Broken Rishton Ki Aanch

Meri umar jab untees saal ki thi, main ne ye samajh liya tha ke zindagi mein sab kuch waqt ke saath theek ho jata hai. Ye galat fehmi meri sab se badi kamzori thi.

Bahar June ki garmi apna aakhri hafta guzaar rahi thi. Main apne ghar ke chhote se drawing room mein baitha fan ki tez raftaar ke neeche akhbaar parhta raha tha, halanke mujhe akhbaar parhne ka shauq kabhi nahi tha. Wo sirf ek bahana tha. Bahana us khamoshi se bachne ka jo ghar mein kabhi kabhi itni gehri ho jati thi ke kaan mein dard hone lagta tha.

Meri biwi Rabia apni behan ke ghar gayi hui thi, do hafton ke liye. Uska jaana koi aisi baat nahi thi jis par main sochta. Wo aksar jati thi. Uska apna ek duniya tha, apne rishtedar, apni behnein, apni maa. Main us duniya ka hissa tha, lekin sirf kinare par. Jaise kisi tasveer mein koi shakhs peeche khara ho, dikhta ho magar pehchana na jaye.

Darwaza khatkhataya. Ek dafa. Phir doosri dafa. Main utha, chappal pehni, aur darwaza khola.

Sana khari thi.

Wo meri bhanji thi. Meri behan ki beti. Usne dupatta sar par lapeta hua tha aur uske maathe par paseene ke qatre chamak rahe the. Uske haath mein ek chhota sa thaila tha, jismein shayad kapre the. Wo muskurayi, lekin muskurahat uski aankhon tak nahi pahunchi. Ye maine pehli dafa note kiya, halanke ye pehli dafa nahi tha ke wo aayi thi.

"Mamu, andar aaoon?" usne poocha.

"AAja, AAja. Kya baat hai, itni dhoop mein kahan se aa rahi hai?"

Wo andar aayi aur seedha sofa par baith gayi, jaise uske pair uska saath nahi de rahe the. Maine uske liye paani ka glass bhara aur saamne rakh diya. Usne poora glass ek saans mein piya.

"Ammi nahi hain ghar par?" maine poocha.

"Nahi. Wo Khala ke ghar gayi hain. Teen din ke liye."

"Toh tum akeli?"

"Abu bhi nahi hain. Wo Karachi gaye hain kaam ke silsile mein." Usne glass mez par rakha aur apne haathon ko god mein rakh liya. Uske nakhun kate hue the, bilkul chhote. Ye mujhe yaad kyun aaya, mujhe nahi pata.

"Toh tum yahan kyun aayi?" Maine poocha, aur foran apne sawaal par sharminda hua. Ye sawaal aisa tha jaise koi kisi ko keh raha ho ke tum yahan kyun ho, tumhara yahan koi kaam nahi.

Lekin Sana ne bura nahi maana. Wo sirf muskurai aur kaha, "Aapke paas aana bura hai kya?"

"Nahi, aisa nahi hai. Mera matlab hai ke tum akeli kaise rahogi teen din?"

"Main akeli nahi rahoongi. Main yahan rahoongi." Usne kaha, jaise ye faisla usne pehle hi kar liya ho.

Main kuch der khamosh raha. Fan ki awaaz kamre mein goonj rahi thi. Bahar kisi ne horn bajaya, phir kutta bhaunkne laga. Sana ne apne baalon ko kaan ke peeche kiya aur maine dekha ke uske gale par ek chhota sa nishan tha, jaise kisi ne usse pakra ho. Ya shayad kuch aur. Main ne nazar pher li.

"Khana kha liya?" maine poocha.

"Nahi. Bhook nahi hai."

"Bhook nahi hai? Subah se kuch nahi khaya?"

Usne sar hilaya, na mein. Main rasoi mein gaya. Fridge khola. Anday the, pyaz thi, tamatar the. Maine omelette banana shuru kiya. Tel garam hote waqt uski awaaz aayi, "Mamu, aap roz akelay khate hain?"

