Xossip Ultimate Story Contest 2013

[Expert]

Vaapasi

The KingKiller

“Sadhe das tak hame waha pahuchna hai.”
Patidev ne use chetaya. Pichhle ek ghante me ye satrahvi khurak thi. Kuchh jyaada hi aatur the wo. Shaant nahi baitha jaa raha tha unse. Chahalkadmi karte huye kamre me hi airport tak ka rasta naap chuke the.
“Muskura kyu rahi ho?” Mujhe pata hi nahi chala kab mere hotho par muskaan aakar bas gayi thi.
Aaj mere pati par “pita” haavi tha. Par Mai unhe kaise dosh de sakti thi. Khud Mera utaavlapan bhi kuchh kam nahi tha. Subah chay-patti ko tel me tal diya tha isi utaavlepan ne. Kahi baaki ke pakwaano me koi herfer na ho gayi ho. Chakhkar waise dekha to tha maine! Par Meri jeebh ki agnipariksha par bhi mujhe sandeh ho raha tha. Nahi aaj ke din koi galti nahi ho sakti.
Aaj hamara laadla beta jo saat samundar par se aa raha tha. Wo bhi paanch lambe saalo ke antraal ke baad. Ye sochte hi meri kokh me ek kasak si uthi.
“Malti, ab hame nikalna chahiye. Traffic kaafi hoga. Aur saaf safaayi to Anand ke aane ke baad bhi ho sakti hai, wo koi mehmaan thode hi hai.”

Airport aadhe ghante pahle pahunch kar taktaki lagaaye hum pratiksha ke us bhari bojhe ko chupchaap dhote rahe. Uske aane me abhi thodi der thi. Par Jab log aate huye dikhte to panjo ke bal uchakkar uske paanch saal puraane chehre ko dhundhne ki koshish karte.
Paanch saal pehle isi jagah se to use vida kiya tha maine. Yahi par apne jeewan ki sabse anmol dharohar ko khud se dur hote dekha tha. Bhari aankho ke dhundhlepan ko saaf karke jab tak dekh paati wo ojhal ho chuka tha. Hum lute-pite bas us security counter ko dekhte rah gaye the.
Mere ateet me vicharan karte man ko ek vimaan ki garjana vartmaan me khich laayi. Mujhe kisi announcement ki jarurat nahi thi jaanne ke liye ki mere kokh ka moti is dhara par utar chuka hai. Kuchh hi der me aanewalo ka taanta lag gaya.
Mere chhote kad par aaj fir mujhe afsos hua. Mere pairo ke panje bhi unki bharpaayi nahi kar paa rahe the.
“Wo raha! Sudha wo dekho” Mere pati me chhipa pita kilkaari maarkar bola.
Unki ungli ka pichha karti meri najar jaakar Mere bete ke chehre par ruki. Bheed me uska chehra mujhe aisa laga maano sheet ritu ke baadlo ko cheerkar Suraj ka tapta gola nikla ho. Wo hath hilaata hua hamari taraf hi dekh raha tha. Uske chehra par ek sanjida si muskaan thi.
Use ek counter se dusre par jaate huye mai besabri se dekhti rahi. Beech beech me wo hamari taraf dekh leta aur mera dil khushi se jhum uthata. Maine aansuo ko sakht nirdesh diye the ki is khushi ke mauke par apni haaziri na lagaaye. Aur wo bhi agyakaari sevak ki tarah sameep hi taiyaar khade the ki jaane kab jarurat pad jaaye.
Wo samaan ki trolley lekar hamaari taraf aane laga. Maine aansuo ko aakhiri baar ghudki di aur man me apne laal ko dene liye upyukt aashirvaad khojne lagi.
“Hi mummy, Hi daddy” Pair chhune me usne koi ruchi nahi dikhaayi. Isme uski kya galti, videsh me itne saal rahne ke baad kaha ye sab cheeje yaad rahti hai. Pita ne use gale lagaakar uski peeth thapthapaayi. Jab mere gale laga to agyaakari aansu apni uddandata par utar aaye. Maine uske chehre ko apni hatheli me bhar liya.
“Khush raho mere laal.” Na chahte huye bhi ashirvaad aansuo ke sath bah gaye.
Sharm se usne aankhe neechi kar li. “ Please rona mat mummy. Papa maine manaa kiya tha na! Aap logo ne bekaar me pareshaani uthaayi.”
Maine fir se apne asuo ko kosa.
“Ye kya baat huyi beta. Tum itne din baad aa rahe ho aur tumhe dekhe bina hum do ghante rah jaaye?” Patidev ne safaayi di.
Wo muskurakar sar hilata hua taxi me samaan rakhne laga.

