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ONESHOT
Hamaare ek door ke rishtedaar, jo Lucknow mein rehte hain, unke bete ki shaadi ki khabar humein kaafi deri se mili. Mahine ke ant ka samay tha, aur Papa ke kaam ka pressure itna tha ki unke liye fursat nikalna namumkin tha. Bade bhai ki office ki commitments bhi kuch aisi hi thi ki chhutti lena sambhav nahi tha. Lekin Mummy ne toh jaane ki zid hi pakad li, kyunki ye rishtedaar unke taraf ke the aur shaadi mein unka jaana zaroori lag raha tha.
“Mujhe toh jaana hi hai. Rishtedaar hai, aur ladke ki shaadi hai. Main na jaaun toh kya sochenge?” Mummy ne apni baat kaafi zor de kar kahi.
“Mummy, hum kaise jayenge? Papa aur Bhai toh jaa nahi paa rahe. Ab akele mujhe bhejne ka kya faayda?” maine samjhane ki koshish ki.
“Faayda-nuksaan mat socho. Tum jaa rahe ho, bas,” unhone kaat diya.
Aise mein, Papa aur Bhai ke na jaane ki wajah se saari zimmedaari mere sir par aa gayi. Papa ne mujhe paanch hazaar rupaye diye aur kaha, “Train ki ticket kata lo, jaldi.”
Main apni scooty lekar railway station pahucha aur inquiry counter par jaakar pata kiya. Lekin jaise ki festival season ka rush tha, mujhe sirf waiting list wali tickets mil rahi thi – woh bhi WL 100 se upar! Yeh sunte hi mujhe laga ki safar almost impossible hai.
Main nirasha ke saath ghar laut aaya aur sabko bata diya ki train mein ticket lena lagbhag namumkin hai. “WL 100 ke saath toh train pakadne ka sapna chhodo, Mummy. Yahaan toh koi scope nahi hai,” maine kaha.
Papa ne kuch sochne ke baad mashwara diya, “Sleeper bus ki ticket dekh lo. Ho sakta hai wahan seat mil jaaye.”
“Wahi kar lo, time waste mat karo,” Mummy ne bhi turant support kiya.
Toh main turant bus tickets lene ke liye nikal gaya. Lekin meri kismat itni kharab thi ki kisi bhi coach mein sleeper seat available nahi thi. Har taraf "fully booked" ka board dekhkar lag raha tha jaise har kisi ko shaadi aur safar ka ek hi din mila ho.
Thak-haar kar maine ghar phone kiya. “Mummy, sirf sitting seat available hai. Sleeper toh bilkul bhi possible nahi hai,” maine thakave lehze mein kaha.
“Sitting hi book kar lo!” unhone bina soch-samajh jawab diya.
“Mummy, seriously? Itna lamba safar sitting mein kaise hoga? Aap samajhiye toh!” Maine koshish ki unhe manaane ki.
“Tumne na hamesha baatein banani hoti hain. Mujhe jaana hai aur bas! Tickets book kar lo, yeh final hai,” unhone gusse mein kaha.
Aakhir mein, haar maan kar maine tickets book kar li. Phone rakhte hi maine khud se socha, "Yeh safar kitna mushkil hone wala hai."
Maine agle din ki bus ki ticket le li thi. Waqt kaafi kam tha, aur shaadi ke liye hum dono ne ek hi din mein ready-made kapde le liye. Mummy beauty parlour gayi thi, aur main saloon gaya. Jab tak hum dono tayar hue, waqt itna tez nikal gaya ki hum bus stand tak auto se pahunche. Papa kaafi busy the, isliye wo humein bus stop chhodne nahi aa paaye.
Maine apni ticket ko dhyaan se dekha – sitting seat thi aur rasta lagbhag 20 ghante ka tha. Sochkar hi mere paseene chhoot rahe the. Maine kai dafa ye baat mummy ke samne rakhne ki koshish ki, lekin unhone samjhaya ki family reasons ki wajah se unhe waha jaana zaroori hai. Main bhi unki baat maan gaya aur is baat ko apne dil mein dabaa diya.
Raat ke kareeb 8 baje, ek bus hamare samne aa kar ruki. Maine number milaya – ye wahi bus thi jo humein Lucknow le jaati thi. Maine apne aur mummy ke saman ko bus ke storage mein rakhwa diya, phir hum dono bus mein chadh gaye. Maine apni seat number dhundi, aur hum dono baith gaye.
Maine phir papa aur bade bhai ko phone karke bata diya, "Hum dono baith gaye hain, aur kuch waqt mein bus chalne wali hai."
Gaadi tez raftaar se aage badh rahi thi. Gaadi mein AC toh tha, lekin uski thandi hawa hum tak theek se nahi pahunch rahi thi. Mummy ko dekh kar lag raha tha ki unhe kaafi problem ho rahi hai. Unka chehra thoda pareshaan tha, aur mujhe ye dekh kar achha nahi laga.
