Adultery I Lost Mom to the Boy Next Door

[Joker44]

Vaishali ne subah uthakar roz ki tarah maang mein sindoor bhara, gale mein mangalsutra pehna, aur gas jala kar chai ka bartan chadha diya. Uske cotton blouse ki tight fit aur uske heavy breasts ki ubalti huyi garmahat us rasili subah mein saaf mehsus ho rahi thi. Tabhi Arjun wahan aa khada hua, aur uske munh se woh aakhri aur khaufnak shabd nikal gaye — “Parson woh family aa rahi hai, Ma.”
Vaishali ke haath mein pakda hua chammach seedha sink ke steel pe zor se patka.
“Kaun si family? Kis naam se aa rahi hai?”
Ramesh hall ke darwaze pe ek kamzor aur thake hue saaye ki tarah khada tha. Arjun dining table ke kinare pe jhuka hua tha.
“Meera ke naam se,” Arjun ne bina dare kaha. “Tera wahi photo. Umar 38. Unmarried. Aur woh ladka... Vikram. 24 saal ka. Apna business hai. Jab usne humari demand suni, toh woh bhaga nahi, usne sidhe haan bol diya.”
Vaishali ki aankhen yeh sunte hi ek dam se laal nahi huyi. Pehle woh ekdam thandi pad gayi, jaise uske jism ka poora khoon jam gaya ho.
“Maine teen baar saaf mana kiya tha ya nahi kiya tha, Arjun?”
“Ma, sun toh—”
“Meri photo! Mera chehra! Mera blouse aur meri chhati! Aur duniya ko yeh batana hai ki main unmarried hoon?” Usne apne kaapte hue haathon se apne gale ko pakda, jahan mangalsutra ka gold locket latka hua tha. “Yeh mangalsutra nahi utrega! Maang ka sindoor ek inch bhi nahi mitega! Main koi Meera-veer nahi hoon, main is ghar ki maa hoon!”
Priya us waqt bathroom ke andar thi, isliye ghar ke mard apni awaaz unchi nahi kar sakte the. Aur is ghar ka sabse khatarnak sach yeh tha ki jab yahan gussa low rakha jata hai, toh woh aawaz aur bhi zyada gehrai se kaathti hai.
Ramesh ne aage badh kar dheere se kaha, “Vaishali... sirf do ghante ke liye baithna hai. Mehmaan aayenge, chai dena, chupchap baithna. Uske baad sab khatam. Kuch nahi hoga.”
“Aur uske baad yeh log switch kar denge,” Vaishali ki saans phoolne lagi. “Wahi maroon saree Mausi ko pehna denge. Mujhe ghar se bahar nahi nikalna, par mera jism aur meri pehchan bikni hai. Jewellery trial hogi, ghar ka klesh khatam hoga, aur Mausi yahan se chali jaayegi.”
Vaishali achanak has di — woh koi khushi ki hansi nahi thi, balki ek aurat ki be-bas aur dard bhari cheekh thi.
“Tum dono baap-beta paagal ho gaye ho! Woh ladka sirf 24 saal ka hai. Jab woh ghar aayega, mera chehra aur yeh jism dekhega, toh zoom karega, poochega. Sab pakda jayega! Tab kya karoge?”
Arjun ne wahi ek ganda shabd dohraya jo ab uske munh ka suhaaga ban chuka tha. “Kuch nahi pakda jayega, Ma. Chill maro.”
“Chill mat bol mujhe!” Vaishali ki awaaz pehli baar unchi hokar poore hall mein goonj uthi. Uske gusse se uske blouse ke peechhe wale hooks kas kar khinch gaye. Uski bhari chhati har tezi se chalti saans ke sath upar-neeche ho rahi thi. Left collarbone ka woh kaala til gusse se laal pad gaya tha. “Main ek maa hoon! Teri maa hoon! Aur yeh jo ganda khel tum khel rahe ho, yeh meri izzat aur mere jism ki aabru pe hai!”
Woh wahan se palati aur apne kamre mein ghus gayi. Darwaza band ho gaya. Ramesh ne darte hue Arjun ko dekha.
“Ab kya karein?”
Arjun ne thanda saans liya. “Dopahar mein phir se baat karenge.”
Dopahar tak ka waqt aate-aate Priya ne do alag-alag baar ‘property’ aur ‘hissa’ wala shabd zordar tarike se use kiya. Ek baar woh phone pe kisi relative ko chilla kar bol rahi thi — “Bhai ke ghar pe mera bhi aadha haq banta hai, main aise sadak pe nahi marungi!”
Vaishali kitchen mein khadi chupchap yeh sab sunti rahi. Uski aankhon mein ab woh baat ek sui ki tarah chubhne lagi thi. P Pichle teen mahine se roz subah-shaam yahi rona ro rahi thi. Uski apni koi shaadi ki umar nahi thi, par uska zahar poore ghar ko andar se kha raha tha. Ghar ki hawa puri tarah khatti aur zehreeli ho chuki thi.
