[Deepak_bull]

Mere baap sofa par bhari bharkam baith gaya, ek haath remote ki taraf badha aur doosra haath apni kameez ke collar ko dheela kar raha tha. Baithne wala kamra shaant tha sirf TV ke buttonon ki halki click ki awaaz aa rahi thi jab woh apna channel dhoondh raha tha. 


Rasoi ghar uske peeche tha, thoda door, dono kamron ke beech ke raste aur zameen ke hisse se alag. Main wahan khada tha, mehsoos kar raha tha jaise mera pet andar ki taraf simat gaya ho. 

Kyunki mujhe woh baat pata thi jo usko nahi pata thi. Maa kuch hi pal pehle rasoi ghar mein Gajendra ke saath thi. Woh dono apne aap mein itna khoye hue the ki poora ghar bhool gaye the. Aur jab baap andar aaya, Shahida ko pukarte hue, Maa ghabra kar rasoi ke counter ke peeche jhuk gayi thi, bachchi ki tarah chhup rahi thi jaise chori pakdi gayi ho. 

Baap ko yeh baat nahi pata thi. Woh jaanta tha ki Gajendra ghar mein hai. Woh jaanta tha ki woh rasoi ghar mein hai. Lekin usko yeh nahi pata tha ki Maa achanak kyun gayab ho gayi, ya woh itni ajib kyun behave kar rahi thi. 

Shahida? Baap ne phir se pukara, uski aankhein abhi bhi TV par thi. Tum aajkal itni ajib kyun behave kar rahi ho? Rasoi ke counter ke peeche se maine sabse halki si phusphusaahat suni. Hat jao, Maa ne dheere se kaha. Gajendra ne dheeme se jawab diya, Kya usne mujhe dekh liya? 

Woh jaanta hai ki tum yahan ho, Maa ne dheeme se kaha. Woh nahi. Phir main kya karun? Gajendra ne poocha. Maa ki awaaz aur bhi dheemi ho gayi. Jaao baithne wale kamre mein uske paas baitho. Normal behave karo. Agar tum yahan rukoge toh usko shak ho jaayega. 

Mera gala ruk sa gaya. Jis tarah usne normal behave karo kaha tha usse poori baat aur bhi kharab lag rahi thi. Jaise yeh sab sirf ek khel tha. Jaise baap hi woh ek tha jiske paas koi niyam nahi tha. Kuch pal baad Gajendra rasoi ghar se bahar nikla, uske chehre par zabardasti shaant dikhne wali muskurahat thi. 

Usne apni kameez thodi si theek ki, gala saaf kiya, aur baithne wale kamre mein aaya jaise kuch hua hi nahi. Baap ne kandhe ke upar se dekha. Arre Gajendra. Tum abhi bhi yahan ho? Haan Hussein, Gajendra ne muskurate hue kaha. Main bas rasoi ghar mein tha. 

Baap ne sar hilaya aur sofa ke paas wali jagah par ishaara kiya. Aao baitho. Mere saath dekho. Gajendra baap ke paas baith gaya, na zyada kareeb na zyada door. Woh aaram se dikhta tha, lekin maine notice kiya ki uski ungliyan ek baar uske ghutne par thapki maar rahi thi phir usne khud ko rok liya. Baap ne TV ki awaaz thodi kam ki aur rasoi ghar ki taraf ghoor kar frown kiya. 

Mujhe kuch batao. Shahida aajkal itni ajib kyun behave karti hai? Gajendra ne chhoti si hanssi di, lekin woh bahut jaldi nikal gayi. Ajib? Kaise? Baap sofa par peeche let gaya. Mujhe nahi pata. Kabhi kabhi main kamre mein aata hoon toh woh uchal padti hai. Kabhi kabhi woh aisi baat karti hai jaise usko yaad hi nahi ki woh kya keh rahi thi. Abhi bhi. Main andar aaya aur woh gayab ho gayi. 

Gajendra ne phir se hanss di, is baar zyada sughad tarike se. Shayad woh thaki hui hai. Tum jaante ho woh kaisi hai. Baap hanssa. Thaki hui? Shahida? Usmein poore ghar ko daantne ki taakat hai. Dono hansse. Aur yeh mujhe beemar kar gaya. 

