24-10-2025, 01:07 AM
CHAPTER 4
Mere papa ka surprise unke boss se.
“Main tumhare liye sabse achhe chununga.” Woh counter ke paas se ek tokri santre leke aaya. Jab Mummy ne ek santre ke liye haath badhaya, usne apna haath jaldi se hilaya, jaan boojh ke unka haath chhua, uske kathor ungliyan unki naram twacha pe zyada der tak rahi. Uska haath phalon se ganda tha, aur yeh chhuna galat tha.
Mujhe jaldi gussa aaya. Mera dil zor se dhadka. “Main karoonga,” maine sakht awaaz mein kaha, uske dobara chhune se pehle santre ko chheen liya. Maine woh Mummy ko diya, unke beech mein deewar ki tarah khada hua. “Yeh achha hai, Mummy.”
Mummy ne mujhe dekha, thodi hairani lekin thodi muskurahat ke saath. “Jai, it’s okay. Darshan bas santre mein madad kar raha hai.”
Lekin Darshan ne dekha maine kya kiya. Uska haath hawa mein ruk gaya, jaise maine usse thappad maar diya ho. Mummy ne awkward pal mehsoos kiya aur thoda door hati, narmi se palak dekhne ke liye aage badhi.
Unki aankhen uski aankhon se mili, dekha ke woh unke stan aur kamar ko kaise ghoor raha tha, jaise gande khayal soch raha ho. Unhone ek aur chhota kadam peeche liya, unki saree se dheemi si awaaz aayi.
Darshan ne unhe door jaate dekha, aur ek chhupa hua muskurahat uske chehre pe aaya, uske daant peele. Usne apne hont dheere se chaata, uski jeebh aise hili jaise woh bhookha ho, unke haath ki taraf dekhte hue. Yeh ghinona tha, woh dheema chaatna, gande khayalon se bhara.
Yeh mujhe itna gussa dilaya—sirf isliye nahi ke yeh creepy tha, balki kyunki woh soch raha tha ke Mummy, mere Papa ki biwi, kuch hai jo woh chah sakta hai. Woh bewakoof tha, ek shadi-shuda aadmi jiske bacche the, sochta tha ke Mummy uske bhaande tricks pasand karegi. Woh apne aap ko smart samajhta tha, lekin bas bevakoof tha, yeh maanta ke uski muskurahat unka dhyaan kheench sakti hai jab woh wafadar thi aur usse kahi zyada behtar.
Mummy shant rahi aur gajar ke paas chali gayi, naatak karti hui ke woh unhe check kar rahi thi taaki usse bacha jaye. “Yeh gajar taaze hain, Darshan? Aaj ke?” Jab woh thoda jhuki ek gajar chunne ke liye, unki badi gaand bahut hili, natural taur pe kyunki unka jism bhara aur mazboot tha.
giff 3
![[Image: MOVE.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/RZ1fr7km/MOVE.gif)
Hari saree, jo unki badi gaand pe tight lapeti hui thi, bhi hili, jaise paani mein lehar, unke gol nitambon pe chipakti aur phir har kadam ke saath chhoot jati.
Yeh nazar hatana mushkil tha, jis tarah kapda har hilore ko dikhata tha, atmvishwas aur sundarta se bhara bina unke koshish kiye.
Darshan ki aankhen seedhe unki badi naram gaand pe gayi.
Uska muskurahat aur bada, creepy ho gaya, uska chehra laal pad gaya. Woh ek tak ghoorta raha, bina palken jhapkaye, unki gaand ke har harkat ko dekhta, saree ka har jhatka.
Uska muh thoda khula, saans bhari, jaise woh ek sapne mein phansa ho. Woh aage jhuka, doosre logon ko bhool gaya jo intezaar kar rahe the, bazaar ka shor, sab kuch—bas unke ghumav mein khoya, wahi sochta jo sirf Papa ko sochna chahiye.
Tabhi, ek zordaar awaaz aayi. Kuch santre tokri se gir gaye, zameen pe lade. Darshan ne galti se unhe thok diya, Mummy ki gaand ko ghoorte hue zyada aage jhuk kar.
