[Joker44]

“Khadi ho. Yahi, khidki ke paas. Ek baar wahan bhi, phir bathroom,” unhone kaha, uthte hue, uske baal ek ungli se peeche karte hue. “Main chahta hoon tu khud ko dekhe, rani. Sheesha jhoot nahi bolta.”

Srivalli uth kar khidki ke sheeshe ke paas khadi ho gayi. Sheeshe mein uski nangi body dikh rahi thi, peeth par unke cum ka thoda nishan, gale mein mangalsutra. Rudra peeche aaye, uske haath sheeshe par rakhwa diye, aur khade-khade, peeche se, dheere andar liya, har inch par uske sheeshe wale chehre ko dekhte hue. Srivalli ke muh se ek gehri siski nikal gayi, “Aaaahhh,” aur sheesha uski saans se dhundhla ho gaya. Woh apni nam aankhein dekhti rahi, jab woh usko dheere-dheere bhar rahe the. Usne nazar nahi hatayi, aur jab poora andar gaya to usne sheeshe par haath kas liye, lekin hatne ki koshish nahi ki.

“Dekh khud ko, rani,” unhone uske kaan ke kareeb kaha. “Pushpa ki pativrata meri kothi ki khidki par khadi hai, aankhein nam, lekin tu khadi hai. Yeh bhi ticket ka hissa hai. Bol, kya dikh raha hai tujhe?”

Srivalli ne sheeshe mein apni nam aankhein dekhi, aur awaaz bheegi lekin seedhi rakhne ki koshish ki. “Mujhe ek aisi aurat dikh rahi hai jo dar bhi rahi hai, aur jo hat bhi nahi rahi. Haan, dekh rahi hoon, ahhh, main dekh rahi hoon. Mat ruko. Main yahin khadi rahungi.” Usne ek haath peeche unki kamar par rakh kar unhe apni taraf kheencha. Unke dhakke gehre the, ab tez bhi, lekin unhone uska chehra sheeshe mein dekhna nahi chhoda, phir nikal kar uski gardan par hoth rakh diye.

“Ab bathroom ja, main aata hoon,” unhone kaha. “Wahan bhi nahi chhodunga tujhe aaj. Paani se tu dhulna chahegi, lekin raat nahi dhulegi. Samjhi?”

Usne sheeshe se nigah hataate hue sir hilaaya. “Haan, samajhti hoon. Main jaa rahi hoon, aur aap aaiye. Main chhupne nahi jaa rahi, sirf paani lene jaa rahi hoon.”

Farmhouse ke bathroom mein safed patthar the, badi glass-wali shower thi, aur garam paani ka dhuaan bharne laga jab Srivalli ne paani chhod diya. Mangalsutra uski geeli chamri par chipak gaya, kali ladiyan boobs ke beech, aur sindoor ki rekha paani se thodi si phaili, lekin utri nahi.

Rudra peeche se aaye aur usko paani ke neeche kheench liya, uski peeth unki chhati se lagi. Haath aage aaye, uske bheege boobs pakad kar masaalne lage, mangalsutra unki ungliyon ke beech. Srivalli ka sar peeche unke kandhe par gir gaya, aur uske muh se ek lambi saans nikal gayi, “Aaaahhh, haan, aise.”

“Paani se nahi dhulne wali tu aaj raat,” unhone kaha, uske kaan par hoth rakhte hue. “Andar bhi, upar bhi, meri hai. Ab bhi ghabrahat hai, ya ab tu maan gayi ki tu le sakti hai?”

“Ghabrahat ab kam hai,” usne kaha, paani ke dhuein mein awaaz bheegi. “Dard ab bhi hai, lekin main jaanti hoon main le sakti hoon. Pair utha lijiye, yahi, khade-khade. Main taiyar hoon.”

Unhone usko palat diya, deewar ke thande patthar uski peeth par, paani un dono ke beech. Srivalli ne ek raan unki kamar par lapet li. Unhone usko thoda uthaya, aur paani ke neeche, khade-khade, dheere andar liya, inch-inch, uska chehra dekhte hue. “Aaaahhh, Rudra uncle, ahhh, dheere, hai…” awaaz bathroom mein goonji. Dard wapas aaya, garam paani ke bawajood bhi, aur ek siski tuti. Usne unki gardan apni taraf kheench li, raan aur kas li. “Haan, le lijiye, mat rukiye. Main aapko pakde hue hoon.”

Unke dhakke gehre the, uski peeth patthar par sarakti, boobs unki chhati se dabbte, aur geeli awaaz paani se alag thi, saaf, uski. Unhone uske baal peeche kheenche aur uski maang ki sindoor par hoth rakh diye. “Sindoor bhi geela hai, lekin gaya nahi. Yeh rakh, mujhe pasand hai. Tu Pushpa ki rani ban kar meri shower mein khadi hai, aur tu bol rahi hai mat rukiye. Yeh dekh kar main khush hoon.”

“Haan, rakhungi, ahhh, wahan, haan, aise,” Srivalli ke naakhun unki peeth par lage. Ab woh sirf sehti nahi thi. Uski kamar unke dhakkon ka jawab de rahi thi, kabhi unko aur andar maangti hui. Unhone uski ek raan aur uthayi, lund aur gehra gaya. “Aaaahhh, haan, wahi, mat nikaaliye. Aaj raat main aapki hoon, lekin kal jo baat karni hai, woh bhi meri yaad mein honi chahiye.”

Sharm ab peeche thi, aur aage thi bhook, saath yeh jaan ki yeh raat usne khud likhi hai. Unhone thodi der aise hi liya, phir nikal kar uske bheege boobs aur pet ko haath se masaala.

“Ab baith, palat ke, yahi neeche,” unhone kaha, uski thuddi uthate hue. “Muh se saaf kar. Paani ke neeche bhi tu meri lund chusegi. Taiyar hai?”

“Haan, taiyar hoon,” usne kaha, aur tiles par ghutnon ke bal baith gayi, paani uske baalon se beh raha tha. Usne unka geela lund muh mein le liya, “Mmm, mmmphhh,” steam, paani, slurping. Unke haath uske geele baalon mein the. Woh chusti rahi, aankhein uthayi, unhe dekhti hui, ab us nazar mein sharm ke saath ek himmat bhi thi. *Dekhiye, main de rahi hoon, main nibha rahi hoon, aur main yahi se apni kursi le kar jaaungi.*

Rudra zyada der nahi tikhe. Unhone nikal kar usko uthaya, phir se deewar se lagaya, aur peeche se dheere andar le kar, phir ek tez dhakke ke saath, apna doosra, teesra maal uski chut mein chhod diya, paani ke neeche, uski siski unke kaan mein. “Aaaahhh, haan, andar, dijiye,” usne kaha, unki peeth ko kaste hue.

Paani dono par girta raha. Srivalli unke kandhe se chipki rahi, kaanpti hui, mangalsutra unki chhati se chipka hua tha.

Unhone paani band kiya, ek bada towel uthaya, aur uske jism ko khud se ponchha. Mangalsutra ko unhone ponchha nahi, sirf ungli se ladi theek ki. “Yeh rehne de, bheega hi theek hai. Thak gayi, ya palang par aur bhi dena hai tujhe?”

Srivalli ne kuch pal unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein adhkhuli, thakan aur ek shaant si aag dono saath. “Thak gayi hoon, lekin dena baaki hai agar aap chahein. Aaj raat adhoori nahi jaayegi, yeh main khud keh rahi hoon.”

Kamre ki ghadi teen ke aas-paas thi jab woh wapas palang par aaye. Srivalli palang par leti thi, aur Rudra uske bagal mein aaye, haath uske pet se hota hua neeche, uski ab sensitive chut par, dheere pherte hue. Usne pair nahi band kiye.

“Thak gayi, rani, ya aur degi?” unhone poocha, uski aankhon mein dekhte hue. “Bol sacchi baat. Main zabardasti nahi karunga, lekin agar tu degi toh main lunga, aur main tera chehra dekhte hue lunga.”

Srivalli ne unki taraf palat kar dekha. Aankhon mein thakaan thi, sharm ka ek bacha hua kona tha, aur uske saath ek aag bhi thi jo dopahar guesthouse mein nahi thi. Usne unka haath apni chut par dabaya, khud. “Dungi. Aaj raat jitna aap chahein, dungi. Lekin ab main bhi upar se lungi. Aap dekhte rahiye, main khud baithungi. Yeh bhi meri keemat ka hissa hai, aur meri marzi ka bhi.”

Rudra ki aankhon mein ek naya mazaa aaya. “Toh aa, khud baith. Meri toy ab bolna seekh gayi, aur mujhe yeh pasand aa raha hai. Dheere lena, rani. Main dekh raha hoonga tu kaise leti hai.”

Srivalli unke upar aayi, raanein unki kamar ke dono taraf, aur unke phir se sakht lund ko pakad kar apni chut par rakh kar dheere se baithna shuru kiya. Raat bhar ke baad bhi pehla inch usko kheencha, “Aaaahhh, mmm,” uski raanen kaanpi. Unhone neeche se uska chehra dekha, haath uski kamar par, lekin dhakka nahi diya. “Dheere, rani. Main dekh raha hoon. Tu khud le, aur bolti reh.”

Woh inch-inch neeche baithi, dard aur maza dono milte, aur jab poora andar hua to usne unki chhati par haath rakh kar ek pal ruk kar saans bhari. Aankhon mein namak tha, lekin usne unhe dekha aur khud hilna shuru kiya, apni taal, apni kamar. Unhone uski gaand pakadi, lekin is baar usne unke haath ko apni jagah rakha aur, thakan ke bawajood, khud tez kiya.

“Yeh bhi meri keemat hai, ahhh, ticket bhi, aur yeh main khud de rahi hoon,” uske lafz siski ke beech toot rahe the, lekin saaf the. “Aaj raat main aapki toy hoon, haan, lekin yeh khel main bhi khel rahi hoon. Kal jab papers aayenge, tab aap yaad rakhna ki main sirf jhukne nahi aayi thi, main lene bhi aayi thi.”

“Bahut achha, rani. Ab tu samajh rahi hai power kya hoti hai,” unhone kaha, uske boobs muh mein lete hue. “Jhukna bhi power hai, jab tu jaan ke jhukti hai. Yeh baat party mein kaam aayegi.” Srivalli tez ho gayi. Jab woh kaanpane lagi, unhone usko palat kar neeche kiya, aur uske upar se gehre, tez dhakke maare, uski aankhon mein dekhte hue, jab tak dono ek ke baad ek nahi nikle. Pehle woh nikal, ek lambi siski ke saath, “Aaaahhh, haan, wahan, mat ruko,” phir woh, andar, uski chut ko bharte hue.

Thodi der baad, jab saansen shaant padne lagi, Rudra ne usko apni taraf kheench liya. Unka lund uski ranon ke beech se phir uthne laga. Srivalli ne pair thoda sa uthaya, peeche se jagah di, ab unhe kehna nahi pada.

“Aur?” unhone kaan ke kareeb poocha. “Bol, rani. Ek baar aur, ya ab so jaaye tu?”

“Haan,” usne kaha, awaaz soyi-si, lekin saaf. “Ek baar aur, aise, peeche se, dheere. Main aapko rok nahi rahi. Main sirf itna chahti hoon ki yeh aakhri baar tez na ho, taaki main aapko mehsoos kar sakun.”

Unhone uski ek raan uthakar, side se, uski geeli, thaki hui chut mein dheere se, inch-inch andar liya. “Mmm, ahhh, dheere, haan, aise,” usne kaha, unka haath apni chhati par pakadte hue. Yeh dhakke tez nahi the, gehre the, lambe, jaise raat ke aakhri hisse ko kheench rahe hon. Har inch par uski saans tutti. Unhone uska adhkhula chehra dekha aur usi dheemi raftaar par rahe. Is baar usne unka haath apni chut ke upar dabaya, apni ungli unke saath, aur unki raan ko apni taraf kheench liya.

*Main ab unse nahi chhup rahi, aur main bhi le rahi hoon. Yeh soch kar ek galti jaisi sharm aati hai, lekin is pal main is sharm ko apne saath sone de rahi hoon.*

Jab woh kaanpi, unhone uske kaan mein sirf itna kaha, “Meri rani, meri toy, aaj raat kaafi di tu. Subah baat karenge, ab tu meri palang par so.” Aur dheere se, andar hi, aakhri baar khud ko chhod diya. Srivalli ne unka haath apni chhati par pakad liya, mangalsutra unki ungliyon ke neeche, aur aankhein band kar li.

Iske baad der tak sirf unki saansen thi. Kamre mein unka pasina tha, whiskey ki bachi hui khushboo thi, aur uske gale mein mangalsutra ki thandi ladi thi.

Sky ke kinare ek patli si silli roshni aayi to Rudra ne khidki ka parda thoda sa khola. Subah hone wali thi. Srivalli palang par leti thi, jism bhari hui, ranon ke beech geela, honth sooje, sindoor ab ek dhundhli rekha, lekin mangalsutra waise hi gale mein, jaise usne kasam khaayi thi.

Rudra ne kurta nahi pehna, sirf ek towel kamar par bandha, aur uske paas baith kar uski peeth par haath phera. “Uth, rani. Baat karni hai, aur yeh baat raat wali nahi, subah wali hai. Ticket ki, party ki, aur tere Pushpa ki bhi.”

Srivalli uth kar palang ke sirhane se lag gayi. Chadar uski chhati tak uthayi, phir soch kar itni uthayi ki mangalsutra dikhta rahe. Unhe dekhte hue uski awaaz mein thakaan thi, lekin dar nahi tha. “Toh boliye. Ticket milegi na? Aaj raat maine jo kaha tha, woh diya, aur aapne kaha tha ki subah baat karenge. Main hosh mein hoon, aur main sunna chahti hoon.”

Rudra ne uski thuddi nahi pakadi is baar. Sirf shaant, malikana awaaz mein kaha, “Milegi. MLA ticket teri hai, yeh main kah chuka, aur ab yeh meri baat hai. Party mein naam chalega, form pe dastkhat honge. Jolly ko bol dena, papers ready kare. Tu rani banegi, stage par khadi hogi. Yeh raat bekaar nahi gayi, rani. Tu ne jo diya, uska hisaab main rakhunga.”

Srivalli ki aankhon mein ek gehra, thaka hua sukoon aaya, sharm ke saath, lekin saaf. *Milegi. Maine chukaya. Yeh meri hai.* Ek pal ko uske muh par muskaan aayi, chhoti, thaki, jeet si. Usne chadar ke kinare ko kas kar poocha, “Papers kab tak aayenge? Pushpa ji ko main khushi-khushi bataungi ki party ne ticket de di, lekin unko is raat ka chehra nahi dikhna chahiye. Yeh meri shart hai, sirf aapki nahi.”

“Papers jaldi aayenge, ek-do din mein,” unhone kaha, uske baal se ek geela tinka hataate hue. “Pushpa ko tu jo sunana chahe sunana. Woh proud hoga, main jaanta hoon us aadmi ko. Lekin ek baat aur samajh le, rani. MLA shuruaat hai, anjam nahi. Party sirf meri nahi hai. Andar ek circle hai, hamare log, jo ticket, fund, seat, sab decide karte hain. Woh tujhe dekhna chahenge, milna chahenge. Ek private dinner baad mein, unke saath. Tu unhe bhi khush karegi, waisa hi jaise aaj raat mujhe kiya. Tab jaake yeh kursi pakki baithti hai.”

Srivalli ki ungliyan chadar par kas gayi, aur uski saans ek baar ruki. Andar ek naya wazan aaya, kyunki raat khatam ho rahi thi, lekin khel nahi. Party ka inner circle, unse milna, unhe khush karna, yeh saaya ek pal ko uski aankhon ke aage se guzra. *Yeh baat main pehle se bhaanp rahi thi, lekin subah ki roshni mein yeh aur saaf ho gayi hai. Ticket ek darwaza hai, aur us darwaze ke peeche aur log khade hain.*

Usne nazar nahi hatayi. “Pehle ticket aani chahiye, yeh meri pehli baat hai. Uske baad main sochungi. Jo dena hoga, soch kar dungi, jaise aaj diya. Main aapki party ki koi bhi cheez nahi banne wali, jo bina poochhe aage sarak di jaaye. Dinner hoga, log honge, yeh main samajhti hoon, lekin unka naam, unki baat, aur meri shart, yeh sab pehle meri mez par aani chahiye.”

Rudra hans pade, is baar thodi si taarif jaisi hansi. “Sochna achha hai, aur shart rakhna bhi. Lekin tu aayegi, rani, yeh main jaanta hoon. Aaj raat tu ne sikh liya tu kya de sakti hai, aur tujhe kya lena hai. Power muh se nahi, jism se, dimag se, aur himmat se aati hai, aur teenon cheezein tere paas hain. Ja, ghar ja. Apne Pushpa ke bagal mein so ja, pativrata ban kar. Ticket ki khabar usko tu khushi-khushi dena. Baaki main sambhalunga, aur Jolly ko bhi keh dunga ki woh teri papers ke peeche lage.”

Srivalli ne thodi der unhe dekha, phir dheere se kaha, “Theek hai. Main jaati hoon. Aaj raat ki baat mere aur aapke beech rahegi, aur ticket ki baat sheher ke saamne jaayegi. Itna hisaab mujhe chahiye.” Phir woh palang se utri. Pairon mein dard tha, ranon mein jalan, lekin chal saki.

Usne bathroom mein chehra dhoya, hoth saaf kiye, aur maang mein thoda sa naya sindoor bhara, apni chhoti si tikli se, jo purse mein rakhi hui thi. Maroon Kanjeevaram uthayi, jo raat bhar marble aur mez par padi thi, ab thodi creased. Petticoat, blouse ke hooks, aur pleats jitni jaldi saj sakein usne sajaye, pallu seene par lapeta, jhumke, choodiyan, payal aur gold haar wapas pehne. Mangalsutra to utra hi nahi tha.

Sheeshe mein jo aurat thi, uski aankhein laal thi, honth sooje, gardan par ek-do halki daant ke nishaan, lekin pallu theek tha, sindoor dikhta hua tha, aur pleats ab itni saaf nahi thi jaisi shaam ko nikli thi. Usne lipstick nahi lagayi, bas pallu kas kar lapeta. Andar uske jism par poori raat thi, ranon ke beech geela, kamar mein thakaan. *Main ab ghar jaa rahi hoon, ticket meri hone wali hai, aur yeh soch kar jo josh aa raha hai, uske peeche Pushpa ji ki neend ka bhi wazan hai. Dono ko ek saath le kar chalna hoga.*

Gaadi driveway se nikal kar jungle ki sadak par aayi to aasman mein pehli roshni thi, dhundhli, gulaabi, aur farmhouse peeche chhoot gaya. Srivalli ke dono haath steering par the, choodiyan kabhi-kabhi baj jaati, pallu ke neeche mangalsutra uski saans ke saath uth-gir raha tha.

*Ticket meri hai, aaj raat maine di. Jo circle ki baat unhone ki, woh baad mein aayegi, aur us par main soch kar jawab dungi. Yeh jhoot ghar ke liye hai, apne dil ke liye nahi, kyunki dil jaanta hai main kahan thi, aur kyun thi. Ab ghar jaana hai, aur muskurana hai, kyunki rani wahi hai jo dono chehre sambhal sake.*

Sheher ke pehle lights mile, phir haveli ka rasta. Security guard ne neend bhari aankhon se gate khola, salute kiya. Aangan shaant tha, maa ji abhi nahi uthi thi. Srivalli ne payal utar kar haath mein li, taaki marble par awaaz na ho, aur bedroom tak nange pair gayi. Darwaza dheere khola.

Pushpa ji ab bhi so rahe the, wahi seedhi, bhaari neend, ek haath uski khaali jagah par pada hua, jaise intezaar mein ho. Beedi ki khushboo ab halki thi. Srivalli ne maroon saree aur blouse dheere utare, petticoat ke upar ek naram cotton ki nighty daali, aur mangalsutra usi ke andar chhupa liya. Pallu, Kanjeevaram, jhumke sab almari ke kone mein rakh diye, kal poochha jaaye to yeh kehne ke liye ki interview lamba ho gaya.

Woh palang ke kinare baithi aur unhe dekha. Jail ke baad unka chehra kitna shaant soya tha, jaise is palang par unki rani safe ho. Ek pal irada kaanpa. *Kya main abhi keh doon, kya main abhi yeh raat bata doon? Unhone fund diya tha, bharosa diya tha, proud hokar bheja tha. Yeh unka dard banane ka waqt nahi hai. Yeh unki neend hai, aur meri kursi hai, aur in dono ko ek saath todna main nahi chahti.*

Usne chadar uthayi aur unke bagal mein let gayi, peeth unki chhati ki taraf, jaise roz leti hai. Unhone neend mein hi haath badha kar uski kamar pakad li, apni taraf kheench liya. Uski raat-bhari kamar unke haath mein aa gayi, lekin unko kuch pata nahi chala.

“Meri rani,” unhone muh ke andar, neend ki bhaari awaaz mein kaha, uske baalon mein. “Aa gayi…”

Srivalli ki aankhein ek pal khuli rahi. Unke haath ka wazan uski kamar par tha. Bahar sooraj uth raha tha. Andar uske jism par kisi aur ki raat thi, aur gale mein wahi mangalsutra. Usne unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein band ki. Hothon par ek thaki, chhoti si muskaan thi, jo unko nahi dikhi.

*Haan, Pushpa ji, meri rani. Ticket meri hone wali hai, aur aaj raat ki keemat maine aankhein khol kar chuka di. Yeh sach meri chhati mein rahega, aapki neend mein nahi, aur kal jab main aapko ticket ki khushi dungi, tab bhi yeh raat mere saath hogi.*

[Joker44]

Srivalli ki aankhein subah ke roshni se khuli, dheere, jaise koi neend se nahi, kisi lambi raat se wapas aa rahi ho. Palang par Pushpa ji ab bhi soye the, unka haath uski kamar par pada hua, garam aur bhari, bilkul waisa jaise farmhouse se laute waqt pada tha. Bahar aangan mein ek kauwa bola, phir maa ji ke bartan ki halki si awaaz aayi. Haveli jag rahi thi, aur uske jism par ab bhi woh raat thi jiske bare mein is ghar ko kuch nahi pata tha.

Usne chadar ke neeche apni raanen milayi. Beech mein ab bhi ek geeli, thaki si yaad thi, kamar mein ek dard tha jo chalne par yaad aa jaata, aur gale mein mangalsutra usi cotton nighty ke andar pada tha. *Kal raat main unki palang par thi, aur ab main unke bagal mein hoon. Dono sach hain, aur dono ko ek saath le kar uthna hoga.* Usne Pushpa ji ke haath ko dheere hataya, itna ki unki neend na toote, aur uth kar bathroom chali gayi.

Sheeshe mein uski aankhein ab bhi thodi laal thi, honth ki sooj ab kam thi, lekin gardan par jo halki daant ke nishaan the, unko usne choodi ke kinare aur pallu ke hisaab se chhupane ka iraada kar liya. Usne muh dhoya, maang mein naya sindoor bhara, aur almari se ek off-white mulmul ki saree nikali, patli silai, pallu par chhota zari ka kaam, neeche halki peach blouse, sleeves kohni tak. Yeh ghar wali rani ki saree thi, farmhouse wali maroon nahi. Petticoat, hooks, pleats, pallu seene par, chhote gold tops, do patli choodiyan, aur mangalsutra ko blouse ke U ke upar theek kiya. Payal aaj nahi pehni, taaki raat ki yaad pairon mein na bajey.

Jab woh kitchen se chai ka tray le kar verandah aayi, Pushpa ji pehle se baith chuke the, beedi sulgayi hui, kal ki timber ki copy khuli hui. Unhone usko dekha aur muskuraye, wahi seedhi, garam muskaan jisme jail ke baad ka sukoon tha.

“Rani, itni jaldi saj-dhaj kar aayi tu? Raat ko interview lamba ho gaya tha, main soch raha tha tu late uthogi,” unhone kaha, tray se cup uthate hue.

Srivalli ne unke saamne chai rakhi, pallu ko ek baar aur kas kar, aur unke kandhe ke peeche kursi par baith gayi. Awaaz usne ghar wali rakhi, naram, khushi bhari, jaise koi acchi khabar le kar aayi ho. “Pushpa ji, main aapko ek baat batana chahti thi. Kal raat wala interview… theek raha. Party ticket dene wali hai. Rudra uncle ne kaha hai papers jaldi aayenge, ek-do din mein. Main MLA ki ticket ke liye khadi ho sakti hoon.”

Pushpa ji ka haath cup par ruk gaya. Unhone usko is tarah dekha jaise koi apni rani ko pehli baar stage par khada hota hua dekh raha ho. Phir woh hans pade, bhari, khush, aur unki aankhon mein woh ghamand tha jo jungle se uth kar sheher jeetne wale mard ka hota hai. “Ticket? Sach? Rani, tu ne yeh kaam itni jaldi nikaal liya? Main soch raha tha mahine lagenge. Rudra uncle ne haan keh di? Jolly ne madad ki na?”

“Haan,” usne kaha, aur yeh haan uske muh se itni asani se nikal gayi ki andar ek chhoti si chubhan hui. “Unhone kaha party mein naam chalega. Aapne jo fund diya tha, uska bhi wazan hai. Main sochti hoon aapko pehle batana chahiye tha, lekin kal raat tak baat pakki nahi thi.”

Unhone uska haath pakad liya, apni badi, kaathi hui hatheli mein. “Rani, tu meri sherni hai. Main pehle din se kehta tha, tu queen ban sakti hai. Ab tu stage par khadi hogi, log tera naam lenge, aur hamara kaam bhi cover mein rahega. Jolly ko keh dena, jo papers hon, jaldi le aaye. Woh ladka sach mein kaam aata hai. Kal tu thak kar aayi thi, main jaagta raha tha thodi der, socha interview lamba chal pada.”

Srivalli ne unki aankhon mein dekha, aur muskurayi, lekin us muskaan ke peeche jo baat thi, woh unko nahi dikhi. *Aap jaagte rahe, aur main unki kothi mein khadi thi. Yeh proud aapka hai, yeh ticket meri hai, aur in dono ke beech jo raat hai, usko main aapke haath mein nahi rakhungi.* “Aap tension mat lijiye. Jo bhi formalities hain, main sambhal lungi. Aap apna site dekhiye, timber ka kaam rukiye mat. Politics main dekh lungi.”

Maa ji kitchen se nikal kar aayi, haath mein aata laga hua, aur khabar sunte hi dono haath jod liye. “Bhagwan kare beti, tu jeet jaaye. Hamari bahu stage par khadi hogi, yeh soch kar hi dil bhara sa lagta hai. Aaj mandir ja, prasad le aa, acha din hai.”

“Haan maa ji, shaam tak dekhungi,” Srivalli ne kaha, pallu theek karte hue. Tab Kaveri aangan se nikal kar unke paas aayi, college bag kandhe par, simple light-blue salwar-kameez mein, baal ek sadharan si ponytail mein. Usne Pushpa ji ko pranam kiya, maa ji ke haath se tiffin liya, aur Srivalli ki taraf thoda sa ruk kar dekha.

“Mami, main chalti hoon. Aaj practicals hain, shaam ko late ho sakti hoon,” usne kaha, awaaz mein wahi roz wali jaldi thi, koi khaas baat nahi.

Srivalli ne uske maathe par ek baar haath phera, jaise ghar ki badi karti hai, aur muskurayi. “Haan beta, sambhal kar jaana, khana time par kha lena. Late ho to phone kar dena.” Kaveri ne sir hilaaya aur gate ki taraf chali gayi. Srivalli ne uski peeth dekhi, ek pal ke liye ek buddhi si chinta si uthi, jaise is ghar ki har aurat ke peeche koi apni kahani ho, phir usne nazar hata li. Aaj uska apna hisaab tha, aur us hisaab mein Kaveri ko kheenchna uske kaam ka nahi tha.

Pushpa ji uth khade hue, beedi bujhai, aur uske maathe par ek halka sa kiss chhodha. “Main site par hoon, rani. Agar Jolly papers le kar aaye, to usko andar bithana, chai dena, jo kaagaz hon unko tu khud dekh lena. Main teri politics mein ungli nahi karunga, tu meri rani hai, tu jaanti hai kya karna hai.”

“Haan, Pushpa ji. Aap jaaiye,” usne kaha, aur unki jeep jab aangan se nikal gayi, tab usne saans bhari, lamba, jaise koi pehla pardah gir chuka ho.

Dopahar se pehle hi Jolly ka message aa gaya. Phone ke screen par uska naam dekh kar Srivalli ke honth ek pal ke liye kas gaye, phir usne chat khola.

Jolly: Papers ready hain, bhabhi ji. Baap ji ne subah sign kar diye. Main bungalow par hoon, tu aa ja. Formalities yahi nikalni hain, aur ek-do baatein bhi. Pushpa ko keh dena party office ke kaagaz hain.

Srivalli ne verandah ki kursi par baithi hui thodi der screen dekha. *Yeh papers meri ticket hain, aur yeh bulawa unki raat ka bhi ho sakta hai. Main jaaungi, kyunki kaagaz mere bina nahi nikalenge, lekin aaj main unke khel ki gudiya ban kar nahi jaaungi. Aaj main apni shart le kar jaaungi.* Usne type kiya, chhota, saaf.

Srivalli: Main aa rahi hoon. Papers pehle. Baaki baat wahan.

Usne off-white saree nahi utari. Pallu ko dobara kas kar lapeta, purse mein tikli, phone, aur ek chhoti si file rakh li jisme Pushpa ji ke campaign wale hisaab ke notes the, aur maa ji se kaha ki party office ke kaagaz nikalne hain, jaldi aa jaayegi. Maa ji ne prasad ki ek dibi bhi haath mein dene ki koshish ki, lekin Srivalli ne muskurakar rok diya. “Wapas aate waqt mandir ho aaungi, maa ji. Abhi late ho jaaungi.”

Gaadi bungalow ke raste par le jaate hue uske dono haath steering par the, choodiyan kabhi-kabhi ek doosri se takra jaati. Off-white pallu uske kandhe par thoda sa hil raha tha, aur blouse ke neeche mangalsutra har saans ke saath uth-gir raha tha. Kal raat ki jungle wali sadak se yeh rasta alag tha, lekin andar wahi garmi thi, wahi sawal tha. Sheher ke beech se nikalte hue usne ek baar apna chehra sheeshe mein dekha: sindoor saaf, bindi theek, rani wali soorat, jaise koi asal mein party office jaa rahi ho. *Yeh soorat ghar ke liye hai, aur jo soorat main bungalow par le kar jaa rahi hoon, usko bhi main khud chun rahi hoon.* *Jolly woh ladka hai jisne meri pehli raat video mein band ki thi, jisne mujhe Dave ke saamne khada kiya tha, aur jo ab meri ticket ka pehla darwaza bhi hai. Main usse nafrat bhi karti hoon, aur aaj uske bagair yeh papers bhi nahi nikalenge. Yeh dushmani aur yeh zaroorat, dono ko main ek saath le kar baithungi.*

Bungalow ke verandah par Jolly khada tha, white shirt, sleeves folded, gold watch, muh par wohi muskaan jo ghar mein “chhota bhai” banati thi aur andar malik. Usne gaadi ke darwaze ke paas aa kar haath badhaya, lekin Srivalli ne khud darwaza khola aur utri, pallu ko hawa se bachate hue.

“Bhabhi ji, aaj to rani kam, leader zyada lag rahi ho,” unhone kaha, aankhon se uski off-white saree, pallu, mangalsutra, sab ko ek baar taolte hue. “Kal raat baap ji ke yahan se seedha ghar chali gayi tu. Unhone phone par itna hi kaha ki papers nikal do, rani ne apni keemat chuka di. Main soch raha tha tu mujhe pehle batayegi.”

Srivalli ne unki aankhon mein dekha, awaaz shaant rakhi, lekin andar jo zor tha, woh chhupaya nahi. “Rudra uncle se meri baat thi, aapke through nahi. Papers kahan hain, Jolly? Main unko dekhna chahti hoon, phir jo baat karni hai, karungi. Aaj main yahan isliye hoon ki ticket meri file mein likhi jaaye, sirf aapki yaad mein nahi.”

Jolly ki muskaan thodi si tight hui, phir woh hans pade, jaise taarif kar rahe hon. “Toh rani ab apni file khud padhna chahti hai. Chalo andar. Baap ji ne form bhej diye hain, naam, constituency, proposer, sab. Tu sign kar, main party office bhej dunga. Lekin itna toh maan, bhabhi, yeh raasta maine hi khola tha. Kal tu meri wajah se unke farmhouse gayi, aaj tu meri wajah se yahan hai.”

Andar bungalow ki thandi hawa thi, badi khidkiyan, teak ki mez, us par file, do cups, aur whiskey ka tray jo dopahar mein bhi nikal aaya tha. Srivalli ne pallu sambhalte hue mez ke ek kinare baith gayi. Jolly ne file khol kar uske saamne sarka di. Upar uska naam tha, neeche constituency ka naam, aur ek khali line jahan uske dastkhat chahiye the. Usne har page dheere padha, jaise koi apni keemat ka hisaab padh raha ho, phir pen uthaya.

“Sign se pehle meri baatein sun lijiye,” usne kaha, pen ko page ke upar rokte hue. “Yeh ticket meri hai, yeh meri mehnat hai, aur meri raat ki bhi. Pushpa ji ko is khel ka chehra nahi dikhna chahiye, yeh baat main Rudra uncle ko keh chuki hoon, aapko bhi keh rahi hoon. Doosri baat, party ke un logon ka dinner, jo unhone kaha tha, uske naam, din, aur meri shart pehle meri mez par aani chahiye. Teesri, aap mujhe apni purani video se nahi chalaoge. Woh zamana khatam ho chuka. Agar aapko meri saath khelna hai, toh meri marzi se khelna hoga, dhamki se nahi.”

Jolly uske saamne kursi kheench kar baith gaya, shirt ke button ke peeche ek gehri saans li, aur thodi der usko dekhta raha. “Dhamki, bhabhi? Main to yahi soch raha tha tu aaj meri taraf isliye aayi hai kyunki tu jaanti hai main tere bagair bhi yeh file aage bhej sakta hoon, aur rok bhi sakta hoon. Baap ji khush hain, lekin main unka beta hoon. Tu meri baat itni sakht karke bol rahi hai, jaise kal raat tu unke saath thi, meri nahi.”

Srivalli ne pen nahi rakha, lekin nazar nahi hatayi. “Kal raat main unke saath thi, yeh sach hai, aur aaj main yahan hoon, yeh bhi sach hai. Main aapki dushman nahi banne aayi, Jolly. Main aapke saath khelna chahti hoon, lekin ab main wahi aurat nahi hoon jo jungle ki gaadi mein royi thi. Aap meri ticket ke raaste ho, main aapki party ki rani ban sakti hoon, aur yeh hisaab dono ke kaam ka hai. Video ki baat aapne uthayi, to main saaf keh doon, woh video ab meri kursi ke saamne chhoti pad jaayegi, aur aapko bhi nuksaan karegi. Isliye use daba ke rakhie, aur meri baat sunie.”

