Update 193 (2)
Pehli Mulakaat
"Bhabhi, aap? Mujhe he awaaj laga deti, aap kyun aayi?", Radhika kunmunati hui si uthi toh bister par sirf khud ko dekh kuch pal apne he khayalo me khoyi rahi. Phir kamre ka jayja lene ke baad ek dilkash muskaan ke sath uth kar khud ko sahi karti hui kamre se bahar aayi toh hall-kamre ko bhi andar se band paya. Arjun ki taraf na ja kar usne wo kiwaad khola toh saamne he chhote aangan me Ritu aur Priyanka ko saaf safaai karte paya. Wo log shayad apne kamre saaf karwane ke baad chaadare dhulne ke liye nikaal kar niche le ja rahi thi. Ritu ne darwaje par khadi apni bhabhi ko dekh samaan Priyanka ko thamaya aur khud Radhika ki taraf chali aayi. Is ujaale me Radhika ka swaroop kisi swarnim mrigya sa prajwalit tha, shringaar aur khoobsurti ke sath sath.
"Awaaj laga dena sahi rehta kya? Waise bhi mujhe aaye der he kitni hui hai jo awaaj lagane lagu? Tum araam karne ki jagah abhi bhi kaam me lagi ho?", Radhika ko liye Ritu wapis hall kamre me he chali aayi. AC chalu karne ke sath usne table se bottle utha kar ek gilas pani ka Radhika ki taraf badhaya aur muskurate hue jawaab diya.
"Main shayad aapse jyada he soyi hongi bhabhi. Wo toh bas ab hum log hamare kamre thik kar rahi thi jis se hum aur araam kar sake. Hahaha.. waise aapko shayad thik se neend nahi aayi hogi, pehla din hai aapka is ghar me.", Radhika ne surkh hontho se us kaanch ke gilas se paani piya toh kuch laali waha bhi jamm gayi. Kajal lagi badi badi aankhon me khaas chamak thi Radhika ke jaise wo is ghar me abhi se khush ho bas chehre par kuch alag si pashopesh.
"Neend toh sachmuch gehri he aayi thi yar lekin ye kapde kuch jyada he bhari hai. Waise tumhe naam se bula sakti hu na? Ya nanand ji kehna padega?", Radhika ko aise bolte dekh Ritu ne uska wo mehndi racha khoobsurat hath thaam liya. Behtareen tarashe hue nakh, lambi bareek mom si ungliyan jo kuch thos thi lekin naram ehsaas.
"Aap mujhe hamesha naam se he bulana. Aur yaha par jaise sab ek dusre ko bulate hai aapko bhi wahi karna hai. Daadi ko daadi, dada ji ko dada ji ya bau ji ya bade papa bhi keh dengi toh wo khush he honge. Vinni didi shayad aapki umar ki hai toh mujhe nahi lagta ke wo aapko ji kahengi. Khair jaruri bhi nahi aisa lekin ye jaan lijiye ke aap is ghar ke ekmatra pautra-vadhu hai toh sabhi aapke aage peeche rehne wale hai. Waise kapdo ke baare me main kya bol sakti hu? Kamre me aapka jo dil kare wo pehan liya kijiye lekin daadi kuch din jarur aapko dulhan jaise he banaye rakhegi.", Ritu ki aisi saaf baatein dekh Radhika mand mand khush ho rahi thi aur jaise wo kuch kehna chahti thi lekin kuch yaad karke usne khud ko rok liya aisa karne se.
"Waise ye tumhare bhaiya kidhar nikal gaye? Ye kamra toh maine he khola tha abhi aur wo mere kamre me bhi nahi the jab main uthi.", Radhika ki baat sunn kar ab Ritu ne hanste hue apne sar pe hath rakh liya. Uski ye jiwant muskaan jaise Radhika ko bhi sammohit kar gayi jo ektak bas un safed eksaar tarashe hue daanto aur prakritik surkh hontho ko dekhti rahi, jinka bharaav alokik sa tha.
"Kuch logo ko aadat badalni padengi ab lekin ye koshish bhi aapko he karni padegi. Aaiye jara mere sath.", Ritu ne saan durust karte hue apni bhabhi ko hath pakad kar uthaya aur seedha Arjun ke kamre ko khol waha dakhil ho gayi. Us ast-vyast se bister par Arjun ke paanv lambai ki wajah se tirche jarur the par wo kisi chhote bache ki tarah apne bade bhai ke seene me mooh dabaye chain se soya tha. Sanjiv bhi pichle kuch dino ki mehnat se hui thakaan se choor payjame aur safed baniyan me apne chote bhai ke upar ek baah rakhe jaise usko duniya se is pal me bhi bachaye tha. Inhe koyi bhaan na tha ke ghar me ab badlaav hone lage hai. Sanjiv ko shayad aage se ab is tarah Radhika ko he apne pehlu me sulana hoga lekin kam se kam is waqt nahi. Radhika ne bade gor se ye drishya dekha aur is baar wo khud Ritu ko yaha se liye apne kamre me chali aayi, jo pehle sirf Sanjiv ka hota tha.
"Wow. Ye dono kya hamesha he? Matlab wo bed se bhi lamba hai lekin tumhare bhaiya se abhi tak bache ki tarah.. Matlab tum ye jaanti he hogi?"
"Haan.. wo is ghar ka sabse chota bacha hai bhabhi aur Sanjiv bhaiya agar ghar pe hote hai toh aksar wo jitna ho sake Arjun ke he sath rehte hai. Waise toh Arjun kal he gaanv ja raha hai ek mahine ke liye lekin main usko kahungi ki wo apna samaan hamari taraf wale kisi kamre me shift kar le.", Ritu ne jo bhi kaha tha wo bahot he ruk ruk kar aur sadhe hue shabdo me kaha tha jaise wo aisa kuch soch kar he keh rahi ho.
