[Joker44]

Teesri subah Vaishali ki aankh paanch baje hi khul gayi. Kamre mein abhi bhi andhera tha, AC ki halki si ghoon ghoon chal rahi thi, aur Vikram uski bagal mein ek haath uski kamar par daale gehri neend mein so raha tha. Uski garam saans Vaishali ki gardan par pad rahi thi, theek un nishaanon par jo ab teen din purane ho kar halke jaamuni pad gaye the.
Woh kuch der waise hi padi rahi, chhat ko dekhti hui. Kal raat ki ek ek baat uske dimaag mein ghoom rahi thi. Farsh par ghutno ke bal baithna, Vikram ka woh garam, dhadakta lund apne haath mein pakadna, uska swaad, aur phir woh aakhri pal jab usne uske baal kas kar pakde the aur kaha tha, Nigal jaao, Meera. Vaishali ne apne honth daba liye. Use abhi bhi apne gale mein woh namkeen ehsaas yaad tha. Aur use sabse zyada sharm is baat ki aa rahi thi ki yeh yaad karke uski jaanghon ke beech phir se garmi uthne lagi thi.
Usne dheere se Vikram ka haath apni kamar se hataya aur uthi. Bathroom mein jaate hue usne bed ke peeche wali deewar ki taraf dekha. Us paar se koi aawaz nahi aa rahi thi. Shayad so gaya hoga, usne socha. Ya shayad poori raat jaagta raha.
Aaj ka din khaas tha. Aaj gathbandhan ki pooja thi, jismein nayi bahu aur bete ka gathbandhan karke kuldevi ke saamne santaan ka aashirwaad liya jaata tha. Aur aaj hi woh din tha jab Ramesh aur Priya aane wale the.
Ramesh.
Nahaate waqt, garam paani ke neeche khade hokar, Vaishali ne apni aankhein band ki. Aaj uska asli pati, jiske saath usne bees saal bitaaye the, jiske bete ki woh maa thi, is ghar mein aayega. Use 'bhaiya' banke. Aur use apni behen ko kisi aur ki bahu banke, kisi aur ke saath gathbandhan mein bandhte hue, aankhon ke saamne dekhna padega.
Usne paani band kiya, towel lapeta, aur bahar aayi toh dekha ki bed par maid ne aaj ki saree pehle hi rakh di thi. Saas ka chunaav tha.
Laal organza. Itna patla ki haath par rakho toh hatheli ki lakeerein dikh jaayein. Poore kapde par sone ki zari ki chhoti chhoti butiyan aur kinaare par chaudi sunehri patti. Saath mein blouse tha jise dekh kar Vaishali ke gaal garam ho gaye. Sleeveless, gehra U-neck aage, aur peeche se poori peeth khuli, bas gardan par ek patli dori aur kamar par ek, beech mein kuch bhi nahi. Uske saath ek moti sone ki kamarband thi jismein chhote chhote ghungroo latak rahe the, maang tika, bade jhumke, aur ek naya haar jo saas ne khaas aaj ke liye nikala tha.
Maid ne hi saree baandhi. Vaishali aaine ke saamne khadi rahi aur dekhti rahi kaise us ladki ki tez ungliyan pleats banati gayi, aur phir unhe naabhi se poore teen ungal neeche khons diya.
"Itna neeche?" Vaishali ne dheere se poocha.



"Badi madam ne kaha hai, bhabhi ji," maid ne muskura kar kaha. "Aaj pooja hai, sab rishtedaar aayenge, club wale bhi. Madam boli bahu aisi dikhni chahiye ki sab dekhte reh jaayein." Usne pallu ko ek patli patti ki tarah mod kar uske baayein kandhe par pin kiya, aur woh pallu uske seene ke beech se aise guzra ki dono taraf ka ubhaar aur gehra U-neck saaf dikh raha tha.
Aakhir mein maid ne kamarband baandha. Thanda sona uski nangi kamar par lipat gaya, aur jab Vaishali ne halka sa kadam liya, ghungroo chhan se baj uthe.
