Jamnaji se Mudte hi 

Anant gaur

 

Do number gate ke paas vale, foot-over bridge par khada Manjeet aasmaan ki ore dekh raha tha. Poornima ka poora khila hua chaand, Jiski dhoodhiya roshni chaaro'n taraf, har building, har dukaan par bikhri ja rahi thi. Kuchh der uppar dekhne ke baad usne neeche sadak ki ore dekha. Raat ke dedh baje the so koi ikka-dukka gaadi hi guzarti nazar mein aati aur dur kahin, kisi beghar sharaabi ke gaane ki aawaaz kaano mein. Vo palta to usne dekha ki ek kutta uske bag par peshaab kar raha hai. Kutte ko lataadte huye manjeet ko ehsaas hua ki vo ek number ka jhandu hai. Koi nahi aane vaala, aur galti se agar uske dost use dhundh bhi rahe ho, to bhi laxmi nagar ke is fizul pul par to koi nahi aane vala. Ajtak to koi nahi aaya.

Kuchh der aur intezaar kar, phir Haar kar, manjeet ne apne dono bags uthaye aur waapas apne flat ki taraf badh gaya. Laxmi Nagar, school block. 

Kachre ke dhero'n se bachte-bachaate, apne bags ghaseet'ta hua, manjeet flat par pahuncha aur darwaaze par ek napi-tuli dastak di. Itni ki kisi ko sunaai na de. Lekin bina ek pal ki bhi deri ke, dastak hote hi Raghav ne darwaaza khol diya, maano vo isi intezaar mein baitha tha. 

Darwaaza khol kar ek zeher bhari muskaan ke saath raghav bola "aaiye aaiye, arre david... dekho kaun aaya hai". Andar aane par manjeet bags almaari mein daalkar, bean-bag par baitha hi tha, ki David urf shaukat ali, kitchen se kuchh pyaale lekar aaya aur ek pyaala manjeet ki taraf badhaate huye bola, "dekho manju bhaiya, maine chai banai aur tum aa gaye. Samajh rahe ho, kitta pyaar hai hum'mein... ye hota hai pyaar". David muskuraate huye, manjeet ki taraf haath badhaaye tha aur manjeet jwalamukhi mann mein liye, daant bheechta hua uske saamne baitha tha. Is beech raghav, chupke se apne laptop ki screen se uppar jhaankta hua, is nazaare ka lutf utha raha tha. Kuchh pal ke sannate ke baad manjeet ne koi bahut bhaddi si gaali dete huye, David ke is mazak par apni pratikriya di aur chai uske haath se le li, jispar teeno zor se haskar baato'n mein lag gaye.

     Do mahine pehle jab raghav is makaan mein shift hua tha tabhi se teeno mein shart lagi thi ki kaun pehle is flat se jaega. Raghav ka kehna ye tha ki kisi bhi haal mein ye 11 mahine ka contract khatm hone se pehle, teeno mein se koi ek to is flat ko chhodkar jaega hi. Raghav Bali; SBI ki laxmi nagar branch mein employee tha. Ek typical bank clerk, subha jaana aur shaam ko aana. Phir agar himmat bachi to dosto'n ke saath shaam mein thoda ghum lena aur weekends par kabhi kabhar drinks par chale jaana. Varna raat mein dinner kar ke chup chaap so jaana aur phir subha jaldi uthkar vahi 'Work-Eat-Sleep' ki cycle repeat karte rehna. UP, Meerut mein jahan uska ghar tha vahan bhi usne aisa hi saral jeevan jiya tha. Ghar se dur dilli mein naukri lagne par vo khush to hua tha ki ab vo ek naye tarah ki zindagi jee paega, vo jaisi filmo'n mein hoti hai Par yahan aakar bhi raghav naukri aur bade sheher ke janjaal mein phass kar reh gaya. Use apne aane wala waqt saaf dikhai de raha tha. Mummy papa uske liye ladki dekh rahe the, Jisse use koi pareshani nahi thi. Do ek saal mein vo uski shaadi kara denge, phir biwi, phir bachche, phir bas. Is sab se pehle bas vo thoda jeena chahta tha aur ye vo manjeet aur david ke zariye kar raha tha. Ye dono jaise uski aakhiri ummeed the. Raghav saral ladka tha. Sharmila, buddhimaan phir bhi nadaan, Dhaak ka pehla patta...

