[Joker44]

Unhone pallu dheere utara, taupe kapda kandhe se khisaka, blouse ke hooks peeth par ek-ek, uski saans unke ungliyon ke neeche, choli khuli, petticoat, aur kapda pairon ke kareeb gir gaya. Srivalli mangalsutra, tops, sindoor, choodiyon ke saath khadi rahi, peeli light, aur Rudra ne usko dekha, lamba saans, haath uski kamar par, “Palang par aaun? Lu?” “Haan, dheere, lijiye,” usne kaha, “pehle litaiye, phir andar, inch se.”

Unhone usko palang par liya, razaai ek taraf, pair dheere khule, apna lund uski geeli chut par ragaya, top tikaya, “Lu, rani? Ab bhi haan?” “Haan, dheere, lijiye,” aur inch-inch andar aaye, uski siski, “Aaaahhh, haan, thoda ruk kar, phir aaiye, mat rukiye…” Unki aankhon par, dhakke gehre, control, kabhi ruk kar uske boobs muh mein, kali ladiyon ko ek taraf, kabhi uske lafz, bhaari awaaz, “Yeh kursi tu meri palang se nikaal rahi hai, rani, aur main de raha hoon, kyunki tu le sakti hai, kyunki teri mutthi mein meri awaaz hai, aur kyunki tu neeche nahi baithi.” Usne unko kheencha, taangein kamar par, “Haan, le rahi hoon, ahhh, apni marzi se, aapki meherbani se nahi. Gehra, tez nahi, haan, wahan…”

Jab dard tez hua, usne kaha, “Dheere,” aur unhone turant dheere kiya, “Theek hai?” “Theek, ab aaiye, mat nikaliye, haan.” Phir gehra, palang ki karak, uski siski, unki bhaari saans, peeli light dono par. *Main unki palang par hoon, apni kursi ke agle naam ke liye, apni haan se, aur kal unki zabaan nikalegi, cameras ke saamne. Pushpa ji, aap haveli mein honge, yeh raat aapko nahi dikhegi, sirf woh taali dikhegi jo kal bajegi. Sharm hai, himmat hai, dono saath hain.*

Unhone ek pal ruk kar uska chehra dekha, dhakke dheeme, andar, “Tu sochti reh rahi hai, rani, main dekh raha hoon. Aaj tu palang par bhi file le kar aayi hai.” Usne saans li, “File meri saath hai, uncle, lekin aaj meri haan bhi saath hai, dono ko alag nahi kar rahi, dono ko chhupa bhi nahi rahi. Aaiye, mat rukiye, dheere, haan, aise…” Unhone aage badhe, gehra, uski siski, kali ladiyan unki chhati se, aur unki awaaz bhaari, “Kal main tera naam loonga, aaj tu mera lund le rahi hai, yeh hisaab tu ne khud rakha, main nahi.” “Khud rakha,” usne kaha, “ahh, isliye meri hai, meri marzi, wahan, haan.”

Unhone usko upar bitha diya, “Tu chala, meri rani, aaj teri maang hai.” Usne 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, apni kursi, apni haan…” Jab dono kaanpe, usne kaha, “Andar, dijiye, meri haan,” aur unhone andar chhod diya, kaan ke kareeb, “Kal meri zabaan nikalegi. Tu jeet, meri rani, meri party ki agli kursi. Itna meri baat, teri mutthi, dono ka hisaab.”

Woh uske bagal mein leti rahi, saans bhaari, mangalsutra unki chhati se, aur usne kaha, awaaz thaki, saaf, “Kal, uncle, cameras ke saamne, agla chehra, meri naam, aapki barkat. Yeh pakki ho to main ghar jaaungi, aapki kothi ki roshni peeche chhod kar.” Unhone uske bagal mein haath rakh kar, pet par, dheeme kaha, “Paani le, rani, phir uth. Main tujhe nahi rokunga.” Usne paani liya, thanda, do ghoont, chadar seene par, aur unki aankhon mein dekha, “Kal, uncle, koi palat nahi, koi ‘sochunga’ nahi, zabaan nikalni chahiye.” “Nikalegi,” unhone kaha, uske baal se haath pherte hue, “tu kapde pehen, ja, apne mard ke bagal so. Kal subah hall mein mil, main bolunga, tu muskurana, zyada mat bolna, lafz mere nikalenge, teri file ki mohar lag jaayegi. Yeh meri umr ka ek faisla hai, main isko halka nahi loonga, tu bhi mat lena.” “Halka nahi loongi,” usne kaha, “main jeet kar loongi, chheen kar nahi.”

Kapde pehante hue usne taupe pallu khud kasa, hooks unhone peeth par lagaye, sindoor ungli se theek, aur sheeshe mein ek thaki, simple rani dekhi, minister wali soorat, dulhan nahi. Rudra darwaze tak aaye, “Ja, rani. Kal meri zabaan, teri kursi. Teri mutthi main maan gaya, yeh baat doosri baar pakki.” “Shukriya, uncle,” usne kaha, hisaab jaisa, jhukao nahi, aur nikal gayi, pallu god mein, raat thandi.

Gaadi mein usne Pushpa ji ko message kiya, “Nikal gayi, baat ho gayi, kal party mein ek bari khabar ho sakti hai, main aa rahi hoon.” Reply, “Theek, rani, main hoon.” Driver chup tha, raste par lights window par daudti, taupe pallu god mein, aur usne sheeshe mein sindoor check kiya, tops, aankhein thaki, lekin saaf. Ek chauraha aaya, posters, uska chehra, “minister” ka naya lafz kabhi-kabhi neeche likha, aur usne nazar nahi hatayi. *Kal unki zabaan nikalegi, meri file kaam aayegi, aur yeh sheher meri taraf dekhega. CM door nahi, aur jo keemat thi, woh meri chuni hui thi. Aaj raat meri haan thi, kal unki zabaan hogi, dono meri file mein band honge, is gaadi ke sheeshe ke peeche, aapki neend ke peeche, Pushpa ji.* Usne haath se pallu kasa, saans li, lambi, jaise koi paani se nikal kar kinare aaye, aur driver se kaha, “Haveli, seedha.”

Haveli par Pushpa ji verandah par jagte the, beedi ki aakhri kash, aur unhone poocha, nazar taupe saree par, “Uncle se baat kaisi rahi? Itni der, sab theek hai?” “Achhi rahi, Pushpa ji,” usne muskurakar kaha, unke kareeb jaa kar, “kal aap saath chaliye, party ke hall, ek khabar hai, meri peeth par, aapki rani ki. Aaj zyada nahi poochie, kal aap khud sunenge, proud feel karenge. Main thak gayi hoon.” Unhone uska haath pakada, maathe par kiss, “Main chalunga, tu jeet, main tere peeche. Chalo, khao, maa ne rakha hai, phir so ja.” Usne thodi roti khayi, maa ji ke saath do lafz, “Kal subah jaldi nikalna hai, maa ji.” “Nikal, beti, tilak laga ke jaungi.”

Palang par unka haath uski kamar par aaya, taupe saree utar kar, nighty, mangalsutra, aur usne unke bagal mein let kar aankhein ek pal khuli rakhi, pankha, unki saans, ceiling. *Kal meri taraf kursi uthne wali hai, aaj main aapke bagal mein hoon, dono sach, dono meri chhati mein. Uncle ki zabaan nikalegi, meri mutthi kaam aayegi, aur aap tali bajaoge, is farq ke saath ki aaj ki palang aapko nahi dikhi.* Unhone neend mein uska naam liya, “Rani,” aur usne unke haath ko apni kamar par dabaya, “Haan, Pushpa ji, so jaaiye, kal badi subah hai, aaj meri saans aapke bagal kaafi hai.” Unhone sirf uski kamar kas li, beedi ki khushboo ab halki, aur unki saans dheere seedhi hone lagi. Srivalli ne unki chhati par haath rakha, aankhein band ki, aur honth par koi badi muskaan nahi thi, sirf woh thaki, kadi si line, jo kal hall mein muskaan banne wali thi.

