"Are bas-bas !! saans to le le paagal. mera sasuraal isi sheher mein hai aur main apne saas-sasur se mil chuki hoon magar ladke ko ab tak nahi dekha" Shivani ne normal tone mein jawaab diya. wah soch-soch kar dohri hoti jaa rahi thi ki jab Nimmi ko asliyat ka pata chalega, jaane wah kaise react karegi.
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"Yahin mumbai mein !! Oh wow Shivani, yaar kam se kam tera-mera saath to bana hi rahega. kher ye bata, shaadi kab ki hai ?" Nimmi ne dobara prashn kiya.
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"Abhi date fix nahi huyi, may be kuchh time lage" Shivani ne kaha.
"Teri haan ka intzaar hai Namita !! bas usi din meri shaadi ho jaayegi" wah khud se bolti hai.
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"Hmm !! chal aaj main tujhe apne dad se milwakar teri job ka intzaam kiye deti hoon. jab shaadi hogi tab naukari chhod dena" kehne ke upraant hi jahan Nimmi ne apne pita ka number dial kar diya wahin Shivani ko ab apni jaldbaazi bhari bewakufi par pachhtava hone lagta hai.
Apne vaastvik bhaybheet chehre par saadhaaran bhaav laane ki prayaas-rat Shivani androoni ghabraahat se behaal thi. jaanbooch kar usne galti ki thi, ab maatra anjaam bhugatna baaki tha.
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"Inhein call karna hi bekaar hai" Deep dwaara call pick na karne par Nimmi mann hi mann jhunjhta uthi aur foran number re-dial kiya.
"Kahin chudaayi mein to busy nahi ?" wah us waqt ko yaad kar sandeh mein doob jaati hai jab Deep use apne office ke bathroom ke bheetar buri tarah se chod raha tha aur usi dauraan guestroom ke bistar par pada uska cell 5 se 7 baar lagataar ring hua tha.
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Shivani ko kuchh pal raahat ki saanse mehsoos karwane ke upraant Nimmi apne ghar ka land-line number dial kar deti hai, taaki apne shaq ko sach saabit kar sake. ab wah kaafi hadd tak apne chodu pita ki kartuton se waakif jo ho chali thi.
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"Are chhod Namita !! uncle busy honge" apne bachaav ki ummeed mein Shivani use tokte huye boli magar apni dost par koi prabhaav nahi daal paati.
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"Hello mom main Nimmi !! kya dad ghar par hain ?" usne sawaal kiya.
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"Haan so rahe hain !! tu kahan se bol rahi, ghar kab tak lautegi ?" ulte Kammo ke mamta-mayi prashn baras pade.
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"Bas raaste mein hoon mom !! aadha ghanta lagega" keh kar Nimmi ne call cut kar diya.
"Tu ready to ho !! mere ghar chal rahe hain" itna sunte hi Shivani ki rooh kaamp gayi. Deep se akele milna ek waqt ko theek tha magar Nimmi use apne ghar le kar jaane waali hai, sochne maatra se uske rongte khade hone lage the.
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"Ab main tere ghar jaa kar kya karungi Namita !! tu be-wajah pareshan hogi" Shivani fusfusayi, apni vyakulta ko apni dost par zahir karna uske anumaan-swaroop maut ko daawat dene samaan tha.
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"Kyon !! koi dikkat hai kya. dekh Shivani maine tujhse promise kiya tha ki main tujhe job dilwaane mein teri madad karungi. poore din hostel mein bor hoti rehti hai, chaar-paise kaam legi aur tera time pass bhi ho jaayega" pravachan dene ke pashchayat Nimmi muskurayi.
"Tu meri dost hai, mujhe kaisi pareshaani yaar ?" wah uske kandhe ko sehlaate huye boli.
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"Par ...." Shivani ne antim prayaas kiya lekin Nimmi uski kahan sunne waali thi.
"Par-war chhod Shivani !! tune mujhe maaf kar diya hai, main tabhi maanungi jab teri naukari ka bando-bast karwa dungi" usne rahi-sahi kasar bhi poori kar di.
