Adultery Shakshi ki duniya

[rajrohikr3]

dopahar ka sooraj baatharoom kee khidakee se garm, madhur kiranon ke roop mein andar aa raha tha, tail vaalee deevaaron par naach raha tha, jabaki saakshee ek patale sootee tauliye mein lipatee huee, chhote, thode dhabbedaar darpan ke saamane khadee thee, jo usake shareer ke ubhaaron se nam tha. daravaaza band tha - sirf nijata ke lie nahin, balki isalie kyonki yah kshan pavitr tha. yah usaka tha, aur sirf usaka. koee bachcha rota nahin, koee ghareloo vyavadhaan nahin, koee pati kee aankhen nahin. bas usakee apanee saanson kee shaant gunagunaahat, aur usake pairon ke paas taambe ke bartan se bhaap kee phusaphusaahat. usane apana rezar garm paanee ke katore mein duboya aur use apane andaraarm kee naram dhalaan par saavadhaanee se ghumaana shuroo kar diya. usakee tvacha sunaharee roshanee mein chamak rahee thee, os se bheegee aur komal. har strok ek vaapasee kee tarah lag raha tha - dhyaan, samay, dekhabhaal kee. ye rasmen kabhee niyamit hua karatee theen, kisee aur ke lie kee jaatee theen. lekin aaj, ye usake lie kee ja rahee theen, aur usake dimaag mein kisee aur aadamee kee nazar kee chhavi garmajoshee se ankit thee. ek taraph se kaam poora karane ke baad, vah thoda mudee, usake koolhe sahaj anugrah ke saath hil rahe the, aur doosaree taraph se bhee kaam jaaree rakha. usakee saansen usake strok ke saath lay mein chal rahee theen, maapa hua, sthir. jab usane kaam poora kiya, to usane apane pratibimb kee jaanch kee. usake kolarabon tauliya ke neeche se jhaank rahe the, usake kandhon ke khokhale prakaash ko pakad rahe the. usake gaalon mein rang tha, ek naram laalee jo kuchh hafte pahale nahin thee. kuchh badal raha tha. kuchh jaag gaya tha. usane chandan-kesar ke tel kee chhotee sheeshee ko uthaaya aur use khola.
khushaboo turant hee oopar aa gaee - gaharee, garm aur bas thodee see mohak. usane apanee hathelee mein kuchh boonden daaleen aur use apanee baahon mein lambe, taral strok ke saath chikana karana shuroo kar diya. usakee ungaliyaan usakee gardan, usakee chhaatee, usake pet aur usake ghutanon ke peechhe tak pahunch gaeen. usakee tvacha ne ise sokh liya. usane apane shareer ko sheeshe kee or jhukaaya, apanee peeth ke nichale hisse ke kon kee prashansa karane ke lie bas itana hee mudee.

 

[rajrohikr3]

usane raamoo kee aankhon kee kalpana kee - kaise ve phiting ke dauraan usakee reedh kee haddee ke tej jhukaav par ruk gae the, jab usane blauj ke baare mein usakee raay poochhee thee to usakee nigaahon mein bhookh thee. usane zyaada kuchh nahin kaha tha. use bolane kee zaroorat nahin thee. usakee aankhon ne sab kuchh kah diya tha. vah us kon kee nakal karane ke lie mudee jise vah yaad karatee thee, dheere-dheere apane haathon ko apanee kamar ke kinaaron par chalaatee huee. "vah is par dhyaan dega," usane ek chhotee, jaanakaar muskaan ke saath phusaphusaaya. usakee ungaliyaan usake pairon kee or badheen, usakee edee, pair kee ungaliyon, meharaab mein kreem kee maalish kee. vah vahaan saamaany se adhik samay tak rukee rahee, dekhabhaal kee anubhooti ka aanand lete hue - bhale hee vah akelee ho. usane apanee gardan ke aadhaar par, apanee kohanee ke mod par aur apane ghutanon ke peechhe tailkam paudar se apanee tvacha ko dhoya. usaka agala haath shelph par kanghee ke peechhe chhipee patalee kaanch kee itr kee botal kee or tha. usane hava mein chheente maare, usamen kadam rakha, phir apanee kalaiyon ke andaroonee hisse, donon kaanon ke peechhe aur naabhi ke theek oopar tvacha kee patalee pattee ko thapathapaaya. use khushaboo se kaheen zyaada mahasoos hua - use laga ki vah pratyaasha mein lipatee huee hai. usane dheere se tauliya dheela kiya aur use apane pairon ke paas ek halke dher mein gira diya. usane gahare vain rang ke peteekot mein kadam rakha aur phir maiching blauz uthaaya. yah aaraamadaayak tha, doosaron kee tulana mein naya tha. nekalain usake stanon ke theek oopar mudee huee thee, jabaki peeth usakee reedh par bandhee krosing doriyon ke saath neeche kee or jhukee huee thee. usane doriyon ko kasakar kheencha aur aaeene mein khud ko dekha.
raamoo yah dekhega. aur kisee ajanabee ya prashansak kee tarah nahin, balki kuchh aur kee tarah. vah seedhee huee, apane stanon ko dheere se samaayojit kiya, aur ek muskaan ko dabaaya jisase usakee aankhen chamak utheen. usane apanee kalaiyon ko choodiyon se sajaaya, apanee baaliyaan pahaneen, aur apane sir ko thoda hilaaya, apane baalon ko svaabhaavik roop se apane kandhon par girane diya. vah deeptimaan, jeevant dikh rahee thee. tabhee, daravaaze ka haindal dheere se klik hua. “saakshee?” murugan kee aavaaz aaee, anishchit lekin utsuk. vah rukee, aakhiree baar apane pratibimb ko dekhate hue. “bas ek minat,” usane ek mithaas ke saath uttar diya jisane usakee aag ko chhupa diya. jab vah pooree tarah se taiyaar hokar baahar nikalee, usake gaalon par ek halkee chamak thee, murugan daalaan mein khada tha, usakee baahen usakee chhaatee par mudee huee theen. usakee aankhen usakee taaza tel lagee huee baanhon se hatakar usake blauz ke tareeke par chalee gaeen jo usakee peeth se chipakee huee thee.
“kya tum kisee kaam ke lie taiyaar ho rahee ho?” usane sahajata se poochha.

