23-12-2025, 11:32 AM
(This post was last modified: 23-12-2025, 11:49 AM by SIYALI__RAJPOOT. Edited 1 time in total. Edited 1 time in total.)
Siyali ne apna bag kandhe par latkaya aur file ko seene se chipka liya, jaise wo file nahi balki uski dhaal ho. Bhiku ke chehre par ek jeet wali muskan aayi. Usne office ke darwaze par tala lagaya aur Siyali ko aage hone ka ishara kiya.
"Madam ji, rasta thoda kachcha hai, sambhal kar chaliyega," Bhiku ne kaha, par uski nazrein Siyali ki phisalti hui sandal aur uske naram pairon par thin.
Siyali ne baahar khadi bike ki taraf ek nazar dali. Uska jee kiya ki keh de, "Bike se chalte hain, jaldi pahunch jayenge," par phir use Master ji ki yaad aayi. Master ji buzurg (elderly) hain, unke saath baithna alag tha, par Bhiku ki aankhon mein jo chamak thi, wo Siyali ko andar tak ghabra rahi thi. Usne socha paidal chalna hi safe hai, chahe dhoop kitni hi kyun na ho.
Bhiku ne jaan-bujhkar gaon ke mukhya raste ko chhod diya aur Siyali ko khetan ke beech se guzarne wali ek patli pagdandi par le aaya.
"Bhiku ji, ye rasta toh bahut sunsaan hai? Kya hum galat ja rahe hain?" Siyali ne rukte hue pucha. Uske mathe par pasine ki nanhi boondein chamak rahi thin aur uski saans dhoop ki wajah se thodi tez chal rahi thi.
"Are nahi Madam, ye 'short-cut' hai. Sadak se jayenge toh poora gaon ghumna padega, dhoop mein aapka bura haal ho jayega," Bhiku ne jhoot bolte hue kaha. Asal mein ye rasta sadak se do-guna lamba tha aur charon taraf unchi-unchi sarpat (ghas) aur jhaadiyan thin.
Siyali ne aage badhna shuru kiya. Pagdandi itni patli thi ki dono saath-saath nahi chal sakte the. Bhiku jaan-bujhkar Siyali ke bilkul peeche-peeche chal raha tha. Chalte waqt jab Siyali ka badan thoda lachakta, toh Bhiku ki hawasi nigahein uske halke gulabi kurte ke peeche bheege hue nishaan dhoondti, jo garmi ki wajah se ban rahe the.
Achanak ek jagah rasta thoda uncha-nicha aaya. Siyali ka pair ek patthar se takraya aur wo ladkhadai.
"Sambhal ke Madam ji!" Bhiku ne lapak kar Siyali ki kohni (elbow) pakad li.
Siyali ko aisa laga jaise kisi ne garmi mein garam loha chhoo liya ho. Usne jhat se apna hath chhudaya. "Main thik hoon, shukriya."
Bhiku ne apne hath ki hatheli ko dekha, jahan abhi Siyali ki naram twacha ka ehsaas baaki tha. Usne ek gehri saans li, jisme Siyali ke paseene aur perfume ki mili-juli mehak ghis rahi thi. "Madam ji, aap itna darrti kyun hain? Main toh bas aapki madad kar raha hoon. Dekhiye, aapka dupatta bhi kanton mein phans gaya hai."
Siyali ne peeche mud kar dekha, uska dupatta ek jhaadi mein ulajh gaya tha. Wo use nikaalne ki koshish karne lagi, par Bhiku ne mouka dekh kar apna hath aage badhaya. Wo dupatta nikaalne ke bahane Siyali ke itne kareeb aa gaya ki Siyali ko uski garam saansein apni gardan par mehsoos hone lagin.
Siyali ne ek gehri saans li, lekin uski saans ke saath Bhiku ke sir ke saste chameli tel aur uske pasine ki teekhi badbu uske dimag ko chakrane lagi. Garmi itni thi ki Siyali ke gore mathe se pasine ki boondein phisal kar uske honthon tak aa rahi thin. Uska cotton ka gulabi kurta ab uske badan se chipakne laga tha, jo uske sharir ki banawat ko aur bhi ubhaar raha tha.
