Night 1
" table for one "
" sure sir, come this side " usne cafe ke ek kone mein seat dete hue menu meri taraf badaya.
" no thanks, one mojito " mene ghadi mein time dekha 7:00 baj rahe the. Mene book kholi aur hath mein pen lekar baith gaya, thodi der mein vo meri drink le aya.
Night 2
Mein kal vali seat par ja baitha, baith-te sath mene book kholi aur sath mein pen le liya.
" sir " kal wala waiter mere pas aya.
" mojito " Thodi der mein vo meri drink le aya aur mein kal ki tarah baitha apni drink lete hue book mein kho gaya.
Night 3
" mojito " mere baithne ke baad wahi waiter ate hi bola.
" hmm " mene muskurate hue kaha aur vo chala gaya. Mene book kholi aur sath mein pen lekar baith gaya. Uske baad phir book ke sath kho gaya.
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Night 37
Aaj cafe ke bahar ate shor ko dekh kar samajh gaya tha andar party chal rahi hai. Mujhe party ki fikar nahi thi, lekin mujhe lag raha tha ki meri seat shayad mujhe aaj nahi milegi.
" vicky vo meri seat aaj full hogi ? " andar ate hi mene waiter se pucha.
" sir mene apki seat reserved rakhi hai "
" thank you " mein phir apni seat par ja baitha. Thodi der mein vo meri drink le aya aur mein roz ki tarah apni book aur pen lekar baith gaya. Party ka shor, uska music mujh par koi asar nahi dal raha tha, mein apni book mein khoya hua tha tabhi party se alag ek awaz kano mein ayi. Mene ek pal ke liye book se nazar hata kar samne dekha to ek ladki hanste hue mere samne wali chair par baithi hui thi ya shayad apni friend ke sath enjoy karte hue galti se baith gayi thi.
" sorry " vo hanste hue uth kar chali gayi aur mene phir book par apni nazar laga di.
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Night 47
Phone ki ring se mujhe hosh aya, mene phone silent par kiya aur apni jagah se uth gaya, uth-te waqt meri nazar samne padi jahan ek ladki baithi is taraf hi dekh rahi thi. Mene apna saman uthaya aur chala gaya.
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Night 63
" sir apke bare mein koi puch raha tha "
" hmm "
" aap janna nahi chahenge kya ? " vo kuch pal sochne ke baad bola.
" thanks " mene apni drink uthate hue kaha aur vo chala gaya. Uske jane ke baad mein apni book mein kho gaya. Phone ke ring hone par hosh aya, mene use silent kiya aur apni seat se uth gaya, uth-te hue meri nazar aam-tor par samne padi to samne baithi ladki aaj bhi is taraf hi dekh rahi thi, mujhe aisa laga shayad galat femi thi meri, mene book uthayi aur chala gaya.
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Night 67
" can i sit here ? " mene apni nazar samne ki taraf uthai to dekha, stylish hat lagaye ek ladki mere samne khadi thi. Mein ek pal use dekhta raha, isliye nahi ki vo sundar thi par isliye ki vo yahan kyun baithna chahti thi ?
" sure " mene kaha aur vo halki muskan ko apne sath liye, baal ko apne chehre se hatate hue baith gayi, baith-te hi usne apni cap utar kar table par rakh di aur sar jhatkte hue apne baal thik karne lagi. Na jane kyun par mein muskura dia aur phir apni nazar book par laga di.
" 100 pages "
" ji kuch kaha ? " mene thodi der baar react kiya, jisme mein ye bhul gaya ki usne abhi abhi kya kaha tha.
" kaun se author ne likhi hai "
" you like to read? "
" hell no.. lekin mein bahut din se notice kar rahi hun ki tum yahan ate ho, isi jagah baith-te ho aur isi book ko padte rehte ho itni achi hai kya ? "
" kya soch rahe ho ? " mujhe kuch der chup dekh vo boli.
" itni asani se kaise tumne mujhe approach kar liya ? " shayad use mere is baat ki umid nahi thi aur mujhe laga shayad vo uth kar bhi jana chahti hai par vo gayi nahi balki hansne lagi.
" tumhara breakup hua hai kya ? "
" roz hota hai... "
" i am not kidding "
" me too "
" seriously lekin .. " vo itna hi bol payi ki phone ka reminder bajne laga,11:00 baj chuke the, mene phone silent kiya aur apni jagah se uth gaya.
