Yesterday, 08:09 PM
(This post was last modified: Today, 03:37 AM by wofeloh916. Edited 1 time in total. Edited 1 time in total.)
Chapter 7: Bazaar ki Sabzi aur Jalebi
Shanivaar ki subah shehar ke aasmaan par halke bhoore baadal chhaaye hue the.
Flat number 903 ke dining table par naashte ki khaali platein rakhi thin. Tauji balcony mein khade hokar thandi hawa mein apni sooti baniyan aur ghutnon tak bandhi dhoti mein tasalli se paani ka lota khaali kar rahe the. Unka chauda, gathila seena, jis par umar ke pachaas saalon ke baad bhi akhade ki kasrat ka faulaadi raub baaki tha, gehri saanson ke saath dheere dheere phool aur pichak raha tha.
Kavya kitchen se bahar nikli. Uske badan par Karani rang ka sooti salwar suit tha. Usne apne dupatte ko seene par salike se lapet rakha tha, lekin uski patli, surahidaar kamar aur koolhon ki lachak us patle sooti kapde se saaf chhan rahi thi. Uske haathon mein sabzi laane wale kapde ke do bade thaiile the.
"Rajesh, aaj hafte bhar ki sabziyan laani hain," Kavya ne mere karib aakar thodi ummeed bhari nazron se kaha, "Society ke bahar wali mukhya sabzi mandi mein aaj taazi sabziyan aur phal aate hain. Chaliye na mere saath, akele itni saari bhaari thailiyan laana mushkil ho jayega."
Maine jaanbujhkar apne chehre par tanaav aur jhunjhalaahat ka jhootha maukhda chadha liya. Apni nazrein laptop ki screen par gadaaye rakhte hue, keyboard ki khat khat tez kar di.
"Yaar Kavya, tum bhi kis waqt tokati ho!" maine awaaz mein banaavti kheej gholte hue kaha, "IT park wale warehouse se critical escalation aaya hua hai. Singapore ke regional director ke saath abhi saadhe das baje emergency call hai. Tumhe dikhta nahi ki main kitna busy hoon? Main is waqt kahin nahi ja sakta."
Kavya ka chehra achanak tamtama gaya. Uske sabr ka baandh jaise toot gaya.
"Har Shanivaar aapka yahi rehta hai!" Kavya ki awaaz mein teekha gussa phoot pada, uski aankhen laal ho gayin, "Hafte mein bas ek din milta hai ghar ke liye. Beti Anu ko drawing class bhi chhodna hai, ghar ki rasoi ka saamaan bhi laana hai... aur aapke paas apne is manhoos laptop ke siva kisi cheez ke liye waqt nahi hai! Rehne dijiye, aap apna kaam hi apni chhaati se lagaye rakhiye, main khud hi ja rahi hoon!"
"Are Kavya, suno to..." maine peeche se awaaz di, lekin vah ruki nahi.
Kavya ne gusse mein dining table par rakha apna purse uthaya, thailon ko jhatke se bheencha aur dhadam se mukhya darwaza band karke seedhiyon ki taraf nikal gayi.
Hall mein uski is talkh awaaz aur darwaze ke khatke ki goonj abhi shaant bhi nahi hui thi ki balcony se Tauji hadbadaate hue andar aaye. Unke chehre par gehri chinta aur bechaini saaf jhalak rahi thi.
"Are Rajesh beta, ye kya hua?" Tauji ne ghabrai hui bhaari awaaz mein poochha, "Bahurani itne gusse mein akele kahan chali gayi?"
"Kuch nahi Tauji... sabzi mandi jaane ki zid kar rahi thi. Maine office ke kaam ki wajah se mana kar diya, to naaraaz hokar khud hi nikal gayi," maine beparwah dikhne ka naatak kiya.
"Paagal ho gaya hai kya tu?" Tauji ki awaaz mein ek bujurg ki swabhaavik kadak daant goonji, "Shanivaar ki us bheedbhaad wali mandi mein ghar ki jawaan bahu ko aise gusse mein akele jaane dega? Shehar ki sadkon par na jaane kaise kaise lafange aur aawara ghoomte hain, koi dhakka mukki kar de to? Ruk, main abhi uske peeche jaata hoon!"
