Subah gaon mein ek hi baat fail rahi thi.
Log zor se nahi bol rahe the, lekin har gali, har chaupal pe yahi phusphusahat chal rahi thi.
“Sunita aur MLA Jadhav…”
Har koi usme apna masala mila raha tha.
Koi keh raha tha, “Maine dono ko khet mein dekha tha.”
Koi bol raha tha, “MLA ki gaadi hil rahi thi… jab Sunita bahar nikli to uske baal aur saadi bilkul bikhre hue the.”
Auratein bhi kam nahi thin. Nadi pe Rajiya pet pe haath phiraate hue mazak uda rahi thi,
“Are panditayan, suna? Bulla ne mele ke andhere mein Jadhav aur Sunita ko pakde hue dekh liya.
Ab badi shareef ban rahi hai… lekin sach to bahar aayega hi na.”
Gaon ki auratein ek dusre se jhagadti bhi thin, lekin agle din normal baat kar leti thin.
Aaj unki baaton mein tezz jalan aur tane saaf nazar aa rahe the.
Sunita kuen se pani lekar laut rahi thi. Do auraton ne ek dusre ki taraf dekhkar dheere se kaha,
“Dekh to… chal kitni badal gayi hai.
Kal tak vidhwa banke ghum rahi thi, aaj sone ki chain latkaye fir rahi hai.”
Dusri boli,
“MLA sahab ka kaam kiya hoga man laga ke… tabhi itna sona diya.
Hamari kismat mein to bas tane hi tane hain.”
Sunita ne suna, lekin jawab nahi diya.
Kamar mein bhari sone ki chain pehle se zyada bhaari lag rahi thi. Har kadam pe latakta hua gola uski yoni se ragad kha raha tha.
Dawa ka asar ab aur gehra ho chuka tha. Yeh ek Ayurvedic churn tha jo dheere-dheere apna kaam karta tha.
Iske asar se Sunita ke stan ab kisi atharah saal ki kanya jaise kasne lage the. Jo pehle thode naram the, ab Khajuraho ki murtiyon jaise chhati se chipak gaye the. Chuchiyan maano pathar ke jaise sakht ho gayi thin.
Pata nahi aage uske shareer mein aur kya-kya badlav hone wale the.
---
Udhar Bhola Yadav ka mood bilkul kharab tha.
Khatal mein baithe-baithe usne kai baar dhoti ke upar se apne ling ko dabaya.
Dimag mein ek hi baat ghum rahi thi—
“MLA sale ne pehle haath maar diya…
Ab main peeche kyun rahun?”
Dopahar ko jab Manju sukha chara lene aayi, tab Bhola ne use andar bulaya.
Bhola: Baith.
Manju ne bori neeche rakhi aur khadi rahi.
Bhola: Sunita ki baat sun li tune? Tu hi use le gayi thi na Mohanpura?
Manju: Haan… main hi le gayi thi.
Bhola ne moochon pe haath phera. Awaaz bhaari thi.
Bhola: MLA ne le liya to humein bhi haq banta hai.
Tu use taiyar kar.
Warna main khud aake le lunga.
Aur tab tu bhi nahi bacha paayegi.
Manju: MLA ne kuch nahi kiya hai… bas woh bhi tumhare jaise uske peeche paagal hai.
Itna kehkar Manju chup ho gayi.
Woh jaanti thi ki Bhola ab serious ho chuka hai.
Manju: Abhi jaldi mat karo Sarpanch ji.
Use thoda time do.
Main dekhti hoon… kuch karti hoon.
Bhola: Time?
Main kitna time doon?
Tab tak MLA haath marta rahega?
Manju: Filhaal ek upay hai… aap uske dil mein apni ek jagah bana sakte ho.
Bhola: Kaise? Bata jaldi.
Manju: Gaon walon ka muh band karao. Uski badnami rokkar.
Aur jaise MLA khel raha hai, waise aap bhi karo.
