Update 4
Aakhir use door ek scooty ki headlight dikhai di aur uski jaan mein jaan aayi.
Pankhudi ne apna chehra duppate se dhaka hua tha. Usne scooty roki aur hadbadate hue Armaan ke paas pahunchi.
Armaan ne use gusse se ghoora.
“Phone kyu nahi utha rahi thi?!” Armaan chillaya.
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Mujhe late ho gaya...to mujhe laga tum daantoge...isiliye himmat nahi ho rahi thi phone uthane ki...”
Armaan bahot gusse mein tha. Ek toh woh pehle hi apne financial loss ko lekar pareshan tha, aur ab Pankhudi ne use ek ghanta wait karwaya tha, aur galati pe galati kiye jaa rahi thi.
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne aansu bhari aankhon se kaha.
“Tumhe yeh sab mazak lag raha hai Pari?” Armaan ne gusse se kaha, “Tumhe andaza bhi nahi hai Nishant kya cheez hai! Uske haath lagna to door, tum uski nazar main bhi aa gayi na to...”
Armaan aage bol nahi paaya. Woh ek hi pal mein pyar, darr, krodh, sab kuch ek saath mehsoos kar raha tha Pankhudi ke liye. Pankhudi ne use pyar se gale lagaya. Woh kuch nahi boli, bas pyar se apni baahein uske gale mein daal di. Armaan dheere dheere shaant ho gaya.
“Aao, gaadi mein baitho,” Armaan ne use apni gaadi ki taraf le jaate hue kaha.
“Yeh to tumhari woh favorite Jaguar nahi nai,” Pankhudi ne kaha.
“Meri Jaguar par tracker laga hua hai Pankhudi,” Armaan ne Pankhudi ke saath gaadi mein baith te hue kaha, “Nishant ke aadmi lagatar mujhpar nazar rakhe hue hai. Isiliye mujhe satark rehna padta hai. Yeh gaadi meri nahi hai, ek dost ki hai. Meri har gaadi par nazar hai saalon ki.”
“Itni kadi nigrani kyu lagaye hue hai tumpar?” Pankhudi ne poocha.
“Tum paidaishi bewakoof ho ya tumne koi course kiya hai?” Armaan ne chidhkar kaha.
Pankhudi ne nirash hokar nazar jhuka li. Uska bhola mann samajh hi nahi paa raha tha ki woh kitne khatre mein hai. Armaan ko bhi ehsaas hua ki Pankhudi shayad mamle ki sanjeedagi ko nahi samajh paa rahi hai.
“Nishant ko shaq hai ki Rihaan ko maine gayab kiya hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Use yeh bhi shaq hai ki main kisi ko bachane ki koshish kar raha hun. Woh bas mera muh khulwana chahta hai. Minister ka ladka hai isiliye dabaav bana raha hai mujhpar.”
“Woh TV par jo bawal ho raha hai...” Pankhudi ne kaha.
“Usi ka kiya dhara hai,” Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi ab dheere dheere samajhne lagi thi.
“Khair maine tumhe isiliye bulaya kyunki mujhe tumse kuch zaroori baatein karni thi,” Armaan ne kaha, “Yeh baat jaan lo ki tum bahot badi museebat mein ho Pankhudi. Nishant jaisa krur insaan main aaj tak nahi dekha, use yeh kabhi pata nahi chalna chahiye ki uske bhai ke saath sach mein kya hua tha. Main poori kosish kar raha hun ki tum uske haath na lago. Lekin maan lo agar tum pakdi gayi, to chahe woh tumhe torture kare ya tumhari family ko hurt karne ki dhamki de, chahe kuch bhi ho jaye, Rihaan ki hatya tumne ki hai yeh baat kabhi kabool mat karna. Samajh rahi ho na? Kyunki agar tum kabool kar logi to tumhe un logon se koi nahi bacha payega.”
Pankhudi ne nervously haan mein sar hilaya.
“Maine tumhari saari social media profiles delete kar di hai,” Armaan ne use ek phone dete hue kaha, “Tumhara SIM kal deactivate ho jayega aur phone company tumhare number se juda saara data delete kar degi. Kal se tum yeh phone istemaal karogi. Yeh ek jaali naam se issue karaya hua SIM hai.”
