29-06-2026, 01:27 AM
### अगली सुबह — हवेली के अखाड़े में
Raat bhar Gajra Kaki aur Hariya Kaka ki baaton se juda sawaal mere dimaag mein ghoomta raha, lekin aakhirkaar subah hone se pehle hi meri aankh lag gayi.
June ki subah thi. Suraj abhi poori tarah nikla bhi nahi tha, jab main apni chhat wale kamre se utha. Thande paani se munh dhoya, kushti ke abhyas wale kapde pehne aur seedha haveli ke pichhle hisse mein bane akhaade ki taraf chal diya.
Wahan pahunchte hi dekha, Dadaji pehle se maujood the. Unke haath mein ek lakdi ka danda tha aur woh akhaade ki mitti ko dekh rahe the.
“Jai Ram ji ki, Dadaji!” maine unke paas jaakar kaha.
“Jeeve reh, Jay! Aaj der nahi ki tune,” Dadaji ne muskurate hue jawab diya. “Chal, dekhte hain aaj kitna dam hai tere andar.”
Main muskuraya. “Aap parakh kar dekhiye, Dadaji.”
### Dadaji ki parakh aur kushti ka abhyas
Sabse pehle Dadaji ne mujhe daud lagane ko kaha. Maine akhaade ke chakkar lagaye, phir dand-baithak shuru ki. Uske baad rassi par chadhne, pairon ki phurti badhane aur pakad mazboot karne ka abhyas kiya.
Dadaji har harkat par nazar rakhe hue the.
“Jay, taakat hona achhi baat hai, lekin kushti mein sirf taakat se kaam nahi chalta. Saans par niyantran, santulan aur sahi samay par daav lagana bhi zaroori hai,” unhone samjhaya.
“Ji, Dadaji.”
Ab baari thi daav-pench ki. Dadaji ne mujhe pakad banane aur usse bachkar nikalne ke kuch tareeke aazmane ko kaha. Main poori phurti se unke saamne apni chaal badalta raha. Unhone bhi jaanchne mein koi kami nahi chhodi.
Kuch der baad Dadaji ne haath uthakar abhyas roka.
“Bas! Taiyaari achhi hai. Lekin yaad rakh, chhe din baad jo badi kushti hone wali hai, usmein tujhe apna har daav soch-samajhkar lagana hoga. Wahan alag-alag jagahon se pehalwan aayenge.”
Maine paseena ponchhte hue kaha, “Dadaji, main poori mehnat karunga. Aapko niraash nahi karunga.”
Dadaji ne mere kandhe par haath rakha. “Mujhe tujhse sirf jeet ki nahi, achhe pehalwan aur achhe insaan ki ummeed hai.”
Unki baat mere dil mein utar gayi.
### Nahana aur Chachi ke haath ka nashta
Abhyas poora karke main apne kamre mein laut aaya. June ki garmi aur paseene se poora badan bheeg chuka tha. Maine saaf kapde nikale aur nahaane chala gaya.
Thande paani se nahaane ke baad badan halka mehsoos hone laga. Maine kaale rang ki shirt aur aaraamdayak patloon pehni, baal theek kiye aur seedhiyon se neeche utar aaya.
Rasoi ki taraf se taaze parathon aur chai ki khushboo aa rahi thi. Chachi Sandhya nashta laga rahi thi.
“Arey Jay, aa gaya? Baith ja, tere liye garma-garam parathe banaye hain,” Chachi ne kaha.
Main chauki ke paas baith gaya. Chachi ne meri thaali mein parathe, dahi aur achar rakh diya.
“Chachi, aapke haath ka nashta mil jaaye toh din ban jaata hai,” maine pehla niwala lete hue kaha.
“Achha ji! Toh phir roz subah jaldi uthkar abhyas kiya kar, tabhi garma-garam nashta milega,” Chachi ne hanskar jawab diya.
“Yeh sauda toh mujhe manzoor hai!”
Chachi bhi hans padi.
### Anuj aur Tarun ke saath masti
Main nashta kar hi raha tha ki Anuj aur Tarun wahan aa pahunche. Anuj ke haath mein apni kitaab thi, jabki Tarun ke chehre par hamesha ki tarah shararat thi.
“Bhaiya, aaj bhi English padhaoge?” Anuj ne poochha.
Maine uski kitaab ki taraf dekha. “Padhाऊँगा, lekin pehle batao, kal Simple Present Tense mein kya seekha tha?”
Anuj ne turant jawab diya, “He, she aur it ke saath verb mein s ya es lagta hai.”
“Shabaash! Aur Tarun, tum batao—‘Woh roz college jaata hai’ ka English kya hoga?”
Tarun kuch pal sochta raha, phir bola, “He goes to college every day!”
“Bilkul sahi!”
Maine dono ko apne paas bithaya aur kuch naye vaakya poochhne laga. Anuj jawaab dene mein tez tha, lekin Tarun har jawaab ke baad meri taraf dekhkar poochhta, “Bhaiya, sahi hai na?”
Jab maine use ek sawaal jaanbujhkar thoda mushkil diya, toh usne kitaab band kar di.
“Bhaiya, aap kushti mein hi achhe ho. English mein toh aap humse bhi zyada sawaal poochhte ho!”
Main zor se hans pada. “Achha! Toh kushti mein mujhe hara kar dikha dena, phir maan jaaunga.”
“Main bada hokar aapko haraunga!” Tarun ne seena phulakar kaha.
Anuj bhi peeche nahi raha. “Aur main aapke saare kushti ke daav seekhunga!”
Maine dono ke sir par haath fera. “Pehle padhai mein achhe bano. Kushti seekhni hai toh Dadaji ki tarah anushasan bhi seekhna padega.”
Thodi hi der mein padhai ka mahaul masti mein badal gaya. Tarun meri shirt ki baaju kheenchkar mujhse kushti ka ek daav dikhane ki zid karne laga, aur Anuj hans-hanskar uska saath dene laga.
Main bhi unke saath bachchon ki tarah masti karne laga.
Us subah kuch der ke liye raat wali uljhan mere dimaag se door ho gayi thi. Mere saamne mere dono chhote bhai the, Chachi ka apnapan tha aur Dadaji ki di hui seekh abhi bhi mere kaanon mein goonj rahi thi.
Lekin mann ke kisi kone mein Hariya Kaka ki woh baat ab bhi dabi hui thi—ek aisa sawaal, jiska jawaab mujhe abhi tak nahi mila tha.
### Ek jhopadi, teen dost aur ek anjaana raaz
Rahul ki zid khatam hone ka naam nahi le rahi thi. Jitendra bhi uski baat ka samarthan kar raha tha. Main jaanta tha ki Gayatri Kaki ko ghutnon par baithkar maafi maangne ke liye majboor karna sahi nahi tha, lekin mujhe yeh bhi lag raha tha ki agar hum teeno dobara saamne baithkar baat kar lein, toh shayad maamla aage badhne se ruk jaaye.
Aakhirkaar humne us jhopadi ki taraf jaane ka faisla kiya, jahan Gayatri Kaki ke hone ki aashanka thi.
Dopahar ki garmi badh chuki thi. Khet ke raaste par chalte hue Rahul baar-baar apni zid dohra raha tha.
“Jay, aaj main usse saaf-saaf keh dunga. Ya toh woh mujhse maafi maangegi, ya phir main use kabhi maaf nahi karunga.”
Maine use samjhaya, “Rahul, hum baat karne ja rahe hain. Koi tamasha khada karne nahi.”
“Dekhenge,” usne chhota sa jawab diya.
Jitendra hum dono ke saath chupchaap chalta raha.
Kuch der baad hum us chhoti-si jhopadi ke paas pahunch gaye. Bahar se sab kuch shaant lag raha tha. Darwaaze ke paas ek purani charpai thi aur bagal mein kuch bartan rakhe the.
Main darwaaze ke paas pahunchkar awaaz dene hi wala tha ki andar se kisi jawan aadmi ki hansi sunai di.
Hum teeno ek pal ke liye ruk gaye.