Tauji ne ek pal bhi nahi ganwaya. Unhone khoonti par tanga apna safed khadi ka kurta jhatke se pehna, pairon mein chamde ki desi chappalein phansain aur lambe lambe kadam bharte hue flat ka darwaza kholkar bahar nikal gaye.
Jaise hi darwaza dobara band hua, mere chehre se kaam ka vah saara farzi tanaav kisi udte hue dhuen ki tarah gaayab ho gaya.
Mere honthon par ek behad thandi, nasheeli aur shaitaani muskaan tair gayi.
Yeh daanv to meri ummeed se kahin zyada bada ban chuka tha! Mujhe Tauji ko bhejna bhi nahi pada; Kavya ka gussa aur Tauji ki dehaati mardaani gairat khud ba khud unhe ek doosre ke karib kheench le gaye the.
Ab main yahan ghar baithkar koi Zoom call nahi karne wala tha.
Maine turant apna laptop sleep mode par daala. Almaari se ek kaali baseball cap aur dhoop ka dark chashma nikala, pairon mein sneakers pehne aur dabe paanv apne flat ka lock lagakar neeche ki taraf bhaag pada.
Society ke mukhya lohe ke gate ke bahar sadak par Kavya tez kadmon se chal rahi thi. Uska chehra abhi bhi gusse se laal tha aur vah apne dupatte ko hawa mein lehraate hue badbada rahi thi.
Tabhi peeche se bhaari, tez kadmon ki aahat aayi.
"Bahu! Are bahurani, ruk to sahi!" Tauji ki bhaari, mardaana awaaz uske peeche goonji.
Kavya ne chaunkar kadam roke aur peeche mudkar dekha.
Tauji haanpte hue uske karib pahunch chuke the. Unke chaudhe seene par khadi ka kurta hawa se chipak raha tha aur unke chehre par ek apnatv bhari, fikrmand muskaan thi.
"Tauji? Aap... aap yahan?" Kavya ki awaaz mein gusse ki jagah halki si jhep aa gayi.
"Haan, main," Tauji ne aage badhkar bahut sahajta se Kavya ke haathon se ve dono kapde ke khaali thaiile apni mazboot mutthi mein le liye, "Tu aise gusse mein angaare chabaati hui sadak par bhaagegi, to ghar ke bade kya tamaasha dekhenge? Rajesh par kaam ka bojh hai, shehar ki naukri aisi hi hoti hai. Chal, tu fikr mat kar, main chalta hoon na tere saath."
Tauji ki us shaant, chattaan jaisi awaaz aur unki us mardaana fikr ne Kavya ke andar ke gusse ki saari tapish ko pal bhar mein thanda kar diya. Uske honthon par ek dabi hui, kritagy muskaan aa gayi, "Tauji... aapko bekaar mein takleef hui."
"Ghar ki bahu ki hifaazat karne mein kaisi takleef?" Tauji ne apni ghani moonchon ke neeche se hanste hue kaha, phir thoda sa jhukkar ek dheemi, rahasyamayi awaaz mein fusfusaye, "Aur sun, ab ye munh phulana band kar. Aaj sabzi mandi mein tujhe ek surprise dikhata hoon."
Kavya ki aankhen kautuhal se phail gayin, "Surprise? Mandi mein kaisa surprise Tauji?"
"Chal to sahi, abhi sab pata chal jayega," Tauji ne aage badhte hue ishara kiya.
Kuch sau meter peeche, sadak kinaare khadi ek delivery van ki ot mein khada main apni cap theek kar raha tha. Kaale chashme ke peeche se meri aankhen un dono ki peeth par jami hui thin.
Tauji ka vah chhe foot ek inch ka bhaari, vishaalkaay badan aur unke bagal mein chalti hui Kavya ki naazuk, makhmalI deh. Dono ke beech ki vah sahajta dekhkar mere seene mein ek ajeeb si meethi chubhan aur romaanch daud raha tha.
Sabzi mandi mein Shanivaar ki subah kisi mele jaisi bheed thi. Patli galiyon mein logon ke reele chal rahe the aur dopahiya vaahnon ke horn kaan phaad rahe the.
Jaise hi ve mandi ke sankre muhaane mein ghuse, do shohde Kavya ke karib se ragad khaate hue nikalne ki firaak mein the. Lekin isse pehle ki ve Kavya ke karib bhi phatakte, Tauji ka faulaadi kandha kisi pahaad ki tarah unke saamne aa gaya.