"Madam ji, laaiye main nikaal deta hoon, aapka naram hath chhil jayega," Bhiku ne phusphusate hue kaha. Uska lehja itna "apnapan" bhara tha ki koi bhi dhoka kha jaye, par uski aankhein kahin aur thin.
Siyali jaise hi dupatte ko kante se alag karne ke liye thoda aur aage jhuki, uske kurte ka gala thoda aur khul gaya. Bhiku ki nigahein toh jaise isi mauke ki talash mein thin. Upar se tapakti dhoop mein Siyali ki gori rangat aur un "ubhron ki darar" se behta pasina dekh kar Bhiku ka mann machal utha. Use aisa laga jaise wo koi khila hua gulab dekh raha ho jise dhoop ne aur bhi naram kar diya hai.
Bhiku ne madad ke bahane apna hath aage badhaya. Usne jaan-bujhkar kante nikaalte waqt apni ungliyan Siyali ki peeth par touch kin. Siyali ko laga jaise koi zehrila keeda uspar reng gaya ho. Usne jhatke se apna badan peeche khincha.
"H-ho gaya Bhiku ji! Rehne dijiye, main kar lungi," Siyali ne ghabra kar kaha. Uska chehra dhoop aur ghabrahat ki wajah se ekdum tamtama kar laal ho gaya tha, bilkul kisi guriya ki tarah.
Bhiku mann hi mann badbadaya, "Haye re kismat! Kya naram badan paya hai... abhi toh sirf chhua hai, toh itna garam hai. Jab haveli pahunchegi aur Pradhan ji iska ras nichodenge, tab kya hoga? Par Pradhan ji se pehle, is raste mein thoda maza toh main bhi lekar rahunga."
Usne ek kutil muskan ke saath Siyali ki taraf dekha, jo ab apna bag sambhalti hui tezi se aage badhne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Uski chal mein jo lachak thi, wo Bhiku ki hawas ko aur bhadka rahi thi. Siyali ka dhyan college ki file par tha, par Bhiku ka dhyan is baat par ki agla sunsaan mod kab aayega.
"Madam ji, thoda dhire! Aage rasta aur bhi kharab hai," Bhiku ne peeche se aate hue kaha, aur is baar usne tezi se chalkar Siyali ke itne paas jagah bana li ki uska kandha Siyali ke baazu se baar-baar ragad kha raha tha.
Siyali tezi se aage badh rahi thi, uski sandal ki 'chat-chat' ki awaaz un sunsaan pagdandiyon mein goonj rahi thi. Uska pura dhyan college pahunchne par tha, par uske peeche chal raha Bhiku kisi aur hi dhun mein tha. Woh dekh raha tha ki kaise garmi aur tezi se chalne ki wajah se Siyali ke gulabi kurte par pasine ke nishaan gahre hote ja rahe hain. Siyali jab thodi door nikal gayi, toh Bhiku thoda peeche reh gaya—jaan-bujhkar, taaki woh door se uske chalne ke lachakdar andaz ko nihar sake. Par jab use laga ki faasla zyada ho raha hai, toh woh tezi se kadam badhata hua Siyali ke bilkul nazdeek pahunch gaya.
Chalte-chalte rasta achanak badal gaya. Patli pagdandi khatam hui aur Siyali ek aise khule khet mein pahunch gayi jahan door-door tak sirf dhoop ki tapan aur sookhi ghas thi. Siyali wahan ruk gayi, uska sir chakrane laga. Use ehsaas hua ki wo gaon ke us hisse mein aa gayi hai jahan ka manzar office se bilkul alag tha.
"Main kahan aa gayi? Kya mujhe office se nikalna bhi chahiye tha?" Siyali ne mann hi mann khud ko kosa. Use apna faisla galat lagne laga tha.
Abhi wo ye soch hi rahi thi ki achanak use apne kaan ke paas ek garam saans mehsoos hui. Bhiku itni khamoshi aur itni nazdeeki se uske peeche aa khada hua tha ki Siyali buri tarah chaunk gayi. Bhiku ke hoth uske kaan ke itne paas the ki agar wo zara sa mudti toh wo use chhoo lete.
