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Aarav bike chala raha tha, Main bike ke peeche baithi thi, Aarav ke peeth ke saath meri saansein jaise ek sur mein mil rahi thi. Hawa ke jhonke mere chehre ko chhoo rahe the, aur mere zehen mein bas ek hi baat bar-bar goonj rahi thi,
Rekha bhabhi ka woh ek baat, jo mere dil mein Tarang ki tarah reh gaya tha, unhone bola tha “Tum aur Aarav maa bete nahi lagte.” Kya sach mein? Kya sach mein main Aarav ki maa nahi lagti?
Par woh mera hi beta hai, mera apna lahu, mera sab kuch. Sabhi kehte hain ki Aarav ka chehre mujhse milta hai, uski aankhein, uski muskurahat, woh thodi si zidd, sab mein meri chhaap hai Aarav mein.
Par Rekha bhabhi ki baat mere zehen mein ek sansani tarango ki tarah ghoom rahi thi, jalati hui, sulag ti hui. Aarav jab paida hua tha, tab se hi jaise meri duniya uske ird-gird ghoomne lagi. Woh mera pehchan ban gaya tha. Log mujhe Ankur ki biwi ya Nina ki maa ke roop mein nahi jante the, main bas Aarav ki maa thi.
Jidhar bhi jaati, log kehte, “Arre, Aarav ki maa.” Mera naam bhi jaise Aarav ke naam mein doob gaya tha. Par aaj Rekha bhabhi ne ek aisi baat kahi jo mere dil ko chu gayi. “Tum Aarav ki maa nahi lagti.”
Yeh baat mere kaanon mein goonj rahi thi, aur mere gaalon ko laal kar rahi thi, aur ek ajeeb si sharam mere andar bhar rahi thi. Kyun? Kyunki aaj tak kisi ne mujhse aisa nahi kaha tha.
Humare pados ki mahila mandal wali auratein aksar meri tareef karti thi, meri sundarta, meri jawani, meri muskurahat ki. Par aaj Rekha bhabhi ki baat ne mujhe sharm se pani-pani kar diya tha.
Main ishi soch mein doob gayi thi, aur Aarav bike chala raha tha. Bike ke side mirror mein uska chehra dikh raha tha, usne safed shirt, clean shved, lambi naak, aur uski woh aankhein jaise kisi sher ki tarah shaktishali thi. Uska chehra, uska roop, jaise koi devta ho.
Uski woh purushali aura, jo mujh prakriti ko apni aur kheench raha tha.
Main usse dekhti rahi, aur mere hothon par ek shant, sukhad muskurahat khil gayi. Uska tejas, uski chamak, mere dil mein jaise phoolon ka baag khila rahi thi.
Main (mann mein): Sach mein, agar yeh aaj ka zamana na hota, toh mera Aarav kisi desh ka raja hota. Uska yeh tejas, kisi samrat se kam nahi.
Mera dil chaha ki main usse peeche se jakad loon, jaise koi girlfriend apne boyfriend ke saath bike pe baith ke chipak jati hai. Mera Mann ho raha tha Apne seene ko uske peeth se daba ke, uske saath hawa mein doob jaun. Par uske chehre ka woh tejas, woh ek jadoo jaisa tha, mujhe apni hi duniya mein le gaya. Main sab bhool gayi ki hum kahan ja rahe hain, kyun ja rahe hain. Main bas uske chehre mein, uski aankhon mein kho gayi. Samay ka pata hi nahi chala, jaise waqt bhi uske tej ke saamne jhuk gaya ho.
Achanak Aarav ne brake maari, aur bike ruk gayi. Tab ja ke mujhe hosh aaya. Main kahan thi? Charon taraf shor-sharaba, ghantiyon ki aawaz, logon ki bheed. Main ekdum chaunk gayi.
Aarav: ab uthiye!
Main: Huh?
Aarav: Hum pohoch gaye. Ab uthiye.
Mujhe laga tha Aarav mujhe bike pe ghumane le ja raha hai, par yeh toh koi aur jagah thi. Main chupchap utar gayi, aur Aarav bhi bike se utra. Maine usse poochha.
