Alvida

 Aman apne maata-pita ka eklauta ladka hain. Woh ek company mein naukri karta hain aur apne maata-pita ke saath hi rehta hain. Woh jis company mein naukri karta hain, woh company uske ghar se kareeb 12 kilometer ki duri par stith hain. Isliye, woh har roz bus se apni naukri ke liye jaata hain aur shaam mein bus se hi ghar laut aata hain. 

Woh jis bus se jaata hain, us bus mein ek ladki bhi aksar safar karti hain. Haalanki, us bus mein aur bhi musafir safar karte hain, lekin, Aman ki tarah woh ladki bhi har roz usi bus se safar karti hain. 

Woh dono har roz ek dusre ko dekhte hain aur ab tak dono ek dusre ko sirf chehre se hi pehchante hain. Un dono ke beech ab tak ek shabd ki bhi baat-cheet nahi hui hain. 

Aaj Aman ki chutti ka din hain. Woh aaj deri se so kar utha hain. Aaj use tayyari karne mein bhi aalas aa raha hain. Maano aaj uske itna aalsi aadmi is duniya mein kahi nahi hoga. Jaise-Taise woh tayyar hota hain aur apne khaana khaane ke baad, woh apne aalasya ka ek aur pramaan de deta hain. Khaana khaate hi woh dubara apne bistar par leat jaata hain aur apne mobile phone par kuch gaane sunna shuru kar deta hain. Dekhte hi dekhte shaam ho jaati hain. Tabhi woh sochta hain ki agar woh bahar thoda tahal aaye, toh uske shareer mein thodi si chusti aa jaayegi. 

Aman apne bistar se uthta hain aur wash basin par jaakar apna muh dhota hain. Phir woh ek halke rang ki kameez pehanta hain aur apne baal sawarta hain. Uske baad, woh apne kamre se bahar nikalta hain. 

Aman ko dekhte hi uske pita poonch padte hain, "Toh subah ho gayi beta ?"

Aman muskurate hue kehta hain, "Papa aaj chutti ka din tha na. Isiliye."

Aman Ke Pita - "Koi baat nahi beta."

Aman - "Papa main bahar thoda sa tahal aata hoon, toh shareer bhi thodi chust ho jaayegi."

Aman Ke Pita - "Thik hain beta."

Aman ghar se bahar jaata hain. Chalte-Chalte woh ek mod par pahuchta hain aur sadak kinare chalna shuru kar deta hain. Sadak par zyada gaadiyan nahi thi. Kareeban-Kareeban sadak sunsaan hi tha. Thandi-Thandi hawaa uske chehre ko chum rahi thi aur aasmaan bhi saaf dikh raha tha. 'Aaj ka din kitna khushnuma hain.' Woh sochta hain. 

Woh chalta hi jaa raha tha. Tabhi uski nazar sadak ke dusre aur padti hain. 'Koun hain woh ?' 'Kya maine ise kahi dekha hain ?' Aman sochta hain. Achaanak se use yaad aata hain, 'Are yeh toh woh bus wali ladki hain.' 

"Hello Madam. Haan, Haan idhar hi."

Ladki ki nazar Aman par padti hain woh bhi Aman ko dekh kar muskura deti hain. Woh sadak paar karke us ladki ke pass pahuchta hain. 

"Hi." Aman kehta hain. 

Ladki bhi muskura kar "Hi" mein uska jawaab de deti hain. 

Aman - "Pehchana ?"

Ladki - "Haan. Aap bus wale musafir ho na ?"

Aman - "Ji haan. Aapne sahi pehchana. Aap yahan kya kar rahi ho ?"

Ladki - "Main kuch kaam se aayi hui thi. Aur aap ?"

Aman - "Main yahi nazdeek mein rehta hoon."

Ladki - "Aaj aap office gaye the ?"

Aman - "Ji nahi. Aaj meri chutti thi."

Ladki - "Meri bhi. Toh kya kiya aaj poora din ?"

Aman - "Bas aaram. Aur aapne ?"

Ladki - "Main toh bas kuch shopping ke liye aayi hui thi."

Aman - "Aap kaha par rehti ho ?"

Ladki - "Bas yahi nazdeek mein hi ek Apartment hain. Wahi par."

Aman - "Accha."

Ladki - "Kya filhal aap free ho ?"

Aman - "Jee bilkul."

Ladki - "Ek Coffee ho jaaye ?"

Aman - "Neki aur poonch poonch ?"

Dono saath mein chalna shuru karte hain. 

Ladki - "Toh aapka naam kya hain ?"

Aman - "Mera naam Aman hain. Aur aapka ?" 

"Mera naam Sushmita hain." Woh jawaab deti hain. 

Aman - "Kya aap yahan apne parivaar ke saath rehti hain ?"

Sushmita - "Nahi. Mera parivaar Jalandhar mein hain. Aur aap yahan akele rehte hain ya parivaar ke saath ?"

Aman - "Parivaar ke saath."