Bhola thoda socha, phir bola,
“Badnami toh nahi ruk sakti. Lekin haan… ek kaam kar sakta hoon.
Bablu ko mele ka Security Head bana dunga. Khalihan ki suraksha bhi usi ke haath.
Sunita ko Panchayat ke Aapatti Vibhag ki mukhya.
Aur tujhe Pashu Vibhag ki Adhyaksha.
Taaki log samne se muh na khol paayein.
Lekin tujhe jaldi apna wada pura karna hoga.”
Manju ne dil mein socha —
*Yeh sahi rahega. Bhola bahubali hai. Kal ko MLA palat bhi gaya toh Sunita ke paas Bhola jaisi taakat toh rahegi.*
---
Shaam ko Sunita aur Manju aangan mein baithi thin.
Manju ne dheere se kaha,
“Didi… gaon mein jo baatein ho rahi hain, unhe chup nahi kiya ja sakta.
Aaj Bhola bahut gusse mein tha. Usne saaf keh diya ki ab woh intezaar nahi karega.”
Sunita ne sir uthaya,
“Kya? Main koi randi hoon ya uski byahi hui patni?”
Manju: Use aur pure gaon ko yahi lagta hai ki aap aur MLA ke beech sambandh ban gaye hain. Aur aapne yeh gehne maange hain.
Sunita: Maine kisi se kuch nahi maanga.
Manju: Ab fark nahi padta. Jo ho gaya ho gaya. Ab aage kaise sambhalogi, yeh socho.
Phir Manju ne Bhola ka pura prastav bata diya.
Sunita ko yeh baat Bablu ke bhavishya ke liye sahi lagi, lekin khud ke liye bhaari pad rahi thi.
Ab Bhola se milna hoga… yeh sochkar uske andar gahra dwand chal raha tha.
Uski antaratma ab kamzor padne lagi thi.
Vidhwa hone ka bhoj pehle jaisa nahi lag raha tha.
Chain ki lagatar ragad, logon ki nigahen aur dawa ki garmi — sab milkar uski deewar ko kamzor kar rahe the.
Woh khud se keh rahi thi — *Main abhi bhi shuddh hoon…*
Lekin uska shareer ab manne ko taiyar nahi tha.
---
Usi shaam gaushala mein.
Bablu gaay ka doodh nikal raha tha.
Sunita paas khadi thi.
Uske majboot haath thanon ko nichod rahe the. Doodh ki dhaar balti mein gir rahi thi.
Sunita ki nigahen uske haathon pe atak gayi thin.
Purani yaad taaza ho gayi — jab Bablu chhota tha aur usi ki chhati se doodh peeta tha.
Bablu ne maa ko khoya hua dekhkar than ka rukh ghumaya aur zor se dabaya.
Garam doodh ki dhaar seedha Sunita ke gaal aur gardan pe gir gayi.
Sunita: Are badmash! Poora geela kar diya.
Bablu hansa,
“Kab se bol raha hoon maa. Tum sun hi nahi rahi thin. Kahan kho gayi thin?”
Sunita ka chehra laal ho gaya. Usne pallu se doodh poncha aur dheere boli,
“Tujhe hi dekh rahi thi…
Ki tu kitne man se doodh nikal raha hai.
Yaad aa gaya… kabhi tu bhi chhota tha aur mere inhi se doodh peeta tha.”
Bablu ki saans bhaari ho gayi. Woh thoda kareeb aaya aur bola,
“Sach kahun maa…
Agar tumhare bhi utne hi naram aur bhare hue honge…
To kaun chhodna chahega.
Umar bhar nichodte rehne ka mann karega.”
Sunita ke pairon tale zameen khisak gayi.
Sharm aur ek ajeeb si garmi ne use jakad liya. Woh kuch na bol saki.
Gaushala mein bhaari khamoshi chha gayi.
Dono ke beech kuch naya aur khatarnak sa janam le chuka tha.
---
Raat ko charpai pe lette hi Sunita ki bechaini charam pe pahunch gayi.
