Showing results by narrator "Trishaan" in All Categories

Aaj duniya mein sabase jyaada paisa kamaane vaala yadi koee kshetr hai to vo hai sheyar maarkit. Lekin kahate hain na jahaan jitana munaapha hota hai vahaan risk bhee utana jyaada hota hai. Yah bhee kisee ne theek hee kaha hai ki jo jitana bada risk leta hai, vahee saphal niveshak ban jaata hai. 

Kahaniyon ka yah sangrah jeevan ke vibhinn padaav aur rozmarra ki zindagi ke kuchh lamhon ki ek anokhi jhalak prastut karta hai. Kahin guzre zamaane ki yaadein bikhri padi hain, toh kahin bhavishya ko sanvaarne ki koshish hai. Gaon se shahar tak ka safar, baal awastha se kishore awastha ki raah, dosti aur prem ke beech nazar aate rishte, kahaniyaan yah saare pehlu dikhaati hain.  

Shahar kya hai? Koi raasta hai ya manzar? Ek umadti bheed ya band hota koi dibba? Paisa kamaane ke liye har koi shahar aata hai lekin iss prakriya mein hum iss shahar se kya rishta bana lete hain, hamein bhi shayad jald maloom nahin padta. Lekin jo rishte anya shaharon mein, gaon mein base hain, unko zarur ehsaas ho jaata hai ki unka judaav hamse kaise kam, aur shayad aur kam hota ja raha hai. Kahani hai aise hi ek pravasi ki—aur uski bhatiji ke jadooi sofe ki. Bacchon ki kalpana vishal hoti hai. Usmein jaane kitne qisse-kahani yun hi bas jaate hain— toh unki nazron mein hamare pravas ka safar kaise tay hota hai? Hamari anupasthiti kaise samjhi jaati hai? Shahron ki doori aksar hamari naukriyan hi badhaati ya ghataati hain— chaaho toh har roz wo safar tay kar aao, ya phir kabhi nahin. Meelon ka safar shaam bhar ki baat bhi ho sakti ya bas, saalaana. Toh aise mein apne chacha ke liye, kaun sa qissa chuna hai Shezu ne? Kya wahan bhi vah kisi bheed ka gumnaam hissa hai ya kisi jadugar ke dibbe mein band koi rahasya?

Corporate mein kaam karte log, roz taiyyar ho kar, shirt-pant pehne, sadakon par, train mein, bus ke andar, safar karke pohonchte hain kataar lagaane apne daftar. Lekhak inhe ‘corporate kabootar’ maante hain. Vah apna ashiyana laptop mein hi bana lete hain, wahan kayi files khol kar kabhi ek khidki ko ‘maximize’ karte hain kabhi doosri. Yahi khel chalta hai, aur din bhar daana chugte nazar aate hain, aakhir zinda rehne ke liye yah zaruri hai. Inn kabootaron ke upar ghoomti rehti hai kayi cheelein. Cheel ka kaam hai kabootaron par nazar rakhna, kayi baar unka shikaar bhi karti hain. Kabootaron aur cheelon ke beech ek baar mil gaya ek parinda. Parinda ajeeb tha, un sabse alag tha, use koi samajh nahi pa raha tha. Vah din mein bhi chugta tha aur raat ko bhi, kayi baar use akele chugte huye moti mil jaate the. Kabootar usse darne lage, kya pata kaheen unhe bhi apni buri aadat na laga de! Toh kya kiya jaaye iss parinde ka? Vah kabootaron ke jhund se alag rehta tha aur use cheel banne ki icchha bhi nahin thi! Kya parinda kabootaron aur cheelon ke beech apni pehchaan bana payega, ya vah bhi unke aasmaan mein kahin kho jayega?

