Update 195 (A)
Pehla Panna
"Itna pareshan kyun ho rahi ho Kaushalya? Tum toh itni kamjor na thi kabhi!", Ghar ke baaki kamro sa haal he yaha Pandit ji ke kaksh me tha. Arjun ko sabhi ne vida toh hanste muskurate kiya tha lekin uske rukhsat hote he jyadatar chehro par algaav ke bhaav ubhar aaye. Rekha ji ke sath Krishna ji toh kamre me he rahi thi lekin Lalita ji ko Arjun ka jaane se pehle gaal choomna aur aashirwad lena ab utna he sata raha tha. Aakhir unhone bhi toh usko apne bacho se badhkar pyaar diya tha. Tara jaisi ladki bhi is pal me khud ko alag-thalag karti hui kamre me band ho gayi thi. Ab usko bhi har pal kami jo mehsoos honi thi Arjun ki shararto aur athkheliyon ki. Komal jajbaat prakat nahi karti thi lekin jis tarah wo rasoighar me vyast hone ka dikhawa kar rahi thi, kahi na kahi wo darsha rahi thi ki uska jiwan bhi Arjun ke bina adhura hai. Lekin aaj pehli baar ho raha tha ki Kaushalya ji kamre me aane ke baad apne ashru rok na saki. Chehra saaf karke wo bas bister par baithi thi aur unke saamne Rameshwar ji.
"Aap the kya ji us kamjor samay me ghar par? Har jagah baatein aur niyam nahi chalte. Us samay toh maa aur pita dono ke kartavya main he nibha rahi thi isliye aapko lagta hai main majboot hu. Lekin ye bhi mera he bacha hai jiske sath maine khul kar mamta lutaai aur Arjun ne kabhi mujhe maa se kam samjha bhi nahi. Aapka kya hai 4 policewale ya 2 sangi sathi mile nahi, apne kisso se dil bhar lete ho. Sabko ek ek karke aapne he kaam ke naam par bahar kiya toh main apna maa ka dil kisko dikhati? Ab jab Arjun mila toh kya main fir se samjhauta karu?", Dukhi mann ke sath sath wo apni bhavnaye bhi khul kar dikha rahi thi aur unke tanj sunn kar Pandit ji ne bade he snehbhaav se apna hath unke sar pe rakhte hue jawab diya.
"Tum kabhi galat nahi kehti Kaushalya aur hum jaante hai ki hamesha balidaan ke waqt tumne humse pehle kadam aage badhaye. Lekin ab Arjun ghar se bahar ghumne ke liye nikla hai, duniya dekh kar wapis usne tumhare he paas toh aana hai. Itna bhara-poora pariwar hai toh ek mahina pata bhi nahi chalega. Uski kami toh mujhe bhi abhi se mehsoos hone lagi hai. Koyi din gujarta hai bhala jab subah uski bewkoofi se shuru na hui ho aur raat uska tumse mujhse bematlab ke kisso par behas karte hue sewa karna? Lekin wo bada ho raha hai Kaushalya aur hamesha toh wo is ghar me nahi rahega. Dil halka karo aur usne kaha hai na ke wo roj 2 waqt tumhe phone karta rahega.?", Rameshwar ji ne paani ka gilaas aage badhya toh Kaushalya ji ne pakad kar wapis ek taraf rakh diya.
"Aap dekh nahi rahe ya jaan kar anjaan bann rahe ho ji? Us masoom ka dimaag dotarfa hai aur jabtak wo aaspas hai toh sab thik lekin aapki shiksha ne usko bhi shikari na sahi lekin khoji toh bana he diya hai. Mera dil dukhi nahi hai chintit hai kyonki usko nahi pata ke sansaar ke bahar bhi is sansar ke logo ki koyi dabi hui duniya hai. Wo gaanv jana chahta tha aur aapne haan bhar di? Khud jaante ho ki wo kitni kam umar se bina jaane kya kya seekh raha hai. Is baar main chup nahi rahungi bol deti hu.", Kaushalya ji ne baat khatam karne ke iraade se kahi thi lekin unki ungli dekh kar Rameshwar ji ko bhi apni galti ka bakhubi ehsaas ho gaya. Par unke aadarsh bhi the jis wajah se wo peeche na hate.
"Jaanta hu main aur tumhare saamne he tha ke maine khud kabhi usko waha jaane nahi diya. Is baar usne khud he fainsla kiya tha aur tab bhi maine haan nahi kahi thi Kaushalya lekin sabne uska sath diya toh mujhe bhi laga ki ab jyada rokne tokne se uska mann vyathit na ho jaaye. Waise udhar us par koyi sankat toh aane nahi wala. Bas jyada se jyada wo kuch purane logo se mil lega, apne dada-padd-dada ke naam/kaam dekh lega aur ye sab toh aage hona bhi tha. Maine itna bandobast toh kiya hai ki wo un logo se jyada na mil jul sake jinse kuch jaankari le sakta hai. Aur raaj-pariwar me usko bache se jyada koyi kya ahemiyat dega?", Rameshwar ji bharsak koshish kar rahe the apni biwi ko manane ki jo ab kuch shaant ho chuki thi.
"Aapne mujhse jyada duniya dekhi hai ji aur jyada sach toh mujhe bhi kaha pata hai. Lekin maine aur aapne dono Arjun bade kiye hain. Wo wala mastmaula tha aur ye ziddi lekin kaarnaame dono ke ek jaise. Wo baal ki khaal pyaar se nikalta tha aur ye toh bamb mehkame wala bana diya aapne. Soonghta hua banjar jameen se bhi dafan raaj khol lata hai. Rok na sakoge Pandit ji aap is wale ko jaise uske pyaar me aapki aankhon pe patti bandhi rehti thi sab jaante hue bhi. Aapne isko Shankar se dur rakha, pariwar se dur rakha lekin kahi na kahi sab batate bhi aap he gaye. Is baar aisa kya ho gaya ke Arjun ne khudse gaanv jaane ki zidd ki? Jawaab do tabhi main haweli jaungi.", Ab Rameshwar ji dharamsankat me aa chuke the aur jeet Kaushalya ji gayi thi. Thandi aaah bharte hue unhone kaboolna shuru kiya.
"Maine kabhi usko Ajju ke baare me nahi bataya Kaushalya aur na kabhi itihaas ke. Wo Ajju ke naam se isliye waakif tha kyonki Raghuvir ne apna aakhiri samay iske sath jyada bitaya. Ab un 3-4 baras me hui mulakaato me bhai ne isko ateet ki kaun kaun si kahaniya sunaai ye wo jaante the ya ye Arjun. Haan bulate wo isko bhi Ajju the aur tumhe pata hai ke unki yaaddast lagbhag ja chuki thi. Wo mere alawa sirf bhabhi aur tumhe he atche se pehchante the. Unke jaane ke baad Arjun bhi gambhir rehne laga aur mujhe mehsoos ho gaya tha ke aisa jyada der chala toh wo ekakipan ka shikar ho jaayega. Isliye main usko wapis ghar he le aaya. Ek baras tumhare saamne nikala tha Arjun ne jisme wo jyadatar hum dono ke sath raha aur Sanjiv ke. Baaki sabke sath usne judaav bahot aahista aahista badhaya tha Kaushalya. Ab pehle se prashikshit insaan ko main kya sikha sakta hu? Kahi Shankar se chook hui toh kahi Umed se. Nahi toh billi ke bhaag se chhinka toota aur kismat se koyi suraag tumhare laadle ke hath lagta gaya. Main isko Shiladevi wale maamle me rajamandi se shaamil na karta toh isne akele he kuch kar baithna tha. Maine sachmuch iska poora dhyaan rakha Kaushalya.", Rameshwar ji ne apni safaai poore dil se pesh ki thi.
"Kiya hoga ji lekin beej bhi toh aapke aur aapki santano ke boye hue hai. Ab Raghuvir bhai sahab ke sath ye itna samay raha hai toh bas is khushi se he main baat khatam karti hu lekin udhar ye kya gul khilayega is par najar aap rakhoge.", Kaushalya ji khadi hote hote fir se baith gayi.
"Nahi rakh sakta Kaushalya lekin itna sunischit kar sakta hu ki wo us taraf nahi jaayega jaha ki chinta tumhe pareshan kar rahi hai. Aur rahi baat ateet ki toh wo Arjun bahot hadd tak jaanta hai aur us se aage wo nahi jaane wala. Uske liye aaj ka uska pariwar sabse jaruri hai. Wo darta hai ateet se isliye wo aisa kuch nahi karne wala. Paristhityon ka saamna karne ki himmat hai usme toh mujhe is baat ka darr nahi ki waha koyi usko nuksaan pahucha sakta hai. Chalo ab tayaari karo haweli chalne ki aur tumhara laadla khud tumhe roj batayega ki usne kya kiya. Najar wo he rakhwa raha hai khud par toh tum chinta kyun karti ho?", Rameshwar ji aakhir me hans he diye the lekin Kaushalya ji ne bhi khade hote hue kataaksh kar he diya
"Usne udhar ja kar galti se bhi kahi dhoti aur kurta pehan liya na thaanedar sahab toh assi-nabbe wale 3-4 bujurg toh darr ke he praan tyaag denge. Fikar aap karo kyonki uski shakal aapke pita ji se milti hai mere se nahi. Aur mera beta hai toh phone mujhe he karega. Aap wale toh kab aate hai aur kaha jaate hai mujhe nahi batate. Padh lo apna akhbar, shaayad koyi kissa kahi chhoot gaya ho.", Tunakti hui Kaushalya ji andar aangan ki taraf chali gayi lekin Rameshwar ji ko mayoos jarur kar gayi thi.
"Jab wo koyi kaand kar de toh tumhare laayak bete aur jab kuch na kare toh mere. Tumhara sahi hai Kaushalya aur ab Arjun hamare pita ki tarah dikhta hai toh isme bhi hamara kasoor. Lekin main Krishan ko pehle he bata dunga ki Arjun ko bhool se bhi aise kapde na pehnaaye.", Aur uske baad unhone kiya bhi wahi jo unki dharampatni ne kaha tha. Tribune akhbaar ka aakhiri panna palat kar usko gehraai se padhne lage.
