[Deepak.kapoor]

Adhyay 4

Salim ab dheere-dheere apna haath unke makhmali gale se neeche utaar raha tha, aur Ammi bas 'Sahil' ka naam japne ke alaawa aur kuch nahi kar paa rahi thi.

Us band aur ghutan bhari gallery mein waqt jaise tham sa gaya. Ammi ki tez hoti saansein us neeli silk ki nightgown ke neeche ek toofan ki tarah uth aur gir rahi thi. Salim ki aankhon mein hawas ki surkhi utar aayi thi, ab poori tarah bekhauf ho chuka tha.

Usne apna kaala haath dheere se Ammi ki gardan se neeche utaara aur bina kisi hitchkichahat ke use seedhe Ammi ke bhare hue aur pusht seene par rakh diya.

Jaise hi Salim ki hatheliyan us neele reshmi kapde ke upar se Ammi ke narm aur maansal ubhaar se takrayi, Ammi ke muh se ek aisi siski nikli jo dard aur be-inteha sharm ka mila-jula shor thi. Us neeli silk ki patli parat ke neeche Ammi ka woh dudhiya badan itna komal tha ki us shakhs ki ungliyan unki makhmali twacha mein dhansti chali gayi.

Usne apne haath ki pakad mazboot ki aur Ammi ke us garv se bhare uroj ko apni mutthi mein bheenchn liya. Ammi ka poora shareer ek jhatke ke saath kamaan ki tarah mud gaya. Unke gulaabi hont thartharane lage aur unhone apni dono aankhein itni zor se meench li ki unke palkon ke konon se aansu chhalak pade.

Us manzar ko dekhkar peechhe khade rowdy ladkon ka utsah saatvein aasman par pahunch gaya.

Salim: "Wah Raju! Kya narm aur garam maal hai! Kasam se, is dudhiya safedi ka ehsaas toh makhmal se bhi zyada keemti lag raha hai."

Unmein se ek ne seeti bajayi, jabki doosra Ammi ki patli kamar aur peechhe ke un sudaul koonlhon ko dekhkar apni zubaan labon par pher raha tha.

Ammi ka woh noorani chehra ab khauf aur jillat se kaala pad raha tha. Woh Salim ke seene par apne gore haath rakhkar use door dhelne ki koshish kar rahi thi, lekin Salim ki taqat ke saamne unki nazaakat haar rahi thi. Unke ubhre hue seene ka woh hissa, jise Salim ne daboch rakha tha, us neele kapde ke khichav ki wajah se aur bhi zyada numaya ho gaya tha.

Main yeh sab dekh raha tha—apni Ammi ke us qatilana aur sexy badan ko is tarah sareaam kuchle jaate hue. Mere kandhe par rakha haath ab mujhe aur zor se daba raha tha, jaise woh mujhe is 'tamashe' ka gawah banne par majboor kar raha ho. Ek taraf Ammi ki woh siskiyan mera dil cheer rahi thi, aur doosri taraf unke us bepanah husn ki yeh nagn aur dardnaak numaish mere teenage dimaag ko sunn kar rahi thi.

Ammi ka woh neela reshmi gown ab unke jism ki har harkat ke saath unke chaunde koonlhon aur stanon ke ubhaar ko aur bhi saaf dikha raha tha.

Salim ab doosre haath se Ammi ki kamar ko sehlaate hue neeche ki taraf badh raha tha, aur Ammi bas bebasi mein apna sir deewar par tikaaye hue sisk rahi thi.

Ammi ki siskiyan ab ek bebas iltaja mein badal chuki thi. Unki aankhon se behte aansu unke dudhiya gaalon ko bhigo rahe the. Us saanwle shakhs ka haath abhi bhi Ammi ke bhare hue seene par apni pakad banaye hue tha, aur neeli silk ki nightgown ke neeche Ammi ka woh makhmali badan khauf se tharthara raha tha.

Ammi: (Aasman ki taraf nazrein uthakar, subakte hue) "Ya ,.'... meri izzat ki hifazat kar! Kisi farishte ko bhej de maula... raham kar!"

