[wofeloh916]

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═══ ROMAN HINGLISH TRANSCRIPTION (ENGLISH SCRIPT) ═══

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Adhyay 49: Mook Sahamati, Deewan Par Seva Aur Aane Wali Raat Ka Waada

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Hyderabad ke Rajiv Gandhi International Airport ke departure lounge mein jab meri flight ki aakhiri pukaar goonji, to mera dil pasliyon ke peeche kisi dare hue parinde ki tarah phadphada raha tha. 

Subah ke chheh bajkar bees minute ho rahe the. Mere haath mein cabin baggage ka handle tha, aur meri hatheliyaan kisi barf ke paani mein bheeghi hui si thandi aur chipchipi ho rahi theen. 

Mujhe hawaai safar se ek paidaaishi, wehshi qism ka khauf tha. Aerophobia ka yeh daura sirf koi maamooli ghabraahat nahi tha; yeh mere poore jism ko jakad lene wali ek shareerik beemaari thi. Jab bhi hawaai jahaaz ka bhaari dhaatu ka dhaancha hawa mein oopar uthta aur apne pahiyon ko bheetar sametta, to mere phephadon se hawa khinch jaati thi. Cabin ki woh recycled baasi hawa, jet fuel ki halki si teekhi gandh aur khidki se baahar dikhti anthheen, shoony khaai mujhe paagal kar deti thi. 

Shaadi ke in chheh saalon mein, jab bhi humko kabhi kisi majboori mein flight leni padi thi, to mere bagal ki seat par hamesha Kaavya hoti thi. 

Kaavya meri is bebasi ko achhi tarah jaanti thi. Take-off ke time jab mere haath paseene se bheeg jaate aur meri ungliyaan ainthne lagteen, to woh bahut aahista se apna garam, reshmi haath meri mutthi par rakh deti thi. Woh apni doosri hatheli se meri gardan ke peeche ki kasi hui nason ko halke-halke sehlaati thi, apne angoothe se meri kanpatee ka tanaav dabaati thi, aur mere kaan ke paas jhuk-kar apni meethi, makhmali aawaaz mein phusphusaati thi, *"Gehri saans lo Rajesh... apni aankhein band rakhiye. Main aapke bilkul paas hoon... kuch nahi hoga."* 

Uski us ek chhooan mein koi jaadui marham tha, jo meri ghabraahat ko sokh leta tha. 

Lekin aaj... us tang Airbus ki 14F window seat par main bilkul akela tha. 

Jaise hi flight ne runway par poori raftaar se daudna shuru kiya aur jhatke ke saath baadlon ki taraf uchhla, ek bhayanak bhanwar mere pet mein uth khada hua. Hawa ke ek halke se turbulence ne hi mere dimaag ki nasein hila deen. Maine seat ke nakli leather wale handrest ko itni berahami se bheenjh liya ki meri ungliyon ke por safed pad gaye. 

Meri gardan akad gayi, maathe se paseena behkar meri collar ko bhigone laga, aur saansein ukhadne lageen. 

*Kaash Kaavya yahaan hoti... kaash uska haath mere haath mein hota...* 

Yeh sochte hi mere gale mein ek kadwa, khatta ghoont bhar aaya. Pet ki marod itni asahaniya ho gayi ki mujhe saamne ki pocket se safed paper bag nikaalna pada. Aadhe ghante tak main usi bag mein sookhi ultiyaan karta raha. 

Jab flight subah saat bajkar tees minute par Bengaluru ke Kempegowda Airport par utri, to mere kadam zameen par padte hi ladkhada rahe the. Kaanon mein engine ki bhayanak seeti goonj rahi thi, aur sir ke bheetar ek bhaari, chakkar-daar vertigo ghoom raha tha maano farsh abhi dol padega. 

Main taxi stand ki taraf ghisatta hua badh raha tha ki meri jeb mein rakha phone tharthara utha. 

Screen par naam chamak raha tha: Kaavya. 

Ghadi mein saat bajkar paintalees minute hue the. Kaavya aamtaur par subah chheh baje se pehle jaag jaati thi, lekin aaj uska phone itna late aaya tha. 

Maine bhaari, kaanpti saans ko bheetar khinchkar apne gale ko saaf kiya aur call receive ki. 

"Hello..." 

"Hello... Rajesh?" 

Phone ke us paar se Kaavya ki aawaaz aayi. Uski aawaaz mein subah ki ek bhaari, aalsayi si thakaawat thi, jaise woh abhi-abhi bistar se uthi ho. Lekin us neend ke peeche ek ajeeb sa, daba hua sankoch aur apne pati ke liye zaroorat se zyaada umadti hui bechaini bhi saaf mehsoos ho rahi thi. 

"Haan Kaavya, bolo..." Maine apni aawaaz ko jitna ho sake common aur sthir rakhne ki koshish ki. 

