5 hours ago
Chapter 26: Hyderabad ka Safar, Adhoori Subah aur Dahakta Intezaar
Aadhi raat ko Tauji ke band kamre mein peetal ki thaali le jaane aur us chupchaap seva ke baad, agle kuch din flat 903 mein ek ajeeb, damghontu aur gehre sannate ke saath beete.
Upar se dekhne par sab kuch poori tarah saamaanya lag raha tha. Ghar ki rozmarra ki dincharya apni tay raftaar se chal rahi thi. Beti Ananya hafte ke dinon ke niyam ke tahat shehar ke purane ilaake mein apne nana nani ke ghar par thi, isliye is bade flat mein sirf hum teen log the. Subah ka naashta banta, kaamwaali bai dopahar ko aakar Tauji ke liye khaana banati, Kavya apne designer boutique ke liye nikal jaati aur main IT park ke apne corporate daftar mein files aur scrum calls mein uljha rehta.
Lekin is satahi shaanti ke neeche... ek khaamosh, dahakti hui aag sulag rahi thi.
Us raat Tauji ko apne haathon se rotiyan khilane aur apni ungliyon se us boodhe pahalwan ki chaudhi chhaati ko sehlane ke baad se, Kavya ke bartaav mein ek naya, bareek badlaav aa gaya tha. Ab Tauji ke saamne jaane par uske chehre par vah purana, sahma hua apraadhbodh nahi dikhta tha. Vah jab bhi Tauji ke saamne se guzarti, uski nazrein jhuk to jaatin, lekin un jhuki hui palkon ke peeche ek nasheeli, dabi hui utsukta saaf mehsoos hoti thi. Tauji bhi jab balcony mein baithkar surti malte ya akhbaar padhte, to unke chaudhe, dhoop mein tape chehre ki kathorta Kavya ke aate hi halki si pighal jaati. Unki gehri, angaare jaisi aankhen Kavya ke har ek kadam, uski kamar ki lachak aur uski saadiyon ke sarakne ka chupchaap peechha karti thin.
Aur main... main apne office ke glass cabin mein baitha, apne naye high tech WiFi router aur dongle ke zariye in dono ke beech khinchte us adrishya chumbakiya taar ko har second live monitor kar raha tha.
Ve dono ek doosre ki taraf khinch rahe the, lekin maryaada ki vah aakhri chaukhat itni bhaari thi ki dono mein se koi bhi agla khula kadam uthane ki himmat nahi juta pa raha tha. Maamla ek ajeeb se gatirodh par aakar atak gaya tha.
Mere seene mein bechaini ka paara chadh raha tha. Mere bheetar ka vah vikrit, jaasoos keeda lagatar tadap raha tha ki aakhir kab... kab yeh parda poori tarah phatega? Lekin mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki is bisaat par mera agla mohra kya hona chahiye.
Tabhi, kudrat ne mere haath mein vah paasa phenk diya jiska main hafton se intezaar kar raha tha.
Budhvaar ki dopahar ko hamare corporate headquarters se ek atyant zaroori aur gopniya email aaya. Hyderabad mein hamari company ka varshik supply chain leadership summit aur annual performance review aayojit kiya gaya tha. Regional Operations Director hone ke naate mera wahan vyaktigat roop se maujood rehna anivarya tha.
Yeh poora tour do din aur do raaton ka tha.
Email padhte hi mere haath mein pakda pen table par chhoot gaya. Paanch saal se main is company mein kaam kar raha tha, aur yeh mera paanchva annual summit tha. Lekin is baar... is baar is business trip ka matlab kuch aur hi tha. Hyderabad Pune se koi do chaar ghante ki doori par nahi tha vah saadhe paanch sau kilometer door, das ghante ke train safar ka faasla tha. Agar ghar mein kuch hota bhi, to main palak jhapakte wapas nahi laut sakta tha.
Shaam ko jab main ghar lauta, to dinner ki table par maine yeh baat chhedi. Kavya katori mein daal paros rahi thi aur Tauji apni thaali mein phulke ka tukda tod rahe the.
"Kavya... Tauji," maine paani ka ghoont bharte hue bilkul sahaj lehje mein kaha, "Parson subah mujhe do din ke liye ek zaroori corporate summit ke silsile mein Hyderabad jaana hoga. Headquarters mein poore region ki annual review meeting hai."
Kavya ke haath mein pakda chimta pal bhar ke liye ruk gaya.
Usne apni badi badi kajrari aankhen uthakar mujhe dekha. Un aankhon mein ek swabhaavik, sachchi udaasi aur anmanapan saaf chamak utha. Shaadi ke itne saalon mein hum dono bahut kam ek doosre se itni door rahe the. Jab bhi mujhe kisi tour par jaana padta tha, Kavya ka dil baith jaata tha. Vah poore din bechain rehti thi aur har do ghante mein phone karke mera haal poochhti thi.
