MAA KI GARAM RAAZ: BETE KE SAATH GILI DATING:
CHAPTER #001
The Reunion (Pehli Mulaqaat 10 Saalon Baad)
Shyamala, 39 saal ki sulagti hui aurat, jiski nazuk curves aur gehri kaali aankhein har mard ko apni jaal mein phansa leti hain. Talaq ke baad akeli, lekin dil mein chhupi aag jo ab bete ke saath jaag uthi hai.
Woh kitchen mein khadi, salwar kameez ke neeche woh garmahat mehsoos karti hui, jaise har saans mein ek raaz chhupa ho, jo 10 saalon ki tanhai ko bhula de.
Hyderabad ki woh shaam thi, jab mausam mein biryani ki khushboo aur Hussain Sagar ki thandi hawa mil kar ghar ke angane ko mehka rahi thi. Banjara Hills ke is posh ilaake mein Shyamala ka flat ek chhota sa aashiyana tha. Do bedroom wala, jahaan deewaron par purane family photos latke the, lekin ab unmein sirf dhool jami hui thi. 10 saal pehle, jab talaq hui thi, uske pati, ek ambitious IT engineer, ne custody ki ladai jeet li thi. Sourav, tab sirf 10 saal ka, uske saath America chala gaya tha, Silicon Valley ke ek posh suburb mein, jahaan baap ne usko elite boarding school mein daal diya tha. Padhai ke naam par alag kar diya. "Beta ko future dena hai," woh kehta raha. Shyamala ladti rahi, court ke chakkar kaati, lekin haar gayi. Visa issues, distance, aur baap ka naya rishta. Sabne usko door kar diya. Sirf video calls, birthday wishes, aur woh thode se messages jo har baar dil ko cheer dete lekin khali bhi chhod jaate. Ab Sourav 20 ka ho gaya tha, college khatam karke wapas aa raha tha. Internship ke liye Hyderabad mein, ek tech startup mein. "Maa, main aa raha hoon. Ghar mein hi rahunga," uska aakhri message abhi bhi phone par tha.
Shyamala ne counter par haath rakha, ungliyan thandi marble par tapak rahi thi.
Uski beti, Priya, 18 saal ki ab, jo talaq ke baad uske saath hi rahi thi. Abhi college hostel mein thi, engineering karti hui. Priya strong thi, jaise uski maa, lekin uske dil mein bhi wohi sawaal the: "Maa, bhai kab aayega?" Priya ka boyfriend Raj, ek sweet ladka from Osmania University, usko sambhalta tha. Dinner dates, late-night calls. Shyamala muskurati, lekin andar se jalti. Apni beti ko woh pyaar mil raha tha jo usko kabhi nahi mila. Aaj Priya ko bataaya tha: "Bhai aa raha hai, kal dinner saath karenge." Priya khush ho gayi, "Raj ko bhi bulaun?" Shyamala ne haan kaha, lekin socha. Pehle sirf hum teeno, maa-beta-behen.
Ghadi ki sui 6:45 par thi. Flight Rajiv Gandhi International Airport se land hui thi, lekin Hyderabad ka traffic. Woh toh jaanta tha. Uber ka message aaya: "10 minutes away." Shyamala ne apna dupatta theek kiya. Laal silk wala, jo uski gardan par halka sa chipka hua tha, curves ko aur highlight kar raha tha. Woh aaina dekha. 39 saal mein bhi, uski skin glow karti thi, yoga aur long walks se. Baal khule, thode curly, aur woh laal bindiya jo usko traditional lekin tempting banati thi. Dil mein ek ajeeb si harkat. Excitement mili hui dar. Sourav ab kaisa hoga? Chhota sa ladka jo uski god mein khelta tha, ab mard? Videsh ne usko badal diya hoga.
Doorbell ki dheemi awaaz aayi, jaise koi purana geet shuru ho raha ho. Shyamala ne saans li, haath seeche kiye, aur darwaza khola. Saamne woh tha. Sourav. 20 saal ka, lamba, mazboot. Tight laal t-shirt mein uska seena ubhra hua, jaise koi fitness model, woh shape jo nazuk lekin strong dikhti thi, jeans shorts jo uski taangein aur athletic bana rahe the. Lambe kaale baal peeche ponytail mein bandhe, neeli aankhein. Baap ki heritage. Jismein eyeliner ki halki si line, shayad party look se, aur laal lips jo muskurahat ke saath khulte the. Ek backpack kandhe par, dusra haath mein trolley. "Maa," usne kaha, awaaz gehri, American accent ki thodi si chhaap ke saath, lekin dil se wohi pyaar.