Tauji ne un ladkon ko apni sakht, robdaar aankhon se ghoora. Akhade ke us purane pahalwan ki ek hi nazar itni khaufnaak thi ki ve ladke sahmkar raasta chhodte hue bagal se nikal gaye.
Tauji ne apna baayaan haath Kavya ki peeth ke peeche is tarah phaila rakha tha jaise koi deewar khadi kar di ho. Bheed ka har dhakka Tauji khud par jhel rahe the, aur Kavya us faulaadi ghere ke andar khud ko itni mehfooz mehsoos kar rahi thi ki usne anjaane mein hi apni chaal ko Tauji ke bilkul sata liya tha.
Sabziyon ki dukaano se matar, tamatar aur taaza saag lete waqt bhi Tauji ne shehar ke dukaandaaron ke saamne aisa kadak mol bhaav kiya ki dukaandaar turant sahi daamon par aa gaye. Dono bhaari thaiile jab bhar gaye, to Tauji ne unhe ek hi haath mein aise utha liye jaise ve rui hon.
Sabzi khareedne ke baad, Tauji Kavya ko lekar mandi ke ek purane, sankre mod ki taraf mude.
Us mod par pahunchte hi hawa mein khaulte hue desi ghee aur ilaaychi ke sheere ki madhosh kar dene wali khushbu phail gayi. Saamne shehar ki sabse purani aur mashhoor halwai ki dukaan thi, jahan ek vishaal lohe ki kadhai mein laal, kurkuri jalebis chhan rahi thin.
Kavya ke kadam wahin tham gaye. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi bachchon jaisi khushi aur chamak aa gayi jaise use koi khazaana mil gaya ho.
"Are Tauji! Yeh dukaan!" Kavya ne dono haathon se apne gaal chhoote hue lagbhag chahak kar kaha, "To yeh tha aapka surprise?"
"Haan, yahi tha," Tauji mand mand muskuraaye, "Pichhle hafte jab tu phone par apni kisi saheli se baat kar rahi thi, to maine suna tha ki tu yahan ki jalebiyon ki badi taareef kar rahi thi."
"Tauji... aapko yaad tha?" Kavya ki awaaz bheeg gayi, uske chehre par bepanaah laad aur khushi chha gayi, "Main to kitne mahinon se yahan ki taazi jalebis khaane ke liye taras rahi thi! Lekin is ilaake ki tang galiyon aur is aawara bheed ki wajah se akele aane ki meri kabhi himmat hi nahi hui. Aur Rajesh... Rajesh ko to aisi sadak kinaare ki purani, desi dukaano se sakht chirr hai. Ve to kabhi aise bazaaron mein kadam bhi nahi rakhte, hamesha mall aur mehenge cafe ki baat karte hain... par aaj aapke saath..."
"Rajesh kya jaane desi ghee aur akhade ki mithai ka maza!" Tauji ne seena taankar apni bhaari dehaati awaaz mein kaha, "Jab tak yeh Tau tere saath khada hai bahu, tujhe shehar ki kisi bheed se darne ki ratti bhar zaroorat nahi hai. Chal, aaj pet bharkar khaa!"
Tauji ne halwai ko kadak awaaz mein haank lagai, "Ae bhai, ek paav ekdum taazi, karaari aur garam jalebi patte ke done mein nikaal!"
Halwai ne khaulte sheere se tarbatar garam garam jalebis nikaalkar Tauji ko thama din.
Tauji ne dona ek haath mein pakda. Bhaap chhodti hui us kurkuri jalebi se sheere ki boondein tapak rahi thin. Tauji ne apni moti, sakht aur khuradri ungliyon se ek bada tukda toda.
Aur phir, us bhari bazaar ke kinaare, Tauji ne vah sheere se lipata tukda seedhe Kavya ke naazuk, gulabi honthon ke saamne kar diya.
"Le bahu, munh khol. Garam garam khaa, tab swaad pata chalega."
Kavya ke kadam wahin jam gaye. Sadak par aate jaate log, mandi ka shor... aur uske sasur samaan Tauji apne haath se use jalebi khila rahe the.
