Misc. Erotica सम्मान और बदला: Hindi Version Of Honor and Vengeance

[Deepak.kapoor]

Khauf Aur Saazish—3

Jaise hi phone kata, Meera ne ek gehri rahat ki saans li, lekin uski yeh rahat pal bhar ki bhi nahi thi. Apne jism par chhaaye sharm ke bojh se tadapte hue usne khud ko oopar uthane ki koshish ki.

Meera (haanfte hue, apni bachi-kuchi taqat sametkar peechhe hatne ka prayaas karte hue): "Phone... phone kat gaya na Sher? Ab... ab please chhodo mujhe... hat jao mere oopar se..."

Par Sher ke iraade kuch aur hi the. Jaise hi usne dekha ki Meera door hatne ki koshish kar rahi hai, usne apne majboot aur bhaari haathon se uski patli kamar ko jakda aur ek hi jhatke mi use kheenchar seedhe apni god mein bitha liya.

Ab Meera poori tarah se Sher ki jaanghon par baithi hui thi. Uski reshmi nighty kamar aur pet tak neeche khiski hui thi, jisse uska poora oopri badan poori tarah se anavrit tha.

Sher ke dono bade haath abhi bhi uske un dono nange aur sudaul mummon par jame hue the. Lekin is baar vah bahut dheere-dheere, makhmali ungliyon se un gore ubhaaron ko sehlaane laga. Uski ungliyon ka yeh dheema sparsh Meera ke samvedansheel angon par ek maadak aur teekhi kaamuk siharan paida karne laga.

(Meera ke antarman ke vichaar):
'Hey Bhagwan... yeh kya anarth ho raha hai! Main iski god mein is haal mein baithi hoon... aur iske haathon ka yeh dheema sparsh... mera badan kaamp kyon raha hai? Sartaj kisi bhi vaqt aate honge aur main... main yahan iske changul mein pighal rahi hoon. Mujhe door hatna hoga, par is shareer mein jaise ab jaan hi nahi bachi...'

Sher ne Meera ke badan mein aati us makhmali narmi aur siharan ko bhaanp liya. Usne apni jeebh se apne honthon ko chaata aur Meera ke kaan ke paas apna munh le jaakar behad kaamuk aavaaz mein phusphusaaya.

Sher (Meera ke stanon ko apni hatheliyon mein aahista-aahista bheenchte hue, madhosh aavaaz mein): "Meera madam... abhi mere paas poore das minute hain. Maalik ko aane mein samay hai... please, thodi der aur khelne do na inse. Kasam se, inko chhookar mera dil hi nahi bharta..."

(Sher ke antarman ke vichaar):
'Das minute bahut hote hain memsaab! Ab jab tum khud meri god mein aakar baith gayi ho, toh in gore aur raseele mummon ko aise aahista-aahista masloonga ki tum khud sab bhool jaogi. Maalik ke aane se pehle tumhari is javaani ka poora maza nichod loonga.'

Usne apni geeli aur khurdari jeebh seedhe Meera ke naazuk gale par tika di aur oopar se neeche tak chaatne laga.

Meera (Sher ki jaanghon par chhatpataate hue, uske haathon ko apne seene se hataane ki naakaam koshish karne lagi): "Sher... paagal mat bano! Tum hosh mein toh ho? Sartaj bas das minute mein yahan pahunch jayenge. Agar unhone humein is haal mein dekh liya toh anarth ho jayega... abhi mujhe chhodo aur door hato!"

Meera ne apni poori taqat lagaakar uski god se uthne ki koshish ki, lekin Sher ki taqat ke aage uski ek na chali.

Sher ne ek kutil muskaan ke saath uski patli kamar mein apni majboot baanhein daaleen aur use dobaara apni taraf kheenchkar vaapas poori taqat se apni god mein bitha liya. Is jhatke se Meera ka nitamb seedhe uski jaanghon ke beech ja tika.

Jaise hi vah dobaara uski god mein aakar jami, Meera ka poora badan khauf aur ek anjaani siharan se sunn ho gaya.

Gown ke patle kapde ke aar-paar use apne nitambon par Sher ka vo sakht aur vishaal 7 inch ka lund saaf mehsoos ho raha tha, jo vaasna ke maare poori tarah lohe ki tarah akad chuka tha aur uski peeth ke nichle hisse ko bedh raha tha.

