Raaz...the_vampire
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Chapter 14 : The Extra-Marital Affair
Zindagi mein kaafi kuchhh tezi ke saath badal raha tha. Kuchh bhi pehle jaisa nahi reh gaya tha aur mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke iski vajah kya thi. Mera aur Renuka ka rishta bikhar raha tha aur ye baat shayad ham dono ki hi samajh mein aa gyai thi. Hasna toh main shayad bhool hi gaya tha aur Renuka akeli nahi thi jise ye baat khal rahi thi. Rishtedaar aur mere saare dost aksar mujhse puchhte rehte ke main itna pareshan kyun rehta hoon, khoya khoya sa kyun rehta hoon par main kisi se bhi khulkar baat nahi kar saka.
Vo aksar mujhse puchha karti ke main usse itna khincha khincha sa kyun rehne laga hoon, kyun uske kareeb nahi aata, kyun usse do bol pyaar ke nahi bolta, kyun kabhi usse haskar baat nahi karta. Kayi baar mere dil mein aayi ke use bata doon ke in sab baaton ki vajah uski apni bewafai hai. Kayi baar socha ke usse baat hi kar loon, puchh hi loon ke kyun kiya usne aisa par phir har baar baat zubaan tak aate aate ruk jaati thi. Ek vajah toh sirf yahi thi ke main bina kisi pukhta saboot ke uspar anguli uthana nahi chahta tha aur phir doosri vajah uski pregnancy thi. Main nahi chahta tha ke uski is halat mein main aisi koi bhi baat uthaaon jisse koi bakheda khada ho. Agar mera shak sirf shak hi saabit hua toh use bahut bada dhakka lagega, sadma pahunchega aur iska asar uske pet mein pal rahe bachche par ho sakta tha. Uske baad zaahir tha ke ham dono ka rishta badal jata aur is waqt jabke ham dono maan baap banne wale the, sirf ek shak ki bina par itna bada khatra mol lena theek nahi tha.
Aur use kuchh na kehne ki ek teesri vajah mera apna darr bhi tha. Mujhe pata hi nahi tha ke agar mera shak sahi saabit hua toh main kya karunga? Renuka chori pakde jaane par kaise react karegi? Kya vo mujhse maafi maangegi ya mujhe chhodkar chali jaayegi kisi aur ke paas?
Agar maafi maangi toh kya maaf kar paoonga main use aur agar kar bhi diya toh kya zindagi bhar ke liye phir dobara bharosa kar paoonga uspar?
Aur agar vo mujhe chhodkar chali gayi toh phir bachche ka kya? Divorce ka jhanjhat, bachche ki custody ki pareshani?
Mere khud ke paas hi abhi tak jawab nahi the ke kis situation mein kaise react karunga? Agar usse baat kar li aur mera shak mehaz shak nikla toh kaise sambhalunga phir situation? Kaise munh dikhaoonga zindagi bhar Renuka ko uspar bewafai ka ilzaam lagane ke baad? Vo bhi tab jabki vo pregnant thi.
Idhar main in sab sawalon ke jawab dhoondhne ki koshish kar raha tha aur udhar Renuka bhi kuchh khoyi khoyi si rehne lagi thi. Vo ab bhi mujhe puchhti rehti ke kyun badal sa gaya hoon main. Mahine yun hi uljhan mein guzarte gaye aur uski due date nazdeek aane lagi.
In sab mahino mein vo ghar par hi rahi aur ghar se bahar kadam meri maan ke saath hi rakhti. Maine bharpoor koshish ki ke kuchh aisa mil sake jisse mera shak sahi saabit ho par kuchh haath nahi aaya. Pata nahi uske khoye rehne ka rawaiyya mera apna behaviour tha tha ya uski pregnancy.
"Aap kar kya rahe ho Bhaijaan?"
Akram se us din milne ke baad main kuchh din baad Renuka ka laptop lekar uske paas pahuncha tha. Maine khud hi jaan bhoojh kar Renuka ke laptop ki screen uski nazar bacha kar tod di thi, is andaaz mein ke use ye lage ke Laptop mere haath se chhut kar gira hai. Phir use repair karane ke bahane main Laptop lekar Akram ke paas pahuncha. Use hidayat di ke screen change kar de aur laptop mein email aur chat tracking spyware install kar de. Laptop uske paas chhod kar main office chala gaya aur shaam ko jab lene pahuncha toh vo ajeeb si nazar se mujhe dekhne laga.
"Kya matlab?" Uska sawal sunkar maine puchha.
"Bachcha nahi hoon main, thodi akal mere andar bhi hai"
"Kya bol raha hai yaar, saaf saaf bol"
"Kuchh din pehle aap mere paas aaye, apne ghar ke phone par recorder install karane ke liye. Aur ab aap mujhe Renuka Bhabhi ke laptop mein spyware daalne ke liye keh rahe ho?"
Main samjh gaya tha ke baat uski samajh mein aa gayi hai par uski sawal ka kya jawab doon ye samajh nahi aaya.
"Kaho toh Bhabhi ke sim-card ka ek clone bhi bana kar de doon? Unke cell par jo bhi call aayegi ya jaayegi vo bhi aap sun sakte ho" Usne taana maarne ke andaaz mein kaha.
"Tu nahi samjhega mere bhai" Maine lambi saans lete hue kaha.
"Mere samajhne ki baat bhi nahi hai ye. Jo kuchh bhi hai aap dono ke beech hai. Galat kaun hai aur sahi kaun iska faisla karne ka mujhe koi haq nahi. Main sirf aapse ye kehna chah raha hoon ke jo bhi karna bahut soch samajh kar karna"
"Janta hoon, aisa hi kuchh karne ki koshish kar raha hoon"
"Aur is waqt jabke aap dono bachcha expect kar rahe ho, aise koi bhi baat na ke sirf aap dono ke zindagiyon par asar daalegi balke us masoom ki zindagi ko bhi kharab kar sakti hai. Vo zindagi jo us masoom ne abhi shuru bhi nahi ki"
"Main janta hoon tu kya keh raha hai yaar. Ye baatein khud mere dimag se guzar chuki hain"
"Hidayat dene ki koshish nahi kar raha hoon, aap khud bhi samajhdaaar ho balki mujhse zyada samajhdaar ho par ek aakhri baat aur kahun?"
"Haan bol"
"Saza dene wale se maaf karne wala bada hota hai Bhaijaan. Allah ne aap dono ko saath milaya, ab ek khoobsurat bachche se nawaz rahe hain. Agar kahin koi galti hui hai is rishte mein toh use thande dimag se sochiyega. Rishte jodna aasan hota hai aur rishta todna use bhi aasan par sabse mushkil kaam hota hai rishta nibhana. Dil itna bada rakhiyega ke maaf kar saken aur pichhli baaton ko bhula saken. Har kadam, har majboori, har haalaat mein Bhabhi ka saath nibhane ki kasam uthayi hai aapne shaadi ke waqt aur ab waqt hai us kasam ko nibhane ka. Kam se kam aap toh apni taraf se poori koshish rakhiyega ke rishta qayam rahe aur mazboot rahe. Achhe haalaat mein toh rishta har koi nibha leta hai par asli imtehaan aise waqt par hota hai"
Woh bahut badi baat bol gaya tha jisse main poori tarah sehmat tha.
Uske baad usne laptop mein jo spyware daala tha vo mujhe dikhaya aur samjhaya. Uske baad maine agle din use apne ghar par aakar landline phone mein recorder install karne ko kaha aur uske office se nikla.
"Ummeed karta hoon ke ye baat ham dono ke beech hi rahegi Akram?" Maine jaate jaate usse kaha.
"Aapko kehne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi Bhaijaan, befikar rahiye"
"Aur sun, ek kaam aur kar"
"Kahiye"
"Vo jo tu Renuka ke numer ka duplicate sim banane ki baat kar raha tha na, bana hi de"
Renuka abhi bhi rozana kuchh ghante ghar se kaam karti thi. Akram ne jo bhi software dala tha vo badi safai se dala gaya tha aur na toh Renuka ko hi koi shak hua aur na hi uske laptop mein installed ANti-virus ki pakad mein vo software aaya. Vo sara din jo bhi email apne outlook se bhejti, uski ek copy mere mailbox mein deliver ho jaati. Iske alawa agar vo webmail ke zariye bhi koi email bhejti toh vo software apne aap mera naam bcc mein add kar deta aur email ki ek copy mere paas pahunch jaati.
Do din baad hi Akram mere ghar aakar landline phone mein ek recorder laga gaya tha. Ghar par sara din jo bhi calls aati vo sab record aati jinhein main der raat akele mein beth kar sun sakta tha.
In sabse hatkar mere kahe anusaar hi usne Renuka ke sim card ka ek clone banaya aur mujhe de diya. Ab uske phone par agar koi call aati toh uske phone ke saath hi us purane se phone ki ghanti bhi bajti jismein ke maine uske sim ka clone dala hua tha. Agar koi message aata toh uski ek copy mere paas bhi deliver hoti.
Par meri ye saari koshishen nakam hi rahi. Main uski ek ek email ko bade gaur se padhta, uske phone par aane wali har call ko sunta, har message dekhta par kahin se mujhe kuchh aisa nahi mila jisse mujhe ye pata chal sake ke vo ladka kaun tha jiske saath uska affair chal raha tha. Raat ko ghar mein sabke so jaane ke baad main roz landline phone mein lage recorder ko nikal kar din bhar ki calls sunta par vo sab aam calls hoti, Renuka ke affair se related kuchh bhi nahi.
Kayi baar jab vo ghar se meri maan ke saath nikalti toh main un dono ka chup chap pichha karta par har baar nakami hi haath lagti. Main in sab kaamon mein itna magan tha ke baaki aur sab kaam ko maine andekha karna shuru kar diya tha. Mere office ke kaam par bhi iska asar saaf dikhai dene laga tha aur mera boss kayi baar mujhe kamre mein betha kar is baat par feedback de chuka tha. Renuka ki jasoosi mein main itna obsessed ho chuka tha ke mujhe is baat ke siwa aur koi hosh nahi tha ke uska affair kiske saath chal raha tha.
Waqt guzarta gaya aur Renuka ki due date nazdeek aa gayi. Kehte hain ke waqt bure se bura zakhm bhar deta hai aur aisa hi kuchh mere saath bhi hua. Itni koshishon ke baad bhi jab kuchh haath nahi laga toh mujhe apne uper hi shak hone laga ke kahin ye sab mera khyaali pulaav toh nahi tha. Kahin aisa toh nahi ke us din Renuka yun hi kisi dost ya colleague ke saath ho aur is baat ko lekar maine bekaar ka bakheda bana diya.
Thoda waqt aur guzra toh mujhe yakeen ho chala ke aisa kuchh bhi nahi tha jaisa ke main soch raha tha. Apne uper hi mujhe sharmindgi hone ke itna chahne wali apni biwi par maine is tarah shak kiya. Vo aurat jiske pet mein mera bachcha tha uske baare mein main kitna galat soch raha tha. Hosh aaya toh main ek baar phir apni normal zindagi mein lautne laga. Renuka ki taraf zyada dhyaan deta aur phir dheere dheere uske kareeb aane laga. Jab tak bachche ki delivery hui tab tak main affair wali baat ko poori tarah bhool chuka tha aur ham dono ek baar phir ek normal couple ki tarah hi ho gaye the.
Mere bete ke paida hone ke 2 mahine baad ki baat hai. Renuka ne office jana shuru kar diya tha aur ghar mein bachche ki dekhbhaal meri maan karti thi. Aise hi ek din zyada kuchh kaam nahi tha toh maine dopahar ka khana Renuka ke saath khane ka programme banaya.
Zindagi mein kaafi kuchhh tezi ke saath badal raha tha. Kuchh bhi pehle jaisa nahi reh gaya tha aur mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke iski vajah kya thi. Mera aur Renuka ka rishta bikhar raha tha aur ye baat shayad ham dono ki hi samajh mein aa gyai thi. Hasna toh main shayad bhool hi gaya tha aur Renuka akeli nahi thi jise ye baat khal rahi thi. Rishtedaar aur mere saare dost aksar mujhse puchhte rehte ke main itna pareshan kyun rehta hoon, khoya khoya sa kyun rehta hoon par main kisi se bhi khulkar baat nahi kar saka.
Vo aksar mujhse puchha karti ke main usse itna khincha khincha sa kyun rehne laga hoon, kyun uske kareeb nahi aata, kyun usse do bol pyaar ke nahi bolta, kyun kabhi usse haskar baat nahi karta. Kayi baar mere dil mein aayi ke use bata doon ke in sab baaton ki vajah uski apni bewafai hai. Kayi baar socha ke usse baat hi kar loon, puchh hi loon ke kyun kiya usne aisa par phir har baar baat zubaan tak aate aate ruk jaati thi. Ek vajah toh sirf yahi thi ke main bina kisi pukhta saboot ke uspar anguli uthana nahi chahta tha aur phir doosri vajah uski pregnancy thi. Main nahi chahta tha ke uski is halat mein main aisi koi bhi baat uthaaon jisse koi bakheda khada ho. Agar mera shak sirf shak hi saabit hua toh use bahut bada dhakka lagega, sadma pahunchega aur iska asar uske pet mein pal rahe bachche par ho sakta tha. Uske baad zaahir tha ke ham dono ka rishta badal jata aur is waqt jabke ham dono maan baap banne wale the, sirf ek shak ki bina par itna bada khatra mol lena theek nahi tha.
Aur use kuchh na kehne ki ek teesri vajah mera apna darr bhi tha. Mujhe pata hi nahi tha ke agar mera shak sahi saabit hua toh main kya karunga? Renuka chori pakde jaane par kaise react karegi? Kya vo mujhse maafi maangegi ya mujhe chhodkar chali jaayegi kisi aur ke paas?
Agar maafi maangi toh kya maaf kar paoonga main use aur agar kar bhi diya toh kya zindagi bhar ke liye phir dobara bharosa kar paoonga uspar?
Aur agar vo mujhe chhodkar chali gayi toh phir bachche ka kya? Divorce ka jhanjhat, bachche ki custody ki pareshani?
Mere khud ke paas hi abhi tak jawab nahi the ke kis situation mein kaise react karunga? Agar usse baat kar li aur mera shak mehaz shak nikla toh kaise sambhalunga phir situation? Kaise munh dikhaoonga zindagi bhar Renuka ko uspar bewafai ka ilzaam lagane ke baad? Vo bhi tab jabki vo pregnant thi.
Idhar main in sab sawalon ke jawab dhoondhne ki koshish kar raha tha aur udhar Renuka bhi kuchh khoyi khoyi si rehne lagi thi. Vo ab bhi mujhe puchhti rehti ke kyun badal sa gaya hoon main. Mahine yun hi uljhan mein guzarte gaye aur uski due date nazdeek aane lagi.
In sab mahino mein vo ghar par hi rahi aur ghar se bahar kadam meri maan ke saath hi rakhti. Maine bharpoor koshish ki ke kuchh aisa mil sake jisse mera shak sahi saabit ho par kuchh haath nahi aaya. Pata nahi uske khoye rehne ka rawaiyya mera apna behaviour tha tha ya uski pregnancy.
"Aap kar kya rahe ho Bhaijaan?"
Akram se us din milne ke baad main kuchh din baad Renuka ka laptop lekar uske paas pahuncha tha. Maine khud hi jaan bhoojh kar Renuka ke laptop ki screen uski nazar bacha kar tod di thi, is andaaz mein ke use ye lage ke Laptop mere haath se chhut kar gira hai. Phir use repair karane ke bahane main Laptop lekar Akram ke paas pahuncha. Use hidayat di ke screen change kar de aur laptop mein email aur chat tracking spyware install kar de. Laptop uske paas chhod kar main office chala gaya aur shaam ko jab lene pahuncha toh vo ajeeb si nazar se mujhe dekhne laga.
"Kya matlab?" Uska sawal sunkar maine puchha.
"Bachcha nahi hoon main, thodi akal mere andar bhi hai"
"Kya bol raha hai yaar, saaf saaf bol"
"Kuchh din pehle aap mere paas aaye, apne ghar ke phone par recorder install karane ke liye. Aur ab aap mujhe Renuka Bhabhi ke laptop mein spyware daalne ke liye keh rahe ho?"
Main samjh gaya tha ke baat uski samajh mein aa gayi hai par uski sawal ka kya jawab doon ye samajh nahi aaya.
"Kaho toh Bhabhi ke sim-card ka ek clone bhi bana kar de doon? Unke cell par jo bhi call aayegi ya jaayegi vo bhi aap sun sakte ho" Usne taana maarne ke andaaz mein kaha.
"Tu nahi samjhega mere bhai" Maine lambi saans lete hue kaha.
"Mere samajhne ki baat bhi nahi hai ye. Jo kuchh bhi hai aap dono ke beech hai. Galat kaun hai aur sahi kaun iska faisla karne ka mujhe koi haq nahi. Main sirf aapse ye kehna chah raha hoon ke jo bhi karna bahut soch samajh kar karna"
"Janta hoon, aisa hi kuchh karne ki koshish kar raha hoon"
"Aur is waqt jabke aap dono bachcha expect kar rahe ho, aise koi bhi baat na ke sirf aap dono ke zindagiyon par asar daalegi balke us masoom ki zindagi ko bhi kharab kar sakti hai. Vo zindagi jo us masoom ne abhi shuru bhi nahi ki"
"Main janta hoon tu kya keh raha hai yaar. Ye baatein khud mere dimag se guzar chuki hain"
"Hidayat dene ki koshish nahi kar raha hoon, aap khud bhi samajhdaaar ho balki mujhse zyada samajhdaar ho par ek aakhri baat aur kahun?"
"Haan bol"
"Saza dene wale se maaf karne wala bada hota hai Bhaijaan. Allah ne aap dono ko saath milaya, ab ek khoobsurat bachche se nawaz rahe hain. Agar kahin koi galti hui hai is rishte mein toh use thande dimag se sochiyega. Rishte jodna aasan hota hai aur rishta todna use bhi aasan par sabse mushkil kaam hota hai rishta nibhana. Dil itna bada rakhiyega ke maaf kar saken aur pichhli baaton ko bhula saken. Har kadam, har majboori, har haalaat mein Bhabhi ka saath nibhane ki kasam uthayi hai aapne shaadi ke waqt aur ab waqt hai us kasam ko nibhane ka. Kam se kam aap toh apni taraf se poori koshish rakhiyega ke rishta qayam rahe aur mazboot rahe. Achhe haalaat mein toh rishta har koi nibha leta hai par asli imtehaan aise waqt par hota hai"
Woh bahut badi baat bol gaya tha jisse main poori tarah sehmat tha.
Uske baad usne laptop mein jo spyware daala tha vo mujhe dikhaya aur samjhaya. Uske baad maine agle din use apne ghar par aakar landline phone mein recorder install karne ko kaha aur uske office se nikla.
"Ummeed karta hoon ke ye baat ham dono ke beech hi rahegi Akram?" Maine jaate jaate usse kaha.
"Aapko kehne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi Bhaijaan, befikar rahiye"
"Aur sun, ek kaam aur kar"
"Kahiye"
"Vo jo tu Renuka ke numer ka duplicate sim banane ki baat kar raha tha na, bana hi de"
Renuka abhi bhi rozana kuchh ghante ghar se kaam karti thi. Akram ne jo bhi software dala tha vo badi safai se dala gaya tha aur na toh Renuka ko hi koi shak hua aur na hi uske laptop mein installed ANti-virus ki pakad mein vo software aaya. Vo sara din jo bhi email apne outlook se bhejti, uski ek copy mere mailbox mein deliver ho jaati. Iske alawa agar vo webmail ke zariye bhi koi email bhejti toh vo software apne aap mera naam bcc mein add kar deta aur email ki ek copy mere paas pahunch jaati.
Do din baad hi Akram mere ghar aakar landline phone mein ek recorder laga gaya tha. Ghar par sara din jo bhi calls aati vo sab record aati jinhein main der raat akele mein beth kar sun sakta tha.
In sabse hatkar mere kahe anusaar hi usne Renuka ke sim card ka ek clone banaya aur mujhe de diya. Ab uske phone par agar koi call aati toh uske phone ke saath hi us purane se phone ki ghanti bhi bajti jismein ke maine uske sim ka clone dala hua tha. Agar koi message aata toh uski ek copy mere paas bhi deliver hoti.
Par meri ye saari koshishen nakam hi rahi. Main uski ek ek email ko bade gaur se padhta, uske phone par aane wali har call ko sunta, har message dekhta par kahin se mujhe kuchh aisa nahi mila jisse mujhe ye pata chal sake ke vo ladka kaun tha jiske saath uska affair chal raha tha. Raat ko ghar mein sabke so jaane ke baad main roz landline phone mein lage recorder ko nikal kar din bhar ki calls sunta par vo sab aam calls hoti, Renuka ke affair se related kuchh bhi nahi.
Kayi baar jab vo ghar se meri maan ke saath nikalti toh main un dono ka chup chap pichha karta par har baar nakami hi haath lagti. Main in sab kaamon mein itna magan tha ke baaki aur sab kaam ko maine andekha karna shuru kar diya tha. Mere office ke kaam par bhi iska asar saaf dikhai dene laga tha aur mera boss kayi baar mujhe kamre mein betha kar is baat par feedback de chuka tha. Renuka ki jasoosi mein main itna obsessed ho chuka tha ke mujhe is baat ke siwa aur koi hosh nahi tha ke uska affair kiske saath chal raha tha.
Waqt guzarta gaya aur Renuka ki due date nazdeek aa gayi. Kehte hain ke waqt bure se bura zakhm bhar deta hai aur aisa hi kuchh mere saath bhi hua. Itni koshishon ke baad bhi jab kuchh haath nahi laga toh mujhe apne uper hi shak hone laga ke kahin ye sab mera khyaali pulaav toh nahi tha. Kahin aisa toh nahi ke us din Renuka yun hi kisi dost ya colleague ke saath ho aur is baat ko lekar maine bekaar ka bakheda bana diya.
Thoda waqt aur guzra toh mujhe yakeen ho chala ke aisa kuchh bhi nahi tha jaisa ke main soch raha tha. Apne uper hi mujhe sharmindgi hone ke itna chahne wali apni biwi par maine is tarah shak kiya. Vo aurat jiske pet mein mera bachcha tha uske baare mein main kitna galat soch raha tha. Hosh aaya toh main ek baar phir apni normal zindagi mein lautne laga. Renuka ki taraf zyada dhyaan deta aur phir dheere dheere uske kareeb aane laga. Jab tak bachche ki delivery hui tab tak main affair wali baat ko poori tarah bhool chuka tha aur ham dono ek baar phir ek normal couple ki tarah hi ho gaye the.
Mere bete ke paida hone ke 2 mahine baad ki baat hai. Renuka ne office jana shuru kar diya tha aur ghar mein bachche ki dekhbhaal meri maan karti thi. Aise hi ek din zyada kuchh kaam nahi tha toh maine dopahar ka khana Renuka ke saath khane ka programme banaya.
Aisi koshish main aksar ab karne laga tha. Zyada se zyada waqt Renuka aur apne bete ke saath bitane ki koshish karta. Renuka ko aksar bahar le jata aur in sab baaton ki vajah mere apne dil mein chuupa chor tha. Main jaise apne andar hi andar koshish kar raha tha ke Renuka par shak karne ke apni galti ke liye khud ko maaf kar sakun. Jaisa bhi bartav maine Renuka ke saath un dino kiya tha use theek kar sakun.
Cheezen dheere dheere phir se theek ho rahi thi aur meri shaadi shuda zindagi ek baar phir khush-haal hone lagi thi. Renuka ne bhi mere andar aaye is badlaav ko mehsoos kar rahi thi aur phir se khush rehne lag gayi thi.
"Finally i have my husband back" Vo aksar kehti, "Kya ho gaya tha itne din se?"
"Kuchh nahi" Main sirf itna kehkar muskura deta.
Maine Renuka ka cell try kiya toh vo switched off mila. Use surprise dene ke liye maine raaste se kuchh phool kharide aur dopahar ke waqt uske office ja pahuncha. Reception par bethi ladki mujhe shakal se pehchanti thi.
"Phool laaye vo toh theek hai par galat jagah le aaye" Jab maine Renuka ke baare mein puchha toh usne haste hue jawab diya.
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab ye ke aapko ye phool apne ghar le jaane chahiye the, aaj shayad aapki biwi ko inki zaroorat bhi hai"
"Main samjha nahi"
"Renuka Madam aaj jaldi ghar chali gayi, unki tabiat theek nahi thi toh office aane ke thodi der baad hi vo nikal gayi thi"
"Tabiat theek nahi thi? Kya ho gaya tha, anything serious?"
"I dont know really, vo kuchh sar mein dard hai bolkar chali gayi thi" Usne kandhe uchkate hue jawab diya.
Jabse main Renuka ko janta tha kabhi aisa hua nahi tha. Unless kuchh bahut hi badi baat ho, vo kaam chhod kar kabhi ghar nahi jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke agar vo is tarah chhoti chhoti baat par chhutti lene lagi toh uske neeche kaam karne wale log bhi uski dekha dekhi aisa hi karne lagenge aur phir vo chah kar bhi unhein mana nahi kar sakegi.
Ye baat soch kar main ghabra utha aur fauran phone nikal kar phir Renuka ka number milaya. Cell ab bhi switched off tha. Maine phool pichhli seat par rakhe aur tezi se gaadi chalata hua ghar pahuncha.
Ghar pahuncha toh maan tab ghar par nahi thi. Vo shayad mere bete ke saath kahin bahar gayi hui thi. Renuka bedroom mein leti bekhabar so rahi thi.
"Hey are you ok? What happened?" Main uske kareeb bed par jakar betha aur uske baalon mein haath phirta hua bola.
Uski neend khuli aur apne saamne mujhe dekh kar vo chaunk si padi.
"Hi" Mera haath apne haath mein leti hui vo boli, "What are you doing home this time?"
"Tumhare office gaya tha, i though we will have lunch together but vahan se pata chala ke tumhari tabiat theek nahi aur tum ghar aa gayi. Everything ok?"
"Yeah everything is fine" Vo uthkar beth gayi, "Aise hi zara theek sa nahi lag raha tha, sar mein dard ho raha tha kaafi"
"Do you want to go to a doctor?"
"Nahi aisa kuchh nahi hai. Delivery ke baad se hi aksar aisa hota hai, kabhi kabhi jee bada kachcha sa hone lagta hai aur kuchh karne ka dil nahi karta. I feel like throwing up"
"I think we should consult a doctor if it has happened more than once"
"Dont worry about it, i will talk to him when we visit him next. Tumne kuchh khaya?"
"Nahi office se sidha yahin aa gaya tha"
"Abhi office jana hai vaapis?"
"Nahi ab nahi jaoonga, ab mera bhi mood nahi hai vaapis kaam par jaane ka"
"Let me fix you something to eat"
"Arrey nahi, tum aaram karo. Bahar se order kar lete hain kuchh"
"Nahi, tum change kar lo. Main kuchh bana leti hoon" Kehkar vo bed se uthi aur kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
Maine apne kapde change kiye aur bathroom mein jakar haath munh dhoya. Bedroom mein bethe hue maine apne joote vahin bed ke paas hi utaar diye the. Bathroom se nikal kar maine joote lene ke liye bed ke kareeb aaya taaki unhein stand par le jakar rakh sakun. Jaise hi main unhein uthane ke liye jhuka, meri nazar bed ke neeche ek laal rang ki cheez par padi. Maine haath badha kar vo cheez uthayi aur ulat palat kar dekha.
Ek pal ke liye toh samajh nahi aaya ke vo kya hai aur jab aaya toh gusse ke maare mera khoon khaul pada. Vo ek condom ka aadha phata wrapper tha.
Jabse maine Renuka aur us ladke ko hotel ke bahar dekha tha tabse meri aur Renuka ki sex life bahut kam ho gayi thi aur uske pregnant hone ke baad toh maine kabhi uske kareeb gaya hi nahi tha. Delivery ke baad jab cheezen kuchh theek lagne lagi thi toh maine do teen baar raat ko uske nazdeek hone ki koshish ki par usne mana kar diya ye kehkar ke delivery ke baad vo thoda waqt chahti hai. Maine uski marzi ko izzat di aur use kabhi force nahi kiya.
Doosri baat ye ke main jis company ka condom use karta tha ye uska wrapper nahi tha. Jab bhi main aur Renuka saath the, maine hamesha aur hamesha sirf ek hi company ka condom use kiya tha aur vo ye nahi tha. Maine zindagi mein kabhi ye condom nahi kharida tha, aur haal filhal toh bilkul nahi.
Ek pal ke liye main bas khamosh khada us wrapper ki taraf dekhta raha. Phir maine aage badhkar room mein rakhe dustbin ka dhakkan khola toh vo khaali tha. Hamare yahan maid hamesha shaak ke waqt aati thi aur us waqt sab kamron ke dustbins khaali karti thi. Subah jab main office ke liye nikla tha tab mujhe achhi tarah yaad tha ke maine usmein kuchh purane papers phaad kar daale the. Maid abhi tak uske baad aayi nahi thi aur uske bavajood dustbin khaali tha. Maid kal shaam aayi thi aur vo hamesha poora ghar achhe se saaf karti thi, bed ke neeche bhi toh is baat ka sawal hi paida nahi hota ke ye wrapper kuchh din se yahan pada ho. Mujhe aur Renuka ko saath hue kayi mahine beet chuke the. Maine is company ka condom use kiya hi nahi tha aur agar kiya bhi tha toh ye mumkin nahi tha ke ye yahan itne mahino se pada ho.
Bimari ka bahana, Renuka ghar par akeli, Mobile switched off, dopahar ke waqt is tarah sukoon se bekhabar neend, bed ke neeche condom ka aadha phata wrapper, khaali dustbin aur mujhe ghar par dekh kar yun chaunkna. Mere dimag ne fauran 2 aur 2 jod kar chaar kar liye. Vo dopahar ke waqt yahan ghar par kya kar rahi thi ye samajh paane ke liye koi bada dimag lagane ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kya karun. Vo kitchem mein khadi khana bana rahi thi aur mera dil kar raha tha ke uske baal pakad kar ghaseet-ta hua ghar ke bahar dhakka de kar aaoon. Meri biwi, meri apni biwi jise main jaan se zyada chahta tha vo mere peeth pichhe mere hi ghar mein, mere hi bedroom mein, mere hi bistar par is tarah mere pyaar ka gala ghont rahi thi. Had darja gussa hone ke bavajood bhi meri aankh se ek aansoo nikal kar mere gaal par ludhak gaya. Aakhir kahan kami reh gayi thi mujhse. Main kareeb aata toh bachche ki delivery ka bahana hota aur yahan hamare bedroom mein kisi gair mard ko bula kar ayyashi.
"Roti khaoge ya paranthe banaoon?" Kitchen se Renuka ki aawaz aayi toh mera dhyaan toota.
"Jo tum theek samjho" Main sirf itna hi keh saka aur apne gaal se aansoo ponchh diya.
Us incident ke baad ek baar phir vahi kissa shuru ho gaya jo kuchh din pehle chal raha tha. Mere aur Renuka ke beech phir ek doori si ban gayi. Main phir har waqt bas uski jasoosi mein laga rehta par kisi bhi tarah ye pata nahi chal raha tha ke vo ladka aakhir hai kaun aur na hi kabhi main use range haath pakad paya. Kuchh incidents uske baad aam ho gaye jaise aksar mujhe uska mobile phone switched off milta. Main uske office phone karta toh mujhe bataya jata ke madam is waqt kahin bahar gayi hain.
Raat ko kabhi kabhi neend mein mujhe aisa mehsoos hota ke vo kisi se halki aawaz mein baat kar rahi hai. Main uske sim ka jo clone mere paas tha us phone ko check kiya magar koi call nahi mili. Ek jankar ke zariye maine uske phone records nikalvaye par sab numbers meri jaan pehchan ke log the, zyadatar rishtedaar aur ladkiyan. Kuchh calls uske apne maan baap ko hoti thi, kuchh doston ko aur kuchh meri doston ko jaise ke Kamini par zyadatar sab ladkiyan hi thi aur jo ladke the unke saath uska kisi bhi tarah ka affair hone ka sawal hi paida nahi hota tha.
Is baat ne mujhe ye sochne par majboor kar diya ke ho na ho, uske paas ek doosra phone aur hai jiska mujhe pata nahi aur jiska istemaal vo apni ayyashi ke liye kar rahi hai mujhse chhupa kar. Maine poora ghar chhan maara, Renuka ka saman idhar udhar kar dala par vo phone bhi mujhe mila nahi.
Jahan ek taraf mujhe apni shaadi barbad hone ka gham khaaye ja raha tha vahan doorsri taraf jab bhi maine apne bete ki taraf dekhta toh dil mein sawal ye uthta ke kya sach ye bachcha mera hai ya Renuka ki ayyashi ka nateeja hai? Kya ye mera apna khoon hai ya kisi aur ka paap hai jise main apna naam dekar paal pos raha hoon. Ye sab sochte sochte main itna pagal ho chuka ke us masoom ke chehre mein ye talash karne laga ke uski shakal mujhse milti hai ya kisi aur se? Koi aisa jise main janta hoon aur shayad is tarah mujhe pata chal jaaye ke uska baap kaun hai?
Renuka ne bhi phir se mehsoos kar liya tha ke main usse door hota ja raha hoon. Shuru shuru mein toh vo mujhse puchhti rehti ke main is tarah behave kyun kar raha hoon par phir dheere dheere usne bhi puchhna band kar diya. Ham dono ke beech ek anjaan si deewar khadi ho gayi thi. Kabhi kabhi din beet jaate the ham dono ko ek doosre se baat kiye hue aur jo baat ham karte vo mere maan baap ke chalte bas naam bhar ke liye karte.
"Koi aur pasand aa gayi hai kya? Kya koi doosri aurat hai tumhari zindagi mein jiski vajah se mujhse door door rehte ho?"
Vo aksar mujhse ye sawal karti par mujhe hamesha uska puchhne ka andaaz aisa hi lagta jaise vo mujh par shak nahi balki khud apni bewafai ko justify karne ki koshish kar rahi ho. Jaise khud apne aapko vo dilasa de rahi ho ke kyunki uska pati bhi kisi aur ke saaath so raha hai toh uska bhi aisa karna jaayaz hai.
"Isse pehle ke main aapko results bataoon, agar aap bura na maanein toh kya main ek baat puchh sakti hoon?" Mere saamne bethi Doctor ne mujhse puchha.
"Puchhiye"
"Is test ke karane ki vajah?"
"I think iski vajah saaf hai. Main na bhi jawab doon toh aap jaanti hain ke main ye test kyun kara raha hoon"
"Sahi keh rahe hain aap. Main jaanti hoon par mera sawal asal mein ye tha ke is shak ki vajah?"
"Vo meri personnal life hai, hai mere paas kuchh vajah varna aisa shak apne aap hi kisi ko nahi ho jata" Maine jawab diya.
Kuchh din pehle mere bete Vikram ko bukhar aaya tha jiski vajah se Dr. ne uske blood tests kiye the. Doctor meri pehchan ka tha isliye Vikram ka ek blood sample main usse lekar Delhi se door ek Jaipur ke hospital mein aaya jahan main ye test kara sakta tha ke bachche ka baap main hoon ya nahi. Jaipur mein aane ki vajah sirf yahi thi ke main ye test ek anjaan shehar mein karana chahta tha jahan mujhe koi nahi janta.
"I am sorry, you are right par phir bhi main kehna chahungi ke is tarah ke shak married life kharab kar dete hain. Ab aap dono akela nahi, ek nanhi si jaan bhi aapke saath judi hui aur aap aur aapki biwi jo bhi karenge, uska sidha asar aapke bete par padega"
"I know" Maine sapat se lehze mein jawab diya, "Can i know the results now please?"
"Sure" Vo ek file meri taraf sarkati hui boli, "Bachcha aapka apna hai"
Mujhe samajh nahi aaya ke ye khabar sun kar main khush hua ya udaas. Samajh nahi aaya ke main asal mein sunna kya chahta tha? Ye ke bachcha mera hai ya ye ke bachcha kisi aur ka hai? Jahan ek taraf maine Vikram ke apna hi khoon hone par tasalli ki saans li vahin doosri taraf afsos bhi hua kyunki Renuka par anguli uthane ka ye mauka mere haath se nikal gaya tha.
Aur uske kuchh baad mujhe phir uski bewafai ka saboot apne ghar mein mila. Uske kapdo ke beech chhupaya hua ek condom ka packet jo usi company ka tha jiska phata hua wrapper kuchh din pehle bed ke neeche pada mila tha.
Hairat ki baat ye thi ke iske baad bhi main Renuka ko kuchh keh na saka. Pehle jahan is baat ka darr tha ke agar mera shak galat nikla toh kya hoga vahin ab mere masoom bachche ka chehra mujhe kuchh bhi karne se rok leta tha. Main faisla hi nahi kar pa raha tha ke Renuka se alag ho jaoon ya phir apne bete ki khatir ek bewafa aurat ke saath zindagi bitana shuru kar doon?
Cheezen dheere dheere phir se theek ho rahi thi aur meri shaadi shuda zindagi ek baar phir khush-haal hone lagi thi. Renuka ne bhi mere andar aaye is badlaav ko mehsoos kar rahi thi aur phir se khush rehne lag gayi thi.
"Finally i have my husband back" Vo aksar kehti, "Kya ho gaya tha itne din se?"
"Kuchh nahi" Main sirf itna kehkar muskura deta.
Maine Renuka ka cell try kiya toh vo switched off mila. Use surprise dene ke liye maine raaste se kuchh phool kharide aur dopahar ke waqt uske office ja pahuncha. Reception par bethi ladki mujhe shakal se pehchanti thi.