"Kya hua Madam ji? Ruk kyun gayi?" Bhiku ki awaaz mein ek ajeeb si khurkhurahat thi, jaise wo Siyali ki ghabrahat ka maza le raha ho. Uske chehre se chameli ke tel aur pasine ki wo bhari badbu ab Siyali ka dum ghont rahi thi.
Siyali ne turant do kadam aage badh kar faasla banaya. Uska chehra darr aur dhup se laal ho raha tha. "Bhiku ji, yahan se aage kahan jana hai? Kuch dikh hi nahi raha... college kitni door hai?" usne ghabrate hue pucha. Wo bechari toh imandari se kaam karne nikli thi, par use kya pata tha ki har mod par uske liye ek jaal bichha hai.
Bhiku ne ek gandi muskan di aur apne hothon par zabaan pheri. "Arre darrne ki koi baat nahi Madam ji! Gaon mein raste aise hi hote hain, kabhi khet toh kabhi jhaadiyan. Chaliye aage, rasta bhi mil jayega aur college bhi dikh jayega."
Mann hi mann Bhiku ne socha, "Rasta toh main bhatka hi chuka hoon, ab college nahi, sirf maza dikhega meri pyari Madam ji!"
Siyali ne ek baar phir un khule kheton ki taraf dekha jahan dhup ki wajah se sab kuch dhundhla lag raha tha. Usne himmat jutayi aur aage badhna shuru kiya. Bhiku uske peeche-peeche chal raha tha, uski nazrein Siyali ke har ek move par aisi gadi thin jaise koi shikaari apne shikaar ko dekh raha ho.
Dono thodi door aur chale honge ki achanak Siyali ke kadam thithak gaye. Saamne ek purani nahar thi—gehra paani aur unche kinare. Siyali ko ehsaas hua ki agar aage jana hai, toh is nahar ko har haal mein paar karna hi hoga. Usne nahar ke matti wale kinare aur paani ki lehron ko dekha, aur uska dil zor-zor se dhadakne laga.
Siyali ne apne hath se suraj ki roshni ko rokne ki koshish ki. Saamne ek purani nahar thi, jisme paani ka bahaw toh kam tha, par uske upar bana wo patla sa lakdi ka pul (bridge) dekh kar Siyali ki jaan nikal gayi. Do-teen purane lakdi ke patre (planks) ek-doosre se bandhe hue the, jo shayad kisi bhi waqt toot sakte the.
"Bhiku ji, kya humein ise paar karna hoga? Ye toh bahut khatarnak lag raha hai," Siyali ne darrte hue pucha. Uska badan garmi aur thakan se toot raha pha, aur ab ye nahar uske liye ek imtihan ban gayi thi.
Bhiku ne ek gehri saans li, uski nazrein Siyali ke chehre se niche utar kar uske un gori tangon par rukin jo chalne ki wajah se kurte ke niche se thodi nazar aa rahi thin. Usne socha, "Yahi mauka hai... yahan koi dekhne wala nahi hai."
"Ghabraiye mat Madam ji, main hoon na. Aap bas mera hath pakad lijiye, main aapko paar karwa dunga," Bhiku ne apna ganda, pasine se lathpath hath Siyali ki taraf badhaya.
Siyali ne ek pal ke liye uske hath ko dekha. Use uske hath se aur uski aankhon se darr lag raha tha, par peeche mudne ka rasta ab bohot lamba ho chuka tha. Usne apne bag ko kas ke pakda aur dhire se apna naram hath Bhiku ke sakht hath mein thama diya.
Jaise hi Siyali ka hath Bhiku ke hath mein aaya, Bhiku ke jism mein ek current sa daud gaya. Usne Siyali ki nazuk ungliyon ko zarurat se zyada zor se dabaya. Siyali ne dard se apni aankhein band kar lin.
"Bhiku ji... zor se lag raha hai," Siyali ne dhire se kaha.
"Are Madam, gir jayengi isliye kas ke pakda hai," Bhiku ne kutil muskan ke saath kaha. Wo Siyali ko pul ke beech mein le gaya. Pul hil raha tha aur Siyali ka santulan (balance) bigadne laga. Darr ke maare Siyali ne Bhiku ka kandha pakad liya.
