Agli subah pandey ke sath raat wala officer khada tha aur sarre kaidi unhi ki taraf khade the. Pandey ne darwaje ke piche jhanka to vahan use dekh kar pata chal gaya ki shelf tut kar gate ke piche gira pada hai.
" kaise gira ye ? " pandey gusse mein bola.
" pata nahi sahab, kal raat apne aap gir gaya "
" bhumanp aya tha kya kal betichod jo apne aap gir gaya " uski awaz gunji.
" vo chuhe sahab, chuhe bahut hai na jane kab se kaat rahe honge isliye gir gaya " officer sochte hue bola.
" madarchod aaj tak to kabhi kuch gira nahi, ab iska nuksan mere sar padega aur gali padegi vo alag " pandey bol kar chup hua ki uski nazar kunde par gayi. " ab ye kaise tuta ? "
" pata nahi sahab "
" ise bhi chuhe ne kutra hoga bhosdi walle bol de " pandey chillaya.
" ho sakta hai sahab kal raat ka dabab gate par pada aur kunda nikal gaya itna purana jo hai " vo darte hue jawab de raha tha.
" purana to tu bhi hai madarchod tu kyun nahi gir jata " zameen par thukte hue bola " gand lag jayegi meri sala " vo soch raha tha ki akshad bol pada.
" mei theek kar sakta hun agar apki izazt ho to uske baad tala laga dena pata hi nahi chalega bas kuch auzar ki jarurat padegi " kaidyun ke bich mein se akshad bola.
" han taki tu us auzar se mera katal kar de haina ? "
" mei kunde ki nahi library ki baat kar raha hun. Kunda to theek ho hi jayega pandeyji " akshad ki baat sahi thi. Pandey sochne laga, kunda to vo khud apne samne theek karwa lega lekin andar jo kand hua hai uske liye andar ka hi admi chahie tha taki kisi ko bhanak na lage ki library usne bina kisi izazt ke khulwaya hai.
" theek hai lekin yaad rahe char din hai tere pas uske baad inspection ke liye bade afsar ayenge, use pehle ho jana chahie " pandey ki baat par hami bharte hue akshad apne cell mein chala gaya. Thodi der baad pandey uske cell ke samne aa kahda hua.
" ek baat bata tu itni mehnat kyun kar raha hai "
" mei apki nahi apni kar raha hun " akshad ne uski ankhon mein dekhte hue kaha.
" matlab ? "
" padne ka shauk raha hai aur itihas mera favorite hai "
" tum bade log kitne madarjat hote ho, dunia ke liye vo kya kehte hain ... jane de jo bhi hai hai aur pith piche ye drugs ka dhanda, apni chinnal ko bhi bechta hai kya?" vo muskurate hue bola. Akshad ek pal use dekhta raha phir apni jagah par baith gaya.
" dhande mein sab chinnal hote hain pandeyji "
" hmm, akele kar lega ye kaam tu ? " uska ishara andar tha.
" jab kisi ki jarurat hogi to bata dunga " pandey ek pal use dekhta raha phir wahan se nikal gaya. Dophar ka khana kar akshad ne khane ki plate apne kapdon ke niche fansai aur library ki taraf badha. Gate kafi kam khul raha tha lekin vo usme se kisi tarah ghus gaya. Shelf bilkul usi tarah giri hui thi jaisa use andaza tha. Vo deewar se satte hue bachte bachate nikal kar shelf ke samne jaa khada hua aur giri hui shelf ko dekhne laga, kitabein bikhar kar felh gayi thi.
