Ben abhi apne bed se nikla hi tha ki tabhi uske phone ki ringtone bajne lagi. “Ohh yaar yeh subah subah hi chalu ho gaya…” screen par mike ka naam flash hote dekh Ben ne kaha. Uska man toh huya ki bhaad mein jaye woh par use pata tha ki jab tak phone na uthale wo dimag chaat ta hi rahega.
“Han bol kya hai?...” Ben ki awaj se uski frustration saaf dikhayi de rahi thi.
“Are subah subah kisne maar li teri..” mike as usual unchi awaj mein hanste huye bola. Ben uske fatte munh ko achhe se imagine kar paa raha tha.
“Behanchod tujhe bola na ki mujhe nahi jana udhar… Toh kion dimag ka dahi kar raha hai…” Ben ne chidhte huye kaha. Halanki use pata tha ki woh kutte ki dum uski koi bhi baat nahi sunne wala par try karne mein kya hi jata tha.
“meri Jaan, tu itna darta kahe ko hai be… hum log bache thode na hain ab…” Mike ki baat sahi thi par yeh itna asaan nahi tha bhale hi wo jyada kisi se darta nahi tha par yeh soch kar hi ki wo Sophie ke samne kaise… aur use mike ki aadat achhe se pata thi ki wo kuchh na kuchh gaand maari karega hi.
“nahi yaar mujhse nahi hoga… aur tujhe pata hai hum dono mein vaise bhi jyada baat nahi hoti…” Ben ne apni samasya khul kar bata di, is hope mein ki wo uski baat maan le.
“yaar wo koi dudh peeti bachi thode na hai. Udhar meri behan bhi toh rahegi. Dude chalta hai aaj kal… Thoda fun karenge aur wapis aa jayenge.” Mike ki baat sun Ben Thoda ruka..
“chal theek hai sochke batata hun…”
“bhai sochna kya hai… Tere bina idhar kuchh nahi hone wala… Tu chup chap Shaam ko 7 baje pahunch jana idhar…”
“chal theek hai baad mein karta hun…” Ben ne fatafat phone kaat diya kionk Mike ke sath jyada behas karne ki takat usmein nahi thi. Par Sophie ke sath Mike ki party mein jane ke bichar tak se hi uski fate ja rhi thi. Sophie aur Ben bhale ki ek hi batch mein the par shuru se hi uski Emily se jyada pat ti thi. Wo bhale hi Ben se 3 saal badi thi par wo dono kuchh bhi baat kar sakte the. Dusri taraf Sophie aur wo same age ke hote huye bhi jyada ghulte milte nahi the. Use shuru se hi iska kaaran nahi pata tha par kuchh toh tha. Uper se Mike ki party matlab kuchh locha toh confirm hai aur agar usse koi uch neech ho gayi toh Sophie aur uske beech ki yeh diwar aur unchi ho jayegi yeh soch kar hi uski fate ja rahi thi.
(Door khulne ki awaj)
“are Ben uth gaye beta…” May room mein ate huye boli… “actual mein main tumhe hi uthane a rahi thi.”
“Thanks Aunt May… but ap thoda sa chook gayin. Yeh shubh kaam already Mike ne kar diya…” Ben haste huye bola. Jawab mein May ne bhi apni dil lubha lene wali muskaan bikhar di aur akar Ben ke bagal mein baith gayi.
“haan who Sophie bata rahi thi ki tum aj sham party mein ja rahe ho…” May ki baat sunkar Ben buri tarah chauk gaya. Par usne kisi tarah khud ko sambhale rakha.
“Han main apko batane ki wala tha. Actually main nahi jaa raha hun.. Thoda kaam hai…” Ben ne nirasha jahir karte huye kaha.
