Update 192 (3)
Vivaah
Saal 2004
Abhi mausam kitni karwat lene wala tha ye khabar khud prakriti tak ko na thi. Delhi ki bheed-bhaad se senkdo kilometer dur aane ke baad bhi thandak me kami hone ki jagah ijafa he hua tha. Bas ye rasta jarur Delhi ki vyasto sadko se viprit bilkul nirjan aur waha ke concrete jungle ki jagah sadak dono taraf baraf se dhanke pahado, gehri khaai aur cheed-devdar ke jungle se ghira tha.
Is motorcycle sawar ne aakhiri vaahan koyi ghante bhar pehle dekha tha wo bhi fauj ki rasad pahuchane wale truck ke roop me. Rasta ek taraf badal lene ke baad toh jaise ab wo bhi dikhne ki ummeed na thi. Baraf se dhanki shwet pahadi chotiyan sar chadh aaye suraj ki wajah se heere si chamakti lekin is suraj me tapish ki jagah sard ehsaas he tha. Chamde ki bhoori jacket aur waise he garam dastane bharsak koshish kar rahe the is gatimaan yuvak ko garam rakhne me lekin usko na garmi ki jarurat thi aur na us par yaha ke sard vatavaran ka he koyi prabhav. Aankhon par chadhe gehre dhoop ke chasme ke siwa chehre par ghani kaali daadhi aur sar pe majboot helmet.
"Uncle ye Dhankar taal (lake) kitni dur hai yaha se?", Sadak se hataai gayi baraf kinaro par abhi tak unchi teh ke roop me jama thi aur badi he savdhani se us bhari bharkam motorcycle ko ek kinare khada karne ke baad yuvak ne us chhoti si kachi-pakki dukaan ke bahar khade bujurg se jaankari leni chahi. Pahado me din bhi samtal ilaako se kahi pehle he nikal aata hai aur subah ke 11 baje toh lagbhag ye dopehar he thi is ilaake me. Sar pe khargosh ke baalo ki garam topi pehne alaav sekte is bujurg ne muskurate hue ek bharpoor nigaah is lambe-tagde naujwaan par karne ke baad usko aag ke he pas baithne ka ishara diya. Daadi me fanse baraf ke maheen kann yuvak ki haalat bata rahe the. Jacket ki jeb se XXX rum ka plastic ka addha nikalte hue yuvak itminaan se us alaav ke saamne jameen par panjo ke bhaar aa baitha.
"Bahot dur se aa rahe ho beta lekin rasto se ajnabhi bhi ho. Tumhari manzil jyada dur nahi hai lekin durgam rasto par safar ruk ruk kar karna chahiye.", Boodhe ne us motorcycle ko dekhte hue jaankari ke sath apni anubhavi najro ka sahi varnan kiya tha. Chasma aankho se hatate hue yuvak ne wahi rakha saaf chai ka gilaas lene ki itcha jataai toh boodhe ne 2 gilaas uske saamne rakh kar apne dil ka haal bhi bata diya. Gaalo par chasme ke gehre nishaan ban chuke the dhake hone ki wajah se. Yuvak ne feeki muskaan ke sath dono he gilaas lagbhag aadhe us gehre laal taral se bhar diye. Boodhe ne almunium ki ketli se garam paani apne gilaas me bharne ke baad waisa he yuvak ke gilas me karna chaha toh usne hath se gilas dhakk kar mana kar diya.
"Raste me he araam karne se aksar manzil deri se milti hai uncle. Aur rahi baat ki main dur se aa raha hu toh iska kya jawaab du? College se toh raat ko 7 baje nikla tha aur abhi sirf 11 he baje hai. Waise yaha log nahi rehte kya jyada?", Yuvak ne halke se bujurg ke gilas ke sath apna gilas takrane ke baad ek saans me he wo apne halak se niche udel liya. Kshann matra ke liye he chehre par garmi ke bhaav dikhe fir wo sehaj ho gaya. Bujurg ne dastane hata kar dono hath ragadne ke baad thik yuvak ke he andaaj me gilaas khali karke apni peeli-safed moonche saaf ki aur uth kar dukaan ke bheetar chala gaya. Jaldi he wo wapis apni jagah tha aur is baar 2 khali gilaso ke kareeb he bhaap udati sabji ki katori thi. Bujurg ne bade haq se dono gilas waise he bhare jaise pehle yuvak ne banaye the.
"Abaadi sadak kinare thodi rahegi beta in pahado me. Wo us taraf talhatti me gaanv hai jaha 8 ghar baste hai. Mera bhi ghar wahi hai lekin mujhe idhar rehna jyada pasand hai jabse meri biwi bhagwan ke pas chali gayi. 2-3 roj me aksar koyi na koyi mil he jata hai yaha baat karne ko jaise tum mil gaye aaj. Baraf girne ke poore 5 din baad koyi aaya hai idhar. Pehle wo fauj ki gaadi aayi thi sadak saaf karne lekin wo ruki nahi idhar. Boodhe vyakti ke chehre par itni adhik jhurriyan thi ki kahi kahi se khaal aadha inch tak latki jaan padti. Fir bhi wo hansmukh aur zindadil tha beshak jiwan ke aathve dashak me hone par. Yuvak ne is baar us madira ki halki si chuski lete hue aaspas najar daudaai toh aisa prateet hua jaise yaha par samay ruk chuka hai. Koyi hawa ka halka sa ehsaas tak na tha.