Mummy jaldi palti, chinta mein. “Darshan, tum theek ho? Santre gir gaye—main uthane mein madad karti hoon.”
Woh jaldi jhapka, sharminda laga lekin abhi bhi chhupa muskurahat. “Oh, Prisha ji, koi baat nahi, bas aaj sakhtpan. Aapki sundarta ek aadmi ko apne aap pe girati hai, pata hai?”
Mummy dheeme se hansi, dhyaan se jhuk kar ek santre uthaya, apni saree thik rakhte hue. “Sakhtpan? Tum aksar apne phalon ke saath achhe hote ho. Yeh lo, ek mila. Theek hai.”
Woh hansa, apni gardan khujate hue. “Haan, sab theek. Lekin sach mein, Prisha ji, aap is bazaar ko suraj ki tarah chamkaati hain. Yeh santre? Aapke liye free.”
Main aur nahi seh saka. Unki badi gaand abhi bhi dikh rahi thi jab woh jhuki, aur Darshan ki aankhen wahan phir chipak gayi, uski muskurahat jaise tapak rahi ho. Main seedhe Mummy ke peeche khada ho gaya, lamba khada hua taaki uska nazar band ho, unki gaand poori tarah chhupa di.
Maine yeh kiya kyunki mujhe pata tha woh ghoorta rahega, hont chaatega, unhe ajeeb mehsoos karayega chahe woh theek ka naatak kare. Unke bete ke roop mein, mujhe unhe aise logon se bachana tha, unki izzat ko uske gande nazron se surakshit rakhna tha.
Saree itni tight thi, ek aur jhatka, aur woh pagal ho jata.
Darshan ka chehra jaldi badla.
Uska muskurahat gusse mein badal gaya, uski bhaun ek saath aayi, gaal phoole, aankhen chhoti aur gusse wali mujhe ghoorti hui. Uska muh tight bandh, naak phulayi—woh naraaz tha, jaise maine uska khel kharab kar diya. Woh dekhna chahta tha, aur mera wahan khada hona uske ghamand ko chot pahunchaya.
Maine sar thoda ghumaya, use sakht nazar di—mera jabda tight, aankhen garam, hont ek line mein. “Bas karo,” meri nazar ne kaha. Darshan peeche hata, uska gussa toot gaya. Woh neeche dekha, santre uthate hue, apne aap se bolta hua, jaldi aur ghabraye hue, jaise ek baccha pakda gaya ho kuch galat karte hue. Usne dobara chhune ya muskurane ki koshish nahi ki, bas chup raha.
“Mummy,” maine dheeme se unke kaan mein kaha, unka haath chhua. “Hume jana hai. Abhi.”
Woh khadi hui, gajar pakde, confused dikh rahi. “Jai, kya hua? Hum abhi poore nahi hue. Santre almost tayyar hain, aur mujhe kuch aur cheezein chahiye.”
“Nahi, Mummy, please. Chalo. Mujhe… mere dost ko homework ke liye call karna hai. Zaruri hai. Santre kal le lenge.”
Unhone sar tedha kiya, unki bhoori aankhen mujhe dekhti hui. “Homework? Jai, tum kabhi bazaar ke beech mein homework ki parwah nahi karte. Kya ho raha hai? Tum theek ho, beta?”
“Haan, main theek hoon. Bas… ghar chalo.”
Unhone aah bhari lekin dheeme se muskuraayi. “Theek hai, beta. Agar itna zaruri hai. Lekin agli baar, koi bhaag-daud nahi.”
Jab hum palte chale, Mummy ki badi gaand sabki nazar kheench rahi thi. Saree unke saath hili, kapda unki twacha pe sarakta, har kadam ke saath unke gaal thoda uchalte. Log baat karna band kar dete. Auratein jalti thi. Mard ek tak ghoorte.
