[Babab96]

Baarish ab bhi lagataar ho rahi thi. Main abhi bhi shade ke neeche baitha hua tha. Mere kapde ab tak geele the, sharir mein dard tha aur pet subah se khaali tha. Haath mein dawai thi, lekin dimaag mein bas ek hi sawaal ghoom raha tha—Aakhir main madad maangne kiske paas jaaun?

Maine apne mobile contacts mein Papa ke kuch purane jaan-pehchaan walon ke naam dekhne laga. Lekin tabhi mere dimaag mein ek shakhs ka khayal aaya.

Raza Ahmad Khan.

Raza uncle Papa ke sirf dost nahi the, balki dono ke beech sage bhaiyon jaisa rishta tha. Dono ne saalon tak ek-doosre ka saath diya tha. Raza uncle ki chaar behne—Shahnaz Begum, Nasreen Begum, Parveen Begum aur Yasmeen Begum—bhi mere Papa ke bahut kareeb thi. Unhi chaaron ko main apni muh boli bhua maanta tha. Jinhone aaj mujhse muh mod liya tha..

Papa ne kai baar Raza uncle ki aarthik madad ki thi. Jab unke business mein mushkil waqt aaya tha, tab bhi Papa unke saath khade rahe the. Unki company mein bhi Papa ne apni taraf se laakhon rupaye invest kiye the, taaki unka kaam aage badh sake.

Mujhe yaad tha ki Papa aksar unke baare mein kaha karte the—

Papa: "Jay, zindagi mein dost bahut milenge, lekin Raza jaisa dost milna mushkil hai. Usne mere saath har bure waqt mein kandhe se kandha milakar khada rehna seekha hai. Main bhi uske liye kabhi peeche nahi hatunga."

Papa ki ye baat yaad aate hi mere andar ek nayi ummeed jagi.

Main (man hi man): "Haan, main Raza uncle ko phone kyun nahi karta? Wo toh Papa ko apna saga bhai maante the. Unhone Papa ke saath itne saal bitaye hain. Wo mujhe is haalat mein zaroor samjhenge."

Maine bina der kiye unka number nikala aur call laga di.

Phone ki ghanti bajne lagi.

Ek baar...

Do baar...

Teesri baar ghanti bajte hi call uth gayi.

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Assalaamualaikum, Jay beta?"

Unki awaaz sunkar mujhe pehli baar laga ki shayad ab sab theek ho sakta hai.

Main: "Walaikum assalam, Raza uncle."

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Haan beta, bolo. Kya hua? Is waqt phone kaise kiya?"

Meri awaaz bharra gayi. Maine khud ko sambhalte hue kaha—

Main: "Uncle, main bahut badi pareshani mein hoon. Tau Mahendra ne mujhe ghar se nikaal diya hai. Unke aadmiyon ne mere saath maarpeet bhi ki. Main abhi market mein ek medical store ke paas hoon. Baarish ho rahi hai aur mere paas na rehne ki jagah hai, na paise."

Doosri taraf kuch pal ke liye khamoshi chha gayi.

Mujhe laga, shayad wo meri baat sunkar pareshaan ho gaye hain.

Main: "Uncle, mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ki main kya karun. Maine aapki behnon, apni chaaron muh boli bhuaon ko bhi phone kiya tha, lekin unhone bhi mujhse baat karne se mana kar diya. Aap toh Papa ke sabse kareebi dost rahe hain. Aap hi bataiye, main ab kiske paas jaaun?"

Meri baat sunkar Raza uncle ne ek gehri saans li.

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Jay beta, teri haalat sunkar mujhe bahut bura lag raha hai. Lekin..."

Wo beech mein hi ruk gaye.

Unke lehje mein aayi tabdeeli ko main mehsoos kar sakta tha.

Main: "Lekin kya, uncle?"

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Jay, main chahkar bhi teri koi madad nahi kar sakta."

Mujhe laga jaise maine kuch galat sun liya ho.

Main: "Kya matlab, uncle? Main aapse paise nahi maang raha. Mujhe bas kuch waqt ke liye sahara chahiye. Main aapke ghar aa sakta hoon. Jab tak main apne pairon par khada nahi ho jaata, tab tak..."

Raza Ahmad Khan (beech mein tokte hue): "Jay, meri baat samajhne ki koshish kar. Mere khud ke laakhon rupaye company mein phase pade hain. Wo paise tere Papa ne mujhe business ke liye diye the. Unhi paison se maine apna kaam badhaya tha."

Main chupchaap unki baat sunta raha.

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Agar main is waqt teri madad karta hoon, toh Mahendra se mera bhi jhagda ho sakta hai. Meri company par asar padega. Jo kuch maine saalon ki mehnat se khada kiya hai, wo sab khatam ho sakta hai. Main apna sab kuch daav par nahi laga sakta, Jay."

Mere haath mein pakda mobile dheere-dheere neeche hone laga.

Main: "Uncle, main aapko kisi jhagde mein nahi daal raha. Main toh bas aapse apnapan maang raha hoon. Papa aapko apna saga bhai maante the. Unhone aap par bharosa karke apni kamai ka ek bada hissa aapke business mein lagaya tha."

Meri awaaz mein dard tha.

Main: "Aaj Papa nahi hain. Main unka beta hoon. Mujhe laga tha ki aap kam se kam meri baat sunenge. Aap mujhe kuch din apne paas rakh lenge, toh main apni zindagi dobara sambhalne ki koshish kar sakta hoon."

Doosri taraf phir khamoshi chha gayi.

Kuch pal baad Raza uncle bole—

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Jay, main teri majboori samajhta hoon. Lekin meri bhi majboori hai. Main apni family ko khatre mein nahi daal sakta. Mahendra se mera koi seedha jhagda nahi hai. Main uske maamle mein padkar apna business barbaad nahi kar sakta."

Maine aankhein band kar li.

Main: "Toh aap bhi meri madad nahi karenge, uncle?"

Is baar meri awaaz bahut dheemi thi.

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Jay beta, mujhe maaf kar de. Main chahkar bhi tere liye kuch nahi kar sakta."

Maine aakhri baar unse ek sawaal poochha.

Main: "Uncle, agar aaj Papa zinda hote aur aap is haalat mein hote, toh kya wo bhi aapko yahi jawaab dete?"

Meri baat sunkar wo kuch nahi bole.

Main kuch der tak phone kaan se lagaye raha. Shayad mujhe ummeed thi ki wo apni baat badal denge. Shayad wo kahenge ki beta, tu yahin aa ja, baaki sab baad mein dekh lenge.

Lekin aisa kuch nahi hua.

Raza Ahmad Khan: "Jay, mujhe jaana hoga. Apna khayal rakhna."

Aur call kat gayi.

 Aakhri Ummeed Bhi Toot Gayi

Main mobile ko dekhta reh gaya.

Baarish ki awaaz pehle se zyada tez mehsoos hone lagi thi. Sadak par gaadiyan guzar rahi thi, log apne-apne gharon ki taraf ja rahe the. Lekin mere liye jaise duniya wahin ruk gayi thi.

Maine apne mobile mein Papa ki tasveer kholi.

Tasveer mein Papa muskura rahe the. Unke chehre par wahi sukoon tha, jo mujhe bachpan se yaad tha.

Main (man hi man): "Papa, aapne jinhe apna saga bhai maana, aaj unhone bhi mujhe akela chhod diya. Aapne unki madad ki, unke business mein paise lagaye, un par bharosa kiya. Lekin aaj jab aapka beta unke saamne madad ke liye khada hai, toh unhe apna business yaad aa raha hai."

Meri aankhon se aansu nikal aaye.

Main (man hi man): "Kya paisa insaan ke liye rishton se bhi bada ho jaata hai? Kya saalon ka apnapan itna kamzor hota hai ki mushkil waqt aate hi khatam ho jaata hai?"

Maine apni peeth deewar se tika di.

Ab mujhe kisi se koi shikayat karne ka mann nahi tha. Main bas thodi der khamosh rehna chahta tha.

Lekin us khamoshi mein bhi ek sach baar-baar mere dimaag mein goonj raha tha—

Mahendra ne mujhe mere ghar se nikala tha, lekin mere apno ne,  jinhe mere papa apna samjhte the unhone mujhe apne dilon se nikaal diya tha.
.......

Chapter 4: Apno Ki Asliyat — Jab Har Darwaza Band Ho Gaya

Baarish ab bhi bahut tez ho rahi thi. Main abhi bhi shade ke neeche baitha hua tha. Mere sharir ka dard badhta ja raha tha, lekin usse kahin zyada takleef mujhe is baat ki thi ki aaj mere paas koi apna nahi tha.

Maine apni zindagi mein kabhi nahi socha tha ki ek din aisa bhi aayega, jab mujhe apne hi rishtedaaron ke saamne madad ke liye haath failana padega.

Lekin aaj haalaat mere haath se nikal chuke the.

Papa ke dost Raza Ahmad Khan se bhi baat ho chuki thi. Wo bhi apni company aur parivaar ka hawala dekar meri madad karne se mana kar chuke the.

Maine kuch der tak apne mobile ki screen ko dekha. Mann mein ek baar phir khayal aaya ki kyun na Maa ke mayke walon se madad maangi jaaye?

Mujhe pata tha ki Maa ne Papa se apni marzi se shaadi ki thi, Khaskar alag dharam me, mummy kaa janm Musalim dharam me hua tha, aur papa Hinduu the aur isi wajah se unke mayke walon se hamare rishte achhe nahi the. Lekin phir bhi, aakhir wo Maa ke apne bhai-behen the. Main unka bhanja tha.

Main (man hi man): "Ek baar aur koshish kar leta hoon. Kya pata Mama ya Mosi mein se kisi ka dil pighal jaaye. Main unse koi daulat nahi maang raha. Bas thoda sa sahara chahiye, taaki apni zindagi dobara shuru kar sakoon."

Maine apne aansu ponchhe, mobile ko mazbooti se pakda aur sabse pehle apne bade Mama ko phone lagaya.

1. Bade Mama Ka Jawaab

Kaafi der tak phone bajta raha. Aakhirkaar call uth gayi.

Bade Mama: "Haan, kaun bol raha hai?"

Unki awaaz sunkar mujhe ek pal ke liye ajeeb laga. Shayad unhone mera number pehchana nahi tha.

Main: "Mama, main Jay bol raha hoon. Maa ka beta."

Doosri taraf kuch pal khamoshi rahi.

Bade Mama: "Achha, bolo. Kya baat hai?"

Maine apni haalat samjhane ki koshish ki.

Main: "Mama, main bahut badi mushkil mein hoon. Tau Mahendra ne mujhe ghar se nikaal diya hai. Unke aadmiyon ne mere saath maarpeet bhi ki. Ab mere paas na rehne ki jagah hai aur na hi paise bache hain."

Bade Mama: "Toh hum kya kar sakte hain?"

Unka ye sawaal sunkar main kuch pal chup ho gaya.

Mujhe ummeed thi ki wo kam se kam meri haalat ke baare mein poochhenge, lekin unki awaaz mein kisi tarah ki chinta nahi thi.

Main: "Mama, main aapse bas thode samay ke liye sahara maang raha hoon. Main aapke ghar rehkar apne pairon par khada hone ki koshish karunga. Jaise hi mujhe koi kaam mil jaayega, main apna intezaam kar loonga."

Bade Mama: "Jay, tumhari Maa ne jab apni marzi se shaadi ki thi, tab unhone hamari baat nahi maani. Ab itne saalon baad tumhe hamari yaad kaise aa gayi?"

Maine apni aankhein band kar li.

Main: "Mama, Maa ne jo bhi kiya, wo unka faisla tha. Lekin maine toh aap logon ka kabhi kuch nahi bigaada. Main toh aapka bhanja hoon."

Bade Mama: "Lekin tum usi ke bete ho. Humne pehle hi faisla kar liya tha ki hum uske maamle mein nahi padenge. Ab tum bhi humein is sab mein mat ghaseeto."

Main: "Mama, main Maa ki taraf se maafi maangta hoon. Mujhe nahi pata ki unke aur aap logon ke beech kya hua tha, lekin is waqt mujhe sach mein aapki zaroorat hai."

Meri awaaz bharra gayi thi.

Kuch pal ke liye doosri taraf khamoshi rahi. Maine socha, shayad meri baat unke dil tak pahunch gayi hai.

Lekin phir unka jawaab aaya.

Bade Mama: "Is baare mein aur koi baat nahi hogi. Dobara phone mat karna."

Aur unhone call kaat diya.

Main mobile ko dekhta reh gaya.

Jis rishte se maine bahut kam ummeed rakhi thi, usi rishte se bhi mujhe wahi jawaab mila tha.
...........

 2. Chhote Mama Ka Inkaar

Maine kuch der tak khud ko sambhala. Phir chhote Mama ko phone lagaya.

Mujhe pata tha ki wo bade Mama se zyada baat nahi karte the, lekin phir bhi mann mein ek chhoti-si ummeed thi.

Chhote Mama: "Haan, bolo."

Main: "Mama, mujhe aapse zaroori baat karni hai. Main bahut badi musibat mein hoon."

Chhote Mama: "Kaisi musibat?"

Maine unhe poori baat samjhayi. Bataya ki Tau ne mujhe ghar se nikaal diya hai, mere bank account mein paise nahi bache aur main baarish mein bheegta hua idhar-udhar bhatak raha hoon.

Lekin meri baat poori hone se pehle hi unhone kaha—

Chhote Mama: "Dekho, mujhe tumhare ghar ke maamle mein nahi padna. Aur tumhari Maa ne jo faisla liya tha, uska nateeja ab tum log bhugto."

Main: "Mama, Maa ne jo bhi kiya, usmein mera kya kasoor hai? Main toh us waqt paida bhi nahi hua tha."

Chhote Mama: "Mujhe koi behas nahi karni. Mere apne kharche hain, meri apni zimmedariyan hain. Main tumhe apne ghar nahi bula sakta."

Main: "Maine aapse paise bhi nahi maange, Mama. Main toh bas kuch din ke liye rehne ki jagah maang raha hoon. Main aapko koi pareshani nahi doonga."

Chhote Mama: "Bas, ab aur nahi. Mujhe dobara phone mat karna."

Call kat gayi.

Main apne mobile ko dekhta raha. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ki aakhir apne hi khoon ke rishte itne begaane kaise ho sakte hain.
...........

3. Badi Mosi Ka Tiraskaar

Ab maine apni badi Mosi ko phone lagaya.

Maa ke saath unke rishte pehle se hi kharaab the. Phir bhi mujhe laga ki shayad wo apni behen ke bete ke liye thoda sa apnapan dikha dein.

Phone uth gaya.

Badi Mosi: "Haan, kya baat hai?"

Main: "Mosi, main Jay bol raha hoon. Main bahut pareshani mein hoon. Mujhe aapki madad chahiye."

Badi Mosi: "Ab kya hua?"

Maine unhe apni haalat batai. Lekin meri baat sunkar unka lehja aur sakht ho gaya.

Badi Mosi: "Tumhari Maa ne apni marzi se apna parivaar chhoda tha. Ab tum humse kis rishte ki ummeed lekar phone kar rahe ho?"

Main: "Mosi, aap meri Maa se naraaz ho sakti hain, lekin main toh aapka bhanja hoon. Maine aapka kya bigaada hai?"

Badi Mosi: "Mujhe purani baatein yaad mat dilao. Main tumhari koi madad nahi kar sakti. Apna maamla khud dekho aur aage se phone mat karna."

Main: "Mosi, meri baat toh poori sun lijiye..."

Lekin tab tak call kat chuki thi.

Main kuch der tak mobile ko dekhta raha. Mere paas kehne ke liye bahut kuch tha, lekin sunne wala koi nahi tha.
........

4. Chhoti Mosi Ka Aakhri Jawaab

Ab sirf chhoti Mosi bachi thi.

Maine unhe phone lagaya. is baar call uthte hi maine bina der kiye apni haalat batani shuru kar di.

Main: "Mosi, please meri baat poori sun lena. Main bahut mushkil mein hoon. Mere paas na rehne ki jagah hai, na paise. Main subah se kuch kha bhi nahi paaya hoon."

Doosri taraf kuch pal ki khamoshi rahi.

Mujhe laga, shayad wo meri baat samajhne ki koshish kar rahi hain.

Lekin phir unka jawaab aaya.

Chhoti Mosi: "Tumhari Maa ko jab apne bhai-behen ki zaroorat thi, tab unhone apni marzi ko sabse upar rakha. Ab humse ummeed mat rakho."

Main: "Mosi, main aapse koi hisaab nahi maang raha. Main bas apna samajhkar phone kar raha hoon. Mujhe nahi pata ki Maa aur aap logon ke beech kya hua tha. Lekin main aapka bhanja hoon."

Chhoti Mosi: "Toh ab apne aap hi apni pareshani suljhao. Mujhe is maamle mein mat ghaseeto."

Main: "Mosi..."

Chhoti Mosi: "Dobara phone mat karna."

Call kat gayi.

Main kuch der tak wahi baitha raha.

Mere chaaron Mama-Mosiyon mein se kisi ne bhi meri baat sunne tak ki zaroorat nahi samjhi thi.

Kisi ne nahi poochha ki mujhe kitni chot lagi hai.

Kisi ne nahi poochha ki maine kuch khaya hai ya nahi.

Aur kisi ne ye bhi nahi kaha ki beta, ghabrao mat, hum hain na.

...........

Chapter 5: Aakhri Teen Ummeedein — Ek Anjaan Raaste Ka Safar

Aaj ek hi din mein maine apne rishton ki asli sachchai dekh li thi.

Tau Mahendra ne mujhe ghar se nikaal diya tha. Chaaron muh boli bhuaon ne mujhse door rehne ko keh diya tha. Maa ke mayke walon ne bhi madad karne se inkaar kar diya tha. Aur Papa ke sabse kareebi dost Raza Ahmad Khan bhi apni majboori ka hawala dekar peeche hat gaye the.

Maine apna mobile nikala aur uski screen par nazar daali.

Main (man hi man): "Ab aakhir kiske paas jaaun? Kaun hai jo is waqt meri baat sunega? Kya meri zindagi mein koi ek insaan bhi nahi bacha, jise main apna keh sakoon?"

Kuch der tak main khamosh raha. Phir achanak mere dimaag mein teen chehre ubharne lage.

Mere do jigri dost aur Papa ke ek purane wafadaar naukar.

Riyadh, Amarjeet aur Jamil Chacha.

Mere paas ab bas yahi teen aakhri ummeedein bachi thi.

1. Riyadh — Mera Jigri Dost

Sabse pehle mujhe Riyadh ki yaad aayi.

Riyadh mera bahut kareebi dost tha. Humne saath mein kai achhe aur bure waqt dekhe the. Main jaanta tha ki wo meri baat zaroor sunega. Agar uske bas mein hua, toh wo meri madad karne se peeche nahi hatega.

Maine turant uska number milaya..

Phone ki ghanti bajne lagi.

Ek baar...

Do baar...

Teesri baar call uth gayi.

Riyadh: "Haan bhai, bol! Kahan hai tu? Teri awaaz aisi kyun lag rahi hai?

Uski awaaz sunte hi mere andar daba hua dard jaise bahar aane ko bechain ho gaya.

Main: "Bhai, main bahut buri tarah phans gaya hoon."

Riyadh: "Kya hua? Aaram se bata. Koi dikkat ho gayi hai kya?"

Maine use subah se lekar ab tak ki saari baat bata di. Mahendra ke saath hui behas, uske aadmiyon ki maarpeet, bungalow se nikaale jaane aur mere bank account ke khaali ho jaane tak—sab kuch.

Riyadh kuch der tak khamoshi se meri baat sunta raha.

Phir uski awaaz mein gussa saaf sunai dene laga.

Riyadh: "Bhai, ye Mahendra Tau apne aap ko samajhta kya hai? Tere saath aisa kaise kar sakta hai? Tu fikar mat kar, main hoon na!"

Uske ye shabd sunkar mujhe pehli baar laga ki shayad main abhi poori tarah akela nahi hua hoon.

Main: "Bhai, mujhe abhi samajh nahi aa raha ki main kahan jaaun. Mere paas paise nahi hain, rehne ki jagah nahi hai. Sharir mein itna dard hai ki theek se chala bhi nahi ja raha."

Riyadh: "Tu mere paas aa ja. Hum kuch na kuch intezaam kar lenge."

Mere chehre par halki-si ummeed aayi.

Main: "Sach mein, bhai?"

Riyadh: "Haan, bilkul. Tu mera dost hai. Main tujhe aise kaise chhod sakta hoon?"

Lekin kuch hi pal baad uski awaaz badal gayi.

Riyadh: "Ek minute ruk, main Ammi se baat karta hoon. Unhe bata deta hoon ki tu kuch din hamare yahan rahega."

Usne phone par mujhe hold par rakha.

Main shade ke neeche khada baarish ko dekhta raha. Dil mein pehli baar ek chhoti-si rahat mehsoos hui. Mujhe laga ki ab kam se kam aaj ki raat guzaarne ke liye ek chhat toh mil jaayegi.

Lekin kuch der baad Riyadh call per wapas aaya.

Riyadh: "Bhai..."

Uski awaaz mein ab pehle jaisa bharosa nahi tha.

Main: "Kya hua?"

Riyadh: "Ammi keh rahi hain ki abhi tujhe yahan nahi bula sakte."

Main kuch pal chup raha.

Main: "Kyun? Kya hua, bhai?"

Riyadh: "Unhe darr hai ki Mahendra Tau tere chakkar mein hamare ghar tak aa sakte hain. Unka kehna hai ki hum kisi ke parivaar ke jhagde mein nahi pad sakte. Tu samajhne ki koshish kar."

Maine apne honthon ko bheench liya.

Main: "Riyadh, main tere ghar koi jhagda karne nahi aa raha. Mujhe bas kuch din ka sahara chahiye. Main kisi ko pareshan nahi karunga."

Riyadh: "Bhai, main samajhta hoon. Main khud chahta hoon ki tu yahan aa jaaye. Lekin Ammi bilkul nahi maan rahi hain. Main unke khilaaf jaakar tujhe nahi bula sakta.

Uski baat sunkar mere andar kuch toot gaya.

Mujhe Riyadh se shikayat nahi thi. Main jaanta tha ki wo meri madad karna chahta tha. Lekin uski chahat aur uske haalaat ke beech uski Ammi ka faisla khada tha.

Main: "Theek hai, bhai. Tu pareshan mat ho. Main kuch na kuch kar loonga."

Riyadh: "Bhai, bura mat maanna. Agar koi aur tareeka mila, toh main tujhe bataunga."

Main: "Haan, theek hai."

Maine phone kaat diya. mene usse kuchh paise bhi nhi mange, kyun ki meri ummeed jawab de rhi thi..

Riyadh mera dost tha. Usne mera saath chhodna nahi chaha tha, lekin wo bhi mere liye apne ghar ke darwaze nahi khol saka.

Maine ek gehri saans li aur doosre dost ka number dhoondhne laga.

 2. Amarjeet — Doosri Aakhri Ummeed

Amarjeet mera ek aur azeez dost tha.

Uske saath bhi mera rishta sirf dosti tak simit nahi tha. Hum ek-doosre ki pareshani samajhte the aur mushkil waqt mein ek-doosre ke liye khade hone ki baat karte the.

Maine uska number milaya.

Amarjeet: "Oye Jay! Kya haal hai, veere?"

Uski awaaz mein wahi apnapan tha, jo mujhe hamesha achha lagta tha.

Lekin meri awaaz sunkar wo turant gambhir ho gaya.

Amarjeet: "Oye, tu theek toh hai? Awaaz kyun kaanp rahi hai teri?"

Main: "Yaar, kuch bhi theek nahi hai."

Maine use bhi apni poori kahani suna di. Jaise-jaise main batata gaya, meri awaaz bhaari hoti gayi.

Amarjeet: "Ki? Mahendra ne tenu ghar ton bahar kadd ditta? Te tere naal maarpeet vi karwayi?"

Main: "Haan, yaar. Ab samajh nahi aa raha ki kya karun. Sabse madad maang li, lekin kisi ne saath nahi diya."

Amarjeet kuch pal ke liye khamosh ho gaya.

Phir usne kaha—

Amarjeet: "Veere, tu tension na lai. Main haan na tere naal. Tu mere ghar aa ja. Baaki gallan baad vich dekhange."

Uski baat sunkar mere dil ko thoda sukoon mila.

Main: "Yaar, main tere ghar aa sakta hoon? Main sach mein bahut buri haalat mein hoon."

Amarjeet: "Bilkul aa sakda ae. Tu mera veer ae. Main tenu aise thodi chhad sakda haan!"

Uski awaaz mein sachcha apnapan tha.

Mujhe laga ki shayad meri mushkilein ab thodi kam ho jaayengi.

Lekin phir Amarjeet ne kaha ki wo apni Mummy se baat karke mujhe bataata hai.

Main phir se intezaar karne laga.

Kuch der baad uska phone aaya.

Amarjeet: "Jay veere..."

Main: "Haan, bol."

Amarjeet: "Yaar, Mummy nahi maan rahi hain."

Mere chehre par aayi halki-si muskurahat dheere-dheere gayab ho gayi.

Main: "Kya matlab?"

Amarjeet: "Mummy keh rahi hain ki tere Tau se panga lena theek nahi hoga. Unhe darr hai ki tere yahan rehne se hamare ghar mein bhi koi dikkat aa sakti hai. Main unhe samjha raha hoon, par wo sun nahi rahi."