"Tumhari Mami gayi hui hai na."

"Toh aap akelay kaise guzaara karte hain?"

Maine palta aur dekha ke wo darwaze par khari thi, rasoi ke frame par apna kandha tikaye hue. Uske chehre par wo muskurahat thi jo pehle thi, lekin ab uski aankhon mein kuch aur tha. Kuch aisa jo main pehchan nahi paya. Ya pehchanna nahi chahta tha.

"Akela guzaara karna koi mushkil kaam nahi hai," maine kaha. "Aadmi ko bas apne aap se baat karni aani chahiye."

"Toh aap apne aap se baat karte hain?"

"Kabhi kabhi."

"Kya baat karte hain?"

Maine omelette palta aur uske jawab ka intezar kiya. Sana hasee. Phir boli, "Mamu, aap ajeeb hain."

"Kyun?"

"Kyunke aap aise sawaalon ka jawab dete hain jo koi nahi poochta."

Maine omelette plate mein nikala aur uske saamne rakh diya. Wo kursi kheench kar baithi aur khane lagi. Main uske saamne baith gaya, apni chai ka cup haath mein liye. Usne ek niwala liya, phir doosra, phir teesra. Bhook uski asal mein thi, bas usne jhoot kaha tha. Ye maine note kiya.

"Khana acha hai," usne kaha.

"Tumhari Mami se behtar?"

"Bohot behtar. Mami ke haath ka khana acha nahi hota."

"Ye tumne usse kabhi kaha?"

"Nahi. Kaise keh doon? Wo naraz ho jayengi."

"Toh phir mujhe kyun bata rahi ho?"

Usne fork neeche rakha aur meri taraf dekha. Uske aankhon mein kuch tha, kuch aisa jo mujhe andar tak hila gaya. Pata nahi kya. Koi darr, koi umeed, koi sawaal. Main ne apni chai ka ghont liya aur nazar mez par rakh di.

"Kyunke aap naraz nahi honge," usne kaha.

Ye jawab tha. Simple, seedha, aur phir bhi aisa ke jaise usne kuch aur kaha ho.

Wo raat Sana guest room mein soi. Main apne kamre mein gaya, lekin neend nahi aayi. Chhat par pankha ghoom raha tha aur main uski awaaz ginta raha, jaise koi ghadi ki tik tik. Ek, do, teen, chaar. Phir main utha, paani piya, darwaze se jhaanka. Guest room ki roshni jal rahi thi. Andar se koi awaaz nahi aa rahi thi.

Main wapas bistar par leta aur socha ke ye kya ho raha hai. Meri biwi ka phone aaya tha shaam ko. Maine usse bataya nahi ke Sana aayi hui hai. Kyun nahi bataya, ye main khud se bhi chhupa raha tha. Shayad isliye ke Rabia poochti, wo kyun aayi, kab tak rahegi, tumne usse bulaya kyun. Aur main jawab nahi de pata. Ya shayad isliye ke main nahi chahta tha ke koi aur is ghar mein aa jaye, is khamoshi mein, is akelepan mein. Sana ki maujoodgi kuch aur thi. Wo khamoshi ko todti nahi thi, wo usse badal deti thi. Jaise kisi kamre mein ek khushbu aa jaye, aur tumhe pata na ho ke wo kahan se aayi.

Subah main utha toh saat baj rahe the. Sana rasoi mein thi. Usne chai bana li thi aur cup mez par rakh diye the. Wo apne baal bana rahi thi, aur usne mujhe dekha toh muskurai.

"Good morning, Mamu."

"Tum itni subah uth gayi?"

"Neend nahi aayi."

"Kyun?"

"Pata nahi. Jaise koi cheez andar baithi hui hai jo mujhe sone nahi deti."

Maine chai uthai aur ek ghont liya. Achi thi. Bilkul waise hi jaise mujhe pasand thi, kam cheeni, zyada doodh.