Hanssi mazedaar hone ki wajah se nahi, balki isliye ki baap sach mein hans raha tha. Usko nahi pata tha ki woh usi aadmi ke paas baitha hai jiska lund Maa ne kuch hi der pehle rasoi ghar mein choosa tha. Usko nahi pata tha ki us kamre mein har muskurahat ke peeche kuch chhupa hua tha. Phir Maa bahar aayi. 

Woh chai ki tray liye hue thi. Uska chehra ab shaant dikhta tha, lekin main uski aankhon mein abhi bhi kuch ghabrahat dekh sakta tha. Woh savdhani se chal rahi thi, jaise har kadam pehle se socha hua ho. Chai, usne dheere se kaha. 

Baap ne uski taraf dekha. Aakhirkaar. Wahan andar tum kya kar rahi thi? Chai bana rahi thi, Maa ne kaha. Baap ne ek eyebrow upar kiya. Sirf chai banane mein itna time? Gajendra ne apne cup ki taraf dekha, muskurahat chhupate hue. 

Maa ne uski taraf ek jaldi ki nazar daali. Sirf ek second ki thi, lekin maine dekh liya. Unke beech woh chhoti si aankhon ki baat. Woh chhupa hua chamak. Ek nazar jo keh rahi thi ki dono ko woh baat pata thi jo baap ko nahi pata thi. 

Baad mein maa unke paas baith gayi lekin baap beech mein baitha tha aur woh baat karne lage. 




Baad mein maa thoda sa baap ki taraf mud gayi, uske hont us muskurahat se jhuk gaye jo woh pehle sirf uske liye hi karti thi. Woh jhuk kar baap ko chum liya — dheere, narmi se, woh kism ka chumban jo kai saalon ki shaadi, saath bitaye subah aur shaant raaton ki baat karta tha. 





Uska haath halke se uske ghutne par tha. Baap ne ek second ke liye aankhein band kar li, saaf taur par uska mazaa lete hue, uske muh se halki si santusht awaaz nikal gayi. 

Mera pet ghum gaya. 

Mere dimag mein sirf yeh aa raha tha ki wohi hont kuch der pehle Gajendra ke mote lund ke aaspaas lapete hue the. Maine apni aankhon se dekha tha — jis tarah usne usko gehra andar liya tha, geeli awaazein, jis tarah uska gala kaam kar raha tha jab woh usko nigal rahi thi ya usne uske chehre par chhod diya tha. 

Aur ab wohi hont baap ke muh se lage hue the, narme aur pyaar bhare, jaise kuch badla hi nahi ho. Yeh ganda mehsoos ho raha tha. Aisa ganda ki meri chamdi sihlati thi aur mera lund bhi hil raha tha saath hi saath. 

Yeh sochna ki baap ko shayad abhi bhi uske muh mein Gajendra ke lund ka kuch nishaan mehsoos ho raha ho — thook, halki si khushboo, shayad virya ka halka sa asar agar usne daant saaf na kiye hon — mujhe beemar kar raha tha. 

Phir bhi main nazar nahi hata pa raha tha. Mera dimag baar baar woh tasveer dohra raha tha: Maa ghutno ke bal, aankhein aadhi band maze mein, jabki baap agle kamre mein kuch nahi jaanta baitha tha. Ab usko chumna dhokhe par dhokha jaisa lag raha tha, aur uski gandagi mere seene mein jal rahi thi haalaanki neeche sharir mein garmi bhar rahi thi. 

Mujhe baap ke liye dukh ho raha tha — sach mein. Woh bahut shaant aur vishwas bhara dikhta tha, uska haath upar aakar Maa ke gaal ko narmi se chhoo raha tha jab woh chum rahe the. Usko kuch pata nahi tha. Lekin yeh dukh zyada der nahi tik paaya. 

Jo main jaanta tha uski rochakta, jo maine dekha tha uski rochakta, zyada mazboot thi. Mujhe rokne ki parwah nahi thi. Main pehle hi bahut aage nikal chuka tha, us raaz ka nasha chadha hua tha, har naye apmaan ka jo baap ko pata bhi nahi tha usse mera sharir react kar raha tha. 

