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

[Deepak.kapoor]

Agli subah ki woh sunhari dhoop Meera ke living room mein bichi hui thi. Meera sofa par baithi chai ki chuskiyan le rahi thi, lekin uska man kal ki us sihran mein hi atka hua tha.


Usne aaj ek maheen, halki hari chiffon ki saree pehni thi. Saree ka pallu kandhe par laparwahi se simta hua tha, jisse uske blouse ki tang fitting aur bhi ubhar kar aa rahi thi. Reshmi kapde ke neeche uske sudaul stanon ka ubhaar saaf jhalak raha tha, jo har saans ke saath dheere-dheere upar-neeche ho rahe the. Uski gardan par aayi halki si paseene ki boondein dhoop mein chamak rahi thin, aur kal ki ghatna ki yaad ne uske gaalon par ek geheri gulabi rangat bikher di thi.

Tabhi Sher kitchen se baahar aaya. Uske haath mein naashte ki tray thi, lekin uski bhookhi nazrein seedhe Meera ke jism ke un hisson par tiki thin jo saree ki maryada ko chunauti de rahe the.

Uski hatheliyon mein abhi bhi kal ka woh ehsas taza tha—Meera ke jism ki woh makhmali narmi aur uski dhadkanein. Sher ke chehre par ek kutil aur kaamuk muskan thi. Use pata tha ki aaj ki subah kal se bhi zyada 'khaas' hone wali hai, kyunki usne Meera ki chai mein chupke se dawa ki ek aur bhaari khuraak mila di thi. Woh dawa, jo dheere-dheere Meera ke khoon mein ghul rahi thi, uski jhijhak ko khatm kar uski nason mein ek anjaani aag phookne wali thi.

Sher: (Tray ko mez par dheere se rakhte hue) "Memsaab... aaj toh chehra subah-subah hi kisi Kashmiri seb jaisa laal ho raha hai. Raat ko neend theek se nahi aayi kya? Ya phir... khwabon mein bhi wahi cockroach nazar aa raha tha?"

Meera: (Nazrein jhukaye hue, apni chai ka ghoont bharte hue—wahi chai jismein nasha ghul chuka tha) "Sher... bas karo. Kal ki baat ko baar-baar mat chhedo. Main... main sach mein bahut sharminda hoon. Mujhe samajh nahi aaya ki main us waqt kya kar rahi thi."

Sher: (Thoda aur kareeb jhukkar, taaki woh Meera ke shareer ki khushbu aur uske blouse se jhaankti geheri daraar ko kareeb se dekh sake) "Are memsaab, sharmindagi kaisi? Woh toh bada hi... haseen pal tha. Ek nanha sa keeda aur aap sherni ki tarah cheekhkar seedhe mere seene se aa lagin. Sach kahoon toh, maine kabhi socha nahi tha ki itni badi memsaab ke andar itna darpok, lekin itna 'garam' aur pyaara bacha chipa hai."

Meera ne chai ka ek aur bada ghoont bhara. Use mehsoos hone laga ki kamre ka taapman achanak badh gaya hai. Uske sir mein ek halki si jhanjhanahat hone lagi. Usne apni nazrein upar uthain aur pehli baar Sher ko ek 'naukar' ki tarah nahi, balki ek hatte-katte, chaude kandhon wale mard ki tarah dekha.

Meera: (Aawaz mein ek ajeeb si tharahat ke saath) "Sher! Tum... tum had se baahar ja rahe ho. Woh bas ek darr ka pal tha... maine jaan-boojhkar kuch nahi kiya."

Sher: (apni aawaz ko aur bhi kaamuk banate hue) "Darr ka pal? Memsaab, aap toh mere badan se aise chipak gayi thin jaise koi bel ped se lipat jaati hai. Aapki woh kaampan... uff! Main toh darr gaya tha ki kahin aapka dil dhadak-dhadak kar mere seene ke paar na nikal jaye. Aur aapke woh... (Rukkar, apni nazrein Meera ke stanon par tikaate hue) Aapke woh raseele, bhaari ang... mere seene par aise dabe the jaise koi makhmali gaddiyan hon. Mujhe toh darr lag raha tha ki aapke us tang blouse ke hook kahin mera seena choote hi toot na jayein. Sach kahoon memsaab, kal ke baad se meri hatheliyon mein woh narmi abhi bhi mehsoos ho rahi hai..."