“bas apana khyaal rakh rahee hoon,” usane halke se kaha, aur usake paas se aise nikal gaee jaise usake saralatam shabd bhee spasht lag rahe hon.

usane turant javaab nahin diya. usakee aankhen usakee peeth par bandhee doree par,

chandan kee khushaboo par, jo toophaan ke baad hava kee tarah galiyaare mein usake peechhe-peechhe aa rahee thee, usase zyaada der tak tikee raheen.

“main samajh gaya,” usane aakhirakaar kaha.

lekin usane aur kuchh nahin poochha
Aur usane mudakar nahin dekha.
usakee paayal kee halkee aavaaz hol mein dheere-dheere pheekee pad gaee, saath hee dopahar kee roshanee ka aakhiree sunahara dhaaga bhee pheeka pad gaya,
murugan band daravaaze ko ghoorata rah gaya, aur apanee patnee ka ek aisa roop jise usane saalon se nahin dekha tha.

 

[rajrohikr3]

shaam kee hava thandee ho gaee thee, ghar mein ek shaant sannaata chha gaya tha. sirf rasoee kee laiten chamak rahee theen, sunaharee aur komal, aur daining tebal ke oopar ek halka peela balb aise jal raha tha jaise koee puraana dost khaamoshee se chipaka hua ho. bhune hue sarason ke beej aur karee patton kee mahak hava mein tair rahee thee. saakshee kauntar par khadee thee aur dinar taiyaar kar rahee thee, usakee choodiyaan halkee-see khanak rahee theen, jab vah ek haath se saambhar hila rahee thee aur doosare haath se plet ka kinaara ponchh rahee thee. usakee harakaten abhyaasee theen, nirbaadh - phir bhee sahaj lay ke neeche, usakee aankhen kabhee-kabhee daalaan kee or jaatee theen. satark. chaukas. murugan tebal par baitha tha, thoda jhuka hua, ungaliyaan lakadee kee satah par taip kar rahee theen. vah apane saamane phaila hua akhabaar nahin padh raha tha. agale kamare mein teleevijan band tha. bachche ke khilaune bikhare hue the, lekin achhoote the. vah use dekh raha tha. khule taur par nahin, balki vichaaron se bharee un shaant nigaahon ke zarie. usaka jabada dheere-dheere kaam kar raha tha, jaise ki vah bhojan ke bajaay savaalon ko chaba raha ho. "tumane kitane blauj silavae?" usane poochha, shabd khaamoshee se uchhal rahe the jaise ki shaant paanee mein phenka gaya patthar. usaka lahaja sahaj tha, lekin usakee aankhen us par tikee raheen. "bas vahee jo mujhe shaadee ke lie chaahie the," saakshee ne apanee karachhul se munh na modate hue samaan bhaav se uttar diya. "blauj thoda... neecha lag raha tha," usane badabadaate hue apanee nazar plet par jhukaee jaise ki usaka iraada zor se kahane ka nahin tha. vah muskuraee, aur ek chhote steel ke katore mein saambhar chammach se daala. "raamoo ne ise uthaaya. kaha ki agar log nahin ghoom rahe hain, to taiyaar hone kee kya zaroorat hai
is baar plet par chammach kee aavaaz zyaada tez thee.

“kya usane, ab?” murugan ne bahut dheere se kaha.

vah mudee, aur dhyaan se usakee plet mein saambhar daala, usakee aankhen hans rahee theen.

“itana chaunko mat. usaka svaad achchha hai. vaise bhee, tumase behatar. tum hamesha dikhaava karatee thee jaise blauz hote hee nahin.”

usane zor se hansee, dheemee aur sakht.

“pata nahin tha ki nekalain ab ek... saajha gatividhi hai.”

saakshee ne kandhe uchakaakar munh pher liya, usake koolhon kee harakaten ek khaamosh javaab de rahee theen. usakee khaamoshee usake shabdon se zyaada kah rahee thee, aur isane use jhakajhor kar rakh diya.

murugan ne dheere-dheere khaaya, chabaaya lekin chakha nahin. usaka dimaag ghoom raha tha.

