Adultery Ammi aur Uncle

[Rajeev Gupta]

Lubna ne apne chhote ghar ka purana lakdi ka darwaza dhakka de kar khola. Shaam ki dhoop peeche ki tang gali mein lambi sunehri parchhaiyaan daal rahi thi. Uska dil abhi bhi zor zor se dhadak raha tha bank wale waqiye se. Us aadmi ki yaad – jisne khud ko Rakesh bataya tha, lekin baad mein Mounir ko call karte hue usne galti se Rakesh hi bol diya tha – uske dimaag mein abhi bhi stuck thi jaise ziddi goonj. 

Usne apna haath ka bag purani plastic ki table par rakh diya. Rasoi ke kone mein Amir ne subah jo sabziyaan laayi thi woh saaf saaf rakhi hui thi – moti tamatar, crisp pyaz aur taaza bhindi geele kapde ke neeche chamak rahi thi. 

Ghar mein halki lemongrass ki agarbatti ki khushboo faili hui thi jo usne ghar se nikalte waqt jalaayi thi – bahar ke hungame ke against ek chhoti si tasalli. Usne jaldi se ek fresh salwar kameez pehen li. Naram maroon kapda usko yaad dilata tha ki woh ek shaant ghar sambhalne wali aurat hai. Phir woh shaam ki taiyaari mein lag gayi. 

Uski behen Fatima aur behnoi Umar kabhi bhi aa sakte the iftar ke liye. Unka pados wale shehar se saal bhar mein ek baar aana bahut rare mauka hota tha jo chhote ghar ko hasi aur parivaar ki garmaah se bhar deta tha. 

Saat baje jab do gali door neeli gumbad wali masjid se maghrib ki azaan ki awaaz khuli khidki se aane lagi, rishtedaar aa gaye. Fatima ki pehchaani awaaz gali se gunji, “Lubna! Darwaza khol behen, hum aa gaye!” Lubna jaldi se darwaze tak pahunchi, uska veil sahi se pinned tha, uske chehre par pehle ki chinta ke bawajood ek garam muskaan aa gayi. 

Usne apni behen ko tightly gale lagaya. Fatima ke gulab ke itar ki khushboo shaam ki hawa ke saath mil rahi thi. Umar ko usne izzat se sir jhuka kar salaam kiya aur usko khidki ke paas wale neeche lakdi ke stool par baithne ko kaha. 

“Andar aao, andar aao dono. Ghar chhota hai lekin aaj raat yeh tumhara hai,” Lubna ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha. Uski sharmili fitrat ki wajah se uski awaaz bahut naram aur mehman-nawaaz thi. Usne baithak ke kamre mein chatayi par iftar ka saamaan laga rakha tha – doodh mein bhigi khajoor, Amir ki madad se banaya sabzi ka salan, tawa se abhi abhi nikaali garam rotiyaan aur dessert ke liye simple kheer. 





Rishtedaar aaram se baith gaye. Fatima bus ki safar aur ghar ki mehngai ki baatein kar rahi thi jabki Umar paani peete hue uske chhote khane ki tareef kar raha tha. “Tu hamesha sab kuch itna perfect banati hai Lubna. Mounir bahut khushnaseeb hai,” usne pyar bhari hansi ke saath kaha. 

Lubna apne veil ke andar laal ho gayi. Woh chupke se garv mehsoos karti hui doosri serving kar rahi thi. Shaam aasaan baaton mein guzarti rahi – parivaar, bachchon ki padhai aur ramzaan ki barkaton ke baare mein. Amir mehmano se khush hokar apne college ke drawings dikhane laga. Kuch ghanton tak din ki saari chintaen background mein chali gayi – glass ki khanak aur saath ki duaon ke beech. 

Baad mein jab mehmano ne chatayi saaf karne mein madad ki aur Fatima Umar chhote guest corner mein soone chali gaye, Lubna chhoti si balcony mein chali gayi jo gali ki taraf khulti thi. 

Sadak ke lights jal gaye the. Park ki hui cyclein aur soye hue kutte peele rang ki roshni mein chamak rahe the. Usne apna purana Nokia phone nikala jo Mounir ne pichhle Eid par diya tha aur uska number milaya. Do baar bajne ke baad uski pehchaani thaki hui awaaz aayi. “Habibti? Sab theek hai? Main abhi last trip par hoon – aaj traffic bahut paagal tha.” 

