6 hours ago
Chapter 41: Dohra Man
Hotel ke kamre ka bhaari lakdi ka darwaza maine jaise hi apne peeche band kiya, mere maathe se paseena behkar meri palkon par aa gira tha. Kamre ki central air-conditioning ki thandi, baasi hawa seedhe mere chehre par lagi, lekin mere bheetar jo aag sulag rahi thi, woh kisi bhi taapmaan se shaant hone wali nahi thi.
Maine apne joote tak theek se nahi khole. Briefcase ko seedhe kaaleen par patka aur apne kaanpte hue haathon se seedhe desk ki taraf lapka.
Laptop ka dhakkan uthaate hi uski neeli screen tair uthi. Meri ungliyan keyboard par itni tezi se chaliin ki password do baar galat type hua. Teesri baar mein jab authentication hua, to Pune ke Baner sthit flat ke closed-circuit surveillance ka remote software screen par khul gaya.
Chaar window.
Cam_MainDoor_01, Cam_Living_01, Cam_MasterBed_01, aur Cam_Kitchen_01।
Screen par abhi sannaata tha. Flat 903 ka living room khaali pada tha. Sofa ke cushion thode ast-vyast the, aur center table par paani ka ek khaali jag rakha tha, wahi manzar jo dopahar ke us bhayanak haadse ke waqt chhoota tha jab Kavya badhawaas haalat mein Tauji aur Anu ko lekar hospital bhaagi thi.
Timestamp dikha raha tha: Raat ke 7:42.
Meri dhadkanein mere kaanon mein hathodon ki tarah baj rahi thiin. Main apni ghoomne wali kursi ke kinaare par tika hua, apni dono hatheliyon ko desk par gadaaye screen ko ghoor raha tha.
Aur theek 7:47 par... Cam_MainDoor_01 ke motion sensor ne beep ki.
Darwaze ki bhaari kundi baahar se khuli.
Sabse pehle Kavya andar daakhil hui. Uske chehre ka rang poori tarah uda hua tha. Subah jo lavender rang ka reshmi salwar-suit usne qareene se pehna tha, woh ab buri tarah silwaton se bhara tha. Uska baadaami Kashmiri shawl ek kandhe se betarteeb dhalqa hua tha, aur maathe ki latein paseene se chipak gayi thiin.
![[Image: img-01509-cleaned.png]](https://i.ibb.co/mrVTzG3N/img-01509-cleaned.png)
Lekin uski nazrein peeche thiin, poori tarah kisi ki hifaazat mein juti huiin.
"Aaraam se Tauji... chaukhat par pair sambhaaliye... dheere..." Kavya ki aawaaz mein ek ajeeb sa, halaq cheer dene wala khinchaav tha.
Aur phir woh vishaal, dehati jism chaukhat ke bheetar aaya.
Unko dekhte hi mere seene mein ek bhayanak kampkampi daud gayi.
Sukhdev Tauji... chhah feet ek inch ka woh akhaade ka sher... aaj dono ghutnon se thoda jhuk-kar chal raha tha. Unke dono haath... kalaayi se lekar poori kohani ke oopar tak... mote, khurdure aur bhaari safed plaster mein jakde hue the. Dono baahein kaali medical slings (pattiyon) ke sahaare unki chaudi gardan se latki hui thiin. Unki ungliyan plaster ke sire se baahar nikli thiin, neeli, sooji hui aur poori tarah bejaan.
Woh apni ungliyon ka ek por tak nahi hila paa rahe the.
Safed khaadi ka kurta jo woh subah pehante the, woh hospital mein doctoron ne kainchi se kaatkar alag kar diya hoga, kyonki is time unke badan par sirf ek bina aasteen ki safed cotton baniyan thi. Baniyan par jagah-jagah khoon aur zang lage lohe ke bhoore daagh the. Unki chaudi, royendaar chhaati har saans ke saath bhaari dhaunkani ki tarah phool aur pichak rahi thi. Unke maathe par dard ki gehri, kaali lakeerein khinchi thiin, aur honth sookhe paapad ki tarah phate hue the.
Unke theek peeche, Anu dabe paanv andar aayi. Uski gulaabi frock dhool se sani thi, aur uski aankhein ro-rokar laal ho chuki thiin. Woh Kavya ke kurte ka kona pakadna chahti thi, lekin Kavya ka poora wajood sirf aur sirf Tauji ko sambhaalne mein laga tha.
"Yahan baithiye... deewaan par... haan, tek lagaaiye..." Kavya ne Tauji ke bhaari, maansal kandhe ko sahaara diya.
Tauji ke badan ka poora bhaar jab Kavya ke naazuk badan par aaya, to Kavya ke pair ek pal ke liye ladkhadaaye, lekin usne apne poore wajood ka zor lagaakar us vishaal jism ko deewaan par tikne mein madad ki. Tauji ke munh se ek dabi hui, karaahti hui cheekh nikli, "Aahh... bhagwan...!"
"Dard bahut zyaada hai na Tauji?" Kavya unke saamne ghutnon ke bal farsh par baith gayi. Usne apne kaanpte haathon se Tauji ke pairon se chamde ki chappalein utaariin. "Doctor ne kaha hai ki raat ko injection ka asar kam hoga to tees badhegi... main abhi garam haldi ka doodh banaati hoon aur painkiller deti hoon."
Tauji ne apni band aankhon se dheere se sir hilaaya. Unke maathe se paseene ki ek moti boond dhal-kar unki daadhi mein sama gayi.
"Tu... tu pareshaan mat ho, bahu..." Tauji ki bhaari, dehati aawaaz dard ki wajah se kaanp rahi thi. "Haddi hi to chatki hai... akhaade mein isse buri maar sahi hai maine. Tu bas baith ja... din bhar se daudi hai tu."
"Aap chup rahiye Tauji!" Kavya ki aawaaz mein achanak ek aisa adhikaar, ek aisi sakht mamta ubhri jo maine apni aath saal ki shaadi mein kabhi nahi suni thi. "Do-do jagah se haddiyan chaknachoor hui hain aapki... aur aap kehte hain kuch nahi hua? Agar zara si bhi der ho jaati to..."
Kavya ka gala rundh gaya. Usne apni dono hatheliyon mein apna chehra chhipa liya aur deewaan ke paaye se sir tikaakar sisak padi.
Main Hyderabad mein screen ke saamne baitha apni saansein rok chuka tha. Kavya ka woh rona kisi aupchaarikta ka nahi tha; woh us bhayanak sadme ka rechan tha jo usne pichhle chaar ghanton se hospital ke galiyaaron mein akele jhela tha.
Aur tabhi... woh hua jisne us poore ghar ki hawa ko zehreela bana diya.
Anu, jo ab tak living room ke kaaleen par sahmi hui khadi thi, oob aur bhookh se machalne lagi. Usne center table ke paas jaakar apne pair se ek steel ka glass hila diya.
Jhan... jhan... khadkhadkhad!
Khaali steel ka glass sangmarmar ke thande farsh par gol-gol ghoomta hua tez aawaaz ke saath goonj utha.
Tauji dard ke maare chaunk gaye, unki ghaayal baanh sling mein halka sa jhatka khaa gayi aur unke munh se ek teekhi siskaari nikli, "Ufff...!"
Anu ne us taraf koi dhyaan nahi diya. Usne apne dono chhote haath apni kamar par rakhe aur ek chidchidi, bachkaani zid ke saath roni soorat banaakar boli, "Mamma! Mujhe bhookh lagi hai... mujhe cartoon dekhna hai! Remote kahan hai? Kab se hospital mein baithe-baithe mere pair dukh rahe hain... mujhe TV chala kar do na!"
Us ek pal mein... Kavya ka poora shareer patthar ki tarah sakht ho gaya.
Usne apna chehra oopar uthaya.
Bhagwan gawaah hai, Cam_Living_01 ke high-definition lens se maine Kavya ki jo aankhein us pal dekhiin, unse meri reedh ki haddi mein baraf ki ek dhaar utar gayi.
Woh meri shaant, sanskaari, Koregaon Park ki nafees aur narm-dil patni Kavya nahi thi.
Uski aankhon ki putliyan sikudkar koyle ki tarah sulag rahi thiin. Uske nathune fadak rahe the, aur jab woh farsh se uthi, to uski chaal mein ek khoonkhar, zehreela tanaav tha.
"Chup karo Anu!"
![[Image: img-01510-cleaned.png]](https://i.ibb.co/zhN6hXQt/img-01510-cleaned.png)
Kavya ki aawaaz mein aisi thandi, hinsak kadwaahat thi ki Anu wahin ki wahin sahamkar do kadam peeche hat gayi.
"Mamma...?" Anu ki aawaaz gale mein hi atak gayi.
"Ek shabd aur nahi niklega tumhaare munh se!" Kavya apni beti ke bilkul qareeb aa khadi hui. Usne apni ungli Anu ke chehre ke saamne taan di. Uski aawaaz bhale hi cheekhne wali nahi thi, lekin us dheemi, fusfusaati hui daant mein jo zeher tha, usne kamre ki saari oxygen sokh li thi. "Tumko zara bhi sharm nahi aati? Zara sa bhi ehsaas hai ki tumhaari us behooda, laaparwaah zid ki wajah se aaj is ghar mein kya ho gaya hai?!"
