[Rajeev Gupta]

Yeh ek garam dopahar thi hamare chhote se ghar mein, jab sab kuch achanak taakat se bhara hua ho gaya. Meri ammi, Lubna, rasoi mein thi, jaise hamesha unka veil sahi se lapeta hua tha, tezi se counter ke beech ghum rahi thi. Woh bahut paramparik _ ammi thi – hamesha vinamra, dheere se baat karne wali, aur bahut pyari. Zindagi kitni bhi vyast ho, woh bina karan awaaz kabhi nahi uthati thi, aur unka dil hamare parivaar aur hamare imaan se bhara hua tha. Main unhe is komal shakti ke liye bahut pyar karta tha jo woh har din sambhale rakhti thi, humein sabr, shukr, aur sadharan jeevan jeene ki sundarta sikhati thi apne deen ke anusar.


“Bete, jaldi kar!” ammi ne rasoi se awaaz lagayi, unki awaaz mein woh purani jaldi aur garmahat thi. “Rishtedar aa rahe hain jaldi – teri khala aur khalu bachchon ke saath. Woh yahan ek-do ghante mein pahunch jayenge, insha,.'. Sabjiyon ke liye kaafi cheezein nahi hain. Abhi bazaar ja, bheed hone se pehle.”


Main abhi bhi khirki ke paas let raha tha, uthne ke liye taiyar nahi. “Ammi, main thodi der mein chala jaunga—”


“Nahi, nahi, thodi der mein nahi!” unhone baat kaat di, haathon ko aapron pe pochte hue baithak mein aa gayi. “Woh itne dinon baad milne aa rahe hain. Sab taiyar hona chahiye. Tere abbu andar mehnat kar rahe hain. Abhi ja, kripya. Jo suchi maine likhi hai woh le ja – tamatar, pyaz, aloo, palak, aur kuch taaza dhaniya. Aur hari mirch mat bhoolna!”


Doosre kamre se main abbu, Mounir, ko dheere se gaate hue sun raha tha jab woh balb theek kar rahe the. Woh bahut mehnati aadmi the jo din bhar dhoop mein rickshaw chala kar hamara guzara karte the. Phir bhi woh itne vinamra the, kabhi shikayat nahi karte, hamesha ,.' ka shukr karte the jo bhi rozi aati thi. Ab bhi, sadak pe lambi din ke baad, woh ghar ko mehmanon ke liye achha bana rahe the, purane balb badal rahe the taaki sab kamre chamak uthen jab sab aayenge.


“Ammi, kya yeh dus minute ruk sakta hai? Main bas—”


“Dus minute? Bete, samay rukta nahi hai!” ammi jaldi se paas aayi, pyar se lekin mazbooti se mere kandhe ko darwaze ki taraf dhakelti hui. “Teri khala ko tikha khana pasand hai, aur hamare paas kuch taaza nahi bacha. Main unhe kya parosungi? Ja, ja, ja! Bazaar sirf pandrah minute door hai agar tu tezi se chale. Aur seedha wapas aa jaana – raste mein doston se baat mat karna, samjhe? Unke aane se pehle hum sab milkar asr ki ,,., padhenge.”


Main ek baar aur rokne ki koshish ki, muskurate hue. “Lekin ammi, har baar jab rishtedar aate hain tum yahi kehti ho…”


“Kyuki har baar yeh sach hota hai!” unhone jawab diya, unki aankhein us khel bhare lekin gambhir tareeke se fail gayi jo sirf woh kar sakti thi. Unhone khali thaila uthaya aur practically mere haathon mein thama diya. “,.' ne humein haath aur pair diye hain kaam karne ke liye, baithne ke liye nahi. Tere abbu lights theek kar rahe hain taaki ghar achha lage, aur tu yahan der laga raha hai. Ab ja, warna mujhe tujhe do baar bhejna padega!”


Main dheere se hasa, abhi bhi utni tezi se nahi hil raha jitna unhe pasand tha. Unhone halke se taali bajayi. “Y,.', bete! Jaldi kar! Dhoop abhi upar hai, lekin der tak nahi rahegi, aur shaam mein sabjiyan jaldi khatam ho jati hain.”


“Theek hai, theek hai, ammi!” maine akhirkaar kaha, hasste hue thaila lete hue.


Woh ek pal ke liye ruk gayi, phir aankhein chhoti karke muskurayi. “Kya kaha tune? Kab se tu apni ammi se aise baat karne laga?”


Main rok nahi paya ek chhota sa mazak karne se. Muskurate hue maine chheda, “Jab se tum rasoi mein senapati ki tarah awaaz karne lagi ho, ammi! Agli baar mujhe bazaar tak jhanda leke kadam talne ko kahogi, jaise tamataron ki ladai ho!”


Ammi ka muh natak bhare aascharya mein khul gaya, unka pyara chehra hasi aur thodi khel bhari daant se chamak utha. “Arre, tu shaitan bachcha! Apni bechari budhi ammi ka mazaak uda raha hai? Ruk, jab tak main tujhe pakadti hoon!”


Main kuch karne se pehle, unhone chhota sa rasoi ka kapda pakda aur baithak ke charon taraf halke se mujhe peeche pad gayi, hasne ki koshish rokti hui. “Aa yahan! Main tujhe senapati dikhati hoon!”


Main zor se has pada aur darwaze ki taraf bhaga, unke komal prayason se bachata hua. “Ammi, nahi! Main ja raha hoon, main ja raha hoon!”


Abbu doosre kamre se jhaanke, sir hilate hue muskurate hue lekin kuch nahi bola – woh hamare chhote parivaar ke khelon ko bahut achhe se jaante the.


Main ghar se bahar bhaga, abhi bhi has raha tha, thaila haath mein jhoolta hua jab main sankari gali se bazaar ki taraf badha. Ammi darwaze pe khadi rahi, usi pyari jaldi se mere peeche awaaz lagati hui, “Theek se chal! Aur dhaniya mat bhoolna! Aur jaldi wapas aa jaana, bete – assalamualaikum!”


“Walaikumassalam, ammi!” maine kandhe ke upar se chillaya, mera dil halka aur bhara hua mehsoos ho raha tha. Unki jaldi mein bhi unki daya chamak rahi thi. Main apni ammi Lubna aur abbu Mounir se shabdon se zyada pyar karta tha – unki vinamra, mehnati zindagi jo imaan pe adharit thi, woh sabse badi nemat thi jo ,.' ne hamare parivaar ko di thi.


Jaise main bazaar ki taraf ja raha tha, shaam ki azaan jaldi hi goonjegi, hum sab ko yaad dilayegi ki asal mein kya mahatv rakhta hai. Lekin abhi ke liye, sabjiyan – aur woh hasi – intezaar kar rahi thi.

[Rajeev Gupta]

Lubna ne darwaze ke paas chhote sheeshe mein apni veil ke kinare ko ek baar phir se theek kiya. Uski ungliyan thodi kaanp rahi thi soft kaale kapde par. Woh chhota sa ghar jo woh Mounir aur unke bete Amir ke saath rehti thi aaj aur bhi chhota mehsoos ho raha tha. Concrete ki deewarein bahar se aati hui street vendors ki door ki awaazon se goonj rahi thi. 


