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Aksar ek aurat ka vajood maatritva se hi joda jaata hai. Munne ki ma ka jeevan bhi kuchh aisa hi tha. Vaastav mein vah 21-22 saal ki hogi lekin dikhne mein 30 varsh ke upar lagti thi. Kam umr mein uska vivaah kar diya gaya tha aur usne teen bachhon ko janm diya tha jismein se keval teesra jeevit raha. Ma bante hi sabne use ‘Munne ki ma’ bulaana shuru kar diya tha aur uska apna naam aur pehchaan kahin kho gayi thi. Saas hamesha use dosh deti aur pati bhi naraaz rehta tha lekin vah khush rehne ki koshish karti. Uska sapna tha ki jab uska Munna use 'ma' keh kar pukarega, vah ek sampoorn aurat mehsoos karegi. Munne ko lekar ek raaz jo parivaar chhupana chahta tha, aakhir sabko pata chal gaya tha. Munna na ladke ke roop mein paida hua tha aur na ladki, gaon-walon ne use 'hijra' maana aur yah nishchay hua ki use hijron ke samudaay ke havale kar diya jayega. Ma ke alava parivaar ke sabhi sadasya niraash, krodhit aur sharminda the. Unke liye Munna ek kalank tha. Lekin ma ke liya vah 'hijra' nahi ek baccha tha. Ek ma ke liye apne bachhe se juda hona jeevan ka sabse dardnaak anubhav hota hai. Munne ki ma apne bachhe ko apne saath rakhne ke liye kya apne parivaar aur samaaj se ladegi? Kya vah apni chuppi tod paegi ya apne bachhe ko uski kismat par chhod degi? Yah kahani maatritva aur samaajik bhedbhaav ki ek maarmik tasveer hai.

Shaadi ka ek saal hone par Mr aur Mrs Sharma chhutti par ghoomne nikle. Mrs Sharma ne fashion ke anusaar naye kapde silvaaye. Mr Sharma ne apni patni ko pehnaawe par tokte hue, shareer ke angon par kataksha kiya. Logon ke ghoorne ka darr jataate hue, naya kurta chhod kar purani sari pehen-ne ki hidayat di. Mrs Sharma ko pati ki nirantar alochana buri lagti thi. Jeevansaathi ka kisi bhi baat par sehyog na mil paana, unhe apne vivaahit jeevan mein niraash kar raha tha. Mann maar kar, vah Mr Sharma ke saath sair par nikli. Raaste mein unhone shopping karni chaahi toh pati unsuna karke aage badh gaye, restaurant mein khaane ki icchha par bhi unhe taana suna diya. Maayoos Mrs Sharma ko sadak par khadi yuva ladkiyon ne dekha toh unki bhaddi sari par hans padi. Mrs Sharma ki aankhon se aansoon phoot pade lekin pati nazarandaaz karke, unhe akela chhor library chale gaye. Kya Mrs Sharma andar hi andar ghut-ti rahengi, ya apne pati ko apni akankshaayein samjha payengi? Dampati mein badhti duuriyaan teh ho sakti hain ya vivaahit jeevan mein barabari aur samvedna mumkin nahi hai? Kahani ek anokha mod leti hai jab Mr Sharma ko pata chalta hai ki ek hataash vyakti ne jheel mein chhalaang laga di hai. Kya iss durghatna ki vajah se vah apni biwi ke hriday ko samajh payenge? Rishton mein samman aur barabari, nirasha aur ummeed ke badalte rangon ko darshaati yeh kahani, samaajik aur vyaktigat mudde saath jod kar ek samvedansheel tasveer dikhaati hai.

Is kahani ki nayika ek khat likh rahi hai aur yah khat kuchh aisa chalta hai. Maa main sabse pehle tumse baat karna chahti hoon. Kyunki tumne mujhe paida kiya hai. Un maheeno ka dard tumne jhela hai. Us dard ke baad tumhe jo dard mila wo main thi. Main ek ladki thi aur mere paida hote hi papa ne tumse bolna band kar diya tha. Tumhe meri wajah se na jaane kitna maar sahan karne padi. Maa main tumhari beti thi. In logon ko koi adhikar nahi tha ki mere paida hone ke liye tumhe peet-te. Tum ek stree ho aur mai bhi. Hum dono barabar is dard ko samajh sakte the. Maa mujhe vah din yaad hai jab mein bimar hui thi to tum bheegte hue mujhe aspatal lekar gayi thi. Chhata mere sir par rakha tha tumne. Mere pair mein chappal the, lekin tum nange pair thi. Mujhe yaad hai ki log jab mujhse khana nahi poochhte the to tum apne paas bulakar khana khilati thi. Tum maa thi, tum stree thi. Maa in logon ki karni main tumhe bata rahi hoon. Ye log jo mere paida hote hi pareshan ho gaye the. Inhi logon ne mera istemal kiya. Yah baat maine sabse chhipaye rakhi. Main har jagah istemaal hui thi. Bachpan mein jo ghatna hui thi tumhe yaad hi hoga. Main in sab se kuchh kehna chahti hoon jo mardon ki duniya basana chahte hai aur beti ke janm par matam manane lagte hai.