"Idhar baitho tum aur jaisa tumne thodi der pehle kaha tha na ke ab tum logo me sabse badi main hu toh ye decide bhi main he karungi. Nayi bhabhi aayi aur aate he devar ko pati se alag kar diya.. huh.. Kitna sochti ho yar tum bina-wajah.? Arjun.. Arjun tumhare bhaiya ke liye itna khaas hai ki wo shayad usko mere sath bhi sanjha nahi karna chahte the. Haan ek uphaar ki tarah mujhse mulakaat bhi aise karwayi ki main hairaan hue bina na reh saki lekin maine dekha ki Sanjiv Arjun ke paas hone par muskurate hai, bolte hai aur khud ko jaahir bhi karte hai. Rahi baat samay bitane ki toh aage se Arjun par unse pehle main haq jama kar rakhungi. Unhone apne hisse ka kar liya ab Arjun ki bhabhi ki baari hai. Ab jaga do jara apne bhaiya ko aur Arjun ko sone dena.", Radhika ne baat kehte kehte he daraaj ke upar rakha apna sone ka ek kangan Ritu ki kalaai me pehna diya tha jisko wo hairat se dekh rahi thi.
"Aise kya dekh rahi ho? Hota toh ye hai ki choti nanad apni bhabhi ke kamre me aate he apni marji se ek uphaar leti hai lekin tum mujhe bilkul bhi aisi nahi lagi jisko kisi cheej ki jarurat ho. Toh ye maine apni pasand se tumhe pehna diya."
'Mere pas toh poori duniya hai bhabhi, phir ye ek kangan usme badlaav karega. Lekin aap sachmuch bahot pyaari hai.'
"Kuch kaha tumne?", Ritu ko bas honth hilate dekh Radhika ne achraj se poocha.
"Aap bahot pyaari hai bhabhi aur ye dusra kangan mujhe majboori me lena padega ab. Waise jagaane aap he jao.",Ritu me jis tarah ke chanchal badlaav aaye the Radhika hairaani se usko dekhne lagi aur itni he der me wo hansti hui kamre se daud gayi, dono kangan liye. Radhika ne bhi maathe par hath rakh liye.
'Ye ladki samajh se he bahar hai. Pehle toh daadi amma lag rahi thi aur ab dekho jaise panchvi me padhti ho. Mera bhai kuch thik hota toh isko toh main jaane na deti. Chalo dekhte hai in Ram-Lakhan ko.', Radhika ne is baar sar pe wo dupatta sahi se liya aur khud he Arjun ke kamre me chali gayi. Lakh koshisho ke bawjood paayal ki chamm-chamm aur Sanjiv ko hilane par chuddiyon ki chhanak se Arjun ne bhi aankhen khol kar apne upar jhuki ye swapan-sundai uninidi aankhon se dekhi.
"Bhaiya.. Atchi baat hai. Aap mat he utho. Bhabhi, aap he meri jagah so jao. Main chala is kamre se.", Arjun hilta dulta sa bahar wale darwaje se hota hua waisi he haalat me niche chala gaya aur Radhika ye ek aur rasta dekh rahi thi upar wale is hisse me aane-jane ka. Darwaja band hote he Sanjiv ne furti se Radhika ko kamar se khinch kar is tarah apni bagal me litaya ki wo aankhe badi badi karti bas hairaan he reh gayi.
"Mera bhai mujhe bata chuka tha ke tum aa rahi ho aur fir wo chala jayega. Ho gayi neend tumhari?"
"Aye.. Kya karte ho Sanjiv? Udhar wale darwaje bhi khule hai aur Arjun kya pata bahar he khada ho?"
"Wo ja chuka hai kahi aur sone ke liye aur udhar ka darwaja maine khud he lagaya tha toh chinta matt karo. Waise abhi tak wo khushbu aa rahi hai?", Sanjiv ne thoda kass kar Radhika ko apne seene se lagaya toh uske sakht badan me apna naram seena dabta mehsoos karke Radhika ki saanse ukhadne lagi thi. Ye din ke ujale me ho raha tha aur do tarafa khule darwajo me. Sanjiv ki kasti hui giraft aur gaal par tapish karte hontho se Radhika aanandit hone ki jagah sadme me jaane lagi thi. Sanjiv jaise ye samajh kar usko chhod he raha tha ki ye awaaj sunaai padi.
"Oh besharam. Bahu ko riwaaj bhi karne hai thode. Tera kamra kam hai toh koyi baat ni ye bhi le le. Darwaje laga le beta aur thoda samay ka bhi dhyaan rakh.", Ye thi aadarniya Lalita ji aur unke aise tanj se Sanjiv toh bister chhod us taraf he bhaag khada hua jaha Arjun gaya tha. Peeche reh gayi toh simti hui sar jhukaye bister par baithi Radhika. Lalita ji hall kamre ka darwaja dhaal kar muskurati hui apni bahu ki bagal me aa baithi.
