"Nahi ghar ko dekh kar toh aisa bilkul nahi lagta par sawal phir bhi uthta hai ke uske baap ne 20 saal guzara kiya kaise?" Maine jawab diya.
"Vaise Sir ab yahan dhoondhna kya hai?" Negi ne ghar mein chaaron taraf nazar daudate hue kaha.
Kanha ka ghar ek typical middle class gaon ki family ki tarah tha. Main door drawing room mein khulta tha jahan ham log us waqt khade the.
Drawing room ke dono taraf do darwaze the jo ghar ke andar ki taraf jaate the. Furnitre ke naam par Drawing room mein mehaz 2 kursiyan aur
ek purani si table rakhi hui thi.
"Exactly toh mujhe bhi nahi pata ke dhoondh kya rahe hain" Maine jawab diya.
"Phir?"
"Phir ye ke aap us taraf dekho aur main is taraf" Maine drawing room se lage dono darwazon ki taraf ishara karta hua kaha, "Kuchh bhi aisa dikhe jo case se juda ya kuchh kaam ka lage toh nikal kar rakh lena"
"Theek hai" Negi ne kaha aur right side bane darwaze ko khol kar andar chala gaya. Maine left side ka darwaza khola aur andar aa gaya.
Ghar zyada bada nahi tha. Main jis taraf aaya vo darwaza ghar ke pichhe ki taraf aangan mein khulta tha. Vahan ugi hui jhaadiyan aur ghaas ko dekh kar hi andaza hota tha ke jo bhi is ghar mein rehta tha, use kisi cheez ki koi parwah nahi tha.
Vahan kuchh nahi tha. Anagan mein hi ek taraf washrooms bane hue the. Main darwaza band karke phir drawing room mein aaya aur Negi jis darwaze se andar gaya tha us taraf badha.
Negi kamre ke andar khada chaaron taraf dekh raha tha jaise andaza laga raha ho ke kahan se shuru kiya jaaye.
"Ajeeb banavat hai is ghar ki yaar" Main uske saath aakar khada hota hua bola, "Aangan ghar ke pichhe ki taraf hota hai, is ghar mein side ki taraf hai"
"Pahadon mein aksar ghar banavat ko lekar nahi balki maujood jagah ko dekh kar banaye jaate hain Sir" Negi ne jawab diya.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab jo main door hai sadak usi taraf hai toh majbooran darwaza usi taraf rakhna padega. Ghar ke pichhe ki taraf jagah nahi hai isliye aangan udhar nahi ho sakta. Ab darwaza sadak ki taraf rakho toh jahan jagah hai aur jahan se khet ki taraf jaaya ja sakta hai vo jagah side mein ho jaati hai"
"Samajh gaya" Maine kaha.
Jis kamre mein ham khade the vo ek aur chhota sa living room jaisa hi tha. Usmein ek taraf kitchen bana hua tha aur uske saath lage do kamre aur the.
"Shayad inmein se ek Kanha ka aur doosra uske baap ka hoga" Negi ne kaha
"Correct"
Us chhote se living room mein bhi bas ek kursi aur table rakhe the, jinhein dekh kar lagta tha ke shayad vo khana khane ke liye use hote the. Aur us kamre mein kahin kuchh bhi nahi tha. Kitchen mein bhi bas ek gas stove aur chaar paanch dabbe rakhe hue the.
"Zaroorat bhar ka saman hai bas yahan" Negi ne kaha.
"Sahi hai, ham logon ko zyada talashi nahi leni padegi. Tum vo kamra dekho aur main ye wala"
Ham dono darwaza khol kar ek ek kamre mein andar aaye. Jis kamre mein main aaya vo Kanha ke baap ka tha. Andar ek purani si charpai aur kuchh chadaren padi hui thi. Deewar par ek sheesha rakha hua tha aur ek taraf ek lakdi ki almari rakhi hui thi.
Maine almari kholi.
Talashi lene mein zyada waqt nahi laga. Poore kamre ki khaak chhan-ne mein bamushkil 10 min hi lage par haath kuchh nahi aaya. Almari mein bas kuchh purane se kapde tange hue the aur kuchh zaroorat ka saman tha.
"Kuchh mila Sir?" Main haath jhadta hua kamre se bahar aaya aur doosre kamre mein ghusa toh Negi ne puchha.
"Nahi vahan kuchh nahi hai, sala lagta hi nahi ke yahan koi rehta bhi tha. Khaali pada hai poora ghar"
"Is kamre ka bhi yahi haal hai, kuchh nahi hai yahan"
"Kuchh nahi mila?"
