[wofeloh916]

yeh app uske flat nanbar 903 ke sare smart upakaranon, roshni, darwaaze ke dijital lok aur eyar-kandeeshanars se judi thi.

Rajesh ne app ke menoo mein jakar **'Master Bedroom AC'** ka painal khola.

screen par AC ka stetas dikha: **[Status: Standby | Target: 24°C | Mode: Cool]**

Rajesh ki ungliyon ne screen par bahut hi sadhe hue, shatir andaz mein taip karana shuroo kiya.

usne sabase pehle AC ke kooling compressor ko software lewal par 'phors off' kar diya.

phir usne mode ko badalakar **'Ambient Fan Only / Recirculate'** par set kar diya.

aur sabase aakhir mein, usne tapaman ki seema ko lok karake **31°C** par phiks kar diya, aur remote ke phijikal signals ko 'chaild-lok / owararaid disebald' par dal diya!

iska matalab saaf tha:

kamre mein AC chalega... pankha bhi ghoomega... remote par battiyan bhi jalengi... lekin us masheen se barph jaisi thandi hawa ka ek katara bhi Nahi nikalega! wo sirf kamre ki basi, umas bhari aur garm hawa ko choosakar wapas 31 degree ke tapaman par kamre mein phenkata rahega!

Pune ke is band, nauween manjil ke kankreet ke flat mein, jahan dopahar ki dhoop se deewaaren bhatti ki tarah tap jati thin... raat hote-hote wo master bedroom ek damaghontoo, bina hawa wale greenahaus mein tabdeel hone wala tha!

Rajesh ne phone ko lok karake apni jeb mein rakh liya.

uske chehre par ek shikari ki muskan thi:

"tujhe bahut garmi lagati hai na Kaavya?... raat ke dhaai baje tujhe nahane ki zaroorat pad jati hai na? aaj raat main dekhata hoon ki teri wo garmi kaise shant hoti hai!"

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shaam ke 07:30 baje se lekar raat ke 10:45 baje tak.

flat nanbar 903 ka dining hall ek ajeeb si, khinchi hui aur dardanak intazar ka gawah ban raha tha.

Kaavya ne shaam ko hi naha-dhokar, apne geele balon ko saleeke se sukhakar ek bahut hi shaleen aur khoobasoorat halke jamuni rang ki cotton-silk kurti aur safed trousers pahan rakhe the. uske mathe par ek chhoti si maharoon bindi thi aur uski kalaai mein wahi do sone ki choodiyan aur wo roz-gold fitness tracker bandha tha.

dining table kisi shahi dawat ki tarah saji hui thi.

table ke beechon-beech bade se kanch ke bowl mein garmagarm butter chicken rakha tha, jisaki makhamali, makkhan aur kastoori methi se mahakati gravy ab dheere-dheere thandi hokar apni chamak kho rahi thi. paas hi casserole mein jeera rice aur paranthon ka aata goonthakar rakha tha taaki jaise hi darwaaze ki ghanti baje, wo tawe par taza parathe sek sake.

Tauji apne kamre mein the.

dopahar ko jab wo khana khane baahar aae the, to Kaavya ne apni nazaren unke pairon se oopar Nahi uthaee thin. usne bahut hi dabi aawaz mein, haath jodakar unako khana parosa tha. Tauji ne bhi beeti raat ki us bhayanak muthabhed ki sharm aur sankoch ke chalate ek shabd Nahi kaha tha. wo chupachap apne plaster bandhe haathon se, chammach ka sahara lekar khana khakar wapas apne kamre mein chale gaye the.

ghar mein sirf Kaavya aur uski tanhaee bachi thi.

ghadi ki suiyan aage badh rahi thin: **08:30 PM... 09:30 PM... 10:15 PM...**

Kaavya ne 08:30 baje pehla call kiya. ghanti poori baji, lekin phone Nahi utha.

usne 09:30 baje doosra call kiya. phone lagatar bajata raha, lekin doosri taraf sirf ek nishthur, masheeni sannaata tha.