Main seat se utha aur khalasi ke paas gaya. "Bhaiya, AC ki hawa yahan tak nahi aa rahi, Mummy ko kaafi problem ho rahi hai" maine usse kaha.
Usne meri baat gaur se suni aur bola, "Bhai, koi seat khaali toh nahi hai abhi, lekin agar kuch hota hai toh main aapko zaroor inform karunga."
Main thoda disappointed hoke wapas seat par aa gaya. Mummy aankhein bandh karke sone ki koshish kar rahi thi, lekin unka discomfort ab bhi dikh raha tha. Main unke paas chup-chaap baith gaya aur sochne laga ki kya kar sakta hoon.
Kareeb ek-dedh ghante baad, khalasi mere paas aaya. "Bhai, ek baat hai," usne kaha, "last row mein ek sleeper seat khaali ho gayi hai. Jisko aana tha, uska stop nikal gaya. Lekin wo double sleeper hai, ek aur aadmi aana hai. Agar aap chaho toh apni Mummy ko wahan sula sakte ho."
Main khushi se thoda sa smile kiya aur bola, "Haan bhaiya, thank you. Main unhe abhi le jaata hoon." Mummy se maine kaha, "Mummy, chaliye, wahan seat mil gayi hai, aap wahan rest kar lo."
Unhone nind aadhe nind me haan mein sir hila diya, aur main unhe lekar chal pada.
Wo ek double sleeper tha. Maine Mummy ko chadhane mein madad ki aur unhe khidki wale side sula diya. "Aap yahan araam se so jaiye, Mummy," maine unse kaha. Unhone thoda muskara kar haan mein sir hila diya. Unhe comfortable dekh kar mera mann halka ho gaya.
Main phir wapas apni seat par aaya. Jahan main baitha tha, wahan se sleeper seat piche bilkul last row mein thi, lekin ab Mummy ko comfortable dekh kar mujhe shanti mili. Bagal wali seat bhi khaali ho gayi thi, toh mujhe aur zyada jagah failane ke liye mil gayi.
Maine apni seat ko peeche kiya, ek lambi saans li, aur khud bhi nind ke aagosh mein chala gaya.
Raat ko bus ek stop par ruki, washroom break ke liye. Meri bhi neend khul gayi. Maine apni aankh masalte hue socha ki pehle Mummy ka haal-chaal le loon, aur sleeper seat ki taraf gaya. Half-asleep tha, isliye dheere se curtain hata kar dekha. Mummy wahan akeli thi, kambal ke niche aram se leti hui.
Maine pucha, "Mummy, washroom jana hai?"
Unhone apna haath nikal kar mana kar diya. Unhe theek dekh kar thoda relief feel hua, aur main unhe wahan chhod kar neeche utar gaya.
Sabse pehle washroom gaya aur thoda fresh ho gaya. Wapas aate waqt ek chhoti si shop dekhi jo corner mein thi. Wahan ek ladka khada tha, jo smoke kar raha tha. Maine casually usse pucha, "Bhai, kaha se li?"
Usne ek halki smile ke saath bola, "Bhaiya, mere paas hai. Aapko chahiye kya?"
Maine sir hila kar haan kar di. Usne apni jeb se ek cigarette nikal ke di aur apne lighter se mujhe jala kar di.
Us shop par pani ki bottles bhi thi. Maine wahan se do bottles li—ek apne liye aur ek Mummy ke liye. Cigarette khatam karke aur bottle lete hue thodi thandi hawa enjoy ki, aur phir bus ki taraf wapas jaane laga to mujhe piche se ladaka awaz deta hai.
Main piche muda to usne mujhe 100 rupaye ka note diya aur kaha, "Mere paas chhutte nahi hain. Agar thoda chhutta de dete, to accha hota." Uski baat sun kar maine halka sa muskara diya, paise wapas kiye, aur uske liye 10-10 ke do botal paani kharid laya. Phir wapas aakar bus mein chadh gaya aur seedha mummy ke paas gaya.
Mummy ko awaaz di, to woh dheere se uthin. Maine unke haath mein paani ki botal pakda di. Paani dekh kar mummy boli, "Botal khol ke do." Maine turant botal khol kar unhe de di. Mummy ne botal muh se lagayi aur paani peene lagi. Tab meri nazar unpe thodi dhyan se gayi, kyunki ab tak meri neend puri tarah khul chuki thi. Unka haal mujhe kuch alag aur ajeeb sa laga.
Bus ki dheemi roshni mein gaur se dekha, to mehsoos hua ki unke honth ki lipstick kaafi hadd tak mit chuki thi, baal bikhre hue the, aur bistar bhi uljha hua lag raha tha. Ek ajeeb si badbu bhi aa rahi thi. Maine socha shayad lipstick kambal se lag kar kharab ho gayi hogi, aur bus ka to waise bhi safai ke maamle mein bura haal hota hai. Ye soch kar maine baaki sab cheezon ko nazarandaaz kiya aur wapas apni seat par ja kar baith gaya.
