Misc. Erotica सम्मान और बदला: Hindi Version Of Honor and Vengeance

[Deepak.kapoor]

Sher ki Hawas Bhari Deewangi

 
 
Sher ka vyaktitva pehli nazar mein ek saadhaaran, mehnati Bharatiya grihasth jaisa lagta tha—ek aisa aadmi jo kadi dhoop mein kaam karke apna rang saanvla kar chuka ho.
 
Uske lambai 5'9" inch thi, jo use mazboot aur dabang kad-kaathi deti thi. Umra kareeb 40 varsh. Uski aankhein gehri aur kaali thheen. Ye aankhein Meera ko dekhkar chamak uthti thheen, lekin duniya ke saamne woh hamesha jhuki rahtein—ek wafadaar naukar ka naqaab odhe hue.
 
Jab Sher ne pehli baar Sartaj Singh ke ghar ki dehleez par kadam rakha, toh uske mann mein sirf badla tha. Woh sochta tha ki woh Sartaj ki patni Meera ko bas dekhega, uski kamzoriyan talashenga, aur phir Shankar bhai ke adhoore waade ko poora karega.
 
Lekin jaise hi uski nazar Meera par padi, sab kuch badal gaya. Shankar bhai ne Meera ki khoobsurati ke kisse sunaye thhe—uski woh reshmi tvacha, woh sudaul jism, woh aankhein jo kisi ko bhi mohit kar dein. Lekin haqeeqat usse kahin zyada jvalant thi. Meera garbhvastha ke teesre mahine mein thi, aur uska badan ab pehle se zyada bhara-bhara lag raha tha—ek aisi paripakva sundarta jo kisi bhi mard ki ragon mein aag laga de.
 
Meera living room ke beechon-beech khadi thi. Uski lambai 5'6" inch. Uska chehra gora aur chamakdar tha, honth gulabi aur poore, aankhein badi aur abhivyanjak—jinmein ek maasoomiyat thi jo uske aatmavishvas se jhalakti thi.
 
Usne gehre neele rang ki reshmi saree pehni thi, jo uske badan par aise lipti hui thi jaise kisi ne uske har curve ko naapkar sil di ho. Saree ko usne apni patli lekin ab thodi bhari kamar par neeche baandha tha, jisse uski naabhi ka woh gehra gaddha halka sa jhaank raha tha. Pet ka woh halka ubhaar—garbhvastha ki wajah se—use aur bhi zyada aakarshak bana raha tha, jaise koi paka hua phal jo chhoone ki prateeksha kar raha ho.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: (Use upar se neeche tak nihaarte hue, apni sookhi laar nigalte hue) 'He Bhagwan... ee ka dekh rahe hain hum? Shankar bhai ne sach hi kaha tha ki ee mehararu (aurat) naahin, saakshaat apsara hai. Lekin ye toh aag ki lapat hai! Ye kamar... ye naabhi... jaise kisi ne makkhan se tarasha ho. Aur ye ubhaar... uff! Mann karta hai abhi daboch loon, choos loon, kaat loon.'
Meera ka jism poori tarah sudaul tha, ek sakriya jeevanshaili ki wajah se usmein ek kasaav tha, lekin phir bhi ek aisi komalta thi jo use aur bhi zyada lubhavna bana rahi thi.
 
Uske stan ab pehle se zyada bhare hue thhe, blouse mein qaid lekin kisi bhi pal baahar aane ko betaab. Koohle gol aur bhaari, jo chalte samay ek maadak lay mein thirakte thhe. Uski jaanghein mazboot lekin mulayam, jaise resham ki partein. Poora badan ek kaamuk moorti ki tarah tha—jise dekhkar kisi bhi mard ki saansein tez ho jayein.
 
Meera: (Awaaz mein ek mithaas aur adhikaar liye) "Toh tumhara naam Sher hai? Chandan ne tumhare baare mein bahut tareef ki thi. Umeed hai tum is ghar ki zimmedari acche se nibhaoge."
 
Sher: (Nazrein jhukakar, lekin tirchi nazar se uske pallu se jhaankte stanon ko taadte hue) "Ji memsaab... hum toh bas ek adna sa naukar hain. Aapki seva hi hamara naseeb hai."
 
Uske mann mein uthal-pukhal thi—woh kalpana kar raha tha ki kaise woh Meera ko apni baahon mein jakad le, uske honthon ko choome, uske badan ko noche.
 
