04-04-2026, 07:14 PM
Chartered bus wedding ke bade bade venue par aa kar ruk gayi thi. Hum sab khushi khushi aur baatein karte hue utar gaye the – rishtedaar, dost, chachiyaan apni sabse achhi resham aur salwaar kameez mein, bachche taangon ke beech daudte hue.
Hawa mein uttejna ka mahaul tha, hall ke andar se door se dhol ki thap thap ki awaaz aa rahi thi. Aunty Najma, jo mummy ki community center ki sabse kareebi saheli thi aur hamesha sab kuch organize karne wali, ne mujhe turant dekh liya jab main ek buzurg chacha ko unki laathi sambhalte hue madad kar raha tha.
Woh jaldi se mere paas aa gayi, unka chamkila hara dupatta peeche lehraya ja raha tha jaise jhanda, unka gol chehra usi seedhe aur mazboot energy se chamak raha tha jo unke saath hamesha rehta tha.
“Arre beta,” unhone pyar se pukara, haath mere kandhe par rakh kar halke se dabate hue. “Bus mein tu bahut madad kar raha tha sabko apne mazaak se hasaate hue. Sun na, kya tu apni aunty ka ek bada upkaar kar sakta hai? Kuch aur mehman abhi side entrance se aa rahe hain aur gift wale tables ko ceremonies shuru hone se pehle jaldi se saaf suthra karna hai. Kuch bhari kaam nahi – bas haath bata de taaki sab kuch perfect dikhe. Tu mazboot aur bharosemand hai, bilkul tere papa ki tarah.”
Main unki taraf muskuraya aur bina jhijhake sir hila diya. Din toh pehle se hi lamba ho chuka tha, lekin yeh parivaar tha aur madad karna sahi lag raha tha. “Zaroor aunty Najma,” maine aaram se aur izzat se jawab diya. “Main khushi khushi karunga. Bas mujhe sahi disha bata do, main sab theek kar dunga.”
Unhone pyar se mera gaal thapthapaya, aankhein shukrguzari se chhoti ho gayi. “Yeh hai mera achha beta. Tu hamesha aage aata hai. Ja ab – andar milenge jab sab shant ho jaaye. Aur apni mummy ko bol aana, bus mein woh thodi thaki hui dikhi thi, lekin ab yahan aa kar theek ho jaayegi.” Yeh keh kar woh wapas mud gayi aur chhote cousins ke group ko direction dene lagi, unki hanssi badi hui bheed ki awaazon mein mil rahi thi.
Main unke kaha anusar side entrance ki taraf badha, lekin mere kadam turant dheeme pad gaye jab meri nazar courtyard ke us paar mummy par padi. Woh ek sajaaye hue mehraab ke paas baithi hui thi, apna halka baingani dupatta haath ki ek jhatak se theek kar rahi thi. Woh bahut sundar tha – nazuk chiffon jismein chaandi ka kaam laga tha jo dheemi roshni mein chamak raha tha – lekin woh bilkul sahi nahi baith raha tha.
Uski kaale baalon ki kuch lattein nikal aayi thi, gardan ke side par dheere se latak rahi thi aur uske chehre ko aise frame kar rahi thi jo… jaan bujh kar lag raha tha. Bigda hua nahi, lekin woh saadhaaran aur sharmili covering bhi nahi thi jo woh family functions mein hamesha karti thi. Aur uska libaas – woh baingani salwaar kameez toh kuch aur hi tha.
Kapda uske shareer ko sundar tareeke se lapet raha tha, kameez ke gale aur aasteenon par halka sone ka kaam tha, rang itna gehra aur chamkila tha ki uski chamdi chamakte hue gulabi lakdi ki tarah dikhti thi. Yeh zabardast tha, traditional lekin bahut achha lagne wala libaas jo bina koshish ke logon ka dhyan khinchta tha, mauke ke hisaab se sharmila tha lekin aaj kuch khas attraction se bhara hua lag raha tha.
Woh chamakti hui, almost jagmagati hui dikhti thi aur ek pal ke liye mere gale ke peeche ek ajeeb si sarsarahat hui. Kuch hone wala tha. Main us waqt ise samjha nahi sakta tha – shabdon mein nahi – lekin uske aas paas hawa mein ek halka sa charge tha, jaise shehar par garmi ki barsaat se pehle ka sannata.
Main ne ise jhatak diya aur badi hui bheed mein se guzar kar main hall mein pahunch gaya jahaan party poori tarah se chal rahi thi. Jagah bahut badi thi, South Asian wedding ke liye kiraye par liya gaya grand ballroom style venue, oonchi chhat par fairy lights aur rang birangi kapdon ke chhatre jo ceiling fans se halke se jhoom rahe the.
Deewaron ke saath lambi tables lagi thi jin par bhap wali biryani ke trays, khushbodar curries, taaza naan aur rang birange mithaiyon ke dhair the jo makkhi rokne ke liye jaali ke neeche rakhe the. Hawa mein gulabjal, elaichi aur bahar ke grills se sizzle karte kebabon ki khushboo mil rahi thi.
Speakers se music goonj raha tha – zinda qawwali beats ke saath modern Bollywood gaane jo chhote bachchon se lekar buzurgon tak sabko jhula rahe the.
Hanssi deewaron se takra kar goonj rahi thi jab auntyon ke groups mein gossip chal rahi thi, saaf kurton mein mard ek dusre ki peeth par thapki dete hue kahaniyan suna rahe the aur bachche sabke beech rang birangi dhaagon ki tarah ghoom rahe the.
Hall mein logon se bhara hua tha, aasani se do sau mehman, unke traditional kapde laal, sone, neele aur hare rangon ka ek chamkila samandar bana rahe the. Yeh khushi bhara, sabse achhe tareeke ka chaos tha, woh tarah ka utsav jo yaad dilata tha ki is tarah ke mauke poore community ko kyun ek saath laate hain.