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"Ye wala uphaar Arjun de kar gaya hai Sanjiv. Main le nahi rahi thi phir bhi usne mujhe pakda diya. Tum kholna chahoge?", Radhika abhi kamre me aayi thi aur Sanjiv kuch kaagaj padhta hua masroof tha. Radhika ki kapdo ki almaari kuch waqt pehle he vyavasthit hui thi aur kuch samaan bade bade bag me band tha. Almaari se sunehre packet ko nikaal kar usne Sanjiv ke saamne rakha toh wo jawaab me apni biwi ke khoobsurat chehre ko dekh muskura bhar diya. Jaise kuch dila raha ho.
"Tum utne bhi sharif nahi ho jitne bante ho. Ab kholo isko."
"Arjun ne ye tumhe diya hai Radhika toh tumhi kholo. Mujhe usne wo neeli car gift ki thi toh maine tumse kaha ki uski chaabi apne pas rakho.? Waise chaho toh kapde badal sakti ho."
"Khabardar agar ab kuch bhi aisa waisa kaha toh. Bagal wale kamre me he aapki 2 behne television dekh rahi hai. Aur aapke bhai ne gift diya hai isliye pooch rahi thi. Mujhe diya hai toh fir mera he sahi.", Radhika ne wo chamakdar parat hataai toh andar gatte ka chhota sa dibba tha. Naram ungliyon se dhakkan hatate he uske chehre par hairat ke sath sath khushi bhi thi. Sanjiv bas dono ko dekh raha tha.
"Ye kitna khoobsurat hai Sanjiv aur shayad isme kuch likha hai.", Kaanch ke gole ke bhitar paani ke sath he 2 nanhi moorat bhi thi. Ek ladka aur ek ladki. Roshni me wo paani se bhara gola vibhinn rango ko prakashit kar raha tha aur dhyaan dene par Radhika ne paya ki ladke par Sanjiv aur ladki ke paanv ke niche wali adhaarshila par Radhika likha tha. Dono ek dusre ka hath pakde khade ektak dekh rahe the.
"Iske niche jo button hai usko dabane se paani ke sath sath ladki bhi ghoomegi. Dekho jara.", Sanjiv ne jaisa kaha Radhika ne kisi bache ki tarah khush hote hue waisa he kiya. Aur hua bhi thik Sanjiv ke kahe anusaar. Neeli-safed roshni dono moorat par girti hui ek alag he sama baandh rahi thi. Wo yuvti golakar ghere me bahot dhimi raftar se hilti nritya ka drishya banati dikhi. Sanjiv ne us kriti ko Radhika se le kar bister kinare rakhe chokor mej par tika diya.
"Maine ye ek baar bas aise he dekh liya tha jab Arjun ke sath market tha. Fir bhool gaya lekin jaise usne yaad rakha aur apni taraf se naam bhi likhwa daale. Waise ye tumhe main dena chahta tha par yaad nahi raha. Aur Arjun tumhare liye kuch aur bhi de kar gaya hai.", Radhika ye sunn kar Sanjiv ki bagal me he aa baithi. Uska lagaav badhne laga tha Arjun se aur Sanjiv ke liye uski nishtha evam pyaar dekha aisa hona swabhavik bhi tha.
"Jaldi batao na kya diya hai? Main khud he dekh leti hu bas batao tumne kaha rakha hai wo gift."
"Aise nahi darling. Reward ke badle reward. Bas ek baar apne hontho ko choomne do fir main gift de dunga.", Sanjiv ki baat sunn kar Radhika gusse se dekhne lagi fir darwaja jaanch kar usne jaldi se ek chota sa chumban Sanjiv ke honth aur gaal par jadd diya.
"Ye kya tha?"
"Tumne jo kaha maine kiya. Ab gift aur koyi demand nahi."
"Raat ko main apni marji se karunga. Manjoor ho toh batao.", Ab raat ka jikar hote he Radhika peeche hatne lagi lekin Sanjiv ne uski kalaai majbooti se pakad li.
"Chhodo bhi aur wo sab baat mujhse matt karo."
"Bolo haan."
"Atcha haan. Ab khush? Jaldi se gift do?", Radhika ne hath chhudate hue baat maan li thi aur ab usko uphaar dekhna tha. Sanjiv ne ek kam motaai ka saletnuma packet uski taraf badha diya. Radhika ne jaise he wo khola turant band kar diya.
"Chhiii.. ye sab kya hai? Arjun ne ye mere liye diya?", Usme kaale rang ki paardarshi nighty thi jiske aar-paar sabkuch dikhta tha.
"Ye toh main le kar aaya hu jaan, aaj raat ke liye. Arjun ka gift bhi tumhe tabhi milega jab ye pehan kar bister par aaogi. Main chalta hu, papa ke sath jaane ki tayaari bhi dekhni hai.", Sanjiv Radhika ke bolne se pehle he lagbhag bhagta hua kamre se nikal gaya.
"Cheater kahi ke.", Radhika ne gusse me wo khaas uphaar wala dibba farsh pe fenk diya. Dori wali panty, vaksho ko dhakne ke naam par kamar tak ka jaalidar kapda aur bas 2-3 button. Aisa kapda toh Radhika ne pehli baar he dekha tha lekin ab usko kisi aur ne bhi dekh liya. Bhitar aayi Aarti aur Alka ki najar bhabhi ke sath sath farsh par padi toh wo ek dusre ko dekhne lagi. Kamre me sthiti poori tarah badal chuki thi. Mann he mann jaha wo dono hans rahi thi, udhar Radhika ke toh chehre ka rang he safed ho gaya tha.
"Ye almari ke upar se niche gir gaya kya bhabhi? Koyi baat nahi main utha deti hu. Waise ye hai kya? Wo tarbooj par dhakne wali jaali nahi lag rahi Aarti?", Alka ne jis tarah varnan kiya tha usko sunn kar Radhika toh sharam se saree ka pallu ungliyon me ghumane lagi wahi Aarti hansi rokne ke chakkar me mooh par ek hath rakhti hui dusre se usko uthane lagi.
"Rehne do main utha leti hu. Wo main he almaari set kar rahi thi toh nass khinchne ki wajah se ye fisal gaya hatho se.", Radhika ne turant wo angvastra wapis packet me bharne ke baad almaari me rakh diya. Alka dekh rahi thi unke jism ki furti.
"Lagta hai nass jaldi thik ho gayi bhabhi. Waise garmi me phalo ko fridge me he rakhna thik hai. Is se dhakne se toh jaldi kharaab ho jaayenge.", Alka ne fir se firki li toh Radhika ki na chahte hue bhi hansi nikal gayi.
"Alka, ye wo nahi hai jo tum samajh rahi ho. Ye innerwear ke upar pehan ne ke liye hai."
"Oh nighty ka kameej hai ye? Lekin fir iski pajami nahi li aapne?", Radhika kaha jaanti thi ki wo afsar hote hue bhi in ladkiyon ke saamne mujrim se jyada kuch nahi thi. Ek majedar mujrim.
"Haan.. wo isliye ye abhi tak pack tha. Dukaan wale ki galti se dusra part reh gaya hoga. Jab mere yaha jaungi toh badalwa lungi. Waise tum dono kisi kaam se bhi aai thi?", Radhika baat palatne lagi lekin Alka ke iraade nek na the.
"Nahi bhabhi waise he aa gayi hum dono. Television pe kuch aa nahi raha tha aur baaki sab apne apne me lage hue hai toh socha aapse he gupshap laga le. Idhar aapke toh khudke kaam bigde hue hai. Arjun bhi chala gaya nahi toh koyi nayi film mangwa kar dekh lete. Khair jab aap nighty badalwane jaogi toh 2 piece aur bhi leti aana. Aisa hai na ke Aarti aur Tara ko nighty jyada pasand hai raat me. Mera aur Ritu ka chal jata hai aise he lekin in dono ko jyada garmi satati hai aapki tarah.", Alka bister par pasar gayi thi aur uski baat sunn kar Aarti sharmane lagi.
"Dekho bhabhi ye behan khudse nahi bolti isliye maine kaha. Hamare shehar me ye sab milta nahi aur Aarti-Tara bade shehar se hai toh kuch modern bhi hai. Aap bhabhi hone ke sath dost bhi toh ho hamari. Ke nahi?", Alka ne lachari se dekha toh Radhika hansti hui uske pas he aa baithi.
"Bilkul ji. Hum aapki bhabhi hone ke sath sath dost bhi hai. Lekin humne aajtak aisa kuch liya nahi apne aap se. Nikki ke he sath jana padega. Wo jarur Aarti aur Tara ki tarah modern hai."
"Matlab aap bhi raat me bas pinjra hata kar tshirt pajame me soti hai?", Alka ki aisi bebaaki dekh Radhika ke paseene he chhoot gaye. Wo hairaani se usko dekhne lagi toh baat Aarti ne sambhali.
"Bhabhi aapne he toh kaha na ke hum log dost hai. Aur college ke second me aa chuke hai toh ye sab aapas me discuss kar he sakte hai."
"But ye pinjra kya hua? Matlab bra?", Radhika ke honth bra bolte hue he kaanp gaye.
"Dekho hain na easy word bhabhi? College me aapki saheliyon ne bataya hoga jaise humko pata chala. Toh phir thik hai jab ye Nikki didi aayengi toh hum unse baat kar lenge. Wo modern bhi hai aur unki toh pehle se Tara se jamti hai. Bas Preeti se jaane kyu unhone jyada baat nahi ki. Arjun ke sath toh kar rahi thi aur usko toh apni goad me bhi baitha lia tha unhone.", Alka yaha apne shabdo se prahaar kar rahi thi aur Radhika inke changul me poori tarah fans kar bas sunti rahi.
"Arjun shayad friend hai Nikki ka. Aur mere saamne toh Nikki ne kaha tha ke usko Preeti bahot pasand aayi thi shaadi me. Preeti se he Arjun ki shaadi pakki ki gayi hai, aisa maine suna hai."
"Arjun ka wo he jaane bhabhi aur jaane kab shaadi hogi uski. Abhi wo khud he bacha hai tabhi toh Nikki didi tak ki goad me ja baitha. Lekin shaadi me kuch aisa hua tha jo aapko nahi pata.", Alka ne Aarti ko aankh daba kar ishara kiya aur fir Radhika ki taraf dekhne lagi baat adhuri rakh kar.
"Kya hua tha shaadi me?"