"Aap theek se land ho gaye? Aapki flight kaisi rahi?" Usne ek hi saans mein kai sawaal poochh daale. Uski aawaaz mein ek ajeeb si hadbadaahat thi, maano woh khud ko yeh yaqeen dilaana chaahti ho ki sab kuch theek hai. "Mausam kharaab to nahi tha? Aapki tabiyat to theek hai na Rajesh? Sir mein chakkar to nahi aa rahe?" 

Main taxi ka darwaaza kholkar pichhli seat par baitha. Kaavya ki us fikr ne mere seene mein ek ajeeb si tees jaga di. 

Sirf do ghante pehle, subah paanch baje, maine use flat ke home-server par dekha tha... woh thande paani mein apne chhile hue haathon se Tauji ke veerya se sani chaadar dho rahi thi, phir khoulte hue paani mein apni khaal ko saabun se ragad-ragad kar ro rahi thi, aur bedroom mein meri shaadi ki tasveer ke pairon mein girkar mujhse maafi maang rahi thi. 

Aur ab, woh phone par ek aadarsh, pativrata aur susheel patni bankar meri khairiyat poochh rahi thi. 

"Flight mein thoda turbulence tha Kaavya... pet thoda kharaab ho gaya, lekin ab theek hoon. Abhi taxi mein baitha hoon, hotel ja raha hoon," Maine khidki se baahar dekhte hue kaha. Phir maine bahut aahista se, uski nabz tatolne wale lahze mein poochha, "Tum itni der se jaageen? Tabiyat theek hai tumhari?" 

Phone ke us paar ek pal ke liye sannaata chha gaya. Mujhe uske saans lene ki halki si ghabraayi hui aawaaz sunayi di. 

"Haan... woh... bas kal din bhar Tauji ki teemaardaari mein bahut bhaag-daud ho gayi thi na," Kaavya ne bahut sambhalkar, apne lahze ko common banaate hue kaha. "Unke dono haath plaster mein bandhe hain, to har chhoti-badi cheez mujhe hi dekhni pad rahi hai. Raat ko sote-sote bahut der ho gayi thi... badan aisa toot raha tha ki aankh hi nahi khuli." 

*Teemaardaari...* 

Us ek shabd ne mere seene mein hazaaron suiyaan chubho deen. Kaavya jise 'teemaardaari' keh rahi thi, woh asal mein kya thi, yeh main apne laptop ki screen par ek-ek second dekh chuka tha. Lekin uske munh se us sach ka koi aks baahar nahi aaya. 

"Hmm... samajh sakta hoon," Maine apni mutthi bheenjhte hue kaha. "Tumne naashta kiya kuch?" 

"Nahi, abhi to bas uthi hi hoon," Kaavya ki aawaaz mein chaadron ki sarsaraahat aur phir farsh par uski hawaai chappalon ke ghisatne ki jaani-pehchaani aawaaz goonji. "Ab jaakar kitchen mein doodh chadhaaoongi. Tauji ke uthne ka time ho gaya hai, unke liye daliya aur garam haldi wala doodh banaana hai... dawaiyon ka time ho jaayega." 

Uski chappalon ki us aawaaz ne mere zehan mein ek bhayanak tasveer khinch di. 

Kaavya... apni dheeli, paar-darshi night dress mein, bina bra ke bhaari stanon ko sambhaale, bikhre hue baalon ke saath kitchen ki taraf badh rahi hogi. Aur guest room mein woh boodha daitya apne bed par pada, usi gori jism ke apne paas aane ka intezaar kar raha hoga.

Mere pet ki michlaahat ke beech bhi, meri jaanghon ke beech ek garam, sharmnaak tanaav sarsara utha. 

"Theek hai Kaavya, tum apna aur Tauji ka khayaal rakho. Mujhe bhi yahaan din bhar warehouse aur distribution center ke audit mein rehna hai," Maine kaha. 

"Jee, aap bhi naashta zaroor kar lijiyega... aur sirdard ki goli le lijiyega," Kaavya ne bahut hi komal, gharelu meethaas ke saath kaha. Phir phone kaatne se pehle usne ek halki si hichkichahat ke saath phone ke speaker mein ek bosa phoonka, "Love you Rajesh... apna dhyaan rakhiyega." 

"Love you too..." 

Phone kat gaya. 

Car ki pichhli seat par baithe hue, maine phone ko apni chhaati se laga liya. Mere dil ki dhadkanein betarteeb theen. Kaavya ka woh phone, uski woh aalsayi hui aawaaz aur uska woh pyaar... usne mere zakhmi, eershyaalu mann ko ek ajeeb sa sukoon bhi diya tha. Kaavya chaahe raat ke andhere mein bhatak gayi ho, lekin subah ke ujaale mein uska dil, uski grihasthi aur uska wajood abhi bhi mujhse hi bandha hua tha.

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Bengaluru ka woh poora din kisi kolhu ke bail ki tarah beeta. 

Shahar ke baahri IT aur logistics corridor mein phaile vishaal cold-storage warehouse mein mujhe saikdon inventory sheets, delivery chalaan aur supply-chain ki gadbadiyon ko suljhaana tha. Din ke das ghante lagaataar meetings, clients ki cheekh-pukaar aur warehouse ke shorgul mein beete. 