Kamar ki chain abhi bhi ragad rahi thi.
Dimag mein Bablu ki baatein, Bhola ka prastav, Manju ki baatein aur logon ki nigahen ghum rahi thin.
Usne aankhen band ki.
*Main abhi bhi… apne ko rok pa rahi hoon.*
Lekin woh jaanti thi —
Yeh rok ab zyada din nahi chalne wali.
---
Subah khalihan mein badi bheed thi. Saalana mela hone wala tha, isliye har parivaar se log aaye the.
Sunita Bablu ke saath pahunchi. Jaise hi baithi, chabutare pe hukka pi rahe Bhola ki nigahen us par tik gayi.
Wahan maujood har mard ki nigahen reh-rehkar uske chehre aur deh par ja rahi thin. Kai log dil mein jal rahe the — agar unke paas itna paisa hota to aaj Sunita unke bistar mein hoti.
Bhola ne sabha shuru ki.
Mele ki suraksha aur vyavastha ki baat chali. Kaafi bahas ke baad Bhola ne apna bada daav chal diya.
“Bablu ko poore mele ka Security Head banaya jaata hai. Khalihan ki suraksha bhi usi ke zimme.
Sunita ko Aapatti Vibhag ki mukhya.
Aur Manju ko Pashu Vibhag ki Adhyaksha.”
Sab chauk gaye. Koi muh nahi khol saka.
Bablu ke pair zameen par nahi pad rahe the.
Sunita ke chehre par darr tha — Bhola ka darr.
Manju ne dheere kaha,
“Didi, yahi mauka hai. Ab MLA ko bhi dikhana hai ki aap apni kabiliyat se yahan tak aayi ho.”
Sunita ne haami bhar di.
Manju ne turant MLA ko call karke sab bata diya. MLA khush ho gaya aur jhooth bola,
“Main CM ke saath meeting cancel kar raha hoon. Tum log zaroor aana. parso ”
---
Wapas aate time Bablu ki nazar Bulla ki dukaan par khadi chamakti Bullet par pad gayi.
Usne khud ko bahut rokna chaaha, lekin dil lalchaya.
Manju ne sab dekh liya. Ghar ke paas usne Bablu ko roka.
Manju: Tujhe pata hai na log teri maa aur MLA ke baare mein kya bol rahe hain?
Bablu: Haan mausi, pata hai.
Manju: Bura nahi laga?
Bablu: Mausi, meri maa ne meri padhai ke liye jo kiya hai, woh aap jaanti hain. Gaon wale vidhwa aurat ko apni jagir samajhte hain. Unka bolna laazmi hai.
Manju: Bada samajhdaar ho gaya hai tu.
Bata, tujhe Bullet aur gaadi pasand hai na?
Bablu: Haan.
Manju: To uski keemat bhi chukani padti hai.
Mehnat karni padegi… tujhe bhi, teri maa ko bhi, aur mujhe bhi.
Itna kehkar Manju chali gayi.
Uske dimag mein kuch chal raha tha.
---
Ghar pahunchte hi Bablu thakaan se khaat par gir gaya.
Sunita tel ki sheeshi lekar aayi.
“Beta, aaja… thodi maalish kar doon. Kal din bhar kaam hai.”
Bablu seedha let gaya.
Sunita uske pairon se maalish shuru ki.
Komal haathon ka sparsh paate hi Bablu ke shareer mein lehrein daudne lagin.
Jaise hi uske haath jaanghon ki taraf badhe, saadi ka pallu sarak gaya.
Bablu ne aankhen kholin to saamne maa ke kasaye hue, chhati se chipke stanon ka upari bhag saaf dikh raha tha.
Uske ling ne dhoti ke andar zor se dhadkan maari. Poora tan kar khada ho gaya.
Sunita samajh gayi. Usne maalish ki gati aur dheemi aur gehri kar di.
Jaangh ki maalish karte time uski ungliyan ek baar uske tane hue ling se halka sa takra gayi.
