" kahan gadda tha apne sam ko ? "
" sheher se bahar jo kabristan mein tabdeel ho chuka hai lekin tum kya soch rahe ho " amb ne soch kar jawab diya aur sawal par apni baat khatam ki.
" burai andhere jitni gehri hoti hai aur dono ka ant hamesha roshni hi karti hai " shreyas apni jagah se khada hua " uska sharir hi uski shakti hai, uske sharir ko jalana hoga "
" kya ? " amb bhi khadi hona cha rahi thi lekin ho nahi payi to shreyas ne use sahahra dete hue palang se khada kiya " ye tum kya keh rahe ho ? "
" koi aaur chhara nahi hai "
" lekin agar uske sharir ko jalana hi hota to guruji ne us waqt use jalane kyun nahi diya " nidhi sawal karti hui apni jagah se khadi hui.
" kyun ki unke liye vo zinda tha par vo hai nahi, ab vo ek aisi shaitani takat hai jiski takat uske sharir se judi hai jaise har buri shakti ki judi hoti hai "
" shreyas par guruji ne kuch to socha hi hoga " nidhi ne ek baar phir toka.
" socha hoga nidhi jarur socha hoga par guruji nahi jante ki sam kaid nahi balki mar chuka hai aur abhi hum unse nahi mil sakte, shreyas sahi keh raha hai har baar us shaitan ko unke sharir se hi haraya gaya hai, abhi tak hume yahi lag raha tha ki ye ruh khan ki hai balki aisa nahi hai, sach to kuch aur hi nikla " anshika ne apni baat mein bahut si batein spasht kar di. Baat uski bilkul theek thi, ek pal socha bhi gaya lekin tab bhi theek hi lagi.
" anshika sahi keh rahi hai, aap mujhe sam ki kabar tak le chaliye "
" mei to tumhare sath us kabristan mein dubara kadam nahi rakh sakti par han guruji ne jin do logon ko mere sath bheja tha vo tumhari madad kar denge. Chote pandit " amb ne shreyas ki taraf se nazar hatate hue pandit ki taraf ghumai to usne amb ko aage kehne se rok diya.
" pandit ramphal aur pandit dayawan dono ab hamare bich is dunia mein nahi rahe matta " chote pandit ne ek raaz vo bataya jise amb vanchit thi.
" mahadev, kab hua aisa " amb ne apne dono kaan pakad liye.
" jis raat apke sath vo hadsa hua usi raat ko " chote pandit ko aaj se pehle malum nahi tha ki unki maut ke piche ka raaz kya hai par ab jab pata chal gaya tha to vo bhi ghabrane laga tha. Wahin sab uski baat sun kar chaunke hue the.
" jarur ye kaam sam ka hi hoga, bari-bari usne hum teeno se badla liya " amb ne ankhein ghumate hue kaha.
" koi baat nahi, hum khud khoj lenge aap befikar rahiye "
" nahi.. nahi tumhe uski shakti ka andaza nahi hai harshit " amb ne hath ke ishare se samjhane ki kosish ki.
" shreyas, aur han mujhe uski shakti ka bakhubi andaza hai " shreyas ne amb se kehte hue use theek kiya.
" maaf karna, tum bilkul us jaise hi pratit hote ho " vo ek pal ke liye ruki " theek hai jaisa tum chahte ho vaisa karne ki kosish kar sakte ho, mei tab tak guruji se milne ki kosish karti hun. Chote pandit tumhare sath rahenge tumhari madad ke liye " amb ne chote pandit ki taraf dekhte hue kaha to vo han mein sar hilane ke alawa kuch aur na kar paya.
" to kab karna hai ye kaam " nidhi kuch pal ki shanti ko todte hue boli.
" aaj der raat ko " shreyas ne uske sawal ka utar diya aur sochne laga.