"Tumhe kaise pata ke mujhe aisi chai pasand hai?"

"Main ne dekha hai aap banate hue."

"Kab?"

"Jab bhi main aayi, main ne dekha hai."

Ye baat mujhe kuch ajeeb lagi. Ke wo mujhe dekhti rahi hai, itni tawajjo se ke usse yaad hai ke main chai kaise banata hoon. Maine apni cup mez par rakhi aur khirki se bahar dekha. Gali mein bachay cricket khel rahe the. Unki awaazein upar aati thin, door aur bezaar.

"Aaj kya karogi?" maine poocha.

"Kuch nahi. Aap ke saath rahoongi."

"Main office nahi ja raha aaj."

"Toh phir hum dono kuch karte hain. Bahar chalte hain?"

Maine socha. Bahar chalna matlab duniya ko dikhna. Log poochenge, ye kaun hai. Main kya kahunga, meri bhanji hai. Ye sach tha, lekin usme kuch kami thi, jaise koi jhoot jo sach ke libaas mein ho.

"Chal sakte hain," maine kaha. "Lekin pehle nashta."

Hum nashta karne nikle. Gali ke mod par ek chhota sa hotel tha, jahan paratha aur chana milta tha. Sana ne paratha mangwaya aur maine bhi. Hum baithe aur khane lage. Wo baatein karti rahi, school ki, dostoon ki, apni ammi ki. Main sunta raha. Uske paas itni baatein thin ke mujhe hairat hui. Ghar mein wo khamosh thi, lekin bahar wo khul gayi thi, jaise koi phool jo chhat ke neeche band tha aur ab roshni mein aa gaya.

"Mamu, aap ne kabhi kisi se pyar kiya hai?"

Sawaal achanak tha. Maine chana chabaya aur nigal gaya, phir paani piya. "Tumhari Mami se kiya tha."

"Wo pyar nahi tha. Wo shaadi thi."

"Farq kya hai?"

"Bohot farq hai. Pyar mein aap kisi ko chahte hain bina kisi wajah ke. Shaadi mein aap kisi ke saath rehte hain kyunke aap ko rehna chahiye."

Maine uski taraf dekha. Wo sirf attarah saal ki thi, lekin uski baatein kisi buzurg ki tarah thin. Ya shayad kisi aise shakhs ki tarah jo bohot kuch dekh chuka ho. Ye soch kar mera dil bhaari ho gaya.

"Tumhe ye sab kahan se aata hai?"

"Kitaabon se. Aur apni ammi ki zindagi se."

"Tumhari ammi ki kya baat hai?"

Usne apna paratha chhora aur apne haath saaf kiye. Phir boli, "Abu bahar rehte hain zyada. Ammi akeli rehti hain. Main unko dekhti hoon toh lagta hai ke wo kisi aur ke liye zinda hain, apne liye nahi."

Maine kuch nahi kaha. Kyunke main bhi wahi tha. Main bhi kisi aur ke liye zinda tha. Apne liye nahi.

Hum wapas aaye toh dopahar ho chuki thi. Ghar mein aake Sana ne apne kapre badle aur ek halka sa suit pehna. Uske baal khule the aur wo sofa par baithi TV dekh rahi thi. Main apne kamre mein gaya aur darwaza band kar liya. Lekin band darwaze ke peeche bhi uski maujoodgi mehsoos ho rahi thi. Jaise koi khushbu jo deewaron se guzar jaye.

Sham ko main ne khana banaya. Sana ne madad ki. Hum saath saath kaam karte rahe, aur wo baatein karti rahi. Usne mujhse poocha ke main bachpan mein kaisa tha, maine bataya ke main akela tha, koi bhai behan nahi tha, sirf kitaabein thin. Usne kaha ke uske paas bhi sirf kitaabein thin. Ye humara pehla asli rishta tha, kitaabein. Hum dono ne mehsoos kiya, lekin kisi ne kuch nahi kaha.

