Bandhan

 Kiyan Kantaria ek jawan ladka hain. Woh apne maata-pita ka iklauta ladka hain. Woh ek Company mein naukri karta hain. Kiyan behad sharmila swabhaav ka ladka hain. Ek din ki baat hain. Kiyan ko uske maata-pita ne bataya ki woh kuch dino ke liye bahar gaon ja rahe hain. Kyunki, Kiyan ke Mausi ki tabiyat kharab hain. Un logon ne saari tayyari kar li aur do din baad, Kiyan ke maata-pita bahar gaon chale gaye. 

Agle din, Kiyan har roz ki tarah apna office ka kaam khatam karke ghar ki aur laut raha tha. Tabhi use yaad aaya ki uske maata-pita toh bahar gaon gaye hain aur use khaanaa banana nahi aata hain. Tab Kiyan ne socha ki woh kisi resturant se khaana pack karwa lega. Woh ek resturant gaya aur ek table par baitha. Kiyan ke saamne ek waitress aayi aur usne Kiyan ka order liya. Kuch der baad, woh waitress Kiyan ka parcel use de di aur Kiyan woh order lekar apne ghar chala gaya.

Agle din, Kiyan dobara usi resturant mein gaya aur wohi ladki Kiyan ka order lene ke liye aayi. Kiyan ne dobara apna order diya aur parcel lekar wapas chala gaya. Kiyan ab har roz usi resturant jaata aur wohi ladki Kiyan ka order lene ke liye aati aur Kiyan apna parcel lekar ghar ke liye nikal jaata.

Saantve din, Kiyan ko dobara resturant mein dekh kar; woh ladki chaunk gayi. Kyunki, pichle che dino ka Kiyan ka order usi ladki ne liya tha, isliye Kiyan ab usi ladki ko dhundhne ke liye apni nazrein dauda raha tha.

Ladki ko laga ki Kiyan uska peecha kar raha hain. Woh ladki bade hi gusse se Kiyan ke paas aayi aur boli, "Kya baat hain Mr. aap har roz ek hi samay par yahan aa padte ho ?"

Kiyan - "Haan Mam woh khaane ka order dena tha."

Ladki - "Ghar mein biwi bacche nahi hain ?"

Kiyan - "Nahi abhi tak kunwara hoon."

Ladki - "Maa ya Behan toh hogi khaana dene ke liye ?"

Kiyan - "Behan toh hain nahi. Lekin, Mummy hain. Par woh bahar gaon gayi hain aur mujhe khaana banana nahi aata hain."

Ladki - "Oh mujhe maaf kar dijiyega."

Kiyan - "Kis baat ke liye ?"

Ladki - "Mujhe laga ki aap shayad mera peecha kar rahe ho."

Kiyan - "Nahi aisi baat nahi hain. Lekin, haan main aapko dhundh raha tha. Kyunki, pichle che dino se aapne hi mera order liya hain. Toh mujhe laga ki shayad aaj bhi aap hi mera order lengi. Lekin agar aapko koi aitraaz ho toh, main dusre waiter ko order de deta hoon."

Ladki - "Nahi aisi baat nahi hain. Main aapka order le leti hoon."

Kiyan us ladki ko apna order de deta hain aur kuch der baad, woh ladki use uska parcel de deti hain. Kiyan apna parcel lekar wahan se chala jaata hain. 

Yeh silsila kuch dino tak chala. Kareeb pandrah din baad, Kiyan ke maata-pita ghar laut aaye aur Kiyan us Restaurant mein jaana band kar diya.

Ek din ki baat hain. Kiyan ek Cinema Hall mein gaya tha Movie dekhne ke liye. Ticket Counter ke bahar kaafi bheed thi isliye, woh ek kone mein aakar khada ho gaya aur apna mobile dekhne laga. Usi samay, Kiyan ko ek aawaz sunayi deti hain, "Hello Mr."

Kiyan mobile se apni nazrein uthata hain aur dekhta hain ki, uske saamne wohi ladki khadi hain; jo us restaurant mein use khaana parcel deti thi.

Kiyan - "Hello Mam."

Ladki - "Hello Sir. Aap yahan kaise ?"