"Nahi bas Kanha ki purani zaroorat ki kuchh cheezen hai"
Maine kamre mein nazar daudayi. Is kamre ki banavat bhi doosre kamre jaisi hi thi. Ek purani charpai thi jispar chadar vagerah kuchh nahi tha. Deewar par ek sheesha tanga hua tha aur ek taraf ek purani almari rakhi hui thi.
"Almari mein kuchh?" Maine almari ki taraf dekhte hue puchha
"Nahi kuchh nahi" Negi ne kaha.
"Ye kya hai?" Maine uske haath mein pakde kuchh papers ki taraf dekhte hue puchha.
"Ye asal mein Almari ki uper rakhe hue the. Andar kuchh tha nahi toh maine almari ke pichhe aur uper nazar maari toh ye kuchh kagaz mile"
Maine uske haath se kagaz lekar unpar nazar daudayi. Unmein se zyadatar property ke papers the jo ke maine bina dekhe hi andaza laga liya tha ke is ghar ke hi ho sakte the. Baaki papers Kanha ke school ke passing certificates the.
Par jis cheez ne meri nazar pakdi vo ek visiting card tha aur ek Bus ka ticket.
"Bas yahan yahi mila Sir, aur kuchh nahi" Negi ne kaha.
"Hmmm" Maine haami bhari aur us card ko dekhne laga.
Vo ek "Arora Jewellers" ke naam se kisi Jewellery showroom ka card tha. Card ki halat dekh kar hi lag raha tha ke vo bahut purana hai. Kinare thode mude aur halke ghise hue the jaisa ke aksar cards ko jeb mein rakhne se ho jata hai. Rang takreeban poora hi ud chuka tha jisse ye andaza hota tha ke ye card kaafi purana hai aur jaane kabse us almari ke uper rakha hua tha.
Card chhod kar maine us Bus ticket ki taraf dekha. Ticket Shimla se Delhi tak ka tha. Ticket par travel karne wale ka naam toh nahi tha par Date April 1993 ki thi, yaani ke Ravi ke gayab hone se takreeban 2 mahine pehle aur Kanha ki maut se 3 mahine pehle ki.
Maine nazar ek baar phir visiting card par daali. Jewellery showroom ka address bhi Delhi ka tha aur uper likha phone number bhi.
"Kanha ki aukaat ke bahar tha Sir ye" Negi ne bus ticket mere haath se lete hue kaha.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ye jis travel agency ka ticket hai vo Shimla ki sabse purani Travel agency hai jo ab bhi business mein hai. Bade mehenge hain ye log"
"Ye abhi tak business mein hain?"
"Haan Sir"
"Tumhein kaise pata ye kis travel agency ka ticket hai?" Maine uske haath se Ticket vaapis liya aur gaur se dekha. Ticket par kahin bhi agency ka naam nahi tha. Sirf Shimla to Delhi likha hua tha, travel ki date aur time, total kiraya aur neeche paid in cash likha hua tha.
"Palatkar dekhiye"
Maine ticket palta. Kagaz purana hone ki vajah se dhundhla pad chuka tha par pichhe chhapi hui Ganesh ji ki tasveer ab bhi nazar aa rahi thi.
"Ganpati Travels ke naam se hai ye agency. Ab bhi inke tickets par pichhe Ganesh ji ki tasveer hoti hai" Negi ne kaha.
"Nice catch" Maine tareef karne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Par tumne ye kyun kaha ke ye Kanha ki aukaat ke bahar tha?"
"Kyunki 20 saal pehle Shimla mein bas yahi ek travel agency thi jo Air Conditioned bus chalati thi Delhi aur Shimla ke beech. Services kaafi achhi hain inki aur aaj ki tareekh mein bhi Shimla ki sabse mehengi Travel agency hai ye. Doosri travel agencies se inke charges takreeban double hi hain"
"Aur phir bhi ye business mein hain?"
"Purani hone ki vajah se ye yahan ke local ameeron mein kaafi popular hai. Iska maalik bhi yahan ka hi ek local crorepati hai toh zaahir si baat hai ke sab ameeron mein uska uthna bethna hai. Bus aur cars jo ye ab provide karte hain vo zyadatar imported hoti hain"
"Imported Bus?"
"Ji haan"
"Pehli baar suna yaar" Maine haste hue kaha, "Toh obvious hai ke jiske paas bhi paisa hai vo isi company ki bus mein travel karta hai. Status symbol"
"Bus toh khair ab inki itni nahi chalti. Ab ye thoda ek level uper uth gaye hain. Zyadatar cab services hi provide karte hain, imported cars aur helicopter service"
"Helicopter?"
