[Joker44]

Chapter :  No way to home

Arjun ne number dopahar ko kiya, jab Vaishali ka darwaza band ho chuka tha aur woh seedhiyon se neeche utar chuka tha. Phone teen baar baja. Ek ladki ne uthaya, naam poocha, aur kaha ki saade chaar ke baad ek slot hai, agar woh cash le kar aaye. Arjun ne haan keh diya. Usne Ramesh ko nahi bataya. Vaishali ne kaha tha ki akela jaaye, aur uske paas apne baap ka chehra dekhne ki himmat bhi nahi thi, usse pehle ki koi use yeh keh de ki rasta band hai.

Office station ke peeche ek purani building mein tha. Lift nahi thi. Teesri manzil par ek board tha, kaala akshar, Adv. S. Kulkarni. Andar do kursi thi, ek table, ek purana cooler jo zyada awaaz karta tha aur kam hawa deta tha. Kulkarni chalis ke aas-paas ke the, aankhon ke neeche sujan, table par ek file khuli hui jo kisi aur ki thi. Unhone Arjun ko baithne ko kaha aur seedha poocha, “Kya problem hai? Phone par tumne kaha family matter.”

Arjun ne shuru kiya, aur pehli line hi adhoori reh gayi. “Meri… ek aurat hai. Uski shaadi hue hai. Register. Lekin woh shaadi theek nahi hai. Use nikalna hai.”

Kulkarni ne pen uthaya. “Theek nahi hai ka matlab? Jabardasti? Umar? Pehli shaadi chhupayi?”

Arjun ne apne haath god mein rakhe. Cooler ki awaaz uske kaan mein ghus rahi thi. “Umar theek hai. Register uske naam par hai. Meera. Patidev ka naam Vikram Deshmukh. Shaadi ko ek hafte se zyada nahi hua. Paisa diya gaya tha, pehle. Token. Phir baaki. Plan yeh tha ki shaadi ke din switch ho jaayega. Sach bol diya jaayega. Woh aurat wapas aa jaayegi. Switch nahi hua. Register ho gaya. Ab woh uske ghar mein hai. Woh use roz… woh uske saath rehti hai. Use nikalna hai.”

Kulkarni ne pen rakh diya. “Tum kaun ho us aurat ke?”

“Bhanja.” Arjun ne yeh shabd kaha, kyunki sach ka doosra hissa abhi us kamre mein nahi aa sakta tha. “Uski bua meri maa hai. Nahi. Woh meri bua hai. Ghar ke log jaante hain ki yeh theek nahi hua. Hum use wapas laana chahte hain.”

“Hum kaun?”

“Main. Aur mera pitaji.”

Kulkarni ne use dekha, der tak, jaise woh yeh faisla kar rahe hon ki yeh ladka jhooth bol raha hai ya sirf aadha sach. “Register marriage, ek hafte purani, paisa pehle dia gaya, aur ab tum keh rahe ho ki dulhan ko nikalna hai. Dulhan khud complaint karna chahti hai?”

“Woh nahi aayegi.”

“Toh tum kiske liye aaye ho?”

Arjun ne ek gehri saans li. “Uske liye. Woh nahi nikal sakti. Woh kehti hai ki woh uska pati hai, kanoon uska hai, aur agar humne kuch kaha toh hum pakde jaayenge. Main yeh jaan-na chahta hoon ki koi rasta hai ya nahi. Annulment. Fraud. Kuch bhi.”

Kulkarni ne cooler ki taraf dekha, jaise awaaz unhe bhi tang kar rahi ho, phir wapas Arjun ki taraf. “Rasta tab hota hai jab dulhan khud kahe ki usse dhoka hua, ya ki uski marzi nahi thi, ya ki pehli shaadi zinda hai aur chhupayi gayi. Tum yeh keh rahe ho ki paisa pehle mila. Ye kaun sa rasta hai, yeh tum batao. Agar paisa isliye mila tha ki ek aurat ko dusre naam se shaadi karwa di jaaye, aur baad mein use hata diya jaaye, toh fraud ka case dulhan ke favour mein nahi khulega. Woh un logon par khulega jinhe paisa mila. Tum par. Tumhare pitaji par. Jo bhi beech mein tha, uspar. Dulhan agar chup rahi, toh bhi. Dulhan agar bol di, toh aur tez.”

Arjun ka munh sukh gaya. “Agar woh khud kahe ki woh nahi rehna chahti?”

“Toh divorce. Ek saal baad, ittifaq se, ya usse pehle agar cruelty sabit ho. Cruelty ke liye usko khud aana padega, statement deni padegi, aur jo paisa tumhare ghar mein gaya hai, woh us statement mein aa jaayega. Vikram naam ka aadmi agar akalmand hai, toh woh counter karega. Cheating. Criminal breach. Tumhara naam pehle aayega, uska baad mein. Main tumhe yeh case nahi dilwaunga. Main apna licence isme nahi daalunga.”

Kamra chhota lag raha tha. Arjun ne kursi ki bah pakdi. “Toh kuch nahi ho sakta.”

“Kuch ho sakta hai,” Kulkarni ne kaha. “Woh aurat khud aaye. Apna naam sahi bataye. Agar uski koi pehli shaadi hai jo chhupayi gayi hai, toh woh alag baat hai, aur woh baat bhi usi ke muh se aani chahiye. Tum yahan se yeh le kar jao ki ek hafte ki register marriage ko bhanja tod nahi sakta. Paisa wapas karne se bhi nahi tootti, agar dulha na maane. Aur agar tumne security officer mein ja kar yeh kahani dohrayi, toh pehla sawaal yeh hoga ki token kisne liya.”

Arjun utha. Uska pair ek pal ke liye table se laga. “Fees?”

