Sangdil

Ansh ek company mein salesman hain. Woh ek Mall mein naukri karta hain. Woh apne maata-pita ka iklauta ladka hain. Ek din, jab woh shaam mein apna khatam karke mall ke parking mein gaya, toh usne dekha ki ek ladki, apne car ka darwaaza baar-baar kholne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Lekin, woh darwaaza khul hi nahi paa raha tha.

 Ansh us ladki ke pass gaya aur kaha, "Excuse Me Mam. Kya main aapki koi madad kar sakta hoon ?"

Ladki uske taraf dekhi aur muskura kar boli, "Haan, agar aap please yeh Car ka darwaaza kholne mein meri madad kar sakte hain, toh bohut meharbani hogi aapki."

Ansh ne us ladki se kaha, "Zara aap please thoda sa side mein ho jaaiye."

Woh ladki thoda sa side mein jaakar khadi ho gayi. Ansh ne chabi ko thoda sa yahan-wahan ghumaya aur darwaze ko ek halka sa dhakka dekar, usne chabi ko dayi aur ghumaya; phir woh darwaza khul gaya.  

"Oh wow. Thank You so much." Ladki ne khushi se kaha.

Ansh - "You are welcome mam."

"By the way. My name is Aarushi." Us ladki ne kaha.

Ansh - "It was nice meeting you Aarushi Mam."

Aarushi - "Bye-Bye."

Ansh - "Bye."

Uske baad, woh ladki car mein baithkar chali gayi aur Ansh bhi, apne bike par baithkar apne ghar ke liye nikal gaya. 

Ek din ki baat hain. Christmas ka din tha aur Mall ko bohut acche se sajaya gaya tha. Shaam ka waqt tha aur kai log Mall mein aaye hue the Christmas ka jashn manane ke liye. 

Ansh apne kaam mein hi laga hua tha. Woh kuch dekhne ke liye neeche jhuka aur tabhi use awaaz aayi, "Excuse Me."

Aawaz sunte hi, Ansh dubara khada hua aur us dauran uska sar table se takraya. "Ouch." Uske muh se awaaz nikali. 

"Oh Iam so sorry." Ladki ne kaha. Dono ne ekdusre ko dekha aur woh dono hi kisi khayal mein pad gaye. 

"I think hum ek baar mil chuke hain shayad." Ladki ne kaha. "Are haan yaad aaya. Main Aarushi hoon. Hum isi Mall ke parking mein mile the. Woh meri Car ki Chaabi ka issue ho gaya tha, tab aapne meri madad ki thi."

Ansh - "Are haan. Yaad aaya. Yaad aaya. Kaisi ho aap Mam ?"

Aarushi - "First of all. Please mujhe Mam mat bulaiye. Call me Aarushi."

"OK Aarushi." Ansh ne muskura kar kaha. 

Aarushi - "Bye the way, Merry Christmas."

Ansh - "Merry Christmas."

Aarushi - "Accha yeh batao, kya aap filhal free ho ?"

Ansh - "Ji nahi Aarushi. Main filhal apni duty par hoon."

Aarushi - "Kab tak free ho jaaoge aap ?"

Ansh - "Aaj toh mushkil hain."

Aarushi ka chehra utar gaya.

Uske chehre ka bhaav dekhkar Ansh ne kaha, "Are baba main job par hoon. Aap enjoy karo."

Aarushi - "Actually mere sab dost aane wale the. Lekin, woh log traffic mein phans gaye hain."

Ansh - "Koi baat nahi. Aa jaayenge thodi der mein."

Aarushi - "Hmm. OK Bye Ansh. Take Care."

Ansh - "Bye-Bye Aarushi. Enjoy."

Uske baad, Aarushi waha se chali jaati hain.

Mall mein Christmas ka jashn joro-shoro se manaya jaata hain. Kuch ghanto ke baad, jashn khatam ho jaata hain aur sabhi log apne-apne ghar ke liye nikal padte hain. 

Ansh mall ke bahar jaata hain aur woh rickshaw dhoondhna shuru karta hain. Kafi der tak dhoondhne ke bawjood, use koi bhi rickshaw nahi milti hain. 