Pankhudi ne Armaan se woh phone liye aur uski baat gaur se sun ne lagi.
“Aadhar database se tumhara naam hatwa diya hai aur tumhare saare bank accounts band karwa diye hai. Mera ek aadmi kal kal tumhe cash de jayega ghar kharche ke liye. Ab jab apne apartment mein lautogi, to zaroori documents ghar bhej do courier se,” Armaan ne kaha, “Apni saari family photos aur diaries jala do. Apne phone se apni family aur close friends ke contacts aur photos delete kar do. Kuch dino tak apni family ko contact na hi karo to behtar hai. Kisi ko pata nahi lagna chahiye ki tumhari family aur close friends kaun hai aur kahan rehte hai. Tumhe tumhare us apartment se kisi bhi waqt bhagna pad sakta hai, wahan aisi koi bhi cheez, photo, diary document na rahe jo unhe tumhari family ya friends tak pahuncha sakte hai.”
Pankhudi ab ghabrane lagi. Use sach mein andaza nahi tha ki woh kitni badi museebat mein hai. Ab dheere dheere samajh aa raha tha.
Phir Armaan ne use ek card diya. Uspar ek ghar ki tasveer thi, ek number aur ek address tha.
“Is number par tum mujhse emergency mein contact kar sakti ho, yeh ek secure line hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Aur yeh photo aur address ek safehouse ka hai. Agar kabhi khatra mehsoos karo, seedhe is pate par pahunch jao. Darwaze par jo scanner hai, upse apni biometrics scan karna, darwaza khul jayega. Is ghar ka darwaza sirf tumhare aur mere finger print se hi khulega.”
Pankhudi ne baat samajhte hue haan mein sar hilaya.
“Card par likha address aur number abhi ke abhi yaar karo aur card wapas do,” Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi ne address aur number turant yaad kiya aur card Armaan ko lauta diya. Armaan ne apne lighter se woh card jalaya aur gaadi ke bahar phenk diya.
“Mujhe bhi tumne zaroori baat karni thi,” Pankhudi ne dheemi awaz mein kaha.
“Bolo,” Armaan ke kaha.
“I love you,” Pankhudi ne sharmate hue kaha.
Armaan uski pyari baat sunkar muskuraya. Pankhudi ne use pyar se gale lagaya.
“I am sorry maine tumhe wait karaya,” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Bahot dino baad mil rahi hun na tumse, main bahot excited thi, isiliye tumhare liye kuch bana rahi thi...”
Pankhudi ek bacchi ki tarah muskurate hue gaadi se utari aur apni scooty se ek box utha layi. Phir woh wapas Armaan ke paas baith gayi aur use pyar se woh box diya.
Armaan ne muskurakar woh box khola to dekha ki uske andar sundar se cupcakes the.
“Tum mujhe cupcake bulate the na,” Pankhudi ne sharmate hue kaha, “Mujhe laga ki shayad tumhe cupcakes acche lagte ho. Waise mujhe baking bilkul nahi aati magar youtube se dekhkar maine seekha...ek oven bhi khareeda, socha tha ki jab tumse milungi tab tumhare liye cupcakes banaungi...lekin aaj itni gadbad ho gayi...time se ban nahi paye aur mujhe late ho gaya iske chakkar mein...”
“Koi baat nahi...” Armaan ne ek cupcake uthate hue kaha, “Frosting bahot sundar hai.”
Phir usne ek bite liya lekin uske expression se saaf pata chal raha tha ki kuch gadbad hai.
“Kya hua acche nahi bane?” Pankhudi ne chinti swar mein poocha.
“Have a bite,” Armaan ne use ek cupcake dete hue kaha.
Pankhudi ne jab bite liya tab ekdum se kadwa swad aaya. Pankhudi ka expression dekh kar Armaan muskuraya.
“Baking powder jyada daal di hai tumne,” Armaan ne kaha, “Isiliye kadwa taste kar rahe hai...”
