[Joker44]

Raat ke 12 bajne wale the. Haveli ke master bedroom mein pankhe ki halki sarsarahat ke alawa kuch nahi chal raha tha.

Pushpa ji gehri neend mein so rahe the. Unka ek haath Srivalli ki kamar par pada tha – bhari, garam, jaise yeh haath hi uski poori duniya ko pakde hue ho. Beedi ki halki khushboo ab bhi unke kurte mein thi.

Srivalli ki aankhein khuli thi.

Uske badan par ek patli si safed cotton ki nighty thi, naram, gardan ke neeche kali lace. Kapda uski bhari chhati par tight tha, dono gol boobs ke beech se mangalsutra ki do kali ladiyan nikal kar pet tak jaa rahi thi. Maang mein sindoor ki lal rekha ab bhi saaf padi thi – sone se pehle usne ponchhi nahi thi. Baal khule the, kamar tak, takiyon par bikhre hue. Kaan mein chhote gold nose-pin ki chamak andhere mein kabhi-kabhi dikh jaati.

..


Kal wali black georgette ka wazan, kal wale faisle ka wazan, dono us nighty ke upar bhi baithe the.

*Rani… tu meri strength hai. Jo tu chahe… main tere saath hoon.*

Pushpa ji ke shabd ghoom rahe the. Unhone crores ka fund maan liya tha, aur unko pata nahi tha unki pativrata kal unke dushman ke bungalow mein baithi thi. Andar guilt tha, gehra. *Aap so rahe ho, aur main soch rahi hoon ki main CM Rudra ko khush karne jaa rahi hoon. Ticket ke liye. Apne liye.* Dusri taraf bhook thi – *tu queen ban sakti hai… teri beauty ek hathiyaar hai.*

Usne unke maathe par haath phera. Aansu aaye, lekin woh royi nahi. *Main aapko kabhi chhodungi nahi. Lekin ab sirf pativrata rani ban kar nahi rehna chahti. Kal main Jolly se milungi. Apni sharton par. Aankhein khol kar. Aur jo keemat hai… main chukaungi.*

Mangalsutra ke mote-mote moti uski chamri par thande pad rahe the. Itni der tak woh jagti rahi, jab tak aangan mein subah ki pehli chirya nahi bol padi.



Subah haveli mein waisa hi jeevan tha jaise hamesha tha.

Maa ji kitchen mein chai ubal rahi thi. Aangan mein dhoop naram thi. Pushpa ji verandah par baithe the, beedi sulgai, timber ke hisaab-kitaab ek copy mein khule hue.

Srivalli bathroom se nikal kar sheeshe ke saamne khadi ho gayi. Nighty utaar kar usne pehle ek cream color ki satin petticoat bandhi, naada kamar par kas kar, phir blouse uthaya – halka peach color, cotton-silk, sleeves chhote, neck ordinary round nahi tha. Ek patli si V-cut thi, itni gehri nahi ki ghar mein maa ji kuch kahein, lekin itni ki mangalsutra ki ladiyan cleavage ki shuruaat par baith jaayein. Usne hooks peeche se lagaye. Blouse uske bade, bhaari boobs ko uthata hua tight baith gaya. Do hook neeche se thode kase hue the – saans lene par blouse ki gold-piping wali border thodi si uth jaati.

Phir usne saree nikali.

Halki peach color ki cotton-silk, patli si gold zari ki line kinare par, roz wali, ghar wali, pativrata rani wali. Usne pleats sajaye, pallu ko baaye kandhe se laakar seene par lapeta, itna tight ki koi bhi dekh kar yahi kahe – yeh aurat sirf apne ghar aur apne pati ki hai. Kaan mein chhote gold jhumke, haath mein teen patli gold choodiyan aur do kaanch ki peach bangles, maang mein taaza sindoor, maathe par chhoti maroon bindi, pair mein patli payal nahi, sirf chhote gold toe-rings. Baal usne ek saaf se bun mein baandhe, do-teen baal kanpatti par nikal aaye. Gale mein sirf mangalsutra – koi extra haar nahi. Gardan par usne halka sa mogra attar lagaya, bas itna ki paas aane par phool ki khushboo aaye, baaki kuch nahi.

Sheeshe mein jo aurat thi, woh isi haveli ki rani thi. Sharif. Shaant. Saji hui.



*Bas aaj subah tak. Iske baad… dekha jaayega.*

Woh kitchen se garam chai ka tray le kar aayi aur Pushpa ji ke saamne rakh diya. Pallu seene par theek tha, jhumke chalte hue halka sa baj rahe the.

