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Bhaag 7
Raat ke kareeb ek baje, har raat ki tarah, aaj bhi kutto ke siskiyan sunayi deta hain aur pure sheher me ek ajeeb si sannatta chaa gaya tha.
Aalishan dinner aur ek rumani dance ke baad bahut kaske neend aaya tha Prakash aur Damini ko. Ek sukoon si bhav tha dono ke chehro par. Vaha quarter me, Manglu haath me ek bottle liye mast sota raha. Darasal, bina ghont lagaye, voh kabhi nhi nahi sota tha aur yeh aadat purani thi. Aas paas pura mahol ekdam shaant tha ke tabhi, achanak ek awaaz gunj uthi...
"Manglu.... Manglu....... Manglu......"
Ek ladki ki gambhir awaaz ke baar baar pukarne se Manglu aankhen tatolkar uth jaata hain aur ek ubasi leke yaha vaha dekhne laga. Lekin andher quarter me uske alava koi nahi tha. Kuch pal yaha vaha dekhke, vapas so jaata hain. Tabhi agle hi pal phir se vahi gambhir awaaz..
"Manglu.... Manglu...... Manglu!"
Nashe me dhutt Manglu, phir ek baar aankhon ko masalke, idhar se udhar dekhne laga, lekin koi kahin bhi nazar nahi aayi. "saala yeh raat ko kaun dimaag chat raha hai!!!" nashe me haklate huye Manglu aankhen mundke vapas so jaata hain. Kuch pal tak koi bhi awaaz nahi aayi, lekin phir ek baar bahut kareeb se "Manglu.….. Manglu!" ki awaaz aayi aur is baar achanak andhere ke kahin kone se ek mulayam hatheli aake Manglu ke kandhe ko hilane lagi.
Is chuan se Manglu ghabrake uth jaata hain phir se. Raat ke is andhere me, aisi vichitra samay pe ek mahila ki pukaar aur apne kandhe pe ek haath ke sparsh se kuch ajeeb laga use. Jab usne baju me lage chote bulb ko jalane ki koshish ki, to bulb zara bhi jala nahi!
"Saala yeh light ko kya ho gaya?" Manglu hairan ho gaya aur bina samay vyarth kiye, phone ke torch leke apne ird gird dekhne laga, lekin koi bhi nazar nahi aayi. Yeh soch use khaye jaane laga ke jab kamre me koi tha hi nahi, to voh haath ka sparsh bhala kis shaks ki tha ya thi.
Tabhi phir ek baar "Manglu.... idhar aao!", vahi ladki ki awaaz kaano tak aane lag gayi. Haule haule se bhay me dhadakte dil liye, ab Manglu phone ke torch liye, apne quarter ke bahaar jaane ka faisla karta hain. Quarter se nikalke garden ke ird gird dekhne laga, phir aage piche. Lekin koi bhi shaks nazar nahi aaya. "Kya Damini memsaheb mujhe pukar rahi thi?? Nahi....yeh awaaz unki to nahi hai..... phir!" Lekin yaha vaha dekhne se koi faida nahi hua, kyonki koi tha hi nahi.
Ek baar aur tasalli karke Manglu apne quarter vapas chala jaata hain. Ek thoda sa tharra maarke vapas chaddar daalke so jaata hain. Sote huye Manglu is baat se bekhabar tha ke kisi anjaana sa saaya baar baar khidki ke vaha se use dekhe jaa raha tha.
Lekin kuch hi minto baad Manglu angrayi leke kuch shran ke liye aankhe khole dusre taraf palat jaata hain, use khidki ke vaha koi nazar nahi aata hain. Hairan hoke bhi Manglu ab kuch aur khaas nahi kar paya kyonki aankhon me neend bhare pade the. Aankhon ko kass ke munde, Manglu ek gehri neend me chala jaata hain, bina yeh jaane ke jo kuch bhi hua, voh koi bhram tha ya sacchai.
.............
Raat ab aur kaali hoti gayi aur sadko pe ab keval kutto ke fauj siski pe siski, ya bhaunke jaa rahe the.
Apne kamre me, Damini apne pati ke chaati pe haath ko thaame so rahi thi, ke achanak usey zoron ki paani ki pyas lagti hain. Ek ubasi leke, jab Damini apni ghadi dekhti hai, to usne gaur kiya ke kareeb raat ke do baj rahe the. Khair, paani ki jug ko haath me liye, bas glass me daalne hi wali thi ke tabhi, usne gaur ki ke jug puri ke puri khaali hain.
