Mein chaye aur garma-garam poha lekar Aarav ke kamre ki taraf chali. Woh apne bistar par baitha, kitab mein dooba hua tha. Uske chehre par woh gehri talleenata thi, aankhein kitab ke panno par chipki hui thi, aur uska ek ek shabd padhne ka andaaz... haye, mujhe toh bas usse dekhte rehne ka dil karta tha. Meine chupke se darwaze ke peeche se usse dekha, woh itna pyara lag raha tha, jaise koi chhota sa farishta apni duniya mein khoya hua ho. Ha mere liye to chota hi rahega na. Meri nazrein uske chehre par thami hui thi, uske baalon ki woh chhoti si lat jo uske maathe par gir rahi thi, uski ungliyon ka kitab ke panno ko dheere se palatna... sab kuch mujhe ek ajeeb si gudgudi de raha tha, Mein usse aise hi nihar rahi thi. Usse Nihar te waqt meri hontho pe muskan ki lakeer thi.
Mein usse padhte waqt disturb nahi karna chahti thi, par nashta toh karna tha na usse? Aur sach kahu, mera dil usse baatein karne ke liye bechain tha. Thodi si ghabrahat bhi thi, kahi woh gussa na kar de. Par mann ka kya? Mann toh bas uske paas jana chahta tha.
Meine dheere se uske paas jaakar bistar par baith gayi, uske kareeb.
Mein: Umm... Aarav?
Woh padhte-padhte ruk gaya, usne meri taraf dekha. Uski aankhein, woh gahri, gehri aankhein, jismein ek samundar sa chhupa tha, mujhe dekha. Mera dil ek pal ke liye ruk sa gaya.
Aarav: Kya?
Mein: Woh... mein nashta lekar aayi hu.
Aarav: Aap kha lo.
Uski awaaz mein thodi si berukhi thi, par mujhe uski har baat mein ek alag sa pyaar dikhta tha. Meine plate uske saamne rakhi aur muskurate hue boli.
Mein: Umm... meine dono ke liye nashta laya hai.
Usne plate ki taraf dekha, fir meri taraf. Uski nazar mein ek sawal sa tha, aur mein bhi samajh gayi.
Aarav: Ek hi plate mein?
Mera dil thodi si dhadkan ke saath dhadka. Meine fir turant jhoot bol diya, pata nahi kyun, par dil se dil tak baat chali gayi.
Mein: Sorry... umm... woh... baaki plates gandi hain, ek hi saaf mili, isliye ek hi plate mein laayi hu.
Ye jhoot tha, bilkul saaf-saaf jhoot. Par mujhe laga shayad woh ek plate mein saath khane ke liye mana nahi kar dega. Meine usse dekha badi umid lekar, par uski aankhein fir se kitab par chali gayi thi. Mera dil doob sa gaya, shayad usse pasand nahi aaya mere saath ek plate mein khana. Aur mein bhi samajh gaye.
Mein: thik hai mein doosri plate laati hu.
Meine uthkar jane lagi, par tabhi uski awaaz ne mujhe rok diya.
Aarav: Isi mein kha lunga.
Ye sunte hi mere hothon par ek muskurahat khil gayi. Mere pet mein wohi gudgudi shuru ho gayi, jaise koi titaliyaan udd rahi ho. Mera dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha, uski ek chhoti si baat se meri duniya jaise roshan ho gayi.
Meine fir se uske paas baith gayi, is baar aur thodi kareeb. Uske badan ki garmi, uski khushboo, sab mujhe ek ajeeb se ghera rahi thi.
Aarav: Aap kha lo, mein baad mein kha lunga.
Mein: Baad mein kyun? Abhi kha lo, thodi der baad padhna.
Usne plate ki taraf dekha, aur meine dekha uski nazar us ek hi chammach par thami. Mein samajh gayi.
Mein: Woh... ek hi chammach layi hu, isliye baad mein khaoge? Doosri chammach laaun?
Woh thodi der chup raha, fir dheere se bola.
Aarav: Nahi, theek hai.
Meri muskurahat aur bhi gehri ho gayi.

Meine chammach uthaya aur ek niwala uski taraf badhaya.
Mein: Aa karo.
Usne mu khola jaise koye chota baccha ho aur meine usse khilaya. Fir usi chammach se meine ek niwala khud khaya. Woh mujhe nahi dekh raha tha, par meri nazrein us par hi thi. Uska chehra, uski woh jhuthi chammach se khana, sab mujhe ek ajeeb si duniya mein le ja rahe the.