"Aapke saamne batana thik rahega ya nahi bhabhi? Dosti apni jagah hai aur rishta apni. Aur apne bhai se judi baat karke hum khamkhwah aapke dil me uski ya kisi aur ki image kharaab nahi karna chahte.", Aarti ki baat sunn kar Radhika kuch pal khamosh rahi fir khud he bol uthi.
"Dekho jab dost maan liya toh maan liya. Pakki dosti.", Hath milate hue Radhika ne pehal ki toh Aarti ne unka hath pakad kar kaha.
"Toh aap aisi koyi baat bata kar dosti majboot kijiye jiska pata aur kisi ko na ho. Phir hum bhi waisa he karenge."
"Wo.. Wo aisa hai ki Nikki.. Nikki dost hai Arjun ki aur ye baat usne pehle he din mujhe bata di thi. Par mujhe Arjun ke bare me bilkul nahi pata tha ki wo kaisa dikhta hai aur kaun hai. Tumhare chote bhai ko main Aaru ke naam se jaanti thi jaisa Ritu ne aur baaki sabhi ne bas jikar kiya tha. Lekin Nikki bilkul bhi waisi ladki nahi hai aur usko Preeti ke sath Arjun ki jodi pasand bhi hai. Haan attraction hai aur wo toh natural baat hoti hai na 2 mature logo ke beech.?", Radhika khudko he apraadhi maan rahi thi jaise.
"Huhhh... Ye toh hai bhabhi aur aapki baat bhi sahi hai. Lekin humne jo dekha wo dosti se jyada tha aur baaki hum toh ghar me rahi hai jyadatar college ke siwa. Ye dosti aur love attraction ka jyada pata nahi. Nikki didi udhar aap logo ke rukne wali jagah Arjun ke sath lip to lip dekhi thi. Phir Arjun he waha se nikal kar bhaag gaya. Ab ye shayad modern log karte honge. Hain na Aarti? Tere sehar me aisa hota hoga na?", Alka ki baat sunn kar Radhika ke kapde bhitar se geele ho chuke the.
"Kissing bolte hai Alka usko aur lips pe toh tabhi karte hai jab dosti gehri ho ya dono ek dusre ko pasand karte ho. Par Arjun ko is sabka pata nahi itna yakeen hai mujhe. Nikki didi shayad usko kuch aur na bata rahi ho Alka jise humne ye samajh liya. Waise bhi hum log kuch dur the waha se.", Aarti ne ek baar aur ghatna ko badla toh Radhika ki saansein kaabu hone lagi. Wo chehre pe aaya pasina saaf karti hui boli.
"Haan dosti me gaal pe kiss kar sakte hai aur kya pata waha aisa kuch na hua ho. Perspective aisa bana ho ki dekhne me kiss jaisa laga. Waise Arjun bhi bada ho raha hai aur jaankari rakhta hoga thodi bahot. Boarding me bhi padha hai na wo?", Radhika ko safaai dete dekh Alka muskurane lagi.
"Humko kya lena bhabhi is sabse. Bas khaali the toh socha baatchit kar lete hai aapse. Kya pata kuch naya pata chale. Arjun ki apni life hai aur Nikki didi ki apni. Chalo chhodo ye sab aur aap tayaar ho toh hum niche chalte hai.", Alka ne bister se uthte hue fir se Aarti ko ishara dia.
"Haan bhabhi ab dosti pakki aur main frank hu toh dosti samajhti hu. Aap Nikki didi se is baare me baat karke unka dil mat dukhana."
"Thik hai nahi karungi baat aur wo nighty bhi leti aaungi jab Nikki ke sath market jana hoga.", Radhika toh ulajh ke he reh gayi thi aur ab uske dimag me kayi baatein chal rahi thi.
"Kya bhabhi aise le kar aana atcha lagega? Waise bhi ye sab toh shaadi ke baad khud pati la kar dete hai. Is ghar me hamare pas agar ye sab maa ya chachi ne dekh liya toh samjho khair nahi. Aao niche chalte hai aur aapko toh paseena bhi bahot aa raha hai.", Alka ne maathe par hath laga kar dikhaya Radhika ko aur fir khud he unhe pakad kar sath le chali. Radhika mann he mann keh rahi thi ki aaj Sanjiv ki wajah se uski behno ne jamm kar khinchai ki hai aur ye Nikki Arjun ka jhanjhat alag suna diya aur fir palat bhi gayi. Ek tarah se Alka ne is pehli he dostinuma mulakaat me Radhika ko meethi patakhni dene ke sath kuch hadd tak vash me kar liya tha.
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Arjun ke shehar se ye Punjab wala pushtaini kasba/gaanv takriban 300 kilometer tha aur jis raste ko usne is safar ke liye chuna tha wo 10-15 jyada. Ghar se nikalne ke baad wo Akanksha, Walia ji aur Shastri ji se ek laghu bhent karna nahi bhoola tha. Ekhari 16 feet chaudi us sadak par sachmuch naam-matra yatayaat tha aur is raste se wo chacha wale shehar bhi ja chuka tha jiske liye bas ek alag maud lena padta tha jabki seedha jaane par ye usko XXXX shehar pahuchata jo uski manzil se kuch he aage tha.
Pehchan ke raste aur naam-matra vaahano ki aavajahi se Arjun sar pe Shastri ji dwara uphaar swaroop diya helmet aur aankhon par bhoora chasma lagaye gatiseema se kuch adhik tej ja raha tha. Usko ye khaali sadak aur dono taraf khade chayadar vriksho ki kataar me apni rani ko ajmaane me alag he maja milne laga. Ek pal aisa bhi aaya jab sooi ne hilna band kar diya aur ye bhari-bharkam laal dupahiya 130 par chalti hui har gujarte minute ke sath 2 kilometer peeche chhodne lagi. Ikka-dukka jagah raahgiro ne usko jarur najar kiya lekin jyada nahi. Dhoop patto se chhan kar apni garmi kho chuki thi aur Arjun ke jehan me is kshann me agar koyi tha toh wo Ritu. Ghar se nikalne se pehle jis tarah usne Ritu ko baahon me le kar seene se lagaya tha, uski thandak abhi tak wo mehsoos kar raha tha. Aaj pehli baar Ritu ki najro me usne patni sambandh ki chhavi paayi thi jab us halke se chumban se wo kaanp rahi thi. Fir kas kar Arjun se lipatna aur fir alag ho kar chehra saaf karte hue abhi aane ka bol kar usko chale jana.
'Ehsaas... ye hamesha aisa he rahega.. hamesha.', Arjun muskura raha tha sab yaad karta hua aur is beech lagbhag dedh ya 2 ghante gujar chuke the. Wo us ti-raahe se pehle raftaar kam karta hua thoda hairaan hua.
'Kitna time ho gaya ghar se chale?', Meel ke pathar par XX shehar daayi taraf 25 Km aur saamne XXXX shehar 107 dekh usne motorcycle us chowk ko paar karke sadak se niche utaar li. Yaha atchi khaasi chalta markeet thi khule bus-adde ki wajah se. Mahindra ki saleti jeep bhi najar aa rahi thi aas-pas ke gaanv me sawari dhone ka kaam karti.
"Bhai, ek gilaas gaane ka ras bana do. Pudina aur nimbu jyada, namak kam.", Arjun is jagah ko bhi aise dekh raha tha jaise naksha dimaag me baitha raha ho. Amuman yaha tak aane me usko 3 ya paune 3 ghante lage the pehle par aaj jaise Ritu ke sath usko safar ka pata he na chala. Beshak uska sharir wahi ghar pe tha lekin Arjun ke jehan me uska behtar wajood samahit tha. Ganne ka ras nikalne wale yuvak ne plastic ke paani bhare kanastar se pehle apne hath dhoye aur fir kuch tukde ganne ke. Is dauraan wo Arjun ko bhi dekh raha tha aur rehdi ke kareeb chhaya me khade juice peete anya grahako ko bhi. Wo log jyadatar aas-pas se he the.
"Kittho aa rahe ho veer ji? Gaddi bada seka maar rahi.", Us rehdi wale ne bhi silencer ki garmi bhaap li thi aur Arjun ko rumaal se chehra saaf karte hue chasme ke nishaan bhi.
"Yahi se aa raha hu bhai aur paas me he jana hai. Tum kaafi arse se idhar he khade hote ho kya?", Ganne pehli pisaai me apna rass bahar tak uchaal rahe the aur unko dusre seere se pakad kar wapis us neeli ispaat ki machine me pirone se pehle yuvak ne unhe modte hue aadhe kate 2 nimbue aur atcha khaasa taja pudina bhar diya. Ab machine unki motaai se daab lene lagi thi aur yuvak thoda jyada jor lagane laga.
"Humne kaha jana veer ji? Is fasal ki kataai ke baad ganne ki rehdi aur agli kataai pe moongphali-gajjak ki lekin thikana 7 baras se yahi hai. Bolchal se idhar Punjab ke toh nahi ho.", Matlab saaf tha ke tooti-footi punjabi bolne wala ye pardesi yuvak Arjun ko thoda jaan gaya tha ke wo musafir hai.
"Ehda nahi hai bhrava, rehan teh paidaish meri itthe di he hai. Oh gal vakhri hai ki shehar eh nahi. XXXX shehar de kol dada ji da pind hai tah bas ghumman niklya gharo.", Ab jis tarah farrattedar punjabi Arjun ne boli thi rehdi par ek hath rakhte hue wo yuvak thaga sa mehsoos karne laga. Ab wo bhali bhanti dekh raha tha lamba chauda sharir jiska wajan us se dugna he hoga. Upar se dhara-pravaah punjabi jo kahi se bhi Haryanvi jhalak na de rahi thi.
"Veer ji, bhulekha ho he janda hai. Tussi bura na mannyo lagde vi tussi punjabi ho. Main tah bult (Bullet) vekh ke he samajh gaya c.", Ab ganne ke rass ko gilaas me chhan ne se pehle usne thoda namak giraya aur baraf hilate hue patile se ras gilaas me bhar diya. Arjun uski peeth par hath rakhte hue hansne he laga tha aur uski baatein sunn kar dilchaspi lete hue ek sardar ji aur unki biwi bhi ye dekh rahi thi.