     Hua yun ki kal dopahar mein saamne vale PG ki koi ladki apne undergarments balcony mein sukha rahi thi, tabhi mahashay raghav bahar nikle aur ye dekh ghabra kar wapas andar ghus gaye. Sanjog se kuchh hi der baad mahabali manjeet ji cigarette peene balcony mein aaye. 3-4 hi kash liye honge ki vo bhi ekdum se hadbadata hua andar aaya aur gaali deta hua bean-bag par baith gaya. David aur raghav ne sawaal bhari nigaah se use dekha to manjeet ne bataaya ki,"abe ye saamne PG vali ladki aankh maar rahi thi be".

"hain!!" raghav ne jhalla kar kaha, "vo to bechari apni bra vagehra sukha rahi thi, main isliye andar aa gaya"

"bhai seriously"

"aise kaise yar, tujhe laga hoga shayad"

"arre saaf dekha hai yar ekdum, eye contact hua hai"

"yar students vagehra rehti hain yahan, aise thodi karengi"

"bhai main jhoot thodi bolunga"

"phir bhi yar"

Raghav aur manjeet ke beech is fizul behes ke chalte, david pyaaz kaat'te hue, aankho'n mein aansu bhare, naak sudakte hue achaanak bola,"jugaad hogi bhai". Dono raghav aur manjeet eksaath david ki taraf mude aur kuchh pal yun hi sannata bana raha. Phir manjeet ke "kya bol raha hai bhai!" puchhne par david ne bataaya ki laxmi nagar ka kuchh hissa Red Light area bhi hai. Dusre shehro'n se jo students vagehra ya job ke liye jo log yahan aate hain, unhe paiso ke saath aur bhi bahut saari chizo ki zarurat pdti hai, to inhi PG vagehra mein kaafi jagah jugaad ho jaata hai. Bas pata hona chahiye service kahan milti hai aur service provider kaun hai. Raghav ne,"abe nahi yar" bola to david ne unhe bharosa dilaate huye bataaya ki,"tumhari jaan kasam bhaiya, kitni baar to main khud gaya hu. Mujhe pata hai bahut saare to". Raghav Na mein sir hilate huye bola ki,"nahi yar... student area mein thode hi aisa hoga". Tab david ne use samjhaya ki andheri raato'n mein, diya haatho'n mein liye... khoob chataayi bichhai jaati hain yahan. David ki kadd-kaathi aur moonchh mein nikle roye dekh kar manjeet ne use behen ki gaali dete huye kaha ki,"chal saale pagal banata hai". Jispar turant aahat hokar, haath mein liye chaaku ki kasam khaate huye david bola,"chalo phir lag gayi shart, aaj hi shaam ko aapko le chalunga" aur phir aansu ponchhta hua pyaaz ki plate uthaakar vo kitchen mein chala gaya.

     David urf shaukat ali; Bihar ke ek chhote se jile se dilli aya tha, ya kahein bheja gaya tha. Uske saath vahi hua tha jo har bade-chhote sheher ke, har dusre-teesre ladke ke saath hota hai. Vo pyaar mein haar gaya tha. Gaanv mein hi dusre dharm ki, uppar se chhoti jaat ki ek ladki se uska ishq ho gaya tha. Ab pyaar ho to gaya tha par pyaar hota kya ye samjhne ki uski umr nahi thi. Gharwalo'n ko pata chala to maar kutaayi hui. Gaanv dehaat mein in baato'n ko hawaa bhi to bahut jaldi mil jaati hai. Parivaaro'n mein jhagda bhadka aur inka milna julna ruk gaya. Umr, aukaat, shareer aur samajh to thi nahi... to bhai ne aisa hi ek chaaku uthaya aur apni kalaayi par mast sa QR code bana dala. Aise 90% maamlo mein ladkiya'n apne gharwalo ka hi saath deti hain, khaskar jab saamne aisa bewakoof koi gadhaa ho to. So vahi hua, ladki ne apna palla jhaada aur hamara dilwala diljala ban gaya aur tab se hi ladkiyo ko kuchh khaas pasand nahi karta. Aisa bhi sunne mein aya hai ki janaab ladki ke bhai ka sir phod aaye the, to gharwalo'n ne use dilli bhagaa diya. Nateejatan miyaa'n saab ki padhayi likhai sab chhut gayi. Aata jaata kuchh hai nahi, 3 saalo‘n se dilli mein pde hain. Bas is dauraan khana banana seekh liya hai. Sochta hai kabhi paise huye to apna khud ka ek cafe kholega. Par filhaal kuchh paise gharwaale bhej dete hain, baqi cafe restuarant mein kaam kar ke sahab guzara karte hain. Saath hi broker, electrician, parche baatna, film piracy, hawabaazi... paiso ka jo kaam mile vo sab kar lete hain. Is flat pe rehte huye hi 2 saal ho gaye, jis dauran 5-6 log aakar ke ja chuke hain par ye tike huye hain. Makaan-maalik ko bhi farq nahi pdta.. ladka chhota hai to naye logo ko adjust karane mein, rule regulation samjhane mein aasani ho jaati hai. Saath hi apni haisiyat ka andaaza hone ki wajah se kisi ka koi bhi kaam karne se david nahi hichkichata. Kiraaye bhaade mein der saver ho, to thodi madad mil jaati hai. Ye duniyadaari david ne kam umr me hi seekh li thi. Ladka jitna chhota hai, harami bhi utna hi hai. Maskhara pyaara, majboor bechara, phir bhi Tez-tarrar chaaku ke jaisa. Dhaak ka dusra patta...