Subah haveli mein maa ji ne tilak lagaya, chandan, aanchal, “Aaj badi baat hai, beti, muh dekh ke ja, zyada mat bol, muskurana, ghar ka naam rakhna.” Pushpa ji saaf kurta mein the, joote, aankhon mein ek teesri baat, na goli, na beedi, sirf intezaar, “Rani, jo bhi ho, main tere bagal mein hoon. Uncle kya nikalenge, yeh tu jaanti hai, main nahi, lekin main chalunga.” Srivalli ne taupe saree wapas pehni, pallu tight, chhote jhumke, sindoor saaf, simple, jaise koi minister meeting jaaye, dulhan nahi, sheeshe mein apni soorat dekhi, maang ki rekha, mangalsutra, aur kaha, “Aap saath chaliye, Pushpa ji, aaj meri peeth par aapki nazar chahiye, meri file ke peeche nahi, mere bagal. Jo nikalega, woh meri peeth par hai, aapki rani ki, aap proud feel karenge.” Unhone uska haath pakada, “Bagal mein hoon, proud pehle se hoon, baaki hall mein dekhunga.” Gaadi nikal gayi, aangan peeche, maa ji darwaze par khadi, aur raste par sheher jaag raha tha, jaise koi khabar pehle se uth chuki ho. Pushpa ji khidki se bahar dekh rahe the, phir uski taraf, “Rani, tu kaamp to nahi rahi?” “Nahi, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, pallu god mein, “awaaz meri nahi nikalni, unki nikalni hai, main sunungi, muskuraungi, aap mere bagal rahiye, itna kaafi hai.” Unhone uska haath pakada, garam, bhari, “Bagal mein hoon, tu seedhi rahiye, baaki main dekh loonga.” *Main seedhi rahungi, yeh maine har stage par kaha, har palang par kaha, aaj hall mein bhi kahungi, is farq ke saath ki aaj meri file meri zabaan se nahi, unki zabaan se bajegi, aur yeh bajna meri jeet hogi, aapki taali hogi, unki mohar hogi, teenon ek hall mein, ek pallu ke neeche, ek mangalsutra ke saath, ek sindoor ki saaf rekha ke saath, jo main nahi chhodungi, aaj bhi, kal bhi, kursi par bhi, is gaadi mein bhi, aapke haath ke neeche bhi, meri saaf maang mein bhi, bilkul theek hai.*

Subah party ke ek hall mein, flags, cameras, log, Rudra stage par, Venkat, Gopal kinare, Jolly peeche, Pushpa ji Srivalli ke bagal, kali shirt nahi, saaf kurta, aankhon mein proud, aur Srivalli taupe pallu theek, chhote jhumke, sindoor saaf, muskaan naram, andar dil tez. Rudra ne mic pakada aur kaha, seedha, bina ghumaye, “Yeh party apna agla chehra pehchanti hai. Srivalli Pushpa Raj, meri barkat, janata ki rani, is riyasat ka agla kadam. Jab time aayega, kursi unke naam ki taraf jaayegi. Yeh meri zabaan hai, party ki zabaan hai.”

Taaliyan uthin, cameras chamke, Pushpa ji khade ho kar tali baja rahe the, aankhon mein paani, aur Srivalli unke bagal mein, muskurahat naram, andar ek jeet itni badi ki uski saans ek pal ruki. Jolly ne door se sir hilaaya, Venkat ne glass nahi, taali, Gopal muskuraye, aur mic jab uske kareeb aaya to usne sirf itna kaha, “Shukriya, Rudra ji, shukriya party, shukriya janata. Main is bharose par khadi hoon, is kaam par khadi rahungi.” *Aapki zabaan nikal gayi, meri file kaam aa gayi, aur ab yeh sheher meri taraf dekh raha hai. CM door nahi, aur jo keemat thi, woh meri chuni hui thi. Pushpa ji, aap tali baja rahe ho, aur meri chhati mein woh raat bhi hai, yeh taali bhi, dono meri hain. Ticket se shuru hua tha, jeet aayi, darwaza khula, aur aaj naam uth gaya, cameras ke saamne, meri mutthi se, unki zabaan se. Main muskurati rahungi, zyada nahi boloongi, jaise unhone kaha, lekin andar main jaanti hoon yeh lafz sirf barkat nahi, meri file ki mohar hain.* Taaliyan jab dheemi padi, usne pallu theek kiya, Pushpa ji ki taraf ek pal dekha, unki nam aankhein, aur apni aankh nahi ponchhi, sirf muskurayi, naram, seedhi, rani jaisi, CM banne wali jaisi, pativrata jaisi, teenon ek saath, teenon uske pallu ke neeche.

Hall ke bahar bheed thi, log taali baja rahe the, kuch chilla rahe the, “Srivalli zindabad,” kuch “Pushpa Raj,” aur usne haath jod kar nazar ghumayi, pallu hawa se bachate hue, muskaan naram, sindoor saaf. Ek reporter ne mic badhaya, “Ma’am, aap kab kursi lenge?” Usne kaha, “Jab time aayega, party ka time, janata ka time, main kaam karti rahungi, date nahi bechungi.” Jolly ne peeche se rasta saaf kiya, “Bhabhi, gaadi, ab kaafi hai.” Rudra door se nazar mile, ek pal, sir hilaaya, jaise mohar lag gayi, aur woh nazar usne wapas di, bina jhuke.

Hall se nikalte hue Pushpa ji ne uska haath pakada, cameras ke thode peeche, “Meri rani, meri CM banne wali, main proud hoon, tu bol, main tere peeche hoon.” Usne unka haath kasa, “Aap mere peeche rahiye, Pushpa ji, aage meri awaaz hogi, aaj bhi, kal bhi. Yeh ghar mera hai, yeh kursi meri file hai, dono sambhalungi.”

Shaam ko haveli mein meetha tha, log the, phone bajte rahe, maa ji ne laddoo diye, Raka aur Munna aangan mein muskuraye, aur Jolly thodi der ke liye aaye, “Bhabhi, baap ji ne nibhaya, tu jeet gayi, main kinare raha, yeh meri khushi hai.” Usne kaha, “Shukriya, Jolly, aap backbone rahiye, kal bhi, aage bhi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, nikal gaye, malik nahi. Maa ji ne uske sar par haath phera, “Beti, aaj teri duniya badi hui, ghar ka diya jalata rakhna, muh nahi morna.” “Jalaati rahungi, maa ji, muh nahi morungi.” Jab log nikal gaye, Srivalli ne taupe saree utar kar nighty pehni, mangalsutra andar, palang par unke bagal let gayi. Pushpa ji ne kaha, “Meri rani, meri CM banne wali, so ja, kal teri duniya aur badi hogi, aaj meri bahon kaafi hain.” Usne unki chhati par haath rakha, aankhein ek pal khuli, ceiling, pankha, aur socha, *Aaj unki zabaan nikal gayi, meri mutthi kaam aa gayi, aur yeh palang wahi hai, wahi haath, wahi mangalsutra. Time aayega, kursi aayegi, lekin aaj raat main aapke bagal mein hoon, Pushpa ji, is jeet ke saath, us keemat ke saath jo aapko nahi dikhi.* Phone ke kinare ek message tha, Dave ka, short, “I hear a successor has a name now. The water is still quiet. Call if the throne needs a ship, not a sermon.” Usne screen dekhi, Pushpa ji ki saans kareeb, aur reply nahi kiya turant, sirf lock kiya, jaise kai baar kiya tha, soch kar, jaldi mein nahi. Prakash ka bhi aaya, “Mubarak, rani ji. File jaari rahegi.” Usne short shukriya bheja, phone neeche rakha. Neend der se aayi, lekin aayi, honth par ek thaki, kadi si line, jo ab kursi ke aur kareeb thi, jo ab hall ki taali ke baad bhi nahi miti, sirf naram padi. *Jahaaz shaant hai, zabaan nikal gayi, palang peeche chhoot gaya, aur meri haan ab meri kursi ke kareeb so rahi hai, aapke haath ke neeche, Pushpa ji, is farq ke saath ki aapko meri keemat ka poora chehra nahi dikha.*

[Joker44]

Time us din aaya jab Rudra ne, kuch hafton baad, party aur vidhan sabha ke beech, apni tabiyat aur apni “nayi peedi” ka lafz use kar ke kursi aage ki. In hafton mein Srivalli ke din office, files, chhoti ralliyon, aur haveli ke beech bante rahe, taupe aur simple cotton, kabhi cream, pallu tight, aur sheher mein yeh baat phailti rahi ki agla chehra unka hai, sirf time ka intezaar hai. Kabhi koi akhbar likhta, “Pushpa ki rani, riyasat ka agla kadam,” kabhi koi poochhta, “Kab shapath?” aur woh muskurati, “Jab time aayega, kaam ab bhi chal raha hai.”