"Oh bhaiya.. pehle aap sahi the aur sorry maine majaak kiya. Lekin ek sach ye bhi hai ki maine galat nahi kaha tha. Kabhi 500 riyasate thi fir 18 hui aur ab 24. Log toh wahi hai aur desh bhi. Aap shayad Bihar se ho lekin dekho punjabi atchi bolte ho aur yakinan bache padhte bhi honge punjabi. Khud he socho kya hum ek dusre se alag hai? Ye ras meri taraf bhi aisa he milega aur aapki taraf bhi. Ho sakta ganna kahi jyada meetha ho kahi thoda kam lekin kehlayega toh ganne ka ras he. Lao pilao.", Arjun ne kehne ke sath sath gilas bhi utha liya aur uski baat hansi majaak sunn kar wo dampatti bhi hans diye rehdiwale ke sath.
"Bahut sahi kahe ho bhaiya ji. Hamari taraf toh ganne ka ras 12 mahine milta hai aur udhar ka ganna meetha bhi jyada hota, aapki tarah. Aage shehar se pehle pind toh 2 he hai aur dono sadak utarne ke baad. Haan XXX bada pind (Gaanv) bhi hai jidhar jaane wali sadak se pehle chhota adda milega jaise ye hai. Juice toh badhiyan hai na bhaiya ji?", Arjun ko gala geela karte dekh yuvak ne sab jaankari de di thi aur raaye lete waqt uske chehre par prashansha thi.
"Ek number banaya hai bhaiya. Thodi susti hone lagi thi lekin ab ekdum aapke juice ki tarah taro-taja ho gaya. Upar se jo poochna chahta tha wo aapne khud he bata kar poora kaam kar diya.", Arjun ki halki mucho par ras ka safed jhaag chipak gaya tha jisko saaf karte hue usne jeb se 10 rupaye nikaal kar yuvak ko diye toh usne galle se sikke nikaal kar 5 rapaye uski taraf badha diye.
"Ye jama kar lo bhaiya, wapsi me gilaas pee kar he jaunga. Shukriya itne badhia ras ke liye aur jaankari ke liye.", Ek baar fir sar pe helmet aur aankhon par chasma laga kar wo motorcycle chalu karne he laga tha ki neeli tshirt aur gehra neela pyjama pehne ye tagda sa yuvak uske saamne aa ruka.
"Paah ji, unche pind ja rahe ho? Meri bus pehla nikal gayi teh agli 2 ghante baad aauni.", Ladka chehre se he khiladi aur bhala lag raha tha beshak wo Arjun se kuch bada he hoga umar me.
"Baith jao bhai lekin mera bag hum dono ke beech rakh lena rassi khol kar. Kandhe pe latkane se kuch toot na jaaye. Waise helmet ki jarurat nahi hogi?", Arjun ke kehne ke sath he us ladke ne bade salike se dohri lipti rassi ka tala khol kar seat sahi ki aur kahe mutabik baith gaya.
"Baai, helmet toh chhodo idhar XXXX sehar tak naka bhi nahi lagta siwaye saal bharaai ke. Baaki kalli road hai aur araam naal chalao toh vi ek ghante me pahoch jana humne.", Arjun ki hindi ek baar fir aade aa rahi thi vartalaap ke lekin wo aisi mili juli baaton se usko maja bhi aa raha tha. Motorcyle chalne ki swabhavik awaaj aayi aur ek baar sadak par dabaav banate hue rani apne raste badh chali. Haan ab raftar jarur 40-50 ki thi aur is baar uske sath ek aur sharir bhi tha jo bahot bhali baatein kar raha tha.
"Naam kya hai baai ji aapka? Mera naa hai Nihaal Singh aur dost mujhe Neela bulate hai. Idhar sarkari college me hu aur aajkal practice chal rahi hai hamari kabaddi ki.", Yuvak ne bag ko badi he hifajat se thaam rakha tha apne dono patt par rakhte hue. Uska naam sunn kar Arjun ne gol shishe me dekhte hue abhaar se najre hilaai.
"Mera naam Arjun hai bhaiya aur dost bhi yahi bulate hai kyonki iska chota naam toh kuch nahi ho sakta. Abhi paper dene ke baad kuch free tha isliye gaanv dekhne ja raha hu aur thoda time rahunga aap logo ke gaanv me. Ho sakta hai is dauraan aapse aur mulakaat ho."
"Jarur Arjun baai kyun nahi honi. Waise XXXX pind nahi hai, chota shehar he hai. Haan khula dula hai aur aadha ilaka purana par saaf suthra aur baaki naya bana hua pichle 15-20 saal me. Mere baapu ji kisaan hai aur thik-thaak jameen bhi hai sadak ke parli taraf. Bada bhai Jammu canteen me duty karta hai aur baaki peeche meri bebe, Nimmo didi aur main. Chota sa happy pariwar hai ji hamara. Main bhi sport kote me ya toh fauj me jaunga ya railway me. Bebe kehti hai ke wo jaane nahi dengi kyonki fer toh ghar sunna ho jana hai. Hahahah.. Main jyada he bol raha hu Arjun baai aur tum sochte hoge kaisa banda hai!", Arjun dekh sakta tha us yuvak ke chehre par khushi ke baad halki si jhijhak.
"Mujhe atcha laga bhaiya jaan kar ki aapki ek atchi happy family hai. Sabse jaruri toh yahi hota hai. Hai ke nahi? Waise bebe agar chahti hai toh unki baat maan leni chahiye. Khelne ki wajah se jana chahte ho toh wo toh state se bhi ja sakte ho. Mere papa doctor hai aur bebe mera dhyaan rakhti hai. Baaki main bhi khelta hu thoda bahot aur dada ji ne bataya tha ke aapke gaanv.. sorry town me akhada, kabaddi ka maidaan aur bahot kuch hai. Time mila aur kisi ne khelne diya toh jarur koshish karunga."
"Oh kyo nahi ji. Roj shaam ko PML center me hum log match lagate hai. Udhar he akhada hai aur chidi-chikka (badminton) ke sath he hockey ka maidaan bhi. Coach bade nahi hai lekin jo bhi hai wo khiladi reh chuke hai ya master ji. Bahot vadiya lagta hai baai waha mitti me mitti hona. Waise tum baai kiske yaha aa rahe ho? Mere baapu ji ka naam Gurdayaal Singh hai aur unhe jo bhi jaanta hai manje wale daar ji ke naam se jaanta hai ya Guri unke yaar beli bolte hai. Wo hamare ghar ke bahar aur khet me motor pe hamesha manja daal ke baithe hote hai na toh log baag bulane lag pade.", Sachmuch ye kirdaar bahot he khushmijaaj aur saafdil tha. Arjun ko yaha milne wala pehla he shakhs dil ka saaf aur hansmukh mila tha.
"Bhaiya main yaha Krishan Sharma ji ke yaha rukne wala hu. Aap jaante hai unhe? Aur ye MPL ka kya matlab hua?", Arjun ko jaise ye shabd sahi se sunaai na diya tha.
"MPL nahi baai PML. Pandit Moti Lal ji center aur unka he toh basaya pind tha ye apna naya town. Ab abaadi 15000 ki hai chahe gaanv kaho ya town toh isme 4-5 Krishan Sharma hai. Main toh 2 ko jaanta hu ek jo shehar me aadhti hai, Sweeti ke papa aur dusre apne he bank ke manager. Bahot jaalim aadmi hai baai aur wo koyi kaam nahi karta bas apne alag daftar me baitha rehta hai thaath se cooler chalwa ke.", Arjun dekh raha tha ke Nihaal Singh apni baat kehne ke sath milte julte bhaav bhi bana raha tha.
"Phir tum in Krishan Sharma ji ko nahi jaante bhaiya jinke yaha main ja raha hu. Waise inke pita ke naam par he PML center bana hai.", Itna sunte he Nihal chalti motorcycle pe he Arjun ke chehre ke kareeb aa kar usko dhyaan se dekhne laga lekin uske chehre par kuch alag toh tha nahi.
"Sacchi baai. Tum pradhaan ji ki haweli aaye ho? Unke dur ke rishteydar ho tabhi pehle nahi dekha. Na wo ward ke chunaav me khade hote aur na panchayat ke. Lekin poore halke me unke saamne koyi na bolta Arjun baai. Panchayat me bhi unki gaddi hai lekin wo vaar tyohar he dikhte hai udhar. Jaameen bahot hai baai aag lagaye na muke aur chote pradhan Vinod ji, unka toh kayi manjilo ko hotel hai agle sehar me. Panchayat ghar, bada school, ye bank wali jagah aur gurughar ke sath majid (Masjid) tak unke father sahab ya unke baad inhone banwaai. Baapu batate hai ki sadak se naali tak ka naksha bade pradhaan ji ne tayaar karwaya tha aur asliyat me toh wahi maalik bhi hai is halke ke lekin wo kabhi kabhi aate hai aur bas bade bujurgo ya sarkari logo se mil kar chale jaate hai. Unko Pandit ji bolte hai sabhi, tum unke yaha ja rahe ho toh thoda jaante bhi hoge. Police ke bade afsar the kuch time pehle aur unke bhi chote pradhaan ji Narinder ji 3-4 mahine me aate hai. Wo badhiya aadmi hai bilkul afeem. Main nasha nahi karta Arjun baai, afeem ka matlab perfect."
"Haan bhaiya wo toh hai aur bade pradhan ji ko waise jyadatar log Pandit ji ke naam se behtar jaante hai. Waise itna naam hai aur kaam ke naam pe bas kheti aur bete ka hotel? Chalo humko kya, hum toh mehmaan hai aur chhuttiyan bita kar chale jaayenge. Waise kasbe ka itna naam hai toh market varket bhi thik thak hogi? Cinema bhi hai kya koyi Nihaal bhaiya?"
"Arjun baai idhar na koyi cinema hai aur na shehari market. Dukaan bhi wahi khol sakta jo gaanv ka ho ya halke ka aur ohde vich koyi nasha patta nahi bech sakda. Jehde karde hai oh aaspas toh daaru-bhukki le aande hai lekin apne kasbe vich na sarkaari theka hai na koyi feem-bhukki da adda. Baaki ab aa gaye ho toh jyada atche se khud dekh lena baai. Sara kasba 2 seedhi sadak aur fer 5 chauraho ke beech hai jisme se is taraf ke chaurahe wali jagah navi (nayi) haigi aur agge wali ehdi neev rakhe time toh. Matlab istarting se baai. Us se aage ek taraf bhot saari jameen pradhaan ji ki hai lekin pata nahi kitni hogi aur parli taraf baaki logo ki. 2 chote pind bhi hai matlab 40-50 gharo wale lekin unki jameen nahi hai. Wo kheto me kaam karte hai ja pher palledari-majduri. Je apna bus adda hai baai.", Baaton he baaton me ye log us chaurahe aa rukhe the jaha ek taraf local adda tha aur dusri taraf kuch tin ki chaadar dhaki darjano dukane. Ab idhar thik chuarha tha aur Arjun ne Nihaal ke dwara sadak dikhane ke bawjood motorcycle rok kar har taraf dhyaan se dekha.