Bhuvan apne maa aur pitaji ka iklauta beta tha. Uska pita Ramakrishna Dubey ek kisan tha. Thodi bahut khet jo bhaiyon ke alag kar dene ke baad hisse mein aaya tha, usi par kheti kar pariwar chala rahe the. Uski maa Prema Devi ghar par rehti hai aur ghar ka saara kaam sambhalti hai. Bhuvan ka gussa kabhi kabhi Prema Devi ko nirash kar jaata tha. Ve chahti thi ki unka beta kisan na bane, balki ek achchha sa engineer bankar gaon mein bhaukaal jamaye. Bhuvan ka khet chhoti nahar ke kinare tha. Wahan gaon ke kayi logon ke khet the, aur chhoti nahar ke pul par achchi bheed hamesha rehti thi. Us din bhi door se wahan par kayi logon ki bheed dikhai de rahi thi, Bhuvan masti mein cycle khet ki taraf badhaye ja raha tha. Jaise hi wahan pohoncha, uska chehra laal ho gaya. Uske pitaji pul par hi lete the aur log unhe ghere khade the. Ve khet mein kaam kar rahe the, aur ek baar ek gaon-wale ko bataya tha ki sar mein dard hai. Phir thodi hi der baad behosh hokar gir gaye the. Bhuvan pitaji ko doctor ke wahan le jaane ka faisla kiya. Kuchh gaon-walon ke madad se usne pitaji ko ek dheliya meim litaya. Wo jaldi jaldi theliya lekar jaane laga aur kuchh log uske saath hi chalne lage. Bhuvan apne pitaji ko lekar jald hi aspatal pohonch gaya, lekin sarkari aspatal hone ke kaaran use apne pitaji ko wahan bharti karane mein thodi pareshani hui thi. Bhuvan ke pitaji ek achchhe aur nek insaan the, aur isliye gaon mein unki izzat har koi karta tha. Doctoron ne jald hi unko apaatkaal vibhag mein rakh kar ilaaj shuru kar diya.

Lekhak apne aap ko bimar samajhta hai. Bahut bimar. Lekhak tab likhne baitha tha, par wo kalam khatm ho chuka tha. Kal hi lekhak doctor ke paas gaya tha aur dhadkane check kiya tha. Blood pressure napa, bukhar dekha, sab normal tha. Doctor ne blood test likh diya hai. Lekhak ka pen laal rang ka tha, jaise khoon ka rang hota hai. Kuchh achha mehsoos karne ke liye lekhak uthkar chai banane chala. Wahan pohonchte hi uske reed ki haddi mein kuchh sihran hui aur wo kuchh der wahi khada raha. Lekhak apne dimag ki nason mein kuch khinchav sa mehsoos kar raha tha. Kuchh der baad wo apne apne kamre par pada tha. Yah tak use theek se yaad nahi aa raha tha ki usne chai banaya ki nahi. Wo kuchh der baad utha aur khud ko sote hue dekhne laga. Chai ke dhabbe uske banyan par lage the. Sar ke paas cigarette ki packet aur ek laal rang ka lighter pada tha. Jali hui cigarette ki rakh haath mein lagi hui thi. Lekhak usko mitane ka koshish kiya, par apne haathon ko pakad nahi paaya. Uske haathon mein bahut zyada cigarette lagi hui thi, ki agar Sneha tab aati to wo pakda ja sakta tha. Achanak se uska sar phatne laga aur haath akadne lage. Khud ko sote hue dekhkar use kuchh samajh nahi aa raha tha. Tab uska phone ring hua, aur wo hadbadakar uth gaya. Uske makaan maalik ka phone tha. Wo kiraya maangne ke liye phone lagaya tha. Lekhak kuchh din se khana nahi kha raha tha. Chai pee kar wo zinda tha aur cigarette se sar ka bharipan khatm kar raha tha.