Yeh dekhke Damini hairan reh gayi. "Are jug to maine pura bharke rakhi thi! Puri ke puri ek litre!". Apne pati ko pe sandeh karne ka sawal hi nahi tha, kyonki dono mia biwi apne apne jug rakhte the. Khair, hairani hi sahi, lekin pyas to lagi thi! Isliye Damini khaali jug leke rasoi ke aur jaane lagi. Rasoi pahuche, foran pehle mini lamp ko jalake, voh fridge me se ek fresh bottle me se jug me paani bharne lag jaati hain.
Jug bharne ki awaaz ke saath saath kisi ki khilkhilane ki awaaz sunayi di. Kisi ladki ki! Sankoch me aake Damini jaise hi paani bharni band kar deti hain, voh khilkhilahat bhi band ho jaati hain. "Are voh awaaz kaisi thi??" Use samajh nahi aarahi thi ke voh paani ka effect tha yeh sachme kisi ki hasi ki awaaz aa rahi thi. Khair, ek baar phir paani bharne lagti hain aur phir ek baar vohi khilhilahat paani ke awaaz ke saath saath taal me taal dene laga.
Jug me ab poora paani bhar chuki thi aur saath hi saath voh khilkhilane ki awaaz bhi ruk gayi thi. Aisa lag raha tha maano koi rasoi me chupke se Damini pe hase jaa rahi thi, paani bharne ke dauran.
Aaju baaju gaur se dekhke ke liye, Damini ghabrake rasoi ki badi wali light jala deti hain aur yaha vaha dekhne lagi. Raat ke is samay aisa kuch ajeeb anubhav kadna shayad pehli baar ho rahi thi Damini ke saath. Gaur se rasoi se leke dining room tak moina karne lagi, lekin door door tak koi bhi nahi tha, aur hoga bhi kyon! Pure ghar me uske aur Prakash ke alava aur koi tha bhi to nahi.
Apne paani ke jug liye, Damini saare ke saare lights band karke vapas sone chali jaati hain. Lekin sach puchiye to, abhi bhi uska dil zoron se dhadak rahi thi voh khilkhilahat sunne ke vajah se, lekin phir is anubhav ko apne bhram maanke, Damini kuch ghoont paani peene ke baad, sone chali jaati hain, sote huye bhi uski mastishq ke kahin kone me yeh baat chubh rahi thi ke voh awaaz kuch had tak aisi lag rahi thi jaise Neha hans rahi ho.
......
Agle subah :
Prakash : (toast khata hua) kya hua darling? Kuch....ukhri ukhri si lag rahi ho!
Damini : kal raat! Prakash.... kuch ajeeb si anubhav hui! Matlab....
Prakash : exactly kya hua?
Damini : pehli baat, jab main khud jug ko puri bharke soyi thi to beech raat me hi kaise puri khatam ho gayi? Aur...
Prakash : aur..
Damini, sabse ajeeb baat to yeh tha ke paani bharne ki awaaz ke saath saath kisi ki khilkhilane ki awaaz bhi aane lagi, kisi ladki ki.....bilkul usi samay! Kuch had tak aisi bhi lagi...(kuch rukke) jaise awaaz Neha ki ho!
Prakash : (haske) baap re! Sach me kya kissa hai! Neha ki awaaz, seriously?? Tum bhi na.... darling! Just relax! Voh awaaz sirf jug me bharte huye paani ki hi hogi! (Juice aage karta hua)
Damini : Agar awaaz normal hoti to thik thi, lekin sach me ek ajeeb si khilkhilahat ki awaaz lag rahi thi mujhe! Aur voh bhi..... Khair, shayad vaham hogi..(toast khati hui)
Prakash : Darling! Mujhe malum nahi tha ke horror upanyaso padhne me tumhari ruchi hai! (Haske) Shayad isliye aise bhram aayi thi kal raat ko! (Phir ek kass ke toastbite lete huye) aur vaise bhi jaaneman, murde kabhi zinda vapas nahi aaya karte! Khilkhilana aur hasna to door ki baat hai (muskurake).
Damini keval muskurayi aur apni toast pe dhyan dene lagi. Shayad sach me brham hi thi, yehi sochne lagi.
...........
Manglu ke aankh khulte hi, uske nazar apne ghadi pe chala jaata hain. "Are baap re! Sahab aur memsaheb kabhi bhi bula sakte hain!" Itna kehke, voh apne huliya thik karke gaddi se uth jaata hain. Fresh hoke, quarter se jaise hi Manglu nikla...tabhi turant uski nazar niche aate hi jaise tham se ruk gaya aur ek khaas chiz pe gaur karta hua, aankhe bade bade ho gaye. Hua yun, ke Quarter ke darwaze ke chaukhat pe kisi ki pairo ke nishan the. Lekin nishan kisi insaan ke nahi, maano koi jaanwar ka ho, kyonki nishan pair ke kam aur panjo ke zyada lag rahe the aur size ke hisab se kisi insaan ke samaan hi lag rahe the.
