Chapter 2 - A Vacation Starts
Sunday ka din tha, mausam achha tha aur jagah kaafi khoobsurat.
"Ab yahan aa hi gaya hoon toh aaj chhutti ka dil Delhi ki bheed bhaad aur pollution mein bitane se behat hai ke yahin ruk jaoon" Ye sochkar main us din ghar vaapis nahi gaya aur Ranas ke guest house mein hi ruk gaya.
Takreeban 2 baje ke kareeb vo Butler, jiska naam mujhe Liyaqat bataya gaya tha, mujhe guest house mein chhod gaya. Guest house kya, Mrs. Rana ke ghar se thoda door hatkar bana ek khasa bada wooden cottage tha.
"Lunch mein koi preference?" Jaate jaate usne mujhse puchha.
"Nahi jo bhi is waqt available ho, kaafi bhookh lagi hai" Main jawab diya.
Takreeban 15-20 mein baad hi 2 naukar lunch lekar aa gaye.
"Ye kaun si jagah hai?" Vo dono table par khana laga rahe the toh maine sawal kiya.
"Ye Chail hai sahab" Ek ne jawab diya.
Chail ka naam maine suna hua tha, Shimla se kuchh door basa ek chhota sa kasba.
"Asal mein Chail yahan se takreeban 7 kilometre hai" Doosre na kaha "Ye jagah Chail se thoda bahar hai. Aur yahan se thodi door aage hi Solan hai"
Solan ka naam bhi maine suna hua tha. Ek aur chhota sa kasba.
"Yahan dekhne ko kya hai?"
"Aise toh kuchh khaas nahi hai Sahab, yahi sab pahad jungle vagerah hai" Pehle wale ne jawab diya.
"Idhar Kaali ka Tibba hai, udhar ja sakte hain aap ghoomne ko. Achha mandir bana hua, kaafi shaant jagah hai aur vahan se Sunset bahut achha dikhta hai"
"Kitna door hai yahan se?"
"Paas hi hai, aap udhar khidki se bahar ko dekhenge toh pahadi ke uper mandir dikhai deta hai"
"Paidal ja sakta hoon"
"Haan aise hi tehelte tehelte nikal sakte hain" Kehkar vo mujhe rasta batane laga.
Khana laga kar vo dono chale gaye. Lunch karne ke baad maine ghadi par nazar daali toh 3 bajne wale the. Kal raat main dhang se soya nahi tha isliye thodi thakaan ho rahi thi. Mausam mein halki thandak thi, shaant jagah aur bharpet khana, nateeja ye hua ke mujhe halki halki neend aane lagi. Maine apne cell mein 2 ghante baad ka alarm lagaya aur bedroom mein jakar let gaya.
Thakaan hone ki vajah se let-te hi meri fauran aankh lag gayi aur sidha 5 baje alarm bajne par khuli. Angdaai lete hue maine bistar chhoda aur aadat ke mutaabik uthte hi sabse pehle ek cigarette sulgayi.
Mujhe ek cup chaai ki sakht talab ho rahi thi par dikkat ye thi ke chaai ka intezaam kiya kaise jaaye. Mera pehla khyaal tha ke us butler Liyaqat ko kahun ya jo 2 naukar mujhe khada dene aaye the unse kahun. Sochte hue maine phone uthaya aur aas paas koi phone-book ya diary talash ki jisse ke mujhe kitchen ya Mrs. Rana ke ghar ki koi extension mil jaaye, jaisa ke aksar hotels mein hota hai. Par jaisa ke ye koi hotel nahi tha toh mujhe aisa koi phone number bhi kahin likha nazar nahi aaya.
Maine phone vaapis neeche rakha aur living room mein aaya. Mera doosra khyaal bhi sahi saabit hua. Is guest house mein ek kitchen bhi tha. Main kitchen mein pahuncha aur khud chaai banane ke khyaal se fridge khola par afsos ke vahan doodh nahi tha.
Hatash main kitchen se bahar aaya aur doosri cigarette sulga kar living room ki khidki se bahar dekha.