Sartaj: (Gambheerta se) "Dekho Sher, Chandan mera purana saathi hai. Ab jab tak woh theek nahi hota, is ghar ki suraksha aur vyavastha ki kamaan tumhare haath mein hai. Meera ki haalat tum dekh hi rahe ho, use kisi bhi cheez ki kami nahi honi chahiye. Jyoti ka khayal rakhna, aur ghar ke saare kaam sambhalna."
 
Meera: (Muskurate hue) "Sher, tum bas rasoi aur bazaar ka khayal rakhna. Baaki  kaam mein dheere-dheere dekh loongi, par haan, Jyoti ka dhyaan sabse pehle aata hai."
 
Sher ne badi vinamrata se sir jhukaya, lekin uske mann mein toofan tha.
 
Sher darasal Shankar ka sautela bhai hai. Yeh wahi Shankar hai jisne Meera aur uski nanad Riya ke jeevan ko blackmail ke zariye narak bana diya tha. Us waqt Meera ki shaadi Riya ke bhai Aarav se hui thi. Shankar ki dhamkiyon aur zillat se tang aakar Meera ne apne college ke puraane saathi Sartaj se madad maangi thi. Sartaj ne na keval Shankar ka ant kiya, balki Meera ko us daldal se surakshit baahar nikala.
 
Jab Sartaj ne Shankar ko khatm kiya tha, toh usne we sabhi saboot, tasveerein aur yaadein bhi jalaakar khaak kar di thheen jinka istemaal Shankar blackmailing ke liye karta tha. Sartaj ko laga tha ki usne Meera ke ateet ke har kaante ko ukhaad phenka hai. Lekin woh 'Sher' naam ke us kaante ko bhool gaya jo ab uske hi ghar ke bageeche mein ug aaya tha.
 
Yahi kaaran hai ki Sher ke dil mein Sartaj ke prati pratishodh aur Meera ke prati ek hinsak adhikaar ki bhavna jal rahi hai.
 
Shankar ne marte waqt Sher se ek waada kiya tha—ki jab woh Meera ke jism se apna mann bhar lega, toh woh use Sher ke hawale kar dega. Ab Shankar toh nahi raha, lekin Sher us 'waade' ko poora karne ke liye Sartaj ke ghar mein ek saaye ki tarah ghus aaya hai.
 

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Sher ke Mann ki Kadwahat
 
Jab Meera kamre se baahar gayi, Sher wahin khada use jaate hue ghoorta raha. Uske dimaag mein puraani yaadein taaza ho gayeen.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: (Daant peeste hue) 'Sartaj Singh... toone mere bhai ko maarkar socha ki too jeet gaya? Aaj too vardi pehen ke jis aurat ki hifazat ka dam bharta hai, woh mere bhai ki amanat thi. Shankar bhai ne kaha tha ki ek baar woh isse khel lein, phir ye meri hogi. Toone use maar diya, par us waade ko main aaj bhi seene se lagaye baitha hoon. Meera... teri ye bhari hui deh, ye sooje hue stan, ye thirakte koohle—sab mera haq hai. Main tujhe tadpa-tadpa ke bhogoonga, teri jaanghon ke beech ki woh garmaahat chakhoonga, aur Sartaj ki aankhon ke saamne teri khushiyan chheen loonga. Too sirf ek khilona hai—mera khilona.'
 
Usne apni saanvli hatheliyon ko dekha, jo Meera ke reshmi badan ko chhoone ke liye tadap rahi thheen. Woh kalpana karta ki kaise woh apni ungliyan Meera ki naabhi mein duboyega, uske stanon ko masalte hue dabayega, aur uske honthon ko kaatte hue choosega. Uski saansein tez ho gayeen, aur neeche ka tanaav asahniya.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: (Andhere kone mein khada hokar Meera ko door se dekhte hue) 'Sartaj Singh... toone socha ki toone sab kuch jala diya? Woh kaagaz, woh tasveerein... sab raakh ho gayeen? Par ee dimaag mein jo aag toone lagayi hai, use kaise bujhayega? Shankar bhai ki woh aakhiri baatein aaj bhi mere kaanon mein goonjti hain. Unhone kaha tha—"Sher, ye aurat sona hai, bas ise tapan aana chahiye." Toone unhe maar diya, par unki hawas ab meri ragon mein daud rahi hai.'
 