Kavya ki dhadkanen bekaabu ho gayin. Uske gore gaalon par sharm, jhijhak aur ek ajab si madhoshi ki laali daud gayi. Usne apni nazrein uthakar Tauji ki aankhon mein dekha. Un aankhon mein koi kapat nahi tha, lekin ek aisi jalti hui, paurush se bhari dehaati bhookh zaroor thi jisne Kavya ke poore jism mein sihran paida kar di.
Kavya ne dheere se apne naazuk honth khole.
Jaise hi usne us kurkure tukde ko apne munh mein liya, Tauji ki sheere se chipchipi, khuradri aur tapti hui ungliyan Kavya ke nichle makhmalI honth se halke se ragad kha gayin.
Uf...
Vah ek second ki khuradri, garam chhuwan kisi nange bijli ke taar ki tarah Kavya ke jism mein utar gayi. Kavya ki aankhen madhoshi mein aadhi band ho gayin. Uske munh mein jalebi ka meetha ras ghul raha tha, lekin uske honthon par us boodhe pahalwan ki paseene aur paurush se bhari ungliyon ki jalan chipak chuki thi.
Tauji ne apni un ungliyon ko dekha, jin par Kavya ke honthon ki halki si nami chhoot gayi thi. Tauji ka halak sookh gaya. Unhone sookhe gale se thook nigla aur apni nazrein Kavya ke un rasile honthon se hata nahi paaye.
![[Image: img-01456-cleaned.png]](https://i.ibb.co/wZ5zpLgZ/img-01456-cleaned.png)
"Kaisi hai bahu?" Tauji ki awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
Kavya ne dupatte ke pallu ko apni mutthi mein bheench liya, uski saansen bhaari thin, "Bahut... bahut meethi hai Tauji... aisi jalebi maine zindagi mein kabhi nahi khai..."
Sadak ke us paar, ek Ganne ke ras ke thele ke peeche khada main apne kaale chashme ki ot se yeh poora nazaara dekh raha tha.
Meri hatheliyon mein paseena chhoot raha tha aur mere pant ke andar mera naamard badan ek khaufnaak, vikrit uttejna se phadak raha tha.
Meri padhi likhi, raees aur sanskari biwi... jise kisi gair mard ke haath lagane ki kalpana se bhi ghin aati thi, vah us bhari mandi mein ek dehaati pahalwan ke haathon se meetha ras chaat rahi thi aur uske saamne laja rahi thi.
Tabhi maine dekha ki Tauji ne thaiile uthaye aur dono wapas mudne lage.
Mere hosh ud gaye! Agar ve mujhse pehle ghar pahunch gaye, to mera poora khel pakda jaata.
Maine turant apna chashma utaara, cap jeb mein thoosi aur mandi ki ek patli, sankri pichhli gali mein daud laga di. Shortcut lete hue, haanpte kaanpte main society ke pichhle gate se andar ghusa.
Lift pakadkar jab main flat number 903 ke andar daakhil hua, to meri saansen phool rahi thin. Maine turant apne joote utaare, T shirt se maathe ka paseena ponchha, fridge se paani ki bottle nikaali aur dining table par apni kursi par baithkar laptop on kar liya.
Mushkil se aath minute baad mukhya darwaze ke lock mein chaabi ghoomne ki awaaz aayi khat!
Darwaza khula.
Kavya andar daakhil hui. Uske chehre par subah wala vah gussa kahin naamonishaan ko bhi nahi tha. Uske gore gaalon par ek nayi, gulabi chamak thi aur uske honthon par ek aisi madhosh, tript muskaan khel rahi thi jo maine mahinon se nahi dekhi thi.
Uske theek peeche Tauji aaye, dono bhaari thaiile shaan se uthaye hue, kisi vijeta ki tarah.
"Are, aa gaye aap log?" maine laptop se nazrein uthakar bilkul masoom aur anjaan bante hue kaha, "Kavya, sorry yaar... vah call thodi lambi khinch gayi. Tum naaraaz to nahi ho na?"
Kavya ne apni kajrari aankhen uthakar mujhe dekha. Uski un aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa, gehra raaz tha jo ab sirf uske aur Tauji ke beech ka tha.
