02-06-2026, 11:20 PM
Chapter - 34
Maine phir zyada nahi socha, raat ke char bajne ko the, aur mujhe us kharab haalat mein bhi ab kaafi neend aa rahi thi. Main usi bistar par jaake so gaya—garmi aur machchharon ke beech.
Agli subah meri neend khuli to main kaafi thaka-thaka mehsoos kar raha tha. Aaj Ayesha khala ki chhoti beti ka nikaah tha. Ghar mein sab subah se kaam mein uljhe hue the. Nikaah ka hall ghar se thodi doori par tha.
Main Noor ke paas gaya, jo naha-dho kar kamre mein baithi Rizwan ko taiyaar kar rahi thi. Maine use dekhte hi kaha, “Noor, kaisi neend aayi aapki?” Usne meri taraf dekha, muskurayi, aur boli, “Achi, Rizwan ke abbu. Aur aapki?” Maine raat ka haal bataya—kaise garmi aur machchharon se raat bhar joojhta raha. Meri baat sun kar woh udaas ho gayi, “Rizwan ke abbu, yeh bheed toh kam nahi hogi. Ayesha khala keh rahi thi ki kuch door ke log aur aane baaki hain.” Yeh sun kar maine apne sar par haath rakha aur Noor ko kal ki Ayesha khala ki baat batayi. Usne jhat se kaha, “Rizwan ke abbu, aap khala ko keh do na, hum unke rishtedaar ke yahan ruk jayenge.” Maine thodi der socha, phir sar haan mein hilaya.
Maine koshish ki Ayesha khala se yeh baat kehne ki, ki hum unke rishtedaar ke yahan rukne ko taiyaar hain, par khala aaj had se zyada mashgool thi. Din bhar mujhe unse baat karne ka mauka nahi mila.
Shaam hone ko thi, saari khawateen saj-dhaj kar, naye kapdon aur veil mein, dheere-dheere hall ki taraf jaane lagi. Main bhi hall mein mardon ki jagah ek kursi pakad kar baith gaya, aur abbu mere saath baithe the. Auraton ki taraf Noor, Rizwan ko god mein liye, aur ammi baithi thi.
Ayesha khala ne shandaar intezaam kiya tha. Khane-peene ki koi kami nahi thi, aur stage laal gulab ke haar se saj kar bahut khubsurat dikh raha tha.
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Dheere-dheere log jutne lage, aur hall mein shor badhne laga. Abbu baaton mein mashgool ho gaye. Main akela baitha kal raat ki ghatna ko yaad kar raha tha—Saba ka woh haal, uska aise mana karna. Akhir ho kya raha tha? Ya kahein woh kya kar rahi thi? Mujhe daal mein kuch kala nazar aa raha tha.
Main akela thoda bore ho raha tha. Baraat aane mein bhi thodi der thi, to meri nazar Noor ko dhoondhne lagi, par woh itni auraton mein ghul-mil gayi thi. Mujhe yaad aaya ki aise hi ek shaadi mein Noor aur woh kameena pehli dafa ek hue the. Yeh sochkar main thoda sa has diya aur khud bhi kuch logon se baatein karne laga.
Kuch pal mein nikaah ka waqt aa gaya. Saba stage par kaafi haseen lag rahi thi. Afra-tafri ke beech moulvi sahab ne nikaah padhaya, duaen goonji, aur log khushiyan manane lage. Nikaah ke baad log dawat mein lag gaye. Maine Ayesha khala ko dhoondha, woh rishtedaaron se baat kar rahi thi. “Khala, kamra ka kya hua?” maine poochha. Unhone kaha, “Imran, kal subah alag jagah set kar doongi. Bas aaj raat sambhal lo.”
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Main thoda mayoos ho gaya, kyunki ab mujhe dobara usi jagah par raat guzaarni thi. Lekin phir maine sab kuch bhula ke khane par nazar daali aur sab logon ke saath dawat mein shamil ho gaya.
Joron-shoron se dawat chal rahi thi. Sab baaton aur khane mein mashgool the. Main khana kha ke cola aur ice cream ke maze le raha tha, par mujhe bahut tez peshab lagi—zaroor zyada cola peene ki wajah se. Washroom dhoondhne gaya to dekha lambi line lagi thi. Yeh dekh kar samajh gaya ki yahan ruka to yahin nikal jayega. Main jaldi se wahan se nikla aur hall ke baahar nazar daudayi—door-door tak sirf car parking dikhi. Socha, thodi door kone mein ja ke kaam chala loon. Tez kadmon se wahan se nikla, kuch der mein kone ki taraf chala gaya, pyjama neeche kiya, aur peshab kiya. Tab ja ke chain aaya.