     Jaise hi minute ka kaanta sarak kar 12 par aaya david utha aur baqi dono se bola,"chalo manju bhaiya 8 baj gaye.. ab ophisally (officially) is kaam ka time chalu ho gaya hai. Ab aapko main yahan ki asli haqeeqat dikha ke laata hu. Ho sakta hai isi bahane apka tota hi geela ho jae". Raghav ek sharmeeli si hasee muskura diya. Manjeet bola,"koi tota vota nahi geela hoga. Agar teri baat sach nikli to main aisi jagah nahi rehne vala". David nigaah bachaa kar raghav ki taraf dekh muskuraya aur teeno nikal pde, andheri raato'n mein, sunsaan raaho'n par.

Paidal chalte chalte 20 minute ho chuke the, jis beech david ne do jagah stops liye the. Dono jagah vo uppar gaya, phir neeche aya, phir bola "aage jaana hoga". Thodi si dur aur chal kar manjeet ne cigarette jalayi, tab tak vo log ek sankri si gali mein kaafi saare PG's ke beech khade the.

"Lo bhaiya apni manzil, khud jaake test kar lo", David ne kaha,"par haan yaad rakhna, har koi yahan aise kaam nahi karta, aur jo kuchh karte hain vo bhi seasonal".

Manjeet ne puchha, "to humein kaise pata chalega?"

"arre bas aap jao, bell maaro, ladki neeche aaegi, aap bas ye puchhna... kitna?"

"kya?"

"kitna?"

"kya chiz?"

"arre aap puchhna, to vo khud bata degi na"

"par kya chiz? Hai kya ye?"

"arre paise paise... isse aage to baat hi nahi hogi"

"hmm... achha achha"

"aage ka system aap uppar khud dekh lena, mann ho to..", david ne manjeet ko chhedte hue kaha.

Baad mein david ne manjeet ko saamne vali gali ke PG par bhej diya aur raghav ko pichhe vale Makaan ki bell bajaane ko kaha... par raghav in sab chizo ko lekar itna zyada darpok tha ki aakhir mein haarkar david ko bhi raghav ke saath jaana pda. Do baar bell bajaane ki nakaam koshish ke baad david ne khud bell bajaayi aur raghav ko bola ki uske saath hi chupchaap khada rahe bas. Loose si t-shirt aur Capri pehne ek ladki hawaai chappalo'n mein patar-patar karti neeche aayi to david ne turant aage badh kar dheere se use puchha, "kitna?", Jispar us ladki ne badi safaai se, pehle chaaro‘n taraf, phir david ko aur phir aakhir mein sawaaliya nigaaho‘n se raghav ko dekha. David ne bhi raghav ki taraf mudkar dekha aur phir palat kar dobara puchha, "dono hain... kitna?"

Raghav ke liye itna hi saboot kaafi tha. Vahin dusri taraf kayi dafe bell bajane ke baad, kuchh aise hi libaas mein ek ladki baahar aayi, Jisne aate hi purse nikala aur manjeet ke bolne se pehle hi khud usse puchh liya,"kitna?". Manjeet ye sunkar kuchh second bhonchakka sa reh gaya, phir use laga ki vo bhi code hi bol rahi hai, to usne bhi puchh dala,"kitna?"

"haan kitna?" ladki ne phir puchha

"vo to aap bataogi na"

"kya bataungi?"

"ki... kitna"

"main kaise bataungi? Ye to aapko pata hoga na, order to aap lae ho na"

"par service to aap dete ho na"

"nahi humne to order diya hai, service to aap dete ho"

"arre yar... madam kuchh confusion hua hai"

"haan... aapko bhi nahi pata, ruko main uppar puchh leti hu. didi... kitna..."

"ek minute... matlab aap log aur bhi hain?"

"haan... puri building hai ye... pura PG"

"matlab... aap sab yahi ho?"

"kya?"