Tabhi ek car uske saamne aakar rukti hain, aur use ek awaaz sunayi deti hain, "Hey Hi." Ansh car ke andar dekhta hain, us car mein Aarushi baithi hoti hain. 

Ansh - "Hi Aarushi."

Aarushi - "Hi Ansh."

Ansh - "Abhi tak tum ghar nahi gayi ?"

Aarushi - "Nahi. Abhi jaane wali hoon. Kiska intezaar kar rahe ho tum ?"

Ansh - "Main dekh raha hoon, agar koi Rickshaw mil jaaye, toh main bhi chala jaaunga apne ghar par."

Aarushi - "Ab is waqt toh tumhe jaldi koi Rickshaw milegi nahi. Chalo main tumhe chod deti hoon."

Ansh - "Are you sure ?"

Aarushi - "Haan baba. Aao baitho Car mein."

Ansh Car mein baith jaata hain. Aarushi Car start karti hain aur gaadi chal padti hain. 

Aarushi - "Toh kaha par rehte ho tum ?"

Ansh - "Main Vikroli mein rehta hoon. Thank You Aarushi."

Aarushi - "Kis liye ?"

Ansh - "Lift dene ke liye."

Aarushi - "Us din tumne bhi toh meri madad ki thi na."

Ansh - "Hmm."

Aarushi - "Phir ?"

Woh muskura diya. Uske baad, Ansh ne kaha, "Accha yeh batao, kaisi rahi tumhari party ?"

Aarushi - "Party toh zabardast thi. Akele-Akele party karne ka mazaa kuch aur hi hota hain."

Ansh - "Kya tumhare dost abhi tak nahi aaye ?"

Aarushi - "Nahi. Toal Naake par bohut traffic thi. Woh log wahi par hi phans gaye the."

Ansh - "Matlab ?"

Aarushi - "Actually main is shahar mein nayi hoon. Main Banglore se hoon. Mere sabhi dost wahi ke hi hain. Woh log aaj din mein hi nikale the aane ke liye. Lekin, kisi Toal Naake par bohut zyada gaadiyon ki bheed ke wajah se woh log wahi par hi atak gaye the. Abhi thodi der pehle hi woh log mere ghar par pahuche hain. Ab hum karenge ghar par party."

Ansh - "Tum yahan par kiske saath rehti ho ?"

Aarushi - "Main apne Papa aur Mummy ke saath rehti hoon."

Ansh - "Papa kya karte hain tumhare ?"

Aarushi - "Papa ka real estate ka business hain. Abhi business expansion ke liye yahan par hum shift hue hain."

Ansh - "Aur koi bhai behan ?"

Aarushi - "Main akeli hoon. Ek mujhe hi jhel lete hain, wahi unke liye kaafi hain."

Dono hans padte hain. Uske baad, Aarushi puchti hain, "Tum apne family ke baare mein batao."

Ansh - "Main bhi apne maa-baap ka iklauta ladka hoon. Mere Papa ek company mein supervisor the. Filhal woh retire ho chuke hain aur main us mall mein job karta hoon."

Aarushi - "Chalo accha hain. Zara tum apna number dena." Yeh kehkar woh apna phone Ansh ko pakda deti hain. Woh apna number Aarushi je phone mein save kar deta hain aur kehta hain, "Contact mein rehna tum."

Aarushi - "Haan zaroor."

Thodi der baad, Ansh ka ghar aa jaata hain aur woh kehta hain, "Bas yahi par rok dena."

Aarushi car rokti hain. "Kya tum thodi der ke liye andar aaogi ?" Ansh puchta hain.

Aarushi - "Raat bohut ho gayi hain. Mujhe ab apne ghar chale jaana chahiye."

Ansh - "OK Bye Aarushi. Thanks for the lift."

Aarushi - "Bye-Bye. Aur main tumhe message karungi."

Ansh - "OK." 

Uske baad, Aarushi waha se chali jaati hain aur Ansh apne ghar par chala jaata hain. 

Agle din Ansh ka phone bajta hain. Koi unknown number hota hain. Ansh call utha ta hain aur kehta hain, "Hello."

Phone ke dusre aur se aawaz aati hain, "Hello Ansh."