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Main wapas hall ki taraf jaane ke liye muda, lekin tabhi mere chehre par tez thandi hawa ka jhonka laga. Main wahin ruk gaya aur hawa ka maza lene laga. Meri aankhein kuch der ke liye band ho gayin, aur jab khulin to maine dekha ki ek car dheere-dheere ek jagah par hil rahi thi. Yeh dekhkar maine apna sir pakad liya, sochne laga ki kahin main bimar to nahi hoon, ya mujhe chakkar aa rahe hain. Maine phir us gaadi ke bagal wali car ko dekha, jo bilkul shant khadi thi. Meri nazar wapas us hilti hui car par gayi, aur main sochne laga ki baat kya hai. Mere dil mein laddu phootne lage, aur main dheere-dheere us taraf badhne laga.
Main us car ke paas pahuncha aur uske chhat par haath rakh diya. Car ab bhi hil rahi thi. Maine thoda aage badhkar car ke sheeshe par aankh lagayi, lekin andar kuch saaf dikhayi nahi diya. To maine apna phone nikala, flashlight jalayi, aur sheeshe par roshni daali. Jab maine andar jhanka, to mujhe saaf dikhayi diya — ek aurat aur ek ladka sidhe meri taraf ghoor rahe the. Main un dono ki halat dekh hi raha tha ki achanak wo ladka, nanga, tezi se car se bahar nikla aur mera collar pakad liya.
“Kaun hai be tu, saale? Kya dekh raha hai, madarchod?” usne gusse mein kaha. Mera collar uske haath mein tha, aur main thoda dar bhi gaya tha. “W-wo... m-mujhe... n-nahi...” main darr ke maare saaf bol bhi nahi pa raha tha. Tabhi usne ek mukka mere kandhe par maara, jisse main dard se karah utha.
“Tu hai kaun, madarchod? Teri himmat kaise hui andar jhankane ki?” usne phir se chillaya. Maine apne haath aage kiye aur uske samne haath jod liye. “M-mujhe chhod do, maine kya kiya? Mujhe kyun maar rahe ho?” maine darrte hue kaha.
Main andar se kaafi ghabra gaya tha. Mera sharir darr se kamp raha tha. Wo ladka dikhne mein gunda jaisa lag raha tha. Main darr ke maare kuch bol nahi pa raha tha. Usne mere sir par do-teen baar tezi se maara aur ek dhakka dekar mujhe zameen par gira diya. “Saale, agar kisi ko bataya to madarchod...” wo mujhe pairon se mere seene aur pet par tezi se maarne laga. Dard se meri halat kharab hone lagi. Isi beech kisi ne use peeche se kheench liya. Maine apna sir uthaya to dekha ki wo wahi aurat thi, jo kuch pal pehle car mein nangi thi aur ab salwar pehne hue thi. Usne us kameene ko peeche se kas kar pakad liya aur mujhe bachane ki koshish ki.
“Rahul, kya kar rahe ho? Ise chot lag rahi hai, chhod do!” usne kaha. Lekin wo ladka mujhe ghoorta hua apni kamar se uska haath hatane ki koshish kar raha tha. “Chhod, Samreen, meri kamar! Is madarchod ko jasoos banne ka shauk hai na? Abhi iska gaand todta hoon main!” usne gusse mein kaha.
Us ladke ne mujhe ghoorte hue apni kamar se us aurat ka haath jhatak diya aur ek kadam aage badha. Uska chehra gusse se lal tha, aur aankhon mein ek khatarnaak chamak thi. “Sun le, madarchod,” usne meri taraf ungli uthate hue dhamkaya, “agar tune is baat ka zikr kisi se bhi kiya, toh tujhe aisa sabak sikhaunga ki tu zindagi bhar yaad rakhega!” Main zameen par pada, kharab halat mein tha, dard se karah raha tha, aur mera dil itni zor se dhadak raha tha ki mujhe laga woh abhi seene se bahar nikal jayega. Us aurat ne phir se uska haath pakadne ki koshish ki, par us ladke ne use itni zor se dhakka diya ki wo ladkhada gayi. “Chhod de, Rahul, bas kar!” usne chillate hue kaha, lekin uska gussa rukne ka naam nahi le raha tha. Maine apne haath jod liye aur darr se kampaate hue bola, “Kudrat ke nizam ki kasam, main kisi se kuch nahi kahoonga! Bas mujhe jaane de!” Meri awaaz toot rahi thi, aankhon mein aansoon aa gaye the. Us kameene ne mujhe ek lambi, ghoorati nazar se dekha, phir zameen par thooka aur bola, “Chal, nikal yahan se, saale. Par yaad rakh, ek galti ki toh tujhe dekh lunga!” Usne mera collar chhoda, aur main ladkhadate hue utha, dard se chur ho chuka tha, lekin jaan bachi toh lakhon paaye.
