Mishri
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Fantastic.....jo bhi halat h uske baad to yhi lgta h ki renuka glt h bt jb tk baat one sided ho tb tk kisi ko justify bhi nhi kiya jata skta......let's see what next......
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Thriller RAAZ..... (Completed)
- Thread starterThe Immortal
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Chapter 16 - Kanha
Liyaqat se kaafi kuchh nayi information mili thi. Sabse zaroori baat ye ke ab Sunanda ka gayab hona Ravi ke case se alag nahi tha. Dono ghatna aapas mein judi hui thi aur dono ke lapata hone ki vajah ek hi tha. Agar dono mein se kisi ek case ka bhi koi sira haath lag jata toh poore mamle ko udheda ja sakta tha. Par problem sirf yahi thi ke ab tak mere haath aisa koi sira aaya nahi tha. Jo mila tha sirf information thi jiski bina par na toh kisi par anguli uthayi ja sakti thi aur na hi kisi pukhta nateeje par pahuncha ja sakta tha.
Liyaqat ke jaane ke thodi hi der baad Kamini bhi laut aayi.
"Badi jaldi aa gayi, mila kuchh?"
"Haan milta agar ham ek do saal pehle gaye hote"
"Matlab?"
"Buddha marne ko hai, bol hi nahi sakta kuchh. Use toh khabar bhi nahi ab ke uske aas paas kaun hai, baat kya karega kisi se"
"Toh matlab kuchh pata nahi chala"
"Nahi"
"Uske ghar mein aur koi?"
"Dono baap bete hi the bas. Kanha eklauta beta tha uska, aur aage pichhe koi nahi" Vo fridge se pani ki bottle nikalti hui boli.
"Ye kya hai?" Maine ek newspaper mein lipti cheez ki taraf ishara kiya jo Kamini ne lakar table par rakhi thi.
"Photo hai?"
"Kiski?"
"Kanha ki"
Maine newspaper khola aur tasveer bahar nikali. Vo ek vaisi hi photo thi jo ke aksar gharon mein kuchh waqt pehle tak deewar par tangi hui milti thi. Ek badi si lakdi ke frame mein band photo jismein ek 24-25 saal ka ladka ek park jaisi jagah mein khada tha. Photo shayad holi ke din ki thi kyunki background mein jo bhi log the sabke chehron par rang laga hua tha. Khud Kanha ke chehre par bhi halka sa laal rang aur maathe par bada sa teeka tha.
"Ye kahan se mili?"
"Kanha ke ghar se"
"Ye kyun utha laayi"
"Hamari paas Kanha ki koi tasveer nahi thi, socha shayad tumhein zaroorat ho toh main le aayi"
"Kisse?"
"Ghar mein ek buddhe se uncle the jo Kanha ke baap ki dekhbhal kar rahe the. Unhone puchha ke main kaun hoon, main kaha ek kitaab likhne wali aur phir vahi jhooth bola jo tumne kaha tha. Uske baad aadhe ghante tak vo Kanha ki tareefon ke pul jodte rahe ke kaise ko kitna achha ladka tha, kaise jawani mein bhagwan kyun kisi ke saath aisa karta hai vagerah vagerah. Jab main aane lagi toh khud hi bole ke kitaab mein chhapne ke liye mujhe Kanha ki koi tasveer chahiye? Ab main kya kehti, maine bhi bol diya haan. Deewar par ye photo tangi thi, unhone akhbaar mein lapetkar mujhe thama di. Kehne lage ke vaise bhi ab is ghar mein koi rahega nahi, saman ka pata nahi kya hoga toh kam se kam tasveer ka toh koi achha istemaal ho"
"Hmmmm" Maine tasveer side mein ek table par rakhte hue kaha, "Matlab sivaay is baat ke Kanha kaisa dikhta tha, ham kuchh nahi jaan sake"
"Yep" Vo sofe par aaram se let si gayi, "Any luck with Liyaqat?"
"Oh yes, lots of luck" Kehkar maine Liyaqat se hui poori baat use batayi.
"Wow, that is certainly a lot of information. Liyaqat bhai kaafi kuchh dil mein dabaye bethe the"
"Right, ab finally ugla kambakht ne"
"so whats next now?"
"Khana kha lete hain filhal uske baad ek baar phir Sunanda ke ghar"
"Sunanda ke ghar?"
"Yep"
"Kyun?"
"Uski maan ka phone aaya tha mere paas"
"Chaai pe bulaya tumhein?" Vo hasti hui boli.
"Shut up, keh rahi hai ke Sunanda ka koi letter vagerah mila hai"
"Letter? Kaisa letter?"
"Kaisa letter toh nahi pata par i am hoping ke uske lover ka koi lover letter type hi ho, kaafi kuchh sulajh jaayega agar aisa hua toh"
"Ok, and how do you want to go? Inspector Falana Falana?"
"Nahi soch raha hoon ke ham log khud hi chale jaate hain. Kab tak Mr. Falana Falana ko takleef dete rahenge"
Maine Liyaqat ko phone kar khana bhijvane ke liye kaha jo ke 15 min baad hi aa gaya. Ham bethe kha hi rahe the ke darwaze ki ghanti baji. Maine darwaza khola toh bahar Inspector Falana Falana khada tha.
"Negi bhai aap yahan?"
"Haan idhar se guzar raha tha toh socha ke aapse milta chalun. Kaise hain aap?"
"Andar aaiye" Main darwaze se hat-ta hua bola, "Ham toh theek hi hain par aapki umar kaafi lambi hai"
"Achha, kyun?"
"Abhi aapko yaad hi kar rahe the. Vo Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf jana hai phir se toh socha ke aapko saath lete chalen"
"Haan bilkul sir, aap jab kahen" Negi ek baar phir hamesha ki taraf fauran madad ke liye taiyyar ho gaya.
Asal mein ham log toh abhi soch rahe the" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.
"Haan toh abhi chal sakte hain, meri gaadi bahar hi khadi hai"
"Theek hai phir aap bethiye 10 min, min taiyyar ho jata hoon"
Takreeban 15 min baad ham Negi ki gaadi mein bethkar ek baar phir Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf chale. Maine aage Negi ke saath betha hua tha aur Kamini pichhli seat par.
"Sir agar aap bura na maanein toh ek personnal sa sawal puchhun?"
"Bura mannne wali kya baat hai" Maine muskura kar raha, "Aap toh already meri itni help kar rahe hain. Puchhiye"
"And ma'm aap?" Usne review mirror mein Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, "Sawal asal mein aap dono ke baare mein hai"
Main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchhna chahta tha par ye samajh nahi aaya ke uske puchhne ke baad jawab kya doonga. Kamini ke saamne agar main saaf saaf use ye kehta ke ham sirf dost hain toh yakeenan use bura lagta.
"Main jaanti hoon aap kya puchhna chahte hain" Mere se pehle Kamini haskar bol padi, "Ham dono ke beech aisa kuchh nahi hai, we are just good friends. Actually toh bachpan se saath mein hi rahe ham dono, since we were kids"
"Aah tabhi" Negi ne bhi haskar jawab diya, "Tab hi aap logon ki chemistry aapas mein itni achhi hai kyunki itne saalon se jaante hain ek doosre ko. Saamne wala toh ek pal ke liye yahi sochega ke aap pati patni hain"
"Aapas mein itna time saath raho toh ek doosre ke baare mein pata chal hi jata hai" Kamini ne kaha.
"Sahi keh rahi hain madam. Aap logon ko aapas mein dekhke lagta hai ke kaafi comfortable hain aap saath mein isliye main puchh betha. I hope aapko bura nahi laga"
"Nahi koi baat nahi" Kamini ne jawab diya, "We are just good friends"
Aur tab pehli baar jaane kyun mujhe uska ye kehna ke ham sirf achhe dost hain, achha nahi laga. Aaj se pehle kabhi aisa nahi hua tha aur na jaane kyun main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke vo Negi se ye kahegi ke ham dono dost se zyada hain, ke ham log saath hain. Main khud bhi ye baat nahi janta tha ke mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai kyunki agar Kamini na bolti toh Negi ke sawal ka jawab main bhi vahi deta jo Kamini ne diya. Phir bhi dil mein kahin uska ye kehna ke ham sirf dost hain mujhe kuchh bura sa laga.
Gaadi ham logon ne phir vahin chhodi jahan pehle chhodi thi aur pagdandi par utarte hue Sunanda ke ghar ki taraf badhe. Negi hamse thoda aage chal raha tha, uske pichhe Kamini aur sabse pichhe main.
"Thanks" Maine pichhe se Kamnini ko kaha.
"For what?" Vo chalte chalte palti.
"Negi ke sawal ka jawab dene ke liye, i mean for understanding"
"Understanding what? Sidha sa sawal tha, sachcha sa jawab de diya maine. Vaise bhi ham dono dost hi toh hain"
"Haan vo toh hai magar mujhe laga tha ke ....."