“Lo Pushpa ji… pehle chai pee lijiye. Thandi ho jaayegi, phir copy dekhiyega.”

Pushpa hans pade. “Rani… tu roz yahi kehti hai.” Unhone ek ghoont liya. Nazar uske peach pallu par, phir chehre par ruki. “Aaj aur bhi sundar lag rahi hai tu. Kal raat wali baat… agar tu sach mein MLA ban jaaye, toh hamare kaam ko cover mil jaayega. Tu sure hai na?”

Srivalli ne pallu ko aur ek baar theek kiya. Muskaan usi pativrata rani wali thi jo is haveli ki pehchaan thi. “Haan Pushpa ji. Main sure hoon. Aap tension mat lijiye. Main sambhal lungi.”

Andar uska dil zor se dhadak raha tha. Unhone “sure” poocha tha. Usne “haan” kahi thi. Yeh pehli haan thi… ghar wali. Asli haan abhi baaki thi.

Tab Kaveri aangan se nikal kar kitchen ki taraf gayi, college bag kandhe par latka hua. Usne maa ji ke haath se tiffin le liya aur Srivalli ki taraf dekha.

“Mami… main chalti hoon. Aaj lectures late chalenge, shaam ko aaungi.”

Srivalli ne uske baal ek baar sahla diye, jaise ghar ki badi hamesha karti hai. “Haan beta, sambhal kar jaana. Kha ke jaana, doodh rakh diya hai.”

Kaveri ne sir hilaaya, maa ji ko pranam kiya, aur gate ki taraf chali gayi.

Pushpa ji uth khade hue. “Main site par jaa raha hoon, rani. Shaam se pehle wapas aane ki koshish karunga. Agar Jolly aaye toh usko keh dena, timber ki files usne jo officers ko dikhani thi, jaldi kar de. Woh ladka sach mein kaam aata hai.”

Srivalli ke hothon par muskaan thodi si tham si gayi, lekin unhone nahi dekha. “Theek hai Pushpa ji. Aap jaaiye… main hoon na.”

Unhone uske maathe par ek halka sa kiss chhodha, bindi ke kareeb, beedi bujhai, aur haveli ke darwaze se nikal gaye. Unki jeep ka shor jab door ho gaya, tab Srivalli ne saans li.

Maa ji kitchen se boli, “Beta, tu bhi rest kar le. Kal se thaki-thaki ghoom rahi hai. Mandir bhi roz-roz nahi jaana padta.”

“Haan maa ji… thoda kaam nikalna hai. Jolly bete se ticket ki kuch baatein karni hain. Jaldi aa jaaungi.”

Usne pallu ko tight kiya, apni chhoti si gold-clasp wali purse uthayi, aur gate ke bahar apni gaadi mein baith gayi. Peach saree gaadi ki seat par phail gayi, pallu god mein aa gaya, usne wapas seene par lapeta. Engine start karte hi uske haath steering par kaanp rahe the. Phone uthaya. Jolly ka chat khola. Bahut der tak type nahi kiya. Phir ek short sa message bhej diya.

Srivalli: Main aa rahi hoon. Aaj clearly baat karni hai.



Jolly ke jungle bungalow tak ka rasta ab naya nahi tha – pedon ke beech kacha-pucca rasta, gate par watchman, wohi drawing room. Is baar farq sirf itna tha ki woh majboori mein nahi aa rahi thi. Woh soch-samajh kar aa rahi thi.

Jolly verandah par khada tha. Dark shirt, sleeves folded, haath mein cigarette. Uski nazar pehle uski peach saree par gayi, phir pallu ke neeche dabi hui cleavage par, phir uske bun par. Ek pal ko uske hothon par wohi gehri muskaan aa gayi.

“Aa gayi meri rani,” usne muskurate hue kaha. “Sochi thi kal raat ke baad tu sochti rahegi. Lekin tu aa gayi. Aaj yeh peach… ghar wali lag rahi hai tu. Andar aa.”

Srivalli ne uske “meri rani” par kuch nahi kaha. Pallu seene par kas kar lapeta, aur andar chali gayi. Sofa par baithi. Aankhein uthayi, is baar neeche nahi rakhi. Jhumke uske kaan ke saath halka se hil rahe the.