Subahein roz ek jaisi hi hoti hai. Kabhi badalti hai to wo dhoop, chhav aur barish ki wajah se hai. Lekin jab ye saare badlav bhi zindagi par koi asar na chhode to samajh lena chahiye ki kuchh aisa hai jo khud se pare hota ja raha hai. Rahul bhi roz ki tarah hi utha tha. Uthte hi use yah khayal aaya, wo mujhse pehle to nahi uth gayi? Ab to lagegi lambi daant. Rahul utha aur hadbadi mein bhagte hue kitchen ki taraf gaya. Wahan koi nahi tha aur light off thi. Kal ka purana kuchh banaya hua mehak aa raha tha aur Rahul wahi jad ho gaya. Washroom se shampoo ki mehak gayab thi. Bheegi towel nahi dikh rahi thi. Rahul ki aankhein paseej aayi, wo vahi dhapp se baith gaya aur saara kuchh uske saamne ghoom raha tha. Roz aise hota tha. Subah ke aath baj chuke the, Rahul jag gaya tha lekin bistar se ab bhi nahi utha tha. Vah to Rashmi ke chehre ko dekhna chahta tha poora din, ya poora saal, ya poori zindagi. Uska bas chalta to use kabhi jaagne na deta aur office jaane ki baat to chhedta hi nahi. Rashmi sote hue bahut khoobsurat lagti thi, bilkul ek chhoti bachchi ke jaisi. Kabhi kabhi angdaiyaan lete samay Rahul ko usse kayi guna pyaar ho jaata tha. Poore badan ko todti hui vah dheere se aankhein kholti thi. Rahul use nihar raha hota tha aur Rashmi muskurate hue use kaskar apni taraf kheench leti thi. Rahul ab bhi kitchen ke samne jad baitha tha. Rashmi ek maheene pehle hi ja chuki thi. Rahul ke paas ab bas uski aadatein hi bachi thi.

Lekhak ki tabiyat kuchh dinon se kharab thi. Use samajh nahi aa raha tha ki hua kya hai. Office mein kaam ka load kaafi badh gaya tha. Aankhon mein kayi maheenon se pareshani hi thi. Uska dikhna kam ho gaya tha aur wo phir bhi khud ko khapaye ja raha tha. Routine work mein dhal jaana sabse bada shraap hota hai. Yahan koi rishi muni nahi, log khud hi rakshas ban jaate hai aur khud ko hi shraap de baithte hai. Wo din office se chutti liya hua doosra din tha. Dikhna kam ho gaya tha to kaam nahi kiya ja raha tha. Is doosre din ka pehle-wala din lekhak ne so kar hi guzar diya. Use lag raha tha ki kuchh wapas mil gaya hai jo kho gaya tha kahin. Akela hona logon ko ya to zahil bana deta hai, ya to kaabil. Log khud ko akela paakar khud ke saath jo karte hai, asal mein hum vahi hote hai. Chhutti ka pehla din beet gaya tha aur raat ke kareeb nau baje lekhak ko ek colleague ka phone aaya. Wo lekhak ke colony mein aaya tha to usse milna chaaha tha. Lekhak ne use apne room par bula liya aur idhar-udhar ki baatein shuru ho gayi. Baad mein hi lekhak ko yaad aaya ki usne apne colleague se hi-hello tak nahi kiya tha. Isliye beech mein hi usne bol diya, ghar par sab theek hai? Lekhak ka is tarah beech mein bolna use hairan kar gaya aur lekhak ko uske saamne ek namoone ki tarah pesh kar diya. Phir usne apne is karname par khud ko kosne laga. Uska zindagi kucch ajeeb sa ho gaya tha.