Deenu anaath tha, kachre ke dher mein Ramchandra ji ko mila tha. Vah uss din kaafi duvidha mein aa gaye the. Chhote besahara bacche ko aise chhodna theek nahin tha, lekin usko paalne ke paise bhi nahin the unke paas. Duvidha yah bhi thi ki baccha jahan mila tha vah Musalmaanon ki basti thi, toh shayad baccha bhi Musalmaan hi ho, phir Ramchandra ji use kaise apne ghar mein rakh sakte hain? Aakhir bachche ki masoomiyat dekh kar vah use cycle par apne saath le gaye. Patni ka dil bhi bahut bada tha, use bachche ki kismat par daya aa gayi aur kaha ki vah log thoda kam kha lenge lekin bachche ko bhookha nahin rehne denge. Kuchh din baad Ramchandra ji ne ghar par baithak bulaayi, mohalle ke sabhi dharmon ke log aaye. Unhone sabke saamne laawaris bachche ka masla rakh diya. Jab koi aur aage nahin aaya bachche ki parvarish ki zimmedari lene, toh yahi nishchay hua ki bachcha Ramchandra ji ke saath rahega aur uska naam pad gaya Deenu. Uss bachche ka mazhab koi nahin jaanta tha, aur Ramchandra ji ne usse yah baat kabhi nahin chhupaayi ki vah unka beta nahin hai. Vah unhe Chacha keh kar pukaarne laga aur parivaar mein bete ki kami bhi poori kar di. Ramchandra ji ki teen betiyaan thi aur Deenu sabse chhoti beti Sandhya ke saath hi school mein padha. Padhai poori hone par Deenu ne ek kitaab ki dukaan mein kaam karna shuru kiya aur paise jod kar dukaan khareed li, ab uska naam ho gaya Deenu Kitab-wala! Shahar ka mahaul ab badal gaya tha, mazhab ke naam par dange chal rahe the, mohalla bhi jal raha tha. Ramchandra ji ko apni betiyon ki bahut chinta ho rahi thi. Aise halaat mein, Deenu kya karega, aakhir kitab-walon ka koi mazhab hota hai?

Pulak khush rehna jaanta tha. Aakhir vah baccha hi toh tha. Kitna hi sanjeeda ho sakta hai bacchon ka dil? Aur agar koi baat ho bhi toh dadi thi na, phir kya chinta ho sakti thi use? Lekin jo baatein bacchon ko saral lagti hain, vah shayad bade hone tak badi pechida ho jaati hain. Ab dil ka hi masla le lijiye—pyar, dosti aur pasand karne bhar mein kya fark hai, iska koi lekha-jokha toh nahin? Aur inn baaton ko kaise vyakt kiya jaaye? Kya koi sahi tareeka ho sakta hai? Pulak apne school mein bhi bada khush rehta tha. Bas use apne paas anokhi cheezein chahiye hoti thi, jo kisi ke paas na ho! Ab uss din ki hi baat hai— kisi ke paas usne apni jaisi ek bottle dekhi li, toh ghar pohonchte hi usne zid thaan li ki nayi bottle dilaao. Majaal kisi ki, jo dadi ke laadle ki baat koi taal sake! Bas aa gayi nayi bottle! School mein bhi Neha uske liye har roz toffee laati thi. Padhne mein bhi uska mann laga rehta tha aur doosron se kaise baat karni hai, iss baat ka bhi use poora ilm tha. Phir achaanak ek din kaun aa gaya school mein, ki Pulak ke mann mein itni uthal-puthal mach gayi? Use kyun achaanak se sharm aane lagi thi? Kya dadi ko yah baat samajh mein aa jayegi? Sneha ke bakse mein pata nahin kab se toffeeyaan jama hone lageen thi. Itne din se Pulak ne kyun nahin khayi thi toffeeyaan? Ab yah kisi nayi cheez ki chaah thi ya ek naye rishte ki? Rishton ki uthal-puthal toh badon ke liye hoti hai toh phir Pulak ki chaah ko kya kaha jaaye?