Agar main Maa ke vicharon ko padh sakta toh woh toofan hote. Jab uske hont baap ke honton se mile, ek tez sharm ka jhatka usmein ghoom gaya. Main kaisi biwi hoon? Hussein mujhpar poora vishwas karta hai, aur yahan main kuch ghante pehle doosre aadmi ko apna muh aur sharir use karne de rahi thi. 

Main gandi hoon. Paapi hoon. Bhagwan mujhe maaf karna. Yeh sharm asli thi, bhari hui, uska seena tight kar rahi thi. Lekin uske neeche, ek andhere dhaare ki tarah, kuch garam chal raha tha. Usse pasand tha. 

Yeh chhupa hua khel usko uttejit kar raha tha. Yeh jaanna ki do mardon dwara uski ichchha ki ja rahi thi — ek jo usko kai dashakon se jaanta tha aur ek jo usko aise mehsoos karwata tha jo usne pehle kabhi nahi mehsoos kiya — uski taangon ke beech ek chhupi si siharan bhej raha tha. 

Baap ko chumte hue jab Gajendra ka swaad uske dimag mein abhi bhi kahin tha usse usko shaktishali aur bigdi hui mehsoos ho raha tha. Woh khud ko dosh de rahi thi haalaanki uska sharir garam ho raha tha, uske stan kapde ke andar sakht ho rahe the. Woh ek buri biwi thi, haan. Lekin us pal woh achhi nahi banna chahti thi. 

Gajendra us chumban ko chhoti si, samajh na aane wali muskurahat ke saath dekh raha tha. Andar uske vichar thande aur tez the. Dekho isko. Woh uske diye tukdon ke liye itna shukraguzar. Usko bilkul pata nahi ki wohi hont kuch der pehle mere lund ke aaspaas fail gaye the, ki woh mere naam ki siskiyaan le rahi thi jab uska jhad gaya tha. 

Woh yahan chai peete hue achhe host ki tarah baitha hai jabki main uski cheez le chuka hoon. Woh ab meri hai jab woh chahegi. Woh kamzor hai. Andha hai. Aur woh mujhe jo chahe karne deti hai kyunki usko zaroorat hai. Ushe baap se nafrat karne ki zaroorat nahi thi. Woh nafrat uski aankhon mein thi jo Maa ke honton par aur uske gale ki halki laali par atak rahi thi, jaanta hua ki uski wajah woh khud tha. 

Mujhe baap ke liye phir se dukh hua, lekin woh jaldi hi kuch aur mein badal gaya — uttejna, intezaar. Mujhe rokne ki parwah nahi thi. Main dekhna chahta tha aage kya hota hai. 

Chumban ke baad baatein natural taur par chalti rahi, jaise chai aur biscuit ne sabko baat karne ka bahana de diya ho. 

Gajendra ne apna cup halke se mez par rakha aur thoda sa aage jhuk gaya, uski awaaz garam aur izzat bhari. Hussein bhai, chai bahut achhi hai, jaise hamesha. Shahida ko ismein sach mein naseeb hai. Mujhe nahi pata woh ise har baar itna swadisht kaise banati hai. 

Usne Maa ki taraf muskuraya, phir baap ki taraf mud gaya. Asal mein bhai, main aapse kuch poochna chahta tha. Aaj raat mujhe kuch zaroori client ka kaam hai — files aur bills jo kal subah ke bade meeting ke liye theek se sort karne hain. Mera regular hisaab wala chhutti par hai, aur kaagaz gandhe hue hain. Shahida ke haath bahut saaf hain aur nazar achhi hai. Main soch raha tha ki kya woh mere ghar do ghante ke liye aa sakti hai taaki sab kuch theek se arrange kar de. Main kaam khatam hote hi usko ghar safe chhod aunga. Zyada se zyada do teen ghante lagenge. 

Baap palak jhapkaaya, saaf taur par hairaan. Usne apna cup neeche rakha aur haathon ko ghutnon par pochha, halka sa frown banate hue. Aaj raat, Gajendra bhai? Yeh… achanak hai. Shahida ka din pehle se hi ghar aur sab kuch karte hue lamba ho gaya hai. Kya yeh itna zaroori hai ki kal tak nahi ruk sakta? 