Unki is tadap bhari awaaz par ve aawara ladke aur bhi zor se hansne lage. Salim Ammi ke gore chehre ke aur kareeb aaya, uske chehre par ek darinda muskan thi.

Salim: "Yahan koi farishta nahi aayega jaan, yahan bas hum hain aur tera yeh qatilana badan..."

Abhi uski baat poori bhi nahi hui thi ki bagal wale compartment ka bhaari lohe ka darwaza ek dhamake ke saath khula. Train ke shor ke beech woh awaaz kisi garjana jaisi thi.

Saamne ek Sikh sajan khade the—kad 6 feet 2 inch, chaunda seena, aur badan par security officer ki raubdaar vardi. Unki aankhon mein bijli si chamak thi. Vardi par lage sitare dim light mein chamak rahe the. Unhone ek pal mein us poore manzar ko apni paini nazron se naap liya—Ammi ka woh neela reshmi libaas jo betarteeb ho chuka tha, unke nange safed kandhe, unki siskiyan, aur un bhediyon ke gande haath.

Jaise hi unhone dekha ki ek ganda haath Ammi ke pusht seene ko daboche hue hai, unka chehra gusse se tamtama utha. Unhone apni bhaari, robeeli awaaz mein dahaand maari, jisse poora galiyara kaanp utha.

Sikh Officer: (Polisiya kadak awaaz mein) "Oye! Ye kya badtameezi ho rahi hai yahan?! Haath hata peechhe!"

Unki woh awaaz kisi farishte ki dastak se kam nahi thi. Ammi ki aankhon mein ummeed ki ek kiran jaagi. Salim, jo abhi tak sher bana hua tha, us 6 feet 2 inch ke vardidhaari ko dekhkar ekdam se jam gaya. Uska haath Ammi ke narm uroj se jhatke ke saath peechhe hata, jaise kisi ne use bijli ka jhatka de diya ho.

Baaki ke teen ladke, jo mujhe ghere hue the aur Ammi ki pichhli banawat aur koonlhon ka nazara le rahe the, unke chehre ka rang fak pad gaya. Ve fauran mujhse door hat gaye.

Sikh Officer: (Aage badhte hue) "Kya samajh rakha hai? Ye train hai ya tumhara ghar? Zara peechhe hato sab ke sab, warna abhi aisi jagah maarunga ki saari jawani bhool jaoge!"

Ammi fauran us saanwle shakhs ki giraft se chhooti aur ladkhadaati hui meri taraf bhaagi. Unhone apna dheela-dhaala abaya mere haath se jhapta aur use apni neeli nightgown ke upar lapet liya, taaki unka woh bepanah aur sexy badan dobara pardon mein chhip sake.

Unka poora wajood abhi bhi kaanp raha tha, aur main unhe sahaara dete hue us officer ke peechhe khada ho gaya. Salim ki himakat abhi kam nahi hui thi. Apni saanwli aur paseene se tar-batar deh ko sikodte hue usne us 6 feet 2 inch ke Sikh officer ki aankhon mein aankhein daalne ki jurrat ki. Use laga ki shayad paisa ya rasookh is vardi ko jhuka dega.

Salim: (Hikarat bhari aur dhauns wali awaaz mein) "Oye Sardar saab! Aap beech mein mat padein. Apni duty karo aur kinaare ho jao. Aapko aapka 'mehnatana' mil jayega, bas humein akela chhod do. Aap shayad jaante nahi ki hum kiske aadmi hain… shehar ke bade-bade afsaron ko roz 'hafta' dete hain hum. Aap jaise kitno ko jeb mein rakhte hain."

Yeh sunte hi Ammi, jo abhi-abhi us neeli silk ki nightgown ko apne kaale abaya mein chhupa paayi thi, khauf ke maare phir se kaanpne lagi. Unhe laga ki shayad yeh security officer wala bhi un gundo se mil jayega.

Magar us officer ke chehre par jo gussa utra, woh kisi zalzale se kam nahi tha. Unki aankhon mein khoon utar aaya. Jaise hi 'hafte' ka zikr hua, unhone bijli ki furti se apna bhaari haath hawa mein lehraya.

"Chataak!"