Main ladkhadate hue utha aur wahi, us nange kameene aur us aurat ke saamne khada raha. Mera shirt zameen par girne se mitti se ganda ho chuka tha. Maine jeb se rumaal nikala aur shirt ke daag saaf karne laga. Rahul us aurat ko apni baahon mein kheench liya aur zor se chillaaya, “Abe saale, yahan kya tamasha dekh raha hai? Nikal yahan se, madarchod, warna tujhe aisa peetunga ki hosh thikane aa jayenge!” Us aurat ne hanskar kaha, “Rahul, chhod na, bechara darr gaya hai,” aur dono ke beech hasi-mazaak aur chhedchhad shuru ho gayi. Main unki flirt bhari baatein sunta raha. Maine rumaal jeb mein daala aur wahan se door chalne laga. Jaise hi main thodi door badha, maine peeche mudkar dekha ki wo car phir se dheere-dheere hilne lagi.
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Kuch pal baad main wapas hall mein aa gaya. Mera sharir chot se dard kar raha tha. Maine apna shirt theek kiya aur daant pees kar chup raha. Ek taraf man kar raha tha ki sabko us kameene aur us aurat ki baat bata doon, lekin darr ke maare chup rehna hi behtar laga. Isi beech, mujhe dikha nahi ki mama meri taraf aa rahe the.
“Imran beta, inse milo, ye Rahman hain—Dilli mein inka business hai,” mama ne mujhse unke saath aaye aadmi ko milwate hue kaha. Maine Rahman ko dekha, salaam kiya, aur usne bhi mujhe salaam diya. Mama ne aage kaha, “Beta, teri khala toh kaam mein bahut masroof hai, tu dekh hi raha hai.” Maine haan mein sir hilaya. “Haan, mamujaan, walima tak toh woh aisi hi busy rahengi,” maine jawab diya. Mama ne bhi sir hilate hue kaha, “Beta, ye hamare door ke rishtedaar hain. Kal raat tujhe sone mein dikkat hui thi na?” Maine haan mein sir hilaya. “Haan, mamujaan, kaafi garmi aur machchar the.” Mama ne kaha, “Jab tak ghar khali na ho, tu inke yahan ruk ja.” Maine Rahman ki taraf dekha aur poocha, “Rahman bhaijaan, aapko koi dikkat toh nahi?” Usne thahaka maar ke hansa aur bola, “Arre, apno ki madad na karenge toh kiski karenge? Jitne din chaho, mere ghar ruk jao, tum bhi toh parivaar ho.” Maine muskurane ki koshish ki, bhale hi mere sharir mein dard ki lehar daud rahi thi.
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Ek ghante baad jab mehmaan ek ek kar ke rukhsat hone lage, toh maine Noor ko bataya ke main aaj raat Rahman bhaijaan ke yahan rukne ka irada bana chuka hoon. Noor ne khushi se haan kar di — kal raat toh waise bhi garmi, machchar, aur bijli jaane ke chakkar mein neend ka naam-o-nishaan nahi tha.
Maine Rahman bhaijaan se adab se kaha, “Bhaijaan, ek chhoti si darkhwast thi... agar aap humein Ayesha khala ke ghar se utha saken? Samaan uthana hai.”
Rahman bhaijaan ne khushi-khushi haan kar di, “Arre, kyun nahi, Imran miyaan! Tum toh apne ho. Aata hoon, bas aadhe ghante mein.”
Main, Noor aur hamara beta Rizwan, Ayesha khala ke ghar pahunch gaye. Noor samaan bandhne lagi aur main Rizwan ke saath chhatriyon waale bag mein kapde theek kar raha tha. Aadha ghanta guzra, tabhi gali ke mooh se ek purani si Wagon R dhire-dhire ghusti hui dikhayi di.