Mere paas ek pal ki bhi fursat nahi thi ki main apni jeb se phone nikaalkar Flat 903 ka live camera dekh sakoon. Waise bhi, din ke time live streaming dekhna naamumkin tha; network ki suraksha bandishein theen aur meri company ke corporate laptop par aisi koi anadhikrit gatividhi pakdi ja sakti thi. Ghar ka system kewal motion-triggered video files ko record karke local server par save kar raha tha. 

Shaam ke qareeb saade saat baje jab audit khatam hua, to Bengaluru ki local team ne mujhe dinner aur drinks ke liye invite kiya. 

"Come on Rajesh, Whitefield mein ek bahut behtareen pub hai... thoda relax ho jaaoge," mere colleague Vikram ne mere kandhe par haath rakhkar kaha. 

"Maaf karna Vikram, aaj nahi," maine sir pakadte hue ek thaki hui muskaan ke saath bahaana banaaya. "Subah ki flight se hi migraine chadha hua hai... mujhe bas hotel jaakar sona hai." 

Main kisi bhi qeemat par us hotel ke kamre se door nahi rehna chaahta tha. 

Raat ke sawa das baje, main apne hotel ke kamre mein lauta. Kamra thanda tha. Maine room service se saadi daal-khichdi aur dahi mangwaayi, apni formal shirt utaarkar kursi par phenki, aur bistar par takiyon ke sahaare baith gaya. 

Mere saamne mera personal Dell laptop khula hua tha. 

Screen par Flat 903 ke motion-triggered video clips ki lambi list dikhaayi de rahi thi. Din bhar ki tamaam recordings timestamp ke saath tarteeb-waar saji hui theen. 

Maine sabse pehle dopahar ki kuch files ko tezi se forward karke dekha. 

Dopahar ke time ghar mein koi khaas halchal nahi thi. Kaavya ne subah hi Tauji ko ek bahut dheela, aaraamdaayak safed cotton kurta aur dheela pajama pehna diya tha. Jab dopahar mein Tauji ko peshaab lagi thi, to Kaavya unko galiyaare ke common bathroom mein le gayi thi. 

Is baar kal raat jaisi koi hadbadaahat ya kaamuk tanaav nahi tha. Kaavya ne bahut hi shaant, gharelu aur swaabhavik tareeqe se unke pajame ka naada dheela kiya tha, aur jab Tauji ka woh bhaari, angadh lund uske haath ki chhooan se halka sa kada hua, to Kaavya ne bina kisi ghabraahat ya chhed-chhaani ke, wipes se use ponchhkar bahut aaraam se dheele pajame ki tehon mein waapas baitha diya tha. 

Usne Tauji ko kisi tarah ka hastamaithun ya raahat dene ki koshish nahi ki thi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise dono ne din ke ujaale mein ek-doosre ki maryaada ka ek mook samjhauta kar liya ho.

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Aur phir... raat ke aath bajkar pandrah minute ki file shuru hui, `Cam_Living_01`। 

Us clip ko play karte hi, mere haath mein pakda hua chammach plate mein hi chhoot gaya. 

Screen par, living room ka deewan dikhaayi de raha tha. 

Deewan par lage bade-bade masnad ke sahaare Tauji baithe hue the. Unke dono plaster bandhe haath gale mein latke slings mein tike the, aur woh khaamoshi se saamne chal rahe TV par koi puraana samachaar channel dekh rahe the. 

Aur unke theek bagal mein, deewan par paalthi maarkar baithi thi, meri biwi, Kaavya। 

Kaavya ne shaam ko apna libaas badal liya tha. Usne ek bahut hi shaaleen, gehre gulaabi rang ki designer cotton kurti aur safed choodidaar pehan rakhi thi. Uske geele, mehakte baal ek saade clutcher mein peeche bandhe the, aur kaanon mein sone ki chhoti-chhoti baaliyaan kamre ki maddhim roshni mein chamak rahi theen. Uski saadgi mein bhi ek aisa kuleen, madhosh kar dene wala nikhaar tha jo kisi bhi mard ki saansein thaam le. 

Kaavya ki god mein kaanse ki ek badi katori rakhi thi, jisme se shuddh desi ghee aur bhune hue jeere se chhaunki hui garam moong-daal ki khichdi ki bhaap uth rahi thi. 

Kaavya ne katori mein se ek bada chammach bharkar khichdi uthaayi. 

Usne chammach ko seedhe Tauji ke munh ki taraf nahi badhaaya. Usne pehle chammach ko apne gulaabi honthon ke qareeb laaya, apni gardan ko halka sa tirchha kiya, aur bahut hi naazuk, pyaar bhare andaaz mein us par do baar phoonk maari, *Phoo... phoo...* 

Jab garam bhaap ud gayi, to usne apni jeebh ki nok se khichdi ka ek katra chhookar namak aur taapmaan ka andaaza lagaaya. 