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Sher ne ab us ghar mein apni jagah poori tarah se pakki kar li thi, lekin wafadaar naukar ka chola ab bas ek dikhava tha. Uske andar ka jaanvar har din aur zyada belagaam hota ja raha tha.
 
Meera ka woh bharta hua jism... us jism ne Sher ki raaton ki neend haraam kar di thi aur din mein bhi bas usi ke khayal uski nason mein khoon ki tarah daudte thhe.
 
Ek din rasoi mein Sher bartan dho raha tha, jab Meera dheemi gati se paas se guzri. Sher ne sir jhukaya, lekin tirchi nazar se uske pairon se lekar koohlon tak sab naap liya.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: (Uski thirakti chaal dekhte hue, apni jeebh se honth chaatte hue) 'Arre rabba... kya cheez ban gayi hai ye memsaab. Pehle toh bas ek aurat thi, ab toh jalti hui aag hai. Deh maans se bhar gayi hai, jaise paka phal daal se tootne wala ho. Ye koohle... uff, itne gol, itne bhaari—chalte samay woh matak, woh lay... mann karta hai peechhe se pakad loon, daba doon, aur apni kamar se sata loon.'
 
Meera ruk gayi aur ek bartan uthane ke liye jhuki. Sher ki saansein tham gayeen. Blouse ke gale se uske stanon ki gehri lakeer jhaank rahi thi—bhaari, gol ubhaar jo garbhvastha se sooje hue thhe. Woh kisi bhi pal blouse faadkar baahar aane ko taiyaar lagte thhe.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: 'Khaaskar iske... uff! Ye phate hue ubhaar! Jab ye chalti hai toh woh bhi saath-saath jhoolte hain... ek madhosh kar dene wali lay mein. Aisa lagta hai jaise koi pake hue phal... bas chhoone bhar ki der hai.'
 
Meera: (Sahajta se) "Sher, tumne Jyoti ko doodh pila diya?"
 
Sher: "Ji, memsaab. Bitiya rani toh pet bhar ke doodh peeke ekdam ghode bechkar so rahi hain. Aap fikar na kariyo, hum hain na sab samhaalne ke liye."
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: (Uski gehri saanson ke saath upar-neeche hote uske seene ko ghoorte hue) 'Haan memsaab! Bitiya ko toh pila diya, par ab hamri baari hai. Ee jo doodh se bhare kalash liye dol rahi ho na, bas mann karta hai ki yahin dhar dabochoon. Kaleja moonh ko aa jaata hai dekh ke! Bas kuch din aur... phir ee badan par hamra haq hoga. Ee chhaati ka doodh ab hum piyenge... aur tab tak piyenge jab tak tumhari jaanghon ke beech se shehad na tapakne lage.'
Meera ne paas khade Sher ko dekha, uski namrata par halki si muskan di. Sher phir se apne kaam mein jut gaya, lekin uske haath ab kaanp rahe thhe, aur uski aankhen jal rahi thheen.
 
Jab woh tezi se chalti toh saree ke neeche unki thirkan saaf pata chalti. Sher ki bhookhi nazrein sab dekhti thheen—ye sirf khoobsurati nahi thi, ye paka hua phal tha. Aur pake hue phal ko..."chakhne ke liye hi toda jaata hai."
 
Aur uske koohle... pehle kahan itne thhe! Ab toh unmein gajab ka ubhaar tha. Gol, gehre, aur saree mein se jhaankte thhe.
 
"Iska kamar ka har mod... har jhatka... kasam se, imaan diga deta hai. Ye aurat ab paap ban chuki hai mere liye."
 
Saree toh uske jism par aise chipki rehti thi maano darzi ne badan par hi sil di ho. Har utaar-chadhaav ko aise dikhaati thi jaise poori duniya ko daavat de rahi ho. Aur jab woh matakti hui aage chalti, toh Sher ki duniya bas uske thirakte koohlon par aakar tik jaati thi.
 
Woh matak... woh jaan-boojhkar chalti hui qaatil lay.
 
"Roz dekhta hoon... roz jalta hoon... par ye aankhein hain ki hatti hi nahi."
 
Uska gala sookh jaata, haath bhinchkar mutthiyan ban jaate, aur dimaag mein bas gande-gande khayal chakkar kaatte. Usne uske jism ki banavat ko apni aankhon mein qaid kar liya tha aur uski garmaahat ko mehsoos karne ke khvaab dekhta tha.
 
