Final Update
Armaan ne poore ek mahine tak Anvit par nazar rakhi. Woh dekhna chahta tha ki Anvit ke haath lagi is daulat aur takat ko woh kaise handle kar raha hai. Ek mahine baad bhi Anvit ki koi bhi activity sandehjanak nahi lag rahi thi. Armaan ko abhi bhi Anvit par poora bharosa nahi tha, lekin itna to tay tha ki Anvit Nishant ki tarah jaanwar nahi tha. Shayad isiliye jyada shaq ho raha tha Armaan ko uspar. Woh jaanta tha jo log seedhe, meethe aur aadarshwadi bante hai, aksar wahi sabse kharatnak nikalte hai.
Phir Armaan ne Pankhudi ke baare mein socha. Aakhir kab tak woh use use ghar mein band rakhta? 2 mahino so woh bechari wahan us ghar mein akeli reh rahi thi, daal chawal aur aalu khake guzara kar rahi thi. Armaan ne faisla kar liya ki ab woh Pankhudi ko chupakar nahi rakhega.
**********
Pankhudi apne bistar par lete ek kitaab padh rahi thi. Shaam ka waqt tha, jaldi hi andhera hone wala tha.
Darwaza khulne ki awaz aayi aur Armaan andar aaya. Use dekh kar Pankhudi ke chehre par ke muskaan khil uthi. Woh uthi aur daud kar Armaan ko gale lagaya.
“I missed you so much,” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Aaye ho to aaj raat rukoge na?”
“Nahi Pankhudi,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, “Aaj mein tumhe yahan se le jaane ke liye aaya hun.”
“Sach?” Pankhudi ne poocha.
“Haan sweetheart,” Armaan ne kaha, “You are safe now.”
“Aur Nishant?” Pankhudi ne poocha.
“Woh tumhe ab kabhi pareshan nahi kar payega,” Armaan ne kaha.
“I am so happy, finally mein apne flat mein jaa paungi,” Pankhudi ne Armaan ko gale lagate hue kaha.
“Us se pehle kahin aur chalenge, Pankhudi,” Armaan ne kaha, “Bade dino se mera mann tha ki tumhe kisi acchi jagah dinner karau.”
Pankhudi muskurai. Armaan ne use ek box diya. Pankhudi ne dekha ki us box ke andar uski sabse favorite dress the jo Armaan use ghar se utha laaya tha, uski makeup kit aur uski favorite lipstick bhi. Apni cheezon ko pakar Pankhudi bahot khush hui.
“Taiyyar ho jao Pankhudi,” Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi bahot khush thi. Ab woh azad hone waali thi. Aur Armaan ke saath kuch waqt bhi bitane milne wala tha use. Usne kapde badal liye aur light sa makeup karne lagi.
Armaan bistar par baithkar use dekh raha tha.
“Ghar to bahot sundar bana diya hai tumne, Pankh,” apne chaaron taraf nazar ghumar Armaan ne kaha, “Chamchama raha hai sheesh mehel ki tarah.”
Pankhudi muskurayi.
Phir Armaan ne bistar par pade Priya ke teddy bear ki taraf dekha aur use uthakar apni goad mein rakha.
“Jaanti ho, iska naam Winne hai,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, “Priya ne diya tha us yeh naam. Bahot pyaar karti thi woh apne Winnie se.”
Teddy bear aur Priya ka jikr hote hi Pankhudi ko woh dardnaak video yaad aaya jo use teddy bear ke andar chupe memory card mein qaid hai. Uske aankhon se aansu nikal gaye. Aansuon se uska poora makeup kharab ho gaya.
Armaan ne Pankhudi ko rote hue dekha aur chintit ho gaya.
“Pankh, are you OK?” Armaan ne poocha.
Pankhudi dressing table se uthkar roti hui Armaan ke paas aayi. Use gale lagakar phoot phoot kar rone lagi.
“Priya ko kya hua tha?” Pankhudi ne rote hue poocha.
“Cancer tha use,” Armaan ne kaha, “Humne treatment bhi karwaya, lekin nahi bach payi Priya.”
“Hospital mein admit thi woh last stage mein?” Pankhudi ne poocha.