Sehgal sahab Dilli ke nivasi the aur unke bachchon ke kehne par bhi vah unke saath America jaane ko raazi nahin huye. Dilli ke Mayur Vihar ke flat mein rehte the, aur Sunil unka bharosemand naukar, unka khayal rakhta tha. Aakhir aisa kya lagaav tha Sehgal sahab ko uss jagah se? Dilli mein behti nadi, Yamuna, unhe bahut priya thi. Poore jeevan unhone Yamuna ko apni zindagi ka ek hissa maana tha. Unke paas bahut qisse bhi the uss nadi ke baare mein! Vah Sunil ko bataate ki ek samay aisa tha jab Yamuna unhe ghar se dikhti thi. Jaise-jaise Dilli shahar phailne laga, Yamuna ne apne kinaare nayi bastiyaan basaayeen. Kalindi Kunj, Sarita Vihar, Mayur Vihar, yah sab Yamuna ke hi tohfe hain. Lekin Yamuna ke baare mein manushya ne nahin socha. Logon ke ghar toh basa diye lekin nadi khud marti rahi, pradooshit hoti rahi. Sehgal sahab apni swargiya patni ko yaad karte huye sochte hain ki patni unke safed-hote baalon mein rang lagaati thi. Unki umr badh rahi thi, baal safed ho rahe the aur doosri taraf Yamuna ka rang bhi badal raha tha. Vah nadi jisne Dilli ko jeevant banaaya, vah safed se kaali ho gayi thi.

Gulzar Ali ek nek aur masoom bachcha tha. Vah roz madrase mein padhne jaata tha, ek haath mein kitabein liye, doosra haath hawa mein lehrata, safed topi aur shaant swabhaav ka Gulzar sabko pasand tha. Ek din uske ustad ne kaha ki vah uske abbu se kuchh zaruri baat karna chaahte hain aur saath mein chal pade. Railway station aur kabristaan se nikalte huye vah Gulzar ke ghar pohonche. Gulzar ke abbu ne tay kiya tha ki ab unka beta madrase mein nahin balki angrezi-madhyam convent mein padhega. Vah chaahte the ki vah bhi zamaane ke saath aage badhe aur uska bhavishya chamke. Ustad ne bhi baat maan li thi aur Gulzar iss baat se khush tha. Yah charcha chal hi rahi thi ki Pakistan ke saath cricket match khatm hone par pataakhe bajne lage. Ustad stambhit reh gaye, unka desh toh haar gaya tha, phir mohalle ke bacche pataakhe kyun baja rahe the? Kya unhe apne watan se prem nahin tha? Ustad ne bachchon ko daanta aur desh-prem ka updesh diya. Ek baccha gussa ho kar bol utha ki jab wahan ke log unhe ‘Pakistani’ keh kar bulaate the toh vah kyun desh-bhakti vyakt karein? Gulzar yah sab chupchap dekh raha tha, use yah galat laga par vah theek se baatein samajh nahi saka. Aakhir kaun un bachchon ko iss tarah se pareshaan karta tha? Agle din vah apne naye school gaya, wahan uski mulaqat Shivam se huyi jo uske saath baith-ta tha. Vah dono dost ban gaye. Uss din school mein ek sehpathi ne Gulzar se do boond khoon baha kar apni desh-bhakti ka saboot dene ko kaha. Kya Gulzar ko yah imtihaan zindagi mein baar-baar dena padega?