Lagbhag paanch minute baad, sabhi yatri wapas aa gaye, aur bus phir se chal padi.
Mujhe kuch ajeeb sa lag raha tha, lekin maine zyada soch-vichar nahi kiya. Waise bhi mujhe neend aa rahi thi, to maine apna sir seat se atka kar so gaya aur neend ke aagosh mein chala gaya.
Meri neend tab khuli, jab meri aankhon par ek tez roshni padhi. Ye roshni ek truck ke headlights ki thi, jo hamari bus ke bagal se guzar rahi thi. Maine ghadi dekhi, to raat ke lagbhag 1 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ki mummy ka haal puch lena chahiye, aur yahi soch kar main apni seat se utha.
Tez chalti bus ke jhatkon ke beech, truck ki headlights ki roshni kuch seconds ke liye poori bus ko roshan kar rahi thi. Dagmagate hue main last row ki taraf badha, jahan mummy so rahi thi. Jaise hi main sleeper seat ka parda chhune wala tha, ek aur truck bagal se guzra. Uske headlights ki roshni parde par bani ek parchai par padi, aur meri nazar wahi thami reh gayi.
Meri mummy... kisi gair mard ke saath... abhi isi waqt... sex kar rahi thi.
Truck ke headlights ki roshni ne ek pal ke liye parda ke us paar ki tasveer banayi. Mera dil ek dum se jakad gaya. Aankhon ke saamne woh tasveer jese barabar kehte ja rahi thi ki maine jo dekha, woh galat nahi tha. Har truck ke guzarne ke saath roshni aur saaf hoti ja rahi thi, aur uske saath mere dimag mein ek chalchitra chalne laga.
Main bas wahi... jam gaya. Saans lena bhool gaya. Pairo mein jaan nahi thi, aur poori duniya ki awaazon ka shor ek dum chup sa ho gaya. Jaise main kisi maze mein hoon, jahan har taraf sirf woh tasveer ghoom rahi thi.
Fir ek ajeeb se bechayni mein maine apna kaan dheere se parde ke paas lagaya. Tez chalti bus ka engine, hawa ka shor, sab kuch dhundla lag raha tha. Lekin... uske beech woh awaaz... saaf, bilkul saaf sunai de rahi thi. Meri mummy ki awaaz.
Us pal meri duniya bikhar gayi thi. Samajh nahi aa raha tha, yeh asli hai ya koi bura sapna. Lekin jitni der main wahan khada raha, utna hi sach samne ata gaya. Yeh jo ho raha tha, woh haqeeqat thi.
Main himmat nahi kar paaya parde ko hatane ki. Ek ajeeb si sukoon aur khauf ke beech main wapas apni seat par ja kar baith gaya. "Shaayad ye sab ek bura sapna hai," maine apne aap ko samjhane ki koshish ki. Thakaan aur neend ka asar itna tha ki main dubara so gaya, umeed karte hue ki subah tak sab kuch theek lagne lagega.
Raat ke kareeb 3 baje gaadi ke rukne ki awaaz aur khalasi ke announce karne se meri neend khuli. Usne kaha, “Bathroom break ke liye gaadi 10 minute ke liye ruk rahi hai.” Main dheere-dheere utha, aankhein masalte hue, aur ek dam mujhe bahut tez toilet ki zarurat mehsoos hui. Jaldi se bus ke bahar nikla aur fresh ho gaya.
Jab wapas bus ki taraf ja raha tha, toh meri nazar sleeper seat ki taraf gayi, aur achanak se kuch der pehle ki ghatna yaad aa gayi. Ek pal ke liye laga jaise mera gala sukh gaya ho. Us khidki pe ab bhi parda laga hua tha.
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki main kya karoon. Main dheere-dheere bus ke andar chadha. Andar ya to log gehri neend mein the, ya bathroom break ke liye bahar nikle hue the. Maine socha, “Abhi hi mauka hai. Pata lagana hoga.”
Dheere kadam rakhte hue main last row ki taraf badha. Parda kaafi acche se phasa hua tha, lekin is baar maine apni himmat jodi. Ek gehri saans li aur parde ke ek side ko dheere se hataya.
Jo dekha, usse meri duniya palat gayi.
Sleeper mein meri mummy khidki ke paas leti hui thi. Woh neend mein thi, lekin unka haal pehle se bhi zyada uljha hua lag raha tha. Baal puri tarah se bikhre hue the, kambal sirf unke kandhe tak tha, aur saaf pata chal raha tha ki woh kapdon ke bagair hain. Mere pair thartharane lage.
Unke paas wohi ladka leta hua tha jisne mujhe cigarette di thi. Uska ek pair meri mummy ke upar tha, aur woh bhi nanga lag raha tha. Ek pal ke liye mujhe laga ki meri saansein ruk gayi hain.