Lubna ke ungliyan phone ko kas kar pakad li. Uski awaaz dheemi aur hichkichaati hui thi jab usne din ki baat jaldi jaldi dheemi siskiyon mein bataayi. “Mounir, main… main bank gayi thi jaise humne plan kiya tha. Line bahut lambi thi aur mere peeche ek aadmi tha. Usne apna naam… Rakesh bataya tha shayad. Jab mera bag gir gaya tha toh usne madad ki lekin woh bahut kareeb aa gaya tha. Bahar aakar usne mera haath pakad liya aur mera number maanga. Maine usse kaha ki main shaadi shuda hoon lekin ab mujhe akeli bahar jaana achha nahi lagta. Logon ki nazrein, sadakein… bahut zyada hai. Poora time mujhe bahut fikar lagi rahi.” 

Doosri taraf Mounir ki awaaz sakht ho gayi. Background mein uske rickshaw ka engine garaj raha tha. “Rakesh? Koi sadak ka goonda hoga! Woh Indian mard, unmein sharam hi nahi! Sabko curse – haram hai, woh kaise decent auraton jaise tujhe ghoorte hain aur pareshan karte hain. Main roz sadakon par dekhta hoon, dupatte wali har cheez ko leering karte hue. Unse baat mat karna Lubna. Ek shabd bhi nahi. Agli baar Amir ko bhej dena ya mera intezaar karna. Sun rahi hai? Agar ho sake toh andar hi rehna. Woh harami log sochte hain har sharmili aurat unke liye asaan shikaar hai. Un sabko jahannum bhej do jo meri biwi ko pareshan karte hain!” 

Lubna ne apne aap se sir hilaaya. Uska khali haath veil ke kinare par fer raha tha. “Maine bhi unko curse kiya tha Mounir – dil se kiya tha. Har woh aadmi jo zyada der tak dekhe, jo zyada kareeb aaye. Astaghfirullah, lekin woh log itna mushkil bana dete hain ki bas chain se jeeya ja sake.” 

Woh ruk gayi. Uski soch andar ki taraf mud gayi jab woh andhera hota aasman dekh rahi thi. Main kabhi temptation mein nahi aaungi, usne apne se sakht vaada kiya. Kabhi nahi. Main ek biwi hoon, ek maa hoon, ek momin hoon. Bhagwan pak dil wali auraton ki hifazat karta hai. 

Woh aadmi – Rakesh ya jo bhi – kuch nahi hai. Mounir mera duniya hai, Amir mera noor hai. Koi toofan isko nahi hila sakta. Call Mounir ke yeh kehne par khatam hui ki woh jaldi ghar aa raha hai aur Lubna ko ek shaant taakat mehsoos hui jab woh raat ki aakhri namaaz ke liye parivaar ke saath jud gayi. 

Lekin kuch din baad ek normal dopahar mein sab kuch phir se badal gaya. Lubna paas ke bazaar mein sabziyaan lene gayi thi kyunki Fatima aur Umar ne apna stay ek din aur badha diya tha. Jab woh khatam kar chuki toh aasman bhari badliyon se kaala pad gaya tha. Poorab se gehri grey badliyaan aa rahi thi aur hawa mein barish ka vaada tha. 

Woh jaldi se main sadak par bus stop ki taraf badhi. Uske haathon mein shopping ke bag bhari hui the. Bahar jaane ke liye woh jo modest kaali abaya pehenti thi woh uthati hui hawa mein halke se lehra rahi thi. 

Bus stop ek purana jhoka tha jismein tin ki chhat thi, graffiti wali bench aur chhoti si bheed mein wait kar rahe log – do college ki ladkiyaan uniform mein phone par has rahi thi, ek buddha apni laathi ke saath so raha tha aur kuch mazdoor dhool bhari qamizon mein. 

Lubna kinare par khadi thi, aankhein sadak par tikayi hui, bus ko aane ki dua kar rahi thi. Minutes guzarte gaye aur phir pehle moti boondein tin ki chhat par girne lagi. Jaldi hi yeh tez barish mein badal gayi. Toofan bahut zor se aaya – door ke dholon ki tarah garaj, bijli aasman mein chamak rahi thi, barish tezi se side se aa rahi thi jo shelter ke kinaron ko bheegone lagi. Lubna ke jooton mein already kiichad lag chuka tha aur uska safed dupatta kinaron se geela ho chuka tha. 