Office mein files lambi thi, paani, port-welfare, mahila kalyan, aur woh roz sign karti, padhti, logon ko milti, jaise kursi pehle se uski ho, naam abhi na ho. Pushpa ji proud the, kabhi-kabhi poochhte, “Rani, kab?” aur woh kehti, “Jab time aayega, Pushpa ji, main daudungi nahi, lekin soungi bhi nahi. Aap meri peeth par rahiye, main soch kar chalungi.” Unhone hans kar kaha, “Tu soch soch kar rani bani, ab soch soch kar CM banegi, main tere peeche hoon.” Jolly kinare rehte, kabhi keh dete, “Bhabhi, baap ji soch rahe hain, tu shaant rahiye, nazar mat hatana, jaldi mat dikhana.” “Shaant hoon, Jolly, nazar nahi hata rahi,” woh kehti, “aap apni report rakhie.” Naidu ki files chalti rahi, Venkat ki nazar, Dave ka paani shaant, aur Shekhar jail mein, yeh sab uski peeth par tha, stage ke peeche. Ek raat palang par usne ceiling dekhi, unka haath kamar par, aur socha, *Time aayega, kursi aayegi, lekin aaj main aapke bagal mein hoon, is intezaar ke saath, us keemat ke saath jo aapko nahi dikhi. Main daudungi nahi, yeh maine kaha, aur main soungi bhi nahi, yeh bhi.*

Ek subah Jolly ka phone aaya, awaaz tez, “Bhabhi, baap ji ne faisla kar liya, naam tera hai, shapath ke din nikal rahe hain, tu taiyar rahiye, main sab arrange karta hoon, tu kapda soch, baaki meri backbone.” Srivalli verandah par thi, chai, aur uske honth ek pal ruk gaye, phir muskuraye, andar, bahar nahi, “Theek hai, Jolly. Din bataie, main taiyar houngi. Aap kinare rahiye, meri file meri rahegi, aapki report aapki.” Unhone kaha, “Din jaldi aa raha hai. Mubarak, queen.” Phone rakh kar usne Pushpa ji ko pehle nahi, ek pal soch kar, phir jaa kar kaha, unki aankhon mein, “Pushpa ji, time aa gaya. Shapath, mera naam, kursi meri taraf. Aap mere bagal rahiye, yeh meri pehli maang hai.” Unhone beedi neeche rakhi, usko baahon mein liya, bhaari, garam, “Meri rani, meri CM, main tere bagal hoon, goli nahi, saans. Tu jeet gayi, rani, tu jeet gayi.”

Phir woh din kareeb aaya, naam Srivalli Pushpa Raj ka tha, shapath ki taiyari tez hui, kamre safed phoolon se bhar gaye, calls aane lagi, akhbar, party, aur haveli ek subah se sheher ki nazar ban gayi. Maa ji ne do din pehle se meetha shuru kar diya, “Beti, ghar khush rahe, tu jhuke mat, lekin moh nahi morna.” Srivalli ne unke pair chhue, “Nahi morungi, maa ji, ghar ka diya jalata rahega, kursi ke baad bhi, is se pehle bhi.” Venkat ne message kiya, “Rani, din aa gaya, tu seedhi rahiye, meri nazar hai.” Prakash ne, “Cover rahega, rani ji, hall tak, ghar tak.” Dave ka koi naya message un dino nahi aaya, paani shaant tha, aur us shaant ko usne ek pal yaad kiya, phir peeche chhod diya, kyunki aaj ki file shapath ki thi, jahaaz ki nahi.

Shapath se ek raat pehle haveli mein shaant nahi thi, log aate, phone bajta, aur Srivalli ne almari se safed-gold Kanjeevaram nikaal kar palang par bichhayi, zari, blouse, pallu, sab check kiya, jaise koi file check kare. Pushpa ji darwaze par ruk kar bole, “Rani, so ja, kal badi subah hai, kapda subah dekhiyo.” “Dekh liya, Pushpa ji, ab so jaaungi,” usne kaha, lekin neend der se aayi, ceiling, unka haath, aur soch, *Kal meri shapath hai, kal meri kursi ka lafz hai, aur main kaanpungi nahi, yeh main aaj se keh rahi hoon.* Maa ji raat ko ek baar aayi, “Beti, paani pi le, dar mat,” “Dar nahi, maa ji, zimmedari hai.” Unhone uske sar par haath phera, nikal gayi. Subah se pehle usne ek pal card ke dabbe ki taraf bhi nazar daali, almari ke peeche, phir nazar hata li, kyunki aaj ki raat shapath ki thi, us card ki nahi. *Kal ke baad, shayad. Aaj nahi.*

Us din subah sheeshe ke saamne ek lambi taiyari thi. Maa ji ne pehle tilak lagaya, phir naha kar, baal sukha kar, Srivalli ne ek safed-and-gold Kanjeevaram haath mein li, bhari zari, kapda thanda, wazan bhaari, jaise kursi ka wazan. Tight gold blouse, U-cut nahi, high, lekin fit, peeth par hooks, maa ji ne lagaye, “Seedha rakh, beti, aaj pallu sir par bhi jaayega.” Pallu sir par, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf, maang tika, choodiyan, jhumke, attar halka, gulab, jaise koi rani kursi ki dulhan ho, lekin aankhein dulhan ka dar nahi, hisaab tha. Pallu ke kone mein ek chhoti si gold buti, payal nahi, simple heels, haath mein chhota sa clutch nahi, khali hatheli, jaise shapath ke liye haath azaad chahiye.

Sheeshe mein usne apni soorat dekhi, lambi, safed-gold, maang ki rekha, tika, kali ladiyan soni zari par, aur ek pal ke liye usko farmhouse ki peeli light yaad aayi, emerald, vermilion, navy, taupe, kaala gown, sab is pallu ke peeche, aur usne nazar nahi hatayi. *Aaj main in sab ko le kar jaa rahi hoon, chhupa kar, lekin saath. Aaj meri shapath meri haan jaisi seedhi hogi.* Maa ji ne kaha, “Theek lag rahi hai, beti, rani lag rahi hai.” “Haan, maa ji, rani hoon, aapki bahu bhi, dono le kar jaaungi.”

Pushpa ji uske bagal mein the, safed kurta, aankhon mein woh jungle wala ghamand jo ab stage tak aa gaya tha, joote saaf, beedi aaj honth par nahi. Woh darwaze par ruk kar usko dekhte rahe, ek pal, do pal, jaise koi apni rani ko pehli baar nahi, aakhri baar pehle wale roop mein dekh raha ho, phir kaha, awaaz bhari, naram, “Rani, tu jab shapath le, main tere peeche hoonga, goli nahi, saans. Tu meri rani thi, aaj is riyasat ki rani ban rahi hai. Main wahi hoon, tu badal gayi, lekin meri nahi. Yeh kapda, yeh pallu, yeh tika, sab tera hai, yeh ghar bhi tera hai. Tu jhuk mat, lekin mujhe bhool mat. Main jungle se aaya, tu takht par jaa rahi, dono ek ghar ke hain, yeh mat bhoolna.” Unhone uske maathe par, tilak ke bagal, kiss kiya, lamba nahi, bharose wala, “Chalo, gaadi khadi hai, tu seedhi, main bagal.”

Srivalli ki aankhein ek pal nam hui, giri nahi, aur usne unka haath kas liya. “Aapko nahi bhoolungi, Pushpa ji, yeh meri baat, shapath se badi nahi, shapath ke saath. Aap bagal rahiye, main seedhi rahungi.”

Usne unka haath pakada, cream se nahi, gold zari ke neeche se, kali ladiyan unki kalai se lagti, aur kaha, “Aap wahi rahiye, Pushpa ji. Main aapki rani hoon, yeh nahi chhupungi, aur is riyasat ki zimmedari le rahi hoon, yeh bhi nahi chhupungi. Aap meri peeth par rahiye, meri file meri hai. Main aapko nahi bhoolungi, yeh meri baat hai, shapath se pehle, shapath ke baad.” Maa ji ne unke pair chhue, royi, hansin, aanchal se aankh, “Ja, beti, meri bahu, meri rani, riyasat ki rani, dono theek rakhna.” Kaveri peeche khadi thi, simple salwar mein, aankhon mein kuch unkahi, lekin aaj usne sirf itna kaha, “Mami, aap jeet gayi,” aur Srivalli ne uske maathe par haath phera, jaise ghar ki badi, koi sawal nahi, koi confession nahi, sirf itna, “Beta, tu theek hai, tu apna kaam dekhna, aaj ghar ki nazar bahar hai, andar shaant rakhna.” Kaveri ne sir hilaaya, ek pal ruki, phir peeche hat gayi, aur Srivalli ne nazar hata li, apne pallu, apne mard, apni shapath ki taraf. Aangan mein Raka aur Munna khade the, saaf kapde, muskaan, “Bhabhi, mubarak, bhaiyya, hum yahin hain.” Pushpa ji ne sir hilaaya, “Yahin rahiye, ghar, hall nahi, aaj security kaam karegi, tumhari goli nahi.” Srivalli ne unhe namaste kiya, “Shukriya, aap ghar sambhaliye.” Gaadi ke darwaze par maa ji ek baar aur aayi, aanchal, “Ja, beti, muh dekh ke baithna, lafz saaf bolna, ghar yaad rakhna.” “Yaad hai, maa ji,” usne kaha, pair chhue, pallu sambhala, aur baith gayi, gold zari god mein, Pushpa ji bagal, safed kurta, dono ek saath, jaise pehli rally, jaise counting, jaise aaj shapath. Aangan peeche chhoot gaya, diya ki nazar, maa ji ki nazar, aur gaadi raste par nikal gayi, flags ki taraf, hall ki taraf, us kursi ki taraf jiska naam ab uske naam se judne wala tha. Srivalli ne khidki se ek pal haveli dekhi, phir aage, pallu sir par theek kiya, tika check kiya, aur honth band kiye, faisla khula, dil tez, kadam ab gaadi ke andar the, lekin seedhe.