(Meera ke antarman ke vichaar):
'Hey Bhagwan... yeh toh poori tarah andha ho chuka hai! Iske badan ki yeh garmi... aur neeche yeh kya hai... ufff, yeh toh poori tarah khada hai. Yeh seedhe mere koolhon par dabaav bana raha hai. Mujhe kisi bhi tarah yahan se nikalna hoga!'

Sher ne Meera ki us ghabraahat aur uske jism ki siharan ko apne kade hote ang par mehsoos kiya, jisse uski kaamukta aur badh gayi. Usne Meera ke kaanon ke paas apni bhaari aur garm saansein chhodte hue phusphusaaya.

Sher (Meera ki kamar ko aur kaste hue, neeche se apne ang ka dabaav uske koolhon par badhaate hue): "Memsaab ji, main keh raha hoon na... main aapko theek 7 minute baad chhod doonga. Bas 7 minute... mujhe bhi pata hai ki maalik aa rahe hain, main koi risk nahi loonga. Par abhi in 7 minuteon mein mujhe apne is kadepan ko shaant karne dijiye... dekhiye na, aapke is roop ne mera kya haal kar diya hai..."

(Sher ke antarman ke vichaar):
'Haan maalkin, mehsoos karo ise! Tumhari yeh makhmali gaand jab mere is 7 inch ke lund par is inheritance ragad khaa rahi hai, toh mera poora khoon khaul utha hai. Ab in 7 minuteon mein mai tumhe is kadar apni god mein masloonga ki tum chaahkar bhi mujhe kabhi bhool nahi paogi.'

Is kheenchtan ke beech Meera andar hi andar poori tarah se toot chuki thi. Vah jitni chhatpata rahi thi, Sher ki pakad uske jism par utni hi zyaada vahshi hoti ja rahi thi.

Apni kaamukta ki aag mein andha ho chuka Sher ab ek kadam aur aage badh gaya. Usne ek tagda jhatka dekar apni dono majboot jaanghon ko chauda karte hue apne pair phaila diye. Is achaanak hue dabaav ke kaaran Meera ka santulan bigda aur uski dono taangein bhi apne aap baahar ki taraf phailti chaleen gayeen.

Is poori jaddojhad mein, jo reshmi gown pehle se hi sarak chuka tha, vah ab Meera ki dono jaanghon se poori tarah se hat gaya. Dekhte hi dekhte, Meera ki gori, sudaul aur reshmi nangi jaanghein Sher ki bhookhi aankhon ke saamne bilkul nangi ho gayeen.

Jab Sher ki nazar Meera ki un makhmali, bedaag aur behad gori jaanghon par padi, toh uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa paagalpan utar aaya. Usne apni badi-badi hatheliyon ko Meera ke ghutnon ke paas tikaaya aur dheere-dheere oopar ki taraf sarkaane laga.

(Sher ke antarman ke vichaar):
'Oh... kya makkhan jaisi jaanghein hain maalkin ki! Kasam se, oopar vaale ne inhe taraashne mein koi kasar nahi chhodi. Yeh resham jaisi tvacha... ab toh in jaanghon ke beech ki garmi ko chhooey bina main reh hi nahi sakta.'

Sher (Meera ki nangi jaanghon par apni khurdari ungliyan reengte hue, bhaari aur madhosh aavaaz mein): "Memsaab ji... kya kayaamat badan paaya hai aapne. Aapki ye gori jaanghein dekhkar toh koi bhi apni jaan daanv par laga de... bas... bas kuch minute aur..."

Haveli ke band kamre mein jahan vaqt tezi se fisal raha tha, vahin shehar ki sadkon par Sartaj Singh ka kaafila poori raftaar se daud raha stood. Sartaj apni aalishan official gaadi ki pichhli seat par baitha hua tha.

Suraksha ke kade intazaam the—ek suraksha gaadi aage-aage raasta saaf karti chal rahi thi aur doosri gaadi theek pechhe se unhein cover kar rahi thi.

Subah ki dhoop ki peeli kiranon khidki se chhankar baari-baari se Sartaj ke gambheer chehre par padkar guzar rahi theen, lekin uska dhyaan baahar ke raaston par nahi, balki apne ateet aur Sher ke ehsaanon par tika hua tha.