Jo chahte the use pana behad mushkil aur khatarnak tha, sam apne hi sharir se juda tha aur uska sharir uski shakti ka jariya tha isliye vo sabko rokne ki puri kosish karega. Pehle to shreyas ne sirf khud jane ko kaha par anshika ko akele chhodne mein khatra tha isliye ant mein faisla hua sab ek sath jayenge, ek sath rahenge aur ek sath hi vapis ayenge.
Raat ke kareeb 2:30 baj rahe the, sadkein ek dum sunsan banjara ho chuki thi. Pairon ke badhte kadmo ki awaz un logon ke dwara utpan ho rahi ek matr awaz thi. Sadak par koi roshni maujud nahi thi, badhte hue kadam ke badaulat hi ankhein aage ka rasta dikha rahi thi jitni dur vo us andhere mein dekh sakti thi uske alawa sirf andhkar tha.
" har har mahadev, har har mahadev " chote pandit ke chehre par itna jada khauf tha ki ek pal vo sans lena bhool sakte the par bhagwan ka naam lena nahi.
" chote pandit "
" aaanhhhh " shreyas ne jab uspar hath rakh kar unka naam pukara to vo ghabrate hue had-bada gaye " kya hua aap theek to hain ? " shreyas ne unke chehre par chahe dar ki aaur dekhte hue kaha.
" ji.. jii theek hun " apne aap ko sambhalte hue vo bola.
" kya mei apse ek sawal puch sakta hun "
" ji "
" us raat jab aapne amb yani amba matta ko dekha to apne kya kiya jise unki jaan bach gayi " shreyas ke sawal karte hi vo drishye chote pandit ki ankhon ke samne aa gaya vo bhi aise samay mein jisme amb chatt se chipki hui thi.
" bas amba matta ka naam pukara aur mahadev ka jaap karne laga jiske baad vo achanak se niche aa giri aur uske baad unki vo halat ho gayi thi "
" hmm, kya aap vo jaap abhi bhi karenge jab mei kahunga "
" avashye " shreyas nahi janta tha par vo to abhi bhi man hi man wahi kar raha tha.
" ek aur sawal tha man mein, ap us raat vapis kyun aye the jabki amb matlab amba mata ne to apko mana kiya tha? "
" mei to unhe bas batane aya tha ki mene unka khat pahuncha diya hai "
" par apko hamara pata kaise mila ? "
" jab apke dilli wale ghar gaya to wahan mujhe ek chaukidar mila tha jisne kaha tha yahan se pehle jo rehte the vo chhod kar jaa chuke hai par shayad vo meri baat ka mehtav samajh sakta tha isliye usne mujhe kaha ki uske pas ek sahab ka number hai jinhone ye ghar becha tha lekin vo use mil nahi raha tha "
" fir ? "
" ab itni badi dunia mein ye khojna to asan nahi tha isliye bholenath par hum ye karye chhod kar vapis aa gaye. Par jaise hi aye hume us chaukidar ka phone aya jisne vo number khoj liya tha. Bas yahi baat hum din mein amba matta ko batane aye the lekin unhone humari baat puri nahi suni "
" number se kaise khoja ? "
" janne walle ka koi sarkari daftar mein hai unhone number se us ki puri jankari niklwa li jisme uska naam pata sab kuch tha "
" Dhruv kya yahi naam tha? " shreyas ne sunne ke baad kuch sochkar naam liya. Pandit naam sun kar sochne laga aur agle pal use yaad aa gaya " han yahi naam tha, hume laga vo isi ghar mein rehte the tabhi becha hoga to jo mata ne khat bheja hai vo usi se hi rishta rakhta hoga aur yahi puchne ke liye hum us raat mata ke pass aye the lekin mata us din ke baad kuch bol hi na saki isliye ek din humne usi pata par vo khat bhej diya bhale hi is baat ko hum nahi jante the ki humara bheja hua khat sahi jagah pahuncha hai ya nahi. Uske baad waqt yun hi beet gaya, amba matta ne jo kaam hume saunpa tha vo humne pura kar diya tha ab vo kitna sahi tha kitna nahi vo hume aaj hi pata chala " pandit itni safai se baat bata raha tha ki vo us waqt ye bhool gaye ki vo kahan jaa rahe hain aur kis samay jaa rahe hain. Dar uske chehre par tab aya jab unhone awaz suni.