Gaadi mein raste bhar flags the, kabhi bheed, kabhi taali, dhoop khidki par, gold zari par, aur Pushpa ji kuch der chup the, uska haath apni hatheli mein, kabhi-kabhi sirf itna kehte, “Seedhi rahiye, rani.” “Haan,” woh kehti, pallu sir par, sindoor saaf, dil tez, lekin honth band. Ek signal par gaadi ruki, bahar logon ne namaste kiya, usne khidki se haath uthaya, tika chamka, aur gaadi phir chali. “Rani, tu paani pi le,” unhone kaha, bottle badhate. Usne ek ghoont liya, “Kaafi hai, Pushpa ji, ab hall, ab lafz.” Unhone sir hilaaya, “Lafz tere, saans meri, theek hai.”

*Ticket se shuru hua tha, goli se, jahaaz se, files se, mez se, aur aaj shapath hai. Jo keemat thi, woh meri chuni hui thi, aur aaj woh keemat ek kursi par baithne wali hai, aapke bagal, aapki nazar ke saamne, us hisaab ke saath jo aapko nahi dikha. Main kaanpungi nahi, yeh maine pehli rally par kaha, pehli goli par kaha, aaj shapath par bhi kahungi. Aap mere bagal ho, yeh kaafi hai, baaki meri file meri hai.*

Hall ke bahar pehle ek intezaar tha, shamiana, security, log, flags, dhoop, aur gaadi jab ruki to awaaz uthhi, taali, naam, “Srivalli,” “CM.” Srivalli gaadi se utri, pallu sir par, gold zari dhoop mein, Pushpa ji ek kadam peeche, maa ji nahi aayi thi, ghar rahi, “Main radio se sunungi, beti, tu seedhi ja.” Koi phool ki mala laya, usne galey mein nahi, haath mein li, phir Jolly ko de di, “Baad mein, pehle shapath.” Jolly ne rasta saaf kiya, “Bhabhi, andar, time par, tu kaanpna mat, cameras zyada hain, baap ji pehle se andar hain.” “Nahi kaanpungi,” usne kaha, “aap kinare rahiye, meri awaaz meri hogi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, aur woh andar chali gayi, gold zari, safed, cameras pehle se chamak rahe the, air thandi, flags, uske heels ki awaaz marmar par, dil tez, kadam seedhe.

Andar ek chhota sa waiting corner tha, paani, ek kursi, aur Prakash ne formal, short kaha, “Rani ji, cover hai, aap shaant rahiye, lafz seedhe, baaki meri file.” “Shukriya, Naidu ji.” Venkat door se muskuraye, “Tu le, rani, aaj teri hai.” Gopal ne haath uthaya, “Mubarak pehle se.” Usne namaste ki, pallu theek, paani ek ghoont, zyada nahi, glass neeche, choodiyan ek baar baji, phir shaant, aur usne apni maang ki rekha ek pal sheeshe mein nahi, andar ki nazar se check ki, jaise mohar. Jab naam pukara gaya, “Srivalli Pushpa Raj,” woh uth khadi hui, Pushpa ji ki nazar ek pal, unka sir, “Ja, rani,” garam, naram, aur woh aage badhi, heels marmar par, pallu sir par, mangalsutra chamakta, dil tez, kadam seedhe, jaise pehli speech ke wood par chadhhi thi, aaj kitab ke kareeb, aaj kursi ke kareeb, aaj apni chuni hui keemat ke kareeb, jo ab lafz banne wali thi, chhupi nahi, seedhi, jaise har raat ki haan seedhi thi, jaise aaj ki pratigya seedhi honi thi, bina kaanpe, bina jhuke, apni file le kar, apni maang ki saaf rekha le kar, apne mangalsutra le kar, apni riyasat le kar, aur unki nazar le kar jo bagal se keh rahi thi, ja, rani, seedhi ja, main tere bagal hoon, goli nahi, saans, aaj bhi, kal bhi, is hall mein bhi, is marmar par bhi, is pratigya ke neeche bhi, meri haan ke saath, meri kursi ke saath, bilkul theek, dono saath, aaj ki, meri hi.

[Joker44]

Shapath hall mein flags the, cameras the, Rudra khade the, safed, muskaan, Venkat, Gopal, Prakash, Jolly kinare, janata ke log, party ke log, saaf kursi, saaf mez, ek kitab, ek aadmi lafz padhne ke liye. Srivalli ko aage bulaya gaya, pallu sir par theek, mangalsutra bahar, aur usne haath uthaya, lafz dohraye, awaaz na kaanpi, na tez hui, seedhi rahi, jaise usne har raat apni haan seedhi kahi thi. Pehla jumla, doosra, teesra, “Main… Srivalli… pratigya karti hoon…” Har lafz saaf, hall ki shaant un lafz ke beech, pallu sir par, mangalsutra chamakta, maang tika, hath ki choodiyan ek pal ke liye ruki, phir khamosh. Pushpa ji ki nazar us par thi, Rudra ki bhi, aur uski nazar lafz par, kitab par, apni hatheli par.

Jab lafz khatam hue, ek pal ki shaant, phir taaliyan uthin, cameras chamke, aur us pal usko farmhouse ki peeli light, dinner ki mez, do haath, Dave ka sheesha, bandargaah ki goli, radio ki raat, Rudra ki zabaan, aur Pushpa ji ki beedi, sab ek saath yaad aaye, phir sab peeche chale gaye, sirf yeh hall reh gaya, yeh pallu, yeh mangalsutra, yeh kursi. Usne haath neeche kiya, namaste, aur andar ek saans li, lambi, jaise koi paani se nikal kar kinare aaye, lekin muskaan naram rahi, aankhein nam nahi hui, kadi, khush, dono. *Yeh meri shapath hai, meri haan jaisi seedhi, aur jo keemat peeche chhoot gayi, woh is hall mein nahi baithi, meri chhati mein baithi hai.*

Ek adhikari ne kitab kachi, register aaya, sign, date, aur Srivalli ne pen uthaya, dheere, jaise ticket wali file par sign kiya tha, jaise statement par kiya tha, aaj in lafz ke neeche, apna naam, saaf. Cameras chamke, sign ke pal, pallu sir par, kalai par choodiyan, aur usne pen neeche rakha, saans li.

Rudra ne uske kareeb aa kar, cameras ke saamne, kaha, “Riyasat ki nayi peedi, meri barkat, janata ki rani. Tu le, rani, yeh kursi tera kaam maangegi, meri meherbani nahi.” Usne sir hilaaya, namaste, “Shukriya, Rudra ji, main kaam karungi, yeh meri pratigya hai.” Venkat ne door se sir hilaaya, Gopal muskuraye, Prakash ne formal salute jaisa, Jolly kinare, backbone, aur Pushpa ji uske bagal, aankhon mein paani, tali, jungle se takht tak. Ek official photograph hui, woh beech mein, Rudra ek taraf, party ke log, Pushpa ji ko peeche khada kiya gaya, phir usne unka haath pakad kar apne bagal kheench liya, cameras ke saamne, pallu theek, “Mere bagal, peeche nahi,” jaise bahar reporter ko kehne wali thi, pehle yahin keh di. Unhone khade ho kar photo di, proud, thoda hairan, aur woh muskurahat jo photo mein pakdi gayi, naram thi, kadi bhi, dono.

Hall se nikalte hue Rudra ne, cameras ke thode peeche, dheeme kaha, “Tu le gayi, rani, meri zabaan nibhi, teri mutthi kaam aayi. Ab kaam kar, meri nazar door se rahegi, malik wali nahi, bade wali.” Usne sir hilaaya, “Kaam karungi, uncle, aapki izzat rahegi, meri file meri.” Unhone muskuraya, thaki si, “Ja, CM. Apne mard ke bagal, apni riyasat ke saamne.”

Bahar steps par jab mic aaya, bheed ne taali bajayi, dhoop tez, flags, aur usne sirf itna kaha, seedha, naram, “Main is riyasat ki seva karungi, apne ghar ki rani ban kar, apni janata ki rani ban kar. Jo kaam maine kaha tha, paani, mandi, port, ghar, woh meri file rahegi. Shukriya.” Pushpa ji uske kareeb khade rahe, haath nahi lagaya cameras ke saamne zyada, lekin unki nazar us par thi, jaise jungle se nikal kar kisi rani ko takht par baithte dekha ho. Ek reporter ne poocha, “CM ma’am, aapka pehla kaam?” “Pehla kaam seva hai, baaki office mein nikalega, aaj ki raat ghar ki hai.” Doosre ne poocha, “Aapka pati aapke peeche rahenge?” Usne muskuraya, “Mere bagal, peeche nahi, yeh meri baat hai.” Taali phir uthhi, Jolly ne rasta saaf kiya, gaadi aayi, aur woh nikal gayi, pallu sir se kandhe par, gold zari dhoop mein, Pushpa ji bagal mein, dono haath alag, nazar ek.

