeeb sa laga to vo meghnath ke najdeek gaya aur uske per ki taraf behad pass se dekhne ke liye jhuka aur ek pal aise hi dekhne ke baad achanak se jab us fulhe hue hisse par dekha ki andar kuch hil raha hai to ek vo dum dar kar piche ho gaya.
" uske andar kuch hai.. kuch hai uske andar.. "
" kiske andar? " shruti turant boli.
" meghnath ki choth main... kuch hai uske andar... maine dekha, use chalta hua dekha andar... "
" kya... " aaruhi, shruti ke muh se ek sath nikla.
" pata nahi... lekin kuch to hai.. jo meghnath ke sharir mein hai... hume use bahar nikalna hoga... "
" bahar kaise nikalenge... hum main se koi doctor nahi hai... "
" lekin nikalna padega... warna pata nahi jo bhi hai andar vo kya kare meghnath ke peron ke sath.. "
" to kare kya "
" kaat do.. " meghnath bich mein bol pada. " Kaato is hisse ko... "
" tum pagal ho gaye ho.. dard ke marre jaan nikal jayegi "
" aur koi rasta nahi hai... main bardasht nahi kar paa raha hun ... aur hamare pas samay bhi nahi hai.. vishal kaato ise... "
" ma.a.ain... kaise... kaatun... "
" kyun nahi kaat sakte... ye lo isse kattoo... " meghnath ne pocket se ek pocket knife nikal kar vishal ki taraf pakda dia.
" nahi.. mujhse nahi hoga.. "
" main khud nahi kar paunga warna tumhe nahi kehta... aaruhi tum ? "
" main kar deti hun.. " shruti ne khud ko aage badaya aur meghnath ne han mein sar hila dia.
" Ye lo.. chaku ko saaf kar lo..aur apna hath bhi " bag se daru ki bottle nikalte hue meghnath ne shruti ko pakda di. Usne bottle khol kar chaku par puri tarah se bhigo diya aur apne hath bhi daru se dho dale. Aaruhi first aid kit pehle hi nikal chuki thi.Baarish main karna ye kaam bahut mushkil tha lekin karna jaruri tha. Shruti ne badi himmat dikha kar han bhari thi aur jab vo chaku lekar uske ghav ki taraf badhi to andar jo bhi chiz thi use hilta dekh ek baar use bhi thuk nigalna padh gaya.
" Tumhe kaatne ka mauka to main vaise bhi kabse khoj rahi thi " vo nahi janti thi ki ye joke usne khud ke dar ko kam karne ke liye kaha ya fir meghnath ke dar ko. Meghnath ne bagal ki ek tehni zoron se pakad li vo janta tha ki kaisa feel hone wala hai.
" ready? "
" nahi.. abhi nahi.. lekin jaldi kar do... " meghnath apne per khujane ke liye tadap raha tha, uske per kanp rahe the. Shruti ne palkon par aye pani ki bund ko hataya aur chaku ko ghav par rakh kar niche ki taraf ferna shuru kar dia. Ek maheem lakir ke sath khoon ki dhara tez hui aur usi ke sath jungle mein meghnath ki dardnak awaz. Usne tehni ko aur zor se pakad liya kyun ki shruti abhi bhi us ghav ko kaat rahi thi pehle sidhe katta fir aur side se taki ghav ko khol sake. Uski khaal ki layer by layer kat rahi thi, khoon pani ki tarah beh raha tha, uski tadap dekh baki sabhi ki sirhan uth rahi thi. Meghnath ki cheekh tab ruki jab shruti ne uske hisse ko kaat diya aur jaise hi vo katta vo ek dum se ghabrate hue piche hat gayi kyun ki meghnath ke per se khoon ke sath chote chote kalle rang ke kide bahar ane lage.
" maine kaha tha na ki kuch hai andar.. ye to kide hai.. khoon ke sath nikal rahe hai... " jitna khoon ka prabhav bahar aya utne kide bhi aye.
" ghav ko sharab se dho.. kide andar nahi rehne chahie... "
" tum pagal ho gaye ho... tumhari jaan nikal jayegi... " aaruhi bol uthi.
