Incest Baadshah ~ The Tales of Debauchery

[Werewolf]

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Latest Update - Update 207 ​

 

[sam21003]

Waiting for next update

 

[ashish1980]

Jabardas

Author's Note :

This update takes you deeper into the lore. Ek hi update me maine sab kuchh sametne ki koshish ki hai. Ummeed hai ab pichhle updates ke doubts at least kuchh toh clear ho hi gaye honge. When you thought that Parijaat was limited to Sudha, Suman, Mukta, Aabha, Saili, Varsha, and Sonali. This update crashes all those previous thoughts.

Parijaat ki neev, uska naam kaise aaya, uski poori kahani, shraap ki kahani sab kuchh iss update me rakh diya maine. Jaisa ki update ka title hai. A past under a past. Hum past dekh rahe the Dhananjay ka, aur usi ke antargat Abhilasha ne past se rubaru karwaya jaha humne Parijaat ke baare me vistar se jaana.

When you thought ki Bhavna ki haveli wahi tak seemit thi, I bring you this update. Update lamba hai bahut, I know. Aur, humne poore update me flashback me deal kiya, isliye abhi bahut se aayenge jo yeh kahenge ki boring tha bhai maza nahi aaya. Toh bhai tum rehne hi do toh better hai. Kyunki, itna mujhe bhi pata hota hai ki iss update me flashback hai toh logo ko utna khaas nahi lagega, lekin phir bhi mein utne hi passion se deliver karta hu.

Kyunki, I respect my work. Ye past bahut zaroori tha. Ye lore ko aur bhi deep depth deta hai. Ab yaha se abhi aur deep jayenge abhi hum aage future me. Neel mani! Bhoole toh nahi na? Isi lore me aur deep jayenge jab tab neel mani ki khoj karenge hum. Bhavna ki family ka past bahut vast hai. Aise hi nahi Veer ko Parijaat se itni izzat milti hai.

Likhna toh mein yeh sab update ke neeche chaahta tha lekin update 12k words cross kar chuka tha aur mujhe darr tha ki kahi phir se limit na break ho jaaye, isliye yaha likh raha hu.

Ab next update se main plot phir se carry on hoga. End me full status aur Veer aur Pari ka ek short convo maine abhi add kiya hai taaki kuchh log rone na lag jaaye ki past hi dikha ke samapt kar diya, kyunki pehle mein wahi kar raha tha but then I added a few more paragraphs.

Ab mujhe nahi pata tumhe iss update ko kis month me consider karna hai. Mein yeh bullshit se kaafi frustrate ho chuka hu. Ye mujhe baandh ke rakhti hai aur free-fokat ki anxiety hoti hai. Toh, ab jaise-jaise updates ready hote jayenge, mein unhe post karta jaunga. That's it! Make sure karna ki target jitna jaldi ho sake utna jaldi clear kar do. Iss waale ka bhi utna hi hai. 250. So, reviews dene ka aur like thokne ka.

Milenge agle bhaag me!!!

Jabardast

 

[Herry]

 

[Huzaif]

Author's Note :

This update takes you deeper into the lore. Ek hi update me maine sab kuchh sametne ki koshish ki hai. Ummeed hai ab pichhle updates ke doubts at least kuchh toh clear ho hi gaye honge. When you thought that Parijaat was limited to Sudha, Suman, Mukta, Aabha, Saili, Varsha, and Sonali. This update crashes all those previous thoughts.

Parijaat ki neev, uska naam kaise aaya, uski poori kahani, shraap ki kahani sab kuchh iss update me rakh diya maine. Jaisa ki update ka title hai. A past under a past. Hum past dekh rahe the Dhananjay ka, aur usi ke antargat Abhilasha ne past se rubaru karwaya jaha humne Parijaat ke baare me vistar se jaana.

When you thought ki Bhavna ki haveli wahi tak seemit thi, I bring you this update. Update lamba hai bahut, I know. Aur, humne poore update me flashback me deal kiya, isliye abhi bahut se aayenge jo yeh kahenge ki boring tha bhai maza nahi aaya. Toh bhai tum rehne hi do toh better hai. Kyunki, itna mujhe bhi pata hota hai ki iss update me flashback hai toh logo ko utna khaas nahi lagega, lekin phir bhi mein utne hi passion se deliver karta hu.

Kyunki, I respect my work. Ye past bahut zaroori tha. Ye lore ko aur bhi deep depth deta hai. Ab yaha se abhi aur deep jayenge abhi hum aage future me. Neel mani! Bhoole toh nahi na? Isi lore me aur deep jayenge jab tab neel mani ki khoj karenge hum. Bhavna ki family ka past bahut vast hai. Aise hi nahi Veer ko Parijaat se itni izzat milti hai.

Likhna toh mein yeh sab update ke neeche chaahta tha lekin update 12k words cross kar chuka tha aur mujhe darr tha ki kahi phir se limit na break ho jaaye, isliye yaha likh raha hu.

Ab next update se main plot phir se carry on hoga. End me full status aur Veer aur Pari ka ek short convo maine abhi add kiya hai taaki kuchh log rone na lag jaaye ki past hi dikha ke samapt kar diya, kyunki pehle mein wahi kar raha tha but then I added a few more paragraphs.

Ab mujhe nahi pata tumhe iss update ko kis month me consider karna hai. Mein yeh bullshit se kaafi frustrate ho chuka hu. Ye mujhe baandh ke rakhti hai aur free-fokat ki anxiety hoti hai. Toh, ab jaise-jaise updates ready hote jayenge, mein unhe post karta jaunga. That's it! Make sure karna ki target jitna jaldi ho sake utna jaldi clear kar do. Iss waale ka bhi utna hi hai. 250. So, reviews dene ka aur like thokne ka.

Milenge agle bhaag me!!!

Bhai jo story man se padhte hai unke liye yeh update bhi zabardast hai mere liye bhi

Aor neel mani ko nahi bholle hai ham log

Par parizat ki past se Mera ek doubt hai ki sharap me sirf vansh ke ek ki khidmat karne ka sharap mila tha par jab pichli baar harikiran ki mout ke waqt jab bhavna ke ghar ka scene chal raha tha tab yeh bataya gaya tha ki uske ghar me parizat ke sath sareerik sambandh bante aaye hai isliye thoda confusion hai agar aap door karna chahe?

Baki bahut badhiya update aor yeh bhi theek hai mahine ka bandhna ki kitne updates aayenge yeh dikkat karta hoga q ki life jaisa ham sochte hai sab waisa hi nahi hota aapka jab mare likhna shuru kijiye aor jab aapke targets poore ho jaye tab aap jab dil kare deliver kar dijiye chahe mahine ka 1 update ho 4 jitna aap karna chahe

 

[Huzaif]

Huh

Post Disembowler ke arc ke khatam hote hote Veer ka kisi na kisi ke saath relationship fix ho jaayega. Don't worry!

Yeh kya hai bhai yeh to fir nuclear bomb fut jayega

 

[king10]

Mind-blowing update
Parijat house ka past surprising tha
Veer ne dhananjay ko dhundne ka wada kiya hai par woh to mar chuka hai
Use Bihar Jana padega lekin abhi 2 mission pending hai
Raman wala mission kafi dino baad hi dekhne ko milaga

 

[Rajesh]

Update - 202 ~ From the shadows (2)​

Ab tak...

Veer apne hosh me aaya. Usne dekha. Aadesh ka lahu luhaan latakta hua bejaan sa shareer. Woh zinda tha. Lekin, adhmara sa ho chuka tha.

Aur, bina kuchh bole hi Veer ne hockey stick ko zorr se feka aur waha se mud ke jaane laga.

Koi shabd nahi. Koi harqat nahi.

Kyunki, uski agli destination tay thi.

Aur, woh akela nahi tha.

*Vroooooom*

Trisha ki jeep bhi raaste par bhaagte hue usi destination ki orr badh rahi thi.

Dhananjay!!!

Ab aage...

Vasai ke ghane ilaake me raat pehle hi gehri ho chuki thi. Sheher me ghapp sannaata pasra hua tha par Trisha ka kaafila dhundhli raushni waali sadko par ek khamosh bhaale ki tarah tezi se aage badh raha tha.

Police ki teen gaadiyaan ek ke peechhe ek raaste par daud rahi thi. Yeh raasta Thane se Vasai ko jodta tha.

Trisha sabse aage chal rahi pehli Scorpio me aage ki seat par baithi hui thi, jo MH-01 number plate waali ek sarkari gaadi thi. Upar jal rahi neeli batti ko bhi usne ekdum mand kar rakha tha.

Peechhe ki seat par ek sub inspector baitha hua tha — Anil Salaskar. Aur, uske saath do constable jo apni chhaati se rifles sataaye baithe the.

Trisha (driver se) : Aur, kitni der??

Driver : Bas madam! Kuchh aur der.

Usne sadak par apni nazrein gadaaye hue bataaya. Trisha ne haami bhari. Aaj raat woh saade kapdo me thi, apni wardi me nahi. Navy blue shirt, black jeans aur uski pistol ko dhakne ke liye ek half camouflage jacket.

Uska badge aur ID uske jeb me thi. Woh zaroorat padne tak apni authority nahi dikhaana chaahti thi. Aaj raat baat satta aur taaqat ki nahi thi. Aaj raat baat jawaabo ko dhundhne ki thi.

Uske peechhe do aur gaadiyaan chal rahi thi — ek innova jinme saade kapdo me adhikari the aur ek bina number waali safed bolero jisme rapid action unit ke log the. Kul milakar 10 adhikari. Sabhi chune hue.

Koi press nahi. DGP tak koi leak nahi. Formal log me bhi koi entry nahi. Sab kuchh — vyaktigat. Trisha ke under. Kyunki, aaj raat uske paas ek naam tha.

Dhananjay.

Woh aadmi jiske aadmiyon ne Hotel Prestige par shootout ko anjaam diya tha. Teen security guards ko maar daala, Mumbai ki jaani-maani hotel ko tehes-nehes kar diya. Ek aisa aadmi jiska koi ata-pata hi nahi tha achanak se itne bade humle ko anjaam de gaya.

Jab Kalyan East me uske ek aadmi ko mobile triangulation ke zariye pakda gaya aur uski achhe tareeke se khatirdari kari gayi toh usne ek naam bataaya. Ek jagah. Aur, ek samay.

Ek slaughterhouse. Veeraan. Vasai ke industrial estate me.

"Dhananjay... Dhananjay Vasai me milega. Vasai ke kasaayi-khaane me. P-Par, subah hote hi woh... woh apna adda badal lega."

Uss aadmi ke bol the. Aur, Trisha usi orr badh rahi thi. Lekin, uske dil me sirf yahi baat nahi khatak rahi thi.

Veer.

Uska naam tab se uske dimag me chadha hua tha jab se usne mirror gallery ki tasveeron me use dekha tha. Woh har jagah upasthit mehsoos hota tha, har panne ke peechhe kisi watermark ki tarah. Dhundhla par... maujood.

Lekin-

Usi ne. Usi Veer ne uss raat uski beti ko bachaaya tha. Uski Pihu.

Use aaj bhi wo kaanpti baahein yaad hai jinme Veer ne uski bacchi ko goad me utha rakha tha, uski beti uske khoon se saney shareer se chipki hui thi. Kaise usne bina kisi bhi maang ke uski beti ko uske haatho me saunp diya tha.

Usne baad me Pihu se sab kuchh jaanane ke liye uss se bhi sawal jawab kiye the. Aur, uski nanhi bacchi ne yahi bataaya tha ki-

"Mummy! Woh Juhi ke maamu ne humko bachaya tha. Woh bahut strong hai, mummy."

Magar, chhoti si bacchi akhir kitna hi bata paati. Veer aur Disembowler ki ladaayi thi hi itni tez ki aam insaan bhi agar khada hoke dekhta, toh sab kuchh nahi dekh paata. Fir, Pihu aur Juhi toh bacchiyaan thi.

Yaha tak ki usne apni beti, Pihu ko Rohan ko bhi kuchh bhi bataane se mana kiya hua tha aur nanhi Pihu ne ye kaam bakhoobi nibhaaya tha.

Lekin, yeh jhooth ka bojh ab badhta jaa raha tha. Use Rohan ko batana chahiye tha. Apne pati ko. Ek DGP ko. Usne Veer ke baare me uss se poochha bhi tha-

"Kaun hai woh, Trisha? Kaun hai woh jo humari bacchi ko bacha ke laaya? Mujhe batao Trisha, I swear mein use kuchh nahi karunga."

Aur, Trisha ne kya kiya?

"Maine nahi dekha uska chehra, Rohan. Woh bas aaya, Pihu ko meri goad me thamaya aur waha se gaayab ho gaya."

Usne jhooth bola.

"Tum jhooth bol rahi ho. Kya mein tumhe bewakoof dikhta hu?? Tumhari poori unit tumhare saath maujood thi aur tumhara kehna hai ki kisi ne bhi use nahi dekha?"

"Hmm!"

"Theek hai. Kab tak chhipaogi? Kahi ye jhooth kisi din mehnga na pad jaaye, Trisha. Yaad rakhna meri baat."

"R-Rohan, mein-"

Usne apne pati se jhooth bola. Kyu?

'Tum uss par nazar rakh sakti thi Trisha, pata laga sakti thi ki woh kya chhipa raha hai.'

Usne apne aap se mann me socha. Lekin, uske dil me ek aur awaaz fusfusayi.

'Woh tumhari bacchi ko tumhare paas leke aaya. Akele. Tab, jab tumne ummeed lagbhag chhor di thi.'

Usne apne nichle honth ko daato se zorr se bheencha.

Driver : Bas madam kuchh hi der. Thane se Vasai, minimum ek ghanta toh lag hi jaata hai. Bas 10-15 minute ka raasta aur.

Trisha (nods) : Hmm!

Aur, ve sab Vasai me sthit slaughterhouse ki orr badhte chale gaye.

***

Slaughterhouse, Vasai Industrial
Estate, Morning - 2:35 AM ~

Vasai ka yeh kasaayi-khaana kaafi mahino se veeraan pada hua tha. Jagah-jagah zung, sookh chuke khoon aur tel ki baasi gandh hawa me feli hui thi.

Neeche ka farsh toota hua, ubad-khabad, aur puraane grease se lathpath tha. Upar zung lagi lohe ki patriyo par abhi bhi hooks latak rahe the. Kabhi-kabhar upar ek timtimata hua bulb bhinbhinata jis se deewaron par lambi parchhayiyaan padti.

Yeh slaughterhouse woh jagah thi jaha janvaro ko maar kar insaano ke upbhog ke liye maans ke roop me unhe process kiya jaata tha. Idhar alag-alag prakar ke janvaro ka rakh-rakhaav kiya jaata tha.

Janvaro ko behosh karna, unka khoon nikaalna, unki safaayi karna, aur meat production ke liye unki dressing karna. Ye sab ek slaughterhouse me kiya jaata tha. Aur, yeh kasaayi-khaana Dhananjay ke hi dada ji — Harikiran Singh ka tha.

Adhik paisa kamaane ka ek aur zariya. Magar, ab yeh band ho chuka tha.

Kaaran? Slaughterhouse me unhygienic tareeke se maans ko preserve karna, animal cruelty, food safety, jaise kayi rules ka violation karte hue FSSAI ki taraf se unhe ek legal notice praapt ho chuka tha jiske chalte yeh kasaayi-khaana band ho gaya.

Kintu, jo bhi ho... Chhipne ke liye iss se behtar jagah aur koi nahi ho sakti thi.

Dhananjay beecho-beech khada hua tha, uske baaye haath me beer ki ek bottle thi, fatey hontho ke beech ek cigarette fasi hui thi. Uski shirt saamne se poori tarah se khuli hui thi jiske chalte uski andar ki baniyan saaf nazar aa rahi thi.

Dhananjay : Maayi ke kasam, badla layeeb. *huff* Samay aa gawa hai!

Woh idhar se udhar tehel raha tha. Jaise shikaar se pehle maano ek baagh tehel raha ho.

Qadmo ki aahat sunayi di. Uska ek aadmi, Satbeer, taar jaisa sikuda lekin, tez nazron waala, thoda haafta hua, uski taraf daudata hua aaya.

Satbeer : Sarkar! Sab jaal bichha diye hai. Jaisa aap bole the.

Dhananjay ruka. Uske chehre par ek muskurahat fel gayi, jis se uski ghani moochhe upar ki orr mud gayi.

Dhananjay : Theek ba!

Usne dhue ka ek gubaar chhora.

Dhananjay (grins) : Ab asli khela shuru hui!!

Dusre aadmi Pintu ne Satbeer ko asmanjas me dekha. Fir, Dhananjay ko. Fir, akhirkar usne poochh hi liya.

Pintu : Sarkar! P-Par ek baat samajh nahi aayi. Hum ye jaal bichha kyu rahe hai? Yaha par toh humein konu khatra nahi hai.

Dhananjay ke qadam ruke. Woh ghooma. Uski aankhon me chamak thi. Fir, cigarette ko fekne se pehle ek gehra kash kheencha aur bola.

Dhananjay : Kaahe ki tum log kuchh nahi jaanela...! Bas goli chalaave ke kaam ba bhosad chode... Dimag lagaave ke na!!!

Woh dheere-dheere Pintu ke qareeb aaya, aur uske kandho par apne haath rakha. Uske hontho par ek ajeeb si haivano waali muskaan thi.

Dhananjay : Hum hi apne dui aadmi chhora tha hua! *grins* Taaki uu dono pakde jaa sake.

"K-Kya???"

Satbeer aur Pintu dono ne chaunkte hue ek dusre ki orr dekha.

Satbeer : L-Lekin, kaahe sarkar? Apne hi aadmi?

Dhananjay ki muskurahat gurrahat me badal gayi.

Dhananjay : Kaahe ki uu Veer... Saala maayi ka choda... Uu saala samjhat ba ki humaar pata usko mil gayeel hahahahaha! Ab uu akele aa riya hoga badhiya robin hood bann ke hahaha! Sochat hui ki hum hiya sehma hua, daba hua baitha hai. Lekin-

Woh qareeb jhuka, uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi.

Dhananjay : Asli shikaar toh uu khud ba!!!

Ek khamoshi chhaa gayi.

Dhananjay : Ee kasaayi-khaana uu ka hai. Uu ka kehte hai? Haan! Humre dada ji ka hahaha! Aisan jagah jaha aadmi ko gaado toh konu suraag na mile.

Usne maans ko latkaane waale hooks ki orr dekha. Fir, zor se do baar taali bajaayi.

*Clap* *Clap*

Uska ek aadmi slaughterhouse ka naksha lekar aaya. Yeh haath se banaaya gaya tha. Ekdum taaza. Usme sab kuchh maujood tha. Alag-alag raaste, chhipne ke sthaan, platform, levers, control room, machines, sab kuchh.

Dhananjay ne ye naksha inn beetein dinon kaafi hadd tak ratt liya tha. Usne ek baar aur uss nakshe ko dekh sab kuchh apne dimaag me baithaane ki koshish ki.

Dhananjay : Uu Veer abki baar hiya se zinda nahi jaayega.

Usne apne galey par kaatne ka ishaara kiya.

Dhananjay : Uu ki gardan hum uu ke dhad se alag kar denge! Chhatpata ke mari, saamne humara! Aur, uu ke baad- saara paisa humra hahaha!

Ek kshan beeta. Tabhi, usne apna phone nikaala. Aur, ek number dial kiya. Ghanti baji, aur kuchh ghanti baad udhar se awaaz aayi.

"H-Haan-! M-Mein gaadi me hu!"

Dhananjay : Hahaha! Aai ja maayi! Aai ja! Tohre liye badhiya tohfa taiyaar kar ke rakhunga. Tu aa!

Phone ke uss orr Vandna thi.

Vandna : Y-Ye sab! Ye sab jokhim bhara hai!

Sunte hi Dhananjay ka chehra kaala pad gaya.

Dhananjay : Iski behan ki choot! Muh band rakh! Bahut baat sunn leni tohre se. Ab aur naa! Jitna bola gaya hai utna karne ka! Samjhi na?

Vandna : H-Haan!

Dhananjay ne bina kuchh aage kahe call kaat di aur phone apni jeb me rakh liya. Usne ek gehri saans li, fir chillaaya.

Dhananjay : Taiyaar ho jao sab ke sab. Apni-apni jagah lelo! Uu sasuri Veer kisi bhi samay aata hi hoga.

Aadmi : Ji sarkar!

Uske nirdesh par sabhi aadmi alag-alag jagaho me jaa kar chhip gaye. Kuchh lockers ke peechhe, kuchh baahar ki naali ke paas, kuchh upar ke corridors me, toh kuchh neeche kasaayi-khaane ke andar dubak ke baith gaye.

*Click*

Bandooke load ho gayi. Aadmiyon ka pehra shuru ho gaya, mobile phones silent me kar liye gaye. Conference call se sab jud gaye.

Yahi thi Dhananjay ki rann-neeti. Jaan boojh ke usne apne do aadmi peechhe chhore the taaki Veer ke dwara ve pakad me aa sake.

Ab choonki unke phone nahi lag rahe the, matlab saaf tha ki dono pakde jaa chuke the. Aur, unhone uske kahe anusaar uski jagah bhi bata hi di thi.

Woh dono aadmi gaddaar nahi the. Unhe jaan-boojh ke sikha ke bheja gaya tha ki kab aur kitna virodh karne ke baad jankari muh se ugalni hai. Dhananjay Veer ko apni territory me bula raha tha. Use maarne ke liye. Veer ko ye vishvas dilaate hue ki Veer do qadam aage hai.

Lekin, Dhananjay ek baat se anjaan tha. Woh yeh ki-

Uska ek aadmi toh beshaq Veer ke qabze me aa chuka tha. Magar, dusra-

Dusra vyakti police ke qabze me tha. Aur, police ab yahi aa rahi thi. Jiske baare me use koi khabar nahi thi.

***

2:58 ho raha tha aur Mumbai police ki teen gaadiyaan ek kataar me junglee ghaas ke paas ek service lane me khadi ho gayi. Rukte hi headlights bujh gayi.

*Thud*

Darwaaze khol sabhi officers, hawaldar, aur rapid action ke log unme se baahar aaye. Koi aadesh nahi. Koi awaaz nahi. Ve sab kasaayi-khaane se 400m ki doori par khade ho gaye.

Trisha : Lights band. Sab radio silence me.

Usne apne logo ko nirdesh diya. Uske kaale boots bajri chatkaate hue raaste par aage badh rahe the. Jaan boojh ke ve sab thoda pehle utre the taaki Dhananjay ko koi shaq na ho.

Inspector Anil Salaskar, jo umr me toh Trisha se bade the, lekin raid me anubhavi the. Unke sujhaav ke anusaar sabhi log ghaas ki aadh me raaste par aage badhne lage. Aur, jaise hi ve sab slaughterhouse ke ekdum nazdeek pahuche toh unki aankhein waha ka drishya dekh chaudi ho gayi.

Anil : Wo raha kasaayi-khaana madam. Lekin, kuchh toh ajeeb hai.

Usne apni aankhein sikodte hue door dekhte hue kaha. Slaughterhouse ke theek baahar sewage ke paas 3 se 4 log pehra de rahe the.

Anil : Security?

Trisha ne bhi apni aankhein sikodte hue uss orr dekha. Sewage ke paas timtimaate street lamp ki halki peeli raushni me, chaar aadmi saade kapdo me, haatho me mobile aur handgun liye ghoom rahe the. Lekin, unki chaal, unka andaaz koi aam vyakti jaisa nahi tha.

Trisha (frowns) : Ye security guards nahi hai! Y-Ye... Unke haatho me gun hai. Armed hai. Y-Ye... Shooters hai!

Anil : Kya lagta hai? Kya humaare yaha aane ki khabar unn tak leak ho gayi? Unhe kaise pata chala ki koi aane waala hai?

Trisha ne turant jawab nahi diya. Kuchh der baad woh boli.

Trisha : Aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai ki wo kisi aur ka intezar kar rahe ho?

Anil : Hmm? Aur, kiska madam?

Woh chup rahi. Uska mann kisi aur jagah ghoom gaya. Veer!!!

Kya Dhananjay waqai me unka intezar kar raha tha? Ya-

Woh Veer ka intezar kar raha tha? Ya fir-

Veer ka iss se koi lena dena hi nahi tha aur Dhananjay kisi teesre vyakti ka intezar kar raha tha?

Tamaam sawaal uske mann me paida hue. Bheetar hi bheetar dwand bhadak utha. Lekin, iss pal me aap jhijhak nahi sakte the.

Trisha ne apne comms. par click kiya aur usme se boli.

Trisha : Sunil! Road ke pichhle hisse me dono gaadiyaan le jaake ek barricade taiyaar karo. Apne saath ek jann aur rakh lo. Yaha se koi bhi bhaagna nahi chahiye.

Sunil : Ji madam!

Trisha : Rapid action unit. Aap sab baayi orr se flank karenge. Choonki aap slaughterhouse ke side se flank kar rahe ho, aapko peechhe se bhaagne waale log aur aage ke log clearly dikh paayenge. Mujhe har ek jankari chahiye.

Rapid Action Unit : Ji madam! Clear!

Trisha : Mein aur Anil ji baaki dono hawaldaro ke saath saamne se enter karenge. Agar, unhe bina maare neutralize kar sakte ho toh badhiya hai. Anil ji! Aap lead kariye.

Anil (smiles) : Aap bas peechhe cover leke mere saath aate jaaiye, madam. Baaki, mein sambhal lunga.

Trisha (nods) : Hmm!

Usne kasaayi-khaane ki orr dekha. Waqai me ye kaafi bade ilaaqe me fela hua tha. Uski deewarein bhi samay ke saath kaali pad chuki thi. Unhe bahut hi satarkta baratne ki zaroorat thi.

Ek chook, aur Dhananjay haath se fisal sakta tha.

---

Toh wahi kasaayi-khaane ke andar, Dhananjay idhar se udhar tehel raha tha.

Raat ki halki thand ke bawajood uski gardan paseene se tar thi. Usne apni cigarette ka akhiri hissa boot ke neeche dabaaya aur apne ek aadmi ko dekh poochha-

Dhananjay : Sab aadmi pojition le liye ki naahi?

Aadmi : J-Ji sarkar! Sab taiyar hai!

Dhananjay : Hmm!

Abhi unka sanvaad aur ho paata ki tabhi itne me-

Baahar pehra de rahe ek aadmi ne do police waalo ko sadak paar karte dekh liya. Uski aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi, wo fauran hi phone par chillaaya.

Dhananjay : Kya hua bey?

Aadmi : S-Sarkar! Sarkar maine abhi-abhi... Maine abhi-abhi do police waalo ko sadak paar karte hue dekha.

Aur, beshaq ye sunte hi Dhananjay ka khud ka badan sihar gaya. Police? Yaha? Kahi na kahi use andaza tha iska, lekin-

Dhananjay (frowns) : Madarchod ee Veer sasuri police leke aa gaya?

Aadmi : Kya karna hai sarkar?

Dhananjay : Chaahe police ho ya koi bhi, daag do sabko. Konu bach ke jaane na paaye. Ee Veer ko toh hum dekhela!!!

Uske aadesh ke baad aadmi log bhi police se bhidne ke liye taiyaar ho gaye kyunki, ve jaante the ki iss ladaayi ke baad unn sabko ye thikana badalna hi hai. Fir chaahe do aadmi maar ke jao ya chaar, kya farq padta hai?

Par, abhi sab taiyar hue hi the ki-

*Buzz*

Achanak batti gul ho gayi.

Dhananjay : Madarchod! Ee sasuri lightwa kaun band kar diya??

Woh chillaaya.

Wahi, baahar maujood Trisha aur baaki sab bhi achanak light chale jaane se dang reh gaye. Ab andar ghusna unke liye aur bhi mushqil ho chuka tha.

Tabhi, ek aadmi andar aaya aur usne haklaate hue ghabra kar bataaya.

Aadmi : S-Sarkar-! Khambe ke paas bijli ki taarein latak rahi hai. Pata nahi kaise-

Dhananjay : Tohri maayi ke chode, tuhaar gaand me goli daal dees. Tohre se taar ki baat poochhle rahi hum?

Aadmi : N-Ni-!

Dhananjay : Bijli kaise gayi???

Aadmi : P-Pata nahi sarkar! T-Taar khambe se jhool rahi hai.

Dhananjay: Toh bhosad chod jaa ke generator chaalu karo! Lightwa jalao! Bhaago hiya se!

Woh aadmi dar ke maare generator shed ki orr turant bhaaga. Baahar idhar Trisha aur Anil ki team andhere ke kaaran ab kahi na kahi andar toh asaani se pravesh kar sakti thi, magar ye andhera unke liye bhi ek kathinaayi ka kaaran tha.

Anil : Yahi mauka hai, madam! Andhere me dhaawa bolna hoga.

Trisha (frowns) : Kya bina shooting ke kaam nahi ho sakta?

Anil : Nahi madam! Wo pehra de rahe hai. Kisi ka intezar kar rahe hai. Aur, upar se sabke haatho me hathiyar hai shayad. Hum risk nahi le sakte. Injury deke hi aage badhna hoga.

Trisha : Theek hai!

Trisha batti gul hone ke kaaran ke peechhe zyada pareshan thi. Iss waqt achanak se batti gul hone ka kya kaaran ho sakta tha? Overload? Short circuit? Ya mehez ittefaq?

Parantu, ye sochne ka samay nahi tha.

Anil : Mein aage badh raha hu, mere peechhe-peechhe aate rahiye aap sab, madam!

Trisha (nods) : Hmm!

Woh dono do hawaldaro ke saath aage badhe aur cover lete hue Anil ne turant hi chillaaya-

Anil : Apne hathiyar neeche fek do! Tum sabhi ko chaaro orr se police ne gher liya hai. Surrender kar do!

Magar, Dhananjay ke aadmiyon ko pehle hi nirdesh mil chuka tha ki kya karna hai. Bhala wo kaha apne hathiyar itni asaani se fekne waale the?

*Bang*

Bandook se nikli pehli bullet seedhe Anil ke paas waali deewar se aa kar bhidi. Trisha chaunk gayi. Ye jaante hue bhi ki police dwara ve sab chaaro orr se ghir chuke hai, uske bawajood ye aadmi itni himmat kar unn par shoot kaise kar sakte the? Ye uski samajh se parey tha. Kahi na kahi wo niraash thi aur krodhit bhi ki pehle khoon-kharabe ko taala jaa sakta tha. Magar, shayad ab nahi.

Anil : Dekha madam! Maine kaha tha na? Aisa lagta hai jaise inn saalo ko pata tha ki hum yaha aane waale hai.

Jab bullet ki awaaz waha goonji, toh sab satark ho gaye. Ye ek ishaara tha ki bina ladaayi ke kuchh bhi haasil nahi hone waala tha. Wahi, andar Dhananjay ko bhi pata lag gaya tha ki ladaayi shuru ho chuki hai. Lekin, kareeban theek 30 second ke baad-

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

Kasaayi-khaane me ek cheenkh goonj uthi. Chubhne waali. Tadapti hui. Dardnaak. Cheenkh sannaate ko aise cheeri jaise koi khanjar resham ko cheerta hai. Dhananjay thitak gaya. Baaki gundo ne awaaz ki taraf apna muh ghumaaya. Cheenkh generator shed se aayi thi. Sab ne hathiyaar taan liye. Dehshat badhti jaa rahi thi.

Dhananjay (yells) : Ka bhail???

Uske chillaane par ek aur aadmi generator shed ki orr bhaaga. Mand raushni waale shed ke andar, usne dekha ki pichhla aadmi jo generator chaalu karne ke liye aaya tha, woh zameen par pada tha. Uska shareer aitha sa tha. Woh bhaag kar uss aadmi ke paas pahucha aur jaise hi usne uska aaklan liya, uski aankhein bhay ke maare fel gayi. Kyunki, neeche pada hua aadmi... marr chuka tha.

Kaaran? Kahi na kahi woh aadmi bhaanp gaya. Current!!! Usne ghabraate hue generator ke aas-paas dekha, aur savdhani se generator on kiya. Generator me koi kharabi nahi thi. Fir, ye current? Akhir, ye aadmi mara kaise? Current laga kis se? Woh vyakti ghabraate hue wapas se andar kasaayi-khaane ki orr bhaaga aur ghuste hi-

Aadmi : S-Sarkar-! W-Woh toh mar gaya... Jhatka laga gaya... Poora current ghus gaya... Generator me konu jhol nahi hai, p-par pata nahi kaise-

Batti toh aa chuki thi, magar Dhananjay ki dhadkane dehshat ke maare ab tez hoti jaa rahi thi.

Dhananjay (growls) : Saala sab kuchh plan ke mutabik jaat rahela... ab ka... ka gadbad hui rahi hai baar-baar?

Police ka aana. Bijli ka jaana. Uske ek aadmi ka achanak se marna.

Tabhi, use ek abhaas hua. Aur, uss baare me sochte hi uski aankhon ki putliyaan baahar ko aa gayi. Ek thandi sihran uske poore badan me daud gayi.

Woh apne aap me fusfusaya.

"Kauno... Kauno aa chuka ba!!! Kauno hiya hai!! KAUNO HIYA ANDAR GHUSA HAI MADARCHODO!!!"

Woh ghabrahat me zorr se chillaaya aur uske aadmi dar ke maare chappa-chappa chhaanane me lag gaye.

Generator toh chalne laga tha. Lights bhi aa chuki thi. Magar, upar waale loft office me Dhananjay hila hua tha.

Ujaale se use thodi raahat pahuchni chaahiye thi, lekin aisa nahi hua.

Ulta...

Uski ghabrahat aur bhi badh chuki thi.

---

*Crack*

Sub inspector Anil Salaskar ke kandhe se kuchh inch upar chaardeewari se eento ka choora uchhla. Woh neecha jhuka aur cement ki deewar ke peechhe ludhak gaya.

Anil (yells) : Firing! Firing! Upar se ho rahi hai.

Usne apne radio par chillaaya. Kasaayi-khaane ki height ka advantage lete hue Dhananjay ke aadmi upar ke corridor se khuli hui khidkiyo se vaar kar rahe the taaki police unn tak pahuch na sake.

Trisha concrete ke bane chaare ke gaddhe ke peechhe chhipi hui thi, daant bhinche hue. Andar ghusna mushqil hota jaa raha tha. Upar se lights wapas se aa chuki thi.

Usne apne galey ke mic par button dabaaya aur boli.

Trisha : Sabhi teams! Cover lo! Aur, cover se hi counterattack karo.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

Goliyon ki bauchhaar shuru ho gayi. Slaughterhouse ki teen oonchi khidkiyon se firing ho rahi thi. Koi rifle nahi, sirf handgun aur pistol ki gadgadahat, aim me laparwahi. Oonchaayi ka fayda toh unke paas tha, lekin ve sab trained policemen ke saamne nauseekhiyo ke samaan the.

Jaise hi ek khidki se ek aadmi ne fire kiya, uski bandook ke muzzle se nikla flash dekh Trisha fauran uthi. Ek andaaza aur-

*Bang* *Bang*

Do round ka controlled burst. Aur, agle hi pal-

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!!!!"

Khidki par khada aadmi dono goliyaan apne seene me lagne se khidki se ladkhada ke neeche gira. Uska shareer hawa me gulaati khaate hue neeche aaya aur-

Neeche lagi lohe ki taaro ki nukeeli boundary se jaa bhida.

Trisha (yells) : SHIT!!

*Squish*

Khoon ke chheete hawa me uchhal gaye, uska gala unn lohe ki taaro ke nukeele hisso me jaa ke dhans gaya aur baaki ka shareer-

Yuhi hawa me jhulta reh gaya.

Trisha ne apne daant zor se meese. Ek dardnak maut. Woh sirf uss aadmi ko neutralize karna chaahti thi. Iss tarah se maarna nahi. Lekin, uss aadmi ki kismat hi aisi thi ki woh iss qadar apni jaan gawa baitha.

Trisha ke baayi orr Rapid Action Unit (RAU) ke log ekdum taiyaar the. Tactical gear aur ballistic helmets, ve sab ek V akaar banaate hue fel gaye, unke haatho me ballistic shields thi. Bullets shield se ricochet hui, operators chillaaye lekin datey rahe. Ve sab baakiyon ke liye raasta banaane ke liye zimmedar the.

Tabhi, radio se awaaz aayi-

"Sunil reporting- peechhe ki lane block kar di gayi hai. Dono jeep se barricade bana diya gaya hai. Escape route seal kar diya hai. Repeat, escape route seal kar diya hai."

Trisha (nods) : Good Sunil!

Usne ek gehri saans li. Achha hua pichhla maarg block kar diya gaya tha. Ab bhaagne ke liye Dhananjay ke paas sirf ek hi raasta tha. Aur, woh tha-

Saamne ka raasta.

---

"Sab pojition par ho ki naahi?"

Dhananjay ne ek aadmi se jhatke se phone chheente hue kaha.

Magar-

Koi jawab nahi.

Dhananjay : Satbeer!!? Generator shed me ka hua??

Koi jawaab nahi.

Dhananjay (shouts) : SUAR KE BACCHON! SAB KE SAB APNI MAAYI KI GAAND ME GHUS GAYE HO KYA???

Usne firse apne phone se awaaz lagaayi. Ve sab ke sab conference call se ek dusre se connected the.

Dhananjay : Ae Raju!!!?

Akhirkar, ek awaaz phone par sunaayi di.

Raju : H-Haan sarkar! H-Hum-

*CLANG*

Raju : Glrghhh!!!

Aur, Raju conference call se achanak se alag ho gaya.

'!!?'

Dhananjay ke muh se cigarette gir gayi. Woh paas ke do aadmiyon ke paas gaya.

Dhananjay : Dusre gate pe niklo!! Dekh ke aao! Dekh ke aao kya chalat ba-!

Ve dono aadmi jhijhke.

Dhananjay (screams) : KA DEKHAT BA!? DEKH KE AAO JHAATUO!!

Dono dar ke maare jaalidaar seedhiyon se neeche stun corridor ke liye bhaage. Jise stunner floor bhi kaha jaata tha. Stunner kisi bhi kasaayi-khaane me janvaro ko maans me tabdeel karne ke liye pehli prakriya hoti thi. Unke sarr par stunner se unhe stun kiya jaata tha jaha ve behosh ho jaate the aur uske baad behoshi me baaki saari prakriyaon ko anjaam diya jaata tha.

---

Idhar RAU ke log baayi orr mude, ek puraane feed silo ko cover ki tarah istemal karte hue, ek operator ne side hatch me ek flash diversionary lagaayi aur ungliyon se ulti ginti shuru kar di.

3...2...1...

*BLAM*

Hatch par maujood do gunde flashbang ke chalte andhe ho chale. Aur, tabhi-

"Jaldi! Jaldi! Jaldi!"

RAU ke logon ne unn dono ko pakad ke ghera, unhe baandha aur apne boots unki gardan par tikaaye unhe neutralize kar diya.

Anil ne deewar ke upar se jhaanka-

Anil : Teesri khidki! Daayi waali!

Trisha (nods) : Supress!!!

Aur, uske aadesh par do constable ne apni rifles ki goliyon se deewar ko cheer diya. Plaster ukhad gaya. Ek pistol baahar ki orr giri, uske baad ek haath latak gaya. Andar pada shav nazron se ojhal ho gaya.

Tabhi, comms. me se firse awaaz aayi-

"Madam! Front se aage badhiye. Left side se poora area secure kar diya hai. Do aadmiyon ko custody me bhi le liya hai."

RAU ke pramukh ne uss se kaha.

Trisha : Ruko! Wahi rukna!!!

Woh Anil ko dekhi aur uss se boli.

Trisha : Aap yaha se andar pahuchiye. Mein RAU ke saath andar milti hu.

Anil (nods) : Ji madam! Sambhal ke!

Trisha cover ka sahara lete hue RAU ke paas jab pahuchi toh usne dekha Dhananjay ke dono aadmi haath-perr aur muh bandhe neeche daley hue the. Usne fauran hi apni bandook nikaali aur seedhe unme se ek ke thobde par taan di.

Trisha : Iske pehle ki mein trigger dabau, seedhe-seedhe batao ki tum sab yaha kya kar rahe ho aur kiska intezar kar rahe the?

Trisha ke sawaal se aadmi chaunk gaya. Iska matlab kya police jaanti thi ki ve sab yaha kisi ka intezar kar rahe the? Magar, woh bhi shaatir tha. Woh jaanta tha ki police itni asaani se use nahi maaregi isliye woh khamosh raha.

Lekin, Trisha DSP thi. Koi aam police officer nahi. Uss aadmi ke mann ki baat bhi jaise woh samajh gayi.

Trisha : Hmph! Hoshiyar banane ki zaroorat nahi. Tum sab logon ka warrant maine jaari kar diya hai. Koi bhi aadmi Dhananjay ke saath associate rahe, unhe dekhte hi neutralize karne ka aadesh de chuki hu mein.

Aur, yaha neutralize ka matlab tha — maut.

Kehte hi usne dobaara uss aadmi ko dekha, iss baar uss aadmi ki aankhon me bhay tha. Kyunki, warrant jaari tha. Zinda ya murda. Farq nahi padta. Agar, vyakti Dhananjay ke saath mila hua hai, toh poori police force ko khulli chhooth thi unhe on the spot maarne ki. Aur, do teen logon ko wo pehle hi nipta chuke the.

Warrant ke issue hone se maamla ab badal chuka tha. Dhananjay ek bahut bade terrorist attack ka prime suspect tha. Uss se associate logon ke liye bhi warrant utna hi sakht hona chaahiye tha jo Trisha ne tabhi de diya tha jab Dhananjay ke aadmiyon ne firing shuru ki thi.

*Chataaak*

Ek thappad uss aadmi ke gaal par zor se pada.

Trisha : Jaldi!! Mein intezar nahi karungi.

*Click*

Usne handgun ka hammer anguthe se kheencha.

Trisha : Mein teen tak hi ginungi. 3...2...

Iss se pehle ki woh ek tak ginti woh aadmi zor se bol pada.

