Xossip Ultimate Story Contest 2014

[Expert]

Sathi

super84

Chaudi si gali me mud kar Rajni ne car iklaute single story makaan ke saamne rok di. Wo utri to Tony bhi utar pada. Donon sath sath makaan ki taraf badhe. Rajni ne call bell ka button dabaya to bikhde-bikhde se lambe baalon aur khoyi khoyi si aankhon waale naujawan ne darwaza khola. Us ka rang saanwala tha aur nain naksh teekhe the. Us ne pichhe hat kar Rajni ko raasta diya. Wo aur Tony andar chale gaye.

Kamre ko dekhne se lag raha tha ki wo drawing room cum bedroom tha. Sarsari nigaah se dekhte hi pata chal raha tha ki ghar me kisi aurat ka astitva nahin tha. Ye bhi prakat ho raha tha ki ghar ka waasi koi khush-haal nahin tha. Kamre ke bich me barson purana couch pada tha. Us ke saamne polish udi huyi center-table aur uske dusri taraf bet ki 2 kursiyaan. Center table par sasti sharab ki aadhi bhari botal aur uske nikat coffee mug rakha hua tha. Ek kone me aitihasik kaal ka single bed palang, jis par daag-dhabbe se bhari bed-sheet bichhi huyi thi. Pillow cover to jaise kayi hafton se dhula nahin tha.

Rajni naak sikod kar couch par baith gayi. Tony ek kursi par jam gaya. Makan ka niwasi naujawan dusri kursi ke pichhe khada taktaki baandhe Rajni ko dekh raha tha.

"Monty, tum ne phone par kaha tha ki mere bina ji nahin sakte is liye suicide kar loge. Isliye main tum se antim baar milne aa gayi. Tum ne kaha tha ki khud ko goli maar loge. Tumhara pistol kahan hai? Tum ne kab kharida?"

Monty kuchh der uske ati-sundar aur aakarshak chehre par nigaahen jamaaye raha. Phir dhimi aawaz me dukhi swar me bola "To tumhen mere suicide karne ke iraade se afsos nahin hua!"

"Main tumhen uss iraade se rokne ke liye hi to aayi hun." Rajni sapaat swar me boli. "Tum mere pichhe jaan dene par kyon utaaru ho? Jawan ho. Auraton aur kunwaari ladkiyon se milna julna rahta hi hai. Mujhe se achhi tumhen mil sakti hai."

"Tum ye to jaanti ho ki main artist hun." Monty ne usi dhimi aawaz me kaha "Lekin shayad ye nahin jaanti ki artist ka dil kaisa hota hai. Main batata hun." Wo aage badh kar couch ke dusre sire par baith gaya. "Artist ka dil patang ki tarah hota hai....jo aakash me udti rahti hai.....usay aas paas ki chizon ki koi chinta nahin hoti. Aur jab wo kisi khambe ya ped se atakti hai to chhudaane ke liye zor lagana padta hai.....aur is koshish me wo phat bhi jaati hai."

"Badi bhondi si misaal di tum ne." Rajni ne vyang bhari muskaan ke sath kaha.
"Meri bhavnaaon ka mazaak udaa rahi ho." Monty ne thande swar me kaha.

"Tum ne kitni der me aadhi botal pi hai?" Rajni ne tunak kar kaha. "Phone par bhi tumhari aawaz se lagta tha ki nashe me doobe huye ho. Aur haan, tum ne bataya nahin pistol kab khareeda. Kya paintings ki bhaari keemat mili hai?"

"Aisa gaya guzra artist nahin hun." Monty ne bura maan kar kaha aur hath botal ki taraf badhaya. Us ne thodi sharab mug me undeli aur uth kar ek kone me diwaar me lage wash basin ke paas gaya. Tap khol kar mug me paani dala aur aa kar phir apni jagah baith gaya.