Aur phir, usne woh chammach bahut hi komalta se Tauji ke munh ke aage kar diya.

"Khaaiye Tauji... bilkul garam nahi hai ab," Kaavya ki aawaaz mein kisi maa jaisi mamta aur ek samarpit kulvadhu ka meetha adhikaar tha. 

Tauji ka chehra sharm aur sankoch se laal ho utha. Chhappan saal ke us puraane pehlwaan ke dehaati purushaarth ko kisi bachhe ki tarah munh mein niwaala liye jaana behad ajeeb aur apmaan-janak lag raha tha. 

"Bahu... tu rehne de na," Tauji ne apni bhaari, khurduri aawaaz mein hichkichaate hue gardan peeche ki. Unhone apni laachaari ko chhupaane ke liye ek ajeeb sa dehaati jugaad sujhaaya, "Tu katori yahin teapoy par rakh de... main thoda aage jhuk-kar, katori se seedhe munh lagaakar khaa loonga. Ya tu woh naariyal paani peene wala koi mota straw daal de, main jaise-taise khinch loonga. Akhaade mein jab kabhi patte ya chot lagti thi to hum aise hi munh maar lete the... tu kulvadhu hokar apne haath se mujhe niwaala khilaayegi to mere dharm ko batta lagega." 

"Tauji!" 

Kaavya ne banaawati gusse se apni badi-badi kajraari aankhein tareereen aur apni patli bhauhein sikod leen. 

"Aap koi jaanwar hain kya jo thaali mein munh maarenge?" Kaavya ne lagbhag daant-te hue, lekin behad apnepan aur teekhe tark se kaha. "Akhaade ki mitti aur is ghar mein farq hota hai. Dono haath aapke bandhe hain, aise aage jhukenge to gardan aur collarbone ki nas khinchegi aur garam khichdi munh aur daadhi par girkar chhaale daal degi. Aur straw se kahin gaadhi moong-daal ki khichdi khaayi jaati hai kya? Pipe mein daal aur ghee ke daane atak jaayenge aur dam ghutne lagega. Chupchaap munh kholiye... kulvadhu ka dharm beemaar ki seva karna hota hai, uska tamaasha dekhna nahi. Jab aapke dono haath theek ho jaayenge na, tab jitni marzi adiyal-panti dikhaaiyega. Abhi aap is ghar ke sabse bade mareez hain, aur jaisa main kahoongee, waisa hi hoga. Chaliye, munh kholiye jaldi!" 

Tauji uski us meethi daant ke aage aise laachaar ho gaye jaise koi bhaari bharkam bargad ka ped kisi naazuk hawa ke jhonke ke aage jhuk gaya ho. 

Unke chehre par ek bahut hi bheeghi hui, kritagya muskaan tair gayi. Unhone dheere se apna munh khola, aur Kaavya ne woh chammach bahut pyaar se unke munh mein sarka diya. 

Tauji ne aahista-aahista chabaana shuru kiya. Khichdi ka ek chhota sa peela katra unki safed-kaali daadhi ke kinaare par lag gaya tha. 

Kaavya ki nazar us par padi. Usne bina kisi jhijhak ke, apni baayin hatheli mein pakda hua malmal ka napkin uthaaya aur bahut aahista se Tauji ki daadhi aur honth ke us kone ko ponchh diya.

Uski ungliyon ke por Tauji ki khurduri gaal ki khaal se chhuye. 

Tauji ka poora jism us makhmali chhooan se halka sa sihar utha, lekin unki aankhon mein ab koi darindagi ya hawas nahi thi. Sirf ek aisa gehra, pavitra aur gharelu sukoon tha jo shaayad unhone apni poori zindagi mein kabhi kisi apne se nahi paaya tha. 

"Kaisa bana hai Tauji? Namak theek hai?" Kaavya ne doosra chammach bharte hue muskuraakar poochha. 

"Bahut... bahut swaad hai beti," Tauji ne bhaari gale se kaha, unki aankhein nam theen. "Hospital ke us pheeke khaane ke baad lag raha hai jaise amrit mil gaya ho." 

"To phir poori katori khatam karni padegi aapko," Kaavya ne hanste hue kaha aur doosra niwaala unki taraf badha diya.

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Screen ke paar, us thande hotel ke kamre mein baithe hue... mere halaq mein jaise kisi ne pighla hua seesa undel diya tha. 

Meri aankhein screen par jam gayi theen, aur mera dil nafrat, jalan aur aatma-heenata ke ek bhayanak daldal mein doob raha tha. 

Shaadi ke in chheh saalon mein... maine hamesha khud ko yahi samjhaakar tasalli di thi ki galti meri nahi, is naye zamaane ki hai. 