Wo mere aur patidev ke beech me baitha hua tha. “ Kaisi ho mummy?”

“ bahut Khush hu aaj .” Kaise batau kaisi hu! Registan me bhatak rahe raahi ko paani se bhara taal mil jaaye aisi khushi. Seena faadkar baahar aanewali khushi.
“aur Papa aap?”
“Mai to ekdum fit hu. Tumhaari mummy hi din-rat pareshaan rahti hai. Kaisa hoga, kya karta hoga, dhang se khaata peeta hoga bhi ki nahi, uff…” Dono muskura rahe the.
Maine lajja ko dur karte huye puchha ,”Aur tu kaisa hai beta?”
“Mai? Ekdam badhiya”
Itna chhota sa jawaab. Mai nirash si ho gayi. Wo jawaab aisa tha mano bhavnao ke samudra me se ek bund paani nikal liya gaya ho. Lekin uska jawaab isse bada ho bhi kya sakta tha.


Kuchh der me ghar bhi aa gaya. Uske kadam rakhne se ghar me maano nay jaan fuk di. Deeware thodi aur roshan ho gayi. Uske suitcase aur bag se kamra bharapura lagne laga.
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki uske liye kaun sa pakwaan laau. Uski pasand ke dher saari chize banaakar rakh di thi.
Sochti hu Banpatte ki pakaudi pehle du. Use bahut pasand thi. Aur sewayiya bhi! Gaajar ka halwa bhi to uska favourite raha hai. Meri samajh me nahi aa raha tha to usise puchh liya.
“ Kuchh bhi le aao mummy. Lekin thoda hi laana. Flight me khaaya hai maine.” Wo khaane ki ki suchi ko sunne ke baad muskurata hua bola.
Kuchh bhi? Itni saari cheeje banayi hai maine uske pasand ki. Aur kuchh bhi?
Mai sabhi cheejo me se thoda thoda le aayi ek thaali me sajaakar. Wo aise muskuraya maano maine koi bachkaani harkat kar di ho.
“maine ‘thoda’ kaha tha mummy.” Uski awaaj me jhunjhlaahat ki gandh thi. Sirf patto ke Pakaude hi liye. Mera man nahi maana.
“Chay le aau ?”
“Nahi mummy, man nahi kar raha.”
Mere ‘pita’ bane pati ankho se garje. Kyu pichhe padi ho uske. Mai chup baith gayi.

Khamoshi ne ek sharirik rup dharan kar liya tha. Dheere dheere ye khamoshi hum teeno ko nigal chuki thi. Mujhe ye khamoshi sahan nahi ho rahi thi.
“nahayega ?”
“Nahi Mummy thak gaya hu aur neend bhi aa rahi hai.” Kitni swarthy hu mai, bas apne hi baare me soche jaa rahi thi. Jet lag ke baare me to bhul hi gayi thi.
“Jaa so le. Tere kamre me. “

Uske baad naashte ki thaali ko sahej kar rakhne lagi. Kahi use takiya chadar dhundhne me koi pareshaani to nahi aayi hogi. Jaakar dekha to paaya ki wo shaanti se so raha tha. Kitchen me waapas aayi to anchuye pakwaano ko dekhkar nirasha ne mujhe gher liya. Mujhe pata tha ki safar ki thakaan ne uski bhukh maar di thi. Fir bhi……..

