Julia ghar pohanchi
Aaj uske chehray par woh muskurahat thi jo roz roz nahi hoti.
Darwaza band hua to ghar ki khamoshi ne usay apni aagosh mein le liya.
Drawing room ki batti jal rahi thi.
Us roshni mein woh purani tasalli thi
jo sirf apna ghar deta hai.
Kitchen se ubalti hui chai ki khushboo aa rahi thi
elaichi aur doodh ka halka sa mila jula rang,
jo aksar thakay hue dil ko bhi lubha deta hai.
Julia ne gehri saans li.
Woh aaj boht khush thi.
Jaise kisi ne uske andar band darwaza
bohot arsay baad
sirf aik halki si darar ke sath khol diya ho.
Aur us darar se roshni andar aa rahi ho.
“julia?”
Dr. Henry sofa se uth kar uski taraf aaya.
Haath mein chai ka cup tha,
aur chehray par woh aadat wali sanjeedgi
jo hamesha fikr se judi rehti thi.
“Tum muskurah rahi ho,”
usne usay dekh kar kaha.
“Aaj kya baat hai?”
Uski awaaz mein hairani bhi thi,
aur woh khushi bhi
jo sirf bade bhaiyon ke hisay mein aati hai —
jab behn ke chehray par sukoon nazar aaye.
Julia ne bag table par rakha.
Ungliyan halki si kaanpi.
Kuch kehne ke liye hont khulay…
phir band ho gaye.
Jaise lafz andar hi kahin atak gaye hon.
“Bas,”
woh halki si muskurahat ke sath boli,
“aaj din thora alag tha.”
Henry ne chai side par rakhi.
Uski nazar seedhi Julia ke chehray par tik gayi.
Woh behn ko bachpan se jaanta tha —
jab bhi Julia kuch nahi batati thi,
tab asal baat sab se zyada gehri hoti thi.
Usay mehsoos ho raha tha
ke uske andar koi baat hai
jo woh keh nahi rahi,
aur shayad kehna bhi nahi chahti.
“Khush rehna tumhara haq hai,”
Henry ne narm awaaz mein kaha.
“Main chahta hoon tumhein zindagi se
woh sab mile
jo main tumhein kabhi de nahi saka.”
Yeh sirf alfaaz nahi thay.
Yeh aik bhai ka iqraar tha.
Aik aisa bhai
jis ne apni zindagi ke kai faislay
behn ke liye peeche chhor diye thay.
Julia ne uska haath pakar kar kaha.
“Tum ne hamesha diya hai, Henry,”
uski awaaz mein yaqeen tha.
“Shayad isi liye main abhi tak sambhli hui hoon.”
Unke darmiyan kuch pal ke liye khamoshi aa gayi.
Woh khamoshi jo ajnabiyon ke beech bojh hoti hai,
magar apnon ke darmiyan
sukoon ban jaati hai.
Aur phir…
Phone baj utha.
Us awaz ne kamray ki rawani tod di.
Julia ne screen dekhi.
Unknown number tha
Julia ne call attend ki.
Dusri taraf ki awaaz
bohot tez nahi thi.
Na hi lambe jumlay thay.
Sirf kuch lafz.
Magar woh lafz
poori duniya ka wazan rakhte thay.
Uske haath halka sa kaanp gaye.
Nabz tez ho gayi.
“Main… abhi aati hoon,”
usne call band karte hue kaha.
Uski awaaz thehri hui thi,
lekin andar sab kuch bikhar raha tha.
Woh bag utha kar
tezi se darwazay ki taraf badhi.
“Kya hua?”
Henry foran poochhta hua uske peeche aaya.
“Hospital jana hai,”
Julia ne bina peeche dekhe kaha.
“Mera… aik dost wahan hai.”
Us lafz dost par
uski awaaz halki si ladkhadai.
Aur woh nikal gayi.
Darwaza band hua.
Ghar ki khamoshi wapas aa gayi,
Henry darwazay ke paas khara reh gaya.