"Ek baar... bas ek baar woh jism mere saamne khul jaye..."
 
Raaton mein wahi tasveer uska peechha nahi chhodti thi—uska woh naram, phaila hua badan usse aakar sat jaye... use apni aagosh mein bhar le.
 
Yahan tak ki uski mehek bhi badal gayi thi. Mitti jaisi. Nasheeli. Ekdam tez.
Jab woh paas se guzarti toh woh tray pakadne, darwaza kholne ya parda theek karne ke bahaane uski mehek ko apni saanson mein kheench leta tha. Lekin andar hi andar, uske sabra ka baandh ab tootne laga tha.
 
"Haath chhoo jaye bas ek baar... ya us ubhaar ke paas jaakar ruk jaye... toh sach aur khayal mein koi fark hi nahi bachega."
 
Woh ab had se bahut aage nikal chuka tha. Aur ye baat woh khud bhi jaanta tha.
 
Apni haalat ki wajah se, Meera aksar apni takleefon mein itni uljhi rehti ki use Sher ki gadi hui nazron ka ehsaas hi nahi hota tha. Woh use tab ghoorta tha jab woh nahi dekh rahi hoti, uski aankhen Meera ke jism ke har mod ko naapti thheen.
 
Uske stan, uske koohle, aur uske pet ka woh halka sa ubhaar... ye sab milkar uske andar ek junoon ko aur bhadka rahe thhe. Lekin duniya ki nazron mein, Sher abhi bhi ek wafadaar aur imaandaar naukar ka naqaab pehne hue tha, aur apni asli niyat aur hawas ko badi safai se chhipaye hue tha.
 
Ab Sher ko samajh mein aane laga tha ki uska bhai, Shankar, Meera ke peechhe itna pagal kyon tha. Shankar ne kahaaniyon se zyada kuch aur bhi chhoda tha... usne Sher ko Meera ki kuch puraani tasveerein bhi bheji thheen. Unmein saree mein lipti uski tasveerein bhi thheen, jinmein woh kisi apsara se kam nahi lag rahi thi.
 
Lekin Shankar ne kahin se ek aur tasveer ka jugaad kar liya tha, ek aisi tasveer jismein woh bas apni choli-panty mein thi. Sher ne un tasveeron ko sambhaal kar rakha tha, aur ab har raat kothi se lage apne kamre mein unhe ghoorta rehta tha.
 

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Ek shaant shaam, deevan-khaane mein Meera ghutnon ke bal baithi thi, ek neechi sandookchi ke paas, kapdon ka dher chhaant rahi thi. Paas hi, Sher farsh par ponchha laga raha tha, jabki uski aankhen toh Meera ki har ek harkat par gadi hui thheen.
 
Woh badi befikri aur saadgi se aage ki ore jhuki, sandook mein gehre rakhe ek chaadar ko nikaalne ke liye.
 
Aur bas ek hi pal mein...
 
Sher ki saansein halaq mein hi atak gayeen. Meera ka pallu sarak gaya, aur blouse ke andar ka hissa aankhon ke saamne nanga ho gaya.
 
Uske stan—bhare hue, sooje hue, kisi devi ki moorat jaise—ekdam se saamne aa gaye.
 
Sher [Aantrik Pukaar]: 'Oh... rabba... ye sapna toh nahi hai! Ye sapna toh nahi hai!'
 
Sher jahan tha wahin jam gaya, haath mein ponchha dheela pad gaya. Uski aankhen phati ki phati reh gayeen. Uski saans halaq mein atak gayi, aur dil chhaati mein hathode ki tarah bajne laga.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: 'Itna sundar... itna bhara hua... itna asli... meri gandi soch se bhi kahin zyada!'
 
Woh saamne thhe. Garbhvastha ki wajah se sooje hue. Guroor se bhare hue. Us dheemi, dard bhari kashish ke saath neeche ki ore latke hue jo use pagal kar deti thi.
 
Lekin qayamat toh woh choochiyan thheen... woh do ubhaar jo uske blouse ki qaid se aazaad ho gaye thhe. Gehre surkh rang ki, jaise jungli ber pak gaye hon. Sakht... phooli hui... nok par ek tanaav tha, jise dekhkar hi zabaan sookh jaye. Aur unka halka sa neeche ki ore jhukaav... woh koi jhukaav nahi tha, woh ek daavatnama tha. Ek khaamosh pukaar thi.
 