"Badi mushkil hoti hogi yaha jeene me uncle ji? Idhar aate hue dedh ghanta pehle ek fauji se bhent hui thi aur usne he bataya tha ke us jagah ke baad agla petrol pump 200 kilometer par hai aur waha idhan milne ki ummeed utni he hogi jitni us fauji se mulakaat ki thi mujhe. Kaise koyi gujara kar sakta hai is durgam jagah?"
"Zindagi ke liye sona chandi na chahiye hota beta. 2 waqt ka khana aur kuch apno ka sath he bahot hai. Fir farak nahi padta ke tum chaand par ho ya Delhi me. Log sukhi hai yaha aur jeene ke liye parishram toh karna he padta hai. 40 bhed (Sheep) hai mere ghar aur un 8 gharo ka mukhiya bhi main he hu beta. Khane laayak kheti garmi ke mausam me ho jaati hai jo kuch paise dene ke sath sardiyon ko nikalne me madad karti hai. Agar main tumhari tarah sochta toh kya un 8 gharo ka aaj wajood hota? Kudrat kya dikhati hai is se farak nahi padna chahiye. Hum kudrat ke beech reh kar khud ko uske hisaab se dhaal le toh jyada sahi hoga. Waise Dhankar taal jaane ke peeche koyi khaas maksad? Taal dekhne ja rahe ho toh rehne do aur agar kisi se milne jana hai toh koshish karna samay rehte pahuch jao. Talhatti me andhera jaldi hota hai.", Bujurg aur us yuvak ne apne apne gilaas khali kar liye the aur alaav se beedi sulga kar bujurg aadmi gehra kash khinchte hue suraj ke aage aa chuke baadlo ko dekhne laga. Pahado ki yahi toh kahani thi jo samajh se bahar thi. Kab mausam kaisa ho jaaye pata na chalta tha.
"Beta, chaho toh kamre me thehar sakte ho. Bister jarur mehnga nahi hai lekin bachaav toh kar he dega. Kuch he samay me fir se baraf girne lagegi.", Yuvak apni jagah se uth khada hua aur uthne se pehle boodhe ke gilaas ko fir se bhar chuka tha. Baaki bachi hui sharaab bottle se he mooh pe laga kar khatam karta hua wo apne dastane pehan motorcycle par ja baitha.
"Uncle aapne he kaha hai abhi abhi. Halaat ke sath humko dhalna chahiye. Meri manzil kareeb he hai aur maine araam bhi kar liya. Kismat me milna likha hoga toh wapsi me bhi aapke pas jarur rukunga.", 2 baar kick lagate hue wo motorcycle halki garjana karti hui chalu ho gayi. Jacket ki chain gale tak bande karne ke baad yuvak ne chasma pehna aur aage badh gaya. Helmet ek pal bhi uske sar se alag na hua tha. Aasman me baarish ke asaar the ya bujurg ke hisaab se fir se hali barafbari ke.
'Mahakaal rakhsa kare tumhari beta. Kudrat kab kisko apni goad me chhupa le ye koyi nahi jaanta.', Ab bujurg bhi bina he paani milaye us sharab ko chakhte hue yuvak ko najro se aujhal hone tak dekhta raha. Madira khatam hone tak aasman bhi poori tarah baadlo se patt chuka tha aur din ke lagbhag 12 baje he shaam sa mahol tha. Udhar wo yuvak pehle ki tarah ek baar fir gatimaan tha jisko is mausam se jaise kuch lena dena na tha. Har gujarte pal ke sath aasman gehrane laga aur fir wo waqt bhi aa gaya jab halki bunda baandi ne sadak ka rang gehra karna shuru kar diya. Apni manzil par pahuchte pahuchte wo bahot hadd tak bheeg chuka tha lekin is sabse beparwah wo aakhir kar waha tha jaha 8-10 dukane he is kasbe si jagah ki market thi aur unse kuch aage jhopdi ki chhat jaise pakke darjan bhar makaan. Ek dukaan se wo apni manzil ka sahi pata pooch un gharo ki taraf badh chala.
'Thakk-Thakk' ki dastak us lakdi ke band darwaje par dene ke sath yuvak rooyi si barasti hui nanhi nanhi baraf ko ghar ke bahar lage kayi darjan seb ke vriksho par girta dekhne laga. Ye ghar charo taraf se eent ki diwaro se ghira tha aur jis lohe ke darwaje ko khol wo andar aaya tha waha bhi baaki jagah jaisi gehri khamoshi. Ek baar aur dastak dene ke sath he kiwaad khul gaye jaha laalten liye uske saamne wo khoobsurat manzil khadi thi jiske chehre par hairat ke aneko bhaavo ke sath sath jamane bhar ki khushi thi.
"Oh Arjun.. Tum sachmuch chale aaye? Kaise? Aur kab nikle the tum? Bahar mausam kitna kharaab hai aur tum toh bheeg bhi chuke ho.", Wo khoobsurat mahila lagbhag 28-29 baras ki hogi jiska sharir filhaal garam shawl se dhaka the. Bhediye jaisa lambe baalo wala kutta kamre ke bheetar baitha halke se gurraya par apni jagah se uthne ki koyi cheshta tak na ki.