"Hyderabad? Itni door... do din ke liye?" Kavya ne dheemi, udaas awaaz mein poochha, "Rajesh... kya aapka jaana itna zaroori hai? Aapki surgery ko abhi kuch hi mahine hue hain, aapko aksar urinary tract mein khinchav aur kamzori mehsoos hoti hai. Das ghante ka lamba safar... is haalat mein aap kaise sambhaalenge?"
"Jaana to padega, Kavya," maine uske chehre par ubhri us masoom chinta ko dekhte hue ek feeki muskaan ke saath kaha, "Global leadership aa rahi hai. Agar main is review mein nahi gaya, to poore saal ka bonus aur promotion atak jayega. Bas adtalis ghante ki baat hai... teesre din dopahar tak main laut aaunga."
Tauji ne apni bhaari, gambhir nazrein meri taraf uthain. Unhone apni chaudhi moonchon par haath pherte hue ek shaant, gathili awaaz mein kaha, "Kaam kaaj pehle hai, beta. Tu naukri ki bilkul fikr mat kar. Ghar grihasthi aur bahu ki rakhwali ke liye main yahan baitha hoon. Tu befikr hokar apna kaam nipata kar aa."
Bahu ki rakhwali ke liye main yahan baitha hoon...
Tauji ke un bhaari shabdon ne mere seene mein ek ajeeb, jhanjhnaata hua current dauda diya. Maine sir jhukakar daal ka ghoont piya, taaki mere chehre par ubharta vah gehra, shaitaani bhaav un dono ki nazron mein na aa jaye.
Us raat jab hum dono apne master bedroom mein aaye, to Kavya ne wardrobe kholkar mera leather ka chhota trolley bag bahar nikala.
Vah bed ke kinaare ghutnon ke bal baithkar mere kapde pack karne lagi. Usne gehre jamuni rang ka dheela cotton ka night suit pehan rakha tha. Jab vah jhukkar mere formal shirts aur pants ko karine se tah karke bag mein jama kar rahi thi, to uske chehre par ek gharelu, samarpit patni ki vah bemisaal fikr thi jo sirf ek Hindustani aurat mein hi ho sakti hai.
Usne bag ki side wali zip mein meri surgery ke baad ki antibiotics, painkillers aur multivitamin ki sheeshiyan rakhin.
"Rajesh, suniye," usne ek ek dawa ki strip ko haath mein thaamkar mujhe hidayat deni shuru ki, uska swar wahi tha jo ek aurat apne laparwah pati ko samjhate waqt rakhti hai, "Yeh neeli wali goli subah naashte ke baad leni hai, bhoolna mat. Main wahan aapko yaad dilane ke liye maujood nahi rahungi. Aur yeh safed wali raat ko sone se pehle doodh ya gun gune paani ke saath..."
"Haan baba, sab yaad rahega," maine bed par baithe baithe muskuraate hue kaha.
"Muskuraaiye mat, mujhe aapki aadat pata hai," Kavya ne kritrim naaraazgi se apni bhauhein sikoDin, "Conference khatam hote hi colleagues ke saath der raat tak party mat karne lag jaana. Thodi bahut drink theek hai, par zyada mat peena... aapki sehat pehle se naazuk hai. Train mein AC ka temperature bahut kam mat rakhna, aapko jaldi sardi pakad leti hai."
Vah lagatar bol rahi thi, ek saans mein anginat hidayatein deti ja rahi thi. Uski is mamta aur chinta bhari bakbak ne ek pal ke liye mere dil ko chhoo liya. Meri antaratma ke kisi kone mein dard ki ek madhim si lakeer khinchi yeh aurat mujhse kitna pyaar karti thi! Vah mere shareer, meri saanson aur meri sehat ke liye kitni samarpit thi.
Lekin theek usi second... jab Kavya trolley bag ki chain band karne ke liye thoda aur aage jhuki, aur uske night suit ke bheetar se uski sudaul kamar aur koolhon ka ubhaar meri aankhon ke saamne aaya, to mere dimaag ke us andhere kone mein ek aisa bhayanak, dahakta hua vichaar kaundha jisne meri saari insaaniyat ko bhasm kar diya.
Agle do din... poore adtalis ghante... is nauvin manzil ke flat mein sirf do hi baalig insaan honge.
Kavya... aur chhappan saal ka faulaadi Tauji.
Koi teesra nahi hoga. Koi tokne wala nahi hoga. Aur main saikdon mile door Hyderabad mein hounga... chaahkar bhi turant nahi laut paunga. Din ka ujaala ho ya raat ka gehra sannata... meri yeh khoobsurat, pyaasi biwi aur vah bhookha, taakatvar dehaati mard is chhat ke neeche bilkul tanha honge.
Kya in do dinon mein vah aakhri deewar dhah jayegi?
