Sangam

 Viaan ek naujawan ladka hain. Woh College mein padhta hain. Woh har roz bike se College jaata hain. Woh behad tezz aur samajhdaar ladka hain. Woh har roz College jaata hain aur College mein uske kai dost hain. 

College mein Chamaahi ki pareeksha khatam ho chuki thi. Diwali ka samay nazdeek tha aur College ki chuttiyan shuru hone wali thi. Sabhi vidhyarthi behad utsuk the. Sabhi log Kakshaa mein baithe hue the aur woh sabhi aapas mein baat-cheet kar rahe the. Viaan uth khada hua aur woh do kadam chala. Tabhi achaanak se uska santulan bigda aur woh galti se Sarika par gir pada. Woh utha aur ghabraate hue kaha, "Mujhe maaf kar dena Sarika."

Sarika - "Koi baat nahi Viaan."

Viaan  muskurata hain. Phir Sarika kehti hain, "Waise tum achaanak se kyun uth khade hue ?"

Viaan - "Woh baithe-baithe mere pairon mein chitiyaan aa gayi thi. Toh socha thoda chal loon."

Sarika - "Hota Hain."

Viaan - "Thank You."

Sarika - "You are welcome."

Viaan kuch der tak Kaksha mein hi chalta hain. Phir woh aakar dobara apne jagah par baith jaata hain. Tabhi Kaksha mein Professor aate hain aur woh kehte hain, "Toh bacchon kaise hain aap sab ?"

"Thik hain Sir." Sabhi vidhyarthi ek saath jawaab dete hain. 

Professor - "Mujhe ummeed hain ki aap logon ki pareeksha acchi gayi hogi."

"Haan Sir." Sabhi vidhyarthi ek saath jawaab dete hain. 

Professor - "Toh ab kya main woh baat karun jiska aap sabko besabri se intezaar hain ?"

"Haan Sir." Sabhi vidhyarthi ek saath jawaab dete hain. 

Professor - "Toh chuttiyan ka kuch is tarah hain ki, aap logon ki chuttiyan sthagit kar di gayi hain."

Yeh sunkar sabhi hairaan reh jaate hain. Tabhi Professor hanste hain aur kehte hain, "Aap logon ke chehre achaanak se utar gaye, are Bhai main mazaak kar raha tha. Aap logon ki chuttiyan kal se shuru ho rahi hain aur woh aane wale 15 tareekh ko khatam ho jaayegi. Yani ki 16 tareek se aap logon ko dobara College aana shuru karna hoga. Toh kehne ka arth yeh hua ki aap logon ki chuttiyan poore ek mahine ki rahegi. Mujhe ummeed hain ki aap log khush ho."

Sabhi vidhyarthi muskurate hain. 

Professor - "Aap logon ka chehra bata raha hain ki aap log yeh baat jaankar prasanna ho. Ab bina deri kiye, aap sab apne ghar ke liye jaa sakte hain."

Sabhi vidhyarthi Kaksha se bahar nikal rahe the. Sarika Viaan ke aage hi chal rahi thi. Tabhi achaanak se, Viaan ka pair fisalta hain. Woh girne hi wala hota hain ki woh achaanak se Sarika ka haath pakad leta hain. Viaan ka santulan sambhalta hain aur woh Sarika ka haath chod deta hain. Woh peeche mudti hain. Sarika ko dekhte hi, Viaan kehta hain, "Mujhe maaf kar dena Sarika. Darasal woh galti se mera balance bigad gaya."

Sarika - "Aaj tumhara balance kuch zyada hi bigad raha hain aur tumhara balance mere ird-gird hi bigad raha hain. Abhi kuch der pehle hi tum mujh par gire the."

"Ab main kya kahoon Sarika. Main sharminda hoon." Kehte hue, Viaan ki nazrein jhuk jaati hain. 

Sarika - "Koi baat nahi Viaan. Hota hain."

Tabhi peeche se Viaan ko kisi ka dhakka lagta hain aur woh Sarika par dobara gir jaata hain. Dono farsh se uth te hain aur phir Sarika kehti hain, "Aaj yeh teesri baar hain."

Viaan apni nazarein jhuka leta hain. Yeh dekh Sarika kehti hain, "Ismein sharminda hone ki koi baat nahi hain Viaan. Mujhe lagta hain ki tumhe aaj apna haath kisi Pandit ko dikhaane ki zaroorat hain."

Dono hans padte hain. Phir Sarika kehti hain, "Accha toh ab main chalti hoon."

Viaan - "Good Bye Sarika."

Sarika - "Bye-Bye."

Phir dono apne-apne ghar ke liye chale jaate hain. Ghar pohunchte hi, Viaan apne haath-muh dhota hain aur phir apne kapde badalta hain. Woh peat bhar kar khaana khaata hain aur phir woh TV chalu karta hain. Woh shaam tak TV dekhta raha. Kuch der baad, woh TV band kar deta hain. Phir woh apne ghar walon ke saath kuch samay beeta ta hain aur uske baad woh apne kamre mein jaakar so jaata hain. 

Agle din woh jaagta hain aur uski dincharya behad aaram-daayak chalti hain. Yun kaha jaa sakta hain, ki woh khali pada hua tha. Do-Teen din, Viaan ke yun hi beet jaate hain. 

Ek din ki baat hain. Subah-Subah Viaan ki neend khulti hain. Woh sochta hain, 'Ghar pade-pade apni chuttiyan kyun barbaad karun ? Aaj kahi bahar jaane ka mann kar raha hain.'

'Lekin, main jaaun toh kaha jaaun ?' 

'Kahi ghumne ke liye jaaun kya ? Lekin kaha par ?'

Woh kuch samay tak sochta hain aur phir woh khud se kehta hain, 'Ek kaam karta hoon, tayyar hokar ghar se bahar nikal jaata hoon. Ek baar gaadi ghar se bahar nikal gayi, tab koi na koi manzil toh mil hi jaayegi.'

Woh apne bistar se uthta hain aur tayyar hokar, Bike se ek anjaan safar par nikal padta hain. Woh sochte-sochte Bike chala raha tha. Shayad isiliye uski gaadi ki raftaar dheemi thi. Woh safar karta jaa raha tha aur khule aasmaan ka aanand utha raha tha. Tabhi achaanak se uski nazar sadak ke kinare par khade ek ladki par padi. Lekin, uski Bike aage nikal chuki thi. Viaan ko laga ki shayad woh us ladki ko jaanta hain. Woh apni Bike sadak ke kinare le jaata hain aur use rok deta hain. Phir woh apni Bike ghumata hain aur us ladki ki aur apni Bike se badhta hain. Kuch shan baad, woh us ladki ke saamne apni Bike rok deta hain. Dono ki nazarein milti hain aur woh dono ek dusre ko dekh kar hairaan reh jaate hain. Woh ladki koi aur nahi, balki Sarika thi. 

Viaan ko achaanak se dekh kar, Sarika hairaan aur khush hoti hain. Woh muskurati hain aur badi utsukta se kehti hain, "Oh Viaan!!! Hi."

Viaan - "Hi."

Sarika - "Tum achaanak se yahan ?"

Viaan - "Haan. Main bhi hairaan ho gaya tha tumhe achaanak se dekh kar."

Sarika - "Kaise ho tum ?"

Viaan - "Bilkul thik hoon. Tum kaisi ho ?"

Sarika - "Main bhi thik hoon. Tum kahi jaa rahe the ?"

Viaan - "Haan bas yun hi nikal pada tha."

Sarika - "Lekin tumne koi manzil toh tay ki hogi na ghar se nikalne se pehle ?"

Viaan - "Ab bhi manzil hi talaash raha hoon. Waise tum kaha par jaa rahi thi ?"

Sarika - "Bas Diwali ki kuch shopping karni thi."

Viaan - "Toh chalo saath mein shopping karte hain."

Sarika - "Thik hain."

Viaan - "Tumhe koi aitraaz toh nahi hain na ?"

Sarika - "Bilkul bhi nahi Viaan. Lekin, meri wajah se kahi tumhara plan toh nahi chaupat ho jaayega ?"

Viaan - "Mera koi plan hi nahi hain. Main toh khud soch mein tha ki main jaaun toh kaha jaaun. Ab tumhara plan hi mera plan hain."

Sarika - "Thik hain. Toh kya tum Sangam Chowk chaloge ?"  

Viaan - "Ab yeh driver aapki khidmat mein haazir hain. Bas aap hukum farmaaiye."

Sarika Viaan ke peeche baith jaati hain aur kehti hain, "Driver gaadi Sangam Chowk le chalo." 

Dono hanste hain. Viaan Bike shuru karta hain aur un dono ka safar shuru ho jaata hain. 

Viaan - "Toh main aapse ek sawaal karna chahta tha madam."

Sarika - "Meri 'Naa' hain."

Viaan - "Matlab ?"

 

Sarika - "Maaf karna Mr. Viaan lekin, main aapki Girlfriend nahi ban sakti hoon."

Viaan hansta hain. Dono aapas mein yahan-wahan ki baat-cheet karte hain. Dekhte-Hi-Dekhte kuch hi der mein dono Sangam Chowk pohunch jaate hain. Woh dono saath mein Sarika ke saamaan ki kharid-daari karte hain. Phir woh dono ek restaurant mein jaakar baith jaate hain. 

Dono apna order dete hain. Woh dono aapas mein baat-cheet kar rahe the. Tabhi achaanak se Viaan ne dekha ki Sarika ke chehre par Baal ka ek tukda hain. Woh Sarika ke chehre se woh tukda nikaalta hain. Sarika Viaan ko dekhti hain. Viaan ko lagta hain ki Sarika ko Viaan ki yeh harkat pasand nahi aayi. Woh apni nazarein jhuka leta hain. Phir Sarika kehti hain, "Phir aage ka kya socha hain ? College ke baad, kya karoge ?"

Viaan - "Dekhte hain. Tumne ?"

Sarika - "Maine bhi kuch tay nahi kiya hain."

Uske baad, woh dono khaamosh ho jaate hain aur woh dono ek dusre ko bas ek tuk dekhte rehte hain. Un dono ko ek dusre ke liye shayad kuch mehsus ho raha ho jaise. Lekin, woh ehsaas kya tha, yeh un dono ko bhi nahi pata tha. Thodi der baad, woh dono ka dhyaan bhatakta hain. 

Kuch der baad, woh dono wahan se bahar nikalte hain aur apne-apne raaste chal padte hain. Dono apne ghar pohunch toh gaye the, lekin; un dono ka mann bas us ek shan mein hi tha. Dono bas usi ek lamhe ke baare mein soch rahe the, jab woh dono kuch der ke liye; ek dusre mein kho chuke the. 

Agle din Viaan ki neend khulti hain aur use Sarika ka chehra nazar aata hain. Uske Subah ka pehla khayal Sarika ka tha. Woh us shan Sarika se milna chahta tha. Viaan ne apna phone uthaya aur phir use yaad aaya ki uske paas Sarika ka toh contact number hi nahi hain.

Kuch dino ke baad, College dobara shuru hota hain. Is chutti ke dauraan, Viaan ko kai dafaa; Sarika ka khayal aaya. College pohunchte hi, Viaan ki nazarein charon taraf Sarika ko hi dhoondh rahi hoti hain. Tabhi achaanak se, Sarika uske saamne aa khadi hoti hain. Woh behad dheemi aawaz mein kehti hain, "Kya tum recess ke dauraan mere saath Canteen chaloge ?"

Viaan 'Haan' mein apna sar hilaata hain. Kuch der baad, recess hota hain aur woh dono saath mein Canteen jaate hain. 

Viaan - "Kya lena pasand karogi ?"

Sarika - "Kuch bhi nahi."

Viaan - "Kya hum saath baith kar baat-cheet kar sakte hain ?"

Sarika 'Haan' mein apna sar hilaati hain. Woh dono ek table par baith jaate hain. Dono ki nazarein milti hain aur woh dono ek dusre ko bas dekhte hi rehte hain. Tabhi Sarika kehti hain, "Aise mat dekho, accha nahi lagta hain."

Viaan apni jeb mein haath daalta hain aur woh usmein se ek kaagaz nikaalta hain. Phir woh Sarika se kehta hain, "Main jo kuch bhi kehna chahta hoon, maine ismein likha hain. Mujh mein khud kehne ki himmat nahi hain Sarika."

Sarika - "Kya yeh kisi khaas tarah ka patr hain ?"

Viaan 'Haan' mein apna sar hilaata hain. Sarika woh patr leti hain aur woh wahan se chali jaati hain. College khatam hone ke baad, woh dono ek dusre se bina mile; apne-apne ghar chale jaate hain. 

Sarika ghar pohunchti hain. Woh behad utsuk thi, yeh jaan ne ke liye, ki aakhir us patr mein kya likha hain. Dusri aur Viaan bhi apne ghar pohunch chuka tha. Aaj usne haath-muh dhone mein zyada waqt nahi lagaya. Woh behad baichain tha. Uske mann mein kai sawaal uth rahe the. Woh soch raha tha ki, 'Aakhir Sarika ka jawaab kya hoga ?'

'Kya uske Dil mein mere liye koi jazbaat hain ?'

'Kahi aisa toh nahi ki, bas main akela hi apni taraf se jazbaati ho raha hoon.'

'Aaj ka din behad khaas hain. Aakhir aaj ke din ke baad se, hum dono ka kaisa hoga ? Kya hum dono ka rishta aage badhega ya phir is rishte ki yeh aakhiri kadi hain ?'

'Kya mera Sarika ke saath ek nayaa safar shuru hoga ?'

Sarika apne kamre mein pohunchti hain aur woh apna kamra andar se band kar leti hain. Phir woh apne bed par leat jaati hain aur apni jeb se woh patr nikaalti hain. Sarika woh patr kholti hain aur use padhna shuru kar deti hain. Patr mein Viaan ki aur se likha tha, 'Hi Sarika. Main jo kehna chahta hoon, woh baat tumse nazarein milakar kehne ki; mujh mein himmat nahi hain. Main bas itna kehna chahta hoon ki, ek insaan ko zindagi mein kuch banne ke liye zimmedar ban na zaroori hain. Aur zimmedar ban ne ke liye, kisi ki zimmedari uthana zaroori hain. Kya tum meri woh zimmedari banogi ?'

Yeh padhte hi, Sarika sharma jaati hain. Woh aage padhti hain, 'Agar tumhari 'Na' hain, toh mujhe woh bhi manzoor hain. Main kabhi tumhe tang nahi karunga aur hamesha tumhare faisle ki izzat karunga, phir chahe woh faisla jo bhi ho. Bas tumse itni si hi Iltija hain ki agar ho sake, toh tum mujhse apni Dosti mat todna. Kal College mein mujhe tumahara intezaar rahega aur tumhare jawaab ka bhi.'

Viaan raat bhar so nahi paaya. Use bas Sarika ke jawaab ka intezaar tha. Agle din, dono College mein milte hain aur woh dono saath mein Canteen chale jaate hain. Dono aapas mein yahan-wahan ki baat-cheet karte hain. Viaan ko Sarika ke jawaab ka intezaar tha, par woh usse puchne mein hichak raha tha. Tabhi Sarika kehti hain, "Toh batao, mera favourite rang kounsa hain ?"

Viaan - "Mujhe nahi pata."

Sarika - "Mere jeevan-saathi ko kam se kam itna toh pata hi hona chahiye."

Viaan - "Koun jeevan-saathi ?"

Tabhi Viaan ko ehsaas hota hain, ki Sarika ne usse kya keh diya. Viaan hairaan aur khush dono tha. Viaan ke chehre ka bhaav dekh kar, Sarika hansti hain aur kehti hain, "Ab samajh aaya meri baat ka matlab ?" 

Viaan ki aankhein chamak uth ti hain. Yeh dekh Sarika kehti hain, "Buddhu." Aur woh dobara hans padti hain. Phir woh dono ek dusre ki aankhon mein doob jaate hain.

                        - Ved Vineet Gautam