Chapter - 4
Agle din Mamaji mujhe paas wali gaon, jahan mela basa tha aur jo lagbhag hamare gaon se 2 meel door me tha, legaye tab mera dil kaafi halka ho chuka tha. Balki mein thoda thoda glani bhi anubhav kar rahithi ki kaise ladki mein thi jo ki ek hi baat ko lekar, mujhe apne jaan se bhi jyada pyar karne wale Mama aur Mami per rooth baithi thi. Lajja mujhe chubh rahithi baar baar.
Magar Mamajiko kahan pata chalta mere man ki sthiti … …. Ya unko phir aur jyada acchi tarah hi pata tha shayad. Nikalte samay hi unhone mujhe Kamla ko saath me bulane aane ko kaha – aur mein jaldi se raaji hogyee kyonki ab mujhe unke saath sara samay baat karna na padega. Kamla to mela jaane ke naam sunke ucchal padi aur chat se nikal ayi. Mela ke baare me jyada nahin bataungi. Bas ye ki jo hamare sahar me lagte the unme se kaafi alag tha – yahan adhiktar chara, daana, beej adi gaon ke roj ke istemal samaano se bhara tha. Mamajine hamein bahot saare stall me khilaya – khaas kar garam garam jalebi aur malpua jaisi; gadhon-ghodon ki harkatein bhi dikhaya. Ek jagah bahot bhid jami thi – wahan ghagra choli bik rahethe – aur jab mein Mamaji ka drishti un par akarshan kiya to wo bata diye ki ye Mami se pooch lene ke liye. Iske ilawa hamne khub maza liya aur laut te waqt mein to poori tarah thak chooki thi – magar kaafi khusi bhi thi.
Raatko maine Mami se ghagra choli ki baat chhed di aur batayi ki yahan ke sab aurat to wo pehante hain aur usme kitna sundar dikhte hain. (Sach me to unpar motiyan jis anokhe design me lage hote the aur neech hem per chhoti chhoti ghanti – jo chalte samay halka jhoom jhoom awaz banate - ye sab mere liya bahot akarsaniya tha.) Per Mami to hasne lagi. “Kya karegi tu wo lekar. Fancy dress competition me bhag lena hai kya! Wahan pehan kar nikalegi to sab log hansenge tere par ………… Bahot dukh hua. Per Mami ki to antim nirnay thi – mein kya karti siwaye apneko saantwana dene ki. Khaaskar jab Kamla wo libas me aatithi, to usse dekhe thoda andar hi andar sikudti…
Samay ke saath saath ye chhoti si khayal kab ghatne laga – wo mujhe pata hi na chala. Kyonki, ab mere jeevan me Kamla agayi thi. Usine mujhe gaon ke bag- bagiche – talab yaani ki gaon ki sampurna prakrutik sunderta se parichay ki. Usse le milne par mere upar koi rok tok nahin tha. Sirf Mamajine paani wali jagahon se satark rehneko bole. Aur kitne harkat, kitni masti – hum donone manayi. Usike sikhaye meain se pani nikali, ped chadhke amrud - aam aadi utari, patang udana bhi sidhi. Do titliyan ki tarah hum dono ghul mil gaye aur meri wo ganwar saheli baat baat per mere gaal ko choomti ya mere god pe baith jaat ya fir koi haystack me mujhe lita kar chadh jaati aur gudgudi karake meri haal kharab kar deti. Aisi gawaroon harkatein se mein pura anjaan thi – magar usse rokne ka man nahin kara kyonki mere ab tak jindegi me mein kabhi itna hansi nhi thi…
Khair usine mujhe ‘pehli’ pratha ke bistroot roop se jaankari di… … gaon ke ek ek pehli ka parichay batayi … …. Meri aankhein phati rahi ye sunkar – yahan to bacche se budhe lekar 15-20 waise the aur koi 5-6 kunwari maa ya garbhbati ladkiyan… … aur mere sar se najayaj ya lawaris jaisi shabdon ka rupantar kuchh badalne lage… …
Ek din ki baat, jab hum bagichhe me imli utarke chakh rahe the. Wo puchh baithi, “Tera wahan – kitne ladke hain – iskul mein?” Wo meri god me sar rakhke imli chat rahithi.