Us ek khayal ne meri reedh ki haddi mein sihran ki ek aisi barfeeli lehar dauda di ki meri saansen atak gayin. Mere purusharth ki beizzati aur mere voyeuristic keede ki andhi hawas aapas mein takraakar ek aisa bhayanak nasha paida kar rahi thi jise bayaan karna namumkin tha. Maine apni mutthiyan bheench lin. Yeh business trip meri us gupt yojana ke liye kudrat ka sabse bada tohfa saabit hone wala tha.
Agli subah paune chhe baje Kavya mujhse pehle jaag chuki thi.
Jab main nahaakar bahar nikla, to dining table par bhaap udaati adrak ki garam chai aur toast taiyaar rakhe the. Tauji bhi apne kamre se bahar nikal aaye the. Ve safed khaddar ka saaf kurta aur dhoti pehne hue the, unke maathe par chandan ka ek chhota sa teeka laga tha.
"Ja beta," Tauji ne apna bhaari, khuradra haath mere kandhe par rakha. Unka panja itna mazboot tha ki unki ungliyon ki pakad meri collar bone mein dhansati mehsoos hui, "Safar lamba hai, apna dhyan rakhna. Jab pahunch jaye, to phone kar dena."
Kavya ne mera trolley bag mukhya darwaze ke paas rakh diya tha. Usne jhukkar meri jacket ki silwatein theek kin. Uski aankhon mein vidaai ka vah jaana pehchaana bhaaripan tha.
"Pahunchte hi call kijiyega," usne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz mein ek bheegi hui narmi thi.
Maine uske gaal ko halke se thapthapaya, "Apna aur ghar ka khyaal rakhna, Kavya."
Nauvin manzil se neeche utarkar maine society ke gate se ek cab li aur seedhe railway station ki taraf badh gaya.
Corporate ki travel policy mujhe Hyderabad ke liye seedhi flight ki suvidha de rahi thi, bamushkil sava ghante mein main wahan pahunch sakta tha. Lekin main kabhi akele hawai jahaaz mein safar nahi kar paata tha mujhe 'flying phobia' tha. Jab Kavya mere saath hoti thi, meri ungliyon ko thaamkar hausla deti thi, tab to main kisi tarah us band cabin aur take off ke jhatkon ko jhel leta tha; lekin akele aasmaan mein hazaaron feet upar udne ka khayal hi mere seene mein ghabraahat aur panic attack paida kar deta tha. Isliye maine lambi doori ke bawajood train ka vikalp chuna tha.
Hyderabad jaane wali express train ke AC coach mein meri lower berth aarakshit thi.
Karib das ghante ka vah lamba rail safar tha. Train ki lohe ki patariyon par goonjti khadakhadaahat ke beech main apni berth par leta raha. Bahar khidki se Deccan ke pathaar, patharile khet aur door daraaj ke dehaati gaon tezi se peeche chhoot rahe the. Maine chaadar odhkar aankhen band karne ki bahut koshish ki, lekin mere dimaag mein neend ki ek boond bhi nahi thi.
Mera dil kisi nagaade ki tarah baj raha tha.
Meri ungliyan meri jeb mein rakhe us encrypted dongle aur smartphone ko baar baar tatol rahi thin. Mera poora wajood sirf ek hi kalpana mein dooba hua tha saikdon kilometer peeche chhoota flat 903 ka living room, vah khaamosh kitchen, aur Tauji ke saamne chai ki pyaali rakhti Kavya ki nangi kalai.
Us das ghante ke lambe safar ke dauran, Kavya ke lagatar teen phone aaye.
Pehla phone dopahar karib baarah baje aaya: "Rajesh? Train mein sab theek hai na? Seat mil gayi thi? Aapko dawa lene ke liye paani ki bottle mili?" Kavya ka swar chinta se bhara hua tha.
Doosra phone theek dhai baje aaya: "Rajesh, aapne pantry car se lunch liya? Please zyada tel masale wala khaana mat khaiyega. Aur lunch ke turant baad vah neeli wali goli le lena... bhoolna mat."
Aur teesra phone shaam ko karib saat baje aaya, jab train Karnataka aur Telangana ki seema paar kar rahi thi: "Rajesh, kitni der mein pahunchegi train? Station se seedhe hotel jaiyega... bahar akele mat ghoomiye ga. Aap bahut thak gaye honge."
Kavya ki is lagatar, samarpit fikr ne mere dil ko ek ajeeb se apraadhbodh se bhar diya tha. Vah ghar mein baithkar sirf aur sirf mere baare mein soch rahi thi. Vah apni har ek saans se meri hifaazat ki dua maang rahi thi.
Raat ke karib paune nau baje train Hyderabad ke station par pahunchi.
Shehar ki gahmaagahmi ke beech maine ek taxi li aur seedhe us business hotel pahuncha jo Hitec IT corridor ke paas sthit tha aur jahan company ne mere thehrne ka intezaam kiya tha.
Kamre ka card key lagakar jab maine darwaza khola, to AC ki thandi hawa ne mera swagat kiya. Maine apna bag kone mein rakha aur das ghante ke lambe rail safar ki bhaari thakawat se choor hokar seedhe bade king size bed par apni peeth ke bal gir pada. Kavya ko maine ek chhota sa message kar diya ki main surakshit hotel pahunch gaya hoon.