Ek budha aadmi, shaayad 80 saal ka, ek phal ki gaadi ke paas chhadi pe sahara leke khada, kuch pagalpan wala kiya. Woh seedha khada hua, uski purani aankhen chamki, aur zordaar seeti bajayi—ek dheemi, rude awaaz. “Wah, dekho us aurat ki chal! Woh badi gaand ek adbhut hai!” Woh hansa, apni chhadi thokta hua, doosre dukaandaaron ko bhi hasne ke liye majboor kiya.
Mummy ke gaal gulabi ho gaye, lekin woh chalti rahi, jaise suna nahi. Maine use ghoora, meri mutthi tight, chillana chahta tha.
Nikalne se pehle, Mummy ruk kar paise dene lagi. Unhe bhi mehsoos hua ke unhe jaldi hatna hai warna doosre mard gandi baatein karenge. “Darshan, kheere, tamatar, aur gajar ke kitne paise?” Mummy ne poocha.
Darshan ne jaldi hisaab kiya, uski aankhen abhi bhi chupke se unki gaand pe ja rahi thi, chahe main wahan tha. “150 rupaye, Prisha ji. Lekin aapke liye, 140 kar do.”
Unhone paise diye. “Shukriya. Change rakh lo.”
Usne dheere se paise liye, ek chhupa matlab wali muskurahat ke saath. “Kab wapas aa rahi ho, Prisha ji? Kal? Aap meri sabse achhi customer—hamesha mera din behtar banati ho.”
Uska “sabse achhi” shabd sirf kharidari ke baare mein nahi tha. Yeh chhupa tha, jaise woh matlab nikal raha ho ke woh sabse sundar hai, jise woh sochta tha, sabse upar wali aurat jo usne dekhi. Yeh uska flirt karne ka tareeka tha bina saaf bole, gande khayalon se bhara.
Mummy ne achhe se jawab diya, ya toh notice nahi kiya ya taal diya. “Shaayad kal, Darshan. Hume hamesha taazi sabziyan chahiye. Tum ek achha dukaandaar ho—hamesha achha samaan rakhte ho.”
Woh badi muskurahat ke saath hansa, phir mujhe dekha. “Alvida, Jai beta. Jaldi milte hain.”
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Bas ghoora, baahen bandh karke, palat gaya. Main chahta tha ke woh meri nazar se samjhe ke main uska khel dekh chuka hoon.
![[Image: giff-walking.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/CLSnGBBw/giff-walking.gif)
Mummy chali gayi, unki badi gaand lehar ki tarah hili, saree chipakti aur sarakti, dhoop mein chamakti. Darshan apne stall se dekhta raha, uski aankhen chipki hui, udaas dikhayi diya—kandhe jhuke, muskurahat gayab, ek bhari saans. Usne ek santre ko halke se thok diya, naraaz.
Main Mummy ke bilkul peeche chala, kareeb reh ke unki badi gaand ko Darshan aur doosron se chhupaya. Maine unke kadam ke saath kadam milaya, unke bade nitambon ke hilne ka nazara bandh kiya. Yeh kaam kiya; hamare peeche kisi ne zyada nahi dekha. Lekin andar se mujhe bura laga—sach mein bura. Ab mujhe pata tha ke mujhe Mummy ke saath har jagah jana hoga.
Bazaar, padosi ke ghar, jahan bhi unki sundarta dikhti thi. Darshan jaise mard hamesha ghoorenge, gande khayal sochenge, rude mazak karenge. Unke ghumav is bhookhe mardon ki duniya mein mushkil the. Main unka rakshak banunga, hamesha dekhunga. Yeh bhari laga, lekin mujhe karna tha—Papa ke liye, unki izzat ke liye.
“Mummy, aapne itna time kyun liya?” maine kaha, meri awaaz teekhi, Darshan ke bartav se gussa.
Unhone peeche dekha, hairani se. “Jai, zyada time nahi laga. Aaj tumhe kya ho gaya? Itna gussa kyun?”
“Kuch nahi. Bas… agli baar jaldi chalo. Bazaar irritating hai.”
Woh hansi, mera haath apne baah se jodte hue. “Irritating? Ya tum bhookhe ho? Batao, beta, kya woh ladki hai jisse tum text kar rahe ho? Tum ajeeb behave kar rahe ho.”
