10-02-2026, 03:23 AM
Beete Kal ki Partein
Sartaj ke office jaane ke baad, Sher ko mauka mil gaya. Woh Meera ke kareeb pahuncha, jo balcony mein khadi baahar ki ore dekh rahi thi. Sher ne apni awaaz ko dheema aur sammanjanak banaya.
Sher: "Memsaahab... agar aap bura na maanein, toh kya main aap se kuch pooch sakta hoon?"
Meera ne uski taraf dekha. Usne sahajta se kaha, "Haan Sher, bolo, kya baat hai?"
Sher ne thoda jhijhakte hue, lekin apni nazron ko Meera ke chehre par tikaate hue kaha, "Memsaahab, aapko aur saahab ko dekh kar lagta hai ki aap Sartaj saahab se bahut mohabbat karti hain. Par kabhi-kabhi aapki aankhon mein unke liye jo izzat dikhti hai, woh mohabbat se bhi kahin zyada gehri lagti hai. Aisa lagta hai jaise aap dono ka rishta sirf pyaar ka nahi, usse bhi kahin bada hai... jaise unhone aapke liye kuch aisa kiya ho jise aap kabhi bhula nahi sakti."
Meera ke chehre ke bhaav ek pal ke liye badle. Uski aankhon mein ek puraani yaad ki chamak aur Sartaj ke liye woh aseem samman ubhar aaye jise Sher taadna chahta tha.
Meera ne ek lambi saans li aur muskurate hue kaha, "Tumne sahi pehchana Sher. Sartaj mere liye sirf mere pati nahi hain... woh mere rakshak hain. Unhone mujhe us waqt sahara diya aur us andhere se nikala jab mujhe laga tha ki meri zindagi khatm ho gayi hai. Mera unke liye jo samman hai, woh shayad is duniya ke kisi bhi rishte se upar hai."
Meera ki nigahein door kahin shoonya mein tik gayeen, jaise woh apni zindagi ke us kaale daur ki galiyon mein vaapas laut gayi ho. Uske chehre par ek ajeeb si khamoshi chha gayi.
Meera ne ek lambi aur bhaari saans lete hue kaha, "Sher, maine Sartaj jaisa insaan aaj tak nahi dekha. Hum dono college mein saath padhte thhe. Woh mujhse chupchap mohabbat karta tha, par usne kabhi zabaan se kuch nahi kaha. Woh bas door se mujhe dekhta rehta tha. Phir gharwalon ki pasand se meri shaadi Aarav se ho gayi. Aarav acche insaan thhe, main unhe pasand karti thi aur apni shaadishuda zindagi mein bahut khush thi."
Usne apni aankhein moond leen, jaise us manzar ko dhundhla karne ki koshish kar rahi ho. Phir dheemi awaaz mein boli, "Lekin phir... Aarav ke saath rehte hue hi main ek aisi gehri musibat mein phans gayi, jahan se nikalne ka mujhe koi raasta nahi soojh raha tha. Mujhe laga ki main sab kuch kho doongi. Us waqt mujhe Sartaj ki yaad aayi. Main uske paas ek dost ki haisiyat se gayi aur usse poochha ki kya woh meri madad kar sakta hai?"
Sher chupchap khada sun raha tha, par uska dimaag tezi se chal raha tha. Use samajh aa gaya ki Sartaj ne 'dosti' ke naam par woh jang ladi thi jo Meera khud nahi lad sakti thi.
Sher ne poochha: "Toh saahab ne aapki madad ki, memsaahab?"
Meera ki aankhon mein aansu ki ek halki si chamak ubhri, usne gardan hilaate hue kaha, "Madad? Sher, usne apni jaan ki baazi laga di thi mujhe us narak se baahar nikaalne ke liye. Usne na sirf mujhe bachaya, balki meri izzat par ek kharonch bhi nahi aane di. Aaj main jo kuch bhi hoon, sirf uski wajah se hoon."
Sher ne sir jhuka liya, par mann hi mann budbudaya, "Toh ye baat hai... puraane aashiq ne rakshak bankar baazi maar li. Par memsaahab, ye ehsaan ka chashma utaarne ke liye hi toh maine woh dawa banayi hai. Jab neend gehri hogi, toh na Aarav yaad aayega aur na Sartaj ka ehsaan... bas ye Sher hoga aur aapki woh gori deh."