Bhiku ko toh jaise jannat mil gayi. Usne is mauke ka fayda uthaya aur Siyali ko "sambhalne" ke bahane uske kamar ke niche apne hath ko tika diya. Siyali ka badan kaanp utha. Usne mehsoos kiya ki Bhiku ka hath uske dupatte ke niche se uski kamar ki naram twacha ko chhu raha hai.
"Chhodiye mujhe! Main khud chal sakti hoon," Siyali ne gusse aur darr mein chillaya, par pul par pair phisalne ki wajah se wo Bhiku ke aur kareeb gir gayi. Uska seena Bhiku ke sakht seene se takraya, aur kuch palon ke liye unki saansein ek-doosre mein ulajh gayi.
Bhiku ne mauka dekh kar Siyali ke kaan ke paas phusphusaya, "Madam ji, itni jaldi kya hai? Abhi toh college bohot door hai... aur yahan hum dono ke siwa koi parinda bhi nahi hai."
Nahar ke beechon-beech, us lachile aur purane lakdi ke pul par waqt jaise tham gaya tha. Siyali, jo hamesha apne usoolon aur maryada mein rahi, aaj ek aise mod par thi jahan uska naram badan ek gair mard ki bahon ke behad qareeb tha. Usne apni aankhein kas kar band kar rakhi thin, maano aankhein band karne se ye darawna pal khatam ho jayega. Uske gore mathe se pasine ki ek boond phisal kar uske gulaabi hothon ki kor tak pahunch gayi thi, aur halki hawa se uske bheege baalon ki ek lat uske chehre par lehra rahi thi.
Siyali ke liye ye sparsh naya aur ashant (disturbing) tha. Wo "kamukta ki raani" jise shehar ke bade-bade gharon ke ladke sirf door se niharne ki hasrat rakhte the, aaj Bhaypura ki ek sunsaan nahar par ek saste chameli tel ki badbu wale naukar ke itne qareeb thi. Uska dil darr ke maare aise dhadak raha tha jaise pinjre mein qaid koi chidiya. Agar pul na lachakta, agar uski sandal na phisalti, toh wo Bhiku ka kandha chhu leti—ye usne sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha.
Udhar Bhiku ki halat aisi thi jaise kisi bhookhe ke samne chhappan-bhog rakh diye gaye hon. Uske liye toh jaise kismat ki sabse badi lottery nikal aayi thi. Use ab na Pradhan ka darr tha, na Bhairavnath ka plan yaad tha. Uska pura wajood sirf Siyali ke badan se aati us halki perfume ki khushbu aur uski naram twacha ke ehsaas mein dooba hua tha. Usne Siyali ko thama toh "madad" ke bahane tha, par ab uski niyat use chhodne ki nahi thi. Bhiku hosh kho baitha tha, use lag raha tha ki wo is pal ka raja hai.
Lekin Bhiku apni hawas mein andha hokar ek bahut badi galti kar baitha. Siyali ko pakadne ki dhun mein usne pul ki purani rassi se apna hath hata liya tha. Siyali darr ke maare aage ki taraf jhuki hui thi, aur Bhiku uspar haavi hone ke liye thoda peeche ki taraf jhuk gaya tha. Uska pura santulan (balance) ab sirf us purane, sadi hui lakdi ke patre par tika tha jo kisi bhi waqt dhoka de sakta tha.
Par khel abhi baaki tha. Nahar ke dusri taraf, ghani jhaadiyon ki aad mein ek anjaan shaks khada tha. Uska chehra gusse se tamtama raha tha aur uski mutthi itni kas kar bheechi hui thi ki uske hath ki nasein saaf dikh rahi thin. Usne apne dusre hath mein ek gulel (slingshot) pakdi hui thi, jisme ek nokeela patthar fasa tha. Wo shaks kisi gusse mein bhare bhediye ki tarah Bhiku ko dekh raha tha, jaise wo Siyali ko chhu lene ki saza abhi ke abhi dene wala ho.