Gajendra ne sar hilaya, uska chehra sachcha. Main chahta toh ruk jaata bhai. Lekin client subah pehle pahunch raha hai, aur sab kuch perfect hona chahiye. Main aapko pareshaan nahi karta agar zaroori na hota. Shahida pehle bhi chhoti chhoti cheezon mein meri madad kar chuki hai, aur main uspar apne kaagazon ka poora bharosa karta hoon. Woh savadhaan hai, aap jaante ho. Usne Maa ki taraf chhoti si himmat bhari muskurahat daali. Bilkul, agar uske liye theek ho toh. Agar woh bahut thaki hui hai toh main akela sambhaal lunga. 

Maa baap ki taraf mud gayi, uski awaaz narmi se bhari lekin mazboot, ek madadgaar biwi ki tasveer. Hussein, theek hai. Main jaa sakti hoon. Gajendra bhai ne humare liye itna kuch kiya hai saalon mein — yaad hai jab unhone dukaan ka kiraya aur naye maal ke liye udhaar mein madad ki thi? Yeh chhoti si madad wapas karna mera farz hai. Bas kaagaz sort karne hain, kuch mushkil nahi. Main wapas aa jaungi pehle aapko yaad bhi nahi aayega ki main gayi thi. 

Usne apna haath halke se baap ki baah par rakha, dheere se dabaate hue. Ek aur baat: uski ungliyan halke se kaanp rahi thi, lekin baap ne notice nahi kiya. Woh pehle se hi soch rahi thi ki Gajendra usko asal mein kyun bula raha tha — chhuppan, bistar, aur darwaza band hote hi woh usko kaise chhooyega. 

Yeh vichar uske table ke neeche taangon ko ek doosre se dabane par majboor kar raha tha, haalaanki uska chehra shaant aur farz nibhaane wala tha 

Mere baap ne un dono ke beech dekha, abhi bhi hichkichate hue. Lekin abhi shaam ho chuki hai. Aur tum jaanti ho ki main kitna pareshan ho jaata hoon jab tum raat ko bahar hoti ho, chahe kisi bharose wale ke saath hi kyun na ho. Raste raat mein hamesha surakshit nahi hote, aur agar sirf tum dono hi ho toh… Woh ruk gaya, saaf taur par asahaj mehsoos kar raha tha lekin Gajendra ko bura na bolne ki koshish kar raha tha. 

Maa uske kareeb jhuk gayi, uski awaaz mein woh manane wali dhvani aa gayi jo woh tab karti thi jab usko koi cheez sach mein chahiye hoti thi. Itna pareshan mat ho Hussein. Gajendra bhai ka ghar achhe ilake mein hai, aur woh mujhe parivaar ki tarah sambhaal lega. Tum jaante ho woh kitna izzat karne wala hai. Aur kaam uske dhandhe ke liye zaroori hai. Agar main thoda sa bhi madad kar sakti hoon toh kyun nahi? Tum ghar par raho aur aaram karo. Tum dukaan par itna mehnat kar rahe ho aajkal. Mujhe yeh chhoti si cheez karne do. 

Usne uski taraf muskurahat di, phir Gajendra ki taraf. Main theek rahungi. Main vaada karti hoon. 

Yeh aage peeche ki baat aur kuch minutes tak chalti rahi. Baap ne kaam ki asli prakriti ke baare mein poocha — kya aur log aa rahe hain? Kya ilaka achhe se roshan hai? Kya tumhare mobile mein charge kaafi hai? Kya tum mujhe call karogi jab ghar lautne ke liye taiyaar hogi? 

Maa ne dhundhle lekin bharose bhare jawab diye: Sirf kuch client ke file aur rasid hain jo theek se file karne ki zaroorat hai. Koi aur nahi hoga, yeh shaant kaam hai. Haan, main mobile on rakhoongi. Jaise hi hum khatam karenge main tumhe call karungi, pareshan mat ho. Gajendra ne shaant bharose bhare shabd add kiye, vaada kiya ki woh usko apni behen ki tarah treat karega aur jaise hi kaam khatam hoga usko ghar chhod aayega. 