Rahul ne meri taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein achanak utsukta ubhar aayi. Jitendra bhi awaaz ki taraf dekhne laga.
Main kisi ki niji zindagi mein dakhal dene ke paksh mein nahi tha, lekin ab humein samajh aa gaya tha ki andar koi aur bhi maujood hai.
Rahul ne dheere se kaha, “Yahan koi jawan aadmi bhi hai.”
“Isse kya farq padta hai?” maine turant poochha. “Pehle darwaaze par awaaz do. Chupkar kisi ki baat sunna theek nahi.”
Maine saamne se awaaz lagayi, “Gayatri Kaki! Ghar par hain kya?”
Andar kuch pal ke liye halchal hui. Phir darwaaze par Gayatri Kaki nazar aayi. Unke chehre par humein achanak dekhkar hairani saaf thi.
“Arey, Jay beta? Tum teeno yahan kaise?” unhone poochha.
Main jawab deta, usse pehle hi meri nazar unke peeche khade ek jawan aadmi par padi.
Woh umar mein mujhse bhi kuch chhota lag raha tha—saaf chehra, ghane kaale baal aur saadhaaran kapde. Uski maujoodgi se yeh saaf tha ki woh Gayatri Kaki ka koi jaan-pehchaan wala tha. Lekin unke beech ka rishta kya tha, yeh main nahi jaanta tha.
Rahul ne use dekha, phir Gayatri Kaki ki taraf dekhkar ek ajeeb-si muskurahat di.
“Achha, toh yahan mehmaan bhi hain,” usne kaha.
Gayatri Kaki ka chehra sakht ho gaya.
“Rahul, jo kehna hai seedhe kaho. Is tarah taane maarne ki zaroorat nahi.”
Rahul ek kadam aage badha. “Kaki, bas ek baat poochhni hai. Yeh kaun hain?”
Gayatri Kaki ne kuch pal uski taraf dekha. Phir bina ghabraye jawab diya, “Yeh meri jaan-pehchaan ke hain. Aur inke yahan hone ka tumhare aane se kya sambandh hai?”
Rahul ke chehre par jeet jaisi muskurahat aa gayi. Jitendra ne bhi meri taraf dekha, jaise unhe apni kisi purani baat ka saboot mil gaya ho.
Lekin main wahin khada soch raha tha—kya kisi aurat ke ghar mein kisi jawan aadmi ka maujood hona apne aap mein kisi galat baat ka saboot tha?
Rahul ko toh jaise apni zid poori karne ka ek naya bahaana mil gaya tha.
“Ab samajh aaya,” Rahul ne kaha, “ki aapko mere dekhne se itni dikkat kyun hui thi!”
“Bas, Rahul!” maine sakhti se kaha. “Tum yahan sawaal karne aur maamla suljhane aaye ho, kisi ke charitra ka faisla sunane nahi.”
Gayatri Kaki ne meri taraf dekha. Unki aankhon mein naraazgi ke saath ek sawaal bhi tha—kya main apne doston ko unki had paar karne se rok paunga?
Jhopadi ke darwaaze par hum sab khade the. Ek taraf Rahul ki purani zid thi, doosri taraf Gayatri Kaki ki niji zindagi, aur beech mein main—jo abhi tak yeh tay nahi kar paaya tha ki sach jaanne aur kisi ki nijta ka sammaan karne ke beech santulan kaise banaaye rakha jaaye.
## Gayatri Kaki ne Rahul se maafi maangi
Jhopadi ke bahar ka tanaav abhi bhi bana hua tha. Rahul apni zid par ada tha, jabki main baar-baar use samjha chuka tha ki kisi ko neecha dikhakar izzat haasil nahi ki ja sakti.
Kuch der baad Gayatri Kaki ne Rahul ki taraf dekha. Unke chehre par naraazgi thi, lekin woh samajh chuki thi ki is vivaad ko aur badhane se kisi ka bhala nahi hone wala.
“Rahul, kal jo kuch hua, usmein maine tumhe thappad maarkar galat kiya. Mujhe apna gussa us tarah nahi dikhana chahiye tha,” unhone kaha.
Rahul ne turant jawaab diya, “Toh phir maafi maango!”
Gayatri Kaki kuch pal chup rahi. Phir woh ghutnon par baith gayi aur boli, “Rahul, main tumse maafi maangti hoon. Mujhe tum par haath nahi uthana chahiye tha.”
Jitendra ne Rahul ki taraf dekha. Uske chehre par santosh tha, jaise aakhirkaar unki maang poori ho gayi ho.
Lekin mujhe yeh manzar dekhkar koi khushi nahi hui.
Maine Rahul se kaha, “Ab tumhe maafi mil gayi. Yahin baat khatam karo. Kisi ko neecha dikhana ya usse apne saamne jhukwana tumhari jeet nahi hai.”
Rahul ne meri taraf dekha, phir Gayatri Kaki ki taraf.
“Main tumhari maafi sun raha hoon,” usne kaha, “lekin tumne jo kiya, woh main nahi bhoolunga.”
Gayatri Kaki khadi ho gayi. Unhone apne kapde theek kiye aur bina kuch kahe jhopadi ke andar chali gayi.
Main Rahul aur Jitendra ke saath wahan se nikalne laga. Mere mann mein ek hi baat thi—maafi maangna galti sweekar karne ka tareeka hai, lekin kisi ko ghutnon par laana insaaf ka paimana nahi.
Rahul ko uski maangi hui maafi mil gayi thi, par mujhe nahi lagta tha ki isse uske aur Gayatri Kaki ke beech ka vivaad sach mein khatam ho gaya tha.
### Dadaji ki pagdi ka raaz
Jay ki zubaani — Thakur Villa, June 2008
Shaam ko main Dadaji ke saath haveli ke akhaade mein abhyas karne pahuncha. Din bhar ki ghatnaon ke baad mann mein kai baatein chal rahi thi, lekin jaise hi mitti mein pair rakhe aur Dadaji ne daav-pench shuru karwaye, mera dhyaan kushti par lag gaya.
Dadaji ne pehle mujhse dand-baithak, daud aur taakat badhane wale vyayam karwaye. Uske baad humne pakad, bachav aur palatkar daav lagane ka abhyas kiya. Main poori taakat laga raha tha, lekin Dadaji apne anubhav se baar-baar meri chaal pakad lete.
“Jay, taakat par ghamand mat karna. Pehalwan ki asli parakh tab hoti hai, jab saamne wala usse zyada taakatwar ho,” Dadaji ne samjhaya.
“Ji, Dadaji. Agli baar aap meri pakad se nahi bach paayenge,” maine muskurakar kaha.
Dadaji hans pade. “Achha! Toh chhe din baad hone wali kushti mein yahi aatmavishwas lekar jaana. Lekin yaad rakh, aatmavishwas aur ahankaar mein bahut antar hai.”
Abhyas ke baad humne akhaade ki mitti saaf ki aur haath-munh dhokar andar aa gaye.
### Chachi ke haath ka khana
Raat ko Chachi Sandhya ne khana parosa. Garam roti, daal, sabzi aur dahi ke saath ghar ka saada khana tha. Main Dadaji ke saath baithkar khana khane laga.
Chachi ne meri thaali mein ek aur roti rakhte hue kaha, “Jay, aaj shaam ko bhi khoob abhyas kiya hai. Pet bhar kar khaana, warna subah phir shikayat karega ki taakat nahi aa rahi.”
“Chachi, aap khana itna achha banaati hain ki shikayat ka mauka hi nahi milta,” maine hanste hue kaha.
Dadaji bhi muskuraye. “Iski baaton mein mat aana, Sandhya. Isse jitna khila do, kam hi padega.”
Hum teeno hans pade.
Khana khane ke baad main apne kamre mein chala gaya. Mera kamra haveli ki chhat par tha. Raat ki halki hawa aa rahi thi. Main charpai par baitha hi tha ki Dadaji bhi mere paas aa gaye.