“beta aise nahi karte. Yeh tum logon ki farewell party hai iske baad tum log college mein chale jaoge. May be tumhare kuchh dost kisi aur jagah padhein. Toh it’s better to spend sometime together…” May ne Ben ke sir par hath firate huye kaha. Is chakkar mein wo thoda jhuki toh uske fair skinned boobs thode v shape t shirt se bahar jhankne lage. Ben ne kisi tarah apna dhyan uski baat par lagaya.
“Han but…” Ben itna hi bola tha ki May ne use beech mein hi rok diya.
“I know ki tum kya soch rahe ho… don’t be so shy, Sophie tumhari cousin hai toh kya huya tum dono ham umar ho class mate ho. Aur is umar mein party normal hai. May be thodi drink ke baad kuchh pata bhi nahi chalega.” May ne halki si aankh daba kar kaha. Wo aksar aisa karti thi aur Har baar Ben ke chehre par ek muskan fel jati. “Han par thoda hi chalega. Agar jyada pi toh tum dono ke barabar kaam kheechungi main.” May ne Ben ka kaan pakad kar muskurate huye kaha. Uski baat sunkar Ben ka antardwand bhi thoda shaant ho gaya tha. Vaise bhi Sophie ko usse koi jyada fark nahi padta tha wo aksar apne friends ke sath hi rehti thi. Shayad woh bhi apne bhai ke sath ek hi class mein hone se jyada comfortable nahi thi. Aur shayad yeh hi wajah thi ki dono jyada baat nahi karte the.
(Later on that morning, Dinning hall)
“Oye hero kya baat hai aj bada khoya khoya lag raha hai…” Emily ne Ben ke right Shoulder par halka sa mukka marte huye kaha.
“Kuchh nahi di, shayad achhe se neend nahi ayi…” Yeh bolte huye na chahte huye bhi usne Samne baithi Sophie ki taraf dekha jaise use laga ho ki wo bhi uski tarah pareshan hogi par ulta who to mast apne khane mein vyasat thi.
“kon hai jisne hamare lallu lal ki raaton ki neend chura li?” Emily ne uske pet mein kohni maarte huye puchha aur sath mein Apni maa ki taraf dekh kar halka hans bhi di jismein usne bhi uska sath diya par Sophie abhi bhi mano in sab se Anjaan thi yah fir atleast aisa dikha rahi thi. Aur yeh hamesha ka tha ki Ben aur woh ek dusre ki conversation mein kam hi part lete the jab tak ki jayada jaruri na ho.
“Kya di… ap subah subah tang khichayi mein lag gayi.” Ben ne naraaz hone ka naatak kiya.
“Are hum toh majak kar rahe the.. kion mom…”
“Bhai mujhe ismein mat gaseeto … Maine toh kuchh nahi kaha…” May ne apne hath khade karte huye kaha. Sophie ne ek baar ke liye un logon ki taraf dekha aur fir wapis apne breakfast mein busy ho gayi.
“Ok bhai theek hai sirf main hi majak kar rahi thi… Ab tu khana khaa le warna thanda ho jayega…” Emily ne pyar se Ben ke gaal sehla kar kaha. “Sophie tu kal raat mujhe kuchh keh rahi thi…” Emily ko shayad ek dum se kuchh yaad aya.
“yeah di, wo aj hamari farewell party hai toh dress ko leke apki Thodi help chahiye thi.” Sophie ne Emily ki taraf dekhte huye kaha. Ben ko laga ki aj shayad wo use ignore karne ki kosish kar rahi hai shayad wo bhi uncomfortable feel kar rahi thi.
“oh nice… iska matlab toh Ben bhi jaa raha hoga…” Emily ne Ben ki taraf dekh kar puchha. Toh akhir kar baat ghum Phir kar usi par aa gayi par isse pehle ki wo koi jawab deta usko hairan karte huye Sophie khud hi bol padi “han di hum dono sath hi ja rahe hain…” Sophie ki baat sunte hi Ben fatti ankhon se uski taraf ghura par wo uski taraf dekhi tak nahi. Use yeh tak samajh mein nahi a raha tha ki Yeh kab decide huya ki wo dono ek sath party par ja rahe hain. Shayad May ka hi idea raha hoga aur is wajah se wo kuchh keh bhi nahi sakta.
