**Parv 31** (Samapti)
Raha chupke se bistar par let gayi — Rafa aur Sabbir ke paas. Uski yoni abhi bhi geeli thi, Ramu ka veerya andar hi tha. Uska shareer abhi bhi kaanp raha tha.
Sabbir ne neend bhari awaaz mein poocha,
**Sabbir**:
“Kahan gayi thi?”
Raha dar gayi. Uski gale ki nali sookh gayi. Usne ek pal sochkar kaha,
**Raha**:
“Bas… paani pi kar aa gayi.”
Sabbir ne kuchh aur nahi kaha. Kuchh minute chup rehne ke baad usne phir bola,
**Sabbir**:
“Aaj baba-maa ka visa approve ho gaya. Agle hafte humara flight hai. London ja rahe hain.”
Raha yeh sun kar vishwas hi nahi kar pa rahi thi. Uski seene ke andar se jaise ek bhari bojh utar gaya. Itne dinon se yeh gaon, yeh jahannum, yeh Ramu — sabse aakhirkaar chhutkara milne wala tha. Uski aankhon mein aansu aa gaye, lekin woh chup rahi.
Samay guzarta raha. Ramu ne kai baar Raha se akela mein baat karne ki koshish ki, lekin Raha ne usko koi mauka hi nahi diya. Jahan bhi woh Ramu ko dekhti, wahan se turant hat jati. Ramu ki aankhon mein jwala aur nirasha saaf dikhai de rahi thi, lekin Raha phir kabhi uski taraf mudkar bhi nahi dekhti thi.
Jaane se pehle ka din.
Shaam ke baad Raha chupke se ghar se nikal kar Ramu ke khet ki taraf chali gayi. Uske haath mein ek matchbox aur kerosene ki bottle thi. Usne pehle sookhe ghaas ke dheer par, phir pat ke khet mein aag laga di. Aag tezi se failne lagi. Laal aag ki lapatein aasman ki taraf uthne lagi.
Raha thodi door khadi hokar aag ko dekh rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein jwala thi, lekin chehre par ek kadwa sa santosh tha. Woh man hi man soch rahi thi —
“ Yeh teri saza hai, Ramu. Tune mere shareer par haath dala tha. Mera samman barbaad kiya tha. Mere pati aur beti ke saamne mujhe apmaan kiya tha. Yeh aag teri saari sapne, teri saari sampatti ko jalakar raakh kar de. Jaise tune mujhe jalaya tha, aaj maine bhi tujhe jala diya. Yeh teri haqdaar saza hai.”
Aag ki lapatein khet ke bade hisse ko nigal rahi thi. Door se gaon walon ki chillahatein sunai de rahi thi. Raha shaant man se ghumkar ghar ki taraf chal padi. Uski dil mein ek ajeeb si shanti thi.
Agli subah pura parivaar London ke liye rawana ho gaya.
Raha gaadi mein baithkar khidki se aakhri baar gaon ki taraf dekhi. Uski aankhon mein ab koi darr nahi tha — sirf mukt hone ka ehsaas tha.
**Samapt**