“Nahi,” Armaan muskuraya, “She hated hospitals. Use yeh ghar bahot pyara lagta tha. Woh isi ghar mein mari thi, apne kamre mein, apne isi teddy bear ko gale lagaye hue. 25th October 2012, woh din bada manhoos tha. Mera Shalini se jhagda hua tha aur main gusse mein ghar se nikal gaya tha. Thodi der mein Shalini ka call aane laga. Main gusse mein tha maine phone nahi uthaya uska, woh baar baar call karti rahi. Darasal Priya ki tabiyat achanak kharab ho gayi thi isiliye Shalini call kar rahi thi. Main agar phone utha leta to shayad main Priya ke aakri waqt mein uske saath reh pata. Lekin mere sar par to gussa sawar tha. Phir jab mein shaam ko ghar lauta tab tak Priya jaa chuki thi. Humare family doctor bhi wahin the, Shalini ne bulaya tha unhe. Doctor ne kaha ki Priya ki saansein achanak ruk gayi. Unka kehna tha ki terminally ill patients mein aisa aksar hota hai. Apne isi teddy bear ko gale lagakar leti hui thi meri phool si bacchi. Itni pyari lag rahi thi, maano gehri neend so gayi ho. Shayad Bhagwaan ki yahi iccha thi. Jab tak woh zinda thi, maine bahot pyaar kiya tha use. Afsos bas isi baat ka hai ki uske aakhri waqt mein main uske saath nahi tha. Yun achanak chhod ke chali gayi meri Priya mujhe.”
25th October 2012 wahi date thi jis din ka woh video tha. Us din Priya ke saath kya hua hoga yeh sochkar Pankhudi kaanpne lagi. Woh samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki woh Armaan ko yeh raaz bataye ya na bataye ki uski beti ki saanein achanak ruki nahi shayad roki gayi thi.
Armaan dekh raha tha ki Pankhudi bahot jyada disturbed hai.
“Pankhudi,” Armaan ne uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, “Kya kuch kehna chahti ho?”
Pankhudi ne na mein sar hilaya aur Armaan ke kandhe par sar rakh ke roti rahi. Woh samajh gayi ki Armaan Priya ki death ko ek natural death samajh raha hai.
Pankhudi ke mann mein toofan tha. Ek taraf Priya ke woh aansu yaad aa rahe the, uski woh bebas aankhein, jab woh keh rahi thi Winnie se ki papa ko sach bata dena. Aur ek taraf use Armaan ka khayal aaya. Priya ka sach use pata chalega ko use kitni takleef hogi iska Pankhudi andaza bhi nahi laga sakti thi. Aur sach jaankar Priya wapas bhi to nahi aayegi. Kuch nahi badlega sach batane se, bas dard hoga, Armaan ko aur uske baad woh jo Shalini ke saath karega uske baare mein soch kar hi Pankhudi kaanp uthi. Shalini ke saath Armaan pehle hi bahot bura kar chuka tha. Shalini ke baare mein Pankhudi ke maan mein kayi sawal the. Woh jaan na chahti thi ki Armaan ne Shalini saath jo kiya woh kyu kiya, aur ab woh kahan hai, kis haal mein hai. Lekin Armaan se kuch bhi poochne ki himmat nahi ho rahi thi. Armaan ne pehle ki chetawni di thi ki Shalini ke baare kisi bhi sawal ke jawab Pankhudi ko ‘acche nahi lagenge’.
Pankhudi kisi ke bhi dard ka kaaran nahi ban na chahti thi, khaas kar Armaan ke. Jis aadmi ne use surakshit rakhne ke liye apna sab kuch daanv par laga diya, use woh aur dard nahi dena chahti thi. Usne faisla kar liya ki Armaan ko us memory card ke baare mein woh kabhi nahi batayegi, woh is raaz ka bojh marte dum tak apne dil mein hi rakhegi.
“Kya hua Pankhudi?” Armaan ne uski peeth sehlate hue pyaar se kaha, “Kyu ro rahi thi itna?”
Pankhudi ne apne aansu pooche aur apne chehre par muskaan laane ki koshish kari.
“Priya ko to maine kho diya Pankhudi,” Armaan ne Pankhudi ke aanu pochte hue kaha, “Lekin tumhe nahi khona chahta. Tum bahot special ho mere liye. Itni pyari, itni masoom, jab tum meri baahon mein hoti ho to mere mann ko ek sukoon milta hai, aisa lagta hai ki sab kuch theek ho jayega.”