"Haan" Negi ne haste hue kaha.
"Sahi hai yaar. Kanha ka aisi travel agency ke through jaane ka ek hi matlab banta hai. Ticket Ravi ne leke di hogi"
"Bilkul. Vo yahan ke sabse ameer ghar ka ladka tha, toh zaahir si baat hai ke uski family isi company ke through travel arrange karegi"
"Hmmmmm"
Maine bas itna hi kaha par dimag mein sirf sawal ye tha ke Kanha Delhi gaya kyun tha. Aur iska jawab bhi jaise dimag ne khud hi de diya.
Uska khud toh Delhi jaane ka koi matlab banta hi nahi tha toh Ravi ke kehne par ya Ravi ke kisi kaam se hi gaya hoga. Par aam taur par Bus tickets vagerah ko yun sambhal kar rakha nahi jata. Par usne toh is ticket aur visiting card ko apne certificates ke saath sambhal kar rakha hua tha. School certificates jinhein insaan bahut ehtiyaat ke saath rakhta hai. Aisi kya khaas baat thi is bus ticket mein jo isko itne dhyaan se rakha gaya tha.
Aur phir mere dimag ki batti jali.
"Vo chair lana zara" Maine Negi ko kamre ke bahar kitchen ke saamne rakhi ek chair laane ko kaha.
Kamre mein rakhi lakdi ki almari thodi oonchi thi. Saamne khade hokar sirf uper haath se chhu kar hi dekha ja sakta tha jaisa ke Negi ne kiya tha.
Negi kursi utha kar laya toh main kursi par chadha aur almari ke uper dekha. Mera andaza sahi nikla. Almari ke pichhe ki taraf 2 papers aur the jahan tak ke Negi ka haath nahi pahunch paya tha. Main vo papers utha kar kursi se neeche utra.
Pehle toh sirf ek bada sa kagaz ka envelope tha jise dekh kar yahi lagta tha ke ye saare certificates uske andar rakhe hue the. Vo ek taraf se poora khul chuka tha aur isi vajah se saare papers bahar aa gaye aur envelope thoda pichhe ko khisak gaya tha.
Aur doosra paper ek aur Bus ticket tha. Same company ka hi. Travel ki date July ki thi. Jis din Ravi gayab hua tha uske 3 din baad ki.
"Vaise Sir ab yahan dhoondhna kya hai?" Negi ne ghar mein chaaron taraf nazar daudate hue kaha.
Kanha ka ghar ek typical middle class gaon ki family ki tarah tha. Main door drawing room mein khulta tha jahan ham log us waqt khade the.
Drawing room ke dono taraf do darwaze the jo ghar ke andar ki taraf jaate the. Furnitre ke naam par Drawing room mein mehaz 2 kursiyan aur
ek purani si table rakhi hui thi.
"Exactly toh mujhe bhi nahi pata ke dhoondh kya rahe hain" Maine jawab diya.
"Phir?"
"Phir ye ke aap us taraf dekho aur main is taraf" Maine drawing room se lage dono darwazon ki taraf ishara karta hua kaha, "Kuchh bhi aisa dikhe jo case se juda ya kuchh kaam ka lage toh nikal kar rakh lena"
"Theek hai" Negi ne kaha aur right side bane darwaze ko khol kar andar chala gaya. Maine left side ka darwaza khola aur andar aa gaya.
Ghar zyada bada nahi tha. Main jis taraf aaya vo darwaza ghar ke pichhe ki taraf aangan mein khulta tha. Vahan ugi hui jhaadiyan aur ghaas ko dekh kar hi andaza hota tha ke jo bhi is ghar mein rehta tha, use kisi cheez ki koi parwah nahi tha.
Vahan kuchh nahi tha. Anagan mein hi ek taraf washrooms bane hue the. Main darwaza band karke phir drawing room mein aaya aur Negi jis darwaze se andar gaya tha us taraf badha.
Negi kamre ke andar khada chaaron taraf dekh raha tha jaise andaza laga raha ho ke kahan se shuru kiya jaaye.
"Ajeeb banavat hai is ghar ki yaar" Main uske saath aakar khada hota hua bola, "Aangan ghar ke pichhe ki taraf hota hai, is ghar mein side ki taraf hai"
"Pahadon mein aksar ghar banavat ko lekar nahi balki maujood jagah ko dekh kar banaye jaate hain Sir" Negi ne jawab diya.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab jo main door hai sadak usi taraf hai toh majbooran darwaza usi taraf rakhna padega. Ghar ke pichhe ki taraf jagah nahi hai isliye aangan udhar nahi ho sakta. Ab darwaza sadak ki taraf rakho toh jahan jagah hai aur jahan se khet ki taraf jaaya ja sakta hai vo jagah side mein ho jaati hai"
"Samajh gaya" Maine kaha.