"Yeh kya itni ajeeb tarah ke pairo ke nishan kiske ho sakte hain?? Lag to kisi janwaar ka hi hai!.."
Manglu ekdam se ghabrake us nishaan ko dekhe jaa raha tha, ke tabhi ek kutte ki awaaz aayi use. Baju me mudke dekha to paas hi ke gali pe rehne wala ek naukar Jaggu apne malik ke kutte ko leke kahin jaa raha tha. Kyonki kutta Doberman zaat ka tha, isliye Manglu use sandeh karta hua foran Jaggu ko rok deta hain "oye Jaggu! Idhar aa! Aaa idhar!".
Jaggu ruk jaata hain aur Manglu uske samne pahuchke, us kutte ko gaur se dekhne laga aur phir Jaggu ki aur dekhne laga. Hamesha ki tarah aaj bhi Jaggu tambaku chaba raha tha. Aksar yaha vaha ke lafre me uska aur Manglu ke takkar hote rehte the.
Manglu : apne is kutte ko leke mere quarter ke baju me kya peshab karane le aaya tha??? (Ghusse me)
Jaggu (chabate chabate) : Manglu bhaiya? Kya keh rahe ho?? Aaj tak aisa hua kya, ke hum Monty bhayia (kutta) ko aapke itne pavitra aur shubh sthan pe peshab karane le aaye! Hai??? Aisa hua kabhi?
Manglu : to is dhool mein kutte ki pairo ke nishan kaise aye??? Yeh dekh yaha!
Itna kehke Manglu Jaggu ko voh nishan dikhane jaata hi hain ke khud hairan ho gaya. Voh panje jaise nishaan gayab the! Jiske vajah se Manglu ekdam sehairani se chaunk utha.
Jaggu : kidhar? Are kahe bhram me jeete ho Manglu bhayiaa! (Tambaku chaba ke)
Manglu : (khud se dhime swarr me) are....yeh kaise ho sakta hai! Mere aankhe dhoka nahi khaa sakta! Nishaan to bane huye the pakka!
Jaggu : are kahe subah subah bawal kar rahe ho! isiliye keh rahe the tumse ke ek baar ganv hoke ao! Yeh Prakash seth ke yaha kam karte karte sathiya gaye ho tum!!
Itna kehke Jaggu tambaku chabate chabate kutte ko leke vaha se chala jaata hain. Lekin, ab kahin sawal kal raat se leke abhi subah tak, Manglu ko satane laga. Dil hi dil mein ab ek khauff sa aane laga use. Yeh khauff ka jamam usi dauran hua tha jab Prakash ne Neha ko us shrapit jagah pe dafnaya tha, us din se leke ab tak ek anjaana sa bhay uske dimaag me kahin na kahin basa hua zaroor tha aur phir bhay ke lakshan aur badhne laga, jab use kal raat ke anubhav ko yaad kiya.
"Kal raat jo kuch bhi hua.....aur ab yeh! Kahin...kuch gadbad to nahi...."
Manglu apne soch me dooba hua tha ke tabhi "Manglu! Oye kahan hai?". Prakash ki awaaz sunke Manglu bangle ki aur jaane laga. Vaise bhi yeh sab baaton ko kiske saath bata jaa sakta tha. Dil mein hi rakhna usne thik samjha.
.......
Vaha, college ki canteen me :
Mehul : Arpita, police se kuch khabar nahi aaya! Aaj pure ek din beet gaye!
Arpita : itna kam dhairya se kuch nahi hoga Mehul! Police to koshish kar hi raha hai...give it some time! Ab please khaa lo! Kuch hi pal mein classes shuru hone wale hain!
Mehul : kuch thik nahi lag raha hai Arpita! Neha ke bina...to..
Arpita : just shutup Mehul! Bollywood wala nonsense mat do mujhe! Main bhi Neha ki saheli hoon, lekin ek rational insaan bhi hoon! Now please grow up!
Mehul : (Arpita ke haath thaamke) thanks Arpita! You know....tum itni positive ho ke, Neha bahut lucky hai tum jaisi saheli paake!
Ia baat me Arpita muskurati hain aur dono apne apne classes jaane lage. Lekin Mehul ke liye Neha ko bhoolna aasan bilkul nahi tha.