"Nahi Rajesh," Kavya ne dheemi, meethi awaaz mein muskuraate hue kaha, "Main bilkul naaraaz nahi hoon. Tauji saath the na... mujhe koi pareshani nahi hui."
Kavya sabzi ke thaiile lekar kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
Shanivaar ki subah shehar ke aasmaan par halke bhoore baadal chhaaye hue the.
Flat number 903 ke dining table par naashte ki khaali platein rakhi thin. Tauji balcony mein khade hokar thandi hawa mein apni sooti baniyan aur ghutnon tak bandhi dhoti mein tasalli se paani ka lota khaali kar rahe the. Unka chauda, gathila seena, jis par umar ke pachaas saalon ke baad bhi akhade ki kasrat ka faulaadi raub baaki tha, gehri saanson ke saath dheere dheere phool aur pichak raha tha.
Kavya kitchen se bahar nikli. Uske badan par Karani rang ka sooti salwar suit tha. Usne apne dupatte ko seene par salike se lapet rakha tha, lekin uski patli, surahidaar kamar aur koolhon ki lachak us patle sooti kapde se saaf chhan rahi thi. Uske haathon mein sabzi laane wale kapde ke do bade thaiile the.
"Rajesh, aaj hafte bhar ki sabziyan laani hain," Kavya ne mere karib aakar thodi ummeed bhari nazron se kaha, "Society ke bahar wali mukhya sabzi mandi mein aaj taazi sabziyan aur phal aate hain. Chaliye na mere saath, akele itni saari bhaari thailiyan laana mushkil ho jayega."
Maine jaanbujhkar apne chehre par tanaav aur jhunjhalaahat ka jhootha maukhda chadha liya. Apni nazrein laptop ki screen par gadaaye rakhte hue, keyboard ki khat khat tez kar di.
"Yaar Kavya, tum bhi kis waqt tokati ho!" maine awaaz mein banaavti kheej gholte hue kaha, "IT park wale warehouse se critical escalation aaya hua hai. Singapore ke regional director ke saath abhi saadhe das baje emergency call hai. Tumhe dikhta nahi ki main kitna busy hoon? Main is waqt kahin nahi ja sakta."
Kavya ka chehra achanak tamtama gaya. Uske sabr ka baandh jaise toot gaya.
"Har Shanivaar aapka yahi rehta hai!" Kavya ki awaaz mein teekha gussa phoot pada, uski aankhen laal ho gayin, "Hafte mein bas ek din milta hai ghar ke liye. Beti Anu ko drawing class bhi chhodna hai, ghar ki rasoi ka saamaan bhi laana hai... aur aapke paas apne is manhoos laptop ke siva kisi cheez ke liye waqt nahi hai! Rehne dijiye, aap apna kaam hi apni chhaati se lagaye rakhiye, main khud hi ja rahi hoon!"
"Are Kavya, suno to..." maine peeche se awaaz di, lekin vah ruki nahi.
Kavya ne gusse mein dining table par rakha apna purse uthaya, thailon ko jhatke se bheencha aur dhadam se mukhya darwaza band karke seedhiyon ki taraf nikal gayi.
Hall mein uski is talkh awaaz aur darwaze ke khatke ki goonj abhi shaant bhi nahi hui thi ki balcony se Tauji hadbadaate hue andar aaye. Unke chehre par gehri chinta aur bechaini saaf jhalak rahi thi.
"Are Rajesh beta, ye kya hua?" Tauji ne ghabrai hui bhaari awaaz mein poochha, "Bahurani itne gusse mein akele kahan chali gayi?"
"Kuch nahi Tauji... sabzi mandi jaane ki zid kar rahi thi. Maine office ke kaam ki wajah se mana kar diya, to naaraaz hokar khud hi nikal gayi," maine beparwah dikhne ka naatak kiya.
"Paagal ho gaya hai kya tu?" Tauji ki awaaz mein ek bujurg ki swabhaavik kadak daant goonji, "Shanivaar ki us bheedbhaad wali mandi mein ghar ki jawaan bahu ko aise gusse mein akele jaane dega? Shehar ki sadkon par na jaane kaise kaise lafange aur aawara ghoomte hain, koi dhakka mukki kar de to? Ruk, main abhi uske peeche jaata hoon!"
