Us din kuchh achchha nahi lag raha tha. Subah se hi mann mein bharipan lag raha tha. Aise hi alsaai huyi apne room mein soyi padi thi. Kaam karne mein jee nahin lag raha tha. Tabhi gully mein shor hone laga. Apne palang se uthkar baramde ki khidki se gully mein jhankne lagi.
Mohan Babu ke makan ke saamne bheed ekkathi ho rahi thi. Kya hua hoga sochkar apni aankhein unke gate per gada di. Bheed mein fusfusahat ho rahi thi. Tabhi khidki ke saamne se ek aadmi gujra to usse puchh liya, “Aare bhaiya, kya ho gaya?”
Aadmi ne chalte-chalte jawab diya, “Kisi ne Mohan Babu ko chaaku maar diya.”
Yeh sunkar main darr gayi. Din-dahade gulli me hatya. Uff! Kya ho gaya hai iss duniya ko. Mohan Babu se hamare gharwalon ki jamti nahi thi. Ab gharwale kaun? Ek mera marad aur doosri mein. Abhi teen-chaar din pahle hi mere marad, Shyaam, ka jhagda Mohan Babu se kuchh len- den ko lekar ho gaya tha. Lekin isse kya? Aakhir gully mein kisi ki hatya ho toh bura toh lagta hi hai.
Main mann hi mann darr rahi thi. Soch rahi thi ki Shyaam jaldi ghar aajaye to achchha hai. Lekin unhe to shaam ko hi aana tha. Doosre gaon gaye huye the. Aisa hi bol kar subah jaldi nikal gaye the.
Thodi der baad wapas khidki khol kar Mohan Babu ke ghar ki aur jhanka toh dekha aadmi toh jyada nahi the balki 6-7 police wale jaroor khade the. Ab hatya huyi hai toh police wale toh aayenge hi. Tabhi dekha 3- 4 policewale mere ghar ki taraf aa rahe hai. Mera mann aur kharab hone laga. Police wale mere ghar ki taraf kyon aa rahe hai? Main jhat se khidki band karke wapas apne kamre ki taraf badhne lagi.
Doosre pal hi darwaaja peetne ki aawaj aane lagi. Main jhat se kamre ki jagah apne ghar ke main darwaaje ki taraf badh gayi aur gate khol diya. Police wale dhaddhadate huye ghar mein ghus gaye.
Maine hakbakakar unse poochha, “Aare ye kya kar rahe ho?”
Ek police wala kadakti awaj mein poochha, “Shyaam kidhar hai?”
Maine wapas poochha, “Kya kaam hai mere marad se?”
Tabhi doosra police wala dahada, “Saali, hamse poochhati hai kya kaam hai? Kidhar chhupa kar rakha hai apne marad ko?”
Main sahamkar boli, “Wo toh ghar par nahi hai. Doosre gaon gaye huye hai. Shaam ko aayenge?”
Tabhi usne kathorta se poochha, “Saali, ghar mein chhupa kar rakha hai aur bolti hai ki nahin hai. Bata kidhar chhupaya hai.”
“Saheb main jhoot nahin bol rahi hoon. Wo toh subah se hi gaye huye hai. Lekin baat kya hai?”
Tabhi tisre police wale ne kaha, “Tera marad shyam hai na?”
Jawab mein maine apna sir haan mein hila diya.
“Saale ne Mohan ka khoon kiya hai.”
Mere upar mano pahad gir gaya. Lekin sambhalte huye boli, “Kaise saheb? Wo to subah se hi yahan nahi hai.”
“Kaise nahi hai. Bahar kayi logon ne use abhi thodi der pahle hi use bhagte huye dekha hai. Wo koi jhoot nahin bol rahe hain.”
Meri toh aawaj hi band ho gayi. Tabhi ek police wala poora ghar doondhne ke baad bola, “Idhar toh Shyaam nahi hai. Lagta hai saala bhaag gaya.”
Toh doosre police wale ne usse kaha, “Jaa saheb ko bata kar aa.”
Main chup-chaap jameen per baith gayi aur rone lagi. Viswash hi nahi ho raha tha. Jaroor kisi ne apna badla nikalne ke liye jhooth-mooth police wale ko kah diya hoga. Shyaam ke saath meri shaadi ko sirf 6 mahine hi huye the. Inn 6 mahino mein hamne khoob maza kiya. 3-4 mahine tak toh wo ghar se bahar bahut hi kam waqt ke liye bahar niklta tha. Hum dono din-raat bister per, kitchen mein, bathroom mein aur yahan tak ki aangne mein maza loot te rahte the. Waqt kab ka nikal gaya samjh mein hi nahin aaya. Lekin aaj..