Jab Anamika ne Om se bola ki please mujhe sone do, usne Anamika ko chhodkar kinare ho gaya. Uske haath kaamp rahe the aur usne doosri taraf karvat lekar so gaya. Om ko pata tha ki ab Anamika se baat karna bekar hai. Vah poori tarah se kisi aur ki ho jaana chahti thi. Pehle bhi kayi baar wo kah chuki thi ki tumhare paas waqt bahut kam hai. Om office se kuchh hi der pehle aaya tha aur khana khakar Anamika ke paas soya hua tha. Dono ke beech mein pichhle chhay maheene se baatein bahut kam ho gayi thi. Vah jab subah uthta to Anamika office ke liye nikal rahi hoti thi. Wo kabhi kabhi breakfast karke office jaati thi aur kabhi office mein hi breakfast karne ki baat kehkar nikal jaati thi. Jab Om office se aata to Anamika neend mein hoti thi. Zyadatar donon ke rishte door hi rahe the pichhle chhay maheenon mein. Ghar jaane se pehle Anamika ne kaha tha, jab mein tumhe chhodkar chali jaungi tab tumhe pata chalega. Om is baat se tasalli mein tha ki Anamika ke dil mein jo bhi tha, wo baat baat par bahar nikal aata tha. Ek din Om use car mein chhodne gaya tha. Anamika ne bola tha ki apne dost se milne ja rahi hai. Om office jaane se pehle use chhodne gaya tha. Shaam tak uska koi phone nahi aaya tha aur Om pareshan ho raha tha. Usne kayi baar try kiya tha, lekin usne Om ka phone nahi uthaya tha. Raat ko jab Anamika ghar wapas aayi, wo badli si thi aur use Om ki bilkul chinta nahi ho rahi thi.

Diwali ka tyohaar log dhoom-dham se manaate hain—diye ki raunak, naye kapde, ek doosre ke liye tohfe khareedna sabko pasand hai. Magar Roshan ke jeevan se hi maano roshni chali gayi thi. Diwali par vah dukhi ghoom raha tha. Ghar par ma ne davat banayi thi lekin vah pocket mein haath daale bahar chala gaya. Uske pita ki mrityu ho chuki thi aur vah 20–22 saal ka naujawan tha. Ma ne nirash hokar deeye bujha diye aur pita ki tasveer saath liye kamre mein chali gayi. Roshan duniya ki jagmagahat mein khud ko khoj raha tha. Use bachpan ki diwali yaad aa rahi thi jab pitaji zinda the. Doosron ke gharon ki raunak, uske dil ko jala rahi thi. Jab vah ek gali mein ruka toh ek gareeb bachche ne usse bheekh maangte hue paise ya khana maanga. Roshan ne usse apna peechha chhudane ki koshish ki aur kaha ki vah uski baaton mein aakar ullu nahi banega. Usne yah bhi keh diya ki vah ladka zarur kisi gang ka leader hoga. Ladke ka mooh chhota sa ho gaya, vah rone laga aur haath jod liye. Roshan ke hriday mein samvedna toh jagi lekin phir bhi vah aage badh gaya. Ghar wapas aakar uske khud ke aansoon apni ma ke takiye par gir pade. Aakhir Roshan ko diwali ke tyohaar se itni ghinn kyun thi? Kaunsa dukh use andar hi andar khaaye ja raha tha? Kya diwali ki shaam uski hataash duniya mein deeya jala payegi ya aur bhi andhkaar bhar degi?

Jab Rupa badi ho rahi thi, ek anokhi pareshani ne usko jakad liya tha: andar pehen-ne ke kapde. Zyadatar log shayad kachchhe-baniyan ke baare mein itna nahin sochte jitna aaj bhi vah uske baare mein bhaavuk ho jaati thi. Iske peechhe ek raaz tha jisne use school ke dinon mein kaafi vyakul kiya. Uski ma ka maan-na tha ki ladkiyon ko andar ke kapdon par paise kharch karne ki zarurat nahi hoti. School ki uniform ke neeche use pitaji ki baazu-wali baniyan pehne di jaati. Jaise vah badi hui, aur uske shareer mein badlaav aane lage, uski sharmindagi bhi badhne lagi. Usne class ke aakhri bench par baithna shuru kar diya jisse koi safed uniform ke neeche uski peeth na dekh sake. Doosri ladkiyon ki kameez ke neeche naye taaze andar ke kapde dekh kar use bura lagta tha—kisi ke paas phoolon-wali baniyan thi, toh kabhi rang-birangi shameez, aur kuchh ladkiyon ne bra bhi pehen-na shuru kar diya tha. Rupa dheere-dheere apni aakulta mein khoti gayi, akele rehne lagi aur gumsum dikhti thi. Use apne shareer ko lekar bahut sharm mehsoos hoti thi aur yah ghabrahat thi ki kahin koi uska vah bhadda andar ka raaz na jaan le. Achanak, uske ek sahpathi ko usse pyar ho gaya aur Rupa ki duniya mein naye rang bhar gaye. Ek ladke se itna tavajjo pa kar vah bahut khush huyi. Lekin kya vah apni sharm se ubhar payegi ya andar ka raaz uski iss khushi par bhi paani pher dega?