"Monty, tum mera khayal apne dil se nikaal do." Rajni ne narm aawaz me kaha. Main ye to nahin kah sakti ki tum ne jaadu tona se mujhe phansa liya tha. Par ye kahungi ki meri akal par parda pad gaya tha. Bhavnaaon ke toofan ne mujhe andha kar diya tha. Maine maano kele ke chhilke par pair rakh diya tha aur fisal kar gandagi me gir gayi thi. Itna bhi nahin sochi ki main ek achhe aur pratisthit pati ko dhoka de rahi hun.....ufff.."

"Tum filmi dialog bol rahi ho dear." Monty ne jhoomte huye kaha. "Tum jis safaayi se ye sab kah rahi ho us me koi sachayi nahin hai. Mujh se usi tarah milti rahi ho jaise tum koi pakki khilaadi ho. Aise jaise tumhare pati ke baad tumhare jeevan me aane waala main koi pahla aadmi nahin tha."

"Bakwaas band karo." Rajni gusse me aa gayi. "Main uss ghadi ko kos rahi hun jab apna portrait banwaane tumhare paas aayi thi. Tumhara naam suni thi is liye tumhare paas aa gayi thi."

"Aur main ne turant tumhari aankhon par patti baandh di thi. Tumhari sochne samajhne ki shakti chheen li thi." Monty ne zahreele swar me uski baat ko kaat kar kaha. "Tum bholi aur nadaan thi ki tumhen khilauna de kar bahla diya tha."

"Kah to rahi hun ki mera paaon fisal gaya tha." Rajni lagbhag cheekh kar boli. Phir dukhi swar me boli "Main bhi ek sadharan si kamzor aurat hun. Koi devi nahin. Sharir aur dimaag donon se kamzor. Jaldi bahak gayi. Please mera pichha chhod do. Tumhen yahi samjhane aayi hun."
"Aur agar main aisa na karun to?" Monty ne mug me bachi sharab ek hi saans me khatam kar ke kaha.

"To suicide hi kar lo." Rajni ne jhalla kar kaha. Phir jaldi hi narm pad gayi aur waani me mithaas paida karne ka prayas karti huyi boli "Tum guno se bhare vyakti ho. Bekar ki baaton me apne aap ko mat jhonko. Apne art ki taraf poora dhyan do. Ek din bahut bade artist ban jaaoge. Duniya bhar me tumhare art ki demand hogi. High society ki ladkiyon tumhare aage pichhe hongi."

"Tum phir filmi dialog bolne lagi." Monty ne susk swar me kaha. "Mujhe filmon se koi lagao nahon hai. Mujhe kewal art se lagaao hai. Aur tum art ka ek jeeta jaagta namoona ho. Ek artist ke dil me bas gayi ho. Dimaag par chhaa gayi ho. Main khud ko tum se alag nahin kar sakta."

"Main tum se milna band kar dungi. security officer me report likhwa dungi ki tum se tasweer banwaane aayi thi to tum ne meri aabru par hath daalne ki koshish ki."
Monty ne thahaka lagaya. Us ne bade aaram se mug me thodi si sharab undeli aur basin par jaa kar us me paani milaa laaya. Ab wo chalta hua larkhada raha tha.

"Main black-mailer nahin hun. Tumhen black mail nahin karunga. Lekin tumhari dhamki ke kaaran ye kahne par majboor hun ki mere autometic camera ne mere sath tumhare kuchh special pose surakshit kar liye hain. Tum security officer ke paas jaaogi to wo tumhare karodpati pati ke sath sath kayi logon tak pahunch jaayenge."

Rajni ke chehre ka rang urr gaya. Usay khud ko sambhaalne me samay laga. Us ne ruk ruk kar kaha "Tum isay black mailing nahin kahte ho Monty......!" Uske swar me sansar bhar ka dukh simat aaya tha. "Jisay itna chaahte ho, jiski khatir jaan dene par tul gaye ho, usay barbaad ka dena chaahte ho.....?"