Bablu ka poora badan kaamp utha.
Sunita ne turant use pet ke bal lita diya aur peeth ki maalish shuru kar di.
Jhunte time uske bhaari stan baar-baar Bablu ki peeth se takra rahe the.
Woh naram, garm chhuan dono ko paagal kiye de rahi thi.
Kuch der baad jab Sunita ne use phir seedha kiya, to Bablu ka ling dhoti mein saaf tent banaaye khada tha.
Sunita ne sab dekh liya. Uske andar ki aurat tadap uthi, lekin usne khud ko rok liya.
Maalish khatm karke woh uth khadi hui.
Dono ki saansein abhi bhi bhaari thin.
Sunita ne dheere poocha,
“Beta… tujhe bura laga? Mere baare mein jo baatein ho rahi hain?”
Bablu: Maa, main aapka beta hoon. Aap galat nahi kar sakti. Chinta mat karo.
Itna kehkar woh nahane chala gaya.
Sunita ke dil se ek badi bhoj utar gayi.
---
Mela din bhar chalta raha. Shaam hote-hote maidan bhar gaya.
Manju aaj hari saadi aur phoolon wali choli pehenkar aayi thi.
Bheed mein peeche se mard jaanboojhkar Sunita ki soft nitamb se apna tana hua ling sata rahe the. Ek ne to saadi ke upar se hi uski nitamb ko nichod liya.
Manju uska haath pakad leti,
“Chhod… saal mein ek din hai. Thoda maza le.”
Naav ke jhoole par Manju darne ka natak karti hui Sunita se chipak gayi.
Jhoola upar uthte hi usne dono haathon se Sunita ke stanon ko zor se daboch liya aur chuchiyon ko nichodne lagi.
Sunita ki saans phool gayi. Uski yoni mein geelaapan shuru ho gaya.
panty bilkul bheeg gayi thi.
---
Undergarments ki dukaan par Manju ruki.
Ek patli, mulayam panty uthayi aur Bablu ki taraf badhai, jo wahan se guzar raha tha.
“Bol… teri maa ke gore badan pe yeh kaisi lagegi?”
Bablu ke gaal laal ho gaye.
“Achhi hai.”
Sunita ka chehra sharm se jal utha, lekin uski yoni zor se dhadkane lagi.
---
Raat ke dus baje MLA bhaari suraksha ke saath aaya.
Pachaas gaadiyan, guard, aur ek pickup jisme tohfa tha.
Sarpanch ne swagat kiya, lekin MLA ne seedha Bablu ko aage bulaya aur uske gale mein haar daal diya.
Phir stage par badi ghoshana hui—
“Nari Shakti Mahila Morcha ki Adhyaksha — Sunita Devi.
Doodh Sangh ke State President — Bablu.
Dono sangathanon ki Upadhyaksha — Manju.”
Saath hi Bablu ko nayi Bullet bike tohfe mein di gayi.
Jo log din mein “rakhel” keh rahe the, ab “Bablu bhaiya… Sunita madam” kehne lage.
Manju ne kaha,
“Itna kuch kiya hai MLA ji ne… unhe ghar chai pe toh bulao.”
Bablu sharminda hote hue MLA aur unki patni ko ghar le aaya.
Chai ke baad Bablu ko suraksha ka phone aaya aur woh nikal gaya.
MLA ki patni Manju ke saath mela ghumne chali gayi.
Ab ghar mein sirf MLA aur Sunita the.
Gali bilkul sunsaan thi.
Ghar ke andar ab sirf do hi log the.
MLA Jadhav ki saansein bhaari chal rahi thin. Sunita ki bhi.
Aas-paas ki galiyan bilkul sunsaan thin. Mele ki awaaz door se aa rahi thi, jaise koi dusri duniya ho.
Sunita ne himmat karke kaha,
“Chaliye… mele mein chalte hain. Log baatein banayenge.”
Jadhav ne uski taraf dekha. Aankhon mein hawas thi.
