Anguthi

 Yash Sinha ek naujawan ladka hain. Woh apne maata-pita ka eklauta beta hain. Woh Mumbai mein rehta hain apne maata-pita ke saath. Yash ek private company mein naukri karta hain. Yeh parivaar Mumbai mein Thane mein rehta hain aur Yash ki naukri Vikroli mein hain. Woh har roz Mumbai ki Local Train pakad kar, Thane se Vikroli safar karta hain. 

Woh har subah tayyar hokar, 7 baje wali train pakad kar office jaata hain aur shaam mein apne ghar laut aata hain. Yeh train mein kabhi latak kar toh kabhi bheed ke beech mein, dhakke kha-kha kar safar karna, Yash ki rozmarra zindagi ka ek atoot hissa hain. Us Local Train mein ek hi chehro ko har roz dekhna. Kabhi un chehro ko dekh kar muskurana. Un sabhi ajnabee chehro se Yash ka ek ajeeb sa rishta ban chuka tha. 

Ek din ki baat hain. Yash aaj apna kaam khatam karke har roz ki tarah office se jaane ki tayyari kar raha tha. Usne folder mein files save karke apna Computer band kiya. Uske baad, usne apna bag uthaya aur do kadam chala. Tabhi Yash ne dekha ki uske boss, Mr. Kapadia saamne khade hain. Unke haath mein ek file hain. Yash chup tha. Woh Yash ko dekh kar muskuraye aur phir bole, "Toh Yash ghar jaane ki tayyari ho gayi tumhari ?"

Yash - "Haan Sir."

Mr. Kapadia - "Ghar jaane se pehle, ek chota sa safar kar sakte ho ?"

Yash - "Kyun kya ho gaya Sir ?"

Mr. Kapadia - "Beta woh ek chota sa kaam tha. Agar tum kar sako toh ?"

Yash - "Kya kaam hain Sir ?"

Mr. Kapadia - "Woh Head Office jaana tha."

Yash - "Andheri ?"

Mr. Kapadia - "Haan. Ek bohut hi zaroori file waha par pohuchani thi."

Yash - "Thik hain Sir. Main kar deta hoon yeh kaam."

"Tumhara bohut bohut shukriya." Yeh kehte hue, Mr. Kapadia woh file Yash ko pakda dete hain. Yash us file ko apne haathon mein leta hain aur apne bag mein rakh kar nikal padta hain. Bohut thakaa hua tha woh. Woh aksar paidal hi station ke liye jaata hain. Kandhe par latka hua bag, halki si jhunki hui kamar aur chehre par halki si thakaan saaf-saaf darsha rahi thi, ki is waqt Yash ko aaram ki aakhir kitni zaroorat hain. 

Jaise-Taise woh Head Office pohuchta hain aur jis aadmi ko file dena tha, use file pakda kar woh wapas apne ghar ki aur nikal padta hain. Woh paidal hi station ki aur nikal padta hain. Woh sochta hain, 'Ab wapas station jaao. Dubara line mein khade hokar ticket nikalo. Wahi train ki bheed aur aam janta ka shor. Dekhte hain kab tak ghar pohuchenge.'

Woh ab bhi paidal hi chal raha tha. Shaam ka waqt tha aur dheere-dheere Suraj kaale sannate ki aagosh mein, doobne ki awashta mein jaa raha tha. Yeh shaam ke baad aur raat ke pehle ka waqt tha. 'Yeh waqt bhi aakhir kitna khoobsurat hota hain na.' Yash ne socha.

Ab Yash prakruti ki is khoobsurati ka lutf uthate hue chal raha tha. Dheere-Dheere uske kadam station ki aur badh rahe the. Tabhi use ek madhur si aawaz sunayi deti hain. "Bhaiyaa yeh dhaniya thodi mehngi hain. Paanch rupaye kam kar dijiye na."

Yash ki nazar us pyaari si aawaz ki talaash mein chal padti hain aur agle hi pal uski nazar ko us madhur aawaz ki mallika ka deedar hota hain. 

'Maine shayad is ladki ko kahi dekha hain.' Woh sochta hain. Ek anjaani si dor Yash ko us ladki ki aur le jaa rahi thi. Woh us ladki ke nazdeek jaata hain aur use dekh kar muskurata hain. Woh ladki Yash ki aur dekhti hain aur woh bhi muskurate hue kehti hain, "Hi."

Yash - "Hi."

Ladki - "Pehchana mujhe ?"

Yash 'Na' mein apna sar hilata hain.

Ladki - "Are hum train mein saath safar karte hain."

Yash - "Are haan, haan. Yaad aaya. Waise aap yahan ?"

"Haan main yahi par hi rehti hoon na." Ladki jawab deti hain. Phir sabziwale se woh kehti hain, "Bhaiyaa jaane dijiye, main dhaniya baad mein le lungi. Baaki kitna hisaab hua ?"

Sabziwala - "Sattar rupaye madam."

Ladki apne purse se paise nikalti hain aur sabziwale ko paisa pakda kar chal padti hain aur Yash bhi us ladki ke saath-saath chal padta hain. 

Ladki - "Tumne apna naam kya bataya ?"

"Mera naam Yash hain." Woh jawab deta hain. 

"Mera naam Sarika hain." Ladki kehti hain.

Yash - "Toh tum yahan Andheri mein rehti ho ?"

Sarika - "Haan. Aur tum ?"

Yash - "Main Thane mein rehta hoon."

Sarika - "Tum kaam kya karte ho ?"

Yash - "Ek private company hain Vikroli mein. Wahi par kaam karta hoon. Aur tum ?"

Sarika - "Main bhi ek private company mein kaam karti hoon. Toh kya tumhara yahan aana-jaana aksar hota hain kya ?"

Yash - "Nahi. Bas aaj thoda alag kaam tha Company ka toh yahan aana pada."

Sarika - "Accha hi hua jo tum yahan par aaye, kam se kam isi bahane hamari mulakat toh ho gayi."

Yash - "Hmm. Sahi kaha. Tum rehti kaha par ho ?"

Sarika - "Main Nahur mein rehti hoon."

Yash - "Tab toh hum kaafi nazdeek rehte hain."

Sarika - "Hmm."

Yash - "Tum yahan kisi kaam se aayi thi ?"

Sarika - "Haan mera bhi company ka hi kuch kaam tha. Lekin, yahan sabzi acchi dikh rahi thi toh maine socha ki jaate-jaate lete chalun ?"

Yash - "Accha hain. Mujhe lagta hain ki hume ek dusre ke contact mein rehna chahiye."

Sarika - "Haan zaroor. Kyun nahi ?"

Yash - "Tumhara contact number kya hain ?"

Sarika apna contact number batati hain aur Yash se bhi uska contact number le leti hain. 

Sarika - "Shaam mein yaad se message karna."

Yash - "Haan zaroor."

Uske baad, Yash wahan se chala jaata hain.

 Shaam mein Yash Sarika ko message karta hain aur woh uske message ka jawab deti hain. Dono ke bhi kuch der tak baat-cheet chalti hain. Har roz dono ek dusre se message ke zariye baatein karte. Dheere-Dheere khoob baatein karne lage aur train mein toh aksar ek dusre se bhi thodi bohut baatein ho jaaya karti thi. Kai baar yeh dono ek dusre se bahar bhi mila karte the. Yeh silsila kuch mahine chala.

Ek din ki baat hain. Din bhar ka kaam khatam karne ke baad, Yash shaam mein apne ghar par pohucha tha. Aaj woh thoda thaka hua tha. Ghar pohuch kar Yash apna haath-muh dhoya aur paani peekar fresh hua. Uske baad, Yash ne apni maa se maang kar kuch khaana khaya aur apne bed par jaakar leat gaya. 10-15 minute ke aaram ke baad, Yash ne messages check karne ke liye apna mobile apni jeb se nikaala. Tabhi Yash ne dekha ki phone par Sarika ka message aaya hua hain. Message mein likha tha, "Tum jab bhi free raho, mujhe call kar dena." Woh turant Sarika ko call karta hain. Do se Teen ghanti bajne ke baad, Sarika call uthati hain aur kehti hain, "Hello."

Yash - "Hi Sarika."

Sarika - "Hi Yash. Kaise ho tum ?"

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

Sarika - "Main bhi thik hoon."

Yash - "Tumhare ghar mein sab kaise hain ?"

Sarika - "Sabhi log thik hain. Aur tumhare ghar ka kya haal chaal hain ?"

Yash - "Sab badhiya hain. Phir kaisa raha aaj ka din ?"

Sarika - "Thik hi tha. Har roz jaisa. Aur tumhara din kaisa tha Yash ?"

Yash - "Mera bhi thik tha."

Sarika - "Kya kal tumhari chutti hain ?"

Yash - "Haan hain."

Sarika - "Toh kal tumhe koi aur kaam hain ya tum free ho ?"

Yash - "Kal toh main saara din free hoon."

Sarika - "Kya tum kal milne ke liye aa sakoge ?"

Yash - "Kaha Nahur mein ?"

Sarika - "Haan."

Yash - "Kab aana hain ?"

Sarika - "Tum batao ?"

Yash - "Tum jab bhi chaho, main milne ke liye aa jaaunga."

Sarika - "Toh thik hain. Kal subah 9 baje."

Yash - "Yeh kaisa waqt hain milne ka ?"

Sarika - "Tumne mujhse poocha milne ka waqt toh maine bata diya. Ab batao kya tum kal subah 9 baje milne ke liye aa jaaoge ?"

Yash - "Haan. Main zaroor aaunga. Lekin, hume milna kaha par hain ?"

Sarika - "Main address message karti hoon."

Yash - "Thik hain."

Sarika - "Toh main phone rakhon phir ?"

Yash - "Haan thik hain."

Sarika - "Toh kal milte hain."

Yash - "Haan zaroor. Good Bye."

Sarika - "Good Bye Yash."

Thodi der ke baad, Yash ko Sarika ka message aata hain, jisme ek ghar ka address likha hota hain. Yash ko lagta hain ki shayad yeh address Sarika ke ghar ka ho. Woh apne mobile par subah 6 baje ka alarm laga deta hain aur phir raat mein jaldi hi khaa-pee kar so jaata hain. 

Agli subah, alarm ki pehli ghanti bajte hi Yash ki neend khul jaati hain. Woh jald hi tayyar hokar ghar se nikal padta hain. Subah-Subah ka waqt tha aur kadake ki thand thi. Jacket pehan ne ke bawjood, Yash thoda sa kaanp raha tha. Woh paidal chalte hue station jaata hain. Ticket Counter se ticket lekar woh platform ki aur badhta hain. Tabhi Yash ka phone bajta hain. Woh apne kaanpte hue haathon ko apni jeb mein daalta hain aur phone nikalta hain. Woh dekhta hain ki Sarika ka call aaya hain. Woh call uthata hain aur kadake ki thand ki wajah se woh kanpkati aawaz mein kehta hain, "Hello."

Sarika - "Hi Yash."

Yash - "Hi Sarika."

Sarika - "Tum kaanp kyun rahe ho ?"

Yash - "Mausam hi itna thanda hain."

Sarika - "Kya tum sach mein itni subah-subah nikal aaye ?"

Yash - "Haan abhi bas ticket liya hain. Train pakadne ke liye jaa hi raha hoon."

Sarika - "Accha sambhal kar aana. Koi ghai nahi hain."

Yash - "Haan thik hain."

Sarika - "Bye."

Yash - "Bye."

Chalte-Chalte thodi hi der mein, woh platform par pohuchta hain aur train ka intezaar kar raha hota hain. Paanch minute mein hi uski train aa jaati hain aur woh train mein baith jaata hain. 

Kuch der baad, woh Nahur Station pohuch jaata hain. Station se bahar nikalte hi, woh auto pakadta hain aur Sarika ke ghar pohuch jaata hain. Woh Sarika ke flat ka pata laga kar, uske room ke  saamne pohuchta hain aur dekhta hain ki darwaza pehle se hi khula hain aur Sarika, Sofa par baithi hui hain. Dono ki nazrein milti hain aur ek dusre ko dekh kar dono muskura dete hain. Sarika Sofa se uthti hain aur Yash ke nazdeek jaati hain. Phir woh kehti hain, "Andar aa jaao Yash."

Yash ghar ke andar aata hain. Sarika darwaza band karti hain. Dono Sofa par saath mein baithe hain. Yash ab bhi halka sa kaanp raha tha. Sarika kehti hain, "Tum Chai loge ya Coffee ?"

Yash - "Coffee."

Sarika - "Bas paanch minute de do."

Yash - "Thik hain."

Sarika andar kitchen mein jaati hain aur kuch der baad, do cup Coffee banakar le aati hain. Yash ko ek cup pakda kar woh uske bagal mein baith jaati hain. Teen-Chaar ghunt peene ke baad, Yash ab kaanpna band kar diya tha. Dono ek dusre ko dekhte hain aur muskurate hain. 

Sarika - "Sorry tumhe itni subah-subah mujhe bulana pada."

Yash - "Koi baat nahi. Lekin, aise time par bulane ki wajah ?"

Sarika - "Mere Papa-Mummy kal raat mein hi bahar gaye hue the aur dophar mein mujhe dher saari shopping karne ke liye jaana hain. Itne waqt se hum dono ne kabhi saath mein zyada waqt nahi bitaya hain. Main tumhare saath itminaan se baith kar dher saari baatein karna chahti thi."

Yash - "Koi baat nahi."

Phir dono yahan-wahan ki baatein karna shuru kar dete hain. Dono ek dusre se dher saari baatein karte hain. 

Baatein karte-karte Yash ki nazar table par padti hain. Us table par ek kaanch ke dabbe mein ek anguthi rakhi hoti hain. 

Yash - "Yeh kya hain ?"

Sarika - "Anguthi hain."

Yash - "Lekin aise kyun rakhi hui hain ?"

Sarika - "Kai saal pehle yeh anguthi mere Dada ne mujhe di thi aur kaha tha ki jab zindagi mein koi khaas ladka aaye toh use yeh pehna dena."

Yash - "Toh ab tak koi pasand nahi aaya ?"

Sarika - "Shayad."

Yash - "Matlab ?"

Sarika - "Kuch nahi."

Phir woh dono dusri baatein karna shuru kar dete hain. Ek dusre ki Zindagi ke baare mein. Ek dusre ke parivaar ke baare mein. Kaafi lambe samay tak dono ke beech baat-cheet chalti hain. Phir Sarika kehti hain, "Tum do minute ke liye apni aankhein band karo."

Yash - "Par kyun ?"

Sarika - "Bas karo toh."

Yash apni aankhein band karta hain. Kuch minton ke baad, Sarika kehti hain, "Ab tum apni aankhein khol sakte ho."

Yash apni aankhein kholta hain. Phir woh poochta hain, "Kya baat thi."

Sarika - "Bas aise hi."

Yash - "Koi toh baat hogi hi."

Sarika - "Samajhdaar ko ishaara hi kaafi hota hain."

Yash apni nazar daudaata hain aur uski nazar kaanch ke dabbe par padti hain. Dabbe se anguthi gayab rehti hain. Phir woh dekhta hain ki Sarika ne apne haathon mein anguthi pakdi hui hain. Woh Yash ka haath pakadti hain. Dono ki aankhein bhar aati hain aur phir woh Yash ko anguthi pehna deti hain. 

                 - Ved Vineet Gautam