Sher ke jaane ke baad, Meera apne bedroom ki khamoshi mein laut aayi. Usne mez par rakhi Sartaj ki tasveer uthayi aur use bade pyaar se nihaarne lagi. Uski aankhon mein beete kal ki partein khulne lageen.
Usne tasveer ko apne seene se lagaya aur rundhe hue gale se phusphusakar kaha, "Sartaj... mujhe aaj bhi woh din yaad hai jab mujhe pata chala ki tumne meri yaad mein kabhi shaadi hi nahi ki. Main apni shaadishuda zindagi mein thi aur tum tanha meri yaadein liye jee rahe thhe. Phir waqt ka aisa sitam hua ki main majboor hokar tumhare paas madad maangne pahunchi."
Meera ki aankhon se ek aansu tapak kar tasveer ke frame par gira.
"Tumne mere dard ko apna dard samjha aur mujhe us narak se nikala... bina kisi umeed ke, bina kisi lalach ke. Jab Shankar ki maut hui aur sab kuch shaant hua, toh teen mahine baad jab main tumse mili, toh mera sir ehsaan ke bojh se jhuka hua tha."
“Mujhe laga ki tumne mere liye itna kuch kiya hai, toh main tumhe apna ye jism saunp doon... maine khud tumhe iski peshkash ki thi."
Woh ek kadvi aur bhaavuk muskan ke saath budbudati rahi, "Main jaanti thi ki tum saalon se mujhe chupchap pyaar karte aaye ho, mujhe laga tha ki tum inkaar nahi karoge. Par us waqt bhi tumne mera haath thaamkar mujhe mana kar diya."
Woh yaad karne lagi ki kaise Sartaj ne uski peshkash thukraate hue kaha tha, "Agar main aaj tumhara yeh offer kabool kar loon, toh mujh mein aur Shankar mein kya fark reh jayega?" Uski aankhon se ek aansu tapka jab use Sartaj ke ve shabd yaad aaye: "Tumne kaha tha ki tum kisi dost se aisa koi 'ehsaan' kabool nahi kar sakte. Tumne kaha tha ki mujh par tumhara koi karz nahi hai."
Meera ne thandi saans li, "Jis shareer ka sauda karne ke liye Shankar mujhe blackhole ki tarah nigal raha tha, tumne usi shareer ko tohfe ke taur par lene se bhi inkaar kar diya. Tumne meri rooh ko samman diya, Sartaj... isiliye aaj main tumhari sirf patni nahi, tumhari daasi hoon."
Meera apni yaadon ke samandar mein aur bhi gehraai se utarti chali gayi. Usne Sartaj ki tasveer ko apne chehre ke kareeb laya aur uski aankhon mein jhaankte hue boli, "Sartaj, us din tumne mera jism thukra kar meri rooh jeet li thi. Mere dil mein tumhare liye woh mohabbat jaagne lagi thi jo jismani chahat se kahin upar thi... woh ekdam paak aur roohani thi. Par tum... tum toh jaise mujhse door bhaagne lage thhe."
Uski aankhon mein us shaadi ka manzar tair gaya. "Phir maine tumhe Riya ki shaadi mein bulaya. Riya... meri nanad, jise tumne Shankar ke usi narak se bachaya tha. Jab Riya ne haath jodkar tumhe shukriya kehna chaaha, toh tumne muskurakar uska sir sehla diya aur kaha—'Behnein bhai ko shukriya nahi kehti, ye toh mera farz tha.' Tumhari us saadgi ne mera kaleja jeet liya tha."
Meera ke chehre par ek mamta bhari muskan aayi. "Wahin main pehli baar tumhari beti Jyoti se mili. Jab sach pata chala toh main dang reh gayi. Woh maasoom bacchi jiske maa-baap gangwar mein maare gaye... security officer station ke us shor-sharaabe mein jab us roti hui bacchi ne tumhara haath thaama, toh tumne use hamesha ke liye apna bana liya. Ek kunware mard ne ek anaath bacchi ko apni beti ka naam de diya... us din meri nazar mein tumhari izzat aasmaan chhune lagi thi."
Phir Meera ka swar dheema aur udaas ho gaya. "Par us shaadi ke baad tum phir gayab ho gaye. Jaise tum mujhse door bhaagna chahte thhe... shayad tumhe darr tha ki kahin mere kareeb aane se tumhare mann mein koi lalach ya koi kamzor khayal na aa jaye. Tum apni maryada ki deewar itni oonchi rakhna chahte thhe ki mujhe koi aanch na aaye."