“Nahi, Mummy. Bas ghar chalo.”
Andar se, main Darshan pe gussa tha—uske ghoorne, chhune, uske gande mazak. Main unhe nahi bata sakta tha. Yeh unhe bura laga dega, unhe apne dikhawe ke baare mein chinta hogi. Unhe iski zarurat nahi thi. Isliye main chup raha, zabardasti muskura ke.
Mummy ki badi gaand mardon ko sar dard kyun deti thi? Yeh jaise ek jadoo tha. Unki gaand bhari, mazboot, naram thi, thodi si hilti thi ke mard sapne dekhne lagen. Jaise ek perfect phal, gol aur pakka, saree usse gift wrap ki tarah lapet rahi thi.
Mardon ke sar isliye dard karte kyunki woh usse chahte the—sochte the usse chhune ka, shaayad aur bhi. Lekin yeh unki pahunch se door tha: woh shadi-shuda thi, wafadar, shaan se chalti thi.
Darshan shaayad ghar ja ke sar dard ke saath socha hoga unke baare mein sari raat, bas apne khayalon mein phansa. Unki gaand ek problem thi kyunki woh bahut perfect thi, aise hilti thi jaise uska apna geet ho, mardon ko bechain karta bina kisi ummeed ke.
Hum lambi chal ke ghar pahunche. Mummy thaki hui dikh rahi thi, unka chehra garmi se laal, saree thodi bikhri, pallu sarak ke blouse zyada dikha raha tha. Woh apne aap ko pankha kar rahi thi, chudiyan khanak rahi thi. “Jai, yeh mushkil tha. Bags kitchen mein rakh do, beta.”
Maine sar hilaya, unhe andar le gaya. Lekin jab hum baithak mein aaye, Papa wahan the—sofa pe baithe, tie dheeli, badi muskurahat ke saath. Woh jaldi ghar aaye the! Yeh normal nahi tha.
Papa kabhi shaam se pehle nahi aate; Coastal Horizon Logistics ka kaam unhe docks pe der tak rakhta tha, jahazon aur kagazon ke saath. Jaldi aana sirf bade events ya problems ke liye hota tha.
“Papa? Tum ghar pe?” maine kaha, bags neeche rakhte hue.
Mummy ki aankhen badi ho gayi, unki thakan gayab. Woh daudi, saree sarsarati hui. “Kishore! Kya hua? Kaam pe sab theek hai?”
Papa khade hue, unhe zor se gale lagaya, unke haath unki kamar pe. Uski muskurahat sach thi, woh thaki hui nahi jo aksar hoti thi. “Sab kuch shandaar hai, Prisha. Jai, idhar aao, beta.”
Hum unke aaspaas sofa pe baithe. Mummy unke kandhe pe jhuki. “Batao,” unhone kaha, curious. “Tum jaldi kyun? Jahazon ke saath kuch hua?”
Papa hansa, unka haath pakadte hue. “Nahi, koi problem nahi. Asal mein, kuch achha.”
Main aage jhuka. “Kya, Papa? Tum itne khush lag rahe ho. Sach mein khush.”
Woh sar hilaye, aankhen chamakti hui. “Theek hai, suno. Aaj subah, Mr. Davendra, mera boss, ne mujhe apne office bulaya. Tumhe pata hai, mera boss—jise tum thappad marna chahti thi, Prisha?”
Mummy ne saans roki, hansi. “Tumne usse bataya? Kishore, mat karo!”
Papa muskuraaye. “Nahi, pyar, maine nahi bataya. Lekin woh mere kaam se khush tha. Company ko naye shares mile, zyada cargo, bade deals.”
“Haan, tumne yeh kaha tha,” maine kaha. “Lekin jaldi kyun ghar?”
“Ruko, Jai,” Papa ne chheda. “Mr. Davendra ne kaha main shandaar kaam kar raha hoon—koi delay nahi, khush clients. Toh, unhone mujhe promote kiya. Logistics Supervisor! Zyada paise, kam der raat, aur unhone kaha ke woh hum chaaron ko ek tour pe le jana chahte hain.”