"Phool laaye vo toh theek hai par galat jagah le aaye" Jab maine Renuka ke baare mein puchha toh usne haste hue jawab diya.
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab ye ke aapko ye phool apne ghar le jaane chahiye the, aaj shayad aapki biwi ko inki zaroorat bhi hai"
"Main samjha nahi"
"Renuka Madam aaj jaldi ghar chali gayi, unki tabiat theek nahi thi toh office aane ke thodi der baad hi vo nikal gayi thi"
"Tabiat theek nahi thi? Kya ho gaya tha, anything serious?"
"I dont know really, vo kuchh sar mein dard hai bolkar chali gayi thi" Usne kandhe uchkate hue jawab diya.
Jabse main Renuka ko janta tha kabhi aisa hua nahi tha. Unless kuchh bahut hi badi baat ho, vo kaam chhod kar kabhi ghar nahi jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke agar vo is tarah chhoti chhoti baat par chhutti lene lagi toh uske neeche kaam karne wale log bhi uski dekha dekhi aisa hi karne lagenge aur phir vo chah kar bhi unhein mana nahi kar sakegi.
Ye baat soch kar main ghabra utha aur fauran phone nikal kar phir Renuka ka number milaya. Cell ab bhi switched off tha. Maine phool pichhli seat par rakhe aur tezi se gaadi chalata hua ghar pahuncha.
Ghar pahuncha toh maan tab ghar par nahi thi. Vo shayad mere bete ke saath kahin bahar gayi hui thi. Renuka bedroom mein leti bekhabar so rahi thi.
"Hey are you ok? What happened?" Main uske kareeb bed par jakar betha aur uske baalon mein haath phirta hua bola.
Uski neend khuli aur apne saamne mujhe dekh kar vo chaunk si padi.
"Hi" Mera haath apne haath mein leti hui vo boli, "What are you doing home this time?"
"Tumhare office gaya tha, i though we will have lunch together but vahan se pata chala ke tumhari tabiat theek nahi aur tum ghar aa gayi. Everything ok?"
"Yeah everything is fine" Vo uthkar beth gayi, "Aise hi zara theek sa nahi lag raha tha, sar mein dard ho raha tha kaafi"
"Do you want to go to a doctor?"
"Nahi aisa kuchh nahi hai. Delivery ke baad se hi aksar aisa hota hai, kabhi kabhi jee bada kachcha sa hone lagta hai aur kuchh karne ka dil nahi karta. I feel like throwing up"
"I think we should consult a doctor if it has happened more than once"
"Dont worry about it, i will talk to him when we visit him next. Tumne kuchh khaya?"
"Nahi office se sidha yahin aa gaya tha"
"Abhi office jana hai vaapis?"
"Nahi ab nahi jaoonga, ab mera bhi mood nahi hai vaapis kaam par jaane ka"
"Let me fix you something to eat"
"Arrey nahi, tum aaram karo. Bahar se order kar lete hain kuchh"
"Nahi, tum change kar lo. Main kuchh bana leti hoon" Kehkar vo bed se uthi aur kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
Maine apne kapde change kiye aur bathroom mein jakar haath munh dhoya. Bedroom mein bethe hue maine apne joote vahin bed ke paas hi utaar diye the. Bathroom se nikal kar maine joote lene ke liye bed ke kareeb aaya taaki unhein stand par le jakar rakh sakun. Jaise hi main unhein uthane ke liye jhuka, meri nazar bed ke neeche ek laal rang ki cheez par padi. Maine haath badha kar vo cheez uthayi aur ulat palat kar dekha.
Ek pal ke liye toh samajh nahi aaya ke vo kya hai aur jab aaya toh gusse ke maare mera khoon khaul pada. Vo ek condom ka aadha phata wrapper tha.
Jabse maine Renuka aur us ladke ko hotel ke bahar dekha tha tabse meri aur Renuka ki sex life bahut kam ho gayi thi aur uske pregnant hone ke baad toh maine kabhi uske kareeb gaya hi nahi tha. Delivery ke baad jab cheezen kuchh theek lagne lagi thi toh maine do teen baar raat ko uske nazdeek hone ki koshish ki par usne mana kar diya ye kehkar ke delivery ke baad vo thoda waqt chahti hai. Maine uski marzi ko izzat di aur use kabhi force nahi kiya.
Doosri baat ye ke main jis company ka condom use karta tha ye uska wrapper nahi tha. Jab bhi main aur Renuka saath the, maine hamesha aur hamesha sirf ek hi company ka condom use kiya tha aur vo ye nahi tha. Maine zindagi mein kabhi ye condom nahi kharida tha, aur haal filhal toh bilkul nahi.
Ek pal ke liye main bas khamosh khada us wrapper ki taraf dekhta raha. Phir maine aage badhkar room mein rakhe dustbin ka dhakkan khola toh vo khaali tha. Hamare yahan maid hamesha shaak ke waqt aati thi aur us waqt sab kamron ke dustbins khaali karti thi. Subah jab main office ke liye nikla tha tab mujhe achhi tarah yaad tha ke maine usmein kuchh purane papers phaad kar daale the. Maid abhi tak uske baad aayi nahi thi aur uske bavajood dustbin khaali tha. Maid kal shaam aayi thi aur vo hamesha poora ghar achhe se saaf karti thi, bed ke neeche bhi toh is baat ka sawal hi paida nahi hota ke ye wrapper kuchh din se yahan pada ho. Mujhe aur Renuka ko saath hue kayi mahine beet chuke the. Maine is company ka condom use kiya hi nahi tha aur agar kiya bhi tha toh ye mumkin nahi tha ke ye yahan itne mahino se pada ho.
Bimari ka bahana, Renuka ghar par akeli, Mobile switched off, dopahar ke waqt is tarah sukoon se bekhabar neend, bed ke neeche condom ka aadha phata wrapper, khaali dustbin aur mujhe ghar par dekh kar yun chaunkna. Mere dimag ne fauran 2 aur 2 jod kar chaar kar liye. Vo dopahar ke waqt yahan ghar par kya kar rahi thi ye samajh paane ke liye koi bada dimag lagane ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kya karun. Vo kitchem mein khadi khana bana rahi thi aur mera dil kar raha tha ke uske baal pakad kar ghaseet-ta hua ghar ke bahar dhakka de kar aaoon. Meri biwi, meri apni biwi jise main jaan se zyada chahta tha vo mere peeth pichhe mere hi ghar mein, mere hi bedroom mein, mere hi bistar par is tarah mere pyaar ka gala ghont rahi thi. Had darja gussa hone ke bavajood bhi meri aankh se ek aansoo nikal kar mere gaal par ludhak gaya. Aakhir kahan kami reh gayi thi mujhse. Main kareeb aata toh bachche ki delivery ka bahana hota aur yahan hamare bedroom mein kisi gair mard ko bula kar ayyashi.
"Roti khaoge ya paranthe banaoon?" Kitchen se Renuka ki aawaz aayi toh mera dhyaan toota.
"Jo tum theek samjho" Main sirf itna hi keh saka aur apne gaal se aansoo ponchh diya.
Us incident ke baad ek baar phir vahi kissa shuru ho gaya jo kuchh din pehle chal raha tha. Mere aur Renuka ke beech phir ek doori si ban gayi. Main phir har waqt bas uski jasoosi mein laga rehta par kisi bhi tarah ye pata nahi chal raha tha ke vo ladka aakhir hai kaun aur na hi kabhi main use range haath pakad paya. Kuchh incidents uske baad aam ho gaye jaise aksar mujhe uska mobile phone switched off milta. Main uske office phone karta toh mujhe bataya jata ke madam is waqt kahin bahar gayi hain.
Raat ko kabhi kabhi neend mein mujhe aisa mehsoos hota ke vo kisi se halki aawaz mein baat kar rahi hai. Main uske sim ka jo clone mere paas tha us phone ko check kiya magar koi call nahi mili. Ek jankar ke zariye maine uske phone records nikalvaye par sab numbers meri jaan pehchan ke log the, zyadatar rishtedaar aur ladkiyan. Kuchh calls uske apne maan baap ko hoti thi, kuchh doston ko aur kuchh meri doston ko jaise ke Kamini par zyadatar sab ladkiyan hi thi aur jo ladke the unke saath uska kisi bhi tarah ka affair hone ka sawal hi paida nahi hota tha.
Is baat ne mujhe ye sochne par majboor kar diya ke ho na ho, uske paas ek doosra phone aur hai jiska mujhe pata nahi aur jiska istemaal vo apni ayyashi ke liye kar rahi hai mujhse chhupa kar. Maine poora ghar chhan maara, Renuka ka saman idhar udhar kar dala par vo phone bhi mujhe mila nahi.
Jahan ek taraf mujhe apni shaadi barbad hone ka gham khaaye ja raha tha vahan doorsri taraf jab bhi maine apne bete ki taraf dekhta toh dil mein sawal ye uthta ke kya sach ye bachcha mera hai ya Renuka ki ayyashi ka nateeja hai? Kya ye mera apna khoon hai ya kisi aur ka paap hai jise main apna naam dekar paal pos raha hoon. Ye sab sochte sochte main itna pagal ho chuka ke us masoom ke chehre mein ye talash karne laga ke uski shakal mujhse milti hai ya kisi aur se? Koi aisa jise main janta hoon aur shayad is tarah mujhe pata chal jaaye ke uska baap kaun hai?
Renuka ne bhi phir se mehsoos kar liya tha ke main usse door hota ja raha hoon. Shuru shuru mein toh vo mujhse puchhti rehti ke main is tarah behave kyun kar raha hoon par phir dheere dheere usne bhi puchhna band kar diya. Ham dono ke beech ek anjaan si deewar khadi ho gayi thi. Kabhi kabhi din beet jaate the ham dono ko ek doosre se baat kiye hue aur jo baat ham karte vo mere maan baap ke chalte bas naam bhar ke liye karte.
"Koi aur pasand aa gayi hai kya? Kya koi doosri aurat hai tumhari zindagi mein jiski vajah se mujhse door door rehte ho?"
Vo aksar mujhse ye sawal karti par mujhe hamesha uska puchhne ka andaaz aisa hi lagta jaise vo mujh par shak nahi balki khud apni bewafai ko justify karne ki koshish kar rahi ho. Jaise khud apne aapko vo dilasa de rahi ho ke kyunki uska pati bhi kisi aur ke saaath so raha hai toh uska bhi aisa karna jaayaz hai.
"Isse pehle ke main aapko results bataoon, agar aap bura na maanein toh kya main ek baat puchh sakti hoon?" Mere saamne bethi Doctor ne mujhse puchha.
"Puchhiye"
"Is test ke karane ki vajah?"
"I think iski vajah saaf hai. Main na bhi jawab doon toh aap jaanti hain ke main ye test kyun kara raha hoon"
"Sahi keh rahe hain aap. Main jaanti hoon par mera sawal asal mein ye tha ke is shak ki vajah?"
"Vo meri personnal life hai, hai mere paas kuchh vajah varna aisa shak apne aap hi kisi ko nahi ho jata" Maine jawab diya.
Kuchh din pehle mere bete Vikram ko bukhar aaya tha jiski vajah se Dr. ne uske blood tests kiye the. Doctor meri pehchan ka tha isliye Vikram ka ek blood sample main usse lekar Delhi se door ek Jaipur ke hospital mein aaya jahan main ye test kara sakta tha ke bachche ka baap main hoon ya nahi. Jaipur mein aane ki vajah sirf yahi thi ke main ye test ek anjaan shehar mein karana chahta tha jahan mujhe koi nahi janta.
"I am sorry, you are right par phir bhi main kehna chahungi ke is tarah ke shak married life kharab kar dete hain. Ab aap dono akela nahi, ek nanhi si jaan bhi aapke saath judi hui aur aap aur aapki biwi jo bhi karenge, uska sidha asar aapke bete par padega"
"I know" Maine sapat se lehze mein jawab diya, "Can i know the results now please?"
"Sure" Vo ek file meri taraf sarkati hui boli, "Bachcha aapka apna hai"
Mujhe samajh nahi aaya ke ye khabar sun kar main khush hua ya udaas. Samajh nahi aaya ke main asal mein sunna kya chahta tha? Ye ke bachcha mera hai ya ye ke bachcha kisi aur ka hai? Jahan ek taraf maine Vikram ke apna hi khoon hone par tasalli ki saans li vahin doosri taraf afsos bhi hua kyunki Renuka par anguli uthane ka ye mauka mere haath se nikal gaya tha.
Aur uske kuchh baad mujhe phir uski bewafai ka saboot apne ghar mein mila. Uske kapdo ke beech chhupaya hua ek condom ka packet jo usi company ka tha jiska phata hua wrapper kuchh din pehle bed ke neeche pada mila tha.
Hairat ki baat ye thi ke iske baad bhi main Renuka ko kuchh keh na saka. Pehle jahan is baat ka darr tha ke agar mera shak galat nikla toh kya hoga vahin ab mere masoom bachche ka chehra mujhe kuchh bhi karne se rok leta tha. Main faisla hi nahi kar pa raha tha ke Renuka se alag ho jaoon ya phir apne bete ki khatir ek bewafa aurat ke saath zindagi bitana shuru kar doon?
Chapter 16 - Kanha
Liyaqat se kaafi kuchh nayi information mili thi. Sabse zaroori baat ye ke ab Sunanda ka gayab hona Ravi ke case se alag nahi tha. Dono ghatna aapas mein judi hui thi aur dono ke lapata hone ki vajah ek hi tha. Agar dono mein se kisi ek case ka bhi koi sira haath lag jata toh poore mamle ko udheda ja sakta tha. Par problem sirf yahi thi ke ab tak mere haath aisa koi sira aaya nahi tha. Jo mila tha sirf information thi jiski bina par na toh kisi par anguli uthayi ja sakti thi aur na hi kisi pukhta nateeje par pahuncha ja sakta tha.
Liyaqat ke jaane ke thodi hi der baad Kamini bhi laut aayi.
"Badi jaldi aa gayi, mila kuchh?"
"Haan milta agar ham ek do saal pehle gaye hote"
"Matlab?"
"Buddha marne ko hai, bol hi nahi sakta kuchh. Use toh khabar bhi nahi ab ke uske aas paas kaun hai, baat kya karega kisi se"
"Toh matlab kuchh pata nahi chala"
"Nahi"
"Uske ghar mein aur koi?"
"Dono baap bete hi the bas. Kanha eklauta beta tha uska, aur aage pichhe koi nahi" Vo fridge se pani ki bottle nikalti hui boli.
"Ye kya hai?" Maine ek newspaper mein lipti cheez ki taraf ishara kiya jo Kamini ne lakar table par rakhi thi.
"Photo hai?"
"Kiski?"
"Kanha ki"
Maine newspaper khola aur tasveer bahar nikali. Vo ek vaisi hi photo thi jo ke aksar gharon mein kuchh waqt pehle tak deewar par tangi hui milti thi. Ek badi si lakdi ke frame mein band photo jismein ek 24-25 saal ka ladka ek park jaisi jagah mein khada tha. Photo shayad holi ke din ki thi kyunki background mein jo bhi log the sabke chehron par rang laga hua tha. Khud Kanha ke chehre par bhi halka sa laal rang aur maathe par bada sa teeka tha.
"Ye kahan se mili?"
"Kanha ke ghar se"
"Ye kyun utha laayi"
"Hamari paas Kanha ki koi tasveer nahi thi, socha shayad tumhein zaroorat ho toh main le aayi"
"Kisse?"
"Ghar mein ek buddhe se uncle the jo Kanha ke baap ki dekhbhal kar rahe the. Unhone puchha ke main kaun hoon, main kaha ek kitaab likhne wali aur phir vahi jhooth bola jo tumne kaha tha. Uske baad aadhe ghante tak vo Kanha ki tareefon ke pul jodte rahe ke kaise ko kitna achha ladka tha, kaise jawani mein bhagwan kyun kisi ke saath aisa karta hai vagerah vagerah. Jab main aane lagi toh khud hi bole ke kitaab mein chhapne ke liye mujhe Kanha ki koi tasveer chahiye? Ab main kya kehti, maine bhi bol diya haan. Deewar par ye photo tangi thi, unhone akhbaar mein lapetkar mujhe thama di. Kehne lage ke vaise bhi ab is ghar mein koi rahega nahi, saman ka pata nahi kya hoga toh kam se kam tasveer ka toh koi achha istemaal ho"
"Hmmmm" Maine tasveer side mein ek table par rakhte hue kaha, "Matlab sivaay is baat ke Kanha kaisa dikhta tha, ham kuchh nahi jaan sake"
"Yep" Vo sofe par aaram se let si gayi, "Any luck with Liyaqat?"
"Oh yes, lots of luck" Kehkar maine Liyaqat se hui poori baat use batayi.
"Wow, that is certainly a lot of information. Liyaqat bhai kaafi kuchh dil mein dabaye bethe the"
"Right, ab finally ugla kambakht ne"
"so whats next now?"
"Khana kha lete hain filhal uske baad ek baar phir Sunanda ke ghar"
"Sunanda ke ghar?"
"Yep"
"Kyun?"
"Uski maan ka phone aaya tha mere paas"
"Chaai pe bulaya tumhein?" Vo hasti hui boli.
"Shut up, keh rahi hai ke Sunanda ka koi letter vagerah mila hai"
"Letter? Kaisa letter?"
"Kaisa letter toh nahi pata par i am hoping ke uske lover ka koi lover letter type hi ho, kaafi kuchh sulajh jaayega agar aisa hua toh"
"Ok, and how do you want to go? Inspector Falana Falana?"
"Nahi soch raha hoon ke ham log khud hi chale jaate hain. Kab tak Mr. Falana Falana ko takleef dete rahenge"
Maine Liyaqat ko phone kar khana bhijvane ke liye kaha jo ke 15 min baad hi aa gaya. Ham bethe kha hi rahe the ke darwaze ki ghanti baji. Maine darwaza khola toh bahar Inspector Falana Falana khada tha.
"Negi bhai aap yahan?"
"Haan idhar se guzar raha tha toh socha ke aapse milta chalun. Kaise hain aap?"
"Andar aaiye" Main darwaze se hat-ta hua bola, "Ham toh theek hi hain par aapki umar kaafi lambi hai"
"Achha, kyun?"
"Abhi aapko yaad hi kar rahe the. Vo Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf jana hai phir se toh socha ke aapko saath lete chalen"
"Haan bilkul sir, aap jab kahen" Negi ek baar phir hamesha ki taraf fauran madad ke liye taiyyar ho gaya.
Asal mein ham log toh abhi soch rahe the" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.
"Haan toh abhi chal sakte hain, meri gaadi bahar hi khadi hai"
"Theek hai phir aap bethiye 10 min, min taiyyar ho jata hoon"
Takreeban 15 min baad ham Negi ki gaadi mein bethkar ek baar phir Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf chale. Maine aage Negi ke saath betha hua tha aur Kamini pichhli seat par.
"Sir agar aap bura na maanein toh ek personnal sa sawal puchhun?"
"Bura mannne wali kya baat hai" Maine muskura kar raha, "Aap toh already meri itni help kar rahe hain. Puchhiye"
"And ma'm aap?" Usne review mirror mein Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, "Sawal asal mein aap dono ke baare mein hai"
Main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchhna chahta tha par ye samajh nahi aaya ke uske puchhne ke baad jawab kya doonga. Kamini ke saamne agar main saaf saaf use ye kehta ke ham sirf dost hain toh yakeenan use bura lagta.
"Main jaanti hoon aap kya puchhna chahte hain" Mere se pehle Kamini haskar bol padi, "Ham dono ke beech aisa kuchh nahi hai, we are just good friends. Actually toh bachpan se saath mein hi rahe ham dono, since we were kids"
"Aah tabhi" Negi ne bhi haskar jawab diya, "Tab hi aap logon ki chemistry aapas mein itni achhi hai kyunki itne saalon se jaante hain ek doosre ko. Saamne wala toh ek pal ke liye yahi sochega ke aap pati patni hain"
"Aapas mein itna time saath raho toh ek doosre ke baare mein pata chal hi jata hai" Kamini ne kaha.
"Sahi keh rahi hain madam. Aap logon ko aapas mein dekhke lagta hai ke kaafi comfortable hain aap saath mein isliye main puchh betha. I hope aapko bura nahi laga"
"Nahi koi baat nahi" Kamini ne jawab diya, "We are just good friends"
Aur tab pehli baar jaane kyun mujhe uska ye kehna ke ham sirf achhe dost hain, achha nahi laga. Aaj se pehle kabhi aisa nahi hua tha aur na jaane kyun main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke vo Negi se ye kahegi ke ham dono dost se zyada hain, ke ham log saath hain. Main khud bhi ye baat nahi janta tha ke mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai kyunki agar Kamini na bolti toh Negi ke sawal ka jawab main bhi vahi deta jo Kamini ne diya. Phir bhi dil mein kahin uska ye kehna ke ham sirf dost hain mujhe kuchh bura sa laga.
Gaadi ham logon ne phir vahin chhodi jahan pehle chhodi thi aur pagdandi par utarte hue Sunanda ke ghar ki taraf badhe. Negi hamse thoda aage chal raha tha, uske pichhe Kamini aur sabse pichhe main.
"Thanks" Maine pichhe se Kamnini ko kaha.
"For what?" Vo chalte chalte palti.
"Negi ke sawal ka jawab dene ke liye, i mean for understanding"
"Understanding what? Sidha sa sawal tha, sachcha sa jawab de diya maine. Vaise bhi ham dono dost hi toh hain"
"Haan vo toh hai magar mujhe laga tha ke ....."
"Ke main uske saamne dhindhora pitungi ke main tumse pyaar karti hoon aur tum nahi?" Vo ruk kar thoda talkhi bhare andaaz mein boli, "Thodi self respect hai mere andar bhi. Apne beizzati karana ka koi shauk nahi mujhe uske saamne"
"Arrey mera vo matlab nahi tha yaar"
"Phir kya matlab tha?" Chalte chalte vo palat kar khadi ho gayi aur meri taraf dekhne lagi.
"Koi matlab nahi tha meri maan" Maine haath jodte hue kaha, "Galti ho gayi mujhse. Maaf kar de aur chal aage ko"
"Maan hogi tumhari maan" Usne meri taraf jeebh nikali aur phir palat kar aage chalne lagi.
Ghar ke bahar bandha kutta ek baar phir hamein dekh kar gurrane laga. Pichhli baar ki tarah is baar vo bandha hua nahi tha aur use dekh kar ham teeno ghar se door ek jagah par hi ruk gaye. Kutte ke bhaunke ki aawaz sun kar Sunanda ki maan ghar se bahar nikli.
"Aaiye Sahab" Kehti hui vo kutte ke kareeb aayi aur use pakad kar baandh diya, "Andar aaiye"
Hairat ki baat ye thi ke is baar Negi bhi hamare saath andar aaya par us aurat ne use mana nahi kiya.
"Vo aapne kaha tha na ke agar kuchh mile toh aapko phone karun?" Hamare bethne ke baad usne hamein pani pilaya aur phir khud ek kursi par bethte hue boli.
"Ji haan, aap keh rahi thi ke koi letter vagerah mila?"
"Haan ye" Kehte hue usne side mein rakhi table ka drawer khola aur kuchh papers ke tukde hamari taraf badhaye, "Vo aapne jab mere se Sunandi ki photo maangi thi pichhli baar, toh uske baad mujhe yaad aaya ke uski ek badi photo bhi thi jo maine frame karvayi thi. Pehle Sunanda ke kamre mein hi deewar par tangi rehti thi par baad mein maine phir uske saman ke saath baandh kar rakh di thi kyunki vo tasveer har waqt mujhe uski yaad dila kar rulati rehti thi. Aapke jaane ke baad maine socha ke vo tasveer nikal loon. Saman khola toh frame ka sheesha saman mein dab jaane ki vajah se toot gaya tha. Maine frame khol kar uski photo bahar nikali toh frame ke andar se ye 2 cheezen nikli. Shayad jab vo zinda thi toh us waqt usne frame mein chhupa kar rakha hoga aur uske baad bas isi mein rakha reh gaya"
Liyaqat se kaafi kuchh nayi information mili thi. Sabse zaroori baat ye ke ab Sunanda ka gayab hona Ravi ke case se alag nahi tha. Dono ghatna aapas mein judi hui thi aur dono ke lapata hone ki vajah ek hi tha. Agar dono mein se kisi ek case ka bhi koi sira haath lag jata toh poore mamle ko udheda ja sakta tha. Par problem sirf yahi thi ke ab tak mere haath aisa koi sira aaya nahi tha. Jo mila tha sirf information thi jiski bina par na toh kisi par anguli uthayi ja sakti thi aur na hi kisi pukhta nateeje par pahuncha ja sakta tha.
Liyaqat ke jaane ke thodi hi der baad Kamini bhi laut aayi.
"Badi jaldi aa gayi, mila kuchh?"
"Haan milta agar ham ek do saal pehle gaye hote"
"Matlab?"
"Buddha marne ko hai, bol hi nahi sakta kuchh. Use toh khabar bhi nahi ab ke uske aas paas kaun hai, baat kya karega kisi se"
"Toh matlab kuchh pata nahi chala"
"Nahi"
"Uske ghar mein aur koi?"
"Dono baap bete hi the bas. Kanha eklauta beta tha uska, aur aage pichhe koi nahi" Vo fridge se pani ki bottle nikalti hui boli.
"Ye kya hai?" Maine ek newspaper mein lipti cheez ki taraf ishara kiya jo Kamini ne lakar table par rakhi thi.
"Photo hai?"
"Kiski?"
"Kanha ki"
Maine newspaper khola aur tasveer bahar nikali. Vo ek vaisi hi photo thi jo ke aksar gharon mein kuchh waqt pehle tak deewar par tangi hui milti thi. Ek badi si lakdi ke frame mein band photo jismein ek 24-25 saal ka ladka ek park jaisi jagah mein khada tha. Photo shayad holi ke din ki thi kyunki background mein jo bhi log the sabke chehron par rang laga hua tha. Khud Kanha ke chehre par bhi halka sa laal rang aur maathe par bada sa teeka tha.
"Ye kahan se mili?"
"Kanha ke ghar se"
"Ye kyun utha laayi"
"Hamari paas Kanha ki koi tasveer nahi thi, socha shayad tumhein zaroorat ho toh main le aayi"
"Kisse?"
"Ghar mein ek buddhe se uncle the jo Kanha ke baap ki dekhbhal kar rahe the. Unhone puchha ke main kaun hoon, main kaha ek kitaab likhne wali aur phir vahi jhooth bola jo tumne kaha tha. Uske baad aadhe ghante tak vo Kanha ki tareefon ke pul jodte rahe ke kaise ko kitna achha ladka tha, kaise jawani mein bhagwan kyun kisi ke saath aisa karta hai vagerah vagerah. Jab main aane lagi toh khud hi bole ke kitaab mein chhapne ke liye mujhe Kanha ki koi tasveer chahiye? Ab main kya kehti, maine bhi bol diya haan. Deewar par ye photo tangi thi, unhone akhbaar mein lapetkar mujhe thama di. Kehne lage ke vaise bhi ab is ghar mein koi rahega nahi, saman ka pata nahi kya hoga toh kam se kam tasveer ka toh koi achha istemaal ho"
"Hmmmm" Maine tasveer side mein ek table par rakhte hue kaha, "Matlab sivaay is baat ke Kanha kaisa dikhta tha, ham kuchh nahi jaan sake"
"Yep" Vo sofe par aaram se let si gayi, "Any luck with Liyaqat?"
"Oh yes, lots of luck" Kehkar maine Liyaqat se hui poori baat use batayi.
"Wow, that is certainly a lot of information. Liyaqat bhai kaafi kuchh dil mein dabaye bethe the"
"Right, ab finally ugla kambakht ne"
"so whats next now?"
"Khana kha lete hain filhal uske baad ek baar phir Sunanda ke ghar"
"Sunanda ke ghar?"
"Yep"
"Kyun?"
"Uski maan ka phone aaya tha mere paas"
"Chaai pe bulaya tumhein?" Vo hasti hui boli.
"Shut up, keh rahi hai ke Sunanda ka koi letter vagerah mila hai"
"Letter? Kaisa letter?"
"Kaisa letter toh nahi pata par i am hoping ke uske lover ka koi lover letter type hi ho, kaafi kuchh sulajh jaayega agar aisa hua toh"
"Ok, and how do you want to go? Inspector Falana Falana?"
"Nahi soch raha hoon ke ham log khud hi chale jaate hain. Kab tak Mr. Falana Falana ko takleef dete rahenge"
Maine Liyaqat ko phone kar khana bhijvane ke liye kaha jo ke 15 min baad hi aa gaya. Ham bethe kha hi rahe the ke darwaze ki ghanti baji. Maine darwaza khola toh bahar Inspector Falana Falana khada tha.
"Negi bhai aap yahan?"
"Haan idhar se guzar raha tha toh socha ke aapse milta chalun. Kaise hain aap?"
"Andar aaiye" Main darwaze se hat-ta hua bola, "Ham toh theek hi hain par aapki umar kaafi lambi hai"
"Achha, kyun?"
"Abhi aapko yaad hi kar rahe the. Vo Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf jana hai phir se toh socha ke aapko saath lete chalen"
"Haan bilkul sir, aap jab kahen" Negi ek baar phir hamesha ki taraf fauran madad ke liye taiyyar ho gaya.
Asal mein ham log toh abhi soch rahe the" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.
"Haan toh abhi chal sakte hain, meri gaadi bahar hi khadi hai"
"Theek hai phir aap bethiye 10 min, min taiyyar ho jata hoon"
Takreeban 15 min baad ham Negi ki gaadi mein bethkar ek baar phir Sunanda ke gaon ki taraf chale. Maine aage Negi ke saath betha hua tha aur Kamini pichhli seat par.
"Sir agar aap bura na maanein toh ek personnal sa sawal puchhun?"
"Bura mannne wali kya baat hai" Maine muskura kar raha, "Aap toh already meri itni help kar rahe hain. Puchhiye"
"And ma'm aap?" Usne review mirror mein Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha, "Sawal asal mein aap dono ke baare mein hai"
Main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchhna chahta tha par ye samajh nahi aaya ke uske puchhne ke baad jawab kya doonga. Kamini ke saamne agar main saaf saaf use ye kehta ke ham sirf dost hain toh yakeenan use bura lagta.
"Main jaanti hoon aap kya puchhna chahte hain" Mere se pehle Kamini haskar bol padi, "Ham dono ke beech aisa kuchh nahi hai, we are just good friends. Actually toh bachpan se saath mein hi rahe ham dono, since we were kids"
"Aah tabhi" Negi ne bhi haskar jawab diya, "Tab hi aap logon ki chemistry aapas mein itni achhi hai kyunki itne saalon se jaante hain ek doosre ko. Saamne wala toh ek pal ke liye yahi sochega ke aap pati patni hain"
"Aapas mein itna time saath raho toh ek doosre ke baare mein pata chal hi jata hai" Kamini ne kaha.
"Sahi keh rahi hain madam. Aap logon ko aapas mein dekhke lagta hai ke kaafi comfortable hain aap saath mein isliye main puchh betha. I hope aapko bura nahi laga"
"Nahi koi baat nahi" Kamini ne jawab diya, "We are just good friends"
Aur tab pehli baar jaane kyun mujhe uska ye kehna ke ham sirf achhe dost hain, achha nahi laga. Aaj se pehle kabhi aisa nahi hua tha aur na jaane kyun main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke vo Negi se ye kahegi ke ham dono dost se zyada hain, ke ham log saath hain. Main khud bhi ye baat nahi janta tha ke mujhe aisa kyun lag raha hai kyunki agar Kamini na bolti toh Negi ke sawal ka jawab main bhi vahi deta jo Kamini ne diya. Phir bhi dil mein kahin uska ye kehna ke ham sirf dost hain mujhe kuchh bura sa laga.
Gaadi ham logon ne phir vahin chhodi jahan pehle chhodi thi aur pagdandi par utarte hue Sunanda ke ghar ki taraf badhe. Negi hamse thoda aage chal raha tha, uske pichhe Kamini aur sabse pichhe main.
"Thanks" Maine pichhe se Kamnini ko kaha.
"For what?" Vo chalte chalte palti.
"Negi ke sawal ka jawab dene ke liye, i mean for understanding"
"Understanding what? Sidha sa sawal tha, sachcha sa jawab de diya maine. Vaise bhi ham dono dost hi toh hain"
"Haan vo toh hai magar mujhe laga tha ke ....."
"Ke main uske saamne dhindhora pitungi ke main tumse pyaar karti hoon aur tum nahi?" Vo ruk kar thoda talkhi bhare andaaz mein boli, "Thodi self respect hai mere andar bhi. Apne beizzati karana ka koi shauk nahi mujhe uske saamne"
"Arrey mera vo matlab nahi tha yaar"
"Phir kya matlab tha?" Chalte chalte vo palat kar khadi ho gayi aur meri taraf dekhne lagi.
"Koi matlab nahi tha meri maan" Maine haath jodte hue kaha, "Galti ho gayi mujhse. Maaf kar de aur chal aage ko"
"Maan hogi tumhari maan" Usne meri taraf jeebh nikali aur phir palat kar aage chalne lagi.
Ghar ke bahar bandha kutta ek baar phir hamein dekh kar gurrane laga. Pichhli baar ki tarah is baar vo bandha hua nahi tha aur use dekh kar ham teeno ghar se door ek jagah par hi ruk gaye. Kutte ke bhaunke ki aawaz sun kar Sunanda ki maan ghar se bahar nikli.
"Aaiye Sahab" Kehti hui vo kutte ke kareeb aayi aur use pakad kar baandh diya, "Andar aaiye"
Hairat ki baat ye thi ke is baar Negi bhi hamare saath andar aaya par us aurat ne use mana nahi kiya.
"Vo aapne kaha tha na ke agar kuchh mile toh aapko phone karun?" Hamare bethne ke baad usne hamein pani pilaya aur phir khud ek kursi par bethte hue boli.
"Ji haan, aap keh rahi thi ke koi letter vagerah mila?"
"Haan ye" Kehte hue usne side mein rakhi table ka drawer khola aur kuchh papers ke tukde hamari taraf badhaye, "Vo aapne jab mere se Sunandi ki photo maangi thi pichhli baar, toh uske baad mujhe yaad aaya ke uski ek badi photo bhi thi jo maine frame karvayi thi. Pehle Sunanda ke kamre mein hi deewar par tangi rehti thi par baad mein maine phir uske saman ke saath baandh kar rakh di thi kyunki vo tasveer har waqt mujhe uski yaad dila kar rulati rehti thi. Aapke jaane ke baad maine socha ke vo tasveer nikal loon. Saman khola toh frame ka sheesha saman mein dab jaane ki vajah se toot gaya tha. Maine frame khol kar uski photo bahar nikali toh frame ke andar se ye 2 cheezen nikli. Shayad jab vo zinda thi toh us waqt usne frame mein chhupa kar rakha hoga aur uske baad bas isi mein rakha reh gaya"
Maine unke haath mein thaame dono paper ke tukde liye. Dono hi fold kiye hue tha. Maine pehle paper ko khol kar dekha. Utsuktavash Kamini aur Negi bhi meri bagal mein khisak kar dekhne lage.
Vo koi letter tha aur kagaz ki halat dekh kar hi andaza ho raha tha ke kaafi purana tha. Jaane kabse yun fold kiya hua rakha tha. Itne time se rakha hone ki vajah se kagaz kaafi jagah se gal chuka tha aur mujhe kholte hue kaafi saavdhani baratni padi ke kahin se phat na jaaye. Paper par kayi jagah paani gira hua tha jiski vajah se kagaz ki halat aur bhi kharab ho chali thi. Maine dheere dheere kagaz ko khol kar sidha kiya aur ek nazar padte hi saari aashaon par pani phir gaya.
Kagaz ki likhai ink pen se thi jo pani girne ki vajah se buri tarah phel gayi thi. Is had tak ke kuchh bhi padh pana na-mumkin tha.
"Kya hai ye?" Kamini ne puchha.
"By the way it was hidden, i am guessing its must be a letter secretive in nature" Maine english mein jawab diya taaki Sunandi ki maan ko meri baat samajh na aaye.
"Secretive?"
"Yeah, else why take the pain of hiding it in the photo frame?"
"You mean love letter?"
Hamare saamne bethi aurat bhale hi ek chhote se gaon ki anpadh aurat thi par love letter aisa shabd hai jise sunke chhote se bachche ke bhi kaan khade ho jaate hain. Vo fauran samajh gayi ke ham kis baare mein baat kar rahe hain.
"Aapko lagta hai ye us ladke ne diya tha Sunanda ko?"
"Shayad, ho sakta hai"
"Kuchh bhi samajh toh aa hi nahi raha hai" Negi meri bagal se jhankta hua bola.
"I know, agar samajh aa jata toh kaafi baatein pata chal sakti thi"
"Vo shayad ghar ki chhat vagerah chune ki vajah se deewar se hokar frame mein pani chala gaya hoga" Sunanda ki maan ne kaha, "Photo bhi kaafi kharab ho gayi thi"
Unhone Sunanda ki vo photo nikali jo us frame mein thi. Saamne se toh photo theek thaak hi thi par pichhe se vo bhi kaafi gal chuki thi. Pani ka kiya nuksaan jo us letter par dikhai de raha tha vahi Sunanda ki tasveer par bhi tha.
"Ye ham log ek baar Shimla gaye the toh vahan ek photographer se khinchvayi thi" Uski maan bade shauk se boli.
Photo black and white thi aur usmein ek badi aam si shakal soorat wali ladki kisi photographer ke studio mein bethi thi. Pichhe ek bageeche ka scene tha jo shayad us studio ki deewar par bani ek painting thi.