“Aaj ki nahi lunga.” Kulkarni ne file band ki. “Agli baar mat aana, jab tak woh aurat saath na ho. Aur agar woh saath aaye, toh poora naam lekar aana. Aadha naam lekar koi case nahi banta.”

Bahar sadak par dhoop tez thi. Arjun ne auto nahi liya. Woh paidal chala, station ki taraf, phir station se aage, kyunki seedha ghar jaane ka matlab tha Ramesh ko dekhna, Priya ko dekhna, aur us darwaze ko dekhna jiske peeche Vaishali khadi thi. Uske paas jo baat thi, woh Vaishali pehle hi keh chuki thi. Lawyer ne use nayi nahi di thi. Usne use sirf ek table par rakh di thi, pen ke saath, aur keh diya tha ki rasta unhi logon par khulta hai jinhe paisa mila.

Woh society ke gate par ruka. Watchman ne use dekha aur kuch nahi kaha. Left wale darwaze ke andar se Priya ki awaaz aa rahi thi, kisi se phone par, hansi ke saath. Right wale darwaze ke neeche se khana banne ki mehek aa rahi thi. Arjun ne apna phone nikala. Ramesh ka number khola. Ek line likhi, phir mita di. Woh yeh nahi likh sakta tha ki lawyer ne kaha hai hum pehle pakde jaayenge. Woh yeh bhi nahi likh sakta tha ki switch ka plan ab ek paper hai, jo kisi ke kaam ka nahi.

Usne phone jeb mein daala aur apne darwaze ki chaabi nikali. Andar ja kar woh apne kamre mein baitha. Light nahi jalayi. Subah se ab tak usne jo suna tha, woh ab ek aur awaaz ban gaya tha, lawyer ki, dheemi aur saaf. Dulhan khud aaye. Poora naam lekar aaye. Usse pehle koi rasta nahi.

Arjun ne jaan liya ki woh Vaishali ko yeh baat shaam ko nahi batayega. Woh use woh nahi sunana chahta tha jo woh pehle se jaanti thi, ek aise aadmi ke muh se jise usne fees dene ki bhi zaroorat nahi samjhi.


Teen din baad Vikram ne yeh baat breakfast par kahi, jaise woh koi aur cheez mang raha ho. “Shaam ko bhaiya ko bula le. Arjun ko bhi. Priya bhi aa jaayegi toh achha hai. Naya ghar hai, ek baar sab saath kha lein. Mummy nahi aa paayengi, unka pair dukh raha hai. Ghar wale aa jaayen, bas.”
Vaishali ne roti senk rahi thi. Tawa garam tha. Usne use palta, aur ek pal ke liye uske haath ruk gaye. Teen din mein Arjun dobara nahi aaya tha. Lawyer ki baat usne nahi suni thi, lekin uske na aane se use pata chal gaya tha ki jo jawab mila hoga, woh koi naya rasta nahi tha. Ramesh ek baar landing par mila tha, nazar neeche, aur “sab theek” keh kar chala gaya tha. Ab use unhe bulana tha. Apne pehle pati ko bhaiya keh kar. Apne bete ko devar ki tarah. Aur Priya ko, jiski shaadi ke naam par yeh sab shuru hua tha.
“Aaj?” usne poocha.
“Aaj kyun nahi. Saturday hai. Arjun college nahi jaayega. Main office se jaldi aa jaunga. Tu phone kar de. Tere muh se aayega toh woh log mana nahi karenge.”
Vaishali ne roti utari. “Woh mana kar sakte hain. Bhaiya ko tabiyat theek nahi rehti. Priya… Priya ko bheed pasand nahi.”
Vikram ne chai khatam ki. “Teri bua hai woh. Ek dinner se nahi bhaagegi. Aur bhaiya ko main khud bol dunga, agar tu sharma rahi hai. Lekin pehle tu kar. Biwi ghar bulati hai. Main nahi.”

Woh agle darwaze mein rehte the, isliye Vikram ne phone ki zaroorat nahi samjhi. Saturday ki subah woh khud nikal gaya, chappal bhi poori tarah se nahi pehni, aur left wale darwaze par haath rakh diya. Vaishali kitchen mein thi. Usne use rokna chaaha, aur rok nahi paayi, kyunki rokne ka koi bahaana uske paas nahi tha jo Vikram samajh sake.

Ramesh ne darwaza khola. Neend abhi uski aankhon mein thi. Peeche se Priya ki awaaz aayi, “Kaun hai itni subah?”

“Main,” Vikram ne kaha, aur andar kadam rakh diya jaise woh roz aata ho. “Shaam ko khaana hai mere yahan. Meera bana rahi hai. Bhaiya, aap aa jaana. Arjun bhi. Priya bhi. Mummy nahi aa paayengi, pair dukh raha hai. Ghar wale aa jaayen, bas. Saat baje.”

Priya hall mein aa gayi, baal khule, ek purani nightie mein. Usne Vikram ko dekha, phir uske peeche khule darwaze se right wale flat ki taraf, jahan se bartan ki awaaz aa rahi thi. “Didi bana rahi hain?” usne kaha. Didi. Woh shabd uske munh se aasaan nikal aaya, kyunki cover yahi tha. Meera uski badi behan thi. Ramesh ki behan. Arjun ki bua. Priya ko yeh naam pasand bhi tha, kyunki is naam mein woh chhoti reh jaati thi, aur chhoti rehna us din uske kaam ka tha.

Ramesh ne turant jawab nahi diya. Usne Vikram ke kandhe ke us paar dekha, jaise Vaishali wahan khadi ho. Khadi nahi thi. “Saat baje,” usne kaha. “Aa jaayenge.”

“Arjun?”

