Do Roop Ki Bhookh

[Fuckuguy]

[img=464x3400] [/img]


Aaj Suman form ka saatvan din tha.
Shareer pehle se hi thoda bechain tha. Raat ko neend poori nahi aayi thi. Haddiyon mein woh purana halka sa khichav shuru ho chuka tha jo transformation se pehle aata hai. Suman ne subah uthte hi sheeshe mein khud ko dekha. Aankhon ke neeche halki si thakan thi, lekin aankhon ke andar do alag fire jal rahe the — ek Ayaan ka, ek Rajeev ka.
Usne aaj thoda careful makeup kiya.
Soft pink kurti, halka sa kajal, baal thode se khule.
Phir Ayaan ke ghar ki taraf nikal padi.
Ghar pahunchte hi usne feel kiya ki tension ab hawa mein tair raha tha.
Rajeev aaj bhi ghar par tha.
Laptop khola hua tha, lekin kaam nahi kar raha tha.
Mrs. Malhotra kitchen mein thi, lekin unke chehre par pehle jaisi narmi nahi thi.
Tai ji apni kursi par baithi thin aur unki nazar darwaze par thi.
Suman ne andar aate hi sabko namaste kiya.
Rajeev ne turant nazar uthaayi.
Usne Suman ko itni der tak dekha ki Mrs. Malhotra ke haath mein rakha cup halka sa hil gaya.
“Aaj phir aa gayi aap,” Rajeev ne kaha.
Awaaz mein ek ajeeb si possessiveness ki jhalak thi.
Suman ne soft jawaab diya,
“Ayaan ne kaha tha ki aaj uska project submit ho raha hai.
Main soch rahi thi usse mil loon.”
Rajeev ne laptop band kiya.
“Ayaan toh shaam ko hi aayega.
Tab tak…
baithiye.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne kitchen se awaaz di,
“Suman, andar aao.
Main akeli hoon.”
Suman kitchen ki taraf badhi, lekin jaate-jaate usne feel kiya ki Rajeev ki nazar uski kamar aur gaand par tiki hui thi.
Kitchen mein Mrs. Malhotra ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Beta,
tum itni baar mat aaya karo.
Ghar ka mahaul…
thoda kharab ho raha hai.”
Suman ne unki aankhon mein dekha.
Unki badi aankhon mein dar tha, thakan thi, aur ek chhupi hui jalan bhi thi.
“Main samajh gayi aunty,” Suman ne narmi se kaha.
“Bas Ayaan se milke chali jaaungi.”
Shaam ko Ayaan aaya.
Usne Suman ko dekhte hi poora face raushan kar diya.
Bag neeche rakhte hi usne Suman ka haath pakad liya — is baar ghar ke andar, sabke saamne thodi himmat ke saath.
“Chalo bahar,” usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha.
“Thodi der ke liye.”
Rajeev ne sofa se nazar uthaayi.
Uske chehre par koi expression nahi aaya, lekin uski jaw tight ho gayi.
Suman ne Ayaan ke saath gate ki taraf chalna shuru kiya.
Jaate-jaate usne ek nazar peeche daali.
Rajeev ab bhi usse dekh raha tha.
Us nazar mein ab sirf interest nahi tha.
Usmein ek silent warning thi —
aur ek clear hunger bhi.
Bahar ek chhote se corner par Ayaan ne Suman ko rokа.
“Aaj aap…
thodi alag lag rahi ho,” usne kaha.
“Aankhon mein kuch tension hai.”
Suman ne uska haath pakad liya.
“Ghar ka mahaul thoda heavy hai.
Tumhare papa…
mujhe alag tarike se dekhte hain.”
Ayaan thoda serious ho gaya.
“Agar papa kuch…
galat tarike se dekh rahe hain toh main—”
Suman ne uske honthon par ungli rakh di.
“Kuch mat karna.
Main sambhaal sakti hoon.
Tu bas…
mere paas reh.”
Ayaan ne usse apne seene se laga liya.
Suman ne aankhein band kar li.
Is 19 saal ke ladke ki dhadkan uske liye ab bhi sabse naram jagah thi.
Lekin uske shareer mein transformation ka khichav ab clear mehsoos ho raha tha.
Aaj raat
ya kal subah
shareer
badalne
wala
tha.
Suman ne Ayaan ke kandhe par sir rakhte hue socha —
Kal se
phir
Aarav
hoga.
Aur Aarav
is ghar
mein
wapas
aayega.
Tab
Rajeev
ki
nazar
aur
Mrs. Malhotra
ki
tadap
aur
Tai ji
ki
tez
aankhein…
sab
kuch
naya
khel
banayengi.
Usne Ayaan ko thoda aur zor se pakad liya.
“Ek raat aur,” usne dheeme se kaha.