Vah gehri soch mein dooba hua tha ki Sher uske parivaar ke liye ek rakshak bankar kaise ubhra hai. Aaj ka din toh aisa tha jise vah kabhi bhool hi nahi sakta tha—Sher ne apni jaan ki baazi lagaakar uski laadli Jyoti ko maut ke munh se kheench nikala tha. Agar aaj Sher na hota, toh uska poora hansta-khelta parivaar ek pal mein tabaah ho jata.

Sartaj ne pechhe ki taraf tek lagaayi aur puraani baaton ko yaad karne laga.

Yeh pehli baar nahi tha jab Sher ne unke parivaar par itna bada upkaar kiya tha. Sartaj ko yaad aaya ki kuch raat pehle jab ghar mein chor ghuse the, tab Sher ne hi apni jaan ki parvaah na karte hue us chorni ko pakadne ka prayaas kiya tha aur ain mauke par apni bahaaduri se ghar ki laaj aur dhan-daulat dono bacha li thi.

Usse bhi pehle ki ek ghatna Sartaj ke zehan mein taaza ho gayi, jab Meera gaadi se utarte vaqt achaanak asantulit ho gayi thi aur uska pair fisal gaya tha; tab bhi Sher ne ain mauke par lapakkar Meera ko girne se bachaaya tha aur use chot lagne se roka tha.

Vah man hi man soch raha tha ki Sher ka unke jeevan mein aana kisi chamatkaar se kam nahi tha.

Sher ki entry unke ghar mein tab hui thi, jab unka puraana aur vafaadaar driver, Chandan, ek bhayaanak haadse ka shikaar ho gaya tha. Chandan ke accident ke baad jab ghar ke liye kisi bharosemand aadmi ki zaroorat thi, tab Chandan ne hi apne aspatal ke bistar se Sher ke naam ki sifaarish ki thi. Chandan ki baat maankar Sher ko naukri par rakhna kitna sahi aur behtareen faisla saabit hua tha.

Sartaj ne apni aankhein moond leen aur rahat ki lambi saans li.

Use is baat ka ratti bhar bhi andaaza nahi tha ki jis vafaadaar driver ko vah apne parivaar ka bhagwan maan raha tha, vahi Sher is vaqt uski ghair-maujoodgi mein, usi ki kothi ke band kamre mein uski patni ki majboori ka faayda utha raha tha.

Sartaj Singh ki gaadiyon ka kaafila kothi ki taraf badh hi raha tha ki achaanak sadk ke kinaare sthit Gurdwara Sahib ke oonche Nishan Sahib par Sartaj ki nazar padi.

Gurdwara se aati Gurbani ki madhur aavaaz ne uske bechain dil ko ek aseem shaanti ka ehsaas karaaya. Usne turant aage ki seat par baithe driver ko aadesh diya.

Sartaj Singh (jaldbaazi mein): "Gaadi roko! Zara side mein lagao gaadi..."

Gaadiyan turant ruk gayeen.

Sartaj apni laadli beti ki jaan bachne ki khushi mein Waheguru ke charnon mein sheesh navaane aur shukraane ki ardaas karne ke liye vyaakul tha.

Vah gaadi se utra aur tez kadmon se Gurdwara Sahib ke bheetar daakhil hua. Sabse pehle usne counter par jaakar Jyoti ke naam ki shukraane ki ardaas ke liye ₹501 ka kada prasad ki parchi katvaayi.

Jaise hi sevadaar ne prasad ka thaal uski taraf badhaaya, Sartaj ke dil mein ek aur khyaal aaya. Usne socha ki aaj agar Sher salaamat hai, toh sirf Waheguru ki meharbaani se.

Uski jaan bachaane ke liye aur uski sehat ki salaamti ke liye bhi prasad chadhana toh banta hai. Yahi sochkar usne apni jeb se jaise hi apna chamde ka purse nikaala, uski ungliyon se fisalkar purse seedhe neeche farsh par gir gaya.

Sartaj ne ek pal ke liye rukkar neeche dekha, purse uthaaya aur usmein se ₹501 aur nikaalkar Sher ki salaamti ke naam ka bhi doosra prasad le liya. Dono thaal haathon mein thaame, nange pair, vah Darbar Sahib ke mukhya dvaar ki taraf badha.