Shyaam 25 saal ka ek gabroo jawaan tha. Kasrati badan aur thoda saanwle rang ka lekin majboot marad tha. Bistar per uska koi jawab hi nahi tha. Uska hathiyaar bhi uske badan jaisa moosal aur lamba-mota. Mere bitte bhar se bada aur meri kalai se aadha. Uske sath byaah hone ke baad mein apne pure jeewan ko bhul chuki thi.
Haan. Main shaadi hone ke pahle apne do-teen doston se yaari kar baithi thi. Aur unke saath humbistar bhi. Lekin Shyaam se shaadi hone ke baad maine kabhi bhi unko yaad nahin kiya. Ab jo kuchh bhi tha toh woh Shyaam hi tha.
Shyaam aur mere purane yaron ki nazron me main gori chithi haseen gudiya thi. Mere lambe-lambe baal, mere gore-gore gaal, mere madmust hoth, mere anar jaise kadak santre ki size ke mumme, bhari huyi jhanghe. Aisa hi kahte the woh sub. Aur main apni prasansa sunkar phoola nahi samati thi.
Tabhi thanedaar ki kadakti huyi awaz ne mujhe jaga diya, “Kahan hai uski bibi?” Mujh per nazar padte hi uski aankhein mere jism per giddh ki ankhon jaise chipak gayi.
Tabhi mujhe ek police wale ne pakad kar khada kar diya aur bola, “Yehi hai uski bibi.”
Thanedaar mere jism ko taulta huwa bola, “Kahan hai Shyaam?”
Maine sahmte huye kaha, “Mujhe nahi maloom. Woh toh subah se bahar gaye huye hai.”
“Bata de warna mujhe aur bhi tareeke aate hai.” Thanedaar ne garajti huyi awaaz mein poochha.
Main chup-chaap khadi rahi. Bahar bheed dekh kar thanedaar ne aur toh kuchh nahi bola lekin main mehshoosh kar rahi thi uski nazron ko apne jism mein dhanste huye. Thaanedaar apne aadmiyon ko kuchh batane laga aur mujhe ghoorte huye bahar chala gaya.
Shaam ki 4-5 baj gayi. Police party apne thaane chali gayi. Maine chain ki saans li. Lekin raat ko 8-8.30 baje phir ek police wala aaya. Mujhse Shyaam ke baare mein poochhne laga. Maine na mein jawab diya.
“Aise kaise ho sakta hai. Tu subah bol rahi thi na ki woh shaam ko wapas aayega. Ab toh raat ho chuki hai,” Police wale ne poochha.
“Unhone subah aisa hi kaha tha,” maine jawab diya.
“Lagta hai tu aise nahi manegi. Ab tere se haath-laat se baat karni padegi,” Usne ghudkte huye kaha.
Meri dhuk-dhuk badhne lagi. Mujhe Shyaam per gussa aa rha tha. Ab tak nahi aaya. Gully main ek khoon ho gaya aur bibi ghar mein akeli. Lekin uska koi pata hi nahi. Tabhi phir socha. Usse kya maloom ki hatya ho gayi hai. Agar maloom hota toh dopahar mein hi nahi aajata. Kya usne hi hatya…
“Saali ko thane le chal,” Policewala apne sathi se kaha. “Saheb ne kaha hai agar Shyaam nahi milta to uski bibi ko thaane lekar aana.”
Main to yeh sunkar rone lagi.
“Chal. chal. Jyada natak nahin kar,” Ek police wala meri kalai pakde huye bola. Aur phir jor-jabardasti se mujhe Police-Van mein baitha diya aur thane pahunch gaye hum log.
“Kya huwa Shyaam nahi mila?” Thanedaar ne mujhe dekhte huye hi poochha.
Jawab mein na mein sir hila diya policewale ne.
“Chal saali ko lock-up mein band kar. Apne aap hi iska marad aayega isko chudaane,” Thanedaar ne apni seat per baithe baithe kaha.
Mujhe lock-up mein daal diya joki uski seat ke saamne hi thi. Police station uss thanedaar ke alawa 5 hawaldar the. Koi thaane mein andar aa raha tha toh koi bahar jaa raha tha. Raat ke 11 bajne mein aa rahi thi. Inn 2 ghanton mein thaanedaar mujhe 100 baar ghoor chuka tha. Mujhe apni aankhon se taul raha tha. Aise mardon ki aankhen mujhe pata hai kaisi hoti hai. Bazaar jaate huye ya mandeer jaate huye aisi hi nazron ka saamna mein kab se kar rahi hoon. Lekin tab aur aab mein sirf ek farak tha. Tab main apni marji ki malik hoti thi aur abb hawalat mein bebas kaidi ki tarah thane mein.
