Short Stories | افسانے


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YaadoN Ke Meenaar
YAADON KE MEENAAR

raat ke gh`angh`or aNdh`ere meN Ghurratee, gaRgaRaatee aur seeTee bajaatee train apnee manzil-e-maqSood kee t^araf bh`aagee jaa rahee th`ee. kh`aTaa-kh`aT! kh`aTaa-kh`aT! karte huwe pahiyoN kee har gardish mujh`e apne vat^an se qareeb kartee jaatee th`ee aur maiN th`aa keh raat bh`ar kaa jaagaa, hazaaroN KhayaaloN kaa shikaar, kh`iRkee se sar lagaaYe baahar aNdh`ere meN Khaalee Khaalee aaNkh`oN se dekh`e jaa rahaa th`aa. train kee har kh`aT-kh`aT-kh`aTaak per meraa dil Halaq meN aa ph`aNstaa th`aa aur her station par kh`iRkee ke maile sheeshoN ke us paar platform kee beemaar roshnee meN janam janam kee pyaasee nigaaheN ma'loom naheeN kyaa Dh`oonDne lagtee th`eeN. idh`ar udh`ar bh`aagte huwe aNdh`e saaYe, quliyoN aur Khwaanche vaaloN kee lehraatee huyee aavaazeN chand minute ke liye ird-gird ke maaHol ko jagaa detee th`eeN. ph`ir ek hichkole ke saath` train apnaa afsaanah duhraane lagtee th`ee- kh`aT-kh`at-kh`aTaak! kh`aT-kh`aT-kh`aTaak!

aaj dimaaGh ne yaadoN ke saare dareeche kh`ol diYe th`e. pachaas saal puraane galee- kooche, baazaar aur dost-aashnaa apne apne chehre se aadh`ee Sadee kee gard jh`aaR kar mere saamne aa kar kh`aRe ho rahe th`e aur maiN un kee tavaanaayee dekh` kar pareshaan th`aa. inheN to kab kaa mismaar hokar TooT jaanaa chaahiYe th`aa! magar yeh to apnee muskuraatee aaNkh`eN meree aaNkh`oN meN Daal kar jaise mujh` ko deevaana banaane par tule huwe th`e:

:kyoN Sarwar? kahaaN chale gaYe th`e tum? aaj ham tumheN kaise yaad aa gaYe? ham to tumhen naheeN bhoole pyaare! ab aaYe ho to kuch` din reh jaa'o. zindagee kaa kyaa bh`arosaa hai. ma'loom naheeN tum ph`ir aa'o keh nah aa'o!:

aur maiN ruNdh`e gale se un kaa javaab bh`ee naheen de paa rahaa th`aa. shaayad aisee baatoN kaa koyee javaab hotaa bh`ee naheeN hai!

lo train Manikpur se chal paRee. ab MajhgaaoN aaYe gaa. ph`ir Satna, Katni, Sehora aur ph`ir Jabalpur, meraa vat^an! vahaaN Baboojee aur Bu'aa ke muHabbat bh`are saaYe meN bachpan kee kitnee suhaanee SubHeN guZree th`eeN! ham sab waalid marHoom ko Baboojee aur waalidah marHoomah ko Bu'aa kehte th`e. aaNkh` kh`olee to saaree duniyaa unko yehee kehtee th`ee chunaan.ch ham bh`ee kehne lage th`e. bachpan ke voh shab-o-roz jin se zindaigee mo'tabar ma'loom hotee th`ee kab ke Ghaa'ib ho chuke th`e. Baboojee aur Bu'aa Allah ko pyaare ho chuke th`e aur maiN vat^an to kyaa mulk bh`ee ch`oR kar America jaa basaa th`aa. aaj pachaas saal ke ba'd maiN ph`ir Jabalpur jaa rahaa th`aa to aisaa meHsoos ho rahaa th`aa jaise zindagee ke is safar par u'mr bh`ar chaltaa rahaa hooN: Manikpur, Satna, Katni, Sehora, Jabalpur!

kaise pyaare log th`e voh bh`ee! Baboojee narm-guftaar, kam-go, sar-taa-paa shafqat! Khaleeq aise keh kyaa ch`oTaa aur kyaa baRaa, yahaaN tak keh naayee, dh`obee aur qaSayee se bh`ee :aap, janaab: se baat karte th`e. vaqt ke aise paaband keh SubH daftar jaane ke liYe gh`ar se nikalte to saamne panvaaRee kee dookaan par baiTh`e huwe log gh`aRee milaate :baa'oojee daphtar jaa rahe haiN. savaa saat bajaa hai.: sharaafat aur vaZ^a'-daaree ke putle th`e. kaheeN jaate to zindagee kee rait par hamaare liYe chand lakeereN kh`eeNch jaate:

:din bh`ar gh`ar se baahar maare maare nah ph`irye gaa. aapas meN laRaayee nah keejiYe gaa. baahar jaayeN to achh`e logoN meN baiTh`iYe gaa. behtar to yeh hai k gh`ar meN baiTh` kar kuch`h paRh`iye likh`iYe!:

udh`ar Bu'aa th`eeN! muHabbat aur maamtaa kee devee! saare muHalleh meN har-dil-a'zeez, har ek kee pyaaree. Allah kee muHabbat aur i'baadat se sarshaar! idh`ar Baboojee gaYe aur udh`ar voh apnaa moTee malmal kaa halkaa gulaabee dupaTTa utaar kar un lakeeroN par Daal deteeN aur ham uch`alte, kood-te un ko ph`alaaNg jaate. din bh`ar kee dh`amaa-chowkRee ke ba'd ph`ir shaam ko gh`ar meN daaKhil hote. Bu'aa lakeeroN par se dupaTTa uTh`aa kar sar par rakh` leteeN aur namaaz meN maSroof ho jaateeN. Baboojee aate to ham aise seedh`e-saade saadh`oo bane baiTh`e hote jaise muNh meN daaNt hee nah hoN!

