17-10-2025, 11:44 PM
"Aisha Bhabhi, yeh mera sabse achha dost hai, Vishal," Akram ne muskurate hue taarruf karaya.
Maine dekha, Vishal ki woh tez nigaahein seedhe meri ammi par aakar ruk gayin. Ek pal ke liye uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si chamak aayi, ek tareef aur ek chahat ka mila-jula sa ehsaas.
"Aap se milkar khushi hui," ammi ne kaha, unki awaaz hamesha se kuch zyada hi meethi aur thodi kaanpti hui lag rahi thi.
"Akram aapki bohot tareef kar raha tha," Vishal ne jawab diya, uski bhaari aur gehri awaaz jaise kaanon mein ghul gayi. "Par usne yeh nahi bataya ki aap itni khoobsurat hain. Ab samajh aa raha hai woh Delhi lautne ke liye itna betaab kyun rehta hai."
Usne haath milane ke liye aage badhaya. Jab ammi ne apna haath uske haath mein diya, toh usne unka haath bas milaya nahi, use kuch palon ke liye narmi se apni garmahat mein lapete rakha. Ek second... do second... shayad teen. Maine dekha, ammi ne jhatke se apni aankhein uthayin aur use dekha, jaise is anjaan sparsh ne unke andar koi taar chhed diya ho.
Ek halki si laali unke gaalon par daud gayi. Unhone foran apna haath kheench liya. Us ek pal mein, unke chehre ka poora rang badal gaya tha. Woh ab Sahil ki ammi ya Fahad ki biwi nahi lag rahi theen. Woh bas ek aurat lag rahi theen, jise ek mard ki taraf se mil rahi tawajjo se farq pad raha tha.
Thodi der baad, jab stage par ek purana romantic gaana baja, toh ammi ki cousins unhein zidd karke kheench le gayin. Pehle toh woh mana karti rahin, sharma rahi theen, par phir unhone khud ko music ke hawaale kar diya. Aur phir jaise jaadu ho gaya.
Unki sharabi rang ki saree unke jism ke gird naachne lagi. Jab woh ghoomti, toh unki saree ka gehra ek poora daayra banata, hawa mein ek leher ki tarah tairta hua. Saree ka pallu unke kandhe se sarak kar unki baanhon par aa gaya, aur har thumke ke saath, ek pal ke liye unki patli kamar ki gori skin ki jhalak dikh jaati, jo roshni mein chamak uthti. Unke chehre par ab woh banavati muskaan nahi thi; ek khushi thi, ek azaadi thi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh barson baad khul kar saans le rahi hon.
Aur Vishal... woh bheed mein khada bas unhein hi dekh raha tha. Uski aankhein sthir theen, jaise woh unke har movement ko apni yaaddasht mein qaid kar raha ho.
Jab gaana khatm hua aur ammi hansti hui, saans leti hui paas ke ek table par paani peene aayin, Vishal unke paas pahunch gaya.
"Stage par aag laga di aapne," usne dheemi, sarghoshi wali awaaz mein kaha.
Ammi ne sharma kar palke jhuka lin. "Arre nahi, bas aise hi... bachpan se shauk hai."
"Yeh shauk nahi, hunar hai," Vishal ne unki aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha. "Aisa hunar jo logon ki neendein uda sakta hai." Woh ek pal ruka, phir bola, "Aap zyada thak toh nahi gayin?"
"Thodi si," ammi ne saans lete hue kaha.
"Achha hai," Vishal ne ek shararti muskaan ke saath kaha. "Warna yahan kaafi logon ke dil thak jaate aapko dekhte-dekhte."
Yeh sunkar ammi ki hansi chhoot gayi.
Mere pet mein ek ajeeb si ainthan uthi. Yeh kis tarah ki baatein theen?
Poori shaam main un par nazar rakhe hue tha. Unki nazrein baar-baar ek doosre se takraatin aur phir jhat se hatt jaatin. Kuch der baad, woh dono kebab counter par aamne-saamne aa gaye.
"Aapki pasand bohot achhi hai," Vishal ne ammi ki plate mein seekh kebab ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha, par uski nazrein saaf taur par unke chhati par theen. "Har cheez mein."