Claas me bhi lecture me kuch khaas dhyan nahi de paya tha Mehul. Aur, baju me betha Ashish baar baar use dekhe jaa raha tha, lekin dukh bhala kis baat ka tha, jab usne khud Neha ka bhog liya hua tha. Lekin paas me betha Mehul ko is baat ka zara sa bhi khayal nahi tha ke Aashish apne dil mein kya kya raaz chupaye betha hua tha
.....
Usi din shaam ko, Police Station me vapas Arpita aur Mehul Neha ke update lene pahuch jaate hain. Is baar Inspector Shah khud gambhir bhav dikha raha tha.
Shah : bethiye! (Gambhir swar me)
Arpita : officer, Neha ke silsile me kuch pata chala aapko??
Shah : dekhiye! Main jo kehne jaa raha hoon, voh kehna aasan nahi, lekin kehna pad raha hai!
Mehul : (tez bhav liye) saaf saaf batayiye officer! Baat kya hai?
Shah : dekhiye, Kal subah, kul milake jitne bhi area connected hai, unme kuch teen accident ke cases huye hain!
Arpita dil thaamke sunti rahi.
Mehul : to.... Neha ki isse sambandh ???? ...aap kehna chahta hai ki....
Shah : yes Mr Mehul! (Arpita ki aur) Miss Aprita.....un teen cases me, ek case aapke dost Neha Mehra ki thi! Aur....sorry to say, she was dead on spot!
Arpita : (aankhe badi badi karke) WHAT??
Mehul ke pairo tale maano zameen hi khisak gaya tha. Use yakeen nahi ho raha tha is baat pe. Ghusse me voh table ke saare ke saare cheeze gira deta hain "officer! Hosh me to hai aap???????"
Shah : yeh kya badtamizi hai Mr Mehul?? Behave yourself! Please (Arpita ki aur) aapke dost ko sambhalye! Yeh police station hai. Inke khilaf action le sakta hoon main!
Arpita : (khud dukhi hoke) I... I am sorry officer! Main inhe leke jaata hoon! Lekin...kya laash ko hum.......hum ek dafa dekh sakte hain?
Shah : (karuna bhav liye) I am sorry! Kaash main aapko dikha sakta, lekin yakeen maniye, laash ka chehra tak bigad chuka hai accident me!
Arpita : lekin officer....yeh...... sab...kaise! Ye....
Shah : humne us gaadi ki bhi jaanch ki, spot pe pahuchke, voh gaadi Mr Prakash Mehra ke naam pe registered hai. I am sorry!
Baat ko aur na badhate huye Arpita ekdam se tute hye Mehul ko leke police station se bahaar chali jaati hain. Un dono ke jaate hi foran Inspector Shah ek lambe rahat ke saas lete huye, apne vardi ke upar ke ek do button khol deta hain aur baju ek junior hawaldar ko adesh dene laga "Suno! Jaake kuch cigarettes aur haan, mera manpasand brand le aana! Abhi turant!".
Shah ke kehke par voh havaldar daud pada aur voh kisi ko kuch whatsapp karne lagta hain, hala ke is baar uske chehre pe bahut normal bhav the. Itna normal, ke voh message bhejke foran apne liye kuch khaana mangvata hain aur chain se bethne laga. Whatsapp ka voh message jis shaks ke phone tak gaya, voh aur koi nahi balki Prakash hi tha, jo beer ki chuski lagaye, foran Shah ka message dekhne laga.
Message ko padhke, Prakash ke chehre pe ek sukoon bhari muskaan aajata hain. Message kuch is tarah tha :
'Mehra sahab! Kaam hogaya, ab un dono ko yakeen ho gaya ke aapki bhatiji ki accident hi hui thi!".
Yeh padhke Prakash ek aakhri tasalli kar liya aur agle hi pal us Shah ko, uske account me ek accha khaasa rakam transfer kar diya. Chehre pe muskaan liye, voh Neha Mehra ka file permanently band kar leta hain.
.....
Kareeb raat ke 8 baje, Mehul aur Arpita phone be baatein karne lage.
Arpita : Mehul, I still can't believe this! Yeh khabar yakeen karne ko jee nahi chah raha hai!
Mehul : baar baar khudko samjha raha hoon! Mana raha hoon! Lekin....nahi! Neha, accident...... Mujhe to kuch yakeen karne ka mann hi nahi kar raha hai!
Mehul aur Arpita kuch shant se the ke tabhi Arpita kuch kehti hain, jise sunke Mehul ke aankhe kautohol me bade ho jaate hain.
"Mehul, dil ko tasalli dene ke liye, kam se kam ek baar hume morgue jaana hi parega!".
Kya Mehul aur Arpita ko kabhi asli sacchai ka pata chalega? Kya Manglu aur Damini ka bhram keval bhram tha ya kuch aur? Iska jawab keval vaqt dega.
Raat ke kareeb ek baje, har raat ki tarah, aaj bhi kutto ke siskiyan sunayi deta hain aur pure sheher me ek ajeeb si sannatta chaa gaya tha.
Aalishan dinner aur ek rumani dance ke baad bahut kaske neend aaya tha Prakash aur Damini ko. Ek sukoon si bhav tha dono ke chehro par. Vaha quarter me, Manglu haath me ek bottle liye mast sota raha. Darasal, bina ghont lagaye, voh kabhi nhi nahi sota tha aur yeh aadat purani thi. Aas paas pura mahol ekdam shaant tha ke tabhi, achanak ek awaaz gunj uthi...
"Manglu.... Manglu....... Manglu......"
Ek ladki ki gambhir awaaz ke baar baar pukarne se Manglu aankhen tatolkar uth jaata hain aur ek ubasi leke yaha vaha dekhne laga. Lekin andher quarter me uske alava koi nahi tha. Kuch pal yaha vaha dekhke, vapas so jaata hain. Tabhi agle hi pal phir se vahi gambhir awaaz..
"Manglu.... Manglu...... Manglu!"
Nashe me dhutt Manglu, phir ek baar aankhon ko masalke, idhar se udhar dekhne laga, lekin koi kahin bhi nazar nahi aayi. "saala yeh raat ko kaun dimaag chat raha hai!!!" nashe me haklate huye Manglu aankhen mundke vapas so jaata hain. Kuch pal tak koi bhi awaaz nahi aayi, lekin phir ek baar bahut kareeb se "Manglu.….. Manglu!" ki awaaz aayi aur is baar achanak andhere ke kahin kone se ek mulayam hatheli aake Manglu ke kandhe ko hilane lagi.
Is chuan se Manglu ghabrake uth jaata hain phir se. Raat ke is andhere me, aisi vichitra samay pe ek mahila ki pukaar aur apne kandhe pe ek haath ke sparsh se kuch ajeeb laga use. Jab usne baju me lage chote bulb ko jalane ki koshish ki, to bulb zara bhi jala nahi!
"Saala yeh light ko kya ho gaya?" Manglu hairan ho gaya aur bina samay vyarth kiye, phone ke torch leke apne ird gird dekhne laga, lekin koi bhi nazar nahi aayi. Yeh soch use khaye jaane laga ke jab kamre me koi tha hi nahi, to voh haath ka sparsh bhala kis shaks ki tha ya thi.
Tabhi phir ek baar "Manglu.... idhar aao!", vahi ladki ki awaaz kaano tak aane lag gayi. Haule haule se bhay me dhadakte dil liye, ab Manglu phone ke torch liye, apne quarter ke bahaar jaane ka faisla karta hain. Quarter se nikalke garden ke ird gird dekhne laga, phir aage piche. Lekin koi bhi shaks nazar nahi aaya. "Kya Damini memsaheb mujhe pukar rahi thi?? Nahi....yeh awaaz unki to nahi hai..... phir!" Lekin yaha vaha dekhne se koi faida nahi hua, kyonki koi tha hi nahi.
Ek baar aur tasalli karke Manglu apne quarter vapas chala jaata hain. Ek thoda sa tharra maarke vapas chaddar daalke so jaata hain. Sote huye Manglu is baat se bekhabar tha ke kisi anjaana sa saaya baar baar khidki ke vaha se use dekhe jaa raha tha.
Lekin kuch hi minto baad Manglu angrayi leke kuch shran ke liye aankhe khole dusre taraf palat jaata hain, use khidki ke vaha koi nazar nahi aata hain. Hairan hoke bhi Manglu ab kuch aur khaas nahi kar paya kyonki aankhon me neend bhare pade the. Aankhon ko kass ke munde, Manglu ek gehri neend me chala jaata hain, bina yeh jaane ke jo kuch bhi hua, voh koi bhram tha ya sacchai.
.............
Raat ab aur kaali hoti gayi aur sadko pe ab keval kutto ke fauj siski pe siski, ya bhaunke jaa rahe the.
Apne kamre me, Damini apne pati ke chaati pe haath ko thaame so rahi thi, ke achanak usey zoron ki paani ki pyas lagti hain. Ek ubasi leke, jab Damini apni ghadi dekhti hai, to usne gaur kiya ke kareeb raat ke do baj rahe the. Khair, paani ki jug ko haath me liye, bas glass me daalne hi wali thi ke tabhi, usne gaur ki ke jug puri ke puri khaali hain.
