Adultery I Lost Mom to the Boy Next Door

[Joker44]

Landing ki purani tube light ne sabko ek saath pakda.
Chhe foot ka fasla. Left darwaza ek inch khula. Right poora khula hua, jahan se taaza paint, phenyl, aur chamakte naye furniture ki rich mehak nikal rahi thi. Aur theek beech mein khadi thi Vaishali—maang mein gahra laal sindoor, gale mein Vikram ke naam ka bhaari gold mangalsutra, aur wahi maroon pure silk saree jo subah se uske bhare jism par qaid thi. Sleeveless blouse ke deep cut mein uske rasile stan dhas rahe the, haathon ki mehendi ab thak kar kaali pad chuki thi, aur pallu uske kaanpte hue haath mein daba tha.
Vikram bag ke strap ke saath nahi khada tha—uska chauda panja khuleaam Vaishali ki nangi, chikni kamar par jama hua tha.
Angutha saree ki peti ke theek upar, soft maans ko zor se dabata hua—ek be-sharm, aam, maalikana haq. Society ki stairs se koi bhi padosi aate-jaate yeh dekh sakta tha.
Usne be-khauf aawaz mein kaha, jo poori landing par ghoonj gayi:
“Bua ko andar le chalte hain... thak gayi hain safar mein.”
Bua. Isi purani society ke floor par. Ramesh Pawar ke nameplate ke theek samne.
Arjun carton ke peeche pathar ki tarah khada raha. Ramesh counter pe thailiyan chhod kar threshold pe aa ruka tha—aankhen zameen ke cement par gadi hui. Aur left ke us ek inch ke chhed se Priya ka chehra jhaank raha tha.
Navy salwar, kheencha hua sukha bun, patle honth, aur haath khali. Usne Vaishali ko upar se neeche tak aisi kaatne wali nazar se naapa jaise subah marble pe naapa tha. Sindoor, locket ka wazan, blouse ke ubhaar par Vikram ka khula panja. Yeh koi bhabhi ke dukh wali nazar nahi thi; yeh hisaab ki nazar thi—yeh woh aurat hai jo mere hisse ke ameer ladke ke bistar pe ja rahi hai, aur iske badle iska saga beta ek saal baad meri maang bharega.
Vaishali ne pehle Arjun ko dekha. Uski thaki, laal aankhon mein ek poora kanooni sawal tha—Thaila andar gaya, 40 lakh cash aaya, 25 ka message aaya... ab is gair mard ka haath meri nangi kamar pe hai. Kab nikaaloge mujhe?
Phir usne Priya ko dekha. Priya ne aage badhkar koi rasta nahi roka. Phir Ramesh ko dekha—jisne aakhri pal tak floor ki dhool hi dekhi.
Vikram ne use koi jhatke se dhakka nahi diya. Usne aaram se kamar par pakad banaye hue use guide kiya. Vaishali ke pairon ne chhe foot ka fasla paar kiya. Maroon silk saree ka gher chaukhat ke paar phisla. Pairon mein koi payal nahi thi, bas uski bhaari, dabi hui saansein thi.
Ramesh ne apni 20 saal purani biwi ka naam nahi liya. Arjun ne “Ma” keh kar aawaz nahi di. Priya ne “Bhabhi” keh kar darwaza nahi khola. Landing ki deewaron ne sirf Vikram ka bol suna—bua, andar.
Right wala flat layout mein Ramesh ke flat ka bilkul ulta, ek accurate mirror-image tha. Par andar ka mahol unke purane, seelan-bhare 2BHK se zameen-aasman alag tha. Vikram ke uncle ne paisa paani ki tarah bahaya tha—poora furnished flat. Naye modular wooden cabinets, hall mein gehra wine-red leather sofa set, bada smart TV, false ceiling ke andar se aati warm yellow profile lights, aur kitchen mein granite counter ke upar chimney aur modern appliances. Layout wahi unka purana ghar tha, par vibes kisi luxury boutique hotel jaisi thi.
Vikram use sidha hall se nikal kar peeche wale master bedroom ki taraf le gaya, haath abhi bhi uski kamar ke soft maans ko daba raha tha.
