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Devika mein itne badlav itni jaldi… main toh shock ho gaya tha.
Yeh wahi ladki thi jinhone mujhe 18 saal, 11 din, aur 15 ghante tak nafrat ki —
aur ab ekdum se itna badal gayi.
Par shayad mujhe itna surprise nahi hona chahiye tha…
kyunki Devika Deepti aunty aur Pratap uncle ki beti thi.
Tabhi dono — uncle aur aunty — room me aaye.
Unki nazar mujh par aur Devika par tik gayi.
Devika kabhi mere haath ragad rahi thi,
kabhi mere pairon ke talvo ko —
jaise apni galti mita rahi ho.
Devika:“Mom, doctor aaye nahi abhi tak?” Deepti Aunty:“Bas aa rahe hain, bitiya.”
Devika ke chehre par ek ajeeb si muskaan…
jaise woh kuch jaanti ho jo main nahi jaanta.
Phir bhi woh mere pair ragadti rahi.
Tabhi doctor aaye, check-up kiya, tablet di:
Doctor:“Sab theek hai. Bas chhota sa panic attack tha, kuch serious nahi.
Tez awaaz aur shor se bachke rakhiyega.
Teen din dawai le lena — sab normal ho jayega.”
Doctor ke jaate hi main dheere se bola:
Main:“Ab ghar… please. Meri didi ko kuch ho na jaaye.”
Hum ghar aagaye.
Gate ke paas meri pyaari didi baithi thi —
sir apne ghutnon ke beech chhupa kar.
Main turant bhaag kar uske paas baith gaya.
Main:“Kya hua didi? Bolo na!”
Woh mujhe zor se gale laga leti hai—
Didi:“Tu kahan chhod gaya mujhe? Tu jhooth bol raha tha — kuch nahi hua aisa bola tune!”
Main unke aansu pochhta hoon —
Main:“Agar tum ro di na, toh maan lunga mera birthday manhoos hai!”
Woh thoda muskura deti hain —
Didi:“Aisa mat bol babu… bas main dar gayi thi.”
Main hans padta hoon —
Main:“Dev ki didi hokar bhi dar gayi? Janti ho na, main mita nahi… takatwar hoon!”
Didi:“Haan haan, bada takatwar! Chal, sab andar wait kar rahe hain.”
Andar jaate hi —
sab zor se chillate hai — “Happy Birthday Dev!”
Cake kaata…
Sabko khilaya…
Lamba din tha — par dil halka lag raha tha.
Raat me room me jaa kar let gaya.
Aankhein band hi ki thi ki halka sa shor…
Didi bed ke paas baithi thi.
Woh meri girri hui tablets dekhti hui — phone me kuch padh rahi thi.
Didi:“Babu… tu sabko dukh nahi dena chahta, par aise chhupana sahi nahi.”
Main uth kar
apna sir unki god me rakh deta hoon.
Main:“Sorry didi… Aapko rote dekh mera dil toot jaata hai.
Mere liye duniya ki sabse galat cheez yahi hai.”
Woh mere baal sehlati hain —
Didi:“Tu ek number ka pagal hai.”
Main:“Ek baat puchun?” Didi:“Haan, puch.” Main:“Aaj jab Devika ne chhua… dil bohot tez dhadakne laga.
Aisa kyu?”
Woh halka sa smile karti hain —
Didi:“Pehle poori baat bata kya hua.”
Main sab kuch batata hoon.
Woh mera button khol kar dekhti hain —
chest par rash… ointment lagi hue.
Didi:“Yeh kya karta rehta hai tu Dev? Apne saath aisa kyu karta hai?”
Main unke aansu pochhta hoon —
Main:“Aapne hi sikhaya na… kisi ke saath galat ho raha ho
toh use bachao.”
Woh phir se mujhe god me lita kar—
Didi:“Samajhdaar ho gaya hai tu…” Main:“Aapse zyada kabhi nahi.”
Woh pyar se bolti hain —
Didi:“Soya ja ab… thak gaya hoga.”
Aur main dheere dheere neend me doob gaya…
Subah aankhein khuli —
main abhi bhi didi ke pairon par sir rakhkar soya tha.
Unpar chadar odhaayi…
balcony me thoda yoga kiya…
nha kar aaya toh didi gayi hui thi —
shayad tayyaar hone.
Main ready hokar neeche aaya.
Table par sab log baithe the — Maa, Papa, Chacha-Chachi aur meri didi Saloni kitchen me thi.
Papa:“Are Dev, tu phir ready ho gaya? Bola tha na, kuch din chhutti kar le.”
Main unke paas baith gaya.
Main:“Nahi Dad, aaj school me test hai. Miss karunga toh problem ho jaayegi.”
Maa (naram swar me):“Thik hai beta, tu toh waise bhi kisi ki sunta nahi.”
Main piche mud kar bola — Main:“Didi, nasta?”
Didi (kitchen se):“Aa rahi hoon Dev.”
Thodi der me woh meri manpasand poha aur garam doodh le aayi.
Jaise hi jaane lagi, maine haath se roka —
Main:“Baitho na didi, mujhe khilao.”
Chacha (mazaak me):“Wah beta, matlab usko araam bhi mat karne dena, sirf khilana hai tujhe.”
Main muskurate hue sir jhuka kar bola — Main:“Thik hai Chacha, aap keh rahe ho toh aise hi sahi.”
Chachi (muskaan ke saath):“Aap bhi na chup rahiye… chalo Saloni beta, khilao isse.”
Main hans kar bola — Main:“Thank you my sweetu Chachi.”
Chachi khush ho gayi. Saloni Didi mere paas baith gayi aur apne haathon se mujhe khilane lagi. Us pal mere chehre par aisi muskaan thi jaise duniya ki har thakan chali gayi ho.
“Apno se pyaar mangne me kabhi hichkichana nahi chahiye. Jo rishte dil se judte hain, unhe samajh lena hi kaafi hota hai.”
Sab has rahe the… tabhi Chacha ne thoda gambheer sur me kaha —
Chacha:“Saloni beta, main ek baar aur keh raha hoon — tum bhi Ananya ki tarah London chali jao. Apni masters wahaan se puri kar lo. Yahan kuch nahi rakha.”
Unki baat sunte hi mere andar se ek ajeeb sa dard uthha.
Mujhe laga jaise kisi ne meri saans kheench li ho.
Didi se door jaane ka khayal hi mujhe tod gaya.
Sab kuch dhundhla hone laga…
Saloni (ghabra kar):“Dev… Dev kya hua tujhe?!”
Main hilne laga.
Table ke paas girne hi wala tha ki didi ne mujhe sambhal liya.