Darbar Sahib ke mukhya pravesh dvaar par pahunchte hi, maryaada ke anusaar Sartaj ne Jyoti ke naam vaale prasad ka thaal vahan khade sevadaar ke haathon mein saunp diya taaki Guru Maharaj ka bhog lag sake aur kripa baras sake.

Sevadaar ne us thaal ko lekar kirpaan bhent ki aur Guru Maharaj ke saamne rakhe mukhya bade prasad ke bartan mein Sartaj ke laaye hue prasad ko mila diya. Phir us saanjhe prasad mein se ek chhota sa pavitra hissa vaapas Sartaj ke thaal mein rakh diya.

Is paavan vidhi ko 'bhog lagaana' kaha jaata hai, jisse vah prasad ab Guru ki aasheesh ka saakshaat roop ban chuka tha.

Thaali vaapas haath mein lete hi Sartaj ki aankhein bhar aayeen. Usne man hi man Waheguru se apni beti ki lambi umra aur Sher ki salaamti ki dua maangi.

Vah is baat se poori tarah bekhabar tha ki yahan Gurdwara mein jahan vah pavitra bhog lagva raha tha, vahin uski kothi ke band kamre mein samay ki suiyan tezi se ghoom rahi theen aur Sher us 10 minute ki mohalat ke har ek second ka faayda uthaakar Meera ki asmat par apni vahshiyat ka bhog laga raha tha.

Jyoti ke prasad ki bhog prakriya poori hone ke baad, Sartaj Singh ne gehri aastha ke saath Sher ki salaamti vaala doosra thaal sevadaar ki taraf badhaaya.

Lekin jaise hi sevadaar ne us thaal ko thaamne ke liye apne haath aage badhaaye, ek ajeeb aur apratyaashit ghatna ghati. Thaal sevadaar ke haathon se achaanak fisal gaya aur palatte hue seedhe neeche farsh par ja gira. Saara kada prasad Gurdwara ki chaukhat ke paas zameen par bikhar gaya. Vah mukhya paavan prasad ke saath mix hone se pehle ki zameen ki dhool mein mil chuka tha.

Vahan khade sevadaar ke chehre par havaiyaan udne lageen. Vah sharrmindagi se haath jodkar turant maafi maangne laga.

Sevadaar (ghabraaye aur kaampte svar mein): "Sacche Paashah! Mujhse bahut badi bhool ho gayi, maalik! Mujhe maaf kar dijiye... mere itne saalon ke sevakaal mein aaj tak aisa kabhi nahi hua ki kisi shraddhalu ka prasad mere haathon se chhootkar neeche gir jaaye. Na jaane aaj yeh kaise ho gaya... Waheguru mehar kare!"

Sartaj Singh vahin ka vahin kaath maarkar khada reh gaya. Uske pairon ke neeche se jaise zameen khisak gayi ho. Sevadaar ki baaton se zyaada, uske apne bheetar uth rahe vichaaron ne use hilaakar rakh diya tha.

Ek gehri aur daraavni aashanka uske zehan mein bijli ki tarah kaundhi. Use laga ki yeh koi maamooli ittefaq nahi, balki saakshaat Waheguru ki taraf se milne vaala koi bada aur amangal sanket hai.

Usne kadiyon ko jodna shuru kiya—pehle jab vah Sher ke naam ki parchi kaatne chala, toh uska poora purse haath se chhootkar neeche gir gaya.

Aur ab, jann Sher ke naam ka prasad Guru Maharaj ke bhog ke liye aage badha, toh vah prasad hi apavitra hokar zameen par bikhar gaya. Iska seedha aur saaf matlab tha ki Waheguru Sher ke naam ka shukraana aur prasad sveekar hi nahi karna chahte the. Jis insaan ko vah apne ghar ka farishta samajh raha tha, uske naam par Guru ghar mein aisa apshakun hona Sartaj ke dil ko dehla gaya.

Bheetar se boori tarah ashaant aur ghabraaya hua Sartaj bhaari kadmon se aage badha aur Guru Granth Sahib ke paavan svaroop ke theek saamne ghutnon ke bal baith gaya. Usne dono haath jode, maatha teka aur aankhon se bahe aansoon ke saath sacche paashah ke charnon mein guhaar lagaane laga.