Unhone mere paas baithkar poochha, “Kya baat hai, Jay? Aaj kuch soch raha hai?”
Main kuch der chup raha. Phir maine woh sawaal poochh liya jo kaafi samay se mere mann mein tha.
“Dadaji, ek baat poochhun?”
“Poochh, beta.”
“Dadaji, aapne itne saalon se apni pagdi kyun nahi pehni? Aap toh hamare parivaar ke mukhiya hain. Gaon mein aapki itni izzat hai. Maine aapko purani tasveeron mein pagdi pehne dekha hai, lekin aaj tak aapke sir par pagdi nahi dekhi.”
Mere sawaal ke baad Dadaji ke chehre ki muskurahat dheere-dheere gaayab ho gayi.
Unhone kuch pal door andhere mein dekha. Phir ek gehri saans lekar bole, “Jay, pagdi sirf kapde ka ek tukda nahi hoti. Hamare liye pagdi maan, vachan aur zimmedari ka prateek hai. Aur kabhi-kabhi insaan apne hi faislon ke bojh se use dobara pehen nahi paata.”
Main unki taraf mudkar baith gaya.
“Lekin aisa kya hua tha, Dadaji?”
Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha.
“Aaj tujhe woh baat bata hi deta hoon, jise maine kai saalon se apne andar daba rakha hai.”
### Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar ki kahani
Dadaji ne batana shuru kiya.
“Hamare gaon mein Gafur naam ka aadmi rehta tha. Uska bhai Junaid tha. Gafur mera dost tha. Uska parivaar jab gaon mein aaya, tab unke paas zyada kuch nahi tha. Maine unhe yahan basne mein madad ki thi.”
Dadaji kuch pal ruke, phir aage bole.
“Maine Junaid ko paas ke gaon mein kapde ka karobaar shuru karwane mein madad di. Gafur ki doosri biwi aur uska karobaar shehar mein basane mein bhi haath bataya. Gafur ka beta Javed jab bhi kisi mushkil mein pada, maine uski bhi madad ki. Main in sabko apna maanta tha. Mujhe lagta tha ki dosti ka matlab mushkil waqt mein ek-doosre ke kaam aana hai.”
Maine poochha, “Phir aisa kya hua ki aapko apni pagdi utaarni padi?”
Dadaji ki aankhon mein purani ghatnaon ki yaadein ubhar aayiं.
“Gafur ke bhai Junaid ka ek beta tha. Usne pehli baar ek ladki ko lekar ghar se bhaagne aur shaadi karne ka faisla kiya. Woh ladki hamare gaon ke ekmatra Sikh parivaar ki beti thi. Uske pita, Dhillon Sahab, mere bahut kareebi dost the.”
Dadaji ki awaaz gambhir ho gayi.
“Jab Dhillon Sahab ko apni beti aur Junaid ke bete ke prem sambandh ke baare mein pata chala, toh woh seedhe mere paas aaye. Unhe bharosa tha ki main is maamle ko samajhdari se suljha sakta hoon.”
Maine dhyaan se unki baat suni.
“Dhillon Sahab ne mujhse kaha, ‘Baldev Singh, main tumhe apna dost maanta hoon. Meri beti ke maamle mein mujhe tumhari madad chahiye. Tum Gafur aur Junaid ko samjha sakte ho, aur unke ladke ko bhi rok sakte ho.’”
Dadaji ne aage bataya, “Maine unki baat ka maan rakha. Gafur ko samjhaya, Junaid ko samjhaya aur uske bete se bhi saaf shabdon mein kaha ki use apne faisle ke parinaam samajhne chahiye. Maine use yaad dilaya ki rishton ke maamle mein sirf apni ichchha nahi, doosre logon ki zindagi aur parivaaron ka bharosa bhi juda hota hai.”
“Usne aapki baat maan li thi?” maine poochha.
Dadaji ne sir hila diya.
“Nahi, beta. Usne meri baat ko nazarandaaz kar diya. Aakhirkaar woh us ladki ko lekar chala gaya aur dono ne shaadi kar li.”
Main chup raha. Dadaji ki baat mein dosti tootne ka dard saaf mehsoos ho raha tha.
“Dadaji, lekin agar dono ek-doosre se prem karte the, toh kya unhe shaadi karne ka haq nahi tha?”
Mere sawaal par Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha. Unhone turant jawaab nahi diya.
“Jay, do balig log apni marzi se shaadi karna chahte hon, toh unki marzi ka sammaan hona chahiye. Mera dukh sirf is baat ka nahi tha ki unhone shaadi ki. Mujhe takleef is baat se thi ki parivaaron ke beech bharose aur baatcheet ka raasta chhodkar maamla aise mod par le jaaya gaya, jahan sabhi ke rishte tootne lage. Aur phir bhi maine socha ki chalo, ek baar ki galti samajhkar maamla khatam kar diya jaaye.”
Unhone apni baat jaari rakhi.
“Lekin asli dard tab hua, jab usne doosri baar bhi wahi kiya.”
### Doosri ghatna — Vimla ke maayke ka rishta
Dadaji kuch der tak chup baithe rahe. Phir bole, “Doosri baar Junaid ke usi bete ne teri Dadi Vimla ke bhai Chandraprakash Tiwari ki beti ko lekar ghar se bhaagkar shaadi kar li.”
Main chaunk gaya.
“Dadi ke bhai ki beti?”
“Ji haan,” Dadaji ne kaha. “Is baar baat sirf mere dost ke parivaar tak seemit nahi thi. Ab mere apne sasuraal ka rishta bhi ismein aa gaya tha. Main pehle hi Gafur aur Junaid ko samjha chuka tha. Unke bete ko bhi samjhaya tha. Phir bhi usne meri baat ki koi parwah nahi ki.”
Maine poochha, “Phir aapne kya kiya, Dadaji?”
Dadaji ne jawab diya, “Maine dono ko bulaakar baat ki. Gusse mein unki jaan lene ya unhe nuksaan pahunchane ka faisla nahi kiya. Maine dono ko jaane diya aur unki zindagi bachayi. Main nahi chahta tha ki parivaaron ki izzat ke naam par kisi ki jaan chali jaaye.”
Unki baat sunkar mujhe laga ki us samay unhone bahut kathin faisla liya hoga.
“Lekin phir aapki pagdi ka kya hua?” maine dheere se poochha.
Dadaji ka chehra phir se gambhir ho gaya.
### Woh din, jab Dadaji ne pagdi utaar di
“Us ghatna ke baad Chandraprakash—tera Dadi ka bhai—mere paas aaya. Woh bahut gusse mein tha. Uski beti ke bhaagkar shaadi karne se woh toot gaya tha. Usne mujh par ilzaam lagaya ki maine uske parivaar ka maan nahi rakha, aur kyunki main Gafur aur Junaid ka dost tha, isliye maine unke bete ko bachaya.”
Dadaji ki awaaz mein aaj bhi woh apmaan goonj raha tha.
“Maine use samjhaya ki maine kisi ka paksh nahi liya. Maine dono ko samjhaya tha aur aakhir mein unki jaan bakhsh di thi. Main nahi chahta tha ki gusse mein koi khoon-kharaaba ho. Lekin woh meri baat sunne ko taiyaar hi nahi tha.”
“Usne aapse kya kaha tha, Dadaji?” maine poochha.
Dadaji ne kuch pal aankhein band kiं, jaise woh us din ke shabd dobara sun rahe hon.
“Usne kaha ki meri pagdi ka koi maan nahi raha. Usne mere faisle ko meri kamzori bataya aur mujhe sabke saamne apmaanit kiya. Us waqt mujhe laga ki jis pagdi ko maine zindagi bhar apne maan aur zimmedari ka prateek maana, uske neeche rehkar bhi main apne kareebi logon ka bharosa nahi bacha paaya.”
Main bilkul shaant baitha tha.
Dadaji ne aage kaha, “Phir maine apne sir se pagdi utaari aur Chandraprakash ke charnon mein rakh di.”
Mere munh se nikla, “Aapne sach mein apni pagdi unke pairon mein rakh di thi?”