Maine jeb se dawai nikal kar unke haath me di.
Unhone bina waqt gavaaye mujhe woh tablet de di.
Kuch hi palon me sab log mere paas aa gaye.
Chachi (gusse aur aansuon ke beech):“Aapse kaha tha na Chacha ji! Dev ke saamne yeh sab baatein mat kiya karo!
Aapko samajh nahi aata kya?”
Chacha ke aankhon me bhi aansu aa gaye, par unhone palak jhuka li. Maa mere paas baith gayi, mera sir sehlate hue boli —
Maa:“Kya hua beta? Kal ki chot ki wajah se toh nahi?”
Main didi ka haath pakad kar dheere se bola —
Main:“Pata nahi Maa… lekin didi, tum London mat jao. Main akela pad jaunga yahan.
Aapke bina na school me koi dost hai, na society me.
Sab mujhe cursed bolte hain.
Main aisa nahi hoon… main sabki madad karta hoon.
Par jab galti ho jaati hai, sab mujhe galat keh dete hain.”
Didi ne turant mujhe apne seene se laga liya. Unki aawaz bhari hui thi —
Didi:“Dev… mere liye lakhon-crore ki degree bhi kuch nahi. Agar tu mere paas hai, toh mujhe kuch nahi chahiye.
Main nahi jaungi London.”
Woh mujhe zor se gale lagaye hue thi,
aur main unke dil ki dhadkane mehsoos kar raha tha.
Chacha chup chap uth gaye. Unke saath Isha aur Kabir bhi khade ho gaye.
Bahaar nikalte hue Chacha ne kaha —
Chacha:“Yeh Dev ki wajah se na Saloni kuch ban paayegi, na shaadi kar paayegi.
Samajhti hi nahi.
Hamare ghar ki badnaami ho rahi hai.”
Isha (tez aawaz me):“Kya Dad! Aap bhi na… Dev abhi sirf 18 ka hai. Usse thoda time do.
Woh cursed nahi, blessed hai.”
Chacha (thoda gusse me):“Beta, tum nahi samajh rahi ho. Uski blessing tum logon ke liye curse ban jayegi.
Main soch raha hoon tum dono ko yahan se door bhej du.
Komal ke paas jaakar raho kuch din.”
Kabir (chup rehkar):“Jaisa aap chaho Dad… par ek baat yaad rakhna —
humare jaane ke baad Dev ko kuch mat kehna.
Na usse, na Saloni ko.”
Chacha ne kuch jawab nahi diya. Bas gardan jhuka li aur baat chhod di.
Kahani yahan ek nayi chhaya me ghul gayi — ghar me sab apne hisaab se sahi the, par kisi ne nahi dekha, Dev ke dil me kya toofan chal raha tha.
Kabir sabse bada tha, Saloni didi se kuch mahine bada… Par uske dil me bhi ek ajeeb sa bojh tha — jaise Dev ke liye usko kuch karna hai.....kayaa yeh wahi jaane
Aaj subah ka mahaul kuch alag hi tha… ghar me shaanti thi, lekin mere dil me ek ajeeb si chubhan thi. Pata nahi kyun, par aaj mann nahi kar raha tha school jaane ka. Bahut din baad laga ke thoda break le hi lu
Main: “Didi, aap ready ho jaao. Aaj main school nahi jaa raha… aaj ghumne chalte hain, sirf main aur aap.”
Maa ne turant meri taraf dekha, thoda chinta bhara chehra tha unka, par aankhon me mamta bhi utni hi gehri thi.
Maa: “Haan beta, rehne de aaj. Waise bhi hum pehle keh rahe the thoda rest le le.”
Main muskura diya aur maa ke paas jaakar bola — “Merii pyaari mumma… aap toh mujhe bina kahe samajh jaati ho.”
Maa mere mathe par ek pyara sa pyaar deti hai, unke haath ka wo sparsh jaise saari thakaan mita gaya ho. Maa: “Mera pyara beta… jaa, kapde badal le. Phir aaram se kahin chala jaana.”
Main apne kamre me gaya, almirah kholi aur casual kapde nikaale. T-shirt aur jeans pehni, thoda perfume lagaya. Phir drawer khola, jahan mere sapno ki bike ki key rakhi thi — wo 250cc ki sports bike jo mujhe iss baar Pratap uncle ne gift ki thi. Key uthate hi chehre par ek confident si smile aa gayi.
Neeche aaya toh meri nazar sidhe Didi par gayi woh tab tak ready ho chuki thi… aur sach kahu toh ek pal ke liye main bas unhe dekhta reh gaya. Unhone light pink suit ke saath pink jeans pehni thi, baalon me halka curl tha aur halka sa perfume ki mehek pure jagah me ghul rahi thi .....
Didi ki age ab 28 ho gayi thi, par unka charm… wo elegance, abhi bhi bilkul waisa hi tha jaise pehle. Pink rang unpe aisa lag raha tha jaise unke liye hi bana ho.
Main: “Are wah didi… aaj toh aap seriously pariyo ki mallika lag rahi ho.”
Didi (halki si hansi ke saath): “Bas bas, ab chalo Mr. School Bunk Master, kahaan ghumne ka plan hai?”
Main unko lekar bike ke pass gaya aur bike start karate hue ...
Main: “Bas didi… aaj duniya ko bhool jaate hain, chalte hain kahin door. Sirf hum dono.”
Didi muskurayi, dupatta sambhalti hui mere piche baith gayi, aur main ne accelerator dabaya aur bike lekar bahar nikal gaye
Udhar scene shift
Ek dim lighted bar me Akash Raj apne doston ke saath baitha hua tha. Music halki si baj rahi thi, glasses table par line me the aur hawa me thodi si whisky ki khushboo.
Akash ne glass uthaya, ek sip me khali kar diya — Akash: “Ek aur bana yaar, 30 ml… full on the rocks.”
Bartender ne bina kuch bole glass bhara aur uske samne rakh diya. Akash ne bina dekhe phir se glass uthaya, aankhon me thodi udaasi thi aur chehre pe thoda gussa.
Uske doston — Sam, Rajiv, aur Prakash — ke chehre pe bhi wo purani dost wali tension thi.
Prakash (thoda tease karte hue): “Yaar Akash, yeh Dev toh tere life me kundali maar ke baitha hai. Tere maa baap ko nahi pata kis ki ghutti pila di usne… dono ke dono uske piche pagal hai.”
Akash ne glass table par patak kar kaha — Akash: “Haan yaar, dono ke dono andhe ho gaye hain uske piche. Ghar me agar koi meri side hai toh bas meri behan.”
Tabhi uska phone bajta hai — ringtone simple par familiar. Screen par naam blink karta hai — Devika.