Jis kamre mein ham khade the vo ek aur chhota sa living room jaisa hi tha. Usmein ek taraf kitchen bana hua tha aur uske saath lage do kamre aur the.
"Shayad inmein se ek Kanha ka aur doosra uske baap ka hoga" Negi ne kaha
"Correct"
Us chhote se living room mein bhi bas ek kursi aur table rakhe the, jinhein dekh kar lagta tha ke shayad vo khana khane ke liye use hote the. Aur us kamre mein kahin kuchh bhi nahi tha. Kitchen mein bhi bas ek gas stove aur chaar paanch dabbe rakhe hue the.
"Zaroorat bhar ka saman hai bas yahan" Negi ne kaha.
"Sahi hai, ham logon ko zyada talashi nahi leni padegi. Tum vo kamra dekho aur main ye wala"
Ham dono darwaza khol kar ek ek kamre mein andar aaye. Jis kamre mein main aaya vo Kanha ke baap ka tha. Andar ek purani si charpai aur kuchh chadaren padi hui thi. Deewar par ek sheesha rakha hua tha aur ek taraf ek lakdi ki almari rakhi hui thi.
Maine almari kholi.
Talashi lene mein zyada waqt nahi laga. Poore kamre ki khaak chhan-ne mein bamushkil 10 min hi lage par haath kuchh nahi aaya. Almari mein bas kuchh purane se kapde tange hue the aur kuchh zaroorat ka saman tha.
"Kuchh mila Sir?" Main haath jhadta hua kamre se bahar aaya aur doosre kamre mein ghusa toh Negi ne puchha.
"Nahi vahan kuchh nahi hai, sala lagta hi nahi ke yahan koi rehta bhi tha. Khaali pada hai poora ghar"
"Is kamre ka bhi yahi haal hai, kuchh nahi hai yahan"
"Kuchh nahi mila?"
"Nahi bas Kanha ki purani zaroorat ki kuchh cheezen hai"
Maine kamre mein nazar daudayi. Is kamre ki banavat bhi doosre kamre jaisi hi thi. Ek purani charpai thi jispar chadar vagerah kuchh nahi tha. Deewar par ek sheesha tanga hua tha aur ek taraf ek purani almari rakhi hui thi.
"Almari mein kuchh?" Maine almari ki taraf dekhte hue puchha
"Nahi kuchh nahi" Negi ne kaha.
"Ye kya hai?" Maine uske haath mein pakde kuchh papers ki taraf dekhte hue puchha.
"Ye asal mein Almari ki uper rakhe hue the. Andar kuchh tha nahi toh maine almari ke pichhe aur uper nazar maari toh ye kuchh kagaz mile"
Maine uske haath se kagaz lekar unpar nazar daudayi. Unmein se zyadatar property ke papers the jo ke maine bina dekhe hi andaza laga liya tha ke is ghar ke hi ho sakte the. Baaki papers Kanha ke school ke passing certificates the.
Par jis cheez ne meri nazar pakdi vo ek visiting card tha aur ek Bus ka ticket.
"Bas yahan yahi mila Sir, aur kuchh nahi" Negi ne kaha.
"Hmmm" Maine haami bhari aur us card ko dekhne laga.
Vo ek "Arora Jewellers" ke naam se kisi Jewellery showroom ka card tha. Card ki halat dekh kar hi lag raha tha ke vo bahut purana hai. Kinare thode mude aur halke ghise hue the jaisa ke aksar cards ko jeb mein rakhne se ho jata hai. Rang takreeban poora hi ud chuka tha jisse ye andaza hota tha ke ye card kaafi purana hai aur jaane kabse us almari ke uper rakha hua tha.
Card chhod kar maine us Bus ticket ki taraf dekha. Ticket Shimla se Delhi tak ka tha. Ticket par travel karne wale ka naam toh nahi tha par Date April 1993 ki thi, yaani ke Ravi ke gayab hone se takreeban 2 mahine pehle aur Kanha ki maut se 3 mahine pehle ki.
Maine nazar ek baar phir visiting card par daali. Jewellery showroom ka address bhi Delhi ka tha aur uper likha phone number bhi.