Samay kam bacha tha isliye usne step by step kaam shuru kiya. Panch se che books ko ek ke uppar ek rakha aur utha kar kamre ke dusre chor yani ant mein deewar ke samne rakhne laga. Takreeban do ghante bhar ki mehnat ke baad usne deewar ke sahare shelf ki kafi books laga di. Jiske baad zameen par shelf girne se jo tuti hui lakdi padi thi unhe vahan rakhna shuru kiya jis raste se vo abhi andar ghusa tha. Itna karne ke baad usne ek lakdi aur kuch keel uthai jo lakdi tutne par usme se nikal gayi thi aur piche aa gaya. Deewar ke kone par usne L shape mein books ka ek bankar bana liya aur uske andar baithte sath usne deewar par ek keel rakh kar uspar lakdi ka fatta de mara. Books se jo usne bankar banaya tha uska bas yahi fayda tha ki vo jo bhi shor karega uski awaz uske andar dab jaye aur bahar tak na pahunche.
Keel deewar mein ched karte hue ghus gayi, akshad ne phir dubara mara phir vo thodi andar gayi lekin phir vo ruk gayi. Usne kafi kosish ki lekin vo nahi gayi. Usne dusri keel li aur is baar vahan thoka jis jagah chuhon ne ched banaya hua tha theek uski hi sidh mein lekin niche ki taraf aur is baar keel ghusne lagi aur puri ghus gayi. Ye sahi jagah thi todne ki usne lakdi ka fatta vapis rakha aur plate uthai. Is baar shor jada hona tha. Usne plate ka kona deewar par de mara aur jise uski parat halki si tut kar giri aur mitti jhadne lagi. Jaisi umeed thi yahan se deewar kamjor hai, vo ek pal ruka aur jo usne shor kiya tha uska jayza lene laga lekin koi halchal nahi hui. Ek baar usne uppar ki taraf dekha jahan se vo us paar dekhna chahta tha lekin vo kaam mumkin nahi tha kyun ki uski unchai kafi jada thi.
Usne wahan se dhayan hataya aur plate deewar par de mari, ek pal vo ruka aur phir jayza lene laga. Vo deewar par kiye jane har hamle ke baad ruk raha tha, ye kaam sabse jada savdhani wala tha kyun ki zara sa bhi shak uske sarre khel ko kharab kar sakta tha. Takreeban char se panch ghante vo vahan yahi kaam karta raha bich-bich mein officer gate par se chillata aur akshad hath mein books lekar use rakhne ki acting karte hue jawab de deta.
Usne deewar ki uppar parat kafi hadh tak utar di thi. Uske hath thakne lage the lekin vo phir bhi ruka nahi tha. Ek dafa apne hath dekhte hue vo ruka, uspar alag-alag jagah se cut padh chuka tha phir dhayan hata kar deewar todne laga aur eka ek use lakdiyun par kisi ke per padne ki awaz sunai di jo usne shelf ke piche bekhairi thi aur isliye hi bikhairi thi taki koi aye to use pata chal jaye. Vo fauran apni jagah se khada hua, plate vapis kapdon ke piche dali aur apna banaya bunker kharab karke use deewar ke sahare lagana shuru kar diya. Vo kadam uske kareeb pahunchte ise pehle usne deewar ke aage books laga kar cover kar diya.
" mehnat to tu bahut kar raha hai " awaz pandey ki thi jise sun akshad samajh gaya. " lekin kitabein baad mein bhi padh sakta hai " Akshad book ke dher ke uppar ek kitab rakh kar padh raha tha.
" apko pata hai angrezo ne hindustan par itne lambe arse tak raaz kaise kiya ? " usne ghum kar sawal kiya.
" unke tatton ko sone ki khusbu jo mil gayi thi " vo hans pada.
" kyun ki unhe pata tha hindustaniyun ki jebein kaise garam karni hai " akshad ka jawab tha ya tanna ek pal pandey use dekhta raha lekin bola kuch nahi.