Kiyan - "Main Movie dekhne ke liye aaya tha. Aur aap ?"

Ladki - "Main bhi."

Kiyan - "Dekh li Movie ?"

Ladki - "Nahi."

Kiyan - "Toh aap apne doston ke saath aayi hogi."

Ladki - "Main akeli aayi hoon."

Kiyan - "Main bhi akela aaya hoon. Agar aapko aitraaz na ho toh hum saath mein movie dekh lein ?"

Ladki - "Thik hain."

Dono saath mein movie dekhte hain aur movie khatam hone ke baad, saath mein bahar aate hain.

Phir ladki kehti hain, "Main aapse ek baat puchu ?"

Kiyan - "Haan puchiye."

Ladki - "Aapka naam kya hain ?"

Dono hans padte hain.

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

Ladki kehti hain, "Mera naam Sejal hain."

Kiyan - "Accha naam hain."

Sejal - "Aap kaam kya karte ho ?"

Kiyan - "Main ek Company mein naukri karta hoon. Aur aap ? Opps Sorry."

Dono phir hans padte hain.

Sejal - "Aapke ghar mein koun-koun hain ?"

Kiyan - "Mummy-Papa aur Main. Aur aapke ?"

Sejal - "Mummy-Papa aur ek choti behan bhi hain."

Kiyan - "Chalo accha hain."

Dono kaafi der tak yahan-wahan ki baat-cheet karte hain. Phir dono ek dusre ka Contact Number lekar apne-apne ghar ke liye nikal padte hain.

Dono ke beech kabhi-kabhar baat-cheet hoti. Kuch waqt ke baad, jo baat-cheet kabhi-kabhar hoti thi, woh baat-cheet ab aksar mein tabdil ho gayi. Is dauran, un dono ka rishta aap se tum par aa gaya.

Ek din ki baat hain. Kiyan apne ghar par baitha hua tha. Tabhi use Sejal ka Call aata hain. Kiyan Call uthata hain aur kehta hain, "Hello Sejal."

Sejal - "Hi Kiyan."

Kiyan - "Kaisi ho tum Sejal ?"

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

Kiyan - "Main bhi thik hoon."

Sejal - "Aur batao. Kya ho raha hain ?"

Kiyan - "Kuch nahi bas ghar mein aaram farma raha hoon."

Sejal - "Kya tum kal free ho ?"

Kiyan - "Haan."

Sejal - "Toh kya hum kal Mile ?"

Kiyan - "Kaha Par ?"

Sejal - "Tum batao ?"

Kiyan - "Koi movie dekhne ke liye chalte hain."

Sejal - "Thik hain. Kal shaam tum Cinema Hall mein milna."

Kiyan - "Haan Zaroor."

Agle din, dono Cinema Hall mein milte hain aur saath mein movie dekhte hain. Movie khatam hone ke baad, dono bahar aate hain. Phir Kiyan kehta hain, "Toh kaisi lagi Movie ?"

Sejal - "Acchi thi. Tumhe kaisi lagi ?"

Kiyan - "Acchi lagi."

Sejal - "Phir ab aage ka kya plan hain tumhara ?"

Kiyan - "Ghar lautna hoga."

Sejal - "Kuch der baat-cheet kare ?"

Kiyan - "Yeh bhi thik hain. Lekin, kahi par acche se baith kar baat-cheet karte hain."

Sejal - "Lekin kaha ?"

Kiyan - "Kisi Resturant mein chale ? Tumhare Resturant mein chale toh kaisa rahega ?"

Sejal - "Nahi. Shayad thoda ajeeb lagega. Jis jagah par kaam karti hoon, usi jagah par Customer bankar jaana, shayad sahi nahi rahega."

Kiyan - "Thik hain. Kisi dusre Resturant chalte hain."

Dono saath mein nazdeek ke ek Resturant mein jaate hain. Wahan par dono baithkar apna order dete hain. Phir Kiyan kehta hain, "Toh kaisa lag raha hain, Resturant mein baithkar ?"

Sejal - "Ab bhi thoda ajeeb hi lag raha hain. Lekin, agar hum dono us Resturant mein jaate toh shayad thoda zyada ajeeb lagta."

Kiyan - "Haan, woh baat toh hain."