Pankhudi ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye. “I am so sorry, main hamesha gadbad karti hun...tumhe itna wait bhi karaya aur cupcakes bhi acche nahi bane...I am really sorry...”
“It’s OK Pari,” Armaan ne ek aur cupcake khate hue kaha, “Bas baking powder jyada hai, baaki sab theek hai.”
“Please mat khao,” Pankhudi ne kaha, “Bahot bura taste kar rahe hai hai...mujhe bahot bura lag raha hai...”
“Tumne itne pyar se banaye hai...mujhe to meethe lag rahe hai,” Armaan ne ek aur cupcake khate hue kaha, “Priya ko bahot pasand the cupcakes...main banata tha uske liye bahot pyar se...I know the recipe, aur main yeh bhi jaanta hun kitne pyaar se banaye jaate hai yeh...”
Priya ke zikr par Pankhudi ekdum chup ho gayi. Pichli baar Armaan bahot gussa hua tha jab usne Priya ke baare mein poocha tha.
“Priya, meri beti thi...” Armaan ne uski khamoshi ka jawab dete hue kaha, “Duniya ki sabse pyari ladki thi...”
“Thi matlab?” Pankhudi ne chintit swar mein poocha.
“Ab woh is duniya mein nahi hai...” Armaan ne kaha.
“I am sorry,” Pankhudi ne kaha aur use gale laga liya.
Armaan ek pal ke liye apni aankhein band karke chuchaap baitha raha. Uske chehre par uska dard saaf dikhai de raha tha. Pankhudi bhi uske kandhe par sar rakh kar uska haath thaame baithi rahi chupchaap. Priya ko to woh kho chuka tha, lekin an Pankhudi thi uske paas. Ek pyari masoom ladki jise is waqt uske protection ki zaroorat thi. Armaan ne Pankhudi ko apni goad mein kheench liya aur apne seene se laga liya.
Phir Armaan ne aankhein kholi aur muskurakar Pankhudi ke laaye hue saare cupcakes khatam kiye. Uske pyar ka yeh ijhaar dekhkar Pankhudi ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye.
Armaan ne uska maatha chooma aur use gale laga liya.
“Ab tumhe chalna chahiye,” Armaan ne kaha.
Pankhudi ne haan mein sar hilaya aur gaadi se utarne lagi. Achanak baarish ki kuch boondein padne lagi. Tez aandhi ke saath bijli chamakne lagi.
“Ruko Pari,” Armaan ne kaha, “Baarish rukne do, scooty pe bheeg jaogi.”
Pankhudi ke chehre par ek pyari se muskaan thi.
“Tum aakhri baar baarish mein kab bheege the?” Pankhudi ne poocha.
“Yaad nahi,” Armaan ne kaha.
“To chalo, aaj bheegte hai,” Pankhudi ek bacche ke utsah se gaadi se utari aur Armaan ka haath pakadkar kheenchne lagi.
Armaan muskurakar gaadi se utara aur dono baarish mein bheegne lage. Bahot din pareshan rehne ke baad Armaan ko sukoon mehsoos ho raha tha. Pankhudi jo thi uske paas. Pankhudi baarish mein bheegti hui gunguna rahi thi aur Armaan bas khada use jhoomte hue dekh raha tha. Woh dono ek aisi sunsaan jagah par the jahan milo tak koi aur nahi tha. Bas raat ka ghana andhera, baarish, aur roshni bas gaadi ki headlights se aa rahi thi.
Phir woh Armaan se lipat gayi aur uske kaanon mein wahi geet gungunane lagi jo woh jungle mein gaa rahi thi. Armaan ne use apni baahon mein liya aur uske hoton ko chuma. Dono ek doosre ki aagosh mein khoye hue the, unhe waqt ka kuch bhi hosh nahi tha.
Thodi der baad baarish ruk gayi. Baarish rukte hi, Pankhudi apni scooty par baithkar apne apartment ki taraf chali gayi. Pankhudi ko jaate hue pyaar bhar aankhon se dekh raha tha. Na jaana kab ab us se dobara milne ka mauka milega use.
Thodi der baad, Armaan bhi apni gaadi mein baithkar ghar laut gaya.