“College nahi hai aaj,” Priya ne kaha. “So raha hai. Main jaga dungi. Didi akeli mat rehne dena, Vikram. Naya ghar hai, woh sharma jaati hai. Hum aa kar use khol denge.”

Vikram hasa. “Woh sharmati zaroor hai. Tum log aaoge toh theek rahega. Meera ko maine keh diya hai, mirchi kam rakhna bhaiya ke liye.”

Woh chala gaya. Ramesh ne darwaza band kiya. Priya ab bhi muskurayi hui thi. “Didi ne khud nahi bulaya,” usne kaha. “Pati ko bheja. Achha kiya. Warna woh phone par phir se bhaiya bhaiya karti, aur awaaz phat jaati.”

Ramesh uski taraf muda. “Bas kar.”

“Maine kya kaha?” Priya ne nightie ka gala theek kiya. “Shaam ko jaana hai. Main woh hare wali saree nikaalti hoon. Didi maroon pehnegи, dekh lena. Vikram use pehnata hai. Mujhe dikhta hai terrace se.”

Right wale flat mein Vaishali ne tawa band kar diya tha. Vikram wapas aaya, chappal ab seedhi, aur kaha, “Ho gaya. Saat baje. Bhaiya maan gaye. Priya khud bol rahi thi didi akeli mat chhodna. Achhi hai teri behan.”

Vaishali ne sir hila diya. Behan. Priya uski nanad thi, Ramesh ki sagi behan, aur ab usi muh se didi ban chuki thi. “Main baingan nikaalti hoon,” usne kaha. “Aloo bhi. Bhaiya ko mirchi kam.”

“Haan. Aur saree maroon wali. Blouse naya. Baal mat kholna. Pehli baar sab saath kha rahe hain.”

Dopahar ko Arjun jaaga. Priya ne use bataya, darwaze par khade hokar, “Shaam ko didi ke yahan hai. Vikram subah aa kar le gaya. Tu bhi chalega. Mana kiya toh main Vikram ko bol dungi ki tu bhabhi se sharmata hai.” Arjun ne uske chehre par dekha. Priya ko maza aa raha tha. Use pata tha asli baat, ya itni asli baat jitni us ghar mein kisi ko batayi gayi thi, aur woh use didi keh kar din bhar ghumne wali thi.

“Chalunga,” Arjun ne kaha.

Shaam ko paune saat baje Vaishali taiyar thi. Maroon saree. Sleeveless blouse. Sindoor seedha. Concealer gale par, do baar. Vikram ne darwaza khola, kyunki bulane wala woh tha. Ramesh pehle aaya, safed shirt, baal geele. Arjun uske peeche, button galat. Priya aakhiri, hari saree, mota haar, lipstick zyada. Usne Vaishali ko dekha aur seedha aage badh kar uska haath pakad liya.

“Didi,” usne kaha, itni saaf awaaz mein ki Vikram sun le. “Kitni taiyar ho gayi ho. Naya ghar suit kar gaya. Main soch rahi thi tum phone karogi. Vikram khud aa gaye. Achha kiya. Tum phone par sharma jaati ho.”

Vaishali ka haath uske haath mein tha. Thanda nahi tha. Priya ne use dheere se dabaaya, ek second, sirf itna ki Vaishali samajh jaaye yeh pyar nahi hai. “Aao,” Vaishali ne kaha. “Baitho. Main paani laati hoon.”

Vikram ne Ramesh ko sofa tak le gaya. “Bhaiya, ab aate raho. Agle darwaze ho, phir bhi Meera kehti hai tum log door lagte ho. Arjun ko maine kaha tha bhabhi ko time de. Ladka sharmata hai.”

Priya has padi. “Sharmata hai, didi. Main dekhti hoon. Tumhare saamne chup ho jaata hai. Vikram, aap isse mat chedo. Didi ko bura lagega.”

Vaishali kitchen ki taraf gayi. Glasses tray par the. Uske peeche Priya ki awaaz aa rahi thi, didi, didi, bilkul aasaan, jaise bees saal ki nanad ek hafte mein behan ban gayi ho. Ramesh chup tha. Arjun chup tha. Vikram khush tha. Vaishali ne tray uthayi, maroon pallu kandhe par set kiya, aur hall mein wapas aayi, apni nanad ko paani dene, jisne use didi kaha tha, aur apne bete ko, jise us ghar mein devar kehna tha.






Khaana table par aa chuka tha, lekin ek sabzi reh gayi thi. Vaishali use laane uthi. Pallu usne kas ke bandha hua tha, maroon, concealer wala gale ka hissa chhupa hua. Vikram ne kaha, “Main bhi aata hoon, plate chhoti pad gayi,” aur uske peeche kitchen mein chala gaya. Hall mein Ramesh paani lene ke bahane utha. Bathroom kitchen ke bagal mein tha. Usne bathroom ka darwaza khola, andar kadam rakha, aur darwaza poora band nahi kiya. Sheeshe mein nahi, darwaze ki darar se, use kitchen ka kona dikh raha tha.

Vaishali counter par jhuki hui thi, sabzi ke bartan ki taraf. Vikram uske peeche aa chuka tha. Usne pehle kuch nahi kaha. Usne uska pallu kandhe se sarka diya, itna ki gale ka concealer wala hissa khul jaaye, aur apna munh uski gardan par rakh diya. Pehli kiss dheemi thi. Doosri mein usne skin ko honthon mein liya aur chusa, wahi jahan nishan pehle se tha. Vaishali ka haath bartan par ruk gaya.

“Vikram. Bahar sab baithe hain. Chhodo.”

“Do minute.”