Baap ne aakhir mein saans chhodi, apni gardan ke peeche haath pherte hue. Woh Gajendra ko bahut izzat karta tha — lagbhag had se zyada. Us aadmi ne unke parivaar ki paise ki madad kai baar ki thi, dukaan ke baare mein salah di thi, aur jab cheezein tight thi tab bina byaaj ke paise bhi udhaar diye the. 

Baap usko ek upkaar samajhta tha, koi sadharan niyamon se upar wala insaan. Inkaar karna lagbhag beizzati jaisa lagta tha. Theek hai, usne aakhir mein kaha, uski awaaz thodi anichchha bhari lekin maan li thi. Agar yeh itna zaroori hai, aur agar Shahida taiyaar hai… jaao. Lekin jaldi wapas aa jaana. 

Maa muskurayi, rahat aur chhupi hui uttejna uski aankhon mein chamak rahi thi. Shukriya Hussein. Main jaldi wapas aa jaungi. 

Main hallway se dekh raha tha, mera dimag tez chal raha tha. Baap, tum bewakoof, bharose wale murkh. Tum uski itni izzat karte ho ki apni biwi ko uske haath mein raat bhar ke liye de rahe ho. Tumhe pata hi nahi ki yeh madad asal mein kya matlab rakhti hai. Tumne usko pehle hi kho diya hai, aur tumhe iska pata bhi nahi. 

Us raat baad mein, sone ka kamra sirf dressing table par lage chhote lamp se roshan tha. Maa sheeshe ke saamne khadi thi, apne kaanon mein chhote sone ke jhumke dheere se laga rahi thi jo uske sar hilane par latakte the. 

Usne ek bahut tight hari resham ki dress pehen li thi jo uske har ubhaar par chipak rahi thi — uski bhari kamar, stanon ka ubhaar, uski gaand ki golai. 

Kapda roshni mein halka sa chamak raha tha, aur uske upar usne ek saaf hari hijaab odh rakhi thi jo uske baal poore chhupaye hue tha, yeh virodhabhas usko ek taraf namra aur doosri taraf khatarnak rochak bana raha tha. 

Usne lipstick dheere se lagaya, gehra laal rang jo uske honton ko aur bhare hue aur aakarshanak bana raha tha. Baap uske paas khada tha, sheeshe mein uski pratikriti dekhta hua, uska chehra garv aur baaki chinta ka mishran tha. 

Shahida, usne dheere se kaha, aaj raat yeh madad… asal mein kya hai phir se? Sirf kagaz? Kya tum uske saath poora time akeli rahogi? Kya ghar surakshit hai? Kya tumhare paas paise kaafi hain agar rickshaw se wapas aane ki zaroorat padi? Kya main apna mobile kareeb rakhoon agar tum call karo? 




Maa thoda sa mud kar ek jhumka theek karti hui, uski awaaz shaant aur thodi door ki thi. Sirf kuch zaroori client ke dastavej aur rasidon ko theek se organize karna hai Hussein. Ushe kal ke liye unko sahi tarike se taiyaar karna hai. Haan, sirf hum dono hi honge, lekin yeh theek hai. Gajendra bhai ka ghar bahut surakshit hai, aur ilaka achha hai. Itna pareshan mat ho. Jaise hi hum khatam karenge main tumhe call karungi. 

Usne asli kaaran ka zikr nahi kiya — jis tarah Gajendra ne usko pehle dekha tha, uski aankhon mein vaada, jis tarah uska sharir pehle se hi uttejna se goonj raha tha. 

Ek aur baat: usne jaan boojh kar apni sabse tight dress chuni thi jo abhi bhi hijaab ke saath pehenne layak thi, yeh jaante hue ki woh chalte waqt kaisi dikhegi, baad mein jab Gajendra ke haath uspar chalenge tab kaisa mehsoos hoga. 

Baap suraksha ke sawal poochhta raha — raat ke raste ke baare mein, kya usne kaafi khaana khaaya hai, kya woh chahegi ki woh usko gate tak chhod aaye jab Gajendra aaye. Inmein se kuch bhi shak se nahi tha. 