Main ne bas yunhi us gaadi ki taraf dekha... aur kuch ajeeb sa laga. Dil mein halki si ghabraahat si hui, par maine jhatka diya, “Chhod yaar, Imran... sab Wagon R ek jaise hi dikhte hain.” Par phir bhi aankhon ne dhokha dene se inkaar kar diya.
Gaadi bilkul paas aayi, toh dil dhak-dhak karne laga. Gaadi ka peechla bumper halka sa toota hua tha... jaise kisi ne ghusse mein laat maari ho. Aur... chhat ke kone pe ek chhota sa sticker — "Meri Biwi Meri Jaan".
Yeh wahi thi.
Mujhe paseena aa gaya. Main kuch der tak joota bandhne ka naatak karta raha... gaadi ruk chuki thi. Darwaza khula, aur Rahman bhaijaan muskurate hue bole, “Chalo bhai, chalo! Der ho rahi hai!”
Main ne haan mein sir hilaaya, Noor aur Rizwan ko gaadi mein bithaya. Jaise hi main chadhne ko hua, meri nazar saamne wali seat par padhi — ek aurat veil mein baithi thi, uska chehra chhupa hua tha... magar aankhon ka kajal, aankhon ki woh tez roshni — mujhe turant yaad aayi woh raat... woh sheesha... woh kaand.
Mujhe laga zameen phat jaaye, main usmein sama jaaun.
Main bechaini se peechhe dekhta hoon... chhat ka wahi halka hilna... kuch yaadein jhat se flashback ke jaise wapas aa gayi. Maine apni nazar jhuka li.
Tabhi Rahman bhaijaan ne muskurate hue kaha,
“Imran miyaan, milo meri begum se... yeh hain Samreen.”
Samreen ne thoda sa dupatta adjust kiya, aur ek teekhi, shaitaani si muskurahat ke saath keh diya,
“Salaam Imran bhai...”
Imran ka chehra peela pad gaya... uski awaaz gala ghutne jaisi ho gayi —
“Wa-wa-aalaykum... s-salaam.”
Maine phir zyada nahi socha, raat ke char bajne ko the, aur mujhe us kharab haalat mein bhi ab kaafi neend aa rahi thi. Main usi bistar par jaake so gaya—garmi aur machchharon ke beech.
Agli subah meri neend khuli to main kaafi thaka-thaka mehsoos kar raha tha. Aaj Ayesha khala ki chhoti beti ka nikaah tha. Ghar mein sab subah se kaam mein uljhe hue the. Nikaah ka hall ghar se thodi doori par tha.
Main Noor ke paas gaya, jo naha-dho kar kamre mein baithi Rizwan ko taiyaar kar rahi thi. Maine use dekhte hi kaha, “Noor, kaisi neend aayi aapki?” Usne meri taraf dekha, muskurayi, aur boli, “Achi, Rizwan ke abbu. Aur aapki?” Maine raat ka haal bataya—kaise garmi aur machchharon se raat bhar joojhta raha. Meri baat sun kar woh udaas ho gayi, “Rizwan ke abbu, yeh bheed toh kam nahi hogi. Ayesha khala keh rahi thi ki kuch door ke log aur aane baaki hain.” Yeh sun kar maine apne sar par haath rakha aur Noor ko kal ki Ayesha khala ki baat batayi. Usne jhat se kaha, “Rizwan ke abbu, aap khala ko keh do na, hum unke rishtedaar ke yahan ruk jayenge.” Maine thodi der socha, phir sar haan mein hilaya.
Maine koshish ki Ayesha khala se yeh baat kehne ki, ki hum unke rishtedaar ke yahan rukne ko taiyaar hain, par khala aaj had se zyada mashgool thi. Din bhar mujhe unse baat karne ka mauka nahi mila.
Shaam hone ko thi, saari khawateen saj-dhaj kar, naye kapdon aur veil mein, dheere-dheere hall ki taraf jaane lagi. Main bhi hall mein mardon ki jagah ek kursi pakad kar baith gaya, aur abbu mere saath baithe the. Auraton ki taraf Noor, Rizwan ko god mein liye, aur ammi baithi thi.