Kishor awastha ki ek ladki ki chhoti si zindagi mein sabse badi baat kya ho sakti hai? Reshmi school mein padhti hai, aur yauvan dasha ke pehle padaav par hai. Vicky naamak ladke se vah aakarshit hai aur teen mahine se unki baatcheet chal rahi hai. Kaafi soch-vichaar ke baad, sharmaate aur hichkichaate hue vah Vicky ke saath hotel jaane ko raazi hoti hai. Vah ek bade aalishaan hotel ke sapne dekhti hai, par jahan Vicky use lekar aata hai vah ek chhoti si kothri hai. Apni nirasha chhupaate hue, Reshmi ab thoda ghabraane lagti hai kyunki pehli baar vah ek ladke ke itne kareeb aayi hai. Vicky jab usse salwar kholne ki zidd karta hai toh vah satark ho jaati hai aur yah kehte hue ki school mein unhe condom ke baare mein bataya hai, jaan-na chaahti hai ki Vicky ke paas vah hai ki nahin. Vicky iss baat par tilmila uth-ta hai aur jab Reshmi mana kar deti hai toh gusse mein use khud hi dukaan se condom khareedne ke liye keh deta hai. Reshmi ko yah baat ajeeb lagti hai aur vah phir apni saheli Salma ke saath dukaan jaati hai. Kisi tarah donon condom khareed toh letin hain lekin Salma Reshmi ko yaad dilaati hai ki Vicky ka Komal ke saath chakkar tha aur ab Komal kaafi maayoos rehti thi. Kya Reshmi, Vicky par bharosa karegi ya apne vivek ki baat sunegi? Doosre din Komal ke baare mein Reshmi ko aisi kya khabar milti hai jisse uski duniya hi hil jaati hai?

Ek aatmahatya case ki tehkikaat mein lage Inspector Dushyant Saxena ko talaash thi kisi suraag ki. Vah uss ladki ko vyaktigat roop se jaante nahi the lekin phir bhi case ko suljhaane ki utsukta thi. Ek 27 varsha ki sadharan ladki, Deeksha Singhal, ki aam zindagi mein aisa kya hua jisne use yah kadam uthane par majboor kiya? Uske kamre se koi sandigdha samaan nahin mila tha, laptop aur phone mein kuchh aisa nahi tha jisse kuchh pata chal sake. Deeksha ka aakhri mail Inspector ke haath laga: ek kavita. Pyar-mohabbat par koi maamuli kavita maan kar Inspector ne zyada dhyaan nahi diya. Kareebi dost se pata chala ki kuchh mahine pehle uska breakup hua tha aur parivaar shaadi ka dabaav daal raha tha. Kya vah mail Deeksha ne apne premi ko likha tha? Kya vah rishta tootne par depression mein thi aur kisi ko pata nahi chala? Inspector ne uss mail mein likhi kavita ko dhyanpoorvak padhna shuru kiya aur kaafi bhaavuk ho gaya. Kavita ke zariye kuchh aur mails uske haath lage jismein Deeksha ne diary likhi thi. Usne apne dil ka haal, badan ka dard, aur dimaag ki badhti bechaini, sab ke baare mein diary mein likha tha. Kya tha uski aatmahatya ke peechhe ka sach? Vah duniya se kya chhupa rahi thi? Diary ke un pannon ko padh kar Inspector ki antar-dasha kyun badal rahi thi aur vah kyun itna vyakul ho gaya tha? Kya vah case ko solve karega, ya apni bhaavnaon ki gutthi me ulajh jaega?