"jugaad"

"didiiiiii....", manjeet ko ek zordaar tamaacha jatde huye vo ladki itna zoro'n se chillayi ki manjeet ke parkhachche ud gaye. Jaan bachaa kar vo aisa bhaaga ki ruka to seedha apne flat par jaakar. Is taraf david aur raghav ko 'kitna' ka jawaab mil gaya tha. Par jaise hi ladki unhe lekar seedhiyo'n se uppar jaane lagi... Raghav ghabrakar 'nahi nahi' karne laga... to ladki ko uppar bhej kar pichhe se kundi maar, vo dono bhi vahan se faraar ho liye.

Ab chaabi raghav ki jeb mein thi... to manjeet flat ke baahar hi cigarette phoonkta hua mila. Dono ke laut'te hi usne david ko ek bahut moti si biological gaali bakte huye saraa qissa dohraaya, ki kaise aaj jaan par ban aayi thi. Agar vahan se bach kar nikal na bhaagta, to poore mahaulle se maar khaani pdti so alag, jail jaane ki bhi naubat aa sakti thi. Saari galatfehmi ko samajhte suljhate huye david aur raghav hass-hasskar khoob lotpot huye, Par manjeet maan'ne ko teyyar nahi tha ki david ki baat sach hai. Vo to jab raghav ne haami bhari aur unka vala pehlu bataaya tab jaakar use yakeen hua.

Darasal jeevan bahut boring tha aur david bahut haramkhor. yahi sab harkatein hi to thi jo in teeno ke jeevan mein kuchh rass, kuchh gossip bharti thi. To bina mauka gawaaye david ne tapaak se manjeet ko bol daala,"manju bhaiya... meri baat to sach nikal gayi. Ab to tum ek minute bhi yahan nahi rukoge. Hai na... tumne hi kaha tha", bolkar turant vo hasne laga aur manjeet ko shaam ka poora flashback dikhaai de gaya. Ab chutkula itna achha tha ki bechara raghav bhi kaise hasee control karta. Bas yahi baat manjeet ke ego pe lag gayi. Vo bahut smartly is baat ko kaafi der se bhatkaane ki koshish kar raha tha par david usse chaar kadam aage tha. Manjeet ki isi gussail pravrati ka baqi dono mazaa lete the. Use chhedne mein unhe kuchh alag hi sukoon milta tha. Khair ab keh diya tha to zubaan se palatna beizzati vali baat ho jaati, So taish mein aakar manjeet bhaisaab ne apna samaan mar-markar, dheere dheere pack kar to liya, Is intezaar mein ki chal saale ye dono manaa hi kar de'n... par nahi, majaal hai jo baqi dono ne chu'nkaar bhi kaati ho. Darasal vo dono jaante the ki har baar ki tarah, kuchh der mein ise laut to aana hi hai. Aane aur jaane ke is bahaane kuchh excitement hi ho jaegi. To ji... manjeet bhaisaab ne apne bags baandhe aur kisi ke bhi na rokne aur saath hi apne hi baddbole-pann ka shikaar huye, nikal gaye raat mein apna jhola uthaaye, kahin jaane ka sochkar. Phir kuchh der yahan baithe, phir vahan baithe, phir ek dost se mil aaye, phir kuchh kha pikar pahunch gaye, apne khaas adde par. Vahi jahan laxmi nagar ki shuruaat hoti hai. Jamnaji se mudte hi, vahin pul ke uppar. Jahan chaand ekdum paas nazar aata hai. Jahan aur koi nahi aata.

Bas yaad aati hai. Ye pul hi vo khaas jagah thi jahan kuchh saal pehle manjeet apni ek khaas dost ko subha 4 baje lekar aaya tha. Yahin pehli baar usne kisi ladki se apni mohabbat ka izhaar kiya tha. Yahin pehli baar usne kisi ko chooma tha. ye jagah unki jagah ban gayi thi, jahan aur koi nahi aata tha. Baad mein to ye hua ki vo ladki bhi nahi aati thi... Itne mast tareeke se dhokha dekar gayi thi vo manjeet ko, ki tameez se sun'ne vala to us ladki ko shabashi bhi de de. Kaafi practice hogi usko. Is waqt ke aaspas hi manjeet apna ghar chhod kar laxmi nagar shift ho gaya tha, Aashiq-cum-Artist ki zindagi jeene ke liye. Is time hi usne 3-4 baar Rockstar bhi dekh li thi.