Usne uski kamar pakdi. Doosra haath pallu ke neeche gaya, saree ke andar, petticoat ke andar, panty ke kinare se. Vaishali ne uska kalai pakadna chaaha. Pakad bani, aur tut gayi, kyunki uski ungliyan pehle hi uski chut par thi. Woh geeli thi. Shaam bhar ki tension, uske saamne baitha Ramesh, Priya ki didi, Arjun ki chuppi, aur ab yeh haath. Vikram ne ek ungli andar ki. Dheere. Phir doosri.

Vaishali ki saas atak gayi. “Nahi. Bahar— main sabzi—”

Usne ungliyan andar-bahar ki. Angutha clit par ruka, ek chhota ghera. Vaishali ke ghutne dheele pade. Woh counter se hatna chahti thi, aur hatne ki jagah uski kamar uske haath par thodi si dhal gayi. Ek dabi hui moan uske gale se nikli, gardan uske muh mein hone ki wajah se aur bhi dheemi. “Ahh— ruk— woh log—”

Vikram ne gardan par ek aur kiss kiya, daant halka sa, aur ungliyan tez kar di. Vaishali ke pair floor par tik nahi rahe the. Woh ek baar upar uthi, uski ungliyon par, jaise jism ne khud unhe aur andar lena chaaha, phir turant neeche aayi aur uski kalai pakad li. “Bas. Please. Main bahar nahi ja paungi aise.” Pakad kamzor thi. Agli hi saans mein woh phir se uski ungliyon par uchhli, chhoti si, sharmili, aur uske munh se ek aur geeli siski nikal gayi, jo usne apne honth kaat kar adhoori chhod di.

Bathroom ke darar se Ramesh ne yeh dekha. Apni biwi, maroon saree mein, counter se lagi hui. Vikram ka muh uski gardan par. Haath uske saree ke andar. Uska jism ek baar rukta, ek baar uske haath par chadh jaata. Ramesh ka pet baith gaya. Gussa aaya, aur gusse ke neeche ek aisi sharm ki usne apne aap ko us darar se hata liya. Woh wapas hall mein gaya. Pair seedhe nahi pad rahe the. Usne sofa pakda aur baith gaya. Priya ne use dekha. “Kya hua, bhaiya? Chehra utar gaya.”

“Kuch nahi. Chakkar.”

Kitchen se bartan ki awaaz aayi, phir Vikram ki halki hasi, phir Vaishali ki awaaz, patli, “Le jao, main paani pee kar aati hoon.” Vikram hall mein aaya, plate haath mein, chehra bilkul aaraam se. “Bhabhi ko garam lag raha hai,” usne kaha. “Fan badha doon?”

Arjun ne fan ki taraf dekha. Ramesh ne nahi. Uske kaan garam the. Uske haath god mein band the. Usne jo dekha tha, woh ab bhi uski aankh mein tha: ungliyan, uchhalna, rukna, phir uchhalna, aur woh moan jo usne bees saal mein us aurat ke gale se nahi suni thi.

Vaishali ek minute baad aayi. Pallu theek tha. Gale par concealer thoda faila hua tha. Gaal laal the. Usne sabzi table par rakhi aur apni kursi par baithi, Vikram se door, Ramesh ke saamne. Uski saans ab bhi poori tarah seedhi nahi thi. Jab usne chammach uthaya, tab uski ungliyan halki si kaanp rahi thi.

“Didi, rang kaisa aa gaya hai,” Priya ne kaha. “Kitchen mein itni garmi hai?”

Vaishali ne nazar plate par rakhi. “Haan. Tawa chal raha tha.”

Ramesh ne nivala uthaya. Muh tak le gaya. Nigal gaya. Use swaad nahi aaya. Saamne baithi aurat uski biwi thi, aur pichhle do minute mein usne use kisi aur ke haath par uchhalte dekha tha, rukte hue, aur phir bhi rukte nahi hue. Woh khaata raha. Kuch bol nahi paaya. Bolne ka koi shabd uske paas nahi tha jo us table par, Vikram ke saamne, Priya ki didi ke saamne, zinda reh sake.

Ramesh POV:


Dinner nau baje khatam hua. Priya ne aakhiri baar didi kaha, Arjun ne nazar nahi milayi, aur Ramesh ne darwaze par haath jod kar namaste kiya, jaise woh ek aisa mehmaan ho jo dobara nahi aayega. Vikram ne unhe left wale darwaze tak chhoda. “Bhaiya, agle hafte phir.” Ramesh ne sir hila diya. Andar ja kar usne apne kamre ka darwaza band nahi kiya. Woh Arjun ke kamre mein chala gaya.

Arjun bed par baitha tha, shirt ab bhi wahi, button ab bhi galat. “Aap yahan?”

“Aaj yahin.” Ramesh ne kursi khinchhi, deewar ke paas, aur baith gaya. “Light mat jala.”

Right wale flat mein pehle bartan ki awaaz aayi. Paani. Ek cupboard. Phir Vikram ki awaaz, seedhi, “Aaj maroon mein achhi lag rahi thi. Dinner bhar main dekh raha tha.” Vaishali ne kuch kaha, dheema, shabd poore nahi aaye. Phir bed ki awaaz. Ek halki hansi. Phir khamoshi, itni chhoti ki Ramesh ne socha shayad woh so gaye.

Nahi soye the.

Pehli awaaz Vaishali ki thi, ek chhoti si, “Vikram, aaj nahi, main thaki hoon, woh log abhi gaye hain.” Uske baad kapde ki awaaz. Ek dabi hui siski. Phir uski awaaz phir, patli, “Ruk… gale par mat… nishan hai pehle se.” Vikram ne jawab diya, paas se, saaf nahi, sirf tone, aur tone mein koi rukna nahi tha. “Ahh—” Vaishali ki yeh moan chhoti thi, jaise usne use kaat liya ho aur woh phir bhi nikal gayi.