"Aap jo poochna chaho pooch lena. Pehle ek toliya toh do aur ye nahi bataogi ki aakhir ye sab kya chal raha hai? Pichle saal pata laga tha ke aaki shaadi ho gayi aur fir kal hostel phone karke mujhe bata rahi ho ki aap yaha reh rahi ho. Ye koyi jagah hai rehne ki?", Arjun ne jacket utaar kar ladki ki kursi par taangne ke baad khud he ek taraf latka wo toliya utha kar chehra saaf karte hue poochtach shuru ki. Kamre ke bheetar chimney jal rahi thi jis wajah se yaha bharpoor garami thi. Diwar par kuch poori toh kuch adhoori painting tangi bata rahi thi ki ekakipan me ye mahila inke sath jee rahi hai. 2 kamro ke is ghar me shayad ye jagah baithak aur kalakari ke liye he aarakshit thi. Joote kholne ke baad jeans bhi utaar kar Arjun ne wahi kursi par latka di. Jism par garam pajama tha jo shayad utna geela na hua. Nange paanv he wo us matmaile se lambe sofe par ja baitha, taange seedhe karne ke liye. Wo yuvti/mahila toh bas nirantar usko dekhe he ja rahi thi jaise jubaan bolna he bhool gayi ho. Phir hosh aaya toh turant andar he bani rasoi ki taraf lapki aur bahar aayi toh tray me niwaya paani tha. Kuch ghoont bharne ke baad Arjun ne us masoom se chehre ko dekha toh paya wo pehle se kaafi badal chuka tha.
"Bolna bhi bhool gayi kya aap? Main itni dur se sirf aapko dekhne nahi aaya. Jaan ne aaya hu ki aakhir hua kya hai aur Hussain uncle tak ki khabar kisi ke paas nahi. Aapki family kaha gayi aur ek saal tak aap thi kaha? Aapke pati kaha hai?", Arjun jiske paas itni dur se bina raste ki parwah kiye nirnatar chalta aaya tha us Zubeidaa ke paas jaise Arjun ke kisi sawaal ka jawaab he na tha. Arjun uth kar khud he Zubeidaa ke kareeb aaya toh wo kisi tooti daal si uski baahon me he jhool gayi. Jaane kitna dard roke thi wo aankhen jo pal bhar me he kisi dhwast hote bandh ki tarah aansuon ka bahaav bahar girati gayi. Wo khamosh rona jald he tej siskiyon me badal gaya aur naak geeli hone par jaise Zubeidaa ko saans lene me bhi taklif ho rahi thi. Arjun ne usi toliye se wo pyara lekin dard me dooba chehra saaf karne ke baad dono aankhon ko choom kar Zubeidaa ko phir se apni baahon me bhar liya.
"Kuch bhi matt kaho aap kuch bhi matt kaho. Main jis Zubeidaa Hussain se parichit tha wo shayad ab zinda he nahi hai. Lekin agar aap chaho toh is Zubeidaa ko maine jeene me madad kar sakta hu.", Wo jhabraila sa kutta bhi in dono ke sath satt chuka tha. Uski maalkin dard me thi jisko samajh kar wo khud he apna sharir uske sath ragad kar jaise dilasa dene laga. Apni jagah Zubeidaa ko bitha kar Arjun ne wahi garam paani un kaampte hontho se laga kar kuch tasalli di aur baaki aansu fir se saaf kiye.
"Tumhe yaha nahi aana chahiye tha Arjun. Main manhoos hu aur kahi ye saya ab tumhare naseeb bhi na badal de. Meri manhoosiyat mere papa ko kha gayi. Meri jaan se pyaari behan aaj mujhse itni nafrat karti hai ki wo meri awaaj tak nahi sunn na chahti. Tum pooch rahe ho na ki mera pariwar kaha hai toh tumhare saamne he hai mera pariwar.", Itne lambe antraal baad Afsana ka benaam jikar sunn kar Arjun ke dil me bhi ek sooi si chubhi jiske dard ko wo jajb kar gaya. Wo us chehre aur us se bandhi adrishya dor se abhi tak bandha tha ya uljha hua, khud usko bhi khabar na thi.
"Shhhh.. main aapka pariwar hu Zubeidaa aur ye baat maine us din bhi kahi thi jab aapne mujhe he khudse dur kar diya tha. Maine yahi kaha tha ne aap mujhse pyaar karti hai lekin shayad us sach ke darr se aapne khud ki he taklif badha li thi mujhe dur karke. Lekin duri hamare beech aayi thi pariwaro ke toh nahi. Aapne papa ya dada ji ko kyun nahi kuch bataya? Aapki shaadi hui thi ye mujhe chachi se pata chala tha lekin uske baad aapke pariwar ya aapki koyi khabar nahi mili."
"Niqaah toh hua lekin valime ki raat se agli subah papa na dekh sake. Uske baad mere shauhar ke saamne he Mushtaq mama ne mujhe beaabru kar diya ye keh kar ki mere pita ki maut ki jimmewar main aur mere anginat logo se jismani sambandh hai. Maa toh sadme me thi aur Hyderabad itni dur tha ki main kisi tak pahuch he na saki."
"Uncle ko hua kya tha?"