“Bas ek raat aur tujhe aise hi pakde rehne de.”
Ayaan ne uske baal sehlaate hue kaha,
“Jitni raatein chaaho.”
Lekin Suman jaanti thi.
Kal
subah
yeh
shareer
nahi
rahega.
Kal
subah
Aarav
hoga.
Aur
Aarav
ke
saath
ek
bilkul
naya
khel
shuru
hoga.


Raat ke 2 bajе dard poori tarah se jag gaya.
Suman bathroom ke sheeshe ke saamne khadi thi. Dono haath sink ke kinare dabе hue. Shareer ke andar haddi-haddi khich rahi thi. Chamdi ek ajeeb se bukhaar jaisi garmi mehsoos kar rahi thi. Yeh dard ab naya nahi tha, lekin har baar yeh usse yaad dilata tha ki uski zindagi kabhi bhi ek jaisi nahi reh sakti.
Usne aankhein band kar li.
Ayaan ka chehra aankhon ke saamne aa gaya — uski naram aankhein, uske haath, kal raat ka uska seena.
Phir Rajeev ki nazar aa gayi — bhaari, bhookhi, hisaab lagati hui.
Suman ne daanton ke beech se kaha,
“Bas…
khatam hone de.”
Dard teez hua.
Shareer badalne laga.
Subah jab aankhein khuli toh sheeshe mein Aarav khada tha.
Wahi chehra.
Wahi aankhein.
Lekin ab un aankhon mein Suman wali narmi nahi thi.
Ab wapas woh thandi, control mein rakhi hui bhook thi.
Aarav ne apne haath ko dekha.
Phir munh dhoya.
Cold water se chehra dhoya.
Usne phone uthaya aur Ayaan ko message kiya:
“Ayaan,
Mummy ka message hai.
Unhe aaj subah dada-dadi ke paas jaana pad gaya.
Main aa raha hoon.
— Aarav”
Send kiya.
Phir kapde pehne — dark blue shirt, black jeans.
Chehre par wahi controlled, thoda sa serious expression jo pehle Ayaan ke ghar mein kaam aaya tha.
Ayaan ke ghar pahunchte hi usne notice kiya ki darwaza pehle se thoda sa khula hua tha.
Andar Rajeev drawing room mein coffee pi raha tha.
Mrs. Malhotra kitchen se nikal kar aa rahi thin.
Tai ji apni kursi par thin.
Ishita abhi room mein thi.
Rajeev ne Aarav ko dekhte hi nazar uthaayi.
Ek second ke liye uski aankhein ruk gayi — jaise woh Suman ki jhalak dhoondh raha ho is mard shareer mein.
Aarav ne seedha namaste kiya.
“Namaste uncle.
Aunty.
Tai ji.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne thodi si rahaat ki saans li.
“Aao beta.
Teri mummy…
chali gayi?”
“Haan aunty.
Subah hi nikal gayi.
Dada-dadi ki tabiyat thik nahi thi.
Is hafte main yahaan rahunga, agle hafte mummy aayengi.”
Rajeev ne coffee ka cup neeche rakhte hue kaha,
“Tumhari mummy…
bahut jaldi-jaldi aati-jaati rehti hain.”
Aarav ne uski nazar se nazar milayi.
“Zimmedari hai uncle.
Dada-dadi akелее hain.”
Rajeev ne thoda sa muskura diya.
Woh muskaan aankhon tak nahi gayi.
“Achha.
Baitho.”
Aarav ne sofe par jagah li.
Mrs. Malhotra ne turant chai laane ka kaha, lekin Aarav ne khud uth kar unse cup le liya.
“Main le aata hoon aunty.”
Yeh chhoti si aadat pehle bhi unhe soft karti thi.
Aaj bhi Mrs. Malhotra ke chehre par halki si narmi aa gayi.
Tai ji ne magazine se nazar uthayi.
Unhone Aarav ko upar se neeche tak dekha.
Is baar unki nazar mein ek alag si pehchaan thi — jaise woh soch rahi hon ki yeh ladka aur Suman… kitne milte-julte hain.
Ishita room se nikal kar aayi.
Usne Aarav ko dekhte hi halka sa sir hilaaya.
“Aarav bhai.”
“Ishita.”
Ayaan college se abhi nahi aaya tha.
Rajeev ne Aarav ki taraf dekhte hue kaha,
“Tumhari mummy ke baare mein Ayaan bahut baat karta hai.
Lagta hai unka asar uspar kaafi hai.”
Aarav ne cup se chai peete hue controlled awaaz mein kaha,
“Mummy logon ko easily affect kar leti hain.”
Rajeev ne usse dekha.
Is baar uski nazar thodi der aur ruki.
“Tum bhi…
unse milte-julte ho.