“Jolly… kal main confuse thi. Aaj nahi hoon.” Uski awaaz halki thi, lekin saaf. “Main MLA banna chahti hoon. Yeh meri marzi hai. Ticket chahiye. Campaign chahiye. Power chahiye. Main Rudra uncle se milungi. Jo unko ticket ke liye chahiye… main dungi. Aankhein khol kar. Lekin yaad rakh… main teri rakhel banne nahi aa rahi. Tu bole tha, tu backbone banega, malik nahi. Wahi shart hai. Wada todna mat.”



Jolly ka ek eyebrow uth gaya. Cigarette ki raakh usne tray mein jhad di. Woh kareeb baitha, uski cologne mogra attar se mil gayi. Uski muskaan wohi thi jo hamesha jeet ka ehsaas deti thi.

“Yeh awaaz mujhe pasand aayi. Kal tu dar rahi thi, aaj tu maang rahi hai. Pita ji ko khush karna padega. Private meeting. Jo hoga… woh ticket ki keemat hai.”

Srivalli ke gale mein kuch atak sa gaya. Woh jaanti thi iska matlab. Rudra… sattar ke kareeb, wohi aankhein jo kabhi haveli mein uske pallu par ruki thi, wohi mard jiske haath mein Pushpa ji ki bail ke kaagaz the. Yeh koi anjaan andhera nahi tha. Yeh ek saaf sauda tha.

Usne nigah nahi hatayi. “Theek hai. Main tayyar hoon. Kab?”

Jolly ne cigarette bujhai, uth khada hua, aur apni gaadi ki chaabi nikaali. Uski muskaan aur gehri ho gayi.

“Der kis baat ki, Srivalli? Pita ji aaj guesthouse mein hain. Private wing. Interview ke liye time nikal chuka hai. Chalo. Aaj hi milwaata hoon.”

Srivalli ki ungliyan purse ki chain par kaanp rahi thi. Usne unko band kiya, uth kar pallu theek kiya.

“Chalo.”

Gaadi bungalow se nikal kar sheher ke dusre hisse ki taraf bhaagi – CM ke official guesthouse ke peeche, ek chhupa hua private wing, jahan na media jaati thi, na koi file. Peach saree ki gold line dhoop mein chamak rahi thi. Srivalli ne sheeshe mein apna chehra dekha – bindi, sindoor, pativrata ka poora chehra – aur socha, *Yeh look le kar hi jaa rahi hoon. Chhup kar nahi.*

Jolly ne driving ke beech ek nazar uski taraf daali. “Lipstick laga le. Halka sa. Aur pallu itna kas ke mat baandh… pita ji ko pehli nazar mein yeh lagna chahiye ki tu ticket ke layak hai, koi mandir wali aurat nahi.”

Srivalli ne purse se ek maroon lipstick nikaali. Hothon par pheri. Phir pallu ko thoda sa dheela kiya – itna ki blouse ki V-cut aur mangalsutra ki ladiyan seene ki gehraai mein dikhne lagen. Jhumke uske gaal ko chhoo rahe the. Uski saans tez thi, lekin usne sheeshe mein ek baar phir dekha, aur is baar nazar nahi hatayi.

*Yeh meri marzi hai. Yeh mera khel hai.*



CM guesthouse ka private wing ek shaant corridor ke peeche tha. Bahar do security the, nazar neeche – jaise is darwaze ke baahar kuch nahi dekha jaata. Jolly ne Srivalli ko andar le gaya. AC ki thandak, whiskey ki purani khushboo, bhaari curtains, ek bada sofa, ek office desk, deewar par CM ki apni photo.

Rudra kursi par baithe the.

Safed shirt, sleeves fold, gardan par sone ka chhota sa button khula hua, baal safed, chehra wohi authoritative jo posters par hota hai. Umar sattar ke kareeb, lekin aankhein bilkul jaagti hui. Jaise koi shikari apna shikar andaaze se taol raha ho. Uski nazar jab Srivalli par padi, to pehle uske pair se uth kar pallu par ruki, phir blouse ki V-cut par, phir uske hothon ki lipstick par, aur tab jaakar uski aankhon par aayi.

Jolly muskuraya. “Pita ji… Srivalli aa gayi. Ticket ke liye. Khud aayi hai.”

Rudra ne sirf ek ungli uthayi. “Bahar wait kar, Jolly. Pehla interview akela hota hai.”

Jolly ne Srivalli ki taraf ek nazar daali – us nazar mein jeet thi – aur darwaza band kar ke nikal gaya.

Srivalli khadi rahi. Pallu uske haath mein tha. Mangalsutra uski chhati ke beech mein tha. Rudra ne abhi tak uth kar uska swagat nahi kiya tha. Unhone sirf whiskey ka glass ek baar ghumaya, aur kursi se usko oonche se dekha.