Ramesh ke haath god mein band ho gaye. Arjun ne pillow uthaya, phir use wapas rakh diya. Dono ne ek doosre ko nahi dekha.

Deewar ke us paar rhythm shuru hui. Bed. Headboard dheemi, thak, thak, itni tez nahi jitni Ramesh ne sochi thi, lekin lagatar. Beech mein Vaishali ki saans, tooti hui. “Dheere… dheere karo… main— ahh—” Ek thappad nahi. Ek aur gehra dhakka, kyunki uske baad moan lambi ho gayi, “Ahhh— Vikram—” aur turant usne use rokne ki koshish ki, shabd wapas aaye, “Chup… mat karwa… main nahi chahti—” Vikram hasa. Hasi dheemi thi, khush, bull wali. “Chahti hai tu. Sun apni awaaz.”

Ramesh ne aankhen band ki. Kitchen ka kona uske saamne aa gaya. Ungliyan. Uchhalna. Ab wahi jism deewar ke us paar tha, aur awaaz mein wohi rukna aur na rukna tha. “Nahi— wahan nahi— ahhh—” Phir ek geeli, chhoti awaaz, jo na moan thi na shabd, sirf uske gale ka tootna. Phir Vikram ki saans, tez, aur uski awaaz, “Upar aa. Aaj khud.” Vaishali ne kaha, “Mujhe nahi aata, tum karo,” aur uske baad ek lambi, khuli moan, “Ahhh—” jaise woh baith gayi ho aur lund andar tak chala gaya ho.

Arjun ka chehra andhere mein safed tha. “Papa.”

“Chup.”

Rhythm badal gayi. Ab bed tez thi. Vaishali ki moan har dhakke par aati thi, kabhi “ahh,” kabhi “dheere,” kabhi sirf ek toota hua swar jismein rukne ki koshish thi aur maza bhi, dono ek saath. Woh beech mein boli, “Bas… bahut gehra… main phir se—” aur phir ek lambi, kaanpti hui “Ahhh— haaye—” jo usne chhupani chahi aur chhupa nahi paayi. 




Vikram ne kuch kaha, phir se hasa, aur dhakke nahi ruke. Headboard ek baar tez lagi. Vaishali ki aakhri moan us hasi ke neeche dabi, phir khuli, phir dheemi ho gayi, saans ki tarah.

Ramesh utha nahi. Uska jism kursi par bhaari tha. Gussa tha, kitchen wala, aur us gusse ke neeche ek bezzati jo uske pet tak gayi hui thi. Usne apni biwi ko rokte suna. Usne use na rukte suna. Usne us aadmi ko haste suna, jo use bhaiya kehta tha aur uski biwi ko didi ke ghar ki behan maanta tha. Jab awaaz ruki, tab bhi woh baitha raha. Ek paani ki awaaz aayi. Ek dheemi baat, Vikram ki, “Soo ja.” Vaishali ne jawab nahi diya, ya itna dheema diya ki deewar ne use nahi aane diya.

Arjun ne kaha, “Main kal nahi ja paunga us darwaze par.”

Ramesh ne sir hila diya. “Kal main vaishali se milne  jaunga. Jab woh vikram office mein ho.”

Usne aur kuch nahi kaha. Deewar ab chup thi. Uske kaan mein ab bhi woh “ahhh” thi, aur uske saath woh hasi, jo rukne ki har koshish par aur khush ho gayi thi.


Agle din Subah

Vikram nau baje nikal gaya. Usne darwaze par kaha, “Dopahar ko call karunga. Bhaiya ko agar kuch chahiye toh de dena, agle darwaze hain.” Vaishali ne sir hila diya. Usne aap nahi kaha, kyunki woh ja chuka tha. Jab darwaza band hua, tab usne apna pallu theek kiya aur bartan mein haath daal diye, taaki shaam ki awaaz uske kaan se nikal jaaye. Nahi nikli. Uske gale mein ab bhi uski gardan ki jalan thi, aur uske pet ke neeche woh dheemi thakaan thi jo use seedha khada hone se rok rahi thi.

Saade dus baje doorbell baji. Usne socha doodh hoga. Ramesh tha. Safed shirt wahi, kal wali, jaise usne badli hi na ho. Aankhon ke neeche gehra pan tha. Usne andar aane ki jagah pehle landing dekhi, phir kaha, “Vikram gaya?”

“Haan. Office.” Vaishali darwaze se hati. “Aap andar aaiye.”

Aap. Ramesh ne woh shabd suna aur ek pal ke liye uska chehra khula reh gaya. Bees saal tak woh tum thi. Ab woh aap thi, aur yeh aap usne khud banwayi thi. Woh andar aaya. Vaishali ne darwaza band kiya, lock nahi lagaya. Hall mein kal raat ki ek khali glass ab bhi side table par thi. Ramesh ne use nahi uthaya. Woh khada raha.

“Main kal yahin tha,” usne kaha. “Kitchen mein nahi. Bathroom ke darwaze par. Maine dekha.”

Vaishali ka haath pallu par chala gaya. Sharm pehle aayi, gusse se pehle. Uska chehra garam ho gaya, gardan tak, aur usne nazar floor par rakh di. “Aap ko nahi dekhna chahiye tha.”