10:15 baje, Kaavya ke sabr ka bandh tootane laga. usne teesra call kiya, aur phir 11:00 baje chautha call!

koi jawab Nahi.

WhatsApp par uske sare message abhi bhi unheen manahoos, grey rang ke do ticks par atake hue the.

Kaavya dining table ki kursi par akeli baithi thi.

uski wo subah wali gilt... wo pashchatap... wo khud ko doshi manane ka bhaw... ab dheere-dheere ek behad gehri, aahat aur zahareeli kadawahat mein badalane laga tha.

*‘kya main itani gir chuki hoon Rajesh ki nazar mein?!’* Kaavya ne apni mutthiyon ko bheench liya, uski aankhon mein aansuon ki jagah ek teekha, sulagata hua gussa tairane laga.

*‘mainne subah se das bar maphi mangi! mainne apne swabhiman ko kuchalakar uske saamne haath jode! mainne din bhar khade rahakar uski pasand ka khana banaya... aur wo mujhe is tarah zaleel kar raha hai? ek phone tak Nahi utha sakata?! kya main is ghar ki malakin hoon ya koi khareedi hui bandi, jise jab chaha phatakar diya aur jab chaha darwaaze par bhookha chhod diya?!’*

dard aur apaman ki ek teekhi tees uske seene mein uthi.

aur theek usi taim, raat ke 11:45 baje, flat ki dorabel achaanak ek karkash aawaz ke sath baj uthi!

*trinanang...! trinanang...!*

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Kaavya ka dil ek jhatake se uchhalakar halak mein aa gaya.

wo jhapatakar uthi aur usne tezi se jakar mukhy darwaaza khola.

darwaaza khulate hi jo nazara saamne tha, usne Kaavya ke pairon tale se zameen khisaka di.

saamne Rajesh khada tha... ya yoon kahen ki wo bamushkil apne pairon par tick pa raha tha!

uske sath uske office ka ek jooniyar kaleeg khada tha, jisane Rajesh ki daeen banh ko apne kandhe par sahara dekar sanbhal rakha tha.

Rajesh ki halat kisi gatar mein gire hue sharabi jaisi thi.

uski newi-blue shirt ke oopar ke teen button khule hue the, collar paseene aur gandagi se muda hua tha, aur uski tie kisi phande ki tarah ek taraf latak rahi thi. uske chehre par tel aur paseene ki ek ghinauni parat chadhi thi, aankhen poori tarah chadhi hui aur khoon jaisi laal thin, aur uske munh se sasti, teekhi scotch whisky, cigarette ke dhuen aur basi paseene ki aisi asahaneey badaboo aa rahi thi ki Kaavya ko ek pal ke liye ulti aane ko ho gayi!

"a... are bhabhi Jee..." us kaleeg ne ladakhadate hue Rajesh ko andar ki taraf dhakela, "sorry wo... aaj wo logistics wale nae client ka project sain hua tha na... to westarn lounge mein party thi. sar ne... sar ne aaj thodi zyada hi chadha li. gadi chalane ki halat mein Nahi the, to main cab se drop karane aa gaya..."

"thank yoo... aap... aap jaie, main sanbhal loongi," Kaavya ne apne kanpate honthon ko sikodate hue, behad rundhe gale se kaha.

jaise hi kaleeg ne Rajesh ko chhoda aur lift ki taraf badha, Rajesh ka 68 kilo ka dheela-dhala jism seedhe Kaavya ke oopar aa gira.

Kaavya ne apni poori takat lagakar, apne donon haathon se uske bhaari, jhoolate hue kandhon ko thama.

"Rajesh... sanbhalie! kya hal bana rakha hai aapane?!" Kaavya ne ghin aur phikr ke mile-jule swar mein kaha.

lekin Rajesh ne jaise hi Kaavya ki chhuan mahasoos ki, usne ek ghinaune jhatake ke sath apne donon haath hawa mein laharae aur Kaavya ko itani zor se peechhe dhakela ki wo dining table ki kursi se takarate-takarate bachi!