“Yeh wala master bedroom hamara hai, Meera. Khidki peeche shaft pe khulti hai... shaam ko achhi thandi hawa aati hai.”
Khidki ventilation shaft pe khulti thi—andhera courtyard, drainage ke motey pipes, aur saamne ek purani lohe ki jaali.
Ussi waqt darwaze par payal ki tez chhan-chhan hui.
Vikram ki do cousin behnein, jo doosri gaadi se aayi thi, haathon mein taaza gulaab ke phoolon ki thailiyan, mogre ki mehakti ladiyaan, aur perfumed candles lekar andar daakhil hui.
“Bhabhi! Bhaiyya! Rukiye, pehle room toh decorate karne dijiye!”
Dono ladkiyon ne aakar master bedroom ka charge le liya. Unhone double bed ke headboard par safed mogre ki ladiyan lapeti. Bistar par wahi bungalow se aayi hui orange-safed mehangi satin razai bichi thi. Us satin bedsheet ke upar unhone laal gulaab ki taaza pankhudiyan bikher di, beech mein do dil banaye, aur side tables par scented lavender candles jala di.
Bandra ke bungalow se laya gaya naya, bhaari king-size bed ab ek aisi suhaagrat ki sej ban chuka tha jo poore kamre ko mogre aur aag ki mehak se bhar rahi thi.
Cousin ne taali bajate hue Vaishali ko dekha, “Dekhiye Meera bhabhi, bilkul movie jaisa bedroom lag raha hai na? Bhaiyya, ab aapka room ready hai!”
Vaishali ne us phoolon se ladi sej ko dekha toh uske roongte khade ho gaye. 42 saal ki umar mein uske liye ek aisi nangi, phoolon wali suhaagrat sajayi gayi thi jiska dulha uske bete ki umar ka tha.
Arjun bacha hua carton master bedroom ke darwaze tak laya, kyunki rakhne ki jagah wahi thi. Carton rakhte waqt achanak uski nazar khidki ki us jaali par gayi.
Jaali ke theek left side, bilkul same line, same unchai par ek doosri khidki thi—uski apni khidki. Ussi purane lohe ke frame par college ke dino ka ek adha-phata Marvel sticker chipka hua tha.
Samajh thodi der se aayi, par aate hi Arjun ki reedh ki haddi jam gayi.
Unke left flat ka layout uske dimaag mein chha gaya. Papa ka master bedroom aage tha, shaft se bilkul door. Aur Arjun ka apna personal bedroom peeche tha—isi shaft par, jiska single bed isi wall ke theek us paar sata kar rakha gaya tha.
Naap agar koi feete se karta: Vikram aur Vaishali ka yeh naya mogre se saja hua double bed, aur Arjun ka apna akela bistar—dono ke headboards bilkul aamne-saamne the. Beech mein sirf nau inch ki purani brick aur plaster ki deewar thi, jisme se paani ki pipe line guzarti thi.
Arjun ke pair zameen mein gad gaye. Carton usne palang ke foot-end par aise patka jaise koi bhaari laash rakh di ho. Vikram ne uski phati hui aankhein nahi dekhi. Aur Vaishali ne khidki ke us paar ka connection nahi samjha; usne bas us phoolon wali sej ko dekha aur socha yeh deewar kisi bhi anjaan flat ki aam deewar hai.
Ramesh hall ke darwaze par hi thehar gaya tha. Master bedroom ki taraf dekhne ki usme himmat nahi thi. Usne bas apne bete ko us phoolon se sajte kamre ke chaukhat par khada dekha, aur aankhein chura li.
Vikram ne cousins ko has kar thanks kaha aur purse se unhe shagun ke note diye. Phir Arjun se bola, “Baaki saman tempo se nikaalna hai bhai. Tu do minute ruk, main neeche se baaki bags le aata hoon.”
Vikram aur cousins kamre se nikal kar stairs ki taraf utar gaye.
Teen log aur ek aurat. Do darwaze.
Yeh unka aakhri public parda tha jo ab girne ja raha tha.