Khane ke baad hum baithkar TV dekhte rahe. Wo mere paas baithi thi, thoda sa faasle par. Uske ghutne mere ghutne se takra rahe the, ya shayad main soch raha tha ke takra rahe hain. Main ne apni nazar screen par rakhi. Lekin mera dimaag screen par nahi tha. Mera dimaag uske haath par tha, jo sofa ke kinare par rakha tha, mere haath se sirf do inch door.

"Mamu," usne kaha.

"Hmm?"

"Kya aap khush hain?"

Sawaal ne mujhe hila diya. Kisi ne mujhse ye nahi poocha tha, kabhi nahi. Rabia ne bhi nahi. Wo poochti thi ke khana kaisa hai, kamre ka kiraya diya ya nahi, bijli ka bill aa gaya ya nahi. Lekin khushi? Ye sawaal kisi ne nahi poocha tha.

"Pata nahi," maine kaha. Aur ye sach tha.

"Main bhi khush nahi hoon," usne kaha, aur uski awaaz mein kuch tootne ki awaaz thi. "Main bohot dinon se khush nahi hoon."

Maine uski taraf dekha. Uski aankhein bhari hui thin, lekin wo roi nahi. Wo sirf dekhti rahi, jaise mujhse kuch maang rahi ho. Main kuch nahi de paya. Main sirf wahan baitha raha, haath mein remote, aankhon mein uski shakal.

"Kyun?" maine poocha.

"Kyunke mujhe kisi ki zaroorat hai," usne kaha. "Aur koi nahi hai."

Ye jumla mere seene mein utar gaya, jaise koi teer. Kyunke main bhi wahi keh sakta tha. Main bhi akela tha. Meri biwi thi, lekin main akela tha. Mera ghar tha, lekin main akela tha. Meri zindagi thi, lekin main akela tha.

Us raat main so nahi paya. Main utha aur darwaze se jhaanka. Guest room ki roshni phir jal rahi thi. Main darwaze tak gaya aur halka sa knock kiya. Koi jawab nahi aaya. Maine darwaza khola. Sana bistar par baithi thi, apne ghutnon ko seene se lagaye hue. Usne mujhe dekha aur kuch nahi kaha.

"Neend nahi aa rahi?" maine poocha.

Usne sar hilaya.

"Main bhi nahi so raha."

Wo kuch der khamosh rahi. Phir boli, "Mamu, yahan aa jayein?"

Main andar aaya aur bistar ke kinare par baith gaya. Uske paas. Itne paas ke main uski saans mehsoos kar sakta tha. Wo kuch der khamosh rahi, phir usne apna haath mere haath par rakh diya. Uska haath thanda tha. Mera haath garam tha. Usne kuch nahi kaha. Maine bhi kuch nahi kaha. Hum sirf baithe rahe, uske haath ke neeche mere haath ki nabz dharak rahi thi.

Phir usne apna sar mere kandhe par rakh diya. Uske baal mere gale ko chhu rahe the. Main saans lena bhool gaya. Kamre mein sirf pankhe ki awaaz thi, aur uski saans, dheemi dheemi.

"Mamu," usne phusphusaya.

"Hmm."

"Mujhe aap se kuch kehna hai."

"Kaho."

Wo kuch der khamosh rahi. Phir boli, "Main jaanti hoon ke ye galat hai. Lekin main kya karoon?"

Maine uski taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein wo sawaal tha jo main pehchan gaya tha, kyunke wo sawaal mere andar bhi tha. Kabhi se tha. Main ne apna haath uske sar par rakha. Wo kaanp uthi, ya shayad main kaanp utha. Pata nahi kaun.

"Kya jaanti ho?" maine poocha, halanke mujhe jawab pata tha.