chaar kamroN kaa voh gh`ar, voh laq-o-daq aaNgan, voh ch`oTaa saa baavarchee-Khanah jo apne andar pooree duniyaa rakh`taa th`aa! isee aaNgan meN ham dostoN ke saath` cricket kh`elaa karte th`e. deevaar par choone se teen lakeeroN kaa wicket, ek puraanee, gh`isee-piTee tennis geNd aur jalaa'oo lakRee ke taKhte kaa ballaa! voh ghamsaan kaa kh`el jamtaa keh vaah vaah! voh off-break aayee! voh chavvaa lagaa! :dauR, abe dauR! doRtaa kyoN naheeN hai? run kyoN naheeN banaataa? b.lkul Saaf out ho gayaa, baal wicket par lagee hai! abe jaa, aayaa vahaaN se out karne vaalaa! saalaa dh`aaNdh`lee kartaa hai!:

yooN hee kh`elte kood-te din Doob jaataa aur doosre din haraane kee dh`amkee detee huwe sab bachche apne apne gh`ar chale jaate.

isee aaNgan meN deevaaroN meN lagee keeloN meN sutlee kee Door baaNdh` kar neT banaate th`e aur chaar paise kee gh`aTiyaa chiRyaa Khareed kar maaNge-taaNge ke racket se badminton kh`elte th`e. chiRyaa neT ke ooper se gayee keh neeche se, service Th`eek th`ee keh naheeN? Khoob hee to jh`agRaa hotaa. dabee zabaan se ek-aadh moTee gaalee bh`ee de-dee jaatee. magar doosre hee lamHeh saaree garmee chiRyaa kee uRaan meN Ghaa'ib ho jaate. aaKhir kal bh`ee to kh`elnaa th`aa!

aur haaN isee laq-o-daq aaNgan meN pataNg kaa maaNjh`aa bh`ee sooNtaa jaataa th`aa. do number kee reel kaa dh`aagaa darvaaze kee kunDee meN se hotaa huwaa, deevaaroN kee keeloN meN taanaa-baanaa buNtaa huwaa kamre kee gehraa'iyoN meN gum ho jaataa. vahaaN se bavarchee-Khaaneh kee almaaree se ulajh`taa huwaa vaapas aaNgan meN aa jaataa aur maiN baareek sheeshe se bh`aree gulaabee raNg kee :lugdee: liYe jh`amaa-jh`am maaNjhaa sooNt-taa th`aa :ahaa-haa! ab mazah aaYe gaa! kyaa tez maaNjhaa hai! voh peNch kaaTooN gaa keh log yaad kareN ge!:

magar ph`ir yeh hotaa keh hameshah kee t^araH baRe bh`aayee Mashhood chupke se meree pataNg aur charKhee baahar le jaate aur th`oRee hee der meN pataNg kaTvaa kar aise vaapas aa jaate jaise koyee baat hee naheeN huyee ho. maiN kaisaa kaisaa rotaa th`aa aur Bu'aa se shikaayat kartaa th`aa. voh Ghareeb bh`ee kyaa karteeN. kuch` GhuSSeh aur kuch` pyaar se voh Mashhood se kehteeN :bh`ai,yya! too kyoN ch`oTe bhaayee ko pareshaan kartaa hai? kyaa miltaa hai tujh`e? mat liyaa kar us kee pataNg!: ph`ir voh do paise mere haath` par rakh` kar mujh` se kehteeN keh :jaa bhai,yyaa! too doosree pataNg le aa!:

magar nah Mashhood hee apnee HarkatoN se baaz aaYe aur nah maiN pataNg hee uRaa sakaa. ab Mashhood bh`ee is dunyaa meN naheeN haiN. maiN maaZ^ee kee yaadoN kee pataNg taane baiTh`aa hooN lekin aasmaan meN koyee aur pataNg naz^ar naheeN aatee hai. yaa ilaahee! yeh kaisee be-kasee hai!

-----------------------------Satna------------------------------------

gh`ar kaa aaNgan Sirf aaNgan naheeN th`aa bal.k vahaaN ek t^ilismaatee dunyaa aabaad t`hee. yeh aaNgan hamaaree ma'Soom zindagee kaa markaz th`aa. is ke ek kone meN hamaaree bakree baNdh`ee rehtee th`ee. rozaana SubH charavaahee sekRoN bakriyoN kaa revaR le kar gh`ar ke saamne se aavaaz lagaatee guZartee :bakree kh`ol dooo!: aur zaNjeer se kh`ulte hee bakree bh`aag kar revaR meN gum ho jaatee th`ee. shaam ko jaNgal meN din bh`ar charne ke ba'd mimyaataa, Khaak-dh`ool kaa t^oofaan uRaataa yeh revaR vaapas aataa. har shaam Baboojee bakree kaa doodh` nikaalte aur har SubH ham malaayee meN shakar milaa kar raat kee baasee roTee se kh`aate th`e. har saal bakree bachcha detee. us din Baboojee aur Bu'aa chaarpaayee kh`aRee kar ke ham bachchoN se bakree kaa pardah kar dete th`e aur jab voh faariGh ho jaatee to Bu'aa ham ko bulaa kar bakree kaa nannhaa aur pyaaraa saa bachcha dikh`aateeN. ek martabah bakree ne ek b.lkul kaalaa bachchah diyaa th`aa jis kaa naam ham logoN ne Kalloo rakh`aa th`aa. aisaa hil gayaa th`aa keh aavaaz par bh`aagaa bh`aagaa aataa aur tezee se dum hilaa hilaa kar mimyaataa jaise keh rahaa ho keh :laa'o! kuch` kh`ilaa'o! kyoN bulaayaa hai?:

isee aaNgan ke ek kone meN ek Teen kaa Dibbaa daab kar maiN ne :golak: banaayee th`ee. jab kaheeN se paisa-dh`elaa miltaa th`aa, golak ke sooraaKh meN Daal detaa. magar Mashhood kee maujoodagee meN golak ke panapne kaa koyee savaal naheeN th1aa. teesre chauth`e din voh golak kh`od kar paise nikaal lete aur Khaalee Dibbaa phir zameeN meN dabaa dete. baRee laRaa,iyaaN hoteeN magar un par koyee acar nah hotaa. ab voh doosree dunyaa ko sidh`aar chuke haiN. meree golak meN hazaaroN dollar jama' ho gaye haiN magar un ko ab koyee naheeN churaataa hai aur maiN un kee be-qeematee dekh` kar Khaamosh ho jaataa hooN.

kyaa ab bh`ee golak ke qareeb beer-bahoTiyoN kee qabreN maujood haiN? halke jaaRe shuroo' hote hee maidaan meiN beer-bahoTiyaaN nikal aatee th`eeN, surKh aur maKhmal kee t^araH narm narm! garmiyoN kee raatoN meN yehee maidaan jugnu'oN se jag-mag, jag-mag kartaa th`aa. muThh`iyoN meN band jugnoo uNgliyoN kee jhiryoN meN chiraaGh jalaate-bujh`aate rehte aur muThh`iyaaN kh`ulte hee uR kar fiZ^aa meN jagmagaate huwe gum ho jaate th`e. beer-bahoTiyaaN maachis kee Khaalee DibbiyoN meN baNd ek-aadh` din ba'd mar jaatee th`eeN aur ham unheN aaNgan ke kone meN udaas haath`oN se aKhbaar ke kaaGhaz ke kafan meN dafn kar dete th`e aur ph`ir nayee beer-bahoTiyoN kee talaash meN nikal jaate th`e. jugnu'oN aur beer-bahoTiyoN kee jagah ab mulaazimat, dollar aur saamaan-e-aasaa'ish ne le lee th`ee, magar is naye shauq se dil ko voh sukoon aur masarrat naheeN mil sakee th`ee jo bachpan kee ma'Soom zindagee ke jugnu'oN aur beer-bahoTiyoN ke saath` maaZ^ee kee pinhaa'iyoN meN bich`aR gayee th`ee.

aur haaN! voh kyaaree to maiN bh`oole hee jaa rahaa th`aa jis ko Bu'aa ne aaNgan kaa ek konaa gh`er kar tai'yyar kiyaa th`aa. unheN ph`ooloN kaa kis qadar shauq th`aa! chand gul-e-baaNs, do-ek surKh gulaab ke gamley, idh`ar geNdaa, udh`ar belaa aur ek t^araf lagee huyee chamelee! is kyaaree kee bas yehee kaa'inaat th`ee. jab gul-e-baaNs aur gulaab saath`-saath` kh`ilte to kyaaree meN aag see lag jaatee th`ee. doosree t^araf bele ke paudoN meN aise bh`ar-bh`ar kar ph`ool aate keh un kee kamar bojh` se duhree ho jaatee. saaree kyaaree mehak uTh`tee th`ee : idh`ar dekh`o! aise KhoobSoorat ph`ool kaheeN aur bh`ee dekh`e haiN tum ne?: saaraa muHalla khushboo se mehaktaa th`aa. idh`ar se bele, gulaab aur chamelee kee mehak uTh`tee aur udh`ar chaar number makaan se baNgaalee baaboo kee raat kee raanee kee mast kar dene vaalee Khushboo kaa bh`apkaa havaa ke kaaNdhoN par savaar aataa. jannat meN bh`ee aisee Khushboo mushkil se mil sake gee!

Bu,aa roz bele ke motee aise ph`ool toR laateeN. do ek paandaan ke aNdar aur do wk disaavaree paanoN kee Th`iliyaa meiN rakh` deteeN. din bh`ar paandaan Khushboo se sarshaar rehtaa. soo'ee se taage meN piro kar banaayaa huwaa bele kaa halkaa saa gajraa gale meN Daal kar aur ch`oTe ch`oTe bele ke jh`aale kaanoN meN pehan kar voh baiTh-teeN to Khudaa kee qasam is qadar ma'Soom aur KhoobSoorat dikh`aayee deteeN keh HooreN bh`ee sharmaatee hoN gee!

--------------------------Katni-------------------------------

yeh ek gh`ar kaa qiSSah naheeN hai bal.k har TooTe huYe dil kee roodaad hai aur har ujRee huyee kaa'inaat kaa alamiyya. voh kamra jis meN ham baiTh` kar miTTee ke tel kee laalten kee maree-maree roshnee meN raat gaYe tak school kaa kaam karte th`e; voh Th`aNDaa Ghusl-Khaanah jis meN garmiyoN kee chh`uTTiyoN meN dh`oop kee tapish se gh`abraa kar ham risaale paRh`ne aur taash yaa shatraNj kh`elne ke liYe panaah lete th`e; aur voh aNdh`aa saa baavarchee-Khaanah jis meN barsoN kee beemaar dukh`iyaaree maaN choolhe ke saamne baiTh` kar bachchoN ke liYe roTee banaatee th`ee, har gh`ar aur har zindagee meN maujood haiN. haaN! yeh Z^aroor hai keh ooparee Zeb-o-zeenat aur Khud apne dil kee aaNkh`oN se parde uTh`aa kar dekh`ne kee taufeeq chaahiYe!

