Mujhe hosh aaya toh main hospital mein tha aur mere bed ke paas hi meri maan bethi thi. Mujhe aankh kholta dekh vo fauran mere paas aayi.
"Shukr hai uperwale ka" Unhone mere sar par haath pherte hue kaha "Thehar main Doctor ko bula kar laati hoon"
Mere kuchh kehne se pehle hi vo kamre se bahar nikal gayi.
Maine lete lete hi apni halat ka jaayza liya. Shareer par kayi jagah pattiya chadhi hui thi aur dono arms kohni tak plaster mein thi. Ek haath mein drip lagi hui thi jisse hota glucose ya shayad kuchh aur mere shareer mein ja raha tha. Maine uthkar bethne ki koshish ki par fauran aisa laga jaise mere pattiyon mein bandhe sar mein hathode baj rahe hon aur maine sar phir takiya par rakh diya.
Apne shareer se nazar hata kar maine apne aas paas dekha. Us waqt main ek khaase bade kamre mein tha jo kisi 5 star hotel se kam nahi tha. Kamre ke beecho beech bichhe bed par main leta hua tha, dono taraf do tables thi jin par phool rakhe hue the. Thodi hi door khidki ke paas kisi living room ki tarah ek table aur uske 3 taraf sofas rakhe hue the aur deewar ke saath ek bada sa TV rakha hua tha. Kamre mein hi attached bathroom bhi tha.
Matlab saaf tha. Main ek kaafi mehenge kism ki hospital mein tha par kaise? Mere maan baap ki maali halat koi itni zabardast nahi thi ke vo is tarah ke hospital mein mera ilaaj afford kar sakte. Yahan ek kamre ke charges kisi 5 star hotel se zyada hi honge aur uper se Doctors ki fees aur dawaiyon ke kharche.
Apne parents ki jeb ke hisaab se toh mujhe AIIMS jaise kisi hospital ke General ward mein hona chahiye tha.
Main abhi soch hi raha tha ke kamre ka darwaza khula aur ek policewala andar daakhil hua.
"Abhi bahar aapki maan ko batate hue suna ke aapko hosh aa gaya hai, baaat kar sakte hain 2 min?" Vo mere bed ke nazdeek aata hua bola. Ek haath mein uske ek notebook thi aur doosre mein pen.
Main janta tha ke vo kya puchhne wala tha isliye haan mein sar hila diya.
"Bayaan lena tha aapka"
Maine phir haan mein sar hilaya.
"Aap jaante hain ke vo kaun the jinhone aapko us raat mara?"
Main nahi mein sar hila diya.
"Koi jana pehchana chehra?"
Maine phir inkaar mein sar hilaya.
"Kisi ke saath aapki dushmani jo aisa karna chahta ho? Haal filhal mein kisi se koi jhagda hua ho?"
Mere dimaag mein fauran Renuka ka naam aaya par gardan meri inkaar mein hi hili.
Vo policewala aage puchhna hi chah raha tha ke kamre ka darwaza phir khula aur meri maan ek nurse ke saath andar daakhil hui.
"Ye kya hai? Abhi use hosh aaya hi hai aur aap shuru ho gaye? 2 min chain ki saans toh lene do use, abhi Dr. ne dekha bhi nahi hai" Vo fauran policewale par phat padi.
"Maanji bayaan lena hai" Policewale ne kaha.
"Haan toh baad mein le lena, kahin bhaga thode hi ja raha hai vo. Kam se kam Dr. log ko dekh toh lene do ke uski halat kaisi hai"
"Aap abhi please bahar jaaiye. patient abhi coma se bahar aaya hi hai, its not the right time to question" Nurse ne kaha.
"COMA ????" Mere dimaag mein fauran ghantiyan baj uthi.
Policewale ke jaane be baad us Nurse ne mera muayna kiya. Ek torch jala kar meri aankhon mein jhanka toh kabhi mere munh mein, ek anguli utha kar mujhe uski taraf dekhne ka ishara kiya, kamre mein rakhi cheezon ke baare mein puchha ke kaun si cheez kya hai aur phir apne notepad mein kuchh likh kar bahar jaate hue mujhse boli,
"Aap abhi aaram kijiye, zyada stress nahi lena. Thodi der mein Doctor Khurana aapko dekhne aayenge"
"Kitna mara mere bachche ko" Nurse ke jaane ke baad meri maan mere sar par haath pherte hue boli "kaisa lag raha hai abhi?"
"Ye Nurse kya bol rahi thi?" Maine dheemi aawaz mein bola "Coma?"
"Haan, 4 din baad hosh aaya hai tujhe aaj" Kehte hue vo lagbhag ro hi padi "Kisne kiya ye, kaun the?"
"4 Din?" Main hairani se bola "Aur ye hospital?"
"Haan, bhala ho tere doston ka jo yahan itne achhe hospital mein leke aaye tujhe"
"Mere dost?" Meri samajh mein kuchh nahi aa raha tha. Mera koi dost itna ameer nahi tha jo is jagah ko afford kar sakta, actually toh mera dost koi tha hi nahi. Sirf jaan pehchan ke log the "Kaun dost?"