Tauji ne ek pal bhi nahi ganwaya. Unhone khoonti par tanga apna safed khadi ka kurta jhatke se pehna, pairon mein chamde ki desi chappalein phansain aur lambe lambe kadam bharte hue flat ka darwaza kholkar bahar nikal gaye.
Jaise hi darwaza dobara band hua, mere chehre se kaam ka vah saara farzi tanaav kisi udte hue dhuen ki tarah gaayab ho gaya.
Mere honthon par ek behad thandi, nasheeli aur shaitaani muskaan tair gayi.
Yeh daanv to meri ummeed se kahin zyada bada ban chuka tha! Mujhe Tauji ko bhejna bhi nahi pada; Kavya ka gussa aur Tauji ki dehaati mardaani gairat khud ba khud unhe ek doosre ke karib kheench le gaye the.
Ab main yahan ghar baithkar koi Zoom call nahi karne wala tha.
Maine turant apna laptop sleep mode par daala. Almaari se ek kaali baseball cap aur dhoop ka dark chashma nikala, pairon mein sneakers pehne aur dabe paanv apne flat ka lock lagakar neeche ki taraf bhaag pada.
Society ke mukhya lohe ke gate ke bahar sadak par Kavya tez kadmon se chal rahi thi. Uska chehra abhi bhi gusse se laal tha aur vah apne dupatte ko hawa mein lehraate hue badbada rahi thi.
Tabhi peeche se bhaari, tez kadmon ki aahat aayi.
"Bahu! Are bahurani, ruk to sahi!" Tauji ki bhaari, mardaana awaaz uske peeche goonji.
Kavya ne chaunkar kadam roke aur peeche mudkar dekha.
Tauji haanpte hue uske karib pahunch chuke the. Unke chaudhe seene par khadi ka kurta hawa se chipak raha tha aur unke chehre par ek apnatv bhari, fikrmand muskaan thi.
"Tauji? Aap... aap yahan?" Kavya ki awaaz mein gusse ki jagah halki si jhep aa gayi.
"Haan, main," Tauji ne aage badhkar bahut sahajta se Kavya ke haathon se ve dono kapde ke khaali thaiile apni mazboot mutthi mein le liye, "Tu aise gusse mein angaare chabaati hui sadak par bhaagegi, to ghar ke bade kya tamaasha dekhenge? Rajesh par kaam ka bojh hai, shehar ki naukri aisi hi hoti hai. Chal, tu fikr mat kar, main chalta hoon na tere saath."
Tauji ki us shaant, chattaan jaisi awaaz aur unki us mardaana fikr ne Kavya ke andar ke gusse ki saari tapish ko pal bhar mein thanda kar diya. Uske honthon par ek dabi hui, kritagy muskaan aa gayi, "Tauji... aapko bekaar mein takleef hui."
"Ghar ki bahu ki hifaazat karne mein kaisi takleef?" Tauji ne apni ghani moonchon ke neeche se hanste hue kaha, phir thoda sa jhukkar ek dheemi, rahasyamayi awaaz mein fusfusaye, "Aur sun, ab ye munh phulana band kar. Aaj sabzi mandi mein tujhe ek surprise dikhata hoon."
Kavya ki aankhen kautuhal se phail gayin, "Surprise? Mandi mein kaisa surprise Tauji?"
"Chal to sahi, abhi sab pata chal jayega," Tauji ne aage badhte hue ishara kiya.
Kuch sau meter peeche, sadak kinaare khadi ek delivery van ki ot mein khada main apni cap theek kar raha tha. Kaale chashme ke peeche se meri aankhen un dono ki peeth par jami hui thin.
Tauji ka vah chhe foot ek inch ka bhaari, vishaalkaay badan aur unke bagal mein chalti hui Kavya ki naazuk, makhmalI deh. Dono ke beech ki vah sahajta dekhkar mere seene mein ek ajeeb si meethi chubhan aur romaanch daud raha tha.
Sabzi mandi mein Shanivaar ki subah kisi mele jaisi bheed thi. Patli galiyon mein logon ke reele chal rahe the aur dopahiya vaahnon ke horn kaan phaad rahe the.
Jaise hi ve mandi ke sankre muhaane mein ghuse, do shohde Kavya ke karib se ragad khaate hue nikalne ki firaak mein the. Lekin isse pehle ki ve Kavya ke karib bhi phatakte, Tauji ka faulaadi kandha kisi pahaad ki tarah unke saamne aa gaya.