“yeh aur bhi achha hai. Main tum dono ko achhi si dress choose karne mein help karungi.” Emily ne excited ho kar kaha. Is par Ben kuchh bhi nahi bola par Sophie ne ek smile paas kardi, jo Ben ke hisab se sirf dikhane ke liye thi ander se wo bhi apni maa ko kos rahi hogi. Khair jaise taise usne apne jeevan ka sabse awkward breakfast khatam kiya.
(Kareeb 2 ghante baad, Ben ka room)
“Di aapko jo achha lage main pehan lunga ismein itna sochne ki kya jarurat hai…” Ben ne chidhte huye kaha kionk use yaad nahi tha ki jindagi mein akhri baar kab usne kisi ek dress ko choose karne mein 1 ghanta lagaya ho. Uske bed par bikhre kapdon ko dekh use pehli baar pata chala tha ki uski wardrobe mein itne kapde honge. Nahi toh pura time wo 2-3 jodi hi badal badal kar pehnta rehta hai.
“tum na bas chup chap khade raho. Yeh tumhari life ki pehli party hai yahan tum bina mom aur mere jaa rahe ho. Tumhe pehli baar wo adult wali feeling ayegi. Toh it should be a little more than normal.” Emily ne use dant te huye kaha. Use samajh mein nahi a raha tha ki akhir woh aisa kya dhundh rahi hai jo use mil hi nahi raha. Par isse pehle ki wo kuchh aur bolta Emily ne kisi kone mein pada ek kaale rang ka tuxedo bahar nikala. Use dekhte hi use yaad aya ki yeh use uske pichhle birthday par May se mila tha par usne kabhi pehna nahi. Emily ne ek baar apne hath ko thoda dur hold karke us tuxedo ko achhe se dekha aur fir achanak uske chehre pe uski wahi pyari si smile a gayi jo Ben ko sabse jyada achhi lagti thi. Aur aj toh specially kionk use ab is atyachar se chutkara milne ki umeed jo mil gayi thi.
“yeh ek dum mast hai di… ab bas ise final karo. Mujhe aur fashion show nahi dekhna.” Ben ne utawale hote huye kaha. Aur Fatafat wo tuxedo Emily ke hath se le liya.
“Are…. Sambhal kar… main de hi rahi thi…” Emily ne thoda aram se bola.
“Sorry di… but I am really fed up now…” Ben ne bechari si shakal bana kar kaha jise dekh kar Emily muskuraye bina nahi reh payi.
“Ok theek hai. Tum yahi pehan na.. Vaise bhi yeh achha laga mujhe… chal theek hai abhi main chalti hun. Tu thoda aram karle. ” Yeh bol kar Emily wahan se jaane lagi. Tabhi Ben ne use awaj de kar roka. Aur jaa kar use hug kar liya. “thank you di..”
“chal abhi maska mat maar.” Emily ne uske gaal par halka kiss kiya aur usse alag ho gayi aur wahan se chali gayi. Emily ke paas hoke Ben hamesha relax feel karta tha kionk wo ek hi saks thi jisse wo kuchh bhi baat kar sakta tha. Par aj wo usse kuchh nahi kehna chahta tha. Kionk use khud samajh mein nahi a raha tha ki uski akhir itni fat kion rahi hai. Kya wo party ki wajah se yah fir wo Sophie ke sath hone ki wajah se.