Usne kaanpte haathon se phone nikala aur Mounir ko call kiya. “Mounir, bahut tez barish ho rahi hai. Main bazaar ke paas main bus stop par hoon. Kya tu rickshaw le kar mujhe lene aa sakta hai? Please, beta ghar par wait kar raha hai aur bag bhari hain.” Uski awaaz naram thi, us sharm ko liye hue jo uske pati ke saath bhi kabhi nahi jaati thi. 






Mounir ka jawab pareshan tha. Background mein horn aur paani ke chhapakon ki awaaz thi. “Habibti, main shehar ke doosre taraf phansa hua hoon – barish ki wajah se bada jam hai aur main abhi do passengers ko station le ja raha hoon. Unhone double fare diya hai. Main ab unko chhod nahi sakta. Kam se kam ek ghanta lagega. Bus le le ya shelter ke neeche wait kar. Is baarish mein akeli ghar mat chalna – khatarnak hai.” 

Lubna ka dil baith gaya lekin usne dheere se kaha, “Theek hai, main sambhal lungi. Bhagwan teri hifazat kare.” Usne call kaat di aur shelter ke khambe ke aur kareeb chhipak gayi. Ab barish ek bechain parda ban gayi thi jo usko sadak se alag kar rahi thi. Baaki passengers kam ho chuke the – college ki ladkiyaan ek chhatri ke neeche bhaag gayi thi, buddha ek guzarti auto ko rok kar chala gaya tha. 

Lubna akeli khadi reh gayi. Toofan aur tez ho raha tha, hawa paas ke neem ke pedon mein sehmi hui thi, uske pairon ke paas paani ikattha ho raha tha. Woh saans mein duaen padh rahi thi, har bijli ki chamak ke saath uski fikar badhti ja rahi thi. 

Tabhi wohi aadmi uski taraf aaya. Rakesh – haan, wohi tha, bank wala woh rugged chehra wala anjaan aadmi. Uska grey baal barish se geela hokar maathe se chipka hua tha, gaal par woh tezi se kata nishaan sadak ke light mein chamak raha tha. 

Woh grey coat, safed kurta aur dark brown patloon pehne tha jo ab geela hokar uske mazboot goonde jaisa shareer se sat gaya tha. Uski jeans ke kinare kiichad se bhare hue the. Woh shelter ki taraf purposeful kadmon se chala, ek kaale chhatri ko ek bade rough haath mein pakde hue. Uski chhoti tez aankhein turant us par atak gayi. 

Lubna ki saans atak gayi. Usne usko turant pehchaan liya – namak-mirch wali moochhen, gale mein sone ki chain, aur woh andaaz jisse woh chhote se jagah ko bhar deta tha jaise ek saya. 

“Begum? Phir aap?” Rakesh ne barish ki garaj mein apni bhari awaaz se kaha. Usmein hairani ke saath bank wali hi ziddi tone thi. Usne chhatri band ki aur pehle toh izzat se door khada raha, uske bigde grey baalon se paani tapak raha tha. 

“Lubna, sahi? Bank wale din ki. Is toofan mein yahan kya kar rahi ho? Aisi aurat ko akele bus stop par is baarish mein nahi khada hona chahiye. Sadakein dekh lo – abhi se paani bharne laga hai, busen ghanton delay ho rahi hain. Kisi ke liye bhi khatarnak hai, khas kar ek sharmili aurat jaise aapke liye. Nazarain har taraf hain, aise raaton mein buri harkatein karne wale bahar hote hain.” 

Lubna thoda peeche hat gayi, bag ko seene se kas kar pakde hue, uska veil geelepan se bhari hui. “Please… maine apne pati ko call kiya hai. Woh jaldi aa rahe hain. Main theek hoon.” Uski awaaz bijli ki garaj mein mushkil se sunai de rahi thi, sharmili aur sakht dono. 