“School ki baate to malum nahin – haan mere class me koi 20 tho honge”, maine uttar di.
“Unme se tere kitne hai?” Wo mujhse na dekhe hi boli.
“Mere kitne? Maane kya?” Mein thoda aschryachakit ho gayi.
“Maane kitnon se prem hai?”
Mere samajh me nahin aya ki hansoon ya usse kosson. Phir khud hi khud ek hansin ka lehar le dauda aur hans hans ke bedam hogayi aur mere aankhon se paani nikar aye …
Jhenp ker uth baithi wo. “Kyaare … … kya kehdi main aisi?....”
Hansi ki phuwar do thoda thaamte hue mein boli “Accha wo – theek se yaad nahin – shayad koi 9 ya 10 … ….”
Sar pe haath maari wo. “Itne … …”, phir thoda sakpakagai , “mere to bas do”
Mein bahot kathinayi se hansi rok rahi thi … wo bura na maan jaye jaise. “Accha batana unke baare me.”
Phir to uske aankhon me chamaksi agayi. Khul kar apni prem kahani bakhanne lagi. Dono ladke paas ke do alag gaon se the aur koi bhi bahane banakar usse milne ke liye pahunch jaate. Ek dubla sa ladka ko mein dekhi bhi thi mela me jo hamare bagal me kuchh der tak chal bhi raha tha – lekin tab mujhe ye jaankari na thi. Kai saare uphaar – jaise kangan, ribbon ya mithayi hi sahi – bhent di thi. Jodi bankar wo kheti ya bagichhe me ja baithte aur ek dusre ki haath pakadke pyar ki baatein karte..
Ant me uska gala bhari ho gaya – aur thoda dukhi dukhi si awaz bhi thi. Mujhe laga jaise wo shayad dubidha me hai ki dono me se kis ko chune.
“To kis se shadi karne ka soch rahi he tu?”
Bhadak uthi wo mere sawal se. “In dono me se – kisi se nahin.”
Mera munh khula rah gaya , “Toh … …?”
“Mereko dono hi pasand nahin hai. Duble patle ladke nahin chahiye mujhe. Ek hatta-katta naujawan mujhe chahiye. ….. ….. Lekin meri to phooti kismet …. …” ab thoda neechi awaz me “Koi aisa ladka mereko jab pasand kare to hi na …………..”
Mein chup rahi aur sochne lagi ki kya kahun………..
Achanak hamne dekha ki ek bees baees saal ki naujawan hamare aur badh raha tha aur paas baithi Kamla ki saanse tej hogayi. Jaldi hi wo hamare paas pahunch gaya aur Kamla ke gusse bhare nazar ko beandaaz kiye usko ek phoolon ka guchh badhaya … “ … le … le … tte te tere liye… “ Phir usne jor dekar kuchh kehna chaha par munh se awaz na nikli…
Ek jhatke se Kamla ne uske haath se phool ke guchhe chhin li aur phenk di saare uske munh par “Nikal … …. Nikal … … Kamina kahanka… …” Jhaag nikalte munhse – aur mein Kamla ko kabhi itna gusse me nahin dekhi thi …
Wo ladka khada hi raha, maano jaisa in sab se wo pehle jhel chuka tha, “ Kkk Kama… ss sun na…”
Kamla gi gussa ab saatwi aasman par. Lath se baith gayi jameen par aur ek pal ke liye chup rahi. Phir usko dekhkar chillayi “Golu, bhul gaya he picchle saal ke pitayi … … laut ke bataungi mama ko ? Khap ke saamne pesh hoga?”