"Valime wali raat main papa se unke kamre me baat karne gayi thi Arjun. Unhone meri nakhushi ki wajah poochi thi apni kasam de kar. Aur main sirf itna he keh paayi ki ye vivaah mujh par dabaav se karwaya gaya. Papa bhi jaante the aur maine unhe dilasa de kar yahi kaha tha ke main kabhi unki ijjatt ruswa na hone dungi. Unke kamre se bahar nikal kar main sehan me he dakhil hui thi apne kamre me jaae ke liye ki waha andhere ki wajah se mujhe peeche se kisi ne jakad liya. Mujhe bhi laga ki ye mere shauhar he honge kyun ki waha kisi aur ke hone ka sawaal he na tha. Maine nikalne ki koshish ki thi lekin majboot pakad se mushkil tha aur Afsana jab chillai toh us aadmi ne hath hata liye. Palat kar mere hath uske gireban par the aur wo shakhs Mushtaq mama ka sala Aslam tha. Afsana ki awaaj sunn kar mama, maa aur khidki se papa ne bhi ye dekha aur wahi Aslam ne mujhe he doshi bana diya. Uska kehna tha ke main hamesha se he uske peeche padi thi aur papa sadma sehan na kar paaye. Niqaah ki wajah se bade mama bhi Marakkesh se aaye hue the jo papa ke janaje ke baad maa aur Afsana ko sath le gaye. Idhar mere sasural ne mujhe apnane se mana kar diya. Bahot dur thi main Arjun aur un halaat me kamjor bhi itni ki kuch soojha he nahi. Maami ne jali kati sunane ke baad itni madad toh ki jis se main Punjab laut gayi. Tumhare ghar baat na kar saki kyonki waha tum the aur kamjor halaat me tumhare saamne aana gujara na tha. Fir zindagi ki dor kaha kisi ke sath bandhi hoti hai?", Ab Arjun ki aankhon me aansu the ye sab sunn kar aur wo bas apalak Zubeidaa ko dekhta hua uski zindagi ka wo anjana samay sunn raha tha jis se shayad wo usko bacha sakta.
"Bank me jama paiso se aur apne purane sampark se maine akele he ye naya jiwan shuru kiya. Ghar mere he naam tha toh paise ki utni pareshani nahi aayi lekin waha reh nahi sakti isliye wo sab bechkar chota sa thikana Chandigarh ke he kareeb le liya Gurdeep ki madad se.Jaanti hu usne bhi tumhe mere baare me nahi bataya kyonki maine usko tumhari he kasam di thi. Phir waha bhi dil nahi laga toh 4 mahine pehle idhar chali aayi. Hafta bhar pehle Gurdeep se he tumhara jikar hua toh kal phone karne se khudko rok na saki. Bahot khaali sa mehsoos ho raha tha Arjun jaise mujhme kuch bacha he na ho. Ek shaadi ne mera sabkuch he chheen liya aur agar main us din tumhe sach bata deti toh shayad khudko dur na karti. Pyaar toh usi din ho gaya tha jab tum meri bagal me baithe un painting me khud ko dekh rahe the. Tumhare sath bitaye wo har pal sirf khushiyon aur pyaar se bhare the Arjun lekin ek saal bhi main unke sath na nikaal saki. Nahi bahar nikal paayi main tumhare pyaar se Arjun bahot koshish ki maine.", Ab ek bar fir Zubeidaa Arjun ki baahon me thi aur usko apne dil se lagye namm aankhon me bhi Arjun kuch khush tha jaise barso baad uske dard par malham lagi ho.
"Ab 'tum' mere sath Delhi chalogi Zubi. Kal he hum niklenge aur 6 mahine bache hai college ke jo bahot hai tumhe tumhara asli pyaar aur mukaam dilwane ke liye. Maine tumhari Delhi wali exhibition dekhi thi July me aur tumhare kareeb bhi aaya tha par us sardar ko tum pehchan na saki. Ab in andhero aur gumnaami me jeene ki koyi jarurat nahi. Main pehle bhi dil se sath dena chahta tha aur aaj bhi main wahi Arjun hu. Mann me tumne mujhse tabhi shaadi kar li thi jab Sanjiv bhaiya ki shaadi me hum mandap ke gird khel rahe the. Main bhoola nahi hu tumhari wo harkat.", Ab bheegi aankhon ke bawjood Zubeidaa hairat se Arjun ko dekhne lagi thi. Dono abhi bhi ekdusre ke aagosh me khade the lekin Arjun ki aankhon me wo sach dekh Zubeidaa ne najre jhuka li.
"Aap se seedha tum par?"
"Bura laga toh aainda nahi kahunga. Dil ne kaha ki shayad yahi chahti ho aap aur baaki jawaab khud he de diya jab meri baaton par sawaal he nahi kiya. Sach keh raha hu na main?"
"Tum kamre me araam karo, main khaane ke liye kuch banati hui tab tak. Aur main Delhi nahi jaane wali tumhare sath. Mausam badalne ke baad wapis Chandigarh chali jaungi. Bahot se artwork poore karne hai jinka order mila hua hai. Tumhara toh kuch pakka hai he nahi toh main risk nahi lene wali.", Zubeidaa palat kar rasoi ki taraf badhi he thi ki is baar Arjun ne usko peeche se he apni majboot bahaon me daboch liya. Naram gaalo par apni daadhi dhire se ragadte hue usne Zubeidaa ke gulabi gaal ko behad rumani andaaj me chooma toh uska sharir sath he chhod gaya.
