[Kobir99]

Adhyay 7

Dhol ki thaap se zameen kaanp rahi thi aur speakers se phatti Bollywood ke latest item number ki music mere seene mein ek vibration paida kar rahi thi.

Sangeet ki raat thi aur haveli ka aangan kisi shahi mehfil se kam nahi lag raha tha.

Yeh wahi aangan tha jo din mein shant rehta tha, par aaj iski har eent jaise jhoom rahi thi. Gende ke phoolon ki ladiyon mein uljhi sunhari fairy lights hazaron jugnuon ki tarah timtima rahi thiin.

Stage se nikalti neeli aur gulabi laser lights hawa mein tairte dhuen ko cheer rahi thiin, ek ajeeb sa jaadui mahol banate hue.

Hawa bhaari thi ek saath kai cheezon se.

Ek taraf koyalon par sikte kababon ka aag jaisa, masaledar dhuaan uth raha tha, jo biryani ke bade deg se uthti garam masale aur kewde ki meethi khushbu ke saath mil raha tha.

Doosri taraf, auraton ke gajron se aati mogre ki madhosh karne wali mehak thi aur mardon ke kapdon se uthta mehanga attar.

Yeh saari khushbuen Delhi ki umas bhari hawa mein milkar ek aisa nasha taiyar kar rahi thiin, jisme har koi dooba hua tha. Har taraf ek befikr jashn ka manzar tha.

Cham-cham karte lahengon aur resham ke kurton mein saje rishtedar bekhabar naach rahe the.

Kursiyon par baithe buzurg unhe dekh kar muskura rahe the aur auntiyon ke jhund thodi-thodi der mein kehkhon ke saath gossip ke naye daur shuru kar rahe the.

Aisa lag raha tha jaise yeh poori kaynat is ek aangan mein simat aayi ho, aur har koi is film ka hissa banne ke liye betab ho.

Aur is film ke beech, main ek anchaaha sa extra tha. Main ek kone mein, stage se sabse door wali kursi par baitha, is poori bheed se bachkar apne phone ki duniya mein khoya hua tha.

Mere haath mein phone is jashn se bachne ka mera zariya tha, ek digital duniya jahan is shor, in roshniyon aur in rishton ka koi matlab nahi tha.

Main Instagram par memes scroll kar raha tha, apne doston ke bematlab ke status dekh raha tha—kuch bhi, bas kuch bhi jo mujhe is pal se, is jagah se door le jaaye.

Main yahan jism se maujood tha, par meri rooh is jashn ka hissa nahi thi. Main ek alag-thalag taapu tha, jiske chaaron taraf khushiyon ka samandar shor macha raha tha.

Tabhi meri nazren phone ki screen se hatkar bheed ke beech thehrin, aur waqt jaise tham sa gaya.

Akram, jo apni sunhari sherwani mein chamak raha tha, mehfil ki jaan ban chuka tha. Woh har aane-jaane wale se gale mil raha tha, hans raha tha—ek mukammal dulha. Par meri nazar Akram par nahi, uske theek peeche us shakhs par jaakar atak gayi.

Woh kad-kaathi mein Akram se kahin zyada bhaari aur lamba tha. Gehre kaale rang ka pathani suit uske chaude kandhon aur mazboot jism par is kadar fit tha ki uski mardanagi saaf jhalak rahi thi. Usne apni aasteenen kohniyon tak mod rakhi thiin, jisse uski gathili kalaiyan aur haathon par ubharti nasen uski taqat ka ahsaas kara rahi thiin.

Uske chehre par shaadi wala woh ullaas nahi tha. Woh us shor-sharabe ke beech ek chattan ki tarah khamosh khada tha.

Sabse zyada bechain karne wali uski aankhen thiin—gehri, kaali aur behad tez. Woh mehfil ka hissa nahi tha, woh mehfil ka muayna kar raha tha. Uski nigahen poore aangan mein kisi shikari ki tarah ghoom rahi thiin:

Pehle usne stage ke paas khadi un jawan ladkiyon ko dekha jo apni muskurahton ke saath selfie le rahi thiin, par uski aankhon mein koi dilchaspi nahi jaagi.