Dawa ka asar ab Meera par haavi hone laga tha. Use gussa aane ke bajaye Sher ki in ashleel baaton mein ek ajeeb sa maza aane laga tha. Use mehsoos hua ki uski choli ke andar uske ang sakht ho rahe hain.

Meera: (Kaampte haathon se apna chehra dhakte hue, uski saansein ab phoolne lagi thin) "Sher! Bas... bas karo ab! Yeh tum kaisi behki-behki baatein kar rahe ho? Sharm nahi aati tumhe apni memsaab se aisi baatein karte hue? Main... main us pal ko yaad karke hi mari ja rahi hoon aur tum..."

Sher: (Halke se hansa, woh Meera ke itna kareeb aa gaya ki uski garam saansein Meera ke gale ko choo rahi thin) "Are memsaab... ismein sharm kaisi? Main toh bas us haqeeqat ka shukraguzar hoon jo kal ghati. Us kambakht cockroach ka toh mujh par bada ehsan hai, warna mujh jaisa maamuli naukar... aapki is makhmali kaya ko choone ka khwab bhi kaise dekh paata? Us pal jab aap mujh par girin, toh laga jaise aasman se koi apsara seedhe meri baahon mein utar aayi ho."

Meera: (Uska chehra ab sharm se zyada us anjaani dawa ki garmi se tap raha tha. Usne uthne ki koshish ki, lekin Sher ki maujoodgi ne use sofa par hi jakad rakha tha) "Sher... ruk jao! Woh... woh bas ek hadsa tha. Tumne meri madad ki, uske liye shukriya... lekin yeh baatein... yeh jism ki baatein... please, mat karo. Mera jee ghabra raha hai."

Sher ne dekha ki Meera ki haalat ab badal rahi thi. Dawa apna kaam kar rahi thi.
Sher ki aankhein Meera ke chehre par tiki hui thin—uski laali, uski kaampti saansein, aur blouse mein ubhre hue chuchiyon ki woh golaai jo abhi bhi tez-tez upar-neeche ho rahi thi.

Sher ne ek pal ke liye apni chaal badli. Usne chehra thoda jhukaya, jaise woh apni 'gustakhi' par sharminda ho.

Sher: (Ekdam dheemi, tooti hui aur bhaari aawaz mein) "Maaf karna memsahib... main toh bas bhavnaon mein beh gaya tha. Sach toh yeh hai ki jab kal aap us tarah betahasha mere seene se lipat gayin... aapki woh garmi, woh khushbu... toh mujhe laga jaise do saal baad meri biwi meri baahon mein laut aayi ho. Main pardes mein kitna akela hoon, memsaab... ghar se door, aurat ke sukh se door... us pal aapki us sihran aur aapke badan ke us ubhaar ne mujhe ehsas dilaya ki koi apna hai mere paas."

Meera: (Apne kaanon par haath rakhte hue, jaise woh khud ko Sher ki baaton se bachana chahti ho, par uska shareer kuch aur hi chah raha tha) "Sher... please! Main... main yeh sab nahi sun sakti. Tumhe... tumhe apni had nahi bhoolni chahiye. Dekho meri haalat... main kitni sharminda hoon... bas karo..."

Woh ek pal ruka, phir aur naram hokar bola—

Sher: "Galti se... mere haath kahin galat jagah lag gaye hon... toh... maaf kar dena memsahib. Main... maine jaan-boojhkar kuch nahi kiya. Bas... aap itni dari hui thin… maine socha sahara doon… lekin... shayad meri taraf se galti ho gayi. Mujhe... mujhe maaf kar dijiye."

Usne sir aur neecha kar liya—jaise woh sach mein sharminda ho. Lekin uski aankhein chupke se Meera ki chuchiyon par, uski kamar par, uski kaampti jaanghon par phir rahi thin. Woh jaanta tha ki uski yeh "masoomiyat" Meera ke man mein aur zyada uljhan paida karegi.

Meera: (Abhi bhi kaampti hui, lekin ab thodi kam aawaz mein) "Sher... please... bas karo. Main... main samajh gayi. Woh hadsa tha. Tumne... tumne mujhe bachaya. Lekin... lekin ab yeh sab baatein... mat karo. Main... main bahut sharminda hoon."

Meera kamre se baahar nikalne hi wali thi ki Sher ne ek baar phir aawaz lagayi—dheemi.