Sushmita - "Koun-Koun hain aapke ghar mein ?"

Aman - "Bas Papa, Mummy aur Main. Aur aapke ghar mein ?"

Sushmita - "Papa, Mummy aur ek chota bhai bhi hain. Woh filhal school mein padh raha hain." 

Aman - "Chaliye accha hain. Aur aap kaam kya karti ho Sushmita ?"

Sushmita - "Main ek private company mein kaam karti hoon. Main ek auditor hoon."

Aman - "Are waah. Auditor toh main bhi hoon."

Sushmita - "Tab toh hamari khoob jamegi."

Dono saath mein Sushmita ke ghar pahuchte hain. Sushmita coffee banati hain aur woh dono saath mein coffee peete-peete dher saari baatein karte hain. Tabhi Aman ki nazar ghadi par padti hain. "Are yeh toh 8 baj gaye hain. Baatein karte-karte waqt ka andaaza hi nahi laga." Kehte hue woh uthta hain. Sushmita bhi uthti hain. "Accha Sushmita Ji ab main chalta hoon."

Sushmita - "Sirf Sushmita kahiye Aman Ji."

Aman - "Aur aap bhi ji mat kahiye please."

Sushmita muskura deti hain. Uske baad, Aman wahan se chala jaata hain. 

Us din ke baad se dono ke beech mulakaaton ka daur shuru ho jaata hain. Bus mein woh dono ek dusre se dher saari baatein karte aur chutti ke din, aksar Sushmita ke ghar par milte. Haalanki, kabhi-kabhi woh dono kahi bahar bhi mil liya karte the. Dekhte Hi Dekhte woh dono acche dost ban gaye the. 

Kuch mahine beete aur ab woh dono ek dusre ke kareeb aane lag gaye the. Kabhi Sushmita Aman ko kehti ki agle din woh use kounse rang ki kameez mein dekhna chahti hain. Toh kabhi woh Sushmita ko kehta ki woh aakhir kounse rang ke kapdon mein zyada khoobsurat dikhti hain. Dekhte-Hi-Dekhte woh dono ek dusre ke bohut nazdeek aa gaye the. Un dono ke darmiyaan rishta bohut gehra ho chuka tha. Un dono ke beech mein 'Parda' naam ki cheez hi khatam ho chuki thi. Woh dono ek dusre ke itne kareeb aa chuke the. 

Ek din, Aman Sushmita ko call lagata hain. Lekin, woh call nahi uthati hain. Aman use do teen baar call lagata hain. Lekin, Sushmita ki aur se koi bhi jawaab nahi aata hain. Phir kareeb do ghanto ke baad, Sushmita ka Aman call aata hain. Aman call uthate hi kehta hain, "Sushmita kaha ho tum ? Tum mera call kyun nahi utha rahi thi ?"

Sushmita - "Main bas thoda sa kaam mein vyast thi. Kya tum abhi khaali ho ?"

Aman - "Haan."

Sushmita - "Thik hain. Toh abhi mujhse milne ke liye mere ghar par aa jaao."

"Thik hain." Kehte hi woh call kaat deta hain. Thodi der ke baad, woh Sushmita ke ghar pahunchta hain aur darwaaze ki ghanti bajata hain. Sushmita darwaaza kholti hain. Dono ek dusre ko dekh kar muskurate hain aur Sushmita ek kinaare khade ho jaati hain. Aman ghar ke andar aata hain. Woh darwaaza band kar deti hain.

Sushmita - "Aao baitho."

Aman sofa par baithta hain. 

Sushmita - "Toh batao. Kya loge Coffee ?"

Aman - "Haan."  

Sushmita andar kitchen mein jaati hain aur thodi der ke baad, do cup Coffee banakar Hall mein laati hain. Woh ek cup Aman ko pakdati hain aur uske saamne baith jaati hain. Phir woh kehti hain, "Toh batao Aman. Kaise ho tum ?"

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

Sushmita - "Main bhi thik hoon. Uncle aur Aunty kaise hain ?"

Aman - "Woh log bhi thik hain. Aur tumhare ghar mein sab log kaise hain ?"

Sushmita - "Sab thik hain. Aur batao kaam kaisa chal raha hain tumhara ?"

Aman - "Accha chal raha hain. Aur tumhara kaam ?"

Sushmita - "Bohut hi badhiya chal raha hain. Mera promotion bhi ho chuka hain."

Aman - "Are waah. Yeh toh bohut hi acchi khabar sunayi hain tumne. Tab toh aaj toh party karni hogi."

Sushmita - "Uski ke liye toh main bulayi hoon."

Aman - "Ab tumhari kamayi bhi badh gayi hain. Mujhe bhool na jaana."

Sushmita - "Bilkul nahi. Hum dono hamesha ek dusre ke sampark mein rahenge."

Aman - "Matlab ?"

Sushmita - "Matlab yeh ki mera transfer ho raha hain. Ab main dusre shahar mein shift ho rahi hoon." 