*yahaan kya ho raha tha?*

vah bhola nahin tha. usane dekha ki raamoo use kaise dekh raha tha—vah bhaaree, jaanaboojhakar kee gaee nazar jo bahut der tak tikee rahee. usane
saakshee mein badalaav dekha. usaka naya paraphyoom. taiyaar hone mein use lagane vaala samay
jis tarah se vah kaam karate hue gunagunaatee thee. usakee bindee mein atirikt chamak. jis tarah se vah sochate hue apane hothon ko aapas mein dabaatee thee, maano kisee aise pal ko dohara rahee ho jo unake ghar ka nahin tha

 

[rajrohikr3]

yahaan tak ki usake bolane ka tareeka bhee badal gaya tha. kam satark. zyaada chanchal. usake saath nahin. ab aur nahin.
ek dooree thee. gussa ya naatakeey nahin, balki gaharee - jaise lahar ke saamane samudr peechhe hat jaata hai. vah ghar mein aise ghoom rahee thee jaise koee andar se chamak raha ho. koee rahasy rakhane vaala.
aur yah use daraata tha.
*kya hoga agar vah phisal jae? aur main use pakadane mein bahut dheema hoon?*
usane use tebal ke doosaree taraph se dekha jab vah aakhirakaar apanee plet ke saath baithee, apanee sari kee pleets ko theek kiya, apane baalon ko apane kaanon ke peechhe khisakaaya. vah pahale kee tarah khaamoshee ko nahin bhar rahee thee. usane ise lambe samay tak rahane diya, jaise ki vah apanee nijee duniya mein sahaj ho.
usane apana gala saaph kiya. “tum in dinon alag dikh rahe ho.”
usane paanee ke gilaas ke oopar se use dekha. “alag kaise?”
“bas... alag. chamakatee huee. pahale kee tarah thakee huee nahin.”
usaka sir thoda jhuka, khush. “yah achchha hai, hai na?”
usane dheere se sir hilaaya. "itana alag ki mujhe aashchary hota hai ki kya main abhee bhee us duniya ka hissa hoon."
vah muskuraee- garmajoshee se, lekin door se. "tum hamesha duniya ka hissa ho, murugan. chaahe tum nazaara dekho ya usee kone ko ghoorate raho... yah tumhaaree marjee hai." usake baad usane kuchh nahin kaha. raat ka khaana khatm hone ke kaaphee samay baad bhee. jab usane apane bete ko sulaane ke lie ek loree gaee, jo usane saalon se nahin gaee thee. jab vah chupachaap usake kamare se baahar nikalee, apane blauj ko theek karate hue jaise ki pahale se hee kisee aur kee nazar ke lie taiyaar ho. baad mein, jab lait band ho gaee aur vah bistar par usake bagal mein let gaee, usakee peeth usakee taraph thee, usakee saansen shaant aur ek samaan theen, murugan chhat ke pankhe ko ghoor raha tha. aaj raat usake bled kee layabaddh charamaraahat zyaada tez lag rahee thee. *vah yaheen hai,* usane socha, *lekin vah ab meree nahin hai, hai na?* vah chalee nahin gaee thee. usane dhokha nahin diya tha. usane chillaaya ya jhagada nahin kiya tha. lekin vah kaheen aur thee. usane ek aisee rekha paar kar lee thee jise vah nahin dekh sakata tha, aur ab vah doosaree taraph kisee aise vyakti ke saath nrty kar rahee thee jo use chamakate hue dekhane se nahin darata tha.
vah thoda muda, use pareshaan na karane ke lie saavadhaan. chaandanee mein usake kandhe kee rooparekha parichit aur apraapy donon lag rahee thee. vah use vaapas aane ke lie kahana chaahata tha. lekin aap kisee se vaapas aane ke lie kaise kah sakate hain jab aapane kabhee nahin dekha ki ve ja rahe hain? usaka dil usakee pasaliyon se takara raha tha, us aparaadhabodh se bhara hua jise usane us din arjit nahin kiya tha - lekin shaayad usane varshon mein ikattha kiya tha.

 

[rajrohikr3]