Wo meri taraf dekhti rahi. Phir usne apna haath uthaya aur mere chehre par rakha. Uske ungliyan meri jabaan par, meri aankhon par, mere maathe par. Jaise wo mujhe parh rahi ho, jaise wo mujhe yaad kar rahi ho.

"Ye," usne kaha. "Ye ke main yahan aayi hoon kisi aur wajah se."

Maine uski kalai pakri. Naram thi, patli thi, uski nabz meri ungliyon ke neeche dharak rahi thi. Main ne usse hataya nahi. Main ne kuch nahi kiya. Main sirf dekhta raha, jaise koi shakhs kinare par khara ho aur samundar ko dekhe, ye jaante hue ke wo andar nahi ja sakta, lekin phir bhi khara rahe.

"Mamu," usne phir kaha. "Aap kuch nahi keh rahe."

"Kya kahoon?"

"Sach."

"Sach ye hai ke tum meri bhanji ho."

"Ye sach nahi hai. Ye sirf ek rishta hai. Sach kuch aur hai."

Maine apna haath uski kalai se hataya aur apne ghutnon par rakh diya. Kamre mein khamoshi thi, lekin ye wo khamoshi nahi thi jo main jaanta tha. Ye kuch aur thi. Ye bhari hui thi, jaise baadal jo barasne se pehle aasman par thehr jate hain.

"Tumhe nahi pata tum kya keh rahi ho," maine kaha.

"Main jaanti hoon. Main untees saal ki nahi hoon, lekin main itni bhi bachi nahi hoon."

"Tumhari umar sirf attarah saal hai."

"Aur aapki untees. Farq kya hai? Aap bhi akelay hain. Main bhi akeli hoon."

Maine uth kar khirki ke paas gaya. Bahar andhera tha, sirf ek street light jal rahi thi aur uske neeche koi kutta so raha tha. Main ne apna maatha sheeshe par rakha. Thanda tha.

"Kal tum ghar chali jao," maine kaha.

"Kyun?"

"Kyunke ye theek nahi hai."

"Kya theek nahi hai?"

"Ye."

"Kya? Ke main yahan hoon? Ke hum baat kar rahe hain? Ke aap ne mera haath pakra?"

Maine palta. Wo bistar se uth kar khari ho gayi thi. Uske baal uske chehre par gir rahe the aur wo unhein hatane ki koshish bhi nahi kar rahi thi. Wo mujhe dekhti rahi, aur uski aankhon mein aansu the, lekin wo phir bhi roi nahi.

"Mamu, main jaanti hoon ke aap kya soch rahe hain. Aap soch rahe hain ke ye ladki pagal hai. Ye ladki kuch aisa keh rahi hai jo nahi kehna chahiye. Lekin main ye nahi keh rahi hoon ke aap kuch karein. Main sirf ye keh rahi hoon ke main jaanti hoon. Aur ab aap bhi jaante hain."

Wo apne bistar par wapas baith gayi aur apne ghutne phir se seene se lagaye. Main darwaze ke paas khara raha, ek pair andar, ek bahar. Jaise koi musafir jo ruk gaya ho raste mein, ye jaante hue ke aage kya hai, lekin phir bhi ruka hua.

"Main kal nahi jaoongi," usne kaha. "Main parso jaoongi. Ya uske baad. Jab tak aap kahein."

Main kuch nahi kaha. Main darwaze se bahar nikla aur apne kamre mein aaya. Bistar par leta aur chhat ko dekhta raha. Us raat main ne apne aap se wada kiya ke main usse door rahoonga. Main ne apne aap se wada kiya ke ye sirf ek lamha hai, ek kamzori hai, aur main isse guzar jaoonga. Main ne apne aap se wada kiya ke main usse kal ghar bhej doonga.

Lekin subah jab main utha, wo rasoi mein thi. Chai bana rahi thi. Aur main ne usse ghar nahi bheja.