"Maine kaha hai ki hum kal Delhi chal rahe hai. Aapki asli manzil na main hu na koyi aur. Zubeidaa ka naam rango se bhare aniginat canvas par amar hona chahiye. Aur agar pyaar nahi karti toh main abhi bhi nikal sakta hu. Waise bhi akeli ho lekin ameer bhi. Zindagi toh araam se kaat he logi.", Ab Arjun alag hua toh drishya pehle jaisa he tha lekin is baar peeth par Zubeidaa lipti thi.
"Main aaj bhi kamjor hu Arjun aur tum jo kahoge mujhe manjoor hai. Wo khel wala niqaah mere asli wale se jyada sacha tha. Bas main tumhari zindagi kharaab nahi karna chahti."
"Sath dene ki he toh baat kar raha hu aur pyaar me sharte nahi hoti gaalib, kisse hote hai. Ab tumhari dekhbhal hamari jimmewari hai begam.", Arjun ne palat kar bade he saleeke se dono hath Zubeidaa ke bhare hue kamar se nichle hisse par rakhne ke baad sehlate hue peeth tak roke aur shokhi se us chehre ko dekhne laga jo kuch der pehle registaan sa sookha pada tha. Begam lafz sunn kar Zubiedaa ke gaalo par laali kahi jyada he badh chuki thi. Arjun uske hontho par jhukta chala gaya aur Zubeidaa bhi panje ke bhaar uthti hui un thande hontho par apne honth laga kar jadd ho gayi. Uski aankhen band hote he Arjun dur ho gaya. Zubeidaa ukhdi saansein sambhalti aashcharya se usko dekhne lagi jo muskura raha tha.
"Baaj aa jao apni in harkato se. Aur kapde badal kar araam kar lo last room me.", Wo ab sharma bhi rahi thi aur nirdesh bhi de rahi thi. Uske hilte seene ko sirf ek baar dekh Arjun dhitaai se muskuraya.
"Aur kuch begam?"
"Begam wegam kuch nahi. Aur ye daadhi tum par nahi jachti chahe chhote baalo me tum thik dikhte ho. Sharaab kabse raas aane lagi tumhe?"
"Gaal nahi choomne ko milenge, bata deta hu. Aur ye daadhi filhaal toh college khatam hone tak yuhi rahegi. Waise is aalsi kutte ka naam kya hai? Jab se aaya hu sala ek he jagah pasra hua hai jaise ye tumhari suraksha nahi tum iski karti ho.", Arjun ne aahista se us gaddi kutte par hath firaya toh wo lakdi ke farsh par aur jyada he pasar gaya. Usko Arjun ke sehlane par maja aa raha tha aur wo jaan bhi gaya tha ke ye vyakti kisi ko nuksaan nahi pahuchane wala. Sharaab wali baat ka jikar wo taal gaya tha filhaal.
"Sala nahi hai wo aur na he aalsi. Arjun naam hai iska.", Ab Arjun hairaani se palat kar Zubeidaa ko dekhne laga jo thik waisi he najar aa rahi thi jaise 5-6 saal pehle wali. Zindadil aur hamesha masti majaak karne wali.
"Kya kaha tumne? Isko tumne Arjun naam diya?"
"Sorry baba.. Iska naam bhalu hai aur ye mujhe is ghar ke sath he mila tha. Haan iske sath maine tumhari dhero baatein ki hai. Aur tha he kaun mere pas."
"Idhar toh ek he bed hai Zubi.", Arjun uski baat par khush hota hua kamre me gaya toh jaanboojh kar usne aisa kaha.
"Ek he raat ki toh baat hai. Tum abhi araam kar lo aur raat me sofe par so jana. Bed par main aur bhalu manage kar lenge.", Unchi awaaj me Zubeidaa na rasoi se kaha aur wo hansti hui behad he pyaari lag rahi thi.
"Araam toh Delhi me he karunga aur ye bhalu bister par nahi, jahan hai waha rahega. Fere tumne apne tarike se liye the toh aaj suhaagrat meri marji se. Wasie bahar abhi se raat ho chuki hai jo lagta hai lambi hone wali hai. Chalo atcha hai na 15-16 ghante ki raat hona.", Ab Zubeidaa sharam ke maare kuch na keh saki. Wo khamoshi se mand mand muskurati hui khana garam karne lagi jo usne Arjun ke aane se pehle apne liye banaya tha lekin khaya nahi tha. Arjun ne jo kaha tha wo khud Zubeidaa ki chaahat thi lekin samaaj ke aksar khilaaf rehne wali Zubeidaa ne beete waqt me apni he chaahat ko khatam kar diya tha par aaj wo ek nayi Zubeidaa thi jisne jeena tha aur har chaahat ko poora karke jeena tha.
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Saal 1998
Shaadi ki jagah bas kuch gine chune he log DJ par thirak rahe the jo jyadatar Sanjiv ke bahar se aaye hue dost the ya fir Radhika-Gorav ki taraf se aaye hu. Sirf yuvak he the jinhone ne masti me thodi bahot laga li thi aur khaane ke baad naach kar apni khushi jaahir kar rahe the. Kahi bhi kisi ne koyi abhadrata na ki thi. Arjun apni dono behno ke sath bade hall me aaya toh yaha takriban 60-65 logo ke liye golakar lambi table saja di gayi thi. Ek kone par Sanjiv-Radhika viraajmaan the aur dusri taraf Madhuri ke sath Gorav. Ghar pariwar ke bade log baaki mehmano se mil rahe the jinhone ab wapis jana tha.