Yeh dekhke Damini hairan reh gayi. "Are jug to maine pura bharke rakhi thi! Puri ke puri ek litre!". Apne pati ko pe sandeh karne ka sawal hi nahi tha, kyonki dono mia biwi apne apne jug rakhte the. Khair, hairani hi sahi, lekin pyas to lagi thi! Isliye Damini khaali jug leke rasoi ke aur jaane lagi. Rasoi pahuche, foran pehle mini lamp ko jalake, voh fridge me se ek fresh bottle me se jug me paani bharne lag jaati hain.
Jug bharne ki awaaz ke saath saath kisi ki khilkhilane ki awaaz sunayi di. Kisi ladki ki! Sankoch me aake Damini jaise hi paani bharni band kar deti hain, voh khilkhilahat bhi band ho jaati hain. "Are voh awaaz kaisi thi??" Use samajh nahi aarahi thi ke voh paani ka effect tha yeh sachme kisi ki hasi ki awaaz aa rahi thi. Khair, ek baar phir paani bharne lagti hain aur phir ek baar vohi khilhilahat paani ke awaaz ke saath saath taal me taal dene laga.
Jug me ab poora paani bhar chuki thi aur saath hi saath voh khilkhilane ki awaaz bhi ruk gayi thi. Aisa lag raha tha maano koi rasoi me chupke se Damini pe hase jaa rahi thi, paani bharne ke dauran.
Aaju baaju gaur se dekhke ke liye, Damini ghabrake rasoi ki badi wali light jala deti hain aur yaha vaha dekhne lagi. Raat ke is samay aisa kuch ajeeb anubhav kadna shayad pehli baar ho rahi thi Damini ke saath. Gaur se rasoi se leke dining room tak moina karne lagi, lekin door door tak koi bhi nahi tha, aur hoga bhi kyon! Pure ghar me uske aur Prakash ke alava aur koi tha bhi to nahi.
Apne paani ke jug liye, Damini saare ke saare lights band karke vapas sone chali jaati hain. Lekin sach puchiye to, abhi bhi uska dil zoron se dhadak rahi thi voh khilkhilahat sunne ke vajah se, lekin phir is anubhav ko apne bhram maanke, Damini kuch ghoont paani peene ke baad, sone chali jaati hain, sote huye bhi uski mastishq ke kahin kone me yeh baat chubh rahi thi ke voh awaaz kuch had tak aisi lag rahi thi jaise Neha hans rahi ho.
......
Agle subah :
Prakash : (toast khata hua) kya hua darling? Kuch....ukhri ukhri si lag rahi ho!
Damini : kal raat! Prakash.... kuch ajeeb si anubhav hui! Matlab....
Prakash : exactly kya hua?
Damini : pehli baat, jab main khud jug ko puri bharke soyi thi to beech raat me hi kaise puri khatam ho gayi? Aur...
Prakash : aur..
Damini, sabse ajeeb baat to yeh tha ke paani bharne ki awaaz ke saath saath kisi ki khilkhilane ki awaaz bhi aane lagi, kisi ladki ki.....bilkul usi samay! Kuch had tak aisi bhi lagi...(kuch rukke) jaise awaaz Neha ki ho!
Prakash : (haske) baap re! Sach me kya kissa hai! Neha ki awaaz, seriously?? Tum bhi na.... darling! Just relax! Voh awaaz sirf jug me bharte huye paani ki hi hogi! (Juice aage karta hua)
Damini : Agar awaaz normal hoti to thik thi, lekin sach me ek ajeeb si khilkhilahat ki awaaz lag rahi thi mujhe! Aur voh bhi..... Khair, shayad vaham hogi..(toast khati hui)
Prakash : Darling! Mujhe malum nahi tha ke horror upanyaso padhne me tumhari ruchi hai! (Haske) Shayad isliye aise bhram aayi thi kal raat ko! (Phir ek kass ke toastbite lete huye) aur vaise bhi jaaneman, murde kabhi zinda vapas nahi aaya karte! Khilkhilana aur hasna to door ki baat hai (muskurake).
Damini keval muskurayi aur apni toast pe dhyan dene lagi. Shayad sach me brham hi thi, yehi sochne lagi.
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Manglu ke aankh khulte hi, uske nazar apne ghadi pe chala jaata hain. "Are baap re! Sahab aur memsaheb kabhi bhi bula sakte hain!" Itna kehke, voh apne huliya thik karke gaddi se uth jaata hain. Fresh hoke, quarter se jaise hi Manglu nikla...tabhi turant uski nazar niche aate hi jaise tham se ruk gaya aur ek khaas chiz pe gaur karta hua, aankhe bade bade ho gaye. Hua yun, ke Quarter ke darwaze ke chaukhat pe kisi ki pairo ke nishan the. Lekin nishan kisi insaan ke nahi, maano koi jaanwar ka ho, kyonki nishan pair ke kam aur panjo ke zyada lag rahe the aur size ke hisab se kisi insaan ke samaan hi lag rahe the.