Usne pehli baar zindagi mein ek aisi baat sochi jo uske andar tak hil gayi:
Agar yeh aurat yahan se nikal jaaye... toh shayad yeh ghar phir se waisa hi shant ho jaaye jaisa pehle tha.
Jaise hi usne yeh socha, use khud par sharm aayi. Lekin us sharm aur darr ke theek peeche ek aur aisi cheez aakar khadi ho gayi jise woh kisi ke samne admit nahi karna chahti thi — lalach. Heavy jewellery. Bada shagun. 25 se 30 lakh rupaye cash. Ramesh ke bank account mein aane wale figures. Arjun ki job ki wajeh se sar pe mandrata hua paisa ka sankat. Agle mahine ka bhara jane wala rent. Woh saare bade numbers usne khud nahi likhe the, par ab woh numbers is ghar ki har deewar pe chipke hue the.
Usne apni saree ka pallu kas kar pakda. Nahi wala shabd abhi bhi uske munh mein tha, par us shabd ke theek peechhe ab Priya ka woh shor aur ghar ki majboori naach rahi thi.
Shaam ka waqt ho chuka tha. Priya apne kamre mein TV pe serial dekh rahi thi — yahi unka sabse bada cover noise tha.
Ramesh ne apne bedroom ka darwaza andar se band kar liya. Vaishali palang ke kinare baithi thi, uske lambe kaale baal khule hue the, aur gale mein wahi mangalsutra latak raha tha. Uski aankhen rone se suji hui thi, aur gussa ab sookh kar ek behad thaki huyi be-basi ban chuka tha.
Arjun darwaze ke frame pe khada hua tha, is baar uske haath mein phone nahi tha.
“Ma, meri baat sun. Bas ek baar. Aakhri baar samajh le.”
Usne ek-ek karke poora hisaab padh kar sunaya, jaise koi business deal ho:
“Pehli baat: tu us din sirf chupchap wahan baithogi. Hum bolenge jo bolna hai. Dusri baat: sindoor sirf do ghante ke liye utregi, aur mangalsutra shelf pe rahega. Teesri baat: woh log aayenge, apni demand poori denge, aur wahan se bhagenge nahi. Tujhe apni aankhon se woh heavy jewellery aur shagun dekhne ko mil jayega. Chouthi baat: jaise hi date lock hogi, hum Mausi ko wahi maroon saree pehna kar bhej denge. Paanchvi baat: tu is ghar se ek kadam bhi bahar nahi jayegi, tu yahin apni jagah pe rahegi. Aur chhatti baat: Mausi hamesha ke liye yahan se nikal jayegi. Property aur hisse ka yeh rona hamesha ke liye band ho jayega. Ghar wapas pehle jaisa ho jayega.”
Ramesh ne turant aakhri line pakad li — ek weak aur darpok aadmi ki bhasha mein:
“Vaishali... main sach mein ab thak gaya hoon. Roz ka yeh shor, padosiyon ki baatein, yeh hisse ki ladai. Tu toh sab jaanti hai na? Sirf do ghante ki baat hai. Do ghante ke liye tu yeh kar de, uske baad sab theek ho jayega.”
Vaishali ne un dono baap-beton ki taraf dekha. Beta 23 saal ka tha, jiski aankhon mein darr aur ek chhupa hua lalach milakar chamak raha tha. Pati 57 saal ka tha, jiske kandhe puri tarah andar ko ghuse hue the. Uske samne table par koi kagaz nahi tha, balki uske apne dimaag mein ek tasveer chal rahi thi — sona ka bhaari haar, kaan ke bade jhumke, bank account mein moti rakam, aur Priya ka yahin se apna suitcase lekar hamesha ke liye chale jaana.
Usne dheere se poocha, “Agar parson yeh sab bigad gaya... agar sach mein kuch galat ho gaya, tab kya hoga?”
Arjun ne foran bina soche kaha, “Kuch nahi bigdega, Ma. Main khada hoon na sab sambhalne ke liye.”
Yeh line usne isliye nahi maani ki woh sach thi. Usne isliye maan li kyunki ek maa kabhi bhi poori tarah se ‘nahi’ nahi rakh paati jab uska apna beta hi khud ko dhaal banakar khada ho jata hai.
Usne apni aankhen band ki, aur ek lambi saans li.
“Sirf do ghante... uske baad sindoor meri maang mein wapas lag jayegi. Mangalsutra wapas mere gale mein aa jayega. Na koi photo khichayenge, na koi court ka register sign hoga. Main Meera nahi hoon, aur yeh baat sach hai.”
Ramesh ne aisi saans li jaise use koi saalon purana karza chukane ke liye waqt mil gaya ho.
Arjun ne dheere se kaha, “Theek hai, Ma.” Lekin apne andar hi andar usne soch liya tha — parson yeh maan gayi hai, ab aage ka main khud sambhal lunga.
Vaishali uthi aur bathroom ke sheeshe ke samne jakar khadi ho gayi. Aaj usne pehli baar khud ko ek anjaani nazar se naapa. Uski wheatish skin ka glow, uske bhare hue honth, uske lambe baal aur blouse ke andar qaid uska heavy jism. 42 saal ki umar mein bhi woh aasani se 38 ki lag sakti thi. Yahi woh sach tha jo use andar tak dara raha tha, aur yahi woh sach tha jo in dono mardo ke sabse bada kaam aa raha tha.