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Shivani bistar se uth kar apni almirah ke sameep pahunchi "Salwar-kameez theek rahega" sochne ke upraant usne ek sileti rang ka chudi-daar suit pasand kar liya. akhir pehli baar apne sasuraal jaa rahi thi, saadgi dikhana bhi zaroori tha.
"Main change kar ke aati hoon" bolte huye wah bathroom ki disha mein apne kadam badhaane lagti hai.
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"Bahut badi nautanki hai tu !! main koi ladka nahi jo tujhe sharam aaye, kam se kam apni dost ki jawaani to dekh hi sakti hoon" Nimmi ne apni dost ko chheda.
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"Aisi koi baat nahi yaar !! woh main naha bhi leti" Shivani ne laja kar kaha, uska sharmeela swabhaav Nimmi ke theek vipreet tha to apni hone waali nanand ke samaksh nangi hona wah kaise sweekaar kar sakti thi.
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"Hum ghar ja rahe hain Shivani !! kisi function mein nahi, mujhe 30 minute ke andar wahan pahunchna hoga warna mom faltu ka tension lengi" Nimmi safaayi pesh karti hai.
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"Hmm" Shivani ne suit bistar par rakh diya aur apne top ki nichli kinor pakad li. Nimmi ki nigaahen apne jism par mehsoos kar wah ajeeb si kaifiyat se roobaru ho rahi thi, jyon-jyon wah apne top ko oopar uthaati uski saanso ki raftaar bhi teevrta se badhti jaati. uska sapaat pet ab vastra-heen ho chuka tha.
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"Nahi Namita !! mujhse nahi hoga" Shivani top ko vyavasthit karte huye boli aur Nimmi se nazren churaane lagi.
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"He he he he !! tu to aise sharma rahi hai jaise suhaag sej par apne hone waale pati ke saamne nangi hone jaa rahi ho" Nimmi ne zoron se hasna shuru kar diya.
"Waise tune mera dil tod diya, socha tha ek hot stripe-tease show dekhne ka mauka milega. chal bathroom mein change kar le, main intzaar karti hoon" wah use uska suit thamaate huye boli aur Shivani bina kuchh kahe seedhe bathroom ke bheetar ghus jaati hai.
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"Ajeeb hai yeh ladki" dono hi ek-doosre ke baare mein kuchh yahi soch rahi thi. Shivani ne jald apna chehra dhoya aur suit pehen kar wapas kamre mein aa gayi.
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Sileti rangat ka suit Shivani ke poorna vikasit sudol badan aur uski atyant gori twacha par behad fab raha tha. Nimmi pratyaksh-roop se apni dost ki madmast kaaya ko ghoorne se khud ko katayi nahi rok paayi. ismein use dosh dena nyaay-sangant nahi hoga, har stree ki tarah Nimmi ke mashtishk mein bhi kahin na kahin halki si irshya sa sanchaar hona laazmi tha. iksha, laalsa, jalan, kudhan, hod ityaadi bhaav yadi stree jaat se sada ke liye prathak ho jaayen to yakeenan yah kalyugi sansaar kshan maatra mein sudhar sakta hai, Nimmi koi apvaad nahi thi.
"Oye hoye madam rangeeli !! jee karta hai, teri pappi le loon" aadat se majboor foran Nimmi bistar se uth khadi huyi aur Shivani ko chaunkaate huye uske komal hontho ko choom liya.
"waise to pappi gaalo par li jaati hai magar" wah aage bol paati isse pehle hi Shivani apne haath se uska moonh daboch leti hai. Nimmi ki besharm va avishvasneey harqat ne use hairat se bhar diya tha.
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"Pagal ladki !! ab baksh bhi de mujhe" usne sharmaahat se bharpoor apne gaalo ki laali chhupane ka asafal prayatna kiya aur kuchh lamhe baad Nimmi ke goon-ghoon karte moonh ko chhod deti hai. jitna wah khud ke vyavhaar ko saamaanya roop pradaan karne ki koshish kar rahi thi wahin bhavishya ki chinta se ot-prot uska mann usse kahin jyada andolit hota jaa raha tha.