"Kavya... bahu..." Tauji ne deewaan se apni bhaari gardan uthaane ki koshish ki. "Anu hai... abhi naadaan hai... chhod use..."
"Nahi Tauji, aap beech mein mat boliye!" Kavya ne mudkar dekhe bina kaha, uski poori nafrat us time apni hi beti par kendrit thi. "Agar aaj is ladki ne us bhaari gate ke neeche gend ke peeche daudne ki badtameezi na ki hoti... to aaj aapke haath salaamat hote! Sau baar mana kiya tha maine ki main gate ke paas mat khela karo... lekin nahi! Wahi dheethpan, wahi gair-zimmedaaraana bachkaanapan!"
Kavya ki aankhein laal angaare jaisi ho chuki thiin. Aur phir usne jo lafz kahe, unhone Hyderabad ke hotel mein baithe mere seene par kisi ne garam khanjar ghonp diya:
"Tumhara yeh laaparwaah, matlabi rawaiya bilkul tumhaare papa jaisa hai, Anu! Bilkul wahi khoon! Kisi ki qurbaani, kisi ke dard ki koi qadr nahi hai tum logon ko! Bas apni bhookh, apna TV, apna aaraam dikhta hai! Agar aaj Tauji ne apna shareer us teen sau kilo ke lohe ke neeche na jhonka hota na... to aaj tum is duniya mein zinda khadi hokar TV maangne laayak nahi bachtiin! Laash ban chuki hotiin tum!"
"Kavya!" Tauji ne apni poori taaqat lagaakar apni ek plaster bandhi baanh uthaayi, chehre par bepanaah takleef ubhar aayi. "Bahu, bas kar! Meri laadli par itna zulm mat dhaa... us gate ki kamaani tooti thi, meri gudiya ki koi khata nahi hai! Bhagwan ke liye chup ho ja!"
Anu ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi thiin. Uski maasoom samajh mein yeh baat nahi aa rahi thi ki jo maa use har raat seene se lagaakar pariyon ki kahaaniyan sunaati thi, woh achanak use aise kyon dekh rahi thi jaise woh koi paraayi, ghinouni bala ho.
Anu ka nichla honth buri tarah kaanpne laga. Uski aankhon se aansuon ke do bade-bade dhaare bahe, aur woh munh par haath rakhkar betahaasha sisakti hui seedhe master bedroom ki taraf bhaagi aur darwaza bheetar se band kar liya.
Living room mein sannaata chha gaya. Sirf Tauji ki bhaari, dardnaak saansein aur AC ki dheemi ghurghuraahat bachi thi.
Kavya wahin khadi rahi. Uski chhaati tezi se oopar-neeche ho rahi thi. Uske chehre par apni beti ko itni berahmi se dutkaarne ka koi pachhtaawa us time nahi dikh raha tha. Uske chehre par sirf ek bhayanak, aadim hifaazat ka bhaav tha, ek aisi sherni ka bhaav jo apne ghaayal sher ke ird-gird khadi hokar kisi bhi teesre wajood ko, chaahe woh uski apni beti hi kyon na ho, ek khatre ki tarah dekhne lagti hai.
Aur main?
Main apni screen ke saamne sunn pada tha.
“Tumhara yeh laaparwaah, matlabi rawaiya bilkul tumhaare papa jaisa hai... bilkul wahi khoon!”
Kavya ke woh shabd mere kaanon mein kisi seese ki tarah pighal rahe the. Woh daant sirf Anu ke liye nahi thi; woh ek gehra, achetan thappad tha jo Kavya ne paroksh roop se mere munh par maara tha. Uske avachetan ne Anu ki us laaparwaahi ko mere us kaayar, daftar mein dubke hue wajood se jod diya tha jo har sankat ke time apni bees saal ki home loan ki EMI aur corporate naukri ka rona rokar bhaag khada hota tha. Uske zehan mein Tauji ki akhaade wali mardaangi aur mera khokhla, shehri wajood aamne-saamne khade the... aur us tulna mein main aur meri beti, dono Tauji ke pairon ki dhool ke baraabar bhi nahi thehar rahe the.
Mera khoon khoul utha. Mera dil chaaha ki main abhi phone milaaoon aur Kavya par cheekh padoon, 'Tumhari himmat kaise hui meri maasoom beti ko yeh bolne ki ki woh laash ban jaati?! Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere khoon ko matlabi kehne ki?!'
Lekin... mere haath phone tak jaakar ruk gaye.
Kaayarta. Naamardgi.
Main kaise phone karta? Main kis munh se Kavya par chillaata?
Kya yeh sach nahi tha ki Tauji ne meri hi beti ko bachaane ke liye apni dono baahein tudwaayi thiin? Kya yeh sach nahi tha ki is time jab Tauji apaahij bankar dard se tadap rahe the, main Hyderabad ke ek five-star hotel ke vaataanukoolit kamre mein baithkar chupchaap camera se apni biwi ki jaasoosi kar raha tha? Kavya naitik roop se us Himalaya ki choti par khadi thi jahan se main sirf ek keede ki tarah rengta hua dikhai deta tha. Agar maine aawaaz uthaayi, to Kavya seedhe keh sakti thi, 'Agar itna hi dard hai beti ka, to chhodiye apni woh VP ki naukri aur aaiye abhi train pakadkar! Sambhaaliye Tauji ka peshaab-paakhaana!'
Aur main nahi aa sakta tha. Main us bees saal ke home loan ke jaal mein bandha hua ek napunsak corporate gulaam tha.
Screen par, Kavya ne gehri saans li. Usne apne chehre par gire baalon ko peeche jhatka, apne baadaami dupatte ka chhor kamar mein khonsa aur seedhe rasoi ki taraf badh gayi.
Ab mauqa tha.
Rasoi mein jaate hi Kavya ka rukh deewaan aur bedroom se hat gaya tha.
Maine turant apne phone se master bedroom mein rakhe us Samsung tablet ka gupt video-call number dial kiya, jise maine Anu ke online college aur games ke liye set kiya tha.
Call do baar baji. Phir screen hili.
Anu ne rote-rote, kaanpte haathon se tablet uthaya tha. Woh master bed ke bhaari razaai ke neeche dubki hui thi. Uska chehra aansuon aur naak ke paani se bheega hua tha, aur uske gaal tamtama rahe the.
"Papa..." Uski aawaaz itni dheemi, itni tooti hui thi ki mera kaleja munh ko aa gaya.
"Anu... meri laadli..." Maine fusfusaate hue kaha, apni aawaaz ko jitna ho sake sanyat rakhte hue. "Ro mat beta... papa hain na... rote nahi, meri gudiya..."
"Papa... mamma mujhse pyaar nahi kartiin..." Anu ki hichki bandhi hui thi. Usne apni chhoti naak apni baanh se ponchhi. "Mamma bahut gandi hain... woh mujhe aise dekh rahi thiin... jaise... jaise main koi paraayi hoon... unhone kaha ki main laash ban jaati... papa, mamma mujhse nafrat karti hain!"
Mere halaq mein aansuon ka ek bhaari ghoont atak gaya. Main ek baap tha, lekin apni hi beti ke aansuon ko ponchhne ke liye saat sau kilometer door screen ke peeche qaid tha.
"Nahi beta... aisa nahi bolte..." Maine jhooth ki chaashni mein lipti wahi khokhli, corporate tasalli di. "Mamma bahut pareshaan hain Anu. Baauji ko itni badi chot lagi hai na... mamma hospital mein dar gayi thiin. Woh tumse bahut pyaar karti hain beta..."
Aur tabhi, meri us maasoom beti ne jo kaha, usne mere bheetar ke bache-khuche aatmasammaan ki dhajjiyan uda diin.
Anu ne apni dono aankhein band kar liin, aur uske nanhe kandhe zor-zor se hilne lage.
"Papa... meri hi wajah se Baauji ke haath toote hain na?" Uski maasoomiyat mein ek aisa bhayanak, aatmghaati apraadhbodh tha jo us chhoti si umr ke zehan mein kabhi nahi hona chahiye tha. "Woh gate... woh gate bahut bada tha papa... bahut bhaari tha. Jab woh gir raha tha, to Baauji daudkar aaye aur unhone mujhe apni chhaati ke neeche daba liya... phir bahut zor ki aawaaz aayi: Kadak!... aur Baauji cheekh pade... unki aankhon se aansoo nikal rahe the papa... sorry papa... I am sorry... meri wajah se Baauji beemaar ho gaye... sorry..."
"Anu, chup ho jaao beta... tumhari koi galti nahi thi..."
Lekin mere shabd hawa mein tairte reh gaye. Door corridor se Kavya ki bhaari, tez paayal ki aawaaz aayi, Chham... chham... chham...
"Anu, phone rakho! Mamma aa rahi hain... phone takiye ke neeche chhipaao, turant!" Maine ghabraakar fusfusaaya.
Anu ne jhatke se screen band kar di. Connection kat gaya.