Sartaj Singh (man hi man, rooansi aur thartharaati aavaaz mein): "Hey sacche paashah... hey Waheguru... mujhse aisi kya khata hui hai ki aaj aapke dar par ye sanket mil rahe hain? Mera dil bahut ghabra raha hai daata. Meri bacchi ki jaan toh bach gayi, par mere ghar-parivaar par aane vaali kisi bhi adrishya bala aur saaye se mere apnon ki raksha karna. Mere parivaar ki laaj aur salaamti ab poori tarah aapke haathon mein hai, sacche paashah... raksha karna..."

Ek taraf jahan Gurdwara Sahib mein Sartaj Singh apni aankhein moonde, haath jode, bhaari man se apne parivaar ki raksha ke liye Waheguru ke charnon mein ardaas kar raha tha... theek usi pal, uski apni kothi ke bheetar Sher ki haivaaniyat apne charam par pahunch rahi thi.

Samay tezi se beeta ja raha tha aur Sher ki vahshi bhookh badhti hi ja rahi thi. Uske dono haath Meera ke badan par lipte nighty ko poori tarah kheenchkar utaarne ka prayaas kar rahe the taaki vah uski deh ko poori tarah anavrit kar sake.

Meera (rote hue, apni poori taqat se Sher ke haathon ko hataate hue): "Nahi... nahi Sher! Khuda ke liye ruk jao... poora kapda mat utaaro... meri kasam ka naajaayaz faayda mat uthao... ufff... Sartaj aate hi honge... chhod do mujhe..."

Sher (kaamuk unmaad mein haanfte hue, nighty ke ghere ko neeche ki taraf aur zor se jhatakte hue): "Ab koi faayda nahi memsaab! Jab kasam khaa hi li hai, toh is Sher ko poora maza lene do... maalik ke aane se pehle mujhe sab dekhna hai..."

Kamre ke bheetar vaasna aur bebasi ki yeh jang chal hi rahi thi ki tabhi achaanak... kamre ki saamne vaali deevaar par tangi Guru Nanak Dev Ji ki ek bhaari, kaanch ke frame vaali paavan tasveer bina kisi chhoohan ke, ek jordaar dhamake ke saath seedhe neeche farsh par gir gayi.

Kaanch ke tukde-tukde hokar poore kamre mein bikhar gaye aur us sannaate mein vah aavaaz kisi vajraapaat ki tarah goonj uthi.

Aisa laga maano Guru ghar mein Sartaj ki sacchi ardaas rang laayi ho aur khud Waheguru ne us paap ko rokne ke liye apni laathi chalaayi ho. Us aavaaz sunte hi Sher aur Meera dono ke hosh ud gaye. Dono kaath maarkar ek-doosre se alag hat gaye, maano un par bijli gir gayi ho.

Meera ke bheetar ka khauf ek jhatke mein jaag utha. Usne bina ek pal ganvaaye phurti se apni neeche sarki hui nighty aur robe ko oopar kheencha, use poori tarah apne badan par lapeta aur kaskar baandh liya. Uska poora vajood gusse aur daivya dar se kaamp raha tha.

Meera (bikhre hue kaanch aur tasveer ko dekhkar khauf se haanfte hue, Sher ko ungli dikhaakar kadak aavaaz mein): "Bas Sher! Bahut ho gaya! Ab ek kadam bhi aage mat badhaana! Dekh liya na... oopar vaale ki laathi mein aavaaz nahi hoti. Pechhe hato mujhse... abhi ke abhi!"

Sher bhi us achaanak hue apshakun aur dhamake se bheetar tak hil gaya tha. Uski aankhon ka vahshi unmaad pal bhar ke liye gaayab ho gaya aur vah darkar pechhe hat gaya.

Theek usi vaqt, farsh par kaanch tootne ke us bhaari dhamake ne paas ke bistar par so rahi Jyoti ko poori tarah jaga diya. Dava ke nashe se uski aankhein khuleen aur vah hadbadaakar bistar par uth baithi. Usne apni maa ke bikhre hue huliye aur kamre ke maahol ko bhaanpte hue ghabraakar poochha.

Jyoti (bistar par uthte hue, dari hui aavaaz mein): "Mamma... mamma kya hua?! Ye kaisa dhamaka tha? Aap ro kyon rahi ho mamma?"