     Manjeet Manchanda urf Manju; vaise to engineering graduate tha, uppar se rehne vala bhi dilli, uttam nagar ka hi tha par us bechare ko lagan lag gayi thi. Ek din naukri chhod kar mandi house aa pahuncha. Kayi baras pehle college fest mein kisi dost ne ekbar ad-mad acting ke event mein uska naam likhwa diya tha, vahan vo jeet gaya. Tab se use kuchh ilhaam ho gaya tha. Phir usne motivate aur brain-wash karne vali khoob saari filme bhi dekh li thi. Theatre performing creating movies... vahi typical kahani. Use achha lagta tha is kaam mein, koi ek nayi duniya banane ka abhaas hota tha. Halanki vo is kaam mein bahut achha nahi tha. Bina is baare mein padhe likhe, bina kisi talent ke, bas aa gaya ek din. Aj do saal ho gaye, use theatre karte. Ab soch raha hai ki apna kuchh banaaye, koi short film vagehra. Isi flat mein pehle manjeet ka ek theatre vala dost rehta tha, to manjeet ka aana jaana bhi laga hi rehta tha. Uske through hi vo david se mila tha. Ghar chhodte waqt, pehle kuchh din manjeet yahin us dost ke paas ruka tha. Vo dost ab bombay chala gaya tha, to manjeet yahin shift ho gaya. Apne ghar par na rehne ki ek wajah ye bhi thi ki vo log na to manjeet ko samajhte the na hi is kaam mein usko support karte the. Vo bas chahte the ki manjeet normal logo ki tarah 9 se 5 naukri kare, paise kamaaye, ghar aaye, shaadi kare, bachche kare aur phir se subha uthkar office chala jae. Use unki baatein chubhti thi, vo is kaam ko ganda aur use chhota mehsus karaate. Ajeeb si baat hai par, Ghar pe use sahi mahaul nahi mil paata tha. Par sabse badi dikkat ye thi ki use vahan saans nahi aati thi, vo chidchida hota ja raha tha, jo ki vo abhi bhi hai. Iska matlab ye bilkul nahi tha ki uske gharwaale bure the ya vo unse pyaar nahi karta tha. Bas vo khudko mauqa dena chahta tha. Par mustakbil ko shayad kuchh aur hi manzoor tha. Manjeet hassmukh tha, gussail tha, gumm bhi tha par mann ka sachha tha. Dhaak ka teesra patta...    

     6 mahine guzar chuke the inhe saath rehte. Ek din david cafe se thoda late waapas aaya. Vo ro raha tha aur uska ek gaal bhi kuchh sooja sa hua tha. Puchhne par usne bataaya ki cafe ke owner ne use nikaal diya. Vo david par dhoodh ki chori ka ilzaam laga raha tha, poora hisaab clear karne ke bawajood bhi. Sirf is binaah par ki ek din samaan waste hone ke darr se usne ek cappuccino owner ke saamne hi bana ke pi li thi. Tab se vo david ke pichhe pda tha. Aj david ne jawaab de diya to hathapaai ho gayi aur bechare ko jo darr tha vahi hua. David niraash to tha hi par gussa zyada tha. Owner ko khandaan ki gaali dete huye vo karrahya, "ek din uski dukaan ke saamne apni dukaan kholungaaaa..." aur phir se rone laga. Manjeet sab sunkar bahut gusse mein tha aur badla lene ki thaan chuka tha. Vo bolna chahta tha ki david aisa badla lenge ki sunne valo'n ki rooh kaanp uthegi, par itne mein raghav unchi aawaz mein david ko jhaadne laga. Aj pehli baar raghav ne david ko gaali di,"abbe chup saale... kuchh nahi kholega tu. Khud ko bewakuf banata reh bas. Padhai likhai ka tujhe khoj nahi hai, saale dasvi fail anpadh. School tujhse paas nahi hua business kholega. Ek ladki ke chakkar mein life barbaad kar li". David sharm se paani ho gaya, uska rona bhi ruk gaya. Ab vo haule haule subak raha tha. Kuchh der baad raghav phir bola,"patrachaar se baarhvi ke form bhar de... apni padhaai puri kar pehle agar aadmi ban'na hai to. Ye sab to saath mein laga hi rahega hamesha". Ye bolkar raghav laterine mein chala gaya aur manjeet chupchaap balcony mein khisak gaya. David vahin baitha raha, subakta hua.