"Delhi aaye aur yeh nahi khaaye, toh kya khaak Delhi aaye," ammi ne haste hue jawab diya, ab unki awaaz mein ek आत्मविश्वास tha.
"Suna hai Dilli ka khana logon ko apna deewana bana deta hai," Vishal ne kaha, uski awaaz mein ek gehra ishara tha.
Ammi ne ek pal uski aankhon mein dekha aur phir ek halki muskaan ke saath boli, "Khana hi? Ya kuch aur bhi?"
Vishal thoda aur qareeb jhuka, unki awaazein ab fasaane jaisi lag rahi theen. "Kuch cheezein toh pehli nazar mein hi qaatil ho jaati hain, Aisha ji. Unke liye khaane ka bahana nahi karna padta."
Pehli baar kisi anjaan mard ke munh se apna naam sunkar ammi kaanp gayin.
Unki hansi achanak ruk gayi. Unke chehre par ek ajeeb si ghabrahat aur ek anjaani si khushi ka mel tha. Woh bina kuch kahe, bas apni plate lekar wahan se hatt gayin, par jaate-jaate unhone ek baar mud kar use zaroor dekha.
Raat gehri ho rahi thi, aur function ab apne aakhri daur mein tha. Main bechaini se idhar-udhar ghoom raha tha, meri nazrein anjaane mein bas ammi ko hi talaash rahi theen. Aur phir maine unhein dekha.
Woh aangan ke us kone mein the, jahan gende ke phoolon ki ladiyon ke peeche purani deewar par bas ek chota sa, narm roshni wala bulb jal raha tha. Is dhundhli roshni mein woh duniya se kate hue lag rahe the. Woh log bohot qareeb khade the, itne qareeb ki unke beech koi faasla nahi tha. Main sun nahi sakta tha ki woh kya baat kar rahe hain, par unki khamoshi bhi ek guftgoo thi. Maine dekha ki hawa se ammi ke baalon ki ek lat unke gaal par aa giri. Aur phir, Vishal ne aahista se apna haath uthaya aur apni ungliyon se us lat ko hatakar unke kaan ke peeche kar diya.
Aur ammi ne use roka nahi. Woh bas use dekhti rahin, unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si kashmakash aur ek gehri khumaari thi.
Yeh dekh kar mere andar khoon khaul utha. Yeh kya ho raha tha? Sabke saamne? Ek anjaan gusse aur ek ajeeb si himmat ke saath, main unki taraf chal pada. Mere qadmon ki aahat se woh dono chaunke.
"Ammi," meri awaaz jitni shaant main rakhna chahta tha, usse kahin zyada sakht nikli.
Ammi ne mujhe dekha toh unke chehre ka rang ud gaya. Unhone foran Vishal se ek qadam ki doori bana li. Unki aankhon mein ek pal ke liye ghabrahat aayi, par unhone use foran sambhal liya.
"Sahil! Beta, yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Phir woh Vishal ki taraf mudin. "Vishal ji, yeh mera beta hai, Sahil."
Vishal ne mujhe dekha, uski aankhon mein na koi hairaani thi, na koi sharmindagi. Balki ek ajeeb si parakhne wali nazar thi, jaise woh mere wajood ko tol raha ho.
Usne apna haath meri taraf badhaya. "Sahil. Milkar khushi hui." Uska haath milana mazboot tha, ek tarah se haavi hone wala. Main bas "Same here" keh kar apna haath kheench saka.
Ek ajeeb si khamoshi chha gayi, par sirf ek pal ke liye. Ammi ne socha shayad meri maujoodgi se unki yeh mulaqat khatm ho jayegi, par Vishal ke iraade kuch aur the.
Usne apni nazrein mujhse hatakar waapis ammi par tika din, jaise main wahan tha hi nahi.
"Toh jaisa main keh raha tha, Aisha ji," usne apni usi gehri awaaz mein baat jaari rakhi. "Yeh shehar bohot khatarnaak hai. Pata hi nahi chalta kab anjaan logon ko apna bana leta hai."