“Tumne kaha tha do minute. Tumne uska haath pakda. Phir chhod diya.” Ramesh ki awaaz kaanp rahi thi, isliye woh use neeche rakh raha tha. “Raat ko maine suna bhi. Arjun ke kamre se. Tum ruk rahi thi. Woh nahi ruka. Tum phir bhi—”

“Bas.” Vaishali ne upar dekha. Aankhen geeli thi, lekin awaaz geeli nahi thi. “Aap woh mat kahiyega. Aap bathroom ke darwaze par khade hokar dekh rahe the, aur raat ko deewar se sun rahe the. Aap andar aaye nahi. Aap ne darwaza nahi khatkhataya. Aap ne use nahi kaha ki haath hatao. Ab aap mujhse yeh poochne aaye hain ki main kyun nahi ruki.”

Ramesh ne ek kadam peeche liya. “Main pooch nahi raha. Main yeh keh raha hoon ki yeh roz nahi chal sakta. Woh mera… woh Vikram hai. Woh tujhe apni biwi maanta hai. Tu use rok. Tu use bata de ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Tu alag so. Kuch toh kar.”

“Aap keh rahe hain main rokun.” Vaishali ne glass uthaya, use kitchen ke counter par rakh diya, taaki uske haath ke paas koi kaam ho. “Aap mere pati the. Aap ne mujhe is darwaze tak chhoda. Aap ne paisa liya. Aap ke bete ne profile banayi. Shaadi ke din switch hona tha. Aap ruk gaye. Aap andar nahi aaye. Ab register par mera naam Meera Deshmukh hai, aur aap chahte hain ki main us aadmi se kahun ki aap mujhe mat chhuiye, kyunki mere pehle pati agle darwaze par hain aur unhen sharm aa rahi hai.”

Ramesh ka munh khula, phir band hua. “Maine yeh nahi chaaha tha ki woh tujhe aise—”

“Aap ne chaaha tha ki ek shaam mein sab khatam ho jaaye.” Vaishali ab uske saamne thi. Sharm ab bhi uske gaal par thi, lekin uske neeche gussa seedha tha, aur us gusse ke neeche ek thakaan jo use chillaane nahi de rahi thi. “Aap ne socha hoga ki main ek raat seh lungi. Ek raat nahi hai, Ramesh ji. Roz hai. Subah hai. Shaam hai. Kitchen hai, jab aap log bahar baithe hote hain. Main usse aap kehti hoon, kyunki woh mera pati hai is kagaz par. Main aap se bhi aap kehti hoon, kyunki aap ne khud ko mera bhai banaya hai. Dono aap hain. Ek mujhe chhuta hai. Ek darwaze par khada rehta hai.”

Ramesh ne kursi ka selah pakda. Uski ungliyan safed ho gayi. “Arjun lawyer ke paas gaya tha. Usne mujhe subah bataya. Kuch nahi hoga. Case hum par hi aayega.”

“Mujhe pata tha.” Vaishali ne sir hila diya. “Isliye main aap dono se yeh nahi maang rahi ki aap mujhe nikaal lijiye. Main yeh keh rahi hoon ki aap mujhse yeh na kahiye ki main khud nikal jaun, ya khud ruk jaaun. Main rukti hoon. Aap ne dekha. Main kehti hoon bas. Woh nahi rukta. Aur jab woh nahi rukta, tab mera jism bhi mera nahi rehta. Yeh baat aap ko isliye nahi batani chahiye thi. Aap mere pati the. Aap ko yeh sun kar andar aana chahiye tha. Aap ne ek aur raat sun li.”

Bahar Priya ki chappal ki awaaz aayi, landing par, aur ruk gayi. Vaishali ne darwaze ki taraf dekha. Ramesh ne bhi. Koi knock nahi hui. Chappal wapas gayi, dheere, jaise koi sun kar laut raha ho. Vaishali ke kandhe dheele pade. Sharm wapas aa gayi, is baar gusse se bhari hui.

“Aap jaaiye,” usne kaha. “Vikram dopahar ko call karega. Agar aap yahan honge toh mujhe jhooth bolna padega. Jhooth main aap ke liye pehle hi bol chuki hoon. Aur ek ke liye meri awaaz nahi bachi.”

Ramesh darwaze tak gaya. Usne use khola. Landing khali thi, lekin left wale darwaze ki chain halki si hil rahi thi. Usne peeche dekha. Vaishali table ke paas khadi thi, pallu kas ke, aankhen laal, munh band. Woh roti nahi thi. Woh use rone ka mauka nahi de rahi thi.

“Vaishali,” usne kaha, bahut dheere.

“Meera,” usne kaha. “Aap ke Vikram ki biwi. Aap jaaiye.”

Ramesh bahar nikla. Darwaza uske peeche band hua. Left wale flat mein Priya hall ke kone mein khadi thi, kaan ab darwaze par nahi, lekin chehre par woh muskaan jo abhi tak utri nahi thi. Usne Ramesh ko aate dekha aur kuch nahi poocha. Pooche bina bhi use kaafi sunai de chuka tha.




Dopahar ko ghar khali tha. Vikram ki call aa chuki thi, chhoti si, “khaana kha liya?” aur kaat di thi. Vaishali ne khaana nahi khaya tha. Woh bedroom mein baithi thi, maroon saree ab bhi usi tarah, pallu god mein, phone haath mein. Ramesh ke jaane ke baad usne darwaza band kiya tha aur tab se nahi khola tha. Sharm ab cheekh nahi thi. Woh andar baith gayi thi, chhati ke neeche, ek aisi jagah jahan se use nikalna mushkil tha.

Usne Arjun ka naam khola. Likha. Mitaaya. Phir likha.

*Please kuch karo. Ab aise nahi hoga. Main roz nahi seh pa rahi. Aap logon ne jo kiya, uska hisaab main de rahi hoon. Kuch rasta nikaalo. Jaldi.*

Usne bhej diya, usse pehle ki woh use dobara padhe. Phone uske god mein gir gaya. Aansu pehle ek aaye, phir bina rukhe. Woh unhe chhupa nahi rahi thi, kyunki chhupane wala koi nahi tha. Uski saans tooti, phir judi, phir tooti. Guilt saaf tha. Kitchen ka kona. Raat ki moan, jo usne khud suni thi apne gale se. Aur uske upar yeh baat, ki yeh sab uske bete aur uske pehle pati ki wajah se uske hisse aaya tha, aur ab woh unhi se madad maang rahi thi.