Shehar ke bahar wale ilaake mein dopahar ka waqt tha. Hawa mein dhool, guzarte rickshawon ki dhuaan aur pados ke rasoiyon se aati halki masalon ki khushboo ghuli hui thi. Lubna ek sharmili '. gharwali thi. Uski zindagi ,,.,, parivaar ke khane aur ghar ko chamkate rakhne ke chhote chhote dino ke gird ghumti thi. 

Woh akeli bahar jaana kam hi pasand karti thi, apne chaar deewaron ki suraksha mein rehna zyada achha lagta tha. Lekin aaj koi chaara nahi tha. Shaam ko iftar ke liye rishtedaar aa rahe the – uski behen aur uska pati agle shehar se – aur ghar ka store bilkul khali tha. Usne apne bete Amir ko do gali door ke chhote sabzi ke thele par bheja tha, uske haath mein kuch sike hue note thame hue aur sakht hidayat de kar ki sirf sabse taaza tamatar, pyaz aur bhindi laana. 

“Us thele wali aunty ke paas hi rehna beta,” usne uske sar par chumma dete hue dheere se kaha tha jab woh apni purani college ki half pant mein daud kar bahar nikal gaya. Mounir aur bhi pehle nikal chuka tha. Uska purana neela rickshaw suraj poora ugne se pehle hi chhuk chhuk kar chal pada tha. 

“Shaam tak laut aunga habibti,” usne uska haath halke se dabate hue kaha tha aur phir pedal maar kar bheed bhare raston mein gum ho gaya tha. Lubna darwaze se usko jaate hue dekhti rahi thi. Uska dil hamesha wali chhupi chinta se bhari hua tha. 

Mounir din bhar us purane neele rickshaw ko chalata tha, shehar ki paagal galiyon mein savaariyan le jaata tha, kam paise kamata tha, lekin ghar ka khana aur kiraya toh chalta tha. Ab ghar mein sirf woh akeli thi. Lubna ne apne pairon mein simple kaale chappal pehen li, apni handbag ko seene se kas kar pakad liya aur chhoti gali mein kadam rakh diya. 

Jaise hi peeche lakdi ka darwaza band hua, Lubna ki chal tezi se ho gayi. Jis ilaake mein woh rehti thi wahan hamesha mardon ki bheed hoti thi. Yahaan factories aur chhote chhote kaam ke addon se har waqt mazdoor sadkon par nikal aate the. Har mod par chai ke thele aur mechanic ki dukaanein thi. Neem ke pedon ke neeche ya graffiti wali deewaron ke saath mazdoor, driver aur bekaar jawan ladke jama hote the. 

Woh tezi se chal rahi thi. Uska dupatta sharm se kandhon par pada hua tha aur veil achhe se pinned tha. Uski olive green rang ki lambi aasteen wali salwar kameez uske patle shareer ke gird dheeli dheeli lahra rahi thi. Kapda dheela tha jaise hona chahiye tha, phir bhi Lubna ko khud ko nanga mehsoos ho raha tha. Woh hamesha aisi hi thi – gehri sharmili, parampara wale ghar mein paali posi jahaan auratein andar rehti thi aur mard bahar ka kaam sambhalte the. Baarah saal ki shaadi ke baad bhi akeli bahar nikalna uska dil tez dhadakne lagta tha. 

Raste usi waqt zinda the: ek motorcycle repair ki dukaan ke bahar chaar jawan ladke grease se bhare kurton mein baith kar cigarette peete hue zor zor se hans rahe the. Dus meter aage ek cycle rickshaw wala savaari ke saath bhada lekar jhagad raha tha. Ek buddha thela dhakel raha tha jismein chamakte peele aam bhare the aur bhari awaaz mein daam chilla raha tha. 









Aur aage mod ke paas construction ke mazdoor chhutti mein the. Unke helmets utare hue the. Ek packet biscuit baant rahe the jabki trucks guzarte hue dhool uda rahe the. Lubna apni nazar phati sadak par jamaaye hue chal rahi thi. Uski chappalon ki halki chapchap awaaz aa rahi thi. Phir bhi usko mehsoos ho raha tha – nazaron ka bojh. 

Usne hamesha mardon ki nazarein mehsoos ki thi. Yeh naya nahi tha, balki ek hamesha ka ghaat wala ehsaas tha jo uske har bahar nikalne se jud gaya tha jab se woh kishori thi. Lubna khud ko sundar samajh kar nazar nahi aana chahti thi. Asal mein woh har cheez karti thi taaki dhyan na jaaye – gale se le kar muh tak, kaan se le kar pairon tak dhakne wale kapde chunti thi, veil itna tight pin karti thi ki uske kaale ghungraale baalon ki ek bhi lat nahi nikalti thi aur kandhe thode jhuka kar chalti thi jaise khud ko chhota karna chahti ho. 

Phir bhi nazarein usko dhoond leti thi. Shayad uski olive chamdi modest kapdon ke neeche bhi chamak rahi thi. Ya phir uske shareer ki halki si golai jo kitni bhi dheeli silai se poori tarah chhup nahi paati thi. Ho sakta hai uski kamar ka natural jhoolna jo usne apni ammi se virasat mein paaya tha aur kitni bhi koshish kar le dabana nahi paati thi. 

Ya shayad sirf uski khubsurati thi – badi badi hiran jaisi brown aankhein, ghane chamakte parde, bhare hue honth jo ghabrahat mein hamesha band rehte the aur ek naram dil jaisa chehra jo uski umar se chhota dikhta tha. 

Mard notice karte the. Hamesha karte the. Bazaar mein, bus stop par, masjid tak paanch minute ki paidal chal mein bhi woh mehsoos karti thi – dukaandaar beech mein ruk kar dekhte the, cycle par guzarte log jhat se nazar daalte the, mod par jama doston ke groups se khule leers aate the. 

Usse ek baar yaad tha, kai saal pehle, Amir ke paida hone se pehle, jab woh Mounir ke saath pharmacy ja rahi thi. Mounir thoda aage tha. Ek scooter wale ne jaan bujh kar speed ghataayi thi aur uski taraf oil ki tarah nazar ghumayi thi. Mounir ne bina peeche mude chillaya tha. Woh yaad abhi bhi jalti thi – woh kitni laachaar mehsoos hui thi, uske gaal veil ke neeche kaise garam ho gaye the. Aaj bhi jab woh dhool bhari gali se tezi se guzar rahi thi, wohi ehsaas lehron ki tarah aa raha tha. 

Ek beedi peete hue aadmi ne band dukaan ke paas muh ghuma kar usko poore se sar se pair tak dekha. Doosra haath gaadi mein chawal ke bhaari boriyon ko dhakel raha tha, halke se seeti baja di. Lubna ne handbag ko itna zor se pakad liya ki uski ungliyan safed pad gayi. Usne apni chal aur tez kar di. Saansein chhoti chhoti hone lagi. Kyun hamesha aisa hota hai? Woh soch rahi thi. Main ek shaadi shuda aurat hoon, ek maa hoon, ek momin hoon jo khud ko ,.' ke liye dhak leti hoon. 

Jab woh bank pahunchi – woh chhota do manjila building jiska peela paint utar raha tha aur khidkiyon par lohe ki jaaliyan thi – bahar queue already ban chuki thi. Aaj busy din tha – shayad mahine ke beech ka din tha jab tankhwah aur paisa aata tha. Pehle woh baith kar apne pati ko message kar rahi thi. 