Kuch pal kamre mein fan ki awaaz ke alawa kuch nahi tha. Phir Jolly hans pada, is baar asal maza liye hue. “Baap ji ne kaha tha tu badal gayi hai. Ab yakin aaya. Theek hai, rani, teri shartein meri mez par hain. Dinner teen din baad hai, bungalow nahi, sheher ke us paar ek private farmhouse, jo party ke andar wale log use karte hain. Wahan teen log honge. Minister Venkat Rao, industries aur port unke paas hain. MLA Gopal Reddy, purane hain, ticket committee ke. Aur Prakash Naidu, port commissioner, jin ke bagair bandargaah ki koi file nahi hilti. Baap ji bhi aa sakte hain, shayad nahi, unka mood rahe to. Un teenon ko tu dikhegi, unse baat karegi, aur jo dena hoga, soch kar degi, jaise tu kehti hai. Main bhi wahan hoonga.”

Srivalli ki ungliyan pen par kas gayi, lekin usne chehra nahi bigada. Teen naam, teen kursi ke peeche ke haath, aur ek raat jo farmhouse se alag hogi. *Yeh wo circle hai jiski baat unhone subah ki thi. Main inke saamne jaaungi, lekin aaj nahi. Aaj meri file hai, aur jo aaj dena hai, woh in papers ke baad soch kar dungi.* “Teen din, theek hai. Unke bare mein jo mujhe jaanna chahiye, aap kal tak bhej dena. Ab yeh sign meri taraf se hai.”

Usne apna naam likha, dheere, saaf, jaise koi kasam likh rahi ho. Jolly ne file band ki, ek photo li, aur phone par kisi office ko bhej diya. Phir usne mez ke us paar se uska haath pakadne ki koshish ki. Srivalli ne haath nahi diya, pehle, phir soch kar rakha, kyunki aaj ki baat yahin khatam karna bhi ek kaam chhodna hota.

“Ab meri baat,” Jolly ne kaha, awaaz dheemi karke, palang wali nahi, sauda wali. “Papers nikal gaye, rani. Main bhi is khel ka hissa hoon, aur main bhi apni keemat rakhta hoon. Aaj raat tu meri bungalow par rah. Baap ji ke baad meri baari bhi toh hai. Tu maan rahi hai na ki tu meri taraf se bhi kuch dena chahti hai, dhamki se nahi, apni marzi se?”

Srivalli ne unka haath apni hatheli mein mehsoos kiya, off-white pallu ke neeche mangalsutra ki thandi ladi, aur andar jo lag raha tha, usko jhoot nahi bola. Ek taraf ghin si thi, purani, unki video ki, unki muskaan ki. Doosri taraf ek saaf hisaab tha: yeh aadmi ab bhi raasta hai, aur raasta band karna abhi himaqat hoti. Teesri taraf, jo woh khud se chhupati, ek ajeeb si garmi thi, jo farmhouse ke baad uske jism mein baithi thi, jo kehti thi ki power kabhi saaf nahi aati. “Haan,” usne kaha, awaaz halki lekin tuti nahi. “Aaj main aapke saath rukungi, apni marzi se. Lekin aap mujhe apni purani cheez samajh kar nahi chalne. Aaj jo hoga, woh isliye hoga ki main de rahi hoon, aap chheen nahi rahe. Shaam ko main ghar jaaungi, Pushpa ji ke bagal mein soungi, aur unko yahi kahungi ki papers nikal gaye. Itna hisaab rakhie.”

“Hisaab rakh lunga, bhabhi,” Jolly ne kaha, uthte hue, uske kareeb aa kar, lekin pehla haath usne uske pallu par nahi, uski aankhon par rakha, dekhne ke liye. “Pehle khana, thoda saans, phir andar. Main jaldi nahi karunga aaj, tu khud bolti rahiye. Jo tu nahi chahegi, woh main nahi karunga. Yeh meri taraf se teri shart ka jawab hai.”

[Joker44]

Shaam ke pehle unhone bungalow ke chhote dining corner par khana khaya, thoda-thoda, baat politics ki, constituency ki, kaun se gaon Pushpa ji ke log hain, kaun se Venkat Rao ke. Srivalli ne chai li, whiskey nahi, aur yeh baat usne saaf kahi. “Mujhe hosh chahiye, Jolly. Kal bhi chahiye tha, aaj bhi hai. Main yaad rakhna chahti hoon main kya de rahi hoon, aur kya le rahi hoon.”

“Hosh rakh, rani,” unhone kaha, glass ghumate hue. “Mujhe bhi teri hosh wali awaaz pasand aa rahi hai. Pehle tu sirf roti thi, ab tu baat karti hai. Yeh change baap ji ko bhi chhod, mujhe bhi chhua hai.” Unhone uski saree ke pallu ke kinare ko ungli se chhooa, kapde ke upar se. “Yeh off-white tere ghar wali soorat hai. Aaj raat main ise dheere utarunga, aur mangalsutra waisa hi rahega. Mujhe bhi yaad rakhna hai tu kiski biwi hai, aur aaj kiske paas hai.”

Srivalli ke gale mein kuch ataka, phir usne saans li aur uth khadi hui. “Toh chaliye. Main khud chalti hoon, aap peeche se kheench kar nahi le jaayenge.” Woh unke aage-aage andar ke kamre ki taraf gayi, payal nahi thi is baar, sirf pallu ki silk aur unke joote ki awaaz, aur har kadam par yeh soch ki yeh raat usne khud likhi hai.

Kamra bungalow ke peeche tha, badi palang, cream chadar, khidki par parda, ek dim light. Srivalli palang ke paas ruki, aur Jolly ne darwaza band kar diya. Unhone pehle uska purse mez par rakha, phir uske kareeb aa kar kaha, “Bol, rani, pallu main utarun, ya tu khud?”

Usne unki aankhon mein dekha, ek pal socha, aur khud haath pallu par rakha. “Main utarungi. Aaj ki raat meri bhi hai.” Usne off-white pallu seene se dheela kiya, zari ka chhota kaam peeli light mein chamka, aur kapda uski baayen baazu se khisak kar kamar tak aa gaya. Blouse ka peach rang ab saaf dikh raha tha, U-cut mein mangalsutra ki do kali ladiyan, aur uske saans se chhati uth-gir rahi thi. Jolly dekhte rahe, haath abhi nahi badhaya, jaise wahin rukna bhi unka maza ho.

“Bahut achha,” unhone kaha, awaaz bhaari. “Ab hooks meri taraf se. Tu khadi reh, aur haan bolti reh. Ghabrahat hai to keh dena, main ruk jaaunga.”

“Ghabrahat nahi hai,” Srivalli ne kaha, awaaz mein thodi si kaanp thi, lekin inkaar nahi. “Kal raat ke baad meri body jaanti hai kya hona hai. Aap kholiye. Main yahin hoon.”

Jolly ne peeth ke peeche haath diya aur pehla hook khola, phir doosra, phir teesra, dheere, itna ki har click uski saans ke saath girta. Blouse dheela hua, aur unhone usko aage se kheench kar utar diya. Uske boobs bahar aaye, bhaari, garam, nipples tight, mangalsutra unke beech latakta hua. Gold tops unhone nahi utare, choodiyan nahi utari, sindoor nahi ponchha. Petticoat ki naada ek ungli se khuli, satin neeche gir gaya, aur Srivalli unke saamne khadi thi, nangi, sirf mangalsutra, tops, choodiyan, aur maang ke sindoor ke saath. Off-white saree pairon ke paas ek naram ghera ban kar padi thi.

Usne haath seene par nahi liye. *Yeh jism main unhe de rahi hoon, lekin yeh unka nahi ho jaayega. Yeh meri keemat hai, meri kursi ki, aur meri marzi ki.* “Dekhiye, Jolly. Yeh main hoon, aur main chhupa nahi rahi. Ab aap bhi apni baat nibhaiye, jaise kaha tha.”

Unhone belt kholi, kapde utare, aur uske kareeb aa kar uski kamar pakad li, honth uski gardan par, mangalsutra ke kareeb. “Palang par let, rani. Aaj pehle main tera chehra dekhna chahta hoon. Tu meri bhabhi hai ghar mein, aur yahan meri rani. Bol, andar lu? Main tab tak intezaar karunga jab tak tu haan na kare.”

Srivalli palang par let gayi, cream chadar uski peeth ke neeche, aur usne dheere se pair khole. Sharm aayi, tez, kal raat ki yaad ke saath, lekin usne pair wapas nahi joode. “Haan, Jolly. Andar lijiye. Dheere, lekin lijiye. Main chahti hoon, aur main yahin hoon.”

Unhone jaldi nahi ki. Lund uski geeli chut ke muh par raga, dheere, phir top tikaya, ek inch andar kiya, ruk kar uska chehra dekha. Srivalli ke muh se ek gehri saans toot kar nikal gayi, “Aaaahh…”, aankhein khuli, honth alag. Kal raat ke baad bhi uski body unke liye nayi si kheenchi, alag andaaz, alag garmi. Unhone ek aur inch diya, phir ek aur, aur jab poora andar gaya to usne unki peeth par haath rakh kar unhe apni taraf kheencha. “Haan, ahhh, poora… mat ruko. Main le rahi hoon.”

Jolly uski aankhon mein dekhte rahe, dhakke lambe, gehre, dheere, kabhi ruk kar uske boobs muh mein le kar, mangalsutra ko ek taraf karke. “Itni tight, itni garam, aur tu mujhe bula rahi hai,” unhone kaha, saans ke beech. “Kal tu baap ji ke paas thi, aaj meri palang par hai, aur tu jhoot nahi bol rahi ki tu nahi chahti. Yeh dekh kar main khush hoon, rani. Bol, kaisi lag rahi hoon main tujhe aaj, dushman jaise, ya saathi jaise?”

Srivalli ne saans bhari, awaaz bheegi lekin saaf. “Aaj aap meri dushman nahi, ahhh, meri saath ke aadmi ho. Kal jo aapne kiya, woh main bhooli nahi, lekin aaj jo main de rahi hoon, woh us dard se nahi, apni marzi se de rahi hoon. Haan, aise, wahan, mat rukiye.” Unke dhakke tez hue, palang ki halki karak, uski choodiyan, uski siski, aur beech-beech mein unke lafz, “Meri rani, meri bhabhi, meri.” Har dhakke par mangalsutra unki chhati se ragda, sindoor wali maang unki saans se garam hui. Dard aur maza mil kar ek garam, bhaari ehsaas ban rahe the. *Main de rahi hoon, aur yeh soch kar sharm bhi aa rahi hai, lekin is sharm ke neeche jo josh hai, usko main aaj jhoot nahi bolungi. Pushpa ji, aap site par hon, yeh raat meri file ki hai, aapki neend ki nahi.*

Jab woh kaanpane lagi, usne unki kamar aur kas li, “Haan, wahan, ahhh, mat nikaaliye.” Jolly ne uska chehra dekha, ek gehri saans li, aur andar hi, garam, thick, apna maal chhod diya. Srivalli ki siski lambi nikal gayi, uska jism kaanpa, aur woh unke kandhe se chipak kar leti rahi, mangalsutra unki chamri par, saans toot-toot kar.

Kuch pal baad unhone nikaala. Cum ki ek dhaari uski ran par behne lagi. Srivalli ne aankhein band ki, phir kholi, aur unhe dekha. Andar sharm thi, lekin us sharm ke saath ek thaki hui saaf himmat bhi thi, jo jungle wali raaton mein nahi thi. “Yeh pehla round tha,” usne khud kaha, awaaz thaki, lekin ek chhoti si muskaan ke saath, jo hairani bhi thi, himmat bhi. “Aapne kaha tha raat meri bhi hai. Paani do, phir baat karte hain. Main abhi nahi jaa rahi.”

Jolly ne uski ran par apni ungli pheri, us nishan ko dekha, phir uski aankhon mein dekha. “Tu andar maal le kar bhi mujhe dekh rahi hai, bhabhi. Pehle tu munh pher leti thi. Ab tu hisaab maangti hai. Venkat Rao ko bhi yeh himmat dikhegi, to woh ticket pe sirf baap ji ke naam se nahi, teri awaaz se bhi dastkhat karega.”

“Venkat Rao ki baat dinner par hogi,” usne kaha, unki ungli ko dheere hataate hue, lekin hatate waqt unka haath ek pal apni hatheli mein rakh kar. “Aaj ki baat aapki aur meri hai. Paani dijiye.”

Jolly hans pade, palang ke kinare se paani ka glass uthaya, uske honthon tak diya, aur uske khule baal se haath pherte hue kaha, “Tu sach mein badal gayi hai, bhabhi. Pehle tu chup ke let jaati thi, ab tu khud next round maang rahi hai. Pee, phir meri god mein aa. Aaj tu upar se bhi kaam karegi, apni taal se, taaki tujhe pata rahe tu de rahi hai.”

Srivalli ne paani piya, glass neeche rakha, aur unke upar aayi, raanein unki kamar ke dono taraf, mangalsutra unki chhati par latakta hua. Unka lund phir se sakht tha. Usne usko pakad kar apni ab bhi geeli chut par rakha, aur dheere, inch-inch, khud baithna shuru kiya. “Aaaahhh, mmm,” pehla inch kheench raha tha, lekin usne ruka nahi, unke kandhe pakad kar neeche baith gayi, poora, apne wazn se, apne faisle se. “Haan, poora hai. Ab aap dekhiye, main khud chalti hoon.”

Woh uth-baithne lagi, pehle dheere, har baar ek siski, phir tez. Uski bhari chhati unke chehre ke saamne hilne lagi, unhone nipple chusa, beech-beech mein uska chehra uthakar dekha. “Bolti reh, rani,” unhone kaha. “Mujhe teri awaaz chahiye.”

“Haan, ahhh, mat rokiye, main theek hoon, main le rahi hoon,” usne kaha, kamar ki apni taal par. “Yeh bhi meri keemat hai, ticket bhi, aur jo dinner teen din baad hai, uski tayyari bhi. Aap yaad rakhna, main sirf jhukne nahi aayi, main lene bhi aayi hoon.”

“Lena seekh gayi tu,” Jolly ne kaha, uski gaand pakadte hue, lekin dhakka uske upar se nahi, uski hi raftaar par. “Venkat, Gopal, Prakash, unke saamne bhi tu aise hi bol, to kursi pakki hai. Main teri backbone rahoonga, malik nahi, yeh main pehle keh chuka, aur aaj tu mujhe yakin dila rahi hai.” Srivalli tez ho gayi, palang ki awaaz, uski moan, unki saans. Jab kamar dard karne lagi, tab bhi usne nahi roka, jab tak dono ek ke baad ek kaanpe. Pehle woh nikal, ek lambi, khuli siski ke saath, “Aaaahhh, haan, wahan,” phir woh, andar, phir se, uski chut ko bharte hue.

Thodi der woh unke upar hi leti rahi, maathe se pasina, baal khule, sindoor bigda hua. Jolly ke haath uski peeth par the. Kamre mein unki saans thi, thodi whiskey ki khushboo thi, aur uske gale mein mangalsutra ki thandi ladi thi.

“Ab ek baat aur,” usne kaha, unki chhati se sir uthate hue, awaaz shaant, business wali. “Teen din baad ke dinner par main aapke saath khadi houngi, lekin un teenon ke saamne meri izzat ka khel aap nahi kheloge. Jo dungi, soch kar dungi. Aap meri file aage badhaiye, campaign ke dates nikaaliye, aur Pushpa ji ko itna hi dikhaiye ki party unki rani ke saath khadi hai. Baaki meri zimmedari hai.”

Jolly ne uske maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb, honth rakhe, na pyar, na wada, sirf ek saathi ka nishan. “Theek hai, rani. Main dates nikaalunga, un teeno ko confirm karunga, aur kal subah tujhe unka short sa hisaab bhej dunga. Tu ghar ja, apne Pushpa ke bagal mein so, unko khushi de ki papers nikal gaye. Meri taraf se aaj ka hisaab chuk gaya, teri taraf se bhi. Lekin ek baat toh maan, bhabhi, tu jab chahegi, meri bungalow ka darwaza tere liye khula rahega, dhamki se nahi, is nayi dosti se.”

Srivalli ne thodi der unhe dekha, phir dheere se kaha, “Dosti ka lafz bhaari hai, Jolly. Abhi yeh saath hai, yeh hisaab hai, aur yeh meri kursi hai. Itna kaafi hai aaj.” Woh palang se utri, bathroom mein chehra dhoya, hoth saaf kiye, maang mein thoda naya sindoor bhara, aur off-white saree wapas pehni, pleats jitni jaldi saj sakein, pallu seene par, blouse ke hooks, mangalsutra waise hi gale mein. Sheeshe mein jo aurat thi, uski aankhein thaki thi, honth thode sooje, lekin pallu theek tha, rani jaisi ban-than thi, jaise koi party office se kaagaz le kar wapas jaa rahi ho.

*Papers meri file mein hain, aaj ki raat meri marzi se hui, aur teen din baad woh teen log meri mez par honge. Yeh soch kar jo josh aa raha hai, uske peeche Pushpa ji ki muskaan ka bhi wazan hai. Dono ko le kar chalna hoga.*

Wapas raste par aasman mein shaam ki laal-peeli lakir thi. Srivalli ke dono haath steering par the, pleats ab itni saaf nahi thi jaisi nikli thi, lekin pallu theek tha. *Aaj maine papers sign kiye, aaj maine unhe apni marzi se liya, aur ab main ghar jaa rahi hoon, jahan meri muskaan pativrata honi chahiye. Yeh jhoot ghar ke liye hai, apne dil ke liye nahi, kyunki dil jaanta hai main kahan thi, aur kyun thi.*

Haveli ke gate par suraksha ne salute kiya, aangan mein shaam ki naram roshni thi, aur verandah par Pushpa ji baithe the, beedi, copy band, jaise intezaar mein hon. Srivalli ne gaadi se utarte hi muskuraya, pallu theek kiya, aur unke paas jaa kar file si dikhne wali khushi unke saamne rakh di, bina file ke.

“Ho gaya, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, awaaz halki, khush, ghar wali. “Papers nikal gaye. Mera naam chadh gaya. Party office bhej diya gaya hai. Aapki rani ab officially ticket ke kareeb hai.”

Pushpa ji uth khade hue, usko apni bhari bahon mein le liya, uski thaki kamar unke haath mein aa gayi, lekin unko us thakaan ka asli sabab nahi pata chala. “Meri rani, meri sherni, main jaanta tha tu nikaal legi. Aaj raat ghar mein meetha khayenge. Jolly ne madad ki na? Us ladke ko kal bulaunga, shukriya kahunga.”

Srivalli unke seene se chipki rahi, aankhein ek pal band, mangalsutra unki kurta ke against, aur uski awaaz unke kapde mein dab gayi. “Haan, unhone madad ki. Aap unko shukriya keh dena, lekin zyada mat poochhiyega, formalities dry thi. Main thak gayi hoon. Aap chai lijiye, main maa ji ke saath rasoi dekhti hoon, phir aapke bagal mein so jaaungi.”

Unhone uske maathe par kiss kiya. “So ja, rani. Kal se teri campaign ki soch karni hai. Main tere peeche khada hoon, jo fund chahiye, jo aadmi chahiye, bolna.”

Raat ko, palang par, jab unka haath phir uski kamar par aa gaya, Srivalli ne aankhein khuli rakhi, ceiling ki taraf, thodi der. Andar uske jism par do raaton ka nishan tha ab, farmhouse ka aur aaj ka, aur gale mein wahi mangalsutra. *Ticket meri file mein hai, Jolly mera saath hai apni keemat par, aur teen din baad woh circle meri mez par baithega. Main unke saamne bhi khudi ko soch kar dungi, ya pehle is kursi ko itna pakka karungi ki meri shart unse pehle pahunche? Yeh sawal meri neend mein rahega, aapki nahi, Pushpa ji.*

Usne unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein band ki, aur honthon par wahi thaki, chhoti si muskaan thi jo unko nahi dikhi.

[Joker44]

Teen din baad ki shaam haveli ke master bedroom mein peeli light jal rahi thi, aur Srivalli sheeshe ke saamne khadi thi, haath blouse ke pehle hook par. Aaj ki saree usne khud chuni thi, koi gift nahi, koi farmhouse wali maroon nahi: gehra emerald green silk, heavy gold zari ke border, pallu par peacocks ka kaam, aur uske neeche ek tight gold blouse, sleeves almost nahi ke barabar, peeth par teen chhote hooks, U-cut itna gehra ki mangalsutra ki do kali ladiyan cleavage ki gehraai mein baith jaayein. Petticoat gold satin ka tha, kamar par tight. Maang mein sindoor ki saaf rekha, maang tika, bade kundan jhumke, saat gold choodiyan, payal, aur gale mein mangalsutra ke upar ek chhota gold haar. Baal ek neeche bun mein the, kinare par chameli ki ek patli gajra. Sandalwood attar, halka, lekin garam.

Sheeshe mein jo aurat thi, woh ghar wali off-white rani nahi thi. Yeh stage wali rani thi, jo abhi stage par nahi khadi thi, lekin aaj raat un teeno ke saamne khadi hone wali thi. Emerald ki zari uski ranon ke ghere par jal rahi thi, gold blouse uski bhari chhati ko uthata tha, aur mangalsutra usi gehraai mein baitha tha jaise koi kasam, jo utar nahi rahi thi. Srivalli ne pallu seene par lapeta, ek baar khisakaya, phir wapas kas kar, aur apni aankhon mein dekha. *Aaj main unke dinner par jaa rahi hoon, jaan ki yeh sirf khana nahi hai. Main dar bhi rahi hoon, aur main jaa bhi rahi hoon, kyunki ticket ab file mein hai, lekin kursi abhi unke dastkhat se pakki honi hai. Jo dungi, soch kar dungi, jaise kaha tha.*

Pushpa ji darwaze par khade ho gaye, neeli shirt, beedi abhi honth par nahi thi, aur unki nazar uski zari par ruki. Unhone ek lamba saans liya, phir muskuraye, wahi proud, seedhi muskaan. “Rani, aaj tu sach mein queen lag rahi hai. Yeh saree nayi hai na? Party ke bade log dekh kar kehenge Pushpa ki rani kursi ke laayak hai. Tension toh nahi hai?”

Srivalli unki taraf mudi, pallu ke neeche haath, awaaz ghar wali, naram. “Haan, nayi hai, Pushpa ji. Main bhi chahti hoon ki pehli mulaqaat mein main rani dikhun, sirf bahu nahi. Tension nahi hai, bas itna hai ki baat theek se ho. Aapne kaha tha aap meri politics mein ungli nahi karenge, lekin aapki dua chahiye.”

Unhone uske maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb, ek halka sa kiss chhodha, is baar hoth palang wale nahi, pita-jaisa bhi nahi, sirf pati ka bharosa. “Dua to hai, rani, aur fund bhi hai. Jolly bolega to main aur bhej dunga. Tu ja, unko dikha tu kaun hai, aur jaldi aa jaana. Raat ko late ho to phone kar dena, main jaagta rahoonga.”

“Haan,” usne kaha, aur yeh haan uske muh se nikalte hi andar ek chhoti si chubhan hui, kyunki raat ko late hona nearly tay tha, aur unka jaagna uske jhoot ka ek aur wazan tha. “Main sambhal lungi. Aap tension mat lijiye.”

Maa ji ne neeche aangan mein usko prasad ki ek dibi thamaane ki koshish ki, phir khud has di. “Aaj prasad nahi, beti, aaj teri soorat hi prasad hai. Ja, muh dekh ke baat karna, zyada nahi jhukna. Hamari bahu hai tu.” Srivalli ne unke pair chhue, pallu theek kiya, aur gaadi mein baith gayi. Kaveri aaj shaam college se late thi, uska kamra band tha, aur Srivalli ne uski taraf ek pal dekha, phir nazar hata li. Aaj uska hisaab un teeno ke saath tha.

Private farmhouse sheher ke us paar tha, lamba driveway, andhe ped, aur andar peeli, mehngi light. Jolly verandah par mila, black shirt, muskaan tayyar, aur uski nazar uski emerald saree par ruki, zari par, U-cut par, jaise woh pehle se jaanta ho aaj ki keemat kya dikhne wali hai. “Bhabhi ji, aaj to baap ji bhi keh rahe hote tu stage ke liye paida hui hai. Andar aa. Teenon aa chuke hain, khana lag chuka hai, aur woh tera intezaar kar rahe hain. Main sirf itna kahunga, tu apni shart pehle rakh, jaise mujhse rakhi thi. Inko bhi teri awaaz pasand aani chahiye.”

“Aap mere peeche se meri baat mat bolie,” Srivalli ne dheere kaha, pallu kaste hue, lekin awaaz mein krodh nahi tha, hisaab tha. “Main khud bolungi. Aap host rahiye.”

Dining hall lamba tha, chamakdar mez, whiskey aur sherbet dono, aur teen mard uth khade hue jab woh andar gayi. Pehle Venkat Rao dikhe, industries aur port ke minister, umr pachpan ke aas-paas, safed safari suit, moti gold ring, aankhon mein ek thanda hisaab. Unke bagal mein Gopal Reddy the, ticket committee ke purane MLA, saath-saath ke kareeb, cream kurta, gale mein moti gold chain, nazar uski zari se utarti hui U-cut par ruki aur wahan thodi der tiki. Teesre Prakash Naidu the, port commissioner, chalis ke kareeb, nili formal shirt, patli kali, chehra saaf, baat karne se pehle naapne wale. Srivalli ne pehle namaste kiya, pallu ko seene par rakha, aur apni awaaz ko stage wali nahi, rani wali rakha, naram lekin seedhi.

“Namaste, Venkat ji, Gopal ji, Naidu ji. Main Srivalli, Pushpa Raj ki patni. Aaj raat aap sab se mil kar khushi hui, aur main jaanti hoon yeh sirf ek dinner nahi hai. Isliye main chahungi ki khana ke saath baat bhi saaf ho.”

Gopal hans pade, bhari, taarif jaisi, lekin unki nazar ab bhi pallu ke kinare par thi. “Rani ji, baat saaf rakhna achhi aadat hai. Hum dekh rahe the kaun si bahu ticket maangne aayi hai. Ab dekh liya, soorat party ki hai, awaaz bhi kaampi nahi. Baitho, khao, phir jo poochna hai poochna.”

Venkat ne uske liye kursi kheench di, andaz mein ek minister ka control tha. “Pushpa ke kaam ka wazan sheher jaanta hai, aur Rudra ji ne tumhara naam bheja hai. Ticket ek kaagaz hai, rani, kursi tab pakki baithti hai jab andar wale log khush hon. Aaj raat hum yeh dekhna chahte hain ki tum sirf unki bahu ho, ya party ki rani bhi ban sakti ho.”

Srivalli baithi, pallu ko god mein sambhala, aur Naidu ki taraf bhi dekha, jo ab tak chup the. “Naidu ji, aap kam bolte hain, lekin port aapke bina nahi chalta, yeh baat mujhe bata di gayi hai. Main aapki raaye bhi sunna chahti hoon.”

Prakash ne glass ek baar ghumaya, phir dheere kaha, awaaz saaf, bilkul file jaisi. “Meri raaye yeh hai ki politics mein soorat kaafi nahi hoti, lekin soorat ke bagair bhi kaafi nahi hoti. Aapki file main dekh chuka hoon. Constituency mushkil hai, opposition paise wala hai, aur bandargaah ke trying days aane wale hain. Agar aap party ke saath khadi hain, to port ki files bhi aapke kaam aa sakti hain. Sawal yeh hai, rani ji, aap kitna dena chahti hain, aur kitna lena.”

Venkat ne uski baat sun kar sir hilaaya, jaise koi file par tick laga raha ho. “Opposition ke paas paise hain, rani, aur tere pati ke dushman bhi kam nahi. Ek naam le leti hoon: Shekhar Goud, jo bandargaah ke us paar se ticket maang raha hai, aur jo kehta hai Pushpa ka kaam andhera hai. Agar tu jeetna chahti hai, to tera chehra saaf hona chahiye, teri awaaz tez honi chahiye, aur hum jaise log tere peeche khade hone chahiye. Fund Pushpa de rahe hain, yeh baat hum tak aa chuki hai. Ab dekhna yeh hai ki tu ghar ki bahu ban kar maangne aayi hai, ya kursi le kar jaane aayi hai.”

Srivalli ne sherbet ka glass rakha, pallu ke kinare ko ungli se theek kiya, aur seedha jawab diya. “Main ghar ki bahu hoon, yeh main chhupati nahi, aur kursi le kar jaane aayi hoon, yeh bhi nahi chhupati. Shekhar Goud ka naam main sun chuki hoon, aur main unse dar kar nahi baithi hoon. Aap meri soorat dekh rahe hain, meri awaaz bhi sun lijiye: main ticket isliye maang rahi hoon ki stage meri ho, sirf cover Pushpa ji ka nahi. Aap jo dungi uska hisaab rakhie, lekin meri himmat ko bhi hisaab mein likhie.”

Gopal ki bhari hansi dining hall mein faili. “Baat karti hai saali, maaf karna lafz ka, lekin muh mein zabaan hai. Mujhe aisi rani chahiye thi committee mein, jo sirf jhumke hila kar baith na jaaye.”

Srivalli ne unki taraf dekha, muskaan thin rakh kar, awaaz naram. “Lafz aapke hain, Gopal ji, meri izzat meri hai. Aap taarif kijiye, lekin saste lafz is mez par meri shart ke khilaaf jaayenge. Main sun rahi hoon, main jawab de rahi hoon, aur main jhuk kar nahi baithi hoon.”

Gopal ne haath uthaya, maan lete hue, “Theek kaha. Izzat se baat hogi.”

Khana lagta raha, thaliyaan chalti rahi, lekin asli khana baat thi. Jolly kabhi glass bharte, kabhi chup baithte, jaise host ho, malik nahi. Srivalli ne sherbet liya, whiskey nahi, aur yeh baat usne saaf kahi. “Mujhe hosh chahiye, isliye yeh glass sherbet ka hai. Main yaad rakhna chahti hoon aaj raat main kya keh rahi hoon, aur kya de rahi hoon.” Phir usne Venkat ki taraf dekha, honth shant, aankhein nahi. “Meri pehli shart yeh hai ki ticket ki baat aaj pakki ho, sirf zubaan se nahi, committee ke hisaab se. Doosri, Pushpa ji ko is dinner ka asli chehra nahi dikhna chahiye. Teesri, jo dungi, soch kar dungi, aur jab dungi to woh meri marzi se hogi, kisi dhamki se nahi. Aap teenon party ke andar wale log hain, main aapki keemat samajhti hoon, lekin main koi bhi cheez nahi hoon jo bina poochhe aage sarak di jaaye.”

Gopal ki hawas wali hansi thodi si ruk kar taarif ban gayi. “Shart rakhne wali rani kam milti hai. Mujhe pasand aayi. Committee kal subah mere ek phone par hil sakti hai, rani, lekin aaj raat tu hum teenon ko yeh yakeen de ki tu sirf baat nahi karti, nibhati bhi hai. Hum tere jism ke peeche nahi, teri himmat ke peeche bhi baithna chahte hain, aur himmat aaj raat dikhegi.”

Venkat ne haath uthakar Gopal ko halka sa roka, phir Srivalli se kaha, “Gopal ji seedhe log hain, lafz khurdure hain, lekin matlab wahi hai jo mera hai. Ticket ki zubaan main de raha hoon, committee unki hai, port ki duniya Naidu ke haath mein hai. Teenon cheezein aaj raat ke baad teri taraf jhuk sakti hain. Tu taiyar hai to keh de. Nahi hai to khana khatam kar, ghar ja, aur file kuch din aur latak sakti hai. Zabardasti is mez par nahi hogi, yeh meri baat hai.”

Srivalli ki ungliyan pallu par kas gayi. Andar dar tha, saaf, is soch se ki aaj raat teen mard honge, kal raat jaisi ek nahi, farmhouse jaisi ek nahi. Uske saath ek josh bhi tha, jo kehta tha ki yeh kursi yahi se nikalegi. *Main dar rahi hoon, lekin main hat nahi rahi. Yeh meri marzi ka hisaab hai, kisi ke daraane ka nahi. Pushpa ji, aap jaagte rahiye, lekin yeh raat meri file ki hai.* Usne teenon ko ek-ek karke dekha, phir Jolly ko, phir wapas Venkat ko.

“Main taiyar hoon,” usne kaha, awaaz halki thi, lekin tuti nahi. “Aaj raat main aapke saath hoon, apni marzi se. Lekin pehle meri baat pakki kijiye, phir jo dena hai, dungi. Ticket kal nikalni chahiye, yeh meri pehli keemat hai. Uske baad aap meri taraf dekhiye, main chhupne nahi aayi.”

Venkat ne sir hilaaya, ek chhoti si muskaan ke saath. “Kal nikalegi. Yeh meri baat hai, Gopal ke phone ki baat hai. Naidu, tum bhi is mez par ho, tumhari raaye?”

Prakash ne uski aankhon mein dekha, dheere, bina cheap taarif ke. “Agar rani ji khud keh rahi hain, to meri taraf se bhi haan hai. Port ki duniya baad mein kaam aayegi, aaj raat ki duniya pehle. Main bhi unki shart maanta hoon, dhamki nahi, hisaab.”

Jolly ne glass neeche rakha aur dheere se kaha, “Toh khana utar jaaye, andar drawing room hai, uske peeche palang wala kamra hai. Bhabhi, tu jab chaahe uth. Main yahin hoon, lekin aaj raat yeh unki mez hai, meri nahi, jab tak tu mujhe bulaaye.”

Srivalli uth khadi hui, emerald pallu ko seene par ek baar aur kas kar lapeta, jhumke hil gaye, payal ne ek chhoti si awaaz ki. “Chaliye. Main khud chalti hoon.”

[Joker44]

Drawing room ki peeli light un par giri, bada sofa, whiskey, aur khidki ke peeche andhe ped. Srivalli unke beech khadi rahi, aur Gopal pehle kareeb aaye, unki umr ki bhaari saans, unki chain uski zari ke kareeb chamki. “Rani, pallu dheela kar. Hum dekhna chahte hain tu kya le kar aayi hai. Bol, main chhuun?”

“Haan,” usne kaha, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue. “Chhuiye, lekin jaldi nahi. Aaj raat main aapki hoon, jab tak main haan kehti rahungi.” Usne khud pallu seene se khisakaya, U-cut khul gaya, mangalsutra ki ladiyan gold haar ke neeche, aur sandalwood attar ki khushboo garam hawa mein nikal aayi. Venkat peeche se aaye, uske bun ke kinare gajra ko chhoo kar, lekin baal nahi kheenche. Prakash ek kadam door khade rahe, dekhte hue, jaise pehli file kholne se pehle naap rahe hon.

Gopal ke haath uski kamar par aaye, kapde ke upar se, phir peeth ke hooks par. “Teen hooks, rani, jaise teen dastkhat. Bol, kholun?”