Main: Aarav, hum kahan aaye hain?
Aarav: Aapne abhi tak dekha nahi?
Main: Kya?
Aarav: Peeche mud ke dekhiye.
Maine peeche mud ke dekha, aur meri aankhein hairani se phati ki phati reh gayi. Yeh toh **** ki mandi thi! Charon taraf bhakt jan, pooja ka samaan, aur ghantiyon ki goonj thi.
Main: Hum… hum mandir aaye hain, Aarav?
Aarav ne sar hilaya, ek kami bhari.
Main: Main kuch samajhi nahi. Main toh soch rahi thi hum kahi ghumne ja rahe hain?
Aarav: Aaj aapka janamdin hai, toh maine socha aapko mandir le jaun....
Yeh sunte hi meri aankhon mein chamak aa gayi, aur hothon par ek khushi bhari muskurahat khil gayi. Mera dil jaise pighal gaya uski baat sun ke.
Main: Tum.. tum bhi na, Aarav! Pehle bataya hota toh main pooja ki thali saja laati. Ab aise khali haath…
Aarav: Abhi darshan kar lete hain. Aur waise bhi, yahan pooja ki thali milti hai. Don’t worry.
Main: Fir bhi, Aarav, pehle batate toh main…
Main bol hi rahi thi ki Aarav bol pada.
Aarav: Chaliye.
Usne apna haath aage kiya aur mujhse kaha, “Chaliye.” Main uske haath ki taraf dekhti reh gayi. Mera dil ek baar dhadak utha. Kya Aarav mujhe haath pakadne ke liye keh raha tha? Ek pal ke liye meri saansein ruk si gayi.
Aarav: Kya hua? Chaliye!
Main: Ha… haa…
Maine dheere se uska haath pakad liya. Uski ungliyan meri ungliyon se mil gayi, aur woh mujhe mandir ke andar le chala. Woh aage chal raha tha, main uske peeche, uska haath thame hue. Meri nazar hum dono ke haathon par thi, jo ek saath jude hue the. Mera dil dhak-dhak kar raha tha, mere gaal laal, neele, peele ho rahe the. Yeh kaisa ehsaas tha? Ek ajeeb si garmi, ek ajeeb si shanti, dono ek saath mere andar umad rahe the.
Temple mein kaafi bheed thi. Log apni manokamna poori karne aaye hue the. Aarav mujhe ek choti si bacchi ki tarah ek kam bheed wali jagah par le gaya aur baitha diya, jaise main is bheed mein kho jaungi.
Main: Aarav?
Aarav: Aap yahin baitho. Main pooja ki thali le ke aata hoon.
Main: Nahi, ruko! Main bhi chalti hoon na.
Aarav: Wahan bheed hogi, main le ke aata hoon. Aap yahin baitho.
Main: Par…
Mere bagal mein ek dadima ji baithi thi. Unhone meri baat sun li aur bole.
Dadima ji: Jane do, beta. Waha bheed hogi, dhakka-mukki hogi.
Aarav: Haan, maji theek keh rahi hain. Aap yaha ruko, wahan dhakka-mukki hogi.
Main: Theek hai, par jaldi aana, okay.
Aarav: Hmm.
Yeh kehte hue Aarav pooja ki thali lene chala gaya. Main dadima ji ke saath wahi baithi rahi. Thodi der baad dadima ji boli.
Dadima ji: Waise, beti, lagta hai tumhara pati tumse bohot pyar karta hai.
Main: Huh?!?!?
Dadima ji: Haan, lagta hai tumhara pati tumse bohot pyar karta hai.
Meri saansein ek hi pal mein liye ruk gayi. Yeh kya keh rahi thi? Woh Aarav ko mera pati samajh rahi thi? Arre, main toh uski maa hoon! Maa! Mujhe unhe batana chahiye ki Aarav mera beta hai, par… par pata nahi kyun mere muh se kuch aur hi nikal gaya, bilkul ulta.
Main: Ji… aapko kaise pata chala?
Dadima ji: Varshon ka tajurba hai, beti. Dekh ke hi bata sakti hoon.