Kaavya ka woh boutique... maine hi to shuru karwaaya tha taaki uska mann laga rahe. Lekin us boutique ke naam par uske nakhre hamesha saatvein aasmaan par rehte the. Main din ke chaudah-chaudah ghante IT park mein khat-ta tha, warehouse ki supply-chain aur karodon ke budget sambhaalta tha, jisse Flat 903 ki bhaari EMI aur humara yeh high-profile lifestyle chalta tha. Aur raat ko jab main gardan ke dard se behaal hokar ghar laut-ta, aur agar kabhi pyaar se keh deta tha, *"Kaavya, zara khaana nikaal do na plate mein..."* 

To woh sofa par pair pasaare, apne design sketch dekhte hue munh banaakar keh deti thi: 
*"Rajesh, please... aaj naye wedding orders ka dispatch tha, subah se khadi hoon, pair sooj gaye hain. Khaana dining table par hot-pot mein rakh diya hai, aap khud nikaal kar khaa lo na... mujhse abhi utha nahi ja raha."* 

Main daant peeskar reh jaata tha. Mere mann mein aata tha ki poochhoon, *Are, boutique mein kaun sa pahaad tod liya tumne? Chaar auraton ko lehenge ki fitting hi to dikhaayi hai! Asli paseena to main baha raha hoon jisse yeh ghar chal raha hai!* 

Lekin main kabhi munh kholkar behas nahi karta tha. Main ek samajhdaar, padha-likha corporate pati bankar apni is kadwaahat ko ek thande, shreshthata bhare ghamand mein chhupa leta tha. Main khud se kehta tha: 
*'Aajkal ki in padhi-likhi, shahri auraton ka yahi dharra hai. Do paise apne haath mein kya aaye, baraabari aur feminism ka bhoot sir par naachne lagta hai. Pati ke aage paani ka glass ya khaane ki thaali rakh dena bhi inko apni aazaadi aur dignity par hamla lagta hai. Aaj ke daur ki in aazaad khyaalon wali auraton mein woh puraani gharelu meethaas, woh niswaarth samarpan bacha hi kahaan hai... yeh sirf partnership ke naam par nakhre dikha sakti hain. Chalo chhodo, jab zamaana hi aisa ho chuka hai, to biwi se seva ki ummeed karna hi meri bewakoofi hai.'* 

Maine ek superior muskaan ke saath khud ko samjhaa liya tha ki paaramparik, aagyaakaari biwiyon ka daur ab hamesha ke liye khatam ho chuka hai. Chheh saalon tak maine us ghar mein akele, microwave mein garam ki hui sookhi rotiyaan chupchaap khaayi theen, aur khud ko tasalli deta raha tha ki Kaavya bas 'aajkal ki modern aurat' hai. 

Lekin aaj... screen par jo dikh raha tha, usne meri mardaangi ke us saare ghamand ko noch-noch kar phenk diya tha! 

Woh samarpit, aagyaakaari, paaramparik Bhaartiya patni mari nahi thi... woh Kaavya ke bheetar poori tarah zinda thi! 

Wahi Kaavya, jo mere aage thaali rakhne mein boutique ki thakaawat ka rona roti thi, aaj us chhappan saal ke anpadh, ganwaar dehaati ke saamne zameen se uthe deewan par paalthi maarkar baithi thi! Woh kisi puraani peedhi ki gaanv ki lajeeli, samarpit kulvadhu ki tarah, apne haathon se chammach par phoonk maarkar, honthon se taapmaan naapkar, ek-ek niwaala uske munh mein daal rahi thi, aur uski safed-kaali daadhi se gire katre ko apne malmal ke napkin se ponchh rahi thi! 

Aur sabse bhayanak baat, jisne mere seene ko bheetar se phaad diya tha... woh yeh thi ki Tauji ne usse khaana maanga tak nahi tha! 

Tauji to khud jhenp rahe the, sankoch mein apni gardan peeche khinch rahe the, *"Bahu, tu rehne de na... main khud khaa loonga..."* 

Lekin Kaavya bina kisi ke kahe, bina kisi dabaav ya ummeed ke, apni marzi aur ek adamya, swaabhavik stree-samarpan ke saath us mard ki seva mein juti hui thi! Woh us boodhe ke saamne ek aisi aagyaakaari, vineet patni ki tarah pesh aa rahi thi jo apne pati ke ek-ek ishaare par jaan chhidakti hai... jabki woh mard uska pati tha hi nahi! 

Jo samarpan, jo gharelu meethaas main chheh saalon mein apni saari degrees, apni bhaari salary aur apni mardaangi ke baawjood Kaavya se haasil nahi kar paaya tha... woh us dehaati pehlwaan ne bina ek shabd bole, bina maange hi Kaavya se chheen liya tha! 

*Seva...* 

Yeh shabd ab mere liye ek khooni mazaaq ban chuka tha. ***** samaaj ka yeh 'bahu ki seva' ka mukhauta itna bhayanak aur paakhandi tha ki uske peeche ek aurat apni shaadi ki har maryaada, har bandish ko hanste-hanste qurbaan kar sakti thi, aur duniya use 'susheel aur sati-saadhvi' kehkar uski aarti utaarti!

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Raat ke qareeb paune das baje, Kaavya ne kitchen ka kaam niptaaya. 

`Cam_GuestBed_01` ki recording shuru hui. 