Main apne hotel ke kamre mein haanph raha tha. Woh daraar pad chuki thi. Woh zehreela beej boya ja chuka tha. Anu ke maasoom dil mein apni maa ke prati ek aisa ajnabi khauf aur khud ke wajood ke prati aisa apraadhbodh baith chuka tha, jo aane wale barson mein bhi shaayad kabhi nahi bharne wala tha.
Aur Kavya?
Cam_Living_01 par maine dekha, Kavya peetal ke ek bhaari katoray mein garam, haldi wala peela doodh lekar deewaan ke paas aayi thi.
"Tauji... yeh pee lijiye." Uski aawaaz ab phir se usi reshmi, aagaadh samarpan mein dhal chuki thi.
Tauji ne laachaari se apne dono plaster chadhe haath dekhe. "Bahu... haath to uthenge nahi... tu rakh de, jab thoda thanda hoga to main munh lagaakar..."
"Munh lagaakar piyenge aap?!" Kavya ne lagbhag daant-te hue, lekin bepanaah pyaar se kaha. Woh deewaan ki kor par bilkul unke satkar baith gayi. Uski jaangh Tauji ki dhoti se dhaki bhaari, royendaar jaangh se poori tarah chhoo rahi thi. "Jab tak aapki bahu zinda hai, aapko kisi katoray mein munh maarne ki zaroorat nahi hai Tauji. Main pilaaungi."
Usne chammach bhara. Doodh par tairti hui malaai ko halke se phoonka, aur chammach seedhe Tauji ke sookhe, chaude honthon par tika diya.
![[Image: img-01511-cleaned.png]](https://i.ibb.co/Xrdnfv8Q/img-01511-cleaned.png)
Tauji ki aankhon mein kritagyata aur laachaari ke aansoo chhalak aaye. Us chhappan saal ke vishaal pehalwaan ne ek abodh ki tarah apna munh khola aur Kavya ke haath se ghoont-ghoont doodh peene laga. Kavya ki nazrein sirf aur sirf unke chehre par thiin, us chehre par jahan dard ki jagah ab dheere-dheere ek ajeeb sa, vivash sukoon utar raha tha.
Doodh khatam karaane ke baad, Kavya ne apne dupatte ke chhor se Tauji ki moonchhon par lagi doodh ki lakeer ko itne sahaj bhaav se ponchha jaise yeh uska janmsiddh adhikaar ho.
Phir usne apna phone nikaala.
Raat ke 9:15 baj rahe the.
Usne apni maa, Sumitra Sharma, ko phone lagaya.
"Haan Maa... main theek hoon." Kavya ki aawaaz mein ab ek napi-tuli, vyaavahaarik corporate jaisi kathorta thi. "Nahi, Tauji ko discharge karaakar ghar le aayi hoon. Dono haathon mein fracture hai... doctor ne sau din ka complete immobilization bola hai. Ek glass paani bhi khud nahi pee sakte."
Doosri taraf se meri saas ki ghabraayi hui aawaaz mujhe sunai nahi de rahi thi, lekin Kavya ka jawaab saaf tha:
"Haan Maa, isiliye phone kiya hai. Rajesh Hyderabad mein phansa hai, uska project teen hafte aur khinch gaya hai. Is ghar mein Tauji ko chaubees ghante teemaardaari ki zaroorat hai... mujhe boutique se chhutti leni pad rahi hai. Aur Anu... woh is poore haadse se buri tarah sahmi hui hai. Uski chhuttiyon ke jo do din bache the, woh yahan is dawaiyon aur karaahon ke mahaul mein kaatne ka koi matlab nahi hai. Waise bhi Monday se uska college shuru hai aur use aapke paas Koregaon Park hi rehna tha... aap aur papa abhi gaadi lekar aa jaaiye. Uska vacation bag lekar use aaj raat hi apne paas le jaaiye, taaki woh apne shaant routine mein laut sake."
Meri saas ne shaayad kuch poochha, kyonki Kavya ne turant baat kaati:
"Nahi Maa, koi behas nahi. Yahan is time mukammal shaanti chahiye. Aap bas aa jaaiye... main sab sambhaal loongi."
Call kat gayi.
Faisla ho chuka tha.
Theek paintaalees minute baad, raat ke theek das baje, Koregaon Park se meri saas Sumitra aur sasur Shrikant Sharma apni Honda City se humare Baner wale flat par pahunche.
Sasur ji ne deewaan par lete Tauji ke dono plaster chadhe haathon ko dekhkar haath jod liye, unki aankhon mein apne daamaad ke us dehati Tau ke prati bhagwan jaisi shraddha thi. "Sukhdev ji... aapne humari phool jaisi naatin ke liye apni dono baahein daanv par laga diin... hum aapka yeh ehsaan saat janmon mein bhi nahi chuka sakte!"
Tauji ne badi mushkil se sir jhukaakar unka abhivaadan accept kiya. "Samdhi ji... humari laadli humare kul ka deepak hai... uske aage is boodhe shareer ki kya auqaat hai."
Kavya ne pehle hi Anu ka woh chhota laal vacation bag aur college ki kitaabein pack karke darwaze par rakh diya tha.
Jab meri saas Anu ka haath pakadkar darwaze ki taraf badhiin, to Anu chaukhat par ek pal ke liye ruki. Usne mudkar apni maa ko dekha. Uski aankhon mein ek yaachna thi, ki shaayad mamma daudkar aayegi, use gale lagaayegi aur kahegi ki 'mat jaao beta, main tumhaare bina nahi reh sakti.'
Lekin Kavya darwaze ke paas seedhi, tani hui khadi rahi. Uske chehre par ek sapaat, barfeela anushaasan tha. Usne sirf ek baar apni palkein jhapkaayiin aur bahut sankshep mein kaha, "Naani ki baat maanna Anu. Aur man lagaakar padhna."
Anu ka chehra bujh gaya. Usne apna sir jhukaaya aur naani ki ungli pakadkar lift ki taraf badh gayi.
Click.
Flat 903 ka bhaari suraksha darwaza band ho gaya.
Taala lag gaya.
Aur us ek aawaaz ke saath... flat 903 ki poori duniya hamesha-hamesha ke liye badal gayi.
Ghar poori tarah khaali ho chuka tha.
Anu ja chuki thi. Saas-sasur laut chuke the. Main, qaanooni pati, saikdon meel door Hyderabad ke corporate pinjre mein qaid tha.
Us nauveen manzil ke aaleeshaan, band flat mein ab sirf do hi roohein bachi thiin—ek chhappan saal ka, dono haathon se laachaar, ghaayal dehati pehalwaan... aur uski tees saal ki, husn ke shabaab par dehakti hui, akeli bahu!
Aur tabhi...
Hyderabad ke us thande hotel ke kamre mein baithe-baithe, mere dimaag ki kisi andheri nas mein ek aisa bhayanak, bijli jaisa teekha jhatka laga ki meri reedh ki haddi sunn pad gayi.
Main kitna bada moorkh tha! Kitna andha aur naadaan tha main!
Abhi kuch hi ghante pehle, Hyderabad ke us conference room se baahar nikalte waqt main apne man ko kya tasalli de raha tha? Main yahi sochkar raahat ki thandi saansein le raha tha na ki Tauji ke dono haath toot jaane se khatra tal gaya hai... ki dono haathon par bhaari safed plaster chadh jaane ke baad ab kisi shareerik sparsh, kisi antarangata ka sawaal hi nahi uthta... ki ab maryaada ki deewaar faulaad ki ban chuki hai!
Lekin he Bhagwan... mera woh shehri, corporate dimaag kitna khokhla aur bewakoof tha!
Ek aisi nangi, berahm aur biological sachhaayi jo ab tak mere dimaag se ojhal thi, achanak poori nagnata ke saath mere saamne aa khadi hui!
Tauji ke dono haath... kalaayi se lekar kohani ke oopar tak bhaari, sakht plaster mein jakde hue hain!
Woh apni ungliyon ka ek por tak nahi hila sakte!
Iska matlab?
He Bhagwan... iska seedha, vyaavahaarik matlab kya tha?!
Khaana? Tauji apne haath se paani ka ek glass tak nahi utha sakte the. Woh roti ka ek nivaala nahi tod sakte the, daal mein chammach nahi dubo sakte the. Agle poore teen hafton tak... Kavya ko apne naazuk, gore haathon se har ek kaur unke munh mein daalna hoga... glass unke honthon par tikaakar paani pilaana hoga!
Nahaana? Plaster par paani ki ek boond bhi nahi padni chahiye thi. Tauji apne badan par saabun kaise lagaayenge? Apni chaudi, paseene se bheegi peeth kaise dhoenge? Kavya ko us vishaal, nange pehalwaan ke badan se baniyan utaarni hogi... plastic ki thailiyon se unke plaster ko baandhna hoga... aur apne haathon se geele tauliye aur Lifebuoy saabun se us poore akhaade ke badan ko sponge-bath karaana hoga!
Aur... aur sabse bhayanak... sabse rooh kampa dene wala sawaal...
Washroom?!
Number ek aur number do?!
Meri saans meri chhaati mein hi ghutkar reh gayi. Meri hatheliyon se thanda paseena chhootne laga.
Ek mard... ek chhappan saal ka vishaal, dehati pehalwaan... jab use peshaab lagegi, to woh kya karega? Woh apni dhoti ki gaanth khud kaise kholega? Woh apne haath se apni lungi ka chhor tak nahi pakad sakta!