Mujhe bahut gussa aya – itna ki mujhe laga abhi usse kheench ke bahar phek doon. Lekin ek ajeeb sa dar mujhe andar se rok raha tha. Main bas wahan khada numaya lene laga.
Mujhe mummy ke pair ke paas unke kapde dikhai diye – saari, petticoat, blouse – sab ek taraf bikhre hue the. Ek pal ke liye laga jaise poora bas samapt ho gaya ho. Yeh bura sapna nahi tha. Yeh haqeeqat thi.
Mere parde hatane ki wajah se shayad usne kuch harkat ki, kyunki wo thoda hilte hue sambhalne laga. Main ek pal ke liye jam gaya, lekin phir jhat se wahan se hat kar apni seat ki taraf chala gaya. Dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha, aur pair ladkhada rahe the.
Kuch der baad, maine dekha ki wo ladka uth kar ek nazar idhar-udhar dali, aur phir neeche utar gaya. Main apni seat par chupchaap baitha raha, main samajh nahi paa raha tha ki main kya karun.
Uske utarne ke kuch der baad, main phir himmat karke sleeper ke samne gaya aur dheere se parda hataya. Is baar mummy kambal acche se lapet ke baithi hui thi, jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Unka chehra thoda thaka hua lag raha tha, lekin unhone mujhe dekha aur ek halke muskaan ke saath poocha, "Kya hua, kuch chahiye?"
Main ne poocha, "Aap paani piyengi?" Lekin unhone sir hila kar mana kar diya. Main unhe aur gaur se dekhne laga. Tab meri nazar unke gaalon aur muh ke paas ek ajeeb si papdi par padhi. Mujhe turant samajh aa gaya ki wo kya tha—sukh gaya hua virya.
Mummy ne meri taraf dekha, bas haath ke ishare se mujhe wapas sone ke liye bhej diya. Main wapas apni seat pe aaya, lekin meri neend kahin kho chuki thi.
Kuch der baad, maine dekha ki wahi ladka, jo abhi thodi der pehle utra tha, ek badi si paani ki botal lekar phir se bus me chadh gaya. Mera gussa us waqt charam pe tha, jab usne seedhe mummy ke sleeper seat ki taraf kadam badhaye aur bina kisi jhijhak ke andar chadh gaya. Mujhe apne andar ek aag si mehsoos hui, lekin main bas apni jagah par baitha unhe dekhta raha, kuch bolne ya karne ki himmat nahi kar pa raha tha.
Main gusse mein apne seat pe baitha aur zabardasti so gaya. Koshish ki sab kuch bhool jaun, lekin wo manzar aankhon ke samne baar-baar aa raha tha. Phir pata nahi kaise, mujhe neend aa gayi.
Dusri taraf meri mummy kisi gair ke bahon mein so rahi thi, aur main apna gussa andar hi andar daba raha tha. Meri agli baar neend khuli, jab maine dekha ki mummy meri bagal mein baithi thi.
Maine aankhein malte hue dheere se pucha, “Safar aur kitna bacha hai?”
Mummy ne halki si muskaan ke saath kaha, “Ek ghante mein pahunch jayenge.”
Maine idhar-udhar dekha, toh wo ladka kahin dikhai nahi diya. Mummy bilkul shant aur tasalli bhari lag rahi thi, unka chehra kal raat se alag, bilkul fresh lag raha tha. Main ek lambi saans lete hue socha, shayad ye sab ek bura sapna tha.
Main phir se aaram se so gaya, aur mummy ke kehne par utha jab bus stand aane wala tha. Main turant apna bag uthaya, saman neeche utarwaya aur mummy ke paas rakh diya.
Lekin dil ke kone mein ek chhoti si jigyasa ab bhi thi. Main na chahta hua bhi mummy se bola, “Main check kar leta hoon ki kuch chhuta toh nahi.”
Mummy ne bas haan mein sir hila diya. Main bus ke andar dubara chadha aur seedha last row ki sleeper seat ki taraf gaya. Dil ki dhadkan tez ho gayi thi. Main dheere se curtain ke paas gaya aur parda hata diya.
Andar ka nazara dekh kar meri saansein ek pal ke liye rukh gayi. Wahi bikhare hue bistar, lekin ab meri nazar ek cheez par atak gayi thi—kambal ke ek kone mein ek peach color ki panty dikh rahi thi, jo bina kisi shak ke meri Mummy ki thi.
Maine apne sir ko dono haathon se pakad liya. Yeh kya ho raha hai? Yeh sab kya hai? Mere andar ka gussa, sharm aur confusion sab ek saath ubhar aaye.
Main seedha piche hata aur bus ke darwaze ki taraf bhaag gaya. Neeche aate hi maine apna saman uthaya aur Mummy se kuch bole bina unka peecha karne laga, jo already auto lene ke liye aage badh chuki thi.