Akash (thoda irritated tone me): “Haan Devu, kya hai? Raat se tu bhi call kar rahi hai, aaya nahi main toh kya kar legi?”
Akash: “Are Devu, tujhe pata hai na uss kutte Dev ki party me gaye the sab. Main kya karta akela? Jaane ka mann hi nahi tha.”
Devika: “Bhai, aisa mat bolo. Aap unse baat karke dekho, woh aapko sach bataayenge. Dev aisa nahi hai jaisa aap soch rahe ho. Bahut achha ladka hai, aapke paas uska number hai na?”
Akash ka chehra turant badal gaya, aankhon me gussa aa gaya — Akash (tez tone me): “Kyu? Tu bhi ab uske talve chaatne lagi kya? Nikal rakh phone, useless!”
Ek pal ke liye bar me sannata chha gaya.
Sam (serious tone me): “Tujhe sharam nahi aayi? Apni behen se aise baat karta hai? Kya ho gaya tujhe?”
Rajiv (halka sa muskura ke): “Chhod na yaar Sam, sahi toh keh raha hai Akash. Dev ne sabke dimaag kharab kar diye hain.”
Sam (gusse me): “Chup kar Rajiv! Tum sab chutiye ho, isko aur galat cheezon me push kar rahe ho. Main nikalta hoon yahan se.”
Sam uth kar jaane laga, tab Akash ne uska haath pakad liya aur phone uthaya. Akash (thoda regret ke saath): “Sorry Devu… mujhse galti ho gayi. Baad me baat karta hoon.”
Phone cut gaya. Sam ne kuch nahi kaha, bas jaane se pehle kaha — Sam: “Tere andar ab bhi insaaniyat bachi hai, usko marne mat dena.”
Woh chala gaya. Bar me sirf music bach gaya.
Akash ne haath me glass uthaya — Akash: “Acha chhodo yaar yeh Dev ki baatein. Batao kahin ghoomne chale?”
Prakash (muskurate hue): “Thik hai… yahan se nikalte hain. Sun, Naina ko bula le. Tera mood sahi ho jaayega.”
Rajiv: “Sahi bola, wo aayi toh sahi rahega.”
(Naina — Akash ki girlfriend hai.)
EDHAR — Dev aur Saloni Didi
Hawa me thoda thandak thi, road ke kinare pe ped ke patte hil rahe the.
Main zor se hasta hua bola — Main: “Kuch bhi uncle! Yeh meri didi hai! Gf mere jaisi ki woh enke jaise no chance ? Aap bhi na, mere jaisa ladka aur yeh…”
Saloni (ghusse me, par pyaar se): “Bas! Bahut ho gaya, chup ho jaa ab.”
Main ne unke kandhe par haath rakha — Main: “Sorry didu… ab chalo, mood kharab karne nahi aaye hain yahan.”
Hawa me ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha. Neeli pahadi ki hariyali dekhne layak thi. Pedon ke beech se dhoop ka narm sa jhilmil aata ja raha tha. Har kone me bachpan ki yaadein taazaa ho gayi thi.
Main kuch bolne hi wala tha, tabhi peeche se kisi ne zor se pukara — “Saloni… oye Saloni!”
Hum dono ne mudkar dekha.
Ek ladki hamari taraf daud kar aa rahi thi — Naina.
Naina (excited tone me): “Are Saloni! Tu yahan? Itne dino baad mil rahi hai!”
Saloni (halki hansi ke saath): “Haan yaar, ghar me busy thi. Tu bata?”
Naina: “Main toh yahi aayi hoon, Akash ne bulaya tha. Tu bhi join kar le na master ki classes humare saath , maine bhi abhi classes shuru ki hai.”
Saloni: “Are nahi yaar, jaane de. Tu bata kaise chal raha sab?”
Naina: “Sab badhiya .Are Dev, tum bhi aaye ho, maine dhyaan hi nahi diya!”
Main (thoda nakhre se): “Haan haan, ab aapko apni friend mil gayi na, mujhe kaun yaad rakhega didi?”
Naina (hasti hui, mere gaal ko pinch karte hue): “Tu toh bahut bolne lag gaya hai Dev! Pagal kahin ka… chalo, bhel khaane chalte hain.”
Saloni: “Haan, bahut din ho gaye yahan ki bhel khaye hue.”
At Bhel stall
Hum teeno pahadi ke upar chhoti si stall par gaye. Thandi hawa, chhoti kursiyan, aur samne chulhe ki mehek. Bhel banane wali aunty khushbu se hi pehchaan gayi — Aunty (muskurate hue): “Are Saloni beti! Bahut din baad. Wahi purani masala bhel bana doon?”
Saloni (excited tone me): “Haan aunty, wahi wala taste chahiye! Dev ke liye extra spicy bana dena.”
Main hansi rok kar bola — Main: “Didi, mujhe mirch se allergy hai, yaad nahi kya?”
Naina (tease karte hue): “Areee, Dev ne toh bahana bana liya, actually spice se nahi, taste se darr lagta hai!”
Hum sab hans padhe. Hawa me wo pure pahadi ka sukoon tha — ek side se mandir ki ghanti baj rahi thi, aur dusri taraf se hawayein cheekh rahi thi.
Bhel aayi, aur hum sab ek saath baithe hue — Saloni: “Pata hai Dev, main aur Naina college ke time me yahan roz aate the. Har jagah ek kahani chhupi hai.”
Main (softly): “Aur har kahani me aapka ek hissa… mujhe lagta hai yeh pahadi bhi aapko miss karti hai didi.”
Naina (halki hansi ke saath): “Aaj toh Dev philosopher ban gaya hai!”
Neeli pahadi ke upar hawa aur bhi thandi ho gayi thi…
Hawa me wo old memories thi, aur hum teeno ke chehre pe wo halka sa sukoon.
Saloni didi: “Yaad hai Naina, college ke time yahan hum dono kaise chill karte the”
Naina (hasti hui): “Aur kaise! Aunty ki bhel aur wo pahadi ka view… bas duniya ka sabse best combo.”
Baate ho rahi thi ki tabhi .....
Road ke us paar ek black SUV rukti hai. Car ke door se Akash utarta hai — aankhon me thoda nasha, aur dil me ek ajeeb sa ghussa.
Usne Naina ko call kiya
Akash car se niche utar kar andar aaya aur jaate hue Naina ko caal lagata hua Naina ko doondh raha thaa aur woh tabhi dekhata hai — Naina wahan bhel kha rahi hai… par uske saath Dev aur Saloni bhi hain.