"Yeh kya itni ajeeb tarah ke pairo ke nishan kiske ho sakte hain?? Lag to kisi janwaar ka hi hai!.."
Manglu ekdam se ghabrake us nishaan ko dekhe jaa raha tha, ke tabhi ek kutte ki awaaz aayi use. Baju me mudke dekha to paas hi ke gali pe rehne wala ek naukar Jaggu apne malik ke kutte ko leke kahin jaa raha tha. Kyonki kutta Doberman zaat ka tha, isliye Manglu use sandeh karta hua foran Jaggu ko rok deta hain "oye Jaggu! Idhar aa! Aaa idhar!".
Jaggu ruk jaata hain aur Manglu uske samne pahuchke, us kutte ko gaur se dekhne laga aur phir Jaggu ki aur dekhne laga. Hamesha ki tarah aaj bhi Jaggu tambaku chaba raha tha. Aksar yaha vaha ke lafre me uska aur Manglu ke takkar hote rehte the.
Manglu : apne is kutte ko leke mere quarter ke baju me kya peshab karane le aaya tha??? (Ghusse me)
Jaggu (chabate chabate) : Manglu bhaiya? Kya keh rahe ho?? Aaj tak aisa hua kya, ke hum Monty bhayia (kutta) ko aapke itne pavitra aur shubh sthan pe peshab karane le aaye! Hai??? Aisa hua kabhi?
Manglu : to is dhool mein kutte ki pairo ke nishan kaise aye??? Yeh dekh yaha!
Itna kehke Manglu Jaggu ko voh nishan dikhane jaata hi hain ke khud hairan ho gaya. Voh panje jaise nishaan gayab the! Jiske vajah se Manglu ekdam sehairani se chaunk utha.
Jaggu : kidhar? Are kahe bhram me jeete ho Manglu bhayiaa! (Tambaku chaba ke)
Manglu : (khud se dhime swarr me) are....yeh kaise ho sakta hai! Mere aankhe dhoka nahi khaa sakta! Nishaan to bane huye the pakka!
Jaggu : are kahe subah subah bawal kar rahe ho! isiliye keh rahe the tumse ke ek baar ganv hoke ao! Yeh Prakash seth ke yaha kam karte karte sathiya gaye ho tum!!
Itna kehke Jaggu tambaku chabate chabate kutte ko leke vaha se chala jaata hain. Lekin, ab kahin sawal kal raat se leke abhi subah tak, Manglu ko satane laga. Dil hi dil mein ab ek khauff sa aane laga use. Yeh khauff ka jamam usi dauran hua tha jab Prakash ne Neha ko us shrapit jagah pe dafnaya tha, us din se leke ab tak ek anjaana sa bhay uske dimaag me kahin na kahin basa hua zaroor tha aur phir bhay ke lakshan aur badhne laga, jab use kal raat ke anubhav ko yaad kiya.
"Kal raat jo kuch bhi hua.....aur ab yeh! Kahin...kuch gadbad to nahi...."
Manglu apne soch me dooba hua tha ke tabhi "Manglu! Oye kahan hai?". Prakash ki awaaz sunke Manglu bangle ki aur jaane laga. Vaise bhi yeh sab baaton ko kiske saath bata jaa sakta tha. Dil mein hi rakhna usne thik samjha.
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Vaha, college ki canteen me :
Mehul : Arpita, police se kuch khabar nahi aaya! Aaj pure ek din beet gaye!
Arpita : itna kam dhairya se kuch nahi hoga Mehul! Police to koshish kar hi raha hai...give it some time! Ab please khaa lo! Kuch hi pal mein classes shuru hone wale hain!
Mehul : kuch thik nahi lag raha hai Arpita! Neha ke bina...to..
Arpita : just shutup Mehul! Bollywood wala nonsense mat do mujhe! Main bhi Neha ki saheli hoon, lekin ek rational insaan bhi hoon! Now please grow up!
Mehul : (Arpita ke haath thaamke) thanks Arpita! You know....tum itni positive ho ke, Neha bahut lucky hai tum jaisi saheli paake!
Ia baat me Arpita muskurati hain aur dono apne apne classes jaane lage. Lekin Mehul ke liye Neha ko bhoolna aasan bilkul nahi tha.