Raste par bheed kabhi-kabhi jeep ke peeche daudi, flags, namaste, bachche, auratein pallu le kar, aur Srivalli ne khidki se haath uthaya, tika chamakta, muskaan naram, sindoor saaf. Ek chauraha, posters, ab “CM Srivalli Pushpa Raj” ka naya lafz, aur usne nazar nahi hatayi, pallu theek, jaise counting wale din nahi hatayi thi. Pushpa ji ne kaha, “Rani, aaj tu riyasat ki ho gayi, main dekhta raha, teri awaaz nahi kaampi, meri jaan kaampi. Main proud hoon. Tu meri rani thi, aaj sabki hai, lekin shaam ko tu meri hi rahegi, yeh main jaanta hoon.” “Aap mere bagal rahiye, Pushpa ji, yeh kaafi hai,” usne kaha, unki hatheli mein apni hatheli, gold choodiyan unki kalai se lagti. “Shaam ko main aapki rani hoon, din ko is riyasat ki, dono chhupungi nahi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, khidki se bheed dekhi, “Dono theek, rani, tu sambhal, main tere bagal.” *Awaaz nahi kaampi, yeh maine kaha, lekin andar meri saans tez thi, yeh main aapko nahi dikhaungi. Aaj meri kursi hai, aaj meri shapath hai, aur shaam ko meri haveli hai, kal shayad ek purana card, lekin aaj ki yeh gaadi, yeh haath, yeh taali, yeh meri hai.*

Raat ko haveli mein meetha tha, log the, phool the, Raka, Munna, maa ji, neighbours, party ke do-teen, laddoo, chai, taaliyan, aur Srivalli safed-gold Kanjeevaram mein unke beech muskurati rahi, pallu ab sir se kandhe par, tika abhi nahi utara, jaise rani ghar aa kar bhi rani rahe. Maa ji ne ro-ro kar khana diya, “Kha, beti, aaj teri duniya, meri bahu.” Jolly thodi der aaye, “Bhabhi, ho gaya, tu CM hai, main kinare raha, yeh meri khushi.” “Shukriya, Jolly, aap backbone rahiye, aage bhi.” Unhone sir hilaaya, nikal gaye. Pushpa ji aangan mein logon ke saath the, safed kurta, proud, lekin har pal uski nazar talashte, jaise rani nazar se utar na jaaye.

Kaveri shaam ko andar se nikal kar, simple kapde, ek pal ruki, “Mami, aap theek ho? Aaj bahut log the.” “Theek hoon, beta, tu kha le, aaj ghar khush hai, tu so jaana time par.” Usne uske maathe par haath phera, jaise subah, koi sawal nahi, aur Kaveri andar chali gayi. Phir log nikal gaye, aur sirf ghar reh gaya, phool, meetha ki khushboo, shaant, diya jo maa ji ne jalaya tha, verandah par, raat ki hawa mein. Srivalli ek pal verandah par khadi rahi, nighty se pehle abhi bhi us safed-gold ki yaad, dhoop ki, hall ki, aur sheher ki lights door, ab uski kursi ki lights, phir woh andar aayi. Srivalli ne Kanjeevaram utar kar, hooks khud khole, maa ji ne pallu sambhala, zari ek taraf almari mein, ek naram cotton nighty daali, mangalsutra andar, sindoor halka theek, tika utara, aur palang par Pushpa ji ke bagal mein let gayi, unka haath uski kamar par, wahi garam, bhari, jo pehli raat bhi tha, jo goli ke baad bhi tha, jo shapath ke baad bhi tha. Unhone kaha, awaaz naram, thaki, proud, “Meri rani, meri CM, so ja. Kal teri duniya aur badi hogi, aaj meri bahon kaafi hain. Tu badal gayi, lekin meri rahi, yeh main dekh raha hoon. Yeh ghar tera hai, yeh haath tera hai, so ja.”

Usne unki chhati par haath rakha, “Aapki rani hoon, Pushpa ji, yeh nahi chhupungi. So jaaiye, kal meri duniya, aaj aapki saans. Aaj main thak gayi hoon, lekin khush hoon, aapke bagal, is ghar mein.” Unhone usko apni taraf kheench liya, muh uske baalon mein, aur usne aankhein ek pal khuli rakhi, ceiling par, pankha, haveli ki shaant, bahar ab bheed nahi, sirf raat, ek kutta door, phir chup.

Phone ke kinare ek purani si cheez chamki: woh gold-plated card, Arab prince ka, jo usne kab ka kisi dabbe mein rakh diya tha, almari ke peeche, aur jis par aaj, shapath ke baad, ek naya message tha, English, saaf, jaise koi purani mohar wapas uthayi ho. “I hear my queen has a throne now. I land tomorrow night. If you still have the card, you still have my word. No questions, no limits.”

Srivalli ne screen ko dekha, card ki thandi chamak, Pushpa ji ki saans uske baalon mein gir rahi thi, unka haath uski kamar par, aur usne card ko hataya nahi, message ko delete nahi kiya, sirf kuch der padhti rahi, phir screen neeche rakh di. *Kal woh aa raha hai, jo kabhi cruise par mere pehle sauda ka hissa tha, aur jo kehta tha main uski queen ho sakti hoon. Ab meri kursi hai, meri haan meri hai, aur main usse milungi, soch kar, apni shart par, phir is palang par wapas aaungi, aapke bagal mein, Pushpa ji. Yeh dono chehre meri rani honge, aapki neend ke upar se nahi, uske bagal se. Shapath ho chuki, kursi meri hai, kal meri haan phir meri hogi, meri marzi, aur raat ko main yahin soungi, in bahon mein, jaise roz soti hoon, is farq ke saath ki aaj meri riyasat bhi mere saath so rahi hai, yeh card bhi, yeh soch bhi.*

Card uske hath mein thanda tha, gold, halka, aur usne usko wapas dabbe ke kareeb nahi, table ke kinare rakh diya, phone ke neeche, taaki raat ko uth kar dekh sake, bina unko jagaye. Dil tez tha, ghabrahat bhi, himmat bhi, cruise ki yaad bhi, aur uske saath yeh soch bhi ki ab uski kursi hai, ab uski haan meri hai, ab woh apni shart par khadi hai. Usne message ek baar aur padha, “I land tomorrow night… No questions, no limits.” No limits, yeh lafz cruise ki yaad le aaye, pehli shart ki, us keemat ki, aur aaj uske andar ek saaf jawab tha, *Aaj mere limits hain, mere sawal bhi, meri kursi bhi, meri wapsi bhi. Main milungi, lekin no limits nahi, meri haan se, meri shart se.* Card ki chamak raat ki roshni mein thandi thi, unki saans garam, aur dono ek hi palang ke kareeb the, ek chhupa, ek khula. *Kal milungi, soch kar, shart rakh kar, wrap le kar, mangalsutra le kar, aur wapas aaungi, in bahon mein, yeh meri pratigya ke baad ki meri apni pratigya hai. Shehzada, aap queen kehte ho, main haan kahungi, jab meri haan hogi, aur raat ko main is ghar mein soungi, is haath ke neeche, jaise roz soti hoon, jaise aaj shapath ke baad so rahi hoon.*

Usne unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein band ki, aur honthon par ek thaki, kadi si line thi, jo kal ek aur raat ki taiyari karne wali thi, bina unki neend tode. Unhone neend mein uska naam liya, dheeme, “Rani… meri CM,” jaise jungle mein bhi, takht ke baad bhi, wahi lafz ho, aur usne unke haath ko apni kamar par dabaya, taaki unko lage ki woh yahin hai, theek hai, so rahi hai. Andar woh turant nahi so rahi thi. Card table ke kinare tha, message pada hua, kal raat ka intezaar, aur aaj ki shapath uski chhati mein baithi thi, bhari, naram, dono. Pankha dheere chala, unki saans seedhi hui, aur neend der se aayi, lekin aayi, shapath ki thakaan ke saath, card ki chamak ke saath, us palang ke saath jo uski pehli raat se uski aakhri nishani tha, har wapsi ki, har jeet ki, har chhupi hui keemat ki. Honth par koi badi muskaan nahi thi, sirf ek thaki, kadi si line, jo kal ek ivory gown ke saath sheeshe mein wapas khadi hone wali thi, is palang se nikal kar, is palang par laut kar.