Dadaji ne sir hila diya.
“Ji, Jay. Maine kaha tha ki agar meri pagdi se kisi ka dukh kam ho sakta hai, toh woh le le. Lekin main apne faisle par sharminda nahi hoon. Maine kisi ki jaan nahi li, kisi ko saza dene ke naam par uski zindagi barbaad nahi ki. Maine bas apne tareeke se us vivaad ko rokne ki koshish ki thi.”
Unhone apne haath ghutnon par rakh diye.
“Us din ke baad maine dobara pagdi nahi pehni. Logon ne bahut poochha, lekin maine kisi ko poori kahani nahi batayi. Pagdi mere liye sirf shaan nahi thi, Jay. Woh mere apne faislon ka bojh bhi ban gayi thi.”
### Dadaji ki baat aur meri samajh
Main kaafi der tak kuch nahi bol paaya. Jis Dadaji ko main bachpan se majboot, nidar aur apne faislon par atal dekhta aaya tha, aaj unke saamne unke ateet ka ek aisa pehlu tha jise maine pehle kabhi nahi jaana tha.
Maine dheere se poochha, “Dadaji, kya aapko kabhi laga ki aapko pagdi dobara pehen leni chahiye?”
Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha.
“Bahut baar. Lekin har baar mujhe us din ki yaad aa gayi. Main nahi chahta tha ki log meri pagdi ko sirf taakat ya rutbe ka prateek samjhein. Main chahta tha ki woh zimmedari ka prateek bane. Aur jab main apni zimmedari nibhaane ke baad bhi apnon ke saamne apmaanit hua, toh maine use dobara na pehenne ka faisla kar liya.”
Maine unka haath pakad liya.
“Dadaji, aapne kisi ki jaan bachayi. Aapne gusse mein galat kadam nahi uthaya. Mere liye aapki izzat us pagdi se kam nahi hoti.”
Dadaji ke chehre par halki-si muskurahat aayi.
“Tu abhi jawan hai, Jay. Zindagi mein aise din aayenge jab log tujhe apne gusse, apni zid aur apne ahankaar ke hisaab se faisle lene ko kahenge. Lekin tujhe har baar apne vivek se kaam lena hoga. Har kisi ko khush rakhna sambhav nahi hota.”
Unhone mere kandhe par haath rakha.
“Yaad rakh, beta—pagdi pehenne se koi izzatdaar nahi banta. Izzat uske karmon se banti hai. Aur kabhi-kabhi apne usoolon par khade rehne ke liye insaan ko apmaan bhi sehna padta hai.”
Main Dadaji ke paas baitha raha. Bahar raat aur gehri ho chuki thi. Haveli ke aangan se halki hawa aa rahi thi.
Us raat maine Dadaji ki pagdi ka raaz toh jaan liya, lekin saath hi ek aur baat samajh aayi—Baldev Singh ne pagdi apni haar ke kaaran nahi utaari thi; unhone use isliye utaara tha kyunki woh apne faisle ko apmaan ke dabaav mein badalna nahi chahte the.
Aur mere liye, woh us raat pehle se bhi bade insaan ban gaye.
### Dadaji ki pehli Guru Dakshina — ek kathin maang
Raat kaafi ho chuki thi. Main apne kamre mein Dadaji ke paas baitha unki purani kahani sun raha tha. Unki pagdi se juda raaz jaanne ke baad mere mann mein unke liye sammaan aur badh gaya tha.
Tabhi Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha aur kaha, “Jay, tune mujhse kushti ke daav-pench seekhe hain. Maine tujhe bachpan se taiyaar kiya hai. Ab main tujhse apni pehli Guru Dakshina maangna chahta hoon.”
Main turant seedha hokar baith gaya.
“Dadaji, aapko mujhse kuch maangne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aap jo kahenge, main karunga. Aap mere guru hi nahi, mere sab kuch hain.”
Dadaji kuch pal chup rahe. Phir unhone gambhir awaaz mein kaha—
“Jay, meri Guru Dakshina yeh hai ki tu Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar se badla lega.”
Unke shabd sunkar main sann reh gaya.
Maine kabhi kalpana bhi nahi ki thi ki Dadaji mujhse aisi maang karenge. Jis insaan ne mujhe hamesha anushasan, sanyam aur doosron ki raksha karna sikhaya tha, aaj wahi mujhse badla lene ko keh raha tha.
“Dadaji…” maine dheere se kaha, “aap chahte hain ki main unke parivaar se badla loon? Lekin aapne toh khud un logon ki jaan bakhsh di thi.”
Dadaji ki aankhon mein purana dard ubhar aaya.
“Main jaanta hoon, Jay. Maine unhe maaf karne jaisa faisla liya tha. Lekin us faisle ki keemat maine apni pagdi utaarkar chukai. Mere dost ka bharosa toota, mere sasuraal ka rishta toot gaya aur mujhe apnon ke saamne apmaan sehna pada. Maine unke parivaar ko gaon mein basne mein madad ki, unke karobaar
khade karwaye, unke bachchon ki madad ki. Badle mein mujhe kya mila?”
Main unki baat sunta raha.
“Dadaji, a
apke saath jo hua, woh galat tha. Lekin Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar mein har insaan ne toh aapka apmaan nahi kiya hoga. Unke bachchon ya ghar ke doosre logon ka kya kasoor?”
Meri baat sunkar Dadaji ka chehra sakht ho gaya.
“Tu mujhe hi samjhayega, Jay? Maine tujhe apne khoon-paseene se taiyaar kiya hai!”
Main unke saamne sir jhukakar baitha raha, lekin apni baat se peeche nahi hata.
“Dadaji, main aapka apmaan nahi kar raha. Aap mere guru hain. Aapne mujhe sikhaya hai ki pehalwan ko taakat ka istemaal soch-samajhkar karna chahiye. Agar main bina kisi ke kasoor ko jaane poore parivaar se badla loon, toh kya main aapki hi seekh ke khilaaf nahi jaaunga?”
Kamre mein sannata chha gaya.
Dadaji uthkar khidki ke paas chale gaye. Kuch der baad bole, “Toh tu apne guru ki pehli Guru Dakshina dene se inkaar kar raha hai?”
Mere liye woh sawaal kisi kushti ke daav se kam nahi tha. Ek taraf woh insaan tha jisne mujhe bachpan se sambhala, aur doosri taraf mera apna vivek.
Main unke paas gaya aur unke saamne khada ho gaya.
“Dadaji, main aapke apmaan ko nahi bhoola hoon. Main yeh bhi nahi chahta ki jisne aapke saath galat kiya, woh apne kiye ki zimmedari se bach jaaye. Lekin main begunahon ko saza nahi doonga. Agar Gafur ya Junaid ne koi galat kaam kiya hai, toh uska sach saamne laane mein main aapke saath khada rahunga. Agar kisi ne aapka apmaan kiya hai, toh main aapka sammaan bhi lautana chahta hoon.”
Maine unka haath pakad liya.
“Lekin badla lene ke liye main apne usool nahi chhod sakta. Aap hi ne mujhe sikhaya hai ki asli pehalwan woh hai jo apne gusse par bhi jeet haasil kare.”
Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha. Unke chehre par gussa tha ya dukh, main samajh nahi paaya.
Kaafi der baad woh dheere se bole, “Jay, kabhi-kabhi purane ghaav insaan ko aise faisle lene par majboor kar dete hain, jinhe woh khud bhi sahi tarah samajh nahi paata.”
Main chupchaap unke paas baith gaya.
Us raat unhone apni Guru Dakshina ki maang wapas nahi li. Maine bhi unse koi vaada nahi kiya.
Mere saamne ab ek aisi kasauti thi jismein kushti ka koi daav kaam nahi aane wala tha. Mujhe tay karna tha ki apne guru ke dard ka sammaan karte hue unka saath kaise doon—bina usi dard ko kisi aur ke liye saza banaaye.
Aur mujhe mehsoos ho raha tha ki Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar se juda yeh raaz abhi khulna baaki tha.