Akash (andar hi andar): “Mujhe yahan bulaya gaya tha… aur madam kisi aur ke saath chill kar rahi hai"
Uske dost Rajiv aur Prakash car me hi baithe hue the.
Rajiv (window se jhaankte hue): “Lagta hai salaa kuch hone wala hai …”
Akash ne haath uthaya — “Ruko, main dekhta hoon.”
Woh dheere se stall ki taraf badha. Aankhon me wo chubhan thi — possessiveness aur ego ka mixture
Naina ne pehle use nahi dekha, par jab uski nazar Akash pe padi, wo turant uth gayi. “Akash! Tum aa gaye… main bas—”
Akash (uske paas aate hue, sarcastic tone me): “Bas kya Naina? Mera wait kar rahi thi, ya Dev ke saath bhel ke masale me busy thi”
Saloni didi ne turant dekha — “Akash, yeh kya tone hai tumhari? Ye public jagah hai.”
Akash (thoda hansi ke saath, aankhon me nasha):“Public jagah hai, isiliye sabko dikh raha hai na… kaun kiske saath ‘publicly’ enjoy kar raha hai.”
Naina (thoda ghabra kar):“Akash please, aise mat bolo. Tumne hi toh bola tha yahan milne ko.”
Akash:“Haan bola tha milne ko, par yeh toh nahi kaha tha ke Dev aur uski didi ke saath date banao!”
Main tab tak chup tha, par ab bola :“Akash, tum galat samajh rahe ho. Hum bas purani yaade taaza kar rahe the, itna hi.”
Akash (aage badhkar, aankhon me seedha dekhte hue):“Tu har jagah kyu ghus jaata hai Dev? Har relation me, har jagah, har insaan ke beech… kya milta hai tujhe”
Naina (thoda zyada emotional tone me): “Akash! Bas karo! Tum pehle jaise nahi rahe tumhara dimag kharab tumne abhi nsha kiya hai naa…”
Akash ne uski taraf dekha - aankhon me wo udaas si aag thi bola : Haan Naina, pehle jaise nahi raha… shayad ab akela ho gaya hoon.”
Ek pal ke liye sab chup ho gaye. Hawa bhi tham gayi.
Saloni didi ne softly bola : “Akash, jao ghar jao. Tumhe aaram ki zarurat hai.”
Akash ne halki hansi di, phir Naina ko dekha -“Aaram mujhe nahi, tum logon ko chahiye sab yaad rakhunga.”
Akash ne apne kadam peeche nahi liye. Uske pair ke niche ki mitti halki si khisak gayi — jaise zameen bhi warning de rahi ho, par wo rukne wala nahi tha.
Main ne aankhon me dekha… wo insaan nahi, us waqt ek vulkan lag raha tha.
Akash (thoda jhatka maar kar haansta hua): “Dev… tu samajhta kya hai apne aap ko haan?”
Main ne calmly bola: “Main kuch nahi samajhta Akash… par tu galat samajh raha hai.”
Wo seedha mere paas aaya, collar pakad li meri —“Galat main nahi, tu hai! Har jagah hero banne ki koshish karta hai na?”
Saloni didi ne zor se chillaya:“Akash chhodo usse!”
Par Akash ne dhakka de diya mujhe. Main peeche jaake ek bench se takra gaya, bhel ki plate zameen par gir gayi — chutney hawa me udti hui jaise khoon ka rang lag rahi thi.
Naina daud kar beech me aayi:“Akash bas karo! Tum pagal ho gaye ho kya?”
Akash (nasha me hansi ke saath):“Pagal? Haan… pagal hi toh bana diya mujhe isne sala meri ek behan meri side saale ne usko bhi apni side kar liya
Main utha, aankhon me seedha dekha uske — “Main tujhe respect deta hoon Akash… par agar hadd paar karega, toh phir main bhi chup nahi rahunga.”
Akash (thoda close aake): “Toh kar kya lega tu?”
Uske haath fir uthe — par iss baar maine pakad liya. Uski grip strong thi, meri calm. Main ne dheere se kaha: “Jo khud pe control nahi rakh sakta… wo doosron pe kya ilzaam lagayega”
Akash ne zor se haath chhudaya, par balance lose kar gaya. Uske dost niche se Rajiv aur Prakash car se nikal ke aage aage yaha bhagate hue
Rajiv:“Akash bhai, chhodo yaar, sab dekh rahe hain.”
Akash (gusse me):“Nahi Rajiv! Aaj nahi… aaj is Dev ko dikhata hoon asli aukaat!”
Naina phir chilla padi —“Akash, ruk jao!”
Par tab tak der ho chuki thi — Akash ne ek bottle uthai stall ke table se aur zameen pe patak di — “Crash!” Sab log dar ke peeche hatt gaye.
Main uske samne khada tha — “Tu jitna chaahe chilla le Akash… Naina ke dil me darr nahi, sirf afsos bachega teri is harkat ke baad"
Sab kuch ek pal ke liye ruk gaya tha… Bottle ke tukde zameen pe chamak rahe the, aur Akash ne ek sabse bada piece uthaya — uske haath se halka sa khoon tapak raha tha.
Naina ne aankhon me dar le kar dekha — “Akash… yeh kya kar rahe ho?”
Akash ne kuch nahi kaha. Uski aankhein seedha Saloni didi pe tik gayi aur agle hi second usne wo tutti hui bottle unki gardan ke paas rakh di.
Saloni didi ka saans ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Unke honth halki si kamp rahe the.
Main turant ek step aage badha — “Akash! Haath neeche kar de… main bol raha hoon haath neeche kar!”
Akash (thoda hansi ke saath, par awaaz me ek pagalpan):“Aaj dekhte hain Dev… tera calm nature kitni der tak bacha sakta hai.bata kaiss lag raha jab apni behan khatre me dikh rahe tujhe ”
Naina (ro kar):“Akash please, Saloni ko kuch mat karna tu jaanta bhi nahi woh mere liye kaya hai ”
Akash (beech me bolta hai): “Main sab jaanta hoon! Mujhe bas yeh dekhna hai… agar main iski gardan pe yeh bottle aur thoda press kar du… toh tu kya karega Dev?”
Main uski aankhon me dekh raha tha, par andar se ghabra gaya tha — wo nasha aur ego mila kar Akash ek ticking bomb ban gaya tha.
Main dheere tone me bola, har word me ek baar: “Tu… hadh… kar raha hai, Akash.”
Uske haath thoda aur tight hue bottle ki kanch par — Saloni didi ne aankhen band kar li.
Main ne ek deep breath li, aur seedha bola “Agar tujhe mujhse problem hai, toh mujhe mar. Par unhe chhod de, Akash. Tu samajhta hai main chup rahunga agar unke khoon ki ek boond bhi zameen pe giri”
Akash ke haath ke muscles kas gaye — uske chehre par gussa aur guilt dono ek saath the.