Arjun ke nanihaal se bhi adhiktar log jaa chuke the aur yaha ki dekh rekh Umed ke sath mil kar Subhash ji aur Abhishek dekhne lage. Radhika ki taraf se aaye kuch mehmaan aur pariwar wale toh khaa pee kar kamro me he araam karne chale gaye the phere hone me samay jo tha. Aise he khud Kaushalya ji bhi Yashoda ji, Devki, Purnima ji aur apni samkaksh mahilao ke sath palace me aarakshit kamro me araam kar rahi thi. Idhar Sanjiv ko uski saaliyon ne gher rakha tha toh Madhuri ki taraf bhi Priyanka, Vinita, Somya, Rupali aadi Gorav ko apni baaton me uljhaye thi. Komal aur Ritu mann he mann aahat thi lekin apne bhai aur is shaadi ki wajah se wo dono bhi mooh par naqaab audhe in sabme shamil ho gayi.
"Arjun beta, tu jara baaki sabhi ko bula le aur phir khaane ke baad jaruri kaam bhi shuru hone hai.", Narinder ji ne Arjun ko samjhate hue kaha tha aur unke sath Hussain ji bhi the jo khaane se faarig hone ke baad apne dost ke sath yaha sab kuch dekh parakh rahe the.
"Papa toh abhi aane wale hai chacha ji Komal didi ne bataya. Baaki log toh idhar he hain. Haan bua nahi dikh rahi.", Arjun ne Madhu bua ko anupasthit dekh bataya toh Narinder ji ne thoda pyaar se kaha.
"Beta, yaha par Renuka-Shalini bhi nahi hai. Teri chachi se pooch wo log kaha hai aur apne dada ji ko bhi bula kar la. Unhe khana khaate kisi ne nahi dekha."
"Wo toh guesthouse me hai. Main abhi bula kar lata hu unhe.", Arjun waha se nikal liya tha aur Devika ji ke sath Lalita ji aur Shilpa ji bhi apni apni jagah baith chuki thi. Krishna ji unke he kareeb thi jo shayad Rekha ko he dhoond rahi thi. Yaha se nikal kar Arjun ne jald he apni teeno bua ko dhoond liya aur Aaisha, Preeti bhi wahi thi Romela ke sath. Unhe sandesh de kar jab Arjun guesthouse ki taraf badh raha tha toh wo usi jagah se gujra jaha Rekha ji ke khoon ke nishaan the. Wo unhe taral samajh kar nikal gaya.
"Aao aao barkhurdar. Mujhe laga ke tum toh bhool he gaye ki pariwar ka koyi vyakti waha nahi hai.", Guesthouse ki baithak me Rameshwar ji akele he baithe the ek kaagaj aur kalam table par rakhe. Bheetar wale kamro me Krishneshwar, Hansmukh, Sangwan ji aur Pandit ji ke aaye hue dost filhal araam karne gaye hue the jo band kamro se pata chal raha tha. Col sahab aur Shashtri ji abhi abhi pandit ko le kar vedi tayaar karwane nikle the jaha dono jodo ke liye alag alag vedi bann ni thi ek he mandap ke niche.
"Bhoola nahi tha dada ji bas ye chahta tha ki agar aapko kuch samay apne aap ke liye chahiye toh main iska sammaan karu. Ab baaki sabhi ko toh nahi pata na ki is khushi ke mahol me sirf aap he hai jo ek dard ko apne tak he roke hue hai. Papa bhi jaante hai lekin is maamle me andar se toh wo aapke he jaise hai lekin bahar se wo dard se bachne ke liye logo ke beech rehna pasand karte hai."
"Mere bache main bhi akela nahi tha. Aur maine us baat ki poori charcha yaha tumhare chhote dada ke sath bhi ki hai. Dukh toh hai ki is durghatna ke liye ye din he mukarrar hua lekin Krishneshwar bhi sehmat hai ki jo bhi hua wo uchit hua kyonki dabe lafzo me tumhari bua Roshni ne bhi kayi baar tumhare chhote dada se Raman ke alag swabhav aur jatil soch ki baat chalaai thi. Usko kisi ne samjha nahi lekin aaj jab Roshni ne he kaha ki agar wo ajaad na hoti toh yaha jo hota so hota, uske sath uski beti ka jiwan bhi Raman ne khatam kar dena tha. Lekin hum ek samaaj ka abhinn ang hai Arjun aur vastavikta se bhaag nahi sakte ki pariwar ke sath bura hua hai.", Rameshwar ji ne ek thandi aah bhari toh Arjun ne dhaka hua pani ka gilas utha kar unki taraf badhaya.
"Aapke fainsle kabhi bhi galat nahi ho sakte bau ji. Papa bhi ye baat kehte hai ki unke liye aap dharamraj he hai, maine khud suna hai. Aur shayad ye aapki nyaye karne ki ghood pravarti he hai ki bahot bar khud aapko he dukh jhelne pade. Lekin aaj ke liye jitna hona chahiye tha wo ho chuka. Ab sabhi log aapki raah dekh rahe hai khaane par. Chote dadu aur Aacharya dada ji ne bhi khana nahi khaya hai, aapke sath.", Apne paute ki baat sunn kar Rameshwar ji ne uska hath pakad kar poore apnepan se usko sath he sofe par baitha liya.