[Joker44]

Shapath ke doosre din ki shaam haveli ke sheeshe mein ek rani khadi thi jo ab is riyasat ki CM bhi thi, lekin aaj uski soorat hall wali safed-gold nahi thi. Subah office ke do-teen call the, mubarak, files, usne short jawab diye, pallu simple, aur dopahar ko haveli wapas aa kar socha, kal raat wala card, aaj raat wala intezaar, aur jo haan honi hai, woh soch kar hogi. Almari se usne ivory silk nikala, haath mein liya, kapda thanda, naram, aur sheeshe ke saamne khadi ho gayi.

Srivalli ne ek gehra ivory silk gown chuna tha, lambi, naram, gale par ek patli gold line, peeth dheeli, slit chalti hui, aur uske upar bhi mangalsutra nahi utra tha, kali ladiyan ivory par chamak rahi thi. Baal ek neeche bun mein, kinare par chameli, maang mein sindoor, kundan tops, ek patli gold bracelet, heels. Attar halka, gulab aur sandal ka mila hua, jaise koi apni shaadi ki yaad ko kisi mehmaan ke liye naya kar rahi ho, mita nahi rahi. Zipper peeth par, wrap seene par, lipstick patli line, zyada nahi, taaki baad mein mite to bhi rani dikhe. *Aaj main us aadmi ke paas jaa rahi hoon jo kabhi cruise par mere pehle sauda ka hissa tha, jo queen kehta tha jab meri kursi nahi thi. Aaj meri kursi hai, meri haan meri hogi, meri wapsi meri hogi. Gown ivory hai, maang laal hai, yeh main nahi chhodungi.*

Pushpa ji darwaze par aaye, beedi abhi honth par nahi, aankhon mein ek seedha sawal. “Rani, aaj phir meeting? Shapath ke doosre din? Kaun hai yeh mehmaan, itna khaas?”

Srivalli ne unki taraf mud kar muskuraya, awaaz ghar wali, naram, wrap seene par, mangalsutra uske neeche dikhta hua. “Ek purana international mehmaan, Pushpa ji, cruise ke dino ka, jo shukriya ke liye aaya hai, meri kursi ke liye. Hotel ki baat hai, formal, late ho to main phone kar dungi. Aap chinta mat kijiye, aaj bhi main aapki rani hoon, kal bhi thi, aur raat ko main yahin aaungi, aapke bagal mein. Yeh meri baat hai.”

Unhone uske maathe par kiss kiya, lamba nahi, bharose wala, aur kaha, “Ja, lekin wapas aa, rani. Yeh ghar teri kursi se bada nahi, lekin yeh ghar tera hai. Main jaagta hoon. Shapath ke doosre din tu nikal rahi, main kuch nahi poochhta zyada, lekin wapas aa, yeh meri baat hai.” “Wapas aaungi, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, unke kandhe par haath, “yeh meri baat hai, aapki neend ke liye, mere ghar ke liye. Aap chinta mat kijiye, late hua to phone kar dungi.” *Aap jaagte rahenge, aur main wapas aaungi, yeh main khud se keh rahi hoon, kisi card se nahi. Aaj jo haan hogi, woh meri hogi, meri marzi ki, aur is palang par meri wapsi meri nishani hogi.*

Gaadi mein baithte hue usne wrap kas liya, slit god ke kareeb, heels saaf, bracelet check, aur driver se kaha, “Hotel, seedha, gate par rukiye, der ho sakti hai, main phone kar dungi, aap chai le lijiye.” Driver, “Haan, rani ji,” aur raste par sheher ki lights window par daudne lagi, wahi sheher jiski kursi ab uske naam thi, wahi lights jo kal hall ke bahar thi, aaj oonche floor ke neeche hongi. Ek chauraha, posters, “CM Srivalli Pushpa Raj,” aur usne nazar ek pal rakh kar hata li, kyunki ivory gown us poster wali pallu se nahi milta tha, lekin rani wahi thi, dono chehre, dono uske. Usne phone mein card wala message ek baar aur padha, phir lock kiya. *No questions, no limits, unhone kaha tha. Aaj mere limits hain, mere sawal bhi. Main soch kar dungi, soch kar wapas aaungi. Pushpa ji, aap verandah par jalenge, main oonche floor par apni haan soch kar doongi, phir us haath mein wapas aaungi, yeh meri pratigya ke baad ki meri apni pratigya hai.*

Hotel ka lobby thanda tha, marble, chhoti si music, aur lift ke sheeshe mein uski ivory soorat ek pal ke liye shapath wali safed-gold se alag lagi, naram, oonchi, ghar se nikalti hui rani. Suite sheher ke oonche floor par tha, sheeshe, neeche lights, andar cream aur gold, ek tray par chameli, whiskey, paani, aur shehzada khade the, safed kameez-kurta nahi, ek dark navy suit, garam aankhein, wohi shant andaz jo cruise ki raat mein tha, lekin ab unki nazar uski ivory soorat par, uske mangalsutra par, uske sindoor par ruki jaise koi apni yaad ko kisi takht ke saamne dekh raha ho. Unhone haath nahi badhaya pehle, sirf itna kaha, English mein, phir dheeme, “My queen. I said the words years ago, on a ship, when you had no throne. Today you have one. And you still came. I am glad you still have the card. Sit. Water, or something else? I remember you prefer to keep your head.”

Srivalli andar aayi, heels par seedhi, wrap nahi utara, paani maanga, whiskey nahi, aur unki aankhon mein dekha, nazar nahi hatayi. Suite ki hawa thandi thi, chameli ki khushboo, neeche sheher, aur uske dil ki dhadkan tez thi, lekin kadam seedhe the, jaise shapath ke marmar par the, jaise pehli speech ke wood par the. Unhone usko kursi di, sheeshe ke kareeb, khud saamne baithe, taangein lambe, nazar uske mangalsutra par, phir aankhon par, jaise koi hisaab padh raha ho, paaye ki file badal chuki ho. “Main aayi hoon, apni marzi se, is baar bhi apni shart se, apni khuli aankhon se. Aapne card diya tha, lafz diya tha, no questions, no limits. Aaj mere limits hain, aur mere sawal bhi. Main is riyasat ki CM hoon, Pushpa Raj ki patni hoon, aur aaj raat main aapke saath hoon, soch kar, apni haan se. Jo kahungi ruko, rukiye. Mangalsutra rahega. Subah se pehle main ghar jaaungi, unke bagal mein soungi. Itna hisaab rakhie, phir jo dena hai, soch kar dungi.”

Shehzada muskuraye, woh muskaan jo jeet ki nahi, pehchaan ki thi, whiskey ka glass unke haath mein ruka, phir neeche rakha, jaise aaj ki baat nasha ki nahi, hosh ki ho. “I would not want you any other way. A throne is uglier if the woman on it cannot say no. I will stop when you say stop. I will go slower when you say slower. I will not keep you past the hour you choose. I will not speak of that ship as a chain. And I will still call you my queen, if you let me. Do you? Say it only if you mean it. I have waited years; I can wait for a true yes.” Unhone uski taraf ek kadam liya, haath nahi lagaya, itna fasla jitna ek sawal ka hota hai.

Srivalli ne glass rakha, ek pal sheeshe ke bahar sheher dekha, apni nayi kursi ki lights, apni purani haveli ki disha, neeche wo raste, wo posters, wo hall jo kal tha, aur andar jo lag raha tha, usko jhoot nahi bola. Ek taraf cruise ki yaad thi, pehli shart ki, us keemat ki, us raat ki jab maine apni keemat khud tay ki thi. Doosri taraf aaj ki himmat thi, file ki, shapath ki, us kursi ki jo ab uske naam thi. Teesri taraf ek narmi thi, jo kehti thi yeh aadmi uski kursi chheenne nahi aaya, ek purani baat nibhane aaya hai, aur us narmi ke saath ek saaf hisaab bhi tha, limits, sawal, wapsi. Usne glass ek baar aur chhua, paani nahi piya, hatheli thandi rakhne ke liye, phir unki aankhon mein dekha, nazar nahi hatayi.

“Haan,” usne kaha, awaaz halki, lekin tuti nahi. “Aap kahiye, I am your queen. Aur main kehti hoon, haan, meri queen ki haan. Jab aap chahein mujhe, aaiye, milne aaiye, meri marzi ke darwaze se, apni shart se, apni haan se. Yeh meri baat hai, aaj ki, kal ki, jab tak yeh haan meri hai. Subah se pehle main ghar jaaungi, yeh bhi meri shart hai, aapki der ki nahi, meri wapsi ki.”

Unhone uske kareeb aa kar uska haath uthaya, honth uski ungliyon par, phir uski aankhon mein dekha. “Whenever I want you, I will come and meet you. That is all I asked, and more than I was given on that ship. May I take this wrap, my queen? And may I take the rest, only after you say yes?”