Agle do teen ghante bahut lambe rahe. Un paanch saalo se bhi jyaada lambe! Mai baar baar uske kamre me jhaankti. Kahi wo jaaga to nahi? Chalu bartan dho lu. Use kisi cheej ki jarurat pad gayi to? Roshandan khula hi chhod diya tha. Man Chaha ki khula hi rahne du. Jaldi uth jaayega dhup se. Par meri mamta na maani. Parda chadhakar surya ke aakrman se bacha liya apne laal ko.
Subah tadke se uthi huyi thi. Soch rahi hu thodi der kamar seedhi kar lu. Thakaan ke maare aankhe bhaari lag rahi thi. Patidev bhi so chuke the. Jaake bagal me leti to fir putra-moh ne mujhe gher liya. Daudi gayi uske kamre ki or. Wo abhi bhi so raha tha.
Mai aakar kitchen me chhut-put cheeje karte huye samay kaatne lagi. Kitni der soyega aakhir wo. Raat ko ullu ki tarah jaagna hai kya use? Samay ka her fer pata tha mujhe. Ye bhi pata tha ki videsh ke pahar yaha ke pahar ke viparit hote hai. Par tarko ko taak par rakhkar maine use jagaane ka nirnay kar liya tha.
Par uske kamre se aati bistar ki charmarane ki aawaaj ne mujhe ye krur kadam uthaane se bacha liya.
“Uth gaye !” Maine apni khushi ko awaaj me ghulne se rokne ki koshish ki.
“Haa.. mummy. “ Uske jawaab itne chhote kyu nikal rahe the. Shayad mere sawaal hi aise the.
“Jaa fresh ho le. Man kare to naha lena. Mai khana lagaati hu tab tak.” Ab ye mat bolna ki bhukh nahi hai abhi bhi.
“Ok. Mummy.” Are fir whi do took jawaab.

Mai jaldi jaldi khaane lagaane ki taiyaari karne lagi. Chhole ko garm karne ki jaldi me ek baar jara sa hath jala bhi baithi. Pudiyo ke sekte wakt do char chatke lag gaye. Papad talne me bhi tel ke kuchh chhite udkar meri tvacha par gire.
Tab tak patidev bhi uthkar aa chuke the. “Anand jag gaya?”
“hmm.”
“Sudha kya hua?”
“Kucch to nahi.”
“To fir tumhari ankho me aansu kyu?”
Ab samajh me aaya ye aankho ka dhundhlapan kyu tha. Maine kandho se ankho ke geelepan ko saaf kiya.
”Kuchh nahi wo tel ke garm chheeto se chatka lag gaya tha.”
Ab kya bataati unhe ki asli vajah kya thi. Mujhe khud bhi pata nahi tha. Paanch saal pehle bhi yehi pakwaan banaaye the. Par tab na koi chatke lage the aur na hi aankho me aansu the apne jigar ke tukde ki vidaayi par. Fir aaj kyu?
Patidev bhi samajh rahe the ki kaaran kuchh aur hi hai. Par Unhone jyaada jor nahi diya. Khaana mej par lagaane me meri madad karte rahe.
“Aaja khaana kha le.” Anand apne geele balo me ungliyo se kanghi karta hua aa pahucha.
“Itna saara khana mummy. “ Wo kursi par baithta hua bola. Uski jhunjhlahat bhari muskaan ne mujhe thoda sa nirash kar diya. Mai khana plate me parosne lagi to usne mujhe rok diya. “ Rahne do mummy, mai le leta hu.” Bahut bada ho gaya hai mera beta.
“Mummy aap bhi khao na.”
“Mai baad me kha lungi. Teri Papa ki thaali me.” Tujhe khaate dekh hi mera pet bhar raha hai.
“Oh… mai to bhul hi gaya tha.” Aur kya kya bhul gaya hai beta tu?
“Ye sewayiya to chhuyi bhi nahi tune. Aur wo nibu ka achaar. Tujhe to bahut pasand tha na?” Kya ho gaya hai ise, kaise kha raha hai. Maano kisi gair key yaha aaya ho. Pahle to sabhi cheeje maang maang kar khaaya karta tha.
Usne meri baat ka maan rakhte huye sabhi cheejo ke thode thode ansh le liye. Mano mujhe khush karne ke liye kha raha ho.
“Aur Mummy, sab log kaise hai?” Usne papad khaate huye puchha. Mera raha saha josh bhi ab thanda pad gaya ye sawaal sunkar. Jab phone par ye sawaal karta to mera man naach uthata tha. Jaldi se jaldi sankshep me sabhi ke kushal mangal ki khabar de diya karti.
Par aaj jab unke paas itna samay tha tab yahi sawaal kitna khaali aur banaawati lag raha tha. Ye sawaal aisa lag raha tha maano koi formality nibhaayi jaa rahi ho. Shaayad use bhi apne sawaal ka khokhlapan mahsus hua.
“Sharda Mausi kaisi hai? Unke bete ne merchant navy join kar liya?” Usne is kuchh thos sawaal puchhne ki koshish to ki.
“ Unke ghutne me kaafi dard rahta hai. Uthne baithne me kaafi takleef hoti hai. Akhilesh ne pichhle hafte hi medical pass kiya. Agle mahine se join karega.”
“ Lucknow wale Phupha kaise hai? “
“ Mama RPF se retire kab ho rahe hai?” Usne dimaag ko khangaalkar kayi saare sawalo ki jhadi laga di. Par wo khokhlapan bharne ki bajaay use aur badha rahe the. Uske lahje me atpatapan tha. In sawaalo me kahi apnepan ki jhalak nahi dikh rahi thi.
Jab se mujhe uske aane ki khabar mili thi maine bahut kuch yojnaye bana rakhi thi. Use ikhub laad karungi, use pichhle paanch saal se jama pyaar ke bhandaar se nahla dungi. Fir kyu atpatapan sa lag raha tha.
Kyu nahi meri god me sar rakhkar apne us khoye huye pyaar ke liye ha zidd karta? Kyu nahi batata itne saal ke virah me uspar kya kya gujri hai? Kyu nahi kahta ki mujhe kitna yaad karta tha? Mere hath ke khaane ki tareef hi kar deta. Phone par to kayi baar jikra karta tha shuruwaat me.
Phir achanak sochti hu ki apni bhavnao ko khulkar mai bhi kaha dikha paa rahi hu. Kyu nahi mai apna kaleja cheerkar use dikha paa rahi ki kis tarah uski yaad me usike kamre me jaakar muk aansu bahaye the. Kyu nahi use apne kaleje se chipkakar fut fut kar ro leti? Kyu nahi use mai batati hu ki kitna pyaar aata hai mujhe uspar?
Shaayad rishto ki gathari ko kholkar usme chhipa pyaar puri tarah udelna itna aasaan bhi nahi hai. Shayad kuchh rishte insaan ki zindagi ki neev ka kaam karte hai. Imaarat upar badhti jaati aur neev jameen me dabti chali jaati hai.
Bachhe apni duniya ka daayra badhaate jaate hai, aur maa baap kahi pichhe chhut jaate hai. Bachhe pichhe mudkar kitna bhi dekhe , vikaas ki daud me jyaada peechhe nahi ja paate.
Anand bhi kaafi aage badh chuka hai. Wo picche mud kar bhi ek ek chhuti cheej, paramparaaye aur rishto ko chhu nahi paa raha. Kitni imaandari se koshish kar raha tha wo.
Mujhe apradh bodh mahsus hua. Mai swarthy use peeche mudne ko majbur kar rahi thi. Daya si ho aayi uspar.
“Ja aaram kar.”
“ Mai abhi soke utha hu na. Abhi to mai bahut der tak baate kar sakta hu aapse. Lekin pahle aap khana kha lo.” Mujhe uske saahas par garv hua.