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"Maine to baksh diya magar mat bhool ki mere ghar par dad ke alaawa mera jawaan bhai rehta hai" Nimmi khilkhila kar boli.
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"Dhatttt" Shivani ne use apni ankhon ka dar dikhaya aur khud bhi has padi. Nimmi ke mutabik use piya ghar jaana tha aur ummeed-swaroop ki wahan wah vichlit nahi hogi aur apne vartmaan bartaav ko yun hi barkaraar rakhegi magar apni dost ki ut-pataang baaton se nirantar uska dhyaan bat-ta ja raha tha aur alp sayam mein kaise Shivani khud ke dwara utpann samasya ka niraakaran dhundhegi, nishchit taur par behad gambheer mudda ban chuka tha.
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"Kaha kho gayi Shivani !! humein der ho rahi hai" Apni dost ko sapne se baahar laate huye Nimmi ne kaha.
"Tu hi der kar rahi hai, main to kab se taiyaar khadi hoon" Shivani ne palatwaar kiya. shringaar aadi mein use shuruwaat se vishvaas nahi tha aur apne matching dupatte ko vyavasthit karne ke upraant dono saheliyan hostel se baahar aa gayi.
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"Are !! maine koi documents to saath liye hi nahi, tu ruk main le kar aati hoon" Activa par baithne se poorva Shivani boli. dastaavez to mahaj bahaana tha, paristhiti ko apne anukool banaane ke uddeshya se wah kuchh der ka ekaant chaahti thi taaki apne hone waale sasur ko pehle se hi apne aagman ki soochna de sake.
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"Abhi verbally bata dena !! jab dad koi job prefer karen tab marksheet submit ho jaayegi. hum bahut late ho gaye hain yaar, mom naraaz hongi" Nimmi ne self button press karte huye kaha aur majbooran Shivani ko usi waqt uske pichhe baithna pada. Activa ki raftaar ke samaan uske dil ki dhadkane bhi atyant teevrta se badhne lagi thi. uski bhaari ho chuki saanson ke anant jhonke Nimmi apni gardan par mehsoos kar rahi thi magar chil-chilaati dopahri iski mukhya wajah maan usne koi pratikriya dena uchit nahi samjha. ant-tah dono apni manzil par pahunch jaati hain.
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Ghar ki baahari bhavyta ke maddenazar Shivani ki ankhen chaundhiyan gayi, event industry mein naam kama chuke Deep ne waakayi apne aashiyaane ko bade itminaan se sanwaara tha. hone waale priytam sasur ki car ke alawa use wahan ek cham-chamaati safari bhi khadi nazar aayi. kuch to aantarik ghabraahat, kuchh atyadhik garmi ke mile jule sangam ke phal-swaroop Shivani ke komal honth sookhne lagte hain aur sheeghra hi khud ko sainyat karne hetu wah apni jeebh apne hontho par pherte huye unhein sheetalta pradaan karna shuru kar deti hai.
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"Andar chal" Nimmi uska haath thaam kar boli magar Shivani ke pair the, jo hilne ka naam hi nahi lena chaahte the. lagbhag saara zor uski dost ko swayam lagana pada aur halaat ki maari Shivani apna bejaan jism chalaaymaan karne par vivash ho uthi. jyon-jyon ghar ka mukhya dwaar nazdeek aata gaya, uske hridaye ki sansanahat mein prablta se vradhhi hoti chali gayi. lag raha tha jaise wah bahut thaki huyi ho aur jazbaati taur par niraash va hataash bhi. kaalpnik vichaaro ki jitni dhun ab tak usne banaayi thee, saamna karne ka waqt aa chuka tha.