“Haan,” usne kaha. “Wrap utarie, baaki bhi, meri haan se. Dheere, meri aankhon mein dekhte hue, taaki aapko dikhe main chhupa nahi rahi.”

Unhone wrap utara, pehle ek kandhe se, phir doosre se, kapda sofa par, phir gown ke sone ke hook peeth par dheere khole, ivory silk uski chamri se khisaka, thanda, phisalta, aur kapda taknon tak gir gaya. Srivalli sheeshe ke kareeb khadi rahi, nangi, mangalsutra, sindoor, tops, bracelet, heels, aur neeche sheher ki lights uski peeth par giri, kali ladiyan seene par, chameli baal ke kinare. Shehzada ne usko dekha, koi sasti taarif nahi ki, sirf itna kaha, lamba saans le kar, “You are still the woman from that room, and you are not. The difference is this yes. I would like your mouth first, if you want that, then the bed, then my hands. You may change the order. Tell me.”

Srivalli ne ek pal socha, sharm, himmat, phir kaha, “Pehle muh, phir palang, dheere. Main chahti hoon, yeh main keh rahi hoon.” Woh heels nikaal kar neeche baithi, carpet naram, unke trousers ka buckle khud khola, aur unka lund honth par liya, sira, jeeb, phir dheere andar, jitna munh ne diya, unki aankhon mein dekhte hue. Unke haath uske bun par the, kheenchte nahi, chameli ke kareeb, aur unki awaaz naram, “That’s it, my queen, you may stop, you may go on.” Usne ek pal nikal kar saans li, “Ruk nahi rahi, thoda aur, dheere,” phir wapas liya, gehra, haath unki jangh par, aur jab unki saans tez hui to usne kaha, “Ab palang, jaise aapne kaha. Andar lijiye, dheere, meri haan se.”

“Palang, aapke haath, dheere,” usne kaha, heels utar kar, palang par lette hue, pair kholte hue, unki aankhon mein. “Haan, andar lijiye, jab main kahun, 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, jaise koi prarthana naape, phir aur, inch-inch, aur Srivalli ke muh se “Aaaahh, haan…” nikalta raha, haath unki peeth par, jab poora andar gaya to usne unhe apni taraf kheencha. “Haan, poora, mat rukiye. Main le rahi hoon, aaj, apni marzi se.” Unhone ek pal ruka, uska chehra dekha, “Still yes?” “Haan, aaiye, dheere, mat nikaliye.” Unke dhakke lambe the, naram, phir gehre, kabhi ruk kar uske boobs muh mein, mangalsutra ko ek taraf karke, nipple honthon par, sindoor wali maang par saans, English aur dheeme lafz, “My queen, look at me, you are not a bid tonight, you are a woman who walked in. Say it, if you still mean it.” Usne unki aankhon mein dekha, sharm thi, narmi thi, josh tha, nazar nahi hati, “Haan, ahhh, meri haan hai, aapki queen hoon, mat ruko, dheere, aise, wahan, haan, meri marzi se, meri haan se.” Jab dard tez hua, usne kaha, “Dheere,” aur unhone turant dheere kiya, “Too much?” “Thoda, ab theek, aaiye, mat nikaliye, haan.” Phir gehra, control mein, ivory chadar, kali ladiyan, chameli ka attar, unki saans. Har dhakke par kali ladiyan unki chhati se ragad khati, uski siski suite mein girti, aur andar ek soch thi jo cruise par nahi thi. *Main de rahi hoon, ek shehzade ko, apni kursi le kar, apni haan le kar, aur is ke baad main unke bagal mein soungi, Pushpa ji, yeh dono baatein ek saath meri hain. Yeh sharm meri hai, yeh josh bhi, yeh wapsi bhi.*

Jab woh kaanpane lagi, usne unki kamar kas li, “Haan, wahan, andar, dijiye,” aur unhone ek gehri, lambi saans ke saath andar chhod diya, honth uski maang ke kareeb, ek pal ke liye sirf unki saans. Woh uske upar leti rahi, kaanpti, ivory chadar, kali ladi, aur unhone uske maathe se baal hata kar poocha, “Still yes?”

“Haan,” usne kaha, awaaz thaki, saaf, aankhein khuli, unki taraf. “Ek baar aur, dheeme, phir main jaaungi. Aaj raat meri hai, meri wapsi bhi meri hai. Paani, thoda, phir aaiye, meri haan se.”

[Joker44]

Unhone paani laaya, glass uske honth par, usne do ghoont liye, thanda, phir glass khud pakada, jaise yeh chhoti si baat bhi uski marzi ki ho. “You still take the glass yourself,” unhone kaha, bagal mein baithte, haath uski peeth par, naram. “I like that better than the woman who first named her price. A throne did not ruin you. It sharpened you.” Srivalli ne thaki muskaan jaisi koi cheez honth par laayi, “Us raat maine apni keemat khud tay ki thi, shehzada. Aaj meri zabaan aur tez hai. Isliye paani bhi khud pakadti hoon, haan bhi khud kehti hoon, wapsi bhi khud karti hoon. Aapko buri to nahi lag rahi yeh aurat?” “No,” unhone kaha, garam aankhon mein izzat, na wada, “she is the queen I meant. Come here when you are ready. Not before.” Usne ek pal aur liya, chadar seene par, mangalsutra theek, sindoor nahi chhua, phir chadar hata kar unki taraf mud gayi. “Ab tayyar hoon. Aaiye, dheere.”

Paani ke baad unhone usko apni taraf kheench liya, peeth unki chhati se, ek haath uske pet par, aur dheeme, side se, uski geeli thaki chut mein andar liya, jab usne kaha, “Haan, aise, dheere.” Yeh dhakke tez nahi the. Gehre the, lambe, jaise koi raat ko kheench raha ho, lekin pakad kar nahi rakh raha ho. Unhone uska adhkhula chehra dekha, uski siski suni, aur usi raftaar par rahe, kabhi ruk kar uske kaan par honth, kabhi uski maang ke kareeb saans, kabhi “Still yes?” aur uska “Haan, aise, dheere, mat ruko.” Ivory chadar un dono par, sheeshe ke neeche sheher, kali ladiyan unki ungliyon mein kabhi atakti, kabhi chhoot jaati. Srivalli ne unka haath apni chhati par pakad liya, mangalsutra unki ungliyon ke neeche, pet tight, aur jab kaanpi, unhone kaan ke kareeb sirf itna kaha, garam, naram, “My queen. Whenever I want you, I will come and meet you.” Usne aankhein kholi, unki taraf dekha, nam, saaf, aur kaha, awaaz thaki, seedhi, “Haan. Jab aap chahein, aaiye, milne aaiye. Main kahungi haan, jab meri haan hogi. Yeh meri baat hai, shehzada, meri marzi. Aaj meri queen ki haan hai, kal meri wapsi, dono meri hain.” Unhone uske andar, uski haan par, dheeme chhod diya, lambi saans, honth uski maang ke bagal, aur kuch der dono chup leti rahe, sirf saans, sirf sheher ki lights, sirf yeh baat ki yeh raat uski marzi ki thi, uski haan ki thi.

Unhone uske honth chhue, dheere, phir nikal kar uske bagal mein let gaye, haath uski peeth par, koi chain nahi, koi hukm nahi. “Go home, then. Sleep in the house that made you a queen in one life, and let me remain a man who may knock in the other. I will not call you before you have slept. That is my last courtesy tonight.”

Srivalli uth kar bathroom gayi, chehra dhoya, thanda paani, lipstick ki bachi line mitayi, sindoor ungli se theek kiya, bun kaan ke peeche, chameli ab dheeli, ivory gown wapas pehna, hook peeth par khud nahi ho paya, shehzada ne darwaze par khade-khade dheere band kiya, wrap seene par, heels, mangalsutra bahar, aur sheeshe mein ek thaki, naram, oonchi rani dekhi, jiske andar aaj raat ki garmi thi, aur bahar ek CM ki wapsi ki soorat. Unhone uske maathe par, sindoor ke kareeb, honth rakhe, na pyar ka wada, na koi jaal, sirf woh mohar jo unhone queen keh kar lagayi thi. “Go. I will not walk you down. A queen should leave the way she arrived, on her own yes. Whenever I want you, I will come and meet you. Sleep in your house. I will not call before morning, and I will not come uninvited to your door. That is my last courtesy, and my first promise in this new contract.” “Haan,” usne kaha, wrap kaste hue, “jab aap chahein, aaiye, milne aaiye, meri marzi ke darwaze se. Aaj raat kaafi hai, meri haan kaafi hai, meri wapsi bhi kaafi hai. Shukriya, shehzada, aaj ke lafz ka, aaj ki izzat ka.” Unhone sir hilaaya, darwaza khola, aur woh nikal gayi, ivory, kali ladi, chameli dheeli, heels saaf, jaise koi asal meeting se nikal rahi ho.