“Haan, kholiye,” usne kaha, saans thodi tez. Unhone pehla hook khola, phir doosra, phir teesra, dheere, aur blouse aage se dheela hua. Venkat ne aage se blouse kheench kar utar diya. Uske boobs bahar aaye, bhaari, garam, nipples tight, mangalsutra aur gold haar unke beech. Emerald saree ki zari uski ranon par ab bhi thi, jab tak Prakash ne, uski nazar maang kar, naada nahi kheenchi. “Naidu ji, aap bhi aaiye,” Srivalli ne khud kaha, unki taraf dekhte hue. “Aaj raat aap bhi is hisaab ke hain. Main aapko bula rahi hoon.”

Usne haan mein sir hilaaya, naada kholi, petticoat gir gaya, aur saree ke ghere marble par emerald ka ek gehra dher ban kar gir gaye. Srivalli un teeno ke saamne khadi thi, nangi, sirf mangalsutra, haar, jhumke, choodiyan, payal, sindoor. Sharm se uski chamri garam thi, lekin usne haath seene par nahi liye. *Yeh jism ab unke saamne hai, aur main ise chhupa nahi rahi, kyunki main khud iske saath khelne aayi hoon. Sharm aa rahi hai, lekin is sharm ke neeche jo kursi hai, usko main aaj chhod kar nahi jaaungi.*

“Pehle sofa par aa, rani,” Gopal ne kaha, apni kurta ke buttons kholte hue. “Purane aadmi ko pehle dekhne de, phir minister, phir commissioner. Tu bolti rahiye, dard ho to keh dena.”

Srivalli sofa par leti, pair dheere khole, aur Gopal unke beech aaye. Unka lund mota tha, umr ke hisaab se bhaari, aur unhone uski geeli chut par raga, dheere, phir poocha, “Andar lu, rani? Tu haan kar, tab loonga.”

“Haan, Gopal ji, andar lijiye. Dheere, lekin lijiye. Main chahti hoon yeh raat aage badhe.” Unhone top tikaya, ek inch, ruk kar uska chehra dekha, phir aur, aur jab poora andar gaya to Srivalli ke muh se ek gehri siski nikal gayi, “Aaaahhh, haan…” Aankhein nam ho aayi, lekin usne unki peeth par haath rakh kar unhe apni taraf kheencha. Venkat uske sirhane baithe, uske boobs ek haath se sambhalte, kabhi nipple chhute, aur Prakash uske kareeb khade, uske baal se haath pherte, dekhte. Gopal ke dhakke lambe the, bhaari, malikana, lekin unhone uski awaaz suni, “Ahhh, aise, mat rukiye,” aur usi raftaar par rahe.

“Pushpa ki pativrata meri god mein hai, aur party ki ticket usi ki chut se nikal rahi hai,” Gopal ne saans ke beech kaha. “Bol, rani, kiski hai aaj raat tu?”

“Aaj raat party ki hoon, ahhh, aapki, teeno ki, haan, mat ruko,” usne kaha, aur yeh lafz uske muh se nikalte hue usko khud ek pal ke liye jala gaye, lekin usne wapas nahi liye. *Yeh lafz meri keemat hain, meri galti nahi, meri chuni hui keemat.* Jab Gopal ka saans bhaari hua, unhone poocha, “Andar, rani?” aur usne kaha, “Haan, andar dijiye,” aur woh garam maal uski chut mein chhod kar, nikal kar, uske bagal mein baith gaye, saans bhaari, haath uski ran par.

Srivalli ne aankhein band ki, phir kholi, aur ceiling ki peeli light dekhi, choodiyan kalai par, mangalsutra uski garam chamri par. Venkat ne uske honthon tak paani ka glass kiya. Usne do ghoont liye, awaaz thaki lekin seedhi. “Ek pal, sirf saans lene ke liye. Main jaa nahi rahi. Jo kaha tha, nibha rahi hoon.”

“Le le pal, rani,” Venkat ne kaha, uske baal se ek tinka hataate hue. “Hum koi jaldi ke saudagar nahi, jo hisaab chhod kar nikal jaayein. Tu jab haan kare, tab aage.”

Usne unhe dekha, phir Prakash ko, phir wapas Venkat ko, aur sir hilaaya. “Haan. Ab aaiye.”

Venkat unki jagah aaye, safari ka upper utara, aur uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, “Ab meri baari, rani. Main Gopal ki tarah jaldi nahi hoon. Tu mujhe dekh, aur bol, lu?”

“Haan, Venkat ji, lijiye. Main taiyar hoon.” Unhone uski raanen apni kamar par rakhi, aur dheere, inch-inch, andar liya, uska chehra padhte hue. “Aaaahhh, dheere, haan, wahan…” Srivalli ke naakhun unki peeth par lage. Unke dhakke gehre the, control wale, kabhi ruk kar uske honth chhute, kabhi mangalsutra ko muh mein le kar. “Tu soch kar de rahi hai, yeh baat mujhe pasand hai,” unhone kaha. “Cabinet tak ka rasta bhi aisi rani se nikalta hai. Bolti reh.”

“Haan, ahhh, mat nikaaliye, main le rahi hoon,” usne kaha, unko apni taraf kheenchte hue. Prakash ne uska haath pakad liya, aur Srivalli ne khud unka lund apni hatheli mein le kar, phir muh ke kareeb laakar, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue chusna shuru kiya, “Mmm, mmmphhh,” jab Venkat andar tha. Yeh uska faisla tha, uski doosri keemat, aur unhone uske baal pakad kar guide kiya, dhakka nahi diya. *Dekhiye, main de rahi hoon, main nibha rahi hoon, aur main yahi se apni kursi le kar jaaungi.*

Venkat tez hue, uski siski mundhe ke neeche dabti, phir khuli, “Aaaahhh, haan, andar,” aur unhone bhi andar chhod diya, uski chut ko doosri baar bharte hue. Srivalli ne Prakash ka lund honthon se chhoda, saans li, aur unki taraf dekha. “Ab aap, Naidu ji. Aap door mat khadiye. Main aapko bula rahi hoon, aap chheen nahi rahe.”

Prakash sofa ke kinare aaye, uske pair apni kamar par rakhe, aur dheere andar liye, itni dhire ki uski har siski unko sunai de. Unka andaaz saaf tha, jaise file, jaise hisaab, har inch par uska chehra. “Dard hai to kahiye,” unhone kaha.

“Dard hai, lekin mat rukiye,” usne kaha, unki gardan apni taraf kheenchte hue. “Haan, aise, ahhh, Naidu ji, wahan, haan.” Unke dhakke tez hue, uski payal tinkti rahi, choodiyan bajti rahi, aur jab woh kaanpane lagi, usne unhe aur andar maanga, “Mat nikaaliye, andar dijiye,” aur Prakash ne ek lambi saans ke saath andar chhod diya, maathe ko uski maang ke kareeb rakh kar, sindoor ki khushboo unki saans mein.

Srivalli sofa par leti rahi, saans tez, ranon ke beech teeno ka nishan, aankhein adhkhuli. Gopal ek taraf se uske boobs masaalte rahe, dheere, ab utna tez nahi, aur Venkat uske kaan ke kareeb kaha, “Agar tu de sakti hai, rani, to ek baar aur, meri taraf, khade-khade. Nahi de sakti to keh de, main nahi kheenchunga.”

Usne unki aankhon mein dekha, andar thakan thi, sharm thi, aur uske saath wahi aag bhi thi jo farmhouse ke baad se uske jism mein baithi thi. “De sakti hoon,” usne kaha. “Dheere, Venkat ji. Main aapko rok nahi rahi. Hath pakdiye, main khadi hoti hoon.”

Woh uth kar khidki ke kareeb khadi ho gayi, haath sheeshe par, emerald ki zari wale kapde pairon ke paas pade, aur Venkat peeche se aaye, uski kamar pakad kar, dheere andar liye, inch-inch, uske sheeshe wale chehre ko dekhte hue. “Aaaahhh, haan, aise,” uski siski sheeshe par dhundhlaahat chhod gayi. Unke dhakke gehre the, control wale, aur usne ek haath peeche unki kamar par rakh kar unhe apni taraf kheencha. “Mat rukiye. Main dekh rahi hoon khud ko, aur main hat nahi rahi.” Prakash uske kareeb aaye, uske honth chhue, uske boobs haath mein liye, aur Gopal sofa se dekhte rahe, saans bhaari, jaise purani committee ki jeet dekh rahe hon. Jab Venkat tez hue, Srivalli ki payal tinkti rahi, aur usne unko andar hi maanga, “Haan, andar, ahhh, dijiye,” phir ek lambi siski ke saath kaanpi, aur unhone bhi doosri baar, andar, apna hisaab chhod diya.

Thodi der teeno uske chaaron taraf rahe, haath uske jism par, uski thakan dekhte, uski nam aankhein dekhte. Jolly darwaze ke kinare khade the, glass haath mein, lekin andar nahi aaye, jab tak Srivalli ne unki taraf dekha nahi. Usne sirf itna kaha, awaaz thaki, lekin saaf, “Aaj nahi, Jolly. Aaj yeh unki raat thi. Aap host rahiye.” Unhone sir hilaaya, ek gehri muskaan ke saath, jaise haar nahi, hisaab maan liya ho.

Kamre ke bathroom mein Srivalli ne chehra dhoya, hoth saaf kiye, maang mein thoda naya sindoor bhara, aur emerald saree wapas pehni, hooks, pleats, pallu, jhumke, haar. Sheeshe mein aankhein laal thi, honth sooje, gardan par ek-do halki nishaniyan, lekin pallu theek tha, rani jaisi ban-than thi. Andar uske jism par teeno ki raat thi, ranon ke beech geela, kamar mein thakaan, aur gale mein wahi mangalsutra. *Main de chuki hoon, aur jo unhone kaha, kal nikalna chahiye. Agar kal paper nahi aaya, to yeh raat sirf ek keemat hogi, kursi nahi. Kal main dekhungi.*

Wapas drawing room mein Venkat, Gopal, aur Prakash kapde pehn chuke the, whiskey ke last ghoont par. Venkat ne usko dekha aur kaha, awaaz ab dinner wali, saaf. “Kal subah committee ka message tujhe Jolly ke through mil jaayega, rani. Ticket nikalegi, yeh meri baat thi, aur meri baat main rakhta hoon. Campaign mein mera haath rahega, industries ke events tujhe chahiye to milenge.”

Gopal ne gold chain theek karte hue kaha, “Mera phone kal pehle nikalega. Tu stage par khadi ho, main peeche se naam chalwaunga. Jab jeet jaaye, ek baar phir milna, rani, lekin woh baad ki baat hai. Aaj ka hisaab chuk gaya.”

Prakash ne sirf itna kaha, “Port ki duniya ab aapke naam ko pehchanegi. Jab file atkegi, aap meri taraf dekh lena. Aaj raat ki baat meri file mein nahi likhi jaayegi, lekin meri yaad mein rahegi. Ghar sahi se jaaiye.”

Srivalli ne teenon ko namaste kiya, pallu kas kar, aur awaaz mein thakan ke bawajood ek seedhi line rakh. “Main jaati hoon. Kal jo kaagaz aana chahiye, woh aana chahiye. Aaj raat ki baat is farmhouse ke andar rahegi, sheher ke saamne nahi, aur mere ghar ke saamne nahi. Itna hisaab mujhe chahiye.”

Jolly usko driveway tak chhodne aaye, darwaza khola, lekin haath nahi lagaya. “Tu le aayi, bhabhi. In teeno ki zabaan main jaanta hoon, kal paper aayega. Tu ghar ja, apne Pushpa ko dikha rani wapas aa gayi. Main baap ji ko itna hi kahunga ki dinner theek raha, rani ne apni keemat chukayi, kursi hil gayi.”

“Baap ji ko meri izzat ke lafz mein bataiyega, saste lafz mein nahi,” usne kaha, gaadi ke seat par baithte hue. “Aur Jolly, aaj aapne door reh kar ek sahi hisaab kiya. Woh bhi meri yaad mein hai.”

Raste par andhe ped the, dashboard ki roshni uski choodiyon par girti thi, aur pallu ke neeche mangalsutra uski saans ke saath uth-gir raha tha. Emerald saree ki pleats ab itni saaf nahi thi jaisi haveli se nikli thi, blouse ke hooks jaldi lage the, lekin pallu theek tha, sindoor dikhta tha, jhumke the. Jo dekhne wala hota, woh yahi kehta ki party ke seniors se mil kar rani wapas jaa rahi hai.

*Aaj main teeno ke saamne khuli, aaj maine haan kahi, aaj meri body ne jawab diya, aur yeh soch kar jo sharm aa rahi hai, uske saath jo josh hai, usko bhi main ab jhoot nahi bol sakti. Gopal ke lafz ab bhi kaan mein hain, Venkat ki zubaan, Prakash ki file. Kal paper aana chahiye. Uske baad campaign, uske baad kursi, aur Pushpa ji ko sirf khushi dikhni chahiye. Yeh jhoot ghar ke liye hai, apne dil ke liye nahi, kyunki dil jaanta hai main kahan thi, aur kyun thi. Rani wahi hai jo dono chehre sambhal sake.*

Haveli ke gate par guard ne late salute kiya. Aangan shaant tha, maa ji so chuki thi, Kaveri ka kamra ab bhi band tha, ek patli si light ke bina. Verandah par Pushpa ji baithe the, beedi ki aakhri kash par, jaise sach mein jaagte rahe hon. Srivalli ne gaadi se utarte hi pallu theek kiya, muskuraya, aur unke paas jaa kar unke kandhe par haath rakha.

“Ho gaya, Pushpa ji. Seniors se baat acchi rahi. Kal-parson papers ki confirmation aani chahiye. Aap jaagte rahe, yeh dekh kar accha laga, lekin ab aap so jaaiye, main bhi thak gayi hoon.”

Unhone usko dekh kar ek lamba saans liya, uski thaki aankhein, uski theek pallu, uski khushi, aur usko apni taraf kheench liya. “Meri rani, main jaanta tha tu sambhal legi. Tu meri sherni hai. Chalo, andar so jao. Kal se teri kursi ki subah hai.”

Palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya, wahi garam, bhari, aur uske jism par aaj raat kisi aur ki yaad thi. Srivalli ne unke haath ko rehne diya, aankhein band ki, aur ceiling ke andhere mein ek baar un teeno ke lafz ghoome, Venkat ki zubaan, Gopal ka phone, Prakash ki file. *Kal paper aayega, yeh unki baat thi, aur meri keemat thi. Yeh sach meri chhati mein rahega, aapki neend mein nahi.*

[Joker44]

Subah ka message uske phone par tab aaya jab haveli ke kitchen mein chai ubal rahi thi, aur Srivalli off-white cotton saree mein, pallu seene par, maa ji ke saath bartan rakh rahi thi. Screen par Jolly ka naam tha, uske neeche ek photo: party letterhead, uska naam, constituency, aur neeche Gopal Reddy ke dastkhat. Doosri line mein Venkat Rao ka short note tha, “Committee cleared. Announce today.”

Srivalli ke haath ek pal ke liye bartan par ruk gaye. Andar jo josh utha, woh itna tez tha ki uski saans ek baar atak si gayi, aur uske saath wahi sharm bhi thi jo kal raat ki emerald zari ke saath chipki hui thi. *Nikal aaya. Unki zabaan kachi nahi thi. Maine chukaya, aur yeh kaagaz meri hai.* Usne maa ji ko muskurakar kaha, “Maa ji, Pushpa ji ko bula lijiye, ek acchi baat hai,” aur khud verandah ki taraf chal di, pallu theek karte hue, phone ko aise liye hue jaise koi prasad ho.

Pushpa ji site ki copy band kar ke aaye, beedi abhi honth par thi, aur jab Srivalli ne unhe screen dikhaya, unki aankhon mein pehle hairani aayi, phir ek bhari, khuli khushi. Unhone usko uth kar apni bahon mein liya, uski off-white pallu unki kali shirt se dab gayi, aur unki awaaz aangan tak chali gayi. “Rani, nikal gayi! Meri rani ki ticket nikal gayi! Maa, meetha nikaalo, aaj haveli mein khushi hai. Jolly, Rudra uncle, sab ne kar dikhaya. Main jaanta tha meri sherni nikaal legi.”

Maa ji ne haath jod liye, aankhon mein paani aa gaya, aur unhone jaldi se rava kesari nikaalne ki khatir kitchen ki taraf daud si ki. Srivalli unke seene se chipki rahi, muskurayi, aur us muskaan mein asal khushi bhi thi, asal wazan bhi. “Haan, Pushpa ji, nikal gayi. Kal dinner theek raha, aaj paper aa gaya. Ab campaign sochna hoga. Aap meri taraf se Rudra uncle ko shukriya keh dena, lekin formalities mein mat ulajhiyega. Main sambhal lungi.”

“Main unko call karta hoon,” Pushpa ji bole, already phone nikaalte hue. “Aaj shaam unka shukriya karna chahiye, rani. Aisi khushi chhupakar nahi rakhi jaati.”

Srivalli ke honth ek pal ke liye kas gaye, lekin usne unka haath nahi roka. *Aap shukriya karoge, aur woh shayad is khushi ko apne hisaab se wasool karna chahein. Main taiyar hoon, lekin aapko yeh chehra nahi dikhna chahiye.* “Aap call kar lijiye, Pushpa ji. Jo ho, seedhi baat rahiye. Main yahin hoon.”

Dopahar tak khabar haveli se nikal kar rishte-naatedaron tak chali gayi. Phone bajte rahe, Pushpa ji ki awaaz proud rahi, aur Srivalli ne har call par rani wali naram muskaan rakhi. Shaam se pehle Rudra ka message khud aaya, Jolly ke through nahi.

Rudra: Ticket teri hai, rani. Aaj shaam meri kothi, chhoti si mulaqaat, sirf shukriya aur agla kadam. Pushpa ko keh dena party ke andar wale log tujhe aashirwad dena chahte hain. Jolly bhi hoga. Tu aa.

Srivalli ne screen ko thodi der dekha, phir Pushpa ji ko dikhaya, pallu ke neeche haath shaant. “Rudra uncle ne bulaya hai, aaj shaam, chhoti si mulaqaat, aashirwad ke liye. Main jaaun?”

“Ja, rani, zaroor ja,” unhone kaha, bina ek pal soche. “Unhone teri ticket nikaali hai, unka aashirwad lena chahiye. Main bhi chalun?”

Usne dheere se sir hilaaya, muskaan naram. “Aap nahi, Pushpa ji. Yeh andar wali baat hai, formalities, ladies aur party seniors. Aap kal unko alag se shukriya kar lijiye. Aaj main jaa kar aa jaaungi. Late hua to phone kar dungi.”

Unhone haan mein sir hilaaya, uske maathe par kiss kiya, aur maa ji ko kuch meetha dabba rakhne ko kaha, jo rani saath le jaaye. Srivalli bedroom gayi, almari kholi, aur aaj ki saree dheere chuni, jaise koi apni keemat ka kapda chun rahi ho: gehra vermilion Banarasi, gold zari ka chauda border, pallu par jaal ka kaam, uske neeche tight maroon blouse, gehra U-cut, peeth par teen hooks, kundan set, maang tika, sindoor ki saaf rekha, chameli ki gajra ek neeche bun par, saat gold choodiyan, payal, gold haar, aur mangalsutra. Petticoat maroon satin ka tha, kamar par tight. Sandalwood attar, halka. Yeh khushi wali rani ki soorat thi, wedding jaisi, aashirwad jaisi.

Sheeshe mein uski chhati U-cut se uth rahi thi, zari uski ranon ke ghere par jal rahi thi, aur mangalsutra usi gehraai mein baitha tha. Usne lipstick gehra maroon lagayi, pallu seene par kas kar lapeta, phir ek baar khisakaya, phir wapas kas kar. *Baap aur beta, dono ek saath. Yeh soch kar meri saans atakti hai, ek ghabrahat hai jo farmhouse se alag hai, kyunki aaj do nazar ek saath hongi, do haath ek saath honge. Phir bhi main jaa rahi hoon, kyunki yeh kursi ab un dono ke beech se guzar kar aage jaayegi, aur main peeche nahi hatungi. Jo dungi, soch kar dungi, dono ko, apni marzi se. Pushpa ji neeche meetha rakh rahe honge, aur main unki khushi ko le kar us kothi mein utarungi, jahan aashirwad ka matlab sirf haath rakhna nahi hoga.*

Neeche maa ji ne usko dekh kar haath jod liye. “Aaj tu dulhan jaisi lag rahi hai, beti. Aashirwad le kar aa, muh meetha kar ke aa.” Pushpa ji ne usko gaadi tak chhoda, darwaza khola, aur kaha, “Jaldi aa, rani. Main jaagta hoon.” Usne muskurakar sir hilaaya, aur gaadi nikalte hi uski choodiyan ek baar baj uthi, jaise koi chhoti si ghanti ho is raat ki.

Rudra ki kothi ki peeli light uski vermilion zari par giri jab Jolly ne darwaza khola. Andar whiskey ki khushboo thi, aur drawing room mein Rudra khade the, cream kurta, haath peeche, nazar uski soorat par ruki jaise farmhouse wali raat ko ruki thi. “Aa, rani. Ticket teri hai, yeh main kah chuka tha, aaj kaagaz ne bhi keh diya. Aaj raat shukriya bhi hai, aur agla kadam bhi. Pushpa ko tu kya keh kar aayi?”

“Aashirwad, party seniors, formalities,” usne kaha, awaaz shaant, pallu seene par. “Unko yahi dikhana hai. Aap dono ko meri baat sunni hai pehle. Aaj main yahan hoon, apni marzi se, is khushi ke hisaab se. Lekin jo hoga, meri haan se hoga. Dono ek saath, yeh main samajh kar aayi hoon, aur main manzoor karti hoon, lekin dheere, meri awaaz par. Jo main na kahun, woh nahi hoga. Yeh meri shart hai, aaj bhi.”

Rudra hans pade, wohi malikana taarif. “Shart rakhna tu bhooli nahi. Achha hai. Aaj raat tu meri bhi hai, mere bete ki bhi, kyunki yeh kursi hum dono ne teri taraf dhakki hai, aur tu ne chukaya bhi hai, lekin aaj ka hisaab alag hai. Jolly, tera hissa bhi aaj yahi hai, chhup kar nahi, saamne. Rani, bol, taiyar hai?”

Jolly uske kareeb khada tha, black shirt, aankhon mein kal wala hisaab aur aaj ki bhook dono. “Bhabhi, tu jo kahegi, main wahi karunga. Baap ji ke saath, teri haan se. Tu rukna chahe to ruk jaaunga.”

Srivalli ne dono ko dekha, ek pal saans bhari, aur sir hilaaya. “Taiyar hoon. Pallu aap utarie, Rudra uncle, aaj aashirwad aapke haath se shuru ho. Mangalsutra rahega, yeh aap jaante hain.”

Unhone pallu dheere utara, vermilion silk uski baazu se khisaki, zari jal uthi, aur hooks ek-ek karke khule, jaise farmhouse mein khule the, lekin aaj Jolly peeche khada dekh raha tha, uski saans bhi uske kareeb thi. Blouse utra, boobs bahar aaye, maroon silk ke contrast mein gore, mangalsutra unke beech, aur petticoat ki naada Jolly ne tab kheenchi jab Srivalli ne peeche mud kar kaha, “Haan, Jolly, aap bhi. Aaj dono ke haath honge, meri ijazat se.” Saree marble par gehra laal ghera ban kar giri, aur woh dono ke saamne khadi thi, nangi, sindoor, jhumke, choodiyan, payal, haar, mangalsutra. Sharm aayi, tez, dono ki nazar ek saath se, phir usne haath nahi chupaye. *Yeh meri keemat hai, meri khushi ki, meri kursi ki, aur main ise aankhein khol kar de rahi hoon.*

[Joker44]

Rudra uska haath pakad kar andar, bade se bedroom le gaye, Jolly peeche aaya, darwaza band kiya. Palang chaudi thi, safed chadar, peeli dim light, khidki par parda. Srivalli palang ke paas ruki, vermilion saree ab pairon ke paas padi, aur dono usko oonche se neeche tak dekhte rahe, koi sasti taarif nahi, sirf ek lamba saans, jaise maal unki pasand ka nikla ho, lekin aaj unka intezaar uski haan par tha.

Rudra usko palang par le gaye, pehle khud upar se aaye, Jolly uske sirhane, uske baal pherte, uske honth chhute, uske boobs ek haath se sambhalte. “Pehle main, rani, jaise pehli raat, tera chehra dekhte hue,” Rudra ne kaha, lund uski geeli chut ke muh par ragate hue, dheere. “Bol, lu? Main tab tak intezaar karunga jab tak tu haan na kare.”

“Haan, lijiye, dheere,” usne kaha, pair kholte hue, Jolly ka haath apni chhati par pakadte hue. “Main ghabra rahi hoon, yeh main chhupa nahi rahi, lekin main chahti hoon. Dono ko, aaj, meri marzi se.” Unhone top tikaya, ek inch andar kiya, ruk kar uska chehra dekha, maathe par paseena, bindi, nam aankhein, phir ek aur inch, phir aur, aur jab poora andar gaya to Srivalli ke muh se ek gehri siski nikal gayi, “Aaaahhh, haan, poora…” Jolly ne uske honth chhue, uske nipple chuse, uski awaaz ko muh mein liya, aur usne unke baal mein ungliyan daal di. Rudra ke dhakke gehre the, control wale, uski aankhon par, kabhi ruk kar uske boobs dabate, kabhi Jolly se kehte, “Tere muh mein uski siski rakh, beta, main dekh raha hoon tu kaise le rahi hai, rani.”

“Haan, ahhh, hat nahi rahi, mat rukiye,” usne kaha, ek haath Rudra ki peeth par, ek Jolly ke baal par. Har dhakke par mangalsutra unki chhati se ragda, payal tinkti, aur uski chut kal raat ke baad bhi unke size se kheenchi jaati thi, dard aur geelaapan ek saath. *Do nazar mujhe dekh rahi hain, aur main chhupa nahi rahi. Yeh sharm meri hai, yeh josh bhi meri hai, aur yeh kursi bhi meri hogi.* Jab Rudra ne nikal kar usko palatne ko kaha, usne poocha, pehle, saaf, “Aap dono ek saath chaahte hain, yeh main jaanti hoon. Main manzoor karti hoon, lekin dheere, pehle ek-ek karke jagah banao, aur meri awaaz par ruko. Dard zyada ho to main kahungi, aur aap rukoge. Yeh meri haan hai, meri majboori nahi.”

“Haan,” Rudra ne kaha, uski thuddi uthate hue. “Teri awaaz par. Jolly, tu saamne, main peeche, dheere. Rani, tu bolti reh.”

Srivalli ghutnon aur hatheliyon par aa gayi, Jolly uske saamne palang ke kinare, aur usne khud unka lund muh mein liya, “Mmm, mmmphhh,” aankhein uthayi, unhe dekhti hui, jab Rudra peeche se, dheere, uski geeli chut mein phir se andar aaye. Phir unhone ruk kar, uski gaand par dheere haath phera, aur poocha, “Yahan bhi, rani? Bol, tab loonga. Nahi to yahi rahoonga.”

Usne muh chhoda, saans li, ek pal socha, andar ghabrahat thi, kal raat ke teeno ke baad bhi ek naya dar tha, lekin usne unki ran apni taraf kheench li. “Haan, dheere, bahut dheere, aur agar main kahu ruko, to rukna. Main de rahi hoon, aap dono ko, apni marzi se.” Rudra ne dheere, inch-inch, peeche se jagah banayi, har inch par uski siski suni, “Aaaahhh, dheere, haan, rukiye… bas, ab aage, ahhh,” aur jab dono andar the, ek saamne uske muh mein, ek peeche, Srivalli ki aankhein nam ho aayi, lekin usne Jolly ki kamar pakad kar unhe rakha, hataya nahi. “Haan, aise, mat nikaaliye, dheere chaliye. Main sambhal rahi hoon.”

Dono ne uski awaaz par dhakke milaye, dheere, phir thode tez, uski siskiyan, choodiyan, palang ki karak, aur beech-beech mein Rudra ke lafz, “Dekh tujhe, meri rani, do haath, ek kursi, aur tu le rahi hai.” Jolly uske baal se haath pherte, “Bhabhi, bol, theek hai?” aur usne muh se lund hata kar kaha, “Theek hai, ahhh, theek hai, mat ruko, main hoon yahin.” Uske muh se ek aur siski nikal gayi, aankhon se ek aansu chhala, lekin usne Jolly ko apni taraf kheench liya, hataya nahi. Jolly ne uska aansu anguthe se ponchha, uske honthon par hoth rakhe, aur dheere poocha, “Bol, ruku? Main nahi rukunga, tu bole to ruk jaaunga.”

“Rukna nahi,” usne kaha, awaaz bheegi, lekin saaf. “Thoda dheere, bas. Main de rahi hoon, main chahti hoon, aur main yahin hoon. Aap dono meri awaaz par chaliye, mujhe chhod kar nahi.” Jab dard tez hua, usne ek baar kaha, “Thoda dheere,” aur dono ruk kar, dheeme ho gaye, phir uski haan par aage badhe. Har milte dhakke par uski chut aur peeche dono jagah bhari thi, geeli, garam, aur uski saans tut-tut kar ek taal mein aa rahi thi. *Do haath, ek jism, ek kursi, aur yeh keemat main khud chun rahi hoon. Yeh dard meri majboori nahi, meri ijazat hai.* *Main de rahi hoon, dono ko, aur yeh soch kar sharm bhi hai, maza bhi, aur kursi sabse upar. Pushpa ji, aap haveli mein meetha kha rahe honge, yeh raat meri file ki aakhri mohar hai.*

Jab woh kaanpane lagi, usne unhe andar maanga, pehle Jolly ko muh mein, phir ruk kar kaha, “Andar, dono, haan,” aur Jolly ne uske honthon par, Rudra ne peeche, andar, apna maal chhod diya, uski lambi siski un dono ke beech atak si gayi. Woh palang par gir si gayi, pet ke bal, mangalsutra uski garam chamri par, saans toot-toot kar, aur dono uske bagal mein aa gaye, haath uski peeth par, uski saans dekhte hue.

Paani ke baad woh palang ke beech leti rahi, dono taraf do jism, uske boobs par Jolly ka haath, uski ran par Rudra ka. Unhone paani pilaya, uske maathe se pasina ponchha, aur thodi der sirf saans chalti rahi. “Thak gayi, rani, ya ek baar aur degi, ab dheeme?” Rudra ne poocha, uski aankhon mein dekhte hue. “Bol sacchi baat. Nahi degi to hum yahin ruk jaayenge, tu ghar ja, ticket teri hai hi.”

Srivalli ne dono ko dekha, thakan saaf thi, lekin usne pair nahi band kiye. “Dungi, dheeme, ek-ek karke. Aaj raat adhoori nahi jaayegi, yeh main khud keh rahi hoon. Pehle Jolly, phir aap, meri aankhon mein dekhte hue.”

Jolly uske upar aaya, dheere andar liya, uski siski suni, “Mmm, ahhh, aise,” aur unke dhakke uski taal par rahe, uske honth uski gardan par, uske lafz kaan mein, “Bhabhi, tu meri rani hai aaj, meri bhabhi kal, aur main tera hisaab rakh raha hoon.” Jab woh kaanpi, unhone nikal kar jagah di, aur Rudra aaye, uski raanen apne kandhon par rakh kar, dheeme, gehre, uski aankhon mein dekhte hue, jab tak dono ek ke baad ek nahi nikle. Yeh dhakke tez nahi the. Gehre the, lambe, jaise raat ke aakhri hisse ko kheench rahe hon. Jab sab shaant hua, kothi ke kamre mein sirf unki saans thi, whiskey ki bachi hui khushboo thi, aur uske gale mein mangalsutra ki thandi ladi thi.

Rudra ne kurta nahi pehna, palang ke kinare baith kar uski peeth par haath phera. “Ticket teri hai, aaj raat bhi teri mohar hai. Ab sun, rani, agla kadam. Campaign shuru kar, Pushpa ke fund se, mere events se, Venkat ke industries wale manchon se. Jeet ke baad cabinet ki baat aayegi, lekin uske liye tu aur dikhegi, party aur maangegi. Ek aur baat, bandargaah par nazar rakh. Shekhar Goud sirf ticket nahi maang raha, woh Pushpa ke kaam ko kaatna chahta hai. Agar goli chali, to tu ghabraana mat, tu meri taraf dekhna, Naidu ki taraf dekhna. Kursi usi ki rehti hai jo jung mein bhi rani bani rahe.”

Srivalli uth kar chadar seene tak uthayi, mangalsutra bahar, awaaz thaki lekin saaf. “Shekhar Goud ki baat main sun rahi hoon. Campaign main shuru karungi, Pushpa ji ke saath, aapke cover ke saath. Cabinet ki baat jeet ke baad hogi, aaj nahi, yeh meri baat hai. Aur aaj raat ki baat is kothi ke andar rahegi. Pushpa ji ko aashirwad ki khushi dikhegi, yeh chehra nahi.”

“Aur nahi, aaj nahi,” Jolly ne halka sa kaha, uske baal theek karte hue, “aaj tu le gayi, bhabhi. Main teri backbone, malik nahi, yeh baat aaj bhi hai. Ghar ja, meetha kha, kal posters nikalenge.”

Usne bathroom mein chehra dhoya, sindoor bhara, vermilion Banarasi wapas pehni, pallu kas kar, aur sheeshe mein ek thaki, sajti hui rani dekhi, jiske andar do haathon ki raat thi, aur bahar aashirwad ki soorat thi. *Do haath, ek kursi, aur main le kar jaa rahi hoon. Shekhar Goud jo bhi kare, main peeche nahi hatungi, aur Pushpa ji ko yeh raat nahi dikhegi.*

Wapas raste par vermilion pallu uske kandhe par thoda sa khisaka, usne kas liya, aur dashboard ki roshni mein apni thaki aankhein dekhi. *Aaj dono ke beech thi main, aaj maine haan kahi, aaj meri body ne jawab diya, aur ticket ab kaagaz par hai. Shekhar Goud ka naam meri yaad mein baith gaya hai, jaise koi aane wali goli ka pehla shabd. Ab ghar jaana hai, meetha khana hai, muskurana hai, kyunki rani wahi hai jo dono chehre sambhal sake.*

Haveli mein meetha rakha tha, maa ji jaag rahi thi, Pushpa ji verandah par intezaar mein the. Srivalli ne muskurakar kaha, “Aashirwad mil gaya, Pushpa ji. Rudra uncle khush hain, Jolly posters ki baat kar raha hai, kal se kaam shuru. Main thak gayi hoon, lekin khush hoon.”

Unhone usko baahon mein liya, uski vermilion zari unki shirt se lagi, aur unki awaaz uske baalon mein giri. “Meri rani, meri queen. So ja. Kal se teri duniya badi hone wali hai.”

Palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya. Srivalli ne aankhein ek pal khuli rakhi. *Duniya badi hogi, aur us duniya mein goli bhi ho sakti hai, yeh unhone kaha. Kal posters, parson jaan, aur meri kursi ab sirf dinner ki nahi, jung ki bhi hone wali hai.*

[Joker44]

Ticket ke doosre din se haveli ka subah badal gaya. Verandah par posters ke bundle the, Srivalli ka chehra un par muskurata hua, pallu theek, sindoor saaf, neeche party ka naam aur “Srivalli Pushpa Raj” likha hua. Dhoop abhi naram thi, mitti ki khushboo aangan mein thi, aur maa ji kitchen se chai ke saath baar-baar nikal kar un bundles ko dekh rahi thi, jaise koi prasad dekhe. Pushpa ji khud un bundles ko haath se ginte, beedi honth par, aankhon mein woh junoon jo jungle se sheher tak aata hai.

“Rani, aaj pehli rally hai, panchayat ground par,” unhone kaha, ek poster uthate hue, uske chehre ko apni rani se milate hue. “Main tere peeche khada hoonga, tu bol, main goli bhi kha lunga, lekin tu kaampegi nahi. Theek hai na? Log tera naam lenge, kuch log mera, aur kuch log woh nikaalenge jo nikaalna chahte hain. Tu mic par seedhi rahiye, main dekh loonga.”

Srivalli andar se nikal kar unke saamne chai rakhne aayi thi, aaj ki saree ek taaza safed-lal cotton-silk, lal border, simple gold jhumke, mangalsutra bahar, pallu tight, neeche lal blouse, sleeves kohni tak, peeth par teen chhote hooks, maang mein sindoor ki saaf rekha, chhote tops, do patli choodiyan, payal nahi, taaki stage par awaaz kapde ki ho, zevar ki nahi. Yeh kothi wali rani ki soorat nahi thi. Yeh ummeedwaar ki soorat thi, jo pehli baar janata ke saamne jaaye. Usne tray neeche rakha, unke kandhe ke peeche kursi kheench kar baithi, aur awaaz ghar wali, naram, lekin seedhi rakhi.

“Haan, Pushpa ji, main nahi kaanpungi,” usne kaha, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue. “Aap mere peeche rahiye, aage meri awaaz hogi. Bas itna: koi utpat ho to aap gusse mein aage mat nikal jaana, mujhe pata karne dijiye. Meri politics meri hai, aapki goli aapki, dono ka hisaab alag rahe to achha hai. Aaj meri pehli speech hai, main usko goli se nahi, lafz se nikalna chahti hoon.”

Unhone hans kar uska haath pakada, apni badi, kaathi hui hatheli mein. “Tu rani bhi hai, minister bhi banne wali hai, meri sherni bhi hai. Lafz tere, goli meri, theek hai, aaj ke liye. Chalo, gaadi khadi hai. Maa, tu ghar rahiye, radio par sun lena, hum shaam se pehle wapas.”

Maa ji kitchen ke darwaze par khadi ho gayi, aanchal se aankh ponchhti hui, lekin muskurati hui. “Ja, beti, muh dekh ke baat karna, zyada nahi jhukna. Hamari bahu hai tu, aaj sheher bhi yeh baat sunega. Prasad le ke nahi, apni soorat le ke ja.” Srivalli ne unke pair chhue, pallu theek kiya, aur jeeb ke peeche woh soch daba li jo keh rahi thi ki aaj ki soorat ke peeche kal raat ke teen chehre bhi hain, jo posters par nahi chhapenge. *Aaj meri pehli taali nikalni hai, aur meri pehli file bhi. Shekhar Goud ka naam meri yaad mein baitha hai, lekin aaj main us naam se nahi, apne lafz se nikalungi.*

Panchayat ground par dhoop tez thi, mitti uth rahi thi, loudspeaker pehle kharab tha, phir theek hua, aur auratein konon mein pallu le kar khadi thi, mard aage, bachche stage ke kinare. Ek taraf party ke jhande the, doosri taraf kuch logon ke haath mein saade posters, aur beech mein woh mitti ka ground jahan se awaaz uthni thi. Srivalli jeep se utri, safed-lal cotton-silk ki pleats dhoop mein chamki, lal border uski ranon ke ghere par, pallu seene par kasa, mangalsutra bahar, jhumke chhote, sindoor saaf, jaise koi asal mein janata ke beech aayi ho, kothi se nahi. Pushpa ji ek kadam peeche the, kali shirt, aankhon mein ghamand aur chinta dono, Raka aur Kesari convoy ke kinare, aur Jolly party ke logon ke saath, muskaan camera ke liye.

Jolly uske kareeb aaye, short, dheemi awaaz, taaki bheed na sune. “Bhabhi, mic par seedhi rahiye, lamba mat kijiye, paani aur mandi ka naam le lijiye, Shekhar ka mat. Aaj pehli taali nikalni hai, pehli ladai nahi. Main kinare hoon, baap ji ko report jaayegi.”

Srivalli ne unki taraf sirf itna kaha, muskaan bahar, hisaab andar, “Aap kinare rahiye, Jolly. Aaj meri awaaz meri hai. Jo naam lena hai, main soch kar lungi.” Phir woh stage ke wood par chadh gayi, heels nahi, simple chappal, taaki mitti mein phislein nahi, aur mic haath mein liya.

Awaaz shuru mein kaanpi, ek pal ke liye usko farmhouse ki peeli light yaad aa gayi, dinner ki mez, dono haath, vermilion Banarasi, phir usne saans bhari aur awaaz seedhi ki, jaise dining hall mein seedhi hui thi. “Namaste. Main koi badi neta nahi, main is sheher ki bahu hoon, Pushpa Raj ki patni hoon, aur aaj main aapse apni kursi nahi, aapka saath maangne aayi hoon. Jo kaam andhere mein hota tha, usko roshni chahiye, aur roshni meri soorat se nahi, mere kaam se aani chahiye. Aapke port par, aapke mandi mein, aapke ghar tak, main wada karti hoon ki meri file aapki file rahegi.”

Bheed ne taali bajayi, kuch logon ne Pushpa ka naam bhi liya, “Pushpa Raj zindabad,” aur ek kone se kuch logon ne “Shekhar Goud zindabad” bhi kaha, lekin woh awaaz dabi reh gayi. Srivalli ne us kone ki taraf ek pal dekha, chehre saaf nahi the, lekin irada saaf tha. *Yeh meri pehli taali hai, aur yeh meri pehli chitauni bhi hai. Main kaanpungi nahi.* Usne mic ko dono haathon mein liya, pallu hawa se bachate hue, aur aage kaha, “Mandi mein line kam honi chahiye, paani ka hisaab saaf hona chahiye, aur auraton ko sirf vote nahi, line mein bhi jagah chahiye. Main aapka muh nahi meetha karne aayi, main aapka kaam lene aayi hoon. Jo goli se baat karega, uska jawab meri party ke paas hai, lekin pehle meri awaaz sun lijiye: main yahan se hatne wali nahi.”

Taali is baar tez hui. Pushpa ji ke honth par proud ki muskaan thi, Jolly ne phone par kuch type kiya, aur kone wale logon ne munh phira, jaise aaj ke liye itna kaafi ho. Srivalli ne mic neeche rakha, haath jod kar, aur stage se utarti hue Pushpa ji ka haath ek pal ke liye apni hatheli mein liya. Unki hatheli garam thi, uski thandi, aur unki awaaz mein proud tha.

“Theek thi, rani,” unhone kaha. “Tu boli, logon ne suna. Woh kone wale main dekh liya, aaj unko chhoda, kal nahi chhodunga. Ab ghar nahi, ek nazar godown par, phir haveli. Campaign ke beech bhi kaam nahi rukna chahiye.”

“Theek hai,” usne kaha, gaadi ki taraf chalte hue, pallu god mein sambhalte hue. “Lekin aap aage mat nikalna, main saath hoon. Aaj meri pehli speech nikal gayi, ab meri pehli nazar bhi nikalni hai, is raste par, is kaam par. Phone mere haath mein rahega.”

Rally ke baad convoy wapas haveli ke raste nahi, godown ke raste gaya, kyunki Pushpa ji ne kaha tha ek nazar timber par daalni hai. Do jeep aage, unki gaadi beech mein, Raka pichhli jeep mein, mitti ka rasta, ped dono taraf, aur dhoop ab dhalne lagi thi. Srivalli unki gaadi mein thi, pallu god mein, phone mein Prakash Naidu ka number pehle se khola hua, jo usne dinner ke baad save kar liya tha. Safed-lal saree ki pleats seat par faili thi, lal blouse ki kali uski saans ke saath uth-gir rahi thi, aur mangalsutra har speed-breaker par uski chhati se lagta. Driver chup tha, Pushpa ji khidki se bahar dekh rahe the, beedi abhi nahi jalayi.

“Rani, tu thak to nahi gayi?” unhone poocha, bina mud kar. “Pehli baar itne logon ke saamne boli tu. Awaaz kaampi thi, phir seedhi ho gayi. Mujhe pasand aayi.”

“Thak nahi, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, awaaz ab shaant. “Awaaz kaampi thi, yeh main chhupati nahi, lekin main hat nahi rahi. Yeh rasta itna shaant hai ki mujhe bharosa nahi ho raha. Shekhar Goud ka naam kal raat se mere kaan mein hai, aur aaj us kone se bhi aaya. Aap nazar rakhie, main bhi rakhungi.”

Unhone sir hilaaya, ab bhi khidki ki taraf. “Main rakh raha hoon. Tu phone mat chhodna.”

Shaant tab tooti jab pehli goli windshield ke upar se nikal kar tinkti hui hawa mein gaayi, aur doosri ne unke escort wale jeep ke tyre ko tod diya. Awaaz itni kareeb thi ki Srivalli ke kaan mein ek pal ke liye sirf sitti bachi. Driver ne gaadi ghumayi, mitti uth kar khidki par lagi, aur Pushpa ji ne Srivalli ko neeche dhakela, unki bhari hatheli uske sar par, unki awaaz kati hui thi. “Rani, neeche, sar jhuka, nikalna nahi. Raka, Kesari, seedhe nikaalo, yeh goli humari nahi.”

Srivalli seat ke peeche dab gayi, pallu munh ke kareeb, saans tez, lekin usne aankhein band nahi ki. Safed-lal kapda ab mitti se chipakne laga, choodiyan haath par kaanpti, mangalsutra uski chhati par thak-thak karta hua lagta tha. Bahar se chillahat aayi, doosri jeep ruk gayi, Munna ki awaaz, phir Raka ki, aur goli ki awaaz kareeb se, phir door se. Unhone dekha, ek pal, ki Pushpa ji ne apni purani pistol nikaali, darwaza khola, aur bahar kude, unki peeth uske saamne se kaali shirt mein ghayab ho gayi. *Aap bahar ho, aur main yahan hoon, aur meri kursi ki pehli subah goli se nikal rahi hai. Main yahan dari hui bahu nahi banungi.*

Usne phone uthaya, haath kaanpte hue bhi Prakash Naidu ka number lagaya. Do ring par unhone uthaya, awaaz file jaisi. “Rani ji?”

“Naidu ji, meri gaadi godown road par hai, goli chal rahi hai, Shekhar Goud ke log lagte hain, Pushpa ji bahar hain, meri party ki rani ab bhi is gaadi mein hai,” usne kaha, awaaz kaanpti, lekin har lafz saaf. “Aapke port security officer aur local thana ko abhi nikalna hoga. Yeh meri file hai, aapki zabaan ki, pehli dinner ki nahi, aaj ki. Bhejiye. Location abhi deti hoon.”

Ek pal ki khamoshi ke baad Prakash ne kaha, “Location bhejiye, main abhi call karta hoon. Gaadi se mat utariye. Sar jhukaye rahiye. Main aata hoon nahi, lekin meri uniform aayegi. Baat rakhunga. Phone mat katna.”

Srivalli ne location bheji, phir Pushpa ji ki taraf dekhne ki koshish ki. Bahar Raka ek deewar ke peeche se goli chala raha tha, Kesari doosri taraf se, Munna ek ghayal aadmi ko kheench kar nali ke kareeb le ja raha tha. Shekhar ke log kaale scooter aur ek van se nikal rahe the, chehre dhake, lekin unki goli ab itni azad nahi thi, kyunki Pushpa ke aadmi jungle ke hisaab se lad rahe the, sheher ke nahi. Ek goli gaadi ke darwaze mein lagi, dhaat ki awaaz itni kareeb thi ki Srivalli ki payal nahi, uski saans tak hili, lekin usne chillaya nahi, sirf pallu ko munh par aur kas liya, aur phone haath mein pakde rahi.

“Rani ji, theek hain?” Prakash ki awaaz phone par wapas aayi, ab file se thodi tez.

“Theek hoon, gaadi mein hoon, darwaze mein goli lagi hai, main andar hoon,” usne kaha. “Aapki jeep kitni door hai?”

“Saat-aath minute. Andar rahiye.”

Pushpa ji ki goli ne van ke darwaze ko theka, Raka ne ek scooter wale ko neeche gira diya, Kesari ki taraf se do goliyan deewar ke us paar gayi. Srivalli seat ke peeche se itna uth kar dekhti ki usko pata rahe kaun khada hai, kaun gira, aur uski safed-lal saree ab mitti aur dar se chipak rahi thi, pallu munh par, choodiyan haath par kaanpti. Baarood ki khushboo khidki se andar aa rahi thi, mitti ki, garmi ki, aur ek pal ko usko laga ki time ruka hua hai, sirf yeh awaaz aur uski saans. *Main yahan mari nahi, main yahan rani hoon, aur meri file ko is raste par khatam nahi hone dungi. Aap bahar ho, Pushpa ji, meri goli nahi, meri file yahin se chal rahi hai.*

Munna ek ghayal saathi ko kheenchte hue chillaya, “Bhaiyya, peeche se aa rahe hain,” aur Pushpa ji ne seedhe nahi, tedhe chal kar goli chalayi, jungle wala andaaz, sheher wala coat nahi. Van ke peeche se do aur scooter nikalne wale the, lekin Raka ki jeep unke raste mein aa gayi, aur awaaz ab do taraf se thi, ek unki, ek dushman ki.

[Joker44]

Das minute baad, jo das ghante jaisa laga, door se siren aayi. Pehle ek, phir doosri, phir ek van, aur Prakash ke bataaye hue officer ne aawaz lagayi, megaphone par, “Hathiyar neeche, CM office aur port commission ka order hai. Hathiyar neeche, haath dikhao.” Shekhar ke log bhaage, ek van ulat si, ek aadmi pakda gaya, do scooter mitti mein reh gaye, aur jo awaaz bachi, woh siren ki thi, goli ki nahi. Officer ne van ke kareeb jaa kar number padha, Raka ko ek taraf kiya, aur Srivalli ki gaadi ke sheeshe par ek baar dastak di, lekin Pushpa ji ne haath uthakar rok diya, jaise koi apni rani ko abhi un aankhon ke saamne na nikaalna chahe. “Andar meri patni hai, pehle main nikalta hoon,” unhone kaha, awaaz bhari, lekin seedhi. Officer ne sir hilaaya, “Theek hai, saab, statement baad mein, pehle aap dono safe nikaaliye. Port commission ka order saaf hai, cover rahega.”

Pushpa ji apni pistol neeche karke Srivalli ki gaadi ke darwaze par aaye, maathe par mitti, kali shirt par dhool, aankhon mein wohi junoon, lekin jab unhone usko dekha, neeche dabi, pallu kaisa, to unka chehra ek pal ke liye sirf pati ka reh gaya.

Unhone darwaza khola, haath uske kandhe par, uske chehre par, jaise ginti kar rahe hon, kaan, maathe, pallu ke neeche, “Rani, theek hai tu? Lage to nahi? Bol, rani, mujhe dekh, theek hai tu?”

“Theek hoon, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, awaaz kaanpti thi, lekin tuti nahi. Woh seat se uth kar unke haath mein aa gayi, mitti uski saree par, unki shirt par, dono par ek hi raste ki khushboo. “Aap ghayal to nahi? Munna, Raka? Main Naidu ji ko phone kar chuki hoon, isliye security officer aayi. Yeh meri politics thi, aapki goli aapki, dono kaam aa gaye. Munna ko dekhiye, woh kisi ko kheench rahe the.”

Unhone usko baahon mein kas liya, beedi ki khushboo aur baarood ki khushboo ek saath, aur unki awaaz uske baalon mein giri. “Meri sherni, tu ne phone nahi kiya hota to der ho jaati. Munna theek hai, ek saathi ka haath kata-phata hai, lekin chalega, clinic bhej rahe hain. Yeh Shekhar Goud ab meri list mein hai, rani, main usko chhodunga nahi. Tu ghar chal, campaign kal, aaj nahi. Aaj teri saree mitti mein hai, meri jaan bhi, ab bas.”

Srivalli ne unki shirt par haath rakha, mitti lagi hui, aur sir hilaaya, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue. “Ghar chalegi, lekin campaign kal rukegi nahi. Unhone meri pehli subah par goli chalaayi, to main doosri subah stage par hi khadi houngi. Aap unko dhoondhiye, main apni file sambhalungi. Naidu ji ko main khud shukriya kahungi. Aaj meri pehli taali thi, meri pehli goli bhi, aur dono ko main le kar chalungi, aapke saath, aapke peeche nahi chip kar.”

Unhone uska chehra dono hatheliyon mein liya, maathe par mitti ki ek lakeer, aur kaha, “Chalo, jeep doosri wale se jaayegi, yeh darwaza ab kaam ka nahi. Tu meri rani hai, tu meri sherni hai, aur aaj tu meri neta bhi dikhi. Ghar chal.”

Woh doosri jeep mein baithi, pallu god mein, Pushpa ji uske bagal, Raka driving, aur raste par dono kuch der chup rahe. Mitti ab bhi uski saree par thi, lal border par dhool ki lakeer, aur uske haath ab itne nahi kaanpte the jitne gaadi ke andar kaanpte the. Munna pichhli jeep mein tha, window se usne ek baar haath uthaya, jaise keh raha ho theek hoon, aur Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, honth par koi muskaan nahi, sirf ek saans jo ab seedhi thi. “Raka, clinic pehle, haveli baad mein,” Pushpa ji ne kaha, aur Raka ne sirf “Haan, bhaiyya,” kaha. Clinic ke bahar woh utri nahi, sirf khidki se dekha ki Munna ke saathi ko andar le jaaya ja raha hai, phir jeep haveli ki taraf mud gayi. *Aaj meri pehli speech thi, aaj meri pehli goli thi, aur dono ek hi dhoop mein nikal gayi. Kal main wapas stage par houngi, is mitti ke saath nahi, is hisaab ke saath.*

Shaam ko haveli mein maa ji royi, pehle usko dekh kar, mitti lagi saree, pallu bigda, phir khana garam kiya, paani garam kiya, aur baar-baar yahi poochti rahi ki baal to nahi kate, haath to nahi lage. Srivalli ne unke pair chhue, unko baithaya, aur kaha, “Maa ji, theek hoon, sirf kapde kharab hue hain, main nahi. Aap roiyega mat, kal phir speech hai.” Usne andar jaa kar woh safed-lal saree utari, blouse ke hooks khole, mitti wale kapde ek alag tokri mein daale, aur nahaa kar ek naram off-white cotton ki saree pehni, pallu simple, mangalsutra wapas, sindoor theek, jaise ghar ki rani wapas aa gayi ho, stage ki mitti utar kar.

Kaveri college se aakar, bag kandhe par, simple salwar-kameez mein, darwaze par ruki aur poocha, “Mami, theek ho aap? Sheher mein awaaz hai, goli chali, log keh rahe the aapki gaadi par… main dar gayi.” Srivalli ne uske maathe par haath phera, jaise subah karti hai, koi khaas dabao nahi, sirf ghar ki badi, aur kaha, “Theek hoon, beta. Tu andar ja, kha le, zyada pooch mat, sab sambhal gaya. Aaj ghar mein shor nahi chahiye, tu apna kaam kar, kal apne lectures dekhna.” Kaveri ne ek pal aur dekha, jaise kuch aur kehna chahti ho, phir andar chali gayi. Srivalli ne uski peeth dekhi, ek buddhi si chinta si uthi, jaise is ghar ki har aurat ke peeche koi apni kahani ho, phir usne nazar hata li aur phone uthaya.

Prakash ne khud call nahi kiya, ek short message bheja: “Aap theek hain to kaafi hai. Kal meri office, das baje, official statement ke liye. Zaroorat ho to aaj bhi. Jo aadmi pakda gaya, uski file khul gayi hai.”

Srivalli ne verandah par jaa kar Pushpa ji ko kaha, jo ab naha kar saaf kurta mein the, lekin aankhon mein ab bhi raste ki dhool thi, “Naidu ji ne official statement ke liye bulaya hai, kal subah das baje, party wala kaam, meri file. Main jaaungi, aap chahiye to baad mein thana dekh lijiye, aaj nahi. Aap khao, thoda let jaaiye.”

Unhone haan kar di, ab bhi us phone wali rani par proud, aur uska haath pakad kar kaha, “Tu kal unko shukriya keh dena, meri taraf se bhi. Jo der nahi hui, uski wajah tu hai, rani. Main yeh baat nahi bhoolunga.”

Raat ko palang par unka haath uski kamar par tha, off-white cotton ke neeche, wahi garam, bhari, lekin unki neend der se aayi, aur uski bhi. Kamra shaant tha, pankha dheere chal raha tha, bahar kutta bhowka, phir sab chup. Srivalli ceiling ki taraf dekhti rahi, sindoor ab raat ke liye halka, mangalsutra nighty ke andar. *Aaj goli meri gaadi ke darwaze mein lagi, aaj maine Naidu ko phone kiya, aaj meri kursi ne pehli baar meri jaan bhi maangi. Kal unki office jaaungi, shukriya kahungi, aur jo file chalani hogi, chalaungi. Shekhar Goud, aapki goli meri pehli speech se sasti pad gayi, lekin yeh jung yahin khatam nahi hui. Pushpa ji, aap mere bagal mein so rahe ho, aur main aapki goli aur apni file dono ko ek saath le kar so rahi hoon, is farq ke saath ki aapko meri file ka poora chehra nahi dikha.*

Uske phone par, raat ke gyarah baje, ek aur message aaya, jis number ko usne mahino baad dekha tha, jiski English uske dimag mein cruise ki yaad le aayi, lounge ki, us pehli shart ki, us keemat ki jo ab uski kursi ke peeche chhoti padti thi.

Dave: I hear my queen is on a ballot now. I’m in the city in two days. We should talk. You know I always keep my promises — and I remember yours.

Srivalli ne screen ko thodi der dekha, Pushpa ji ki saans uske baalon mein gir rahi thi, unka haath uski kamar par, aaj ki mitti ab dhul chuki thi, lekin baarood ki yaad ab bhi kapdon ke peeche, yaad ke peeche thi. Usne message ko delete nahi kiya, sirf lock screen neeche rakh diya, aur ceiling ki taraf dekhti rahi. *Dave. Woh wapas aa raha hai, woh aadmi jiske saath maine ek raat mein apni keemat khud tay ki thi, jisne mujhe apni queen kaha tha jab mera pehla sauda hua tha. Is baar main uski pehli wali aurat nahi, ek ticket wali rani hoon, jiski gaadi par aaj goli lagi hai, jiski file mein Naidu aur Venkat hain. Main usse milungi, soch kar, apni shart par, kyunki bandargaah ki jung mein uska paise aur uski ships ka bhi hisaab ho sakta hai. Pehle kal ki office, pehle meri saans, phir yeh angrezi lafz. Pushpa ji, aap so rahe ho, aur main ek aur hisaab soch rahi hoon, jo aapki neend mein nahi aana chahiye.*

Usne unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein band ki, aur honthon par koi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line, jo kal stage par wapas khadi hone wali thi.

Subah ki office ek saaf, thande corridor mein thi, jahan flags the, benches thi, aur Prakash Naidu apne khaki rang ke formal suit mein, table ke peeche, jaise kal raat ki goli unke papers par nahi, unki zimmedari par giri ho. Srivalli ne aaj ek saadi simple beige chanderi pehni thi, pallu tight, chhote tops, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, koi zari nahi, koi aashirwad wali dulhan nahi, sirf ek ummeedwaar jo statement dene aayi ho. Beige blouse ke sleeves kohni tak the, pleats saaf, chappal nahi, simple sandals, jaise koi asal office aayi ho, kothi se nahi. Unhone usko kursi di, paani diya, aur darwaza band kiya, lekin pehle ek clerk ko bahar bithaaya, taaki baat andar ki rahe.

“Aap theek hain, yeh dekh kar sukoon hai, rani ji,” Prakash ne kaha, awaaz file jaisi, lekin aankhon mein kal raat ka hisaab bhi tha, aur us hisaab ke peeche woh raat bhi thi jo dinner wali farmhouse mein unke beech guzri thi, jisko aaj dono ne naam nahi diya. “security officer ne ek aadmi pakda, van registered Shekhar ke aadmi ke naam par hai, seedha saboot abhi kam hai, lekin file khul gayi hai. Aapke phone ke bagair der ho jaati, yeh main record par nahi likhunga, lekin aapki yaad mein likh raha hoon. Statement yeh hoga ki ummeedwaar par hamla hua, state cover degi, campaign jaari rahegi. Koi aapki goli ka zikr nahi karega, koi aapke phone ka nahi. Aap sign kar dijiye, main aage bhejta hoon.”

Srivalli ne papers padhe, dheere, jaise ticket wali file padhi thi, har line, har paragraph, phir pen uthaya, lekin sign se pehle unki aankhon mein dekha. “Naidu ji, kal raat aapki zabaan kaam aa gayi, isliye main aaj shukriya kehne aayi hoon, sirf sign ke liye nahi. Shekhar Goud rukega nahi, yeh main jaanti hoon, aur bandargaah ki taraf bhi nazar jaayegi. Jab file atke, main aapki taraf dekhungi, jaise aapne kaha tha. Aaj main aur kuch nahi maang rahi, sirf itna ki meri jaan aur meri campaign aapki cover mein rahe. Aur itna: jo aadmi pakda gaya, uski file meri nazar se bhi guzre, chhup kar nahi, saaf.”

Unhone sir hilaaya, pen neeche rakha, aur dheere kaha, “Cover rahega. File aapko dikhegi, jo dikhani chahiye. Aapki jaan ab sirf aapki nahi, party ki file hai, yeh bhi sach hai. Kal raat wali baat is office ke bahar nahi jaayegi, aaj wali bhi nahi, aur jo raat us se pehle thi, woh bhi isi hisaab mein band hai. Aap ghar jaaiye, rally rukiyega nahi, aur jo angrezi number aapke phone par aaya ho, us par bhi soch kar kadam rakhiye. Sheher chhota hai, rani ji, jahaaz bade hain. Main naam nahi le raha, lekin nazar rakhie.”

Srivalli ke honth ek pal ruke. Unhone Dave ka naam nahi liya, lekin baat nikal aayi, itni saaf ki uski ungliyan pallu par kas gayi. *Sheher chhota hai. Jahaaz bade hain. Main soch kar chalungi.* “Main soch kar chalungi, Naidu ji. Aapki file ka shukriya, aapki zabaan ka bhi. Kal meri doosri speech hai, aapki cover us par bhi chahiye, bina shor ke.”

“Bina shor ke rahegi,” unhone kaha, uth kar usko darwaze tak chhodte hue, haath nahi lagaya, sirf itna fasla jitna office ka hota hai. “Aap jeetiye, rani ji. Baaki meri file sambhal legi. Jo van pakdi gayi, uska paper aaj shaam tak aapke party office pahunchega, chhupa hua nahi, sealed. Aap padh lijiye, phir jalaane ya rakhne ka faisla aapka.”

Srivalli ne namaste kiya, pallu theek kiya, aur dheere kaha, “Main padhungi, Naidu ji. Aapki zabaan aaj bhi meri file mein hai, jaise us raat kahi thi. Farq itna hai ki aaj main shukriya kehne aayi hoon, maangne nahi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, kuch aur nahi kaha, lekin unki nazar ek pal uske mangalsutra par ruki, phir papers par wapas aa gayi, jaise office ka hisaab ghar ke hisaab se alag rakhna unka kaam ho.

Woh corridor se nikal kar apni gaadi mein baithi, haath steering par, beige pallu god mein, choodiyan ek baar bajin, phir shaant. Andar darr ab kam tha, hisaab zyada tha. Sheeshe mein uski aankhein thaki thi, lekin sindoor saaf tha, pallu theek tha, rani jaisi ban-than thi, jaise koi asal statement de kar wapas jaa rahi ho. *Goli nikal gayi, statement nikal gaya, aur do din baad Dave. Main uski taraf bhi soch kar jaaungi, apni kursi ke liye, apni file ke liye, apni ambishn ke liye. Pushpa ji site par honge ab tak, meri doosri speech kal hogi, aur jo angrezi lafz raat ko aaye, unka jawab main jaldi mein nahi dungi. Rani wahi hai jo dono chehre sambhal sake, aur jo goli ke baad bhi apni file hath se na chhode.*

[Joker44]

Do din baad ki shaam haveli ke sheeshe mein ek alag rani khadi thi. Srivalli ne aaj saree nahi, ek deep black satin gown chuni thi, lambi, body par tight, neeche slit jo chalte hi ran tak khul jaata, gale par ek patli gold line, peeth adhkhuli, aur uske upar bhi mangalsutra usne nahi utara, kali ladiyan kaale satin par chamak rahi thi. Baal khule, ek taraf kaan ke peeche, kundan tops, sindoor ki patli rekha maang mein, jaise koi is dress ke saath bhi apni shaadi ka nishan le kar jaa rahi ho. Payal nahi, sirf ek patli gold payal si chain anklet, aur black heels. Attar halka, sandalwood nahi, kuch tez, sheher wala, jaise koi investor-meeting ke liye nikal rahi ho, kothi ki bahu ki tarah nahi.

Usne sheeshe ke saamne khade-khade zipper khud check kiya, peeth ke neeche tak, sheer black wrap seene par rakha, jo mangalsutra ko poori tarah nahi chhupata tha, aur lipstick ek patli dark line, zyada nahi, taaki baad mein mite to bhi rani dikhe, bibiyan nahi. *Aaj main us aadmi ke paas jaa rahi hoon jiske saath maine ek raat apni keemat khud tay ki thi, jiske saath mera pehla sauda hua tha, aur aaj meri haan meri hogi, meri shart meri hogi. Gown kaala hai, lekin meri maang laal hai, yeh main nahi chhodungi.*

Pushpa ji darwaze par ruk gaye, aankhon mein ek pal ki hairani, nazar gown ke slit par, phir mangalsutra par, phir uski aankhon par, aur unhone kuch nahi kaha us dress par, sirf itna poocha, awaaz mein ek halka sa sawal, “Rani, yeh meeting itni raat ki hai? Foreign investor hai na, Jolly bol raha tha port ki baat hai. Main chalun saath? Itna ooncha hotel, itni der, mujhe achha nahi lagta tu akeli jaaye.”

Srivalli ne unki taraf mud kar muskuraya, awaaz ghar wali, wrap seene par theek karte hue. “Aap nahi, Pushpa ji. Yeh angrezi baat hai, hotel ki, contract ki. Jolly introduce karega, main baat karungi, late hua to phone kar dungi. Aap chinta mat kijiye, yeh meri file ka hissa hai, aapki goli ka nahi. Bandargaah ke liye yeh aadmi kaam aa sakta hai, aapke timber ke liye bhi. Main sambhal jaaungi.”

Unhone uske maathe par kiss kiya, beedi ki khushboo ek pal uske baalon mein rahi, aur kaha, “Theek hai. Tu jaanti hai tu kya kar rahi hai. Main yahin hoon. Der ho to message kar dena, main jagta rahunga.” *Aap kehte hain main jaanti hoon, aur main jaanti bhi hoon, lekin aapko yeh nahi dikhana ki main kisko milne jaa rahi hoon. Dave wapas aaya hai, aur is baar main apni haan le kar, apni kursi le kar jaa rahi hoon. Aap verandah par beedi jalayenge, aur main oonche floor par apni file ki keemat soch kar dungi.*

Gaadi mein baithte hue usne sheer wrap kas liya, slit ko ek pal god mein chhupaaya, phir chhod diya, kyunki chhupana ab uska kaam nahi tha. Driver aage tha, chup, aur raste par sheher ki lights window par daudne lagi. Srivalli ne phone mein Dave ka last message ek baar aur padha, phir lock kar diya. *Do din pehle meri gaadi par goli lagi thi, aaj meri peeth khuli hui gown mein hai. Dono meri kursi ke hisaab hain, dono soch kar.*

Raste mein ek chauraha aaya jahan do din pehle posters lage the, uska chehra, pallu theek, “Srivalli Pushpa Raj,” aur usne nazar hata li, kyunki kaala gown us poster wali bahu se nahi milta tha. Dil tez tha, haath thande, lekin faisla pehle ho chuka tha. Usne driver se kaha, “Gate par khade rahiye, der ho sakti hai, aap chai le lijiye, main phone kar dungi.” Driver ne sir hilaaya, “Haan, rani ji,” aur us lafz par uske honth ek pal ke liye kas gaye, kyunki aaj yeh rani hotel ke oonche floor par apni keemat soch kar dene wali thi.

Hotel ka lobby thanda tha, marble, chhoti si music, aur lift ke sheeshe mein uski kaali soorat ek pal ke liye itni alag lagi ki usko khud par hasi bhi aayi, ghabrahat bhi. Penthouse sheher ke sabse oonche floor par tha, sheeshe ki deewar, neeche lights, andar thandi hawa aur whiskey ki halki si khushboo. Dave khada tha, lambi body, steel-grey shirt, sleeves folded, dark trousers, neeli aankhein wahi thandi, lekin jab unhone usko dekha, black gown, mangalsutra, sindoor, to unke honth par ek pehchaan si muskaan aayi, jaise koi apni purani file khol raha ho, aur paaye ki file badal chuki ho.

“Mrs. Pushpa,” unhone English mein kaha, phir Hinglish mein, awaaz wohi control wali, “ya ab main MLA Srivalli kahun? Come in. You look like a queen who finally read her own contract.” Unhone glass badhaya, whiskey, do cubes, aur usne sir hilaaya, heels par ek kadam andar, wrap ko seene par rakhte hue.

“Paani, whiskey nahi,” usne kaha, awaaz shaant, seedhi. “Mujhe hosh chahiye, Dave. Aaj main wahi aurat nahi hoon jo aapke lounge mein royi thi. Naam Srivalli hi rahega, MLA abhi nahi, ticket zaroor. Aap baithiye, main bhi baithungi, pehle baat, baad mein jo socha hai.”

Dave ne paani diya, usko sheeshe ke kareeb kursi di, aur khud saamne baitha, taangein lambi, nazar uske mangalsutra par, phir slit par, phir aankhon par, jaise koi hisaab ek-ek karke padh raha ho. “I heard about the shots on your road. I also heard your name is on a ticket, and that Venkat and a commissioner picked up a phone for you. You’ve been busy. I came because I keep my word, and because a port at war is a place where my ships still matter. The question is, what do you want from me this time — and what are you willing to give, now that no one is holding a jail key over you?”