Lubna line mein aa kar khadi ho gayi, sabse peeche ki taraf. Uski aankhein ghabrahat se idhar udhar ghoom rahi thi. Automatic darwaze khulte band hote ja rahe the, andar se thandi hawa ki jhonke bahar ki garmi se takra rahe the. Andar glass ke peeche teller dikhte the, keyboard ki tap tap awaaz aur halki halki baatein. Lekin yahan bhi, is so-called surakshit jagah mein bhi nazarein usko dhoond leti thi. 

Darwaze ke paas security guard, uska uniform seene par tight, uske guzarte waqt nazar ek second zyada der tak tik gayi. Andar ek customer ne muh ghumaya, deewar par poster dekhne ka bahana kiya lekin glass mein uski parchhai dekh raha tha. Lubna ka dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha. Usne handbag ko aur kareeb seene se laga liya. Andar uske chhote chhote bachate hue paise ka bojh mehsoos ho raha tha – woh paisa jo Mounir ne rishtedaaron ke aane ke liye sambhal kar rakha tha. Woh ek pair se doosre pair par wazan badalti rahi, line dheere dheere aage badh rahi thi. 

Aur phir usko uska ehsaas hua – woh aadmi jo line mein uske bilkul peeche khada tha. Woh lamba tha, aasani se chhah foot se upar. Uska chehra sakht paththar ki tarah kata hua lagta tha. Uski chamdi brown aur chamdi jaisi sakht thi, aankhon aur muh ke gird gehri lakeerein thi jo saalon dhoop mein guzarne aur shayad aur mushkilon se bani thi. 

Uske baal grey the, ghane aur bigde hue, chhote kaate hue the lekin phir bhi wild lag rahe the. Kaanpon ke paas thodi kaali lakeerein thi jaise halka sa toofan. Mothe kaale safed mishrit moochhen upar ke honth par latak rahi thi. Left eyebrow se gaal tak ek teekhi daag ki lakeer thi jo usko bilkul goonda jaisa dikha rahi thi. 

Woh ek purana kaala kurta pehne tha jiska collar khula hua tha. Andar se sone ki chain chamak rahi thi aur seene par ghane baal dikhte the. Usne purani jeans pehni thi jo kamar par neeche lati thi aur ghutnon par dhabbe the jaise woh kisi mazdoori se seedha aaya ho ya shayad kuch aur kaam se. Uske haath – bade, sakht, ungliyon ke girde hamesha neele padte hue – uske bagal mein latak rahe the. Ek haath mein chhabbi ki jhankar thi. 

Woh aise aadmi lagta tha jo galiyon ke andhere mein ya bus ke peeche hisse mein rehta ho. Maaein apni betiyon ko dheemi awaaz mein is tarah ke aadmiyon se chetati hain. Uska jism dheela tha lekin maalikana. Kandhe chaude aur thode aage jhuke hue, jaise har waqt taiyaar ho. 

Lubna ko sasta tambaku, paseena aur engine oil ki halki khushboo aa rahi thi. Usne aise mardon ko pehle dekha tha – shayad auto parts ke bazaar mein jahaan Mounir kabhi kabhi usko le jaata tha, ya bus adda ke paas – lekin itna kareeb kabhi nahi, itni chhoti jagah mein bilkul peeche kabhi nahi. Uska dimaag sochne laga – shayad woh ilaake ka goonda ho, dukaandaaron se protection paise leta ho, ya purana driver ho jo ab chhote mote kaamon mein pad gaya ho. 

Uski chhoti tez aankhein bhari bhaunon ke neeche line mein idhar udhar ghoom rahi thi lekin baar baar uski taraf laut aati thi. Lubna ki chamdi sihar uthi. Jab line aage badhi toh woh bhi aage badhi, lekin woh turant peeche se aa gaya aur itna kareeb aa gaya ki uske shareer ki garmi mehsoos hone lagi. 

Woh bahut kareeb tha. Bahut zyada kareeb. Aisi line mein log usually door door rehte hain, khas kar us jaise aurat ke peeche, lekin yeh aadmi sirf kuch inch door khada tha. Jab woh saans chhodta tha toh uski saans uski gardan ke peeche lag rahi thi. Lubna ko mehsoos ho raha tha ki uske kurte ka kapda uske dupatte ko lag bhag chhoo raha tha. 

Woh phir se thoda sa hil gayi, jagah banane ki koshish ki, lekin aage wali aurat uske aage wale se sat gayi thi. Kahin jagah nahi thi. 

Is kareebipan ne har chhoti cheez ko tez kar diya – uska saya uske kandhe par pad raha tha, uske pair ka wazan badalte hue uski baah uski kohni ke bilkul paas hil rahi thi. 








Aur ek cheez jo us takleef ko aur badha rahi thi woh thi uska kabhi kabhi gala saaf karna – ek gehra bhari awaaz jo uske kaan ke bahut kareeb goonj rahi thi. Ya phir jab woh apni jagah badalta tha toh uski chhabbiyon ki jhankar halki si bajti thi, jaise chuppi ke beech koi chetavni ki ghanti. 

Lubna ke gaal veil ke neeche jal rahe the. Woh seedhe aage office wale aadmi ke sar ke peeche dekhti rahi, line ko jaldi aage badhne ki dua kar rahi thi, lekin uska dimaag ghabrahat ki toofan mein tha. 

Yeh sirf bank hai, usne khud se kaha. Kuch nahi hoga. Lekin woh nazarein – ab uski nazarein us par thi, sirf sadak wali nazarein nahi balki yeh khaas, bhari nazar jo peeche se usmein ghus rahi thi. Jaise woh uske kandhe ki golai dekh raha ho, jaise uski salwar kameez uski peeth par kaise pad rahi ho. Usne aisi nazarein pehle bhi mehsoos ki thi lekin itni kareeb kabhi nahi, itna shareeri kareebipan kabhi nahi jo usko poori tarah chhota hone par majboor kar de. 

Line bahut dheere dheere aage badh rahi thi. Lubna ki baari abhi kai logon door thi jab yeh hua – woh lambi ghatna jo uske dimaag mein kai dino tak ghumti rahegi. Woh handbag ke patte se khel rahi thi, uski ungliyan ghabrahat ke paseene se geeli thi, tabhi achanak patta uske haath se chhoot gaya. Bag uske haathon se nikal kar tiled farsh par halke se gir gaya. 

Andar ke papers aur chhota sa coin purse thoda bahar aa gaya. Uski ID card khule flap se jhaank rahi thi. Lubna halke se saans rok kar reh gayi. Uska shareer tight ho gaya aur woh bag uthane ke liye jhukne lagi. Lekin uske ghutne poore se jhukne se pehle, uska haath bag tak pahunchne se pehle, peeche wala aadmi apne bade shareer ke bawajood tezi se jhuk gaya. 

Woh ek hi harkat mein neeche baith gaya, uska bada shareer ajeeb tarah se graceful dhang se jhuka aur usne calloused haath se handbag utha li. Uski ungliyan patte aur bikhere samaan ko achhe se utha kar saaf kar diya uske seedha hone se pehle hi. 

Jab woh utha toh unke haath ek dusre se ragad gaye – uska sakht garam haath uski patli ungliyon ke peeche se guzra jab usne bag uske haath mein thama diya. Sparsh sirf ek second ka tha, lekin Lubna ke andar bijli si daud gayi. Uski chamdi ret ki tarah khurkhuri thi resham ke against, aur woh ehsaas chhootne ke baad bhi der tak raha. 