Meera ki aankhon se behte aansu ab thamne ka naam nahi le rahe thhe. Sher ke us ek sawaal ne jaise yaadon ka koi puraana baandh tod diya tha. Woh Sartaj ki tasveer ko apne kaanpte haathon se thaame hue sisak rahi thi.
"Tum phir se apni beti ko lekar gayab ho gaye thhe... jaise apna farz poora karke tum meri zindagi se hamesha ke liye nikal jaana chahte thhe. Main pagalon ki tarah akhbaaron mein tumhara naam dhoondti thi, TV par tumhari khabron ka intezaar karti thi. Phir ek din khabar aayi ki tum ek encounter mein bahut buri tarah zakhmi ho gaye ho. Mera dam hi nikal gaya tha."
Usne yaad kiya ki woh kaise betahasha use dhoondne ki koshish kar rahi thi, tabhi uske phone ki ghanti baji. "Jyoti ne mujhe aspatal se phone kiya... mujhe tab pata chala ki tumne Jyoti ko ye samjha rakha tha ki agar tumhe kuch ho jaye ya tum na raho, toh woh sirf mere paas aaye. Tumne aakhiri waqt mein bhi sirf mujh par bharosa kiya."
Meera ka gala bhar aaya, "Main bhaagti hui aspatal pahunchi. Jab maine tumhe wahan bistar par bejaan pada dekha, pattiyon mein lipta hua... toh mujhe aisa laga jaise mere seene se saari hawa hi nikal gayi ho. Mera dil jaise dhadakna bhool gaya tha. Us pal mujhe ehsas hua ki tum mere liye kya ho… tum sirf ek rakshak ya dost nahi thhe, tum meri jeene ki wajah ban chuke thhe."
Usne tasveer par apna sir tika diya, aspatal ke us khaufnaak manzar ko yaad karte hue, jahan Sartaj ki zindagi aur maut ke beech ki jang ne Meera ko poori tarah todkar rakh diya tha. Woh bas roye ja rahi thi, us ehsaan aur pyaar ke bojh tale dabi hui jise Sartaj ne kabhi jataane tak nahi diya tha.
Meera ke aansu ab uske gaalon se hote hue Sartaj ki tasveer par gir rahe thhe. Us aspatal ki galiyaron ki thandak aur woh ghutan use aaj bhi mehsoos ho rahi thi.
"Tum ICU mein thhe, zindagi aur maut ke beech jhool rahe thhe. Main Jyoti ke saamne khud ko mazboot dikhaane ki koshish kar rahi thi, kyunki woh nanhi si bacchi poori tarah toot chuki thi. Tabhi nurse aayi aur usne mujhe tumhara saara niji saaman saunp diya taaki main use sambhaal kar rakh sakoon."
Meera ne apni aankhein moond leen, jaise woh phir se usi kamre mein khadi ho. "Jyoti ek bacchi hi toh thi, woh tumhari car ki chabiyon se khel rahi thi. Tabhi usne tumhara purse uthaya aur use kholkar chehakte hue boli—'Aunty, dekho! Papa ke purse mein meri aur aapki photo hai.' Uske un maasoom lafzon ne jaise mere kaleje ko cheer diya tha."
Usne yaad kiya ki kaise kaanpte haathon se usne Sartaj ka woh puraana leather ka purse haath mein liya tha. "Jab maine dekha, toh usmein Jyoti ki tasveer ke saath-saath meri college ke dinon ki woh puraani tasveer rakhi thi. Woh tasveer itni puraani ho chuki thi ki uske kinaare mudne lage thhe, lekin tumne use kisi beshkeemti khazane ki tarah sambhaal kar rakha tha."
Meera ki siskiyan aur tez ho gayeen. "Us ek pal mein mujhe samajh aaya ki tum mujhse kitni gehraai se mohabbat karte aaye ho. Itne saalon tak, bina kuch kahe, bina kisi umeed ke, tumne mujhe apne dil ke sabse kareeb rakha tha. Tum apni khamoshi mein mera naam japte rahe aur main anjani bani rahi. Us din mujhe ehsas hua ki tumhari khamoshi mein kitni tadap aur kitna pyaar chhipa tha."