Mrs. Rana ke ghar ki tarah hi ye guest house bhi ek pahad ke bilkul kone par bana hua. Khidki ke bahar takreeban 3-4 meter jagah thi, kisi balcony ki tarah, jispar ek takreeban 2 feet oonchi railing lagi hui thi. Railing ke doosri tarah pahad ki dhalaan thi, yaani ke ek gehri khaai.
Bahar ka mausam ab thoda badla hua tha. Jahan 2 ghante pehle aasman mein badal the aur lag raha tha ke kisi bhi pal baarish ho jaayegi, vahin ab halki halki dhalte hue sooraj ki dhoop pheli hui thi. Badal chhat chuke par hawa mein ab bhi halki nami aur thandak thi. Khoobsurat wadi ka jaayza lete hue meri nazar thodi door nazar aa rahe ek pahad ki choti par bane mandir par aakar ruki.
Mujhe us naukar ki baat yaad aayi ke vo ek kaali ka mandir tha aur vahan se sunset ka view bahut achha milta tha. Maine joote pehne aur guest house se bahar aaya aur andaze se us mandir ki disha mein chal pada. Thodi door chalne ke baad ek aadmi nazar aaya jo pehnave se pahadi hi lag raha tha. Maine usse mandir ka raasta puchha aur uski batayi disha mein chal pada.
Mandir andaze se zyada hi door saabit hua. Vahan pahunchne tak mujhe aadhe ghante se zyada waqt lag gaya aur tab tak sooraj dhalna shuru ho gaya tha. Jab main vahan pahuncha toh Shaam ke 6 baj rahe the aur us vahan bas ek main akela hi tha. Mandir ka darwaza band tha. Maine yun hi tehelte hue mandir ka ek chakkar lagaya aur boundary wall ke paas aakar khada ho gaya. Nazar vaadi par daali toh mere samne meri zindagi ka sabse khoobsurat nazara tha.
Sorraj dheere dheere dhal raha tha, har pal rang badal raha tha aur uske saath hi rang badal rahe the aasman mein pheli badal ki chhoti chhoti tukdiyan. Kahin laal, kahin neela toh kahin gulabi. Lag raha tha ke door shitij par jaise ek jwalamukhi phat pada ho aur garam lawa phoot kar har taraf bikhar raha ho. Neeche wadi mein koi kasba tha jo ke maine andaza lagaya ke Solan hi ho sakta tha. Kasbe ke gharon ke lights on honi shuru ho gayi thi. Aasman ka rang dheere dheere neele se gulabi, phir gehra laal, phir halka laal aur phir dheere dheere kala hone laga.
Maine jaane kitni der tak Mandir ki deewar ke paas khada vo nazara dekhta raha. Ajeeb sammohit kar dene wala drishya tha. Achanak mandir bajni shuru hui toh mera dhyaan toota aur maine palat kar mandir ki taraf dekha jiska darwaza ab khula hua tha aur andar aarti shuru ho chuki thi. Main deewar se hata, chal kar mandir ke darwaze ke paas aaya, joote utare aur sidhiyan chadh kar andar daakhil hua.
Andar sirf 3 hi log maujood the. Ek 30-35 saal ka aadmi dhol par thaap de raha tha, ek 15-16 saal ka ladka ek bada sa ghanta baja raha tha aur ek pujari zor zor se aarti ga raha tha. Main bhi andar aakar unke saath kaali mata ki moorti ke aage haath jodkar beth gaya.
Aarti khatam hone ke baad maine prasad liya aur mandir se bahar nikla. Bahar ghana andhera phel chuka tha. Jahan tak mandir ki lights aa rahi thi vahan tak toh theek, uske baad andhera itna ghana ho gaya ke haath ko haath na soojhe. Maine aasman ki taraf nazar uthayi toh na chand nazar aaya aur na sitare yaani ke badal ek baar phir ghirne shuru ho gaye the.