Usne apne gale se mangalsutra uthaya, apne kaapte hue haathon mein rakha, aur phir se use apne gale mein pahan liya.
“Kal subah mujhse yeh sab mat kehna,” usne aakhri shart rakhi. “Parson subah jab woh log aane wale honge, tabhi yeh sab utarungi.”
Yahi uska aakhri aur chhota sa control bacha tha, jise usne dono haathon se pakad kar rakh liya tha.
Raat ke waqt khane ki table par Priya ne achanak poocha, “Kal ghar mein koi aa raha hai kya? Subah se itni safai aur yeh sab ajeeb kyu chal raha hai?”
Vaishali ne khane ki plate table pe rakhte hue bina upar dekhe kaha, “Koi door ka relative aa raha hai, bas.”
Zindagi mein pehli baar uske munh se ek aisa jhooth nikla jo phasa nahi, balki seedha andar utar gaya.
Arjun ne apni maa ki taraf dekha. Maa ne aakhirkar unka sath de hi diya tha — poori tarah nahi, par aadha rasta unhone tay kar liya tha. Aur usi aadhi razamandi par inka poora paap ka imarat khada tha.
Khane ke baad sone se theek pehle Vaishali ne chupchap apna purana jewellery box khola. Usme uski shaadi ka ek halka sa sona ka haar pada tha. Usne socha ki Vikram wali family jo ladka aur dahej lekar aayegi, woh isse kahin zyada bhaari aur keemti hoga. Lalach ne uski sharm aur gusse ke upar apna haath rakh diya tha, aur woh chah kar bhi use hata nahi payi.
Tabhi achanak doosre kamre se Priya ki aawaz phir se gunji — “Property mein mera hisaab chahiye...”
Vaishali ne jhatke se woh jewellery box band kar diya.
Bas yeh yahan se nikal jaye. Mera ghar phir se shant ho jaye. Arjun ka munh band ho jaye. Ramesh chain ki neend so sake.
Yahi uske maan jane ka sabse bada aur asli karan tha. Koi romance nahi, kisi 24 saal ke ladki ki gandi nazar nahi. Sirf ghar ki thakaan, Priya ki zehreeli jalan, aur woh sona jo abhi tak unke haath mein aaya nahi tha.
Landing pe abhi bhi do darwaze khade the. Ek darwaze ke peeche Vaishali ne aisi neend sochi — sirf do ghante, aur uske baad main phir se wahi purani Ma ban jaungi. Doosre darwaze par abhi bhi tala laga hua tha. Aur phone ki screen par Vikram ne apni woh pehli mulaqat wali naye brand ki shirt select karke rakh li thi.
Parson subah woh chai ki tray lekar aayegi. Uske haath wahi honge. Lekin uski maang bilkul nangi aur khali hogi.



Do din baad ki subah saat baje ki nahi thi; woh saaath-saath thi — ek aisi ghadi jahan waqt aur saansein dono tham chuki thi.
Vaishali bathroom ke chhote sheeshe ke samne khadi thi, aur zindagi mein pehli baar us sheeshe ne use ek Ma kam aur ek aisi “Meera” zyada dikhaya jise bazaar mein becha ja chuka tha.
Maang poori tarah khaali thi — ek boond sindoor bhi wahan nahi tha. Mangalsutra bathroom ki shelf pe, ek chote se kapde ke neeche chhupa hua tha. Uski lambi jet-black waves baalon ko thoda sa sarson ka oil laga kar khula chhod diya gaya tha, aur centre parting bilkul nangi aur white lag rahi thi. Wheatish-fair skin pe kisi concealer ki zaroorat nahi thi — sirf ek patli cream aur maang ke beech mein ek choti si laal bindi. Kaano mein chhote gold ke jhumke. Pahnane ke liye ek cream-gold color ki cotton-silk saree thi, aur uske sath ek sleeveless blouse — wahi blouse jo usne pehle pehne se saaf mana kiya tha, par Arjun use yeh keh kar laya tha ki isme woh “simple aur young dikhegi.”
Woh simple bilkul nahi lag rahi thi.





Sleeveless blouse ne uske dono heavy, rasile breasts ko upar se aise jakad rakha tha ki unka upper cleavage aur heavy weight saaf ubhar kar bahar aa raha tha. Saree ka gher zyada bhari nahi tha, par uske hips aur wide waist ki rounded line us patle kapde ke andar se ekdam tight dikh rahi thi. Left collarbone ka woh kaala til abhi bhi bilkul nanga chamak raha tha. Gale mein ek patli si gold ki chain thi.
Umar: 42 saal.
Sheeshe ke andar khadi aurat: sirf 36 se 38 saal ki ek behad jawan aur bhari-poori aurat.
Usne darr kar apne pallu se apne jism ko dhakna chaha, jaise pallu uski umar wapas la sakega. Par pallu wahan thehra nahi.