Shyamala ki duniya ruk gayi. "Kitna sundar ladka," yeh khayal uske mann mein bijli ki tarah sa chala. Woh aage badhi, haathon se uska chehra chhua. Thoda sa stubble, lekin woh softness ab bhi thi. "Sourav, mera beta," awaaz kamp rahi thi. Gale mil gaye. Uska badan garam, flight ki thakaan se halka paseena, aur woh khushboo. Fresh cologne mili masculine scent se, jo Shyamala ke dil ko chhu gayi. Dheere se peeche hataya, aankhon mein dekha. "Tum papa se bhi zyada hot lag rahe ho," baat muh se nikal gayi, bina soche. Sourav sharma gaya, hans pada. "Maa, aisi baatein? Abhi toh sirf pahuncha hoon. Jet lag maar raha hai." Lekin uski aankhon mein chamak thi, jaise yeh taareef uske liye welcome gift ho.
Andar aaye, living room mein. Flat chhota tha, lekin cozy. AC ki thandi hawa, TV par local news chal rahi thi, aur khidki se view of distant Charminar ki lights. Shyamala ne bag lene ki koshish ki, lekin Sourav ne roka: "Maa, main kar loonga. Tu baith." Chai banayi usne. Hyderabad style, strong elaichi wali, doodh ubaal kar, adrak daal kar, jaise 10 saal pehle karti thi. Cup haath mein dete hue, boli, "Bata na, America kaisa tha? School, friends, sab?" Sourav sofa par baith gaya, pair faila kar. Relaxed, lekin thaka hua. "Wahaan toh non-stop tha. Coding classes, gym, parties. Papa busy rehte the, toh hostel mein hi adjust ho gaya. Miss kiya tujhe, maa. Video calls mein tera chehra dekhkar chain milta tha." Shyamala baith gayi paas mein, cup se steam uth rahi thi. "Aur Priya? Uski photos dekhi tune? Ab woh badi ho gayi, Raj naam ka boyfriend hai. Sweet ladka, engineering ka."
Sourav muskuraya, phone nikala: "Haan, dekha. Priya toh bilkul teri tarah dikhti hai. Strong, independent. Raj ko bataun, bhai aaya hai?" Shyamala hans padi, "Kal dinner plan kar lenge. Priya khush ho jayegi." Baaton mein past aa gaya. Chai ke cup khatam hote hi, Shyamala ki aankhein nam ho gayi. "Sourav, main jaanti hoon. Woh 10 saal. Main lad nahi paayi. Talaq ke baad, court, visa. Sab mushkil tha. Tu chhota tha, main akeli. Galti meri thi, maaf kar do." Uski awaaz toot rahi thi, haath uske haath par rakh diya. Sourav ne pakad liya. Uska haath ab mazboot tha, lekin touch mein wohi bachpan ka pyaar. "Maa, woh sab bhool ja. Baap ne socha future ke liye theek hai, lekin ab main yahaan hoon. Internship yahaan hi, Google ke saath tie-up. Vaada, ab har cheez saath. No more distance." Shyamala ne sir hilaaya, dil mein ek garmahat si phail gayi, jaise koi purana zakhm bhar raha ho.
Baaton mein dost ka zikr aaya. "Vikram? Woh toh mera bachpan ka yaar hai," Sourav bola, excited. "Hyderabad ka hi hai, Banjara Hills mein rehta, IT mein job karta hai. Fun-loving saala, hamesha parties plan karta. Gym freak, tattoos wala, lekin dil ka sachcha. America jaate waqt usne hi bola tha, 'Wapas aa ja, bro, warna main teri maa ko kidnap kar loonga.'" Shyamala hans padi, gaal laal. "Badmaash! Kal teeno milte hain? Mall jaate hain, Inorbit pe shopping." Sourav ne haan kaha, "Deal. Vikram ko bata deta hoon, woh toh jump kar jayega."
Chai khatam, TV on kiya. Ek old Bollywood romantic movie, DDLJ chal rahi thi, woh iconic train scene. Sofa par baithkar, Shyamala ne apna sir uske kandhe par rakh liya. Jaise pehle karti thi, lekin ab yeh alag mehsoos ho raha tha, uski body heat se ek halki si current. Movie mein kiss scene aaya, aur Shyamala ke honthon ne, bina soche, Sourav ke gaal par halka sa kiss kar diya. "Movie ka asar!" usne sharma kar kaha, chehra side kar liya. Sourav ne sirf muskuraya, haath se uske baal chhua: "Maa, yeh asar toh acha lag raha hai. Ghar jaisa."
