Prayaas

Kunal naam ka ek ladka hain. Woh ek chote se gaon mein apne maata-pita ke saath rehta hain. Woh apne maata-pita ka eklauta ladka hain. Kunal padhayi mein bohut accha hain. Uska bohut tez dimaag hain. Use apne jeevan se badi aashayien hain. 

Aaj Kunal ka dasvi board pariksha ka result aane wala hain. Aaj woh subah jaldi uth gaya hain. Woh tayyar hokar bhagwan ko pranam kar apne maata-pita ka aashirwad lene ke liye chala gaya. Kunal apne pita ka pair chuta hain aur woh usse kehte hain, "Yashasvi Bhav." Phir woh apne maa ka pair chuta hain aur woh bhi use aashirwad deti hain. Uske baad woh apne ek dost ke ghar jaata hain, jiske pass computer hain. Kyunki us parivaar ke phone ka balance khatam ho chuka hain, aur result aaj hi aane wala hain. Website khol kar woh dono search karte hain aur Kunal ka result uske aankhon ke saamne hota hain. Use 95 % marks mile hain. Woh bohut khush hota hain aur apne pita ko call karke unhe yeh khushkhabri sunata hain. Woh log bhi bohut khush hote hain. Aaj Kunal ke maata-pita ko us par bada garv mehsus ho raha hain. Woh apne ghar wapas laut jaata hain. Ghar pahuchte hi, Kunal ke Pita use apne gale se laga lete hain. Uski Maa uske sar par haath rakh deti hain aur uske baalon ko sehlati hain. Agle din woh log aas-pados mein mithayi baant dete hain. Phir shaam mein baat karte-karte Kunal ke Pita usse puch lete hain, "Beta ab aage kya karoge tum ?"

Kunal - "Papa main ek scientist banunga."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Toh us padhayi ke liye tumhe shahar jaana padega."

Kunal - "Haan Papa."

Kunal Ki Maa - "Lekin beta hum logon ko chod kar tum chale jaaoge ?"

Kunal Ke Pita - "Yeh uski zindagi hain. Uske bhi kuch sapne hain. Agar woh yahi chahta hain toh use tum roko mat."

Kunal - "Papa main yeh toh nahi jaanta hoon ki, main Scientist banunga ya nahi par agar main koshish hi na karun toh main, aage kaise badhunga."

Kunal Ki Maa - "Lekin beta tum waha par rahoge kaise ?"

Kunal Ke Pita - "Woh sab intezaam bhi ho jaayega. Zindagi mein aage badhne ka mauka insaan ko baar-baar nahi milta hain. Main tumhara shehar mein rehna ka koi na koi raasta nikaalta hoon."

Kunal muskura deta hain. 

Kunal ko Pune ek institute mein admission mil jaata hain aur kareeb do mahino ke prayason ke baad aakhir kaar Kunal ke rehne aur khaane ka intezaam bhi ho jaata hain. Uske pita use chodne ke liye Pune uske saath jaate hain. Agle din woh wapas gaon ke liye nikal padte hain. 

Woh bohut mann laga kar padhayi karta aur har roz apne maata-pita se phone par baat-cheet karta. Kareeban teen saal ki kadi mehnat ke baad aakhir kaar uska result aa hi jaata hain aur use degree bhi mil jaati hain. Kunal ke maata-pita bohut khush hote hain. Woh apne gaon wapas aa jaata hain.

Ek din, baat-cheet karte-karte Kunal ke pita us se puch lete hain, "Ab tum aage kya karoge beta ?"

Kunal - "Main ISRO mein naukri karunga Papa."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Thik hain beta. Kya tum apply kar chuke ho ?"

Kunal - "Nahi. Abhi tak nahi."

 Kunal Ke Pita - "Toh tum apply kab karoge ?"

Kunal - "Kal karunga."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Thik hain beta."

Kunal agle din apne dost, jiska naam Ajay hain uske ghar jaata hain, apply karne ke liye. Woh ISRO ke website par jaakar apply karta hain. Phir woh dono wahi par baithe kuch der baat-cheet karte rehte hain. 

Ajay - "Ab toh bohut accha ho jaayega. Tum ISRO chale jaaoge. Aur bohut bade scientist ban jaaoge."

Kunal muskura deta hain. Phir Ajay puchta hain, "Yaar tum hum logon ko bhool toh nahi jaaoge na ?"

Kunal - "Yeh tum aakhir kaisi baatein kar rahe ho ? Kya main tum logon ko bhool sakta hoon ?"

Ajay - "Shayad haan. Ho bhi sakta hain." Phir woh dono hans padte hain.

"Are nahi yaar. Yahan sab apne log hain. Bachpan se hum sab saath rahe hain. Aise kaise main sabko bhool sakta hoon." Kunal kehta hain.