"Arre meri bachi tu toh aise ghabra rahi hai jaise khoon kar diya ho? Hahaha.. dekha kaise doom daba ke bhaga tera khasam? Maine awaaj isliye ki jis se tum sajag ho jao. Tumhari nanad-saas abhi kuch samay me jaane wali hai aur unse tumhe milna bhi hoga. Rahi baat tumhare is tota-maina wale khel ki toh jitna dil kare utna khelo, bas darwaje laga liya karo. Ho tum sachmuch bahot pyari meri bachi.. Bilkul kisi filmy gudiya jaisi.", Lalita ji ne jis tarah se antim baat kehte hue Radhika ka chehra upar karke dono hath me liya aur fir matha chooma toh wo unke gale ja lagi. Sharam ki jagah ab ek aadar aur maa-samaan abhivyakti thi is pal me. Kamre ke bahar diwar se sata Sanjiv ye sunn kar bhagwan ko dhanyawad kar raha tha ke uski maa ne shayad sabkuch na dekh kar is maamle ko utni tavajjo na di thi aur waise bhi dono ne kuch aisa waisa toh kiya nahi tha.
"Aap sachmuch bahot atchi ho mummy ji aur mujhe nahi pata tha ke aap itni open hongi aisi baat par."
"Open ki baat karti hai beta? Sanjiv ke baad Madhuri aur Alka paida kar di maine toh is se jyada kya open houngi. Chal aaja tujhe tayaar karti hu.", Lalita ji Radhika ko le kar uthi he thi ki Madhu bua ke sath sath Shalini bhi upar chali aayi.
"Tumhe ek saas ke sath sath maa, bhabhi, devarani-jethani, saheli jaisa sabkuch sirf Lalita bhabhi ke roop me mil raha hai Radhika. Hamari ye badi bhabhi tumhe kabhi ye ehsaas nahi hone degi ki tum inki bahu ho. Haan samajik niyam toh khair hamari maa ke he control me hai jiska koyi kuch nahi kar sakta lekin ghar ke andar tumhe hamehsa haq hai apni baat kehne ka aur vichar rakhne ka. Sanjiv sachmuch bahot kismatwala hai jo tum jaisi biwi mili hai.", Madhu bua ne Shalini ke hath se wo kapdo ke bag le kar Radhika ko upahar swaroop diye toh wo jhuk kar unka aashirwad lene lagi.
"Rehne de beta. Madhu ko apni umar aaj bhi 25 lagti hai. Waise main bhi tumhari bua he lagti hu aur naam hai Shalini Singh. Betiyan paanv nahi chhua karti aur kam se kam is ghar ki toh bilkul bhi nahi.", Shalini ne bhi neg dene ke sath Radhika ko gale lgate hue parichaya diya tha. Ab wo teeno usko tayaar karke niche le jaane lagi thi jaha se vishisht mehmano ne bhojan ke baad ab nikalna tha.
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"Tu Rekha bhabhi ko ek bar dikha lana market jaate samay Bhole. Main jara maa aur Shalini ko haweli chhod aau aur fir hum shaam ko nikalte hai Delhi ke liye.", Sabhi ka bhojan hone ke baad ye log baithak me the aur bhitar abhi bhi aas-pados ke jaankar Radhika-Sanjiv ko badhaai dene aaye hue the. Umed ke kahe anusaar Purnima ji ne bhi apni bahu, beti ko tyaari ke liye samjha diya tha jo sabkuch kar chuki thi ab tak.
"Main toh sabhi ko market leke jana chahta tha yar Gajju. Chachi, aap aaj he jana chahti ho?", Shankar ne ye baat kehte hue ek baar apne pita ko bhi dekha jabki Purnima ji ke chehre par aasha-anuroop he mamta thi Shankar ke liye.
"Beta, shaadi ka ghar sirf yahi toh nahi hai? Kal Sanjiv-Radhika ne haweli bhi aana hai toh intjaam karne honge ya nahi? Aur niyam bhi jaruri hai barkarar rakhne. Shalini ne parso wapis jana hai aur Aaisha-Vinita bhi thoda sa rasme dekhe jo aage unhe bhi nibhani padengi. Tu bhi kal seedha wahi aayega is Umed ke sath.", Rameshwar ji ne bhi apni sehmati jataai thi unki baat sunn kar.
"Haan toh ye sab itna jaldi jaldi ho raha hai na isliye maine aisa kaha. Waise bhi parso se toh mujhe bhi duty lagani padegi. Papa, Arjun parso ja raha hai?", Shankar ne jaise pukhta karne ke liye galat din bataya tha jis par Rameshwar ji ne apni patni ki taraf dekha jo ye sab sunte hue bhi Krishna se kuch bag tayaar karwa rahi thi Umed ki gaadi me rakhwane ke liye.
"Wo kal he nikal raha hai aur tere chacha bhi. Vinod toh kapde bandh chuka hai Prempratap ke sath aaj shaam he jaane ke liye. Damini aur Aanchal jaa rahi rahi hai lekin Roshni ko maine kuch din apne pas he rakhna hai. Aur kuch doctor sahab?", Kaushalya ji ne shagun ke motte lifafe Shalini, Damini, Devaki aur Rajeshwari ko bari bari se pakdaye jinhone koyi aanakani nahi ki. Aaisa ko unhone apni goad me baitha kar shagun ke sath sath sone ka ek haar, jo neele bakse me band tha wo bhent diya. Wo dabbe ko kholne ke baad badi hairani se apni maa aur fir Kaushalya ji ko dekhne lagi. Shankar ji toh bas muskura gaye the apni maa ke jawaab par. Muskaan he andar wale kamre se samaan la kar idhar rakh rahi thi.
"Ye maine kaise le sakti hu naani?"
"Isme koyi kanoon thodi na hai jo tum le nahi sakti. Aur apni maa ko dekhne se kuch nahi hone wala. Purnima is bag ko yaad se Shalini ke samaan ke sath rakh dena. Damaad ji aur baaki gharwalo ke uphaar hai isme. Agli baar Aaisha aayegi toh main poora waqt wahi haweli rahungi iske sath.", Kaushalya ji ne matha choom kar Aaisha se sneh jataya toh wo bhi gale lag kar muskuraai.