Tabhi thaanedaar ne apne hawaldaron ko bulaya aur 2-2 ki 2 team bana kar ek ko mere ghar ke paas chhupne ko kah diya aur doosre ko bus stand jaane ko kah diya. Sath hi hidayat dedi ki subah tak nigraani rakhni hai. Ab bache ek hawaldar ke kaan mein kuchh kaha aur woh hawaldar bhi bahar chala gaya.
Thaane mein main aur woh thaanedar do hi bache the. Hawalat mein aur koi kaidi bhi nahi tha. Mujhe uske eraade achchhe nahi lag rahe the. Who apni kameej utaar kar koi filmi gaana gaate huye apni seat per baith
gaya aur mujhe ghurne laga. Ab thaanedaar mujhe lagataar ghoor raha tha aur uske hothon mein ek kutil muskaan aa rahi thi aur jaa rahi thi.
Tabhi last wala hawaldaar ek kagaj ka packet thaanedaar ke hath mein pakda diya aur ek glass aur paani ki bottle uski table per rakh diya. Phir hawaldar thaanedar ka ishara pakar thaane se bahar chala gaya. Thaanedaar ne kagaj ke packet se ek bottle bahar nikali.
“Daaru!” Main mann mein sochkar kaamp uthi. “Daaru peekar thaanedaar akele hawalat mein aur main bhi thaane mein akeli…”
Thaanedaar ne aadhe ganthe mein 4-5 peg bana kar daaru pi daali aur uth khada huwa. Uski chaal mein koi farak nahi tha lekin aankhon mein daaru ka nasha aur vaasna dono jhalak raha tha. Usne main gate ke paas jaakar gate ko band kiya aur kadi laga di. Ab mere hawalaat ki taraf aa kar uska tala khol kar main gate per laga diya aur chaabi jeb main daal li. Phir meri taraf badhne laga. Meri ruh kaamp rahi thi.
“Bol kidhar hai tera marad.”
Main chup chaap rahi.
“Abe saali, tera marad hai ki nahi?”
“……”
“Lagta hai tera marad nahi hai. Ab mujhe hi kuchh karna padega.”
“…….”
(TBC)...
Mohan Babu ke makan ke saamne bheed ekkathi ho rahi thi. Kya hua hoga sochkar apni aankhein unke gate per gada di. Bheed mein fusfusahat ho rahi thi. Tabhi khidki ke saamne se ek aadmi gujra to usse puchh liya, “Aare bhaiya, kya ho gaya?”
Aadmi ne chalte-chalte jawab diya, “Kisi ne Mohan Babu ko chaaku maar diya.”
Yeh sunkar main darr gayi. Din-dahade gulli me hatya. Uff! Kya ho gaya hai iss duniya ko. Mohan Babu se hamare gharwalon ki jamti nahi thi. Ab gharwale kaun? Ek mera marad aur doosri mein. Abhi teen-chaar din pahle hi mere marad, Shyaam, ka jhagda Mohan Babu se kuchh len- den ko lekar ho gaya tha. Lekin isse kya? Aakhir gully mein kisi ki hatya ho toh bura toh lagta hi hai.
Main mann hi mann darr rahi thi. Soch rahi thi ki Shyaam jaldi ghar aajaye to achchha hai. Lekin unhe to shaam ko hi aana tha. Doosre gaon gaye huye the. Aisa hi bol kar subah jaldi nikal gaye the.
Thodi der baad wapas khidki khol kar Mohan Babu ke ghar ki aur jhanka toh dekha aadmi toh jyada nahi the balki 6-7 police wale jaroor khade the. Ab hatya huyi hai toh police wale toh aayenge hi. Tabhi dekha 3- 4 policewale mere ghar ki taraf aa rahe hai. Mera mann aur kharab hone laga. Police wale mere ghar ki taraf kyon aa rahe hai? Main jhat se khidki band karke wapas apne kamre ki taraf badhne lagi.
Doosre pal hi darwaaja peetne ki aawaj aane lagi. Main jhat se kamre ki jagah apne ghar ke main darwaaje ki taraf badh gayi aur gate khol diya. Police wale dhaddhadate huye ghar mein ghus gaye.
Maine hakbakakar unse poochha, “Aare ye kya kar rahe ho?”