Main ne kuch nahi kaha. Main sirf baith gaya aur chai pi. Wo mere saamne baithi aur muskurai. Us subah usne kuch nahi poocha. Usne sirf chai banai, aur main ne pi. Aur hum dono jaante the ke kuch badal gaya hai. Kuch aisa jo wapas nahi ho sakta.

Us din hum phir bahar gaye. Bazaar. Usne ek chudi kharidi, sabz rang ki. Maine paise diye. Usne apni kalai mein pehni aur mujhe dikhai. Uska haath patla tha, chudi us par latak rahi thi. Usne kaha, "Dekho, bilkul fit hai."

Main ne dekha. Fit thi. Aur main ne socha ke ye chudi uski kalai par kab tak rahegi. Ek din utar jayegi. Ek din ye sab utar jayega. Lekin us waqt, us lamhe mein, wo wahan thi, aur main wahan tha, aur chudi uski kalai par chamak rahi thi.

Sham ko hum ghar aaye. Usne khana banaya, main ne saath diya. Hum hanste rahe, baatein karte rahe. Wo mujhe apne school ke ladkon ke baare mein batati rahi, ke kaun usse pasand karta hai, ke wo kisi ko pasand nahi karti. Main sunta raha aur andar hi andar sochta raha ke ye sab kya hai. Ye kya ho raha hai.

Khane ke baad wo apne kamre mein chali gayi. Main apne kamre mein gaya. Darwaza band kiya. Aur phir main ne wahi kiya jo main ne pichli raat kiya tha. Main utha, darwaze se jhaanka, aur guest room ki roshni dekhi. Main darwaze tak gaya. Knock kiya. Koi jawab nahi aaya. Maine darwaza khola.

Wo bistar par baithi thi, wahi halat, apne ghutne seene se lagaye hue. Usne mujhe dekha aur muskurai. Ye muskurahat pehle se mukhtalif thi. Isme koi sawaal nahi tha. Isme sirf ek intezar tha.

"Main jaanta hoon," maine kaha.

"Kya jaante hain?"

"Ke tum yahan kyun aayi ho."

Wo kuch der khamosh rahi. Phir boli, "Aur?"

"Aur main nahi jaanta ke main kya karoon."

Usne apna haath badhaya. Maine apna haath badhaya. Usne mera haath pakra aur mujhe apne paas bithaya. Uske haath thande the. Mere haath garam the. Wo mujhe dekhti rahi, aur main usse dekhta raha. Kamre mein sirf pankhe ki awaaz thi. Aur uski saans. Aur meri saans.

Phir usne apna haath uthaya aur meri gardan par rakha. Uske ungliyan mere gale par tharthara rahi thin. Main kaanp utha. Usne mehsoos kiya, lekin usne apna haath nahi hataya.

"Mamu," usne phusphusaya.

"Hmm."

"Main jaanti hoon ke aap kya soch rahe hain."

"Kya soch raha hoon?"

"Aap soch rahe hain ke ye galat hai. Aap soch rahe hain ke main bachi hoon. Aap soch rahe hain ke aap mera mamu hain."

"Ye sab sach hai."

"Sach hai. Lekin sach ke saath kya karein?"

Maine uski taraf dekha. Uske chehre par wo muskurahat thi, lekin uski aankhon mein aansu the. Wo mujhe dekhti rahi, jaise koi khuli kitaab, jaise koi aisa safa jo kisi ne parhna chhora ho.

Maine apna haath uthaya aur uske aansu ponche. Wo kaanp uthi. Phir usne apni aankhein band kar li. Mere haath uske gaalon par the. Uska chehra garam tha. Uske hont thande the. Main ne apna haath hataya, lekin wo usne pakar liya.

"Mamu," usne kaha. "Aap kuch nahi kar rahe."

"Kya karoon?"

"Jo aap karna chahte hain."

"Main nahi jaanta ke main kya karna chahta hoon."

"Main jaanti hoon."