Srivalli ne paani ka ghoont liya, glass rakha, aur unki neeli aankhon mein dekha, awaaz shaant, seedhi, jitni dinner par thi, jitni Naidu ki office mein thi. “Aap seedhe poochhte hain, to main seedha bolti hoon. Us raat main aapke paas apna pehla sauda karne aayi thi, aankhein khuli rakh kar. Aaj main aapke paas apni kursi le kar aayi hoon, apni marzi se. Shekhar Goud mere convoy par goli chala chuka hai, bandargaah par nazar hai, aur mujhe aapki ships, aapka paise, aur aapka international cover chahiye, taaki meri file sirf sheher ki na rahe. Jo dungi, soch kar dungi, aaj raat, yahin, lekin kisi dabav se nahi, kisi purani file se nahi, kisi purani yaad se nahi. Aap meri pehli shart ko aaj ki haan par mat lapetiye. Aap meri saath ki baat kijiye. Agar yeh manzoor ho, to main rukungi. Nahi ho to main abhi nikal sakti hoon, ticket meri hai, aapke bagair bhi.”

Dave thodi der chup rahe, glass apne honth tak le gaye, phir neeche rakha, aur hans pade, dheemi, steel jaisi hansi, jo pehle darati thi, aaj sirf hisaab jaisi lagi. “There she is. The woman I first bargained with, sharper now. All right, rani. I’ll move a line of credit, I’ll hold a ship at your port when you need a show of force, and I’ll leak Shekhar’s foreign buyers to people who can hurt him. In return, I want tonight. Not a week, not a cruise, tonight. You in that dress, then out of it, on my terms in bed, but on your yes. You say stop, I stop. You say slower, I go slower. That’s the contract. Do we have it?”

Srivalli ne ek pal sheeshe ke bahar sheher dekha, neeche lights, haveli us roshni mein kahin chhoti, aur andar uska dil tez. Ghabrahat thi, purani yaad thi, uske jism par pehli raat ki nishaniyan ab nahi thin, lekin unki yaad thi, lounge ki, us raat ki, jab maine apni keemat khud tay ki thi. Uske saath aaj ek saaf hisaab tha, aur woh hisaab aaj uske honth tak aa gaya. Usne socha, ships, credit, Shekhar ke buyers, aur us soch ke saath us gown ki peeth, uski maang ka laal, aur woh baat ki agar woh abhi uth kar chali jaaye, to ticket uske paas fir bhi rahegi, lekin bandargaah ki jung adhuri pad sakti hai. Usne glass ek baar aur chhua, paani nahi piya, sirf hatheli thandi rakhne ke liye, aur kaha, awaaz halki lekin tuti nahi, “Haan. Aaj raat meri haan hai. Dress aap utarie, mangalsutra rahega, sindoor rahega. Jo kahungi ruko, rukiye. Dheere kahungi to dheere kijiye. Yeh meri shart hai, aapki bhi, jo aapne kahi. Iske aage koi purani file, koi purana naam mat lijiye. Aaj ki raat aaj ki hai.”

“Good,” Dave ne kaha, uth kar uske kareeb aate hue, haath pehle uske sheer wrap par, phir uski kamar par, satin ke upar se, garam, lambi ungliyan, control wali. “Then come here, and look at me while I take it off. I want to see that you’re still choosing it. If you look away because you’re afraid, I’ll wait. If you look at me because you mean it, I’ll go on.”

Srivalli uth khadi hui, heels par, unke itne kareeb ki unki shirt uske gown ke gold line se lag gayi, aur usne unki aankhon mein dekha, nazar nahi hatayi. “Dekh rahi hoon, Dave. Utarie. Main yahin hoon, apni marzi se.”

Unhone wrap utara, pehle ek kandhe se, phir doosre se, kapda sofa par giraya, phir gown ke zipper ko peeth par dheere khola, satin uski chamri se khisaka, thanda, phisalta, aur black kapda taknon tak gir gaya, heels ke kareeb ek kaala gher. Srivalli heels mein khadi rahi, nangi, mangalsutra, tops, sindoor, anklet, aur sheeshe mein neeche sheher ki lights uski peeth par gir rahi thi, uski chhati par kali ladiyan, uski maang mein laal rekha. Dave ne usko oonche se neeche tak dekha, ek lamba saans liya, haath abhi nahi lagaya, sirf dekha, aur kaha, “Still the most expensive thing in any room I’m in. Turn around once. I want the back, then I want your mouth, then I want you on your back. Tell me you want that order, or change it.”

Woh ek baar mud kar sheeshe ki taraf khadi hui, peeth unke saamne, adhkhuli si yaad us zipper ki jagah, aur kaha, awaaz mein sharm thi, lekin inkaar nahi, “Yahi order theek hai. Pehle aap dekhiye, phir main muh se lungi, phir aap mujhe palang par lijiye, dheere. Main chahti hoon, yeh main keh rahi hoon.”

Dave ne peeche se uski kamar pakadi, honth uski gardan par, sindoor ki line ke kareeb nahi, kandhe ke neeche, aur kaha, “Kneel, then. Look at me while you do it.” Srivalli heels nikaal kar neeche baithi, carpet thanda, uske ghutnon ke neeche, aur unke trousers ke buckle ko khud khola, zipper, phir unka lund bahar liya, bada, garam, already tight, jaise contract ke pehle hi page par mohar lag chuki ho. Usne pehle sira chhusa, jeeb, phir honth, phir dheere andar liya, jitna munh ne diya, aur unki neeli aankhon mein dekhti rahi. Dave ke haath uske baalon mein the, kheenchte nahi, sirf pakde hue, aur unki awaaz ab control se thodi bhaari thi, “That’s it, good, you don’t have to take it all, just stay with me. You can stop whenever you want.”

Usne ek pal nikal kar saans li, honth chamakte, aur kaha, “Ruk nahi rahi, ahhh, thoda aur, dheere.” Phir wapas liya, gehra, jeeb ke neeche, haath unki jangh par, aur jab unki saans tez hui to usne sira honthon par rakh kar kaha, “Ab palang, jaise aapne kaha. Main let jaaungi, aap aaiye, andar lijiye, lekin pehle dheere.”

[Joker44]

“Bed. On your back. I want your face,” Dave ne kaha, usko uthate hue, khud bhi shirt ke button kholte hue, grey kapda ek taraf, seena ooncha, lambi body, aur palang tak le gaye. Silk chadar thandi thi, uski peeth us par lagi, aur usne pair dheere khole, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue, mangalsutra uski chhati par ek taraf sarakta, tops chamakte, sindoor saaf. “Haan, Dave. Andar lijiye, dheere. Main chahti hoon, aur main yahin hoon.”

Unhone apna lund uski geeli chut par raga, top tikaya, ek inch, ruk kar uska chehra dekha, “Still yes?” “Haan,” usne kaha, “poora, dheere.” Phir aur, inch-inch, jaise koi contract ke har page par dastkhat le raha ho, aur Srivalli ke muh se “Aaaahh…” nikalta raha, aankhein khuli, haath unki peeth par, naakhon se halka sa, kheenchte hue nahi, rakhe hue. Jab poora andar gaya to usne unhe apni taraf kheencha, taangein unki kamar par, “Haan, poora, mat rukiye. Main le rahi hoon. Ahhh, thoda ruk kar, phir aaiye, haan, waisi hi.”

Dave ke dhakke lambe the, control wale, kabhi tez, kabhi ruk kar uske boobs muh mein, kali ladiyon ko ek taraf karke, nipple honthon par, jeeb, phir wapas uski aankhon mein, English mein gande, saaf lafz, “That’s it, look at me, don’t hide, you’re not here because I own a jail key, you’re here because you want a port, and because you want this. Say it.” Unki baat uske andar tak gayi, sharm aur josh ek saath, aur usne kaha, saans toot-toot kar, “Haan, ahhh, port bhi, kursi bhi, aap bhi, aaj raat. Main chhupa nahi rahi, dekh rahi hoon. Aur tez, ab, haan, wahan.”

Yeh sunkar woh hans pade, dhakke tez kiye, palang ki karak, uski siski, sheeshe ke peeche sheher, neeche lights, oopar unka jism. Jab dard tez hua, gehra, usne unki peeth par haath kas liya aur kaha, “Dheere,” aur unhone turant dheere kiya, almost nikal kar, sirf sira andar, uska chehra dekha, “Too much?” “Thoda, ab theek, dheere aaiye, mat nikaliye, haan, ahhh, aise.” Phir uski haan par aage badhe, gehra, lekin control mein, aur uski aankhein nam ho gayi, lekin nazar nahi hati. *Main de rahi hoon, ek Angrez ko, apni marzi se, aur yeh soch kar jo ghin purani raaton ki thi, uske saath aaj ek himmat bhi hai. Pushpa ji, aap haveli mein intezaar mein honge, yeh raat meri ships ki hai, aapki neend ki nahi. Main aapko dhokha de rahi hoon, aur apni kursi bacha rahi hoon, dono ek saath, dono meri pasand.*

Jab woh kaanpane lagi, pet tight, taangein unki kamar par kas, usne unki kamar pakad li, “Haan, wahan, andar, dijiye, mat nikaliye, meri haan hai, ahhh, Dave…” aur Dave ne ek gehri saans ke saath andar chhod diya, uske honth uski maang ke kareeb, sindoor unki saans mein, body ek pal ke liye bhaari, phir halki. Woh uske upar leti rahi, kaanpti, mangalsutra unki grey shirt ke button se atka hua, jo ab bhi poori tarah nahi utri thi, ek kandha khula, ek button bacha. Unhone uske maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb nahi, sundar si line ke bagal, honth rakhe, aur poocha, awaaz ab naram, “Still here by choice? You can take a minute.”

“Haan,” usne kaha, saans bhaari, “yahin hoon, apni marzi se. Paani, thoda, phir… agar aap chahein, sheeshe ke kareeb bhi, meri haan se. Pehle saans lene dijiye.”

Dave uth kar paani laaye, uske honth par glass lagaya, usne do ghoont liye, thanda, phir unke haath se glass hata kar khud pakada, jaise yeh chhoti si baat bhi uski marzi ki ho. “You talk more than you used to,” unhone kaha, bagal mein baithte hue, haath uski peeth par, malte, naram. “I don’t mind it. Fear made you quiet. This is better.”

Srivalli ne muskurahat jaisi koi cheez honth par laayi, thaki, kadi. “Us raat maine apni keemat khud tay ki thi, Dave. Aaj bhi meri zabaan meri hai. Isliye main paani bhi khud pakadti hoon, aur haan bhi khud kehti hoon. Aapko buri to nahi lag rahi yeh aurat?”

“No,” unhone kaha, neeli aankhon mein wohi thanda hisaab, lekin us hisaab mein ab ek izzat si bhi thi. “She’s the one I wanted to meet the first time. I just met the frightened one first. Come to the glass when you’re ready. Not before.”

Usne aur ek pal liya, chadar seene par, mangalsutra ki kali ladiyan ungli se theek ki, sindoor nahi chhua, aur phir chadar hata kar uth khadi hui, nange pair, sheeshe ki taraf. “Ab tayyar hoon. Aaiye, dheere, jaise kaha tha.”

Paani ke baad, chhote se lounge ke kone mein, unhone usko sheeshe ke kareeb khada kiya, neeche lights, peeche unka jism, uski peeth unki chhati se, aur dheere, khade-khade, peeche se andar liya, jab usne kaha, “Haan, yahan bhi, dheere, pehle sira, phir poora.” Uske haath sheeshe par the, ungliyan thandi glass par faili, unke haath uski kamar par, ek haath neeche, chut par, dheere malte, dhakke gehre, uski siski sheeshe par dhundhli, aur unke kaan ke kareeb English, “Watch yourself. This is what a queen looks like when she pays her own bill. Don’t close your eyes.”

Srivalli ne apni nam aankhein dekhi, sindoor, khule baal, mangalsutra, khule boobs, aur nazar nahi hatayi, apni hi soorat se, us rani se jo kaali lights mein khadi thi. “Haan, dekh rahi hoon, ahhh, mat ruko. Main hat nahi rahi. Wahan, ungli bhi, haan, aise, ahhh, Dave, tez nahi, gehra…” Unhone uski baat maani, gehra, tez nahi, aur jab dono kaanpe, usne sheeshe par maathe ko rakh diya, saans phaili, aur unhone nikal kar usko palang par litaya, towel se ponchha, geela, dheere, jaise koi contract ke ant mein mohar saaf karta ho, aur uske bagal mein let gaye, haath uske pet par, malikana, lekin puchhte hue, “Still here by choice? Say it again, I like hearing you mean it.”

“Haan,” usne kaha, awaaz thaki, saaf, aankhein khuli, ceiling ki taraf nahi, unki taraf. “Ab meri baat pakki kijiye. Ships, credit, Shekhar ke buyers. Kal mujhe lafz nahi, ek message chahiye, ek naam, ek movement. Main ghar jaaungi, Pushpa ji ke bagal mein soungi, aur unko yahi kahungi ki investor se baat acchi rahi. Aaj raat is penthouse mein rahegi, ghar mein nahi jaayegi. Yeh meri shart ka aakhri hissa hai.”

Dave ne uske baal se haath phera, neeli aankhon mein ek naya hisaab, na pyar, na wada, sirf woh nazar jo ab usko kamzor nahi, barabar pakarti thi. “You’ll have a message by morning. A ship can sit off your port in seventy-two hours if I say so. Shekhar’s buyers aren’t as clean as he pretends; I’ll send you a file, not a sermon. Credit will move through a line that doesn’t carry your husband’s name, only yours, or a company you already control. You did well tonight, rani. Not because you hesitated. Because you didn’t. That’s rarer than you think.” Unhone uske maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb, honth rakhe, na pyar, na wada, sirf ek contract ki mohar. “Go home. Wear your pallu for him. When the port heats up, call me. I’ll come, or my ships will. And if you ever say no next time, I’ll hear it. That’s also in the contract.”

Srivalli ne ek pal unki aankhon mein dekha, phir sir hilaaya, uth kar baithi, chadar seene par, mangalsutra bahar. “Agar next time meri haan hogi, to main khud kahungi. Aaj ki raat kaafi hai, aaj ki file ke liye. Main kapde pehenti hoon, aap message taiyar rakhie, subah tak.”

Usne bathroom mein chehra dhoya, thanda paani, lipstick ki bachi hui line mitayi, sindoor ungli se theek kiya, baal kaan ke peeche kiye, black gown wapas pehna, zipper khud nahi ho paya, peeth ke beech, to Dave ne darwaze par khade-khade dheere band kiya, wrap seene par, mangalsutra bahar, aur sheeshe mein ek thaki, kaali, oonchi rani dekhi, jiske andar aaj raat ki garmi thi, aur bahar investor-meeting ki soorat. Heels haath mein le kar lift tak nange pair chalna usne nahi kiya, kapde poore kiye, anklet wapas, tops check kiye, aur neeche driver ke paas aayi jaise koi asal meeting se nikal rahi ho, late, lekin sambhali hui.

Lift ke sheeshe mein uski aankhein nam thi, lekin kaajal nahi baha tha, usne soch kar lagaya tha kam. Lobby se nikalte hue ek waiter ne sir jhukaya, usne nazar nahi di, sirf chalti rahi, sheer wrap kas, slit god ke kareeb. Gaadi ke andar baithte hue usne ek baar saans bhari, lambi, jaise koi paani se nikal kar kinare aaye, aur driver se sirf itna kaha, “Haveli. Seedha.”

Raste par sheher ki lights uski window par daudti rahi, wahi lights jo abhi sheeshe ke neeche thi, jab woh nangi khadi thi, haath glass par. *Aaj maine us aadmi ko phir se liya, jiske saath maine ek din apni keemat khud tay ki thi, aur aaj meri haan thi, meri shart thi, meri ships hain. Yeh soch kar sharm aa rahi hai, himmat bhi, aur bandargaah ki jung ab sirf goli ki nahi, paani ki bhi hone wali hai. Ghar jaana hai, muskurana hai, kyunki rani wahi hai jo dono chehre sambhal sake. Pushpa ji, aap jagte honge, main aapke maathe par wahi kiss loongi jo aapne meri maang par di thi, aur jo raat peeche chhoot gayi, usko main apni file mein band kar doongi.*

Pushpa ji verandah par jagte the, beedi ki aakhri kash, kali shirt ke button khule, aur jab unhone usko black gown mein dekha, heels, wrap, khule baal, to unki nazar ek pal ruki, slit par, phir uske chehre par, phir unhone sirf itna kaha, “Baat ho gayi, rani? Itni der lagi, main soch raha tha, phone bhi nahi aaya. Sab theek hai?”

Srivalli ne wrap theek kiya, unke kareeb jaa kar unke kandhe par haath rakha, awaaz naram, ghar wali, jaise koi asal meeting se thak kar aayi ho. “Ho gayi, Pushpa ji. Investor serious hai, port ki baat aage badhegi, do-teen din mein kuch movement dikhegi. Main thak gayi hoon, isliye phone nahi kiya, galti hui, maaf kijiye. Aap so jaaiye, kal campaign bhi hai, file bhi. Chai garam karni hai kya? Main bana doon?”

“Nahi, rani, tu aa gayi, bas,” unhone kaha, usko andar lete hue, uske maathe par kiss kiya, beedi ki khushboo wapas uske baalon mein, aur palang par jaa kar uska haath uski kamar par aa gaya, black satin ke neeche bhi wahi garam hatheli, jaise koi apni rani ko ghar wapas pa kar hisaab band kare. Unhone gown ke zipper nahi chhua, sirf kamar pakdi, aur dheeme se kaha, “Kal main site par hoon, tu speech de, phir file. Jo aadmi aaya hai, usko tu sambhal, main zameen sambhalunga.”

Srivalli ne aankhein ek pal khuli rakhi, ceiling, pankha, unki saans, aur andar jo garmi bachi thi, usko daba liya. *Kal message aayega, yeh unki baat thi. Uske baad paani par jahaaz, zameen par goli, aur meri kursi dono ke beech. Aaj raat main aapke bagal mein hoon, Pushpa ji, aur jo kaala gown ab utarne wala hai, uske peeche ki raat aapko nahi dikhegi. Yeh meri file ka hissa hai, aapki neend ka nahi.*

Usne bathroom mein jaa kar gown utara, zipper peeth par khud kheench kar, satin taknon tak giraya, aur thande paani se chehra ek baar aur dhoya, jaise hotel ka sheesha yahan na laaye. Nighty pehni, safed, simple, mangalsutra uske upar, sindoor halka sa theek kiya, attar ki tez khushboo ab halki, aur unke bagal mein let gayi, unka haath wapas apni kamar par le aayi, jaise subah bhi, jaise hamesha. Pushpa ji ne neend mein usko apni taraf kheench liya, muh uske baalon mein, aur kaha, adhkhule honthon se, “Aa gayi tu, rani,” jaise unko bas itna chahiye tha.

“Aa gayi,” usne dheeme kaha, unki chhati par haath rakh kar, “so jaaiye, kal dono ko kaam hai.” Unhone sirf uski kamar kas li, beedi ki khushboo ab halki, aur unki saans dheere seedhi hone lagi. Neend der se aayi, lekin aayi, aur uske honth par koi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line, jo kal message ka intezaar karne wali thi. *Teen din, unhone kaha tha. Paani par jahaaz, zameen par meri file. Aaj ki raat meri keemat thi, kal ki subah meri mohar hogi.*

[Joker44]

Teejre din subah Dave ka message aa gaya, jitna unhone kaha tha: ek short file, Shekhar Goud ke do foreign buyers ke naam, ek account ki line, aur neeche ek saaf English jumla, “Ship in seventy-two hours. She’ll sit where your commissioner points.” Srivalli verandah par thi, off-white saree mein, pallu seene par kasa, chai ki pyali haath mein, dhoop abhi naram, aur usne screen ko do baar padha, dheere, jaise koi ticket wali file padhe. Buyers ke naam uske liye naye the, lekin unke saath jo shahar, jo route the, woh bandargaah ke us hisaab se judte the jisko Pushpa ji zameen se dekhte hain, aur Dave paani se. Usne file save ki, buyers ke naam ek baar copy karke apni alag note mein rakh liye, phone lock kiya, aur verandah ki railing par haath rakh kar ek pal sheher ki taraf dekha, jahan bandargaah nazar nahi aati thi, lekin hawa mein namak jaisa ehsaas kabhi-kabhi aa jaata tha. *Yeh naam meri file mein aa gaye, yeh jahaaz meri keemat par aa raha hai, aur aaj main isko apne mard ko itna bataungi jitna unki zameen ke kaam aaye, baaki meri raat meri rahegi.* Phir woh andar gayi, chai ki pyali tray par rakh kar, aur Pushpa ji ko sirf itna kaha, awaaz ghar wali, “Investor serious hai, Pushpa ji. Ek jahaaz bandargaah ke kareeb aa sakta hai, cover ke liye, goli ke liye nahi. Main Naidu ji ko nazar dungi, aap zameen dekhiyega. Yeh meri file ka hissa hai.”

Unhone beedi sulgate hue sir hilaaya, aankhon mein wohi junoon, lekin ab us junoon ke saath ek naya sawal bhi tha, jaise unki rani ki file unki goli ke barabar uthne lagi ho. “Jo cover aaye, rani, le lena. Main zameen dekhunga, tu apni file. Shekhar ko main chhodne wala nahi. Tu is aadmi par itna bharosa kaise karti hai? Angrez hai, door ka hai.”

Srivalli ne unke liye chai rakhi, pallu theek kiya, aur kaha, “Bharosa nahi, hisaab hai. Uske ships hain, Shekhar ke buyers hain, aur meri kursi ke beech bandargaah hai. Main aapko jhooth nahi bol rahi, itna kaam aa sakta hai. Baaki meri nazar rahegi, aapki goli rahegi.” Unhone aur kuch nahi poocha, sirf uska haath pakada, ek pal, jaise koi apni rani ki baat maan le, lekin peeche sawal rakh le.

Us din campaign bhi chali, doosri chhoti si rally, mandi ke kareeb, off-white saree, chhote jhumke, mic haath mein, aur Srivalli ne paani aur line ki baat ki, goli ki nahi, jaise pehli speech ke baad bhi janata ko dar nahi, kaam dikhana ho. Bheed thi, taali thi, kuch auratein aage aa kar uska haath pakad kar aashirwad deti, “Beti, tu bolti achha, ghar bhi sambhal, sheher bhi.” Srivalli muskurati, pallu theek karti, “Maa, aapka saath chahiye, aashirwad bhi, baaki kaam mera.” Jolly kinare par the, phone par, aur Pushpa ji ek kadam peeche, lekin unki nazar bar-bar raste par jaati, jaise koi doosri goli ka intezaar kar raha ho.

Rally ke baad Jolly ne short mein kaha, “Bhabhi, baap ji ko report gayi, speech theek thi, Shekhar ka naam nahi liya, yeh achha hai. Port par nazar rakhna, khabar aa rahi hai kuch movement ki.” Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, “Nazar hai, Jolly. Aap apni report bhejiye, meri file meri hai.” Woh haveli wapas aayi, khana khaya, maa ji ke saath baithi, thali mein sabzi, roti, aur maa ji ne poocha, “Aaj bheed thi?” “Thi, maa ji, log sun rahe hain.” Unhone khush hokar uske sar par haath phera, aur shaam se pehle Srivalli ko laga tha ki aaj ka din posters ka rahega, paani ka nahi. *Teen din, Dave ne kaha tha, jahaaz aayega. Shayad kal, shayad parson. Aaj meri awaaz mandi tak gayi, yeh bhi ek hisaab hai.*

Shaam tak khabar aa gayi, tez, kati hui. Raka ne phone kiya, awaaz mein hawa aur loha dono the, “Bhabhi, Shekhar ke aadmi bandargaah ke purane pier par utar rahe hain, ek godown ko gher rahe hain, kehte hain maal unka hai, bhaiyya ka nahi. Munna already raste mein hai, Kesari doosri jeep le kar nikal chuka. Bhaiyya ko batao.” Pushpa ji usi pal uth khade hue, kali shirt, kamar par hathiyaar, joote, aur Srivalli ke maathe par haath rakh kar kaha, “Tu ghar rahi, rani. Yeh goli wali jagah nahi, tere stage ki nahi. Tu yahin baith, maa ke paas, main phone karta rahunga.”

Srivalli ne unka haath pakada, pallu ke neeche ungliyan kas kar, awaaz seedhi, ghar wali nahi, file wali. “Main ghar rahungi, lekin main khali nahi rahungi. Naidu ji ko abhi phone karti hoon, Venkat ji ko bhi, aur jo jahaaz aane wala hai, usko maine kisi khel ke liye nahi bulaya. Aap zameen lijiye, main paani aur paper sambhalungi. Phone rakhie, meri awaaz aati rahe. Aur itna: main haveli ke kamre se nahi, Naidu ji ke port cabin se baat karungi, jahan radio hai, sheesha hai, taaki meri file andhere mein na rahe.”

Unki aankhein ek pal kadi hui, “Cabin? Tu bandargaah jaayegi? Rani, wahan goli chalegi.”

“Cabin gate ke andar hai, pier par nahi,” usne kaha, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue, pallu kaste hue. “Main goli ke neeche nahi jaaungi, lekin main yahan baith kar sirf intezaar bhi nahi karungi. Aap meri jaan ho, meri file bhi ho, dono ko ek saath nahi chhodungi. Aap mujhe ghar baitha kar mat jaaiye, aaj meri pehli asal jung hai.”

Unhone dekha, ek pal, jaise pehli baar samajh rahe hon ki unki rani ab sirf bahon mein nahi, file mein bhi ladti hai, phir sir hilaaya, maathe par ek baar aur haath rakh kar, aur kaha, “Theek hai. Cabin se mat nikalna, meri kasam. Phone rakhna. Main zameen leta hoon.” Phir woh nikal gaye, jeep ki awaaz aangan se kaati, aur Srivalli andar gayi, off-white ko kas kar, maa ji ko kaha ki Pushpa ji kaam par hain, late ho sakte hain, khana garam rakhna, zyada poochna mat, aur apne kamre mein jaa kar teen call kiye, haath kaanpte hue bhi awaaz saaf.

Pehle Prakash, “Naidu ji, pier par gher hai, Shekhar ke log, meri file aapki zabaan maangti hai, security officer aur port security abhi. Main aapke cabin aa rahi hoon, pier par nahi. Radio chahiye, sheesha chahiye, cover chahiye.” Unhone ek pal ke baad kaha, “Ja rahi hai, rani ji. Cabin aapke naam par khul jaayega, do aadmi darwaze par rahenge. Aap raste mein rukiyega nahi, seedha gate se andar. Main wahan hoon.”

Doosre Venkat, “Minister ji, aaj bandargaah par meri kursi ki pehli asal jung hai, aapki industries ki bhi, cover chahiye, order chahiye, taaki security officer sirf dekhne na aaye, kaam kare.” Unki awaaz whiskey jaisi nahi, office jaisi thi, “Order nikalta hoon. Tu khud goli ke neeche mat ja, rani. Paper se lad, yeh maine kaha tha, aaj bhi kehta hoon.”

Teesre Dave, short, type saaf, haath kaanpte hue bhi, “Point the water. I’m watching. Pier location attached.” Usne location bheji, phir phone bag mein rakha, pallu theek kiya, chhote sandals, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, jaise koi asal meeting ko nikal rahi ho, jung ko nahi, aur driver se kaha, “Port commission gate, seedha, rukna nahi. Raste mein koi sawal aaye to meri party ka naam dena, main andar jaaungi, aap gate par rukiye.” Driver ne sir hilaaya, “Haan, rani ji,” aur jeep nikal gayi, haveli ka aangan peeche, maa ji darwaze par ek pal ke liye khadi, phir andar chali gayi. Srivalli ne pallu god mein liya, phone haath mein, teen call ho chuke the, ab sirf rasta tha, lohe ki taraf, paani ki taraf, aur uske dil ki dhadkan jeep ke engine ke saath mil kar tez thi, lekin uske honth band the, faisla khula, aur mangalsutra uski chhati par har speed-breaker par lagta raha, jaise ghar ki nishan bhi is jung mein saath ho. *Aaj meri pehli asal jung hai, stage wali nahi, paper wali, aur main isko ghar baith kar nahi ladungi.*

Raste par bandargaah ki hawa gaadi ke sheeshe se andar aayi, namak, loha, mitti, aur Srivalli ne pallu seene par aur kas liya. Gate par guard ne unka naam suna, sir hilaaya, aur jeep andar chali gayi, containers ki line ke beech, lights toot-toot kar jalti hui. Prakash khud gate ke kareeb khade the, usko cabin tak le gaye, darwaza khola, aur dheeme kaha, “Andar, rani ji. Sheesha mota hai, lekin phir bhi ek kadam peeche. Aapke aadmi west se aa rahe hain, yeh radio unki frequency par hai.”

Shaam ke andhere mein bandargaah ki lights toot-toot kar jal rahi thi, container, lohe ki gandh, paani ki namak bhari hawa, aur goli ki pehli awaaz usko raste mein nahi, cabin ke sheeshe ke peeche se sunai di, paani par se aati hui. Cabin chhoti thi, saaf, radio table par, do phones, ek nakshe jaisa kaagaz, ek pyali chai jo thandi pad chuki thi, aur sheeshe se purana pier, containers ki line, aur woh khula lohe ka rasta jo beech mein tha. Pallu tight, phone haath mein, Prakash ke do aadmi darwaze par, khaki, chup. Woh khud goli ke neeche nahi thi, lekin har awaaz uske kaan tak aa rahi thi, aur uski choodi ek pal ke liye khud baj uthi jab pehli goli lohe se takrai. *Yeh meri pehli speech wali goli nahi, yeh meri file ki goli hai, paani ke kareeb. Main yahan se nahi hatungi.*

Prakash uske bagal mein the, khaki suit nahi, aaj ek dark formal jacket, radio haath mein, awaaz file jaisi, lekin tez. “Rani ji, aap sheeshe se ek kadam peeche, light kam, aur radio par meri baat sunte rahiye. Jo order Venkat ji ka hai, woh gate par pahunch chuka hai, security officer paanch minute mein andar hogi. Aapke aadmi west se aa rahe hain, yeh meri nazar hai.”

Srivalli ne ek kadam peeche liya, lekin sheesha nahi chhoda, aankhein pier par. Pushpa ji ke aadmi west se ghus rahe the, kaali jeep, chhoti si roshni, Shekhar ke log containers ke peeche se, aur beech mein woh khula loha ka rasta tha jahaan koi bhi gir sakta tha. *Aap bahar ho, main yahan hoon, aur meri kursi aaj is lohe par rakhi hai. Main kaanpungi, lekin phone nahi chhodungi, radio nahi chhodungi.*

Radio par Raka ki awaaz kati, “Bhaiyya, daaye munt, do van, ek scooter. Godown ke peeche se nikal rahe hain.” Pushpa ji ki awaaz uske peeche thi, bhari, saaf, “Seedhe mat nikalna, peeche se kaato, Munna left, Kesari upar, main beech se nahi jaaunga, tedha jaaunga. Rani sun rahi hogi, rani, tu cabin se mat nikalna.”

Srivalli ne radio uthaya, awaaz kaanpti, lekin saaf, “Main yahin hoon, Pushpa ji, nikalungi nahi. Aap tedhe jaaiye, main paani dekhungi. Naidu ji saath hain.” Ek goli cabin ke door sheeshe se nahi, bahar ke lohe se takrai, aur uski choodi ek baar aur baj uthi, pallu usne munh ke kareeb nahi, seene par kas liya, taaki saans seedhi rahe. Prakash ke ek aadmi ne darwaze ki taraf kadam badhaya, unhone haath uthakar rok diya, “Andar hi rahiye, zaroorat nahi.” Cabin ki roshni unhone aur kam kar di, sirf radio ka chhota sa bulb aur sheeshe se aati hui floodlight ki jhalak.

Srivalli ne table ke kareeb kursi li, lekin baithi nahi, khadi rahi, kyunki baithne se usko laga ki woh intezaar mein hai, ladai mein nahi. Off-white pallu uski kalai par atka, usne chhudaaya, mangalsutra ungli se ek baar chhua, aur radio ki kati hui awaazon ko ginti se sunti rahi, kaun khada hai, kaun nikal raha hai, kaun chup hai. *Munna left, Kesari upar, aap tedhe, aur main yahan, yeh meri party ki jung hai, sirf aapki nahi.*

Usne Prakash ko dekha, jo radio par apni uniform ko order de rahe the, aur kaha, “Naidu ji, paani ki taraf floodlight daaliye, jo jahaaz aane wala hai, usko dikhna chahiye, sirf humko nahi, unko bhi. Agar Shekhar ke log paani par nazar daalen, to unko ek naya hisaab dikhna chahiye, sirf goli nahi.”

Prakash ne uski taraf dekha, ek pal, jaise koi file mein naya paragraph padh raha ho, phir sir hilaaya, call kiya, do short jumle, aur kaha, “Floodlight ja rahi hai. Jahaaz ki nazar aapke investor ki taraf se hai, yeh main record par nahi likhunga, lekin paani par dikhegi. Aap shaant rahiye.”

[Joker44]

Bees minute, jo lambe ghante jaisa laga, andhere paani par pehle floodlight terhi giri, phir seedhi, aur us roshni ke us paar ek bada, shaant, bhari jahaaz ki roshni nazar aayi, door, lekin itni saaf ki pier par Shekhar ke kuch log ruk kar dekhne lage, jaise koi naya hisaab aa gaya ho, jaise koi goli se badi cheez paani par khadi ho. Srivalli ne sheeshe se woh roshni dekhi, honth par koi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek kadi saans, aur uske andar ek pal ke liye woh penthouse ka sheesha bhi aa gaya, kaala gown, neeli aankhein, uski apni haan. *Dave, aapki ship meri file mein hai aaj, meri haan ke saath. Aaj meri keemat paani par dikh rahi hai, aur main isko dekh rahi hoon, chhupa nahi rahi.*

Usne apne phone par Dave ko sirf ek line bheji, “She’s visible. Thank you. The ground is ours tonight.” Reply turant nahi aaya, baad mein aaya, short, “Good. Call if the water turns.” Usne phone neeche rakha, nazar sheeshe par wapas, aur Prakash ki taraf mud kar kaha, “Ab unke log ruk rahe hain, security officer andar bhejiye.”

“Dikha,” Prakash ne dheeme kaha, “ab security officer gate se andar hai. Rani ji, aap radio par apne aadmi ko bata dijiye, peeche se raasta saaf hai, seedha nahi.”

Srivalli ne radio uthaya, “Pushpa ji, security officer andar hai, peeche ka rasta saaf, seedha mat nikalna, paani par jahaaz dikh gaya hai, unke log ruk rahe hain. Aap apni zameen lijiye.”

Unki awaaz thodi der baad aayi, baarood aur saans ke beech, “Suna, rani. Tera jahaaz dikh gaya, unke haath hil rahe hain. Munna, ab left se kaato.”