“Kaun si baatein? Logon ka kaam hai kehna.
Bata… jo maine tere liye kiya, kaisa laga?”
Sunita ka gale sukh gaya.
“Mere liye… matlab? Main samjhi nahi.”
Jadhav aage badha. Uski awaaz dheemi lekin kathor thi.
“Na tu bachchi hai, na main.
Yeh sab maine tujhe paane ke liye kiya hai.
Agar tu maan gayi… to tu soch bhi nahi sakti kitna sona aur paise tujhe dunga.”
Sunita ne ek kadam peeche liya.
“Yeh galat hai. Main vidhwa hoon. Mera beta hai. Aapki patni hai… aapka parivaar hai.”
Jadhav muskuraya.
“Politics mein sab chalta hai. Meri patni isliye chali gayi taaki humein thoda time mil sake.
Main jabardasti nahi karunga.
Agar tu maan jaaye… to jo ghagra-choli maine di thi, use pehen kar mere paas aa.”
Sunita kuch keh paati, usse pehle main darwaze par dastak hui.
Guard ne ek kaala bag aur kuch kaagaz andar rakh diye aur chala gaya.
Jadhav ne bag ki upari chain kholi.
Noton ka dher saaf dikh gaya.
“Yeh pachchis lakh hain.
Doodh plant ke liye pandrah lakh, baaki das lakh zameen aur shed ke liye.
Tere paas dhai lakh bacha rahenge.
Socho… har mahine Bablu ko kitna milega.
Yeh kaagaz bhi dekh lo — poora plant aur machinery uske naam hai.
Aur Doodh Sangh ka pandrah percent hissa bhi.”
Sunita ne itne paise pehli baar dekhhe the.
Uski saans atak gayi. Ek taraf bete ka bhavishya, dusri taraf apni izzat.
Jadhav ne dheere se kaha,
“Agar haan hai to pehen kar aa ja.
Agar naa hai… to bhi bol de.
Main ek baar di hui cheez wapas nahi leta… lekin phir kabhi us ore dekhta bhi nahi.”
Sunita kuch seconds tak chup rahi.
Phir usne sirf itna kaha,
“Dus minute dijiye…”
Yeh uski mooh se ek soft sweekriti thi.
Jadhav: Pehle yeh bag aur kaagaz chhupa de.
Sunita ne .
peeche ke darwaze se nikal kar .
ghar ka bada darwaza bahar se band kiya aur taala laga diya.
Ab bahar se dekhne wale ko lagega ghar khaali hai.
Phir woh andar aayi aur bag ko ek kona mein chhupa diya.
Jadhav turant uth kar us kamre ke darwaze ke paas chala gaya jahan se Sunita kapde badalne gayi thi.
Purane gaon ke darwaze mein kai dararen thin.
Usne aankh ek darar se laga di.
---
Andar Sunita khadi thi.
Usne pehle pallu hataya. Saadi dheere se neeche giri.
Phir usne choli ke hook khole.
Choli hatte hi uski peeth saaf dikhne lagi.
Bra ki pattiyan peeth par kasi hui thin.
Usne bra ka hook khola.
Jaise hi bra dheeli hui, uske kasaye hue, chhati se chipke stan aadhe azaad ho gaye.
Side se gore, bhaari aakaar saaf dikh rahe the. Chuchiyan sakht thin aur thandi hawa lagte hi aur thodi si sukad gayi thin.
Sunita ne petticoat ka naada khola.
Woh bhi neeche gir gaya.
Ab uske shareer par sirf ek bheegi hui, purani cotton ki panty thi.
Beechon-beech kapda geela ho chuka tha aur yoni ki shakl halki si ubhari hui dikh rahi thi.
Woh thoda jhuki taaki panty utaar sake.
Us pal uski gori, gol, tight nitamb darwaze ki darar se bilkul saaf dikh rahi thi.
Jadhav ke ling ne ek zor ka jhatka maara.