Lekhak ek bhikhari hai jo apni katha sunaate hue batata hai ki bus adde par usne apna dera dala hua hai. Sachchai se vah iss baat ko maanta hai ki vah apne halaat se nahi ghabrata lekin bas use darr lagta hai toh bas aurat se. Nancy naamak ek bhikharan par Uska dil aa gaya hai par vah kaafi nakhreeli aur nakchadhi hai. Vah apna naam kabhi Firoza toh kabhi Shanti batati thi, aur jab bhi lekhak uske kareeb jane ki koshish karta, vah berukhi se jhatak deti thi. Ek baar lekhak ne kuchh zafran ki botalon ka intezam kiya. Botal ke badle jab Nancy ka haath pakad liya toh vah gaaliyaan suna kar chali gayi. Kuchh duur baithi ek budhiya ne lekhak ka haal bhaanp liya aur do botalon ke badle mein uske liye ladki ka intezam karne ka prastaav rakha. Dinbhar lekhak uttejit raha aur raat hone ka intezar aur ladki se milne ki taiyyari karta raha. Raat ke andhere mein chaurahe par usne paaya ki jis ladki ko budhiya apne sang layi thi, uski dimagi haalat theek nahi thi. Uske mooh se jhaag nikal raha tha aur use na hosh tha na kisi cheez ki samajh, har baat par uska jawab tha: ‘eh’! Isse pehle ki lekhak inkaar karta, budhiya botalein lekar chalti bani aur keh gayi ki subah ladki ko wahin chhode. Lekhak ajeeb asmanjas mein pad gaya—vah uss pagal ladki ka fayda kaise utha sakta tha, lekin kya use akela chhod kar chala jaaye? Asli bheekh shayad zindagi ne maange bina hi use de di.

Lekhika ke berozgari ke din chal rahe the. Iss beech doston ne salaah di ki vah Nepal ghoomne jaaye. Vah ghar baithe bechain aur vichlit ho rahi thi aur apne bhavishya ke baare mein logon ke prashn taalte hue bhi thak gayi thi. Papa ke paison se Nepal jaane ki yah abhilasha poori hone ki sambhavna mili. Usne kayi mahinon tak paise bhi jama kiye aur kul mila kar itna dhan ikattha ho gaya ki flight ticket book kar liye jaayein. Trip ke pehle thodi shopping karne ke uddeshya se vah mall gayi. Dukanon ki raunak aur rayeesi ki chakachound dekh kar vah kaafi prabhavit huyi. Kuchh kapde aur anya samaan khareed kar lekhika logon ke shauk ka andaza lagane wahin baith gayi. Ek ghadi ki dukaan par, vah ek aurat ko kareeb se dekh rahi thi. Uske haav-bhaav aur nakhre ameeron-wale lag rahe the. Duniya bhar ki ghadiyan thi uss dukaan mein aur sab ek hi samay dikha rahi thi. Ek safed ghadi par uski nazar padi jo bahut hi khubsoorat thi: patli nazuk chain, aur saath mein nakkashi! Tabhi uss aurat ne salesman se wahi ghadi maangi. Aaveg aur irshya ne lekhika ko ghaer liya. Vah mehengi ghadi, kya lekhika ko haasil ho payegi ya bas ek aur ichchha ban kar reh jayegi? Kya vah apne vaastavik jeevan aur kalpanik duniya mein ulajh toh nahin gayi? Kya vah ghadi use apne bure waqt ki yaad dilayegi ya phir ghadi-bhar mein lekhika ka samay hi badal jayega?

Kahani saat dinon ka vivran deti hai, jismein ek sadharan parivar dheere-dheere bikharne lagta hai. Chhoti si bachchi Rinki, apne mata-pita ke beech bigadte haalaat ko samajhne ki koshish mein hai. Ek din vah jab kitchen mein jaati hai toh apne pita ko kaam-wali ke badan par bartan dhone ke sabun ka jhaag malte paati hai. Vah stabdh rah jaati hai, use baat samajh nahi aati lekin kuchh gadbad lagta hai. Doosre din vah chitr banati hai aur jab ma poochhti hai ki uss sketch mein papa ke saath usne unhe banaya hai, toh vah jhatpat jawab deti hai ki vah kaam-wali hai. Ma ke hosh ud jaate hain. Agle din vah ma ko kaafi gumsum paati hai, aur kaam-wali gayab rehti hai. Rinki ki ma nightie pehne, bikhre baal liye, apne kamre mein band rehti hain aur use khana khilana bhi bhool jaati hain. Raat ko jab uske pita ghar laut-te hain toh use band darwaze ke peechhe chillane ki awazein sunaayi deti hain. Vah ghabra kar sone ki koshish karti hai par use yah baat satati rehti hai ki ma aur papa ke jhagde ki vajah Rinki khud hai. Subah vah ma ko phone par aansuon mein paati hai. Shaam ko kaam-wali vapas rasoi mein khana bana rahi hoti hai. Rinki sochti hai ki dusht kaam-wali vapas kyun aa gayi? Uski ma ab apne kamre mein hi band kyun rehti hain? Rishton ki badhti kadvahat aur chuppi kya chhoti-si Rinki ke zehen mein ghar kar lenge?

Suresh aur Chanda apni beti Sarah ke baare mein gambheer baat kar rahe the. Chanda whisky ke nashe mein thi, Suresh ke paas aur dhairya nahi tha. Usne saaf-saaf keh diya ki Chanda zimmedaar ma saabit nahi hui thi. Unhe alag hue do saal ho chuke the aur Suresh ne phir se vivaah kar liya tha. Suresh apni beti ko saath le jaana chahta tha, aur apne dimaag mein ek script taiyyar karke aaya tha jo Chanda se kehni thi. Lekin Chanda ko nashe ki haalat mein dekh, uske liye khul kar baat kar paana kathin ho raha tha. Chanda ki aankhein noor se bhari hui thi aur vah bebaak ho kar thahaake laga rahi thi. Suresh khud par hi achambit tha kyunki jaante hue bhi ki yah theek nahi hai, vah Chanda ki taraf aakarshit ho raha tha. Dono ek doosre ko taana maar rahe the aur barson ki karvaahat ke saath ek dabi hui kashish bhi thi. Uss lamhe mein Suresh yah bhool gaya ki vah asal mein kis udeshya se aaya tha. Use sirf Chanda ki nasheeli aankhein aur surkh honth nazar aa rahe the. Kya vah vaasna mein aakar apna hosh kho baithega? Kya itne saalon baad bhi donon ke beech koi bandhan barkaraar hai? Raat ki madhoshi mein kya dono aisa kuchh kar lenge jo subah unhe sharminda hone par majboor kar de? Kya Suresh apni beti Sarah ko saath le jaane ka iraada poora karta hai? Yah qissa hai badalte rishton ke saath unn lamhon ka jinmein hain vaasna, prem aur vidambana.

Sujata ki duniya kaafi sooni thi. Teen saal pehle, pati ko heart attack aa gaya tha aur 15 saal ke vivaah ke baad Sujata achanak uss din beva ho gayi. Iss haadse se ubharne mein Sujata ko kaafi samay laga. Aamdani ka zariya dhoondti huyi, vah pehle tuition centre chalane ki koshish mein lagi, lekin jab ehsas hua ki aajkal ke bachche ek doosre se ishq ladane mein zyada ruchi rakhte hai, usne tiffin service shuru ki. Dheere dheer vah murdon ki duniya se apne jeevant shareer mein vapas aayi. Pados ke ladkon ko dekh kar uske mann mein vaasna uthne lagi aur vah khud bhi is baat par kaafi achambit aur sharminda thi. Kayi saal pehle, ke saath shopping karte hue use pata chala tha ki beech bazar mein Azad Beauty Parlour jo hai toh sirf mahilaon ke liye lekin wahan keval ladke hi kaam karte the. Uss samay use yah khayal kaafi behuda laga tha aur usne socha tha ki vah kaisi mahila hogi jo ek patla gown pehen kar kisi ladke se parlour ka kaam karwayegi! Isse pehle ki vah kuchh soch paati, usne apne-aap ko aaj uss beauty parlour ke andar paya. Vah khud bhi samajh nahi pa rahi thi ki vah aakhir kya chahti hai? Bas itna jaanti thi ki samaaj yah baat nahi samajhta ki uska pati mar gaya hai lekin vah toh zinda hai. Sujata ko Azad Beauty Parlour mein kuchh pal ka aaraam milega? Kya vah phir eb baar kisi mard ke sparsh par jeevant mehsoos karegi?