" ye yahan kya kar raha hai ? " akshad ne uski nazron ka picha kiya to vo lakdi ka fatta wahin pada tha. Ek pal akshad use dekhta raha " chuhe sahab chuhe, unhe bhagane ke liye rakha hai " use ab man mein chinta satane lagi ki kahin pandey uppar na dekh le. Isliye vo fatta utha kar khud wahan se chal diya. Pandey wahan khada reh kar ek pal idhar udhar dekhta hua nazrein uppar uthane hi wala tha ki akshad ki awaz ne uska dhayan uski taraf ghuma dia.
" ek pencil milegi " pandey akshad ke pass aya.
" itni mehnat kar raha hai kuch to jugad iska bhi kar hi dunga, jaldi khatam ho jana chahie " bol kar pandey wahan se nikal gaya. Akshad ne gehri sans khinchi use ye samajh aa gaya ki uska dhayan bahar ki taraf bhi hona chahie varna koi na koi idhar aa hi dhamkega aur agar har baar usne mujhe ek hi jahag par dekha to gadbad ho jayegi. Usne samay ka andaza nahi lag paa raha tha isliye dikkat ho rahi thi, vo deewar ko bahar se chil kar ento tak to pahunch gaya tha par ab use thodi dikkat hone lagi thi. Use apni plate ka bhi pura dhayan rakhna tha kyun ki agar uski shape bigadti to dikat ho jati isliye bich bich mein vo mug se nikala handle usko istemal karte hue khodne laga jise uska kaam ban raha tha.
Kafi der tak kaam karne ke baad jab use laga ki uska time pura hone wala hai to vo fauran vahan se nikla, mitti bahut jada ho gayi thi jise usne apne pairon se ek jagah ikhata kiya aur vahan book rakhni shuru kar di aur agle das minute mein bilkul waisa kar diya jaisa vahan kuch hua na ho. Usne apne hath saaf kiye aur bahar ane se pehle tuti lakdi ki mithi haathon par lagali taki bahar kis ko shak na ho. Vo bahar nikla sabne uski taraf dekha lekin usne kisi ki taraf ankh nahi uthai. Vo bas apna hath jhadta hua apne cell mein pahuncha, apne hath muh ko dhoya jo pasine aur lakdi ki mitti se sanne hue the aur mauka dekhte hue plate nikal kar takiye ke niche dal di jise vo khane se pehle dhone wala tha kyun ki us waqt sab line mein lage hote hain aur dhayan kam jata hai.
Theek aath baje light band hui par akshad apne cell use pehle hi so chuka tha. Agle din phir usne wahi kiya lekin aaj savdhani rakh kar, vo bich bich mein enton ko todta aur uth kar apna kaam bhi karta isliye kal ke mukable aaj kaam ki gatti dhimi thi. Uske pas samay kam tha lekin savdhani rakhna behad jaruri thi isliye aaj ke din mein ek bhi ent nikal nahi payi thi. Dusra din khatam ho chuka tha ab sirf do din reh gaye the.
Tisre din vo adhi ent tod chuka tha lekin uske aage ek aur samsya aa khadi hui thi, mitti itni jada ho gayi thi ki use ab chupana mushkil tha jiske liye use ek tarkib nikalni thi. Vo shelf ke pass kahda book khojne laga aur kuch der ki mehnat ke baad kitab mil hi gayi jaisi use chahie thi. Purane jamane mein kai kitab aisi hoti thi jiske andar se agar panne hata diye jaye to use ek gathhe ka khali box banya jaa sakta tha. Vo ek dharmik kitab thi, usne ek pal ishwar se mafi mangi aur ant mein uske panne faad kar bahar nikal diye. Par usne panne aise fadde taki uski lekhan kharab na ho isliye usne alag-alag hisson mein un kagaz ko kai books ke niche daba diya. Usne book ka cover uthaya jo bahar se hi kafi majbut aur bhari tha aur mitti ko usme bharna shuru kar diya aur bahar nikalne se pehle usne adhi ent tak tod diya tha. Vo usi routine ke sath bahar nikla aur roz ki tarah hath muh dho kar khane ke baad liat gaya.