"Waise main idhar he aa jaungi naani. Waha toh kamre jyada aur log kam hai. Doctor mama, aap kal aayenge toh aapke sath sabhi log aayenge na?", Aaisha jo jawaab chahti thi wo shayad nahi milne wala tha usko.
"Haan beta. Sab log aayenge aur agar tujhe kuch Delhi se bhi chahiye toh bata main leta aaunga meri Aashu ke liye?", Shankar ji ne bhi utne he laad se jawaab diya jis par Rameshwar ji ne jo kaha sabhi ki hansi nikal gayi.
"barkhurdar, tum he pahuch jana samay se. Iske liye wahi sabse bada gift hoga. Aur Umed, thoda jaldi karo beta tum log. Satish ke mehman (Alisha) ne bhi tumhare sath jana hai. Unki flight 11 baje ki hai toh iska poora dhyan rakhna padega.", Rameshwar ji ki baat sunn kar Shankar ka chehra anyaas he latak gaya. Umed ke kuch kehne se pehle he kamre me dakhil hote Arjun ne 3-4 bag uthaye aur bahar nikal gaya. Usko bhaan tha ke ye sab kaha rakhna hai lekin kuch chehre nirantar uski khamoshi aur andhekhi ko dekh rahe the.
"Main toh Arjun ko market le jaane wala tha papa. Kal ye ja raha hai toh socha tha ke usko kapde dilwa dunga aur Rekha ko bhi ek bar dikhwa dunga. Rajesh aur Daleep ne bhi fir nikalna tha ghar wapis."
"Tumhari maa ja rahi hai tumhare sath. Rekha bahu ke sath Renuka bitiya ko bhi kuch jaanch ki aavashaykta hai. Arjun kahi videsh nahi ja raha Shankar aur pehle bhi tum uske liye kapde laate rahe ho. Tumhe jo pasand ho, wahi lena.", Rameshwar ji ne jo bhi kaha tha uska jawaab Shankar ne sirf sar hila kar haan me diya.
"Vini beta, apni chachi ko dekho jara. Aur Komal ko bol dena ke wo log bhi tayaar ho kar sath he aa jaye.", Shankar ji ne Arjun ko dusra chakkar lagate dekha toh bas uski peeth halke se thapthapa di jis par wo utne he vishwas se muskuraya.
"Kuch bhi keh Shankar, tu sachmuch ek behtareen pita hai. Rok-tok sabhi karte hai lekin tujhme jo khaas baat hai wo maine bahot kam dekhi hai. Tu bacho par marji nahi daalta.", Purnima ji ne apni jagah se uth kar laddu ka ek tukda Shankar ke mooh me daalne ka prayaas kiya toh wo tukda Shankar ne khud he unhe khila diya.
"Chachi, mera na in tukdo se kuch nahi banta. Poora he laddu ek baar me khaye bina toh ye na pata chalta ke wo boondi ka tha ke besan ka. Aur rahi baat bacho ki toh, inke sapne rangne wala main koyi chitrakaar nahi. Ye khud unhe apne rango me sakaar kare toh he behtar hai. Baaki main atcha pita hu ya nahi ye toh samay he batayega. Filhal toh maine papa ko he kayi baar kehte suna hai ki wo koshish karte hai aajtak.", Shankar ke jawaab par Pandit ji ko thska laga toh baaki sabhi hans diye. Ashok ji ka bhi pariwar aa chuka tha ab aur inke sath sath un sabhi se bhi Pandit ji ka pariwar poore riti-riwaaj se mulakaat karne laga. Radhika Sanjiv ko bulaya gaya aur unhe aashirwad dene ke sath he ye 2 pramukh pariwar apne apne vaahan liye idhar se nikal chale. kaha toh Madhu ne aaj rukne ka vichar banaya tha aur kaha sab ekdum hua ki wo is baare me kuch kar he na saki. Agle aadhe ghante me toh yaha rishteydaro ke naam par sirf Krishneshwar ji ka pariwar he bacha tha.
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"Haan toh laat-sahab, ab batao ke aapke sawaal kya hai aur jo be-waqti khamoshi dharan ki hui hai iski wajah?", Baithak ke diwan par Pandit ji sar ke niche gol takiya lagaye lete the aur unke paanv ki taraf baitha Arjun dono hatho se apne dada ji ki pindliyon ki maalish karta hua jaise kuch sukoon pahucha raha ho. Abhi tak log-baag bhitar Sanjiv-Radhika ko dekhne aa rahe the aur Lalita ji ke sath ghar ki bachiyan bhi is dekh rekh me lagi thi. Kaushalya ji ko bhi udhar he hajir rehna tha ghar ki pramukh hone ke naate. Baithak me darwaje bhida kar par dada-paute ke beech he ye khaas samay aarakshit ho gaya tha jaise.
"Sawaal toh kya he honge dada ji jab main kuch jaanta he nahi waha ke baare me.? Jo bhi suna hai ya pata hai wo sab aapki baaton ya fir didi ya daadi ji ke waha jaa kar aane ke baad bataye vritaant se he pata hai. Aur main khamosh nahi hu bau ji, bas duvidha me hu.", Arjun ne katori me rakhe teil se apni hatheli ko bhigone ke baad is baar apne dada ji ke sakht talvo ko ghisna shuru kiya. Baniyan pehni hone ki wajah se uski wo bejod maaspeshiya khaasi ubhar rahi thi mehnat ki wajah se. Pandit ji ka sharir koyi phool toh na tha. Jamane bhar ko kanoon sikhate sikhate wo boodha jism bhi ayask (metal) barabar majboot tha aur hatheli se talvo ke beech ragad wahi urja paida kar rahi thi jaisa aksar 2 dhatu ghisne par hota hai.