“Toh yehi hai… Pushpa ki mashhoor rani.” Unki awaaz bhaari thi, dheemi, jaise koi file padh rahe hon. “Sheher mein log kehte hain pativrata hai. Mandir jaati hai. Pallu aage kheech kar chalti hai. Aur aaj… mere guesthouse mein khadi hai. Ticket maangne.”

Srivalli ne gale mein saans roki, phir boli, awaaz halki lekin tuti nahi. “Haan… main ticket chahti hoon. MLA. Main jaanti hoon iske liye… meri worth dikhani hogi. Main tayyar hoon.”

Rudra hans pade. Hansi mein pyar nahi tha. “Worth. Achha lafz hai. Idhar aa. Desk ke saamne. Seedhe khadi ho.”

Woh aage badhi. Peach saree ke pleats uske pairon ke aas-paas khul rahe the, pallu ki gold line uske seene par ek lakeer ki tarah chamak rahi thi. Rudra apni kursi se uth kar uske chaaron taraf ek dheema daayra sa chalne lage, jaise koi maal ko check kar raha ho, jaise koi property ki registry se pehle deewarein taol raha ho.

“Haath upar kar. Nahi… pallu hata. Sharam ab is kamre mein kisi kaam ki nahi.”



Srivalli ke haath kaanpe. Ek pal ke liye usne socha – *Pushpa ji… maa ji…* Phir usne pallu ko seene se hata kar bagal mein kar diya. Peach blouse ki V-cut ab saamne thi. Dono bade, gol boobs blouse ke kapde mein uth kar bhar rahe the, unke beech mangalsutra ki kali ladiyan cleavage ki gehraai mein baithi hui, moti sone ke pendants chamak rahe the. Blouse ke neeche ek patli si kamar, petticoat ki cream edge, aur uske neeche saree ka kapda uski bhari gaand aur patli ranon par lipat kar baitha tha. Mogra attar ki khushboo ab thodi tez lag rahi thi, saans ke saath.

Rudra ne koi taarif nahi ki. Unhone sirf dekha. Bahut der tak. Ek haath peeche peeth par, jaise meeting mein ho.

“Ghoom.”

Woh ghoomi. Saree ka pallu uske haath se thoda aur khisak gaya. Peeth par blouse ke hooks dikhe, neeche kamar ka khula patta, phir woh gol, bhaari gaand jisko peach kapda chhupa nahi pa raha tha – kapda uske curves par taut ho kar baitha tha, beech ki lakeer halki si nazar aa rahi thi. Rudra ne ek pal ke liye uski kamar ke kareeb haath badhaya, kapde ke upar se, bas itna ki usko ehsaas ho ki ab yeh jism unki nazar ka hai.

“Itni saal se tu ek junglee ke ghar rani ban kar baithi rahi,” unhone uske kaan ke peeche se kaha. “Jolly ne tujhe dikhaya. Dave ne tujhe use kiya. Aur tu sochti rahi tu Pushpa ki izzat hai. Ab samajh ja… tu party ki property hai. Ticket muft nahi milti. Jab main kahun, tu aaye. Jab main kahun, tu utare. Jab main kahun, tu muh khole. Yahi tareeka hai. Agar rani banna hai, toh yeh samajh ke aa ki tu ab meri hai.”

Srivalli ki aankhein nam ho gayi, lekin usne peeche nahi hata. Uski chhati tez uth-gir rahi thi. Andar sharm thi, gehri, jo uske kaan tak garam thi. Aur uske saath ek ajeeb sa ghamand bhi – *Yeh sab dekh rahe hain mujhe. Yeh CM hai. Aur main khud khadi hoon. Main de rahi hoon. Main le rahi hoon.*

Usne dheere se kaha, “Main jaanti hoon. Yeh isi raste se hota hai. Main… main khud aayi hoon. Jo keemat hai, main chukaungi. Aankhein khol kar.”

Rudra uske saamne aa kar ruke. Unhone uski thuddi pakad kar chehra upar uthaya, jaise koi cheez ki quality dekhi jaati hai. Unki anguthi uski chamri par thandi thi.

“Toh dikha. Apni worth. Yahi interview hai, rani. Baaki baatein baad mein.”