Usne aaine mein khud ko dekha. Laal organza ke neeche se uski gori kamar aur naabhi jhalak rahi thi. Peeth poori nangi thi, sirf do doriyan. Maang mein sindoor tha, Vikram ke naam ka. Gale mein mangalsutra, Vikram ka. Aur gardan par nishaan, Vikram ke.
Ramesh ke ghar mein toh pallu sir se nahi hatta tha, usne phir socha. Aur aaj woh mujhe aise dekhega.
Peeche se Vikram ki neend bhari aawaz aayi. "Uff."
Woh mudi. Vikram bed par kohni ke bal uth kar use dekh raha tha, aankhein aadhi khuli, aur chadar ke neeche uska subah wala tanaav saaf dikh raha tha. "Meera," usne dheere se kaha, "agar aaj pooja na hoti na, toh yeh saree abhi wapas utar jaati."
"Chup kijiye," Vaishali ne sharma kar kaha, lekin uske honthon par muskaan aa gayi.
Vikram uth kar uske paas aaya, peeche se uski nangi peeth par apni ungli reedh ki haddi ke saath upar se neeche tak chalaayi, aur kamarband ke theek upar ruk gaya. Ghungroo halke se baje. "Aaj bhaiya bhi aa rahe hain na?" usne uske kaan mein kaha.
Vaishali ki saans ruk gayi. "Haan."
"Achha hai," Vikram ne kaha, aur uske kandhe ko chooma. "Dekh lenge apni behen kitni khush hai. Aur kitni sundar."
Neeche nashta jaldi jaldi hua kyonki pooja ki taiyaari chal rahi thi. Aangan mein phoolon ki rangoli bani thi, genda aur mogra ki maalaayein har khambhe par latak rahi thi, aur beech mein ek chhota sa havan kund taiyaar tha. Pandit ji aa chuke the aur saamaan laga rahe the.
Jab Vaishali seedhiyon se neeche utri, har kadam par ghungroo chhan chhan baj rahe the, aur aangan mein khadi aurtein ek pal ke liye chup ho gayi.
"Haaye nazar na lage," Rekha chachi ne seene par haath rakh kar kaha. "Bahu toh aaj apsara lag rahi hai."
"Aur yeh ghungroo," mausi ne aankh maari, "raat ko bhi aise hi bajte hain kya, Vikram?"
Aurtein khi khi karke hans padi, aur Vaishali ka chehra laal ho gaya. Vikram ne bas muskura kar kandhe uchkaaye.
Aur tabhi usne Arjun ko dekha.
Woh aangan ke kone mein khada tha, pandit ji ke liye ghee ka dabba pakde hue. Usne safed kurta pehna tha, baal geele the, aur aankhon ke neeche halke kaale ghere the jaise woh poori raat soya hi na ho. Uski nazar Vaishali par padi, upar se neeche tak, laal organza, nangi kamar, ghungroo, aur phir gardan par aakar ruk gayi. Uska jabda kas gaya.
Vaishali ne usse nazar milaayi. Ek second. Phir Arjun ne dabba neeche rakha aur baahar gate ki taraf chala gaya.
"Arjun beta, kahan ja rahe ho?" saas ne aawaz di.
"Papa aur bua aa gaye hain, aunty," Arjun ne bina mude kaha. "Gate pe gaadi ruki hai."
Vaishali ka dil zor se dhadka. Usne apna pallu theek kiya, aur phir ek pal ruki, aur use theek nahi kiya. Pallu waise hi patli patti ki tarah rehne diya, seene ke beech se.
Gate se Ramesh andar aaya.



Ramesh ne apni sabse achhi wali kameez pehni thi, wahi halki neeli jo Vaishali ne do saal pehle Diwali par usse dilwaayi thi. Uske haath mein mithai ka dabba tha, aur bagal mein Priya thi, peeli saree mein, aankhon mein utsukta liye har cheez ko dekhti hui. Bungalow ki shaan dekh kar dono ek pal ke liye thithak gaye, jaise kisi doosri duniya mein aa gaye hon.