(Sham 6:15, Ben ke ghar ka driveway)
Ben kareeb 15 minute se apni gaadi mein baitha Sophie ka intezar kar raha tha. Usne Ek baar fir darwaje ki taraf nazar maari par wo abhi bhi band hi tha. (Yaar kahan se iske sath fas gaya ek to aise hi tension ho rahi hai upar se yeh maharani pata nahi kya kar rahi hai itni der se) Ben man hi man socha. Khair usne ek baar fir apna bow tie thoda adjust kiya. Use iski bilkul bhi adat nahi thi. Formal kapdon mein use kisi waiter jaisi feeling a rahi thi uper se yeh gala ghotne wali bow tie.
Tabhi use ghar ka darwaja khulne ki awaj ayi. Usne garden ghuma kar dekha toh Sophie hi thi. Ek baar ke liye toh uski duniya tham si gayi. Usne pehle kabhi Usko aise kapdon mein nahi dekha tha. Laal rang ki chamkeeli si dress jo uske ghutnon ke thoda uper khatam ho jaa rahi thi. Ek kandhe pe tika mota sa strap kisi tarah us one piece dress ko uske badan pe tikaye huye tha. Uska kapda uske badan se bilkul chipka huya tha. Mano uske badan ka ek ek ubhar uski ankhon ke samne prakat ho gaya ho. Shayad yeh pehli baar tha jab usne Sophie ko aise dhyan se dekha ho. Husan ke mamle mein wo ek point bhi May aur Emily se kam nahi thi aur uske uper uski 18 saal ki kachi umar usmein chaar chaand lagane ka kaam kar rahi thi. Ben ne kisi tarah apni ankhein usse hatayi par use pakka yakeen tha ki Sophie ne use taadte huye use dekh liya aur iska sabut uske gaalon ki badhti laali de rahi thi.
(Sabash Ben, pehle kam awkwardness thi jo tune aag mein ghee daal di…) usne khud ko kosa tab tak Sophie car ke darwaje tak a chuki thi toh usne chup chap apni najrein age ki taraf ghuma li.
“beta tere ko kabhi koi ladki nahi milne wali…” Emily ki gusse bhari awaj uske kaanon mein padi. Ek pal ke liye uski fat gayi ki kahin usne Sophie ko ghurte huye use dekh toh nahi liya par isse pehle ki who koi aur imagination karta Emily age boli “jab kisi ladki ke sath kahin ja rahe ho toh uske liye door kholte hain bewkuf, aise driver ki tarah nahi baithe rehte…” Emily ne Ghurte huye kaha.
“Par di wo meri cousin hai hum log date pe thode na jaa rahe hain…” Ben chidhte huye bola kionk usne Sophie ko Emily ki baat par halka hanste dekh liya tha.
“Par wo ladki toh hai na.. practice makes a man perfect…”
“Ok baba… Abhi jab wo utaregi toh main darwaja khol dunga….” Ben ne hath jodte huye kaha. Wo kisi tarah us situation se nikalna chahta tha.
“that’s like my brother…” Emily hanste huye boli… “ok now enjoy your party… see you both…” itna bolte wo hath hila ke ander chali gayi aur uske peeche darwaja band hone ki halki awaj ayi toh Ben ne chain ki saans li. Par car ander ka temperature abhi bhi high tha. Sophie ka yunh badla sa behave use pareshan kar raha tha aisa nahi tha ki use koi problem thi par wo kuchh alag behave kar rahi thi. Pehle toh wo uske sath jane ko itni asani si maan kaise gayi aur ab jab Wo use dekh raha tha toh bhi wo kuchh bolne ki jagah sharmane lagi aur pata nahi kion par wo is party ko lekar actual mein khush lag rahi thi.
