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          CHAPTER 2 — ANJAAN MOD PAR PEHLI AAHAT
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Nana ke aane se ghar ka mahaul thoda badal gaya tha. Aisa nahi tha ki ghar mein pehle khushi nahi hoti thi, bas nana ke saath ek alag hi tarah ki ronak aa jaati thi. Unki awaaz, unke purane kisse, har doosri baat mein kisi na kisi rishtedaar ka zikr, aur sabse zyada... Sonam ka unke aas-paas rehna. Jaise beti banne ki uski purani aadat abhi bhi kahin andar zinda thi.

Dopahar ka waqt ho chuka tha. Sonam rasoi mein khadi sabzi kaat rahi thi aur Nana verandah mein kursi par baithe akhbaar padh rahe the. Kabhi-kabhi akhbaar neeche karte aur ghar ke andar jhaank lete.

"Sonam!"

"Ji, Papa?"

"Kitne baje chalna hai kal?"

Sonam ne chaku chalate-chalate jawab diya, "Aap batao."

"Subah jaldi nikalte hain."

"Kitni jaldi?"

"Suraj nikalne se pehle."

Sonam ek pal ke liye ruk gayi. "Papa, mandir ja rahe hain ya teerth yatra?"

Nana zor se hans pade. "Arre bheed se bachna hai."

"Achha," Sonam ne phir sabzi kaatni shuru kar di. "Toh paanch baje?"

"Paanch baje theek hai."

❖ ❖ ❖

Sonam ne mann hi mann kal ka poora hisaab laga liya—paanch baje nikalna hai, matlab chaar baje uthna padega. Chai banani hogi, nashta banana hoga, pati ka tiffin bhi dekhna padega, saas ke liye subah ki chai, bade bete ko bhi kuch khane ko dena hoga... aur phir Papa ko lekar nikalna hoga.

Usne ek gehri saans li. Kaam badh gaya tha, lekin ajeeb baat thi ki use thakaan mehsoos nahi ho rahi thi. Papa ke saath kahin jaana use hamesha achha lagta tha. Bachpan mein bhi jab Papa use mela dikhane le jaate the, toh Sonam poori raat excitement mein soti nahi thi. Ab woh badi ho gayi thi, shaadi ho gayi thi, bachche bade ho gaye the, zimmedariyan badh gayi thi... lekin Papa ke saamne aate hi uske andar ka woh chhota sa bachpan jaise wapas aa jaata tha.

"Sonam?"

"Hmm?"

"Sun rahi hai?"

Sonam ne palatkar dekha. Nana akhbaar neeche kiye use dekh rahe the. "Kya hua?"

"Main pooch raha hoon, mandir mein bahut bheed hoti hogi?"

"Haan, shayad."

"Toh subah jaldi nikalna achha rahega."

"Isliye toh paanch baje bola hai."

Nana muskura diye. "Samajhdaar ho gayi hai meri beti."

Sonam hans padi. "Abhi yaad aaya?"

"Tu bachpan se samajhdaar thi."

"Papa, aapko sab yaad hai?"

"Sab."

Sonam kuch nahi boli, bas halka sa muskurati rahi.

❖ ❖ ❖

Shaam dheere-dheere ghar par utarne lagi. Suraj ki roshni dheemi ho gayi thi, gali mein bachchon ke khelne ki awaaz aa rahi thi, kisi ghar se pressure cooker ki seeti, toh kahin se television ki awaaz. Sonam apne roz ke kaamon mein lagi hui thi, lekin aaj uske dimaag mein baar-baar kal ka safar aa raha tha. Mandir kaisa hoga? Papa kitni der rukenge? Wapas aane mein kitna waqt lagega? Khana saath le jaana chahiye ya raste mein kuch kha lenge?

Usne kitchen ki shelf kholi aur phir band kar di. "Do paranthe bana dungi," usne khud se kaha, "Papa ko aloo wale pasand hain."

Phir ek pal ke liye use kuch aur yaad aaya—Papa ne dopahar mein jis aadmi ka zikr kiya tha... wahi security department wala. Sonam ka haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Pata nahi kyun uske dimaag mein uski baat phir se aa gayi.