"Tu bahot kuch dusro se jyada samajhta hai mere bache. Aur main kanoon ka rakshak hone ke sath sath insaaf ko thoda upar rakhta hu. Phir galti hamari he kyun na ho. Ab Raman Sharma bhi toh hamare pariwar ka he hissa tha. Waise tujhe bhi atchi khabar rehti hai aas-pas ke halaat ki. Mujhe laga tha ke Naveen sirf meri he najro me tha ya fir tere pita ki. Us halaat me hum ek ko bhi jinda nahi pakad sakte the. Atcha kaam kiya tumne."
"Dada ji, waise is Rajyavardhan ko aapse itni pareshani kyun hai? Ye sab ghatnaye kehne ko toh mama, papa ya kareebi ke sath hone ja rahi thi lekin ye vyakti sirf aapko nuksaan pahuchana chahta hai. Galat toh nahi keh raha na main?", Naam sunn kar Pandit ji ne koyi hairat na dikhai. Ulta wo muskura diye.
"Pareshani nahi hai beta bas vaicharik matbhed hai jisme wo khud ko badalne ko tayaar nahi beshak gala he sahi aur jo sahi hai uske sath main hamesha rahunga. Tumne mujhse pehle he poochtach kar li thi?"
"Nahi dada ji lekin mujhe ye sab kisi aur ne bataya jo khud nahi jaanta ki ye Rajyavardhan hai kaun. Lekin main jaanta hu is naam ko. Yahi naam maine Pushpak chacha ki car me rakhe ek letter par dekha tha. Kumar Rajyavardhan.", Arjun apne dada ke sath baat karte hue table par rakhe hue panne par bhi ek najar daal chuka tha jaha mehmano ki soochi bani hui thi.
"Tum filhal ye shaadi se faarig ho jao beta aur gaanv ghoom aao. Jiwan-garbh ko samay se pehle jaan lene se bahot se ghatnakram asthir ho jaate hai. Ek galat kadam aur anginat naye samikiran. Chalo dekhe hamare dusre nawabjaade khush bhi hai ya aaj bhi chehre par purani gambhirta barkarar hai.", Pandit ji ka yahi toh hasyapaksh tha jisme unka majaak aaj Sanjiv ke prati tha. Arjun bhi muskurata hua apne dada ka hath pakad kar yaha se chal diya. Ab toh yaha hall ka najara bhi thoda hara-bhara ho chuka tha. Ghar-pariwar ke sabhi log Pandit ji ko saamne dekh sammaan se uth khade hue.
"Baitho baitho bhai. Yaha koyi speech nahi dene aaya. Mere honhar bete aur pyaari si gudiya ke bhoj par aap sabhi ke sath 2 niwale khaane aaya hu, agar boodhe ko jagah dena chaho toh.", Wo ek majedar andaaj me chalte hue Sanjiv ke peeche ja khade hue the aur Narinder ke sath Umed bhi inke dwara mahol ko naya rang dene par hanste dikhe. Ghar-pariwar ki bahuen toh kuch hadd tak he parichit thi Pandit ji ke is paksh se lekin Somnath ji aur Subhash ji ke pariwar wale bhi table thapthapa kar jaise unke aane ki ghosna karne lage.
"Uncle ji, bas ab lagta hai ki hum us pariwar me baithe hai jiske baare me jaan ne ke itchuk sabhi rehte hai par mauka nahi milta.", Subhash ji ke kathan par Rameshwar ji aise muskuraye jaise iska jawaab koyi aur dene wala hai. Aur hall me aate hue Shankar-Rekha ko dekh unse pehle aaye Col sahab ne jawaab diya.
"Waise charche bhai sahab se jyada mere bhatijo ke hai aur unme bhi ye baaki sabse kuch aage honge. Miya biwi bacho ki shaadi se alag apna he jalwa bikher rahe.", Ab Rekha ji toh simat kar Krishna ji ki bagal me aa baithi jaha Lalita ji aur Devika ji bhi thi. Lekin Shankar ji apne pita ke liye thik beech wali kursi khinch kar khade ho gaye. Ye 4 kursiyan inke liye he thi.
"Chacha ji, hamare charche isliye hai kyonki sar pe chhaya papa aur aapki barkarar hai. Nahi toh is mehfil me hum toh kone me khade hote aur hamare bhatije shri ke sath ye sabke laadle mukhya aakarshan. Sorry is tarah deri se aane ke liye. Rekha ka hath jara toote aaine ki wajah se jakhmi ho gaya tha toh dressing karne me time lag gaya.", Shankar ji ne sabke beech he deri se aane ki wajah bata di thi. Aur aisa karke thik bhi kiya nahi toh koyi aur wajah baad me banti toh sawaal jyada hote. Rekha ke hath par bhi ab koyi jyada badi-moti patti na thi. Hatheli ko kushalta se sil kar Shankar ji ne apne hunar ka bejod kaam kiya tha jo sirf thodi si rooi aur bareek patti se wo chot kuch khaas nahi lagti thi. Kuch halchal liya gaya aur sabhi baithne ke baad Shastri ji ne wo hare rang ki bottle khud khol kar 2 gilas bhare. Ek Sanjiv ke saamne gaya toh dusra Gorav ke.