Mummy ne khushi se chilla ke unhe gale lagaya. “Kishore! Sach mein?”
Mere papa ka surprise unke boss se.
“Main tumhare liye sabse achhe chununga.” Woh counter ke paas se ek tokri santre leke aaya. Jab Mummy ne ek santre ke liye haath badhaya, usne apna haath jaldi se hilaya, jaan boojh ke unka haath chhua, uske kathor ungliyan unki naram twacha pe zyada der tak rahi. Uska haath phalon se ganda tha, aur yeh chhuna galat tha.
Mujhe jaldi gussa aaya. Mera dil zor se dhadka. “Main karoonga,” maine sakht awaaz mein kaha, uske dobara chhune se pehle santre ko chheen liya. Maine woh Mummy ko diya, unke beech mein deewar ki tarah khada hua. “Yeh achha hai, Mummy.”
Mummy ne mujhe dekha, thodi hairani lekin thodi muskurahat ke saath. “Jai, it’s okay. Darshan bas santre mein madad kar raha hai.”
Lekin Darshan ne dekha maine kya kiya. Uska haath hawa mein ruk gaya, jaise maine usse thappad maar diya ho. Mummy ne awkward pal mehsoos kiya aur thoda door hati, narmi se palak dekhne ke liye aage badhi.
Unki aankhen uski aankhon se mili, dekha ke woh unke stan aur kamar ko kaise ghoor raha tha, jaise gande khayal soch raha ho. Unhone ek aur chhota kadam peeche liya, unki saree se dheemi si awaaz aayi.
Darshan ne unhe door jaate dekha, aur ek chhupa hua muskurahat uske chehre pe aaya, uske daant peele. Usne apne hont dheere se chaata, uski jeebh aise hili jaise woh bhookha ho, unke haath ki taraf dekhte hue. Yeh ghinona tha, woh dheema chaatna, gande khayalon se bhara.
Yeh mujhe itna gussa dilaya—sirf isliye nahi ke yeh creepy tha, balki kyunki woh soch raha tha ke Mummy, mere Papa ki biwi, kuch hai jo woh chah sakta hai. Woh bewakoof tha, ek shadi-shuda aadmi jiske bacche the, sochta tha ke Mummy uske bhaande tricks pasand karegi. Woh apne aap ko smart samajhta tha, lekin bas bevakoof tha, yeh maanta ke uski muskurahat unka dhyaan kheench sakti hai jab woh wafadar thi aur usse kahi zyada behtar.
Mummy shant rahi aur gajar ke paas chali gayi, naatak karti hui ke woh unhe check kar rahi thi taaki usse bacha jaye. “Yeh gajar taaze hain, Darshan? Aaj ke?” Jab woh thoda jhuki ek gajar chunne ke liye, unki badi gaand bahut hili, natural taur pe kyunki unka jism bhara aur mazboot tha.
giff 3
![[Image: MOVE.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/RZ1fr7km/MOVE.gif)
Hari saree, jo unki badi gaand pe tight lapeti hui thi, bhi hili, jaise paani mein lehar, unke gol nitambon pe chipakti aur phir har kadam ke saath chhoot jati.
Yeh nazar hatana mushkil tha, jis tarah kapda har hilore ko dikhata tha, atmvishwas aur sundarta se bhara bina unke koshish kiye.
Darshan ki aankhen seedhe unki badi naram gaand pe gayi.
Uska muskurahat aur bada, creepy ho gaya, uska chehra laal pad gaya. Woh ek tak ghoorta raha, bina palken jhapkaye, unki gaand ke har harkat ko dekhta, saree ka har jhatka.
Uska muh thoda khula, saans bhari, jaise woh ek sapne mein phansa ho. Woh aage jhuka, doosre logon ko bhool gaya jo intezaar kar rahe the, bazaar ka shor, sab kuch—bas unke ghumav mein khoya, wahi sochta jo sirf Papa ko sochna chahiye.
Tabhi, ek zordaar awaaz aayi. Kuch santre tokri se gir gaye, zameen pe lade. Darshan ne galti se unhe thok diya, Mummy ki gaand ko ghoorte hue zyada aage jhuk kar.