Phir uski nazar gossip karti auntiyon par gayi, jinhe usne ek pal mein nazarandaz kar diya.

Woh kisi khaas cheez ki talash mein tha, kisi aisi 'nayamat' ki jo is bheed mein sabse juda ho.

Aur phir, achanak uski talash khatm hui. Uski nazren ek jagah jaakar jameen, to phir hiliin hi nahi. Maine anjaane mein uski nazron ka peecha kiya aur mera dil zor se dhadka. Woh Ammi ko taad raha tha.

Ammi us waqt bheed ke shor se thoda door, aangan ke kone mein khadi thiin jahan roshni thodi thi. Unke jism par ek gehri, sharabi rang ki saree lipti hui thi. Woh georgette ki saree thi, itni narm aur mulayam ki hawa ke saath lahra rahi thi. Saree ka rang itna gehra tha jaise mehangi sharab ho, jo roshni mein chamak uthta tha. Us par koi bhaari kaam nahi tha, bas ek patli si sone ki zari ka border tha jo uske kinaron par daud rahi thi.

Saree unki patli kamar par khoobsurti se bandhi thi, unke pusht koonlhon ke curve ko saaf bayan karti hui.

Saree ke saath unhone usi rang ka velvet ka blouse pehna tha. Velvet ki woh nazakat unke bhare hue seene par is kadar kasi hui thi ki unke raseele angon ka ubhaar kisi bhi mard ki dhadkanen rokne ke liye kaafi tha. Us blouse ki peeth itni gehri thi ki Ammi ki makhmali aur nangi safed peeth ka ek bada hissa beparda tha.

Unkan pallu unke kandhe par aazadi se lahra raha tha, jiska ek kona unki kalai par lipta hua tha. Unke lambe baal ek dheele se joode mein bandhe the, jisse unki surahi jaisi gardan aur us par chamakta sone ka patla sa haar saaf nazar aa raha tha. Kanon mein bas chhote se heere ke tops the jo har baar sar hilane par timtima uthte.

Ammi akeli nahi thiin. Unke saath Sayma khadi thi, jo apni bhaari shaadi ke jode mein thodi thaki aur sahmi hui lag rahi thi. Ammi, Aisha, uske kareeb jhukiin. Unke pusht seene ka ubhaar Sayma ke kandhe se halka sa chhuan kar raha tha.

Aur meri Ammi... woh uske kaan mein jhuk kar kuch keh rahi thiin, unki aawaz itni dheemi aur sukoon bhari thi ki main door se bhi uski narmi mehsoos kar sakta tha.

Ammi- Sayma:
Ammi ne Sayma ki taraf dekha aur dheemi aawaz mein kaha, "Haan Sayma, bolo, kya bolna hai?"

Sayma Ammi ke kareeb aayi aur unke kaan mein phusphusate hue boli, "Vishal Akram ke saath khada hai, aap us taraf mat dekhna. Usne kaale rang ka pathani suit pehna hai. Main dekh rahi hoon, woh apni fitrat ke anusar aapko hi taad raha tha."

Mera dil zor se dhadka. Maine Sayma se kaha, "Par woh mujhe kyun dekh raha hai? Blackmail to tujhe karta hai."

"Khala, kabhi aapne apne aap ko aaine mein dekha hai? Aap kahan aur main kahan! Woh apni fitrat ke anusar bade shikar ki taiyari kar raha hai. Main ab jaanti hoon use. Dekhna, kitne pyar se aapke saath chikni-chupdi baaten karega."

"Hay ,.'! Kya keh rahi hai tu? Main ek jawan bete ki maa hoon. Woh mujh mein kya dekhega?"