Aankhein…
bilkul same.”
Aarav ne cup neeche rakhа.
Usne Rajeev ki nazar se nazar milayi.
Is baar usne nazar nahi hatayi.
“Blood hain uncle.
Kabhi-kabhi dikh jaata hai.”
Rajeev ne whisky ki taraf nazar daali, lekin subah thi.
Usne bas itna kaha,
“Haan.
Dikh jaata hai.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne beech mein bolte hue mahaul halka karne ki koshish ki,
“Aarav, aaj tum yahin khaana.
Main tumhare liye bhi bana deti hoon.”
Aarav ne soft lekin clear awaaz mein kaha,
“Zaroor aunty.
Main help kar longa.”
Tai ji ne tab pehli baar muh khola.
“Tum help bahut karte ho.
Apni mummy ki tarah.”
Aarav ne unki taraf dekha.
Tai ji usse dekh rahi thin.
Unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si depth thi.
Aarav ne bas sir hilaaya.
Uske andar bhook
ab
is ghar
ki
hawa
ko
phir
se
soongh
rahi
thi.
Suman ne jo tension chhodi thi
(Rajeev ki nazar, Mrs. Malhotra ki jalan, Tai ji ki suspicion),
usе
ab
Aarav
apne
hisab
se
khelne
wala
tha.

Aarav ne aaj ghar mein hi rehné ka faisla kiya tha.
Subah ki chai ke baad Mrs. Malhotra kitchen mein kaam kar rahi thin. Aarav ne bagal mein khade hokar unse kaha,
“Aunty, aaj jo bhi kaam hai, mujhe de dijiye.
Main free hoon.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne uski taraf dekha.
Unki badi aankhon mein pehle jaisi thakan ke saath-saath ek halki si soft si khushi bhi thi.
“Beta, tumhe yeh sab nahi karna chahiye.”
“Karna chahiye,” Aarav ne seedha kaha.
“Aap akeli itna sab manage karti hain.
Thoda rest bhi to lijiye.”
Usne khud bartan dhone shuru kar diye.
Mrs. Malhotra peeche khadi rahi.
Unka pallu thoda sa sarak gaya tha. Aarav ne notice kiya, lekin turant nazar nahi daali.
Usne jaan-bujh kar unki taraf peeth karke kaam kiya, lekin uski presence unke bilkul kareeb thi.
Thodi der baad Mrs. Malhotra ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Tumhari mummy nahi hoti na, toh ghar thoda…
khali-khali sa lagta hai.
Tum aate ho toh…
thoda kam khali lagta hai.”
Aarav ne haath band karte hue unki taraf mud kar dekha.
“Main bhi yahi sochta hoon aunty.
Isliye aata hoon.”
Unki badi aankhein ek second ke liye uski aankhon mein ruki.
Phir unhone nazar hata li, lekin unke gaalon par halki si laali aa gayi thi.
Dopahar mein Tai ji terrace par thin.
Aarav ne unse permission leke unke saath walk kiya.
Dono chupchaap chal rahe the.
Thodi der baad Tai ji ne kaha,
“Tumhari mummy…
bahut alag aurat hai.
Aur tum…
usse milte-julte ho.
Lekin
tum
usse
zyada
khatarnak
lagte
ho.”
Aarav ne unki taraf dekha.
“Khatarnak?”
Tai ji ne halka sa muskura diya.
Woh muskaan pehli baar itni clear thi.
“Haan.
Jo log bahut zyada care karte hain,
woh
aksar
sabse
khatarnak
hote
hain.”
Aarav ne unki baat ko air mein latka hone diya.
Usne jawaab nahi diya.
Bas unke saath chalta raha.
Tai ji ne notice kiya ki yeh ladka unki baat se uncomfortable nahi hua.
Ulta usne unki baat ko absorb kar liya.
Yeh baat unhe thoda sa impress kar gayi.
Shaam ko Ayaan college se aaya.
Usne Aarav ko dekhte hi kaha,
“Bhai, aap aa gaye.
Mummy…
theek hain na?”
“Haan,” Aarav ne kaha.
“Unki wajah se hi toh main yahaan hoon.”
Ayaan ne muskuraate hue kaha,
“Achha hai aap aa gaye.
Ghar mein…
thoda heavy sa mahaul hai papa ke aane ke baad.”
Aarav ne uski baat note kar li.
Dinner ke time Rajeev ne jaan-bujh kar Aarav ke saamne wali seat li.
Usne khaate-khaate kaha,
“Aarav,
tumhari mummy ke baare mein Ayaan bahut baat karta hai.
Lagta hai unhone uspar kafi asar chhoda hai.”
Aarav ne plate se nazar uthaye bina kaha,
“Mummy logon par asar chhod deti hain.