Guest room mein sheesham ke double bed par wahi aasmaani rang ki saaf chaadar bichhi thi, jise subah Kaavya ne dhoop mein sukhaakar bichhaaya tha. Kamre mein sirf bedside lamp ki halki, baadaami roshni jal rahi thi. 

Kaavya ne Tauji ko bahut aahista se sahaara dekar khada kiya aur galiyaare se laate hue bed ke kinaare baithaaya. 

Usne Tauji ke plaster bandhe dono haathon ko bahut nazaakat se bade-bade rooi ke gaav-takiyon par tika diya, taaki unki tooti haddiyon par koi dabaav na pade. Phir usne neeche jhuk-kar Tauji ke pairon se chappalein nikaaleen aur unke pairon ko uthaakar bed par seedha kar diya. 

Kaavya ne bed ke kone se ek halki cotton chaadar uthaayi aur unke seene tak odha di. 

"Tauji, ab aaraam se so jaaiye," Kaavya ne seedhe khade hokar, apni kurti ka pallu sambhaalte hue bahut dheeme swar mein kaha. "Dawaiyon ka asar shuru ho raha hoga... achhi neend lenge tabhi haddiyaan jaldi judengee." 

Tauji bed par lete hue the. 

Lekin unki aankhon mein neend ka koi naamo-nishaan nahi tha. 

Unki badi-badi, matmaili aankhon mein ek bhayanak, pyaasi aur bekaraar chamak jal rahi thi. Jab Kaavya ne unse sone ke liye kaha, to Tauji ke chehre par ek gehri, asahaniya niraasha aur chhatpataahat kaundh gayi. Woh kisi bhookhe, pyaase musaafir ki tarah Kaavya ke us gulaabi libaas, uske ubhaaron aur uske chehre ko dekh rahe the. 

Kal raat Kaavya ne isi bistar par chaupaaye hokar unke saamne apna jism parosa tha... us wehshi sukh ka nasha us boodhe pehlwaan ke khoon mein itni buri tarah daud raha tha ki woh saadi 'neend' ki baat bardaasht nahi kar paa raha tha. 

Mere dil ki dhadkan achaanak tez ho gayi. 

*Kya aaj raat phir wahi hoga? Kya Kaavya phir apne kapde utaaregi?* 

Laptop ke saamne baitha main saans roke screen ko ghoor raha tha. 

Kaavya ne jab Tauji ki us bechain, sawaaliya nazron ko dekha, to woh unki khaamosh tadap ko ek hi pal mein bhaanp gayi. 

Kaavya ki nazrein dheere se Tauji ke chehre se phisaleen... aur unke nichle jism par jaakar thehar gayin. 

Aur wahin jaakar, screen par dikh raha drishya jam sa gaya. 

Tauji ne jo dheela cotton pajama pehan rakha tha... uske theek beechon-beech, unki jaanghon ke sangam se ek bhayanak, vikraal ubhaar uth khada hua tha! 

Kaavya ki nazdeeki, uski mehak aur kal raat ki un yaadon ne us boodhe pehlwaan ke paurush ko phir se lohe ki tarah sakht kar diya tha. Unka woh saade aath inch ka bhaari, vishaal ling pajame ke kapde ko kisi tamboo ke khoonte ki tarah oopar uthaaye hue tha. Woh tanaav itna bhayanak aur adig tha ki kapde ki ek-ek silvat khinchkar tight ho chuki thi. 

Kamre ke us sannaate mein, Tauji ne jab dekha ki Kaavya ki nazrein unke pajame ke us akde hue ubhaar par tiki hain, to woh buri tarah jhenp gaye. 

Chhappan saal ke us diggaj pehlwaan ka chehra sharm ke maare laal pad gaya. Unhone apni dono plaster bandhi baahon ko hilaane ki bebas koshish ki, apni jaanghon ko thoda sikodna chaaha taaki us nange sach ko chhupa sakein. 

"Bahu... woh..." Tauji ki aawaaz itni dheemi aur larajti hui nikli jaise koi chor range haathon pakda gaya ho. Unhone apni nazrein churaakar deewar ki taraf ghuma leen, "Shareer... shareer be-eemaan ho jaata hai beti... tu... tu bura mat maanna... main..." 

Kaavya ne unko hadbadaate aur sharminda hote dekha. 

Lekin us ek pal mein... Kaavya ke bheetar kuch bahut gehra, aadim aur aniyantrit ghatit ho gaya. 

Isse pehle ki uski sachet buddhi, uski kuleen parvarish ya ek 'sulakshana kulvadhu' ki maryaada koi deewar khadi kar paati, Kaavya ke badan ne anjaane mein hi bagaawat kar di. Uske avachetan mein chheh saalon se soyi hui, atript aur bhookhi kaamini ki fitrat ne achaanak, bina uski details ke, uske poore jism ki kamaan apne haath mein le li! 

Kaavya ki saans halaq mein atak gayi. 