Vaishali master bedroom ke darwaze par palat kar khadi hui, taaki hall ke paar se landing dikh sake. Maang ka taaza sindoor, chhati ke beech baitha bhaari mangalsutra, aur khule jet-black baal. Usne Arjun se munh khol kar nahi kaha ki mujhe yahan se le chalo. Usne bas ek aakhri, kaanpti hui nazar uske chehre par daali.
Arjun ne carton ka kinara pakad kar bas apna sar jhuka liya. Ramesh ne apne jooton ko theek karne ka natak kiya jo pehle se theek the.
Left darwaze ke peeche se Priya ki kheenchi hui aawaz aayi, dabi hui par kadwi:
“Darwaza band karo Ramesh... log dekh rahe hain bahar se.”
Ramesh ne left darwaze ke handle ko pakda. Ek pal ke liye usne wahi ek inch ka chhed chhod diya, phir sharm, 40 lakh ki moti daulat aur be-basi ke darr se usne kundi andar se poori band kar li.
Thud. Left darwaza band ho gaya.
Right ke naye, furnished flat ki warm profile lights mein Vaishali akeli khadi reh gayi. Uske theek aage Arjun khada tha—carton ke bagal mein, usi deewar ke samne jo theek uske apne sirhane ki deewar thi.
Arjun ne us pal yeh nahi socha ki yahan se aawaz kahan tak jaayegi. Usne bas ghoor kar dekha—yeh uska apna kamra tha, bilkul ulta, aur ab kisi aur mard ki sej ban chuka tha.
Seedhiyon par Vikram ke bhaari jooton ki aawaz wapas aane lagi. Tempo wale ko paise dene ki aawaz, watchman ke saath mardana hasi.
Landing poori tarah sunsaan ho gayi.
Vaishali ke liye walk of shame yahin khatam hui—chhe foot ka faasla, kamar par chhoota hua gair panja, do alag nameplates, aur woh nau inch ki deewar jo ab uske sagi kokh se janam lene wale bete ke bistar se jud chuki thi.
Right ka naya lakdi ka darwaza andar se Vikram ne kheench kar band kar diya.
Click. Kundi lag gayi.
Left flat ke andar Priya ne hall ke TV ka volume jaan-boojh kar do point aur badha diya. Right flat ke master bedroom mein mogre ke phoolon se saji satin razai hawa mein phail gayi.
Aur dono bistaron ke beech ki woh purani plaster wali deewar... abhi ke liye bilkul khamosh thi.




Right darwaze ki kundi lagne ke theek das minute baad, neeche courtyard se tempo wale ke chillane ki aawaz aayi.

Raat ke extra charges aur lift band hone ka lafda tha. Watchman beech-bachaav kar raha tha, aur unki teekhi marathi behas seedhi shaft se hokar second floor ki landing tak gunj rahi thi. Vikram ne master bedroom se nikalte hue jhatke se apna wallet uthaya. Uski aawaz stairs par utarte hue be-khauf aur halki hasi ke saath gunji, “Ruko baba, main aata hoon neeche!”
Bhaari jooton ke kadam seedhiyon se neeche utarte gaye—pehle pehla floor, phir ground, phir gate ka lohe ka barrier.
Bees minute ka waqt tha. Zyada se zyada pachees.
Master bedroom ke mogre aur scented candles ki madmast mehak se nikal kar Vaishali dabi hui saanson ke saath hallway mein aayi aur shoe-rack ke paas thithak gayi.
Maroon banarasi silk abhi bhi uske jism par lipti hui thi. Sleeveless blouse ke andar uske bhaari stan har tez saans ke saath upar-neeche phool rahe the. Gale mein Vikram ka naya, bhaari gold mangalsutra thanda hokar uski cleavage mein baitha tha, aur maang ka taaza laal sindoor uske maathe par kisi daag ki tarah chamak raha tha. Uska chhota purana bag abhi bhi jooton ke rack ke theek bagal mein zameen par pada tha—jaise use abhi bhi yahan se bhaagna ho.
Arjun hall ke unchaai tak lage cartons ke peeche se nikla. Uska chehra peela tha.