Kamre ke bheetar ka maahol ek jhatke mein poori tarah badal chuka tha. Farsh par bikhre kaanch ke tukde aur deevaar se giri Guru Maharaj ki paavan tasveer is baat ka gawaah the ki kudrat ne is paap ko aur aage badhne se rok diya tha.

Jyoti ki aavaaz sunte hi Sher ko is baat ka ehsaas ho gaya ki baazi ab uske haath se nikal chuki hai. Paristhiti ki gambheerta ko bhaanpte hue usne turant pechhe hatne mein hi bhalai samjhi.

Uska jo bhaavnatmak aur maansik shikanja Meera par bana hua tha, vah us daivya apshakun ke kaaran ek pal mein toot chuka tha. Sher ne chupchaap apne pair pechhe kheencho aur bina koi shabd bole dabe paanv kamre ke pechhli darvaaze se baahar nikal gaya.

Jyoti (bistar se uthkar Meera ke paas aate hue, uska haath pakadkar): "Mamma! Aap javaab kyon nahi de rahi ho? Aap itna kaamp kyon rahi ho mamma? Aur ye Baba Ji ki tasveer kaise gir gayi?"

Meera (apne aansoo ponchne ki naakaam koshish karte hue, Jyoti ko gale se lagaakar apni aavaaz ko sambhaalne ki koshish karti hai): "Kuch... kuch nahi meri bacchi. Vo... Sher toh bas yeh dekhne aaya tha ki tum theek se so rahi ho ya nahi. Aur ye... ye tasveer hava ke jhonke se achaanak neeche gir gayi. Tum daro mat, beta, tum bilkul theek ho na? Tumhari tabiyat kaisi hai ab?"

Jyoti (Meera ke seene se sir tikaakar): "Main theek hoon mamma, bas pair mein thoda dard hai."

Meera (Jyoti ke sir ko choomkar, kamre ke mukhya darvaaze ki taraf munh karke zor se aavaaz lagaate hue): "Ram Singh! O Ram Singh! Andar aao zara... jaldi aao!"

Maalkin ki aavaaz sunte hi baahar tainaat do guards ghabraaye hue kadam badhaate hue turant kamre ke bheetar daakhil hue. Farsh par bikhre hue kaanch ke dher aur deevaar se utri tasveer ko dekhkar dono asamanjas mein pad gaye.

Ram Singh (guard, haath jodkar): "Ji memsaab! Kya hua memsaab? Ye kaisa dhamaka hua tha andar?"

Meera (behad bhaari aur gambheer aavaaz mein): "Vo deevaar se Baba Ji ka frame achaanak neeche girkar toot gaya hai. Tum dono milkar is poore kaanch ko yahan se saaf karo. Dhyaan rahe, ek bhi tukda farsh par chhootna nahi chahiye, Jyoti bitiya ke pair mein lag sakta hai. Jaldi karo."

Guards: "Ji memsaab, hum abhi saaf kiye dete hain."

Dono guards kone se jhaadu aur kapda uthaakar farsh ko saaf karne mein jut gaye. Meera ke pair jaise bhaari ho chuke the.

Vah dheere-dheere aage badhi aur us malbe ke beech se Guru Nanak Dev Ji ki us paavan tasveer ko, jiska kaanch poori tarah chaknaachoor ho chuka tha, apne dono haathon mein utha liya.

Tasveer ko seene se lagaate hi Meera ke sabr ka baandh poori tarah toot gaya. Vah ghutnon ke bal farsh par baith gayi aur phoot-phootkar rone lagi.

Guards ko laga ki vah is apshakun se dari hui hai, lekin Meera ke bheetar ka sach kuch aur hi tha. Vah rote hue man hi man Waheguru ke us saakshaat chamatkaar ke aage apna sheesh jhuka rahi thi.

Meera (man hi man, tasveer par haath pherte hue aur phoot-phoot kar rote hue): "Waheguru... sacche paashah... aaj aapne mujhe bacha liya. Aaj agar aap apni laathi na chalaate, toh yeh paapi Sher meri mamta ki bebasi ka faayda uthaakar mujhe kahin ka nahi chhodta. Main toh apni bacchi ki jaan ke badle apni maryaada ka sauda karne ja rahi thi… mujhse itna bada paap hone ja raha tha, daata! Shukriya... koti-koti shukriya aapka ki aapne ain vaqt par is tasveer ko giraakar us haivaan ke iraadon ko matiyaamet kar diya aur mujhe is mahaapaap ke daldal mein girne se bacha liya. Meri raksha karna sacche paashah..."