Kavya ka turant jawab aaya: 'Bhagwan ka shukr hai. Ab aap bina koi kaam kiye so jaiye. Good night.'
Us raat, safar ki bhaari thakaan aur badan ke dard ki wajah se maine apne laptop par ghar ka surveillance system on nahi kiya. Mujhe laga ki pehle hi din kuch nahi hone wala; Tauji aur Kavya ke beech jo bhi khinchav hai, vah itni jaldi kisi dhamaake mein nahi badlega. Thakawat itni zyada thi ki maine kamre ki battiyan bujhai aur gehri, besudh neend mein so gaya.
Agli subah karib aath baje meri aankh khuli.
Maine jaldi jaldi nahaya, hotel ki lobby mein halka breakfast kiya aur theek nau baje company ke regional headquarters ki us vishaal imaarat mein pahunch gaya.
Saatven floor par maujood electronic classroom mein poore region ke karib pachaas senior operations aur supply chain directors jama the. Screen par bade bade projector jal rahe the, timahi aankdon ke graphs ghoom rahe the, aur global VP ka presentation shuru ho chuka tha.
Lekin us thande, centrally air conditioned hall mein baithe baithe... achanak mere seene mein ek ajeeb si bechaini ne janm liya.
Ghadi mein subah ke saadhe das baj chuke the.
Aur Kavya ka... ab tak ek bhi phone nahi aaya tha.
Yeh baat mere liye bilkul asaamaanya thi. Jab bhi main kisi tour par hota tha, Kavya subah aath ya sava aath baje mujhe jagane ke liye, meri neend ka haal poochhne ke liye aur yeh yaad dilane ke liye ki maine naashta kiya ya nahi, pehla phone zaroor karti thi. Yeh pichhle paanch saalon ka uska atoot niyam tha.
Lekin aaj... subah ka poora session beetne ko aaya tha, aur mere iPhone ki screen poori tarah khaamosh padi thi.
Classroom mein chal raha vah neeras, bhaari corporate lecture mere kaanon ke paas se ek bemaani shor bankar guzar raha tha. Mera dimaag us hall mein bilkul nahi tha. Meri hatheliyon par thanda paseena risne laga tha.
Kavya ne aaj subah phone kyun nahi kiya?
Kya vah subah der se uthi? Kya boutique mein koi emergency aa gayi thi?
Ya phir... ya phir aaj ki subah flat 903 mein kuch aisa ghata tha jisne Kavya ki zubaan aur uski ungliyon ko sunn kar diya tha? Kya us band flat mein Tauji aur uske beech ki vah maryaada ki aakhri deewar aaj subah toot chuki thi?
Jaise jaise dopahar ke do baje, aur phir shaam ke paanch baje, mere bheetar ka suspense ek bhayanak, jaanleva chubhan mein tabdeel ho gaya. Lunch break mein bhi maine khud phone milane ki koshish nahi ki; mera vah vikrit dimaag yeh dekhna chahta tha ki Kavya apni taraf se kab phone karti hai.
Shaam ko jab training ka pehla din khatam hua, to kayi colleagues ne hotel ke lounge mein drinks ke liye invite kiya. Lekin meri haalat aisi nahi thi ki main kisi se do minute bhi baat kar sakun. Maine sirdard ka bahaana banaya, sabko mana kiya, aur seedhe ek cab pakadkar apne hotel laut aaya.
Hotel ke kamre ka darwaza band karte hi maine apni jacket nochkar sofe par phenki.
Main bed ke kinaare baith gaya. Mere dil ki dhadkanen kisi nagaade ki tarah baj rahi thin. Poora din beet chuka tha, shaam ke saat bajne wale the, aur ghar se koi khabar nahi thi. Ab mera sabr poori tarah jawab de chuka tha. Mujhse yeh anjaana khauf aur yeh dahakti hui jigyaasa ab aur bardaasht nahi ho rahi thi.
Maine kaanpti ungliyon se apni jeb se phone nikala. Maine screen unlock ki, contacts khole aur 'Kavya' ke naam par meri ungli jam gayi.
Main call ka hara button dabaane hi wala tha...
Trinnnn... trinnnn... trinnnn...
Achanak, mere haath mein thaama vah phone bhayanak roop se vibrate hua!
Screen ki tez roshni mein Kavya ka naam chamak utha. Neeche uska muskuraata hua photo call ke saath thirak raha tha.
Mere rongte khade ho gaye. Meri chhaati mein saans atak gayi. Maine apne sookhe gale ko thook se tar kiya, apni ungliyon ki kampkampi ko sambhaala, aur kaanpte angoothe se swipe karke phone kaan se laga liya.
"Hello... Kavya?" maine dheemi, bhaari awaaz mein poochha.
Aur phone ke us paar se... sirf Kavya ki tez, ukhdi hui saanson ki dheemi si awaaz aayi.