Ek police wala kadakti awaj mein poochha, “Shyaam kidhar hai?”
Maine wapas poochha, “Kya kaam hai mere marad se?”
Tabhi doosra police wala dahada, “Saali, hamse poochhati hai kya kaam hai? Kidhar chhupa kar rakha hai apne marad ko?”
Main sahamkar boli, “Wo toh ghar par nahi hai. Doosre gaon gaye huye hai. Shaam ko aayenge?”
Tabhi usne kathorta se poochha, “Saali, ghar mein chhupa kar rakha hai aur bolti hai ki nahin hai. Bata kidhar chhupaya hai.”
“Saheb main jhoot nahin bol rahi hoon. Wo toh subah se hi gaye huye hai. Lekin baat kya hai?”
Tabhi tisre police wale ne kaha, “Tera marad shyam hai na?”
Jawab mein maine apna sir haan mein hila diya.
“Saale ne Mohan ka khoon kiya hai.”
Mere upar mano pahad gir gaya. Lekin sambhalte huye boli, “Kaise saheb? Wo to subah se hi yahan nahi hai.”
“Kaise nahi hai. Bahar kayi logon ne use abhi thodi der pahle hi use bhagte huye dekha hai. Wo koi jhoot nahin bol rahe hain.”
Meri toh aawaj hi band ho gayi. Tabhi ek police wala poora ghar doondhne ke baad bola, “Idhar toh Shyaam nahi hai. Lagta hai saala bhaag gaya.”
Toh doosre police wale ne usse kaha, “Jaa saheb ko bata kar aa.”
Main chup-chaap jameen per baith gayi aur rone lagi. Viswash hi nahi ho raha tha. Jaroor kisi ne apna badla nikalne ke liye jhooth-mooth police wale ko kah diya hoga. Shyaam ke saath meri shaadi ko sirf 6 mahine hi huye the. Inn 6 mahino mein hamne khoob maza kiya. 3-4 mahine tak toh wo ghar se bahar bahut hi kam waqt ke liye bahar niklta tha. Hum dono din-raat bister per, kitchen mein, bathroom mein aur yahan tak ki aangne mein maza loot te rahte the. Waqt kab ka nikal gaya samjh mein hi nahin aaya. Lekin aaj..
Shyaam 25 saal ka ek gabroo jawaan tha. Kasrati badan aur thoda saanwle rang ka lekin majboot marad tha. Bistar per uska koi jawab hi nahi tha. Uska hathiyaar bhi uske badan jaisa moosal aur lamba-mota. Mere bitte bhar se bada aur meri kalai se aadha. Uske sath byaah hone ke baad mein apne pure jeewan ko bhul chuki thi.
Haan. Main shaadi hone ke pahle apne do-teen doston se yaari kar baithi thi. Aur unke saath humbistar bhi. Lekin Shyaam se shaadi hone ke baad maine kabhi bhi unko yaad nahin kiya. Ab jo kuchh bhi tha toh woh Shyaam hi tha.
Shyaam aur mere purane yaron ki nazron me main gori chithi haseen gudiya thi. Mere lambe-lambe baal, mere gore-gore gaal, mere madmust hoth, mere anar jaise kadak santre ki size ke mumme, bhari huyi jhanghe. Aisa hi kahte the woh sub. Aur main apni prasansa sunkar phoola nahi samati thi.
Tabhi thanedaar ki kadakti huyi awaz ne mujhe jaga diya, “Kahan hai uski bibi?” Mujh per nazar padte hi uski aankhein mere jism per giddh ki ankhon jaise chipak gayi.
Tabhi mujhe ek police wale ne pakad kar khada kar diya aur bola, “Yehi hai uski bibi.”
Thanedaar mere jism ko taulta huwa bola, “Kahan hai Shyaam?”
Maine sahmte huye kaha, “Mujhe nahi maloom. Woh toh subah se bahar gaye huye hai.”
“Bata de warna mujhe aur bhi tareeke aate hai.” Thanedaar ne garajti huyi awaaz mein poochha.
Main chup-chaap khadi rahi. Bahar bheed dekh kar thanedaar ne aur toh kuchh nahi bola lekin main mehshoosh kar rahi thi uski nazron ko apne jism mein dhanste huye. Thaanedaar apne aadmiyon ko kuchh batane laga aur mujhe ghoorte huye bahar chala gaya.
Shaam ki 4-5 baj gayi. Police party apne thaane chali gayi. Maine chain ki saans li. Lekin raat ko 8-8.30 baje phir ek police wala aaya. Mujhse Shyaam ke baare mein poochhne laga. Maine na mein jawab diya.