"Duvidha yahi ki is boodhe ki dekhbhal kaun karega tere jaane ke baad? Ya tere bagiche ko paani milega bhi ya nahi? Meri har cheej ke liye tujhe awaaj lagane par kaun jawaab dega is baat se chintit hai? Apno se dur tu ek nayi jagah ja raha hai jo asliyat me is ghar ki neev rakhe jaane se bhi barso pehle tak hamara asli ghar rahi hai. Ab toh main bhi chahta hu na beta ke tum udhar jarur jao. Haan ek mahine ke liye ja rahe ho toh kami toh jarur khalegi.", Rameshwar ji ne sirhane ke paas se chota toliya Arjun ki taraf badhaya toh usne apne dono hath us kapde se saaf karne ke baad apne dada ji ke talvo se bhi atirikt teil paucha. Fir se wo ghutno tak unke paanv dabane laga lekin thode naram hatho se.
"Aap boodhe nahi ho aur aajkal toh aap awaaj lagate bhi nahi. Haan main thoda bahot wahi soch raha tha lekin dada ji, kya waha mujhe koyi pareshani hone wali hai? Matlab sabhi toh jaate rehte hai Punjab. Yaha tak ki Rupali didi bhi ho aayi lekin meri baari me maine dekha ki daadi bhi thoda chintit thi. Main galat kar raha hu kya waha ja kar?", Arjun ke sawaal sunn kar Rameshwar ji ne kamar sidhi kar li. Thoda sa tek laga kar baithte hue unhone hath ke ishare se usko rukne ko kaha toh Arjun aage khisak gaya. Ab wo halke hatho se apne dada ji baah dabane laga tha.
"Tumhari daadi isliye chintit nahi thi ki tumhe waha koyi khatra hoga. Aur baaki sabhi tumhare baare me ek raaye rakhte hai isliye tumhe kabhi waha nahi jaane diya. Beta, khatra tumhe nahi hai aur wo pushtaini ghar hai hamara. Waha jab kisi ko ye pata lagega ke tum Swargiya Motilal ji ke padd-paute ho toh wo chahe tumhare pita ki umar ka ho ya meri, tumhe sar aankhon par baitha lega. Aur jitna log-baag se suna hai, tum dikhte bhi kuch hamare pita ki tarah ho.", Rameshwar ji ke kathan se Arjun kuch jhemp sa gaya lekin fir sanyat ho kar wo bola.
"Toh jab waha kisi se khatra nahi hai toh naahak he sabhi itni chinta karte hai?"
"Hahaha.. khatra tum khud ho barkhurdar. Atcha chalo ye batao ke ghar me tum sabse kareeb kiske ko? Aisa nahi hai ke main koyi tark de raha hu, bas fir bhi har vyakti kisi na kisi ke toh kuch jyada he kareeb hota hai. Jisko sabkuch pata hota hai hamare baare me aur jiske sath lagbhag har baat sanjha hoti hai.", Pandit ji ne toh Arjun ko he dharamsankat me daal diya tha is sawaal se. Wo toh Arjun ko he khatra bata rahe the aur ab ek naam sujhane par wo aur bhi soch me doob gaya.
"Main toh sabhi ke sath swabhavik har baat kar leta hu dada ji. Aur jaisa aap keh rahe hai toh mere baare me aap, daadi, maa, Komal didi, Sanjiv bhaiya sabkuch jaante he hai.", Yaha wo Ritu ka naam lene se jaane kyun katra raha tha. Rameshwar ji ne ek rehasyamayi muskaan ke sath jaise Arjun ke dimag ko he padh liya tha par thehar kar unhone ye sujhaav diya.
"Aisa karna ke tum jara Ritu ya apne pita se poochna ke wo tumhare baare me kya sochte hai. Wo agar is baat ko na samjhe toh bas unse apne baare me raaye lena. Aur unse pehle jara meri bhi sunn lo.", In 2 naamo me ek toh wo thi jisko Arjun ki dhadkan tak ka pata rehta tha aur dusra vyakti jaise kuch jaanta he nahi tha Arjun ki soch ke mutabik.
"Haan toh aap bataiye.", Arjun ne sankshep sa jawaab dia.
"Tumhara kirdaar is ghar ke har sadasya se kuch jyada he bhinn hai beta. Bachpan se he ya paidaishi he samajh lo. Gunn hai ya avgunn ye toh uparwala he jaanta hai lekin tum kabhi bhi ekmat nahi rehte. Sanskaar apni jagah hai aur us wajah se toh hume tum par hamesha he naaj raha hai. Mehnati bhi ho aur lagan ke pakke bhi. Lekin tum virodhabhasi, antarmukhi aur gehan-tark rakhne wale visham vyakti ho jisko musibat khud he dhoond leti hai. Tumhe akela chhodna matlab aisa hai jaise kisi atyadhik urjawan pashu ko bina prayojan khula chhod dena. Aise pashu ko jab koyi kaam nahi milta toh wo khud he kaam dhoond leta hai. Phir chahe woh kaam musibat he kyun na badha de. Dil se tum sanvedanshil bhi ho aur bhavuk bhi. Agar wo pyaar ka sparsh tumhe samay se na mile toh ek anjana darr khud abhibhavak ko laga rehta. In boodhi aankhon ne jamane ka aisa koyi dard nahi jo na dekha ho Arjun lekin ek tum he ho jisne is ghar ke har sadasya ki aankhon me nami paida ki hai aur wo har shaksh bas yahi dua karta hai ki tum hamesha is chaav me mehfooj raho.", Apne dada ki baat sunn kar Arjun ke chalte hath ekaek he ruk gaye. Wo ek pal me he bhavshunya sa ho gaya. Boarding jaate hue ghar ke bahar Komal, Madhuri didi ki namm aankhen. Ritu ka sabse dur ho kar aansu bahana. Uski maa ka wo mook rudan jab wo ghar wapis aaya tha. Sanjiv bhaiya ka us se lipat kar hospital me rona aur khud uski daadi.. Usne apni daadi ko sirf 2 waqt he kamjor dekha tha. Ghar me koyi majboot shaksh tha toh wo uske chacha, papa aur dada ji he toh the.