" lagta hai pahunch gaye hum " nidhi ne kaha jo anshika ke sath ek jagah khadi thi. Shreyas bhi usi taraf dekh raha tha, andhera hi andhera tha aur uske sath behti hui vo hawa jo khule kabristan mein maujud thi. Dar ki ek lehar sabhi ke sharir mein dhadakne lagi.
" hari om, hari om, bholenath " pandit ne mushkil se thuk andar kiya. Shreyas bhi ghabraya hua tha, vo janta tha jitna asan uska kehna tha use kahin jada himmat chahie thi lekin jab usne anshika ki taraf dekha to sab kuch bhool gaya. Usne dimag mein pehle se hi sab kuch tayar kar rakha tha.
" theek hai to mei andar jaunga aur sirf mei hi andar jaunga " shreyas ki baat anshika ko hairan kar dene wali lagi aur nidhi ne bhi uska samarthan kiya.
" nahi shreyas tum akele kaise "
" anshika mene har baar tumhari baat mani hai lekin abhi nahi, koi nahi janta ki tumhare uppar kis tarah ka prakop hai aur kisi ko le jakar mei uski zindagi khatre mein nahi daal sakta " shreyas ka matlab ant tak atte atte nidhi par ja pahuncha tha " aur vaise bhi mei chahta hun tum anshika ke sath raho " usne nidhi se kaha aur phir chote pandit ki taraf dekha, to pandit ko laga ki vo use apne sath chalne ke liye kahega.
" mei andar nai jaa sakta beta, adharam ho jayega " vo shreyas se pehle hi bol utha.
" nahi panditji apko mere sath nahi ana, bas mera vo kaam karna hai jo mene abhi apko kaha tha, aap abhi wahi jaap hamare liye karenge jo aapne us raat kiya tha " shreyas ki baat sunte hi pandit ne chain ki sans bhari aur han mein sar hila diya.
" theek hai, dekho kabristan badha hai aur mei nahi janta use kis jagah gadda gaya hai to ho sakta hai mei tumhari ankhon se ojhal ho jaun lekin " anshika ko usne sawal karta dekha to usne use ishare se puri baat sunne ko kaha " andhera bahut jada hai aur mei uska fayda uthaunga jaise hi mei torch ko wave karun to samjhna ki hume kuch mila hai ya phir nahi mila aur mei vapis aa raha hun " shreyas ne torch ko wave karke unhe dikhaya " aur agar mei torch ko on off karun to samjhna kuch gadbad hai aur tum sab yahan se dur ho jaoge lekin panditji aap apne mantr chalu rakhenge taki us shakti se bachne mein asani ho " shreyas ne usi tarah dikhate hue torch band karke pocket mein dal di.
" lekin shreyas agar kuch galat hua to hum to bahar nahi khade reh sakte na ye tum kya keh rahe ho " anshika ghabarahat mein boli
" anshika sahi keh rahi hai shreyas, ye kabristan hai bhulo mat yahan par har tarah ke insano ko dafnaya jatta hai " nidhi shreyas ka koi jawab deta use pehle.
' aaaaauunnnnnnnnnnnnnnn-nnnnnnnnnn ' na jane kahan se kutte ke rone ki awaz us mahol ko aur darwana bana gayi. Shreyas vaise hi sabhi ke ghabraye hue chehron ko samjhane ki kosish kar raha tha uppar se ye awaz bata rahi thi jaise dar ko bhulana mat vo tumhare sath har kadam par hai.
" shreyas tum akele nahi jaaoge "
" anshika mei akele nahi jaunga, mere sath tumhare bholenath ki kripa rahegi, panditji " shreyas ne pandit ko awaz lagai to use yaad aya ki shreyas ne rudraksh ki mala mangwai thi. Pandit ne nikali aur uspar ek path karte hue shreyas ke hath mein de di. Shreyas ne use apni kalai par bandh liya.