Ansh - "Haan. Main Ansh bol raha hoon."

"Hi Ansh main Aarushi hoon." Woh kehti hain.

Ansh - "Hi Aarushi kaisi ho tum ?"

Aarushi - "Main thik hoon. Tum kaise ho ?"

Ansh - "Main bhi thik hoon."

Aarushi - "Kaha ho tum is waqt ?"

Ansh - "Main ghar par hi hoon."

Aarushi - "Kya tum filhal free ho ?"

Ansh - "Haan."

Aarushi - "Toh tum aa jaao. Hum log party karenge."

Ansh - "Abhi kal hi toh party hui thi."

Aarushi - "Haan toh aaj dubara party. Dekho mere sabhi dost shaam mein jaane wale hain. Toh please tum aa jaao."

Ansh - "OK. OK. Kaha par aana hain ?"

Aarushi - "Main tumhe address bhejti hoon."

Ansh acche se tayyar hota hain. Aur woh bataye hue address par shaam mein jaata hain. Address Aarushi ke ghar ka hota hain. Uska ghar bohut bada hota hain. Woh ek bungalow hota hain. Ansh door bell bajata hain. Thodi der ke baad, darwaaza khulta hain. Aur darwaaze par Aarushi khadi hoti hain. Hare rang ke gown mein, woh bohut khubsurat dikh rahi thi. Woh Ansh ko andar aane ko kehti hain. Ansh andar jaata hain. Hall mein hi, Aarushi ke maa-baap baithe hote hain. Unhe dekh kar Ansh 'Namastey' karta hain. Badle mein woh bhi unhe 'Namastey' karte hain. Thodi der tak woh sab log saath baithkar, ek dusre se dher saari baatein karte hain. Uske baad, woh sab log bohut acche se naye saal ki party manate hain. Phir Ansh apne ghar par chala jaata hain. 

Us din ke baad se, Ansh aur Aarushi ek dusre se aksar milte-julte rehte hain. Kabhi ek dusre ke ghar par, toh kabhi kahi bahar. Aarushi jab-jab us Mall mein aati thi, woh tab-tab Ansh se thodi der baat-cheet karne ke baad hi wapas jaati thi. Waqt beet ta gaya aur woh dono ek dusre ke nazdeek aate gaye. Ab woh dono gehre dost ban chuke the.

Ek shaam, jab Ansh mall mein kaam kar raha tha, tab Aarushi uske pass aati hain. Use dekhte hi Ansh kehta hain, "Hi Aarushi."

Aarushi - "Hi Ansh. Kaise ho tum ?"

Ansh - "Main thik hoon. Tum kaisi ho ?"

Aarushi - "Main bhi thik hoon. Kya tum filhal free ho ?"

Ansh - "Nahi."

Aarushi - "Tum kab tak free ho jaaoge ?"

Ansh - "Bas ek ghante mein."

Aarushi - "Thik hain. Free hokar tum mujhe call karna aur agar by chance call na lage, toh tum mujhe Cinema Hall section ke bahar milna. Thik hain ?"

Ansh - "Thik hain."

Ek ghante baad, Ansh cinema hall section ke bahar chala jaata hain. Lekin, Aarushi use wahan par nahi dikhti hain. Woh Aarushi ko call karta hain. Aarushi call uthati hain. "Hello Ansh."

Ansh - "Hi Aarushi. Kaha par ho tum ?"

Aarushi - "Tum kaha par ho ?"

Ansh - "Main Cinema Hall ke bahar hoon."

Aarushi - "Thik hain, main bas do minute mein aayi."

Thodi der ke baad, woh wahan par pahuch jaati hain. Use dekhte hi Aarushi kehti hain, "Hi Ansh." 

Ansh - "Hi Aarushi. Batao tum kyun milna chahti thi."

Aarushi - "Kya tumhari shift khatam ho chuki hain ?"

Ansh - "Haan."

Aarushi - "Abhi tumhara kya plan hain ?"

Ansh - "Bas abhi ghar chala jaaunga."

Aarushi - "Kya tumahra aaj bhi ghar jaldi jaana zaroori hain ?"

Ansh - "Nahi. Kyun ?"