Raat bhar Gajra Kaki aur Hariya Kaka ki baaton se juda sawaal mere dimaag mein ghoomta raha, lekin aakhirkaar subah hone se pehle hi meri aankh lag gayi.
June ki subah thi. Suraj abhi poori tarah nikla bhi nahi tha, jab main apni chhat wale kamre se utha. Thande paani se munh dhoya, kushti ke abhyas wale kapde pehne aur seedha haveli ke pichhle hisse mein bane akhaade ki taraf chal diya.
Wahan pahunchte hi dekha, Dadaji pehle se maujood the. Unke haath mein ek lakdi ka danda tha aur woh akhaade ki mitti ko dekh rahe the.
“Jai Ram ji ki, Dadaji!” maine unke paas jaakar kaha.
“Jeeve reh, Jay! Aaj der nahi ki tune,” Dadaji ne muskurate hue jawab diya. “Chal, dekhte hain aaj kitna dam hai tere andar.”
Main muskuraya. “Aap parakh kar dekhiye, Dadaji.”
### Dadaji ki parakh aur kushti ka abhyas
Sabse pehle Dadaji ne mujhe daud lagane ko kaha. Maine akhaade ke chakkar lagaye, phir dand-baithak shuru ki. Uske baad rassi par chadhne, pairon ki phurti badhane aur pakad mazboot karne ka abhyas kiya.
Dadaji har harkat par nazar rakhe hue the.
“Jay, taakat hona achhi baat hai, lekin kushti mein sirf taakat se kaam nahi chalta. Saans par niyantran, santulan aur sahi samay par daav lagana bhi zaroori hai,” unhone samjhaya.
“Ji, Dadaji.”
Ab baari thi daav-pench ki. Dadaji ne mujhe pakad banane aur usse bachkar nikalne ke kuch tareeke aazmane ko kaha. Main poori phurti se unke saamne apni chaal badalta raha. Unhone bhi jaanchne mein koi kami nahi chhodi.
Kuch der baad Dadaji ne haath uthakar abhyas roka.
“Bas! Taiyaari achhi hai. Lekin yaad rakh, chhe din baad jo badi kushti hone wali hai, usmein tujhe apna har daav soch-samajhkar lagana hoga. Wahan alag-alag jagahon se pehalwan aayenge.”
Maine paseena ponchhte hue kaha, “Dadaji, main poori mehnat karunga. Aapko niraash nahi karunga.”
Dadaji ne mere kandhe par haath rakha. “Mujhe tujhse sirf jeet ki nahi, achhe pehalwan aur achhe insaan ki ummeed hai.”
Unki baat mere dil mein utar gayi.
### Nahana aur Chachi ke haath ka nashta
Abhyas poora karke main apne kamre mein laut aaya. June ki garmi aur paseene se poora badan bheeg chuka tha. Maine saaf kapde nikale aur nahaane chala gaya.
Thande paani se nahaane ke baad badan halka mehsoos hone laga. Maine kaale rang ki shirt aur aaraamdayak patloon pehni, baal theek kiye aur seedhiyon se neeche utar aaya.
Rasoi ki taraf se taaze parathon aur chai ki khushboo aa rahi thi. Chachi Sandhya nashta laga rahi thi.
“Arey Jay, aa gaya? Baith ja, tere liye garma-garam parathe banaye hain,” Chachi ne kaha.
Main chauki ke paas baith gaya. Chachi ne meri thaali mein parathe, dahi aur achar rakh diya.
“Chachi, aapke haath ka nashta mil jaaye toh din ban jaata hai,” maine pehla niwala lete hue kaha.
“Achha ji! Toh phir roz subah jaldi uthkar abhyas kiya kar, tabhi garma-garam nashta milega,” Chachi ne hanskar jawab diya.
“Yeh sauda toh mujhe manzoor hai!”
Chachi bhi hans padi.
### Anuj aur Tarun ke saath masti
Main nashta kar hi raha tha ki Anuj aur Tarun wahan aa pahunche. Anuj ke haath mein apni kitaab thi, jabki Tarun ke chehre par hamesha ki tarah shararat thi.
“Bhaiya, aaj bhi English padhaoge?” Anuj ne poochha.
Maine uski kitaab ki taraf dekha. “Padhाऊँगा, lekin pehle batao, kal Simple Present Tense mein kya seekha tha?”
Anuj ne turant jawab diya, “He, she aur it ke saath verb mein s ya es lagta hai.”
“Shabaash! Aur Tarun, tum batao—‘Woh roz college jaata hai’ ka English kya hoga?”
Tarun kuch pal sochta raha, phir bola, “He goes to college every day!”
“Bilkul sahi!”
Maine dono ko apne paas bithaya aur kuch naye vaakya poochhne laga. Anuj jawaab dene mein tez tha, lekin Tarun har jawaab ke baad meri taraf dekhkar poochhta, “Bhaiya, sahi hai na?”
Jab maine use ek sawaal jaanbujhkar thoda mushkil diya, toh usne kitaab band kar di.
“Bhaiya, aap kushti mein hi achhe ho. English mein toh aap humse bhi zyada sawaal poochhte ho!”
Main zor se hans pada. “Achha! Toh kushti mein mujhe hara kar dikha dena, phir maan jaaunga.”
“Main bada hokar aapko haraunga!” Tarun ne seena phulakar kaha.
Anuj bhi peeche nahi raha. “Aur main aapke saare kushti ke daav seekhunga!”
Maine dono ke sir par haath fera. “Pehle padhai mein achhe bano. Kushti seekhni hai toh Dadaji ki tarah anushasan bhi seekhna padega.”
Thodi hi der mein padhai ka mahaul masti mein badal gaya. Tarun meri shirt ki baaju kheenchkar mujhse kushti ka ek daav dikhane ki zid karne laga, aur Anuj hans-hanskar uska saath dene laga.
Main bhi unke saath bachchon ki tarah masti karne laga.
Us subah kuch der ke liye raat wali uljhan mere dimaag se door ho gayi thi. Mere saamne mere dono chhote bhai the, Chachi ka apnapan tha aur Dadaji ki di hui seekh abhi bhi mere kaanon mein goonj rahi thi.
Lekin mann ke kisi kone mein Hariya Kaka ki woh baat ab bhi dabi hui thi—ek aisa sawaal, jiska jawaab mujhe abhi tak nahi mila tha.
### Ek jhopadi, teen dost aur ek anjaana raaz
Rahul ki zid khatam hone ka naam nahi le rahi thi. Jitendra bhi uski baat ka samarthan kar raha tha. Main jaanta tha ki Gayatri Kaki ko ghutnon par baithkar maafi maangne ke liye majboor karna sahi nahi tha, lekin mujhe yeh bhi lag raha tha ki agar hum teeno dobara saamne baithkar baat kar lein, toh shayad maamla aage badhne se ruk jaaye.
Aakhirkaar humne us jhopadi ki taraf jaane ka faisla kiya, jahan Gayatri Kaki ke hone ki aashanka thi.
Dopahar ki garmi badh chuki thi. Khet ke raaste par chalte hue Rahul baar-baar apni zid dohra raha tha.
“Jay, aaj main usse saaf-saaf keh dunga. Ya toh woh mujhse maafi maangegi, ya phir main use kabhi maaf nahi karunga.”
Maine use samjhaya, “Rahul, hum baat karne ja rahe hain. Koi tamasha khada karne nahi.”
“Dekhenge,” usne chhota sa jawab diya.
Jitendra hum dono ke saath chupchaap chalta raha.
Kuch der baad hum us chhoti-si jhopadi ke paas pahunch gaye. Bahar se sab kuch shaant lag raha tha. Darwaaze ke paas ek purani charpai thi aur bagal mein kuch bartan rakhe the.
Main darwaaze ke paas pahunchkar awaaz dene hi wala tha ki andar se kisi jawan aadmi ki hansi sunai di.
Hum teeno ek pal ke liye ruk gaye.