" bye... " mene uske reaction ki taraf nahi dekha aur book lekar chala gaya.
Night 68
Mein roz ki tarah vahin baitha tha ki vicky mere pas aya aur mere hath mein ek envelope dekar chala gaya. Mene use pucha to usne jawab mein kaha ki mein janta hu. Mene envelope side mein rakha aur book mein kho gaya. 11:00 bajte hi phone ka reminder bajne laga, mene use silent kiya aur book ke sath envelope utha liya aur jate hue vicky ko ye keh kar de diya, ki mein janta hun envelope mein kya hai.
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Night 71
Mein book mein khoya hua tha ki book ke niche se envelope meri taraf aya. Mujhe laga vicky phir rakh kar gaya aur jaise hi mene ankho ke aage se book hatai to dekha vahi ladki samne baithi thi.
" itni intensity se book padh rahe ho, aisa kya hai isme ? " shayad vo kuch der se vahan baithi thi.
" author kaun hai iska ? naam nahi likha ispar to aur bahut hi simple sa cover page hai, koi new author hai kya ? " mere bolne se pehle vo boli.
" first copy hai.. "
" editor ho ? "
" hamm something like .. "
" cool.. " vo apni drink ki sip lete hue boli aur phir jaise hi usne sip li mujhe aisa laga jaise use kuch yaad aya. " read my envelope mr. editor " vo ghunt andar utarte hi boli.
" mein janta hu "
" but you didn't read ? " vo chaunkte hue boli.
" tumne hi kaha tha kal ki mein janta hu ye envelope mujhe kyun mila hai.. "
" smart... "
" why are you here ? " vo kuch kehti use pehle mein hi bola. Meri baat sun kar vo chup hui aur kuch sochne lagi, uski nazar mujh par hi thi aur phir hansti hui boli.
" even i don't know.. " vo hanste hue boli to mein bhi muskura dia, vajah kya thi meri is muskan ke piche mein nahi janta par mein muskura raha tha.
" anamika.. " usne meri taraf hath badaya itne mein phone ka reminder bajne laga. Mene phone silent kiya aur apni jagah se uth gaya aur is baar mene uske face ke reaction ko miss nahi kiya, vo confuse thi, thodi si upset bhi shayad, mene book uthai aur envelope uski taraf bada dia.
" khali envelope mein edit karne ke liye kuch nahi hota.. " itna bol kar mein chala gaya.
Night 72
" tumhe kaise pata chala envelope khali tha? "
" kyun ki tum sirf mera dhayan book se hatana chahti thi " vo mere samne kuch der se baithi thi, sirf baithi thi kuch kehne ke liye usne takreeban 40 minute liye.
" tum editor ho ya phir koi jyotish baba whatever.. "
" tumne kisi se shart lagai hai mera dhayan hatane ke liye to keh do ? jeeta dunga " mere bolne ke baad koi response nahi aya to mene book se nazar hatai aur use cafe se bahar ki taraf jate hue dekha.
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Night 79
Mein cafe mein ate hi apni seat ki hi taraf jata hu, aaj bhi vaisa hi kiya to dekha vo ladki anamika aaj meri hi seat par baithi thi. Mein table se kuch dur pehle hi ruk kar vicky ko khojne laga itne mein uski awaz mere kano mein padi.
" mere sath share kar sakte ho, i don't mind " mene ek pal uski taraf dekha, vo meri taraf nahi dekh rahi thi aur shayad meri taraf dekhe bina hi usne apni baat kahi thi, yani vo mujhe pehle hi dekh chuki thi.
" thank you " mein vahan baithte hi bola. Baith-te sath hi mene book kholi aur hath mein pen le liya.
" mein shart har gayi " vo kuch der baad boli itne mein meri drink aa gayi thi, ab aksar agar vicky busy hota tha to vo kisi aur ke hath bhijwa deta tha lekin baithne ke 15 minute baad hi mujhe meri drink mil jati thi. Lekin aaj meri drink ka taste kuch alag tha.
" aur ye drink usi ki wajah se hai.. "
" means ? "
" shart harne ki vajah hai ye drink, mene tumhare sath table share ki tum mere sath drink share nahi kar sakte." Is baar dono ek sath hans pade.
" why ? " usko hansta dekh kuch der baad bola.