Meera tasveer ko apne aansuon se bhigoate hue baar-baar choom rahi thi. Sher ki vahshiyat ka saaya ab uske jism se chhat chuka tha, aur vah apni beti Jyoti ko baahon mein bheenchkar us pavitra ehsaas mein khud ko surakshit mehsoos karne lagi thi.

Gurdwara Sahib ke bheetar ardaas karne aur maatha tekne ke baad bhi Sartaj Singh ke man ki bechaini poori tarah shaant nahi hui thi.

Vah bhaari kadmon se Darbar Sahib se baahar aaya aur praangan mein oonche aasmaan ko chhoote paavan Nishan Sahib ke saamne jaakar khada ho gaya. Dopahar ki tapti hava uske chehre ko jhulsa rahi thi, aur kesariya baane mein lipta Nishan Sahib poori shaan se lehra raha tha. Sartaj ne dono haath jode, sir oopar uthaaya aur gehri, soch mein doobi aankhon se us pavitra prateek ko nihaarne laga.

Sartaj Singh (man hi man, Nishan Sahib ko dekhte hue): "Guru ji... sacche paashah! Mera dil bahut chhota hai aur meri buddhi bahut kam. Mujhe aisa kyon lag raha hai ki aaj is dar par laakar aap mujhe koi bahut bada ishaara kar rahe ho? Aap mujhe kuch chetaana chahte hain, kuch samjhaana chahte hain, par ya main apni is andhi aankhon se us sach ko samajh nahi paa raha hoon. Mujhe sadbuddhi do sacche paashah... mujhe vo samajh aur drishti do taaki ya main aapke is gehre ishaare ko pehchaan sakoon."

Inhi gehre aur vyaakul vichaaron ke saath Sartaj ne Nishan Sahib ko aakhiri baar pranaam kiya aur Gurdwara Sahib ke mukhya dvaar se baahar nikal aaya. Uski suraksha gaadiyan aur driver mustaidi se uska intazaar kar rahe the.

Sartaj gaadi ke paas pahuncha, guard ne adab se darvaaza khola aur vah chupchaap apni aalishan gaadi ki pichhli seat par vaapas baith gaya. Gaadi ek baar phir kothi ki taraf chal padi, lekin is baar Sartaj ki aankhein baahar sadk par nahi theen; vah poori tarah apne bheetar chal rahe vichaaron ke bavandar mein kho chuka tha.

Seat par pechhe ki taraf tek lagaakar usne apni aankhein band kar leen aur Gurdwara mein ghatit har ek ghatna ka baareeki se vishleshan karna shuru kiya. Vah ek-ek kadi ko jodne laga.

Sartaj Singh (aantarik samvaad, aankhein band kiye gehri soch mein): "Waheguru ne Jyoti ka prasad sveekar kiya, par Sher ka prasad seedhe farsh par gir gaya... iska saaf aur seedha matlab yahi hai ki Guru Maharaj ko Sher ke naam ka shukraana manzoor nahi hai. Lekin aisa kyon? Jo insaan aaj meri beti ki jaan bachaakar lahooluhaan pada hai, uske naam se bhagwan kyon rooth gaye? Kya Waheguru mujhe yeh bataana chahte hain ki Sher jo bhi is parivaar ke liye aaj tak karta aaya hai... uske pechhe uska koi nek iraada nahi hai? Kya uska maksad vo nahi hai jo saamne dikhaayi de raha hai?"

Jaise hi yeh vichaar Sartaj ke zehan mein aaya, uske poore badan mein ek thandi siharan daud gayi. Usne apni aankhein jhatke se khol deen. Andhere mein uski aankhein ab kisi gehri saazish ki boo soonghne lageen theen.

Sartaj Singh (vichaaron ki gehraai mein utarte hue): "Agar Guru ji ka ishaara yahi hai, toh iska matlab bahut khaufnaak hai. Pehle kothi mein chor ka ghusna aur Sher ka Meera ko bachaana... phir gaadi se utarte vaqt Meera ka pair fisalna aur Sher ka use thaamna... aur aaj Jyoti ka vo accident... kya ye sab sirf ittefaq the? Ya phir... ya phir in saare haadson ke pechhe khud Sher ka ki haath tha? Kya vah jaanboojhkar aise haalaat paida karta hai taaki vah humare saamne farishta ban sake? Aur agar vo aisa kar raha hai, toh uska asli aur chhipa hua laalach kya hai? Paisa... ya phir kuch aur?!"