Ammi ne ek pal ke liye mujhe dekha, unke chehre par ek kashmakash thi. Par phir unki nazrein waapis Vishal par chali gayin, jaise kisi chumbak se khinch rahi hon.
"Shehar nahi, Vishal ji," unhone ek halki si shararti muskaan ke saath jawab diya. "Yahan ke log anjaan musafiron ka dil churana jaante hain."
Main wahin khada tha, ek anchaaha gawaah. Woh dono apni hi duniya mein khoye hue the, apni shabdon ki is ladaai mein.
"Chori ka ilzaam galat hai," Vishal thoda aur qareeb jhuka, uski awaaz ab ek sarghoshi jaisi lag rahi thi. "Dil toh khud hi apni marzi se qaid ho jaate hain."
Yeh sunkar ammi ki palke jhuk gayin, aur unke honthon par ek aisi muskaan aayi jise main pehchaan nahi paaya. Us muskaan mein razamandi thi, ek haar thi, aur ek jeet bhi.
Mujhe laga jaise mera dum ghut raha hai. Main wahan aur ek pal nahi ruk sakta tha. "Mujhe... mujhe Nani bula rahi hain," main jhooth bol kar wahan se palat gaya.
Jaate-jaate maine ek aakhri baar mud kar dekha. Woh dono ab dheere-dheere hans rahe the, jaise mere jaane se unhein koi farq hi na pada ho. Unka woh niji, khufiya lamha phir se shuru ho chuka tha. Aur main, us lamhe se bahar, andhere mein jaa raha tha.
Us raat jab hum kamre mein laute, toh darwaza band hote hi bahar ka Sangeeet ka shor ek dum se kat gaya. Andar ek ajeeb si bhaari khamoshi chha gayi. Is khamoshi mein sirf do awaazein theen-meri tez chalti saansein, aur ammi ki saree ki sarsarahat jo unke jism se lipat kar halka shor kar rahi thi.
Unke chehre par thakan ka koi nishaan nahi tha. Uski jagah ek ajeeb si chamak thi, ek khumaari, jaise unhone koi mehanga nasha kar liya ho aur uska asar abhi tak unki ragon mein daud raha ho.
"Uff, kitni garmi hai," unhone ek gehri saans lete hue kaha. Woh kamre ke beech mein khadi theen.Unhone apni peeth ko halka sa kheencha, ek aaraam talash karti hui angdai li, aur phir unki ungliyan apne kandhe par lagi safety pin par chali gayin.
Ek choti si 'click' ki awaaz ke saath pin khuli aur unka pallu aazaad ho gaya.
Woh unke kandhe se ek resham ke sharabi jharne ki tarah sarakna shuru hua. Uska narm kapda unki gori, narm baanhon ko sehlata hua neeche aaya, ek pal ke liye unki kamar se ragad khata hua, aur phir usne apna safar neeche ki taraf jaari rakh aur neeche gir gaya.
Ab saree ka sirf woh hissa unke jism par bacha tha jo unki pleats se juda tha. Unka pallu, jo ab tak unke jism ke upri hisse ko dhak raha tha, ab unke pairon ke paas ek reshami samundar ki tarah phaila hua tha. Unka blouse gehre, sharabi rang ke makhmal ka tha jiska gala aage se gehra U-shape ka tha par uski asli khoobsurti uski peeth mein thi. Uski peeth poori tarah se khuli hui nahi thi. Balki, makhmal ke kapde ke beech mein, usi rang ki baareek net ka ek bada panel laga hua tha. Yeh net unke kandhon se shuru hokar unki kamar tak jaati thi, unki poori peeth ko ek naazuk parde mein dhakte hue. Makhmal ka kapda net ke chaaron taraf ek frame ki tarah tha, aur peeth ke beech mein makhmal ke hi chote-chote button ki ek katari thi jo neeche tak jaati thi.