"Khala, lagta hai aapko apni khoobsurti ka andaza nahi hai. Agar main mard hoti, to main bhi aapko nahi chhodti. Vishal se bachkar rehna, kahin aisa na ho ki aap mujhe bachane jayen aur khud phans jayen."

Mere andar ek anjaana darr sama gaya.

Ammi (man hi man): 'He ,.', ye kis aafat mein ghir gaye hum? Sayma ko bachane chali thi, par kya ab mujhe khud ko bhi is darinde se bachana hoga?'

Tabhi Sayma ki bhaari jhumki ka pech dheela hua. Ammi ne apne lambe aur narm haathon ko upar uthaya.

Jab Ammi ne apni baahen upar kiin, to unke blouse ki kasawat aur badh gayi, jisse unke urojon ka ubhaar aur bhi zyada numaya hokar saamne ki taraf tan gaya. Unki patli kamar ka woh hissa, jahan saree thodi neeche khisak gayi thi, apni poori noorani safedi ke saath chamak utha. Woh apni komal ungliyon se Sayma ki jhumki theek kar rahi thiin, par door khade us shakhs aur meri nazron ke liye, woh mahaz ek madad nahi, balki husn ki ek aisi numaish thi jise dekh kar kaleja munh ko aata tha.

Us waqt Ammi ka poora vajood ek saleeke se tarashi gayi sangmarmar ki moorat jaisa lag raha tha. Jhumki theek karne ke liye unkan sar ek taraf ko jhuka hua tha, jisse unki lambi aur doodhiya surahidar gardan ki safedi aur bhi numaya ho gayi thi. Us gori gardan par sone ka woh bareek haar kisi jugnu ki taraf apni chamak bikher raha tha. Stage ki tez laser lights jab unke chehre ke ek hisse par padtiin, to unke ubhre hue gaalon aur aankhon ki gehrai mein ek makhmali nasha sa bhar jaata.

Ammi ne Sayma ke narm gaal ko badi mamta se thapthapaya. Aur phir, woh us maddham roshni wale kone se bahar nikliin.

Jaise hi woh mehfil ke beechon-beech aayiin, unkan andaz ekdam badal gaya. Woh sharabi rang ki georgette saree unke sudoul koonlhon aur taangon ke saath is kadar lahra rahi thi ki har dekhne wale ki dhadkan us lay ke saath atak rahi thi. Unkan pallu hawa mein ek nasheeli lahar ki tarah unke peeche tair raha tha. Unke chalne ke andaz mein ek aisa aatmanivishwas tha jo unke pusht seene ke ubhaar ko aur bhi garv se upar utha raha tha.

Woh seedhe us taraf badhiin jahan main, nani aur mamiyan khadi gapshap kar rahi thiin. Ammi ne apni komal ungliyon se aahista se apne pallu ko sambhala aur humare beech aakar khadi ho gayiin. Unke aate hi jaise humare chhote se group ki chamak badh gayi.

Nani: (hamesha ki tarah laad bhari shikayat mein) "Kahan mar gayi thi tu itni der se? Poori mehfil tujhe dhoond rahi hai, aur tu gayab hai."

Ammi: (apni nasheeli aur shant aawaz mein) "Kahin nahi ammi... bas woh Sayma thoda ghabra rahi thi. Bechari bachhi hai, pehli baar itna bada bojh sambhaal rahi hai. Bas use hi thoda tasalli de rahi thi."

Tabhi Akram, apni sunhari sherwani ki chamak bikherte hue, us kaale pathani suit wale shakhs ko lekar seedhe humare group ki taraf badha.

Akram: (muskurate hue) "Aisha bhabhi, miliye... yeh mera sabse azeez aur purana yaar hai, Vishal."

Vishal ki woh shikari nigahen, jo ab tak door se Ammi ke raseele badan ko naap rahi thiin, ab seedhe unke chehre par aakar tik gayiin. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi nangi tareef aur hawas bhari chahat thi, jise dekh kar Ammi ke bhare hue seene ki dhadkan tez ho gayi.