Ayesha khala ne shandaar intezaam kiya tha. Khane-peene ki koi kami nahi thi, aur stage laal gulab ke haar se saj kar bahut khubsurat dikh raha tha.
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Dheere-dheere log jutne lage, aur hall mein shor badhne laga. Abbu baaton mein mashgool ho gaye. Main akela baitha kal raat ki ghatna ko yaad kar raha tha—Saba ka woh haal, uska aise mana karna. Akhir ho kya raha tha? Ya kahein woh kya kar rahi thi? Mujhe daal mein kuch kala nazar aa raha tha.
Main akela thoda bore ho raha tha. Baraat aane mein bhi thodi der thi, to meri nazar Noor ko dhoondhne lagi, par woh itni auraton mein ghul-mil gayi thi. Mujhe yaad aaya ki aise hi ek shaadi mein Noor aur woh kameena pehli dafa ek hue the. Yeh sochkar main thoda sa has diya aur khud bhi kuch logon se baatein karne laga.
Kuch pal mein nikaah ka waqt aa gaya. Saba stage par kaafi haseen lag rahi thi. Afra-tafri ke beech moulvi sahab ne nikaah padhaya, duaen goonji, aur log khushiyan manane lage. Nikaah ke baad log dawat mein lag gaye. Maine Ayesha khala ko dhoondha, woh rishtedaaron se baat kar rahi thi. “Khala, kamra ka kya hua?” maine poochha. Unhone kaha, “Imran, kal subah alag jagah set kar doongi. Bas aaj raat sambhal lo.”
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Main thoda mayoos ho gaya, kyunki ab mujhe dobara usi jagah par raat guzaarni thi. Lekin phir maine sab kuch bhula ke khane par nazar daali aur sab logon ke saath dawat mein shamil ho gaya.
Joron-shoron se dawat chal rahi thi. Sab baaton aur khane mein mashgool the. Main khana kha ke cola aur ice cream ke maze le raha tha, par mujhe bahut tez peshab lagi—zaroor zyada cola peene ki wajah se. Washroom dhoondhne gaya to dekha lambi line lagi thi. Yeh dekh kar samajh gaya ki yahan ruka to yahin nikal jayega. Main jaldi se wahan se nikla aur hall ke baahar nazar daudayi—door-door tak sirf car parking dikhi. Socha, thodi door kone mein ja ke kaam chala loon. Tez kadmon se wahan se nikla, kuch der mein kone ki taraf chala gaya, pyjama neeche kiya, aur peshab kiya. Tab ja ke chain aaya.
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Main wapas hall ki taraf jaane ke liye muda, lekin tabhi mere chehre par tez thandi hawa ka jhonka laga. Main wahin ruk gaya aur hawa ka maza lene laga. Meri aankhein kuch der ke liye band ho gayin, aur jab khulin to maine dekha ki ek car dheere-dheere ek jagah par hil rahi thi. Yeh dekhkar maine apna sir pakad liya, sochne laga ki kahin main bimar to nahi hoon, ya mujhe chakkar aa rahe hain. Maine phir us gaadi ke bagal wali car ko dekha, jo bilkul shant khadi thi. Meri nazar wapas us hilti hui car par gayi, aur main sochne laga ki baat kya hai. Mere dil mein laddu phootne lage, aur main dheere-dheere us taraf badhne laga.
Main us car ke paas pahuncha aur uske chhat par haath rakh diya. Car ab bhi hil rahi thi. Maine thoda aage badhkar car ke sheeshe par aankh lagayi, lekin andar kuch saaf dikhayi nahi diya. To maine apna phone nikala, flashlight jalayi, aur sheeshe par roshni daali. Jab maine andar jhanka, to mujhe saaf dikhayi diya — ek aurat aur ek ladka sidhe meri taraf ghoor rahe the. Main un dono ki halat dekh hi raha tha ki achanak wo ladka, nanga, tezi se car se bahar nikla aur mera collar pakad liya.
“Kaun hai be tu, saale? Kya dekh raha hai, madarchod?” usne gusse mein kaha. Mera collar uske haath mein tha, aur main thoda dar bhi gaya tha. “W-wo... m-mujhe... n-nahi...” main darr ke maare saaf bol bhi nahi pa raha tha. Tabhi usne ek mukka mere kandhe par maara, jisse main dard se karah utha.