mujh`e apne gh`ar kaa voh baavarchee-Khaanah akcar yaad aataa hai; shaayad is liYe keh Bu,aa kaa beshtar vaqt vaheeN guZartaa th`aa aur pyaar, muHabbat, eecaar aur qurbaanee ke aksar sote maaN kee Zaat se hee nikalte haiN. usee baavarchee-Khaaneh meN aik TaaT ke TukRe par baiTh` kar ham Bu,aa ke haath` kee garmaa-garm, Ghubaareh kee t`araH ph`oolee, karaaree roTee arhar kee daal aur gh`ar ke achaar se Kh`aate th`e. peT bh`ar jaataa th`aa lekin niyyat naheeN bh`artee th`ee. isee baavarchee-Khaaneh ke kone meN baiTh` kar maiN haavan-daste se dh`aayeN dh`aayeN til aur guR kooT-taa th`aa aur Bu,aa kee nigraanee meN laDDoo banaa kar martabaanoN meN sajaa diyaa kartaa th`aa. saaraa gh`ar maheenoN kh`aataa th`aa. yaheeN ek deevaar ke sahaare Bu,aa puraanee see jaaYe-namaaz bich`aa kar, doopaTTe ke bukkal meN muNh ch`upaaYe, a'ajizee se sar jh`ukaaYe, apne Allah ko yaad kiyaa kartee th`eeN. namaaz ke ba'd voh dua'a maaNg kar uTh`teeN to un ke kamzor chehre par farishtoN aisee saadigee aur aaNkh`oN meN abadee sukoon kee chamak hotee th`ee. akcar voh mujh` se kehtee th`eeN :

:bh`ai'yya! ma'loom naheeN meree dua'a qubool hogee bh`ee keh naheeN. paRh`te paR`hte bh`ool jaatee hooN aur jaane kyaa kyaa paRh` jaatee hooN:

aur maiN baRe e'timaad se javaab detaa :Bu,aa! tum namaaz paRh`tee raho. Allah miaaN Z^aroor tumhaaree dua'a qubool kareN ge!:

voh meree bachkaanah baat par muHabbat se muskuraa kar mere sar par haath` rakh` detee th`eeN. ab sochtaa hooN to Khayaal aataa hai keh kisee b`hee maaN kee dua,a nah qubool hone kaa bh`alaa savaal hee kahaaN uTh`taa hai? hamaare paiGhambar ne kyaa Khoob farmaayaa th`aa keh :maaN ke qadmoN ke neeche jannat hai: us ch`oTee see u'mr meN bh`ee maiN maaN ke qadmoN kee janaat se Khoob vaaqif th`aa. raat ko jab soney ke liYe kh`aTole par leT-taa th`aa to Bu,aa deevaar kaa sahaara liYe meree paayaNtee baiTh` kar apnaa ek pair mere pehloo meN baRh`aa detee th`eeN aur maiN usko seene se lagaa kar aur apnaa gaal us ke kh`urdure talve par rakh` kar aaNkh` band kartaa to aanana"-faanana" hee aaNkh` lag jaatee aur ph`ir SubH se pehle nah kh`ultee th`ee. ma'loom naheeN ab voh neeNd kahaaN uR gayee hai aur neeNd kee goliyaaN kh`aa kar bh`ee gh`aNToN Ghaa'ib hee rehtee hai.

aaj bh`ee train se baahar nigaah uTh`aa kar dekh`taa hooN to aaNkh`oN meN neeNd kaa naam tak naheeN hai aur chashm-e-taSavvur aise maidaan ko dekh` rahee hai jis meN bohat se bachche ek lakRee kee geNd aur DanDoN se hockey kh`el rahe haiN. maiN bh`ee hockey haath` meN liYe geNd ke peechhe` idh`ar-udh`ar bh`aag rahaa hooN. maidaan kee doosree jaanib, saRak paar Paryal Lines ke makaan naz^ar aa rahe haiN aur door masjid ke saaye meiN Colaba Lines aur Madras Lines haiN. in meiN mere dost rehte haiN: Waheed, Ahsan Khan, Narendra Kumar---! Waheed jo gol-maTol, saaNvalaa saa th`aa, balaa kaa Zaheen; class meN hameshah avval aataa th`aa. bachpan meN bh`ee is qadar Khush-Khat^ th`aa keh Baboojee mujh` se kehte th`e :dekh`iYe! kitnaa achh`aa Khat^ hai. aap ko bh`ee aisaa hee likh`naa chaahiYe.: magar maiN hazaar koshish ke baavujood vaisaa naheeN likh` sakaa th`aa. aur voh Ahsan! z^aalim Hisaab meN kitnaa tez th`aa! master SaaHeb tak us kaa lohaa maante th`e. kabh`ee kabh`ee mujh` per reHm kh`aa kar apnee naql kar lene detaa th`aa magar akcar naak-bhoN chaRh`aa kar jh`iRak detaa th`aa. ab France meN goree beevee liYe baRe uHdeh par baiTh`aa huwaa hai. pehle naql naheeN karne detaa th`aa aur ab Khat^ kaa javaab naheeN detaa hai. baat to ek hee hai!

yaadoN ke posheeda dareechoN se nikal nikal kar sab dost mujh` se aaNkh`-michaulee kh`el rahe haiN :kahaaN rahe Sarwar? aa,o beTaa hotee hai ek shatraNj kee baazee?: maiN aaNsoo bh`aree aaNkh`oN se unheN dekh` rahaa hooN aur udh`ar #7 Fatehgarh Lines ke darvaaze se lagee pareshaan Bu,aa mujh`e aavaaz de rahee hai :are bhai'yyaa! loo lag jaaye gee. ab andar aa jaa. ThanDaa paanee pee le. bas ho gayaa khel!:

aur maiN keh rahaa hooN :bas Bu,aa! abh`ee aayaa! bas das minute aur----:. ph`ir yeh das minute niSf Sadee meN Dh`al jaate haiN. aaNkh`-michaulee, aNdhaa- bh`aiNsaa, foot-ball sab Khatm ho chuke haiN aur maiN th`akaa haaraa maidaan meN tanhaa baiTh`aa huwaa soch meN gum hooN.