Aadmi : B-Bataata hu!!! B-Bataata hu! M-Mujhe mat maarna! M-Mein bataata hu-!!

Trisha (growls) : BOL! JALDI BOL! BOL YAHA KYA KAR RAHE THE TUM SAB? KISKA INTEZAR KAR RAHE THE? KYU NEECHE PEHRA DE RAHE THE?

Aur, uss aadmi ne aage jo bola, use sunn Trisha ki aankhein dar ke maare fel gayi.

Aadmi : V-Veer!!!

Trisha : ...!!!

Aadmi : H-Humare sarkaar... H-Humare sarkaar ek V-Veer naam ke ladke se badla lena chaahte hai-! I-Isliye-! U-Uska intezar kar rahe the!

Trisha ko jo jaanana tha wo woh jaan chuki thi. Uska poora badan thanda pad chuka tha. Veer...!!! Woh sahi thi. Dhananjay Veer ke peechhe hi tha.

Woh hazaro sawaalon ke jawaab abhi iss aadmi ke muh se nikalwana chaahti thi, kintu iska samay abhi uske paas nahi tha.

Woh seedhe aage ki orr bhaagi.

RAU ka ek aadmi wahi unn dono aadmiyon ke paas theher gaya aur unn se jankaari nikalwaane me lag gaya.

Lekin, Trisha ki dhadkane ab dheemi nahi pad sakti thi.

*Badump* *Badump*

Kya Veer yahi tha? Agar, haan toh kya woh sahi salamat tha? Dhananjay aur Veer ke beech kya dushmani thi? Kya Veer waqai underworld se related tha? Kahi usne police waalo ko Dhananjay ke aadmi samajh ke unn par humla kar diya toh? Kahi Dhananjay ke aadmiyon ne uss par humla kar diya toh? Ya kahi police waalo ne uss par Dhananjay ka aadmi samajh ke vaar kar diya toh?

Tamaam sawaal use andar se gher rahe the. Aur, har guzarte pal Trisha ki haalat kharab hoti jaa rahi thi.

Woh punaah apne comms. me chilla kar boli.

Trisha : MUJHE DHANANJAY ZINDA CHAHIYE!!! ZINDA!

---

Idhar andar Dhananjay ke bheje do aadmi daudate hue central corridor me pahuche.

Unhone dekha ki ek bhaari steel ka crowd gate jo janvaro ko rokne ke liye istemal kiya jaata tha, deewar se upar tika hua tha. Ek zanzeer aur ek chhote se hook se bandha hua.

Jab janvaro ko bade raaste se chhote sakre raaste me bhejna hota tha toh uske liye ye bade crowd control gates istemal hote the. Ye beech me janvaro ko rokte the, aur fir wapas se khul ke janvaro ko pravesh karne dete the. Theek waise hi jaise aksar railway crossing me poles neeche aake gaadiyon ko roka karte hai taaki ve aage na badhe. Farq bas itna tha ki ye steel ke gates wazan me bahut bhaari aur bade the.

Ek aadmi ne zanzeer dheere se tatoli. Woh dheeli thi. Gate apni jagah se ek inch khisak gaya.

Aadmi : Are ye zanzeer kaun dheeli chhor gaya? Sarkar abhi gaali sunayenge!

Woh badbadaya. Uske maathe par paseena chamak raha tha. Dusre aadmi ne bauhe chadhayi aur apni shirt par haath pochhe.

Aadmi 2 : Power gaya tha na... Shayad pressure chhor diya hinge ne. Tight kar de. Jaldi.

Haami bhar pehla aadmi jhuka, zanzeer pakdi aur use deewar ke cleat par aur kass diya. Hook charmaraya. Loha lohe se ghis raha tha. Ek pal ke liye, use kuchh gadbad laga. Bolt mushqil se tik raha tha. Usne ek aur zor se jhatka diya taaki zanzeer ko woh tight kar sake.

Par tabhi-

*CLANG*

Ek tez awaaz ke saath cleat deewar se alag ho gaya.

'Huh?'

Saikdo kilo wazni poora darwaza kisi bediyon se azaad jaanvar ki tarah uchhal kar azaad ho gaya.

Aadmi upar dekha. Magar, bahut der ho chuki thi.

Darwaza haddiyaan todne waale zor se jhoola, zanzeer abhi bhi uss aadmi ki giraft me thi. Aur, agle hi pal-

*BAAAAMMMMMM*

Woh steel ka bhaari-bharkam darwaza poora ka poora uski upar aa gira. Uske shareer ke chithde udd gaye, khoon ke chheete titar-bitar fel gaye.

Dusra aadmi aisa jamm ke reh gaya jaise use saanp soongh gaya ho. Uski aankhein chaudi ho gayi, saansein galey me atak gayi.

Woh apne saathi ke mude hue shareer ko ghoorta raha. Dar haawi ho gaya.

*RUMBLE*

"Ahhhh-!!! K-Kaun!??"

Achanak aayi ajeeb si awaaz ne uska dhyaan kheencha. Usne apne aas-paas dekha.

Ek lamba khula steel ka tank jisme janvaro ki laasho ko ubalte khaulte paani me duboya jaata tha taaki unke maans ko narm kiya jaa sake, unke shareer par maujood baalo ko narm kiya jaa sake taaki skinning ke liye asaani ho sake. Aaj raat veh tank khaali tha. Bas ek andhere se bhare gaddhe ke samaan prateet ho raha tha jiske agal-bagal neeche farsh par tiles lage hue the.

Tabhi-

*RATTLE* *RATTLE*

Uske peechhe kuchh pipes ki orr se awaaz aayi. Kahi parchhaayi me ek dheeli chain khadkhadayi.

Woh dar ke maare ghoom gaya.

"K-Kaun hai??? *huff* *huff* S-Saamne aao!!!"

Uski awaaz bolte hue fatne lagi. Use apne kaano me apni hi dhadkano ki awaaz sunaayi de rahi thi.

Woh railing ke kinaare par jhuk kar apne aap ko sthir rakhne ki koshish karne laga. Tabhi, usne dekha-

Upar pipes se halki si bhaanp uth rahi thi. Hot water system chaalu tha. Woh tank. Khaali nahi tha. Lekin... unme se kisi ne bhi use nahi chhiya tha.

'Y-Ye k-kaise...? Ye chaalu kaise hua?'

Woh mann hi mann budbudaya.

Aur, ek baar fir-

*RATTLE* *RATTLE*

Uske peechhe se ek zordar khatkhat ki awaaz punah aayi. Lekin, iss baar woh ghooma nahi, balki bhaaga. Tezi se. Jab achanak ek mod pe-

*Slip*

'!!!?'

Uska perr neeche lagi grease ke chalte fisal gaya. Woh aage ki orr gir pada. Uski chhaati steel ke kinaare se takraayi. Uski pasliyon me zor ka dard utha. Iske pehle ki woh uth paata, chhat ke hook se latki ek moti zanzeer achanak neeche aake uske takhne se kass gayi. Dar ke maare usne zor se jhatka maara.

“AAAAHHH! Kaun hai?! CHHORO!!”

Uske nakhoon tiles par gadey, magar chikne tiles par uski koi bhi pakad na bann saki. Aur, uss fislan bhare farsh par uska shareer ghasitata hua jaane laga.

Usne laat maari, cheenkha chillaaya, lekin uske takhne me fasa hook badi hi berehmi se use ghaseet kar le jaa raha tha. Uska shareer hawa me uthne laga.

Use tapmaan me bhayanak garmi mehsoos hone lagi. Bhaanp.

"Aaaaaarrrghhhhhh!!!!!!"

Woh cheenkha!!! Aur, agle hi kshan-

Ek akhiri jhatka.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"

Aur, woh sarr ke bal ubalte khaulte paani ke uss tank me gir pada.

Chhap-chhap ki awaaz dheere-dheere shaant ho gayi. Ubalte paani ne kuchh hi seconds me uski cheenkhein nigal li. Bulbule footne lage. Bhaanp fufkaarne lagi. Aur, jis zanzeer ne use utha ke giraaya tha, woh dheeli hokar tank ke upar pendulum ki tarah jhoolne lagi.

Aur, fir-

Sannaata chhaa gaya.

---

Dhananjay ne apne chehra ka paseena pochha aur phone par kaha.

Dhananjay : Kya status ba??? Hello? Hello!? Madarchodo!! Kaha reh gaye sab ke sab???

Usne Satbeer ko dekha jo abhi-abhi andar aaya tha.

Satbeer : S-Sarkar! Police waale andar ghus rahe hai!!

Dhananjay (frowns) : Hiya tak aane me unhe abhi waqt lagega! Uu sasuri Veer!!! KAHA HAI WOH!? SIRF POLICE HI HAI KYA?

Satbeer : J-Ji sarkar! Woh... Woh Veer toh kahi nahi dikha. Police waale hai bas. Kuchh aadmi mar gaye hai sarkar! Ab kya karna hai Sarkar!?

Dhananjay : Dui number waale gate par maine bheja tha laundo ko! Unka kya???

Satbeer : P-Pata nahi sarkar! Unka koi jawab nahi aaya.

Dhananjay : Tch!!!

Satbeer : S-Sarkar! H-Hum bhaag chale kya?

Dhananjay (yells) : Madarchod!!! Upar ka vault dekh ke aa!! Jaa! Mujhe yakeen ba ki konu andar ghusa hai! Aur... Aur, uu zaroor Veer hai! *frowns* Itni saari dikkatein aisan hi nahi paida ho sakti. Konu andar ghusa hai!! VEEEEEERRR!!! Apne saath aur aadmi lete jaa!

Satbeer ne darte hue sirr hilaaya aur apni torch aur gun liye upar ke floor ki orr nikal gaya.

Par, Dhananjay ye nahi jaanta tha ki jaise hi Satbeer kuchh aadmiyon ke saath upar ke freezer vault me gaya, wo unn sab ka akhiri pal tha.

Upar ke vault me ek khamosh sannata bikhar gaya.

---

*Bam*

Police andar aa chuki thi. Bas, unhe ek-ek kamre se hote hue beech waale kamre me pahuchna tha jaha Dhananjay thehra hua tha.

Lekin, Dhananjay ke aadmi har kamre me fele hue the. Unse bhidne ke baad hi, dusre kamre me pravesh kiya jaa sakta tha.

Goliyon ki awaazein poore kasaayi-khaane me goonj uthi. Trisha aur baaki sab baari-baari ek-ek kamre ko clear kar aage badhte jaa rahe the.

Woh waqt door nahi tha jab ve sab Dhananjay ko jald hi gherne waale the.

---

Aur, akhirkar ab-

Dhananjay poori tarah se ghabraya. Ab dar uske chehre par saaf jhalak raha tha.

Dekhte hi dekhte ek-ek karke saare aadmi conference call se cut ho chuke the. Woh akela hi tha jo iss kamre me maujood tha.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

"Inspector Trisha bol rahi hu! Dhananjay! Tumhe chaaro orr se gher liya gaya hai. Abhi bhi waqt hai, baahar aa jao! Apne aadmiyon se kaho ki wo surrender kar de-!!!"

Dhananjay ko awaaz sunaayi di. Aur, ye awaaz-

Theek bagal ke kamre se hi aayi thi. Iska matlab-!? Police uske bagal waale kamre tak pahuch chuki thi.

Nahi! Woh yaha iss tarah se kaise surrender kar sakta tha? Abhi toh Veer se uski bhidant hui hi nahi thi. Bina Veer ko maare uska plan akhir kaise kamyab ho sakta tha?

Aenn waqt pe usne wahi nirnay liya jo aksar har aadmi yaha par leta.

Bhaagne ka.

Woh police se bachne ke liye ulti disha me bhaaga par tabhi-

*Click*

'Huh!!?'

Uske kamre ki batti gul ho gayi. Dhananjay ki dhadkane tez ho gayi. Bagal waale kamre me maujood Trisha ne bhi dekha ki aage ke kamre ki batti gul ho chuki thi.

Nahi! Kuchh sahi nahi tha. Kuchh gadbad thi. Uske maathe par paseene ki boondein sajne lagi. Ye garmi ki wajah se nahi thi. Ye dar ki wajah se thi.

Ek hila dene waala vichaar Trisha ke mann me aaya. Veer....!!!!

Kahi Veer Dhananjay ko...!? Kya woh yahi tha? Aur, uska ye vichaar aur bhi mazboot ho gaya jab usne Dhananjay ki awaazein suni.

"Kaun hai??? Madarchod kaun hai!!? Saamne aaaa!!! MAAYI KE CHODE!!! VEEEEEER!!! MEIN JAANAT HU HIYA TU HI HAI!!! SAAMNE AA!!!"

Jaise hi Trisha ne ye suna woh samajh gayi. Batti ka gul hona koi ittefaq nahi tha.

'N-No! No! No! No! No!'

Woh ghabrayi.

Magar, aage nahi badh sakti thi asaani se. Dhananjay ke aadmi cover leke iss kamre me abhi bhi firing kar rahe the. Aur, andar jaane ka raasta ek hi tha.

*Bang* *Bang*

'Shit! Shit! Shit!!!'

Trisha (yells) : Push!! Push karo! Humaare paas time nahi hai!!

Woh chillaayi. Par, tarqeeb turant hi fail ho gayi. Dhananjay ke aadmi datey hue the. Unke paas achha cover tha.

Trisha (curses) : DAMN IT! ANIL-!!!

Anil (frowns) : Madam-!!!

Trisha : M-Mujhe andar jaana hoga! Distract kariye!! Mein mauka dekh ke-

Anil : Madam, ye bahut jokhim bhara hai. Agar, galti se kisi ne aapko neeche darwaaze se nikalte dekh liya toh-

Trisha (shouts) : WAQT NAHI HAI MERE PAAS! A-AGAR, AUR DERI KI TOH HUM DHANANJAY KO ZINDA NAHI PAKAD PAAYENGE!

Anil : Huh!!?

Anil avaak reh gaya. Dhananjay zinda nahi bachega?

Trisha poori tarah se sehmi hui thi. Dhananjay ko zinda pakadna bahut zaroori tha. Agar, Dhananjay ki jaan gayi toh woh humesha-humesha ke liye ek pukhta saboot kho sakti thi. Aur, woh jaanti thi-

Jaanti thi ki-

Veer wahi andar tha!!!

Iss baar woh apni gut instincts ki sunn rahi thi.

---

Toh wahi, idhar baahar achanak ek gaadi kasaayi-khaane se kuchh door aa kar ruki. Driver ne gaadi rokte hi headlights band kar di kyunki-

*Bang* *Bang*

Goliyon ki awaazein kasaayi-khaane se goonj rahi thi. Uske badan me raungte khade ho gaye.

Usne apne bagal se baithi ek aurat ko dekha aur darwaza khol ke zor se use baahar dhakela-!

"Ahhh!"

Aurat ladkhadaate hue neeche gir gayi.

Driver : Maa ki aankh, sasuri police-!!!

Usne door lagi police ki jeeps dekhi toh uski haalat aur kharaab ho gayi. Jis aurat ko usne dhakela tha woh koi aur nahi, Vandna hi thi. Woh peechhe ke raaste se aaya tha jaha usne dono jeep ko barricade lage hue dekh liya tha.

Driver : Behanchod, bhaago yaha se!!

Usne apne gamchhe se apna chehra pochha. Aur, bina kuchh kahe woh fataak se waha nikalne ke liye gaadi reverse karne laga. Pehle apni jaan bachaana zaroori tha. Vandna ko yaha tak chhorne ka aadha kharcha toh use mil hi gaya tha. Baaki, aadhe kharche se zyada use apni jaan pyaari thi.

Woh waha se nikla aur Vandna jo kasaayi-khaane se aa rahi goliyon ki awaaz thi, use sunn uss orr badh gayi.

---

Dhananjay ladkhadata hua hang hall ke beecho beech aaya. Chaaro taraf andhera tha. Usne apne phone ki torch jalaayi.

Dhananjay : VEER KE BACCHE!! MEIN JAANTA HU TU HIYA HAI! BAAHAR AA! LADD HUMRA SE!!

Usne mobile ki torch light kono me ghumaayi. Magar, kuchh nahi. Tabhi, uske upar se koi metal ki cheez tik-tik karti hui nikli. Usne ghabra kar teen goliyaan upar ceiling ki orr daag di. Chingaariyaan baras uthi.

Woh gaali bakta raha. Woh yaha se baahar bhi nahi nikal sakta tha kyunki, raasta sirf ek hi tha. Agar, baahar nikla-

Toh, Trisha aur baaki police waale use gher lenge. Ulti taraf ek chhota sa darwaza emergency ke liye tha. Lekin, batti gul hone se use kuchh dikhaayi nahi de raha tha. Woh ek hi kaam kar sakta tha-

Aur, woh tha light ke switchboard ko dhundhna. Par-

---

Mauka milte hi Trisha darwaze ke andar sarak gayi. Uski aankhon ne andhere me adjust hone ke liye kuchh seconds liye.

Trisha : Dhananjay!!?

Par, koi jawab nahi.

Pichhle kamre se aa rahi sirf ek chauthayi kamra hi raushni se jagmaga raha tha. Baaki, teen chauthayi andhere me dooba hua tha.

Aur, tabhi-

"Haaaaaaawwwwww"

"Haaaawwwwww"

*Blurgh*

Trisha sunte hi thitak gayi. Ek ajeeb si awaaz use sunaayi di. Aur, fir-

*CLANG* *CLANG*

Khad-khadahat. Khad-khadahat.

Usne upar dekha. Maans latkaane waale hooks jo ek conveyor se jude hue the, wo conveyor belt achanak hi chaalu ho gaya.

Aur, abhi bhi-

"Haaaawwwwww"

Wahi ajeeb se awaaz. Trisha ne apna radio band kiya. Awaaz dhyaan se sunn uske badan ke roye khade ho gaye.

Usne apni handgun se aim lagaaya. Woh awaaz paas aa rahi thi. Nazdeek. Uske qareeb. Uski orr.

*Badump* *Badump*

Trisha ka dil zoro se dhadak raha tha.

Trisha (shivers) : Dh-Dhananjay!? H-Hands up!!!

Magar, abhi bhi-

"Haaaaaaawww!!"

"Huuuuuuuuuu!!!"

*Blurgh* *Squish*

Wo ajeeb si awaazein aur nazdeek aati jaa rahi thi. Trisha ne apni gun leke saamne ki orr aim lagaaya. Uss andhere bhare hisse ki orr.

Conveyor belt me lage ek ek hook uske saamne se aake mudte hue wapas rotation me ghoom rahe the.

Par, tabhi-

*Twitch* *Twitch*

Aisa laga jaise-

Jaise ek hook se kuchh phansa hua tha.

Trisha ke haath kaanpte hue gun par aur mazboot ho gaye. Uski ek aankh se aasu ki boond dar ke maare apne aap nikal gayi.

Trisha (shivers) : F-Freeze!!! Ruk jao wahi!

Par, conveyor belt chaalu tha.

Aur, jaise hi wo hook se latki cheez Trisha ke saamne raushni me aayi-

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!"

Woh zor se cheenkh uthi, aur-

*BANG* *BANG*

Do goliyaan uski bandook se nikal ke seedhe uss hook se latak rahi aakriti par lagi.

Aur, tabhi-

*CLICK*

*FLASH*

Achanak ek raushni jhalki. Ek flash. Aisa laga jaise maano camera se photo kheechne ki awaaz aayi ho. Awaaz toh khair conveyor belt ke shor se thodi dab gayi magar, woh flash-

Woh koi bhram nahi tha.

Trisha (turns abruptly) : K-Kaun hai-!!!

Usne apni bandook flash ki orr daagi. Parantu-

'Huh!!?'

Kuchh nahi tha. Conveyor belt achanak ruk gaya. Aur, uske saamne jo hook se latak rahi aakriti thi, use punah dekhte hi-

Trisha ki dhadkane jaise wahi tham gayi. Ek lohe ke hook se ek insaan latak raha tha.

Par, baat sirf yahi nahi thi-

Hook... Hook uss aadmi ke upar ke jabde ko cheerte hue uski naak se baahar nikla hua tha. Apne muh ke sahaare woh hook se latka hua tha. Dher saara khoon uske poore shareer me fela hua tha aur neeche girta jaa raha tha.

Trisha ko ab samajh aaya ki woh ajeeb si awaazein darasal iss vyakti ki thi, jo hawa me latke hue tadap raha tha.

Usne darr ke maare uss aadmi par fire kiya tha. Lekin, jab usne uss aadmi ko gaur se dekha. Toh, uska badan kaanp gaya.

Woh aadmi...

Dhananjay hi tha.

Iske pehle ki Trisha apne hosh sambhaal paati-

Achanak use apne peechhe kuchh mehsoos hua. Kuchh jaanleva. Kuchh khatarnak. Kisi ki anubhooti. Kisi jeevit cheez ki...!

Uske badan me roye khade ho gaye. Woh himmat kar akasmat palti ki-

'Huhh!?'

Udhar koi bhi nahi tha.

Woh apne perro par gir padi. Anil aur baaki sabhi bhaagte hue sabhi ko neutralize kar andar aaye, par andar ka nazar dekhte hi ve sab dang reh gaye.

Khaas kar, Dhananjay ke shav ko dekh. Kisi bhi insaan ko itni buri maut nahi marna chahiye tha.

Saboot mit chuka tha. Unke rehte koi andar aaya aur Dhananjay ko maar ke chala gaya. Trisha apni mutthi bheenche apne ghutno par gir padi. Uske aansu beh rahe the. Dhananjay zinda tha...! Par, uski do bullets ne-

Bahut kuchh mita diya tha.

***

Jis shaks ne Dhananjay ko maut ke ghaat utaara, woh achanak kasaayi-khaane se pichhle gate se baahar nikla. Par, baahar aate hi uske qadam saamne khadi ek parchhaayi ko dekh wahi tham gaye.

Dhananjay ki maa — Vandna, uske saamne khadi hui thi. Paseena uske chehre par jhalak raha tha, baal bikhre the, aur woh zoro se haanf rahi thi. Woh peechhe pehra de rahi police ki nazron se bach ke andar ghusi thi.

Lekin-

Saamne khade shaks ke badan aur haatho par jab usne khoon ke dhabbe dekhe aur andar goliyon ki awaaz jo ab band ho chuki thi, uss par dhyaan diya, toh achanak hi uske honthon ke kone ajeeb dhang se upar uth gaye.

Aur, jaha use rona chahiye tha, apni chhaati peet-peet kar bilakhna chaahiye tha ki uska beta marr gaya, woh achanak hi ajeeb dhang se hasi.

“Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!”

Uske saamne khada vyakti aankhein faade use dekhne laga. Use vishvas nahi ho raha tha ki woh kya dekh raha hai. Vandna paaglon ki tarah hasey jaa rahi thi.

“Hahahahaha! M-Marr gaya! Marr gaya woh! Hai na??”

Woh dekh paa rahi thi ki kaise uske saamne waala vyakti ekdum bhauchakka hoke use ghoor raha tha. Usne jaari rakha-

“Hahaha! M-Marr gaya!! Marr gaya kutta! Hahahaha!”

Aur, iske pehle ki woh aur zor se awaaz oonchi kar police ka dhyaan kheenchti-

*Whoosh*

Uske saamne se woh aadmi palak jhapakte hi apni jagah se gaayab ho gaya. Vandna ek pal ke liye chaunki. Uski aankhein bhay ke maare feli-

Lekin, iske pehle ki woh kuchh samajh paati, koi pratikriya kar paati-

*Thud*

“Ahh!”

Akasmat hi ek vaar uski gardan ke paas aa kar laga. Uski aankhon ke saamne andhera chhaa gaya aur uska shareer neeche girne laga. Uss aadmi ne uske badan ko apne kandhe par uthaaya aur-

*Swoosh*

Woh waha se use lekar gaayab ho gaya.

***

*Vroom*

[Master-!!!]

Pari ki awaaz zor se Veer ke mann me goonji. Veer ki gaadi raat ke andhere me saaye-saaye sadak par bhaag rahi thi. Woh jaanti thi ki uske master ke mann me kya chal raha tha. Uske master iss ghatna se kitne hile hue the. Sahi maayno me woh khud bhi iss sthiti ko lekar koi sense nahi bana paa rahi thi. Kyu?

Kyunki-

Dhananjay jis waqt Veer ki nazron ke saamne sabse pehle nazar aaya tha, uss waqt, Veer ne use check kiya tha. Magar, tabhi use pehla jhatka laga tha. Kyunki, jo usne dekha, uski ummeed usne apne sapne me bhi nahi ki thi.

[Name : Ranjeet Mandal
Alias Name : Dhananjay Singh.
Age : 29
Bio : Ranjeet, Bihar ki local gangs me se ek gang ka leader. Drugs smuggling, firauti, vasooli, jaise kaamo ke liye jaane waali ek gang, Ranjeet Bihar me chalaata hai. Kayi logo ko maar chuka hai. Asli kaam Bihar me maujood apne guru ji ke liye karta hai. Wahi se adhiktar paisa uski jebo me aata hai. Paisa kamaana uska junoon hai. Krodh me aksar apna aapa kho deta hai, lekin tarqeebo me shaatir hai.

Favorability : -20
Relationship : Stranger/ Enemy.]

Yahi wo status tha jise dekh ke Veer asmanjas ki sthiti me dooba hua tha.

Yeh koi Dhananjay nahi tha. Ye toh koi Ranjeet naam ka aadmi tha jo Bihar se tha. Veer ko ab samajh aa chuka tha ki kyu yeh nakli Dhananjay use lalkaarte waqt bhojpuri me gaaliyaan de raha tha.

Kyunki, asli Dhananjay ko toh Rajasthan ke gaanv se hona chahiye tha. Magar, yeh aadmi Dhananjay bann ke uss par humla kyu karna chaah raha tha? Isme koi shaq nahi tha ki isi aadmi ne uske hotel par humla karwaya tha. Akhir, Trisha yuhi uss tak nahi pahuchi thi. Uski investigation bhi sahi saabit hui thi. Yeh Ranjeet shat-pratishat humlavar tha.

Upar se ye-

Favorability sirf minus 20? Aur, stranger/enemy ka relationship? Jab wo uski jaan ke peechhe iss qadar pada hua tha toh Veer ko laga tha ki uski favorability kam se kam minus 50 ke upar nikal chuki hogi.

Magar, yaha toh kuchh aur hi dekhne ko mil raha tha.

Kintu, Veer ke pareshan hone ka kaaran sirf yahi nahi tha. Dusra jhatka use tab laga tha jab usne-

‘Check!’

*Ding*

[Name : Vandna Singh.
Age : 41
Bio : Vandna, Bhanu Pratap Singh ki patni hai. Shuru se hi apne kartavyo ki orr nishthavaan rahi hai. Ek beta tha jiska naam tha — Dhananjay. Gharelu mahila hai, parivar me bahut baar aana-kaani ke chalte logon ka gussa apne upar leti aayi hai. Bahut aagyakari hai. Asaani se sehem jaati hai aur mard jaat se aurat ko humesha kamtar hi maanti hai. Ek ajeeb sa dar uske andar baitha hua hai.

Favorability : 50
Relationship : Distant Aunt.]

Ye tha uske hairat me hone ka doosra kaaran. Veer ke nazrein kuchh shabdo par mandra rahi thi.

Ek beta tha jiska naam tha — Dhananjay.

Tha!?

Matlab, ab nahi raha?

System me status ko dekh ke yahi prateet ho raha tha ki Dhananjay shayad ab iss duniya me nahi tha? Ya, aisa bhi ho sakta tha ki Vandna use apna beta ab nahi maanti thi aur keval uske liye woh marr chuka tha.

Parantu-

Ye sab akhir hua kab? Pichhli baar jab Veer gaanv me apni maa ka badla le kar aaya tha, uss waqt usne Vandna ko waha check kiya tha. Aur, tab uske status me-

Dhananjay zinda tha.

Lekin, ab nahi.

Iska matlab iss beech asli Dhananjay ke saath kuchh hua tha. Par, kya?

Akhir, chal kya raha tha? Veer jitna iss baare me soch raha tha utna hi woh iss gutthi me ulajhta jaa raha tha. Lekin, uska dimag haar maanane se inkaar kar raha tha. Wo lagatar daud raha tha.

Aur, upar se-

Favorability 50? Ye kaise ho sakta tha? Uske saamne hi usne uske pati, uske sasur ko maut ke ghaat utaara tha. Iss sab ke bawajood Vandna ki favorability itni high kaise ho sakti thi bhala?

Veer ki bauhe bhram aur krodh me kasi hui thi. Tabhi, uske mann me ek ghanti ki awaaz goonj gayi.

*Ding*

[Successfully eradicated the nuisance even before the mission.]

*Ding*

[You have been rewarded 10,000 points.]

*Ding*

[A random perk will be rewarded. Choose ‘yes’ if you want to open the reward.]

Veer hairan tha. Bina mission assign hue hi system ne use uska reward de diya tha? Usne bina koi deri kiye mann me hi kaha.

‘Yes!!!’

*Ding*

[Random perk reward has been generated.]

[You have been rewarded the perk — ‘Mystic Stroke.’]

[Perk : Mystic Stroke.
Tier : Rare (upgradeable)
Description : Infuses the user's hand with supernatural precision, fluidity, and intuition, allowing them to paint, sketch, and illustrate with breathtaking mastery. Enhances visual aesthetics, but it also progressively deepens the host’s understanding of painting, anatomy, perspective, color theory, and symbolic storytelling.

Duration : Permanent.]

Veer ne ek nazar perk par daali. Use andaza lag gaya tha ki perk painting, drawing, illustrating se sambandhit tha. Aam taur par perks tabhi select kiye jaa sakte the jab wo kisi mission ko complete karta.

Lekin, system ne use ek random perk Dhananjay ko maarne par inaam ke roop me de diya tha. Woh dekh paa raha tha ki iss perk ki bhi tier thi.

Pari use iske baare me samjhaana chaahti thi, magar jab uske Master ne notification par ek nazar daal use system window se hata diya toh woh samajh gayi ki ye sahi waqt nahi tha.

{Master…!!!}

Woh bas mann me uske liye chinti hi ho sakti thi.

***

Subah ke 4:30 baj rahe the jab achanak hi Parijaat ghar ki doorbell lagatar bajne lagi. Waise toh yeh Rajat ka ghar hua karta tha par Veer ne jab se Rajat se sab kuchh chheena tha uske baad se ye ghar Parijaat ki aurton ke rehne ka sthaan bann chuka tha.

Ek naya — Parijaat ghar.

Subah 5 baje jaldi uthne waali Varsha aaj aadhe ghante pehle hi neend se jaag uthi.

*Ding Dong*

Ghanti lagatar bajti jaa rahi thi. Aur, Varsha chidhte hue apni neend se jaag kar bistar se uthi.

“Aa rahi hu!! Itni subah-subah kaun aa gaya?”

Woh thoda satark hote hue hall ki orr badhi. Fir, usne dheere se darwaza khola. Aur, saamne khade vyakti ko dekhte hi uski poori neend gaayab ho gayi.

Varsha : Maalik-!!?

Usne fatafat jaali waala darwaaza khola. Woh dang thi. Veer ke kandhe par ek aurat ladi hui thi. Usne koi sawaal nahi poochha, bas apne maalik ko andar aane diya.

Veer ne andar aate hi Vandna ko bistar par litaaya. Varsha ne dekha ki uske kapdo par kahi-kahi khoon ke daag the. Woh ghabraayi.

Varsha : M-Maalik? Kya hua? Aap theek toh hai na?

Woh daud ke Veer ke liye paani ka glass leke aayi, magar Veer ne paani nahi piya. Usne bas itna hi kaha ki-

Veer (frowns) : Sab ko jaga ke baahar lao, Varsha!

Varsha : J-Ji maalik!

Aur, woh andar baakiyo ko jagaane ke liye fauran bhaag uthi. Veer sofe par baithe Vandna ko ghoorta raha. Kuchh hi der me poora doodh ka doodh aur paani ka paani hone waala tha.

***

Patna, Bihar,
Morning - 7:10 AM ~

Ghaato par halka kohra abhi bhi nadiyon ke aas-paas jama hua tha. Subah-subah mandiro ki ghantiya samooh me ek saath baj rahi thi.

Cycle ki ghantiya, gaadiyon ke horn, auto-rickshaw ki fufkaarti awaaz, chai waalo ki tapriyon par chai-naashta kar rahi logo ki bheed ka shor, aur nadi ke kinaare kuchh snaan kar rahe log. Yahi tha Patna ka dainik drishya.

Aur, yahi kahi-

Ek puraane peepal ke ped ke paas, jiski jado ne ek puraane eent ke chabootre ko jakad kar cheer diya tha, ek khatiya neeche gaddi ki tarah bichhi hui thi.

Uss par ek aadmi virajman tha jise yaha ke log kaafi samay se baba ji keh kar bulaane lage the. Asal me toh 50-55 ki umr ke the par dekhne se 60-65 ke qareeb lagte the. Safed daadhi, moochhe aur lambe baal iska kaaran the.

Uske chaaro orr sunane waale log aadha gola bana kar neeche zameen par baithe hue the.

Ek sadharan si chataayi par kuchh samaan rakha hua tha. Amrood, laddu, mithaiyaan, kela, seb, aur na jaane kaun-kaun se fal. Kuchh rupaye ke note, toh kuchh sikke bhi ek thaal me alag se rakhe hue the.

Unka gyaan aaj bhi chaalu tha.

Baba ji : Humari bhaasha me ek shabd hai — Dhara. Matlab? Dhaaran karna. Dharti hume dhaaran karti hai, fir bhi hum uss par thappa lagaate hai. Saans hume dhaaran karti hai, fir bhi hum uska gala ghontate hai. Mann hume dhaaran karta hai, fir bhi hum use baahar ke shor se bhar dete hai.

"Ji baba ji!"

"Ji!"

Baba ji : Jo vyakti bina vivek ke chal padta hai, use chalna nahi kehte. Use behna kehte hai. Jo bina bhedbhav ke chalta hai, wo chal nahi raha hai, mere bacche. Use ddhoya jaa raha hai. Aur, jo keval tairna jaanta hai. Ek din prakriti use daba deti hai. Prakriti ka niyam hai.

Log uski baat sunn chakit the. Ve sab aagyakari shrota bane hue the.

Baba ji : Baadh ke paani me kabhi patte ko dekho. Teevra gati, fir bhi disha nahi. Wahi dusri orr, naavik ko dekho. Dheemi gati, lekin aankhein satark. Dus minute me? Patta gaayab. Naavik? Naavik ghaat chunta hai, jaha use utarna hai. Jeevan ki chaturayi yahi hai. Jeevan me kushalta teevra gati nahi hai, jaagrat mann ke saath jeena hai. Jo buddhi se kaam nahi leta, woh peechhe reh jaata hai.

Prashansa se log haami bharne lage. Kuchh ne haath jod naman kiya. Kuchh unn baaton ka matlab samajhne ki koshish kar rahe the.

Ki tabhi-

Khatiya ke paas ek dubla patla baba ji ka hi shishya paas aaya, apna sarr iss tarah se jhukaaya ki honth baba ji ke kaan ke nazdeek ho gaye aur fir ekdum dheemi awaaz me unse bola.

Shishya : Guru ji...! Ranjeet marr gaya.

Sunte hi baba ji ki aankhein hairat me fel gayi. Magar, ve sthir mudra me rahe. Aur, apne bhaav chhipaate hue bole.

Baba ji : Mrityu... Ahem! Mrityu. Mrityu se har aam insaan darta hai. Mrityu ko agar mein aap sab ke aaj ki yug ki bhaasha me kahu toh wo woh hai- kya kehte hai usko? Arey jo aapse kann vasoolte hai?

Aadmi : Tax collector?

Baba ji (laughs) : Haan! Hahahaha! Tax collector. Wahi hai. Ni hai kya? Haha! Jo hisaab khud nahi banaata uska hisaab banaaya jaata hai. Aur, jo hisab-kitaab bhool jaata hai, uska hisaab-kitaab kat jaata hai.

Usne apne shishya ko dekh fir uske kaan me dheere se poochha!

Baba ji : Paise?

Shishya : Beech me hi kaam khatam ho gaya.

Baba ji ke shaant bhaav ke neeche ek gussa utar aaya. Muskuraate hue unhone dheere se kaha.

Baba ji : Suraag na rahe!!!

Shishya ne haami bhari aur fir ped ke peechhe jaake apni jeb se phone nikaala aur kisi ko call karne laga.

Toh, wahi pehli baar idhar aaya ek yuvak kaafi prabhavit ho chuka tha baba ji se. Lekin, uski jigyasa akhirkar baahar aa hi gayi.

Yuvak : Baba ji kshama kijiyega. *smiles* mein pehli baar aaya hu aapke baare me kaafi sunn ke. Sab baba ji baba ji kehte hai aapko. Par, aapka asli naam kya hai baba ji?

Mandli shaant ho gayi. Baba ji ne dheere se apna sarr ghumaaya. Woh muskuraate hue thahaake lagaaye. Fir, ahista se bole.

Baba ji : Naam? Hahahaha! Mere bacche...! Iss shareer ko log yaha mohanlal keh ke pukaarte hai. *smiles*

Logon ne santushti me sarr hilaaya. Parantu, jis tarah se baba ji ne uttar diya tha. Iss shareer ko...

Use sunn log aur bhi prabhavit ho gaye. Naam milte hi uss yuvak ko aisa laga jaise koi apnapann mil gaya ho. Usne unhe pranaam kiya aur peechhe baith gaya.

Baba ji muskuraate hue logo ko dekhte rahe. Kintu, ye sirf wahi jaante the ki-

Unka asli naam Mohanlal nahi tha.

Unka asli naam tha —

Raman.
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
This update consists of 10.1k words. Veer ka scene, Parijaat ghar ka scene aur Bihar ka scene hi tha jo kal likhna baaki tha. Now, I hope ab tum log samajh paa rahe hoge ki kyu mein use yaha include karna chaah raha tha. Baaki, target apna wahi hai. 250. Like thokne ka aur reviews rakhne ka. Also, do AI generated images se bhi maine inn dinon experiment kiya aur uske results neeche post me dikh jaayenge. Let me know inhe include karna sahi rahega future updates ke liye ya nahi. Also, update itna samay isliye liya kyunki, ye premise se mein familiar nahi tha. Slaughterhouse. Na hi mein kabhi gaya hu aur na hi dekha hai kahi. Isliye, kaafi kuchh research karni padi. Uske baad ye taiyaar kiya gaya hai. Let me know about your views on the premise. Ek unique premise tha ye ab tak ka. Milte hai agle bhaag me.
Dhanyavad.

Bahut hi shandaar update hai bhai maza aa gaya

 

[Rahank7]

Update - 203 ~ A Past under a Past​

Ab tak...

Mandli shaant ho gayi. Baba ji ne dheere se apna sarr ghumaaya. Woh muskuraate hue thahaake lagaaye. Fir, ahista se bole.

Baba ji : Naam? Hahahaha! Mere bacche...! Iss shareer ko log yaha mohanlal keh ke pukaarte hai. *smiles*

Logon ne santushti me sarr hilaaya. Parantu, jis tarah se baba ji ne uttar diya tha. Iss shareer ko...

Use sunn log aur bhi prabhavit ho gaye. Naam milte hi uss yuvak ko aisa laga jaise koi apnapann mil gaya ho. Usne unhe pranaam kiya aur peechhe baith gaya.

Baba ji muskuraate hue logo ko dekhte rahe. Kintu, ye sirf wahi jaante the ki-

Unka asli naam Mohanlal nahi tha.

Unka asli naam tha —

Raman.

Ab aage...

Baat shuru hoti hai tab se jab Veer Harikiran aur uske bete ki sacchaayi ke baare me jaanta bhi nahi tha. Tab jab Veer ko apni maa ke badle ke baare me kuchh bhi nahi pata tha. Tab jab Veer ko system ki praapti bhi nahi hui thi.

Tab, ‘Harikiran Singh’ woh naam tha jo poore gaanv me bhay ka prateek tha. Uski badi si haveli logo me apna darr baitha ke rakhti thi. Poora gaanv jaanta tha ki angrezo ke zamaane se do hi badi haveliya thi jo ab tak itni kathnaiyo ka saamna karne ke bawajood mazboot khadi hui thi.

Ek thi Bijaipur ke Dharam Singh ki haveli, jo Bhavna ke pita ji ki thi. Jinke poorvajo ne angrezo ko humesha apne gaanv me mann-maani karne se rok ke rakha raha.

Aur, ek thi Bijaipur se hi kuchh doori par lage Mayra gaanv ke Harikiran Singh ki haveli, jinke poorvajo ne angrezo se milkar ghoos khaane me koi bhi chaaploosi ka mauka nahi chhora tha.

Kintu, yahi do parivar ant me aapas me bhide aur Bijaipur ke Dharam Singh ki haveli raato raat aag me chhal se bhasm ho gayi. Parivar khatam ho gaya. Siwaaye, unki putri — Bhavna ke, jo ab Bijaipur se jaa chuki thi.

Aur, isliye- ab Bijaipur ki ek haveli ke jaane se, Harikiran ki haveli ka rutba aur bhi badh chuka tha. Satta, taaqat, zameenein, jaydaad, sab kuchh ab tezi se aage badh raha tha. Unnati ho rahi thi. Harikiran ke naam se hi aadmi thar-thar kaanp jaaya karta tha. Harikiran ab kasaayi-khaane jaise gandey vyapaar me bhi apna haath aazmaane laga tha.

Jitna adhik paisa, utna adhik rutba. Jitna adhik rutba, utna adhik logo me darr. Aur, jitna adhik darr, utna hi adhik uska varchasv jo poore gaanv me felte hue ab aas-paas ke gaanvo tak pahuchne laga tha.

Magar, iss darr ke saath-saath andar hi andar Mayra ke log Harikiran ki prataadna se pareshan bhi the. Kintu, majaal thi kisi ki jo unke saamne koi apna muh khol de? Bhale hi gaanv ke log unse darrte the, lekin unke apne hi ghar me ek sadasya aisa bhi tha jo kisi se bhi nahi darrta tha.