Use peshaab karne ke liye... commode ke saamne khade hokar... apni bahu ko aawaaz deni hogi!
Kavya ko us band bathroom mein unke saath jaana hoga... apne naazuk, kaanpte haathon se us dehati mard ki dhoti ki gaanth kholni hogi... kapde ke bheetar haath daalkar us bhaari, royendaar aur vishaal ang ko apni ungliyon mein thaamna hoga... aur commode ke oopar seedha pakadkar tab tak khade rehna hoga jab tak us pehalwaan ki peshaab ki dhaar khatam na ho jaaye!
Aur number do? Shauch?
Jab Tauji ko pet saaf karna hoga... to woh commode par kaise baithenge? Aur usse bhi aage... shauch ke baad woh khud ko dhoenge kaise?! Ek Bharatiya ghar mein koi bhi shauch ke baad bina dhoye nahi reh sakta! Tauji apni dono plaster bandhi baahon se na to jet-spray utha sakte the, na paani ka lota, na hi peeche haath le ja sakte the!
Kavya ko... meri us nafees, Koregaon Park ki raees aur sanskaari biwi ko... apne haathon se paani aur saabun lekar, us vishaal sasur ke pichhle hisse ko, unke angon ko saaf karna hoga... dhona hoga!
Oh shit... oh God...!
Mere rongte khade ho chuke the. Mere gale mein thook sookh chuka tha.
Yeh koi normal sewa nahi thi. Yeh koi beemaar sasur ko dawaai dene jaisa nahi tha. Yeh insaan ke jism ki woh sabse nichli, sabse aadim aur sabse nagna jaivik laachaari thi jahan sharm, haya, rishte aur maryaada ki har ek deewaar dhehkar raakh ban jaati hai!
Agar koi aurat kisi paraaye mard ke peshaab ke ang ko din mein chaar baar apne haathon mein thaamegi... agar woh uske shauch ke baad uske angon ko apne haathon se dhoegi... to phir un dono ke beech aisa kaun sa parda, aisi kaun si maryaada baaqi reh jaayegi jise laanghne mein unko zara bhi hichak ho?!
Jis haath tootne ko main khatra talna samajh raha tha... woh to asal mein is ghar ki har ek deewaar, har ek parde ko nanga karke gira dene wala sabse bhayanak toofaan ban chuka tha!
Us ek vichaar ne... us bhayanak, kaamuk aur varjit ehsaas ne mere dimaag ko ek aisi aag mein jhonk diya jisne mujhe andar tak hilaakar rakh diya tha!
Darwaza band hote hi Kavya ne apni peeth us bhaari lakdi ke palle se tika di.
Usne apni dono aankhein moond liin. Kamre mein chhaaya sannaata itna gehra tha ki ghadi ki suiyon ki tik-tik bhi kisi chaabuk ki tarah sunai de rahi thi.
Kavya lagbhag ghisat-te hue kadmon se seedhe master bedroom ke bheetar gayi aur andar se bathroom ka darwaza band karke kundi chadha di.
Cam_MasterBed_01 se mujhe sirf bathroom ka band darwaza dikhai de raha tha, lekin us sannaate mein ventilation grill se chhankar aati hui aawaazein mere headphone mein bilkul saaf thiin.
Kavya basin ke nal ko poori taaqat se khol chuki thi. Paani ke tez bahaav ki aawaaz ke beech... uske sisakne ki aawaaz aayi.
Woh ro rahi thi.
Woh bhayanak, beqaaboo hokar ro rahi thi.
Basin ke kaale granite par apne dono haath tikaaye, woh aaine ke saamne khadi apne hi aks ko dekhkar ghin aur khauf se kaanp rahi thi.
"He Bhagwan... yeh mujhe kya ho gaya tha?" Uski tooti hui, sisakti hui fusfusaahat paani ki aawaaz ke saath mere kaanon mein padi. "Maine apni hi laadli ko... apni Anu ko us tarah dekha? Woh meri jaan hai... maine use aise daanta jaise woh meri sautan ho, meri dushman ho... mujhe kya hota ja raha hai? Kya main paagal ho rahi hoon...?"
Usne apni hatheliyon mein thanda paani bhara aur paaglon ki tarah apne chehre, apni aankhon aur apni gardan par maara. Woh apni us sanskaari, mamtaalu pehchaan ko dhoondhne ki koshish kar rahi thi jo Koregaon Park ke bangley mein pali-badhi thi, jo mandir mein deeya jalaati thi aur apni beti ko kharonch aane par bhi ro padti thi.
Lekin phir...
Paani ki aawaaz achanak dheemi ho gayi.
Kavya ne apna sir uthaya.
Aaine mein usne apne us bheege hue, tamtamaate chehre ko dekha. Aur us pal... uske aansuon ki dhaar tham gayi.
![[Image: img-01513-cleaned.png]](https://i.ibb.co/YFg97tnk/img-01513-cleaned.png)
Uski saanson ki gati dheemi hui. Uski aankhon ki woh nam, laachaar putliyan achanak ek ajeeb, thande aur aadim patthar mein badalne lagiin.
Ek doosri aurat... jo shaayad is ghar ki deewaaron mein, Tauji ke us paseene aur sarson ke tel ki gandh mein pichhle kai hafton se dheere-dheere jaag rahi thi... usne Kavya ke wajood ki kamaan apne haathon mein le li.
Kavya ne aaine mein apne hi honthon ko halka sa tante hue dekha.
“Nahi... jo hua, wahi hona tha.”
Woh fusfusaahat ab rone wali Kavya ki nahi thi. Woh us doosri Kavya ki thi jiski zubaan par koi taala nahi tha.
“Rajesh Hyderabad mein hai... use apni naukri aur loan pyaara hai. Anu Koregaon Park chali gayi... woh safe hai. Ab is ghar mein mere aur Tauji ke beech koi teesra nahi hai. Jis mard ne meri beti ke liye apni haddiyan tudwa leen... uska haq hai mere har qatre par. Ab mujhe kisi se darne ki zaroorat nahi hai... ab is jism ki, is ghar ki maalkin sirf main hoon.”
Usne nal band kiya. Tauliye se apna chehra ponchha.
Jab woh bathroom se baahar nikli, to uski chaal mein woh pehle wali hichkichaahat, woh ghabrahat poori tarah gaayab thi. Uske kandhe seedhe the, uski chaal mein ek nasheela, gehra thehraav tha.
Usne deewaan par jaakar dekha, Tauji dard ki bhaari dawaiyon ke asar se gehri, kharraaton bhari neend mein doob chuke the. Unka munh halka sa khula tha aur plaster bandhe haath unke seene par dhare the.
Kavya ne jhuk-kar bahut dheere se unki chaadar unke seene tak kheenchi. Uski ungliyan ek pal ke liye Tauji ke chaude, paseene se bheege maathe par tikiin. Usne apni saans unki saanson ke qareeb mehsoos ki, aur phir bina ek bhi aawaaz kiye, woh waapas master bedroom mein aa gayi.
Usne bedroom ki battiyan bujhaa diin.
Sirf khidki se aati hui shehar ki halki peeli roshni kamre mein thi.
Kavya bistar ki kor par baith gayi. Usne apne takiye ke neeche se apna woh Samsung tablet nikaala.
Uski screen ki thandi, neeli roshni Kavya ke khoobsurat, sangmarmari chehre par padi.
Usne ek app khola.
Wahi app... wahi secret Tumblr blog, @pinklily_confessions।
Hyderabad ke hotel mein baithe mere phone par ek teekhi, halki notification vibrate hui:
[pink lily just posted a new entry: "Do Auratein"]
Meri ungliyan kaanpne lagiin. Maine apne phone ki screen kholi.
Raat ke 10:24 par Kavya ne apne us gupt pate se, andhere kamre mein baithkar, woh alfaaz type kiye the jinhone meri aatma ko hamesha ke liye jhakjhor kar rakh diya:
Maine phone ko apni desk par rakh diya.
Meri hatheliyan paseene se lathpath thiin. Meri gardan ke peeche ke saare baal khade ho chuke the.
Kavya ko khud nahi pata tha ki uske zehan mein kya toot chuka hai. Woh kisi manorog ki shikaar nahi thi, woh to bas us aadim, varjit vaasna aur kritagyata ke us doraahe par khadi thi jahan ek aurat apne saare saamaajik khol utaarkar phenk deti hai.
Aur main?
Main screen par us andhere bedroom mein neeli roshni mein chamakte uske chehre ko dekh raha tha... yeh jaante hue ki kal subah jab sooraj niklega, to us flat 903 mein koi bahu apne sasur ki sewa nahi kar rahi hogi... balki ek bhookhi, aazaad aur nidar aurat, apne us ghaayal, laachaar mard ko apni ungliyon par nacha rahi hogi.
Aur us khel ka pehla parda... ab uthne hi wala tha.
--- To Be Continued ---
Hotel ke kamre ka bhaari lakdi ka darwaza maine jaise hi apne peeche band kiya, mere maathe se paseena behkar meri palkon par aa gira tha. Kamre ki central air-conditioning ki thandi, baasi hawa seedhe mere chehre par lagi, lekin mere bheetar jo aag sulag rahi thi, woh kisi bhi taapmaan se shaant hone wali nahi thi.