Main gift tables ki taraf jaate hue hall mein nazar daudata raha aur tab maine usko dekh liya – Vishal, mummy ka… woh aadmi jo ab main jaanta tha uska premi tha, bhale hi us pal main usko sirf dulhe ke door ke rishtedaar ke roop mein pehchaan raha tha, ek Indian businessman jo hafte ke liye plane se aaya tha. Woh hall ke door wali deewar ke paas ek shaant kone mein baitha hua tha, ek oonchi gambhari ke paudhe se aadha chhupa hua, sir jhuka kar phone par kuch kar raha tha.
![[Image: giff-1.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/8PXGHjS9/giff-1.gif)
Woh baaki sabki tarah mil jul nahi raha tha. Koi hanssi nahi, haath mein khane ki plate nahi – sirf woh, ungliyan screen par tezi se uda rahi thi, muh ke kono par halki si muskaan.
Main ek khambe ke peeche ruk gaya, gift ke lifaafon ko theek karne ka bahana karte hue, lekin meri aankhein baar baar uski taraf khinch rahi thi. Woh kya message kar raha tha? Yeh sawal mujhe kha raha tha. Kya woh mummy ko likh raha tha? Jis tareeke se woh har kuch seconds mein upar dekhta tha, bheed mein tez kaali aankhon se nazar daudata tha, usse mera pet tight ho gaya.
Mujhe jaanna tha – zaroor jaanna tha – woh usse kya keh raha tha, agar woh usko hi likh raha tha. Lekin main wahi khada raha, aunty Najma ke kaha anusar tables ki madad karta raha, muh par muskaan aur cricket scores ki baat karte hue jabki mera dimaag tez chal raha tha.
Hall ke us paar maine dekha ki mummy ek side table par jagah le kar baithi hui thi, us waqt akeli, saamne chhoti plate mein snacks abhi tak chhue nahi the. Woh apni aam social insaan nahi thi jo auntyon ke beech ghoomti, pyar se gale lagati aur parivaar ki khabrein leti.
![[Image: giff-2.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/26xRB5Gc/giff-2.gif)
Uske bajaye woh wahan baingani salwaar kameez mein seedhi aur sundar baithi thi, dupatta halke se sir aur kandhon par. Har thodi der mein uski aankhein hall mein idhar udhar ghum rahi thi, chehron ko dekhti hui jaise kisi khaas insaan ko dhoondh rahi ho, uski peeth seedhi thi lekin ungliyan table ke kinare par bechaini se thap thap kar rahi thi.
Tab uska phone – uske paas rakha hua – halke se vibrate hua. Usne turant utha liya, jaise bechaini se intezaar kar rahi ho, aur jo message aaya usse uske honth ek chhoti si personal muskaan mein badal gaye, woh muskaan jo uske poore chehre ko naram kar deti thi. Usne jaldi se jawab type kiya, ungliyan tezi aur chhupi hui rhythm se hilti hui, phir phone wapas rakh diya.
Yeh kuch minutes mein do baar aur hua – vibrate, idhar udhar dekho, muskaan, jawab – aur har baar uske chehre ki chamak badhti gayi, jaise woh koi mazaak sirf khud samajh rahi ho.
Main abhi bhi gift ke paas se dekh raha tha jab maine usko yeh karte dekha: usne phone par ek aakhri baar nazar daali, kuch padha aur phir – jaise anjaan mein ya aisa hi lag raha tha – uska haath dupatta ki taraf utha. Usne use sirf thoda sa neeche khinch diya, halka baingani kapda thoda aur peeche sarak gaya taaki uske baal aur zyada dikhein.
Woh lattein jo sharm se tuck ki hui thi ab khule aam uske chehre ko frame kar rahi thi, hall ki garam roshni mein chamak rahi thi aur usko ek vidrohi narmi de rahi thi. Yeh dramatic nahi tha, itna nahi ki badi bheed mein kisi ko dikhe, lekin maine bilkul saaf dekh liya.
Usne aisa kiya jaise kisi ke instruction par ho, ek chhupi hui aagya ko follow karte hue jo meri shak ko aur tight kar raha tha. Ab zyada baal dikhai de rahe the, khule aur chamakte hue, aur usne apne kameez ke gale ke kinare ko halke se adjust kiya, gaalon par halki si laali chha gayi.
Meri aankhein upar ki taraf apne aap mud gayi, second floor ke open balcony ki taraf jo main hall par nazar rakhta tha. Wahan woh tha – phir se Vishal, ab upar ke floor ke railing ke against aaram se jhuka hua, abhi bhi phone se chipka hua. Usne kapde badle the ya shayad maine pehle nahi dekha tha, lekin woh cream salwaar kameez mein mazboot dikhta tha, kapda uske chaude kandhon aur solid seene par tight tha jo regular gym ya business ke manual kaam ki nishani tha.
Libaas saadhaaran tha lekin achhe se fit, cream rang uski suni hui chamdi aur uske confident jawline ko aur achha dikha raha tha. Woh neeche ki festivities ko dekhne ka bhi bahana nahi kar raha tha, uska poora dhyan screen par tha, ek haath se type karte hue jabki doosra haath railing par tha.
Upar se usko poore hall ki, mummy ke table tak ki, perfect nazar aa rahi thi. Sab kuch ek puzzle ke tukde ki tarah jagah par baith gaya jo main nahi chahta tha. Woh door se hi ise direct kar raha tha.
![[Image: giff-4.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/jqWBbZ0F/giff-4.gif)
Waqt guzar raha tha mehmano ki madad aur chhoti chhoti baaton mein, lekin thodi der baad – jab main Aunty Najma ke diye kaam pura kar chuka tha aur bheed mein wapas aa raha tha – maine dekha ki Aunty Najma aur meri dadi mummy ke kone ki taraf saath saath aa rahi hain.