Rakesh nahi gaya. Uski jagah usne phir se chhatri kholi aur uski taraf badhaya, yeh ishara lagbhag suraksha wala tha. “Tumhara pati? Rickshaw wala? Woh time par nahi pahunchega – is baarish ne shehar ko nadi bana diya hai. Maine pehle bhi dekha hai. Chal na, main yahan se sirf do gali door rehta hoon. Chhota sa ghar hai jismein sukha veranda hai. Wahan wait kar sakti ho jab tak baarish kam na ho. Baad mein main khud tujhe ghar chhod dunga – koi gandi baat nahi, apni maa ki kasam. Aisi aurat, akeli, bheegi hui, bag ke saath… yeh safe nahi hai. Bahar ke mard sharmili auraton par shikaar karte hain. Main un jaisa nahi hoon. Bas ek padosi madad kar raha hai.” 

Baarish aur zor se padti rahi aur baat lambi hoti gayi. Bijli uske rugged chehre ko sakht roshni mein chamka rahi thi – aankhon ke gird gehri lakeerein, chamde jaisa skin, woh goonde jaisa shareer jo toofan mein dhamki bhara aur oddly bharosemand dono lag raha tha. Lubna soch mein pad gayi, uske dimaag mein Mounir ke pehle waale warnings ghum rahe the aur uska apna vaada ki woh kabhi temptation mein nahi aaegi. 

Lekin dar ne usko jakad liya – bus stop ab bilkul khaali ho chuka tha, sadak nadi ban rahi thi, uske phone mein toofan ki wajah se signal nahi aa raha tha. “Main… main nahi jaanti. Yeh theek nahi hai,” usne aankhein neeche kiye hue dheemi siski mein kaha. 

Rakesh thoda sa jhuk kar bola, uski awaaz dheemi aur vishwas dilane wali, khatre ko gehre vistaar se samjhaate hue. “Theek? Kya theek hai isme? Pneumonia ho jaaye ya usse bhi badi bimari? Pichhle mahine factory ke paas ek aurat isi bus stop par barish mein loot li gayi thi – uski thaili chheen li gayi, usko kiichad mein dhakel diya. Kya tu sochti hai ki teri burqa aur sharmili kapde tujhe har cheez se bacha lenge? Nahi begum. Duniya bhediyon se bhari hai. Main toh sirf chhat, chai aur ek sukha jagah de raha hoon. Phir seedha ghar tak bike par chhod dunga. Tera pati mujhe shukriya bolega. Chal, pehle aur kharab hone se pehle.” 

Usne chhatri poori tarah uske sir par faila di, uska sakht haath uski thaili ke kinare ko anjaane mein chhoo gaya, bilkul bank wale waqiye jaisa. Yeh kareebipan, toofan ki tez barish, aur uski bhari awaaz mein sachchi chinta – yeh sab uske virodh ko kamzor kar rahe the. 

Bahut der tak aise hi baat hoti rahi – Lubna dheemi awaaz mein mana karti rahi, Rakesh ilaake ke khatron ki aur kahaniyaan sunata raha, barish ka rukh rukne ka naam nahi le raha tha – aakhir mein woh sir hilaati hui boli, uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. “Sirf tab tak jab tak barish ruk jaaye. Aur tu vaada kar ki mujhe seedha ghar chhod dega. Mera beta Amir intezaar kar raha hai.” 

Rakesh ke chehre par tedhi si muskaan aa gayi. Usne uski madad ki, dono ko peeche baithaaya aur dheere dheere paani bhari galiyon se guzarte hue chale, barish dono par zor se pad rahi thi aur upar bijli garaj rahi thi. Lubna side ki taraf baithi thi, seat ko kas kar pakde hue, uska dil dar aur anjaan shukraguzaari ke mishran se dhadak raha tha. 






Das minute mein woh uske ghar pahunch gaye – ek chhota sa single floor ka kachcha makaan, bargad ke pedon ke jhurmut ke peeche chhupa hua, veranda par chhat thi aur andar sukha tha. Rakesh ne chaabiyon ki jhankar se darwaza khola aur usko andar le aaya. 

Aage wala kamra sada lekin saaf suthra tha – ek purana sofa, ek chhota table, deewaron par purane filmi sitaaron ke murjhaye posters, aur kone mein chhoti si rasoi. Usne ek bulb jalaya, uski garam roshni toofan ke andhere ko door kar rahi thi. 