"Vo doosra kaga kya hai?" Negi ne doosre paper ki taraf ishara kiya jo abhi bhi folded hi rakha tha.
Vo kagaz bhi poori tarah gal chuka tha. Maine use utha kar ehtiyaat ke saath dheere se kholna chaha. Jahan pehla paper thodi mashakkat ke saath khul gaya tha vahin ye paper andar se aapas mein chipka hua tha isliye halka sa zor dete hi laga ke phat jaayega.
"Its stuck" Maine kaha.
"I think its a photo" Kamini boli.
"Photo?"
"Yeah, photo ke andar ka hissa dekha hai ka kaisa chikna sa hota hai par agar aapas mein fold kar do, i mean anadar ki taraf se hi toh dono taraf se vo chipak jata hai"
"I think you are right" Maine jawab diya, "Dekhne mein kagaz lag bhi thoda mota sa raha hai"
"Aur photo aadha hai shayad" Negi bola.
"Aadha?"
"Haan ye side se dekhiye" Usne ek taraf ishara kiya jahan dekh kar saaf pata lagta tha ke photo ko phaada gaya tha.
"Kiska photo lagta hai?" Negi ne puchha.
"Pata nahi"
"Us ladke ka hoga" Sunanda ki maan beech mein boli.
"Ho sakta hai par bina dekhe kuchh bhi keh pana mushkil hai. Main ye dono rakh sakta hoon?"
"Haan bilkul" Vo fauran boli.
Unke yahan thodi der aur beth kar ham vahan se nikle. Vo sara waqt hamein yahi batati rahin ke kaise aakhri kuchh dino mein Sunanda kaafi khush thi, shaadi ki baatein kiya karti thi par har baar ladke ke baare mein puchhne par baat taal jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke ladke ke baare mein batane ka abhi sahi waqt nahi hai, jab waqt aayega toh vo ladka khud chal kar unke ghar Sunanda ka haath maangne aayega, use kuchh batane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi.
"Ab kya?" Bahar aaye toh Kamini ne puchha.
"I dont know but i cant give up on this without trying. Ghar jakar koshish karte hain photo kholne ki"
"Aur vo letter?"
"Kuchh bhi padh pana impossible lag raha hai. Tasalli se beth kar andaza hi lagana padega ke bikhar chuki ink ke neeche kaun se words chhupe hue hain"
Vo koi letter tha aur kagaz ki halat dekh kar hi andaza ho raha tha ke kaafi purana tha. Jaane kabse yun fold kiya hua rakha tha. Itne time se rakha hone ki vajah se kagaz kaafi jagah se gal chuka tha aur mujhe kholte hue kaafi saavdhani baratni padi ke kahin se phat na jaaye. Paper par kayi jagah paani gira hua tha jiski vajah se kagaz ki halat aur bhi kharab ho chali thi. Maine dheere dheere kagaz ko khol kar sidha kiya aur ek nazar padte hi saari aashaon par pani phir gaya.
Kagaz ki likhai ink pen se thi jo pani girne ki vajah se buri tarah phel gayi thi. Is had tak ke kuchh bhi padh pana na-mumkin tha.
"Kya hai ye?" Kamini ne puchha.
"By the way it was hidden, i am guessing its must be a letter secretive in nature" Maine english mein jawab diya taaki Sunandi ki maan ko meri baat samajh na aaye.
"Secretive?"
"Yeah, else why take the pain of hiding it in the photo frame?"
"You mean love letter?"
Hamare saamne bethi aurat bhale hi ek chhote se gaon ki anpadh aurat thi par love letter aisa shabd hai jise sunke chhote se bachche ke bhi kaan khade ho jaate hain. Vo fauran samajh gayi ke ham kis baare mein baat kar rahe hain.
"Aapko lagta hai ye us ladke ne diya tha Sunanda ko?"
"Shayad, ho sakta hai"
"Kuchh bhi samajh toh aa hi nahi raha hai" Negi meri bagal se jhankta hua bola.
"I know, agar samajh aa jata toh kaafi baatein pata chal sakti thi"
"Vo shayad ghar ki chhat vagerah chune ki vajah se deewar se hokar frame mein pani chala gaya hoga" Sunanda ki maan ne kaha, "Photo bhi kaafi kharab ho gayi thi"
Unhone Sunanda ki vo photo nikali jo us frame mein thi. Saamne se toh photo theek thaak hi thi par pichhe se vo bhi kaafi gal chuki thi. Pani ka kiya nuksaan jo us letter par dikhai de raha tha vahi Sunanda ki tasveer par bhi tha.
"Ye ham log ek baar Shimla gaye the toh vahan ek photographer se khinchvayi thi" Uski maan bade shauk se boli.
Photo black and white thi aur usmein ek badi aam si shakal soorat wali ladki kisi photographer ke studio mein bethi thi. Pichhe ek bageeche ka scene tha jo shayad us studio ki deewar par bani ek painting thi.
"Vo doosra kaga kya hai?" Negi ne doosre paper ki taraf ishara kiya jo abhi bhi folded hi rakha tha.
Vo kagaz bhi poori tarah gal chuka tha. Maine use utha kar ehtiyaat ke saath dheere se kholna chaha. Jahan pehla paper thodi mashakkat ke saath khul gaya tha vahin ye paper andar se aapas mein chipka hua tha isliye halka sa zor dete hi laga ke phat jaayega.
"Its stuck" Maine kaha.
"I think its a photo" Kamini boli.
"Photo?"
"Yeah, photo ke andar ka hissa dekha hai ka kaisa chikna sa hota hai par agar aapas mein fold kar do, i mean anadar ki taraf se hi toh dono taraf se vo chipak jata hai"
"I think you are right" Maine jawab diya, "Dekhne mein kagaz lag bhi thoda mota sa raha hai"
"Aur photo aadha hai shayad" Negi bola.
"Aadha?"
"Haan ye side se dekhiye" Usne ek taraf ishara kiya jahan dekh kar saaf pata lagta tha ke photo ko phaada gaya tha.
"Kiska photo lagta hai?" Negi ne puchha.
"Pata nahi"
"Us ladke ka hoga" Sunanda ki maan beech mein boli.
"Ho sakta hai par bina dekhe kuchh bhi keh pana mushkil hai. Main ye dono rakh sakta hoon?"
"Haan bilkul" Vo fauran boli.
Unke yahan thodi der aur beth kar ham vahan se nikle. Vo sara waqt hamein yahi batati rahin ke kaise aakhri kuchh dino mein Sunanda kaafi khush thi, shaadi ki baatein kiya karti thi par har baar ladke ke baare mein puchhne par baat taal jaati thi. Uska kehna tha ke ladke ke baare mein batane ka abhi sahi waqt nahi hai, jab waqt aayega toh vo ladka khud chal kar unke ghar Sunanda ka haath maangne aayega, use kuchh batane ki zaroorat hi nahi padegi.
"Ab kya?" Bahar aaye toh Kamini ne puchha.
"I dont know but i cant give up on this without trying. Ghar jakar koshish karte hain photo kholne ki"
"Aur vo letter?"
"Kuchh bhi padh pana impossible lag raha hai. Tasalli se beth kar andaza hi lagana padega ke bikhar chuki ink ke neeche kaun se words chhupe hue hain"
Chapter 18 - The Mute Brother
Agle din subah Liyaqat ke knock karne par maine darwaza khola. Ghadi mein subah ke 8 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ke shayad vo breakfast lekar aaya hoga isliye darwaza kholkar main palat kar washroom ki taraf badh gaya.
"Breakfast tabee par rakh do" Maine bina uski taraf dekhe kaha.
"Sir actually main breakfast nahi laya" Pichhe se uski aawaz aayi toh main palta.
"Toh le aao yaar, bhookh lagi hai"
"Vo Raj Sahab ne aapko bulaya hai"
"Itni subah?" Maine ek baar phir ghadi ki taraf dekha.
"Ji haan, vo keh rahe hain ke aaj subah ka nashta aap unke saath karen"
Main janta tha ke der sawer Raj se meri baat toh honi hi thi aur asal mein toh main khud bhi usse baat karna chahta tha.
"Theek hai, kahan?"
"Vo use guest house ke paas jahan Ravi Sahab rehte the"
"Theek hai, main 15 minute mein aata hoon"
"Ji" Kehkar vo jaane ke liye palta.
"Aur suno, Memsahab ke liye nashta toh le aao. Main Raj ke saath kha loonga par ye toh yahin khayengi"
"Ji zaroor" Kehkar vo chala gaya.
Main fresh hua, Kamini ko jagaya aur taiyyar hokar phir usi guest house par pahuncha jahan Ravi pehle raha karta tha. Aasman mein halke badal the aur dhoop ka kahin naamo nishan nahi tha. Kul milakar kaafi pleasant mausam tha.
Raj guest house ke bahar khule garden mein ek chhoti si table aur chair dalkar betha hua apne laptop par kuchh kar raha tha.
"Hello Mr. Rana" Maine kareeb aakar uski taraf apna haath badhaya. Yun achanak apni taraf aaye haath ko dekh kar vo ek pal ke liye chauka.
Bethe bethe hi usne ek nazar meri taraf daali aur badi bedili ke saath is tarah mujhse haath milaya jaise koi ehsaan kar raha ho. Abhi tak vo apne raat ke kapdon mein hi betha hua tha. Mujhse haath mila kar usne mujhe apne table ke doosri taraf rakhi ek kursi par bethne ko kaha.
"Thank you" Kehkar main beth gaya.
Yun toh usne mujhe breakfast ke naam par bulaya tha par table par khaane ke liye kuchh bhi nahi tha. Sirf ek laptop jispar Raj kuchh kar raha tha aur ek aur wireless keyboard.
"Maine asal mein aapse khud bhi baat karna chah raha tha, par aapne khud hi yaad kar liya" Maine kaha par usne jaise meri baat suni hi nahi. Main bol kar chup ho gaya aur vo usi taraf laptop mein laga raha.
Phir achanak mujhe yaad aaya ke vo na toh bol sakta tha aur na hi sun sakta tha.
Kuchh der main bhi yun hi khamosh betha raha phir usne nazar utha kar meri taraf dekha. Paas mein rakhe keyboard ka wireless receiver usne USB port mein laga aur laptop ka rukh meri taraf ghuma diya.
Laptop ki screen par ek notepad khula hua tha. Raj ne keyboard apne saamne kiya aur uspar kuchh type kiya.
"Tum yahan kar kya rahe ho?" Laptop par khule notepad mein ye message type ho gaya.
Main samajh gaya ke hamare beech jo baat hogi vo isi tarah hogi. Message type karne ke baad mujhe laga ke shayad vo keyboard meri taraf badhayega par aisa hua nahi. Main intezaar mein uski taraf dekhta raha aur vo bhi mera confusion samajh gaya. Usne phir keyboard par anguliyan daudano shuru ki.
"You can talk. I cant hear you but i can read your lips. Try to talk a little slow please"
"Aap jaante hain main yahan kya kar raha hoon. Your mother hired me to find your brother" Maine dheere dheere kaha. Vo gaur se mere honthon ki taraf dekh raha tha.
"My brother is dead" Usne laptop mein type kiya.
"You seem pretty certain"
"Yes i am"
"Well then i am here to find the reason of his death"
"Whatever the reason was, its long gone"
"Your mother would still like to know what it was"
"I dont"
"Then you are talking to the wrong person about. You need to discuss it with your mother. I am here only per her wish and instructions"
"Exactly, and that is the reason why i am letting you be here. Else i dont like cheap strangers poking their nose in my business"
Uske cheap kehke se mere andar tak aag lag gayi. Main samajh gaya ke iske saath yun sharafat se baat karke koi fayda nahi.
"Lets cut the bullshit Mr. Rana" Maine bhi saaf baat kahi, "Why have you called me here?"
"Have you found out anything yet?" Usne notepad par type kiya.
"No, not yet"
"How long do you think you are going to be poking your nose around here?"
"I dont know, could take me a while. And while we are still at it, i would like to talk to you as well"
"About what?"
"About your brother of course"
"What about him?"
"Jahan tak mujhe pata chala hai, us din you were with you mother for most of the day, correct?"
"Are you interrogating me?"
"No i am simply trying to put together that day's events"
"I dont feel obliged to answering any of your questions"
"Well than maybe you will talk to your mom about it"
"Are you threatning me of my own mother?" Likhte hue uske chehre par hasi phel gayi.
"No i am only saying that i will let her know that you are refusing to talk to me about the very same concern that she called me here for"
Mere kehne ke baad uske chehre par bade hi serious bhaav aa gaye. Kuchh der chup rehne ke baad usne phir se type kiya.
"You should know ke main tumhein yahan sirf apni maan ki vajah se bardasht kar raha hoon"
"Fair enough, shall we begin?"
"Puchho"
Maine table par hi rakha ek kagaz ka tukda uthaya aur Raj ke pen ki taraf ishara kiya.
"May i borrow your pen?"
Usne sehmati mein apna sar hila diya.
"As i was saying, you were with your mother that day, correct?"
"For most of the day, yes. We left for Solan at around 12"
"Usse pehle?"
"Usse pehle main ghar par hi tha. I wasnt feeling too well, didnt even have breakfast. It was just one of those days when you just dont feel good, even though there is nothing physically wrong with you"
"Yeah happens sometimes" Maine sehmati jatayi.
"That was the reason mom asked me to come with her, thiking that it might just cheer me up"
"Ok, uske baad aap log vaapis kitne baje aaye?"
"Takreeban 5"
"Phir?"
"Phir main ghar ke andar aaya hi tha ke Ravi paon gusse mein patakta hua bahar nikal gaya. Andar pahuncha toh maan ne mujhe ishare se use bula kar laane ko kaha aur main uske pichhe pichhe ghar se nikal gaya"
"Kya lagta hai ke kis baat par naraz the aapke Bhai?"
"Please dont ask me questions you already know the answer to. Maan tumhein bata chuki hain ke vo batware ko lekar dad se jhagad raha tha"
"I am sorry, i just wanted to hear it from you. Phir kya hua?"
"Phir main uske pichhe pichhe gaya. Bahar ghane badal chhaye hue the, neeche tak badal utar aaye the isliye aisa lag raha tha jaise har taraf kohra sa chha gaya ho. 5 baje hi andhera ho chuka tha. Main bahar aaya par mujhe Ravi kahin dikhai nahi diya, jaise gayab hi ho gaya tha vo"
"Phir?"
"Main bahar nikla, thoda aage tak gaya par vo kahin dikhai nahi diya. Phir main ghar ki taraf vaapis palta aur aate hue gate ke paas mujhe Ravi mila. Vo ghar vaapis ja raha tha"
"Kitni der ki baat hai ye? I mein kitne time baad"
"Takreeban aadha ghanta"
"Aadha ghanta? Abhi toh aapne kaha ke aap sirf thoda aage tak gaye the?"
"Thats right. You may not have not noticed but i am handicapped. Ek taang kharab hai meri. Vo thoda aage tak jaakar aane mein hi mujh langde ko aadha ghanta lag gaya"
"Sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Phir gate par aapko Ravi mile"
"Correct"
"Then?"
"Then maine usse puchha ke vo kahan tha aur kyun aise papa se jhagad raha tha par uska dhyaan hi kahin aur tha"
"Kahin aur?"
"Haan jaise kahin khyaalon mein khoya sa hua tha. Meri baat toh usne jaise suni hi nahi aur khud badbadane lag gaya"
"And what was he saying?"
"Ye ke vo ek kayar hai, vo kuchh nahi kar saka. Vo darr gaya aur is darr ki vajah se kisi ki maut ki vajah ban gaya. That he is equally to be blamed for the murder. That how could he let this happen, how could he have someone's blood on his hands"
Agle din subah Liyaqat ke knock karne par maine darwaza khola. Ghadi mein subah ke 8 baj rahe the. Mujhe laga ke shayad vo breakfast lekar aaya hoga isliye darwaza kholkar main palat kar washroom ki taraf badh gaya.
"Breakfast tabee par rakh do" Maine bina uski taraf dekhe kaha.
"Sir actually main breakfast nahi laya" Pichhe se uski aawaz aayi toh main palta.
"Toh le aao yaar, bhookh lagi hai"
"Vo Raj Sahab ne aapko bulaya hai"
"Itni subah?" Maine ek baar phir ghadi ki taraf dekha.
"Ji haan, vo keh rahe hain ke aaj subah ka nashta aap unke saath karen"
Main janta tha ke der sawer Raj se meri baat toh honi hi thi aur asal mein toh main khud bhi usse baat karna chahta tha.
"Theek hai, kahan?"
"Vo use guest house ke paas jahan Ravi Sahab rehte the"
"Theek hai, main 15 minute mein aata hoon"
"Ji" Kehkar vo jaane ke liye palta.
"Aur suno, Memsahab ke liye nashta toh le aao. Main Raj ke saath kha loonga par ye toh yahin khayengi"
"Ji zaroor" Kehkar vo chala gaya.
Main fresh hua, Kamini ko jagaya aur taiyyar hokar phir usi guest house par pahuncha jahan Ravi pehle raha karta tha. Aasman mein halke badal the aur dhoop ka kahin naamo nishan nahi tha. Kul milakar kaafi pleasant mausam tha.
Raj guest house ke bahar khule garden mein ek chhoti si table aur chair dalkar betha hua apne laptop par kuchh kar raha tha.
"Hello Mr. Rana" Maine kareeb aakar uski taraf apna haath badhaya. Yun achanak apni taraf aaye haath ko dekh kar vo ek pal ke liye chauka.
Bethe bethe hi usne ek nazar meri taraf daali aur badi bedili ke saath is tarah mujhse haath milaya jaise koi ehsaan kar raha ho. Abhi tak vo apne raat ke kapdon mein hi betha hua tha. Mujhse haath mila kar usne mujhe apne table ke doosri taraf rakhi ek kursi par bethne ko kaha.
"Thank you" Kehkar main beth gaya.
Yun toh usne mujhe breakfast ke naam par bulaya tha par table par khaane ke liye kuchh bhi nahi tha. Sirf ek laptop jispar Raj kuchh kar raha tha aur ek aur wireless keyboard.
"Maine asal mein aapse khud bhi baat karna chah raha tha, par aapne khud hi yaad kar liya" Maine kaha par usne jaise meri baat suni hi nahi. Main bol kar chup ho gaya aur vo usi taraf laptop mein laga raha.
Phir achanak mujhe yaad aaya ke vo na toh bol sakta tha aur na hi sun sakta tha.
Kuchh der main bhi yun hi khamosh betha raha phir usne nazar utha kar meri taraf dekha. Paas mein rakhe keyboard ka wireless receiver usne USB port mein laga aur laptop ka rukh meri taraf ghuma diya.
Laptop ki screen par ek notepad khula hua tha. Raj ne keyboard apne saamne kiya aur uspar kuchh type kiya.
"Tum yahan kar kya rahe ho?" Laptop par khule notepad mein ye message type ho gaya.
Main samajh gaya ke hamare beech jo baat hogi vo isi tarah hogi. Message type karne ke baad mujhe laga ke shayad vo keyboard meri taraf badhayega par aisa hua nahi. Main intezaar mein uski taraf dekhta raha aur vo bhi mera confusion samajh gaya. Usne phir keyboard par anguliyan daudano shuru ki.
"You can talk. I cant hear you but i can read your lips. Try to talk a little slow please"
"Aap jaante hain main yahan kya kar raha hoon. Your mother hired me to find your brother" Maine dheere dheere kaha. Vo gaur se mere honthon ki taraf dekh raha tha.
"My brother is dead" Usne laptop mein type kiya.
"You seem pretty certain"
"Yes i am"
"Well then i am here to find the reason of his death"
"Whatever the reason was, its long gone"
"Your mother would still like to know what it was"
"I dont"
"Then you are talking to the wrong person about. You need to discuss it with your mother. I am here only per her wish and instructions"
"Exactly, and that is the reason why i am letting you be here. Else i dont like cheap strangers poking their nose in my business"
Uske cheap kehke se mere andar tak aag lag gayi. Main samajh gaya ke iske saath yun sharafat se baat karke koi fayda nahi.
"Lets cut the bullshit Mr. Rana" Maine bhi saaf baat kahi, "Why have you called me here?"
"Have you found out anything yet?" Usne notepad par type kiya.
"No, not yet"
"How long do you think you are going to be poking your nose around here?"
"I dont know, could take me a while. And while we are still at it, i would like to talk to you as well"
"About what?"
"About your brother of course"
"What about him?"
"Jahan tak mujhe pata chala hai, us din you were with you mother for most of the day, correct?"
"Are you interrogating me?"
"No i am simply trying to put together that day's events"
"I dont feel obliged to answering any of your questions"
"Well than maybe you will talk to your mom about it"
"Are you threatning me of my own mother?" Likhte hue uske chehre par hasi phel gayi.
"No i am only saying that i will let her know that you are refusing to talk to me about the very same concern that she called me here for"
Mere kehne ke baad uske chehre par bade hi serious bhaav aa gaye. Kuchh der chup rehne ke baad usne phir se type kiya.
"You should know ke main tumhein yahan sirf apni maan ki vajah se bardasht kar raha hoon"
"Fair enough, shall we begin?"
"Puchho"
Maine table par hi rakha ek kagaz ka tukda uthaya aur Raj ke pen ki taraf ishara kiya.
"May i borrow your pen?"
Usne sehmati mein apna sar hila diya.
"As i was saying, you were with your mother that day, correct?"
"For most of the day, yes. We left for Solan at around 12"
"Usse pehle?"
"Usse pehle main ghar par hi tha. I wasnt feeling too well, didnt even have breakfast. It was just one of those days when you just dont feel good, even though there is nothing physically wrong with you"
"Yeah happens sometimes" Maine sehmati jatayi.
"That was the reason mom asked me to come with her, thiking that it might just cheer me up"
"Ok, uske baad aap log vaapis kitne baje aaye?"
"Takreeban 5"
"Phir?"
"Phir main ghar ke andar aaya hi tha ke Ravi paon gusse mein patakta hua bahar nikal gaya. Andar pahuncha toh maan ne mujhe ishare se use bula kar laane ko kaha aur main uske pichhe pichhe ghar se nikal gaya"
"Kya lagta hai ke kis baat par naraz the aapke Bhai?"
"Please dont ask me questions you already know the answer to. Maan tumhein bata chuki hain ke vo batware ko lekar dad se jhagad raha tha"
"I am sorry, i just wanted to hear it from you. Phir kya hua?"
"Phir main uske pichhe pichhe gaya. Bahar ghane badal chhaye hue the, neeche tak badal utar aaye the isliye aisa lag raha tha jaise har taraf kohra sa chha gaya ho. 5 baje hi andhera ho chuka tha. Main bahar aaya par mujhe Ravi kahin dikhai nahi diya, jaise gayab hi ho gaya tha vo"
"Phir?"
"Main bahar nikla, thoda aage tak gaya par vo kahin dikhai nahi diya. Phir main ghar ki taraf vaapis palta aur aate hue gate ke paas mujhe Ravi mila. Vo ghar vaapis ja raha tha"
"Kitni der ki baat hai ye? I mein kitne time baad"
"Takreeban aadha ghanta"
"Aadha ghanta? Abhi toh aapne kaha ke aap sirf thoda aage tak gaye the?"
"Thats right. You may not have not noticed but i am handicapped. Ek taang kharab hai meri. Vo thoda aage tak jaakar aane mein hi mujh langde ko aadha ghanta lag gaya"
"Sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Phir gate par aapko Ravi mile"
"Correct"
"Then?"
"Then maine usse puchha ke vo kahan tha aur kyun aise papa se jhagad raha tha par uska dhyaan hi kahin aur tha"
"Kahin aur?"
"Haan jaise kahin khyaalon mein khoya sa hua tha. Meri baat toh usne jaise suni hi nahi aur khud badbadane lag gaya"
"And what was he saying?"
"Ye ke vo ek kayar hai, vo kuchh nahi kar saka. Vo darr gaya aur is darr ki vajah se kisi ki maut ki vajah ban gaya. That he is equally to be blamed for the murder. That how could he let this happen, how could he have someone's blood on his hands"
"Who do you think he was talking about?" Maine puchha
"I dont know really, bada ghabraya hua sa tha vo, jaise kahin bhoot dekh liya ho"
"Phir?"
"I tried to calm him down, asked him what happened but he wouldnt listen. Aur vo ghar ke andar ki taraf chala gaya"
"Aur aap?"
"I thought i will ask the guard at the gate if he had seen anything but i couldnt find him, there was no one at the gate. So i went looking for the guard and found him a few steps away, he went over to take a leak. I asked him if he saw something or someone but he hadnt"
"And all this while Ravi was still inside?"
"Yeah. Then i thought i will walk a few steps and see what happened. Maybe he saw an accident or something but i found nothing at all"
"And then?"
"Then i came back to the house. I went to Ravi's room to talk to him but he wasnt there so i went to my room. After a while i Came downstairs for dinner but Ravi wasnt there on the table and he hasnt been ever since"
"What time did he leave the house?"
"No one knows"
"The guard?"
"Says he didnt see Ravi sneaking out. He was a very lousy guard, we fired him after a few days"
"You ever told this to anyone?"
"Yeah the cops knew about it all"
"Sunanda case ke baare mein toh aapko pata hi hoga?"
"Kaun Sunanda?"
"Aap abhi thodi der pehle khud hi bol rahe the ke aise sawal nahi puchhne chahiye jinka jawab pata ho" Maine muskurate hue kaha, "Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke aap jaante hain kaun Sunanda"
Vo kuchh pal tak khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"All rght, i have heard that name. What about her?" Kuchh der baad usne type kiya.
"Ek baar phir vahi baat Rana Sahab. Aap jaante hain ke mera ishara kis taraf hai, kyun aise sawal puchhne jisse baat sirf kuchh palon ke liye tale"
"That actually depends on how much you know" Thodi der pehle tak jo attitude mujhe vo dikha raha tha vo ab khatam ho chuka tha aur ab vo poori tarah mere saath co-operate karte hue mere har sawal ka jawab de raha tha.
"All right, then let me ask direct questions. Sunanda aapke bhai ke lapata hone se ek hafta pehle gayab hui thi. Mujhe bataya gaya hai ke theek us din jab aapka bhai gayab hua ...."
"Liyaqat ne tumhein bataya ke usne subah Sunanda ko dekha tha aur phir Ravi ko uske pichhe jaate dekha" Usne meri baat poori kar di.
"So you knew"
"As i said, depends on how much you know"
"Why dont we both tell each other what we know and bring us both on the same page?"
"Listen, if you are trying to imply that Ravi kidnapped ....."
"I didnt say that" Maine baat beech mein hi kaat di.
"Oh come on dont bullshit me, i knew thats where you were going with this. Its not possible ke Ravi use kidnap karke laya aur ek hafte tak yahan chhupaye raha. Aisa nahi ho sakta"
"Kyun nahi?"
"Kyunki ek ladki ko hafte bhar tak is ghar mein baandh kar rakh pana mumkin nahi hai, poora parivaar rehta tha tab yahan hamara"
"Vo guest house?" Maine us guest house ki taraf ishara kiya jahan Ravi raha karta tha.
"Still not possible, he couldnt have gotten a girl in there against her wish without anyone noticing it. There is a guard at the gate, he couldnt have sneaked past him"
"You said the guard was lousy"
"Not all of them, and even if he did manage to get the girl in here its impossible to keep a person hidden for a week without getting noticed. There was an army of servants here back then. That guest house was cleaned everyday and servants went in there to serve Ravi food. If there was a girl tied up in there, someone would have seen her"
"Hmmmmm" Uski baat mein dam tha, "What is your theory around this Mr. Rana"
"Blackmail i think"
"Blackmail?"
"Yep, she was a whore, a prostitute and Ravi was a young man. He must have gone with her sometime and she somehow must have found a way to blackmail him"
"That still doesnt explain the other facts"
"Yes it does, if you look closely at it. She was blackmailing Ravi, son of the most powerful man in this region. He must have threatened her back so she disappeared herself, to keep her safe. Then she met Ravi that morning but ho sakta hai baazi ulti pad gayi, use khud hi vahan se bhagna pada. Shaam ko vo Ravi se milne phir aayi hogi blackmail ke liye par is baar bhi baazi ulti padi"
"Aapke kehne ka matlab ke Ravi ne Sundanda ko?"
"Aur isliye hi vo yun ghabraya hua vaapis aaya tha" Raj ne jawab diya.
"You are saying you think your brother murdered a girl?"
"No i am saying that my brother murdered a blackmailer. If you ask me, i would call it self defense. She was a prostitute and Ravi i am sure must have paid her well. She had no right to go sneaking into people's personnal lives and blackmail them. As they say, you push someone too far and they will retaliate. Thats what happened. Ravi's life was at stake and he took it back"
"Hmmmm" Main gaur se uski baat padh raha tha.
"Aur shayad yahi vajah thi ke Ravi ghabra kar Papa se batware ki baat kar raha tha. Vo ek shareef aadmi tha aur jaanta tha ke agar aisi koi bhi baat pheli toh papa ki kitni badnami hogi, khandaaan ki kitni badnami hogi. Isliye vo alag hona chah raha tha ke agar kuchh badnami aaye bhi toh uspar aaye"
"Usne aapse is baare mein kabhi kuchh discuss nahi kiya tha?"
"Nahi, afsos isi baat ka hai. Ham dono kaafi kareeb the par usne kabhi bataya hi nahi. Mujhe kuchh din se lag toh raha tha ke kuchh gadbad hai par kabhi usne kuchh kaha nahi"
"Sunanda ke baare mein aap pehle se jaante the?"
"Nahi, Liyaqat ke munh se hi pehli baar suna tha. Tab mujhe us shaam ka scene yaad aaya. Ravi ek sidha sa ladka tha, bhale hi usne gusse mein kisi ki jaan le li ho, bhale hi vo ek blackmailer ko maarke aaya ho par tha toh ek shareef aadmi hi na. Uski reaction vaisi hi thi jaisi kisi bhi normal insaan ki hoti hai, murder ke baad ghabrahat"
"Thats true"
"And i am sure you know about the 15 crores, right?" Raj ne puchha.
"Yes i do"
"Why do you think he was puttting that money aside? Because he was getting blackmailed by that prostitute. That money was never recovered"
"But that still doesnt explain your brother's disappearance. How do you put that in your theory"
"Ek yahi point hai jahan par aakar meri soch ruk jaati hai. Ravi kyun gayab hua, iske baad kya hua ye aaj tak kabhi pukhta taur par apne dimag mein decide nahi kar paya main. Bas ek hi theory samajh aati hai"
"And what is that?"
"Ab vo ek prostitute thi toh mawali type ke logon mein toh uthna bethna raha hi hoga uska. Ek mamuli prostitute 15 crore akele nahi daba sakti, itna bada game uske akeli ke bas ka tha hi nahi. We are a very powerful family here aur itne bade pariwaar ko blackmail karne ki sochna ek mamuli gaon mein dhandha karne wali ladki nahi soch sakti"
"So you think she had an accomplice"
"Or maybe an entire gang behind he whole thing"
"And they were all blackmailing Ravi. Us shaam Ravi killed Sunanda aur uske baad Sunanda ke saathiyon ne Ravi ko maar diya"
"Exactly"
"Interesting" Main sirf itna hi keh paya. Uski theory mein bahut dam tha aur is baat ne meri ab tak ki poori progress ko doubt mein daal diya tha.
"And i dont suppose the cops or anyone else knew what you just told me or what Liyaqat told me earlier?" Maine kaha.
"About Sunanda?"
"Yes"
"No of course not" Usne fauran jawab diya, "To reference a prostitute's name in our family's affairs? Its a disgrace, total disgrace. We would have lost our respect and place here if people found out that my brother was being blackmailed by a prostitute or that he was going to a prostitute. People would have laughed at us"
"But you do realise that it may as well have saved your brother's life if you have told the cops all this in time"
"Yes it may have but the cost was tooo high. Nothing is over honor, not even my brother's life"
Ham dono kuchh der tak khamosh bethe rahe aur phir main chair se utha.
"Well Mr. Rana, it was nice meeting you. I am starving now and think i should head back to the guest house for some breakfast"
"Wait"
"Ji kahiye"
"Listen, i know we got off on wrong foot but i need you to know that i have no hard feelings for you. The only reason i was so apprehensive in involving you was because of privacy reasons. But then i though that this matter was so public and so many people have looked into this that it wouldnt harm to let another one try. I didnt mean to offend you in any way and please forgive me if i did"
"Dont worry Mr. Rana, feeling is mutual. No offense taken"
Main palat kar jaane hi laga tha ke phir ruk gaya.
"Ek baat aur Mr. Rana" Main uske saamne aakar bola taake vo mere lips read kar sake, " You just told me that no one ever knew about what you and Liyaqat told me"
"Correct"
"There were people hired before me but no one could reach a conclusion"
"Correct, and there is a reason to that"
"What was that reason?"
"We didnt want anyone to know. Father and i knew the entire story but whoever was hired was because of my mother. But we alwas ensured that whoever came, just killed some time around here and went back telling that they couldnt find anything"
"Correct"
"For 20 years?"
"Correct. In a way, you are the first person who we have actually hired to look into the disappearance of my brother"
"So all those people were fake?"
"They were not fake, they were real detectives but they were well instructed that they are not suppose to do anything. They just came here for a vacation that we paid them for"
"And all this just to show your mother that you tried"
"Correct. We didnt want anyone to know what happened between my brother and that prostitute"
"Because of honor?"
"Correct"
"Then why tell me? why the sudden change of heart?"
Vo kuchh der tak chup raha auur phir kuchh soch kar type karne laga.
"Well i guess there is no harm in telling you this. My mother has a neurological illness that can not be cured. There is a vein in her brain that is about to burst open"
"I am sorry to hear that"
"Thanks. She has already been through one surgery and now doctors say that its too much stress on her body and brain to have her
undergo another procedure. Plus the success rate is very low. She may just die on the table itself"
"How long does she have"
"Actually thats where our hopes are. She may just keep on living for another 10 years or may just die today itself. No one can say for certain"
"And now i am here because you want to fulfill your dying mother's wish"
"Correct. Too long we have kept a curtain on what happened to my brother but i guess its time to raise that curtain. If his name is to be taken with a prostitute, then so be it"
"Ek baat samajh nahi aati" Maine sochte hue kaha, "To be with a prostitute or be a womaniser, its not really much of a disgrace, at least not as big as you are making it. Rich kids do that and everyone knows it"
Meri baat sunkar vo khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"There is something else you havent told me yet, right?" Main phir se uske saamne beth gaya.
"Dont get me wrong, i really wanted to but just couldnt say it"
"Please tell me Mr. Rana, what is it?"
"My brother was a gay"
"I dont know really, bada ghabraya hua sa tha vo, jaise kahin bhoot dekh liya ho"
"Phir?"
"I tried to calm him down, asked him what happened but he wouldnt listen. Aur vo ghar ke andar ki taraf chala gaya"
"Aur aap?"
"I thought i will ask the guard at the gate if he had seen anything but i couldnt find him, there was no one at the gate. So i went looking for the guard and found him a few steps away, he went over to take a leak. I asked him if he saw something or someone but he hadnt"
"And all this while Ravi was still inside?"
"Yeah. Then i thought i will walk a few steps and see what happened. Maybe he saw an accident or something but i found nothing at all"
"And then?"
"Then i came back to the house. I went to Ravi's room to talk to him but he wasnt there so i went to my room. After a while i Came downstairs for dinner but Ravi wasnt there on the table and he hasnt been ever since"
"What time did he leave the house?"
"No one knows"
"The guard?"
"Says he didnt see Ravi sneaking out. He was a very lousy guard, we fired him after a few days"
"You ever told this to anyone?"
"Yeah the cops knew about it all"
"Sunanda case ke baare mein toh aapko pata hi hoga?"
"Kaun Sunanda?"
"Aap abhi thodi der pehle khud hi bol rahe the ke aise sawal nahi puchhne chahiye jinka jawab pata ho" Maine muskurate hue kaha, "Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke aap jaante hain kaun Sunanda"
Vo kuchh pal tak khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"All rght, i have heard that name. What about her?" Kuchh der baad usne type kiya.
"Ek baar phir vahi baat Rana Sahab. Aap jaante hain ke mera ishara kis taraf hai, kyun aise sawal puchhne jisse baat sirf kuchh palon ke liye tale"
"That actually depends on how much you know" Thodi der pehle tak jo attitude mujhe vo dikha raha tha vo ab khatam ho chuka tha aur ab vo poori tarah mere saath co-operate karte hue mere har sawal ka jawab de raha tha.
"All right, then let me ask direct questions. Sunanda aapke bhai ke lapata hone se ek hafta pehle gayab hui thi. Mujhe bataya gaya hai ke theek us din jab aapka bhai gayab hua ...."
"Liyaqat ne tumhein bataya ke usne subah Sunanda ko dekha tha aur phir Ravi ko uske pichhe jaate dekha" Usne meri baat poori kar di.
"So you knew"
"As i said, depends on how much you know"
"Why dont we both tell each other what we know and bring us both on the same page?"
"Listen, if you are trying to imply that Ravi kidnapped ....."
"I didnt say that" Maine baat beech mein hi kaat di.
"Oh come on dont bullshit me, i knew thats where you were going with this. Its not possible ke Ravi use kidnap karke laya aur ek hafte tak yahan chhupaye raha. Aisa nahi ho sakta"
"Kyun nahi?"
"Kyunki ek ladki ko hafte bhar tak is ghar mein baandh kar rakh pana mumkin nahi hai, poora parivaar rehta tha tab yahan hamara"
"Vo guest house?" Maine us guest house ki taraf ishara kiya jahan Ravi raha karta tha.