"Arrey tere college ke ladke, sabne paise milkar jama kiye aur tujhe yahan leke aaye. Aur ek ladki bhi thi"
"Ladki?"
"Haan idhar bahar hi bethi hai abhi bhi, thehar main bula kar laati hoon"
Maan ek baar phir bahar gayi aur is baar jab darwaza khula toh main hairani se dekhta reh gaya. Darwaze par maan ke saath Renuka khadi thi.
"Kaise ho tum?" Vo andar aate hue boli. Main jawab mein kuchh keh na saka. Bas gusse aur hairani se use dekhta raha. Is ladki ki himmat dekho, meri ye halat bana kar khud hi yahan khadi hai. Mujhe aisa laga jaise vo mera mazak sa uda rahi thi, apni superiority ka ehsaas dila rahi thi.
"Tum dono baat karo, main kuchh khaane ka puchhke aati hoon tere liye" Kehte hue Maan hamein akela chhod kar chali gayi.
"Yahan kya kar rahi ho tum?" Unke jaate hi main fauran Renuka se bola.
"Tumhare bills pay kar rahi hoon" Vo mere bed ke paas rakhe chair par bethte hue boli "How are you feeling now?"
"Tumhari himmat kaise hui yahan aane ki?"
"Tum sabke saath hi aise pesh aate ho ya main special hoon?"
"Special? Mere liye tum koi nahi ho"
"I know, toh matlab ke tum sabke saath hi aise ladte rehte ho jaise mere saath, kisi se dhang se baat nahi karte"
"Dhang se baat? Tumse 2 bol bole the maine aur nateeja ye nikla ke 4 din se yahan behosh pada hoon. Vaise jaan sakta hoon ke mujhpar itni meharbaani kisliye"
"Meharbaani?"
"Haan, khud meri ye halat banva kar yahan itni achhi jagah ilaaj karana? Kya jata rahi ho? Chhota dikha rahi ho mujhe?"
"Tumhein lagta hai maine karvaya ye sab?" Use meri baat ka bura laga aur mere kareeb aate hue vo boli.
Lagta nahi hai" Maine munh banate hue kaha "Pata hai mujhe ke tumhari hi kartoot hai ye"
"Mera ismein koi haath nahi hai, samjhe" Vo bhi thoda chidte hue boli.
"Toh vo ladke kya yun us raat mujhe maarte hue tumhare naam ki mala jap rahe the? Itna bevakoof hoon nahi main jitna tum samajh rahi ho. Vo na bhi lete tumhara naam toh apne aap hi samajh aane wali baat ki meri us din ki harkat ka badla le rahi thi tum"
"Wah, ek toh bhalai karo aur uper se taane bhi suno" Vo mere bed ke paas ek kursi khinchte hue beth gayi.
"Exactly, agar tumne nahi karvaya ye sab toh bhalai kyun kar rahi ho? Is meharbani ki 2 hi vajah hi sakti hain, ya toh tum is baat se dar rahi ho ke main police ke aage kya munh kholunga ya phir tumhara guilt tumhein is baat ke liye force kar raha hai. Jahan tak mera khyaal hai tum shayad police ke dar se yahan maujood ho, guilt ki vajah se nahi"
"Sar pe chot lagi hai na tumhare isliye dimaag kuchh zyada hi chal raha hai tumhara. Jahan tak police ki baat hai toh tum chahe jo gala phado, mujhe koi farak nahi padta. Main ye keh rahi hoon ke maine ye sab nahi karvaya par maine ye nahi kaha ke ye meri vajah se nahi hua"
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab ye ke tum sahi ho, ye sab us din meri tumhari kaha suni ki vajah se hua tha, yaani meri vajah se hua tha par maine nahi karvaya. Maine unmein se kisi bhi ladke se nahi kaha tha ke jakar tumhare saath maar peet karein, main aisa kuchh nahi chahti thi"
"Oh, par ...." Maine kehna chaha toh usne haath ke ishare se rok diya.
"Baat khatam karne do mujhe. Tum pehle ladke nahi ho jo mere saath aise pesh aaya hai. Aadat hai mujhe aur aisi baaton ko ignore karna maine bahut pehle seekh liya tha. Jis kisi ko bhi main ghaas nahi daalti vo khij kar aise hi baat karta hai mujhse, mujhe neecha dikhane ki koshish mein"
"Toh tumhein lagta hai ke ...." Main phir bola toh usne phir chup kara diya.
"Us din ke incident ke baad main toh ghar jaake lambi taanke so gayi thi. Tumhare pichhe ladke bhejna toh door ki baat hai maine toh socha tak nahi tha us baare mein par vo ladke khud hi bero banne chal diye. Unhein laga ke yun tumhare saath maar peet karke unhein shayad meri taango ke beech aane ka mauka mil jaayega"
Usne jis bebaaki se ye baat kahi thi vo dekhkar mera munh khula ka khula reh gaya. Zyada ladkiyon ko main janta nahi tha aur jinko jaanta tha vo bechari badi shareef sidhi saadi type ladkiyan thi. Kisi ladki se is tarah ki baat sunne ka mere ye pehla mauka tha.