“Baith begum. Apne aap ko sukha le. Main chai banaata hoon – mazboot, adrak wali thand ke liye.” Lubna sofa ke kinare par baith gayi, uski peeli abaya ke neeche ka hissa geela tha, usne darwaze par apne jootiyan politely utaar di. Waqiya aage badha, dono ek dusre ko jaanne ki lambi shuruaat hui jab woh ek dented ketli mein paani ubaal raha tha. 

Rakesh ek bhap wali chai ka cup le kar wapas aaya aur usko dheere se dete hue sir hilaaya. “Le. Pi le. Mera naam Rakesh Khan hai waise – ab asli parichay. Bank wali bheed mein toh aisa nahi hua tha. Paanch saal se vidhwa hoon. Zindagi akeli hai, lekin sambhal leta hoon.” Woh uske saamne sofa par baith gaya, uska sakht chehra roshni mein naram pad gaya tha, zakhm ab itna darawana nahi lag raha tha. 





Lubna dheere dheere pi rahi thi, uski sharm uske jawabon ko shuruaat mein bahut kam kar rahi thi. “Lubna… gharwali. Mera pati Mounir rikshe chalata hai. Mere ek chhota beta hai Amir.” Lekin Rakesh kahaniyaan sunane mein maahir tha. Usne usko sach mein hasa diya – pichhle hafte bazaar mein bhagi bakri ko pakadne ki mazedaar kahani sunate hue, uski gehri bhari awaaz bakri ki bhe-bhe ki nakal kar rahi thi aur dukaandaaron ke gaaliyan. 

“Bakri seedhe phal ke thele mein kood gayi – aam har taraf! Main ek par phisal gaya aur kiichad mein gir pada bewakoof ki tarah.” Lubna ne apna muh dupatte se dhak liya, uske honthon se halki si khilkhilahat nikal gayi apne aap, tension dheere dheere kam ho rahi thi. 

Unki baat aur badhi – ilaake ke badalte tareekon ke baare mein, chawal ke daam, uski masjid mein chupke se ki jaane wali ,,.,, uski marhoom biwi ke pasandida khane. “Tu bahut achhi aurat lagti hai Lubna. Aaj kal aisi kam hi milti hain,” usne uska cup phir se bharte hue kaha. “Zyadatar auratein bina ek shabd bole guzar jaati hain.” 

Jaise jaise minute ghante mein badalte gaye, barish abhi bhi chhat par zor se pad rahi thi, Lubna ne doosra cup pi liya. Chai meethi aur masaledaar thi, lekin jaldi hi ek ajeeb chakkar aane laga. Uska sir halka lag raha tha, kamra thoda jhuk raha tha, rang kinaron par dhundhle pad rahe the. 





Usne cup neeche rakha aur dheere dheere palak jhapkaati hui boli. “Kya… chai mein kya hai? Iska swaad… alag hai. Mujhe chakkar aa raha hai.” Uski awaaz ladkhada rahi thi, uski hiran jaisi bhuri aankhein burqe ke kinare se uljhan se phail rahi thi. 

Rakesh uske aur kareeb jhuk gaya, uska goonda jaisa shareer saya daal raha tha, lekin awaaz sukoon bhari thi. “Sirf adrak aur thodi si garam karne wali cheez – mera khaas mishran. Thand mein faayda karta hai. Aaram kar begum. Barish abhi rukne wali nahi hai.” Usne haath badhaya, uska bada haath dheere se uski baah ko chhua, aur us dhundhlepan mein baat aur gehri ho gayi. Hansi wapas aa gayi jab usne ek aur kahani sunayi, lekin chakkar badhta gaya, usko ek dhundh mein kheenchta hua jahaan seemayein dhundhli pad rahi thi. 

Ab usi toofani dopahar mein jo baat hui thi, jo Lubna apne dhundhle dimaag mein nahi jaan paa rahi thi: uska chhota beta Amir ne homework jaldi khatam kar liya tha aur socha ki bazaar mein mummy ko chhata lekar surprise de de, jo usne pados wali aunty se maanga tha. 