Gaadi ki raftaar ke saath-saath Sartaj Singh ke dimaag ki suiyan bhi tezi se ghoom rahi theen. Uski band aankhon ke pechhe vichaaron ka ek naya jhanjhaavaat uth khada hua tha. Vah kadiyon ko jodne ki koshish kar hi raha tha ki achaanak uske zehan mein bijli ki tarah ek baat kaundhi.

Sartaj Singh (man hi man, khud se baat karte hue): "Thehro... yeh toh security officer ka puraana aur aajmaaya hua tareeka hai! Mehkame mein yeh behad aam baat hai ki jab bhi kisi bade criminal gang ke bheetar apna koi 'mukhbir' ya khufiya agent ghusaana hota hai, toh security officer pehle se hi aisi paristhitiyan taiyaar karti hai. Jaanboojhkar aisa naatak racha jaata hai jisse vah mukhbir gang ke sargana ki nazron mein hero ban jaaye aur uska atoot bharosa jeet sake. Kabhi-kabhi toh security officer khud apne hi bandon par nakli hamla karvaati hai taaki mukhbir unhein bachaakar gang mein apni paith majboot kar sake..."

Jaise hi Sartaj ne is theory ko apne parivaar ke haalaaton par laagu kiya, uski reedh mein ek thandi siharan daud gayi. Vah seedha hokar baith gaya aur apne dono haathon ki ungliyon ko aapas mein bheenchne laga.

Sartaj Singh (vichaaron ki gehraai mein doobte hue, dheemi phusphusaahat mein): "Kya Sher bhi humare saath yahi khel khel raha hai? Kya vo saare accidents—Meera ka gaadi se girte-girte bachna, kothi mein chorni ka ghusna aur aaj Jyoti ka vo bhayaanak car accident—sirf ek sochi-samjhi saazish ka hissa the? Kya vo jaanboojhkar mere poore parivaar ki jaan ko khatre mein daalta hai, sirf isliye taaki ain mauke par khud rakshak bankar saamne aa sake aur humara andhavishvaas jeet sake? Agar yeh sach hai, toh uska asli maksad kya hai? Vo aakhir paana kya chahta hai?"

Sartaj ne apne maathe par aaye paseene ko ponchha. Shak ki sui ghoom toh rahi thi, lekin uske paas is paheli ka koi aakhiri sira nahi tha. Vah is saazish ke pechhe ke laalach ko samajhne ki naakaam koshish kar raha tha.

Sartaj Singh (asamanjas mein apna sir hilaate hue): "Agar vo meri official filon ka koi raaz churaana chahta hai, toh aaj tak meri kisi bhi khufiya deal ya sarkari kaam ki koi bhi jaankari baahar leak nahi hui hai. Office ka ek bhi panna idhar se udhar nahi hua. Aur jahan tak ghar ki baat hai... aaj tak usne sirf aur sirf humari madad hi ki hai. Kabhi koi beimaani nahi ki, kabhi koi paisa nahi churaaya... toh phir is vafaadaari ke mukhaute ke pechhe uska asli laalach kya ho sakta hai?"

Sartaj ka dimaag ab do raahon par khada tha. Ek taraf Waheguru ka vo saaf aur daraavna ishaara tha jo Sher ki neeyat par gehre savaal khade kar raha tha, aur doosri taraf Sher ka ab tak ka record tha, jismein usne sirf apni jaan daanv par lagaakar parivaar ka bhala hi kiya tha.

Vah samajh nahi paa raha tha ki Sher ka nishaana uske paise par hai, uske rutbe par hai... ya phir saazish ka koi aisa khaufnaak pehlu hai jo abhi tak uski nazron se bilkul ojhal hai. Inhi uljhe hue aur gehre khyaalaat ke beech, uski gaadi ka agla tyre uski kothi ke aalishan gate ke bheetar daakhil ho gaya.

Sartaj Singh ab kothi pahunch chuka hai, jahan Meera abhi-abhi us vahshi hamle aur daivya chamatkaar ke sadme se sambhalne ki koshish kar rahi hai.