"Ye main nahin tum chaahti ho." Monty ne rookhe swar me kaha.
"Pahle main ne kabhi tumhen peete nahin dekha tha." Rajni se sharab ki botal ki taraf ishara karte huye topic badalte huye kaha. Wo dekh rahi thi ki us par nasha chadhta jaa raha tha. Wo baithe baithe rah rah kar jhool jaata tha.

"Main tum se koi sambandh rakhna nahin chaahti." Rajni ne uski taraf dekhte huye kaha "Business ki baat karo. Mere wo snaps dikhao jo tum ne dhoke se utaare hain."

"Abhi laata hun." Monty ye kahta hua thodi koshish ke baad khada hua.....aur sath waale kamre ki or chala to uske kadam dagmaga rahe the. Us ke dusri taraf ghumte hi Rajni ne apne purse ko khol kar safed gloves nikaale aur hathon par chadha liye. Usne purse ka zip band nahin kiya tha.

Monty ek brown rang ka bada lifaaf liye huye lauta aur usay table par daal diya. Khud couch par dham se baith gaya aur mug me ghoont bhar sharab undel kar paani milaaye bina chadha liya.

Iss bich Rajni ne lifaafe se tasweeren nikaali aur ek ek kar ke dekhne lagi. Phir us ne apni aankhon par hath rakh liye.
"Main soch bhi nahin sakti thi ki khud ko artist kahalwaane waala itna kameena aur nich ho sakta hai." Rajni daant pees kar boli.
"Har vyakti apni nature me kameena hota hai." Monty dhithaayi se bola. "Lekin us par achhaayi ka parda daale rahta hai. Kabhi tez hawa ka koi jhonka aata hai tab wo parda apni jagah se sarak jaata hai aur uski asliyat saamne aa jaati hai."

"Tum apni nature ki baat kar rahe ho. Main tumhare sath ulajhna nahin chaahti." Rajni ne ghrina bhare lahje me kaha. "Batao iss black mailing ki kya keemat loge?"

"Main kah chuka hun black mailing nahin karta hun. Kabhi nahin ki warna aaj karodon me khel raha hota. Tum ne meri chaahat ko thukra diya hai. Khud hi mujhe gale lagaya aur ab dhakke de rahi ho. Us sham ko yaad karo. Jab tum ne meri prashansa bhari nigaahon ka pyar chhalkaati huyi nigaahon se uttar diya tha. Main ne koi zabardasti nahin ki thi. Vastav me tum ne mujhe bahkaaya. Ek artist hone ke karan achhi chizon ki tareef karna mere swabhav me shamil hai. Tum to kati huyi daali ki tarah mere hathon me girne ke liye khud hi vyakul lagi thin."

"Bas karo. Tum bahut bakwaas kar chuke ho. Ye batao in tasweeron ki keemat chukaane ke baad mujhe inke negatives mil jaayenge?"
"Kyon nahin. Wo mai ne surakshit dhang se rakha hun. Is hath de uss hath le. Rupye milte hi negatives dene me ek minut ki deri nahin karunga." Monty ne hans kar kaha.

"Artist ki aad me black mailer hone ki kya keemat loge?"
"Mera dil todne ki keemat lagana hi chaahti ho to har ek pose ke ek lakh rupye."
"Thik hai. Main bhi soch kar hi aayi thi ki ye hamari aakhri mulakaat hogi. Agar tum frod nahin nikalte tab bhi mujhe tum se sambandh tod hi lena tha."

Rajni ne kalaayi par bandhi ghadi me samay dekha. 7 minuts baad train ko guzarna tha. Ghar ke pichhe railway line thi. (Sarkar ke Itawa jaisi ) aur jis samay tarain pass karti thi to uski gadgadaahat me kuchh bhi sunaayi nahin deta tha. Agar Rajni aur Monty baaten kar rahe hote the to train ke pass hone tak khamosh ho jaate the. Rajni aaj usi baat ko dimaag me rakh kar aayi thi.