Rajiv (peeche se chillata hai): “Akash bhai bas karo! Yeh galat ho raha hai!
Par Akash us pal kisi ki nahi sun raha tha.
Main dheere-dheere aage badha, uske ekdum samne tak.uska haath pakad kar Bottle ka tukda mene apne garadan ke paas kar diyaa ek aur inch aur sab khatam.
Main ne halki si awaaz me kaha: “Naina tujhe tab bhi chaahti thi jab tu akela tha…par lagta tu ab wo Akash nahi raha jisko wo pyaar karti thi meri nafrat apno par mat nikal sahi se jaan aakhir sach kaya hai .
Wo line seedha uske dil me lagi. Uska haath thoda dheela pada… aur usi second maine woh dur phek di
Saloni didi peeche gir gayi, Naina unke paas daud gayi. Akash ne ek kadam peeche liya, aankhon me guilt aur sharm dono. “Main… main bas… prove karna chahta tha…”
Main ne uske paas aake bas itna kaha: “Pyaar proof nahi hota Akash… feel hota hai.”
Akash ne aankhen jhuka di… Thodi der tak chup raha, phir dheere se Naina ke paas aaya aur usse gale laga liya. Uski awaaz halki si kaamp rahi thi —
“I’m sorry… Naina.”
Naina ne uske kandhe par haath rakha, aur usse kas ke hug kar liya. “Koi baat nahi, Akash… bas khud ko sambhalo. Shaant rehna seekho.”
Wo dono ab bhi ek dusre ke paas the, tabhi piche se kisi ki aawaz aayi — “Dev…”
Main palat kar dekhta hoon — Devika khadi thi. Chehre par chinta thi, aankhen idhar-udhar kuch dhoond rahi thi. Main turant uske paas gaya. “Devika, tum yahan? Sab thik hai na?”
Usne saans lete hue kaha — “Rajiv bhaiya ka call aaya tha… unhone bola Akash bhaiya tumse ladne aaye hain. Main turant daud ke aa gayi… kuch hua toh nahi na?” Main ne halka sa muskuraya. “Nahi, sab theek hai. Tension mat lo.”
Tabhi Saloni didi mere paas aayi. Uske haath me rumaal tha, aur bina kuch kahe meri gardan par lagaa khoon saaf karne lagi. Main thoda hairaan hokar bola — “Didi, yeh kya—”
Uske bolne se pehle Devika ne dekh liya. “Dev, yeh khoon… kaise nikla?”
Saloni didi ne turant muskaan ke saath baat kaat di — “Arre, kuch nahi! Mera hi nakhoon lag gaya hoga. Zyada mat sochna.”
Main hansa, thoda mazaak me bola — “Haan, lagta hai didi ke nakhoon talwar se tez hain.”
Sab ke chehre par halka sa smile aa gaya, lekin hawa ab bhi thodi bhaari thi akash bhi has pada . Udhar Naina, Akash ko bench par bithati hui chup thi. Uski aankhen ab bhi Dev par tikki thi.
Uske man me sirf ek hi sawaal ghoom raha tha — “Aaj se pehle maine kabhi Dev ko aise nahi dekha… jab Akash bottle lekar hamla karne wala tha, tab Dev ke chehre par na gussa tha, na darr… bas ek ajeeb sa sukoon, jaise usse apni zindagi se koi farq hi nahi padta.”
Naina ne dheere se aankhen band ki, aur uske dil me ek hi baat goonj gayi — “Dev… tu asal me hai kaun?”
Akash (thoda serious hote hue Naina se): “Naina… sab kehate rahe ki yeh Dev alag hai, par maine kabhi maana hi nahi. Main use marne jaa raha tha, lekin tab bhi mere dimaag me tum aur main hi chal rahe the. Kaisa insaan hai yeh…”
Saloni — “Main aur Didi (Devika) bhi ab unke paas aa gaye the, wahi baithte hue.”
Devika — (halke muskaan ke saath) “Main unhe batane lagi ki maa-papa kya keh rahe the, kaise Deepti aunty ki awaaz aayi thi, aur kaise uncle-aunty mujhe bahut maante hain.”
Saloni didi (thoda gusse aur mamta ke mix tone me): “Par Akash, Naina… promise karo yeh baat aur kisi ko pata nahi chale.”
Naina (Saloni didi ka haath pakadte hue): “Main jis ghar ki bahu banne wali hoon, us adhikaar se vaada karti hoon — yeh baat kabhi kisi ko nahi batayenge.”
Akash (khushi se): “Bas! Ab meri wife ne keh diya toh yeh ho kar hi rahega!”
Main (uth kar thoda drama karte hue): “Yeh hai Naina Raj! Inka vachan hi samrajya ka sasan hai! Jaiii Naina mati!”
Main (andar se sochta hua): “Khair, maine toh aaj decide kar liya tha — ab meri wajah se kisi par koi dabav nahi hoga.”
Main (Naina didi se): “Di, aap na meri Saloni di ka admission apne college me karwao masters ke liye. Aur Saloni di, aapko meri kasam — aap rokengi nahi. Mujhe chahiye ki aap dono aage badho. Log uska reason mujhe maane, bas.”
Saloni didi (thoda curious hote hue): “Akash, aisa kya kiya tumne Dev ke saath? Batao.”
Akash (thoda ghabraya hua): “Maine toh… kuch bhi nahi kiya.”
Saloni (muskurate hue): “Aaj yeh Dev bilkul mere bade bhai ki tarah baatein kar raha hai.”
Main (halki si hasi ke saath): “Nahi di, mere ghar me dekha hoga… aur Devika ke ghar me bhi… log mujhse ajeeb si nafrat karte hain. Samajh nahi aata kyu. Kya unke paas rehne wale log, chahe jaankar yaa anjaane me, unke prem se baat karna, unki madad karna, unhe khush rakhna… aur unse pyaar wapas paana galat hai kya? Agar yeh galti hai, toh log mujhse nafrat sahi hi karte hain.”
(Devika aur Akash dono ka chehra neeche jhuk jaata hai.)
Main (thoda thahar kar): “Nahi Devika, Akash… yeh main tum dono se nahi keh raha. Tumhe laga hoga maine tumhara haq cheen liya… par kya aisa ho sakta hai ki kisi ke maa-baap ki jaan kisi aur ke bachche me bas jaaye? Jab bhi woh mujhse milte hain, pyaar barsa dete hain. Baaki din raat toh tumhare saath hi hain. Agar unka pyaar tum samajh nahi paaye, toh galti tumhari hai. Par main… main apni Didi ke saath yeh sab dobara nahi hone dunga.”