Pajame ke neeche tane hue us saade aath inch ke lohe jaise khoonte ko dekhkar, uski reedh ki haddi ke nichle sire se ek garam, siharti hui bijli daudi. Kamre mein phaili us vishaal pehlwaan ki jism ki gandh, balm ki mehak aur kachhe paurush ke pheromones ne Kaavya ke phephadon ko jakad liya. 

Kaavya ke dono nipples kurti ke maheen cotton kapde ke neeche achaanak sakht aur akad gaye, maano koi andekha haath unko marod raha ho. Aur uski jaanghon ke gehre, bheetri sangam par... ek bebas, garam aur chipchipi geelaahat ka phavvaara sa phoot pada. Uski yoni ne us mardaani shakti ke aage bina poochhe hi apni pyaas ki pehli boondein chhod di theen. 

Kaavya ke dimaag ki saari nasein ek meethe, madhosh kar dene wale nashe mein doobne lageen. Woh ab sirf ek bahu nahi reh gayi thi; woh us nar-pashu ke saamne khadi ek poori tarah jaag chuki, kaam-vihwal maada thi, jise apni is aseem kaamuk satta ka nasha chhadh raha tha. 

Jab Tauji ne apni nazrein churaakar sharm se gardan ghumaayi, to Kaavya ke bheetar koi ghin ya sankoch nahi jaaga. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si, madbhari chamak tair gayi. 

Kaavya ne apni dono hatheliyaan apne munh par rakh leen, aur uske gulaabi honthon ke beech se ek bahut hi dheemi, natkhat aur madhosh kar dene wali khilkhilaahat phoot padi! 

*Khil-khil-khil...* 

Uski aankhein kaamuk hansi se chhoti ho gayin, aur uske bhare hue 34D stan us dabi hui hansi ke jhatke se kurti ke bheetar bekaaboo hokar thirak uthe. Woh hansi kisi paraaye mard par taras ki nahi thi; woh ek kaam-tript aurat ki us natkhat jeet ki hansi thi jo apne saamne ek vishaal daitya ko vaasana mein tadapte aur khud se bheekh maangte dekh rahi thi! 

Tauji ne jab Kaavya ko yoon bachhon ki tarah khilkhilaate dekha, to unka maut jaisa sankoch ek hi pal mein pighal gaya. Woh ek behad maasoom, sakpakaayi hui aur bheeghi muskaan ke saath Kaavya ko dekhne lage. 

Kaavya ne apni hansi ko roka. Usne apni hatheli munh se hataayi. Uska chehra kaamuk uttejna se halka sa tamtama raha tha, honth bheeghe hue the. 

Woh ek kadam aage badhi. Uski jism us chumbakiya khinchaav ke aage khud-ba-khud sarak gayi thi. 

Usne apna daayaan haath aage badhaaya. 

Kaavya ki woh naazuk, gori aur mehakti hui hatheli Tauji ke us chaude, pehlwaan kandhe par jaakar tik gayi. Lekin is baar yeh koi aupchaarik chhooan nahi thi. Kaavya ki ungliyon ne anjaane mein hi Tauji ke sakht, faulaadi muscles ko apni pakad mein bheenjh liya. Usne apni hatheli ke dabaav se us safed baniyaan ke neeche dhadhakti hui garam khaal ko mehsoos kiya, uski ungliyaan us mardaani jism ki balishthata ko sehlaane lageen. 

Uski aawaaz ka sur badal chuka tha, woh bhaari, rasdaar, behad dheemi aur kisi bedroom ki kaanaaphoosi jaisi maadak ho gayi thi. 

"Tauji... aaj shareer ko thoda aaraam do," Kaavya ne lagbhag phusphusaate hue kaha, uski ungliyaan unke kandhe ki nas par haule-haule reng rahi theen. 

Tauji ne palkein uthaakar use dekha. Unki saansein bhaari theen. 

"Roz-roz aisa zor lagaana is umr mein aapki sehat ke liye theek nahi hai," Kaavya ne apni ungliyon se unke kandhe ko thoda aur sehlaaya, uski aawaaz mein ek adhikaar-poorn, nasheeli mamta ghul chuki thi. "Humare yahaan bade-buzurgh kehte hain ki veerya khoon se banta hai... ek boond veerya ke liye sau boond khoon jalta hai. Aapki haddiyaan abhi kachhi hain, jud rahi hain... agar roz-roz aise jaan lagaayenge, to shareer mein kamzori aa jaayegi." 

Tauji uski baat sunkar bilkul khaamosh ho gaye. Us boodhe pehlwaan ke jism mein Kaavya ki ungliyon ki chhooan se siharn daud rahi thi. 

Aur phir... Kaavya thoda sa aur neeche jhuki. 

Uska seena, uski chhaati ka woh gehra, sulagta hua ubhaar Tauji ke chehre se sirf do inch ki doori par aa gaya. Kaavya ki saanson ki garam, meethi bhaap Tauji ke honthon aur moonchhon par padne lagi. 