Ek zamaana tha jab chavanni yani pacchees paise aur athanni yani pachaas paise ke sikke kaafi chalte the. Inn sikkon se logon ki yaadein bhi judi huyi thi. Ek bachche ko yah ehsaas tha ki uski dadi ke samay mein bhi yahi sikke chalte the. Tyohar ke avsar par aashirwad ke roop mein jab paise diye jaate toh use sikke hi pasand the. Agar koi note haath mein thama bhi deta, toh bachcha use dukaan par ja kar tudwa leta aur sikkon mein badal deta. Note toh phat bhi sakte the, jaldi kharaab ho jaate, lekin sikkon par use bharosa tha. Ek saal mein usne dabbe bhar ke sikke jod liye the aur pados mein bhi uske sikkon ke sangrah ki charcha lagi rehti thi. Lekin ek din gazab ho gaya, subah khabar mili ki ab chavanni-athanni jaise chhoti rashi ke sikke nahin chalenge. Bacche ko vishwas nahin ho pa raha tha ki uski dadi ke zamaane se chal rahe unn sikkon ka ab koi mulya nahin reh gaya tha! Usne koshish ki sikkon ko note mein badalne ki lekin sabne mana kar diya. Ab vah inn sikkon ke dher ka kya kare! Baniye se baat karke usne ek tarkeeb nikali, use pata chala ki gaon mein abhi bhi sikke chalte hain. Usne gaon mein dadi se milne ki zidd pakad li. Par gaon mein asli paristhiti kya hai? Kya wahan bachche ki yah chavanni-athanni ka khazana koi note ke liye badlega? Ya vah sach-much ab kangaal ho chuka hai? Kya dadi ke zamaane ki cheezon ki ab koi keemat reh gayi hai?

Ticket khareed kar train par chadhna madhyam-vargiya parivaaron ke liye ek mamooli baat hai. Lekhak ke pita ek sarkari naukri mein lage hue the aur bade imandar bhi. Sarkari chhutti bhi soch-samajh kar li jaati thi. Toh ek half-ticket ka masla kitna hi bada ho sakta hai? Aur waise bhi ek ticket bas raseed hi toh hai—ek kaagaz ka tukda. Bacche bhi jab rail-gaadi khelte hain toh aksar ticket kaatne ka bhi anusaran karte hi hain. Chhuk-chhuk-chhuk chali rail-gaadi, aur ab kaat-te raho raseed kalam se. Bada maza aata hai. Ek half-ticket mein itna anootha kya hai? Janamdin manaane ke liye mausi ke ghar jaana tha. Sab rishtedaar taiyyar ho gaye. Train se doori tay ki jaani thi. Kya uphaar milega mujhe, bacche ko jaan-ne ki poori utsukta thi. Kya khel khele jayenge mausere aur chachere bhaiyon-behnon ke saath? Shayad kuchh naya bhi seekhne ko mile! Aur diwali ki chhuttiyaan bhi toh thi saamne. Badi chehelkadmi se sara plan banaaya gaya tha. Lekin maano badon ki train bhi ek khel hi hai, jise badon ke niyamon ke hisaab se khelna hota hai. Toh kya naye niyam seekhne wala tha yah ladka?

Khuda ke aangan mein badi chehel-pehel rehti thi, unke teenon bacchon ke beech hamesha kuch na kuch fasaad chhida rehta thi. Noor se bana Farishta sabse bada bhi tha aur sabse samajhdar bhi. Apne chhote bhaiyon ke jhagdon se vah zara door hi rehta tha. Aag se bana Jinn aksar Insaan se chidha rehta tha. Aakhir bana to tha yah Insaan mitti se hi, phir itna itrata kyun phirta hai, sochta tha Jinn. Ab ismein kisi ki galti thi bhi nahin- har kisi ki fitrat hi alag thi aur apna kaam aaj tak kisko pasand aaya hai. Doosron ki baaton se matlab rakhna— ab yah toh bas dastoor hai. Lekin aisa kya chura liya tha Insaan ne Alah ke ghar se ki Jinn ko bhi poora yaqeen tha ki aaj toh Insaan ki khair nahin? Aakhir Jinn ko kis baat se chid thi aur aaj kya maangne waala tha vah Khuda se? Insaan bhi pehle se dara hua tha. Farishtey ko kya baat pata thi Jinn ke baare mein, jo Khuda bhi uss baat se waakif nahin the? Aur aisa kya dekh liya tha Farishtey ne uss mitti ke putle mein ki uski tarafdari ke liye hamesha taiyyar rehta tha? Bacchon ka khel samajhiye ya sadiyon ka maslaa, lekin teenon ke beech ki yah baat jaane kitni purani hai lekin aaj bhi shayad utni hi praasangik. Kamzor apne liye koi na koi sahara dhoondh hi lete hain. Lekin har taakatwar ko yah baat pasand nahi aati. Toh phir kya hone wala hai aaj Khuda ke ghar mein?