Main (saans theek karte hue): “Thik hai, main thik hoon. Par di, aap meri baat maanogi na?”
Saloni (pyar bhare andaaz me): “Haan baba, haan! Tu kahe main naa manun kya? Baad me mat kehna di kahan reh gayi.”
Main (hasi me): “Aap kahin bhi raho, meri aankhen CID se kam nahi — dhoondh hi lunga aapko!”
Akash (thoda muskurate hue Devika se): “Devika, mujhe maaf karna. Maine Dev ke baare me tujhe galat samjha. Mujhe laga tujhe shayad Dev pasand aa gaya.”
(Main ko tezz khaasi aa jaati hai. Sambhalte hue): “Are nahi nahi yaar Akash bhai, main aur Devika? Aisa kuch nahi hai! Yeh toh mujhe jail le jaane wali thi pehle se. Hum dono ke beech pyaar? No chance!”
Devika (hans kar): “Haan haan, aisa kuch nahi hai!”
Aaj subah ka mahaul kuch alag hi tha… ghar me shaanti thi, lekin mere dil me ek ajeeb si chubhan thi. Pata nahi kyun, par aaj mann nahi kar raha tha school jaane ka. Bahut din baad laga ke thoda break le hi lu
Main: “Didi, aap ready ho jaao. Aaj main school nahi jaa raha… aaj ghumne chalte hain, sirf main aur aap.”
Maa ne turant meri taraf dekha, thoda chinta bhara chehra tha unka, par aankhon me mamta bhi utni hi gehri thi.
Maa: “Haan beta, rehne de aaj. Waise bhi hum pehle keh rahe the thoda rest le le.”
Main muskura diya aur maa ke paas jaakar bola — “Merii pyaari mumma… aap toh mujhe bina kahe samajh jaati ho.”
Maa mere mathe par ek pyara sa pyaar deti hai, unke haath ka wo sparsh jaise saari thakaan mita gaya ho. Maa: “Mera pyara beta… jaa, kapde badal le. Phir aaram se kahin chala jaana.”
Main apne kamre me gaya, almirah kholi aur casual kapde nikaale. T-shirt aur jeans pehni, thoda perfume lagaya. Phir drawer khola, jahan mere sapno ki bike ki key rakhi thi — wo 250cc ki sports bike jo mujhe iss baar Pratap uncle ne gift ki thi. Key uthate hi chehre par ek confident si smile aa gayi.
Neeche aaya toh meri nazar sidhe Didi par gayi woh tab tak ready ho chuki thi… aur sach kahu toh ek pal ke liye main bas unhe dekhta reh gaya. Unhone light pink suit ke saath pink jeans pehni thi, baalon me halka curl tha aur halka sa perfume ki mehek pure jagah me ghul rahi thi .....
Didi ki age ab 28 ho gayi thi, par unka charm… wo elegance, abhi bhi bilkul waisa hi tha jaise pehle. Pink rang unpe aisa lag raha tha jaise unke liye hi bana ho.
Main: “Are wah didi… aaj toh aap seriously pariyo ki mallika lag rahi ho.”
Didi (halki si hansi ke saath): “Bas bas, ab chalo Mr. School Bunk Master, kahaan ghumne ka plan hai?”
Main unko lekar bike ke pass gaya aur bike start karate hue ...
Main: “Bas didi… aaj duniya ko bhool jaate hain, chalte hain kahin door. Sirf hum dono.”
Didi muskurayi, dupatta sambhalti hui mere piche baith gayi, aur main ne accelerator dabaya aur bike lekar bahar nikal gaye
Udhar scene shift
Ek dim lighted bar me Akash Raj apne doston ke saath baitha hua tha. Music halki si baj rahi thi, glasses table par line me the aur hawa me thodi si whisky ki khushboo.
Akash ne glass uthaya, ek sip me khali kar diya — Akash: “Ek aur bana yaar, 30 ml… full on the rocks.”
Bartender ne bina kuch bole glass bhara aur uske samne rakh diya. Akash ne bina dekhe phir se glass uthaya, aankhon me thodi udaasi thi aur chehre pe thoda gussa.
Uske doston — Sam, Rajiv, aur Prakash — ke chehre pe bhi wo purani dost wali tension thi.
Prakash (thoda tease karte hue): “Yaar Akash, yeh Dev toh tere life me kundali maar ke baitha hai. Tere maa baap ko nahi pata kis ki ghutti pila di usne… dono ke dono uske piche pagal hai.”
Akash ne glass table par patak kar kaha — Akash: “Haan yaar, dono ke dono andhe ho gaye hain uske piche. Ghar me agar koi meri side hai toh bas meri behan.”
Tabhi uska phone bajta hai — ringtone simple par familiar. Screen par naam blink karta hai — Devika.
Akash (thoda irritated tone me): “Haan Devu, kya hai? Raat se tu bhi call kar rahi hai, aaya nahi main toh kya kar legi?”
Akash: “Are Devu, tujhe pata hai na uss kutte Dev ki party me gaye the sab. Main kya karta akela? Jaane ka mann hi nahi tha.”
Devika: “Bhai, aisa mat bolo. Aap unse baat karke dekho, woh aapko sach bataayenge. Dev aisa nahi hai jaisa aap soch rahe ho. Bahut achha ladka hai, aapke paas uska number hai na?”
Akash ka chehra turant badal gaya, aankhon me gussa aa gaya — Akash (tez tone me): “Kyu? Tu bhi ab uske talve chaatne lagi kya? Nikal rakh phone, useless!”
Ek pal ke liye bar me sannata chha gaya.
Sam (serious tone me): “Tujhe sharam nahi aayi? Apni behen se aise baat karta hai? Kya ho gaya tujhe?”
Rajiv (halka sa muskura ke): “Chhod na yaar Sam, sahi toh keh raha hai Akash. Dev ne sabke dimaag kharab kar diye hain.”
Sam (gusse me): “Chup kar Rajiv! Tum sab chutiye ho, isko aur galat cheezon me push kar rahe ho. Main nikalta hoon yahan se.”
Sam uth kar jaane laga, tab Akash ne uska haath pakad liya aur phone uthaya. Akash (thoda regret ke saath): “Sorry Devu… mujhse galti ho gayi. Baad me baat karta hoon.”
Phone cut gaya. Sam ne kuch nahi kaha, bas jaane se pehle kaha — Sam: “Tere andar ab bhi insaaniyat bachi hai, usko marne mat dena.”
Woh chala gaya. Bar me sirf music bach gaya.