" jaan to waise bhi nikal rahi hai, shruti jaldi dalo.... ghav ko jda der khula nahi chhod sakte... " meghnath janta tha ki shruti hi is kaam ko jaldi kar sakti hai. Shruti ne ek pal lagaya par fir daru ki bottle vishal ke hath se li aur ek jhatka mein ghav ke andar daal di. Daru ki pehli bund padte hi meghnath ka sharir tadap utha. Mano aag se sharir jal raha ho. Vo tadap itni jada thi ki usne us tehni ko itni zor se hilaya ki vo apni jagah se hi tut gayi. Uska pura sharir buri tarah se kanp raha tha, galle ki nasein cheekhne ki wajah se bahar nikal kar tut jane ko tayar ho gayi thi. Lekin uski ye tarkib kaam ayi, ghav mein sharab jane ki wajah se uske andar ke sarre kide khoon ke sath bahar aa gaye, jisme sirf khoon nahi tha balki uske maas ke tukde bhi the jo shayad andar kidon ne kha liye the.
Takreeb 2-3 minute meghnath ki zindagi ke ye behad takleef diye the, uska galla itni baarish mein bhi sukh chuka tha. Aaruhi ne jaise hi dekha ki ghav mein se ab sirf khoon ris raha hai usne fauran dawai kholi aur uske ghav mein bhar kar patti bhadni shuru kar di. Baarish mein patti bekar ho rahi thi lekin ghav ko bandhna jaruti tha warna jada khoon beh jane se meghnath zinda na bachta. Aaruhi ne furti dikhai aur patti bandh kar jeans niche kar di. Vishal ne jab tak meghnath ko pani pila dia aur shruti ne daru se aaruhi ke hath dhulwa diye jo khoon mein san gaye the.
" ab kaisa lag raha hai... " vishal ne meghnath se pucha.
" mano sar se bhoj utar gaya ho " meghnath ne bola aur tabhi uski nazar ek taraf padi jo use jada dur nahi thi lekin itni pas bhi nahi thi, shayad vo jis chiz ko dekhne ki kosish kar raha tha vo use dikhai nahi de rahi thi wajah thi vo choth jispar bar bar uska dimag jaa raha tha. Vo ek dum se sidhe khada ho gaya.
" kya hua... "
" Ye jagah... ye jagah... " usne apne charon taraf dekha " hum kab se yahin ghum rahe hai... "
" matlab? "
" matlab dhayan se dekho, hum isi jagah par do baar aa chuke hai... " meghnath ke kehne par sabhi ne dhayan se dekhne ki kosish kar lekin jungle mein sab ek jaisa hi dikhta hai to fir kaise pata lagate.
" hume nahi samajh aa raha " vishal ne kaha.
" hum... hu.m... kisi chiz ke chakar laga rahe hai... ye dekho.. in jhadiyun ko.. itni gathili aur band hai ki hum us paar nahi jaa sakte.. rasta sirf sidhe hai.. "
" iska matlab... "
" matlab yahi hai ki hum apni manzil par khade hai.. bas.. andar jane ka rasta khojna hai.. jaldi chalo... " meghnath ne bag uthaya aur baki sabne apna bag uthaya aur cart khinchte hue aage badh chale.
Ab jab unhe pata chal chuka tha ki vo wahin khade hain jahan unhe ana tha vo usi jhadiyun ke sath chal diye jo ek deewar jaisi sidhi khadi thi ab bas unhe is raste par us jagah ko khojna tha jo andar ki taraf jana tha. Suraj asman se gayab hone wala tha, badalon ne waise hi roshni kam kar di thi aur vo jante the ki andhere mein khojna namumkin tha kyun ki anuman to unhe lag gaya tha ki jo bhi koi jagah hai vo puri tarah se jungle ne apne garbh mein dhak li hai jiski wajah se kisi ko nahi dikhai degi. Meghnath ke andar josh sa bhar gaya tha lekin uske per ki halat theek nahi thi, khoon ris raha tha aur jahan par ghav bana tha uske aas paas ki jagah ab nili padne lagi thi lekin ye baat abhi meghnath ko malum nahi thi.
" mil gaya... " achanak meghnath ne chalna band kar dia. Usne kuch aisa dekha tha jispar kisi ko vishwas nahi tha, koi nahi man raha tha ki ek myth sach ho sakta hai. Jhadiyun si dhakki deewar koi ent pathar ki deewar nahi balki ek umeed thi uske liye is kahani ki sachai se parda uthane ki umeed.