Us ke baad jung tez hui, phir kati. Pehle ek van ne peeche mud kar bhaagne ki koshish ki, Raka ki jeep uske raste mein aa gayi, phir security officer ki siren gate se kaati, aur Shekhar ke kuch log containers ke peeche se haath uthane lage, kuch nahi. Pushpa ji ke aadmi containers ke peeche se nikal kar van tak pahunche, Kesari upar se nazar de raha tha, Munna left se kaat kar ek scooter wale ko neeche gira raha tha, bina zyada shor ke, jungle wala andaaz. security officer port gate se ghus aayi, Venkat ka order radio par dohraaya gaya, “Commission aur industries ka cover, hathiyaar neeche, maal mat chhuiye, aadmi pakdo.”

Srivalli ne sheeshe se woh order suna, pallu ke neeche ungliyan kas, aur Prakash se kaha, “Unko maal nahi, aadmi chahiye, zinda, taaki file khule. Shekhar khud nahi hai, yeh main dekh rahi hoon, lekin jo pakde jaayen, unki zabaan kaam aayegi.” Prakash ne sir hilaaya, radio par dohraaya, “Zinda pakdo, fire tab, jab fire aaye.” Shekhar ke log peeche hatne lage, ek van chhod kar, do aadmi pakde gaye, ek ghayal hokar gir gaya, scooter lohe se takra kar ruk gaya. Goli ab itni nahi thi jitni shuru mein thi, kyunki paani par jahaaz ki roshni aur peeche security officer ki siren dono ne hisaab palat diya tha. Cabin mein ek pal ki shaant si padi, sirf radio ki kata-phati awaaz, aur Srivalli ki saans jo ab seedhi thi, kaanpti nahi.

Srivalli sheeshe se dekhti rahi, pallu kas, choodiyan ab nahi baj rahi thi, sirf uski saans. Ek pal ko usko dikha, kali shirt, Pushpa ji khud pier ke kinare tak aaye, mitti aur lohe mein, pistol neeche, aur radio par sirf itna kaha, “Rani, zameen meri hai. Tu kahan hai? Bol, theek hai tu?”

Srivalli ne radio uthaya, awaaz kaanpti, lekin saaf, aur us kaanpne mein dar ke saath ek jeet bhi thi. “Main yahin hoon, cabin mein, Naidu ji ke saath. Main bahar nahi nikalungi jab tak aap khud na kaho. Aap theek hain? Munna, Raka, Kesari?”

“Theek hoon,” unhone kaha, aur unki awaaz mein thakaan ke saath proud tha, wahi proud jo pehli speech ke baad tha, ab is lohe par. “Munna theek, Raka theek, Kesari ka haath kata-phata, chalega. Tera jahaaz kaam aa gaya, teri security officer bhi. Ab ghar chal, rani. Kal yeh jung poori nahi hui, Shekhar khud nahi aaya, aaj ki raat hamari hai. Cabin se tab nikalna jab main gate par aaun.”

Prakash ne radio neeche rakha, uski taraf dekha, aur dheeme kaha, “Aapki file aaj paani tak pahunchi, rani ji. Yeh main yaad rakhunga. Aap baithiye, paani lijiye, aapka pati gate par aayega. Jo do aadmi pakde gaye, unki file kal aapke table par hogi, jaise pehli van ki thi.”

Srivalli ne paani liya, glass thanda, hatheli kaanpti, phir seedhi, aur sheeshe se woh jahaaz ek baar aur dekha, door, shaant, bhari, jaise koi mohar paani par laga ho. Cabin ab itni band nahi lagti thi, radio shaant padne lagta tha, bahar siren door ja rahi thi, aur uski choodiyan ek baar baj kar ruk gayi. “Naidu ji, aapki zabaan aaj bhi kaam aa gayi. Shukriya. Main ghar jaaungi, kal campaign bhi hai, yeh jung bhi. Shekhar rukega nahi, yeh aap bhi jaante hain. Jo do aadmi pakde gaye, unki zabaan kal meri nazar se guzre, chhup kar nahi.”

“Jaanta hoon,” unhone kaha, glass uske haath se le kar table par rakhte hue. “Isliye cover jaari rahega. File kal aapke table par hogi, sealed, jaise pehli van ki thi. Aap nikalie, rani ji, aaj ki jeet ko ghar le jaaiye. Aapka pati gate par hoga, main yahin se dekh raha hoon. Aap cabin se tab nikalna jab unki jeep dikhe, pehle nahi, yeh meri baat hai, aapki file ki hifazat ki.”

Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, pallu theek kiya, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, jaise koi asal meeting se nikal rahi ho, jung se nahi. “Theek hai, Naidu ji. Aaj meri file paani tak gayi, yeh main nahi bhoolungi. Aapki cover ke bagair yeh raat adhuri padti.” Unhone sirf itna kaha, “Adhuri nahi padi, rani ji. Jaaiye.”

Pushpa ji gate par aaye, mitti, loha, kali shirt, aur jab unhone usko cabin se nikalte dekha, off-white saree, pallu tight, to unhone pehle usko baahon mein liya, phir poocha, “Theek hai tu? Sach bol.”

“Theek hoon,” usne kaha, unki shirt par haath, lohe ki khushboo, “aap bhi theek dikh rahe ho. Chalo ghar, maa ji intezaar mein hongi. Kesari ko clinic bhej dijiye, aap saath mat rukiye, Raka sambhal lenge.” Unhone sir hilaaya, usko jeep ki taraf le chale, haath uske kandhe par, jaise ab bhi ginti kar rahe hon ki unki rani poori hai.

Jeep mein baithte hue usne ek baar peeche mud kar paani dekha, jahaaz ab bhi wahan tha, door, shaant, bhari roshni, aur usne nazar hata li, taaki Pushpa ji ko yeh na lage ki unki rani kisi aur ke hisaab ko dekh rahi hai. Raste par dono kuch der chup rahe, phir Pushpa ji ne, bina mud kar, kaha, “Woh jahaaz tere investor ka hai na? Main pooch raha hoon, gussa nahi, samajhna chahta hoon.”

Srivalli ne pallu god mein liya, awaaz naram, “Haan, Pushpa ji, cover ke liye aaya, goli ke liye nahi. Aapki zameen aapki rahi, usne sirf nazar di. Itna meri file ne kiya.” Unhone sir hilaaya, beedi abhi nahi jalayi, sirf khidki se andhe raaste ko dekha. “Theek hai, rani. Teri file aaj meri goli ke barabar thi, yeh main maan gaya. Baaki kal.” *Aap zameen le aaye, main paani le aayi, dono aaj ki raat hamari hai, is farq ke saath ki paani ki mohar aapko poori nahi dikhegi.*

Raat ko haveli laut kar Pushpa ji ne haath dhoye, lohe ki mitti sink mein, maa ji ne pehle ro kar unko dekha, phir khana garam kiya, aur Srivalli ne unke kandhe par kapda rakh kar mitti ponchhi, jaise koi pativrata apne mard ko jung se lautata dekh kar karti hai, pallu ab dhila, off-white par thodi si bandargaah ki dhool. Unhone uska haath pakada, apni chhati par rakha, aur kaha, “Rani, tu ghar baith kar bhi ladh rahi thi. Main yeh pehle nahi samjha tha. Teri file meri goli ke barabar pad gayi aaj. Woh jahaaz, woh security officer, woh radio, sab teri nazar thi. Main proud hoon.”

Usne unki aankhon mein dekha, muskurayi, asal muskaan, uske peeche jo baat thi, woh nahi kahi. *Meri file mein Naidu hai, Venkat hai, Dave ka jahaaz hai, aur woh raatein hain jinhe aap kabhi nahi dekhenge. Aaj ki jeet meri bhi hai, aapki bhi, aur main isko aapke haath mein rakh rahi hoon, iske peeche ka hisaab nahi.* “Aap khao, dhuliye, so jaaiye, Pushpa ji. Kal Shekhar rukega nahi, main jaanti hoon. Meri campaign bhi nahi rukegi. Aaj aapki zameen jeeti, meri file ne saath diya, yeh kaafi hai.”

Maa ji ne dono ko thali di, zyada nahi poocha, sirf itna kaha, “Aaj ghar mein diya jalane do, subah ki baat subah.” Kaveri andar se nikal kar darwaze par ruki, bag nahi, simple kapde, aur poocha, “Mami, mama, theek ho? Sheher mein awaaz hai, bandargaah par…?” Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, awaaz naram, “Theek hain, beta, tu kha le, zyada mat pooch, sab sambhal gaya. Kal apna college dekhna, aaj ghar shaant rahe.” Kaveri ne ek pal dekha, jaise kuch aur kehna chahti ho, phir andar chali gayi, aur Srivalli ne uski peeth dekhi, phir nazar hata li, apne mard ki thali ki taraf.

Khana ke baad Pushpa ji nahaane gaye, lohe ki mitti utarni thi, aur Srivalli ne unke kapde alag rakhe, kali shirt par dhool, jaise do din pehle safed-lal saree alag tokri mein rakhi thi. Maa ji kitchen mein bartan dhote rahe, zyada baat nahi hui, sirf itna ghar wala shor jo jung ke baad sukoon lagta hai. Srivalli ne apni off-white saree nahi utari turant, pehle verandah par jaa kar andhere mein ek pal khadi rahi, hawa mein ab bhi namak jaisa ehsaas, phir andar aayi, nighty pehni, mangalsutra uske upar, sindoor halka.

Palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya, lohe ki khushboo ab sapne mein bhi thi, unki saans bhaari, seedhi, jeet ki. Unhone adhkhuli aankhon se kaha, “Rani, tu so ja, kal bhi kaam hai,” aur usne kaha, “So jaaungi, aap bhi so jaaiye, aaj aapki zameen jeeti.” Srivalli ke phone par ek naya message tha, unknown number nahi, ek chhoti si line, jo usne padhi aur screen neeche rakh di, Pushpa ji ki neend ke kareeb, taaki roshni unki aankh na khole.

Ek photo nahi thi, ek jumla tha, kisi aur ke thread se tapakta hua, abhi adhura: kal, shayad, koi cheez uske naam aayegi, jo Jolly ke phone se nikal kar, ya Rudra ki awaaz se nikal kar, uski file ko aur tez kar de. Usne us jumle ko abhi nahi khola, sirf itna padha ki baat uski file ke liye hai, ghar ke shor ke liye nahi. *Pehle aaj ki zameen, pehle aapki saans, Pushpa ji. Jo raaz aane wala hai, woh meri kursi ke kaam aayega, meri neend todne nahi. Aaj meri file paani tak gayi, kal shayad aur gehra jaaye, lekin aaj ki raat main aapke bagal mein hoon, is jeet ke saath, is chhupi hui keemat ke saath.*

Usne unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein band ki, aur honth par koi badi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line, jo kal bhi apni file hath se nahi chhodne wali thi. Bahar haveli shaant thi, kutta door bhowka, pankha dheere chala, aur uske dimag mein paani par woh roshni ek baar aur jal uthi, phir bujh gayi, jaise mohar lag chuki ho. *Shekhar, aap aaj nahi aaye, kal aoge, lekin aaj ki raat meri thi, aapki nahi. Pushpa ji, aap so jaaiye, meri file jaagti rahegi, lekin aapki neend todne nahi.*

[Joker44]

Subah aangan mein dhoop naram thi, koyal door boli, maa ji kitchen mein bartan ki awaaz kar rahi thi, aur Srivalli apne bedroom ke sheeshe ke saamne khadi thi, off-white cotton ki simple saree pehnane se pehle, raat ki nighty abhi utari hui, mangalsutra seene par, jab uski nazar dressing table par ek chhoti si black drive par gayi, kisi envelope mein, uske naam ke bina, sirf itna likha: “Aapki file ke liye.” Envelope naya tha, haath se likha hua, koi stamp nahi, koi signature nahi, jaise koi is ghar ke andar se, ya is ghar ke kareeb se, chup-chaap rakh kar chala gaya ho.

Usne darwaza band kiya, hook lagaya, pallu jo abhi haath mein tha seene par rakha, envelope uthaya, aur kuch der sirf wazan feel kiya, halka, lekin us halke pan mein ek bhaari si baat thi. Laptop khola, drive lagayi, aur andar jo tha, usko dheere, aankhein khol kar dekha, jaise koi ticket wali file padhe, jaldi mein nahi, har folder, har naam.

Jolly ke phone ki copy thi: messages, Rudra se calls ke notes, party ke andar ke logon ke naam, fund ke hisaab, aur woh purani baatein jo kabhi uski zabaan ko rokne ki koshish karti thi, jo ab uski kursi ke saamne chhoti padti thi. Ek jagah uska naam tha, “bhabhi ko tight rakhna hai,” ek jagah ticket ki baat, ek jagah farmhouse ki, aur usne woh lines do baar padhi, honth band, dil tez, lekin aankhein nam nahi hui, kadi hui. Ek recording thi, Rudra ki awaaz, kisi private kamre ki, background mein glass ki khanak, jisme ticket, fund, aur “rani ko rakhna hai control mein, warna yeh apni file khud chalane wali hai” ke lafz the, itne saaf ki unki kursi bhi kaanp sakti thi. Srivalli ne recording ek baar, phir aadhi doosri baar suni, phir band ki, kyunki poori teesri baar sunne ki zaroorat nahi thi, baat aa gayi thi. Kamre mein uski saans tez thi, lekin usne muh par haath nahi rakha, sirf palang ke kinare baithi rahi, laptop god mein, off-white nighty, mangalsutra, aur socha ki yeh awaaz kitni raaton se unki kothi ki peeli light ke peeche chalti rahi hogi, jab woh unki palang par apni haan de rahi thi, aur peeche yeh hisaab chal raha tha ki rani ko control mein rakhna hai. *Aap mujhe control mein rakhna chahte the, uncle, aur aaj woh lafz meri mutthi mein hain. Main roungi nahi, main use karungi.* Usne paani piya, glass neeche rakha, aur agla folder khola, dheere, jaise koi aur bhi hisaab ho jo jaldi mein toot na jaaye.

Aur ek folder tha Ravi ke naam ka, college, family, photos ke references, jo net dikhata tha, jo is ghar ke kisi aur thread se juda tha, jisko usne abhi khol kar kisi ke jism tak nahi padha, sirf itna samjha ki Jolly aur Rudra ka khel is haveli ke bahar bhi, andar bhi, kitna gehra tha, aur kisi aur ke bhi kaam, padhai, ghar, is jaal mein aa sakte the. Usne woh folder band kiya, bina uske andar ke chehron ko lamba dekhe, jaise koi doosri aurat ki file ko apni hawas ke liye nahi, apni nazar ke liye band kare. Screen ki roshni uske chehre par thi, kamre mein pankha dheere chal raha tha, bahar maa ji ki awaaz door se aayi, “Beti, chai,” aur usne kaha, “Do minute, maa ji,” awaaz itni saaf ki koi na soch sake andar koi toofan hai. *Yeh raaz meri taraf aa gaya hai, kisi ne meri file ke liye chhodha hai, aur main isko kisi ke badle nahi, apni kursi ke liye use karungi. Jo is ghar ke andar ka thread hai, usko main aaj nahi kheenchungi, lekin main jaanti hoon ki meri mutthi ab khali nahi. Jo isko laya, usne meri madad ki, yeh main yaad rakhungi, naam aaj nahi loongi.*

Usne kuch notes apni copy mein utare, dates, naam, recording ka time, phir copy band ki, taaki asli drive alag rahe, ek nazar uske paas, ek nazar chupi. Srivalli ne laptop band kiya, drive nikal kar apni almari ke ek chhote dabbe mein rakhi, kapdon ke neeche, phir sindoor apni ungli se ek baar chhua, maang mein theek kiya, aur saans bhari, lambi. Off-white saree pehni, pallu tight, choodiyan, mangalsutra bahar, chhote tops, koi gown nahi, koi vermilion dulhan nahi, sirf ek rani jo apni file padh chuki ho. *Jolly, aapki backbone ab meri mutthi mein hai. Rudra uncle, aapki awaaz ab meri file mein hai. Main inko sheher mein nahi phelaungi, Pushpa ji ko nahi dikhaungi, lekin aap dono ko dikhaungi ki ab hisaab palat chuka hai. Aaj meri zabaan meri hai, aapki mutthi nahi.*

Bahar Pushpa ji verandah par the, beedi, kali shirt, site ki baat Raka se kar rahe the. Srivalli ne unke liye chai rakhi, muskurayi, aur kaha, “Aaj meri chhoti party office hai, posters aur committee, main dopahar tak wapas. Aap site dekhiye, Shekhar ab bhi zinda hai, nazar kam mat kijiye.”

“Theek hai, rani,” unhone kaha, uska haath pakad kar, “tu apni file sambhal, main zameen. Der ho to phone kar dena.” Unhone uske maathe par kiss kiya, aur woh nikal gayi, gaadi mein, drive uski bag mein, pallu god mein, dil tez, lekin faisla seedha. Raste ki dhoop naram thi, sheher jaag raha tha, posters kabhi-kabhi deewar par dikh jaate, uska chehra, aur usne nazar nahi hatayi, kyunki aaj woh poster wali rani asal mein apni file le kar nikal rahi thi, muskaan ke peeche ek mutthi, pallu ke peeche ek drive. Driver se usne kaha, “Party office, seedha,” aur honth par koi muskaan nahi thi, sirf woh kadi si line jo ab uski aadat si hone lagi thi, jeet ki nahi, hisaab ki, jo shaam tak aur pakki honi thi.

Raste par usne office ka time Jolly ko message kiya, “Gyarah baje, meri party office, bungalow nahi, formal baat hai.” Reply aaya, “Formal, bhabhi? Main aa raha hoon, chai rakhna.” Usne reply nahi kiya, sirf phone neeche rakha. Party office sheher ke ek chhote se corner mein thi, do kamre, clerk ke bahar baithne ki jagah, posters deewar par, uska hi chehra, pallu theek, “Srivalli Pushpa Raj,” aur andar ek mez, do cups, ek khidki jis se gali dikhti thi, aur uska laptop. Usne clerk se kaha, “Andar kisi ko mat bhejna, Jolly aayenge, chai do cups, phir aap bahar baithiye, darwaza almost band rahe.” Clerk ne sir hilaaya, “Haan, rani ji.”

Jolly time par aaye, muskurata hua andar aaya, safed shirt, wohi confident chal, phir muskaan thodi si ruk gayi jab usne uska chehra dekha, office ki formality, clerk bahar, darwaza almost band.

“Bhabhi, itni formal office?” unhone kaha, baithte hue, “Kya baat hai, posters ki, ya meri? Chai to pilaogi, ya aaj sirf file nikaalengi?”

Srivalli ne chai rakhi, khud nahi baithi turant, khadi rahi, pallu seene par, aur kaha, “Aaj file hai, Jolly. Aap baithiye, chai pee lijiye, phir meri baat sunie, beech mein muskaan mat lagaiye.” Unhone eyebrow uthayi, lekin baith gaye, glass haath mein, aur usne laptop ghuma diya, recording ka ek tukda chalaya, Rudra ki awaaz kamre mein giri, “rani ko rakhna hai control mein, warna yeh apni file khud chalane wali hai,” phir band kiya. Kamra ek pal ke liye itna shaant hua ki bahar clerk ki khansi tak sunai di.

Jolly ka chehra ek pal ke liye kala pada, muskaan poori utar gayi, aur unhone glass neeche rakha, dheeme se, jaise koi hathiyaar rakh raha ho. “Yeh kahan se mili, bhabhi?”

“Yeh meri mutthi mein hai, Jolly, aapki nahi,” usne kaha, awaaz naram, lekin kathi, jaise dinner par thi, jaise Naidu ki office mein thi. Woh ab baith gayi, unke saamne, aankhon mein dekhte hue. “Main isko kisi akhbaar mein nahi de rahi, Pushpa ji ko nahi dikha rahi, sheher mein nahi bajane wali, lekin aaj ke baad aap mujhe apni purani recording se, apni purani file se nahi chalaoge. Aap meri backbone rahiye, malik mat baniye. Cabinet ka rasta aap kholenge, baap ji ko meri zabaan se meri baat pahunchaenge, aur Shekhar ke khilaf jo kaam hai, usme meri file aapki file se upar rahegi. Jo messages, jo lafz, jo ‘tight rakhna hai’ wali baat, woh ab meri nazar mein hai. Manzoor hai to kahiye. Nahi hai to yeh awaaz un jagahon tak jaa sakti hai jahan aapki muskaan kaam nahi aati.”

Jolly thodi der chup baitha, ungliyan glass par, nazar uske mangalsutra par nahi, uski aankhon par, phir dheeme se hans pada, haar jaisi nahi, hisaab jaisi hansi, jo pehle darati thi, aaj thodi si haar kar bhi tez thi. “Tu sach mein queen ban gayi, bhabhi. Main samajh gaya. Yeh file kisi ne tujhe di, tu ne maangi nahi, lekin tu ne rakh li, yeh teri aadat ho gayi hai. Backbone, malik nahi, yeh baat aaj se meri zabaan par mohar hai. Baap ji se main bolunga, lekin unse tu bhi mil, unki awaaz tu ne sun li hai, unko bhi teri mutthi dikhani hogi. Main tere khilaaf nahi khada hounga. Yeh meri baat hai. Purani recording, purani file, unko main aaj ke baad nahi uthata. Tu maaf nahi karegi, yeh main jaanta hoon, lekin tu saath legi, yeh bhi.”

Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, laptop band karte hue, pallu theek, awaaz mein koi jeet ki chillahat nahi, sirf hisaab. “Yeh kaafi hai, aaj. Aap jaaiye, dates nikaaliye, cabinet ki zubaan taiyar kijiye. Jo raat aap chahein, wo meri marzi se hogi, kisi dabav se nahi. Yeh farq aap yaad rakhie. Aur itna: is office ke bahar yeh baat nahi jaayegi, Pushpa ji tak nahi, party ke logo tak nahi. Aap meri backbone hain, isliye main aapko tod nahi rahi, palat rahi hoon.”

Unhone uth kar darwaze tak ek kadam liya, phir mud kar kaha, “Baap ji ke paas tu shaam ko ja, main pehle unko ready kar doonga, lekin unki awaaz tu khud sunna chahegi, yeh main jaanta hoon. Tu sambhal, bhabhi. Queen hone ka matlab yeh bhi hai ki ab log tujhe peeche se nahi, saamne se dekhenge.” Woh nikal gaye, muskaan wapas nahi aayi turant, lekin kandhe seedhe the, jaise koi naya hisaab le kar chala ho. Clerk andar aane ko tha, Srivalli ne haath se rok diya, “Paanch minute, chai baad mein,” aur darwaza almost band raha. Woh kursi par baithi rahi, saans bhari, drive bag mein, dono haath pallu par, aur office ki deewar se uska hi poster usko dekhta raha, muskurata hua, pallu theek, jo soorat janata dekhti hai, jo soorat ab Jolly bhi maan chuka hai.

Usne phone par Rudra ko khud message nahi kiya, Jolly ke lafz par bharosa kiya, lekin time nikal liya, shaam ke saat, kothi, akeli. Phir usne Pushpa ji ko short message bheja, “Office theek hai, shaam ko uncle se party wali baat, late ho sakti hoon, aap site sambhaliye.” Reply aaya, “Theek hai, rani, tu sambhal, main hoon.” Us message ko dekh kar uske honth ek pal ke liye kas gaye, phir usne phone bag mein rakha. *Aaj meri mutthi khuli nahi, band hui hai. Shaam ko uncle, unki awaaz, unki kursi, aur meri haan, agar main doon. Aapko yeh raat nahi dikhni chahiye, Pushpa ji, sirf yeh khabar dikhni chahiye ki party meri peeth par hai.*

Dopahar ko woh haveli wapas aayi, khana khaya, maa ji ke saath baithi, simple baat, campaign, posters, aur usne wine saree almari se nikaali, shaam ke liye, pehle se soch kar. Maa ji ne poocha, “Aaj phir nikalna hai?” “Haan, maa ji, party ki baat, uncle ke yahan, der nahi houngi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, “Jaldi aa ja, beti, ghar ka sukoon bhi chahiye.” *Sukoon rahega, maa ji, is farq ke saath ki meri file ab meri mutthi mein hai.*

[Joker44]

Shaam ko Rudra ki kothi par woh akeli gayi, simple wine cotton silk, palish-laal nahi, gehri wine, pallu kasa, chhote gold tops, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, koi aashirwad wali soorat nahi, sirf file. Kothi ki lights peeli thi, jaise pehli raaton mein, lekin aaj us peeli roshni mein uska dil tez tha, dar se nahi, hisaab se. Servant ne andar bheja, darwaza band hua, aur Rudra drawing room mein the, whiskey uthaye, safed kurta, wohi badi body, wohi nazar jo kabhi uski pehli shart par tikti thi, aaj us nazar ko usne saamne se dekha. “Aaja, rani,” unhone kaha, muskurate hue, “Jolly ne kaha tha tu aayegi, party ki baat, cabinet ki baat. Baith, whiskey le, aaj tu itni seedhi kyun dikh rahi hai? Wine saree, pallu kasa, jaise koi file le kar aayi ho, aashirwad lene nahi.”

Srivalli ne namaste kiya, baithi, pallu god mein, aur kaha, “Aashirwad bhi loongi, uncle, lekin pehle file. Aaj meri baat seedhi hai, isliye soorat bhi seedhi hai.” Unhone usko kursi di, whiskey badhayi, usne paani maanga, glass haath mein, unki eyebrow uthhi, “Paani, phir se. Tu hosh mein rehna chahti hai.” “Haan,” usne kaha, “hosh mein, aaj ki poori raat.” Baat ghumane se pehle usne recording ka wahi tukda unke saamne chalaya, phone par, awaaz kamre mein giri, “rani ko rakhna hai control mein,” phir band kiya. Rudra ki aankhein pehle chhodi, phir kadi, pehle gussa aaya, ek pal ke liye unki hatheli glass par kas gayi, phir ek thanda hisaab, phir ek lambe saans ke saath woh muskuraye, jaise koi purana shikari samajh gaya ho ki shikar ab saamne se dekh raha hai.

“Toh rani ne meri awaaz pakad li,” unhone kaha, awaaz bhaari, lekin chillayi nahi. “Kya karegi, sheher mein bajayegi? Pushpa ko sunaayegi? Party committee ko? Ya meri kursi ke saamne rakh kar apni maangegi? Bol, main bhool nahi raha, main poochh raha hoon.”

Srivalli ne glass rakha, unki aankhon mein dekha, awaaz naram, lekin kathi, pallu ke neeche ungliyan kas, lekin kaanpti nahi. “Bajane nahi aayi, uncle. Maangne aayi hoon. Cabinet ka rasta, jeet ke baad, aapki zabaan se, public mein, party ke logon ke saamne. Control meri file mein rahega, aapki mutthi mein nahi. Aap meri party ke bade rahiye, meri file ke malik nahi. Main aapki baat sunti rahungi, aapki palang par bhi aa sakti hoon, jab main haan kahun, lekin aaj ke baad yeh awaaz meri bhi hai. Jolly se baat ho gayi, woh backbone rahenge, malik nahi. Aap bade rahiye, malik nahi. Manzoor hai?”

Rudra ne glass rakha, uth kar uske kareeb aaye, lekin haath nahi lagaya jab tak usne nazar se ijazat na di, itna fasla jitna ek sawal ka hota hai. “Manzoor hai, rani. Cabinet ki zubaan main dunga, jeet ke baad, itna pakka jitna meri awaaz is phone mein hai. Tu ne mujhe pakda, yeh main maan gaya. Aaj tu sirf baat karne aayi, ya apni mohar bhi rakhni hai? Bol, main zabardasti nahi karunga, tu jaanti hai. Agar sirf baat hai, tu ghar ja, meri zabaan phir bhi tere saath hai. Agar mohar hai, to tu khud keh, main haath tab badhaunga.”

Usne ek pal socha, andar garmi aur hisaab dono the, peeli light, unki nazar, uski wine saree, aur woh baat ki mohar sirf kaagaz ki na rahe, lekin mohar uski haan se rahe, unki mutthi se nahi. *Main de sakti hoon, aaj, soch kar, taaki yeh baat meri mutthi mein band ho, unki yaad mein bhi, sirf recording mein nahi.* Phir usne sir hilaaya, awaaz halki, lekin tuti nahi. “Aaj mohar bhi, meri haan se, dheere, ek baar, taaki yeh baat sirf kaagaz ki na rahe. Mangalsutra rahega, sindoor rahega. Jo kahun ruko, rukiye. Dheere kahungi to dheere kijiye. Yeh meri shart hai.”

“Shart maan li,” Rudra ne kaha, ab haath badhate hue, pehle uske pallu par, poochhte hue, “Lu pallu?” “Haan,” usne kaha, “dheere utarie.”

Unhone pallu dheere utara, wine kapda uske kandhe se khisaka, blouse ke hooks peeth par ek-ek kar ke khole, uski saans unke ungliyon ke neeche uth-girti, choli khuli, phir petticoat ki nara, aur wine silk neeche gir gaya, uske pairon ke kareeb ek gehri lakeer. Srivalli mangalsutra, tops, sindoor, choodiyon ke saath khadi rahi, peeli light uski chamri par, aur Rudra ne usko dekha, lamba saans liya, haath ab uski kamar par, garam, badi hatheli, aur poocha, “Palang par aaun? Lu?”

“Haan, dheere, lijiye,” usne kaha, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue, nazar nahi hatayi. “Pehle mujhe litaiye, phir andar aaiye, inch se, jaise pehli baar soch kar aaye hon, meri haan se.”

Unhone usko palang par liya, razaai ek taraf, uski peeth chadar par, pair dheere khule, aur unhone kurta ke neeche se apna lund bahar kiya, bada, garam, uski geeli chut par ragate, top tikaya, “Lu, rani? Ab bhi haan?” “Haan, dheere, lijiye,” aur inch-inch andar aaye, uski siski suni, “Aaaahhh, haan, thoda ruk kar, phir aaiye, ahhh, poora…” Unki aankhon mein dekhe, dhakke control wale, kabhi ruk kar uske honth, kali ladiyon ko ek taraf karke uske boobs muh mein, kabhi uske lafz, bhari awaaz, “Meri rani, ab tu meri awaaz bhi rakhti hai, yeh bhi ek keemat hai, teri, meri nahi. Bol, le rahi hai tu, ya sirf de rahi hai?”

Usne unko apni taraf kheencha, taangein unki kamar par, naakhon se peeth, “Haan, meri keemat, ahhh, mat rukiye, main de rahi hoon, chheen nahi rahi aap. Tez nahi, gehra, haan, wahan… ahhh, uncle, meri haan hai, meri marzi.” Jab dard tez hua, usne kaha, “Dheere,” aur unhone turant dheere kiya, almost ruk kar, “Theek hai?” “Theek, ab aaiye, mat nikaliye, haan.” Phir gehra, control mein, palang ki halki karak, uski siski, unki bhaari saans, aur peeli light un dono par. Unhone usko apni taraf kheench kar upar bitha diya, wine ki yaad uski chamri par, mangalsutra unki chhati se lagta, aur poocha, “Aise, rani? Tu chala, meri mutthi nahi.” Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, “Haan, aise, dheere,” aur khud uth-baithi, unka lund andar, apni kamar se dhakke, haath unke kandhon par, aankhein khuli, “Ahhh, haan, yahan, mat uthie, main le rahi hoon…” Unke haath uski kamar par the, uthate nahi, sambhalte, aur unki awaaz bhaari thi, “Le, meri rani, aaj teri raat hai, meri awaaz teri file mein, tera jism teri haan mein.”

*Main unki palang par hoon, apni marzi se, apni recording unki awaaz ke saath meri mutthi mein, aur yeh mohar main khud laga rahi hoon. Pushpa ji, aap site par honge, yeh raat meri cabinet ki hai, aapki neend ki nahi. Sharm hai, himmat hai, dono saath hain, aur main hat nahi rahi.*

Jab dono kaanpe, usne unki kamar kas li, “Andar, dijiye, meri haan,” aur unhone andar chhod diya, bhaari, garam, uske maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb, honth rakhe, na pyar, na wada, sirf ek naya hisaab. Woh uske upar kuch der leti rahe, saans bhaari, phir bagal mein aaye, haath uske pet par, aur poocha, “Ab bhi meri zabaan teri file mein hai, rani, yeh baat pakki? Ya tu raat ke baad palatogi?”

“Pakki hai,” usne kaha, awaaz thaki, saaf. “Jeet ke baad cabinet, yeh aapki zabaan, meri file. Shekhar ke khilaf aapki cover jaari rahe. Pushpa ji ko aaj ki raat nahi dikhegi, sirf yeh khabar dikhegi ki party meri peeth par hai. Main kapde pehenti hoon, aap apni whiskey pee lijiye, meri mohar lag chuki hai.”

Unhone uske baal se haath phera, badi hatheli, naram, aur kaha, “Paani le le, rani, phir uth. Main tujhe nahi rokunga, tu khud ja. Aaj tu ne mujhe pakda, yeh baat meri umr mein kam log kar paaye. Main gussa tha, ab nahi, ab hisaab hai. Cabinet ki zubaan dunga, public mein, yeh meri mohar hai, teri recording ke saath nahi, meri zabaan se.” Srivalli ne paani liya, thanda, do ghoont, chadar seene par, mangalsutra bahar, aur ek pal unki aankhon mein dekha, bina jhukay. “Yahi kaafi hai, uncle. Baaki din par chhodie, raat par nahi.”

Kapde pehante hue, blouse ke hooks khud nahi, unhone peeth par lagaye, pallu usne khud kasa, wine silk wapas, sindoor ungli se theek, aur sheeshe mein ek thaki, gehri rani dekhi, jiske andar aaj ki garmi thi, bahar committee wali soorat. Rudra kurta ke button lagate hue, uske kareeb aaye, haath nahi lagaya, sirf kaha, “Ja, rani. Tu jeet, phir meri zabaan kaam aayegi. Teri mutthi main maan gaya, yeh bhi likh le. Jolly tujhe backbone dega, main tujhe kursi ka agla darwaza, itna pakka. Ghar ja, apne mard ke bagal mein so, meri kothi ki roshni peeche chhod.”

“Shukriya, uncle,” usne kaha, aur yeh lafz aaj pehli baar hisaab jaisa laga, jhukao jaisa nahi. “Main jeetungi. Aapki zabaan us din kaam aani chahiye, raat ki nahi, din ki, logon ke saamne.” Unhone sir hilaaya, darwaza khola, aur woh nikal gayi, wine pallu god mein, drive ab bhi bag mein, raat ki hawa thandi.

Gaadi ke andar usne ek pal aankhein band ki, sheeshe mein apni wine soorat dekhi, sindoor saaf, lipstick halki, koi bigda nishan nahi, jaise koi asal committee se nikal rahi ho. Driver chup tha, rasta sheher ka, lights window par, aur usne Pushpa ji ko message kiya, “Nikal gayi, bees minute mein haveli.” Reply aaya, “Theek, rani, main hoon.” Usne phone neeche rakha, pallu kas, aur socha, *Aaj maine unki awaaz unke saamne rakh di, aur apni haan bhi, dono soch kar. Yeh rani wahi hai jo dono chehre sambhal sake, office ki, palang ki, aur ghar ki.* Raste mein usne sheeshe mein sindoor ek baar check kiya, tops, mangalsutra, aur honth par koi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line.