Papa ke dost ka beta... usne dheere se socha, phir turant apne aap ko toka, Ismein sochne wali kya baat hai? Uske liye woh aadmi bas Papa ke dost ka beta tha. Bas. Na koi pehchaan, na koi rishta, na koi wajah ki uske baare mein socha jaaye.

Sonam ne shelf se aata nikala. "Kal ka din bas Papa ke saath guzarna hai," usne mann hi mann kaha, "Mandir jaana hai aur wapas aa jaana hai." Usne apne aap ko ek baar phir kaam mein laga diya.

❖ ❖ ❖

Raat ko khana khane ke baad ghar dheere-dheere shaant hone laga. Saas apne kamre mein chali gayi, bada beta bhi apne kamre mein padhne ke naam par chala gaya, pati television dekh rahe the, Nana verandah mein baithe the, aur Sonam kitchen samet rahi thi.

Tabhi uske phone par notification aaya. Usne haath pochkar phone uthaya—chhote bete ka message tha: "Mummy, kal call karunga."

Sonam ke chehre par turant muskaan aa gayi. Usne reply kiya: "Kal busy rahungi. Mandir ja rahi hoon Papa ke saath."

Kuch hi der mein reply aaya: "Achha. Mere liye bhi prasad lana."

Sonam ne message padhkar phone seene ke paas laga liya. "Pagal," usne dheere se kaha aur phir reply type kiya: "Doongi."

Phone rakhne ke baad woh kuch der wahi khadi rahi. Usne mehsoos kiya ki ghar mein sab kuch badal raha tha—bachche bade ho rahe the, bada beta dheere-dheere apni duniya bana raha tha, chhota beta doosre shehar mein padh raha tha, pati apne kaam mein vyast rehte the... aur woh ab bhi isi ghar ke beech khadi thi. Sabke liye.

Kabhi-kabhi use lagta tha ki uski apni zindagi jaise doosron ki zarooraton ke beech kahin chhoti si jagah bana kar reh gayi hai. Lekin kya usse is baat ki shikayat thi? Sonam ne khud se poocha. Thodi der chup rahi, phir mann ne jawab diya—Nahi. Use apna ghar pasand tha, apne log pasand the, apni zimmedariyan bhi. Bas kabhi-kabhi... bahut kabhi-kabhi... use lagta tha ki koi usse bhi pooche—"Sonam, tum kya chahti ho?"

Usne turant ye khayal apne dimaag se nikaal diya. "Faltu soch rahi hoon."

Usne kitchen ki light band ki. Raat kaafi ho chuki thi aur sab apne-apne kamron mein ja chuke the. Sonam ne kal ke liye kapde nikaal kar rakh diye—ek simple sa suit, comfortable dupatta, jute aur ek chhota sa bag... prasad rakhne ke liye kapda, paani ki bottle, thoda sa nashta. Sab kuch taiyar karne ke baad usne ek baar ghadi dekhi. "Ab sona chahiye."

Lekin bed par jaane se pehle woh ek baar nana ke kamre ke paas ruk gayi. Andar se unki halki si khansi ki awaaz aayi.

"Papa, so gaye?"

"Abhi nahi."

"Kal paanch baje uthna hai."

"Haan meri maa."

Sonam hans padi. "Alarm laga lena."

"Tu laga dena."

"Aapko mujh par hi bharosa hai."

"Sabse zyada."

Sonam kuch pal chup rahi, phir dheere se boli, "Good night, Papa."

"Good night, beti."

Sonam apne kamre mein wapas aa gayi. Light band ki aur bed par let gayi, lekin neend aane mein waqt laga. Kal ka safar uske dimaag mein ghoom raha tha—mandir, Papa, subah ki thandi hawa, lambe raste aur ek anjaan shehar. Aur phir... Papa ke dost ka woh beta.

Sonam ne aankhen band kar li. "Jo bhi hai..." usne mann hi mann kaha, "Kal mil bhi gaya toh kya? Main toh Papa ke saath ja rahi hoon." Uske chehre par halki si muskaan aa gayi aur ye sochkar usne karwat badli.