" befikar raho kuch nahi hoga " shreyas ne anshika ka hath majbuti se pakda aur uski taraf dekhte hue chhod kar saman utha liya. Anshika ki ankhein ghabrai hui thi aur unme pada ansu bhi gahbrate hue ankhon mein hil raha tha.
" dhayan se... " halki awaz mein anshika bas use yahi keh payi aur shreyas ne apne kadam utha kar kabristan mein rakh diye. Kadam rakhte hi kabristan ki khamoshi jaise uske kano ko chhute hue nikli. Hawa ko koi dekh nahi sakta lekin na jane kyun kabristan ki hawa jaise use behti hui dikhai de rahi thi. Har taraf kabar hi kabar thi, dil mein koi dar na ho to bhi mahol aisa darwana tha jo dehshat lane ke liye kafi tha. Shreyas ne ek baar piche dekha, nidhi ne anshika ka hath pakda hua tha aur anshika ki nazar shreyas par hi thi.
" har-har mahadev " shreyas ne beshak halki awaz mein naam liya par vo ache se janta tha ki isi shakti ke badaulat uska pyar zinda tha. Usne pocket se torch nikali aur use jala kar dhire-dhire aage badhne laga aur sabse dur jane laga.
Usne ruk-ruk kar ache se sabhi kabar par likhe naam ko pada lekin abhi tak use sam ki kabar nahi dikhi thi. Hawa ki chadar har badhte kadam ke sath moti hoti jaa rahi thi, itni jada khamoshi thi ki behti awaz mei bhi awaz thi. Use har dum aisa lagta mano koi piche-piche uske chalte hue najdeek aa raha ho lekin vo ek baar bhi piche nahi mudda. Dil itna zoron se dhadak raha tha ki uski wajah se mathe par aya pasina behte hue niche ane lagta.
Vo ek-ek karte hue naam padh raha tha aur aage badh raha tha, ab vo itni dur nikal gaya tha ki piche khade teeno ki nazron se ojhal ho chuka tha lekin andhere mein jalti torch ki ek matr roshni se andaza lagaya ja sakta tha ki vo kis disha ki aaur badh raha hai. Achanak shreyas ke kadam ek jagah jakar ruke, usne roshni se pathar ki aaur dhayan se dekha.
" Sam " usne naam ko man mein liya jiske sath uska janam aur maran din likha hua tha. Vo jo dhund raha tha use mil chuka tha. Kabar milte hi shreyas ne gale se thuk niche utara aur uske pass ja khada hua. Zameen se kuch foot uppar pathar ki chadar bichai gayi thi. Abhi tak shreyas ko kuch bhi aisa mehsus nahi hua tha jise lage ki vo shakti use rok rahi hai jo bhi dar ya khauf tha man mein vo sirf kabristan mein hone ka abhas tha.
Shreyas ne torch band ki aur anshika nidhi ko jo ek matr roshni ati nazar aa rahi thi vo bhi andhkar mein kho gayi. Vakai bahut hi jada andhera tha mano chand ki roshni bhi kabristan ko vanchit rakhti ho aur aisi jagah mein vo itni raat ko aa khada hua tha ye jante hue bhi ki vo unka ghar hai jahan bina unki izazt ke koi kadam nahi rakhta.
Shreyas apne sath ek bada hathoda aur favda lekar aya tha. Usne favda niche rakha aur ' hari-om ' bolte hue hathode ko utha kar kabar par de mara. ' khaaaatttttttt '
Hatode ki maar padte hi kabar par darar padne lagi aur shor gunj utha jiski awaz anshika tak aa pahunchi.
" use kabar mil gayi " vo bud-budai lekin itni shanti mein nidhi aur pandit dono ne suni joki kabristan se ati awaz ko sun kar samajh chuke the.