Main bhi unse hi seekha hoon.”
Rajeev ne usse dekha.
Is baar uski nazar mein thodi si irritation thi.
Jaise usse pasand nahi aa raha ho ki yeh “beta” itna smoothly ghar mein fit ho raha hai.
Mrs. Malhotra ne beech mein bolte hue kaha,
“Aarav bahut madad karta hai.
Kal bhi kitchen mein meri help ki.”
Rajeev ne apni biwi ki taraf dekha.
Phir Aarav ki taraf.
Kuch nahi bola.
Tai ji ne chupchaap yeh sab dekha.
Unke chehre par ek ajeeb si muskaan thi.
Raat ko jab Aarav nikalne laga, toh Mrs. Malhotra ne usse gate tak chhodа.
Unhone dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Kal bhi aa jaana beta.
Ghar…
tumhare aane se
thoda
halka
lagta
hai.”
Aarav ne unki badi aankhon mein dekha.
Usne soft lekin clear awaaz mein kaha,
“Main aata rahunga aunty.
Jitni der aap chahein.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne nazar jhuka li.
Lekin unke honthon par halki si muskaan thi.
Aarav jab sadak par chal raha tha, toh usne peeche mud kar ek baar ghar ko dekha.
Khidki se Rajeev usse dekh raha tha.
Uski nazar mein clear irritation thi.
Aarav ne us nazar ko catch kiya.
Aur
usne
pehli
baar
halka
sa
muskura
diya.
Woh muskuraahat
Rajeev
tak
pahunch
gayi.
Aarav ne apne dimaag mein kaha —
Suman ne jo khel shuru kiya tha…
ab
main
use
kheloonga.
Aur is baar
maza
aayega.


Doosre din Aarav thoda pehle pahuncha.
Is baar usne haath mein kuch nahi liya tha — na mithai, na fruits. Sirf apni presence. Usne samajh liya tha ki is ghar mein cheezein laane se zyada, cheezein mehsoos karwana zaroori hai.
Darwaza Mrs. Malhotra ne khola.
Unhone aaj thoda sa better saree pehna tha. Pallu sahi se set tha. Baal bhi pehle se thode limе hue the.
“Aao beta,” unhone kaha.
Awaaz mein ek halki si expectation thi.
Aarav ne namaste kiya aur andar aaya.
Rajeev drawing room mein laptop par tha. Usne nazar uthaayi, Aarav ko dekha, aur wapas screen par dekhne laga. Lekin uske kandhe tight the.
Aarav ne seedha kitchen ki taraf jana shuru kiya.
“Aunty, aaj kya banana hai? Main madad kar lunga.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne peeche se kaha,
“Beta, tum roz-roz kitchen mein mat pada karo.
Log kya sochenge.”
Aarav ne thoda sa ruk kar unki taraf dekha.
“Logon se zyada
aapki thakan
mujhe dikhti hai.
Isliye karta hoon.”
Mrs. Malhotra ke chehre par ek second ke liye koi jawaab nahi aaya.
Phir unhone nazar jhuka li aur dheere se boli,
“Chalo, aalo dho lo.”
Dono kitchen mein khade the.
Mrs. Malhotra ke bade shareer ki garmi chhoti si kitchen mein mehsoos ho rahi thi. Aarav jaan-bujh kar unke bilkul bagal mein khada raha. Kabhi-kabhi unke haath se haath takra jaata.
Ek baar jab unhone masala ka dibba uthaya, toh Aarav ne unke haath ke neeche se support kar diya.
Unke haath uske haath se chhoo gaye.
Mrs. Malhotra ne haath nahi hataya.
Ek-do second tak dono waise hi rahe.
Phir unhone dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Tumhari mummy…
bahut lucky hain.”
Aarav ne unki taraf dekha.
“Kyoon, aunty?”
“Isliye ki unke paas
tum jaisa beta hai.”
Aarav ne kuch nahi kaha.
Usne bas unke haath se dibba le liya aur kaam mein lag gaya.
Dopahar mein Tai ji ne usse bulaya.
“Aarav,
upar aao.
Terrace par baath karni hai.”
Upar dono khade the.
Hawa chal rahi thi.
Tai ji ne seedha poocha,
“Tumhari mummy
aur tum
kitne milte-julte ho?”
Aarav ne controlled awaaz mein kaha,
“Kaafi.
Log kehte hain aankhein same hain.”
Tai ji ne usse gaur se dekha.
“Aankhein nahi.
Andar se.
Dono
ek
hi
tarah
ke
khatarnak
ho.”
Aarav ne unki nazar se nazar milayi.
Is baar usne nazar nahi hatayi.
“Agar aap ko
khatarnak
lagte hain…
toh bhi
aap
mujse
baat
kyoon
kar
rahi
hain?”