vah use dhakelane ka jokhim nahin utha sakata tha. vah takaraav ka jokhim nahin utha sakata tha. ek galat shabd aur unake beech kee naajuk rassee toot jaegee. aur phir kya? usake paas yaaden rah jaengee. dinacharya ke saath. jo usane kabhee nahin kaha usaka dard. isalie vah chup raha. chhat ko dekhata raha. chaadaron ko thoda aur kas kar pakad liya. *main usase pyaar karata hoon,* usane socha. *bhale hee vah meree ungaliyon se phisal rahee ho.* aur jaise hee usakee khushaboo andhere mein dheere-dheere phail rahee thee, usane khud se ek vachan phusaphusaaya jo usane apanee shaadee ke din nahin liya tha: *main use phir kabhee phansa hua mahasoos nahin hone doonga.*------- sooryaast ke theek baad raamoo ka phon baj utha, jabaki vah baraamade mein shaam kee philtar kophee ka ek majaboot kap pee raha tha. hava tej ho rahee thee, aur tulasee ke paudhe kee khushaboo bhunee huee chikoree kee teekhee dhaar ke saath mil rahee thee. usane skreen par nazar daalee- ismail. usane hansate hue javaab diya. "are bhaee! aakhir tum bula rahe ho. plaaning ho chukee hai ya aur avyavastha ho gaee hai?" ismail kee aavaaz mein utsaah aur garv kee jhalak thee. "avyavastha nahin, mere dost. apagred! shaadee kee taareekh badal dee gaee hai - destineshan veding stail! ab yah aagara mein ho rahee hai. aaj jagah kee pushti ho gaee hai. ham ise bada bana rahe hain. aaleeshaan hotal, bageeche, roshanee, sab kuchh. ek shaahee jashn." raamoo ne apanee lungee theek karate hue bhaunhen oopar uthaeen. "aagara? vah door hai. rasad ka kya? Guest room
sab kuchh vyavasthit ho jaega,” ismail ne use aashvaasan diya. “ham aapako kal yaatra kaaryakram aur thaharane ka vivaran bhej denge. bas taiyaar hokar aaie. main chaahata hoon ki aap vahaan hon, aur main use bhee vahaan chaahata hoon. main chaahata hoon ki har koee us raanee ko dekhe jise aap la rahe hain.” raamoo dil kholakar hansa, usakee chhaatee ghabaraahat aur garv ke mishran se phool gaee. “main use bata doonga. use yah khabar pasand aaegee.” kol samaapt karane se pahale unhonne kuchh aur vivaranon ka aadaan-pradaan kiya. kuchh kshan baad, raamoo ne khud ko oopar uthaaya, baraamade mein chala gaya, aur ghar mein kadam rakha jahaan saakshee apanee alamaaree mein blauj ke dher ko phir se vyavasthit kar rahee thee. “saakshee,” usane kaha, usakee aavaaz mein vah dheema manoranjan tha jo usane keval usake lie aarakshit kiya tha. “yojanaon mein badalaav.” usane utsukata se oopar dekha. “ab kya?” vah daravaaje kee chaukhat par jhuk gaya. “aagara. destineshan veding. phainsee sthal. laits, gaardan... royaltee taips.

 

[rajrohikr3]

ab ham yaheen ja rahe hain.”

usakee aankhen chaudee ho gaeen, aashchary mein usaka munh thoda khula hua tha. “aagara? sach mein?”

usane sir hilaaya. “yah aadhikaarik hai. meena ko ab kahaanee bataane kee zaroorat hai. use tumhaare pati ko bhee bataana hoga. behatar hai ki badalaav usake dvaara hee ho. isase jhooth barakaraar rahega.”

saakshee ne dheere se sir hilaaya, pahale se hee hisaab laga rahee thee. “tum sahee ho. agar yah usake munh se nikalega to vah is par zyaada yakeen karega.”

raamoo ne apana fon nikaala aur use oopar uthaaya. “use kol karo. use apana kaam karane ka samay aa gaya hai.”

-------
saakshee ne dheere se alamaaree band kee, usaka dimaag pahale se hee aage kee or daud raha tha. usane apana fon uthaaya, agale kamare mein chalee gaee, aur meena ko daayal kiya. kol jaldee se kanekt ho gaee.

“are,” meena ne javaab diya, usakee aavaaz halkee, lagabhag chidhaane vaalee thee. “ab kya hoga, hone vaalee dulhan?”
saakshee ne hansate hue kaha, lekin samay barbaad nahin kiya. “yojana badal gaee hai. raamoo ko abhee-abhee apane dost ka phon aaya hai. shaadee ab kisee destineshan par hogee. aagara. aaleeshaan mahal, badee bheed. sab kuchh badal gaya hai.” “aagara? sach mein?” meena ne chaunkate hue kaha. “yah bahut badee chhalaang hai. aur murugan ko abhee bhee lagata hai ki yah sab sthaaneey star par ho raha hai?” “theek hai, iseelie main tumhen phon kar rahee hoon,” saakshee ne apanee aavaaz kam karate hue kaha. “hamen kahaanee ko apadet karane kee zaroorat hai. tumhen use phon karana hoga. ise svaabhaavik banao. bas ise apanee taraph se aadhikaarik apadet kee tarah batao. use batao ki shaadee badal gaee hai. vahee log, vahee parivaar. bas ek naee jagah.” meena ne karaahate hue kaha. “tum kismatavaalee ho ki mujhe draama pasand hai. theek hai, main karoongee. kab?” “aadhe ghante mein,” saakshee ne drdhata se javaab diya. "vah ghar par hoga. main fon tebal par rakh doongee aur baatharoom chalee jaoongee.
tum aise baat karo jaise yah mere lie hai, lekin vah javaab dega. bas saath chalo, theek hai? zyaada mat bolo. bas itana hee ki
manaane laayak ho jae."
meena ne naak bhaun sikodee. "theek hai, theek hai. lekin agar main is pradarshan ke lie puraskaar jeetatee hoon, to behatar hoga ki tum mere lie bhaashan do."
saakshee muskuraee. "theek hai. bas taiyaar raho. hamen sirf ek hee tek milega."
unhonne fon rakh diya, aur saakshee deevaar ke sahaare peechhe jhuk gaee, dheere-dheere saans le rahee thee. jaal kas raha tha, lekin abhee bhee
vah tika hua tha
der shaam shaant thee, chhat ke pankhe kee gunagunaahat living room mein goonj rahee thee, murugan haath mein chaay ka kap lie baithe the. saakshee ne abhee-abhee baatharoom mein kadam rakha tha, usaka tauliya aur kanghee haath mein thee. tebal par fon dheere se hil raha tha, skreen par chamak rahee thee: meena kol kar rahee hai. murugan ne idhar-udhar dekha, phir fon uthaaya. "hailo?" meena kee aavaaz aane se pahale kuchh der hichakichaahat huee, meethee aur thodee sharmindagee bharee. "oh! murugan anna? mujhe laga ki saakshee javaab degee. lekin shaayad behatar hoga ki main seedhe aapase baat karoon."