Pankhudi nam aankhon se muskurayi aur Armaan ko gale laga liya.
“Chalo ab muh dhoke aao,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, “Paagal ladki! Ro roke saara makeup barbaad kar diya tumne. Bhootni lag rahi ho.”
Pankhudi muskurayi aur sheeshe mein dekha. Uske aansuon mein ghulkar uske saste eyeliner ki lakeerein ban gayi thi uske chehre par. Woh bathroom mein jaakar muh dhoke aayi aur dobara makeup karne lagi.
Armaan ne ek nazar Priya ke teddy bear ko dekha aur soch mein pad gaya ki usne aisa kya keh diya ki Pankhudi yun phoot phoot kar rone lagi. Kis baat se woh itna dari hui thi ki uski baahon mein kaanp rahi thi? Use shaq hone laga tha ki Pankhudi us se kuch chupa rahi hai.
**********
“Aur batao bhai Sumit,” Anvit ne apne informer se kaha, “Kya khabar hai mere pyare bhai ki?”
“Unki halat bigadti jaa rahi hai,” Sumit ne kaha, “Unko abhi bhi woh awaz sunai deti hai. Unhone apni jaan lene ke koshish kari apne kalai ko apne daanton se kaatkar. Unhe bacha liya gaya hai aur ek straight jacket mein daal diya gaya hai.”
Anvit muskuraya. “Tab to ek baar milna banta hai bade bhaiyya se,” Anvit ne kaha.
Anvit us mental hospital pahuncha jahan Nishant admit tha. Use Nishant ke cell ka raasta dikhaya gaya. Nishant ek kone mein pada hua tha, straighjacket mein bandha hua. Use ek injection laga diya gaya tha jis se woh ekdum shaant ho gaya tha.
Anvit use dekh kar muskuraya aur uske paas baith gaya. Usne ek box khola jisme kheer thi. Woh chammach se dheere dheere Nishant ko khilane laga.
Nishant ki aankhon mein uski haar saaf dikhai de rahi thi.
“Yeh main kya sun raha hun bhai? Aapne apni jaan lene ki koshish ki? Kyu takleef de rahe ho apne aap ki itni?” Anvit ne pyaar se kaha, “Use liye main hun na...aap kyu pareshan hote ho?”
“Mujhe yahan se bahar nikaal Anvit,” Nishant ne aansu bahate hue kaha, “Mujhse bardaasht nahi ho raha.”
“Dheere dheere iski bhi adat pad jayegi bhai,” Anvit ne muskurate hue kaha, “Main hun na, main kuch nahi hone dunga aapko. Roz bhagwaan se aapki lambi umar ki dua karta hun.”
“Nahi jeena mujhe Anvit,” Nishant ne kaha, “Please...”
“Shhh...” Anvit ne Nishant ko kheer khilate hue kaha, “Aisa marne ki baatein nahi kehte bhai. Jeena marna sab bhagwaan ke haath mein hota hai. Sab theek ho jayega, main hun na, main sab theek kar dunga.”
Nishant ne bas bebasi mein apni aankhein band kar di.
“Woh jo aapki mercedes hai na,” Anvit ne pyaar se kaha, “Kya makkhan hai gaadi. Highway pe chalao to ekdum udti hai.”
Nishant kheer ka chammach apne daanton mein peesha. Anvit muskuraya.
“Kheer itni acchi laga ki chammach bhi kha jaoge bhai?” Anvit ne kaha, “Soch raha hun uska color badal do, bright red kaisa rahega?”
Anvit jaanta tha ki Nishant ko laal rang ki gaadiyan nahi pasand. Aur Anvit to uski favorite car ka rang baladne ki baat kar raha tha.
Nishant bas aankhein moonde baitha raha. Anvit uske sar ko pyaar se sehlakar use kheer khilata raha. Anvit ne Nishant ko saari kheer khila di aur jaane ke liye utha.
Phir woh muskurakar Nishant ki taraf jhuka aur uske kaan mein kaha, “Thodi der mein tumhare pet mein bahot tez dard hoga. Raat bhar dard se tadapte rahoge. Woh kya hai na maine kheer mein thoda sa toilet cleaner mila diya tha, bas zara sa, maroge nahi, bas tadpoge raat bhar. The acid will burn your insides and cause tiny little blisters on your intestines, that’s going to be quite...uncomfortable.”