"Toh wo saamne ki taraf bhi koyi gaanv ya kasba hai? Board toh laga hai udhar. Mujhe toh bataya tha ke aap wala he kasba lagta hai shehar se pehle.", Arjun ne muayna karne ke baad dekh liya tha ki kuch local bus aur gaadiyan viprit sadak par bhi ja rahi thi.
"Haan lekin baai wo bhi dekho jo hare board pe likha hai. Ye sadak seedhi XXXX bade sehar aur is taraf hamare kasba. Parli taraf dusra distic (District) aur usme aata ucha pind matlab town. Baaki apni taraf raaj-shahi aur kanoon dono hai lekin udhar jiski lathi uski bhains. Wo gaadi ja rahi chote pradhaan ji ki. Shukar hai unhone dekha nahi.", Ye dono sadak par mudne se pehle he khade the jabki Krishneshwar ji ki car saamne XXXX shehar ki aur se aane ke baad kasbe ki aur mudd gayi thi. Unki najar me ye dono nahi aaye the.
"Dekh lete toh kya kehte wo bhaiya? Yaha khade hona koyi galat baat hai kya? Aur aap toh meri madad he kar rahe ho. Waise inko jaane he do aage, fir hum chalte hai. Pyaas bhi lagi hai bhaiya.", Arjun motorcycle se utar kar bharpoor angdaai leta hua idhar udhar dekhne laga.
"Thanda paani toh ye adde ke andar bhi mil jaayega. Machine lagi hai udhar Arjun baai. Aao mujhe bhi paani ki jarurat hai. Aur pradhan ji toh fer bhi kuch na kehte siwaye haal-chal ke lekin daadi (Devaki) ko sabse dikkat hai. Unhe lagta ke hum ladkiyan taadne ruke hai idhar.", Arjun uski baat sunn kar hans diya. Dono bari bari se mooh dhone ke baad atche se paani pee kar chehra saaf karte hue wahi chhaya me baith gaye.
"Matlab daadi sabhi jawaan ladko ko jhaad deti hai?"
"Nahi aisa bhi nahi hai baai lekin is adde par agar 2-3 ladke khade ho wo bhi apne kasbe ke aur galti se unhone dekh liya toh jarur. Tabhi toh haweli, girls school, aanganbaadi ki taraf koyi ladka jaata nahi aur jo jaaye wo bas apne kaam se jaaye. Baaki poore kasbe me log mil-jul ke rehte hai. Gurughar ke bahar bhi manji dikhegi aur majid ke bahar bhi. Saanjh sawere bele bujurg gappe ladate hai aur bache kahi bhi khelte koodte. Arjun baai ab jaldi se chalo idhar se.", Hare rang ki choti local bus waha aayi thi ki Nihaal uth ka motorcycle ki taraf badh chala. Arjun uske peeche jabki bag Nihaal ke he kandhe tha.
"Haan vi Neelya, kitthe ghumaai ho rahi?", Adhed sa ye aadmi bus se he utra tha aur neeli-safed vardi me kayi ladkiyan bhi. Nihaal ne aupchari muskurahat ke sath jawaab deya.
"Chacha, main tah college toh he aa reha. Ae Arjun baai hai, pradhaan ji da mehmaan. Raah pooch reha si teh mainu mil gaya. Paani pee ke ghar ne he ja reha chacha. Tussi vi pind nu jana?", Ek saans me uska aisa kehna saaf bata raha tha ke usko kuch darr tha idhar maujood hone par. Lekin Arjun ka jo parichaya diya tha usko sunn kar us vyakti ko jawaab mil chuka tha. Dhoop ka chasma pehne sava 6 feet ka lamba chauda aur gorvarn Arjun unke kareeb he tha.
"Namastey ji. Bhaiya chale hum?", Arjun ne us vyakti ko sankshipt jawaab dete hue Nihaal ko chalne ka kaha.
"Namastey ji namastey. Nihaal dhyaan naal leke jaayi janaab ji nu teh dehleej tak chhad ke auna. Chalo vi kudiyon baitho apne tempu vich.", Aur iske baad wo aadha darjan ladkiyan shayad isi aadmi ke us rassi-chalit auto-rikshaw me ja baithi aur gamche se chehra saaf karne ke baad wo aadmi bhi driver ki gaddi par.
"Bhaiya, ye aapke chacha ji the?", Arjun bahot dhimi raftaar se chala raha tha aur uski manjil idhar se 4 kilometer aage thi.
"Oh sage chacha ji nahi hai baai lekin sabhi bache unhe chacha he bolte hai. Waise toh ye din me adde se apne town tempu chalate hai lekin aaj shayad shehar gaye the. Ab tumhari jagah mere sath gaanv ya college ka dost hota toh chittar padne the lekin dekho pradhan ji ka naam sunn kar chacha kaise thande padd gaye. Aajkal chuttiyan chal rahi hai toh saare bache gaanv me he hote hai aur dasvi-baarvi walo ke 3 ghante ki class lagti hai. Ye ladkiyan apni he taraf ki hai aur nurse ki padhai karne roj shehar jaati hai. Inka tempu fix hai. Haan yaha se apna kasba.. town shuru baai.", Ab ye log ek aur sadak par mude the jo 25 feet chaudi thi aur bargad ka vishaal vriksh prarambh me he tha. Arjun ne padha ke uske padd-dada ji ka naam yaha bhi chinhit tha.
Kuch log is waqt bhi bargad ki chhaya tale khade the aur 2-3 tempu bhi. Rang birange ek ya jyada se jyada 2 manjil ke pakke ghar dono taraf aur unse pehle kahi kahi choti moti dukaan. Nihaal Arjun ko sab bataye ja raha tha lekin wo toh 10 ki raftaar me chalta jaise kho sa gaya tha. Khule ghar, jagah jagah ghane vriksh aur khali maidaan. Kahi kahi gaye-bhainse bhi bandhi thi aur din ke 11 baje garmi ki dopehar me bhi idhar utni garmi na thi.
Ek pakki eento ki sadak daayi tarf mudti sandesh liye thi Pandit Motilal Mahila Vidhyalaya ka aur muskurata hua Arjun aage dekhne laga toh thik chaurahe ke beech itna ghana vriksh jisne us chuarahe ko he sahej rakha tha. Hukka aur chai peene ke sath taash khelte 8-9 adhed/bujurg uski chhaya tale the aur unhone hawa me he hath utha kar Arjun ka jaisa mook swagat kiya.
"Ye hai baai apne pind da majma. Gurughar is taraf aur majid (masjid) thik saamne. Aage purana pind aur is taraf dharamshala, akhada aur mandar (mandir). Thodi dur hai lekin naye aur purane ke thik beech me. Khabbe (left) paase market hai jaha sabji, ration aur baaki sabkuch mil jata hai. Mera ghar bhi idhar he hai wo jiske bahar manji rakhi hai. Kone wala bada ghar Shaheed Major Randeep Singh ka hai. Sabhi bahot maan karte hai un par aur inke pariwar ka aur ab yaha biji rehti hai apni ek bahu ke sath kyonki inke bete ne 2 byaah kar rakhe. Aisa nahi hai ki aapas me banti nahi par Jagtar baai ji bade shehar me padhaai karte hai aur unki bebe wahi rehti hai. Chutti me toh wo har saal aate hai toh ab bhi aayenge. Rabb unki umar lambi rakhe, bade he dildaar aadmi hai Arjun baai apne Jagtar baai ji. Tum agge chalo main haweli tak chhod ke wapas aa jaunga.", Ab Arjun usko kya batata ki yahi Jaggi bhaiya hai uske aur usko khushi hui ki wo yaha bhi unse mil paayega.
"Waise aap yahi utar jao bhaiya, dhoop me wapis yaha tak aaoge phir."
"Nahi nahi. Mujhe toh ab chhod ke aana he padega baai. Chacha ne sakhti se kaha tha toh baad me 2 baat keh denge agar unhe khabar lagi toh. Chalo aage badhao apni gaddi.", Arjun ne bhi sehmati se rani aage badha di. Abhi wo kuch aage he aaye the ki ye mukhya sadak bhi pakki eent wali sadak me badal gayi. Idhar ghar kuch purane hisaab ke the lekin bahot behtar haal me. Kahi vriksh ke niche paltu jaanwar bandhe the toh kahi sabji ki kyariyan. Gaaye ko tokri se hara chara khilati us mahila par najar padte he Arjun ki tivra itcha jagi uska chehra dekhne ki. Peele safed salwar kameej me wo sudol bhara hua jism aur maansal baahen jinme sone ki 2-2 choodi thi aur sar pe safed dupatta liye wo jawan mahila hatho se he gaaye ko khilane me vyast thi. Kareeb aati motorcycle ki awaaj ne uska bhi dhyaan bhang kiya toh Arjun ko wo genhua khoobsurat chehra najar aaya.
"Dipa bhabhi, tussi har vele bas isdi sewa vich lagi rehndi ho. Dalbir paah ji di udeek kar rahe ji?", Arjun toh pehle se he kidi ki chaal sa chal raha tha aur Nihaal ke aisa bolne par jaane kyun usne motorcycle us ghar ke saamne he rok di. Wo mahila bhi apne eksaar motiyon se daant dikhati hui ek mohak muskurahat ke sath 2 kadam aage chali aayi.
"Ve tu ajj kithe chalya Neelu? Main tah bas Nimmi nu udeek rahi si. School toh aan wali hai na. Tere paah ji aur unha di jameen bhali. Ae gabru kaun ae? College toh naal aaya?", Arjun ki najre wo kaise dekhti jab uske chehre par wo dhoop ka chasma aur sar pe helmet tha? Lekin Dipa bhabhi ne toh pehli najar me he Arjun ki utsukta badha di thi. Sutwa sharir jiske sath lambaai bhi takriban sadhe 5 feet se kuch ek inch jyada. Dheele vastro me bhi sharir ke khaas ubharo ka vishist kasaav aur itni naisargik muskaan ke sath bebaak baat karna.