"But anyways ... "Usne apni baat jaari rakhi "Maine jo kiya, i mean tumhara ilaaj vagerah yahan par karvana, vo kisi darr ki vajah se nahi tha, mujhe bura lag raha tha isliye"
"Oh" Main itna hi keh saka.
Vo koi aur aadha pauna ghanta mere saath rahi aur ham idhar udhar ki baatein karte rahe. Tab mujhe pehli baar ehsaas hua ke vo utni buri thi nahi jitni ke main samajh raha tha. Andar se vo bhi bas ek aam si ladki thi, bas showbaazi karne ki aadat zara zyada thi.
"Theek hai na yaar ...." Vo haste hue boli thi "I am good looking and i know that. Mujhe pata hai ke main shakal soorat se achhi hoon toh koi paap thode hi hai. Agar dikkat hai meri khoobsurati se toh jao kar do Bhagwan pe case, unhone banaya hai mujhe aisa. I know how to carry myself and i do that. Duniya ki kaun si aurat aisi hai jo make up nahi lagati chehre par, ya achhi nahi dikhna chahti, sab chahti hai toh maine kiya toh kaun sa paap kiya. College aati hoon toh saali saari ladkiyan aise kilasti hain mujhse jaise maine unke khasam bhaga rakhe hon"
Uski is baat par main zor se has pada.
"Haan yaar, kehti hain ke main ladkon mein hi ghusi rehti hoon. Ladki koi baat karti hi nahi mujhse toh main kya karun"
"I am sorry for being rude that day" Baaton baaton mein maine kaha.
"And i am sorry ke meri vajah se tumhare saath aisa hua ..." Usne muskura kar jawab diya.
Tabhi kamre mein meri maan aa gayi aur unke pichhe pichhe Kamini thi. Meri maan ke haath mein ek tray thi jismein kuchh ande aur ek glass doodh tha.
"Le kuchh kha le ...." Vo meri table par tray rakhti hui boli.
"Ise abhi 4 din baad hosh aaya hai, kuchh khilane se pehle ek baar Dr. se check kar lijiye aap" Renuka meri maan se boli.
"Arrey 4 din se bhookha pada tha, khilane par kaisi rok tok. Khaayega nahi toh achha kaise hoga?"
"Aunty Phir bhi aap ek baar Dr. se check kar leti toh theek rehta"
Usne kaha toh meri maan soch mein pad gayi.
"Thehar main puchhke aati hoon us nurse se" Aur vo phir kamre se bahar nikal gayi. Ab kamre mein main Renuka aur Kamini reh gaye.
"Kaisi ho?" Maine Kamini se puchha.
"Meri chhodo, how are you feeling now?"
"As if i have just been hit by a train ..." Maine muskura kar jawab diya.
"Chhi, aisa nahi kehte" Vo mere bed ke paas aakar khadi ho gayi.
"Achha chalo main chalti hoon" Kehkar Renuka uth khadi hui "Tum aaram karo, main kal dekhne aaoongi"
"Thanks for everything" Maine usse kaha.
"You are very welcome. Take care" Kehkar vo apna purse utha kar chal di.
"Kuchh kha nahi sakte, magar doodh toh pi hi sakte ho?" Kamini ne kaha.
"Nahi inhein Glass se doodh pina pasand nahi hai" Renuka jaate jaate palti aur kehkar hasti hui darwaze se nikal gayi. Main janta tha ke uska ishara meri kis baat ki taraf tha aur muskura utha.
"Kya matlab tha iska?" Uske jaane ke baad Kamini boli.
"Kuchh nahi, never mind her. pagal hai" Maine haskar kaha.
"Ye kyun itni meharbaan ho rahi hai tum par?"
"Kyun tumhein jalan ho rahi hai?" Main uske chehre ko gaur se dekhta hua bola.
"Haan bilkul ho rahi hai. Zabardasti chipak kyun rahi hai itna ye, ye ehsaan jatane ka matlab kya hai"
"Ab chhodo bhi use, achhe khaase hospital mein ilaaj ho raha hai mera, kya problem hai. Hone do jaise ho raha hai"
"Bachkar rehna isse, iske jaisi ghar basati nahi, sirf ghar ujaadti hain"
Us din bhale hi Kamini ne ye baat jalan mein laparwahi se kahi thi par ab sochta hoon ke kya mujhe us din uski baat sun leni chahiye thi? Kya usne jo kaha vo sach tha? Aaj Renuka ke marne ke itne waqt baad bhi Jab bhi maun uske baare mein sochta hoon toh vo din yaad aa jata jab mere paas vo phone call aaya tha, har baar mere kaano mein us phone par kahe gaye vo shabd goonjne lagte hain.
"Aapki biwi ne suicide kar liya hai"