Hamaare ek door ke rishtedaar, jo Lucknow mein rehte hain, unke bete ki shaadi ki khabar humein kaafi deri se mili. Mahine ke ant ka samay tha, aur Papa ke kaam ka pressure itna tha ki unke liye fursat nikalna namumkin tha. Bade bhai ki office ki commitments bhi kuch aisi hi thi ki chhutti lena sambhav nahi tha. Lekin Mummy ne toh jaane ki zid hi pakad li, kyunki ye rishtedaar unke taraf ke the aur shaadi mein unka jaana zaroori lag raha tha.
“Mujhe toh jaana hi hai. Rishtedaar hai, aur ladke ki shaadi hai. Main na jaaun toh kya sochenge?” Mummy ne apni baat kaafi zor de kar kahi.
“Mummy, hum kaise jayenge? Papa aur Bhai toh jaa nahi paa rahe. Ab akele mujhe bhejne ka kya faayda?” maine samjhane ki koshish ki.
“Faayda-nuksaan mat socho. Tum jaa rahe ho, bas,” unhone kaat diya.
Aise mein, Papa aur Bhai ke na jaane ki wajah se saari zimmedaari mere sir par aa gayi. Papa ne mujhe paanch hazaar rupaye diye aur kaha, “Train ki ticket kata lo, jaldi.”
Main apni scooty lekar railway station pahucha aur inquiry counter par jaakar pata kiya. Lekin jaise ki festival season ka rush tha, mujhe sirf waiting list wali tickets mil rahi thi – woh bhi WL 100 se upar! Yeh sunte hi mujhe laga ki safar almost impossible hai.
Main nirasha ke saath ghar laut aaya aur sabko bata diya ki train mein ticket lena lagbhag namumkin hai. “WL 100 ke saath toh train pakadne ka sapna chhodo, Mummy. Yahaan toh koi scope nahi hai,” maine kaha.
Papa ne kuch sochne ke baad mashwara diya, “Sleeper bus ki ticket dekh lo. Ho sakta hai wahan seat mil jaaye.”
“Wahi kar lo, time waste mat karo,” Mummy ne bhi turant support kiya.
Toh main turant bus tickets lene ke liye nikal gaya. Lekin meri kismat itni kharab thi ki kisi bhi coach mein sleeper seat available nahi thi. Har taraf "fully booked" ka board dekhkar lag raha tha jaise har kisi ko shaadi aur safar ka ek hi din mila ho.
Thak-haar kar maine ghar phone kiya. “Mummy, sirf sitting seat available hai. Sleeper toh bilkul bhi possible nahi hai,” maine thakave lehze mein kaha.
“Sitting hi book kar lo!” unhone bina soch-samajh jawab diya.
“Mummy, seriously? Itna lamba safar sitting mein kaise hoga? Aap samajhiye toh!” Maine koshish ki unhe manaane ki.
“Tumne na hamesha baatein banani hoti hain. Mujhe jaana hai aur bas! Tickets book kar lo, yeh final hai,” unhone gusse mein kaha.
Aakhir mein, haar maan kar maine tickets book kar li. Phone rakhte hi maine khud se socha, "Yeh safar kitna mushkil hone wala hai."
Maine agle din ki bus ki ticket le li thi. Waqt kaafi kam tha, aur shaadi ke liye hum dono ne ek hi din mein ready-made kapde le liye. Mummy beauty parlour gayi thi, aur main saloon gaya. Jab tak hum dono tayar hue, waqt itna tez nikal gaya ki hum bus stand tak auto se pahunche. Papa kaafi busy the, isliye wo humein bus stop chhodne nahi aa paaye.
Maine apni ticket ko dhyaan se dekha – sitting seat thi aur rasta lagbhag 20 ghante ka tha. Sochkar hi mere paseene chhoot rahe the. Maine kai dafa ye baat mummy ke samne rakhne ki koshish ki, lekin unhone samjhaya ki family reasons ki wajah se unhe waha jaana zaroori hai. Main bhi unki baat maan gaya aur is baat ko apne dil mein dabaa diya.
Raat ke kareeb 8 baje, ek bus hamare samne aa kar ruki. Maine number milaya – ye wahi bus thi jo humein Lucknow le jaati thi. Maine apne aur mummy ke saman ko bus ke storage mein rakhwa diya, phir hum dono bus mein chadh gaye. Maine apni seat number dhundi, aur hum dono baith gaye.
Maine phir papa aur bade bhai ko phone karke bata diya, "Hum dono baith gaye hain, aur kuch waqt mein bus chalne wali hai."
Gaadi tez raftaar se aage badh rahi thi. Gaadi mein AC toh tha, lekin uski thandi hawa hum tak theek se nahi pahunch rahi thi. Mummy ko dekh kar lag raha tha ki unhe kaafi problem ho rahi hai. Unka chehra thoda pareshaan tha, aur mujhe ye dekh kar achha nahi laga.