Woh yeh kehte hue hans padi, par mera dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Woh humein pati-patni samajh rahi thi, mujhe aur Aarav ko. aur main unhe rok bhi nahi rahi thi. Pata nahi kyun, mere dil mein ek ajeeb si khushi, ek ajeeb si sharmindagi, dono ek saath umad rahe the.
Main: Ji, aapka tajurba sahi bol raha hai. Woh… woh mujhe bohot pyaar karta hai, maji. Par… par woh…
Dadima ji: Par kya, beti?
Main: Par woh na, maji, pyar dikhata nahi mujhe. Ab khud dekhiye, aaj mera janamdin hai, isliye mujhe yaha darshan karwane laya, par do pyar bhari baatein bhi nahi kari usne mere saath.
Dadima ji: (Hans ke) Har insaan ka pyaar dikhane ka dhang alag hota hai, beti. Koi shor-sharaba karke pyaar karta hai, toh koi chupke-chupke, dikhata nahi.
Main: Par maji, main chahti hoon woh mujhse pyaar ki do baatein kare. Main nahi chahti woh mujhe chupke se pyar kare. Aur aapko pata hai, woh na… woh thoda khadoos bhi hai.
Dadima ji: (Hans ke) Har ladka thoda khadoos hi hota hai.
Main: Mera woh to thoda zyada hi khadoos hai. Mujhe woh bhaav hi nahi deta.
Dadima ji: Lagta hai tum apne pati ko bohot pyar karti ho?
Mera dil ab aur bhi zor se dhadakne laga. Woh mujhe aur Aarav ko pati-patni samajh rahi thi, aur pooch rahi thi ki main Aarav se kitna pyar karti hoon. Mere gaal tamatar se bhi zyada laal ho gaye. Main sharma ke zameen mein gadh si gayi, par phir bhi mere muh se nikal gaya.
Main: Main… main unse bohot pyar karti hoon, maji.
Dadima ji: (Haste hue) Woh toh Tumhari gaalon ki laali dekh ke samajh gayi, beti.
Main: (Sharma ke) Ji… ji, aisa kuchh nahi hai.
Fir hum dono idhar-udhar ki baatein karne lage. Thodi der baad Aarav pooja ki thali le ke aaya. Par main ab usse nazrein nahi mila pa rahi thi. Dadima ji ke saath maine aisi baatein ki thi, jaise Aarav mera pati ho. Yeh soch ke hi meri saansein atak rahi thi.
Aarav: Le aaya thali.
Main: Hmm… chalo. Oh, maji, aate hain. Aur aap na, bilkul meri maa jaisi baatein karti hain.
Dadima ji ne mere sar par haath rakha aur ashirwad dete hue boli.
Dadima ji: Mann se prarthana karo, beti. Tumhari har manokamna poori ho.
Main (Muskurate hue) : Ji…
Aarav ne pooja ki thali mujhe di, aur hum dono pooja karne gaye.
**Sorry everyone, uske baad jo kuch bhi huya tha, woh main nahi bataungi**
Pooja ke baad hum dono prarthana kar rahe the. Main apni aankhein band karke, aur mera dil apni baaton se unhe sab kuch keh raha tha.
Main (mann mein): hay Deva, aap se kya chhupau? Aap toh sab jaante hain. Main… main Aarav ko pyar karti hoon, deva. Bohot pyar karti hoon. Aap jaante hain na, meri shadi Ankur se jab hui thi, main sirf ** saal ki thi, Mujhe pyar ka matlab bhi nahi pata tha. Fir Aarav hua… par meri umar bohar choti thi, aur main bhi jaise Aarav ke saath hi badi hoti gayi. Aur.. aur Main uske pyar mein doob gayi, deva. Pata nahi yeh galat hai ya sahi, par main Aarav ko pyar karti hoon. Bohot pyar karti hoon. Aur marte dam tak karti rahungi. Mujhe… mujhe uska bana do, deva. Main uski hokar jeena chahti hoon.
Prarthana karte waqt meri aankhon se ek aansu tapak pada. Maine aankhein kholi toh dekha, Aarav mujhe hi ghoor raha tha, aur ek hawa ka jhoka hamare beech Main se guzra, maine jaldi se aankhein pochhi aur uski taraf dekh ke muskurayi.