Maine apne joote tak theek se nahi khole. Briefcase ko seedhe kaaleen par patka aur apne kaanpte hue haathon se seedhe desk ki taraf lapka.
Laptop ka dhakkan uthaate hi uski neeli screen tair uthi. Meri ungliyan keyboard par itni tezi se chaliin ki password do baar galat type hua. Teesri baar mein jab authentication hua, to Pune ke Baner sthit flat ke closed-circuit surveillance ka remote software screen par khul gaya.
Chaar window.
Cam_MainDoor_01, Cam_Living_01, Cam_MasterBed_01, aur Cam_Kitchen_01।
Screen par abhi sannaata tha. Flat 903 ka living room khaali pada tha. Sofa ke cushion thode ast-vyast the, aur center table par paani ka ek khaali jag rakha tha, wahi manzar jo dopahar ke us bhayanak haadse ke waqt chhoota tha jab Kavya badhawaas haalat mein Tauji aur Anu ko lekar hospital bhaagi thi.
Timestamp dikha raha tha: Raat ke 7:42.
Meri dhadkanein mere kaanon mein hathodon ki tarah baj rahi thiin. Main apni ghoomne wali kursi ke kinaare par tika hua, apni dono hatheliyon ko desk par gadaaye screen ko ghoor raha tha.
Aur theek 7:47 par... Cam_MainDoor_01 ke motion sensor ne beep ki.
Darwaze ki bhaari kundi baahar se khuli.
Sabse pehle Kavya andar daakhil hui. Uske chehre ka rang poori tarah uda hua tha. Subah jo lavender rang ka reshmi salwar-suit usne qareene se pehna tha, woh ab buri tarah silwaton se bhara tha. Uska baadaami Kashmiri shawl ek kandhe se betarteeb dhalqa hua tha, aur maathe ki latein paseene se chipak gayi thiin.
Lekin uski nazrein peeche thiin, poori tarah kisi ki hifaazat mein juti huiin.
"Aaraam se Tauji... chaukhat par pair sambhaaliye... dheere..." Kavya ki aawaaz mein ek ajeeb sa, halaq cheer dene wala khinchaav tha.
Aur phir woh vishaal, dehati jism chaukhat ke bheetar aaya.
Unko dekhte hi mere seene mein ek bhayanak kampkampi daud gayi.
Sukhdev Tauji... chhah feet ek inch ka woh akhaade ka sher... aaj dono ghutnon se thoda jhuk-kar chal raha tha. Unke dono haath... kalaayi se lekar poori kohani ke oopar tak... mote, khurdure aur bhaari safed plaster mein jakde hue the. Dono baahein kaali medical slings (pattiyon) ke sahaare unki chaudi gardan se latki hui thiin. Unki ungliyan plaster ke sire se baahar nikli thiin, neeli, sooji hui aur poori tarah bejaan.
Woh apni ungliyon ka ek por tak nahi hila paa rahe the.
Safed khaadi ka kurta jo woh subah pehante the, woh hospital mein doctoron ne kainchi se kaatkar alag kar diya hoga, kyonki is time unke badan par sirf ek bina aasteen ki safed cotton baniyan thi. Baniyan par jagah-jagah khoon aur zang lage lohe ke bhoore daagh the. Unki chaudi, royendaar chhaati har saans ke saath bhaari dhaunkani ki tarah phool aur pichak rahi thi. Unke maathe par dard ki gehri, kaali lakeerein khinchi thiin, aur honth sookhe paapad ki tarah phate hue the.
Unke theek peeche, Anu dabe paanv andar aayi. Uski gulaabi frock dhool se sani thi, aur uski aankhein ro-rokar laal ho chuki thiin. Woh Kavya ke kurte ka kona pakadna chahti thi, lekin Kavya ka poora wajood sirf aur sirf Tauji ko sambhaalne mein laga tha.
"Yahan baithiye... deewaan par... haan, tek lagaaiye..." Kavya ne Tauji ke bhaari, maansal kandhe ko sahaara diya.
Tauji ke badan ka poora bhaar jab Kavya ke naazuk badan par aaya, to Kavya ke pair ek pal ke liye ladkhadaaye, lekin usne apne poore wajood ka zor lagaakar us vishaal jism ko deewaan par tikne mein madad ki. Tauji ke munh se ek dabi hui, karaahti hui cheekh nikli, "Aahh... bhagwan...!"
"Dard bahut zyaada hai na Tauji?" Kavya unke saamne ghutnon ke bal farsh par baith gayi. Usne apne kaanpte haathon se Tauji ke pairon se chamde ki chappalein utaariin. "Doctor ne kaha hai ki raat ko injection ka asar kam hoga to tees badhegi... main abhi garam haldi ka doodh banaati hoon aur painkiller deti hoon."
Tauji ne apni band aankhon se dheere se sir hilaaya. Unke maathe se paseene ki ek moti boond dhal-kar unki daadhi mein sama gayi.
"Tu... tu pareshaan mat ho, bahu..." Tauji ki bhaari, dehati aawaaz dard ki wajah se kaanp rahi thi. "Haddi hi to chatki hai... akhaade mein isse buri maar sahi hai maine. Tu bas baith ja... din bhar se daudi hai tu."
"Aap chup rahiye Tauji!" Kavya ki aawaaz mein achanak ek aisa adhikaar, ek aisi sakht mamta ubhri jo maine apni aath saal ki shaadi mein kabhi nahi suni thi. "Do-do jagah se haddiyan chaknachoor hui hain aapki... aur aap kehte hain kuch nahi hua? Agar zara si bhi der ho jaati to..."
Kavya ka gala rundh gaya. Usne apni dono hatheliyon mein apna chehra chhipa liya aur deewaan ke paaye se sir tikaakar sisak padi.
Main Hyderabad mein screen ke saamne baitha apni saansein rok chuka tha. Kavya ka woh rona kisi aupchaarikta ka nahi tha; woh us bhayanak sadme ka rechan tha jo usne pichhle chaar ghanton se hospital ke galiyaaron mein akele jhela tha.
Aur tabhi... woh hua jisne us poore ghar ki hawa ko zehreela bana diya.
Anu, jo ab tak living room ke kaaleen par sahmi hui khadi thi, oob aur bhookh se machalne lagi. Usne center table ke paas jaakar apne pair se ek steel ka glass hila diya.
Jhan... jhan... khadkhadkhad!
Khaali steel ka glass sangmarmar ke thande farsh par gol-gol ghoomta hua tez aawaaz ke saath goonj utha.
Tauji dard ke maare chaunk gaye, unki ghaayal baanh sling mein halka sa jhatka khaa gayi aur unke munh se ek teekhi siskaari nikli, "Ufff...!"
Anu ne us taraf koi dhyaan nahi diya. Usne apne dono chhote haath apni kamar par rakhe aur ek chidchidi, bachkaani zid ke saath roni soorat banaakar boli, "Mamma! Mujhe bhookh lagi hai... mujhe cartoon dekhna hai! Remote kahan hai? Kab se hospital mein baithe-baithe mere pair dukh rahe hain... mujhe TV chala kar do na!"
Us ek pal mein... Kavya ka poora shareer patthar ki tarah sakht ho gaya.
Usne apna chehra oopar uthaya.
Bhagwan gawaah hai, Cam_Living_01 ke high-definition lens se maine Kavya ki jo aankhein us pal dekhiin, unse meri reedh ki haddi mein baraf ki ek dhaar utar gayi.
Woh meri shaant, sanskaari, Koregaon Park ki nafees aur narm-dil patni Kavya nahi thi.
Uski aankhon ki putliyan sikudkar koyle ki tarah sulag rahi thiin. Uske nathune fadak rahe the, aur jab woh farsh se uthi, to uski chaal mein ek khoonkhar, zehreela tanaav tha.
"Chup karo Anu!"
Kavya ki aawaaz mein aisi thandi, hinsak kadwaahat thi ki Anu wahin ki wahin sahamkar do kadam peeche hat gayi.
"Mamma...?" Anu ki aawaaz gale mein hi atak gayi.
"Ek shabd aur nahi niklega tumhaare munh se!" Kavya apni beti ke bilkul qareeb aa khadi hui. Usne apni ungli Anu ke chehre ke saamne taan di. Uski aawaaz bhale hi cheekhne wali nahi thi, lekin us dheemi, fusfusaati hui daant mein jo zeher tha, usne kamre ki saari oxygen sokh li thi. "Tumko zara bhi sharm nahi aati? Zara sa bhi ehsaas hai ki tumhaari us behooda, laaparwaah zid ki wajah se aaj is ghar mein kya ho gaya hai?!"
"Kavya... bahu..." Tauji ne deewaan se apni bhaari gardan uthaane ki koshish ki. "Anu hai... abhi naadaan hai... chhod use..."
"Nahi Tauji, aap beech mein mat boliye!" Kavya ne mudkar dekhe bina kaha, uski poori nafrat us time apni hi beti par kendrit thi. "Agar aaj is ladki ne us bhaari gate ke neeche gend ke peeche daudne ki badtameezi na ki hoti... to aaj aapke haath salaamat hote! Sau baar mana kiya tha maine ki main gate ke paas mat khela karo... lekin nahi! Wahi dheethpan, wahi gair-zimmedaaraana bachkaanapan!"