Rahul ne meri taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein achanak utsukta ubhar aayi. Jitendra bhi awaaz ki taraf dekhne laga.
Main kisi ki niji zindagi mein dakhal dene ke paksh mein nahi tha, lekin ab humein samajh aa gaya tha ki andar koi aur bhi maujood hai.
Rahul ne dheere se kaha, “Yahan koi jawan aadmi bhi hai.”
“Isse kya farq padta hai?” maine turant poochha. “Pehle darwaaze par awaaz do. Chupkar kisi ki baat sunna theek nahi.”
Maine saamne se awaaz lagayi, “Gayatri Kaki! Ghar par hain kya?”
Andar kuch pal ke liye halchal hui. Phir darwaaze par Gayatri Kaki nazar aayi. Unke chehre par humein achanak dekhkar hairani saaf thi.
“Arey, Jay beta? Tum teeno yahan kaise?” unhone poochha.
Main jawab deta, usse pehle hi meri nazar unke peeche khade ek jawan aadmi par padi.
Woh umar mein mujhse bhi kuch chhota lag raha tha—saaf chehra, ghane kaale baal aur saadhaaran kapde. Uski maujoodgi se yeh saaf tha ki woh Gayatri Kaki ka koi jaan-pehchaan wala tha. Lekin unke beech ka rishta kya tha, yeh main nahi jaanta tha.
Rahul ne use dekha, phir Gayatri Kaki ki taraf dekhkar ek ajeeb-si muskurahat di.
“Achha, toh yahan mehmaan bhi hain,” usne kaha.
Gayatri Kaki ka chehra sakht ho gaya.
“Rahul, jo kehna hai seedhe kaho. Is tarah taane maarne ki zaroorat nahi.”
Rahul ek kadam aage badha. “Kaki, bas ek baat poochhni hai. Yeh kaun hain?”
Gayatri Kaki ne kuch pal uski taraf dekha. Phir bina ghabraye jawab diya, “Yeh meri jaan-pehchaan ke hain. Aur inke yahan hone ka tumhare aane se kya sambandh hai?”
Rahul ke chehre par jeet jaisi muskurahat aa gayi. Jitendra ne bhi meri taraf dekha, jaise unhe apni kisi purani baat ka saboot mil gaya ho.
Lekin main wahin khada soch raha tha—kya kisi aurat ke ghar mein kisi jawan aadmi ka maujood hona apne aap mein kisi galat baat ka saboot tha?
Rahul ko toh jaise apni zid poori karne ka ek naya bahaana mil gaya tha.
“Ab samajh aaya,” Rahul ne kaha, “ki aapko mere dekhne se itni dikkat kyun hui thi!”
“Bas, Rahul!” maine sakhti se kaha. “Tum yahan sawaal karne aur maamla suljhane aaye ho, kisi ke charitra ka faisla sunane nahi.”
Gayatri Kaki ne meri taraf dekha. Unki aankhon mein naraazgi ke saath ek sawaal bhi tha—kya main apne doston ko unki had paar karne se rok paunga?
Jhopadi ke darwaaze par hum sab khade the. Ek taraf Rahul ki purani zid thi, doosri taraf Gayatri Kaki ki niji zindagi, aur beech mein main—jo abhi tak yeh tay nahi kar paaya tha ki sach jaanne aur kisi ki nijta ka sammaan karne ke beech santulan kaise banaaye rakha jaaye.
## Gayatri Kaki ne Rahul se maafi maangi
Jhopadi ke bahar ka tanaav abhi bhi bana hua tha. Rahul apni zid par ada tha, jabki main baar-baar use samjha chuka tha ki kisi ko neecha dikhakar izzat haasil nahi ki ja sakti.
Kuch der baad Gayatri Kaki ne Rahul ki taraf dekha. Unke chehre par naraazgi thi, lekin woh samajh chuki thi ki is vivaad ko aur badhane se kisi ka bhala nahi hone wala.
“Rahul, kal jo kuch hua, usmein maine tumhe thappad maarkar galat kiya. Mujhe apna gussa us tarah nahi dikhana chahiye tha,” unhone kaha.
Rahul ne turant jawaab diya, “Toh phir maafi maango!”
Gayatri Kaki kuch pal chup rahi. Phir woh ghutnon par baith gayi aur boli, “Rahul, main tumse maafi maangti hoon. Mujhe tum par haath nahi uthana chahiye tha.”
Jitendra ne Rahul ki taraf dekha. Uske chehre par santosh tha, jaise aakhirkaar unki maang poori ho gayi ho.
Lekin mujhe yeh manzar dekhkar koi khushi nahi hui.
Maine Rahul se kaha, “Ab tumhe maafi mil gayi. Yahin baat khatam karo. Kisi ko neecha dikhana ya usse apne saamne jhukwana tumhari jeet nahi hai.”
Rahul ne meri taraf dekha, phir Gayatri Kaki ki taraf.
“Main tumhari maafi sun raha hoon,” usne kaha, “lekin tumne jo kiya, woh main nahi bhoolunga.”
Gayatri Kaki khadi ho gayi. Unhone apne kapde theek kiye aur bina kuch kahe jhopadi ke andar chali gayi.
Main Rahul aur Jitendra ke saath wahan se nikalne laga. Mere mann mein ek hi baat thi—maafi maangna galti sweekar karne ka tareeka hai, lekin kisi ko ghutnon par laana insaaf ka paimana nahi.
Rahul ko uski maangi hui maafi mil gayi thi, par mujhe nahi lagta tha ki isse uske aur Gayatri Kaki ke beech ka vivaad sach mein khatam ho gaya tha.
### Dadaji ki pagdi ka raaz
Jay ki zubaani — Thakur Villa, June 2008
Shaam ko main Dadaji ke saath haveli ke akhaade mein abhyas karne pahuncha. Din bhar ki ghatnaon ke baad mann mein kai baatein chal rahi thi, lekin jaise hi mitti mein pair rakhe aur Dadaji ne daav-pench shuru karwaye, mera dhyaan kushti par lag gaya.
Dadaji ne pehle mujhse dand-baithak, daud aur taakat badhane wale vyayam karwaye. Uske baad humne pakad, bachav aur palatkar daav lagane ka abhyas kiya. Main poori taakat laga raha tha, lekin Dadaji apne anubhav se baar-baar meri chaal pakad lete.
“Jay, taakat par ghamand mat karna. Pehalwan ki asli parakh tab hoti hai, jab saamne wala usse zyada taakatwar ho,” Dadaji ne samjhaya.
“Ji, Dadaji. Agli baar aap meri pakad se nahi bach paayenge,” maine muskurakar kaha.
Dadaji hans pade. “Achha! Toh chhe din baad hone wali kushti mein yahi aatmavishwas lekar jaana. Lekin yaad rakh, aatmavishwas aur ahankaar mein bahut antar hai.”
Abhyas ke baad humne akhaade ki mitti saaf ki aur haath-munh dhokar andar aa gaye.
### Chachi ke haath ka khana
Raat ko Chachi Sandhya ne khana parosa. Garam roti, daal, sabzi aur dahi ke saath ghar ka saada khana tha. Main Dadaji ke saath baithkar khana khane laga.
Chachi ne meri thaali mein ek aur roti rakhte hue kaha, “Jay, aaj shaam ko bhi khoob abhyas kiya hai. Pet bhar kar khaana, warna subah phir shikayat karega ki taakat nahi aa rahi.”
“Chachi, aap khana itna achha banaati hain ki shikayat ka mauka hi nahi milta,” maine hanste hue kaha.
Dadaji bhi muskuraye. “Iski baaton mein mat aana, Sandhya. Isse jitna khila do, kam hi padega.”
Hum teeno hans pade.
Khana khane ke baad main apne kamre mein chala gaya. Mera kamra haveli ki chhat par tha. Raat ki halki hawa aa rahi thi. Main charpai par baitha hi tha ki Dadaji bhi mere paas aa gaye.
Unhone mere paas baithkar poochha, “Kya baat hai, Jay? Aaj kuch soch raha hai?”