---------------------------------Sehora----------------------------------

ab vat^an qareeb aa gayaa hai. train se baahar peech`e kee jaanib bh`aagte huYe daraKhtoN aur jh`oNpRiyoN kee t^araH maiN bh`ee peech`e kee t^araf dauR rahaa hooN jaise guZraa huwaa vaqt ph`ir vaapas aa jaaYe gaa aur vohee maiN hooN gaa aur vohee sab log. ma'loom naheeN muHalle kee us masjid kaa kyaa Haal ho gaa. booRh`e,ch`oTee see daaRh`ee vaale muazzin SaaHeb kee aavaaz meN kitnaa dard th`aa! door door se namaaz ke liYe log aate th`e, aapas meN a'lek-salek hotee th`ee, namaaz paRh`te th`e aur ruKhSat ho jaate th`e. na koyee jh`agRaa th`aa aur nah koyee beHc! nah koyee sunnee th`aa aur nah koyee shia'h! Eid aur Baqra,eid par namaazee ubal kar masjid se baahar nikal aate th`e. Saaf suth`re kapRe pehne, TopiyaaN lagaaYe shauq se imaam SaaHeb kaa Arabee meN Khutbah sunte th`e jis kaa ek lafz^ bh`ee kisee ke palle naheeN paRtaa th`aa!

masjid ke HauZ^ meN kyaa ab bh`ee voh surKh aur sunahree mach`liyaaN tairtee aur Ghote lagaatee hoN gee jo har jume' ko HauZ^ ke kinaare kinaare chamak-daar aaNkh`eN aur lap-lap karte muNh liYe tairaa kartee th`eeN. ham muTTh`ee bh`ar guNdh`aa huwaa aaTaa masjid le jaate th`e aur namaaz ke ba'd goliyaaN banaa banaa kar paanee meN ph`eNkte th`e. voh uch`altee, naachtee aaTe kee goliyaaN nigalne ko jh`apaT-tee th`eeN aur paanee meN surKh aur sunahree qaus-e-quzaH ban jaatee th`ee. kabh`ee kabh`ee ham aaTe kee golee uNglee par chipkaa kar haath` HauZ^ meN laTkaa dete th`e aur koyee tez-t^arraar mach`lee qareeb aa kar us ko le jaatee th`ee. maiN aaj bh`ee apnee uNglee meN mach`lee ke hoNToN kaa lams meHsoos kartaa hooN.

aur ph`ir be-iKhtiyaar mujh` ko voh Eid yaad aa gayee jab Th`eek namaaz ke darmiyaan masjid se baahar ke ek Khwaanche vaale ne taan lagaayee th`ee :ras bh`aree gaNDeree!: aur ek mukabbir SaaHeb ne aavaaz meN aavaaz milaa kar fora" :Allah-o-Akbar: kaa na'rah balaNd kar diyaa th`aa! saaree peech`e kee SafeN sajdeh meN chalee gayee th`eeN aur namaaz darham-barham ho gayee th`ee. ham bachchoN kaa haNsee ke maare buraa Haal ho gayaa th`aa. us din namaaziyoN ne gaNDeree vaale se ziyaadah un mukabbir SaaHeb ko lataaRaa th`aa. mujh`e to un kee ma'Soom Ghalat^ee par aaj bh`ee haNsee aa rahee hai. shaayad pachaas saal se mere vujood meN qaid bachchah vaqt aur Haalaat kee baNdishoN se aazaad honaa chaahtaa hai!

------------------------------Jabalpur--------------------------------

station par meraa bachpan kaa dost Dewendra miltaa hai aur aise pyaar se lipaT jaataa hai keh us ke vaqt se pehle safed huwe baal ek lamHeh ko meree naz^aroN se ojh`al ho jaate haiN. maiN Jabalpur ke dar-o-deevaar ko aise dek`h rahaa hooN keh mjh`e us kee baateN bh`ee sunaayee naheeN de rahee haiN. dekh`te dekh`te ham us ke gh`ar poNhach jaate haiN. bar-aamadeh meN ek ma'Soom Soorat Khaatoon haath` joRe kh`aRee haiN. yeh Rama bh`aabh`ee haiN. doosree t^araf se ek sharmeelee laRkee barRh` kar mere pair pakaR letee hai :uncle jee, salaam!: yeh Rama kee beTee Aditi hai.