Dance aur garmi ki wajah se unki skin par paseene ki jo halki, chamakti hui parat thi, woh uss baareek net ke neeche se saaf jhalak rahi thi. Net ka kapda kai jagahon se unki skin se chipak gaya tha, unki reedh ki haddi ke curve ko aur bhi gehra aur aakarshak bana raha tha. Unki peeth ek saaf, be-daag canvas ki tarah thi, jis par ab net ka ek dhundhla sa parda pada hua tha, jo sab kuch chhipa kar bhi, sab kuch dikha raha tha.
Unka yeh andaaz ek befikr aazaadi se bhara tha. Unke liye main abhi bhi wohi masoom beta tha, jiske saamne parde ki zaroorat nahi thi.
For Woh seedhe dressing table ke saamne jaakar khadi ho gayin. Sheeshe mein woh khud ko nahi, shayad us aurat ko dekh rahi theen jo woh aaj raat theen-Aisha. Unke geele, surkh honthon par ek ajeeb, dheemi si muskaan phaili hui thi, ek raaz jise woh baar-baar apne zehen mein dohra rahi theen.
Unki ungliyan apne kaan tak gayin aur unhone heere ke tops ko aahista se nikala. Phir unke haath unki gardan par gaye. Unhone apni aankhein band kar lin, ek gehri saans li, aur apne sone ke haar ka pech khola. Jab haar unki gori skin se alag hua, toh ek pal ke liye uski jagah par ek halki si laal lakeer reh gayi.
"Ammi," maine aawaz ko normal rakhne ki koshish karte hue kaha. "Aap thaki nahi?"
Woh chaunki nahi. Sheeshe se hi mujhe dekhte hue unhone muskurakar jawab diya, "Thakan? Aaj toh bilkul nahi. Bohot din baad itna achha laga."
Unhone apni choodiyan utaarna shuru keen. Ek ek karke, sone ki choodiyan unki narm kalai se sarak rahi theen, aur unki 'khan-khan' ki awaaz kamre ki khamoshi mein ek sangeet ki tarah goonj rahi thi.
"Akram ke dost kaafi achhe the na?" unhone achanak kaha, unki awaaz mein ek bachchon jaisi utsukta thi.
Mera dil zor se dhadka. Main bas "Hmm" keh saka.
"Khaas kar woh... Vishal," unhone uska naam aise liya jaise woh koi meetha lafz ho. Woh meri taraf palteen, unki aankhein abhi bhi chamak rahi theen. "Kitna suljha hua aadmi hai. Aur baatein... aisi gehri baatein karta hai ki waqt ka pata hi nahi chalta."
Woh bata rahi theen, aur main sun raha tha. Par main sirf unke lafz nahi sun raha tha. Main unki badalti awaaz sun raha tha. Main unke chehre par aati laali dekh raha tha. Main unki aankhon mein woh khumaari dekh raha tha jo kisi ki yaadon se paida hoti hai.
"Keh raha tha Dilli ka shehar logon ko apna bana leta hai," unhone haste hue kaha, us flirty line ko ek masoom si, falsafey wali baat ki tarah pesh karte hue. "Bohot ajeeb hai na?"
Main kuch nahi bola. Main bas us aurat ko dekh raha tha jise main apni 'ammi' kehta tha. Woh aaj ek nayi aurat lag rahi thi. Ek aisi aurat jiske andar ek raaz tha, ek aisi khushi thi jiska hissa main nahi tha, mere abbu nahi the.
"Bada shareef aur tameezdaar laga mujhe," woh kehti chali gayin, apni hi dhun mein, yeh samjhe bina ki unka har lafz mere seene mein ek khanjar ki tarah utar raha tha. "Sahil? Sun rahe ho?"
"Haan, Ammi," maine aakhirkar kaha.
"Achha hai."
"Achha hi toh hai," unhone khush hokar kaha, jaise mere is chote se jawab ne unki har baat par mohar laga di ho. "Chalo, ab so jao. Kal Haldi hai, bohot kaam hoga."
Woh waapis dressing table ki taraf mud gayin, apne khayalon mein muskurate hue. Par main jaanta tha. Unki muskurahat Haldi ki taiyaariyon ke liye nahi thi. Woh us aadmi ke liye thi, jisne ek hi shaam mein meri maa ko phir se Aisha bana diya tha. Aur us raat, kamre ki us khamoshi mein, mujhe neend nahi aayi.