Saas ne aage badh kar swaagat kiya. "Aaiye aaiye, Ramesh ji! Meera ke bade bhaiya! Aapke bina pooja kaise hoti."
"Namaste ji," Ramesh ne haath jode, aur phir uski nazar aangan ke beech khadi apni biwi par padi.
Vaishali ne dekha ki uske kadam ruk gaye.
Woh use dekh raha tha jaise pehli baar dekh raha ho. Laal organza ke neeche se jhaankti gori kamar. Naabhi se teen ungal neeche bandhi saree. Nangi baahein, nange kandhe. Patla sa pallu jo seene ke beech se aise guzra tha ki dono taraf ka bharaapan aur gehra gala saaf dikh raha tha. Kamar par sone ka kamarband aur uske ghungroo. Maang mein sindoor. Aur gardan par, baalon ke beech se jhaankte jaamuni nishaan.
Ramesh ka gala ek baar upar neeche hua. Uske haath mein mithai ka dabba halka sa kaanpa.
"Bhaiya," Vaishali ne aage badh kar kaha, aur jhuk kar uske pair chhue, jaise ek behen apne bade bhai ke chhooti hai. Jhukte hi uska pallu kandhe se sarka aur uski nangi peeth, sirf do patli doriyon ke saath, Ramesh ki aankhon ke theek saamne thi. Ghungroo chhan se baje. Uske seene mein ek ajeeb si kasak uth gayi jab usne mehsoos kiya ki uska apna pati uski nangi peeth dekh raha hai.
Ramesh ne uske sar par haath rakha. Uska haath thanda tha aur kaanp raha tha. "Khush raho," usne bhaari aawaz mein kaha. Wahi do shabd jo usne parson message mein likhe the.
Jab woh uthi, Priya ne use gale laga liya aur uske kaan mein phusphusaayi, "Haaye Meera, kya lag rahi hai tu! Bilkul heroine. Aur yeh..." usne chupke se gardan ke nishaan ko chhua aur khi khi karke hans padi, "lagta hai jija ji bahut pyaar karte hain."
Vaishali ne kuch nahi kaha. Uski nazar Ramesh par thi, jo ab nazrein neeche kiye mithai ka dabba saas ko pakda raha tha. Uske gaal garam ho rahe the.



Vikram andar se aaya, safed silk kurta aur sunehri dhoti mein, gale mein moti ki maala. Usne Ramesh ko dekhte hi bade josh se gale lagaya. "Bhaiya! Aa gaye aap! Bahut achha laga." Phir usne Vaishali ke paas aakar, sabke saamne, uski nangi kamar par apna haath rakha, kamarband ke theek upar, aur use apni taraf kheench liya. "Dekhiye na bhaiya, aapki behen ko maine kitna sambhaal ke rakha hai." Uski ungliyan uski nangi kamar par dheere se phisli.
"Haan... dikh raha hai," Ramesh ne kaha, aur uski nazar Vikram ke haath par thi, jo Vaishali ki naabhi ke kinaare par tika tha.
Pooja shuru hui.
Pandit ji ne havan kund ke saamne do aasan bichhaaye. Vikram aur Vaishali baithe, ek doosre se sat kar. Pandit ji ne Vaishali ke pallu ka ek kona liya aur Vikram ke dupatte ke kone se gaanth baandh di. Gathbandhan.
"Yeh gaanth ab janam janam ki hai," pandit ji ne mantron ke beech kaha. "Aaj kuldevi se hum is jode ke liye santaan ka aashirwaad maangte hain. Ghar mein jaldi kilkaari goonje, vansh aage badhe."
Aangan mein baithi aurtein haath jod kar "Tathastu" boli. Rekha chachi ne zor se kaha, "Haan Maa, agle saal tak beta de dena!"
Vaishali ne nazrein uthaayi. Saamne, mehmaanon ki pehli line mein, Ramesh baitha tha. Uske ek taraf Priya, aur doosri taraf Arjun.
