Ekaant

 Vanraj Singh apne maata-pita ka iklauta ladka hain. Woh paanch saal ka baccha hain. Vanraj ke pita ek Company mein naukri karte hain aur maata ghar par hi Vanraj ke saath rehti hain. Woh Vanraj ko School le jaati aur School khatam hone ke baad, use wapas apne saath ghar le aati. 

Dono Maa-Bete kabhi Bus, toh Kabhi Rickshaw se yeh safar tay karte. 

Baaki bacchon ki tarah, Vanraj bhi apne khayalon ki duniya mein hi rehta hain. Kabhi use lagta, ki woh aasmaan mein udd raha hain toh kabhi woh natkhat sochta ki, woh Samundar par chal raha hain aur bawjood iske woh doob nahi raha hain. 

Puchne par ki badaa hokar use kya banna hain, Vanraj kabhi kehta ki use Doctor banna hain; toh kabhi woh Engineer banne ki iccha jatata. 

Maasoom baccha hain. Filhal apni hi talaash mein nikla hua hain. Shaam ke dauraan woh aksar Hall mein baitha apne khilono ke saath khelte rehta hain. 

Ek shaam ki baat hain. Vanraj aise hi apne khilono ke saath khel raha tha. Tabhi use mann mein ek khayal aaya, "Main bada hokar Superman banunga. Agar main Shaktimaan ban jaaun toh kisa rahega ? Lekin, mujhe toh Junior G zyada pasand hain. Hey bhagwaan aakhir kitna mushkil hain kuch banna."

Yeh sab khayalat Vanraj ko pareshaan kar rahe the. Tabhi Vanraj ki Maa uske paas aati hain. Woh usse puchti hain, "Mera laadla kya kar raha hain ?"

Vanraj - "Mummy main bada hokar laadla banunga. Nahi main bhool gaya ki main kya banunga." 

Vanraj apna sar khujaane lagta hain. Vanraj ki Maa hanste hue uske nazdeek aati hain aur use apne goad mein utha leti hain. Phir woh bade pyaar se uske gaal kheechti hain aur uske dono gaalon ko chumti hain. Vanraj kaske apni Maa ko gale se laga leta hain aur apni aankhein band kar leta hain. Kuch der baad, Vanraj ko neend lag jaati hain aur woh so jaata hain. 

Agle din, subah jab woh School jaa raha hota hain tab woh baar-baar aasmaan ki aur dekhta hain. Kabhi woh aasmaan ki aur dekhta hain, toh kabhi woh saamne dekhta hain. Tabhi use aasmaan mein hawaai jahaaj udta hua dikhta hain. Hawaai Jahaaj ki tezz aawaaz sunkar, woh apne kaan khujaane lagta hain. Hawaai Jahaaj ke jaate hi, woh turant apne haath failaa deta hain aur zor se aawaaz nikaalta hain, "Wing, Wing, Wing."

Apne maasoom ki is naadaani par Vanraj ki Maa ko badaa pyaar aata hain aur woh hasne lagti hain.

Kuch der baad, woh dono School pohuch jaate hain. School mein Vanraj reh-reh kar, Aeroplane ki aawaaz nikaalne ki koshish karta hain. Aaj Vanraj ka School mein mann nahi lag raha tha. Uska poora dhyaan sirf us plane par tha. Vanraj ko reh-reh kar apni aankhon ke saamne us plane ka drishya hi nazar aa raha tha. 

Aakhir mein School khatam hua aur woh apni Class se bahar nikla. Bahar nikal kar, Vanraj ki nazar apni Maa ko dhundh rahi thi. Woh har taraf apni nazar dauda raha tha. Lekin, use apni Maa kahi nazar nahi aa rahi thi. Ab Vanraj udaas ho chuka tha. Woh soch raha tha, 'Kahi Mummy bhool toh nahi gayi mujhe ?'

'Mummy shayad School ka raasta bhool gayi hogi.' 

'Yeh bhi ho sakta hain, ki  Mummy ko apne School se Chutti nahi mili hogi.'

Woh naadaan baalak apne hi khayaalon mein khoya hua tha, tabhi usne dekha ki; uski Mummy muskurate hue uske paas aa rahi thi. Woh daudta hua apni Maa ke paas jaa raha tha. Apni Maa ke paas pohuchte hi, woh apne dono nanhe haathon se unhe kaske pakad liya. Phir Vanraj ki Maa uske gaalon ko chumti hain aur uske baalon ko bade pyaar se sehlati hain. Uske baad, woh Vanraj ko apne goad mein uthati hain aur use apne saath wapas ghar le jaati hain. 

Raaste mein Vanraj dekhta hain ki, ek billi yahan-wahan daud rahi hain. Woh chahta tha ki woh us billi ki punch ko pakad lein aur uske saath khele. Yeh khayal uske mann mein aate hi, woh koodne lagta hain. Lekin, uski Maa use apni goad mein pakde hue thi. Apni maa ki woh pakad use, ek jakad ki tarah lag rahi thi. Woh apne aap ko usse chudaane ki koshish kar raha tha. Woh apne nanhe haaton se apni Maa ke haathon par maar raha tha. Use aisa lag raha tha maano, woh apne Maa ke haathon mein kaid ho chuka hain. Kuch hi pal baad, woh Billi Vanraj ke nazron se ojhal ho gayi. Vanraj thoda maayus ho gaya. Woh us billi ke saath khelna chahta tha. Apne bete ko maayus dekh kar Vanraj ki Maa usse puchi, "Beta kya hua. Abhi toh tum muskura rahe the."

Vanraj - "C for Cat gayab ho gayi."

Vanraj Ki Maa - "Koi baat nahi beta, dobara aa jaayegi."

Vanraj - "Lekin kab tak Mummy ?"

Vanraj Ki Maa - "Jaldi hi beta."

Vanraj kuch nahi kehta hain aur woh rone lagta hain. Uski Maa ke laakh samajhaane ke bawjood woh nahi samajh paata hain. Kuch der tak rone ke baad, woh chup ho jaata hain. Thodi der baad, woh dono apne ghar pohunch jaate hain. 

Ghar pohuch kar woh apne khilone ke saath khelna shuru kar deta hain. Thodi der baad, uske pita ghar aate hain. Apne pita ko dekhte hi, woh unki aur daudta hain. Phir Vanraj ke pita use apne goad mein utha lete hain aur woh unhe kaske gale laga leta hain. Uske baad, Vanraj apne pita se puchta hain, "Papa aapka School late band hota hain kya ? Aapko ghar aane mein, hamesha badi deri ho jaati hain."

Vanraj Ke Pita hasne lagte hain aur kehte hain, "Haan beta." 

Dekhte-Dekhte waqt guzarta hain aur Vanraj dheere-dheere badaa hone lagta hain. Umar ke saath usmein samajhdaari aane lagti hain. Woh ab apna Homework khud karne mein saksham hain. Woh padhaayi mein bhi tezz hain aur baat-cheet mein bhi.

Waqt ne raftaar pakdi aur Vanraj ki umar tezi se badhti gayi. Wahi dusri aur Vanraj ke maata-pita ki umar ab dhalaan ki aur badhna shuru kar chuki thi. Dasvi ki board pareeksha sar par thi aur Vanraj ne din-raat ek kar diya padhaayi karne mein. Exam khatam hone ke baad, Vanraj apne doston ke saath Nainital jaane ki yojna banata hain. Nainital mein Vanraj apne doston ke saath bohut mauj-masti karta hain.

Ek din ki baat hain. Vanraj ab bhi Nainital mein hi tha. Aaj subah woh jab utha, tab uska sar achaanak se pakad liya. Vanraj ko halka sa bukhaar bhi mehsus ho raha tha.

Tabhi Vanraj ke dost uske paas aata hain aur kehta hain, "Yaar Vanraj. Tu abhi tak tayyar nahi hua ? Hum sab logon ko abhi bahar jaana hain."

Vanraj - "Tum log jaakar aa jaao yaar. Aaj mera mann nahi hain."

Vanraj Ka Dost - "Kyun kya ho gaya ?"

Vanraj - "Aise hi yaar."

Vanraj Ka Dost - "Tabiyat thik nahi hain kya teri ?"

Vanraj - "Haan mujhe halka sa bukhaar mehsus ho raha hain thoda."

Vanraj Ka Dost - "Koi baat nahi. Apne sab kal chale jaate hain."

Vanraj - "Are Bhai nahi. Meri wajah se tum sab apna aaj ka din kharab mat karo. Tum log ho aao aur waise bhi, mujhe agar zyada dikkat mehsus hogi; toh main tum logon ko call kar ke bata dunga."

Vanraj Ka Dost - "Thik hain. Apna khayal rakh tu."

Vanraj - "Haan Zaroor."

Vanraj ka dost apne baaki ke doston ke saath bahar chala jaata hain.

Vanraj resort mein akela tha. Woh apne bistar par leta hua tha. Kaafi koshish karne ke bawjood use neend nahi lag paa rahi thi. Vanraj ne socha, 'Thoda Mobile chala leta hoon.' Woh apni jeb se Mobile  nikaalta hain aur dekhta hain ki Mobile battery kam hain. Vanraj apne Mobile ko charging par laga deta hain aur wapas bistar par aakar leat jaata hain.

Vanraj ne bohut koshish ki sone ki. Lekin, use neend nahi lag paa rahi thi. Woh bas apni karwatein badal raha tha.

Tabhi uski nazar khidki ke bahar padi. Waha par ek chota baccha apne haathon mein khilona liye muskura raha tha. Phir us bacche ko uske pita ne apne goad mein uthaya aur waha se chal diye.

Yeh dekh kar, Vanraj ko apne bachpan ki yaad aa gayi. Woh sochta hain, 'Naadaan baccha. Aakhir kitna maasoom aur naasamajh hoga yeh ladka. Waise bhi, main bhi toh bachpan mein waisa hi tha.' Vanraj ko apni aankhon ke saamne, apne bachpan ke saare drishya dikhayi de rahe the.

Bachpan mein bitaya hua har ek pal, ek-ek karke uske aankhon ke saamne aa rahe the. 

Tabhi achaanak se, Vanraj ke zehan mein ek khayal aata hain, 'Main bachpan mein behad kalpanaasheel tha. Lekin, ab kya ho gaya hain meri kalpanaaon ko ?'

'Main badaa kya hua, meri kalpana karne ki shamta hi khatam ho chuki hain.'

Yeh sochte hi, Vanraj ki aankhein nam ho jaati hain.

Woh aage sochta hain, 'Sapne mujhe bachpan mein bhi aate the aur aaj bhi aate hain. Shayad aage bhi aate rahenge. Agar kalpanaaon ka insaan ke jeevan mein itna hi mahattav hain, toh kyun na main apni kalpanaao ko aadhar bana kar apne jeevan ko ek aakaar doon. Ek behad shaandaar aakaar.'

Vanraj ko woh saari mahaan kahaniyaan yaad aane lagti hain, jo use bachpan mein sunaye gaye the. Woh dobara apne khayaalon ki duniya mein khone lag jaata hain.

Sochte-Sochte Vanraj ko ehsaas ho jaata hain ki koi bhi kaam shuru karne se pehle kalpana karni hogi. Phir yojna banakar, us kaam ko astitva mein lana hoga.

Vanraj sochta hain, 'Ab mujhe behad samajhdaar aur gambhir banne ki aavashyakta hain. Tabhi main na keval zindagi mein bade se bade mukaam haasil kar paaunga, balki; main mere apno ki saari aashaayein bhi poori kar paaunga.'

'Mujhe ab itna samajhdaar banna hoga ki, main mere apno ka khayal rakh sakun. Unki har zarooraton ko poora kar sakun.'

Apne antarmann se charchaa karte-karte use yeh ehsaas hota hain ki uski soch mein aakhir kitna zyada parivartan aaya hain. Bas in kuch shano mein hi woh aakhir kitna paripakv ban chuka hain.  

Vanraj aage sochta hain, 'Khud ke saath aksar baatein karte rehni chahiye. Saare sawaalon ke jawaab hamare antarmann mein hi chupe rehte hain. Jo sahi samay aane par mil hi jaate hain.'

Tabhi Vanraj ka phone bajta hain aur woh dekhta hain ki uske pita ka Call aaya hain. Woh Call uthata hain aur apne maata-pita dono se baat-cheet karta hain. Kuch der tak baat-cheet karne ke baad, woh Call kaat deta hain. 

Vanraj aage sochta hain, 'Ab chahe kuch bhi ho jaaye, main har haal mein apna har ek lakshya prapt karke dikhaaunga. Main kabhi bhi jeevan mein haar nahi maanunga.'

Tabhi Vanraj ke dost ka Call aata hain. Vanraj Call uthata hain aur kehta hain, "Hello."

Phone ke dusri aur se, Vanraj ka dost kehta hain, "Yaar Vanraj ek problem ho gayi hain. Woh Akshay ki bhi tabiyat achaanak se kharab ho gayi hain. Toh aaj hum sab logon ko aane mein zara deri ho jaayegi. Tu waha akela pad chuka hain, hamare aane tak apna khayal rakhna."

Vanraj muskurata hain aur kehta hain, "Koi baat nahi."

Vanraj Ka Dost - "Abhi teri tabiyat kaisi hain ?"

Vanraj - "Thik hain."

Vanraj Ka Dost - "Koi dikkat ho toh Call karna. Main Call rakhta hoon."

Vanraj - "Thik hain."

Vanraj ka dost call kaat deta hain.

Vanraj dobara apne khayaalon mein kho jaata hain. Vanraj sochta hain, 'Mujhe bhavishya ki yojna pehle se hi banani seekhni hogi.'

Shaam hoti hain aur aakhir mein uske sabhi dost wapas aa jaate hain. Woh log Vanraj ka haal-chaal lete hain. Phir woh log Vanraj se batate hain ki woh log kaha-kaha ghumne ke liye gaye. Sabhi log kharidaari ke baare mein baat-cheet karte hain aur Vanraj se bhi uski rai puchte hain. Vanraj kehta hain, "Ghar walon ke liye koi aisa tohfa lenge, jo unhe behad pasand aaye."

Tabhi un ladkon mein se ek ladka kehta hain, "Accha hua jo yaad dila diya. Ghar walon ke liye tohfa lene ke baare mein toh khayal aaya hi nahi tha hum logon ko. Kuch ghanto mein hi bohut samajhdaar ban gaye ho tum."

Vanraj muskurata hain aur mann-hi-mann kehta hain, 'Tumhe andaaza bhi nahi hain ki, aaj maine jeevan ke kitne anmol rahasya khoj nikaale hain. Ekaant mein mujhe kai sawaalon ke jawaab mil gaye. Ab ekaant mere sabse kareebi mitron mein se ek hain.'

                   - Ved Vineet Gautam