"Ke main uske saamne dhindhora pitungi ke main tumse pyaar karti hoon aur tum nahi?" Vo ruk kar thoda talkhi bhare andaaz mein boli, "Thodi self respect hai mere andar bhi. Apne beizzati karana ka koi shauk nahi mujhe uske saamne"
"Arrey mera vo matlab nahi tha yaar"
"Phir kya matlab tha?" Chalte chalte vo palat kar khadi ho gayi aur meri taraf dekhne lagi.
"Koi matlab nahi tha meri maan" Maine haath jodte hue kaha, "Galti ho gayi mujhse. Maaf kar de aur chal aage ko"
"Maan hogi tumhari maan" Usne meri taraf jeebh nikali aur phir palat kar aage chalne lagi.
Ghar ke bahar bandha kutta ek baar phir hamein dekh kar gurrane laga. Pichhli baar ki tarah is baar vo bandha hua nahi tha aur use dekh kar ham teeno ghar se door ek jagah par hi ruk gaye. Kutte ke bhaunke ki aawaz sun kar Sunanda ki maan ghar se bahar nikli.
"Aaiye Sahab" Kehti hui vo kutte ke kareeb aayi aur use pakad kar baandh diya, "Andar aaiye"
Hairat ki baat ye thi ke is baar Negi bhi hamare saath andar aaya par us aurat ne use mana nahi kiya.
"Vo aapne kaha tha na ke agar kuchh mile toh aapko phone karun?" Hamare bethne ke baad usne hamein pani pilaya aur phir khud ek kursi par bethte hue boli.
"Ji haan, aap keh rahi thi ke koi letter vagerah mila?"
"Haan ye" Kehte hue usne side mein rakhi table ka drawer khola aur kuchh papers ke tukde hamari taraf badhaye, "Vo aapne jab mere se Sunandi ki photo maangi thi pichhli baar, toh uske baad mujhe yaad aaya ke uski ek badi photo bhi thi jo maine frame karvayi thi. Pehle Sunanda ke kamre mein hi deewar par tangi rehti thi par baad mein maine phir uske saman ke saath baandh kar rakh di thi kyunki vo tasveer har waqt mujhe uski yaad dila kar rulati rehti thi. Aapke jaane ke baad maine socha ke vo tasveer nikal loon. Saman khola toh frame ka sheesha saman mein dab jaane ki vajah se toot gaya tha. Maine frame khol kar uski photo bahar nikali toh frame ke andar se ye 2 cheezen nikli. Shayad jab vo zinda thi toh us waqt usne frame mein chhupa kar rakha hoga aur uske baad bas isi mein rakha reh gaya"
Liyaqat se kaafi kuchh nayi information mili thi. Sabse zaroori baat ye ke ab Sunanda ka gayab hona Ravi ke case se alag nahi tha. Dono ghatna aapas mein judi hui thi aur dono ke lapata hone ki vajah ek hi tha. Agar dono mein se kisi ek case ka bhi koi sira haath lag jata toh poore mamle ko udheda ja sakta tha. Par problem sirf yahi thi ke ab tak mere haath aisa koi sira aaya nahi tha. Jo mila tha sirf information thi jiski bina par na toh kisi par anguli uthayi ja sakti thi aur na hi kisi pukhta nateeje par pahuncha ja sakta tha.
Liyaqat ke jaane ke thodi hi der baad Kamini bhi laut aayi.
"Badi jaldi aa gayi, mila kuchh?"
"Haan milta agar ham ek do saal pehle gaye hote"
"Matlab?"
"Buddha marne ko hai, bol hi nahi sakta kuchh. Use toh khabar bhi nahi ab ke uske aas paas kaun hai, baat kya karega kisi se"
"Toh matlab kuchh pata nahi chala"
"Nahi"
"Uske ghar mein aur koi?"
"Dono baap bete hi the bas. Kanha eklauta beta tha uska, aur aage pichhe koi nahi" Vo fridge se pani ki bottle nikalti hui boli.
"Ye kya hai?" Maine ek newspaper mein lipti cheez ki taraf ishara kiya jo Kamini ne lakar table par rakhi thi.
"Photo hai?"
"Kiski?"
"Kanha ki"
Maine newspaper khola aur tasveer bahar nikali. Vo ek vaisi hi photo thi jo ke aksar gharon mein kuchh waqt pehle tak deewar par tangi hui milti thi. Ek badi si lakdi ke frame mein band photo jismein ek 24-25 saal ka ladka ek park jaisi jagah mein khada tha. Photo shayad holi ke din ki thi kyunki background mein jo bhi log the sabke chehron par rang laga hua tha. Khud Kanha ke chehre par bhi halka sa laal rang aur maathe par bada sa teeka tha.
"Ye kahan se mili?"
"Kanha ke ghar se"
"Ye kyun utha laayi"
"Hamari paas Kanha ki koi tasveer nahi thi, socha shayad tumhein zaroorat ho toh main le aayi"
"Kisse?"
"Ghar mein ek buddhe se uncle the jo Kanha ke baap ki dekhbhal kar rahe the. Unhone puchha ke main kaun hoon, main kaha ek kitaab likhne wali aur phir vahi jhooth bola jo tumne kaha tha. Uske baad aadhe ghante tak vo Kanha ki tareefon ke pul jodte rahe ke kaise ko kitna achha ladka tha, kaise jawani mein bhagwan kyun kisi ke saath aisa karta hai vagerah vagerah. Jab main aane lagi toh khud hi bole ke kitaab mein chhapne ke liye mujhe Kanha ki koi tasveer chahiye? Ab main kya kehti, maine bhi bol diya haan. Deewar par ye photo tangi thi, unhone akhbaar mein lapetkar mujhe thama di. Kehne lage ke vaise bhi ab is ghar mein koi rahega nahi, saman ka pata nahi kya hoga toh kam se kam tasveer ka toh koi achha istemaal ho"
"Hmmmm" Maine tasveer side mein ek table par rakhte hue kaha, "Matlab sivaay is baat ke Kanha kaisa dikhta tha, ham kuchh nahi jaan sake"
"Yep" Vo sofe par aaram se let si gayi, "Any luck with Liyaqat?"
"Oh yes, lots of luck" Kehkar maine Liyaqat se hui poori baat use batayi.
"Wow, that is certainly a lot of information. Liyaqat bhai kaafi kuchh dil mein dabaye bethe the"
"Right, ab finally ugla kambakht ne"
"so whats next now?"
"Khana kha lete hain filhal uske baad ek baar phir Sunanda ke ghar"
"Sunanda ke ghar?"
"Yep"
"Kyun?"
"Uski maan ka phone aaya tha mere paas"
"Chaai pe bulaya tumhein?" Vo hasti hui boli.
"Shut up, keh rahi hai ke Sunanda ka koi letter vagerah mila hai"
"Letter? Kaisa letter?"
"Kaisa letter toh nahi pata par i am hoping ke uske lover ka koi lover letter type hi ho, kaafi kuchh sulajh jaayega agar aisa hua toh"
"Ok, and how do you want to go? Inspector Falana Falana?"
"Nahi soch raha hoon ke ham log khud hi chale jaate hain. Kab tak Mr. Falana Falana ko takleef dete rahenge"
Maine Liyaqat ko phone kar khana bhijvane ke liye kaha jo ke 15 min baad hi aa gaya. Ham bethe kha hi rahe the ke darwaze ki ghanti baji. Maine darwaza khola toh bahar Inspector Falana Falana khada tha.
"Negi bhai aap yahan?"
"Haan idhar se guzar raha tha toh socha ke aapse milta chalun. Kaise hain aap?"
"Andar aaiye" Main darwaze se hat-ta hua bola, "Ham toh theek hi hain par aapki umar kaafi lambi hai"
"Achha, kyun?"
"Abhi aapko yaad hi kar rahe the. Vo Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf jana hai phir se toh socha ke aapko saath lete chalen"
"Haan bilkul sir, aap jab kahen" Negi ek baar phir hamesha ki taraf fauran madad ke liye taiyyar ho gaya.
Asal mein ham log toh abhi soch rahe the" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.
"Haan toh abhi chal sakte hain, meri gaadi bahar hi khadi hai"
"Theek hai phir aap bethiye 10 min, min taiyyar ho jata hoon"
Takreeban 15 min baad ham Negi ki gaadi mein bethkar ek baar phir Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf chale. Maine aage Negi ke saath betha hua tha aur Kamini pichhli seat par.
"Sir agar aap bura na maanein toh ek personnal sa sawal puchhun?"
"Bura mannne wali kya baat hai" Maine muskura kar raha, "Aap toh already meri itni help kar rahe hain. Puchhiye"
"And ma'm aap?" Usne review mirror mein Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, "Sawal asal mein aap dono ke baare mein hai"
Main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchhna chahta tha par ye samajh nahi aaya ke uske puchhne ke baad jawab kya doonga. Kamini ke saamne agar main saaf saaf use ye kehta ke ham sirf dost hain toh yakeenan use bura lagta.