"h... hat! haath mat laga mujhe!" Rajesh ladakhadate hue chillaya. uski aawaz sharab ke nashe mein itani bhaari aur tutalati hui thi ki shabd aapas mein ulajh rahe the, "badi... badi phikr ho rahi hai meri?! chhoo mat mujhe... samajhi?!"

Kaavya ki aankhen phati ki phati rah gayin.

Rajesh ladakhadate hue dining eriya ke beech mein pahuncha. uski laal, chadhi hui aankhon ne table par saji hui un khoobasoorat pleton, butter chicken ke us bade bowl aur casserole ko dekha.

uske chehre par ek behad zahareeli, ghinauni aur kutil hansi phail gayi.

"wah... wah re meri sati-sawitri!" usne tali bajane ki koshish ki, lekin uske haath aapas mein mis ho gaye, "yeh... yeh sab tamaasha kisake liye hai?! han?! din bhar se mujhe WhatsApp pe makkhan laga rahi thi na... 'aaee em sorry Rajesh... pleez ghar jaldi aa jao Rajesh... mainne butter chicken banaya hai Rajesh'!"

usne ek kadam aage badhaya aur apni kanpati, paseene se lathapath ungli Kaavya ke chehre ke theek saamne tan di:

"yeh butter chicken kisako dikhane ke liye banaya hai toone?! chhah sal mein... chhah sal mein kabhi itani phikr Nahi hui tujhe meri! kabhi toone aadhi raat tak jagakar meri rah Nahi dekhi! aaj... aaj yeh achaanak itana pyaar kahan se umad pada, han?!"

Kaavya ka chehra gusse aur apaman se tamatama utha. usne apni mutthiyan itani zor se bheench leen ki uske nakhoon uski hatheliyon mein chubh gaye:

"Rajesh! aap hosh mein Nahi hain! aapane bahut zyada pi rakhi hai... chupachap kamre mein chalie!"

"main hosh mein Nahi hoon?! are main to aaj sabase bade hosh mein hoon!" Rajesh histerikal hokar hansa, uski ral uske honthon ke kone se bahane lagi, "mujhe sab samajh aata hai Kaavya! tu yeh butter chicken mere liye Nahi... apne us kaale gunah par parda dalane ke liye bana rahi thi! din bhar se jo tu mere saamne gidagida rahi thi na... wo mera pyaar Nahi tha! wo tera dar tha! teri chori pakadi gayi na kal raat... isliye aaj tu mujhe rishwat khilane baithi thi!"

"chup rahie aap!" Kaavya ki aawaz mein ek aisa bhayanak, phata hua kanpan tha ki dining table ke bartan hil gaye, "zaban sanbhal kar bat karie Rajesh! mainne subah se sau bar khud ko kosa hai ki mainne aap par bewajah gussa kiya... main din bhar bhookhi baithi rahi ki mere pati ne khana Nahi khaya... aur aap baahar sharab peekar aakar mujh par yeh gandi tohamat laga rahe hain?!"

"tohamat?!" Rajesh ne ek thahaka lagaya, jo kisi bheड़िe ki gurrahat jaisa laga, "chal hat! mujhe teri is jhoothi hamadardi ki koi zaroorat Nahi hai! phenk de is khane ko kachare mein... ya ja, apne us akhaade wale sasur ko khila de!"

yeh kahakar, Rajesh ne dining table ko ek lat mari aur ladakhadate hue, deewaron se takarata hua seedhe master bedroom ki taraf badh gaya.

Kaavya waheen khadi rah gayi.

uski chhaati pagalon ki tarah dhadak rahi thi. uski aankhon se apaman, bebasi aur ek bhayanak, aatmaghati gusse ke aansoo bah nikale.

usne us khane ki taraf dekha jise usne itane pyaar aur pashchatap se banaya tha...

uska dil kah raha tha ki wo abhi isi taim us poore khane ko nali mein baha de! lekin usne apne honthon ko lahooluhan hone tak bheench liya. wo janati thi ki ek nashedi, gire hue insan se bahas karane ka koi matalab Nahi tha.

wo bhaari, sunn kadamon se bedroom ki taraf badhi.

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jaise hi Kaavya ne master bedroom ki chaukhat par ki, uske munh se ek ghuti hui cheekh nikalane ko ho gayi.

kamra kisi tapate hue tandoor ki tarah dahak raha tha!

baahar liwing room mein phir bhi thodi thandak thi, lekin is band bedroom ke bheetar ki hawa itani bhaari, itani umas bhari aur itani garm thi maano kisi ne bhatti ka dhakkan khol diya ho!

deewaar par laga split AC chal raha tha. uski hari lait paani rahi thi, pankha bhi poori raphtar se ghoom raha tha... lekin us went se jo hawa nikal rahi thi, wo barph jaisi thandi hone ke bajay kisi loo ke thapede jaisi 31 degree ki damaghontoo, basi hawa thi!

kamre ke bheetar ki hawa mein Rajesh ki sharab, paseene aur ulti jaisi badaboo itani bhayanak tareeke se bhar chuki thi ki saans lena doobhar ho raha tha.

Rajesh bistar par ulate munh gira pada tha.

usne apni shirt ke sare button nochakar khol diye the, uski chhaati aur pet par paseene ki boonden chamak rahi thin, aur wo hanphate hue bistar ki chaadar ko nonch raha tha.

"yeh... yeh kya hai?!" Kaavya ne apne mathe par aae paseene ko ponchhate hue kaha. uski kurti uski peeth se chipakane lagi thi.

wo jhapatakar said-table par gayi aur usne AC ka remote uthaya.

usne tapaman ghatane ke liye '18°C' ka button dabaya.

*tit... tit... tit...*

remote par koi asar Nahi hua. screen par sirf '31°C - Fan Only' blink kar raha tha aur neeche ek chhota sa tale ka nishan bana tha: **[Device Locked by Master App]**!

"yeh AC kam kyun Nahi kar raha?! itani ghutan kyun ho rahi hai kamre mein?!" Kaavya pagalon ki tarah remote ke button dabate hue chillaee, "Rajesh! uthie... dekhie AC ko kya ho gaya hai! is kamre mein dam ghutakar mar jaoge hum!"

bistar par pada Rajesh dheere se palata.

usne apni aadhi khuli, dhundhali aur nashe mein doobi aankhon se Kaavya ko dekha.

Kaavya ka chehra paseene se bheeg chuka tha, uski jamuni kurti uske stanon aur uski patli kamar se chipak rahi thi, aur wo ghabarahat mein hanph rahi thi.

Rajesh ke chehre par ek aisi wahashi, shaitani aur zahareeli muskan ubhari jise dekhakar Kaavya ki reedh ki haddi mein barph ki ek thandi dhar bah gayi.

Rajesh ne bistar par apni kohani tikaee aur bahut hi ghinaune, ladakhadate lahaze mein phusaphusaya:

"kya hua Kaavya?... bahut... bahut garmi lag rahi hai tujhe? han?!"

"Rajesh, bakawas band karie! AC kharab ho gaya hai... garm hawa phenk raha hai!"

"AC kharab Nahi hua meri jan..." Rajesh ne ek hichaki li aur apni jeebh ko apne sookhe honthon par phera, "tujhe... tujhe garmi lag rahi hai na? to ja na! apne us akhaade wale pyare Tauji ko bula le!"

Kaavya ka poora wajood ek second ke liye jam gaya: "kya?!"

"Haan!" Rajesh bistar par thoda aur oopar utha, uski aawaz mein nafrat aur ek ghinauni, namard kuntha ka zahar ubal raha tha, "ja... bula la apne us pahalwaan ko! wo to har cheez mein mahir hain na?! 56 sal ke hain... akhaade ki mitti mein pale hain... bhaari-bharakam jism hai unka! ja, unase kah ki aakar apne haathon se tera AC theek kar den!"

"Rajesh! apni gandi zaban band karie!" Kaavya ki aankhon se aag barasane lagi.

"aur sun..." Rajesh ne uski bat ko poori tarah nazaraandaz karate hue, apni laal aankhon ko uski chhaati par gada diya, "agar... agar wo bhi tera AC theek n kar paen... to ek kam kar! aaj... aaj mere sath bilkul nangi hokar so ja!"

kamre ka sannaata jaise kisi sheeshe ki tarah chatak gaya.

Kaavya ki saans halak mein atak gayi. wo patthar ki moorat banakar use ghoorane lagi.

Rajesh ne ek bhayanak, aatmaghati hansi ke sath apni donon bahen bistar par phaila deen:

"Haan Kaavya! apne sare kapade utar de... aur is bistar par mere is thande badan se chipak kar let ja! tujhe... tujhe garmi ka ek katara bhi Nahi lagega... ek boond paseena Nahi aaega! kyunki... kyunki tere is napunsak, bekar aur namard pati ke jism se to ab koi aag nikalati Nahi! main to barph ki tarah thanda pad chuka hoon na?! chhah sal se tu isi thande murde ke sath so rahi hai na?! aa... chipak ja is murde se! tujhe aisi thandak milegi ki teri rooh kanp jaegi!"

sannaata!

ek aisa bhayanak, weebhats aur rooh ko cheer dene wala sannaata kamre mein phail gaya jisamen sirf AC ke pankhe ki wo sookhi, garm sarasarahat goonj rahi thi.

Kaavya ke honth kanp rahe the. uska poora jism apaman, ghin aur ek akalpaneey sadame se tharathara raha tha.

ek pati... uska apna pati... chhah sal tak jisake nam ka sindoor usne apni mang mein bhara tha... wo sharab ke nashe mein apni hi napunsakta ki aisi ghinauni numaish kar raha tha! wo apni hi patni ko itani neechata se, itani darindagi se tane mar raha tha!

"aap... aap sach mein insan kahalane ke layak Nahi hain Rajesh..." Kaavya ke munh se sirf ek phusaphusahat nikali. uski aankhon mein ab koi aansoo Nahi tha; wahan sirf ek bhayanak, sard nafrat ki jwala dhadhak rahi thi.

lekin Kaavya ke wo shabd Rajesh ke kanon tak Nahi pahunche.

wo zahareela tana marane ke theek do second bad... Rajesh ka sir ek jhatake se takie par ludhak gaya. uski aankhen band ho gayin, uska munh aadha khula rah gaya, aur wo ek hi pal mein sharab ke us achet, gehre aur agadh koma mein doob gaya!

kamre mein sirf uske bhaari, badaboodar aur ghurrate hue kharraton ki aawaz goonjane lagi:

*khkhkharrarr... phphooूूhhh... khkhkharrarr...!*

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aadhi raat ka 01:00 baj chuka tha.

master bedroom kisi dahakate hue bhatthe mein tabdeel ho chuka tha.

kamre ka tapaman 31 degree ke par ja chuka tha. hawa itani saghan aur umas bhari thi ki saans lena kisi garm bhap ko nigalane jaisa lag raha tha.

bistar par Rajesh kisi lash ki tarah nanga-dhadanga, paseene se lathapath pada besudh kharrate le raha tha.

aur kamre ke farsh par... Kaavya khadi thi.

uski jamuni cotton kurti uske paseene se poori tarah bheegakar uski peeth, uske stanon aur uski kamar se kisi doosri chamadi ki tarah chipak chuki thi. uski gardan se paseene ki moti-moti boonden phisalakar uski chhaati ke beechon-beech us gehri darar mein utar rahi thin.

uska poora badan paani raha tha.

lekin yeh jalan sirf us kamre ki garmi ki wajah se Nahi thi.

yeh jalan thi us bhayanak apaman ki... Rajesh ke us zahareele tane ki... aur us anadekhi, dabaee gayi hawas ki, jise usne kal raat shawar ke neeche jagaya tha aur jo aaj is ghutan bhare kamre mein ek dawanal ban chuki thi!