Sejal - "Phir zindagi mein aage ka kya socha hain ?"

Kiyan - "Dekhte hain. Filhal toh yeh naukri hi chal rahi hain. Tumne aage ka kya socha hain ?"

Sejal - "Filhal mera bhi kuch khaas future plan nahi hain. Lekin, aage ke baare mein insaan ko sochna toh chahiye."

Kiyan - "Lekin Zindagi hamare soch ke hisaab se nahi chalti hain."

Sejal - "Haan. Woh baat toh hain. Jis haalaat mein hum mile, kisne socha hoga, hum dono ek acche dost bhi ban sakte hain. Jeevan aascharyon se bhara hua hota hain."

Kiyan - "Bilkul sahi kaha tumne. Phir tum Shaadi kab kar rahi ho ?"

Sejal - "Dekhte hain."

Kiyan - "Koi ladka pasand aaya hain tumhe ?"

Sejal - "Nahi abhi tak toh nahi. Kya tumhe koi ladki pasand aayi ?" 

Kiyan - "Nahi."

Tabhi Waiter khana lekar aa jaata hain aur woh dono yahan-wahan ki baatein karte hue, khaana ka lutf uthate hain. Uske baad, dono apne-apne ghar chale jaate hain.

Ek din ki baat hain. Kiyan ko office mein aaj kuch zyada hi kaam tha. Kaam mein woh itna vyast tha ki use waqt ka pata hi nahi chala. Kaafi waqt guzar jaane ke baad, aakhir mein uska kaam khatam hua. Usne ghadi ki aur dekha. Raat ke gyaarah baj rahe the.

Woh apni Bike nikal kar ghar ki aur badh raha tha. Jaade ka mausam tha. Usne Jacket pehan rakha tha. Kaali-Ghani raat thi. Sadak sunsaan tha. Woh dheemi gati se apni Bike chala raha tha. 

Tabhi usne dekha ki sadak kinare ek ladki paidal chalte hue jaa rahi thi. Usne apni bike waha roki. Dono ki nazrein mili aur dono ek dusre ko dekh kar chaunk gaye. Woh ladki koi aur nahi, balki Sejal hi thi. 

Kiyan - "Are Sejal. Tum itni raat gaye is sunsaan sadak par kya kar rahi ho ?"

Sejal - "Main apne ghar jaa rahi hoon."

Kiyan - "Lekin itna late ?"

Sejal - "Haan. Woh aaj Resturant mein Staff ki party thi. Us wajah se aaj deri ho gayi."

Kiyan - "Chalo main tumhe chod deta hoon ghar."

Sejal Kiyan ke peeche baithti hain. Kiyan ab bhi dheemi gati se apni Bike chala raha tha. Dono baatein karte hue, safar kar rahe the. Tabhi achaanak se Kiyan ki Bike ruk jaati hain. Bohut koshish karne ke bawjood, uski Bike shuru nahi ho paati hain. Toh dono paidal hi chalne ka tay karte hain.

Dono baat-cheet karte hue jaa rahe the. Achaanak se Sejal ko thand mehsus hoti hain. Yeh dekh kar, Kiyan use apna Jacket pehna deta hain. Dono ki nazrein milti hain aur dono ko kuch ajeeb mehsus hota hain. 

Woh dono ek dusre ko bohut dhyaan se dekh rahe the. Aaj se pehle dono ne ek dusre ko aisi nazar se pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha. Tabhi hawa ka tezz jhonka aata hain aur anjaane mein, dono ek dusre ke gale lag jaate hain.

Kuch pal ke liye, woh dono ek dusre mein hi kho jaate hain. Kuch der baad, dono ek dusre se alag ho jaate hain. Ab dono Sejal ke ghar ki aur badhte hain. Dono saath mein chal rahe the. Lekin, dono khaamosh the.

Kuch der baad, Sejal ka ghar aata hain aur Sejal apne ghar chali jaati hain. Kiyan apne ghar ki aur nikal padta hain.

Dono raat bhar so nahi paate hain.

Agle din, Kiyan usi Resturant mein jaata hain, Sejal se milne ke liye. Sejal ki nazar Kiyan par padti hain. Lekin, woh use nazar-andaaz kar deti hain.