"Main jaanti hoon aap kya puchhna chahte hain" Mere se pehle Kamini haskar bol padi, "Ham dono ke beech aisa kuchh nahi hai, we are just good friends. Actually toh bachpan se saath mein hi rahe ham dono, since we were kids"
"Aah tabhi" Negi ne bhi haskar jawab diya, "Tab hi aap logon ki chemistry aapas mein itni achhi hai kyunki itne saalon se jaante hain ek doosre ko. Saamne wala toh ek pal ke liye yahi sochega ke aap pati patni hain"
"Aapas mein itna time saath raho toh ek doosre ke baare mein pata chal hi jata hai" Kamini ne kaha.
"Sahi keh rahi hain madam. Aap logon ko aapas mein dekhke lagta hai ke kaafi comfortable hain aap saath mein isliye main puchh betha. I hope aapko bura nahi laga"
"Nahi koi baat nahi" Kamini ne jawab diya, "We are just good friends"
Aur tab pehli baar jaane kyun mujhe uska ye kehna ke ham sirf achhe dost hain, achha nahi laga. Aaj se pehle kabhi aisa nahi hua tha aur na jaane kyun main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke vo Negi se ye kahegi ke ham dono dost se zyada hain, ke ham log saath hain. Main khud bhi ye baat nahi janta tha ke mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai kyunki agar Kamini na bolti toh Negi ke sawal ka jawab main bhi vahi deta jo Kamini ne diya. Phir bhi dil mein kahin uska ye kehna ke ham sirf dost hain mujhe kuchh bura sa laga.
Gaadi ham logon ne phir vahin chhodi jahan pehle chhodi thi aur pagdandi par utarte hue Sunanda ke ghar ki taraf badhe. Negi hamse thoda aage chal raha tha, uske pichhe Kamini aur sabse pichhe main.
"Thanks" Maine pichhe se Kamnini ko kaha.
"For what?" Vo chalte chalte palti.
"Negi ke sawal ka jawab dene ke liye, i mean for understanding"
"Understanding what? Sidha sa sawal tha, sachcha sa jawab de diya maine. Vaise bhi ham dono dost hi toh hain"
"Haan vo toh hai magar mujhe laga tha ke ....."
"Ke main uske saamne dhindhora pitungi ke main tumse pyaar karti hoon aur tum nahi?" Vo ruk kar thoda talkhi bhare andaaz mein boli, "Thodi self respect hai mere andar bhi. Apne beizzati karana ka koi shauk nahi mujhe uske saamne"
"Arrey mera vo matlab nahi tha yaar"
"Phir kya matlab tha?" Chalte chalte vo palat kar khadi ho gayi aur meri taraf dekhne lagi.
"Koi matlab nahi tha meri maan" Maine haath jodte hue kaha, "Galti ho gayi mujhse. Maaf kar de aur chal aage ko"
"Maan hogi tumhari maan" Usne meri taraf jeebh nikali aur phir palat kar aage chalne lagi.
Ghar ke bahar bandha kutta ek baar phir hamein dekh kar gurrane laga. Pichhli baar ki tarah is baar vo bandha hua nahi tha aur use dekh kar ham teeno ghar se door ek jagah par hi ruk gaye. Kutte ke bhaunke ki aawaz sun kar Sunanda ki maan ghar se bahar nikli.
"Aaiye Sahab" Kehti hui vo kutte ke kareeb aayi aur use pakad kar baandh diya, "Andar aaiye"
Hairat ki baat ye thi ke is baar Negi bhi hamare saath andar aaya par us aurat ne use mana nahi kiya.
"Vo aapne kaha tha na ke agar kuchh mile toh aapko phone karun?" Hamare bethne ke baad usne hamein pani pilaya aur phir khud ek kursi par bethte hue boli.
"Ji haan, aap keh rahi thi ke koi letter vagerah mila?"
"Haan ye" Kehte hue usne side mein rakhi table ka drawer khola aur kuchh papers ke tukde hamari taraf badhaye, "Vo aapne jab mere se Sunandi ki photo maangi thi pichhli baar, toh uske baad mujhe yaad aaya ke uski ek badi photo bhi thi jo maine frame karvayi thi. Pehle Sunanda ke kamre mein hi deewar par tangi rehti thi par baad mein maine phir uske saman ke saath baandh kar rakh di thi kyunki vo tasveer har waqt mujhe uski yaad dila kar rulati rehti thi. Aapke jaane ke baad maine socha ke vo tasveer nikal loon. Saman khola toh frame ka sheesha saman mein dab jaane ki vajah se toot gaya tha. Maine frame khol kar uski photo bahar nikali toh frame ke andar se ye 2 cheezen nikli. Shayad jab vo zinda thi toh us waqt usne frame mein chhupa kar rakha hoga aur uske baad bas isi mein rakha reh gaya"
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Thanx . Keep supporting. Wese ye story The Vampire Bhai ne likhi hai . Mai bas is story ko aap logo tak pohancha Raha Hu .
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- 57,994
- 42,933
- 354
Sorry casi Bhai , I am not well , and have some work load .
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Adhura update Bhai suspance khatm Karo letter ka...we want more updates
Boht khoob yar lagta ha love letter hi hoga yar mujhe is inspector par kabhi kabhi shak hota ha aise lagta ha jaise ya hero par nazar rakh raha ho
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Maine unke haath mein thaame dono paper ke tukde liye. Dono hi fold kiye hue tha. Maine pehle paper ko khol kar dekha. Utsuktavash Kamini aur Negi bhi meri bagal mein khisak kar dekhne lage.
Vo koi letter tha aur kagaz ki halat dekh kar hi andaza ho raha tha ke kaafi purana tha. Jaane kabse yun fold kiya hua rakha tha. Itne time se rakha hone ki vajah se kagaz kaafi jagah se gal chuka tha aur mujhe kholte hue kaafi saavdhani baratni padi ke kahin se phat na jaaye. Paper par kayi jagah paani gira hua tha jiski vajah se kagaz ki halat aur bhi kharab ho chali thi. Maine dheere dheere kagaz ko khol kar sidha kiya aur ek nazar padte hi saari aashaon par pani phir gaya.
Kagaz ki likhai ink pen se thi jo pani girne ki vajah se buri tarah phel gayi thi. Is had tak ke kuchh bhi padh pana na-mumkin tha.
"Kya hai ye?" Kamini ne puchha.
"By the way it was hidden, i am guessing its must be a letter secretive in nature" Maine english mein jawab diya taaki Sunandi ki maan ko meri baat samajh na aaye.
"Secretive?"
"Yeah, else why take the pain of hiding it in the photo frame?"
"You mean love letter?"
Hamare saamne bethi aurat bhale hi ek chhote se gaon ki anpadh aurat thi par love letter aisa shabd hai jise sunke chhote se bachche ke bhi kaan khade ho jaate hain. Vo fauran samajh gayi ke ham kis baare mein baat kar rahe hain.
"Aapko lagta hai ye us ladke ne diya tha Sunanda ko?"
"Shayad, ho sakta hai"
"Kuchh bhi samajh toh aa hi nahi raha hai" Negi meri bagal se jhankta hua bola.
"I know, agar samajh aa jata toh kaafi baatein pata chal sakti thi"
"Vo shayad ghar ki chhat vagerah chune ki vajah se deewar se hokar frame mein pani chala gaya hoga" Sunanda ki maan ne kaha, "Photo bhi kaafi kharab ho gayi thi"
Unhone Sunanda ki vo photo nikali jo us frame mein thi. Saamne se toh photo theek thaak hi thi par pichhe se vo bhi kaafi gal chuki thi. Pani ka kiya nuksaan jo us letter par dikhai de raha tha vahi Sunanda ki tasveer par bhi tha.
"Ye ham log ek baar Shimla gaye the toh vahan ek photographer se khinchvayi thi" Uski maan bade shauk se boli.
Photo black and white thi aur usmein ek badi aam si shakal soorat wali ladki kisi photographer ke studio mein bethi thi. Pichhe ek bageeche ka scene tha jo shayad us studio ki deewar par bani ek painting thi.
"Vo doosra kaga kya hai?" Negi ne doosre paper ki taraf ishara kiya jo abhi bhi folded hi rakha tha.
Vo kagaz bhi poori tarah gal chuka tha. Maine use utha kar ehtiyaat ke saath dheere se kholna chaha. Jahan pehla paper thodi mashakkat ke saath khul gaya tha vahin ye paper andar se aapas mein chipka hua tha isliye halka sa zor dete hi laga ke phat jaayega.
"Its stuck" Maine kaha.
"I think its a photo" Kamini boli.
"Photo?"
"Yeah, photo ke andar ka hissa dekha hai ka kaisa chikna sa hota hai par agar aapas mein fold kar do, i mean anadar ki taraf se hi toh dono taraf se vo chipak jata hai"
"I think you are right" Maine jawab diya, "Dekhne mein kagaz lag bhi thoda mota sa raha hai"
"Aur photo aadha hai shayad" Negi bola.
"Aadha?"
"Haan ye side se dekhiye" Usne ek taraf ishara kiya jahan dekh kar saaf pata lagta tha ke photo ko phaada gaya tha.