************
Nishant apne kamre mein so raha tha. Achanak ek aahat hui aur uski aankhein khuli. Usne dekha ki uske kamre ki khidki khuli hui hai. Tez aandhi aur baarish ka paani uske kamre mein aa raha tha. Usne uthkar khidki band ki.
Phir uske kaanon par ek aur awaz padi. Ek aurat ki hasne ke awaz. Yeh wahi awaz thi jo usne phone par suni thi.
“Nahi trace kar paaya na tu call, chutiya kahin ka...” woh aurat haste hue boli.
Nishant ek pal ke liye ekdum ghabra gaya yeh jaankar ki yeh awaz uske aas paas me se hi aa rahi thi.
Woh pagalon ki tarah us aurat ko poore ghar mein khojne laga. “Mujhe pata hai Rihaan kahan hai. Jan na chahta hai?” woh aurat phir boli.
Nishat yeh samajhne ki kosish kar raha tha ki woh awaz kis disha se aa rahi hai. Lekin aisa lag raha tha jaise woh awaz uske chaaron taraf se aa rahi hai.
“Bol! Bol na saali, kahan hai Rihaan?” Nishant pagalon ki tarah chillate hue bola.
“Bataya to tha, zameen ke 6 feet neeche,” woh aurat haste hue boli, “Armaan ne bade pyaar se sulaya hai tere bhai ko.”
Nishant pagalon ki tarah cheekhne laga. Uski awaz sunte hi Anvit aur ghar ke naukar daude chale aaye.
“Dhoondh us chinaal ko!” Nishant ne Anvit se kaha.
“Kisko?” Anvit ne kaha.
“Wahi aurat jo mujhe baar baar kehti hai ki Armaan ne Rihaan ko maar kar kahin gaad diya hai!” Nishant ne kaha.
“Sir, yahan koi aurat nahi hai,” Avnit ne kaha, “Aap bahot jyada stress le rahe ho isiliye shayad aapko wehem ho raha hai. Please aap rest kariye.”
“Chup be saale lodu, jyada gyan mat pel!” Nishant ne kaha, “Jo kaam bola hai woh kar. Dhoondh us raand ko!”
Avnit baaki naurakon ke saath us anjaan aurat ki talaash mein lag gaya. Nishant wapas apne kamre mein laut gaya. Woh raat bhar so nahi paaya. Anvit ne use subah bataya ki koi aurat nahi mili ghar mein.
Nishant gehri soch mein pad gaya ki yeh ho kya raha hai uske saath.
****************
Kuch din beet gaye.
Eshani Armaan ke chamber mein aayi.
“Rajvardhan ji apne videsh daure se laut aaye hai,” Eshani ne Armaan ko bataya.
“Meri meeting fix karwao unke saath,” Armaan ne kaha, “Kehna mere paas kuch aisa hai jis ko dekhne me mantri ji ko shayad dilchaspi ho.”
Eshani ne Rajvardhan ji ke office mein baat karke unke saath Armaan ki meeting fix karwayi.
Armaan nirdharit samay par Rajvardhan ji ke office pahuncha.
“Aapke darshan ke liye taras gaye the mantri ji,” Armaan ne kaha, “Kaisi hai tabiyat ab aapki?”
“Bas Bhagwan ji ki kripa hai. Aap bataiye Mathur ji,” Rajvardhan ji ne muskurakar kaha, “Kya haal hai aapke?”
“Haal chaal to aapne TV par dekh hi liya hoga,” Armaan ne kaha, “Aapki sarkar kuch naaraz si hai humse.”
“Bas routine inquiry hai Mathur ji,” Rajvardhan ji bole, “Nischint rahiye, aapko koi dikkat nahi hone denge hum.”
“Nishchint to hum tab honge, jab meri company ki roki hui funding phir se shuru kar di jayegi, aur saare ‘routine’ enquiries rafa dafa kar di jayegi,” Armaan ne kaha.
“Sab ho jayega, zara sabr rakhiye,” Rajvardhan ji ne mamle to taalne ki koshish karte hue kaha.
Armaan muskuraya. Woh samajh gaya tha ki mantri ji aise seedhe seedhe man ne waale nahi the.