Ek zordaar tamacha Salim ke gaal par pada, jisse uska sir ghoom gaya. Abhi woh khud ko sambhaal bhi nahi paaya tha ki officer ka ek vajr jaisa ghoonsa seedhe uske pet mein dhansa.

Sartaj Singh: (Dahaandte hue) "Hafta dega mujhe? Kutte ki aulaad! Mujhe khareedega tu?"

Unhone Salim ka collar pakda aur use deewar se de maara. Unki awaaz poore dibbe mein goonj rahi thi, jisse soye hue musafiron ki bhi aankhein khulne lagi.

Sartaj Singh: "Dhyan se sun le... Sartaj naam hai mera! Sartaj Singh! Teri aur tere baap ki kya, kisi ki bhi itni auqat nahi ki Sartaj Singh ko apni ungli par nacha sake. Vardi par daag lagaane ki baat karta hai, saale, teri khaal udhed doonga yahin!"

Baaki ke teen ladke, ab apni jaan bachaane ke liye peechhe hatne lage. Officer ka woh raub dekhkar unki sitti-pitti gum ho gayi thi.

Sartaj Singh: "Oye! Tum teeno bhi idhar aao! Line mein lago warna rail ki patri par tumhari haddiyan ginoonga aaj!"

Ammi ne darr aur raahat ke mile-jule ehsaas mein mera haath kaskar pakad liya. Unke dudhiya safed haath abhi bhi paseene se bheege hue the. Woh us 6 feet 2 inch ke 'farishte' ke peechhe dubak gayi thi, jinka naam 'Sartaj' waqayi unke liye us waqt khuda ka bheja hua sir ka taj saabit ho raha tha.

Sartaj Singh ne mudkar ek nazar Ammi ke us noorani magar sehme hue chehre par daali. Unki nazron mein hawas nahi, balki ek rakshak wali humdardi thi.

Sartaj Singh: "Behen ji, aap ghabraiye mat. Jab tak Sartaj zinda hai, koi aapki taraf aankh uthakar bhi nahi dekh sakta. Beta, apni Ammi ko lekar andar ja, main in kutto ka hisaab yahin chukta karta hoon."

Ammi ki aankhon mein shukrguzari ke aansu aa gaye. Unhone apne bhaari seene par abaya ko aur kas liya, jaise woh us gandi chhuwan ki yaadon ko mita dena chahti hon, aur hum dheere-dheere us galiyare se nikalne lage.

Dahshat aur afra-tafri ke us mahaul mein Sartaj Singh ka gussa saatvein aasman par tha. Unhone bijli ki furti se apni kamar se chamde ki bhaari belt nikaali aur doosri taraf apni sarkari revolver nikaalkar un chaaro darindon par taan di.

"Kataak... Sadaak!"

Belt ki har goonj ke saath un chaaro rowdy ladkon ki cheekhein dibbe ki deewaron se takra rahi thi. Sartaj Singh unhe jaanwaron ki tarah peet rahe the. Salim, jisne Ammi ke makhmali badan ko chhua tha, ab farsh par pada raham ki bheek maang raha tha.

Isi beech, Ammi shukrguzari aur ghabrahat ke aalam mein dobara galiyare ki taraf aayi. Woh us farishte ka shukriya ada karna chahti thi, jisne unki izzat bachayi thi. Par jaldbaazi aur ghabrahat mein woh apna kaala abaya pehenna bhool gayi. Kaala abaya abhi bhi unke haath mein tha.

Jab Ammi ne dekha ki Sartaj Singh betahasha un logon ko maar rahe hain aur ve chaaro khoon se lathpath hokar tadap rahe hain, toh unki mamta aur rahamdili jaag uthi. Unhe laga ki shayad ve aaj zinda nahi bachenge.

Ammi: (Haath jodkar, kaanpti hui awaaz mein) "Sardar saab... bas kijiye! Khuda ke waaste inhe chhod dijiye. Ye mar jayenge... bahut ho gaya, please inhe maaf kar dijiye!"

Ammi jab bol rahi thi, toh unke pusht seene ki harkat aur unki woh shahad jaisi meethi awaaz us tanav-poorn mahaul mein ek ajeeb si narmi ghol rahi thi. Sartaj Singh ne haath roka aur apni geheri nazron se ek baar Ammi ko upar se neeche tak dekha. Unki nazron mein un bhediyon jaisi hawas toh nahi thi, par woh bhi ek mard the aur Ammi ka woh neela reshmi husn unke saamne poori tarah beparda tha.