Main ajeeb museebat mein pad gaya. Chaaron taraf ghor sannata, ghana andhera aur main akela. Ajnabi jagah aur guest house yahan se khaasi door tha. Maine apna cell nikal kar keys dabayi aur screen ki jo bhi na ke barabar roshni hui, usi ke sahare sadak ka andaza lagata vaapis guest house ki taraf badha.
Kismet se thodi hi der baad chand ne badalon ke pichhe se sar uthaya aur har taraf halki chandni phel gayi. Jo sadak ab tak nazar nahi aa rahi thi ab dikhayi dene lagi. Maine rahat ki saans li aur kadamon ki tezi badha di.
Chalte chalte meri soch us baat par aa gayi jiski vajah se main yahan tha. Kaam zyada mushkil nahi tha, sirf ek mare hue aadmi ke baare mein pata lagane ki koshish karni thi. Main vaise bhi Delhi mein poora din aise hi gade murde ukhadta phirta tha, is koshish mein ke kahin se kuchh aisa mil jaaye jisse ke kahani bana kar likha ja sake. Toh kyun na aise hi gade murde ukhadne ki koshish yahan ki jaaye. Kahani yahan bhi dhoondhni thi par farak sirf itna tha ke is baar kahani ek akhbaar mein chhapne ke bajaay sirf ek boodhi aurat ko sunani thi jo ke asal mein apne aap mein ek achhi baat thi. Kahani vahi hogi jo ke main use sunaoonga aur uske paas sivaay meri baat ka bharosa karne ke aur koi chara nahi hogi. Na toh meri kahani pe sawal karne wala koi hoga aur na hi kisi ko isse pareshani.
And on top of it, paisa achha khasa hai.
Apni soch mein gum main chala ja raha tha ke pichhe se aati ek gaadi ki headlights ne sadak ko roshan kar diya. Main sadak se ek taraf hat kar khada ho gaya. Gaadi nazdeek aayi par guzri nahi, mere saath aakar hi ruk gayi. Driving seat par ek aurat thi.
"Hi" Usne muskura kar meri taraf dekhte hue kaha.
Sunday ka din tha, mausam achha tha aur jagah kaafi khoobsurat.
"Ab yahan aa hi gaya hoon toh aaj chhutti ka dil Delhi ki bheed bhaad aur pollution mein bitane se behat hai ke yahin ruk jaoon" Ye sochkar main us din ghar vaapis nahi gaya aur Ranas ke guest house mein hi ruk gaya.
Takreeban 2 baje ke kareeb vo Butler, jiska naam mujhe Liyaqat bataya gaya tha, mujhe guest house mein chhod gaya. Guest house kya, Mrs. Rana ke ghar se thoda door hatkar bana ek khasa bada wooden cottage tha.
"Lunch mein koi preference?" Jaate jaate usne mujhse puchha.
"Nahi jo bhi is waqt available ho, kaafi bhookh lagi hai" Main jawab diya.
Takreeban 15-20 mein baad hi 2 naukar lunch lekar aa gaye.
"Ye kaun si jagah hai?" Vo dono table par khana laga rahe the toh maine sawal kiya.
"Ye Chail hai sahab" Ek ne jawab diya.
Chail ka naam maine suna hua tha, Shimla se kuchh door basa ek chhota sa kasba.
"Asal mein Chail yahan se takreeban 7 kilometre hai" Doosre na kaha "Ye jagah Chail se thoda bahar hai. Aur yahan se thodi door aage hi Solan hai"
Solan ka naam bhi maine suna hua tha. Ek aur chhota sa kasba.
"Yahan dekhne ko kya hai?"
"Aise toh kuchh khaas nahi hai Sahab, yahi sab pahad jungle vagerah hai" Pehle wale ne jawab diya.
"Idhar Kaali ka Tibba hai, udhar ja sakte hain aap ghoomne ko. Achha mandir bana hua, kaafi shaant jagah hai aur vahan se Sunset bahut achha dikhta hai"
"Kitna door hai yahan se?"