Woh sirf usse pyaar karta tha aur chinta karta tha. Lekin sach yeh tha ki usne usko har us maayne mein pehle hi Gajendra ko de diya tha jismein matlab tha. Woh ab poori tarah uski nahi rahi thi. Woh kuch aur ban chuki thi — ek aurat jo aasani se jhooth bolti thi, jo doosre aadmi ke liye saj dhaj kar jaati thi, jo tab zyada zinda mehsoos karti thi jab uska upayog kiya jaata tha usse zyada jab uski suraksha ki jaati thi. 

Woh sabse shaant aur poori tarah se randi ban chuki thi, aur baap abhi bhi sirf apni wafadaar biwi ko hi dekh raha tha. 

Bah ar, raat ko ek tez gaadi ka horn ki awaaz goonji. Maa ki aankhein turant chamak uthi. Woh tez ho gayi, lagbhag shokh tarike se — jaldi se lipstick ek baar aur check karti hui, apni tight hari dress ko kamar par smooth karti hui thodi zyada hilti hui, uski harkatein achanak utsaah bhari aur bechain ho gayi. 

Usne apni chhoti purse uthayi, hari hijaab ko ek chamak ke saath theek kiya, aur baap ki taraf chamakti hui, lagbhag bechain muskurahat ke saath mud gayi. Woh aa gaya. Ab mujhe jaana hoga. Raat bhar intezaar mat karna, theek hai? Main jaldi wapas aa jaungi. Usne usko jaldi se gaal par chum liya, darwaze se aadha bahar nikal chuki thi, uski sharirik bhasha chillati hui thi ki uska dimag pehle hi kahin aur tha. 

Usne gate ki taraf jaate hue mujhe mobile par call kiya. Zaid beta, tum kahan ho? Main thodi der ke liye Gajendra bhai ke kuch kaam mein madad karne ja rahi hoon. Theek se rehna aur bahar zyada der mat raho, theek hai? 

Maine aasani se jhooth bola, meri awaaz shaant thi haalaanki mera dil tez dhadak raha tha. Theek hai Ammi, main apne dost ke ghar par hoon. Hum khel khel rahe hain. Mere baare mein pareshan mat hona. 





Maine apni scooter taiyaar rakhi thi, gate ke paas chhupakar. Unke peeche jaane ka, aage kya hota hai dekhne ka utsah bahut zyada tha. Sachchai is nashe ke saamne kuch nahi thi. 

Maa Gajendra ki gaadi mein baith gayi — ek chamakdar, kaali sedan jo humare paas kisi bhi cheez se mehngi dikhti thi. Darwaza band hua, engine ki awaaz aayi, aur woh raat mein chal diye. 

Maine tees second intezaar kiya, phir apni scooter start ki aur unke peeche careful doori banaye hue chala, hawa mere chehre par tez pad rahi thi, mere haath handle par mazboot the. 

Raste aadhe khali the, sadak ke lamp lambi parchhaiyan daal rahe the. Main utna door raha ki woh mujhe na dekh sakein, mera dil dar aur uttejna ke mishran se dhadak raha tha. 

Woh ek shaant ilake mein ek bade ghar ke saamne ruke — do manjila, lakdi ke bagiche aur lakdi ke gate ke saath. Gajendra bahar nikla, gate khola, aur Maa uske peeche andar chali gayi. Darwaza unke peeche band ho gaya. Maine apni scooter thoda door sadak par, ek khade rickshaw ke peeche park ki, aur intezaar karne laga. 

Time dheere beet raha tha. Jhilli chir chir kar rahi thi. Kahin door ek kutta bhonk raha tha. Main sadak ke us paar chhoti divar par baitha tha, upar manjile ke roshan khidkiyon ko dekhta hua, mere seene mein bhari udaasi baithti ja rahi thi. 

Baap abhi ghar par akela hoga, shayad usi sofa par baitha hoga, shayad TV dekh raha hoga ya kuch bhi nahi dekhta hua sirf soch raha hoga, yeh vishwas karte hue ki uski biwi parivaar ke dost ki fileon mein madad kar rahi hai. 

Ushe bilkul pata nahi tha ki woh doosre aadmi ke sone ke kamre mein, us tight hari dress mein, aisi cheezein karne wali thi jo usko tod dengi agar kabhi usko pata chal gaya. 