Dilli ke do kamre ke makaan mein, baarish hone par sabhi sadasya uttejit ho jaate the. Shayad koi purani yaad ya gehra ghaav khul padta tha aasmaan se girte paani ke saath. Nani dabe swar mein kehti thi ‘Zalzala aane ko hai’, aur ma ke aashwaasan dene par bhi ghabrahat unhe nahin chhodti thi. Iske peechhe smrityaan thi ek lambe bhayanak safar ki jo aisi hi musladhaar barsaat mein tay kiya gaya tha: Pakistan se Hindustan aane ka safar. Sultanpura mein base-basaye sansaar ko sikhon ke iss parivaar ko achanak chhodna pada tha jab elaan hua ki desh ka batwara hoga. Chhay bhai-behnon ka parivaar uss mohalle mein basta tha jahan sabhi dharm ke log the. Unki padosan Salma priya saheli thi aur jald hi ma banne-wali thi. Kammo aur Salma ke beech gehri mitrata thi. Jab ek din bhai ne sarkar ka faisla sunaya toh ghar par sabhi ko laga ki kuchh din mein dange khatm ho jaynge lekin kaumon ke beech nafrat ki aag phailti hi gayi. Aakhirkar, Kammo ke parivaar ne ‘Hindustan’ jaane ka faisla kiya, iss bure waqt mein yah jokhim uthana zaruri tha kyunki logon ke ghar jalaaye ja rahe the aur aurton ka balatkaar ho raha tha. Subah ki dhund mein vah safar par nikal toh pade lekin aage kaafi khatre the. Itni ladkiyon ko saath lekar kya vah mehfoos reh payenge? Uss safar mein aisa kya hua ki aaj bhi baarish ke uss din ki yaad baadal ban, nani, yani Kammo ke mann mein ghir aati thi.

Saath (60) baras ka Panni Ram, Mussouri ke ek hotel mein, rasoi mein kaam karta tha. Biwi guzar chuki thi, aur vah akele ek chhote se ghar mein seedhi-saadhi zindagi vyateet kar raha tha. Kishore naukri par naya aaya tha, Nepal se tha aur kuchh-hi din pehle vivaah hua tha. Baarish ke din, ‘off-season’ mein, jab achaanak hotel mein mehmaan aa gaye, toh dono ko chhutti chhod vapas rasoi jaana pada. Pata chala ki kisi neta ki toli hai, Dilli se, aur hotel manager ko bhi dhamka rahe hain. Museebat yah thi ki tourist season khatm hone par gas ke cylinder nahi rakhe the hotel ki rasoi mein. Atithi-gan khaane ke liye shor macha raha tha aur Panni Ram aur Kishore ghabra rahe the. Manager ko keh diya gaya tha ki agar khana nahi mila toh hotel ka license zapt kar liya jayega. Aise mein, hotel ke karmchaari apne aap ko lachaar mehsoos kar rahe the. Tabhi Panni Ram ko iss pareshaani ka hal soojha. Kishore ko lekar barsaat mein vah gaayab ho gaya aur use kabhi yah raaz na bataane ki kasam dilaayi. Lakdi ikattha karke rasoi chaalu hui, aur atithiyon ke liye daavat taiyyar hui. Sabhi khush hue aur khansama ki bhi tareef ki. Parantu ghar vapas aakar, uss raat, Panni Ram apni mrit biwi ki photo se nazrein nahi mila paaya. Use kis baat ka pachhtawa pareshaan kar raha tha? Aakhir aisi kya yukti thi jismein murda se ehsaan maang kar jeevit logon ke liye chulha jala tha?

Chhutti par Haridwar jaane ka plan bante hi lekhika ko ek college ki dost ka call aata hai. Vah use 'Meera Didi' se milne ka sujhaav deti hai. Jab vah baat taalne lagti hai toh dost use Meera Didi ka anokha qissa sunaati hai. Hostel ke dinon mein vah Mini Bhatia naam ki ek ladki ko jaante the jo uss samay BBA kar rahi thi. Dus saal beet chuke the aur ab hostel ki saari ladkiyan vivaahit thi, job kar rahi thi ya phir bachhon ki parvarish mein lagi thi. Lekin Mini ne apne liye ek alag raah chuni. Vah sanyasini ban gayi thi aur apna naam badal diya tha. Ashram mein log use Meera Didi kehte the. Yah sun kar lekhika achambit reh gayi. Engineering college ki yaadein taaza karte hua use hairani hui ki Mini ek dubli si chhote shahar ki sadhaaran ladki, ab ek sammanit sanyasini ban gayi hai. Use yah bhi smaran hua ki Mini sab ko alag, ajeeb, aur bholi lagti thi. Hostel mein chori ka ek kaand hua tha jismein Mini ko apraadhi maana gaya tha, lekin vah ek jhootha ilzaam tha. Aisi kayi ghatnaayein thi jahan Mini ko hostel ki ladkiyon ne sataya ya pareshan kiya tha aur uska istemaal bhi kiya tha. Sehej aur sehmi Mini ne kabhi koi jhagda nahi kiya. Haridwar mein jab dono ki mulaqat hui, toh usne apne parivartan ke baare mein bataya. Kya duniya se niraash ho kar usne sanyaas liya, ya toote dil ka dard use yahan le aaya tha?