Meera ne tasveer ko choomte hue apni aankhein band kar leen, maano woh us shapath ko phir se dohara rahi ho jo usne aspatal ke us thande galiyare mein li thi.
"Us pal maine khud se ek waada kiya, ek pratigya li ki tumhe bachane ke liye main kisi bhi had tak jaoongi. Maine turant apne pati Aarav aur apne saas-sasur ko phone kiya. Maine unse bas itna kaha ki Sartaj ICU mein hain aur is shehar mein chhoti Jyoti ke alava unka apna koi nahi hai, isliye jab tak woh poori tarah theek nahi ho jaate, main aspatal mein unke paas hi rahoongi."
Meera ke chehre par ek halki si muskan aayi jab usne apne parivar ki pratikriya yaad ki. "Aarav aur mummy-papa ne ek pal ke liye bhi mana nahi kiya. Unki nazar mein tum hamesha se ek bahut hi sammanit insaan aur mere ek sacche dost thhe. Unhone bas itna kaha—'Bilkul Meera, tum wahin raho aur unka poora khayal rakho, fikr ki koi baat nahi hai.'"
Usne ek lambi aur gehri saans li, "Ve kabhi nahi jaan paaye ki tumne kis tarah unki beti Riya aur unki bahu, yaani meri izzat ki raksha ki thi. Unke liye tum sirf ek 'acche dost' thhe, lekin mere liye tum woh rakshak thhe jisne hamare poore parivar ke samman ko apne lahu se seecha tha. Ve us balidaan se anjaan thhe jise tum apni khamoshi mein dabaye baithe thhe, aur main... main bas tumhari salaamati ke liye duaayein maang rahi thi."
Meera ne Sartaj ki tasveer ko apne chehre se sata liya, uski yaadon ka silsila ab us ek phone call par aakar thehar gaya jisne uski duniya badal di thi.
"Aspatal mein jab tum behosh thhe, tab tumhare mobile par tumhari behen ka Canada se phone aaya. Maine kaanpte haathon se phone uthaya aur unhe bataya ki tum ICU mein ho. Jaise hi unhe pata chala ki main Meera bol rahi hoon, unki awaaz mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon aa gaya. Unhone bas itna kaha—'Meera? Shukr hai bhagwan ka ki tum uske paas ho. Ab mujhe yakeen hai ki woh theek ho jayega kyunki woh sahi haathon mein hai. Woh college ke dinon mein hamesha tumhare baare mein baatein kiya karta tha.'"
Meera ki aankhon se phir aansu behne lage. "Main sann reh gayi thi... woh sunkar mera sir chakraane laga. Mujhe aisa laga jaise poori duniya ko tumhari us khamosh mohabbat ka pata tha, sivay mere. Tumhari behen, tumhare dost, shayad har koi jaanta tha ki tum mujhse kitni shiddat se pyaar karte ho, bas main hi andhi bani rahi jo tumhari us bepanah chahat ko nahi dekh paayi."
Usne ek lambi saans li aur tasveer ki aankhon mein dekhte hue budbudaya, "Tumne apni mohabbat ko kabhi apni kamzori nahi banne diya, Sartaj. Tumne use ek aisi taakat banaya ki tum door rehkar bhi meri hifazat karte rahe. Mujhe aaj bhi khud par pachtava hota hai ki maine tumhe samajhne mein itni der kyon kar di."
Meera ke chehre par ek dardbhari muskan ubhar aayi jab usne us raat ko yaad kiya.
"Jab aspatal se Chandan humein ghar le aaya, toh uska ek hi maksad tha ki main aur Jyoti thoda aaraam kar sakein. Chandan ne bade pyaar se kaha tha, 'Memsaahab, Jyoti chhoti hai, use ghar ki neend chahiye aur aapko bhi himmat jutaani hogi.' Ghar pahunchkar maine Jyoti ko khila-pilaakar sula diya, par mera mann tumhare paas aspatal mein hi atka tha."
Meera ne apni ungliyan apni aankhon par phereen, jaise woh us phone ki screen ko phir se dekh rahi ho. "Mujhe tumhari behen ko tumhari sehat ki khabar deni thi, par tumhara phone lock tha. Mere paas unka number bhi nahi tha. Main pareshan thi, soch rahi thi ki kya code hoga? Phir na jaane kya sochkar, maine ek andaze par apni janmatithi ke chaar ank dabaye... aur phone khul gaya."