 

[rajrohikr3]

usane apanee bhaunhen sikodeen. “sab theek hai?”

“haan, haan. kuchh bhee bura nahin hai. bas... yojanaon mein badalaav hai.” usane prabhaav daalane ke lie saans chhodee. “jis shaadee ke baare mein hamane baat kee thee? use badal diya gaya hai. ab yah aagara mein hai. destineshan veding. aur yah poore saat din ka maamala ban gaya hai.”

“saat din?” murugan ne apanee kursee par peechhe jhukate hue palaken jhapakaeen. “aagara? lekin yah to—”

“mujhe pata hai,” meena ne dheere se beech mein toka. “mera vishvaas karo, isane ham sabhee ko bhee chaunka diya. badee jagah, bahut bada jashn, donon parivaar pooree tarah se taiyaar hain. aur... jaisa ki aap pahale se hee jaanate hain, main nahin ja paoongee. amma kee haalat mein koee sudhaar nahin hua hai, aur yahaan ghar par bahut kuchh hai. lekin mujhe sach mein lagata hai ki saakshee ko abhee bhee aana chaahie.”

murugan ke honth ek patalee rekha mein dab gae. usane turant javaab nahin diya. usake dimaag mein saakshee kee chhavi ghoom rahee thee - muskuraatee huee, chamakatee huee, raamoo se sahajata se baat karatee huee, jo use pareshaan kar rahee thee. "vah is yaatra ko lekar bahut utsaahit hai," meena ne sthir svar mein kaha. "usane pahale se hee bahut saaree yojanaen bana rakhee hain. vah is tarah kee cheez kee hakadaar hai. yah ab sirf shaadee ke baare mein nahin hai - yah ek brek hai. ek reeset. aur vah akelee nahin hogee. raamoo ankal ja rahe hain. vah bheed ko jaanate hain. vah theek rahegee.
saat din ki bat hai," murugan ne doharaaya, usakee aavaaz mein badabadaahat nahin thee.

"mujhe pata hai ki yah bahut zyaada lag raha hai," meena ne dheere se kaha, "lekin vah aksar fon karegee. vah aapako apadet karegee, veediyo chait karegee,
sab kuchh. aapako bas us par bharosa karana hoga. aur mera vishvaas karo, agar tum use abhee rokane kee koshish karoge, to aisa lagega ki tum usake pankh kaatane kee koshish kar rahe ho, jabaki vah abhee-abhee phir se udana shuroo hee kee hai."

thodee der ke lie rukee, phir meena ne sharaaratee andaaz mein kaha, "isake alaava, kya tum sach mein use yahaan band rakhana chaahoge, jabaki raamoo chaacha akele hee pooree shaadee kee bheed ko aakarshit kar rahe hain? tum bina kisee kaaran ke khud ko eershyaalu bana loge."

murugan ne ek tanaavapoorn hansee dee, jo mushkil se usakee pasaliyon ke peechhe kee teekhee chubhan ko chhupa rahee thee. "aisa nahin hai. main
bas... yah ek lamba samay hai. ek lambee dooree."

"aur vah mazaboot hai. vah ise sambhaal sakatee hai," meena ne naram lekin nishchit svar mein kaha. “aur vah tumhaare paas vaapas aaegee.
shaayad pahale se bhee zyaada apane aap mein.”
murugan ne apana maatha ragada. garv aur dar ka vah ajeeb mishran aur gahara ho gaya. vah khalanaayak nahin banana chaahata tha. vah nahin chaahata tha ki vah is pal ko naaraajagee se dekhe. “theek hai,” usane aakhirakaar dheere se saans chhodate hue kaha. “vah ja sakatee hai.” meena ne raahat kee saans lee. “dhanyavaad, murugan anna. sach mein. vah bahut khush hogee. aur tumane sahee kaam kiya hai.” unhonne phon rakh diya. murugan akele baithe the, apane haath mein khaalee kap ko ghoor rahe the. unhonne haan kaha tha. kyonki vah nahin jaanate the ki use pooree tarah se khoe bina kaise na kaha jae.