*‘jao na... apne us Tauji ko bula lo...’*

Rajesh ke wo shabd... wo ghinauna tana... Kaavya ke kanon ke bheetar kisi ghante ki tarah lagatar baj raha tha.

Kaavya ne ek gehri, kanpati hui saans li.

uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa, widrohi aur pagalapan bhara unmad jag utha.

"agar aap mujhe yahi samajhate hain Rajesh... agar aapki nazar mein main itani hi gir chuki hoon... to theek hai!"

usne apne donon haathon ko oopar uthaya. usne apni paseene se tarabatar jamuni kurti ko pakada aur ek hi jhatake mein apne sir ke oopar se kheenchakar utar phenka!

geela kapada farsh par ek dher banakar gira.

phir usne apni laigings ki dori kheenchi aur use bhi apne pairon se nikalakar pare phenk diya.

ab wo sirf apne antarwastron mein khadi thi. uska gora, kanchan jaisa badan paseene ki bareek boondon se kisi tarashe hue sangamaramar ki tarah chamak raha tha.

Kaavya ne apni wordarob ka darwaaza khola.

usne andar ki sabase nichali daraj se apne sabase halke, sabase maheen aur sabase kaamuk kapadon ka ek joda nikala, ek altra-thin, paradarshi skaee-blue silk-satan ka camisole top aur usase maiching maikro-shorts!

yeh wo kapade the jinhen usne ek bar kisi lagzari wekeshan ke liye khareeda tha, lekin apni maryada aur sankoch ke chalate kabhi pahanane ki himmat Nahi ki thi.

lekin aaj... aaj sari maryadaen us sharabi pati ke tanon ke sath rakh ho chuki thin!

Kaavya ne wo aasamani silk ka camisole apne badan par dal liya.

maheen, phisalan bhara satan uske tapate hue badan se chipak gaya. us top ki patli-patli noodle straps uske gore kandhon par bamushkil tiki thin, uska deep wi-nek uski 34D kleewej ko aadhe se zyada nanga chhod raha tha, aur uski naabhi ke oopar uski gori, patli kamar poori tarah khuli thi.

aur neeche... wo maikro-shorts itane chhote aur bareek the ki wo uske sudaul, bhare-poore chootadon ke nichale hisse ko bhi bamushkil dhak pa rahe the. uski lambi, gori aur sudaul jaanghen us garm hawa mein poori tarah unmukt thin.

Kaavya ne dresing table ke sheeshe mein apni parachhaeen dekhi.

neele silk ke us bareek, geele parde ke aar-par... uske donon stanon ke sakht, kaamuk nippals saaf-saaf ubharakar tane hue the.

uska badan bhookh se tadap raha tha.

uski yoni ke bheetar kal raat wala wo khaulata hua lawa ek bar phir machalane laga tha.

aur theek usi taim...

us kamre ki 9 inch moti deewaar ke par se...

bagal ke guest room se...

ek bahut hi bhaari, gehri aur mardana saanson ki aawaz aaee:

*hoonhhh... maalik...*

Tauji!

us 56 sal ke, 6 phut 1 inch lambe, 95 kilo ke dehati akhaade wale mard ki wo gehri, bhaari saansen... jo us khamosh raat ke sannaate ko cheerati hui seedhe Kaavya ke kanon mein utar rahi thin!