Mein: Tumhe yaad hai, bachpan mein mein tumhe aise hi khilaya karti thi?
Aarav: Hmm.
Mein: Aur tum acche bacche ki tarah chup-chaap kha lete the.
Usne kuch nahi kaha, par meri taraf dekha. Meine usse dekhte hue muskuraya, mera dil uske ek nazar se hi khushi se bhar gaya. Pet mein woh gudgudi aur tez ho gayi.
Mein: Kal raat... tum kitne baje soye the?
Aarav: Paanch baje.
Mein chaunk gayi. Paanch baje? Matlab woh raat bhar chhat par tha? Aree mujhe pata hoti to mein uske saath hi chhat pe rahti jati na, dhatt miss kar diya Meine.
Mein: Aarav, paanch baje? Tumne raat bhar soye nahi?
Aarav: Nahi.
Mein: Paanch baje tak chhat par hi the?
Aarav: Ha.
Mera dil doob gaya. Meine usse niraasha bhari nazron se dekha.
Mein: Aarav, tum raat bhar soye kyun nahi?
Aarav: Aise hi.
Mein: Bas aise hi?
Woh chup raha, mujhe dekhta raha. Mera dil toot raha tha, mein iss baat pe usko dat lagana cahati thi par kiya isska ekdam ulta meine apni awaaz ko aur bhi pyar se bhara.
Mein: Kya... kya tum har raat aise hi bina soye chhat par rehte ho?
Aarav: Kabhi-kabhi.
Mein: Kyun? Mera matlab, tum raat ko sote nahi?
Aarav: Kabhi-kabhi.
Mein: Aarav, aise toh tum bimar pad jaoge.
Woh chup raha. Iss beech Meine usse poha khilaya, khud bhi khaya. Woh chaye ki chuski le raha tha, aur mein uske jawab ka intezaar kar rahi thi.
Aarav: Aur aap?
Mein: Huh?
Aarav: Aap raat ko soti nahi?
Mein chaunk gayi. Usne mujhse sawal kiya? Khud se? Mera pet ek baar fir se gudgudi se bhar gaya. Mein yehi to cahati thi ki woh baatein kare mujhse.
Mein: Kal neend nahi aa rahi thi, isliye chhat par gayi thi.
Aarav: Neend kyun nahi aayi aapko?
Uske sawal ne mujhe andar tak hila diya. Woh meri aankhon mein dekh raha tha, aur meri saansein jaise ruk si gayi. Meine dheere se, thodi si shikayat ke saath kaha.
Mein: Meine tumhe kal bataya tha na, jab khud ka beta mujhse baatein nahi karta, mujhe dekhta nahi, na hi mujhe pyar karta hai, toh neend kaise aayegi?
Meine yeh baat ek ummeed ke saath kahi, ki shayad woh kuch bole, shayad woh kahe ki woh mujhse pyar karta hai, shayad woh mujhe apni baahon mein bhi le le aur kahe, "Maa, mein hoon na aapke saath." Par woh chup raha. Uska chehra fir se kitab ki taraf mud gaya.
Mera dil toot sa gaya, ek chhota sa tukda aur bikhar gaya aisa mujhe laga par tabhi Aarav ne bola.
Aarav: Aap raat ko chhat par mat jaya karo, andhera hota hai.
Mein: Toh tum bhi mat jaya karo.
Aarav: Raat ko soya karo aap.
Mein: Tum bhi raat ko soya karo.
Meine uski baat usse hi wapas kahi, aur mujhe hasi aa gayi. Woh chup ho gaya, shayad meri hasi usse buri lagi. Aur Mera dil phir se dhadka.
Aarav: Mujhe abhi padhna hai.
Mein: Oh... accha, lunch mein kya khaoge?
Par usne jawab nahi diya. Mein samajh gayi, mujhe ab jana hoga. Par dil kahan manta tha? Mera mann toh bas uske paas baithkar usse dekhte rehne ka tha, usse baatein karne ka tha. Par dil ki baat toh kabhi poori hoti nahi.
Meine plate uthayi, usse apne seene se laga liya, jaise woh plate nahi, mera beta Aarav ho. Ek baar mudkar usse dekha, iss umid se ki shayad woh bhi mujhe dekhe, par aisa kuchh huya nahi woh apni kitab mein khoya raha. Mein muskurayi, par andar se toot rahi thi. Yeh zindagi koi bollywood film nahi, hakikat thi jo chahe wahi ho aisa nahi hota tha.