Bhiku ko khabar bhi nahi thi ki jis "lottery" ko wo apni zindagi ki sabse badi khushi samajh raha hai, wahi pal uske liye maut ka paigam banne wala hai. Us anjaan shaks ne gulel tani aur nishana bilkul sateek (perfect) lagaya.
"Madam ji, rasta thoda kachcha hai, sambhal kar chaliyega," Bhiku ne kaha, par uski nazrein Siyali ki phisalti hui sandal aur uske naram pairon par thin.
Siyali ne baahar khadi bike ki taraf ek nazar dali. Uska jee kiya ki keh de, "Bike se chalte hain, jaldi pahunch jayenge," par phir use Master ji ki yaad aayi. Master ji buzurg (elderly) hain, unke saath baithna alag tha, par Bhiku ki aankhon mein jo chamak thi, wo Siyali ko andar tak ghabra rahi thi. Usne socha paidal chalna hi safe hai, chahe dhoop kitni hi kyun na ho.
Bhiku ne jaan-bujhkar gaon ke mukhya raste ko chhod diya aur Siyali ko khetan ke beech se guzarne wali ek patli pagdandi par le aaya.
"Bhiku ji, ye rasta toh bahut sunsaan hai? Kya hum galat ja rahe hain?" Siyali ne rukte hue pucha. Uske mathe par pasine ki nanhi boondein chamak rahi thin aur uski saans dhoop ki wajah se thodi tez chal rahi thi.
"Are nahi Madam, ye 'short-cut' hai. Sadak se jayenge toh poora gaon ghumna padega, dhoop mein aapka bura haal ho jayega," Bhiku ne jhoot bolte hue kaha. Asal mein ye rasta sadak se do-guna lamba tha aur charon taraf unchi-unchi sarpat (ghas) aur jhaadiyan thin.
Siyali ne aage badhna shuru kiya. Pagdandi itni patli thi ki dono saath-saath nahi chal sakte the. Bhiku jaan-bujhkar Siyali ke bilkul peeche-peeche chal raha tha. Chalte waqt jab Siyali ka badan thoda lachakta, toh Bhiku ki hawasi nigahein uske halke gulabi kurte ke peeche bheege hue nishaan dhoondti, jo garmi ki wajah se ban rahe the.
Achanak ek jagah rasta thoda uncha-nicha aaya. Siyali ka pair ek patthar se takraya aur wo ladkhadai.
"Sambhal ke Madam ji!" Bhiku ne lapak kar Siyali ki kohni (elbow) pakad li.
Siyali ko aisa laga jaise kisi ne garmi mein garam loha chhoo liya ho. Usne jhat se apna hath chhudaya. "Main thik hoon, shukriya."
Bhiku ne apne hath ki hatheli ko dekha, jahan abhi Siyali ki naram twacha ka ehsaas baaki tha. Usne ek gehri saans li, jisme Siyali ke paseene aur perfume ki mili-juli mehak ghis rahi thi. "Madam ji, aap itna darrti kyun hain? Main toh bas aapki madad kar raha hoon. Dekhiye, aapka dupatta bhi kanton mein phans gaya hai."
Siyali ne peeche mud kar dekha, uska dupatta ek jhaadi mein ulajh gaya tha. Wo use nikaalne ki koshish karne lagi, par Bhiku ne mouka dekh kar apna hath aage badhaya. Wo dupatta nikaalne ke bahane Siyali ke itne kareeb aa gaya ki Siyali ko uski garam saansein apni gardan par mehsoos hone lagin.
Siyali ne ek gehri saans li, lekin uski saans ke saath Bhiku ke sir ke saste chameli tel aur uske pasine ki teekhi badbu uske dimag ko chakrane lagi. Garmi itni thi ki Siyali ke gore mathe se pasine ki boondein phisal kar uske honthon tak aa rahi thin. Uska cotton ka gulabi kurta ab uske badan se chipakne laga tha, jo uske sharir ki banawat ko aur bhi ubhaar raha tha.
"Madam ji, laaiye main nikaal deta hoon, aapka naram hath chhil jayega," Bhiku ne phusphusate hue kaha. Uska lehja itna "apnapan" bhara tha ki koi bhi dhoka kha jaye, par uski aankhein kahin aur thin.