Aur theek usi pal, left wale flat ka darwaza halka sa karka aur Ramesh right wale naye flat ke threshold par dakhil hua. Teenon log chaukhat aur shoe-rack ke beech us chhotey se chhappar mein aakar thehar gaye. Kisi ke paas baithne ka waqt nahi tha; baithna ek mehmaan-nawazi ban jaata. Yeh bas ek saazish ka aakhri chori-chhipe mila lamha tha.
Bahar landing sunsaan thi. Par left flat ke andar se TV ka volume jaan-boojh kar itna uncha rakha gaya tha ki landing par khade kisi padosi ko inke phusphusane ki aahat na mile. Priya ki woh badle-bhari chuppi aur TV ka shor is waqt anjaane mein unki dhaal ban chuka tha.
Arjun ne baat shuru ki. Munh se “Ma” nahi nikla. Tube light ke is naye daayre mein ab yeh shabd bolna bhi kisi jurm jaisa lag raha tha. Uski aawaz bilkul dabi hui, par tez aur kanooni hisaab jaisi thi:
“Yeh sab permanent nahi hai. Meri baat dhyan se sun. Register mein naam phas gaya hai, token phasa hai, Papa ke paas ka cash aur account mein aaya 25 lakh—uncle kanoon ki aisi deewar khadi kar chuka hai ki hum abhi khul kar cheekh nahi sakte. Par yeh sirf ek mahine ki baat hai. Zyada se zyada dedh mahina.”
Arjun ne aage badhkar Vaishali ke kaanpte hue haath ke paas apni ungliyan ruki:
“Hum papers nikaalenge. Paise ka hisaab karenge. Lawyer badlenge. Tujhe yahan se wapas us ghar mein kheench kar layenge. Tu bas tab tak tootna mat. Is flat ke andar jo bhi poochhe, Meera ban ke rehna. Kisi ke aage apna asli sach mat ugalna. Aur rahi baat Priya Mausi ki... toh usko humne poori tarah rok liya hai. Woh security officer ya thane nahi jayegi. Uski taraf se rasta saaf hai.”
Arjun ne woh sadak wali gandi deal nahi kholi. Ek saal baad shaadi, Dadar ka poora flat Mausi ke naam, 23 saal ka pati—yeh zehreela sach uske gale se bahar nahi nikla. Vaishali ke liye usne sirf itna chhod diya: Rok liya.
Ramesh ne aage badh kar apni biwi ke gale mein jhoolte us naye, do-lari wale bhaari mangalsutra ko dekha. Aisa laga jaise kisi ne uske apne zinda rehte uski aurat ki aabru par kisi gair mard ki zanjeer daal di ho. Uske coat ke andar subah wali paanch lakh ki thaili ka wazan abhi bhi paseene mein jal raha tha, aur bank se aaye 25 lakh ke message ki ghanti uske kaano mein goonj rahi thi.
Kamzor aadmi ka zameer us moti daulat ke neeche mar chuka tha, par aakhri dabi hui aawaz mein usne pashchatap ka jhootha parda khada kiya:
“Main weak pad gaya, Vaishali... Photo crop karne se lekar us paise ke thaili ko seene se lagane tak, main haar gaya. Mujhe maaf kar de. Par main tujhe wapas launga. Thode din jo sehna pade, jhel le... Hum tujhe is doosre mard ke bistar par hamesha ke liye nahi chhodenge.”
Kamzor mard ka waada bhi currency ke numbers ki tarah khokhla hota hai. Vaishali ne un dono ko upar se neeche tak dekha.
Uski aankhein rone se laal thi, par aawaz mein ek ajeeb sa thanda, pathreela thehraav aa chuka tha. Usne apne pallu ko dono haathon se kas ke pakad rakha tha, taaki sleeveless blouse ke deep cut se jhankti uski bhari chhati unke samne thodi kam nangi lage.
“Main manage kar lungi,” Vaishali ne daant bheenchte hue ek-ek lafz chaba kar kaha. “Par tum dono jaldi kuch karna. Main is ghar mein aur is ladke ke aage zyada din nahi tik paungi. Jo bhi yahan aayega, main Meera hi rahungi. Register pe Meera hai, toh main Meera ka hi natak karungi. Par yaad rakhna, Arjun... subah tum dono late ho gaye the, aur us aadhay ghante ki deri ne mere gale mein yeh naya mangalsutra daal diya. Ab is ek mahine ko do mahina mat banana.”
