Zindagi mein ye pehli baar nahi tha ke meri taraf kisi ne gun point ki thi. Main jis tarah ka kaam kiya karta tha usmein pehli bhi kayi baar meri taraf gun uth chuki thi, pehli bhi kayi baar mujhe nishana karke goliyan chalai ja chuki thi islie yun achanak apne saamne ek insaan ko apni taraf bandook kiye dekhne par bhi main fauran ghabraya nahi. Acahank kamre mein roshni ho jaane ke karan aur yun sannate mein achanak aayi Pratap ki aawaz sunkar main ek pal ke liye hadbadaya zaroor par jab main aur Pratap ki taraf palta toh kuchh seconds mein hi apne aapko sambhal chuka tha.
"You are smarter than I thought" Vo muskurata hua bola, "Mujhe toh laga tha ke auron ki taraf tum bhi kuchh din jhak maarkar chale jaoge par maan gaye ustad tumhein. Sidha sher ki maand mein ghuskar uski gardan dabochne ki koshish ki hai tumne"
"Kyun?" Maine sirf itna hi sawal kiya.
"Kyun?" Vo samajh gaya ke mera sawal uske poore kiye karaye ko lekar tha, "You havent figured that out yet? Andhere mein hi teer chala rahe the?"
Aur tab pehli baar mujhe kahin apne dil mein halki si ghabrahat mehsoos hui.
Kisi insaan ki jaan lena aasan kaam nahi hai. Kisi ki aankhon mein aankhen daalkar bandook ka trigger khinchna, ye jaante hue ke agle hi pal tumhare aage tadapta hua jism ya ek bejaan laash hogi, ke chaaron hi chaaron taraf khoon phaila hoga, bahut mushkil kaam hota hai. Aur usse kahin badi ghabrahat hoti hai ke jaan lene ke baad kya hoga. Har taraf se uthte sawal, police ki puchh-taachh bade se bade badon ke irade hila dete hain. Agar halat aise bhi hon ke baad ki fikar na ho tab bhi kisi ko koi yun hi aasani se maar nahi sakta hatta-ke koi aisa ho jisne pehle jaane kitne logon ki jaan le rakhi ho ya koi aisa jise jaan lene mein maza aata ho.
Aaj se pehle mujh par jitni baar bhi jaan lene ki koshish ki gayi thi, har situation mein koshish karne wala mujhse zyada ghabraya hota tha. Mujhse zyada haath bandook pakadne wale ke kaanp rahe hote the aur mujhe pata hota tha ke main situation aaram se control kar sakta hoon. Par mere saamne jo insaan khada tha use main khud masoom jaanwaron par sirf shauk ke liye bina kisi hichak ke goliyan chalate dekh chuka tha. Uski aankhon mein ek dradhta thi aur haathon mein zara bhi kampan nahi. Vo apne aapko poore kaabu mein kiye mujh par bandook taane khada chuka tha.
Mere saamne us waqt jo insaan khada tha usne mujhse pehle ek aadmi ki jaan li hui thi is baat ka yakeen mujhe ho chuka tha. Ya shayad do logon ki ya shayad teen logon ki jaan le chuka tha. Uske liye mujhpar goli chala kar kissa khatam kar dena koi badi baat nahi thi.
"Kaam hi mera aisa hai" Maine uski baat ka jawab diya, "Andaze ke hisaab se kadam uthana padta hai. Koi kadam sahi padta hai, koi galat"
"Tareef toh karni padegi tumhari" Vo bola, "Andhere mein teer chalaya par laga bilkul sahi nishane par"
Uske baad kamre mein ekdam sannata chha gaya. Na vo kuchh bola aur na hi main. Bas khamoshi se kuchh der tak khade ek doosre ko dekhte rahe. Vo shayad intezaar kar raha tha ke main koi kadam uthaoon, bhaagne ki koshish karun aur vo goli daag de par main itna bhi bevakoof nahi tha ke aisi koi galti karun. Darwaza bolck kiye vo khud khada tha aur khidki kholkar bhaagne mein mujhe jitna waqt lagta utni der mein vo 3-4 goliyan mere shareer mein daag deta.
"Tum ye toh samajh hi chuke honge ke main yahan se tumhein zinda jaane nahi de sakta" Kuchh der ki khamoshi ke baad vo bola.