Aarushi - "Maine socha ki hum dono saath mein koi movie dekhte hain."

Ansh - "Chalo accha hain. Chalo dekhte hain, filhal kounsi movie lagi hui hain."

Woh dono saath mein Cinema Hall ke counter par jaate hain aur ek movie ka ticket nikal kar, Theatre ke andar chale jaate hain. Woh dono saath mein baith te hain aur movie shuru hoti hain. Movie ke interval mein, woh dono snacks section mein jaate hain aur Aarushi popcorn order karti hain. Ansh apna card waiter ko deta hain aur woh apna pin number punch karta hain. Card Machine mein balance insufficient dikhata hain. Waiter kehta hain, "Sir balance insufficient dikha raha hain."

Aarushi apna Card deti hain aur woh use puch karwake bill pay kar deti hain. Ansh ko apni haisiyat ka ehsaas ho jaata hain. 

Uske baad, woh dono dubara Cinema Hall mein chale jaate hain. Movie khatam hone ke baad, woh dono dubara bahar aate hain. Aarushi, Ansh se puchti hain, "Toh kya hum dinner ke liye chale ?"

Ansh - "Nahi. Mera pet bhara hua hain."

Aarushi - "Thik hain. Tum mujhe parking tak toh chod do."

Ansh - "OK."

Woh dono saath mein paidal parking ke liye nikal padte hain. Raaste mein Aarushi Ansh se dher saari baatein karti hain. Lekin, Ansh toh jaise kisi khayalon mein hi khoya hua tha. Aarushi ko is baat ka aabhaas hota hain. Woh Ansh ka haath pakadti hain. Ansh Aarushi ki taraf dekhta hain. "Kya soch rahe ho tum ?" Woh Ansh se puchti hain.

Ansh - "Kuch bhi nahi."

Aarushi - "Main kabse kahe jaa rahi hoon, lekin, tumhara dhyaan kahi aur hi hain."

Ansh - "Bas main thoda sa thak gaya hoon."

Aarushi bohut pyaar se uske baalon par haath ghumati hain aur muskura deti hain. Ansh koi bhi pratikriya nahi deta hain.  

Thodi der tak chalne ke baad, woh log parking mein pahuchte hain. Phir Aarushi, Ansh se kehti hain, "Tumahra aage ka kya plan hain ?"

Ansh - "Abhi toh bas bike start karunga aur ghar chala jaaunga."

Aarushi - "Mera matlab hain. Zindagi ke baare mein kya socha hain tumne ?"

Ansh - "Dekhte hain. Kahi aur acchi job mil jaaye toh, wahan par lag jaaunga."

Aarushi - "Kya tumne shaadi ke baare mein kuch socha hain ?"

Ansh - "Nahi. Main akela rehna chahta hoon. Mera yeh maan na hain ki, agar insaan ko zindagi mein  kuch ban na hain toh use pyaar, ishq, mohabbat ke chakkar se hi dur rehna chahiye."

Aarushi - "Yani ki tumhare liye rishton ki koi ahmiyat nahi hain."

Ansh - "Ahmiyat hain."

Aarushi - "Phir ?"

Ansh - "Hazaron majnu pyaar mein pagal hain. Main un jaisa nahi ban na chahta hoon. Mujhe apni zindagi mein kuch haasil karna hain."

Aarushi - "Lekin har insaan ko, apni zindagi mein pyaar ki bhi zaroorat hoti hain."

Ansh - "Pyaar is duniya ka sabse bada waham hain."

Aarushi - "OK." Yeh kehkar woh apni car mein baith jaati hain. Woh car start karti hain aur nam aankhon se uski taraf dekhti hain. Uske baad woh chali jaati hain. 

Ansh bas use jaate hue dekhta rehta hain. Phir uske mann se awaaz aati hain, 'Iam sorry Aarushi. Mera iraada tumhara dil dukhane ka nahi tha. Lekin aaj meri koi haisiyat nahi hain. Ek na ek din, main apni ek pehchan zaroor banaunga. Humare beech ek bohut badi ameeri aur gareebi ki deewar hain. Ek na ek din, main is deewar ko todkar tumhare pass zaroor pohuchunga.'

                  - Ved Vineet Gautam