Sher ke dimaag mein unki awaaz goonjne lagi.
 
Sher [Aantrik Samvad]: 'Ye toh bula rahi hain... aa... aa aur chhoo le mujhe... apni hatheliyon mein bhar le inka bojh... in sakht kaliyon ko apne honthon se chakh le...'
 
Uske dimaagi santulan ka dhaaga chatak kar toot gaya.
 
Sher [Aantrik Cheekh]: 'Ye nazara nahi... ye daavanal hai! Ye ek aisi aag thi jo baahar nahi, mere andar lagi thi! Meri rangon mein khoon nahi, khoulta hua lava daudne laga hota!'
 
Sher ka moonh hairat aur hawas se khula ka khula reh gaya... usne thook nigalne ki koshish ki. Saans jaise phephadon mein hi jam gayi thi.
 
Meera ne chaadar nikaali, aur pallu theek karte hue uthi. Woh Sher ki ore palti, uski mudra poori tarah se shaant aur sahaj thi.
 
Meera: (Uthte hue, shaanti se) "Sher, kya hua? Ponchha ruk kyon gaya?"
 
Sher ko jawab dene mein ek pal laga. Uski saansein abhi bhi tez thheen, aur aankhon mein us darshan ka jalta hua nishaan baaki tha.
 
Sher [Aantrik Vichar]: 'Haan! Ponchha ruk gaya hai, kyonki ab haathon ka kaam kuch aur karne ko tadap raha hai!'
 
Uski hatheliyon mein ek ajeeb si jhanjhanahat hone lagi, ek aisi meethi-meethi tadap ki bas... bas aage badhkar un dono bhare-bhare golon ko thaam le. Unka bojh mehsoos karein, unki garmi ko apni ungliyon mein sokh le, aur phir apne angoothe ko dheere-dheere un sakht choochiyon par phiraye jab tak woh aur tan na jaye. Woh us badan ko apne badan se lagaakar uska swaad lena chahta tha.
 
Ponchhe ka danda uske haath mein kaanp raha tha.
 
Meera: (Nazdeek aakar, thoda chintit hote hue) "Tum theek ho, Sher? Tumhare haath kaanp rahe hain. Tumhe shayad aaraam ki zaroorat hai."
 
Uske is nazdeek aane se Sher ka dimaag bhabhak utha. Uske dimaag mein ek kamzor si awaaz cheekhi, "Hat ja yahan se! Pagal ho gaya hai kya! Pakda jayega!"—lekin ek doosri, gehri aur taaqatvar awaaz ne phusphusaya:
 
Sher [Aantrik Samvad]: 'Bas ek baar chhoone se kya hoga... kisi ko pata nahi chalega... bas ek ungli...'
 
Woh saans nahi le paa raha tha. Kuch soch nahi paa raha tha. Use bas apni bhookh, apni hawas mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Uska auzaar uski moti pant ke kapde ko phaadne ke liye tadap utha. Woh dard kar raha tha, phadak raha tha, aur uski nok par hawas ki ek boond chamak rahi thi, jo us khurdure kapde mein jazb ho gayi. Woh apni is bekaboo tadap se lad raha tha ki bas ek kadam aage badh jaye... bas itna ki uski ungliyan us sunheri chamdi ko chhoo sakein...
 
Meera: (Ab chintit hokar, use dekhte hue) "Tum sach mein theek nahi lag rahe. Tum jao aur paani peekar aao. Main kisi aur ko bula loongi."
 
Meera ka dayalu sparsh use break lagaane par majboor kar gaya. Uske andar baithe shikaari ne phusphusaya:
 
Sher [Aantrik Phusphusahat]: 'Abhi nahi... shikaar hamesha sahi waqt par kiya jaata hai. Ye phal abhi ped par hai... ise todne ka maza tab hai jab ye khud teri god mein aakar gire.'
 
Sher ne ek gehri saans li, jisse uska chehra shaant dikhai de.
 
Sher: (Saamaanya hote hue) "Ji memsahab, main theek hoon. Bas... zara chakkar aa gaya tha. Main abhi balti mein paani badal kar aata hoon."
 
Woh tezi se muda aur balti uthane ke bahaane us kamre se lagbhag bhaag gaya, taaki us hawas ke toofan se kuch der ke liye door ho sake jisne use jakad liya tha.
 