Usne door se bus stop par mummy ko akeli barish mein khade dekha tha, aur phir chaunk kar dekha jab woh lamba sakht aadmi safed baalon wala uske paas aaya. Amir jaanta tha ki anjaan logon par vishwas nahi karna chahiye – papa hamesha kehte the – lekin jab us aadmi ne mummy ko apne ghar ki taraf le jaaya toh woh peeche peeche paidal chala, uske chhote pair paani ke dhabbon mein chapchap karte hue, thelon aur pedon ke peeche chhupte hue tab tak jab tak woh bargad ke pedon ke peeche us kachche makaan tak nahi pahunch gaye. Darwaza jaldi mein thoda khula chhod diya gaya tha, toofan uske halke kadmon ki awaaz chhupa raha tha. 

Amir andar chupke se ghus gaya, dil zor se dhadak raha tha, aur chhoti si gali se aage wale kamre mein jhaanka. Wahan ek bulb ki roshni mein usne apni mummy ko – apni sharmili aur seedhi sadhi mummy ko – sofa par us anjaan aadmi ke bilkul kareeb baithi dekha. Rakesh usko phir se hasa raha tha, uski bhari awaaz dheemi thi jab woh ek aur kahani sunaa raha tha rikshe ke kharab repair ki jo engine ke hisson ke udne par khatam hui thi. 

Lubna ki halki khilkhilahat kamre mein goonj rahi thi, uske gaal chai aur garamah se laal ho rahe the. Phir us dhundhle chakkar mein woh thoda sa aage jhuki aur Rakesh ka haath – woh sakht ungliyaan – upar badha. Dheere dheere jaan bujh kar usne uske burqe ke kinare ko chhua, kaala kapda uske haath ke neeche naram tha. “Yahan chhupne ki zaroorat nahi begum. Ek pal ke liye mujhe asli tu dikhade,” 

usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, uska sakht chehra uske chehre se sirf kuch inch door, zakhm saaf dikhai de raha tha, safed baal bigde hue. Usne burqa aadha utaar diya, kapde ko peeche ki taraf mod kar uske kaale ghungraale baalon ki laton ko bahar aane diya, uski zaitoon jaisi chamdi wali maatha aur gardan roshni mein chamak rahi thi. Lubna ki aankhein aadhi band thi, chakkar aur bevirodh, uske honthon se halki si saans nikal gayi. 

Aur phir yeh hua – chumma. Rakesh ne uska chehra dheere se apne haathon mein liya, uski moochhen uske bhare honthon ko chhoote hue woh jhuka, pehle sparsh naram tha, phir gehra ho gaya. Lubna ka haath uske chaude kandhe par tha, dhakel nahi raha tha, chai ka asar uske vicharon ko uljha aur garam kar raha tha. 

Amir andhere mein paththar ki tarah khada reh gaya, uske chhote muhthe kas gaye, samajh nahi aa raha tha – uski mummy, jo din mein paanch baar ,,., padhti thi, jo apne aap ko itni careful dhakti thi, ab is anjaan aadmi ko – goonde jaisa chehra aur safed baal wale – chumma de rahi thi. Aadha utara hua burqa ek kandhe par latak raha tha, ek nishaan tha ki sab kuch bigad raha tha. 








Ladka chupke se peeche hat gaya, bahar toofan utna hi tez tha jitna ab uske chhote dil ke andar toot raha tha. Woh barish mein ghar ki taraf bhaga, woh tasveer uske dimaag mein daag ki tarah jal rahi thi, ghar ka darwaza uske peeche band hua aur woh dono us pal mein khoe hue the, is baat ka unhe pata bhi nahi chala. 

Barish chhat par lagatar padti rahi, chai ka chakkar Lubna ko apni girft mein liye hue tha, shuruaati parichay aur hansiyan ab door ki goonj ban chuki thi jo is mana kiye gaye kareebipan tak le aayi thi. 

Rakesh thoda sa peeche hata, uski awaaz gehri garaj ki tarah thi. “Dekha? Itna bura bhi nahi hai. Tu mere saath yahan surakshit hai.” Lubna ne palak jhapkaai, ghar aur Amir ke baare mein kuch asafal shabd bole, lekin duniya uske gird dheere se ghum rahi thi, woh lambi dopahar shaam mein badal rahi thi jise woh baad mein poori tarah yaad nahi kar paayegi.