Aadhi raat ko Tauji ke band kamre mein peetal ki thaali le jaane aur us chupchaap seva ke baad, agle kuch din flat 903 mein ek ajeeb, damghontu aur gehre sannate ke saath beete.
Upar se dekhne par sab kuch poori tarah saamaanya lag raha tha. Ghar ki rozmarra ki dincharya apni tay raftaar se chal rahi thi. Beti Ananya hafte ke dinon ke niyam ke tahat shehar ke purane ilaake mein apne nana nani ke ghar par thi, isliye is bade flat mein sirf hum teen log the. Subah ka naashta banta, kaamwaali bai dopahar ko aakar Tauji ke liye khaana banati, Kavya apne designer boutique ke liye nikal jaati aur main IT park ke apne corporate daftar mein files aur scrum calls mein uljha rehta.
Lekin is satahi shaanti ke neeche... ek khaamosh, dahakti hui aag sulag rahi thi.
Us raat Tauji ko apne haathon se rotiyan khilane aur apni ungliyon se us boodhe pahalwan ki chaudhi chhaati ko sehlane ke baad se, Kavya ke bartaav mein ek naya, bareek badlaav aa gaya tha. Ab Tauji ke saamne jaane par uske chehre par vah purana, sahma hua apraadhbodh nahi dikhta tha. Vah jab bhi Tauji ke saamne se guzarti, uski nazrein jhuk to jaatin, lekin un jhuki hui palkon ke peeche ek nasheeli, dabi hui utsukta saaf mehsoos hoti thi. Tauji bhi jab balcony mein baithkar surti malte ya akhbaar padhte, to unke chaudhe, dhoop mein tape chehre ki kathorta Kavya ke aate hi halki si pighal jaati. Unki gehri, angaare jaisi aankhen Kavya ke har ek kadam, uski kamar ki lachak aur uski saadiyon ke sarakne ka chupchaap peechha karti thin.
Aur main... main apne office ke glass cabin mein baitha, apne naye high tech WiFi router aur dongle ke zariye in dono ke beech khinchte us adrishya chumbakiya taar ko har second live monitor kar raha tha.
Ve dono ek doosre ki taraf khinch rahe the, lekin maryaada ki vah aakhri chaukhat itni bhaari thi ki dono mein se koi bhi agla khula kadam uthane ki himmat nahi juta pa raha tha. Maamla ek ajeeb se gatirodh par aakar atak gaya tha.
Mere seene mein bechaini ka paara chadh raha tha. Mere bheetar ka vah vikrit, jaasoos keeda lagatar tadap raha tha ki aakhir kab... kab yeh parda poori tarah phatega? Lekin mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki is bisaat par mera agla mohra kya hona chahiye.
Tabhi, kudrat ne mere haath mein vah paasa phenk diya jiska main hafton se intezaar kar raha tha.
Budhvaar ki dopahar ko hamare corporate headquarters se ek atyant zaroori aur gopniya email aaya. Hyderabad mein hamari company ka varshik supply chain leadership summit aur annual performance review aayojit kiya gaya tha. Regional Operations Director hone ke naate mera wahan vyaktigat roop se maujood rehna anivarya tha.
Yeh poora tour do din aur do raaton ka tha.
Email padhte hi mere haath mein pakda pen table par chhoot gaya. Paanch saal se main is company mein kaam kar raha tha, aur yeh mera paanchva annual summit tha. Lekin is baar... is baar is business trip ka matlab kuch aur hi tha. Hyderabad Pune se koi do chaar ghante ki doori par nahi tha vah saadhe paanch sau kilometer door, das ghante ke train safar ka faasla tha. Agar ghar mein kuch hota bhi, to main palak jhapakte wapas nahi laut sakta tha.
Shaam ko jab main ghar lauta, to dinner ki table par maine yeh baat chhedi. Kavya katori mein daal paros rahi thi aur Tauji apni thaali mein phulke ka tukda tod rahe the.
"Kavya... Tauji," maine paani ka ghoont bharte hue bilkul sahaj lehje mein kaha, "Parson subah mujhe do din ke liye ek zaroori corporate summit ke silsile mein Hyderabad jaana hoga. Headquarters mein poore region ki annual review meeting hai."
Kavya ke haath mein pakda chimta pal bhar ke liye ruk gaya.
Usne apni badi badi kajrari aankhen uthakar mujhe dekha. Un aankhon mein ek swabhaavik, sachchi udaasi aur anmanapan saaf chamak utha. Shaadi ke itne saalon mein hum dono bahut kam ek doosre se itni door rahe the. Jab bhi mujhe kisi tour par jaana padta tha, Kavya ka dil baith jaata tha. Vah poore din bechain rehti thi aur har do ghante mein phone karke mera haal poochhti thi.