Claas me bhi lecture me kuch khaas dhyan nahi de paya tha Mehul. Aur, baju me betha Ashish baar baar use dekhe jaa raha tha, lekin dukh bhala kis baat ka tha, jab usne khud Neha ka bhog liya hua tha. Lekin paas me betha Mehul ko is baat ka zara sa bhi khayal nahi tha ke Aashish apne dil mein kya kya raaz chupaye betha hua tha
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Usi din shaam ko, Police Station me vapas Arpita aur Mehul Neha ke update lene pahuch jaate hain. Is baar Inspector Shah khud gambhir bhav dikha raha tha.
Shah : bethiye! (Gambhir swar me)
Arpita : officer, Neha ke silsile me kuch pata chala aapko??
Shah : dekhiye! Main jo kehne jaa raha hoon, voh kehna aasan nahi, lekin kehna pad raha hai!
Mehul : (tez bhav liye) saaf saaf batayiye officer! Baat kya hai?
Shah : dekhiye, Kal subah, kul milake jitne bhi area connected hai, unme kuch teen accident ke cases huye hain!
Arpita dil thaamke sunti rahi.
Mehul : to.... Neha ki isse sambandh ???? ...aap kehna chahta hai ki....
Shah : yes Mr Mehul! (Arpita ki aur) Miss Aprita.....un teen cases me, ek case aapke dost Neha Mehra ki thi! Aur....sorry to say, she was dead on spot!
Arpita : (aankhe badi badi karke) WHAT??
Mehul ke pairo tale maano zameen hi khisak gaya tha. Use yakeen nahi ho raha tha is baat pe. Ghusse me voh table ke saare ke saare cheeze gira deta hain "officer! Hosh me to hai aap???????"
Shah : yeh kya badtamizi hai Mr Mehul?? Behave yourself! Please (Arpita ki aur) aapke dost ko sambhalye! Yeh police station hai. Inke khilaf action le sakta hoon main!
Arpita : (khud dukhi hoke) I... I am sorry officer! Main inhe leke jaata hoon! Lekin...kya laash ko hum.......hum ek dafa dekh sakte hain?
Shah : (karuna bhav liye) I am sorry! Kaash main aapko dikha sakta, lekin yakeen maniye, laash ka chehra tak bigad chuka hai accident me!
Arpita : lekin officer....yeh...... sab...kaise! Ye....
Shah : humne us gaadi ki bhi jaanch ki, spot pe pahuchke, voh gaadi Mr Prakash Mehra ke naam pe registered hai. I am sorry!
Baat ko aur na badhate huye Arpita ekdam se tute hye Mehul ko leke police station se bahaar chali jaati hain. Un dono ke jaate hi foran Inspector Shah ek lambe rahat ke saas lete huye, apne vardi ke upar ke ek do button khol deta hain aur baju ek junior hawaldar ko adesh dene laga "Suno! Jaake kuch cigarettes aur haan, mera manpasand brand le aana! Abhi turant!".
Shah ke kehke par voh havaldar daud pada aur voh kisi ko kuch whatsapp karne lagta hain, hala ke is baar uske chehre pe bahut normal bhav the. Itna normal, ke voh message bhejke foran apne liye kuch khaana mangvata hain aur chain se bethne laga. Whatsapp ka voh message jis shaks ke phone tak gaya, voh aur koi nahi balki Prakash hi tha, jo beer ki chuski lagaye, foran Shah ka message dekhne laga.
Message ko padhke, Prakash ke chehre pe ek sukoon bhari muskaan aajata hain. Message kuch is tarah tha :
'Mehra sahab! Kaam hogaya, ab un dono ko yakeen ho gaya ke aapki bhatiji ki accident hi hui thi!".
Yeh padhke Prakash ek aakhri tasalli kar liya aur agle hi pal us Shah ko, uske account me ek accha khaasa rakam transfer kar diya. Chehre pe muskaan liye, voh Neha Mehra ka file permanently band kar leta hain.
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Kareeb raat ke 8 baje, Mehul aur Arpita phone be baatein karne lage.
Arpita : Mehul, I still can't believe this! Yeh khabar yakeen karne ko jee nahi chah raha hai!
Mehul : baar baar khudko samjha raha hoon! Mana raha hoon! Lekin....nahi! Neha, accident...... Mujhe to kuch yakeen karne ka mann hi nahi kar raha hai!
Mehul aur Arpita kuch shant se the ke tabhi Arpita kuch kehti hain, jise sunke Mehul ke aankhe kautohol me bade ho jaate hain.
"Mehul, dil ko tasalli dene ke liye, kam se kam ek baar hume morgue jaana hi parega!".
Kya Mehul aur Arpita ko kabhi asli sacchai ka pata chalega? Kya Manglu aur Damini ka bhram keval bhram tha ya kuch aur? Iska jawab keval vaqt dega.
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