Tauji ne un ladkon ko apni sakht, robdaar aankhon se ghoora. Akhade ke us purane pahalwan ki ek hi nazar itni khaufnaak thi ki ve ladke sahmkar raasta chhodte hue bagal se nikal gaye.
Tauji ne apna baayaan haath Kavya ki peeth ke peeche is tarah phaila rakha tha jaise koi deewar khadi kar di ho. Bheed ka har dhakka Tauji khud par jhel rahe the, aur Kavya us faulaadi ghere ke andar khud ko itni mehfooz mehsoos kar rahi thi ki usne anjaane mein hi apni chaal ko Tauji ke bilkul sata liya tha.
Sabziyon ki dukaano se matar, tamatar aur taaza saag lete waqt bhi Tauji ne shehar ke dukaandaaron ke saamne aisa kadak mol bhaav kiya ki dukaandaar turant sahi daamon par aa gaye. Dono bhaari thaiile jab bhar gaye, to Tauji ne unhe ek hi haath mein aise utha liye jaise ve rui hon.
Sabzi khareedne ke baad, Tauji Kavya ko lekar mandi ke ek purane, sankre mod ki taraf mude.
Us mod par pahunchte hi hawa mein khaulte hue desi ghee aur ilaaychi ke sheere ki madhosh kar dene wali khushbu phail gayi. Saamne shehar ki sabse purani aur mashhoor halwai ki dukaan thi, jahan ek vishaal lohe ki kadhai mein laal, kurkuri jalebis chhan rahi thin.
Kavya ke kadam wahin tham gaye. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi bachchon jaisi khushi aur chamak aa gayi jaise use koi khazaana mil gaya ho.
"Are Tauji! Yeh dukaan!" Kavya ne dono haathon se apne gaal chhoote hue lagbhag chahak kar kaha, "To yeh tha aapka surprise?"
"Haan, yahi tha," Tauji mand mand muskuraaye, "Pichhle hafte jab tu phone par apni kisi saheli se baat kar rahi thi, to maine suna tha ki tu yahan ki jalebiyon ki badi taareef kar rahi thi."
"Tauji... aapko yaad tha?" Kavya ki awaaz bheeg gayi, uske chehre par bepanaah laad aur khushi chha gayi, "Main to kitne mahinon se yahan ki taazi jalebis khaane ke liye taras rahi thi! Lekin is ilaake ki tang galiyon aur is aawara bheed ki wajah se akele aane ki meri kabhi himmat hi nahi hui. Aur Rajesh... Rajesh ko to aisi sadak kinaare ki purani, desi dukaano se sakht chirr hai. Ve to kabhi aise bazaaron mein kadam bhi nahi rakhte, hamesha mall aur mehenge cafe ki baat karte hain... par aaj aapke saath..."
"Rajesh kya jaane desi ghee aur akhade ki mithai ka maza!" Tauji ne seena taankar apni bhaari dehaati awaaz mein kaha, "Jab tak yeh Tau tere saath khada hai bahu, tujhe shehar ki kisi bheed se darne ki ratti bhar zaroorat nahi hai. Chal, aaj pet bharkar khaa!"
Tauji ne halwai ko kadak awaaz mein haank lagai, "Ae bhai, ek paav ekdum taazi, karaari aur garam jalebi patte ke done mein nikaal!"
Halwai ne khaulte sheere se tarbatar garam garam jalebis nikaalkar Tauji ko thama din.
Tauji ne dona ek haath mein pakda. Bhaap chhodti hui us kurkuri jalebi se sheere ki boondein tapak rahi thin. Tauji ne apni moti, sakht aur khuradri ungliyon se ek bada tukda toda.
Aur phir, us bhari bazaar ke kinaare, Tauji ne vah sheere se lipata tukda seedhe Kavya ke naazuk, gulabi honthon ke saamne kar diya.
"Le bahu, munh khol. Garam garam khaa, tab swaad pata chalega."
Kavya ke kadam wahin jam gaye. Sadak par aate jaate log, mandi ka shor... aur uske sasur samaan Tauji apne haath se use jalebi khila rahe the.