"Haan ye baat toh bhai sahab ne 16 aane sahi kahi. Maine inki aankhon me us waqt bhi koyi nami na dekhi thi jab tera baap achet tha ya khud inke goli lagi thi. Tumhare hospital me bharti hone par jarur ye thande pade the aur roye bhi. Shankar.. wo nira nirdayi doctor hai beta aur aansu kya bala hai ye toh jaise usko aur Inder ko pata bhi nahi lekin jab teri dhadkan chalti mehsoos hui thi na un dono ko toh wo bhi roye the. Hairaani ki baat hai aur wo kabhi is baat par sehmat nahi honge lekin ye sach hai. Us raat Rekha toh behosh thi aur hum sab dur lekin Shankar ne poori raat 5 ser ka wo Munna apne chhati par he sahej kar rakha jabtak main na pahuch gaya bhabhi ko sath liye. Saja toh fir bhi di maine un dono ko kyonki kahi na kahi unki he galti bhi thi lekin tabhi ek baat sabit ho gayi thi ki tumhe akela nahi chhoda ja sakta.", Col Puri ne andar aane par jaise inki thodi bahot charcha sunn li thi aur apne dharam bhai ki baat ko aage badhate hue unhone jo bataya wo Arjun ke liye bhi naya tha. Rameshwar ji nimbu paani ka goont lene ke baad gilas ek taraf rakh kar bas muskura rahe the. Is muskurahat ke kya maayne the ye toh bas unhe he pata tha.
"Lekin main ab aisa kuch nahi karne wala chote daadu ki jis se kisi ko koyi pareshani ho. Main toh ye bhi soch chuka hu ki apne sawaal jawaab bhi simit rakhu aur jitna ho sake pariwar me rahu. Punjab jaane ke peeche aur dhero wajah hai aur ye samay bhi sahi laga mujhe kyonki sabki kuch aur prathmiktaye bhi hai haal-filhal me."
"Beta tu pareshan nahi karta aur sach kahu toh hum log he kuch jyada chinta karte hai. Sawal jawaab jaruri hai aur tu kiya kar jabtak samne wala sehaj lage. Lekin tu hai toh munna he aur ye tu inkaar nahi kar sakta. Tera baap 5 kaksha me jeep leke bhaag gaya tha. Umed ki taang aathvi tak 3 baar toot chuki thi aur Inder ne toh us samay tak 2 baar tere dada ji se hawalat me patte bhi kha liye the. Sanjiv.. Sanjiv bhi apne chacha jaisa he tha jabtak Rekha bahu ne uske baste ko nahi thama. Lekin tu.. tu aajtak apni behan ka khilona, maa ka munna aur inka wahi pauta hai jisko nanga karke ye teil malish karke farsh par apne pas litaye rakhte the. Main bhai sahab ke sath us waqt se hum-kadam hu jab is vartmaan pariwar ki neev bhi nahi rakhi gayi thi. 50 baras lagbhag hone ko aaye honge par inhone kabhi koyi chahat na rakhi aur inki chahat bani bhi toh wo tumhare roop me inke kareeb he hai.", Col sahab ne jitni tafseel se har baat kahi thi, wo sunn kar Arjun jaise dang he reh gaya. Rameshwar ji jaise ishare se unhe aage kuch batane se rokna chahte the lekin Col sahab ne bhi unhe aashvast sa kar diya.
"Aap sabkuch jaante hai fir toh? Aur aap toh fauj me the jaha tak mujhe yaad hai. Mere samne he toh aapki wo kaali car aati thi har roj shaam me ya raat ko. Aap kab rahe dada ji ke sath?"
"Tum filhal toh mudde se he bhatak rahe ho beta lekin koyi baat nahi. Yaha tum Punjab jaane wali baat par charcha kar rahe the aur tumne shayad sahi sawaal abhi tak nahi kiya. Kyun tumhe waha pehle jaane nahi diya gaya?", Arjun ne ab haami bhari.
"Tumhare liye Pandit Rameshwar Sharma ke kya maayne hai Arjun?", Pehli baar jaise Col sahab ne apne bade bhai sahab ka naam liya tha lekin is sawaal me jo gambhirta thi usko sunn kar Arjun ke sharir me sard jhurjhuri si daud gayi. Aaj us se poocha ja raha tha us vyakti ke baare me jiske liye Arjun apna sarvasva tyaag sakta tha, sirf kehne ki der thi.