Main seat se utha aur khalasi ke paas gaya. "Bhaiya, AC ki hawa yahan tak nahi aa rahi, Mummy ko kaafi problem ho rahi hai" maine usse kaha.
Usne meri baat gaur se suni aur bola, "Bhai, koi seat khaali toh nahi hai abhi, lekin agar kuch hota hai toh main aapko zaroor inform karunga."
Main thoda disappointed hoke wapas seat par aa gaya. Mummy aankhein bandh karke sone ki koshish kar rahi thi, lekin unka discomfort ab bhi dikh raha tha. Main unke paas chup-chaap baith gaya aur sochne laga ki kya kar sakta hoon.
Kareeb ek-dedh ghante baad, khalasi mere paas aaya. "Bhai, ek baat hai," usne kaha, "last row mein ek sleeper seat khaali ho gayi hai. Jisko aana tha, uska stop nikal gaya. Lekin wo double sleeper hai, ek aur aadmi aana hai. Agar aap chaho toh apni Mummy ko wahan sula sakte ho."
Main khushi se thoda sa smile kiya aur bola, "Haan bhaiya, thank you. Main unhe abhi le jaata hoon." Mummy se maine kaha, "Mummy, chaliye, wahan seat mil gayi hai, aap wahan rest kar lo."
Unhone nind aadhe nind me haan mein sir hila diya, aur main unhe lekar chal pada.
Wo ek double sleeper tha. Maine Mummy ko chadhane mein madad ki aur unhe khidki wale side sula diya. "Aap yahan araam se so jaiye, Mummy," maine unse kaha. Unhone thoda muskara kar haan mein sir hila diya. Unhe comfortable dekh kar mera mann halka ho gaya.
Main phir wapas apni seat par aaya. Jahan main baitha tha, wahan se sleeper seat piche bilkul last row mein thi, lekin ab Mummy ko comfortable dekh kar mujhe shanti mili. Bagal wali seat bhi khaali ho gayi thi, toh mujhe aur zyada jagah failane ke liye mil gayi.
Maine apni seat ko peeche kiya, ek lambi saans li, aur khud bhi nind ke aagosh mein chala gaya.
Raat ko bus ek stop par ruki, washroom break ke liye. Meri bhi neend khul gayi. Maine apni aankh masalte hue socha ki pehle Mummy ka haal-chaal le loon, aur sleeper seat ki taraf gaya. Half-asleep tha, isliye dheere se curtain hata kar dekha. Mummy wahan akeli thi, kambal ke niche aram se leti hui.
Maine pucha, "Mummy, washroom jana hai?"
Unhone apna haath nikal kar mana kar diya. Unhe theek dekh kar thoda relief feel hua, aur main unhe wahan chhod kar neeche utar gaya.
Sabse pehle washroom gaya aur thoda fresh ho gaya. Wapas aate waqt ek chhoti si shop dekhi jo corner mein thi. Wahan ek ladka khada tha, jo smoke kar raha tha. Maine casually usse pucha, "Bhai, kaha se li?"
Usne ek halki smile ke saath bola, "Bhaiya, mere paas hai. Aapko chahiye kya?"
Maine sir hila kar haan kar di. Usne apni jeb se ek cigarette nikal ke di aur apne lighter se mujhe jala kar di.
Us shop par pani ki bottles bhi thi. Maine wahan se do bottles li—ek apne liye aur ek Mummy ke liye. Cigarette khatam karke aur bottle lete hue thodi thandi hawa enjoy ki, aur phir bus ki taraf wapas jaane laga to mujhe piche se ladaka awaz deta hai.
Main piche muda to usne mujhe 100 rupaye ka note diya aur kaha, "Mere paas chhutte nahi hain. Agar thoda chhutta de dete, to accha hota." Uski baat sun kar maine halka sa muskara diya, paise wapas kiye, aur uske liye 10-10 ke do botal paani kharid laya. Phir wapas aakar bus mein chadh gaya aur seedha mummy ke paas gaya.
Mummy ko awaaz di, to woh dheere se uthin. Maine unke haath mein paani ki botal pakda di. Paani dekh kar mummy boli, "Botal khol ke do." Maine turant botal khol kar unhe de di. Mummy ne botal muh se lagayi aur paani peene lagi. Tab meri nazar unpe thodi dhyan se gayi, kyunki ab tak meri neend puri tarah khul chuki thi. Unka haal mujhe kuch alag aur ajeeb sa laga.
Bus ki dheemi roshni mein gaur se dekha, to mehsoos hua ki unke honth ki lipstick kaafi hadd tak mit chuki thi, baal bikhre hue the, aur bistar bhi uljha hua lag raha tha. Ek ajeeb si badbu bhi aa rahi thi. Maine socha shayad lipstick kambal se lag kar kharab ho gayi hogi, aur bus ka to waise bhi safai ke maamle mein bura haal hota hai. Ye soch kar maine baaki sab cheezon ko nazarandaaz kiya aur wapas apni seat par ja kar baith gaya.