“Sirf do ghante,” usne khud se aahiste se kaha. “Uske baad mangalsutra aur sindoor wapas aa jayega.”
Bahar hall mein Arjun pohe ki kadhai sambhal raha tha. Ramesh drawing room ki white sheet ko theek kar raha tha. Priya ko subah se hi “sir dard” ka natak karwa kar andar wale kamre mein band kar diya gaya tha, aur darwaza andar se kundi laga tha. Unki taiyar ki gayi kahani bilkul saaf thi: Meera, Ramesh ki unmarried behan hai, umar 38 saal, pichle kuch mahino se bhai ke ghar reh rahi hai.
Jhooth ab is ghar ke furniture aur deewaron ke sath chipak chuka tha.
Paune chaar baje. Doorbell baji.
Ek aam Marathi ghar ka rivaaj hamesha ghar ke andar ki khushbu se shuru hota hai — tadka, kande-pohe ki mehak, fresh chaha patti ki khushbu, aur steel ki plate mein rakhe hue kuch namkeen. Vaishali kitchen ke andar se bahar nahi nikal sakti thi. Arjun ne saaf bol diya tha — “Pehle hum baat karenge, baad mein tujhe chai lekar aane ko bulaayenge.”
Usne kitchen ke andar khade hokar har ek aawaz suni.
Vikram sabse pehle andar aaya, uske peeche uski mummy, aur phir uncle. 24 saal ka jawan mard, badan pe ekdum fit formal shirt jo uski gym wali chodi chest ko dikha rahi thi, kalai pe mehngi watch, aur paon mein chamakate hue clean shoes. Ramesh ne hath jod kar “namaskar” kiya — pair nahi chhue, kyunki ab dono taraf status aur dahej ka hisaab chal raha tha. Uncle ne aage badh kar Ramesh ka haath pakda. Vikram ki mummy ne poore ghar ko ek ghaur se dekha, aur unki nazar seedhi kitchen ke darwaze tak gayi.
Chaha aur pohe ki plates bahar aayi. Steel ki plates, aam cups. Yahi unka yeh dikhane ka tarika tha ki hum ekdam simple aur traditional family hain.
“Meera kahan hai?” Vikram ki mummy ne pucha.
Arjun ne foran kaha, “Bas aati hongi, mummy ji.”
Vaishali ne ek lambi saans li. Apna pallu theek kiya. Bindi check ki. Khaali gala mehsoos kiya. Aur phir tray uthakar dheere-dheere hall mein kadam rakh diya — tray mein chaha ke garam glasses aur pohe ke do bowl the.
Uski tray ke sath hall mein aate hi wahan chal rahi baatein ek second ke liye poori tarah ruk gayi.
Vikram ne chaha ki plate ki taraf dekha hi nahi.
Uski aankhen seedhi Vaishali ke jism par jakad gayi thi: wahi nangi maang, khule hue lambe baal, sleeveless blouse ke andar saans lene ke sath upar-neeche hote hue heavy wheatish breasts, collarbone ka woh kaala til, full aur rasile honth, darr se kaapti huyi aankhen, kamar pe tight saree ki peti, aur wide hips par jhulta hua pallu.
Yeh us internet ki photo se kahin zyada real aur dangerous thi. Photo mein toh sirf crop kiya hua chehra tha. Yahan toh saans leti hui, garam aur pighalti hui ek aurat khadi thi.
Vikram ke mardangi jism ne uske dimag se pehle jawab diya. Uske pants ke andar ek achanak tight khichav aa gaya, ek aisi garmi jo woh apne chalne ke tarike se poori tarah chhupa nahi paaya. Internet wali fantasy screen se uth kar ab sachmuch uske samne living room mein khadi thi — ek mature, gharwali face, aur ek aisi body jiske upar koi official married tag nahi tha. Woh poori tarah horny ho chuka tha. Saath hi uske dimag mein ek ganda aur pakka vichar aaya: Yeh aurat... yeh sirf aur sirf mere ghar aur mere bed ke liye bani hai.
Vaishali ne nazrein uthakar use dekha.
24 saal ka ladka. Uske apne bete Arjun se bas do-teen saal bada. Kandhe itne chode ki shirt ke buttons pe khichav tha, chehre par halki daadi, aur aankhon mein ek aisi seedhi aur gandi bhookh thi jo kisi anjaani ladki ko nahi balki ek aurat ko dekhte waqt aati hai. Woh koi “ladka” nahi tha — woh ek poora aadmi tha. Vaishali ke dimaag mein pehli line yeh aayi: Yeh toh Arjun se bas thoda sa bada hai... itna bada ki... usne achanak darr kar woh line beech mein hi kaat di.
Usne tray table pe rakh di. Aur chupchap ek kone mein sofa ke kinare par baith gayi — theek wisi tarah jaise shadi ke rishton mein ladkiyan baithti hain, samne mehmaan aur side mein apni family.
Pohe aur chaha parose gaye. Mummy ne do sawaal kiye:
“Meera, tumhe ghar ka khana banana achhe se aata hai na? Aur tumhare ghar mein aur kaun-kaun hai?”