Kaavya ka poora wajood kanp utha.

uske rongate khade ho gaye. uske badan ke bheetar ek aisi siharan daudi jisane uski sochane-samajhane ki sari takat ko ek second mein bhasm kar diya.

Rajesh ka wo tana phir goonja:

*‘ja na... apne us Tauji ko bula le!’*

Kaavya ke honth kanpane lage.

*‘kya yeh tana tha... ya niyati ka diya hua ek hukm?’*

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raat ke theek 01:30 baje.

master bedroom ke us ghutan bhare, tapate hue andhere mein...

Kaavya bistar ke kinaare baithi thi.

uska poora badan paseene aur ek dahakati hui kaamuk bechaini se tharathara raha tha.

lekin uthane se pehle... us band darwaaze ki taraf ek bhi kadam badhane se pehle, Kaavya ke bheetar ka khauf jag utha.

kya Rajesh sach mein so chuka tha? ya wo sharab ke nashe ka natak karake sirf us par nazar rakh raha tha?! agar wo kamre se baahar nikali aur Rajesh ne use dekh liya... to uski poori zindagi, uska pariwar aur uska swabhiman ek hi pal mein jalakar rakh ho jaega!

Kaavya ne apne kanpate honthon ko bheench liya. use pakka karana tha. use apni aankhon se dekhana tha ki uska pati sach mein achet hai ya Nahi.

wo aahista se ghutanon ke bal bistar par chadhi. uska aasamani reshami camisole gadde par sarasaraya.

wo ulate munh pade Rajesh ke chehre ke bilkul qareeb jhuki.

Rajesh ke munh se teekhi, khatti scotch aur basi cigarette ki asahaneey badaboo aa rahi thi. wo bistar ki chaadar ko ek haath se bheenche, aadhi khuli aankhon aur khule munh ke sath bhaari saansen kheench raha tha.

"Rajesh..." Kaavya ne phusaphusate hue aawaz di.

koi jawab Nahi. sirf ek bhaari, ghurrata hua kharrata: *khkhkharrarr...!*

Kaavya ne apni kanpati ungliyan aage badhaeen aur uske paseene se bheege, bhaari kandhe ko pakadakar zor se hilaya:

"Rajesh! sunie... aap theek hain? Rajesh!"

Rajesh ka shareer kisi bori ki tarah bejan pada raha. uske kandhe ka dheelapan bata raha tha ki sharab uski nason mein zahar ki tarah phail chuki thi.

lekin Kaavya ka dil ab bhi Nahi mana. uska dil pasaliyon ke peechhe 130 ki raphtar se dhadak raha tha.

usne ek gehri saans li. andhere mein uski gori hatheli oopar uthi.

aur phir... usne Rajesh ke us paseene se lathapath, chipachipe gaal par ek halka lekin saf thappad jad diya: *chatak!*

kamre ke sannaate mein wo thapaki saf goonj uthi.

yeh koi gusse ka tamacha Nahi tha; yeh ek aparadhi ka apne paharedar ko aazamane ka aakhiri, khauphanak imtihan tha!

us thappad ke jhatake se Rajesh ka sir bejan dhele ki tarah daeen taraf ludhak gaya. uski palaken tak Nahi phadakeen. uske halak se sirf ek bhaari, besudh aur ghuraghurati hui sharabi saans nikali, ek geela, achet sa kharrata jo bina kisi shabd ya hosh ke waheen takie mein ghut gaya.

uska nichala jabada dheela hokar khul gaya, honth ke kone se lar ki ek patli lakeer risakar chaadar par phail gayi, aur wo ek hi pal mein wapas usi agadh, pashawik nashe ke koma mein doob gaya. koi harakat Nahi, koi chetana Nahi. wo kisi murade ki tarah nishchal tha.

Kaavya ne apni kanpati hatheli ko apni chhaati se sata liya.

uski ungliyan tharathara rahi thin, lekin ab uske zehan se Rajesh ke jagane ka aakhiri khauf bhi kaphoor ho chuka tha. Rajesh poori tarah sudh-budh kho chuka tha; agale chhah-saat ghante tak duniya idhar se udhar ho jae, wo is achet neend se Nahi uthane wala tha.