"Paas hi hai, aap udhar khidki se bahar ko dekhenge toh pahadi ke uper mandir dikhai deta hai"
"Paidal ja sakta hoon"
"Haan aise hi tehelte tehelte nikal sakte hain" Kehkar vo mujhe rasta batane laga.
Khana laga kar vo dono chale gaye. Lunch karne ke baad maine ghadi par nazar daali toh 3 bajne wale the. Kal raat main dhang se soya nahi tha isliye thodi thakaan ho rahi thi. Mausam mein halki thandak thi, shaant jagah aur bharpet khana, nateeja ye hua ke mujhe halki halki neend aane lagi. Maine apne cell mein 2 ghante baad ka alarm lagaya aur bedroom mein jakar let gaya.
Thakaan hone ki vajah se let-te hi meri fauran aankh lag gayi aur sidha 5 baje alarm bajne par khuli. Angdaai lete hue maine bistar chhoda aur aadat ke mutaabik uthte hi sabse pehle ek cigarette sulgayi.
Mujhe ek cup chaai ki sakht talab ho rahi thi par dikkat ye thi ke chaai ka intezaam kiya kaise jaaye. Mera pehla khyaal tha ke us butler Liyaqat ko kahun ya jo 2 naukar mujhe khada dene aaye the unse kahun. Sochte hue maine phone uthaya aur aas paas koi phone-book ya diary talash ki jisse ke mujhe kitchen ya Mrs. Rana ke ghar ki koi extension mil jaaye, jaisa ke aksar hotels mein hota hai. Par jaisa ke ye koi hotel nahi tha toh mujhe aisa koi phone number bhi kahin likha nazar nahi aaya.
Maine phone vaapis neeche rakha aur living room mein aaya. Mera doosra khyaal bhi sahi saabit hua. Is guest house mein ek kitchen bhi tha. Main kitchen mein pahuncha aur khud chaai banane ke khyaal se fridge khola par afsos ke vahan doodh nahi tha.
Hatash main kitchen se bahar aaya aur doosri cigarette sulga kar living room ki khidki se bahar dekha.
Mrs. Rana ke ghar ki tarah hi ye guest house bhi ek pahad ke bilkul kone par bana hua. Khidki ke bahar takreeban 3-4 meter jagah thi, kisi balcony ki tarah, jispar ek takreeban 2 feet oonchi railing lagi hui thi. Railing ke doosri tarah pahad ki dhalaan thi, yaani ke ek gehri khaai.
Bahar ka mausam ab thoda badla hua tha. Jahan 2 ghante pehle aasman mein badal the aur lag raha tha ke kisi bhi pal baarish ho jaayegi, vahin ab halki halki dhalte hue sooraj ki dhoop pheli hui thi. Badal chhat chuke par hawa mein ab bhi halki nami aur thandak thi. Khoobsurat wadi ka jaayza lete hue meri nazar thodi door nazar aa rahe ek pahad ki choti par bane mandir par aakar ruki.
Mujhe us naukar ki baat yaad aayi ke vo ek kaali ka mandir tha aur vahan se sunset ka view bahut achha milta tha. Maine joote pehne aur guest house se bahar aaya aur andaze se us mandir ki disha mein chal pada. Thodi door chalne ke baad ek aadmi nazar aaya jo pehnave se pahadi hi lag raha tha. Maine usse mandir ka raasta puchha aur uski batayi disha mein chal pada.
Mandir andaze se zyada hi door saabit hua. Vahan pahunchne tak mujhe aadhe ghante se zyada waqt lag gaya aur tab tak sooraj dhalna shuru ho gaya tha. Jab main vahan pahuncha toh Shaam ke 6 baj rahe the aur us vahan bas ek main akela hi tha. Mandir ka darwaza band tha. Maine yun hi tehelte hue mandir ka ek chakkar lagaya aur boundary wall ke paas aakar khada ho gaya. Nazar vaadi par daali toh mere samne meri zindagi ka sabse khoobsurat nazara tha.