"Still not possible, he couldnt have gotten a girl in there against her wish without anyone noticing it. There is a guard at the gate, he couldnt have sneaked past him"
"You said the guard was lousy"
"Not all of them, and even if he did manage to get the girl in here its impossible to keep a person hidden for a week without getting noticed. There was an army of servants here back then. That guest house was cleaned everyday and servants went in there to serve Ravi food. If there was a girl tied up in there, someone would have seen her"
"Hmmmmm" Uski baat mein dam tha, "What is your theory around this Mr. Rana"
"Blackmail i think"
"Blackmail?"
"Yep, she was a whore, a prostitute and Ravi was a young man. He must have gone with her sometime and she somehow must have found a way to blackmail him"
"That still doesnt explain the other facts"
"Yes it does, if you look closely at it. She was blackmailing Ravi, son of the most powerful man in this region. He must have threatened her back so she disappeared herself, to keep her safe. Then she met Ravi that morning but ho sakta hai baazi ulti pad gayi, use khud hi vahan se bhagna pada. Shaam ko vo Ravi se milne phir aayi hogi blackmail ke liye par is baar bhi baazi ulti padi"
"Aapke kehne ka matlab ke Ravi ne Sundanda ko?"
"Aur isliye hi vo yun ghabraya hua vaapis aaya tha" Raj ne jawab diya.
"You are saying you think your brother murdered a girl?"
"No i am saying that my brother murdered a blackmailer. If you ask me, i would call it self defense. She was a prostitute and Ravi i am sure must have paid her well. She had no right to go sneaking into people's personnal lives and blackmail them. As they say, you push someone too far and they will retaliate. Thats what happened. Ravi's life was at stake and he took it back"
"Hmmmm" Main gaur se uski baat padh raha tha.
"Aur shayad yahi vajah thi ke Ravi ghabra kar Papa se batware ki baat kar raha tha. Vo ek shareef aadmi tha aur jaanta tha ke agar aisi koi bhi baat pheli toh papa ki kitni badnami hogi, khandaaan ki kitni badnami hogi. Isliye vo alag hona chah raha tha ke agar kuchh badnami aaye bhi toh uspar aaye"
"Usne aapse is baare mein kabhi kuchh discuss nahi kiya tha?"
"Nahi, afsos isi baat ka hai. Ham dono kaafi kareeb the par usne kabhi bataya hi nahi. Mujhe kuchh din se lag toh raha tha ke kuchh gadbad hai par kabhi usne kuchh kaha nahi"
"Sunanda ke baare mein aap pehle se jaante the?"
"Nahi, Liyaqat ke munh se hi pehli baar suna tha. Tab mujhe us shaam ka scene yaad aaya. Ravi ek sidha sa ladka tha, bhale hi usne gusse mein kisi ki jaan le li ho, bhale hi vo ek blackmailer ko maarke aaya ho par tha toh ek shareef aadmi hi na. Uski reaction vaisi hi thi jaisi kisi bhi normal insaan ki hoti hai, murder ke baad ghabrahat"
"Thats true"
"And i am sure you know about the 15 crores, right?" Raj ne puchha.
"Yes i do"
"Why do you think he was puttting that money aside? Because he was getting blackmailed by that prostitute. That money was never recovered"
"But that still doesnt explain your brother's disappearance. How do you put that in your theory"
"Ek yahi point hai jahan par aakar meri soch ruk jaati hai. Ravi kyun gayab hua, iske baad kya hua ye aaj tak kabhi pukhta taur par apne dimag mein decide nahi kar paya main. Bas ek hi theory samajh aati hai"
"And what is that?"
"Ab vo ek prostitute thi toh mawali type ke logon mein toh uthna bethna raha hi hoga uska. Ek mamuli prostitute 15 crore akele nahi daba sakti, itna bada game uske akeli ke bas ka tha hi nahi. We are a very powerful family here aur itne bade pariwaar ko blackmail karne ki sochna ek mamuli gaon mein dhandha karne wali ladki nahi soch sakti"
"So you think she had an accomplice"
"Or maybe an entire gang behind he whole thing"
"And they were all blackmailing Ravi. Us shaam Ravi killed Sunanda aur uske baad Sunanda ke saathiyon ne Ravi ko maar diya"
"Exactly"
"Interesting" Main sirf itna hi keh paya. Uski theory mein bahut dam tha aur is baat ne meri ab tak ki poori progress ko doubt mein daal diya tha.
"And i dont suppose the cops or anyone else knew what you just told me or what Liyaqat told me earlier?" Maine kaha.
"About Sunanda?"
"Yes"
"No of course not" Usne fauran jawab diya, "To reference a prostitute's name in our family's affairs? Its a disgrace, total disgrace. We would have lost our respect and place here if people found out that my brother was being blackmailed by a prostitute or that he was going to a prostitute. People would have laughed at us"
"But you do realise that it may as well have saved your brother's life if you have told the cops all this in time"
"Yes it may have but the cost was tooo high. Nothing is over honor, not even my brother's life"
Ham dono kuchh der tak khamosh bethe rahe aur phir main chair se utha.
"Well Mr. Rana, it was nice meeting you. I am starving now and think i should head back to the guest house for some breakfast"
"Wait"
"Ji kahiye"
"Listen, i know we got off on wrong foot but i need you to know that i have no hard feelings for you. The only reason i was so apprehensive in involving you was because of privacy reasons. But then i though that this matter was so public and so many people have looked into this that it wouldnt harm to let another one try. I didnt mean to offend you in any way and please forgive me if i did"
"Dont worry Mr. Rana, feeling is mutual. No offense taken"
Main palat kar jaane hi laga tha ke phir ruk gaya.
"Ek baat aur Mr. Rana" Main uske saamne aakar bola taake vo mere lips read kar sake, " You just told me that no one ever knew about what you and Liyaqat told me"
"Correct"
"There were people hired before me but no one could reach a conclusion"
"Correct, and there is a reason to that"
"What was that reason?"
"We didnt want anyone to know. Father and i knew the entire story but whoever was hired was because of my mother. But we alwas ensured that whoever came, just killed some time around here and went back telling that they couldnt find anything"
"Correct"
"For 20 years?"
"Correct. In a way, you are the first person who we have actually hired to look into the disappearance of my brother"
"So all those people were fake?"
"They were not fake, they were real detectives but they were well instructed that they are not suppose to do anything. They just came here for a vacation that we paid them for"
"And all this just to show your mother that you tried"
"Correct. We didnt want anyone to know what happened between my brother and that prostitute"
"Because of honor?"
"Correct"
"Then why tell me? why the sudden change of heart?"
Vo kuchh der tak chup raha auur phir kuchh soch kar type karne laga.
"Well i guess there is no harm in telling you this. My mother has a neurological illness that can not be cured. There is a vein in her brain that is about to burst open"
"I am sorry to hear that"
"Thanks. She has already been through one surgery and now doctors say that its too much stress on her body and brain to have her
undergo another procedure. Plus the success rate is very low. She may just die on the table itself"
"How long does she have"
"Actually thats where our hopes are. She may just keep on living for another 10 years or may just die today itself. No one can say for certain"
"And now i am here because you want to fulfill your dying mother's wish"
"Correct. Too long we have kept a curtain on what happened to my brother but i guess its time to raise that curtain. If his name is to be taken with a prostitute, then so be it"
"Ek baat samajh nahi aati" Maine sochte hue kaha, "To be with a prostitute or be a womaniser, its not really much of a disgrace, at least not as big as you are making it. Rich kids do that and everyone knows it"
Meri baat sunkar vo khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha.
"There is something else you havent told me yet, right?" Main phir se uske saamne beth gaya.
"Dont get me wrong, i really wanted to but just couldnt say it"
"Please tell me Mr. Rana, what is it?"
"My brother was a gay"
"What?" Mujhe laga ke shayad maine galat sun liya.
"Yeah i know"
"You said your brother was ......"
"Yep" Usne haan mein gardan hilate hue type kiya.
"Are you sure?"
"100%"
"And you know this how?"
"He told me"
"Ravi himself"
"Correct"
"When?"
"Actually doubt toh mujhe kaafi pehle ho gaye the, when we were just 17-18. Mujhe uske kamre mein ek porn magazine mili thi, gay porn magazine actually. Us waqt Indian mein ye sab milna almost impossible hi tha, before the age of the internet. Maine usse puchha toh usne haske baat taal di par phir maine ek din use ek ladke ke saath dekha"
"You mean.....?"
"Oh no no, kuchh karte hue nahi. Dono aise hi bethe baat kar rahe the par jis tarah se vo dono ek doosre ke saath behave kar rahe the, it looked weird. You mean what i mean, baat karne ka andaaz, baat karte hue ek doosre ko chhuna, baar baar haath pakadna. Ravi us ladke ke saath aise pesh aa raha tha jaise vo koi ladka nahi balki ladki ho"
Mujhe kuchh samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun.
"Aur ek do aur incident hue jisse mujhe shak ho gaya aur phir ek din usne mujhe khud hi bata diya"
"Ke vo gay hai?"
"Right. Ham dono kaafi close the"
"Close?"
"What? COME ON !!!, not that way. Just brotherly and friendly close. Jahan tak mera andaza hai vo shayad kaafi din se mujhe batane ki koshish kar raha tha par shayad sharam ki vajah se keh nahi pa raha tha. Ham aapas mein ek doosre ko sab kuchh bataya karte the, bhaiyon se zyada achhe dost the ham. Aur phri ek din usne mujhe bataya ke use ladkiyan nahi ladke pasand hain"
"Aapka reaction?"
"Vaisa hi jaisa kisi bhi normal insaan ka hoga. Pehle samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun, phir laga ke mazak kar raha hai, phir use samjhaya, phir taane maare, phir usse jhagda kiya, phir mom dad ko batane ki dhamki di par aakhir mein phir maine hathyaar daal diya. Kudrat ne use aisa banaya tha toh ismein uski bhi kya galti thi"
"Hmmmm" Maine sochte hue kaha, "Was Kanha his?"
"Lover? No i dont think so"
"Why not?"
"I dont know. Kanha never seemed gay type and i never saw the two of them treating each other any different, like gays you know. They just seemed normal friends"
"Did Kanha know that Ravi was gay?"
"That i dont know but considering that both of them were pretty close, i would guess that Ravi must have told Kanha"
"Was Ravi seeing anyone?"
"You mean like a guy?"
"Yep"
"Lover guy, his boyfriend?"
"Right"
"I actually dont know that but there was this one guy who i think could be Ravi's boyfriend"
"Who?"
"Vahi ladka jiske saath Ravi ko dekh kar mujhe pehli baar shak hua tha"
"Kaun tha vo ladka?"
"Ravi ke saath music classes leta tha, he was a drummer i think and both of them were thinking to start a band together"
"Is this guy still around? Do you know where he lives?"
"I am not sure. You may want to check with the folks at Music Academy in Shimla. Vahan student tha vo"
"Do you remember his name?"
"Yep. Aadesh Mehra"
"Wow" Maine lambi si saans chhodte hue kaha, "You know this kind of changes everything. All the theories that i made up in this case so far"
"I am sure it does"
"Did anyone else knew?"
"I cant say how many people did Ravi tell"
"Your parents?"
"Not at all"
"Liyaqat?"
"Of course not"
Raj se milkar main vaapis guest house pahuncha. Dimag ghoom chuka tha. Ab tak jo kuchh bhi maine information ikatthi ki thi usse pata toh kaafi kuchh chal chuka tha par sab kuchh ek saath fit nahi beth raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise ek tasveer ke bikhre hue tukde hain jinhein main saath betha kar poori tasveer nahi bana pa raha hoon.
Is poore taane baane ka vo sira ab tak nahi mila tha jiske khinchte hi poora jhamela udhad jaata aur sach saamne aa jata. Jis ek baat ka ab mujhe bhi yakeen ho chala tha vo ye thi ke Ravi mar chuka hai. Ye mumkin nahi tha ke vo 20 saal se kahin chhupa betha ho, zinda ho.
"Yeah i know"
"You said your brother was ......"
"Yep" Usne haan mein gardan hilate hue type kiya.
"Are you sure?"
"100%"
"And you know this how?"
"He told me"
"Ravi himself"
"Correct"
"When?"
"Actually doubt toh mujhe kaafi pehle ho gaye the, when we were just 17-18. Mujhe uske kamre mein ek porn magazine mili thi, gay porn magazine actually. Us waqt Indian mein ye sab milna almost impossible hi tha, before the age of the internet. Maine usse puchha toh usne haske baat taal di par phir maine ek din use ek ladke ke saath dekha"
"You mean.....?"
"Oh no no, kuchh karte hue nahi. Dono aise hi bethe baat kar rahe the par jis tarah se vo dono ek doosre ke saath behave kar rahe the, it looked weird. You mean what i mean, baat karne ka andaaz, baat karte hue ek doosre ko chhuna, baar baar haath pakadna. Ravi us ladke ke saath aise pesh aa raha tha jaise vo koi ladka nahi balki ladki ho"
Mujhe kuchh samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun.
"Aur ek do aur incident hue jisse mujhe shak ho gaya aur phir ek din usne mujhe khud hi bata diya"
"Ke vo gay hai?"
"Right. Ham dono kaafi close the"
"Close?"
"What? COME ON !!!, not that way. Just brotherly and friendly close. Jahan tak mera andaza hai vo shayad kaafi din se mujhe batane ki koshish kar raha tha par shayad sharam ki vajah se keh nahi pa raha tha. Ham aapas mein ek doosre ko sab kuchh bataya karte the, bhaiyon se zyada achhe dost the ham. Aur phri ek din usne mujhe bataya ke use ladkiyan nahi ladke pasand hain"
"Aapka reaction?"
"Vaisa hi jaisa kisi bhi normal insaan ka hoga. Pehle samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun, phir laga ke mazak kar raha hai, phir use samjhaya, phir taane maare, phir usse jhagda kiya, phir mom dad ko batane ki dhamki di par aakhir mein phir maine hathyaar daal diya. Kudrat ne use aisa banaya tha toh ismein uski bhi kya galti thi"
"Hmmmm" Maine sochte hue kaha, "Was Kanha his?"
"Lover? No i dont think so"
"Why not?"
"I dont know. Kanha never seemed gay type and i never saw the two of them treating each other any different, like gays you know. They just seemed normal friends"
"Did Kanha know that Ravi was gay?"
"That i dont know but considering that both of them were pretty close, i would guess that Ravi must have told Kanha"
"Was Ravi seeing anyone?"
"You mean like a guy?"
"Yep"
"Lover guy, his boyfriend?"
"Right"
"I actually dont know that but there was this one guy who i think could be Ravi's boyfriend"
"Who?"
"Vahi ladka jiske saath Ravi ko dekh kar mujhe pehli baar shak hua tha"
"Kaun tha vo ladka?"
"Ravi ke saath music classes leta tha, he was a drummer i think and both of them were thinking to start a band together"
"Is this guy still around? Do you know where he lives?"
"I am not sure. You may want to check with the folks at Music Academy in Shimla. Vahan student tha vo"
"Do you remember his name?"
"Yep. Aadesh Mehra"
"Wow" Maine lambi si saans chhodte hue kaha, "You know this kind of changes everything. All the theories that i made up in this case so far"
"I am sure it does"
"Did anyone else knew?"
"I cant say how many people did Ravi tell"
"Your parents?"
"Not at all"
"Liyaqat?"
"Of course not"
Raj se milkar main vaapis guest house pahuncha. Dimag ghoom chuka tha. Ab tak jo kuchh bhi maine information ikatthi ki thi usse pata toh kaafi kuchh chal chuka tha par sab kuchh ek saath fit nahi beth raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise ek tasveer ke bikhre hue tukde hain jinhein main saath betha kar poori tasveer nahi bana pa raha hoon.
Is poore taane baane ka vo sira ab tak nahi mila tha jiske khinchte hi poora jhamela udhad jaata aur sach saamne aa jata. Jis ek baat ka ab mujhe bhi yakeen ho chala tha vo ye thi ke Ravi mar chuka hai. Ye mumkin nahi tha ke vo 20 saal se kahin chhupa betha ho, zinda ho.
Chapter 19 : The Academy
Main, Kamini aur Inspector Negi urf Falana Falana Shimla mein ek building ke bahar khade the.
"Creative Arts, Academy of Music" Negi board padhta hua bola, "Ham yahan kya kar rahe hain sir?"
Aane se pehle maine use bataya nahi tha ke ham Shimla kya karne ja rahe the. Use toh saath laane ka asal mein plan hi nahi tha par pata nahi kaise ek baar phir, jab main aur Kamini Shimla ke liye nikal hi rahe the vo ek baar phir darwaze par aa khada hua. Hamne kaha Shimla ja rahe hain toh bina kuchh puchhe saath ho liya. Chail se Shimla tak ka safar bhi hamne uski gaadi mein hi kiya tha.
"Sahab ko baja bajane ka shauk chadha hai, isliye seekhne aaye hain" Jawab Kamini ne diya.
"Shut up" Main uski taraf dekhta hua bola aur phir Negi ki taraf palta, "Ye vahi academy hai jahan Ravi music seekhne aaya tha"
"Aur yahan ham uske aur Sunanda ke baare mein pata karne aaye hain"
"Haan vo bhi"
"Vo bhi matlab? Aur kisi ke baare mein bhi pata karna hai"
Maine ab tak Negi ko apne aur Raj ke beech hui baat ke baare mein kuchh nahi bataya tha. Vo Ravi ke gay hone ke baare mein kuchh nahi janta tha.
"Haan ek baat aur pata karni hai, aao"
Ham teeno academy ke andar daakhil hue. Saamne ek bada sa hall tha jismein aur bhi kayi gates khul rahe the. Bethne ke liye cushions lage hue the aur kamre ke ek taraf reception bana hua tha. Dekhne mein koi academy kam, five star hotel zyada lag raha tha. Par us waqt reception hall mein koi nahi tha.
"Yahan toh koi nahi hai, band hai kya?" Negi ne puchha.
"Band hota toh main gate kyun khula hota" Kamini ne jawab diya.
"Point"
Tabhi ek gate khula aur ek ladka 16- 17 saal ka daakhil hua. Ek nazar usne ham par daali aur phir main gate ki taraf badh chala.
"Excuse me" Maine use roka, "Aap bata sakte hain ke mujhe student information kahan se mil sakti hai?"
"Dude" Vo mujhe dekh kar aisi shakal banate hue bola jaise abhi abhi gobar soongh liya ho, "Do i look like a receptionist to you. I dont know, let me go" Aur kandhe uchka kar vo chal diya.
"Aey" Pichhe se Negi ne policiya andaaz mein kaha, "Idhar aa"
Ladka vahi buri si shakal banate hue vaapis aaya. Negi us waqt saade kapdo mein tha.
"Kya naam hai tera?"
"Why?"
"Abe why chhod aur naam bata varna vo baja bajaoonga tera ke rattu tote ki tarah ga gakar sunayega"
"Are you a cop?" Us ladke ko shayad Negi ka andaaz dekh kar lag gaya tha ke vo policewala hai.
"Let him go" Maine beech mein bola, "Jao tum"
Aur vo ladka phir buri si shakal banata hua chala gaya.
"Aajkal ki generation" Negi uski taraf dekhta hua bola.
"Main washroom hokar aati hoon" Kamini ne kaha aur reception mein ek gali ki aur badh gayi jahan par washrooms ka board laga hua tha.
Main aur Negi vahin sofe par bethkar receptionist ka intezaar karne lage"
"Negi Bhai" Thodi der baad main bola, "Shaadi hui aapki?"
"Arrey kahan sir, ladki koi dhang ki milti hi nahi"
"Kya baat kar rahe ho, pahadi ladkiyan toh maine suna hai ke kaafi sundar hoti hain"
"Haan hoti toh hain par koi apne type ki nahi milti"
"Kis type ki chahiye aapko?" Maine haste hue puchha.
"Thodi sundar si, thoda shararti hi" Vo bhi mere saath hasta hua bola, "Koi phuljhadi type"
"Phuljhadi?" Kamini hamare pichhe se aati hui boli. Usne Negi ki baat sun li thi, "Tumne shaadi karni hai ya us ladki ke pichhwade mein aag lagake diwali manani hai?"
Uske kehte hi Negi khisiyana sa ho gaya aur main zor se has pada.
"Nahi mera vo matlab nahi tha" Vo sirf itna hi keh saka.
"Yaar koi yahan reception par bethta nahi kya? Andar chal kar dekhen?" Maine chaaron taraf nigah ghumate hue kaha.
"Saamne dekho" Kamni ishara karte hue kaha.
Maine uski anguli ka pichha kiya toh vo reception ke pichhe lage hue ek board par thi. Vo shayad us academy ke principals ki list thi, jismein sabse aakhir naam Aadesh Mehra ka tha.
"Hmmmm" Maine board padhte hue kaha, "Student ab yahin ka principal ho gaya hai, interesting"
"Now all we need to do is find the principal's office" Kamini boli.
Tabhi Negi ka cell-phone bajne laga.
"Hello" Usne call receive ki.
"Yes Sir, Good Afternoon Sir"
"Nahi Sir, main is waqt Shimla mein hoon"
"Kuchh personnal kaam se aaya tha Sir"
"Haanji"
"Haanji"
"Theek hai Sir"
"Jaise aap theek samjhe Sir"
"Ok Sir"
"Jai Hind Sir"
Call disconnect karke usne cell apni jeb mein rakha aur hamari taraf palta.
"DCP sahab ka phone tha, mujhe jana padega"
"Sab theek?" Maine puchha.
"Haan vo headquarters bulaya hai kuchh kaam se, kuchh official kaam hai"
"Theek hai" Maine kaha, "Aap nikal jaaiye"
"Mujhe thoda waqt lag sakta hai"
"Dont worry about it. Ham yahan se nipatne ke baad aapko call kar lenge. Agar aapka kaam khatam ho gaya ho toh saath chal lenge vaapis nahi toh ham koi cab vagerah karke nikal jaayege"
"Sorry Sir, office ka kaam hai toh mana bhi nahi kar sakta"
"Arrey koi baat nahi, aap niklo"
"Main free hote hi aapko phone karta hoon"
Negi ke jaane ke baad main phir reception ki taraf ghooma. Hairat ki baat thi ke ab tak koi reception par nahi aaya tha. Kamini abhi bhi main gate ki taraf hi dekh rahi thi jahan se kuchh pal pehle Negi bahar gaya tha.
"Aise kya dekh rahi hai?" Maine puchha.
"Tumne ek baat notice ki" Vo kuchh shakki si aawaz mein boli.
"Kya?"
"Ye aadmi almost har jagah hamare saath hota hai"
"Kaun Negi?"
"Haan"
"Toh?"
"Toh ye ke is case ke baare mein jitna bhi ham jaante hain utna hi ye bhi janta hai, kuchh baaton ko chhod kar"
"Kehna kya chah rahi hai?"
"Ye kehna chah rahi hoon ke ye har jagah hamare saath chal deta hai, bina kuchh kahe sune. Khud hi aage aage rehta hai madad karne ko"
"Haan toh achhi baat hai na. Some local help is always good and if the local help is of a cop then what else can be better?"
"I agree, but still. There is a difference between being of help and being over-willing to help. Abhi bhi Shimla aane se pehle hamare plan banane ke 15 minute baad hi ye aa pahuncha aur isne puchha tak nahi ke ham Shimla kya karne ja rahe hain. Chup chap paaltu kutte ki tarah hamare saath ho liya"
"You think he is observing us? Shadowing us?" Mujhe samajh mein aaya ke vo kya kehna chah rahi thi.
"Its not impossible"
"Baat mein dam toh hai teri but why would he do that?"
"Maybe someone asked him to"
"Hmmmmm" Maine sochte hue kaha, "It is strange, i think we need to check the guest house as well"
"Guest house?"
"Haan. Jaise ke tune kaha ke ye hamare plan banane ke 15 minute baad hi aa pahuncha aur isne puchha tak nahi ke ham Shimla kyun ja rahe hain, as if he already knew"
"You think that guest house is bugged?"
"I dont know but it could be. Ek baar dekh lenge"
Ham abhi baat kar hi rahe the ke ek darwaza khula aur vahan se koi 50 saal ke kareeb umar ka ek aadmi bahar aaya.
"Can i help you?" Usne hamein vahan khade dekh puchha.
"Yes, please" Maine fauran muskurate hue jawab diya, "We have been standing here for a while and there is no one at the reception"
"Oh i am sorry about that. Actually aaj academy closed hai toh isliye koi hai hi nahi yahan"
"Oh" Maine mayusi se kaha. Academy band hai matlab Princial bhi nahi hoga yahan. Itni door aane bekaar saabit hua.
"Can i be of any help?" Us aadmi ne phir puchha.
"We were actually looking for one Mr. Aadesh Mehra" Maine kaha aur phir board ki taraf ishara kiya, "And from that board i understand he is someone of importance here"
"Yes he is indeed is, he is the principal here. How can i help you?" Usne phir puchha.
"We wanted to talk to him, Mr. Aadesh Mehra"
"Oh i am sorry" Vo fauran haste hue bola, "I should have introduced myself rather than just nodding my head. I am Aadesh Mehra, the princial here"
Kehte hue usne apna haath milane ke liye aage kiya.
Main, Kamini aur Inspector Negi urf Falana Falana Shimla mein ek building ke bahar khade the.
"Creative Arts, Academy of Music" Negi board padhta hua bola, "Ham yahan kya kar rahe hain sir?"
Aane se pehle maine use bataya nahi tha ke ham Shimla kya karne ja rahe the. Use toh saath laane ka asal mein plan hi nahi tha par pata nahi kaise ek baar phir, jab main aur Kamini Shimla ke liye nikal hi rahe the vo ek baar phir darwaze par aa khada hua. Hamne kaha Shimla ja rahe hain toh bina kuchh puchhe saath ho liya. Chail se Shimla tak ka safar bhi hamne uski gaadi mein hi kiya tha.
"Sahab ko baja bajane ka shauk chadha hai, isliye seekhne aaye hain" Jawab Kamini ne diya.
"Shut up" Main uski taraf dekhta hua bola aur phir Negi ki taraf palta, "Ye vahi academy hai jahan Ravi music seekhne aaya tha"
"Aur yahan ham uske aur Sunanda ke baare mein pata karne aaye hain"
"Haan vo bhi"
"Vo bhi matlab? Aur kisi ke baare mein bhi pata karna hai"
Maine ab tak Negi ko apne aur Raj ke beech hui baat ke baare mein kuchh nahi bataya tha. Vo Ravi ke gay hone ke baare mein kuchh nahi janta tha.
"Haan ek baat aur pata karni hai, aao"
Ham teeno academy ke andar daakhil hue. Saamne ek bada sa hall tha jismein aur bhi kayi gates khul rahe the. Bethne ke liye cushions lage hue the aur kamre ke ek taraf reception bana hua tha. Dekhne mein koi academy kam, five star hotel zyada lag raha tha. Par us waqt reception hall mein koi nahi tha.
"Yahan toh koi nahi hai, band hai kya?" Negi ne puchha.
"Band hota toh main gate kyun khula hota" Kamini ne jawab diya.
"Point"
Tabhi ek gate khula aur ek ladka 16- 17 saal ka daakhil hua. Ek nazar usne ham par daali aur phir main gate ki taraf badh chala.
"Excuse me" Maine use roka, "Aap bata sakte hain ke mujhe student information kahan se mil sakti hai?"
"Dude" Vo mujhe dekh kar aisi shakal banate hue bola jaise abhi abhi gobar soongh liya ho, "Do i look like a receptionist to you. I dont know, let me go" Aur kandhe uchka kar vo chal diya.
"Aey" Pichhe se Negi ne policiya andaaz mein kaha, "Idhar aa"
Ladka vahi buri si shakal banate hue vaapis aaya. Negi us waqt saade kapdo mein tha.
"Kya naam hai tera?"
"Why?"
"Abe why chhod aur naam bata varna vo baja bajaoonga tera ke rattu tote ki tarah ga gakar sunayega"
"Are you a cop?" Us ladke ko shayad Negi ka andaaz dekh kar lag gaya tha ke vo policewala hai.
"Let him go" Maine beech mein bola, "Jao tum"
Aur vo ladka phir buri si shakal banata hua chala gaya.
"Aajkal ki generation" Negi uski taraf dekhta hua bola.
"Main washroom hokar aati hoon" Kamini ne kaha aur reception mein ek gali ki aur badh gayi jahan par washrooms ka board laga hua tha.
Main aur Negi vahin sofe par bethkar receptionist ka intezaar karne lage"
"Negi Bhai" Thodi der baad main bola, "Shaadi hui aapki?"
"Arrey kahan sir, ladki koi dhang ki milti hi nahi"
"Kya baat kar rahe ho, pahadi ladkiyan toh maine suna hai ke kaafi sundar hoti hain"
"Haan hoti toh hain par koi apne type ki nahi milti"
"Kis type ki chahiye aapko?" Maine haste hue puchha.
"Thodi sundar si, thoda shararti hi" Vo bhi mere saath hasta hua bola, "Koi phuljhadi type"
"Phuljhadi?" Kamini hamare pichhe se aati hui boli. Usne Negi ki baat sun li thi, "Tumne shaadi karni hai ya us ladki ke pichhwade mein aag lagake diwali manani hai?"
Uske kehte hi Negi khisiyana sa ho gaya aur main zor se has pada.
"Nahi mera vo matlab nahi tha" Vo sirf itna hi keh saka.
"Yaar koi yahan reception par bethta nahi kya? Andar chal kar dekhen?" Maine chaaron taraf nigah ghumate hue kaha.
"Saamne dekho" Kamni ishara karte hue kaha.
Maine uski anguli ka pichha kiya toh vo reception ke pichhe lage hue ek board par thi. Vo shayad us academy ke principals ki list thi, jismein sabse aakhir naam Aadesh Mehra ka tha.
"Hmmmm" Maine board padhte hue kaha, "Student ab yahin ka principal ho gaya hai, interesting"
"Now all we need to do is find the principal's office" Kamini boli.
Tabhi Negi ka cell-phone bajne laga.
"Hello" Usne call receive ki.
"Yes Sir, Good Afternoon Sir"
"Nahi Sir, main is waqt Shimla mein hoon"
"Kuchh personnal kaam se aaya tha Sir"
"Haanji"
"Haanji"
"Theek hai Sir"
"Jaise aap theek samjhe Sir"
"Ok Sir"
"Jai Hind Sir"
Call disconnect karke usne cell apni jeb mein rakha aur hamari taraf palta.
"DCP sahab ka phone tha, mujhe jana padega"
"Sab theek?" Maine puchha.
"Haan vo headquarters bulaya hai kuchh kaam se, kuchh official kaam hai"
"Theek hai" Maine kaha, "Aap nikal jaaiye"
"Mujhe thoda waqt lag sakta hai"
"Dont worry about it. Ham yahan se nipatne ke baad aapko call kar lenge. Agar aapka kaam khatam ho gaya ho toh saath chal lenge vaapis nahi toh ham koi cab vagerah karke nikal jaayege"
"Sorry Sir, office ka kaam hai toh mana bhi nahi kar sakta"
"Arrey koi baat nahi, aap niklo"
"Main free hote hi aapko phone karta hoon"
Negi ke jaane ke baad main phir reception ki taraf ghooma. Hairat ki baat thi ke ab tak koi reception par nahi aaya tha. Kamini abhi bhi main gate ki taraf hi dekh rahi thi jahan se kuchh pal pehle Negi bahar gaya tha.
"Aise kya dekh rahi hai?" Maine puchha.
"Tumne ek baat notice ki" Vo kuchh shakki si aawaz mein boli.
"Kya?"
"Ye aadmi almost har jagah hamare saath hota hai"
"Kaun Negi?"
"Haan"
"Toh?"
"Toh ye ke is case ke baare mein jitna bhi ham jaante hain utna hi ye bhi janta hai, kuchh baaton ko chhod kar"
"Kehna kya chah rahi hai?"
"Ye kehna chah rahi hoon ke ye har jagah hamare saath chal deta hai, bina kuchh kahe sune. Khud hi aage aage rehta hai madad karne ko"
"Haan toh achhi baat hai na. Some local help is always good and if the local help is of a cop then what else can be better?"
"I agree, but still. There is a difference between being of help and being over-willing to help. Abhi bhi Shimla aane se pehle hamare plan banane ke 15 minute baad hi ye aa pahuncha aur isne puchha tak nahi ke ham Shimla kya karne ja rahe hain. Chup chap paaltu kutte ki tarah hamare saath ho liya"
"You think he is observing us? Shadowing us?" Mujhe samajh mein aaya ke vo kya kehna chah rahi thi.
"Its not impossible"
"Baat mein dam toh hai teri but why would he do that?"
"Maybe someone asked him to"
"Hmmmmm" Maine sochte hue kaha, "It is strange, i think we need to check the guest house as well"
"Guest house?"
"Haan. Jaise ke tune kaha ke ye hamare plan banane ke 15 minute baad hi aa pahuncha aur isne puchha tak nahi ke ham Shimla kyun ja rahe hain, as if he already knew"
"You think that guest house is bugged?"
"I dont know but it could be. Ek baar dekh lenge"
Ham abhi baat kar hi rahe the ke ek darwaza khula aur vahan se koi 50 saal ke kareeb umar ka ek aadmi bahar aaya.
"Can i help you?" Usne hamein vahan khade dekh puchha.
"Yes, please" Maine fauran muskurate hue jawab diya, "We have been standing here for a while and there is no one at the reception"
"Oh i am sorry about that. Actually aaj academy closed hai toh isliye koi hai hi nahi yahan"
"Oh" Maine mayusi se kaha. Academy band hai matlab Princial bhi nahi hoga yahan. Itni door aane bekaar saabit hua.
"Can i be of any help?" Us aadmi ne phir puchha.
"We were actually looking for one Mr. Aadesh Mehra" Maine kaha aur phir board ki taraf ishara kiya, "And from that board i understand he is someone of importance here"
"Yes he is indeed is, he is the principal here. How can i help you?" Usne phir puchha.
"We wanted to talk to him, Mr. Aadesh Mehra"
"Oh i am sorry" Vo fauran haste hue bola, "I should have introduced myself rather than just nodding my head. I am Aadesh Mehra, the princial here"
Kehte hue usne apna haath milane ke liye aage kiya.
Vo mujhe aur Kamini ko lekar apne office mein aaya.
"Main asal mein aapke ek do students ke baare mein kuchh information chahiye thi" Main uske office mein bethta hua bola.
"Information?"
"Yes, any information that you may have on your records"
"Are you a cop?" Usne sawaliya andaaz mein meri tarf dekhte hue puchha.
"No"
"Are these students you are enquiring about your relatives? Or related to you in any way?"
"No, no family connections"
"Then i am sorry Sir but i must disappoint you. Students information is confidential and i cant release any"
"Student I am enquiring about is Ravi Rana" Maine uski baat ko nazar-andaaz karte hue, "And i am requesting this information on behalf of his mother Mrs. Bela Rana. Agar aap chahen toh unse phone par verify karte hain"
Jaisa ki mujhe ummeed thi, Rana khandaan ka naam aaya toh uske haav=bhaav fauran badalte chale gaye.
"Mrs. Rana?"
"Yes"
"And you are enquiring about her son Ravi Rana, the gentleman who disappeared 20 years ago"
"Precisely"
"I am not sure ke hamare paas itne purane records abhi bhi available honge. Mujhe check karna hoga"
"Asal mein main records wali information ki baat nahi kar raha"
"Phir?"
"Main us informaiton ki baat kar raha hoon jo aap mujhe de sakte hain" Main table par apni kohniyan rakh kar aage ko jhukta hua bola, "I have been made to believe that you and Ravi were quite close"
"By whom?" Uske chehre ke bhaav ek baar phir badle. Saaf zaahir ho raha tha ke use meri baat pasand nahi aayi thi.
"By his own brother, Raj Rana"
"What do you mean by close?"
Ek pal ke liye toh mere dil mein aaya ke keh doon "lovers type close" par ye baat maine apne dil mein hi rehne di.
"Good friends close. You guys were planning to start a band together close"
"Oh yes" Chehre ke bhaav ek baar phir badle. Ab vo us chhote bachche ki tarah lag raha tha jiski chori almost pakdi gayi thi aur vo baal baal bach gaya "We did talk about that a few times"
"Ravi's disappearance must have been quite a shock to you"
"Not really" Usne kaha, "I mean ham log koi aise khaas close nahi tha. Vo guitar achha baja leta tha aur main drums toh ham dono ki pehchan bas yahin tak thi. Kabhi kabhi saath saath practice karte the aur tab hi ham aapas mein band shuru karne ki baat karte the"
"Kitne waqt se jaante the aap Ravi ko?"
"Takreeban ek saal se"
"Would you know of any reason, uske is tarah gayab hone ke pichhe?"
"As i said, main bas use is school ki deewaron ke pichhe hi janta tha"
Usne ye baat kahi hi thi ke uska cell phone baj utha.
"Haan hello" Usne call receive ki.
"Kab?" Vo ekdam shocked si aawaz mein bola.
"Oh god !"
"Main 10 minute mein pahunch raha hoon"
"Dont worry"
"Main bas abhi pahunch hi gaya"
Bahut hi excitement aur pareshaani ke bhaav chehre par liye usne phone kaata.
"I am sorry, i will have to run. Some emergency. Can we continue this another time?"
"I hope everything is ok?"
"Oh yeah yeah, nothing to worry about. I hope you dont mind but i really will have to go?"
"Sure no problem"
"Here is my card" Usne apni jeb se card nikal kar table par rakha, "Please do give me a call and we can continue this conversation"
"I will" Maine card uthaya, "Thank you"
Vo hamare saath hi academy ke saath saath bahar aaya aur hamse vida lekar apni car mein gadhe ke sar se seengh ki tarah gayab ho gaya.
"Do cheezen toh saaf hain" Kamini uske jaane ke baad boli.