Sartaj Singh ne apni revolver waapas holster mein daali aur haanfte hue Ammi ki taraf dekha.

Sartaj Singh: "Behen ji, aap bahut bholi hain. Ye kutte isi layak hain. Agar aaj main nahi aata, toh ye aapki is keemti izzat aur aapke is masoom wajood ke saath kya karte, aapko andaza bhi nahi hai."

Un chaaro ladkon ne Ammi ke pairon ki taraf haath phailaye, "Madam, humein bacha lo... saab humein maar daalenge! Maaf kar do madam!"

Ammi ki aankhon mein aansu the. Unhone meri taraf dekha aur phir Sartaj ki taraf. Unhe abhi bhi ehsaas nahi tha ki woh mahaz ek tang nightgown mein khadi hain, jisme unki sudaul kaaya ka ek-ek hissa numaya ho raha hai.

Sartaj Singh: (Thoda dheeme swar mein) "Theek hai, aapki khaatir inhe chhod raha hoon. Par oye! Tum chaaro... agle station par tum security officer ke hawale hoge. Agar kisi ne hilne ki koshish ki, toh seedhe goli maarunga."

Ammi ki aankhon mein shukrguzari ke aansu the aur unka dil abhi bhi zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Us khaufnaak manzar se baahar nikalne ke baad, Sartaj Singh unke liye kisi farishte se kam nahi the. Woh dheere-dheere Sartaj ke aur kareeb gayi, taaki unka shukriya ada kar sakein.

Ammi us neeli silk ki nightgown mein thi, jo unke bhare hue badan se chipak kar unke har curve ko numaya kar rahi thi. Unke ek haath mein woh kaala abaya muda hua rakha tha, jise woh ghabrahat mein pehenna bhool gayi thi.

Us neele reshmi libaas ke neeche Ammi ka dudhiya safed aur sudaul jism roshni mein kisi sangmarmar ki moorat jaisa damak raha tha. Unke nange gore kandhe aur pusht seene ka ubhaar us tang kapde ke khichav ki wajah se saaf nazar aa raha tha.

Ammi: (Rundhe hue gale aur shahad jaisi meethi awaaz mein) "Sardar saab... aapne aaj mujh par bahut bada ahsan kar diya hai. Agar aap na hote, toh pata nahi mera kya hota. Main aapki bahut shukrguzar hoon... ta-umra aapki is madad ko yaad rakhoongi."

Ammi jab Sartaj ke itne kareeb khadi thi, toh unki chameli wali khushboo aur unke badan ki tapish us 6 feet 2 inch ke gathile officer tak pahunch rahi thi. Ammi ka woh qatilana aur sexy husn us waqt apne poore shabab par tha, aur koi bhi aam mard hota toh unki us noorani safedi aur sudaul banawat ko dekhkar apna imaan kho deta.

Magar Sartaj Singh ki shakhsiyat kuch aur hi mitti ki bani thi. Unhone Ammi ki taraf dekha, par unki nazron mein un bhediyon jaisi koi hawas ya gandi chamak nahi thi. Unke liye Ammi ki woh bepanah khoobsurati mahaz ek aurat ki izzat thi jise bachana unka farz tha. Unki nazar ekdam saaf aur bhai jaisi thi.

Sartaj Singh: (Narmi aur bhaari awaaz mein) "Behen ji, behenein kabhi bhai ko thanks nahi bolti. Ye mera farz tha."

Tabhi Sartaj ki nazar Ammi ke un bhare hue aur makhmali angon par padi, jo us patli nightgown ki wajah se poori tarah beparda ho rahe the. Ammi apni bhavukta mein bhool gayi thi ki woh kis haal mein khadi hain. Sartaj ne bade samman ke saath apna haath aage badhaya aur Ammi ke haath se woh kaala abaya le liya.

Unhone bina kisi gandi niyat ke, us abaya ko khola aur bade grace ke saath Ammi ke saamne wale hisse par daal diya, taaki unka woh pusht seena aur makhmali badan dobara dhaka ja sake.