Siyali jaise hi dupatte ko kante se alag karne ke liye thoda aur aage jhuki, uske kurte ka gala thoda aur khul gaya. Bhiku ki nigahein toh jaise isi mauke ki talash mein thin. Upar se tapakti dhoop mein Siyali ki gori rangat aur un "ubhron ki darar" se behta pasina dekh kar Bhiku ka mann machal utha. Use aisa laga jaise wo koi khila hua gulab dekh raha ho jise dhoop ne aur bhi naram kar diya hai.
Bhiku ne madad ke bahane apna hath aage badhaya. Usne jaan-bujhkar kante nikaalte waqt apni ungliyan Siyali ki peeth par touch kin. Siyali ko laga jaise koi zehrila keeda uspar reng gaya ho. Usne jhatke se apna badan peeche khincha.
"H-ho gaya Bhiku ji! Rehne dijiye, main kar lungi," Siyali ne ghabra kar kaha. Uska chehra dhoop aur ghabrahat ki wajah se ekdum tamtama kar laal ho gaya tha, bilkul kisi guriya ki tarah.
Bhiku mann hi mann badbadaya, "Haye re kismat! Kya naram badan paya hai... abhi toh sirf chhua hai, toh itna garam hai. Jab haveli pahunchegi aur Pradhan ji iska ras nichodenge, tab kya hoga? Par Pradhan ji se pehle, is raste mein thoda maza toh main bhi lekar rahunga."
Usne ek kutil muskan ke saath Siyali ki taraf dekha, jo ab apna bag sambhalti hui tezi se aage badhne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Uski chal mein jo lachak thi, wo Bhiku ki hawas ko aur bhadka rahi thi. Siyali ka dhyan college ki file par tha, par Bhiku ka dhyan is baat par ki agla sunsaan mod kab aayega.
"Madam ji, thoda dhire! Aage rasta aur bhi kharab hai," Bhiku ne peeche se aate hue kaha, aur is baar usne tezi se chalkar Siyali ke itne paas jagah bana li ki uska kandha Siyali ke baazu se baar-baar ragad kha raha tha.
Siyali tezi se aage badh rahi thi, uski sandal ki 'chat-chat' ki awaaz un sunsaan pagdandiyon mein goonj rahi thi. Uska pura dhyan college pahunchne par tha, par uske peeche chal raha Bhiku kisi aur hi dhun mein tha. Woh dekh raha tha ki kaise garmi aur tezi se chalne ki wajah se Siyali ke gulabi kurte par pasine ke nishaan gahre hote ja rahe hain. Siyali jab thodi door nikal gayi, toh Bhiku thoda peeche reh gaya—jaan-bujhkar, taaki woh door se uske chalne ke lachakdar andaz ko nihar sake. Par jab use laga ki faasla zyada ho raha hai, toh woh tezi se kadam badhata hua Siyali ke bilkul nazdeek pahunch gaya.
Chalte-chalte rasta achanak badal gaya. Patli pagdandi khatam hui aur Siyali ek aise khule khet mein pahunch gayi jahan door-door tak sirf dhoop ki tapan aur sookhi ghas thi. Siyali wahan ruk gayi, uska sir chakrane laga. Use ehsaas hua ki wo gaon ke us hisse mein aa gayi hai jahan ka manzar office se bilkul alag tha.
"Main kahan aa gayi? Kya mujhe office se nikalna bhi chahiye tha?" Siyali ne mann hi mann khud ko kosa. Use apna faisla galat lagne laga tha.
Abhi wo ye soch hi rahi thi ki achanak use apne kaan ke paas ek garam saans mehsoos hui. Bhiku itni khamoshi aur itni nazdeeki se uske peeche aa khada hua tha ki Siyali buri tarah chaunk gayi. Bhiku ke hoth uske kaan ke itne paas the ki agar wo zara sa mudti toh wo use chhoo lete.
"Kya hua Madam ji? Ruk kyun gayi?" Bhiku ki awaaz mein ek ajeeb si khurkhurahat thi, jaise wo Siyali ki ghabrahat ka maza le raha ho. Uske chehre se chameli ke tel aur pasine ki wo bhari badbu ab Siyali ka dum ghont rahi thi.