"What is that?" Maine puchha.
"Ek toh ye ke ye gay hai" vo boli
"How do you know that?"
"Is poore waqt isne ek baar bhi meri taraf nahi dekha. Usually mard ke saamne agar ek ladka khada ho aur saath mein ek khoobsurat ladki ho toh vo ladke se mile na mile, ladki se zaroor milta hai"
"Wow" Maine haste hue kaha, "You do have a neck for praising yourself"
"Shut up" Vo mujhe kohni maarte hue boli, "Chalo maan ke main khoobsurat nahi aur usne meri taraf isliye nahi dekha ke main pasand nahi aayi par ek common courtsey hoti hai saamne khade insaan se baat karna. Is poore dauran isne meri taraf dekhna toh door ki baat hai, Hi Hello tak nahi ki. Poore waqt tumse hi baat kar raha tha aur tumhari hi taraf dekh raha tha. Mujhse haath tak nahi milaya. As if i wasnt even there"
"Baat toh sahi hai teri"
"Poore waqt uska dhyaan bas tum par hi focussed tha. I think he liked you" Usne aankh maarte hue kaha.
"Shut up" Is baar kohni maine maari, "Aur doosri baat"
"Kuchh aisa hai jo Ravi ke baare mein ye janta hai par hamein batana nahi chahta"
"And how do you know that?"
"Jis tarah se ye Ravi ke baare mein baat shuru karte hi bidak kar bhaga hai usse"
"Vo bidak kar nahi bhaga, phone aane par gaya hai"
"There was no emergency and there was no phone call" Vo muskurate hue boli.
"What do you mean?"
"Jab tum usse Ravi ke baare mein baat kar rahe the aur uska poora dhyaan uski taraf tha toh mera dhyaan uske haathon ki taraf chala gaya"
"Haathon ki taraf?"
"Yep. Uska ek haath table par tha aur doosra jeb mein"
"Toh?"
"Toh ye ke aisa Ravi ke baare mein baat shuru karne ke baad hua. Jab tumne Ravi ka topic chheda toh usne apna ek haath jeb mein dala, usi jeb mein jismein ke uska mobile rakha tha"
"Toh?"
"Toh i am guessing ke usne andaaze se apne cell phone menu mein jakar koi ek music play kiya jisse hamein laga ke uska cell baj raha hai. Uske baad usne call receive ki aur uthkar chalta bana but call asal mein aayi hi nahi thi koi"
"Andaaze se jeb mein cell phone par ring tone play karna?"
"Mushkil hai but if you have had a cell phone long enough, it can be done. I do it jab mujhe koi call fake karni ho ya kisi ko avoid karna ho"
"Wow"
"And that is not all. Usne kaha ke emergency hai aur jab tumne puchha ke anything serious, toh vo kehta hai ke nothing to worry about. Jhooth ki pehli nishani. Agar sach bol raha hota toh fauran hamein bata deta ke kya emergency aan padi hai ya ye kehta ke kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Par usne jawab vo diya jo aam taur par ek aam aadmi ki natural reaction hoti hai, ke nahi koi baat nahi, nothing to worry about"
"Wow" Maine hairat se uski taraf dekha, "You are awesome !!!!"
Ham dono abhi tak academy ke gate ke bahar hi khade hue the ke tabhi pichhe se kisi ki aawaz aayi.
"Hello, i didnt expect you to find here" Academy ka gate khol kar Sakshi Rana bahar aate hue boli.
And i certainly didnt expect to find you here" Maine muskurate hue usse haath milaya.
"Well it seems we both surprised each other"
"We sure did, and this is Kamini" Maine use Kamini se milvaya, "A friend of mine"
"Oh so you must be that beautiful girl living with him" Sakshi Kamini se haath milate hue boli.
"How did you know that?" Main puchhne hi wala tha ke mujhse pehle Kamini ne sawal daag diya.
"Its a very small town sweety, aur jis ghar mein aap log thehre hue hain vo meri Bua ka hai. Pata chal jata hai"
"Yeah she is kind of also helping me on the case" Maine muskurate hue kaha.
"Ek se bhale do, aap log yahan kya kar rahe hain vaise"
"Aadesh sahab se milne aaye the"
"Aadesh se, kis silsile mein?"
"Case ke silsile mein"
"Aadesh ka is mamle se kya lena dena?" Usne hairani se meri taraf dekha aur phir ishare se hamein apne saath chalne ko kaha.
"Mujhe pata chala ke Aadesh aur Ravi mein kaafi achhi dosti thi toh socha ke shayad kuchh information mil jaaye"
"Oh yes" Sakshi aur main aage aage chal rahe the aur Kamini ham dono ke pichhe aa rahi thi, "I remember now. They used to practice together"
"And i heard ke kaafi achhi dosti thi dono ke beech"
"Vo toh main nahi jaanti par haan dono aksar saath practice karte the. They had plans to start a band together"
"Yeah i heard that too toh yahi sochkar aaaya tha ke shayad Aadesh Sahab ke paas koi jaankari ho"
"Toh mili koi jaankari?"
"Baat ho hi nahi paayi dhang se. Abhi baat shuru hi hui thi ke unhein koi phone aa gaya aur unhein jaldi mein jana pada"
"Pity"
"Yeah i know. Phir kabhi phone karke aaoonga dobara"
"Koi zaroorat nahi" Sakshi ne kaha. Ham log chalte chalte ek kaale rang ki BMW tak aa pahunche.
"Ji?"
"Mera matlab aapko aane ki koi zaroorat nahi. Aapke paas jab bhi waqt ho bata dijiyega, main Aadesh ko aapke paas hi bhej doongi"
"Main samjha nahi"
"I am his Boss. Ye academy yun samajhiye ke meri hi hai" Usne haste hue kaha.
"Wow, thats news. Nobody ever told me that"
"Not many people know this actually. Ye academy aur yahan ke kayi aise schools and inistitutions ek club dwara chalaye jaate hain, rich man's club you can say. Main aur Dad us club ka hisssa hain aur ye academy main hi run karti hoon"
"Wow, beautful and intellectual, thats a rare combination"
"Flattery haan? Good. Vaise aap log ja kahan rahe hain?"
"Filhal toh Shimla hi vaapis jaane ka plan hai"
"Toh aaiye main chhod deti hoon. Aapki friend kahan hai?"
Sakshi boli toh maine palatke dekha. Kamini ka kahin ata pata nahi tha.
"Main asal mein aapke ek do students ke baare mein kuchh information chahiye thi" Main uske office mein bethta hua bola.
"Information?"
"Yes, any information that you may have on your records"
"Are you a cop?" Usne sawaliya andaaz mein meri tarf dekhte hue puchha.
"No"
"Are these students you are enquiring about your relatives? Or related to you in any way?"
"No, no family connections"
"Then i am sorry Sir but i must disappoint you. Students information is confidential and i cant release any"
"Student I am enquiring about is Ravi Rana" Maine uski baat ko nazar-andaaz karte hue, "And i am requesting this information on behalf of his mother Mrs. Bela Rana. Agar aap chahen toh unse phone par verify karte hain"
Jaisa ki mujhe ummeed thi, Rana khandaan ka naam aaya toh uske haav=bhaav fauran badalte chale gaye.
"Mrs. Rana?"
"Yes"
"And you are enquiring about her son Ravi Rana, the gentleman who disappeared 20 years ago"
"Precisely"
"I am not sure ke hamare paas itne purane records abhi bhi available honge. Mujhe check karna hoga"
"Asal mein main records wali information ki baat nahi kar raha"
"Phir?"
"Main us informaiton ki baat kar raha hoon jo aap mujhe de sakte hain" Main table par apni kohniyan rakh kar aage ko jhukta hua bola, "I have been made to believe that you and Ravi were quite close"
"By whom?" Uske chehre ke bhaav ek baar phir badle. Saaf zaahir ho raha tha ke use meri baat pasand nahi aayi thi.
"By his own brother, Raj Rana"
"What do you mean by close?"
Ek pal ke liye toh mere dil mein aaya ke keh doon "lovers type close" par ye baat maine apne dil mein hi rehne di.
"Good friends close. You guys were planning to start a band together close"
"Oh yes" Chehre ke bhaav ek baar phir badle. Ab vo us chhote bachche ki tarah lag raha tha jiski chori almost pakdi gayi thi aur vo baal baal bach gaya "We did talk about that a few times"
"Ravi's disappearance must have been quite a shock to you"
"Not really" Usne kaha, "I mean ham log koi aise khaas close nahi tha. Vo guitar achha baja leta tha aur main drums toh ham dono ki pehchan bas yahin tak thi. Kabhi kabhi saath saath practice karte the aur tab hi ham aapas mein band shuru karne ki baat karte the"
"Kitne waqt se jaante the aap Ravi ko?"
"Takreeban ek saal se"
"Would you know of any reason, uske is tarah gayab hone ke pichhe?"
"As i said, main bas use is school ki deewaron ke pichhe hi janta tha"
Usne ye baat kahi hi thi ke uska cell phone baj utha.
"Haan hello" Usne call receive ki.
"Kab?" Vo ekdam shocked si aawaz mein bola.
"Oh god !"
"Main 10 minute mein pahunch raha hoon"
"Dont worry"
"Main bas abhi pahunch hi gaya"
Bahut hi excitement aur pareshaani ke bhaav chehre par liye usne phone kaata.
"I am sorry, i will have to run. Some emergency. Can we continue this another time?"
"I hope everything is ok?"
"Oh yeah yeah, nothing to worry about. I hope you dont mind but i really will have to go?"
"Sure no problem"
"Here is my card" Usne apni jeb se card nikal kar table par rakha, "Please do give me a call and we can continue this conversation"
"I will" Maine card uthaya, "Thank you"
Vo hamare saath hi academy ke saath saath bahar aaya aur hamse vida lekar apni car mein gadhe ke sar se seengh ki tarah gayab ho gaya.
"Do cheezen toh saaf hain" Kamini uske jaane ke baad boli.
"What is that?" Maine puchha.
"Ek toh ye ke ye gay hai" vo boli
"How do you know that?"
"Is poore waqt isne ek baar bhi meri taraf nahi dekha. Usually mard ke saamne agar ek ladka khada ho aur saath mein ek khoobsurat ladki ho toh vo ladke se mile na mile, ladki se zaroor milta hai"
"Wow" Maine haste hue kaha, "You do have a neck for praising yourself"
"Shut up" Vo mujhe kohni maarte hue boli, "Chalo maan ke main khoobsurat nahi aur usne meri taraf isliye nahi dekha ke main pasand nahi aayi par ek common courtsey hoti hai saamne khade insaan se baat karna. Is poore dauran isne meri taraf dekhna toh door ki baat hai, Hi Hello tak nahi ki. Poore waqt tumse hi baat kar raha tha aur tumhari hi taraf dekh raha tha. Mujhse haath tak nahi milaya. As if i wasnt even there"
"Baat toh sahi hai teri"
"Poore waqt uska dhyaan bas tum par hi focussed tha. I think he liked you" Usne aankh maarte hue kaha.
"Shut up" Is baar kohni maine maari, "Aur doosri baat"
"Kuchh aisa hai jo Ravi ke baare mein ye janta hai par hamein batana nahi chahta"
"And how do you know that?"
"Jis tarah se ye Ravi ke baare mein baat shuru karte hi bidak kar bhaga hai usse"
"Vo bidak kar nahi bhaga, phone aane par gaya hai"
"There was no emergency and there was no phone call" Vo muskurate hue boli.
"What do you mean?"
"Jab tum usse Ravi ke baare mein baat kar rahe the aur uska poora dhyaan uski taraf tha toh mera dhyaan uske haathon ki taraf chala gaya"
"Haathon ki taraf?"
"Yep. Uska ek haath table par tha aur doosra jeb mein"
"Toh?"
"Toh ye ke aisa Ravi ke baare mein baat shuru karne ke baad hua. Jab tumne Ravi ka topic chheda toh usne apna ek haath jeb mein dala, usi jeb mein jismein ke uska mobile rakha tha"
"Toh?"
"Toh i am guessing ke usne andaaze se apne cell phone menu mein jakar koi ek music play kiya jisse hamein laga ke uska cell baj raha hai. Uske baad usne call receive ki aur uthkar chalta bana but call asal mein aayi hi nahi thi koi"
"Andaaze se jeb mein cell phone par ring tone play karna?"
"Mushkil hai but if you have had a cell phone long enough, it can be done. I do it jab mujhe koi call fake karni ho ya kisi ko avoid karna ho"
"Wow"
"And that is not all. Usne kaha ke emergency hai aur jab tumne puchha ke anything serious, toh vo kehta hai ke nothing to worry about. Jhooth ki pehli nishani. Agar sach bol raha hota toh fauran hamein bata deta ke kya emergency aan padi hai ya ye kehta ke kuchh zaroori kaam hai. Par usne jawab vo diya jo aam taur par ek aam aadmi ki natural reaction hoti hai, ke nahi koi baat nahi, nothing to worry about"
"Wow" Maine hairat se uski taraf dekha, "You are awesome !!!!"
Ham dono abhi tak academy ke gate ke bahar hi khade hue the ke tabhi pichhe se kisi ki aawaz aayi.
"Hello, i didnt expect you to find here" Academy ka gate khol kar Sakshi Rana bahar aate hue boli.
And i certainly didnt expect to find you here" Maine muskurate hue usse haath milaya.
"Well it seems we both surprised each other"
"We sure did, and this is Kamini" Maine use Kamini se milvaya, "A friend of mine"
"Oh so you must be that beautiful girl living with him" Sakshi Kamini se haath milate hue boli.
"How did you know that?" Main puchhne hi wala tha ke mujhse pehle Kamini ne sawal daag diya.
"Its a very small town sweety, aur jis ghar mein aap log thehre hue hain vo meri Bua ka hai. Pata chal jata hai"
"Yeah she is kind of also helping me on the case" Maine muskurate hue kaha.
"Ek se bhale do, aap log yahan kya kar rahe hain vaise"
"Aadesh sahab se milne aaye the"
"Aadesh se, kis silsile mein?"
"Case ke silsile mein"
"Aadesh ka is mamle se kya lena dena?" Usne hairani se meri taraf dekha aur phir ishare se hamein apne saath chalne ko kaha.
"Mujhe pata chala ke Aadesh aur Ravi mein kaafi achhi dosti thi toh socha ke shayad kuchh information mil jaaye"
"Oh yes" Sakshi aur main aage aage chal rahe the aur Kamini ham dono ke pichhe aa rahi thi, "I remember now. They used to practice together"
"And i heard ke kaafi achhi dosti thi dono ke beech"
"Vo toh main nahi jaanti par haan dono aksar saath practice karte the. They had plans to start a band together"
"Yeah i heard that too toh yahi sochkar aaaya tha ke shayad Aadesh Sahab ke paas koi jaankari ho"
"Toh mili koi jaankari?"
"Baat ho hi nahi paayi dhang se. Abhi baat shuru hi hui thi ke unhein koi phone aa gaya aur unhein jaldi mein jana pada"
"Pity"
"Yeah i know. Phir kabhi phone karke aaoonga dobara"
"Koi zaroorat nahi" Sakshi ne kaha. Ham log chalte chalte ek kaale rang ki BMW tak aa pahunche.
"Ji?"
"Mera matlab aapko aane ki koi zaroorat nahi. Aapke paas jab bhi waqt ho bata dijiyega, main Aadesh ko aapke paas hi bhej doongi"
"Main samjha nahi"
"I am his Boss. Ye academy yun samajhiye ke meri hi hai" Usne haste hue kaha.
"Wow, thats news. Nobody ever told me that"
"Not many people know this actually. Ye academy aur yahan ke kayi aise schools and inistitutions ek club dwara chalaye jaate hain, rich man's club you can say. Main aur Dad us club ka hisssa hain aur ye academy main hi run karti hoon"
"Wow, beautful and intellectual, thats a rare combination"
"Flattery haan? Good. Vaise aap log ja kahan rahe hain?"
"Filhal toh Shimla hi vaapis jaane ka plan hai"
"Toh aaiye main chhod deti hoon. Aapki friend kahan hai?"
Sakshi boli toh maine palatke dekha. Kamini ka kahin ata pata nahi tha.
"Abhi toh yahin thi" Maine ghoom kar chaaro taraf nazar daudayi par vo kahin dikhai nahi di, "Hamare pichhe hi toh aa rahi thi"
"She cant have lost her way" Sakshi ne bhi meri taraf aas paas nazar ghumana shuru kiya, "We just walked around the corner"
"Ek min" Mujhe andaza ho gaya ke kya hua hoga. Sakshi ko maine vahin rukne ka andaza kiya aur phir dobara chalta hua Academy ke gate ke paas pahuncha.
Vahin mushkil se 2 kadam aage ek bus stand tha. Kamini bus stand par bethi hui thi.
Main uske naZdeek pahuncha toh usne ek nazar mujhe dekha aur phir doosri taraf nazar ghuma li.
"Natak ho gaya ho toh ab chalein?" Maine kaha.
"Nahi tum us chhammak chhallo ke saath itna busy the toh maine socha ke kuchh privacy de doon. Tum chale jao uske saath, main bus se aa jaoongi" Vo munh banate hue boli.
"Drama chhodo aur chalo" Maine uska haath pakda aur lagbhag khinchte hue phir Sakshi ki car tak laya.
"Aap kahan reh gayi thi?" Sakshi use dekh kar muskurate hue boli.
"Madam pichhe ek shop mein chali gayi thi" Maine bahana mara.
Ham log Sakshi ki car mein hi Shimla se Chail tak aaye. Poore raaste main aur Sakshi idhar udhar ki baatein karte rahe par Kamini munh banaye bethi rahi.
"Why dont you come over for a cup of tea?" Ham Chail mein ghuse toh Kamini ne puchha.
"Nahi phir kabhi" Maine mana karte hue kaha. Kamini ko mera Sakshi ke saath baat karna pasand nahi aa raha tha aur main use aur zyada upset nahi karna chahta tha.
"Phir kabhi kyun, aaj hi chal lijiye" Sakshi zor dalkar hamein apne ghar le aayi.
Sakshi ya phir yun kahiye ke uske baap Pratap Rana ka ghar bhi lagbhag Mrs. Bela Rana ke jaisa hi tha. Pahadon ke beech ek purane zamane ki castle ki tarah bana hua behad khoobsurat ghar jiske har kone se paise ki khushbu aa rahi thi.
Pratap Rana bhi us waqt ghar par hi tha aur mujhe dekh kar kaafi khush hua. Us din subah sadak par pehli aur behad ajeeb mulaqat ke baad ham dono ki ye doosri mulaqat thi.
"Aaj aap mere mehmaan hai, aaj aap par goli nahi chalaoonga main" Ham log bethe toh usne mazak karte hue kaha.
"Vo ek galat fehmi thi Sir" Main jhenpta hua bola.
"Goli?" Sakshi ne hairani se ham dono ki taraf dekha. Jab Pratap Rana ne use us din ka kissa sunaya toh kamre mein har koi dil khol kar hasa aur main dil khol kar jhenpa.
"So you found out about Ravi then?" Chaai ke baad main aur Pratap drawing room mein bethe ek cigar ke kash laga rahe the toh usne puchha. Kamini ko Sakshi apne saath apne kamre mein le gayi thi isliye drawing room mein bas main aur vo akele hi bethe the.
"Not yet, trying my best" Maine cigar ka lamba sa kash lagaya. Vo ek mehengi cuban cigar thi aur main zindagi mein pehli baar cigar pi raha tha, "This tastes good"
"I am sure it does, cubans are the best" Pratap ne jawab diya, "And i didnt mean to say ke you found out Ravi ke saath kya hua. I meant ke you have found out he was gay"
"How did you know?" Main lagbhag kursi se gir hi pada.
"You went to meet Aadesh, iski sirf ek yahi vajah ho sakti thi"
"Ye bhi toh ho sakta hai ke main aise hi baat karne gaya tha"
"Par kya really aap aise hi baat karne gaye the?"
"Nahi" Main vaapis kursi se tek lagata hua bola, "How did you know that he way gay?"
"He was my nephew, my family" Usne jawab diya, "I saw that kid growing up. Pata chal jata hai. You know i wanted to marry Sakshi to him?"
"Really? Marry Sakshi to him?"
"Yes"
"Marry her to your own sister's son?"
"You sound surprised"
"Yes i am. Arent they cousins?"
"Yes they are, but cousins mein shaadi hamare desh mein koi nayi baat nahi"
"Yes i am sorry. I know ke aisa hona kaafi aam baat hai, dont know why i was surprised. Did Sakshi know?"
"Yes she did, actually everyone did. Meri behen bhi yahi chahti thi. And Sakshi was madly in love with Ravi"
"Did she know that Ravi was ....?" Maine puchha
"No she did not"
"What did you tell her?"
"I didnt tell her anything, Ravi did. He told he they are cousins, he has always considered her as a sister and is not comfortable getting married to her"
"I think i would have done the same thing"
"You mean if you were gay?"
"No i mean if someone asked me to get married to one of my cousins" Maine haste hue kaha, "Sakshi must have been heart broken"
"Yes she was indeed" Pratap ne us kamre ki taraf dekhte hue kaha jismein Sakshi aur Kamini the, "Bachpan se hamesha yahi sunti aayi thi ke uski shaadi Ravi se honi hai. Vo toh intezaar kar rahi thi ke kab vo yahan se shift hokar apni bua ke ghar jaaye. Aur phir jab Ravi ne mana kar diya toh dil toot gaya bechari ka. Kaafi udaas rahi kaafi din tak"
"Do you think that is why her marriage did not work?"
"It is possible, i cant say for sure. She never talked to me much on this topic"
"How did she take it after Ravi disappeared?"
"She took it really bad. Asal mein us incident ke baad hi iski shaadi hui thi. Are you married?" Achanak baat ka rukh meri taraf mud gaya
"I was"
"Divorce?"
"No she died"
"Oh I am sorry, any kids?"
"Yeah, a son"
"Death in child delivery?"
"Yes" Maine bhi jhooth bol diya.
"You see that tree out there?" Pratap ne bahar ek neem ke ped ki taraf ishara kiya. Kaafi bada ped tha.
"Yeah, its quite large. Must be very old"
"It is. 20 saal purana ped hai" Usne meri taraf dekh kar kaha.
"20 saal"
"Yes. Ravi ke gayab hone ke baad Shakshi ne uski yaad mein lagaya tha. Kahin mannat maan kar aayi thi uski vaapsi ki, ye ped laga kar roz iske aage ek diya jalati thi. Pata nahi kisne keh diya ke ek ped lagane se insaan laut aayega aur ye ek padhi likhi ladki maan bhi gayi. Aakar ye ped lagaya aur Ravi ka intezaar karne beth gayi. Ravi toh nahi lauta par haan ye ped khasa bada ho gaya"
"Desperation does get us to do weird things" Main ped ki taraf dekhta hua bola.
"Indeed" Pratap ne sirf itna hi kaha.
"She cant have lost her way" Sakshi ne bhi meri taraf aas paas nazar ghumana shuru kiya, "We just walked around the corner"
"Ek min" Mujhe andaza ho gaya ke kya hua hoga. Sakshi ko maine vahin rukne ka andaza kiya aur phir dobara chalta hua Academy ke gate ke paas pahuncha.
Vahin mushkil se 2 kadam aage ek bus stand tha. Kamini bus stand par bethi hui thi.
Main uske naZdeek pahuncha toh usne ek nazar mujhe dekha aur phir doosri taraf nazar ghuma li.
"Natak ho gaya ho toh ab chalein?" Maine kaha.
"Nahi tum us chhammak chhallo ke saath itna busy the toh maine socha ke kuchh privacy de doon. Tum chale jao uske saath, main bus se aa jaoongi" Vo munh banate hue boli.
"Drama chhodo aur chalo" Maine uska haath pakda aur lagbhag khinchte hue phir Sakshi ki car tak laya.
"Aap kahan reh gayi thi?" Sakshi use dekh kar muskurate hue boli.
"Madam pichhe ek shop mein chali gayi thi" Maine bahana mara.
Ham log Sakshi ki car mein hi Shimla se Chail tak aaye. Poore raaste main aur Sakshi idhar udhar ki baatein karte rahe par Kamini munh banaye bethi rahi.
"Why dont you come over for a cup of tea?" Ham Chail mein ghuse toh Kamini ne puchha.
"Nahi phir kabhi" Maine mana karte hue kaha. Kamini ko mera Sakshi ke saath baat karna pasand nahi aa raha tha aur main use aur zyada upset nahi karna chahta tha.
"Phir kabhi kyun, aaj hi chal lijiye" Sakshi zor dalkar hamein apne ghar le aayi.
Sakshi ya phir yun kahiye ke uske baap Pratap Rana ka ghar bhi lagbhag Mrs. Bela Rana ke jaisa hi tha. Pahadon ke beech ek purane zamane ki castle ki tarah bana hua behad khoobsurat ghar jiske har kone se paise ki khushbu aa rahi thi.
Pratap Rana bhi us waqt ghar par hi tha aur mujhe dekh kar kaafi khush hua. Us din subah sadak par pehli aur behad ajeeb mulaqat ke baad ham dono ki ye doosri mulaqat thi.
"Aaj aap mere mehmaan hai, aaj aap par goli nahi chalaoonga main" Ham log bethe toh usne mazak karte hue kaha.
"Vo ek galat fehmi thi Sir" Main jhenpta hua bola.
"Goli?" Sakshi ne hairani se ham dono ki taraf dekha. Jab Pratap Rana ne use us din ka kissa sunaya toh kamre mein har koi dil khol kar hasa aur main dil khol kar jhenpa.
"So you found out about Ravi then?" Chaai ke baad main aur Pratap drawing room mein bethe ek cigar ke kash laga rahe the toh usne puchha. Kamini ko Sakshi apne saath apne kamre mein le gayi thi isliye drawing room mein bas main aur vo akele hi bethe the.
"Not yet, trying my best" Maine cigar ka lamba sa kash lagaya. Vo ek mehengi cuban cigar thi aur main zindagi mein pehli baar cigar pi raha tha, "This tastes good"
"I am sure it does, cubans are the best" Pratap ne jawab diya, "And i didnt mean to say ke you found out Ravi ke saath kya hua. I meant ke you have found out he was gay"
"How did you know?" Main lagbhag kursi se gir hi pada.
"You went to meet Aadesh, iski sirf ek yahi vajah ho sakti thi"
"Ye bhi toh ho sakta hai ke main aise hi baat karne gaya tha"
"Par kya really aap aise hi baat karne gaye the?"
"Nahi" Main vaapis kursi se tek lagata hua bola, "How did you know that he way gay?"
"He was my nephew, my family" Usne jawab diya, "I saw that kid growing up. Pata chal jata hai. You know i wanted to marry Sakshi to him?"
"Really? Marry Sakshi to him?"
"Yes"
"Marry her to your own sister's son?"
"You sound surprised"
"Yes i am. Arent they cousins?"
"Yes they are, but cousins mein shaadi hamare desh mein koi nayi baat nahi"
"Yes i am sorry. I know ke aisa hona kaafi aam baat hai, dont know why i was surprised. Did Sakshi know?"
"Yes she did, actually everyone did. Meri behen bhi yahi chahti thi. And Sakshi was madly in love with Ravi"
"Did she know that Ravi was ....?" Maine puchha
"No she did not"
"What did you tell her?"
"I didnt tell her anything, Ravi did. He told he they are cousins, he has always considered her as a sister and is not comfortable getting married to her"
"I think i would have done the same thing"
"You mean if you were gay?"
"No i mean if someone asked me to get married to one of my cousins" Maine haste hue kaha, "Sakshi must have been heart broken"
"Yes she was indeed" Pratap ne us kamre ki taraf dekhte hue kaha jismein Sakshi aur Kamini the, "Bachpan se hamesha yahi sunti aayi thi ke uski shaadi Ravi se honi hai. Vo toh intezaar kar rahi thi ke kab vo yahan se shift hokar apni bua ke ghar jaaye. Aur phir jab Ravi ne mana kar diya toh dil toot gaya bechari ka. Kaafi udaas rahi kaafi din tak"
"Do you think that is why her marriage did not work?"
"It is possible, i cant say for sure. She never talked to me much on this topic"
"How did she take it after Ravi disappeared?"
"She took it really bad. Asal mein us incident ke baad hi iski shaadi hui thi. Are you married?" Achanak baat ka rukh meri taraf mud gaya
"I was"
"Divorce?"
"No she died"
"Oh I am sorry, any kids?"
"Yeah, a son"
"Death in child delivery?"
"Yes" Maine bhi jhooth bol diya.
"You see that tree out there?" Pratap ne bahar ek neem ke ped ki taraf ishara kiya. Kaafi bada ped tha.
"Yeah, its quite large. Must be very old"
"It is. 20 saal purana ped hai" Usne meri taraf dekh kar kaha.
"20 saal"
"Yes. Ravi ke gayab hone ke baad Shakshi ne uski yaad mein lagaya tha. Kahin mannat maan kar aayi thi uski vaapsi ki, ye ped laga kar roz iske aage ek diya jalati thi. Pata nahi kisne keh diya ke ek ped lagane se insaan laut aayega aur ye ek padhi likhi ladki maan bhi gayi. Aakar ye ped lagaya aur Ravi ka intezaar karne beth gayi. Ravi toh nahi lauta par haan ye ped khasa bada ho gaya"
"Desperation does get us to do weird things" Main ped ki taraf dekhta hua bola.
"Indeed" Pratap ne sirf itna hi kaha.
Chapter 19 - The Husband, The Wife And The Lover
Zindagi ne ab ek ajeeb hi disha le li thi. Main aur Renuka ab bhi ek hi chhat ke neeche the, ab bhi usi kamre mein rehte the, ek hi bistar par sote the par kaafi kuchh badal gaya tha ham dono ke beech. Meri aur uski baat sirf aur sirf naam ke liye hote thi, bas zaroorat bhar ki. Na toh main kabhi usse pyaar ke do bol bolta tha aur na hi kabhi uske kareeb jata. Ek hi kamre mein, ek hi bistar par bhi ham dono shayad majboori mein hi so rahe the kyunki ghar mein mere maan baap bhi the aur unpar ham dono ye zaahir nahi kar sakte the ke hamari shaadi ab khatam ho chali hai.
Din hafto mein badle aur hafte maheeno mein badal gaye. Ham miyan biwi ab bhi the par dono ke beech jismani rishta khatam ho chuka tha. Main kabhi uske saath sex ke baare mein sochta tak nahi tha. Bas kaam se aata, khana khata, thoda waqt apne maan baap aur bete ke saath guzarta aur khamoshi se kamre mein jakar so jata. Vo bhi ghar ke kaam nipta kar aati aur chup chap apni taraf aakar so jaati. Sawera hota, main kaam par nikal jata aur phir shaam ko ghar aakar phir vahi kahani.
Par apne bete ki taraf ham dono ki tawajjah poori tarah thi. Ham dono hi is baat ka poori tarah se khyaal rakh rahe the ke hamari khatam ho rahi shaadi ka koi bhi asar hamare bete ki zindagi par na aaye aur shayad vo ek masoom bachcha hi tha jo ham dono ko ab tak saath jode hue tha. Vo na hota agar toh kabki ham dono ke beech talak ho gayi hoti. Main uske pyaar aur dulaar mein kabhi koi kami nahi chhodta tha aur aisa hi rawiyya Renuka ka bhi tha. Vo poori tarah se apne bete ki taraf dedicated thi. Ham dono ke beech agar poore din koi baat bhi hoti thi toh zyadatar hamare bete aur uski zarooraton ko lekar.
Mere attitude mein koi badlaav nahi aaya par Renuka ke attitude mein zaroor aaya. Uski jasoosi karte karte main thak chuka tha par kahin se uske premi ka koi pata na chala. Na hi main uski ki email trace kar saka aur na hi uski koi call aisi trace kar saka. Uske phone ab bhi bas zyadatar apne maan baap, kuchh saheliyon ya Kamini ko hote.
"Kya chal raha hai tumhare beech?" Ek din main aur Kamini lunch ke liye mile toh usne puchha.
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab tumhare aur Renuka ke beech. Koi problem hai kya?"
"Nahi toh" Maine khana khaate hue bola.
"Jhooth mat bolo, sachchai jaanti hoon main"
"Toh mujhse kyun puchh rahi hai phir? Sab jaanti toh hai tu, aajkal dekh raha hoon ke teri aur uski dosti kaafi badh gayi hai. Kaafi phone karti hai tujhe. Kya bataya?"
"Yahi ke tum kaise ajeeb tarah se behave karne lage ho"
"Achha main ajeeb behave karne laga hoon?"
"Jo usne mujhe bataya usse toh yahi lagta hai. Kya hua kya hai tumhein?"
"Tu kyun uski itni tarafdaari kar rahi hai? Tu toh chahti bhi nahi thi ke main usse shaadi karun"
"Kyunki main us waqt Renuka ko jaanti nahi thi"
"Aur ab jaanti hai?"
"Haan"
"Kya jaanti hai?"
"Yahi ke she is a wonderful friend to her friends, a good daughter to her parents, a good sister to her brother, a good wife and mother and most of all, a wonderful human being"
"Jaane de na yaar" Main baat taalta hua bola.
"Hua kya hai bataoge?"
"Tu khana khane degi ya main uthkar jaoon yahan se?" Maine spoon neeche rakhte hue kaha.
"Kha lo, par ek aakhri baat kahun?"
"Bol"
"Main nahi jaanti ke kya chal raha hai aur tum aisa kyun kar rahe ho par ek baat ka dhyaan rakhna, she is your wife and mother of your child. Bahut saari zindagiyan judi hui hain tum dono ke saath aur tum dono jo bhi karoge uska asar kaafi saare logon par padega"
"Mujhse zyada ye baat use sochni chahiyE" Maine jawab diya.
Kuchh der tak ham dono khamosh bethe rahe.
"Ek baat aur puchhun tumse"
"Puchh"
"Koi aur hai kya tumhari life mein?"
"What?" Main lagbhag has pada.
"Jis tarah se tum uske saath behave kar rahe ho, i mean she told me eveyrthing ...."
"What everything"
"You know ... like you guys havent been together in months ....." Vo nazar neeche jhukate hue boli.
"Oh man .... she told you that? I cant believe her" Main janta tha ke Kamini ka ishara kis taraf hai.
"Are you having an affair with someone else?"
"No i am not. I am not sleeping around with someone else and i am not really comfortable talking about this to you. So unless you want me to walk out of the restaurant, this topic ends here"
"Ok" Vo boli aur khamoshi se khana khane lagi.
"Did Renuka said this to you?"
"Said what?"
"That i have an affair with someone else"
"She didnt say anything" Vo nazar neeche kiye khana khaati rahi.
"Yes she did" Maine spoon phir neeche rakha, "She is going around telling people ke mera kahin chakkar chal raha hai aur tujhe yahan yahi pata karne bheja hai, hai na? She sent you to spy on me, talk me into telling you something"
"Usne mujhe aisa kuchh nahi kaha. Ye main khud se puchh rahi thi"
"No you were not. Tune mujhe yahan Renuka ke kehne par lunch ke liye bulaya hai taaki mujhe baatein nikalva sake. I dont believe this"
Main gusse mein utha, apne purse se card nikal kar table par rakha.
"Lunch ke liye pay kar dena, card main tujhse baad mein le loonga. I am getting late, need to go back to office" Kehkar main restaurant se nikal gaya.
Bahar aaya hi tha ke mera cell baja. Ek telemarketing message tha,
"Spycam in keychain. 3.5 MP camera, 16 GB hard drive, 8 hours of recording. Call ........ to order"
Maine message padhkar delete kiya par mere dimag mein ek idea aa chuka tha.
Shuru shuru mein jab mujhe Renuka ke baare mein pata chala tha aur maine uski jasoosi shuru ki toh vo mere bartaav mein aaye tabdeeli ko lekar kaafi pareshan rehti thi. Baar baar mujhse puchhti rehti ke main naraz kyun hoon, kya baat ho gayi. Aksar mujhse maafiyan maangti bina mere ye bataye ke main kis baat par ukhda hua hoon par dheere dheere usni aisa karna band kar diya.
Aalam dheere dheere ye ho gaya ke na main usse koi baat karne ki koshish karta aur na hi vo. Na main use koi pyaar mohabbat dikhata aur na hi ho. Na hi raat ko kabhi main uske kareeb jata aur na hi vo mere kareeb aati. Par haan, jis tarah se duniya ke saamne maine apne rishte ko sidha sachcha aur mazboot rakha hua tha bilkul vaisa hi vo bhi kar rahi thi. Hamare rishtedaaron aur doston ke saamne ham ab bhi ek perfect, made for each other couple the jinhein dekh kar koi ye andaza nahi laga sakta tha ke unke beech kya chal raha hai. Duniyawalo ke liye hamari shaadi ab tak mazboot thi aur koi aisi baat beech mein nahi aayi thi jiski vajah se ye rishta khatre mein pade.
Jis tarah se main hamare beech ke jhagde ka asar apne bete par bilkul nahi padne de raha tha usi tarah Renuka ka bhi is baat ka poora khyaal rakh rahi thi ke us masoom ke pyaar mein kisi bhi tarah koi kami na aaye.
Ham dono ke alawa hamare beech ki problems ke baare mein sirf Kamini jaanti thi. Main nahi janta tha ke Renuka ne use aur kya kya kaha tha aur main Kamini ne is baare mein zyada baat karna bhi nahi chahta tha par ek baat saaf thi. Renuka ne hamari khatam hoti shaadi ka ilzaam mere sar par daalne ka irada bana liya tha. Aaj usne Kamini ko ye kaha ke mera kahin aur koi affair hai, vo din door nahi jab vo aisa hi kuchh apne gharwalo aur phir mere gharwalo ko batayegi.