Uski aankhon mein pehli dafa bechaini thi.
Aisi bechaini jo sirf tab hoti hai
jab koi apna achanak zindagi ke kisi aise raaste par nikal jaye
jahan se wapas aana sirf uske haath mein na ho.
Mark aik aisi jagah khara tha jahan har taraf sirf roshni thi.
Aisi roshni jo sirf aankhon ko nahi, zehan ko bhi bhar deti hai.
Itni zyada ke palkein bojh ban jati hain, aur aankhen chubhne lagti hain.
Wahan koi dard nahi tha
Na jism ka.
Na zakhmon ka.
Na un yaadon ka
Yahan saans lena aasaan tha.
Yahan wazan mehsoos nahi hota tha.
Us k charo taraf white lilly k phol thy
Phool hawa ke baghair hil rahe thay,
Jaise zindagi ne apna sab kuch is aik manzar mein daal diya ho.
Aur phir…Hazel
Uske samne khari thi.
Na chal kar aayi.
Na achanak nazar aayi.
Bas… wahan thi.
Khamosh.
Pur-sukoon.
Uska chehra wahi tha
jo Mark ne apni yaadon mein sambhal kar rakha tha.
woh chehra jo waqt ke saath dhundla nahi hota,
sirf dard ban kar reh jata hai.
Usay dekh kar Mark muskuraya.
“H… Hazel…”
Mark ne kampti awaz mai usy awaz di
Hazel ne kuch nahi kaha.
Na qareeb aayi.
Na haath barhaya.
Bas dekhti rahi.
Us k chehry par muskurahat thi
Or aankhon mein hazaron sawal
woh sawal jo kabhi poochay nahi gaye,
aur ab poochay ja bhi nahi ja sakte.
Magar un aankhon mein koi shikwa nahi tha.
Na gussa.
Na ilzaam.
Bas aik gehri si udaasi…aur us udaasi ke peeche
hairan kar dene wala sukoon.
Jaise woh sab kuch samajh chuki ho.
Jaise usay ab koi jawab nahi chahiye tha.
Phir kuch badalne laga.
Roshni jo har taraf phaili hui thi, usne pehle apni tezi khoi…
phir apna rang.
Safedi dheere dheere pighalne lagi, aur us pighalti safedi ke neeche
siyahi ubhar aayi.
Phoolon ke rang badalne lage.
White lilly ki chamakdar sufedi surkh rang mai badalne lagi.
Surkh rang gehra hota gaya.
Itna gehra ke woh rang nahi raha…
khoon ban gaya.
Zameen tharthara uthi.
Mark ne apne paon ke neeche
halka sa jhatka mehsoos kiya.
Hazel ke paon ke neeche
aik daraar ubhri.
Pehle patli si lakeer…
Or phr
Zameen phat gayi.
Hazel girne lagi.
“HAZEL!”
Mark ne cheekh kar pukara.
Woh bhaaga.
Magar qadam bhari thay.
Jaise pair zameen se chipak gaye hon.
Uski saans atakne lagi.
Seena jalne laga.
Woh haath barhata…
aur daraar aur khul jaati.
Hazel girte hue bhi muskura rahi thi.
Woh muskurahat jo aansuon ke baghair
alvida keh rahi ho.
Mark ne us tak pohanchna chaha.
khud bhi us andheray mein gir jana chaha.
Hazel ne naa mein sir hilaya.
Boht aahista.
Boht yaqeen ke saath.
Jaise keh rahi ho:
“Abi tumhein zinda rehna hai.”
Aur phir…
woh andheray mein gum ho gayi.
Mark ki aankh achanak khul gayi.
Safed ceiling.
Itni safed ke aankhon ko chubhne lagi.
Tube lights ki tez roshni seedha aankhon par par rahi thi.
Dawaon ki tez boo saans ke sath seedha andar ja rahi thi.
Gale mein kadwahat chhor kar. Jism jaise kisi aur ka lag raha tha.
Mark bed par leta hua tha.