Kavya ki dhadkanen bekaabu ho gayin. Uske gore gaalon par sharm, jhijhak aur ek ajab si madhoshi ki laali daud gayi. Usne apni nazrein uthakar Tauji ki aankhon mein dekha. Un aankhon mein koi kapat nahi tha, lekin ek aisi jalti hui, paurush se bhari dehaati bhookh zaroor thi jisne Kavya ke poore jism mein sihran paida kar di.
Kavya ne dheere se apne naazuk honth khole.
Jaise hi usne us kurkure tukde ko apne munh mein liya, Tauji ki sheere se chipchipi, khuradri aur tapti hui ungliyan Kavya ke nichle makhmalI honth se halke se ragad kha gayin.
Uf...
Vah ek second ki khuradri, garam chhuwan kisi nange bijli ke taar ki tarah Kavya ke jism mein utar gayi. Kavya ki aankhen madhoshi mein aadhi band ho gayin. Uske munh mein jalebi ka meetha ras ghul raha tha, lekin uske honthon par us boodhe pahalwan ki paseene aur paurush se bhari ungliyon ki jalan chipak chuki thi.
Tauji ne apni un ungliyon ko dekha, jin par Kavya ke honthon ki halki si nami chhoot gayi thi. Tauji ka halak sookh gaya. Unhone sookhe gale se thook nigla aur apni nazrein Kavya ke un rasile honthon se hata nahi paaye.
"Kaisi hai bahu?" Tauji ki awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
Kavya ne dupatte ke pallu ko apni mutthi mein bheench liya, uski saansen bhaari thin, "Bahut... bahut meethi hai Tauji... aisi jalebi maine zindagi mein kabhi nahi khai..."
Sadak ke us paar, ek Ganne ke ras ke thele ke peeche khada main apne kaale chashme ki ot se yeh poora nazaara dekh raha tha.
Meri hatheliyon mein paseena chhoot raha tha aur mere pant ke andar mera naamard badan ek khaufnaak, vikrit uttejna se phadak raha tha.
Meri padhi likhi, raees aur sanskari biwi... jise kisi gair mard ke haath lagane ki kalpana se bhi ghin aati thi, vah us bhari mandi mein ek dehaati pahalwan ke haathon se meetha ras chaat rahi thi aur uske saamne laja rahi thi.
Tabhi maine dekha ki Tauji ne thaiile uthaye aur dono wapas mudne lage.
Mere hosh ud gaye! Agar ve mujhse pehle ghar pahunch gaye, to mera poora khel pakda jaata.
Maine turant apna chashma utaara, cap jeb mein thoosi aur mandi ki ek patli, sankri pichhli gali mein daud laga di. Shortcut lete hue, haanpte kaanpte main society ke pichhle gate se andar ghusa.
Lift pakadkar jab main flat number 903 ke andar daakhil hua, to meri saansen phool rahi thin. Maine turant apne joote utaare, T shirt se maathe ka paseena ponchha, fridge se paani ki bottle nikaali aur dining table par apni kursi par baithkar laptop on kar liya.
Mushkil se aath minute baad mukhya darwaze ke lock mein chaabi ghoomne ki awaaz aayi khat!
Darwaza khula.
Kavya andar daakhil hui. Uske chehre par subah wala vah gussa kahin naamonishaan ko bhi nahi tha. Uske gore gaalon par ek nayi, gulabi chamak thi aur uske honthon par ek aisi madhosh, tript muskaan khel rahi thi jo maine mahinon se nahi dekhi thi.
Uske theek peeche Tauji aaye, dono bhaari thaiile shaan se uthaye hue, kisi vijeta ki tarah.
"Are, aa gaye aap log?" maine laptop se nazrein uthakar bilkul masoom aur anjaan bante hue kaha, "Kavya, sorry yaar... vah call thodi lambi khinch gayi. Tum naaraaz to nahi ho na?"
Kavya ne apni kajrari aankhen uthakar mujhe dekha. Uski un aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa, gehra raaz tha jo ab sirf uske aur Tauji ke beech ka tha.
"Nahi Rajesh," Kavya ne dheemi, meethi awaaz mein muskuraate hue kaha, "Main bilkul naaraaz nahi hoon. Tauji saath the na... mujhe koi pareshani nahi hui."
Kavya sabzi ke thaiile lekar kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)