Dhaak ke patto'n ka joda nahi tigdi hoti hai. Teeno patte eksaath jude hote hain. Kuchh usi tarah kisi andekhi jadd se ye teeno bhi jude huye the. Manjeet ne apna mann bana liya tha. Raat ke paune 2 baje vo udaas david ke paas aaya aur uske kaan mein chupke se bola,"tu chinta mat kar, aisa badla lenge ki sunne valo'n ki rooh kaanp uthegi... tu bas mere saath chal". Manjeet ne apna bag uthaaya aur bina aawaz kiye dono chupchaap flat se nikal gaye. Neeche jaakar manjeet ne phir ekbar apna bag check kiya. Udaas david samajh gaya tha ki manjeet ne kuchh bahut khatarnaak plan kiya hua hai. Vo ghabra bhi raha tha ki kahin police vagehra ka chakkar na ho jae. Pehle hi ghar se beghar hai, yahan se kahan jaega... par badla insaan se kuchh bhi karaa sakta hai. Vo dono tezi mein us cafe ki gali mein pahunche. Gali sunsaan aur andheri thi aur us dukaan ka shutter bandd tha. Dono us shutter ke saamne khade the, udaas david ne manjeet ki taraf dekha. Manjeet ne bahut hi dhyaan se apne bag ki zip kholi. Udaas david bahut ghabraya hua tha ye sochkar ki na jaane bag mein se aakhir kya nikle. Manjeet ne bag se ek paani ki badi bottle aur toilet paper ka roll nikaal kar dukaan ke chabutre par rakh diya, phir do kadam pichhe hatt kar, udaas david ki taraf palatkar bola,"dekhta kya hai, jaa... hagg daal saale ki dukaan par". Udaas david ki aankhe'n phati ki phati reh gayi. Vo jaanta tha ki manjeet kameena hai par vo aisa khu'nkhaar darindaa niklega, ye usne kabhi nahi socha tha. Aisa badla to kabhi kisine filmo'n mein bhi nahi liya tha.

Na jaane vo kya baat thi us pal mein... udaas david badla le hi raha tha ki achaanak uske mann mein kuchh aaya, vo badla lete lete hi manjeet se bola,"manju bhai, kal kya tum mera baarhvi ka form bharwa doge?" manjeet ne bina kuchh kahe haan mein sir hila diya. 10 minute ke andar dono log badla lekar badi shaan se flat ki ore badh rahe the tabhi manjeet bola ki," chal fatafat chalkar so jaate hain, phir subha jaldi aakar tere owner ko cafe kholte huye bhi to dekhna hai, saale ki jal ke raakh ho jaegi". Us din david ki nazro'n mein manjeet ki izzat badh gayi thi.

     Us raat jugaad vale qisse ke baad raghav ne manjeet ko samjhaya ki kisi ko ghrina ki nazar se dekhna to zyada buri baat hai. Koi kaam achha bura ya chhota bada nahi hota... koi apna pet paalne ke liye kya karta hai isse humein unhe galat nahi maan lena chahiye. Ye baat manjeet ke artist dil ko chhu gayi thi. Vo kaafi mahino se ek ladki se baat karna chah raha tha, par kisi ne bataaya ki us ladki ka MMS bana hua hai. Bataaya kya, bade shauk se dikha hi diya. Us din raghav ki baato'n se manjeet ko ehsaas hua ki MMS leak hone mein us ladki ki kya galti. Usne to bas sex kiya aur sex karna to koi galti nahi hai. Ulta vo to badhiya cheez hai. Phir use ye samajh aaya ki kyun vo bechari aise alag-thalag dari dari si ghumti hai. Sab us ladki ko is nigaah se hi dekhte honge. Duniya chhodo khud manjeet ne ek adh dafe use aise hi dekha. Kam se kam us ladki ko to aisa hi lagta hoga. Ghar se baahar nikalna mushkil hota hoga, Nangaa sa mehsus hota hoga. 

Ek din manjeet himmat kar ke us ladki ke paas chala hi gaya. Usne paas jaakar hello kaha aur apna haath aage badhaya par vo ladki itna zor ghabraa kar bhaagi maano jaise usne koi bhoot dekh liya ho. Sharminda sa manjeet nazar bachaata hua vahan se nikal chala. Bina kisi galti ke bhi manjeet ko apne aap se badi ghinn si aai... us ladki par gussa bhi aaya. Phir kuchh ek din mein ye samajh aaya ki uska ghabraana aur bhaag jaana kitna laazmi tha. Iske baad manjeet ne ye koshish hi bandd kar di. Abhi ke liye shayad yahi sahi tha.