Jism zakhmi tha, aur saans bhaari.
Wo hilne ki koshish karta to dard saath uthta.
Machines ki halki beep kamray mein phaili hui thi.
Pardon ke peeche se logon ki halki halki awaazen aa rahi thi.
jooton ki aahat, kisi nurse ka naam pukarna.
“Mark…”
Mark k kano mai awaz ai.
Dabi hui.
Jaise koi usy pani k andar se pukar raha ho.
Usne palat kar dekhna chaha.
Magr gardann hil na saki.
Sirf aankhen hili.
Chehra dhundla sa tha.
Sirf aik saaya.
“Mark…”
Is dafa awaaz saaf hui.
Josh side wali chair par baitha tha.
Jism aage jhuka hua.
Kohniyan ghutnon par tiki hui.
magar mutmain.
Jaise lamba intezar
aakhir kaar khatam ho gaya ho.
“Tum zinda ho,”
Josh ne muskurate huye dheere se kaha.
“Lekin lucky nahi.”
Mark ne hont hilaye.
Awaaz mushkil se nikli.
“Main….. yahan kab se hon?”
Josh ne pal bhar ke liye socha.
Jaise ginti yaad kar raha ho.
“Aik mahina,”
usne jawab diya.
“Poora aik mahina.”
Phir aik gehri saans li.
“Shukar hai tum wapas aa gaye.”
Josh bolta raha.
“Bullet jaan lenay ke liye nahi thi.
Trajectory galat nahi thi bas aik Warning thi,”
Josh ne kaha.
“Seedhi zaban mein dhamki.”
Woh batata raha —
kaise goli lagi,
kaise khoon behna roka gaya,
kaise ambulance bulayi gayi,
kaise hospital pohanchaya gaya.
Kaise woh aik aik saboot
ikatta karta raha.
CCTV,
shell casing,
phone records.
Mark chup sunta raha.
Uska chehra bilkul seedha tha.
Na hairani.
Na gussa.
Jaise woh pehle hi sab jaanta ho.
“Yeh random firing nahi thi,”
Josh ne aakhirkaar kaha.
Us jumlay ke baad
kamray mein khamoshi aa gayi.
Mark ne aankhen band ki.
Phir dheere se jaise apni saans ke sath
naam liya.
“Roger.”
Josh ruk gaya.
Josh ne gehri saans li.
Aisi saans jo sirf hawa ke liye nahi hoti,
balke kisi bojh ko uthane ke liye hoti hai.
“Haan,”
usne aakhirkaar kaha.
Awaaz dheemi thi,
magar wazan daar.
“Natasha Roger ki behn thi.”
Usne aik lamha ruk kar
Mark ki taraf dekha.
“aur uski intelligence chain ka hissa.”
Mark ke chehray par koi hairani nahi thi.
Na aankhon ka phailna.
Na saans ka rukna.
Sirf aik thehra hua gussa.
Woh gussa jo cheekhta nahi,
jo cheezein torta nahi bas faisla karta hai.
“Main jaoonga,”
Mark ne kaha.
Awaaz bilkul seedhi.
Jaise yeh jumla pehle hi likha ja chuka ho.
“Roger ko khatm karne.”
Josh hans pada.
Magar woh hansi
khushi ki nahi thi.
Woh tanz bhari hansi thi.
Thaki hui.
Tooti hui.
“Tum?”
usne kaha.
“Tum us jahanum mein jao gy?”
Woh kursi se uth khara hua.
Achanak.
Jaise zameen par baithna ab ghalat lag raha ho.
“Tum apne paon par kharay nahi ho pa rahe,”
Josh gusse mein bola.
Awaaz unchi nahi thi,
magar kaanp rahi thi.
“Tumhein pata bhi hai tum kis ki baat kar rahe ho?”
“Main jaanta hoon tum uske liye kaam kar chuke ho…”
usne haath hawa mein ghoomaya,
“…lekin us tak pohanchna asaan nahi.”
Uski awaaz dheere dheere bhaari hoti chali gayi.