“Yeh lo begum,” usne gehri bhari awaaz mein kaha jo sadkon ki khurduri lehje mein thi, itni dheemi ki sirf woh sun sake lekin itni buland ki uska dil dhadak utha. “Yeh gir gaya tha. Bheed mein pairon tale nahi padna chahiye tha.” 

Lubna ka dil pasliyon se takra raha tha. Usne handbag ko seene se kas liya. Uski awaaz sirf phusphusaahat bhar thi jab usne shabdon ko bahar nikala – tehzeeb se lekin mazboot, jaise uski ammi ne ajnabiyon se baat karne ka tareeka sikhaya tha. “Shukriya… bhai. Yeh galti se ho gaya. Main… main shukraguzaar hoon.” 

Woh peeche nahi hata. Uski jagah woh uske bilkul kareeb khada raha, uska sakht chehra thoda jhuk kar uski taraf dekhta hua. Nazdeek se uske gaal par laga nishaan aur bhi saaf dikhai de raha tha – kaale rang ki chamdi par ek patli safed line. Uske safed baal bank ke andar ki chamakti roshni mein chamak rahe the, jisse woh aur bhi buddha aur thaka hua lag raha tha. 

Ab usse tambaaku ki tez khushboo aa rahi thi aur kuch aur tez cheez ki – jaise shaving ka tel mila hua engine ke grease ke saath. “Koi problem nahi,” usne aage kaha, uski awaaz saadhaaran thi lekin usme ek aisi dhun thi jo usko bechain kar rahi thi. “Mera naam Rakesh hai. Aapko is mohalle mein pehle bhi dekha hai na? Aap purani masjid ke paas rehte ho, sahi? Jisme neela gumbad hai.” 

Lubna sakht tareeke se sir hilaaya, uski aankhein farsh ki tiles par jami hui thi, uski nazar se bachne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Ab queue mein dusron ki aankhein bhi mehsoos ho rahi thi – sirf uski nahi, balki aas-paas ke logon ki halki nazrein jo is chhoti si hichki par curious ho rahi thi. “Haan… wahi ke paas,” usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, jawab chhote rakh kar. “Mera pati rickshaw chalata hai. Hum apne mein rehte hain.” 

Rakesh halke se hans diya, uski hanssi seene mein goonjti hui. “Pati, haan? Kismat wala aadmi. Lekin aap jaisi aurat ko akeli bhari bag utha kar nahi chalna chahiye. Yeh sadkein… hamesha meherbaan nahi hoti. Lo, main yeh bag aapke turn tak pakad leta hoon.” 

Usne phir haath badhaya, uski ungliyan uske handbag ke patte ke paas thehri hui jaise phir se lene ki koshish kar raha ho. Lekin Lubna ne turant peeche kheench liya, kapda uske salwar se ragad kha gaya. 

“Nahi nahi, theek hai,” usne jaldi se kaha, uski awaaz mein halka sa kaanp aa gaya. “Main sambhal lungi. Sach mein. Shukriya phir se.” Usne apna shareer thoda sa uski taraf se mod liya, baat khatam karne ka ishaara karte hue, lekin Rakesh zyada door nahi hata. 

Woh bilkul wahi khada raha, uski maujudgi uske peeche deewar jaisi thi aur line dheere dheere aage badh rahi thi. Agle kai minute tak jab woh wait kar rahe the, usne chhoti chhoti baatein shuru ki – upar se masoom lekin usme woh lagataar kareeb hone ki koshish ghuli hui thi. 

“Bahut garmi hai na aaj? Bank hamesha itna slow kyun rehta hai?” usne ek baar poocha aur usne bina ghume hue sirf itna jawab diya, “Haan, bahut garmi hai.” Dusri baar usne giri hui cheezon par tippani ki, “Achha hua koi zaroori cheez nahi giri. Aapke bachche hain? Main ne andar ek chhoti si photo dekhi thi – pyara ladka.” Lubna ka pet us waqt tight ho gaya jab usne Amir ki college photo ka zikr kiya. Usne notice nahi kiya tha ki woh photo nikal aaya tha. 

“Mera beta, haan,” usne sakht jawab diya, aur kuch nahi kaha. Uske haath ka brush uske dimaag mein dohra raha tha – woh garmi, woh khurdura ehsaas – aur usne apna haath chupke se dupatte par ponchha jaise us yaad ko mitane ki koshish kar rahi ho. 

Poora waqiya uske dimaag mein bahut lamba ho gaya tha: woh jhukna jo poora nahi hua, woh tez madad, uski chamdi ka sparsh, woh dheemi awaaz mein madad ka offer jo usne nahi chaaha tha. Yeh sab usko anant lag raha tha, har second uske tez dhadakte vicharon se aur bada hota ja raha tha. Kya hoga agar Mounir ko pata chal gaya? Kya hoga agar mohalle ka koi dekh le aur afwaah faila de? Usne chupke se dua maangi ki line jaldi aage badhe aur yeh sab khatam ho jaaye. 

Aakhirkaar, jab usko lag raha tha ki yeh sadiyon tak chalta raha, bank ki aas-paas ki awaazon ke beech – card machine ki beep, clerk ki form samjhaane ki dheemi awaaz, aage baithi buddhi aurat ki khansi – Lubna counter tak pahunch gayi. 

Usne apna paisa nikaal liya, teller ek meethi chehre wali aurat thi jo crisp uniform mein thi, usne note gin kar glass ke neeche se dhakel diye aur muskurate hue de diye. Lubna ne paisa handbag mein daal kar zip band ki aur lautne ko hui, relief uske andar thande paani ki tarah beh raha tha. Queue thodi patli ho gayi thi aur woh bahar ki taraf badhi, automatic darwaze khul kar bahar ki nami bhari hawa andar aane lagi. 

Lekin jab woh bahar nikal rahi thi, doosra lamba waqiya shuru ho gaya, bilkul pehle wale jaisa dheere dheere aur bina chaahi hui gahraai ke saath. Rakesh ne apna kaam uske turant baad khatam kar liya tha – shayad ATM ya dusre teller par jaldi ho gaya tha – aur ab woh bilkul uske saath tha, jaise hi woh threshold cross karke bahar chamakti dhoop mein kadam rakha, uske bagal mein kadam milate hue. 

Bank ke chhote se aangan mein bheed thi: seediyon ke paas ek motorcycle behtar tareeke se khadi thi jiska maalik mirror theek kar raha tha, ek ped ke neeche do auratein zor zor se baat kar rahi thi ride ka intezaar karte hue, ek sadak ka kutta ek phenki hui cheez ko soongh raha tha. 

Lubna ne apni raftaar tez kar di main sadak ki taraf, lekin Rakesh ka bada haath badh kar uski kohni ko halke lekin mazboot tareeke se pakad liya, usko beech mein hi rokte hue. Sparsh halka tha, lagbhag shisht, lekin uske poore shareer mein current daud gaya. Uski ungliyan uske aasteen ke kapde ko lapet rahi thi, garam aur zid bhari, turant chhodne ko taiyaar nahi. 

“Thoda rukiye please,” usne apni khurduri awaaz mein ab thoda naram kaha, jaise minnat kar raha ho jo uske goonde jaisa chehre se bilkul alag tha. Uska sakht chehra poori tarah uski taraf ghuma hua tha, safed baal guzarti hawa se bigad rahe the, nishaan dhoop mein chamak kar usko aur bhi bhayankar bana raha tha. 