Sorraj dheere dheere dhal raha tha, har pal rang badal raha tha aur uske saath hi rang badal rahe the aasman mein pheli badal ki chhoti chhoti tukdiyan. Kahin laal, kahin neela toh kahin gulabi. Lag raha tha ke door shitij par jaise ek jwalamukhi phat pada ho aur garam lawa phoot kar har taraf bikhar raha ho. Neeche wadi mein koi kasba tha jo ke maine andaza lagaya ke Solan hi ho sakta tha. Kasbe ke gharon ke lights on honi shuru ho gayi thi. Aasman ka rang dheere dheere neele se gulabi, phir gehra laal, phir halka laal aur phir dheere dheere kala hone laga.
Maine jaane kitni der tak Mandir ki deewar ke paas khada vo nazara dekhta raha. Ajeeb sammohit kar dene wala drishya tha. Achanak mandir bajni shuru hui toh mera dhyaan toota aur maine palat kar mandir ki taraf dekha jiska darwaza ab khula hua tha aur andar aarti shuru ho chuki thi. Main deewar se hata, chal kar mandir ke darwaze ke paas aaya, joote utare aur sidhiyan chadh kar andar daakhil hua.
Andar sirf 3 hi log maujood the. Ek 30-35 saal ka aadmi dhol par thaap de raha tha, ek 15-16 saal ka ladka ek bada sa ghanta baja raha tha aur ek pujari zor zor se aarti ga raha tha. Main bhi andar aakar unke saath kaali mata ki moorti ke aage haath jodkar beth gaya.
Aarti khatam hone ke baad maine prasad liya aur mandir se bahar nikla. Bahar ghana andhera phel chuka tha. Jahan tak mandir ki lights aa rahi thi vahan tak toh theek, uske baad andhera itna ghana ho gaya ke haath ko haath na soojhe. Maine aasman ki taraf nazar uthayi toh na chand nazar aaya aur na sitare yaani ke badal ek baar phir ghirne shuru ho gaye the.
Main ajeeb museebat mein pad gaya. Chaaron taraf ghor sannata, ghana andhera aur main akela. Ajnabi jagah aur guest house yahan se khaasi door tha. Maine apna cell nikal kar keys dabayi aur screen ki jo bhi na ke barabar roshni hui, usi ke sahare sadak ka andaza lagata vaapis guest house ki taraf badha.
Kismet se thodi hi der baad chand ne badalon ke pichhe se sar uthaya aur har taraf halki chandni phel gayi. Jo sadak ab tak nazar nahi aa rahi thi ab dikhayi dene lagi. Maine rahat ki saans li aur kadamon ki tezi badha di.
Chalte chalte meri soch us baat par aa gayi jiski vajah se main yahan tha. Kaam zyada mushkil nahi tha, sirf ek mare hue aadmi ke baare mein pata lagane ki koshish karni thi. Main vaise bhi Delhi mein poora din aise hi gade murde ukhadta phirta tha, is koshish mein ke kahin se kuchh aisa mil jaaye jisse ke kahani bana kar likha ja sake. Toh kyun na aise hi gade murde ukhadne ki koshish yahan ki jaaye. Kahani yahan bhi dhoondhni thi par farak sirf itna tha ke is baar kahani ek akhbaar mein chhapne ke bajaay sirf ek boodhi aurat ko sunani thi jo ke asal mein apne aap mein ek achhi baat thi. Kahani vahi hogi jo ke main use sunaoonga aur uske paas sivaay meri baat ka bharosa karne ke aur koi chara nahi hogi. Na toh meri kahani pe sawal karne wala koi hoga aur na hi kisi ko isse pareshani.
And on top of it, paisa achha khasa hai.
Apni soch mein gum main chala ja raha tha ke pichhe se aati ek gaadi ki headlights ne sadak ko roshan kar diya. Main sadak se ek taraf hat kar khada ho gaya. Gaadi nazdeek aayi par guzri nahi, mere saath aakar hi ruk gayi. Driving seat par ek aurat thi.
"Hi" Usne muskura kar meri taraf dekhte hue kaha.
Last edited: