Kaidi

 Ravi Das ek Company mein naukri karta hain. Woh Marketing Agent ki pad par karyarat hain. Woh apne maata-pita ka iklauta ladka hain. 

Woh Mumbai mein naukri karta hain. Woh apne maata-pita se dur ek anjaan shehar mein akela rehta hain. Ravi ke maata-pita Akola mein rehte hain. Woh ek madhyamvargiya parivaar se hain. Ravi ko Company ki taraf se ek flat mila hua hain aur us flat mein woh akela rehta hain. Woh subah tayyar hokar apne naukri par jaata hain aur shaam mein ghar laut aata hain. 

Kai dafaa Ravi ke mann mein aaya ki woh apne maata-pita ko Mumbai le aaye aur unhe apne saath ghar mein rakhe. Lekin, us mein koi fayda nahi hoga. Kyunki, kai baar Company ke kaam se use bahar gaon bhi jaana padta hain. 

Ek baar ki baat hain. Ravi kai dino ke baad, bahar gaon se Mumbai lauta. Woh taxi se apne flat pohucha. Woh fresh hua aur tayyar hokar apne office ke liye nikal pada. Kaam khatam karke woh shaam mein apne flat laut aaya. Phir woh khaana banakar khaaya. Uske baad, woh sone ke liye apne kamre mein gaya. 

Woh ek lamba safar karke subah-subah ghar pohucha tha aur phir, office jaakar din bhar kaam bhi kiya tha. Jis wajah se woh bohut zyada thak chuka tha. Thodi hi der mein Ravi ko neend lag gayi. 

Ravi gehri neend mein soya hua tha. Neend mein use ajeeb si aawazein sunayi de rahi thi. Ravi ko aabhas hua ki koi aur bhi uske kamre mein hain. Neend mein yeh aabhas use reh-reh kar ho raha tha. 

Achaanak se Ravi ki neend toot gayi. Ravi ne paaya ki uske palang ke thik saamne ek kaaragruh hain. Us kaid-khaane mein ek vyakti baitha hua hain. Woh vyakti Ravi ki aur peeth karke baitha hua tha. Yeh dekh, Ravi behad ghabra gaya tha. Woh samajh nahi paa raha tha ki aakhir kya ho raha hain. 

'Yeh sapna hain ya haqeeqat ?' Ravi ne socha. 

Phir woh vyakti dheere-dheere Ravi ki aur muda. Jaise hi woh vyakti poori tarah se Ravi ki aur muda, Ravi achambhe mein pad gaya. Kyunki, jo vyakti Ravi ki aur muda woh koi aur nahi, balki, woh khud Ravi tha. 

Ravi samajh nahi paa raha tha ki aakhir kya ho raha hain. 

'Yeh main hoon, ya mera koi pratiroop ?' Ravi ke mann mein khayal aaya. 

Ravi behad ghabraya hua tha. Woh samajh nahi paa raha tha ki woh aakhir kare toh kya kare. Ravi ka dimaag kaam karna band kar chuka tha. Uske muh se 'Aah' tak nahi nikal paa rahi thi. Woh hairaan aur daraa hua tha. Aisa nazaara shayad hi kisi ne apni zindagi mein kabhi dekha hoga. 

Woh vyakti kaid-khaane mein baitha hua, ek kaidi ke kapdon mein tha aur woh Ravi ka Pratiroop tha. 

Woh kaidi kap-kapaati hui aawaz se bola, "Mujhe bacha lo Ravi."

Ravi ab bhi kuch nahi keh paa raha tha. 

Woh kaidi dobara bola, "Main tumhare saamne haath jodta hoon Ravi. Meherbaani karke mujhe bacha lo."

Ravi ne thodi himmat jutaayi aur behad ghabrahat ke saath pucha, "Tum ho koun ?"

Kaidi - "Main tum hoon."

Ravi - "Matlab ?"

Kaidi - "Tum aur main koi bhinn nahi hain. Main tumhara aaj bhi hoon aur aane wala kal bhi hoon."

Ravi - "Main kuch samjha nahi."

Kaidi - "Main hoon Ravi Das. Jo ki ek Company mein ek bade pad par naukri karta hain. Main har roz din ke aanth ghante apni Company ko deta hoon. Kabhi-Kabhi usse zyada bhi. Main din apna raat khoon-paseena bahata hoon aur apne Maalik ke sapno ko pura karta hoon. Main apni mehnat se apne Maalik ko bohut munaafaa kamake deta hoon aur badle mein kayi baar mujhe bhi apni pagaar se zyada ki rakam bhi di jaati hain, bakshish ke taur par. Lekin, hoon toh main ek naukar hi. Kahi Na Kahi main bas ek Ghulam bankar reh gaya hoon. Apni hi zindagi mein kaid ho chuka hoon. Duniya ki nazron mein main aazad hoon. Lekin, meri aatma jaanti hain, ki main bas ek kaidi hoon. Reh-Reh kar meri aatma mujhe jhakjhorti hain aur main chah kar bhi kuch nahi kar paa raha hoon."

Ravi chup tha. Woh Kaidi aage kehta hain, "Tum woh Ravi ho, jo is duniya ki nazron mein kaamyab hain. Tumhare pass acchi naukri hain. Ek ghar hain. Ek gaadi bhi hain. Lekin, main woh Ravi hoon, jo yeh jaanta hain, ki yeh maine apne paison se nahi kharida hain. Yeh mujhe ek tohfe ki tarah diya gaya hain, mere maalik dwara. Kyunki, main din-raat kaam karta hoon uski taraaki ke liye. Nisandeh, is kaam se meri bhi tarakki ho rahi hain. Lekin, agar main apna thoda sa samay kuch khud ka kaam shuru karne ke liye laga doon, toh kya main us jagah par nahi pohuch sakta hoon, jis jagah par aaj mera maalik hain ? Yeh sab baatein jaanne ke bawjood, main khud ke liye kuch bhi nahi kar paa raha hoon. Yahan tak ki main koshish tak nahi karta hoon, khud kuch karne ki. Main aage badhne ka prayaas tak nahi karta hoon. Main khud ka dushman hoon. Main is kaid-khaane mein khud apni marzi se aaya hoon aur ab main aazad hona chahta hoon. Mujhe aazad kar do Ravi. Tum hi ho jo ki mujhe is kaid se aazad kar sakte ho. Yaani ki, tum khud ko aazad kar sakte ho."

Ravi ko us kaidi ki kahi hui baat samajh mein aa gayi. Yeh baat behad gehri thi. Ravi ko khud ke kaidi hone ka aabhas hua aur uske aankhon se aansun chalak pade. 

Yeh dekh kaidi bola, "Tum ro mat Ravi. Tum ab bhi chaho toh aazad ho sakte ho. Is kaid se mukt hone ka raasta pata hain mujhe."

"Aur woh raasta kya hain ?" Ravi ne pucha.

Kaidi - "Prayaas."

Ravi - "Lekin kis jagah ?"

Kaidi - "Pehle yeh tay kar lo ki, aakhir tum kya kaam saari zindagi karte rehna chahte ho. Aur phir us baare mein zyada se zyada jaankari haasil karo. Uske baad, bazaar mein us vyapaar se jude hue logon se milo. Jaise hi tumhara yeh shuru ho jaayega. Main is kaid se riha ho jaaunga."

 Ravi kuch sochne lagta hain. Yeh dekh, woh Kaidi kaid-khaane ke saamne aata hain aur un salaakhon ko apne dono haathon se pakadte hue kehta hain, "Ravi yeh tumhara Mission hain. Yeh tumhare aazaadi ki ladayi hain. Tumhe ek Yodha banna hoga. Tumhe is kismat se jung chedni hogi. Bohut sangharsh hain is path par. Lekin, agar yeh jung tum jeet gaye, toh tum hamesha-hamesha ke liye aazad ho jaaoge."

Ravi us kaidi ko bohut dhyaan se dekh raha tha aur woh kisi gehri soch mein pad chuka tha. Yeh dekh kaidi kehta hain, "Ab tak tumhara bohut waqt barbaad ho chuka hain Ravi. Tum ab bhi soch-vichar mein hi pade hue ho ? Tay karo ki, tumhe kounsa vyapaar shuru karna hain aur aankh band karke, khaayi mein kood pado. Dhairya banaye rakho Ravi aur ek majboot sankalp bana lo Ravi."

Ravi - "Baat toh tum sahi keh rahe ho. Lekin, kaise ?"

Kaidi - "Bas Dridh Nishchay kar lo. Aur kasam khaa lo, ki tum peeche nahi hatoge."

Ravi - "Pehle toh mujhe yeh dekhna hoga, ki main kaam kya karunga."

Kaidi - "Chalo acchi baat hain. Kam Se Kam tum raazi toh ho gaye. Main tumhe ek hafte ka waqt deta hoon. Is ek hafte mein tum kya karte ho, woh tumhare upar hain. Lekin, yaad rakho. Filhal main tumhe kaam shuru karne ke liye nahi keh rah hoon. Main tumhe bas yeh tay karne ke liye keh raha hoon, ki tumhe kis tarah ka vyapaar karna hain."

Ravi - "Thik hain."

Kaidi - "Ab tum sone chale jaao. Kal se tumhe dobara usi ghulamai ki zindagi mein dobara jaana hain. Lekin, yaad rakho, yeh zindagi tumhari manzil nahi hain. Tum ek na ek din unchi udaan zaroor bharoge aur mujhe is kaid se aazad bhi zaroor karoge."

Ravi agle din se apne kaam par lag jaata hain. Woh ab naukri se chutne ke baad, seedhe ghar nahi aata hain. Balki, woh bazaar mein ghumta hain aur alag-alag tarah ke vyapaariyon se milta hain. 

Woh alag-alag tarah ke vyapaar ki jaankariyan ikattha karta hain. Ravi ne ek kitab aur ek kalam bhi le rakha hua tha. Jis mein woh har tarah ke vyapaar ki ikattha ki hui jaankariyan likhta hain aur shaam mein ghar laut kar apne ghar ke kaidi se charcha karta hain. 

Ravi ki nishtha aur samarpan dekh kar, woh kaidi behad khush hota hain. Woh Ravi se aksar kehta hain, "Mujhe tumpar bohut garv hain aur mujhe tumse dher saari apekshayein bhi hain. Bas tum apni ummeed mat khona. Kyunki, ummeed hamari woh shakti hain, jo ki humein yuddh ladne ka housla deti hain aur yuddh par vijay paane ke liye bas yahi do cheezein sabase mahattvapoorn hoti hain."

Ravi ne bohut mehnat ki. Lekin, use apne Kaidi ki iccha har haal mein poori karni hi thi. Woh tay kar chuka tha. Ravi ne soch liya tha, 'Ab ya toh is paar, ya us paar.'

Kaafi waqt guzar gaya. Lekin, Ravi kuch bhi haasil na kar paaya. Lekin, woh Kaidi bhi badaa hatthi tha. Woh har tarah se Ravi ka hausla buland karne par adig tha. Woh Ravi ko bohut prerit karta. Woh hamesha Ravi ko ek se badhkar ek safalta ki kahaniyan sunata. Jisse Ravi ki iccha shakti aur badh jaati. Ab Ravi ka mann bohut majboot ban chuka tha. Woh har tarah ki visham se visham paristhiti ka saamna karne ke liye tayyar ho chuka tha. 

Ravi ne tay kiya ki woh kapdon ka vyapaar karega. Ravi ne apne vyapaar ko shuru karne ki rann-neeti banayi. Usne kai alag-alag niveshakon se mulaakaat ki. Lekin, kuch prapt na ho paaya. Ravi ne bhi himmat nahi haari. Woh lagatar naye-naye niveshakon se milne ki koshish karta aur unhe apne vyapaar mein nivesh karne ke liye raazi karne ki bohut koshish karta. 

Aakhir mein ek niveshak tayyar hua. Ravi ne bhaade par jagah lekar kapdon ki dukaan kholi aur saath hi saath ek website bhi banayi. Woh din bhar dukaan par baith kar grahak laane ka prayas karta aur shaam mein apne laptop par kaam karte hue, apni dukaan ki online marketing karta.

 Bohut lamba waqt guzar gaya. Lekin, Ravi ki mehnat rang laayi. Dekhte Hi Dekhte, Ravi ka vyapaar aasmaan ki bulandiyon ko chu gaya.

Ab toh Ravi ne khud ke liye ek flat bhi kharid liya hain aur apne maata-pita ko bhi isi shehar mein le aaya hain. Ravi ki tarakki dekh kar unhe behad garv mehsus hota. 

Ek raat ki baat hain. Ravi apne kamre mein tha aur use neend nahi aa rahi thi. Kyunki, Ravi ko apne Kaidi ki bohut yaad aa rahi thi. Ravi us Kaidi se milna chahta tha. Lekin, woh yeh nahi jaanta tha ki woh use bulaaye kaise. Woh apni aankhein jhukaye baitha tha aur woh behad ghumgin tha. Tabhi achanak se use ek aawaz sunaayi di, "Kya tumne mujhe yaad kiya Ravi ?"

Ravi ne palkein uthayi aur dekha ki, uska Kaidi uske saamne khada hain. Lekin, is baar woh salaakhon ke andar nahi hain. Is baar woh Kaidi ke kapdon mein bhi nahi hain. Apne Kaidi ko aazad dekh kar woh behad khush hua.

"Aakhir kaar tum aazad ho gaye." Ravi ne bohut utsukta se kaha.

Kaidi - "Sirf tumhari wajah se."

Ravi - "Nahi. Main aaj jo kuch bhi hoon, sirf tumhare wajah se hoon."

Kaidi - "Aazad toh main hona chahta tha. Tumne na sirf khud ko, balki mujhe bhi aazad kiya hain."

Ravi - "Kaha the tum itne din ? Main tumhe bohut yaad kar raha tha."

Kaidi - "Main ab aazad ho chuka hoon Ravi. Is kaid se bhi aur tumhari zindagi se bhi."

Ravi - "Main tumhe jaane nahi dunga."

Kaidi - "Mujhe jaana padega. Mera saath tumhara wahi tak tha. Ab meri manzil kuch aur hain."

Ravi - "Zindagi mein aage bhi toh mujhe tumhari zaroorat padegi."

Kaidi - "Main har shan tumhare saath. Main tumhara Pratiroop hoon. Tumse bhinn thodi na hoon main. Main har shan tumhare aankhon ke saamne nahi reh sakta. Lekin, main har shan tumhare saath hoon. Main tumhare bheetar hoon. Zindagi mein jab bhi tum mujhe yaad karoge, main tumhare saamne prakat ho jaaunga. Jab meri yaad aaye, bas apne antarmann mein jhaank lena. Main dobara prakat ho jaaunga."

Phir agle hi shan woh Kaidi, hawaa mein gayab ho jaata hain. 

                                       - Ved Vineet Gautam