 

[rajrohikr3]

hawaye shaant tha, chhat ke pankhe kee dheemee gunagunaahat aur rasoee mein bartanon kee halkee khanak ko chhodakar. hava mein chamelee kee halkee khushaboo thee, jo taaze snaan kee namee ke saath ghulee huee thee. saakshee baatharoom se nikalee, tauliya kandhe par lataka hua tha, baal abhee bhee geele the aur usake gaalon par karling kar rahe the. aaeene ke saamane se guzarate hue usakee gardan ke kinaare se boonden tapak rahee theen, vah dheere-dheere gunaguna rahee thee. vah apane bete ko dekhane ke lie bedaroom kee or chalee gaee, ghadee kee or dekhane ke lie thodee der rukee, jab murugan kee aavaaz ne use rok diya. "saakshee..." vah dheere se mudee, usake haathon mein tauliya aadha muda hua tha. usakee aavaaz asaamaany roop se naram, anishchit thee. murugan daining tebal ke paas khada tha, usaka ek haath kursee par tika hua tha, doosare haath mein usaka fon tha. rasoee se aa rahee roshanee usake chehare par chhaaya daal rahee thee, jo usakee aankhon mein thakaan ko badha rahee thee. meena ke saath kol kuchh minat pahale hee samaapt huee thee, aur unake beech kee khaamoshee oopar pankhe kee dheemee lay se bhee bhaaree lag rahee thee. "usane bulaaya," usane kaha, usakee aavaaz kinaaron par thodee phatee huee thee. saakshee ne apanee bhauhen uthaeen, prateeksha karate hue. usakee dhadakanen tez ho gaeen - dar se nahin, balki pratyaasha se jise usane chhipaane kee bahut koshish kee
usane apana gala saaph kiya. “meena. shaadee... ab yah sthaaneey nahin hai. unhonne ise sthaanaantarit kar diya hai. ab yah aagara mein hai. poore saat din ka kaaryakram.” usane palaken jhapakaeen, haalaanki use yojana pata thee, lekin vah chaunk gaee. “saat din? aagara?” usane sir hilaaya, aankhen zameen par tikee huee theen, jaise ki agar ve usase milateen to ve aur bhee bhaavanaen prakat kar sakatee theen. “destineshan shaadee. koee mahal sthal. meena ne kaha ki sab kuchh pahale se hee vyavasthit hai. bada utsav.” ek viraam tha. saakshee ne use dekha, bhaav tatasth, honth thode khule hue. usake haath tauliye ke chaaron or kas gae, usakee chhaatee dabee huee uttejana se kas gaee. “aur...” murugan kee aavaaz phir se ladakhada gaee. usane ek asthir saans chhodee. “usane kaha ki tumhen jaana chaahie. ki tum pahale se hee bahut shaamil ho chuke ho, aur vah khud nahin ja sakatee. vah chaahatee hai ki tum isaka anubhav karo. usane kaha ki tumane yah kamaaya hai.”
saakshee ke hothon par halkee muskaan ubharane lagee, lekin usane unhen ek saath dabaate hue, sanyam baratane kee koshish kee.

"mainne usase kaha tha ki tum ja sakatee ho," usane ek lambe viraam ke baad kaha, usakee aavaaz dheemee aur karkash thee. "agar tum jaana chaahatee ho."

saakshee dheere-dheere aage badhee, har kadam thandee pharsh kee tailon par naram tha. "tumane usase kaha tha?"

usane oopar dekha, usakee aankhen nam theen lekin aansoo nahin the. "haan. main... vah nahin banana chaahata tha jo mana kar de. tab nahin jab yah
kuchh aisa ho jisaka tumhen besabree se intazaar ho."

isase pahale ki saakshee javaab de paatee, saamane ka get khul gaya. shaam kee hava mein lohe ke kabze halke se karaah uthe. ek
dastak aaee, jo drdh lekin jaanee-pahachaanee thee.

"raamoo," murugan ne aashcharyachakit hue bina kaha

 

[rajrohikr3]