Usne apna haath chhora aur apne kapre ke button ki taraf badhaya. Uske ungliyan kaanp rahi thin. Maine uski kalai pakri. Usne mera haath nahi hataya. Usne sirf mujhe dekha, aur uski aankhon mein wo sawaal tha jo ab sawaal nahi tha. Ab wo faisla tha.

"Mamu," usne kaha. "Main aap se kuch nahi maang rahi. Main sirf ye keh rahi hoon ke main yahan hoon. Aap yahan hain. Aur ye raat guzar jayegi."

Maine uski kalai chhori. Main uth kar khirki ke paas gaya. Bahar wahi andhera tha, wahi street light, wahi kutta. Kuch nahi badla tha. Lekin sab kuch badal gaya tha.

"Tumhe nahi pata tum kya kar rahi ho," maine kaha.

"Main jaanti hoon."

"Tumhari zindagi kharab ho jayegi."

"Meri zindagi pehle se kharab hai."

Maine palta. Wo bistar par baithi thi, uske haath god mein, uske aankhon mein wo aansu jo ab beh rahe the. Main uske paas gaya aur uske saamne ghutnon par baith gaya.

"Sana," maine kaha. Ye pehli dafa tha ke main ne uska naam liya tha, aise, is tarah. "Sana, suno."

Wo meri taraf dekhti rahi.

"Main tumhara mamu hoon. Ye kabhi nahi badlega. Chahe kuch bhi ho jaye, ye kabhi nahi badlega."

"Mujhe ye nahi chahiye," usne kaha. "Mujhe koi rishta nahi chahiye. Mujhe sirf aap chahiye."

Maine apna haath uske sar par rakha. Wo usi waqt mere seene se lag gayi. Uske aansu mere kurte par lag gaye. Main uske baalon mein apni ungliyan pherta raha. Wo roti rahi, dheere dheere, jaise koi barish jo ruk rahi ho.

"Mamu," usne kaha, uski awaaz gale mein atki hui thi. "Main akeli hoon."

"Main jaanta hoon."

"Aap bhi akelay hain."

"Main jaanta hoon."

"Toh phir?"

Maine usse apne se alag kiya aur uske chehre ko apne haathon mein liya. Uske aansu mere anguthe par lag rahe the. Uske hont kaanp rahe the. Main ne uske maathe par ek bosa liya. Wo kaanp uthi. Phir main ne uski aankhon par. Phir uske gaalon par. Phir main ruk gaya.

"Sana," maine kaha.

"Hmm."

"Ye galat hai."

"Main jaanti hoon."

"Phir bhi tum chahti ho?"

"Main sirf ye chahti hoon ke aap mere paas rahein. Bas."

Main uske paas baitha raha. Us raat hum dono ne kuch nahi kiya. Hum sirf baithe rahe, ek doosre ke paas, jaise do shakhs jo samundar ke kinare khare hain aur lehron ko dekhte hain, ye jaante hue ke wo unhein chhoo lenge, lekin phir bhi khare hain.

Subah jab main utha, wo mere bistar par soi hui thi. Uska haath mere haath par tha. Main usse dekhta raha, uske chehre par wo sukoon tha jo pehle nahi tha. Jaise koi jung jo khatam ho gayi ho. Lekin main jaanta tha ke jung ab shuru hui hai. Asli jung.

Main utha, usse dhaka, aur rasoi mein gaya. Chai banai. Do cup. Apne liye aur uske liye. Aur main ne socha ke aaj kya hoga. Kal kya hoga. Uske baad kya hoga.

Main jaanta tha ke ye sab galat hai. Main jaanta tha ke ek din ye phat jayega. Main jaanta tha ke jab ye phat jayega, toh sab kuch bikhar jayega. Meri shaadi, mera ghar, mera naam, sab kuch.

Lekin us waqt, us subah, jab main ne chai ke do cup mez par rakhe, aur uski awaaz aayi, "Mamu, chai le aayein?" main ne sirf itna kaha:

"AA raha hoon."

Aur main chala gaya.