" why what ? "
" you know " mere bolne ke baad usne glass table par rakha aur sans lete hue shayad vo pehle khud se kuch boli aur phir ek pal liye hansi phir chehre par badlav late hue meri taraf dekhne lagi.
" dekho sabko " vo bol kar chup ho gayi par mein samjha nahi isliye vo dubara boli. " dekho sabko.. " usne hath se ishara kiya aur tab meri samajh aya ki vo kya kehna chahti hai.Mene cafe mein ek nazar dali aur phir uski taraf dekhne laga. " inme se kisi ke pass bhi khud ke liye time nahi hai, sab .. "
" sab sirf rishton ke liye jee rahe hain.. " mein bich mein bol pada.
" exactly, how'd you know mein yahi kehne vali thi ? " usne apni ankhein badi kar li, mein kuch nahi bola. Na jane kyun par jo agla sawal mein karna chahta tha mujhse hua nahi, bas chup baitha raha aur vo kuch bolte hue ruk gayi shayad vo bhi confuse ho gayi thi. Kuch pal to mein use dekhta raha uske baad mene apni nazar uspar se hata kar book par laga di aur hosh tab aya jab phone par reminder baja. Mene phone silent karne ke liye uthaya to paya ki na to abhi 11 baje the aur na hi mera reminder baja tha.
" sorry its mine " usne phone dikhate hue kaha. " actually ye reminder isliye tha ki kahin mein bhul na jaun jo mei tumse puchna chahti thi ? "
" like "
" tumne reminder kyun set kar rakha hai. I mean exact 11 ? any reason ? ya phir tum apne aap ko time ke bahut hi punctual samjhte ho ? editor ke sath teacher bhi ho kya ? i mean yar itna kaun over-react karta hai time ko lekar... ya phir kahin tumhari koi girl-friend to nahi ? " mazak banane ke baad vo hasne lagi. Mein uski baat sun kar bas hans kar reh gaya.
" time ki value life ki value ki tarah hoti hai, ise sambhala nahi to dono mein se kuch bhi vapis nahi milta " mene book uthai aur khada ho gaya.
" hey i am sorry i was just... " vo kuch keh rahi thi lekin mene use ignore kar diya aur vahan se chal dia. Par cafe ke gate tak jakar vapis aya, vo vaisi hi baithi apni drink mein dali straw hila rahi thi. " and you know the answer " mere itna kehte hi phone ka reminder bajne laga aur mein use silent karte hue vahan se chala gaya. Mein janta tha vo kuch minute legi meri baat samjhne mein lekin use samajh aa jayega.
Night 80
" hey about yestarday, i am sorry, i was just trying to be fun but i think it gets misfire... "
" tum mere sath isliye ho kyun ki mein apne liye waqt nikal kar baitha hu ? " use mere question ki umid nahi thi.
" yeah i mean.. no.. yeah.. I ... " vo stammer karti hui ek pal ke liye ruki " wait.. kya tum mujhse baat nahi karna chahte ? "
" ye mere sawal ka jawab nahi hua "
" par tumhara question ajeeb hai "
" tumne isi vajah se mujhe chuna.. varna kyun ? kya tum har anjan shaks se aise hi baat karti ho ? "
" nahi... " usne apne kandhe uthaye, jane kya soch rahi thi, bahut confused dikh rahi thi. " i mean its like... ohk i tell you now honestly.. "
" ok "
" it was that day when i was waiting for my friend right there.. " usne ishara piche ki taraf kiya. " friend ka wait karte karte nazar tum par padi, you were sitting right here, hath mein book liye bade gaur se use padte hue, itna shor, itni halchal sab kuch jaise tumhare liye ho hi na. I don't know why i keep watching you.. but i did. Mera office yahin hai to aksar hum office ke baad yahan ate hai and then i started keep seeing you there holding the book of urs. Same desk.. same style, same drink .. and then i thought why ? i mean ye abnormal nahi hai lekin i never seen you glitched for a moment, jab bhi dekhti thi you were there... isliye "
" tumne mere bare mein waiter se pucha.. "
" exactly " vo aisi hansi jaise uski chori pakdi gayi ho.
" aur jab mene uske bolne par kuch nahi pucha to tumne direct mujhe approach karne ki socha. "
" yeah exactly.. and i think i did the right thing. "
" itni jaldi ? "
" i was watching you for almost 33 days mr editor "
" Arman.. " mere itna bolte hi phone ka reminder bajne laga, mene use silent kiya aur anamika ko bye keh kar chala gaya. Mein nahi janta ki meri uski sath is tarah shuruwat kyun hui, par jab shuruwat hui to agle 19 din kaise kat gaye pata nahi chala. Us night mene anamika ko pehli baar is tarah dekha hoga.