Meera: (Swayam se, mann hi mann) 'Sher ko achanak kya hua? Woh itna khoya-khoya sa kyon lag raha tha? Chakkar aane ki baat toh keh raha tha, par uski aankhon mein woh kaisi ajeeb si chamak thi... jaise woh yahan hokar bhi kahin aur tha.'
 
Tabhi Meera ne mehsoos kiya ki kaam ke dauran uska bhaari pallu poori tarah kandhe se sarak gaya tha. Uski neeli bra aur uske ubhaaron ki gehraai saaf jhalak rahi thi. Uska dil dhak se reh gaya.
 
Meera: (Chehre par sharm ki laali daud gayi, hadbadi mein pallu ko vaapas theek karte hue) 'He Bhagwan! Mera pallu gir gaya tha kya... kya Sher ne dekh liya? Tabhi woh itna hadbada gaya tha? Of Meera! Tumhe apni haalat ka khayal rakhna chahiye tha. Par woh toh bechaara seedha-saadha naukar hai, shayad sharm ke maare hi wahan se bhaag khada hua.'
 
Kamre ke andar Meera ne ek lambi saans li.
 
Meera: (Khud ko samjhate hue) 'Shayad woh sach keh raha tha, garmi aur thakaan se use chakkar aa gaya hoga. Bechaara seedha-saadha naukar hai, kitna khayal rakhta hai mera. Mujhe aisi gandi baatein nahi sochni chahiye. Woh toh bas madad kar raha tha.'
 
Meera ki zindagi ab Sartaj ke ird-gird ghoomti thi. Sartaj—woh aadmi jisne use andhere se baahar nikala tha, jisne uske ateet ke har zakhm ko seecha tha, aur jisne use woh pyaar diya tha jo Meera ne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki use milega. Shaadi ke baad se Meera ka har pal Sartaj ke naam tha.
 
Uski aankhon mein Sartaj ki woh gehri, surakshit nazar thi. Uske sparsh mein woh suraksha thi jo Meera ko saalon baad mehsoos hui thi. Garbhvastha ke in mahinon mein Sartaj ka khayal aur bhi zyada tha—woh raat ko uske pair dabata, subah use chai banakar laata, aur har chhoti-chhoti baat par uski tareef karta. Meera ko lagta tha ki uski duniya ab poori ho chuki hai—ek pyaar karne wala pati, ek pyaari beti Jyoti, aur ab aane wala ye naya bachcha.
 
Meera ke liye Sher sirf ek naukar tha—ek bharosemand, mehnati madadgaar jise Chandan ne bheja tha, aur Sartaj ne ghar mein jagah di thi. Meera use dekhti thi toh bas ek muskan de deti—wahi muskan jo woh kisi bhi mehnati insaan ko deti. Kabhi-kabhi jab woh thak jaati, ya kamar dard karti, toh woh Sher se keh deti, “Sher, zara ye saaman utha do,” ya “bazaar se ye la do.” Aur Sher hamesha bina kisi shikayat ke kar deta. Meera ko accha lagta ki ghar mein ek aisa aadmi hai jo itni aasaani se kaam sambhaal leta hai. Woh sochti, ‘Bechaara kitna mehnati hai. Chandan ne sahi kaha tha—ye bharosemand hai.’
 
Raat ko jab Sartaj ghar lauta, Meera ne use gale lagaya. Sartaj ne uske pet par haath rakha, bachche se baat ki, aur Meera ki kamar sehlaate hue kaha,
 
Sartaj: “Aaj kaisi rahi tum?”
 
Meera: (Muskurate hue, Sartaj ke seene se lagkar) “Bahut acchi. Sher ne aaj Jyoti ko acche se sambhaala. Bechaara din bhar kaam karta rehta hai. Tumne sahi chuna use.”
 
Sartaj ne hanskar kaha, “Haan, Chandan ne kaha tha woh imaandaar hai. Tumhe koi takleef nahi honi chahiye.”
 
Meera ne Sartaj ke honthon par halka sa chumban diya.
 
Meera ko andaaza bhi nahi tha ki woh Sher ke sabra ki us patli deewar ko dhahaane ke kitne kareeb aa gayi thi. Sher ke liye woh ab sirf ek yaad nahi, balki ek shikaar thi jise woh dheere-dheere apni baahon ke ghere mein kheench raha tha.