Motaapa jaane kitne logon ka dushman hai—dil ki bimaari aur diabetes jaisi bimaariyon ka zikr toh dara hi deta hai, lekin uske saath bhi toh kitna kuchh sun-na aur jhelna padta hai hamein iss motaape ki wajah se. Kabhi koi pados ki aunty kuchh tok de, toh kabhi office mein guzarti huyi koi nazar hamein ghoorna shuru kar de. Kabhi shaadi ki baat ho rahi ho toh beech mein ‘tch’ ka swar sunaai de jaaye. Aur ladkon se agar izzat paani ho, toh iss motaape se badi shayad hi koi aur baadha ho. Tara ko inn sab cheezon ki zyada parvaah nahin hai. Lekin dikkatein bhi kahan ghanti baja kar andar daakhila leti hain. Har roz jhelte huye, na jaane kab iss chhoti si baat ne ek pahaad ka roop le liya. Lekin Tara bhi haar maan-ne-walon mein nahin thi. Usne bhi shuru ki: treadmill pe daud, green tea ka sevan, digestive biscuits aur sab kuch. Sundar toh vah thi hi bas agar yah weight pakad mein aa jaaye toh kya na badal jaaye? Lekin ye ladaai thi kiske saath— motaape se ya unn lakh baaton se jo bina kahe bhi hamse keh di jaati hain. Aur agar weight loss ho bhi jaaye, toh kya uska mann sach-much shaant ho jayega? Seedhiyaan chadhne ki aadat, healthy khaane ki aadat, bahar ka khana nahin khane ka vaada— aakhir kab tak chal sakta tha? Yah dushman kab ghuspaithiya ban kar andar baith jaaye, yah pata bhi toh nahin chalta.

Anu apna kaam kaafi sanjeedagi se karti thi. Uska role tha ek Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) manager ka. Kitne logon ki zindagi badli ja sakti hai? Kitna kuchh tha karne ko: reports, meetings, kitni saari trainings! Bas isi udhed-bun mein shayad uski nasein khinch jaateen thi kabhi-kabhi aur office jaate waqt red light pe apni gadi mein bilkul patthar si bani baithi rehti thi. Kab vah light red se green mein badle aur vah gear-accelerator par apne kadam badhaaye. Toh uss roz khidki se baahar usne aisa kya dekh liya ki uska patthar hua chehra paseej gaya? CSR ke kaam mein toh vah jaane kab se lagi huyi hai— lekin uss ladki ko dekh uska dil kyun jaag utha tha? Saare bade shaharon mein kitne hi chhote-chhote jazeere bane hote hain: sab ki apni duniya, sab ka apna taapoo. Red lights par bhi aisi hi ek duniya hoti hai jo light green se red huyi nahin ki bilkul sachet ho jaati hai. Raaste par bacche bikhar kar gaadiyon ke sheeshon tak pohonch jaate hain. Dono duniya mein fark hai. Kaunsi duniya apna sheesha kholne ke liye taiyyar hogi, bacche iss baat ko bakhoobi jaante hain. Uss roz kisse milne wali thi Anu? Aur ek din ka badlaav kya har roz ki aadat bhi ban sakti hai? Kya sach-much use us ladki se kuch khareedna chaahiye? Aur inn sab ka kya prabhaav padega, uski niji zindagi par: reports, meetings aur foreign trainings par? Iss bhaavukta ki kya zarurat thi? Badlaav ki kadi toh ab shuru ho chuki thi. Sheeshe neeche ho chuke the. Ab bas hawa ke saath-saath kisi aur ko bhi daakhila lena tha Anu ki zindagi mein- shayad uski asal CSR training ke liye.

Har roz pair ragadte hue log mandir, masjid, gurudware pohonch jaate. Apne chappal bahar chhod jaate. Aur inn chappalon ki taak mein rehta tha Ghaseeta— ki kab vah unn chappalon ko haath lagaaye aur udan-chhoo ho jaaye! Jitne paise aayenge, usse uski rozi-roti ka intezam ho jayega. Lekin bada hi bevakoof-sa chor tha Ghaseeta! Yahan tak ki police-wale bhi sharm khaate the iss chor ko pakadne mein. Har baar use log pakadte aur peet daalte. Aise nakaam chor ka kya kaam? Chor aisa ho jisko pakadne pe wah-wahi mile, jisse thaane ki raunak badhe. Aise chor ka kya karna—Chappalchor! Bhala yah bhi koi chori huyi? Aur usmein bhi agar karne-wala roz-roz pakda jaaye, toh aisi chori ki kya bisaat. Par kya hua ki achaanak Ghaseeta ka bhi naam roshan ho gaya? Kya naya-taza kiya hoga usne ki logon ne khoob jam kar use peeta. Khoob gaaliyaan barsayeen aur iss baar use pakadne ke baad toh thaane ki bhi raunak badh gayi. Aakhir choron ke bhagwan uss par iss kadar kaise meherbaan ho gaye? Aur aakhir kaun si anokhi chappal churaayi hogi Ghaseeta ne iss udhaar ke liye?

December ka mahina tha. Sardi badh rahi thi. Dilli ki sardi hoti bhi toh aisi hai ki rooh tak kaanp jaaye. Sameer bhi bilkul thithur sa gaya tha. Lekin uski kampan mein kuchh aur bhi tha shayad. Koi aur darr jo use apni chapet mein liye ja raha tha. Jaise-taise vah apne kamre mein pohoncha aur takiye ko sir par rakh kar kambal ko kheench bistar mein pad gaya. Sanson ki garmi se kambal kuchh garm ho raha tha. Shayad kuchh raahat aa jaaye. Lekin neend abhi bhi laapata thi. Kuch der baad vah paani peene ke liye utha. Ghoont bhari toh ek paani ki dhaar kaanon tak pohonch gayi. Ye dhaar mooh se nahin, aankhon se nikli thi? Kya vah ro raha tha? Kitna normal tha sabkuch do saal pehle tak. Uski engineering ki padhai achchhi chal rahi thi. College ke mehenge hostel mein uska apna kamra tha. Pitaji ka apna business tha. Ma aksar zid kiya karti thi ki unhein bhi Dilli aana hai, usse milne ke liye. Aur uski girlfriend bhi toh thi. Toh aisa kya bhuchaal aa gaya uski zindagi mein ki yah thand bhi use bilkul asahniya lag rahi thi? Zindagi aksar hamein bada hone ke liye waqt nahin deti—yun hi kisi uljhan mein phenk deti hai jisse joojh kar hum achanak hi bade ho jaate hain. Inn do saalon mein Sameer bhi kuchh bada toh zarur ho gaya tha lekin yah kaisa sannata tha jo use andar tak bhed kar mayoosi bhar raha tha?

Aamir ko naade-wala pajama chahiye tha lekin ma ne elastic-wala pajama hi uske liye theek samjha. Unka kehna tha ki naada sambhaalna uske liye mushkil hoga, vah abhi chhota hai. Lekin Aamir ne zidd karni shuru kar di, use pajama sirf naade-wala hi pehen-na tha. Ma ke inkaar karne par usne khelne jaane se mana kar diya aur niraash hokar chhat par bhaag gaya. Chhat se poora maidan dikh raha tha, uske dost cricket khel rahe the. Pichhle din Aamir ne khel mein sabse zyada run banaaye the, shayad aaj bhi vah apni team ko jita deta agar naade-wala pajama mil jaata. Ab vah bada ho raha tha aur kurte ke neeche elastic ka pajama pehen kar use sharmindagi mehsoos hoti thi. Aakhir Zohra ko pata chala toh kya sochegi? Kya izzat reh jayegi uski? Tabhi uski nazar Tanveer par padti hai jo aaj uski jagah match mein khel raha hai. Use dekhte hi Aamir krodhit ho jaata hai, daant peesne lagta hai aur uski saansein tez ho jaati hain. Tanveer ne uski jagah lene ke liye kya shadyantra racha tha? Aisa kya hua tha kal cricket ke maidan mein ki Aamir ko naade-wale pajame ke bina ghar se nikalna hi nahin tha? Pajame ki zidd ke peechhe kaunsi durghatna chhupa raha tha Aamir?