:bhaayee SaaHeb! kuch` khaai,Ye naa! aap to kh`aa hee naheeN rahe haiN. koyee kasht ho to bataai,Yegaa:

:uncle! Papa keh rahe th`e k aap bohat achh`aa gaanaa gaate haiN. kh`aanaa kh`aa kar kuch` sunaai,Ye gaa naa?:

dekh`te dek`hte dh`arm, maZhab aur ajnabiyyat ke sab baNdh`an Khuloos aur pyaar ke haath`oN TooT jaate haiN. maiN is Hindu gh`araane kaa ek fard ban jaataa hooN jaise maiN hameshah hee vahaaN rahaa hooN.

doosree SubH Dewendra apnee car meN biTh`aa kar mujh`e mere gh`ar kee t^araf le jaataa hai. har cheez ajnabee see hai magar ph`ir bh`ee pachaas saal kee muddat voh sab kuch` naheeN miTaa sakee hai jis se meraa bachpan aur us kee yaadeN vaabasta haiN. maiN a'jeeb be-chainee kee kaifiyyat meN mandir ke saamne car rukvaa kar Dewendra ko ruKhSat kartaa hooN. voh kuch` keh kar chalaa jaataa hai magar mere vujood ne sab t^araf se kaan aur aaNkh`eN band kar lee haiN. mujh`e kuch` sunaayee aur dikh`aayee naheeN de rahaa hai!

magar yeh mandir itnaa ch`oTaa kaise ho gayaa? pehle to baRaa a'Z^eemush-shaan huwaa kartaa th`aa. maiN darvaazah kh`ol kar mandir meN daaKhil ho jaataa hooN. ooNche chabootre par bh`agvaan kee moortee ke qadmoN meN ek a'urat peelee saaree se sar Dh`akey Ramayan kaa paaTh` kar rahee hai. voh mujh`e ek naz^ar uTh`aa kar dekh`tee hai aur ph`ir paaTh` meN mashGhool ho jaatee hai. yaa Allah! maiN is mandir meN kyaa kar rahaa hooN? is a'urat meN mujh`e Bu,aa kee Soorat kyoN naz^ar aa rahee hai? yeh Ram-Leelaa kaa maidaan mere qadamoN se kyoN lipTaa jaa rahaa hai?

chaNd qadam apne gh`ar kee t^araf baRh`aataa hooN to pattoN ke sarsaraane kee aavaaz aatee hai :Sarwar! tum kab aaye?:

are! yeh to vohee peepal kaa daraKht hai jis ke saayeh meN ham goliyaaN kh`elaa karte th`e. ooper naz^ar uTh`aa kar dekh`taa hooN to peepal kee booRh`ee shaaKhoN meN aTkee huyee apnee pataNg par naz^ar paRtee hai. maaNjh`aa laTak kar havaa meN idh`ar udh`ar lehraa rahaa hai.

:haaN Sarwar! yeh tumhaaree hee pataNg hai! maiN ne saNbh`aal kar rakh` ch`oRee hai. tum to aise gaYe ke palaT kar Khabar bh`ee naheeN lee. ab maiN bohat booRh`aa ho gayaa hooN bh`aayee, magar meree pipliyaaN ab bh`ee meeTh`ee haiN. chaahe chakh` kar dekh` lo! ab bh`ee unheN t^ot^e kh`aane aate haiN aur meree shakhoN meN faaKhtaaYeN ab bh`ee ghoNsle banaatee haiN. Kalloo bakre ke liye kuch` patte lete jaa,o, kyoN?:

aur maiN Khaamosh suntaa reh jaataa hooN. mere kaaNpte hoNt aur Khushk galaa mujh`e kuch` kehne naheeN dete haiN. maiN keh bh`ee kyaa saktaa hooN?

eik th`akee th`akee see aavaaz is t^ilism ko toR detee hai :kon haiN aap? kisee ko Dh`ooND rahe haiN kyaa?:

mere paas peelee ph`ool-daar saaree ke kaane gh`ooNgh`aT meN muNh ch`upaaYe ek a'urat kha`Ree hai. us kee maaNg soonee hai aur sar ke baaloN meN u'mr ne chaaNdee bh`ar dee hai. maiN haklaane lagtaa hooN. ajnabee a'urat se bh`alaa dil kee baat keh bh`ee kaise saktaa hooN!

:maiN to kisee ko bh`ee naheeN Dh`ooND rahaa hooN. pachaas saal pehle maiN saat number ke makaan meN rehtaa th`aa. us ko dekh`ne chalaa aayaa hooN. meraa naam Sarwar hai.:

:are Sarwar tum! kab aaYe bhai'yyaa? mujh` ko naheeN pehchaante? maiN Shakuntala hooN, Ram Swaroop kee behen!:

:Shakuntala! kaisee ho tum? Ram Swaroop kahaaN haiN? uffoh! kitnaa vaqt guZar gayaa!: maiN ek saaNs meN keh jaataa hooN.

:Ram Swaroop bhai'yyaa kaa to dehaant ho gayaa. tumhaare behnoyee bh`ee naheeN rahe. ab maiN beTe ke saath` paaNch number meN rehtee hooN. chalo mere saath`, naashtah-paanee kar lo.: voh baRe pyaar se boltee hai.

yeh to vohee Shakuntala hai jis ke saath` ham din bh`ar kh`elaa karte th`e! baRee jh`agRaaloo th`ee. baat baat par dh`akkaa detee th`ee :machch`ar kaheeN kaa! jaa naheeN kh`elte tujh` se. kameenah! kal se idh`ar aayaa to bohat maarooN gee.:

aur aaj gh ar naashtah-paanee karaane ke liYe bulaa rahee hai. bhai'yyaa, bhai'yyaa pukaar rahee hai aur mere dil kee bujh`ee bujh`ee see raakh` ko kured kar chiNgaariyoN se kh`el rahee hai.