     Agle kuchh 4-5 mahine idhar udhar kaam kar ke david ne kaafi paise jamaa kar liye the. Uska broker ka kaam bhi kuchh nikal chala tha. Kamaal ki baat ye hui ki jis cafe se use nikaal diya tha usi ke saamne vali shop khaali ho gayi thi aur kisi bhi haal mein david ko apna kaam isi jagah se shuru karna tha. Gharwaalo'n ko blackmail kar ke usne thode paise aur mangaa liye the. Manjeet ko saath le jaakar david ne landlord uncle ji se baat ki to unhone saara mamlaa samjhaya. Isse pehle isi shop mein koi kapdo'n ka kaam karta tha. Vo uncle ji ka 4 mahine ka kiraaya maar ke gaayab ho gaya tha, ye bolkar ki gaanv mein uski chhoti behen uske bade jija ke saath bhaag gayi hai. Phir na vo aaya na kiraaya. Intezaar kar ke ek din uncle ji ne shop khulvaayi to dekha ki shop to safaachatt hai, koi samaan nahi... yahan tak ki nalke tak khol kar le gaya tha vo. Ab musibat ye thi ki uncle ji risk nahi lena chah rahe the, to bina guaruntee ke naye ladko'n ko dukaan dene mein thoda hichkicha rahe the. Ek baar ko maan bhi jaate par unhone david ke budget ke bahut hi baahar ki baat kar di. Security aur 2 mahine ka kiraaya dekar bhi, cafe mein baithne ka, renovation ka aur kitchen setup kar ke takreeban 50,000 rupay kam pd rahe the. So apni aukaat ko na bhoolte huye vo log chupchaap flat par laut aaye.

Us raat raghav ko david kuchh udaas sa dikhai diya. Vo hass raha tha, naach bhi raha tha par mann ke andar jo khalish thi vo raghav saaf dekh pa raha tha. David ke so jaane ke baad, balcony mein manjeet ke saath cigarette peete waqt, raghav ne manjeet se saara haal-e-bayaa'n liya. Saamne vaale PG ki ladkiya'n shaayad party kar rahi thi, to unke shorogul mein kuchh baatein aur ho gayi. Cigarette khatm kar ke manjeet ne andar chalne ko kaha to raghav ne ,"tu chal, main zara ek aur peekar aata hu" mein jawaab diya. Manjeet andar gaya aur jaali vala darwaaza bhedte huye bola, "zyada bhi achhi nahi hoti bhai, naya naya shauk hai... thoda sambhal ke". Dusri cigarette jalaakar raghav kuchh sochta hua, saamne se aate sangeet ki dhun mein kho gaya.

Agli subha raghav office ke liye teyyar ho raha tha jab david chai banaakar kitchen se bahar nikla. Isse pehle ki david laterine mein ghusta, Raghav ne use rokte huye kaha,"bhyi tere dukaan vale se shaam ko baat karne chalte hain, guaruntee maang raha hai na vo"

"bhaiya vo to 50,000 rupay uppar maang raha hai, mushkil hi hai... main kahan se.."

"koi ni... main de dunga, tu kaam to shuru kar"

"bhaiya main..", ekdum se phootkar rote huye david bola. David ki aankho se aansu behne lage, vo sir pakad kar jahan khada tha vahin zameen par baith gaya,"nahi nahi nahi bhaiya... main... nahi bhaiyya"

"Arre... chal be... maarunga saale. Ro kyun raha hai. Jab aa jaenge tab de diyo, varna partner banaa lio", David ko uthaakar gale lagaate huye raghav ne kaha.

Manjeet chupchaap karwat liye sab sun raha tha, par use laga abhi beech mein pdne se poore scene ka emotion mar jaega, to usne duji taraf chehra kare sone ka natak jaari rakha.

     Uncle ji ne raghav ki SBI mein naukri ka sunte hi mann bana liya tha, phir bhi thoda idhar udhar taalam-tol karte, ajkal duniya badi kharaab hai, petrol ka daam aur puraane gaano ki baat hi aur thi vagehra vagehra ki gupshup lagaa kar, unhone chaabi aakhir inke hawaale kar hi di. David ne itne barso'n mein kaafi detailed planning ki hui thi, is baat se manjeet aur raghav anjaan the. Khair... kitchen, material, supply, meter, permissions, design, furniture aur colour... bhai ne sab kuchh soch rakha tha, bas baat aakar thamm gayi cafe ke naam par. Ek baar ko ye bhi socha ki saamne vale puraane owner ke 'sip 2 sip coffee' ko seedha takkar dete huye 'lip 2 lip cafe' naam rakh liya jae, par ye kayi wajaho‘n se galat decision hoga raghav aur manjeet ne david ko samjhaaya. Aakhir mein manjeet ke theatre background ko nazar mein rakhte huye, ye kaam uske creative dimaag par chhod diya gaya.