Harikiran ka pota, Bhanu pratap aur Vandna ka ekmaatra putra — Dhananjay.

Bachpan se hi use har cheez apne haath me mili thi. Ekmaatra ladka tha toh gharwaalo ne use ladhiya ke bhi rakha hua tha. Na hi woh kisi ko kuchh samajhta tha aur na hi kisi ki baat maanta tha. Padhayi gaanv se hi lage hue ek jile se usne kar li thi.

Ab baap dada ke paas itna paisa tha toh bhala aur padhne ki kya hi zaroorat thi? Yahi sochke usne apna nirnay bana liya tha.

“Oo maayi! Dekh! Ab mein yaha ek pal bhi na ruk saku hu. Manne baahar jaana hai. Sheher me. Baahar ki duniya dekhni hai manne!”

Woh kheejte hue bola. Yaha tak ki usne apne jhola, bag sab taiyaar bhi kar rakha tha.

“Beta nahi! Kya keh rahe ho? Tu phir wahi ratt leke baith gaya?”

Vandna rasoi se baahar aate hue boli. Toh, wahi Harikiran Singh ek khaat par baitha apne pote ko ghoor raha tha. Vandna ke haatho se chai lete hue woh bas abhi apne pote ki baat sunn raha tha.

“Kyu jaana hai tanne sheher?” Iss baar Harikiran ne chai ki chuski lete hue uss se poochha.

“Kyu jaana hai? Dada ji manne baahar ki duniya dekhni hai. Mein yaha gaaye, bakriya, bhains charaane me apni jawani nahi gawana chaahta.”

“Arey toh tanne kaun keh raha hai gaaye, bhains charaane? O sab kaam toh naukar karte hai. Aur, jawani chadh rahi hai toh batao byaah karwa de? Kaun ladki pasand aayi hai?”

“K-Koi nahi! Mujhe abhi byaah nahi karna. Mujhe baahar sheher dekhna hai.”

“Toh aisa hai, saahab-zaade… ki bhaiya ye farmaish toh aise hi poori nahi ho sakti tumhari. Hum tumko sheher jaane de sakte hai par humari bhi ek shart hai.”

Dhananjay ne jab ye baat suni toh uski khushi ka koi thikaana nahi tha. Yahi toh woh chaahta tha.

“S-Sach dada ji? Aap humko sheher jaane doge?”

Vandna asmanjas me Harikiran ko dekhi. “P-Pita ji ye aap-!? Isko baahar jaane nahi de sakte, pita ji!”

Parantu, Harkiran ne Vandna ki orr dekha hi nahi aur na hi use koi jawab diya. Jaise maano woh uske uttar dene ke laayak samaan hi nahi thi. Ulta Dhananjay apni maa ke virodh ko sunn bhadak utha.

“Maayi chup kar! Jab dekho tab tu taang adaati rehti hai meri zindagi me. Manne jaise jeena hai jeene de. Apni farmaish mat thopa kar mere upar. Samajh gayi? Chulha chauka karna tera kaam hai. Yahi teri zindagi hai. Tu ghar par reh ke bartan maanj, jhaadu pochha kar. Mujhe saath me mat lapet. Mein mard hu. Aur, baahar ki serr karna chaahta hu.”

Harikiran apne pote ki mardana harqat se khush tha. Kam se kam uska pota maayi ke pallu me ghus kar uski baat maanane waala pota nahi tha. Haan thoda alhadpann tha usme aur ziddi bhi tha, lekin ghar ka ekmaatra chiraag hone ke naate ye sab baatein nazar-andaaz kar di jaati thi.

“Haan toh bhai, shart yeh hai ki- tum usi sheher aur usi raajya me jaoge jaha hum kahenge. Tum apni mann-marzi ke sheher nahi jaa sakte.”

Dhananjay kuchh derr ek soch me pad gaya. Use sheher jaane mil raha tha. Iss se behtar aur kya ho sakta tha? Bhale hi sheher uske dada ji ki pasand ka hone waala tha, par akhir ek sheher toh sheher hi hota tha!? Chaahe Mumbai jao ya Delhi. Sheher gaanv se toh hatke hi hone waala tha.

Yahi soch woh jhatse raazi ho gaya. Kahi aisa na ho ki uske dada ji apne faisle se muqar jaaye aur uska sapna ek sapna hi bann ke reh jaaye.

“Th-Theek hai, dada ji! Mujhe manzoor hai! K-Kaun sa sheher rahega?”

Aur, yahi se shuruat hui Dhananjay ki ek sheher ko ghoomne ki jo ki tha— Patna. Bihar me sthit ek mukhya sheher.

Harikiran ne Bihar raajya ko isliye chuna tha kyunki, Bihar ek aisa raajya tha jaha gaanv aur sheher dono ka mishran tha. Na hi Dhananjay waha jaa ke ekdum hi paraaya mehsoos karta aur na hi ye kehta ki woh gaanv me hi aa gaya hai. Kyunki, Patna ek bada sheher tha.

Saath hi Bihar dhaarmik roop se aastha se juda hua tha. Waha ke log shehri hone ke saath-saath pooja-paath aur apni sanskriti ko bhi apne dainik jeevan me achhe se dhaale hue the. Toh, Dhananjay ke sheher me bigadne ke asaar aur bhi kam ho chuke the.

Jab Bhanu Pratap Singh ko yeh baat pata chali ki uske pita ji ne uske bete ko Patna bhejne ka faisla kar liya hai toh woh bhi virodh me kooda utha. Lekin, woh jaanta tha ki uske pita ji aevayi kuchh bhi nahi karte the.

Chaahe Manorath Singh ke ghar par phoot daalna ho ya vyavsaay aage badhaana, har jagah hi unke dimag ka istemal hota tha. Aur, parivar tezi se unnati bhi kar raha tha. Isliye, woh bhi ant me maan gaya.

Zaahir hai, Dhananjay ko akela nahi bheja gaya tha. Uske saath ek aadmi bhi gaya tha jo ki Harikiran ka apna aadmi tha aur woh hi Dhananjay ki roz-marra ki zindagi ke baare me use khabar dete rehta tha.

Par, yahi pe aaya woh badlaav jisne poori tarah se sab kuchh badal ke rakh diya.

Raman.

Sheher ko kaafi ghoom lene ke baad, jab Dhananjay bore ho chuka tha tab achanak woh ek din Raman ke sthaan pahucha. Usne dekha ki tamaam janta ek aadmi ka intezar kar rahi thi. Jigyasa-vash woh bhi wahi theher gaya aur jab usne dekha ki koi baba ji baahar aake khaat par baithe hai toh ek pal ke liye woh muh bana ke waha se jaane laga.

Magar, kuchh soch ke woh wahi theher gaya. Aur, logo ki baatein sunane laga. Jaise-jaise woh sunta jaa raha tha. Uske hosh udte jaa rahe the. Dhero log apni samasyaein leke Raman baba ke paas aate aur unse upaay leke, prasad leke waha se chale jaate.

Dhananjay ko laga yeh bhi koi dhongi hi tha jo logo ko moorkh bana raha tha aur isliye usne iss baba ki pol kholne ke baare me thaan liya. Woh aage gaya-

“Baba ji meri bhi ek samasya hai. Upaay bataoge?” Usne haath jodte hue kaha.

“Poochho baccha! Kya samasya hai!?”

“Mein Rajasthan ke Mayra gaanv se hu. Bahut badi haveli hai humari udhar. Sab kuchh hai. Paisa, zameen, jaydaad. Par, mera mann nahi lag raha tha udhar. Mujhe sheher ghoomna tha, isliye yaha aa gaya. Par, yaha aake dekha toh paaya ki yaha bhi kuchh khaas nahi hai. Logo ke paas time hi nahi hai. Gaanv bhi dekh liya. Sheher bhi. Kaha jau? Ab aur kya bacha hai? Kuchh samajh nahi aa raha.”

Usne apna sawaal bina kisi darr ke ekdum spasht baba ji ke saamne rakha. Woh dekhna chaahta tha ki kya waqai me baba ji ke paas koi gyaan tha ya nahi? Ya bas ye bhi koi dhongi tha? Agar, baba ji ne uski iss samasya ka samadhan nikaal diya, toh woh waqai me unhe maan jaayega.

Raman ke kaan idhar Dhananjay ke muh se paisa, haveli, jaydaad, zameenein sunte hi khade ho gaye. Woh jaan chuka tha ki chaara khud chalke ghode ke paas aaya tha.

“Kya naam hai baccha tumhara?”

“J-Ji Dhananjay.”

“Tumhara naam hi Dhananjay hai. Tumhe pata hai iss naam ka matlab?”

Dhananjay ne naa me sarr hilaaya.

“Baccha iss naam ka matlab hota hai dhan ko jeetne waala. Dhan ka vijeta. Aur, vidambana dekho. Tum dhan hi chhor ke yaha aa gaye?”

Raman ne muskuraate hue kaha. Aas-paas ke sabhi log Dhananjay ki samasya me dilchaspi lene lage. Sab ke kaan ab baba Raman ke upaay aur unke updesh ko sunane ke liye bekaraar the.

“P-Par baba ji. Log kehte hai ki naam me kya rakha hai. Toh, phir Dhananjay naam se meri ichha, mera bhavishya thodi pata lag sakta hai, hai na?”

“Beta naam me bahut kuchh rakha hai.”

“Woh kaise baba ji? Zara samjhaiye!”

Dhananjay ne Raman ko aur parakhne ka socha. Aur, usne apna naatak jaari rakha. Uske baad-

“Mein tumhe tumhari gaatha dohraata hu. Tum Mayra me badi haveli me pale badhe, tumhare maa-baap ne woh sab kuchh laa kar tumhare haatho me diya hoga jiski tumne zid kari hogi, tum waha se uub kar sheher ki orr nikle. Lekin, tum ghoom kiske dhan par rahe ho? Apne pita ji ke! Tumne dekha ki sheher toh aur bhi vyast hai. Aur, ab tumhe samajh nahi aa raha ki agar gaanv tumhare laayak nahi tha, sheher tumhe lubha nahi paaya toh akhir kaha jaaya jaaye? Hai na? Isliye tum pareshan ho.”

Dhananjay thoda chaunkte hue baba Raman ko dekha.

“J-Ji!” Usne sarr hilaaya. Magar, abhi bhi Raman ki baato se poornta woh sehmat nahi hua tha.

“Beta iska upaay hai…! Bhakti aur tyaag.”

“Huh?”

“Tumne aaj tak kabhi apne bal boote par kya kiya hai? Kabhi khud se paisa kamaaya hai?”

“Y-Yahi toh nahi chaahta mein baba ji. Mujhe isi moh-maaya se door rehna hai. Aur-”

Jaise hi Raman ne yeh suna toh usne fauran hi apni tarqeeb badal di.

“Toh kisne kaha ki paisa kamaana hi jeevan ka uddeshya hai?”

“Huh?”

“Kya kabhi tumne apne aap se apna bhojan banaya hai? Kabhi khud ke ghar me reh ke kaam kiya hai? Chalo woh sab chhoro! 24 ghanto me kya tumne kabhi bhi 24 second ke liye bhagwan ka naman kiya?”

“N-Nahi!”

Raman muskuraya. “Bas isliye tum moh-maaya me phasey hue ho.”

“K-Kya bhagwan hote hai, baba ji? M-Mein nahi maanta. Maine kabhi nahi maana. Agar, bhagwan hote- toh itni buri-buri cheezein kyu ghatit ho rahi hoti? Kehte hai ki kann-kann me bhagwan hote hai. Kya ye sahi hai? Bataiye!”

“Haan! Bilkul! Kann-kann me bhagwan hai. Ye srishti unki hi toh rachna hai. Har ek kann unki rachna hai.”

Jab Raman ke muh se itna nikla toh Dhananjay mann hi mann muskuraya.

‘Ab phasa tu mere jaal me, baba! Abhi teri pol kholta hu ruk!’

Aur, phir usne ek aisa sawaal kar diya jise sunn waha ke log hairaan reh gaye.

“Toh agar bhagwan kann-kann me hai. Toh kya naali, sharaab, maans, madira, inme bhi bhagwan hai baba?”

Log bhauchakke reh gaye. Kuchh muskura rahe the ye dekh ke ki ab shayad baba ji se unhe muft me koi bahut bada gyaan milne waala hai. Toh kuchh asmanjas me the ki kya baba ji iska uttar de bhi paayenge ya nahi?

“Tumne bahut seedha aur teekha prashna poochha hai, baccha. Hahaha!” Raman hasa.

Lekin, Dhananjay ke iss teekhe prashn se ab janta aur bhi dilchaspi dikhaane lagi thi. Ve sab bhi yeh jaanana chaahte the. Dekhna chaahte the ki ab baba ji kis tarah se itne kathin sawaal ke uttar denge. Aas-paas se guzar rahe log bhi ab apni-apni jagah bana kar khade hone lage. Kintu, Raman jaise pehle se hi taiyaar tha. Aur, uske baad usne bolna shuru kiya-

“Iska uttar do starro par hai, baccha! Pehla advait darshan ke anusaar — haan! Sidhaant roop me waha bhi ishwar hai. Par, dhyaan do baccha. Utpatti aur vartman me hona, dono alag baatein hai.”

“??”

“Jaise bijli har machine ko chalaati hai. TV, pankha, fridge… Lekin, wahi bijli unn machino ko bhi chalaati hai jo kasaayi khaane me lagi rehti hai. Janvaro ko maarna. Pedo ko kaatna. Parmanu banaane ke yantro me bhi bijli ka istemal hota hai. Toh kya tum bijli ko dosh doge? Nahi! Kyunki, bijli sirf urja hai. Galat upyog karne waala zimmedar hai. Waise hi har kann-kann se sab kuchh bana hai. Lekin, ye naali, jaanvar ka maans, sharaab, ye sab kiski utpatti hai? Insaani dimaag ki.”

Jab logo ne uttar suna toh ve sab sann reh gaye. Yaha tak ki Dhananjay ke badan par bhi roye khade ho gaye. Usne aaj tak itna gyaani purush apne saamne nahi dekha tha.

“A-Aur, dusra starr kya hai, baba ji?”

“Dusra starr, bhakti aur naitik drishtikonn se — Nahi! Waha bhagwan ki upasthiti nahi maani jaati.”

“K-Kya? Par, abhi toh aapne kaha ki-”

“Uttar poora suno baccha. Naali, daaru, paap, apraadh — Ye sab taamsik pravattiyaan hai, jo agyaan, moh aur maaya se bhari hui hai. Bhagwan waha tab tak nahi prakat hote, jab tak satv yaani ki shuddhata, shraddha, prem aur vivek na ho.”

“Huh?”

“Jaise ganga maiya ki dhaara kahi koode me beh jaaye, toh kya wo ab bhi poojya hai? Tatvat : Haan! Lekin, vyavhaarat : Nahi! — Kyunki, woh ab apavitra ho chuki hai.”

Dhananjay ka badan kaanp utha. Waha maujood log apne phone me recording on karte hue baba ke gyaan ko qaid karne ki koshish karne lage. Badi bhaari bheed jama ho chuki thi.

“Dhoop soorya se aati hai, par agar tumne apne kamre ki khidki band kar li, toh kya soorya doshi hai ki tumhare kamre me andhera hai? Nahi! Wahi ishwar, wahi prakash — tumhare bheetar bhi hai, par darwaza band hai. Saral shabdo me — Ishwar har jagah hai baccha, par har jagah prakat nahi hai.”

“Ahhh!” Dhananjay ko aaj apne sabse bade sawaal ka uttar mil chuka tha.

“Burayi, naali, paap, daaru jaisi cheezon me ishwar ka beej toh ho sakta hai, par waha maaya aur agyaan ne use dhak diya hai. Ishwar ka anubhav wahi hota hai jaha prem, gyaan, satkarm aur nishtha ho. Kuchh samjhe baccha?”

“Babaaaa jiiii!!”

Dhananjay pehli baar kisi ki baat se itna aakarshit hua tha. Woh haath jod utha aur Baba Raman ke perro par gir pada.

“Mujhe maaf kar dijiye, baba ji! Mein- Mein moorkh aapki pareeksha lena chaah raha tha. Par, mujhe nahi pata tha ki mere saamne swayam sakshaat siddh baba baithe hai. Mujhe apna shishya bana lijiye-! Mujhe apna shishya bana lijiye baba ji!”

Uske itne bade sawaal ka uttar baba ji ne chutkiyo me de diya tha. Toh kya ve uski aur samasyao ka hal nahi nikaal sakte the? Use poora yakeen tha ki baba ji ke zariye hi ab uske jeevan ka uddhaar ho sakta tha.

Lekin, woh nahi jaanta tha ki Raman ne ye sab prashn ke jawab pehle se hi ratt rakhe the. Itne varsho me usne kayi siddh guruo se bhaint ki thi. Usne ye gyaan wahi se churaaya tha. Farq, bas itna tha ki agar siddh guru log bina kisi maang ke logo ka maarg-darshan kar rahe the, toh usi ki aadh me Raman jaise log logo ki aastha se khel ke unke saath dhong kar rahe the.

Aur, isi jhaanse me phaste hue-

Dhananjay Raman ke paas theher ke unki seva me lag gaya. Usne unke bol ke anusaar apna maqsad tay kar liya tha — Bhakti aur Tyaag!

Aur, theek usi raat, jab sab so chuke the, Raman ke chhote se kamre me derr raat ko kisi ne dastak di.

“Pranam guru ji!”

“Aa gaye Ranjeet?”

“Ji guru ji!”

“Kya hua bhai? Uss Kanpur waale ka?”

“13 lakh nikalwa liya hu. Abhi ghar ki aur sampatti baaki hai. Sasuri uu bhi jaldi aa hi jaayegi.”

“Hahahaha! Sabbaas! Aur, tumhare liye naya bakra khud chal ke aa chuka hai.”

“Konu bakra?”

“Hai ek! *smiles* Aaj hi aaya tha sthaan par. Humara shishya banana chaahta hai. Mayra gaanv me bahut badi haveli hai, paisa hai, dher saari zameenein aur jaydaad hai. Lagta hai kisi dhanvan vyakti ki aulad hai. Iski saari khabar iske gaanv se leke rakho, Ranjeet. Agla shikaar yahi hai.”

“Ji guru ji! W-Waise-! Thoda rokda mil jaata toh-”

“Kitna chahiye?”

“Kareeban dui lakh toh laagi sasuri Kanpur waale me! Uu kaa hai na, hua ka sampatti haasil karne me thoda ghoos lagega hi lagega. Sasuri khopadiya pe baar-baar ghoda taan ke kaam nahi ho sakat. UP ka chhetra me police sakht hai thoda. Kabhi-kabhi dimag se chalna padat hai!”

Raman haami bhar utha. Apne kamre ke andar gaya. Ekdum jhopad patti waala kaccha makaan tha. Yaha tak ki zameen bhi kacchi thi. Usne zameen ke neeche ek gaddhe me se ek kapda nikaala jisme dher saare noto ki gaddiya rakhi hui thi aur usme se teen gaddi laa kar Ranjeet ko saunp di. Wapas se gaddhe me kapde ki potli ko daal usne uski upar ret aur mitti daal ke uske upar ek paani ka ghadha rakh diya.

“Ye lo! 3 lakh hai. Kaam daba ke karna.”

“Aaj tak konu kaam bigaada hai kya guru ji? Fiqar naahi karo. Sab ho jaayega.”

Kehte hue woh waha se nikal gaya. Beetein dino me usne Mayra gaanv se Dhananjay ki saari jankaari nikalwa li thi. Toh wahi, din-ba-din Dhananjay bhakti aur tyaag ke maarg par agrasar badhta jaa raha tha. Use apne naye jeevan ka uddeshya mil chuka tha. Uski dosti wahi ke aur bhi shishyo se ho chuki thi.

Jab yeh baat uske ghar me Harikiran aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ko pata chali toh Bhanu Pratap swayam hi Raman ke sthaan aa par pahucha.

“Guru ji agar aise hi aap mere bete ko patti padhaate rahe toh ye toh ghar-baar tyaag dega. Fir, humara kya hoga?”

Aaya toh Bhanu Pratap Singh krodh me tha, magar Dhananjay ki hi tarah Raman ne use bhi apne shabdo se mantra-mugdh kar diya.

“Ghabrao nahi baccha! Hum jaante hai ki tum pareshan ho. Aur, hum ise yaha humesha nahi rakhenge. 2-4 saal ise yaha rehne do. Waise bhi iske baad tum iss se kheti-baadi hi karwaoge. Aisa samajh lo ki inn kuchh saalo ke liye tumne apne bacche ko gurukul me padhne bheja hai. Fir, mein maarg-darshan jab punah karunga iska… Toh, yeh swayam tumhare paas laut aayega. Aur, iski chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi. Ye meri nigrani me hai.”

Apni chikni chupdi baato se Raman Bhanu Pratap ko raazi karne me qamyab ho chuka tha. Dhananjay toh jaise apne ghar ke baare me sab kuchh bhool chuka tha. Uski nayi zindagi shuru ho chuki thi.

Dekhte hi dekhte 2 saal guzar gaye. Dhananjay Raman ka poora bhakt bann chuka tha. Aur, tabhi ek aisi ghatna hui jiske baare me Ranjeet se leke Raman aur Mayra gaanv ke log, sabhi ko yeh pata chali, siwaaye Dhananjay ke.

Aur, woh thi-

Veer dwara Harikiran Singh aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ka khaatma. Jaha usne unki hi haveli ke baahar kue me dono ko zinda jala diya tha. Ranjeet ka ek aadmi wahi Mayra me hi sthit tha. Ranjeet ne jab yeh baat Raman ko bataayi toh uss raat woh unke kamre me hi tha-

“Guru ji-! Pata nahi kaisan ba- magar… Sasuri uu aapke Dhananjay naam ke chele ka baap-dada ka hatya ho gaya!”

“K-Kaise?”

“Pata nahi! Koi naujavan aaya. Aur, dono ko maut ke muh me utaar gaya. Kehat ba ki- badla liya hu apni maayi ka!”

“Toh tumhe pata hi hona chahiye ki kya karna hai ab *smiles* Hai na?”

“Hahaha! Ab sab hum pe chhor do guru ji! Na sirf ab hum uu ka haveli jhaptega, uu ki saari zameenein, jaydaad, paisa sab hadpunga! Tabhi ee Ranjeet ko chenn milega. Sasuri bahut intejar kiya hai ee mayra waale ka-!”

Usne itna kaha hi tha ki tabhi-

*Thud*

Achanak baahar ek laathi ke girne ki awaaz aayi. Dhananjay, jo guru ji ko kuchh dikhaane aaya tha usne baahar reh ke sab sunn liya tha. Apne baap-dada ki maut ke baare me… Sab kuchh. Use apne kaano par vishvas nahi ho raha tha. Woh bhaaga.

*huff* *huff*

Uska dil zoro se dhadak raha tha.

“Pakad! Abey pakad use! Madarchod sab sunn liya usne! Bhaag jaldi Ranjeet! Pakad saale ko!”

“Iski maayi ke-!!”

Ranjeet bhi ghabraate hue utha. Waise hi derr raat ka samay tha. Aur, upar se Raman ka sthaan hi chehel-pehel se door tha. Dhananjay bhaybheet hue bhaaga. Uski saansein tez thi.

“Pakad saale ko! Pakad! Pakad bey Satbeer-!!!”

Raaste me bhaagte hue Ranjeet chillaaya. Uske aur aadmi jo jaage hue the wo sab bhi Dhananjay ke peechhe bhaagne lage. Ranjeet jaanta tha ki agar ye ladka bhaag nikla, toh unka bhaanda poora ka poora phoot jaayega. Sab ke sab pakde jaayenge.

*huff* *huff*

“M-Maayi-! *sniff* Pita ji-! *sniff* Dada ji-!”

*huff* *huff*

“Pakad! Pakad saale ko!!! Daboch usko! Satbeer ulti side se-!”

Dhananjay bhaagte-bhaagte achanak hi apne sthaan ke paas pahuch raha tha. Agar, bas kuchh samay aur use mil jaaye toh woh waha pahuch ke halla kar ke apne baaki sadasyo ko utha sakta tha.

“B-Bachaaaaoooo!”

Woh chillaaya. Taaki, uski awaaz door tak pahuch sake. Magar, shayad yahi uski sabse badi galti thi kyunki-

“B-Bachaaaaaoooo!”

*Bang*

*Bang*

*Bang*

Achanak goliyaan chalne ki teen baar awaaz aayi aur Dhananjay neeche zameen par gir pada. Teen me se do goliyaan uski peeth ko cheer ke andar dhans chuki thi. Lahu-luhaan hote hue woh sadak par dala raha.

Ranjeet aur baaki daudate hue Dhananjay ke paas aa kar ruke. Dhananjay ukhdi-ukhdi saansein lete hue reng raha tha. Aur, tabhi-

*Bang*

*Bang*

“A-Aapne ise maar kyu diya?” Satbeer ne ghabraate hue poochha.

“Madarchodo! Saale ki laash ko thikaane lagao jaldi! Isko toh marrna hi tha. Sasuri raaz jo jaan gaya tha. Chalo! Jaldi! Jaldi! Jaldi!”

Ranjeet jaanta tha ki Dhananjay ke baap-dada pehle hi swarg sidhaar chuke the. Toh, aise me ab use rokne waala koi na tha.

Dhananjay ka ant ho chuka tha. Dukhad. Par, yahi uska ant tha. Ek hi din me, parivar ke teeno mard maar diye gaye the. Vandna udhar gaanv me jo yeh maan ke chal rahi thi ki ab uska beta hi uska akhiri sahaara tha. Woh uski talaash me Patna Raman ke sthaan tak aa pahuchi thi.

Magar, ab ise uski badqismati kahe ya fir kuchh aur-

Uska saamna Raman ke sthaan par seedhe Ranjeet se ho gaya. Woh apna dukhda use sunaati rahi aur Ranjeet use behla ke Dhananjay se milaane ke bahaane se le gaya aur use bandhi bana liya.

*Chataaaaak*

“Ahhhh!”

Ek chaata aa kar Vandna ko uske chehre par pada.

“Chal! Ab tu hi hua Mayra ka saari jameen dilwayegi. Saara paisa tu hi nikalwayegi. Chal!”

“M-Mera beta-! Mera beta!!!”

“Hahahaha! Tuhaar bitua humaare qabze me hai, samajh gayi. Hehehe! Meri pyaari maayi. Chal! Chal chal ke ab apne ee lalla ko saari sampatti dikha. Chal!”

Ranjeet use bandhi bana ke gaanv wapas laaya. Apne bete ki jaan ko khatre me daalne ke darr se Vandna apna muh band kiye sab kuchh bataati chali gayi. Magar, woh bechari ye jaanti tak nahi thi ki uska laadla toh usi din marr gaya tha jis din uska pati aur sasur marey the.

Kayi maheene guzar gaye, lekin inn mahino me Ranjeet poori shiddat se wasooli aur jankari ikhatti karne me laga hua tha. Usne kayi zameenein hadap li thi. Usne kayi saari jaydaad apne naam karwa li thi. Usne kaafi dhan, sona, jawaharat apne qabze me kar liye the.

Gaanv ke logo me apne aadmi bhej ke usne sab pata lagwa liya tha ki uss raat yaha kya hua tha. Harikiran akhir mara kaise tha. Aur, kaafi hadd tak use ye pata lag chuka tha ki koi naujavan tha.

Magar, gaanv ke log Veer ka naam bataane se peechhe hat chuke the. Veer ne unke upar upkaar kiya tha. Gaanv waalo ki ekta iss paksh me bahut mazboot thi. Ranjeet bhi shaatir tha. Woh jaanta tha ki aise zabardasti jankaari ko nahi nikalwaya jaa sakta tha.

‘Sasuri konu aur dimaag lagana padega ee game me!’

Par, jab woh soch hi raha tha ki kaise Veer ke baare me jankari ikhatti ki jaaye tabhi achanak-

*Ring* *Ring*

Uska phone baj utha. Usne dekha ki call Mumbai, Maharashtra se aa raha tha. Koi unknown number. Usne call uthaaya.

“Hello?”

“Ranjeet! Kyu hai na? Yahi naam hai na?”

“Haan! Tu kaun bol raha hai?”

“Woh jaanane ki zaroorat nahi hai tumhe. Bas itna jaan lo ki Harkiran Singh aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ko Veer ne maara tha.”

“H-Huh? K-Kaun hai bey tu?”

“Maine kaha na! Tumhe ye jaanane ki zaroorat nahi. Veer Mumbai se hai. Ek businessman. Ek naujavan jiski talash me tum ho. Yaha tak ki uski ek badi si hotel bhi hai. Bahut raees hai woh. *smiles* Bahut paisa hai uske paas.”

“Maayi ke chode wrong number hai saale. Hatt teri behan ki-”

Ranjeet ne dimag se qadam uthaaya. Usne apne laundo ko aas-paas ka jayza lene bheja. Kahi aisa toh nahi ki ye call police dwara karwaya jaa raha tha taaki woh haami bhar unko saboot dede ki wahi inn sab ke peechhe tha?

“Funny ho tum. Lekin, mujhe jo batana tha maine bata diya. Have fun!”

Aur, call cut ho gaya.

“H-Hello!? Hello?”

Magar, koi jawab nahi aaya.

“Iski maayi ki choot.”

Use pata chala ki sab kuchh clear tha. Aas-paas koi bhi police nahi thi. 'Veer' naam aur uska raees hone ke baare me sunte hi uske mann me laalach jaag chuka tha. Akhir, tha toh Veer ek naujavan hi.

Kya hoga agar, woh iss Dhananjay ko lootne ke saath-saath uss Veer ko bhi loot le? Uske dimag ki ghanti baji. Uska dimag bahut tezi se dauda.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Woh zor-zor se hassne laga. Usne Vandna ko dekha.

“Kyu re maayi? Tujhe badla lena tha na? Uu Veer se? Haan? Wahi Veer hi hai jisne tere pati aur sasur ko maara tha. Hahahaha!”

Vandna ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi. Beshaq, woh Veer ko nahi jaanti thi. Lekin, gaanv waalo ki baato se, aur idhar-udhar ki suni sunaayi baato se use iska andaza lag chuka tha ki uske pati aur sasur ko maarne waala Manorath Singh ke parivar ke kul ka ek vaaris tha — Veer Singh.

Woh kabhi Manorath ke ghar nahi gayi thi. Jitni baatein woh uss ghar ke baare me sunti thi, woh Harikiran ya Bhanu Pratap ke muh se hi suna karti thi. Zaahir hai, ve dono humesha teekhein shabd hi bolte the uss ghar ke liye.

Aur, isliye Vandna ke mann me Manorath ke parivar ko leke koi aadar nahi tha.

Parantu, woh yeh nahi jaanti thi ki uske pati aur sasur ko maara kyu gaya tha. Woh abhi bhi uss dard se tadap rahi thi. Upar se uska apna beta jo ki bandhi bana hua tha. Aur, ab ye naya ladka… Ranjeet, jo keh raha tha ki woh badla lega?

Kaise?

Uski kuchh samajh nahi aa raha tha aur isliye-

Jab ek din Ranjeet aur uske aadmi uski haveli me so rahe the. Aur, Mumbai jaa kar badi machhli phasaane ki tarqeeb bana rahe the tab woh waha se bhaag nikli. Bijaipur ki orr…!

Use sach jaanana tha. Bijaipur me hi use koi mil sakta tha. Jo use sach bata sakta tha. Woh apna muh chhipaate hue dar-dar bhatakti rahi ki kahi se koi use aisa mil jaaye jo Manorath ke parivar ke baare me sab kuchh use bata sake.

Woh dukaano me jaa ke logo se poochhti, khet me kaam kar rahe kisaano se poochhti, kue se paani bhar rahi mahilao se poochhti.

“S-Suniye! Aap Bijaipur ki haveli ke parivar ko jaante hai kya? Y-Ya Manorath ji ke parivar ko?”

Lekin, use sandigdh samajhte hue log use kuchh bhi bataane se mana kar dete. Jab ek baar-

“H-Huh? K-Kya kaha aapne didi? Bijaipur ki haveli ke log? M-Manorath ji ka parivar? A-Aap Veer sarkar ke parivar ki baat kar rahi ho kya? Bhavna didi?”

Sunte hi Vandna ka badan kaanp utha. Woh bas ahista se haami bhari. Uska chehra abhi bhi poora dhaka hua tha.

“Are toh pehle batana tha na! Chaliye mere saath. Kaaki se zyada koi nahi jaanta iss baare me. Balki, Veer sarkar ka kya… Jiske parivar ke baare me poochhna ho kaaki ko sab kuchh gyaat hai. Yaha tak ki Mayra ki haveli ke parivar ke baare me bhi bata dengi woh hahahaha!”

Vandna ka badan sihar utha. Mayra ki haveli ka parivar? Ye toh uska apna parivar tha. K-Kaise? Woh apne muh par bandha kapda adjust karte hue ek kacche makaan ki taraf pahuchi. Ye ladki use yahi laayi thi.

“Jaiye andar. Kaaki andar hi hongi! Jaiye! Arey jaiye! Sharmaiye mat. Kaaki bura nahi maanengi.”

Sarr hilaate hue Vandna andar daakhil hui. Saamne mitti ke chulhe par ek budhi aurat rotiyaan sek rahi thi jab use kisi ke aane ki aahat hui. Woh palti toh usne dekha ki koi anjaan mahila apna muh chhipaaye dehleez par khadi hui thi.

“K-Kaun?”

Bina kuchh kahe, Vandna ne apne chehre se kapda hata diya. Uski saansein tez thi. Ranjeet ke aadmiyo dwara pakde jaana ka darr bhi use sata raha tha. Woh bhaag kar jo aayi thi.

“Vandna? K-Kya yeh tum ho?”

Jab uss budhi aurat ne uska naam liya toh Vandna ki rooh kaanp gayi. Woh iss aurat se apne jeevan me pehle kabhi nahi mili thi. Fir, akhir yeh mahila use kaise jaanti thi?

“A-Aap mujhe kaise jaanti hai? K-Kaun hai aap kaaki!?”

Budhi aurat muskurayi aur usne apne haatho me liya chameeta wahi neeche zameen par rakha. Aur, khade hote hue boli.

“Mein… Abhilasha.”

“Huh??”

Abhilasha. Wahi Abhilasha jo Bhavna ki sevika thi. Veer ke parivar ki sevika. Jiske iss kacche makaan me uss raat Veer, Bhavna, Shweta, Kavya, aur baakiyo ke sang thehra tha. Jaha Bhavna ne apne ateet ki gaatha sunaayi thi.

Vandna bhauchakki si use ghoor rahi thi. Abhilasha? Kaun Abhilasha? Woh kisi Abhilasha ko nahi jaanti thi. Fir, yeh aurat use kaise jaanti thi? Kya isliye ki woh Mayra ki haveli ki sethani thi isliye log use jaante the? Haan, yahi kaaran raha hoga. Lekin, Abhilasha ke agle bol ne uski saari soch ko mitti me mila ke rakh diya.

“Mujhe pata tha ki tum yaha ek na ek din aaogi hi aaogi. Kaho! Kya jaanane aayi ho?”

Vandna ka shareer jhatka kha ke reh gaya.

“K-Kya matlab? M-Mein-”

“Bas apne sawaal rakho bitiya!”

Vandna ne khud ke mann ko shaant kar ek gehri saans li, woh nidar hoke, thoda krodh me Abhilasha ki orr dekhi aur poochhi.

“Agar, aap mujhe jaanti hai, toh yeh bhi jaanti hongi ki mein Mayra ki haveli ki sethani hu.”

“Hu ya thi?”

Abhilasha ke sawaal par Vandna ka badan ek baar phir thitak utha. Woh kaanpi. Beshaq, ab woh kahi ki bhi sethani nahi thi. Balki, uski khud ki aur uske bete ki jaan khatre me thi. Usne gusse me apne daant meese.

“Agar aapko yeh pata hi hai, toh yeh bhi pata hoga ki Veer naam ke ladke ne mujhse mera parivar chheen liya! Mere pati ko, mere sasur ji ko- Unhe… Unhe zinda kue me jala diya gaya! Aur, log tamasha dekhte rahe. *sniff* Bhale hi mujhe uss parivar se bahut sneh nahi mila. Lekin, mera parivar tha woh! Kyuuu? Kaun hai Veer? Kaha hai iss Manorath ka parivar? Badla lena chaahti hu mein!!!”

Abhilasha mand-mand muskurayi. Jaise woh jaanti thi ki yeh hona hi tha.

“Kya tumhe nahi pata ki tumhare pati aur sasur ki hatya kyu kari gayi?”

Vandna ki uss prashn par aankhein chaudi ho gayi.

“Toh suno! Mein sab bataati hu tumhe-!”

Uske baad Abhilasha ne woh sab bataaya jo use Suman se pata chala tha. Kaise Harikiran aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ne Karunesh ke saath saazish rach ke Bhavna ke saath ghinauna khel khela tha. Kaise use ghar se baahar nikalwaya gaya tha aur kaise woh uski santaan ko maarne ke chakkar me the, kaise itne beetein varsho me unhone Manorath ke parivar ko deemak ki tarah kha ke use andar se khokhla karna shuru kiya.

Sab kuchh Abhilasha bataati chali gayi. Aur, jaise-jaise Vandna ye sunti gayi, uske badan ke harr ek roye khade hote chale gaye. Aankhon se aasu behna shuru ho gaye.

“Y-Yeh jhooth hai!”

“Yahi satya hai bitiya! Lekin, tumhare parivar ke patan ka kaaran sirf yahi nahi hai. Ek kaaran aur bhi hai. Aur, woh… mukhya kaaran hai.”

Mukhya kaaran? Iss se bada kaaran aur kya ho sakta tha? Woh aankhein phaadi Abhilasha ko ghoorti rahi.

“KYUNKI TUM-”

Achanak hi Abhilasha ki awaaz bhayanak roop se oonchi ho gayi. Vandna ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi. Aur, agle hi kshan Abhilasha ne ek sabse bada raaz uske saamne ujaagar kiya.

“KYUNKI TUM- PARIJAAT KI AURAT HO!!!”

*Boom*

Maano ek adrishya visfot hua Vandna ke mann me. Uska badan kaanp utha. Parijaat ke baare me kaun nahi jaanta tha? Parijaat ka itihaas wo tha jo dono gaanvo me fela hua tha. Uski apni ek kahani thi. Uski apni ek gaatha thi. Woh kahani hi aisi thi jise koi bhula nahi sakta tha. Bhale hi Parijaat ki aurton ka astitva keval aur keval Bijaipur ki haveli tak hi seemit tha. Magar, iski katha dur-dur tak prachilit thi.

Aur, Mayra ka gaanv bhi koi apvaad nahi tha. Vandna ne Parijaat ke kisse sune the. Woh iss shabd se parichit thi. Lekin, uska Parijaat ki aurat hona? Sunte hi woh apne ghutno par gir padi. Aur, tabhi Abhilasha ki awaaz narm pad gayi.

“Yahi satya hai bitiya.”

Vandna ne apne aansu se bhare chehre ko upar kar Abhilasha ko dekha. Pata nahi kyu, par iss aurat se use apne liye atyadhik prem mehsoos ho raha tha.

“K-Kya mein aapki beti hu? N-Nahi! Mere mata-pita toh guzar chuke hai. M-Mere pita ji toh- woh toh bahut bade zameendar the. Unhone hi meri shadi Singh parivar me karwayi thi. Phir, aapko dekh ke aisa kyu lagta hai ki-”

“Nahi! Tum meri beti nahi!”

Vandna ne ek raahat ki saans li. Woh itne saare jhatko ke liye taiyaar nahi thi. Lekin, yeh uski galat-fehmi thi agar woh yeh soch rahi thi ki jhatke yahi samaapt hone waale the.

“Lekin, tumhare guzar chuke mata-pita bhi tumhara asli parivar nahi.”

“Ahhh!??”

Vandna ki aankhon se aasu bahe. Woh apna muh khole bhaybheet hoke Abhilasha ko ghoori. Ab uske ghutne bhi kaanpne lage the.

“Y-Yeh jhooth hai! Sab jhooth bol rahi ho aap! Mujhe achhe se yaad hai! Maine apna bachpan guzaara hai. Wahi mere maa-baap-”

“Unhone tumhe goad liya tha.”

“Huh!!!”

Vandna ko jhatke par jhatke lagne ab shuru ho chuke the.

“N-Nahi! Aap jhooth bol rahi hai! Aapko bhala ye sab kaise pata ho sakta hai?”

Woh gusse se ab haanf rahi thi.

“Kyunki, tum- tum meri behan ki bacchi ho, Vandna!”

Ek aur visfot Vandna ke mann me hua.

“Tum meri badi behan ki bitiya ho.”

“Jhooth! Jhooth bol rahi hai aap! Mere pita ji zameendar the. Maine apna bachpan unke saath guzara hai!”

“Tumne sahi kaha. Magar, tum kaafi chhoti thi jab unhone tumhe goad liya tha.”

“Jhoooothh! Kyuuu? *sniff* E-Ek zameendar bhala… bhala Parijaat ki aurat ki beti ko goad kyu lenge? Ye jaante hue ki Parijaat ki aurtein Bijaipur ki haveli ke waariso ki rakhelein thi???”

Woh zor se garji. Isme koi shaq nahi tha ki Parijaat ki aurtein Bijaipur ki badi haveli me Singh parivar ki daasiya thi. Toh, phir ek jaana-maana zameendar aisi bacchi ko goad kyu lega?

“Kyunki, unhe apna rinn chukaana tha.”

“Huh?”

“Poorv me Parijaat ki aurton ne tumhare goad lene waale mata-pita ki behad madad ki thi. Isliye, zameendar ji ne vachan diya tha ki ve Parijaat ki aurton me se kisi ek ki santaan ko khud paalenge, aur uska kanya-daan karenge. Ye Parijaat ke liye bhi saubhagya ki baat thi. Aur, isliye… Unhone phir tumhe goad liya tha.”

Vandna ke aansu jhar-jhar kar uski aankhon se behte chale gaye.