Unhone apni belt ka buckle khola. Dheere-dheere, jaise koi jaldi mein na ho, jaise unko pata ho ki yeh aurat ab jaayegi nahi. Zip neeche utri. Unhone apna mota, gehra-rang ka lund bahar nikaala – umar ke hisaab se bhi sakht, nasein uthi hui, top par ek moti si chamak. Unhone usko ek baar haath mein liya, Srivalli ke chehre ke itna kareeb ki uski garmi uske hothon tak aa gayi.

“Baith. Ghutnon par. Pallu waisa hi rehne de. Mangalsutra bhi. Main dekhna chahta hoon Pushpa ki rani meri lund par muh lagati hai.”

Srivalli ek pal khadi rahi. Uska dil zor se peet raha tha. Sheeshe jaisi ek soch aayi – *Agar ab main nikal jaaun, toh yeh khel yahin khatam.* Phir doosri soch aayi, tez, saaf – *Agar main yahin rukungi, toh ticket yahin se shuru hogi.*

Woh dheere se ghutnon ke bal baith gayi. Peach saree ka kapda neeche phail gaya, pleats khul gaye, pallu uske ek kandhe se latak kar floor tak aa gaya. Blouse ke andar uske boobs saans ke saath uth rahe the. Mangalsutra ki ladiyan uski cleavage se nikal kar neeche jhul rahi thi, bilkul unke lund ke kareeb. Maang mein sindoor, bun ab thoda sa bigad sa gaya tha. Woh upar dekhi – CM Rudra Reddy, jinhone Pushpa ji ki bail par dastkhat kiye the – aur usne khud apne haath aage badhaye.



*Yeh meri marzi hai. Yeh meri keemat hai. Main rani banne ke liye yeh de rahi hoon.*

Usne lund ko dono haathon mein pakad liya. Garam tha, bhaari, upar se ek boond pre-cum chamak rahi thi. Usne pehle us boond ko apni jeebh se le liya – namkeen, garam – phir hoth khol kar lund ke top ko chus liya.

“Mmm…” ek halki si awaaz uske muh se nikal gayi.

Woh dheere-dheere chusne lagi. Pehle sirf top, hoth gol karke, jeebh gol ghumati hui. Phir thoda aur andar. Uski lipstick lund ki chamri par maroon dhabbe chhod rahi thi. “Mmm… ahhh…” uske muh se geeli, dheemi sound nikal rahi thi. Rudra ne abhi uska sar nahi pakda tha. Unhone sirf neeche dekha – Pushpa ki pativrata, peach saree mein, ghutnon par, unka lund muh mein liye, mangalsutra jhul raha hai – aur unke chehre par ek shaant, malikana santosh tha.

“Haan… aise. Aur gehra. Tu jaanti hai kaise karna hai… Jolly ne, Dave ne, sabne tujhe sikha diya. Ab meri bhi rani ban ke dikha.”



Srivalli ki aankhein nam ho aayi, lekin usne lund nahi chhoda. Sharm uske pet mein jal rahi thi, lekin uske saath ek junoon bhi tha. *Main sikhaya hua maal nahi hoon. Main deal kar rahi hoon.* Usne aur gehra le liya. Lund uske hothon ko phailata hua andar gaya, jeebh neeche dabi, gaal andar dhas gaye. “Mmmphhh… mmm…” wet, slurping sounds kamre mein padne lagi. Uski thook lund ki dandi par chamak rahi thi, neeche gir kar uske hothon ke kone se pallu ke kinare tak ek patli si lakeer bana rahi thi.

Rudra ka ek haath ab uske bun par aa gaya. Dheere se, lekin pakka. Unhone bun ki pin nikal di – baal khul kar uski peeth par gir gaye, peach blouse ke upar kaali lehrein. Unhone un baalon ko pakad kar uska sar guide karna shuru kiya.

“Aur le… gale tak. Interview hai yeh, rani. Adhoora kaam party mein nahi chalta.”

Srivalli ne saans roki aur lund ko aur andar liya, itna ki top uske gale ko chhoo gaya. Aankhon se aansu nikal aaye, ek lakeer bindi ke bagal se. “Mmmphhh… ahhh… mmm…” Woh upar-neeche sar hilane lagi, pehle dheere, phir tez. Hoth tight, jeebh ghumti hui, kabhi lund nikal kar neeche tak jeebh pherna, kabhi dobara gale tak le jaana. Choodiyan kalai par baj rahi thi. Blouse ke andar nipples tight ho chuke the. Petticoat ke neeche uski chut geeli thi – sharm ke saath – aur yeh jaan kar uske andar ek aur gunaah sa laga.