Ramesh ne foran beech mein bol kar baat sambhali, “Haanji, yeh poora ghar akele sambhalti hai. Humari choti behan hai. Pehle kuch rishte dekhe the, par waqt nikal gaya... ab hum log iske liye ek achha aur settled ghar soch rahe hain.”
Choti behan.
Ramesh ki behan.
Ek jhooth ne poori tarah se ek sanskaari rivaaj ka coat pehan liya tha.
Vaishali ne bas dheere se “haan” mein sar hila diya. Usne zyadatar baatein nahi ki kyunki Arjun ne pehle hi mana kiya tha ki zyada nahi bolna hai. Uske honth tight the. Vikram ki gandi aur ghaur karne wali nazar baar-baar Vaishali ke heavy chest aur blouse ke gher par ja rahi thi, aur phir upar uske chehre tak aa rahi thi. Har baar jab Vikram use ghurta tha, Vaishali ko mehsus hota tha. Woh apne pallu se apne bust ko dhakne ki koshish karti, par sleeveless blouse ki wajeh se pallu bar-bar phisal kar side mein ho jata tha.
Uncle ne chai ka ghoont liya aur bole, “Humari patrika aur kundli ke hisaab se 30 plus umar hi bilkul perfect baith rahi hai. Vikram ne toh photo dekh kar hi haan keh diya tha. Ab samne dekh kar toh... koi shaq hi nahi hai.”



Vikram ne apna chaha ka cup table par rakha.
Uski aankhen seedhi Vaishali ki aankhon mein thi. “Haan. Ekdam haan hai meri taraf se.”
Bas itna hi. Poore room mein chai ki bhap aur khamoshi chha gayi.
Mummy ne muskura kar aage badhkar Vaishali ke kaapte hue haath par apna haath rakha. “Badi simple aur bholi ho tum. Yeh toh bohot achhi baat hai.”
Vaishali ke haath barf ki tarah thande ho chuke the. Usne socha — woh heavy jewellery, Priya ka suitcase, sirf do ghante ki baat hai. Usne ek pal ke liye bhi yeh nahi socha ki is “haan” ka wazan kisi court ke register ya zindagani ke kaid-khane jaisa hai.
Pohe khatam hue. Thodi idhar-udhar ki baatein chali — Pune aur Mumbai ka safar, business ki baatein, aur uncle ka law firm. Shukar hai ki us waqt ‘dahej’ wala shabd khul kar nahi phata. Uncle ne sirf ek aam line boli, “Expectations aur baaki ki jo bhi baatein hain, woh family baad mein aamne-samne baith kar clear kar legi. Uska koi issue nahi hai.”
Arjun ke kandhon par jo pichle do din se bojh rakha tha, uski thodi si air nikal gayi.
Ab is natak ka doosra aur sabse khatarnak hissa shuru hua — “Zara ghar bhi dekh lijiye.”
Arjun ne mummy ko kitchen aur baaki hissa dikhane ke liye uthaya. Ramesh uncle ke sath balcony mein chala gaya. Hall mein achanak logon ki sankhya kam ho gayi.
Vikram mauka paakar utha aur seedha us passage mein chala gaya jahan se bedroom aur bathroom ke raste nikalte hain. Vaishali us waqt tray uthane ke liye wahi jhuki hui thi. Woh wahan achanak thithak gayi.
Vikram uske itna kareeb aa gaya ki uske expensive aftershave ki mehak Vaishali ki saanson mein ghul gayi. Woh uske bete jitna hi kareeb tha, par uske jism mein umar ki woh thandak nahi thi — ek aag thi.
Vikram ne ekdum dheeri aawaz mein, sirf Vaishali ke kaano ke liye kaha:
“Maine sirf photo pe haan bola tha, Meera... par ab samne dekh kar bol raha hoon. EKDAM YES. Tum zara bhi tension mat lo, main yeh sab bohot jaldi aur pakka karwa dunga.”
Vaishali ke munh se darr ke maare sirf “main—” nikal paaya.
Vikram ne uska naam jaan-boojh kar liya — “Meera” — jaise woh pehle se hi uski apni cheez ho. Uski gandi aur bhookhi nazar ek second ke liye Vaishali ke blouse ke us kaale til par ruki, aur phir seedha uski aankhon mein aa gayi. Uske mardang jism mein abhi bhi wahi aag aur tightness bani hui thi. Woh ek ajeeb si mardani muskaan ke sath hasa — woh koi shadi wali sharmaane wali muskaan nahi thi, balki ek aadmi ki haq jatane wali muskaan thi.
Ussi waqt passage ke doosre end se Arjun ki aawaz aagyi. Vikram ekdam se do kadam peeche ho gaya. Vaishali ne kaapte hue haathon se tray uthayi, aur glass thartharaane lage.





Wapas sab hall mein ikatthe hue. Mummy ne jaate waqt table par ek laal rang ka lifafa rakha — Shagun ka lifafa. Ramesh ne use utha liya, ek aam kamzor aur majboor baap ki tarah, usne ek pal ke liye bhi mana nahi kiya.