Akash ne haath me glass uthaya — Akash: “Acha chhodo yaar yeh Dev ki baatein. Batao kahin ghoomne chale?”
Prakash (muskurate hue): “Thik hai… yahan se nikalte hain. Sun, Naina ko bula le. Tera mood sahi ho jaayega.”
Rajiv: “Sahi bola, wo aayi toh sahi rahega.”
(Naina — Akash ki girlfriend hai.)
EDHAR — Dev aur Saloni Didi
Hawa me thoda thandak thi, road ke kinare pe ped ke patte hil rahe the.
Main zor se hasta hua bola — Main: “Kuch bhi uncle! Yeh meri didi hai! Gf mere jaisi ki woh enke jaise no chance ? Aap bhi na, mere jaisa ladka aur yeh…”
Saloni (ghusse me, par pyaar se): “Bas! Bahut ho gaya, chup ho jaa ab.”
Main ne unke kandhe par haath rakha — Main: “Sorry didu… ab chalo, mood kharab karne nahi aaye hain yahan.”
Hawa me ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha. Neeli pahadi ki hariyali dekhne layak thi. Pedon ke beech se dhoop ka narm sa jhilmil aata ja raha tha. Har kone me bachpan ki yaadein taazaa ho gayi thi.
Main kuch bolne hi wala tha, tabhi peeche se kisi ne zor se pukara — “Saloni… oye Saloni!”
Hum dono ne mudkar dekha.
Ek ladki hamari taraf daud kar aa rahi thi — Naina.
Naina (excited tone me): “Are Saloni! Tu yahan? Itne dino baad mil rahi hai!”
Saloni (halki hansi ke saath): “Haan yaar, ghar me busy thi. Tu bata?”
Naina: “Main toh yahi aayi hoon, Akash ne bulaya tha. Tu bhi join kar le na master ki classes humare saath , maine bhi abhi classes shuru ki hai.”
Saloni: “Are nahi yaar, jaane de. Tu bata kaise chal raha sab?”
Naina: “Sab badhiya .Are Dev, tum bhi aaye ho, maine dhyaan hi nahi diya!”
Main (thoda nakhre se): “Haan haan, ab aapko apni friend mil gayi na, mujhe kaun yaad rakhega didi?”
Naina (hasti hui, mere gaal ko pinch karte hue): “Tu toh bahut bolne lag gaya hai Dev! Pagal kahin ka… chalo, bhel khaane chalte hain.”
Saloni: “Haan, bahut din ho gaye yahan ki bhel khaye hue.”
At Bhel stall
Hum teeno pahadi ke upar chhoti si stall par gaye. Thandi hawa, chhoti kursiyan, aur samne chulhe ki mehek. Bhel banane wali aunty khushbu se hi pehchaan gayi — Aunty (muskurate hue): “Are Saloni beti! Bahut din baad. Wahi purani masala bhel bana doon?”
Saloni (excited tone me): “Haan aunty, wahi wala taste chahiye! Dev ke liye extra spicy bana dena.”
Main hansi rok kar bola — Main: “Didi, mujhe mirch se allergy hai, yaad nahi kya?”
Naina (tease karte hue): “Areee, Dev ne toh bahana bana liya, actually spice se nahi, taste se darr lagta hai!”
Hum sab hans padhe. Hawa me wo pure pahadi ka sukoon tha — ek side se mandir ki ghanti baj rahi thi, aur dusri taraf se hawayein cheekh rahi thi.
Bhel aayi, aur hum sab ek saath baithe hue — Saloni: “Pata hai Dev, main aur Naina college ke time me yahan roz aate the. Har jagah ek kahani chhupi hai.”
Main (softly): “Aur har kahani me aapka ek hissa… mujhe lagta hai yeh pahadi bhi aapko miss karti hai didi.”
Naina (halki hansi ke saath): “Aaj toh Dev philosopher ban gaya hai!”
Aaj subah ka mahaul kuch alag hi tha… ghar me shaanti thi, lekin mere dil me ek ajeeb si chubhan thi. Pata nahi kyun, par aaj mann nahi kar raha tha school jaane ka. Bahut din baad laga ke thoda break le hi lu
Main: “Didi, aap ready ho jaao. Aaj main school nahi jaa raha… aaj ghumne chalte hain, sirf main aur aap.”
Maa ne turant meri taraf dekha, thoda chinta bhara chehra tha unka, par aankhon me mamta bhi utni hi gehri thi.
Maa: “Haan beta, rehne de aaj. Waise bhi hum pehle keh rahe the thoda rest le le.”
Main muskura diya aur maa ke paas jaakar bola — “Merii pyaari mumma… aap toh mujhe bina kahe samajh jaati ho.”
Maa mere mathe par ek pyara sa pyaar deti hai, unke haath ka wo sparsh jaise saari thakaan mita gaya ho. Maa: “Mera pyara beta… jaa, kapde badal le. Phir aaram se kahin chala jaana.”
Main apne kamre me gaya, almirah kholi aur casual kapde nikaale. T-shirt aur jeans pehni, thoda perfume lagaya. Phir drawer khola, jahan mere sapno ki bike ki key rakhi thi — wo 250cc ki sports bike jo mujhe iss baar Pratap uncle ne gift ki thi. Key uthate hi chehre par ek confident si smile aa gayi.
Neeche aaya toh meri nazar sidhe Didi par gayi woh tab tak ready ho chuki thi… aur sach kahu toh ek pal ke liye main bas unhe dekhta reh gaya. Unhone light pink suit ke saath pink jeans pehni thi, baalon me halka curl tha aur halka sa perfume ki mehek pure jagah me ghul rahi thi .....
Didi ki age ab 28 ho gayi thi, par unka charm… wo elegance, abhi bhi bilkul waisa hi tha jaise pehle. Pink rang unpe aisa lag raha tha jaise unke liye hi bana ho.
Main: “Are wah didi… aaj toh aap seriously pariyo ki mallika lag rahi ho.”
Didi (halki si hansi ke saath): “Bas bas, ab chalo Mr. School Bunk Master, kahaan ghumne ka plan hai?”
Main unko lekar bike ke pass gaya aur bike start karate hue ...
Main: “Bas didi… aaj duniya ko bhool jaate hain, chalte hain kahin door. Sirf hum dono.”
Didi muskurayi, dupatta sambhalti hui mere piche baith gayi, aur main ne accelerator dabaya aur bike lekar bahar nikal gaye
Udhar scene shift
Ek dim lighted bar me Akash Raj apne doston ke saath baitha hua tha. Music halki si baj rahi thi, glasses table par line me the aur hawa me thodi si whisky ki khushboo.