“T-Toh kaun? Kaun hai mere asli mata-pita? *sniff* Bataiye!”

“Meri badi behan hi tumhari maa thi bitiya. Aur, tumhare pita ek kisaan the. Renuka, meri jijji. Badi behan. Aur, tumhare pita — Santosh.”

“K-Kaha hai? Kaha hai ab wo? *sniff* Boliye!”

Par, Vandna ke sawaal par Abhilasha bas maayus ho kar muskurayi. Aur, Vandna samajh gayi. Uske aansu aur zor-zor se behne lage.

“Kyuuuuu? Kyu ye sab hone diya aapne? *sniff* K-Kyu??”

“Kyunki, yahi tumhara uddeshya tha bitiya.”

“K-Kya matlab?”

“Tumhara bhavishya usi kshan nirdharit ho gaya tha jis samay tumhara naam Parijaat se juda tha. Jis waqt tumne janm liya, usi kshan tum Bhavna maalkin ke Singh parivar ki daasi bann chuki thi. Ab mein tumhe Parijaat ka woh sach sunaane jaa rahi hu jiske baare me har koi itna vistaar se nahi jaanta. Toh suno, bitiya. Dhyaan se suno!”

Abhilasha ne phir ek gehri saans lete hue bolna shuru kiya.

---

Varsho puraani baat hai. Woh samay jab Bijaipur ki haveli ki neev rakhe bas kuchh hi varsh beete the. Iss samay Mayra ki haveli astitva me hi nahi thi. Jab Bhavna ke pita ji, Dharam Singh ke poorvaj Bijaipur ki haveli ke maalik the. Gaanv ki ekmaatra badi haveli hone ke naate sabhi uss ghar ke logo ki izzat kiya karte the.

Haveli ke aangan me lagbhag har roz ek baithak lagti thi. Gaanv ke kuchh bade log aapas me baith ke tamaam vishayo par charcha kiya karte the. Chaahe gaanv ke vikaas ko lekar koi baat ho ya angrezo ki badhti ghus-paith ki charcha. Sab wahi aangan ki baithak me hi hota tha.

Panchayat se zyada musibato ke hal haveli ki baithak me nikalte the. Par, isi ke saath baithak me aur bhi anya mehmano ka aagman hota tha. Koi dusre sheher se aaya prasiddh naatak-kar unhe apna naatak dikha ke unka manoranjan karta tha, toh koi nritya-kar aake apne nritya se unka mann mohta tha.

Baithak ek Raja ke darbar ki baithak ke samaan lagne lagi thi. Roz shaam ko poore gaanv me iss baat ko lekar utsaah fel jaata tha ki badi haveli me baithak lagne waali hai. Poore gaanv waale bas isi aasha me rehte the ki aaj kaun se mehmano ka aagman hoga? Aaj kya charcha hogi? Uss waqt TV nahi hua karta tha. Toh, baithak hi woh zariya thi jis se aam aadmi apna samay kaat ke manoranjan karta tha.

Aaye din log haveli ke ghar ke logo ko prasann karne ki koshish me lage rehte the. Aaye din unki seva karte. Aur, seva ki jab baat aati thi toh unme aurtein bhi shaamil hoti thi.

Kintu, tab seva sirf aur sirf ghar ke kaamo ke liye ki jaati thi. Shareerik taur par koi bhi stree haveli ke mardo se sambandh nahi banaati thi. Itni maryaada sab me thi.

Aur, inhi sevikao ka ek bahut hi prakhyaat samooh tha. Sabhi aurtein behad hi khubsurat thi. Ve sab dur ek gaanv se Bijaipur me rehne aayi thi. Sabhi ki sabhi anaath thi aur ek aashram me pali-badhi thi.

“Maine suna hai aapki iss haveli ne angrezo ki pratadna se har baar gaanv waalo ko bachaya hai. Kya yeh sach hai, Sarkar?”

Unke samooh ki woh sabse anubhavi thi aur unke sangathan ke saare nirnay wahi leti thi. Haveli ke maalik muskuraye aur poochhe.

“Kya naam hai aapka?”

“Mein Parineeti, Sarkar!”

“Aur, mein Baldev Singh. Ji haan! Aapne theek suna hai. Mein iss baat ki zamanat toh nahi le sakta ki mera gaanv angrezo se mukt hai. Lekin, unke dushkarmo ke prabhav ko kam karne me zaroor Bijaipur humesha se hi agrasar raha hai aur aage bhi rahega. Hum ladaayi se nahi, dimag se unhe santulan me rakhte hai.”

Parineeti muskurayi. Use bas yahi sunana tha. Woh yaha aayi hi isliye thi taaki uske gaanv me angrezo ke badhte atyachar se wo aur uska sangathan bach sake.

“Toh aaj se yeh Parineeti aur uska yeh chhota sa samooh aapke kul ki seva me apne aap ko samarpit karna chaahta hai, Sarkar.”

“Huh?” Baldev Singh achraj me use dekhe.

Zahir hai, Parineeti ka ‘seva’ se matlab tha ghar-baar ki seva. Na ki koi shareerik roop se yaun sambandh.

“Iski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Aap sabhi ke rehne ka intezam ho jaayega. Aap fiqr mat kariye.”

Lekin, Parineeti apne faisle par adig thi. Kyunki, use aur bhi maang rakhni thi.

“Meri ek aur farmaish hai Sarkar aapse. Seva toh hum sab karenge hi… Lekin, mera samooh kaafi bada hai. Agar, gaanv me inn sabhi ko inke hisaab ka koi kaarya mil sake, toh bahut bada upkaar hoga.”

“Hmm!” Baldev Singh ne haami bhari. “Ho jaayega. Kya ye sab nipud hai?”

“Beshaq, Sarkar! Meri adhiktar saheliyaan har tarah ke kaamo me nipud hai. Kisaani se leke rasoi se leke sangeet tak. Sabhi ki apni-apni visheshtaaye hai. Maine inn sabhi par bahut dhyaan diya hai.”

“Aap befiqr rahiye! Inn sabhi ko kaarya dilwaane ki zimmedari meri hai.”

“Toh fir aaj se Parineeti ka yeh samooh aapki seva me haazir rahega, Sarkar. Lekin, uss se pehle… Mein chaahti hu ki aap mere samooh ka naamkaran kare.”

“Naam karan?” Baldev Singh soch me pad gaye. Unke agal-bagal kaafi vidyavan log bhi baithe hue the. Jab Baldev Singh ne naam ke liye unse raay maangi, toh unme se ek ne kaha-

“Aam taur par aurtein aise muh khol ke nahi ghoomti, Sarkar. Humari pratha rahi hai. Lekin, ye sab anaath hai. Aur, bahut hi pratibhashali hai sab ki sab. Sabhi ek se badh kar ek sundri bhi hai. Ekdum Pariyo ki jaat samaan…! Toh, kyu na inke samooh ka naam — Parijaat rakh de?”

Naam sunn Baldev Singh ne ek haami bhari. Parijaat naam ‘Parineeti’ ke ‘Pari’ se liya gaya tha. Aur, choonki ve sab pariyo ki jaat ke samaan sundariya thi, isliye unke samooh ka naam pada — Parijaat.

Parineeti ko iss naam se koi pareshani nahi thi. Balki, ye naam sunn woh khush thi. Aur, uss din Bijaipur ki haveli me Baldev Singh ji ne pehli baar-

Parijaat ki neev rakhi.

Aise hi kuchh hafto baad, aane waale mehmano me shaamil the ek behad hi siddh purush — Paramhans Mahadevanand Ji.

Jo Pushkar sheher se aaye the aur behad hi prasiddh the apni siddhi ke liye. Unke darshan maatra se hi aadmi apne aap ko dhanya maan leta tha. Unki aayu kya thi koi nahi jaanta tha. Kaha jaata tha ki unhe kayi siddhiyaan praapt thi, magar jo ek do prakhyaat thi woh thi — Prakriti Darshan Siddhi aur Bhava Pravesh Siddhi.

Ve jaane jaate the apne ek mahaan kaam — Saat Patthar Jagran ke liye.

Ek baar Mandoli naam ke gaanv me sookha pad chuka tha. Toh, unhone saat patthar saat alag-alag jagaho se ikhatte kiye the. Registan, nadi ka taal, shamshan, yuddh-kshetra, mandir ka khandahar, parvat ka shikhar, aadivaasi jangal.

Inn saat jagaho se saat patthar ikhatta kar unhone apni urja aur mantro ke ucchaaran se gaanv ke beecho-beech baith kar raat bhar jap kiya tha jis se-

Saat dino ke andar hi andar poora sookha gaanv se gaayab ho chuka tha. Varsha hone lagi thi. Faslein ugne lagi thi. Aur, woh sthaan ek teerth-gaman ka sthaan bann gaya — Saptavivek Sthaan.

Britishers ne ise adhyatmik visangati ka naam de kar iske baare me aneko lekho me likhna shuru kar diya tha.

Devnagari me likha unke dwara ek lekh jise jaana jaata tha — Raamchaitanya ke naam se, jisme 108 sookshm shareer avlokano ka vivran tha. Aaj ise hi ‘Akasha Kaagaz’ ke roop me jaana jaata tha.

Aaj wahi siddh Mahadevananand ji swayam Bijaipur ki haveli me Baldev Singh ke ghar padhaare the. Haveli ka vishal aangan upar se khula hua tha. Vidyavan, zameendar, pehredar, aur pujari, sabhi waha maujood the.

Pardo ke peechhe ghar ki streeyaan aur Parijaat aurtein khil-khilaati aur sharmaate hue baithak ko dekh rahi thi.

Mahadevanand ji dheere-dheere, nange paanv, apni lambi rudraksh ki maala ko dheere-dheere hilaate hue andar aaye. Veh aangan me daakhil hue.

“Kya mere jaise ek gareeb pathik ke liye iss ghar me koi aashray hai kya, Raajan?”

Baldev Singh turant haath jod kar khade ho gaye, unki aankhein vismay se zyada samajh se sikudi hui thi.

“Mein koi Raja nahi, guru ji! Rajan keh kar mujhe pukaarne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aap yaha aaye, wahi bahut hai mere liye. Mein nahi jaanta ki aap kaun hai, lekin itna zaroor jaanta hu ki aap jaise siddh purush sharan nahi lete. Aap meri pareeksha le rahe hai.”

Mahadevanand ji mand-mand muskuraye, akhirkar unki aankhein khuli.

“Kya aapke poorvaj Raja Maharaja nahi the?”

Unke prashn par Baldev ji ka shareer jhatka kha gaya.

“J-Ji guru ji! Ve sab Raja the. Lekin, mein nahi.”

“Aap saaf-saaf dekhna jaante ho, Rajan! Toh, dekhte hai ki aapki drishti kaha tak pahuchti hai. Mere paas ek kaarya hai… jo betuka hai. Shayad murkhtapoorn bhi. Kya aap karenge?”

“Aadesh dijiye, mahatma.” Ve jhukte hue bole.

“Toh suno! Apne dakshini kheto ke theek baahar banjar zameen me ek gehra kua khodo. Lekin… Use paani se nahi bharna. Iski bajaaye, usme 60 mitti ke kalash rakho, jinhe ghee, gudd, sarso, haldi aur apni Parijaat ki har stree ke kuchh baalo se band kar do aur neem ke patto se dhak do. Yeh gyaarah dino ke bheetar poora ho jaana chahiye. Koi sawal nahi.”

Mahadevanand ji ne gambheerta se kaha. Aur, waha sannaata chha gaya.

Pehli baat toh yeh thi ki guru ji ko Parijaat ke baare me kaise bodh tha? Aur, dusri ye ki yeh kis tarah ka kaarya tha?

Pardo ke peechhe se tabhi ek dheemi si khilli udi, aur phir ek awaaz — jo itni tez thi ki use lagbhag har kisi ne sunn liya tha.

“Hmph! Dekho toh buddhe ko! Kya hum ye maan le ki iss pagalpann se hum angrezo se mukt ho jaayenge? Sookhe se bach jaayenge? Ye saadhu bas bhagwan banane ke liye kahaniya bana raha hai.”

Awaaz thi Padmini ki, jo Parijaat ki sabse sundar stree aur sabse prashansit mahilao me se ek thi. Buddhiman, chalaak, aur behad khubsurat. Samay ke saath use lagne laga tha ki woh apne padd se upar thi. Use sirf ‘ghar ki sevika’ kehlaane se chidh hoti thi. Halanki, kaam sammaan-janak tha aur woh araam se rehti thi. Lekin, apni sundarta aur buddhimatta par garv use na sirf gaanv waalo se, balki Baldev Singh se bhi shreshta mehsoos karaata tha.

Lekin, uss garv ke neeche ek gehri asuraksha chhipi thi. Haveli ki deewaro ke baahar uske paas koi virasat nahi thi. Koi swatantrata nahi. Koi taaqat nahi.

Toh, jab yeh saadhu aaya aur Parijaat ki mahilao se anushthan ke liye apne baalo ka ek katra daan karne ko kaha, toh Padmini ne ise vyaktigat roop se le liya.

‘Hum rajao ya inn aadmiyo ki daasi nahi hai. Kisi bhatakte baba ki bakwas ke liye hum apne reshmi baalo ka ek katra bhi kyu de?’

Woh iss anushthan ko aadhyatmik nahi, balki purush-pradhan andh-vishvas maanti thi, jiska uddeshya daiveeya kaarya ki aadh me mahilao ko niyantrit karna tha.

Toh, jab uske bol waha goonje-

Bechaini se ek badbadahat uthi. Lekin, Mahadevanand ji ne bas jharoke ki taraf dekha aur kuchh na kaha. Ve Baldev ki orr mude. Woh achraj me khada hua tha. Baldev ne sakhti se Parijaat ki aurton ko dekha aur uske dekhne par ve sab shaant ho gayi.

“Toh, bolo Rajan! Aap karoge?”

“Ji guru ji!” Baldev Singh ne jawab diya.

9 dino baad…

Kaarya samapti ke qareeb pahuch raha tha. Mazdoor aur naukar din-raat kaam kar rahe the. Kalasho ko taiyaar kiya gaya, zameen khodi gayi, anushthan samapt hua, lekin gyaarvhi raat ke pehle hi nauvi raat ko kuchh hua.

Kalasho ke saath chedh-chadh. 60 me se 4 kalash toote hue mile. Unki saamagri apavitra ho chuki thi.

Apradhi?

Padmini. Wahi mahila jisne iss kaarya ka mazak udaaya tha. Woh, 28 anya Parijaat mahilao ke saath, gupt roop se iska peechha kar rahi thi. Unhe yeh poora anushthan ek dikhawa lag raha tha. Kuchh ki dharnaaye toh ab ye bhi bann chuki thi ki Mahadevanand ji keval ek dhongi tha jo satta haasil karne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Kehte hai na ki ek gandi machhli poore talaab ko ganda kar deti hai. Padmini ke andar ka guroor bhi baaki mahilao ko prabhavit kar chuka tha.
Iss se bhi buri baat yeh thi ki Padmini ne Mahadevanand ji dwara uss sthal ke paas rakha gaya kaala rudraksh bhi chura liya tha, jiske baare me kaha jaata tha ki woh unki shakti ki muhar thi.

Agli hi subah, apavitrata ki khabar fel gayi. Gaanv waalo ki saansein atak gayi. Hawa bhaari ho gayi, maano kisi bhayankar toofan se pehle ki ho.

Poora gaanv haveli ke baahar ikhatta ho gaya. Mahadevanand ji beech me chup-chap khade the. Bheed me logo ke chehre sharm se lajjit the.

Baldev Singh jaan gaye the ki yeh galti Padmini ki thi. Kuchh wafadar Parijaat ki aurton ne ye raaz khol diya tha. Yeh jaante hue ki Parijaat unki zimmedari hai, ve aage badhe aur ghutno ke bal baith gaye.

“Hey gyaani, mujhe kshama kijiye! Paap mera hai. Jis par aapne bharosa kiya, usne iss bharose ko tod diya. Iska bhaagidaar mein hu, guru ji!”

Mahadevanand ji ne uski orr dekha — aankhein teekhi, phir bhi shaant.

“Ab samajh aaya ki maine aapko Rajan keh ke kyu pukaara tha?”

“Huh?”

“Aaj aapne ye siddh kar diya ki aap apne purvajo ki tarah hi zimmedari ka taaj pehente ho. Aaj aapne saabit kar diya ki aapke kul ka khoon samay ke saath patla nahi hua. Kisi aur ki galti ka dosh apne sarr lena asaan baat nahi, Rajan.”

Unhone Baldev ke kandho par haath rakha aur unhe dheere se uthaaya. Phir, veh bheed ki orr mude aur garajte hue bole.

“Lekin, jisne paap kiya hai, veh abhi bhi chhipa hai. Parijaat ki Padmini — Saamne aao!!!”

Parde ke peechhe se ek cheenkh sunayi di. Padmini kaanpte hue ghutno ke bal gir padi. Use nahi laga tha ki woh pakdi jaayegi.

“Ek kuleen vyakti ne tumhe aashray diya… Uske haatho ne tumhe bhojan diya… Uske ghar me tumhe suraksha di… Aur, phir bhi tumne uske saath-saath dharm se chori ki.”

Hawa tez ho gayi. Unhone gangajal se bhara ek peetal ka paatr khola aur use agnikund me chhidka. Unhone kaale kapde ki ek patti nikaali, pracheen atharva mantro ka jaap kiya aur pavitra agni ki teen baar parikrama ki.

Laptein aprakartik roop se uthne lagi.

“MEIN YEH SHRAAP DETA HU KI — PEEDHIYO TAK YEH GYAAT HO KI ABHIMAN KA PAAP DAND SE NAHI BAKSHA JAYEGA! AAJ SE, PARIJAAT KI STREEYAAN — JINKA SAUNDARYA UNKA AHANKAR THA, JINKA SATEETVA UNKA HATHIYAR THA — USI VANSH KI SEVA KARENGI JISE UNHONE APAVITRA KIYA!”

Ve aankhein band kar ke ruke aur phir garje.

“MAANSIK ROOP SE! BHAVNATMAK ROOP SE! AARTHIK ROOP SE! AUR… SHAREERIK ROOP SE! UNKA ABHIMAN TOOTEGA! UNKA AHANKAR BEDIYO ME BAANDH DIYA JAYEGA! AUR, SANSAR KE SAMAPT HONE TAK UNHE BALDEV SINGH KE PARIVAR AUR UNKE VANSHAJO SE BAANDH DIYA JAYEGA!”

“AUR, AGAR ISS SE BACH KAR BHAAGNE KI KOSHISH KI- YA PARIVAR AUR KUL KO KISI BHI TARAH SE HAANI PAHUCHANE KI KOSHISH KI, TOH UNKA AUR UNKE PARIVAR KE PATAN KA KAARAN BANEGA YAHI SHRAAP.”

Bheed avaak reh gayi. Padmini chakkar kha ke behosh ho gayi. Parijaat ki Parineeti daud kar aage badhi aur guru ji ke charno me gir padi, aur bekabu hokar rone lagi.

“Maharaj! Mahatma! Hum moorkh the. Aapko chahiye toh mujhe shraap de dijiye — lekin, baakiyo ko chhor dijiye. Hume humari sateetva ki haani se bacha lijiye.”

Baldev Singh bhi ghutno ke bal gir kar vinti karne lage.

“Mahaan! Ve sab meri dekh-rekh me hai. Jo bhi dand dena hi — mujhe dijiye. Lekin, unka saar kalankit mat kijiye. Kripya, guru ji-”

Mahadevanand ji chup ho gaye. Jwalaaye mand pad gayi. Hawa thandi ho gayi. Unhone dheere se apni aankhein upar uthayi.

“Ek baar diya gaya shraap wapas nahi liya jaa sakta, Rajan! Lekin, use… seemit zaroor kiya jaa sakta hai. Keval aur keval aapki wajah se-”

Unhone uss agni se raakh uthayi aur use apni hatheliyo me ragda.

“PARIJAAT KI AURTEIN SABHI WAARISO KI NAHI, BALKI KEVAL EK KI SEVA KARENGI! VEH JO BALDEV SINGH KE VANSH ME SARVASHRESHTA HOGA! JISKA DHARMA SABSE BADHKAR HOGA! JISKA MANN USKI TALVAR SE BHI TEZ HOGA! JISKI AATMA NISHKALANK HOGI! VE SAB USKI SEVA KARENGI — AUR KEVAL USKI! HAR TARAH SE SHRAAP YAHI MAANG KARTA HAI!”

Ek sannata chha gaya.

“Aur, ise ek sabak maan lo! Uss kripa ki bhi apni seemaaye hoti hai. Dharm unki raksha karta hai jo uski raksha karte hai. Aur, unka naash karta hai jo uska uphaas karte hai!”

Veh mude. Aur, jaane lage. Aur, yahi se shuruat hui — asli Parijaat ki.

Baad me wahi anushthan wapas se poori savdhani se kiya gaya aur safal bhi hua. Anushthan ka uddeshya tha-

Gaanv ke neeche ek adhyatmik garbh banaana. Angrezo dwara laayi gayi sookshm videshi urjao ko nishkreeya karne ke liye. Gaanv ke adhyatmik mool, sanskritik smriti aur paitrik urja ko nasht hone se bachaane ke liye.

Parijaat mahilao ki stree urja (shakti) ko dharti ke saath sanrekhit karne ke liye, unki jeevan shakti ko mitti se baandhne ke liye, taaki koi bhi baahri shakti gaanv ko ukhaad na sake. Ya adhyatmik roop se uska ullanghan na kar sake.

Aprakartik mauto aur akaalo ko rokne ke liye, aur bhoomi va parivaro me urvarta badhane ke liye. Gaanv ko dusht shaktiyo se chhipaane ke liye aur sukh, samridhhi felaane ke liye.

Inhi Parijaat ki aurton me shaamil thi — Suman ki purvaj, Sudha, Mukta, Varsha, Vandna, aadi… Inn sab ki purvaj jinhone aage chal ke baakiyo ko janm diya.

---

Jab Abhilasha ne ateet ki gaatha ko samapt kiya, toh Vandna ki aankhein sadme me phaili hui thi.

“Aur, isi tarah hum bhi unhi ke vanshaj hai bitiya. Sab ke sab. Tum bhi! Yahi kaaran hai ki tumhare parivar ka patan kyu hua!”

“Haah!!” Vandna ki saans zor se choothi. Use saans lene me taqleef ho rahi thi.

“Kyunki, tum… Ek Parijaat ki aurat hoke, tumhara parivar maalik ke parivar ke khilaaf gaya. Isliye, yeh toh hona hi tha.”

“N-Nahi!”

“Mayra ki haveli ka parivar aaye din Singh parivar ke liye mushqile paida karta rehta tha. Aur, isliye maine-”

Iss baar Abhilasha ki aankhon se aasu dhaar bann kar behne lage.

“Mujhe maaf kar dena bitiya! Kyunki, woh mein hi thi! Jisne tumhari shaadi uss ghar me karwayi!”

*Boom*

Ek aur visfot Vandna ke mann me hua. Kya matlab?

Matlab yeh ki aaye din Mayra ka parivar jo Singh parivar ke liye hanikarak saabit ho raha tha, uss se nipatne ke liye hi Abhilasha ne Vandna ki shadi uss ghar me karwayi thi. Taaki, agar bhavishya me ve sab parivar ke liye aanch bane toh unka khaatma shraap ke zariye ek na ek din ho hi jaaye.

Yahi tha Parijaat ki aurat hone ka astitva. Uski zimmedari.

“A-Aap-!!”

Vandna avaak reh gayi. Woh aadhe ghante tak bas apne aasu bahaati rahi. Aur, Abhilash uske paas aa kar neeche baith uske galey se lag gayi.

“Maaf kar dena! Mujhe maaf kar dena bitiya! *sniff* Mein tumhari doshi hu!”

“M-Mera beta! Maasi mera beta! *sniff* Mera beta!”

Vandna ne phir sab kuchh sweekar kar liya. Usne apni vyatha batayi ki kaise woh yaha par bhaag kar aayi thi.

“Maalik bitiya! Veer maalik! Wahi tumhe bacha sakte hai! Yaad rakhna-! Yaad rakhna humesha ki tum Parijaat ki aurat ho! Aur, tumhara sabse pehla maqsad hai Veer maalik ki seva. Unhe kisi bhi prakar ki haani mat pahuchana. Tumhare pati aur sasur ne yahi galti kari thi.”

“V-Veer maalik-!?”

“H-Haan! Jao bitiya! Jao maalik ki sharan me jao. Mujhe poora vishvas hai ki ve hi tumhare bete ko dhundh sakte hai.”

Vandna waha se nikli, lekin Ranjeet ke aadmi akhirkar use pakad hi liye.

Vandna ne wahi chaal chali jo Abhilasha ne use samjhayi thi. Bhola banana aur Ranjeet ke jhaanse me rehne ka use vishvas dilaana. Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat slaughter house me jab Ranjeet ne use call kiya tha toh Vandna ne ye kyu kaha tha-

“Hahaha! Aai ja maayi Aai ja! Tohre liye badhiya tohfa taiyaar kar ke rakhunga. Tu aa!”

“Y-Ye sab! Ye sab jokhim bhara hai!”

“Iski behan ki choot! Muh band rakh! Bahut baat sunn leni tohre se. Ab aur naa! Jitna bola gaya hai utna karne ka! Samjhi na?”

Vandna ne jaan-boojh ke Ranjeet ko 'jokhim' keh kar uksaaya tha. Shraap ki lapat me Ranjeet laalach ki wajah se aa phasa aur khud apni jaan bhi gawa baitha. Itna taqatvar tha yeh shraap.

***

Vandna Veer ke saamne baith ke ro rahi thi. Kaanp rahi thi. Ghadi me subah ke 5 baj rahe the. Mukta, Varsha, aur Sudha bhi wahi baithi hui thi.

Veer (sighs) : Toh, ye thi sacchayi.

Vandna : H-Haan! *sniff* M-Mein Parijaat ki aurat hu! *sniff* T-Toh, kya tum... Kya tum...

Mukta (frowns) : Tum nahi! Aap! Aap bolo! Parijaat ki aurat ho toh!

Veer : Bolne do use, Mukta. Mujhe 'aap' 'tum' se farq nahi padta.

Vandna : T-Toh, kya tum mere bete ko ab dhundh sakte ho? U-Use bacha sakte ho?

Veer (nods) : Choonki, ab jab tum meri zimmedari ho. Dhananjay ko dhundhna bhi meri zimmedari hai.

Zaahir hai ki Vandna apne bete ki maut ke baare me abhi kuchh bhi nahi jaanti thi. Use jitna pata tha utna usne Veer ko bata diya tha.

Veer ka mann bhi ashaant tha. Woh waha Dhananjay ka khaatma karne gaya tha par kisne socha tha ki aenn waqt par waha police aa jaayegi? Aur, upar se uska saamna uss Trisha se ho jaayega? Aur, toh aur woh Dhananjay nahi, Ranjeet niklega!?

Ek baar woh Trisha ki nazron me aa chuka tha, ab dobaara nahi aana chaahta tha. Aur, isliye-

Usne iss qadar Ranjeet ko maut ke muh me utaara ki woh kisi ki nazar me aaya hi nahi. Poore samay Trisha aur uski team, Ranjeet aur uske log yahi sochte reh gaye ki kis anjaan ne inn sab ko anjaam diya.

Upar se woh aisi maut mara ki use pata tak nahi chala ki use kisne maara. Na sirf Veer ne andhere me reh ke saari musibato ki jado ko ek-ek karke saaf kiya, balki Ranjeet jaise gang leader ko maar ke uska dosh ulta inspector Trisha par thop diya.

Yahi thi uski master strategy. Magar, agar jaha iss strategy ka fayda tha toh wahi iska ek nuksan bhi tha. Aur, woh yeh tha ki — usne Ranjeet ko unn hooks par uske muh se latkaya toh tha, magar maara nahi tha.

Ranjeet uss waqt zinda tha. Dard se tadap raha tha. Chhatpata raha tha. Beshaq, woh kuchh der me hi mar jaata lekin, killing blow Trisha ne deliver kiya tha. Na ki Veer ne. Ranjeet ki saansein Trisha ki goli seene me lagne ke baad thami thi.

Dusre, shabdo me… Ranjeet ko Trisha ne maara tha.

Aur, agar Ranjeet ko Trisha ne maara tha. Toh, system ne Veer ko Ranjeet ka Past Illustration diya hi nahi. Kyunki, system ke hisaab se Ranjeet ki dhadkane thaamne waala Veer nahi tha. Trisha thi.

Aur, isi wajah se-

Veer Ranjeet ka kisi bhi prakar ka ateet nahi jaan saka. Usne uske ek-do pantaro ka past dekha, magar use kuchh bhi haath nahi laga.

Veer : Sudha! Mukta! Varsha! Vandna ko yahi rakho. Sheher ke taur tareeko se use rubaru karwao! Iss beech mein... Dhananjay ko dhundhne ke baare me kuchh sochta hu.

Sudha : J-Ji maalik!

Aur, itna bol woh waha se nikal gaya.

***

[Master…]

‘Pari! Show me my full status.’

[Sure!]

Aur, tabhi uske mann me ek window khuli.

*Ding*









Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities tab me badlaav aa chuka tha. Par, uska main focus tha apne stats ki orr. Kaafi samay se usne inn par rok laga ke rakhi hui thi. Ab samay aa chuka tha ki woh waapas se unn par dhyaan de. Disembowler se bhidne ke baad use samajh aa chuka tha ki woh abhi kitna peechhe tha.

Usne dekha ki uske paas 40,000 points jama rakhe the. Jisme se 20,000 use haal hi me Disembowler ki ladaayi se praapt hue the. Aur, 10,000 Ranjeet ko maarne par.

'Pari! 30 points strength aur intelligence me add kar do. Agility me 20 add kar do. Aur, endurance me bhi 30 points add kar do.'

[Yes, Master.]

*Ding*

Uske saamne stats ki screen khuli.




'Hmm!'

*Ding*

[11,000 points have been used. You are now left with 29,000 points.]

'Good! Abhi ke liye ye change kaafi hai.'

[Aapko ek nap lena hoga changes ke liye, Master.]

'Jaanta hu!'

Usne mann hi mann ek haami bhari. Ek santushti bhari haami.

‘Pari! Skill shop kholna.’

[Ah!!]

‘Kya hua?’

[Aap kabhi skill shop itna explore nahi karte the. Aur, achanak se aaj aapne shop explore karne ko kaha isliye-]

‘Yeah! Please, open karo.’

[Yes, master.]

Shop open hote hi ab use ek naya interface dekhne ko mila. Pehle jaha shop me skills aise hi line se lagi rehti thi. Ab wo alag-alag sections me vibhajit thi. Usne unn sections par nazar maari toh uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

‘Interesting…! Ye pehle se kaafi better hai.’

Uske mann me skill shop ka interface khula hua tha.

[Skill Shop :

1) Combat Skills : Offensive and close range engagement skills.
2) Defensive & Evasion Skills : Protective skills that require dodging, shielding, or enduring attacks.
3) Stealth & Infiltration Skills : Skills for espionage, escape, and unnoticed operation.
4) Perception & Awareness Skills : Enhances senses, intuition, pattern recognition & spatial intelligence.
5) Physical Mastery Skills : Boost body coordination, agility, and performance.
6) Social & Manipulation Skills : Verbal, psychological & charisma-based control skills.
7) Leadership & Strategy Skills : Helps in planning, commanding, and managing groups in pressure.
8) Technical & Analytical Skills : Boosts logic, pattern recognition, and device interaction.
9) Survival & Environment Skills : Survival instincts, adaptation to hostile environments.
10) Medical & Rescue Skills : Healing, diagnostics, and life-saving techniques.
11) Legendary Skills (Cross-Category) : Very rare, mission-bound, extremely powerful skills. Can fall under any above category.]

Veer ne jab itni saari categories dekhi toh uska dimag chakra gaya. Magar, uski nazar sabse pehle 11th category par padi. Uski aankhon me ek chamak thi.

Legendary skills? Shop me? Aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha. Yeh sab kya tha? Kya woh legendary skills ko khareed sakta tha? Usne bina samay gavaaye ‘Legendary Skills’ ko select kiya aur-

*Ding*

[The host cannot access the ‘Legendary Skills’ section if the missions are due.]

[Complete the due missions if the host wants to access the ‘Legendary Skills’ section.]

‘I see…!’

Veer ki bauhe upar uthi. Uske missions pending me the. Do naye missions use mile the aur unhe complete kiye bagerr woh iss section ko nahi dekh sakta tha.

‘Pari? Kya mujhe Legendary skills iss section se mil sakti hai?’

[Mein sure nahi hu, master. Kyunki, aapki hi tarah mein bhi ise access nahi kar sakti. I’m- I’m sorry Master.]

‘Huh?’

[M-Mujhe ye pehle hi kar lena chahiye tha. Jab aapko mission nahi mila tha.]

Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Pari itni dheeli-dhaali kab se ho gayi bhala? Woh agar baahri duniya me itna vyast tha toh kya Pari samay rehte itna sa kaam nahi kar sakti thi?

‘Tum kabse itni careless hone lagi, Pari? Maine tumse ye bilkul expect nahi kiya tha. Aur, tum ye bata rahi thi ki tumhari special skill tumhara intelligence hai? Kaha gaya woh intelligence?’

Veer ke shabd teekhe the. Uska ravaiyya bhi alag tha. Pari maun reh gayi. Woh sehmi hui thi. Iske pehle kabhi uske master uss se iss tarah se pesh nahi aaye the.

‘Ava ke system Lily ki special ability uska luck factor hai. Kam se kam woh sahi se uska istemal toh karti hai. Tum kya kar rahi thi? Agar, mein itne disturbance me bhi itna active reh sakta hu, raato ki neend sacrifice kar ke itne matters se deal kar sakta hu, toh tumhe toh mere andar maujood hoke aur bhi active rehna chahiye. Par, fir bhi tum-’

Woh use suna hi raha tha jab achanak Pari ki awaaz zorr se uske andar goonj gayi.

[KYUNKI, MUJHE AAPKI FIQR THI, YOU STUPID MASTER!!!]

Uski awaaz ruwasi thi. Lag raha tha jaise woh abhi ro degi.

‘Huh!?’

Veer thoda chaunk gaya.

[M-Mujhe aapki fiqr ho rahi thi. M-Mein… A-Aap pareshan the. Disembowler, prestige attack, aur na jaane kya-kya. M-Mein har samay aapke baare me soch rahi thi. Aapki nerves ko calm karne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Soch rahi thi ki iss sab ke peechhe kaun ho sakta hai aur uska kya aim ho sakta hai.]

‘!??’

[Aapke behaviour me change aa raha hai… Mein ghabra rahi thi. This isn’t how you used to do things, master.*sniff* Mein aapse baat karna chaah rahi thi. Y-You are getting changed. M-Mein jaanti hu aapke dada ji ki death ka impact aap par pada hai. B-But- this… this isn’t the right way.]

‘...’

[Aapne mission ke pehle hi Ranjeet ko maar diya. System ne use abhi complete threat ghoshit bhi nahi kiya tha par aapne- *sniff* Y-You killed him brutally.]

System ne Ranjeet ko abhi complete threat nahi maana tha. Yaani ki agar, Veer slaughterhouse nahi bhi jaata toh koi farq nahi padta kyunki, Trisha already waha pahuch hi jaati aur fir Ranjeet ko woh pakad leti. Jis se Ranjeet Veer ke liye kisi bhi prakar ki pareshani bann kar saamne nahi aata. Kam se kam tab tak jab tak woh Police ki giraft me rehta.

Parantu, Veer ne uske pehle hi Ranjeet naam ki iss samasya ko jad se mita diya tha. Aur, Pari ki nazro me ye galat tha. Yeh aisa tha jaise koi jaan-boojh ke kisi ki jaan le raha ho. Ranjeet ko bandhi bhi banaya jaa sakta tha. Lekin, iss qadar use hook par latka ke tadpa kar maarna? Uske master ye sab kab se karne lage bhala?

Isliye, inn beetein dino se Pari pareshan thi. Apne liye nahi, apne Master ke liye. Woh sabhi pariyon me se sabse sanvedansheel thi. Yahi kaaran tha ki kyu woh system par focus na kar ke apne master pas zyada focused thi.

Pari ke bol sunn Veer ki nazrein neeche jhuk gayi. Lekin, usne Pari ki baat ka samarthan nahi kiya.

‘Maine use nahi maara!’

[YOU KILLED HIM!]

‘Agar, maine use maara hota… Toh, Past illustration aata. But-’

[Woh already marr jaata agar waha woh Trisha nahi pahuchti toh-! M-Master! *sniff* Don’t get impulsive please. I… I like the way you were before. P-Please, don’t change. I-I beg you *sniff* Don’t be like this.]

Uski guhaar bhari awaaz Veer ko sunaayi di. Veer ne ek gehri saans li aur uske mann me bas itna hi nikla-

‘This is the right way, Pari.’

[Y-YOU-!!! HOW CAN YOU??? *sniff*]

‘Ranjeet ko raaste se hataate hi cheezein kitni asaan ho gayi hai ab. Dekho tum! Ek na ek din use marrna hi tha. Also, maine nahi maara use. The hook killed him. Trisha killed him. Not me!’

[I HATE THIS… *sniff*]

‘Melodrama ki zaroorat nahi hai. Yahi efficient aur sabse sahi tareeka hai. And, this is how I’ll proceed. Mujhe calculated plans ko execute karna hoga. That’s it! Aur, tabhi-’

Par, iske pehle ki woh apni baat poori rakhta-

*Ding*

[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]

[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]

‘Pari, tum-!’

Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.

‘This is the right way, Pari!’
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
The Update consists of 12k words.
Dhanyavad.

सुपर बहुत ही सुंदर kya strength me our poit nhi dalsakta tha kya veer Q ki disebhumber SHB use karke apni strength double karsakta hai na Am I write

 

[Ajay chauhan]

Update - 203 ~ A Past under a Past​

Ab tak...

Mandli shaant ho gayi. Baba ji ne dheere se apna sarr ghumaaya. Woh muskuraate hue thahaake lagaaye. Fir, ahista se bole.

Baba ji : Naam? Hahahaha! Mere bacche...! Iss shareer ko log yaha mohanlal keh ke pukaarte hai. *smiles*

Logon ne santushti me sarr hilaaya. Parantu, jis tarah se baba ji ne uttar diya tha. Iss shareer ko...

Use sunn log aur bhi prabhavit ho gaye. Naam milte hi uss yuvak ko aisa laga jaise koi apnapann mil gaya ho. Usne unhe pranaam kiya aur peechhe baith gaya.

Baba ji muskuraate hue logo ko dekhte rahe. Kintu, ye sirf wahi jaante the ki-

Unka asli naam Mohanlal nahi tha.

Unka asli naam tha —

Raman.

Ab aage...

Baat shuru hoti hai tab se jab Veer Harikiran aur uske bete ki sacchaayi ke baare me jaanta bhi nahi tha. Tab jab Veer ko apni maa ke badle ke baare me kuchh bhi nahi pata tha. Tab jab Veer ko system ki praapti bhi nahi hui thi.

Tab, ‘Harikiran Singh’ woh naam tha jo poore gaanv me bhay ka prateek tha. Uski badi si haveli logo me apna darr baitha ke rakhti thi. Poora gaanv jaanta tha ki angrezo ke zamaane se do hi badi haveliya thi jo ab tak itni kathnaiyo ka saamna karne ke bawajood mazboot khadi hui thi.

Ek thi Bijaipur ke Dharam Singh ki haveli, jo Bhavna ke pita ji ki thi. Jinke poorvajo ne angrezo ko humesha apne gaanv me mann-maani karne se rok ke rakha raha.

Aur, ek thi Bijaipur se hi kuchh doori par lage Mayra gaanv ke Harikiran Singh ki haveli, jinke poorvajo ne angrezo se milkar ghoos khaane me koi bhi chaaploosi ka mauka nahi chhora tha.

Kintu, yahi do parivar ant me aapas me bhide aur Bijaipur ke Dharam Singh ki haveli raato raat aag me chhal se bhasm ho gayi. Parivar khatam ho gaya. Siwaaye, unki putri — Bhavna ke, jo ab Bijaipur se jaa chuki thi.

Aur, isliye- ab Bijaipur ki ek haveli ke jaane se, Harikiran ki haveli ka rutba aur bhi badh chuka tha. Satta, taaqat, zameenein, jaydaad, sab kuchh ab tezi se aage badh raha tha. Unnati ho rahi thi. Harikiran ke naam se hi aadmi thar-thar kaanp jaaya karta tha. Harikiran ab kasaayi-khaane jaise gandey vyapaar me bhi apna haath aazmaane laga tha.

Jitna adhik paisa, utna adhik rutba. Jitna adhik rutba, utna adhik logo me darr. Aur, jitna adhik darr, utna hi adhik uska varchasv jo poore gaanv me felte hue ab aas-paas ke gaanvo tak pahuchne laga tha.

Magar, iss darr ke saath-saath andar hi andar Mayra ke log Harikiran ki prataadna se pareshan bhi the. Kintu, majaal thi kisi ki jo unke saamne koi apna muh khol de? Bhale hi gaanv ke log unse darrte the, lekin unke apne hi ghar me ek sadasya aisa bhi tha jo kisi se bhi nahi darrta tha.

Harikiran ka pota, Bhanu pratap aur Vandna ka ekmaatra putra — Dhananjay.

Bachpan se hi use har cheez apne haath me mili thi. Ekmaatra ladka tha toh gharwaalo ne use ladhiya ke bhi rakha hua tha. Na hi woh kisi ko kuchh samajhta tha aur na hi kisi ki baat maanta tha. Padhayi gaanv se hi lage hue ek jile se usne kar li thi.

Ab baap dada ke paas itna paisa tha toh bhala aur padhne ki kya hi zaroorat thi? Yahi sochke usne apna nirnay bana liya tha.

“Oo maayi! Dekh! Ab mein yaha ek pal bhi na ruk saku hu. Manne baahar jaana hai. Sheher me. Baahar ki duniya dekhni hai manne!”