Tai ji ne pehli baar clearly muskura diya.
“Kyunki
khatarnak
log
hi
dilchasp
hote
hain.”
Itna kehkar woh chup ho gayi.
Lekin uske chehre par ek naya expression tha —
jaise usne Aarav ko ab sirf ‘Suman ka beta’ nahi,
balki
ek
alag
se
insaan
ke
taur
par
dekhna
shuru
kar
diya
ho.
Shaam ko Ayaan aaya.
Usne Aarav se normal baatein ki, lekin uske chehre par halki si bechaini thi.
“Bhai,
papa aaj kal thoda…
ajeeb behave kar rahe hain.
Mummy se bhi kam baat kar rahe hain.”
Aarav ne uske kandhe par haath rakhte hue kaha,
“Bado ke rishte
kabhi-kabhi
aese
hi
hote
hain.
Tu tension mat le.”
Dinner ke time Rajeev ne Aarav se seedha sawal kiya,
“Tumhari mummy
kab wapas aayengi?”
Aarav ne plate se nazar uthaye bina kaha,
“Is hafte ke end tak.
Unka schedule aesa hi rehta hai.”
Rajeev ne whisky ka ghoont liya.
“Unka schedule
bahut
flexible
lagta
hai.”
Aarav ne is baar uski taraf dekha.
“Zimmedari
flexible
nahi
hoti,
uncle.
Sirf
time
badalta
hai.”
Rajeev ki jaw thodi si tight ho gayi.
Usne kuch nahi kaha.
Raat ko jab Aarav nikalne laga, toh Mrs. Malhotra ne usse ek container mein khana pack karke diya.
“Le jao beta.
Raat ko kuch nahi banate hoge.”
Aarav ne unke haath se container liya.
Is baar usne unke haath ko thoda sa press kiya.
“Shukriya, aunty.
Aap…
bahut
care
kartі
hain.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne nazar nahi milayi.
Lekin unke kanpon par halki si laali aa gayi thi.
Bahar nikalte hue Aarav ne ek baar phir khidki ki taraf dekha.
Rajeev wahan khada tha.
Usse dekh raha tha.
Aarav ne uski nazar ko catch kiya…
aur
is
baar
usne
clear
se
muskura
diya.
Woh muskuraahat
ab
seedha
challenge
thi.


Teesre din Aarav ne thoda alag approach apnaya.
Usne subah message kiya Ayaan ko:
“Aaj thoda late aaunga.
Aunty se baat karni hai.
Tum tension mat lena.”
Ghar pahunchte hi usne notice kiya ki Mrs. Malhotra aaj thoda alag dress kiye hue thin.
Saree pehle se thodi tighter thi. Pallu bhi kandhe par nahi, balki thoda sa niche tha. Baal open the.
Aarav ne unhe dekhte hi ruk kar kaha,
“Aunty,
aaj aap…
alag dikh rahi hain.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne halka sa confuse hote hue poocha,
“Alag matlab?”
Aarav ne unki aankhon mein dekhte hue dheere se kaha,
“Matlab
sundar.
Pehle bhi dikhti thin,
lekin aaj…
nazar
tik
jaaye
aisi.”
Mrs. Malhotra ke chehre par clear laali aa gayi.
Unhone pallu theek karne ki koshish ki, lekin haath kaamp gaya.
“Beta…
aisi baatein…
mat kiya karo.”
Aarav ne thoda sa aage badh kar unke haath se pallu liya aur dheere se unke kandhe par set kar diya.
Uske ungliyan unke kandhe se halka sa chhoo gayi.
“Main jhoot nahi bol raha, aunty.
Aap…
ab bhi
bahut
maintain
ho.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne nazar bilkul neeche kar li.
Unki saans thodi tez ho gayi thi.
Woh kuch bol nahi paayi.
Dopahar mein Tai ji ne usse phir terrace par bulaya.
Is baar Aarav ne unke bilkul bagal mein khade hone ka faisla kiya.
Itna kareeb ki unke baazu kabhi-kabhi takra jaate.
Tai ji ne side se usse dekha.
“Tum aaj
zyada
himmat
wala
feel
ho
rahe
ho.”
Aarav ne unki taraf dekhte hue kaha,
“Aapke saath
khade
rehne
se
himmat
aa
jati
hai,
Tai ji.”
Tai ji ne ek second ke liye usse gaur se dekha.
Phir unhone halka sa muskura diya.
“Tumhari flirting…
tumhari mummy se
bhi
tez
hai.”
Aarav ne unki aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha,
“Main
unse
seekha
hoon.
Lekin
practice
apni
kar
raha
hoon.”
Tai ji ne hawa mein dekhte hue kaha,
“Practice
achhi
chal
rahi
hai.