"Kiska photo lagta hai?" Negi ne puchha.
"Pata nahi"
"Us ladke ka hoga" Sunanda ki maan beech mein boli.
"Ho sakta hai par bina dekhe kuchh bhi keh pana mushkil hai. Main ye dono rakh sakta hoon?"
"Haan bilkul" Vo fauran boli.
Unke yahan thodi der aur beth kar ham vahan se nikle. Vo sara waqt hamein yahi batati rahin ke kaise aakhri kuchh dino mein Sunanda kaafi khush thi, shaadi ki baatein kiya karti thi par har baar ladke ke baare mein puchhne par baat taal jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke ladke ke baare mein batane ka abhi sahi waqt nahi hai, jab waqt aayega toh vo ladka khud chal kar unke ghar Sunanda ka haath maangne aayega, use kuchh batane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi.
"Ab kya?" Bahar aaye toh Kamini ne puchha.
"I dont know but i cant give up on this without trying. Ghar jakar koshish karte hain photo kholne ki"
"Aur vo letter?"
"Kuchh bhi padh pana impossible lag raha hai. Tasalli se beth kar andaza hi lagana padega ke bikhar chuki ink ke neeche kaun se words chhupe hue hain"
Vo koi letter tha aur kagaz ki halat dekh kar hi andaza ho raha tha ke kaafi purana tha. Jaane kabse yun fold kiya hua rakha tha. Itne time se rakha hone ki vajah se kagaz kaafi jagah se gal chuka tha aur mujhe kholte hue kaafi saavdhani baratni padi ke kahin se phat na jaaye. Paper par kayi jagah paani gira hua tha jiski vajah se kagaz ki halat aur bhi kharab ho chali thi. Maine dheere dheere kagaz ko khol kar sidha kiya aur ek nazar padte hi saari aashaon par pani phir gaya.
Kagaz ki likhai ink pen se thi jo pani girne ki vajah se buri tarah phel gayi thi. Is had tak ke kuchh bhi padh pana na-mumkin tha.
"Kya hai ye?" Kamini ne puchha.
"By the way it was hidden, i am guessing its must be a letter secretive in nature" Maine english mein jawab diya taaki Sunandi ki maan ko meri baat samajh na aaye.
"Secretive?"
"Yeah, else why take the pain of hiding it in the photo frame?"
"You mean love letter?"
Hamare saamne bethi aurat bhale hi ek chhote se gaon ki anpadh aurat thi par love letter aisa shabd hai jise sunke chhote se bachche ke bhi kaan khade ho jaate hain. Vo fauran samajh gayi ke ham kis baare mein baat kar rahe hain.
"Aapko lagta hai ye us ladke ne diya tha Sunanda ko?"
"Shayad, ho sakta hai"
"Kuchh bhi samajh toh aa hi nahi raha hai" Negi meri bagal se jhankta hua bola.
"I know, agar samajh aa jata toh kaafi baatein pata chal sakti thi"
"Vo shayad ghar ki chhat vagerah chune ki vajah se deewar se hokar frame mein pani chala gaya hoga" Sunanda ki maan ne kaha, "Photo bhi kaafi kharab ho gayi thi"
Unhone Sunanda ki vo photo nikali jo us frame mein thi. Saamne se toh photo theek thaak hi thi par pichhe se vo bhi kaafi gal chuki thi. Pani ka kiya nuksaan jo us letter par dikhai de raha tha vahi Sunanda ki tasveer par bhi tha.
"Ye ham log ek baar Shimla gaye the toh vahan ek photographer se khinchvayi thi" Uski maan bade shauk se boli.
Photo black and white thi aur usmein ek badi aam si shakal soorat wali ladki kisi photographer ke studio mein bethi thi. Pichhe ek bageeche ka scene tha jo shayad us studio ki deewar par bani ek painting thi.
"Vo doosra kaga kya hai?" Negi ne doosre paper ki taraf ishara kiya jo abhi bhi folded hi rakha tha.
Vo kagaz bhi poori tarah gal chuka tha. Maine use utha kar ehtiyaat ke saath dheere se kholna chaha. Jahan pehla paper thodi mashakkat ke saath khul gaya tha vahin ye paper andar se aapas mein chipka hua tha isliye halka sa zor dete hi laga ke phat jaayega.
"Its stuck" Maine kaha.
"I think its a photo" Kamini boli.
"Photo?"
"Yeah, photo ke andar ka hissa dekha hai ka kaisa chikna sa hota hai par agar aapas mein fold kar do, i mean anadar ki taraf se hi toh dono taraf se vo chipak jata hai"
"I think you are right" Maine jawab diya, "Dekhne mein kagaz lag bhi thoda mota sa raha hai"
"Aur photo aadha hai shayad" Negi bola.
"Aadha?"
"Haan ye side se dekhiye" Usne ek taraf ishara kiya jahan dekh kar saaf pata lagta tha ke photo ko phaada gaya tha.
"Kiska photo lagta hai?" Negi ne puchha.
"Pata nahi"
"Us ladke ka hoga" Sunanda ki maan beech mein boli.
"Ho sakta hai par bina dekhe kuchh bhi keh pana mushkil hai. Main ye dono rakh sakta hoon?"
"Haan bilkul" Vo fauran boli.
Unke yahan thodi der aur beth kar ham vahan se nikle. Vo sara waqt hamein yahi batati rahin ke kaise aakhri kuchh dino mein Sunanda kaafi khush thi, shaadi ki baatein kiya karti thi par har baar ladke ke baare mein puchhne par baat taal jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke ladke ke baare mein batane ka abhi sahi waqt nahi hai, jab waqt aayega toh vo ladka khud chal kar unke ghar Sunanda ka haath maangne aayega, use kuchh batane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi.
"Ab kya?" Bahar aaye toh Kamini ne puchha.
"I dont know but i cant give up on this without trying. Ghar jakar koshish karte hain photo kholne ki"
"Aur vo letter?"
"Kuchh bhi padh pana impossible lag raha hai. Tasalli se beth kar andaza hi lagana padega ke bikhar chuki ink ke neeche kaun se words chhupe hue hain"
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Chapter 18 - The Mute Brother
Agle din subah Liyaqat ke knock karne par maine darwaza khola. Ghadi mein subah ke 8 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ke shayad vo breakfast lekar aaya hoga isliye darwaza kholkar main palat kar washroom ki taraf badh gaya.
"Breakfast tabee par rakh do" Maine bina uski taraf dekhe kaha.
"Sir actually main breakfast nahi laya" Pichhe se uski aawaz aayi toh main palta.
"Toh le aao yaar, bhookh lagi hai"
"Vo Raj Sahab ne aapko bulaya hai"
"Itni subah?" Maine ek baar phir ghadi ki taraf dekha.
"Ji haan, vo keh rahe hain ke aaj subah ka nashta aap unke saath karen"
Main janta tha ke der sawer Raj se meri baat toh honi hi thi aur asal mein toh main khud bhi usse baat karna chahta tha.
"Theek hai, kahan?"
"Vo use guest house ke paas jahan Ravi Sahab rehte the"
"Theek hai, main 15 minute mein aata hoon"
"Ji" Kehkar vo jaane ke liye palta.
"Aur suno, Memsahab ke liye nashta toh le aao. Main Raj ke saath kha loonga par ye toh yahin khayengi"
"Ji zaroor" Kehkar vo chala gaya.
Main fresh hua, Kamini ko jagaya aur taiyyar hokar phir usi guest house par pahuncha jahan Ravi pehle raha karta tha. Aasman mein halke badal the aur dhoop ka kahin naamo nishan nahi tha. Kul milakar kaafi pleasant mausam tha.
Raj guest house ke bahar khule garden mein ek chhoti si table aur chair dalkar betha hua apne laptop par kuchh kar raha tha.
"Hello Mr. Rana" Maine kareeb aakar uski taraf apna haath badhaya. Yun achanak apni taraf aaye haath ko dekh kar vo ek pal ke liye chauka.
Bethe bethe hi usne ek nazar meri taraf daali aur badi bedili ke saath is tarah mujhse haath milaya jaise koi ehsaan kar raha ho. Abhi tak vo apne raat ke kapdon mein hi betha hua tha. Mujhse haath mila kar usne mujhe apne table ke doosri taraf rakhi ek kursi par bethne ko kaha.
"Thank you" Kehkar main beth gaya.
Yun toh usne mujhe breakfast ke naam par bulaya tha par table par khaane ke liye kuchh bhi nahi tha. Sirf ek laptop jispar Raj kuchh kar raha tha aur ek aur wireless keyboard.
"Maine asal mein aapse khud bhi baat karna chah raha tha, par aapne khud hi yaad kar liya" Maine kaha par usne jaise meri baat suni hi nahi. Main bol kar chup ho gaya aur vo usi taraf laptop mein laga raha.
Phir achanak mujhe yaad aaya ke vo na toh bol sakta tha aur na hi sun sakta tha.