*Main ghar jaa rahi hoon. Ticket se shuru hua tha, kursi par khatam ho raha hai, aur meri haan ab meri hai. Pushpa ji jaagte honge, unka haath khaali hoga, aur main us haath mein wapas let jaaungi, jaise roz leti hoon, is farq ke saath ki aaj meri kursi bhi mere saath soungi, yeh raat bhi, yeh haan bhi.*

Lift ke sheeshe mein uski aankhein nam thi, lekin kaajal nahi baha tha, sindoor saaf tha, wrap kasa tha, rani jaisi ban-than thi, CM jaisi wapsi thi, pativrata jaisi nishani thi, teenon ek ivory gown ke neeche, teenon uske kadam ke saath, lobby se nikalte hue, gaadi tak, haveli tak, us palang tak jahan uski wapsi ruki thi, jahan uski katha aaj raat rukne wali thi, haan par, kursi par, un bahon par, jinhein sach kabhi nahi pata chala, jinhein uski haan ne har raat wapas paaya, jinhein aaj bhi usne apni kamar par rehne diya, bina toote, bina bataye, bina unki neend tode, jaise roz, jaise aaj, jaise kal, is ivory raat ke baad bhi, is shapath ke baad bhi, is haan ke baad bhi, meri wapsi ke saath, meri file ke saath, bilkul theek, dono saath. Lobby se nikalte hue usne nazar nahi batora, wrap kas, slit god ke kareeb, jaise koi asal formal meeting se nikal rahi ho, late, sambhali hui. Gaadi ke andar baithte hue ek lambi saans li, “Haveli. Seedha.” Raste par lights window par daudti rahi, wahi lights jo abhi sheeshe ke neeche thi, jab woh nangi khadi thi, haath... nahi, ab haath wrap par the, mangalsutra bahar, sindoor saaf. *Aaj maine ek shehzade ko kaha, haan, aapki queen hoon, jab chahein aaiye, aur ab main us ghar jaa rahi hoon jahan mera mard jaagta hoga. Dono sach meri chhati mein rahenge, dono meri chuni hui hain.*

Haveli ke gate par guard ne late salute kiya, aangan shaant tha, maa ji so chuki thi, ek kamre ki light band thi, diya verandah par almost bujha, aur Pushpa ji baithe the, beedi ki aakhri kash, jaise sach mein jaagte rahe hon, jaise har baar jaagte hain, safed kurta nahi, kali shirt, joote utare, aankhon mein intezaar, gussa nahi, sirf woh sawal jo har late raat mein hota hai, tu aa gayi?

Srivalli ne gaadi se utarte hi wrap theek kiya, muskuraya, asal muskaan, thaki, naram, aur unke paas jaa kar unke kandhe par haath rakha, ivory silk, kali ladi, thaki aankhein, ghar wali awaaz. Beedi ki khushboo uske baalon mein ek pal, wahi khushboo jo pehli raaton se saath hai.

“Aa gayi, Pushpa ji. Baat ho gayi, mehmaan khush hain, meri kursi ki baat thi, formal. Aap jaagte rahe, yeh dekh kar sukoon hai, maaf kijiye, phone nahi kiya, galti hui. Ab chaliye, andar, so jaaiye. Kal bhi meri duniya hai, aaj raat aapki bhi hai, meri bhi. Chai garam karni hai kya? Main bana doon?”

“Nahi, rani, tu aa gayi, bas,” unhone kaha, awaaz bhaari, naram, “phone ki koi zaroorat nahi, tu wapas aa gayi, yeh kaafi hai. Chalo, so jao.”

Unhone usko dekha, ek lamba saans liya, nazar ivory gown par, slit par, phir uske chehre par, thaki aankhein, muskaan, mangalsutra, aur usko apni taraf kheench liya, uski ivory peeth unki bhari bahon mein, beedi ki khushboo, garam shirt, aur unki awaaz uske baalon mein giri, wahi garam, seedhi, jo jungle se takht tak uske saath thi. “Meri rani. Aa gayi tu. Main jagta raha, tu aa gayi, yeh kaafi hai. Chalo, so jao. Kal teri riyasat, aaj meri bahon. Tu meri rani hai, tu meri CM hai, tu meri sherni hai, teenon aaj raat is verandah par wapas aa gayi, main proud hoon, main thaka hoon, tu so ja.” Usne unki shirt par haath rakha, “Teenon aapki hain, Pushpa ji, aur main wapas aa gayi, yeh meri baat, aaiye, andar.” Unhone sir hilaaya, beedi bujhayi, uska haath pakad kar andar le chale, jaise har baar le chalte hain, jaise yeh ghar kabhi toota hi nahi.

Andar jaa kar usne bathroom mein chehra ek baar aur dhoya, thanda paani, attar ki tez khushboo halki ki, ivory gown utara, zipper peeth par kheench kar, silk taknon tak giraya, almari ke kone mein rakha, jaise navy, jaise kaala, jaise har woh kapda jo ghar ke bahar ki raat ka ho, aur nighty daali, safed, simple, mangalsutra cotton ke andar chhupa liya, sindoor halka theek, chameli baal se nikaal kar table par rakh di. Palang par unke bagal mein let gayi, peeth unki chhati ki taraf, jaise roz leti hai, jaise farmhouse wali subah leti thi, jaise ticket wali raat leti thi, jaise goli ke baad leti thi, jaise shapath ke baad leti thi. Unhone neend ke kareeb, ya neend se pehle, haath badha kar uski kamar pakad li, apni taraf kheench liya, muh uske baalon mein, beedi ki halki khushboo, garam saans. Uski raat-bhari kamar unke haath mein aa gayi, lekin unko us raat ka chehra nahi pata chala.

“Theek hai tu?” unhone dheeme poocha, adhkhuli aankhon se. “Theek hoon, Pushpa ji,” usne kaha, unki kalai par haath rakh kar, “so jaaiye, kal meri duniya, aaj aapki bahon, yeh kaafi hai. Aap jagte rahe, yeh main nahi bhoolungi, aaj bhi, kal bhi.” “Kaafi hai,” unhone kaha, kamar kas, muh uske baalon mein, “meri rani, meri CM, meri sherni, so ja, main yahin hoon, tu yahin hai, baaki kal.” Unki saans dheere seedhi hone lagi, bhaari, naram, jeet ki, intezaar ki, wapsi ki.

“Meri rani,” unhone muh ke andar, bhaari, naram awaaz mein kaha, uske baalon mein. “Meri queen… so ja.”

Pankha dheere chala, bahar kutta chup tha, haveli shapath ke doosre din ki shaant mein so rahi thi, aur Srivalli ki aankhein ek pal khuli rahi. Unke haath ka wazan uski kamar par tha, wahi garam, bhari, jo pehli raat bhi tha, jo har wapsi par tha, jo goli ke baad tha, jo shapath ke baad tha, jo aaj bhi tha. Bahar sheher ki lights door thi, uski kursi ki lights bhi door thi, andar uske jism par kisi aur ki raat thi, aur gale mein wahi mangalsutra, maang mein woh laal rekha jo usne theek ki thi, bathroom mein, ghar aa kar, unke jagte dekh kar. Usne unke haath ko apni kamar par rehne diya, aankhein band ki, aur honthon par ek thaki, chhoti si muskaan thi, jo unko nahi dikhi, jo sirf uski chhati mein band thi, us haan ke saath, us wapsi ke saath, us kursi ke saath.

*Haan, Pushpa ji, meri rani, meri queen. Aaj maine ek shehzade ko kaha, jab aap chahein, aaiye, milne aaiye, aur aaj main aapki bahon mein so rahi hoon. Yeh dono sach meri chhati mein rahenge, aapki neend mein nahi. Ticket se shuru hua tha, farmhouse se, dinner se, goli se, jahaaz se, files se, shapath se, kursi tak aayi, aur meri haan ab meri hai. Yeh ghar mera hai, yeh bahon meri hain, yeh riyasat meri file hai, aur kal jab main uthungi, tab bhi main aapki rani houngi, unki queen bhi, apni kursi ki malik bhi. Jo keemat thi, woh meri chuni hui thi, jo wapsi hai, woh bhi meri hai. Itna hisaab meri neend mein kaafi hai, aaj raat ke liye, kal ki subah ke liye, jitni raatein aur aani hain unke liye, is palang par, in bahon mein, is mangalsutra ke neeche.*

Shehzade ne usko apni queen kaha, usne haan kahi, jab chahein milne aaiye, aur usi raat woh Pushpa ki bahon mein so gayi, jaise yeh ghar kabhi toota hi nahi.

Pushpa Ki Rani ki yeh katha yahin rukti hai, uski haan par, uski kursi par, aur un bahon par, jinhein sach kabhi nahi pata chala.

~ THE END ~

Pushpa Ki Rani: Srivalli Ka Junoon — Samaapt