Mummy jaldi palti, chinta mein. “Darshan, tum theek ho? Santre gir gaye—main uthane mein madad karti hoon.”
Woh jaldi jhapka, sharminda laga lekin abhi bhi chhupa muskurahat. “Oh, Prisha ji, koi baat nahi, bas aaj sakhtpan. Aapki sundarta ek aadmi ko apne aap pe girati hai, pata hai?”
Mummy dheeme se hansi, dhyaan se jhuk kar ek santre uthaya, apni saree thik rakhte hue. “Sakhtpan? Tum aksar apne phalon ke saath achhe hote ho. Yeh lo, ek mila. Theek hai.”
Woh hansa, apni gardan khujate hue. “Haan, sab theek. Lekin sach mein, Prisha ji, aap is bazaar ko suraj ki tarah chamkaati hain. Yeh santre? Aapke liye free.”
Main aur nahi seh saka. Unki badi gaand abhi bhi dikh rahi thi jab woh jhuki, aur Darshan ki aankhen wahan phir chipak gayi, uski muskurahat jaise tapak rahi ho. Main seedhe Mummy ke peeche khada ho gaya, lamba khada hua taaki uska nazar band ho, unki gaand poori tarah chhupa di.
Maine yeh kiya kyunki mujhe pata tha woh ghoorta rahega, hont chaatega, unhe ajeeb mehsoos karayega chahe woh theek ka naatak kare. Unke bete ke roop mein, mujhe unhe aise logon se bachana tha, unki izzat ko uske gande nazron se surakshit rakhna tha.
Saree itni tight thi, ek aur jhatka, aur woh pagal ho jata.
Darshan ka chehra jaldi badla.
Uska muskurahat gusse mein badal gaya, uski bhaun ek saath aayi, gaal phoole, aankhen chhoti aur gusse wali mujhe ghoorti hui. Uska muh tight bandh, naak phulayi—woh naraaz tha, jaise maine uska khel kharab kar diya. Woh dekhna chahta tha, aur mera wahan khada hona uske ghamand ko chot pahunchaya.
Maine sar thoda ghumaya, use sakht nazar di—mera jabda tight, aankhen garam, hont ek line mein. “Bas karo,” meri nazar ne kaha. Darshan peeche hata, uska gussa toot gaya. Woh neeche dekha, santre uthate hue, apne aap se bolta hua, jaldi aur ghabraye hue, jaise ek baccha pakda gaya ho kuch galat karte hue. Usne dobara chhune ya muskurane ki koshish nahi ki, bas chup raha.
“Mummy,” maine dheeme se unke kaan mein kaha, unka haath chhua. “Hume jana hai. Abhi.”
Woh khadi hui, gajar pakde, confused dikh rahi. “Jai, kya hua? Hum abhi poore nahi hue. Santre almost tayyar hain, aur mujhe kuch aur cheezein chahiye.”
“Nahi, Mummy, please. Chalo. Mujhe… mere dost ko homework ke liye call karna hai. Zaruri hai. Santre kal le lenge.”
Unhone sar tedha kiya, unki bhoori aankhen mujhe dekhti hui. “Homework? Jai, tum kabhi bazaar ke beech mein homework ki parwah nahi karte. Kya ho raha hai? Tum theek ho, beta?”
“Haan, main theek hoon. Bas… ghar chalo.”
Unhone aah bhari lekin dheeme se muskuraayi. “Theek hai, beta. Agar itna zaruri hai. Lekin agli baar, koi bhaag-daud nahi.”
Jab hum palte chale, Mummy ki badi gaand sabki nazar kheench rahi thi. Saree unke saath hili, kapda unki twacha pe sarakta, har kadam ke saath unke gaal thoda uchalte. Log baat karna band kar dete. Auratein jalti thi. Mard ek tak ghoorte.