Jhat se wo apni haathon neeche kar di aur uske chesta kar ke bhi awaz na nikli – hakla na ye to mujhe pata chal gaya. Uske taraf dekhi maine – aankhon bhar aye the. Khamoshi se khada raha kuchh waqt phir ulte paon laut gaya.
Mein apni saheli ko sambhala – ab tak gusse se kaamp rahi thi wo jo. Saant hone ke baad usine batya Golu ke baare mein – ki dimag se hila hua tha bachhpan se, aur na jaane kyun Kamla ke peechhe do saal se pada tha – havi ho jaata jab usse kahin akele dekh kar – pichle saal uski shikayat par khap ne usse murga banaya … …
“Usse dekhke hi mera khoon ubalne lagta hai”.
Mein chup rahi uski baat sunke.
“Kyun, gussa nahin ayi tujhe uski harkat par?”
“Nahin”, lambi saans chhote hue mein kahi, “mujhe iss se to jyada dukh ho raha tha ki lagbhag muuk hai wo aur apna baat nahin rakh paata.”
Ghur kar Kalpana ne mere taraf ek ajeeb andaz me dekhne lagi, jaisi ki maine aise koi na-kehnewali baat keh di.
Hamlog ghar laut pade aur agle din tak mujhe ye bhi gyant hua ki Golu ko Mukhiyaji ki taraf se chetawani di gayi thi wo phir hum ladkiyon paas se na gujre. Phir kucch din aur beet gaye. Dusron ke saath maine do baar aur mela dekhne gayi – jo ki khatam hone ja rahi thi – aur bharpur maza kia. Ek baar wahan Kamla se mili – usne mujhe useke dusri premi ko wahan dikhaya. Mami ne mere liye chudi-maali-bindi wagara kharidi aur mein bahot khus thi.
Haan, apne Maa aur Baba ke baare me mein bhuli nahin thi. Kamla ko apni saugandh dekar bhejithi ki is baare me kuchh bhi jaankari wo kahin se hasil karein aur mujhe bataye. Lekin nateeja kuchh nahin nikla. Munh latkar wo mere paas aati aur batati ki jab bhi ye baat wo kisi badon ke saamne chhedne lagti to sab koi ye baat taal dete the aur kuchh dusri baat suru kar dete. Mere har ek prayas band gali me hi pahunch jati. Tang aakar maine ek din Mamaji se roothi hui andaz me shikayat ki wo to mere sawalon ed jaate the magar itna to kamse kam batade ki Maa acchi ya buri swabhav ki thi. “Tera dimag sitti-pitti ho gayi jo aise sawal karti hai tu” – Mamaji thoda kheeja hue kaha – “Dikahai nahin deta yahan koi kitne aadar se usski naam lete hain – aur tujh per itna pyar jatate – kya lagta hai tujhe ye sab dekhkar?”
Unki baatme to sau pratishat sachhai thi. Mera chup rehne ke siwa koi aur chara nahin tha!
Lagbhag ek mahina ho gaya tha idhar thahare hue. Mamajiko us samay jaana pada gaon se bahar kuchh jaruri kaam ke vaaste. Gaon se lagbhag ek meel dur sadak tha jahan kuchh motor gaadi wagara chalte the. Kamla ke saath mein gayee wahan unhe bus pe bithane ke liye …
Do din ke baad mein Kamla ke ghar per hi thi aur hum dono ki na-khatam hone wali baatein chal rahe the. Uski Mami ne hamein aur unke do bachhon ko ekathha bithake kahan parosi. Baad me ham Kamla ki kamre aapahunche jahan uske chhote bhai-behan me phir se mahabhart suru ho rahatha. Daant kar usne un donoko bahar bhej diya aur fir palang par baatein karneke liye aye. Lekin Kamla neeche utar gayi aur chamakti hui aankhon se niche ek baksa se ek naya ghagra-choli set pesh kiya. “Kal hi mele se laye mama ne is lehenga-choli … dekh sundar hai na?” Maine use pura khol ke palang par lita diya aur dheemi swar me kaha “Haan bahut acchi hai, khub manegi tereko.”