Kuchh der main bhi yun hi khamosh betha raha phir usne nazar utha kar meri taraf dekha. Paas mein rakhe keyboard ka wireless receiver usne USB port mein laga aur laptop ka rukh meri taraf ghuma diya.
Laptop ki screen par ek notepad khula hua tha. Raj ne keyboard apne saamne kiya aur uspar kuchh type kiya.
"Tum yahan kar kya rahe ho?" Laptop par khule notepad mein ye message type ho gaya.
Main samajh gaya ke hamare beech jo baat hogi vo isi tarah hogi. Message type karne ke baad mujhe laga ke shayad vo keyboard meri taraf badhayega par aisa hua nahi. Main intezaar mein uski taraf dekhta raha aur vo bhi mera confusion samajh gaya. Usne phir keyboard par anguliyan daudano shuru ki.
"You can talk. I cant hear you but i can read your lips. Try to talk a little slow please"
"Aap jaante hain main yahan kya kar raha hoon. Your mother hired me to find your brother" Maine dheere dheere kaha. Vo gaur se mere honthon ki taraf dekh raha tha.
"My brother is dead" Usne laptop mein type kiya.
"You seem pretty certain"
"Yes i am"
"Well then i am here to find the reason of his death"
"Whatever the reason was, its long gone"
"Your mother would still like to know what it was"
"I dont"
"Then you are talking to the wrong person about. You need to discuss it with your mother. I am here only per her wish and instructions"
"Exactly, and that is the reason why i am letting you be here. Else i dont like cheap strangers poking their nose in my business"
Uske cheap kehke se mere andar tak aag lag gayi. Main samajh gaya ke iske saath yun sharafat se baat karke koi fayda nahi.
"Lets cut the bullshit Mr. Rana" Maine bhi saaf baat kahi, "Why have you called me here?"
"Have you found out anything yet?" Usne notepad par type kiya.
"No, not yet"
"How long do you think you are going to be poking your nose around here?"
"I dont know, could take me a while. And while we are still at it, i would like to talk to you as well"
"About what?"
"About your brother of course"
"What about him?"
"Jahan tak mujhe pata chala hai, us din you were with you mother for most of the day, correct?"
"Are you interrogating me?"
"No i am simply trying to put together that day's events"
"I dont feel obliged to answering any of your questions"
"Well than maybe you will talk to your mom about it"
"Are you threatning me of my own mother?" Likhte hue uske chehre par hasi phel gayi.
"No i am only saying that i will let her know that you are refusing to talk to me about the very same concern that she called me here for"
Mere kehne ke baad uske chehre par bade hi serious bhaav aa gaye. Kuchh der chup rehne ke baad usne phir se type kiya.
"You should know ke main tumhein yahan sirf apni maan ki vajah se bardasht kar raha hoon"
"Fair enough, shall we begin?"
"Puchho"
Maine table par hi rakha ek kagaz ka tukda uthaya aur Raj ke pen ki taraf ishara kiya.
"May i borrow your pen?"
Usne sehmati mein apna sar hila diya.
"As i was saying, you were with your mother that day, correct?"
"For most of the day, yes. We left for Solan at around 12"
"Usse pehle?"
"Usse pehle main ghar par hi tha. I wasnt feeling too well, didnt even have breakfast. It was just one of those days when you just dont feel good, even though there is nothing physically wrong with you"
"Yeah happens sometimes" Maine sehmati jatayi.
"That was the reason mom asked me to come with her, thiking that it might just cheer me up"
"Ok, uske baad aap log vaapis kitne baje aaye?"
"Takreeban 5"
"Phir?"
"Phir main ghar ke andar aaya hi tha ke Ravi paon gusse mein patakta hua bahar nikal gaya. Andar pahuncha toh maan ne mujhe ishare se use bula kar laane ko kaha aur main uske pichhe pichhe ghar se nikal gaya"
"Kya lagta hai ke kis baat par naraz the aapke Bhai?"
"Please dont ask me questions you already know the answer to. Maan tumhein bata chuki hain ke vo batware ko lekar dad se jhagad raha tha"
"I am sorry, i just wanted to hear it from you. Phir kya hua?"
"Phir main uske pichhe pichhe gaya. Bahar ghane badal chhaye hue the, neeche tak badal utar aaye the isliye aisa lag raha tha jaise har taraf kohra sa chha gaya ho. 5 baje hi andhera ho chuka tha. Main bahar aaya par mujhe Ravi kahin dikhai nahi diya, jaise gayab hi ho gaya tha vo"
"Phir?"
"Main bahar nikla, thoda aage tak gaya par vo kahin dikhai nahi diya. Phir main ghar ki taraf vaapis palta aur aate hue gate ke paas mujhe Ravi mila. Vo ghar vaapis ja raha tha"
"Kitni der ki baat hai ye? I mein kitne time baad"
"Takreeban aadha ghanta"
"Aadha ghanta? Abhi toh aapne kaha ke aap sirf thoda aage tak gaye the?"
"Thats right. You may not have not noticed but i am handicapped. Ek taang kharab hai meri. Vo thoda aage tak jaakar aane mein hi mujh langde ko aadha ghanta lag gaya"
"Sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Phir gate par aapko Ravi mile"
"Correct"
"Then?"
"Then maine usse puchha ke vo kahan tha aur kyun aise papa se jhagad raha tha par uska dhyaan hi kahin aur tha"
"Kahin aur?"
"Haan jaise kahin khyaalon mein khoya sa hua tha. Meri baat toh usne jaise suni hi nahi aur khud badbadane lag gaya"
"And what was he saying?"
"Ye ke vo ek kayar hai, vo kuchh nahi kar saka. Vo darr gaya aur is darr ki vajah se kisi ki maut ki vajah ban gaya. That he is equally to be blamed for the murder. That how could he let this happen, how could he have someone's blood on his hands"
Agle din subah Liyaqat ke knock karne par maine darwaza khola. Ghadi mein subah ke 8 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ke shayad vo breakfast lekar aaya hoga isliye darwaza kholkar main palat kar washroom ki taraf badh gaya.
"Breakfast tabee par rakh do" Maine bina uski taraf dekhe kaha.
"Sir actually main breakfast nahi laya" Pichhe se uski aawaz aayi toh main palta.
"Toh le aao yaar, bhookh lagi hai"
"Vo Raj Sahab ne aapko bulaya hai"
"Itni subah?" Maine ek baar phir ghadi ki taraf dekha.
"Ji haan, vo keh rahe hain ke aaj subah ka nashta aap unke saath karen"
Main janta tha ke der sawer Raj se meri baat toh honi hi thi aur asal mein toh main khud bhi usse baat karna chahta tha.
"Theek hai, kahan?"
"Vo use guest house ke paas jahan Ravi Sahab rehte the"
"Theek hai, main 15 minute mein aata hoon"
"Ji" Kehkar vo jaane ke liye palta.
"Aur suno, Memsahab ke liye nashta toh le aao. Main Raj ke saath kha loonga par ye toh yahin khayengi"
"Ji zaroor" Kehkar vo chala gaya.
Main fresh hua, Kamini ko jagaya aur taiyyar hokar phir usi guest house par pahuncha jahan Ravi pehle raha karta tha. Aasman mein halke badal the aur dhoop ka kahin naamo nishan nahi tha. Kul milakar kaafi pleasant mausam tha.
Raj guest house ke bahar khule garden mein ek chhoti si table aur chair dalkar betha hua apne laptop par kuchh kar raha tha.
"Hello Mr. Rana" Maine kareeb aakar uski taraf apna haath badhaya. Yun achanak apni taraf aaye haath ko dekh kar vo ek pal ke liye chauka.
Bethe bethe hi usne ek nazar meri taraf daali aur badi bedili ke saath is tarah mujhse haath milaya jaise koi ehsaan kar raha ho. Abhi tak vo apne raat ke kapdon mein hi betha hua tha. Mujhse haath mila kar usne mujhe apne table ke doosri taraf rakhi ek kursi par bethne ko kaha.
"Thank you" Kehkar main beth gaya.
Yun toh usne mujhe breakfast ke naam par bulaya tha par table par khaane ke liye kuchh bhi nahi tha. Sirf ek laptop jispar Raj kuchh kar raha tha aur ek aur wireless keyboard.
"Maine asal mein aapse khud bhi baat karna chah raha tha, par aapne khud hi yaad kar liya" Maine kaha par usne jaise meri baat suni hi nahi. Main bol kar chup ho gaya aur vo usi taraf laptop mein laga raha.
Phir achanak mujhe yaad aaya ke vo na toh bol sakta tha aur na hi sun sakta tha.
Kuchh der main bhi yun hi khamosh betha raha phir usne nazar utha kar meri taraf dekha. Paas mein rakhe keyboard ka wireless receiver usne USB port mein laga aur laptop ka rukh meri taraf ghuma diya.
Laptop ki screen par ek notepad khula hua tha. Raj ne keyboard apne saamne kiya aur uspar kuchh type kiya.
"Tum yahan kar kya rahe ho?" Laptop par khule notepad mein ye message type ho gaya.