Main: Woh…
Aarav: Aap…
Main: Huh?
Aarav: Aap… aap ro kyun rahi ho?
Main: Woh… woh kuch nahi. Aise hi.
Aarav: Sach mein?
Main: Haan, buddhu, sach mein. Woh agarbatti ka dhuaan aankhon mein chala gaya tha, isliye.
Aarav: Ohh?
Aarav mujhe aise ghoor raha tha, jaise usne meri jhooth pakad li ho. Maine nazrein jhuka li aur boli.
Main: Pooja ho gayi. Chalo, ab ghar chalte hain.
Main jaldi se bike ke paas pahunch gayi. Aarav se jhooth bolna mujhe bilkul achha nahi laga, isliye nazre churate huye sa gaye, Aarav mere paas aaya aur poochha.
Aarav: Kya hua?
Main: Umm… kuch nahi. Chalo ghar.
Aarav: Hmm.
Aarav bike pe baitha, aur main uske peeche baith gayi. Woh bike chalane laga, aur main phir se apne khayalon mein doob gayi. Dadima ji ki baatein mere zehen mein goonj rahi thi, ki woh kaise mujhe aur Aarav ko pati-patni samajh rahi thi. Aur maine bhi unhe roka nahi. Ulta, maine unke saath aise baatein ki, jaise Aarav sach mein mera pati ho. Yeh soch ke mere sharir mein ek ajeeb si lehar daud gayi. Mera dil itni zor se dhadak raha tha, jaise abhi seene se dill nikal jayega.
Sharam se mere gaal tamatar se bhi zyada laal ho gaye. Aarav mera pati? Yeh baat soch ke hi meri saansein thami ja rahi thi.
Hum ghar ki taraf ja rahe the, par jab maine gaur kiya, to paya ki yeh toh ghar ka rasta nahi tha. Hum kahan ja rahe the?
Main: Aarav? Hum abhi ghar nahi ja rahe?
Aarav ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh chupchap bike chalata raha.
Main: Aarav!
Aarav: Thodi der intezar kariye.
Main: Huh?
Rekha bhabhi ka woh ek baat, jo mere dil mein Tarang ki tarah reh gaya tha, unhone bola tha “Tum aur Aarav maa bete nahi lagte.” Kya sach mein? Kya sach mein main Aarav ki maa nahi lagti?
Par woh mera hi beta hai, mera apna lahu, mera sab kuch. Sabhi kehte hain ki Aarav ka chehre mujhse milta hai, uski aankhein, uski muskurahat, woh thodi si zidd, sab mein meri chhaap hai Aarav mein.
Par Rekha bhabhi ki baat mere zehen mein ek sansani tarango ki tarah ghoom rahi thi, jalati hui, sulag ti hui. Aarav jab paida hua tha, tab se hi jaise meri duniya uske ird-gird ghoomne lagi. Woh mera pehchan ban gaya tha. Log mujhe Ankur ki biwi ya Nina ki maa ke roop mein nahi jante the, main bas Aarav ki maa thi.
Jidhar bhi jaati, log kehte, “Arre, Aarav ki maa.” Mera naam bhi jaise Aarav ke naam mein doob gaya tha. Par aaj Rekha bhabhi ne ek aisi baat kahi jo mere dil ko chu gayi. “Tum Aarav ki maa nahi lagti.”
Yeh baat mere kaanon mein goonj rahi thi, aur mere gaalon ko laal kar rahi thi, aur ek ajeeb si sharam mere andar bhar rahi thi. Kyun? Kyunki aaj tak kisi ne mujhse aisa nahi kaha tha.
Humare pados ki mahila mandal wali auratein aksar meri tareef karti thi, meri sundarta, meri jawani, meri muskurahat ki. Par aaj Rekha bhabhi ki baat ne mujhe sharm se pani-pani kar diya tha.