Usse bilkul nahi pata tha ki kabhi-kabhi zindagi ke sabse bade badlav kisi bade faisle ke saath nahi aate... kabhi-kabhi woh bas ek chhote se safar ka hissa bankar chale aate hain.

Aur agle din... Sonam ko usi safar par jaana tha.

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Subah ke paanch baje ka waqt tha.

Aasman mein abhi bhi halka sa andhera aur thandak ghuli hui thi. Sonam ne hamesha ki tarah sabse pehle uthkar mandir jaane ki tayyari shuru kar di. Suti (cotton) ki ek saadhna bhari saree, maathe par chhoti si bindi, aur baalon ka ek saadha bun—woh bilkul shant aur tayyar thi.

Nana ji verandah mein apna purana leather ka chappal pehen rahe the.

"Sonam, tayyar ho gayi?" Nana ji ne pucha.

"Haan papa, bas do minute. Aapke liye flask mein garam pani aur kuch biscuits rakh liye hain. Raaste mein zaroorat pad sakti hai."

"Mera dhyan rakhne mein tu kabhi kamzor nahi padti," Nana ji ne muskurayi hui aankhon se dekha.

Dono ghar se nikal gaye. Auto-rickshaw mein baithte hi subah ki thandi hawa chehre se takrayi. Mandir shahariya ilake se thoda door, ek chhoti si pahadi ke paas tha.

Raaste bhar Nana ji apne dost aur unke parivaar ke baare mein baatein karte rahe.

"Woh jo mera dost hai na—Ramesh... hum zamane pehle ek hi gaon mein padhte the. Phir woh security officer security service mein chala gaya. Uska beta, Vikram... woh bhi ab usi mahakme mein bada afsar hai. Bahut sharafat aur kanoon ka pakka ladka hai."

Sonam ne bas haan mein sir hila diya. Use yeh baatein rozmarra ki aam charcha lag rahi thi. Uska dhyan toh bas is baat par tha ki mandir mein darshan theek se ho jayein aur Nana ji thak na jayein.

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Ghar se kareeb ek ghante door, shahri security headquarters ke ek bade se sarkari bangley mein bhi subah ki halchal shuru ho chuki thi.

Vikram Rathore—security department ka ek sanjhida aur apne kaam ke prati behad imaandar afsar.

Chaalis saal ka Vikram, unch-poora, mazboot kad-kathi aur gambhir chehre wala aadmi tha. Uski zindagi mein kaanoon, discipline aur duty ke ilawa zyada kuch nahi tha. Raat ko der se aane ke bawajood, woh subah jaldi uthne ka aadi tha.

Woh apne study room mein betha kuch sarkari files dekh raha tha jab uske phone par Nana ji (Ramesh ji ke purane dost) ki missed call dikhi. Usne turant wapas call milaya.

"Pranam Uncle ji. Kal aapka phone aaya tha, main duty par tha isliye baat nahi ho payi."

Doosri taraf se Nana ji ki awaaz aayi, "Arre Vikram beta! Koi baat nahi. Main aur meri beti Sonam abhi mandir ke paas hi pahuche hain. Darshan ke baad tumse milne ka soch rahe the."

"Uncle ji, aap wahan rukiye. Mandir ke paas aaj subah se koi sarkari VIP movement hai, wahan bheed aur security check bohot zyada hoga. Main abhi gaadi bhejta hoon ya khud aata hoon."

"Nahi nahi beta, takleef mat lo. Hum toh darshan karke wapas..."

"Nahi Uncle ji, takleef ki koi baat nahi. Aap mandir ke main gate ke paas banyan tree (bargad ke ped) ke neeche baithiye. Main 15 minute mein pahuch raha hoon."

Vikram ne phone rakha, apna jacket pehna, aur gaadi ki chaabi uthakar nikal pada. Uske dimag mein bas apne pita ke purane dost ki sahayata karne ka khayal tha.

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Mandir ke bahar sach mein kaafi bheed thi. security officer ki barricading lagi hui thi aur har jagah checking chal rahi thi.

Nana ji thodi door bargad ke ped ke neeche bani cement ki bench par baith gaye. Sonam unke paas hi khadi thi, apne aanchal se aane wali dhoop ko Nana ji ke chehre se dhakne ki koshish kar rahi thi.