Lagbhag paanch minute baad, sabhi yatri wapas aa gaye, aur bus phir se chal padi.
Mujhe kuch ajeeb sa lag raha tha, lekin maine zyada soch-vichar nahi kiya. Waise bhi mujhe neend aa rahi thi, to maine apna sir seat se atka kar so gaya aur neend ke aagosh mein chala gaya.
Meri neend tab khuli, jab meri aankhon par ek tez roshni padhi. Ye roshni ek truck ke headlights ki thi, jo hamari bus ke bagal se guzar rahi thi. Maine ghadi dekhi, to raat ke lagbhag 1 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ki mummy ka haal puch lena chahiye, aur yahi soch kar main apni seat se utha.
Tez chalti bus ke jhatkon ke beech, truck ki headlights ki roshni kuch seconds ke liye poori bus ko roshan kar rahi thi. Dagmagate hue main last row ki taraf badha, jahan mummy so rahi thi. Jaise hi main sleeper seat ka parda chhune wala tha, ek aur truck bagal se guzra. Uske headlights ki roshni parde par bani ek parchai par padi, aur meri nazar wahi thami reh gayi.
Meri mummy... kisi gair mard ke saath... abhi isi waqt... sex kar rahi thi.
Truck ke headlights ki roshni ne ek pal ke liye parda ke us paar ki tasveer banayi. Mera dil ek dum se jakad gaya. Aankhon ke saamne woh tasveer jese barabar kehte ja rahi thi ki maine jo dekha, woh galat nahi tha. Har truck ke guzarne ke saath roshni aur saaf hoti ja rahi thi, aur uske saath mere dimag mein ek chalchitra chalne laga.
Main bas wahi... jam gaya. Saans lena bhool gaya. Pairo mein jaan nahi thi, aur poori duniya ki awaazon ka shor ek dum chup sa ho gaya. Jaise main kisi maze mein hoon, jahan har taraf sirf woh tasveer ghoom rahi thi.
Fir ek ajeeb se bechayni mein maine apna kaan dheere se parde ke paas lagaya. Tez chalti bus ka engine, hawa ka shor, sab kuch dhundla lag raha tha. Lekin... uske beech woh awaaz... saaf, bilkul saaf sunai de rahi thi. Meri mummy ki awaaz.
Us pal meri duniya bikhar gayi thi. Samajh nahi aa raha tha, yeh asli hai ya koi bura sapna. Lekin jitni der main wahan khada raha, utna hi sach samne ata gaya. Yeh jo ho raha tha, woh haqeeqat thi.
Main himmat nahi kar paaya parde ko hatane ki. Ek ajeeb si sukoon aur khauf ke beech main wapas apni seat par ja kar baith gaya. "Shaayad ye sab ek bura sapna hai," maine apne aap ko samjhane ki koshish ki. Thakaan aur neend ka asar itna tha ki main dubara so gaya, umeed karte hue ki subah tak sab kuch theek lagne lagega.
Raat ke kareeb 3 baje gaadi ke rukne ki awaaz aur khalasi ke announce karne se meri neend khuli. Usne kaha, “Bathroom break ke liye gaadi 10 minute ke liye ruk rahi hai.” Main dheere-dheere utha, aankhein masalte hue, aur ek dam mujhe bahut tez toilet ki zarurat mehsoos hui. Jaldi se bus ke bahar nikla aur fresh ho gaya.
Jab wapas bus ki taraf ja raha tha, toh meri nazar sleeper seat ki taraf gayi, aur achanak se kuch der pehle ki ghatna yaad aa gayi. Ek pal ke liye laga jaise mera gala sukh gaya ho. Us khidki pe ab bhi parda laga hua tha.
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki main kya karoon. Main dheere-dheere bus ke andar chadha. Andar ya to log gehri neend mein the, ya bathroom break ke liye bahar nikle hue the. Maine socha, “Abhi hi mauka hai. Pata lagana hoga.”
Dheere kadam rakhte hue main last row ki taraf badha. Parda kaafi acche se phasa hua tha, lekin is baar maine apni himmat jodi. Ek gehri saans li aur parde ke ek side ko dheere se hataya.
Jo dekha, usse meri duniya palat gayi.
Sleeper mein meri mummy khidki ke paas leti hui thi. Woh neend mein thi, lekin unka haal pehle se bhi zyada uljha hua lag raha tha. Baal puri tarah se bikhre hue the, kambal sirf unke kandhe tak tha, aur saaf pata chal raha tha ki woh kapdon ke bagair hain. Mere pair thartharane lage.
Unke paas wohi ladka leta hua tha jisne mujhe cigarette di thi. Uska ek pair meri mummy ke upar tha, aur woh bhi nanga lag raha tha. Ek pal ke liye mujhe laga ki meri saansein ruk gayi hain.