Main ishi soch mein doob gayi thi, aur Aarav bike chala raha tha. Bike ke side mirror mein uska chehra dikh raha tha, usne safed shirt, clean shved, lambi naak, aur uski woh aankhein jaise kisi sher ki tarah shaktishali thi. Uska chehra, uska roop, jaise koi devta ho.
Uski woh purushali aura, jo mujh prakriti ko apni aur kheench raha tha.
Main usse dekhti rahi, aur mere hothon par ek shant, sukhad muskurahat khil gayi. Uska tejas, uski chamak, mere dil mein jaise phoolon ka baag khila rahi thi.
Main (mann mein): Sach mein, agar yeh aaj ka zamana na hota, toh mera Aarav kisi desh ka raja hota. Uska yeh tejas, kisi samrat se kam nahi.
Mera dil chaha ki main usse peeche se jakad loon, jaise koi girlfriend apne boyfriend ke saath bike pe baith ke chipak jati hai. Mera Mann ho raha tha Apne seene ko uske peeth se daba ke, uske saath hawa mein doob jaun. Par uske chehre ka woh tejas, woh ek jadoo jaisa tha, mujhe apni hi duniya mein le gaya. Main sab bhool gayi ki hum kahan ja rahe hain, kyun ja rahe hain. Main bas uske chehre mein, uski aankhon mein kho gayi. Samay ka pata hi nahi chala, jaise waqt bhi uske tej ke saamne jhuk gaya ho.
Achanak Aarav ne brake maari, aur bike ruk gayi. Tab ja ke mujhe hosh aaya. Main kahan thi? Charon taraf shor-sharaba, ghantiyon ki aawaz, logon ki bheed. Main ekdum chaunk gayi.
Aarav: ab uthiye!
Main: Huh?
Aarav: Hum pohoch gaye. Ab uthiye.
Mujhe laga tha Aarav mujhe bike pe ghumane le ja raha hai, par yeh toh koi aur jagah thi. Main chupchap utar gayi, aur Aarav bhi bike se utra. Maine usse poochha.
Main: Aarav, hum kahan aaye hain?
Aarav: Aapne abhi tak dekha nahi?
Main: Kya?
Aarav: Peeche mud ke dekhiye.
Maine peeche mud ke dekha, aur meri aankhein hairani se phati ki phati reh gayi. Yeh toh **** ki mandi thi! Charon taraf bhakt jan, pooja ka samaan, aur ghantiyon ki goonj thi.
Main: Hum… hum mandir aaye hain, Aarav?
Aarav ne sar hilaya, ek kami bhari.
Main: Main kuch samajhi nahi. Main toh soch rahi thi hum kahi ghumne ja rahe hain?
Aarav: Aaj aapka janamdin hai, toh maine socha aapko mandir le jaun....
Yeh sunte hi meri aankhon mein chamak aa gayi, aur hothon par ek khushi bhari muskurahat khil gayi. Mera dil jaise pighal gaya uski baat sun ke.
Main: Tum.. tum bhi na, Aarav! Pehle bataya hota toh main pooja ki thali saja laati. Ab aise khali haath…
Aarav: Abhi darshan kar lete hain. Aur waise bhi, yahan pooja ki thali milti hai. Don’t worry.
Main: Fir bhi, Aarav, pehle batate toh main…
Main bol hi rahi thi ki Aarav bol pada.
Aarav: Chaliye.
Usne apna haath aage kiya aur mujhse kaha, “Chaliye.” Main uske haath ki taraf dekhti reh gayi. Mera dil ek baar dhadak utha. Kya Aarav mujhe haath pakadne ke liye keh raha tha? Ek pal ke liye meri saansein ruk si gayi.
Aarav: Kya hua? Chaliye!
Main: Ha… haa…
Maine dheere se uska haath pakad liya. Uski ungliyan meri ungliyon se mil gayi, aur woh mujhe mandir ke andar le chala. Woh aage chal raha tha, main uske peeche, uska haath thame hue. Meri nazar hum dono ke haathon par thi, jo ek saath jude hue the. Mera dil dhak-dhak kar raha tha, mere gaal laal, neele, peele ho rahe the. Yeh kaisa ehsaas tha? Ek ajeeb si garmi, ek ajeeb si shanti, dono ek saath mere andar umad rahe the.