*Pushpa ji… aap site par ho… aur main yahan aapke CM ke lund ko chus rahi hoon. Ticket ke liye. Apne liye.*

Rudra ki saans bhaari thi. “Dekh tujhe… Pushpa ki izzat… meri lund par thook se latak rahi hai. Ab tu meri hai. Party ki hai. Jab kahunga, muh kholegi. Samjhi?”

Srivalli ne muh nahi hataya. Aankhein uthayi, lund hothon ke beech. Us nazar mein rona tha, lekin haan bhi thi. Usne tez kar diya – dono haath lund ki jarh par, muh upar-neeche, gaal dhashe hue. “Mmm… mmmphhh… ahhh…” slurping sounds kamre ki shaant hawa mein sabse badi awaaz ban gayi. Aansu beh rahe the, thook thuddi par gir rahi thi, ek boond mangalsutra ke mote par lag gayi.



Rudra ke haath uske baalon mein kas gaye. “Haan… aise hi… madad nahi chahiye tujhe… tu khud de rahi hai… aaaahhh… Srivalli…”

Rudra ka lund phadakne laga. “Aaaahhh… rakh… muh mein rakh… aa raha hai…”

Srivalli ne muh nahi hataya. Aankhein band nahi ki, is baar khuli rakhi. Rudra ne uska sar pakad kar aage dhakela, aur unka garam, thick cum zor-zor se uske muh mein chhootne laga. Ek, do, teen lambe dhakke. “Mmmphhh… gulp… mmm… gulp…” Srivalli ne nigalna shuru kiya – gehra, namkeen, itna zyada ki uske gale ne do baar ruk kar liya. Pura maal usne andar utaara. Thoda sa cum uske hothon ke kinare se nikal kar thuddi par beh gaya, ek patli si lakeer, sindoor ki rekha ke neeche ek dusri rekha.

Woh neeche tak chusti rahi, last drop tak, jeebh ghumati hui, jaise koi boond bhi wapas na jaaye. Rudra ki saans oopar se bhaari-bhaari aa rahi thi. Unhone uske baal chhode, lekin nazar nahi hatayi.

Srivalli ne dheere se lund muh se nikaala. Ek patli si thook aur cum ki dhaari uske hoth se tuti. Usne ungli se thuddi par laga hua maal uthaya, muh mein liya, nigal gayi. Phir apni jeebh se hoth saaf kiye. Aankhein uthayi. Peach saree bigad chuki thi, pallu floor par, baal khule, lipstick phaili hui, mangalsutra ab bhi chamak raha tha – ek moti par unka hi nishan tha.

Uski awaaz bheegi thi, lekin seedhi.

“Ticket… milegi na?”

Rudra kuch pal usko dekhte rahe, zipper lagate hue, belt bandhte hue. Phir wohi malikana hansi.

“Himmat hai teri. Haan… ticket ki baat aage badhegi. Lekin yeh toh sirf interview tha, rani. Pehli keemat. Asli raat abhi baaki hai.” Unhone apne phone par kuch type kiya, bina uski taraf dekhe. “Ab ja. Ghar ja. Apne Pushpa ke saamne wahi pativrata ban kar baith. Shaam ko tujhe call aayegi.”

Srivalli uth khadi hui. Ghutne dard kar rahe the. Usne pallu uthaya, seene par lapeta, itna tight jaise subah haveli mein lapeta tha. Purse se ek tissue nikaal kar hoth aur mangalsutra ki moti saaf ki. Baal jaldi se ek loose bun mein kiye. Sheeshe mein ek nazar – aankhein laal, hoth sooje, lekin pallu theek, sindoor theek, bindi maujood. Jo dekhne wala ho, woh yahi kahe – CM ke ghar se koi shareef gharwali nikal rahi hai.

Andar uska muh ab bhi unke zaaiqe se bhara tha. Sharm thi. Guroor bhi tha. Aur ek patli si, nai si shaan bhi thi.

*Maine diya. Maine nigala. Maine khud chuna. Ab yeh khel meri taraf bhi hai.*

Bahar corridor mein Jolly khada tha. Usne Srivalli ka chehra dekha, phir uske hoth, phir uski aankhein, aur kuch poocha nahi. Sirf gaadi ka darwaza khola.

“Chal. Ghar chhodta hoon. Pita ji khush lag rahe the.”

Srivalli ne raaste bhar kuch nahi kaha. Khidki se baahar dekhti rahi, pallu kas ke pakde, muh mein ab bhi woh zaaiqa tha.