Woh kheejte hue bola. Yaha tak ki usne apne jhola, bag sab taiyaar bhi kar rakha tha.

“Beta nahi! Kya keh rahe ho? Tu phir wahi ratt leke baith gaya?”

Vandna rasoi se baahar aate hue boli. Toh, wahi Harikiran Singh ek khaat par baitha apne pote ko ghoor raha tha. Vandna ke haatho se chai lete hue woh bas abhi apne pote ki baat sunn raha tha.

“Kyu jaana hai tanne sheher?” Iss baar Harikiran ne chai ki chuski lete hue uss se poochha.

“Kyu jaana hai? Dada ji manne baahar ki duniya dekhni hai. Mein yaha gaaye, bakriya, bhains charaane me apni jawani nahi gawana chaahta.”

“Arey toh tanne kaun keh raha hai gaaye, bhains charaane? O sab kaam toh naukar karte hai. Aur, jawani chadh rahi hai toh batao byaah karwa de? Kaun ladki pasand aayi hai?”

“K-Koi nahi! Mujhe abhi byaah nahi karna. Mujhe baahar sheher dekhna hai.”

“Toh aisa hai, saahab-zaade… ki bhaiya ye farmaish toh aise hi poori nahi ho sakti tumhari. Hum tumko sheher jaane de sakte hai par humari bhi ek shart hai.”

Dhananjay ne jab ye baat suni toh uski khushi ka koi thikaana nahi tha. Yahi toh woh chaahta tha.

“S-Sach dada ji? Aap humko sheher jaane doge?”

Vandna asmanjas me Harikiran ko dekhi. “P-Pita ji ye aap-!? Isko baahar jaane nahi de sakte, pita ji!”

Parantu, Harkiran ne Vandna ki orr dekha hi nahi aur na hi use koi jawab diya. Jaise maano woh uske uttar dene ke laayak samaan hi nahi thi. Ulta Dhananjay apni maa ke virodh ko sunn bhadak utha.

“Maayi chup kar! Jab dekho tab tu taang adaati rehti hai meri zindagi me. Manne jaise jeena hai jeene de. Apni farmaish mat thopa kar mere upar. Samajh gayi? Chulha chauka karna tera kaam hai. Yahi teri zindagi hai. Tu ghar par reh ke bartan maanj, jhaadu pochha kar. Mujhe saath me mat lapet. Mein mard hu. Aur, baahar ki serr karna chaahta hu.”

Harikiran apne pote ki mardana harqat se khush tha. Kam se kam uska pota maayi ke pallu me ghus kar uski baat maanane waala pota nahi tha. Haan thoda alhadpann tha usme aur ziddi bhi tha, lekin ghar ka ekmaatra chiraag hone ke naate ye sab baatein nazar-andaaz kar di jaati thi.

“Haan toh bhai, shart yeh hai ki- tum usi sheher aur usi raajya me jaoge jaha hum kahenge. Tum apni mann-marzi ke sheher nahi jaa sakte.”

Dhananjay kuchh derr ek soch me pad gaya. Use sheher jaane mil raha tha. Iss se behtar aur kya ho sakta tha? Bhale hi sheher uske dada ji ki pasand ka hone waala tha, par akhir ek sheher toh sheher hi hota tha!? Chaahe Mumbai jao ya Delhi. Sheher gaanv se toh hatke hi hone waala tha.

Yahi soch woh jhatse raazi ho gaya. Kahi aisa na ho ki uske dada ji apne faisle se muqar jaaye aur uska sapna ek sapna hi bann ke reh jaaye.

“Th-Theek hai, dada ji! Mujhe manzoor hai! K-Kaun sa sheher rahega?”

Aur, yahi se shuruat hui Dhananjay ki ek sheher ko ghoomne ki jo ki tha— Patna. Bihar me sthit ek mukhya sheher.

Harikiran ne Bihar raajya ko isliye chuna tha kyunki, Bihar ek aisa raajya tha jaha gaanv aur sheher dono ka mishran tha. Na hi Dhananjay waha jaa ke ekdum hi paraaya mehsoos karta aur na hi ye kehta ki woh gaanv me hi aa gaya hai. Kyunki, Patna ek bada sheher tha.

Saath hi Bihar dhaarmik roop se aastha se juda hua tha. Waha ke log shehri hone ke saath-saath pooja-paath aur apni sanskriti ko bhi apne dainik jeevan me achhe se dhaale hue the. Toh, Dhananjay ke sheher me bigadne ke asaar aur bhi kam ho chuke the.

Jab Bhanu Pratap Singh ko yeh baat pata chali ki uske pita ji ne uske bete ko Patna bhejne ka faisla kar liya hai toh woh bhi virodh me kooda utha. Lekin, woh jaanta tha ki uske pita ji aevayi kuchh bhi nahi karte the.

Chaahe Manorath Singh ke ghar par phoot daalna ho ya vyavsaay aage badhaana, har jagah hi unke dimag ka istemal hota tha. Aur, parivar tezi se unnati bhi kar raha tha. Isliye, woh bhi ant me maan gaya.

Zaahir hai, Dhananjay ko akela nahi bheja gaya tha. Uske saath ek aadmi bhi gaya tha jo ki Harikiran ka apna aadmi tha aur woh hi Dhananjay ki roz-marra ki zindagi ke baare me use khabar dete rehta tha.

Par, yahi pe aaya woh badlaav jisne poori tarah se sab kuchh badal ke rakh diya.

Raman.

Sheher ko kaafi ghoom lene ke baad, jab Dhananjay bore ho chuka tha tab achanak woh ek din Raman ke sthaan pahucha. Usne dekha ki tamaam janta ek aadmi ka intezar kar rahi thi. Jigyasa-vash woh bhi wahi theher gaya aur jab usne dekha ki koi baba ji baahar aake khaat par baithe hai toh ek pal ke liye woh muh bana ke waha se jaane laga.

Magar, kuchh soch ke woh wahi theher gaya. Aur, logo ki baatein sunane laga. Jaise-jaise woh sunta jaa raha tha. Uske hosh udte jaa rahe the. Dhero log apni samasyaein leke Raman baba ke paas aate aur unse upaay leke, prasad leke waha se chale jaate.

Dhananjay ko laga yeh bhi koi dhongi hi tha jo logo ko moorkh bana raha tha aur isliye usne iss baba ki pol kholne ke baare me thaan liya. Woh aage gaya-

“Baba ji meri bhi ek samasya hai. Upaay bataoge?” Usne haath jodte hue kaha.

“Poochho baccha! Kya samasya hai!?”

“Mein Rajasthan ke Mayra gaanv se hu. Bahut badi haveli hai humari udhar. Sab kuchh hai. Paisa, zameen, jaydaad. Par, mera mann nahi lag raha tha udhar. Mujhe sheher ghoomna tha, isliye yaha aa gaya. Par, yaha aake dekha toh paaya ki yaha bhi kuchh khaas nahi hai. Logo ke paas time hi nahi hai. Gaanv bhi dekh liya. Sheher bhi. Kaha jau? Ab aur kya bacha hai? Kuchh samajh nahi aa raha.”

Usne apna sawaal bina kisi darr ke ekdum spasht baba ji ke saamne rakha. Woh dekhna chaahta tha ki kya waqai me baba ji ke paas koi gyaan tha ya nahi? Ya bas ye bhi koi dhongi tha? Agar, baba ji ne uski iss samasya ka samadhan nikaal diya, toh woh waqai me unhe maan jaayega.

Raman ke kaan idhar Dhananjay ke muh se paisa, haveli, jaydaad, zameenein sunte hi khade ho gaye. Woh jaan chuka tha ki chaara khud chalke ghode ke paas aaya tha.

“Kya naam hai baccha tumhara?”

“J-Ji Dhananjay.”

“Tumhara naam hi Dhananjay hai. Tumhe pata hai iss naam ka matlab?”

Dhananjay ne naa me sarr hilaaya.

“Baccha iss naam ka matlab hota hai dhan ko jeetne waala. Dhan ka vijeta. Aur, vidambana dekho. Tum dhan hi chhor ke yaha aa gaye?”

Raman ne muskuraate hue kaha. Aas-paas ke sabhi log Dhananjay ki samasya me dilchaspi lene lage. Sab ke kaan ab baba Raman ke upaay aur unke updesh ko sunane ke liye bekaraar the.

“P-Par baba ji. Log kehte hai ki naam me kya rakha hai. Toh, phir Dhananjay naam se meri ichha, mera bhavishya thodi pata lag sakta hai, hai na?”

“Beta naam me bahut kuchh rakha hai.”

“Woh kaise baba ji? Zara samjhaiye!”

Dhananjay ne Raman ko aur parakhne ka socha. Aur, usne apna naatak jaari rakha. Uske baad-

“Mein tumhe tumhari gaatha dohraata hu. Tum Mayra me badi haveli me pale badhe, tumhare maa-baap ne woh sab kuchh laa kar tumhare haatho me diya hoga jiski tumne zid kari hogi, tum waha se uub kar sheher ki orr nikle. Lekin, tum ghoom kiske dhan par rahe ho? Apne pita ji ke! Tumne dekha ki sheher toh aur bhi vyast hai. Aur, ab tumhe samajh nahi aa raha ki agar gaanv tumhare laayak nahi tha, sheher tumhe lubha nahi paaya toh akhir kaha jaaya jaaye? Hai na? Isliye tum pareshan ho.”

Dhananjay thoda chaunkte hue baba Raman ko dekha.

“J-Ji!” Usne sarr hilaaya. Magar, abhi bhi Raman ki baato se poornta woh sehmat nahi hua tha.

“Beta iska upaay hai…! Bhakti aur tyaag.”

“Huh?”

“Tumne aaj tak kabhi apne bal boote par kya kiya hai? Kabhi khud se paisa kamaaya hai?”

“Y-Yahi toh nahi chaahta mein baba ji. Mujhe isi moh-maaya se door rehna hai. Aur-”

Jaise hi Raman ne yeh suna toh usne fauran hi apni tarqeeb badal di.

“Toh kisne kaha ki paisa kamaana hi jeevan ka uddeshya hai?”

“Huh?”

“Kya kabhi tumne apne aap se apna bhojan banaya hai? Kabhi khud ke ghar me reh ke kaam kiya hai? Chalo woh sab chhoro! 24 ghanto me kya tumne kabhi bhi 24 second ke liye bhagwan ka naman kiya?”

“N-Nahi!”

Raman muskuraya. “Bas isliye tum moh-maaya me phasey hue ho.”

“K-Kya bhagwan hote hai, baba ji? M-Mein nahi maanta. Maine kabhi nahi maana. Agar, bhagwan hote- toh itni buri-buri cheezein kyu ghatit ho rahi hoti? Kehte hai ki kann-kann me bhagwan hote hai. Kya ye sahi hai? Bataiye!”

“Haan! Bilkul! Kann-kann me bhagwan hai. Ye srishti unki hi toh rachna hai. Har ek kann unki rachna hai.”

Jab Raman ke muh se itna nikla toh Dhananjay mann hi mann muskuraya.

‘Ab phasa tu mere jaal me, baba! Abhi teri pol kholta hu ruk!’

Aur, phir usne ek aisa sawaal kar diya jise sunn waha ke log hairaan reh gaye.

“Toh agar bhagwan kann-kann me hai. Toh kya naali, sharaab, maans, madira, inme bhi bhagwan hai baba?”

Log bhauchakke reh gaye. Kuchh muskura rahe the ye dekh ke ki ab shayad baba ji se unhe muft me koi bahut bada gyaan milne waala hai. Toh kuchh asmanjas me the ki kya baba ji iska uttar de bhi paayenge ya nahi?

“Tumne bahut seedha aur teekha prashna poochha hai, baccha. Hahaha!” Raman hasa.

Lekin, Dhananjay ke iss teekhe prashn se ab janta aur bhi dilchaspi dikhaane lagi thi. Ve sab bhi yeh jaanana chaahte the. Dekhna chaahte the ki ab baba ji kis tarah se itne kathin sawaal ke uttar denge. Aas-paas se guzar rahe log bhi ab apni-apni jagah bana kar khade hone lage. Kintu, Raman jaise pehle se hi taiyaar tha. Aur, uske baad usne bolna shuru kiya-

“Iska uttar do starro par hai, baccha! Pehla advait darshan ke anusaar — haan! Sidhaant roop me waha bhi ishwar hai. Par, dhyaan do baccha. Utpatti aur vartman me hona, dono alag baatein hai.”

“??”

“Jaise bijli har machine ko chalaati hai. TV, pankha, fridge… Lekin, wahi bijli unn machino ko bhi chalaati hai jo kasaayi khaane me lagi rehti hai. Janvaro ko maarna. Pedo ko kaatna. Parmanu banaane ke yantro me bhi bijli ka istemal hota hai. Toh kya tum bijli ko dosh doge? Nahi! Kyunki, bijli sirf urja hai. Galat upyog karne waala zimmedar hai. Waise hi har kann-kann se sab kuchh bana hai. Lekin, ye naali, jaanvar ka maans, sharaab, ye sab kiski utpatti hai? Insaani dimaag ki.”

Jab logo ne uttar suna toh ve sab sann reh gaye. Yaha tak ki Dhananjay ke badan par bhi roye khade ho gaye. Usne aaj tak itna gyaani purush apne saamne nahi dekha tha.

“A-Aur, dusra starr kya hai, baba ji?”

“Dusra starr, bhakti aur naitik drishtikonn se — Nahi! Waha bhagwan ki upasthiti nahi maani jaati.”

“K-Kya? Par, abhi toh aapne kaha ki-”

“Uttar poora suno baccha. Naali, daaru, paap, apraadh — Ye sab taamsik pravattiyaan hai, jo agyaan, moh aur maaya se bhari hui hai. Bhagwan waha tab tak nahi prakat hote, jab tak satv yaani ki shuddhata, shraddha, prem aur vivek na ho.”

“Huh?”

“Jaise ganga maiya ki dhaara kahi koode me beh jaaye, toh kya wo ab bhi poojya hai? Tatvat : Haan! Lekin, vyavhaarat : Nahi! — Kyunki, woh ab apavitra ho chuki hai.”

Dhananjay ka badan kaanp utha. Waha maujood log apne phone me recording on karte hue baba ke gyaan ko qaid karne ki koshish karne lage. Badi bhaari bheed jama ho chuki thi.

“Dhoop soorya se aati hai, par agar tumne apne kamre ki khidki band kar li, toh kya soorya doshi hai ki tumhare kamre me andhera hai? Nahi! Wahi ishwar, wahi prakash — tumhare bheetar bhi hai, par darwaza band hai. Saral shabdo me — Ishwar har jagah hai baccha, par har jagah prakat nahi hai.”

“Ahhh!” Dhananjay ko aaj apne sabse bade sawaal ka uttar mil chuka tha.

“Burayi, naali, paap, daaru jaisi cheezon me ishwar ka beej toh ho sakta hai, par waha maaya aur agyaan ne use dhak diya hai. Ishwar ka anubhav wahi hota hai jaha prem, gyaan, satkarm aur nishtha ho. Kuchh samjhe baccha?”

“Babaaaa jiiii!!”

Dhananjay pehli baar kisi ki baat se itna aakarshit hua tha. Woh haath jod utha aur Baba Raman ke perro par gir pada.

“Mujhe maaf kar dijiye, baba ji! Mein- Mein moorkh aapki pareeksha lena chaah raha tha. Par, mujhe nahi pata tha ki mere saamne swayam sakshaat siddh baba baithe hai. Mujhe apna shishya bana lijiye-! Mujhe apna shishya bana lijiye baba ji!”

Uske itne bade sawaal ka uttar baba ji ne chutkiyo me de diya tha. Toh kya ve uski aur samasyao ka hal nahi nikaal sakte the? Use poora yakeen tha ki baba ji ke zariye hi ab uske jeevan ka uddhaar ho sakta tha.

Lekin, woh nahi jaanta tha ki Raman ne ye sab prashn ke jawab pehle se hi ratt rakhe the. Itne varsho me usne kayi siddh guruo se bhaint ki thi. Usne ye gyaan wahi se churaaya tha. Farq, bas itna tha ki agar siddh guru log bina kisi maang ke logo ka maarg-darshan kar rahe the, toh usi ki aadh me Raman jaise log logo ki aastha se khel ke unke saath dhong kar rahe the.

Aur, isi jhaanse me phaste hue-

Dhananjay Raman ke paas theher ke unki seva me lag gaya. Usne unke bol ke anusaar apna maqsad tay kar liya tha — Bhakti aur Tyaag!

Aur, theek usi raat, jab sab so chuke the, Raman ke chhote se kamre me derr raat ko kisi ne dastak di.

“Pranam guru ji!”

“Aa gaye Ranjeet?”

“Ji guru ji!”

“Kya hua bhai? Uss Kanpur waale ka?”

“13 lakh nikalwa liya hu. Abhi ghar ki aur sampatti baaki hai. Sasuri uu bhi jaldi aa hi jaayegi.”

“Hahahaha! Sabbaas! Aur, tumhare liye naya bakra khud chal ke aa chuka hai.”

“Konu bakra?”

“Hai ek! *smiles* Aaj hi aaya tha sthaan par. Humara shishya banana chaahta hai. Mayra gaanv me bahut badi haveli hai, paisa hai, dher saari zameenein aur jaydaad hai. Lagta hai kisi dhanvan vyakti ki aulad hai. Iski saari khabar iske gaanv se leke rakho, Ranjeet. Agla shikaar yahi hai.”

“Ji guru ji! W-Waise-! Thoda rokda mil jaata toh-”

“Kitna chahiye?”

“Kareeban dui lakh toh laagi sasuri Kanpur waale me! Uu kaa hai na, hua ka sampatti haasil karne me thoda ghoos lagega hi lagega. Sasuri khopadiya pe baar-baar ghoda taan ke kaam nahi ho sakat. UP ka chhetra me police sakht hai thoda. Kabhi-kabhi dimag se chalna padat hai!”

Raman haami bhar utha. Apne kamre ke andar gaya. Ekdum jhopad patti waala kaccha makaan tha. Yaha tak ki zameen bhi kacchi thi. Usne zameen ke neeche ek gaddhe me se ek kapda nikaala jisme dher saare noto ki gaddiya rakhi hui thi aur usme se teen gaddi laa kar Ranjeet ko saunp di. Wapas se gaddhe me kapde ki potli ko daal usne uski upar ret aur mitti daal ke uske upar ek paani ka ghadha rakh diya.

“Ye lo! 3 lakh hai. Kaam daba ke karna.”

“Aaj tak konu kaam bigaada hai kya guru ji? Fiqar naahi karo. Sab ho jaayega.”

Kehte hue woh waha se nikal gaya. Beetein dino me usne Mayra gaanv se Dhananjay ki saari jankaari nikalwa li thi. Toh wahi, din-ba-din Dhananjay bhakti aur tyaag ke maarg par agrasar badhta jaa raha tha. Use apne naye jeevan ka uddeshya mil chuka tha. Uski dosti wahi ke aur bhi shishyo se ho chuki thi.

Jab yeh baat uske ghar me Harikiran aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ko pata chali toh Bhanu Pratap swayam hi Raman ke sthaan aa par pahucha.

“Guru ji agar aise hi aap mere bete ko patti padhaate rahe toh ye toh ghar-baar tyaag dega. Fir, humara kya hoga?”

Aaya toh Bhanu Pratap Singh krodh me tha, magar Dhananjay ki hi tarah Raman ne use bhi apne shabdo se mantra-mugdh kar diya.

“Ghabrao nahi baccha! Hum jaante hai ki tum pareshan ho. Aur, hum ise yaha humesha nahi rakhenge. 2-4 saal ise yaha rehne do. Waise bhi iske baad tum iss se kheti-baadi hi karwaoge. Aisa samajh lo ki inn kuchh saalo ke liye tumne apne bacche ko gurukul me padhne bheja hai. Fir, mein maarg-darshan jab punah karunga iska… Toh, yeh swayam tumhare paas laut aayega. Aur, iski chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi. Ye meri nigrani me hai.”

Apni chikni chupdi baato se Raman Bhanu Pratap ko raazi karne me qamyab ho chuka tha. Dhananjay toh jaise apne ghar ke baare me sab kuchh bhool chuka tha. Uski nayi zindagi shuru ho chuki thi.

Dekhte hi dekhte 2 saal guzar gaye. Dhananjay Raman ka poora bhakt bann chuka tha. Aur, tabhi ek aisi ghatna hui jiske baare me Ranjeet se leke Raman aur Mayra gaanv ke log, sabhi ko yeh pata chali, siwaaye Dhananjay ke.

Aur, woh thi-

Veer dwara Harikiran Singh aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ka khaatma. Jaha usne unki hi haveli ke baahar kue me dono ko zinda jala diya tha. Ranjeet ka ek aadmi wahi Mayra me hi sthit tha. Ranjeet ne jab yeh baat Raman ko bataayi toh uss raat woh unke kamre me hi tha-

“Guru ji-! Pata nahi kaisan ba- magar… Sasuri uu aapke Dhananjay naam ke chele ka baap-dada ka hatya ho gaya!”

“K-Kaise?”

“Pata nahi! Koi naujavan aaya. Aur, dono ko maut ke muh me utaar gaya. Kehat ba ki- badla liya hu apni maayi ka!”

“Toh tumhe pata hi hona chahiye ki kya karna hai ab *smiles* Hai na?”

“Hahaha! Ab sab hum pe chhor do guru ji! Na sirf ab hum uu ka haveli jhaptega, uu ki saari zameenein, jaydaad, paisa sab hadpunga! Tabhi ee Ranjeet ko chenn milega. Sasuri bahut intejar kiya hai ee mayra waale ka-!”

Usne itna kaha hi tha ki tabhi-

*Thud*

Achanak baahar ek laathi ke girne ki awaaz aayi. Dhananjay, jo guru ji ko kuchh dikhaane aaya tha usne baahar reh ke sab sunn liya tha. Apne baap-dada ki maut ke baare me… Sab kuchh. Use apne kaano par vishvas nahi ho raha tha. Woh bhaaga.

*huff* *huff*

Uska dil zoro se dhadak raha tha.

“Pakad! Abey pakad use! Madarchod sab sunn liya usne! Bhaag jaldi Ranjeet! Pakad saale ko!”

“Iski maayi ke-!!”

Ranjeet bhi ghabraate hue utha. Waise hi derr raat ka samay tha. Aur, upar se Raman ka sthaan hi chehel-pehel se door tha. Dhananjay bhaybheet hue bhaaga. Uski saansein tez thi.

“Pakad saale ko! Pakad! Pakad bey Satbeer-!!!”

Raaste me bhaagte hue Ranjeet chillaaya. Uske aur aadmi jo jaage hue the wo sab bhi Dhananjay ke peechhe bhaagne lage. Ranjeet jaanta tha ki agar ye ladka bhaag nikla, toh unka bhaanda poora ka poora phoot jaayega. Sab ke sab pakde jaayenge.

*huff* *huff*

“M-Maayi-! *sniff* Pita ji-! *sniff* Dada ji-!”

*huff* *huff*

“Pakad! Pakad saale ko!!! Daboch usko! Satbeer ulti side se-!”

Dhananjay bhaagte-bhaagte achanak hi apne sthaan ke paas pahuch raha tha. Agar, bas kuchh samay aur use mil jaaye toh woh waha pahuch ke halla kar ke apne baaki sadasyo ko utha sakta tha.

“B-Bachaaaaoooo!”

Woh chillaaya. Taaki, uski awaaz door tak pahuch sake. Magar, shayad yahi uski sabse badi galti thi kyunki-

“B-Bachaaaaaoooo!”

*Bang*

*Bang*

*Bang*

Achanak goliyaan chalne ki teen baar awaaz aayi aur Dhananjay neeche zameen par gir pada. Teen me se do goliyaan uski peeth ko cheer ke andar dhans chuki thi. Lahu-luhaan hote hue woh sadak par dala raha.

Ranjeet aur baaki daudate hue Dhananjay ke paas aa kar ruke. Dhananjay ukhdi-ukhdi saansein lete hue reng raha tha. Aur, tabhi-

*Bang*

*Bang*

“A-Aapne ise maar kyu diya?” Satbeer ne ghabraate hue poochha.

“Madarchodo! Saale ki laash ko thikaane lagao jaldi! Isko toh marrna hi tha. Sasuri raaz jo jaan gaya tha. Chalo! Jaldi! Jaldi! Jaldi!”

Ranjeet jaanta tha ki Dhananjay ke baap-dada pehle hi swarg sidhaar chuke the. Toh, aise me ab use rokne waala koi na tha.

Dhananjay ka ant ho chuka tha. Dukhad. Par, yahi uska ant tha. Ek hi din me, parivar ke teeno mard maar diye gaye the. Vandna udhar gaanv me jo yeh maan ke chal rahi thi ki ab uska beta hi uska akhiri sahaara tha. Woh uski talaash me Patna Raman ke sthaan tak aa pahuchi thi.

Magar, ab ise uski badqismati kahe ya fir kuchh aur-

Uska saamna Raman ke sthaan par seedhe Ranjeet se ho gaya. Woh apna dukhda use sunaati rahi aur Ranjeet use behla ke Dhananjay se milaane ke bahaane se le gaya aur use bandhi bana liya.

*Chataaaaak*

“Ahhhh!”

Ek chaata aa kar Vandna ko uske chehre par pada.

“Chal! Ab tu hi hua Mayra ka saari jameen dilwayegi. Saara paisa tu hi nikalwayegi. Chal!”

“M-Mera beta-! Mera beta!!!”

“Hahahaha! Tuhaar bitua humaare qabze me hai, samajh gayi. Hehehe! Meri pyaari maayi. Chal! Chal chal ke ab apne ee lalla ko saari sampatti dikha. Chal!”

Ranjeet use bandhi bana ke gaanv wapas laaya. Apne bete ki jaan ko khatre me daalne ke darr se Vandna apna muh band kiye sab kuchh bataati chali gayi. Magar, woh bechari ye jaanti tak nahi thi ki uska laadla toh usi din marr gaya tha jis din uska pati aur sasur marey the.

Kayi maheene guzar gaye, lekin inn mahino me Ranjeet poori shiddat se wasooli aur jankari ikhatti karne me laga hua tha. Usne kayi zameenein hadap li thi. Usne kayi saari jaydaad apne naam karwa li thi. Usne kaafi dhan, sona, jawaharat apne qabze me kar liye the.

Gaanv ke logo me apne aadmi bhej ke usne sab pata lagwa liya tha ki uss raat yaha kya hua tha. Harikiran akhir mara kaise tha. Aur, kaafi hadd tak use ye pata lag chuka tha ki koi naujavan tha.

Magar, gaanv ke log Veer ka naam bataane se peechhe hat chuke the. Veer ne unke upar upkaar kiya tha. Gaanv waalo ki ekta iss paksh me bahut mazboot thi. Ranjeet bhi shaatir tha. Woh jaanta tha ki aise zabardasti jankaari ko nahi nikalwaya jaa sakta tha.

‘Sasuri konu aur dimaag lagana padega ee game me!’

Par, jab woh soch hi raha tha ki kaise Veer ke baare me jankari ikhatti ki jaaye tabhi achanak-

*Ring* *Ring*

Uska phone baj utha. Usne dekha ki call Mumbai, Maharashtra se aa raha tha. Koi unknown number. Usne call uthaaya.

“Hello?”

“Ranjeet! Kyu hai na? Yahi naam hai na?”

“Haan! Tu kaun bol raha hai?”

“Woh jaanane ki zaroorat nahi hai tumhe. Bas itna jaan lo ki Harkiran Singh aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ko Veer ne maara tha.”

“H-Huh? K-Kaun hai bey tu?”

“Maine kaha na! Tumhe ye jaanane ki zaroorat nahi. Veer Mumbai se hai. Ek businessman. Ek naujavan jiski talash me tum ho. Yaha tak ki uski ek badi si hotel bhi hai. Bahut raees hai woh. *smiles* Bahut paisa hai uske paas.”

“Maayi ke chode wrong number hai saale. Hatt teri behan ki-”

Ranjeet ne dimag se qadam uthaaya. Usne apne laundo ko aas-paas ka jayza lene bheja. Kahi aisa toh nahi ki ye call police dwara karwaya jaa raha tha taaki woh haami bhar unko saboot dede ki wahi inn sab ke peechhe tha?

“Funny ho tum. Lekin, mujhe jo batana tha maine bata diya. Have fun!”

Aur, call cut ho gaya.

“H-Hello!? Hello?”

Magar, koi jawab nahi aaya.

“Iski maayi ki choot.”

Use pata chala ki sab kuchh clear tha. Aas-paas koi bhi police nahi thi. 'Veer' naam aur uska raees hone ke baare me sunte hi uske mann me laalach jaag chuka tha. Akhir, tha toh Veer ek naujavan hi.

Kya hoga agar, woh iss Dhananjay ko lootne ke saath-saath uss Veer ko bhi loot le? Uske dimag ki ghanti baji. Uska dimag bahut tezi se dauda.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Woh zor-zor se hassne laga. Usne Vandna ko dekha.

“Kyu re maayi? Tujhe badla lena tha na? Uu Veer se? Haan? Wahi Veer hi hai jisne tere pati aur sasur ko maara tha. Hahahaha!”

Vandna ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi. Beshaq, woh Veer ko nahi jaanti thi. Lekin, gaanv waalo ki baato se, aur idhar-udhar ki suni sunaayi baato se use iska andaza lag chuka tha ki uske pati aur sasur ko maarne waala Manorath Singh ke parivar ke kul ka ek vaaris tha — Veer Singh.

Woh kabhi Manorath ke ghar nahi gayi thi. Jitni baatein woh uss ghar ke baare me sunti thi, woh Harikiran ya Bhanu Pratap ke muh se hi suna karti thi. Zaahir hai, ve dono humesha teekhein shabd hi bolte the uss ghar ke liye.

Aur, isliye Vandna ke mann me Manorath ke parivar ko leke koi aadar nahi tha.

Parantu, woh yeh nahi jaanti thi ki uske pati aur sasur ko maara kyu gaya tha. Woh abhi bhi uss dard se tadap rahi thi. Upar se uska apna beta jo ki bandhi bana hua tha. Aur, ab ye naya ladka… Ranjeet, jo keh raha tha ki woh badla lega?

Kaise?

Uski kuchh samajh nahi aa raha tha aur isliye-

Jab ek din Ranjeet aur uske aadmi uski haveli me so rahe the. Aur, Mumbai jaa kar badi machhli phasaane ki tarqeeb bana rahe the tab woh waha se bhaag nikli. Bijaipur ki orr…!

Use sach jaanana tha. Bijaipur me hi use koi mil sakta tha. Jo use sach bata sakta tha. Woh apna muh chhipaate hue dar-dar bhatakti rahi ki kahi se koi use aisa mil jaaye jo Manorath ke parivar ke baare me sab kuchh use bata sake.

Woh dukaano me jaa ke logo se poochhti, khet me kaam kar rahe kisaano se poochhti, kue se paani bhar rahi mahilao se poochhti.

“S-Suniye! Aap Bijaipur ki haveli ke parivar ko jaante hai kya? Y-Ya Manorath ji ke parivar ko?”

Lekin, use sandigdh samajhte hue log use kuchh bhi bataane se mana kar dete. Jab ek baar-

“H-Huh? K-Kya kaha aapne didi? Bijaipur ki haveli ke log? M-Manorath ji ka parivar? A-Aap Veer sarkar ke parivar ki baat kar rahi ho kya? Bhavna didi?”

Sunte hi Vandna ka badan kaanp utha. Woh bas ahista se haami bhari. Uska chehra abhi bhi poora dhaka hua tha.

“Are toh pehle batana tha na! Chaliye mere saath. Kaaki se zyada koi nahi jaanta iss baare me. Balki, Veer sarkar ka kya… Jiske parivar ke baare me poochhna ho kaaki ko sab kuchh gyaat hai. Yaha tak ki Mayra ki haveli ke parivar ke baare me bhi bata dengi woh hahahaha!”

Vandna ka badan sihar utha. Mayra ki haveli ka parivar? Ye toh uska apna parivar tha. K-Kaise? Woh apne muh par bandha kapda adjust karte hue ek kacche makaan ki taraf pahuchi. Ye ladki use yahi laayi thi.

“Jaiye andar. Kaaki andar hi hongi! Jaiye! Arey jaiye! Sharmaiye mat. Kaaki bura nahi maanengi.”

Sarr hilaate hue Vandna andar daakhil hui. Saamne mitti ke chulhe par ek budhi aurat rotiyaan sek rahi thi jab use kisi ke aane ki aahat hui. Woh palti toh usne dekha ki koi anjaan mahila apna muh chhipaaye dehleez par khadi hui thi.

“K-Kaun?”

Bina kuchh kahe, Vandna ne apne chehre se kapda hata diya. Uski saansein tez thi. Ranjeet ke aadmiyo dwara pakde jaana ka darr bhi use sata raha tha. Woh bhaag kar jo aayi thi.

“Vandna? K-Kya yeh tum ho?”

Jab uss budhi aurat ne uska naam liya toh Vandna ki rooh kaanp gayi. Woh iss aurat se apne jeevan me pehle kabhi nahi mili thi. Fir, akhir yeh mahila use kaise jaanti thi?

“A-Aap mujhe kaise jaanti hai? K-Kaun hai aap kaaki!?”

Budhi aurat muskurayi aur usne apne haatho me liya chameeta wahi neeche zameen par rakha. Aur, khade hote hue boli.

“Mein… Abhilasha.”

“Huh??”

Abhilasha. Wahi Abhilasha jo Bhavna ki sevika thi. Veer ke parivar ki sevika. Jiske iss kacche makaan me uss raat Veer, Bhavna, Shweta, Kavya, aur baakiyo ke sang thehra tha. Jaha Bhavna ne apne ateet ki gaatha sunaayi thi.

Vandna bhauchakki si use ghoor rahi thi. Abhilasha? Kaun Abhilasha? Woh kisi Abhilasha ko nahi jaanti thi. Fir, yeh aurat use kaise jaanti thi? Kya isliye ki woh Mayra ki haveli ki sethani thi isliye log use jaante the? Haan, yahi kaaran raha hoga. Lekin, Abhilasha ke agle bol ne uski saari soch ko mitti me mila ke rakh diya.

“Mujhe pata tha ki tum yaha ek na ek din aaogi hi aaogi. Kaho! Kya jaanane aayi ho?”

Vandna ka shareer jhatka kha ke reh gaya.

“K-Kya matlab? M-Mein-”

“Bas apne sawaal rakho bitiya!”

Vandna ne khud ke mann ko shaant kar ek gehri saans li, woh nidar hoke, thoda krodh me Abhilasha ki orr dekhi aur poochhi.

“Agar, aap mujhe jaanti hai, toh yeh bhi jaanti hongi ki mein Mayra ki haveli ki sethani hu.”

“Hu ya thi?”

Abhilasha ke sawaal par Vandna ka badan ek baar phir thitak utha. Woh kaanpi. Beshaq, ab woh kahi ki bhi sethani nahi thi. Balki, uski khud ki aur uske bete ki jaan khatre me thi. Usne gusse me apne daant meese.

“Agar aapko yeh pata hi hai, toh yeh bhi pata hoga ki Veer naam ke ladke ne mujhse mera parivar chheen liya! Mere pati ko, mere sasur ji ko- Unhe… Unhe zinda kue me jala diya gaya! Aur, log tamasha dekhte rahe. *sniff* Bhale hi mujhe uss parivar se bahut sneh nahi mila. Lekin, mera parivar tha woh! Kyuuu? Kaun hai Veer? Kaha hai iss Manorath ka parivar? Badla lena chaahti hu mein!!!”

Abhilasha mand-mand muskurayi. Jaise woh jaanti thi ki yeh hona hi tha.

“Kya tumhe nahi pata ki tumhare pati aur sasur ki hatya kyu kari gayi?”

Vandna ki uss prashn par aankhein chaudi ho gayi.

“Toh suno! Mein sab bataati hu tumhe-!”

Uske baad Abhilasha ne woh sab bataaya jo use Suman se pata chala tha. Kaise Harikiran aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ne Karunesh ke saath saazish rach ke Bhavna ke saath ghinauna khel khela tha. Kaise use ghar se baahar nikalwaya gaya tha aur kaise woh uski santaan ko maarne ke chakkar me the, kaise itne beetein varsho me unhone Manorath ke parivar ko deemak ki tarah kha ke use andar se khokhla karna shuru kiya.

Sab kuchh Abhilasha bataati chali gayi. Aur, jaise-jaise Vandna ye sunti gayi, uske badan ke harr ek roye khade hote chale gaye. Aankhon se aasu behna shuru ho gaye.

“Y-Yeh jhooth hai!”

“Yahi satya hai bitiya! Lekin, tumhare parivar ke patan ka kaaran sirf yahi nahi hai. Ek kaaran aur bhi hai. Aur, woh… mukhya kaaran hai.”

Mukhya kaaran? Iss se bada kaaran aur kya ho sakta tha? Woh aankhein phaadi Abhilasha ko ghoorti rahi.

“KYUNKI TUM-”

Achanak hi Abhilasha ki awaaz bhayanak roop se oonchi ho gayi. Vandna ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi. Aur, agle hi kshan Abhilasha ne ek sabse bada raaz uske saamne ujaagar kiya.

“KYUNKI TUM- PARIJAAT KI AURAT HO!!!”

*Boom*

Maano ek adrishya visfot hua Vandna ke mann me. Uska badan kaanp utha. Parijaat ke baare me kaun nahi jaanta tha? Parijaat ka itihaas wo tha jo dono gaanvo me fela hua tha. Uski apni ek kahani thi. Uski apni ek gaatha thi. Woh kahani hi aisi thi jise koi bhula nahi sakta tha. Bhale hi Parijaat ki aurton ka astitva keval aur keval Bijaipur ki haveli tak hi seemit tha. Magar, iski katha dur-dur tak prachilit thi.

Aur, Mayra ka gaanv bhi koi apvaad nahi tha. Vandna ne Parijaat ke kisse sune the. Woh iss shabd se parichit thi. Lekin, uska Parijaat ki aurat hona? Sunte hi woh apne ghutno par gir padi. Aur, tabhi Abhilasha ki awaaz narm pad gayi.

“Yahi satya hai bitiya.”

Vandna ne apne aansu se bhare chehre ko upar kar Abhilasha ko dekha. Pata nahi kyu, par iss aurat se use apne liye atyadhik prem mehsoos ho raha tha.

“K-Kya mein aapki beti hu? N-Nahi! Mere mata-pita toh guzar chuke hai. M-Mere pita ji toh- woh toh bahut bade zameendar the. Unhone hi meri shadi Singh parivar me karwayi thi. Phir, aapko dekh ke aisa kyu lagta hai ki-”

“Nahi! Tum meri beti nahi!”

Vandna ne ek raahat ki saans li. Woh itne saare jhatko ke liye taiyaar nahi thi. Lekin, yeh uski galat-fehmi thi agar woh yeh soch rahi thi ki jhatke yahi samaapt hone waale the.

“Lekin, tumhare guzar chuke mata-pita bhi tumhara asli parivar nahi.”

“Ahhh!??”

Vandna ki aankhon se aasu bahe. Woh apna muh khole bhaybheet hoke Abhilasha ko ghoori. Ab uske ghutne bhi kaanpne lage the.

“Y-Yeh jhooth hai! Sab jhooth bol rahi ho aap! Mujhe achhe se yaad hai! Maine apna bachpan guzaara hai. Wahi mere maa-baap-”

“Unhone tumhe goad liya tha.”

“Huh!!!”

Vandna ko jhatke par jhatke lagne ab shuru ho chuke the.

“N-Nahi! Aap jhooth bol rahi hai! Aapko bhala ye sab kaise pata ho sakta hai?”

Woh gusse se ab haanf rahi thi.

“Kyunki, tum- tum meri behan ki bacchi ho, Vandna!”

Ek aur visfot Vandna ke mann me hua.

“Tum meri badi behan ki bitiya ho.”

“Jhooth! Jhooth bol rahi hai aap! Mere pita ji zameendar the. Maine apna bachpan unke saath guzara hai!”

“Tumne sahi kaha. Magar, tum kaafi chhoti thi jab unhone tumhe goad liya tha.”

“Jhoooothh! Kyuuu? *sniff* E-Ek zameendar bhala… bhala Parijaat ki aurat ki beti ko goad kyu lenge? Ye jaante hue ki Parijaat ki aurtein Bijaipur ki haveli ke waariso ki rakhelein thi???”

Woh zor se garji. Isme koi shaq nahi tha ki Parijaat ki aurtein Bijaipur ki badi haveli me Singh parivar ki daasiya thi. Toh, phir ek jaana-maana zameendar aisi bacchi ko goad kyu lega?

“Kyunki, unhe apna rinn chukaana tha.”

“Huh?”

“Poorv me Parijaat ki aurton ne tumhare goad lene waale mata-pita ki behad madad ki thi. Isliye, zameendar ji ne vachan diya tha ki ve Parijaat ki aurton me se kisi ek ki santaan ko khud paalenge, aur uska kanya-daan karenge. Ye Parijaat ke liye bhi saubhagya ki baat thi. Aur, isliye… Unhone phir tumhe goad liya tha.”

Vandna ke aansu jhar-jhar kar uski aankhon se behte chale gaye.

“T-Toh kaun? Kaun hai mere asli mata-pita? *sniff* Bataiye!”

“Meri badi behan hi tumhari maa thi bitiya. Aur, tumhare pita ek kisaan the. Renuka, meri jijji. Badi behan. Aur, tumhare pita — Santosh.”

“K-Kaha hai? Kaha hai ab wo? *sniff* Boliye!”

Par, Vandna ke sawaal par Abhilasha bas maayus ho kar muskurayi. Aur, Vandna samajh gayi. Uske aansu aur zor-zor se behne lage.

“Kyuuuuu? Kyu ye sab hone diya aapne? *sniff* K-Kyu??”

“Kyunki, yahi tumhara uddeshya tha bitiya.”

“K-Kya matlab?”

“Tumhara bhavishya usi kshan nirdharit ho gaya tha jis samay tumhara naam Parijaat se juda tha. Jis waqt tumne janm liya, usi kshan tum Bhavna maalkin ke Singh parivar ki daasi bann chuki thi. Ab mein tumhe Parijaat ka woh sach sunaane jaa rahi hu jiske baare me har koi itna vistaar se nahi jaanta. Toh suno, bitiya. Dhyaan se suno!”

Abhilasha ne phir ek gehri saans lete hue bolna shuru kiya.

---

Varsho puraani baat hai. Woh samay jab Bijaipur ki haveli ki neev rakhe bas kuchh hi varsh beete the. Iss samay Mayra ki haveli astitva me hi nahi thi. Jab Bhavna ke pita ji, Dharam Singh ke poorvaj Bijaipur ki haveli ke maalik the. Gaanv ki ekmaatra badi haveli hone ke naate sabhi uss ghar ke logo ki izzat kiya karte the.

Haveli ke aangan me lagbhag har roz ek baithak lagti thi. Gaanv ke kuchh bade log aapas me baith ke tamaam vishayo par charcha kiya karte the. Chaahe gaanv ke vikaas ko lekar koi baat ho ya angrezo ki badhti ghus-paith ki charcha. Sab wahi aangan ki baithak me hi hota tha.

Panchayat se zyada musibato ke hal haveli ki baithak me nikalte the. Par, isi ke saath baithak me aur bhi anya mehmano ka aagman hota tha. Koi dusre sheher se aaya prasiddh naatak-kar unhe apna naatak dikha ke unka manoranjan karta tha, toh koi nritya-kar aake apne nritya se unka mann mohta tha.

Baithak ek Raja ke darbar ki baithak ke samaan lagne lagi thi. Roz shaam ko poore gaanv me iss baat ko lekar utsaah fel jaata tha ki badi haveli me baithak lagne waali hai. Poore gaanv waale bas isi aasha me rehte the ki aaj kaun se mehmano ka aagman hoga? Aaj kya charcha hogi? Uss waqt TV nahi hua karta tha. Toh, baithak hi woh zariya thi jis se aam aadmi apna samay kaat ke manoranjan karta tha.

Aaye din log haveli ke ghar ke logo ko prasann karne ki koshish me lage rehte the. Aaye din unki seva karte. Aur, seva ki jab baat aati thi toh unme aurtein bhi shaamil hoti thi.

Kintu, tab seva sirf aur sirf ghar ke kaamo ke liye ki jaati thi. Shareerik taur par koi bhi stree haveli ke mardo se sambandh nahi banaati thi. Itni maryaada sab me thi.

Aur, inhi sevikao ka ek bahut hi prakhyaat samooh tha. Sabhi aurtein behad hi khubsurat thi. Ve sab dur ek gaanv se Bijaipur me rehne aayi thi. Sabhi ki sabhi anaath thi aur ek aashram me pali-badhi thi.

“Maine suna hai aapki iss haveli ne angrezo ki pratadna se har baar gaanv waalo ko bachaya hai. Kya yeh sach hai, Sarkar?”

Unke samooh ki woh sabse anubhavi thi aur unke sangathan ke saare nirnay wahi leti thi. Haveli ke maalik muskuraye aur poochhe.

“Kya naam hai aapka?”

“Mein Parineeti, Sarkar!”

“Aur, mein Baldev Singh. Ji haan! Aapne theek suna hai. Mein iss baat ki zamanat toh nahi le sakta ki mera gaanv angrezo se mukt hai. Lekin, unke dushkarmo ke prabhav ko kam karne me zaroor Bijaipur humesha se hi agrasar raha hai aur aage bhi rahega. Hum ladaayi se nahi, dimag se unhe santulan me rakhte hai.”

Parineeti muskurayi. Use bas yahi sunana tha. Woh yaha aayi hi isliye thi taaki uske gaanv me angrezo ke badhte atyachar se wo aur uska sangathan bach sake.

“Toh aaj se yeh Parineeti aur uska yeh chhota sa samooh aapke kul ki seva me apne aap ko samarpit karna chaahta hai, Sarkar.”

“Huh?” Baldev Singh achraj me use dekhe.

Zahir hai, Parineeti ka ‘seva’ se matlab tha ghar-baar ki seva. Na ki koi shareerik roop se yaun sambandh.

“Iski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Aap sabhi ke rehne ka intezam ho jaayega. Aap fiqr mat kariye.”

Lekin, Parineeti apne faisle par adig thi. Kyunki, use aur bhi maang rakhni thi.

“Meri ek aur farmaish hai Sarkar aapse. Seva toh hum sab karenge hi… Lekin, mera samooh kaafi bada hai. Agar, gaanv me inn sabhi ko inke hisaab ka koi kaarya mil sake, toh bahut bada upkaar hoga.”

“Hmm!” Baldev Singh ne haami bhari. “Ho jaayega. Kya ye sab nipud hai?”

“Beshaq, Sarkar! Meri adhiktar saheliyaan har tarah ke kaamo me nipud hai. Kisaani se leke rasoi se leke sangeet tak. Sabhi ki apni-apni visheshtaaye hai. Maine inn sabhi par bahut dhyaan diya hai.”

“Aap befiqr rahiye! Inn sabhi ko kaarya dilwaane ki zimmedari meri hai.”

“Toh fir aaj se Parineeti ka yeh samooh aapki seva me haazir rahega, Sarkar. Lekin, uss se pehle… Mein chaahti hu ki aap mere samooh ka naamkaran kare.”

“Naam karan?” Baldev Singh soch me pad gaye. Unke agal-bagal kaafi vidyavan log bhi baithe hue the. Jab Baldev Singh ne naam ke liye unse raay maangi, toh unme se ek ne kaha-

“Aam taur par aurtein aise muh khol ke nahi ghoomti, Sarkar. Humari pratha rahi hai. Lekin, ye sab anaath hai. Aur, bahut hi pratibhashali hai sab ki sab. Sabhi ek se badh kar ek sundri bhi hai. Ekdum Pariyo ki jaat samaan…! Toh, kyu na inke samooh ka naam — Parijaat rakh de?”

Naam sunn Baldev Singh ne ek haami bhari. Parijaat naam ‘Parineeti’ ke ‘Pari’ se liya gaya tha. Aur, choonki ve sab pariyo ki jaat ke samaan sundariya thi, isliye unke samooh ka naam pada — Parijaat.

Parineeti ko iss naam se koi pareshani nahi thi. Balki, ye naam sunn woh khush thi. Aur, uss din Bijaipur ki haveli me Baldev Singh ji ne pehli baar-

Parijaat ki neev rakhi.

Aise hi kuchh hafto baad, aane waale mehmano me shaamil the ek behad hi siddh purush — Paramhans Mahadevanand Ji.

Jo Pushkar sheher se aaye the aur behad hi prasiddh the apni siddhi ke liye. Unke darshan maatra se hi aadmi apne aap ko dhanya maan leta tha. Unki aayu kya thi koi nahi jaanta tha. Kaha jaata tha ki unhe kayi siddhiyaan praapt thi, magar jo ek do prakhyaat thi woh thi — Prakriti Darshan Siddhi aur Bhava Pravesh Siddhi.

Ve jaane jaate the apne ek mahaan kaam — Saat Patthar Jagran ke liye.

Ek baar Mandoli naam ke gaanv me sookha pad chuka tha. Toh, unhone saat patthar saat alag-alag jagaho se ikhatte kiye the. Registan, nadi ka taal, shamshan, yuddh-kshetra, mandir ka khandahar, parvat ka shikhar, aadivaasi jangal.

Inn saat jagaho se saat patthar ikhatta kar unhone apni urja aur mantro ke ucchaaran se gaanv ke beecho-beech baith kar raat bhar jap kiya tha jis se-

Saat dino ke andar hi andar poora sookha gaanv se gaayab ho chuka tha. Varsha hone lagi thi. Faslein ugne lagi thi. Aur, woh sthaan ek teerth-gaman ka sthaan bann gaya — Saptavivek Sthaan.

Britishers ne ise adhyatmik visangati ka naam de kar iske baare me aneko lekho me likhna shuru kar diya tha.

Devnagari me likha unke dwara ek lekh jise jaana jaata tha — Raamchaitanya ke naam se, jisme 108 sookshm shareer avlokano ka vivran tha. Aaj ise hi ‘Akasha Kaagaz’ ke roop me jaana jaata tha.

Aaj wahi siddh Mahadevananand ji swayam Bijaipur ki haveli me Baldev Singh ke ghar padhaare the. Haveli ka vishal aangan upar se khula hua tha. Vidyavan, zameendar, pehredar, aur pujari, sabhi waha maujood the.

Pardo ke peechhe ghar ki streeyaan aur Parijaat aurtein khil-khilaati aur sharmaate hue baithak ko dekh rahi thi.

Mahadevanand ji dheere-dheere, nange paanv, apni lambi rudraksh ki maala ko dheere-dheere hilaate hue andar aaye. Veh aangan me daakhil hue.

“Kya mere jaise ek gareeb pathik ke liye iss ghar me koi aashray hai kya, Raajan?”

Baldev Singh turant haath jod kar khade ho gaye, unki aankhein vismay se zyada samajh se sikudi hui thi.

“Mein koi Raja nahi, guru ji! Rajan keh kar mujhe pukaarne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aap yaha aaye, wahi bahut hai mere liye. Mein nahi jaanta ki aap kaun hai, lekin itna zaroor jaanta hu ki aap jaise siddh purush sharan nahi lete. Aap meri pareeksha le rahe hai.”

Mahadevanand ji mand-mand muskuraye, akhirkar unki aankhein khuli.

“Kya aapke poorvaj Raja Maharaja nahi the?”

Unke prashn par Baldev ji ka shareer jhatka kha gaya.

“J-Ji guru ji! Ve sab Raja the. Lekin, mein nahi.”

“Aap saaf-saaf dekhna jaante ho, Rajan! Toh, dekhte hai ki aapki drishti kaha tak pahuchti hai. Mere paas ek kaarya hai… jo betuka hai. Shayad murkhtapoorn bhi. Kya aap karenge?”

“Aadesh dijiye, mahatma.” Ve jhukte hue bole.

“Toh suno! Apne dakshini kheto ke theek baahar banjar zameen me ek gehra kua khodo. Lekin… Use paani se nahi bharna. Iski bajaaye, usme 60 mitti ke kalash rakho, jinhe ghee, gudd, sarso, haldi aur apni Parijaat ki har stree ke kuchh baalo se band kar do aur neem ke patto se dhak do. Yeh gyaarah dino ke bheetar poora ho jaana chahiye. Koi sawal nahi.”

Mahadevanand ji ne gambheerta se kaha. Aur, waha sannaata chha gaya.

Pehli baat toh yeh thi ki guru ji ko Parijaat ke baare me kaise bodh tha? Aur, dusri ye ki yeh kis tarah ka kaarya tha?

Pardo ke peechhe se tabhi ek dheemi si khilli udi, aur phir ek awaaz — jo itni tez thi ki use lagbhag har kisi ne sunn liya tha.

“Hmph! Dekho toh buddhe ko! Kya hum ye maan le ki iss pagalpann se hum angrezo se mukt ho jaayenge? Sookhe se bach jaayenge? Ye saadhu bas bhagwan banane ke liye kahaniya bana raha hai.”

Awaaz thi Padmini ki, jo Parijaat ki sabse sundar stree aur sabse prashansit mahilao me se ek thi. Buddhiman, chalaak, aur behad khubsurat. Samay ke saath use lagne laga tha ki woh apne padd se upar thi. Use sirf ‘ghar ki sevika’ kehlaane se chidh hoti thi. Halanki, kaam sammaan-janak tha aur woh araam se rehti thi. Lekin, apni sundarta aur buddhimatta par garv use na sirf gaanv waalo se, balki Baldev Singh se bhi shreshta mehsoos karaata tha.

Lekin, uss garv ke neeche ek gehri asuraksha chhipi thi. Haveli ki deewaro ke baahar uske paas koi virasat nahi thi. Koi swatantrata nahi. Koi taaqat nahi.

Toh, jab yeh saadhu aaya aur Parijaat ki mahilao se anushthan ke liye apne baalo ka ek katra daan karne ko kaha, toh Padmini ne ise vyaktigat roop se le liya.

‘Hum rajao ya inn aadmiyo ki daasi nahi hai. Kisi bhatakte baba ki bakwas ke liye hum apne reshmi baalo ka ek katra bhi kyu de?’

Woh iss anushthan ko aadhyatmik nahi, balki purush-pradhan andh-vishvas maanti thi, jiska uddeshya daiveeya kaarya ki aadh me mahilao ko niyantrit karna tha.

Toh, jab uske bol waha goonje-

Bechaini se ek badbadahat uthi. Lekin, Mahadevanand ji ne bas jharoke ki taraf dekha aur kuchh na kaha. Ve Baldev ki orr mude. Woh achraj me khada hua tha. Baldev ne sakhti se Parijaat ki aurton ko dekha aur uske dekhne par ve sab shaant ho gayi.

“Toh, bolo Rajan! Aap karoge?”

“Ji guru ji!” Baldev Singh ne jawab diya.

9 dino baad…

Kaarya samapti ke qareeb pahuch raha tha. Mazdoor aur naukar din-raat kaam kar rahe the. Kalasho ko taiyaar kiya gaya, zameen khodi gayi, anushthan samapt hua, lekin gyaarvhi raat ke pehle hi nauvi raat ko kuchh hua.

Kalasho ke saath chedh-chadh. 60 me se 4 kalash toote hue mile. Unki saamagri apavitra ho chuki thi.

Apradhi?

Padmini. Wahi mahila jisne iss kaarya ka mazak udaaya tha. Woh, 28 anya Parijaat mahilao ke saath, gupt roop se iska peechha kar rahi thi. Unhe yeh poora anushthan ek dikhawa lag raha tha. Kuchh ki dharnaaye toh ab ye bhi bann chuki thi ki Mahadevanand ji keval ek dhongi tha jo satta haasil karne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Kehte hai na ki ek gandi machhli poore talaab ko ganda kar deti hai. Padmini ke andar ka guroor bhi baaki mahilao ko prabhavit kar chuka tha.
Iss se bhi buri baat yeh thi ki Padmini ne Mahadevanand ji dwara uss sthal ke paas rakha gaya kaala rudraksh bhi chura liya tha, jiske baare me kaha jaata tha ki woh unki shakti ki muhar thi.

Agli hi subah, apavitrata ki khabar fel gayi. Gaanv waalo ki saansein atak gayi. Hawa bhaari ho gayi, maano kisi bhayankar toofan se pehle ki ho.

Poora gaanv haveli ke baahar ikhatta ho gaya. Mahadevanand ji beech me chup-chap khade the. Bheed me logo ke chehre sharm se lajjit the.

Baldev Singh jaan gaye the ki yeh galti Padmini ki thi. Kuchh wafadar Parijaat ki aurton ne ye raaz khol diya tha. Yeh jaante hue ki Parijaat unki zimmedari hai, ve aage badhe aur ghutno ke bal baith gaye.

“Hey gyaani, mujhe kshama kijiye! Paap mera hai. Jis par aapne bharosa kiya, usne iss bharose ko tod diya. Iska bhaagidaar mein hu, guru ji!”

Mahadevanand ji ne uski orr dekha — aankhein teekhi, phir bhi shaant.

“Ab samajh aaya ki maine aapko Rajan keh ke kyu pukaara tha?”

“Huh?”

“Aaj aapne ye siddh kar diya ki aap apne purvajo ki tarah hi zimmedari ka taaj pehente ho. Aaj aapne saabit kar diya ki aapke kul ka khoon samay ke saath patla nahi hua. Kisi aur ki galti ka dosh apne sarr lena asaan baat nahi, Rajan.”

Unhone Baldev ke kandho par haath rakha aur unhe dheere se uthaaya. Phir, veh bheed ki orr mude aur garajte hue bole.

“Lekin, jisne paap kiya hai, veh abhi bhi chhipa hai. Parijaat ki Padmini — Saamne aao!!!”

Parde ke peechhe se ek cheenkh sunayi di. Padmini kaanpte hue ghutno ke bal gir padi. Use nahi laga tha ki woh pakdi jaayegi.

“Ek kuleen vyakti ne tumhe aashray diya… Uske haatho ne tumhe bhojan diya… Uske ghar me tumhe suraksha di… Aur, phir bhi tumne uske saath-saath dharm se chori ki.”

Hawa tez ho gayi. Unhone gangajal se bhara ek peetal ka paatr khola aur use agnikund me chhidka. Unhone kaale kapde ki ek patti nikaali, pracheen atharva mantro ka jaap kiya aur pavitra agni ki teen baar parikrama ki.

Laptein aprakartik roop se uthne lagi.

“MEIN YEH SHRAAP DETA HU KI — PEEDHIYO TAK YEH GYAAT HO KI ABHIMAN KA PAAP DAND SE NAHI BAKSHA JAYEGA! AAJ SE, PARIJAAT KI STREEYAAN — JINKA SAUNDARYA UNKA AHANKAR THA, JINKA SATEETVA UNKA HATHIYAR THA — USI VANSH KI SEVA KARENGI JISE UNHONE APAVITRA KIYA!”

Ve aankhein band kar ke ruke aur phir garje.

“MAANSIK ROOP SE! BHAVNATMAK ROOP SE! AARTHIK ROOP SE! AUR… SHAREERIK ROOP SE! UNKA ABHIMAN TOOTEGA! UNKA AHANKAR BEDIYO ME BAANDH DIYA JAYEGA! AUR, SANSAR KE SAMAPT HONE TAK UNHE BALDEV SINGH KE PARIVAR AUR UNKE VANSHAJO SE BAANDH DIYA JAYEGA!”

“AUR, AGAR ISS SE BACH KAR BHAAGNE KI KOSHISH KI- YA PARIVAR AUR KUL KO KISI BHI TARAH SE HAANI PAHUCHANE KI KOSHISH KI, TOH UNKA AUR UNKE PARIVAR KE PATAN KA KAARAN BANEGA YAHI SHRAAP.”

Bheed avaak reh gayi. Padmini chakkar kha ke behosh ho gayi. Parijaat ki Parineeti daud kar aage badhi aur guru ji ke charno me gir padi, aur bekabu hokar rone lagi.

“Maharaj! Mahatma! Hum moorkh the. Aapko chahiye toh mujhe shraap de dijiye — lekin, baakiyo ko chhor dijiye. Hume humari sateetva ki haani se bacha lijiye.”

Baldev Singh bhi ghutno ke bal gir kar vinti karne lage.

“Mahaan! Ve sab meri dekh-rekh me hai. Jo bhi dand dena hi — mujhe dijiye. Lekin, unka saar kalankit mat kijiye. Kripya, guru ji-”

Mahadevanand ji chup ho gaye. Jwalaaye mand pad gayi. Hawa thandi ho gayi. Unhone dheere se apni aankhein upar uthayi.

“Ek baar diya gaya shraap wapas nahi liya jaa sakta, Rajan! Lekin, use… seemit zaroor kiya jaa sakta hai. Keval aur keval aapki wajah se-”

Unhone uss agni se raakh uthayi aur use apni hatheliyo me ragda.

“PARIJAAT KI AURTEIN SABHI WAARISO KI NAHI, BALKI KEVAL EK KI SEVA KARENGI! VEH JO BALDEV SINGH KE VANSH ME SARVASHRESHTA HOGA! JISKA DHARMA SABSE BADHKAR HOGA! JISKA MANN USKI TALVAR SE BHI TEZ HOGA! JISKI AATMA NISHKALANK HOGI! VE SAB USKI SEVA KARENGI — AUR KEVAL USKI! HAR TARAH SE SHRAAP YAHI MAANG KARTA HAI!”

Ek sannata chha gaya.

“Aur, ise ek sabak maan lo! Uss kripa ki bhi apni seemaaye hoti hai. Dharm unki raksha karta hai jo uski raksha karte hai. Aur, unka naash karta hai jo uska uphaas karte hai!”

Veh mude. Aur, jaane lage. Aur, yahi se shuruat hui — asli Parijaat ki.

Baad me wahi anushthan wapas se poori savdhani se kiya gaya aur safal bhi hua. Anushthan ka uddeshya tha-

Gaanv ke neeche ek adhyatmik garbh banaana. Angrezo dwara laayi gayi sookshm videshi urjao ko nishkreeya karne ke liye. Gaanv ke adhyatmik mool, sanskritik smriti aur paitrik urja ko nasht hone se bachaane ke liye.

Parijaat mahilao ki stree urja (shakti) ko dharti ke saath sanrekhit karne ke liye, unki jeevan shakti ko mitti se baandhne ke liye, taaki koi bhi baahri shakti gaanv ko ukhaad na sake. Ya adhyatmik roop se uska ullanghan na kar sake.

Aprakartik mauto aur akaalo ko rokne ke liye, aur bhoomi va parivaro me urvarta badhane ke liye. Gaanv ko dusht shaktiyo se chhipaane ke liye aur sukh, samridhhi felaane ke liye.

Inhi Parijaat ki aurton me shaamil thi — Suman ki purvaj, Sudha, Mukta, Varsha, Vandna, aadi… Inn sab ki purvaj jinhone aage chal ke baakiyo ko janm diya.

---

Jab Abhilasha ne ateet ki gaatha ko samapt kiya, toh Vandna ki aankhein sadme me phaili hui thi.

“Aur, isi tarah hum bhi unhi ke vanshaj hai bitiya. Sab ke sab. Tum bhi! Yahi kaaran hai ki tumhare parivar ka patan kyu hua!”

“Haah!!” Vandna ki saans zor se choothi. Use saans lene me taqleef ho rahi thi.

“Kyunki, tum… Ek Parijaat ki aurat hoke, tumhara parivar maalik ke parivar ke khilaaf gaya. Isliye, yeh toh hona hi tha.”

“N-Nahi!”

“Mayra ki haveli ka parivar aaye din Singh parivar ke liye mushqile paida karta rehta tha. Aur, isliye maine-”

Iss baar Abhilasha ki aankhon se aasu dhaar bann kar behne lage.

“Mujhe maaf kar dena bitiya! Kyunki, woh mein hi thi! Jisne tumhari shaadi uss ghar me karwayi!”

*Boom*

Ek aur visfot Vandna ke mann me hua. Kya matlab?

Matlab yeh ki aaye din Mayra ka parivar jo Singh parivar ke liye hanikarak saabit ho raha tha, uss se nipatne ke liye hi Abhilasha ne Vandna ki shadi uss ghar me karwayi thi. Taaki, agar bhavishya me ve sab parivar ke liye aanch bane toh unka khaatma shraap ke zariye ek na ek din ho hi jaaye.

Yahi tha Parijaat ki aurat hone ka astitva. Uski zimmedari.

“A-Aap-!!”

Vandna avaak reh gayi. Woh aadhe ghante tak bas apne aasu bahaati rahi. Aur, Abhilash uske paas aa kar neeche baith uske galey se lag gayi.

“Maaf kar dena! Mujhe maaf kar dena bitiya! *sniff* Mein tumhari doshi hu!”

“M-Mera beta! Maasi mera beta! *sniff* Mera beta!”

Vandna ne phir sab kuchh sweekar kar liya. Usne apni vyatha batayi ki kaise woh yaha par bhaag kar aayi thi.

“Maalik bitiya! Veer maalik! Wahi tumhe bacha sakte hai! Yaad rakhna-! Yaad rakhna humesha ki tum Parijaat ki aurat ho! Aur, tumhara sabse pehla maqsad hai Veer maalik ki seva. Unhe kisi bhi prakar ki haani mat pahuchana. Tumhare pati aur sasur ne yahi galti kari thi.”

“V-Veer maalik-!?”

“H-Haan! Jao bitiya! Jao maalik ki sharan me jao. Mujhe poora vishvas hai ki ve hi tumhare bete ko dhundh sakte hai.”

Vandna waha se nikli, lekin Ranjeet ke aadmi akhirkar use pakad hi liye.

Vandna ne wahi chaal chali jo Abhilasha ne use samjhayi thi. Bhola banana aur Ranjeet ke jhaanse me rehne ka use vishvas dilaana. Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat slaughter house me jab Ranjeet ne use call kiya tha toh Vandna ne ye kyu kaha tha-

“Hahaha! Aai ja maayi Aai ja! Tohre liye badhiya tohfa taiyaar kar ke rakhunga. Tu aa!”

“Y-Ye sab! Ye sab jokhim bhara hai!”

“Iski behan ki choot! Muh band rakh! Bahut baat sunn leni tohre se. Ab aur naa! Jitna bola gaya hai utna karne ka! Samjhi na?”

Vandna ne jaan-boojh ke Ranjeet ko 'jokhim' keh kar uksaaya tha. Shraap ki lapat me Ranjeet laalach ki wajah se aa phasa aur khud apni jaan bhi gawa baitha. Itna taqatvar tha yeh shraap.

***

Vandna Veer ke saamne baith ke ro rahi thi. Kaanp rahi thi. Ghadi me subah ke 5 baj rahe the. Mukta, Varsha, aur Sudha bhi wahi baithi hui thi.

Veer (sighs) : Toh, ye thi sacchayi.

Vandna : H-Haan! *sniff* M-Mein Parijaat ki aurat hu! *sniff* T-Toh, kya tum... Kya tum...

Mukta (frowns) : Tum nahi! Aap! Aap bolo! Parijaat ki aurat ho toh!

Veer : Bolne do use, Mukta. Mujhe 'aap' 'tum' se farq nahi padta.

Vandna : T-Toh, kya tum mere bete ko ab dhundh sakte ho? U-Use bacha sakte ho?

Veer (nods) : Choonki, ab jab tum meri zimmedari ho. Dhananjay ko dhundhna bhi meri zimmedari hai.

Zaahir hai ki Vandna apne bete ki maut ke baare me abhi kuchh bhi nahi jaanti thi. Use jitna pata tha utna usne Veer ko bata diya tha.

Veer ka mann bhi ashaant tha. Woh waha Dhananjay ka khaatma karne gaya tha par kisne socha tha ki aenn waqt par waha police aa jaayegi? Aur, upar se uska saamna uss Trisha se ho jaayega? Aur, toh aur woh Dhananjay nahi, Ranjeet niklega!?

Ek baar woh Trisha ki nazron me aa chuka tha, ab dobaara nahi aana chaahta tha. Aur, isliye-

Usne iss qadar Ranjeet ko maut ke muh me utaara ki woh kisi ki nazar me aaya hi nahi. Poore samay Trisha aur uski team, Ranjeet aur uske log yahi sochte reh gaye ki kis anjaan ne inn sab ko anjaam diya.

Upar se woh aisi maut mara ki use pata tak nahi chala ki use kisne maara. Na sirf Veer ne andhere me reh ke saari musibato ki jado ko ek-ek karke saaf kiya, balki Ranjeet jaise gang leader ko maar ke uska dosh ulta inspector Trisha par thop diya.

Yahi thi uski master strategy. Magar, agar jaha iss strategy ka fayda tha toh wahi iska ek nuksan bhi tha. Aur, woh yeh tha ki — usne Ranjeet ko unn hooks par uske muh se latkaya toh tha, magar maara nahi tha.

Ranjeet uss waqt zinda tha. Dard se tadap raha tha. Chhatpata raha tha. Beshaq, woh kuchh der me hi mar jaata lekin, killing blow Trisha ne deliver kiya tha. Na ki Veer ne. Ranjeet ki saansein Trisha ki goli seene me lagne ke baad thami thi.

Dusre, shabdo me… Ranjeet ko Trisha ne maara tha.

Aur, agar Ranjeet ko Trisha ne maara tha. Toh, system ne Veer ko Ranjeet ka Past Illustration diya hi nahi. Kyunki, system ke hisaab se Ranjeet ki dhadkane thaamne waala Veer nahi tha. Trisha thi.

Aur, isi wajah se-

Veer Ranjeet ka kisi bhi prakar ka ateet nahi jaan saka. Usne uske ek-do pantaro ka past dekha, magar use kuchh bhi haath nahi laga.

Veer : Sudha! Mukta! Varsha! Vandna ko yahi rakho. Sheher ke taur tareeko se use rubaru karwao! Iss beech mein... Dhananjay ko dhundhne ke baare me kuchh sochta hu.

Sudha : J-Ji maalik!

Aur, itna bol woh waha se nikal gaya.

***

[Master…]

‘Pari! Show me my full status.’

[Sure!]

Aur, tabhi uske mann me ek window khuli.

*Ding*









Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities tab me badlaav aa chuka tha. Par, uska main focus tha apne stats ki orr. Kaafi samay se usne inn par rok laga ke rakhi hui thi. Ab samay aa chuka tha ki woh waapas se unn par dhyaan de. Disembowler se bhidne ke baad use samajh aa chuka tha ki woh abhi kitna peechhe tha.

Usne dekha ki uske paas 40,000 points jama rakhe the. Jisme se 20,000 use haal hi me Disembowler ki ladaayi se praapt hue the. Aur, 10,000 Ranjeet ko maarne par.

'Pari! 30 points strength aur intelligence me add kar do. Agility me 20 add kar do. Aur, endurance me bhi 30 points add kar do.'

[Yes, Master.]

*Ding*

Uske saamne stats ki screen khuli.




'Hmm!'

*Ding*

[11,000 points have been used. You are now left with 29,000 points.]

'Good! Abhi ke liye ye change kaafi hai.'

[Aapko ek nap lena hoga changes ke liye, Master.]

'Jaanta hu!'

Usne mann hi mann ek haami bhari. Ek santushti bhari haami.

‘Pari! Skill shop kholna.’

[Ah!!]

‘Kya hua?’

[Aap kabhi skill shop itna explore nahi karte the. Aur, achanak se aaj aapne shop explore karne ko kaha isliye-]

‘Yeah! Please, open karo.’

[Yes, master.]

Shop open hote hi ab use ek naya interface dekhne ko mila. Pehle jaha shop me skills aise hi line se lagi rehti thi. Ab wo alag-alag sections me vibhajit thi. Usne unn sections par nazar maari toh uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

‘Interesting…! Ye pehle se kaafi better hai.’

Uske mann me skill shop ka interface khula hua tha.

[Skill Shop :

1) Combat Skills : Offensive and close range engagement skills.
2) Defensive & Evasion Skills : Protective skills that require dodging, shielding, or enduring attacks.
3) Stealth & Infiltration Skills : Skills for espionage, escape, and unnoticed operation.
4) Perception & Awareness Skills : Enhances senses, intuition, pattern recognition & spatial intelligence.
5) Physical Mastery Skills : Boost body coordination, agility, and performance.
6) Social & Manipulation Skills : Verbal, psychological & charisma-based control skills.
7) Leadership & Strategy Skills : Helps in planning, commanding, and managing groups in pressure.
8) Technical & Analytical Skills : Boosts logic, pattern recognition, and device interaction.
9) Survival & Environment Skills : Survival instincts, adaptation to hostile environments.
10) Medical & Rescue Skills : Healing, diagnostics, and life-saving techniques.
11) Legendary Skills (Cross-Category) : Very rare, mission-bound, extremely powerful skills. Can fall under any above category.]

Veer ne jab itni saari categories dekhi toh uska dimag chakra gaya. Magar, uski nazar sabse pehle 11th category par padi. Uski aankhon me ek chamak thi.

Legendary skills? Shop me? Aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha. Yeh sab kya tha? Kya woh legendary skills ko khareed sakta tha? Usne bina samay gavaaye ‘Legendary Skills’ ko select kiya aur-

*Ding*

[The host cannot access the ‘Legendary Skills’ section if the missions are due.]

[Complete the due missions if the host wants to access the ‘Legendary Skills’ section.]

‘I see…!’

Veer ki bauhe upar uthi. Uske missions pending me the. Do naye missions use mile the aur unhe complete kiye bagerr woh iss section ko nahi dekh sakta tha.

‘Pari? Kya mujhe Legendary skills iss section se mil sakti hai?’

[Mein sure nahi hu, master. Kyunki, aapki hi tarah mein bhi ise access nahi kar sakti. I’m- I’m sorry Master.]

‘Huh?’

[M-Mujhe ye pehle hi kar lena chahiye tha. Jab aapko mission nahi mila tha.]

Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Pari itni dheeli-dhaali kab se ho gayi bhala? Woh agar baahri duniya me itna vyast tha toh kya Pari samay rehte itna sa kaam nahi kar sakti thi?

‘Tum kabse itni careless hone lagi, Pari? Maine tumse ye bilkul expect nahi kiya tha. Aur, tum ye bata rahi thi ki tumhari special skill tumhara intelligence hai? Kaha gaya woh intelligence?’

Veer ke shabd teekhe the. Uska ravaiyya bhi alag tha. Pari maun reh gayi. Woh sehmi hui thi. Iske pehle kabhi uske master uss se iss tarah se pesh nahi aaye the.

‘Ava ke system Lily ki special ability uska luck factor hai. Kam se kam woh sahi se uska istemal toh karti hai. Tum kya kar rahi thi? Agar, mein itne disturbance me bhi itna active reh sakta hu, raato ki neend sacrifice kar ke itne matters se deal kar sakta hu, toh tumhe toh mere andar maujood hoke aur bhi active rehna chahiye. Par, fir bhi tum-’

Woh use suna hi raha tha jab achanak Pari ki awaaz zorr se uske andar goonj gayi.

[KYUNKI, MUJHE AAPKI FIQR THI, YOU STUPID MASTER!!!]

Uski awaaz ruwasi thi. Lag raha tha jaise woh abhi ro degi.

‘Huh!?’

Veer thoda chaunk gaya.

[M-Mujhe aapki fiqr ho rahi thi. M-Mein… A-Aap pareshan the. Disembowler, prestige attack, aur na jaane kya-kya. M-Mein har samay aapke baare me soch rahi thi. Aapki nerves ko calm karne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Soch rahi thi ki iss sab ke peechhe kaun ho sakta hai aur uska kya aim ho sakta hai.]

‘!??’

[Aapke behaviour me change aa raha hai… Mein ghabra rahi thi. This isn’t how you used to do things, master.*sniff* Mein aapse baat karna chaah rahi thi. Y-You are getting changed. M-Mein jaanti hu aapke dada ji ki death ka impact aap par pada hai. B-But- this… this isn’t the right way.]

‘...’

[Aapne mission ke pehle hi Ranjeet ko maar diya. System ne use abhi complete threat ghoshit bhi nahi kiya tha par aapne- *sniff* Y-You killed him brutally.]

System ne Ranjeet ko abhi complete threat nahi maana tha. Yaani ki agar, Veer slaughterhouse nahi bhi jaata toh koi farq nahi padta kyunki, Trisha already waha pahuch hi jaati aur fir Ranjeet ko woh pakad leti. Jis se Ranjeet Veer ke liye kisi bhi prakar ki pareshani bann kar saamne nahi aata. Kam se kam tab tak jab tak woh Police ki giraft me rehta.

Parantu, Veer ne uske pehle hi Ranjeet naam ki iss samasya ko jad se mita diya tha. Aur, Pari ki nazro me ye galat tha. Yeh aisa tha jaise koi jaan-boojh ke kisi ki jaan le raha ho. Ranjeet ko bandhi bhi banaya jaa sakta tha. Lekin, iss qadar use hook par latka ke tadpa kar maarna? Uske master ye sab kab se karne lage bhala?

Isliye, inn beetein dino se Pari pareshan thi. Apne liye nahi, apne Master ke liye. Woh sabhi pariyon me se sabse sanvedansheel thi. Yahi kaaran tha ki kyu woh system par focus na kar ke apne master pas zyada focused thi.

Pari ke bol sunn Veer ki nazrein neeche jhuk gayi. Lekin, usne Pari ki baat ka samarthan nahi kiya.

‘Maine use nahi maara!’

[YOU KILLED HIM!]

‘Agar, maine use maara hota… Toh, Past illustration aata. But-’

[Woh already marr jaata agar waha woh Trisha nahi pahuchti toh-! M-Master! *sniff* Don’t get impulsive please. I… I like the way you were before. P-Please, don’t change. I-I beg you *sniff* Don’t be like this.]

Uski guhaar bhari awaaz Veer ko sunaayi di. Veer ne ek gehri saans li aur uske mann me bas itna hi nikla-

‘This is the right way, Pari.’

[Y-YOU-!!! HOW CAN YOU??? *sniff*]

‘Ranjeet ko raaste se hataate hi cheezein kitni asaan ho gayi hai ab. Dekho tum! Ek na ek din use marrna hi tha. Also, maine nahi maara use. The hook killed him. Trisha killed him. Not me!’

[I HATE THIS… *sniff*]

‘Melodrama ki zaroorat nahi hai. Yahi efficient aur sabse sahi tareeka hai. And, this is how I’ll proceed. Mujhe calculated plans ko execute karna hoga. That’s it! Aur, tabhi-’

Par, iske pehle ki woh apni baat poori rakhta-

*Ding*

[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]

[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]

‘Pari, tum-!’

Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.

‘This is the right way, Pari!’
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
The Update consists of 12k words.
Dhanyavad.

Hmm to ye huva tha Sara khel sach main ek behad hi romanchak update diya wolfi ye expect nahi kiya tha I mean ki yaha pura itihaas khulega well I really liked this update thats call something new

To sabse pehle aate hai is raman or ranjeet pe to ye dono ko maine aira gaira hi samjha tha jo sirf paiso keliye logo ko thagte hai but ye log merder bhi kardenge ye expect nahi kiya tha maine

Or ranjeet ke sath jo huva wo sahi huva wo usi layak tha but afsos yaha raman nahi tha warna ranjeet ki lash dekh kar wo apna dhanda hi badal deta or agar na bhi badalta to shayad aaj ke baad veer se to sekdo kilometre door rehta


But aapne yaha parijaat ka itihaas bhi dekhaya jo un expected tha but ye sabse intresting part bhi tha I mean origin of parijaat nd vandna ka past ye sab

Bechari vandhna abhi bhi ye ummed lagaye baithi hai kahi na kahi uska beta uska laal jinda hai but uski kahani to uske baap dada ke sath hi khatam hogyi ab kyahi kar sakte hai isme agar kiski galti hai to wo hai karimiran ki kya jarurat thi use patna bhejne ki mumbai me agar brijesh ke pass bhej deta to uske baap ka kya jata

But I really fill bed for vandna bechari ka sab kuch chinn gaya or to or use apni jindgi ka ek sabse bada sach bhi pata chala jo uske liye shayad zeher se bhi kadva tha kaha wo mayra gaav ki sethani thi or ab kaha wo Vijay Nagar ke waris ki rakhail nikli


But bro ek baat main batata hu ye mera wese personal opinion hai agar ise consider karo to accha lagega but jesa ki main harbaar kehta hu ki agar isse plot main changes na ho to


Main ye cahta hu ki veer vandna ko apne ghar me or dill main jagah de naki bister mai bhale hi wo parijaat ki aurat hai but agar riste se dekha jaye to wo veer ki door ki chachi bhi hai or shayad bhavna vandna ko apne is dukh se ubhar ne main help kar sake

Main ye nahi kehraha ki vandna or veer ka sex na karvao obviously wo parijaat ki aurat hai but to sex to agar veer karna cahe to shayad vandna mana bhi naa kar paye but veer uske sath pure emotionally physical hoye na ki sum ke sath jese shayad proper malik or dasi ke jese jese purvi wala scene tha wo use aihsaas dila paye ki wo bhi uska mali nahi beta hai

Main chahta hu veer vandna ke sath uska Dhananjay banke khada ho naki Vijay Nagar ka koi tharki varish wese mera manna to hai ki suman ke sath bhi ek baar pure love or emotions ke sath sex kare veer use dikhaye ki suman uske liye bahut mayne rakhti hai but har baar veer uske sath tu tadak main utar aata hai ye mujhe accha nahi lagta ek suman ko aap kehke sex kar lene se veer ki ego thi haurt hojayegi

Wese agar padmini ne apne ahankar ko side main rakha hota to shayad aaj parijaat ghar ka kuch or hi matlab hota

Well ye thi update ki baat ab kuch sawal hai jiske baare main jawab mile to bahut badhiya hoga

Kya hume Brijesh or veer ka ek accha khasa lamba chuda convo dekhne ko milega jisme jile sikhve ki baat hoye kuch ho sakta hai kya iss baare main

Kya veer or is intelligent pari main vapas sulah hogi ya ye personality bhi aise ladte jagadte jayegi

Or ab konsa part pe focus hoyega finding damiyan , autoshield ka welcome , ya fir nik and gaurav wala mission inme se ab konsa part pe continue hoyega

And haa kya ab bhavna lime light main ayegi ya nahi sala uska scene to aap wolfi shuru karte ho khatam kardete ho yaar naa ek baar bhi jab se bhavna aayi hai tabse ek baar bhi usne veer ko apne seene se lagakar nahi sulaya nahi usse theek se baat hoti hai hoti bhi hai to bohot awkwardly hota hai or ha bhavna bhale hi sex na kare chalo Maan liya ki tum inka nahi hi dikhaoge but doodh chuska koi kharab baat nahi hai wo scene to dall hi sakte ho ..


Ant main full status jab dekha na mere dimang main jonny livar ka hera pheri wala dilong yaad aagaya " yeaahhhhh abhiich maza ayega na bhidu "

Sabhi ke sabhi main stat on full 200 I like it I love it ab BERSERK, and BEOWOLF ka jalwa dekhne main maza ayega


Beowolf ko agility ko 50 % badhata hai or full moon night me double % hojaye hai to ab veer ki agility hai 200 usme agar 50 % add kare to hota hai 200 + 100 = 300 or full moon main 400


Or berserk main intelligence+ strength dono hi 200 to uska bhi total 400 ki strength mujhe to veer ke opponent per abhi se daya aa rahi hai broo kya hi hell scenerio hoga jab iska istemal hoga

Or ye baat aapke liye nahi hai ye baat un reader keliye jo bolte hai ki wolfi time per update nahi deta unhe koi update 202 or 203 ka difference dikhao or ek baat writer ki skill ko samman dena sikho or unhe time do thoda naki unhe di motivet karo

Werewolf sir aapne har chiz ki back story or details ne aapki story ko char chand laga diye hai isi liye aapke har update per comment dillse likhta hu
Really appreciate you sir

 

[$ekhar]

Update - 203 ~ A Past under a Past​

Ab tak...

Mandli shaant ho gayi. Baba ji ne dheere se apna sarr ghumaaya. Woh muskuraate hue thahaake lagaaye. Fir, ahista se bole.

Baba ji : Naam? Hahahaha! Mere bacche...! Iss shareer ko log yaha mohanlal keh ke pukaarte hai. *smiles*

Logon ne santushti me sarr hilaaya. Parantu, jis tarah se baba ji ne uttar diya tha. Iss shareer ko...

Use sunn log aur bhi prabhavit ho gaye. Naam milte hi uss yuvak ko aisa laga jaise koi apnapann mil gaya ho. Usne unhe pranaam kiya aur peechhe baith gaya.

Baba ji muskuraate hue logo ko dekhte rahe. Kintu, ye sirf wahi jaante the ki-

Unka asli naam Mohanlal nahi tha.

Unka asli naam tha —

Raman.

Ab aage...

Baat shuru hoti hai tab se jab Veer Harikiran aur uske bete ki sacchaayi ke baare me jaanta bhi nahi tha. Tab jab Veer ko apni maa ke badle ke baare me kuchh bhi nahi pata tha. Tab jab Veer ko system ki praapti bhi nahi hui thi.

Tab, ‘Harikiran Singh’ woh naam tha jo poore gaanv me bhay ka prateek tha. Uski badi si haveli logo me apna darr baitha ke rakhti thi. Poora gaanv jaanta tha ki angrezo ke zamaane se do hi badi haveliya thi jo ab tak itni kathnaiyo ka saamna karne ke bawajood mazboot khadi hui thi.

Ek thi Bijaipur ke Dharam Singh ki haveli, jo Bhavna ke pita ji ki thi. Jinke poorvajo ne angrezo ko humesha apne gaanv me mann-maani karne se rok ke rakha raha.

Aur, ek thi Bijaipur se hi kuchh doori par lage Mayra gaanv ke Harikiran Singh ki haveli, jinke poorvajo ne angrezo se milkar ghoos khaane me koi bhi chaaploosi ka mauka nahi chhora tha.

Kintu, yahi do parivar ant me aapas me bhide aur Bijaipur ke Dharam Singh ki haveli raato raat aag me chhal se bhasm ho gayi. Parivar khatam ho gaya. Siwaaye, unki putri — Bhavna ke, jo ab Bijaipur se jaa chuki thi.

Aur, isliye- ab Bijaipur ki ek haveli ke jaane se, Harikiran ki haveli ka rutba aur bhi badh chuka tha. Satta, taaqat, zameenein, jaydaad, sab kuchh ab tezi se aage badh raha tha. Unnati ho rahi thi. Harikiran ke naam se hi aadmi thar-thar kaanp jaaya karta tha. Harikiran ab kasaayi-khaane jaise gandey vyapaar me bhi apna haath aazmaane laga tha.

Jitna adhik paisa, utna adhik rutba. Jitna adhik rutba, utna adhik logo me darr. Aur, jitna adhik darr, utna hi adhik uska varchasv jo poore gaanv me felte hue ab aas-paas ke gaanvo tak pahuchne laga tha.

Magar, iss darr ke saath-saath andar hi andar Mayra ke log Harikiran ki prataadna se pareshan bhi the. Kintu, majaal thi kisi ki jo unke saamne koi apna muh khol de? Bhale hi gaanv ke log unse darrte the, lekin unke apne hi ghar me ek sadasya aisa bhi tha jo kisi se bhi nahi darrta tha.

Harikiran ka pota, Bhanu pratap aur Vandna ka ekmaatra putra — Dhananjay.

Bachpan se hi use har cheez apne haath me mili thi. Ekmaatra ladka tha toh gharwaalo ne use ladhiya ke bhi rakha hua tha. Na hi woh kisi ko kuchh samajhta tha aur na hi kisi ki baat maanta tha. Padhayi gaanv se hi lage hue ek jile se usne kar li thi.

Ab baap dada ke paas itna paisa tha toh bhala aur padhne ki kya hi zaroorat thi? Yahi sochke usne apna nirnay bana liya tha.

“Oo maayi! Dekh! Ab mein yaha ek pal bhi na ruk saku hu. Manne baahar jaana hai. Sheher me. Baahar ki duniya dekhni hai manne!”

Woh kheejte hue bola. Yaha tak ki usne apne jhola, bag sab taiyaar bhi kar rakha tha.

“Beta nahi! Kya keh rahe ho? Tu phir wahi ratt leke baith gaya?”

Vandna rasoi se baahar aate hue boli. Toh, wahi Harikiran Singh ek khaat par baitha apne pote ko ghoor raha tha. Vandna ke haatho se chai lete hue woh bas abhi apne pote ki baat sunn raha tha.

“Kyu jaana hai tanne sheher?” Iss baar Harikiran ne chai ki chuski lete hue uss se poochha.

“Kyu jaana hai? Dada ji manne baahar ki duniya dekhni hai. Mein yaha gaaye, bakriya, bhains charaane me apni jawani nahi gawana chaahta.”

“Arey toh tanne kaun keh raha hai gaaye, bhains charaane? O sab kaam toh naukar karte hai. Aur, jawani chadh rahi hai toh batao byaah karwa de? Kaun ladki pasand aayi hai?”

“K-Koi nahi! Mujhe abhi byaah nahi karna. Mujhe baahar sheher dekhna hai.”

“Toh aisa hai, saahab-zaade… ki bhaiya ye farmaish toh aise hi poori nahi ho sakti tumhari. Hum tumko sheher jaane de sakte hai par humari bhi ek shart hai.”

Dhananjay ne jab ye baat suni toh uski khushi ka koi thikaana nahi tha. Yahi toh woh chaahta tha.

“S-Sach dada ji? Aap humko sheher jaane doge?”

Vandna asmanjas me Harikiran ko dekhi. “P-Pita ji ye aap-!? Isko baahar jaane nahi de sakte, pita ji!”

Parantu, Harkiran ne Vandna ki orr dekha hi nahi aur na hi use koi jawab diya. Jaise maano woh uske uttar dene ke laayak samaan hi nahi thi. Ulta Dhananjay apni maa ke virodh ko sunn bhadak utha.

“Maayi chup kar! Jab dekho tab tu taang adaati rehti hai meri zindagi me. Manne jaise jeena hai jeene de. Apni farmaish mat thopa kar mere upar. Samajh gayi? Chulha chauka karna tera kaam hai. Yahi teri zindagi hai. Tu ghar par reh ke bartan maanj, jhaadu pochha kar. Mujhe saath me mat lapet. Mein mard hu. Aur, baahar ki serr karna chaahta hu.”

Harikiran apne pote ki mardana harqat se khush tha. Kam se kam uska pota maayi ke pallu me ghus kar uski baat maanane waala pota nahi tha. Haan thoda alhadpann tha usme aur ziddi bhi tha, lekin ghar ka ekmaatra chiraag hone ke naate ye sab baatein nazar-andaaz kar di jaati thi.

“Haan toh bhai, shart yeh hai ki- tum usi sheher aur usi raajya me jaoge jaha hum kahenge. Tum apni mann-marzi ke sheher nahi jaa sakte.”

Dhananjay kuchh derr ek soch me pad gaya. Use sheher jaane mil raha tha. Iss se behtar aur kya ho sakta tha? Bhale hi sheher uske dada ji ki pasand ka hone waala tha, par akhir ek sheher toh sheher hi hota tha!? Chaahe Mumbai jao ya Delhi. Sheher gaanv se toh hatke hi hone waala tha.

Yahi soch woh jhatse raazi ho gaya. Kahi aisa na ho ki uske dada ji apne faisle se muqar jaaye aur uska sapna ek sapna hi bann ke reh jaaye.

“Th-Theek hai, dada ji! Mujhe manzoor hai! K-Kaun sa sheher rahega?”

Aur, yahi se shuruat hui Dhananjay ki ek sheher ko ghoomne ki jo ki tha— Patna. Bihar me sthit ek mukhya sheher.

Harikiran ne Bihar raajya ko isliye chuna tha kyunki, Bihar ek aisa raajya tha jaha gaanv aur sheher dono ka mishran tha. Na hi Dhananjay waha jaa ke ekdum hi paraaya mehsoos karta aur na hi ye kehta ki woh gaanv me hi aa gaya hai. Kyunki, Patna ek bada sheher tha.

Saath hi Bihar dhaarmik roop se aastha se juda hua tha. Waha ke log shehri hone ke saath-saath pooja-paath aur apni sanskriti ko bhi apne dainik jeevan me achhe se dhaale hue the. Toh, Dhananjay ke sheher me bigadne ke asaar aur bhi kam ho chuke the.

Jab Bhanu Pratap Singh ko yeh baat pata chali ki uske pita ji ne uske bete ko Patna bhejne ka faisla kar liya hai toh woh bhi virodh me kooda utha. Lekin, woh jaanta tha ki uske pita ji aevayi kuchh bhi nahi karte the.

Chaahe Manorath Singh ke ghar par phoot daalna ho ya vyavsaay aage badhaana, har jagah hi unke dimag ka istemal hota tha. Aur, parivar tezi se unnati bhi kar raha tha. Isliye, woh bhi ant me maan gaya.

Zaahir hai, Dhananjay ko akela nahi bheja gaya tha. Uske saath ek aadmi bhi gaya tha jo ki Harikiran ka apna aadmi tha aur woh hi Dhananjay ki roz-marra ki zindagi ke baare me use khabar dete rehta tha.

Par, yahi pe aaya woh badlaav jisne poori tarah se sab kuchh badal ke rakh diya.

Raman.

Sheher ko kaafi ghoom lene ke baad, jab Dhananjay bore ho chuka tha tab achanak woh ek din Raman ke sthaan pahucha. Usne dekha ki tamaam janta ek aadmi ka intezar kar rahi thi. Jigyasa-vash woh bhi wahi theher gaya aur jab usne dekha ki koi baba ji baahar aake khaat par baithe hai toh ek pal ke liye woh muh bana ke waha se jaane laga.

Magar, kuchh soch ke woh wahi theher gaya. Aur, logo ki baatein sunane laga. Jaise-jaise woh sunta jaa raha tha. Uske hosh udte jaa rahe the. Dhero log apni samasyaein leke Raman baba ke paas aate aur unse upaay leke, prasad leke waha se chale jaate.

Dhananjay ko laga yeh bhi koi dhongi hi tha jo logo ko moorkh bana raha tha aur isliye usne iss baba ki pol kholne ke baare me thaan liya. Woh aage gaya-

“Baba ji meri bhi ek samasya hai. Upaay bataoge?” Usne haath jodte hue kaha.

“Poochho baccha! Kya samasya hai!?”

“Mein Rajasthan ke Mayra gaanv se hu. Bahut badi haveli hai humari udhar. Sab kuchh hai. Paisa, zameen, jaydaad. Par, mera mann nahi lag raha tha udhar. Mujhe sheher ghoomna tha, isliye yaha aa gaya. Par, yaha aake dekha toh paaya ki yaha bhi kuchh khaas nahi hai. Logo ke paas time hi nahi hai. Gaanv bhi dekh liya. Sheher bhi. Kaha jau? Ab aur kya bacha hai? Kuchh samajh nahi aa raha.”

Usne apna sawaal bina kisi darr ke ekdum spasht baba ji ke saamne rakha. Woh dekhna chaahta tha ki kya waqai me baba ji ke paas koi gyaan tha ya nahi? Ya bas ye bhi koi dhongi tha? Agar, baba ji ne uski iss samasya ka samadhan nikaal diya, toh woh waqai me unhe maan jaayega.

Raman ke kaan idhar Dhananjay ke muh se paisa, haveli, jaydaad, zameenein sunte hi khade ho gaye. Woh jaan chuka tha ki chaara khud chalke ghode ke paas aaya tha.

“Kya naam hai baccha tumhara?”

“J-Ji Dhananjay.”

“Tumhara naam hi Dhananjay hai. Tumhe pata hai iss naam ka matlab?”

Dhananjay ne naa me sarr hilaaya.

“Baccha iss naam ka matlab hota hai dhan ko jeetne waala. Dhan ka vijeta. Aur, vidambana dekho. Tum dhan hi chhor ke yaha aa gaye?”

Raman ne muskuraate hue kaha. Aas-paas ke sabhi log Dhananjay ki samasya me dilchaspi lene lage. Sab ke kaan ab baba Raman ke upaay aur unke updesh ko sunane ke liye bekaraar the.

“P-Par baba ji. Log kehte hai ki naam me kya rakha hai. Toh, phir Dhananjay naam se meri ichha, mera bhavishya thodi pata lag sakta hai, hai na?”

“Beta naam me bahut kuchh rakha hai.”

“Woh kaise baba ji? Zara samjhaiye!”

Dhananjay ne Raman ko aur parakhne ka socha. Aur, usne apna naatak jaari rakha. Uske baad-

“Mein tumhe tumhari gaatha dohraata hu. Tum Mayra me badi haveli me pale badhe, tumhare maa-baap ne woh sab kuchh laa kar tumhare haatho me diya hoga jiski tumne zid kari hogi, tum waha se uub kar sheher ki orr nikle. Lekin, tum ghoom kiske dhan par rahe ho? Apne pita ji ke! Tumne dekha ki sheher toh aur bhi vyast hai. Aur, ab tumhe samajh nahi aa raha ki agar gaanv tumhare laayak nahi tha, sheher tumhe lubha nahi paaya toh akhir kaha jaaya jaaye? Hai na? Isliye tum pareshan ho.”

Dhananjay thoda chaunkte hue baba Raman ko dekha.

“J-Ji!” Usne sarr hilaaya. Magar, abhi bhi Raman ki baato se poornta woh sehmat nahi hua tha.

“Beta iska upaay hai…! Bhakti aur tyaag.”

“Huh?”

“Tumne aaj tak kabhi apne bal boote par kya kiya hai? Kabhi khud se paisa kamaaya hai?”

“Y-Yahi toh nahi chaahta mein baba ji. Mujhe isi moh-maaya se door rehna hai. Aur-”

Jaise hi Raman ne yeh suna toh usne fauran hi apni tarqeeb badal di.

“Toh kisne kaha ki paisa kamaana hi jeevan ka uddeshya hai?”

“Huh?”

“Kya kabhi tumne apne aap se apna bhojan banaya hai? Kabhi khud ke ghar me reh ke kaam kiya hai? Chalo woh sab chhoro! 24 ghanto me kya tumne kabhi bhi 24 second ke liye bhagwan ka naman kiya?”

“N-Nahi!”

Raman muskuraya. “Bas isliye tum moh-maaya me phasey hue ho.”

“K-Kya bhagwan hote hai, baba ji? M-Mein nahi maanta. Maine kabhi nahi maana. Agar, bhagwan hote- toh itni buri-buri cheezein kyu ghatit ho rahi hoti? Kehte hai ki kann-kann me bhagwan hote hai. Kya ye sahi hai? Bataiye!”

“Haan! Bilkul! Kann-kann me bhagwan hai. Ye srishti unki hi toh rachna hai. Har ek kann unki rachna hai.”

Jab Raman ke muh se itna nikla toh Dhananjay mann hi mann muskuraya.

‘Ab phasa tu mere jaal me, baba! Abhi teri pol kholta hu ruk!’

Aur, phir usne ek aisa sawaal kar diya jise sunn waha ke log hairaan reh gaye.

“Toh agar bhagwan kann-kann me hai. Toh kya naali, sharaab, maans, madira, inme bhi bhagwan hai baba?”

Log bhauchakke reh gaye. Kuchh muskura rahe the ye dekh ke ki ab shayad baba ji se unhe muft me koi bahut bada gyaan milne waala hai. Toh kuchh asmanjas me the ki kya baba ji iska uttar de bhi paayenge ya nahi?

“Tumne bahut seedha aur teekha prashna poochha hai, baccha. Hahaha!” Raman hasa.

Lekin, Dhananjay ke iss teekhe prashn se ab janta aur bhi dilchaspi dikhaane lagi thi. Ve sab bhi yeh jaanana chaahte the. Dekhna chaahte the ki ab baba ji kis tarah se itne kathin sawaal ke uttar denge. Aas-paas se guzar rahe log bhi ab apni-apni jagah bana kar khade hone lage. Kintu, Raman jaise pehle se hi taiyaar tha. Aur, uske baad usne bolna shuru kiya-

“Iska uttar do starro par hai, baccha! Pehla advait darshan ke anusaar — haan! Sidhaant roop me waha bhi ishwar hai. Par, dhyaan do baccha. Utpatti aur vartman me hona, dono alag baatein hai.”

“??”

“Jaise bijli har machine ko chalaati hai. TV, pankha, fridge… Lekin, wahi bijli unn machino ko bhi chalaati hai jo kasaayi khaane me lagi rehti hai. Janvaro ko maarna. Pedo ko kaatna. Parmanu banaane ke yantro me bhi bijli ka istemal hota hai. Toh kya tum bijli ko dosh doge? Nahi! Kyunki, bijli sirf urja hai. Galat upyog karne waala zimmedar hai. Waise hi har kann-kann se sab kuchh bana hai. Lekin, ye naali, jaanvar ka maans, sharaab, ye sab kiski utpatti hai? Insaani dimaag ki.”

Jab logo ne uttar suna toh ve sab sann reh gaye. Yaha tak ki Dhananjay ke badan par bhi roye khade ho gaye. Usne aaj tak itna gyaani purush apne saamne nahi dekha tha.

“A-Aur, dusra starr kya hai, baba ji?”

“Dusra starr, bhakti aur naitik drishtikonn se — Nahi! Waha bhagwan ki upasthiti nahi maani jaati.”

“K-Kya? Par, abhi toh aapne kaha ki-”

“Uttar poora suno baccha. Naali, daaru, paap, apraadh — Ye sab taamsik pravattiyaan hai, jo agyaan, moh aur maaya se bhari hui hai. Bhagwan waha tab tak nahi prakat hote, jab tak satv yaani ki shuddhata, shraddha, prem aur vivek na ho.”

“Huh?”

“Jaise ganga maiya ki dhaara kahi koode me beh jaaye, toh kya wo ab bhi poojya hai? Tatvat : Haan! Lekin, vyavhaarat : Nahi! — Kyunki, woh ab apavitra ho chuki hai.”

Dhananjay ka badan kaanp utha. Waha maujood log apne phone me recording on karte hue baba ke gyaan ko qaid karne ki koshish karne lage. Badi bhaari bheed jama ho chuki thi.

“Dhoop soorya se aati hai, par agar tumne apne kamre ki khidki band kar li, toh kya soorya doshi hai ki tumhare kamre me andhera hai? Nahi! Wahi ishwar, wahi prakash — tumhare bheetar bhi hai, par darwaza band hai. Saral shabdo me — Ishwar har jagah hai baccha, par har jagah prakat nahi hai.”

“Ahhh!” Dhananjay ko aaj apne sabse bade sawaal ka uttar mil chuka tha.

“Burayi, naali, paap, daaru jaisi cheezon me ishwar ka beej toh ho sakta hai, par waha maaya aur agyaan ne use dhak diya hai. Ishwar ka anubhav wahi hota hai jaha prem, gyaan, satkarm aur nishtha ho. Kuchh samjhe baccha?”

“Babaaaa jiiii!!”

Dhananjay pehli baar kisi ki baat se itna aakarshit hua tha. Woh haath jod utha aur Baba Raman ke perro par gir pada.

“Mujhe maaf kar dijiye, baba ji! Mein- Mein moorkh aapki pareeksha lena chaah raha tha. Par, mujhe nahi pata tha ki mere saamne swayam sakshaat siddh baba baithe hai. Mujhe apna shishya bana lijiye-! Mujhe apna shishya bana lijiye baba ji!”

Uske itne bade sawaal ka uttar baba ji ne chutkiyo me de diya tha. Toh kya ve uski aur samasyao ka hal nahi nikaal sakte the? Use poora yakeen tha ki baba ji ke zariye hi ab uske jeevan ka uddhaar ho sakta tha.

Lekin, woh nahi jaanta tha ki Raman ne ye sab prashn ke jawab pehle se hi ratt rakhe the. Itne varsho me usne kayi siddh guruo se bhaint ki thi. Usne ye gyaan wahi se churaaya tha. Farq, bas itna tha ki agar siddh guru log bina kisi maang ke logo ka maarg-darshan kar rahe the, toh usi ki aadh me Raman jaise log logo ki aastha se khel ke unke saath dhong kar rahe the.

Aur, isi jhaanse me phaste hue-

Dhananjay Raman ke paas theher ke unki seva me lag gaya. Usne unke bol ke anusaar apna maqsad tay kar liya tha — Bhakti aur Tyaag!

Aur, theek usi raat, jab sab so chuke the, Raman ke chhote se kamre me derr raat ko kisi ne dastak di.

“Pranam guru ji!”

“Aa gaye Ranjeet?”

“Ji guru ji!”

“Kya hua bhai? Uss Kanpur waale ka?”

“13 lakh nikalwa liya hu. Abhi ghar ki aur sampatti baaki hai. Sasuri uu bhi jaldi aa hi jaayegi.”

“Hahahaha! Sabbaas! Aur, tumhare liye naya bakra khud chal ke aa chuka hai.”

“Konu bakra?”

“Hai ek! *smiles* Aaj hi aaya tha sthaan par. Humara shishya banana chaahta hai. Mayra gaanv me bahut badi haveli hai, paisa hai, dher saari zameenein aur jaydaad hai. Lagta hai kisi dhanvan vyakti ki aulad hai. Iski saari khabar iske gaanv se leke rakho, Ranjeet. Agla shikaar yahi hai.”

“Ji guru ji! W-Waise-! Thoda rokda mil jaata toh-”

“Kitna chahiye?”

“Kareeban dui lakh toh laagi sasuri Kanpur waale me! Uu kaa hai na, hua ka sampatti haasil karne me thoda ghoos lagega hi lagega. Sasuri khopadiya pe baar-baar ghoda taan ke kaam nahi ho sakat. UP ka chhetra me police sakht hai thoda. Kabhi-kabhi dimag se chalna padat hai!”

Raman haami bhar utha. Apne kamre ke andar gaya. Ekdum jhopad patti waala kaccha makaan tha. Yaha tak ki zameen bhi kacchi thi. Usne zameen ke neeche ek gaddhe me se ek kapda nikaala jisme dher saare noto ki gaddiya rakhi hui thi aur usme se teen gaddi laa kar Ranjeet ko saunp di. Wapas se gaddhe me kapde ki potli ko daal usne uski upar ret aur mitti daal ke uske upar ek paani ka ghadha rakh diya.

“Ye lo! 3 lakh hai. Kaam daba ke karna.”

“Aaj tak konu kaam bigaada hai kya guru ji? Fiqar naahi karo. Sab ho jaayega.”

Kehte hue woh waha se nikal gaya. Beetein dino me usne Mayra gaanv se Dhananjay ki saari jankaari nikalwa li thi. Toh wahi, din-ba-din Dhananjay bhakti aur tyaag ke maarg par agrasar badhta jaa raha tha. Use apne naye jeevan ka uddeshya mil chuka tha. Uski dosti wahi ke aur bhi shishyo se ho chuki thi.

Jab yeh baat uske ghar me Harikiran aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ko pata chali toh Bhanu Pratap swayam hi Raman ke sthaan aa par pahucha.

“Guru ji agar aise hi aap mere bete ko patti padhaate rahe toh ye toh ghar-baar tyaag dega. Fir, humara kya hoga?”

Aaya toh Bhanu Pratap Singh krodh me tha, magar Dhananjay ki hi tarah Raman ne use bhi apne shabdo se mantra-mugdh kar diya.

“Ghabrao nahi baccha! Hum jaante hai ki tum pareshan ho. Aur, hum ise yaha humesha nahi rakhenge. 2-4 saal ise yaha rehne do. Waise bhi iske baad tum iss se kheti-baadi hi karwaoge. Aisa samajh lo ki inn kuchh saalo ke liye tumne apne bacche ko gurukul me padhne bheja hai. Fir, mein maarg-darshan jab punah karunga iska… Toh, yeh swayam tumhare paas laut aayega. Aur, iski chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi. Ye meri nigrani me hai.”

Apni chikni chupdi baato se Raman Bhanu Pratap ko raazi karne me qamyab ho chuka tha. Dhananjay toh jaise apne ghar ke baare me sab kuchh bhool chuka tha. Uski nayi zindagi shuru ho chuki thi.

Dekhte hi dekhte 2 saal guzar gaye. Dhananjay Raman ka poora bhakt bann chuka tha. Aur, tabhi ek aisi ghatna hui jiske baare me Ranjeet se leke Raman aur Mayra gaanv ke log, sabhi ko yeh pata chali, siwaaye Dhananjay ke.

Aur, woh thi-

Veer dwara Harikiran Singh aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ka khaatma. Jaha usne unki hi haveli ke baahar kue me dono ko zinda jala diya tha. Ranjeet ka ek aadmi wahi Mayra me hi sthit tha. Ranjeet ne jab yeh baat Raman ko bataayi toh uss raat woh unke kamre me hi tha-

“Guru ji-! Pata nahi kaisan ba- magar… Sasuri uu aapke Dhananjay naam ke chele ka baap-dada ka hatya ho gaya!”

“K-Kaise?”

“Pata nahi! Koi naujavan aaya. Aur, dono ko maut ke muh me utaar gaya. Kehat ba ki- badla liya hu apni maayi ka!”

“Toh tumhe pata hi hona chahiye ki kya karna hai ab *smiles* Hai na?”

“Hahaha! Ab sab hum pe chhor do guru ji! Na sirf ab hum uu ka haveli jhaptega, uu ki saari zameenein, jaydaad, paisa sab hadpunga! Tabhi ee Ranjeet ko chenn milega. Sasuri bahut intejar kiya hai ee mayra waale ka-!”

Usne itna kaha hi tha ki tabhi-

*Thud*

Achanak baahar ek laathi ke girne ki awaaz aayi. Dhananjay, jo guru ji ko kuchh dikhaane aaya tha usne baahar reh ke sab sunn liya tha. Apne baap-dada ki maut ke baare me… Sab kuchh. Use apne kaano par vishvas nahi ho raha tha. Woh bhaaga.

*huff* *huff*

Uska dil zoro se dhadak raha tha.

“Pakad! Abey pakad use! Madarchod sab sunn liya usne! Bhaag jaldi Ranjeet! Pakad saale ko!”

“Iski maayi ke-!!”

Ranjeet bhi ghabraate hue utha. Waise hi derr raat ka samay tha. Aur, upar se Raman ka sthaan hi chehel-pehel se door tha. Dhananjay bhaybheet hue bhaaga. Uski saansein tez thi.

“Pakad saale ko! Pakad! Pakad bey Satbeer-!!!”

Raaste me bhaagte hue Ranjeet chillaaya. Uske aur aadmi jo jaage hue the wo sab bhi Dhananjay ke peechhe bhaagne lage. Ranjeet jaanta tha ki agar ye ladka bhaag nikla, toh unka bhaanda poora ka poora phoot jaayega. Sab ke sab pakde jaayenge.

*huff* *huff*

“M-Maayi-! *sniff* Pita ji-! *sniff* Dada ji-!”

*huff* *huff*

“Pakad! Pakad saale ko!!! Daboch usko! Satbeer ulti side se-!”

Dhananjay bhaagte-bhaagte achanak hi apne sthaan ke paas pahuch raha tha. Agar, bas kuchh samay aur use mil jaaye toh woh waha pahuch ke halla kar ke apne baaki sadasyo ko utha sakta tha.

“B-Bachaaaaoooo!”

Woh chillaaya. Taaki, uski awaaz door tak pahuch sake. Magar, shayad yahi uski sabse badi galti thi kyunki-

“B-Bachaaaaaoooo!”

*Bang*

*Bang*

*Bang*

Achanak goliyaan chalne ki teen baar awaaz aayi aur Dhananjay neeche zameen par gir pada. Teen me se do goliyaan uski peeth ko cheer ke andar dhans chuki thi. Lahu-luhaan hote hue woh sadak par dala raha.

Ranjeet aur baaki daudate hue Dhananjay ke paas aa kar ruke. Dhananjay ukhdi-ukhdi saansein lete hue reng raha tha. Aur, tabhi-

*Bang*

*Bang*

“A-Aapne ise maar kyu diya?” Satbeer ne ghabraate hue poochha.

“Madarchodo! Saale ki laash ko thikaane lagao jaldi! Isko toh marrna hi tha. Sasuri raaz jo jaan gaya tha. Chalo! Jaldi! Jaldi! Jaldi!”

Ranjeet jaanta tha ki Dhananjay ke baap-dada pehle hi swarg sidhaar chuke the. Toh, aise me ab use rokne waala koi na tha.

Dhananjay ka ant ho chuka tha. Dukhad. Par, yahi uska ant tha. Ek hi din me, parivar ke teeno mard maar diye gaye the. Vandna udhar gaanv me jo yeh maan ke chal rahi thi ki ab uska beta hi uska akhiri sahaara tha. Woh uski talaash me Patna Raman ke sthaan tak aa pahuchi thi.

Magar, ab ise uski badqismati kahe ya fir kuchh aur-

Uska saamna Raman ke sthaan par seedhe Ranjeet se ho gaya. Woh apna dukhda use sunaati rahi aur Ranjeet use behla ke Dhananjay se milaane ke bahaane se le gaya aur use bandhi bana liya.

*Chataaaaak*

“Ahhhh!”

Ek chaata aa kar Vandna ko uske chehre par pada.

“Chal! Ab tu hi hua Mayra ka saari jameen dilwayegi. Saara paisa tu hi nikalwayegi. Chal!”

“M-Mera beta-! Mera beta!!!”

“Hahahaha! Tuhaar bitua humaare qabze me hai, samajh gayi. Hehehe! Meri pyaari maayi. Chal! Chal chal ke ab apne ee lalla ko saari sampatti dikha. Chal!”

Ranjeet use bandhi bana ke gaanv wapas laaya. Apne bete ki jaan ko khatre me daalne ke darr se Vandna apna muh band kiye sab kuchh bataati chali gayi. Magar, woh bechari ye jaanti tak nahi thi ki uska laadla toh usi din marr gaya tha jis din uska pati aur sasur marey the.

Kayi maheene guzar gaye, lekin inn mahino me Ranjeet poori shiddat se wasooli aur jankari ikhatti karne me laga hua tha. Usne kayi zameenein hadap li thi. Usne kayi saari jaydaad apne naam karwa li thi. Usne kaafi dhan, sona, jawaharat apne qabze me kar liye the.

Gaanv ke logo me apne aadmi bhej ke usne sab pata lagwa liya tha ki uss raat yaha kya hua tha. Harikiran akhir mara kaise tha. Aur, kaafi hadd tak use ye pata lag chuka tha ki koi naujavan tha.

Magar, gaanv ke log Veer ka naam bataane se peechhe hat chuke the. Veer ne unke upar upkaar kiya tha. Gaanv waalo ki ekta iss paksh me bahut mazboot thi. Ranjeet bhi shaatir tha. Woh jaanta tha ki aise zabardasti jankaari ko nahi nikalwaya jaa sakta tha.

‘Sasuri konu aur dimaag lagana padega ee game me!’

Par, jab woh soch hi raha tha ki kaise Veer ke baare me jankari ikhatti ki jaaye tabhi achanak-

*Ring* *Ring*

Uska phone baj utha. Usne dekha ki call Mumbai, Maharashtra se aa raha tha. Koi unknown number. Usne call uthaaya.

“Hello?”

“Ranjeet! Kyu hai na? Yahi naam hai na?”

“Haan! Tu kaun bol raha hai?”

“Woh jaanane ki zaroorat nahi hai tumhe. Bas itna jaan lo ki Harkiran Singh aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ko Veer ne maara tha.”

“H-Huh? K-Kaun hai bey tu?”

“Maine kaha na! Tumhe ye jaanane ki zaroorat nahi. Veer Mumbai se hai. Ek businessman. Ek naujavan jiski talash me tum ho. Yaha tak ki uski ek badi si hotel bhi hai. Bahut raees hai woh. *smiles* Bahut paisa hai uske paas.”

“Maayi ke chode wrong number hai saale. Hatt teri behan ki-”

Ranjeet ne dimag se qadam uthaaya. Usne apne laundo ko aas-paas ka jayza lene bheja. Kahi aisa toh nahi ki ye call police dwara karwaya jaa raha tha taaki woh haami bhar unko saboot dede ki wahi inn sab ke peechhe tha?

“Funny ho tum. Lekin, mujhe jo batana tha maine bata diya. Have fun!”

Aur, call cut ho gaya.

“H-Hello!? Hello?”

Magar, koi jawab nahi aaya.

“Iski maayi ki choot.”

Use pata chala ki sab kuchh clear tha. Aas-paas koi bhi police nahi thi. 'Veer' naam aur uska raees hone ke baare me sunte hi uske mann me laalach jaag chuka tha. Akhir, tha toh Veer ek naujavan hi.

Kya hoga agar, woh iss Dhananjay ko lootne ke saath-saath uss Veer ko bhi loot le? Uske dimag ki ghanti baji. Uska dimag bahut tezi se dauda.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Woh zor-zor se hassne laga. Usne Vandna ko dekha.

“Kyu re maayi? Tujhe badla lena tha na? Uu Veer se? Haan? Wahi Veer hi hai jisne tere pati aur sasur ko maara tha. Hahahaha!”

Vandna ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi. Beshaq, woh Veer ko nahi jaanti thi. Lekin, gaanv waalo ki baato se, aur idhar-udhar ki suni sunaayi baato se use iska andaza lag chuka tha ki uske pati aur sasur ko maarne waala Manorath Singh ke parivar ke kul ka ek vaaris tha — Veer Singh.

Woh kabhi Manorath ke ghar nahi gayi thi. Jitni baatein woh uss ghar ke baare me sunti thi, woh Harikiran ya Bhanu Pratap ke muh se hi suna karti thi. Zaahir hai, ve dono humesha teekhein shabd hi bolte the uss ghar ke liye.

Aur, isliye Vandna ke mann me Manorath ke parivar ko leke koi aadar nahi tha.

Parantu, woh yeh nahi jaanti thi ki uske pati aur sasur ko maara kyu gaya tha. Woh abhi bhi uss dard se tadap rahi thi. Upar se uska apna beta jo ki bandhi bana hua tha. Aur, ab ye naya ladka… Ranjeet, jo keh raha tha ki woh badla lega?

Kaise?

Uski kuchh samajh nahi aa raha tha aur isliye-

Jab ek din Ranjeet aur uske aadmi uski haveli me so rahe the. Aur, Mumbai jaa kar badi machhli phasaane ki tarqeeb bana rahe the tab woh waha se bhaag nikli. Bijaipur ki orr…!

Use sach jaanana tha. Bijaipur me hi use koi mil sakta tha. Jo use sach bata sakta tha. Woh apna muh chhipaate hue dar-dar bhatakti rahi ki kahi se koi use aisa mil jaaye jo Manorath ke parivar ke baare me sab kuchh use bata sake.

Woh dukaano me jaa ke logo se poochhti, khet me kaam kar rahe kisaano se poochhti, kue se paani bhar rahi mahilao se poochhti.

“S-Suniye! Aap Bijaipur ki haveli ke parivar ko jaante hai kya? Y-Ya Manorath ji ke parivar ko?”

Lekin, use sandigdh samajhte hue log use kuchh bhi bataane se mana kar dete. Jab ek baar-

“H-Huh? K-Kya kaha aapne didi? Bijaipur ki haveli ke log? M-Manorath ji ka parivar? A-Aap Veer sarkar ke parivar ki baat kar rahi ho kya? Bhavna didi?”

Sunte hi Vandna ka badan kaanp utha. Woh bas ahista se haami bhari. Uska chehra abhi bhi poora dhaka hua tha.

“Are toh pehle batana tha na! Chaliye mere saath. Kaaki se zyada koi nahi jaanta iss baare me. Balki, Veer sarkar ka kya… Jiske parivar ke baare me poochhna ho kaaki ko sab kuchh gyaat hai. Yaha tak ki Mayra ki haveli ke parivar ke baare me bhi bata dengi woh hahahaha!”

Vandna ka badan sihar utha. Mayra ki haveli ka parivar? Ye toh uska apna parivar tha. K-Kaise? Woh apne muh par bandha kapda adjust karte hue ek kacche makaan ki taraf pahuchi. Ye ladki use yahi laayi thi.

“Jaiye andar. Kaaki andar hi hongi! Jaiye! Arey jaiye! Sharmaiye mat. Kaaki bura nahi maanengi.”

Sarr hilaate hue Vandna andar daakhil hui. Saamne mitti ke chulhe par ek budhi aurat rotiyaan sek rahi thi jab use kisi ke aane ki aahat hui. Woh palti toh usne dekha ki koi anjaan mahila apna muh chhipaaye dehleez par khadi hui thi.

“K-Kaun?”

Bina kuchh kahe, Vandna ne apne chehre se kapda hata diya. Uski saansein tez thi. Ranjeet ke aadmiyo dwara pakde jaana ka darr bhi use sata raha tha. Woh bhaag kar jo aayi thi.

“Vandna? K-Kya yeh tum ho?”

Jab uss budhi aurat ne uska naam liya toh Vandna ki rooh kaanp gayi. Woh iss aurat se apne jeevan me pehle kabhi nahi mili thi. Fir, akhir yeh mahila use kaise jaanti thi?

“A-Aap mujhe kaise jaanti hai? K-Kaun hai aap kaaki!?”

Budhi aurat muskurayi aur usne apne haatho me liya chameeta wahi neeche zameen par rakha. Aur, khade hote hue boli.

“Mein… Abhilasha.”

“Huh??”

Abhilasha. Wahi Abhilasha jo Bhavna ki sevika thi. Veer ke parivar ki sevika. Jiske iss kacche makaan me uss raat Veer, Bhavna, Shweta, Kavya, aur baakiyo ke sang thehra tha. Jaha Bhavna ne apne ateet ki gaatha sunaayi thi.

Vandna bhauchakki si use ghoor rahi thi. Abhilasha? Kaun Abhilasha? Woh kisi Abhilasha ko nahi jaanti thi. Fir, yeh aurat use kaise jaanti thi? Kya isliye ki woh Mayra ki haveli ki sethani thi isliye log use jaante the? Haan, yahi kaaran raha hoga. Lekin, Abhilasha ke agle bol ne uski saari soch ko mitti me mila ke rakh diya.

“Mujhe pata tha ki tum yaha ek na ek din aaogi hi aaogi. Kaho! Kya jaanane aayi ho?”

Vandna ka shareer jhatka kha ke reh gaya.

“K-Kya matlab? M-Mein-”

“Bas apne sawaal rakho bitiya!”

Vandna ne khud ke mann ko shaant kar ek gehri saans li, woh nidar hoke, thoda krodh me Abhilasha ki orr dekhi aur poochhi.

“Agar, aap mujhe jaanti hai, toh yeh bhi jaanti hongi ki mein Mayra ki haveli ki sethani hu.”

“Hu ya thi?”

Abhilasha ke sawaal par Vandna ka badan ek baar phir thitak utha. Woh kaanpi. Beshaq, ab woh kahi ki bhi sethani nahi thi. Balki, uski khud ki aur uske bete ki jaan khatre me thi. Usne gusse me apne daant meese.

“Agar aapko yeh pata hi hai, toh yeh bhi pata hoga ki Veer naam ke ladke ne mujhse mera parivar chheen liya! Mere pati ko, mere sasur ji ko- Unhe… Unhe zinda kue me jala diya gaya! Aur, log tamasha dekhte rahe. *sniff* Bhale hi mujhe uss parivar se bahut sneh nahi mila. Lekin, mera parivar tha woh! Kyuuu? Kaun hai Veer? Kaha hai iss Manorath ka parivar? Badla lena chaahti hu mein!!!”

Abhilasha mand-mand muskurayi. Jaise woh jaanti thi ki yeh hona hi tha.

“Kya tumhe nahi pata ki tumhare pati aur sasur ki hatya kyu kari gayi?”

Vandna ki uss prashn par aankhein chaudi ho gayi.

“Toh suno! Mein sab bataati hu tumhe-!”

Uske baad Abhilasha ne woh sab bataaya jo use Suman se pata chala tha. Kaise Harikiran aur Bhanu Pratap Singh ne Karunesh ke saath saazish rach ke Bhavna ke saath ghinauna khel khela tha. Kaise use ghar se baahar nikalwaya gaya tha aur kaise woh uski santaan ko maarne ke chakkar me the, kaise itne beetein varsho me unhone Manorath ke parivar ko deemak ki tarah kha ke use andar se khokhla karna shuru kiya.

Sab kuchh Abhilasha bataati chali gayi. Aur, jaise-jaise Vandna ye sunti gayi, uske badan ke harr ek roye khade hote chale gaye. Aankhon se aasu behna shuru ho gaye.

“Y-Yeh jhooth hai!”

“Yahi satya hai bitiya! Lekin, tumhare parivar ke patan ka kaaran sirf yahi nahi hai. Ek kaaran aur bhi hai. Aur, woh… mukhya kaaran hai.”

Mukhya kaaran? Iss se bada kaaran aur kya ho sakta tha? Woh aankhein phaadi Abhilasha ko ghoorti rahi.

“KYUNKI TUM-”

Achanak hi Abhilasha ki awaaz bhayanak roop se oonchi ho gayi. Vandna ke badan me ek sihran daud gayi. Aur, agle hi kshan Abhilasha ne ek sabse bada raaz uske saamne ujaagar kiya.

“KYUNKI TUM- PARIJAAT KI AURAT HO!!!”

*Boom*

Maano ek adrishya visfot hua Vandna ke mann me. Uska badan kaanp utha. Parijaat ke baare me kaun nahi jaanta tha? Parijaat ka itihaas wo tha jo dono gaanvo me fela hua tha. Uski apni ek kahani thi. Uski apni ek gaatha thi. Woh kahani hi aisi thi jise koi bhula nahi sakta tha. Bhale hi Parijaat ki aurton ka astitva keval aur keval Bijaipur ki haveli tak hi seemit tha. Magar, iski katha dur-dur tak prachilit thi.