Gulfam vaadi mein shikara chalata tha. Jheel aur jungle ke beech uski duniya thi aur vah desh mein chal rahi ashanti se bekhabar tha. Vah apni chhoti si duniya mein khush tha. Ek din uski nazar lakdi ke shikaare mein phailte deemakon ke jhund par padi. Vah kaafi ghabra gaya, yah deemak aise keede the jo ek baar lakdi mein ghar kar lein toh asaani se nahin jaate the. Shikara hi uski jeevika ka zariya tha, aur agar deemak na hataaye gaye toh shikara bekaar ho jayega. Gulfam kaafi pareshaan ho gaya aur raat bhar deemakon se chhutkara paane ka upaay sochta raha. Agle din vah jheel ki taraf nikla toh usne paaya ki gehra sannata tha, koi aadmi nahin dikh rahe the. Jheel ke doosre chhor par khade police afsaron ne vapas lautne ka ishaara kiya aur curfew lagne ki ghoshna ki. Gulfam hadbada kar deemakon ko jhaadane ki koshish karne laga. Par vah jaanta tha ki yah deemak aise nahin jayenge. Use laga ki jald hi curfew uth jayega aur vah apne kaam par vapas laut payega, lekin curfew ke din badhte hi gaye aur vah yah soch kar pareshaan tha ki iss beech deemak uske shikare ko andar se khokhla kar denge. Ek raat kuchh aadmi hathiyaar ke saath uske ghar mein ghus aaye. Subah unhone Gulfam ko nirdesh diya ki apna shikara nikaale aur jheel ki doosri taraf tak unhe pohonchaye. Lekin ismein kaafi khatra tha, police unhe pakad sakti thi. Aur shikare par toh deemak pehle hi kabza kar chuke the, phir kya Gulfam aur uska shikara zindagi ke doosre chhor tak ka safar tay kar payenge?

Gheesu gaon mein badnaam ho gaya tha. Vah nasha karne laga tha aur kuchh kaam nahin karta tha. Sabne kaha ki uska baap bhi aisa hi tha, kabhi acchha aadmi hua karta tha, phir paristhiti, kismat aur uski apni kamzori ne use bigaad diya. Ma ne jald hi Gheesu ki shaadi kara di. Uski biwi Bimla ek suljhi-huyi aurat thi. Dampati ke do bacche the, ek beta Mangal aur ek beti. Bimla ki apni saas se nahin banti thi, usne socha shahar apne bhai ke paas chali jaaye. Ummeed yah bhi thi ki Gheesu ka nasha shayad shahar ja kar chhoot jaaye. Shahar pohonch kar poora parivaar stambhit reh gaya. Bimla ka bhai chhoti si jagah mein, flyover ke neeche reh raha tha. Usko jo chhota kaam mil jaata kar leta tha, kisi tarah guzaara ho raha tha. Bimla, Gheesu aur unke bachchon ne bhi wahin apna dera jama liya. Bimla ne socha kuchh din wahan reh kar gaon vapas chal padenge, aur yun hi ek saal guzar gaya. Mangal apni dadi se milne gaon gaya toh sara nazaara hi badla hua tha! Dadi ka dehant ho gaya tha aur gaon-walon ne kaha ki theek se unka kriya-karm karwa diya gaya tha. Jis zameen par vah pehle kaam karte the vah bhi ab kisi aur ki ho gayi thi. Shahar laut kar Mangal ne Bimla ko sab bataaya, aur use yah sandeh tha ki Gheesu ne hi zameen bechi hogi. Ek din police aa gayi, Gheesu ko giraftaar kiya aur kaha ki uss par 6 saal ki bacchi ka balatkaar karne ka aarop hai. Aakhir Gheesu ne aisa kyun kiya? Aur iss sab se uska beta Mangal kya seekhega? Kya uske liye bhi mard hone ki yahi paribhasha ban jayegi?