"Assalam Alaikum Bhaijaan" Main ek baar phir Akram Ballebaaz ki dukaan par pahuncha toh vo mujhse usi garamjoshi se mila jaise ke vo hamesha milta tha.
"Walaikum Assalam. Kya haal hain janab ke?"
"Janab ke haal janab ko hi pata honge, par mere haal bilkul theek hain"
"Sade hue jokes maarne ki aadat gayi nahi ab tak teri" Main uske saamne ek kursi par bethte hue bola.
"Kya khaayenge?" Usne mere bethte hi puchha.
"Pet bhara hua hai, bilkul kuchh nahi khaoonga" Maine apne pet par haath pherte hue kaha.
"Aap Akram se milne aayen aur kuchh khakar na jaayen, aisa ho sakta hai bhala?"
Mere lakh mana karne par bhi usne kuchh khaane ke liye manga hi liya. Thodi der idhar udhar ki baaten karne ke baad main matlab ki baat par aaya.
"Ek kaam tha mujhse"
"Jaan haazir hai"
"Spycam type kuchh chahiye" Maine kaha.
Vo fauran meri baat ka matlab samajh gaya aur khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha. Main bhi uski aankhon mein aankhen daale chup chap betha raha.
"Mujhe laga tha ke vo kissa khatam ho gaya"
"Aise kisse itni jaldi khatam nahi hote"
"Ab tak jo kuchh kiya tha usse kuchh kaamyabi mili, laga kuchh haath?"
"Nahi"
"Toh iska matlab ye hai Bhaijaan ke aap fizool shak kar rahe hain. Ab jaane dijiye is baat ko, nikal dijiye apne zehan se. Allah ne aapko ek khoobsurat aur nek biwi se nawaza hai, ek pyaari si nanhi jaan aap dono ki god mein di hai, uski di hui khushiyon ko yun thokar mat maariye"
"Main sirf apne dil ki tasalli kar raha hoon"
"Nahi, aap andhere mein teer chala rahe hain. Us cheez ki talash kar rahe hain jo hai hi nahi"
"Tujhe kaise pata ke nahi hai?"
"Ishq aur mushq chhupaye nahi chhupte Bhaijaan. Aisa agar kuchh hota toh kabki bhanak pad gayi hoti. Aapne itni koshish ki na, kya nateeja nikla? Arrey jab aisa kuchh hai hi nahi toh kaise kuchh pata chalega"
"Lecture mat de" Main thoda sakht andaaz mein bola, "Ye bata ke mera kaam kar sakta hai ya nahi?"
"Mana toh kabhi kiya hi nahi aapko maine" Usne bhi lambi saans chhodte hue hathyaar daal diye, "Samjhana mera kaam tha, aage aapki
marzi"
"Good. Toh mujhe chhote chhote se kuchh spycams chahiye, hard-drive thodi zyada ho jisse recording time bhi zyada rahe. Baare baar thode
hi waqt baad badalne aur erase karne ki zaroorat na pade.
Zindagi ne ab ek ajeeb hi disha le li thi. Main aur Renuka ab bhi ek hi chhat ke neeche the, ab bhi usi kamre mein rehte the, ek hi bistar par sote the par kaafi kuchh badal gaya tha ham dono ke beech. Meri aur uski baat sirf aur sirf naam ke liye hote thi, bas zaroorat bhar ki. Na toh main kabhi usse pyaar ke do bol bolta tha aur na hi kabhi uske kareeb jata. Ek hi kamre mein, ek hi bistar par bhi ham dono shayad majboori mein hi so rahe the kyunki ghar mein mere maan baap bhi the aur unpar ham dono ye zaahir nahi kar sakte the ke hamari shaadi ab khatam ho chali hai.
Din hafto mein badle aur hafte maheeno mein badal gaye. Ham miyan biwi ab bhi the par dono ke beech jismani rishta khatam ho chuka tha. Main kabhi uske saath sex ke baare mein sochta tak nahi tha. Bas kaam se aata, khana khata, thoda waqt apne maan baap aur bete ke saath guzarta aur khamoshi se kamre mein jakar so jata. Vo bhi ghar ke kaam nipta kar aati aur chup chap apni taraf aakar so jaati. Sawera hota, main kaam par nikal jata aur phir shaam ko ghar aakar phir vahi kahani.
Par apne bete ki taraf ham dono ki tawajjah poori tarah thi. Ham dono hi is baat ka poori tarah se khyaal rakh rahe the ke hamari khatam ho rahi shaadi ka koi bhi asar hamare bete ki zindagi par na aaye aur shayad vo ek masoom bachcha hi tha jo ham dono ko ab tak saath jode hue tha. Vo na hota agar toh kabki ham dono ke beech talak ho gayi hoti. Main uske pyaar aur dulaar mein kabhi koi kami nahi chhodta tha aur aisa hi rawiyya Renuka ka bhi tha. Vo poori tarah se apne bete ki taraf dedicated thi. Ham dono ke beech agar poore din koi baat bhi hoti thi toh zyadatar hamare bete aur uski zarooraton ko lekar.
Mere attitude mein koi badlaav nahi aaya par Renuka ke attitude mein zaroor aaya. Uski jasoosi karte karte main thak chuka tha par kahin se uske premi ka koi pata na chala. Na hi main uski ki email trace kar saka aur na hi uski koi call aisi trace kar saka. Uske phone ab bhi bas zyadatar apne maan baap, kuchh saheliyon ya Kamini ko hote.
"Kya chal raha hai tumhare beech?" Ek din main aur Kamini lunch ke liye mile toh usne puchha.
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab tumhare aur Renuka ke beech. Koi problem hai kya?"
"Nahi toh" Maine khana khaate hue bola.
"Jhooth mat bolo, sachchai jaanti hoon main"
"Toh mujhse kyun puchh rahi hai phir? Sab jaanti toh hai tu, aajkal dekh raha hoon ke teri aur uski dosti kaafi badh gayi hai. Kaafi phone karti hai tujhe. Kya bataya?"
"Yahi ke tum kaise ajeeb tarah se behave karne lage ho"
"Achha main ajeeb behave karne laga hoon?"
"Jo usne mujhe bataya usse toh yahi lagta hai. Kya hua kya hai tumhein?"
"Tu kyun uski itni tarafdaari kar rahi hai? Tu toh chahti bhi nahi thi ke main usse shaadi karun"
"Kyunki main us waqt Renuka ko jaanti nahi thi"
"Aur ab jaanti hai?"
"Haan"
"Kya jaanti hai?"
"Yahi ke she is a wonderful friend to her friends, a good daughter to her parents, a good sister to her brother, a good wife and mother and most of all, a wonderful human being"
"Jaane de na yaar" Main baat taalta hua bola.
"Hua kya hai bataoge?"
"Tu khana khane degi ya main uthkar jaoon yahan se?" Maine spoon neeche rakhte hue kaha.
"Kha lo, par ek aakhri baat kahun?"
"Bol"
"Main nahi jaanti ke kya chal raha hai aur tum aisa kyun kar rahe ho par ek baat ka dhyaan rakhna, she is your wife and mother of your child. Bahut saari zindagiyan judi hui hain tum dono ke saath aur tum dono jo bhi karoge uska asar kaafi saare logon par padega"
"Mujhse zyada ye baat use sochni chahiyE" Maine jawab diya.
Kuchh der tak ham dono khamosh bethe rahe.
"Ek baat aur puchhun tumse"
"Puchh"
"Koi aur hai kya tumhari life mein?"
"What?" Main lagbhag has pada.
"Jis tarah se tum uske saath behave kar rahe ho, i mean she told me eveyrthing ...."
"What everything"
"You know ... like you guys havent been together in months ....." Vo nazar neeche jhukate hue boli.
"Oh man .... she told you that? I cant believe her" Main janta tha ke Kamini ka ishara kis taraf hai.
"Are you having an affair with someone else?"
"No i am not. I am not sleeping around with someone else and i am not really comfortable talking about this to you. So unless you want me to walk out of the restaurant, this topic ends here"
"Ok" Vo boli aur khamoshi se khana khane lagi.
"Did Renuka said this to you?"
"Said what?"
"That i have an affair with someone else"
"She didnt say anything" Vo nazar neeche kiye khana khaati rahi.
"Yes she did" Maine spoon phir neeche rakha, "She is going around telling people ke mera kahin chakkar chal raha hai aur tujhe yahan yahi pata karne bheja hai, hai na? She sent you to spy on me, talk me into telling you something"
"Usne mujhe aisa kuchh nahi kaha. Ye main khud se puchh rahi thi"
"No you were not. Tune mujhe yahan Renuka ke kehne par lunch ke liye bulaya hai taaki mujhe baatein nikalva sake. I dont believe this"
Main gusse mein utha, apne purse se card nikal kar table par rakha.
"Lunch ke liye pay kar dena, card main tujhse baad mein le loonga. I am getting late, need to go back to office" Kehkar main restaurant se nikal gaya.
Bahar aaya hi tha ke mera cell baja. Ek telemarketing message tha,
"Spycam in keychain. 3.5 MP camera, 16 GB hard drive, 8 hours of recording. Call ........ to order"
Maine message padhkar delete kiya par mere dimag mein ek idea aa chuka tha.
Shuru shuru mein jab mujhe Renuka ke baare mein pata chala tha aur maine uski jasoosi shuru ki toh vo mere bartaav mein aaye tabdeeli ko lekar kaafi pareshan rehti thi. Baar baar mujhse puchhti rehti ke main naraz kyun hoon, kya baat ho gayi. Aksar mujhse maafiyan maangti bina mere ye bataye ke main kis baat par ukhda hua hoon par dheere dheere usni aisa karna band kar diya.
Aalam dheere dheere ye ho gaya ke na main usse koi baat karne ki koshish karta aur na hi vo. Na main use koi pyaar mohabbat dikhata aur na hi ho. Na hi raat ko kabhi main uske kareeb jata aur na hi vo mere kareeb aati. Par haan, jis tarah se duniya ke saamne maine apne rishte ko sidha sachcha aur mazboot rakha hua tha bilkul vaisa hi vo bhi kar rahi thi. Hamare rishtedaaron aur doston ke saamne ham ab bhi ek perfect, made for each other couple the jinhein dekh kar koi ye andaza nahi laga sakta tha ke unke beech kya chal raha hai. Duniyawalo ke liye hamari shaadi ab tak mazboot thi aur koi aisi baat beech mein nahi aayi thi jiski vajah se ye rishta khatre mein pade.
Jis tarah se main hamare beech ke jhagde ka asar apne bete par bilkul nahi padne de raha tha usi tarah Renuka ka bhi is baat ka poora khyaal rakh rahi thi ke us masoom ke pyaar mein kisi bhi tarah koi kami na aaye.
Ham dono ke alawa hamare beech ki problems ke baare mein sirf Kamini jaanti thi. Main nahi janta tha ke Renuka ne use aur kya kya kaha tha aur main Kamini ne is baare mein zyada baat karna bhi nahi chahta tha par ek baat saaf thi. Renuka ne hamari khatam hoti shaadi ka ilzaam mere sar par daalne ka irada bana liya tha. Aaj usne Kamini ko ye kaha ke mera kahin aur koi affair hai, vo din door nahi jab vo aisa hi kuchh apne gharwalo aur phir mere gharwalo ko batayegi.
"Assalam Alaikum Bhaijaan" Main ek baar phir Akram Ballebaaz ki dukaan par pahuncha toh vo mujhse usi garamjoshi se mila jaise ke vo hamesha milta tha.
"Walaikum Assalam. Kya haal hain janab ke?"
"Janab ke haal janab ko hi pata honge, par mere haal bilkul theek hain"
"Sade hue jokes maarne ki aadat gayi nahi ab tak teri" Main uske saamne ek kursi par bethte hue bola.
"Kya khaayenge?" Usne mere bethte hi puchha.
"Pet bhara hua hai, bilkul kuchh nahi khaoonga" Maine apne pet par haath pherte hue kaha.
"Aap Akram se milne aayen aur kuchh khakar na jaayen, aisa ho sakta hai bhala?"
Mere lakh mana karne par bhi usne kuchh khaane ke liye manga hi liya. Thodi der idhar udhar ki baaten karne ke baad main matlab ki baat par aaya.
"Ek kaam tha mujhse"
"Jaan haazir hai"
"Spycam type kuchh chahiye" Maine kaha.
Vo fauran meri baat ka matlab samajh gaya aur khamoshi se meri taraf dekhta raha. Main bhi uski aankhon mein aankhen daale chup chap betha raha.
"Mujhe laga tha ke vo kissa khatam ho gaya"
"Aise kisse itni jaldi khatam nahi hote"
"Ab tak jo kuchh kiya tha usse kuchh kaamyabi mili, laga kuchh haath?"
"Nahi"
"Toh iska matlab ye hai Bhaijaan ke aap fizool shak kar rahe hain. Ab jaane dijiye is baat ko, nikal dijiye apne zehan se. Allah ne aapko ek khoobsurat aur nek biwi se nawaza hai, ek pyaari si nanhi jaan aap dono ki god mein di hai, uski di hui khushiyon ko yun thokar mat maariye"
"Main sirf apne dil ki tasalli kar raha hoon"
"Nahi, aap andhere mein teer chala rahe hain. Us cheez ki talash kar rahe hain jo hai hi nahi"
"Tujhe kaise pata ke nahi hai?"
"Ishq aur mushq chhupaye nahi chhupte Bhaijaan. Aisa agar kuchh hota toh kabki bhanak pad gayi hoti. Aapne itni koshish ki na, kya nateeja nikla? Arrey jab aisa kuchh hai hi nahi toh kaise kuchh pata chalega"
"Lecture mat de" Main thoda sakht andaaz mein bola, "Ye bata ke mera kaam kar sakta hai ya nahi?"
"Mana toh kabhi kiya hi nahi aapko maine" Usne bhi lambi saans chhodte hue hathyaar daal diye, "Samjhana mera kaam tha, aage aapki
marzi"
"Good. Toh mujhe chhote chhote se kuchh spycams chahiye, hard-drive thodi zyada ho jisse recording time bhi zyada rahe. Baare baar thode
hi waqt baad badalne aur erase karne ki zaroorat na pade.
"Theek hai, main karta hoon kuchh jugaad. Lagaoge kahan?"
"Apne ghar mein, aur kahan"
"Haan vo toh mujhe samajh aa gaya par ghar mein bhi toh kahin lagaoge hi, khulle mein thode hi rakhoge camera"
"Ye abhi decide kiya nahi hai"
"Jab soch lo toh bata dena, main fix karke de doonga"
"Ek kaam kar. Ghar ki zaroorat ki cheezon mein laga, aisi jinhein baar baar hatane ki zaroorat na pade. Jo ek jagah fix rahen"
"Jaise ke?"
"Jaise ke deewar par tangi hui ghadi, shelf mein rakhe hue speakers and doosri sajawat ki cheezen"
"Theek hai. Mujhe ghar se do teen cheezen lakar de do, main camera fix karke vaapis de doonga"
Kuchh der aur main uske baad Akram ke paas betha raha. Usne mujhe phir samjhane ki koshish ki par uski baat maine phir kaat di.
Vahan se uthkar main phir office aa gaya. Yun toh us din chhutti thi par ghar par jaane ka dil nahi karta tha aur kuchh kaam bacha tha toh socha ke office jakar vahi niptaoon. Renuka ki jasoosi aur ghar par chal rahi problems ka sabse bura asar mera kaam par pad raha tha. Mera Boss mujhe kayi baar is baat par tok bhi chuka tha. Is bure waqt mein agar mujhe kaam se haath nikal diya jata toh meri saalon ki mehnat par pani phir jata.
Office mein main kuchh articles mein betha sar khapa raha tha ke phone baj utha. Kamini ka message tha.
"Kahan ho?"
"Office" Maine jawab diya, "Kyun?"
"Aaj office? Aaj toh national holiday hai"
"Kya national holiday yaar, main koi bank clerk nahi hoon. Reporter hoon"
"Toh reporter saahib thoda waqt apne ghar par apni biwi ke saath bhi bitaya kijiye"
"I have better things to do" Maine rookha sa jawab diya.
"SHE IS YOUR WIFE" Is baar Kamini ka jawab caps mein aaya.
"Unfortunately yes" Maine likh kar bheja.
"Kis baat ki saza de rahe ho us bechari ko?"
"Tu phir shuru ho gayi, kaam karne de mujhe"
"I am your friend, you can talk to me about it"
"Tune agar mujhse is baare mein ek baar aur baat ki agar toh i will be your friend who wouldnt talk to you anymore. Baat karni hai agar toh Renuka ke baare mein baat mat kar aur agar Renuka ke baare mein baat karni hai toh mujhse baat hi mat kar phir"
"GO TO HELL" Usne phir caps mein likh kar bheja.
Main mobile ek taraf rakh kar ek baar phir articles edit karne beth gaya. Thodi der baad mera cell phir baja.
"Kya chahti hai yaar?" Maine gusse mein apne aap se kehte hue phone uthaya. Mujhe laga tha ke shayad Kamini ka mesasge hoga.
Par mere cell mein koi message nahi tha.
Hairani se maine inbox phir check kiya par koi naya message nahi tha. Mujhe laga ke shayad ya toh cell mein kuchh gadbad hui hai ya mere kaan baj rahe hain. Par phir achanak dhyaan aaya ke ye ghanti mere is cell ki nahi doosre cell ki thi. Vo cell jismein Renuka ke sim ka clone dala hua tha.
Vo phone mere bag mein rakha hua tha. Maine nikal kar check kiya toh message usmein aaya tha. Ye Sim is tarah se set tha ke Renuka ke cell par aane wale aur uske cell se jaane wale dono messages ki ek copy mujhe deliver hoti thi. Ye message Renuka ne bheja tha kisi ko.
"I am here waiting for you, where are you?"
Problem sabse badi ye thi ke mere paas sirf message ki copy aati thi aur sent from mein Renuka ka hi number aata tha. Matlab ye ke ye jaanne ka koi tareeka nahi tha ke message kise bheja gaya hai.
Abhi main sar khua hi raha tha ke cell phir baja. Is baar number unknown tha. Maine message khola.
"I am already in the hotel. Come straight to the room, door is open"
Mera khoon khaul utha. Ek pal nahi laga ye samajhne mein ke message kahan se aaya tha aur kisi kamre mein Renuka kisi ke saath kya karne ke liye ja rahi thi. Maine fauran apne cell se us number par call ki.
Thodi der tak ghanti bajti rahi aur phir ek aadmi ne call receive ki.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se ek bhaari mardana aawaz aayi.
"Kaun bol raha hai?" Maine puchha.
"Aapko kisse baat karni hai?"
"Aapka naam jaan sakta hoon?" Maine gusse par kaabu paate hue aaram se puchha.
Cell par kuchh der khamoshi rahi aur phir call disconnect kar di gayi. Maine dobara number milaya toh cell switched off mila.
Agle 10 min tak main baar baar vo number try karta raha par cell har baar switched off hi mila. Kabhi apne cell se toh kabhi office ke landline number se main pagalon ki tarah baar baar vo number milata raha par jo phone switched off tha uski ghanti bhala kaise baj sakti thi.
Thak kar main apna sar pakad kar beth gaya. Dil hi dil mein main kaafi pehle ye yaqeen kar chuka tha ke Renuka mujhe dhokha de rahi hai par kahin ummeed ki ek chhoti si kiran jali hui thi ke shayad main galat hoon, shayad mujhe dhokha hua hai aur meri biwi aaj bhi sirf mujhse hi pyaar karti hai. Aaj bhi uske dil aur jism par haq sirf mera hi hai.
Kahin dil hi dil mein main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke ye sab ek bure khwaab ki tarah khatam ho jaayega aur ek baar phir main aur Renuka usi tarah honge jaise is toofan ke aane se pehle the.
Doosra khyaal dil mein ye tha ke shayad Renuka ne mujhse bewafai ki ho par ab apni galti ko sudharne ke liye us raah se vaapis laut aayi hai. Shayad meri aur hamare bachche ki mohabbat use ek baar phir apne pariwaar ke paas vaapis le aayi hai. Ab sirf mujhe use maaf karna tha aur sab kuchh bhool kar bina kisi gile shikve ke ek baar phir use apni biwi ke roop mein apnana tha.
Par aaj mera har khyaal galat pad gaya, har ummeed nakam ho gayi. Na toh Renuka ne apne uper haq sirf mujhe diya tha aur na hi vo apni galti ko sudharne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Aaj saabit ho gaya tha ke vo mujhe dhokha de rahi thi.
Mere dil par us waqt jo guzar rahi thi vo sirf main janta tha. Ek taraf toh itna gusaa ke Renuka agar mere saamne hoti toh main uska khoon kar deta aur doosri taraf us insaan ki halat jiski duniya ujad rahi ho aur vo kuchh na kar pa raha ho. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kaise Renuka ko rokun. Vo us band kamre mein us ajnabi ke saath jo karne wali thi vo sochkar hi mujhe vehshat si ho rahi thi. Lag raha tha mere ghar mein aag lagayi ja rahi hai aur main bahar khada tamasha dekh raha hoon. Ek hotel ke band kamre mein meri izzat ko nanga kiya ja raha hai aur main bas chup khada hoon.
Sabse bada afsos ye tha ke aisa karne wali meri biwi thi jo us kamre mein apne jism ke saath saath mere poore ghar ki izzat ko ek ajnabi ke saamne nanga karne ja rahi thi. Jaane pehle kitni baar kar chuki hogi aur aaj phir vahi karne ja rahi thi.
Aur vo ajnabi, kya sochta hoga vo. Ke main ek namard hoon? Ke main apni biwi ko bistar par khush nahi rakh pa raha hoon? Ke main is qadar gaya guzra hoon ke meri biwi ko apni jismani zaroorat ke liye kisi aur ke paas jana pad raha hai? Hasta hoga mujhpar. Jab meri biwi ka nanga jism uske neeche hota hoga toh dil hi dil mein mazak udata hoga mera.
Aur shayad Renuka bhi uske saath mera ye mazak udane mein shaamil hoti ho. Shayad vo bhi use batati ho ke kaise main bistar par use adhura chhod kar ek taraf ludhak jata hoon. Ke kaise vo mere sone ke baad apni hawas mein jalti rehti hai? Ke kaise sirf vo ajnabi hi hai jo use bistar par sukoon de sakta hai?
Aur khyaalon ke ghode daudte hue itni door nikal gaye ke main apni biwi ko us ajnabi ke saath bistar par imagine karne laga? Kis tarah se kar rahe honge vo? Kya vo ajnabi uper hoga ya Renuka? Bedroom mein sab karne ke baad shayad nahate bhi saath hi honge? Aur ek baar phir bathroom mein karte honge? Kis tarah se khelta hoga vo meri biwi ke jism se aur kya kya karti hogi Renuka uske saath? Shayad aisa kuchh jo vo mere saath na kar paati ho? Shayad uski koi giri hui neech khwahish jo vo ajnabi hi poori karta ho? Aur vo ajnabi bhi shayad apni har vo khwahish meri biwi ke saath poori karta ho jiski farmaish vo apni biwi se na kar pa rah ho?
Sochte sochte mujhe laga ke mera sar phat jaayega.
Maine ek baar phir phone utahaya, google mein us hotel ka number search kiya jahan maine aakhri baar Renuka ko dekha tha aur number milaya.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se receptionish ne phone uthaya toh mujhe samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun. Main toh Renuka ke yaar ka naam bhi nahi janta tha.
"I would like to speak to Mrs. Renuka please. She is a guest at your hotel" Maine Renuka ka hi naam bol diya is ummeed se ke shayad hotel mein room uske naam se booked ho. Par jaisa ke mera andaza tha, ye soch galat nikli.
"I am sorry Sir, we dont have a guest by that name"
"Do you know if a room was booked for a few hours today? Or any room that was booked earlier today or yesterday?
"I am sorry Sir, this is confidential information" Receptionist ne information dene se saaf inkaar kar diya.
Uske baad agla phone maine Renuka ko kiya. Jaisa ki mujhe ummed thi, uska cell switched off tha.
Maine apne ghar phone kiya. Call meri mom ne receive ki aur yahan bhi meri soch sahi nikli. Renuka pichhle ek ghante se ghar par nahi thi.
Main ek baar phir apna sar pakad kar beth gaya. Dimag mein sirf ek hi khyaal tha, Renuka ki jaan lene ka khyaal. Use maut ki saza dene ka khyaal.
"Apne ghar mein, aur kahan"
"Haan vo toh mujhe samajh aa gaya par ghar mein bhi toh kahin lagaoge hi, khulle mein thode hi rakhoge camera"
"Ye abhi decide kiya nahi hai"
"Jab soch lo toh bata dena, main fix karke de doonga"
"Ek kaam kar. Ghar ki zaroorat ki cheezon mein laga, aisi jinhein baar baar hatane ki zaroorat na pade. Jo ek jagah fix rahen"
"Jaise ke?"
"Jaise ke deewar par tangi hui ghadi, shelf mein rakhe hue speakers and doosri sajawat ki cheezen"
"Theek hai. Mujhe ghar se do teen cheezen lakar de do, main camera fix karke vaapis de doonga"
Kuchh der aur main uske baad Akram ke paas betha raha. Usne mujhe phir samjhane ki koshish ki par uski baat maine phir kaat di.
Vahan se uthkar main phir office aa gaya. Yun toh us din chhutti thi par ghar par jaane ka dil nahi karta tha aur kuchh kaam bacha tha toh socha ke office jakar vahi niptaoon. Renuka ki jasoosi aur ghar par chal rahi problems ka sabse bura asar mera kaam par pad raha tha. Mera Boss mujhe kayi baar is baat par tok bhi chuka tha. Is bure waqt mein agar mujhe kaam se haath nikal diya jata toh meri saalon ki mehnat par pani phir jata.
Office mein main kuchh articles mein betha sar khapa raha tha ke phone baj utha. Kamini ka message tha.
"Kahan ho?"
"Office" Maine jawab diya, "Kyun?"
"Aaj office? Aaj toh national holiday hai"
"Kya national holiday yaar, main koi bank clerk nahi hoon. Reporter hoon"
"Toh reporter saahib thoda waqt apne ghar par apni biwi ke saath bhi bitaya kijiye"
"I have better things to do" Maine rookha sa jawab diya.
"SHE IS YOUR WIFE" Is baar Kamini ka jawab caps mein aaya.
"Unfortunately yes" Maine likh kar bheja.
"Kis baat ki saza de rahe ho us bechari ko?"
"Tu phir shuru ho gayi, kaam karne de mujhe"
"I am your friend, you can talk to me about it"
"Tune agar mujhse is baare mein ek baar aur baat ki agar toh i will be your friend who wouldnt talk to you anymore. Baat karni hai agar toh Renuka ke baare mein baat mat kar aur agar Renuka ke baare mein baat karni hai toh mujhse baat hi mat kar phir"
"GO TO HELL" Usne phir caps mein likh kar bheja.
Main mobile ek taraf rakh kar ek baar phir articles edit karne beth gaya. Thodi der baad mera cell phir baja.
"Kya chahti hai yaar?" Maine gusse mein apne aap se kehte hue phone uthaya. Mujhe laga tha ke shayad Kamini ka mesasge hoga.
Par mere cell mein koi message nahi tha.
Hairani se maine inbox phir check kiya par koi naya message nahi tha. Mujhe laga ke shayad ya toh cell mein kuchh gadbad hui hai ya mere kaan baj rahe hain. Par phir achanak dhyaan aaya ke ye ghanti mere is cell ki nahi doosre cell ki thi. Vo cell jismein Renuka ke sim ka clone dala hua tha.
Vo phone mere bag mein rakha hua tha. Maine nikal kar check kiya toh message usmein aaya tha. Ye Sim is tarah se set tha ke Renuka ke cell par aane wale aur uske cell se jaane wale dono messages ki ek copy mujhe deliver hoti thi. Ye message Renuka ne bheja tha kisi ko.
"I am here waiting for you, where are you?"
Problem sabse badi ye thi ke mere paas sirf message ki copy aati thi aur sent from mein Renuka ka hi number aata tha. Matlab ye ke ye jaanne ka koi tareeka nahi tha ke message kise bheja gaya hai.
Abhi main sar khua hi raha tha ke cell phir baja. Is baar number unknown tha. Maine message khola.
"I am already in the hotel. Come straight to the room, door is open"
Mera khoon khaul utha. Ek pal nahi laga ye samajhne mein ke message kahan se aaya tha aur kisi kamre mein Renuka kisi ke saath kya karne ke liye ja rahi thi. Maine fauran apne cell se us number par call ki.
Thodi der tak ghanti bajti rahi aur phir ek aadmi ne call receive ki.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se ek bhaari mardana aawaz aayi.
"Kaun bol raha hai?" Maine puchha.
"Aapko kisse baat karni hai?"
"Aapka naam jaan sakta hoon?" Maine gusse par kaabu paate hue aaram se puchha.
Cell par kuchh der khamoshi rahi aur phir call disconnect kar di gayi. Maine dobara number milaya toh cell switched off mila.
Agle 10 min tak main baar baar vo number try karta raha par cell har baar switched off hi mila. Kabhi apne cell se toh kabhi office ke landline number se main pagalon ki tarah baar baar vo number milata raha par jo phone switched off tha uski ghanti bhala kaise baj sakti thi.
Thak kar main apna sar pakad kar beth gaya. Dil hi dil mein main kaafi pehle ye yaqeen kar chuka tha ke Renuka mujhe dhokha de rahi hai par kahin ummeed ki ek chhoti si kiran jali hui thi ke shayad main galat hoon, shayad mujhe dhokha hua hai aur meri biwi aaj bhi sirf mujhse hi pyaar karti hai. Aaj bhi uske dil aur jism par haq sirf mera hi hai.
Kahin dil hi dil mein main ye ummeed kar raha tha ke ye sab ek bure khwaab ki tarah khatam ho jaayega aur ek baar phir main aur Renuka usi tarah honge jaise is toofan ke aane se pehle the.
Doosra khyaal dil mein ye tha ke shayad Renuka ne mujhse bewafai ki ho par ab apni galti ko sudharne ke liye us raah se vaapis laut aayi hai. Shayad meri aur hamare bachche ki mohabbat use ek baar phir apne pariwaar ke paas vaapis le aayi hai. Ab sirf mujhe use maaf karna tha aur sab kuchh bhool kar bina kisi gile shikve ke ek baar phir use apni biwi ke roop mein apnana tha.
Par aaj mera har khyaal galat pad gaya, har ummeed nakam ho gayi. Na toh Renuka ne apne uper haq sirf mujhe diya tha aur na hi vo apni galti ko sudharne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Aaj saabit ho gaya tha ke vo mujhe dhokha de rahi thi.
Mere dil par us waqt jo guzar rahi thi vo sirf main janta tha. Ek taraf toh itna gusaa ke Renuka agar mere saamne hoti toh main uska khoon kar deta aur doosri taraf us insaan ki halat jiski duniya ujad rahi ho aur vo kuchh na kar pa raha ho. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha tha ke kaise Renuka ko rokun. Vo us band kamre mein us ajnabi ke saath jo karne wali thi vo sochkar hi mujhe vehshat si ho rahi thi. Lag raha tha mere ghar mein aag lagayi ja rahi hai aur main bahar khada tamasha dekh raha hoon. Ek hotel ke band kamre mein meri izzat ko nanga kiya ja raha hai aur main bas chup khada hoon.
Sabse bada afsos ye tha ke aisa karne wali meri biwi thi jo us kamre mein apne jism ke saath saath mere poore ghar ki izzat ko ek ajnabi ke saamne nanga karne ja rahi thi. Jaane pehle kitni baar kar chuki hogi aur aaj phir vahi karne ja rahi thi.
Aur vo ajnabi, kya sochta hoga vo. Ke main ek namard hoon? Ke main apni biwi ko bistar par khush nahi rakh pa raha hoon? Ke main is qadar gaya guzra hoon ke meri biwi ko apni jismani zaroorat ke liye kisi aur ke paas jana pad raha hai? Hasta hoga mujhpar. Jab meri biwi ka nanga jism uske neeche hota hoga toh dil hi dil mein mazak udata hoga mera.
Aur shayad Renuka bhi uske saath mera ye mazak udane mein shaamil hoti ho. Shayad vo bhi use batati ho ke kaise main bistar par use adhura chhod kar ek taraf ludhak jata hoon. Ke kaise vo mere sone ke baad apni hawas mein jalti rehti hai? Ke kaise sirf vo ajnabi hi hai jo use bistar par sukoon de sakta hai?
Aur khyaalon ke ghode daudte hue itni door nikal gaye ke main apni biwi ko us ajnabi ke saath bistar par imagine karne laga? Kis tarah se kar rahe honge vo? Kya vo ajnabi uper hoga ya Renuka? Bedroom mein sab karne ke baad shayad nahate bhi saath hi honge? Aur ek baar phir bathroom mein karte honge? Kis tarah se khelta hoga vo meri biwi ke jism se aur kya kya karti hogi Renuka uske saath? Shayad aisa kuchh jo vo mere saath na kar paati ho? Shayad uski koi giri hui neech khwahish jo vo ajnabi hi poori karta ho? Aur vo ajnabi bhi shayad apni har vo khwahish meri biwi ke saath poori karta ho jiski farmaish vo apni biwi se na kar pa rah ho?
Sochte sochte mujhe laga ke mera sar phat jaayega.
Maine ek baar phir phone utahaya, google mein us hotel ka number search kiya jahan maine aakhri baar Renuka ko dekha tha aur number milaya.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se receptionish ne phone uthaya toh mujhe samajh nahi aaya ke kya kahun. Main toh Renuka ke yaar ka naam bhi nahi janta tha.
"I would like to speak to Mrs. Renuka please. She is a guest at your hotel" Maine Renuka ka hi naam bol diya is ummeed se ke shayad hotel mein room uske naam se booked ho. Par jaisa ke mera andaza tha, ye soch galat nikli.
"I am sorry Sir, we dont have a guest by that name"
"Do you know if a room was booked for a few hours today? Or any room that was booked earlier today or yesterday?
"I am sorry Sir, this is confidential information" Receptionist ne information dene se saaf inkaar kar diya.
Uske baad agla phone maine Renuka ko kiya. Jaisa ki mujhe ummed thi, uska cell switched off tha.
Maine apne ghar phone kiya. Call meri mom ne receive ki aur yahan bhi meri soch sahi nikli. Renuka pichhle ek ghante se ghar par nahi thi.
Main ek baar phir apna sar pakad kar beth gaya. Dimag mein sirf ek hi khyaal tha, Renuka ki jaan lene ka khyaal. Use maut ki saza dene ka khyaal.
Uske baad main jis kaam ke liye office gaya tha vo toh hua hi nahi. Poore waqt main apni desk par sar pakde betha raha. Bas dimag mein reh rehkar yahi khyaal aata raha ke is waqt Renuka us band kamre mein kya kar rahi hogi. Alag alag poses mein uski aur ek anjaan mard ki chhavi meri nazron ke saamne aati rahi. Samajh nahi aa raha tha ke mujhe gussa zyada aa raha hai ya dukh zyada ho raha hai.
Takreeban aadhe ghante main Renuka aur us ajnabi aadmi ka number milata raha par phone switched off hi raha. Aur phir mere dimag mein khyaal aaya ke kyun na us hotel ke bahar jakar un dono ko range haath pakdun. Ye mumkin tha ke vo vahan us hotel mein ho hi na par ye bhi ho sakta tha ke vo zyadatar vahin milte hon. Apne professional experience se mujhe pata tha ke aise mamlon mein zyadatar log ek hi jagah ko apne rangraliyan manane ka adda bana lete hain. Unki talash koi police ko toh hoti nahi jo chhupte waqt ehtiyaar baratni pade. Bachna sirf ek usse hota hai jise vo dhokha de rahe hon isliye hotel ka kamra bhi baar baar ek hi istimaal kiya jata hai. Koi aisi jagah jisse vo waqif hon, jahan se chup chap nikalne mein aasani ho, jo unke ghar ke raaste se thoda hatke ho aur jahan pakde jaane ka chance kam ho. Aur agar pakden jaayen toh vahan hone ki vajah batane ke liye jhooth bolna aasan ho.
Aur jis hotel mein maine aakhri baar Renuka ko dekha tha vo in sab sharton par poora utarta tha.
Main apne bag utha kar office se nikla aur bahar aate aate ek baar aur phir phone dial kiya. Us aadmi ka number ab bhi off tha par Renuka ke cell ki ghanti baji.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se Renuka ne phone uthaya.
"Kahan ho tum?" Maine sidha sawal kiya.
"Aise hi bahar aayi thi Kamini ke saath, kuchh saman vagerah kharidne ke liye"
"Kamini ke saath?"
"Haan"
"Phone kyun off tha tumhara?"
"Pata nahi, bag mein rakhe rakhe apne aap hi off ho gaya. Abhi check kiya toh on kiya. Kyun kya hua?"
"Kamini ko phone dena zara"
"Hua kya?" Usne phir puchha.
"Do toh zara, mujhe kuchh batana tha use"
Renuka ne phone Kamini ko thama diya.
"Haan bolo" Doosri taraf se Kamini ki aawaz aayi.
"Free ho tum abhi?"
"Nahi abhi toh zara busy hoon, kya hua?"
"Kaam tha kuchh"
"Bolo"
"Ya ek kaam kar rehne de, kal baat karte hain"
"Kya kaam hai batao toh sahi"
"Kal lunch par milte hain, phone karunga main tujhe. Tabhi bataoonga" Kehkar maine phone rakh diya.
Asal mein toh main ye check karna chahta tha ke Renuka asal mein Kamini ke saathi hi thi ya jhooth bol rahi thi mujhe aur agar Kamini ke saath thi toh kabse thi par ye baat saaf taur par Kamini ko bata nahi sakta tha. Usse sidha sawal nahi kar sakta tha varna vo phir mujhe lecture dene beth jaati isliye jhooth bol diya.