"Hyderabad? Itni door... do din ke liye?" Kavya ne dheemi, udaas awaaz mein poochha, "Rajesh... kya aapka jaana itna zaroori hai? Aapki surgery ko abhi kuch hi mahine hue hain, aapko aksar urinary tract mein khinchav aur kamzori mehsoos hoti hai. Das ghante ka lamba safar... is haalat mein aap kaise sambhaalenge?"
"Jaana to padega, Kavya," maine uske chehre par ubhri us masoom chinta ko dekhte hue ek feeki muskaan ke saath kaha, "Global leadership aa rahi hai. Agar main is review mein nahi gaya, to poore saal ka bonus aur promotion atak jayega. Bas adtalis ghante ki baat hai... teesre din dopahar tak main laut aaunga."
Tauji ne apni bhaari, gambhir nazrein meri taraf uthain. Unhone apni chaudhi moonchon par haath pherte hue ek shaant, gathili awaaz mein kaha, "Kaam kaaj pehle hai, beta. Tu naukri ki bilkul fikr mat kar. Ghar grihasthi aur bahu ki rakhwali ke liye main yahan baitha hoon. Tu befikr hokar apna kaam nipata kar aa."
Bahu ki rakhwali ke liye main yahan baitha hoon...
Tauji ke un bhaari shabdon ne mere seene mein ek ajeeb, jhanjhnaata hua current dauda diya. Maine sir jhukakar daal ka ghoont piya, taaki mere chehre par ubharta vah gehra, shaitaani bhaav un dono ki nazron mein na aa jaye.
Us raat jab hum dono apne master bedroom mein aaye, to Kavya ne wardrobe kholkar mera leather ka chhota trolley bag bahar nikala.
Vah bed ke kinaare ghutnon ke bal baithkar mere kapde pack karne lagi. Usne gehre jamuni rang ka dheela cotton ka night suit pehan rakha tha. Jab vah jhukkar mere formal shirts aur pants ko karine se tah karke bag mein jama kar rahi thi, to uske chehre par ek gharelu, samarpit patni ki vah bemisaal fikr thi jo sirf ek Hindustani aurat mein hi ho sakti hai.
Usne bag ki side wali zip mein meri surgery ke baad ki antibiotics, painkillers aur multivitamin ki sheeshiyan rakhin.
"Rajesh, suniye," usne ek ek dawa ki strip ko haath mein thaamkar mujhe hidayat deni shuru ki, uska swar wahi tha jo ek aurat apne laparwah pati ko samjhate waqt rakhti hai, "Yeh neeli wali goli subah naashte ke baad leni hai, bhoolna mat. Main wahan aapko yaad dilane ke liye maujood nahi rahungi. Aur yeh safed wali raat ko sone se pehle doodh ya gun gune paani ke saath..."
"Haan baba, sab yaad rahega," maine bed par baithe baithe muskuraate hue kaha.
"Muskuraaiye mat, mujhe aapki aadat pata hai," Kavya ne kritrim naaraazgi se apni bhauhein sikoDin, "Conference khatam hote hi colleagues ke saath der raat tak party mat karne lag jaana. Thodi bahut drink theek hai, par zyada mat peena... aapki sehat pehle se naazuk hai. Train mein AC ka temperature bahut kam mat rakhna, aapko jaldi sardi pakad leti hai."
Vah lagatar bol rahi thi, ek saans mein anginat hidayatein deti ja rahi thi. Uski is mamta aur chinta bhari bakbak ne ek pal ke liye mere dil ko chhoo liya. Meri antaratma ke kisi kone mein dard ki ek madhim si lakeer khinchi yeh aurat mujhse kitna pyaar karti thi! Vah mere shareer, meri saanson aur meri sehat ke liye kitni samarpit thi.
Lekin theek usi second... jab Kavya trolley bag ki chain band karne ke liye thoda aur aage jhuki, aur uske night suit ke bheetar se uski sudaul kamar aur koolhon ka ubhaar meri aankhon ke saamne aaya, to mere dimaag ke us andhere kone mein ek aisa bhayanak, dahakta hua vichaar kaundha jisne meri saari insaaniyat ko bhasm kar diya.
Agle do din... poore adtalis ghante... is nauvin manzil ke flat mein sirf do hi baalig insaan honge.
Kavya... aur chhappan saal ka faulaadi Tauji.
Koi teesra nahi hoga. Koi tokne wala nahi hoga. Aur main saikdon mile door Hyderabad mein hounga... chaahkar bhi turant nahi laut paunga. Din ka ujaala ho ya raat ka gehra sannata... meri yeh khoobsurat, pyaasi biwi aur vah bhookha, taakatvar dehaati mard is chhat ke neeche bilkul tanha honge.
Kya in do dinon mein vah aakhri deewar dhah jayegi?
Us ek khayal ne meri reedh ki haddi mein sihran ki ek aisi barfeeli lehar dauda di ki meri saansen atak gayin. Mere purusharth ki beizzati aur mere voyeuristic keede ki andhi hawas aapas mein takraakar ek aisa bhayanak nasha paida kar rahi thi jise bayaan karna namumkin tha. Maine apni mutthiyan bheench lin. Yeh business trip meri us gupt yojana ke liye kudrat ka sabse bada tohfa saabit hone wala tha.