“Sabar to hum zaroor rakhenge,” Armaan ne kaha, “Par kya hai na, aapke paas samay kuch kam hai. Chunav sar par hai aur is tarah ka koi dastavez agar expose ho jaye, to bhari nuksaan hoga aapki party ka.”
Armaan ne mantri ji ko ek file padkade hue kaha.
“2 saal pehle jo slum redevelopment project ka tender meri company ko mila tha aur jisko aapki sarkar ne approve kiya tha, usme jo 1000 crore ka ghotala hua hai, usme se kitne karod aapke swiss account mein bheje gaye iski poori detail hai us file mein,” Armaan ne muskurakar kaha.
File dekh kar Rajvardhan ji ke chehre ka rang udd gaya.
“Yeh to bas ek file hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Aise kayi saare saboot hai mere paas, aapke aur aapki party members ke kaale karnamon ke. Kya kare, dhanda hi kuch aisa hai mera ki sabki khair-khabar rakhni padti hai.”
“Kya chahte hain aap?” Rajvardhan ji ne poocha.
“Jyada kuch nahi bas jo sarkari funding roki gayi hai, use wapas shuru karwa dijiye, aur media mein jo circus chal rahi hai use samet lijiye. Meri company aur aapki party dono ki chhabi saaf suthri bani rahe, yahi dono ke hit mein hoga,” Armaan ne kaha.
Rajvardhan ji shaanti se Armaan ki demands sun rahe the.
“Jo inquiry chal rahi hai use shaanti purvak rafa dafa karwa dijiye. Woh kya hai na mere kisi bhi project ko demolish karna ka vichar aapki party ke liye atyant haanikarak hoga. Yahan meri building giri, wahan aapki sarkar gir jayegi. Aur ek aakhri darkhast, aapke suputra ki naadani ke wajah se jo mera nuksaan hua hai, uski bharpayi ki umeed mujhe aapse hai, bas, niraash na kijiyega,” Armaan ne muskurakar kaha.
“Theek hai,” Rajvardhan ji ne kaha, “Lekin yeh file kisi aur ke haath nahi lagi chahiye.”
“Kahe sharminda kar rahe hai mantri ji,” Armaan ne muskurakar kaha, “Dushman thodi hai aap humare jo hum aisa kaam kare. Yeh to bas aapki gairmaujoodgi mein zara si naadani ho gayi hai aapke bacche se.”
Achanak se Rajvardhan ji ke cabin ka darwaza khula aur Nishant andar aaya.
“Apne bete ke kaatilon ki acchi khatirdaari karte hain aap, Dad,” Nishant ne kaha.
“Nishant mein tumse baad mein baat karunga,” Rajvardhan ji ne kaha.
“Nahi mujhe abhi baat karni hai,” Nishant ne Armaan ko ghoorte hue kaha, “Kahan hai Rihaan? Kya kiya tune uske saath? Bata!”
Armaan muskuraya. Usne Rajvardhan ji ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, “Main ab inki galatfehmi kaise door karu? Takleef hoti hai jab baar baar is tarah ka aarop lagaya jaata hai.”
“Koi saboot hai tumhare paas Nishant?” Rajvardhan ji ne Nishant se poocha.
“Saboot?” Nishant ne kaha, “Iski aankhon dekhiye! Saaf dikh raha hai, darr hai iski aankhon mein. Kuch kiya nahi hota to itna darr nahi hota!”
“Mathur ji,” Rajvardhan ji ne Armaan ki aankhon mein aankhein daalkar kaha, “Inki tasalli ke liye agar police aapke ghar ki talashi le to aapko koi aitraaz nahi hona chahiye. Ya aap kahe to search warrant ke saath bheju police?”
“Warrant ki koi zaroorat nahi hai mantri ji,” Armaan ne muskurate hue kaha, “Le lijiye talashi mere ghar ki.”
“Umeed karta hun ki yeh galatfehmi hi ho,” Rajvardhan ji ne Armaan ki aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, “Kyunki aisa na hua to dikkatein badh jayengi aapki, Mathur ji.”