Anand Paanch din raha. Mai bas use nihaar nihaar kar nihaal hoti rahi. Khaana khate wakt bithkar use dekhti to lagta ki meri paanch saalo ki bhukh shaant ho rahi hai. Din me wo apne dosto se milne jaaya karta to kabhi uske dost ghar me dera jama lete. Unke sath use hasta khilkhilaata dekh mai bhi tript hoti rahi.
Uske jaane se pahle wali raat ko mai aur patidev palang par lete huye baate kar rahe the.
“Sudha koi samaan aur baaki to nahi rah gaya hai na? “
“Aapko maine parchi di thi na?”
Wo thodi der ke liye shant ho gaye wo.
“Wo kal chala jaayega, Sudha.” Unki bhari huyi awaaz par Maine sar uthakar dekha to unki ankhe nam thi.
“Hmm”Maine apnne aansuo ko kaabu me rakha.
Unhone apne aansu pochhe aur muskuraa kar bole.“Is baar usne waada kiya hai ki ek-do saal me waapas jarur aayega.
Mera niyantran chhut gaya aur mai fafak kar unki kaankho me sar chhipakar rone lagi. Wo meri peeth sahlaakar samjhaate rahe ki ye ronewaali koi baat nahi hai aur ek-do saal to dekhte hi dekhte gujar jaayenge.
Mai sisakti rahi aur sochti rahi ki is baar na jaane kitna age badh jaayega wo? Kitni dur tak ham use waapas la paayenge?

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There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum, it's breathtaking, I suggest you try it.