“Aise kaise ho sakta hai. Tu subah bol rahi thi na ki woh shaam ko wapas aayega. Ab toh raat ho chuki hai,” Police wale ne poochha.
“Unhone subah aisa hi kaha tha,” maine jawab diya.
“Lagta hai tu aise nahi manegi. Ab tere se haath-laat se baat karni padegi,” Usne ghudkte huye kaha.
Meri dhuk-dhuk badhne lagi. Mujhe Shyaam per gussa aa rha tha. Ab tak nahi aaya. Gully main ek khoon ho gaya aur bibi ghar mein akeli. Lekin uska koi pata hi nahi. Tabhi phir socha. Usse kya maloom ki hatya ho gayi hai. Agar maloom hota toh dopahar mein hi nahi aajata. Kya usne hi hatya…
“Saali ko thane le chal,” Policewala apne sathi se kaha. “Saheb ne kaha hai agar Shyaam nahi milta to uski bibi ko thaane lekar aana.”
Main to yeh sunkar rone lagi.
“Chal. chal. Jyada natak nahin kar,” Ek police wala meri kalai pakde huye bola. Aur phir jor-jabardasti se mujhe Police-Van mein baitha diya aur thane pahunch gaye hum log.
“Kya huwa Shyaam nahi mila?” Thanedaar ne mujhe dekhte huye hi poochha.
Jawab mein na mein sir hila diya policewale ne.
“Chal saali ko lock-up mein band kar. Apne aap hi iska marad aayega isko chudaane,” Thanedaar ne apni seat per baithe baithe kaha.
Mujhe lock-up mein daal diya joki uski seat ke saamne hi thi. Police station uss thanedaar ke alawa 5 hawaldar the. Koi thaane mein andar aa raha tha toh koi bahar jaa raha tha. Raat ke 11 bajne mein aa rahi thi. Inn 2 ghanton mein thaanedaar mujhe 100 baar ghoor chuka tha. Mujhe apni aankhon se taul raha tha. Aise mardon ki aankhen mujhe pata hai kaisi hoti hai. Bazaar jaate huye ya mandeer jaate huye aisi hi nazron ka saamna mein kab se kar rahi hoon. Lekin tab aur aab mein sirf ek farak tha. Tab main apni marji ki malik hoti thi aur abb hawalat mein bebas kaidi ki tarah thane mein.
Tabhi thaanedaar ne apne hawaldaron ko bulaya aur 2-2 ki 2 team bana kar ek ko mere ghar ke paas chhupne ko kah diya aur doosre ko bus stand jaane ko kah diya. Sath hi hidayat dedi ki subah tak nigraani rakhni hai. Ab bache ek hawaldar ke kaan mein kuchh kaha aur woh hawaldar bhi bahar chala gaya.
Thaane mein main aur woh thaanedar do hi bache the. Hawalat mein aur koi kaidi bhi nahi tha. Mujhe uske eraade achchhe nahi lag rahe the. Who apni kameej utaar kar koi filmi gaana gaate huye apni seat per baith
gaya aur mujhe ghurne laga. Ab thaanedaar mujhe lagataar ghoor raha tha aur uske hothon mein ek kutil muskaan aa rahi thi aur jaa rahi thi.
Tabhi last wala hawaldaar ek kagaj ka packet thaanedaar ke hath mein pakda diya aur ek glass aur paani ki bottle uski table per rakh diya. Phir hawaldar thaanedar ka ishara pakar thaane se bahar chala gaya. Thaanedaar ne kagaj ke packet se ek bottle bahar nikali.
“Daaru!” Main mann mein sochkar kaamp uthi. “Daaru peekar thaanedaar akele hawalat mein aur main bhi thaane mein akeli…”
Thaanedaar ne aadhe ganthe mein 4-5 peg bana kar daaru pi daali aur uth khada huwa. Uski chaal mein koi farak nahi tha lekin aankhon mein daaru ka nasha aur vaasna dono jhalak raha tha. Usne main gate ke paas jaakar gate ko band kiya aur kadi laga di. Ab mere hawalaat ki taraf aa kar uska tala khol kar main gate per laga diya aur chaabi jeb main daal li. Phir meri taraf badhne laga. Meri ruh kaamp rahi thi.
“Bol kidhar hai tera marad.”
Main chup chaap rahi.
“Abe saali, tera marad hai ki nahi?”
“……”
“Lagta hai tera marad nahi hai. Ab mujhe hi kuchh karna padega.”
“…….”
(TBC)...