Maine dekha, Vishal ki woh tez nigaahein seedhe meri ammi par aakar ruk gayin. Ek pal ke liye uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si chamak aayi, ek tareef aur ek chahat ka mila-jula sa ehsaas.
"Aap se milkar khushi hui," ammi ne kaha, unki awaaz hamesha se kuch zyada hi meethi aur thodi kaanpti hui lag rahi thi.
"Akram aapki bohot tareef kar raha tha," Vishal ne jawab diya, uski bhaari aur gehri awaaz jaise kaanon mein ghul gayi. "Par usne yeh nahi bataya ki aap itni khoobsurat hain. Ab samajh aa raha hai woh Delhi lautne ke liye itna betaab kyun rehta hai."
Usne haath milane ke liye aage badhaya. Jab ammi ne apna haath uske haath mein diya, toh usne unka haath bas milaya nahi, use kuch palon ke liye narmi se apni garmahat mein lapete rakha. Ek second... do second... shayad teen. Maine dekha, ammi ne jhatke se apni aankhein uthayin aur use dekha, jaise is anjaan sparsh ne unke andar koi taar chhed diya ho.
Ek halki si laali unke gaalon par daud gayi. Unhone foran apna haath kheench liya. Us ek pal mein, unke chehre ka poora rang badal gaya tha. Woh ab Sahil ki ammi ya Fahad ki biwi nahi lag rahi theen. Woh bas ek aurat lag rahi theen, jise ek mard ki taraf se mil rahi tawajjo se farq pad raha tha.
Thodi der baad, jab stage par ek purana romantic gaana baja, toh ammi ki cousins unhein zidd karke kheench le gayin. Pehle toh woh mana karti rahin, sharma rahi theen, par phir unhone khud ko music ke hawaale kar diya. Aur phir jaise jaadu ho gaya.
Unki sharabi rang ki saree unke jism ke gird naachne lagi. Jab woh ghoomti, toh unki saree ka gehra ek poora daayra banata, hawa mein ek leher ki tarah tairta hua. Saree ka pallu unke kandhe se sarak kar unki baanhon par aa gaya, aur har thumke ke saath, ek pal ke liye unki patli kamar ki gori skin ki jhalak dikh jaati, jo roshni mein chamak uthti. Unke chehre par ab woh banavati muskaan nahi thi; ek khushi thi, ek azaadi thi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh barson baad khul kar saans le rahi hon.
Aur Vishal... woh bheed mein khada bas unhein hi dekh raha tha. Uski aankhein sthir theen, jaise woh unke har movement ko apni yaaddasht mein qaid kar raha ho.
Jab gaana khatm hua aur ammi hansti hui, saans leti hui paas ke ek table par paani peene aayin, Vishal unke paas pahunch gaya.
"Stage par aag laga di aapne," usne dheemi, sarghoshi wali awaaz mein kaha.
Ammi ne sharma kar palke jhuka lin. "Arre nahi, bas aise hi... bachpan se shauk hai."
"Yeh shauk nahi, hunar hai," Vishal ne unki aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha. "Aisa hunar jo logon ki neendein uda sakta hai." Woh ek pal ruka, phir bola, "Aap zyada thak toh nahi gayin?"
"Thodi si," ammi ne saans lete hue kaha.
"Achha hai," Vishal ne ek shararti muskaan ke saath kaha. "Warna yahan kaafi logon ke dil thak jaate aapko dekhte-dekhte."
Yeh sunkar ammi ki hansi chhoot gayi.
Mere pet mein ek ajeeb si ainthan uthi. Yeh kis tarah ki baatein theen?
Poori shaam main un par nazar rakhe hue tha. Unki nazrein baar-baar ek doosre se takraatin aur phir jhat se hatt jaatin. Kuch der baad, woh dono kebab counter par aamne-saamne aa gaye.
"Aapki pasand bohot achhi hai," Vishal ne ammi ki plate mein seekh kebab ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha, par uski nazrein saaf taur par unke chhati par theen. "Har cheez mein."