Shreyas ne vapis hatoda uthaya aur niche de mara, darar thodi badi hui aur phir ek-ke baad ek shreyas kabar ke alag-alag hisson par hatoda marta chala gaya. Chehra pura pasine se tar-batar ho chuka tha isi mein usne apni palkon par aye pasine ko pocha aur hatoda utha kar kabar par mara to vo chatak kar alag ho gayi. Usne hatoda choda aur ek ek kar pathar ko hatate hue parat par sirf mitti chhod di jiske niche sam ki laash hone wali thi. Ek pal vo ruk kar sans lene laga jo ki kafi ukhdi hui thi, usko apni pith par bhi dard ho raha tha par jada samay kharab na karte hue usne favda uthaya aur mitti par de mara ' kaacchhhhhhhhhhh ' mitti se favda laga to ek awaz phir uske kano mein padi aur jaise vo awaz wahan bas gayi. Alag-alag jagah se vo khodta gaya aur kuch der mein usne gehra gadda kar liya tha. Kapde aur chehre par mitti lag chuki thi aur vo adha us kabar ke andar khada tha, sansein chadi hui thi lekin kaam abhi adhura tha. Usne ek baar phir favda mara aur uspar mitti ikhati karke bahar fainki.
" kitni nee...che hai " hanfte hue usne khud se sawal kiya aur ghutne par hath rakh kar khada ho gaya. Pasina uske sharir se tapkta hua kabar ki mitti ko gili karne laga. " aouuffffffff " sans chodte hue usne phir khodna shuru kiya aur kuch der tak vo khodta raha aur ab vo gadda lagbhag uski lambai jitna gehra ho chuka tha jise dekh uske man mein shanka badhne lagi " itna gehra gadha to koi nahi karta, kuch gadbad hai " vo zor-zor se hanf raha tha tabhi ek behti hui hawa uske sharir ko chhute hue nikli aur ek kanpan uske purre sharir mein daud padi.
" uska sharir isme hai hi nahi " abhi sochne ka waqt nahi tha aur sabko sachet karna jaruri tha. Shreyas ne fauran torch ki aaur nazar dali jo usne wahin kahin chhodi thi agle hi pal uski nazar uspar gayi jise dekhte hi vo bahar ane laga. Abhi vo bahar ata use pehle vo torch apne aap jal gayi aur jalte sath hi vo on/off hone lagi. Shreyas ki ankhein hairani mein badi ho gayi vo fauran torch ki aaur bada.
" torch on off ho rahi hai nidhi " anshika itne andhere mein jal bujh rahi light ko dekhte hi boli, nidhi bhi usi pal ko dekh rahi thi. Pandit ne jaise hi ye dekha usne apna jaap karna shuru kar diya. " shreyas musibat mei hai, mujhe uske pas jana hoga " anshika jaise tayar hi thi andar jane ke liye par nidhi ne fauran uski kalai pakad li.
" nahi anshika tum nahi jaa sakti "
" kya bol rahi ho nidhi, shreyas musibat mein hai bhul gayi usi ne kaha tha ki "
" janti hun " nidhi ne anshika ko bich mein roka " par anshika tum nahi jaa sakti vo bhi uski jagah socho kahin agar tum " nidhi jo kehna chahti thi vo nahi keh paa rahi thi par anshika samajh gayi ki vo uski shaitani anguthi ki baat kar rahi hai " mei jati hun shreyas ke pass "
" par tum "
" kuch nahi hoga mujhe chinta mat karo aur na hi shreyas ko, tum bas panditji ke sath raho mei shreyas ko lekar laut rahi hun, promise tum andar nahi aaogi chahe kuch bhi ho jaye " nidhi ne anshika ka hath chhoda aur vo tezz kadmo se andar ki aaur badh chali.
" nidhi dhayan rakhna " anshika ka dil zoron se dhadak raha tha, uski bechaini is kadar badh gayi thi ki uski sansein sirf sans lene mein hi fulne lagi thi ' jai mata di jai mata di ' usne apne hath jod liye aur udhar pandit rudraksh ki mala ko liye ek-ek rudraksh ko ungliyun ke niche dabaye mahadev ka jaap kar raha tha, dar aur khauf uske mathe se fisalta hua niche ane laga.