:bhai'yyaa! ab puraane log bohat kam reh gaYe haiN. kuch` idh`ar udh`ar chale gaYe aur kuch` Bhagwaan ko pyaare ho gaYe. nau number meN Chandrika Prasad ab bh`ee rehtaa hai. tumhaare gh`ar meN ab Basheer bhaayee rehte haiN. baRe sajjan purush haiN. tum miloge to Khush ho ge.:

:achh`aa! Chandrika Prasad yaheeN hai? Zaraa apnaa gh`ar dekh` aa'ooN to jaa kar us se bh`ee milooN gaa aur ph`ir tumhaaree t^araf aa,ooN gaa. magar, Shakuntala! yeh mandir itnaa chh`oTaa kaise ho gayaa hai? aur yeh Ram-Leelaa kaa maidaan to bohat baRaa huwaa kartaa th`aa! yeh saRak pehle hamaare gh`ar se kitnee door huwaa kartee th`ee! kyaa dobaarah banee hai?: maiN gh`abraahaT meN bole jaa rahaa th`aa.

Shakuntala ne mujh` ko reHm bh`aree aaNkh`oN se dekh`aa. shaayad us ko meree dilee Haalat kaa eHsaas th`aa:

:Sarwar! mandir bh`ee vohee hai aur maidaan bh`ee vohee. aur yeh saRak bh`ee jahaaN pehle th`ee vaheeN par hai. haaN! magar tum jaroor booRh`e ho gaYe ho! bohat same gujar gayaa hai bhai'yyaa! jaa,o apnaa gh`ar dekh` aa,o, ph`ir mere yahaaN aakar chaaYe pee lenaa, achh`aa?:

haaN Shakantula! tum Th`eek kehtee ho. yeh sarzameen naheeN badlee hai, maiN hee badal gayaa hooN. yeh booRh`aa peepal kaa peR, us kee shaaKhoN meN uljh`ee huyee meree pataNg, t^ot^oN ke shor machaate huYe hare-hare jh`uND, faaKhtaa,oN ke ghoNsle, tumhaaraa pyaar, koyee cheez bh`ee to naheeN badlee hai. bas maiN hee booRh`aa ho gayaa hooN. mujh`e mere gh`ar tak poNhchaa do Shakuntala! akele jaate huYe meraa dil kaaNp rahaa hai. ma'loom naheeN vahaaN kaun kaun andar baith`aa hogaa. mujh`e baahar nikalne bh`ee degaa keh naheeN.

ab maiN apne bachpan ke gh`ar ke darvaaze pea kh`aRaa hooN. yahaaN maiN paidaa huwaa th`aa! magar yeh darvaaza itnaa ch`oTaa kaise ho gayaa? dastak detaa hooN to ek baarah-teraa saal kee bh`olee see laRkee nikal kar aatee hai aur meree jaanib savaaliya nigaahoN se dekh`tee hai.

:beTee! tumhaaraa naam kyaa hai?: maiN ruNdh`e huYe gale se pooch`taa hooN.

:jee, Rehana! aap kaun haiN?: voh Hairat se javaab detee hai.

:beTee, maiN is gh`ar meN paidaa huwaa th`aa. apne abbaa aur ammee se pooch` lo. agar voh ijaazat deN to maiN apnaa puraanaa gh`ar andar se dekh` looN.:

voh mere kaaNpte huYe hoNToN ko dekh` rahee hai. :abbaa to kaam par gaYe haiN aur ammee baazaar. aap andar aakar gh`ar dekh` leejiYe.:

voh yooN apnaa'iyat se javaab detee hai jaise mujh` ko hameshah se jaantee hai. maiN saare badan se th`ar-th`ar kaanptaa huwaa gh`ar ke aaNgan meN daaKhil hotaa hooN aur bar-aamadeh kee t^araf naz^areN uTh`aa kar dekh`taa hooN.

are! yeh kyaa! saamne ek t^araf bich`e kh`aTole par moTe laTTh`e kaa chooRee-daar paajaamah aur kurtaa pehne aur moTee malmal kaa halke gulaabee raNg kaa dupaTTaa sar par Daale Bu,aa muskuraa rahee haiN! un kee Gham-deedah aaNkh`oN meN Khushee aur faKhr kee a'jeeb see chamak hai.

:aa,o bhai,yyaa aa,o! bohat der kar dee tum ne aane meN! kahaaN reh gaYe th`e tum? maiN to kab se baiTh`ee raah dekh` rahee hooN tumhaaree. achh`e to ho beTaa?: mere kaanoN meN un kee jaanee pehchaanee aavaaz amrit gh`ol rahee hai.

Bu,aa! naheeN, naheeN, maiN bh`alaa tum ko kaise bh`ool saktaa hooN? koyee apnee maaN ko bh`ool bh`ee saktaa hai? Zaraa yeh kambaKht aaNsoo baNd hoN to maiN tumheN Ghaur se dekh`ooN. yeh gale kee gh`uTan kam ho to bolooN. yeh SadiyoN ke dard se bojh`al haath` uTh` sakeN to tumheN seene se lagaa,ooN. maiN kitnaa z^aalim hooN keh tum ko itnaa intiz^aar karvaayaa. tum naaraaZ^ to naheeN ho?

:naaraaZ^? too paagal ho gayaa hai kyaa, bh`ai'yyaa? aa! yahaaN mere paas baiTh`. too th`ak gayaa hogaa.: voh muskuraa kar kehtee haiN.

maiN aaNkh`oN se aaNsoo poNch` kar naz^areN uTh`aataa hooN to Bu,aaa uTh` kar shaayad kamre meN andar chalee gayee haiN. kh`aTole kee jagah do gard-aalood kursiyaaN paRee huee haiN, aur Rehana mere paas paanee se bh`araa glass liYe kh`aRee hai.