Ek budha aadmi, shaayad 80 saal ka, ek phal ki gaadi ke paas chhadi pe sahara leke khada, kuch pagalpan wala kiya. Woh seedha khada hua, uski purani aankhen chamki, aur zordaar seeti bajayi—ek dheemi, rude awaaz. “Wah, dekho us aurat ki chal! Woh badi gaand ek adbhut hai!” Woh hansa, apni chhadi thokta hua, doosre dukaandaaron ko bhi hasne ke liye majboor kiya.
Mummy ke gaal gulabi ho gaye, lekin woh chalti rahi, jaise suna nahi. Maine use ghoora, meri mutthi tight, chillana chahta tha.
Nikalne se pehle, Mummy ruk kar paise dene lagi. Unhe bhi mehsoos hua ke unhe jaldi hatna hai warna doosre mard gandi baatein karenge. “Darshan, kheere, tamatar, aur gajar ke kitne paise?” Mummy ne poocha.
Darshan ne jaldi hisaab kiya, uski aankhen abhi bhi chupke se unki gaand pe ja rahi thi, chahe main wahan tha. “150 rupaye, Prisha ji. Lekin aapke liye, 140 kar do.”
Unhone paise diye. “Shukriya. Change rakh lo.”
Usne dheere se paise liye, ek chhupa matlab wali muskurahat ke saath. “Kab wapas aa rahi ho, Prisha ji? Kal? Aap meri sabse achhi customer—hamesha mera din behtar banati ho.”
Uska “sabse achhi” shabd sirf kharidari ke baare mein nahi tha. Yeh chhupa tha, jaise woh matlab nikal raha ho ke woh sabse sundar hai, jise woh sochta tha, sabse upar wali aurat jo usne dekhi. Yeh uska flirt karne ka tareeka tha bina saaf bole, gande khayalon se bhara.
Mummy ne achhe se jawab diya, ya toh notice nahi kiya ya taal diya. “Shaayad kal, Darshan. Hume hamesha taazi sabziyan chahiye. Tum ek achha dukaandaar ho—hamesha achha samaan rakhte ho.”
Woh badi muskurahat ke saath hansa, phir mujhe dekha. “Alvida, Jai beta. Jaldi milte hain.”
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Bas ghoora, baahen bandh karke, palat gaya. Main chahta tha ke woh meri nazar se samjhe ke main uska khel dekh chuka hoon.
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Mummy chali gayi, unki badi gaand lehar ki tarah hili, saree chipakti aur sarakti, dhoop mein chamakti. Darshan apne stall se dekhta raha, uski aankhen chipki hui, udaas dikhayi diya—kandhe jhuke, muskurahat gayab, ek bhari saans. Usne ek santre ko halke se thok diya, naraaz.
Main Mummy ke bilkul peeche chala, kareeb reh ke unki badi gaand ko Darshan aur doosron se chhupaya. Maine unke kadam ke saath kadam milaya, unke bade nitambon ke hilne ka nazara bandh kiya. Yeh kaam kiya; hamare peeche kisi ne zyada nahi dekha. Lekin andar se mujhe bura laga—sach mein bura. Ab mujhe pata tha ke mujhe Mummy ke saath har jagah jana hoga.
Bazaar, padosi ke ghar, jahan bhi unki sundarta dikhti thi. Darshan jaise mard hamesha ghoorenge, gande khayal sochenge, rude mazak karenge. Unke ghumav is bhookhe mardon ki duniya mein mushkil the. Main unka rakshak banunga, hamesha dekhunga. Yeh bhari laga, lekin mujhe karna tha—Papa ke liye, unki izzat ke liye.
“Mummy, aapne itna time kyun liya?” maine kaha, meri awaaz teekhi, Darshan ke bartav se gussa.
Unhone peeche dekha, hairani se. “Jai, zyada time nahi laga. Aaj tumhe kya ho gaya? Itna gussa kyun?”
“Kuch nahi. Bas… agli baar jaldi chalo. Bazaar irritating hai.”
Woh hansi, mera haath apne baah se jodte hue. “Irritating? Ya tum bhookhe ho? Batao, beta, kya woh ladki hai jisse tum text kar rahe ho? Tum ajeeb behave kar rahe ho.”
“Nahi, Mummy. Bas ghar chalo.”