(Things are getting weird here) Ben ne man hi man socha aur bina kuchh bole wahan se car nikal li. Dono mein pure raste koi bhi baat nahi huyi par Ben beech beech mein Sophie ki taraf dekh raha tha jaise use intezar ho ki wo kab apna yeh nkaaw utaregi aur pehle jaise hogi. Par aisa kuchh bhi nahi huya aur Sophie bade aram se apne safar ka lutaf uthate huye destination tak pahunch gayi. Par Ben ne uske liye koi darwaja nahi khola aur shayad usko bhi yeh pata tha isliye wo chup chap khud hi gaadi se bahar nikal gayi. Ben ko ek aur jhatka tab laga jab usne bahar nikalte hi ek smile ke sath use thank you bola. Ab Ben ko lagne laga tha ki shayad wo hi chutiya hai jo is baat ko lekar itna hug raha hai. Toh thoda bada dil karte huye usne bhi samne se ek smile de di. Vaise bhi un dono mein koi jhagda toh tha nahi.
Khair agle 2 ghante usne bhi khul kar enjoy kiya. Vaise bhi Ek baar Mike ke sath milke wo jyada tension mein reh hi nahi sakta tha toh dhire dhire party ka rang us par bhi chadhne laga. Kuchh peg ke baad sari awkwardness hawa ho gayi aur kab uske pair music ki dhun par thirkane lage use pata hi nahi chala. Tabhi uski nazar Shanaya par padi. Ben ke chehre ki smile thodi aur fail gayi. Ek chhote se top aur skirt mein wo gajab ki lag rahi thi.
“hey Ben…. Kaise ho tum…” Shanaya ne music ki awaj mein chilla kar puchha.
“theek hun tum kaisi ho…” Ben ne bhi usi tarah jawab diya.. “vaise if you don’t mind can we have a little dance…” usne mauka dekh kar hi chauka maar diya. Vaise bhi dono achhe dost the toh wo bhi jhat se maan gayi aur dono lage dhire dhire thirkane. Halke nashe mein dono befikar naach rahe the jaise kisi ki koi na padi ho. Vaise sabka haal wahi tha. Najane kiska konsa ang kise chhu raha tha. Tabhi Ben ki nazar bar wale area mein ek ladki par padi. Red dress mein wo chup chap akeli si baithi thi. Use dekh kar lag raha tha mano wo akeli is pagalpan se bahar kisi ki raah dekh rahi thi. Ben ne bas ek baar uski taraf dekha aur fir khud ko yaad dilaya ki wo usse jitni dur rahe utna achha hai. Halanki usko yeh dekh kar hairani thi ki hamesha apne doston ke sath mast rehne wali Sophie aj itne achhe mahaul mein kion munh latkaye baithi thi par use samjhna uske bas ki baat nahi thi toh usne thoda side hokar ek peg aur maara aur fir se laga Shnaya ke sath thirkane.
Khair dhire dhire wo madhoshi dimag par bhari hone lagi. Use apne age ka pura nazara dhundhla nazar ane laga. Use jyada kuchh pata toh nahi chal raha tha lekin dhire dhire bheed kam hoti ja rahi thi. Thodi der baar Shanaya bhi dagmagate huye washroom ke liye nikal gayi. Use bhi ab khud ko sambhalne mein bahut dikkat ho rahi thi toh wo bhi dhire dhire diwar ke sahare ek chair tak pahuncha aur usi par dher ho gaya. Kuchh pal ke liye uske ankhon ke age kuchh dhundhle chitar dikhayi diye aur fir ek gehra kaala andhera chha gaya.
Ben kisi aur hi duniya ke safar par nikal chuka tha beech beech mein use mehsus hota ki koi usse baat karne ki kosish kar raha hai toh kabhi wo khud ko kisi ke kandhe ke sahare khada mehsus karta par na toh usmein ankhein kholne ki shamta thi aur na hi apne aas paas ki sujh bujh. Tabhi use mehsus huya jaise wo Hazaar feet ki uchayi se gir kisi foolon ke bagiche mein ja samaya ho. Peeth par makhmali ehsaas mehsus huya toh wo apni andheri wadion mein aur gehra girta gaya. Tabhi achanak uske honthon se shabnam mein bheegi gulab ki pankhdian takrayi aur wo puri tarah se us foolon ke dher mein kho sa gaya.
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