“Main wahan ja chuka hoon,”
Josh ne kaha.
Ab uski aankhon mein
sirf Mark nahi tha.
Wahan jungle tha.
Khoon se bheegi mitti.
Aur woh manzar
jo yaad ban kar bhi nahi reh paati.
“Woh jungle hai,”
Josh ne dheere se kaha,
“jahan maut raqs karti hai.”
Usne aik qadam aagay badhaya.
“Wahan qanoon nahi hota.”
“Wahan chehray nahi hotay.”
“Sirf saaye hotay hain…
Or wo darinda.”
Kamray mein khamoshi chha gayi.
Machines ki beep bhi jaise dheemi par gayi ho.
Mark chup raha.
Uske chehray par na darr tha,
na uljhan.
Sirf aik gehra sakoon.
Aisa sakoon jo sirf tab aata hai
jab aadmi apna raasta pehchaan leta hai.
“Main aik detective hoon”
Josh ne kaha
“Police department, qanoon, ye sb mil kar bhi uska kuch nahi
Bigaar sakty…..or tum akely…..!!”
Josh ne usay dekha.
Aur samajh gaya.
Yeh aadmi rukne wala nahi.
Gusse mein
usne darwazay ki taraf rukh kiya.
“Yeh khudkushi hai,”
usne baghair peeche dekhe kaha.
Darwaza khula.
Phir band.
Josh chala gaya.
Kamray mein phir se
sirf Mark reh gaya.
Aur us faislay ki goonj jo ab kisi ke kehne se
badalne wali nahi thi.
Julia bahar khari sab sun chuki thi.
Roger.
Jungle.
Maut.
Josh jaise hi nikla,
Julia ne apni saans ko thehra kar
darwaza khola.
Woh andar aayi.
Mark ne usay dekha.
Aankhon mein fikar thi.
Halkay se aansu jo abhi gire nahi thay.
Uski nazar thehri reh gayi.
Jaise is lamhay ki umeed nahi thi.
“Tum… yahan?”
Mark hairan hua.
Uski awaaz mein woh kamzori thi
“Nurse ne call ki,”
Julia ne kaha.
Awaaz sambhali hui,
magar aankhen sach bol rahi thi.
“Woh mujhe jaanti hai.”
Woh aik qadam aagay badhi.
“Tum theek ho?”
uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
Sirf sawal nahi tha, yeh darkhaast thi.
Mark ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
Aur us nazar mein apne liye woh ehsaas dekha
jo usay sab se zyada dara deta tha.
“Main theek hoon,”
usne kaha.
Awaaz seedhi rakhi.
“Tumhein yahan nahi aana chahiye tha.”
Mark ne kaha or chehra phair liya.
Julia aur qareeb aai.
“Main nahi jaanti tum kis dard se guzar rahe ho,”
woh boli.
“Par main jaan’na chahti hoon.”
Uski aankhon mein zid nahi thi.
Sirf saath dene ki khwahish.
Mark ne foran baat kaat di.
“Behtar hai tum na jaano,”
usne kaha.
“Naa tumhara bojh hai…
naa tumhara raasta.”
“Ab jao.”
Kamray ki hawa bhari ho gayi.
Julia bechain ho gayi.
Jaise koi usay roshni se andheron ki taraf jane ka keh raha ho
Usne bag se phool nikaly dheere se
bed ke paas rakh diye.
“Saari zindagi jis ka intezar kiya,”
woh jaate hue boli,
aankhen bhari hui,
magar awaaz thehri hui,
“aaj woh mere samne hai.”
Darwazay tak pohanch kar
usne ruk kar kaha:
“Aur ab koi cheez
mujhe tum se alag
nahi kar sakti.”
Darwaza band hua.
Kamray mein khamoshi reh gayi.
Mark ne pholon ki traf dekha.
White Lily.
Safed, Saaf, Be-daagh.
Woh phool jo usy kisi ki yad dilata hai.
Us ne ankhen band kar li or gehri sans li.