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"Mom" Hall ke sofe par apni ankhen moonde baithi Kammo aaj huye ghatna-kram par gaur farma rahi thi, khaas kar Nikunj ki naraazgi uski gehen soch ka pramukh vishay tha. Nimmi ki awaaz sun anmane mann se usne apni band palken kholi aur kshan maatra mein uski saari chetna waapas laut aayi.
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"bahu tu yahan ?" ashcharyachakit Kammo sofe se uth kar khadi ho gayi aur apne kathan ki sachhayi ka anumaan lagaane ke liye apni achambhit nigaanhen Shivani ke chehre se jod deti hai. Nimmi ki samajh mein kuchh nahi aata jab ki Shivani ki to majboori thi jo use bhi apni hone waali saas ki bhaanti reaction dena pada. usne yakeenan ghar ke sadasyon ki sakaratmak ya nakaratmak pratikiriya ki aasha ki thi aur hua bhi theek waisa hi.
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"M .. main inhein bula kar laati hoon" foran Kammo ke kadam seedhiyon ki disha mein aage badh gaye aur daudti huyi wah apne bedroom mein jaa pahunchi. apne pati ko ghor nidra se jagaane ke upraant usne kaaran spasht kiya aur usi gati se dobara hall mein aane lagti hai.
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Neeche but ban kar khadi dono saheliyan ek-doosre ko aise ghoor rahi thi jaise unhone koi bhoot dekh liya ho. Shivani ki mook awastha Nimmi ko andar hi andar buri tarah kachot deti hai. sawaaliya andaaz se kuchh puchhne ke liye wah apna moonh khol paati isse poorva hi uske kaano mein apni maa ke lafz goonj uthe.
"Tu khadi kyon hai bahu ?" Kammo muskuraate huwe boli aur Shivani ke kareeb aa kar use apne seene se chipka leti hai. akhir us maa ke nishpraan bete se shaadi karne ka faisla kar Shivani ne unke poore pariwaar par bahut bada upkaar kiya tha, ek aurat hone ke naate Kammo uska balidaan kaise bhool sakti thi. us waqt Shivani ke sundar mukhde ko niharne mein use naisargik prasannata ki anubhooti ho rahi thi.
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"Charan-sparsh mummy ji" atyant turant Shivani ne apne dupatte ko pallu mein parivartit kiya aur apna nanga sar dhaankne ke pashchayat apni dost ki maa ke pair chhu kar ashirwaad maangti hai. wah swayam apni sagi maa se koso door thi aur tabhi Kammo ke apne-pann ke sukhad meethe ehsaas mein foran usne khud ko dubo diya, jiski lehren uske jism mein kaafi samay se hiloren kha rahi thi.
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"Yeh meri dost hai aur aap bahu-bahu ki rat lagaaye jaa rahi ho. kahin aap paagal to nahi ho gayi mom ?" pratyaksh-roop se aisa milaap dekh Nimmi badhak uthi aur apni maa ko ghoorte huwe kaha. is apratyaashit sadme ko jhel paana shayad uske bas mein nahi tha. waise jo kuchh raha tha Shivani ke mutaabik Nimmi ko uski koyi bhanak nahi thi magar apni dost ka badhta krod dekh wah sehem si jaati hai.
"Tu !! tune to mere vishvaas ki dhajjiyaan uda di. aag lagaane ko tujhe mera hi ghar mila tha" Nimmi ka agla shikaar Shivani bani.
"Isi waqt chali jaa warna ..." apni dost ko thappad maarne ke uddeshya se usne apna haath oopar uthaya magar seedhiyon se neeche utarte apne pita par nazar padhte hi wah tham gayi.
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"Nimmi !! apni badi bhabhi se is lehje mein baat karne ki teri himmat kaise huyi ?" Deep garja. apni beti ke asadharan swabhaav se wah bhali-bhaanti parichit tha aur apne bedroom ke darwaaze ki ot mein chhup kar khada bas isi baat ka intzaar kar raha tha ki aadat-anusaar kab Nimmi apni naraazgi zaahir kare aur swayam use beech-bachaav mein aana pade. pehle apni biwi aur fir preyasi Shivani ko bezzat hote dekh Deep khud par kaabu nahi rakh paaya aur na chaahte huwe bhi wah apne praano se pyari beti par chilla deta hai.