Akash ne glass uthaya, ek sip me khali kar diya — Akash: “Ek aur bana yaar, 30 ml… full on the rocks.”
Bartender ne bina kuch bole glass bhara aur uske samne rakh diya. Akash ne bina dekhe phir se glass uthaya, aankhon me thodi udaasi thi aur chehre pe thoda gussa.
Uske doston — Sam, Rajiv, aur Prakash — ke chehre pe bhi wo purani dost wali tension thi.
Prakash (thoda tease karte hue): “Yaar Akash, yeh Dev toh tere life me kundali maar ke baitha hai. Tere maa baap ko nahi pata kis ki ghutti pila di usne… dono ke dono uske piche pagal hai.”
Akash ne glass table par patak kar kaha — Akash: “Haan yaar, dono ke dono andhe ho gaye hain uske piche. Ghar me agar koi meri side hai toh bas meri behan.”
Tabhi uska phone bajta hai — ringtone simple par familiar. Screen par naam blink karta hai — Devika.
Akash (thoda irritated tone me): “Haan Devu, kya hai? Raat se tu bhi call kar rahi hai, aaya nahi main toh kya kar legi?”
Akash: “Are Devu, tujhe pata hai na uss kutte Dev ki party me gaye the sab. Main kya karta akela? Jaane ka mann hi nahi tha.”
Devika: “Bhai, aisa mat bolo. Aap unse baat karke dekho, woh aapko sach bataayenge. Dev aisa nahi hai jaisa aap soch rahe ho. Bahut achha ladka hai, aapke paas uska number hai na?”
Akash ka chehra turant badal gaya, aankhon me gussa aa gaya — Akash (tez tone me): “Kyu? Tu bhi ab uske talve chaatne lagi kya? Nikal rakh phone, useless!”
Ek pal ke liye bar me sannata chha gaya.
Sam (serious tone me): “Tujhe sharam nahi aayi? Apni behen se aise baat karta hai? Kya ho gaya tujhe?”
Rajiv (halka sa muskura ke): “Chhod na yaar Sam, sahi toh keh raha hai Akash. Dev ne sabke dimaag kharab kar diye hain.”
Sam (gusse me): “Chup kar Rajiv! Tum sab chutiye ho, isko aur galat cheezon me push kar rahe ho. Main nikalta hoon yahan se.”
Sam uth kar jaane laga, tab Akash ne uska haath pakad liya aur phone uthaya. Akash (thoda regret ke saath): “Sorry Devu… mujhse galti ho gayi. Baad me baat karta hoon.”
Phone cut gaya. Sam ne kuch nahi kaha, bas jaane se pehle kaha — Sam: “Tere andar ab bhi insaaniyat bachi hai, usko marne mat dena.”
Woh chala gaya. Bar me sirf music bach gaya.
Akash ne haath me glass uthaya — Akash: “Acha chhodo yaar yeh Dev ki baatein. Batao kahin ghoomne chale?”
Prakash (muskurate hue): “Thik hai… yahan se nikalte hain. Sun, Naina ko bula le. Tera mood sahi ho jaayega.”
Rajiv: “Sahi bola, wo aayi toh sahi rahega.”
(Naina — Akash ki girlfriend hai.)
EDHAR — Dev aur Saloni Didi
Hawa me thoda thandak thi, road ke kinare pe ped ke patte hil rahe the.
Main zor se hasta hua bola — Main: “Kuch bhi uncle! Yeh meri didi hai! Gf mere jaisi ki woh enke jaise no chance ? Aap bhi na, mere jaisa ladka aur yeh…”
Saloni (ghusse me, par pyaar se): “Bas! Bahut ho gaya, chup ho jaa ab.”
Main ne unke kandhe par haath rakha — Main: “Sorry didu… ab chalo, mood kharab karne nahi aaye hain yahan.”
Hawa me ek ajeeb sa sukoon tha. Neeli pahadi ki hariyali dekhne layak thi. Pedon ke beech se dhoop ka narm sa jhilmil aata ja raha tha. Har kone me bachpan ki yaadein taazaa ho gayi thi.
Main kuch bolne hi wala tha, tabhi peeche se kisi ne zor se pukara — “Saloni… oye Saloni!”
Hum dono ne mudkar dekha.
Ek ladki hamari taraf daud kar aa rahi thi — Naina.
Naina (excited tone me): “Are Saloni! Tu yahan? Itne dino baad mil rahi hai!”
Saloni (halki hansi ke saath): “Haan yaar, ghar me busy thi. Tu bata?”
Naina: “Main toh yahi aayi hoon, Akash ne bulaya tha. Tu bhi join kar le na master ki classes humare saath , maine bhi abhi classes shuru ki hai.”
Saloni: “Are nahi yaar, jaane de. Tu bata kaise chal raha sab?”
Naina: “Sab badhiya .Are Dev, tum bhi aaye ho, maine dhyaan hi nahi diya!”
Main (thoda nakhre se): “Haan haan, ab aapko apni friend mil gayi na, mujhe kaun yaad rakhega didi?”
Naina (hasti hui, mere gaal ko pinch karte hue): “Tu toh bahut bolne lag gaya hai Dev! Pagal kahin ka… chalo, bhel khaane chalte hain.”
Saloni: “Haan, bahut din ho gaye yahan ki bhel khaye hue.”
At Bhel stall
Hum teeno pahadi ke upar chhoti si stall par gaye. Thandi hawa, chhoti kursiyan, aur samne chulhe ki mehek. Bhel banane wali aunty khushbu se hi pehchaan gayi — Aunty (muskurate hue): “Are Saloni beti! Bahut din baad. Wahi purani masala bhel bana doon?”
Saloni (excited tone me): “Haan aunty, wahi wala taste chahiye! Dev ke liye extra spicy bana dena.”
Main hansi rok kar bola — Main: “Didi, mujhe mirch se allergy hai, yaad nahi kya?”
Naina (tease karte hue): “Areee, Dev ne toh bahana bana liya, actually spice se nahi, taste se darr lagta hai!”
Hum sab hans padhe. Hawa me wo pure pahadi ka sukoon tha — ek side se mandir ki ghanti baj rahi thi, aur dusri taraf se hawayein cheekh rahi thi.
Bhel aayi, aur hum sab ek saath baithe hue — Saloni: “Pata hai Dev, main aur Naina college ke time me yahan roz aate the. Har jagah ek kahani chhupi hai.”
Main (softly): “Aur har kahani me aapka ek hissa… mujhe lagta hai yeh pahadi bhi aapko miss karti hai didi.”
Naina (halki hansi ke saath): “Aaj toh Dev philosopher ban gaya hai!”
Bhel stall