“Parson ke baad hum shadi ki date nikalte hain,” uncle ne jate hue kaha. “Muhurat bohot jaldi ka mil raha hai. Meera ko bilkul taiyar rakhiyega.”
Vaishali ki aankhen seedha Arjun par gayi. Arjun ne nazar chupa li.
Woh wahi se uth kar seedha kitchen mein chali gayi, theek waise hi jaise ek 'ladki' ko rivaaj ke mutabiq bheja jata hai. Sink ke paas aakar usne dekha — uske gale mein abhi bhi woh chain thi, mangalsutra nahi tha. Maang bilkul nangi thi. Doosre kamre mein Priya ne apne TV serial ka volume aur kam kar diya tha — woh darwaze ki karni se sab sun rahi thi.
Mehmaan neeche utar gaye. Jooton ki aawaz lift tak gayi. Landing par sannata chha gaya.
Ghar ka darwaza band ho gaya.
Vaishali wapas hall mein aayi. Uske munh se pehla shabd nikla:
“Khatam ho gaya na? Ab meri mangalsutra aur chain mujhe wapas do.”
Arjun ne shagun ka woh laal lifafa table par hi chhod diya aur bola, “Abhi nahi, Ma. Pehle date nikalne do. Switch hum uske bilkul theek pehle karenge.”
Ramesh ne apni aankhen wapas zameen par jhuka li.
Vaishali ke haath abhi bhi tharthara rahe the. Us sleeveless blouse ke andar uska jism abhi bhi us 38 saal ki anjaani “Meera” wali jagah par atka hua tha. Vikram ki woh gandi aur bhookhi nazar abhi bhi uske kaale til par ghum rahi thi. Usne darr kar socha: Doosri yes bhi ho gayi... Yeh sirf do ghante ka khel nahi tha, yeh toh mujhe hamesha ke liye bechne ka rasta ban gaya hai.
Usne apne pallu se apne heavy bust ko kas kar dhakha.
Landing par abhi bhi do darwaze khade the.
Ek darwaze ke andar table par wo laal lifafa pada tha.
Doosre darwaze par tala tha, lekin uncle aur Vikram ke munh se woh agla flat pehle hi kisi “couple” ke naam par book ho chuka tha.
Vaishali ne darrte hue kitchen ki shelf se apna mangalsutra uthaya.
Use kaapte hue haathon se apne gale mein pehan liya.
Sindoor ki dibi uthayi aur maang mein laal line lagane chali — par haath itna kaap raha tha ki line adhoori aur tedhi lag gayi.
Neeche sadak par Vikram apni gaadi ka darwaza khol kar apni mummy se bol raha tha:
“Haan mummy. Wahi hai bilkul. Bas jaldi se date pakki karo.”
Gaadi ka horn baja aur woh nikal gaye.
Lekin woh gandi aur nangi fantasy ab screen se utar kar seedha us shadi ki date maang rahi thi.

Mehmaan utre uske poore do ghante baad bhi is ghar ki hawa normal nahi hui thi.
Vaishali ne chupchap apna mangalsutra wapas gale mein pehan liya, adhoori sindoor ki line ko poora kiya, aur wahi sleeveless blouse utaar kar wapas apna purana sleeved blouse pehan liya. Sheeshe ke andar 'Meera' dheere-dheere kam ho gayi, aur wapas wahi 42 saal ki 'Ma' khadi ho gayi. Hall mein woh shagun ka laal lifafa abhi bhi table par ek rumaal ke neeche chhipa hua pada tha. Ramesh use uthane se darta tha. Arjun ne use gin kar dekh liya tha ki andar kitni moti rakam hai.
Priya achanak andar apne kamre se nikal kar aayi, uske chehre pe abhi bhi “sir dard” ka natak saaf dikh raha tha.
“Kaun log aaye the subah?” usne poocha.
Ramesh ne foran kaha, “Ek family thi... rishte ke silsile mein.”
“Aur yeh Meera kaun hai? Iska naam kyun le rahe the sab?”
Poora hall ek second ke liye barf ki tarah jam gaya. TV ke serial ki aawaz ke beech Priya ke kaan tak yeh naam pehle hi pahunch chuka tha.
Arjun ne aage badh kar baat sambhali, “Koi door ke relative ka rishta hai, Mausi. Kuch confusion ho gayi thi naam mein.”
Priya ki gandi nazar Vaishali ke khule hue baalon par gayi — jo usne abhi tak theek se baandhe nahi the — aur phir seedha gale mein latke hue mangalsutra par padi. Usne aage aur koi sawaal nahi kiya, bas us baat ko apne dimag mein ek file ki tarah save kar liya.
Raat ke nau baje. Ek naya phone aaya.
Uncle ka phone tha. Speaker on nahi kiya gaya tha. Arjun ne phone uthaya aur Ramesh apne bete ke kandhe ke upar se kaan lagaye sun raha tha.