"Prarambh...", Unhone ye baat bade he majedar tarike se kahi thi aur bottle Shankar ji ki taraf badha kar bata bhi diya tha ke ab isko wo log he sambhale. Ye pehli baar ho raha tha ke Pandit ji itne logo ke beech khaane ke dauraan hans bol rahe the aur unhone ladkiyon ko poori ajaadi di thi apne apne jija ko pareshan karne ke liye. Pihu, Nikki aur uski sahliyan jaane kya kya khila rahi thi Sanjiv ko aur wo bechara na na karte hue bhi biwi ki taraf dekh khata raha. Gorav ki haalat behtar thi jiske sath Shilpa ji aur is ghar ki ladkiyan bas sewa ke sath unko jaan ne me he lagi rahi. Sanjiv chahta tha ki bagal me uska bhai baithe lekin ye sirf chahat he thi aur kisi ko hata kar aisa karna galat he hota. Arjun apni maa ka halchal lene ke baad jaha ja kar baitha waha Romela ji ka pariwar ek taraf aur dusri aur ek kursi khaali hone ke baad Urvashi, Rakesh aur uska pariwar tha.
"Main toh tumhare he sath khaungi.", Is awaaj ko sunn kar Arjun muskuraya aur Zubeidaa ke liye bhi waiter se plate lagane ko bola. Bagal me Romela aur uske aage Vivaan the jabki Preeti toh Afsana, Ritu ke sath mej ke aakhiri hisse me Madhuri didi ke kareeb he khana khane me lagi thi.
"Atcha hua ki aapne toh meri taraf dhyaan diya. Waise main he busy tha ya aap gayab thi yaha se.?", Arjun ne alag plate saamne rakhi thi jisko Zubeidaa ne ek taraf sarka diya.
"Itna nai khana, bas thoda bahot wo bhi tumhare he sath. Aur main toh idhar he thi masti karti hui. Kabhi Vinni ke sath toh kabhi Afsa-Preeti ke sath. Dance bhi bahot kiya aur khana bhi kuch jyada khaya lekin abhi thodi jagah bachi thi toh tumhe company dene aa gayi. Tumhari wali toh tumse naraaj lagti hai aaj."
"Na aisi koyi baat nahi hai. Wo jo kar rahi hai future ke hisab se wahi thik hai. Khair, Afsana ke badlaav dekhe aapne?", Arjun ne thoda thoda khana khaate hue ek baar Nikki ko dekha jo mooh bana rahi thi jaise usko Arjun ke pas baithna ho lekin wo toh khud he Sanjiv bhaiya ki taraf lagi thi aur na he usne Arjun ko pehle dekha tha. Arjun ki nigaah udhar dekh Zubeidaa bol he padi.
"Kahi pe nigahe kahi pe nishana.."
"Nishana kabhi kabhi bagal me he laga diya jata hai aur jaha aap dekh rahi hai wo log apne jija ki sewa me lage hai khud bhookhe reh kar. Waise dress bahot atchi lag rahi hai aap par. Aur wo bhi shayad yahi dekh rahi hai ke main kitna kismat wala hu jo begam ke sath baitha hu."
"begam-vegam nahi hu main... Matlab pata nahi aur bol dete ho jo dil kiya."
"Hahaha.. aapki jubaan me begam he toh kehte hain na khoobsurat ladki ko.? Uncle aunty se yahi bol rahe the jab maine suna.", Arjun ke jaanboojh kar kiye gaye bakhaan ko sunn kar ab Zubeidaa kuch sharmaai bhi lekin wo khilkhila kar hansi bhi. Bacho ko khush dekh Shankar ji bhi champagne ki chuskiya lene ke baad idhar he tehalne lage. Wo apne bhai aur dosto ke sath alag khane wale the jaisa hamesha karte the.
"Bewkoof. Wo unki biwi hai toh begam he kahenge na. Ek bar Afsana ko bol kar dekhna aur agar tumne aisa kar diya toh jo tum kahoge wo main karungi.", Arjun ko Zubeidaa fansa rahi thi ya majaak tha bas, iski Arjun ko koyi parwah tak na thi.
"Khana hone do sabka fir dekhna main pakka bol ke dikhaunga. Aap phero tak jaagengi ya sone wali hai?"
"Shaadi me khaane ke liye nahi shamil hote. Asli raunak toh wahi lagti hai jaha phere hote hai. Jooti chhipaai majedar hone wali hai aur uske baad tum dekhna is Zubi ka khel.", Aankhen nachati hui Zubeidaa uth khadi hui khaane ka shukriya adaa karti. Bhagwan he jaane ye kya kya karti rehti thi aur dimaag me kya he chalta tha Zubeidaa ke liye jitni khushdil insaan thi utni he jiwan ke kareeb bhi. Arjun ab Romela ji se baatein karne laga tha jo usko apne he kisse bata rahi thi. Kuch ladkiyan ab yaha se nivrat ho kar mehmano ko uthane chali gayi thi kyonki ab phere thodi he der me shuru hone wale the. Yaha ek taraf hansi majaak ke alag alag daur jaari the toh wahi in sabki dekhrekh kar rahe Umed, Shankar, Narinder ji aur unke dost catering waalo ko khush karne ke baad apne liye khana lagane ka bhi bol chuke the. Baraat me jaha 1500 log the ab phero ke samay ye sankhya 200 bhi na thi.