Lekin
sabr
rakhna.
Yahaan
sab
kuch
dheere
hota
hai.”
Aarav ne unke kaan ke kareeb dheere se kaha,
“Main
sabr
kar
sakta
hoon.
Jitna
chahiye.”
Tai ji ke kaan ke neeche wali skin par halki si siskari si mehsoos hui.
Unhone nazar nahi milayi, lekin unhone peeche bhi nahi hati.
Shaam ko Ishita ne pehli baar khud se baat shuru ki.
Woh kitchen se nikal kar Aarav ke paas aayi aur boli,
“Aap…
kal jo history ke notes bheje the,
unse mera assignment almost complete ho gaya.
Thank you.”
Aarav ne uski taraf dekha.
“Aapko
jab
bhi
chahiye,
bolna.
Main
available
hoon.”
Ishita ne uski aankhon mein thodi der dekha.
Phir halka sa muskura diya — pehli baar.
“Aap…
thode
dangerous
ho,
Aarav bhai.”
Aarav ne soft lekin clear awaaz mein kaha,
“Sirf
un
logon
ke
liye
jo
door
se
dekhte
hain.
Jo
kareeb
aate
hain,
unke
liye
main
kaafi
safe
hoon.”
Ishita ne nazar hata li, lekin uske chehre par ek naya expression tha.
Raat ko jab Aarav jaane laga, toh Mrs. Malhotra ne usse gate tak chhodа.
Is baar unhone container nahi diya.
Sirf khadi rahi.
Aarav ne unki taraf dekhte hue kaha,
“Aunty,
aaj aapne
jo
saree
pehni
thi…
woh
aap par
bahut
fit
ho
rahi
thi.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne aankhein uthayi.
Unki badi aankhon mein ab clear tension ke saath-saath ek dabi hui iccha bhi thi.
“Beta…
tum
roz
aisi
baatein
karoge
toh
main…
sambhal
nahi
paaungi.”
Aarav ne unke kareeb ek kadam aur badha kar dheere se kaha,
“Phir
sambhalne
ki
koshish
mat
kijiye.
Kabhi-kabhi…
sambhal
na
paana
bhi
zaroori
hota
hai.”
Mrs. Malhotra ki saans ruk si gayi.
Unhone kuch nahi kaha.
Bas unke honth thode se khul gaye.
Aarav ne unhe last baar dekha,
phir muskuraate hue nikal gaya.
Peeche
Rajeev
khidki
se
poori
scene
dekh
raha
tha.
Uske chehre
par
ab
sirf
irritation
nahi
tha.
Usmein
saaf
sa
gussa
bhi
tha.

Chauthe din Aarav ne jaan-bujh kar thoda late kiya.
Usne message kiya:
“Aunty, aaj thoda kaam se late ho jaunga.
Aap log wait mat kariyega.”
Lekin woh time se pehle hi pahunch gaya.
Usne bilkul wahi timing choose ki jab Mrs. Malhotra akeli kitchen mein hoti thin.
Darwaza kholte hi Mrs. Malhotra ne usse dekh kar thoda sa surprise feel kiya.
Aaj unhone dark maroon saree pehni thi. Blouse thoda deep neck tha. Pallu dheela tha.
Aarav ne unhe upar se neeche tak dheere se dekha.
Is baar usne nazar chhupane ki koshish bhi nahi ki.
“Aunty…” usne awaaz mein thodi si bhaari pan rakhte hue kaha,
“Aap roz
mujhe
test
kar
rahi
hain
kya?”
Mrs. Malhotra ne confuse hote hue poocha,
“Test? Matlab?”
Aarav ne ek kadam aage badha kar kaha,
“Aise
kapde
pehen
kar.
Main
kitna
control
mein
reh
sakta
hoon…
yeh
dekhna
chahti
hain
kya?”
Mrs. Malhotra ke chehre ka rang change ho gaya.
Unhone pallu pakadne ki koshish ki, lekin Aarav ne dheere se unka haath pakad liya.
“Aunty…
mat
chhupaiye.
Aap
bahut
sundar
lag
rahi
hain.
Itna
ki
mere
liye
sambhalna
mushkil
ho
raha
hai.”
Mrs. Malhotra ki saans tez ho gayi.
Unke bade shareer se halki si garmi aa rahi thi.
Aarav unke bilkul kareeb tha. Unke doodhon ki narmi uske seene se almost touch ho rahi thi.
“Beta…” unhone kaamp’ti awaaz mein kaha,
“Aisi
baatein…
galat
hain.”
Aarav ne unke kaan ke bohot kareeb apne honth le jaakar dheere se kaha,
“Galat
lag
raha
hai…
ya
achha
lag
raha
hai?”
Mrs. Malhotra ne aankhein band kar li.