Aur, Mayra ka gaanv bhi koi apvaad nahi tha. Vandna ne Parijaat ke kisse sune the. Woh iss shabd se parichit thi. Lekin, uska Parijaat ki aurat hona? Sunte hi woh apne ghutno par gir padi. Aur, tabhi Abhilasha ki awaaz narm pad gayi.

“Yahi satya hai bitiya.”

Vandna ne apne aansu se bhare chehre ko upar kar Abhilasha ko dekha. Pata nahi kyu, par iss aurat se use apne liye atyadhik prem mehsoos ho raha tha.

“K-Kya mein aapki beti hu? N-Nahi! Mere mata-pita toh guzar chuke hai. M-Mere pita ji toh- woh toh bahut bade zameendar the. Unhone hi meri shadi Singh parivar me karwayi thi. Phir, aapko dekh ke aisa kyu lagta hai ki-”

“Nahi! Tum meri beti nahi!”

Vandna ne ek raahat ki saans li. Woh itne saare jhatko ke liye taiyaar nahi thi. Lekin, yeh uski galat-fehmi thi agar woh yeh soch rahi thi ki jhatke yahi samaapt hone waale the.

“Lekin, tumhare guzar chuke mata-pita bhi tumhara asli parivar nahi.”

“Ahhh!??”

Vandna ki aankhon se aasu bahe. Woh apna muh khole bhaybheet hoke Abhilasha ko ghoori. Ab uske ghutne bhi kaanpne lage the.

“Y-Yeh jhooth hai! Sab jhooth bol rahi ho aap! Mujhe achhe se yaad hai! Maine apna bachpan guzaara hai. Wahi mere maa-baap-”

“Unhone tumhe goad liya tha.”

“Huh!!!”

Vandna ko jhatke par jhatke lagne ab shuru ho chuke the.

“N-Nahi! Aap jhooth bol rahi hai! Aapko bhala ye sab kaise pata ho sakta hai?”

Woh gusse se ab haanf rahi thi.

“Kyunki, tum- tum meri behan ki bacchi ho, Vandna!”

Ek aur visfot Vandna ke mann me hua.

“Tum meri badi behan ki bitiya ho.”

“Jhooth! Jhooth bol rahi hai aap! Mere pita ji zameendar the. Maine apna bachpan unke saath guzara hai!”

“Tumne sahi kaha. Magar, tum kaafi chhoti thi jab unhone tumhe goad liya tha.”

“Jhoooothh! Kyuuu? *sniff* E-Ek zameendar bhala… bhala Parijaat ki aurat ki beti ko goad kyu lenge? Ye jaante hue ki Parijaat ki aurtein Bijaipur ki haveli ke waariso ki rakhelein thi???”

Woh zor se garji. Isme koi shaq nahi tha ki Parijaat ki aurtein Bijaipur ki badi haveli me Singh parivar ki daasiya thi. Toh, phir ek jaana-maana zameendar aisi bacchi ko goad kyu lega?

“Kyunki, unhe apna rinn chukaana tha.”

“Huh?”

“Poorv me Parijaat ki aurton ne tumhare goad lene waale mata-pita ki behad madad ki thi. Isliye, zameendar ji ne vachan diya tha ki ve Parijaat ki aurton me se kisi ek ki santaan ko khud paalenge, aur uska kanya-daan karenge. Ye Parijaat ke liye bhi saubhagya ki baat thi. Aur, isliye… Unhone phir tumhe goad liya tha.”

Vandna ke aansu jhar-jhar kar uski aankhon se behte chale gaye.

“T-Toh kaun? Kaun hai mere asli mata-pita? *sniff* Bataiye!”

“Meri badi behan hi tumhari maa thi bitiya. Aur, tumhare pita ek kisaan the. Renuka, meri jijji. Badi behan. Aur, tumhare pita — Santosh.”

“K-Kaha hai? Kaha hai ab wo? *sniff* Boliye!”

Par, Vandna ke sawaal par Abhilasha bas maayus ho kar muskurayi. Aur, Vandna samajh gayi. Uske aansu aur zor-zor se behne lage.

“Kyuuuuu? Kyu ye sab hone diya aapne? *sniff* K-Kyu??”

“Kyunki, yahi tumhara uddeshya tha bitiya.”

“K-Kya matlab?”

“Tumhara bhavishya usi kshan nirdharit ho gaya tha jis samay tumhara naam Parijaat se juda tha. Jis waqt tumne janm liya, usi kshan tum Bhavna maalkin ke Singh parivar ki daasi bann chuki thi. Ab mein tumhe Parijaat ka woh sach sunaane jaa rahi hu jiske baare me har koi itna vistaar se nahi jaanta. Toh suno, bitiya. Dhyaan se suno!”

Abhilasha ne phir ek gehri saans lete hue bolna shuru kiya.

---

Varsho puraani baat hai. Woh samay jab Bijaipur ki haveli ki neev rakhe bas kuchh hi varsh beete the. Iss samay Mayra ki haveli astitva me hi nahi thi. Jab Bhavna ke pita ji, Dharam Singh ke poorvaj Bijaipur ki haveli ke maalik the. Gaanv ki ekmaatra badi haveli hone ke naate sabhi uss ghar ke logo ki izzat kiya karte the.

Haveli ke aangan me lagbhag har roz ek baithak lagti thi. Gaanv ke kuchh bade log aapas me baith ke tamaam vishayo par charcha kiya karte the. Chaahe gaanv ke vikaas ko lekar koi baat ho ya angrezo ki badhti ghus-paith ki charcha. Sab wahi aangan ki baithak me hi hota tha.

Panchayat se zyada musibato ke hal haveli ki baithak me nikalte the. Par, isi ke saath baithak me aur bhi anya mehmano ka aagman hota tha. Koi dusre sheher se aaya prasiddh naatak-kar unhe apna naatak dikha ke unka manoranjan karta tha, toh koi nritya-kar aake apne nritya se unka mann mohta tha.

Baithak ek Raja ke darbar ki baithak ke samaan lagne lagi thi. Roz shaam ko poore gaanv me iss baat ko lekar utsaah fel jaata tha ki badi haveli me baithak lagne waali hai. Poore gaanv waale bas isi aasha me rehte the ki aaj kaun se mehmano ka aagman hoga? Aaj kya charcha hogi? Uss waqt TV nahi hua karta tha. Toh, baithak hi woh zariya thi jis se aam aadmi apna samay kaat ke manoranjan karta tha.

Aaye din log haveli ke ghar ke logo ko prasann karne ki koshish me lage rehte the. Aaye din unki seva karte. Aur, seva ki jab baat aati thi toh unme aurtein bhi shaamil hoti thi.

Kintu, tab seva sirf aur sirf ghar ke kaamo ke liye ki jaati thi. Shareerik taur par koi bhi stree haveli ke mardo se sambandh nahi banaati thi. Itni maryaada sab me thi.

Aur, inhi sevikao ka ek bahut hi prakhyaat samooh tha. Sabhi aurtein behad hi khubsurat thi. Ve sab dur ek gaanv se Bijaipur me rehne aayi thi. Sabhi ki sabhi anaath thi aur ek aashram me pali-badhi thi.

“Maine suna hai aapki iss haveli ne angrezo ki pratadna se har baar gaanv waalo ko bachaya hai. Kya yeh sach hai, Sarkar?”

Unke samooh ki woh sabse anubhavi thi aur unke sangathan ke saare nirnay wahi leti thi. Haveli ke maalik muskuraye aur poochhe.

“Kya naam hai aapka?”

“Mein Parineeti, Sarkar!”

“Aur, mein Baldev Singh. Ji haan! Aapne theek suna hai. Mein iss baat ki zamanat toh nahi le sakta ki mera gaanv angrezo se mukt hai. Lekin, unke dushkarmo ke prabhav ko kam karne me zaroor Bijaipur humesha se hi agrasar raha hai aur aage bhi rahega. Hum ladaayi se nahi, dimag se unhe santulan me rakhte hai.”

Parineeti muskurayi. Use bas yahi sunana tha. Woh yaha aayi hi isliye thi taaki uske gaanv me angrezo ke badhte atyachar se wo aur uska sangathan bach sake.

“Toh aaj se yeh Parineeti aur uska yeh chhota sa samooh aapke kul ki seva me apne aap ko samarpit karna chaahta hai, Sarkar.”

“Huh?” Baldev Singh achraj me use dekhe.

Zahir hai, Parineeti ka ‘seva’ se matlab tha ghar-baar ki seva. Na ki koi shareerik roop se yaun sambandh.

“Iski koi zaroorat nahi hai. Aap sabhi ke rehne ka intezam ho jaayega. Aap fiqr mat kariye.”

Lekin, Parineeti apne faisle par adig thi. Kyunki, use aur bhi maang rakhni thi.

“Meri ek aur farmaish hai Sarkar aapse. Seva toh hum sab karenge hi… Lekin, mera samooh kaafi bada hai. Agar, gaanv me inn sabhi ko inke hisaab ka koi kaarya mil sake, toh bahut bada upkaar hoga.”

“Hmm!” Baldev Singh ne haami bhari. “Ho jaayega. Kya ye sab nipud hai?”

“Beshaq, Sarkar! Meri adhiktar saheliyaan har tarah ke kaamo me nipud hai. Kisaani se leke rasoi se leke sangeet tak. Sabhi ki apni-apni visheshtaaye hai. Maine inn sabhi par bahut dhyaan diya hai.”

“Aap befiqr rahiye! Inn sabhi ko kaarya dilwaane ki zimmedari meri hai.”

“Toh fir aaj se Parineeti ka yeh samooh aapki seva me haazir rahega, Sarkar. Lekin, uss se pehle… Mein chaahti hu ki aap mere samooh ka naamkaran kare.”

“Naam karan?” Baldev Singh soch me pad gaye. Unke agal-bagal kaafi vidyavan log bhi baithe hue the. Jab Baldev Singh ne naam ke liye unse raay maangi, toh unme se ek ne kaha-

“Aam taur par aurtein aise muh khol ke nahi ghoomti, Sarkar. Humari pratha rahi hai. Lekin, ye sab anaath hai. Aur, bahut hi pratibhashali hai sab ki sab. Sabhi ek se badh kar ek sundri bhi hai. Ekdum Pariyo ki jaat samaan…! Toh, kyu na inke samooh ka naam — Parijaat rakh de?”

Naam sunn Baldev Singh ne ek haami bhari. Parijaat naam ‘Parineeti’ ke ‘Pari’ se liya gaya tha. Aur, choonki ve sab pariyo ki jaat ke samaan sundariya thi, isliye unke samooh ka naam pada — Parijaat.

Parineeti ko iss naam se koi pareshani nahi thi. Balki, ye naam sunn woh khush thi. Aur, uss din Bijaipur ki haveli me Baldev Singh ji ne pehli baar-

Parijaat ki neev rakhi.

Aise hi kuchh hafto baad, aane waale mehmano me shaamil the ek behad hi siddh purush — Paramhans Mahadevanand Ji.

Jo Pushkar sheher se aaye the aur behad hi prasiddh the apni siddhi ke liye. Unke darshan maatra se hi aadmi apne aap ko dhanya maan leta tha. Unki aayu kya thi koi nahi jaanta tha. Kaha jaata tha ki unhe kayi siddhiyaan praapt thi, magar jo ek do prakhyaat thi woh thi — Prakriti Darshan Siddhi aur Bhava Pravesh Siddhi.

Ve jaane jaate the apne ek mahaan kaam — Saat Patthar Jagran ke liye.

Ek baar Mandoli naam ke gaanv me sookha pad chuka tha. Toh, unhone saat patthar saat alag-alag jagaho se ikhatte kiye the. Registan, nadi ka taal, shamshan, yuddh-kshetra, mandir ka khandahar, parvat ka shikhar, aadivaasi jangal.

Inn saat jagaho se saat patthar ikhatta kar unhone apni urja aur mantro ke ucchaaran se gaanv ke beecho-beech baith kar raat bhar jap kiya tha jis se-

Saat dino ke andar hi andar poora sookha gaanv se gaayab ho chuka tha. Varsha hone lagi thi. Faslein ugne lagi thi. Aur, woh sthaan ek teerth-gaman ka sthaan bann gaya — Saptavivek Sthaan.

Britishers ne ise adhyatmik visangati ka naam de kar iske baare me aneko lekho me likhna shuru kar diya tha.

Devnagari me likha unke dwara ek lekh jise jaana jaata tha — Raamchaitanya ke naam se, jisme 108 sookshm shareer avlokano ka vivran tha. Aaj ise hi ‘Akasha Kaagaz’ ke roop me jaana jaata tha.

Aaj wahi siddh Mahadevananand ji swayam Bijaipur ki haveli me Baldev Singh ke ghar padhaare the. Haveli ka vishal aangan upar se khula hua tha. Vidyavan, zameendar, pehredar, aur pujari, sabhi waha maujood the.

Pardo ke peechhe ghar ki streeyaan aur Parijaat aurtein khil-khilaati aur sharmaate hue baithak ko dekh rahi thi.

Mahadevanand ji dheere-dheere, nange paanv, apni lambi rudraksh ki maala ko dheere-dheere hilaate hue andar aaye. Veh aangan me daakhil hue.

“Kya mere jaise ek gareeb pathik ke liye iss ghar me koi aashray hai kya, Raajan?”

Baldev Singh turant haath jod kar khade ho gaye, unki aankhein vismay se zyada samajh se sikudi hui thi.

“Mein koi Raja nahi, guru ji! Rajan keh kar mujhe pukaarne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Aap yaha aaye, wahi bahut hai mere liye. Mein nahi jaanta ki aap kaun hai, lekin itna zaroor jaanta hu ki aap jaise siddh purush sharan nahi lete. Aap meri pareeksha le rahe hai.”

Mahadevanand ji mand-mand muskuraye, akhirkar unki aankhein khuli.

“Kya aapke poorvaj Raja Maharaja nahi the?”

Unke prashn par Baldev ji ka shareer jhatka kha gaya.

“J-Ji guru ji! Ve sab Raja the. Lekin, mein nahi.”

“Aap saaf-saaf dekhna jaante ho, Rajan! Toh, dekhte hai ki aapki drishti kaha tak pahuchti hai. Mere paas ek kaarya hai… jo betuka hai. Shayad murkhtapoorn bhi. Kya aap karenge?”

“Aadesh dijiye, mahatma.” Ve jhukte hue bole.

“Toh suno! Apne dakshini kheto ke theek baahar banjar zameen me ek gehra kua khodo. Lekin… Use paani se nahi bharna. Iski bajaaye, usme 60 mitti ke kalash rakho, jinhe ghee, gudd, sarso, haldi aur apni Parijaat ki har stree ke kuchh baalo se band kar do aur neem ke patto se dhak do. Yeh gyaarah dino ke bheetar poora ho jaana chahiye. Koi sawal nahi.”

Mahadevanand ji ne gambheerta se kaha. Aur, waha sannaata chha gaya.

Pehli baat toh yeh thi ki guru ji ko Parijaat ke baare me kaise bodh tha? Aur, dusri ye ki yeh kis tarah ka kaarya tha?

Pardo ke peechhe se tabhi ek dheemi si khilli udi, aur phir ek awaaz — jo itni tez thi ki use lagbhag har kisi ne sunn liya tha.

“Hmph! Dekho toh buddhe ko! Kya hum ye maan le ki iss pagalpann se hum angrezo se mukt ho jaayenge? Sookhe se bach jaayenge? Ye saadhu bas bhagwan banane ke liye kahaniya bana raha hai.”

Awaaz thi Padmini ki, jo Parijaat ki sabse sundar stree aur sabse prashansit mahilao me se ek thi. Buddhiman, chalaak, aur behad khubsurat. Samay ke saath use lagne laga tha ki woh apne padd se upar thi. Use sirf ‘ghar ki sevika’ kehlaane se chidh hoti thi. Halanki, kaam sammaan-janak tha aur woh araam se rehti thi. Lekin, apni sundarta aur buddhimatta par garv use na sirf gaanv waalo se, balki Baldev Singh se bhi shreshta mehsoos karaata tha.

Lekin, uss garv ke neeche ek gehri asuraksha chhipi thi. Haveli ki deewaro ke baahar uske paas koi virasat nahi thi. Koi swatantrata nahi. Koi taaqat nahi.

Toh, jab yeh saadhu aaya aur Parijaat ki mahilao se anushthan ke liye apne baalo ka ek katra daan karne ko kaha, toh Padmini ne ise vyaktigat roop se le liya.

‘Hum rajao ya inn aadmiyo ki daasi nahi hai. Kisi bhatakte baba ki bakwas ke liye hum apne reshmi baalo ka ek katra bhi kyu de?’

Woh iss anushthan ko aadhyatmik nahi, balki purush-pradhan andh-vishvas maanti thi, jiska uddeshya daiveeya kaarya ki aadh me mahilao ko niyantrit karna tha.

Toh, jab uske bol waha goonje-

Bechaini se ek badbadahat uthi. Lekin, Mahadevanand ji ne bas jharoke ki taraf dekha aur kuchh na kaha. Ve Baldev ki orr mude. Woh achraj me khada hua tha. Baldev ne sakhti se Parijaat ki aurton ko dekha aur uske dekhne par ve sab shaant ho gayi.

“Toh, bolo Rajan! Aap karoge?”

“Ji guru ji!” Baldev Singh ne jawab diya.

9 dino baad…

Kaarya samapti ke qareeb pahuch raha tha. Mazdoor aur naukar din-raat kaam kar rahe the. Kalasho ko taiyaar kiya gaya, zameen khodi gayi, anushthan samapt hua, lekin gyaarvhi raat ke pehle hi nauvi raat ko kuchh hua.

Kalasho ke saath chedh-chadh. 60 me se 4 kalash toote hue mile. Unki saamagri apavitra ho chuki thi.

Apradhi?

Padmini. Wahi mahila jisne iss kaarya ka mazak udaaya tha. Woh, 28 anya Parijaat mahilao ke saath, gupt roop se iska peechha kar rahi thi. Unhe yeh poora anushthan ek dikhawa lag raha tha. Kuchh ki dharnaaye toh ab ye bhi bann chuki thi ki Mahadevanand ji keval ek dhongi tha jo satta haasil karne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Kehte hai na ki ek gandi machhli poore talaab ko ganda kar deti hai. Padmini ke andar ka guroor bhi baaki mahilao ko prabhavit kar chuka tha.
Iss se bhi buri baat yeh thi ki Padmini ne Mahadevanand ji dwara uss sthal ke paas rakha gaya kaala rudraksh bhi chura liya tha, jiske baare me kaha jaata tha ki woh unki shakti ki muhar thi.

Agli hi subah, apavitrata ki khabar fel gayi. Gaanv waalo ki saansein atak gayi. Hawa bhaari ho gayi, maano kisi bhayankar toofan se pehle ki ho.

Poora gaanv haveli ke baahar ikhatta ho gaya. Mahadevanand ji beech me chup-chap khade the. Bheed me logo ke chehre sharm se lajjit the.

Baldev Singh jaan gaye the ki yeh galti Padmini ki thi. Kuchh wafadar Parijaat ki aurton ne ye raaz khol diya tha. Yeh jaante hue ki Parijaat unki zimmedari hai, ve aage badhe aur ghutno ke bal baith gaye.

“Hey gyaani, mujhe kshama kijiye! Paap mera hai. Jis par aapne bharosa kiya, usne iss bharose ko tod diya. Iska bhaagidaar mein hu, guru ji!”

Mahadevanand ji ne uski orr dekha — aankhein teekhi, phir bhi shaant.

“Ab samajh aaya ki maine aapko Rajan keh ke kyu pukaara tha?”

“Huh?”

“Aaj aapne ye siddh kar diya ki aap apne purvajo ki tarah hi zimmedari ka taaj pehente ho. Aaj aapne saabit kar diya ki aapke kul ka khoon samay ke saath patla nahi hua. Kisi aur ki galti ka dosh apne sarr lena asaan baat nahi, Rajan.”

Unhone Baldev ke kandho par haath rakha aur unhe dheere se uthaaya. Phir, veh bheed ki orr mude aur garajte hue bole.

“Lekin, jisne paap kiya hai, veh abhi bhi chhipa hai. Parijaat ki Padmini — Saamne aao!!!”

Parde ke peechhe se ek cheenkh sunayi di. Padmini kaanpte hue ghutno ke bal gir padi. Use nahi laga tha ki woh pakdi jaayegi.

“Ek kuleen vyakti ne tumhe aashray diya… Uske haatho ne tumhe bhojan diya… Uske ghar me tumhe suraksha di… Aur, phir bhi tumne uske saath-saath dharm se chori ki.”

Hawa tez ho gayi. Unhone gangajal se bhara ek peetal ka paatr khola aur use agnikund me chhidka. Unhone kaale kapde ki ek patti nikaali, pracheen atharva mantro ka jaap kiya aur pavitra agni ki teen baar parikrama ki.

Laptein aprakartik roop se uthne lagi.

“MEIN YEH SHRAAP DETA HU KI — PEEDHIYO TAK YEH GYAAT HO KI ABHIMAN KA PAAP DAND SE NAHI BAKSHA JAYEGA! AAJ SE, PARIJAAT KI STREEYAAN — JINKA SAUNDARYA UNKA AHANKAR THA, JINKA SATEETVA UNKA HATHIYAR THA — USI VANSH KI SEVA KARENGI JISE UNHONE APAVITRA KIYA!”

Ve aankhein band kar ke ruke aur phir garje.

“MAANSIK ROOP SE! BHAVNATMAK ROOP SE! AARTHIK ROOP SE! AUR… SHAREERIK ROOP SE! UNKA ABHIMAN TOOTEGA! UNKA AHANKAR BEDIYO ME BAANDH DIYA JAYEGA! AUR, SANSAR KE SAMAPT HONE TAK UNHE BALDEV SINGH KE PARIVAR AUR UNKE VANSHAJO SE BAANDH DIYA JAYEGA!”

“AUR, AGAR ISS SE BACH KAR BHAAGNE KI KOSHISH KI- YA PARIVAR AUR KUL KO KISI BHI TARAH SE HAANI PAHUCHANE KI KOSHISH KI, TOH UNKA AUR UNKE PARIVAR KE PATAN KA KAARAN BANEGA YAHI SHRAAP.”

Bheed avaak reh gayi. Padmini chakkar kha ke behosh ho gayi. Parijaat ki Parineeti daud kar aage badhi aur guru ji ke charno me gir padi, aur bekabu hokar rone lagi.

“Maharaj! Mahatma! Hum moorkh the. Aapko chahiye toh mujhe shraap de dijiye — lekin, baakiyo ko chhor dijiye. Hume humari sateetva ki haani se bacha lijiye.”

Baldev Singh bhi ghutno ke bal gir kar vinti karne lage.

“Mahaan! Ve sab meri dekh-rekh me hai. Jo bhi dand dena hi — mujhe dijiye. Lekin, unka saar kalankit mat kijiye. Kripya, guru ji-”

Mahadevanand ji chup ho gaye. Jwalaaye mand pad gayi. Hawa thandi ho gayi. Unhone dheere se apni aankhein upar uthayi.

“Ek baar diya gaya shraap wapas nahi liya jaa sakta, Rajan! Lekin, use… seemit zaroor kiya jaa sakta hai. Keval aur keval aapki wajah se-”

Unhone uss agni se raakh uthayi aur use apni hatheliyo me ragda.

“PARIJAAT KI AURTEIN SABHI WAARISO KI NAHI, BALKI KEVAL EK KI SEVA KARENGI! VEH JO BALDEV SINGH KE VANSH ME SARVASHRESHTA HOGA! JISKA DHARMA SABSE BADHKAR HOGA! JISKA MANN USKI TALVAR SE BHI TEZ HOGA! JISKI AATMA NISHKALANK HOGI! VE SAB USKI SEVA KARENGI — AUR KEVAL USKI! HAR TARAH SE SHRAAP YAHI MAANG KARTA HAI!”

Ek sannata chha gaya.

“Aur, ise ek sabak maan lo! Uss kripa ki bhi apni seemaaye hoti hai. Dharm unki raksha karta hai jo uski raksha karte hai. Aur, unka naash karta hai jo uska uphaas karte hai!”

Veh mude. Aur, jaane lage. Aur, yahi se shuruat hui — asli Parijaat ki.

Baad me wahi anushthan wapas se poori savdhani se kiya gaya aur safal bhi hua. Anushthan ka uddeshya tha-

Gaanv ke neeche ek adhyatmik garbh banaana. Angrezo dwara laayi gayi sookshm videshi urjao ko nishkreeya karne ke liye. Gaanv ke adhyatmik mool, sanskritik smriti aur paitrik urja ko nasht hone se bachaane ke liye.

Parijaat mahilao ki stree urja (shakti) ko dharti ke saath sanrekhit karne ke liye, unki jeevan shakti ko mitti se baandhne ke liye, taaki koi bhi baahri shakti gaanv ko ukhaad na sake. Ya adhyatmik roop se uska ullanghan na kar sake.

Aprakartik mauto aur akaalo ko rokne ke liye, aur bhoomi va parivaro me urvarta badhane ke liye. Gaanv ko dusht shaktiyo se chhipaane ke liye aur sukh, samridhhi felaane ke liye.

Inhi Parijaat ki aurton me shaamil thi — Suman ki purvaj, Sudha, Mukta, Varsha, Vandna, aadi… Inn sab ki purvaj jinhone aage chal ke baakiyo ko janm diya.

---

Jab Abhilasha ne ateet ki gaatha ko samapt kiya, toh Vandna ki aankhein sadme me phaili hui thi.

“Aur, isi tarah hum bhi unhi ke vanshaj hai bitiya. Sab ke sab. Tum bhi! Yahi kaaran hai ki tumhare parivar ka patan kyu hua!”

“Haah!!” Vandna ki saans zor se choothi. Use saans lene me taqleef ho rahi thi.

“Kyunki, tum… Ek Parijaat ki aurat hoke, tumhara parivar maalik ke parivar ke khilaaf gaya. Isliye, yeh toh hona hi tha.”

“N-Nahi!”

“Mayra ki haveli ka parivar aaye din Singh parivar ke liye mushqile paida karta rehta tha. Aur, isliye maine-”

Iss baar Abhilasha ki aankhon se aasu dhaar bann kar behne lage.

“Mujhe maaf kar dena bitiya! Kyunki, woh mein hi thi! Jisne tumhari shaadi uss ghar me karwayi!”

*Boom*

Ek aur visfot Vandna ke mann me hua. Kya matlab?

Matlab yeh ki aaye din Mayra ka parivar jo Singh parivar ke liye hanikarak saabit ho raha tha, uss se nipatne ke liye hi Abhilasha ne Vandna ki shadi uss ghar me karwayi thi. Taaki, agar bhavishya me ve sab parivar ke liye aanch bane toh unka khaatma shraap ke zariye ek na ek din ho hi jaaye.

Yahi tha Parijaat ki aurat hone ka astitva. Uski zimmedari.

“A-Aap-!!”

Vandna avaak reh gayi. Woh aadhe ghante tak bas apne aasu bahaati rahi. Aur, Abhilash uske paas aa kar neeche baith uske galey se lag gayi.

“Maaf kar dena! Mujhe maaf kar dena bitiya! *sniff* Mein tumhari doshi hu!”

“M-Mera beta! Maasi mera beta! *sniff* Mera beta!”

Vandna ne phir sab kuchh sweekar kar liya. Usne apni vyatha batayi ki kaise woh yaha par bhaag kar aayi thi.

“Maalik bitiya! Veer maalik! Wahi tumhe bacha sakte hai! Yaad rakhna-! Yaad rakhna humesha ki tum Parijaat ki aurat ho! Aur, tumhara sabse pehla maqsad hai Veer maalik ki seva. Unhe kisi bhi prakar ki haani mat pahuchana. Tumhare pati aur sasur ne yahi galti kari thi.”

“V-Veer maalik-!?”

“H-Haan! Jao bitiya! Jao maalik ki sharan me jao. Mujhe poora vishvas hai ki ve hi tumhare bete ko dhundh sakte hai.”

Vandna waha se nikli, lekin Ranjeet ke aadmi akhirkar use pakad hi liye.

Vandna ne wahi chaal chali jo Abhilasha ne use samjhayi thi. Bhola banana aur Ranjeet ke jhaanse me rehne ka use vishvas dilaana. Yahi kaaran hai ki kyu uss raat slaughter house me jab Ranjeet ne use call kiya tha toh Vandna ne ye kyu kaha tha-

“Hahaha! Aai ja maayi Aai ja! Tohre liye badhiya tohfa taiyaar kar ke rakhunga. Tu aa!”

“Y-Ye sab! Ye sab jokhim bhara hai!”

“Iski behan ki choot! Muh band rakh! Bahut baat sunn leni tohre se. Ab aur naa! Jitna bola gaya hai utna karne ka! Samjhi na?”

Vandna ne jaan-boojh ke Ranjeet ko 'jokhim' keh kar uksaaya tha. Shraap ki lapat me Ranjeet laalach ki wajah se aa phasa aur khud apni jaan bhi gawa baitha. Itna taqatvar tha yeh shraap.

***

Vandna Veer ke saamne baith ke ro rahi thi. Kaanp rahi thi. Ghadi me subah ke 5 baj rahe the. Mukta, Varsha, aur Sudha bhi wahi baithi hui thi.

Veer (sighs) : Toh, ye thi sacchayi.

Vandna : H-Haan! *sniff* M-Mein Parijaat ki aurat hu! *sniff* T-Toh, kya tum... Kya tum...

Mukta (frowns) : Tum nahi! Aap! Aap bolo! Parijaat ki aurat ho toh!

Veer : Bolne do use, Mukta. Mujhe 'aap' 'tum' se farq nahi padta.

Vandna : T-Toh, kya tum mere bete ko ab dhundh sakte ho? U-Use bacha sakte ho?

Veer (nods) : Choonki, ab jab tum meri zimmedari ho. Dhananjay ko dhundhna bhi meri zimmedari hai.

Zaahir hai ki Vandna apne bete ki maut ke baare me abhi kuchh bhi nahi jaanti thi. Use jitna pata tha utna usne Veer ko bata diya tha.

Veer ka mann bhi ashaant tha. Woh waha Dhananjay ka khaatma karne gaya tha par kisne socha tha ki aenn waqt par waha police aa jaayegi? Aur, upar se uska saamna uss Trisha se ho jaayega? Aur, toh aur woh Dhananjay nahi, Ranjeet niklega!?

Ek baar woh Trisha ki nazron me aa chuka tha, ab dobaara nahi aana chaahta tha. Aur, isliye-

Usne iss qadar Ranjeet ko maut ke muh me utaara ki woh kisi ki nazar me aaya hi nahi. Poore samay Trisha aur uski team, Ranjeet aur uske log yahi sochte reh gaye ki kis anjaan ne inn sab ko anjaam diya.

Upar se woh aisi maut mara ki use pata tak nahi chala ki use kisne maara. Na sirf Veer ne andhere me reh ke saari musibato ki jado ko ek-ek karke saaf kiya, balki Ranjeet jaise gang leader ko maar ke uska dosh ulta inspector Trisha par thop diya.

Yahi thi uski master strategy. Magar, agar jaha iss strategy ka fayda tha toh wahi iska ek nuksan bhi tha. Aur, woh yeh tha ki — usne Ranjeet ko unn hooks par uske muh se latkaya toh tha, magar maara nahi tha.

Ranjeet uss waqt zinda tha. Dard se tadap raha tha. Chhatpata raha tha. Beshaq, woh kuchh der me hi mar jaata lekin, killing blow Trisha ne deliver kiya tha. Na ki Veer ne. Ranjeet ki saansein Trisha ki goli seene me lagne ke baad thami thi.

Dusre, shabdo me… Ranjeet ko Trisha ne maara tha.

Aur, agar Ranjeet ko Trisha ne maara tha. Toh, system ne Veer ko Ranjeet ka Past Illustration diya hi nahi. Kyunki, system ke hisaab se Ranjeet ki dhadkane thaamne waala Veer nahi tha. Trisha thi.

Aur, isi wajah se-

Veer Ranjeet ka kisi bhi prakar ka ateet nahi jaan saka. Usne uske ek-do pantaro ka past dekha, magar use kuchh bhi haath nahi laga.

Veer : Sudha! Mukta! Varsha! Vandna ko yahi rakho. Sheher ke taur tareeko se use rubaru karwao! Iss beech mein... Dhananjay ko dhundhne ke baare me kuchh sochta hu.

Sudha : J-Ji maalik!

Aur, itna bol woh waha se nikal gaya.

***

[Master…]

‘Pari! Show me my full status.’

[Sure!]

Aur, tabhi uske mann me ek window khuli.

*Ding*









Usne dekha ki sabhi ki favorabilities tab me badlaav aa chuka tha. Par, uska main focus tha apne stats ki orr. Kaafi samay se usne inn par rok laga ke rakhi hui thi. Ab samay aa chuka tha ki woh waapas se unn par dhyaan de. Disembowler se bhidne ke baad use samajh aa chuka tha ki woh abhi kitna peechhe tha.

Usne dekha ki uske paas 40,000 points jama rakhe the. Jisme se 20,000 use haal hi me Disembowler ki ladaayi se praapt hue the. Aur, 10,000 Ranjeet ko maarne par.

'Pari! 30 points strength aur intelligence me add kar do. Agility me 20 add kar do. Aur, endurance me bhi 30 points add kar do.'

[Yes, Master.]

*Ding*

Uske saamne stats ki screen khuli.




'Hmm!'

*Ding*

[11,000 points have been used. You are now left with 29,000 points.]

'Good! Abhi ke liye ye change kaafi hai.'

[Aapko ek nap lena hoga changes ke liye, Master.]

'Jaanta hu!'

Usne mann hi mann ek haami bhari. Ek santushti bhari haami.

‘Pari! Skill shop kholna.’

[Ah!!]

‘Kya hua?’

[Aap kabhi skill shop itna explore nahi karte the. Aur, achanak se aaj aapne shop explore karne ko kaha isliye-]

‘Yeah! Please, open karo.’

[Yes, master.]

Shop open hote hi ab use ek naya interface dekhne ko mila. Pehle jaha shop me skills aise hi line se lagi rehti thi. Ab wo alag-alag sections me vibhajit thi. Usne unn sections par nazar maari toh uski aankhein aashcharya me chaudi ho gayi.

‘Interesting…! Ye pehle se kaafi better hai.’

Uske mann me skill shop ka interface khula hua tha.

[Skill Shop :

1) Combat Skills : Offensive and close range engagement skills.
2) Defensive & Evasion Skills : Protective skills that require dodging, shielding, or enduring attacks.
3) Stealth & Infiltration Skills : Skills for espionage, escape, and unnoticed operation.
4) Perception & Awareness Skills : Enhances senses, intuition, pattern recognition & spatial intelligence.
5) Physical Mastery Skills : Boost body coordination, agility, and performance.
6) Social & Manipulation Skills : Verbal, psychological & charisma-based control skills.
7) Leadership & Strategy Skills : Helps in planning, commanding, and managing groups in pressure.
8) Technical & Analytical Skills : Boosts logic, pattern recognition, and device interaction.
9) Survival & Environment Skills : Survival instincts, adaptation to hostile environments.
10) Medical & Rescue Skills : Healing, diagnostics, and life-saving techniques.
11) Legendary Skills (Cross-Category) : Very rare, mission-bound, extremely powerful skills. Can fall under any above category.]

Veer ne jab itni saari categories dekhi toh uska dimag chakra gaya. Magar, uski nazar sabse pehle 11th category par padi. Uski aankhon me ek chamak thi.

Legendary skills? Shop me? Aisa pehle kabhi nahi hua tha. Yeh sab kya tha? Kya woh legendary skills ko khareed sakta tha? Usne bina samay gavaaye ‘Legendary Skills’ ko select kiya aur-

*Ding*

[The host cannot access the ‘Legendary Skills’ section if the missions are due.]

[Complete the due missions if the host wants to access the ‘Legendary Skills’ section.]

‘I see…!’

Veer ki bauhe upar uthi. Uske missions pending me the. Do naye missions use mile the aur unhe complete kiye bagerr woh iss section ko nahi dekh sakta tha.

‘Pari? Kya mujhe Legendary skills iss section se mil sakti hai?’

[Mein sure nahi hu, master. Kyunki, aapki hi tarah mein bhi ise access nahi kar sakti. I’m- I’m sorry Master.]

‘Huh?’

[M-Mujhe ye pehle hi kar lena chahiye tha. Jab aapko mission nahi mila tha.]

Veer ki bauhe sikudi. Pari itni dheeli-dhaali kab se ho gayi bhala? Woh agar baahri duniya me itna vyast tha toh kya Pari samay rehte itna sa kaam nahi kar sakti thi?

‘Tum kabse itni careless hone lagi, Pari? Maine tumse ye bilkul expect nahi kiya tha. Aur, tum ye bata rahi thi ki tumhari special skill tumhara intelligence hai? Kaha gaya woh intelligence?’

Veer ke shabd teekhe the. Uska ravaiyya bhi alag tha. Pari maun reh gayi. Woh sehmi hui thi. Iske pehle kabhi uske master uss se iss tarah se pesh nahi aaye the.

‘Ava ke system Lily ki special ability uska luck factor hai. Kam se kam woh sahi se uska istemal toh karti hai. Tum kya kar rahi thi? Agar, mein itne disturbance me bhi itna active reh sakta hu, raato ki neend sacrifice kar ke itne matters se deal kar sakta hu, toh tumhe toh mere andar maujood hoke aur bhi active rehna chahiye. Par, fir bhi tum-’

Woh use suna hi raha tha jab achanak Pari ki awaaz zorr se uske andar goonj gayi.

[KYUNKI, MUJHE AAPKI FIQR THI, YOU STUPID MASTER!!!]

Uski awaaz ruwasi thi. Lag raha tha jaise woh abhi ro degi.

‘Huh!?’

Veer thoda chaunk gaya.

[M-Mujhe aapki fiqr ho rahi thi. M-Mein… A-Aap pareshan the. Disembowler, prestige attack, aur na jaane kya-kya. M-Mein har samay aapke baare me soch rahi thi. Aapki nerves ko calm karne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Soch rahi thi ki iss sab ke peechhe kaun ho sakta hai aur uska kya aim ho sakta hai.]

‘!??’

[Aapke behaviour me change aa raha hai… Mein ghabra rahi thi. This isn’t how you used to do things, master.*sniff* Mein aapse baat karna chaah rahi thi. Y-You are getting changed. M-Mein jaanti hu aapke dada ji ki death ka impact aap par pada hai. B-But- this… this isn’t the right way.]

‘...’

[Aapne mission ke pehle hi Ranjeet ko maar diya. System ne use abhi complete threat ghoshit bhi nahi kiya tha par aapne- *sniff* Y-You killed him brutally.]

System ne Ranjeet ko abhi complete threat nahi maana tha. Yaani ki agar, Veer slaughterhouse nahi bhi jaata toh koi farq nahi padta kyunki, Trisha already waha pahuch hi jaati aur fir Ranjeet ko woh pakad leti. Jis se Ranjeet Veer ke liye kisi bhi prakar ki pareshani bann kar saamne nahi aata. Kam se kam tab tak jab tak woh Police ki giraft me rehta.

Parantu, Veer ne uske pehle hi Ranjeet naam ki iss samasya ko jad se mita diya tha. Aur, Pari ki nazro me ye galat tha. Yeh aisa tha jaise koi jaan-boojh ke kisi ki jaan le raha ho. Ranjeet ko bandhi bhi banaya jaa sakta tha. Lekin, iss qadar use hook par latka ke tadpa kar maarna? Uske master ye sab kab se karne lage bhala?

Isliye, inn beetein dino se Pari pareshan thi. Apne liye nahi, apne Master ke liye. Woh sabhi pariyon me se sabse sanvedansheel thi. Yahi kaaran tha ki kyu woh system par focus na kar ke apne master pas zyada focused thi.

Pari ke bol sunn Veer ki nazrein neeche jhuk gayi. Lekin, usne Pari ki baat ka samarthan nahi kiya.

‘Maine use nahi maara!’

[YOU KILLED HIM!]

‘Agar, maine use maara hota… Toh, Past illustration aata. But-’

[Woh already marr jaata agar waha woh Trisha nahi pahuchti toh-! M-Master! *sniff* Don’t get impulsive please. I… I like the way you were before. P-Please, don’t change. I-I beg you *sniff* Don’t be like this.]

Uski guhaar bhari awaaz Veer ko sunaayi di. Veer ne ek gehri saans li aur uske mann me bas itna hi nikla-

‘This is the right way, Pari.’

[Y-YOU-!!! HOW CAN YOU??? *sniff*]

‘Ranjeet ko raaste se hataate hi cheezein kitni asaan ho gayi hai ab. Dekho tum! Ek na ek din use marrna hi tha. Also, maine nahi maara use. The hook killed him. Trisha killed him. Not me!’

[I HATE THIS… *sniff*]

‘Melodrama ki zaroorat nahi hai. Yahi efficient aur sabse sahi tareeka hai. And, this is how I’ll proceed. Mujhe calculated plans ko execute karna hoga. That’s it! Aur, tabhi-’

Par, iske pehle ki woh apni baat poori rakhta-

*Ding*

[The active system has gone into sleep mode.]

[The host won’t be able to interact with the active system for 6 hours. The host can still access the passive system on his own.]

‘Pari, tum-!’

Veer ne apne daant meese. Woh uski baat bina sune hi 6 ghante ke liye sleep mode me jaa chuki thi. Uski awaaz me kampan tha. Shayad ro rahi thi. Magar, Veer ne apne aap ko inn emotions ke chalte apne resolve ko badalne nahi diya. Usne mann me apni wahi baat dohraayi.

‘This is the right way, Pari!’
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Aaj ke liye itna hi guys.
The Update consists of 12k words.
Dhanyavad.

Nice update.
Now would like what these changes in behaviours bring new turns in the story line