Kaavya ki aankhein ab poori tarah se nasheeli aur aadhi khuli theen. Uske bheetar baithi woh kaamini, jo apni hi yoni ki geelaahat se tadap rahi thi, ab khud ko rok paane mein asamarth thi. Yeh koi socha-samjha samjhauta nahi tha; yeh uski apni jaag chuki kaamukta ki laachaari thi jisne uske honthon se woh shabd kehlaaye: 

Usne Tauji ki jalti hui aankhon mein seedhe dekhte hue, ek behad dheemi, madhosh aur jalti hui phusphusaahat mein kaha: 

"Kal raat dekhenge..." 

Woh ek jumla... 

Us ek chhote se vaakya ne us kamre ke poore bhoogol ko hamesha ke liye badal kar rakh diya tha! Woh waada Kaavya ne Tauji ke liye nahi kiya tha; woh waada uski apni jism ne, apni atript bhookh ke liye Tauji se chheen liya tha! 

"Kal raat dekhenge... ab chupchaap aankhein band kariye aur so jaaiye." 

Kaavya ne ek baar phir unke kandhe ko apni ungliyon se haule se dabaaya, aur bahut dheere se seedhi khadi ho gayi. 

Tauji ke chehre par jo niraasha thi, woh ek hi second mein ud gayi. Unki aankhon mein ek aisa aseem, baalsulabh ullaas aur mardaani chamak kaundh gayi maano unko kisi bahut bade khazaane ki chaabi mil gayi ho! 

Kaavya ne unko nakaara nahi tha... usne unko thukraaya nahi tha! Usne to apni hi jism ki bhookh se vivash hokar aane wali raat ke liye ek baaqaayda waada kar diya tha! Ek aisa transgressive, gupt samjhauta jo ab dono ke beech ek ankahi dincharya ki tarah darj ho chuka tha! 

Tauji ne ek gehri, sukoon bhari saans li. Unhone ek aagyaakaari bachhe ki tarah apni aankhein band kar leen. 

Kaavya ne ek baar phir unki chaadar ko theek kiya. Usne kamre ki mukhya light band kar di, jisse kamre mein sirf night lamp ki maddhim peeli roshni reh gayi. 

Aur phir... Kaavya guest room ka darwaaza poora khula chhodkar baahar nikal aayi. 

Usne galiyaara paar kiya, apne master bedroom mein daakhil hui, aur apne kamre ka darwaaza bhi khula chhod diya. Uski taangon ke beech abhi bhi woh garam, chipchipi geelaahat ris rahi thi. Woh apni kurti badalkar dheele nightsuit mein bistar par let gayi, lekin us raat uski aankhein neend se nahi, balki aane wali raat ke khauf aur wehshi intezaar se jal rahi theen.

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Bengaluru ke us hotel ke kamre mein... main screen ke saamne bilkul sunn baitha hua tha. 

Meri plate mein rakhi khichdi poori tarah thandi aur beswaad ho chuki thi. 

Mere seene ke bheetar do bilkul vipareet, bhayanak toofaan aapas mein takra rahe the. 

Ek taraf... ek ajeeb sa, khokhla sukoon tha. Aaj raat mere master bedroom ki pavitrata nahi tooti thi. Aaj raat meri biwi kisi doosre mard ke aage chaupaaye nahi hui thi. Uske jism par kisi aur ka veerya nahi gira tha. Aaj ki raat mera vaivaahik maan bach gaya tha. 

Lekin doosri taraf... jo kadwi haqeeqat mere dimaag par hathoude ki tarah pad rahi thi, usne meri aatma ko chhalni kar diya tha. 

Kaavya peeche nahi hati thi. 

Usne pashchaataap ke baad bhi us aag se munh nahi moda tha. Usne to us anaitik, kaamuk rishta ko apne vaivaahik jeevan ka ek common, sweekrit hissa bana liya tha! 

*"Kal raat dekhenge..."* 

Uske yeh teen shabd mere kaanon mein kisi khaufnaak mantra ki tarah goonj rahe the. 

Usne koi manaahi nahi ki thi. Usne koi Lakshman-rekha nahi khinchi thi. Usne to bas us wehshi khel ko kal raat ke liye taal diya tha, ek aisa waada jise woh poori shiddat se nibhaane wali thi! 

Maine kaanpte haathon se apni jeb se cigarette ki dibbi nikaali. 

Lighter ki lau mein meri ungliyaan tharthara rahi theen. Jab Classic Mild ka kadwa, neela dhuwaan mere phephadon mein utra, to maine khidki ke sheeshe se baahar, Bengaluru ki aadhi raat ki khaamosh sadkon ko dekha. 

Mere andar ka mard lahu-luhaan hokar tadap raha tha... lekin mere bheetar ka woh chhupa hua, vikrit voyeurist us aane wali raat ki kalpana se ek bhayanak, aag ugaltee uttejna se kaanp raha tha. 

Kal raat... jab main Chennai ki kisi agli flight mein tadap raha hoonga... Flat 903 ke us bistar par woh waada poora kiya jaayega. 

Aur main... main chaahkar bhi us tabaahi ko nahi rok paaoonga.