Kavya ki aankhein laal angaare jaisi ho chuki thiin. Aur phir usne jo lafz kahe, unhone Hyderabad ke hotel mein baithe mere seene par kisi ne garam khanjar ghonp diya:
"Tumhara yeh laaparwaah, matlabi rawaiya bilkul tumhaare papa jaisa hai, Anu! Bilkul wahi khoon! Kisi ki qurbaani, kisi ke dard ki koi qadr nahi hai tum logon ko! Bas apni bhookh, apna TV, apna aaraam dikhta hai! Agar aaj Tauji ne apna shareer us teen sau kilo ke lohe ke neeche na jhonka hota na... to aaj tum is duniya mein zinda khadi hokar TV maangne laayak nahi bachtiin! Laash ban chuki hotiin tum!"
"Kavya!" Tauji ne apni poori taaqat lagaakar apni ek plaster bandhi baanh uthaayi, chehre par bepanaah takleef ubhar aayi. "Bahu, bas kar! Meri laadli par itna zulm mat dhaa... us gate ki kamaani tooti thi, meri gudiya ki koi khata nahi hai! Bhagwan ke liye chup ho ja!"
Anu ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi thiin. Uski maasoom samajh mein yeh baat nahi aa rahi thi ki jo maa use har raat seene se lagaakar pariyon ki kahaaniyan sunaati thi, woh achanak use aise kyon dekh rahi thi jaise woh koi paraayi, ghinouni bala ho.
Anu ka nichla honth buri tarah kaanpne laga. Uski aankhon se aansuon ke do bade-bade dhaare bahe, aur woh munh par haath rakhkar betahaasha sisakti hui seedhe master bedroom ki taraf bhaagi aur darwaza bheetar se band kar liya.
Living room mein sannaata chha gaya. Sirf Tauji ki bhaari, dardnaak saansein aur AC ki dheemi ghurghuraahat bachi thi.
Kavya wahin khadi rahi. Uski chhaati tezi se oopar-neeche ho rahi thi. Uske chehre par apni beti ko itni berahmi se dutkaarne ka koi pachhtaawa us time nahi dikh raha tha. Uske chehre par sirf ek bhayanak, aadim hifaazat ka bhaav tha, ek aisi sherni ka bhaav jo apne ghaayal sher ke ird-gird khadi hokar kisi bhi teesre wajood ko, chaahe woh uski apni beti hi kyon na ho, ek khatre ki tarah dekhne lagti hai.
Aur main?
Main apni screen ke saamne sunn pada tha.
“Tumhara yeh laaparwaah, matlabi rawaiya bilkul tumhaare papa jaisa hai... bilkul wahi khoon!”
Kavya ke woh shabd mere kaanon mein kisi seese ki tarah pighal rahe the. Woh daant sirf Anu ke liye nahi thi; woh ek gehra, achetan thappad tha jo Kavya ne paroksh roop se mere munh par maara tha. Uske avachetan ne Anu ki us laaparwaahi ko mere us kaayar, daftar mein dubke hue wajood se jod diya tha jo har sankat ke time apni bees saal ki home loan ki EMI aur corporate naukri ka rona rokar bhaag khada hota tha. Uske zehan mein Tauji ki akhaade wali mardaangi aur mera khokhla, shehri wajood aamne-saamne khade the... aur us tulna mein main aur meri beti, dono Tauji ke pairon ki dhool ke baraabar bhi nahi thehar rahe the.
Mera khoon khoul utha. Mera dil chaaha ki main abhi phone milaaoon aur Kavya par cheekh padoon, 'Tumhari himmat kaise hui meri maasoom beti ko yeh bolne ki ki woh laash ban jaati?! Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere khoon ko matlabi kehne ki?!'
Lekin... mere haath phone tak jaakar ruk gaye.
Kaayarta. Naamardgi.
Main kaise phone karta? Main kis munh se Kavya par chillaata?
Kya yeh sach nahi tha ki Tauji ne meri hi beti ko bachaane ke liye apni dono baahein tudwaayi thiin? Kya yeh sach nahi tha ki is time jab Tauji apaahij bankar dard se tadap rahe the, main Hyderabad ke ek five-star hotel ke vaataanukoolit kamre mein baithkar chupchaap camera se apni biwi ki jaasoosi kar raha tha? Kavya naitik roop se us Himalaya ki choti par khadi thi jahan se main sirf ek keede ki tarah rengta hua dikhai deta tha. Agar maine aawaaz uthaayi, to Kavya seedhe keh sakti thi, 'Agar itna hi dard hai beti ka, to chhodiye apni woh VP ki naukri aur aaiye abhi train pakadkar! Sambhaaliye Tauji ka peshaab-paakhaana!'
Aur main nahi aa sakta tha. Main us bees saal ke home loan ke jaal mein bandha hua ek napunsak corporate gulaam tha.
Screen par, Kavya ne gehri saans li. Usne apne chehre par gire baalon ko peeche jhatka, apne baadaami dupatte ka chhor kamar mein khonsa aur seedhe rasoi ki taraf badh gayi.
Ab mauqa tha.
Rasoi mein jaate hi Kavya ka rukh deewaan aur bedroom se hat gaya tha.
Maine turant apne phone se master bedroom mein rakhe us Samsung tablet ka gupt video-call number dial kiya, jise maine Anu ke online college aur games ke liye set kiya tha.
Call do baar baji. Phir screen hili.
Anu ne rote-rote, kaanpte haathon se tablet uthaya tha. Woh master bed ke bhaari razaai ke neeche dubki hui thi. Uska chehra aansuon aur naak ke paani se bheega hua tha, aur uske gaal tamtama rahe the.
"Papa..." Uski aawaaz itni dheemi, itni tooti hui thi ki mera kaleja munh ko aa gaya.
"Anu... meri laadli..." Maine fusfusaate hue kaha, apni aawaaz ko jitna ho sake sanyat rakhte hue. "Ro mat beta... papa hain na... rote nahi, meri gudiya..."
"Papa... mamma mujhse pyaar nahi kartiin..." Anu ki hichki bandhi hui thi. Usne apni chhoti naak apni baanh se ponchhi. "Mamma bahut gandi hain... woh mujhe aise dekh rahi thiin... jaise... jaise main koi paraayi hoon... unhone kaha ki main laash ban jaati... papa, mamma mujhse nafrat karti hain!"
Mere halaq mein aansuon ka ek bhaari ghoont atak gaya. Main ek baap tha, lekin apni hi beti ke aansuon ko ponchhne ke liye saat sau kilometer door screen ke peeche qaid tha.
"Nahi beta... aisa nahi bolte..." Maine jhooth ki chaashni mein lipti wahi khokhli, corporate tasalli di. "Mamma bahut pareshaan hain Anu. Baauji ko itni badi chot lagi hai na... mamma hospital mein dar gayi thiin. Woh tumse bahut pyaar karti hain beta..."
Aur tabhi, meri us maasoom beti ne jo kaha, usne mere bheetar ke bache-khuche aatmasammaan ki dhajjiyan uda diin.
Anu ne apni dono aankhein band kar liin, aur uske nanhe kandhe zor-zor se hilne lage.
"Papa... meri hi wajah se Baauji ke haath toote hain na?" Uski maasoomiyat mein ek aisa bhayanak, aatmghaati apraadhbodh tha jo us chhoti si umr ke zehan mein kabhi nahi hona chahiye tha. "Woh gate... woh gate bahut bada tha papa... bahut bhaari tha. Jab woh gir raha tha, to Baauji daudkar aaye aur unhone mujhe apni chhaati ke neeche daba liya... phir bahut zor ki aawaaz aayi: Kadak!... aur Baauji cheekh pade... unki aankhon se aansoo nikal rahe the papa... sorry papa... I am sorry... meri wajah se Baauji beemaar ho gaye... sorry..."
"Anu, chup ho jaao beta... tumhari koi galti nahi thi..."
Lekin mere shabd hawa mein tairte reh gaye. Door corridor se Kavya ki bhaari, tez paayal ki aawaaz aayi, Chham... chham... chham...
"Anu, phone rakho! Mamma aa rahi hain... phone takiye ke neeche chhipaao, turant!" Maine ghabraakar fusfusaaya.
Anu ne jhatke se screen band kar di. Connection kat gaya.
Main apne hotel ke kamre mein haanph raha tha. Woh daraar pad chuki thi. Woh zehreela beej boya ja chuka tha. Anu ke maasoom dil mein apni maa ke prati ek aisa ajnabi khauf aur khud ke wajood ke prati aisa apraadhbodh baith chuka tha, jo aane wale barson mein bhi shaayad kabhi nahi bharne wala tha.
Aur Kavya?
Cam_Living_01 par maine dekha, Kavya peetal ke ek bhaari katoray mein garam, haldi wala peela doodh lekar deewaan ke paas aayi thi.
"Tauji... yeh pee lijiye." Uski aawaaz ab phir se usi reshmi, aagaadh samarpan mein dhal chuki thi.