Uske baad main jaane kitni der tak ek aawara tak shehar ki sadkon par bhatakta raha. Gaadi liye sadken napta raha par na toh main kahin ja raha tha aur na hi kahin se aa raha tha. Maksad sirf yahi tha ke ghar na jaoon. Samajh nahi aa raha tha ke ghar jakar kya kahunga, kya karunga.
Ye toh zahir tha ke Renuka ko pata chal gaya hoga ke maine us aadmi ke phone par call kiya tha. Yani ab vo jaanti hai ke uski chori pakdi ja chuki hai. Ab vo bhi jaan gayi hai ke main jaanta hoon vo mere pichhe kya gul khila rahi thi. Aur ab tak ye bhi samajh gayi hogi ke mujhe ye baat kaafi din se pata thi aur isi liye main mahino se is tarah se uske saath pesh aa raha tha.
Sawal ye tha ke vo ab mere saath kis tarah se pesh aayegi? Maafi maangegi ya jhooth bolegi? Mujhe ek aur chance dene ki liye kahegi taaki apni galti sudhar sake ya ulta mujh par hi ilzaam lagayegi ke main us par shak kar raha hoon? Apni chori pakdi jaane par sharminda hogi ya ulta seena-zori karegi? Mujhe apne rishte ko badnami aur khatam hone se bachne ke liye hamari beech khatam ho chuki mohabbat ka wasta degi ya hamare masoom bete ka wasta degi?
Aur yaqeen mujhe apne dil par nahi ho raha tha. Main janta tha ke main aaj ghar jaoonga toh aaj hamare rishte ko khatam hona hai. Aaj meri shaadi ne khatam ho jana hai. Koi farak nahi padega ke Renuka kis tarah se behave kare, kaun si baat kahe. Maaf toh main use kar nahi paoonga aur use seena-zori karne ka mauka main doonga nahi. Bhale kahani kisi bhi kadam chale, hamare rishte ne toh aaj khatam hona hi tha.
Apne ghar ke darwaze par khada main kaafi der tak sochta raha ke ab jo hone ja raha hai use main kaise handle karunga. Tamasha toh ab hona hi tha par kaun sa tareeka behtar hoga ke tamasha kam se kam ho. Takleef mein main bahut tha par main janta tha ke ab jo hone ja raha hai uske baad takleef bahut zyada hogi. Ab tak biwi ki bewafai ki takleef thi aur ab usse judaai ki takleef. Vo jaisi kaisi bhi thi, biwi thi meri aur mujhe aadat this uski. Saalon se roz raat ko sone se pehle uska hi chehra dekhta tha aur subah uthte hi sabse pehle dikhne wala chehra bhi usi ka hota tha. Par ab ye sab kuchh badalne ja raha tha aur main nahi janta tha ke iske baad meri zindagi kis taraf jaane wali thi.
Ye toh saaf tha ke Renuka jaanti hai ke uski chori pakdi ja chuki hai par ab sawal ye tha ke ispar uska reaction kya hoga.
Maine apna cell nikal kar Kamini ka number milaya.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se uski aawaz aayi.
"Ek baat bata" Maine sawal kiya, "Tu aaj poora din Kamini ke saath thi?"
"Nahi, kyun kya hua?"
"Kabse kab tak thi uske saath?"
"Dopahar usne phone kiya tha ke movie dekhne chalte hain. Aaj chhutti thi toh maine haan bol diya aur uske baad main tumhare ghar aayi. Ghar se saath hi nikle the"
"Phir?"
"Phir ham theater pahunche toh vahan jakar pata chala ke movie housefull hai, ticket hi nahi mili"
"Kaun se theater gaye the tum log?"
Kamini ne jis theater ka naam bataya vo usi mall mein tha jahan maine Renuka ko us aadmi ke saath pehli baar dekha tha. Aur usi mall mein vo hotel bhi tha jiski receipt mujhe Renuka ke paas se mili thi aur jahan ke us din vo apne yaar ke saath ayyashi kar rahi thi.
"Let me guess, Theater ka naam Renuka ne hi suggest kiya hoga"
"Haan, par puchh kyun rahe ho"
"Ticket nahi milne ke baad tumne kya kiya?"
"Plan toh ghar vaapis aane ka hi tha par tabhi mujhe office se phone aaya, kuchh urgent kaam tha. Phir main office chali gayi thodi der ke liye"
"Tera office toh us mall ke paas hi hai na?"
"Haan walking distance par hi hai"
"Renuka tere saath gayi tere office?"
"Kaha toh tha maine use par vo boli ke vo kuchh shopping karna chahti hai. Mera kaam mushkil se 15-20 minute ka hi tha toh maine use shopping ke baad vahin rukne ko kaha"
"Kyun?"
"Maine socha ke shopping ke baad agla show dekh lenge"
"Phir main office gayi, kaam niptaba, maal vaapis aayi aur phir ham dono next show dekh kar vaapis aa gaye"
"Kitni der thi tu office mein?"
"Takreeban aadha ghanta. Main tab vaapis aayi hi thi jab tumne phone kiya tha"
"Renuka ne kuchh kharida?"
"Nahi vo boli ke kuchh pasand hi nahi aaya. Par is sawal-jawab ka matlab kya hai?"
"Ek baat aur bata, koi mila tha tum dono ko vahan, koi banda? Ya jab tu vaapis aayi koi tha Renuka ke saath?"
"Koi matlab?"
"Koi bhi, a guy"
"Wait a minute, are you doubting her? You think she is cheating on you?"
"Mere sawal ka jawab de"
"Nahi yaar bilkul akeli thi vo, koi nahi mila hamein. Bataoge ke ho kya raha hai tum dono ke beech? Vo kehti hai ke you are cheating on her, ke tum dhokha de rahe ho use. Tum kehte ho ke vo tum par cheat kar rahi hai, dhokha de rahi hai"
"Achha aisa boli vo?" Maine haste hue kaha.
"Ek kaam karo, i think you guys need to sit down and talk. Main kal ghar aati hoon, tum dono aamne saamne betho aur mere saamne hi jo kuchh hai sab clear karo. Aise nahi chalega yaar.
"Aisa kuchh karne ki zaroorat nahi, if i need your help i will ask"
"No you wouldnt and i know that. Ab samajh aa raha hai ke tumne us waqt Renuka ke cell par call kyun kiya tha, tum uski jasoosi kar rahe the. Tum dono mere dost ho and we need to resolve this. Main kal ghar aa rahi hoon, aamne saamne bethke baat karo dono nahi toh main sab kuchh uncle aunty ko bata doongi" Aur usne phone kaat diya.
"Tu kya bateyegi kisi ko" Maine dil hi dil mein socha, "Main toh khud hi aaj saara drama khatam karne wala hoon"
Mamla saaf tha, Renuka ko apna alibi bana kar apne yaar se milne jana. Vahi same mall, same hotel aur alibi aisi jise mere poore ghar mein koi question na karta. Agar vo kehti ke vo Renuka ke saath thi toh har koi bina puchhe maan jata.
"Wah Renuka" Main haste hue khud se hi bola, "Meri hi dost ko mere hi khilaff istemaal, maanna padega tujhe bhi"
Ye baat toh saaf thi ke ab jo bhi hota, Kamini is sabke liye mujhe hi blame karti kyunki Renuka ne use poori tarah apni taraf kar liya tha.
Par jo ek sawal mere dimag mein mujhe sabse zyada pareshaan kar raha tha vo ye ke vo aadmi kaun tha jisse Renuka mili thi. Jisne ke use message kiya tha aur jisne ke mere phone uthane ke baad call disconnect kar di thi.
Dimag mein ab bhi gussa tha, nafrat thi aur ab bhi Renuka ko saza-e-maut dene ka hi khyaal tha.
Takreeban aadhe ghante main Renuka aur us ajnabi aadmi ka number milata raha par phone switched off hi raha. Aur phir mere dimag mein khyaal aaya ke kyun na us hotel ke bahar jakar un dono ko range haath pakdun. Ye mumkin tha ke vo vahan us hotel mein ho hi na par ye bhi ho sakta tha ke vo zyadatar vahin milte hon. Apne professional experience se mujhe pata tha ke aise mamlon mein zyadatar log ek hi jagah ko apne rangraliyan manane ka adda bana lete hain. Unki talash koi police ko toh hoti nahi jo chhupte waqt ehtiyaar baratni pade. Bachna sirf ek usse hota hai jise vo dhokha de rahe hon isliye hotel ka kamra bhi baar baar ek hi istimaal kiya jata hai. Koi aisi jagah jisse vo waqif hon, jahan se chup chap nikalne mein aasani ho, jo unke ghar ke raaste se thoda hatke ho aur jahan pakde jaane ka chance kam ho. Aur agar pakden jaayen toh vahan hone ki vajah batane ke liye jhooth bolna aasan ho.
Aur jis hotel mein maine aakhri baar Renuka ko dekha tha vo in sab sharton par poora utarta tha.
Main apne bag utha kar office se nikla aur bahar aate aate ek baar aur phir phone dial kiya. Us aadmi ka number ab bhi off tha par Renuka ke cell ki ghanti baji.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se Renuka ne phone uthaya.
"Kahan ho tum?" Maine sidha sawal kiya.
"Aise hi bahar aayi thi Kamini ke saath, kuchh saman vagerah kharidne ke liye"
"Kamini ke saath?"
"Haan"
"Phone kyun off tha tumhara?"
"Pata nahi, bag mein rakhe rakhe apne aap hi off ho gaya. Abhi check kiya toh on kiya. Kyun kya hua?"
"Kamini ko phone dena zara"
"Hua kya?" Usne phir puchha.
"Do toh zara, mujhe kuchh batana tha use"
Renuka ne phone Kamini ko thama diya.
"Haan bolo" Doosri taraf se Kamini ki aawaz aayi.
"Free ho tum abhi?"
"Nahi abhi toh zara busy hoon, kya hua?"
"Kaam tha kuchh"
"Bolo"
"Ya ek kaam kar rehne de, kal baat karte hain"
"Kya kaam hai batao toh sahi"
"Kal lunch par milte hain, phone karunga main tujhe. Tabhi bataoonga" Kehkar maine phone rakh diya.
Asal mein toh main ye check karna chahta tha ke Renuka asal mein Kamini ke saathi hi thi ya jhooth bol rahi thi mujhe aur agar Kamini ke saath thi toh kabse thi par ye baat saaf taur par Kamini ko bata nahi sakta tha. Usse sidha sawal nahi kar sakta tha varna vo phir mujhe lecture dene beth jaati isliye jhooth bol diya.
Uske baad main jaane kitni der tak ek aawara tak shehar ki sadkon par bhatakta raha. Gaadi liye sadken napta raha par na toh main kahin ja raha tha aur na hi kahin se aa raha tha. Maksad sirf yahi tha ke ghar na jaoon. Samajh nahi aa raha tha ke ghar jakar kya kahunga, kya karunga.
Ye toh zahir tha ke Renuka ko pata chal gaya hoga ke maine us aadmi ke phone par call kiya tha. Yani ab vo jaanti hai ke uski chori pakdi ja chuki hai. Ab vo bhi jaan gayi hai ke main jaanta hoon vo mere pichhe kya gul khila rahi thi. Aur ab tak ye bhi samajh gayi hogi ke mujhe ye baat kaafi din se pata thi aur isi liye main mahino se is tarah se uske saath pesh aa raha tha.
Sawal ye tha ke vo ab mere saath kis tarah se pesh aayegi? Maafi maangegi ya jhooth bolegi? Mujhe ek aur chance dene ki liye kahegi taaki apni galti sudhar sake ya ulta mujh par hi ilzaam lagayegi ke main us par shak kar raha hoon? Apni chori pakdi jaane par sharminda hogi ya ulta seena-zori karegi? Mujhe apne rishte ko badnami aur khatam hone se bachne ke liye hamari beech khatam ho chuki mohabbat ka wasta degi ya hamare masoom bete ka wasta degi?
Aur yaqeen mujhe apne dil par nahi ho raha tha. Main janta tha ke main aaj ghar jaoonga toh aaj hamare rishte ko khatam hona hai. Aaj meri shaadi ne khatam ho jana hai. Koi farak nahi padega ke Renuka kis tarah se behave kare, kaun si baat kahe. Maaf toh main use kar nahi paoonga aur use seena-zori karne ka mauka main doonga nahi. Bhale kahani kisi bhi kadam chale, hamare rishte ne toh aaj khatam hona hi tha.
Apne ghar ke darwaze par khada main kaafi der tak sochta raha ke ab jo hone ja raha hai use main kaise handle karunga. Tamasha toh ab hona hi tha par kaun sa tareeka behtar hoga ke tamasha kam se kam ho. Takleef mein main bahut tha par main janta tha ke ab jo hone ja raha hai uske baad takleef bahut zyada hogi. Ab tak biwi ki bewafai ki takleef thi aur ab usse judaai ki takleef. Vo jaisi kaisi bhi thi, biwi thi meri aur mujhe aadat this uski. Saalon se roz raat ko sone se pehle uska hi chehra dekhta tha aur subah uthte hi sabse pehle dikhne wala chehra bhi usi ka hota tha. Par ab ye sab kuchh badalne ja raha tha aur main nahi janta tha ke iske baad meri zindagi kis taraf jaane wali thi.
Ye toh saaf tha ke Renuka jaanti hai ke uski chori pakdi ja chuki hai par ab sawal ye tha ke ispar uska reaction kya hoga.
Maine apna cell nikal kar Kamini ka number milaya.
"Hello" Doosri taraf se uski aawaz aayi.
"Ek baat bata" Maine sawal kiya, "Tu aaj poora din Kamini ke saath thi?"
"Nahi, kyun kya hua?"
"Kabse kab tak thi uske saath?"
"Dopahar usne phone kiya tha ke movie dekhne chalte hain. Aaj chhutti thi toh maine haan bol diya aur uske baad main tumhare ghar aayi. Ghar se saath hi nikle the"
"Phir?"
"Phir ham theater pahunche toh vahan jakar pata chala ke movie housefull hai, ticket hi nahi mili"
"Kaun se theater gaye the tum log?"
Kamini ne jis theater ka naam bataya vo usi mall mein tha jahan maine Renuka ko us aadmi ke saath pehli baar dekha tha. Aur usi mall mein vo hotel bhi tha jiski receipt mujhe Renuka ke paas se mili thi aur jahan ke us din vo apne yaar ke saath ayyashi kar rahi thi.
"Let me guess, Theater ka naam Renuka ne hi suggest kiya hoga"
"Haan, par puchh kyun rahe ho"
"Ticket nahi milne ke baad tumne kya kiya?"
"Plan toh ghar vaapis aane ka hi tha par tabhi mujhe office se phone aaya, kuchh urgent kaam tha. Phir main office chali gayi thodi der ke liye"
"Tera office toh us mall ke paas hi hai na?"
"Haan walking distance par hi hai"
"Renuka tere saath gayi tere office?"
"Kaha toh tha maine use par vo boli ke vo kuchh shopping karna chahti hai. Mera kaam mushkil se 15-20 minute ka hi tha toh maine use shopping ke baad vahin rukne ko kaha"
"Kyun?"
"Maine socha ke shopping ke baad agla show dekh lenge"
"Phir main office gayi, kaam niptaba, maal vaapis aayi aur phir ham dono next show dekh kar vaapis aa gaye"
"Kitni der thi tu office mein?"
"Takreeban aadha ghanta. Main tab vaapis aayi hi thi jab tumne phone kiya tha"
"Renuka ne kuchh kharida?"
"Nahi vo boli ke kuchh pasand hi nahi aaya. Par is sawal-jawab ka matlab kya hai?"
"Ek baat aur bata, koi mila tha tum dono ko vahan, koi banda? Ya jab tu vaapis aayi koi tha Renuka ke saath?"
"Koi matlab?"
"Koi bhi, a guy"
"Wait a minute, are you doubting her? You think she is cheating on you?"
"Mere sawal ka jawab de"
"Nahi yaar bilkul akeli thi vo, koi nahi mila hamein. Bataoge ke ho kya raha hai tum dono ke beech? Vo kehti hai ke you are cheating on her, ke tum dhokha de rahe ho use. Tum kehte ho ke vo tum par cheat kar rahi hai, dhokha de rahi hai"
"Achha aisa boli vo?" Maine haste hue kaha.
"Ek kaam karo, i think you guys need to sit down and talk. Main kal ghar aati hoon, tum dono aamne saamne betho aur mere saamne hi jo kuchh hai sab clear karo. Aise nahi chalega yaar.
"Aisa kuchh karne ki zaroorat nahi, if i need your help i will ask"
"No you wouldnt and i know that. Ab samajh aa raha hai ke tumne us waqt Renuka ke cell par call kyun kiya tha, tum uski jasoosi kar rahe the. Tum dono mere dost ho and we need to resolve this. Main kal ghar aa rahi hoon, aamne saamne bethke baat karo dono nahi toh main sab kuchh uncle aunty ko bata doongi" Aur usne phone kaat diya.
"Tu kya bateyegi kisi ko" Maine dil hi dil mein socha, "Main toh khud hi aaj saara drama khatam karne wala hoon"
Mamla saaf tha, Renuka ko apna alibi bana kar apne yaar se milne jana. Vahi same mall, same hotel aur alibi aisi jise mere poore ghar mein koi question na karta. Agar vo kehti ke vo Renuka ke saath thi toh har koi bina puchhe maan jata.
"Wah Renuka" Main haste hue khud se hi bola, "Meri hi dost ko mere hi khilaff istemaal, maanna padega tujhe bhi"
Ye baat toh saaf thi ke ab jo bhi hota, Kamini is sabke liye mujhe hi blame karti kyunki Renuka ne use poori tarah apni taraf kar liya tha.
Par jo ek sawal mere dimag mein mujhe sabse zyada pareshaan kar raha tha vo ye ke vo aadmi kaun tha jisse Renuka mili thi. Jisne ke use message kiya tha aur jisne ke mere phone uthane ke baad call disconnect kar di thi.
Dimag mein ab bhi gussa tha, nafrat thi aur ab bhi Renuka ko saza-e-maut dene ka hi khyaal tha.
Maine apne ghar ki ghati bajayi.
Ajeeb haalaat the dil ke. Gunahgaar main nahi tha, galti meri nahi thi. Paap meri biwi ne kiya tha, dhokha usne diya tha, bewafai usne ki thi par jhijhak main raha tha. Pichhle 2 ghante se main ghar na jaane ka koi bahana dhoondhte shehar bhar mein bhatakta phir raha tha, kisi aise bachche ki tarah jiski chori pakdi gayi ho aur vo jaanta ho ke ghar jaayega toh maar padegi. Aankh churane ki koshish main kar raha tha jabki jisne galti ki thi vo aaram se ghar bethi hui thi.
Jaane kyun main Renuka ke saamne aane se jhijhak raha tha. Samajh nahi aaya ke aisa isliye tha kyunki kahin mere apne dil mein ab bhi ye shak tha ke ho sakta hai main hi galat saabit ho jaaoon toh phir sabse nazar kaise milaoonga. Ya phir isliye ke jo main aaj shaam ghar jakar karne wala tha vo main khud hi jitna ho sake taalna chahta tha.
"Thank god" darwaza Renuka ne hi khola, "Kahan the ab tak?"
Usne jis andaaz se meri taraf dekha usne mera confusion aur bhi badha diya. Uski nazar mein sachmuch meri fikar saaf dikhai de rahi thi. Uski aawaz mein mujhe ghar ke darwaze par khada dekh sukoon saaf sunai de raha tha.
Main jawab diye bina andar daakhil ho gaya.
"Time dekha hai kya hua hai?"
Usne kaha toh maine apne haath mein bandhi ghadi ki taraf nazar daali aur chaunk pada. Raat ke 11 baj rahe the. Mujhe khud hi andaza nahi raha ke main kabse shehar bhar ki khaak chhanta phir raha tha.
"Kabse phone mila rahi hoon, utha kyun nahi rahe the?"
Usne puchha toh ek baar phir maine jawab diye bina apni jeb se cell nikal kar dekha. Usmein Renuka ki 27 missed calls thi.
"Pata hai Mummy Papa kitne pareshan ho rahe the. Papa toh police station jaane ki baat kar rahe the abhi. Haath munh dho lo, main khana lagati hoon"
Kehti hui vo kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
Ye koi nayi baat nahi thi. Pichhle kayi mahino se aisa hi ho raha tha. Vo aksar mujhse baat karne ki koshish karti aur main sirf ya toh gardan hila deta, ya bas zaroorat bhar jawab de deta ya phir uski baat ansuni kar deta. Use bhi shayad mere is rawaiyye ki aadat pad gayi thi. Aaj bhi vo mujhse sawal par sawal kar rahi thi aur mere munh se bol nahi phoot raha tha. Usne bhi mujhse jawab ki koi ummeed kiye bina kitchen ki taraf kadam badha diye.
Tabhi mere Mom Dad apne kamre se nikal aaye aur Renuka ki tarah hi unhone bhi mujhe ghar aaya dekh rahat ki saans li. Puchhe jaane par maine bahana bana diya ke meri car kharab ho gayi thi aur use theek karvake laya hoon isliye itna waqt lag gaya.
Kya kya sochkar main apne ghar mein ghusa tha. Hazaar baatein thi dil mein, kayi gile shikve the par zubaan ke haathon ek baar phir main majboor pad gaya. Gaadi chalate hue jaane kitni baar main practice ki thi ke kis tarah Renuka se sawal karunga, kaise uski har chori use ginaoonga aur kis tarah se use uska gunaah kabool karne par majboor kar doonga. Par use saamne dekh koi line yaad nahi rahi aur ek baar phir main soch mein pad gaya ke kaise uspar anguli uthaoon. Kin lafzon mein use kahun ke vo bewafa hai, dhokhebaaz hai.
Apni biwi par charitra-heen hone ka ilzaam jin shabdon mein lagaya jata hai, vo shabd ek baar phir meri pahunch se bahar ho gaye.
Maine khamoshi se khana khaya. Mom Dad phir apne kamre mein chale gaye aur Kamini mere saamne dining table ke doosri taraf jakar beth gayi. Aaj aisa bahut din baad hua tha.
"Tabiat toh theek hai na tumhari?"
Usne mujhse puchha toh maine khaate hue sirf haan mein sar hila diya.
"Din mein bhi phone kar rahe the tum, koi khaas baat thi kya?
"Nahi aise hi" Maine taalne waale andaaz mein jawab diya, "Movie kaisi rahi?"
"Kahan thi tum us waqt?" Maine himmat karke sawal kar hi liya.
"Kamini ke saath movie dekhne gayi thi par ticket hi nahi mila, housefull tha" Vo apne baal khol kar baandhte hue boli. Khule baalon mein kya bala ki khoobsurat lagti thi ye aaj bahut din baad mehsoos kar raha tha main.
"Aise kya dekh rahe ho?" Usne mujhe apni taraf ghoorte hue dekha toh puchha.
"Kuchh nahi" Maine jawab diya aur phir sar jhuka kar khaane laga.
"Kuchh laayi hoon main tumhare liye" Kehte hue vo uthkar hamare kamre mein gayi aur ek bag utha kar laayi, "I saw this in the mall, Vikram ke liye khareed li"
Bag se usne ek chhoti se bachcho ki black color ki t-shirt nikali jispar saamne ki taraf likha hua tha,
"World's Greatest Son"
"Its nice" Maine T-Shirt dekhte hue kaha.
"Aur iske saath hi mujhe ye dikhai di toh maine tumhare liye le li" Bag se usne doosri same type ki ek aur T-Shirt nikali jo vo mere liye laayi thi. Uspar saamne ki taraf likha hua tha,
"World's Greatest Dad"
"Thanks" Maine muskura kar jawab diya. Pata nahi aaj kitne waqt baad main uski taraf dekh kar muskuraya tha.
Uske baad khana khatam karne tak hamare beech khamoshi hi rahi. Main kha chuka toh vo bartan utha kar kitchen mein chali gayi.
Kuchh der baad ham dono apne bed par lete hue the. Vo shayad so gayi thi par meri aankhon se neend koson door thi. Main jo kuchh bhi soch kar aaya tha vaisa kuchh nahi hua tha. Mujhe jo baat sabse zyada pareshaan kar rahi thi vo ye thi ke mujhe Renuka ki aankhon mein vo chor dikhai nahi diya jiski main ummeed kar raha tha. Kya us aadmi ne ise bataya nahi ke maine uske cell par call ki thi ya vo mujhe pehchan nahi paya. Ya Renuka ko sab pata hai par anjaan banne ka natak kar rahi hai?
Ye aaj itne din baad is tarah meri fikar karna kya haqeeqat tha ya sirf dikhawa? Apni chori ko chhupane ki koshish? Vo chori jo aaj pakdi gayi thi?
Aur ek purana khyaal ab bhi pareshaan kar raha tha, Kahin main khud hi galt toh nahi? Kahin main hi toh baat ka batangad nahi bana raha?
Shayad haan.
Aur phir Renuka ne ye sawal kar diya. Main soch raha tha ke vo so gayi par jo jaag rahi thi.
"Kya kuchh aisa hai jo tum mujhse puchhna chah rahe ho? Kuchh kehna chah rahe ho jo keh nahi pa rahe?"
Is sawal ne ek baar phir shak ki lantern jala di. Vo jaanti thi ke uski chori pakdi gayi aur sirf dikhawa kar rahi thi. Vo intezaar kar rahi thi ke main usse sawal karunga par jab maine nahi kiya toh mujhe khud kured rahi hai.
"Nahi" Main sirf itna hi keh paya, "Koi baat nahi hai"
Ajeeb haalaat the dil ke. Gunahgaar main nahi tha, galti meri nahi thi. Paap meri biwi ne kiya tha, dhokha usne diya tha, bewafai usne ki thi par jhijhak main raha tha. Pichhle 2 ghante se main ghar na jaane ka koi bahana dhoondhte shehar bhar mein bhatakta phir raha tha, kisi aise bachche ki tarah jiski chori pakdi gayi ho aur vo jaanta ho ke ghar jaayega toh maar padegi. Aankh churane ki koshish main kar raha tha jabki jisne galti ki thi vo aaram se ghar bethi hui thi.
Jaane kyun main Renuka ke saamne aane se jhijhak raha tha. Samajh nahi aaya ke aisa isliye tha kyunki kahin mere apne dil mein ab bhi ye shak tha ke ho sakta hai main hi galat saabit ho jaaoon toh phir sabse nazar kaise milaoonga. Ya phir isliye ke jo main aaj shaam ghar jakar karne wala tha vo main khud hi jitna ho sake taalna chahta tha.
"Thank god" darwaza Renuka ne hi khola, "Kahan the ab tak?"
Usne jis andaaz se meri taraf dekha usne mera confusion aur bhi badha diya. Uski nazar mein sachmuch meri fikar saaf dikhai de rahi thi. Uski aawaz mein mujhe ghar ke darwaze par khada dekh sukoon saaf sunai de raha tha.
Main jawab diye bina andar daakhil ho gaya.
"Time dekha hai kya hua hai?"
Usne kaha toh maine apne haath mein bandhi ghadi ki taraf nazar daali aur chaunk pada. Raat ke 11 baj rahe the. Mujhe khud hi andaza nahi raha ke main kabse shehar bhar ki khaak chhanta phir raha tha.
"Kabse phone mila rahi hoon, utha kyun nahi rahe the?"
Usne puchha toh ek baar phir maine jawab diye bina apni jeb se cell nikal kar dekha. Usmein Renuka ki 27 missed calls thi.
"Pata hai Mummy Papa kitne pareshan ho rahe the. Papa toh police station jaane ki baat kar rahe the abhi. Haath munh dho lo, main khana lagati hoon"
Kehti hui vo kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
Ye koi nayi baat nahi thi. Pichhle kayi mahino se aisa hi ho raha tha. Vo aksar mujhse baat karne ki koshish karti aur main sirf ya toh gardan hila deta, ya bas zaroorat bhar jawab de deta ya phir uski baat ansuni kar deta. Use bhi shayad mere is rawaiyye ki aadat pad gayi thi. Aaj bhi vo mujhse sawal par sawal kar rahi thi aur mere munh se bol nahi phoot raha tha. Usne bhi mujhse jawab ki koi ummeed kiye bina kitchen ki taraf kadam badha diye.
Tabhi mere Mom Dad apne kamre se nikal aaye aur Renuka ki tarah hi unhone bhi mujhe ghar aaya dekh rahat ki saans li. Puchhe jaane par maine bahana bana diya ke meri car kharab ho gayi thi aur use theek karvake laya hoon isliye itna waqt lag gaya.
Kya kya sochkar main apne ghar mein ghusa tha. Hazaar baatein thi dil mein, kayi gile shikve the par zubaan ke haathon ek baar phir main majboor pad gaya. Gaadi chalate hue jaane kitni baar main practice ki thi ke kis tarah Renuka se sawal karunga, kaise uski har chori use ginaoonga aur kis tarah se use uska gunaah kabool karne par majboor kar doonga. Par use saamne dekh koi line yaad nahi rahi aur ek baar phir main soch mein pad gaya ke kaise uspar anguli uthaoon. Kin lafzon mein use kahun ke vo bewafa hai, dhokhebaaz hai.
Apni biwi par charitra-heen hone ka ilzaam jin shabdon mein lagaya jata hai, vo shabd ek baar phir meri pahunch se bahar ho gaye.
Maine khamoshi se khana khaya. Mom Dad phir apne kamre mein chale gaye aur Kamini mere saamne dining table ke doosri taraf jakar beth gayi. Aaj aisa bahut din baad hua tha.
"Tabiat toh theek hai na tumhari?"
Usne mujhse puchha toh maine khaate hue sirf haan mein sar hila diya.
"Din mein bhi phone kar rahe the tum, koi khaas baat thi kya?
"Nahi aise hi" Maine taalne waale andaaz mein jawab diya, "Movie kaisi rahi?"
"Kahan thi tum us waqt?" Maine himmat karke sawal kar hi liya.
"Kamini ke saath movie dekhne gayi thi par ticket hi nahi mila, housefull tha" Vo apne baal khol kar baandhte hue boli. Khule baalon mein kya bala ki khoobsurat lagti thi ye aaj bahut din baad mehsoos kar raha tha main.
"Aise kya dekh rahe ho?" Usne mujhe apni taraf ghoorte hue dekha toh puchha.
"Kuchh nahi" Maine jawab diya aur phir sar jhuka kar khaane laga.
"Kuchh laayi hoon main tumhare liye" Kehte hue vo uthkar hamare kamre mein gayi aur ek bag utha kar laayi, "I saw this in the mall, Vikram ke liye khareed li"
Bag se usne ek chhoti se bachcho ki black color ki t-shirt nikali jispar saamne ki taraf likha hua tha,
"World's Greatest Son"
"Its nice" Maine T-Shirt dekhte hue kaha.
"Aur iske saath hi mujhe ye dikhai di toh maine tumhare liye le li" Bag se usne doosri same type ki ek aur T-Shirt nikali jo vo mere liye laayi thi. Uspar saamne ki taraf likha hua tha,
"World's Greatest Dad"
"Thanks" Maine muskura kar jawab diya. Pata nahi aaj kitne waqt baad main uski taraf dekh kar muskuraya tha.
Uske baad khana khatam karne tak hamare beech khamoshi hi rahi. Main kha chuka toh vo bartan utha kar kitchen mein chali gayi.
Kuchh der baad ham dono apne bed par lete hue the. Vo shayad so gayi thi par meri aankhon se neend koson door thi. Main jo kuchh bhi soch kar aaya tha vaisa kuchh nahi hua tha. Mujhe jo baat sabse zyada pareshaan kar rahi thi vo ye thi ke mujhe Renuka ki aankhon mein vo chor dikhai nahi diya jiski main ummeed kar raha tha. Kya us aadmi ne ise bataya nahi ke maine uske cell par call ki thi ya vo mujhe pehchan nahi paya. Ya Renuka ko sab pata hai par anjaan banne ka natak kar rahi hai?
Ye aaj itne din baad is tarah meri fikar karna kya haqeeqat tha ya sirf dikhawa? Apni chori ko chhupane ki koshish? Vo chori jo aaj pakdi gayi thi?
Aur ek purana khyaal ab bhi pareshaan kar raha tha, Kahin main khud hi galt toh nahi? Kahin main hi toh baat ka batangad nahi bana raha?
Shayad haan.
Aur phir Renuka ne ye sawal kar diya. Main soch raha tha ke vo so gayi par jo jaag rahi thi.
"Kya kuchh aisa hai jo tum mujhse puchhna chah rahe ho? Kuchh kehna chah rahe ho jo keh nahi pa rahe?"
Is sawal ne ek baar phir shak ki lantern jala di. Vo jaanti thi ke uski chori pakdi gayi aur sirf dikhawa kar rahi thi. Vo intezaar kar rahi thi ke main usse sawal karunga par jab maine nahi kiya toh mujhe khud kured rahi hai.
"Nahi" Main sirf itna hi keh paya, "Koi baat nahi hai"
Chapter 20 - The Money
Main aur Kamini guest house mein bethe case discuss kar rahe the. Mere ek haath mein coffee ka cup aur doosre mein cigarette thi.
"Chhod kyun nahi dete?"
"What?"
"Ye jo haath mein pakdi hui hai, chhod kyun nahi dete"
"Chhod doonga yaar" Maine taalte hue jawab diya.
"Haan pata hai kitna chhod doge. 15 saal se toh main hi keh rahi hoon"
"Thoda pyaar se bol toh shayad chhod doon"
"Haan main toh bada joota phenk kar bolti hoon na jaise tumhein" Vo haste hue boli, "But on a serious note, i think you should quit. Vikram bada ho raha hai and i dont think its wise that you smoke in his presence"
"Nahi uske saamne toh cigarette pita hi nahi main, never done that. Ever since Renuka was pregnant"
Renuka ka naam aaya toh ham dono hi kuchh pal ke liye khamoshi ho gaye. Khamoshi Kamini ne hi todi.
"This picture is impossible, totally ruined" Vo us tasveer ki taraf dekh rahi thi jo hamein Sunanda ke ghar se mili thi, "Ab ye sirf ek gala hua kagaz hai"
"I know" Main pehle hi us tasveer ko kayi baar ulat pulat kar dekh chuka tha ke kahin se koi clue mil jaaye, us ladke ke baare mein jise Sunanda chahti thi, "Ab tak jo kuchh case mein pata chala hai vo sirf information hai, munh boli baatein jo mere alawa koi aur hota toh use bhi pata chal jaati"
"Aur doosri baat ye hai ke suni sunayi baaton par yakeen bhi kitna kar sakte ho? Kaun jaane kaun sach bol raha hai aur kaun jhooth" Kamini ne kaha.
"True" Maine desk se police records ki vo copies uthayi jo maine Inspector Negi ko original vaapis karne se pehle di thi. "Ek bahut hi important sawal jo is case se juda hai vo ye hai ke un paiso ka kya hua"
"The ones that Ravi gave to Kanha?"
"Yes. 15 Crore ek bahut badi rakam hoti hai, even Ravi jaise khandani raees ke liye bhi aur aaj se 20 saal pehle toh bahut zyada badi rakam thi. Sochne wali baat ye hai ke ye paise aise gayab hue jaise gadhe ke sar se seeng."
"Koi badi baat nahi hai, jab vo paise dene wale ka hi pata nahi chala toh paiso ka kya pata chalta"
"Nahi actually ye ek badi baat hai. Aadmi ko maarkar laash thikane lagana aasan hai. Hazar raaste hain, dafna do, jala do, kahin aisi jagah phenk do jahan koi aata jata na ho par paise ko chhupana zara mushkil hai. Aadmi paisa churata hi isliye hai taake kharch kar sake, apni lifestyle sudhar sake par aisa hua nahi"
"How do you know?"
"Kanha ki family toh saamne hi hai. Uska baap aaj bhi gareebi mein mar raha hai"
"Aur koi bhi toh ho sakta hai?"
"Pata lagaya hai maine. Pichhle 20 saal mein Chail, Shimla aur aas paas ke ilaako mein koi raaton raat ameer nahi hua ya pichhle 20 saal mein bhi koi bhi crorepati nahi hua"
"How did you find that out?"
"Aasan hai yaar. Chhote chhote gaon aur kasbe hain yahan. Koi agar roadpati se crorepati ho jaaye toh har kisi ki zubaan par yahi baat aa jaati hai par yahan aisi kismet kisi ki nahi palti"
"Hmmmm, interesting"
"If only i could find a trace of that money" Maine pages ulat kar dekhte hue kaha, "Vaise ek baat aur hai interesting"
"Vo kya?"
"Ye dekho" Maine ek page Kamini ki taraf badhaya.
"Kya hai ye?"
"Ek FIR ki copy hai. Kanha ki laash milne par jo FIR darj hui thi uski copy"
"Ok, what should i be looking at?"
"Cause of death dekho" Maine page ke neeche ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Cause Of Death" Kamini ne zor se padhna shuru kiya, "Shot in the chest twice, possibly by a 0.38 caliber revolver"
"Uske neeche padh" Maine kahan.
"No bullets recovered from the body. No exit wounds found on victim's body"
"Matlab samjhi?" Maine puchha.
"Matlab ke laash se goliyan nahi mili?"
"Exactly. Goli nahi milne ki vajah 2 hi ho sakti hain. Ya toh ye ke goli shareer ke aar paar nikal gayi. Agar aisa hota toh Kanha ki peeth par dono goliyan jahan se nikli vo zakhm hota"
"Jo ke nahi tha"
"Exactly. Uske shareer par sirf saamne ki taraf zakhm the jahan se ke goliyan andar ghusi par koi aisa nishan ya zakhm nahi jahan se goli aar paar hoti hui nikal gayi ho"
"Toh iska matlab ke ...."