Main: "Yaar, main toh bas kuch din tere paas rehna chahta hoon. Main tere ghar mein koi dikkat nahi hone doonga."

Amarjeet: "Main jaanta hoon, veere. Main khud chahta hoon ki tu mere paas aa jaaye. Par Mummy ne saaf mana kar diya hai."

Uski awaaz dheemi ho gayi.

Amarjeet: "Tu bura mat maanna. Main tere naal haan, par ghar mein rehne ke maamle mein main kuch nahi kar paa raha."

Maine aankhein band kar li.

Main: "Theek hai, yaar. Tu fikar mat kar. Main dekh loonga."

Amarjeet: "Jay, je kise cheez di lod hove, mainu dassin. Main apni tarafon jo ho sakega, karanga."

Main: "Haan, bhai. Shukriya."

Call kat gayi.

Maine mobile apni jeb mein rakh liya.

Mere dono dost meri madad karna chahte the. Dono ne meri baat samjhi thi, dono ko meri haalat ka dukh tha. Lekin unke gharon mein mere liye jagah nahi thi.

Ab mere paas na koi rishtedaar bacha tha, na koi dost jiske ghar main jaakar raat guzaar sakoon.

Lekin tabhi mere dimaag mein teesra naam ubhra.

Jamil Chacha.

 3. Jamil Chacha — Papa Ke Purane Wafadaar Naukar

Jamil Chacha mere Papa ke bahut purane naukar the.

Wo saalon tak Papa ke saath rahe the. Unhone hamare parivaar ko kareeb se dekha tha aur mere bachpan ki kai yaadon ka hissa bhi the.

Papa un par bahut bharosa karte the. Wo unhe sirf ek naukar nahi, balki apne ghar ka wafadaar insaan maante the.

Mujhe yaad aaya ki Papa ne ek baar Jamil Chacha ko das acre zameen unke naam par dilwayi thi. Ye zameen hamare shehar se lagbhag 150 kilometer door ek gaon mein thi.

Us waqt main Papa ke saath wahan picnic manane do baar gaya tha.

Mujhe wahan ka raasta poori tarah yaad nahi tha, lekin us jagah ki kuch tasveerein mere dimaag mein ab bhi basi hui thi—gaon ki taraf jaati sadak, kheton ke beech ka raasta aur Jamil Chacha ka ghar.

Sabse badi baat ye thi ki Tau Mahendra ko is zameen ke baare mein pata nahi tha.

Na hi use maloom tha ki Jamil Chacha wahan rehte hain.

Aur shehar se itni door hone ke kaaran, Mahendra ke liye aasaani se wahan pahunchkar mujhe dhoondhna bhi mushkil hota.

Lekin ek badi pareshani thi.

Mere paas Jamil Chacha ka phone number nahi tha.

Maine apne mobile ke contacts mein unka naam dhoondha. Purane messages dekhe. Papa ke kuch purane contacts mein bhi nazar daali.

Lekin unka number kahin nahi mila.

Maine niraash hokar mobile neeche kar liya.

Main (man hi man): "Jamil Chacha, aapka number hota toh main abhi aapko phone kar leta. Pata nahi aap ab bhi usi gaon mein rehte hain ya kahin aur chale gaye. Lekin mere paas ab aapke siwa koi aur raasta bhi toh nahi hai."

Maine apne dimaag par zor diya aur us gaon ki jagah yaad karne ki koshish ki, jahan main Papa ke saath gaya tha.

Mujhe yaad aaya ki Papa gaadi se mujhe lekar gaye the. Raaste mein humne ek bade mod se gaon ki taraf rukh kiya tha. Aage kuch door tak kheton ke beech se sadak guzarti thi.

Uske baad ek chhota-sa gaon aata tha.

Wahin Jamil Chacha ki zameen thi.

Mujhe raaste ki har baat yaad nahi thi, lekin itna zaroor yaad tha ki agar main us taraf pahunch gaya, toh shayad logon se poochhkar unka ghar dhoondh sakta tha.

Main (man hi man): "Papa ne unhe das acre zameen dilwayi thi. Wo itne saal hamare saath rahe. Unhone Papa ka achha-bura waqt dekha hai. Shayad wo hi ek aise insaan hain, jo mujhe dekhkar darwaza band nahi karenge."

Maine ek baar phir apne bheege kapdon aur dard se bhare sharir ki taraf dekha.