Dhoop mein nazdeek se usne aur cheezein notice ki – uske kurte ki aasteen ke neeche se ek chhota sa tattoo jhaank raha tha, shayad purana langar ya koi akshar, aur jab woh bolta tha toh uski muchh kaise hilti thi. 

“Main ne andar aapko daraane ki koshish nahi ki thi. Bas… aap bahut achhi lagti ho. Theek thaak, samjhi? Dusri auraton ki tarah bhagti hui nahi. Mera naam Rakesh Khan hai, jaise maine kaha tha. Main chhote mote kaam karta hoon – kabhi gaadi chalata hoon, bazaar mein logon ka samaan theek karta hoon. Do gali door rehta hoon, bade bargad ke ped ke paas. Aapko kabhi kabhi chalte hue dekhta hoon. Hamesha itni shaant, itni… achhe se dhaki hui. Mujhe aapko thoda jaanne ka mann karta tha.” 

Lubna jakad si gayi, uski aankhein veil ki chhaon mein ghabrahat se phail gayi. Usne apni baah ko halke lekin mazboot tareeke se peeche kheench liya, sparsh todte hue, uski awaaz darr ke bawajood sthir thi. “Please chhod dijiye. Main… main shaadi shuda hoon bhai. Mera pati Mounir hai. Woh rickshaw chalata hai. Humara ek beta hai. Yeh theek nahi hai.” 

Rakesh ne uski kohni turant nahi chhodi, uski jagah usne apni pakad dheeli kar di lekin haath uske paas hi thehra hua tha, jaise zaroorat padi toh sambhalne ke liye taiyaar ho. Uska chehra naram hua – ya woh naram dikhane ki koshish kar raha tha – ek aisi muskaan mein jo usko lagta hoga ki jaadu bhari hai, uske thode tedhe daant dikhaate hue jo saalon ke paan se rang gaye the. 

“Shaadi shuda, haan, andar aapne kaha tha. Izzatdaar. Lekin ek aadmi baat toh kar sakta hai na? Kisi padosi ko jaanne mein kya harz hai. Aapka number hai? Sirf emergency ke liye ya agar koi bhari kaam ho toh. Aaj bag wali baat ki tarah. Main aapko kabhi ghar chhod aaya karunga agar rickshaw na ho. Meri gaadi wahan khadi hai.” 

Usne bank ki deewar se sati hui gaadi ki taraf sir hilaaya. 

Lubna peeche hat gayi, doori banaati hui, uske jooton ki awaaz concrete par kharoch rahi thi. “Nahi please. Mujhe kisi madad ki zaroorat nahi. Mera parivaar intezaar kar raha hai.” Uske shabd shisht the lekin ant mein mazboot, uski sharmili fitrat ki wajah se awaaz naram thi jabki uska dimaag bhagne ke liye chillaa raha tha. Usne handbag ko aur kas kar pakad liya, nikaala hua paisa usko uski zimmedariyon ki yaad dila raha tha – rishtedaaron ke liye sabzi, iftar ka khana jo abhi banana tha. 

Rakesh ne aur kuch pal aur zid ki, uska sakht chehra thodi niraash aur zid ke mishran se bhara hua. “Arre bas ek number de do. Kya harz hai? Main bura aadmi nahi hoon. Yahan aas-paas aur bhi bure aadmi dekhe hain, vishwas karo. Safed baal is baat ke hain ki maine kuch seekh liya hai. Is mohalle ki kahaniyaan bata sakta hoon jo aapko hasa dengi. Ya shayad aap apne baare mein batao? Aapka naam kya hai kam se kam? Lubna, sahi? Main ne masjid ke paas ek baar kisi ko aapko yeh naam pukarte hue suna tha.” 

Uska haath phir se hil gaya, is baar uski baah par halke se brush karte hue jab woh ishaara kar raha tha, ek aur bina chaaha sparsh jo pehle wale haath ke brush jaisa tha lekin is baar thoda zyada der tak tha. Baat aise hi chalti rahi, apni bechaini mein natural: usne uske bete ke college ke baare mein poocha, bataya ki aajkal parivaaron ke liye mehngai mein kitna mushkil ho gaya hai, aur apni jeb se cigarette nikaal kar offer kiya phir yaad aaya ki shayad woh nahi peeti. “Maaf karna, aadat hai,” usne hans te hue kaha. “Biwi saalon pehle chhod kar chali gayi, ab koi hai nahi jo mujhe daante.” 

 

[Rajeev Gupta]

Lubna ne apne chhote ghar ka purana lakdi ka darwaza dhakka de kar khola. Shaam ki dhoop peeche ki tang gali mein lambi sunehri parchhaiyaan daal rahi thi. Uska dil abhi bhi zor zor se dhadak raha tha bank wale waqiye se. Us aadmi ki yaad – jisne khud ko Rakesh bataya tha, lekin baad mein Mounir ko call karte hue usne galti se Rakesh hi bol diya tha – uske dimaag mein abhi bhi stuck thi jaise ziddi goonj. 

Usne apna haath ka bag purani plastic ki table par rakh diya. Rasoi ke kone mein Amir ne subah jo sabziyaan laayi thi woh saaf saaf rakhi hui thi – moti tamatar, crisp pyaz aur taaza bhindi geele kapde ke neeche chamak rahi thi. 

Ghar mein halki lemongrass ki agarbatti ki khushboo faili hui thi jo usne ghar se nikalte waqt jalaayi thi – bahar ke hungame ke against ek chhoti si tasalli. Usne jaldi se ek fresh salwar kameez pehen li. Naram maroon kapda usko yaad dilata tha ki woh ek shaant ghar sambhalne wali aurat hai. Phir woh shaam ki taiyaari mein lag gayi. 

Uski behen Fatima aur behnoi Umar kabhi bhi aa sakte the iftar ke liye. Unka pados wale shehar se saal bhar mein ek baar aana bahut rare mauka hota tha jo chhote ghar ko hasi aur parivaar ki garmaah se bhar deta tha. 

Saat baje jab do gali door neeli gumbad wali masjid se maghrib ki azaan ki awaaz khuli khidki se aane lagi, rishtedaar aa gaye. Fatima ki pehchaani awaaz gali se gunji, “Lubna! Darwaza khol behen, hum aa gaye!” Lubna jaldi se darwaze tak pahunchi, uska veil sahi se pinned tha, uske chehre par pehle ki chinta ke bawajood ek garam muskaan aa gayi. 

Usne apni behen ko tightly gale lagaya. Fatima ke gulab ke itar ki khushboo shaam ki hawa ke saath mil rahi thi. Umar ko usne izzat se sir jhuka kar salaam kiya aur usko khidki ke paas wale neeche lakdi ke stool par baithne ko kaha. 

“Andar aao, andar aao dono. Ghar chhota hai lekin aaj raat yeh tumhara hai,” Lubna ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha. Uski sharmili fitrat ki wajah se uski awaaz bahut naram aur mehman-nawaaz thi. Usne baithak ke kamre mein chatayi par iftar ka saamaan laga rakha tha – doodh mein bhigi khajoor, Amir ki madad se banaya sabzi ka salan, tawa se abhi abhi nikaali garam rotiyaan aur dessert ke liye simple kheer. 