     Kuchh din baad dukaan mein furniture aur ek second hand fridge set karwa kar david aur manjeet raat mein flat pahunche tab property dealer ek family ko lekar flat se baahar hi nikal raha tha. Andar raghav se puchhne par pata chala ki vo kuchh naye logo'n ko flat dikhaane laaya tha. Kyunki david kaafi samay se yahan reh raha tha aur ab usne Dhandha bhi jamaana shuru kar diya tha, to maalikaana haq ho jaane ke darr se makaan-maalik ne "kisi ka bhi agreement aage na badhane ko bola hai, flat khaali karna hoga". Kisi ko andesha hi nahi tha, achaanak hi ye baat kahan se nikal aayi. Abhi kal tak to cafe ke naam par hi behes chhidi hui thi. Patjhad aa gaya tha kya? Kuchh der teeno ne ek duje ko dekha phir raghav ne chuppi todte hue kaha, "11 mahine ho gaye bhai".

     Aaj rehearsal kaafi zoro'n se hui. Manjeet mein ek aag si thi, shayad aaj bahut samay baad ghar waapas jaane vala tha iski khushi thi. Apna saara samaan vo saath hi le aaya tha, taaki yahan se rehearsal khatm kar ke seedha ghar nikal sake. Par nahi... pehle vo ek dost ke paas chala gaya, phir Mandi house nikal gaya. Qareeb 8 baje Mandi house se chai pi kar usne cab book kari aur apne earplugs laga kar chal pda Uttam nagar ki taraf. Cab mein baithe baithe raghav aur david ke chehre reh-rehkar uske aage aa rahe the. Youtube insta sab dekh liya par har kuchh der mein dimaag parso'n hui baato'n ko phir dohraata raha, phir sochta raha ki baqi dono kitne mukammal hain aur vo kitna adhoora.

Darasal parso'n jab ekdum se flat khaali karne ki baat uthi to manjeet ne eksaath dusre flat mein shift hone ka idea diya, tab raghav ne bataaya ki gharwaale use roke ke liye bula rahe hain, ek ladki unhone pakki kar li hai. Use staff quarters mein flat ke liye apply karna pdega, vo bola ki, "logo'n ki zyada bhi aadat nahi daalni chahiye, baad mein takleef hoti hai. 11 mahine hi bahut hain tum kameeno‘n ke saath". Kuchh din vo apne bank vale dosto'n ke saath tik jaega. David ne bhi kaha ki vo to kahin bhi kisi ke paas bhi ruk jaega... laxmi nagar mein kamro'n ki kami thode hi hai. Kuchh sochte huye manjeet ne bhi haan mein haan milaate huye kaha ki,"haan... mere bhi gharwaale bade time se waapas bula rahe hain, to main bhi ab ghar pe hi rehne ka soch raha hu. Mera to sab apna hai hi yahan". Ye kehkar sehmati se apne apne raaste jaane ka faisla liya gaya, is vaade ke saath ki milte rahenge.

Itne mein gaadi kuchh dheemi hui, manjeet uttam nagar aa pahuncha tha. "Bas bhaiya yahin rok do scooter ke paas", manjeet ne cab vaale ko ek gali pehle hi rokte hue kaha. Cab se utar kar, dheeme-dheeme apne bag ghaseet'ta hua manjeet apne ghar ke saamne pahuncha aur darwaaza khatkhatate hi ulta mud gaya, daudkar waapas gali se dur jaane laga. Usko phir wahi damm ghutne ka ehsaas hone laga. Vo saari baatein ekdum se saamne aane lagi. Use laga jaise use koi talaab mein neeche khench raha hai.

Us hi Raat qareeb 11 baje manjeet apne pul par khada tha. Kuchh der uppar dekhne ke baad usne neeche sadak ki ore dekha to use ehsaas hua koi nahi aane vaala. Aaj to uske dost use bilkul bhi nahi dhundh rahe. Laxmi nagar ke is fizul pul par vo hamesha ki tarah bilkul akela hai.

Kuchh der baad achaanak se kuchh khayaal aane par manjeet ne apne teeno bags uthaaye aur pul se nikal chala, seedha pahuncha david ke naye cafe.

Shutter khula tha, andar light bhi jal rahi thi. Darwaaze par aakar manjeet ne ek napi-tuli dastak di to raghav darwaaze par aaya, ye dekh kar manjeet bahut zor se muskuraya. Raghav ne andar aawaz lagate hue kaha, "aaiye aaiye, arre david... dekho kaun aaya hai". Andar aakar manjeet kursi par baitha, tabhi david kitchen se chai lekar aa gaya. Vo manjeet ki ore cup badhaate huye bola, "dekho manju bhaiya, chai banai aur tum aa gaye. Samajh rahe ho, kitta pyaar hai hum'mein". Sunte hi manjeet ne david ko ek tadakti bhadakti gaali baki jispar teeno haskar baato'n mein lag gaye.

{Dhaak; Butea Monosperma or the tree of the Red Flower }

 

Anant