Siyali ne turant do kadam aage badh kar faasla banaya. Uska chehra darr aur dhup se laal ho raha tha. "Bhiku ji, yahan se aage kahan jana hai? Kuch dikh hi nahi raha... college kitni door hai?" usne ghabrate hue pucha. Wo bechari toh imandari se kaam karne nikli thi, par use kya pata tha ki har mod par uske liye ek jaal bichha hai.
Bhiku ne ek gandi muskan di aur apne hothon par zabaan pheri. "Arre darrne ki koi baat nahi Madam ji! Gaon mein raste aise hi hote hain, kabhi khet toh kabhi jhaadiyan. Chaliye aage, rasta bhi mil jayega aur college bhi dikh jayega."
Mann hi mann Bhiku ne socha, "Rasta toh main bhatka hi chuka hoon, ab college nahi, sirf maza dikhega meri pyari Madam ji!"
Siyali ne ek baar phir un khule kheton ki taraf dekha jahan dhup ki wajah se sab kuch dhundhla lag raha tha. Usne himmat jutayi aur aage badhna shuru kiya. Bhiku uske peeche-peeche chal raha tha, uski nazrein Siyali ke har ek move par aisi gadi thin jaise koi shikaari apne shikaar ko dekh raha ho.
Dono thodi door aur chale honge ki achanak Siyali ke kadam thithak gaye. Saamne ek purani nahar thi—gehra paani aur unche kinare. Siyali ko ehsaas hua ki agar aage jana hai, toh is nahar ko har haal mein paar karna hi hoga. Usne nahar ke matti wale kinare aur paani ki lehron ko dekha, aur uska dil zor-zor se dhadakne laga.
Siyali ne apne hath se suraj ki roshni ko rokne ki koshish ki. Saamne ek purani nahar thi, jisme paani ka bahaw toh kam tha, par uske upar bana wo patla sa lakdi ka pul (bridge) dekh kar Siyali ki jaan nikal gayi. Do-teen purane lakdi ke patre (planks) ek-doosre se bandhe hue the, jo shayad kisi bhi waqt toot sakte the.
"Bhiku ji, kya humein ise paar karna hoga? Ye toh bahut khatarnak lag raha hai," Siyali ne darrte hue pucha. Uska badan garmi aur thakan se toot raha pha, aur ab ye nahar uske liye ek imtihan ban gayi thi.
Bhiku ne ek gehri saans li, uski nazrein Siyali ke chehre se niche utar kar uske un gori tangon par rukin jo chalne ki wajah se kurte ke niche se thodi nazar aa rahi thin. Usne socha, "Yahi mauka hai... yahan koi dekhne wala nahi hai."
"Ghabraiye mat Madam ji, main hoon na. Aap bas mera hath pakad lijiye, main aapko paar karwa dunga," Bhiku ne apna ganda, pasine se lathpath hath Siyali ki taraf badhaya.
Siyali ne ek pal ke liye uske hath ko dekha. Use uske hath se aur uski aankhon se darr lag raha tha, par peeche mudne ka rasta ab bohot lamba ho chuka tha. Usne apne bag ko kas ke pakda aur dhire se apna naram hath Bhiku ke sakht hath mein thama diya.
Jaise hi Siyali ka hath Bhiku ke hath mein aaya, Bhiku ke jism mein ek current sa daud gaya. Usne Siyali ki nazuk ungliyon ko zarurat se zyada zor se dabaya. Siyali ne dard se apni aankhein band kar lin.
"Bhiku ji... zor se lag raha hai," Siyali ne dhire se kaha.
"Are Madam, gir jayengi isliye kas ke pakda hai," Bhiku ne kutil muskan ke saath kaha. Wo Siyali ko pul ke beech mein le gaya. Pul hil raha tha aur Siyali ka santulan (balance) bigadne laga. Darr ke maare Siyali ne Bhiku ka kandha pakad liya.