“You son of a bitch!” Nishant chillaya, “You think you’ll get away with this?”
“I will,” Anvit muskurate hue bola, “Tum kisi ko bataoge bhi to tumhara yaeeen kaun karega? You are a fucking violent paranoid schizophrenic anyway.”
Nishant chillana chah raha tha lekin use jo injections lage the uski wajah se woh bahot sedated tha. Jyada unchi awaz nahi nikal rahi thi uske gale se.
“I’m only getting started brother,” Anvit ne muskurate hue kaha, “I am going to fucking break you. Is kadar toduga tumhe ki tum apne aap ko bhi nahi pechaan paoge. Abhi main chalta hun. Good night, bhai. Jaldi hi milenge dobara.”
Nishant ko apne cell mein tadapta hua chhodkar Anvit muskrata hua Nishant ki gaadi chalata hua wapas ghar lauta.
**********
Pankhudi ne apna makeup poora kiya aur muskurati hui Armaan ke paas aayi. Woh bahot sundar lag rahi thi. Armaan ne use apni baahon mein liya aur uske hoton ko chum liya. Pankhudi sharmayi.
Armaan use ghar ke bahar le gaya. Kuch door hi uski car khadi thi. Wahi Jaguaar jisme usne Pankhudi ko uske birthday ke din ghumakar barf ka gola khilaya tha, wahi Jaguaar jisme Pankhudi to suicide karne se bachne ka baad bithkar Armaan uske flat tak le gaya tha, wahi car jisme Armaan ne pehli baar Pankhudi ko us contract ke baare mein bataya, wahi car jiska accident hone ki wajah se Armaan aur Pankhudi us jungle mein kho gaye the. Pankhudi us car to dekh kar bahot khush hui. Bahot pyari yaadein judi hui thi uski us car se, Armaan ke saath bitaye hue kuch khaas lamhe the us car mein.
Armaan Pankhudi ko ek rooftop restaurant mein dinner par le gaya. Khoobsoorat chamchamata hua Mumbai sheher dikh raha tha unke chaaron taraf. Pankhudi ko 5 star ka khana kuch khaas pasand to nahi aaya, uska maan na tha ki is se tasty khana to woh apne kitchen mein bana leti hai, lekin use Armaan ke saath kuch pal bitane mil rahe the, woh usi mein khush thi.
Dinner ke baad, Armaan use wapas uske flat mein le gaya. Pankhudi khushi se jaise chehek rahi thi. Woh Armaan ka haath pakadkar use bedroom tak le gayi. Armaan ne gaur kiya ki Pankhudi ne uski chadar par laga woh khoon ka daag abhi tak nahi dhoya tha. Armaan yeh sochkar bhavuk ho gaya ki Pankhudi kitna pyaar karti hai us se.
Pankhudi ne sharmte hue apne kapde utarna shuru kiya. Woh taras gayi thi Armaan ke touch ke liye. Apne poore kapde utarkar woh Armaan ke taraf badhi aur uske dono haath apne boobs par rakh diye. Armaan uske nipples ke saath khelne laga, Pankhudi karahne lagi. Armaan ne use bistar par letaya aur use pyar karne laga. Dono ek doosre ki baahon mein pighalne lage.
Sex ke baad Armaan ne Pankhudi ko apni baahon mein liya aur use chuumne laga.
“Aankhein band karo,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, “Tumhare liye ek surprise hai.”
Pankhudi ne aankhein band kari aur surpise ke baare mein soch ke muskura rahi thi.
“Ab aankhein kholo,” Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi ne aankhein kholi to dekha Armaan ek jewllery box laaya tha. Usme ek sone ki chain aur uspar laga heere ka pendant tha. Heere ki chamak itni sundar thi ki Pankhudi ek pal ko dekhti reh gayi. Usne pyaar se us heere ho chhua.
“Bahot keemti hoga na yeh?” Pankhudi ne kaha.
“Tumne jyada nahi Pankhudi,” Armaan ne use gale lagate hue kaha.
Pankhudi ko andaza tha ki us pendant ki keemat laakhon mein hogi. Uski aankhon mein phir aansu aa gaye.