Andar se, main Darshan pe gussa tha—uske ghoorne, chhune, uske gande mazak. Main unhe nahi bata sakta tha. Yeh unhe bura laga dega, unhe apne dikhawe ke baare mein chinta hogi. Unhe iski zarurat nahi thi. Isliye main chup raha, zabardasti muskura ke.
Mummy ki badi gaand mardon ko sar dard kyun deti thi? Yeh jaise ek jadoo tha. Unki gaand bhari, mazboot, naram thi, thodi si hilti thi ke mard sapne dekhne lagen. Jaise ek perfect phal, gol aur pakka, saree usse gift wrap ki tarah lapet rahi thi.
Mardon ke sar isliye dard karte kyunki woh usse chahte the—sochte the usse chhune ka, shaayad aur bhi. Lekin yeh unki pahunch se door tha: woh shadi-shuda thi, wafadar, shaan se chalti thi.
Darshan shaayad ghar ja ke sar dard ke saath socha hoga unke baare mein sari raat, bas apne khayalon mein phansa. Unki gaand ek problem thi kyunki woh bahut perfect thi, aise hilti thi jaise uska apna geet ho, mardon ko bechain karta bina kisi ummeed ke.
Hum lambi chal ke ghar pahunche. Mummy thaki hui dikh rahi thi, unka chehra garmi se laal, saree thodi bikhri, pallu sarak ke blouse zyada dikha raha tha. Woh apne aap ko pankha kar rahi thi, chudiyan khanak rahi thi. “Jai, yeh mushkil tha. Bags kitchen mein rakh do, beta.”
Maine sar hilaya, unhe andar le gaya. Lekin jab hum baithak mein aaye, Papa wahan the—sofa pe baithe, tie dheeli, badi muskurahat ke saath. Woh jaldi ghar aaye the! Yeh normal nahi tha.
Papa kabhi shaam se pehle nahi aate; Coastal Horizon Logistics ka kaam unhe docks pe der tak rakhta tha, jahazon aur kagazon ke saath. Jaldi aana sirf bade events ya problems ke liye hota tha.
“Papa? Tum ghar pe?” maine kaha, bags neeche rakhte hue.
Mummy ki aankhen badi ho gayi, unki thakan gayab. Woh daudi, saree sarsarati hui. “Kishore! Kya hua? Kaam pe sab theek hai?”
Papa khade hue, unhe zor se gale lagaya, unke haath unki kamar pe. Uski muskurahat sach thi, woh thaki hui nahi jo aksar hoti thi. “Sab kuch shandaar hai, Prisha. Jai, idhar aao, beta.”
Hum unke aaspaas sofa pe baithe. Mummy unke kandhe pe jhuki. “Batao,” unhone kaha, curious. “Tum jaldi kyun? Jahazon ke saath kuch hua?”
Papa hansa, unka haath pakadte hue. “Nahi, koi problem nahi. Asal mein, kuch achha.”
Main aage jhuka. “Kya, Papa? Tum itne khush lag rahe ho. Sach mein khush.”
Woh sar hilaye, aankhen chamakti hui. “Theek hai, suno. Aaj subah, Mr. Davendra, mera boss, ne mujhe apne office bulaya. Tumhe pata hai, mera boss—jise tum thappad marna chahti thi, Prisha?”
Mummy ne saans roki, hansi. “Tumne usse bataya? Kishore, mat karo!”
Papa muskuraaye. “Nahi, pyar, maine nahi bataya. Lekin woh mere kaam se khush tha. Company ko naye shares mile, zyada cargo, bade deals.”
“Haan, tumne yeh kaha tha,” maine kaha. “Lekin jaldi kyun ghar?”
“Ruko, Jai,” Papa ne chheda. “Mr. Davendra ne kaha main shandaar kaam kar raha hoon—koi delay nahi, khush clients. Toh, unhone mujhe promote kiya. Logistics Supervisor! Zyada paise, kam der raat, aur unhone kaha ke woh hum chaaron ko ek tour pe le jana chahte hain.”
Mummy ne khushi se chilla ke unhe gale lagaya. “Kishore! Sach mein?”


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