Unke honth thode se khul gaye.
Unhone jawaab nahi diya…
lekin unhone peeche bhi nahi hati.
Aarav ne unke kandhe se dheere se apna haath ferа.
Niche ki taraf.
Unki kamar tak.
“Aap
kaamp
rahi
hain,
aunty,” usne dheere se kaha.
“Main
bhi
kaamp
raha
hoon.”
Itne mein bahar se Tai ji ki awaaz aa gayi.
“Kya ho raha hai kitchen mein?”
Mrs. Malhotra ne jaise jaagte hue peeche hat gayi.
Unke chehre par clear laali thi.
Saans ab bhi tez thi.
Aarav ne unhe last baar dekha aur halka sa muskura diya.
Woh muskuraahat seedha unke andar utar gayi.
Baad mein terrace par Tai ji ne usse bulaya.
Is baar Aarav ne unke bilkul peeche khade hone ka faisla kiya.
Itna kareeb ki uski saans unke balon mein mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Tai ji ne peeche murе bina kaha,
“Tum
aaj
bahut
tez
ho
rahe
ho.”
Aarav ne unke kaan ke paas dheere se kaha,
“Aap
pasand
kar
rahi
hain
ya
shikayat
kar
rahi
hain?”
Tai ji ne halka sa sir ghumaya.
Unke honth uske honthon ke bohot kareeb the.
“Shikayat
kartі
toh
tumhe
yahaan
khade
nahi
hone
deti.”
Aarav ne unki kamar par dheere se haath rakha.
Kapdon ke upar.
“Phir
main
thoda
aur
kareeb
aa
jaaun?”
Tai ji ne aankhein band kar li.
Ek second.
Do second.
Phir unhone dheere se kaha,
“Abhi
nahi.
Lekin…
tum
sahi
direction
mein
ho.”
Aarav ne unki kamar se haath hataya, lekin usse pehle unke shareer ko ek second ke liye press kar diya.
Tai ji ki saans ruk si gayi.
Shaam ko jab Ayaan aaya toh usne ghar ka mahaul thoda ajeeb paaya.
Mummy ke chehre par laali thi.
Tai ji terrace se utarte hue thoda sa different feel ho rahi thin.
Papa ka mood kharab tha.
Aarav ne normal behave kiya, lekin uski aankhon mein ek clear satisfaction thi.
Raat ko nikalte time Mrs. Malhotra ne usse gate tak chhoda.
Is baar unhone uska haath pakad liya.
Kaamp’te hue.
“Beta…
tum
jo
kar
rahe
ho…
woh…
bahut
khatarnak
hai.”
Aarav ne unke haath ko apne haath mein lete hue kaha,
“Aunty…
main
khatarnak
nahi
hoon.
Main
bas
woh
kar
raha
hoon
jo
aap
chah
rahi
hain…
lekin
bol
nahi
paa
rahi.”
Mrs. Malhotra ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
Unke bade, bharе hue honth kaamp rahe the.
Aarav ne unke haath ko apne honthon tak le jaakar dheere se chhua.
Sirf ek second ke liye.
Phir chhod diya.
“Shab namaste, aunty.
Kal
phir
aaunga.”
Woh muskuraate hue nikal gaya.
Peeche
Mrs. Malhotra
gate
par
khadi
rahi.
Unke
haath
ab
bhi
kaamp
rahe
the.
Aur
andar
Rajeev
poori
cheez
dekh
raha
tha…
uske
chehre
par
saaf
sa
gussa
tha.


Paanchve din ki subah Rajeev subah 6 baje hi uth gaya tha.
Neend poori nahi aayi thi.
Pichle chaar din se uski neend kharab chal rahi thi. Har baar aankh khulte hi uske dimaag mein do cheezein aa jaati thin —
Suman ka soft chehra, uski aankhein, uska shareer…
aur
Aarav ki woh muskuraahat jo woh jaante-bujhte hue usse challenge ki tarah deta tha.
Rajeev ne bathroom mein jaakar munh dhoya.
Sheeshe mein apne chehre ko dekha.
Aankhon mein gussa saaf tha.
“Yeh ladka…” usne dheeme se kaha,
“apni mummy ki tarah
ghar
ke
andar
ghus
gaya
hai.”
Uske dimaag mein kal raat ki scene phir se ghumne lagi.
Mrs. Malhotra gate par khadi thi.
Aarav uska haath pakde hue tha.
Usne uska haath apne honthon tak le jaakar chhua tha.
Rajeev ne us waqt khidki se poori cheez dekh li thi.
Uske andar kuch toot sa gaya tha.
Woh apni biwi ko itne dino se ignore karta aa raha tha.
Usse lagta tha ki Mrs. Malhotra ab sirf ghar ki zimmedari hai, koi aurat nahi.