Dono ki aankhein us par thi.
Ramesh ki nazar us gaanth par thi jo uski biwi ke pallu ko kisi aur mard ke dupatte se baandh rahi thi. Bees saal pehle isi tarah ki ek gaanth usse bandhi thi, ek chhote se mandir mein, jab Vaishali unnees saal ki thi aur sharma kar uski taraf dekh bhi nahi paa rahi thi. Aur aaj woh gaanth kisi aur ke saath bandh rahi thi, ek shaandaar bungalow mein, sau logon ke saamne, aur pandit ji uski biwi ki kokh ke liye kisi aur ke bacche ki dua maang rahe the. Vaishali ki saansein tez ho gayi.
Vaishali ne dekha ki Ramesh ki mutthiyan uske ghutnon par kasi hui thi. Lekin uski aankhein hat nahi rahi thi. Woh dekh raha tha. Har cheez. Jaise use dard ho raha ho, aur phir bhi woh dekhna chahta ho.
Pandit ji ne kaha, "Ab var vadhu ki maang mein sindoor bhare."
Vikram ne chutki mein sindoor liya. Vaishali ne sar thoda jhukaya. Aur Vikram ne bade aaram se, dheere dheere, sabke saamne, uski maang mein sindoor bhara. Phir usne apni ungli uske maathe se neeche, naak ki seedh mein, honthon tak laayi aur ek pal ke liye uske nichle honth par rok di. Sirf ek pal. Lekin Vaishali ne mehsoos kiya ki uske jism mein sihran daud gayi, aur saamne baithe Ramesh ne nazar jhuka li. Uski jaanghein apne aap ek doosri se chipak gayi.
Pheron ke liye dono uthe. Gaanth bandhi hui, Vikram aage, Vaishali peeche. Har kadam par ghungroo chhan chhan baj rahe the. Organza ki saree havan ki garmi aur hawa mein uske jism se chipak rahi thi, aur har phere mein jab woh Ramesh ke saamne se guzarti, use uski nazar apni nangi peeth par, apni kamar par, apni chaal par mehsoos hoti. Uski chut ke andar ek ajeeb si kasak uth gayi.
Teesre phere par Vikram thoda ruka, mud kar uska haath pakda, aur dheere se uski hatheli ko apne angoothe se sehlaaya. Uske honthon par muskaan thi, aur usne itni dheemi aawaz mein kaha ki sirf Vaishali sun sake, "Aaj raat ka aashirwaad bhi poora karna hai. Pandit ji ne kaha na, vansh."



Vaishali ka chehra laal ho gaya. Usne nazrein jhuka li. Aur jhuki nazron se usne dekha ki Ramesh ne kuch suna toh nahi tha, lekin usne Vikram ke honthon ki harkat dekhi thi, aur Vaishali ke laal gaal dekhe the. Aur woh samajh gaya tha. Uski saans atak gayi.
Pooja khatam hui. Sab aashirwaad dene aaye. Saas ne dono ko gale lagaya. Rishtedaaron ne lifaafe pakdaaye. Aur phir baari aayi Ramesh ki.
Woh dheere dheere aage aaya. Vaishali aur Vikram ne jhuk kar uske pair chhue. Ramesh ne dono ke sar par haath rakha. Uska haath Vaishali ke sar par zyada der ruka, uske sindoor ke paas.
"Bahut... bahut khush raho dono," usne kaha. Phir uski aawaz kaanpi. "Aur... jaldi khushkhabri dena."
Aangan taaliyon se goonj utha. "Dekha, bhaiya bhi yahi chahte hain!" Rekha chachi chillaayi.
Vaishali ne upar dekha. Ramesh ki aankhein laal thi. Aur unke andar woh wahi ajeeb si nazar thi jo parson video call par thi. Dard, jalan, haar, aur uske neeche ek dabi hui, bebas garmi.
Usne apne pati ki aankhon mein dekha, aur pehli baar use samajh aaya ki Ramesh is sab ko sirf saha nahi kar raha. Kahin na kahin, woh ise mehsoos bhi kar raha tha. Uski jaanghon ke beech phir se garmi uth gayi.