Meera ki awaaz phir se bhaari ho gayi. "Main stabdh reh gayi thi Sartaj. Tum saalon se mujhse door thhe, tumne kabhi mujhe janmdin ki badhai tak nahi di kyunki main kisi aur ki patni thi... tumne apni maryada kabhi nahi laanghi. Par tumhare phone ka tala aaj bhi meri janmatithi se khulta tha. Tum mujhe bhulane ka dhong kar rahe thhe, par haqeeqat ye thi ki mera wajood tumhari har saans aur tumhari har cheez mein racha-basa tha."
Woh tasveer ko apne maathe se lagaakar sisakne lagi. "Kitna akele jhela hai tumne ye sab? Kitni khamoshi se tumne us pyaar ko paala jo kabhi tumhara ho hi nahi sakta tha?"
Meera ki yaadon ka silsila ab us raat ki bechaini par aa tika tha, jab Sartaj aspatal mein maut se lad raha tha aur woh ghar par uske liye duaayein maang rahi thi.
Usne kamre ke kone mein lagi Guru Gobind Singh ji ki tasveer ki ore haath jod liye. Halaki Meera khud ***** dharam ko maanne wali thi, par woh bakhubi jaanti thi ki Sartaj ke adarsh kya thhe. Sartaj ka poora jeevan Guru Gobind Singh ji ki shikshaon aur ek 'Sant Sipahi' ki maryada ke ird-gird buna hua tha.
Meera ne us raat ko yaad karte hue prarthna ki, "He Waheguru... apne is sacche anuyayi ki raksha karna. Use kuch mat hone dena. Woh ek saccha Sant Sipahi hai, jisne kabhi apni maryada nahi laanghi."
Use college ke woh din yaad aaye jab Sartaj aksar kaha karta tha ki jab bhi uski zindagi mein koi mushkil mod aata hai ya use kisi kathin vikalp ko chun-na hota hai, toh woh bas ek hi baat sochta hai—'Is sthiti mein mere Guru Maharaj kya karte?' Usi adarsh ne use Meera ke prati uski khamosh mohabbat mein bhi digne nahi diya tha. Usne kabhi bhi us pyaar ko vaasna ya dhoke ki aanch nahi lagne di thi.
Meera ne apne aansu ponchhe aur mann hi mann budbudaya, "Sartaj, tum us Guru ke sacche shishya ho jisne kabhi jhukna nahi seekha. Aur main... main bhi ab tumhari parchhayi bankar rahoongi."
Meera ki yaadon ka karavan ab us bhaavuk pal par thehar gaya tha, jab ghar ka puraana naukar Chandan bhi uske saath ghutnon ke bal baith gaya tha. Us raat sannata itna gehra tha ki un dono ki siskiyon ki awaazein deewar se takra rahi thheen.
Chandan ki aankhon se aansu beh rahe thhe aur uska gala rundha hua tha. Usne kaanpte hue haath jodkar Meera se kaha tha, "Memsaahab, maine apni poori umra guzaar di, par Sartaj saahab jaisa insaan aaj tak nahi dekha. Bhagwan aise heere ko humse nahi chheen sakta."
Meera ne dekha tha ki Chandan ki rooh tak kaanp rahi thi jab usne ek puraani baat yaad ki. Chandan ne rote hue bataya tha, "Memsaahab, jab meri beti ne 12th mein bahut acche number laaye aur uska sapna doctor banne ka tha, toh mere paas itne paise nahi thhe ki main use medical college bhej sakoon. Maine apni bitiya se keh diya tha ki hum itne bade college ka kharch nahi utha sakte. Hamari toh kismat hi aisi hai."
Chandan ne apni aankhon ko ponchhte hue aage kaha tha, "Saahab ko jab is baare mein kahin se pata chala, toh unhone mujhe daante hue apne paas bulaya. Unhone kaha—'Chandan, teri bacchi meri apni bacchi jaisi hai. Toone mujhe is baare mein pehle kyon nahi bataya? Too fikr mat kar, uski padhai aur doctor banne ka saara kharch main uthaoonga.' Memsaahab, unhone bina kisi ko bataye meri beti ka bhavishya bana diya. He bhagwan, is bhale aadmi ki jaan bakhsh de."