"Mere bhagwan hai ye chote daadu. Arjun Sharma ko kabhi mandir jaane ki jarurat nahi hui kyonki main apne bhagwan ke saaye me raha hu aur aaj bhi mujhe koyi pareshani mehsoos nahi hoti kyonki dada ji hone he nahi dete. 'Guru Gobind dou khade, kaake laagu paaye... Balihari guru aapne gobind diyo milaye..'. Ye muhavara bhi atishyokti lagega kyonki mere shikshak bhi yahi hai. Maine sirf apne he sath inka alag vyaktitva mehsoos kiya hai jaisa kisi aur ke sath kadapi nahi dekha. Kab wo chote chote char-bhar ke khel gehri shatranj me badal kar inhone mujhe jiwan ke jatil se jatil raste samjha diye? kaise ek gussel se ladke ko aatmgyaan-buddhi ke sath sath aseem kaushal pradaan kiya? Wo sab bhi agar kam nahi toh aap he dekhe ki main ek bhavna-prakhar insaan bana sirf inki he kathor mehnat aur aadarsho se. Insaan toh vanvaas me apne moksh par kendrit rehta hai lekin dada ji ne toh yaha bhi tapasya mujh par he kar di. Mujhe sabhi se eksaar prem hai chote daadu aur ye aapke liye bhi samaan he hai lekin bau ji aur maa ke tyaag ke samkaksh koyi nahi. Yakeen maaniye main is se jyada khul kar bhi bayaan kar sakta hu lekin shabd fir bhi sahi sahi nyaye nahi kar paayenge ki mera jiwan hai toh uski wajah bas dada ji he hai.", Arjun apni row me behta hua gambhir lafzo se jo shuru hua toh aakhir me jubaan atakne he lagi thi. Shabd ladkhadane lage toh Rameshwar ji ne he usko sehlate hue thoda dhandas bandhaya.
"Sab jaanta hai ye tera chota dada lekin Col raha hai na toh aadat nahi jaati. Main atche se jaanta hu apni parwarish ko beta aur tu bhi toh barabar khelne laga hai mere sath. Mere he mohro se tu baaki sabko uljhata raha aur fir mujhe he faans liya. Tabhi mujhe yakeen ho gaya tha ke mera dil kyun tujhe he sabse jyada mehsoos karta hai. Satish, ye ek chote se saboot ke sath jab khojbin karta nikla toh na isne sirf charo pariwar khangaal diye. Balki unki har ek teh khol kar waha tak pahuch gaya jaha tak tumhari bhabhi bhi nahi jaan paayi. Ab hamare lallu-lal ko laga ki khel kuch jyada he pechida ho gaya hai toh kadam peeche le jana he behtar hoga. Aur ek sahi raja hamesha aisa he karega. Khair ab tum chaho toh apne Col dada ji se bhi sawaal pooch sakte ho. Aur tumhara jaisa dil kare tum waise rehna waha Punjab ja kar.", Rameshwar ji ne peeth thapthapane ke baad uth kar almaari ka darwaja khola aur kuch dhoondne lage. Col sahab bhi ab tanmayta se muskura rahe the Arjun ko niharte hue.
"Aap jaante hai sabkuch?"
"Bas parakh raha tha beta aur jawaab toh mujhe bhi pehle se he pata tha. Bas bhabhi ji thoda darti hai kyonki unke teeno bete toh pehle he duniyadari me he lage rahe jaise bachpan se he unhe wo sab karna tha jo aaj bhi karte rehte hai. Bahu aur paute-pautiyon ka sukh mila lekin tum me unhe fir se ek bete jaisa he sukh mila. Wo hamesha he chahti hai ke tum thik apne dada ji jaise bano.. Nahi.. in jaise nahi balki hamare tauji Swargiya Motilal ji jaise. Par fir unhe ye bhi dar rehta hai ke kahi tumhe najar na lag jaaye, koyi tumhe kuch kar na de.. kahi tum badal na jao kisi ghatna se .. aur jaane kitni senkdo tarah ki soch chalti rehti hai. Lekin insaan sab tarah ke samay aur daur se gujarne ke baad aisa toh soch he sakta hai. Khair.. Kya tumne dekha bhi tha apne padd dada ji ko ya unki tasvir ko?", Col Sahab ke kehne ke baad he Pandit ji ne wo shwet-shyaam se tasvir Arjun ke hatho me rakh di. Is ghar me Swargiya Raghuvir Singh ji ki badi si tasvir toh yahi baithak me lagi thi lekin ajeeb baat thi ki Pandit ji ke pita ji ki ek bhi tasvir na thi kahi aur jo thi wo abhi abhi Arjun ke hatho me khud Pandit ji ne he rakhi thi. Arjun apalak us chitra ko niharta raha.
"Iska naam tha Amavas aur nasal se Bakharwal. Pita ji jaha bhi jaate the ye hamesha he unke sath sath rehta tha. Maa ne he isko amavas naam diya tha kyonki pita ji ke ghar aane ke baad bhi ye kisi ko unke pas jyada rehne nahi deta tha. Dekh rahe ho yaha bhi ye kaise panja utha raha hai? Jo photo le raha tha, Amavas usko dur kar raha tha.", Arjun toh us jhabraile bade se kutte ko andekha karke bas jaise khudko he dekh raha tha us tasvir me. Shayad wo vyakti Arjun se bhi adhik dilkash aur prabhavi tha. Choodidar pajama aur jism par kasa hua kurta-jacket. Gale me sucche motiyon ki mala aur thik kanth se niche dikhta rudraksh. Lalaat ko kuch dhake wo khoobsurat si pagdi us vyakti ki aabha me ijafa he kar rahi thi. Chehre me kuch farak tha toh wo thi mooche aur gaal tak lambi kataar jaisi kalam. Wo bhalu jaisa kutta he jaise us mohak muskaan ki wajah tha jo is tasvir Pandit Motilal ji ke chehre par aayi hui thi. Aur is muskaan ki he wajah se shayad Rameshwar ji ke liye ye tasvir anmol thi jisko wo kabhi sanjha nahi karte the.