"Bach nahi paayenge meri jaan lekar. Main yun gayab ho gaya toh dhoondha jaayega mujhe aur jo mujhe dhoondhne aayenge vo tab tak chain se nahi bethenge jab tak ke mera pata na chal jaaye" Maine sakhti se kaha.
"Kisne kaha ke tum gayab ho jaoge?" Vo halke se hasa.
"Matlab?" Maine puchha.
"Arrey bhai tumhein goli maarkar police ko phone main khud karnga, tumhari laash ko khud apne haathon mein utha kar bahar le kar jaoonga. To be on the safer side ambulance bhi bulaoonga" Usne jawab diya.
Uski baat kuchh kuchh mujhe samajh aa gayi thi par phir bhi maine sawaliya andaaz mein uski taraf dekha.
"Raat ko tum mere ghar mein ghuse hue ho. Main vaapis aaya toh laga ke chor hai, self defence mein maine goli maar di. Goli maarne ke baad pata chala ke tum ho. Pretty simple"
"Aur mera yahan hona kaise explain karenge?"
"Ab mujhe kya pata ke tum kyun mere ghar mein ghuse. Jo cheezen tumne mere bed ke drawer se nikali hain vo tumhare marte hi yahan se gayab ho jaayengi. Uske baad tum yahan kyun the ye raaz tumhare saathi hi khatam"
Mera andaza sahi tha. Ghabrahat dheere dheere badh rahi thi.
"Tumhein seriously kuchh nahi pata ke exactly hua kya tha?"
Usne sawal kiya toh maine inkaar mein gardan hila di.
"Chalo marne se pehle tumhari ye jigyasa bhi door kar dete hain. Betho" Usne bandook ko kamre mein rakhi ek chair ki taraf point karte hue kaha.
Main chair par jakar beth gaya toh vo mujhse door kamre mein ek doosri chair par ja betha. Bandook ab bhi meri taraf hi pointed thi aur uski anguliyan trigger par thi.
"Papers table par rakh do" Usne mere haath mein pakde property papers ki taraf ishara kiya, "Aur pani jeb mein rakhe vo negatives bhi"
Maine dono hi cheezen table par rakh di.
"Shirt utaaro" Usne kaha.
"What?" Main is ajeeb se sawal par chaunk utha.
"Ya nahi rehne do, tumhein maar kar dobara pehnana pad jaayega. Shirt uper karo" Usne bade hi serious andaaz mein kaha.
Main samajh gaya ke vo dekhna chah raha tha ke maine koi hathyaar toh nahi chhupa rakha. Maine shirt uper uthayi, pent ki jebe bahar nikali aur joote utaar kar uski tasalli kar di ke main ni-hattha tha.
"Kyun kiya?" Maine puchha.
"Kya kyun kiya?"
"Apne bhaanje ki jaan kyun li?"
"Tumhein itna yakeen kaise hai ke maine hi Ravi ko maara hai?"
"Bas hai yakeen" Maine jawab diya.
"Kya mila aisa?"
"Ravi ke mamle mein toh kuchh nahi mila isliye toh sidha sawal kar raha hoon"
"Agar main kahun ke maine Ravi ko nahi mara toh?"
"To main uski laash logon ko dikha kar saabit kar doonga ke usko aap hi ne maara hai" Maine uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha.
"Laash?"
"Haan. Bahar us neem ke ped ke neeche" Maine sidha tukka lagaya par kahin main jaanta tha ke ye tukka 100% sahi hai.
"Very smart" Vo phir muskuraya, "Chalo ab jab tumhein pata hai ke laash kahan hai toh ye bhi tum hi andaza laga lo ke maine use kyun mara hoga"
"Property ka lalach toh nahi ho sakta. Khud bahut paisa hai aapke paas aur pichhe chhod kar jaane ke liye sirf ek beti. Vaise bhi Ravi ke marne par vo saari property kisi bhi halat mein aapke paas nahi aa sakti thi. Vo porperty hathyane ke liye aapko Ravi ke saath saath poore parivar ko marna padta jo ke aapne kiya nahi"
"Bilkul sahi"
"Ravi ko maarne ki ek hi vajah ho sakti hai" Maine ab tak jo bhi mere saamne aaye the un saare sabooton ko ek saath jodkar us shaam ki ek tasveer apne dimag mein banate hue kaha, "Ke vo yahan us waqt aa pahuncha jab aapke haath kisi aur ke khoon se range hue the"
"Kiske khoon se?"
"Sunanda ke" Maine jawab diya.
"Tumhein aisa kyun lagta hai ke maine Ravi ko maara?" Pratap ne muskurate hue puchha.
"Kyun?" Maine sarcastic se andaz mein kaha, "Nahi maara kya? Isi neem ke ped ke neeche hai na uski laash? Maarkar use gaad diya aur phir usi ki yaad mein uski kabar pe neem ka ped laga diya?"
Vo phir khamoshi se mujhe dekhne laga. Ham dono ki nazren ek doosre ke chehro par thi aur kamre mein ek baar phir sannata.
"Mujhpse shak kaise hua?" Kuchh der baad vo bola.
"Kuchh cheezen mili" Maine chhota sa jawab diya aur baat khatam kar di.
"Jaise ke?" Uske chehre par jigyasa saaf dikhai de rahi thi.
"Ye negatives mein jo ladki hai aapke saath, sab mein Sunanda hi hai ya alag alag ladkiyan hain?" Maine uski baat ko ansuni karte hue apna sawal daag diya.
"Alag alag ladkiyan hain" Usne ek lambi saans chhodi, "Most of them are prostitutes except for a few. Almost saari hi aaj se 15-22 saal pehle ki tasveerein hai. I think latest jo hogi vo bhi at least 15-16 saal purani hogi"
"Ab tasverein lena chhod diya ya tharkipana?"
Mera andaza tha ke vo mera taana sunkar shayad bhadak uthega par aisa kuchh hua nahi. Vo ulta meri baat sunkar has pada.
"Tharkiyon ka tharkipana kahan khatam hota hai janab, vo toh abhi bhi jaari hai. Aur tasveerein bhi ab tak le raha hoon, farak itna hai ke ab saari photos cellphone se leta hoon toh negatives ki zaroorat hi nahi padti"
"Kyun?"
"Kyun?" Rana ke maathe par shikan pad gayi, "Bas yun keh lijiye ke hobby hai meri. Ab bhai photography bhi toh ek hobby hoti hai na, koi nature ki photos leta hai, koi jaanwaron ki, koi landscape, koi nature, koi people. Bas main apni hobby ko apne bedroom tak rakhta hoon. Collection hai mera private. Ab kise pata ...."
"Tasveerein nahi" Maine uski baat beech mein kaati, "Maara kyun tha Sunanda ko?"
"Achha vo wala kyun. Irada toh nahi tha yaar. Maine toh ye socha tha ke vo bhi vaisi hi ladki hogi jaise ke yahan aas paas gaon ki gareeb ladkiyan hoti hai. Thoda paisa dikhao, mehengi gaadi mein betha aur phir aalishan bedrrom ka aalishan bistar. Khud hi kapde utaar kar let jaati hain"
"Par Sunanda aisi nahi nikli?"
"Surprisingly nahi nikli" Vo thoda serioues hote hue bola, "Considering ke uski maan ki yahan kya reputation thi"
"Sab maan beti ko prostiutes kehte the" Maine baat jodi.
"Exactly. Mujhe laga ke beti bhi dhandha karti hogi par aisa tha nahi"
"Music Academy mein mile the na use?" Maine puchha.
"Haan, classical music seekhne aati thi. Sab thoda door hi rehte the usse, koi baat nahi karta tha except mere bhaanje Ravi ke. Gaati bhi kaafi achha thi vo, kayi baar Ravi ke saath practice karte hue dekha tha maine use. Ravi ko khaas taur par uski aawaz bahut pasand thi aur hamesha kehta tha tha ke thoda sa support mile toh Sunanda kaafi aage ja sakti hai"
"Aur aapne vo support dene ke bahane use phasa liya?"
"Nahi yaar, main bhi thoda door hi rehta tha usse. Mujhe bhi koi khaas pasand nahi thi vo, aam si shakal soorat ki thi, jism bhi koi khaas nahi tha. Net net uski aawaz ko chhod kar usmein koi khaas baat thi hi nahi"
"Phir?"
"Phir ek baar Shimla mein ek function tha, Lata Mangeshkar ji chief guest thi. Sunanda us concert mein gana chahti thi par considering ke use sab dhandha karne wali ki beti kehte the toh use gana allow karna bade logon ki shaan ke khilaff tha."
"Aur aapne use gaane ki ijazat dilwa di?"
"Khud se nahi, Ravi ke bahut zor daalne par. Sabko uska gaana bahut pasand aaya, Lata ji ne toh khaas taur par use akele mein bulva kar mili use and believe it or not, use apna phone number tak de gayi ke vo use aage music composers se milvayengi. Ab Sunanda ko ye baat pata nahi thi ke use vahan gaane ka chance Ravi ki vajah se mila tha. Ravi ne mujhe mana kiya tha batane se. Sunanda ko yahi lagta tha ke sirf mere kehne par use ye gaane ka mauka mila. Vo mera bahut ehsaan maanne lagi"
"Aur aapne ehsaan ka faayda uthaya?"
"Nahi yaar. Jawani mein dikhne mein koi bura nahi tha main. Ye ehsaan dheere dheere pata nahi kaise attraction mein badal gaya. Vo mere aas paas hi mandrane lagi par main use ghaas nahi daalta tha kyunki mujhe toh vo ek raat ke hisaab se bhi pasand nahi thi"
"Phir kya hua?"
"Phir ek din main Shimla gaya hua tha, vahan se academy ki taraf chala gaya. Maine dhyaan nahi diya par mera bag vahin academy mein reh gaya aur vo bag lautane ke bahane shaam ko Sunanda mere ghar hi aa pahunchi yahan. Mujhe us din ek ladki ki zaroorat mehsoos ho rahi thi, sharab ka thoda nasha tha aur main janta tha ke saamne jo ladki thi vo mujhe marti hai toh maine socha ke chalo theek hai, jo mile so achha"
"Aur aapne usi ka istemaal kar liya .... "
"Kya baat kar raha hai yaar, Istemaal toh jaise usne mera kiya tha. Aag thi bistar mein aag. Mujhe toh lag raha tha jaise kachcha kha jaayegi mujhe. Uski zindagi mein main pehla mard tha, mere se pehle kisi ke saath soyi nahi thi vo par phir bhi bistar par usne mujhe jo jannat dikhayi, vaisa mujhe kisi bhi ladki ke saath mehsoos nahi hua tha"
"Aur isi liye phir aapne regular basis par uske saath sona shuru kar diya"
"Kya karta, kamal thi vo bistar par. Shakal soorat ki saari kami vo bistar pe doosre tareeko se poori kar deti thi. Uski is baat ka qayal ho gaya tha main aur phir kaafi waqt tak main kisi aur ladki ke paas gaya hi nahi. Jab bhi aurat ki zaroorat mehsoos hui, bistar par Sunanda hi aayi"
"Phir?"
"Mujhe laga tha ke mera ehsaan chukane ke liye so rahi hai mere saath par mujhe kya pata tha ke vo pyaar vyaar ka chakkar chala rahi hai. Vo toh bhaisahab shaadi karne ke mood mein thi mere saath"
"Isliye maara use?"
"Kya karta? Mera bachcha paal rahi thi pet mein vo aur abortion ke liye taiyyar nahi thi. Kehti thi ke agar maine usse shaadi nahi ki sabko bata degi. Saali Lata Mangeshkar ke naam ki dhamki de rahi thi mujhe batao. Do-tarfa phas gaya tha main. Budhape mein jab meri beti ki shaadi ki baat chal rahi thi toh us tim khud phere leta main? Agar leta toh badnami ke is umar mein shaadi ki aur ek dhandha karne wali ki beti si, poore khandan ke naam ki hasi udaayi jaati aur agar vo kisi ko bata deti toh bhi khandaan ke naam par thu thu hoti ke buddhe ka bachcha ek uski beti ki umar ki ladki paal rahi hai. Khud apne ghar walo ki nazron mein gir jata main"
"Hua kya tha us din?"
"Us din nahi, takreeban ek hafta pehle use ghar bulaya tha maine. Milne aayi, behas ho gayi aur maine uspar haath chhod diya. Phir usko yahan se jaane dena main afford nahi kar sakta tha. Ek hafte tak yahin baandh kar rakha maine use, samjhata raha ke baat maan jaaye, lalach diya, Mumbai mein naya ghar leke doonga bola, ghar uske naam kar diya hai papers bhi dikhaye use par vo maani nahi. Apni baat par adi rahi ke sabke saamne mera bhanda phod degi. Phir ek din subah subah pata nahi kaise vo yahan se nikal bhaagi. Use maine ek kamre mein nangi chhdoa hua tha aur kapde chhupa kar rakhe hue the ke bhaagne ka soche nahi, aur agar mauka mile bhi toh nangi bhaagegi kaise par us din subah subah vo kamre ki chadar ko apne shareer par lapetkar bhaag nikli. Main uske pichhe gaya, use pakda, vaapis lana chaha, vo royi chillayi, mujhse ladi, chhutne ki bahut koshish ki, halla machaya aur in sabka nateeja ye nikla ke maine gusse mein uska gala ghont diya"
"Bahar sadak pe?"
"Haan, jahan maine aur tumne us din subah chaai pi thi usse thodi hi door. Subah subah ka waqt tha, aur ye pahadi ilaka hai vaise hi koi ikka dukka aadmi hi dikhta hai. Kisi ne na use dekha aur na hi mujhe. Use maarne ke baad uski laash ko main vaapis utha kar chhupta chhupata ghar tak laya"
"Ek aadmi ne dekha tha use" Maine kaha.
"Kisne?"
"Liyaqat ne. Usne use dekha aur aapko bhi par ek insaan aur tha jise usne Sunanda ko aur phor aapko dekhne ke beech mein dekha"
"Kise?"
"Ravi"
"Ravi?"
"Ji haan"
"Aur use laga hoga ke Ravi us ladki ka pichha kar raha hai?"
"Ji haan. Usne use us din subah chadar lapete bhaagte hue dekha. Usne mujhe bataya tha ke subah subah Sunanda sirf ek saree mein bina kisi blouse ke chhupti hui bhaag rahi thi, ab pata chal raha hai ke jise usne saree samjha tha vo sirf ek chadar thi"
"Mujhpar shak kaise hua?" Rana ne bola.
"Ek tasveer mili thi" Maine bataya.
"Mujhe pata tha ke meri ek tasveer thi uske paas par usne kabhi haan nahi boli. Ek din lekar gayi thi mujhse aur main maangta reh gaya ke vaapis kar de par usne vaapis di nahi, mujhe jhooth kehti rahi ke photo kho gayi. Jab baad mein police ko bhi kuchh nahi mila toh mujhe laga ke shayad photo sahi mein kho hi gayi thi"
"Vo photo nahi" Maine kaha, "Vo photo toh kharab ho chuki thi"
"Toh kaun si photo?"
Maine use Kanha ke ghar se mili tasveer ke baare mein bataya.
"Thats it? Ek photo se shak hua?"
"Haan. Kuchh din pehle mera shak Liyaqat par tha, kisi ne mujhe kaha tha ke Liyaqat ki umar bhi toh us waqt zyada nahi hogi. Par phir jab vo tasveer mili toh mujhe ehsaas hua ke Liyaqat ke saath saath aapki umar bhi us waqt bahut zyada nahi thi. Tab pata chala ke jis ladke ke baare mein Sunanda apni maan ko nahi bata rahi thi vo aap the, aur bata isliye nahi rhi thi kyunki aapne usne aapse kaha tha ke vo pyaar karna chahti hai par ye ikraar vo aapke munh se sunna chahti thi. Kyunki vo apni maan ko batane mein jhijhak rahi thi ke jisse vo shaadi karna chahti hai us aadmi ke khud uski apni umar ki hi ek beti bhi thi"
"Hmmmmm"
"Aur bhi kayi baatein thi jo aapki taraf point kar rahi thi, jaise ke music academy mein aap ek member hain aur Sunanda aapse vahin mili thi. Us subah Liyaqat ne use yahan se bhaagte dekha tha aur maine assume kar liya ha ke vo Ravi se bachke bhaag rahi thi par ye nahi socha ke isi taraf thoda sa aage aapka bhi toh ghar hai. Us subah Liyaqat ne aapko bhi dekha tha par mujhe laga ke aap toh bas roz ki tarah bandook uthake shikar par hi nikle honge"
"Hmmmmm. Aur?"
"Aur ye ke agar kisi ka apne ghar mein jhagda ho jaaye toh vo kahan jata hai?"
"Matlab?"
"Matlab ye ke ek toofani shaam ko, baarish mein Ravi apne baap se ladkar nikla toh vo kahan ja sakta tha. Obvious si baat hai ke is halat mein insaan ya toh apne kisi dost ke ghar jata hai ya apne kisi rishtedaar ke yahan. Kanha ke ghar toh vo gaya nahi, baaki bache aap. Toh of course us shaam vo apne ghar se nikla toh apne Mama ke yahan aaya"
par sawaal ye hai ki kamni se kya sadi hogi ya ek aur qatl hoga ya khud khusi hogi..wonderful update bhaiya ji