Meera Chandan ki baatein sun rahi thi aur use lag raha tha jaise Sartaj ki acchaiyon ka koi ant hi nahi hai. Woh na sirf ek behtareen afsar tha, balki ek aisa farishta tha jo khamoshi se doosron ke aansu ponchhata tha. Us raat un dono ki mili-juli prarthnaon mein ek hi tadap thi ki woh 'Sant-Sipahi' bas ek baar apni aankhein khol de.
Meera ne Sartaj ki tasveer ko apne gaalon se chhua, jaise woh us puraani muskan ki tapish ko aaj bhi mehsoos kar paa rahi ho. Un kathin dinon ke baad aayi woh rahat ki pehli kiran use aaj bhi yaad thi.
"Shayad us din Guru Maharaj ne hamari pukaar sun li thi, Sartaj. Tum dheere-dheere maut ke panje se baahar aane lage. Tumhari sehat mein sudhaar hone laga aur maine apna saara waqt, apni poori jaan tumhe vaapas khada karne mein laga di. Tumhari patti badalne se lekar tumhe dawa khilaane tak, mujhe aur kuch yaad hi nahi rehta tha."
Meera ke hothon par ek komal si muskan khil gayi. "Ek din, jab tum thode hosh mein aaye, toh tumne apni wahi puraani sharafat dikhayi. Tumne dheere se mujhe mana karne ki koshish ki ki main apna itna waqt tumhare peechhe barbaad na karoon. Mujhe yaad hai, us din pehli baar main tum par buri tarah bigad gayi thi. Maine gusse mein keh diya tha—'Chupchap lete rahiye, main aapki ek nahi sunne wali!'"
Meera ne yaad kiya ki Sartaj ne us waqt kaise pratikriya di thi. "Meri us daant par tumhare chehre par ek aisi muskan aayi thi jise main kabhi nahi bhool sakti. Aisa laga jaise tumhe mera woh adhikaar jatana, mera woh gussa bahut pyaara laga ho. Phir maine tumhe bataya ki Aarav aur mera poora parivar mere is faisle mein mere saath khada hai aur ve sab chahte hain ki main tumhari seva karoon."
Usne ek lambi saans li. "Tumhare chehre par us waqt jo itminaan dikha tha, usne mera kaleja cheer diya tha. Tum aspatal ke bistar par pattiyon mein lipte, maut se ladkar vaapas aa rahe thhe, lekin us waqt bhi tumhare dimaag mein sirf yahi chinta thi ki kahin tumhari wajah se meri shaadishuda zindagi mein koi kadwahat na aa jaye. Tum apni fikr chhodkar mere ghar ke sukoon ke baare mein soch rahe thhe."
Meera ne Sartaj ki tasveer ko seene se lagaate hue us din ko yaad kiya, jab unki maryada ki deewar pehli baar thodi si dagmagayi thi. Woh nazara uski aankhon ke saamne kisi saaf tasveer ki tarah tair gaya.
"Tum aspatal se ghar aa chuke thhe aur kaafi had tak theek ho rahe thhe. Mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai, us din maine safed rang ki saari pehni thi. Tum bistar par lete thhe aur main tumhare sir ke neeche ka takiya theek karne ke liye jhuki thi. Usi pal... meri saari ka pallu mere kandhe se sarak gaya."
Meera ki awaaz mein ek halki si thartharahat thi. "Mujhe ehsas bhi nahi hua ki mera pallu gir chuka hai. Mere vaksh us safed maheen kapde ke neeche kisi raseele phalon ki tarah aazaad hokar tumhare saamne thhe. Pehli baar maine tumhari un mazboot aankhon mein ek darar dekhi. Tumhari nazrein kuch lamhon ke liye wahin thehar gayeen... maine dekha ki kaise tumhari saansein bhaari ho gayeen aur tumhari maryada us ek pal ke liye ghutnon par aa gayi thi."
Usne apni aankhein moond leen, jaise us khichav ko aaj bhi mehsoos kar rahi ho. "Par tum toh Sartaj thhe... tumne poori taakat lagaakar apni nazron ko pher liya. Us poore din tumhara mizaj badla hua tha, tum khamosh thhe, jaise khud se hi lad rahe ho. Aur agle hi din jab main aayi, toh tumne badi berukhi se keh diya ki tumhara tabadla ho gaya hai aur tum shehar chhodkar ja rahe ho."