"Main toh bilkul inke he jaisa hu. Wo darwaja koyi 8 feet uncha hoga.. Ye shayad mujhse bhi lambe the aur tagde bhi.. Papa aapke jaise lagte hai dada ji aur main papa jaisa sirf baalo aur aankho se.. Balki ye toh..."
"Peedhi dar peedhi koyi na koyi toh kisi se milta he hai beta. Haan tum bilkul pita ji jaise dikhte ho aur kad bhi samaan he hoga. Jaise jaise tum bade ho rahe the, tumhari daadi ko yahi chinta sata rahi thi aur ab toh wo darne bhi lagi hai ke kahi ateet se koyi nikal kar na aa jaaye is chehre ki wajah se.. Hahaha..", Rameshwar ji ne hanste hue dil ko bahari taur par halka dikhana chaha tha aur Arjun abhi bhi us photo par hath firata hua jaise kuch mehsoos karne me laga raha.
"Inka dehant kab hua tha?"
"Bahot pehle.. Vinod ko bhi nahi dekh paaye the pita ji. Maa inke ek saal baad he chal basi thi.", Rameshwar ji ne wo tasvir hath me le kar jaise ateet ko yaad kiya toh Col sahab ne unka hath thaam liya.
"Tum ja rahe ho toh aise jao jaise kuch jaante he nahi Arjun. Tabhi toh maja aayega tumhe bhi jaankari lene me. Logo se miloge, unse baatein karoge aur wo tumhe khud batayenge ki tumhe har baat. Pehli mulakaat toh tumhari karwa he di hai tumhare padd-dada ji se aur ab aage tum khud he unke baare me pata karna. Bas itna yaad rakhna ke tum kaun ho.", Col sahab ke itna kehne ke sath he darwaje par dastak hui toh Pandit ji ne wo tasvir fir se wahi chhupa di jaha se nikali thi. Shayad taale me rakhi thi unhone wo aur dawaja khulne par najar aayi Preeti.
"Beta, main bas aa he raha tha. Tum log kya abhi nikalne wale ho?", Col sahab ne bhang hui mehfil me jaise he ye kaha toh Preeti ne naa me gardan hila di.
"Daadu main toh Arjun ko bulane aayi thi. Chandigarh toh hum kal ja rahe hai.", Preeti ke jawaab par Col sahab ne ek gehri saans bhari aur Preeti ke kareeb se he usko aashirwad dete hue Shastri ji chale aaye. Arjun unke gale mil kar jaldi aane ka bolta hua Preeti ke sath he bahar chal diya
"Shayad hum is mehfil me jara jaldi toh nahi aa gaye bhai sahab?"
"Shastri ji, mehfil shuru hue kuch der ho gayi hai. Lekin aap sahi samay aaye ho kyonki chai bani nahi abhi.", Col sahab ne hath mila kar hanste hue kaha tha aur Rameshwar ji bhi aisa karke ab sofe par aa baithe unke bagal me.
"Chai toh milne bhi nahi wali bhai. Haan nimbu paani jarur abhi hajir ho jayega. Waise main phone karne he wala tha aapko Shastri ji.", Rameshwar ji ne takiye ke niche se nikali hui file unke saamne he rakh di.
"Ye kya hai Pandit ji?"
"Rajyavardhan ki kundli aur usme baithe grah-nakshatra. Hum vaada nahi bhoole bhai aur dekh lo byaah ke agle he din haajir hai aapke saamne.", Pandit ji ki baat sunn kar Shastri ji kabhi file dekhte toh kabhi unka chehra.
"Hairaan matt hoiye bhai sahab. Pariwar me hamesha ek dusre ka hath pakad kar he raha jata hai.", Col sahab ne ek aur panna unki taraf badha diya jis par jaise fauj ki kuch mohar lagi thi.
.
.
"Hum kaha ja rahe hai?", Arjun Preeti ke peeche peeche bahar aaya toh gali me lage shamiyane abhi utaare ja rahe the. Asgar jaise kuch samay baad he nikalne wala tha. Preeti ke ghar ke bahar uski scooty pehle se khadi thi jiske kareeb aa kar wo dono he ruk chuke the.
"Mujhe na koyi pareshan kar raha hai.", Preeti ne scooty me chabi lagaai he thi ki Arjun us se pehle scooty ka handle pakad kar ja baitha.
"Uski toh.. tum baitho aur dekho main kya karta hu uska haal."
"Wahi toh karne wali hu main.. Tumhara haal he bigadna hai mister aur ab chupchap scooty ghuma kar Manju ke ghar ki taraf chalo nahi toh anjaam bahot bura hone wala hai. Aise toh kaabu aa nahi rahe the toh fir yahi rasta thik.", Preeti ne he peeche se hath handle par rakhte hue race badhaai toh Arjun mann he mann khush hota hua us taraf badh chala jaha Preeti usko le jana chahti thi.
"Tumhe ab gharwalo ka bhi darrr nahi..?"
"Bhaad me jaaye sab.. Bahot ho gaya aur ab tum dekho main tumse kitne badle lene wali hu.", Preeti ka wahi purana andaaj aur uske kathor ubharo ka ye manchaha dabaav peeth par mehsoos karte he Arjun jaise ek baar fir se haar gaya tha uske saamne. Shayad wo bhi ye himmat na kar pata lekin Preeti aakhir Preeti thi. Apne pyaar ko nakel daal wo khud he us ghar ki taraf chal padi jo filhal khamosh tha, taale se band.