Shreyas torch ko band karne ki kosish kar raha tha lekin vo bar-bar band khul ho rahi thi, akhir jab vo band nahi hui to usne yahan se hi jane ka faisla kiya. Abhi usne socha hi tha ki use apni aaur hawa ke sath kuch aur ata hua mehsus hua. Usne fauran apne badhte hue dil ki dhadkno ke sath torch ko samne ki taraf kiya taki samne se atti chiz ko dekh sake lekin usi pal torch band ho gayi. " abhi tak jal bujh rahi thi " usne band khol karna cha lekin vo band hi padi rahi aur vo chiz bilkul uske najdeek aati jaa rahi thi yahi soch shreyas ki bechaini badhne lagi, vo torch par zor-zor se marte hue use chalu karne ki kosish karne laga aur tabhi
" shreyas " awaz sunte hi vo ghabra gaya aur torch uske hath se niche gir gayi. Usne apni nazre samne ki " nidhi.. tum yahan " nidhi uske samne andhere se bahar atti dikhi.
" han shreyas vo tumhari torch ki light on off ho rahi thi isliye dar ke marre anshika yahan ane wali thi par mene kisi tarah use roka "
" nahi nidhi use mene nahi kiya vo apne aap ho rahi thi aur abhi on hi nahi ho rahi " shreyas ne torch ki taraf ishara kiya to vo ek dum se jal gayi aur dono ghabrate hue ek-ek kadam piche ho gaye.
" jab tumne nahi to ki to apne aap kaise " kehte hue uski nazar khudi hui kabar par gayi.
" kuch nahi hai nidhi uski kabar mein kuch nahi hai vo kabar khali hai " shreyas ne usko kabar ki taraf dekhte hue paya to vo bol pada.
" yani sam ki lash uski kabar mein nahi hai " nidhi fauran bol padi.
" nahi..... " shreyas thodi unchi awaz mein bola to nidhi ghabra kar uski taraf dekhne lagi " nahi nidhi naam mat lo uska, shaitani shakti ka naam uske ghar par nahi lena chahie "
" kk..k.yaa " nidhi hadh se jada ghabra gayi.
" uski maujudgi wahan khinchi chali ati hai, hume aur nahi rukna chahie jaldi chalo " shreyas ne nidhi ka hath pakda aur jald se jald vahan se use le jane laga. Vo kuch hi kadam aage badha tha ki piche se hawa ke jhonke ne dono ko hi dara dia ' huuuhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ' hawa jaise kuch kehna cha rahi ho dono se. Nidhi ke baal hawa mein piche se ud gaye aur shreyas ka santulan bigad gaya.
" nidhi jaldi " dono ruke jarur the lekin shreyas nahi muda par nidhi mudh gayi aur uska hath shreyas se chhut gaya. Hath alag hote hi shreyas fauran nidhi ki taraf palta aur usi waqt vo jaise hi uska hath pakdne gaya achanak se nidhi ka per ek adrishye shakti ne khincha aur vo niche gir gayi.
" aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh " nidhi cheekhi aur shreyas ne jo hath aage badhaya tha use pakadne ke liye vo hawa mein hi nikal gaya sab kuch ek hi pal mein ho gaya tha.
Nidhi jaise hi zameen par giri us shakti ne use ghasit liya jise nidhi fisalti hui shreyas ki nazar se dur ho gayi. Shreyas uski taraf badh kar use pakdta use pehle nidhi ka sharir fisalta hua usi kabar mein ja gira jahan shreyas ne khoda tha. " nidhii... " cheekhte hue shreyas us taraf badhta use pehle jitni mitti usne khodi thi vo kabar mein bharne lagi aur jab tak shreyas kabar tak aya tab tak kabar mitti se bhar gayi aur nidhi uske andar sama gayi.
" nidddhiiiiiiiiii " shreyas kabar ki mitti ko hathon se hatate hue chillaya.