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Night 99
" aaj book se jada nazar mujh par hai kya baat hai mr. editor ? " bhale hi vo mera naam jan chuki thi lekin usne mujhe mere naam se abhi tak nahi pukara tha. Vaise uski ye baat sahi thi, Mein baitha to book lekar tha, par meri nazar anamika par hi thi, kyun ? vajah dene ki jarurat hi nahi thi, vo itni sundar lag rahi thi jaise kisi ne use sundar banne ki azadi de di ho.Mein kuch nahi bola aur apni nazar book par laga di par jhalak ke aage to vahi thi.
" ye tumhare liye ? " kuch minute baad usne kaha to meri nazar ek box par padi jo usne meri taraf badaya tha.
" mera birthday nahi hai "
" i know... i mean i don't .. par phir bhi ye tumhare liye hai
" to phir kyun ? "
" please dekhna jarur, envelope " usne itni masumiyat se kaha ki mein kuch keh hi nahi paya aur agle hi pal phone ka reminder bajne laga, mene phone silent kiya aur khada ho gaya. Vo bhi mere sath khadi ho gayi, shayad usne jaan kar ye pal chuna. Hum dono aaj pehli baar cafe tak ek sath bahar aye aur phir mein use bye keh kar nikal gaya.
Night 100
Aaj book to samne khuli hui thi par mera dhayan book par nahi tha. Mein janta tha aaj anamika nahi ayegi aur mein chahta bhi yahi tha. Roz ye waqt kaise bit jata tha pata nahi chalta tha lekin aaj mujhe cafe ka shor, logon ki hansi, kano mein gunj rahi thi. Insan jaisa chahe uske sath ek minute ke liye hi sahi vaisa kyun nahi hota ? Ye raat mere liye sabse badi raat sabit hui, shayad sabse jada.....
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" mam " anamika ki nazar cafe mein kuch khoj rahi thi ki vicky ne uska dhayan toda. " ye arman sir apke liye dekar gaye the, unhone kaha tha ki aap jab bhi aye apko de du " vicky ne book aur anamika ka diya box uski taraf bada di. Anamika ek pal use dekhti rahi phir uske hath se le li.
" arman ? "
" vo kuch dino se nahi aa rahe " itna bol kar vo chala gaya. Anamika ek pal book ko dekhti rahi aur phir usi seat par ja baithi, vahi table. Usne ghadi mein time dekha, 9 baj rahe the, usne book aur box samne rakh diya, use umid thi ki arman ayega. Lekin 9 ke 10 hue aur 10 ke 11 par vo nahi aya, tab tak anamika ne book nahi kholi. Vo jabse ayi tabse hi vo dukhi thi aur jab arman aya hi nahi to uski vo udasi gusse mein badal gayi, usne jane ki sochi par phir uski nazar book par padh gayi aur vo uth nahi payi. Usne soch kar book uthai aur use khola.
Puri book khali, ye dekhte hi uski ankhein hairani se khulti gayi, page by page vo aage badati rahi lekin sab empty. Use samajh nahi aya ki jo insan pichle 100 din se book ko lekar baitha tha vo khali hai, ek baar uska dimag hi kharab ho gaya par agle pal jab uska dhayan is baat par gaya ki book ke akhri kuch pages par vo series nahi hai jo shuru ke pages mein thi, usne fauran kuch page piche ghumaye.
" Night 97, 98, 99, 100 " 100 page khulte hi vo ruk gayi.
" kehne ko to 100 din bahut hote hai, jisme hume 2400 ghante milte hai lekin kya vakai mein vo 2400 ghante hamare hote hai ?. 100 din the mere pas jisme job, ghar mein ma-papa ke future ki planing sab karni thi mujhe, mein janta tha ye sab to mein kar lunga bas in 2400 ghanton mein se kuch ghante apne liye jina chahta tha har roz...
4 ghante nikale mene apne waqt se khud ke liye ye soch kar ki apni zindagi ke kuch pal khud ke sath bitaunga, apni life ki akhri 100 dino ki kahani mein kuch keh paunga..