Aur Arjun? Arjun us line mein nahi tha. Woh kab utha, kab gaya, kisi ne nahi dekha.





Dopahar ko khaane ke baad aurton ne ek aur rasm rakhi thi. Ubtan. Deshmukh khandaan ki puraani riwaayat thi ki gathbandhan ke din nayi bahu ko ghar ki aurtein haldi, chandan aur kesar ka ubtan lagaati hain, taaki uska roop aur nikhre aur kokh hari bhare.
Rasm peeche wale bade aangan mein thi, jahan pool ke paas safed chaadar bichhaai gayi thi aur chaaron taraf genda ke phool bikhre the. Mard log drawing room mein the, cricket aur business ki baatein karte hue. Aangan sirf aurton ka tha. Kam se kam aisa kaha gaya tha.
Vaishali ko laal organza utaar kar ek peeli, patli cotton saree pehnaayi gayi thi, bina blouse ke, sirf saree ko seene par lapet kar baandha gaya tha jaise purane zamaane mein ubtan ke waqt baandhte the. Kandhe, baahein, peeth aur pet poore nange the. Saree ka kapda itna patla tha ki jab woh chaadar par baithi, uske jism ki har golaai uske neeche se jhalak rahi thi. Uski jaanghon ke beech ek ajeeb si kasak uth gayi.
Aurtein uske chaaron taraf baith gayi. Saas ne pehla haath lagaaya, uske gaalon par thoda sa ubtan, aashirwaad ke saath. Phir Priya, phir mausi, phir cousins. Aur phir Rekha chachi aayi, haath mein bhari katori liye, aur aankhon mein shararat liye.
"Haan ab dekho asli ubtan kaise lagta hai," unhone kaha aur dono hatheliyon mein peela, thanda lep bhar liya.
Unhone pehle uske kandhon par lagaaya, dheere dheere malte hue. Phir baahon par. Phir peeth par, upar se neeche, jab tak unki hatheliyan kamar ke ghumaav tak nahi pahunch gayi. Vaishali ki aankhein band ho gayi. Ubtan thanda tha, lekin chachi ke haath garam the, aur woh har jagah aise mal rahi thi jaise koi nuskha jaanti ho. Uski saansein tez ho gayi.
"Arre chachi, bahu ki kamar toh dekho," mausi boli. "Kitni patli hai. Vikram ke haathon mein poori aa jaati hogi."
Aurtein hans padi. Chachi ne apni hatheliyan aage laakar uske pet par rakhi aur naabhi ke chaaron taraf gol gol ghumaane lagi. "Aur yeh pet," unhone sharaarat se kaha, "yahi toh hai jahan kuldevi ka aashirwaad aana hai. Ise toh khoob achhe se malna padega." Unki ungliyan naabhi ke andar tak ghoom rahi thi.
Vaishali ki saans halki si atak gayi. Chachi ki ungliyan naabhi ke andar tak ghoom rahi thi, aur phir saree ki gaanth ke theek upar tak neeche jaati, aur phir upar aati. Uske pet mein ek ajeeb si gudgudi aur garmi uthi. Use pichhli raat yaad aayi, aur aaj subah Vikram ke shabd, aaj raat ka aashirwaad bhi poora karna hai. Uski jaanghein apne aap ek doosri se chipak gayi.
"Haaye dekho, bahu sharma rahi hai," ek cousin ne chillaaya. "Pakka raat ki baat soch rahi hai!"
Phir chachi ne ek aur muthhi ubtan liya aur bina kuch kahe uske seene ke upar, jahan saree bandhi thi, uski halki si dikhti golaai par lagaane lagi. Gale se lekar seene ki daraar tak. Saree ka kinaara halka sa neeche sarka. Vaishali ne turant haath se use pakda. Uski chut ke andar ek ajeeb si kasak uth gayi.