Kuch der baad, woh Kiyan ke paas aati hain aur order lene ke bahane, woh use ek tissue paper pakda deti hain. Kiyan woh tissue paper khol kar dekhta hain aur uspar likha hota hain, 'Tum mujhe aaj raat 9 baje Alaska Mall ke bahar milna.'

Kiyan thik waqt par Mall mein pohuch jaata hain. Tabhi Sejal uske saamne aati hain. Dono ek dusre ko dekhte hain. Phir Sejal kehti hain, "Kal raat aakhir tum kaisi nazar se mujhe dekh rahe the ?"

Kiyan - "Woh tum hi batao."

Sejal - "Tumhare dimaag mein kya chal raha hain, woh main bohut acche se samajh gayi hoon."

Kiyan - "Kya tumne kal raat kuch mehsus nahi kiya ?"

Sejal - "Nahi."

Kiyan - "Tum jhuth keh rahi ho."

Sejal - "Hamara koi mel nahi hain."

Kiyan - "Par kyun ?"

Sejal - "Tum khud socho."

Kiyan - "Agar mere aarthik haalat kharab hote, toh bhi kya tum yahi kehti ?"

Sejal - "Jo bhi ho, rishta toh barabari walon se hota hain na."

Kiyan - "Toh thik hain. Bano mere barabar. Main intezaar karunga."

Sejal - "Toh kya tum saari Zindagi kunware rahoge ?"

Kiyan - "Agar tum apne haalaton ke wajah se mujhe apnana nahi chahti ho, toh apne haalaat badalne ki koshish karo. Kam Se Kam is Zindagi mein aakhir tak, main tumhara intezaar karunga. Mujhe paane ke liye, ya toh tum apne haalaat sudhaaro; ya phir tumhe paane ke liye, main apne aap ko barbaad kar doon."

Sejal bina kuch kahe wahan se chali jaati hain. Kuch samay beet ta hain aur Sejal ki post badhti hain. Ab woh Resturant ki Accountant ban gayi hain aur uski pagaar bhi badh gayi hain. Yeh jaankar, Kiyan bohut khush hota hain.

Ek din ki baat hain. Kiyan ne aaj tay kar liya tha, ki woh Sejal ko Shaadi ke liye manaa lega. Woh Sejal ke ghar jaata hain. Waha jaakar use pata chalta hain ki, jis Resturant mein Sejal kaam kar rahi thi; woh ab band pad chuka hain.

Sejal behad dukhi thi. Kiyan Sejal ko samjhate hue kehta hain, "Zindagi mein utaar-chadhaav aate rehte hain. Lekin, us wajah se hum apne rishte kharab toh nahi kar sakte hain. Kya hum abse ek ho sakte hain ?"

Sejal - "Mujhe sochne ke liye waqt chahiye."

Kiyan behad gusse mein wahan se chala jaata hain. 

Agle din, Sejal Kiyan ko message karti hain, 'Tum mujhe aaj shaam Alaska Mall mein milo."

Dono ek dusre se milte hain. Dono ek jagah dekh kar baith jaate hain.

Kiyan - "Toh kya socha hain tumne ?"

Sejal khamosh thi. 

Kiyan - "Kya chahti ho, main apni nas kaant loon ya kisi buliding se kood jaaun ? Kya tab tum maanogi ? Dekho Sejal, zindagi ka matlab hi hain; ek dusre ka saath nibhana."

Sejal - "Tumne sahi kaha hain. Thik hain. Main bhi tumse pyaar karti hoon. Lekin, Shaadi ke liye mujhe thoda waqt chahiye."

Kiyan - "Main samajh sakta hoon. Dheere-Dheere yeh musibat bhi khatam ho jaayegi. Sabr rakho."

Dono Mall ke bahar nikalte hain. Dono paidal chalte hue jaate hain. Sadak sunsaan thi. Tabhi hawaa ka ek jhonkaa aata hain aur Sejal ke chehre ke saamne uske baal aa jaate hain. Kiyan bohut pyaar se uske chehre se uske baal hatata hain. Dono ki nazrein ek dusre se milti hain aur dono ek dusre mein kho jaate hain.

                -  Ved Vineet Gautam