Uske andar ab koi vishwas nahi bacha tha. Par dubte hue insaan ko jaise tinke ka sahara chahiye hota hai, waise hi uske liye ek mahina ek aakhri rassi ban chuka tha. Usne us rassi ko kisi teekhi dawai ki tarah apne gale ke andar utaar liya.
Arjun ne foran sar hilaya. “Main roz aaunga. Landing par khada rahunga. Jo bhi chahiye hoga, laakar dunga.”
“Mera phone unke paas hai,” Vaishali ne sakt aawaz mein roka. “Koi call nahi aayega. Tu khud aana. Apni shakal dikhana. Aur is deewar ke us paar baith kar yeh mat maan lena ki sab theek ho gaya aur khel khatam ho gaya.”
Vaishali ne 'deewar' ka lafz sirf ek bhasha aur dori ke roop mein bola tha. Use zara sa bhi andaza nahi tha ki woh deewar koi kanooni ya door ki baat nahi thi—woh theek uske master bedroom ke bistar ke peeche, uske sagi kokh se janam lene wale bete ke sirhane se chipki hui nau inch ki nangi plaster thi.
Ramesh ka haath aage badha, apni biwi ke nange gore kandhe ko chhoone ke liye. Par beech mein Vikram ke naam ka woh bhaari gold locket chamak utha. Ramesh ka haath hawa mein hi ruk gaya, aur sharm ke maare wapas neeche gir gaya.
“Hum sab theek karenge, Vaishali.”
Neeche stairs par bhaari jooton ke chhadne ki thap-thap aawaz achanak shuru ho gayi. Vikram ki mardana hasi, tempo wale ko shant karne ka ghamand, aur watchman ko di gayi aakhri aawaz—“Arrey Kaku ko bhi bol dena, kal mithai bhejunga!”
Teenon log ek jhatke mein aise alag hue jaise kisi aaine ke tukde bikhar gaye hon.
Arjun tezi se hall ke cartons ke peeche chhup gaya. Ramesh ne ek lambe kadam mein threshold paar kiya aur apne flat ke darwaze ke peeche ghus gaya. Darwaza bina kisi aawaz ke aahiste se band hua.
Vaishali jhatpat shoe-rack se palti aur master bedroom ke darwaze ki taraf badhi.




Vikram darwaze ke frame mein dakhil hua. Haath mein bache hue do cartons, maathe par halka paseena, aur chehre par wahi 24 saal ke taze mard ki jeet wali muskaan.

“Arjun bhai kahan gaya? Chalo accha hai nikal gaya. Bua ko ab rest karne do, family ki bohot madad ho gayi.”
Arjun ne cartons ke peeche se nikal kar bas ek feeki, khokhli smile di, “Haan Vikram bhai... main chalta hoon. Subah milte hain.”
Ramesh ke flat ki kundi andar se lagne ki halki click aawaz aayi. Arjun landing paar karke apne ghar mein ghusa aur darwaza band ho gaya.
Vikram ne dono cartons master bedroom ke bistar ke foot-end par patak diye. Kamre ke andar mogre aur gulaab ke phoolon ki mehak hawa mein phaili hui thi.
Vikram ne palat kar peeche se Vaishali ko dekha. Uske dono chaude, taaqatvar haath aage badhe aur bina kisi jhijhak ke Vaishali ki nangi, chikni kamar ko pallu ke upar se kas kar pakad liya. Usne Vaishali ko apne seene se sataate hue, uski gardan ke paas apna chehra jhukaya:
“Chalo Meera... sab log chale gaye. Ab yeh poora ghar sirf hamara hai.”
Vaishali ne uski chhati ya uske haath ki taraf nahi dekha. Uski aankhein master bedroom ke us darwaze par tiki rahi jo ab hamesha ke liye band ho chuka tha.
Ek mahina. Bas ek mahina manage karna hai. Jaldi aana, Arjun.
Woh rassi behad kachi, geeli aur tooti hui thi. Par Vaishali ne apni aabru bachaane ke liye use dono haathon se kas ke pakad liya tha.




Continueed....