"Papa, bohot bheed hai. Aap yahan baitho, main paani ki botal lekar aati hoon."

"Tu zyada door mat jana Sonam, bheed mein ghum mat ho jana," Nana ji ne fikar se kaha.

"Main bacchi nahi hoon papa," Sonam ne muskura kar kaha aur paas ki dukan ki taraf badh gayi.

Dukan par logon ki lambi line thi. Sonam paani ki botal lekar wapas mud hi rahi thi ki achanak bheed mein ek tezz dhakka laga. Kisi VIP ke aane ki wajah se security officer cordon aage badha rahi thi.

Sonam ka paon phisal gaya aur uske haath se botal chhut gayi.

Woh girne hi wali thi ki ek mazboot haath ne use baah se pakad kar sambhal liya.

❖ ❖ ❖

"Aap theek hain?"

Ek gehri, sanjhida aur ekdum saaf awaaz Sonam ke kaanon mein padi.

Sonam ne ghabra kar upar dekha.

Uske samne ek lambe kad ka aadmi khada tha. Safed shirt, dark trousers, aur chehre par ek aisi gambhirta jo bina kahe roab bayan karti thi. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa tezz tha, lekin bolne ke tarike mein behad adab.

Sonam ne turant apna haath peeche khinch diya aur apni saree ka aanchal theek kiya. Uski dhadkan thodi tezz ho gayi thi.

"Haan... haan, main theek hoon. Shukriya."

Vikram ne ek pal ke liye Sonam ke chehre ko dekha. Koi decorative makeup nahi, koi dikawa nahi—bas ek sadharan, shant aur gehri saadgi. Vikram, jo rozana sau tarah ke logon aur aam-o-khaas se milta tha, is aam si aurat ke chehre ki shanti ko dekhkar ek pal ko ruk sa gaya.

Tabhi Vikram ke pocket mein pada walkie-talkie baj utha—
"Sir, VIP convoy gate number 2 se enter kar raha hai."

Vikram ne mic press kiya, "Copy that. Control the main gate."

Sonam ne use dekha aur samajh gayi ki yeh koi bada afsar hai. Usne nazar neeche kar li aur bina kuch bole Nana ji ki taraf badhne lagi.

Vikram ne bhi use aage badhte dekha, lekin duty ki wajah se use doosri taraf jana pada.

❖ ❖ ❖

Kuch der baad, bheed thodi kam hui. Sonam Nana ji ke paas pahuche aur botal unhe pakdayi.

"Kitni der laga di Sonam? Main toh pareshan ho raha tha."

"Woh papa, bheed bohot thi..." Sonam ne baat poori nahi ki. Uska dhyan abhi bhi us anjaan shakhs ki gehri awaaz par tha.

Tabhi ek kaali gaadi ped ke paas aakar ruki. Gaadi ka darwaza khula aur usmein se wahi aadmi bahar nikla.

Nana ji ekdum khade ho gaye, "Arre Vikram beta!"

Sonam ke kadam wahi ruk gaye. Usne hairani se upar dekha.

Vikram ne aage badhkar Nana ji ke paon chhuye, "Pranam Uncle ji. Maaf karna, thoda late ho gaya, mandir ke bahar kuch security arrangements dekhne pad rahe the."

"Arre koi baat nahi beta! Tu toh bilkul apne baap par gaya hai," Nana ji ne khush hokar uske shoulder par haath rakha. Phir unhone peeche mudi hui Sonam ki taraf ishara kiya—

"Vikram, yeh meri beti hai... Sonam."

Vikram ne Sonam ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein halki si hairani ka bhav aaya—woh samajh gaya ki yeh wahi aurat thi jise usne abhi bheed mein girne se bachaya tha.

Sonam ne bhi use dekha. Dono ki nazrein milin.

Vikram ne bohot hi tehzeeb se apne dono haath jode, "Namaste."

Sonam ne halki si nazar jhukayi aur haath jodh kar dheere se kaha—

"Namaste."

Gali ki shaant subah se shuru hua yeh din... ab ek aisi raah par mud chuka tha jahan do anjaan zindagiya pehli baar ek doosre ke samne khadi thin.