Uske muh se halki si saans nikal gayi.
Sunita jaanti thi ki woh dekh raha hoga.
Isliye usne peeth nahi ghumaayi.
Usne dheere se geeli panty utaari.
Ek second ke liye uski poori nangi yoni aur nitamb nazar aa gaye.
Phir usne kaali, patli panty pehni.
Uske baad naya ghagra.
Phir bra, phir choli.
Jab woh mangalsutra aur sindoor ki taraf dekhne lagi to uske haath thodi der ke liye ruk gaye.
Ek ajeeb si kashmakash uske chehre par thi.
Phir usne sirf sone ki bichhiyan pehni… sindoor aur mangalsutra nahi.
Makeup karti hui jab woh mudne wali thi, Jadhav jaldi se hat kar baith gaya.
Sunita ne darwaza khola.
Uske nazar neeche thin.
Woh dheere se kamre mein aayi.
Ab uske shareer par naya ghagra-choli thi.
Choli thodi tight thi.
Kasaye hue stan choli ke andar se ubhar rahe the.
Chuchiyan kapde ke peeche se sakht nokon ki tarah dikh rahi thin.
Jadhav ki aankhen uske upar se neeche tak phir gayi.
Uski saans aur bhaari ho gayi.
Kamre mein ek gehri, bhaari khamoshi chha gayi thi.
Dono jaante the… ab deewar bahut patli reh gayi hai.
---
Sunita jab ghagra-choli pehen kar kamre mein aayi, to Jadhav usi waqt uth khada hua.
Usne ek kadam aage badhakar use apni bahon mein bhar liya.
Pahla alingan tha.
Sunita ka shareer sakht ho gaya, lekin usne dhakka nahi diya.
Jadhav ke bhaari saansen uske kaan ke paas mahsoos ho rahi thin.
Uske kase hue stan Jadhav ki chhati se dab rahe the.
Ek pal baad Sunita ne sharm se muh pher liya aur thoda sa peeche hatne ki koshish ki.
Jadhav ne uski kamar mein dono haath daal liye.
Peeche se chipak gaya.
Usne apna poora tana hua, garam ling uski soft nitamb ke beech ragar diya.
Ghagre ke kapde ke upar se hi uski garmi aur sakhti Sunita ko saaf mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Sunita ki saans atak gayi.
Uske hothon se halki si siski nikalne hi wali thi ki…
Achanak bagal wale ghar se ek dabi hui, gehli siski aayi.
Dono thodak ke ruk gaye.
Sunita aur Jadhav ki nigahen ek saath us chhoti roshandan ki taraf uth gayi jo dono gharon ke beech thi.
Purane gaon ke makaanon mein aisi chhoti khidkiyan hua karti thin.
Roshandan se saaf dikh raha tha…
Manju charpai par charhai hui thi.
Uske neeche Bhola tha.
Manju ki saadi kamar tak uthii hui thi.
Bhola uski dono jaanghon ko pakde hue zor-zor se dhakke laga raha tha.
Manju ki chuchiyan bahar nikal aayi thin aur Bhola unhe nichod raha tha.
Har dhakke ke saath Manju ki dabi siski nikal rahi thi.
Yeh nazara dekhte hi Jadhav ka ling aur sakht ho gaya.
Usne Sunita ki kamar mein haath aur zor se daal liye.
Ab dono taraf garmi ek saath badhne lagi.
Jadhav ne peeche se Sunita ki choli ke hook khol diye.
Choli aadhi khul gayi.
Usne aage se haath daal kar uske dono stanon ko zabardast daboch liya.
Sakht chuchiyan uski ungliyon ke beech aa gayi thin.
Woh unhe pinch karta hua nichod raha tha.
Sunita ki aankhen band ho rahi thin.
Woh roshandan se Manju ko dekh rahi thi… aur peeche se apne stanon par Jadhav ke haath mehsoos kar rahi thi.
Jadhav ne ghagre ko peeche se uthaya.