"Arre chhupaa kyon rahi hai, sab aurtein hi toh hain," chachi hansi. "Aur waise bhi, jo dikhaana tha woh toh Vikram ko dikha hi diya hai, yeh nishaan bata rahe hain." Unhone uski chhati par til ke paas wale nishaan par ungli rakh di. Poora aangan thahaakon se goonj utha.
Vaishali sharm se laal thi, ubtan ke peelepan ke neeche bhi uske gaal jal rahe the. Lekin uske andar ek ajeeb si garmi bhi thi. Itni saari aurton ke beech, aadhi nangi baithi, unke haath apne jism par mehsoos karti hui, unki gandi gandi baatein sunti hui, use laga jaise uska jism kisi tyohaar ka hissa ban gaya hai. Jaise sab use sirf ek cheez ke liye taiyaar kar rahe hain. Uski saansein tez ho gayi.

Aur tabhi usne upar dekha.
Aangan ke upar, pehli manzil ki balcony mein, parde ke peeche, ek parchhaai khadi thi.
Pehle use laga Arjun hai. Uska dil zor se dhadka. Lekin phir parchhaai thodi hili aur dhoop mein ek halki neeli kameez ki jhalak dikhi.
Ramesh.
Woh wahan khada tha, parde ke peeche, neeche aangan mein dekh raha tha. Apni biwi ko dekh raha tha, jo patli peeli saree mein aadhi nangi baithi thi, jiske pet aur seene par doosri aurtein kisi aur mard ke bacche ke liye ubtan mal rahi thi, aur jo us mard ke diye nishaanon par hans rahi thi. Uski jaanghon ke beech phir se garmi uth gayi.
Vaishali ki aur Ramesh ki nazrein mili.
Ek pal ke liye dono mein se koi nahi hila. Vaishali ne apni saree ka kinaara theek karne ke liye haath badhaaya, aur phir ruk gayi. Pata nahi kyon. Usne use waise hi rehne diya. Thoda sarka hua. Aur nazar nahi hataai. Uski chut ke andar ek ajeeb si kasak uth gayi.
Upar Ramesh ka haath parde ko kas kar pakde tha. Uski chhati upar neeche ho rahi thi. Woh mud kar chala jaana chahta tha, Vaishali ko uske chehre se saaf dikh raha tha. Lekin woh gaya nahi. Khada raha. Aur dekhta raha.
"Chalo ab nahla do bahu ko," saas ne aawaz di, aur aurtein uth kar uske upar haldi wala paani daalne lagi. Thanda paani uske sar se behta hua kandhon, seene aur pet par aaya, aur patli peeli saree poori tarah bheeg kar uske jism se chipak gayi. Ab woh kapda kuch bhi nahi chhupa raha tha. Uske stanon ki golaai, unke gehre nipples, pet ki naram lakeer, sab kuch geele kapde ke neeche saaf dikh raha tha. Uski saansein tez ho gayi.
Aurtein hans rahi thi, taaliyaan bajaa rahi thi. "Haaye, Vikram ki toh aaj raat hi pooja ho jaayegi!"
Vaishali ne aakhri baar upar dekha.
Parda hil raha tha. Balcony khaali thi.
Lekin balcony ke theek bagal wali khidki, jo guest room ki thi, Arjun ke kamre ki, uska parda bhi halka sa khula tha. Aur andhere mein, us khidki ke peeche, koi aur bhi khada tha. Uski jaanghein apne aap ek doosri se chipak gayi.
Vaishali ne geeli saree apne seene par kas kar pakad li. Uska dil itni zor se dhadak raha tha ki use aurton ki hansi sunaai deni band ho gayi.
Do mard. Do khidkiyaan. Ek pati jo bhai ban gaya tha. Ek beta jo bhatija ban gaya tha. Aur dono use dekh rahe the, jabki woh kisi teesre ke liye taiyaar ki ja rahi thi.
Aur andar se, kahin bahut gehrai mein, ek chhoti si, sharmindi aawaz ne kaha, aur tujhe yeh achha lag raha hai, Vaishali.