"Delhi aaye aur yeh nahi khaaye, toh kya khaak Delhi aaye," ammi ne haste hue jawab diya, ab unki awaaz mein ek आत्मविश्वास tha.
"Suna hai Dilli ka khana logon ko apna deewana bana deta hai," Vishal ne kaha, uski awaaz mein ek gehra ishara tha.
Ammi ne ek pal uski aankhon mein dekha aur phir ek halki muskaan ke saath boli, "Khana hi? Ya kuch aur bhi?"
Vishal thoda aur qareeb jhuka, unki awaazein ab fasaane jaisi lag rahi theen. "Kuch cheezein toh pehli nazar mein hi qaatil ho jaati hain, Aisha ji. Unke liye khaane ka bahana nahi karna padta."
Pehli baar kisi anjaan mard ke munh se apna naam sunkar ammi kaanp gayin.
Unki hansi achanak ruk gayi. Unke chehre par ek ajeeb si ghabrahat aur ek anjaani si khushi ka mel tha. Woh bina kuch kahe, bas apni plate lekar wahan se hatt gayin, par jaate-jaate unhone ek baar mud kar use zaroor dekha.
Raat gehri ho rahi thi, aur function ab apne aakhri daur mein tha. Main bechaini se idhar-udhar ghoom raha tha, meri nazrein anjaane mein bas ammi ko hi talaash rahi theen. Aur phir maine unhein dekha.
Woh aangan ke us kone mein the, jahan gende ke phoolon ki ladiyon ke peeche purani deewar par bas ek chota sa, narm roshni wala bulb jal raha tha. Is dhundhli roshni mein woh duniya se kate hue lag rahe the. Woh log bohot qareeb khade the, itne qareeb ki unke beech koi faasla nahi tha. Main sun nahi sakta tha ki woh kya baat kar rahe hain, par unki khamoshi bhi ek guftgoo thi. Maine dekha ki hawa se ammi ke baalon ki ek lat unke gaal par aa giri. Aur phir, Vishal ne aahista se apna haath uthaya aur apni ungliyon se us lat ko hatakar unke kaan ke peeche kar diya.
Aur ammi ne use roka nahi. Woh bas use dekhti rahin, unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si kashmakash aur ek gehri khumaari thi.
Yeh dekh kar mere andar khoon khaul utha. Yeh kya ho raha tha? Sabke saamne? Ek anjaan gusse aur ek ajeeb si himmat ke saath, main unki taraf chal pada. Mere qadmon ki aahat se woh dono chaunke.
"Ammi," meri awaaz jitni shaant main rakhna chahta tha, usse kahin zyada sakht nikli.
Ammi ne mujhe dekha toh unke chehre ka rang ud gaya. Unhone foran Vishal se ek qadam ki doori bana li. Unki aankhon mein ek pal ke liye ghabrahat aayi, par unhone use foran sambhal liya.
"Sahil! Beta, yahan kya kar rahe ho?" Phir woh Vishal ki taraf mudin. "Vishal ji, yeh mera beta hai, Sahil."
Vishal ne mujhe dekha, uski aankhon mein na koi hairaani thi, na koi sharmindagi. Balki ek ajeeb si parakhne wali nazar thi, jaise woh mere wajood ko tol raha ho.
Usne apna haath meri taraf badhaya. "Sahil. Milkar khushi hui." Uska haath milana mazboot tha, ek tarah se haavi hone wala. Main bas "Same here" keh kar apna haath kheench saka.
Ek ajeeb si khamoshi chha gayi, par sirf ek pal ke liye. Ammi ne socha shayad meri maujoodgi se unki yeh mulaqat khatm ho jayegi, par Vishal ke iraade kuch aur the.
Usne apni nazrein mujhse hatakar waapis ammi par tika din, jaise main wahan tha hi nahi.
"Toh jaisa main keh raha tha, Aisha ji," usne apni usi gehri awaaz mein baat jaari rakhi. "Yeh shehar bohot khatarnaak hai. Pata hi nahi chalta kab anjaan logon ko apna bana leta hai."