Agli subah paune chhe baje Kavya mujhse pehle jaag chuki thi.
Jab main nahaakar bahar nikla, to dining table par bhaap udaati adrak ki garam chai aur toast taiyaar rakhe the. Tauji bhi apne kamre se bahar nikal aaye the. Ve safed khaddar ka saaf kurta aur dhoti pehne hue the, unke maathe par chandan ka ek chhota sa teeka laga tha.
"Ja beta," Tauji ne apna bhaari, khuradra haath mere kandhe par rakha. Unka panja itna mazboot tha ki unki ungliyon ki pakad meri collar bone mein dhansati mehsoos hui, "Safar lamba hai, apna dhyan rakhna. Jab pahunch jaye, to phone kar dena."
Kavya ne mera trolley bag mukhya darwaze ke paas rakh diya tha. Usne jhukkar meri jacket ki silwatein theek kin. Uski aankhon mein vidaai ka vah jaana pehchaana bhaaripan tha.
"Pahunchte hi call kijiyega," usne dheere se kaha, uski awaaz mein ek bheegi hui narmi thi.
Maine uske gaal ko halke se thapthapaya, "Apna aur ghar ka khyaal rakhna, Kavya."
Nauvin manzil se neeche utarkar maine society ke gate se ek cab li aur seedhe railway station ki taraf badh gaya.
Corporate ki travel policy mujhe Hyderabad ke liye seedhi flight ki suvidha de rahi thi, bamushkil sava ghante mein main wahan pahunch sakta tha. Lekin main kabhi akele hawai jahaaz mein safar nahi kar paata tha mujhe 'flying phobia' tha. Jab Kavya mere saath hoti thi, meri ungliyon ko thaamkar hausla deti thi, tab to main kisi tarah us band cabin aur take off ke jhatkon ko jhel leta tha; lekin akele aasmaan mein hazaaron feet upar udne ka khayal hi mere seene mein ghabraahat aur panic attack paida kar deta tha. Isliye maine lambi doori ke bawajood train ka vikalp chuna tha.
Hyderabad jaane wali express train ke AC coach mein meri lower berth aarakshit thi.
Karib das ghante ka vah lamba rail safar tha. Train ki lohe ki patariyon par goonjti khadakhadaahat ke beech main apni berth par leta raha. Bahar khidki se Deccan ke pathaar, patharile khet aur door daraaj ke dehaati gaon tezi se peeche chhoot rahe the. Maine chaadar odhkar aankhen band karne ki bahut koshish ki, lekin mere dimaag mein neend ki ek boond bhi nahi thi.
Mera dil kisi nagaade ki tarah baj raha tha.
Meri ungliyan meri jeb mein rakhe us encrypted dongle aur smartphone ko baar baar tatol rahi thin. Mera poora wajood sirf ek hi kalpana mein dooba hua tha saikdon kilometer peeche chhoota flat 903 ka living room, vah khaamosh kitchen, aur Tauji ke saamne chai ki pyaali rakhti Kavya ki nangi kalai.
Us das ghante ke lambe safar ke dauran, Kavya ke lagatar teen phone aaye.
Pehla phone dopahar karib baarah baje aaya: "Rajesh? Train mein sab theek hai na? Seat mil gayi thi? Aapko dawa lene ke liye paani ki bottle mili?" Kavya ka swar chinta se bhara hua tha.
Doosra phone theek dhai baje aaya: "Rajesh, aapne pantry car se lunch liya? Please zyada tel masale wala khaana mat khaiyega. Aur lunch ke turant baad vah neeli wali goli le lena... bhoolna mat."
Aur teesra phone shaam ko karib saat baje aaya, jab train Karnataka aur Telangana ki seema paar kar rahi thi: "Rajesh, kitni der mein pahunchegi train? Station se seedhe hotel jaiyega... bahar akele mat ghoomiye ga. Aap bahut thak gaye honge."
Kavya ki is lagatar, samarpit fikr ne mere dil ko ek ajeeb se apraadhbodh se bhar diya tha. Vah ghar mein baithkar sirf aur sirf mere baare mein soch rahi thi. Vah apni har ek saans se meri hifaazat ki dua maang rahi thi.
Raat ke karib paune nau baje train Hyderabad ke station par pahunchi.
Shehar ki gahmaagahmi ke beech maine ek taxi li aur seedhe us business hotel pahuncha jo Hitec IT corridor ke paas sthit tha aur jahan company ne mere thehrne ka intezaam kiya tha.
Kamre ka card key lagakar jab maine darwaza khola, to AC ki thandi hawa ne mera swagat kiya. Maine apna bag kone mein rakha aur das ghante ke lambe rail safar ki bhaari thakawat se choor hokar seedhe bade king size bed par apni peeth ke bal gir pada. Kavya ko maine ek chhota sa message kar diya ki main surakshit hotel pahunch gaya hoon.