"Bhabhi ae pradhan ji de ghar mehmaan ne. Sangi chache ne keha c ke haweli tak chhad ke auna janaab ji nu tah othe he challya c. Nimrat da school hune poora hoya hona tah 10 minute tak aa jana usne. Tussi baali fikar karde ho naal dhup vich rang pakka kari jaane ho. Bebe puchdi si aap ji nu.", Nihaal apni baaton ke beech he sandesha bhi de raha tha aur Arjun ne hath jodd kar abhivadan kiya toh pehle thuddi par hath rakh kar usko dekhti Dipa bhabhi ne pratiuttar me namaskar kiya.
"Ji aaya nu (welcome). Pehle tah nahi vekhya aap ji nu?", Unki awaaj bhi utni he khankadaar thi jitni wo khud.
"Shukriya bhabhi ji. Wo pehli baar he aaya hu na idhar toh isliye nahi dekh paaye aap. Chalta hu.", Arjun ne jigyasa badha kar nikalna he behtar samjha aur uski baat ka matlab samajhti hui Dipa bhabhi wahi khadi rahi. Poore 5 minute baad he Nihaal paidal aata dikhai diya toh kareeb aane par unhone usko wahi rukwa liya.
"Ve pradhan ji de ghar ae naya mehmaan kaun hoya jehda pehle kadi pind vich disya ni?" (Pradhan ji ke ghar ye kaunsa mehmaan aaya hai jisko pehle gaanv me dekha nahi. Aage jyada baatchit hindi me likhunga dosto)
"Bhabhi dur shehar se aaya hai aur kad-kathi me toh mujhse 4-5 ungal uncha hoga lekin mujhse chota hai. Aap toh mere paida hone ke time se ho yaha fir mujhe jyada kaise pata hoga. Arjun naam hai aur bhala ladka hai. Ghoomne aaya hai chhuti me shehar se idhar. Main haweli se pehle he utar gaya tha lekin aap toh waha jaati rehti ho. Bola hai ki shaam ko akhaade ki taraf aayega.", Dipa bhabhi sunn kar bas haami bharti rahi.
"Delhi se hona jarur. Le Nimmi bhi aa gayi. Teri bebe aur behan se keh diyo ke main 4 baje aati hu udhar. Ye roti khaane aayenge toh kaam nibta ke. Aur tu thodi khuraak pe dhyaan de. Peer sahab ke mele se apne he pind ka naam sunaai dena chahiye. Bhoot aur Billa tere paah ji ko bata rahe the ki is baar parli taraf walo ne awaaj lagwaai hai. Pradhan ji ne bhi raider ko pakki naukri dilwane ki jubaan ki hai baaki sabhi ko 5-5 hajaar ke sath. Nimmi tu kapde badal le main khana lagati hu tera.", Bhabhi Nihaal se baatchit karke ghar me chali gayi aur ye saafdil insaan unse vida le kar kinare kinare chalta hua apne aap se he baatein karta jaane laga. Paani ki shudh dhaar sa saaf insaan tha Nihaal aur is gaanv me wo Arjun ka pehla dost bana toh.
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"Mil aaya fir taai se?", Shankar apne office me akela he baitha tha jab darwaja khol kar Narinder akele he andar dakhil hua. Mej par rakha tiffin dekh Narinder ne sateek andaja lagate hue poocha tha aur apne bhai ki bagal me rakhi kursi par pasar gaya. Shankar ke chehre par ek pal toh hairani ke bhaav aaye fir muskura diya.
"Haan kuch kaam tha unhe aur fir Richa se baat karni thi. Tu savere se kaha gayab tha aur akela aaya hai?"
"Richa ki maa se bhi mulakaat ho gayi hogi lage hath? Aur main akela nahi aaya. Renu bhi sath he aayi hai lekin usko Param ne kisi mahila doctor ke sath thode tests karwane bhej diya. Pata nahi kal he toh dikhaya tha usko tune maa ke sath lekin usko aur bhi kuch pareshani hai shayad. Waise tujhse kuch baat karni thi yaar.", Narinder dwara Madhulata par tanj karna Shankar ko atcha he laga tha kyonki aisa wo kabhi kabhi Shankar ke maje lene ke liye karta tha. Aur samne pade tiffin ko araam se kholte hue Narinder ne plastic ki wo bottle bhi utha li jisme thandi lassi bhari thi. Choorme ki khushbu lene ke sath he usne hatho se he khana shuru kar diya.
"Araam se kha bhai main toh ghar se he thoos kar nikla tha. Tere hisse ka bhi kha liya aaj toh. Waise koyi gambhir baat hai kya?", Table ke dusri taraf se nikal kar Shankar ne darwaja andar se laga diya. Ab awaaj bahar nahi ja sakti thi aur Narinder ne lassi ki bottle mooh se lagate hue he sar hila diya.
"Huhhhh. Tu kayi baar toh gadar macha deta hai yar aur kabhi kabhi aise aadmi ko chhod deta hai jo sala bawasir ban sakta hai hamare liye. Naitik wale maamle ke baad jab tu XXXX gaya tha toh aadha darjan jaan li thi lekin uske bawjood wo aadmi bach gaya jo sala sabse pehle khatam hona chahiye tha. Lekin tajjub ki baat hai ki wo sala 18 saal baad he kyun wajood me aaya?", Narinder ne ghoot fir se bharne ke baad phir se choorme ka bhog chalu kiya aur Shankar ek hath se sar khujata hua daftari kagaj par pen se dabbe banane laga.
"Ye kaunsa murda zinda ho gaya be aur tujhe kaise pata chala? Tune ye bhi nahi bataya ke tu tha kaha aur ab ye kya maamla hai.?"
"..mat.. hing.. Uhhh.. Himmat Singh bhai.. Wo bhosdiwala kabar se kaise bahar aa gaya? Aur main bas papa ke kaam se gaya tha najdeek he. Jameen dekhne ke liye bheja tha unhone aur wo jameen kaam ki na lagi mujhe. Ab tu bata ke is jhaantu ka kya kare? Tujhe kuch karna nahi lekin pata lagana hai ke ye ab hain kaha aur iski back kaun hai. 18 saal aise toh wo bacha na reh sakta jabtak koyi sahi hath uske sar ke upar na ho. Bahot baar kaha hai maine ke lash kharaab karne se pehle chehre salamat rakha kar lekin tujhe toh bas chehre se aand tak bas chire lagane me maja aata hai."
"Yar Inder wo tatta agar kisi tarah zinda bhi hai toh itna maal na bhara uske andar ki wo apna saamna kar sake ya koyi nuksaan. Aur itni jaldi kyon hai tujhe usko pakadne ki? Abhi toh ek surgery bhi hai meri 2 baje, matlab ghante baad he aur uske baad Umed ke yaha bhi jana jo ki time pe hone wala nahi. Himmat Singh zinda hai aur sala?", Shankar ne taang pasar kar dono hatho ki ungliyon ko aapas me jod liya. Wo jaise us samay ko yaad karne laga tha aur ghatnakram bhi. Narinder kuch waqt khata raha aur jab lassi ki poori bottle khatam hui toh dakaar leta hua Shankar ke rumaal se he gande hath saaf karke apne bhai jaise table par dono paanv rakh kar araam ki mudra me pasar gaya.
"Dekh bhai Shankar jo insaan tere waar se bach gaya wo hoga toh kuch majboot he. Iraade bhi tagde honge uske jo itne samay tak shaant raha. Mere sutro se mujhe iski jaankari lagi hai aur usne teri, meri aur thaanedar ji ki supari di thi wo bhi 5 crore ki. Ab dhande me pata toh chal he jata hai ki kiski supari uthi hai lekin lene wale ka naam nahi aata. Bahar Sanjiv ki car ki dikki me poora ek crore pada hai saboot ke taur par jo apna he hai kyonki shooter maine close kar diya. Ab hafte ke bhitar kaam na hua toh supari kisi aur ke paas jaayegi. Tab kismat itni he meharbaan hogi iski probability bahot kam hai. Haan Himmat Singh ko he hata diya jaaye toh baat khatam. Aur wo hai apne pradesh me he kyonki kaam bhi yahi hona tha aur paise bhi yahi baramad hue hai.", Itna byora milte he Shankar ke jism me urja bhar uthi. Samne rakhe phone par 5 vibhinn number dabane ke baad he usne ghante ke baad aayi awaj se batchit shuru ki.
"Bharat bhai Shankar bol raha hu."
"Haan bhai number se he jaan gaye hoge. Atcha ek kaam tha.", Shankar ke itna bolte he dusri taraf se kuch kaha gaya toh Shankar ne aage baat badhai.
"Pata lagana hai ek zinda lash ka. Aur jab aapke pas time ho toh bata dijiye mera bhai saari details ke sath aapse milne aa jayega.", Shankar ne baat kehne ke baad saamne wale ke bolne par pen se kaagaj par kuch likhna shuru kar diya.
"Thik hai Bharat bhai kal subah 8 baje Inder, mera matlab Narinder aapke paas pahuch jaayega. Mamla sangin bhi hai aur urgent bhi toh aap par he bharosa kar sakta hu. Meri team utni tej nahi hai is maamle me aur waqt ki he kami hai apne paas.", Shankar jis tarah se saamne wale ko ijjat de raha tha ye amuman dekhne ko nahi milta tha. Kuch aur baatchit ke baad phone rakh diya gaya.
"Ye Bharat bhai kahi Col chacha wala sanki toh nahi hai?", Narinder mustaidi se baat sunn raha tha aur ab kagaj par likha hua padhne ke baad uske sawaal par Shankar bhi hansne laga.
"Isko na toh chacha bol sakte aur na sirf naam se. Sabka bhai hai ye lekin aadmi khara sona hai Inder. Tu is se kal mil le is jagah subah 8 baje. Dekh milne ke liye jagah bhi kya bataai hai. Moonlight cinema ke pichli taraf baayi gali me beej bhandar ke upar wali darji ki dukaan. Chai ke khokhe se pata chal jaayega. Behanchod hai toh karamchand jasoos he poora. Khair ye aadmi he 24 ghante me usko dhoond sakta hai. Aur is baar main gardan alag karke he rahunga us harami ki."