“Rameshji, pandit ji ne shadi ka muhurat nikaal diya hai. Pure barah din baad ka time hai. Arya Samaj ka mandir aur ek chhota sa function, zyada bhed-bhaad nahi rakhni hai. Meera ko bilkul taiyar rakhiyega. Jewellery ki trial kal-parson hi karwa lenge. Aur ek aur zaroori baat... wahi building ka baju wala flat jo mahino se khaali pada tha, society walo se baat ho gayi hai. Hum log wahi flat us naye couple ke liye final kar rahe hain. Owner humara known hai, bas token dena baaki hai. Meera ko wahi paas mein rakhna sabke liye easy rahega, bilkul aapke ghar ke kareeb.”
Arjun ki achanak aankh uth kar ghar ki landing ki taraf chali gayi.
Bahar dono darwaze the. Left wala inka apna ghar — 2BHK. Right wala — mahino se tala laga hua khaali flat.
Arjun ne baat ko sambhalte hue foran kaha, “Haan uncle ji, bilkul theek hai. Hum dekh lenge wahan.”
Call cut ho gayi.
Ramesh ka gala sukha, “Baju wala flat matlab?”
Arjun seedha utha aur darwaza khol kar landing par chala gaya. Us khaali flat ke purane taale aur dhool ko dekhte hue usne socha: Shadi ke baad switch ho jayegi, aur Mausi yahin pados mein rahegi. Ma idhar hi rahegi. Sab kuch control mein rahega, bilkul nazdeek.
Usne ek second ke liye bhi yeh nahi socha tha ki un dono 2BHK flats ka master bedroom ek hi common deewar ko share karta hai. Purani Bombay ki aisi purani societies mein deewarein kitni patli hoti hain — ek hi plaster ka slab, ek hi brick line. Dono taraf ke palang ke headboard bilkul ek doosre ke peechhe aane wale the. Us raat na toh wahan koi tape laga, aur na hi kisi ne deewar par knock kiya. Khaali ghar ko unhone sirf “nazdeek” samjha, ek khatarnak “deewar” nahi.
Ramesh peeche khada hokar bola, “Yeh sab thoda zyada jaldi nahi ho raha, Arjun?”
“Jaldi ho raha hai isiliye toh jaldi nikalna hai, Papa. Sirf barah din bache hain. Mausi ko hum pehle hi maroon saree pehna kar ready kar denge, aur Ma ko bolenge ki bas kuch der ka drama hai.”
Andar hall mein Vaishali khadi yeh sab sun rahi thi. Usne woh “barah din” wala shabd sun liya tha. Usne “baju wala flat” bhi saaf sun liya tha.
Usne aage aakar poocha, “Kaun sa flat? Baju wala kyun?”
Arjun ne bina kisi darr ke saaf kaha — pehli baar uski aawaz mein ek ajeeb sa aurogance tha:
“Baju wala flat wahi log le rahe hain couple ke liye, Ma. Tujhe kahin nahi jaana, Mausi wahan jayegi, aur tu yahin is ghar mein rahegi. Hum sab yahin rahenge.”
Vaishali chah kar bhi hans nahi paayi. Uske honth kaap rahe the.
“Barah din mein shadi? Maine toh sirf do ghante ke liye kaha tha, aur apni chain wapas le li thi! Ab yeh flat kahan se aa gaya beech mein?”
Ramesh ne darte hue kaha, “Token wahi log de rahe hain, tera naam thodi aayega wahan.”
“Lekin us flat mein jo ladki jayegi, uske jism par chehra toh mera hi hai na?”
Usne table par pade hue shagun ke laal lifafe ki taraf ungli uthayi. “Yeh paisa bhi utha kar wahin phenk do. Main ab is khel mein ek minute bhi nahi baithungi.”
Arjun ne us laal lifafe ko hath tak nahi lagaya. Uski aawaz sakt ho gayi:
“Ma, ab yahan se peeche hatne ka rasta band ho chuka hai. Uncle ek bade lawyer hain. Message hain, photo hain, mehmaan ghar aakar mil chuke hain. Shagun ka lifafa humne le liya hai. Agar ab inkaar kiya, toh hazaron sawaal khade ho jayenge — paisa kahan gaya, jewellery trial ka kya hua. Mausi yahin se nikal jayegi, aur ghar ka klesh hamesha ke liye khatam ho jayega.”
Vaishali ke munh par ek baar phir gussa aaya, par us gusse ke theek peeche wahi purana aur ganda hisaab aakar khada ho gaya — Priya ke hisse ki ladai, ghar ka rent, aur woh sona jo abhi tak unke haath nahi aaya tha. Lalach ne is baar uski sharm ko ek dhakka diya, par woh use poori tarah hata nahi payi.
“Main... main ek bhi court ka ya shadi ka register sign nahi karungi,” usne aakhri shart rakhi.
“Koi sign nahi karega, Ma,” Arjun ne ek aur jhooth bol diya. “Switch toh pehle hi ho jayegi.”
Doosre din subah subah bank account mein pehli online entry aayi.
Wahi shagun wale paise se alag ek badi rakam — “Family help / token advance”. Yeh figure itna bada tha ki Ramesh ki ungli ATM slip ko dekhte hi wahi sookh gayi. Arjun ne foran uska screenshot lekar apne paas rakh liya. Woh demand wali line jo unhone likhi thi, ab sach hoti dikh rahi thi.