Mujhe pata tha ki 150 kilometer ka safar aasaan nahi hoga.

Wo bhi paidal. yaa kisi se lift lena...

Wo bhi is tez baarish mein.

Lekin mere paas koi doosra raasta nahi tha.

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4. Ek Faisla — Shehar Chhodne Ka

Meri ak aadat thi ki me normally life me hone wale bade fer badal yaa ghatna ko apne mobile ke notepad me likhta tha..

Uss din bhi mene shade chodne se pahle, ak ak ghatna ko bariki se usme likha, uske baad mobile ko jeb me rakha aur Main shade ke neeche se bahar nikla.

Baarish ki boondein mere chehre par padne lagi. Maine apni jeb mein rakha mobile check kiya aur use sambhaal kar rakh liya.

Mere paas kuch dawaayein thi, ek khaali hota hua mobile aur zindagi mein aage badhne ki ek chhoti-si ummeed.

Maine shehar ki taraf aakhri baar dekha.

Isi shehar mein mera bachpan beeta tha. Isi shehar mein mera ghar tha. Isi shehar mein mere Papa ne apni zindagi ke saalon ki mehnat se sab kuch khada kiya tha.

Lekin aaj isi shehar mein mere liye koi jagah nahi bachi thi.

Maine apne mann mein ek faisla kiya.

Main (man hi man): "Ab main yahan nahi rukunga. Jamil Chacha tak pahunchna hi hoga. Chahe raaste mein kitni bhi mushkilein kyun na aayein, mujhe un tak pahunchna hai."

Maine apne kadam gaon ki taraf badha diye.

Shuruaat mein main dheere-dheere chal raha tha. Sharir ka dard har kadam par mehsoos ho raha tha. Kabhi kisi chot mein tez jalan uthti, toh kabhi pair ladkhada jaate.

Baarish ki wajah se sadak par paani jama tha. Gaadiyan tez raftaar se guzar rahi thi aur unke tyre se uchhalta paani mere kapdon ko aur bhigo deta.

Main kabhi sadak ke kinaare chalta, kabhi kisi dukaan ki chhat ke neeche kuch pal rukkar saans leta aur phir dobara chal padta.

Mujhe bhookh lagi thi.

Bahut tez bhookh.

Lekin mere paas ab khana kharidne ke paise nahi the.

Medical store par jo sau rupaye the, wo dawaon par kharch ho chuke the. Bank account khaali tha aur credit card bhi kisi kaam ka nahi raha tha.

Main apne aap ko bas ek hi baat samjha raha tha—

Main (man hi man): "Bas Jamil Chacha tak pahunchna hai. Ek baar unke paas pahunch gaya, toh shayad mujhe kuch din ka sahara mil jaayega. Uske baad main apni zindagi dobara sambhal loonga."

Raaste mein kai baar mere mann mein khayal aaya ki kisi gaadi se lift maang loon. Lekin baarish aur andhere mein koi bhi gaadi mere liye nahi ruki.

Kuch log apni gaadiyon mein baithe mujhe dekhkar aage nikal jaate. Kuch ko shayad meri haalat dikhti bhi nahi thi.

Main chalta raha.

Mujhe nahi pata tha ki is safar mein kitna waqt lagega, raaste mein kya mushkilein aayengi aur Jamil Chacha mujhe mil bhi paayenge ya nahi.

Lekin ab mere paas ummeed karne ke liye sirf wahi ek naam bacha tha.

Jamil Chacha.

Papa ne unhe das acre zameen dilwayi thi. Shayad Papa ne kabhi socha bhi nahi hoga ki ek din unka beta usi zameen ke paas panah dhoondhne ke liye is tarah niklega.

Maine apni bheegi aankhon se aage jaati sadak ko dekha aur kadam badha diye.

Shehar ki roshni dheere-dheere peeche chhoot rahi thi.

Aur main, zindagi mein pehli baar, bina paise, bina sahare aur bina kisi pakke thikaane ke, tez baarish mein 150 kilometer door ek anjaan manzil ki taraf paidal chal pada.

Mujhe nahi pata tha ki Jamil Chacha tak pahunchkar meri zindagi badlegi ya nahi. Lekin itna zaroor jaanta tha ki agar maine abhi chalna band kar diya, toh mere paas khone ke liye bacha hua aakhri sahara bhi khatam ho jaayega.
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