“Tereko bhi manegi khub” usne batyaa.
“Mere Mami mujhe pehanne nahin deti ye sab – kehti hai log hansenge sahar me dekhkar”, nami bhara awazse mein boli.
Wo chup rahi ek pal. Phir batayi “Toh yahan pehanne me kya apatti hai?” Phir usse yaad agaya ki aisa kuchh tha hi nahin mere paas – to boldi. “Chal to ek baar isko pehan le issko … … sachhi me mujhe achha lagega mereko … … tu hai na meri apni ki … …” Maine saaf saaf mana kiya, kyonki mujhe ye pata tha ki saal me sayad kisiko ek ya zyada se zyada do hi set milte honge, aur mein kaise usse kharab karun ……………..
Maani na wo meri baat aur na hi suni meri koi apatti. Mujhe kheench ke palang se neeche utardi aur tham di wo set. Mein dubidha me agayi. Mami ko ye baat kabhi pasand nahin ayegi – mein bhali bhanti jaanti thi. Lekin Kamla bhi kahan chhodne wali thi – uske jid ke age me jhuk gayi. “Accha tu nikal kamre se – me badalti hun.”
Wo ascharya se mujhe dekhne lagi. “Kyon, yahan to koi aur nahin hai.”
Mujhe sankoch ayi – phir me sochne lagi ki ye to gaon hai – kahan sahar ke neet niyam yahan chalta.
Mein blouse ki button kholne lagi aur jab saare khul gaye to usse utardi. Kamla ne usse pakad liya aur mere chhati ki taraf dekhte hue kaha “Arre ye kya – itna sundar – itna badhiya.”
Jhat se maine haathonse apna seena chhupadi par wo mere kandho ki taraf dekh rahithi aur dheerese bra ki strap ko masalne lagi. Tabhi mere khayal aya ki wo meri bra ki baat kari thi aur saath saath samajh gayi ki shayad pehli baar usne bra dekhi hogi – kyonki abhi mujhe khayal hua ki yahan ke auratonko mein bra pehnete nahin dekhi thi – bas is par mera dhyan nahin raha pehle.
Maine apne haath neeche kiya aur muskuraya. Uska nirikhyan to ab bhi chalu tha – pura age se lekar peeche tak. “Ye chholi tera kitna sundar hai re … … kitni mulayam … … isse andar kyun chhupati – bahar kyun nahin pehnti …..?”
Hans hans ke mera beda gark hogaya. Kaisi anjaan, kitna bholi thi – meri ye gawaroon saheli…..
Phir maine bra per chholi pehne ki kosish ki – par wo bahot tight laga aur khas kar bra ke safed straps khule kandhein par ajeeb lagi – aur sabse badi baat – kyonki wo chholi pichhe se bilkul khuli thi aur sirf doriyon se kasa jaata tha – to laal rang ke chholi ke peechhe safed bra ki pichli bhaag eka ek – Mami ki bhasha me – fancy dress competition me bhaag lene jaisa deekh rahatha. Ant me, mein pure bra ko nikaldi aur Kamla ko pakda di aur jab wo use atyant utsukta se nirikhyan kar rahi thi, tab apni skirt utar ke lehenga pehen li. Awaz dene par, Kamla chounk uthi aur mere pichhe akar doriyon ko kas kar – balki itna kas kar baandh di ki mein ek dum ek murti ti tarah seedhi ho gayee.
“Tereko chahiye wo mere wals chhoti chholi, Mami ko kehkar dila dungi …”, use chhedte hue main boli.
“Nahin ri nahin. Pehnunga agar kahbhi sahar jaun to”, ussne uttar diya, “kehte hain na jaisa desh waisa bhesh.”
Kamre ke bahar uske Mama aur Mami khade the. Mami muskarayi mera bhesh dekhkar. Mama ne kaha, “Sohini ki jaisi hi lag rahi hai tu.”
to everyone for reading the story.
क्या हुआ था सोहिनी के साथ