Us pal mujhe uske liye sach mein bura laga — akelapan, andhapan, jis tarah woh usse itna poora pyaar karta tha jabki woh khud ko kisi aur ko de rahi thi. Lekin udaasi bhi mujhe rok nahi paayi. Mujhe dekhna tha. 

Lagbhag bees minute baad, main dheere se ghar ki taraf chala, chhaon mein chhupte hue. Gate khula tha. Main chhote bagiche mein andar ghus gaya aur ghar ke us taraf chala jahaan ek khidki garam roshni se chamak rahi thi. 

Maine phoolon ke jhaad ke peeche ek jagah dhoond li, dil tez dhadak raha tha, aur dheere se aadhe khule khidki se jhaanka. 

Jo maine dekha usse meri saans atak gayi. 

Woh sone ke kamre mein the — bada kamra, bade bistar par kaale chadar, lakdi ka almari, aur chhoti mez par lamp. Maa bistar ke kinare par baithi thi, abhi bhi tight hari resham ki dress aur hari hijaab mein, nervous aur uttejit dono lag rahi thi. Woh kamre mein khade the, dono ek doosre ko gale lagaye hue aur chum rahe the. 




Phir Gajendra uske saath bistar par baith gaya, aaraam se, ek packet cigarette aur lighter pakde hue. Usne pehle khud ke liye ek sulgaayi, uska chhehra orange chamak raha tha, dhuaan dheere dheere upar ki taraf ghum raha tha. Phir usne packet uski taraf badhaya. 

Ek try karo, usne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz dheemi aur manane wali thi. Yeh tumhe aaraam karne mein madad karegi. Tum poori shaam se tensi thi. Ek cigarette se kuch nahi hoga. Mere liye karo. 

Maa ne hichkichate hue, apni ungliyan god mein ghumati hui. Main nahi peeti. Tum jaante ho. Maine kabhi nahi… 

Usne muskurate hue, narmi se lekin zid karke cigarette uske honton ke beech rakh di. Bas ek kash. Main tumhe sikhaunga. Dheere se andar le… haan waisa hi. Achhi ladki. 

Maa ne chhoti, azmaishi kash li. Woh turant khansi, uski aankhein bhar aayi, lekin woh peeche nahi hati. Gajendra dheere se hans pada, uska haath uske kandhe par tha, usko sambhaalte hue. 



Aaraam se… jaldi mat karo. Thoda andar rok kar rakho, phir bahar nikalo. Phir se. Usne jab pehli cigarette jaldi khatam ho gayi toh uske liye doosri sulgaayi, usko dikhate hue ki ungliyon ke beech kaise pakadna hai, honton tak kaise laana hai. 

Dhuaan kamre mein tez, anjaan khushboo se bhar gaya. Maa ne phir try kiya, is baar kam khansi, uske gaal laal ho gaye. Usne uski taraf upar dekha ek ajib sharm aur garv ke mishran ke saath — jaise uske liye yeh karna us nayi khud ko banne ka ek aur kadam tha. 

Main dekh raha tha, andar tak hairaan. Sirf sex hi nahi. Ab woh usko cigarette peena sikha raha tha — usko ek naye, gahre tareeke se bigaad raha tha. Uski honton par filter, laal lipstick hari cigarette par lage hue, har kash ke baad uski taraf manzoori ke liye dekhti hui, unke beech dhuaan ek raaz ki tarah fail raha tha… yeh mujhe usse zyada laga jo maine socha tha. 

Woh badal rahi thi, mere saamne. Uske tareeke se uski ho rahi thi jo bistar se bahar bhi the. Aur baap ghar par akela baitha intezaar kar raha tha, us biwi ka jiske liye doosre aadmi ne kaha tha isliye cigarette peena seekh rahi thi. 




Main wahan bahut der tak raha, dhue ko ghumte hue dekhta hua, unki dheemi awaazon aur halki hansi ko sunta hua, mera dimag us din dekhi aur mehsoos ki saari baaton se ghum raha tha. Gandi baatein, dosh, uttejna, udaasi — sab ek saath ghum rahe the jab tak main unhe alag nahi kar paaya. 

Phir usne aisi cheez ki jo mujhe bahut shocking lagi. Main aap logon ko agle hisse mein bataunga!!