Rishtedaar aaram se baith gaye. Fatima bus ki safar aur ghar ki mehngai ki baatein kar rahi thi jabki Umar paani peete hue uske chhote khane ki tareef kar raha tha. “Tu hamesha sab kuch itna perfect banati hai Lubna. Mounir bahut khushnaseeb hai,” usne pyar bhari hansi ke saath kaha. 

Lubna apne veil ke andar laal ho gayi. Woh chupke se garv mehsoos karti hui doosri serving kar rahi thi. Shaam aasaan baaton mein guzarti rahi – parivaar, bachchon ki padhai aur ramzaan ki barkaton ke baare mein. Amir mehmano se khush hokar apne college ke drawings dikhane laga. Kuch ghanton tak din ki saari chintaen background mein chali gayi – glass ki khanak aur saath ki duaon ke beech. 

Baad mein jab mehmano ne chatayi saaf karne mein madad ki aur Fatima Umar chhote guest corner mein soone chali gaye, Lubna chhoti si balcony mein chali gayi jo gali ki taraf khulti thi. 

Sadak ke lights jal gaye the. Park ki hui cyclein aur soye hue kutte peele rang ki roshni mein chamak rahe the. Usne apna purana Nokia phone nikala jo Mounir ne pichhle Eid par diya tha aur uska number milaya. Do baar bajne ke baad uski pehchaani thaki hui awaaz aayi. “Habibti? Sab theek hai? Main abhi last trip par hoon – aaj traffic bahut paagal tha.” 

Lubna ke ungliyan phone ko kas kar pakad li. Uski awaaz dheemi aur hichkichaati hui thi jab usne din ki baat jaldi jaldi dheemi siskiyon mein bataayi. “Mounir, main… main bank gayi thi jaise humne plan kiya tha. Line bahut lambi thi aur mere peeche ek aadmi tha. Usne apna naam… Rakesh bataya tha shayad. Jab mera bag gir gaya tha toh usne madad ki lekin woh bahut kareeb aa gaya tha. Bahar aakar usne mera haath pakad liya aur mera number maanga. Maine usse kaha ki main shaadi shuda hoon lekin ab mujhe akeli bahar jaana achha nahi lagta. Logon ki nazrein, sadakein… bahut zyada hai. Poora time mujhe bahut fikar lagi rahi.” 

Doosri taraf Mounir ki awaaz sakht ho gayi. Background mein uske rickshaw ka engine garaj raha tha. “Rakesh? Koi sadak ka goonda hoga! Woh Indian mard, unmein sharam hi nahi! Sabko curse – haram hai, woh kaise decent auraton jaise tujhe ghoorte hain aur pareshan karte hain. Main roz sadakon par dekhta hoon, dupatte wali har cheez ko leering karte hue. Unse baat mat karna Lubna. Ek shabd bhi nahi. Agli baar Amir ko bhej dena ya mera intezaar karna. Sun rahi hai? Agar ho sake toh andar hi rehna. Woh harami log sochte hain har sharmili aurat unke liye asaan shikaar hai. Un sabko jahannum bhej do jo meri biwi ko pareshan karte hain!” 

Lubna ne apne aap se sir hilaaya. Uska khali haath veil ke kinare par fer raha tha. “Maine bhi unko curse kiya tha Mounir – dil se kiya tha. Har woh aadmi jo zyada der tak dekhe, jo zyada kareeb aaye. Astaghfirullah, lekin woh log itna mushkil bana dete hain ki bas chain se jeeya ja sake.” 

Woh ruk gayi. Uski soch andar ki taraf mud gayi jab woh andhera hota aasman dekh rahi thi. Main kabhi temptation mein nahi aaungi, usne apne se sakht vaada kiya. Kabhi nahi. Main ek biwi hoon, ek maa hoon, ek momin hoon. Bhagwan pak dil wali auraton ki hifazat karta hai. 

Woh aadmi – Rakesh ya jo bhi – kuch nahi hai. Mounir mera duniya hai, Amir mera noor hai. Koi toofan isko nahi hila sakta. Call Mounir ke yeh kehne par khatam hui ki woh jaldi ghar aa raha hai aur Lubna ko ek shaant taakat mehsoos hui jab woh raat ki aakhri namaaz ke liye parivaar ke saath jud gayi. 

Lekin kuch din baad ek normal dopahar mein sab kuch phir se badal gaya. Lubna paas ke bazaar mein sabziyaan lene gayi thi kyunki Fatima aur Umar ne apna stay ek din aur badha diya tha. Jab woh khatam kar chuki toh aasman bhari badliyon se kaala pad gaya tha. Poorab se gehri grey badliyaan aa rahi thi aur hawa mein barish ka vaada tha. 

Woh jaldi se main sadak par bus stop ki taraf badhi. Uske haathon mein shopping ke bag bhari hui the. Bahar jaane ke liye woh jo modest kaali abaya pehenti thi woh uthati hui hawa mein halke se lehra rahi thi. 

Bus stop ek purana jhoka tha jismein tin ki chhat thi, graffiti wali bench aur chhoti si bheed mein wait kar rahe log – do college ki ladkiyaan uniform mein phone par has rahi thi, ek buddha apni laathi ke saath so raha tha aur kuch mazdoor dhool bhari qamizon mein. 

Lubna kinare par khadi thi, aankhein sadak par tikayi hui, bus ko aane ki dua kar rahi thi. Minutes guzarte gaye aur phir pehle moti boondein tin ki chhat par girne lagi. Jaldi hi yeh tez barish mein badal gayi. Toofan bahut zor se aaya – door ke dholon ki tarah garaj, bijli aasman mein chamak rahi thi, barish tezi se side se aa rahi thi jo shelter ke kinaron ko bheegone lagi. Lubna ke jooton mein already kiichad lag chuka tha aur uska safed dupatta kinaron se geela ho chuka tha. 

Usne kaanpte haathon se phone nikala aur Mounir ko call kiya. “Mounir, bahut tez barish ho rahi hai. Main bazaar ke paas main bus stop par hoon. Kya tu rickshaw le kar mujhe lene aa sakta hai? Please, beta ghar par wait kar raha hai aur bag bhari hain.” Uski awaaz naram thi, us sharm ko liye hue jo uske pati ke saath bhi kabhi nahi jaati thi. 






Mounir ka jawab pareshan tha. Background mein horn aur paani ke chhapakon ki awaaz thi. “Habibti, main shehar ke doosre taraf phansa hua hoon – barish ki wajah se bada jam hai aur main abhi do passengers ko station le ja raha hoon. Unhone double fare diya hai. Main ab unko chhod nahi sakta. Kam se kam ek ghanta lagega. Bus le le ya shelter ke neeche wait kar. Is baarish mein akeli ghar mat chalna – khatarnak hai.” 

Lubna ka dil baith gaya lekin usne dheere se kaha, “Theek hai, main sambhal lungi. Bhagwan teri hifazat kare.” Usne call kaat di aur shelter ke khambe ke aur kareeb chhipak gayi. Ab barish ek bechain parda ban gayi thi jo usko sadak se alag kar rahi thi. Baaki passengers kam ho chuke the – college ki ladkiyaan ek chhatri ke neeche bhaag gayi thi, buddha ek guzarti auto ko rok kar chala gaya tha. 

Lubna akeli khadi reh gayi. Toofan aur tez ho raha tha, hawa paas ke neem ke pedon mein sehmi hui thi, uske pairon ke paas paani ikattha ho raha tha. Woh saans mein duaen padh rahi thi, har bijli ki chamak ke saath uski fikar badhti ja rahi thi. 