Bhiku ko toh jaise jannat mil gayi. Usne is mauke ka fayda uthaya aur Siyali ko "sambhalne" ke bahane uske kamar ke niche apne hath ko tika diya. Siyali ka badan kaanp utha. Usne mehsoos kiya ki Bhiku ka hath uske dupatte ke niche se uski kamar ki naram twacha ko chhu raha hai.
"Chhodiye mujhe! Main khud chal sakti hoon," Siyali ne gusse aur darr mein chillaya, par pul par pair phisalne ki wajah se wo Bhiku ke aur kareeb gir gayi. Uska seena Bhiku ke sakht seene se takraya, aur kuch palon ke liye unki saansein ek-doosre mein ulajh gayi.
Bhiku ne mauka dekh kar Siyali ke kaan ke paas phusphusaya, "Madam ji, itni jaldi kya hai? Abhi toh college bohot door hai... aur yahan hum dono ke siwa koi parinda bhi nahi hai."
Nahar ke beechon-beech, us lachile aur purane lakdi ke pul par waqt jaise tham gaya tha. Siyali, jo hamesha apne usoolon aur maryada mein rahi, aaj ek aise mod par thi jahan uska naram badan ek gair mard ki bahon ke behad qareeb tha. Usne apni aankhein kas kar band kar rakhi thin, maano aankhein band karne se ye darawna pal khatam ho jayega. Uske gore mathe se pasine ki ek boond phisal kar uske gulaabi hothon ki kor tak pahunch gayi thi, aur halki hawa se uske bheege baalon ki ek lat uske chehre par lehra rahi thi.
Siyali ke liye ye sparsh naya aur ashant (disturbing) tha. Wo "kamukta ki raani" jise shehar ke bade-bade gharon ke ladke sirf door se niharne ki hasrat rakhte the, aaj Bhaypura ki ek sunsaan nahar par ek saste chameli tel ki badbu wale naukar ke itne qareeb thi. Uska dil darr ke maare aise dhadak raha tha jaise pinjre mein qaid koi chidiya. Agar pul na lachakta, agar uski sandal na phisalti, toh wo Bhiku ka kandha chhu leti—ye usne sapne mein bhi nahi socha tha.
Udhar Bhiku ki halat aisi thi jaise kisi bhookhe ke samne chhappan-bhog rakh diye gaye hon. Uske liye toh jaise kismat ki sabse badi lottery nikal aayi thi. Use ab na Pradhan ka darr tha, na Bhairavnath ka plan yaad tha. Uska pura wajood sirf Siyali ke badan se aati us halki perfume ki khushbu aur uski naram twacha ke ehsaas mein dooba hua tha. Usne Siyali ko thama toh "madad" ke bahane tha, par ab uski niyat use chhodne ki nahi thi. Bhiku hosh kho baitha tha, use lag raha tha ki wo is pal ka raja hai.
Lekin Bhiku apni hawas mein andha hokar ek bahut badi galti kar baitha. Siyali ko pakadne ki dhun mein usne pul ki purani rassi se apna hath hata liya tha. Siyali darr ke maare aage ki taraf jhuki hui thi, aur Bhiku uspar haavi hone ke liye thoda peeche ki taraf jhuk gaya tha. Uska pura santulan (balance) ab sirf us purane, sadi hui lakdi ke patre par tika tha jo kisi bhi waqt dhoka de sakta tha.
Par khel abhi baaki tha. Nahar ke dusri taraf, ghani jhaadiyon ki aad mein ek anjaan shaks khada tha. Uska chehra gusse se tamtama raha tha aur uski mutthi itni kas kar bheechi hui thi ki uske hath ki nasein saaf dikh rahi thin. Usne apne dusre hath mein ek gulel (slingshot) pakdi hui thi, jisme ek nokeela patthar fasa tha. Wo shaks kisi gusse mein bhare bhediye ki tarah Bhiku ko dekh raha tha, jaise wo Siyali ko chhu lene ki saza abhi ke abhi dene wala ho.
Bhiku ko khabar bhi nahi thi ki jis "lottery" ko wo apni zindagi ki sabse badi khushi samajh raha hai, wahi pal uske liye maut ka paigam banne wala hai. Us anjaan shaks ne gulel tani aur nishana bilkul sateek (perfect) lagaya.
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