Ammi ne ek pal ke liye mujhe dekha, unke chehre par ek kashmakash thi. Par phir unki nazrein waapis Vishal par chali gayin, jaise kisi chumbak se khinch rahi hon.
"Shehar nahi, Vishal ji," unhone ek halki si shararti muskaan ke saath jawab diya. "Yahan ke log anjaan musafiron ka dil churana jaante hain."
Main wahin khada tha, ek anchaaha gawaah. Woh dono apni hi duniya mein khoye hue the, apni shabdon ki is ladaai mein.
"Chori ka ilzaam galat hai," Vishal thoda aur qareeb jhuka, uski awaaz ab ek sarghoshi jaisi lag rahi thi. "Dil toh khud hi apni marzi se qaid ho jaate hain."
Yeh sunkar ammi ki palke jhuk gayin, aur unke honthon par ek aisi muskaan aayi jise main pehchaan nahi paaya. Us muskaan mein razamandi thi, ek haar thi, aur ek jeet bhi.
Mujhe laga jaise mera dum ghut raha hai. Main wahan aur ek pal nahi ruk sakta tha. "Mujhe... mujhe Nani bula rahi hain," main jhooth bol kar wahan se palat gaya.
Jaate-jaate maine ek aakhri baar mud kar dekha. Woh dono ab dheere-dheere hans rahe the, jaise mere jaane se unhein koi farq hi na pada ho. Unka woh niji, khufiya lamha phir se shuru ho chuka tha. Aur main, us lamhe se bahar, andhere mein jaa raha tha.
Us raat jab hum kamre mein laute, toh darwaza band hote hi bahar ka Sangeeet ka shor ek dum se kat gaya. Andar ek ajeeb si bhaari khamoshi chha gayi. Is khamoshi mein sirf do awaazein theen-meri tez chalti saansein, aur ammi ki saree ki sarsarahat jo unke jism se lipat kar halka shor kar rahi thi.
Unke chehre par thakan ka koi nishaan nahi tha. Uski jagah ek ajeeb si chamak thi, ek khumaari, jaise unhone koi mehanga nasha kar liya ho aur uska asar abhi tak unki ragon mein daud raha ho.
"Uff, kitni garmi hai," unhone ek gehri saans lete hue kaha. Woh kamre ke beech mein khadi theen.Unhone apni peeth ko halka sa kheencha, ek aaraam talash karti hui angdai li, aur phir unki ungliyan apne kandhe par lagi safety pin par chali gayin.
Ek choti si 'click' ki awaaz ke saath pin khuli aur unka pallu aazaad ho gaya.
Woh unke kandhe se ek resham ke sharabi jharne ki tarah sarakna shuru hua. Uska narm kapda unki gori, narm baanhon ko sehlata hua neeche aaya, ek pal ke liye unki kamar se ragad khata hua, aur phir usne apna safar neeche ki taraf jaari rakh aur neeche gir gaya.
Ab saree ka sirf woh hissa unke jism par bacha tha jo unki pleats se juda tha. Unka pallu, jo ab tak unke jism ke upri hisse ko dhak raha tha, ab unke pairon ke paas ek reshami samundar ki tarah phaila hua tha. Unka blouse gehre, sharabi rang ke makhmal ka tha jiska gala aage se gehra U-shape ka tha par uski asli khoobsurti uski peeth mein thi. Uski peeth poori tarah se khuli hui nahi thi. Balki, makhmal ke kapde ke beech mein, usi rang ki baareek net ka ek bada panel laga hua tha. Yeh net unke kandhon se shuru hokar unki kamar tak jaati thi, unki poori peeth ko ek naazuk parde mein dhakte hue. Makhmal ka kapda net ke chaaron taraf ek frame ki tarah tha, aur peeth ke beech mein makhmal ke hi chote-chote button ki ek katari thi jo neeche tak jaati thi.
Dance aur garmi ki wajah se unki skin par paseene ki jo halki, chamakti hui parat thi, woh uss baareek net ke neeche se saaf jhalak rahi thi. Net ka kapda kai jagahon se unki skin se chipak gaya tha, unki reedh ki haddi ke curve ko aur bhi gehra aur aakarshak bana raha tha. Unki peeth ek saaf, be-daag canvas ki tarah thi, jis par ab net ka ek dhundhla sa parda pada hua tha, jo sab kuch chhipa kar bhi, sab kuch dikha raha tha.