Ajay - "Toh hum logon ko chod kar jaa rahe ho ? Dekho main samajh sakta hoon, tumhe bhi tarakki karni hain. Apne zindagi mein aage badhna hain lekin, tum hamesha yeh baat yaad rakhna ki zindagi mein aage daudte-daudte kahi itna dur mat nikal jaana ki tumhe tumhare apne dhoondhne par bhi na mile. Unchai par rehna wala aadmi kahi na kahi apni zindagi mein, bohut akela pad jaata hain."Kunal bas apna sar hila deta hain. 

Kuch mahino ke baad, use ISRO se interview ke liye bulaaya jaata hain. Poore gaon mein yeh baat fail jaati hain ki Kunal ko interview ke liye bulaaya gaya hain. Bangalore mein ISRO ka main branch hain toh, use interview ke liye Bangalore jaana tha. Woh apne sabhi gaaon walon ka aashirwad leta hain. Uske gaon mein ek darji the. Woh darji wale uncle use ek naya shirt dete hain aur kehta hain, "Beta interview mein yahi wala shirt pehnna. Maine yeh shirt khaas tumhare interview ke liye hi banaya hain." 

Kunal Ke Pita - "Shirt toh bohut sundar hain." 

Kunal - "Thank You Uncle." Yeh kehkar woh shirt apne bag mein rakh leta hain. Uske baad Kunal apne pita ke saath Bangalore ke liye nikal jaata hain. Bangalore pahuch kar woh dono ek lodge mein room lete hain aur Kunal apne interview ki tayyari mein lag jaata hain. Shaam mein, Kunal Ke Pita uske liye khaana le aate hain aur woh dono saath mein khaana kha kar so jaate hain. Agle din woh dono baap-bets ISRO ke office pahuchte hain aur wahan par pahuchne ke baad woh dono ISRO ka set up dekhar hairaan reh jaate hain. Itna bada office woh dono ne apni zindagi mein kabhi nahi dekha tha. 

Kunal Ke Pita - "Office toh bohut bada hain beta."

Kunal - "Toh zara sochiye Papa ki aakhir Space Station kitna bada hoga."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Toh tum kaam Space Station mein karoge ?"

Kunal - "Papa kaam Space Station mein hi hota hain."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Chalo badhiya hain. Bas tum yahan par set ho jaao. Tumhari zindagi sawar jaayegi."

Uske baad un logon se kaha jaata hain, ki Kunal ka interview agle din hoga aur woh log shaam mein wapas hotel room mein pahuchte hain. Dono baap bete baatein karte rehte hain. Baat karte-karte Kunal kehta hain, "Papa main soch raha hoon ki, agar meri job yahan par lag jaata hain, toh yahan par ek flat lekar hum sab saath rahenge."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Woh sab baad ki baat hain. Filhal tum apna dhyaan bas kal ke interview mein laga do."

Kunal - "Thik hain Papa."

Kunal raat bhar kitaabein padh kar apne interview ke liye tayyari kar raha tha. Raat ke do baj rahe the. Tab Kunal Ke Pita ne kaha, "Ab tum so jaao beta. Agar neend puri nahi ho paayi toh, tum acche se interview de nahi paaoge."

Kunal - "Thik hain Papa." Uske baad woh dono baap-bete so jaate hain. 

Agle din tayyar hokar, Kunal wahi naaya wala Shirt pehenta hain. Woh ek safed rang ka shirt tha. Uske baad, woh dono baap-bete ISRO ke office jaate hain interview ke liye. Kareeb do ghanto tak intezaar karne ke baad, Kunal ko interview ke liye bulaya jaata hain. Uska interview din bhar chalta hain aur Kunal ke pita wahi bahar baithe uska intezaar kar rahe hote hain. Woh baar-baar mann-hi-mann bhagwan se prathna kar rahe the, ki Kunal ka kisi bhi tarah selection ho jaaye yahan par. Shaam mein woh bahar aata hain aur uska chehra utra hua hota hain. Apne bete ko udaas dekh kar Kunal ke pita usse puchte hain, "Kya hua Beta ?"

Kunal - "Kuch nahi Papa."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Batao toh kya kaha unhone ?"

Kunal - "Papa mera selection nahi hua ?" Yeh kehkar uske aankhon mein aansun aa jaate hain. Kunal Ke Pita use apne gale se laga lete hain aur kehte hain, "Koi baat nahi beta. Tumne koshish toh ki na. Bas itna hi kaafi hain."

Kunal - "Lekin Papa ISRO mein kaam karna mera sapna tha."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Sapna tha nahi. Sapna hain kaho. Kya iske baad tum dubaara apply nahi kar paaoge ? Phir se koshish karna."

Kunal kuch nahi kehta hain. 

Kunal Ke Pita - "Ab dubara interview tum kab de sakte ho ?"

Kunal - "Pata nahi Papa."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Kya tumne un logon se pucha nahi."

Kunal 'Na' mein apna sar hilaata hain. 

Kunal Ke Pita - "Tum zara yahi par ruko. Main aata hoon Beta."

Kunal - "Aap kaha par jaa rahe ho Papa ?"