“Tu hai kaun, madarchod? Teri himmat kaise hui andar jhankane ki?” usne phir se chillaya. Maine apne haath aage kiye aur uske samne haath jod liye. “M-mujhe chhod do, maine kya kiya? Mujhe kyun maar rahe ho?” maine darrte hue kaha.
Main andar se kaafi ghabra gaya tha. Mera sharir darr se kamp raha tha. Wo ladka dikhne mein gunda jaisa lag raha tha. Main darr ke maare kuch bol nahi pa raha tha. Usne mere sir par do-teen baar tezi se maara aur ek dhakka dekar mujhe zameen par gira diya. “Saale, agar kisi ko bataya to madarchod...” wo mujhe pairon se mere seene aur pet par tezi se maarne laga. Dard se meri halat kharab hone lagi. Isi beech kisi ne use peeche se kheench liya. Maine apna sir uthaya to dekha ki wo wahi aurat thi, jo kuch pal pehle car mein nangi thi aur ab salwar pehne hue thi. Usne us kameene ko peeche se kas kar pakad liya aur mujhe bachane ki koshish ki.
“Rahul, kya kar rahe ho? Ise chot lag rahi hai, chhod do!” usne kaha. Lekin wo ladka mujhe ghoorta hua apni kamar se uska haath hatane ki koshish kar raha tha. “Chhod, Samreen, meri kamar! Is madarchod ko jasoos banne ka shauk hai na? Abhi iska gaand todta hoon main!” usne gusse mein kaha.
Us ladke ne mujhe ghoorte hue apni kamar se us aurat ka haath jhatak diya aur ek kadam aage badha. Uska chehra gusse se lal tha, aur aankhon mein ek khatarnaak chamak thi. “Sun le, madarchod,” usne meri taraf ungli uthate hue dhamkaya, “agar tune is baat ka zikr kisi se bhi kiya, toh tujhe aisa sabak sikhaunga ki tu zindagi bhar yaad rakhega!” Main zameen par pada, kharab halat mein tha, dard se karah raha tha, aur mera dil itni zor se dhadak raha tha ki mujhe laga woh abhi seene se bahar nikal jayega. Us aurat ne phir se uska haath pakadne ki koshish ki, par us ladke ne use itni zor se dhakka diya ki wo ladkhada gayi. “Chhod de, Rahul, bas kar!” usne chillate hue kaha, lekin uska gussa rukne ka naam nahi le raha tha. Maine apne haath jod liye aur darr se kampaate hue bola, “Kudrat ke nizam ki kasam, main kisi se kuch nahi kahoonga! Bas mujhe jaane de!” Meri awaaz toot rahi thi, aankhon mein aansoon aa gaye the. Us kameene ne mujhe ek lambi, ghoorati nazar se dekha, phir zameen par thooka aur bola, “Chal, nikal yahan se, saale. Par yaad rakh, ek galti ki toh tujhe dekh lunga!” Usne mera collar chhoda, aur main ladkhadate hue utha, dard se chur ho chuka tha, lekin jaan bachi toh lakhon paaye.
Main ladkhadate hue utha aur wahi, us nange kameene aur us aurat ke saamne khada raha. Mera shirt zameen par girne se mitti se ganda ho chuka tha. Maine jeb se rumaal nikala aur shirt ke daag saaf karne laga. Rahul us aurat ko apni baahon mein kheench liya aur zor se chillaaya, “Abe saale, yahan kya tamasha dekh raha hai? Nikal yahan se, madarchod, warna tujhe aisa peetunga ki hosh thikane aa jayenge!” Us aurat ne hanskar kaha, “Rahul, chhod na, bechara darr gaya hai,” aur dono ke beech hasi-mazaak aur chhedchhad shuru ho gayi. Main unki flirt bhari baatein sunta raha. Maine rumaal jeb mein daala aur wahan se door chalne laga. Jaise hi main thodi door badha, maine peeche mudkar dekha ki wo car phir se dheere-dheere hilne lagi.
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Kuch pal baad main wapas hall mein aa gaya. Mera sharir chot se dard kar raha tha. Maine apna shirt theek kiya aur daant pees kar chup raha. Ek taraf man kar raha tha ki sabko us kameene aur us aurat ki baat bata doon, lekin darr ke maare chup rehna hi behtar laga. Isi beech, mujhe dikha nahi ki mama meri taraf aa rahe the.