"Yep. Vajah number 2. Goli isliye nahi mili kyunki jisne bhi use goli maari, usne Kanha ke shareer se goliyan khud nikal di"
"Isnt that weird? Why would anyone do that?"
"Weird it is indeed ..." Maine bolna shuru kiya hi tha ke mere phone ki ghanti baji.
Call Inspector Falana Falana ki thi.
Maine cell Kamini ki taraf kiya jismein call ring hote hue Inspector Negi ka naam likha hua aa raha tha. Naam dekh kar fauran Kamini ki shakal ban gayi.
"Negi Bhai, kaise hain?" Maine call receive ki.
"Theek hoon Sir, aap aur Madam kaise hain?"
"Ham dono bhi theek hi hain, kaise yaad kiya?"
"Sir aap toh yaad karte nahi toh maine socha ke main hi yaad kar loon"
"Arrey nahi aisi baat nahi hai. Bas zara ye case mein uljha hua hoon, kahin se kuchh mil nahi raha hai"
"Koi baat nahi Sir, mujhe yakeen hai aap zaroor kuchh na kuchh dhoondh hi lenge. Main koi madad kar sakoon toh bataiye"
"Aap already bahut madad kar rahe hain Negi Bhai" Maine haste hue kaha.
"Vo asal mein ek baat batani thi aapko. Pata nahi aapke matlab ki hai ya nahi par maine socha ke bata doon"
"Haan zaroor"
"Vo Kanha ka baap mar gaya"
"Vo ab mara hai? Maine socha tha ke kuchh din pehle mar gaya tha?"
"Actually mujhe pata nahi tha ke aapko already pata hai"
"Nahi news mil gayi thi mujhe" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha jo shak bhari nazar se meri taraf dekh rahi thi. "Vaise ek baat bataiye, ye Baap Bete ke alawa aur koi bhi tha ghar mein jo Kanha aur Ravi ke baare mein janta ho?"
"Nahi Sir, bas do hi the aur ab Buddhe ke marne ke baad koi nahi bacha puchhne wala. Filhal bhi sarkar uski zameen ghar vagerah zabt kar rahi hai jab tak ke koi rishtedaar saamne aakar claim na kar le"
"Thats kind of sad really ...." Maine kehna shuru hi kiya tha ke call disconnect ho gayi. Maine apne cell ki taraf dekha toh vo switched off tha.
"Damn battery. Charger utha kar dena vo zara" Maine Kamini se kaha, "Varna Inspector Falana Falana ko lagega ke main ise avoid kar raha hoon"
"Kya keh raha tha?" Kamini mujhe charger pakdate hue boli.
"Baasi khabar suna raha tha ke Kanha ka baap mar gaya"
"Dont you think its weird?"
"Ismein weird kya hai? Har koi marta hai. Ek boodhe bimaar aadmi ke marne mein kya weird baat ho sakti hai?"
"Arrey vo nahi"
"Phir?"
"Ye ke ham abhi Kanha ki hi baat kar rahe the aur fauran iska phone aa gaya aur baat ye bhi Negi se related hi kar raha tha"
"Haan weird toh hai?"
"Do you think the room is bugged?"
"Nahi i have swiped it, nothing" Maine charger laga kar phir phone on kiya, "Ghar mein kuchh nahi hai. No cams or microphones"
"I still think its weird"
"Just a co-incidence. Keh raha tha ke aage pichhe koi nahi hai isliye sarkar zameen aur ghar filhal ke liye zabt kar rahi hai jab tak ke koi rishtedaar saamne na aaye"
"Dono ka koi rishtedaar nahi hai?"
"I am sure honge par aas paas koi nahi hai i think" Kehte hue maine number dial kiya.
"Ek minute ruko?" Kamini ne aage badhkar mujhe rok diya.
"Kya hua?"
"Ek kaam karo"
"Bol"
"Ise bolo ke hamein Kanha ke ghar ki talashi leni hai"
"Kyun?"
"Kanha ka baap Ravi se nafrat karta tha toh i dont think ke usne kisi bhi investigation mein co-operate kiya hoga. Us ghar mein Kanha ka saara saman mujhe yakeen hai ke ab bhi hoga considering ke vo apne baap ki eklauti aulad tha"
"And you think ke saman ki talashi lene par shayad hamein kuchh mil jaaye" Maine baat poori ki.
"Its worth a shot. Jab tak Kanha ka baap zinda tha toh kisi ko us ghar ki access nahi mili hogi. Jo bhi baat hui hogi darwaze par Kanha ki baap se hi hui hogi. Ab vo nahi hai toh ham ghar mein ghus kar ek baar talashi le sakte hain"
"Not a bad idea" Maine phir Negi ka number milaya, "Mujhse badi jasoos toh tu saabit ho rahi hai"
"Sab company ka asar hai" Vo haskar boli, "Puchho Negi se ke arrange kar sakta hai kya"
Ghanti baji aur Negi ne phone uthaya.
"Sorry Negi Bhai vo call cell ki battery khatam ho gayi thi"
"Koi baat nahi Sir. Vo samajh aa gaya tha mujhe. Maine dobara number milaya toh switched off aa raha tha."
"Ek kaam hai vaise aapse"
"Zaroor"
"Kanha ke ghar se ab tak kuchh nikala toh nahi gaya hai na?"
"Nahi Sir bilkul nahi. Police ne taala lagaya hua hai property par"
"Toh phir main ek baar us ghar ki talashi lena chahunga" Maine kaha.
Main aur Kamini guest house mein bethe case discuss kar rahe the. Mere ek haath mein coffee ka cup aur doosre mein cigarette thi.
"Chhod kyun nahi dete?"
"What?"
"Ye jo haath mein pakdi hui hai, chhod kyun nahi dete"
"Chhod doonga yaar" Maine taalte hue jawab diya.
"Haan pata hai kitna chhod doge. 15 saal se toh main hi keh rahi hoon"
"Thoda pyaar se bol toh shayad chhod doon"
"Haan main toh bada joota phenk kar bolti hoon na jaise tumhein" Vo haste hue boli, "But on a serious note, i think you should quit. Vikram bada ho raha hai and i dont think its wise that you smoke in his presence"
"Nahi uske saamne toh cigarette pita hi nahi main, never done that. Ever since Renuka was pregnant"
Renuka ka naam aaya toh ham dono hi kuchh pal ke liye khamoshi ho gaye. Khamoshi Kamini ne hi todi.
"This picture is impossible, totally ruined" Vo us tasveer ki taraf dekh rahi thi jo hamein Sunanda ke ghar se mili thi, "Ab ye sirf ek gala hua kagaz hai"
"I know" Main pehle hi us tasveer ko kayi baar ulat pulat kar dekh chuka tha ke kahin se koi clue mil jaaye, us ladke ke baare mein jise Sunanda chahti thi, "Ab tak jo kuchh case mein pata chala hai vo sirf information hai, munh boli baatein jo mere alawa koi aur hota toh use bhi pata chal jaati"
"Aur doosri baat ye hai ke suni sunayi baaton par yakeen bhi kitna kar sakte ho? Kaun jaane kaun sach bol raha hai aur kaun jhooth" Kamini ne kaha.
"True" Maine desk se police records ki vo copies uthayi jo maine Inspector Negi ko original vaapis karne se pehle di thi. "Ek bahut hi important sawal jo is case se juda hai vo ye hai ke un paiso ka kya hua"
"The ones that Ravi gave to Kanha?"
"Yes. 15 Crore ek bahut badi rakam hoti hai, even Ravi jaise khandani raees ke liye bhi aur aaj se 20 saal pehle toh bahut zyada badi rakam thi. Sochne wali baat ye hai ke ye paise aise gayab hue jaise gadhe ke sar se seeng."
"Koi badi baat nahi hai, jab vo paise dene wale ka hi pata nahi chala toh paiso ka kya pata chalta"
"Nahi actually ye ek badi baat hai. Aadmi ko maarkar laash thikane lagana aasan hai. Hazar raaste hain, dafna do, jala do, kahin aisi jagah phenk do jahan koi aata jata na ho par paise ko chhupana zara mushkil hai. Aadmi paisa churata hi isliye hai taake kharch kar sake, apni lifestyle sudhar sake par aisa hua nahi"
"How do you know?"
"Kanha ki family toh saamne hi hai. Uska baap aaj bhi gareebi mein mar raha hai"
"Aur koi bhi toh ho sakta hai?"
"Pata lagaya hai maine. Pichhle 20 saal mein Chail, Shimla aur aas paas ke ilaako mein koi raaton raat ameer nahi hua ya pichhle 20 saal mein bhi koi bhi crorepati nahi hua"
"How did you find that out?"
"Aasan hai yaar. Chhote chhote gaon aur kasbe hain yahan. Koi agar roadpati se crorepati ho jaaye toh har kisi ki zubaan par yahi baat aa jaati hai par yahan aisi kismet kisi ki nahi palti"
"Hmmmm, interesting"
"If only i could find a trace of that money" Maine pages ulat kar dekhte hue kaha, "Vaise ek baat aur hai interesting"
"Vo kya?"
"Ye dekho" Maine ek page Kamini ki taraf badhaya.
"Kya hai ye?"
"Ek FIR ki copy hai. Kanha ki laash milne par jo FIR darj hui thi uski copy"
"Ok, what should i be looking at?"
"Cause of death dekho" Maine page ke neeche ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Cause Of Death" Kamini ne zor se padhna shuru kiya, "Shot in the chest twice, possibly by a 0.38 caliber revolver"
"Uske neeche padh" Maine kahan.
"No bullets recovered from the body. No exit wounds found on victim's body"
"Matlab samjhi?" Maine puchha.
"Matlab ke laash se goliyan nahi mili?"
"Exactly. Goli nahi milne ki vajah 2 hi ho sakti hain. Ya toh ye ke goli shareer ke aar paar nikal gayi. Agar aisa hota toh Kanha ki peeth par dono goliyan jahan se nikli vo zakhm hota"
"Jo ke nahi tha"
"Exactly. Uske shareer par sirf saamne ki taraf zakhm the jahan se ke goliyan andar ghusi par koi aisa nishan ya zakhm nahi jahan se goli aar paar hoti hui nikal gayi ho"
"Toh iska matlab ke ...."
"Yep. Vajah number 2. Goli isliye nahi mili kyunki jisne bhi use goli maari, usne Kanha ke shareer se goliyan khud nikal di"
"Isnt that weird? Why would anyone do that?"
"Weird it is indeed ..." Maine bolna shuru kiya hi tha ke mere phone ki ghanti baji.
Call Inspector Falana Falana ki thi.
Maine cell Kamini ki taraf kiya jismein call ring hote hue Inspector Negi ka naam likha hua aa raha tha. Naam dekh kar fauran Kamini ki shakal ban gayi.
"Negi Bhai, kaise hain?" Maine call receive ki.
"Theek hoon Sir, aap aur Madam kaise hain?"
"Ham dono bhi theek hi hain, kaise yaad kiya?"
"Sir aap toh yaad karte nahi toh maine socha ke main hi yaad kar loon"
"Arrey nahi aisi baat nahi hai. Bas zara ye case mein uljha hua hoon, kahin se kuchh mil nahi raha hai"
"Koi baat nahi Sir, mujhe yakeen hai aap zaroor kuchh na kuchh dhoondh hi lenge. Main koi madad kar sakoon toh bataiye"
"Aap already bahut madad kar rahe hain Negi Bhai" Maine haste hue kaha.
"Vo asal mein ek baat batani thi aapko. Pata nahi aapke matlab ki hai ya nahi par maine socha ke bata doon"
"Haan zaroor"
"Vo Kanha ka baap mar gaya"
"Vo ab mara hai? Maine socha tha ke kuchh din pehle mar gaya tha?"
"Actually mujhe pata nahi tha ke aapko already pata hai"
"Nahi news mil gayi thi mujhe" Maine Kamini ki taraf dekhte hue kaha jo shak bhari nazar se meri taraf dekh rahi thi. "Vaise ek baat bataiye, ye Baap Bete ke alawa aur koi bhi tha ghar mein jo Kanha aur Ravi ke baare mein janta ho?"
"Nahi Sir, bas do hi the aur ab Buddhe ke marne ke baad koi nahi bacha puchhne wala. Filhal bhi sarkar uski zameen ghar vagerah zabt kar rahi hai jab tak ke koi rishtedaar saamne aakar claim na kar le"
"Thats kind of sad really ...." Maine kehna shuru hi kiya tha ke call disconnect ho gayi. Maine apne cell ki taraf dekha toh vo switched off tha.
"Damn battery. Charger utha kar dena vo zara" Maine Kamini se kaha, "Varna Inspector Falana Falana ko lagega ke main ise avoid kar raha hoon"
"Kya keh raha tha?" Kamini mujhe charger pakdate hue boli.
"Baasi khabar suna raha tha ke Kanha ka baap mar gaya"
"Dont you think its weird?"
"Ismein weird kya hai? Har koi marta hai. Ek boodhe bimaar aadmi ke marne mein kya weird baat ho sakti hai?"
"Arrey vo nahi"
"Phir?"
"Ye ke ham abhi Kanha ki hi baat kar rahe the aur fauran iska phone aa gaya aur baat ye bhi Negi se related hi kar raha tha"
"Haan weird toh hai?"
"Do you think the room is bugged?"
"Nahi i have swiped it, nothing" Maine charger laga kar phir phone on kiya, "Ghar mein kuchh nahi hai. No cams or microphones"
"I still think its weird"
"Just a co-incidence. Keh raha tha ke aage pichhe koi nahi hai isliye sarkar zameen aur ghar filhal ke liye zabt kar rahi hai jab tak ke koi rishtedaar saamne na aaye"
"Dono ka koi rishtedaar nahi hai?"
"I am sure honge par aas paas koi nahi hai i think" Kehte hue maine number dial kiya.
"Ek minute ruko?" Kamini ne aage badhkar mujhe rok diya.
"Kya hua?"
"Ek kaam karo"
"Bol"
"Ise bolo ke hamein Kanha ke ghar ki talashi leni hai"
"Kyun?"
"Kanha ka baap Ravi se nafrat karta tha toh i dont think ke usne kisi bhi investigation mein co-operate kiya hoga. Us ghar mein Kanha ka saara saman mujhe yakeen hai ke ab bhi hoga considering ke vo apne baap ki eklauti aulad tha"
"And you think ke saman ki talashi lene par shayad hamein kuchh mil jaaye" Maine baat poori ki.
"Its worth a shot. Jab tak Kanha ka baap zinda tha toh kisi ko us ghar ki access nahi mili hogi. Jo bhi baat hui hogi darwaze par Kanha ki baap se hi hui hogi. Ab vo nahi hai toh ham ghar mein ghus kar ek baar talashi le sakte hain"
"Not a bad idea" Maine phir Negi ka number milaya, "Mujhse badi jasoos toh tu saabit ho rahi hai"
"Sab company ka asar hai" Vo haskar boli, "Puchho Negi se ke arrange kar sakta hai kya"
Ghanti baji aur Negi ne phone uthaya.
"Sorry Negi Bhai vo call cell ki battery khatam ho gayi thi"
"Koi baat nahi Sir. Vo samajh aa gaya tha mujhe. Maine dobara number milaya toh switched off aa raha tha."
"Ek kaam hai vaise aapse"
"Zaroor"
"Kanha ke ghar se ab tak kuchh nikala toh nahi gaya hai na?"
"Nahi Sir bilkul nahi. Police ne taala lagaya hua hai property par"
"Toh phir main ek baar us ghar ki talashi lena chahunga" Maine kaha.
"Talashi Sir?" Negi chaunkta hua bola.
"Ji haan, agar aapko koi etraaz na ho toh?"
"Mujhe toh koi etraaz nahi hai Sir par uske ghar ki talashi lekar kya milega?"
"Filhal toh pata nahi par ummed kar raha hoon ke kuchh mil jaaye. Koshish kar lene mein koi harj nahi"
"Bilkul harj nahi Sir. Bataiye kab chalna hai?"
"Abhi, agar aapke paas waqt ho toh"
"Bilkul waqt hai Sir. Main 15 minute mein aapko pick karta hoon" Kehkar usne phone rakh diya.
"Maan gaya?" Maine apna cell table par rakha toh Kamini ne puchha.
"Kya bola? Ke aaj shaam chalte hain, kal chalenge?"
"Nahi abhi chalne ke liye maan gaya hai, 15 minute mein pahunch raha hai"
"Really?" Kamini ne hairat se puchha.
"You are surprised?"
"Yes I am"
"Why?"
"Because mujhe poori ummeed thi ke vo ye baat kal parso par taalega"
"Aur aisa vo kyun karega?"
"Taake hamare talashi lene se pehle use khud ek baar ghar ko scan karne ka mauka mil jaaye. To ensure ke hamein vahan se kuchh haasil na ho"
"You really dont trust this guy, do you?" Maine haste hue puchha.
"Nahi i really dont. Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke ye banda kahin na kahin kuchh gadbad hai"
"Nahi yaar, mujhe nahi lagta. Agar aisa hota toh ....." Main keh hi raha tha ke darwaze par knock hua.
Maine uthkar darwaza khola toh bahar Mrs. Bela Rana aur Raj Rana khade hue the.
"How are you?" Raj ne muskurate hue puchha. Uske bolne ki aawaz toh nahi aayi par uske honth dekh kar main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchh raha hai.
"I am very well" Maine jawab diya aur phir Mrs. Rana se mukhatib hua, "Aapne kyun takleef ki, mujhe bula liya hota"
"Nahi koi baat nahi" Vo muskurate hue andar daakhil hui, "Hamne socha ke kaafi arse se mulaqat aur baat nahi ho paayi toh mil lein aapse"
"Bilkul" Maine jawab diya, "Please bethiye"
Vo dono andar Kamini ko dekh kar thoda jhijhke.
"This is Kamini" Maine unki jhijhak ko dekhkte hue fauran kaha.
"Hello Ma'm" Kamini ne aage badhkar unse haath milaya aur phir Raj se, "Hello Sir"
"Kamini is my fiancee" Isse pehle ke aage koi aur kuchh kehta main hi bol pada aur meri baat ka asar un dono ke hi nahi balki Kamini ke chehre par bhi dikhai diya.
Un dono ke saath saath vo bhi hairat se mujhe dekhne lagi. Uske chehre par us insaan ki tarah expressions the jise abhi abhi kisi ne pehle zor se thappad maara ho, phir ek chaunka dene wali baat batayi ho aur phir duniya ki sabse badi khush-khabri suna di ho.
Par agle hi pal usne waqt ki nazakat ko samajhte hue fauran khud ko sambhal liye. Chehre par jo bhi bhaav the vo sirf kuchh seconds hi rahe aur unki jagah ek khoobsurat si sharam ne le li.
"Thats very nice" Mrs. Rana ne kaha, "Kab aayi aap?"
"Ji bas abhi ek do din pehle"
"Jagah khoobsurat hai toh maine socha ke ise bula loon, ye bhi dekh legi aur mujhe bhi zara company mil jaayegi"
"Bilkul sahi socha aapne par ek galti ki"
"Kya?"
"Ke hamein inse nahi milvaya. Hamare ghar itni khoobsurat mehmaan aayi hui hain aur hamein khabar tak nahi?"
"I am sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Mujhe laga ke shayad aapko pasand na aaye"
"Arrey kyun pasand nahi aayega. She is such a pretty girl" Unhone Kamini ke sar par haath phera toh vo aise sharmayi jaise koi nayi naveli dulhan ho.
"Aap chaai lengi?" Kamini ne puchha.
"Zaroor loongi par yahan nahi, aao mere saath ghar chalo. Vahan par chaai bhi pila dena aur kuchh baatein bhi ho jaayengi"
"Ji zaroor" Kamini ne meri taraf dekhte hue jawab diya.
"I am sorry ma'm main aapse itne din milne nahi aa saka. Actually koi solid lead mujhe ab tak mil nahi paayi hai par yakeen jaaniye main koshish poori kar raha hoon"
"Hamein poora yakeen hai" Mrs. Rana ne kaha, "Koi jaldi nahi hai, aap apna waqt lijiye. Hamne 20 baras intezaar kiya hai toh thoda waqt aur sahi. Aur ham is waqt aapse report out lene ke liye nahi aapko lunch ke liye invite karne aaye the. Itne time se aap hamare yahan par kabhi saath bethkar kaam se alag koi aur baat karne ka mauka hi nahi mil paya"
"I would love to join you but actually main is waqt aapke kaam se hi kahin bahar ja raha tha"
"Koi baat nahi, aap ho aaiye. I will steal your girl meanwhile, if you dont mind"
"Of course not. Main vaapis aakar sidha aapke paas hi aata hoon"
Vo dono Kamini ko saath lekar chale gaye.
"She is very pretty, congratulations" Jaate jaate Raj meri taraf palta aur mujhse haath mila kar ishare se bola.
"Thanks" Maine jawab diya aur unke jaane ke baad Negi ke intezaar mein taiyyar hone laga.
Koi 15 minute baad mere cell ki message tone baji. Message Kamini ka tha.
"What was that?"
"Itna khush mat ho" Maine vaapis likh kar bheja, "Unhein bura na lage ke maine apne saath yahan ek ladki ko bhi rakha hua hai isliye bol diya tha"
"Ok" Kuchh der baad jawab aaya. Likha sirf itna hi tha par main janta tha ke use kitni mayusi hui hogi.
"Chal na senti mat ho" Maine phir likha, "I meant it"
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ke mujhe ek biwi aur Vikram ko ek maan ki zaroorat hai aur ham dono ko tujhse better nahi mil sakti koi. Duniya mein ek hi ladki hai jo mujhe bardasht kar sakti hai aur vo tu hai aur ek tu hi hai jise main bardasht kar sakta hoon"
"Are you serious? Sure?"
"More than i have ever been about anything in my life" Maine jawab diya.
Thodi hi der baad Negi mujhe lene ke liye aa gaya aur vahan se uske saath main Kanha ke ghar pahuncha. Vaise toh plan ye tha ke main aur Kamini dono hi aayenge par ab mujhe lag raha tha ke akele aakar hi theek kiya. Negi par mujhe zara bhi shak nahi tha par Kamini ko vo jis tarah se na-pasand tha, usse agar vo ham dono ke saath hoti toh mahaul thoda ajeeb hi rehta.
Kanha ke ghar ke bahar ek mota sa lock laga hua tha. Taale mein jis jagah chaabi lagayi jaati hai uspar moti si kapde ki tape lagayi hui thi taaki koi chaabi na daal sake. Darwaze par ek paper chipka hua tha jispar likha tha,
"Ye ghar maan-niye adalat ke hukum anusaar sarkar dwara zabt kiya jata hai. Anadhikrat pravesh dandniye apradh hai"
Maine palat kar apne pichhe khade Negi ki taraf dekha.
"Ab?"
"Chaabi laya hoon Sir" Usne jeb se chaabi nikali.
"Chaabi tumhare paas hai?" Maine puchha, "I thought ye court ke order se band kiya gaya hai"
"Order court ka hi tha Sir par band toh maine hi kiya tha. Chaabi vagerah toh local police ke paas hi rehti hai" Kehkar usne taale par lagi hui tape hatayi aur chaabi lagayi.
Andar ghar mein ghup andhera tha aur ek ajeeb si smell pheli hui thi.
"What is that smell?" Maine apni jeb se rumaal nikal kar apni naak par lagaya.
"Band ghar ki smell hai Sir" Negi ne jawab dete hue lights on ki.
"Itne waqt se toh band nahi tha ye ghar yaar" Maine chaaro taraf nazar ghumayi, "Abhi toh mara hai Kanha ka baap"
"Nahi Sir" Negi ne aage ek ek karke sab windows kholni shuru kar di.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ke Buddha toh usi din mar gaya tha jis din uska beta mera tha. 20 saal se toh vo bas ek zinda laash ki tarah yahan pada rehta tha"
"Sad"
"Bilkul. Bete ki maut ke baad na toh vo kahin zyada aata jata tha aur na koi usse milne aata tha. Koi aata tha toh Buddha usse baat nahi karta tha, yun hi ghar se nikal deta tha toh dheere dheere logon ne aana bhi band kar diya. Khidki darwaze band kiye Buddha yahan pada rehta tha toh ye ajeeb si smell bas gayi"
"Yeah that explains the smell, but is baat se ek doosra sawal khada hota hai"
"Kya Sir?"
"Karta kya tha Buddha?"
"Khaas kuchh nahi, ye bahar ki zameen usi ki hai. Kheti karta tha yahan"
Maine khidki se bahar dekha. Vo ghar ek pahad par tha aur saamne pahad aur phir seedhi khaai aur phir ek doosra pahad.
"Kaun si zameen?" Maine confused shakal se Negi ki taraf dekha.
"Yahi jo aap dekh rahe ho Sir" Vo hasta hua bola, "Mera matlab is pahad se hi tha. Seedhi-dhar khet toh aapne sune hi honge"
"Achha haan" Maine dobara bahar dekha par ab na toh koi seedhi thi, na khet. Bas ek jhaadiyon aur ghaas se bhara pahad.
"Kabhi yahan par inke seedhi-daar khet hote the, jo thoda bahut yahan ugta tha usi se guzara karte the baap bete. Aur phir shayad us waqt Buddhe ne main market mein ek kapde ki dukaan bhi chala rakhi thi"
"Jo ke main andaza laga raha hoon ke bete ki maut ke baad band ho gayi thi" Maine kaha.
Saamne jahan Negi ke hisaab se khet hone the vahan kuchh nahi tha. Bas ek dhalan, aisa koi nishan tak nahi tha ke yahan kabhi pahad ko kaat kar seedhiyon jaise chhote chhote maidan-roopi khet the.
"Haan uske baad usne dukaan par bethna chhod hi diya tha. Dheere dheere dhandha chopat ho gaya"
"Toh sabse bada sawal ye hai Negi bhai ke Buddhe ne 20 saal tak apna kharcha kaise chalaya" Maine sochne wale andaaz mein kaha.
"Sir kahin aap ye toh nahi keh rahe ke vo jo paisa gayab hua tha, 15 crore?"
"Aap jaante ho us baare mein"
"Files mein padha tha maine"
Main ek pal ke liye soch mein pad gaya. Files maine bhi saari hi dekhi thi par kahin paise ka zikr toh unmein mujhe nahi dikha tha. Bahar-haal, maine is baat par zyada dhyaan nahi diya.
"Ho sakta hai"
"Par Sir is ghar ko dekh kar aapko lagta hai ke ye ek aise aadmi ka ghar hai jiske paas aaj se 20 saal pehle 15 crore the?" Negi takreeban hasta hua bola.
"Ji haan, agar aapko koi etraaz na ho toh?"
"Mujhe toh koi etraaz nahi hai Sir par uske ghar ki talashi lekar kya milega?"
"Filhal toh pata nahi par ummed kar raha hoon ke kuchh mil jaaye. Koshish kar lene mein koi harj nahi"
"Bilkul harj nahi Sir. Bataiye kab chalna hai?"
"Abhi, agar aapke paas waqt ho toh"
"Bilkul waqt hai Sir. Main 15 minute mein aapko pick karta hoon" Kehkar usne phone rakh diya.
"Maan gaya?" Maine apna cell table par rakha toh Kamini ne puchha.
"Kya bola? Ke aaj shaam chalte hain, kal chalenge?"
"Nahi abhi chalne ke liye maan gaya hai, 15 minute mein pahunch raha hai"
"Really?" Kamini ne hairat se puchha.
"You are surprised?"
"Yes I am"
"Why?"
"Because mujhe poori ummeed thi ke vo ye baat kal parso par taalega"
"Aur aisa vo kyun karega?"
"Taake hamare talashi lene se pehle use khud ek baar ghar ko scan karne ka mauka mil jaaye. To ensure ke hamein vahan se kuchh haasil na ho"
"You really dont trust this guy, do you?" Maine haste hue puchha.
"Nahi i really dont. Mujhe poora yakeen hai ke ye banda kahin na kahin kuchh gadbad hai"
"Nahi yaar, mujhe nahi lagta. Agar aisa hota toh ....." Main keh hi raha tha ke darwaze par knock hua.
Maine uthkar darwaza khola toh bahar Mrs. Bela Rana aur Raj Rana khade hue the.
"How are you?" Raj ne muskurate hue puchha. Uske bolne ki aawaz toh nahi aayi par uske honth dekh kar main samajh gaya ke vo kya puchh raha hai.
"I am very well" Maine jawab diya aur phir Mrs. Rana se mukhatib hua, "Aapne kyun takleef ki, mujhe bula liya hota"
"Nahi koi baat nahi" Vo muskurate hue andar daakhil hui, "Hamne socha ke kaafi arse se mulaqat aur baat nahi ho paayi toh mil lein aapse"
"Bilkul" Maine jawab diya, "Please bethiye"
Vo dono andar Kamini ko dekh kar thoda jhijhke.
"This is Kamini" Maine unki jhijhak ko dekhkte hue fauran kaha.
"Hello Ma'm" Kamini ne aage badhkar unse haath milaya aur phir Raj se, "Hello Sir"
"Kamini is my fiancee" Isse pehle ke aage koi aur kuchh kehta main hi bol pada aur meri baat ka asar un dono ke hi nahi balki Kamini ke chehre par bhi dikhai diya.
Un dono ke saath saath vo bhi hairat se mujhe dekhne lagi. Uske chehre par us insaan ki tarah expressions the jise abhi abhi kisi ne pehle zor se thappad maara ho, phir ek chaunka dene wali baat batayi ho aur phir duniya ki sabse badi khush-khabri suna di ho.
Par agle hi pal usne waqt ki nazakat ko samajhte hue fauran khud ko sambhal liye. Chehre par jo bhi bhaav the vo sirf kuchh seconds hi rahe aur unki jagah ek khoobsurat si sharam ne le li.
"Thats very nice" Mrs. Rana ne kaha, "Kab aayi aap?"
"Ji bas abhi ek do din pehle"
"Jagah khoobsurat hai toh maine socha ke ise bula loon, ye bhi dekh legi aur mujhe bhi zara company mil jaayegi"
"Bilkul sahi socha aapne par ek galti ki"
"Kya?"
"Ke hamein inse nahi milvaya. Hamare ghar itni khoobsurat mehmaan aayi hui hain aur hamein khabar tak nahi?"
"I am sorry" Maine maafi maangne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Mujhe laga ke shayad aapko pasand na aaye"
"Arrey kyun pasand nahi aayega. She is such a pretty girl" Unhone Kamini ke sar par haath phera toh vo aise sharmayi jaise koi nayi naveli dulhan ho.
"Aap chaai lengi?" Kamini ne puchha.
"Zaroor loongi par yahan nahi, aao mere saath ghar chalo. Vahan par chaai bhi pila dena aur kuchh baatein bhi ho jaayengi"
"Ji zaroor" Kamini ne meri taraf dekhte hue jawab diya.
"I am sorry ma'm main aapse itne din milne nahi aa saka. Actually koi solid lead mujhe ab tak mil nahi paayi hai par yakeen jaaniye main koshish poori kar raha hoon"
"Hamein poora yakeen hai" Mrs. Rana ne kaha, "Koi jaldi nahi hai, aap apna waqt lijiye. Hamne 20 baras intezaar kiya hai toh thoda waqt aur sahi. Aur ham is waqt aapse report out lene ke liye nahi aapko lunch ke liye invite karne aaye the. Itne time se aap hamare yahan par kabhi saath bethkar kaam se alag koi aur baat karne ka mauka hi nahi mil paya"
"I would love to join you but actually main is waqt aapke kaam se hi kahin bahar ja raha tha"
"Koi baat nahi, aap ho aaiye. I will steal your girl meanwhile, if you dont mind"
"Of course not. Main vaapis aakar sidha aapke paas hi aata hoon"
Vo dono Kamini ko saath lekar chale gaye.
"She is very pretty, congratulations" Jaate jaate Raj meri taraf palta aur mujhse haath mila kar ishare se bola.
"Thanks" Maine jawab diya aur unke jaane ke baad Negi ke intezaar mein taiyyar hone laga.
Koi 15 minute baad mere cell ki message tone baji. Message Kamini ka tha.
"What was that?"
"Itna khush mat ho" Maine vaapis likh kar bheja, "Unhein bura na lage ke maine apne saath yahan ek ladki ko bhi rakha hua hai isliye bol diya tha"
"Ok" Kuchh der baad jawab aaya. Likha sirf itna hi tha par main janta tha ke use kitni mayusi hui hogi.
"Chal na senti mat ho" Maine phir likha, "I meant it"
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ke mujhe ek biwi aur Vikram ko ek maan ki zaroorat hai aur ham dono ko tujhse better nahi mil sakti koi. Duniya mein ek hi ladki hai jo mujhe bardasht kar sakti hai aur vo tu hai aur ek tu hi hai jise main bardasht kar sakta hoon"
"Are you serious? Sure?"
"More than i have ever been about anything in my life" Maine jawab diya.
Thodi hi der baad Negi mujhe lene ke liye aa gaya aur vahan se uske saath main Kanha ke ghar pahuncha. Vaise toh plan ye tha ke main aur Kamini dono hi aayenge par ab mujhe lag raha tha ke akele aakar hi theek kiya. Negi par mujhe zara bhi shak nahi tha par Kamini ko vo jis tarah se na-pasand tha, usse agar vo ham dono ke saath hoti toh mahaul thoda ajeeb hi rehta.
Kanha ke ghar ke bahar ek mota sa lock laga hua tha. Taale mein jis jagah chaabi lagayi jaati hai uspar moti si kapde ki tape lagayi hui thi taaki koi chaabi na daal sake. Darwaze par ek paper chipka hua tha jispar likha tha,
"Ye ghar maan-niye adalat ke hukum anusaar sarkar dwara zabt kiya jata hai. Anadhikrat pravesh dandniye apradh hai"
Maine palat kar apne pichhe khade Negi ki taraf dekha.
"Ab?"
"Chaabi laya hoon Sir" Usne jeb se chaabi nikali.
"Chaabi tumhare paas hai?" Maine puchha, "I thought ye court ke order se band kiya gaya hai"
"Order court ka hi tha Sir par band toh maine hi kiya tha. Chaabi vagerah toh local police ke paas hi rehti hai" Kehkar usne taale par lagi hui tape hatayi aur chaabi lagayi.
Andar ghar mein ghup andhera tha aur ek ajeeb si smell pheli hui thi.
"What is that smell?" Maine apni jeb se rumaal nikal kar apni naak par lagaya.
"Band ghar ki smell hai Sir" Negi ne jawab dete hue lights on ki.
"Itne waqt se toh band nahi tha ye ghar yaar" Maine chaaro taraf nazar ghumayi, "Abhi toh mara hai Kanha ka baap"
"Nahi Sir" Negi ne aage ek ek karke sab windows kholni shuru kar di.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ke Buddha toh usi din mar gaya tha jis din uska beta mera tha. 20 saal se toh vo bas ek zinda laash ki tarah yahan pada rehta tha"
"Sad"
"Bilkul. Bete ki maut ke baad na toh vo kahin zyada aata jata tha aur na koi usse milne aata tha. Koi aata tha toh Buddha usse baat nahi karta tha, yun hi ghar se nikal deta tha toh dheere dheere logon ne aana bhi band kar diya. Khidki darwaze band kiye Buddha yahan pada rehta tha toh ye ajeeb si smell bas gayi"
"Yeah that explains the smell, but is baat se ek doosra sawal khada hota hai"
"Kya Sir?"
"Karta kya tha Buddha?"
"Khaas kuchh nahi, ye bahar ki zameen usi ki hai. Kheti karta tha yahan"
Maine khidki se bahar dekha. Vo ghar ek pahad par tha aur saamne pahad aur phir seedhi khaai aur phir ek doosra pahad.
"Kaun si zameen?" Maine confused shakal se Negi ki taraf dekha.
"Yahi jo aap dekh rahe ho Sir" Vo hasta hua bola, "Mera matlab is pahad se hi tha. Seedhi-dhar khet toh aapne sune hi honge"
"Achha haan" Maine dobara bahar dekha par ab na toh koi seedhi thi, na khet. Bas ek jhaadiyon aur ghaas se bhara pahad.
"Kabhi yahan par inke seedhi-daar khet hote the, jo thoda bahut yahan ugta tha usi se guzara karte the baap bete. Aur phir shayad us waqt Buddhe ne main market mein ek kapde ki dukaan bhi chala rakhi thi"
"Jo ke main andaza laga raha hoon ke bete ki maut ke baad band ho gayi thi" Maine kaha.
Saamne jahan Negi ke hisaab se khet hone the vahan kuchh nahi tha. Bas ek dhalan, aisa koi nishan tak nahi tha ke yahan kabhi pahad ko kaat kar seedhiyon jaise chhote chhote maidan-roopi khet the.
"Haan uske baad usne dukaan par bethna chhod hi diya tha. Dheere dheere dhandha chopat ho gaya"
"Toh sabse bada sawal ye hai Negi bhai ke Buddhe ne 20 saal tak apna kharcha kaise chalaya" Maine sochne wale andaaz mein kaha.
"Sir kahin aap ye toh nahi keh rahe ke vo jo paisa gayab hua tha, 15 crore?"
"Aap jaante ho us baare mein"
"Files mein padha tha maine"
Main ek pal ke liye soch mein pad gaya. Files maine bhi saari hi dekhi thi par kahin paise ka zikr toh unmein mujhe nahi dikha tha. Bahar-haal, maine is baat par zyada dhyaan nahi diya.
"Ho sakta hai"
"Par Sir is ghar ko dekh kar aapko lagta hai ke ye ek aise aadmi ka ghar hai jiske paas aaj se 20 saal pehle 15 crore the?" Negi takreeban hasta hua bola.