Kitchen mein wapas aayi, lunch banane lagi, par dimag mein bas Aarav, Aarav Aarav aur Aarav hi tha. Uski woh purani yaadein, jab woh chhota tha, meri baahon mein sota tha, mujhe "Maa" kehta tha. Ab toh woh mujhe "Maa" bhi nahi kehta. Par aaj usne mere liye poha banaya tha, shayad ab bhi woh mujhse thoda sa pyar karta ho. Shayad.... Shayad.....
Meine yaad kiya, chaar saal pehle jab woh @# umar ka tha, mein usse is hi kitchen mein poha banana sikha rahi thi. Mein uske peeche khadi thi, apni baahon mein usse jakde hue, uske haathon ko apne haathon mein pakde hue. Mera seena uski peeth se laga hua tha, aur tab bhi mere pet mein yeh gudgudi ho rahi thi.
Woh has raha tha, mujhse baatein kar raha tha. Woh pal ab sirf yaadein ban gaye hain. Aankhein nam ho gayi, par muskurahat bhi thi, kyunki woh yaadein meri sabse badi daulat thi.
Chaar ghante beet gaye, ab 11 baj rahe the. Mein Aarav ko khane ke liye bulane ja rahi thi ki tabhi doorbell baji.
Mein: Shayad Nina hogi, college se aa gayi hogi.
Meine darwaza khola, par Nina nahi, pados ki Rakhi bhabhi thi.
Rakhi ji: Aarav ki maa!
Ha, sab janne Wale mujhe Aarav ki maa kehte hain. Mein to nina ki bhi maa thi par koye mujhe nina ki maa, ya fir Ankur ki patni kehke nahi bulata tha. Sab mujhe Aarav maa hi bulate the.
Mera naam toh jaise Aarav ke saath hi jud gaya hai. Yeh baat mujhe dil ki chhoo jati hai.
Mein: Ji, aaye bhabhi, baithiye. Kaise aana hua?
Rakhi ji: Arre, baithne nahi aayi. Suno, aaj meri beti ka 22 waa janmdin hai.
Mein: Accha.
Rakhi ji: Accha nahi, tum sabko aana hai.
Meine muskurate hue kaha.
Mein: Ji, zaroor aayenge.
Rakhi ji: Aur sab kahan hain?
Mein: Ankur office gaya hain, Nina college gayi hai,woh abhi aati hi hogi.
Rakhi ji: Aarav beta kahan hai? Aajkal woh kam hi dikhta hai.
Mein: Woh ghar pe hai, padhai kar raha hai. Exams aane wale hain na, taiyaari kar raha hai.
Rakhi ji: Acchi baat hai. Mera ladka toh padhta hi nahi. Tumhara beta accha hai.
Mein: Ha, woh toh hai.
Rakhi ji: Yeh batao, chehre par kya lagati ho?
Mein: Waise toh kuch khaas nahi, bas night cream.
Rakhi ji: Arre, din ba din to sundar hoti ja rahi ho.
Mein: Arre, aisi koi baat nahi.
Rakhi ji: Kya baat hai, pati se bahut pyar mil raha hai kya?
Iss baat pe Meine bas has di, par dil mein Aarav ka khayal aaya sirf. Pyar toh mujhe Ankur mera matlab mere pati se chahiye hi nahi tha.
Mein: Arre, aap bhi toh sundar hoti ja rahi ho. Aapke husband aapko bahut pyar karte honge, hai na?
Aur phir hum auraton wali baatein karne lage. Tab tak Nina bhi aa gayi aur hum teeno baithkar gossip karne lage. Thodi der baad Rakhi bhabhi chali gayi.
Mein: Nina, haath-mu dhoke aa, mein Aarav ko bula ke aati hu.
Aarav ke kamre mein gayi, woh ab bhi padh raha tha.
Mein: Aarav, chalo kha lo.
Aarav: Abhi nahi.
Mein: Nahi, pehle kha lo, chalo.
Aarav: Baad mein.
Mera dil uski mujhe aise nazar andaaz karne se toot ta tha, par meine uski kitab zabardasti band kar di.
Mein: Pehle khao, aur mein kuch nahi sunungi. Chalo.
Zabardasti usse khane ke liye baitha diya. Hum teeno mein, Aarav, aur Nina khane baith gaye. Aarav chup-chaap kha raha tha, na mujhe dekh raha tha, na baat kar raha tha. Mera dil uske liye tadap raha tha. Mein usse har waqt batein karna chahti thi.