Ammi ke khayalat:
Ammi ne jaise hi us gathile aur handsome jawan ko itne kareeb dekha, unke zehen mein ek saath kai baaten kaundhiin.

Ammi (man mein): "Ya ,.'... Sayma sach keh rahi thi. Yeh to waqai kisi but ki tarah tarasha hua mard hai. Iski ye gehri aankhen to seedhe meri sharabi saree ko phaadkar mere makhmali jism ko chhoo rahi hain. Kya yehi woh darinda hai jisne meri bachhi ko suicide ke muhane par khada kar diya? Iske is mardana rasookh aur handsome chehre ke peeche itna zehar kaise chhipa ho sakta hai?"

Ammi: (apni shahad jaisi meethi aawaz mein, jo halka sa kaanp rahi thi) "Aap se milkar… khushi hui, Vishal sahab."

Vishal: (apni bhaari aur raseeli aawaz mein, Ammi ki surahidar gardan par apni nazren tikate hue) "Akram aksar aapki tareefon ke pul baandhta tha bhabhi... par usne yeh zikr kabhi nahi kiya ki aap itni bepanah khoobsurat hain."

Usne apna mazboot haath aage badhaya. Ammi ne hichkichate hue apna komal haath uski hatheli par rakha.

Vishal ne sirf haath milaya nahi. Usne Ammi ke narm panjon ko apni garm aur mazboot giraft mein daba liya. Woh sparsh mahaz aupcharik nahi tha; uski ungliyon ka dabaav Ammi ke makhmali maans mein dhans raha tha aur use mehsoos kar raha tha.

Ek second... do second... teen second.

Vishal ne haath chhoda nahi. Ammi ne jhatke se apni aankhen upar uthayiin aur seedhe Vishal ki aankhon mein dekha.

Ammi ke gore gaalon par ek surkh laali daud gayi. Unhone tezi se apna haath kheench liya, jaise kisi jalti hui cheez ko chhoo liya ho.

Ammi (man mein): "Tauba... is mard ka chhoona kitna khatarnak hai. Isne mahaz haath nahi pakda, jaise meri rooh tak apni hawas ka nishan chhod diya ho. Mujhe sambhalna hoga… yeh Vishal jitna sexy aur jaadui dikhta hai, utna hi shatir shikari hai. Par ise kya maloom, ki iski isi hawas ko main Sayma ki dhaal banaungi."

Vishal ki nazren Ammi ki jhuki hui aankhon se hote hue, unke ras bhare honthon se sarakti hui, ab Ammi ke blouse ki us gehri dhalan par tik gayi thiin.

Vishal ki nazren abhi bhi Ammi ke gale ki us gehri dhalan par jami hui thiin. Usne madhosh si aawaz mein budbudate hue kaha, "Beautiful…"

Ammi ka chehra sharm aur darr se laal ho gaya. Unhone baat sambhalte hue pucha, "Kya… kya aapne kuch kaha?"

Vishal thoda aur jhukkar Ammi ke kaan ke paas apni garm saansen chhodte hue bola, "Nahi... main to bas do pahadiyon ke beech ki us gehri waadi ki khoobsurti ki tareef kar raha tha."

Ammi ka poora shareer is do-arthi baat ko sunkar sunn pad gaya. Vishal ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si darindagi aur bhook thi, jo saaf keh rahi thi ki uska nishana ab Sayma nahi, balki khud Ammi hain.

Ammi ki saansen tez hone lagi thiin, jiske karan unki chhati ghabrahat mein aur bhi tezi se upar-neeche ho rahi thi, maano unke shareer ke us hisse ko bhi pata chal gaya ho ki woh ab kisi ki bhooki nazron ke nishane par hai. Vishal ki nazron ka bhaaripan unke reshmi blouse ke paar unki khaal par mehsoos ho raha tha.

Kahoon toh kya kahoon.. Lajawaab  hain...