Tabhi wohi aadmi uski taraf aaya. Rakesh – haan, wohi tha, bank wala woh rugged chehra wala anjaan aadmi. Uska grey baal barish se geela hokar maathe se chipka hua tha, gaal par woh tezi se kata nishaan sadak ke light mein chamak raha tha. 

Woh grey coat, safed kurta aur dark brown patloon pehne tha jo ab geela hokar uske mazboot goonde jaisa shareer se sat gaya tha. Uski jeans ke kinare kiichad se bhare hue the. Woh shelter ki taraf purposeful kadmon se chala, ek kaale chhatri ko ek bade rough haath mein pakde hue. Uski chhoti tez aankhein turant us par atak gayi. 

Lubna ki saans atak gayi. Usne usko turant pehchaan liya – namak-mirch wali moochhen, gale mein sone ki chain, aur woh andaaz jisse woh chhote se jagah ko bhar deta tha jaise ek saya. 

“Begum? Phir aap?” Rakesh ne barish ki garaj mein apni bhari awaaz se kaha. Usmein hairani ke saath bank wali hi ziddi tone thi. Usne chhatri band ki aur pehle toh izzat se door khada raha, uske bigde grey baalon se paani tapak raha tha. 

“Lubna, sahi? Bank wale din ki. Is toofan mein yahan kya kar rahi ho? Aisi aurat ko akele bus stop par is baarish mein nahi khada hona chahiye. Sadakein dekh lo – abhi se paani bharne laga hai, busen ghanton delay ho rahi hain. Kisi ke liye bhi khatarnak hai, khas kar ek sharmili aurat jaise aapke liye. Nazarain har taraf hain, aise raaton mein buri harkatein karne wale bahar hote hain.” 

Lubna thoda peeche hat gayi, bag ko seene se kas kar pakde hue, uska veil geelepan se bhari hui. “Please… maine apne pati ko call kiya hai. Woh jaldi aa rahe hain. Main theek hoon.” Uski awaaz bijli ki garaj mein mushkil se sunai de rahi thi, sharmili aur sakht dono. 

Rakesh nahi gaya. Uski jagah usne phir se chhatri kholi aur uski taraf badhaya, yeh ishara lagbhag suraksha wala tha. “Tumhara pati? Rickshaw wala? Woh time par nahi pahunchega – is baarish ne shehar ko nadi bana diya hai. Maine pehle bhi dekha hai. Chal na, main yahan se sirf do gali door rehta hoon. Chhota sa ghar hai jismein sukha veranda hai. Wahan wait kar sakti ho jab tak baarish kam na ho. Baad mein main khud tujhe ghar chhod dunga – koi gandi baat nahi, apni maa ki kasam. Aisi aurat, akeli, bheegi hui, bag ke saath… yeh safe nahi hai. Bahar ke mard sharmili auraton par shikaar karte hain. Main un jaisa nahi hoon. Bas ek padosi madad kar raha hai.” 

Baarish aur zor se padti rahi aur baat lambi hoti gayi. Bijli uske rugged chehre ko sakht roshni mein chamka rahi thi – aankhon ke gird gehri lakeerein, chamde jaisa skin, woh goonde jaisa shareer jo toofan mein dhamki bhara aur oddly bharosemand dono lag raha tha. Lubna soch mein pad gayi, uske dimaag mein Mounir ke pehle waale warnings ghum rahe the aur uska apna vaada ki woh kabhi temptation mein nahi aaegi. 

Lekin dar ne usko jakad liya – bus stop ab bilkul khaali ho chuka tha, sadak nadi ban rahi thi, uske phone mein toofan ki wajah se signal nahi aa raha tha. “Main… main nahi jaanti. Yeh theek nahi hai,” usne aankhein neeche kiye hue dheemi siski mein kaha. 

Rakesh thoda sa jhuk kar bola, uski awaaz dheemi aur vishwas dilane wali, khatre ko gehre vistaar se samjhaate hue. “Theek? Kya theek hai isme? Pneumonia ho jaaye ya usse bhi badi bimari? Pichhle mahine factory ke paas ek aurat isi bus stop par barish mein loot li gayi thi – uski thaili chheen li gayi, usko kiichad mein dhakel diya. Kya tu sochti hai ki teri burqa aur sharmili kapde tujhe har cheez se bacha lenge? Nahi begum. Duniya bhediyon se bhari hai. Main toh sirf chhat, chai aur ek sukha jagah de raha hoon. Phir seedha ghar tak bike par chhod dunga. Tera pati mujhe shukriya bolega. Chal, pehle aur kharab hone se pehle.” 

Usne chhatri poori tarah uske sir par faila di, uska sakht haath uski thaili ke kinare ko anjaane mein chhoo gaya, bilkul bank wale waqiye jaisa. Yeh kareebipan, toofan ki tez barish, aur uski bhari awaaz mein sachchi chinta – yeh sab uske virodh ko kamzor kar rahe the. 

Bahut der tak aise hi baat hoti rahi – Lubna dheemi awaaz mein mana karti rahi, Rakesh ilaake ke khatron ki aur kahaniyaan sunata raha, barish ka rukh rukne ka naam nahi le raha tha – aakhir mein woh sir hilaati hui boli, uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi. “Sirf tab tak jab tak barish ruk jaaye. Aur tu vaada kar ki mujhe seedha ghar chhod dega. Mera beta Amir intezaar kar raha hai.” 

Rakesh ke chehre par tedhi si muskaan aa gayi. Usne uski madad ki, dono ko peeche baithaaya aur dheere dheere paani bhari galiyon se guzarte hue chale, barish dono par zor se pad rahi thi aur upar bijli garaj rahi thi. Lubna side ki taraf baithi thi, seat ko kas kar pakde hue, uska dil dar aur anjaan shukraguzaari ke mishran se dhadak raha tha. 






Das minute mein woh uske ghar pahunch gaye – ek chhota sa single floor ka kachcha makaan, bargad ke pedon ke jhurmut ke peeche chhupa hua, veranda par chhat thi aur andar sukha tha. Rakesh ne chaabiyon ki jhankar se darwaza khola aur usko andar le aaya. 

Aage wala kamra sada lekin saaf suthra tha – ek purana sofa, ek chhota table, deewaron par purane filmi sitaaron ke murjhaye posters, aur kone mein chhoti si rasoi. Usne ek bulb jalaya, uski garam roshni toofan ke andhere ko door kar rahi thi. 

“Baith begum. Apne aap ko sukha le. Main chai banaata hoon – mazboot, adrak wali thand ke liye.” Lubna sofa ke kinare par baith gayi, uski peeli abaya ke neeche ka hissa geela tha, usne darwaze par apne jootiyan politely utaar di. Waqiya aage badha, dono ek dusre ko jaanne ki lambi shuruaat hui jab woh ek dented ketli mein paani ubaal raha tha. 

Rakesh ek bhap wali chai ka cup le kar wapas aaya aur usko dheere se dete hue sir hilaaya. “Le. Pi le. Mera naam Rakesh Khan hai waise – ab asli parichay. Bank wali bheed mein toh aisa nahi hua tha. Paanch saal se vidhwa hoon. Zindagi akeli hai, lekin sambhal leta hoon.” Woh uske saamne sofa par baith gaya, uska sakht chehra roshni mein naram pad gaya tha, zakhm ab itna darawana nahi lag raha tha. 