vah daravaaze ke paas gaya aur use khola. raamoo ek kreem rang kee shart pahane khada tha, kolar sakht tha, ek haath mein lifaafa tha aur usake chehare par ek saumy muskaan thee. "main aadhikaarik nimantran laaya hoon," raamoo ne use aage badhaate hue kaha. "badee khabar dene mein bahut der nahin karana chaahata tha." murugan ek taraf hat gaya. "nahin. usane abhee suna hai." raamoo andar aaya, usakee nazaren saakshee par tezee se ghoom gaeen. usaka chehara naram pad gaya. "saat din, saakshee. aagara. roshanee, sangeet, mahal... aur bahut saara khaalee samay. kya tum ab bhee isake lie taiyaar ho?" saakshee ne us muskaan ko rokane kee koshish kee jo anaayaas hee ubhar aaee thee. saalon se, vah aagara jaane ka sapana dekhatee thee - taajamahal ke saamane khade hone ka, apanee aankhon se usake safed sangamaramar ko dekhane ka, un aitihaasik meharaabon se punarjanm lene vaalee raanee kee tarah chalane ka. yah vichaar hamesha usake dimaag ke konon mein door aur apraapy rahata tha. aur ab, bina kisee chetaavanee ke, sapana reshamee kapade pahane aur utsav manaate hue usakee pahunch mein aage badh gaya tha. usakee aankhen ek shaant, sanyamit romaanch se chamak utheen. usane dheere se sir hilaaya. "mujhe lagata hai ki main hoon."
murugan door se unakee baatacheet dekh raha tha. jis tarah se usaka shareer raamoo kee or thoda jhuka hua tha, usake shabdon ne usakee aankhon ke peechhe kuchh roshan kar diya. kamara achaanak chhota lagane laga. vah bina kuchh kahe mud gaya, phir se mez kee or badha, usakee reedh akad gaee. "usane sab paik kar liya hai," usane un donon mein se kisee kee or na dekhate hue budabudaaya. kisee aur kee tulana mein khud kee or zyaada. saakshee kee aankhen usaka peechha kar rahee theen. pahalee baar, usane dekha ki kaise roshanee usakee aankhon mein nahin aa rahee thee jaise pahale aatee thee. kaise usaka shareer, jo kabhee garv se chauda tha, ab chhota lag raha tha, varshon aur shaant balidaanon se sikuda hua. vah usakee or badhee, usake haath par ek komal haath rakhate hue. "dhanyavaad," usane eemaanadaaree se kaha. murugan ne ek chhota sa sir hilaaya, usake jabade mein tanaav kam hua aur usake sparsh ko sveekaar karane ke lie paryaapt tha. lekin usakee aankhen nahin utheen. usake peechhe, raamoo shaant, aspasht bhaav se dekh raha tha. usane kuchh nahin kaha, lekin jis tarah se usane apane kandhon ko seedha kiya, usase kuchh aisa laga ki vah us pal ke vajan ko samajh raha tha. saakshee kee uttejana jvaar kee tarah umad rahee thee, bekaaboo, lekin usake neeche ek shaant dard dhadak raha tha. ek aadamee kee khaamoshee, doosare ka prastaav, aur usaka apana bechain dil chunaav aur parinaam ke kinaare par dhadak raha tha.
dopahar ka sooraj khidakee ke pardon se hokar raamoo ke kamare ke pharsh par sunaharee dhaariyaan bana raha tha. baahar, door se aane vaalee yaataayaat kee aavaaz aur kabhee-kabhaar bajane vaale horn kee aavaazen garmiyon kee ghanee hava mein dab gaee theen. andar, sab shaant tha - aaraam se shaant. saakshee ek tiphin boks lekar andar aaee, usaka palloo usakee kamar par achchhee tarah se tika hua tha, usakee aankhen ghabaraahat aur utsaah ke beech kuchh jhilamila rahee theen. raamoo, apanee khaat ke kinaare par baitha tha, usane boks neeche rakhate hee use dekhakar muskuraaya. "mainne socha ki ham yojanaen antim roop dene se pahale tumhen kuchh khila doon," usane halke se kaha. vah hansa. "agar mujhe pata hota ki yaatra charchaen dopahar ke bhojan kee seva ke saath aatee hain, to main ye baithaken pahale hee shuroo kar deta." ve donon hanse, aavaaz naram, parichit thee.
khaana khaate samay ve baaten karate rahe—tren ke samay, mehamaanon ke kaaryakram aur kaise ve anaavashyak savaalon se bachenge. murugan kal der tak ophis mein rahenge aur isase unhen bina kisee jhanjhat ke jaane ka sahee samay mil gaya. “raajadhaanee eksapres,” raamoo ne paanee peete hue kaha. “mainne chek kiya. sleepar koch mein unake nijee dibbe hain—sirph ek dibba, do bistar. parde. gopaneeyata. hamaaree apanee ek chhotee see duniya.” saakshee ne turant javaab nahin diya, bas khaana jaaree rakha, lekin usake honth thode mude hue the. usane usakee taraf dekha. “sirf ham, koee dhyaan bhatakaane vaalee cheez nahin.” usane chanchalata se bhaunhen uthaeen. “itanee udaarata, hamm?” “tum isake laayak ho. aakhirakaar, tum jaadoo paik kar rahe ho.” usakee aankhen usakee aankhon se mileen—sthir, avichal. “mainne kuchh paik kiya hai. kuchh khaas.” usakee bhaunhen oopar utheen. “shaadee ke lie?” “tumhaare lie,” usane saralata se javaab diya. vah peechhe kee or jhuka, usake honth khushee se vismay mein khul gae. “aur vah kya ho sakata hai?”

vah khadee huee, dheere-dheere tiphin sametate hue. “yah tumhen pata lagaana hai. ek shaam ek baar.”

raamoo bhee khada tha, ab kareeb. saanson ke beech kee us khaamoshee mein unakee aankhen band theen.