Unka yeh andaaz ek befikr aazaadi se bhara tha. Unke liye main abhi bhi wohi masoom beta tha, jiske saamne parde ki zaroorat nahi thi.
For Woh seedhe dressing table ke saamne jaakar khadi ho gayin. Sheeshe mein woh khud ko nahi, shayad us aurat ko dekh rahi theen jo woh aaj raat theen-Aisha. Unke geele, surkh honthon par ek ajeeb, dheemi si muskaan phaili hui thi, ek raaz jise woh baar-baar apne zehen mein dohra rahi theen.
Unki ungliyan apne kaan tak gayin aur unhone heere ke tops ko aahista se nikala. Phir unke haath unki gardan par gaye. Unhone apni aankhein band kar lin, ek gehri saans li, aur apne sone ke haar ka pech khola. Jab haar unki gori skin se alag hua, toh ek pal ke liye uski jagah par ek halki si laal lakeer reh gayi.
"Ammi," maine aawaz ko normal rakhne ki koshish karte hue kaha. "Aap thaki nahi?"
Woh chaunki nahi. Sheeshe se hi mujhe dekhte hue unhone muskurakar jawab diya, "Thakan? Aaj toh bilkul nahi. Bohot din baad itna achha laga."
Unhone apni choodiyan utaarna shuru keen. Ek ek karke, sone ki choodiyan unki narm kalai se sarak rahi theen, aur unki 'khan-khan' ki awaaz kamre ki khamoshi mein ek sangeet ki tarah goonj rahi thi.
"Akram ke dost kaafi achhe the na?" unhone achanak kaha, unki awaaz mein ek bachchon jaisi utsukta thi.
Mera dil zor se dhadka. Main bas "Hmm" keh saka.
"Khaas kar woh... Vishal," unhone uska naam aise liya jaise woh koi meetha lafz ho. Woh meri taraf palteen, unki aankhein abhi bhi chamak rahi theen. "Kitna suljha hua aadmi hai. Aur baatein... aisi gehri baatein karta hai ki waqt ka pata hi nahi chalta."
Woh bata rahi theen, aur main sun raha tha. Par main sirf unke lafz nahi sun raha tha. Main unki badalti awaaz sun raha tha. Main unke chehre par aati laali dekh raha tha. Main unki aankhon mein woh khumaari dekh raha tha jo kisi ki yaadon se paida hoti hai.
"Keh raha tha Dilli ka shehar logon ko apna bana leta hai," unhone haste hue kaha, us flirty line ko ek masoom si, falsafey wali baat ki tarah pesh karte hue. "Bohot ajeeb hai na?"
Main kuch nahi bola. Main bas us aurat ko dekh raha tha jise main apni 'ammi' kehta tha. Woh aaj ek nayi aurat lag rahi thi. Ek aisi aurat jiske andar ek raaz tha, ek aisi khushi thi jiska hissa main nahi tha, mere abbu nahi the.
"Bada shareef aur tameezdaar laga mujhe," woh kehti chali gayin, apni hi dhun mein, yeh samjhe bina ki unka har lafz mere seene mein ek khanjar ki tarah utar raha tha. "Sahil? Sun rahe ho?"
"Haan, Ammi," maine aakhirkar kaha.
"Achha hai."
"Achha hi toh hai," unhone khush hokar kaha, jaise mere is chote se jawab ne unki har baat par mohar laga di ho. "Chalo, ab so jao. Kal Haldi hai, bohot kaam hoga."
Woh waapis dressing table ki taraf mud gayin, apne khayalon mein muskurate hue. Par main jaanta tha. Unki muskurahat Haldi ki taiyaariyon ke liye nahi thi. Woh us aadmi ke liye thi, jisne ek hi shaam mein meri maa ko phir se Aisha bana diya tha. Aur us raat, kamre ki us khamoshi mein, mujhe neend nahi aayi.
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