Lubna dheere dheere pi rahi thi, uski sharm uske jawabon ko shuruaat mein bahut kam kar rahi thi. “Lubna… gharwali. Mera pati Mounir rikshe chalata hai. Mere ek chhota beta hai Amir.” Lekin Rakesh kahaniyaan sunane mein maahir tha. Usne usko sach mein hasa diya – pichhle hafte bazaar mein bhagi bakri ko pakadne ki mazedaar kahani sunate hue, uski gehri bhari awaaz bakri ki bhe-bhe ki nakal kar rahi thi aur dukaandaaron ke gaaliyan. 

“Bakri seedhe phal ke thele mein kood gayi – aam har taraf! Main ek par phisal gaya aur kiichad mein gir pada bewakoof ki tarah.” Lubna ne apna muh dupatte se dhak liya, uske honthon se halki si khilkhilahat nikal gayi apne aap, tension dheere dheere kam ho rahi thi. 

Unki baat aur badhi – ilaake ke badalte tareekon ke baare mein, chawal ke daam, uski masjid mein chupke se ki jaane wali ,,.,, uski marhoom biwi ke pasandida khane. “Tu bahut achhi aurat lagti hai Lubna. Aaj kal aisi kam hi milti hain,” usne uska cup phir se bharte hue kaha. “Zyadatar auratein bina ek shabd bole guzar jaati hain.” 

Jaise jaise minute ghante mein badalte gaye, barish abhi bhi chhat par zor se pad rahi thi, Lubna ne doosra cup pi liya. Chai meethi aur masaledaar thi, lekin jaldi hi ek ajeeb chakkar aane laga. Uska sir halka lag raha tha, kamra thoda jhuk raha tha, rang kinaron par dhundhle pad rahe the. 





Usne cup neeche rakha aur dheere dheere palak jhapkaati hui boli. “Kya… chai mein kya hai? Iska swaad… alag hai. Mujhe chakkar aa raha hai.” Uski awaaz ladkhada rahi thi, uski hiran jaisi bhuri aankhein burqe ke kinare se uljhan se phail rahi thi. 

Rakesh uske aur kareeb jhuk gaya, uska goonda jaisa shareer saya daal raha tha, lekin awaaz sukoon bhari thi. “Sirf adrak aur thodi si garam karne wali cheez – mera khaas mishran. Thand mein faayda karta hai. Aaram kar begum. Barish abhi rukne wali nahi hai.” Usne haath badhaya, uska bada haath dheere se uski baah ko chhua, aur us dhundhlepan mein baat aur gehri ho gayi. Hansi wapas aa gayi jab usne ek aur kahani sunayi, lekin chakkar badhta gaya, usko ek dhundh mein kheenchta hua jahaan seemayein dhundhli pad rahi thi. 

Ab usi toofani dopahar mein jo baat hui thi, jo Lubna apne dhundhle dimaag mein nahi jaan paa rahi thi: uska chhota beta Amir ne homework jaldi khatam kar liya tha aur socha ki bazaar mein mummy ko chhata lekar surprise de de, jo usne pados wali aunty se maanga tha. 

Usne door se bus stop par mummy ko akeli barish mein khade dekha tha, aur phir chaunk kar dekha jab woh lamba sakht aadmi safed baalon wala uske paas aaya. Amir jaanta tha ki anjaan logon par vishwas nahi karna chahiye – papa hamesha kehte the – lekin jab us aadmi ne mummy ko apne ghar ki taraf le jaaya toh woh peeche peeche paidal chala, uske chhote pair paani ke dhabbon mein chapchap karte hue, thelon aur pedon ke peeche chhupte hue tab tak jab tak woh bargad ke pedon ke peeche us kachche makaan tak nahi pahunch gaye. Darwaza jaldi mein thoda khula chhod diya gaya tha, toofan uske halke kadmon ki awaaz chhupa raha tha. 

Amir andar chupke se ghus gaya, dil zor se dhadak raha tha, aur chhoti si gali se aage wale kamre mein jhaanka. Wahan ek bulb ki roshni mein usne apni mummy ko – apni sharmili aur seedhi sadhi mummy ko – sofa par us anjaan aadmi ke bilkul kareeb baithi dekha. Rakesh usko phir se hasa raha tha, uski bhari awaaz dheemi thi jab woh ek aur kahani sunaa raha tha rikshe ke kharab repair ki jo engine ke hisson ke udne par khatam hui thi. 

Lubna ki halki khilkhilahat kamre mein goonj rahi thi, uske gaal chai aur garamah se laal ho rahe the. Phir us dhundhle chakkar mein woh thoda sa aage jhuki aur Rakesh ka haath – woh sakht ungliyaan – upar badha. Dheere dheere jaan bujh kar usne uske burqe ke kinare ko chhua, kaala kapda uske haath ke neeche naram tha. “Yahan chhupne ki zaroorat nahi begum. Ek pal ke liye mujhe asli tu dikhade,” 

usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha, uska sakht chehra uske chehre se sirf kuch inch door, zakhm saaf dikhai de raha tha, safed baal bigde hue. Usne burqa aadha utaar diya, kapde ko peeche ki taraf mod kar uske kaale ghungraale baalon ki laton ko bahar aane diya, uski zaitoon jaisi chamdi wali maatha aur gardan roshni mein chamak rahi thi. Lubna ki aankhein aadhi band thi, chakkar aur bevirodh, uske honthon se halki si saans nikal gayi. 

Aur phir yeh hua – chumma. Rakesh ne uska chehra dheere se apne haathon mein liya, uski moochhen uske bhare honthon ko chhoote hue woh jhuka, pehle sparsh naram tha, phir gehra ho gaya. Lubna ka haath uske chaude kandhe par tha, dhakel nahi raha tha, chai ka asar uske vicharon ko uljha aur garam kar raha tha. 

Amir andhere mein paththar ki tarah khada reh gaya, uske chhote muhthe kas gaye, samajh nahi aa raha tha – uski mummy, jo din mein paanch baar ,,., padhti thi, jo apne aap ko itni careful dhakti thi, ab is anjaan aadmi ko – goonde jaisa chehra aur safed baal wale – chumma de rahi thi. Aadha utara hua burqa ek kandhe par latak raha tha, ek nishaan tha ki sab kuch bigad raha tha. 








Ladka chupke se peeche hat gaya, bahar toofan utna hi tez tha jitna ab uske chhote dil ke andar toot raha tha. Woh barish mein ghar ki taraf bhaga, woh tasveer uske dimaag mein daag ki tarah jal rahi thi, ghar ka darwaza uske peeche band hua aur woh dono us pal mein khoe hue the, is baat ka unhe pata bhi nahi chala. 

Barish chhat par lagatar padti rahi, chai ka chakkar Lubna ko apni girft mein liye hue tha, shuruaati parichay aur hansiyan ab door ki goonj ban chuki thi jo is mana kiye gaye kareebipan tak le aayi thi. 

Rakesh thoda sa peeche hata, uski awaaz gehri garaj ki tarah thi. “Dekha? Itna bura bhi nahi hai. Tu mere saath yahan surakshit hai.” Lubna ne palak jhapkaai, ghar aur Amir ke baare mein kuch asafal shabd bole, lekin duniya uske gird dheere se ghum rahi thi, woh lambi dopahar shaam mein badal rahi thi jise woh baad mein poori tarah yaad nahi kar paayegi.