Usne apna tana hua ling Sunita ki dono jaanghon ke beech daal diya.
Patli kaali panty ke upar se.
Ab uska poora lamba, garam ling seedha uski yoni par lag kar aage-peeche rengne laga.
Kapda itna patla tha ki Sunita ko uski har nass, uski garmi aur uska dabav bilkul saaf mehsoos ho raha tha.
Jaise koi seedha uski yoni par hi ragad raha ho.
Sunita ke muh se dabi-dabi siskiyan nikalne lagin.
Uski jaanghen kaamp rahi thin.
Woh haath peeche le jakar Jadhav ko rokne ki koshish karti… lekin haath gir jaate.
Ussi waqt roshandan ke us paar Bhola ke dhakke aur tez ho gaye.
Manju ki siski bhi unchi ho gayi.
Yahan Jadhav bhi apna ling Sunita ki yoni par zor-zor se ragar raha tha.
Uske haath stanon ko nichod rahe the.
Kuch hi palon mein…
Pehle Bhola ne gehra dhakka maara aur karahte hue jhad gaya.
Uske turant baad Jadhav ne bhi Sunita ki nitambon ko zor se pakda aur apna garam indhan uski jaanghon ke beech, panty ke upar gira diya.
Garam, chipchipa Virya uski jaanghon par behne laga.
Sunita ki ek unchi siski nikal gayi.
Roshandan ke us paar Manju ne awaaz sun li.
Usne sir uthaya aur seedha us chhoti khidki ki taraf dekha.
Uske hothon pe ek dheemi, samajhdaar muskaan aa gayi.
Jaise keh rahi ho — “Ab tum bhi samajh gayi.”
---
Lagbhag das minute baad.
Bahar ke bade darwaze par dastak hui.
Manju khud khadi thi.
Usne dheere se kaha,
“Bablu tees minute mein aa raha hai.
Jaldi karo.”
Manju ki awaaz sunte hi Jadhav to jaldi se kapde theek karne lagta hai, lekin Sunita ek pal ke liye pathra jaati hai.
Uske baal thode bikhre hue hain, hoth thode suje hue, saans abhi bhi bhaari hai.
Ghagre ke neeche uski jaanghen abhi bhi thodi kaamp rahi hain.
Manju aur Sunita ki nigahen milti hain.
Manju ke chehre par koi hairani nahi hoti.
Na hi koi gussa.
Uske hothon pe ek bahut dheemi, samajhdaar si muskaan hoti hai.
Aankhon mein ek ajeeb ehsaas hota hai — thoda mazaak, thoda samjha hua pyaar, aur thoda “ab tum bhi mere jaisi ho gayi ho” wala ehsaas.
Sunita uski aankhon mein dekh paati hai.
Uske andar sharm, darr, aur ek ajeeb si halchal ek saath uthati hai.
Woh Manju ki nigahon se bhaagna chahti hai, lekin bhaag nahi paati.
Ek second ke liye dono ek dusre ko aise dekhte hain jaise koi badi baat bin bole hi ho gayi ho.
Phir Manju apni aankhen thodi si ghumati hai (Jadhav ki taraf ishara karti hui) aur dheere se bolti hai,
“Ab utho sahab … time nahi hai.”
.Manju use dusre raste se, andheri gali se hote hue mele ki taraf le gayi
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Sunita akeli reh gayi.
Usne kaanpte haathon se sab saaf kiya.
Ghagra-choli utaari.
Jaanghon par lage nishaan ponchhe.
Pehle wale normal kapde pehne.
Baal theek kiye.
Chehre pe normal expression laayi.
Phir darwaza khol kar bahar nikal gayi…
Bilkul aise jaise kuch hua hi na ho.
Mele ki bheed mein milte hi usne apne chehre par muskaan saja li.
Lekin jaanghon ke beech abhi bhi halki garmi aur geelaapan baaki tha…
Jo use har kadam par yaad dilata raha ki aaj deewar kitni patli reh gayi hai.