Lekin kuch keh hi nahi saka, roz yahan sochta aur kho jata par kuch likh nahi pata, mujhe laga shayad meri kitab khali reh jayegi lekin phir us din meri nazar tum par padi jab tum pehli baar mere samne ayi. Hansta hua chehra lekar, us pal ke baad sochta hun to lagta hai tum kyun ayi ?
Tumhara meri seat par galti se baith jana, uske baad waiter se mere bare mein puchna, vo envelope, mujhe yun dekhte rehna, mere sath baith kar batein karna, tumne sab ise meri kahani se jod diya. Us kahani mein jisme sirf khali pane the, iske alawa kuch nahi.
Jo rishte jud nahi sakte use hum jod kar bhi bhul jana chahte hain, lekin kal jab mene tumhe dekha to na jane kyun vo bhul jane valla rishta apne aap dil mein aa gaya. Shayad ise jada hi koi khubsurat lag sakta hai, tum bahut khubsurat ho.. kabhi keh nahi paya aur kahunga bhi nahi.. par phir bhi itni khubsurat ho ki...
' Shabad khojne padh jaye to samajh jana chahie insan us chiz ko dil se kitna chahne lagta hai kyun ki us waqt hum sirf mehsus karte hai sochte nahi ' us waqt mein sirf mehsus kar paya soch hi nahi paya.
Mein janta hun tum kya sochogi, par mera yakeen karo mein ye baat tumse kabhi kehna nahi chahta tha par tumhari umid aur mere dil ne akhri pal mein sath chhod diya anamika mein kya karun ?
Mein janta tha ki har badte din ke sath sab galat ho raha hai, mein galat kar raha hun, par tumhe mana hi nahi kar paya kyun ki mujhe nahi pata tha mein khud hi apni rah bhul jaunga, khud hi tumhare liye dhal jaunga. Mein nahi chahta tha ki tumhe mere bare mein kuch bhi pata chale lekin jab tumne us din box mein apna number diya mein samajh gaya ki ye rishta badna nahi chahie tha. Agar mein tumhe us din phone kar deta to shayad mein us din do logon ko mar deta, khud ko sharir se aur tumhe dil se.
Us din jab tum mujhse bina bole chali gayi thi, mein tumhe rokna chahta tha lekin agar us din rok leta to shayad meri kahani ka ek hissa aisa ban jata jise mein badal nahi pata aur tumhe us hise se alag nahi kar pata, mein tumhe apni zindagi ka hissa nahi banana chahta tha anamika, par ye life hume apne faisle lene ka hak nahi deti, akhri dino mein bhi nahi.Ye life itni choti kyun hoti hai ? ......... khair mene socha tha ki mein apni 100 din ki kahani har naye din ke sath likhunga lekin samajh gaya ki life ki kahani likhne ke liye 100 panno ki jarurat nahi, uske liye to 1 hi kafi hai, chahe vo 100 va panna hi kyun na ho. Akhir zindagi itni choti hoti hai ki shuru karo aur khatam....
Mein na chahte hue ye likh raha hun anamika par tum ne meri jati hui zindagi mein vo dikhaya jo ye ankhein band hone ke baad tak yaad rakhegi.
Mein janta hu anamika tum vo teen shabd khoj rahi ho lekin vo mein nahi likhunga... dukh to shayad mein de chuka hu par dard nahi dena chahta. Soch aur hakikat mein bahut chota farak hota hai.. mein tumhe hakikat dikha kar is dunia ke dukh mein nahi khona chahta... mein tumhe azad dekhna chahta hun... Tumhare pas mere naam ke alawa kuch nahi hai, kuch hai to ye 100 va panna jo sirf ek soch hai, sirf ek soch.....Isliye meri vo 100 nights meri thi tumhari nahi kyun ki mein tumhare liye tha par tum mere liye nahi.... "
Arman
Anamika ne apni ankhon se chalak aye ansu ko dono palkon se turant hata dia, uske liye vo royi nahi thi par ankhon ne apna rasta khoj liya tha, chehre par halka kajal fial chuka tha. Ek pal uska dil kiya ki vo is panne ko fad de, usne kosish bhi ki par use hua hi nahi, asmanjas ne dil aise jakad liya tha ki use samajh nahi aya is pyar par roye ya bhul jaye, vo kuch pal book ko dekhti rahi phir use band karke vahin chhod cafe se chali gayi.
The End