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"Badi bahu" Shivani ke liye Deep ka sambodhan sun Nimmi thoda sakpakaayi. uski maa ke baad uske pita ne bhi usi kathan ka prayog kiya tha. 'badi' shabd par vishesh gaur karne ke upraant Nimmi ka dhayan sheeghra hi apne bade bhai Raghu ki taraf khinch gaya. darzano rahasyamayi prashno ke uttar ki ikshuk wah laakh prayatna ke bawajood vichaar karne laayak sthiti mein khud ko dhaal nahi paati aur ek antim nigaah aas-paas maujood teeno praaniyon ke maun chehron par daal apne kamre ki orr prasthan karne lagi.
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"Namita" sampoorna ghatna-karam ke madde-nazar pratham baar Shivani ne hastakshep kiya, usne runase swar mein apni dost ko pukaara magar aavesh se tilmilaati Nimmi uski awaaz par zara bhi gaur nahi farmaati aur seedhiyaan laanghte huwe apne kamre ke bheetar ghus jaati hai.
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"Tu fikar na kar bahu !! is naye rishte ko sweekarne mein use samay lagega. tu Nimmi ki dost hogi, humein maloom nahi tha" vihval Kammo ne prem-swaroop apni putra-vadhu ko dulaar kiya. Deep, Shivani aur yakeenan waqt ki maang bhi yahi thi, dono ke naatkeey chehre khilne ko aatur the. tat-pashchayat unhone mil kar Kammo ko bewakuf banaana aarambh kar diya.
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"Suniye ji !! aap jald hi kisi achhe pandit se shubh muhoorat nikalwaaiye, saptaah ke andar hum apne dono beto ki shaadi kar denge" Kammo ne razaamandi zaahir ki.
"Beti !! Tu ek baar Raghu ko dekh leti to humein nishchintta ho jaati, main nahi chaahti bhavishya mein tujhe apne faisle par afsos ho. pichhle chaar saalo se wah koma mein hai, aise insaan ke saath poori zindagi basar karna koi hasi-khel nahi" wah apne ashruon ko ponchhte huwe boli.
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"Haan bahu !! teri saas theek keh rahi hai" apni patni ke samarthan mein Deep ne kaha. maana Shivani ki dekh-rekh uske laachaar bete ka bhaavi jeevan sudhaar sakti thi magar yeh katayi nyaay-sangat nahi hota. wajah sirf shaaririk trapti ki nahi thi, tann ke saath mann ka mel bhi ati-aavashyak tha.
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"Mujhe sab manzoor hai pita ji !! aap dono ki chhatra-chaaya, ashirwaad aur pyar mujhe kabhi kamzor nahi padne dega. main shaadi ke baad unko dekhna jyada pasand karungi" apne hone waale saas-sasur par atoot aastha jataate huwe Shivani boli. itne aage badhne ke upraant use peechhe hat jaana gawara nahi tha, khaas kar Deep ke vishwaas ke kaaran wah naam maatra ko vichlit nahi huwi thi.
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"Main meetha laati hoon" Kammo sa-harsh uske maathe ka chumban le leti hai. vartmaan ke is kalyugi sansaar mein Shivani jaisi su-sanskrit va dayawaan bahu ka dhoondhe se bhi milna bahut kathin hai, fir Kammo ki abhilasha to chiraag jalaaye bina hi poori ho gayi thi.
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Kuchh der ke zaroori aur nirnaayak vartaalabh ke upraant dono pati-patni apni bahu ko uske hostel chhodne nikal padte hain. halaaki wey use ghar mein hi rok lena chaahte the magar Shivani ki zid ke aage unhein jhukna pada. waise aaj ki raat bahut lambi hone waali thi, jahan Deep apni putri ko manaane ke liye behad utsaahit tha wahin Kammo bhi apne putra ki naraazgi door karne ko machal rahi thi.