"Kaha par ?" Aman hairaani se puchta hain.

Sushmita - "Delhi." 

Aman - "Aise achaanak se ?"

"Sab kuch achaanak se hi ho gaya. Zindagi hi achaanak par chal rahi hain shayad. Hum dono achaanak se mile aur ab achaanak se bichad bhi rahe hain." Yeh kehte hi, Sushmita ki aankhon se aansun chalak padte hain. Aman bhi bohut dukhi ho jaata hain. Dono hi khaamosh the. Ek ajeeb sa dukh dono ke mann ko pareshan kar raha tha. Ek ajeeb si udaasi dono ke chehre par aa chuki thi. Pal bhar mein hi, Sushmita apni tarakki ki baat bhool chuki thi aur use Aman se dur hone ka dukh peeda de raha tha. 

Thodi der baad, Aman poochta hain, "Kab jaa rahi ho tum ?"

Sushmita - "Agle mahine."

Aman - "Kya tum hamesha hamesha ke liye chali jaaogi ?"

Sushmita 'Haan' mein apni gardan hilaati hain. 

Kamre mein sannata cha jaata hain. Phir thodi der ke baad, Aman kehta hain, "Ek mahina hain hamare paas. Main tumhare har ek din ko yaadgaar bana dunga."

Sushmita - "Mujhe sach mein tumhari yaad bohut aayegi Aman."

Aman - "Tumhe main aisi yaadein dunga, jise tum zindagi bhar nahi bhool paaogi. Kal shaam main tumhare ghar aaunga. Tum tayyar rehna."

Sushmita - "Thik hain."

Uske baad, Aman wahan se chala jaata hain aur agli shaam woh Sushmita ke ghar par dastak deta hain. Uske haathon mein ek bohut hi khoobsurat, phoolon ka guldastaa tha. Un rang birange khoobsurat phoolon ko dekh kar, woh bohut khush hoti hain. Woh Sushmita ko guldasta pakdaata hain aur bohut hi pyaari si muskaan ke saath woh us guldaste ko kabool karti hain. Aman ghar ke andar aata hain aur woh dono ek dusre se dher saari baatein karte hain. 

Uske agli shaam woh dono saath mein bahar ghumne ke liye chale jaate hain. Dono saath-saath paidal chal rahe the. Tabhi dono ke haath ek dusre se chu jaate hain aur un dono ki ek dusre se nazar milti hain. Woh dono wahi par khade bas ek dusre ko dekhte hi rehte hain. Ab un dono ne ek dusre ke haathon mein haath daal diya tha aur ab bhi un dono ki nazrein ek dusre se nahi hath rahi thi. Kahi Na Kahi, un dono ke dil ko ek ishaara zaroor mil chuka tha. Tabhi achaanak se un dono ko yaad aata hain ki kuch dino ke baad woh dono ek dusre se bichad jaayenge. Is baat ka ehsaas hote hi, dono ki aankhen bhar aati hain. 

Woh dono ek dusre se har shaam milte aur apne har ek din ko khaas banane ki koshish karte. Aakhir mein woh din aa hi gaya, jab Sushmita ko hamesha-hamesha ke liye is shahar ko chod kar jaana tha. 

Woh bade hi udaas mann ke saath Airport par pahuchti hain. Sushmita ek kursi par baithi hui thi. Uska chehra utra hua tha aur gardan jhuki hui thi. Tabhi use aabhas hota hain ki koi uske saamne khada hain. Woh apna sar upar utha ti hain aur dekhti hain ki saamne Aman khada hain. Aman ko dekhte hi woh use gale se laga leti hain aur dono ke hi aankhen bhar aati hain. 

Sushmita - "Mujhe laga ki tum nahi aaoge."

Aman - "Aise kaise nahi aaunga. Aakhir is gulaab se chehre ko dekh kar hi toh main jee raha hoon."

 Sushmita - "Bohut hi ajeeb waqt par hume apni mohabbat ka ehsaas hua hain. Pata bhi tab chala, jab mujhe jaana hain. Ab main tumse dur kaise reh paaungi ?"

Aman - "Tum mere dil mein basi ho. Tum jaa toh rahi ho, lekin, mera dil lete hue jaa rahi ho. Iski hifaazat karna."

Sushmita ki aankhon se ab bhi aansun beh rahe the. Tabhi airport mein flight ki announcement ho jaati hain. Aman use samjhaata hain aur thodi der ke baad, woh Aman ki aankhon ke saamne se ojhal ho jaati hain. 

Dono aksar phone par baatien kiya karte hain aur har baar ek dusre se apni mohabbat ka izhaar karna nahi bhoolte hain. Yeh baat bhi un dono ko aksar chubhti hain, ki jab dono saath the, tab un dono ne apne pyaar ko pehchan nahi paaye. Lekin, khushi bhi is baat ki rehti hain, ki aakhir mein dono ko apni mohabbat ka ehsaas toh ho hi gaya. 

                  - Ved Vineet Gautam