Haveli par Pushpa ji verandah par the, beedi ki aakhri kash, aur unhone poocha, nazar wine saree par ek pal ruki, phir uske chehre par, “Rudra uncle se baat ho gayi? Itni der, sab theek hai?”

Usne muskurakar kaha, awaaz ghar wali, unke kareeb jaa kar, “Haan, Pushpa ji, party meri peeth par hai, jeet ke baad agla kadam bhi. Committee ki baat pakki ho gayi, aap chinta mat kijiye. Aap apni goli sambhaliye, Shekhar ab bhi zinda hai, main apni file sambhal rahi hoon. Khana ho gaya? Main thak gayi hoon.”

“Khana rakha hai, maa ne,” unhone kaha, usko andar lete hue, maathe par kiss, “tu kha le, phir so ja. Tu jeet, rani, main tere peeche hoon. Uncle khush the?” “Khush the, Pushpa ji, party meri peeth par hai, itna kaafi hai.” Thali par woh baithi, maa ji ne garam roti di, zyada nahi poocha, aur Srivalli ne khana khaya, dheere, jaise asal mein committee se thak kar aayi ho. Maa ji ne kaha, “Aaj teri aankh thaki hai, jaldi so ja,” aur usne muskurakar sir hilaaya.

Palang par, thali ke baad, unka haath uski kamar par aaya, wine saree utar kar nighty mein, mangalsutra upar, sindoor halka theek, aur uske laptop ke neeche, almari ke ek dabbe mein, woh drive chup si pada raha, jaise ek chhota sa hathiyaar, jo ab uski saree ke pallu ke peeche tha, uski mutthi mein, uski neend ke kareeb, lekin unki neend se door. Pushpa ji ne neend mein usko apni taraf kheench liya, muh uske baalon mein, aur usne unki chhati par haath rakh diya, taaki unko lage ki unki rani poori tarah ghar aa gayi hai.

Srivalli ne aankhein ek pal khuli rakhi, unki saans uske baalon mein, pankha dheere, bahar haveli shaant, aur socha, *Aaj meri file ne do awaazen pakdi, Jolly, Rudra, aur meri kursi ab sirf ticket nahi, agle kadam tak khul rahi hai. Shekhar ab bhi zinda hai, yeh main nahi bhooli, lekin aaj ki raat meri mutthi band hui, khuli nahi. Pushpa ji, aap so jaaiye, meri mohar aapko nahi dikhni chahiye, sirf meri jeet dikhni chahiye. Kal campaign hai, parson shayad aur koi goli, lekin aaj meri file meri hai, aapki neend ke peeche, sheher ke peeche, un dono ki muskaan ke peeche.* Usne aankhein band ki, unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aur honth par koi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line.

[Joker44]

Shekhar Goud ne aakhri baar jaldi ki, aur jaldi uski aadat nahi, uski majboori thi. Jahaaz ke dikhne ke do din baad, bandargaah wali jeet ke baad, sheher mein ek shaant si nazar aati thi, jo shaant nahi thi. Posters ab bhi deewaron par the, Srivalli ka chehra, pallu theek, lekin raston par nazar zyada thi, jeep zyada, aur Pushpa ji raat ko bhi ek kaan bahar rakhte the, jaise jungle mein soya jaata hai, sheher mein nahi.

In do dino mein campaign chalti rahi, chhoti ralliyan, mandi, gali, off-white ya simple cotton saree, mic haath mein, aur Srivalli ne paani, line, port ki baat ki, Shekhar ka naam nahi liya, jaise jeet ko shor se nahi, kaam se pakka karna ho. Bheed thi, taali thi, kabhi koi aake kehta, “Beti, ab darr nahi, tu bol,” aur woh muskurati, pallu theek karti, “Darr nahi, maa, kaam hai.” Jolly kinare par rehte, report bhejte, aur ek shaam unhone kaha, “Bhabhi, Shekhar chup nahi baitha, nazar rakhna, baap ji bhi keh rahe hain.” Usne sir hilaaya, “Nazar hai, Jolly. Aap apni report rakhie, meri file meri hai.”

Raat ko palang par Pushpa ji ne ek baar kaha tha, “Rani, tu jeep se nikalti hai to Raka aage rahe, tu peeche, ab koi rasta saadha nahi.” Usne unka haath apni kamar par thama, “Theek hai, main sambhalungi. Aap bhi akela mat nikalna.” Unhone hans kar kaha, “Tu mujhe hukm deti hai, yeh mujhe pasand hai.” *Aapko pasand hai, aur main hukm isliye deti hoon kyunki meri kursi ab aapki goli ke bagair nahi, aapki goli ke saath hai, meri marzi ke saath.*

Ek raat, do baje ke kareeb, Raka ki khabar aayi, phone ki kati hui awaaz, “Bhaiyya, campaign wale chhote ground ke peeche store-room, aur us raste par ek van dekhi, Munna ne number liya, Kesari ne do chehre pehchane, Shekhar ke aadmi hain, subah rani ki jeep nikalne wali thi usi raste se. Yeh aakhri khel lagta hai.” Pushpa ji uth baithe, palang ki karak, aur Srivalli ko jagakar, haath uske kandhe par, awaaz bhaari lekin dheemi, taaki ghar na jaage, kaha, “Rani, uth, abhi. Aaj tu rally se pehle nahi nikalegi, main nikalunga. Yeh aakhri khel hai uska, main mehsoos kar raha hoon. Van raste par hai, tere nikalne ke intezaar mein.”

Srivalli uth baithi, turant, nighty par mangalsutra, aankhein turant saaf, jaise neend uske dimag ke upar thi, andar nahi. Kamre mein sirf raat ki roshni thi, pankha, aur unki kali shirt jo kursi par padi thi. Usne unka haath pakada, dono hatheliyon mein, aur kaha, “Aap nikalie, lekin akela nahi. Main Naidu aur Venkat ko abhi uthati hoon, security officer raste par honi chahiye, sirf aapki goli nahi. Main jeep mein nahi chalungi, main yahin se file chalaungi. Aap meri jaan ko le kar mat ladie, aap us aadmi ko le kar ladie jo meri jeep ka intezaar kar raha hai. Yeh baat pakki kijiye, Pushpa ji, aap tedhe jaaiye, seedhe nahi, jaise bandargaah par kiya tha.”

Unhone uske maathe par kiss kiya, pistol uthayi, kali shirt pehni, joote, aur kaha, “Tu kamre se mat nikalna, maa ko mat jagana, phone rakhna. Main radio chhod jaaunga, Raka ke through awaaz aayegi. Tu meri rani hai, tu meri file hai, aaj tu raste par nahi, yahin hai. Theek hai na?”

“Theek hai,” usne kaha, awaaz kati, lekin saaf. “Aap jaaiye, main call karti hoon. Jaan le kar mat ladie, usko zinda chahiye, qatl nahi, meri file par khoon nahi. Yeh meri baat hai. Aap tedhe jaaiye, Munna, Raka, Kesari saath, akela koi rasta nahi. Phone, radio, dono rakhie.”

Unhone uska chehra dono hatheliyon mein liya, maathe par ek aur kiss, “Tu meri rani hai, tu meri akal bhi hai aaj raat. Main akela nahi jaaunga, tu akeli nahi baithegi, dono ka kaam alag, dono ka hisaab ek. So jaane ki koshish kariye, rani, jaagte rahi to main gussa nahi, lekin thak jaogi.” Usne sir hilaaya, “Jaaungi nahi neend mein, jab tak aapki awaaz na aa jaaye. Aap jaaiye.”

Unhone sir hilaaya, ek pal uske chehre par haath rakh kar, phir nikal gaye, darwaza dheere band kiya, aur haveli ki seedhiyon par unke joote ki awaaz kaati, phir jeep, phir shaant. Srivalli darwaze ke peeche ek pal khadi rahi, shawl kas, dil tez, phir kamre mein wapas aayi, radio table par rakha, phone haath mein, aur kaam shuru kiya, neend nahi, file. Srivalli ne maa ji ko nahi jagaya. Corridor andha tha, ek raat ki batti door se jal rahi thi, aur woh shawl odhe, nange pair, Kaveri ke kamre ke saamne se nikal kar ruki, sirf itna dekha ki unka darwaza band hai, koi awaaz nahi, jaise ghar ki yeh aurat so rahi ho, is toofan se alag, aur yeh alag rakhna uski zimmedari ho. Usne darwaza nahi khatkhataya, nazar hata li, apne kamre mein wapas aa kar hook lagaya, aur teen call kiye, pallu nahi, sirf nighty ke upar ek shawl, off-white, kandhe par, awaaz kati, lekin saaf, pair nange, payal nahi. Phone ke screen ki roshni uske chehre par padi, sindoor halka, aankhein jaagi hui, aur usne pehla number lagaya, haath thanda, faisla garam.

Pehle Prakash, do ring, teesri par uthaye, awaaz neend se nikalti hui, phir file jaisi, “Rani ji? Itni raat?” “Naidu ji, Shekhar ke aadmi campaign raste par hain, meri jeep ke intezaar mein, Pushpa ji nikal chuke hain, security officer raste par honi chahiye, abhi. Yeh aakhri aag lagti hai, aapki cover chahiye, zinda pakadna hai, qatl nahi.” Unhone ek pal saans li, phir kaha, “Patrol nikal chuki, rasta gherenge. Aap ghar se mat nikalie. Radio rakhiye, meri awaaz bhi aayegi. Baat rakhunga.”

Doosre Venkat, unki awaaz whiskey nahi, gusse aur neend ke beech, “Rani, itni raat, kya hua?” “Minister ji, Shekhar aakhri daav khel raha hai, meri jeep ke raste par, order chahiye, security officer sirf dekhe nahi, ghere. Zinda chahiye woh.” Unhone kaha, “Jo order chahiye, le lo. Tu ghar rahi, paper se lad, goli ke neeche mat ja. Main call karta hoon.”

Teesre Dave ko usne sirf itna likha, haath kaanpte hue bhi type saaf, “Last fire tonight. Keep the water quiet, the ground is ours. Don’t move the ship unless I say.” Reply kuch der baad aaya, “Water stays quiet. Call if you need a shadow, not a headline.” Usne phone neeche rakha, shawl kas liya, aur kamre ki khidki se andhere aangan ko dekha, jeep ja chuki thi, kutta door bhowka, phir chup. Radio table par rakha tha, abhi shaant, aur usne ek pal usko dekha, jaise koi hathiyaar dekhe, phir palang ke kinare baith gayi, pair nange, floor thanda, mangalsutra nighty par, sindoor raat ka halka.

Kuch der kuch nahi hua. Haveli so rahi thi, maa ji ke kamre se koi awaaz nahi, kitchen band, aangan mein sirf hawa. Srivalli ne paani piya, phir nahi piya, haath shawl ke kone par kas, aur socha ki pehli baar jab goli chali thi, woh gaadi mein thi, pallu munh par, Pushpa ji bahar, aur aaj woh kamre mein hai, radio par, file par, lekin dil wahi tez hai. *Main kaanpungi, yeh main jaanti hoon, lekin main hatungi nahi. Aap tedhe jaaiye, Pushpa ji, security officer aane dijiye, meri kursi aaj qatl se nahi, pakad se jeetegi.*

Usne apni maang mein ungli pheri, sindoor ki rekha toot na jaaye, jaise yeh chhoti si baat bhi ek mohar ho, aur radio ko god ke kareeb kheench liya, volume dheema, kaan kareeb, intezaar. Ek minute, paanch, das, jo lambe lage, aur uske dimag mein Shekhar ka naam, us kone ki awaaz jo pehli rally mein aayi thi, “Shekhar Goud zindabad,” aur bandargaah par woh van jo chhod kar bhaage the, jab jahaaz dikha tha. *Aap aaj khud aaye ho, iska matlab aapke paas waqt nahi bacha. Main waqt le kar ladungi, jaldi nahi.*

Jung sheher ke kinare, ek khaali plot aur do godown ke beech hui, jahaan Shekhar khud aaya tha, pehli baar, kaali jeep, chehra dhaka nahi, jaise koi aakhri daav khel raha ho, jaise jahaaz aur security officer ke baad uske paas jaldi ke siwa kuch na bacha ho. Srivalli yeh sab radio par sunti rahi, haveli ke kamre mein, shawl kas kar, palang ke kinare baithi, raat ki roshni, mangalsutra nighty par, aur Naidu ke through, Raka ke through, awaazen kati, tez, kabhi shaant.

Pehle Raka, “Bhaiyya, van wahi hai, store-room ke peeche, do aadmi bahar, andar nazar nahi.” Phir Pushpa ji, “Seedhe mat, peeche se ghero, Munna left, Kesari upar, security officer aane do, pehle fire mat. Rani, tu sun rahi hai? Tu kamre mein hai?”

Srivalli ne radio uthaya, awaaz dheemi, taaki ghar na jaage, “Haan, Pushpa ji, main yahin hoon, nikalungi nahi. Aap tedhe jaaiye, security officer aa rahi hai, Naidu ji ne kaha patrol nikal chuki. Zinda chahiye, yeh meri baat yaad rakhie.”

“Yaad hai,” unhone kaha, aur radio shaant ho gaya, kuch pal, jo lambe lage, uski saans jin palon mein itni tez thi ki usko khud apna dil sunai diya. Usne paani piya, glass neeche rakha, khidki ke kareeb gayi, lekin aangan se aage kuch nahi dikhta tha, sirf andhera, ek diya jo maa ji ne shaam ko jalaya tha, ab bujha hua. *Aap bahar ho, main yahan hoon, yeh meri pehli goli wali raat nahi, yeh aakhri aag hai, aur main kaanpungi, lekin radio nahi chhodungi. Shekhar, aap meri jeep ke intezaar mein the, aaj meri file aapke intezaar mein hai.*

Radio par phir awaaz aayi, Kesari ki, “Do aur aadmi peeche se, ek lambi wali jeep, chehra khula hai, bhaiyya, Shekhar khud lagta hai.” Pushpa ji, “Pakka? Distance?” “Sau gaz, khula khada hai, jaise dikhna chahta ho.” “Fire mat, ghero. security officer kahan hai?”

Srivalli ke phone par Prakash ka message aaya, “Patrol do minute, rasta dono end se. Aap ghar rahiye.” Usne type kiya, “Haan, yahin hoon. Zinda chahiye.” Phir radio uthaya, “Pushpa ji, security officer do minute, dono end se, fire mat, ghero.” Unki awaaz aayi, “Suna, rani. Tu shaant rahi.”

Woh shaant nahi thi, lekin chup thi. Shawl uske kandhe se sarakta, usne wapas kas liya, pair thande, nange, floor thanda, aur ek pal ko usko yaad aayi pehli rally, safed-lal saree, pehli goli, gaadi ka darwaza, phir bandargaah ka sheesha, jahaaz ki roshni, aur aaj yeh kamra, yeh radio, yeh aakhri daav. *Meri kursi aaj is radio par rakhi hai, raste par nahi. Main jeetungi, lekin khoon meri file par nahi chahiye, kyunki rani wahi hai jo goli se badi rahe.*

Radio par Munna ki awaaz aayi, kati, “Bhaiyya, security officer ki jeep dikh gayi, ek end se, doosri abhi nahi.” Pushpa ji, “Doosri ka intezaar, fire mat, jo khula khada hai usko nikalne mat dena, peeche ka rasta bandh karo.” Prakash ka phone phir khanakaya, Srivalli ne dheeme uthaya, “Naidu ji.” “Doosri patrol ek minute, rani ji, aapki awaaz un tak jaaye, fire hold.” Usne radio uthaya, “Pushpa ji, doosri patrol ek minute, fire hold, Naidu ji keh rahe hain.” “Suna,” unhone kaha, “tu bahadur hai, rani, tu jaagti rahi. Ab shaant, kaam hone de.”

Usne radio seene se lagaya, shawl ke neeche, jaise koi palang par bachha lagaye, lekin yeh bachha nahi tha, yeh uski jung thi, aur uske honth band the, aankhein khuli, kamre ki andheri deewar par ek poster nahi tha, sirf peeli calendar, maa ji ka, aur uske peeche sheher, rasta, godown, woh aadmi jo khula khada tha.

[Joker44]

Goli jab chali to woh lambi nahi, kati hui, tez thi, pehle ek, phir do, phir ek van ki awaaz, phir kisi ke chillane ki, phir radio par Raka, “Fire unki taraf se aayi, humne jawab diya, Shekhar jeep ke peeche hai, haath mein hathiyaar, lekin nikal nahi raha.” Pushpa ji, “Peeche se kaato, sir par nahi, pair ke kareeb, zinda chahiye, rani ne kaha hai, meri bhi marzi yahi hai.” Ek aur goli, phir shaant, phir Raka ne kaha, awaaz tez, “Shekhar gira, bhaiyya ke kareeb, saans hai, hathiyaar door hai, tang mein laga, jaan nahi gayi.”

Srivalli ki saans ek baar toot kar wapas aayi, radio uske haath mein kaanpta, phir seedha, aur usne palang ke kinare sir jhukaya, shawl munh ke kareeb, lekin royi nahi, sirf ek lambi saans li, jaise koi paani se nikal kar kinare aaye. Phone par usne Prakash ko likha, “Gir gaya, saans hai, aapki patrol pakde.” Reply aaya, “Pakad rahe hain. Aap baithiye.”

Radio par ab awaazen tez thi, lekin goli ki nahi, hukm ki. Raka, “Hathiyaar door, haath peeche, van lao.” Kisi officer ki awaaz, “Custody, no crowd, move.” Munna, “Bhaiyya, tang se khoon hai, lekin saans chal rahi, doctor jeep mein hai kya?” Pushpa ji, “security officer ke saath clinic, meri jeep nahi, unki van, zinda chahiye, rani ki file par khoon nahi. Kesari, rasta saaf rakh, koi bheed nahi.” Srivalli yeh sab sunti rahi, shawl kas, aankhein nam, aur radio par kaha, dheeme, “Pushpa ji, aap theek hain? Lage to nahi?”

“Theek hoon, rani,” unhone kaha, awaaz kareeb se, jaise ab jeep ke kareeb khade hon, “mitti lagi hai, goli nahi. Tu so ja, main subah aata hoon. Yeh aakhri khel uska tha, ab nahi khelega.” “Main soungi jab aap aayenge,” usne kaha, “ab radio yahin hai, aapki awaaz ke liye.” Unhone dheeme se hans kar kaha, “Sherni, tu jaagti rahi, ab bas.”

Pushpa ji ne khud usko nahi maara, security officer ne pakda, haath peeche, van mein, aur radio par unki awaaz aayi, bhaari, thaki, jeet ki, “Rani, zinda pakda hai, meri goli uske naam par hai, lekin qatl meri rani ki file par nahi chahiye tha, isliye zinda hai. Tang mein laga, chalega, jail jaayega. Tu so ja, subah main aaunga. Tu kamre mein rahi, maa ko mat jagana, ab shaant hai.”

Srivalli ne radio ke kareeb sir rakh diya, aankhein band, aur ek pal ke liye sirf itna socha, *Yeh aakhri aag bujh gayi, aap zinda ho, woh zinda pakda hai, aur meri kursi ab uski goli ke neeche nahi. Kal se meri jung posters ki hai, raston ki nahi. Pushpa ji, aap laut kar aaiye, main yahin hoon, so nahi rahi, aapki saans ka intezaar kar rahi hoon.* Usne Venkat ko short message kiya, “He’s alive, in custody. The ground is ours.” Aur Dave ko, “Last fire is out. Water can stay quiet.” Venkat ka pehla reply turant nahi aaya, kuch der baad aaya, “Good. Now go win the damned seat,” lekin woh line subah wale message mein dohraayi gayi, jaise unhone do baar mohar lagayi ho. Dave ka reply short tha, “Quiet held. Proud of your ground, rani. The water will wait.” Usne dono screen ek pal dekhe, phir phone neeche rakha, shawl odhe, palang par baithi rahi, neend nahi aayi, sirf intezaar, kamre ki shaant, aur door se kabhi-kabhi ek kutta.

Usne ek baar khidki kholi, andhi hawa aayi, thandi, aur band kar di, kyunki awaaz nahi, hawa nahi, sirf unki wapsi chahiye thi. Mangalsutra ungli se chhua, sindoor nahi bigda tha, nighty ke kone mein ek boond paani giri, glass se, aansu se nahi, aur usne kapda theek kiya, jaise koi chhoti si file theek kare. Usne radio band nahi kiya turant, volume dheema rakha, taaki agar koi aur awaaz aaye, woh sun le, lekin ab sirf hawa si thi, kabhi kisi officer ki kata-phati baat, “van move, custody,” phir shaant. Usne nighty ke kone se aankh ponchhi, aansu the, lekin girne se pehle ruk gaye, aur muskurahat jaisi koi cheez honth par nahi aayi, sirf saans seedhi hui.

Ek ghanta, ya usse zyada, woh baithi rahi, kabhi khidki par, kabhi palang ke kinare, kabhi paani le kar, aur socha ki subah ko maa ji poochengi, Kaveri poochengi, sheher poochhega, aur usko ek hi baat karni hai: sab sambhal gaya, zinda pakda hai, campaign kal. *Aaj main stage par nahi jaaungi, aaj main apne mard ke bagal mein baithungi, kal meri awaaz wapas nikalegi. Rani wahi hai jo jeet ke baad bhi ghar sambhale.*

Subah ke andhere mein, jo andhera ab naram ho raha tha, jeep ki awaaz aangan mein aayi. Srivalli pehle se uth kar darwaze par thi, shawl, nighty, mangalsutra, aur Pushpa ji mitti aur jeet le kar laute, kali shirt par dhool, maathe par ek lakeer, aankhon mein thakaan aur proud dono. Maa ji peeche se nikal aayi, royi, phir hansin, “Zinda hai tu, beta, zinda hai,” aur unhone maa ko ek pal kandhe se lagaya, phir Srivalli ki taraf aaye.

Srivalli ne unke haath dhulaye, sink par, lohe aur mitti, dheere, apni ungliyon se, jaise koi pativrata apne mard ko jung se poora lautata dekhti hai. Paani garam nahi, naram tha, maa ji ne diya, aur usne unki kalai, unki hatheli, ungliyon ke beech ki dhool, sab dheere utari, bina zyada lafz ke. Unki shirt nikaal kar rakh di, alag, jaise pehli goli wali raat ke kapde alag the, kali kapde par mitti ki lakeer, aur palang par unko litaya, paani diya, maathe ki mitti ponchhi, ek saaf kapda, dheere, jaise koi sindoor theek karti hai, itni ehtiyat se. Unhone uska haath apni chhati par rakha, bhaari hatheli, garam, dil ab seedha, tez nahi.

“Baith, rani,” unhone kaha, “tu raat bhar jaagi, main jaanta hoon, radio tere haath mein raha. Tu meri sherni hai, tu meri neta hai, aaj yeh baat pakki hui.” Usne unke kareeb baith kar sir hilaaya, “Aap laute, yeh kaafi hai. Baaki baad mein.”

“Rani, ab tu jeet, main tera peechha nahi, tera saath,” unhone kaha, awaaz bhaari, naram. “Shekhar jail jaayega, meri list ab teri stage ke liye khali hai. Usne teri jeep ka intezaar kiya, main uske raste par pahunch gaya, teri security officer aa gayi, teri baat yaad rahi, zinda pakda. Tu ne kaha tha qatl teri file par nahi, main maan gaya. Ab tu jeet, rani, posters se, awaaz se, main tere peeche hoon, aage nahi.”

Usne unki aankhon mein dekha, aansu aaye, lekin giri nahi, aur muskurayi, asal muskaan, thaki, gehri. “Aap so jaaiye, Pushpa ji. Main jeetungi, aapki goli ke baad meri file jeetegi. Yeh ghar ab shaant hoga, thode din. Aapki jaan meri jaan hai, aaj yeh baat phir se pakki hui. Main rally aaj nahi, kal dungi, aaj aap so jaaiye, main yahin hoon.”

Palang ke kinare woh unke bagal mein baithi rahi, shawl odhe, jab tak unki saans bhaari, seedhi, neend mein nahi mil gayi, unka haath uski kalai par, aur uske phone par Venkat ka message tha, “Good. Now go win the damned seat. Cabinet talk after the vote, not before. Sleep, rani.” Prakash ka bhi aaya, “Custody confirmed. File will reach your office. Stay home today if you can.” Usne dono ko short shukriya bheja, phone neeche rakha, aur unke maathe par, mitti ke baad saaf, apna haath phera.

Maa ji darwaze par aayi, chai le kar, dheeme, aur kaha, “Tu bhi so ja, beti, woh so gaya, tu jaagi hai raat bhar. Ghar ab shaant hai, diya main jalati hoon.” Srivalli ne unke pair nahi chhue, kyunki uthne se unki neend tut sakti thi, sirf sir hilaaya, “Thodi der baad, maa ji. Aap chai rakh dijiye, main yahin hoon.” Kaveri andar se nikal kar, neend bhari aankhon se, darwaze par ruki, “Mami, sab theek hai? Raat ko awaaz…?” Srivalli ne naram kaha, “Theek hai, beta, sab sambhal gaya, tu so ja, aaj college late se jaana, ghar shaant rahe.” Kaveri ne ek pal dekha, phir andar chali gayi, aur Srivalli ne uski peeth dekhi, phir nazar unke chehre par wapas le aayi, apne mard par, jo ab so raha tha, jeet le kar, mitti utar kar.

Dhoop jab aangan mein naram padi, tab usne shawl sambhala, unka haath apni kalai se dheere hataya, aur khidki ke kareeb jaa kar sheher ki taraf dekha, jo ab itna door nahi tha. *Aakhri aag bujh gayi. Ab saamne stage hai, posters hain, vote hai, aur woh cabinet jo meri mutthi mein band hai. Shekhar, aap jail mein ho, meri jeep aapke raste se nikalegi, aapke intezaar mein nahi. Pushpa ji, aap so jaaiye, meri file ab posters par chalegi, raston ki goli par nahi.*

Jolly ka message dopahar se pehle aaya, “Bhabhi, khabar aa gayi, baap ji ko pata chal gaya, party khush hai, tu aaj ghar rahi, kal stage, main sambhal raha hoon.” Usne reply kiya, “Kal stage, aaj ghar. Cabinet ki baat baad mein, aaj nahi.” Unhone sirf “Theek” bheja. Srivalli ne chai li, maa ji ke saath kitchen ke kone mein khadi rahi, off-white shawl ki jagah ab ek simple cotton saree, pallu tight, sindoor theek, jaise ghar ki rani, jung ki nahi, aur maa ji ne kaha, “Aaj tu nikal mat, beta, ghar mein sohna hai, sheher ki baat sheher kare.” “Haan, maa ji, aaj nahi nikalungi, kal stage par houngi, aaj ghar mein, aapke paas, unke paas, yeh bhi meri jeet hai.” Maa ji ne uske sar par haath phera, aanchal se aankh ponchhti hui, “Tu meri bahu hai, tu meri rani bhi, dono theek rakh, beti, aaj khana garam hai, tu kha, phir thoda let ja, raat lambi thi.” “Haan, maa ji, khati hoon,” usne kaha, awaaz naram, ghar wali, shaant.

Pushpa ji dopeher ko uthay, nahaaye, khana khaya, aur verandah par baith kar uska haath pakada, “Kal tu bol, main peeche hounga, aaj tu mere bagal mein rahi. Shekhar ki file ab security officer ki hai, meri nahi, teri bhi nahi, yeh theek hai.” Srivalli ne sir hilaaya, unki hatheli mein apni hatheli rakhi, aur kaha, “Theek hai, Pushpa ji. Kal meri awaaz, aaj aapki saans. Itna meri jeet hai.” Unhone hans kar uske maathe par kiss kiya, beedi ab halki, aur haveli us din asal mein shaant rahi, pehli baar kitne dino baad, posters bahar, andar chai, aur ek rani jo apni file ko ek din ke liye god mein rakh kar baithi thi, daudti nahi.

Shaam ko un dono ne verandah par chai pi, dhoop dhalti hui, aur Pushpa ji ne kaha, “Kal panchayat nahi, mandi wala chhota ground, bheed hogi, khabar phail chuki hai. Tu seedhi bolna, goli ka naam mat lena, jeet ka naam lena, kaam ka naam lena. Main peeche hounga.” Srivalli ne pallu theek kiya, chai ki pyali dono hatheliyon mein, “Haan, Pushpa ji, main seedhi bolungi. Aaj jo shaant hai, kal usko awaaz dungi, goli nahi. Mandi wale ground par log poochhenge, main kaam ki baat karungi, jaile ki baat nahi, us aadmi ka naam nahi. Meri file ab posters par chalegi, yeh maine soch liya hai.” Unhone uska haath pakada, apni badi hatheli mein, beedi honth par abhi nahi, “Tu jeet, rani. Main tera saath, tera peechha nahi. Kal main tere peeche khada hounga, jaise pehli rally par, lekin aaj jo tu ne radio par kiya, woh main nahi bhoolunga. Teri file meri goli ke barabar hai, yeh baat ab pakki hai.” “Pakki rahe,” usne kaha, muskurate hue, thaki si muskaan, “dono ka hisaab alag, dono ka kaam ek.”

Raat ko palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya, wahi garam, bhari, aur is baar unki neend jaldi aayi, uski bhi, thakaan se, jeet se, us shaant se jo ab ghar mein thi. Pankha dheere chala, bahar kutta chup ho gaya, aur unki saans uske baalon mein girne lagi, bhaari, seedhi, jeet ki, thakaan ki. Srivalli ne aankhein band karte hue socha, *Kal meri awaaz nikalegi, parson posters, phir vote, phir woh kursi jo maine apni keemat se, apni file se, apni haan se li. Shekhar jail mein hai, Dave ka jahaaz paani par shaant hai, Rudra ki zabaan meri mutthi mein hai, aur aap mere bagal mein ho, Pushpa ji. Yeh meri raat ki jeet hai, jo aapko poori nahi dikhegi, lekin jo kal din par nikalegi. Aaj ki shaant meri bhi hai, aapki bhi, aur main isko dono hatheliyon mein rakh kar so rahi hoon, kal ki awaaz ke liye, aaj ki goli ke liye nahi.*

[Joker44]

Jeet us din aayi jab garmi tez thi aur loudspeaker phir se kharab ho raha tha, phir kisi ne tar theek kiya, aur awaaz wapas aa gayi, kati hui, tez. Counting centre ke bahar bheed thi, flags, posters, paani ke cub, aur mitti uth rahi thi jaise pehli rally wale ground par uthati thi. Pushpa ji kali shirt mein khade the, beedi honth par nahi, haath peeche, aankhon mein woh junoon jo ab goli ka nahi, number ka tha. Maa ji ne aanchal se aankh ponchhi, peeche khadi, aur Jolly kinare par party ke logon ke saath tha, phone par, muskaan camera ke liye taiyar. Srivalli ek saadi simple cream-and-gold cotton silk mein thi, pallu tight, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, chhote jhumke, cream blouse, sleeves kohni tak, stage wali rani, kothi wali nahi, jaise pehli speech wali subah, is farq ke saath ki aaj uske honth itne kaanpte nahi the, aankhein saaf thi, aur pallu usne khud teen baar theek kiya tha, sheeshe ke saamne, jaise mohar lagati ho, na zyada, na kam, sirf itna jitna counting centre ke saamne chahiye, ghar ke saamne nahi, kothi ke saamne nahi, janata ke saamne seedhi, bina kaanpe, bina jhuke, apni file aur apni muskaan le kar, dono saath, bilkul theek.

Subah haveli se nikalte hue maa ji ne uske maathe par tilak lagaya tha, “Ja, beti, muh dekh ke baithna, naam aaye to jhukna, na aaye to bhi jhukna mat.” Pushpa ji ne gaadi ke darwaze par kaha tha, “Rani, number aaye ya der se aaye, tu meri rani hai, tu meri sherni hai. Main tere peeche hoon.” Usne unka haath pakada, “Aap mere peeche rahiye, aage meri awaaz hogi, aaj bhi.” *Aaj meri awaaz number ke peeche hai, un raaton ke peeche hai, un files ke peeche hai, aur aapko un teeno mein se ek bhi nahi dikha. Aaj muskurana hai.*

Counting ke andar parda tha, bahar intezaar. Dhoop tez thi, ek shamiana, benches, paani ke cub girte, aur loudspeaker kabhi naam leta, kabhi chup ho jaata. Pehla round, doosra, naam kabhi aage, kabhi peeche, margin chhota, phir bada, aur har baar bheed ki saans rukti. Srivalli khadi rahi, pallu kas, paani nahi piya, sirf ek baar Pushpa ji ki taraf dekha, unhon ne sir hilaaya, jaise kaho, tu kaampegi nahi. Ek aurat aage aa kar uska haath pakad kar boli, “Beti, tera naam aa raha hai, tu jhuk mat,” aur usne muskurakar kaha, “Nahi jhukungi, maa, aapka aashirwad hai.” Maa ji peeche se dekh rahi thi, aanchal munh par, aur Pushpa ji ne us aurat ko sir se salam kiya.

Beech mein Jolly ne chai dilayi, usne ek ghoont liya, zyada nahi, kyunki pet tight tha, intezaar ka. “Bhabhi, teesre round ke baad pakka dikh raha hai, baap ji ko message gaya, cabinet wali baat ab kareeb hai, tu seedhi rahiye,” unhone kaan ke kareeb kaha. Usne sirf itna kaha, pallu theek karte hue, “Aaj pehle jeet, cabinet kal. Aap kinare rahiye, aaj meri awaaz meri hai, aapki report baad mein.” Unhone sir hilaaya, muskuraye, peeche hat gaye. Doosra round jab tight aaya, Pushpa ji ne uska haath ek pal pakada, “Darr mat, rani, number aa raha hai.” “Darr nahi, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, “intezaar hai.” *Intezaar hai, aur us intezaar ke peeche woh raatein hain, woh files hain, woh goli hai, jo is shamiana ke neeche koi nahi dekhta.*

Jab uska naam doosri baar, teesri baar, margin ke saath pada, saaf, tez, loudspeaker ne dohraaya, “Srivalli Pushpa Raj,” to bheed ne taali bajayi, kuch logon ne “Pushpa Raj zindabad” kaha, kuch ne uska naam, aur Pushpa ji ne usko uth kar baahon mein liya, uski cream zari unki shirt se lagi, unki awaaz uske kaan mein giri, garam, bhari, “Meri rani, meri MLA, meri sherni. Tu jeet gayi. Main proud hoon, rani, main tere peeche tha, tu aage nikal gayi.”