"Rehne de na bhai badi mushkil se teri image thik kar rahe hai main aur Umed mil kar. Main dekh lunga ye sab aur tu ab samajhdar ho raha hai. Nahi toh mujhe lag raha tha tu Rajesh ya Daleep ko isme shamil karega."
"Baap ko toh tu mujhe jyada jaanta hai Inder. Tab bhi unhone apne meethe bol sunaye the aur agar unhe pata lagta ki sala ye zinda hai toh ek baar aur maar lete meri. Rajesh ka bhi apna pariwar hai yar aur maine pehle he usko bahot uljhaya hai. Ab teri salaah par main seekh raha hu ki hamesha bahar se sewa leni chahiye aur kaam khud karna behtar. Waise tere sahabjaade gaanv pahuch chuke hai. Maa ka phone aaya tha tere aane se pehle he. Bata rahi thi ki Vinod Arjun ki wajah se ghar pe he hai aur baaki sab log bhi khush the udhar uske jaane par. Lekin tune mujhse ye akhaade wali baat kyun kehalwaai Arjun ko?", Achanak he Shankar ko aaj subah wala ghatnakram dhyaan aa gaya jis par Narinder muskurane laga.
"Vinod dil ka bura nahi hai bas chutiya hai thoda. Aur tujhe ye nahi pata hoga ki wo Arjun se darr mehsoos karta hai ab lekin atchi baat hai ki wo koshish kar raha hai ghulne milne ki. Hum toh usko samjha nahi paaye par apne pehalwan ke paas sharir se jyada dimaag hai aur us se badhiya hai uski soch. Wo bure ko khatam nahi karta Shankar, hamari tarah. Buraai ko khatam karta hai wo bhi gehraai me utar kar. Waise tujhe mela yaad hai jaha tu aur apna jigari mama ghoda jeet ke aaye the?", Narinder ne yaha apne swargiya mama Banwari ka jikar karke Shankar ko meethi yaad dilwa di thi.
"Haan bhai apna khasamkhaas tha toh koyi wo Banwari mama he toh tha bachpan se. Pehla guru aur darr ko bhi majaak se darane wala ghudsawaar. Banne mama jaisa aadmi toh koyi ho he nahi sakta. Hostle me kaise taash khila khila kar 40 logo ki suppli lagwa di thi mama ne aur dean.. Uski toh class aisi li thi ki bechara hath jodd kar maafi maangne lag pada tha.", Shankar toh sab bhool kar hans hans ke dohra he ho gaya.
"Oh ruk ja be mere bhole bhandari ruk ja aur wapis aa vartmaan me pyaare. Tujhe mela yaad hai na?"
"Haan bhai yaad hai aur yaad kyun nahi hoga aakhir ghoda jeete the hum mama-bhanja waha. Lekin papa ne pehli baar gaand sujai thi us time. Meri chhod teri aur Ajju ki bhi toh patloon utarwa di thi unhone us time. Tum logo ne waha kushti kari thi na?", Ab Narinder ne sehmat hansi dikhai thi.
"Je baat mere bhai. Ab aayi na tere chote bheje me sahi baat. Hum dono ko saja kushti nahi kabaddi khelne ki wajah se mili thi. Aur Ajju ne waha dargaah se agle gaav ki team ko bhidne ki chunoti de di thi. Kabaddi ki poori team aur saamne hum dono. Pagal tha wo aur uske sath main jo baat maan gaya. Jeet bhi gaye lekin ghar aaye toh wo sala toh bhaag khada hua papa ko gusse me dekh lekin main hathe chadh gaya thaanedar ke. Bhai us patli se bent se ek inch chuttad upar utha diye the unhone mere aur Ajju sala meri patloon jameen pe dekh apni bhi utaar ke unke pas ja khada hua. Udhar se aa gaye tum mama bhanja jo uski jagah fans gaye. Ajju ke toh maar he na padi thi kyonki papa sabhi ko saja de sakte the lekin usko nahi. Baad me bas itna he kaha tha ke ab kabhi mele me nahi jaoge. Aur jana bhi hua toh maa sath jaayegi, jo ki unse jyada khatarnaak hai. Bas tabhi se, na hum log mele me gaye aur na udhar wale akhade me.", Ajju ka bhi jikar chala toh Shankar fir se khush hone laga ye bhul kar ki baat kya chal rahi hai.
"Tu aur teri yaadon ka pitara Shankar. Abe hum akhade ki baat kar rahe hai."
"Haan bhai haan. Bas aaj yar Arjun ke sath thoda waqt akele raha tha aur baatchit karte hue Ajju ka jikar ho aaya. Kuch bhi keh in dono ke beech ek badi samaan baat jarur hai. Isko bhi sabhi barabar chahte hai aur koyi kuch kehne nahi deta or uske sath bhi aisa he tha. Aur dono kab kya kar jaaye ye tabtak nahi pata chalta jabtak ghatna saamne aa na jaaye. Lekin yar Inder iska matlab Arjun ko akhade ke baare me batana nahi chahiye tha. Papa phir se bhadkenge aur maa iska jimmewar hume he bata degi."
"Yar tu na sachmuch nira jhandu he hai Shankar. Abe papa ne mele me jaane se toh mana he nahi kiya tha aur Arjun ko kasrat ki jaruat padti hai khud ko niyantrit or sucharu rakhne ke liye toh papa ko uska akhade jana bhala he lagega. Lekin majedar baat ye hai ki aaj 23 hai aur 28 ko varshik mela lagega dargaah pe. Arjun ko pata lagega ghar se bhi aur akhade se bhi. Jabse mera aur Ajju wala kaand hua tha uske baad har saal chunoti uth rahi hai aur usko koyi bhi akhada nahi le raha. Papa ne apne gaanv ko mana kiya hua aur baaki halke ke jo 14-15 gaanv hai wo bhi shanti banaye hue hai. Bas dargaah ke parli taraf wale us haar ko bhool nahi paaye aur har baar speaker pe bajwa dete hai. Chunoti bhi Ajju wali he rakhte hai par bada badlaav karke. Ya toh unke 2 pehalwan ek se bhidenge ek samay me aur saamne wala 5 bhej sakta hai. Matlab 2 logo se 5 log bhidenge lekin baari baari se akele. Nahi toh iska ulta karo. Us haar ko un logo ne itna gambhirta se liya tha Shankar ki waha lagbhag har ghar me ek tagda kabaddi ka khiladi hai jo desi pehalwan bhi hai aur prashikshan ke liye ek se badhkar ek coach-suvidhaye. Panchayate aapsi sauhard banaye hue hai aur kahi bhi koyi matbhed nahi hai."
"Phir tum aisa karna he kyun chahte ho yar? Aur agar galti se ye waha bhid baitha toh iski rail bana denge 2 daksh pehalwan. Kushti ka ghanta pata hai isko aur wo bhi desi akhade me.? Lekin agar tu aisa chahta hai toh wajah jarur hogi.", Shankar ke sawal aur apne bete ko kamtar aankne par Narinder ne apna sar he peet liya.
"Bina wajah toh humne bhi wo chunoti na di thi bhai. Tujhe lagta hai Ajju aise he ulajh jata tha? Tab mudda ye tha ki Ram aur Raghu ke baad kya Motilal ji ke pariwar ne surma paida karne band kar kiye? Kyonki papa aur chacha dangal karte the dargah ke akhade me lekin phir unhone kisi wajah se ye ekdum band kar diya. Maa se maine baat ki thi lekin unhe bhi iska kuch pata nahi aur na Purnima chachi ko. Krishan chacha ka kehna hai ki tab kuch shahi khel aur niyam shamil hote the aisi kushti me aur bahar se shahi mehman bhi aamantrit hote the. Unhe atche se yaad nahi tha kyonki unki umar kam thi lekin kushti me papa ya chacha ke hatho bada kaand ho gaya tha, josh josh me. Aur uske baad apne bacho ki baat par dada ji ne raajgharane se baat karke is aayojan ko bas apne halke aur peer sahab ke mele tak simit rakhne ki arji di thi. Kushti hoti rahi lekin sahi kaayde ke sath aur papa ya Raghuvir chacha kabhi bhi maidaan me nahi utre. Unke aisa karne par gaanv ke baaki gharo se bhi kisi ne akhaade me na utarne ka fainsla kiya jo us din tak barkarar raha jis din tak un logo ne Ajju aur mujhe chunoti di. Humne kar liya jo karna tha lekin papa ko is baat ka bahot bura laga tha. Unhone baad me us aayjan sthal se dada ji ke naam ka smarak pathar bhi hatwa diya.", Ateet ka lekha jokha batate hue Narinder ne table par rakhi cigrattee ki dibbi uthate hue ek dhumrapan dandika sulga li.
"Aur tu fir bhi Arjun ko kaise na kaise isme utarna chahta hai.? Ajju ko papa ne chahe kuch na kaha ho lekin Arjun ko saja de sakte hai wo. Aur aisa karke kya milega hume?"
"Sukoon milega bhai. Wo naam waha se hatane ka dukh hai papa ko kyonki unhe poori baat baad me pata chali thi ki aisa hua kyun tha. Lekin jubaan toh wo palatne se rahe lekin agar Arjun ne challenge le liya toh wo avashya sabit karega ki kyun Pandit Motilal ji ka khoon khaas raha hai. Tujhme ya mujhme papa jaise gunn nahi hai Shankar aur Ajju kuch unke jaisa tha bhi toh sirf baatchit me. Us se bada sanaki toh tu bhi nahi hai. Arjun har baat par gor karta hai aur fir uske sawaal shuru hote hai jo wo yakinan gaanv ya Kishan chacha se poochega. Jawaab bhi milenge aur jab pata lagega ki us jagah se ek khaas naam gayab hai toh wo yakinan akhade me utrega. Ubal saamne wale bhi rahe honge kyonki bechare itne baras se mehnat kar rahe hai ye soch kar ki kab wo din aayega jab unki jhandi pakadne saamne se koyi aaye. Wo log ye dekhenge ki is baar unke saamne khaas insaan hai toh ye baat akhade ke baad fir nahi uthegi. Becharo par sarkari aur shahi danda bhi chala hai us naam ke hatne ki wajah se. Panchayat grant aadhi bhi nahi milti aur jo sahayata ho rahi hai wo papa ke kehne par main dekhta hu ya Kumar Mahendra. Papa shayad gussa kare lekin jab wo apne pita ka naam wapis waha paayenge toh dard khatam ho jayega unka aur ye udhghosh bhi waha hona band. Kya bolta hai?", Narinder abhi bhi sehmati le raha tha kyonki Shankar ki ijajat jaruri thi.