Main kuch der chup raha. Phir maine woh sawaal poochh liya jo kaafi samay se mere mann mein tha.
“Dadaji, ek baat poochhun?”
“Poochh, beta.”
“Dadaji, aapne itne saalon se apni pagdi kyun nahi pehni? Aap toh hamare parivaar ke mukhiya hain. Gaon mein aapki itni izzat hai. Maine aapko purani tasveeron mein pagdi pehne dekha hai, lekin aaj tak aapke sir par pagdi nahi dekhi.”
Mere sawaal ke baad Dadaji ke chehre ki muskurahat dheere-dheere gaayab ho gayi.
Unhone kuch pal door andhere mein dekha. Phir ek gehri saans lekar bole, “Jay, pagdi sirf kapde ka ek tukda nahi hoti. Hamare liye pagdi maan, vachan aur zimmedari ka prateek hai. Aur kabhi-kabhi insaan apne hi faislon ke bojh se use dobara pehen nahi paata.”
Main unki taraf mudkar baith gaya.
“Lekin aisa kya hua tha, Dadaji?”
Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha.
“Aaj tujhe woh baat bata hi deta hoon, jise maine kai saalon se apne andar daba rakha hai.”
### Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar ki kahani
Dadaji ne batana shuru kiya.
“Hamare gaon mein Gafur naam ka aadmi rehta tha. Uska bhai Junaid tha. Gafur mera dost tha. Uska parivaar jab gaon mein aaya, tab unke paas zyada kuch nahi tha. Maine unhe yahan basne mein madad ki thi.”
Dadaji kuch pal ruke, phir aage bole.
“Maine Junaid ko paas ke gaon mein kapde ka karobaar shuru karwane mein madad di. Gafur ki doosri biwi aur uska karobaar shehar mein basane mein bhi haath bataya. Gafur ka beta Javed jab bhi kisi mushkil mein pada, maine uski bhi madad ki. Main in sabko apna maanta tha. Mujhe lagta tha ki dosti ka matlab mushkil waqt mein ek-doosre ke kaam aana hai.”
Maine poochha, “Phir aisa kya hua ki aapko apni pagdi utaarni padi?”
Dadaji ki aankhon mein purani ghatnaon ki yaadein ubhar aayiं.
“Gafur ke bhai Junaid ka ek beta tha. Usne pehli baar ek ladki ko lekar ghar se bhaagne aur shaadi karne ka faisla kiya. Woh ladki hamare gaon ke ekmatra Sikh parivaar ki beti thi. Uske pita, Dhillon Sahab, mere bahut kareebi dost the.”
Dadaji ki awaaz gambhir ho gayi.
“Jab Dhillon Sahab ko apni beti aur Junaid ke bete ke prem sambandh ke baare mein pata chala, toh woh seedhe mere paas aaye. Unhe bharosa tha ki main is maamle ko samajhdari se suljha sakta hoon.”
Maine dhyaan se unki baat suni.
“Dhillon Sahab ne mujhse kaha, ‘Baldev Singh, main tumhe apna dost maanta hoon. Meri beti ke maamle mein mujhe tumhari madad chahiye. Tum Gafur aur Junaid ko samjha sakte ho, aur unke ladke ko bhi rok sakte ho.’”
Dadaji ne aage bataya, “Maine unki baat ka maan rakha. Gafur ko samjhaya, Junaid ko samjhaya aur uske bete se bhi saaf shabdon mein kaha ki use apne faisle ke parinaam samajhne chahiye. Maine use yaad dilaya ki rishton ke maamle mein sirf apni ichchha nahi, doosre logon ki zindagi aur parivaaron ka bharosa bhi juda hota hai.”
“Usne aapki baat maan li thi?” maine poochha.
Dadaji ne sir hila diya.
“Nahi, beta. Usne meri baat ko nazarandaaz kar diya. Aakhirkaar woh us ladki ko lekar chala gaya aur dono ne shaadi kar li.”
Main chup raha. Dadaji ki baat mein dosti tootne ka dard saaf mehsoos ho raha tha.
“Dadaji, lekin agar dono ek-doosre se prem karte the, toh kya unhe shaadi karne ka haq nahi tha?”
Mere sawaal par Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha. Unhone turant jawaab nahi diya.
“Jay, do balig log apni marzi se shaadi karna chahte hon, toh unki marzi ka sammaan hona chahiye. Mera dukh sirf is baat ka nahi tha ki unhone shaadi ki. Mujhe takleef is baat se thi ki parivaaron ke beech bharose aur baatcheet ka raasta chhodkar maamla aise mod par le jaaya gaya, jahan sabhi ke rishte tootne lage. Aur phir bhi maine socha ki chalo, ek baar ki galti samajhkar maamla khatam kar diya jaaye.”
Unhone apni baat jaari rakhi.
“Lekin asli dard tab hua, jab usne doosri baar bhi wahi kiya.”
### Doosri ghatna — Vimla ke maayke ka rishta
Dadaji kuch der tak chup baithe rahe. Phir bole, “Doosri baar Junaid ke usi bete ne teri Dadi Vimla ke bhai Chandraprakash Tiwari ki beti ko lekar ghar se bhaagkar shaadi kar li.”
Main chaunk gaya.
“Dadi ke bhai ki beti?”
“Ji haan,” Dadaji ne kaha. “Is baar baat sirf mere dost ke parivaar tak seemit nahi thi. Ab mere apne sasuraal ka rishta bhi ismein aa gaya tha. Main pehle hi Gafur aur Junaid ko samjha chuka tha. Unke bete ko bhi samjhaya tha. Phir bhi usne meri baat ki koi parwah nahi ki.”
Maine poochha, “Phir aapne kya kiya, Dadaji?”
Dadaji ne jawab diya, “Maine dono ko bulaakar baat ki. Gusse mein unki jaan lene ya unhe nuksaan pahunchane ka faisla nahi kiya. Maine dono ko jaane diya aur unki zindagi bachayi. Main nahi chahta tha ki parivaaron ki izzat ke naam par kisi ki jaan chali jaaye.”
Unki baat sunkar mujhe laga ki us samay unhone bahut kathin faisla liya hoga.
“Lekin phir aapki pagdi ka kya hua?” maine dheere se poochha.
Dadaji ka chehra phir se gambhir ho gaya.
### Woh din, jab Dadaji ne pagdi utaar di
“Us ghatna ke baad Chandraprakash—tera Dadi ka bhai—mere paas aaya. Woh bahut gusse mein tha. Uski beti ke bhaagkar shaadi karne se woh toot gaya tha. Usne mujh par ilzaam lagaya ki maine uske parivaar ka maan nahi rakha, aur kyunki main Gafur aur Junaid ka dost tha, isliye maine unke bete ko bachaya.”
Dadaji ki awaaz mein aaj bhi woh apmaan goonj raha tha.
“Maine use samjhaya ki maine kisi ka paksh nahi liya. Maine dono ko samjhaya tha aur aakhir mein unki jaan bakhsh di thi. Main nahi chahta tha ki gusse mein koi khoon-kharaaba ho. Lekin woh meri baat sunne ko taiyaar hi nahi tha.”
“Usne aapse kya kaha tha, Dadaji?” maine poochha.
Dadaji ne kuch pal aankhein band kiं, jaise woh us din ke shabd dobara sun rahe hon.
“Usne kaha ki meri pagdi ka koi maan nahi raha. Usne mere faisle ko meri kamzori bataya aur mujhe sabke saamne apmaanit kiya. Us waqt mujhe laga ki jis pagdi ko maine zindagi bhar apne maan aur zimmedari ka prateek maana, uske neeche rehkar bhi main apne kareebi logon ka bharosa nahi bacha paaya.”
Main bilkul shaant baitha tha.
Dadaji ne aage kaha, “Phir maine apne sir se pagdi utaari aur Chandraprakash ke charnon mein rakh di.”
Mere munh se nikla, “Aapne sach mein apni pagdi unke pairon mein rakh di thi?”
Dadaji ne sir hila diya.