Sher: (Ek hansi ke saath, uski nazrein Meera ke nitambon ke ubhaar par tiki thin) "Waise memsahib... ek baat toh sochiye. Agar Sartaj sahab ko yeh pata chal gaya ki unki nazuk aur saleekedar biwi ek maamuli cockroach se itna darti hai... ki woh khud ko sambhalne ke liye ek naukar ki baahon mein sama gayi? Woh bhi itni buri tarah chipakkar... ki unke beech hawa jaane ki bhi jagah nahi bachi thi... toh woh kya sochenge?"

Sher ke in shabdon ne Meera ke andar jaise ek dhamaka kar diya. Apmaan, hawas aur dawa ke nashe ka ek aisa sailaab umda ki uski aankhon mein paani bhar aaya.

Woh bijli ki tezi se mudi, uski hari chiffon ki saree ka pallu uske sudaul kandhe se sarak kar neeche gir gaya, jisse uske tang blouse mein qaid stanon ka ubhaar aur bhi nagnata se Sher ke saamne aa gaya.

Meera: (Gusse aur sharm se thartharaate hue, uski aawaz mein ek ajeeb si madakta thi) "Sher! Teri yeh majal! Ab... ab tu nahi bachega!"

Woh ek pagalpan ki sthiti mein Sher ki taraf jhapti. Uska chehra sindoori laal ho chuka tha aur bhaari saanson ke karan uska seena betahasha upar-neeche ho raha tha. Woh Sher ke bilkul kareeb pahunchi aur apne chhote-chhote, naram haathon se uski patthar jaisi sakht chaati par mukke barsane lagi.

Meera: (Paagalon ki tarah maarte hue, har prahaar ke saath uska shareer Sher ke aur kareeb khinch raha tha) "Tu... tu bahut zyada bol raha hai! Chup kar! Main... main tujhe kacha chaba jaungi! Sartaj ko sab bata dungi! Tu... tu meri garima ke baare mein aisi ashleel baatein kaise kar sakta hai! Neech... kamine!"

Uske komal mukke Sher ki chaudi aur baalon se bhari chaati par pad rahe the, lekin Sher ko dard nahi, balki ek jismani lazzat mehsoos ho rahi thi. Sher ne apne haath peeche baandh liye aur seena taankar khada ho gaya, taaki Meera ke haathon ka har sparsh use aur kareeb se mehsoos ho. Woh apni geheri, mardana aawaz mein dheeme-dheeme hans raha tha.

Sher: (Uski aankhon mein hawas ki aag dehak rahi thi) "Are memsahib... maariye... aur maariye! Aapke yeh makhmali haath jab mere seene ko choote hain, toh lagta hai jaise koi phool baras rahe hon. Aap gusse mein aur bhi zyada kayamat lagti hain."

Meera ab bekabu ho rahi thi. Woh Sher ke kandhon aur baahon par prahaar kar rahi thi, lekin uska apna shareer thakan aur nashe se dheela padta ja raha tha.

Har baar jab woh mukka maarti, uske blouse mein qaid uske bhaari stan ek hinsak lahar ki tarah uchalte, jisse Sher apni bhookhi nazron se pee raha tha. Saree ka kapda ab uske badan se lagbhag hat chuka tha, aur keval woh tang blouse hi uski maryada aur Sher ke beech khada tha.

Meera: (Haafte hue, thakawat se uski aawaz aur bhi bhaari aur geeli ho gayi thi) "Tu... tu shaitan ka bacha hai! Main... main sach mein Sartaj ko bata dungi... tu... tu mera mazak uda raha hai... tune mujhe chua... tune..."

Meera ke prahaar ab dheeme pad gaye the aur woh lagbhag Sher ke seene par dhahne wali thi. Dawa ke asar ne uske gusse ko ek bebas samarpan mein badalna shuru kar diya tha.

Sher ne ab dheere se uski dono kalai pakad liye—naram, lekin mazboot pakad mein. Woh use aur kareeb kheench laya—itna ki Meera ka badan phir se uske seene se lag gaya.

Sher: (Uski aankhon mein dekhte hue) "Memsahib... gussa mat kijiye. Main toh bas... aapki woh pyaari sharm dekh raha tha. Aur sach kahoon... aap jab gusse mein bhi itni khoobsurat lagti hain... toh mera dil aur tez dhadakne lagta hai."

Meera ne apne haath chudaane ki koshish ki—lekin Sher ki pakad mazboot thi. Uska chehra ab aur kareeb tha—uski saans Meera ke honthon par lag rahi thi. Meera ki aankhein chaudi ho gayin—gussa ab darr aur ek ajeeb si uttejna mein badal raha tha.

Sher: (Dheemi, geheri aawaz mein, lekin ab ek halki shararat ke saath) "Waise ek baat poochoon, memsahib... aap Sartaj sahab ko kya bataogi?"

Meera ek pal ke liye thithak gayi. Uski aankhein chaudi ho gayin. Woh samajh gayi ki Sher ne uski baat ko palat diya hai—ab woh khud uljhan mein pad gayi thi. Usne gusse se sir hilaya, lekin aawaz mein ab woh dridhta nahi thi.

Meera: (Haklaate hue, aawaz kamzor padti hui) "Main... main unhe sab bataungi... ki tu... tune mere saath... aisi... aisi baatein ki... ki... ki main... main..."

Sher ne Meera ki kalaiyon par apni pakad aur bhi pukhta kar li. Dawa ka asar ab Meera ke dimaag par poori tarah cha chuka tha.

Sher: (Ekdam kareeb aakar, apni aawaz ko dheema aur gehera banate hue) "Aur kya-kya bataogi memsahib? Kya yeh bhi bataogi ki ek chhote se keede ki wajah se aap is kadar meri baahon mein sama gayi thin..." (Bolte hue Sher ne achanak apna jism aage kiya aur Meera ko sataate hue apna poora bhaar uske naram badan par daal diya, theek waise hi jaise kal hua tha.)

Sher: "...ki aapki yeh ukhdi hui saansein meri gardan ko jhulsa rahi thin? Kya yeh bataogi ki aapke yeh raseele aur bhaari ang... (Sher ne jaan-boojhkar apna sakht seena Meera ki chuchiyon par ragda)... mere seene par dabkar is kadar sakht ho gaye the ki mujhe unki noke apni kameez ke paar mehsoos ho rahi thi? Jaise woh mujhe pukaar rahe hon?"

Meera ne ek geheri aah bhari, uska sir peeche ki ore jhuk gaya. Sher ruka nahi, usne apni ek taang Meera ki dono jaanghon ke beech phansa di, jisse Meera ki saree ka ghera tan gaya.

Sher: (Uski aankhon mein hawas ki aag jalate hue) "Kya Sartaj sahab ko yeh bataogi ki aapki yeh patli aur reshmi kamar... (Sher ne apni ek hatheli peeche le jakar Meera ke koolhon ke theek upar rakhi aur use apni ore zor se bheencha)... meri hatheliyon par kisi machli ki tarah fisal rahi thi? Aur jab mera haath galti se... (Usne apni taang ka dabaav Meera ki jaanghon ke beech badhaya)... aapki in gori raanon ke beech ke us garam hisse ko choo gaya tha, toh aap darr se nahi balki ek anjaani pyaas se kaamp rahi thin?"

Meera ka badan ab dawa aur Sher ki is harkat se poori tarah pighal chuka tha. Use samajh nahi aa raha tha ki woh Sher ko dhakka de ya use aur zor se thaam le.
"Aap yeh sab Sartaj sahab ko bataogi?"

Meera: (Rote hue, lekin gusse mein) "Bas kar... Sher... please... main... main Sartaj ko kuch nahi bataungi... lekin tu... tu ab yeh sab mat bol...."

Woh dheere se peeche hata.

Meera ka rom-rom dawa ke nashe aur Sher ke us zabardast sparsh se tharthara raha tha. Usne kaampte haathon se apni saree ka pallu sameta, lekin uski ungliyan itni bedam thin ki reshmi kapda baar-baar uske sudaul kandhe se fisal raha tha.

Sher: (Naram hokar) "Memsahib... sorry. Dil se maafi maangta hoon. Main toh bas... zara sa mazak kar raha tha. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki meri baatein aapke dil ko is kadar cheer dengi. Aap itna gussa mat hoiye… dekhiye, ab main zubaan par taala laga leta hoon."

Meera ke kadam bedroom ki taraf badh rahe the. Woh ruki, uski saansein ab bhi bhaari thin aur dawa ke karan uske chehre par ek ajeeb si laali aur aankhon mein halki khumari thi. Usne palatkar Sher ko dekha—uski nazron mein gussa toh tha, lekin woh ab us nashe ke aage ghutne tekh raha tha.

Sher: (Apni muskan ko thoda aur gehera karte hue) "Waise memsahib... agar bura na maane toh ek baat poochoon? Yeh cockroach wala darr... yeh kab se aapke is khoobsurat badan mein ghar kar gaya hai? Itni bahadur memsahib aur ek chhota sa keeda?"

Meera ne use ghoora, lekin us ghoorne mein ab woh sakhti nahi thi. Sher ki nazron ka jadoo aur chai mein ghula woh zeher use nidhaal kar raha tha. Usne paas ki diwar ka sahara liya, kyunki uske pair ab uska bojh uthane se inkar kar rahe the.

Meera: (Aankhein neechi karke, puraani yaad mein khokar) "Bachpan se... bachpan se hi darti hoon. Ek baar... ek baar do cockroach mere pairon par chadh gaye the. Main so rahi thi... raat ko... aur woh... woh meri taangon par daudne lage. Unki woh tez, thandi, chipchipi daud... pairon par... itni ghinauni... itni daravni... main cheekh padi thi. Maa aayi thi... lekin woh sansani... woh creepy feeling... aaj bhi yaad hai. Tab se... bas dekhte hi darr lag jaata hai."

Sher ne dheere se sir hilaya—jaise woh samajh raha ho.

Sher ne sir aur neecha kar liya—jaise woh sach mein bahut sharminda ho.

Sher: (Aawaz mein pachtawa aur masoomiyat ka mishran, sir jhukaye hue) "Memsahib... sorry. Sach mein sorry. Aap kaho toh main kaan pakad lehoon… sach mein. Asal mein main toh bas yeh baat phir se laana chahta tha... taaki aap mere baare mein koi galat feeling na rakhein. Kal aap achanak se meri baahon mein aa gayin… aur main... main kya karoon... aap ho hi itni khoobsurat ki koi murda hi hoga, jo react na kare. Phir main toh waise hi do saal se apni biwi se door hoon... akela... toh woh pal... woh garmahat... woh sparsh... mujhe laga jaise koi apna hai mere paas. Galti ho gayi... shayad mere haath kahin galat jagah lag gaye… lekin jaan-boojhkar nahi… main bas aapki madad karna chahta tha."

Woh ek pal ruka. Phir dheere se apna daayan kaan pakad liya—jaise bache college mein saza paate hain. Uski aankhein neechi thin, lekin chupke se Meera ke chehre par, uske kaampte honthon par, uske blouse mein ubhre hue chuchiyon par nazar daal raha tha.

Sher: (Kaan pakde hue, aawaz mein ab aur zyada masoomiyat) "Dekhiye... kaan pakad liya. Ab aap gussa mat kijiye. Main... main sach mein bahut sharminda hoon. Aap itni acchi hain... itni pyaari... . Bas... aap mere baare mein bura mat sochiye. Main... main aapka naukar hoon… aapki seva mein hoon."

Meera abhi bhi diwar se tiki hui thi. Uska chehra laal tha—sharm se, gusse se, aur ab ek ajeeb si uljhan se. Sher ki yeh "masoomiyat" use aur confuse kar rahi thi.

Meera: (Aawaz mein ab gussa kam, lekin sharm zyada) "Sher... tu... tu sach mein sharminda hai? Ya... ya phir yeh sab... mazak hai? Main... main samajh nahi paa rahi... tu... tu aise kyun bol raha hai?"

Sher ne kaan chhoda. Usne dheere se sir uthaya—ab uski aankhein Meera ki aankhon mein thin. Uski aawaz ab aur geheri, lekin abhi bhi "masoom" thi.

Sher: (Dheere-dheere, jaise koi raaz khol raha ho) "Memsahib... main mazak nahi kar raha. Main sach keh raha hoon. Do saal se main akela hoon... apni biwi ko chhua nahi... uske sparsh ko mehsoos nahi kiya. Kal... jab aap meri baahon mein aayin... aapka woh badan... woh garmahat... woh narmi... mujhe laga jaise... jaise meri biwi mere paas hai. Main... main insaan hoon... mard hoon. Aap itni khoobsurat... itni naram... itni garam... koi bhi mard react karega. Lekin maine... maine kuch galat nahi kiya. Bas... woh pal... woh mere liye bahut khaas tha. Agar aapko bura laga... toh sach mein sorry. Lekin... aapki woh sihran... woh kaampan... woh meri yaad mein qaid hai."

Meera ne aankhein band kar liin. Uske gaalon par aansu beh rahe the. Woh samajh nahi paa rahi thi—Sher ki baatein sach lag rahi thin... lekin saath hi bahut khatarnak bhi.

Meera: (Bahut kamzor, rote hue) "Sher... bas... ab mat bol... main... main samajh gayi. Mujhe akela chhod de."

Sher ne ek pal use dekha. Phir dheere se sir hilaya.

Meera apne bedroom mein dakhil hui aur kaampte haathon se darwaza band kar liya. Woh bistar ke kinare dhah si gayi. Dawa ka asar ab uske dimaag ke tarkon ko kuchal raha tha aur uske jism ki dabi hui aag ko sahanubhooti ki chadar odha raha tha.

Usne apna chehra haathon mein chhupa liya, lekin band aankhon ke peeche use Sher ka woh masoomiyat bhara chehra aur chauda seena hi nazar aa raha tha.

Meera (Aantarik samvaad): "He Waheguru... yeh mujhe kya ho gaya hai? Main kyun itni vichlit hoon? Sher... Sher ki baatein... woh baar-baar kaanon mein kyun goonj rahi hain? 'Do saal se biwi se door hoon'... 'Mard hoon'... haan, woh sach hi toh keh raha tha. Woh koi patthar toh nahi hai. Ek pardesi aadmi, apnon se door, aur main... main kal paagalon ki tarah uske badan se ja lipti. Meri chuchiyan uske seene mein dhans gayin, meri jaanghein uski jaanghon ki garmi mehsoos kar rahi thin... aur uska haath... (Meera ne ek geheri aur lambi saans li, uske stan blouse ke andar aur sakht ho gaye)… uska haath jo meri jaanghon ke beech ki us naazuk jagah ko choo gaya tha... woh yakeenan ek hadsa hi raha hoga."

Meera ne takiye ko zor se apne seene se laga liya. Jaise-jaise chai mein ghuli dawa apna rang dikha rahi thi, Meera ka shareer ek ajeeb si jung ladne laga tha.

Meera (Sisakte hue, Waheguru ko yaad karte hue): "Sacche Paatishah... mujhe raah dikhao. Main Sartaj se pyaar karti hoon... sau pheesadi karti hoon. Woh mere pati hain, mera sab kuch hain. Phir... phir mera yeh badan Sher ke kareeb jaate hi aise baagi kyun ho jaata hai? Kyun Sher ki us bhaari aawaz ko sunkar meri ragon mein lava behne lagta hai? Kyun jab woh mujhe choota hai—chahe woh galti se hi kyun na ho—toh mujhe ek aisi lazzat mehsoos hoti hai jo Sartaj ke saath bhi kabhi mehsoos nahi hui? Kya main itni gir gayi hoon? Nahi... main ek wafadaar patni hoon."

Meera bistar par let gayi aur khud ko takiye mein samet liya. Use mehsoos ho raha tha ki uski yoni aur jaanghon ke beech ek geelapan aur bhaaripan badhta ja raha hai.

Meera (Khud ko samjhaate hue): "Meera, tu bahut galat thi. Sher ek nek insaan hai. Usne Jyoti ka khayal rakha, ghar sambhala… Chandan ji ne us par bharosa kiya tha. Usne toh kaan pakad kar maafi bhi maangi. Woh gareeb aadmi apni majboori bata raha tha aur main use shaitan samajh baithi. Uska haath... woh bas mujhe girne se bacha raha tha. Ab main use galat nahi samajhungi. Woh bas ek madadgaar hai... ek akela mard, jise bas thodi si hamdardi chahiye. Mujhe use maaf kar dena chahiye."

Woh bistar par let gayi. Usne takiya gale se lagaya—jaise khud ko saantvana de rahi ho.

Baahar galiyaare mein Sher khada tha—darwaze ke paas. Usne sab suna tha. Uski muskan ab aur geheri ho gayi thi.

Sher [Aantarik samvaad, vijayi andaaz mein]: "Ab tu khud ko kos rahi hai... ab tu mujhe acha insaan samajh rahi hai... ab tera man mere khilaaf nahi ladega. Tune khud ko convince kar liya ki main nirdosh hoon... ki woh pal hadsa tha. Tera
 apradhbodh... teri sharm... teri yeh masoomiyat... sab mujhe aur kareeb la rahi hai. Jald hi... tu khud mere paas aayegi."

Woh dheere se muda aur kitchen ki taraf chala gaya—agli chaal ki taiyari mein.