Usne unke seene se sir uthaya, muskurayi, aankhon mein paani, lekin giri nahi, pallu theek kiya, aur mic ke kareeb jaa kar sirf itna kaha, seedha, naram, garmi mein bhi saaf, “Yeh jeet meri nahi, aapki hai, is sheher ki hai, aur jo kaam maine kaha tha, woh ab shuru hoga. Mandi, paani, port, ghar, meri file aapki file rahegi. Shukriya.” Taaliyan tez hui, cameras chamke, maa ji ne aanchal se muh daba liya, aur andar uska dil keh raha tha, *Yeh jeet meri bhi hai, un raaton ki bhi hai, un files ki bhi, un goliyon ki bhi, aur aapko in teeno mein se ek bhi nahi dikha. Aaj muskurana hai, kal cabinet ki zabaan nikalni hai. Ticket se shuru hua tha, aaj naam pada, aur meri haan ab meri kursi par baithi hai.*

Raste par haveli wapas, bheed peeche, gaadi mein Pushpa ji ne uska haath pakada, “Aaj ghar mein meetha, kal teri duniya. Tu so jaana shaam ko, thak gayi hogi.” Raste par bheed kabhi-kabhi unki jeep ke peeche taali bajati rahi, flags, bachche, aur Srivalli ne khidki se haath uthaya, pallu theek, muskaan bahar, hisaab andar. Pushpa ji ne kaha, “Dekh, rani, yeh teri bheed hai, meri nahi, aaj yeh saaf dikh raha hai.” Usne unka haath pakada, “Yeh bheed hamari hai, Pushpa ji, aapki goli ke bagair main yahan nahi pahunchti, meri file ke bagair yeh taali nahi bajti, dono ka hisaab ek.” Unhone sir hilaaya, khidki se bahar dekha, “Tu bolti hai to theek, lekin aaj tu jeeti, yeh main nahi chhupata.” Usne kaha, “Thak gayi hoon, lekin khush hoon, Pushpa ji. Aap meri peeth par rahiye, yeh ab bhi meri baat hai.” Haveli par maa ji ne laddu diye, aangan mein do-teen log the, Raka, Munna, kesari ke bagair bhi muskaan, aur Pushpa ji ne beedi jalai, pehli baar us din, jaise ab saans khuli ho. “Rani, aaj tu kha, tu baith, kal tak yeh ghar tere naam se goonjega,” unhone kaha. Usne laddu toda, unke munh mein ek tukda diya, jaise ghar ki patni, “Aap khao, Pushpa ji, yeh jeet aapki bhi hai.” Unhone hans kar kaha, “Meri goli, teri awaaz, dono jeete.”

Kaveri college se aa kar darwaze par ruki, bag kandhe par, “Mami, aap jeet gayi, sheher mein awaaz hai, classmates bhi keh rahe the,” aur Srivalli ne uske maathe par haath phera, jaise ghar ki badi, “Haan, beta, jeet gayi, tu kha le, aaj ghar khush hai, zyada shor nahi, tu apna kaam dekhna.” Kaveri ne ek pal dekha, jaise kuch aur kehna chahti ho, phir andar chali gayi, aur Srivalli ne nazar hata li, apni thali, apne mard, apni jeet ki taraf, us jeet ke peeche ke hisaab ko daba kar. Shaam ko palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya, cream saree utar kar, aur unhone kaha, “So ja, meri MLA.” Usne aankhein band ki, lekin socha, *Do din baad meri mez hai, aaj meri jeet hai, dono ko alag rakhna hai, dono ko sambhalna hai.*

Doosre din sheher mein mithai aur posters dono the, Jolly ne phone par kaha, “Bhabhi, kal shaam chhota dinner hai, andar wala, Venkat, Gopal, Naidu, cabinet ki baat nikalni hai, tu aa, meri backbone teri mez par hai.” Usne kaha, “Aungi, Jolly, meri shart meri hogi, aap kinare rahiye.” Pushpa ji ko usne itna hi bataaya ki party ka andar wala dinner hai, jeet ki khushi, cabinet ki baat. Unhone sir hilaaya, “Ja, rani, tu sambhal, main site dekhunga, ab Shekhar jail mein hai, meri nazar phir bhi rahegi.”

Do din baad party ka chhota sa dinner tha, andar wala, jeet wali khushi ke naam par, lekin Srivalli jaanti thi yeh khushi sirf mithai nahi. Venkat, Gopal, Prakash, aur Jolly, wahi private farmhouse, wahi peeli light, wahi dining hall ki yaad, aur ab ek naya lafz: cabinet. Subah se usne soch liya tha, kapda, pallu, shart, sab. Shaam ko sheeshe ke saamne khadi hui, almari kholi, cream wali jeet ki saree ek taraf, aur navy Kanjeevaram haath mein li, gold zari bhari, kapda thanda, bhaari, jaise kursi ka wazan. Blouse tight gold, U-cut, peeth par teen hooks, usne khud lagaye, pallu sahi kiya, sindoor saaf, mangalsutra bahar, jhumke, choodiyan, maang tika nahi, sirf rekha, attar halka. *Aaj main us mez par jeeti hui jaa rahi hoon, kaampti nahi. Jo dungi, soch kar dungi, aur jo maangungi, woh subah nikalna chahiye.* Woh aaj us deep navy Kanjeevaram mein gayi, gold zari, tight gold blouse, U-cut, peeth par teen hooks, jhumke, sindoor, mangalsutra, maang tika nahi, sirf saaf rekha, choodiyan, payal nahi, heels, jaise koi jeeti hui rani apni keemat par wapas baithi ho, dar kar nahi, hisaab le kar.

Pushpa ji darwaze par aaye, nazar navy zari par ruki, “Rani, aaj phir party ka dinner? Jeet ke do din baad? Main chalun?” “Aap nahi, Pushpa ji,” usne muskurakar kaha, wrap nahi, pallu seene par kasa, “andar wali baat hai, cabinet ki, formal, main sambhal lungi, late hua to phone kar dungi. Aap meri jeet par proud rahiye, baaki meri file.” Unhone maathe par kiss kiya, “Ja, tu jaanti hai tu kya kar rahi hai. Main yahin hoon.” *Aap kehte hain main jaanti hoon, aur aaj main sach mein jaanti hoon. Yeh mez meri hai, pehli dinner wali mez nahi.*

Farmhouse ki driveway peeli light mein thi, jaise pehli baar, lekin aaj uske kadam nahi kaanpte the. Guard ne salute kiya, kutta door bhowka, aur usne pallu seene par kas liya, navy zari hawa mein ek pal uthi, phir baithi. *Pehli baar main is driveway par kaampi thi, aaj main shart le kar chal rahi hoon. Yeh farq meri maang ke laal par hai, meri navy zari par hai.* Jolly darwaze par mile, muskuraye, backbone wale hisaab se, “Bhabhi, andar hain, tu seedhi rahiye, main kinare. Cabinet ki baat aaj nikal sakti hai, tu shart rakh, main saath hoon, malik nahi.” “Theek hai, Jolly,” usne kaha, pallu theek karte hue, “aaj meri mez hai, aapki nahi. Aap kinare rahiye, jab main bolo, tab aana. Baap ji ko itna keh dena ki meri jeet ke baad meri zabaan meri hai, unki mohar us zabaan ke saath honi chahiye, peeche se nahi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, “Keh dunga, bhabhi. Tu andar ja, main yahin hoon, malik nahi, backbone.” Usne unke paas se nikal kar hall mein kadam rakha, navy zari peeli light mein jal uthi, aur uske dil ki dhadkan tez thi, lekin kadam seedhe the.

Andar Venkat, Gopal, Prakash, wahi mez, sherbet, thodi whiskey, phool, peeli light, wahi dining hall jahan pehli baar uski emerald saree utari thi, aaj navy, aaj kursi ke baad. Unhone usko kursi di, namaste hua, thodi der khana bhi raha, do-teen sawal jeet ke, margin ke, sheher ke, jaise asal dinner ho, phir baat ghum kar us darwaze par aayi jiske liye yeh raat thi. Jab woh navy Kanjeevaram mein dakhil hui thi, teenon ki nazar pallu, zari, mangalsutra, phir aankhon par gayi thi, aur ab khane ke baad woh nazar wapas usi jagah thi. Venkat ne glass rakha, pehle kaha, uth kar, “Rani, tu jeet gayi, ab cabinet ki zubaan Rudra ji de chuke hain, meri bhi hai, committee Gopal ke phone par hil sakti hai. Ek hissa, industries ke under ek prabhari, ya mahila kalyan, jo bhi pehla kursi ka darwaza ho, nikal sakta hai. Hum khush hain. Tu bata, aaj raat tu sirf khana khane aayi, ya humari mez ki purani baat bhi nibhana chahti hai, apni marzi se? Aaj tu jeeti hui hai, main yeh baat samajh raha hoon, isliye poochh raha hoon, hukm nahi de raha.”

Srivalli ne sherbet rakha, teenon ko dekha, Jolly ko dekha jo kinare khade the, aur awaaz shaant rakhi, seedhi, jitni counting ke mic par thi. “Cabinet ki zubaan pehle pakki kijiye, aaj, meri file mein, naam ke saath, subah ke phone ke saath. Uske baad, haan, aaj raat main aapke saath hoon, apni marzi se, meri haan par, kisi dabav se nahi. Aaj main wahi aurat nahi jo pehli dinner par pehli baar kaampi thi. Aaj meri kursi hai, meri shart hai, aur jo dungi, soch kar dungi. Jo kahungi ruko, rukiye. Dheere kahungi to dheere kijiye. Mangalsutra rahega. Yeh meri mez hai, meri marzi.”

Gopal hans pade, is baar izzat ke kareeb, pet par haath, “Jeeti hui rani ki shart, manzoor. Mera phone kal subah, pehla naam teri file mein, mahila kalyan ya jo tu chahe, main hilata hoon. Pallu tu khud dheela kar, rani, aaj teri mez hai, meri nahi. Yeh baat mujhe pasand aayi.”

Prakash ne sir hilaaya, glass neeche, file jaisi awaaz, “Meri taraf se bhi haan, cabinet ki, aaj raat ki bhi, teri awaaz par. Jo kahogi, ruk jaaunga. Yeh meri baat hai, rani ji, pehli raat jaisi, aaj teri kursi ke saath.”

Venkat ne whiskey ka aakhri kash liya, muskuraye, “Toh mohar dono taraf, rani. Subah darwaza, aaj raat teri haan. Hum taiyar hain, tu jab kahe.”

Srivalli ne ek pal peeli light dekhi, sheesha, apni navy soorat, aur andar jo garmi thi, usko jhoot nahi bola. Sharm thi, himmat thi, hisaab tha. *Yeh jeet meri hai, yeh raat meri mohar hai, aur main chhupa nahi rahi. Pehli dinner par main kaampi thi, aaj main shart rakh rahi hoon. Pushpa ji, aap haveli mein honge, yeh mez aapko nahi dikhegi, sirf woh khabar dikhegi ki cabinet nikalne wali hai.* Usne khud pallu seene se khisakaya, navy zari jal uthi, gold blouse ki kali chamki, aur kaha, “Haan, ab. Hooks ek-ek karke, pehle Venkat ji, phir Gopal ji, phir Naidu ji. Sofa par, dheere, meri awaaz par.”

[Joker44]

Venkat uske peeche aaye, “Kholun, rani?” “Haan, kholiye,” usne kaha, aankhein aage, sheeshe mein, unki ungliyan peeth par, pehla hook, doosra, teesra, gold blouse khula, uski saans uth-giri, choli neeche, phir Gopal ne petticoat ki nara poochh kar kholi, “Yeh bhi?” “Haan,” aur Prakash ne pallu poora marble par girate hue nazar se ijazat li. Jab saree marble par giri, navy-gold ka gher, woh teeno ke saamne khadi thi, nangi, mangalsutra, jhumke, choodiyan, sindoor, heels ab utari hui, aankhein nahi jhuki. Peeli light uski chamri par, kali ladiyan seene par, aur usne kaha, awaaz halki, lekin tuti nahi, “Sofa par, dheere, ek-ek karke, meri awaaz par. Jo kahun ruko, rukiye. Aaj meri haan hai, aapki jaldi nahi.”

Pehle Venkat, unhone sofa par usko litaya, kurta ek taraf, apna lund uski geeli chut par ragaya, top tikaya, “Lu, rani? Ab bhi haan?” “Haan, dheere,” aur inch-inch andar aaye, uski siski, “Aaaahhh, haan, thoda ruk kar, phir aaiye, mat rukiye…” Unki aankhon mein dekha, dhakke control wale, kabhi ruk kar uske boobs muh mein, kali ladiyon ko ek taraf, kabhi uske lafz, “Jeeti hui rani, tu le rahi hai, main de raha hoon, yeh farq aaj saaf hai.” “Haan, le rahi hoon, ahhh, aapki meherbani se nahi, apni haan se, wahan, gehra, tez nahi.” Jab dard tez hua, usne kaha, “Dheere,” aur unhone dheere kiya, “Theek?” “Theek, ab aaiye, haan.” Phir gehra, palang nahi, sofa ki karak, uski siski, peeli light, aur jab woh kaanpane lagi, unhone andar chhod diya, uski haan par, “Haan, andar, dijiye.” Woh uske upar ek pal leti rahe, saans bhaari, phir hat kar paani ke liye ruke, lekin usne kaha, “Baad mein paani, ab agla, meri awaaz par, main taiyar hoon.” Unhone uske maathe par, sindoor ke bagal, honth rakhe, “Tu bolti rahe, rani, main sunta rahunga.” Usne sir hilaaya, sofa par seedhi hui, pair dheere khole, mangalsutra theek kiya, aur agle ko nazar se bulaya, bina sharm ke jhuke, bina jaldi ke.

Phir Gopal, purani bhaari body, bhaari saans, unhone pairon ke kareeb baith kar poocha, “Rani, lu? Tu kehe to main yahin ruku.” “Haan, Gopal ji, lijiye, dheere, meri haan hai.” Unhone andar liya, gehra, uski ijazat se, aur usne unko apni taraf kheencha, dard aur maza, “Ahhh, mat ruko, thoda dheere, haan, aise, poora…” Unki hatheli uski kamar par, dhakke bhaari, lekin jab usne “dheere” kaha to unhone maana, phir uski “haan, ab” par aage badhe. “Tu jeet gayi, rani, tu humari mez ki malik hai aaj,” unhone kaha, saans toot-toot. “Haan, meri mez, ahhh, meri marzi, dijiye, andar.” Jab unhone chhod diya, uska jism kaanpta raha, choodiyan bajin, aur usne ek pal aankhein band ki, saans li, pallu nahi odha, sirf mangalsutra theek kiya, phir aankhein kholi, Prakash ki taraf, jo ab bhi ek kadam peeche the, jaise file ka intezaar ho, hukm ka nahi. “Naidu ji, aaiye, meri haan se. Aap rukte ho, yeh mujhe pasand hai, lekin aaj meri mez hai, aapko bhi lena hai, dena hai, dono soch kar.” Unhone sir hilaaya, kareeb aaye, “Jaisa tu kahe, rani ji.”

Phir Prakash, saaf, file jaisa, unhone uske kareeb aakar haath nahi lagaya jab tak usne nazar se na kaha, “Dard hai to kahiye, rani ji, main ruk sakta hoon.” “Dard hai, lekin mat rukiye, Naidu ji, dheere lijiye, haan, wahan.” Unhone inch-inch andar liya, control, jaise koi file ke page par dastkhat le, aur uski siski unke kaan ke kareeb giri, “Aaaah, haan, aise, mat nikaliye, meri file aapki zabaan ke saath hai, aaj bhi…” “Hai, rani ji, rahegi,” unhone kaha, dhakke lambe, tez nahi, aur jab dono kaanpe, unhone poocha, “Andar?” “Haan, andar, dijiye.” Unhone andar chhod diya, maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb nahi, bagal mein, honth, na pyar, na wada, sirf mohar.

Paani ke ek ghoont ke baad Venkat ne, uski nazar se, kaha, “Rani, agar teri haan ho, to khidki ke kareeb, khade-khade, ek baar, pehli dinner ki tarah, lekin aaj teri awaaz par.” Srivalli ne sheesha dekha, peeli light, apni nangi soorat, mangalsutra, aur sir hilaaya, “Haan, ek baar, dheere, Venkat ji, sirf aap, phir khatam. Main khadi hoon, aap peeche se, meri haan se.” Woh sheeshe ke kareeb gayi, haath glass par, unke haath uski kamar par, aur dheere, peeche se, andar liya, jab usne kaha, “Haan, aaiye, dheere, poora.” Dhakke gehre, tez nahi, uski siski sheeshe par dhundhli, “Ahhh, mat ruko, wahan, haan…” aur unke kaan ke kareeb, “Jeeti hui rani, dekh khud ko.” Usne dekha, nazar nahi hatayi, “Dekh rahi hoon, ahhh, meri mez, meri haan, dijiye.” Jab dono kaanpe, unhone nikal kar usko sofa par baithaya, towel, dheere, aur usne saans li, lambi.

Jab teeno ka hisaab uske jism par tha, usne paani maanga, saans li, sofa par baithi, pallu nahi odha, navy kapda ab bhi marble par, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor thoda bigda, usne ungli se theek kiya, aur kaha, awaaz thaki, saaf, “Yeh meri mohar hai, aapki cabinet meri file mein honi chahiye subah, naam ke saath, phone ke saath. Aaj raat is farmhouse ke andar rahegi, meri stage ke saamne nahi, mere ghar ke saamne nahi. Yeh meri shart ka aakhri hissa hai.”

Venkat ne kaha, kurta ke button lagate hue, “Subah nikalegi, rani, meri zabaan.” Gopal ne kaha, “Phone jaayega, pehla naam tera.” Prakash ne kaha, “File chalegi, sealed, teri nazar se.” Jolly door khade rahe, jab tak usne unhe nahi bulaya, aur usne aaj bhi kaha, unki taraf dekh kar, “Aaj nahi, Jolly. Aaj yeh meri mez thi, aapki nahi. Aap backbone rahiye, aaj ki mohar teeno ki hai, aapki kal ki hogi, meri marzi se.” Unhone sir hilaaya, muskuraye, backbone wale hisaab se, koi gussa nahi, “Theek hai, bhabhi. Tu queen hai, main kinare. Subah main bhi baap ji ko yaad dila dunga, teri mez ki baat.”

Usne bathroom mein chehra dhoya, sindoor theek kiya, navy Kanjeevaram wapas pehni, hooks Gopal ne nahi, usne Prakash se kaha, “Hook lagaiye, sirf hook,” aur unhone peeth par dheere lagaye, pallu usne khud kasa, jhumke, heels, jaise koi asal dinner se nikal rahi ho, jeet wali, formal. Sheeshe mein ek thaki, gehri, navy rani dekhi, jiske andar aaj raat ki garmi thi, bahar cabinet wali soorat. Raste par sheher ki lights window par daudti rahi, pallu god mein, navy zari kabhi-kabhi streetlight mein jal uthti, aur usne Pushpa ji ko message kiya, “Nikal gayi, baat ho gayi, aa rahi hoon.” Reply, “Theek, rani, main hoon.” Driver chup tha, aur usne sheeshe mein sindoor check kiya, jhumke, pallu, jaise koi asal dinner se nikal rahi ho. *Aaj meri mez thi, pehli dinner wali mez nahi, aaj meri haan thi, aaj meri shart thi, aur subah darwaza khulega. Sharm hai, himmat hai, dono saath hain, aur main ghar jaa rahi hoon, apne mard ke bagal, is mohar ko apni file mein band kar ke.* Gaadi haveli ke raste mud gayi, posters ab bhi deewar par the, uska chehra, pallu theek, “Srivalli Pushpa Raj,” aur usne nazar nahi hatayi.

Haveli par Pushpa ji ne poocha, verandah, beedi ki aakhri kash, nazar navy zari par, “Cabinet wali baat hui? Sab theek hai?” aur usne muskurakar kaha, unke kareeb jaa kar, “Haan, Pushpa ji, nikalne wali hai, pehla darwaza, subah khabar aayegi. Aap meri jeet par proud rahiye, baaki main sambhal lungi. Main thak gayi hoon, aaj ki khushi meri bhi hai, aapki bhi.” Unhone usko andar liya, maathe par kiss, “Tu jeet, meri MLA, meri rani. So ja, kal teri file nikalegi.” Palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya, navy zari almari mein rakhi, nighty, mangalsutra upar, aur uske jism par aaj raat ki mohar thi, jo unko nahi dikhi.

Unhone nighty ke upar haath rakh kar uski kamar pakadi, “Cabinet nikle to main pehle tujhe proud kahunga, phir sheher ko. Tu meri rani hai, tu meri MLA hai, so ja.” “Haan, Pushpa ji, so jaaungi,” usne dheeme kaha, unki chhati par haath rakh kar. Srivalli ne aankhein ek pal khuli rakhi, unki saans, pankha, bahar haveli shaant, jeet ke do din baad bhi posters ki yaad, aur socha, *Aaj meri jeet do din purani hai, aaj meri mohar nayi hai, aur subah cabinet ka darwaza khulega, meri file mein, meri haan ke saath. Pushpa ji, aap so jaaiye, yeh mez aapko nahi dikhni chahiye, sirf woh kursi dikhni chahiye jo ab meri hai. Pehli dinner par main kaampi thi, aaj main shart rakh kar wapas aayi hoon, yeh farq meri neend mein kaafi hai.* Honth par koi badi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line, jo subah phone ka intezaar karne wali thi. Pankha dheere chala, bahar kutta chup tha, jeet ke baad haveli ki raat naram thi, aur neend der se aayi, lekin aayi, unke haath ke neeche, navy zari ke peeche, us mohar ke saath jo unko nahi dikhi. *Subah phone aayega, yeh unki baat thi, aur main us phone ko apni file mein rakh loongi, is palang ke bagal, aapki saans ke bagal.*

Subah phone teesre pahar se pehle khanakaya, Gopal ka number, short, seedha, “Rani, naam nikal gaya, mahila kalyan aur port-welfare prabhari, teri file, meri committee, Venkat ki zabaan, Rudra ji ki mohar. Akhbar shaam tak, tu taiyar rahiye.” Srivalli verandah par thi, simple cotton saree, chai, aur usne kaha, “Shukriya, Gopal ji. Aapki baat pakki hui, meri file mein hai.” Unhone dheeme hans kar kaha, “Teri mez thi, rani, humne nibhayi. Mubarak.” Usne phone neeche rakha, Pushpa ji ki taraf mud kar muskurayi, asal muskaan, “Aaya, Pushpa ji. Pehla darwaza, meri file, aapki rani ki kursi agle kadam par hai.” Maa ji kitchen se nikal kar boli, “Kya hua, beti?” “Achhi khabar, maa ji, party ne ek zimmedari di, ghar mein meetha nikalna.” Maa ji ne haath jod kar aakash ki taraf dekha, phir uske sar par haath phera, “Tu jeetti ja, beti, ghar ka diya jalata rakhna.” “Jalaati rahungi, maa ji.”

Unhone beedi sulgate hue usko apni taraf kheench liya, maathe par kiss, “Meri minister, meri rani. Main proud hoon. Tu jeet, main tere peeche. Aaj site pe baad mein jaaunga, pehle tere saath chai.” “Haan,” usne kaha, unke kandhe par haath rakh kar, “pehle chai, baad mein file.” *Aap proud ho, yeh sach hai, aur peeche jo mez thi, woh aapko nahi dikhegi. Darwaza khul gaya, ab yeh dekhna hai yeh darwaza kahan tak jaata hai, mahila kalyan se aage, kursi ke aur kareeb.*

[Joker44]

Cabinet ka pehla darwaza, mahila kalyan aur ek special port-welfare prabhari, uske naam par nikal chuka tha, akhbar mein photo thi, pallu theek, muskaan naram, aur sheher ne usko “Pushpa ki rani, ab minister” kehna shuru kiya. Posters badle, haveli mein log aane lage, mithai, aashirwad, aur Pushpa ji proud the, kali shirt, beedi, aankhon mein woh ghamand jo ab unki rani ki kursi se aur tez ho gaya tha. “Rani, tu minister hai, log tere darwaze par aate hain, main dekhta hoon,” unhone ek subah kaha, “main proud hoon, tu jeetti ja.”

Srivalli jaanti thi yeh darwaza anjam nahi, shuruaat hai. Rudra ab bhi CM the, unki zabaan uski file mein thi, unki palang uski marzi par thi, aur unke andar woh purana malik ab bhi baitha tha jo chahta tha rani unke neeche rahe, unke barabar nahi. Office ke din lambe the, files, paani ki line, port-welfare ke kaagaz, Prakash ki nazar, Venkat ki call, aur shaam ko haveli, thali, palang, Pushpa ji ka haath, woh dohra jeevan jo ab uski aadat tha.

Office ka kamra saaf tha, flags, files, ek chhoti si window, aur Srivalli roz subah pallu kas kar wahan baithti, papers padhti, logon ko milti, kabhi mandi ke log, kabhi port ke, kabhi party ke. Ek subah office mein Prakash aa kar, formal, bole, “Rani ji, port-welfare ki file chal rahi hai, aapki nazar chahiye, teen jagah atki hui thi, ab nikal rahi hai. Aap jeet ke baad bhi soch kar chal rahi hain, yeh achha hai.” Usne papers padhe, sign kiye, “Naidu ji, atke to meri taraf dekhiyega, jaise kaha tha, aaj bhi wahi baat hai.” Unhone sir hilaaya, “Wahi baat hai, record par nahi, aapki yaad mein.” Venkat ne ek shaam phone kiya, “Rani, tu theek kaam kar rahi hai, lekin upar wali kursi ke liye teri nazar Rudra ji par rakhni hogi, woh jaldi nahi dega, tu jaldi maang, yeh meri salah hai.” Usne kaha, “Salah rakh li, minister ji, main soch kar maangungi, chillakar nahi.” Venkat ne kaha, “Soch, lekin der mat kar, rani, kursi uski hai jo waqt pakde.” Phone kat gaya, aur Srivalli ne window ki taraf dekha, sheher, dhoop, ek poster door, uska chehra. *Main soch kar maangungi, yeh meri aadat ho gayi hai, aur jo mutthi mein hai, usko main ab sirf rakhne nahi, kholne ke liye use karungi, jab time aayega. Waqt kareeb hai, Jolly keh rahe hain, Venkat keh rahe hain, aur meri file keh rahi hai ki ab neeche baithna kamzori hogi, barabar baithna meri jeet.* Usne papers band kiye, pallu theek kiya, aur agla visitor andar aane diya, muskaan naram, hisaab andar, jaise roz karti hai, jaise rani karti hai.

Ek dopahar Jolly ne party office mein kaha, awaaz dheemi, “Bhabhi, baap ji tujhe bula rahe hain, shaam ko kothi, akele. Woh soch rahe hain, tu tez bhaag rahi hai, yeh unke lafz hain, meri nahi. Tu ja, tu shart rakh, main kinare. CM ki baat ab door nahi, lekin unki zabaan ke bagair nahi nikalegi.” Srivalli ne pallu theek kiya, simple office wali saree, aur kaha, “Main jaaungi, Jolly. Aap unko itna keh dena ki main girane nahi jaa rahi, baat karne jaa rahi hoon. Meri file meri hai, unki awaaz bhi meri mutthi mein hai, lekin main izzat se baat karungi, kisi dabav se nahi, jab tak unki zabaan nikal na jaaye.” Unhone sir hilaaya, “Izzat theek hai, bhabhi, himmat bhi rakhna. Woh malik banna chahte hain, tu barabar baithna.” “Barabar baithungi,” usne kaha, “neeche nahi.”

Us ke baad teen-chaar din aur guzre, office, haveli, ek chhoti si public meeting, jahan logon ne “minister ji” kaha, aur uske honth ek pal ke liye ruk gaye, phir muskuraye. Pushpa ji us meeting mein peeche the, taali baja rahe the, aur raste par unhone kaha, “Rani, log tera naam lete hain, mera bhi, lekin tera pehle. Yeh mujhe bura nahi lagta, yeh mujhe bada lagta hai.” Usne unka haath pakada, “Aap bade ho, Pushpa ji, main aapki rani hoon, yeh nahi chhupungi, minister bhi hoon, yeh bhi nahi chhupungi.” Ghar par maa ji ne khana zyada banaya, “Log aate hain, beti, ghar chhota nahi lagna chahiye.” Srivalli ne unke pair chhue, “Ghar bada hai, maa ji, aapki wajah se.”

Raat ko palang par kabhi-kabhi uski neend late hoti, ceiling, pankha, unka haath, aur sochti, *Cabinet mila, jeet mili, ab agla naam maangna hai, aur maangne ke liye mujhe unki kothi par jaana hoga, unki awaaz ke saath, meri haan ke saath. Yeh khel goli ka nahi, zabaan ka hai, aur main isko bhi soch kar kheloongi.* Jolly ka message un dino mein ek aur baar aaya, “Kal shaam, bhabhi, ab der nahi karni, woh taiyar hain sunne ke liye, tu taiyar rahiye bolne ke liye.” Usne reply kiya, “Tayar hoon. Kinare rahiye.”

Us shaam haveli ke sheeshe mein Srivalli ne taupe saree pehni, pallu tight, kam zevar, chhote tops, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, jaise koi minister meeting mein aayi ho, rani-dulhan nahi. Almari mein navy Kanjeevaram ek taraf thi, cream jeet wali ek taraf, aur aaj usne simple chuna, kyunki aaj mohar kapde ki nahi, zabaan ki thi. Pushpa ji darwaze par aaye, “Rani, uncle ke yahan? Main chalun?” “Aap nahi, Pushpa ji, andar wali baat hai, party ki, kal aap saath chaliye, aaj meri file. Late hua to phone kar dungi.” Unhone maathe par kiss kiya, “Ja, tu jaanti hai. Main yahin hoon.” *Aap kehte hain main jaanti hoon, aaj main maangne jaa rahi hoon, neeche baithne nahi.*

Ek shaam unhone usko kothi bulaya, peeli light, cream kurta, whiskey, aur awaaz mein woh narmi jo dabav nahi, hisaab thi. Srivalli usi simple taupe saree mein dakhil hui, pallu tight, kam zevar, chhote tops, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf. Gaadi kothi ke raste par thi, taupe pallu god mein, aur usne drive nahi li thi, sirf yaad li thi, ki awaaz uski mutthi mein hai, aur aaj woh awaaz uthani nahi, dikhani bhi nahi, sirf itna hisaab rakhna hai ki woh jaanti hai, woh jaante hain. *Aaj main girane nahi jaa rahi, barabar baithne jaa rahi hoon. Agar unki zabaan kal nikal jaaye, to meri kursi aur kareeb aayegi, bina sheher mein shor machaye.*

Servant ne andar bheja, darwaza band hua, aur Rudra ne usko kursi di, whiskey badhayi, usne paani maanga, jaise har baar maangti hai, hosh ke liye. “Paani, phir se,” unhone kaha, muskurate hue, “tu hamesha hosh mein rehna chahti hai, rani, yeh mujhe ab pasand bhi aata hai, pehle gussa aata tha.” “Hosh chahiye, uncle,” usne kaha, “aaj ki baat hosh ke bagair nahi hogi.”

“Rani, tu tez bhaag rahi hai,” unhone kaha, glass ghumate hue, nazar uske pallu par, phir aankhon par. “Cabinet mili, jeet mili, files tere haath mein hain, sheher tera naam leta hai, Pushpa ke saath, kabhi akele. Lekin CM ki kursi meri hai, aur main yeh kursi kisi bahu ke naam par nahi utarne wala, jab tak main khud na kahun. Tu kya maangti hai, seedhe bol. Jolly ne kaha tu baat karne aayi hai, girane nahi, to bol, main sun raha hoon.”

Srivalli ne paani ka ghoont liya, glass rakha, unki aankhon mein dekha, awaaz naram, lekin kathi, jaise dinner par thi, jaise recording ke din thi. “Main aapki kursi chheenne nahi aayi, uncle, main uske baad ki baat karne aayi hoon. Aapki umr, aapki party, aapki thakan, yeh sheher dekhta hai. Main aapka chehra ban sakti hoon, aapka successor, aapka CM ka naam, jab aap taiyar hon, lekin woh naam meri mutthi se nikalna chahiye, aapki meherbani se nahi, kyunki meri file mein aapki awaaz hai, meri jeet hai, meri goli bhi hai, meri ships bhi. Main aapko girana nahi chahti, main aapke saath khadi rehna chahti hoon, lekin ab main aapke neeche wali rani nahi rahungi. Aap bolo, kab, kaise, meri taraf se zubaan nikalegi party mein, ki Srivalli agla chehra hai. Yeh meri maang hai, seedhi.”

Rudra lambe time tak chup rahe, glass ghumaya, peeli light unke chehre par, phir dheeme hans pade, woh hansi jo pehle darati thi, aaj hisaab jaisi thi, thodi si haar, thodi si izzat. “Tu meri awaaz se meri kursi maang rahi hai, aur yeh bhi keh rahi hai tu mujhe girana nahi chahti. Himmat hai, rani, yeh main maanta hoon. Theek hai, main sochunga, lekin sochne ka ek hisaab hai. Aaj raat tu meri palang par, meri haan nahi, teri haan se, aur us ke baad main party mein woh lafz nikaalunga jo tu chahti hai: agla chehra, meri barkat, teri kursi. Manzoor? Yeh meri baat hai, tu bhi apni shart rakh, main sununga.”

Usne saans li, andar gussa bhi tha, josh bhi, hisaab bhi. Peeli light, taupe pallu, unki nazar, glass ke cubes, aur woh baat ki kal zabaan nikalni chahiye, hafton baad nahi, kyunki waqt unke haath mein chhodna phir se neeche baithna hota. Usne sheeshe ke bahar ek pal dekha, kothi ka aangan, ped, door ek guard, aur socha ki yeh kamra kitni raaton se uski keemat ka hissa raha hai, aur aaj yeh keemat kursi ke naam par uth rahi hai, meri haan ke naam par. Gussa isliye tha ki unhone phir palang ko hisaab banaya, josh isliye tha ki naam kal nikal sakta hai, hisaab isliye tha ki uski haan ab bhi uski hai, unki nahi. Usne glass chhua, paani nahi piya, hatheli thandi rakhne ke liye, phir kaha, awaaz halki, lekin tuti nahi, lekin pehle ek aur line, “Uncle, palang meri haan se hogi, aapki shart se nahi rukegi, yeh farq rakhie. Aap maang sakte ho, main de sakti hoon, lekin main neeche nahi baithungi, aaj bhi, kal bhi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, “Farq samajh gaya, rani. Bol, manzoor hai?” “Manzoor hai, meri haan se, dheere,” usne kaha, awaaz halki, lekin tuti nahi. “Aapki zabaan kal nikalni chahiye, hafton baad nahi, party ke logon ke saamne, cameras ke saamne, itna saaf ki koi palat na sake. Yeh meri shart hai. Mangalsutra rahega. Jo kahungi ruko, rukiye. Aaj mohar meri haan se, kal aapki zabaan meri file se.”

“Kal,” unhone kaha, uth kar uske kareeb aate hue, glass neeche, haath abhi nahi lagaya, “pakka. Pallu utar, rani. Lu, ya tu khud aaye? Bol, main zabardasti nahi karunga, tu jaanti hai.”

“Aap lijiye, meri haan se,” usne kaha, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue, nazar nahi hatayi. “Dheere, soch kar, jaise recording wale din, meri haan se.”