"Pooch kya raha hai bhai? Bhijwa fir chote chote nagme akhade ke Arjun ke kaano tak. Lekin waha kisi apne ko jarur maujood rakhna padega. Kahi ummeed se alag kaand hua na toh bheed ka chehra nahi hota aur apna ek he londa hai. Phir thaanedar ne hum dono ki takhti taang deni jo uske sath unch neech ho gayi."
"Ye papa ke naam pe tu apne dil ki baat kar raha hai bhole bhandari. Aur mera bhi beta hai wo toh apni hifajat me rakhunga. Haan usko past hone tak mauka jarur dunga kyonki khoon toh apna hai aur ye kamjor nahi."
"Waise khoon wali baat se yaad aaya ke dada ji toh pehalwan the lekin papa ko toh bas sabhi shikari ke naam se bulate the. Wo ye kushti jaise khel khelne wale lagte hai tujhe?", Shankar jhemp gaya tha jab Narinder ne uski chori pakad li thi bete ki parwah wali. Baat badal kar mudda ab pita par aa gaya.
"Yakeen toh mujhe bhi nahi hua lekin unka thappad is gaal pe lagta tha toh sunaai dusre se bhi nahi deta tha. Wo maarte bhi nahi the hath se jaha tak mumkin hota. Yaad nahi col chacha batate the ki ek majnu ke tikaya tha unhone khule hath ka aur baad me gaal par taanke lagwane bhi khud he le kar gaye the usko. Is umar bhi wo aashirwad dene se katrate hai bacho ko. Hathode jaisa hath aur mere jitna kad. Shikar se aisa sharir thodi banta hai. Haan dada tagde dikhte the isliye papa ko humne kam he aanka. Chal ab apne dada jaisa apna beta hai toh isko he dekh ke khush ho lenge. Main karta hu intjaam Arjun tak paheliyan bhijwane ka aur Renuka intjaar kar rahi hogi toh usko le kar jata hu ghar. Gajju ke paas milte hai phir. Bhalla wala matter bhi samajhna hai.", Narinder ne aadhi cigratte Shankar ko dene ke baad aise he darwaja khol diya.
"Abe main senior doctor hu aur sabko dikhayega ki yaha kash laga raha hu?"
"Warning likhi hoti hai hospital me toh iska matlab ye nahi hath pakad rakhe hai. Tera cabin, teri cigratte toh tu dekh. Sham ko milta hu.", Hanste hue Narinder toh nikal gaya aur uski baat par muskurate hue Shankar ne us cigrattee ko ek baar dekhne ke baad hontho se laga kar cabin fir se band kar liya. Dono bhaiyon ne bahot charcha kar li thi aur kuch fainsle bhi lekin hona na hona unke hath nahi tha.
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"Namastey chacha ji. Namastey Fufa ji. Aap bhi samay se aa gaye the lagta hai chote dada ji.?",Arjun ko toh dur se he wo imarat dikh gayi thi jiski bhavyata kisi prakar se Sombir Singh ya Rammehar wali haweli se kam na thi. Nihaal ne bhi usko kuch pehle he rukwa ka bas uski manzil dikha di thi aur baad me milne ka bol kar chala gaya tha. Motorcycle ghar ke bahar he rokne wala tha Arjun ki us se pehle ek sewak ne lakdi aur lohe ka wo ek manzila darwaja khol kar andar laane ki jagah di. Uske shehar wale ghar jitna toh sirf yaha ye aangan he tha wo bhi pakka bhaag. Baaki dono taraf sadharan sabji-phulo ke bagiche aur kuch ghane vriksh. Ulte 'U' ke akaar me aangan ke teen taraf anginat kamre aur waisa he bhaag upari manzil ka. Haweli ka plaster bhi waisa he tha jaisa amuman itihasik imarato ka rehta hai. Dakhil hote he usne sabse pehle Vinod chacha aur PP Sharma se bhent ki aur awaaj sunn kar Krishneshwar ji bhi goad me Niketan ko liye ek kaksh se bahar chale aaye. Arjun ke chehre ke bhaav dekh unhe bhi atcha laga.
"Yar itni badhiya car rakhi hai tumne wo bhi 2-2 aur aaye bhi lambe safar par toh punjabi gaadi pe. Waise jachti hai tumhare upar. Maa, najar utaro Arjun ki.", Vinod ne usko charpaai par baithane se pehle he apni maa ko awaaj di. Arjun ka bag Krishneshwar ji ke ishare bhar se wo sanwla lekin majboot sa sewak ek charpaai par rakh kar wapis dwar par ja baitha. Devaki ji rasoighar se ek peetal ki badi thaali me diya, paani aur meetha liye aayi jinke paanv chhu kar Arjun ne aashirwad liya aur uski najar utaari ghoongat audhe khadi Anamika chachi ne.
"Beta, dekh rahe hai ki tumhe kuch alag sa lag raha hai apni he mitti me aane par. Safar ki thakaan hai ya kuch aur wajah?", Krishneshwar ji ne he tilak karke usko gudd khilaya aur chandi ki gilasi se paani Devaki ne.
"Nahi chote dada ji aisi baat nahi hai aur safar toh kuch bhi nahi laga. Lekin mujhe nahi pata tha ke ye ghar itna jyada bada hoga. Yaha toh shehar wala pariwar bhi rehne aa jaaye toh sabko ek ek kamre dene ke baad bhi kamre bach sakte hai. Aur 2 manzil bhi itni unchi jaise 3 ho. Waise isko barkarar rakhne ka shrey toh choti daadi ji ko jata hai kyonki itna bada ghar sambhalna harek ke bas ki baat toh nahi.", Arjun abhi bhi khada toh aur ye dekh kar Krishneshwar ji usko charpayi par baithane lage toh Vinod ne kandha daba kar usko lakdi ki ek shaandar lekin purani kursi par baitha diya.
"Araam se baitho aur pehle sharir ko araam do beta. Aur ye haweli bani he pariwar ke liye hai. Aage chal kar samay aayega jab tumhe apne is chote bhai ke sath mil kar barkarar rakhna hoga. Waise ye sirf itni he badi nahi hai jitni dikh rahi hai. Pichla bhaag dusri sadak tak jata hai. Kabhi waha par hum bhai behan athekheliyan mauj-masti kiya karte the aur amma sabki sutaai.", Anjaane he Krishneshwar ji ke mooh se behan nikal gaya jo Arjun ke mann me baith gaya lekin abhi usne sawaal nahi kiya. Lekin pichli kayi mulakaato ke baad pehli baar hua tha ke Devaki ke chehre par khushi aayi thi. Arjun ne aate he unhe jo maan diya tha.
"Phir toh maine deri kardi aane me yaha dada ji. Aur mujhe poori ummeed hai mere is nanhe bhai par jo isko atche se sambhalega. Ab hum khelnge yaha.. Ooii.. mujhe jaanta hai na Kittu?", Arjun Niketan ko dularte hue hansane laga toh wo bacha bhi uske paas aa kar kilkari maar kar khushi dikhane laga. Ye dekh ghoongat me bhi Anamika ke chehre par bahumulya hansi aa gayi aur Arjun ke kahe har shabd ne baaki sabko prabhavit he kiya. PP Sharma khamosh tabiyat tha lekin sath baitha wo bhi shamil raha inke sath. Ab ek lagbhag 30 umar ki mahila audhni ghagre me sadhi chaal se inke kareeb aayi aur badi tray ko lakdi ke mej par rakhne ke baad wapis chali gayi. Sabhi ke liye chai, namkeen, biscuit aur meetha tha. Ek gilaas thandai bhi jo Arjun ke liye thi.
"Tumhara samaan main papa wale kamre me he rakhwa deta hu Arjun. Yaha aksar bijli jaati rehti hai aur papa ko generator pasand nahi isliye 4 kamro me battery ka connection kiya hua hai. Jija ji, Damini aur Aanchal ek kamre me ruk jaayenge aaj aur papa maa wale me. Baaki tumhare liye toh lagta hai ye generator bhi lagwa lenge.", Vinod ne ye baat apne pita ko dekhte hue masti me kahi thi aur wo hath ke ishare se usko keh rahe the ke tu jo marji kar.
"Waise silent generator bhi aata hai chacha ji lekin jab gaanv aaya hu toh is sabse dur he rahunga. Samaan ke naam par ek bag he hai mere paas aur isko kahi bhi rakhwa dijiye. Sona toh mujhe aangan ya chhat par he hai, khuli hawa aur aasamn ke niche. Na bijli jaane ka chakkar aur na gadde ki wajah se pasine ka. Jarurate toh jitni marji badha sakte hai lekin sukoon ka niyam bilkul alag hai. Galat toh nahi keh raha na chote dada ji?"
"Bade bhaiya sahi kehte hai tumhare baare me beta. Tum na unke jaise ho na mere ya kisi aur jaise. Chalte bhi hamare pita ki tarah ho aur baatein bhi waisi he. Unhe main suchit kar deta hu ki tum sakushal aa gaye ho aur jaha tumhara dil kare waha raho. Snaanghar 3 hai yaha aur chaho toh naha kar taravat le lo. Ek yaha bahar, dusra upari manzil par lekin usko main saaf karwa deta hu aur ek pichle bhaag me hai. Vinod ne sehri hisaab se banwaya hai wo wala. Kamro me sirf snaan ka prabandh juda hai. Abhi araam karo thoda aur chaho toh phone par baat karne mere sath he chalo. Vinod tumhe shaam ko gaanv dikhane le jaayega. Kal ye shehar nikal jaayega toh wapis fir brihaspatvar he aane wala hai. 28 ko. Bahu, iski marji se jaha ye kahe waha samaan rakhwa do aur Meena ko bol kar fir se safaai karwa dena.", Krishneshwar ji ke charitra aur baatchit se ye toh saaf tha ke wo vyakti kahi bhi dhile naade ka nahi lagta tha aur bhasha bilkul maryadit evam pariwarik. Arjun ko kaafi mashakkat karni padegi ye wo jaan chuka tha Damini, Devaki aur baaki sabhi ko samajhne par. Lekin aakhirkar wo manzil par toh pahuch he gaya tha jaisa uske aur Pandit ji ke beech taye hua tha.
awesome update hai Enigma bhai,