:baiTh`jaaiYe uncle! Zaraa saa paanee pee leejiYe: us kee aavaaz meN balaa kaa dard hai. shaayad voh meraa karb samajh`tee hai.

maiN apnee dh`uNdh`laayee huyee aaNkh`eN uTh`aa kar intihaayee be-basee se us gh`ar ko dekh`taa hooN jo ma'loom naheeN kaise sukaR kar guRiyaa ke gh`ar kee t^araH muKhtaSar ho kar reh gayaa hai. kyaa Shakuntala sach kehtee th`ee keh maiN booRh`aa ho gayaa hooN? kaheeN aisaa to naheeN hai keh is t^ilismaatee dunyaa meN do-baarah rehne ke liye mujh` ko ph`ir se janam lenaa hogaa? yaa dil kee voh aaNkh`eN kh`olnee hoNgee jo baRh`tee u'mr, zindagee kee be-panaah yoorish aur dunyaa ke taqaaZ^oN ne jaane kab se baNd kar rakh`ee th`eeN? yeh gh`ar aaj vohee nannhaa Sarwar maaNg rahaa th`aa jise us kee pyaaree Rabbo aapaa apnee baaNhoN meN jh`ulaa-jh`ulaa kar dh`eemee aur meeTh`ee aavaaz meN gaayaa kartee th`eeN:

ch`oTaa sa balamaa moraa aaNgana meN gillee kh`ele
maarooN gee paNkh`iyoN kee maar, voh to haNs kar Dole!

maiN sar jh`ukaaye baiTh`aa hooN keh Rehana kee aavaaz mere KhwaaboN kaa t^ilism toR detee hai.

:aa'iYe uncle! andar se gh`ar dekh` leejiYe:

maiN ek lambaa saaNs le kar kh`aRaa ho jaataa hooN aur Hairat se Khud ko dekh`taa reh jaataa hooN!

meraa ch`e foot kaa qad sukaR kar ch`oTaa saa ho gayaa hai aur voh muKhtaSar saa aaNgan ph`el kar ek laq-o-daq maidaan meN tabdeel ho gayaa hai. maiN gulaabee lugdee se raNge haath` liYe Hairat-o-masarrat ke a'alam meN saare gh`ar meN chakkar lagaa rahaa hooN. bar-aamadeh se kamre meN, kamre se baavarchee-Khaaneh meN, idh`ar se udh`ar aur udh`ar se idh`ar! aur mere bachpan kaa t^ilismaatee gh`ar apne puraane Khazaane kh`ol kh`ol kar mere saamne bakh`er rahaa hai. kaheeN bh`ee to kuch` naheeN badlaa hai. har cheez apnee jagah jaisee kee taisee hai. idh`ar Baboojee chaar-paayee par leTe huwe aKhbaar paRh` rahe haiN aur un ke Huqqeh ke guR-guRaahaT gh`ar meN gooNj rahee hai. yeh Bu,aa kaa paandaan hai jo taazah bele ke ph`ooloN se mehak rahaa hai. is kamre meN Mashhood laalTain kee maree maree raushnee meN school kee kitaab meN ch`upaa kar ek novel paRh` rahe haiN. baavarchee-Khaaneh se taazah taazah garmaa- garm roTiyoN kee soNdh`ee soNdh`ee Khushboo uTh` rahee hai aur maiN TaaT ke TukRe par baiTh`aa muNh meN aayaa huwaa paanee nigal kar Bu,aa se keh rahaa hooN:

:Bu,aa, Zaraa roTee karaaree seNk denaa!:

udh`ar kone meN hamaaree billee doodh` pee kar apne paNje chaaT chaaT kar muNh dh`o rahee hai. maiN kamre se nikal kar bar-aamadeh meN aataa hooN to aaNgan se murGhiyoN ke kuR-kuRaane kee aavaaz meree tavajjuh kh`eeNch letee hai. door kone meN Kalloo apnee maaN ke neeche kh`aRaa mimyaa-mimyaa kar, zor zor se apnee dum hilaataa huwaa doodh` pee rahaa hai aur golak vaale kone se beer-bahoTiyoN kee qataar ek surKh reshamee lakeer kh`eNchtee huyee ph`ooloN se bh`aree kyaaree kee jaanib jaa rahee hai!

maiN gh`ar se nikaltaa hooN to meraa vujood ek a'jeeb sarshaaree se lab-rez hai. dil meN dard ab bh`ee hai lekin is dard meN aik anokh`ee laZZat hai, aaNkh`oN se behte huYe aaNsu'oN meN Th`anDak hai aur meree rooH kaa saaraa karb ek sar-Khushee kee kaifiyyat meN Dh`al gayaa hai. SubH kaa bh`oolaa shaam gh`ar aa chukaa hai!

maiN vaapasee ke liYe jab qadam uTh`aataa hooN to Dh`alte huYe sooraj ne shaam kee dulhan ke sar par laal, peelee, u'nnaabee DoroN se banee huyee roo-pehlee oRh`nee Daal dee hai. door masjid ke meenaaroN se udh`ar yaadoN ke kitne hee meenaar dast-ba-dua'a kh`aRe huYe haiN. mere shaanoN se ek bojh` saa gir chukaa hai aur mere haath` bh`ee be-ikHtiyaar dua'a ke liYe aasmaan kee jaanib uTh` jaate haiN!

aaKhiree baar palaT kar jab maiN ne apne gh`ar ko dekh`aa to voh sooraj kee roo-pehlee kirnoN se jagmagaa rahaa th`aa aur darvaaze kee aaR se Bu,aa halke gulaabee raNg kaa dupaTTaa oRh`e muskuraate huYe jh`aaNk rahee th`eeN:

:bh`ai'yya! ph`ir jaldee vaapas aanaa. maiN intiz^aar karooN gee!: