Barsaat

 Kabir Mehta peshe se ek vyapaari hain. Kuch saal pehle ek durghatna mein usne apne poore parivaar ko kho diya tha. Rishtedaron ke laakh samjhaane ke bawjood, Kabir ne kisi se Shaadi nahi ki. Woh akela hi rehna chahta hain. Kabir ko akelepan mein hi sukun milta hain. Woh apne aalishan flat mein akela rehta hain. Na use kisiki talaash hain aur na hi, kisika intezaar. 

Kabir ka aaj kaam mein mann nahi lag raha tha. Lekin, aaj office mein kaam kuch zyada hi badh gaya tha. Aur woh kaam aaj hi khatam karna zaroori tha. Kaam poora karte-karte bohut waqt guzar gaya. Usne apni ghadi dekhi. Raat ke do baj rahe the. 'Bohut der ho gayi hain.' Kabir ne socha. 

Woh apni Car se ghar ki aur badh raha tha. Tabhi barsaat shuru ho gayi. Kabir ne apni Car ki raftaar dheemi kar di. Sadak sunsaan thi. Kuch der baad, Kabir ko sadak kinare khadi ek ladki dikhi. Woh Footpath par khadi barsaat mein bheegh rahi thi. Kabir ne apni gaadi us ladki ke saamne khadi kar di aur Car ka sheesha neeche kar diya. Dono ki nazarein mili. Us ladki ne neele rang ki Saree pehni thi. Phir Kabir ne kaha, "Kya main aapko kahi chod doon Mam ?"

Ladki - "Nahi main thik hoon."

Kabir - "Dekhiye, barsaat bohut tezz ho rahi hain. Aap kaafi bheegh bhi chuki hain. Main aapko aapke ghar tak chod deta hoon. Warna aap bohut bimaar pad jaayengi."

Ladki ne kaha, "Lekin mera ghar bohut durr hain."

Kabir - "Aap kaha rehti ho ?"

Ladki - "Main Jaswant Nagar mein rehti hoon."

Kabir - "Woh toh yahan se 15 KM dur hain. Itni raat gaye, itni dur aap kis wajah se aayi thi ?"

Ladki - "Main ek NGO mein kaam karti hoon. Usi silsile mein aayi thi."

Kabir - "Dekhiye aap pehle se hi is barsaat mein bohut bheegh chuki hain aur kisi bhi Bus ya Auto ki aane ki koi ummeed bhi nahi hain. Aap please Car mein baith jaaiye, main aapko aapke ghar tak chod deta hoon."

Ladki kuch pal ke liye sochi aur phir woh Car mein aakar baith gayi.

Kabir ne Car ko ghumaya aur Jaswant Nagar ki aur, jaane laga. Ladki ne kaha, "Aapka bohut shukriya."

Kabir - "Ismein shukriya kaisa ? Agar Insaan, Insaan ke kaam nahi aayegaa, toh hamara Insaan kehlaane ka matalab hi kya."

Ladki - "Aapne bilkul sahi kaha."

Car ke andar ki light band thi. Kabir Car chala raha tha isliye woh ladki ko dhyaan se dekh nahi paa raha tha. Tabhi saamne ek Check Post dikha. Kabir ne Car rok di aur ek Police Officer uske saamne aaya. Kabir ne apni Car ka sheesha neeche kiya. Police Officer ne Kabir se pucha, "Aapko kaha jaana hain ?"

Kabir - "Jaswant Nagar."

Police Officer - "Aage ek bada ped toot kar gir gaya hain. Raasta block ho chuka hain. Kareeb 5-6 ghante lag jaayenge."

Kabir ne ladki ki aur dekha. Ladki ne kaha, "Thik hain, hum log wapas chale jaate hain."

Kabir ne apni Car ghumayi. Phir Kabir ne kaha, "Ab main aapko kaha par chodun ?"

Ladki - "Main toh Jaswant Nagar mein hi rehti hoon aur is shehar mein, main kisi ko bhi nahi jaanti hoon."

Kabir - "Barsaat ab bhi bohut tezz hain. Aapke ghar ki aur jaane ka raasta block hain. Aap is shehar mein anjaan hain. Agar aapko aitraaz na ho, toh aaj raat aap mere ghar ruk sakti hain."

Ladki kuch der sochti hain aur phir woh kehti hain, "Iske alaawa aur koi raasta bhi nahi hain. Thik hain. Main aapke saath aapke ghar chalne ke liye tayyar hoon."

Kabir apne ghar ki aur Car chala raha tha. Raaste bhar dono bilkul khaamosh the. Kuch der baad, Kabir ka ghar aa gaya aur dono Kabir ke ghar ke andar chale gaye. 

Kabir ne ghar ki light jalaayi. Ladki poori tarah se bheegi hui thi. Itni zyada ki uski saree uske badan se chipak chuki thi. Us ladki ke baalon se paani ki boondein tapak rahi thi. Woh shayad kuch zyada hi samay se barsaat mein khadi thi. Jis wajah se woh kaanp rahi thi. 

Kabir ne andar se towel aur kuch kapde le aaya aur ladki ko pakda diya. Phir usne ladki ko ishaare se baathroom ka raasta bataya. Ladki andar chale gayi. Kuch der baad, woh bahar aayi toh dekhi ki table par Chai padi hui thi. Kabir ne abhi tak apne kapde nahi badle the.

Yeh dekh kar, Ladki puchi, "Aapne abhi tak apne kapde nahi badle ?"

Kabir - "Ghar mein bathroom sirf ek hi hain. Main abhi badal kar aata hoon. Tab tak aap Chai pee lijiye."

Phir woh andar chale jaata hain. Kuch der baad, woh wapas Hall mein aata hain. Lekin, use ladki kahi dikhayi nahi deti hain. Tabhi use peeche se kisi ke chalne ki aahat mehsus hoti hain. Woh dekhta hain, ki woh ladki Kitchen se aa rahi hain aur uske haath mein Chai ki tray hain. Woh tray table par rakhti hain aur kehti hain, "Main aapka intezaar kar rahi thi. Lekin, mausam ke wajah se Chai thandi ho chuki thi. Isliye main dobara Chai garma di."

Kabir - "Maine toh aapke liye Chai banayi thi."

Ladki - "Toh maine hum dono ke liye bana di."

Kabir muskuraya aur woh Sofa par baith gaya. Ladki uske bagal mein baith gayi aur dono Chai peena shuru kar diye. Ek ghunt peene ke baad Kabir ne kaha, "Chai ka swaad kuch alag lag raha hain. Maine is tarah ki Chai kabhi nahi banayi hain."

Ladki - "Haan woh maine ismein adrak mila di thi. Aur aanch bhi zara tezz kar di thi. Mujhe ummeed hain, aapko pasand aayegi."

Kabir - "Haan. Haan. Bohut pasand aayi hain. Waise aapka naam kya hain ?"

"Mera naam Sanchali hain." Woh kehti hain.

Kabir - "Mera naam Kabir hain."

Sanchali - "Itne bade flat mein aap akele rehte hain ?"

Kabir - "Haan. Kuch saal pehle ek durghatna mein maine apne poore parivaar ko kho diya tha. Ghar mein aag lag gayi thi aur main ghar se bahar tha. Phir maine yeh flat kharida. Khair aap apne baare mein kuch bataiye."

Sanchali - "Mujhe apne parivaar ke baare mein kuch nahi pata. Main ek anaath aashram mein pali-badi hoon. Aur ab ek NGO ke liye kaam karti hoon."

Kabir - "Zindagi mein akelapan mehsus nahi hota hain ?"

Sanchali - "Insaan toh bheed mein bhi akela hota hain."

Kabir - "Meri Zindagi mein bhi koi aisa nahi hain, jisse main apne Dil ki baatein kar sakun."

Woh dono kuch der tak baat-cheet karte hain aur dono ko ehsaas hota hain ki woh dono hi apni-apni zindagi mein behad tanha hain. Kuch der baad, ujaala hota hain.

Sanchali - "Baatein karte-karte kab subah ho gayi, pata bhi nahi chala. Barsaat shayad ruk chuki hogi."

Kabir khidki ki aur jaata hain aur bahar dekhta hain. Phir woh kehta hain, "Barsaat ab bhi hain. Bas boonda-baandi ho rahi hain."

Sanchali - "Mujhe shayad ab jaana chahiye."

Kabir - "Main aapko kahi chod doon ?"

Sanchali - "Aap bhi bohut thak chuke honge. Aapko neend ki zaroorat hogi."

Kabir - "Haan woh toh hain."

Sanchali - "Aapne mujhe apne ghar rehne ki jagah di, uske liye aapka bohut-bohut shukriya."

Kabir - "Ji nahi. Koi baat nahi."

Phir Sanchali waha se chali jaati hain aur Kabir bhi apne kamre mein jaakar so jaata hain.

Kuch din baad ki baat hain. Kabir ek meeting ke liye, ek restaurant mein jaata hain. Meeting khatam karke woh waha se nikal hi raha hota hain ki use ek jaani-pehchani si aawaz sunayi deti hain. Woh yahan-wahan dekhta hain aur uski nazar Sanchali par padti hain. Woh kuch auraton ke saath baith kar baatein kar rahi thi. Kabir Sanchali ko durr se hi dekh raha tha. Tabhi Sanchali ki nazar Kabir par padti hain.

Woh Kabir ko ishaare se haath dikhati hain. Badle mein Kabir bhi use haath dikhata hain. 

Phir Sanchali un auraton se kuch kehti hain aur woh Kabir ki aur badhti hain.

Woh Kabir ke nazdeek aati hain aur muskurati hain. Badle mein Kabir bhi muskurata hain. 

Sanchali - "Kabir. Kaise ho aap ?"

Kabir - "Main thik hoon. Aap kaisi ho ?"

Sanchali - "Main bhi thik hoon. Aap yahan kaise ?"

Kabir - "Main yahan ek meeting ke liye aaya tha. Aur aap ?"

Sanchali - "Main yahan apni NGO ke saathiyon ke saath aayi thi. Us din ki madad ke liye dobara shukriya."

Kabir - "Ab toh aap mujhe sharminda kar rahi ho."

Sanchali - "Us din ke baad, aap kabhi mile hi nahi."

Kabir - "Us din ke baad, barsaat kabhi hui hi nahi."

Dono hans padte hain.

Kabir - "Agar aapko aitraaz na ho, toh kya hum aage bhi mulaakaat kar sakte hain ?"

Sanchali - "Haan Zaroor. Aap mujhe apna number de dijiye."

Dono ek dusre ka contact number le lete hain. Dono Ravivaar ke din milne ka tay karte hain. Milne ki jagah ek Mall tay hui thi. Dono samay par wahan par pohunchte hain aur ek dusre se milte hain.

Sanchali gulaabi rang ki Saree mein behad khoobsurat lag rahi thi aur Kabir ne neele rang ka suit pehna hua tha.

Dono ek dusre ke saath accha samay beetate hain. Ab yeh silsila chal pada tha. Dono beech-beech mein aksar ek dusre se milte. Waqt ke saath dono ka rishta gehra hota chala gaya. Ab woh dono 'Aap' se 'Tum' par aa chuke the.

Is rishte ne dono ki zindagi ke akelepan ko khatam kar diya tha. 

Ek din ki baat hain. Kabir ki tabiyat zara kharab ho gayi thi aur woh apne office nahi gaya. Din bhar woh apne ghar par hi pada raha. Shaam mein use Sanchali ka Call aata hain aur woh Call utha kar kehta hain, "Hi Sanchali."

Sanchali - "Hi Kabir. Kaise ho tum ?"

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

Sanchali - "Main bhi thik hoon. Aur batao, kya chal raha hain baaki sab ?"

Kabir - "Sab thik hain."

Sanchali - "Kya sach mein sab kuch thik hain ?"

Kabir - "Haan. Kyun ?"

Sanchali - "Tumhari aawaz kuch thik nahi lag rahi hain."

Kabir - "Nahi main bilkul thik hoon."

Sanchali - "Accha thik hain. Mujhe ek dusra Call aa raha hain. Toh main baad mein baat karti hoon phir."

Kabir - "Thik hain."

Sanchali Call kaat deti hain.

Kabir apne kamre mein leta hua tha. Ab use bukhaar chadh chuka tha. Kuch der baad, uske ghar ka Bell bajta hain aur woh jaakar darwaaza kholta hain. Saamne Sanchali khadi thi. Sanchali ghar ke andar aati hain aur woh Kabir ka maatha chuti hain. Phir woh hairaani se kehti hain, "Hey Bhagwaan. Tumhe toh kuch zyada hi Bukhaar chadh chuka hain."

Kabir - "Haan."

Sanchali - "Kya tumne Doctor ko dikhaya ?"

Kabir - "Nahi."

Sanchali - "Aur tumne mujhse jhuth kyun kaha ? Aise bimaar hokar, tum akele apna khayal kaise rakh loge ? Khair woh sab jaane do. Chalo sabse pehle hum dono aspataal chalte hain."

Kabir - "Thik hain."

Dono aspataal jaate hain aur Doctor Kabir ki jaanch karke use kuch dawaai de dete hain. Phir woh dono Kabir ke ghar aate hain aur Sanchali kehti hain, "Main aaj yahi par ruk rahi hoon. Tum apne kamre mein jaakar aaram karo, main khaana bana deti hoon."

Kabir apne kamre mein chale jaata hain. Sanchali khaana bana kar Kabir ke saamne rakh deti hain. Kabir roti ka ek nevaalaa todta hain. Uske haath kaanp rahe the.

Yeh dekh kar, Sanchali Kabir ke haath se nevaalaa leti hain aur use apne haath se khilaati hain. Woh Kabir ko poora khaana apne haath se khilaati hain aur phir use dawaai dekar sula deti hain.

Agle din, Kabir ki neend khulti hain. Uski nazar Sanchali par padti hain. Woh farsh par baithi hui thi. Aur woh neend mein thi.

'Shayad mere sone ka intezaar karte-karte ise neend lag gayi.' Kabir sochta hain. Tabhi Sanchali ki neend khulti hain aur uski nazar Kabir par padti hain. Phir woh kehti hain, "Ab kaisa mehsus ho raha hain tumhe ?"

Kabir - "Thik lag raha hain. Tum farsh par kyun so gayi thi ?"

Sanchali - "Woh tumhare sone ka intezaar karte-karte, kab meri aankh lag gayi; mujhe pata hi nahi chala."

Kabir - "Meri wajah se tumhe itni takleef uthani padi."

Sanchali - "Hmm. Bilkul. Tum pehle thik ho jaao, tab main tumse apna hisaab barabar karungi."

Dono hans padte hain.

Kabir - "Aakhir kitne kam waqt mein hum dono ek dusre ke kitne kareeb aa gaye hain. Socha agar us din barsaat nahi hui hoti, toh shayad hamari mulaakaat bhi nahi hui hoti. Tab hum dono ki zindagi pehle jaisi chal rahi thi, waise hi chalti. Naa koi poochne wala, naa koi khayal rakhne wala, naa koi maut par rone wala."

Sanchali - "Aakhir hamara rishta kya hain ?"

Kabir - "Pata nahi. Lekin, ab main tumse hamesha milte rehna chahta hoon. Tum kya chahti ho ?"

Sanchali - "Yeh mulaakaatein toh mere liye bhi khaas hoti hain."

Kabir - "Main kuch dino ke liye, bahar gaon jaa raha hoon."

Sanchali - "Par kyun ?"

Kabir - "Ek meeting hain. Kal shaam ki flight hain."

Sanchali - "Mujhe lagta hain, ab mujhe apne ghar chale jaana chahiye."

Kabir use apni Flight ki ticket dikhata hain. Woh dekh kar, Sanchali waha se chali jaati hain. 

Agli shaam Kabir Airport pohuchta hain aur woh Airport ke bahar, Sanchali ko khada paata hain. Woh Kabir ke pass aati hain. Kabir apni jeb se ghar ki chabi nikaalta hain aur Sanchali ko pakda deta hain.

Sanchali - "Tum ghar jaldi wapas aana. Tumhari Biwi tumhara intezaar karegi."

Kabir waha se chala jaata hain.

                - Ved Vineet Gautam