“Hey Pankhudi,” Armaan ne kaha, “Kya hua?”
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Main ise nahi le sakti...kitna mehenga hoga yeh...”
“To kya hua Pankhudi?” Armaan ne poocha, “Pyaar se laaya hun tumhare liye. Please mana mat karo...”
Pankhudi Armaan se lipatkar rone lagi. “Hum dono ke beech mein jo hai...it is so pure...please use aise hi rehne do. Itni mehenge gifts doge to...I’ll feel burdened...main kabhi tumhe itna mehenga tohfa nahi de paungi...”
“Tum mere liye kitni azeez ho jaanti ho?” Armaan ne uski peeth sehlate hue kaha, “Bas ek chota sa tohfa hai Pankh, koi ehsaan nahi jo tumhe chukana hoga.”
“Please...” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Main ise...mujhe samajh mein nahi aa raha maine kaise samjhau...main bas nahi chahti ki hum dono ke beech mein aisi koi bhi cheez ho to is khoobsoorat rishte par bojh bane...”
Pankhudi pagalon ki tarah ro rahi thi. Woh Armaan ko mana karke hurt nahi karna chahti hi, lekin uska zameer itna mehenga tohfa lene ki izajat nahi de raha tha. Armaan uski kashmakash samajh gaya tha. Woh jaanta the ki Pankhudi ek khuddar ladki hai aur usne apne liye Armaan se kabhi kuch nahi maanga tha. Armaan ne uske chehre ko apni hatheiyon mein thama aur uske hoton ko pyaar se chuma.
“Phir se ro ro ke bhootni ban gayi ho,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha.
Pankhudi ne apne aansu pooche, to uska makeup aur bhi fail gaya.
“Theek hai sweetheart,” Armaan ne kaha, “Is wapas le launga. Sambhal ke rakhunga tumhare liye. Kabhi pehen ne ka mann ko to keh dena mujhse.”
Pankhudi ne aansu pochkar haan mein sar hilaya.
“Aur aise pagalon ki tarah roya mat karo choti choti baat par,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha.
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Main muh dhoke aati hun.”
Pankhudi utne lagi to Armaan ne uska haath thaam liya.
“Rehne do,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, “Aisi hi sundar lagi rahi ho, meri pagal Pankhudi.”
Pankhudi sharma kar Armaan ki baahon mein sama gayi.
“Agli baar na chowpatty chalenge,” Pankhudi ne ek masoom muskaan ke saath kaha, “Bhel puri khayenge. Aur bhutta bhi.”
Armaan muskuraya. “Zaroor,” usne kaha.
Dono ek doosre ki baahon mein so gaye.
**********
Kuch dino baad Anvit ka informer uske paas aaya aur usko ek envelope diya.
Anvit ne kholkar dekha to usme Armaan aur Pankhudi ke bahot saare photos the, secretly kheenche hue. Ek photo mein dono baraf ka gola kha rahe the, ek mein samundar kinare baithe sunset dekh rahe he, ek photo mein Armaan Pankhudi ko kisi roadside stall se jhumke dila raha tha, toh ek main Pankhudi Armaan ki baahein thame muskura rahi thi.
“To Pankhudi naam hai inka,” Anvit ne muskurate hue kaha, “Kitni pyari lag rahi hai muskurati hui. Kitni masoom aankhein hai. Koi hairani nahi ho rahi hai ki Armaan itna desperate tha inhe Nishant se bachane ke liye.”
“Gareeb ghar se hain yeh Sir,” Sumit ne kaha, “Baap nahi hai. Maa aur behen ki zimmedari akeli uthaye hue hain. Kaam se kaam rakhti hain, aur Armaan se pehle koi mard nahi tha inki life mein. Character bahot clean hai inka.”
“Tabhi to Armaan ka dil aa gaya inpar,” Anvit ne kaha.
“Mujhe ek baat samajh mein nahi aa rahi boss,” Sumit ne kaha, “Itna hi pyar tha to auction mein kyu utara inhe?”
“Pyar mohabbat ko duniya ke bade bade shayar bhi nahi samajh paye hai chhote, to hum kya samjhenge?” Anvit photos dekhte hue muskurakar bola.
“To ab karna kya hai boss?” Sumit ne poocha.
“Nazar rakho, aur kya,” Anvit ne kaha.
THE END