“Imran beta, inse milo, ye Rahman hain—Dilli mein inka business hai,” mama ne mujhse unke saath aaye aadmi ko milwate hue kaha. Maine Rahman ko dekha, salaam kiya, aur usne bhi mujhe salaam diya. Mama ne aage kaha, “Beta, teri khala toh kaam mein bahut masroof hai, tu dekh hi raha hai.” Maine haan mein sir hilaya. “Haan, mamujaan, walima tak toh woh aisi hi busy rahengi,” maine jawab diya. Mama ne bhi sir hilate hue kaha, “Beta, ye hamare door ke rishtedaar hain. Kal raat tujhe sone mein dikkat hui thi na?” Maine haan mein sir hilaya. “Haan, mamujaan, kaafi garmi aur machchar the.” Mama ne kaha, “Jab tak ghar khali na ho, tu inke yahan ruk ja.” Maine Rahman ki taraf dekha aur poocha, “Rahman bhaijaan, aapko koi dikkat toh nahi?” Usne thahaka maar ke hansa aur bola, “Arre, apno ki madad na karenge toh kiski karenge? Jitne din chaho, mere ghar ruk jao, tum bhi toh parivaar ho.” Maine muskurane ki koshish ki, bhale hi mere sharir mein dard ki lehar daud rahi thi.
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Ek ghante baad jab mehmaan ek ek kar ke rukhsat hone lage, toh maine Noor ko bataya ke main aaj raat Rahman bhaijaan ke yahan rukne ka irada bana chuka hoon. Noor ne khushi se haan kar di — kal raat toh waise bhi garmi, machchar, aur bijli jaane ke chakkar mein neend ka naam-o-nishaan nahi tha.
Maine Rahman bhaijaan se adab se kaha, “Bhaijaan, ek chhoti si darkhwast thi... agar aap humein Ayesha khala ke ghar se utha saken? Samaan uthana hai.”
Rahman bhaijaan ne khushi-khushi haan kar di, “Arre, kyun nahi, Imran miyaan! Tum toh apne ho. Aata hoon, bas aadhe ghante mein.”
Main, Noor aur hamara beta Rizwan, Ayesha khala ke ghar pahunch gaye. Noor samaan bandhne lagi aur main Rizwan ke saath chhatriyon waale bag mein kapde theek kar raha tha. Aadha ghanta guzra, tabhi gali ke mooh se ek purani si Wagon R dhire-dhire ghusti hui dikhayi di.
Main ne bas yunhi us gaadi ki taraf dekha... aur kuch ajeeb sa laga. Dil mein halki si ghabraahat si hui, par maine jhatka diya, “Chhod yaar, Imran... sab Wagon R ek jaise hi dikhte hain.” Par phir bhi aankhon ne dhokha dene se inkaar kar diya.
Gaadi bilkul paas aayi, toh dil dhak-dhak karne laga. Gaadi ka peechla bumper halka sa toota hua tha... jaise kisi ne ghusse mein laat maari ho. Aur... chhat ke kone pe ek chhota sa sticker — "Meri Biwi Meri Jaan".
Yeh wahi thi.
Mujhe paseena aa gaya. Main kuch der tak joota bandhne ka naatak karta raha... gaadi ruk chuki thi. Darwaza khula, aur Rahman bhaijaan muskurate hue bole, “Chalo bhai, chalo! Der ho rahi hai!”
Main ne haan mein sir hilaaya, Noor aur Rizwan ko gaadi mein bithaya. Jaise hi main chadhne ko hua, meri nazar saamne wali seat par padhi — ek aurat veil mein baithi thi, uska chehra chhupa hua tha... magar aankhon ka kajal, aankhon ki woh tez roshni — mujhe turant yaad aayi woh raat... woh sheesha... woh kaand.
Mujhe laga zameen phat jaaye, main usmein sama jaaun.
Main bechaini se peechhe dekhta hoon... chhat ka wahi halka hilna... kuch yaadein jhat se flashback ke jaise wapas aa gayi. Maine apni nazar jhuka li.
Tabhi Rahman bhaijaan ne muskurate hue kaha,
“Imran miyaan, milo meri begum se... yeh hain Samreen.”
Samreen ne thoda sa dupatta adjust kiya, aur ek teekhi, shaitaani si muskurahat ke saath keh diya,
“Salaam Imran bhai...”
Imran ka chehra peela pad gaya... uski awaaz gala ghutne jaisi ho gayi —
“Wa-wa-aalaykum... s-salaam.”
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