“kya tum sach mein taiyaar ho?” usane poochha, aavaaz naram thee.

saakshee ne sir hilaaya, usakee aavaaz phusaphusaahat se thodee oopar thee. “pahale se kaheen zyaada
baahar chhat kee deevaar se ek chidiya chahachaha rahee thee. lekin andar samay unake ird-gird simat gaya tha - ateet, vartamaan aur jo kuchh bhee aage aane vaala tha. sab us sunaharee roshanee mein latake hue the.

 

[rajrohikr3]

shaam ke sooraj kee halkee ambar rangat aadhe band pardon se chhanakar andar aa rahee thee, jo living room ke polish kie hue pharsh par lambee sunaharee dhaariyaan bana rahee thee, jahaan raamoo, saakshee aur murugan baithe the. andar kee hava dhaniya, ubalatee daal aur chandan ke tel kee milee-julee khushaboo se bharee huee thee - ek shaant ghareloo gunagunaahat jo chhat ke pankhe kee layabaddh aavaaz aur rasoee mein preshar kukar kee kabhee-kabhaar aane vaalee seetee se aur bhee badh jaatee thee. saakshee ne halke hare rang kee sootee sari pahanee huee thee, jis par chhote-chhote phoolon ke print the, jisase ek oorja ka sanchaar ho raha tha jo poore kamare mein phailatee huee lag rahee thee. usake baalon mein tel laga hua tha aur vah ek saaph-sutharee chotee mein bandhee huee thee, aur usakee choodiyaan khanak rahee theen, jab vah khidakee se tebal tak aur phir vaapas aa rahee thee, sthir nahin rah pa rahee thee. usake kadamon mein ek halkaapan tha, usake gaalon mein ek chamak thee jo maheenon se nahin thee. usakee har harakat mein utsaah naach raha tha. raamoo aaraam se deevaan par leta hua tha, pair kros karake, usakee shart garmee mein aadhee khulee huee thee, jisase usakee patalee saphed baniyaan dikh rahee thee. vah peechhe kee or jhuka hua tha, ek haath kushan par tha, doosara aalas se apanee namak-mirch vaalee daadhee ko sahala raha tha. "aakhirakaar yah kal ho raha hai," usane kaha, usakee muskuraahat aadhee chanchal, aadhee eemaanadaaree bharee thee. "aagara. taaj. mahal hotal. aur hamaara nijee chhota koop. main intajaar nahin kar sakata."
saakshee ne apanee muskaan ke saath usakee or rukh kiya, usake gaal par dimpal gahara ho gaya. "main kal raat mushkil se so paee," usane pravesh dvaar ke paas taaze tah kie hue tauliye ka dher rakhate hue kaha. "har ghante main ghadee dekhatee rahatee hoon. mujhe pikanik se pahale kolej kee ladakee jaisa mahasoos hota hai." murugan kursee par akadakar baitha tha, usake pair takhane par kros kie hue the, usakee aankhen galeeche ke kinaare par tikee huee theen. usane pooree shaam zyaada baat nahin kee thee. "theek hai, bas itana sunishchit karen ki aap zyaada na so jaen aur is utsaah mein tren na chhoot jae," usane kisee kee or na dekhate hue kaha. raamoo ne bina kisee pareshaanee ke hansate hue kaha. usane aalas se haath badhaaya. "ek baat hai - bhale hee yah sarakaaree relave ho, main yahaan par parose jaane vaale khaane ko bardaasht nahin kar sakata. sab kuchh zyaada paka hua. paanee jaisee karee. unake pulaav ka svaad masaale ke chheente ke saath ubale hue tishoo kee tarah hota hai." saakshee, jisane abhee-abhee apana pars daravaaje ke paas rakha tha, ruk gaee. usaka haath hava mein hee jam gaya aur vah nakalee aakrosh dikhaate hue usake saamane mudee. "maaf karana? kya tum mujhase kah rahe ho ki main tumhen tumhaare jeevan kee sabase romaanchak yaatra par le ja rahee hoon aur tum minaral vaatar aur biskit ke paiket par zinda rahoge?"raamoo ne apanee hatheliyaan oopar uthaeen aur chanchal bhaav se aatmasamarpan kiya. “main bas itana hee kah raha hoon… mujhe ummeed thee ki tum mujhe thoda bigaad doge.” bina kisee hichakichaahat ke, saakshee apanee edee ghumaakar rasoee kee or badh gaee. “theek hai. phir tum kisee bhee raajadhaanee yaatree se behatar khaana khaoge.” vah hansa, apanee aankhon se usaka peechha karate hue. “mujhe yah achchha laga. to menoo mein kya hai?” usane apanee soochee par nishaan lagaana shuroo kiya, aur masaalon kee alamaaree ko abhyaas ke saath khola. “garm paraathe-mote rol kie hue aur ghee kee paraten. bhaap se pakatee aaloo gobhee. mera khaas teekha aam ka achaar. chaat masaale ke saath kata hua pyaaj. kurakurepan ke lie sev. kuchh mithaiyaan-kaajoo katalee, beshak, aur agar samay mile to shaayad naariyal kee barphee ke kuchh tukade.”