Lekin kal jab usne apni biwi ko Aarav ke saamne kaampte hue dekha…
toh usse pehli baar jalan hui.
Aur us jalan ke neeche
Suman ki yaad
aur
bhi
tez
ho
gayi.
Suman…
jo usse dekhte hi uske andar kuch hila deti thi.
Jo uske beta ke saath soft connection rakhati thi.
Jo uske ghar mein aati thi aur poori hawa badal deti thi.
Rajeev ne mutthi band ki.
“Pehle
woh
aurat
ghar
mein
ghusi…
ab
uska
beta
bhi.
Dono
milkar
mere
ghar
ko
khela
bana
rahe
hain.”
Jab Aarav aaj ghar aaya, toh Rajeev ne jaan-bujh kar drawing room mein hi position li.
Aarav ne namaste kiya.
Rajeev ne sirf sir hilaaya.
Awaaz nahi nikalii.
Mrs. Malhotra ne normal se chai laayi, lekin unke haath thode kaamp rahe the.
Kal raat wala touch ab bhi unke jism mein undеrcurrent ki tarah chal raha tha.
Aarav ne unse cup lete hue dheere se kaha,
“Aunty,
aaj aapke
chehre
par
thakan
zyada
hai.
Raat
ko
neend
nahi
aayi
kya?”
Mrs. Malhotra ne nazar nahi milayi.
“Bas…
thodi
si.”
Rajeev ne yeh baat sun li.
Uske andar gussa aur charh gaya.
Yeh ladka
meri
biwi
se
itni
narmi
se
baat
karta
hai
jaise
woh
uski
ho.
Usne whisky ka glass uthaya aur bhaari awaaz mein kaha,
“Aarav,
tumhari
mummy
ke
baare
mein
batao.
Woh
sach
mein
hi
dada-dadi
ke
paas
gayi
hain
ya
kahin
aur?”
Sawal mein clear suspicion thi.
Aarav ne uski taraf dheere se dekha.
“Uncle,
main
jhoot
nahi
bolta.
Woh
wahi
hain.
Agle
hafte
wapas
aayengi.”
Rajeev ne glass rakhte hue kaha,
“Unke
aane
par
main
unse
khud
baat
karunga.
Bahut
si
cheezеin
clear
karni
hain.”
Aarav ne uski baat ko air mein latka hone diya.
Usne bas itna kaha,
“Zaroor
uncle.
Mummy
se
baat
karna
achhi
baat
hai.”
Uske lehje mein ek halka sa challenge tha jo Rajeev ko aur chubha.
Dopahar mein jab Aarav Tai ji ke saath terrace par tha, tab Rajeev ne neeche se unhein dekha.
Tai ji Aarav ke bilkul kareeb khadi thin.
Aarav kuch dheeme se bol raha tha aur Tai ji muskura rahi thin.
Rajeev ke chehre par gussa saaf aa gaya.
Pehli
meri
biwi…
ab
Tai ji
bhi?
Yeh
ladka
ghar
ki
har
aurat
ko
apne
side
kar
raha
hai.
Uske dimaag mein Suman ka chehra phir se aa gaya.
Usne socha ki jab Suman wapas aayegi, toh woh usse akela pakadega.
Usse clearly bataayega ki woh kya chahta hai.
Aur agar woh mana kiya…
toh
woh
kisi
na
kisi
tarah
usse
haasil
karke
rahega.
Shaam ko Ayaan ke aane ke baad bhi mahaul heavy raha.
Rajeev ne dinner table par Aarav se almost baat nahi ki.
Lekin uski nazar baar-baar Aarav par jaati thi —
jaise woh uske andar ki niyat padhne ki koshish kar raha ho.
Raat ko jab Aarav nikalne laga, toh Rajeev ne usse gate par hi rok liya.
“Aarav,” usne bhaari awaaz mein kaha,
“tum
bahut
tez
ho
rahe
ho
is
ghar
mein.
Kabhi-kabhi
tez
log
jal
jaate
hain.”
Aarav ne uski aankhon mein seedha dekha.
Usne halka sa muskuraate hue kaha,
“Uncle,
main
tez
nahi
hoon.
Main
bas
un
jagahon
par
khada
ho
jaata
hoon
jahaan
jagah
khaali
hoti
hai.”
Rajeev ki jaw tight ho gayi.
Usne kuch nahi kaha.
Bas usse dekhte raha.
Aarav ne usse last baar dekha,
phir dheere se nikal gaya.
Rajeev gate par khada raha.
Uske dimaag mein ab sirf ek baat chal rahi thi —
Pehle
main
Suman
ko
haasil
karunga.
Phir
is
ladke
ko
is
ghar
se
bahar
nikaalunga.
Chahe
jo
bhi
karna
pade.