Bacchon ke dimaag mein kayi sawal uth-te hain, lekin har prashn ka uttar school ki kaksha mein ya kitabon mein shayad nahin hota. Sonu ke bhi kayi sawal the, aur jab science ki class mein rangon ke baare mein padhaya gaya toh use vishay kaafi romanchak laga. Adhyapak ne bataaya ki vah chapter pareeksha mein zarur aayega, lekin Sonu ke mann mein kuchh aur hi pak raha tha. Vah jaan-ne ko utsuk tha ki kaala rang jab kuchh wapas ‘reflect’ nahin karta toh phir dikhta kaise hai? Adhyapak ne iss sawal ko taal diya, ghar par pitaji ne bhi zyada dhyan nahin diya. Iss rahasya ko suljhaane ke liye Sonu ne apni potli kholi. Uski potli mein kaanch ke tukde the jo usne jama kiye the. Har tukde ka alag rang tha aur apni ek kahani thi. Kaanch ke tukdon se Sonu ne samajhne ki koshish ki, aakhir rang kaise dikhte hain! Shaam ke suraj ki roshni mein vah bahar khelne laga. Dhalte suraj ke saath Sonu ko andhere mein doobte rangon ka ehsaas hua. Kya yah rang suraj ki kiranon ke saath gayab ho jayenge? Kya andhera kaale rang ki tarah sab kuchh khud mein samet kar kaanch ke rangon ko gayab kar dega? Kya Sonu ki rang-birangi potli use vah gyan de sakti hai jiski use talaash hai? Kya saari vidya school mein hi haasil hoti hai ya potli mein bhi Sonu ko vidya ke vibhinn rang mil sakte hain?

Cheeni toh cheeni hai, phir yah bimaari mein kab tabdeel ho gayi, iss baat ka Sharma ji ko pata nahin chala. Lakkad-dadaon ke zamaane se shayad unka mithai ka vyapar chala aa raha hai. Ab vah mithai na bechein toh kya karein? Lekin mohalle bhar mein toh jaise sugar ki bimaari ka ek fashion sa chal gaya hai. Yun toh log dukaan par ab bhi aate hain. Meetha thoonste hain aur pakode bhi. Kyun na karein? Angrez bhi toh aate the jalebi aur kachodi khaane ke liye. Lekin baat-baat par sugar ki bimaari ka zikr shuru ho jaata hai. Phir aajkal ke doctor yah kya nayi-nayi machinein de ja rahe hain apne chacha-tau ko? Cheeni bhi koi naapne ki cheez hai? Ras se bhare rasgulle aur gulab-jamun, gehri sunehri jalebi, safed mulayam Kalakand—aakhir insaan inko na khaaye toh kya khaaye? Ab yah koi sharaab toh nahin, na hi tambakoo—yah toh bas meethi si ek baat hai jo mooh mein rakho aur bas gayab! Logon ki dakiyanoosi ki baatein sun kar unka bhi mizaaj chidchida sa ho gaya tha. Dukaan par ab bhi baithak lagti thi. Par vah kaun si baat thi jo unke andar ghar kar gayi thi? Kyun unhein lag raha tha ki unke andar bhi jaane kaun si bimaari panap rahi hai? Makkhiyaan toh din bhar mithaaiyon pe mandarati hain—unhein toh koi bimaari nahin hoti. Kya sach-much sochne se bimaari ho sakti hai? Shayad cheeni ki bimaari bhi logon ke sochne se hi paida hoti hai, nahin?