Kavya ka turant jawab aaya: 'Bhagwan ka shukr hai. Ab aap bina koi kaam kiye so jaiye. Good night.'
Us raat, safar ki bhaari thakaan aur badan ke dard ki wajah se maine apne laptop par ghar ka surveillance system on nahi kiya. Mujhe laga ki pehle hi din kuch nahi hone wala; Tauji aur Kavya ke beech jo bhi khinchav hai, vah itni jaldi kisi dhamaake mein nahi badlega. Thakawat itni zyada thi ki maine kamre ki battiyan bujhai aur gehri, besudh neend mein so gaya.
Agli subah karib aath baje meri aankh khuli.
Maine jaldi jaldi nahaya, hotel ki lobby mein halka breakfast kiya aur theek nau baje company ke regional headquarters ki us vishaal imaarat mein pahunch gaya.
Saatven floor par maujood electronic classroom mein poore region ke karib pachaas senior operations aur supply chain directors jama the. Screen par bade bade projector jal rahe the, timahi aankdon ke graphs ghoom rahe the, aur global VP ka presentation shuru ho chuka tha.
Lekin us thande, centrally air conditioned hall mein baithe baithe... achanak mere seene mein ek ajeeb si bechaini ne janm liya.
Ghadi mein subah ke saadhe das baj chuke the.
Aur Kavya ka... ab tak ek bhi phone nahi aaya tha.
Yeh baat mere liye bilkul asaamaanya thi. Jab bhi main kisi tour par hota tha, Kavya subah aath ya sava aath baje mujhe jagane ke liye, meri neend ka haal poochhne ke liye aur yeh yaad dilane ke liye ki maine naashta kiya ya nahi, pehla phone zaroor karti thi. Yeh pichhle paanch saalon ka uska atoot niyam tha.
Lekin aaj... subah ka poora session beetne ko aaya tha, aur mere iPhone ki screen poori tarah khaamosh padi thi.
Classroom mein chal raha vah neeras, bhaari corporate lecture mere kaanon ke paas se ek bemaani shor bankar guzar raha tha. Mera dimaag us hall mein bilkul nahi tha. Meri hatheliyon par thanda paseena risne laga tha.
Kavya ne aaj subah phone kyun nahi kiya?
Kya vah subah der se uthi? Kya boutique mein koi emergency aa gayi thi?
Ya phir... ya phir aaj ki subah flat 903 mein kuch aisa ghata tha jisne Kavya ki zubaan aur uski ungliyon ko sunn kar diya tha? Kya us band flat mein Tauji aur uske beech ki vah maryaada ki aakhri deewar aaj subah toot chuki thi?
Jaise jaise dopahar ke do baje, aur phir shaam ke paanch baje, mere bheetar ka suspense ek bhayanak, jaanleva chubhan mein tabdeel ho gaya. Lunch break mein bhi maine khud phone milane ki koshish nahi ki; mera vah vikrit dimaag yeh dekhna chahta tha ki Kavya apni taraf se kab phone karti hai.
Shaam ko jab training ka pehla din khatam hua, to kayi colleagues ne hotel ke lounge mein drinks ke liye invite kiya. Lekin meri haalat aisi nahi thi ki main kisi se do minute bhi baat kar sakun. Maine sirdard ka bahaana banaya, sabko mana kiya, aur seedhe ek cab pakadkar apne hotel laut aaya.
Hotel ke kamre ka darwaza band karte hi maine apni jacket nochkar sofe par phenki.
Main bed ke kinaare baith gaya. Mere dil ki dhadkanen kisi nagaade ki tarah baj rahi thin. Poora din beet chuka tha, shaam ke saat bajne wale the, aur ghar se koi khabar nahi thi. Ab mera sabr poori tarah jawab de chuka tha. Mujhse yeh anjaana khauf aur yeh dahakti hui jigyaasa ab aur bardaasht nahi ho rahi thi.
Maine kaanpti ungliyon se apni jeb se phone nikala. Maine screen unlock ki, contacts khole aur 'Kavya' ke naam par meri ungli jam gayi.
Main call ka hara button dabaane hi wala tha...
Trinnnn... trinnnn... trinnnn...
Achanak, mere haath mein thaama vah phone bhayanak roop se vibrate hua!
Screen ki tez roshni mein Kavya ka naam chamak utha. Neeche uska muskuraata hua photo call ke saath thirak raha tha.
Mere rongte khade ho gaye. Meri chhaati mein saans atak gayi. Maine apne sookhe gale ko thook se tar kiya, apni ungliyon ki kampkampi ko sambhaala, aur kaanpte angoothe se swipe karke phone kaan se laga liya.
"Hello... Kavya?" maine dheemi, bhaari awaaz mein poochha.
Aur phone ke us paar se... sirf Kavya ki tez, ukhdi hui saanson ki dheemi si awaaz aayi.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)