Temple mein kaafi bheed thi. Log apni manokamna poori karne aaye hue the. Aarav mujhe ek choti si bacchi ki tarah ek kam bheed wali jagah par le gaya aur baitha diya, jaise main is bheed mein kho jaungi.
Main: Aarav?
Aarav: Aap yahin baitho. Main pooja ki thali le ke aata hoon.
Main: Nahi, ruko! Main bhi chalti hoon na.
Aarav: Wahan bheed hogi, main le ke aata hoon. Aap yahin baitho.
Main: Par…
Mere bagal mein ek dadima ji baithi thi. Unhone meri baat sun li aur bole.
Dadima ji: Jane do, beta. Waha bheed hogi, dhakka-mukki hogi.
Aarav: Haan, maji theek keh rahi hain. Aap yaha ruko, wahan dhakka-mukki hogi.
Main: Theek hai, par jaldi aana, okay.
Aarav: Hmm.
Yeh kehte hue Aarav pooja ki thali lene chala gaya. Main dadima ji ke saath wahi baithi rahi. Thodi der baad dadima ji boli.
Dadima ji: Waise, beti, lagta hai tumhara pati tumse bohot pyar karta hai.
Main: Huh?!?!?
Dadima ji: Haan, lagta hai tumhara pati tumse bohot pyar karta hai.
Meri saansein ek hi pal mein liye ruk gayi. Yeh kya keh rahi thi? Woh Aarav ko mera pati samajh rahi thi? Arre, main toh uski maa hoon! Maa! Mujhe unhe batana chahiye ki Aarav mera beta hai, par… par pata nahi kyun mere muh se kuch aur hi nikal gaya, bilkul ulta.
Main: Ji… aapko kaise pata chala?
Dadima ji: Varshon ka tajurba hai, beti. Dekh ke hi bata sakti hoon.
Woh yeh kehte hue hans padi, par mera dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Woh humein pati-patni samajh rahi thi, mujhe aur Aarav ko. aur main unhe rok bhi nahi rahi thi. Pata nahi kyun, mere dil mein ek ajeeb si khushi, ek ajeeb si sharmindagi, dono ek saath umad rahe the.
Main: Ji, aapka tajurba sahi bol raha hai. Woh… woh mujhe bohot pyaar karta hai, maji. Par… par woh…
Dadima ji: Par kya, beti?
Main: Par woh na, maji, pyar dikhata nahi mujhe. Ab khud dekhiye, aaj mera janamdin hai, isliye mujhe yaha darshan karwane laya, par do pyar bhari baatein bhi nahi kari usne mere saath.
Dadima ji: (Hans ke) Har insaan ka pyaar dikhane ka dhang alag hota hai, beti. Koi shor-sharaba karke pyaar karta hai, toh koi chupke-chupke, dikhata nahi.
Main: Par maji, main chahti hoon woh mujhse pyaar ki do baatein kare. Main nahi chahti woh mujhe chupke se pyar kare. Aur aapko pata hai, woh na… woh thoda khadoos bhi hai.
Dadima ji: (Hans ke) Har ladka thoda khadoos hi hota hai.
Main: Mera woh to thoda zyada hi khadoos hai. Mujhe woh bhaav hi nahi deta.
Dadima ji: Lagta hai tum apne pati ko bohot pyar karti ho?
Mera dil ab aur bhi zor se dhadakne laga. Woh mujhe aur Aarav ko pati-patni samajh rahi thi, aur pooch rahi thi ki main Aarav se kitna pyar karti hoon. Mere gaal tamatar se bhi zyada laal ho gaye. Main sharma ke zameen mein gadh si gayi, par phir bhi mere muh se nikal gaya.
Main: Main… main unse bohot pyar karti hoon, maji.
Dadima ji: (Haste hue) Woh toh Tumhari gaalon ki laali dekh ke samajh gayi, beti.
Main: (Sharma ke) Ji… ji, aisa kuchh nahi hai.