Raat ko sote waqt vo bas itna hi soch raha tha ki uske pas ab sirf ek hi din bacha haia jiske baad use dubara mauka nahi milne wala tha. Kal ka din uske liye behad eham din hone wala tha aur har haal mein use apna kaam pura karna tha.
Ent par plate se thokte thokte ab to plate ke charon taraf ki shape badal chuki thi lekin usne aaj parwah nahi ki aur marta raha aur tabhi ent tut kar piche gir gayi. Akshad ki mehnat safal ho gayi, jaisa usne socha tha vaisa hi hua. Vo vahan se piche dekhne laga par andhera jada tha isliye samajh nahi aya. Ab use baki ki itni ent hatani thi ki vo andar asani se ghus sake. Ek ent nikalte hi baki kamjor ho gayi jisme use jada mehnat nahi karni padi aur vo jaldi hi tod kar bikhar gayi jiske baad uske samne ek choti si jagah ban gayi jahan se nikal kar us paar jaya jaa sakta tha. Usne tuti hui entein dusri jagah faink di aur baki ki mitti utha kar book mein bhar kar banaye hue ched ke aage book laga di jaisa vo roz karta tha. Usne book uthai jisme mitti bhari thi aur jahan se shelf ka payan tuta tha wahan lakar rakh di. Ab akhri kaam karna tha, shelf se sari book vo hata kar piche rakh chuka tha ab ye shelf sidhi karwani thi jiske liye use bahar se madad chahie thi. Usne ek patli kitab apne kapdon ke andar fansayi aur phir bahar awaz lagai.
" pandeyji do admi bhej do to ye uthwa de " akshad ki awaz sun pandey ne apne do hawaldaron ko bhej diya vo kisi aur ko bhej kar tamasha nahi karna chahta tha. Vo dono hawaldar andar aye aur akshad ki madad karne lage. Teeno ne mil kar shelf uthai aur use uthate hue khada kar diya, jiske khade hote hi vo sidhi khadi ho gayi. Pandey usi waqt andar aya.
" wah bhai.. kaam to tune chokas kiya hai, par ye khadi kaise hui, iska payan to tut gaya tha "
" jarurat ki chizen yahin hai usi ki istemal kiya " akshad ne ishara se dikhaya. Jahan par shelf ka paya hona chahie tha vahan usne vo kitab rakh di thi jisme usne mitti bhari thi.
" dimag to hai tere mein lekin yahan ki kitabein, unka kya hua "
" vo ache se piche rakh di hai aap chahe to dekh sakte hain " akshad ne jaan kar kaha kyun ki vo janta tha pandey ka jawab kya hoga.
" jane de tera kaam sahi hi kiya hoga, phir bhi hawaldar jakar tu dekh aa sab sahi hai ya nahi " akshad ko is baat ki umid nahi thi aur vo hawaldar ko vahan se jata dekhta raha.
" oye.. " pandey ne teen-char awaz lagane ke baad akshad ko hosh aya " thodi der pehle karke deta to iski kundi theek karwata ab kal subah karwani padegi " itne mein hawaldar vapis aa gaya. Akshad ne uski taraf nazar ki vo shant khada tha. " bol bhi ab " pandey bol pada.
" ji theek hai sahab sab " akshad ne sunte hi rahat bhari sans li aur vo iske aage bina kuch sune vahan se nikal gaya. Cell mein ghus kar hath muh dhone ke baad vo apni plate nikalne laga aur tabhi piche se pandey ki awaz ayi aur use apni galti ka ehsas hua.
" kya kar raha hai ? " pandey bhanp chuka tha. Akshad ghum kar uski taraf dekhne laga " hath bahar nikal " pandey ek dum chaukna hua. Akshad ne ek pal use dekha aur phir hath bahar nikala, uske hath mein kitab dekh pandey muskura diya. " ye le " usne ek pencil penki " ise kaam chal jayega " akshad ne hami bhari aur pandey chala gaya. Akshad ne uske jatte hi book ke sath plate bhi takiye ke niche khiska di jiske baad raat mein pehra dene wala officer mere cell ke bahar aa khada hua.