Tauji ne laachaari se apne dono plaster chadhe haath dekhe. "Bahu... haath to uthenge nahi... tu rakh de, jab thoda thanda hoga to main munh lagaakar..."
"Munh lagaakar piyenge aap?!" Kavya ne lagbhag daant-te hue, lekin bepanaah pyaar se kaha. Woh deewaan ki kor par bilkul unke satkar baith gayi. Uski jaangh Tauji ki dhoti se dhaki bhaari, royendaar jaangh se poori tarah chhoo rahi thi. "Jab tak aapki bahu zinda hai, aapko kisi katoray mein munh maarne ki zaroorat nahi hai Tauji. Main pilaaungi."
Usne chammach bhara. Doodh par tairti hui malaai ko halke se phoonka, aur chammach seedhe Tauji ke sookhe, chaude honthon par tika diya.
Tauji ki aankhon mein kritagyata aur laachaari ke aansoo chhalak aaye. Us chhappan saal ke vishaal pehalwaan ne ek abodh ki tarah apna munh khola aur Kavya ke haath se ghoont-ghoont doodh peene laga. Kavya ki nazrein sirf aur sirf unke chehre par thiin, us chehre par jahan dard ki jagah ab dheere-dheere ek ajeeb sa, vivash sukoon utar raha tha.
Doodh khatam karaane ke baad, Kavya ne apne dupatte ke chhor se Tauji ki moonchhon par lagi doodh ki lakeer ko itne sahaj bhaav se ponchha jaise yeh uska janmsiddh adhikaar ho.
Phir usne apna phone nikaala.
Raat ke 9:15 baj rahe the.
Usne apni maa, Sumitra Sharma, ko phone lagaya.
"Haan Maa... main theek hoon." Kavya ki aawaaz mein ab ek napi-tuli, vyaavahaarik corporate jaisi kathorta thi. "Nahi, Tauji ko discharge karaakar ghar le aayi hoon. Dono haathon mein fracture hai... doctor ne sau din ka complete immobilization bola hai. Ek glass paani bhi khud nahi pee sakte."
Doosri taraf se meri saas ki ghabraayi hui aawaaz mujhe sunai nahi de rahi thi, lekin Kavya ka jawaab saaf tha:
"Haan Maa, isiliye phone kiya hai. Rajesh Hyderabad mein phansa hai, uska project teen hafte aur khinch gaya hai. Is ghar mein Tauji ko chaubees ghante teemaardaari ki zaroorat hai... mujhe boutique se chhutti leni pad rahi hai. Aur Anu... woh is poore haadse se buri tarah sahmi hui hai. Uski chhuttiyon ke jo do din bache the, woh yahan is dawaiyon aur karaahon ke mahaul mein kaatne ka koi matlab nahi hai. Waise bhi Monday se uska college shuru hai aur use aapke paas Koregaon Park hi rehna tha... aap aur papa abhi gaadi lekar aa jaaiye. Uska vacation bag lekar use aaj raat hi apne paas le jaaiye, taaki woh apne shaant routine mein laut sake."
Meri saas ne shaayad kuch poochha, kyonki Kavya ne turant baat kaati:
"Nahi Maa, koi behas nahi. Yahan is time mukammal shaanti chahiye. Aap bas aa jaaiye... main sab sambhaal loongi."
Call kat gayi.
Faisla ho chuka tha.
Theek paintaalees minute baad, raat ke theek das baje, Koregaon Park se meri saas Sumitra aur sasur Shrikant Sharma apni Honda City se humare Baner wale flat par pahunche.
Sasur ji ne deewaan par lete Tauji ke dono plaster chadhe haathon ko dekhkar haath jod liye, unki aankhon mein apne daamaad ke us dehati Tau ke prati bhagwan jaisi shraddha thi. "Sukhdev ji... aapne humari phool jaisi naatin ke liye apni dono baahein daanv par laga diin... hum aapka yeh ehsaan saat janmon mein bhi nahi chuka sakte!"
Tauji ne badi mushkil se sir jhukaakar unka abhivaadan accept kiya. "Samdhi ji... humari laadli humare kul ka deepak hai... uske aage is boodhe shareer ki kya auqaat hai."
Kavya ne pehle hi Anu ka woh chhota laal vacation bag aur college ki kitaabein pack karke darwaze par rakh diya tha.
Jab meri saas Anu ka haath pakadkar darwaze ki taraf badhiin, to Anu chaukhat par ek pal ke liye ruki. Usne mudkar apni maa ko dekha. Uski aankhon mein ek yaachna thi, ki shaayad mamma daudkar aayegi, use gale lagaayegi aur kahegi ki 'mat jaao beta, main tumhaare bina nahi reh sakti.'
Lekin Kavya darwaze ke paas seedhi, tani hui khadi rahi. Uske chehre par ek sapaat, barfeela anushaasan tha. Usne sirf ek baar apni palkein jhapkaayiin aur bahut sankshep mein kaha, "Naani ki baat maanna Anu. Aur man lagaakar padhna."
Anu ka chehra bujh gaya. Usne apna sir jhukaaya aur naani ki ungli pakadkar lift ki taraf badh gayi.
Click.
Flat 903 ka bhaari suraksha darwaza band ho gaya.
Taala lag gaya.
Aur us ek aawaaz ke saath... flat 903 ki poori duniya hamesha-hamesha ke liye badal gayi.
Ghar poori tarah khaali ho chuka tha.
Anu ja chuki thi. Saas-sasur laut chuke the. Main, qaanooni pati, saikdon meel door Hyderabad ke corporate pinjre mein qaid tha.
Us nauveen manzil ke aaleeshaan, band flat mein ab sirf do hi roohein bachi thiin—ek chhappan saal ka, dono haathon se laachaar, ghaayal dehati pehalwaan... aur uski tees saal ki, husn ke shabaab par dehakti hui, akeli bahu!
Aur tabhi...
Hyderabad ke us thande hotel ke kamre mein baithe-baithe, mere dimaag ki kisi andheri nas mein ek aisa bhayanak, bijli jaisa teekha jhatka laga ki meri reedh ki haddi sunn pad gayi.
Main kitna bada moorkh tha! Kitna andha aur naadaan tha main!
Abhi kuch hi ghante pehle, Hyderabad ke us conference room se baahar nikalte waqt main apne man ko kya tasalli de raha tha? Main yahi sochkar raahat ki thandi saansein le raha tha na ki Tauji ke dono haath toot jaane se khatra tal gaya hai... ki dono haathon par bhaari safed plaster chadh jaane ke baad ab kisi shareerik sparsh, kisi antarangata ka sawaal hi nahi uthta... ki ab maryaada ki deewaar faulaad ki ban chuki hai!
Lekin he Bhagwan... mera woh shehri, corporate dimaag kitna khokhla aur bewakoof tha!
Ek aisi nangi, berahm aur biological sachhaayi jo ab tak mere dimaag se ojhal thi, achanak poori nagnata ke saath mere saamne aa khadi hui!
Tauji ke dono haath... kalaayi se lekar kohani ke oopar tak bhaari, sakht plaster mein jakde hue hain!
Woh apni ungliyon ka ek por tak nahi hila sakte!
Iska matlab?
He Bhagwan... iska seedha, vyaavahaarik matlab kya tha?!
Khaana? Tauji apne haath se paani ka ek glass tak nahi utha sakte the. Woh roti ka ek nivaala nahi tod sakte the, daal mein chammach nahi dubo sakte the. Agle poore teen hafton tak... Kavya ko apne naazuk, gore haathon se har ek kaur unke munh mein daalna hoga... glass unke honthon par tikaakar paani pilaana hoga!
Nahaana? Plaster par paani ki ek boond bhi nahi padni chahiye thi. Tauji apne badan par saabun kaise lagaayenge? Apni chaudi, paseene se bheegi peeth kaise dhoenge? Kavya ko us vishaal, nange pehalwaan ke badan se baniyan utaarni hogi... plastic ki thailiyon se unke plaster ko baandhna hoga... aur apne haathon se geele tauliye aur Lifebuoy saabun se us poore akhaade ke badan ko sponge-bath karaana hoga!
Aur... aur sabse bhayanak... sabse rooh kampa dene wala sawaal...
Washroom?!
Number ek aur number do?!
Meri saans meri chhaati mein hi ghutkar reh gayi. Meri hatheliyon se thanda paseena chhootne laga.
Ek mard... ek chhappan saal ka vishaal, dehati pehalwaan... jab use peshaab lagegi, to woh kya karega? Woh apni dhoti ki gaanth khud kaise kholega? Woh apne haath se apni lungi ka chhor tak nahi pakad sakta!
Use peshaab karne ke liye... commode ke saamne khade hokar... apni bahu ko aawaaz deni hogi!
Kavya ko us band bathroom mein unke saath jaana hoga... apne naazuk, kaanpte haathon se us dehati mard ki dhoti ki gaanth kholni hogi... kapde ke bheetar haath daalkar us bhaari, royendaar aur vishaal ang ko apni ungliyon mein thaamna hoga... aur commode ke oopar seedha pakadkar tab tak khade rehna hoga jab tak us pehalwaan ki peshaab ki dhaar khatam na ho jaaye!
Aur number do? Shauch?