Phone vaja. Arjun.

*Mat ro, Mummy. Kuch din mein nikal lunga. Kuch bhi karke. Aap bas tik jao. Main dekh raha hoon.*

Vaishali ne message do baar padha. Mummy. Us shabd ne use aur rula diya. Usne jawab mein sirf itna likha, *Jaldi.* Phir phone ulta rakh diya. Woh bathroom gayi, munh dhoya, aankhen laal reh gayi. Concealer se laali nahi gayi. Usne socha ki woh let jaayegi, taaki dopahar nikal jaaye.

Vikram teen baje aa gaya, jaldi, ek file bhool aaya tha. Usne use bedroom mein paya, pallu muh par, saans ab bhi bhari. “Kya hua?”

Vaishali baith gayi. “Kuch nahi. Sar dard.”

Woh bed ke kinare aaya. Usne uska chehra dekha, aankhen, aur file side mein rakh di. “Rona aa raha hai. Kyun?”

“Bas. Aise hi.” Uski awaaz patli thi. Woh use sach nahi bol sakti thi. Woh yeh bhi nahi bol sakti thi ki usne abhi apne bete ko message kiya hai. “Aap kaam kariye. Main theek ho jaungi.”

Vikram ne uske gaal par haath rakha. Angutha uski bachi hui geelapan par ruka. “Royo mat. Main hoon na. Kya chahiye? Mummy se baat karni hai? Ghar jaana hai unke paas, do din?”

Vaishali ne sir hila diya. “Nahi. Yahin theek hai.”

“Phir?” Usne use apne seene se laga liya, dheere, jaise woh toot rahi ho aur use pata nahi ho kyun. “Kuch din aur nikal jaayenge, toh aadat ho jaayegi. Naya ghar hai. Naya naam hai. Main tumhe akela nahi chhodunga. Jo bhi ho raha hai, mere rehte hue tumhe nahi sehna padega. Bolo, kya hai.”

Vaishali ne aankhen band kar li. Uska haath uski peeth par tha, wahi haath jo kal raat nahi ruka tha. Aaj woh use sambhal raha tha. Use lag raha tha woh ek achha pati hai, aur woh ek nai biwi hai jo bina wajah ro rahi hai. Uski chhati uske aansu se geeli ho gayi. Usne use nahi hataya. Hatane ki taakat nahi thi, aur ek hissa yeh bhi chahta tha ki koi use pakde, chahe woh galat aadmi ho.

“Kuch nahi,” usne kaha, uske kurte mein. “Aap file le lijiye. Late ho raha hai.”

Vikram ne uske maathe par kiss kiya. “Shaam ko jaldi aunga. Royoge nahi. Promise.”

“Nahi roungi.”

Woh file le kar chala gaya. Darwaza band hua. Vaishali bed par wapas let gayi. Phone uske bagal mein tha, screen band. Arjun ka message andar tha, *kuch din mein nikal lunga.* Vikram ka kiss ab bhi uske maathe par tha. Dono ek saath the. Ek use bahar nikalne ki baat kar raha tha. Doosra use andar rakhne ki. Aur woh beech mein leti thi, aankhen laal, guilt ab bhi chhati mein, bina yeh jaane ke kaun si baat jhooth niklegi pehle.



Vikram subah ki chai pee kar nikal gaya tha, aur uske jaate hi ghar woh purani khamoshi mein wapas aa gaya tha jise Vaishali pehchaan-ti thi. Bartan dhule hue the. Gas band thi. Usne maroon saree nahi pehni thi. Aaj usne woh neeli wali nikali thi, pallu kas ke, gale par concealer do baar, kyunki kal raat ka nishan ab bhi kinare se dikhta tha agar koi seedha dekhe. Woh jaanti thi Priya seedha dekhti hai.

Darwaza gyaarah baje khatkhataya. Knock nahi thi, woh dheemi thapki jo agle ghar ki aurat karti hai jab use lagta ho ki andar se koi mana nahi karega. Vaishali ne aankh se dekha. Priya thi, baal khule, ek halki si lipstick, haath mein kuch nahi. Usne darwaza khola, kyunki band rakhne ka koi bahaana Vikram ke bina chal nahi sakta tha.

“Didi,” Priya ne kaha, aur andar aa gayi bina poochhe. “Vikram gaye? Main soch rahi thi aap akeli hongi. Kal se aapka chehra theek nahi tha.”

Vaishali ne darwaza band kiya. Lock nahi lagaya. “Aap baitho. Main chai banati hoon.”

“Chai baad mein.” Priya sofa par nahi baithi. Woh kitchen ke darwaze tak aa gayi, jahan Vaishali khadi thi, aur usne uske gale ki taraf ek baar dekha, itna chhota ki koi aur use nazarandaaz kar de. “Aap royi thi kal. Bhaiya yahan se nikle, chehra utra hua. Main landing par thi. Maine poora nahi suna. Itna suna ki aap unse keh rahi thi jaaiye.”

Vaishali ka haath counter par ruk gaya. Sharm pehle aayi, gusse se pehle, garam aur seedhi, gardan tak. “Aap ko wahan nahi khada hona chahiye tha.”

“Agle darwaze ka landing hai, didi. Main apne ghar se bahar nikli thi.” Priya ne ek stool khinchha aur baith gayi, jaise yeh uska kitchen ho. “Aap sharmayi mat. Main kisi ko batane nahi aayi. Main yeh dekhne aayi hoon ki aap theek ho ya nahi. Vikram aap ko roz rakhte hain, yeh toh ab bhaiya bhi jaante hain. Arjun bhi. Aap akeli soch rahi thi shayad sirf deewar jaanti hai. Deewar nahi. Ghar jaanta hai.”

Vaishali ne pallu aur kas liya. Uski aankhen neeche thi. “Aap ko maza aa raha hai.”

“Thoda.” Priya ne yeh jhooth nahi bola. Uske munh par woh chhoti si muskaan thi jo daant tak nahi jaati thi, lekin aankh mein ruk jaati thi. “Mujhe maza isliye aa raha hai kyunki yeh plan aap logon ka tha. Bhaiya ka. Arjun ka. Aap ne haan ki thi. Shaadi ke din main uske saamne honi thi, aap wapas aa jaati. Aap nahi aayi. Aap uske mangalsutra mein ho. Aap uske khaane ki sabzi bana rahi ho. Aur jab bhaiya aap se kehte hain ruk jao, toh aap unhe bhi aap kehti ho. Didi, yeh dekhar mujhe hansi aati hai. Buri hoon main. Aap yeh pehle se jaanti hain.”

Vaishali ne chai ka paani nahi chalaya. Woh stool ke saamne khadi rahi, haath saree ke kinare par, saans dheemi. “Aap kya chahti hain? Main aap ke saamne aur kya kahun? Haan, woh mujhe rakhte hain. Haan, main unhe rok nahi paati. Haan, kal bhaiya ne dekha tha, aur raat ko suna tha. Aap ko yeh sun kar khushi ho rahi hai, toh ho lijiye. Mere paas aap ko dene ke liye aur koi shabd nahi hai.”

Priya thodi der chup rahi. Cooler ki awaaz bahar se aa rahi thi, society ka, kisi aur ka. Phir usne dheere se kaha, “Main Vikram ko nahi bataungi. Abhi nahi. Aap meri didi ho is ghar mein, aur main aap ki nanad hoon us ghar mein. Dono kaam aa jaate hain agar muh band rahe. Ek saal ki baat thi. Paisa aaya hai. Agar paisa wapas nahi jaata, aur mera rishta is bahane se phir se latakta hai, toh mujhe muh kholne ki zaroorat pad sakti hai. Aap yeh samajh lijiye. Dhamki nahi hai. Hisaab hai.”

Vaishali ne upar dekha. Aankhen laal thi, aansu nahi the. “Aap mere bete ko bhi yeh keh chuki hongi.”

“Arjun ko maine kaha ki didi sharmati hain.” Priya ne kandha hilaya. “Woh aur kya sun sakta hai? Woh aap ko nikalne ki baat karta hai, aur usi munh se Vikram ke saamne bhabhi kehta hai. Aap usse message karti hain. Woh kehta hai kuch din. Kuch din mein kya hoga, didi? Vikram aap ko biwi maan chuke hain. Unki mummy aap ko bahu maan chuki hain. Register mein aap ka naam hai. Jo log jaante hain, woh jaante hain. Jo nahi jaante, unke liye aap Meera ho. Aap beech mein khadi hain, pallu kas ke, aur soch rahi hain koi aap ko utha kar le jaayega.”

Vaishali ka munh khula, phir band hua. Uski sharm ab gusse mein mil gayi thi, aur gussa uski awaaz ko upar nahi le ja raha tha. Woh thak gayi thi chillane se. “Aap jaanti hain main kyun khadi hoon. Aap ke bhai ne mujhe becha. Aap ke bhatije ne meri photo chuni. Aap ko rishta chahiye tha, isliye yeh sab shuru hua. Ab aap kitchen mein baith kar mujhe didi kehti ho, aur yeh chahti ho ki main aap ka abhaar maanun kyunki aap ne Vikram ko sach nahi bola.”

“Abhaar mat maaniye.” Priya uthi. Usne Vaishali ka pallu theek kiya, ek nanad ki tarah, ungli uske gale ke concealer par ek second ke liye ruki, phir hatt gayi. “Sirf yaad rakhiye. Main aap ki dushman nahi hoon. Main aap ki behan bani hoon, kyunki aap ne yeh naam le liya. Jab tak main didi kehti hoon, aap ka darwaza band rehta hai. Jis din main kehna band kar doon, Vikram poochenge main kaun hoon aap ki. Us din aap akeli hongi, didi. Bhaiya nahi aayenge. Arjun nahi aayega. Woh dono pehle hi ek baar ruk chuke hain.”

Woh darwaze tak gayi. Vaishali peeche nahi aayi. Priya ne palat kar dekha, ek baar, aur muskaan ab bilkul saaf thi. “Chai reh gayi. Koi baat nahi. Shaam ko Vikram aa jaayenge, aap unke liye bana lijiyega. Unhe aap ka chehra pasand hai jab aap thaki hui hoti ho. Maine terrace se dekha hai.”

Darwaza band hua. Chain bahar dheere se hili, phir chup ho gayi. Vaishali kitchen mein khadi rahi, pallu ab bhi usi jagah, jahan Priya ne use chhoda tha. Use rona nahi aaya. Rona kal nikal chuka tha, phone ke upar, Arjun ke message par. Aaj uske andar sirf yeh baat reh gayi thi ki jo woh chhupa rahi thi, woh chhupa hua nahi tha. Bhaiya jaanta tha. Beta jaanta tha. Nanad jaanti thi, aur use is jaan-ne mein maza aa raha tha. Vikram akela tha jo nahi jaanta tha, aur usi na jaan-ne par uska ghar, uska naam, aur uski raat khadi thi.