"Tum ab tak kitni auraton ko black mail kar chuke ho?" 7 minut poore karne ke liye us ne idhar udhar ki baaten karni shuru ki.

Monty botal khali kar chuka tha. Uski nigaahen Rajni ke chehre par tik nahin rahi thin. Jawab dene ke liye usay do baar muh kholna pada. Us ne hansne ki bhi nakaam koshish ki. "Kisi ko bhi nahin, agar tum sidhi chaltin to tum se bhi kuchh na leta. Lekin tum ne tedhi chaal shuru kar di aur mujhe bhi patri badalne par majboor kar diya."

"Tum jhoot bol rahe ho." Rajni phuphkaari. "Mujhe black mail karne ka vichar tumhare dil me pahle se hi tha. Tabhi tum ne waisi tasweeren banayi thin. Tum ne mujhe suicide karne ka jhansa de kar bulaya aur main tumhen marta dekhne ke liye aa gayi."
"Anyway.......ek bade businessman ki wife keliye ayyashi ki keemat kuchh lakh rupye adhik nahin hain. Ek baat bata dun.....ki main cash hi loonga. Cheque........" Train ki zordaar gargadaahat ne uski poori baat Rajni ke kaanon me padne nahin di.

Rajni ka hath phurti se apne purse me gaya aur baahar aaya to us me kaale rang ka chhota sa pistol tha. Goli ki aawaz train ke shor me ghul mil gayi. Monty ludhak kar farsh par aa gira. Rajni ka nishana fail nahin hua tha. Monty ke seene se khoon ubal raha tha.
Rajni pistol ko purse me daal kar khadi huyi. Tony kursi se uth kar uske paas aa gaya. Khoon farsh par phailta jaa raha tha. Train jaa chuki thi.......aur wahaan ab sannaata tha.

Rajni ne shaant pade huye Monty ko dhyan se dekha......aur darwaaze ki taraf badh gayi. Tony bhi sath ho liya. Tabhi usay negatives yaad aaye......aur wo palti. Thodi si talashi ke baad usay takiye ke niche chabhiyon ka ring mila. Ab usay us taale ki talash thi jis me uske matlab ki chiz mil sakti thi.

Us kamre me taale waali koi chiz nahin thi. Wo sath waale kamre me gayi......jisay Monty studio ke roop me istemal karta tha. Canvas me Rajni ki adhoori tasweer lagi huyi thi. Wo ek side rakhe lohe ke almari ki taraf gayi. Uska locker box kholne par us me ek dusra invelop mila jis ke bhitar usay negatives mil gaye.

Wo ek vijeta ki tarah sar unchi kiye makaan se nikli aur Tony ke sath car me baith kar tezi se nikal gayi.

Do din aise aaram aur nischintata se beete jaise us ne kuchh der pahle tak hatya ki waardat waali koi film dekhi thi. Us ke man me koi bhay tha na kisi prakar ka pachhtawa. Us ne jo kiya tha us ke liye khud ko sahi thahraati thi. Wo uss nichle darje ke khatarnaak aadmi ko khatam kar dene ka pakka iraada le kar gayi thi. Wo usay iss duniya se nikaal dena chaahti thi jo uski apni bad-chalni ke kaaran us se chimat gaya tha.

Wo apne aalishan bedroom ke bade se bed par adhleti inhi baaton ko soch rahi thi ki achanak darwaza khula aur uska pati darwaze me aa khada hua aur sapaat se swar me kahne laga "security officer tumhen artist Monty ki hatya ke aarop me giraftar karne aayi hai. Us ke kamre ke farsh par khoon me bhige huye kisi kutte ke panjon ke nishan mile hain. security officer ne chhaan been ke baad pata laga liya hai ki kewal tumhin ek kutte ke sath us se milne aati thin. Mujhe pahle hi shak tha Rajni ki tumhari chaal chalan thik nahin hai."

Rajni gumsum baithi rahi. Tony farsh se uchhal kar bed par aa gaya aur uske hath par muhh ragadne laga.
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