Jab Tauji ko pet saaf karna hoga... to woh commode par kaise baithenge? Aur usse bhi aage... shauch ke baad woh khud ko dhoenge kaise?! Ek Bharatiya ghar mein koi bhi shauch ke baad bina dhoye nahi reh sakta! Tauji apni dono plaster bandhi baahon se na to jet-spray utha sakte the, na paani ka lota, na hi peeche haath le ja sakte the!
Kavya ko... meri us nafees, Koregaon Park ki raees aur sanskaari biwi ko... apne haathon se paani aur saabun lekar, us vishaal sasur ke pichhle hisse ko, unke angon ko saaf karna hoga... dhona hoga!
Oh shit... oh God...!
Mere rongte khade ho chuke the. Mere gale mein thook sookh chuka tha.
Yeh koi normal sewa nahi thi. Yeh koi beemaar sasur ko dawaai dene jaisa nahi tha. Yeh insaan ke jism ki woh sabse nichli, sabse aadim aur sabse nagna jaivik laachaari thi jahan sharm, haya, rishte aur maryaada ki har ek deewaar dhehkar raakh ban jaati hai!
Agar koi aurat kisi paraaye mard ke peshaab ke ang ko din mein chaar baar apne haathon mein thaamegi... agar woh uske shauch ke baad uske angon ko apne haathon se dhoegi... to phir un dono ke beech aisa kaun sa parda, aisi kaun si maryaada baaqi reh jaayegi jise laanghne mein unko zara bhi hichak ho?!
Jis haath tootne ko main khatra talna samajh raha tha... woh to asal mein is ghar ki har ek deewaar, har ek parde ko nanga karke gira dene wala sabse bhayanak toofaan ban chuka tha!
Us ek vichaar ne... us bhayanak, kaamuk aur varjit ehsaas ne mere dimaag ko ek aisi aag mein jhonk diya jisne mujhe andar tak hilaakar rakh diya tha!
Darwaza band hote hi Kavya ne apni peeth us bhaari lakdi ke palle se tika di.
Usne apni dono aankhein moond liin. Kamre mein chhaaya sannaata itna gehra tha ki ghadi ki suiyon ki tik-tik bhi kisi chaabuk ki tarah sunai de rahi thi.
Kavya lagbhag ghisat-te hue kadmon se seedhe master bedroom ke bheetar gayi aur andar se bathroom ka darwaza band karke kundi chadha di.
Cam_MasterBed_01 se mujhe sirf bathroom ka band darwaza dikhai de raha tha, lekin us sannaate mein ventilation grill se chhankar aati hui aawaazein mere headphone mein bilkul saaf thiin.
Kavya basin ke nal ko poori taaqat se khol chuki thi. Paani ke tez bahaav ki aawaaz ke beech... uske sisakne ki aawaaz aayi.
Woh ro rahi thi.
Woh bhayanak, beqaaboo hokar ro rahi thi.
Basin ke kaale granite par apne dono haath tikaaye, woh aaine ke saamne khadi apne hi aks ko dekhkar ghin aur khauf se kaanp rahi thi.
"He Bhagwan... yeh mujhe kya ho gaya tha?" Uski tooti hui, sisakti hui fusfusaahat paani ki aawaaz ke saath mere kaanon mein padi. "Maine apni hi laadli ko... apni Anu ko us tarah dekha? Woh meri jaan hai... maine use aise daanta jaise woh meri sautan ho, meri dushman ho... mujhe kya hota ja raha hai? Kya main paagal ho rahi hoon...?"
Usne apni hatheliyon mein thanda paani bhara aur paaglon ki tarah apne chehre, apni aankhon aur apni gardan par maara. Woh apni us sanskaari, mamtaalu pehchaan ko dhoondhne ki koshish kar rahi thi jo Koregaon Park ke bangley mein pali-badhi thi, jo mandir mein deeya jalaati thi aur apni beti ko kharonch aane par bhi ro padti thi.
Lekin phir...
Paani ki aawaaz achanak dheemi ho gayi.
Kavya ne apna sir uthaya.
Aaine mein usne apne us bheege hue, tamtamaate chehre ko dekha. Aur us pal... uske aansuon ki dhaar tham gayi.
Uski saanson ki gati dheemi hui. Uski aankhon ki woh nam, laachaar putliyan achanak ek ajeeb, thande aur aadim patthar mein badalne lagiin.
Ek doosri aurat... jo shaayad is ghar ki deewaaron mein, Tauji ke us paseene aur sarson ke tel ki gandh mein pichhle kai hafton se dheere-dheere jaag rahi thi... usne Kavya ke wajood ki kamaan apne haathon mein le li.
Kavya ne aaine mein apne hi honthon ko halka sa tante hue dekha.
“Nahi... jo hua, wahi hona tha.”
Woh fusfusaahat ab rone wali Kavya ki nahi thi. Woh us doosri Kavya ki thi jiski zubaan par koi taala nahi tha.
“Rajesh Hyderabad mein hai... use apni naukri aur loan pyaara hai. Anu Koregaon Park chali gayi... woh safe hai. Ab is ghar mein mere aur Tauji ke beech koi teesra nahi hai. Jis mard ne meri beti ke liye apni haddiyan tudwa leen... uska haq hai mere har qatre par. Ab mujhe kisi se darne ki zaroorat nahi hai... ab is jism ki, is ghar ki maalkin sirf main hoon.”
Usne nal band kiya. Tauliye se apna chehra ponchha.
Jab woh bathroom se baahar nikli, to uski chaal mein woh pehle wali hichkichaahat, woh ghabrahat poori tarah gaayab thi. Uske kandhe seedhe the, uski chaal mein ek nasheela, gehra thehraav tha.
Usne deewaan par jaakar dekha, Tauji dard ki bhaari dawaiyon ke asar se gehri, kharraaton bhari neend mein doob chuke the. Unka munh halka sa khula tha aur plaster bandhe haath unke seene par dhare the.
Kavya ne jhuk-kar bahut dheere se unki chaadar unke seene tak kheenchi. Uski ungliyan ek pal ke liye Tauji ke chaude, paseene se bheege maathe par tikiin. Usne apni saans unki saanson ke qareeb mehsoos ki, aur phir bina ek bhi aawaaz kiye, woh waapas master bedroom mein aa gayi.
Usne bedroom ki battiyan bujhaa diin.
Sirf khidki se aati hui shehar ki halki peeli roshni kamre mein thi.
Kavya bistar ki kor par baith gayi. Usne apne takiye ke neeche se apna woh Samsung tablet nikaala.
Uski screen ki thandi, neeli roshni Kavya ke khoobsurat, sangmarmari chehre par padi.
Usne ek app khola.
Wahi app... wahi secret Tumblr blog, @pinklily_confessions।
Hyderabad ke hotel mein baithe mere phone par ek teekhi, halki notification vibrate hui:
[pink lily just posted a new entry: "Do Auratein"]
Meri ungliyan kaanpne lagiin. Maine apne phone ki screen kholi.
Raat ke 10:24 par Kavya ne apne us gupt pate se, andhere kamre mein baithkar, woh alfaaz type kiye the jinhone meri aatma ko hamesha ke liye jhakjhor kar rakh diya:
Quote:"Meri hi chamdi ke neeche koi ajnabi aurat jaag uthi hai... woh jab saamne aati hai, to mujhe apni hi phool jaisi beti ek dushman ki tarah lagne lagti hai. Jaise woh laadli us laachaar mard ka khoon choosne aayi ho.
Ek main hoon jo apne sindoor, apni shaadi aur apni mamta ke liye takiye mein munh chhipaakar roti hai... aur doosri woh hai jo us ghaayal mard ki chaudi, paseene se bheegi chhaati aur tooti baahon ko dekhkar apni saari maryaada, saari sharm bhool jaati hai. Jab main unki pattiyon ko chhooti hoon, to mere andar se daya nahi... ek khaufnaak, hatheela adhikaar nikalta hai.
Mujhe dar lag raha hai ki woh doosri aurat mujhe dheere-dheere poora nigal legi... aur sabse darawni baat yeh hai ki mera man ab us doosri aurat se hi pyaar karne laga hai. Aaj ki raat... yeh ghar khaali hai. Aur main us ajnabi aurat ke hawaale hoon..."
Maine phone ko apni desk par rakh diya.
Meri hatheliyan paseene se lathpath thiin. Meri gardan ke peeche ke saare baal khade ho chuke the.
Kavya ko khud nahi pata tha ki uske zehan mein kya toot chuka hai. Woh kisi manorog ki shikaar nahi thi, woh to bas us aadim, varjit vaasna aur kritagyata ke us doraahe par khadi thi jahan ek aurat apne saare saamaajik khol utaarkar phenk deti hai.
Aur main?
Main screen par us andhere bedroom mein neeli roshni mein chamakte uske chehre ko dekh raha tha... yeh jaante hue ki kal subah jab sooraj niklega, to us flat 903 mein koi bahu apne sasur ki sewa nahi kar rahi hogi... balki ek bhookhi, aazaad aur nidar aurat, apne us ghaayal, laachaar mard ko apni ungliyon par nacha rahi hogi.
Aur us khel ka pehla parda... ab uthne hi wala tha.
--- To Be Continued ---
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)