Meera muskurayi, par uski aankhon mein dard tha. "Main jaanti thi Sartaj, tum kaam ki wajah se nahi ja rahe thhe. Tum us khichav se, us tadap se bhaag rahe thhe jo tumhe meri ore kheench rahi thi. Tumhe darr tha ki kahin tumhari ye khichav mere aur tumhare us pavitra rishte ko jalaakar raakh na kar de. Tum phir se haar maankar bhaag jaana chahte thhe taaki meri zindagi mein koi aanch na aaye."
Meera ne tasveer ko apne honthon se chhua, jaise woh Sartaj ki us niswarth rooh ko choom rahi ho. Us vidai ki raat ka ek-ek shabd uske kaan mein aaj bhi goonj raha tha.
"Tabadle se pehle tumne mere poore parivar ko khaane par bulaya tha. Mujhe laga tha ki tum sirf shukriya kahoge, par tumne jo kiya uski umeed kisi ko nahi thi. Tumne Aarav ka haath thaamkar sabke saamne kaha tha—'Aarav baabu, ek dost ko maut ke moonh se nikaalne ke liye apni patni ko din-raat aspatal bhejane ke liye bahut bada dil chahiye. Main ta-umra aapka karzdar rahoonga. Aur Meera ka karz toh main kabhi utaar hi nahi sakta, kyunki ye mujhe maut ke darwaze se kheenchkar vaapas layi hain.'"
Meera ki aankhon se aansu phir se beh nikle. "Lekin phir tumne woh baat kahi jisne hum sabki rooh kampa di. Tumne apni vasiyat aur Jyoti ki zimmedari ke baare mein sabko bataya. Tumne kaha tha—'Apni maut ko kareeb dekh kar maine kuch faisle liye hain. Meri gair-maujoodgi mein meri saari jayadaad aur Jyoti ki kanooni guardian Meera hogi. Mujhe pata hai ki Meera Jyoti ko apni aulaad ki tarah palegi, jaisa ki woh pichhle kuch dinon se kar bhi rahi hai.'"
Meera ne tasveer ko hilaate hue gusse aur pyaar ke mile-jule swar mein kaha, "Us waqt mera jee kiya ki main sabke saamne tumhe ek zordaar thappad maroon! Tum apni maut ki baat itni aasaani se kaise kar sakte thhe Sartaj? Tumhe kya laga, tum chale jaoge aur main tumhari yaadon ke sahaare Jyoti ko palti rahoongi? Tumne mera samman toh poori duniya ke saamne badha diya, par mera kaleja cheer diya."
Meera ki yaadon ka safar ab us Nagpur wale daur par pahunch gaya tha. Sartaj ke tabadle ne un dono ke beech phir se meelon ka faasla paida kar diya tha, lekin is baar woh poori tarah gayab nahi ho saka tha.
"Tum chale toh gaye Sartaj, par chhoti Jyoti ke dil ko saath nahi le ja paaye. Woh bacchi mujhse itna jud gayi thi ki use mujhse door rakhna tumhare liye bhi mumkin nahi tha. Isiliye har chhuttiyon mein tum use mere paas Pune bhej dete thhe. Jyoti ke bahaane hi sahi, tumhara ek hissa hamesha mere ghar mein chehakta rehta tha."
Meera ne yaad kiya ki kaise Sartaj door rehkar bhi uske parivar ka saaya bana raha. "Mere papa ke us property wale case mein jab sab raaste band ho gaye thhe, tab tumne apni pehchan aur samparkon ka istemaal karke us musibat ko hal kiya tha. Jab papa ne tumhara shukriya ada karna chaaha, toh tumne bas itna kehkar unhe chup kara diya ki—'Meera ka parivar mera apna parivar hai.' Tumne kabhi ehsaan nahi jataya, bas chupchap apna farz nibhate rahe."
Meera ki aankhon mein ek gehra sukoon tha. Use yaad aa raha tha ki kaise Sartaj ne bina kisi swarth ke uske poore maayke aur sasural ka bharosa jeet liya tha.
Deepak Kapoor
Author on amazon
https://xossipy.com/thread-71793.html -- अनीता सिंह --किरदार निभाना
Author on amazon
- An Innocent Beauty Series ( 5 Books )
- सम्मान और बदला ( 5th-Book in hindi)
https://xossipy.com/thread-71793.html -- अनीता सिंह --किरदार निभाना
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