Vaishali ne kitchen ki roshni mein jab wo slip dekhi, toh us par likhe numbers use kisi pahad ki tarah bhaari lage.
“Yeh paise wapas karo unhe.”
Ramesh ne thar-tharaate haathon se kaha, “Kaise wapas karein? Uncle poochenge toh kya bolenge?”
“Toh poochne do unhe!”
Lekin us ghar mein kisi ki himmat nahi thi ki koi woh paisa wapas karne ja sake. Ek kamzor aur majboor ghar mein jab bade numbers aa jaate hain, toh imaan wahi chupchap ruk jata hai.
Dopahar ke waqt society ke watchman ne aakar bataya, “Saheb, wo baju wala flat kal se safai ke liye khul raha hai. Naye log aane wale hain.” Arjun ne bas apna sar hila diya. Vaishali balcony mein khadi hokar us khaali ghar ki band window ko chupchap dekhti rahi. Andar poori tarah andhera tha, aur bedroom ka parda gira hua tha. Usne ek second ke liye bhi yeh nahi socha tha ki us parde ke theek peechhe wali deewar uske apne hi palang ke sirhane ke sath chipki hui hai.
Shaam ko phone par jewellery trial ke liye message aa gaya.
Vaishali ne saaf keh diya, “Main kahin nahi jaane wali trial ke liye.”
Arjun ne samjhate hue kaha, “Bas dekhne jana hai, Mausi ke size ke liye wahan thodi na naap dena hai.”
“Mausi ka size mujhse bilkul alag hai.”
Yahi unke is jhoothe plan ka pehla sabse bada aur saaf chhed tha. Priya patli aur lambi thi, jabki Vaishali heavy bust aur heavy hips wali aurat thi. Asli haar aur chudiya toh fit ho sakti thi, par blouse ya baaki cheezein nahi. Lekin unhone is chhed ko filhal nazarandaaz kar diya — “Baad mein dekh lenge.”
Raat ko dinner table par Priya ne achanak ek aisi baat bol di jisse sabka khana gale mein ruk gaya:
“Yeh baju wala flat achanak kyun saaf ho raha hai? Aur pichle do din se is ghar mein is ‘Meera’ ka naam kyun ghum raha hai?”
Vaishali ne bina upar dekhe apni plate table par rakh di. “Kuch nahi hai aisi baat.”
Yeh unka dusra jhooth tha — pehle wale se bhi zyada aasan aur khokla.
Priya ki gandi aur teekhi nazar teeno ke chehron par ghoom gayi. “Main itni bhi pagal nahi hoon jitna tum log mujhe samajh rahe ho.”
Kisi ke munh se koi jawab nahi nikla. Hall mein bas TV ka serial chal raha tha.
Raat ka waqt. Sannata chha chuka tha.
Arjun chupchap utha aur us khaali flat ke baahar wale darwaze par ek halka sa hath maara. Andar se ek khokhli si echo aayi. Usne apne dimag mein andaza lagaya ki shayad unka hall us flat ke hall ke sath milta hoga — par uska anuman galat tha. Asli sachai yeh thi ki dono ke master bedrooms bilkul peeth se peeth lagaye hue the. Ek patli si purani brick-and-water wall, jiske andar se paani ke purani pipes guzarti thi. Dono tarah ke palangon ke beech ki doori do feet se bhi kam thi. Yeh baat is chapter tak kisi ko nahi pata thi — yeh sach aage chal kar seedha unke bistar se bahar aane wala tha.
Vaishali apne palang par leti hui thi. Gale mein mangalsutra tha, maang mein sindoor tha. Usne barah din ka socha. Usne us shadi ke switch ka socha. Usne Priya ke suitcase aur us property ke hisse ka socha. Usne Vikram ki woh gandi aur bhookhi nazar ko yaad kiya jo passage mein uske kaale til par ruki thi, aur woh ‘Yes’ yaad kiya jo screen se uth kar sachmuch uske samne aa baitha tha.
Usne ek second ke liye bhi nahi socha tha ki uski neend ki diwar hi ab agla naya narak banne wali hai.
Tabhi Arjun ke phone par ek notification vibrate hua. Vikram ka number seedhe Arjun ke paas tha, Vaishali ke paas nahi. Uncle ke through message bheja gaya tha:
Flat token is done. Muhurat locked. Bring Meera 2 days prior to wedding for final prep and trial.
Arjun ne wahi screen apne baap ko dikhayi.
Ramesh ne sirf ek aakhri sawaal kiya, “Prep ka kya matlab hai?”
“Wahi haldi, blouse fitting, aur aakhri walk ka trial. Theatre hai, Papa.”
Doosre kamre mein leti hui Vaishali ne karwat badli. Bahar wahi do darwaze the. Right wale flat par kal se jhaadu chalne wali thi. Left wale ghar mein ek maa soyi thi, jo abhi bhi is khayal mein thi ki uske barabar mein koi anjaani aurat nahi soyegi.
Barah din poori tarah tay kar liye gaye the. Aur woh deewar... abhi bhi sirf ek deewar thi.

To be continueed....