Sartaj Singh: (Nazrein jhukaate hue) "Aap andar jaiye aur ise pehen lijiye."

Ammi ko achanak ehsaas hua ki woh kis haal mein thi. Unka chehra sharm se laal ho gaya, jaise Kashmir ka saib ho. Unhone jaldi se us abaya ko apne noorani jism par lapet liya.

Sartaj ke us ek kadam ne Ammi ke dil mein unke liye izzat aur bhi badha di thi. Main apni Ammi ko us fauladi mard ke saaye mein surakshit mehsoos karte dekh raha tha, aur mujhe ehsaas hua ki asli mardanagi sirf taqat mein nahi, balki nazar ki pakeezagi mein hoti hai.

Ammi, Sartaj Singh ki us dariyadili aur pakeeza nazar se is qadar mutasir thi ki unke chehre par sharm aur shukrguzari ka ek ajab sa mila-jula rang tha. Woh tezi se waapas us tang toilet ki taraf mudi taaki apna kaala abaya dhang se pehen sakein. Us neeli silk ki nightgown mein unka sudaul aur dudhiya badan jis tarah numaya ho raha tha, use ab woh dobara pardon mein chhupa lena chahti thi.

Jab tak Ammi andar gayi, galiyare mein ek ajeeb sa sannata chha gaya tha. Bas train ke pahiyon ki goonj aur patriyon ki awaaz sunayi de rahi thi.

Kuch hi minton mein jab Ammi apna abaya theek se lapetkar aur apna noorani chehra naqab se dhank-kar baahar aayi, toh nazara badal chuka tha. Sartaj Singh, wahan se ja chuka tha. Woh un chaaro lahuluhan darindon ko unke collar se ghaseet-te hue agle compartment ki taraf le gaya tha.

Ammi ki aankhein galiyare mein us 'farishte' ko talash rahi thi, par wahan ab sirf beedi ki bujhti hui gandh aur un gundo ke sangharsh ke nishan baaki the.

Ammi: (Dheemi aur hairan awaaz mein) "Sahil... kahan gaye Sardar saab? Main toh unhe theek se dua bhi nahi de paayi."

Main: "Ammi, woh unhe agle dibbe ki taraf le gaye. Shayad security officer chauki ya agle station par handover karne ke liye."

Ammi wahin khadi reh gayi. Unke bhare hue seene par rakha haath unki tez dhadkanon ko thaamne ki koshish kar raha tha. Unhe yakeen nahi ho raha tha ki is zamane mein koi mard itna niswarth bhi ho sakta hai. Sartaj Singh ne Ammi ke us qatilana aur sexy husn ko itne kareeb se dekha tha, magar unki nazron mein ratti bhar bhi lalach ya hawas nahi thi.

Unhone bina kisi ummeed ya 'ulte seedhe' iraade के ek ajnabi aurat ki izzat ke liye apni jaan daanv par laga di thi.

Ammi waapas apni berth ki taraf chalne lagi. Abaya ke dheele kapdon ke neeche abhi bhi unka woh neela reshmi gown unke jism ki tapish ko samete hue tha. Unke chalne ke andaaz mein ab ek alag sa sukoon tha, jaise unhe ehsaas ho gaya ho ki duniya mein agar bhediye hain, toh Sartaj Singh jaise rakhwale bhi hain.

Ammi: (Mere kandhe par haath rakhte hue) "Sahil, aaj ,.' ne humari sun li. Aise nek insaan bahut kam milte hain jo bina kisi matlab ke kisi ki dhaal ban jayein."

Main Ammi ko dekh raha tha. Abaya ke us kaale parde ke peechhe chhipa unka woh makhmali aur bepanah khoobsurat jism ab surakshit tha. Us raat के haadse ne Ammi ke wajood mein ek nayi garima bhar di thi, aur mere teenage dimaag ko yeh sikha diya tha ki asli taqat kisi ko 'paane' mein nahi, balki kisi ki 'hifazat' karne mein hoti hai.

Hum apni seaton par laut aaye, jahan Nani abhi bhi bekhabar so rahi thi.