Main samajh gaya ke hamare beech jo baat hogi vo isi tarah hogi. Message type karne ke baad mujhe laga ke shayad vo keyboard meri taraf badhayega par aisa hua nahi. Main intezaar mein uski taraf dekhta raha aur vo bhi mera confusion samajh gaya. Usne phir keyboard par anguliyan daudano shuru ki.
"You can talk. I cant hear you but i can read your lips. Try to talk a little slow please"
"Aap jaante hain main yahan kya kar raha hoon. Your mother hired me to find your brother" Maine dheere dheere kaha. Vo gaur se mere honthon ki taraf dekh raha tha.
"My brother is dead" Usne laptop mein type kiya.
"You seem pretty certain"
"Yes i am"
"Well then i am here to find the reason of his death"
"Whatever the reason was, its long gone"
"Your mother would still like to know what it was"
"I dont"
"Then you are talking to the wrong person about. You need to discuss it with your mother. I am here only per her wish and instructions"
"Exactly, and that is the reason why i am letting you be here. Else i dont like cheap strangers poking their nose in my business"
Uske cheap kehke se mere andar tak aag lag gayi. Main samajh gaya ke iske saath yun sharafat se baat karke koi fayda nahi.
"Lets cut the bullshit Mr. Rana" Maine bhi saaf baat kahi, "Why have you called me here?"
"Have you found out anything yet?" Usne notepad par type kiya.
"No, not yet"
"How long do you think you are going to be poking your nose around here?"
"I dont know, could take me a while. And while we are still at it, i would like to talk to you as well"
"About what?"
"About your brother of course"
"What about him?"
"Jahan tak mujhe pata chala hai, us din you were with you mother for most of the day, correct?"
"Are you interrogating me?"
"No i am simply trying to put together that day's events"
"I dont feel obliged to answering any of your questions"
"Well than maybe you will talk to your mom about it"
"Are you threatning me of my own mother?" Likhte hue uske chehre par hasi phel gayi.
"No i am only saying that i will let her know that you are refusing to talk to me about the very same concern that she called me here for"
Mere kehne ke baad uske chehre par bade hi serious bhaav aa gaye. Kuchh der chup rehne ke baad usne phir se type kiya.
"You should know ke main tumhein yahan sirf apni maan ki vajah se bardasht kar raha hoon"
"Fair enough, shall we begin?"
"Puchho"
Maine table par hi rakha ek kagaz ka tukda uthaya aur Raj ke pen ki taraf ishara kiya.
"May i borrow your pen?"
Usne sehmati mein apna sar hila diya.
"As i was saying, you were with your mother that day, correct?"
"For most of the day, yes. We left for Solan at around 12"
"Usse pehle?"
"Usse pehle main ghar par hi tha. I wasnt feeling too well, didnt even have breakfast. It was just one of those days when you just dont feel good, even though there is nothing physically wrong with you"
"Yeah happens sometimes" Maine sehmati jatayi.
"That was the reason mom asked me to come with her, thiking that it might just cheer me up"
"Ok, uske baad aap log vaapis kitne baje aaye?"
"Takreeban 5"
"Phir?"
"Phir main ghar ke andar aaya hi tha ke Ravi paon gusse mein patakta hua bahar nikal gaya. Andar pahuncha toh maan ne mujhe ishare se use bula kar laane ko kaha aur main uske pichhe pichhe ghar se nikal gaya"
"Kya lagta hai ke kis baat par naraz the aapke Bhai?"
"Please dont ask me questions you already know the answer to. Maan tumhein bata chuki hain ke vo batware ko lekar dad se jhagad raha tha"
"I am sorry, i just wanted to hear it from you. Phir kya hua?"
"Phir main uske pichhe pichhe gaya. Bahar ghane badal chhaye hue the, neeche tak badal utar aaye the isliye aisa lag raha tha jaise har taraf kohra sa chha gaya ho. 5 baje hi andhera ho chuka tha. Main bahar aaya par mujhe Ravi kahin dikhai nahi diya, jaise gayab hi ho gaya tha vo"
"Phir?"
"Main bahar nikla, thoda aage tak gaya par vo kahin dikhai nahi diya. Phir main ghar ki taraf vaapis palta aur aate hue gate ke paas mujhe Ravi mila. Vo ghar vaapis ja raha tha"
"Kitni der ki baat hai ye? I mein kitne time baad"
"Takreeban aadha ghanta"
"Aadha ghanta? Abhi toh aapne kaha ke aap sirf thoda aage tak gaye the?"
"Thats right. You may not have not noticed but i am handicapped. Ek taang kharab hai meri. Vo thoda aage tak jaakar aane mein hi mujh langde ko aadha ghanta lag gaya"
"Sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Phir gate par aapko Ravi mile"
"Correct"
"Then?"
"Then maine usse puchha ke vo kahan tha aur kyun aise papa se jhagad raha tha par uska dhyaan hi kahin aur tha"
"Kahin aur?"
"Haan jaise kahin khyaalon mein khoya sa hua tha. Meri baat toh usne jaise suni hi nahi aur khud badbadane lag gaya"
"And what was he saying?"
"Ye ke vo ek kayar hai, vo kuchh nahi kar saka. Vo darr gaya aur is darr ki vajah se kisi ki maut ki vajah ban gaya. That he is equally to be blamed for the murder. That how could he let this happen, how could he have someone's blood on his hands"
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"Who do you think he was talking about?" Maine puchha
"I dont know really, bada ghabraya hua sa tha vo, jaise kahin bhoot dekh liya ho"
"Phir?"
"I tried to calm him down, asked him what happened but he wouldnt listen. Aur vo ghar ke andar ki taraf chala gaya"
"Aur aap?"
"I thought i will ask the guard at the gate if he had seen anything but i couldnt find him, there was no one at the gate. So i went looking for the guard and found him a few steps away, he went over to take a leak. I asked him if he saw something or someone but he hadnt"
"And all this while Ravi was still inside?"
"Yeah. Then i thought i will walk a few steps and see what happened. Maybe he saw an accident or something but i found nothing at all"
"And then?"
"Then i came back to the house. I went to Ravi's room to talk to him but he wasnt there so i went to my room. After a while i Came downstairs for dinner but Ravi wasnt there on the table and he hasnt been ever since"
"What time did he leave the house?"
"No one knows"
"The guard?"
"Says he didnt see Ravi sneaking out. He was a very lousy guard, we fired him after a few days"
"You ever told this to anyone?"
"Yeah the cops knew about it all"
"Sunanda case ke baare mein toh aapko pata hi hoga?"
"Kaun Sunanda?"
"Aap abhi thodi der pehle khud hi bol rahe the ke aise sawal nahi puchhne chahiye jinka jawab pata ho" Maine muskurate hue kaha, "Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke aap jaante hain kaun Sunanda"
Vo kuchh pal tak khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"All rght, i have heard that name. What about her?" Kuchh der baad usne type kiya.
"Ek baar phir vahi baat Rana Sahab. Aap jaante hain ke mera ishara kis taraf hai, kyun aise sawal puchhne jisse baat sirf kuchh palon ke liye tale"
"That actually depends on how much you know" Thodi der pehle tak jo attitude mujhe vo dikha raha tha vo ab khatam ho chuka tha aur ab vo poori tarah mere saath co-operate karte hue mere har sawal ka jawab de raha tha.
"All right, then let me ask direct questions. Sunanda aapke bhai ke lapata hone se ek hafta pehle gayab hui thi. Mujhe bataya gaya hai ke theek us din jab aapka bhai gayab hua ...."
"Liyaqat ne tumhein bataya ke usne subah Sunanda ko dekha tha aur phir Ravi ko uske pichhe jaate dekha" Usne meri baat poori kar di.
"So you knew"
"As i said, depends on how much you know"
"Why dont we both tell each other what we know and bring us both on the same page?"
"Listen, if you are trying to imply that Ravi kidnapped ....."
"I didnt say that" Maine baat beech mein hi kaat di.
"Oh come on dont bullshit me, i knew thats where you were going with this. Its not possible ke Ravi use kidnap karke laya aur ek hafte tak yahan chhupaye raha. Aisa nahi ho sakta"
"Kyun nahi?"
"Kyunki ek ladki ko hafte bhar tak is ghar mein baandh kar rakh pana mumkin nahi hai, poora parivaar rehta tha tab yahan hamara"
"Vo guest house?" Maine us guest house ki taraf ishara kiya jahan Ravi raha karta tha.
"Still not possible, he couldnt have gotten a girl in there against her wish without anyone noticing it. There is a guard at the gate, he couldnt have sneaked past him"
"You said the guard was lousy"
"Not all of them, and even if he did manage to get the girl in here its impossible to keep a person hidden for a week without getting noticed. There was an army of servants here back then. That guest house was cleaned everyday and servants went in there to serve Ravi food. If there was a girl tied up in there, someone would have seen her"
"Hmmmmm" Uski baat mein dam tha, "What is your theory around this Mr. Rana"
"Blackmail i think"
"Blackmail?"