Kunal Ke Pita - "Main bas do minute mein aaya." Yeh keh kar woh andar reception mein jaate hain. Reception par ek ladki baithi rehti hain. Kunal Ke Pita uske pass jaate hain aur kehte hain, "Madam Ji. Mere bete ne aapke yahan par interview diya tha. Lekin, uska selection nahi ho paaya, ab woh kab dubara interview ke liye aa sakta hain ?"

"Sir abhi jab agli baar hume naye employees ki zaroorat hogi tab." Receptionist kehti hain. 

Kunal Ke Pita - "Aur hume is baare mein pata kaise chalega ?"

Receptionist - "Sir hamare website mein jobs ke options mein openings ke baare mein updates aate rehte hain."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Ji bohut bohut shukriya Madam Ji."

Receptionist - "You are welcome Uncle."

Kunal Ke Pita wapas aate hain aur us se kehte hain, "Aasha mat chodo. Dubaara jab zaroorat hogi, tab tum phir se interview ke liye aa sakte ho."

Uske baad woh dono baap-bete wapas gaon ke liye nikal jaate hain. Gaon pahuchne ke baad, raaste bhar gaon ka jo bhi aadmi in dono ko dekhta, woh turant dauda inke pass jaata aur inse puchta, ki kya hua interview ka. Dono baap-bete udaas the, kya keh paate aakhir. Ghar pahuchne ke baad, jab Kunal ki maa ko yeh baat pata chali, toh woh phoot phoot kar ro rahi thi. 

Agle do teen din mein poore gaon ko yeh baat pata chal chuki thi ki, Kunal ISRO se reject ho chuka hain. Kuch log jo kareebi the, woh Kunal ko protsahit karte. Use samjhate. Uski himmat badhane ki koshish karte. Toh kuch log duniya bhar ki baatein banate. Kunal ka mazaak udaate. Kunal ya uske maata-pita jab bhi bahar jaate, nirlajj log unhe rok dete aur puchte, "Kya hua interview ka ? Bade Scientist ban ne wale the ? Bataiye na ?"

Toh woh log keh dete, "Selection ho nahi paaya."

Woh log jhoothi sarahna dete. Taunt maarte hue kehte, "Koi baat nahi agle 10-15 saal mein kuch na kuch ho hi jaayega." Aur phir hans kar chale jaate.  Kunal pehle se hi rejection se udaas tha aur ab uska manobal bhi toot raha tha. Ek baar woh apne ghar par baitha phoot-phoot kar ro raha tha. Kunal ko rota dekh uske pita uske pass aaye aur kahe, "Kya hua beta. Tum ro kyun rahe ho ?"

Kunal - "Toh main aur karun kya Papa."

Kunal Ke Pita - "Agli baar try karna na beta. Woh madam ji boli thi na website mein aayega job."

Kunal - "Aur agar main tab bhi reject ho gaya toh ?"

Kunal Ke Pita - "Toh aisa kounsa insaan hain, jo pehli baar mein hi safal ho gaya ho ? Tumhe pata hain, Thomas Edison 999 baar fail hue the, tab jaakar Bulb ka aavishkar kar paaye. Agar woh bhi tumhari tarah sar pakad kar baith jaate, toh kya hum log aaj raat mein roshni ka anubhav kar paate. Aadmi ko lagatar koshish karte rehna padta hain. Insaan ka har ek sapna poora ho sakta hain. Bas shart yeh hain, ki use nirantar prayas karte rehna padega. Aur tum pehli prayas mein hi sar pakad kar baith gaye ho ?"

 Kunal - "Toh ab kya mujhe tayyari karni chahiye ?"

Kunal Ke Pita - "Bilkul taaki agli baar tum jaao, toh bohut acche se interview de do. Aisa interview do ki tumhara selection turant ho jaaye. Tumhe agar koi kitaabein chahiye toh woh bhi main le aaunga. Kya aaj tak tumhari padhayi ki koi bhi zaroorat mein, humne koi kami rehne di hain ? Hum dono ka kya hain. Hum dono apni zindagi jee chuke hain, ab tumhari zindagi tumhare haath mein hain. Jo bhi faisla lena ho tum lo. Hum dono tumhare saath hain hamesha."

Kunal - "Lekin raah chalte log jo hansi udate hain unka kya karun main ?"

Kunal Ke Pita - "Duniya hansti hain toh, hansne do. Duniya ka kaam hi hain mazaak udaana. Aur yeh baat samajh lo, is zamane ne jis-jis par hansa hain, usi ne hi itihaas racha hain. Nirantar prayas hi tumhe aage le jaayegi. Agar apna lakshya prapt karna hain, toh tumhe nirantar prayas karte rehna hoga."

Lagatar teen baar reject hone ke baad, aakhir kaar, kareeban do saal ke baad, Kunal ko ISRO mein naukri mil hi gayi. Kuch mahino ke baad usne, ek acche area mein ek flat bhade par liya aur apne Maata-Pita ko apne saath Bangalore le gaya.

                  - Ved Vineet Gautam