" anshika envelope par laga stamp uspar jo code hai vo varansi ka hai "
" varnasi? koi tum logon ko wahan se koi khat kyun bhejega " nidhi turant boli. Ek pal shreyas khamosh khada raha.
" bhai ko shilpi maa wahin se layi thi "
" kya ? " vo chaunkte hue boli " Harsh ko varanasi se laya gaya tha ?" nidhi ki bata sun shreyas palang par baith gaya.
" mujhe dhruv papa ne bas itna hi bataya tha ki shilpi maa varanasi ke ghat gayi thi pooja ke liye aur jab sath ayi thi to bhai unke sath tha aur ab itne salon baad wahan se khat ana kuch samajh nahi aa raha "
" sawal ye nahi hai shreyas ki khat kyun aya, sawal ye hai ki khat kisne bheja hai ? " anshika jo chup thi, shreyas ki baat sunte hi bol padhi.
" anshika sahi keh rahi hai itne salon baad kisne bheja hoga " nidhi boli par shreyas kuch aur soch raha tha.
" khat itna hi jaruri tha to dubara kyun nahi bheja gaya " ek pal usne dono ki taraf dekha " aur agar jaruri nahi tha to itne saalon baad bheja kyun ? ho na ho kuch to jarur hai "
" to phir? " anshika ne kaha.
" hume varanasi jana hoga " shreyas faisla le chuka tha " bhale hi kuch na ho lekin mei har chiz ki tassali chahta hun vaise bhi iske alawa hamare pas kuch hai bhi nahi. Akhir ye janna bhi jaruri hai ki kaun hai vo shaks jo shilpi maa ko janta tha aur usne itne salon baad khat bheja aur sabse jaruri baat us khat mei aisa kya tha jo vo shaitan nahi chahta tha hum pade, kuch to hai anshika jo hume wahan jakar hi pata chalega " shreyas ki baat sahi thi bhale hi andhere mein chalne jasa tha lekin vo ye baat janta tha ki khud shaitan ne use rasta diya hai is andhere mein chalne ka.
" par khojenge kaise ? "
" isi envelope ki madad se anshika "
Der raat, shreyas ki ankhon se nind koson dur thi, vo anshika ko apni bahon mein liye soch raha tha fir ek dafa usne anshika ki taraf dekha aur bina uski nind kharab kiye khada hokar dusre kamre mein chala gaya. Kamre mein pahunch kar usne almira kholi aur drawer khol kar usme rakhi diary nikal kar bistar par baith gaya. Diary par itni dhul thi ki use saaf karte hue uske hath maile ho gaye. Ye diary shilpi ki likhi hui thi, shreyas ko laga jaise koi baat ho jo maa ne kahi ho lekin dhayan nahi gaya ho kyun ki pichli baar bhi unhone neha wali baat chupai thi. Usne diary kholi aur use padna shuru kiya
' Insan ka janam aur uski mrityu bhale hi uske hath mein nahi hoti lekin use khone ka dard humesha hum insano ko hi sehna padta hai ' pehli line padh kar vo ruka aur usne diary band kar di. Man badalte hue usne sonia wali diary kholi aur use padne laga.
' 15th August, aaj hamara desh ' aur vo padhta gaya. Ant padh kar uska dil fir se kheez utha aur bas ek hi sawal man mei ata ki kash us din aisa na hua hota, kash us din vo pyar mil gaya hota. Diary padhne ke baad ek baar usne apni ankhein saaf ki aur ek baar phir shilpi ki likhi diary uthai aur use padna shuru kiya. Diary mein likhi kahani ki shuruwat pehle sawalon se shuru hui uske baad dhire-dhire unke aur harshit papa ke sath jo hua usme likha hua tha. Shreyas abhi us pal mein tha jab harshit sonia ki diary ke bare mein jaan kar vapis bangle mein aya tha aur sabko wo kahani batana chahta tha.
" shreyas " anshika ki awaz sunte hi usne diary padna band kiya aur uski taraf dekhne laga.
" tum uth kyun gayi ? " shreyas ka sawal sun anshika uske sath aa baithi, usne shreyas ki hath mein shilpi ki likhi kitab ko dekha.
" itni der raat ko tum shilpi maa ki diary kyun padh rahe ho "
" pata nahi anshika, shayad isliye kyun ki vo apne shabdon mein bahut si batein chupa gayi ya phir bahut si batein bina samjhaye chali gayi " shreyas ki ankhein na jane kya khoj rahi thi jo bar-bar idhar udhar ghum rahi thi.
" shreyas ? " anshika ne usko pareshan dekh uske hath par apna hath rakha.
" kyun anshika kyun ? " usne apni nazar uski taraf modi vo kuch kehna chahta tha lekin jazbaton mein uske muh se nikal nahi paa rahe the " aaj tak mei ye sawal karta raha ki kyun unhone mujhe anath kiya, kya mei itna bura tha ya phir bhoj ban gaya tha ya is kahani ke jaise vo mujhe bhi daba dena chahti thi " anshika ko laga jaise shreyas ke man mein shilpi maa ke liye gussa hai.
" tum gussa ho unse? " usne apne man ka sawal puch liya.
" gussa hokar bhi jawab nahi milenge mujhe, bas itna samajha hun ki bhale hi unhone pyar behad shidat se kiya lekin mera pura bachpan ek anath bana diya "
" maa ne tumhe kabhi vo mehsus nahi hone diya shreyas " usne uska chehra pakda " aaj vo hoti to tumhare muh se ye baat sun kar unhe behad dukh hota. Shilpi maa ne jo kiya uske piche unki mansha galat nahi thi vo to tumhara bhala hi chahti thi tumhe us kahani se dur rakhna chahti thi "
" lekin phir bhi mei us kahani se jud hi gaya na aur meri wajah se tum bhi " anshika samajh gayi ki uska ye dukh khud ke liye nahi balki uske liye hai " agar vo maa se vada na leti to hume us jagah ke barre mein pehle se pata hota " vo janta tha ki muh se jo nikal raha hai vo sahi nahi hai lekin dil ka dard havi ho chuka tha.
" nahi shreyas, tum hi kehte ho ki ladai jiski bhi ho hamesha wo karna chahie jisme khud ko takleef ho par pyar ko nahi, vo bhi tumse pyar karti thi isliye tumhe vo takleef nahi dena chahti thi jo unhone khud mehsus ki "
" meri takleef us din badh jayegi anshika jis din meri kahani tumhe mujhse dur kar degi "
" tumhe dar hai is baat ka " shreyas ne kuch nahi kaha aur han mein sar hila diya. Anshika uske ansu girne se pehle use apne sine se jod lena chahti thi taki uski takleef kam kr sake, usne wahi kiya par boli kuch nahi balki us raat phir iske baad koi baat nahi hui.
Subah ki ticket se vo teeno train se varanasi ki aaur chal diye, safar lamba tha lekin is halat mein vo kuch jada hi lamba lag raha tha. Anshika ne nidhi ko mana kiya lekin dosti ke is safar mein shayad vahi ek dost thi jo is kahani ko janti thi isliye usne piche hatna sahi nahi samjha. Vo chahti thi ki jo kuch bhi ho raha hai jald se jald khatam ho jaye, apne bhai Avinash ko khone ke baad itne salon baad mile pariwar ko khona nahi chahti thi.
Raat ka samay tha, train junglon ke bich se shor karti hui guzar rahi thi, coach mein adhe se jada light band ho chuki thi aur jadatar log so chuke the. Shreyas ne nazare tirchi ki to anshika so rahi thi aur uski pith uski taraf thi. Shreyas ko aaj bhi nind nahi aa rahi thi ati bhi kaise sawalon mein fansa insan aksar ankhon se nind kho baithta hai. Tez raftar se chalti hui train dhire-dhire gatti dhimi karne lagi aur phir dhire-dhire junglon ke bich ruk gayi. Break lagne ki awaz sanate mein kuch pal tak gunji aur phir shant ho gayi.
Shreyas ko bhi ghutan mehsus hone lagi, vo khada hua aur usne AC check kiya par vo band pada tha. Usne ek baar anshika ko uthana cha par vo use bina bataye hi bahar ki taraf nikla. Usne darwaja khola aur bahar aya. Bahar ke dono gate band the, shreyas ne use khola aur phir khada ho gaya. Bahar 'sayen sayen ' chalti hawa ko mehsus kar use kuch acha laga. Usne handle ko hathon ki majbuti se pakda aur phir bahar ki taraf jhuka, dur-dur tak andhera aur sirf jungle hi dikha.
" kya kar rahe ho " achanak se ati awaz sun shreyas piche ghuma, TT khada tha " raat mein gate kholna mana hai piche hato " usne shreyas ko piche khincha aur gate band kar diya. " aap to pade likhe lagte ho sir, aise ilake mein raat ko darwaja kholna sahi baat nahi hai jungli janwar ya chor lutere ghus jate hai aur vaise bhi ye jungle sahi nahi hai "
" sorry lekin andar AC nahi chal raha tha ghabarahat ke karran bahar ana pada "
" AC nahi chal raha ? " vo sochne laga par agle hi pal shreyas ne apni baat kahi.
" apne kaha ki jungle sahi nahi uska matlab kya tha? "
" jane dijeye sir, mei AC dikhwata hun vaise bhi aap log nahi mante "
" rukiye " usne jatte hue TT ka hath pakda, " matlab aisa kya hai " TT ne uski ankhon mein utsah dekh batana shuru kiya.
" bahut se log train ke niche aa jate hain sir jungle paar karte waqt isliye kehte hain ki jungle aaj bhi unki cheekhein roke baitha hai " shreyas use hairani bhari nazron se dekhne laga " kaha tha na aap log nahi manoge mei dekhta hun track khali hua ya nahi " bol kar TT chala gaya. Ek pal shreyas wahin khada raha aur fir vo bhi andar jane laga par uske kano mein ek awaz padi aur uske kadam ruk gaye. Awaz uske piche se hi ayi thi, usne apni nazar piche ghumai to paya ki jo gate abhi TT band karke gaya tha vo khula pada tha.
Use samajh nahi aya ki ye apne aap kaise khul gaya, vo aage badh kar dekhna nahi chahta tha aur TT ki batai kahani ke baad to bilkul nahi lekin jigasya uske dimag mein itna badh chuka tha ki uske kadam khud ba khud aage badh gaye. Usne bahar dekhne se pehle handle pakda jise pakadte hi usne chhod diya kyun ki vo behad thanda tha mano abhi abhi baraf ke andar rakha gaya ho. Uska dil zoron se dhadakne laga, chehre par tanav ane laga, is baar vo bina hi handle pakde bahar ki taraf aya aur sirf darwaje par hath rakh kar bahar ki taraf jhuka. Par bahar koi nahi tha sirf wahi andhera tha jo use pehle mehsus hua tha. Kuch na dekh pakar usne sans chhodi par agle hi pal use apni gardan par ek thandi chiz mehsus hui, vo turant ghuma aur " dhaapappaaaaaaaaaa " anshika samne behad darawana chehra liye chillai. Uske chehre par kali nasein dikh rahi thi, vo awaz anshika ki thi par itni bhari mano andar kai awazein ek sath bol rahi hun. Achanak se hue hamle ne shreyas ka balance bigad diya aur shreyas train se bahar niche zameen par jaa gira.
" aahhh-hhhhhh " achanak se ankh khuli to suraj ki roshni khidki se ati hui uski ankhon par padh rahi thi. Use jaise raat yaad ayi to usne apni nazar anshika par dali, anshika vahan nahi thi. " anshika " vo khada hota use pehle anshika samne se ati nazar ayi.
" uth gaye " vo vahan akar baith gayi. " kya time hua hai ? " shreyas ne pucha.
" 11 bajne wale hain "
" 11? mujhe uthaya kyun nahi "
" tum bahut gehri nind mein the, man nahi kiya, vaise bhi itne time se theek se soye nahi isliye " anshika ne uske balon mein hath ferte hue kaha. Anshika ka itna pyara chehra dekh use kal raat dekha gaya uska chehra samne aa gaya. " shreyas ? " usne awaz lagai to vo apni soch se bahar aya.
" han.. "
" hum pahunchne wale hai, uth kar thoda fresh ho jao " anshika ki baat sun shreyas ne han mein sar hilaya aur vo uth kar nidhi se baat karne lagi. Shreyas ne ankhein band ki aur kal raat ke bare mein sochne laga, jo hua vo sirf ek sapna tha is baat ko mehsus karke usne rahat bhari sans li. Vo apni jagah se khada hua to uski pith mein bada dard hua par dhayan hata kar vo muh hath dhone bahar chala gaya. Ek ghante mein train varanasi station par aa khadi hui thi.
Ye uska pehla vakya tha jab usne apne kadam bhole nath ki mani jane wali nagri varanasi mein rakha tha jise ek zamane mein banaras kaha jata tha. Bahar akar teeno ne taxi li aur banaras ki galiyun mein vo bhagti hui unke hotel tak jaa pahunchi. Check in karke shreyas anshika ek room mein aur nidhi dusre room mein ja pahunche.
" anshika mei fresh hokar nikalta hu tum mujhe sidhe ghat par milna "
" theek hai par ghatt hi kyun "
" vo mei tumhe wahin bataunga "
" hmm " anshika bas itna hi bol payi aur shreyas bathroom mein ghus gaya. Uski pith mein abhi bhi dard tha, pichle dino se uspar bar-bar hamle ho rahe the aur uske sharir par choton ke nishan badh gaye the lekin abhi jab vo shirt utar kar khada hua to sishe mein khud ko dekh vo thoda chauk gaya. Shoulder kafi jada suj raha tha, usne hath lagaya to vo dard mein sisak utha " ye to taza chot lag rahi hai, par " vo chot ko dekh sochne laga aur use kuch yaad aya, kal raat jab vo sapne mein gira tha to kandhe ke bal hi gira tha. Ye sochte hi hairani mein ek pal vo sochta raha, kal raat jo hua vo sapna tha ya hakikat? ye tay karna uske liye mushkil ho gaya. Usne anshika ko na batane ka faisla kiya aur fresh hokar ek baar phir anshika ko ghat ka bol kar hotel se nikal gaya.
Bahar akar usne auto pakda " bhaiya yahan par aas pass mein post office kahan par hai ? " auto wala sochne laga.
" ratyatra chauk par pata kar lijeye sahab "
" theek hai vahan le chalo " vo auto mein baitha aur auto chal pada. Raste bhar vo envelope ki taraf dekhta raha aur phir kuch hi der mein vo vahan pahunch gaya. Shreyas ne use paise diye aur ek dukan ke pas ja pahuncha, vahan par usne post office ke bare mein pucha to dukan vale ne agli do gali chhod use agli mein dayen aur mudne ko kaha. Shreyas tezz kadmo se bada, patli si sadak par chalta traffic aur dono taraf dukane, vo bach bach kar chal raha tha. Das minute ki walking ke baad vo post office jaa pahuncha jahan ek adedh umar ka admi baitha hua tha.
" sir "
" ji boliye "
" kya aap bata sakte hain ki ye envelope par laga stamp, isko kis post office se bheja gaya hai ? " shreyas ki baat sun vo use dekhta raha
" hai to banaras ka hi "
" to kya yahan se bheja gaya hai "
" tehraiye " vo apne register mein kafi der tak dekhta raha. Shreyas ki bechain nazar usi par thi, usne register band kiya " nahi hamare yahan to nahi aya tha ye "
" to phir ? "
" shayad badi building se gaya hoga vahan pata kar lijeye "
" vo kahan hai ? "
" vo apna yahin pass mein BHU wahin "
" BHU ? "
" han ? lagta hai aap pehli baar aye hain, pass hi hai, auto pakdiye 40 rs mein vo pahuncha dega "
" ji shukriya " shreyas bahar aya aur usne BHU ke liye auto liya.
" kahan jana hai bhaiya ji ? "
" BHU "
" han vo to hume bhi pata hai par BHU mein kya kaam se " paan khate hue vo sishe se shreyas ki taraf dekhte hue bola.
" post office ki badi building hai udhar hi "
" acha acha.. abhi chhod dete hain isme kya hai " aur kareeb 20 minute mein auto walle ne shreyas ko vahan utar diya. Shreyas ne use paise diye aur vo andar ghus gaya. Jagah kafi badi thi vo ek counter par gaya, ek budha admi table ke piche baitha tha.
" uncleji " shreyas ke bolte hi uski ankhein khul gayi aur vo uth baitha.
" ji kahiye "
" ji vo mei ye janne aya tha ki kya ye envelope yahan se post hua hai aur agar hua hai to kisne kiya hai " usne shreyas se vo envelope le liya aur use dekhne laga " shreyas se ab intezar nahi ho raha tha " uncle thoda jaldi kar sakte hain aap "
" ji.. ek minute dekhna padega " vo vahan se uthe aur piche rakhi almari khol usme se file nikalne lage. File par funk maar kar unhone dhul hatai aur check karne lage.
" ye to bahut purana hai "
" kitna ? "
" takreeban saal bhar purana " vo abhi bhi khojne mein lage hue the. Ek saal purana, shreyas bad-badaya aur age hi pal vo budha admi bol pada.
" han ye yahin aya tha post ke liye "
" kaun laya tha ? " shreyas ne itna pucha ki ek admi aya aur wahan chai ka cup rakh kar jane laga. Vo budha phir register mein dekhne laga.
" amba mata likha hai yahan to "
" amba mata ? " shreyas ne unse register liya to wakai wahi naam likha hua tha aur address bhi usi ke ghar ka tha jahan post karna tha. " kya aap inhe jante hain ? "
" ji nahi hum to inhe nahi jante "
" ok shukriya " usne register rakha aur sochta hua bahar jane laga. Tabhi piche se ati awaz ne uske kadam ruke.
" sahab " shreyas awaz sun kar muda aur samne se ate hue admi ko dekhne laga, vo ek hi pal mein uske pass aa khada hua " sahab aap amba mata ko khoj rahe hain ? " ye wahi admi tha jo abhi abhi wahan chai ka cup rakh kar gaya tha.
" ji han kya aap unhe jante hain "
" unse to kabhi mulakat nahi hui lekin bade pujariji ke bhawan mein pata kar lijeye wahan se apko unke bare mein koi na koi suchna mil jayegi "
" apko kaise pata ? "
" mata likha hai unke naam par aur bhagwan ki nagri mein apko aise sant-sadhu wahin milenge " shreyas ko uski baat ajeeb lagi lekin register mein naam wahi likha tha to ho sakta tha ki shayad wahan kuch mil hi jaye.
" bhawan kidhar hai ? "
" vo yahin pass mein BHU ke piche ghat par hi hai "
" ji bahut-bahut shukriya " shreyas ne kuch paise nikal kar use de diye to vo muskurata hua vahan se chala gaya. Shreyas bahar aya, uske dimag mein bahut sarre sawal chal rahe the lekin phir agle hi pal use auto dikha jise lekar vo ghat ki aaur chal pada. Vo ye nahi janta tha ki jahan usne anshika ko milne ke liye kaha tha kismat use wahin le jayegi aur shayad vo ek aise adhrishye sach ke kareeb jaa raha tha jo uski zindagi ka sabse bada aur bhayanak sach hone wala tha.