Dadi apni saadhaaran safed salwaar mein, saath mein milta julta dupatta tightly pin kiya hua, apni umar ki dheemi shaan se chal rahi thi, halke se apni laathi par jhuki hui. Aunty Najma uske saath chal rahi thi, haath uske kandhe se sahara dete hue, uski hari poshaak chamakdaar virodh bana rahi thi. Woh teeno mummy ke dono taraf khade ho gaye, baat shuru mein halki rahi lekin jaldi hi teekhi ho gayi, jaise parivaar ki baatein in samaarohon mein aksar hoti hain.
“Beta Aisha,” dadi ne apni naram lekin mazboot awaaz mein shuru kiya, wohi awaaz jo saalon se hazaaron chhoti chhoti baaton ko theek karti aayi thi, “bus se utarte hi se tu apne phone se chipki hui hai. Bus mein bhi maine dekha tha tu har kuch minute mein check kar rahi thi. Ghar mein sab theek toh hai na? Ya phir community center ka kaam phir se tujhe kheench raha hai? Yeh shaadiyan mazaa karne ke liye hoti hain, screen par dekhte rehne ke liye nahi.”
Mummy ne apni plate se nazar uthayi, uski muskaan garam aur taiyaar thi jab usne phone ko muh neeche karke dheere se table par rakh diya. “Arre ammi, aisa kuch nahi hai,” usne aasani se jawab diya, awaaz mein woh sukoon bhari lehri jo woh chinta door karne ke liye istemal karti thi.
“Bas masjid ki kuch auraton ke messages hain – agle hafte charity drive ki planning kar rahi hain, aur aap jaanti hain woh chat kaise busy ho jaati hai jab sab apni baat daalte hain. Main kuch zaroori na chhoot jaaye isliye dekh rahi thi, lekin ab main yahan hoon, poori tarah maujood. Bus ki yatra bahut achhi thi na? Hum sab saath mein, purane gaane gaate hue… bahut achhe pal yaad aa gaye.”
Aunty Najma halke se hans di, aage jhuk kar ek raaz bhari aankh maarti hui aur shared plate se samosa uthate hue. “Aisha, tu jaanti hai main tujhe behen ki tarah pyar karti hoon, lekin sun na – yahan madad kar. Aunty log jaldi hi tohfe dene ki rasam karne wali hain, aur humein ek aur pair haathon ki zaroorat hai taaki bachche sab kuch na gira dein. Tu hamesha itni vyavasthit hoti hai, yeh bahut badi rahat hogi. Iske saath saath phone se bhi thodi der door ho jaayegi. Kya itna zaroori hai ki mukhya kaaryakram ke baad tak wait nahi ho sakta? Bata na, hum parivaar hain.”
Teeno ke beech phir se aasani ka silsila shuru ho gaya, baat aage badhti gayi jab plates pass ho rahi thi aur hanssi shabdon ke beech intermission ban rahi thi. Mummy ne charity ke messages ke baare mein aur vistaar se bataya, haal hi ke daan drive ki chhoti chhoti baatein jod kar sab kuch bilkul normal dikhane ke liye, jabki Aunty Najma ne apni beti ki pichhle saal ki shaadi ki ek mazedaar kahani sunayi ki phone ne photo kharab karne ki koshish kitni ki thi. Dadi saath saath sir hila rahi thi, lekin uski tez aankhein baar baar mummy ke dupatta par ja rahi thi.
“Baal theek se sambhalne ki baat karte hue,” dadi ne thodi der ke baad naram awaaz mein joda, awaaz mein woh paramparik samajhdari ghuli hui thi, “tera baal beta – thoda zyada bahar nikal raha hai aaj. Dupatta ko theek se adjust kyun nahi kar leti? Yeh rang tujh par bahut sundar lag raha hai, lekin yahan cheezon ko jaise honi chahiye waise rakhna chahiye.”
![[Image: giff-3.gif]](https://i.postimg.cc/WztWbpH5/giff-3.gif)
Mummy ne sharmaate hue halki si hanssi nikali, ungliyan kapde ke kinare par bechaini se ferte hue, bhale hi usne turant upar nahi kiya. “Ammi, galat toh kuch nahi hai,” usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, usmein thodi shaitani ghuli hui thi jo mere chhupe hue jagah se dekh kar mujhe bhi hairani hui. “Hall mein garmi hai aur dupatta halka hai – jaise main bilkul nangi hoon aisa toh nahi. Zamana thoda badal raha hai aur yeh abhi bhi sharmili hi hai. Mujhe is tarah aaram mehsoos hota hai.”
Dadi ka chehra meherbaan raha lekin na maanne wala, usne mummy ke haath par pyar se thapki maari. “Main jaanti hoon beta, lekin yahan andar bahut se mard hain – chacha, cousins, aur mehman jo hum achhe se nahi jaante. Surakshit rehna behtar hai aur sahi misaal set karna chahiye, khas kar jab chhoti ladkiyaan dekh rahi hon. Bas thoda sa theek kar le, apne sukoon ke liye.”
Mummy ek pal ruk gayi, phir usi sharmaati muskaan ke saath sir hilaaya aur upar haath le jaakar dupatta ko wapas theek jagah par kheench liya – bas itna ki dadi ko santusht kar de, bina pehle bahar nikle baalon ko poora chhupaaye. “Theek hai ammi, aapke liye,” usne dheere se kaha. Dadi iske baad khush nazar aayi aur thodi der baad maafi maang kar chali gayi, keh kar ki woh stage ke paas kuch purane doston se milna chahti hai.
Jab woh chali gayi toh Aunty Najma aur mummy wahan khade rahe, baat ab halki aur zyada personal taraf badal gayi. “Arre, usko zyada pareshaan mat hone de,” Aunty Najma ne garam hanssi ke saath kaha, jab woh dono akeli reh gayi toh mummy ke aur kareeb jhuk kar. “Teri saas purane zamane ki hain – unka dil achha hai lekin woh hum jaise modern nahi hain. Aajkal shaadi mein thoda baal dikh jaaye toh kya badi baat hai? Hum sab bade hain yahan, din ka mazaa le rahe hain. Waise us baingani rang mein tu bahut sundar lag rahi hai – kya tune ise khaas taur par chuna tha? Tujh par bilkul fit baith raha hai.”
Mummy bhi hans padi, uske kandhe dheele pad gaye jab usne Najma ke haath ko dabaya. “Tu sahi keh rahi hai Najma. Woh bas hifazat karti hain aur main unke liye yeh pyar karti hoon. Haan, yeh rang… aaj bilkul sahi laga. Thoda zyada zinda mehsoos karati hai, samjhi? Yeh samaaroh kabhi kabhi itne routine ho jaate hain.”
Phir woh dono anya mehmano ke baare mein gossip karne lagi, kisne kya pehna tha aur kaunsa parivaar ka drama ubal raha tha, unki awaazein purane doston wali aasani aur behne wali dhun mein dheemi ho gayi. Baat aaram se lambi chalti rahi – Najma apne haal hi ke samundar kinare ke safar ki kahani sunati hui, mummy ghar ke bagiche ki chhoti chhoti baatein jodti hui – jab tak dono naach ke maidaan ke paas badhte hue group photo ke liye uth nahi gayi, apne haath ke bag aur mummy ka phone table par chhod kar jaldi mein.
Mera dhadkan tez ho gaya. Maine dekha mummy ne apna phone galti se chhod diya tha, woh abhi bhi muh neeche karke uski aadhi khaali plate ke paas pada tha. Yeh woh mauka tha – jiska main intezaar kar raha tha bina jaane.
Yeh woh jagah thi jahaan mummy aur Aunty Najma ne apne bag chhode the, halke se phoolon ke decoration ke peeche chhupe hue lekin jaldi se pahuncha ja sakta tha. Main intezaar karta raha jab tak woh poori tarah bheed mein gayab nahi ho gayi, unki hanssi sangeet mein mil gayi, phir main jaldi se wahan pahunch gaya, bilkul aam tareeke se, jaise table se napkin lene aaya hoon. Kisi ne mera dhyan nahi diya, hall itna jaag raha tha ki ek jawan ladke ka khada hona kisi ko alag nahi dikhta tha.
![[Image: giff-5.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/WzQnNGZS/giff-5.jpg)
Maine phone utha liya, dil zor se dhadak raha tha, aur paas ke khambe ke peeche chhup gaya. Ise kholna aasaan tha – mummy ne saalon pehle mujhe code bataya tha “zaroorat padne par”. Maine messages khola aur seedha sabse naye chat par scroll kar gaya. Vibhinna texts mere saamne ek chhupe hue script ki tarah khul gaye, har ek us pardey ko aur peeche khinchti hui jo main sirf shuru shuru mein shak karne laga tha.
Sabse taaza messages Vishal ke the, sirf kuch minute pehle ke:
Vishal: Aisha meri sundar… abhi dupatta thoda neeche kheench le, jaise maine bus mein kaha tha. Bas itna ki mujhe tere baal aur dikhein. Main upar se dekh raha hoon. Us baingani salwaar kameez mein tu zabardast lag rahi hai – wohi jo maine aaj tere liye pehenne ko kaha tha.
Mummy: Vishal, yeh bahut khatarnak hai… log charon taraf hain aur meri saas ne abhi iske baare mein kuch kaha bhi. Lekin theek hai… maine kar diya. Ab khush?
Vishal: Achhi ladki. Mujhe bilkul aisi hi pasand hai – meri baat sunti hui. Aaj shaam tere liye ek surprise hai, kuch khaas jab yeh shor sharaaba khatam ho jaaye. Tu isse bahut pasand karegi, vaada hai. Mere liye woh muskaan lagaaye rakh.
Mummy: Surprise? Tu mujhe ghabra raha hai… aur uttejit bhi. Kya hai woh? Aur bata na. Maine baingani rang wali isi liye pehni thi jaise tune kaha tha. Sabke saath yeh karna bahut ganda ehsaas de raha tha.
Vishal: Gandi harkat hi toh main tujhse chahta hoon. Upper level ke secret kamre mein mil – storage ke darwazon ke peeche wala, left side ka teesra darwaza. Main paanch minute mein wahan intezaar karunga. Kisi ko pata nahi chalega.
Mummy: Vishal, nahi… yeh bahut khatarnak hai. Itne saare log hain, parivaar charon taraf. Kya hoga agar kisi ne dekh liya? Main nahi kar sakti.
Vishal: Main sab sambhal liya hai Aisha. Mujh par vishwas kar. Mainne yeh jagah saaf rakhi hai – mukhya party ke dauran koi upar nahi aata. Mere paas aa ja. Tu jaanti hai tu bhi isse utna hi chahti hai jitna main, bus mein humne jo teasing ki thi uske baad.
Messages thodi aur aage badhe the, uske jawab jhijhakte hue lekin usi uttejna se bhare hue jo maine uske chehre par dekhi thi, uske shabd aadesh bhare aur vaadon se labalab. Maine bus ki yatra ke kuch purane messages bhi dekhe – tezi se, flirt bhari baatein ki uski poshaak uske liye chuni gayi thi, ki woh usko akela paa kar kitna bechain tha.
Mere haath kaanp rahe the jab main padh raha tha, uss dhakke ki gehraai seene mein baith rahi thi jo ghar laut kar raat ko laga tha. Yeh koi chhoti si flirt nahi thi, yeh planned aur jaan bujh kar tha, sabke saamne is utsav ke beech khul raha tha. Maine app band kiya, phone ko bilkul waise hi rakh diya jahaan tha aur bheed mein ghus gaya pehle mummy ya Najma wapas aa sake.
Party mere charon taraf ghum rahi thi, sangeet aur hanssi mein koi farak nahi pada tha, lekin sab kuch ab alag mehsoos ho raha tha. Uski salwaar kameez ka baingani rang aur chamakdaar lag raha tha, dupatta ke slip aur zyada matlab rakhte hue, aur upper floor par Vishal ki mazboot shakal mere dimaag mein aur badi ho gayi thi. Jo bhi surprise usne aaj shaam ke liye plan kiya tha, jo bhi “sambhal liya” usne kaha tha – yeh saaf tha ki mummy ab us cheez mein aur gehraai se kadam rakh rahi thi jisse wapas lautna mushkil tha. Aur main hi woh akela tha jo sab jaanta tha.
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Hawa mein uttejna ka mahaul tha, hall ke andar se door se dhol ki thap thap ki awaaz aa rahi thi. Aunty Najma, jo mummy ki community center ki sabse kareebi saheli thi aur hamesha sab kuch organize karne wali, ne mujhe turant dekh liya jab main ek buzurg chacha ko unki laathi sambhalte hue madad kar raha tha.
Woh jaldi se mere paas aa gayi, unka chamkila hara dupatta peeche lehraya ja raha tha jaise jhanda, unka gol chehra usi seedhe aur mazboot energy se chamak raha tha jo unke saath hamesha rehta tha.
“Arre beta,” unhone pyar se pukara, haath mere kandhe par rakh kar halke se dabate hue. “Bus mein tu bahut madad kar raha tha sabko apne mazaak se hasaate hue. Sun na, kya tu apni aunty ka ek bada upkaar kar sakta hai? Kuch aur mehman abhi side entrance se aa rahe hain aur gift wale tables ko ceremonies shuru hone se pehle jaldi se saaf suthra karna hai. Kuch bhari kaam nahi – bas haath bata de taaki sab kuch perfect dikhe. Tu mazboot aur bharosemand hai, bilkul tere papa ki tarah.”
Main unki taraf muskuraya aur bina jhijhake sir hila diya. Din toh pehle se hi lamba ho chuka tha, lekin yeh parivaar tha aur madad karna sahi lag raha tha. “Zaroor aunty Najma,” maine aaram se aur izzat se jawab diya. “Main khushi khushi karunga. Bas mujhe sahi disha bata do, main sab theek kar dunga.”
Unhone pyar se mera gaal thapthapaya, aankhein shukrguzari se chhoti ho gayi. “Yeh hai mera achha beta. Tu hamesha aage aata hai. Ja ab – andar milenge jab sab shant ho jaaye. Aur apni mummy ko bol aana, bus mein woh thodi thaki hui dikhi thi, lekin ab yahan aa kar theek ho jaayegi.” Yeh keh kar woh wapas mud gayi aur chhote cousins ke group ko direction dene lagi, unki hanssi badi hui bheed ki awaazon mein mil rahi thi.
Main unke kaha anusar side entrance ki taraf badha, lekin mere kadam turant dheeme pad gaye jab meri nazar courtyard ke us paar mummy par padi. Woh ek sajaaye hue mehraab ke paas baithi hui thi, apna halka baingani dupatta haath ki ek jhatak se theek kar rahi thi. Woh bahut sundar tha – nazuk chiffon jismein chaandi ka kaam laga tha jo dheemi roshni mein chamak raha tha – lekin woh bilkul sahi nahi baith raha tha.
Uski kaale baalon ki kuch lattein nikal aayi thi, gardan ke side par dheere se latak rahi thi aur uske chehre ko aise frame kar rahi thi jo… jaan bujh kar lag raha tha. Bigda hua nahi, lekin woh saadhaaran aur sharmili covering bhi nahi thi jo woh family functions mein hamesha karti thi. Aur uska libaas – woh baingani salwaar kameez toh kuch aur hi tha.
Kapda uske shareer ko sundar tareeke se lapet raha tha, kameez ke gale aur aasteenon par halka sone ka kaam tha, rang itna gehra aur chamkila tha ki uski chamdi chamakte hue gulabi lakdi ki tarah dikhti thi. Yeh zabardast tha, traditional lekin bahut achha lagne wala libaas jo bina koshish ke logon ka dhyan khinchta tha, mauke ke hisaab se sharmila tha lekin aaj kuch khas attraction se bhara hua lag raha tha.
Woh chamakti hui, almost jagmagati hui dikhti thi aur ek pal ke liye mere gale ke peeche ek ajeeb si sarsarahat hui. Kuch hone wala tha. Main us waqt ise samjha nahi sakta tha – shabdon mein nahi – lekin uske aas paas hawa mein ek halka sa charge tha, jaise shehar par garmi ki barsaat se pehle ka sannata.
Main ne ise jhatak diya aur badi hui bheed mein se guzar kar main hall mein pahunch gaya jahaan party poori tarah se chal rahi thi. Jagah bahut badi thi, South Asian wedding ke liye kiraye par liya gaya grand ballroom style venue, oonchi chhat par fairy lights aur rang birangi kapdon ke chhatre jo ceiling fans se halke se jhoom rahe the.
Deewaron ke saath lambi tables lagi thi jin par bhap wali biryani ke trays, khushbodar curries, taaza naan aur rang birange mithaiyon ke dhair the jo makkhi rokne ke liye jaali ke neeche rakhe the. Hawa mein gulabjal, elaichi aur bahar ke grills se sizzle karte kebabon ki khushboo mil rahi thi.
Speakers se music goonj raha tha – zinda qawwali beats ke saath modern Bollywood gaane jo chhote bachchon se lekar buzurgon tak sabko jhula rahe the.
Hanssi deewaron se takra kar goonj rahi thi jab auntyon ke groups mein gossip chal rahi thi, saaf kurton mein mard ek dusre ki peeth par thapki dete hue kahaniyan suna rahe the aur bachche sabke beech rang birangi dhaagon ki tarah ghoom rahe the.
Hall mein logon se bhara hua tha, aasani se do sau mehman, unke traditional kapde laal, sone, neele aur hare rangon ka ek chamkila samandar bana rahe the. Yeh khushi bhara, sabse achhe tareeke ka chaos tha, woh tarah ka utsav jo yaad dilata tha ki is tarah ke mauke poore community ko kyun ek saath laate hain.
Main gift tables ki taraf jaate hue hall mein nazar daudata raha aur tab maine usko dekh liya – Vishal, mummy ka… woh aadmi jo ab main jaanta tha uska premi tha, bhale hi us pal main usko sirf dulhe ke door ke rishtedaar ke roop mein pehchaan raha tha, ek Indian businessman jo hafte ke liye plane se aaya tha. Woh hall ke door wali deewar ke paas ek shaant kone mein baitha hua tha, ek oonchi gambhari ke paudhe se aadha chhupa hua, sir jhuka kar phone par kuch kar raha tha.
Woh baaki sabki tarah mil jul nahi raha tha. Koi hanssi nahi, haath mein khane ki plate nahi – sirf woh, ungliyan screen par tezi se uda rahi thi, muh ke kono par halki si muskaan.
Main ek khambe ke peeche ruk gaya, gift ke lifaafon ko theek karne ka bahana karte hue, lekin meri aankhein baar baar uski taraf khinch rahi thi. Woh kya message kar raha tha? Yeh sawal mujhe kha raha tha. Kya woh mummy ko likh raha tha? Jis tareeke se woh har kuch seconds mein upar dekhta tha, bheed mein tez kaali aankhon se nazar daudata tha, usse mera pet tight ho gaya.
Mujhe jaanna tha – zaroor jaanna tha – woh usse kya keh raha tha, agar woh usko hi likh raha tha. Lekin main wahi khada raha, aunty Najma ke kaha anusar tables ki madad karta raha, muh par muskaan aur cricket scores ki baat karte hue jabki mera dimaag tez chal raha tha.
Hall ke us paar maine dekha ki mummy ek side table par jagah le kar baithi hui thi, us waqt akeli, saamne chhoti plate mein snacks abhi tak chhue nahi the. Woh apni aam social insaan nahi thi jo auntyon ke beech ghoomti, pyar se gale lagati aur parivaar ki khabrein leti.
Uske bajaye woh wahan baingani salwaar kameez mein seedhi aur sundar baithi thi, dupatta halke se sir aur kandhon par. Har thodi der mein uski aankhein hall mein idhar udhar ghum rahi thi, chehron ko dekhti hui jaise kisi khaas insaan ko dhoondh rahi ho, uski peeth seedhi thi lekin ungliyan table ke kinare par bechaini se thap thap kar rahi thi.
Tab uska phone – uske paas rakha hua – halke se vibrate hua. Usne turant utha liya, jaise bechaini se intezaar kar rahi ho, aur jo message aaya usse uske honth ek chhoti si personal muskaan mein badal gaye, woh muskaan jo uske poore chehre ko naram kar deti thi. Usne jaldi se jawab type kiya, ungliyan tezi aur chhupi hui rhythm se hilti hui, phir phone wapas rakh diya.
Yeh kuch minutes mein do baar aur hua – vibrate, idhar udhar dekho, muskaan, jawab – aur har baar uske chehre ki chamak badhti gayi, jaise woh koi mazaak sirf khud samajh rahi ho.
Main abhi bhi gift ke paas se dekh raha tha jab maine usko yeh karte dekha: usne phone par ek aakhri baar nazar daali, kuch padha aur phir – jaise anjaan mein ya aisa hi lag raha tha – uska haath dupatta ki taraf utha. Usne use sirf thoda sa neeche khinch diya, halka baingani kapda thoda aur peeche sarak gaya taaki uske baal aur zyada dikhein.
Woh lattein jo sharm se tuck ki hui thi ab khule aam uske chehre ko frame kar rahi thi, hall ki garam roshni mein chamak rahi thi aur usko ek vidrohi narmi de rahi thi. Yeh dramatic nahi tha, itna nahi ki badi bheed mein kisi ko dikhe, lekin maine bilkul saaf dekh liya.
Usne aisa kiya jaise kisi ke instruction par ho, ek chhupi hui aagya ko follow karte hue jo meri shak ko aur tight kar raha tha. Ab zyada baal dikhai de rahe the, khule aur chamakte hue, aur usne apne kameez ke gale ke kinare ko halke se adjust kiya, gaalon par halki si laali chha gayi.
Meri aankhein upar ki taraf apne aap mud gayi, second floor ke open balcony ki taraf jo main hall par nazar rakhta tha. Wahan woh tha – phir se Vishal, ab upar ke floor ke railing ke against aaram se jhuka hua, abhi bhi phone se chipka hua. Usne kapde badle the ya shayad maine pehle nahi dekha tha, lekin woh cream salwaar kameez mein mazboot dikhta tha, kapda uske chaude kandhon aur solid seene par tight tha jo regular gym ya business ke manual kaam ki nishani tha.
Libaas saadhaaran tha lekin achhe se fit, cream rang uski suni hui chamdi aur uske confident jawline ko aur achha dikha raha tha. Woh neeche ki festivities ko dekhne ka bhi bahana nahi kar raha tha, uska poora dhyan screen par tha, ek haath se type karte hue jabki doosra haath railing par tha.
Upar se usko poore hall ki, mummy ke table tak ki, perfect nazar aa rahi thi. Sab kuch ek puzzle ke tukde ki tarah jagah par baith gaya jo main nahi chahta tha. Woh door se hi ise direct kar raha tha.
Waqt guzar raha tha mehmano ki madad aur chhoti chhoti baaton mein, lekin thodi der baad – jab main Aunty Najma ke diye kaam pura kar chuka tha aur bheed mein wapas aa raha tha – maine dekha ki Aunty Najma aur meri dadi mummy ke kone ki taraf saath saath aa rahi hain.
Dadi apni saadhaaran safed salwaar mein, saath mein milta julta dupatta tightly pin kiya hua, apni umar ki dheemi shaan se chal rahi thi, halke se apni laathi par jhuki hui. Aunty Najma uske saath chal rahi thi, haath uske kandhe se sahara dete hue, uski hari poshaak chamakdaar virodh bana rahi thi. Woh teeno mummy ke dono taraf khade ho gaye, baat shuru mein halki rahi lekin jaldi hi teekhi ho gayi, jaise parivaar ki baatein in samaarohon mein aksar hoti hain.
“Beta Aisha,” dadi ne apni naram lekin mazboot awaaz mein shuru kiya, wohi awaaz jo saalon se hazaaron chhoti chhoti baaton ko theek karti aayi thi, “bus se utarte hi se tu apne phone se chipki hui hai. Bus mein bhi maine dekha tha tu har kuch minute mein check kar rahi thi. Ghar mein sab theek toh hai na? Ya phir community center ka kaam phir se tujhe kheench raha hai? Yeh shaadiyan mazaa karne ke liye hoti hain, screen par dekhte rehne ke liye nahi.”
Mummy ne apni plate se nazar uthayi, uski muskaan garam aur taiyaar thi jab usne phone ko muh neeche karke dheere se table par rakh diya. “Arre ammi, aisa kuch nahi hai,” usne aasani se jawab diya, awaaz mein woh sukoon bhari lehri jo woh chinta door karne ke liye istemal karti thi.
“Bas masjid ki kuch auraton ke messages hain – agle hafte charity drive ki planning kar rahi hain, aur aap jaanti hain woh chat kaise busy ho jaati hai jab sab apni baat daalte hain. Main kuch zaroori na chhoot jaaye isliye dekh rahi thi, lekin ab main yahan hoon, poori tarah maujood. Bus ki yatra bahut achhi thi na? Hum sab saath mein, purane gaane gaate hue… bahut achhe pal yaad aa gaye.”
Aunty Najma halke se hans di, aage jhuk kar ek raaz bhari aankh maarti hui aur shared plate se samosa uthate hue. “Aisha, tu jaanti hai main tujhe behen ki tarah pyar karti hoon, lekin sun na – yahan madad kar. Aunty log jaldi hi tohfe dene ki rasam karne wali hain, aur humein ek aur pair haathon ki zaroorat hai taaki bachche sab kuch na gira dein. Tu hamesha itni vyavasthit hoti hai, yeh bahut badi rahat hogi. Iske saath saath phone se bhi thodi der door ho jaayegi. Kya itna zaroori hai ki mukhya kaaryakram ke baad tak wait nahi ho sakta? Bata na, hum parivaar hain.”
Teeno ke beech phir se aasani ka silsila shuru ho gaya, baat aage badhti gayi jab plates pass ho rahi thi aur hanssi shabdon ke beech intermission ban rahi thi. Mummy ne charity ke messages ke baare mein aur vistaar se bataya, haal hi ke daan drive ki chhoti chhoti baatein jod kar sab kuch bilkul normal dikhane ke liye, jabki Aunty Najma ne apni beti ki pichhle saal ki shaadi ki ek mazedaar kahani sunayi ki phone ne photo kharab karne ki koshish kitni ki thi. Dadi saath saath sir hila rahi thi, lekin uski tez aankhein baar baar mummy ke dupatta par ja rahi thi.
“Baal theek se sambhalne ki baat karte hue,” dadi ne thodi der ke baad naram awaaz mein joda, awaaz mein woh paramparik samajhdari ghuli hui thi, “tera baal beta – thoda zyada bahar nikal raha hai aaj. Dupatta ko theek se adjust kyun nahi kar leti? Yeh rang tujh par bahut sundar lag raha hai, lekin yahan cheezon ko jaise honi chahiye waise rakhna chahiye.”
Mummy ne sharmaate hue halki si hanssi nikali, ungliyan kapde ke kinare par bechaini se ferte hue, bhale hi usne turant upar nahi kiya. “Ammi, galat toh kuch nahi hai,” usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, usmein thodi shaitani ghuli hui thi jo mere chhupe hue jagah se dekh kar mujhe bhi hairani hui. “Hall mein garmi hai aur dupatta halka hai – jaise main bilkul nangi hoon aisa toh nahi. Zamana thoda badal raha hai aur yeh abhi bhi sharmili hi hai. Mujhe is tarah aaram mehsoos hota hai.”
Dadi ka chehra meherbaan raha lekin na maanne wala, usne mummy ke haath par pyar se thapki maari. “Main jaanti hoon beta, lekin yahan andar bahut se mard hain – chacha, cousins, aur mehman jo hum achhe se nahi jaante. Surakshit rehna behtar hai aur sahi misaal set karna chahiye, khas kar jab chhoti ladkiyaan dekh rahi hon. Bas thoda sa theek kar le, apne sukoon ke liye.”
Mummy ek pal ruk gayi, phir usi sharmaati muskaan ke saath sir hilaaya aur upar haath le jaakar dupatta ko wapas theek jagah par kheench liya – bas itna ki dadi ko santusht kar de, bina pehle bahar nikle baalon ko poora chhupaaye. “Theek hai ammi, aapke liye,” usne dheere se kaha. Dadi iske baad khush nazar aayi aur thodi der baad maafi maang kar chali gayi, keh kar ki woh stage ke paas kuch purane doston se milna chahti hai.
Jab woh chali gayi toh Aunty Najma aur mummy wahan khade rahe, baat ab halki aur zyada personal taraf badal gayi. “Arre, usko zyada pareshaan mat hone de,” Aunty Najma ne garam hanssi ke saath kaha, jab woh dono akeli reh gayi toh mummy ke aur kareeb jhuk kar. “Teri saas purane zamane ki hain – unka dil achha hai lekin woh hum jaise modern nahi hain. Aajkal shaadi mein thoda baal dikh jaaye toh kya badi baat hai? Hum sab bade hain yahan, din ka mazaa le rahe hain. Waise us baingani rang mein tu bahut sundar lag rahi hai – kya tune ise khaas taur par chuna tha? Tujh par bilkul fit baith raha hai.”
Mummy bhi hans padi, uske kandhe dheele pad gaye jab usne Najma ke haath ko dabaya. “Tu sahi keh rahi hai Najma. Woh bas hifazat karti hain aur main unke liye yeh pyar karti hoon. Haan, yeh rang… aaj bilkul sahi laga. Thoda zyada zinda mehsoos karati hai, samjhi? Yeh samaaroh kabhi kabhi itne routine ho jaate hain.”
Phir woh dono anya mehmano ke baare mein gossip karne lagi, kisne kya pehna tha aur kaunsa parivaar ka drama ubal raha tha, unki awaazein purane doston wali aasani aur behne wali dhun mein dheemi ho gayi. Baat aaram se lambi chalti rahi – Najma apne haal hi ke samundar kinare ke safar ki kahani sunati hui, mummy ghar ke bagiche ki chhoti chhoti baatein jodti hui – jab tak dono naach ke maidaan ke paas badhte hue group photo ke liye uth nahi gayi, apne haath ke bag aur mummy ka phone table par chhod kar jaldi mein.
Mera dhadkan tez ho gaya. Maine dekha mummy ne apna phone galti se chhod diya tha, woh abhi bhi muh neeche karke uski aadhi khaali plate ke paas pada tha. Yeh woh mauka tha – jiska main intezaar kar raha tha bina jaane.
Yeh woh jagah thi jahaan mummy aur Aunty Najma ne apne bag chhode the, halke se phoolon ke decoration ke peeche chhupe hue lekin jaldi se pahuncha ja sakta tha. Main intezaar karta raha jab tak woh poori tarah bheed mein gayab nahi ho gayi, unki hanssi sangeet mein mil gayi, phir main jaldi se wahan pahunch gaya, bilkul aam tareeke se, jaise table se napkin lene aaya hoon. Kisi ne mera dhyan nahi diya, hall itna jaag raha tha ki ek jawan ladke ka khada hona kisi ko alag nahi dikhta tha.
Maine phone utha liya, dil zor se dhadak raha tha, aur paas ke khambe ke peeche chhup gaya. Ise kholna aasaan tha – mummy ne saalon pehle mujhe code bataya tha “zaroorat padne par”. Maine messages khola aur seedha sabse naye chat par scroll kar gaya. Vibhinna texts mere saamne ek chhupe hue script ki tarah khul gaye, har ek us pardey ko aur peeche khinchti hui jo main sirf shuru shuru mein shak karne laga tha.
Sabse taaza messages Vishal ke the, sirf kuch minute pehle ke:
Vishal: Aisha meri sundar… abhi dupatta thoda neeche kheench le, jaise maine bus mein kaha tha. Bas itna ki mujhe tere baal aur dikhein. Main upar se dekh raha hoon. Us baingani salwaar kameez mein tu zabardast lag rahi hai – wohi jo maine aaj tere liye pehenne ko kaha tha.
Mummy: Vishal, yeh bahut khatarnak hai… log charon taraf hain aur meri saas ne abhi iske baare mein kuch kaha bhi. Lekin theek hai… maine kar diya. Ab khush?
Vishal: Achhi ladki. Mujhe bilkul aisi hi pasand hai – meri baat sunti hui. Aaj shaam tere liye ek surprise hai, kuch khaas jab yeh shor sharaaba khatam ho jaaye. Tu isse bahut pasand karegi, vaada hai. Mere liye woh muskaan lagaaye rakh.
Mummy: Surprise? Tu mujhe ghabra raha hai… aur uttejit bhi. Kya hai woh? Aur bata na. Maine baingani rang wali isi liye pehni thi jaise tune kaha tha. Sabke saath yeh karna bahut ganda ehsaas de raha tha.
Vishal: Gandi harkat hi toh main tujhse chahta hoon. Upper level ke secret kamre mein mil – storage ke darwazon ke peeche wala, left side ka teesra darwaza. Main paanch minute mein wahan intezaar karunga. Kisi ko pata nahi chalega.
Mummy: Vishal, nahi… yeh bahut khatarnak hai. Itne saare log hain, parivaar charon taraf. Kya hoga agar kisi ne dekh liya? Main nahi kar sakti.
Vishal: Main sab sambhal liya hai Aisha. Mujh par vishwas kar. Mainne yeh jagah saaf rakhi hai – mukhya party ke dauran koi upar nahi aata. Mere paas aa ja. Tu jaanti hai tu bhi isse utna hi chahti hai jitna main, bus mein humne jo teasing ki thi uske baad.
Messages thodi aur aage badhe the, uske jawab jhijhakte hue lekin usi uttejna se bhare hue jo maine uske chehre par dekhi thi, uske shabd aadesh bhare aur vaadon se labalab. Maine bus ki yatra ke kuch purane messages bhi dekhe – tezi se, flirt bhari baatein ki uski poshaak uske liye chuni gayi thi, ki woh usko akela paa kar kitna bechain tha.
Mere haath kaanp rahe the jab main padh raha tha, uss dhakke ki gehraai seene mein baith rahi thi jo ghar laut kar raat ko laga tha. Yeh koi chhoti si flirt nahi thi, yeh planned aur jaan bujh kar tha, sabke saamne is utsav ke beech khul raha tha. Maine app band kiya, phone ko bilkul waise hi rakh diya jahaan tha aur bheed mein ghus gaya pehle mummy ya Najma wapas aa sake.
Party mere charon taraf ghum rahi thi, sangeet aur hanssi mein koi farak nahi pada tha, lekin sab kuch ab alag mehsoos ho raha tha. Uski salwaar kameez ka baingani rang aur chamakdaar lag raha tha, dupatta ke slip aur zyada matlab rakhte hue, aur upper floor par Vishal ki mazboot shakal mere dimaag mein aur badi ho gayi thi. Jo bhi surprise usne aaj shaam ke liye plan kiya tha, jo bhi “sambhal liya” usne kaha tha – yeh saaf tha ki mummy ab us cheez mein aur gehraai se kadam rakh rahi thi jisse wapas lautna mushkil tha. Aur main hi woh akela tha jo sab jaanta tha.
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