"Kanha ki aukaat ke bahar tha Sir ye" Negi ne bus ticket mere haath se lete hue kaha.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ye jis travel agency ka ticket hai vo Shimla ki sabse purani Travel agency hai jo ab bhi business mein hai. Bade mehenge hain ye log"
"Ye abhi tak business mein hain?"
"Haan Sir"
"Tumhein kaise pata ye kis travel agency ka ticket hai?" Maine uske haath se Ticket vaapis liya aur gaur se dekha. Ticket par kahin bhi agency ka naam nahi tha. Sirf Shimla to Delhi likha hua tha, travel ki date aur time, total kiraya aur neeche paid in cash likha hua tha.
"Palatkar dekhiye"
Maine ticket palta. Kagaz purana hone ki vajah se dhundhla pad chuka tha par pichhe chhapi hui Ganesh ji ki tasveer ab bhi nazar aa rahi thi.
"Ganpati Travels ke naam se hai ye agency. Ab bhi inke tickets par pichhe Ganesh ji ki tasveer hoti hai" Negi ne kaha.
"Nice catch" Maine tareef karne wale andaaz mein kaha, "Par tumne ye kyun kaha ke ye Kanha ki aukaat ke bahar tha?"
"Kyunki 20 saal pehle Shimla mein bas yahi ek travel agency thi jo Air Conditioned bus chalati thi Delhi aur Shimla ke beech. Services kaafi achhi hain inki aur aaj ki tareekh mein bhi Shimla ki sabse mehengi Travel agency hai ye. Doosri travel agencies se inke charges takreeban double hi hain"
"Aur phir bhi ye business mein hain?"
"Purani hone ki vajah se ye yahan ke local ameeron mein kaafi popular hai. Iska maalik bhi yahan ka hi ek local crorepati hai toh zaahir si baat hai ke sab ameeron mein uska uthna bethna hai. Bus aur cars jo ye ab provide karte hain vo zyadatar imported hoti hain"
"Imported Bus?"
"Ji haan"
"Pehli baar suna yaar" Maine haste hue kaha, "Toh obvious hai ke jiske paas bhi paisa hai vo isi company ki bus mein travel karta hai. Status symbol"
"Bus toh khair ab inki itni nahi chalti. Ab ye thoda ek level uper uth gaye hain. Zyadatar cab services hi provide karte hain, imported cars aur helicopter service"
"Helicopter?"
"Haan" Negi ne haste hue kaha.
"Sahi hai yaar. Kanha ka aisi travel agency ke through jaane ka ek hi matlab banta hai. Ticket Ravi ne leke di hogi"
"Bilkul. Vo yahan ke sabse ameer ghar ka ladka tha, toh zaahir si baat hai ke uski family isi company ke through travel arrange karegi"
"Hmmmmm"
Maine bas itna hi kaha par dimag mein sirf sawal ye tha ke Kanha Delhi gaya kyun tha. Aur iska jawab bhi jaise dimag ne khud hi de diya.
Uska khud toh Delhi jaane ka koi matlab banta hi nahi tha toh Ravi ke kehne par ya Ravi ke kisi kaam se hi gaya hoga. Par aam taur par Bus tickets vagerah ko yun sambhal kar rakha nahi jata. Par usne toh is ticket aur visiting card ko apne certificates ke saath sambhal kar rakha hua tha. School certificates jinhein insaan bahut ehtiyaat ke saath rakhta hai. Aisi kya khaas baat thi is bus ticket mein jo isko itne dhyaan se rakha gaya tha.
Aur phir mere dimag ki batti jali.
"Vo chair lana zara" Maine Negi ko kamre ke bahar kitchen ke saamne rakhi ek chair laane ko kaha.
Kamre mein rakhi lakdi ki almari thodi oonchi thi. Saamne khade hokar sirf uper haath se chhu kar hi dekha ja sakta tha jaisa ke Negi ne kiya tha.
Negi kursi utha kar laya toh main kursi par chadha aur almari ke uper dekha. Mera andaza sahi nikla. Almari ke pichhe ki taraf 2 papers aur the jahan tak ke Negi ka haath nahi pahunch paya tha. Main vo papers utha kar kursi se neeche utra.
Pehle toh sirf ek bada sa kagaz ka envelope tha jise dekh kar yahi lagta tha ke ye saare certificates uske andar rakhe hue the. Vo ek taraf se poora khul chuka tha aur isi vajah se saare papers bahar aa gaye aur envelope thoda pichhe ko khisak gaya tha.
Aur doosra paper ek aur Bus ticket tha. Same company ka hi. Travel ki date July ki thi. Jis din Ravi gayab hua tha uske 3 din baad ki.