Mujhe bahut gussa aya – itna ki mujhe laga abhi usse kheench ke bahar phek doon. Lekin ek ajeeb sa dar mujhe andar se rok raha tha. Main bas wahan khada numaya lene laga.
Mujhe mummy ke pair ke paas unke kapde dikhai diye – saari, petticoat, blouse – sab ek taraf bikhre hue the. Ek pal ke liye laga jaise poora bas samapt ho gaya ho. Yeh bura sapna nahi tha. Yeh haqeeqat thi.
Mere parde hatane ki wajah se shayad usne kuch harkat ki, kyunki wo thoda hilte hue sambhalne laga. Main ek pal ke liye jam gaya, lekin phir jhat se wahan se hat kar apni seat ki taraf chala gaya. Dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha, aur pair ladkhada rahe the.
Kuch der baad, maine dekha ki wo ladka uth kar ek nazar idhar-udhar dali, aur phir neeche utar gaya. Main apni seat par chupchaap baitha raha, main samajh nahi paa raha tha ki main kya karun.
Uske utarne ke kuch der baad, main phir himmat karke sleeper ke samne gaya aur dheere se parda hataya. Is baar mummy kambal acche se lapet ke baithi hui thi, jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Unka chehra thoda thaka hua lag raha tha, lekin unhone mujhe dekha aur ek halke muskaan ke saath poocha, "Kya hua, kuch chahiye?"
Main ne poocha, "Aap paani piyengi?" Lekin unhone sir hila kar mana kar diya. Main unhe aur gaur se dekhne laga. Tab meri nazar unke gaalon aur muh ke paas ek ajeeb si papdi par padhi. Mujhe turant samajh aa gaya ki wo kya tha—sukh gaya hua virya.
Mummy ne meri taraf dekha, bas haath ke ishare se mujhe wapas sone ke liye bhej diya. Main wapas apni seat pe aaya, lekin meri neend kahin kho chuki thi.
Kuch der baad, maine dekha ki wahi ladka, jo abhi thodi der pehle utra tha, ek badi si paani ki botal lekar phir se bus me chadh gaya. Mera gussa us waqt charam pe tha, jab usne seedhe mummy ke sleeper seat ki taraf kadam badhaye aur bina kisi jhijhak ke andar chadh gaya. Mujhe apne andar ek aag si mehsoos hui, lekin main bas apni jagah par baitha unhe dekhta raha, kuch bolne ya karne ki himmat nahi kar pa raha tha.
Main gusse mein apne seat pe baitha aur zabardasti so gaya. Koshish ki sab kuch bhool jaun, lekin wo manzar aankhon ke samne baar-baar aa raha tha. Phir pata nahi kaise, mujhe neend aa gayi.
Dusri taraf meri mummy kisi gair ke bahon mein so rahi thi, aur main apna gussa andar hi andar daba raha tha. Meri agli baar neend khuli, jab maine dekha ki mummy meri bagal mein baithi thi.
Maine aankhein malte hue dheere se pucha, “Safar aur kitna bacha hai?”
Mummy ne halki si muskaan ke saath kaha, “Ek ghante mein pahunch jayenge.”
Maine idhar-udhar dekha, toh wo ladka kahin dikhai nahi diya. Mummy bilkul shant aur tasalli bhari lag rahi thi, unka chehra kal raat se alag, bilkul fresh lag raha tha. Main ek lambi saans lete hue socha, shayad ye sab ek bura sapna tha.
Main phir se aaram se so gaya, aur mummy ke kehne par utha jab bus stand aane wala tha. Main turant apna bag uthaya, saman neeche utarwaya aur mummy ke paas rakh diya.
Lekin dil ke kone mein ek chhoti si jigyasa ab bhi thi. Main na chahta hua bhi mummy se bola, “Main check kar leta hoon ki kuch chhuta toh nahi.”
Mummy ne bas haan mein sir hila diya. Main bus ke andar dubara chadha aur seedha last row ki sleeper seat ki taraf gaya. Dil ki dhadkan tez ho gayi thi. Main dheere se curtain ke paas gaya aur parda hata diya.
Andar ka nazara dekh kar meri saansein ek pal ke liye rukh gayi. Wahi bikhare hue bistar, lekin ab meri nazar ek cheez par atak gayi thi—kambal ke ek kone mein ek peach color ki panty dikh rahi thi, jo bina kisi shak ke meri Mummy ki thi.
Maine apne sir ko dono haathon se pakad liya. Yeh kya ho raha hai? Yeh sab kya hai? Mere andar ka gussa, sharm aur confusion sab ek saath ubhar aaye.
Main seedha piche hata aur bus ke darwaze ki taraf bhaag gaya. Neeche aate hi maine apna saman uthaya aur Mummy se kuch bole bina unka peecha karne laga, jo already auto lene ke liye aage badh chuki thi.