" kaam to tune sahi kiya, varna pandey sahab meri laga dete "
" farz tha mera " akshad bas itna hi bola.
" tujhe kuch batana hai jo mei pandey se sun kar aya hun "
" kya "
" usko bolna mat ki mene bataya hai "
" bilkul nahi "
" mei janta hun tu kya de raha hai use "
" kaho to apko " akshad ne bolna cha par usne bich mein rok diya.
" jarurat nahi, vaise bhi in sab mamlon mein fasne ka nahi mere ko "
" to kya baat suni ? " akshad mudde par aya.
" pandey keh raha tha ki parso tumhari peshi hai lekin hum log kaidyun ko nahi batate kyun ki yahan se pandey kisi ko janne nahi deta aur vo tujhe to bilkul nahi. Uske liye tu sone ki chidiya hai isliye teri file mein maar-peet ka ilzam laga kar teri peshi khariz karwa dega "
" hmm " akshad is baat ko pehle se janta tha ki pandey jaisa harami kabhi use nikalne nahi dega, vaise bhi vo is chiz ki tayari kar chuka tha " apke liye kuch hai, light band karte waqt ana " akshad ki baat sun kar vo vahan se chala gaya.
Uske jatte hi akshad ne pandey ki di hui pencil uthai aur use mug ke handle se chillne laga aur kuch hi der mein uski led bahar nikal di. Led ko usne zameen par rakha aur pees kar uska chura kar diya aur bachi hui pencil ko pot ke andar dal diya. Ab bas raat ke khane ka intezar tha jo kuch hi der mein aa gaya. Akshad ne khana liya, khana dalte hue ek ki nazar uski plate par gayi jo kafi kharab dikh rahi thi lekin vo kuch nahi bola. Khana lekar akshad cell mein aya aur khane mein apni pisi hui led mila kar khana khane laga, bich-bich mein ubkai ati lekin use kisi tarah khana hi tha.
Time hote hi sabhi ke cell par officer tala lagane laga lekin akshad ke cell par tala lagane se pehle usne light band ki aur phir akshad ke pas aya. Akshad use dekhte hi khada hua.
" ab bol kya dena tha tujhe " tala lagane ke liye usne kunda dala. Akshad ne turant patli book nikal kar uske aage kar di. " ye kya hai ? " kunda chhod vo hairnai mein use dekhta hua bola.
" jawani hai isme, itihas ki " vo fusfusate hue bola " vo bhi angrezi. Ye sun kar officer use dekhta raha, akshad ko laga ki vo shayad lega nahi par agle hi pal usne use pakad liya. " subah hone se pehle de jana kisi ko nahi pata chalega, apne liye laya tha lekin pandey ki baat bata kar jo ehsan kiya uske liye ye to choti si baat hai vaise bhi aur bhi hai andar roz lakar dunga, lena raat mein maze kab tak hum haramiyun ke chehre dekhoge " officer muskuraya aur bina kuch bole kitab lekar vahan se chala gaya bina salkhon par tala lagaye. Akshad uske jatte hi vahan lait gaya aur sochne laga.
Insan ki kamjori aur uski takat sab samne tabhi ati hai jab usko uske hi mayajal mein fansaya jaye. Vikrant sahi kehta tha hum insan vahi dekhte hain jo dikhaya jata hai. Sochte hue usne ankhein band ki lekin vo soya nahi aur kuch der baad jab sab so gaye tab usne apni ankhein kholi aur sanate ko mehsus karte hue khada ho gaya. Usne apni salakhon ki kundi kholi aur bahar nikal kar dabe paun library ki taraf badha jiska darwaja pehle se hi halka khula tha usne halka sa khola aur andar ghus gaya.