"Yep, she was a whore, a prostitute and Ravi was a young man. He must have gone with her sometime and she somehow must have found a way to blackmail him"
"That still doesnt explain the other facts"
"Yes it does, if you look closely at it. She was blackmailing Ravi, son of the most powerful man in this region. He must have threatened her back so she disappeared herself, to keep her safe. Then she met Ravi that morning but ho sakta hai baazi ulti pad gayi, use khud hi vahan se bhagna pada. Shaam ko vo Ravi se milne phir aayi hogi blackmail ke liye par is baar bhi baazi ulti padi"
"Aapke kehne ka matlab ke Ravi ne Sundanda ko?"
"Aur isliye hi vo yun ghabraya hua vaapis aaya tha" Raj ne jawab diya.
"You are saying you think your brother murdered a girl?"
"No i am saying that my brother murdered a blackmailer. If you ask me, i would call it self defense. She was a prostitute and Ravi i am sure must have paid her well. She had no right to go sneaking into people's personnal lives and blackmail them. As they say, you push someone too far and they will retaliate. Thats what happened. Ravi's life was at stake and he took it back"
"Hmmmm" Main gaur se uski baat padh raha tha.
"Aur shayad yahi vajah thi ke Ravi ghabra kar Papa se batware ki baat kar raha tha. Vo ek shareef aadmi tha aur jaanta tha ke agar aisi koi bhi baat pheli toh papa ki kitni badnami hogi, khandaaan ki kitni badnami hogi. Isliye vo alag hona chah raha tha ke agar kuchh badnami aaye bhi toh uspar aaye"
"Usne aapse is baare mein kabhi kuchh discuss nahi kiya tha?"
"Nahi, afsos isi baat ka hai. Ham dono kaafi kareeb the par usne kabhi bataya hi nahi. Mujhe kuchh din se lag toh raha tha ke kuchh gadbad hai par kabhi usne kuchh kaha nahi"
"Sunanda ke baare mein aap pehle se jaante the?"
"Nahi, Liyaqat ke munh se hi pehli baar suna tha. Tab mujhe us shaam ka scene yaad aaya. Ravi ek sidha sa ladka tha, bhale hi usne gusse mein kisi ki jaan le li ho, bhale hi vo ek blackmailer ko maarke aaya ho par tha toh ek shareef aadmi hi na. Uski reaction vaisi hi thi jaisi kisi bhi normal insaan ki hoti hai, murder ke baad ghabrahat"
"Thats true"
"And i am sure you know about the 15 crores, right?" Raj ne puchha.
"Yes i do"
"Why do you think he was puttting that money aside? Because he was getting blackmailed by that prostitute. That money was never recovered"
"But that still doesnt explain your brother's disappearance. How do you put that in your theory"
"Ek yahi point hai jahan par aakar meri soch ruk jaati hai. Ravi kyun gayab hua, iske baad kya hua ye aaj tak kabhi pukhta taur par apne dimag mein decide nahi kar paya main. Bas ek hi theory samajh aati hai"
"And what is that?"
"Ab vo ek prostitute thi toh mawali type ke logon mein toh uthna bethna raha hi hoga uska. Ek mamuli prostitute 15 crore akele nahi daba sakti, itna bada game uske akeli ke bas ka tha hi nahi. We are a very powerful family here aur itne bade pariwaar ko blackmail karne ki sochna ek mamuli gaon mein dhandha karne wali ladki nahi soch sakti"
"So you think she had an accomplice"
"Or maybe an entire gang behind he whole thing"
"And they were all blackmailing Ravi. Us shaam Ravi killed Sunanda aur uske baad Sunanda ke saathiyon ne Ravi ko maar diya"
"Exactly"
"Interesting" Main sirf itna hi keh paya. Uski theory mein bahut dam tha aur is baat ne meri ab tak ki poori progress ko doubt mein daal diya tha.
"And i dont suppose the cops or anyone else knew what you just told me or what Liyaqat told me earlier?" Maine kaha.
"About Sunanda?"
"Yes"
"No of course not" Usne fauran jawab diya, "To reference a prostitute's name in our family's affairs? Its a disgrace, total disgrace. We would have lost our respect and place here if people found out that my brother was being blackmailed by a prostitute or that he was going to a prostitute. People would have laughed at us"
"But you do realise that it may as well have saved your brother's life if you have told the cops all this in time"
"Yes it may have but the cost was tooo high. Nothing is over honor, not even my brother's life"
Ham dono kuchh der tak khamosh bethe rahe aur phir main chair se utha.
"Well Mr. Rana, it was nice meeting you. I am starving now and think i should head back to the guest house for some breakfast"
"Wait"
"Ji kahiye"
"Listen, i know we got off on wrong foot but i need you to know that i have no hard feelings for you. The only reason i was so apprehensive in involving you was because of privacy reasons. But then i though that this matter was so public and so many people have looked into this that it wouldnt harm to let another one try. I didnt mean to offend you in any way and please forgive me if i did"
"Dont worry Mr. Rana, feeling is mutual. No offense taken"
Main palat kar jaane hi laga tha ke phir ruk gaya.
"Ek baat aur Mr. Rana" Main uske saamne aakar bola taake vo mere lips read kar sake, " You just told me that no one ever knew about what you and Liyaqat told me"
"Correct"
"There were people hired before me but no one could reach a conclusion"
"Correct, and there is a reason to that"
"What was that reason?"
"We didnt want anyone to know. Father and i knew the entire story but whoever was hired was because of my mother. But we alwas ensured that whoever came, just killed some time around here and went back telling that they couldnt find anything"
"Correct"
"For 20 years?"
"Correct. In a way, you are the first person who we have actually hired to look into the disappearance of my brother"
"So all those people were fake?"
"They were not fake, they were real detectives but they were well instructed that they are not suppose to do anything. They just came here for a vacation that we paid them for"
"And all this just to show your mother that you tried"
"Correct. We didnt want anyone to know what happened between my brother and that prostitute"
"Because of honor?"
"Correct"
"Then why tell me? why the sudden change of heart?"
Vo kuchh der tak chup raha auur phir kuchh soch kar type karne laga.
"Well i guess there is no harm in telling you this. My mother has a neurological illness that can not be cured. There is a vein in her brain that is about to burst open"
"I am sorry to hear that"
"Thanks. She has already been through one surgery and now doctors say that its too much stress on her body and brain to have her
undergo another procedure. Plus the success rate is very low. She may just die on the table itself"
"How long does she have"
"Actually thats where our hopes are. She may just keep on living for another 10 years or may just die today itself. No one can say for certain"
"And now i am here because you want to fulfill your dying mother's wish"
"Correct. Too long we have kept a curtain on what happened to my brother but i guess its time to raise that curtain. If his name is to be taken with a prostitute, then so be it"
"Ek baat samajh nahi aati" Maine sochte hue kaha, "To be with a prostitute or be a womaniser, its not really much of a disgrace, at least not as big as you are making it. Rich kids do that and everyone knows it"
Meri baat sunkar vo khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"There is something else you havent told me yet, right?" Main phir se uske saamne beth gaya.
"Dont get me wrong, i really wanted to but just couldnt say it"
"Please tell me Mr. Rana, what is it?"
"My brother was a gay"
"I dont know really, bada ghabraya hua sa tha vo, jaise kahin bhoot dekh liya ho"
"Phir?"
"I tried to calm him down, asked him what happened but he wouldnt listen. Aur vo ghar ke andar ki taraf chala gaya"
"Aur aap?"
"I thought i will ask the guard at the gate if he had seen anything but i couldnt find him, there was no one at the gate. So i went looking for the guard and found him a few steps away, he went over to take a leak. I asked him if he saw something or someone but he hadnt"
"And all this while Ravi was still inside?"
"Yeah. Then i thought i will walk a few steps and see what happened. Maybe he saw an accident or something but i found nothing at all"
"And then?"
"Then i came back to the house. I went to Ravi's room to talk to him but he wasnt there so i went to my room. After a while i Came downstairs for dinner but Ravi wasnt there on the table and he hasnt been ever since"
"What time did he leave the house?"
"No one knows"
"The guard?"
"Says he didnt see Ravi sneaking out. He was a very lousy guard, we fired him after a few days"
"You ever told this to anyone?"
"Yeah the cops knew about it all"
"Sunanda case ke baare mein toh aapko pata hi hoga?"
"Kaun Sunanda?"
"Aap abhi thodi der pehle khud hi bol rahe the ke aise sawal nahi puchhne chahiye jinka jawab pata ho" Maine muskurate hue kaha, "Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke aap jaante hain kaun Sunanda"
Vo kuchh pal tak khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"All rght, i have heard that name. What about her?" Kuchh der baad usne type kiya.
"Ek baar phir vahi baat Rana Sahab. Aap jaante hain ke mera ishara kis taraf hai, kyun aise sawal puchhne jisse baat sirf kuchh palon ke liye tale"
"That actually depends on how much you know" Thodi der pehle tak jo attitude mujhe vo dikha raha tha vo ab khatam ho chuka tha aur ab vo poori tarah mere saath co-operate karte hue mere har sawal ka jawab de raha tha.
