Munna ne chai ka cup haath mein pakadte hue Dipa se poocha—
"Mai akela hi piu kya... tum nahi pioge kya?"
Dipa ne saaf mana karte hue kaha—
"Nahi, mai chai nahi pite."
Tab Munna ne uske mamme ko dekh kar shararat se kaha—
"Phir kya dhoodh pite ho kya?"
Dipa ne nakhre aur halka sa laajate hue jawab diya—
"Bade besharam ho ji tum!"
Dipa ki yeh baat sunkar Munna ki hassi chhoot gayi. Uske chehre par wahi purani besharam aur shararati muskaan aa gayi thi.
Munna ne chai ka ek sip liya aur Dipa ko sar se paon tak niharte hue, bilkul relaxed mood mein bola—
Arre dipa rani , ab jab samne tera jaisa kadak maal ho to besharami moo se automatically nikal hi jati hai "
Dipa ne apni saree ka pallu thoda aur sahi se sambhala, apni aankhen badi keen aur nakhre se apna munh doosri taraf ghuma liya. Par uske honton ke kone par khilti hui muskaan bata rahi thi ki uski yeh daant sirf ek dikhawa thi.
"Hunnh! Bohot besharam ho gaye ho tum... har baat mein tumhein bas shaitani hi soojhti hai. Main toh chali yahan se, tum piyo apni chai!"
Dipa ne waha se door ki taraf jane ki acting ki, par Munna ne turant aage badhkar uski kalai tham li.
"Arre Dipa rani, gussa mat ho... achha baba, ab shaanti se baith ke baate karte hai"
Munna ne thoda sanjida hote hue kaha, par uski aankhon mein abhi bhi wahi halki si shararat thi.
Dipa ne uski taraf teekhi nazar se dekha, lekin apna haath chhudaya nahi.
Dipa ne nakhre se apni nazrein ghumayin aur jaane ke liye thode aage badi —
"Tere yeh meethi-meethi baatein aur shaitani dimag na... ek din mujhe kisi badi museebat mein daalega! Shaanti se chai piyo aur dimag thanda rakho apna... mai chali."
Munna ne turant uska haath thamte hue kaha—
"Kaha chali?"
"Kaha matlab, mere ghar!"
Dipa ne nakhre se jawab diya.
"Yaha baitho... thode der baad jana."
"Nahi.."
"Kyon rani?"
Dipa ne use ghoor kar dekha—
"Tum phir se shuru ho jaoge."
Munna ne uske haath ko softly pakde rakha aur bola—
"Nahi shuru honga... tu baith toh sahi."
Dipa ne uski taraf teekhi nazar se dekha, lekin apna haath chhudaya nahi. Usne ek gehri saans li aur wahin charpai ke kone par baithi gayi ..
Dipa charpai ke kone par baith gayi, aur Munna ne chai ka cup ek taraf rakha. Agle 10-15 minute dono ke beech bohot hi meethi aur gehri baatein hone lagi. Munna ne dheere-dheere Dipa ki zindagi ke bare mein poochna shuru kiya, aur Dipa bhi apna dil khol kar use sab batati chali gayi.
Munna (dhime se uska haath thame hue):
"Dipa, malkin bane rehne ka yeh natak toh duniya ke samne hai... par tum sach mein kaisi ho? Yeh itni akeli zindagi ..tera pati to hamesha buzy rahta hai.. ye akela jeena tumhare liye kitna mushkil raha hai?"
Dipa ne ek gehri saans li, uski aankhon mein purani yaadein tairne lagain.
Dipa:
"Poochho mat Munna... Bahar se sabko lagta hai ki main bahut khush hu .. husband ko achhi salary hai .. bade ghar ki malkin hoon, sab kuch mere hisaab se chalta hai. Par sach toh yeh hai ki iss malkingiri ke peeche main bohot akelepan mein jeeyi hoon. Bachpan se hi har cheez mein bas dhang aur tareeke se rehna sikhaya gaya. Koi dil ki baat sunne wala nahi tha."
Munna:
"Toh kya pehle kabhi kisi se dil ki baat batane ka mauka nahi mila?"
Dipa (muskura kar, Munna ki aankhon mein dekhte hue):
"Mila bhi toh kisse? Pati ko ..wo to hamesha busy rahta hai .. usne kabhi ye janane ki koshish nahi ki Dipa ko kya chahiye. Pehli baar kisi ne malkin ke parde ke piche chhipi is 'Dipa' ko dekha hai... aur woh tum ho."
Munna ne uska haath thoda aur softly daba diya. Dipa apne bachpan ke kuch haseen kisse aur ghar ke purane kisse batati gayi, aur Munna bina palkein jhapkaye uski har ek baat sunta raha. Unke beech ka yeh pal sirf jism ka nahi, balki do dilon ke judne ka ban gaya tha.
Dipa ne ghadi ki taraf dekha, toh use ehsaas hua ki kaafi waqt ho gaya hai.
Dipa (muskuraate hue):
"Bas ab... bohot baatein ho gayi. Ab agar main nahi gayi, toh sach mein late ho jayega."