Film khatam hui, utsaah bhara hua. "Chalo, ghar dikhaun?" Shyamala uthi, haath pakad kar. Bedroom. Priya ka room empty, uska apna simple, kitchen jahaan biryani ka masala abhi bhi mehka raha. Phir bathroom. Woh open wala, sirf curtain, privacy ke naam par ek joke. Sourav ne dekha, tease: "Maa, yeh toh peek-a-boo special hai! Shower lete waqt mat jhankna, haan." Shyamala ki hansi chhoot gayi, gaal sulag uthay: "Badmaash! Ja, shower le le pehle. Main dinner banaati hoon. Simple Hyderabadi haleem, light." Sourav shower mein chala gaya, pani ki awaaz aayi. Shyamala kitchen mein khadi, haath mein knife, sabzi kaat rahi, lekin mann kahin aur. Yeh lauta hai. Mera beta, ab yeh naya roop. Touch, muskurahat. Ek halki si garmi badh rahi thi, jaise raaz khulne wala ho.
Shower ke baad, Sourav towel lapet kar bahar. Baal geele, t-shirt geeli se chipki, body ka outline saaf dikhai deta hua, woh mazboot lines jo Shyamala ki nazar ko rok leti thi. Dinner table par baith gaye. Haleem garma garam, steam uth rahi thi jaise unke beech ki hawa. Baatein lambi khinchi gayi, garma garam jaise haleem khud. Sourav ne America ki stories sunayi. Silicon Valley ki wild parties, jahaan woh dost logon ke saath rooftop par baithkar stars gin te the, lekin har baar maa ka khayal aata tha. "Ek baar, Thanksgiving par, main akela tha hostel mein. Papa family ke saath gaye the nayi aunty ke saath. Tune video call par biryani kaise banate hain woh sikhaaya. Yaad hai? Usi se pet bhara tha." Shyamala muskurayi, lekin andar se jal gayi. Woh akelapan, jo uska bhi tha. "Aur Priya ke college gossips?" usne poocha, haath se uski plate bharte hue. Sourav hans pada, "Priya ne message kiya tha kal. Hostel mein ek ladka propose kar raha tha, lekin Raj ne handle kar diya. Sweet couple, bilkul hum jaise pehle." Shyamala ka dil thoda sa dhadka. Hum jaise? Phir Vikram ki baari: "Woh saala shaadi ki afwaahein faila raha hai khud. Ek ladki se date kar raha hai, office wali, lekin kehta hai 'Bro, teri maa jaise koi nahi. Class aur spice dono.' Maine bola, 'Chup kar, kidnap mat kar.'" Shyamala ke gaal phir laal, lekin is baar hansi mein ek halki si thrill. Yeh taareefen, jaise unka raaz ban rahi thi.
Raat ke 11 baj gaye, haleem ki plate khali, lekin baatein abhi bhi garam. Sourav ki aankhein bhaari ho rahi thi, jet lag ki thakaan chehre par saaf, lekin woh rukna nahi chahta tha. "Jet lag maar raha hai, maa. So jaaun?" usne poocha, awaaz mein wohi pyaar, lekin haath abhi bhi table par uske haath ke paas. Shyamala ne uthkar uske paas jaana hi tha. Goodnight hug ke liye. Badan se badan mila, towel ke neeche woh garmahat ek pal ke liye ruk gayi nahi, balki badh gayi. Uske seene se uska soft curves chipke, saansein mili. Sourav ki garam saans uski gardan par lagi, jaise koi chhedani hawa. Shyamala ke haath uski peeth par phirte hue ruk gaye, woh mazboot muscles mehsoos karte hue, aur ek pal ke liye haath neeche sark gaya, towel ki edge ko chhua. "Beta, itni jaldi kyun? Kahin jaana hai tujhe?" usne dheere se kaha, awaaz mein woh sulagti hui lajja mili hui challenge, chehra uske kandhe par dabaya hua. Sourav ne peeche nahi hataya, balki haath se uski kamar ko halka sa dabaya. "Nahi maa, yahin rehna hai. Tere paas." Saansein tez ho gayi, room ki hawa bhari ho gayi us garmi se, jaise raat abhi shuru hui ho. Shyamala ne dheere se alag hui, lekin aankhon mein woh chamak. "Toh kal subah jaldi uthna, Priya aayegi. Goodnight, abhi ke liye." Sourav muskuraya, room ki taraf gaya, lekin peeche mudkar dekha. Maa khadi thi, dupatta halka sa sark gaya, woh nazar uske curves par thehri.
Shyamala apne kamre mein leti rahi, andhera toh tha lekin dil mein roshni. AC ki awaaz, saansein abhi bhi tez. Hug ki woh garmi, haath ka woh chhuan. "Yeh mazaa aayega," usne khud se kaha, haath se apne badan ko chhua. Sulagta hua. Garam raaz jaag chuka tha, gili hui shuruaat, aur yeh raat ab akeli nahi, balki intezaar bhari. Hyderabad ki hawa khidki se aa rahi thi, lekin asli garmi andar thi.