“Ji, Jay. Maine kaha tha ki agar meri pagdi se kisi ka dukh kam ho sakta hai, toh woh le le. Lekin main apne faisle par sharminda nahi hoon. Maine kisi ki jaan nahi li, kisi ko saza dene ke naam par uski zindagi barbaad nahi ki. Maine bas apne tareeke se us vivaad ko rokne ki koshish ki thi.”
Unhone apne haath ghutnon par rakh diye.
“Us din ke baad maine dobara pagdi nahi pehni. Logon ne bahut poochha, lekin maine kisi ko poori kahani nahi batayi. Pagdi mere liye sirf shaan nahi thi, Jay. Woh mere apne faislon ka bojh bhi ban gayi thi.”
### Dadaji ki baat aur meri samajh
Main kaafi der tak kuch nahi bol paaya. Jis Dadaji ko main bachpan se majboot, nidar aur apne faislon par atal dekhta aaya tha, aaj unke saamne unke ateet ka ek aisa pehlu tha jise maine pehle kabhi nahi jaana tha.
Maine dheere se poochha, “Dadaji, kya aapko kabhi laga ki aapko pagdi dobara pehen leni chahiye?”
Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha.
“Bahut baar. Lekin har baar mujhe us din ki yaad aa gayi. Main nahi chahta tha ki log meri pagdi ko sirf taakat ya rutbe ka prateek samjhein. Main chahta tha ki woh zimmedari ka prateek bane. Aur jab main apni zimmedari nibhaane ke baad bhi apnon ke saamne apmaanit hua, toh maine use dobara na pehenne ka faisla kar liya.”
Maine unka haath pakad liya.
“Dadaji, aapne kisi ki jaan bachayi. Aapne gusse mein galat kadam nahi uthaya. Mere liye aapki izzat us pagdi se kam nahi hoti.”
Dadaji ke chehre par halki-si muskurahat aayi.
“Tu abhi jawan hai, Jay. Zindagi mein aise din aayenge jab log tujhe apne gusse, apni zid aur apne ahankaar ke hisaab se faisle lene ko kahenge. Lekin tujhe har baar apne vivek se kaam lena hoga. Har kisi ko khush rakhna sambhav nahi hota.”
Unhone mere kandhe par haath rakha.
“Yaad rakh, beta—pagdi pehenne se koi izzatdaar nahi banta. Izzat uske karmon se banti hai. Aur kabhi-kabhi apne usoolon par khade rehne ke liye insaan ko apmaan bhi sehna padta hai.”
Main Dadaji ke paas baitha raha. Bahar raat aur gehri ho chuki thi. Haveli ke aangan se halki hawa aa rahi thi.
Us raat maine Dadaji ki pagdi ka raaz toh jaan liya, lekin saath hi ek aur baat samajh aayi—Baldev Singh ne pagdi apni haar ke kaaran nahi utaari thi; unhone use isliye utaara tha kyunki woh apne faisle ko apmaan ke dabaav mein badalna nahi chahte the.
Aur mere liye, woh us raat pehle se bhi bade insaan ban gaye.
### Dadaji ki pehli Guru Dakshina — ek kathin maang
Raat kaafi ho chuki thi. Main apne kamre mein Dadaji ke paas baitha unki purani kahani sun raha tha. Unki pagdi se juda raaz jaanne ke baad mere mann mein unke liye sammaan aur badh gaya tha.
Tabhi Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha aur kaha, “Jay, tune mujhse kushti ke daav-pench seekhe hain. Maine tujhe bachpan se taiyaar kiya hai. Ab main tujhse apni pehli Guru Dakshina maangna chahta hoon.”
Main turant seedha hokar baith gaya.
“Dadaji, aapko mujhse kuch maangne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aap jo kahenge, main karunga. Aap mere guru hi nahi, mere sab kuch hain.”
Dadaji kuch pal chup rahe. Phir unhone gambhir awaaz mein kaha—
“Jay, meri Guru Dakshina yeh hai ki tu Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar se badla lega.”
Unke shabd sunkar main sann reh gaya.
Maine kabhi kalpana bhi nahi ki thi ki Dadaji mujhse aisi maang karenge. Jis insaan ne mujhe hamesha anushasan, sanyam aur doosron ki raksha karna sikhaya tha, aaj wahi mujhse badla lene ko keh raha tha.
“Dadaji…” maine dheere se kaha, “aap chahte hain ki main unke parivaar se badla loon? Lekin aapne toh khud un logon ki jaan bakhsh di thi.”
Dadaji ki aankhon mein purana dard ubhar aaya.
“Main jaanta hoon, Jay. Maine unhe maaf karne jaisa faisla liya tha. Lekin us faisle ki keemat maine apni pagdi utaarkar chukai. Mere dost ka bharosa toota, mere sasuraal ka rishta toot gaya aur mujhe apnon ke saamne apmaan sehna pada. Maine unke parivaar ko gaon mein basne mein madad ki, unke karobaar
khade karwaye, unke bachchon ki madad ki. Badle mein mujhe kya mila?”
Main unki baat sunta raha.
“Dadaji, a
apke saath jo hua, woh galat tha. Lekin Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar mein har insaan ne toh aapka apmaan nahi kiya hoga. Unke bachchon ya ghar ke doosre logon ka kya kasoor?”
Meri baat sunkar Dadaji ka chehra sakht ho gaya.
“Tu mujhe hi samjhayega, Jay? Maine tujhe apne khoon-paseene se taiyaar kiya hai!”
Main unke saamne sir jhukakar baitha raha, lekin apni baat se peeche nahi hata.
“Dadaji, main aapka apmaan nahi kar raha. Aap mere guru hain. Aapne mujhe sikhaya hai ki pehalwan ko taakat ka istemaal soch-samajhkar karna chahiye. Agar main bina kisi ke kasoor ko jaane poore parivaar se badla loon, toh kya main aapki hi seekh ke khilaaf nahi jaaunga?”
Kamre mein sannata chha gaya.
Dadaji uthkar khidki ke paas chale gaye. Kuch der baad bole, “Toh tu apne guru ki pehli Guru Dakshina dene se inkaar kar raha hai?”
Mere liye woh sawaal kisi kushti ke daav se kam nahi tha. Ek taraf woh insaan tha jisne mujhe bachpan se sambhala, aur doosri taraf mera apna vivek.
Main unke paas gaya aur unke saamne khada ho gaya.
“Dadaji, main aapke apmaan ko nahi bhoola hoon. Main yeh bhi nahi chahta ki jisne aapke saath galat kiya, woh apne kiye ki zimmedari se bach jaaye. Lekin main begunahon ko saza nahi doonga. Agar Gafur ya Junaid ne koi galat kaam kiya hai, toh uska sach saamne laane mein main aapke saath khada rahunga. Agar kisi ne aapka apmaan kiya hai, toh main aapka sammaan bhi lautana chahta hoon.”
Maine unka haath pakad liya.
“Lekin badla lene ke liye main apne usool nahi chhod sakta. Aap hi ne mujhe sikhaya hai ki asli pehalwan woh hai jo apne gusse par bhi jeet haasil kare.”
Dadaji ne meri taraf dekha. Unke chehre par gussa tha ya dukh, main samajh nahi paaya.
Kaafi der baad woh dheere se bole, “Jay, kabhi-kabhi purane ghaav insaan ko aise faisle lene par majboor kar dete hain, jinhe woh khud bhi sahi tarah samajh nahi paata.”
Main chupchaap unke paas baith gaya.
Us raat unhone apni Guru Dakshina ki maang wapas nahi li. Maine bhi unse koi vaada nahi kiya.
Mere saamne ab ek aisi kasauti thi jismein kushti ka koi daav kaam nahi aane wala tha. Mujhe tay karna tha ki apne guru ke dard ka sammaan karte hue unka saath kaise doon—bina usi dard ko kisi aur ke liye saza banaaye.
Aur mujhe mehsoos ho raha tha ki Gafur aur Junaid ke parivaar se juda yeh raaz abhi khulna baaki tha.