Mein: Umm... waise Aarav, Rakhi ji aayi thi, unki beti ka janmdin hai aaj. Sabko invite kiya hai... kya tum chaloge?
Aarav: Mujhe nahi jana.
Mein: Par kyun? Unhone sabko bulaya hai.
Nina: Bhaiya, chalo na.
Mein: Ha, Aarav.
Nina: Bhaiya, please na.
Aarav: Bas, mera khana ho gaya.
Aur yeh kehte hue woh uthkar chala gaya. Meine usse roka.
Mein: Aarav, khana toh theek se kha lo...
Par woh bina meri baat sune chala gaya. Nina aur mein usse dekhte reh gaye.
Nina: Bhaiya aisa kyun karte hain, maa? Kabhi-kabhi toh lagta hai woh humein apna maante hi nahi. Aisa kyun hai?
Mein kya jawab deti? Mein khud apne bete ko nahi samajh paayi. Iss Sharam se mera sirr jhuk gaya. Iska kiya jawab deti, Mein aapna haath dho liye, Aarav aise mujhe Nazarandaz karke chala gaya mujhe ab ki iccha nahi thi.
Mein: Mera ho gaya, tu kha le
Nina: Par...
Mein: Meine kaha na, mera ho gaya. Tu Kha le.
Thodi si gusse mein boli, bechari Nina chup-chaap kha rahi thi. Mera dimag bas Aarav ke khayalon mein dooba tha. Mein kya nahi karti thi uski khushi ke liye? Bas uska thoda sa dhyan chahiye tha mujhe, uska pyar chahiye tha. Kya yeh galat tha? Aap log hi batao.
Par woh mujhe nazarandaaz karta tha, aur yeh dard mujhe andar tak kha jata tha.
Nina: Waise, mujhe ek baat poochni thi.
Mein: Kya?
Nina: Aap mujhse hamesha "tu" kehti ho, par bhaiya se "tum". Aisa kyun?
Mein chaunk gayi thi ab iska kiya jawab du nina ko, Sach hi toh thi yeh baat, mein Aarav ko tum kehke hi bulati hu. Tab bhi aur ab bhi, ab to aur bhi, Khair.
Mein: Woh... tu chhoti hai na, isliye.
Nina: Maa, bhaiya mujhse sirf ek saal bade hain. Fir bhi unhe "tum" aur mujhe "tu"?
Mein: Woh... bada hai na, bade ko izzat di jati hai.
Nina: Mujhe toh lagta hai aap papa se bhi zyada bhaiya ki izzat karti ho.
Meri saansein ruk gayi. Ab iska kiya jawab du? Meine khud ko sambhalte hue kaha.
Mein: Kyun na karun uski izzat? woh...
Tabhi Aarav kamre se bahar aaya, shayad kahi jaane ke liye tayyar tha woh.
Mein: Kahan ja rahe ho?
Aarav: Dukaan ja raha hu.
(Dukan matlab humara ho business hai waha)
Nina: Bhaiya, shaam ko jaoge na humare saath?
Par Aarav bina jawab diye chala gaya. Meine usse dekha, par usne nahi. mera dil uske saath hi chala gaya, toote huye. Kiya hojata agar woh mujhe thoda dhake jata, mujhe batake jata?
Nina: Lo, bhaiya toh chale gaye. Ab kya? Mujhe toh lagta hai woh nahi aayega.
Meine darwaze ki taraf dekhte rahi jaha se Aarav gaya tha, mein naraz thi iss baat pe ki woh aise hi chala gaya, par kahi na kahi mujhe ek Biswas tha.
Mein: Shart laga le, woh zaroor aayega. Aur humare saath hi jayega.
Nina: Aapko kaise pata?
Mein: Maa hu na, mujhe pata nahi hoga to aur kise pata hoga?
Nina : chalo shaam ko hi dekha jayega.
Mein darwaze ki dekhte huye muskurai. Meri muskurahat mein ek ummeed thi, ek pyaar tha, jo shayad sirf aur sirf Mein hi samajh sakti thi.
Aisa nahi tha ki mein meri choti beti nina se pyaar nahi karti thi, mein dono baccho se hi pyaar karti hu. par Aarav mera dil tha, aur chahe kuch bhi ho, mein usse hamesha aise hi pyar karti rahungi.