"All right, then let me ask direct questions. Sunanda aapke bhai ke lapata hone se ek hafta pehle gayab hui thi. Mujhe bataya gaya hai ke theek us din jab aapka bhai gayab hua ...."
"Liyaqat ne tumhein bataya ke usne subah Sunanda ko dekha tha aur phir Ravi ko uske pichhe jaate dekha" Usne meri baat poori kar di.
"So you knew"
"As i said, depends on how much you know"
"Why dont we both tell each other what we know and bring us both on the same page?"
"Listen, if you are trying to imply that Ravi kidnapped ....."
"I didnt say that" Maine baat beech mein hi kaat di.
"Oh come on dont bullshit me, i knew thats where you were going with this. Its not possible ke Ravi use kidnap karke laya aur ek hafte tak yahan chhupaye raha. Aisa nahi ho sakta"
"Kyun nahi?"
"Kyunki ek ladki ko hafte bhar tak is ghar mein baandh kar rakh pana mumkin nahi hai, poora parivaar rehta tha tab yahan hamara"
"Vo guest house?" Maine us guest house ki taraf ishara kiya jahan Ravi raha karta tha.
"Still not possible, he couldnt have gotten a girl in there against her wish without anyone noticing it. There is a guard at the gate, he couldnt have sneaked past him"
"You said the guard was lousy"
"Not all of them, and even if he did manage to get the girl in here its impossible to keep a person hidden for a week without getting noticed. There was an army of servants here back then. That guest house was cleaned everyday and servants went in there to serve Ravi food. If there was a girl tied up in there, someone would have seen her"
"Hmmmmm" Uski baat mein dam tha, "What is your theory around this Mr. Rana"
"Blackmail i think"
"Blackmail?"
"Yep, she was a whore, a prostitute and Ravi was a young man. He must have gone with her sometime and she somehow must have found a way to blackmail him"
"That still doesnt explain the other facts"
"Yes it does, if you look closely at it. She was blackmailing Ravi, son of the most powerful man in this region. He must have threatened her back so she disappeared herself, to keep her safe. Then she met Ravi that morning but ho sakta hai baazi ulti pad gayi, use khud hi vahan se bhagna pada. Shaam ko vo Ravi se milne phir aayi hogi blackmail ke liye par is baar bhi baazi ulti padi"
"Aapke kehne ka matlab ke Ravi ne Sundanda ko?"
"Aur isliye hi vo yun ghabraya hua vaapis aaya tha" Raj ne jawab diya.
"You are saying you think your brother murdered a girl?"
"No i am saying that my brother murdered a blackmailer. If you ask me, i would call it self defense. She was a prostitute and Ravi i am sure must have paid her well. She had no right to go sneaking into people's personnal lives and blackmail them. As they say, you push someone too far and they will retaliate. Thats what happened. Ravi's life was at stake and he took it back"
"Hmmmm" Main gaur se uski baat padh raha tha.
"Aur shayad yahi vajah thi ke Ravi ghabra kar Papa se batware ki baat kar raha tha. Vo ek shareef aadmi tha aur jaanta tha ke agar aisi koi bhi baat pheli toh papa ki kitni badnami hogi, khandaaan ki kitni badnami hogi. Isliye vo alag hona chah raha tha ke agar kuchh badnami aaye bhi toh uspar aaye"
"Usne aapse is baare mein kabhi kuchh discuss nahi kiya tha?"
"Nahi, afsos isi baat ka hai. Ham dono kaafi kareeb the par usne kabhi bataya hi nahi. Mujhe kuchh din se lag toh raha tha ke kuchh gadbad hai par kabhi usne kuchh kaha nahi"
"Sunanda ke baare mein aap pehle se jaante the?"
"Nahi, Liyaqat ke munh se hi pehli baar suna tha. Tab mujhe us shaam ka scene yaad aaya. Ravi ek sidha sa ladka tha, bhale hi usne gusse mein kisi ki jaan le li ho, bhale hi vo ek blackmailer ko maarke aaya ho par tha toh ek shareef aadmi hi na. Uski reaction vaisi hi thi jaisi kisi bhi normal insaan ki hoti hai, murder ke baad ghabrahat"
"Thats true"
"And i am sure you know about the 15 crores, right?" Raj ne puchha.
"Yes i do"
"Why do you think he was puttting that money aside? Because he was getting blackmailed by that prostitute. That money was never recovered"
"But that still doesnt explain your brother's disappearance. How do you put that in your theory"
"Ek yahi point hai jahan par aakar meri soch ruk jaati hai. Ravi kyun gayab hua, iske baad kya hua ye aaj tak kabhi pukhta taur par apne dimag mein decide nahi kar paya main. Bas ek hi theory samajh aati hai"
"And what is that?"
"Ab vo ek prostitute thi toh mawali type ke logon mein toh uthna bethna raha hi hoga uska. Ek mamuli prostitute 15 crore akele nahi daba sakti, itna bada game uske akeli ke bas ka tha hi nahi. We are a very powerful family here aur itne bade pariwaar ko blackmail karne ki sochna ek mamuli gaon mein dhandha karne wali ladki nahi soch sakti"
"So you think she had an accomplice"
"Or maybe an entire gang behind he whole thing"
"And they were all blackmailing Ravi. Us shaam Ravi killed Sunanda aur uske baad Sunanda ke saathiyon ne Ravi ko maar diya"
"Exactly"
"Interesting" Main sirf itna hi keh paya. Uski theory mein bahut dam tha aur is baat ne meri ab tak ki poori progress ko doubt mein daal diya tha.
"And i dont suppose the cops or anyone else knew what you just told me or what Liyaqat told me earlier?" Maine kaha.
"About Sunanda?"
"Yes"
"No of course not" Usne fauran jawab diya, "To reference a prostitute's name in our family's affairs? Its a disgrace, total disgrace. We would have lost our respect and place here if people found out that my brother was being blackmailed by a prostitute or that he was going to a prostitute. People would have laughed at us"
"But you do realise that it may as well have saved your brother's life if you have told the cops all this in time"
"Yes it may have but the cost was tooo high. Nothing is over honor, not even my brother's life"
Ham dono kuchh der tak khamosh bethe rahe aur phir main chair se utha.
"Well Mr. Rana, it was nice meeting you. I am starving now and think i should head back to the guest house for some breakfast"
"Wait"
"Ji kahiye"
"Listen, i know we got off on wrong foot but i need you to know that i have no hard feelings for you. The only reason i was so apprehensive in involving you was because of privacy reasons. But then i though that this matter was so public and so many people have looked into this that it wouldnt harm to let another one try. I didnt mean to offend you in any way and please forgive me if i did"
"Dont worry Mr. Rana, feeling is mutual. No offense taken"
Main palat kar jaane hi laga tha ke phir ruk gaya.
"Ek baat aur Mr. Rana" Main uske saamne aakar bola taake vo mere lips read kar sake, " You just told me that no one ever knew about what you and Liyaqat told me"
"Correct"
"There were people hired before me but no one could reach a conclusion"
"Correct, and there is a reason to that"
"What was that reason?"
"We didnt want anyone to know. Father and i knew the entire story but whoever was hired was because of my mother. But we alwas ensured that whoever came, just killed some time around here and went back telling that they couldnt find anything"
"Correct"
"For 20 years?"
"Correct. In a way, you are the first person who we have actually hired to look into the disappearance of my brother"
"So all those people were fake?"
"They were not fake, they were real detectives but they were well instructed that they are not suppose to do anything. They just came here for a vacation that we paid them for"
"And all this just to show your mother that you tried"
"Correct. We didnt want anyone to know what happened between my brother and that prostitute"
"Because of honor?"
"Correct"
"Then why tell me? why the sudden change of heart?"
Vo kuchh der tak chup raha auur phir kuchh soch kar type karne laga.
"Well i guess there is no harm in telling you this. My mother has a neurological illness that can not be cured. There is a vein in her brain that is about to burst open"
"I am sorry to hear that"
"Thanks. She has already been through one surgery and now doctors say that its too much stress on her body and brain to have her
undergo another procedure. Plus the success rate is very low. She may just die on the table itself"
"How long does she have"
"Actually thats where our hopes are. She may just keep on living for another 10 years or may just die today itself. No one can say for certain"
"And now i am here because you want to fulfill your dying mother's wish"
"Correct. Too long we have kept a curtain on what happened to my brother but i guess its time to raise that curtain. If his name is to be taken with a prostitute, then so be it"
"Ek baat samajh nahi aati" Maine sochte hue kaha, "To be with a prostitute or be a womaniser, its not really much of a disgrace, at least not as big as you are making it. Rich kids do that and everyone knows it"
Meri baat sunkar vo khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"There is something else you havent told me yet, right?" Main phir se uske saamne beth gaya.
"Dont get me wrong, i really wanted to but just couldnt say it"
"Please tell me Mr. Rana, what is it?"
"My brother was a gay"