Fir hum dono idhar-udhar ki baatein karne lage. Thodi der baad Aarav pooja ki thali le ke aaya. Par main ab usse nazrein nahi mila pa rahi thi. Dadima ji ke saath maine aisi baatein ki thi, jaise Aarav mera pati ho. Yeh soch ke hi meri saansein atak rahi thi.
Aarav: Le aaya thali.
Main: Hmm… chalo. Oh, maji, aate hain. Aur aap na, bilkul meri maa jaisi baatein karti hain.
Dadima ji ne mere sar par haath rakha aur ashirwad dete hue boli.
Dadima ji: Mann se prarthana karo, beti. Tumhari har manokamna poori ho.
Main (Muskurate hue) : Ji…
Aarav ne pooja ki thali mujhe di, aur hum dono pooja karne gaye.
**Sorry everyone, uske baad jo kuch bhi huya tha, woh main nahi bataungi**
Pooja ke baad hum dono prarthana kar rahe the. Main apni aankhein band karke, aur mera dil apni baaton se unhe sab kuch keh raha tha.
Main (mann mein): hay Deva, aap se kya chhupau? Aap toh sab jaante hain. Main… main Aarav ko pyar karti hoon, deva. Bohot pyar karti hoon. Aap jaante hain na, meri shadi Ankur se jab hui thi, main sirf ** saal ki thi, Mujhe pyar ka matlab bhi nahi pata tha. Fir Aarav hua… par meri umar bohar choti thi, aur main bhi jaise Aarav ke saath hi badi hoti gayi. Aur.. aur Main uske pyar mein doob gayi, deva. Pata nahi yeh galat hai ya sahi, par main Aarav ko pyar karti hoon. Bohot pyar karti hoon. Aur marte dam tak karti rahungi. Mujhe… mujhe uska bana do, deva. Main uski hokar jeena chahti hoon.
Prarthana karte waqt meri aankhon se ek aansu tapak pada. Maine aankhein kholi toh dekha, Aarav mujhe hi ghoor raha tha, aur ek hawa ka jhoka hamare beech Main se guzra, maine jaldi se aankhein pochhi aur uski taraf dekh ke muskurayi.
Main: Woh…
Aarav: Aap…
Main: Huh?
Aarav: Aap… aap ro kyun rahi ho?
Main: Woh… woh kuch nahi. Aise hi.
Aarav: Sach mein?
Main: Haan, buddhu, sach mein. Woh agarbatti ka dhuaan aankhon mein chala gaya tha, isliye.
Aarav: Ohh?
Aarav mujhe aise ghoor raha tha, jaise usne meri jhooth pakad li ho. Maine nazrein jhuka li aur boli.
Main: Pooja ho gayi. Chalo, ab ghar chalte hain.
Main jaldi se bike ke paas pahunch gayi. Aarav se jhooth bolna mujhe bilkul achha nahi laga, isliye nazre churate huye sa gaye, Aarav mere paas aaya aur poochha.
Aarav: Kya hua?
Main: Umm… kuch nahi. Chalo ghar.
Aarav: Hmm.
Aarav bike pe baitha, aur main uske peeche baith gayi. Woh bike chalane laga, aur main phir se apne khayalon mein doob gayi. Dadima ji ki baatein mere zehen mein goonj rahi thi, ki woh kaise mujhe aur Aarav ko pati-patni samajh rahi thi. Aur maine bhi unhe roka nahi. Ulta, maine unke saath aise baatein ki, jaise Aarav sach mein mera pati ho. Yeh soch ke mere sharir mein ek ajeeb si lehar daud gayi. Mera dil itni zor se dhadak raha tha, jaise abhi seene se dill nikal jayega.
Sharam se mere gaal tamatar se bhi zyada laal ho gaye. Aarav mera pati? Yeh baat soch ke hi meri saansein thami ja rahi thi.
Hum ghar ki taraf ja rahe the, par jab maine gaur kiya, to paya ki yeh toh ghar ka rasta nahi tha. Hum kahan ja rahe the?
Main: Aarav? Hum abhi ghar nahi ja rahe?
Aarav ne koi jawab nahi diya. Woh chupchap bike chalata raha.
Main: Aarav!
Aarav: Thodi der intezar kariye.
Main: Huh?
Janvi ji