Kaavya bahut aahista se bistar se neeche utari.

uske nange talawe jab Italian marble ke farsh par pade, to us mamooli si thandak ne bhi uski nason mein ek ajeeb si siharan dauda di.

usne mudakar ek aakhiri bar us kamre ko dekha. master bedroom ki hawa kisi bhatti ki tarah ghut rahi thi. Rajesh dwara lok kiya gaya AC 31 degree par sirf garm, basi umas ugal raha tha. kamre mein sharab ki durgandh, paseene ki gandh aur ghutan ka aisa ghana jal bichha tha ki Kaavya ka dam ghutane laga tha. uska gala pyas aur ghabarahat se sookhakar kanta ho chuka tha, aur wo maheen aasamani silk ka camisole uski peeth aur pasaliyon se paseene ke wajah kisi geele kafan ki tarah chipaka hua tha. yahan ek pal aur rukana kisi jel ki kalakothari mein jalane jaisa tha.

use baahar nikalana hi tha.

lekin baahar kyun? uske apne man ne khud ko bahalane ke liye ek behad masoom, dhundhala sa bahaana gadh liya tha, *galiyaare ke par, guest room ka AC to bilkul theek chal raha hai... wahan thandak hai, raahat hai. shayad wo sirf us thandi hawa mein do ghoont sukoon ki saans lene ja rahi hai... ya phir, Tauji ke donon haathon par plaster chadha hai, kya pata is aadhi raat ko unako paani ki zaroorat ho? ek bahu ka pharj hi to hai...*

uska sachet dimaag khud ko yahi samajha raha tha ki wo sirf garmi aur ghutan se bhag rahi hai. lekin us dhundhale, masoom bahaane ki tah ke theek neeche... uske khoon mein ek khauphanak aag sulag rahi thi. Rajesh ka wo zahareela tana, *'ja... jake sewa kar uski... bhar uska bistar...'*, hathaude ki tarah uske kanon mein baj raha tha. us dehati mard ki wo chaudi, faulaadi chhaati aur us dopahar galiyaare mein takaraee wo barbar mardaangi uske antarman ko ek andhi, pashawik khaee ki taraf kheench rahi thi.

kya wo sachamuch sirf AC ki thandak aur paani ke liye ja rahi thi? ya us jalate hue badan ko bujhane ke liye kisi aur hi samandar ki talash thi?

yeh sawal us andhere mein ek anasulajha, dahakata hua raz banakar thahar gaya.

wo bahut hi aahista, bilkul billi jaise kadamon se aage badhi.

uska maheen aasamani silk ka camisole uski jaanghon ke sath sarasaraya.

wo master bedroom ke band darwaaze ke saamne aakar ruk gayi.

andhere mein... uski gori, kanpati hui ungliyan aage badheen.

uski hatheli ne darwaaze ke us peetal ke bhaari haindal ko chhua.

dhatu ki wo barph jaisi thandak uski ungliyon mein chubhi.

Kaavya ne apni saansen rok leen.

uska dil pasaliyon ke peechhe kisi nagade ki tarah baj raha tha: **128 BPM... 130 BPM...**

usne apne haath ko neeche dabaya.

*click.*

haindal ghooma. laich khula.

aur wo bhaari sheesham ka darwaaza... us syah, weeran aur andhere galiyaare ki taraf... aadha inch khul gaya!

saamne... theek baarah pheet ki doori par...

guest room ka wo band darwaaza tha, jisake peechhe wo 56 sal ka dehati sher apni cotton lungi mein soya hua tha...

Kaavya ka ek nanga pair chaukhat ke par nikala...

aur drishy waheen, us dahakate hue mod par... hamesha-hamesha ke liye ek saans rok dene wale sannaate mein jam gaya!